Two for Tuesday #5

This time around, we have a pair of opening paragraphs from stories by a single author, Edmund Wells.  First off, there's "All That Glitters"

Floppy green cap cocked over one eye, Bladeor whistled a merry tune as he ambled along the forest path, watchful—ironically—for robbers.

Had his recent tavern acquaintance been less fond of Xohmin ale, or more wary of strangers, the little fellow might have retained the treasure that Bladeor now had nine-tenths of the law on. He patted the scroll case at his hip while twirling a shiny golden-green key, sparkling with magic.

Second, we have the beginning of "Are You Worthy?"

Angelo Corrado awoke to the blare of Ozzy’s Crazy Train, his alarm flashing the crimson numerals 7:06, which in real-world numbers meant six hours and sixty-six minutes, or 6:66.

Pretty cool.

Some interesting snippets to tempt the readers.  For more of these stories, pick up Quests,Curses, & Vengeance.

Author Interview: Mel Obedoza

Today, I'm interviewing Mel Obedoza, the talented author who contributed a pair of short stories to "Quests, Curses, & Vengeance," the upcoming anthology from Martinus Publishing.  Thank you for taking the time to be interviewed, Mel.

MTI:  For starters, could you tell our readers a little bit about yourself?

Mel Obedoza:  I’m a part time writer, programmer, and virtual assistant, and full-time mommy from the Philippines. I like to keep busy, but in my downtime I love to read, write, watch TV, and play boardgames. I have a soft spot for romance, fantasy, anime, and manga.

MTI:  Getting down to business; what first compelled you to weave fiction, and what's your favorite type of story to write?

MO:  I’ve always loved to read and it often pained me to reach the end of a story, knowing that it would be some time before I could buy another book. So I thought to myself, why not make my own story? I still think that way when I reach the end of a good book. I like to write fantasy stories that almost always end with a dark or horrific twist (most of the time, I don’t really mean for that to happen. Really.)

MTI: Tell me, if you had to pick just one author who has influenced or inspired you, who would it be?

MO:  Roald Dahl. His books introduced me to the realm of fantasy.

MTI:  Ah, yes, James and the Giant Peach was one of the first books I ever read.

Your stories, “El Dorado” and “Be Careful What You Wish For...” appear in Quests, Curses, & Vengeance, an eclectic collection of stories ranging from high fantasy to imaginative sci-fi adventures and even supernatural horror.  You had the opportunity to read many of the other stories that appear in Quests, Curses, & Vengeance in their original, rough draft form.  If you could, point out a few of your favorites.

MO:  This is a tough one. They were all excellent reads. If I have to choose some favorites, it would be (in no particular order) Poetic Justice, More Precious Than Rubies, Odin’s Spear, and Curses May Not Be Returned, Refunded, or Exchanged.

MTI:  Shifting back to your own writing, can you tell us a little about what you're working on right now?

MO:  I’m always trying to finish my first novel (or at least a novella). Unfortunately, it’s a tale that involves heaven, hell, and something in-between, which I’ve been told won’t make for a popular read. I’ll probably have to shelve this at some point and start anew.

I’m also currently co-authoring a story for a hidden object game. It’s slow-going (Alas! Real life keeps getting in the way for all those involved in the project), but it is still persistently moving at its own pace and may yet be realized as a published app someday...

MTI:  Of everything you’ve written thus far, do you happen to have a “favorite” piece of fiction?

MO:  Yes, ‘Death Wish’, which was published by New Asian Writing in 2011. Oddly enough, despite enjoying light-hearted stories and movies, and detesting tragedies, I seem to have more success getting my darker (typically tragic) short stories published. This one, at least, had an upbeat ending, despite the ‘death’ theme. You can read it here.

MTI:  Other than your stories appearing in Quests, Curses, & Vengeance, do you have any other works of fiction being published in the near future?

MO:  Sadly, not at the moment, no. I’m catching up with my day job and other projects (or should I say, they’re catching up with me?). I’m sure the writing bug will come back to bite me again. Eventually. I did recently have a piece of flash fiction published in Dagan Books’ FISH anthology, which is available here.

MTI:  When you have the chance, what kind of television program do you enjoy, if any?

MO:  I watch TV to unwind and relax, so I prefer comedies such as The Big Bang Theory and Psych. I confess I’m also a fan of Downton Abbey.

MTI:  Regarding music, is there anything special you like to listen to?

MO:  Nothing in particular. I listen to any type of music that catches my fancy, be it sentimental, Christian songs, pop, K-pop, J-pop, classical, or instrumental. At one point, my brother had me listening to heavy metal. I don’t think I ever took to rap, though.

MTI:  If you could name three movies that you could watch over and over again and not be bored with, what would they be?

MO:  I can watch any movie by Hayao Miyazaki over and over again (except maybe Ponyo).

MTI:  You’ve got the attention of potential readers.  Is there anything you’d like to say to them, perhaps something to pique their interest in your work?

MO:  If you’re actually reading this, THANK YOU for your interest in my stories. They do so love to have an audience! If you would like to read more, hop on over to my humble list of published stories. There are a couple of tales that are readily available online, as well as a few other misfits in my free stories page that don’t quite fit anywhere, but still insist on having their tales told.

MTI:  As we wrap up this interview, do you happen to have a short sample for our readers?  Nothing too long, but maybe a few fresh paragraphs?

MO:  Sure, here’s a short excerpt from novella-in-progress entitled, ‘Netherworld’:

“Create…what exactly?” Paul asked. “What could you possibly need here?”

“Weapons, of course,” Richard said, sparing Paul a pitying glance for forgetting such an obvious thing. “The ones you warriors wield. We find that the weapons of the mortal world are quite useful against demonfolk.”

“Demons? Here, in heaven?”

“No, no, no!” Richard shot him an exasperated look. “Haven’t you been listening? This is not heaven. This is Netherworld. That is heaven!”

He pointed towards a simple wooden gate that was as big as a house. It was surrounded by a long stretch of pristine white walls. From his vantage point, Paul could not see where it ended, no matter where he looked.

“Well, it’s heaven’s gate, anyway,” the boy amended, looking quite sad. “But it hasn’t opened in many, many years.”

MTI:  Thank you for that excellent interview and free sample, Mel.  For those who want to read two of her latest stories, they can be found in Quests, Curses, & Vengeance.

Author Interview: Stacey Jaine McIntosh

Continuing with our series of contributing author interviews, today I'm interviewing Stacey Jaine McIntosh, the talented author who contributed three short stories to "Quests, Curses, & Vengeance," a Martinus Publishing anthology.  Thank you for taking the time to be interviewed, Stacey.

MTI:  Starting off, could you tell our readers a little bit about yourself?

Stacey Jaine McIntosh:  I live in Perth, Western Australia. I’m twenty-nine and I’ve been married, coming up seven years in September, and together almost fourteen. I have four kids between the ages of seven and two, along with two rabbits, who go by the names Peach and Harry, and sometimes Mario.

I have a Diploma in Spatial Information Services, I did genuinely want to be a Cartographer at one stage, but it just wasn’t to be. I now use the skills I learnt to create rather elaborate maps of the worlds that feature in my novels and short stories.

Aside from all that, I love genealogy and the medieval era. I’m a Pagan, with my roots firmly set somewhere in South Wales.

MTI:  I’ve dabbled in genealogy myself, and have a very extensive tree on many of my family lines.  There are a few Welsh ancestors among them, but that’s going back to the 1700’s.

Getting down to business; what first compelled you to weave fiction, and what's your favorite type of story to write?

SJM:  I was thirteen and I was compelled to write, because... because my mother was an alcoholic. I didn’t understand her, or the disease, one bit. I still don’t, and she’s been dead five years. I hated her and loved her all at once, something which I realized way too late. It’s weird how those emotions can co-exist. It was the one constant thing in my life—writing, so now I keep up with it, because there’s no one, with the exception of my husband, to tell me to stop, not that I listen when he does.

My favourite type of story to write is Young Adult fiction, for sure. It hasn’t changed. The only difference between now and then is that now I like to put some kind of supernatural spin on things and I’ve gotten into speculative fiction. I like playing the what-if game and making people think; it’s fun.

MTI:  I can personally relate to the alcoholic mother influence.  Been there, done that; so very sad.  But getting back to the interview, tell me, if you had to pick just one author who has influenced or inspired you, who would it be?

SJM:  I think for me it has to be Anne Rice. There’s just something about her style of writing, not to mention the characters—Mona Mayfair or Claudia, personally—that keep me going back and reading her books over and over again.

MTI:  Your stories, “Life or Death,” “Exiles of Eden,” and “Morríghan” appear in Quests, Curses, & Vengeance, an eclectic collection of stories ranging from high fantasy to imaginative sci-fi adventures and even supernatural horror.  You had the opportunity to read many of the other stories that appear in Quests, Curses, & Vengeance in their original, rough draft form.  If you could, point out a few of your favorites.

SJM:  The ones that stood out for me were: Burn It Up, Burn It Down (by Philip Overby) and Curses May Not Be Returned, Refunded, or Exchanged (by Lauren A. Forry).

MTI:  Shifting back to your own writing, can you tell us a little about what you're working on right now?

SJM:  I'm currently working on a series of YA Paranormal Romance Novels, although I much prefer Arthurian Fantasy, but only because Morgan is so much fun to write.

MTI:  Of everything you’ve written thus far, do you happen to have a “favorite” piece of fiction?

SJM:  My favourite piece is probably the short story that had me accused of plagiarism in the tenth grade. It was my first attempt at writing sci-fi and I was totally out of my depth because I hadn’t read any sci-fi, so I didn’t know the ins and outs of the genre. Needless to say, I failed, but I kept the story anyway.

MTI:  Other than your three stories appearing in Quests, Curses, & Vengeance, do you have any other works of fiction being published in the near future?

SJM:  I wish, but no, I don’t. My focus is a little all over the place, torn between family obligations and actually getting the words written. I might look at submitting something in the New Year but for now I’m just happy to be writing.

MTI:  When you have the chance, what kind of television program do you enjoy, if any?

SJM:  I’ll watch anything as long as it’s not too scary. After watching “Little Shop of Horrors” in primary school and being pretty much traumatized I’ve steered clear of horror. Shows that make my short list at the moment are: Bones, Glee, Supernatural, Lost Girl, Revenge, Merlin, Once Upon a Time and almost everything Joss Whedon has ever put his hands on.

MTI:  Indeed, Joss Whedon is a cult favorite.  Damn those Hollywood execs who cancelled Firefly!  But I digress...

What about music.  Anything special you like to listen to?

SJM:  I have a rather eclectic taste in music, as I grew up listening to 80s Country music and Enya. I eventually developed my own taste, including Madonna, The Cranberries, and Silverchair. I still love Enya and I’ve grown to appreciate the country music I grew up with.

MTI:  The Cranberries were one of my favorite bands in my mid-teens.  I recently reviewed their most recent album, which is not quite as good as their first couple of albums (Everyone Else is Doing it... and No Need to Argue, true classics), but it’s still pretty good.

If you could name three movies that you could watch over and over again and not be bored with, what would they be?

SJM:  Empire Records. I came across this movie in high school, and it soon became a regular feature among my friends and I, to the point we had the movie practically memorized word for word.

10 Things I Hate About You, solely for Aussie actor Heath Ledger, there is no other reason. When you come from Perth, just as he did, it’s impossible to not get behind local talent.

Merlin starring Sam Neill, I think this one is self-explanatory. Arthurian Legends and Helena Bonham-Carter, are probably one of my favourite combinations. I’ve followed her work ever since.

MTI:  You’ve got the attention of potential readers.  Is there anything you’d like to say to them, perhaps something to pique their interest in your work?

SJM:  I hope I leave an impression, I really do, because, I like turning things on their heads, making people think of how something could have been portrayed. It’s fun, and I hope it’s fun for whoever is reading. If I take my writing too seriously, I stop having fun and there’s no point writing when that happens.

MTI:  As we wrap up this interview, do you happen to have a short sample for our readers?  Nothing too long, but maybe a few fresh paragraphs?

SJM:  I do, actually, it’s taken from my work-in-progress “Dandelions”

The sickening crack of the gun makes me jump, my heart running away with my confidence. All I can hear is the rush of blood in my slightly deafened ears. The fear is immediate, and real. It sends shivers down my spine, faster than the bullet can pierce its victim.

My adrenaline spikes and I feel a wave of relief wash over me, before it crashes, bringing me back down to reality and the realisation of what I had just done.

The gun I had been holding falls though my fingers to the floor, and I glance down, my eyes settling on the blood that’s now pooling on the floor, all sticky and red, it shimmers like rubies, rubies encased in iron.

My stomach heaves, and bile rises to my throat, and I swallow, hard, in an effort to stave off the nausea I know is coming. But it’s no good and I’m off running to the bathroom to empty my stomach of its meagre contents into the porcelain bowl of the toilet.

I stumble outside and take a deep breath. The cool air hits me all of a sudden. It’s colder, by far, than what I’d been expecting for early September and I shiver in an attempt to stay warm.

My eyes stray back towards the house, but I don’t dare go back inside, lest I be sick to my stomach all over again. I just killed my father, and that thought alone is a little unnerving. It only takes a moment for me to remind myself that he deserved it. He’d killed my mother, so it’s only right he gets what he deserved.

I walk along the highway, mulling it over, on my way to a local bar, clearly not paying close attention as I narrowly miss being run over.

A growl erupts from my throat, my head feels as if it’s splitting in two, while my body is on fire.

What the hell? My vision blurs, as I sink to the floor in the middle of the intersection, greeted by the renewed sensation of nausea and bile rising to my throat. And when I look down I see paws where my hands used to be.

Oh Frick!

MTI:  Intriguing stuff!  Thank you for a great sample and an equally entertaining interview.  For those who want to read more of Stacey’s work, Quests, Curses, & Vengeance awaits!

Two for Tuesday #4

Another Tuesday comes around, and that means we have two more paragraphs from two more “Quests, Curses, & Vengeance” stories!

Starting off, we have the first two paragraphs from “Digging up the Past,” by Gerald Costlow:

Martin stood on the field of battle and watched an army of dead soldiers stumble toward him.  He wanted to laugh.  It was just so ridiculous, knowing that this ragtag collection of corpses with broken and battered weapons could have brought an entire army to a halt.

His horse reacted to the first sniff of death that arrived on the evening breeze by stomping the ground.  He held tight to the reins and whispered soothing words while studying the castle on the other side of the clearing.  He should be seeing enemy heads looking over the parapets, but the place looked as dead as its defenders.  This castle was the final retreat of the defeated usurper and the zombie army was its only remaining defense.

Secondly, we have the intro to “The Dance of Five Hells” by Philip Overby:

Cairo’s itch came from one of two things: his nasty ex-girlfriend Tamara or that mummy. Being that his last clinic test came back clean, Cairo guessed the mummy's curse was in full swing again. And it burned like hell.

“Ma? Yeah, the mummy curse is flaring up again.” Cairo sat in a tub full of oatmeal, holding onto his phone to converse with his nagging mother. “What? Yeah, I talked to Pop already. His curse is under wraps.” Her voice made the speakers of his phone crackle. “Yeah, I just got back from the clinic. It’s not the clap.” The voice got higher and shriller. “Geez, I know I’m breaking your heart. Look, can you just give me the number of that guy that does the thing? You know, the guy!”

For more of these great stories, and 30 others, check out Quests, Curses, & Vengeance.

Author Interview: Susan A. Royal

In our continuing series of new contributing author interviews, today I'm interviewing Susan A. Royal, a talented writer who contributed the short story Odin’s Spear to "Quests, Curses, & Vengeance."  Thank you for taking the time to be interviewed, Susan.

MTI: Starting off, could you tell our readers a little bit about yourself?

Susan A. Royal:  Born in west Texas and raised in south Texas, I make my home in a 100-year-old farmhouse in a small east Texas town that comes complete with a female ghost who has been known to harmonize with my son when he plays guitar. I’m married, with three children and four grandchildren.

  

MTI:  Getting down to business; what first compelled you to weave fiction, and what's your favorite type of story to write?

SAR:  My family is rich with characters, both past and present. I spent my childhood listening to my grandmother’s stories of living on a farm in Oklahoma Territory with three sisters and three brothers and working as a telephone operator in the early 20^th century.  My father shared stories of growing up in San Antonio in the depression, and through my mother’s eyes I experienced how it felt to be a teenager during WWII. Since I come from a long line of storytellers, it seemed only natural to want to spin tales like they did. From the very beginning, the stories that caught my attention and held it the longest were the ghost yarns, the unexplained mysteries, the ones that made chills race up and down my spine. I grew up watching Twilight Zone and Outer Limits. I’m all about strange things happening to ordinary people, living ordinary lives and how they deal. Time travel is my favorite theme. What better way to get up close and personal with some other era than to actually go there! Quirky, creepy, off-the-wall, action-adventure and throw a little romance in there somewhere.

MTI:  Tell me, if you had to pick just one author who has influenced or inspired you, who would it be?

SAR: There are many, but the first has to be Ray Bradbury.

MTI:  Definitely a popular choice.  Bradbury was one of my early influences, also.

Your story, Odin’s Spear, appears in Quests, Curses, & Vengeance, an eclectic collection of stories ranging from high fantasy to imaginative sci-fi adventures and even supernatural horror.  You had the opportunity to read many of these stories in their original, rough draft form.  If you could, point out a few of your favorites.

SAR: “Poetic Justice” by Edmund Wells was a delightful twist on the usual superhero tale. Anything by Edmund Wells is an adventure. “Be Careful What you wish for...” by Mel Obedoza had a dark and gritty feel and “Quest through the Ages” by J. L. Mo was a poignant story.

MTI:  Shifting back to your own writing, can you tell us a little about what you're working on right now?

SAR: Yesterday I wrote the final chapter to my time travel sequel, “From Now On.” The first book is “Not Long Ago.” I never planned for it to have a sequel, but my daughter told me I wasn’t finished yet and she was right. Not only that, but there will be more.

MTI:  Of everything you’ve written thus far, do you happen to have a “favorite” piece of fiction?

SAR: The ‘next’ thing I write is always my favorite, because it takes me to new, uncharted territory.

MTI:  Other than Odin’s Spear, appearing in Quests, Curses, & Vengeance, do you have any other stories being published in the near future?

SAR:  “Not Long Ago” is a time travel action/adventure with romance. “In My Own Shadow” is a fantasy/adventure with romance. Both are available on Amazon in ebook form.

MTI:  On a lighter note, have you watched any good tv lately?

SAR: Just watched the first episode of The Bridge. Gritty, dark, serial killer mystery with some humor. Looks promising.

I like Falling Skies and Walking Dead. Most of my time is spent writing.

MTI:  Ah, yes, everybody seems to be watching The Walking Dead (at least, most Martinus Publishing writers enjoy it).  I’m also partial to Falling Skies—it’s one of the few television shows I watch these days.

Now, moving on, what sort of music do you like?

SAR: Passenger, Dave Matthews, Bernard Fanning, Bear’s Den, Ivan and Alyosha, Kodaline, Train, Cold Play, Mumford and Sons, Break of Reality, Willie Nelson, Eddie Vedder (Does that give you an idea of my varied tastes?)

MTI:  And if you would, name three movies that you could watch over and over again and not be bored?

SAR: The 13^th Warrior, Gladiator, Braveheart

MTI:  Banderas, Crowe, and Gibson; three great actors in three great movies!  Though, I must admit I found Michael Chriton’s “Eaters of the Dead” even better as a book (for those who don’t know, the 13th Warrior was the movie adaptation of Eaters).

You’ve got the attention of potential readers.  Is there anything you’d like to say to them, perhaps something to pique their interest in your work?

SAR:  Are you bored? Has your life been a little humdrum? Need a vacation? Escape with me to another world where you can experience adventure and see places you’ll never find advertised in a travel brochure.

MTI:  Well, this has been an excellent interview.  Thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions.

For those who want to read one of Susan’s latest short stories, Quests, Curses, & Vengeance awaits!

Author Interview: Gerald Costlow

Continuing in our series of contributing author interviews to Martinus Publishing anthologies, today, I'm interviewing Gerald Costlow, an exceptional author who contributed three short stories to "Quests, Curses, & Vengeance."  Thank you for taking the time to be interviewed, Mr. Costlow.

MTI:  Starting off, could you tell our readers a little bit about yourself?

GC:  Well, in my mundane life I live in Michigan and work with computers during the daytime, then come home to a wife, two kids, three dogs, and a cat.  And that’s just the critters that will answer to their name (sometimes).

MTI:  Let’s get down to business.  What first compelled you to weave fiction, and what's your favorite type of story to write?

GC:  Oh, I grew up with a love of reading.  While the other kids were playing ball, I would be lying under a tree fighting pirates, encountering aliens, and exploring strange new worlds.  Eventually I became determined to give other people the same pleasure other writers had given me.  My favorite type of story to write is my favorite type to read, of course.  I like characters that come to life, that have a few flaws and have to face and overcome something extraordinary in their lives.  Beyond that, they can be horror, romance, comedy, or a mixture of all three.  I don’t limit myself to one genre.

MTI:  Tell me, if you had to pick just one author who has influenced or inspired you, who would it be?

GC:  Oh my, there are so many.  Growing up, I was influenced by the great speculative short story fiction writers like Ray Bradbury rather than the massive trilogy type authors like Tolkien.     

MTI:  Your stories, Hooked on Questing, Family Curse, and Digging up the Past all appears in Quests, Curses, & Vengeance, an eclectic collection of stories ranging from high fantasy to imaginative sci-fi adventures and even supernatural horror.  You had the opportunity to read many of these stories in their original, rough draft form.  If you could, point out a few of your favorites.

GC:  That’s a toughie, because all the stories bring a fresh, unique voice to the mix.  I’d say the ones that stuck in my mind are Odin’s Spear by Susan Royal, Wipeout by A. C. Hall, and Revenge, Inc. by Nye Hardy.   

MTI:  Shifting back to your own writing, can you tell us a little about what you're working on right now?

GC:  I am working on the next volume in a supernatural romance series being published by Rebecca Victory Press, set in Appalachia in the 1920s.  On top of that, someone persuaded me to write a western novel of all things.  And that’s on top of whatever short stories pop into my head and end up in anthologies here and there.   

MTI:  Of everything you’ve written thus far, do you happen to have a “favorite” piece of fiction?

GC:  Whatever I’m currently writing or just had published is my favorite.  My story in this anthology, “Hooked on Questing” is one of my current favorites, to the point I’ve already mapped out the further adventures of Bertram, wizard for hire. 

MTI:  That’s good to hear, really.  Bertram is an intriguing character.

Other than your three pieces appearing in Quests, Curses, & Vengeance, do you have any other stories being published in the near future?

GC:  The second novel in the Appalachia Romance series, titled “Hillbilly Deputy” should be ready for the editor by the end of the summer. 

MTI:  On a lighter note, have you watched any good tv lately?

GC:  I’m a huge fan of The Big Bang Theory, and I’ve caught most of the BBC Sherlock in the 21st century series.  

MTI:  Yes, Sherlock is really a great modern adaptation.  What sort of music do you like?

GC:  Classic rock, soul, and country.  The music I grew up with.

MTI:  And if you would, name three movies that you could watch over and over again and not be bored?

GC:  The Incredibles, Monster’s Inc, and WALL-E.  Spot a pattern?

MTI:  You’ve got the attention of potential readers.  Is there anything you’d like to say to them, perhaps something to pique their interest in your work?

GC:  My stories are about people with problems.  The people might be in the form of wizards, mummies, or even dragons, but they’re characters you can identify with and care about.  The rest... every story I write should contain at least one surprise.

MTI:  As we wrap up this interview, do you happen to have a short sample for our readers?  Nothing too long, but maybe a few fresh paragraphs?

GC:  How about the introduction to the main character of my story, “Hooked on Questing”?

The wizard Bertram heard the howls of the werewolf pack coming closer as he limped into the dark alley.  The beasts couldn’t be more than a block away.  That doppelganger he’d conjured and sent running in the other direction hadn’t fooled them at all, not with the lingering trail of blood from his chewed-up leg for them to track.  He figured the alpha leader would be on him in less than a minute and he was too exhausted to win another battle. 

            A minute was all he needed -- that and a doorway.  Even a brick wall would do in a pinch.  He thrust his staff out.  “Sanctuary!” he intoned.  The wall before him shimmered and a solid wooden door appeared, light and sound spilling out around the edges.  Bertram grabbed the latch, yanked the door open, and stepped through just as a snarling, furry demon bounded into the alley.

            The noisy tavern fell silent as Bertram slammed the door shut behind him and limped into the extra-dimensional tavern called Sanctuary, using his wizard’s staff as a cane to spare his injured leg.  He ignored the curious faces and made straight for his reserved corner booth, sighing with relief as he slid onto the cool vinyl padding.  His leg throbbed even with his weight off it and he checked the bandage under his torn trousers.  There was fresh blood seeping through so his healing spells weren’t up to the task.  No surprise there.  A werewolf bite is resistant to ordinary magic.

MTI:  Excellent stuff!  Thank you for a great interview.  I look forward to reading more of your work in the future.  Those who want to check out your stories can pick up a copy of Quests, Curses, & Vengeance.

Two for Tuesday #3

In our next set of Two for Tuesday samples, we have a pair of paragraphs from two more excellent Quests, Curses, & Vengeance stories.  Let’s get right to it.

Our first pair is from “But I Know We’ll Meet Again Some Sunny Day” by Lauren A. Forry:

            Penelope’s feet landed on a pile of soggy sand. Had she miscalculated? The TT4500 remained strapped securely to her wrist, but her hands shook so badly she couldn’t read the display. Bloody adrenaline, she thought. A red blur rumbled past, spraying her stockings with dirty water. She jumped back as the double-decker disappeared around the corner, her back colliding with a soft wall. Sandbags stacked four rows high. It was sand from a burst sack that littered the pavement. The TT buzzed—18 October 1940, 17:03. This was it. She was here.

            The adrenaline fading, Penelope removed the watch-like device from her wrist and slipped it into her coat pocket as a gaggle of women in navy blue uniforms passed. Her eyes followed them, and she caught sight of the sign beside her: London Bridge. Damn it. She meant to land closer to Bermondsey. She could take the Jubilee... no. The Jubilee line didn’t exist yet. She would have to walk, and daylight was fading.

Our second set comes from “All in a Day’s Work” by Karl G. Rich:

            “Beware!” screeched the Oracle.

            The stone walls, darkened from years of oily smoke residue from torches, bounced the sound around the hall. A damp, cold breeze wafted through my bare legs and raised the hair on the back of my neck. A lizard man stood on either side of me and gripped my upper arms in clawed, reptilian hands. If I had been six feet tall, these creatures would have towered over me by nearly twelve inches. With dry green skin and blunt noses, they appeared to be ripped out of a Raphael painting of sixteenth century nightmares. They could have held me with an encircling thumb and forefinger, as a father restrains a two-year-old child, so massive were their scaly hands. The Oracle’s black eyes with flaming pupils were set deep within her craggy countenance and bored hatred into my soul. Her lank, gray hair hung loosely as her toothless mouth worked up spit to swallow.

For the full stories, check out Quests, Curses, &Vengeance.

Author Interview: Philip Overby

When we have new contributing authors for Martinus Publishing anthologies, I always like to do basic introductory interviews.  Today, I'm interviewing Philip Overby, a fascinating author who contributed three short stories to "Quests, Curses,& Vengeance."  Thank you for taking the time to be interviewed, Philip.

Philip Overby: Thanks for the opportunity. I'm really excited about this anthology.

MTI:  There’s a lot to be excited about.  Starting off, could you tell our readers a little bit about yourself?

PO: I'm 32. A Capricorn. I like short walks on the beach. That's the boring stuff, I suppose.

One of the most interesting aspects of my life was the fact that I used to be an independent pro-wrestler for about four years. That always seems to get the same response: “Really?” If you saw what I look like, then you'd know why. I spent most of my time getting battered by guys twice my size. For me, wrestling was a dream come true. Even though I wasn't selling out arenas, it was always awesome to see the faces in the crowd, whether they loved or hated me. I was cheered, booed, spit on, threatened, high-fived, pushed, and offered “a ride in a truck,” whatever that means. Those are some of the biggest rushes I've ever received in life.

Now, I live in Japan, where I teach English and also do some freelance writing. Moving to Japan was also a dream come true. I became interested in Japanese culture from a strange source: a game called “Nobunaga's Ambition.” I became really interested in ancient Asian history from games like it and “Romance of the Three Kingdoms.” As a fantasy writer, I try to shy away from always writing traditional European medieval fantasy. I'd love to see more Asian-inspired fantasy. Hell, I'd love to see more Native American, South American, African, and Antarctic -inspired fantasy as well. 

My experiences with emergency management, both after Hurricane Katrina and the BP oil spill, have also heavily influenced my writing. I'm intrigued by rules, restrictions, and red tape. I love to see characters go up against systems that seem impossible to navigate, not because they're dangerous, but because they're so ridiculously complex. Perhaps I like an Orwellian flavor to some of my fiction because of these experiences.

MTI:  Yes, I certainly got an Orwellian feeling from a couple of your stories.  Good stuff.  I remember Nobunaga’s Ambition, too.  I still have the SNES cartridge kicking around somewhere.

Let’s get down to business.  What first compelled you to weave fiction, and what's your favorite type of story to write?

Well, I've been writing for quite some time. I really got interested in writing in 8th grade. I mostly wrote poems for a long time, inspired by writers like Edgar Allan Poe, Lewis Carroll, and Allen Ginsberg. I started writing stories when I was in community college and never looked back.

There have been many experiences that have molded the way I write. I'm really interested in combining modern conventions with fantasy worlds. I have an attraction to making the mundane fantastical. I also always like to have a good deal of humor injected into my writing. Sometimes it's dark, light, black, or slapstick.

Recently, I'm really obsessed with monster hunters. I've always found a fascination with bounty hunters, sellswords, and other mercenaries. There was even a part of my life where I seriously considered becoming a real-life bounty hunter. Alas, it wasn't to be.

I always tend to have some fantasy element to all my writing, regardless of the topic. If I was writing a story about an old blender, it would probably be the most magical old blender in existence.

MTI:  Tell me, if you had to pick just one author who has influenced or inspired you, who would it be?

That's always a really difficult question for me to answer. If I have to pick one, I'd say Polish fantasy writer Andrzej Sapkowski, the author of the Witcher series of stories. They combine humor, grotesque monsters, magic, politics, and action all in a world that is at both times familiar and unique. Geralt of Rivia is one of the more intriguing characters I've come across in fiction. He doesn't always solve all his problems with a sword, which is refreshing for a monster hunter type character.

MTI:  I’ll have to look up this Sapkowski fellow.  Sounds like good reading.

Your stories, “Burn it Up, Burn it Down,” “The Dance of Five Hells,” and “Red Paint” all appear in Quests, Curses, & Vengeance, an eclectic collection of stories ranging from high fantasy to imaginative sci-fi adventures and even supernatural horror.  You had the opportunity to read many of these stories in their original, rough draft form.  If you could, point out a few of your favorites from your fellow authors.

PO: I really enjoyed Edmund Wells's stories, particularly “Poetic Justice.” He has a quirky sense of humor that I like in writing. His stories are always fun and easy to read, but they're not schlocky or poorly-written. If he had a collection of stories out, I'd most definitely buy it.

My favorite story included in this anthology would be “But I Know We'll Meet Again Some Sunny Day” by Lauren A. Forry. This story made me really depressed, but in a good way. That's really the job of all great fiction: to make readers feel some kind of emotion. This story definitely did that.

MTI:  Shifting back to your own writing, can you tell us a little about what you're working on right now?

PO: I'm currently attempting a “52 Stories in 52 Weeks Challenge” that I found while scouring the internet. So far, I'm par for the course. I'm not posting any of the stories, but you can follow the progress on my blog: http://philipoverby1.blogspot.jp/2013/03/52-week-story-writing-challenge.html

My stories included in Quests, Curses, & Vengeance were actually part of this challenge.

I'm also working on a novel about a monster hunter who is responsible for causing the extinction of gryphons in her world. In return, she is cast out of her once posh circle of friends when the hunting of monsters becomes illegal. When monsters start to get more aggressive and attack villages, she decides to take up arms again to help the common people.  I want this to be a light, fun novel with lots of humor, but also pretty dark. I guess that's my MO: dark comic fantasy. Maybe I can coin that term?

I have several other novel ideas brewing in my head and I have to re-write a novel I wrote about a sword swallower. It just was too serious. I can't stand when I'm too serious!

MTI:  Of everything you’ve written thus far, do you happen to have a “favorite” piece of fiction?

PO: I have a story I wrote recently called “The Beast of the Lost Son” that I really like. It's still in rough draft form, but it involves two bounty hunters looking to get paid after a wizard skips town with their payment for killing some wyverns. They go looking for the wizard and find more than they expected. I always enjoy stories with a good twist, but don't seem completely out of left field. I feel like this story has a good, rational twist.

MTI:  Other than your three pieces appearing in Quests, Curses, & Vengeance, do you have any other stories being published in the near future?

PO: I just recently had a story published on the front page of Fantasy-Faction.com, one of the premier fantasy sites in the genre. You can check it out here: http://fantasy-faction.com/2013/winner-of-the-march-2013-writing-contest. Other than that, I'm mostly working on my novel, so I haven't been sending any stories out. I plan to submit to some more anthologies soon though.

MTI:  On a lighter note, have you watched any good tv lately?

PO: I'm not a big TV guy recently, but when I get hooked on a show, I really get hooked. Game of Thrones is excellent. One of my favorite shows in a long, long time. I'm a huge George R.R. Martin fan, and I didn't think a TV show could be done of his A Song of Ice and Fire series, but they've really nailed it. Breaking Bad is also one I really love. It's got a great mix of humor and drama that is pitch-perfect. I just wrapped up Desperate Housewives not that long ago as well. Awesome show. I really thought, “Boy, this is totally not my kind of show,” when I first started watching it. It's really brilliant though. I've scrutinized and analyzed some of the characters and episodes to a pretty remarkable degree. Call me a “Desperate Housewives scholar.” I'd actually love to write something in the fantasy vein that resembled that show.

MTI:  A mystical desperate housewives?  That could sell!  Hey, it would be better than “Sharknado,” which Syfy recently aired (of course, almost anything would be better than that).

So, what sort of music do you like?

PO: Recently, my tastes have changed a lot. I used to listen to lots of heavy metal, industrial, hip-hop, and mainstream pop. Now I listen to a lot of K-Pop (Korean pop). It's sort of my guilty pleasure. When I'm writing, I tend to listen to dubstep or drum and bass. I find music with no lyrics helps me the most. Sometimes I like to listen to ambient techno if I'm in a calmer mood. Maybe I'm part robot because I just love electronic music.

MTI:  And if you would, name three movies that you could watch over and over again and not be bored?

PO: “The Thing” is my all-time favorite movie. It's got terror, paranoia, constant dread, grotesque imagery, all the things that make a great horror movie. I could actually watch a lot of John Carpenter movies over and over. “A Christmas Story” is another one. It's a nostalgia thing mostly. I actually tear up sometimes when watching it, just because it reminds me of my childhood. Not because I almost shot my eye out or anything, just because Christmas Day was “A Christmas Story” marathon day as well. “Clue” would be my final choice, if I have to pick three. I've seen that movie at least fifty times, no exaggeration. That's probably where I get my sense of dark humor from. That's like my “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” I can quote whole lines from that movie. Coincidentally, both movies have Tim Curry in them.

MTI:  I like Tim Curry.  He’s pretty underrated as an actor, I think.  I remember seeing “The Thing” when I was a little kid, and it scared the hell out of me (hey, I think I was 5—my parents let me watch some really age-inappropriate movies when I was growing up).

You’ve got the attention of potential readers.  Is there anything you’d like to say to them, perhaps something to pique their interest in your work?

PO: I would hope when readers finish one of my stories they'd never say “That was boring.” That's one thing I strive for—to not be mediocre. I'm used to polarized opinions for the most part. Some people love my style and others think it's too weird or not their sense of humor. My stories can sometimes be off-the-wall or verge on absurd. I like weird, outside the box fiction, and I hope that mine comes off that way. If you want to read something that makes you say “What the hell?” or makes you spit your Cheerios all over yourself, then look no further than me, Philip Overby!

I'm also currently an article writer for MythicScribes.com. You can check out plenty of great articles about fantasy writing there. Join the forum as well!

If you want to tell me how funny, disturbed, bizarre, awesome, stupid, awesomely stupid, or insane I am, you can follow me on Twitter @Philip_Overby. I guarantee I'll follow you back and tell you how equally funny, disturbed, bizarre, awesome, stupid, awesomely stupid, or insane you are. Let's be friends!

MTI:  As we wrap up this interview, do you happen to have a short sample for our readers?  Nothing too long, but maybe a few fresh paragraphs?

PO: Here's a short sample of something I've been working on this week. It's tentatively called “Exterminators.”

“Did you have to burn the tavern down? I kinda liked it.” Wurly dusted ashes off his iron shoulder plates.

“Especially the tavern. That’s where most of the roaches were, dipshit.” Glover slipped his hardened amber blade back into his belt, the bits of thousand year old mosquitoes glistening in the sun.

“We could’ve took some of the liquor.” Wurly sneered, his black gums showing. “They had Bellyfull of Butterfly ale in there!”

“Yeah, we could have taken it, but that’s looting. How many times do I have to tell you—”

“I know. 'We’re exterminators, not thieves.' You have to remind me every time?”

“Yes.” Glover shook ashes from his long, curly red hair. “Because you try to steal shit every time.”

“Why does it matter? You’re just burning it all anyway.” Wurly pouted, folding his hairy arms. “Who's going to miss it?”

“Who’s the mage here?” Glover scowled.

“You are.”

Glover nodded. “Damn right. When you’re a mage, you can pick what you want to burn or not.”

Wurly kicked a burnt husk of a massive Colani cockroach. “I don’t wanna be a blasted mage. You all smell like piss and roasted garlic.”

“And ogres smell like rose petals and fresh linens, right?”

Wurly sniffed. “That's very accurate. You must have smelled quite a few ogres in your day.”

“Just shut up and help me haul these roaches,” Glover said, jerking one by its antennae.

PO:  Thanks again for the interview!

MTI:  And thank you for the great answers.  This has been an excellent experience, and I look forward to seeing more of your fiction in the future.  It’s always entertaining.  Those who want to read more of Philip Overby’s stories can pick up a copy of Quests, Curses, & Vengeance!

Win a Copy of Quests, Curses, & Vengeance!

We’re just 1 month away from the official release of Quests, Curses, & Vengeance, the latest sci-fi & fantasy anthology from Martinus Publishing.  As I complete the final round of revisions on this collection, it’s high time we had a giveaway!

Want your chance to win a free print copy?  It’s simple.  Just sign up for the Martinus Publishing email list.  Go to www.martinus.us, then click the “Martinus Mailing List Sign Up” button on the left side of the screen and fill out the simple form.  On August 13, 2013, all people on the list will be entered into the drawing and two lucky people will win a free print copy of Quests, Curses, & Vengeance!  That’s all there is to it.

There are other good reasons to join the mailing list.  Once in a while, you’ll receive valuable information about Martinus Publishing.  You’ll be the first to learn about forthcoming anthologies (especially good for writers seeking to submit, and for readers interested in making out a wish list of books to read).  We will also start sharing samples and other exciting freebies via email, so you don’t want to miss out.  It’s not real spammy, either.  You don’t have to worry about getting mobbed with an email every day, or even every week.  You might get one a month, at most.

So, sign up for the Martinus Publishing email list today!

Two for Tuesday #2

It’s time again for a Two for Tuesday, where I share the first two paragraphs from two different stories appearing in Quests, Curses, & Vengeance.  This collection is just over a month away from its official release date, so don’t forget to pre-order a copy now to both save money and assure the earliest possible delivery.  Pre-orders of The Temporal Element shipped before the book was even released!

Now, our sample paragraphs:

We start off with “A Bridge too Near” by Martin T. Ingham:

Sir Chelmsford Chase knew he was the best.  Everyone told him so.  Whether it was the thrill of jousting, or the art of swordplay, he could win out every time, yet it was all fun and games.  He was tired of being kissed by noble ladies and adorned with superficial ribbons after staged competitions.  It was time he proved his mettle, and did something only "the best" could.

Touring the tournament circuit, he'd heard lots of rumors; tales of evil sorcerers, demonic knights, and even hobgoblin-infested forests, but one task appealed to him more than all others.  The cursed bridge at Bannocksburg Crossing was said to be home to a troll, one notorious for eating the gentry.  This was the best chance for Chase to show everyone he really was the greatest combatant in the land.  To slay the troll, why, they'd sing songs about him until the end of time!

For our second sample, we have “More Precious than Rubies” by Chris Allinotte:

King Theodore the Thickheaded ruled the land of Alamage and was, without doubt, the stupidest king the land had ever known. He was fortunate in that his closest advisors were as kind and knowledgeable as he was lacking in brains. The townspeople recognized this, and thanked the heavens every day that the king’s men were not like the villains in the songs and stories. Yet, nobody dared speak of his diminished wits when anyone from the palace was within earshot. If ever someone forgot themselves, the guards made sure that it didn’t happen again.

The men were fiercely loyal to their leader, who favored hunting, feasting, and settling land disputes with single combat. Because these were things the king understood, those men that excelled at such deeds were his favorites, and none was so well loved as Sir Colin the Clever. And even he had to admit the king’s fascination for noble quests—those unselfish, perilous pursuits of glory—could try a knight’s nerves after some time.

Check out Quests, Curses, & Vengeance today.

Eastport’s Sweltering 4th of July Parade, 2013

Another American Independence Day has come and gone, and that means I was down in Eastport, wandering around with my family, seeing the spattering of attractions, the kids wasting money on inflatable rides.  This year wasn’t as exciting as the last few years, and it was hot.  Not only was it in the 90’s, but the streets were all freshly paved, so it was an oven.

Now, the parade was also kind of lacking this year, but I’ll do my now traditional recap.  Here’s how it went:

We kicked things off this year with a long line of municipal and State vehicles—fire trucks, police cars, ambulances.

“Oh, gimme gimme gimme!”  Nothing says American Independence like plastic garlands made in China.

The honor guard comes marching along.

 Returning from the dark dungeons of Augusta are State Representative Joyce Maker and State Senator, Dave Burns; just to the right of Big Bird.

It’s Chris Gardner’s 1952 Chevy Styleline Deluxe, driven by the man, himself.  And who’s that in the passenger seat?  It’s former State Senator Kevin Raye!

 The first wave of bagpipers come along, from Oromocto, New Brunswick.

 

Then the “Wreaths Across America” folks come along.  They do a good thing, supplying free wreaths to veterans.

The coast guard boat came, but it wasn’t sporting the machinegun this year.  A shame.

And the little ford rambled right along...

"The Boss."

The Shriners' lobster boats chugged on by.

And behind them we had the second band of bagpipers.  Blow them bags, boys!

I’m not sure who this guy is, but he was walking along behind the bagpipers as if he were somebody important.

The Quoddy Bay Lobster float.

A steady flow of kid beauty queens came along, as always.

Barbara’s International School of Dance had a float, and a few dancers behind it, but they didn’t have nearly the showing of past years.

Shead High School—Eastport’s premiere institution of teen education.

These Canadian Air Cadets made an appearance, yet there were no Mounties to be seen.  Strange.  Maybe they couldn’t get past the border guards this year.  Seriously, I think it’s harder coming across our northern border these days than it is coming across from Mexico...

The Shriner trucks zigzagged their way down the line.

“Oh, my God!  Get it off, get it off!”

Saint Mary’s Band was playing “God Bless America” as they rolled on by.

The Colonel’s back in town.

More beauty pageant girls were paraded out for all the lecherous old men to gawk at.  Oh, am I cynical or what?

Oh, isn’t that clever.  The “knot” OK Corral.  Where’s Knotty (Naughty) Wyatt Earp?

A John Deere Dragster. You don’t see one of those every day.

Shriner Minibikes.  They were really zipping along.

It’s Bozzuto’s big rig!  It’s a parade beast, but would it kill them to paste a flag on the side of it, or even some nice bunting?

It’s the Inkas Wasi guy.  He plays some neat Paruvian pipe music, and has a bunch of CD’s you can buy.  From Baroque to modern Rock songs, he does pipe versions of it all!

Shead High School’s class of 1963.  Those were the days...

It’s the Robbinston Grange float.  I joined the Grange not so long ago, and I could have been on the float, but then who’d give you all a recap of the parade?  Besides, nobody called to remind me, or let me know what was going on.

The Shriners came along in their little old cars.  It’s Fez country!

Atlantic Clarion Steel Band clanging away, as usual.  You can count on them to show up for the 4th in Eastport!

More Shriners, screaming right along.

The First is my bank, and they did a clever “First Ladies” float.

Olson Auto advertising the Roaring 20’s Ball at the Eastport Arts Center.  That could be interesting, considering the book I’m currently writing takes place in the 1920s.  Who am I kidding?  I never go to anything...

The National Guard brought out a few vehicles.  Would it have killed them to mount a .50 cal on the flatbed?

“I hear you’re taking volunteers.”

Moose Island Trolley Tours, right on schedule.

Eastport+Gilligan’s Island.  Not sure I can see the parallels.

Cornerstone Baptist Church float.

When September rolls around, we’ll have the annual Pirate Festival.  I’ve never gone, but heard nothing but good things.

“Dude, I’m, like, the coolest pirate ever.”

Lusty pirate wenches!

And that brings us to the end of the parade.  There were a lot of things missing this year, one being that we didn’t have a Navy ship in port.  There was some kind of scheduling snafu, where work was being performed on the breakwater, and they couldn’t have things shipshape in-port on time.  So, we didn’t have the long parade of white uniforms on the route.  It was just an off year, I guess.  Let’s hope we see more in 2014!