Tag: interview

WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – Elana A. Mugdan

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.

Elana A. Mugdan is an author and semi-retired filmmaker based in New York City. She has received many accolades in the film industry, including a number of awards for her feature film Director’s Cut, which she wrote, directed, and produced by herself.

An avid reader, Elana is a lifelong fan of fantasy stories—particularly ones which revolve around dragons. She is described by her friends and family as “the weirdest person I know”, and wears that weirdness proudly on her sleeve. Some of her favorite authors include J.R.R. Tolkien, Peter S. Beagle, and Robert Jordan.

Elana currently resides in New York, living a quiet but eccentric life with her pet rescue snake, Medusa.

Wolf: Glad you could join us today, Elana. Love your costume. If you could be any animal in the universe, what would it be and why?

Elana: The answer to this is obvious: I’d be a dragon! I’ve been a dracophile for as long as I can remember, and dragons have always been a source of strength and inspiration for me. Considering the fact that I am the World’s Foremost Dragon Authority, as well as the OG Mother of Dragons, I think I’d adjust to draconic life quite easily. Plus, flying and breathing fire and having the power to decimate my enemies? Yes, please.

Wolf: I guess I didn’t really need to ask that question. If you had to pick a weapon, what would it be and why?

Elana: Although there are plenty of cool weapons out there, there’s just something about a good old-fashioned sword that I love. I was always partial to them, and always wanted to be a master swordsman—I even took fencing lessons when I was young, since that was the closest I could get to actual sword fighting. However, the dreams of swordsmanship eventually fell by the wayside, and now I must live out those dreams vicariously through the characters in my books.

Wolf: Swords seem to be very popular. Most writers tend to do unkind things to their characters. What is the meanest thing you’ve ever done to one of yours?

Elana: Without giving away too many spoilers, I will simply say this: I once pulled a George R. R. Martin and went on a killing spree, murdering several major characters in an important battle scene in one of my stories. It was heartbreaking, but it had to be done. I’ve also written quite a lot of my own traumas into my main novel series, subjecting my protagonist to a slew of heartaches, losses, and betrayals.

Wolf: Yup. Dead is kind of bad. You’ve just been turned into a plant. Describe yourself.

Elana: I’d definitely be one of those monster man-eating plants, like the kind in Little Shop of Horrors. A massive Venus Flytrap type of thing with writhing tentacle-vines and a gaping, fanged mouth. I wouldn’t hide in the shadows, though—I’d grow on a mountaintop, reveling in the sun, and I’d challenge every human who dared ascend my peek.

Wolf: I think I’ll stay away from your mountain. If you could have a super power, what would it be?

Elana: If you had asked younger me this question, she would have probably said something cool like “time travel”, “teleportation”, or “shapeshifting”. However, now that I am older and wiser, I think I’d have to say: mind control. If I had the ability to control people’s thoughts, I could very quickly become rich, rise to power, and take over the world. Hm, that sounds very villainous, doesn’t it? Don’t worry, I’d use my powers for good—I’d force people to clean up the planet and start being nice to each other.

Wolf: Yet the first thing you thought of was world domination. There is a door at the end of a dark, damp corridor. You hear rumbling. What do you do?

Elana: Quite obviously, I go to investigate. I’d be cautious, of course, but my curiosity would get the best of me. Besides, I’m the kind of lunatic who would love to find a ghost or some horrifying creature behind the door. So even if I’m walking into a dangerous situation, for me it’s still win-win.

Wolf: I like the way you think. What five items would you want to have in a post-cataclysmic world?

Elana: The essentials for survival: a backpack to carry supplies, a water purifier so I never have to worry about clean water, flint rocks to make a fire (matches are too easily lost, and run out too quickly), a gun for defense, and a blade of some sort—I’m not necessarily saying a sword, but hey, if the shoe fits, wear it! The blade would be for chopping wood, whittling, and helping me to look cool.

Wolf: Not to mention it would be great for defense. Do you have a favorite character?

Elana: I love all my characters for different reasons, but the one I love most is Cezon Skyriver, who is a minor character we keep running into throughout my main novel series. Simply put, Cezon is a criminal, and he is one of the funnest characters to write. In fact, I’ve so enjoyed writing in his voice that I’m considering writing an accompanying world-building novella starring him and his band of misfit delinquents!

Wolf: Good idea. What is your favorite body of water and why?

Elana: In my youth, I visited Moosehead Lake every summer. This is a beautiful lake in central Maine, and some of my fondest childhood memories revolve around it. I remember playing with friends upon its shores, swimming out to explore little islands, and skinny dipping by the light of the full moon. It is, bar none, my favorite body of water.

Wolf: Sounds beautiful. What story are you working on now?

Elana: Currently I’m working on Dragon Blood, book three in my YA fantasy series, The Shadow War Saga. It’s scheduled for publication on March 6^th, 2020. I’ve just finished the final round of editing, and I’m now sending it out to my beta readers to gather feedback!

Wolf: Thanks for visiting. You can connect with Elana through these links:

https://www.facebook.com/ShadowWarSaga
https://www.instagram.com/officialdragonspeaker/
https://twitter.com/dragonspleen

Star Touched

Wolf Dawn

July 3, 2019
WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – Jennifer R. Povey

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.

Jennifer R. Povey lives in Northern Virginia with her husband. She writes a variety of speculative fiction, whilst following current affairs and occasionally indulging in horse riding and role-playing games. She has sold fiction to a number of markets including Analog, Daily Science Fiction, and Third Flatiron, and written RPG supplements for several companies. Her most recent novel is the urban fantasy Daughter of Fire.

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

Jennifer: A housecat. I mean, they’re the most spoiled critters ever. Why yes, I am a little lazy.

Wolf: Lounging in a sunbeam sounds nice. What is the strangest food you’ve ever eaten?

Jennifer: Beaver sausage. I do mean the animal. It was actually quite tasty. And when somebody offers me weird food, I take it.

Wolf: So do I. You never know what you’re going to like. If you had to pick a weapon, what would it be and why?

Jennifer: Everyone knows I’m a sword girl. Sharp pointy things for the win.

Wolf: Ouch. I’ll stay back. What is the meanest thing you’ve ever done to your characters?

Jennifer: Pretty much everything I put Anna through in Lost Guardians. If I went into details, it would be spoilery, but…sometimes you have to do really ruthless things to save the world, you know.

Wolf: Indeed. Do you consider yourself a cat person, or a dog person?

Jennifer: Both. Both have their charms. Which says a lot about how eclectic my tastes are in general. Kittens? Puppies? Both are good.

Wolf: And so soft. If you could have a super power, what would it be?

Jennifer: Teleportation. I hate wasting time on travel. (Road trips are a different thing, of course). But breakfast in Paris, lunch in London, with no travel costs? What’s not to love.

Wolf: I’ll go for that. There is a door at the end of a dark, damp corridor. You hear rumbling. What do you do?

Jennifer: Call for backup. Then open it. Ya know, once I have backup. Hopefully it’ll actually be something cute on the other side…

Wolf: Won’t know until you open it. What is your favorite body of water and why?

Jennifer: Probably the ocean. You can take the girl out of the island, but not the island out of the girl. Childhood seaside trips and all.

Wolf: Sweet. What story are you working on now?

Jennifer: The working title is Arana. It’s a companion book to Transpecial, takes place on a starship and involves first contact…and a very haunted MC. I’m about to start the third draft.

Wolf: I look forward to reading it. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Jennifer: Ride horses. Play video games. Silly video games. I mean, I used to be a Farmville addict…

Wolf: Thanks for visiting. You can connect with Jennifer through these links:

Website: http://www.jenniferrpovey.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jrpovey
Tumblr: https://jenniferrpovey.tumblr.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ninjafingers

Star Touched

Wolf Dawn

June 26, 2019
WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – Scott Fowler

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: Scott Fowler is visiting us today. Tell a something about yourself.

Scott: Ever since I could remember I wanted to be a writer. Over my forty odd years on this Earth, I’ve written quite a bit and continue to do so when my home and work life allow. I reside in Jessup, MD with my wife and son.

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

Scott: I always thought wolves were cool. Especially those lone wolves that roam the forest by themselves.

Wolf: I just so happen to like wolves as well. What is the strangest food you’ve ever eaten?

Scott: I usually eat pretty normal Americana food. I supposed the alligator steak I once ate is about the strangest. Should we count all the flies and spiders we end up eating every night as we sleep?

Wolf: No. Definitely not. If you had to pick a weapon, what would it be and why?

Scott: Nothing works better than a good sword at your side, ancient, powerful, and sturdy. A well-made sword can be beautiful and practical.

Wolf: I agree. What is the nicest thing you’ve ever done to your characters?

Scott: I’m generally not very nice to my characters. I see truth in the troubles one goes through rather than in one’s accomplishments. I supposed giving a lonely teenager a loving relationship was the nicest thing I’ve ever done to a character.

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

Scott: Too many mean things to choose from, actually. I suppose luring a college student to the basement of his professor so he could be decapitated was pretty high up there. I once trapped a man in a world of solid ice where he was stuck in a tiny space trying to survive. That story will be in my forthcoming book.

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

Scott: I’m small bush, rotting, with long roots under the surface spreading out in every direction, searching for moisture that isn’t there.

Wolf: Do you consider yourself a cat person, or a dog person?

Scott: Since I’m allergic to cats, that pretty much makes me a dog person.

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

Scott: An abandoned cemetery from decades (perhaps even centuries) gone. The ground is now more swamp than solid making the tombstones half-sunken in the ground and cockeyed this way and that. It’s dusk. The sun’s about to disappear under the horizon. At this point, your imagination will conjure up images of what happens in this graveyard at night. And you don’t want to be there.

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

Scott: I’ve always liked Spider-man’s ability to climb walls. Then again, I’ve always liked the sensuality of the vampire. Bram Stoker had Dracula climbing walls so maybe the powers of a classic gothic vampire (no sparkling) would be good.

Wolf: Speaking of gothic, there is a door at the end of a dark, damp corridor. You hear rumbling. What do you do?

Scott: For God’s sake, don’t open the door!

Wolf: What five items would you want to have in a post-cataclysmic world?

Scott: A good sword, a good book, pen and paper, good music, and my family by my side.

Wolf: Which of your characters is your favorite?

Scott: Kenny Myer from Back Looks The Abyss has a special place in my heart. He came from very deep within me and has the most of who I am as part of him than of any of my other characters. I believe it’s very difficult for a writer to create characters that don’t have some aspect of themselves incorporated with them. Some, obviously, incorporate more than others.

Wolf: So true. Describe a meal you would be served while visiting another world.

Scott: Since I am primarily a horror writer, this could go in any number of frightening directions. I supposed being served another human being would be a “meal.”

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

Scott: I’ve always found the ocean to be a fountain of good stories, out in the middle of nowhere, fighting nature or each other just to survive. There’s much above and below the surface that lends itself to great story telling.

Wolf: Who influences you the most in your writing?

Scott: It’s hard to write horror without some sort of influence by Stephen King. He’s had such a huge impact on the genre, it can’t be ignored. I’ve read King since I was child and particularly love his short fiction. Of course, I’ve been influenced by other writers. I gain a huge amount of inspiration from anthology television shows like The Twilight Zone, Night Gallery, and Tales From the Darkside.

Wolf: Glad you could stop by. Connect with Scott Fowler through his website: https://scottwfowler6.wixsite.com/fowlerfunnyfarm

STAR TOUCHED

WOLF DAWN

June 19, 2019
WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – Lexie Carver

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.

Lexie Carver’s love of horror started in childhood after watching the TV show Goosebumps and grew from there. She watched her first horror film, a slasher, at the age of 11. She watches horror films, goes to horror film festivals, and surrounds herself with darkly inclined muses. Lexie is a feisty woman who loves indie rock and can’t function without at least one cup of black coffee. She has an adorable dog named Remy who is quite a handful.

Lexie prides herself on being a woman, a feminist, and a horror writer—she offers no apologies, pulls no punches. Her poems and short stories are meant to hold up a mirror to the fears and secret longings of us all. A Fine Day for Murder, is a collection of horror short stories featuring demons, stalkers, evil clowns, vampires, murders and ghosts and more. Into the Dark, a collection of horror poetry features story poems of lost love, demons, psychotic lovers, stalkers, werewolves, vampires, toxic love, and murder. The poetry compilation also includes some of Lexie’s photography, all of which can be found on her website, lexiecarver.com.

Two of her short stories, “Vampires Anonymous,” and “Death Proof Inc.” as well as her poem, “Behind the Glass,” were published in Sirens Call Vol 39, a female-owned horror ezine. She was also interviewed by Kettle Whistle Radio. Lexie spoke in 9 horror panels and moderated 1 horror panel at RavenCon 2019

Follow her on Twitter @Lexie_Carver for horror movie recommendations. She has written 132 fanfics for the TV show Supernatural, over 80 of them about Crowley, the King of Hell. She is affectionately known on Tumblr as the Queen of Hell. It was through her love of that show and fanfic writing that she met some of her best friends. Come say hi and stop by her table at the various conventions she will be attending this year.

Wolf: It was great meeting you at RavenCon. If you could be any animal in the universe, what would it be and why?

Lexie: It’s a tie between a Phoenix and a red wolf. I’m constantly changing and evolving with outside stimuli. The old me “dies” and a stronger version rises from the ashes like a Phoenix. I’m shaped by my experiences. I love who I am now and I’m at peace with everything that has brought me to this point. I have a kinship with wolves. Like them, I feel alive and energized by the night. I feel grounded being in the woods. I have a small group of friends — my pack — who I know very well. I prefer that over a large group of acquaintances. I also mate for life. Wolves as spirit animals symbolically mean loyalty, instinct, freedom, intuition, protection, community, independence and communication. Fits me pretty well.

Wolf: Excellent choice. I kind of like wolves as well. You may have created a new creature. Maybe your next story will have a wolf phoenix. If you had to pick a weapon, what would it be and why?

Lexie: If I had to pick a weapon it would be a double-edged dagger like the Haladie that was used in ancient India by the warrior class. Not only does it look badass but it’s easy to use and creates a hell of a lot of damage. It’s small, comfortable to hold (or at least looks like it is), and easy to move quickly through the air. If choosing a weapon for the Apocalypse, look no further. That being said, I am able to assess a situation quickly and I’m resourceful, calm under pressure, and quick to act so I think my brain could also be a weapon.

Wolf: Love it. That’s a cool blade. What is the nicest thing you’ve ever done to your characters?

Lexie: In “Vampires Anonymous,” I gave vampires a support group under the leadership of Lainie, to help wayward vampires find the strength to fight the monster within, to stay “human sober.” I also gave the group resources like a taxi service, guardians, and a halfway house. Here’s hoping that Lisa and Ethan don’t give up the fight.

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

Lexie: Meanest? Hmm…well I am a horror writer so there’s always the possibility of death for my characters, but I did feel a bit guilty at everything I dumped on Nikki. In my short story called “You’ve Got to be Kidding Me,” I put the main character, a waitress named Nikki, through a terrible Monday night. She not only has to stay till 1AM to close the restaurant but she has to deal with drunk, handsy men, a horrible boss and superficial and jealous coworkers. To top it all off there’s a supernatural stalker waiting for her to leave the restaurant. But to Nikki’s credit’s she really does take all of this in stride and through her hardships she finds the strength to fight. I make her realize what’s important and what’s worth fighting for.

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

Lexie: Given that I’m a horror writer, my choice shouldn’t come as much of a shock to you. I’m a Venus Fly Trap, a carnivorous plant that’s pretty, deceptive, yet clearly dangerous. I lure bugs, mainly ants, spiders, beetles and grasshoppers onto my sticky leaves and then seconds later devour them. I may look pretty like any other plant but I’m so much more. As a closing note, Little Shop of Horrors featured a talking and homicidal Venus Fly Trap whose meal of choice was humans.

Wolf: Feed me Seymore. Do you consider yourself a cat person, or a dog person?

Lexie: I’m definitely a dog person. I used to walk dogs and even the most aggressive, dangerous dog loved me. I will always remember a huge golden retriever running across the street, his owner screaming, “no” as he charges at me and licks my face. Mind you, I had never met that dog before, but he definitely wanted to say hi. I have a dog and we have a very deep and rich connection. I enjoy taking him for walks, which he gets so excited about. I take pictures and he smells literally every blade of grass. Suffice to say, our walks are usually quite long. He’s not a huge fan of other dogs — favors humans instead. He loves to snuggle on the couch while I watch a horror flick or on my bed while I sleep. I always wake up to an adorable fuzzy face staring at me accusingly as he waits for me to walk him. His favorite toy is a green devil duck. Ha!

Wolf: Sweet. My pup is curled up next to me now. Which of your characters is your favorite?

Lexie: My favorite character would have to be Bobo the clown from, “Never Fear, Bobo’s Here.” He is such a dysfunctional, klutzy, incompetent villain that’s also quite creepy. I loved blurring the line between horror and comedy. His character stands out the most to me and I remember him fondly. Leave everything you think you know about clowns at the door. Bobo is truly one of a kind.

Wolf:What story are you working on now?

Lexie: I’m working on a new compilation of horror short stories and poems right now actually. The new short story compilation that’s tentatively called Heroes Don’t Stand a Chance, will feature stories a bit darker than the ones found in A Fine Day for Murder. In my new compilation, I will be giving old horror tropes a new twist. My new poetry compilation will be more horror and less memoir at least at this moment. It will also feature more of my photography. Both are still works in progress but I’m excited to show them to you as soon as I can. Keep your eyes peeled.

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

Lexie: When I’m not writing, I’m living out loud, taking photos, connecting with fans at conventions, and reviewing horror movies every day on Twitter. I love to stay active and do something artistic every day. I’m also a huge fan of the arts in general so I dig concerts, museums, art galleries, flea markets, theater shows, vintage bookstores and film festivals. I hope to one day travel the US exploring haunted locations. Horror is at the core of who I am and I feel lucky that I can do what I love.

Wolf: There is a door at the end of a dark, damp corridor. You hear rumbling. What do you do?

Lexie: Rumbling like an earthquake? Find a doorway. Rumbling like a roar from a demon or monster? Yikes! Why did I walk down this dark corridor? Did I get lost? Damn — I need a better GPS. Or maybe I was looking for something? It doesn’t matter now. The rumbling sound was terrifying, and the ground is vibrating — so yeah, gotta run. I’m going to be the smart chick in a horror flick, thank you very much. I’m positive I have learned from watching horror movies all the time and I wouldn’t investigate the sound. I would just run the other way and while I’m running, I’d look for a weapon.

Wolf: Good move. Thanks for visiting. Connect with Lexie through at links:

Social Media Links:
Twitter: Lexie_Carver
lexiecarver.com

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Wolf Dawn

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June 12, 2019
WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – Lauren Monroe

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.

Lauren Monroe is a Maryland novelist and Pittsburgh-native who grew up appreciating beautiful scenery and nautical life. She learned to drive a boat long before a car! From Western Maryland and later to the DC suburbs, she has experienced life in small towns and large. Currently she resides, along with her husband and family, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Letting Go: Book One of The Maryland Shores and Second Chances: Book Two, women’s fiction in The Maryland Shores series, are her first novels. She’s at work on a third book in the series.

Wolf: Glad you could get away from the shore and visit. What is the nicest thing you’ve ever done to your characters?

Lauren: My characters, at least in my first two novels, had to have functional families with close relationships and pretty good interpersonal interactions, give or take typical sibling banter and a dose of parental embarrassment. That strength made them connect with one another, and I do believe, made them endearing.

Wolf: It’s nice to read about families that work once in a while. What is the meanest thing you’ve ever done to your characters?

Lauren: Ah, now that might trigger a spoiler alert. Many readers report, and I do believe, that Second Chances: Book Two of The Maryland Shores was more the page-turner than the sweet story that started off my series. Happily ever after would not keep readers engaged. So my characters needed a few life rings tossed their way. While my fans told me of their surprise at a few plot twists, I stand behind all of them because they simply had to happen.

Wolf: I understand. Do you consider yourself a cat person, or a dog person?

Lauren: I’m definitely a dog person. I owned a cat many years ago, but in adulthood developed watery, itch eyes to felines. I grew up with a beloved, shelter-rescued dog, and so far in my adult life, our family adopted two dogs who needed forever homes. It’s no wonder then that my characters in Second Chances became dog lovers as well.

Wolf: I was adopted by a sweet lovable dog as well. If you could have a super power, what would it be?

Lauren: Hands down, it would be to eliminate anger and promote civility, better conflict resolution, kindness, and understanding.

Wolf: Great idea. Which of your characters is your favorite?

Lauren: Tough question! If I had to pick one, I’d say Steve, the sexy guy I created in Letting Go: Book One of The Maryland Shores. However, I love and identify with Maren who has nautical interests and a home-based career, Liz being a therapist (which I am when not my pen name writing novels!), Paul as a proud Pittsburgher, and Pam pushing back against gender stereotypes and forging her own path.

Wolf: Not playing favorites. You’re a good parent. What is your favorite body of water and why?

Lauren: I grew up on a lake in Maryland and landed later in life living near the Chesapeake Bay. Never the same view, crossing over it several times a week still brings a certain calm and beauty that puts one’s mind at ease. Both sides of the Chesapeake became the setting for my novel series.

Wolf: Nice. What story are you working on now?

Lauren: Book Three of The Maryland Shores which is yet unnamed.

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

Lauren: The urge to create never quite goes away. When not at the keyboard, I’m cooking, baking, reading, developing info-graphics for book promotion, swimming, watching movies, spending time with friends/family, and travelling when I can get away…that’s my life.

Wolf: Sounds like you have a busy life. Why do you think reading is more vital than ever in our frantic, often discordant world?

Lauren: Being surrounded by books brings comfort, and we know from recent studies conducted in the UK that reading as little as six to ten minutes when losing oneself in a character’s world lowers heart rate and lessens muscle tension. With such immediate, relaxing results, I’d ask why in the world wouldn’t people want to part the covers of a good story and just lose themselves for a little while?

Wolf: The only thing better is reading while petting a dog. Thanks for visiting. You can connect with Lauren through these links:

Social Media Links:
www.laurenmonroenovels.com
www.facebook.com/laurenmonroenovels
https://www.pinterest.com/novelistlaurenm/
www.goodreads.com/laurenmonroe

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June 5, 2019
WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – Charlie N. Holmberg

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.

Charlie N. Holmberg is a Wall Street Journal and Amazon bestselling author, whose debut series, The Paper Magician, has been optioned by the Walt Disney Company. Her stand-alone novel, Followed by Frost, was nominated for a 2016 RITA Award for Best Young Adult Romance, and her novel The Fifth Doll won the 2018 Whitney award for Speculative Fiction. She is a board member for Deep Magic Ezine. Visit her at http://www.charlienholmberg.com.

Wolf: Thanks for coming to Wolf Notes today. I hope Disney decides to do The Paper Magician. If you could be any animal in the universe, what would it be and why?

Charlie: Probably something that flies. A bald eagle, maybe. Flies, strong, and it’s protected.

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

Charlie: A machine gun because it’s thorough.

Wolf: Remind me not to get on your bad side. What is the nicest thing you’ve ever done to your characters?

Charlie: Give them a happy ending. 😉

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

Charlie: Read my Numina trilogy and find out! 😉

Wolf: I’ll have to do that. You’ve just been turned into a plant. Describe yourself.

Charlie: I’m thick as an ancient tree trunk, tall and strong, with giant flowers that smell wonderful but also eat any bugs that try to nest on/in me.

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

Charlie: A beautiful cottage that is available for sale at an amazing price…

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

Charlie: The ability to intimidate people. Kind of like the rioters in Mistborn. Especially if it works through the Internet.

Wolf: Yikes. There is a door at the end of a dark, damp corridor. You hear rumbling. What do you do?

Charlie: Most likely I would not open it and run. I’ve seen horror movies, you know. My sense of self-preservation is very high.

Wolf: What happened to the machine gun? What five items would you want to have in a post-cataclysmic world?

Charlie: A gun, ammo, my scriptures, glasses, and one of those water-purifying straws (off the top of my head)

Wolf: Do you have a favorite character?

Charlie: Alvie from The Plastic Magician.

Wolf: You seem to have a few magicians. What is your favorite body of water and why? (river, ocean, waterfall, puddle, bottle…)

Charlie: Being generic, probably a lake. A smallish lake. Oceans kind of scare me (but I do love watching shark movies…).

Wolf: What story are you working on now?

Charlie: A troll romance.

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

Charlie: Spending time with my family!

Wolf: So do I. Thanks for visiting. You can connect with Charlie through these links:

Social Media Links:
Facebook.com/cnholmberg
Twitter.com/cnholmberg
Instagram.com/cnholmberg
Twitch.tv/typecastrpg

Star Touched

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May 29, 2019
WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – Harrison Demchick

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.

This week on Wolf Notes, we have Harrison Demchick.

Raised in Baltimore, Maryland on a steady diet of magical realism, literary fiction, science-fiction, and Spider-Man comics, Harrison Demchick spent most of his formative years inside his own head, working out strange thoughts and ideas that would eventually make their way into stories, screenplays, and songs.

He went to Oberlin College to attain one of modern day’s most notoriously useless degrees, a BA in English with a creative writing concentration, but then actually used it, working for over a decade as a developmental editor of fiction and memoir. Harrison is also an optioned screenwriter, winner of the 2011 Baltimore Screenwriters Competition, and an inaugural fellow of the Johns Hopkins University/Saul Zaentz Innovation Fund. His first film, Ape Canyon, is currently in production.

The Listeners, his first novel, was published by Bancroft Press in 2012. Short stories “Magicland” and “The Bead” were published in 2019. Otherguy, his debut EP, launched in 2018. He currently lives in Washington, D.C. with his girlfriend and their two cats with a combined seven legs. He’s working on a series of short stories, a couple screenplays, a pair of musicals, a concept album, and whatever else keeps him distracted from the dark void that will one day consume us all.

Wolf: I beat your BA in English with a Masters in Sculpture. If you had to pick a weapon, what would it be and why?

Harrison: Yo-yo. Because no one ever picks the yo-yo, and I don’t want it to feel left out.

What are we picking this for again?

Wolf: Just curious. Yo-yos are fun – and dangerous. What is the meanest thing you’ve ever done to your characters?

Harrison: Well, I’m a horror author. So.

In my genres (tossing in magical realism and dark fantasy), it’s fair to say that some very bad things are going to happen in some very weird ways. But one thing that scares me more than anything is the notion of losing yourself—of forgetting the basics of who you are, and knowing that you have. Even if your life before was terrible. That happens in a yet-unpublished novelette called Rugaru, Montana, and my protagonists are more or less faced with the choice of letting themselves forget everything or embracing the lives they were desperate to escape. That may be the meanest thing I’ve done to my characters.

Though I also do some pretty mean things to Daniel, the protagonist of my novel The Listeners.

Wolf: Forgetting who you are is mean. I’ve done that to my characters as well. What is the nicest thing you’ve ever done to your characters?

Harrison: I co-wrote a musical with a friend of mine. It was a zombie musical, so terrible things still happened, but at least they got to sing some fun songs beforehand.

Wolf: Too funny. Do you consider yourself a cat person, or a dog person?

Harrison: I’m a cat person. Actually, honestly, I have a major phobia of dogs. But in my defense, this is only because all dogs secretly want to eat you and eventually overthrow humanity. My cats will also eat me, but only after I’m dead, which when you come down to it is more thoughtful than spiteful.

Wolf: Interesting way of looking at things. I hope you don’t mind being interviewed by a wolf. While walking in the woods you come across…

Harrison: Bigfoot. It has to be Bigfoot. I did a school project on Bigfoot when I was in fourth grade. I taught cryptozoology as a college class. I wrote a screenplay about searching for Bigfoot, and now Ape Canyon is my first film. I’ve earned Bigfoot.

Wolf: You have indeed. There is a door at the end of a dark, damp corridor. You hear rumbling. What do you do?

Harrison: Well, hold on. There are a lot of variables in that scenario. First off, from which side of the door is the rumbling coming? And what sort of rumbling is it? Is it the rumbling of a train over tracks? An earthquake? The growling stomach of some unseen monster?

These latter questions will not be answered because I will be heading briskly in the opposite direction. The door is irrelevant. My characters go through these things so I don’t have to.

Wolf: Great answer. What five items would you want to have in a post-cataclysmic world?

Harrison: Oh, I wrote about one of these! The first and most important thing I would want is the most important thing Daniel in The Listeners suffers without: a friend. I happen to have a friend who owns a sword. I think a friend with a sword is a good bet in a post-cataclysmic world.

My second item would be a second friend, which is good to have in case the first friend dies or goes full-on zombie. Or if I do.

Actually, at least four of the five items would be friends. In all seriousness, there are all kinds of basic necessities you need to survive in a post-cataclysmic world, but it’s not worth surviving if you don’t have a reason to live. Friends will give you that. Friends will make the end of the world okay. One of them would be my fiancée, because she makes everything okay.

The fifth item is a guitar. I don’t know how to play the guitar, but if the world has ended I’d have plenty of time to learn.

I shouldn’t have evoked the concept of having time enough at last in a post-cataclysmic context. Now something terrible and ironic will happen.

Wolf: You want to live, not just survive. Friends are important for that. Which of your characters is your favorite?

Harrison: I’ve been writing a lot of shorter fiction the last couple years, and the nature of short fiction is such that you don’t live with an individual character for all that long. So it stands to reason that I become more attached to the ones with whom I spend the most time. There’s a special place in my heart for Cal Piker, the protagonist of Ape Canyon. Though I may identify most with Mindy, the protagonist of my screenplay Time-Traveling Idea Bandits. She’s a wildly enthusiastic aspiring writer struggling with serious self-doubt. That describes too many of my friends for me not to love her.

Wolf: What story are you working on now?

Harrison: I’ve just wrapped up a short story called “Sophie Anne” about a mother, her young daughter, and the Honey Tree Baby (think Cabbage Patch Doll) the mother gives her for her birthday. That sounds like the setup for a creepy possessed doll story. It’s not. Or not in the way you expect at least. It’s actually become one of the saddest things I’ve ever written. I’m very hopeful about it once I start submitting it to literary magazines and anthologies.

Wolf: Hope it does well. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Harrison: Wait—there are other things—?

Wolf: Perhaps not. Thanks for visiting. You can catch up with Harrison at these links:

http://www.harisondemchick.com
www.facebook.com/HarrisonDemchick
https://www.facebook.com/ApeCanyon/
https://twitter.com/HDemchick

Star Touched

Wolf Dawn

May 22, 2019
WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – Elsa Wolf

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.

Today’s guest is Elsa Wolf.

A George Washington University graduate now living in the suburbs within the Baltimore-Washington corridor. Elsa Wolf began with a theater background, which developed into public relations and eventually into the ownership of a small equestrian business. Elsa spends her time writing, traveling, helping rescued horses, and supporting soldiers.

Wolf: I always liked horses. If you could be any animal in the universe, what would it be and why?

Elsa: If I could be any animal, it would likely be a wolf running free with my pack. However, I would like to be reincarnated several times with my companions. We could learn from our mistakes and make each life better than the last.

Wolf: Excellent choice. What is the nicest thing you’ve ever done to your characters?

Elsa: The nicest thing I’ve done for a character is help them find the lost bits of themselves through unexpected sources. In my current novel, Buried Truths-A Daughter’s Tale, the adopted daughter decides to find her birth-mother when she accidentally comes across a novel about a mother giving up her baby.

Wolf: I hope she finds the answers she is looking for. Do you consider yourself a cat person, or a dog person?

Elsa: I have had cats and dogs over many decades. My cats while loving and independent, cannot match the devotion of my dogs. One in particular, gave me unconditional love and was a wonderful hiking companion. He helped me feel secure in any environment.

Wolf: I’m partial to dogs myself. If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

Elsa: If I had a superpower, I would want to be able to teleport at will from place to place with another person holding my hand. I love to travel and explore new sites as well as visit old haunts. Teleporting would give me lots of options.

Wolf: That’s cool. I’ve been working on a series with a teleport. What five items would you want to have in a post-cataclysmic world?

Elsa: In a post-cataclysmic world, I would have a pot for cooking and purifying water, a flint to lite fires, a pair of comfortable hiking boots, a layered water-proof jacket as well as a knife.

Wolf: Great picks. What story are you working on now?

Elsa: I am currently working on a novel with a military man who falls in love in Savannah, Georgia and then is traumatized in combat. He only sleeps a few hours a night and has mystical experiences in Savannah and then Portugal.

Wolf: I’d like to read that. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Elsa: When I’m not writing I like to take long walks or spend time with friends locally or while traveling. During my solo times, I listen to audiobooks or sew quilts and costumes.

Wolf: Costumes. Awesome. How do you find your characters?

Elsa: I find my characters while I sleep and dream, I find them out in public spaces, I find them in people I know and morph them into a new character, and I find them when I’m traveling.

Wolf: Thanks for visiting. Connect with Elsa through these links.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100022567891468
https://twitter.com/WolfElsaWolf
https://elsawolfbooks.com/

Star Touched

Now on audio

Wolf Dawn

May 15, 2019
WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – Valerie J. Mikles

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: Say hello to Valerie J. Mikles.

Valerie cosplaying Captain Jack Harkness coming out of the TARDIS

Valerie is a PhD astronomer who found a home at NOAA working on weather satellites. She loves to travel and learn about other cultures, but considers herself a homebody the rest of the year. In September 2017, she published the first novel of her New Dawn series “The Disappeared,” and has since released several more. When not writing novels, she can be found at the community theater, acting, choreographing, costuming, or stage managing. She’s also written and produced a series of comedic short films about asexuality, inspired by her own journey of self-discovery. Her motto in life is “I can be everything I want, just not all at the same time.”

Wolf: That is a great motto. If you could be any animal in the universe, what would it be and why?

Valerie: I’d be some kind of fish living in warm, tropical waters. I love the ocean and I always feel cold, so a life at sea in a warm environment would be awesome. If I were a mermaid, I would occasionally beach myself on a rock and spend the night stargazing. I don’t know if I’d ever swim far north enough to see the Northern Lights (it’d just be too cold), but I could dip into the southern hemisphere to see the Magellanic Clouds. I think as long as being a mermaid didn’t require me to wear a sea-shell bra, I’d be okay with it. Otherwise, I’d want to be something simple, blue, and tropical, like a blue tang.

Wolf: How about a shell tunic? (Trying really hard not to start singing “Under the Sea”) If you had to pick a weapon, what would it be and why?

Valerie cosplaying Deadpool at the Farpoint Con book sale.

Valerie: I’m stuck between knife and trebuchet. I feel like the knife is infinitely practical, portable, and reusable. As a minimalist, I also like that it can be used for many different things, like killing chickens, cutting fruit, and stabbing enemies. However, the trebuchet allows me to launch any number of weapons of opportunities a great distance, saving me the trouble of hand-to-hand combat, which I have admittedly not trained in. I don’t really foresee myself launching rocks, but I could totally launch plague-infested corpses into anti-vaxxer territory… sorry, is this getting too political? Also, if I needed an escape, I could launch myself.

Wolf: Not too political. I’m very much pro-science and pro-vaccine. You’ve just been turned into a plant. Describe yourself.

Valerie: I have broad, soft leaves and bright, rainbow-colored, fragrant flowers. I love roses, both in softness and scent, but I wouldn’t be thorny like a rose bush, nor would I attract aphids and beetles. I am not the kind of plant that bugs crawl on. I naturally repulse them with my super-plant oils. I’d flourish in tropical climates with lots of humidity. When my seeds are tossed into flood waters, the water levels instantly go down, roots spread, and flowers bloom. I’m probably edible, too.

Wolf: Awesome! Do you consider yourself a cat person, or a dog person?

Sky (gray), Chase (black), and Hawk (tabby) looking up from a nap because I moved a muscle.

Valerie: I’m more of a cat person than a dog person, but one of my cats thinks he’s a dog. He barks at the squirrels in the back yard. (It’s a cat-like bark, but it’s not a meow.) I have three cats, but I’m a one-cat person. But when I adopted the first one, he was so sad and depressed, and my options were to take him back or try a friend. So, I went back to the person who’d fostered him and picked up a second cat. Things got instantly better for the first cat, but the poor second cat wasn’t able to handle his neediness 24-7. The third guy really balances the house, so now I have three happy cats and I just sit here constantly overwhelmed in my cat-crowded house. I hate when people call me a “cat mom” because I consider us to be more like roommates.

Wolf: Wow. You’re the second person who said their cat was like a dog, but the first on with a cat that barks. I’d love to hear a recording of that. While walking in the woods you come across…

Valerie: A snake eating another snake. True story. I grew up in Baltimore County, north of the city, before the houses turn to horse farms. My family went hiking with our dog almost every weekend. There were places nearby with dense woods, rocky trails, streams and rivers, and the occasional log bridge to challenge one’s balance. Once, we even did an Easter egg hunt in the woods, and left a hard-boiled egg for the woodland creatures because we couldn’t find it again. Though in retrospect, it’s possible something ate it. Which brings me to the snake. We didn’t often see snakes, but one day, I guess it was just that time of year, and the snakes were out. We jumped into a cool refreshing river after a long hike, and then jumped out five seconds later because a snake slithered in. Snakes are not the best swimming companions for humans. We bolted, and it seemed every time our heart rates slowed, another snake appeared on the path. After we crossed the snake eating another snake, we just kept running until we got to the car.

Wolf: That’s a lot of snakes. It must have been a snake holiday. What is your favorite body of water and why? (river, ocean, waterfall, puddle, bottle…)

Valerie at the beach

Valerie: How do I choose? When you swim in a river, your skin and hair get all soft. Fresh water doesn’t have waves, but it also doesn’t sting when you get some up your nose. It’s good for skiing… But the ocean is the ocean. Salt water has this whole other healing effect on the body. It’s soothing to stare at, more-so if you can listen to the waves crashing on the shore. You can choose your shoreline for gentle waves or giant ones. My perfect afternoon is at an Atlantic Coast beach, somewhere in south Florida. So, I guess the body of water is the Atlantic Ocean, at the part where it kisses Crescent Beach, Florida.

Wolf: Nice. What story are you working on now?

Valerie: I’m working on several. Book 6 of my series is with my editor, and I expect to have feedback on that soon so I can get it out later this year. Book 7 is ready for beta-readers, but I promised myself I’d slow down on the series. I also started work on two original novels. I’m super-excited about one called The Qinali Vaccine, which features an astral projecting asexual astronomer who is trying to save the human race from extinction. I don’t have a release date yet because I’m still wearing the rose-colored first draft glasses.

Wolf: Sounds interesting. Let me know when you’re ready for beta-reader for that one. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Ghostbuster Valerie emerging from the TARDIS with her first book!

Valerie: I do a little bit of everything. I’m a board member for my local community theater, and have filled many roles on and off the stage. My favorite role is choreographer. I love bringing stories to life through dance. I also love making films, playing piano and guitar, and sewing costumes. A few years ago, my antidepressants sent me into a hyper-mania, and I joined a gym to let off excess energy. I’ve really enjoyed getting stronger and learned some of the basics of power lifting. I can now lift a 50 lb. bag of cat litter with minimal effort. Also, I’m super excited to be able to open the fire doors at work without throwing my entire body weight behind the effort. Being strong is fun.

Wolf: It’s amazing how many writers also make costumes or another art form. The Arts are definitely connected. Thanks for visiting. Connect with Valerie through one of the links below.

Social Media Links:
http://www.valeriejmikles.com (books)
http://www.aces-sitcom.com (film)
http://www.facebook.com/vjmikles (books)
https://www.facebook.com/beanythingcosplay/ (cosplay)
twitter: @valeriebean

Star Touched

Wolf Dawn

May 8, 2019
WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – Esther T. Jones

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: Give a big wolf welcome to Esther T. Jones.

A voracious reader, Esther T. Jones has been writing stories in her head since she was five. She calls the United States her home, and when not writing can be found gardening, playing flute and piano, and designing costumes centered around her novels.

At present, Jones is working on her second novel: Thorunn, an exciting new Young Adult Sci-fi work.

Wolf: It’s always nice to meet a fellow dreamer/writer/costumer. If you could be any animal in the universe, what would it be and why?

Esther: If I could be any animal in the universe, I’d choose to be a cat. They’re fierce and independent and very aesthetically pleasing.

Wolf: That they are. What is the strangest food you’ve ever eaten?

Esther: The weirdest thing I’ve ever eaten (on New Year’s, as part of a friend’s family tradition) was an insect that is apparently a delicacy for pregnant women in South America. Never again. Never, never.

Wolf: I have to admit; I’ve never tried to eat any bug on purpose. If you had to pick a weapon, what would it be and why?

Esther: I favor the bow. One of my absolute favorite stories growing up was “The Adventures of Robin Hood” (and I’ve had the wonderful privilege of being able to visit Sherwood Forest) so I’ve practiced archery on and off since childhood, and I enjoy making my own bows for cosplays and such.

Wolf: I LOVE archery. If you could have a super power, what would it be?

Esther: I think being able to fly would be so neat! I’d be a world traveler.

Wolf: That seems to be a very popular super power. There is a door at the end of a dark, damp corridor. You hear rumbling. What do you do?

Esther: Depends on whether or not I have my bow with me. But if I do, I see myself creeping toward the door, holding my breath as it opens a crack, just enough to let a sliver of light peep through. Slowly, I knock an arrow to the bow string and drop into a half crouch, ready to face what lurks just beyond…

Wolf: Spoken like a true adventurer. What is your favorite body of water and why? (river, ocean, waterfall, puddle, bottle…)

Esther: This might seem odd, but I love the gym swimming pool. It’s a place I’ve always associated with peaceful calm, and doing laps is very soothing. The ocean is a close second however – the sound of the waves washes away all stresses or worries.

Wolf: Interesting. I can smell chlorine just thinking about a pool. What story are you working on now?

Esther: Currently I’m working on “Thorunn” a YA novel that is a bit of a culture clash, a little bit of a conspiracy, and a good bit of an adventure story, featuring two teen protagonists – Laine and Kenton – who could not be more different. It’s sci-fi, so I’ve had a lot of fun making up new planets, moons, weapons and transportation, flora and fauna, the weather, and even some deadly diseases that may or may not impact the lives of the main characters.

Wolf: Creating new worlds is a lot of fun. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Esther: When I’m not writing, music is my life – I teach and play flute and piano almost every single day and am actively involved in my alma mater’s community music ensembles. I also love gardening and taking close up pictures of the vegetables and flowers. There’s nothing like fresh grilled zucchini or a sweet-smelling bouquet I picked myself. And of course, I love to read!

Wolf: Sounds like a lot of fun. Thanks for stopping by. Connect with Esther at these links:

Social Media Links:

Website: www.etjwrites.com
Twitter: twitter.com/etjwrites
Instagram: instagram.com/etjwrites
Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/15844192.Esther_T_Jones
Tumblr: etjwrites.tumblr.com

Star Touched

Wolf Dawn

May 1, 2019