Tag: Fantasy

WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – GB MacRae

Welcome to WOLF NOTES, where interview questions stray from the rest of the pack. It’s nice to know the usual stuff like where an author gets their inspiration and why they write, but sometimes we need a little fun in our lives.

GB was born in a small town in Vermont and grew up in the country attending a rural school. She started telling stories to her toys from a young age, writing her first short story in second grade. Her first novel in 10^th grade. They’ve often been of the fantasy genre, because who doesn’t want to let their imagination travel as far as it can? But they’ve also been about real life: betrayal, suspicion, joy, war, triumph, self-doubt, all that good stuff. …And unicorns and dragons!

Growing up, her hobbies were showing her horses, lots of reading, and creating art. As she aged and life circumstances changed (she moved to the city where having horses wasn’t possible) she added folkloric belly dance, costuming, and entertaining in her home to her list of activities.

Currently she lives just a short drive from Lake Ontario where there is lots of snow, in a rambling old colonial house with her family and pets.

Wolf: If you could be any animal in the universe, what would it be and why?

GB: Are we talking imaginary or real? This is a difficult question. Always be a unicorn. Or a dragon. I (like a lot of writers and artists) have introvert tendencies, so to be left alone to do my work but with a few close friends, and having powers is a bonus. As for a real animal, I would like to be a warmblood dressage horse. They get the best care, work for about an hour a day except on show days.

Wolf: The questions was any, so we’ll stick with unicorn for and answer. What is the strangest food you’ve ever eaten?

GB: I tend to be relatively tame when it comes to food. No eyeballs or tentacles. I enjoy the international food I’ve had. Chinese, Indian, Middle Eastern, etc. Probably the strangest thing was haggis (not true haggis because it’s not legal in the States). It reminded me of gamey meatloaf.

Wolf: That’s one I’ve never tried. What is the nicest thing you’ve ever done to your characters?

GB: I give them hope.

Wolf: What is the meanest thing you’ve ever done to your characters?

GB: Oh man, what haven’t I done? Across the series there have been entire families eradicated, some characters have had severe trauma…

Wolf: That sounds about right for an author. Do you consider yourself a cat person, or a dog person?

GB: I’m a pet person in general. I currently have a dog, a cat, a hamster, and an aquarium.

Wolf: Nice. While walking in the woods you come across…

GB: I have bad luck, so probably a very lost grizzly.

Wolf: Hope it’s not hungry. (I actually have come across a grizzly. Very scary.) If you could have a super power, what would it be?

GB: So many wonderful powers to choose from! I think I would love to have the powers of Dr. Strange. It would be very handy indeed.

Wolf: Yeah. I like what he did with Loki in the last Thor movie. Which of your characters is your favorite?

GB: It varies from moment to moment. Whichever character is making me happy for whatever reason. They all have their moments, but Cassius, Mina, and Gallylya are probably most often at the top of the list.

Wolf: What is your favorite body of water and why? (river, ocean, waterfall, puddle, bottle…)

GB: I love waterfalls. They’re beautiful, powerful, and always changing. Lakes come in second because they’re safer than the ocean and the view is nice.

Wolf: What story are you working on now?

GB: I’m polishing Arise, Book of Avenzyre III (due out later this year), and a writing the first draft of a book for tweens about a teenage girl living in rural New England surviving mean girls at school as well as horse shows (doesn’t have a title yet), and a coloring book to accompany the Avenzyre series.

Wolf: More familiar with mean girls at schools than I’d like to be. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

GB: I read, research, I have various sewing projects (I make the costumes I wear at RavenCon and Ren Faire), sometimes I crochet, I make very involved sketches of my characters and sometimes paint.

You can connect with GB through these links.
https://www.facebook.com/GBMacRae/
https://twitter.com/gb_macrae
https://www.pinterest.com/gbmacrae/pins/
https://mewe.com/profile/59f63ab71be2d92868415133

Don’t forget to pick up your copy of STAR TOUCHED

June 20, 2018
WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – Bobby Sue Thompson

Welcome to WOLF NOTES, where interview questions stray from the rest of the pack. It’s nice to know the usual stuff like where an author gets their inspiration and why they write, but sometimes we need a little fun in our lives.

Wolf: Welcome to Wolf Notes, Bobby Sue. Why don’t you start by telling me about yourself?

Bobby Sue: Thank you, Wolf. I’m really tickled you asked. You sure have big teeth.

Wolf: You do know that I’m a wolf, don’t you?

Bobby Sue: As sure as my mom’s pecan pie. Just kiddin’ with you. I grew up in south central Kentucky, not far from Tennessee. The rest of my family is in Oklahoma. At least I hope they’re still there. Haven’t heard a peep from out there since the Day of Reckonin’. Sure hope they’re okay.

Wolf: What’s the Day of Reckoning?

Bobby Sue: That’s the League of the Stars’ name for the Cataclysm. You know, the day all heck broke loose. Meteors, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions. Anyway, my folks and I were vacationin’ in Ohio during the Day of Reckoning. Well, I was vacationing, seein’ the sight and all. There was a big old conference for psychology professors that they couldn’t pass up on. The building collapsed. They didn’t make it.

Wolf: That’s horrible. So sorry for your loss.

Bobby Sue: Thank you. You’re sweet. I miss them horribly, but I’m doing okay. They wouldn’t want me to keep mopin’ about. Life has to go on. Got a great job working for Gareth here in Atherton. He runs a store and tavern. Real nice fella. He’s kinda like a substitute dad to all of us workin’ there, but that woman he has in charge, she’s a mean piece of work. Although, she does show the occasional bit of honey when Gareth is near.

Wolf: Interesting. I’ll steer clear of her. If you could be any animal in the universe, what would it be and why?

Bobby Sue: I’d love to be a scissor-tailed flycatcher. That’s the Oklahoma state bird. I found this sweet little hairclip at the market the other day. I don’t often buy stuff, but this one just called to me. Someday I’ll make it back there and find out for sure who survived.

Wolf: That’s beautiful and it looks fantastic in your red hair.

Bobby Sue: Why thank you. I swear, your fur is almost as soft as Fifi’s.

Wolf: Thanks, but I’d rather not be pet…. On second thought, as long as you’re there, I do have an itch behind my left ear. Would you consider yourself a cat person or a dog person?

Bobby Sue: I love all critters, but they don’t all love me. The only one who can get near that crazy rooster of Gareth’s is Tatiana. Animals just seem to take to her like a fish to water. Would you like to meet her? I could introduce you.

Wolf: Thanks, but we’ve already met. I interviewed her last December. Today is Clear Sky Day. What can you tell me about that?

Bobby Sue: The Day of Reckonin’ spewed all sorts of ash an’ junk into the sky. Then one day we all woke up and it was gone. Boom. Just like that. Sky was clear. Sun was shinin’. Things finally started warmin’ up. It was the first sign of hope we’d had since the disaster. You should come to our annual ceremony and celebration in the town square. It’ll be a lot of fun.

Wolf: I think I’ll pass. People might freak out if I showed up.

Bobby Sue: Oh. You’re probably right.

Wolf: What can you tell me about the star-touched? Where’d they get their powers?

Bobby Sue: That’s a tough one. I mean, it’s only been eight years since they came into their powers. And before you ask, I don’t know where they got them or how they got picked. The league has been tryin’ to figure it out since the first star-touched showed up. They don’t know, the star-touched don’t know, nobody does. Maybe we’ll figure it out some day, but gosh, give it some time.

Wolf: I guess you’re right. If you could choose any weapon, what would it be?

Bobby Sue: Weapons aren’t my thing. I prefer to talk to people. If the world hadn’t turned upside-down, I would have been a social worker so I could help folks.

Wolf: And if talk doesn’t work?

Bobby Sue: A big old stick to knock some sense into them.

Wolf: Remind me not to make you angry. If you could pick any super power, what would it be and why?

Bobby Sue: Not sure I’d want any kind of super power. They’re a lot of responsibility. People could get hurt if you’re not careful. And some folks get jittery around people with powers. I’d hate to see more riots like we had a few years back. But I suppose if I had to pick, it would be the ability to help fix what’s hurt inside a person’s mind. Psychologically speaking, not the physical stuff.

Wolf: That would be a great gift. Thanks for stopping by. To learn more about Bobby Sue and the star-touched, grab a copy of Star Touched.

June 6, 2018
FREE CHOCOLATE

Want some free chocolate?

Come to my reading at Balticon this Saturday

11:00 AM

St. George Room

FREE CHOCOLATE

May 25, 2018
My Balticon Schedule

Balticon 52 is right around the corner.

May 25-28 at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel.

Check out the program on the website.

Four days of non-stop fun. Great panels and workshops.

Fifi and I will be hanging out at the Broad Universe table in the dealers room this year. We’ll also be at these panels and reading. Stop by and say hi. Don’t forget to pick up a copy of Star Touched.

Saturday, May 26

11am

Readings: A.L. Kaplan, Christie Meierz, Bud Sparhawk

St. George

Track: Readings
Type: Reading

Christie Meierz, A. L. Kaplan, Bud Sparhawk

Authors A.L. Kaplan, Christie Meierz, and Bud Sparhawk read from their work.

1pm

Broad Universe Rapid-Fire Reading

Kent

Track: Readings
Type: Reading

Jean Marie Ward, Lisa Hawkridge, Ken Schrader, A. L. Kaplan, Danielle Ackley-McPhail, JL Gribble

The authors of the Broad Universe writing organization share excerpts from their upcoming works.

Sunday, May 27

2pm

As You Know, Bob…

Kent

Track: Literary
Type: Panel

Robert “Bob” Chase, Melissa Scott, Christie Meierz, A. L. Kaplan, David Keener, Jack Campbell

Informing the reader without breaking narrative often results in characters telling each other things they already know. How do we convey information to the reader without looking like we’re doing so?

May 15, 2018
WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – Andrew McDowell

Welcome to WOLF NOTES, where interview questions stray from the rest of the pack. It’s nice to know the usual stuff like where an author gets their inspiration and why they write, but sometimes we need a little fun in our lives.

Andrew McDowell wanted to be a writer since he was a teenager. He has studied History and English at St. Mary’s College, and Library and Information Science at the University of Maryland. He is a member of the Maryland Writers’ Association. He is an associate nonfiction editor with the literary journal JMWW. He has had poetry published in the anthology Pen in Hand, and he won second place in the creative nonfiction category of the MWA Literary Contest in 2015 for his essay on his experiences with Asperger syndrome. His YA fantasy novel Mystical Greenwood was published by Mockingbird Lane Press and is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. To learn more about him and his writing, visit his website and blog at andrewmcdowellauthor.com.

Wolf: Welcome to Wolf Notes, Andrew. If you had to pick a weapon, what would it be and why?

Andrew: I would definitely go with a sword. I did some fencing in college, and I’ve always been fascinated by warriors who fight with swords since childhood, from knights in shining armor to ninjas and samurai.

Wolf: Swords are definitely cool. What is the meanest thing you’ve ever done to your characters?

Andrew: I made one of them a slave to evil and kill another character (neither of which happened in the earlier drafts), and it isn’t the story’s villain. But I won’t say who so as to not to spoil the story.

Wolf: That is mean. Do you consider yourself a cat person, or a dog person?

Andrew: I’m definitely a dog person. That’s not to say I don’t get along well with cats and enjoy their company, but I’ve grown up with dogs and for a time when there wasn’t a dog in the house, there was a void that needed filling.

Wolf: I know exactly what you are talking about. A dogless house feels empty. If you could have a super power, what would it be?

Andrew: The ability to shape-shift into any animal I want and back at will.

Wolf: That could be a lot of fun. Which of your characters is your favorite?

Andrew: That would be a tie between Dermot and Saershe. Dermot is the protagonist and the spiritual nature-lover side of me. Saershe is essentially Mother Nature herself, warm but powerful.

Wolf: What is your favorite body of water and why? (river, ocean, waterfall, puddle, bottle…)

Andrew: That would also be a tie, this time between oceans and rivers. As a child I loved reading and learning about marine life. I went to St. Mary’s College of Maryland, which was on the St. Mary’s River. I enjoyed many afternoons going out and walking by the water or just sitting down to observe it.

Wolf: I’d love to go for a river walk myself. What story are you working on now?

Andrew: I’m currently working on the sequel to Mystical Greenwood, and also a mystery novel about neglected and abused pets, set in the real world.

Wolf: What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Andrew: I enjoy walking, working out, and watching movies and television. I’m also a bit of a coin collector.

Wolf: Thank you for visiting. You can connect with Andrew through these links:

Social Media Links: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Google+ | Tumblr

May 9, 2018
I’VE BEEN INTERVIEWED ON LATE LAST NIGHT BOOKS

Eileen McIntire, Author of Shadow and the Rock, The 90s Club and the Hidden Staircase, and The 90s Club and the Whispering Statue, interviewed me for Late Last Night Books. Pop on over to read her post. While you’re there, check out all the other cool articles.

www.latelastnightbooks.com

April 17, 2018
CAN YOU BE WHO YOU ARE?

Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population. Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble. Will Tatiana flee or stay and fight for the new life she has built? Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends…and herself.

Here is what critics are saying about STAR TOUCHED

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast-paced and emotionally complex
Star-Touched is the fast-paced and emotional journey of a teen-age girl and those surrounding her in a post apocalyptic world. Tatiana is a sensitive, likable young woman who is left “star-touched” with various powers after a cosmic event transforms the Earth. The planet becomes a place where simple survival is a full time shore, and Kaplan draws this new version of her characters’ home expertly. Tatiana’s world is a reflection of what might be left, or what might emerge, as people reconstruct civilization. It’s complete with dangers, hunger and power struggle. As a heroine, Tatiana is complex, kind and deeply damaged. You can’t help rooting for her as she and her canine companion Fifi try to start a new life – again – with a variety of fresh and original characters such as Gareth, Brother William and Bobby Sue. As the story unfolds, Tatiana is forced to confront both her own past and her deepest fears, which leave will leave young readers on the edge of their seat. Quick read with a roller coaster of emotions.
–Rissa

5.0 out of 5 stars Complex and Captivating
Tatiana wants more than anything to be normal. Instead, she has to deal with the loss of family, home, and belonging. Worse, her new abilities after the cataclysm frighten her more so than anyone she encounters. It will take a whole community to help Tatiana confront her fears, powers, and anger. It’s a story about accepting who you are and learning the importance of forgiving yourself.
–Kindle Patron

April 16, 2018
MY RAVENCON SCHEDULE

From Friday, April 20 – 22, I will be at RavenCon in Williamsburg, VA. I’m very excited to attend this science fiction and fantasy convention this year and hope to see some of you there.

Here is where you can find me.
(I’ll be doing some rapid fire running in the afternoon.)

Saturday, April 21
11:00 AM       Room 4
Reading: L. Jagi Lamplighter & A.L. Kaplan
Come hear us read our works.

Saturday, April 21
3:00 AM          Room 5
Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading
Members of Broad Universe perform readings from their works.

Saturday, April 21
4:00 PM          Room L
Hold On To The Light
#HoldOnToTheLight is a blog campaign encompassing blog posts by fantasy and science fiction authors around the world in an effort to raise awareness around treatment for depression, suicide prevention, domestic violence intervention, PTSD initiatives, bullying prevention and other mental health-related issues.

Saturday, April 21
5:00 PM          Dealers Room
Signing: Michael G. Williams & A.L. Kaplan
The perfect chance to pick up a copy of our books and have them personalized.

April 13, 2018
WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – J.A. Grier

Welcome to WOLF NOTES, where interview questions stray from the rest of the pack. It’s nice to know the usual stuff like where an author gets their inspiration and why they write, but sometimes we need a little fun in our lives.

J.A. Grier is a speculative fiction writer and poet whose work is closely informed by her formal background in planetary science and astronomy education. More than three dozen of Dr. Grier’s poems and stories have appeared in venues such as Mad Scientist Journal, Eternal Haunted Summer, Eye to the Telescope, Liquid Imagination, Mirror Dance, and an anthology of the Maryland Writer’s Association entitled “Life In Me Like Grass On Fire – Love Poems.” Other writing credits include the textbook “The Inner Planets” published by Greenwood Press. Dr. Grier teaches workshops in poetry, and has served on panels and offered presentations at conventions including BaltiCon, HallowRead, and the Tucson Science Fiction Convention. Dr. Grier is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association, and the Horror Writers Association. She is currently seeking homes for two speculative novels, as well as finishing a book of childhood horror poetry.

Wolf: Welcome to Wolf Notes. If you could be any animal in the universe, what would it be and why?

J.A.: Of course I’d be a cat-dragon. But another interviewee already mentioned cat-dragon because cat-dragons are amazing. I have a cat-dragon in one of my novels, and it is so cool. But I’ll move to plan “B” here and say I’d be a couatl, which is a creature from the original AD&D. It’s a beautiful rainbow-winged serpent – highly intelligent, noble, and virtuous. A couatl is magical, has psionic powers, and keeps treasure. It destroys demons in its righteous wrath. It’s also occasionally worshiped as a deity which seems like a nice perk.

Image Credit: My pic of a couatl and stats from the hardcover AD&D book sitting right here on my shelf.

Wolf: What is the strangest food you’ve ever eaten?

J.A.: I’m very timid about trying new kinds of food, but a few possibilities come to mind. Octopus maybe? Black squid ink pasta? Bear? Not sure which to pick. One person’s strange is another person’s everyday.

Wolf: If you had to pick a weapon, what would it be and why?

J.A.: That would be my razor-sharp wit. No wait. This woman appeared out of a lake and gave me a sword. She was saying something like I’m supposed to rule something or other but I wasn’t really listening. It’s awesome for cosplay.

Wolf: What is the meanest thing you’ve ever done to your characters?

J.A.: So, one character was captured by the bad guys and tortured. It was nasty. Husband says he’s never going to be the same after reading that scene, so I guess the scene works? But really the meanest thing I’ve done is to have one of my characters win the war for cosmic supremacy. Now she’s stuck ruling the universe and the job sucks.

Wolf: You’ve just been turned into a plant. Describe yourself.

J.A.: I’m an ocotillo blooming in the desert. I’m strange but somehow compelling, and my flowers are used to cure ailments of all kinds. The full Moon touches the tips of my spines like Sleeping Beauty’s finger on a spindle. A coyote hunts the javelina snuffling at my roots. I understand the speech of the moths. I dream of rain.

Wolf: That sounds really cool. Do you consider yourself a cat person, or a dog person?

J.A.: Cat person. You might have guessed that from the whole cat-dragon thing. I mean, dogs have an amazing history and relationship with humans – they can predict seizures and detect cancer, just for starters. But cats … cats purrrrrr.

Image Credit: My childhood cat “Crayon” hiding in the ivy. Adored this kitty.

Wolf: If you could have a super power, what would it be?

J.A.: Probably teleportation, otherwise I want the power to choose the perfect wine to go with any meal. Actually, I do have a super power – I get to decide the order in which the Christmas presents are opened.

Wolf: The world is about to end. What is the first thing you do?

J.A.: After I stop screaming I contact my scientist colleagues. Fortunately, we’ve been studying asteroid hazard mitigation strategies, so we know just what to do. We launch a specially designed explosive that should change the asteroid’s orbit. The world watches, unable to breathe, as the asteroid approaches closer and closer to the Earth. The explosive detonates. The asteroid … sweeps by harmlessly! We all change our pants and celebrate! (Little do we know that we’ve now altered the orbit of the asteroid so it hits … well … that’s another story.)
Wolf: Thanks for saving the world. I could have used your help to stop the cataclysm in my novel, STAR TOUCHED. What story are you working on now?

J.A.: I can’t work on just one thing. I have poems, stories, and novels all going at the same time. One work in progress is a book of poetry that I’ll call ‘childhood horror.’ It explores the fears of childhood, both real and imagined. It has some poems with speculative elements like magic or monsters. Other poems could be considered literary poems with themes like illness, grief, and war. I’ve published several of the poems separately in various journals and other venues. However, the full book completes an emotional journey as it flows from beginning to end. You’ll have to read it to find out more, so keep your eyes peeled for when I finally get this thing out!

Until then try some of my other published stories and poems that are free to read online:

(1) A flash sci-fi piece entitled “The Gods of Home” – published in The Arcanist https://thearcanist.io/the-gods-of-home-a46a36fd0dd4

(2) A bit of pagan magic in short story form called “Bonfire Night” – published in Eternal Haunted Summer https://eternalhauntedsummer.com/issues/summer-solstice-2017/bonfire-night/

(3) A couple of dark fantasy poems –

“It Snows on Camelot” http://www.mirrordancefantasy.com/2013/12/it-snows-on-camelot.html

“Stop Praying, Girls” https://liquidimagination.silverpen.org/article/stop-praying-girls-by-j-a-grier/

Wolf: What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

J.A.: Well, no doubt I should be reading if I’m not writing. But instead I’m probably thinking about writing, or planning writing or blogging about writing … okay I’m probably playing video games like Mass Effect, Dragon Age, or Skyrim. Or I’m going wine tasting. I am also a paper artist in a form called ‘Quilling’ so you might find me working on art projects (my quilling blog is at storiesstonesandspirals.blogspot.com) Barring any of those I guess I’m working at my day job in which I’m researching impact craters on other worlds or sharing planetary science with the general public.

Learn more about J. A. Grier here:

Twitter – @grierja

Blog and Website – jagrier.com

Goodreads Author Page – www.goodreads.com/author/show/6429911.J_A_Grier

STAR TOUCHED

Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population. Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble. Will Tatiana flee or stay and fight for the new life she has built? Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends…and herself.

“A unique and finely crafted debut novel, the characters touched my heart as I was drawn into their plight and compelled to finish!”

— New York Times bestselling Author Maria V. Snyder

February 21, 2018
KEEP OUT: A LITTLE DRAGON ADVENTURE

Step one, get past the iron door barring the cave. Luckily, it was only eight feet tall. I grimaced at a yell in my head. One of the down sides of being a telepath was getting sucked into impromptu rescues.

“I’m coming,” I sent back.

I’d slipped past enough ‘Keep Out” signs to understand this one even if I didn’t know the language. I focused on the pipe just above the door. There was a small pop, and then I was peering down an empty hallway. Teleporting had its limits so I decided to hoof it down the steep ramp, keeping an eye out for guards.

I’d like to say my superior stalking skills ensured that I wasn’t spotted on the mile-long path, but that would be lying. The bottom was another story. One of the guards managed to trigger an alarm before I knocked him out.

“Hurry!”

“I am,” I said, fumbling with the keys.

Some prisoners are just too darn impatient. A satisfying click heralded my success. The door creaked open…onto another door.

“You’ve got to be kidding.”

A few other choice words slipped out while I worked the second lock. Three more doors and a leg shackle later the dragon was free, sort of. She trembled as the guards charged, firing weapons. Dispensing with the usual dragon greeting, I grabbed her neck and focused on a field several miles away. A soft pop announced the teleport. Score one for Little Dragon; soldiers zero.

After a quick thank you, the dragon launched herself into the air. Seeing a dragon soar is a thing of beauty, and not one likely to be viewed on earth. Now, if I could just figure out how to teleport myself home. Or at least figure out what planet I was on. Danged. Sleep teleporting really sucks.

February 19, 2018