 Please welcome Paul Freeman to this continuing series of rapid interviews with horror authors. Paul is from Dublin, Ireland, where he works, plays and writes. In the past he has lived in Germany and America but is now content to keep his roaming to the worlds he creates and writes about. Tribesman is his first published novel. Season of the Dead is a zombie apocalypse novel written with three other authors, Sharon Van Orman (lykaia) Lucia Adams (Vein Fire) Gerald Johnston (Dropcloth Angels) He has also published a short story in the steampunk anthology, Strange Tales From the Scriptorium Vaults. Book two in the Tribesman series is due to be published soon. Like him on Facebook Follow his blog  Could you tell the readers a little bit about yourself? Hi, I am from Dublin, Ireland. I am a fantasy and horror author. My epic fantasy novel, Tribesman is published by Cogwheel Press. I am also co-author of the horror novel, Season Of The Dead, a zombie apocalypse novel written from four perspectives by four authors in three different countries writing about the same event. Do you prefer the term Horror, Weird Fiction or Dark Fiction? For me each term would conjure something different, therefore I believe all are acceptable and relevant depending on the story it is used to describe. Who are some of your favourite authors? Stephen King, George RR Martin, Bernard Cornwell, Sebastian Barry, Richard Matheson and of course my co-authors Lucia Adams, Gerald Johnston and Sharon Van Orman. What are you reading now? I’ve just started Malice by John Gwynne, an epic fantasy novel, supposedly the best thing since sliced bread, I haven’t got far enough into it to judge it yet. I’ll let you know. How would you describe your writing style? Thank you for assuming I have a style. I try not to think about it to be honest. I write from the heart and from the gut, sometimes even from the head. Describe a typical day spent writing. Do you have any unusual writing habits? I have a pretty busy schedule. I generally try and write in the morning when there is some peace and quiet in the house. I tend to get distracted easily and there is nothing more frustrating than being dragged kicking and screaming from the zone. What’s your favourite food? Beer… wait that’s not food… liquid bread. What’s your favourite album? What only one?! I think Nevermind by Nirvana would just shade it. What’s the most important lesson you have learned about writing? Choose carefully who you listen to and what advice to take. Fame and fortune, or respect? I suppose if I find one without the other I’ll probably want the one I don’t have. What piece of your own work are you most proud of? I’m proud of it all to be honest. Tribesman was my first published novel and mixes two of my favourite things, fantasy and Celtic myth. Season Of The Dead is such an unusual project, a novel written by four separate authors all writing about the same apocalypse from their own part of the world, four separate threads that ultimately merge. It was not only a challenge to write in an unfamiliar genre but to collaborate with other authors, getting the continuity right, always bearing in mind what others are writing and how they will fit into your story. It was a great project to be involved in. Can you tell us about your last book, and can you tell us about what you are working on next? Sure, my last book was the one I’ve just spoken about, Season Of The Dead. It is about a group of survivors during the season of the dead. Lucia from Pittsburgh, USA, is a chemist who escapes from a furry conference wearing a bite-proof squirrel costume – Sharon, a zoologist from Nebraska, knows all about the virus that has infected the entire world turning men, women and children into mindless zombies – Gerry escapes from a prison cell in Ontario Canada when the guard transforms into a zombie before his eyes – And Paul, thinks he’s safe locked away in his apartment in Dublin, Ireland, until the virus crashes into his world forcing him to face reality. Four separate threads, one apocalypse. My latest book is the sequel to my fantasy novel, it’s called Warrior and is due for publication later this month. And yes, I’m very excited!  Banished from his homeland, a warrior of the Northern Clans grows weary of life in a harsh alien land. With the dark god Morrigu haunting his dreams, Culainn a warrior and champion sets forth on a journey north in search of a merchant's daughter abducted by clansmen. With a desert princess as a companion he will travel through a land baked by a scorching sun, where bandits roam free and dark beasts stalk the night. An ancient evil is rising from the desert. A Benouin myth of a ghost city inhabited by the souls of their ancestors, a bridge to the Underworld is unleashing demonic creatures on an unsuspecting world. Culainn and Persha, warrior and mage stand alone against a tide of darkness. All the while, Morrigu, the dark war god of the north seeks to use Culainn as her own tool, her own champion.  “It is said that unto everything there is a season…these are the stories of a group of survivors during the season of the dead.” Four individuals fight to survive as the zombie apocalypse crashes over the world in a wave of terror and destruction. Color, creed, and social standing mean nothing as the virus infects millions across the planet. Sharon: a zoologist from Nebraska, USA, has worked with the virus, and has seen the effects on the human mind. She knows more about the virus than nearly anybody alive, and far more than she wants to. Gerry: from Ontario, Canada, he gets his first taste of the virus from inside a prison cell. Locked up after an anti-government riot, his prison guard transforms before his eyes into a flesh craving zombie. Lucia: a chemist from Pittsburgh, USA, flees from a furry convention dressed as a giant squirrel, and escapes from the city in a Fed-Ex van. She’s a girl who knows when to run and when to fight. Paul: thinks he can sit out the apocalypse in his apartment block in Dublin, Ireland, until the virus comes to visit, bursting his bubble and leaving him with no choice but to face reality or perish. All four begin perilous journeys in mind and body as they face daily trials to survive: Four stories, four different parts of the world, one apocalypse! CLICK HERE TO READ MORE HORROR INTERVIEWS Strange Playgrounds cover by Grace Burley Today's victim in this series of horror author interviews is George Daniel Lea. Whose debut collection Strange Playgrounds is now available from Dark Moon Books.
Click Read more for a fascinating interview with the man himself.  Could you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?
My name is Donald Jacob Uitvlugt, I'm married and live in the heartland of the U.S. I work a regular job during the day and consider my daily life to be rather boring. My stories are an escape into worlds I want to explore, and I hope they're as enjoyable for my readers. Oh, and I’m a Ginger too... Do you prefer the term Horror, Weird Fiction or Dark Fiction? Honestly, it depends on what I'm writing. I tend to use Horror as the catch-all term, but "The Bloofer Lady" is more accurately Dark Fiction. Who are some of your favourite authors? Ray Bradbury and G. K. Chesterton stand at the forefront of a very long list that also includes H. P. Lovecraft, Neil Gaiman, Charles Williams, and many, many others. What are you reading now? Robert R. McCammon's The Wolf's Hour How would you describe your writing style? I try to write what I call "haiku fiction" -- fiction that is stripped down, clean, even simple, but one where I hope readers find deeper resonances beneath the surface simplicity. Stories small in scope but big in impact. Describe a typical day spent writing. Do you have any unusual writing habits? I tend to write in snatches of time assembling drafts into something better on my days off. I do enjoy writing my first drafts on old-fashioned pen and paper. I feel that the limited technology slows me down in such a way that I can better capture the story. What’s your favourite food? My wife's lasagne, followed by pizza. What’s your favourite album? Just about anything by The Decemberists, but I especially like their The Hazards of Love. What’s the most important lesson you have learned about writing? Persistence. The only way to get better at writing is to apply butt to chair and write. Fame and fortune, or respect? Why not all three? Seriously, not many people get rich writing. I hope that if I write stories that I enjoy, other people will like them too. So, I suppose I'm in it for the respect. What piece of your own work are you most proud of? "The Bloofer Lady" is an excellent example of what I mean by haiku fiction. I'm very happy that it's appearing in Dying to Live. But I'm always striving to get better at this writing thing. Can you tell us about your last book, and can you tell us about what you are working on next? I'm brainstorming a couple of novel ideas, trying to pick one to work on for NaNoWriMo, and I always have a few short stories in various stages. HORROR INTERVIEW : 5 MINUTES WITH GARY WOSK
11/11/2013
 Could you tell the readers a little bit about yourself? I live in North Hills, California with my wife Mina. Our son just graduated from UC Berkeley. He’s not following in my foot-steps thankfully, writing is hard way to earn a living; his goal instead is to become a doctor. I started out as a newspaper reporter and then switched over to public relations and media relations. I am the former spokesperson for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. After the Great Recession hit and I found myself without a full-time job so I transitioned to freelance work and creative working. It gave me a chance to re-connect with my childhood passion, “The Twilight Zone” and “The Outer Limits.” Do you prefer the term Horror, Weird Fiction or Dark Fiction? I probably fall under the category of Dark Fiction. I tend to stay away from too much graphic gore and stress concept, plot, suspense and character development. Who are some of your favourite authors? Stephen King and John Grisham. What are you reading now? Stephen King’s anthology “Just After Sunset.” How would you describe your writing style? Dollops of straight forward journalism sprinkled with Rod Serling, and occasionally a pinch or two of Alfred Hitchcock. Describe a typical day spent writing. Do you have any unusual writing habits? Sometimes the freelance work prevents me from writing on a daily basis, but when I am able No more than two to three hour straight in front of the computer, otherwise my creative juices come to a grinding halt. That’s when I go for a bicycle ride or long walk to get reinvigorated. Also, having my two beagles, Max and Kimmie, at my side inspires me. Why? Who knows. They’re sleeping the whole time. What’s your favourite food? Any type of chicken. My wife says that’s why I have skinny legs. What’s your favourite album? Can’t say I have a current favourite album, but I do love the Rolling Stones and Beatles, which kind of dates me. What’s the most important lesson you have learned about writing? Rejection only makes me stronger because just like love and romance there’s someone in the world for everyone and that holds true for stories too. If the story is written half-way decently and it has something to say, it will eventually find a home. Also, by all means, join an online or in-person critique club. I belong to the California Writers Club (San Fernando Valley branch) and would not have been as successful without them. Fame and fortune, or respect? As far as I know, I’ve already experienced my 15 minutes of fame; if it happens again, that’s fine, but that’s not my goal. A far greater goal is just to be happy with yourself and enjoy the process of getting down something on paper. What piece of your own work are you most proud of? I wrote a short story last year based on my mom titled “Bubbe to the Rescue.” It caught her good sides and not so good sides, but it was also humorous above all else. Can you tell us about your last book, and can you tell us about what you are working on next? I am not working on a book per se at present. I enjoyed writing the short story “My Gym,” which appears in Diabolic Tales III, because it gave me a chance to vent at the outrageous things I witnessed at my health club, which was becoming not such a great place to work out. I reached the conclusion that the members and management deserved to be classified as zombies. I’m of course not a member of the club anymore. They didn’t appreciate the free publicity. I am presently finishing a short story about the president of a meat-cutters union who is about to be executed by the mob. It’s called “Big Frank.”  Gary Wosk works as a freelance public relations specialist and is always looking for new challenging assignments. He a serves on the Board of Directors of the San Fernando Valley branch of the California Writers Club in Calabasas, Calif., After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from California State University, Northridge, he became a newspaper reporter for such dailies as the Newhall Signal, special sections editor for the Los Angeles Daily News, and then went on to become senior communications officer/spokesperson/editor for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in Los Angeles and media relations manager of The ALS Association in Calabasas, Calif. Previously published short fiction stories in the genre of sci-fi/horror and fantasy include “My Gym,” “Bubbe to the Rescue,” “The Unnatural,” “Weather Vain” and “Sugar.” Wosk and his wife Mina live in North Hills, Calif.
 Could you tell the readers a little bit about yourself? I'm a production manager by day, a writer by night with a penchant for the off-kilter and weird. I lead a very boring and uneventful life, which is one of the reasons I write, and watching paint dry is more enjoyable than listening to me talk about myself. Do you prefer the term Horror, Weird Fiction or Dark Fiction? I don't prefer any term more than the other as labels are fine for canned goods, but I don't think they necessarily work well with my own understanding of my work. I mean, if I say, "The Regeneration of Myron Mitchell" (my short story appearing in Diabolic Tales III, unabashed plug) is 'horror', but someone else says it's 'weird fiction', who's right? I write and leave labels and opinion up to others. Who are some of your favourite authors? I find myself revisiting the short form masters, Richard Matheson, Ray Bradbury, Ramsey Campbell, Joe Lansdale, especially when I know the writing's not going well and I don't know what the hell I'm doing, 'cause you read them and you say, "That's how it's done." I do have to say, though, that the best short story ever written is Tobias Wolff's, "Bullet in the Brain". I will not argue about this. What are you reading now? Rereading Black House by King and Straub, which is a nice reminder that I'm not the only one who has POV issues. I'm also reading, Full Upright and Locked Position, by Mark Gerchick, which is non-fiction horror or an expose of the aviation industry, depending on one's point of view. How would you describe your writing style? I'll be bold and say Hemingway-esque, or Faulkner-like. I have a tendency for the run-on, but I'm not good with adjectives and I like to get to the meat of it, which can leave my fiction somewhat cold and detached. But that's exactly how I like my women, so it works out for me, I guess. Describe a typical day spent writing. Do you have any unusual writing habits? Because Amex expects to be paid every month, I have a day job so I write when I can. I spend a lot of time thinking about it, then a sudden burst of activity, followed by an extreme fear that what I've done is no good. Much like my approach to sex. I don't think I have any unusual writing habits, but, then again, they really wouldn't be unusual to me even if they were unusual, would they? I tend to stand a lot when I write, put the laptop on the counter and type away, which allows me to pace around and pretend I get exercise. What’s your favourite food? Pizza. From Amante's. Another subject I will not argue about. What’s your favourite album? What's an 'album'? Honestly, I don't remember the last time I bought a whole album or CD. Probably the biggest influence on me, as far as albums go, has to be Pink Floyd's, The Wall. Which probably says more about me than I'd care to admit. What’s the most important lesson you have learned about writing? Persistence. Persistence beats out talent 999 times out of 1000. If you're that 1 out of 1000, good on you, but most of us fall into the 999 category so we've gotta keep at it, even when they say we suck. Oh, and the worst thing to tell a writer: "Love your writing, but..." That just means they didn't love it enough, and they may as well have just put a stick in your eye and twisted 'cause they might think they're helping...but they're not. No, sir, they are not. Fame and fortune, or respect? Respect. Fame and fortune may keep you in drugs and women, but respect is the only thing that'll last when you're moldy in the clay. What piece of your own work are you most proud of? I wrote a short story about a man and his love affair with his cat that I really like, but no one else does. My mom, of all people, liked it because it didn't have any cursing in it. Can you tell us about your last book, and can you tell us about what you are working on next? "The Regeneration of Myron Mitchell" is currently available in Diabolic Tales III. I've got another short story, "Blind Date", coming out on Fictionvale on Nov 15, and "So Long I Screamed" will be in Bete Noire Magazine in January, 2014. Be sure to tip your waitress.  Richard K. Weems (www.weemsnet.net) is a former bouncer, novelty item salesman, furniture mover and general gopher. He is the author of Anything He Wants (2006, Spire Press), finalist for the Eric Hoffer Book Award. His stories have appeared in North American Review, Other Voices, The Gettysburg Review, Mississippi Review, Beloit Fiction Journal, and many other publications. He currently lives and teaches in New Jersey.
HORROR INTERVIEW : IAN BROOKER
7/11/2013
 It is with great pleasure that I welcome Ian Brooker, the star of the recent fantastic film The Casebook of Eddie Brewer (You can read my review of this film here) to Ginger Nuts of Horror for one of my infamous in depth horror interviews.
Ian Brooker is a very versatile character voice actor with considerable experience in the audio medium. He has appeared in over fifty radio drama productions for BBC Radio 4 & 3 and for many years played the voice of Radio Borsetshire,Wayne Foley, in The Archers. Ian has just won Best Actor in a Feature at Buffalo Screams Horror Film Festival, Buffalo NY, for his role in The Casebook of Eddie Brewer. He is a seasoned Big Finish performer having recorded innumerable audio productions for CD since his first Doctor Who adventure, Embrace the Darkness, with the Eighth Doctor, Paul McGann, in 2001. He has regularly worked with Big Finish producer, Nicholas Briggs, on his four Dalek Empire and two Cyberman series. He can be heard on nearly fifty Big Finish CDs covering the Doctor Who, Doctor Who Unbound, UNIT, 2000 AD, Sapphire & Steel and Bernice Summerfield ranges - sometimes playing several characters in one production. He is the only actor to have played both Doctor Who (the shortest-lived incarnation at the end of Full Fathom Five) and Doctor Who’s creator, Sydney Newman (with alternating Canadian and Australian accents in Rob Shearman’s Deadline), but also several weird and less than wonderful aliens including the robotic R.O.S.M, the scary Cimmerians and Solarians in Embrace the Darkness, the Dalek-like Supreme One in Deadline, the eerie Shewstone in A Storm of Angels, and the Krotons in Return of the Krotons. He also voiced the talking elephant, Surus, in Auld Mortality. For John Ainsworth’s Noise Monster audio series, Space 1889, Ian played the authority on Martian archaeology, Professor Golightly.  Could you tell the readers a little bit about yourself? For many years I taught English, at one time or other at the high school, middle school and university. At Rutgers University I taught creative writing, expository writing and technical writing while pursuing a graduate degree in English. I obtained a second graduate degree and became an academic librarian and later an educational media specialist. I finally took an early retirement so that I could write fulltime. Do you prefer the term Horror, Weird Fiction or Dark Fiction? Actually—all of the above. Who are some of your favourite authors? The first horror or dark fiction writer I ever read was Edgar Allen Poe. He wrote brilliant “weird” fiction stories as well as creating the modern detective story. Later on when I became an English teacher, I always used “The Tell-tale Heart” as one of the Halloween stories. Students loved Poe. Ambrose Bierce is another favourite of mine. Years after, I read Lovecraft and was impressed by his talent. He inspired several of my short stories as well. I took a graduate seminar in the works of William Faulkner at Rutgers University. One of the best gothic stories I ever read was “A Rose for Emily.” What are you reading now? I still read Stephen King and Dean Koontz. I think they’re very talented authors and have been so consistently for a great many years. I like novels these days that combine mystery, horror and sometimes romance. I read a little of everything. I enjoy variety. How would you describe your writing style? I should say that I don’t have only one style of writing--just like I don’t write in just one genre. I hope that won’t confuse or irritate readers.My tendency is to experiment with different genres and different styles of writing. My goal is to excel at each if it’s possible. Describe a typical day spent writing. Do you have any unusual writing habits? I like to get up while it’s still quiet, before what most people would consider a civilized time. I like to work in silence and focus completely on what I’m writing, truly get in the zone. I’ll work for several hours before breaking for breakfast, go back to writing for several more hours afterward, and then stop writing to take care of whatever normal activities I need to do like shopping or cleaning. I usually go back to writing in the evening after dinner. What’s your favourite food? I’m not a gourmet. I like pizza and Italian food in general. I also like Asian food and enjoy cooking both types of food for my family. What’s your favourite album? I still enjoy British rock. Love Fleetwood Mac. Love the Eagles. I also love blue grass music. I’m a fan of the older country music of artists like the Johnny Cash. But I can listen to operas like Madame Butterfly or Carmen with complete pleasure. What’s the most important lesson you have learned about writing? If you want to be a writer, you’ve got to write. That means self-discipline. Pick a time that suits and don’t allow for excuses. Practice pit bull determination. Fame and fortune, or respect? That would all be terrific, but most of us just don’t get much of it. We write because we need to write. Anything else is just frosting on the cake. What piece of your own work are you most proud of? There’s no one book, short story, play, article or poem that I would point to and say that’s my best work. They are all my children. I’m just happy when they are published so that others can read what I’ve written. Can you tell us about your last book, and can you tell us about what you are working on next? My last novel THE THIRD EYE: A PINE BARRENS MYSTERY, published September 2013 in hardcover by Five Star/Gale, combines mystery, horror and humor. It’s co-authored with my son Andrew. In many ways it’s about coping with fear. A fourteen-year-old boy has to deal with bullying. He also finds two dead people who have been murdered. The police investigation turns toward the boy’s mother and he intends to prove his mother is not guilty. The viewpoint alternates from the boy who writes in the first person and his mother’s viewpoint which is third person. Reviews have been very good. My next print novel will be THE BAD WIFE: A KIM REYNOLDS MYSTERY. It’s the fourth Kim Reynolds mystery and will be published by Perfect Crime Books which does a lot of noir. Kim Reynolds is a librarian that wants desperately to be “normal.” Unfortunately, she has a sixth sense, a paranormal awareness that she can’t quite suppress. The result is that she finds the dead—or they find her. She also has a talent for discovering murderers which places her life in jeopardy.  Multiple award-winning author, Jacqueline Seewald, has taught creative, expository and technical writing at the university as well as high school English. She has also worked as both an academic librarian and an educational media specialist. Eleven of her books of fiction have been published to critical praise including THE INFERNO COLLECTION, THE DROWNING POOL and STACY'S SONG, all published in new e-book editions by L&L Dreamspell. Her short stories, poems, essays, reviews and articles have appeared in hundreds of diverse publications and numerous anthologies.
Her short stories currently appear in six Dreamspell anthologies among others: DREAMSPELL NIGHTMARES, THE MYSTERY OF THE GREEN MIST, CATS IN A DREAMSPELL, YOUR DARKEST DREAMSPELL, ROMANCE OF MY DREAMS 2, PMS: POISON, MURDER AND SATISFACTION, PASSIONATE HEARTS, LOST ON ROUTE 66, THE MYSTERY MEGAPACK, TOUCHED BY WONDER (story nominated for a Nebula Award),CERN ZOO (Nemonymous 9), RUINS TERRA, RUINS METROPOLIS, WRONG WORLD'S ONE MORE TIME, TWO OF A KIND AND OTHER STORIES OF THE PARANORMAL, and WITH ARMS WIDE OPEN. Jacqueline Seewald’s mystery short stories have also appeared in: THE LONDON MYSTERY SELECTION in England, VERMONT INK, BLUE MURDER, PALACE OF REASON, ORCHARD PRESS MYSTERIES, MYSTERY AND SUSPENSE, WINTER MYSTERY ANTHOLOGY, THE GUMSHOE REVIEW and SLEUTHS IN CAHOOTS.  Could you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?
Well, I have a pod cast called Dark Dreams. We read stories by writers such as Joe Lansdale, Tim powers, Peter Straub. I’m also editor of a new magazine NIGHTMARE ILLUSUSTRATED. My first book was published by Horrified Press called A six gun and the queen of light. Lately I’m included in anthologies Ugly babies, Tales of the undead series 1-3 and Diabolic tales III. Do you prefer the term Horror, Weird Fiction or Dark Fiction? Horror is fine. I also seem to gravitate to the kind of dark fantasy/urban horror that writers like Richard Matheson and Robert Bloch wrote. I love writing twisted stories, especially to do with supernatural and surrealism. Who are some of your favourite authors? Oh too many to list. Matheson, rod Serling, ray Bradbury, clive Barker, ed mcbain…just too many to list. Most from the days of 1930s-1980’s, heyday of pulp and horror boom of 1980’s. What are you reading now? Right now I’m reading loads of comic books, the new DC 52 is very interesting. Reading friends books like E.s. Wynn, David-north Martino and L.A. Sykes is a great british crime writer. And Hilltop Manor by Horrified Press publisher Nathan Rowark. How would you describe your writing style? Bare bones. Tell it as the characters see it. I try to tell it that way. Depends on what I’m writing. Like a flash piece might be more cerebral, surreal, not much dialogue. I’m still learning the craft. Describe a typical day spent writing. Do you have any unusual writing habits? My habits are terrible. I did have a good habit, writing in afternoon, then it moved to early morning, late night. Now its when I have time. What’s your favourite food? Bananas, potato chips…Lasagna, caffeine What’s your favourite album? Wow. Theres tons. Physical graffiti by Led zeppelin, Ah…via musicom by Eric Johnson, Who’s next by the Who, The Extremist by Joe Satriani. Giant Steps By John Coltrane. What’s the most important lesson you have learned about writing? Make sure you have your info on the first page for editors and your by-line after the title. Then theres the other stuff, maybe try to figure out a good first line. Fame and fortune, or respect? Respect. Definitely, or just love from family and friends. What piece of your own work are you most proud of? I guess so far The Seed in Diabolic Tales III and The Auction and The three hells of Guy Franklin. I achieved what I wanted with those. Going for Twilight Zone and Matheson type- stories. Can you tell us about your last book, and can you tell us about what you are working on next? A Six Gun and the Queen of light : I have a western Horror novella and its backed by Nathan Rowark story which is a western as well and my Tim Burtonesque poem with drawings by Ida Tabaka. A gunfighter rides into town sick from eating what he believes was a boar but really another creature altogether that cause you to shape-shift and he is there to escort a wealthy ranch owners wife to a far away land, and of course she’s not who she appears to be. And my horror mag that illustrates horror stories and publishes comics.  Could you tell the readers a little bit about yourself? I’m the sort of person who’d rather be alone with the contents of his own imagination than in a room full of people. Do you prefer the term Horror, Weird Fiction or Dark Fiction? I prefer the term Weird Fiction. In my mind ‘horror’ is a very broad term, but most people have very narrow ideas about it. I get so tired of hearing people say: “This isn’t horror! It isn’t scary!” Now I’m a Weird Fiction writer. I absolutely hate the term Dark Fiction. If you look at someone like Ray Bradbury, what was he? A horror writer? Sci-fi? One of his stories is about a man who meets Picasso on a beach. What’s ‘horror’ about that? I think he just wrote whatever popped into his head, regardless of genre, and that’s what I want to do. But people get so obsessed with how you ‘fit’. Who are some of your favourite authors? Angela Carter, Margaret Atwood, Tove Jansson, Mervyn Peake, Iris Murdoch, Alice Munro, Ray Bradbury. Mainly women for some weird reason. What are you reading now? I’m reading a lot of short stories because I have two very young children and I haven’t been able to finish a novel in about two years. Jeffrey Ford, Alice Munro, Joe R Lansdale, Ray Bradbury – all great short fiction writers. How would you describe your writing style? Descriptive, vivid prose, but very pared down. I started out wanting to write like Mervyn Peake and Angela Carter – very descriptive, kind-of flowery prose – but then I realised I hadn’t the talent for it and now anything that doesn’t need to be there goes. Describe a typical day spent writing. Do you have any unusual writing habits? It’s a case of writing whenever I can fit it in. I plan days in my head so I can grab a couple of hours writing. That’s the only way to do it if you have other commitments. It doesn’t always work out, but I’ve found now that I can write more or less anywhere. Before I had to sit down at my desk and ‘get in the zone.’ Now ‘the zone’ is wherever I can find it. What’s your favourite food? The Spanish do a great bean casserole. What’s your favourite album? I’ve been listening to ‘Appetite For Destruction’ by Guns’ n’ Roses since I was 14 and it never gets old. That, or ‘And She Closed Her Eyes’ by Stina Nordenstam just to show I have a sensitive side. What’s the most important lesson you have learned about writing? Rejection makes you a better writer. At first you think: “How dare they reject my work of genius that I poured my heart and soul into!” Then, after a while, you think: “What’s wrong with this piece and how can I fix it?” You have to learn to take the blows, but also trust in your own judgement. That’s a difficult balance. Editors aren’t always right. Fame and fortune, or respect? Right now I’ll take fame and fortune. What piece of your own work are you most proud of? A story called ‘Three Winters’. It’s the story that I always wanted to write, almost to the point where I don’t need to write anything else ever again. Job done. Can you tell us about your last book, and can you tell us about what you are working on next? It was a collection of short stories called ‘The Lucky Penny and other stories’ which I somehow managed to write whilst my oldest daughter was still a baby. The next book will be another collection called ‘From Elsewhere’. I’m also making hesitant plans for longer works.  Tim Jeffreys is originally from Manchester, UK. He started producing short stories whilst enrolled on a Graphic Arts & Design course at Leeds Metropolitan University in the late 1990s. Encouraged by his tutor, he set aside thoughts of becoming an illustrator (or perhaps an animated film-maker, he wasn't sure at this point) and decided he wanted to write. The growing number of supporters for his writing, if not his bank balance, assure him that he made the right decision. His short fiction has since appeared both on-line in ezines, aswell as in print anthologies and magazines.
In his work he incorporates elements of horror, fantasy, absurdist humour, science-fiction and anything else he wants to toss into the pot to create his own brand of weird fiction. Visit him online at www.timjeffreyswriter.webs.com.  Could you tell the readers a little bit about yourself? I’m Guy Anthony De Marco, and I’m a write-a-holic. (Waves at the rest of the writers sitting around in a circle.) I write mostly horror and dark fiction, but I also have illicit affairs with science fiction, steampunk, fantasy, and anything else that piques my interest. I wrote a graphic novel with Peter J. Wacks that was a finalist for the Bram Stoker Awards® this year in New Orleans, and I have dozens of short stories in anthologies and magazines. Do you prefer the term Horror, Weird Fiction or Dark Fiction? Not to weasel too much, but they’re all valid. Some of my work, for example, I consider horror—it’s more visceral; some is more atmospheric/Lovecraftian, which I consider weird fiction; and the rest falls under dark fiction, which I consider having horror/weird/dark elements in stories that are not typically thought of as “horror”, such as military science fiction that happens to have horrific elements in them. They cross-breed at times, so some stories get a dollop of all three elements just to keep things interesting. That’s the coolest thing about horror—it’s a gut reaction versus having the brain getting involved. Writing something that invokes emotion is a lot of fun, especially when blended with other genre elements. I just submitted a weird western ghost story with graphic horror elements to Supernatural Colorado, and I’m finishing up a steampunk short story for Penny Dread Tales IV that involves someone who is not quite alive falling in love with a rich playboy who plays airship pirate on occasion. Or, in concise terms, if the shoe fits, check for a brown recluse hiding in there. Who are some of your favourite authors? I love early King up to Pet Cemetery, and Joe Hill seems to have more of that feel in his books. Joe Lansdale could make a shopping list give me a heart attack. Damien Walters, Usman Malik, and Mercedes Yardley are up-and-comers I particularly enjoy. Michaelbrent Collings puts out consistent fantastic novels. Surprisingly, Kevin J. Anderson, best known for his science fiction and media tie-in work, has a hilarious horror series called Dan Shamble, Zombie PI that’s worth every dime. In the more extreme horror categories, don’t overlook the Bizarro movement. There are the old favourites like Carlton Mellick III, John Skipp, Robert Devereaux, and Shane McKenzie. Editors Rose O’Keefe and Jeff Burk have a keen eye for quality, over-the-top weirdness that just has me laughing and cringing at the same time. I also love the old pulp-era stories. Besides Poe, I enjoy Ambrose Bierce and Algernon Blackwood, whom I consider the scariest authors folks have probably never read. If you want to get a taste of atmospheric and mood-based horror, look for the old masters. What are you reading now? I’m reading The Colony by Michaelbrent Collings, Skorpio by Mike Baron, and Kevin J. Anderson’s Hair Raising, part of his Dan Shamble, Zombie PI series. How would you describe your writing style? Relaxed and informal. The biggest complement I usually get concerns how I write dialog. I try to write the spoken words as though someone was sitting at the next table in Starbucks while carrying on an odd conversation. My biggest problem concerns filling in description, which is why I have a writing group with professional authors go over the work. I’m my own worst enemy when it comes to editing, because my brain automatically fills in those missing pieces. My wife, Tonya, also takes a turn at ripping me a new one. I think she enjoys it a bit too much, but she is usually spot on. I’m lucky that way, even though it can be painful at times. Describe a typical day spent writing. Do you have any unusual writing habits? I prefer writing at night, but when deadlines call, I can write anytime, anywhere. I write about 1,500 words daily on average. My record was 165,000 words during one NaNoWriMo when I had nothing else to do. I also wrote a 45-page rebuttal paper in 12 hours once, but I was motivated by fury. I always have multiple projects running at the same time. If I get writers block, which is code for I have no idea what happens next, I switch to something else and work until my brain works out the missing pieces. What’s your favourite food? Everything that’s bad for me. Seriously. I love sweets, but I have blood sugar issues, so I’m left with just licking the plates when nobody’s looking. I’m Italian, so pasta is a big part of my diet. My wife is full-on no-gluten vegan, so sometimes I’ll eat what she’s having because I’m too lazy to grill a steak. Of all the stuff I shouldn’t eat, I miss ice cream and Tim Tams, a biscuit from Australia, the most. What’s your favourite album? This would change daily. Music has been a big part of my life for so long that I can influence how I’m feeling by playing a particular album. I love Rush, Blondie, and Hooverphonic. Depending on what I have to write, I’ll toss on Portishead or Enigma, or even Louis Prima or Frank Sinatra. I’m a member of ASCAP, so sometimes I’ll play something from my old band if I want to torture my wife. What’s the most important lesson you have learned about writing? Shut the hell up and write. Nice and concise. When you’re done with something, start something else. Always have something in the works. Something interesting I picked up from the Superstars Writing Conferences came from Tracy Hickman. He gave a presentation where he showed it was better to put out four 80K novels than a single 320K word novel. They take the same time to write, but you have four chances of getting a bestseller instead of one. Kevin J. Anderson also gave a talk on his “popcorn theory”. Always have multiple things in the works and out there for your audience, because you never know which one of those kernels will pop. That’s one of the reasons why I’ve been branching out to other media like comics, graphic novels, game writing, and even writing plays. Fame and fortune, or respect? Both. It’s tough to get one without the other and be happy. For folks who make fun of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series, she wrote a book that really connected with a wide fanbase (and got rich in the process). I have to respect that because I haven’t accomplished it. Yet. Looking at 50 Shades of Grey, there’s someone else who got insanely rich writing stuff that people look down their nose at, even if they secretly read it at night. I was fortunate enough to have the opening story for 50 Shades of Decay, a zombie erotica anthology. At conventions, people pick it up and giggle, but it’s been my best seller. They usually come back after they’d ditched their friends to snag a copy and get it signed. What piece of your own work are you most proud of? It’s a tie between my graphic novel, Behind These Eyes, which was up for a Stoker, and The Dynasty Sentinel, a novel currently in the editing phase. Can you tell us about your last book, and can you tell us about what you are working on next? I’ve been writing large volumes of short stories recently. One of my goals is to have 40 titles under my name on Amazon and Kobo before December 2014. I’m currently around 22 titles. I have three novels ready to roll out, several gaming modules that are about to get released, and two graphic novel projects in the planning stage. My latest book is a collection of essays and stories from when I was in the US Navy called Tales from the Fleet. I was interviewed on a radio show called Walking a Walk, a show dedicated to talking about active duty military and veterans. I wrote these essays over a twenty year period, and I figured that I might as well put them together in an ebook. In the future, keep an eye out for The Dynasty Sentinel, an apocalyptic steampunk novel, and The Bride, a horror novel based on a form of mad cow disease. I have a blog at http://www.GuyAnthonyDeMarco.com, or you can connect with me on Facebook or Twitter (@GuyADeMarco). Thank you for your valuable time, it’s appreciated.  Guy Anthony De Marco is a speculative fiction author; a Graphic Novel Bram Stoker Award® finalist; winner of the HWA Silver Hammer Award; a prolific short story and flash fiction crafter; a novelist; an invisible man with superhero powers; a game writer (Sojourner Tales modules, Interface Zero 2.0 core team, D&D modules); and a coffee addict. One of these is false. A writer since 1977, Guy is a member of the following organizations: SFWA, HWA, SFPA, IAMTW, ASCAP, RMFW, NCW. He hopes to collect the rest of the letters of the alphabet one da Purchase Guy's Books from Amazon Via The Links Below |
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