A. L. Kaplan

Tag: wolf notes

  • WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – G J Stevens

    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.

    Give a big wolf welcome to GJ Stevens

    29066376_1078869432253464_3932930084414947328_oGJ Stevens started writing fiction at the age of thirty. He describes his style of writing as popular fiction which usually has some sort of Sci-Fi or paranormal element, but he is on a journey and won’t pigeon hole himself into one genre. Even as a degree level engineer with a large family and a full-time career in a serious profession with plenty of adult responsibilities, he has always had an artistic and creative side. After years of self-suppression, the flood gates opened and his novel, In The End, is the culmination of many years of finding time from nowhere to learn the craft.

    Whilst working to self-publish his first novel, GJ, real name Gareth, chose to document his publishing journey in an open-book and honest fashion and through his blog he lays bare his journey, detailing his mistakes and the findings of his research as he treads his way into publishing.

    As a lover of the outdoors, every year he spends weekends out in the desolate countryside of the UK hiking and camping with his long-time friends which he uses as inspiration for both his creative fiction works and the subject of many a blog post. GJ Stevens is on the beginning of his publishing journey and wants to share the highs and lows with anyone who will listen.

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

    Gareth: A dog person. I grew up with a dog in the family but as an adult I’m allergic to both cats and dogs. I get my dog fix vicariously through my best friend’s black lab.

    Wolf: I’m a dog person too. (Shouldn’t be a surprise for a wolf.) While walking in the woods you come across…

    Gareth: A sight I knew I would see eventually. I’d taken to the woods to get away. Walking between the trees because it felt safe, despite each step taken with care, a glance to where my feet might trip, might snap a branch or twig and turn their heads, might force me to run, to find some other place of safety

    This is an adapted version of one of my favourite flash fiction pieces I have pinned on my twitter account.

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

    Gareth: Invisibility, until I really think about it. I’d like to be left alone to write, but I’d have to be able to turn the power on and off. I love my family and friends and wouldn’t want that to end just because they can’t see me! I’m an introvert when it comes to creativity but weirdly confident and somewhat more extrovert when it comes to normal life.

    Wolf: That would be a great power. It seems like every time I sit down to write someone walks in the room or calls. Maybe I should try closing the door. Speaking of doors:

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

    Gareth: Shout at the TV and tell myself not to take a single step forward. When I realize I’m not on the TV, I’ll look around for anything heavy to swing. If nothing is at hand then I’ll check my pockets for a pen and paper so I can immortalize the moment, ready for adding the scene to my next book.

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

    Gareth: Find my wife and hold her in my arms. If I’ve got a little longer then gather together with my friends and family and empty the wine stocks from the house.

    Wolf: I’ll drink to that. What five items would you want to have in a post-cataclysmic world?

    Gareth: This is very fitting. My first novel to be published is set at the start of a world changing event and I blog about preparing for the worst by packing a bug out bag. With the bag you’re limited to what you can carry on your back, but if I could only take five items they would be a water filtration straw so you can drink water from almost any source, my micro-pick for defense. It’s lightweight and packs a great punch suitable for all types of post-cataclysmic scenarios. A roll of gaffer type, the swiss army knife of survival. The final items would be a sleeping bag and my multi-fuel compact camping stove.

    gjstevens.com/2018/07/16/emergency-kit-bug-out-bag-v2-0/

    Wolf: You are ready to go. Let’s hope you never need to used it. I think my character, Tatiana, would have loved your bag. What story are you working on now?

    Gareth: I’m editing the follow up to my first novel In The End. It’s is as-of-yet unnamed, but follows the same timeline as the first novel but from another, completely different perspective.

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

    Gareth: I work full time and have a wonderful family and group of close friends. When I get chance, I like to hike with my friends but I only get the chance to do that once or twice a year.

    Wolf: Thanks for stopping by. You can connect with GJ Stevens through these links:

    Social Media Links:
    www.gjstevens.com
    https://www.facebook.com/gjstevensauthor/
    Twitter: @stevens_GJ

    STAR TOUCHED

    CAN YOU BE WHO YOU ARE MEANT TO BE?

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  • WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – Charles F. French

    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.

    Joining us back from my break is Mr. Charles French.

    charles french

    Charles F. French is an author of speculative fiction, including horror, Gothic, and the paranormal. He holds a Ph.D. in English Literature, and devotes his working time to teaching and writing. He is the author of Maledicus: The Investigative Paranormal Society, Book 1, Gallows Hill The Investigative Paranormal Society, Book 2, and French On English A Guide to Writing Better Essays.

     

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

    Charles: I would be an eagle, because I have felt an affinity to these creatures for a long time, which is odd because I hate flying. 

    Wolf: I’m a rather nervous flier myself, but wings are cool. What is the nicest thing you’ve ever done to your characters?

    Charles: In an upcoming book—the third in The Investigative Paranormal Society, one of the characters finds love and marries. He finally achieves happiness, even though relatively late in life. 

    Wolf: It’s never too late to find love. What is the meanest thing you’ve ever done to your characters?

    Charles: Several have been killed. 32570160

    Wolf: That kind of ends things. Do you consider yourself a cat person, or a dog person? 

    Charles: I consider myself an animal person, because I love both cats and dogs. I would love, however, to have a Newfoundland dog. 

    Wolf: Lots of fur and drool. I wonder if you can spin Newfoundland fur like you can Malamute fur? While walking in the woods you come across… 

    Charles: A very old, tree that has a door in its trunk. When I go through the door, I step into the Shire. 

    Wolf: Come back and get me. I’d love to visit the Shire. If you could have a super power, what would it be?

    GallowsHillFinalCoverEbookCharles: I would have the power to be in 3 places at one time, so I can get everything done! 

    Wolf: That could get confusing. What story are you working on now?

    Charles: I am finishing the first draft of a fantasy that has a working title of the South Dakota Story. The title will change, but it focuses on three young teenagers and their quest to save their favorite teacher.

    Wolf: I like that. Teachers don’t get enough credit (or pay) these days. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

    Charles: I love to read, cook, hike, go to movies, teach, sit back and relax with a good cigar and a couple of fingers of good bourbon or Scotch. 

    Wolf: Guess I know what you’re bringing back from the Shire. If this question were any question in the world, what question would you want it to be and how would you answer it?

    Charles: I would like the question be the one first asked by George Bernard Shaw FOE_Cover_French jpgand then used by Robert Kennedy in his Presidential campaign: “Some men see things as they are, and ask why. I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?” I would like to ask the world why not and get the hopeful answer that all good things are possible.

    Wolf: Connect with Charles French through these links: 

    Social Media Links:
    https://charlesfrenchonwordsreadingandwriting.wordpress.com/
    # French_C1955 (Twitter)
    https://www.facebook.com/WriterCharlesFFrench/

     

    STAR TOUCHED

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  • WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – Beth Woodword

    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.

    Woodward PhotoBeth Woodward is the author of the Dale Highland series of urban fantasy novels. The second book, Embracing the Demon, released on June 19. (Purchase from Amazon or Barnes & Noble.) She lives in the Washington, DC, area with her husband and the three cats who own them.

    Wolf: The universe can be dangerous at times. If you had to pick a weapon, what would it be and why?

    Beth: Well, that would very much depend on what I needed the weapon for. Am I aiming for maximum destruction or just self-defense? (Or maybe self-offense. I could see that being a thing.)

    I “invented” a type of gun in my books called the “Intelli-Target,” which corrects your aim so that you always hit your target. I think if I were looking for personal defense (or offense), I’d probably go with that, because my hand-eye coordination sucks and otherwise I’d probably shoot my eye out.

    As for maximum destruction…I’d probably want something that wouldn’t damage the environment or hurt animals. I can’t see any scenario, even as a fictitious destroyer of things, where I’d be okay with that.

    Wolf: Ah, an environmentally protective destroyer. What is the meanest thing you’ve ever done to your characters?

    Beth: My protagonist is someone who doesn’t trust easily and hasn’t made a lot of connections in her life. So naturally, I had her learn to trust someone and make a deep connection with that person…and then that person betrayed her.

    I mean, pretty much all of my fiction could be summarized as, “Beth does mean things to her characters.” But the story would be pretty boring otherwise.

    Wolf: That is very cruel. I hope you gave your protagonist a chance to recover before throwing another brick at them. Do you consider yourself a cat person, or a dog person?

    Beth: My husband and I have three cats, whom we dote on excessively, and I volunteer at an animal shelter doing personality evaluations on the adoptable cats. (Yes, it is a thing.) So while I like dogs, I am very much a committed crazy cat lady.

    Wolf: Achoo. Sorry, my cat allergy is acting up. If you could have a super power, what would it be?

    Beth: Time travel. I’m a big history geek, and I would love to experience what it was like to live in other times…but only if I can come back home to running water and electricity when I’m done!

    Wolf: That’s a good one. Be careful not to step on any butterflies. There is a door at the end of a dark, damp corridor. You hear rumbling. What do you do?

    Beth: I run as fast as I can, as far away as possible. I’m a hard-core Ravenclaw. I have no need for heroics, and I’m very aware of my own limitations. If you need someone to stay calm and call 911 after those crazy Gryffindors have rushed headlong into danger and gotten their arms chewed off, I’m your girl. But I’m not going to be the person who rushes into a dark corridor without a flashlight. Or, you know, at all.

    Wolf: Smart. The world is about to end. (Maybe it was all those crazy Gryffindors.) What is the first thing you do?

    Beth: My first thought was, “I would drop everything, find my husband, and spend the remaining time with him.” If there was time, I’d try to get to my brother, and there’s some other friends and family I’d like to say goodbye to. But I suspect that my first instinct would override everything else. If existence is about to end, he’s the person I’d want to spend the rest of the world with.

    Wolf: I’m with you. Describe a meal you would be served while visiting another world.

    Beth: I’m a horribly picky eater, so having a meal on another world would not go well for me. The aliens would serve me some delicacy of their world, and then I’d feign a stomach flu because I couldn’t bring myself to try the unidentifiable dish of gray mushy stuff with chunks. (Chunks, as any picky eater knows, are the bane of our existence.) And then I’d go to bed hungry and cursing my phone and my existence—because obviously you can’t get GPS signal on an alien world—and desperately wanting to know if there’s a Pizza Hut on Alpha Centauri.

    Wolf: I’ll make a note not to have you over after the next hunt. What is your favorite body of water and why? (river, ocean, waterfall, puddle, bottle…)

    Beth: Dolphin Cay at Atlantis Beach Resort in the Bahamas. We did a “Dolphin Trainer for a Day” experience, so we got to feed the stingrays, swim with the dolphins, snorkel with all kinds of fish, and spend eight hours learning about all the marine life they have at Atlantis. I was really impressed with how invested they are in the conservation of our oceans and aquatic life.

    Wolf: That sounds cool. What story are you working on now?Embracing the Demon front cover

    Beth: I’m in the very, very early stages of planning book 3 in the Dale Highland series. It’s still mostly index cards at this point, but I’m super excited about it. Big things will happen. And Beth will do even more mean things to her characters.

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

    Beth: I love to travel! Even short weekend trips are great, but we do as many longer trips as we can manage, too. We just went to Italy and Spain in March, and it was amazing! I try to find a ghost tour in every place we visit; I love learning about spooky history. I’m a huge Doctor Who geek, and I’m so excited that we’ll finally have a female Doctor this fall. I read constantly, which is probably not a surprise. I would also move to Disney World and live there forever if I could.

    Wolf: I’m looking forward to the new Doctor as well. You can keep the ghost tours. I don’t do well with spooky.

    Connect with Beth through these sites:
    Website: http://beth-woodward.com
    Twitter: @beththewoodward
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethwoodwardwriter/

    While you’re checking out Beth’s books, take a look at Star Touched.

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  • WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – Robert Waters

    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.

     

    REWatersRobert E Waters is a technical writer by trade but has been a science fiction/fantasy fan all his life. He’s worked in the gaming industry since 1994 as a designer, producer, and writer. In the late 90’s, he tried his hand as writing fiction and since 2003, has sold over 50 stories to various on-line and print magazines and anthologies, including the Grantville Gazette, Eric Flint’s online magazine dedicated to publishing stories set in the 1632/Ring of Fire series.

    He has also written in several tabletop gaming universes, including Games Workshop’s Warhammer Fantasy series and in the Wild West Exodus weird tech/steampunk universe. He has also dabbled a bit in Warlord Games’ Beyond the Gates of Antares milieu, writing about assassins and rescue missions.

    Robert currently lives in Baltimore, Maryland with his wife Beth, their son Jason, and their precocious little cat Buzz.

     

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

    Robert: I’ve actually given this some thought, believe it or not. There are many animals that I’m quite fond of, but the one I’d like to be the most is a jaguar. Pound for pound, the jaguar has the strongest bite of any wild cat in the world. The jaguar was also one of the most important animal symbols in Mesoamerican and South American culture. In Mayan mythology, the jaguar was seen as the ruler of the Underworld. I have no interest in ruling the Underworld, you understand, but the jaguar symbolized power, ferocity, and valor. That sounds pretty good to me.

    Wolf: No kidding. I wrote a short story with a jaguar called Mark of the Goddess.  It’s in an anthology called In a Cat’s Eye. You should check it out. What is the strangest food you’ve ever eaten?CatsEye_Final-72dpi

    Robert: Probably alligator. When I worked for AutoZone at their corporate office in Memphis, Tennessee, we would do these so-called “travel weekends,” where diverse groups from the corporate office would go out into the field and visit stores (the purpose of which was to give us pencil-pushers a better understanding of how the stores were functioning in the real world). One such weekend was conducted in the New Orleans area. I ate a lot of “first time” foods that weekend, including sucking cayenne pepper juice from crawfish. But alligator takes the cake. A very greasy, rubbery meat. Not bad, but very different from your typical hamburger at McDonalds.

    Wolf: I’ve had alligator before. Tastes like chicken. What is the nicest thing you’ve ever done to your characters?

    Robert: Probably every author would say that the nicest thing that they have ever done for their characters is to allow them to achieve their goals. I’m no different. Whether those goals be marriage, or gold, or sheer survival, allowing your characters to overcome adversity is the nicest thing you can do. Because if you can imagine that your characters are real people, would they not feel the same satisfaction and joy in beating the odds that we do?

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

    Robert: Both, actually. I grew up with dogs. My family had a dog (or dogs) from the time I was born to the time I graduated high school. Since then, however, I’ve gravitated toward cats. Someday, however, I may go back to owning a dog.

    Wolf: I’m definitely a dog person. Do you have a favorite character?

    Robert: Sonata Diamante. She is the protagonist in my upcoming fantasy novel, THE MASKS OF MIRADA (slated for publication a little later this year from Eric Flint’s Ring of Fire Press). Sonata works for her nefarious wizard uncle, Borshen Galo, as a thief and swordsmaster. She’s the toughest character I’ve ever created, and perhaps the crudest too in many ways. She’s willing to kill when necessary, but she can be funny, vulnerable, and compassionate when required. I’m excited about introducing her to the world.

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

    Robert: Well, if I can pick a non-earthen body of water, I’d pick the vast ocean beneath the ice of Europa. There are depths within our own oceans that we have yet to explore, but for me, the idea of drilling down into that water, and then discovering life there, excites me. One of these days, perhaps we will, and I hope I’m alive to see it.

    Wolf: I never thought about water on other worlds. Love it. What story are you working on now?

    Robert: I have a number of projects in the works right now. Most of them are novels, which is rare for me. Usually, the bulk of my projects is short stories, but I’m reaching a point in my writing career where novels are beginning to take up most of my time. A good problem to have, so no complaints. I’m working on three novels right now.

    The first is a sequel to my recent publication, The Cross of Saint Boniface, called THE SWORDS OF EL CID. It should be released in 2019.

    The second is a media tie-in novel in Mantic Games’ Warpath SF universe, and its working title is THE LAST HURRAH. The novel is based on their game Dreadball, and it too should be out late 2019.

    And third, I’m collaborating on a novel with Charles E Gannon which is set in Eric Flint’s 1632/Ring of Fire universe. The title of the book will be 1636: CALABAR’S WAR, and it’s set in the New World (Brazil and the Caribbean). It will probably be published late 2019 or 2020.

    Wolf: That’s a lot to keep track of. I look forward to reading them. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

    Robert: I’m a gamer, miniatures, board, card, video, you name it. I like to play games, so when I’m not writing, I’m playing games. Or reading. I’m an avid reader.

    Wolf: I’m a gamer as well, but not the video kind. Connect with Robert on his website: www.roberternestwaters.com

     

    Startouched front cover2

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

    Can you be who you are meant to be?

    Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers.

     

  • 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

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  • 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 – 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