A. L. Kaplan

Tag: interview

  • WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – Ken Schrader

    081Welcome 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, Ken. Tell us a little about yourself.

    Head shot and profile picKen: I am a science fiction and fantasy writer, a shameless Geek, a huge fan of the Oxford comma, and I make housing decisions based upon the space available for bookshelves. I collect books, movies, and music.

    I sing out loud when I think there’s no one around, and I try to get a blog post up once a week – both with varying degrees of success.

    I love music of all kinds, books, the big sky off my front porch, Star Wars, Firefly, Blind Guardian (to which, I write almost exclusively), Rugby, star gazing, jasmine tea, and the smell of rain on the air.

    My favorite flavor of ice cream is chocolate. My favorite food is a grilled steak, and I can suspend disbelief embarrassingly quickly.

    I live in Michigan, am co-owned by several dogs (especially the Border Collie), and I am one of the rare breed of folk that enjoys mowing the lawn.

    Wolf: Wow, we have many things in common. Too many to list. If you had to pick a weapon, what would it be and why?

    Ken: A lightsaber. Because it’s not as clumsy, or random as a blaster.  Also, because it is a sword that can be turned off.

    Wolf: That is kind of cool. Makes your sword much more portable. You’ve just been turned into a plant. Describe yourself.

    Ken: Oh, I’d be an orchid. Long, thin stem, pinkish-purple flowers.

    Wolf: Sounds beautiful. Purple is one of my favorite colors. Do you consider yourself a cat person, or a dog person?

    Ken: Dog person. I can’t imagine my life without having at least one dog in it.

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

    Ken: A pair of standing stones. Tree limbs, and vines, growing across the top to form an arch. Beyond the arch is…somewhere else. Somewhere you can’t quite see in detail, but feels warm.

    Wolf: I sense an adventure coming. If you could have a super power, what would it be?

    Ken: Immortality, with a dash of Wolverine’s healing factor. So many books, so little time…

    Wolf: Agreed. I have a huge stack of to be read book. There is a door at the end of a dark, damp corridor. You hear rumbling. What do you do?

    Ken: Oh, I open that thing and peer inside. No doubt about it.

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

    Ken: The “pond” in my front yard. It’s not really a true pond, but for ¾ of the year, it’s under water and, in the spring/summer, the Peepers sing at night. I love my Peepers. When I moved out into the country, I thought they’d drive me nuts but, when they’re hibernating in the colder months, I really miss them.

    Wolf: I like peepers too, and they eat those pesky mosquito larvae. What story are you working on now?

    Ken: A smuggler turned Empress must unite three disparate races in order to prevent an insane AI from wiping out humanity.

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

    Ken: I like to hang out with my family, grill, watch the sun set. I’m also an occasional gamer, and a HUGE rugby fan.

    Wolf: A gamer? I never would have guessed. (chuckle chuckle) Thanks for stopping by.

    You can connect with Ken through these links:

    Website: www.Ken-Schrader.com

    Twitter: @kenschrader4882 (ask me about that number sometime)

    Facebook: www.facebook.com/ken.schrader

     

    Don’t forget to pick up your copy of

    STAR TOUCHED

    Startouched front cover2

  • WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – Katika Schneider

    081Welcome 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.

    CaptainKatikaSchneiderA lover of literary adventure and notorious breaker of writing rules, Katika Schneider’s been an obsessive writer for most of her life. She started out writing for herself before surrendering to her characters’ demands, and began pursuing publication in 2014. She’s a firm believer that everyone has a story to tell.

    Holding her degree in Animal Science, Kat planned on attending veterinary school until incisions started making her faint. Today, her non-writing hobbies include classical horsemanship, collecting garden gnomes, customizing toy horses, binge watching anime, and rolling around on the floor making stupid noises with her awesome dog. She lives with her husband and their abundant family of critters.

    Wolf: Thanks for stopping by for this interview, Katika. If you had to pick a weapon, what would it be and why?

    Katika: A tank. Absolutely, 100% a tank. My husband used to tell me he wanted me to either learn how to use throwing axes or get me a shotgun because “nobody would want to cross a woman who ran at them, screaming, wielding either of those,” but I’m pretty sure a tank would work better. It’d also provide the benefits of a mode of transportation, armor of sorts, and I’m pretty sure people would be less likely to cut me off in traffic or run red lights in front of me.

    Wolf: I’d pick another road to drive on. What is the nicest thing you’ve ever done to your characters?

    Katika: I consider writing a sacred duty in that my characters only exist in my mind until I make the effort to record their adventures. I do my best to listen to my characters, to let them make their own choices, and to record their lives as authentically as I can so that they can continue to live in my readers’ minds. I’d like to think that’s a pretty nice thing to do for my characters.

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

    Katika: I’ll preface this one by saying that I’ve got five cats and one dog, and I love them all dearly. I can’t imagine a quality life without either of them, and they both have different qualities that make them The Best, but dogs always seem a bit more genuine to me. And you can’t really sing howling songs with cats.

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

    Katika: Roll Knowledge Dungeoneering to see if I can figure out what it could be. Either way, I’m probably searching for traps and preparing to pick the lock to investigate.

    Just kidding. Real Katika probably would blink and say, “Why am I in a dark, damp corridor? This isn’t where I belong!” and high tail it out of there.

    Wolf: Spoken like a true gamer. What five items would you want to have in a post-cataclysmic world?

    Katika: I’m taking the liberty of claiming that people and animals don’t count as “items.”
    1. Some way to record my thoughts that does not rely on electric or battery power. Some people would want a lifetime supply of bullets or canned food—I’d want a lifetime supply of ink.
    2. My tank from question one. Even if I ran out of fuel for it, it’d still offer me durable protection from the elements and any antagonistic forces lurking about.
    3. A knife. The bushwhacking kind that I could use for multiple purposes.
    4. A whetstone to keep said knife in working order.
    5. A toothbrush.

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

    Katika: While I am a notorious puddle jumper, I love creeks and streams. I’m sure part of this is due to nostalgia, as I grew up in rural Missouri, but they’re so soothing. Except, of course, when they’re flooding.

    Startouched front cover2Wolf: Flooding is a big problem. (There is a pretty significant one in Star Touched.) What story are you working on now?

    Katika: I’m currently working on Defiance, book 4 of the Tale of the Fallen. As I’m responding to these questions, it’s about 2/3 of the way through its second draft. I’m also gearing up to help co-author a portal fantasy, though I don’t have a set timeline for it yet.

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

    Katika: When I’m not writing (or doing other activities related to it), I’m either playing with my dog, riding my horses, binge watching anime, or participating in some type of gaming. On my actual days fully away from work, I like to go antiquing and visiting hokey tourist traps (bonus points if they’ve got life-size statues of dinosaurs)

    Wolf: Sounds like fun.

    Conect with Katika through these links.
    Website: http://katikaschneider.com/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatikaSchneider/
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/KatikaSchneider
    Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01DAG9UBA
    GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15142056.Katika_Schneider

  • WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – Michael Thompson

    081Welcome 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.

    Author Photo

     

    Michael Thompson is an award-winning author and illustrator from Northern Virginia. His debut novel, World of the Orb, earned national acclaim in the Feathered Quill Book Awards, and his latest publication, Winslow Hoffner’s Incredible Encounters, brings his trademark humor, adventure, and dynamic character ensembles into a folkloric fantasy setting. For more information, visit: MichaelThompsonBooks.com

     

    Wolf: I had the pleasure of meeting Michael at RavenCon this past April. So, Michael, what is the strangest food you’ve ever eaten?

    Michael: I had something called anticuchos once at my friend’s cookout:  ribbons of beef heart laced onto wooden skewers.  Really good actually.  I remember it being smoky and tasting intensely of iron. I really liked it.

    Wolf: I’ve had that. It’s delicious. If you had to pick a weapon, what would it be and why?

    Michael: In World of the Orb, one of my main characters has an awesome fighting tool called a “multiweapon.”  It extends from a compact handle, to a staff, to a three-sectioned staff or a two-sided spear.  The spearheads are linked by chains, and those can be launched and reeled.  Pretty handy!World of the Orb Front Cover

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

    Michael: I love dogs.  I’ve had two dogs, both of whom have influenced the personalities of some of the animal companions in my books.

    Wolf: Dog lovers of the world, UNITE! If you could have a super power, (besides talking to dogs) what would it be?

    Michael: In World of the Orb some of the characters can tap into an energy called Ka, which affords them certain telepathic, telekinetic, and other mystic abilities.  It’d be great to reach the TV remote too.

    Startouched front cover2Wolf: Your characters should get together with the characters in Star Touched. They seem to have some things in common. Speaking of characters, which of your characters is your favorite?

    Michael: I love them all, but right now I’d say my favorite is the titular character from my latest book, Winslow Hoffner’s Incredible Encounters.  He’s a gallant, eccentric fisherman who’s witnessed some of the sea’s most astounding beasts of legend.  He happens to be a great storyteller with a sharp sense of humor too.

     

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

    Michael: There’s some great food in World of the Orb I’d like to try.  Schu-faun would probably be at the top of my list.  It’s a creamy, whipped dessert with an exotic, tangy berry syrup shelled in a lattice nest of crisp, sweet pastry.

    Wolf: Yummy. Let me know when you’ve worked out the recipe. What is your favorite body of water and why? (river, ocean, waterfall, puddle, bottle…)

    Winslow Front CoverMichael: The ocean is remarkable to me.  The smell’s refreshing, the sounds are relaxing, and there’s something powerful, hypnotic, and humbling about the vastness.  Its mysteriousness inspires a lot of my stories too.  There’s a significant seafaring element to World of the Orb and my new Winslow Hoffner book especially delves into what wonders may lay hidden out there.

    Wolf: What story are you working on now?

    Michael: It’s sequel time! My main focus right now is World of the Orb 2, the official title of which is a secret for now.  I’m really excited to return to that world.

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

    Michael: I love film—whether I’m going to the movies, talking about new releases, or making short films with my friends. Film was my minor in college, so that’s another avenue of storytelling I’m passionate about.

    Wolf: Film is one of the arts I do best as an observer. Thanks for stopping by.

    Connect with Michael through these links:

    Website: https://www.MichaelThompsonBooks.com
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDSiGQGocjTGEHbgagmd5WA
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/MThompsonBooks
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mthompson_books/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelThompsonBooks/

     

    And don’t forget to pick up a copy of Star Touched

  • WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – Samantha Bryant

     081Welcome 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.

    meandbookSamantha Bryant is a middle school Spanish teacher by day and a mom and novelist by night. That makes her a superhero all the time. Her secret superpower is finding lost things. When she’s not writing or teaching, Samantha enjoys time with her family, watching old movies, baking, reading, and going places. Her favorite gift is tickets (to just about anything). 

     

     

    Wolf: Middle school is a tough age to teach. Thank you for your patience. If you could be any animal in the universe, what would it be and why?

    Samantha: I’d like to be a large dog, especially if I could be a pet dog in a household of happy and active children. I envy my dog his ease with boredom and his comfort in his own skin. When we run together, I admire his athleticism and joy in the movement of his own body. So many of the things that have been hang-ups for me all my life simply don’t exist as issues for dogs, who trust to a loving universe to bring them what they need and want.

    Wolf: I’m partial to canines as well. What is the strangest food you’ve ever eaten?

    Samantha: I didn’t grow up in a food-adventurous household, so I was an adult before I tried anything other Midwestern Americans might consider interesting. As a young woman, I picked up a taste for sushi (especially salmon roe) and Indian food. But the food that was the strangest to me was during my Alaska years. I lived in Nome for a little shy of a decade, a small city where the population is roughly 75% Native, mostly Yup’ik. So, I ate seal in various dishes (it’s chewy), more moose and reindeer meat than I expected, and some traditional dishes like akutaq (Eskimo ice cream), tea (stinkheads), and mantak (muktuk). I still miss the hard-smoked salmon candy and salmonberries.

    Wolf: I haven’t heard of some of those. I’d love to try them. If you had to pick a weapon, what would it be and why?

    Samantha: I’d need more training, but the only weapon I’ve ever used that felt good in my hands was a longsword. I took some German longsword classes with my husband for a bit, something we’d both love to get back to sometime. Even with my limited knowledge and expertise, I felt the power and confidence of wielding a big, heavy sword.

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

    Samantha: I let them find each other. When the Menopausal Superheroes series began, the main characters all felt alone in their struggles to manage the new abilities they were manifesting alongside their jobs, relationships, and responsibilities. Over the course of the series, they’ve become good friends and an essential support to each other. I’m being extra nice to Jessica “Flygirl” Roark right now. She’s getting a second chance at love in the fourth book.

    Wolf: Hope it works out for her. What is the meanest thing you’ve ever done to your characters?

    Samantha: I gave them superpowers. That might not seem mean at a first glance, but these weren’t teenagers thrilled to get new skills, these were grown women.

    Sure, Linda/Leonel “Fuerte” Alvarez got super strength, but it came with an unplanned sex change (it was a surprise to their husband, too!).

    Jessica “Flygirl” Roark eventually mastered her power of flight, but at first it was more like she and gravity had stopped communicating with each other. Just like she and her husband during her battle with ovarian cancer.

    Patricia “Lizard Woman” O’Neill didn’t have it any easier. She wasn’t married, except to her career, but it’s hard to run a company when you keep sprouting scales and claws in front of your employees.

    If I ever met any of my characters in real life, I don’t think they’d be thanking me for the complications I added to their lives.

    Wolf: That’s for sure. You’ve just been turned into a plant. Describe yourself.

    Samantha: Oh, I hope I’m a tree! I’d like to be something tall and leafy and shady and long-lived. As a human, I find a kind of peace among trees that I don’t feel anywhere else and it would be lovely to feel that from the inside.

    I’ll be a paper birch, with lovely white bark that contrasts strikingly with my yellow leaves in the fall. Children will play under my branches and collect my vaguely heart-shaped leaves to pass to one another as Valentine’s or use as pretend food in their imaginary journeys. When the wind blows through my branches, I’ll lean with it making a whistling sound when I get the angle right that invites thoughts of ghost stories and haunted fields.

    Wolf: Birch trees are beautiful. Do you consider yourself a cat person, or a dog person?

    meandO-postrun.JPGSamantha: Definitely a dog person. I like cats, but I don’t connect with them emotionally like I do dogs, and since my husband has a cat allergy, we don’t keep any in our home. I did have a wonderful cat in my previous life (with my first husband), a yellow Maine Coon mix called Kitty Claude who took a little girl’s love—no matter how rough—like nobody’s business.

    We currently love a rescue dog, an Australian shepherd mix named O’Neill, and he’s a lot of trouble, and a lot of joy. Speaking of which, any tips from your readers for dealing with a middle-aged dog who has suddenly developed people-food-scavenging habits? It’s a new behavior from him that has us all a little baffled.

    Wolf: Not sure what to make of that. You might want to check with your vet or local dog training school. The world is about to end. What is the first thing you do?

    Samantha: Grab my nearest and dearest and huddle together, assuring each other of our love through the very end.

    Wolf: Which of your characters is your favorite?

    Samantha: That’s like trying to choose a favorite child. It really does vary. Of my Menopausal Superheroes, I am fond of Patricia, with her curmudgeonly demeanor that protects a soft as a marshmallow heart. But usually, it’s whoever I’m writing right now, which would be Malcolm in my work-in-progress. He’s had a hard row to hoe, that young man, but he has the stuff of heroism in him.

    Wolf: What story are you working on now?

    Samantha: I’m in the middle of the first draft of a new novel, working title: Thursday’s Children. I started it when I was invited to be a part of a book bundle some friends were assembling. We were all asked to write novellas that were young adult, romance, and either post-apocalyptic or dystopian. Since I’d never written ANY of those things, and I’d been interested in writing something my students could read, I thought I’d give it a whirl. I didn’t finish in time to be part of the bundle, and the book wants to be a full-length novel anyway, but I’m hooked. Kye’luh, Jason, and Malcolm have me wrapped around their fingers and they’ll have my full attention for a few more months until I finish telling their story.

    Wolf: I look forward to reading that when you finish. Thanks for stopping by. Connect with Samantha at these links.

    all covers

    http://samanthabryant.com
    http://www.amazon.com/Samantha-Bryant/e/B00TBPQTLY/
    https://www.facebook.com/samanthadunawaybryant
    https://twitter.com/mirymom1
    https://www.goodreads.com/mirymom
    https://plus.google.com/u/0/+SamanthaDunawayBryant/posts
    http://mirymom.tumblr.com/
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9j-KqaCAp8UYrVAWejQZ-g

    It’s hard to be who you are meant to be.

    Especially when your trying to hide.

    Pick up your copy of STAR TOUCHED today.

  • WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – Gareth & Marty the Merchant

    081

    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: In honor of Independence Day, I’ve invited Marty the Merchant and Gareth Jenkins to Wolf notes. Both are characters in STAR TOUCHED. Tell us a little about yourselves.flag

    Marty: Not much to tell. After the Cataclysm wiped out most of the population and the country fell apart, I became a traveling salesman. I’m not into the mercenary thing like some former army folks.

    Gareth: I’d already left the army by then to open a bar in my home town. Things were rough for a while, but business has since expanded to include a store and rooms to rent.

    Wolf: You both seem to have adapted well. There is quite an age difference between the two of you, fifteen years. Did you meet in the army?”

    Marty: Yeah. I was a bit of a trouble maker. Gareth helped straiten me out and refocus into more useful activities.”

    Gareth: Marty is being too polite. He was a prank pulling pain in the butt. Even so, he always managed to do what needed to be done without complaint. A slacker he’s not.

    Marty: I’m glad someone saw more than trouble. Gareth recommended me for special forces. It was a turning point. Turns out my sneaking around skill had a bonified use.

    Gareth: We’ve helped each other through the years. Marty pulled me out of a rabbit hole after my wife, Margaret died. Don’t know what I would have done without him.

    Wolf: Sounds like you make a good team. The Cataclysm tore a lot of people apart, yet you’ve managed to stay connected. How’d you manage. I mean there are no phones or computers and the roads are a mess.

    Gareth: Marty knew where I was.

    Marty: Being a traveling salesman lets me roam the country side. One of the first places I went to was Atherton. Needed to look up my buddy.

    Wolf: About that roaming, what is it you do?

    Marty: I’m just a merchant.

    Wolf: Right, sure you are. There are a lot of things that people have had to do without since the cataclysm. What do you miss the most?

    Gareth: Tuna. I love canned tuna but after eight years in a can, even I don’t want it.

    Marty: Yuck. Canned tuna and noodles is what my mom cooked all the time. Sometimes she’d mix in canned peas or green beans for variety. I’ve had enough of that stuff for a lifetime. I miss coffee. Anytime I find a stash it’s like I hit the jackpot.

    Gareth: There used to be a coffee place on almost every corner, even Atherton had at least two. That’s saying something for a small town. Now all we have are a few old stale beans. Tea just isn’t the same.

    Wolf: At least you have those. If you could reestablish the USA, would you?

    Gareth: Absolutely, but I’d get rid of the electoral college thing. Everyone’s vote should count. And there should be limits on how much money can be spent trying to get elected.

    Marty: Term limits, definitely term limits. A government for the people by the people has no room for professional politicians. Elected officials should do their duty, then go back to their daily lives.

    Gareth: Don’t forget about education and health care. We need to see to our future leaders and care for all citizens

    Wolf: That’s a lot of changes. It’s going to be hard to do when so many are struggling to survive.

    Gareth: Never said it would be easy. Maybe the star-touched could help with some of the health issues. Put their healing abilities to good use.

    Wolf: Switching gears slightly, try to complete this sentence. You’re walking through the woods and come across….

    20170401_101611Gareth: A quiet lake teaming with fish and a small boat. I’d row out to the perfect spot, toss a line in and wait for a bite. Pure bliss with no worries.

    Marty: Sort of like that fishing trip we took after you left the military.

    Gareth: You mean the one where you said you were going to sleep late, then swam out and put a dummy on my hook? Absolutely not.

    Marty: The look on your face when you reeled that thing in was priceless.

    Gareth: You almost gave me a heart attack!

    Wolf: I’m with Gareth. You have a warped sense of humor.

    Marty: I’m not that bad.

    Wolf: Really? How would you finish that sentence?

    Marty: Can’t answer. This is a G-rated blog.

    Wolf: On that note, pick up a copy of STAR TOUCHED and have a happy and safe 4th of July. If you see any military or former military personnel, don’t forget to thank them for their service.

    Startouched front cover2

  • WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – GB MacRae

    081Welcome 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.

    0816171630_resized copyGB 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 10th 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

  • WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – Jesse Galena

     081

    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, Jesse. Tell us about yourself.

    Jesse 2017 headshotJesse: In the blackness of the night, my mind slipped beyond the confines of mortal planes. Knitted within nightmares and dreams, I found a land where I did not obey rules, I made them. I found a place where the unconventional can become standard; a spectacle beyond what eyes can behold, but not more than the mind can comprehend. May the worlds beyond be as influential and entertaining to you as they are to me, and may I be a worthy guide.

    Wolf: Okay. Not the strangest bio I’ve heard. What is the meanest thing you’ve ever done to your characters?

    Jesse: Made them so depressed and lonely they turned to vigilante crime fighting to meet people and make friends.

    Wolf: I’m very familiar with depression, but I’ll leave the vigilante stuff to fictional characters. While walking in the woods you come across…

    Jesse: A beautiful scene I will no doubt take a s@#ty picture of.

    Wolf: You need to have more faith in your picture taking abilities. If you could have a super power, what would it be?

    Jesse: I would have cartoon logic apply to me. Need to hide something regardless of its size? Just put it behind my back. Want to whip around a 6 ft long sword like a rapier? That’s cool, it doesn’t have any significant weight to me. Want to fly? Just walk off something high and don’t look down. Need to get through a solid wall? Dump a bucket of paint on a wall, spend 2 seconds making it look like a doorway, and walk through it.

    Wolf: Too funny. I love that idea. What five items would you want to have in a post-cataclysmic world?

    Jesse: A genie that talks like Jeff Goldblum, the USS Defiant, the TARDIS, Jeff Goldblum, and a twenty-sided die that summons 1d20 dire weasels every time it is rolled.

    Wolf: I gather you have a thing for Jeff Goldblum. Which of your characters is your favorite?

    Jesse: The four main characters in Super Subpar: a dark comedy novel that is a mixture of well-intentioned incompetence and underwhelming superpowers.

    Wolf: What story are you working on now?

    Jesse: I’m currently querying Super Subpar, writing several fantasy short stories, and writing a fantasy adventure about a disgraced bodyguard, two charlatans, an honor-bound mercenary, and a murderer who all have to either discover who assassinated the king or die trying.

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

    Jesse: Be with my partner, play tabletop RPGs, read, play board games, play video games, see standup comedy, and eat.

    Wolf: Would you like me to connect you with a successful agent who wants to represent you?

    Jesse: Very much so.

    Wolf: Just kidding. You’re on your own for that one.

    Catch up with Jesse at these links:
    Social Media Links:
    https://twitter.com/RexiconJesse
    http://RexiconJesse.wordpress.com
    https://www.facebook.com/RexiconJesse
    Facebook.com/JesseGalena
    Goodreads.com/RexiconJesse

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

    Startouched front cover2

     

  • WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – Bobby Sue Thompson

    081Welcome 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?Startouched front cover2

    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.

     

     

  • WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – Joan Wendland

    081

    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.

    0Joan Wendland is an engineer, game designer, and author. In her free time she – who am I kidding, Joan has no free time. You can find her games at Welcome to Blood & Cardstock Games! and her first novel SF/F Backstage is available from Amazon for download. Her second novel ‘Mr. Darcy: Cogs Maketh the Man’ will be available this summer.

    Wolf: You’re right, there is no such thing as free time. What is the strangest food you’ve ever eaten?

    Joan: I think technically it was a drink. It was called a Green-Eyed Molly and was gin, lemon juice, macha green tea powder, and egg whites. It wasn’t horrible, but the flavors fought rather than mingled.

    Wolf: Ick. The mouth shouldn’t be a combat zone. What is the nicest thing you’ve ever done to your characters?

    Joan: In Backstage I gave CC Law a dream job and true love. What could be nicer than that?

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

    Joan: In the first LARP I wrote I gave a character the name Clarence and wrote him as hating his name so much he made his girlfriend call him Sheriff instead. When he proposed she made him promise to let her call him Clarence or she would marry her pirate suitor instead. You think that’s not so mean, but you should have seen how much the player suffered.

    Wolf: I can understand that. You’ve just been turned into a plant. Describe yourself.

    Joan: Pretty pissed off. I don’t want to be a plant.

    Wolf: I’m suddenly reminded of baby Groot. If you could have a super power, what would it be?

    Joan: I would never get old, injured, or sick, but would just drop dead one day in my old age.

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

    Joan: Find my husband, find some privacy, and have epic end of the world sex. Is this a trick question?

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

    Joan: A nuclear power plant, a standing army, a pharmaceutical plant, arable land in an easily defensible valley, and a pony.

    Wolf: You think big. What story are you working on now?

    Joan: I’m writing a sequel to Backstage. It’s working title is ‘Looking for Trouble’. CC is going to be given an opportunity to pick her own assignment to test her suitability for a promotion from trouble shooter to trouble analyst.

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

    Joan: I’m a media junkie. When I’m not writing I like to read, listen to music, and watch movies at the Alamo Drafthouse. I also like going to the beach off season to soak up some sun and -big surprise- read.

    Wolf: I could use some beach time. Who was your role-model growing up?

    Joan: Fittingly, my role-model was fictional. Her name was Bunny Watson and she was a reference librarian with a phenomenal memory. Catherine Hepburn played her in The Desk Set.

    Wolf: Thanks for stopping by. Connect with Joan through these links:

    www.blood-and-cardstock.com

    www.zoo-illuminati.com

    @BandCGames