Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Stardust, Always Interview With D.R. Perry



His story Distance, Speed, Time can be found in the Stardust, Always anthology.
What genre do you read?
Anything with some humor in it, but mainly speculative fiction. I love comics and graphic novels, too.
What genres do you write?
Fantasy of all kinds. I recently got an idea for a pair of goofy alien novels, however.
Where else can readers find your work?
All my work is on Amazon currently. I have an Author Central page here: http://www.amazon.com/author/drperry
What drove you to write for this anthology?
I have lost too many people to cancer. I used to be a Home Health Aide, so I've seen it up close.
How long have you participated in Nanowrimo and the community?
Since 2013. I used to be a lurker there, so glad I stepped out from those shadows!
Your story- is it part of a larger series or freestanding?
I wrote a poem. It will eventually be in something called a Poeticalendar. I'll need 366 poetry and flash-fiction pieces before that comes out, though.
If you could ever meet a fictional character, who would it be?
I would love to go to Jitters and meet Cisco Ramon. He seems like a hoot!
Writing buddy?
A doggie named Harry. He's a mutt, but we think he's part bichon frise.
Coffee, tea, or other?
All of the above, please!
Morning or night person?
I'm a circadian chameleon. I come and go, I come and go, woah oh.
Plotter or Pantser?
Pants! A decent pair of pants! Thank you!
One fun fact?
Weird Al Yankovich was my rock and roll hero. Other people my age went nuts over Eddie Van Halen. I wanted to have big hair, write parodies, and play the accordion.

Stardust, Always Interview With Lacey Sutton



Her story Oubliette can be found in the Stardust, Always anthology.

What genre do you read?
I read pretty much anything, but my go-to genres are humorous YA (think Rick Riordian and Bruce Coville), cozy mysteries, and historical romances, preferably ones written where the book is 99% hijinks and 1% romance.
What genres do you write?
I write the stories that come to me, without worrying too much about genre. Most of the novels I have plotted are under the loose umbrella of “speculative fiction”, but I’m still struggling to find my voice with a full-length novel. So I’m practicing with short stories for now. I also have a historical romance I’m tinkering with when the mood strikes, and a book that started as an off-beat paranormal story, and ended up full-on horror. That one is shelved for now.
Where else can readers find your work?
My only other published short story “Bedtime Stories” can be found in the anthology “The Longest Night Watch” which was published to fund Alzheimer’s research last year. Other short stories and the sample chapters of a few novels can be found on Wattpad (LaceySutton). “Hatchet” is the prelude chapter to my 2015 NaNoWriMo novel about a cop on an Earth Colony who moonlights as a hitman to address issues she has with the justice system; “A Gift of Flame” is a project I have been working on for a VERY long time now. Set at the end of the Indus River Valley Civilization in 2400 B.C., it is a fantasy story about long held grudges and a pregnant Empress with a craving for chocolate (15 scenes published). “Muses” is the horror story that I’ve shelved. It is about a writer who has gotten rich off of penning gory little mystery-thrillers. The only problem is, he’s just writing someone else’s story... someone with a lot of hands-on experience with murder (9 chapters published). Finally there is “The Nothing Man”, which is a short story mentioned in “Muses”, and written as if it was authored by the main character, Aiden Ruskin. It’s a short paranormal story about a teen who sees a man no one else seems to be able to, and becomes haunted by the Nothing Man.
What drove you to write for this anthology?
Cancer hurt my mother and stepmother, and recently took a very good friend. I was mad. I wanted to hurt cancer back. Providing funding for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital seemed a great way to do that. Working on this project was also very cathartic—not only the story I wrote, but reading the amazing works by everyone else. From firsthand accounts to stories that focused on the careers and characters of Bowie and Rickman, this anthology is a celebration and a perfect tribute to those we have lost and those who are still fighting.
How long have you participated in Nanowrimo and the community?
I have participated in NaNoWriMo for nearly a decade now, and have won it 8 times. I discovered the Unofficial NaNoWriMo participants group about six years ago now, and have let it be my main time-suck ever since. Whenever I feel like writing, I go there and fool around until the sensation passes.
Your story- is it part of a larger series or freestanding?
Freestanding. The only way I can write short stories is to do one-offs. Otherwise the story just keeps going...
If you could ever meet a fictional character, who would it be?
Probably Data, from Star Trek: The Next Generation. I had such a crush on him, but also appreciated his desire to learn, his ability to insert personal enrichment into a busy career, and his hair. I mean, 90% of the time it was perfect. *Envious sigh*
Writing buddy?
I have a cat who prevents me from writing as much as his 23lbs of dead weight can manage. I also have a child, who is slightly more successful at 44lbs.
Coffee, tea, or other?
I’ll drink pretty much anything with straight caffeine. No energy drinks, but tea, coffee, soda, Bawls, caffeinated water... all good.
Morning or night person?
I’m a 10 am – 2 pm person. Any time before then I’m still waking up, any time after that and I’m beginning the downward slide to oblivion.
Plotter or Pantser?
The ideal me is a plotter, but in reality I begin very diligently to plot, then get distracted by something (or think “There must be an easier/more efficient way to do this!” and end up having to pants great swaths of it. I also have encountered sections that have been meticulously plotted, but when I finally write them no longer make sense in the way I envisioned and the whole thing derails. At these points one of the characters usually steps up and helps me wrestle the entire thing back onto the tracks. So... all of the above?
What question do you wish people would ask about you or your writing?
I tried to think of something witty, but really...just expressing interest would be fine. I have a few fans, but they’re at the “wow, you’re a good writer” level, not at the “How do you xyz.” I will even take “How do you get your ideas,” at this point in my career (which is actually the question I used as the seed of “Muses”). I also accept pestering, like “I loved this character! Why don’t you do more with them!” Yah... that’d be great...
One fun fact?
I tell many stories about my origins. Despite their nearly mythical qualities, they are all true.

Monday, June 13, 2016

Stardust, Always Interview With Kelly Kuebler


Her story Dying Is Harder on the Living can be found in the Stardust, Always anthology.

One fun fact?
I love to go to flea markets, antique shops and garage sales. I even work at an antique shop as an assistant manager.

What genre do you read?
I like chick lit, heritage or interesting historical novels, biographies, thrillers.

What genres do you write?
I write thriller/suspense and fictional dramas as far as novel writing goes. With screenplays or stage plays I lean towards drama-comedies or just comedies.

Where else can readers find your work?
Stardust, Always is my first published work outside of articles. My photographs, interviews and articles can all be seen on my website, www.kellykuebler.com.

What drove you to write for this anthology?
I wanted to find a way to honor my late grandfather and heal from his death (he passed in 2014 of bone cancer) and this anthology seemed like a way to do that. The group putting it together became like a support group for everyone and that really helped me cope. I also was shocked by the deaths of Bowie and Rickman so to be able to pay tribute to them while honoring my grandfather made this the perfect project to get involved in.

How long have you participated in Nanowrimo and the community?
I have done NaNoWriMo since 2006 but just got involved in the online community (mainly Facebook groups) 2 years ago.

Your story- is it part of a larger series or freestanding?
It is a freestanding piece.

If you could ever meet a fictional character, who would it be?
That is a tough question. I would love to hang out with Becky Bloomwood Brandon from the Confessions of a Shopaholic series.  Also Sherlock Holmes.  

Writing buddy?
My friend Megan C. is the one who got me involved in NaNoWriMo so we always encourage each other and talk to each other about our writing pieces.

Coffee, tea, or other?
Tea definitely but only black tea. My favorite is Irish Breakfast Tea.

Morning or night person?
Night person. I do all of my best thinking and am most creative from 11 to 1 at night. It has always been that way. I will never be a morning person.

What question do you wish people would ask about you or your writing?
What part of your writing career are you most proud of?