Mildra the Monk: Interview with Declan Finn

A new interview from a new interviewer.

If any of these sound good, just pop on over to SilverEmpire.org and check out my books.

And of course

Remember to vote in the Dragon Awards.

Catholic Reads: Interview with Declan Finn

So, I was on Catholic Reads last night.

This was fun.

Though on the one hand, it looks like I should consider better lighting next time.

However, that would also entail that people are interested in looking at me. Decisions, decisions....

Anyway, here it is. Enjoy.

Path of Angels Interview Questions with Dawn Witzke

So, my cover artist Dawn Witzke came out with a new novel, Path of Angels. There are some questions kicking around.

What led up to this book?

About 5 years or so ago, there was a lot of talk about Texas breaking away, people relocating to states with people who had like-minded views, and the fear of religious persecution by the government. I pulled a lot of conspiracy theories from the internet and exaggerated them, along with different things going on in our culture. I threw in a bunch of history and bam...Path of Angels.

What would you have done differently if you could do it again?

I wouldn’t have taken four years to finish the book.

What’s next?

I have several novels I’m currently working on. Relic Hunter - a futuristic tale of how the main character gets his coat. I’m also co-writing a fantasy novel that revolves around Irish mythology.

How'd you design the setting?

The setting for Nacerma is a combination of a bunch of conspiracy theories from both the right and left political sides. Then I centered it around the area I am most familiar, with some slight modifications.

What made you choose this route for the little road trip?

It’s a route I’m familiar with. Highway K is I-29 that runs between Sioux City (the fictional New Athens) and Omaha (the fictional Galt). Of course the towns in between are completely made up. The distance from New Athens to Galt is also farther than the distance between Sioux City and Omaha. Clinton Way is roughly Highway 30, another road that I’ve driven quite freqently.

How did you design the black / red guards?

The Black Guard came first. I wanted a military force that also served as a police force. In Nacerma the government is from the top down. There is the Central Council that governs everything. Power is then distributed to a number of branches from there, the Black Guard being one of those. The High Commander overseas the military branch. From there the Guard is divided into 7 branches, one for each of the six regions of Nacerma and the Red Guard.

The Red Guard came out of Monty Python. Yes “No one expects the Spanish Inquisition” made it into my book. Except the Red Guard are less comedy and more Nazi SS. They are the small elite force of the Black Guard who are charged with handling treason both secular and religious. They are judge, jury and sometimes executioners.

What was your concept behind the design of two characters?

Aadi and Mischa sort of materialized from thin air. They did however evolve a bit while writing the story. They are long time best friends.

Aadi is the type of person to not make waves. She practices her religion under the radar and isn’t concerned with changing the laws on religion. Her thought is that they will change as the faith spreads from person to person.


Mischa on the other hand, is more rebellious. He is part of a group that is public with its demand for changes.

They are both try to be faithful Catholics in their own way.

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

I don’t do much advanced research. I usually do it as the need pops up. In Path of Angels, I spent a considerable time researching time periods of Catholic persecution and how they kept things under wraps.

What did you edit out of this book?

Lots of whining and drama. It was a bit too much for most of my beta readers.

Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?

Always. I like to add in odd random information into my books. Sometimes it’s in dialogue and other times it’s in the setting. In Path of Angels, one of the secret codes is actually lines from the Bible.

Do you believe in writer’s block? (DO NOT ask whether they’ve had writer’s block).

Sort of. I believe that block’s are created by fear. Maslow's hierarchy of needs puts creative efforts higher on the pyramid. You have to fulfill basic needs and such before you can get into this higher level. When you’re stressed, your mind goes into a fight or flight state, bringing you down to a lower level on the scale. It’s much harder to write when you’re in a state of panic.

I’ve been there before, but it usually doesn’t last long, because I don’t fight it. I sidestep and do something else, like blog posts or art or reading or promotion or play a 1000 rounds of Candy Crush.

Path of Angels is out now.

Making the rounds

I'm not so much lazy this week as I am busy. Silver Empire got back to me with edits for A Pius Man ... actually, they got back to me with them a month ago, but Gmail decided to play games.

Thankfully, more and more people are interested in my lately, and I've made some appearances on their sites.

Bokerah Brumley, who was a guest on the radio show a while back, invited me to do a guest blog.

Book Horde also had me do a guest blog.

And I did an author interview

Oh, and I'm posting on the Superversive SF blog!

And in other news ... I've been suggested for a book of the year. Yes. Really. Both Brian Niemeier and JD Cowan nominated Murphy's Law ofVampires for the 2016 Planetary Award .... I don't even know what that award is, and I'm blown away by the fact that these two enjoyed Murphy's that much. This isn't bad for a novel that I thought would suffer from that "annoying trope of trilogies where the second book is superfluous and is merely treading water to the final book" -- when Mr. Cowan deliberately noted in his review that I had completely and utterly avoided that trope, I was flooded with so much relief, it's hard to describe. I'm flattered, admired, and so blown away, I have to pull out this meme again.

So, yeah, I'm going the rounds apparently.

Not bad for someone with a failing book business, is it? Heh.

Speaking of business ....

If you haven't already, check out some of the books below.

And if you have, please leave a review.

Thanks.

    

Interview with one of the #SadPuppies, and Music to write to: XCOM

Remember my guest puppy, Dawn?

Well, a few things.

1) She was neutral. She has now picked a side.  Hint: She isn't a puppy kicker.
2) She interviewed me and Honor at Stake.  Yay!
3) I've got a new review for the book.


Haven't played this game yet, but the music is fun and driving.

Reviews, awards, interviews, and other updates

So, first thing's first, I am apparently a right-wing extremist. Yay!

I'm up for an award from the CLFA.  What's the CLFA?

I'll give you three guesses.

Here's the funny part.

By now, everyone knows that A Pius Man is about defending the Catholic church.

A Pius Legacy is putting Christianity itself on trial. 

A Pius Stand takes the war on God wwwwaaaayyyy too literally.

You could see how these could be taken as conservative. And my message in the second two books are heavy on the "LEAVE ME AND MY CHURCH THE F$%K ALONE," so, maybe libertarian? Great, right? Easy, right? Shoe-in.

So, what gets nominated?

Codename: Winterborn.

I don't get it either.

Maybe killing politicians appeals to libertarians, and killing Frenchmen appeals to conservatives?  I dunno.

Anyway, no matter what, vote early, vote often.

Other people on the list include Jack July, Daniella Bova, Ann Margaret Lewis, and Larry Correia.

Yeah, Larry Correia.  I know, I'm screwed, but might as well give a good show.

Let's see, what else?

My radio career has begun!!!

In case you were wondering what the bloody Hell I was doing for the last week, well...

I was getting ready to host a radio program.

I explain below.

Check Out Writing Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with Writestream on BlogTalkRadio

The American Journal and Radio Interviews

I was a little lazy last week, in that I didn't post....anything, really.

Okay, I kinda did, just not here.  I was recruited for a news site that wanted people who had no problem taking news columns and commenting on them. The commentary includes sarcasm set to kill, and common sense.

It's also the part where I reveal either my inner nerd, or my inner radical.

I've discussed my politics on this site before. I'm either right-wing or left-wing depending on who you ask, and where the jury is sitting. A Pius Man was such that I've had good reviews on both sides, so the book came off as being fairly neutral. It may help that I'm sort of libertarian....in that I really don't give a crap as to what you do, believe, think or say, as long as you're not screwing around with anyone else. I really don't. I'm too freaking tired to play politics.

Granted, my general attitude is that the gene pool needs a good healthy dose of chlorine. Heck I've got a friend who agrees with my every belief in politics, and I still want to deck him every time he opens his mouth about it.

But, yeah, if you really to see my general frustration with politics, politicians, and the stupidity of the universe, go check out The American Journal.  Today I should have a whole list article on Arrow vs. Agents of SHIELD.

Also, last week included an interview with Daria Anne DiGiovanni, which you can tune into below. You might remember her from previous interviews.

Just to clear up any confusion, the atheist I refer to in the interview is not Matt, the artist who has contributed to the blog. I come across a  lot of people. Train wrecks happen a lot in my life.

Online Writing Radio at Blog Talk Radio with Writestream on BlogTalkRadio

Interview with Karina Fabian of Mind Over Psyche.

If you don't remember Karina Fabian ... that's too long a story to get into here, just click on "Fabian" keyword below, and you'll find her quick enough.

If you don't remember the first book in this series, Mind Over Mind, you can see my review of it here.

Now for a look at Mind Over Psyche.

Deryl isn’t crazy; he’s psychic.  Desperate to escape the insane asylum, Deryl  teleports to Kanaan, a world of telepaths who regard him as an oracle.  But freedom comes at a price.  The Kanaan expect their oracle to teach them to use their powers to wage war.  Meanwhile, he’s falling in love, but to be with her means to share his psyche, which could drive her insane.  Most dangerous of all, he hasn't escaped the Call of the Master, enemy of the Kanaan, whose telepathic manipulations were why Deryl was committed in the first place.  Now, the Master will forge Deryl’s powers into a weapon to kill all he loves or destroy his mind trying.

Interview Questions for Mind Over Psyche by Karina Fabian

1.  In Mind Over Mind, you had a romance between Joshua and Sachiko.  Will we see more of that in Mind Over Psyche?

No.  It’s Deryl’s turn to fall in love, and it will be a very different experience from Joshua’s.  For one, Tasmae is an alien.  Kanaan mate for life and when they meet their soul mate, it’s usually a compulsion.  They know, on a biological and telepathic level, that this is their soul mate, and they figure out the rest later.  Of course, Deryl being human makes things a little confusing for both him and Tasmae.  There’s more danger involved, as one or the other could drive each other insane in the literal sense.  Kanaan bonding is more than joining hearts or bodies.  They link minds.  Readers of Mind Over Mind know that’s traumatic enough for Deryl even with limited human contact.  What’s worse, however, is that Tasmae is under the psychic influence of her ancestor’s memories—her ancestor who had gone mad.  Add to that the fact that some of the Kanaan close to Tasmae see Deryl as a threat, not an oracle, and you can understand why Joshua is really worries about Deryl and Tasmae ever having the chance to be alone together.

2.  Joshua practices a form of psychiatry called neuro linguistic programming.  He used it extensively in Mind Over Mind.  Will he use it in Mind Over Psyche?

Some, but it really doesn’t work with aliens.  He will, however, save a child’s life with it, and will use some techniques to help Deryl and Tasmae out of danger.  This book, he also gets to exercise his musical talents.

3.  What is your favorite scene?

Tasmae is deeply under the influence of her ancestor’s memories and the pain and confusion have made her violent.  They’re causing Deryl pain a well, and he begs Joshua to help her.  He’s a psychiatric prodigy, right?  Never mind that he’s 19, an intern, has no drugs or orderlies as backup and oh, yeah, is dealing with aliens.  I loved imagining what Joshua, Deryl, and especially Tasmae were thinking and doing.  Crazy can be a lot of fun…when it’s not real.

4.  What’s the challenge about writing about a psychic people?

They don’t communicate just in words, but also images, emotions, and simple knowing.  For example, why have a name for a person when you can pass on the knowledge of who that person is?  Ditto for places.  However, to reach a reader, I have to use words.  No one wants to read “the captain of the Kanaan guard” ten times a page, so some characters needed names, and I needed a reason for them to have one.  In the end, humans and the Barin (who also have verbal language) name certain things.  This will be fun in Mind Over All, because Joshua will joking name a young boy who clings to him, “Axel,” and it sticks, to Sachiko’s ire.

Also, with no written language, there needs to be a way to preserve history.  This is vital in Mind Over Psyche, as memories are stored in psychic plants.  You experience things as the person experienced them—no sanitizing, no skimming, no skipping the yucky parts (unless the plant allows it.)

5.  Tell us about the everyn.  They’re more than just small dragons, right?

Oh, yes.  The everyn are part of the sentient animals species called Bondfriends.  They have a symbiotic psychic relationship with certain Kanaan (also called Bondfriends).  Without this psychic bonding, an everyn reverts to a fully animal state, while a Kanaan will ignore their physical state until they die before they reach puberty.  Bondfriends life separate from “regular” Kanaan, who don’t’ really understand their psychic relationship.  Also, because they are an animal/person mind, so to speak, they are a bit wilder than the Kanaan.

6. Where do you get your ideas? 

All over—from TV, from conversations with friends, from something on the news (or Facebook), from another book I’ve read, from a call for submissions for an anthology… There’s actually a psychological term for it: cognitive disinhibition. People with CD do not organize/file away information as well as people who don’t have it. As a result, we have a lot of stuff floating around in our minds, synapses snapping around until they link up with something else, and BOOM! Idea! Interestingly, schizophrenics also have CD, but on a more extreme level. So to all the people in college who thought I was inhibited—HA!


7. What’s a common mistake new writers make?

Following “rules” too closely. Really, there aren’t rules, just guidelines. For example, I had a friend who tried to remove every single adverb in her novel because “the rules” say “No –ly words.” Those words are a legitimate part of the English language and used judiciously (Look! -ly word), they can have an impact.

8.  You write a lot of different stuff—horror, fantasy, science fiction, comedy, devotionals…  What won’t you write?

Erotica, for one, or anything with an excess of gratuitous sex or violence. I have a rule for writing: If I’m not comfortable reading it aloud to my kids, I won’t write it. I've put aside novels because the characters want to share more than I’m comfortable writing.

Also, I won’t write something deliberately hurtful or insulting. I don’t hold back my opinions, nor do I resist a good joke just because it might offend someone. People are too prone these days to take the most innocuous stuff personally—or “personally” on behalf of someone else or some particular demographic. I spent too much of my childhood with a thin skin; life is more fun when you realize a joke is a joke.

I sometimes take on controversial subjects. The Mind Over series has a subplot concerning abortion, for example. I try to put myself aside and stay true to my characters’ feelings and attitudes. I won’t go so far as to say I’m always balanced; again, I write what I’d want my kids to read. So, while I won’t write a pro-abortion story I also don’t cast the woman who had one as the obvious villain. Life is complex, but there is a right and wrong.

9. You often decry on Facebook that you have too many ideas. How do you decide which to write first?

 

I have a rubric:
1. Will I get paid? (as in right away)
2. Am I on deadline?
3. Do I have a contract or an expectation from a publisher?
4. Will it sell more books?
5. Has the story grabbed me?

Sometimes, these blur, and once in a while, they go out the window. For example, I had an idea for a flash piece that I sent to a friend’s website. It will earn me nothing, and no one was expecting it, but the idea did not want to let go.

10. Is there a world of another writer you’d like to write in?

Madeleine L’ Engle’s Time Trilogy. Daydreaming up stories about Charles Wallance is what got me started. In fact, Mind Over Mind started in high school about Charles Wallace as an adult. Of course, it has radically changed! Deryl is nothing like Charles Wallace now, and the worlds are totally different. However, I still have one story that would work best with Charles Wallace. It takes place when he’s in his seventies and must again go in and out of people like he did in Swiftly Tilting Planet. One day, I plan to write it and use technology instead of withining—unless, of course Madeleine L’Engles’ estate wants to contact me about it!

I have been invited to write a novel in another author’s universe, incidentally. I don’t want to say more, though, until we have something more concrete. Let me just say, it’s a very interesting world premise and potentially a lot of fun.

MORE reviews and interviews

Yup, it's strange that I'm still posting these nearly six months after the book has been published, but things got strange, in short order.

First off, I've got an interview with Christopher Bunn over on his site. I think you might want to read it for his commentary more than for my answers.

Second, Glenda Bixler has written a review of A Pius Man.  And I think she likes it. A lot.

Third, there will be no DragonCon reports this year... I wanted to see a small handful of people, and it wasn't worth the money. I'm breaking even with A Pius Man right now, and every dime I have is being invested in marketing. While I would have liked to ambush John Ringo or Peter David, or even Jim Butcher with a novel... Butcher and David come to New York, a friend of mine has discussed mentioning it to Ringo.  Guests this year include Amy Acker, Steven Amell, Kelly Hu, and Eliza Dushku, all of which I've never seen before.... but that's four people, and it's not worth $2000 and six days of my life.

We'll see how things go.

Oh, by the way, did I mention that you can get both Codename: Winterborn and A Pius Man: A Holy Thriller, on Kindle, for free, during Labor day week?  No?  Well... it is.

Interview with the lovely Daria Anne.

So, yesterdays' interview was fun, though draining....I'm one of those people who's very energized while socializing, and I'm totally wiped afterwards.  I'm still feeling the aftereffects.

But darn, it was fun while I was doing it.

Unfortunately, I got a little confused, and conflated two stories while I was talking to Daria.  I'll explain next week. Thankfully, it's not important to the broadcast itself (I think it was about a minute out of 100).

Anyway, I'm going to go and take a nap.  Enjoy this time with Daria. Again, I enjoyed it, and I intend to do it again in short order.

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PRICE DROPS... and interviews.

So much to discuss, and so little time.

Okay, last week, I went to the Catholic Writer's Guild Conference Live!  Live because 1) Karina Fabian isn't President at the moment, that would make it CWGC Undead, and 2) they have an online conference.  I'll be blogging about that in due course.

 However, something I should note.  Remember, once upon a time, when I talked with Daria Anne DiGiovanni about A Pius Man? You might have remembered my blog interview with her?

If you don't remember the interview, just click here, and follow the instructions, and with luck, everything will work out just fine.

Well, this Tuesday, August 12, at 1PM EST, I will be talking with Madam DiGiovanni about my novel Codename: Winterborn. If you don't remember Winterborn, tune in and we'll see just how much we can bring you up to speed on the whole thing.

Oh, and while I remember, A Pius Man and Codename: Winterborn are both now cheaper on Kindle. Someone pointed out to me that $9.99 is not something that any normal person would pay for a Kindle book.  News to me, I never knew how much a Kindle book cost.

Yes, I'm a Luddite. No, I don't own a Kindle.

Interviews and author showcases.

So, item one: my coauthor on Codename: Winterborn, Allan Yoskowitz, was interviewed over at Dirk and Kam's.

I was as well, but aren't you all tired of hearing from me by now?

Oh, and if you folks would like a free reading of the other book, Codename: Winterborn, Kam and Dirk had a sample posting.  Enjoy.

Updates: Reviews and interviews

Good news: I'm up with yet another interview.  Granted, they spelled Declan with two Ns, but I'll take it.
 

In other news, with the other book, Codename: Winterborn, it has a new review up. And it looks good.  Mauahahahahaha. 

 

Today's angry rant has been postponed.

Before I begin, A Pius Man is free on Kindle every Friday this month. I only ask if you take a copy, you leave the most positive review you can when you're done.

I was going to schedule my first "Angry Review" vlog todag -- a concept inspired by the "Angry Joe" video game reviews on Youtube. In commemoration of Dan Brown's release Inferno, I was going to do a filmed version of my Da Vinci Code review, which I did for this blog, and which I toned down for Examiner.com.

However, I've noticed something lately; I'm too tightly wound, frustrated, angry, and on the verge of full- blown insanity.  Don't get be wrong, the books are selling well enough, sorta.  Codename: Winterborn is actually selling better than A Pius Man.  They've sold more than It Was Only On Stun! (remember that? No one else does either)

But I'm exhausted.  I said yesterday that I was on the point of "media blitz" where I'm the one who's blitzed. What have I done? you ask.  Well....

I've been contacting every conceivable bookstore within New York City, shooting for independent bookstores ... do you know how many of those stores are in New York? And why must I do this? Because Barnes & Noble won't let me in the front door as an author.

I've been posting flyers around my neighborhood, and outside of Barnes and Nobles, so they may not even let me in as a customer.

I've been trying to get quotes from Authors ranging from John Ringo, Vince Flynn, Jeffery Deaver, Lee Child, Douglas Preston, James Patterson, James Rollins and Nelson DeMille. I've heard back from exactly one, and that was Vince Flynn's PR guy giving me a brush off and a middle finger.

I've written Examiner articles on my own books.

I've interviewed with practically everyone who came along. The best interviews thus far being from Stuart West and Daria DiGiovanni (I linked to her review, but you can find the interview easily enough on her site). There was Catholic Fiction,  and Indie Review (twice), and others that won't even be posting for a few months. That doesn't include the guest posts on the "Catholic revenge "novel, and redemption in fiction,

I've been sending out copies in hard copy to anyone I can talk into it -- AND I'VE STILL FORGOTTEN TO SEND ONE TO DARIA, NUTS!!!  (Daria, I've got the books, I just need the mailers, honest).

I've applied for the Catholic Writer's Guild Seal of Approval, which will take at least the rest of May.

My next step is to go to Bostwick Communications and pay them to spam the universe for my novel. We'll see how that goes.  If that goes.

And I've had three -- count 'em, three -- reviews on A Pius Man over at Amazon.com, and two of them because I had to ask for them.  (Not Mr. West, he volunteered)

In case you're wondering, being a writer really is a full time job; but the pay is still commission-based. Unlike a real 9-5 job, the hours can range from 40-80 hours a week, and can cost you more friends than you can imagine. Not to mention having bridges burned while you're still on them.

Right now, I'm just very tired. I think I'm going to plug myself into either a good book, or my Xbox.  It's either that or an electrical socket.

Be well, everyone.

Book tour special: "Greater Treasures" Interview with Karina Fabian

Before we begin today's blog properly, there's a little announcement.  A Pius Man can be found on Kindle for Free every Friday this month. Why every Friday? Because I'd like to encourage people to get hooked, and then buy the novel, rather than wait a week for another freebie. The first taste is free, then you have to pay. It works in other marketing environments.

Now, on with the rest of the blog.

Longtime readers will remember Karina Fabian, author of Live and Let Fly, and co-editor of Infinite Space, Infinite God II.

Greater Treasures is a novella set in the Live and Let Fly universe.

The story? Well, it's as follows:

Being a private detective in the border town of the Faerie and Mundane worlds isn’t easy, even for a dragon like Vern. Still, finding the wayward brother of a teary damsel in distress shouldn’t have gotten so dangerous. When his partner, Sister Grace, gets poisoned by a dart meant for him, Vern offers to find an artifact in exchange for a cure. However, this is no ordinary trinket—with a little magic power, it could control all of mankind. Can Vern find the artifact, and will he sacrifice the fate of two worlds for the life of his best friend?

And with that established, let's begin.

Your previous DragonEye books were full novels with small press publishers, and now you're going a different route with a short story. Why the change? 
KF: I have two DragonEye novels—Magic, Mensa, and Mayhem, published by Swimming Kangaroo; and Live and Let Fly by MuseItUp books. I also have numerous DragonEye stories in various anthologies and magazines. I have a few larger stories, however, that are too small for novels but too big for anthologies or magazines. So I’m self-publishing those. It’s not a change, so much as an expansion—another arrow in my publishing quiver.

I love the publishers I’ve worked with and have great respect for them, and I am still submitting to small and big traditional presses.



You've got a lot of different and disparate elements scattered throughout the book. Heavy on religious elements, scattered with scifi tv references, in an atmosphere that's very much The Maltese Falcon. With all that in mind, one must ask: who is your target audience? 

Geeks? How about well-rounded readers of fantasy who enjoy a different approach. I don’t expect everyone to get or appreciate every reference in a story. I know when I read, I don’t, and one of the joys of reading is to discover something new.

I have to ask – how many times did you see The Maltese Falcon before you wrote the story? 
Once while taking notes.

Your world is an alternate world where two worlds – Mundane and Faerie – are connected. Yet you still have real-world events like 9-11 mentioned. What does the history of your universe look like? 
The Mundane world’s history and culture is very similar to our own, and where the Faerie world has changed it, I’ve mostly explored the local level. There’s a nice little nastiness about the Faerie in that they cannot be too far from the Gap for too long or they lose their connection to the magic. It’s fine for the humans, but any magical creatures get ill. (I explored this some in Live and Let Fly.)

The Faerie world has a lot of parallels to ours, but with some major exceptions. Satan and his minions prowl about the world in a very visible way, and the Catholic Church has remained united against them. It’s the only human religion, with the pagan gods (who are actual creatures) having been put in their proper place by the True God. Many of the problems leading to the Protestant Revolution either not happening or solved in-house in light of the fact that there’s an obvious bigger threat we need to stand against. Politically and technologically, they are behind us historically. The Gap connects to an area in England that is a duchy complete with a Duke who, as Vern will tell you, likes to have fun with his authority.


You made a point in the short story to say that dragon's don't have souls “like humans,” and therefore couldn't be converted. How does that work, considering that Vern is quite religious?

Christ died for humans, but that doesn't mean the other Faerie races don’t have souls or religion. They worship differently. In dragon’s case, it’s more of a great appreciation for their creation. They believe that while Man was made in God’s image, Dragon was made from God’s great imaginings. (It also accounts for their superiority complex.) They also have a different morality; for example, eating a lesser being does not count as murder—and all non-dragons are lesser.

Vern is a special case, however. St. George, convinced that the Church needed a dragon on its side, “recruited” Vern, but he did not go willingly. In the end, God through George had taken away just about everything from him—from size to magic—and told him to earn back his former glory, he would have to serve God’s creatures through the direction of the Church. Everything he does toward that end gives him something back; every backslide morally means a backslide physically. After 850 or so years working in the human religious institution, he’s picked up some human habits.

Why use the Lance of Longinus for the plot device? 

The Lance of Longinus is the spear used by the centurion to pierce Christ’s side, and has been sought after as a source of supernatural power in our world for millennia. I needed something with more punch than a bird statue. I don’t remember now why the Lance came to mind, but as I read all the conspiracy theories around it, I loved how it fit into the story.


In the Gap, God seems to take a direct hand in things more often than He does indirect– including an angelic security system. How do you manage the theology of Vern's world?

Carefully. They are more open to miracles and visions there than in the Mundane, but even so, God seldom comes from On High to hurl a lightning bolt. That’s more Zeus’ style.

What's your next project? 

I’m finishing the last book in the Mind Over Trilogy—Mind Over All. The second book, Mind Over Psyche, comes out in September. It’s a fantasy about a young man who claws his way back to sanity after suddenly acquiring psychic abilities. In the second novel, he escapes the mental asylum to another world, where he meets the woman who had been contacting him through visions. He (and his friend and intern who got caught up in the teleport) discover that she, too, is facing visions she cannot handle, and if they want to live, they need to help her understand the visions before they drive her insane.

What are you reading right now? 

I just finished Rapunzel Let Down by Regina Doman. One of the best books I’ve ever read in my life—edgy, griping, and very believable. As you can tell from the title, it’s a modern-day play off the Rapunzel story, but as told by the Brothers Grim. I highly recommend it.

Next, I need to read a biography on a saint for a writing assignment. Haven’t decided who is next; I just finished St. Ignatius of Antioch.


What question would you like me to have asked? 

None come to mind. Actually, it’s refreshing to have some unique questions. Thanks!

Come back tomorrow for the review.

Karina Fabian

Winner of the 2010 INDIE for best Fantasy (Magic, Mensa and Mayhem), Karina Fabian has imagination that takes quirky twists that keep her--and her fans--amused. Nuns working in space, a down-and-out Faerie dragon working off a geas from St. George, zombie exterminators—there’s always a surprise in Fabian’s worlds. Mrs. Fabian teaches writing and book marketing seminars, but mostly is concerned with supporting her husband, Rob Fabian as he makes the exciting leap from military officer to civilian executive, getting her kids through high school and college, and surviving daily circuit torture…er, circuit training. Read about her adventures at http://fabianspace.com.   

My first live Interview!

Yesterday, I gave an interview with the lovely and gracious Daria Anne DiGiovanni.

Didn't hear it? Don't worry, now you can.

God love the internet. Nothing gets thrown away.

So, if you jump to the 65:30 minute mark, you can listen to me babble on in a live interview. I was not given the questions in advance, and my adrenaline was pumping so badly that my hands were shaking.  Hopefully, I didn't make a complete idiot of myself. :)

Listen to internet radio with Dariaanne on Blog Talk Radio

Being interviewed.

Did I mention that I and my friend Allan were being interviewed for our book Codename: Winterborn?

No?

Well, we are, right here.

Enjoy, all.

Interview with Karina Fabian, author of "I Left My Brains In San Francisco"

So, round two. Yesterday was the guest blog for Karina Fabian as part of her virtual book tour for I Left My Brains In San Francisco.

The premise?

 Zombie problem? Call Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator--but not this weekend.
On vacation at an exterminator’s convention, she's looking to relax, have fun, and enjoy a little romance. Too bad the zombies have a different idea. When they rise from their watery graves to take over the City by the Bay, it looks like it'll be a working vacation after all.
Enjoy the thrill of re-kill with Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator.

Q: The first NL was a great satire of reality shows, with just the occasional shot at politicians. What made you go to a Zombie Exterminator Convention in San Francisco? Why San Francisco?

I’d just gone to World Fantasy Con in San Francisco, and my brother-in-law worked at a refinery in Richmond, and thought it’d make an awesome location for a zombie attack. (He’s been promoted and lives in LA now; no connection to the book). Plus, my publisher lives in San Jose, and she loves San Francisco, so it was an easy choice.

Q So it wasn’t just an easy way to slip in more political shots along the way? If that's the case, was DC taken?
California is an easy target, but it was the thought of zombies at the famous tourist sites that I enjoyed, although I didn’t get in as many as I’d expected. The story demanded other locations. Still, there are some great vignettes at famous spots. Maybe someday, I’ll write some short stories of the other sightings that didn’t get in the book.

Q: In the first NL, the EPA was going after detergents that Neeta thought was most effective about fighting zombies. Did you throw that in to imply the EPA would go after it *because* it could fight zombies, or was it just for fun?

They didn’t go after it because it would fight zombies, but because they’re hard on the environment. That was kind of the point—never mind that they’re our best defense against zombies; in large quantities they might affect the Spotted Peeing Mouse or somesuch. Of course, the whole idea of bleach being an effective zombie repellant is pretty ridiculous, so the real point is fun.

Q: The Neeta books seem to be your most political. They take swipes at the EPA, trial lawyers, eco-terrorists, the Occupy movement, and I'm sure a few other political targets that I'm missing.
I should have a contest to see how many things I poke fun at in these books.

Q Why Zombies? Were vampires taken?
Zombies were not my idea, actually. Kim Richards founded Damnation Books and asked folks to write stories for an anthology called *The Zombie Cookbook* to kick off the publishing company. So I wrote a funny one called “Wokking Dead,” which was more food puns and silliness than anything, but people loved Neeta and she asked me to write some novels.

Q: In the last book, the main adversary of the book seemed to be general stupidity -- be it of reality show producers, or everyone who seems to think they know better. In this, it seems to be eco-terrorists of the group called TREE. What made you decide to focus on them as a primary bad guy?

I needed a reason for zombies to attack a fuel refinery, and by the logic I’d already set up in Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator, it couldn’t be random coincidence. They had to have a reason to make the effort to go there, and to do damage once there. Eco-terrorism just made sense.

Q: This blog's latest release has been about a murder mystery at a science fiction convention -- essentially, humor via culture shock. What's your approach to it?
To humor? Twist cliché’s, take a trend to ridiculous extremes, puns, and generally amusing myself as I strive to amuse others.

Q: Did you have to work VERY hard on all of the in-jokes? The GPS voice named Majel? The monofilament sword called "The Buffy"? That sort of thing.

Oh, no! That’s the easy part. Those come to me as I write, but I (and my family) crack those kind of jokes all the time, so I have lots of practice. Ditto with puns. We used to reward our kids for coming up with puns. Rob and I actually fell in love during a pun war while eating pizza and watching Looney Tunes cartoons at a Shakey’s in San Angelo, TX. Humor is important in our house.

Q: What's next for Neeta? A. Zombie for Presidential candidate?
Zombies are not considered persons—there was a lot of debate and work on that, and even in the 2040s, there are still some who try to get them registered to vote. (And some that rise from the dead in hopes of completing their civic duty—amazing, I know!)

The next thing for Neeta and Ted is a ski vacation in Utah. Unfortunately, when a ski team killed in an avalanche returns from the dead to finish the competition, it turns into a working vacation. “Shambling in a Winter Wonderland” will be a story written in serial to raise money for Operation Homestead. Folks will find it in mid-November at http://skizombies.karinafabian.com

Q So, what's next for you?

Right now, the serial story. When that is finished, I’ll probably finish Gapman, a super-hero spoof in my DragonEye, PI universe. I’m also toying with publishing some of my novellas via Kindle.

Q: What've you been reading lately? In fiction, or non-fiction, or politics?

I just finished *Monster Hunters: Legion* by Larry Correia, which was an awesome book—definitely “popcorn” reading, but fun! I also have been reading a lot on the space industry, so Space News, Nations Space Society, etc. I’m blogging about it at http://fabianspace101.blogspot.com , Rocket Science for the Rest of Us. I get enough “politics” via Facebook. I’ll be glad for November!

Hitting the big leagues -- being interviewed at Fortnight of ... Mustard?

Today, I"m going to be a little bit lazy.  I'm going to let someone else do the work for me.....

Sort of.

I'm actually interviewed over at A Fortnight of Mustard (yes, seriously.) and at Catholic Once Again.

It's always nice to deal with someone who likes my books. :)

Anyway, enjoy the interviews.