Whorror Hotel....

As some of you know, I am an ocassional reader of Erotica and one of the various authors I am associated with recently asked me for a review...

Whorror Hotel is a neat slice of the strange and the surreal. A guy on a business trip checks in to avoid an oncoming storm and is instantly smitten by the owner - a sexy seductress who leads him downstairs into the menagerie so that she can have her wicked way with him and help him to explore some of his wildest and naughtiest sexual fantasies.

Unfortunately, once there, he quickly discovers there is no escape...

This is a kinky, naughty slice of erotica that, much like the protagonist in this tale, tantalises, teases and leaves you wanting more. Lisa Dabrowski is a talented authoress with a wicked imagination and my only complaint here is that this story was too short.

Who is the mysterious Mistress of the motel, what is HER story? These are all questions we find ourselves asking but, unfortunately, are never given any answers to.

I'm hoping that she plans to revisit this world again because, in a longer volume, I think Dabrowski could probably end up leaving many a reader feeling much more hotter under the collar - as it is, what we get here is barely more than a taster, an appetiser if you will, or a satisfying session of foreplay without the inevitable conclusion one might expect.

It feels as though this story is only just getting started and I look forward to more naughty adventures in the motel in the future...

4 stars 

Whorror hotel by Lisa Dabrowski

The IX by Andrew.P.Weston review

The IX by Anrew.P.Weston

Soldiers from across several different timezones, amongst them an entire Roman legion and an army of U.S soldiers from a period during the Wild West, are all snatched away at the brink of death and transported half-way across the Galaxy.
Why?
To fight in a war on an alien planet, billions of light years away, that is currently under siege and whose inhabitants are in danger of being wiped out. They have been selected by a vast Artificial Intelligence known as The Architect and are considered to be that planets last, best hope...but all is not as it seems.
They are the ninth group of warriors to be selected after all of their predecessors have failed before them.
They are the IX.
When I started this book, I really wasn't sure what to expect. The story goes into some detail describing all of the various timezones our protagonists are taken from and by the look of it, the author has really done his research. I really felt I was there, walking amongst these characters in their own unique periods of history. It is only later, when the action moves to the planet of Arden where the rest of the book takes place, that I began to feel a little bit overwhelmed and more than a little out of my depth as the main part of the plot took over.
This is proper, serious, hardcore science-fiction and not for the casual fan. Weston's writing and the story he presents here has a lot in common with such classics as Arthur.C.Clarke's Rendezvous With Rama series or Greg Bear's Anvil of Stars, exploring similar subjects and themes - namely how, even far removed from their original place in time, humanity still struggles to get on and unite together, even in the face of extreme adversity.
There were while moments where even I, a long-time fan of such epic and grandstanding novels as those already mentioned, found myself almost skim-reading and not entirely sure what exactly was going on but confident that all would be explained in time.
I tend to enjoy stories that are more character-driven and this I almost felt was not the case in this book. It felt a little plot-heavy and once they were removed from their time, I found little to distinguish one character from another.
All this makes it sound like I didn't enjoy the book, but I did. I just found it a little long-winded in places unfortunately and that there was sometimes a bit too much going on - eecially when you begin seeing the war from the perspective of the alien horde that are the main threat in this book. 
It was a pleasant enough read, and I certainly couldn't put it down - as I was so eager to find out what happened next, so it's a win from that respect - but I don't think I would read it again which, for me, marks the difference between a really good book and a really great one.
I wanted to give this 4* but really didn't think it quite deserve it, so instead I have given it a 3* on the understanding that really, it is more of a 3 1/2.
I have another of this author's books to read and have high hopes for that one, as I did for this before I started it. 
Like I say, it's not that it's bad, but you DO need to have a bit of dedication to see this through to the end.... 

A is for Ash Hartwell...

One of our authors who has just had his debut collection of short stories released is Ash Hartwell. His first book, ZOMBIES, VAMPS, AND FIENDS has just recently been released and I can honestly say it is a great collection in the tradition of many of the late, great Alfred Hitchcock collections I remember reading as a kid.

In his first book, Ash introduces us to a variety of scary, thrilling and often accurately chilling possible futures where the forces of darkness continue to plague us despite mankind's modern advances. 

Though the book is a bit of a mixed bag at times, I really liked it and thought many of the stories work really well. With touches of Laymon, King, and even the likes of M.R.James and Algernon Blackwood at times, Hartwell still manages to exert his own writing style to great and often spine-chilling effect.

There were a couple of stories I was less keen on than others, but such is the case with most short story collections and those stories I DID like, I liked a lot.

It will be very interesting to see what Hartwell comes up with in the future, and I eagerly look forward to seeing something longer from this stunningly talented new author, as judging from the stories featured in this book, I can well believe he still has plenty more yet to pull out of the bag...

I took the time to ask Ash a few questions about his writing...

 

Tell us about your writing journey and how you got to the point where you are now.

I always wanted to write as a child. I remember making my grandmother dictate my elaborate tales about the exploits of characters from the books she read to me. I must have been four or five years old so probably garbled my words and included a ridiculously large number of explosions for the likes of Noddy and Big Ears to deal with.

It was only in the last five years or so when I actually started to write, and even then it has been sporadic, and initially just for relaxation. I attended a local writers group for a while and one of the guests speakers wrote for small publishers producing anthologies in America, sadly most of which seem to have since disappeared. He provided some useful hints and tips, suggesting it would be a good place for budding writers to submit a story. I wrote, what I now consider to be a truly awful story, although at the time I thought it a classic worthy of Poe or King, and submitted it to a Christmas themed horror anthology. It was accepted just before midnight (in the UK) on Halloween, and I was hooked. This was easy; One submission, one acceptance. Not for me those years of struggling, those mountains of rejections.

How wrong was I!

I still write on a part-time basis but I have learnt so much since that heady night of success. About eighteen months ago someone suggested I submit some stories to JEA as they were looking for writers. I’d had some success with short stories, having about twenty published in various anthologies, and wanted to step up, so the timing was right. I took the plunge and sent about five. To my amazement they liked them, in fact three of them form the basis for stories in Zombies, Vamps, and Fiends and a forth is currently being re-written as a novel.

I can’t thank all the people at JEA enough for their support and kind words, especially as I have other commitments that restrict my writing time. Catt and the team have been very patient and now things seem to be gathering pace again.

I still write brilliant stories on Monday only to hate them on Friday, but I guess that’s true of most writers. Isn’t it?

What is your book about? What themes do you explore and what can we expect from your stories?

Well it’s an anthology so I guess I cover a range of themes. What is it about? I’m not really sure. It’s an introduction, or maybe an invitation to sample my writing. It’s written in a number of styles and covers a number of genres so, in some ways it’s about me discovering my style, with the reader coming along for the ride.

Some of the themes covered include mental illness and depression, corruption and redemption, anger and revenge, and the futility of war. One story looks at medical science in the future and is more of a sci-fi/horror, while another is an alternative dystopian history (with zombies). One story is heavily influenced by Hammer House of Horror and written in a gothic/Arthur Conan Doyle style and written with my late father in mind – he was a great Sherlock Holmes fan.

I also have a tongue-in-cheek look at the world of dog shows and pageants and attempt, in a few of the stories at least, to hi-light the excesses or failings of modern society.

You should expect to encounter Zombies, Vamps, and Fiends and experience a few twists and turns as you journey through the book. I’d like to think, once you reach the end, you would have gained an insight into my style… and I hope you found the ride as uncomfortable as possible. (cue: sinister laughter to fade…)

What is your creative process? How and when do you get your ideas from brain onto page? Have you any hints, tips or techniques that you can share to help other aspiring writers?

I scribble. Words, phrases and sometimes, whole sentences. Whatever comes into my mind then, after a few days I draw them altogether, discard some, combine some, and then build a story skeleton. After that, or sometimes from that, I create a main character and let them, (under strict supervision if they’re using glue or scissors) build the story that best fits the skeleton. Often I find the character wants to tell a completely different story to the one I planned which is fine as the original ideas may still form the basis of another story.

Usually its characters that drive the story forward, their hopes and fears, likes and dislikes. But not always the main character, in BIOGULAG for example, John Maddox is the central character, established in the very first sentence, but the story is driven on by the faceless bureaucrat as it is he that holds all the power in their relationship. Is the story about John and his experience? Yes, undoubtedly so. But we learn more about the character and personality of the bureaucrat than we do about John. Slightly ironic, given he’s an impersonal, faceless cog in the penal system.

The process I use to write is simple.

Hand written scribbling on scruffy bits of paper, to which add coffee, then type.

After five minutes, swear loudly and press delete.

Repeat several times.

Once I have written a few paragraphs I enter into a process of negotiation with spellchecker to remove the red and green lines it has randomly scattered throughout my story. Did Shakespeare have a separate quill for red and green underlining… me thinks not?

When complete. Email story with a cover letter threatening the editors family with extreme violence should he even consider rejecting the attached story.

Ok. Some of that may not be true but I do simple sit and write from a few hand-written notes and see where my mind takes me. I don’t really have a preference as to when I write but usually in the evening as its quieter then. I have a small study piled high with books, notepads and movie posters where I write the actually drafts but the creative scribbling phase can happen any time, any place.

Any tips? In a word: Perseverance. Write what you want to write, what you feel comfortable with. Find an editor, or another writer, who will be truthful, critical, encouraging, understanding and patient, and let them guide you. Discuss with them what was good and bad about a particular piece, and learn from it.

Which writers inspire you? Who does your writing best compare to in your honest opinion?

I think as a horror writer some are obvious like Stephen King, James Herbert, and Richard Laymon to name a few, but I also admire the story weaving ability of James Patterson and Neil Gaiman who step gingerly around the horror genre without really ever dipping a toe in.

However, the list could really go on and on – Bradbury, Poe, Capote, AC Doyle, Orwell, Hemmingway, Fitzgerald, Kerouac, Stoker and many others.

It’s not always the writer themselves, but maybe one book they wrote that makes me think, Wow I wish I wrote that! For example Jack Kerouac’s OnThe Road.

A couple of newer writers I’ve enjoyed recently are Adam Millard and Gary McMahon. Although both have been around for a while, their stars are very much in the ascendancy and therefore count as new. So there!

So who do I compare myself to? That’s an unfair question, Mark. Alex S. Johnson, who was one of the editors kindly supplied by JEA, said that the style of one story reminded him of Arthur Conan Doyle. That was a nice comparison but to be brutally honest with myself, I’m not sure I’ve found my own style yet. I enjoy dipping my toe into different genres and styles to see what happens. Sometimes it works out okay, and sometimes it doesn’t. I’ll let others make the comparisons. For now, I’m just happy being Ash Hartwell.

What can we expect from you in the future? What other projects do you have up your sleeve?

I’m currently working on my first novel which, I hope, will be published by JEA when complete. It’s an alternative history story with nasty characters, an infected monkey and a hero you should hate, but can’t.

I’ve also started the scribbling stage of a story that hit me while on a long drive to visit relatives. It may form the basis for my second novel it the scribbling goes well.

I’m also going to be working on editing some anthologies for 13Press during 2015. I’m not sure how it will go, but I’m looking forward to the experience and hope it will help my own writing to develop. As the saying goes, ‘Nothing ventured, nothing gained.’

ZOMBIES, VAMPS, AND FIENDS is available now from here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zombies-Vamps-Fiends-Ash-Hartwell-ebook/dp/B00STZ3EPQ/ref=la_B00L0FET0G_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423360536&sr=1-1

and here: http://www.amazon.com/Zombies-Vamps-Fiends-Ash-Hartwell-ebook/dp/B00STZ3EPQ/ref=la_B00L0FET0G_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423360536&sr=1-1 

Day 22....from strength to stength!

So, I know, I'm pushing my luck AGAIN, but my rule still stands: the day ain't over 'till I go to bed.

In the last year, J.E.A, the indie Press that I edit and write for has gone from strength to strength. We have surpassed our goals, found plenty of hot, new, up and coming talented authors and helped launch several promising careers. What's more, we've started making waves and several other Presses are now taking note of us, as are others in the industry. To be associated with J.Ellington Ashton truly is a pleasure, and I look forward to them publishing my first full novel when I eventually finish getting it together, ready for release.

One of our most recent acquisitions is Essel Pratt, whose novel, Final Reverie, is soon due for general release. Tonight I hear that Essel came third in Blood Reign Literary magazine's "Story of the year" contest, as voted for by the likes of Bram Stoker Nominee/LA Chapter Co Chair John Palisano, Bram Stoker Nominee / HWA Events Chair JG “Greg” Faherty, and HWA Chapter Drive Chair/HWA Board Secretary/Bram Stoker Award Winner Joe Mckinney. 

This is one hell of a good result and just one example of how high a quality our writers are - I imagine the competition for this was pretty stiff indeed! I hadn't realised, but I recently appeared alongside Essel in a recent anthology, Memento Mori. My short story there, When Death Comes To Call, is actually being adapted into a short graphic novel by a good friend of mine and budding illustrator, Roy "Fatman" Hannant. More on that in a later post, but for now, congrats Essel,  I look forward to watching your career - even if I am a tiny eeny bit jealous of your success! 

                                                                      ****
Many of you may not be aware but J.E.A has a naughty Erotic imprint, Lace 21. I have made occasional mention of it I expect, but it is not yet seen that much activity until now. One of our other authors, Naomi Matthews, who writes almost exclusively for Lace 21 has seen her own share of success just lately. 

One of her short stories was recently accepted to be included in an anthology hosted by acclaimed Erotic

fiction writer, Jennifer Sage, who has a wide success with her range of Erotic Fantasy novels set amongst a world of Immortals.

Sexual Tendencies features a whole host of naughty Erotic stories and poetry by a wide variety of names, of which our own Naomi Matthews is just one! The link to buy it is here:

Sexual Tendencies on the American site or here UK LINK- Sexual Tendencies and all proceeds go to a charity helping keep kids off the streets. A very kind hearted good cause as I'm sure you will agree!







Naomi also has two Erotic novella out, also available from Amazon. 

The most recent, Stacey seeks satisfaction, is an inter-office romance about a young secretary who's not afraid to go after what she wants, but who soon finds her Boss isn't exactly the nicest of people and has a

habit of treating women badly. When an opportunity arises for her to get one over on him, Stacey jumps at the chance leading to some very naughty and steamy new adventures!


Her first Erotic short, Sophie's seduction, is still available and tells the story of a woman who discovers her husband has a very naughty secret. She turns to her Boss for advice, but soon discovers her Boss has her own designs on Sophie. 

All three of these titles are obviously for adults only and highly sexually explicit, but Naomi is an accomplished writer with lots of plans for the future.

This isn't strictly my genre per se, but I have helped edit Naomi and as well as being UK Editor with J.E.A, have also been put in charge of Lace 21, which is another of the reasons why I have decided to mention these titles on my Blog. Don't forget - proceeds from Sexual Tendencies all go to a good cause, and if you like Naomi's story there, you should definitely check out the rest of her work!


That's about it for tonight. Until tomorrow...

this is Sparky, signing out!

Day 20: Weird, weird west...

 For today, I'd like to introduce you to a little something by another author friend of mine, Chantal Noordeloos.

I have had a few ocassions to speak with her on Facebook, and she has always struck me as a warm, friendly and very smart writer with absolute tons of personality, so when I acquired some Amazon vouchers recently from my Dooyoo reviews, I decided to buy her book. What can I say?

Steampunk isn't really my genre, yet it has always intrigued me. Likewise my opinion of Weird Westerns, as they are known, has always been a little mixed - some are great, others really not so.

This though, well it was lots of fun!

I read an article a couple of days ago that suggested that female characters in genre fiction were very hard to write without them becoming cliche, and cited Trinity from the Matrix as an example. Writers should avoid, the article said, from utilizing female characters solely as fodder for male fantasy, or in giving them very little to do after setting them up as a strong protagonist. Chantal Noordeloos manages the blend perfectly here - giving us Coyote, a strong, independent woman, living in a man's world at the time of the Wild West , but still able to hold her own!

I hope that I never end up using my female characters unwisely, and that I can avoid falling into some of the traps this article discussed, (I can't find the article now, which is a shame as I'd like to share the link!) but I know that if I can follow the examples, and/or in the footsteps, of such writers as Chantal Noordeloos and Susan Simone, whom I mentioned yesterday, that I might just stand a chance of doing them some justice.

Thing is, I actually have a couple of strong female characters in my work-in-progress! It will be interesting to see what I can come up with for them. Hopefully, I will do them proud.

Here is my review and thoughts on Coyote: The Outlander, as featured on Amazon.

Although this doesn't quite make my 1001 List yet, I have every confidence that, with future installments, my love for this series is simply going to grow and grow!


"Every so often in my reading experience I come across something that simply blows me away, and I am very happy to report that Coyote:The Outlander is a prime example!

Set in an alternative Wild West where rips in space and time allow aliens to cross over, where bicycles and carriages both are run on steam and where robotic servants are the norm, this is a clever and engaging combination of steampunk and weird western that pulls you deep into its grasp and refuses to let go.

Enter Coyote; a bounty hunter who travels with her negro companion and partner and who earns her keep tracking down these aliens whenever they begin to cross the laws of the land.

An assignment to take out a child-eating alien, attempting to blend in with society so he can go unnoticed,

Coyote is a brilliantly conceived creation with whom I have no doubt readers will fall in love with almost straight away. It is so unusual to find such a believable and strong female character that has been done so well, and Chantal Noordelos simply excels here with her writing which impressed me on every single level. Everything about this short novella is simply amazing and if Mrs.Noordelos doesn't write more of Coyote's adventures and soon, it will be a travesty, a total crime.

One aspect I especially enjoyed was the interactive aspect: at certain points in the story, readers are given a code which unlocks extra content on a special website devoted to the novel. This adds another dimension to the reading experience and is both a unique and a very clever touch that works well to draw you in further into the story!

I simply cannot say enough good things about this book! It is my first experience of Mrs. Noordelos' work, but one thing is for certain it will not be the last!

If I could give this 6 stars, I would. As it is, this gets my highest recommendation if you are looking for something entirely different and original to read.

Just one thing: can we have a longer installment next time please, because though I thoroughly enjoyed this little taster of Coyote's world, it left me wanting more!"
takes her into the path of an old adversary with whom she has crossed before, but it also takes her back into her own past and the secrets that lie within."

Introducing Kevin Hall.....

One of my fellow author friends who was also featured in Holiday Horror 2014 is Kevin Hall. I took a few moments of my time to ask him a few questions, helpfully compiled by Catt Dahman. You know the drill by now...over to Kevin:-

 
Author: Kevin S. Hall 

Books/SS: Holiday Horror 2014, Nightmares At Christmas. Currently working on Thirteen, a collection of short horror stories and Raven’s Edge, a Scottish ghost story. 

 Links to author pages and websites and Amazon page: You can find me on Facebook (Kevin Hall) and on my Black Hole Page and I am on Twitter as Kev_h80. 

What genre(s) do you write in and why? I love horror the most – my favorite authors would be Stephen King (Pet Sematary being my all-time fave) and I also love James Herbert and Dean Koontz. I also write fantasy and sci-fi, having been inspired by Tolkien, George R.R. Martin, Sir Terry Pratchett and loads more! 

What is Raven’s Edge about both on the surface and down deep? Raven’s Edge is a ghost story about an old Scottish ghost town and what really happened there before everyone vanished without a trace. It starts as a traditional haunted town tale but goes off in a completely surprising direction, with lots of twists and turns and characters you care about. It is to be the start of a planned trilogy, with the second book being set further back in the past and the third in the future. No character is safe which I hope makes it a scary and fun experience! 

What inspired this? It started as a Silent Hill/Resident Evil vibe, but then I realized to make it more original I had to stray off that path a little and go in another direction. I hope people are surprised by the outcome and the journey the main characters had. There are a lot of Stephen King references that are going to be included too! 

Who is the main character? There are several main characters but not all will make it out alive. Joseph Stone and Betty Rable who try and thwart the evil in town. Joseph starts off as a weak man but becomes stronger by the end, and you will love his costume. Betty is the opposite – she starts off strong but becomes weaker – however, there are a few surprises in store for her. Then there’s the Stranger, the mysterious figure who comes to Raven’s Edge and causes all the horror in the first place. As for Samwell… well, he is a nasty piece of work. There are many more supporting characters that you will get to know along the way too. Characters are very important to me to make it an immersive experience, as is the world they inhabit. 

 What was difficult about penning this? Trying to keep the story going and keeping up with all the characters. It took a while to set up the premise and know where the story was heading, but so far it is all flowing along nicely and I have a clear idea as to what the ending will be. I think it will shock a lot of people! 

What is difficult for you as a writer? Trying to find the time! I know a lot of writers will feel the same – there isn’t enough hours in the day, especially as I have a full time job too. I do try and do a couple of hours a night during the week and of course a lot more at the weekend. The goal is to try 500 a day and then a couple of thousand at the weekend. So far it’s working out fine. 

What is the best part about being a writer? When you know you have a great story and the words flow nicely. Sometimes I can write for hours quite happily and that is a good feeling when you see the words on the page and everything fits together. It’s also something I enjoy doing and I always have a smile on my face when I do it. 

How did you begin your career? I have been writing since I was ten and had quite a few stories done at school – I can remember my English teacher loving one that I did and I read it out in class. I have only recently gone back to it again and had two short stories published by TJ Weeks – he has been an inspiration and I have made lots of great friends through Facebook that help me and give me lots of encouragement. I just keep plugging away each day and hope to be famous one day. 

What advice do you have for new writers? Keep on writing – even if it is only a little a day it’s better than none at all. Have a few hours to yourself and think of a scene before you write. You may need to lock yourself away for a few hours with no distractions but you will feel satisfied and it will all be worth it in the end!

 What writer(s) inspire you and why? Stephen King has been my biggest influence – I remember the first book I ever read was Carrie and have been a massive fan ever since. I have all of his books on my Kindle and love the epics like IT and The Stand. I know it may never happen but I hope he reads my work one day and likes it… 

What book(s) do you wish you have written? Good question - I don’t think I could write it as good or as deep but Lord Of The Rings – I wish I had gotten that idea out there first! It’s such a rich, detailed world full of character, drama and emotion set in an epic fantasy world. I try to read it at least once a year if I can! 

Do you write for yourself or for readers? The readers first and foremost – I try to write it as if I was a reader and wanted a good horror, to know what they would like and what they don’t like. If something grips me and makes me continue reading then it is a good book. I hope they feel the same way about this one 

 Do you ever use dreams/nightmares as a basis for writing? Not really, as I can’t remember my dreams. Although there was one nightmare I had not long ago that was quite vivid and scary - I might feature it in Raven’s Edge so watch this space… 

What is entertaining/scary/ exciting to you? I am a big fan of classic horror and video nasties such as Texas Chainsaw, The Exorcist and Rosemary’s Baby. Nowadays I am a sucker for found footage like Paranormal Activity and Troll Hunter. But I also love the Japanese horror – they just seem to get it and love scaring the pants off you, like Ringu, Dark Water and The Grudge. 

What is difficult/frustrating about writing or being a writer? Having the energy somedays to do it. I have a very tiresome and boring job which saps all the fun out of you. Some nights when I get home I just want to rest and not do anything. But recently I have been motivated to do lots more during the week and weekends, so hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel! 

Have you had a strange fan experience? None as of yet but maybe further down the line it will happen! 

What have you learned from fans/reviews? Not to take everything to heart but to learn from what people say and apply it to my writing. So far I have had very positive reactions from people who have read my work, but I know this will not always be the case. I will be prepared to listen to any criticisms and learn from it for the future. 

 How is your writing evolving? It started off a bit cheesy and really shaky but I have learned to hone in on my abilities and make sure I think of the scene first before I write it. I believe practice makes perfect but learn a lot as I go – so far I’ve not had to do too much research but maybe will one day as it will help my work be more realistic. 

What work of yours was enjoyable to pen? Probably Klown from my Thirteen collection – it was one of the first short stories I ever wrote along with The Babysitter. There are many nods to past horror novels in there but I hope I have written something that pleases fans too. 

What 3 words describe your writing? Character driven horror! 

Which actors/actresses would you love to see in a movie version of your works? I always thought Ben Affleck would make a good Joseph from Raven’s Edge and Rebecca De Mornay as Betty. The stranger would be big and strong but his face hidden, kind of like Shredder from TMNT. Maybe Jean Claude Van Damme? 

What is a genre you will never write in and why? Romance probably. I’ve nothing against the genre it’s just not my cup of tea, although there will be some steamy scenes in my future works… does that count as romance?

 Do you like to write a series or stand alones? Why? I like doing both as they are both fun and bring something different to the table each time. At the moment Raven’s Edge is going to be a series whereas Thirteen is stand alone, but I enjoy doing lots of cool stories. Some of my novels will eventually tie in with others too so it will be fun spotting places and characters popping up in other stories. 

Who, of your characters do you most want to hang out with? I think Joseph Stone from Raven’s Edge. He is such a complicated character with history but also incredibly cool and it would be great to sit down with him with a beer to chat about what he did and where he is going. Plus I want to try the goats mask for a day!

 How did Raven’s Edge get its title? I thought of other ghost towns like Silent Hill and a real life one in Scotland called Humbie Homes and thought it had to have something that would catch the readers attention and want them to read more. It just has an air of mystery about it and an eeriness that you want to go deeper into its world of darkness and find out more!

 How do you pick names for characters and which ones are you fond of? I tried to think of names that would be relevant to the time the story took place in – the late 1890s. I wanted the characters to be believable and real, with proper backgrounds and lots of history. As the book and series progress you will learn a lot more about them. For Joseph his history and future are all connected and Betty will learn of his dark past sooner rather than later. The Stranger is my favorite and the first one I came up with – he is just so imposing and menacing throughout. We will find out where he came from and his real name, as well as his weakness so look out for that! 

Have you ever written real people into books? Not as yet but it’s something I will consider in the future, unless you count the Devil as a real person? I do have plans to feature some famous horror types in future works though.

 Do you outline and plan or wing a book? Sometimes I will sit down, think of the title and the beginning and end, but it’s always the middle that I sometimes get stuck on. If I get a good idea I can write for hours but there is no set way. I just let the words spill out and go back and edit them later. 

Which of your works ended differently than you anticipated? Thirteen for sure. That started out as several novels – all the stories in there were going to be full length but I realized I could contain them all into one short story collection so everyone could see a variety of styles on offer. It actually works better than full novels and was a challenge but so far it is falling into place. I don’t have long to go until that one’s finished! 

Do your covers matter? Both yes and no. It’s what’s inside that counts and you worry about the cover at the end. I have some ideas planned for Thirteen and Raven’s Edge and I already have a great artist lined up for one of them. It is good to have an eye catching cover, but if the story is fantastic to me then the cover usually doesn’t matter as much. I prefer simple styles to overcrowded covers though.

 Does art/ music influence you? Edvard Munch's The Scream is such an iconic piece of art and so disturbing to look at, as well as all of Picasso’s work which is lovely but weird at the same time. I like Leonardo Da Vinci too. As for music I am into my film soundtracks and would listen to them as I write – I prefer this to words in music when I write as I can let the music wash over me and it helps.

 How do you begin a novel? Usually I will sit down, clear my mind and think of something that I would love to read myself. I will think of a character and a scary situation they find themselves in and think of a good title. Then I will just go where the story takes me and hopefully produce some interesting chapters and good dialogue!

 Do you get “writer’s block”? I have been lucky and have not had any yet, but I’ve heard it can be quite painful and stressful. I hope I don’t get it but I do feel sorry for authors who do get it – it must be very uncomfortable! 

Will you be prolific/ are you? I hope so but it’s not something I go out and seek. I just would love my work to get out there so lots of people can read it and see it for themselves. If I become successful out of it then great but I try not to plan to far ahead and take each day as it comes. 

What is your goal? To have the Raven’s Edge trilogy completed before it’s too late and lots more novels to write along the way and to become better as a writer.

 Do bad reviews bother you? No – everyone is entitled to their own opinion and it would be silly to think you will get good reviews all the time. Not everyone is going to like my work but I will read all the reviews and learn how to improve upon stuff as I go. 

What do you wish to learn? How to fit writing into a busy schedule – what can I do to put a few hours of writing into my timetable every day and how to motivate myself more. 

DO you research books? I’d be lying if I said I did – sometimes I will look for a place or character to make sure I have the setting and history right but usually I just write and see what happens. 

Which books have been grueling to write? None have been grueling as such – they have all been a joy to work on. I guess Nightmares At Christmas was a challenge as I had to write 31 stories – one a day! – over Christmas and sometimes there would be a line or a paragraph a day and that was it! I may go back to that one later and expand the stories a bit to make them more believable.