Jade McCulloch Interview

In what genre do you write for the most part? 

I like to write science fiction, horror, and urban fantasy

Give us a brief synopsis of your book(s) 

Right now I only have one book out, Zombie Bite. It’s about a young woman, named Zoey, who is trying to save a loved one from infection. I had planned to do a while series of books in that universe, but I’m not sure now. I may just write a sequel or spin off.

When did you start writing? 

As soon as I could hold a pencil. I remember really enjoying the writing assignments that the teachers gave me. I think I always have enjoyed storytelling.

What inspired you to write? 

I used to watch the show Ghost Writer and there was an episode where they enter a story writing contest. I saw how much fun they had writing and it kind of lead to me writing a lot as a child. I also had a lot of fun reading Goosebumps books and watching the tv show, so I think that played a part.

If your books were made into a movie, who would play the roles? 

I didn’t really picture actors when I wrote my novel. I kind of just pictured the characters as their own people, and they came to life. I think if any of my books ever get made into movies I would like unknown actors and actresses playing the characters. I don’t really want the story to be outshined by star power.

What would be your choice for a superpower? 

You mean I can only have one? I think I would choose time travel. If I had a bad day or something I could just press reset.

Who is your favorite author? 

That’s a hard question for me because I like so many! Charlaine Harris would be one of my favorites. I really enjoyed most of the Sookie Stackhouse series and have read her Harper series too. I love Jeff Lindsay’s Dexter books. It seems like he can get me to laugh on one page and then gross me out on the next. Jeaniene Frost is also one of my favorites. She actually gave me advice when I started seriously considering a career as a writer.

What are you reading now? 

I actually haven’t read anything in a while. I have trouble reading while I am writing, but the next book I plan to read will be The Bladesmith by HP Mallory. I am also searching for some good spooky reads.

Who is your favorite character to write? 

I think it would have to be whoever I am currently writing. When I started writing Zombie Bite I really enjoyed writing Zoey. I loved giving her lines like, “You look like Carrie on prom night.” I didn’t like writing her as much towards the middle and end of the novel, but not because I didn’t like her, because she had gone through things that had damaged her and the damaged really started to show. Right now I am writing two new main characters, one name Anyssa and one named Kenzie. I really prefer writing Kenzie because I feel like she’s more relatable. I feel like she pushes a lot of people away and everyone can relate to a time when they have shut people out of their lives.

Do you have a writing process? 

Usually I keep lots of notebooks handy for when I have an idea and end up writing whole scenes in them. I transfer it to a word document later and some stuff gets cut out while other stuff gets added. I also text message myself ideas a lot of the time.

What do you do when you aren’t writing? 

I have a youtube channel where I play video games.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author? 

Don’t rush your novels. Wait until they feel ready.

What sets your books apart from others of the genre? 

It’s a really dark look at people who have lived among zombies.

What method do you use to publish your books for those of us who might not know how? 

Right now I have my novel in kindle and nook, but I plan to have a paperback from createspace after I figure out what I want to do with it.

Where can we find you on social media?
My blog
My amazon author page
Twitter
My youtube

Visit me on my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE to borrow any of my books for FREE!

Best-selling author of Wake the Dead! On Amazon Kindle here!

All Artwork and covers of my works by William J. Kenney & Carlos Cara

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2014 unless otherwise noted.

Chris Waltz Interview

First off, tell us a little bit about you, Chris

Well, I am a middle school language arts teacher and writer. I grew up in Columbus, Indiana and moved to Indianapolis after graduating from college taking a job with the American Red Cross. I got to do weirdly exciting stuff for someone who had just graduated and had no experience; responding to fires, helping people who had lost everything… I even spent a few weeks in New York the day after Hurricane Sandy hit, which was a very humbling experience. When I wasn’t responding to disasters, I was sitting at a desk, which was a stark contrast and pretty boring. It was sitting at that desk, though, where I finished my first novel. After my contract with the Red Cross ended, I started teaching 7th and 8th grade language arts.

Tell us about your books/What genre do you consider your books?
My first two novels, Ivy League and Old Habits are actually young adult crime/thriller type stories. I got the idea about a high school student who couldn’t afford college, so he turns to selling drugs while I was actually in college. I started writing it my junior year and finished about two years later. After that, I decided to transition into horror, a genre that I love, but was always too afraid to attempt writing because there’s so much good stuff already out there. It kind of stuck, and I’ve been writing almost exclusively horror since.

When did you start writing? 
I started writing (for fun) when I was about eight-years-old. The first thing I ever finished was ten or fifteen-page sequel to the movie Jumanji. I wrote it and illustrated it, and then I wrapped it and gave it to my mom for Christmas. I had no idea it would turn into something I would be doing for the rest of my life at the time… it was just a way for me to be creative.

Why do you write? 
It’s weird that this question is so simple but so hard to answer. I write, mainly, because it’s something I love doing. I’ve always been very interested in grammar and linguistics, even before I really knew what those things were. I was also always into telling ghost stories, so eventually it all just came full-circle and turned a hobby into a passion.

What would be your choice for a superpower?
If I could choose any super power, I would probably choose weather manipulation, like Storm from the X-Men. It’s not the most exciting power out there, but since I was a little kid, she was my favorite X-Person, so it would be definitely fun and interesting to have her abilities.

Who is your favorite author? 
I have some typical favorites like Stephen King and Chuck Palahniuk, but right now, I am completely obsessed (not in a creepy way) with a young adult author named Andrew Smith. He writes these amazing, emotional, gut-wrenching stories, and I’m pretty sure he is the only author who I’ve ever had to buy his books the day they come out. It’s actually been since the fall that one has come out, and I think I’m going through Andrew-withdrawal.

What are you reading now? 
I’ve been reading a lot of graphic novels lately. I’ve just been going to the public library and picking things that look good… I get some duds sometimes, but right now I’m reading the New 52 incarnation of Nightwing and Kick-Ass, and I really like both of them. I was really bummed to find out Nightwing only went for thirty issues before it was cancelled.

Who is your favorite character to write? 
Right now I am writing a serialized horror-comedy where a new chapter releases every two weeks. One of the characters is someone who comes from a small, closed-minded, right-wing town, but he is everything opposite of that. He’s kind of a punk-grunge-gay-carefree guy, and he’s really fun to write against this backdrop of a conservative town that basically hates him because he exists. He also has a pretty big secret (that I won’t reveal here) that also makes him fun to write.

Do you have a writing process? 
I write best when I’m not at home. I can be home alone with no distractions and I still won’t get any writing done. I usually pack up my laptop and some earbuds and head to this kind of dinky local coffee shop. The barista knew my order off the top of her head for the first time yesterday, and I wasn’t sure whether I should be happy that she remembered or sad that I’ve been there so many times recently. I also have to be listening to music—usually one of two or three albums. I don’t like changing up my music selection, because then I’ll be more focused on it than my writing.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author? 
That it’s okay to be “indie,” and that being indie doesn’t mean you’re a nobody or unknown, it just means that you want to have more artistic say over what you release. Don’t be just another robot churning out meaningless stories for a big publishing house. Also, don’t jump into anything too quickly. To this day, I regret publishing my first novel as quickly as I did, even though I’m happy with the novel itself.

What inspired you to pursue writing?
I honestly don’t know the answer to that question. I’ve always been fairly artistic, and writing was just the outlet I was best at. I can kind of draw, but kind of being able to do something doesn’t really get you anywhere. And I’m color blind, so that limits visual creativity a bit. It’s also a motivator to look at something you create and think, “Wow, I actually really like this.”

What are your favorite TV shows/Movies to watch in between writing?
I’m hooked on Shameless on Showtime. It’s an amazing show, and even though it likely only has a season or two left, I would kill to be able to write an episode. I’m also a huge Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan and will watch an episode or two of that every now and again for nostalgia reasons. I’ve also been really attached to the J.J. Abrams adaptation of Stephen King’s 11.22.63. Others include some darker stuff like American Horror Story, Bates Motel, Hannibal, and Weeds. If it’s dark and funny, then I’m sold on it.

What are your current projects?
I’ve gotten into a lot of short story writing since I was at the Stanley Hotel Writer’s Retreat. I’ve got two short stories coming out before summer that I’m really excited about; one in England, so that’s cool. I’m also building a podcast called Dead Oaks where horror authors write short stories that all take place in the same kind of twisted, evil town. We’re recording the first episode of that this week. I’m also checking out some comic book script writing options for a project I’ve kind of had in limbo for about four years.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to readers?
READ MY WRITING! (or, you know, just read. And read a lot.) You never know when you’re going to find something that you completely unexpectedly love. I was really hesitant about reading one of Andrew Smith’s novels, Grasshopper Jungle, and after I finally read it, it became one of my top five favorite novels of all time, so… take a risk. Read something you don’t think you’ll like.

Quick Fire:Cats or dogs? Dogs- I have a pitbull
Coffee or tea? Coffee. For life. I would take a bullet for coffee.
Favorite food? Chicken tacos
Vanilla or chocolate ice-cream? Vanilla. With butterscotch topping.
What are 3 things you never leave home without? My phone (ugh), some kind of necklace on, and a belt.
Laptop or desktop? Tablet, so basically a laptop.
Who are 3 famous people you would to hang out with? James Franco, Pope Francis, and Malala. All at the same time. PARTY.
TV or Movies?TV shows all the way, but only the ones you can binge-watch.

Visit me on my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE to borrow any of my books for FREE!

Best-selling author of Wake the Dead! On Amazon Kindle here!

All Artwork and covers of my works by William J. Kenney & Carlos Cara

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2014 unless otherwise noted.

Jeff Roberts Interview

I've recently had the pleasure of meeting Jeffrey Roberts, writer of science fiction, fantasy, horror and comedy. Author of THE HEALER. Jeff, thanks for stopping by and sharing with the readers of the blog over here and best of luck moving forward. So, let's discover some info about Jeff....

First off, tell us a little bit about you

I was born in New York City on 2/24/1949. I attended Northern Arizona University, in Flagstaff, AZ, where I received degrees in writing and American history. I’m an advocate of disclosing the truth about UFO’s; I’m an airplane freak, and I’ve lived in Tucson, AZ for 4 years, having moved from my hometown of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Tell us about your books/What genre do you consider them? 

 I write science fiction, horror, fantasy, and comedy/fantasy.

When did you start writing? 

I started writing in college.

Why do you write? 

To create worlds that never were – but might; characters that never existed – but could; and strange situations in this life- and others that can only be imagined.

What would be your choice for a superpower? 

I think perhaps either invisibility, or the power of teleportation.

Who is your favorite author? 

 I have no 1 favorite author, but several come to mind: Ray Bradbury, James Thurber, Thornton Wilder, Arthur C. Clarke, Ray Bradbury – and I kind of like me, at the risk of sounding conceited!


What are you reading now? 

Nothing right now. Too busy writing and promoting.

Who is your favorite character to write? 

The underdog, the iconoclast that saves the day and gains new found respect.

Do you have a writing process? 

 I write in long hand first, on black & white composition books, where I edit ceaselessly until it looks like I’ve hemorrhaged all over it. Then I transfer the final version to my computer, on WORD 2007.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author? 

Buy all the books you can about the craft of writing, study them—then toss them in the garbage! Because if you follow them to the letter, your book will end up bloodless, like a dry textbook. And it will read like everyone else that did the exact same thing! Do you think Hemingway or Steinbeck followed all the rules? Hardly. They had their “Own voice”. Develop your own voice, your own style! March to the beat of a different drummer, and you’ll be remembered for it!

What inspired you to pursue writing? 

Hard to say. My Dad was a writer for radio after the war. Perhaps creativity is genetic. I reasoned that since I didn’t have the math skills to be an astronautical engineer with NASA, I would use the one mental gift I did have, a creative mind- to write stories that challenge the imagination.

What are your favorite TV shows/Movies to watch in between writing? 

Sleepy Hollow, Grimm, Constantine, Supernatural, Scorpion, and Ghost Adventures, to name a few. Plus the History and Travel channel.

What are your current projects? 

My next book, a fantasy entitled IN THE SHADOW OF THE HOUSE OF GOD, should be out in about a month, and I’m working on a horror novel, THE HORROR ON THE HMS COTTINGLY.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to readers? 

Please buy THE HEALER, by Jeffrey G. Roberts! It is a 5-star science fiction novel whose plot has never been done before!


Quick Fire: Cats or dogs? Cats, but I adore puppies, and all animals.
Coffee or tea? Coffee, but I enjoy tea also.
Favorite food? Anything that doesn’t eat me first! But out of many things, probably steak and pizza.
Vanilla or chocolate ice-cream? Definitely chocolate.
What are 3 things you never leave home without? My clothes, my wallet, and my phone.
Laptop or desktop? Laptop, a HP 2000.
Who are 3 famous people you would to hang out with? Nikola Tesla, Capt. Glenn Edwards, for whom Edwards A.F.B. was named after, and scientist Dr. Thomas Townshend Brown, who experimented with electrostatic propulsion in the 50’s.
TV or Movies? TV.

Visit me on my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE to borrow any of my books for FREE!

Best-selling author of Wake the Dead! On Amazon Kindle here!

All Artwork and covers of my works by William J. Kenney & Carlos Cara

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2014 unless otherwise noted.

Wake The Dead Free This Saturday!

Wake the Dead is live on AMAZON and exclusively available through the KDP Select program. It will be going FREE this Saturday, 3/22/14 all day! I hope you enjoy it and if you happen to download a free copy, PLEASE try to leave a review!

(Again, this book is intended only for mature audiences)

When Alex's idyllic life becomes hell on earth in the face of a zombie apocalypse, his survival skills keep him one step ahead of danger. With the companionship of a lone wolf, Alex begins to accept this cruel existence, struggling at times to keep a moral compass, and setting out on a new quest of hope where he not only wants to survive, but also seeks to thrive in a world besieged by the living dead.

Visit me on my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE  & my SMASHWORDS PAGE!

All Artwork and covers of my works by William J. Kenney & Carlos Cara

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2014 unless otherwise noted.

Zombies are coming...

I finally have a release date planned for Wake The Dead and will let everyone know that it will coincide with a FREE KDP select day! That's right, you can grab a copy of Wake The Dead for FREE on March 21, 2014 when it launches live on Amazon!

In celebration of the release, Chapter 2 is live on WattPad right now! Check it out! 

wrap around cover with text

Visit me on my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE  & my SMASHWORDS PAGE!

All Artwork and covers of my works by William J. Kenney & Carlos Cara

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2014 unless otherwise noted.

WAKE THE DEAD Chapter 1

Hello everyone! I am hoping that all of you have seen that Wothlondia Rising is Free on Amazon.com and many other places, and that I am doing a contest for a $25.00 Amazon gift card, of which three readers have already partaken. I would like to see everyone get involved, simply follow the details laid out for you here, and get reading! You have until April 1st.

Also, if you haven't heard yet, I have a new stand-alone novel coming out very soon, entitled Wake the Dead! It is a hardcore zombie apocalypse, which I am very excited to show you all, and well, I'll let you be the judge. 

So, with that last thought in mind, I have released another teaser on WattPad for Wake the Dead. 

Cover art Thumbnail for Wake the Dead by Carlos Cara

Chapter 1 as it stands now, is up on WattPad for the viewing. 

Please sign up for WattPad if you already have not (shameless plug: follow me & vote on my writings!) as it has oodles of amazing stories from thousands of authors for FREE! If you like to read, you should check it out.

And, as always, I hope to see you in Wothlondia in the near future! 

Visit me on my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE  and my SMASHWORDS PAGE!

Also, Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!

All Artwork and covers of my works by William J. Kenney

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2014 unless otherwise noted.

Legend of Ashenclaw Paperback Giveaway!

In the spirit of giving and being thankful for what I have, I am inspired to do another giveaway on Goodreads for the novella, THE LEGEND OF ASHENCLAW! I am giving away signed copies of the book to three lucky winners (Goodreads chooses, not me!), so sign up using the link below.

LEGEND OF ASHENCLAW GIVEAWAY!

Here is the cover and an excerpt for you to chew on...

Ashenclaw in all her glory, illustrated by William Kenney

It was a day’s journey to Summerbank and as they neared, Figit realized that the town had indeed grown some since last he visited some years back. They had an inn! At least that’s what it looked like from his perspective.

As the group came rolling up and over the hill, Figit leaped onto Twarda’s back, causing her to stumble forward before her sturdy legs were able to right herself again.

“Watch yerself!” Twarda yelped, regaining her balance quickly. “”I coulda’ fell…and with ye' atop me, too!”

“I’da been fine,” Figit quipped, getting comfortable on her broad shoulders.

“An’ I’da ne’er fell. Yer missin’ me point.”

“It looks like the town has literally doubled in size since the last time we seen it. I’m seein’ maybe two dozen structures now!”

Azbiel laughed heartily while Triniach and Jon strode along quietly. As they made it to the bottom of the hill, Figit noted that something in the town did not seem right.

“Hey, guys,” he announced, leaping from Twarda’s shoulders to land on all fours like a cat. “Somethin’ ain’t right about this. Where are all the people?”

They all looked about and noted that none of the fishermen were on their boats or fishing in the bank and not a soul was outside. It was almost mid-day again and the lack of activity was both telling and disturbing.

“I don’t like it one bit,” Figit declared as he withdrew both of his daggers. The sound of leather on steel sounded again as Jon withdrew his hand and a half sword and Twarda removed her axe from her belt.

“I don’t like this at all,” Figit stated as he slipped down the remainder of the hill and proceeded ahead of the others.

He got up to where he could see things more clearly, his eyesight allowing him to see great distances, another gift of his fey blood. What he saw was distressing. He waved the others to within a few feet of him and told them to wait there at the base of the hill.

“What is it, half-man?” asked Jon.

“Shush,” Figit called back in a whisper. He wanted to whisper back to him that he was no man at all. Instead he was a creature born of fey blood, distant cousin to the elves and that he could tap into the regenerative plane much as a druid would and use the gift to heal; albeit sparingly.

He stole through the village and made it to the far western side of the town. Confirming what he saw, he made his way quickly and quietly back to the group, who awaited him on the shaded side of a storefront.

“What is it!?” asked Azbiel, his arms held out wide before returning to cross over his chest. He yawned and Figit could smell the wine on his breath from where he stood.

Typical Azbiel, he thought.

“Kobolds. And lots of ‘em! And…they ain’t alone either. There are some crazy robed figures with marks of the dragons on their garments.

“Dragon cultists,” Triniach stated as if everyone should know. “They are amassing here as they sense something, a shift in the weather or some such. I cannot quite put my finger on it just yet.”

“So, they are worshipers of which dragons?” Jon asked. “All of them?”

“I would say. It is a dragon cult. Their symbol is something of a dragon claw. Is that correct, Figit?” Triniach asked.

“A claw of red, one of blue, another of white and a black one, too. All in a circle, or a cross or some proportioned pattern. Can’t really see it too well.”

Triniach waved his hands about and stood silently, the white of his eyes shifted in hue to  yellow, like that of an eagle’s.

“That is it exactly,” the mage announced with confidence.

“If you can do that, then why do ya’ make me—never mind,” Figit said with a sigh and a shake of his head.

“It is to keep your skills intact. You never know when you will need them. Magic does not solve everything,” he stated in a lecturing manner with a sideways glance toward him and then added, “almost. But not quite.”

 “Well, whatever. The four-clawed dragon cultists have taken over the town for whatever reason,” Figit exclaimed, willing his body into the shadows.

 “Then we be needin’ ta’ take ‘er back!” proclaimed the dwarven warrior, tapping her axehead upon her shield three times.

“Let’s gut ‘em and save the day. Like usual,” stated the halfling.

“Nothing like rescuing damsels in distress!” Azbiel proclaimed, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

“We are ready then?” inquired Triniach, adjusting his robe.

All of them nodded and Figit stayed to the shadows, moving ever closer to the commotion. After a moment or two, he could hear the words of the cultists.

“We shall make sacrifice for the scorching drakes and so that Ashenclaw will spare us,” he heard one man say.

“The queen of the scorching drakes will let us live if we show her gift,” said one of the dozen kobolds lurking about. A pair of women were both tied to stakes that were planted firmly inside a large amount of tinder. Their clothes were torn and they were bleeding from several wounds already, though none of them looked fatal to the halfling. But, it certainly seemed as though they were going to roast these two ladies alive.

All Artwork and covers of my works by William J. Kenney

Visit my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE Here!

Also, Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2013 unless otherwise noted.

A Halloween Bard's Tale!

I wrote this today for two reasons this Hallow's Eve: I was inspired to try something new and so I wrote this in first person and also I did not use a single name. It was more of an experiment to see if I could pull it off...I hope you like it. The story takes place in my Realm of Ashenclaw setting in the unscrupulous town of Freeport along Ship's Landing in the northern section of Wothlondia.

In a rundown bar called the Scallywag was where I found refuge and alcohol to drown my sorrows this Hallow’s Eve. The inn was full to bursting , as it was most nights according to the rumors of the bar wenches and tavern keep, whose name escapes me. But this time, all of the tavern folk were celebrating the holiday by dressing up in strange attire, wearing all manner of hideous makeup and masks, trying to appear as the creatures invading my dreams each night of late.

I raised my mug and drained its contents before calling the serving wench over to my table. “What’ll it be this time?” she asked me, not unkindly.“I’d like something a little stronger,” I replied, thinking to get myself good and drunk tonight, so that I don’t have the same nightmare I’d been having. One where I craved the blood of the innocent.

A pair of bards came in and I noted them immediately as they were both young and cheery, a man and a woman, though their flesh seemed as pale as my handkerchief on a good day. I guess it was not unusual, especially this night, if they had their makeup on, eh? They approached the barkeep and after a brief conversation, made their way to the stage, giggling and whispering to one another. It was hard to tell if they were man and wife, brother and sister, or something entirely different, although they did look familiar to me in some manner. Had I seen them somewhere in my travels? No…I’d never made it to this town of Freeport before as I was always out to sea. Who’d have thought me for a fisherman even ten years ago? These past few days, though, I was thankful to not have the sea shifting beneath me. I never realized how seasick I was until I actually made it to land. Nevertheless, me and my fellow anglers were here, in Freeport, and I found myself alone again. That was not uncommon, either, these days. I’ve been quite the killjoy.

It was the anniversary of my wife’s death yesterday and it was only five years ago. I still cannot even bring myself to say or think her name as it sends me to tears. She was a victim of the plague that killed so many who were unable to gain the support of healers or priests, or did not have the coin to buy the proper medicinal herbs. We were poor, and that cost me my wife. Yes, I blame myself. And why not? I have never afforded her or myself anything more than what we carry on our backs. It was yet another reason I chose the life of a fisherman.

As the flames on the candles flickered and the fire grew dim in the hearth, my own vision dimmed along with it. I was suddenly in a state of mild inebriation that allowed me to survive the recent onslaught of horrifying images…those of my departed wife, and those even more horrifying than that.

The sounds of the bard’s songs were intoxicating. They filled the inn’s space with hypnotic melodies and were quite the delight for everyone this evening. The Patrons were all getting good and drunk and having a delightful time. Everyone but me, that is.

As the crowd thinned out and the duo of bards took the stage for the last time that night, something changed significantly in me. Suddenly, the wine and ale tasted like nothing. I could smell the scent of cooking flesh at such a heightened degree that it made me sick and intoxicated all at once. The scent of perfume and alcohol permeated my senses and I caught the female bard staring at me and smiling. She was singing a song directly to me, though the words were lost on me, yet she pushed her way past the few folks remaining and stared at me…and her eyes flashed red?! And then she made her way back to the stage and the pair of entertainers finished their joyous tune and followed it up with something altogether haunting.

That’s when I could smell their blood, everyone that was present: the bar wenches, the innkeeper, the few drunkards remaining at the bar, and the few who danced clumsily to the bard’s melancholy melody. As the man continuing strumming his lute, the woman grabbed the closest person to her, another young woman, and danced with her, pulling her close, and spinning her away to face me as she ran an elongated and rather sharp fingernail across her throat, slicing it open. And then she began licking at the blood that flowed from the wound. That was when her appearance changed to something not of this world.

 “Come and drink your fill,” she called to me. And I fought the urge—the exceptionally heady urge—to race to her side and partake of the woman’s life force that spilled onto the floor. The crowd was racing toward the door when a shadow of something sped past me to block their path. It was the other one—the man who’d stopped playing the lute and I hadn’t noticed!—and who had also changed his appearance to something equally hideous.

His dagger and sword came free and slit the woman’s neck before him, and then he spun a dance of death like something I’d never seen before. Those blades worked their way through flesh…slicing and cutting and stabbing until only I and the innkeeper remained untouched.

 “Bastard devils,” he muttered under his breath. And yet, those words were so loud to me that I could hear them as if he'd shouted them. “Vampyrs! Get out of my Inn or I’ll—“

 The woman was over to him before he could finish the sentence and she backhanded him so hard that he soared airborne along the bar’s length, coming to rest behind it, landing with the cracking of bones. I glanced over to see that his head rested at such an angle so as to confirm his unquestionable death.

“You don’t remember my visit to you in your dreams a few nights past, do you?” she teased, moving to stand before me, a mock look of sadness planted on her face as her raven hair framed her wickedly beautiful face, her fangs exposed by her sudden smile. “You are one of us, now. And you must feed.”

 I felt the urge again and fought it initially. It was not long though, before I began to drink the blood that was on the floor of the bar. It was like dousing a fire in my belly. And suddenly, I had no choice but to demand the relief from that awful pain. And so I continued to clean the blood on the floor until I found myself tearing at the flesh of one of the recently deceased patrons of the inn.

“We’ll have to burn that one,” she said to the man, who nodded in agreement as I looked up to face him. He grabbed her, cut off her head, poured alcohol all over it and the body, and tossed them into the hearth until they turned to ash. “That is what will happen to you if you are not careful,” he said to me with a macabre grin. “Once the head is severed, we burn quite easily.”

 “You must not tear the flesh with your fangs, newborn. You must cut them and drink of their blood carefully, so that it looks like a robbery or some such. The mortals must never find out about us, or we won’t be invited back!” Her callous laugh thundered in my ears for some time.

 We collectively fed on the humans--and I was careful not to use my teeth--until I felt a tug on my shoulder.

“We must leave. The dawn is coming and we must be gone by then,” she said calmly to me. I nodded and recalled in horror that the dreams I’d been having these last few days were much more than dreams. They were visions of what I was to become…what I had become. “Come with us, my sweet. We will take care of you now.”

Somehow, I found those words comforting. No longer did I feel the pain in my heart of my emotional losses, of the void left by my departed wife, or my lack of coin. They were replaced by something else—something that dulled them into nothingness.

When I turned my thoughts outward and felt the wind rush past my face, I overheard the two of them saying that Freeport was a wonderful place for us to spend the rest of our lives. I wondered exactly how long that would be as I followed my new companions and we disappeared into the fading night.

Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!

All Artwork and covers of my works by William J. Kenney

Visit my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Also, please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2013 unless otherwise noted.

The Matt Schiariti Interview

I'd like to introduce to you fellow writer and a personal friend, Matt Schiariti . I met Matt a few years back as we have a mutual friend (my best man at my wedding Mike, who I've known for more years than not) and Matt was working on his craft for years back then. He has since taken the step forward and put his work out for all to see (a brave step for any new writer) and is patiently waiting for you all to find him. I thought I'd show you the way...




First off, tell us a little bit about you~
Well, I’m a Gemini. I like long walks on the…never mind. My name’s Matt and I’m a 38 year old Engineer by trade.

Tell us about your books/What genre do you consider your books?

Right now I have two short stories published. The first is part of the Apocalypse 13 anthology and it’s called ‘Hollow: Be Careful What You Wish For’. The other short story I published on my own. It’s called ‘Words With Fiends: A Short Story’. Both of those are horror/supernatural. I have a paranormal type urban fantasy coming out within the next couple months, also to be self published. It’s called ‘Ghosts of Demons Past’. I actually just saw the final cover and it’s awesome.

When did you start writing?
I’m still pretty green. I started to write in February 2012.

Why do you write?This question always reminds me of the scene in Star Trek when Spock had asked Kirk why he likes to scale mountains. Kirk’s simple, yet classic answer was ‘Because…it’s….there!” I’m kind of the same way. I’d entertained the idea of writing when I was younger but it always seemed like one of those things I couldn’t do. I’d convince myself it’s too hard, or I’d stink at it, or I’d just move on to my next fascination. So now, it’s a matter of being ‘bit by the bug’. I sit down at the computer and write a short story or work on one of my own novels just to see if I can do it. I’ve found that, while it ain’t easy, it’s fun when it all comes together.

What would be your choice for a superpower? X-ray vision…heheh. Honestly, I have a lot of favorite super heroes but I always thought Green Lantern had one of the coolest gadgets in the business. A ring so powerful, the only limitation of which is the user’s imagination? Too cool.

Who is your favorite author?
Ken Follett. Hands down. I read The Pillars Of The Earth and it blew me away. Easily my favorite book of all time.

What are you reading now?I’m reading the second in the Timecasters Series, Supersymmetry, by Joe Konrath. It’s trippy. He’s not quite right but his books are so much fun.

Who is your favorite character to write?I really enjoyed writing Seth Gabriel, the lead from my upcoming first novel, Ghosts of Demons Past. He’s a bit of a sad sack at first. Seth is a medium but he’s more than that. He can see and talk to ghosts and of course, it’s more curse than blessing. 

Do you have a writing process?This is one of those ‘ask ten people, get ten different answers’ types of questions! =D What’s worked for me so far is writing when I think I have something to say. I’m very much the ‘pantser’. I haven’t outlined anything yet, whether it be my books or my short stories. I have the flow in my head then I sit down and write it. Some will say you have to get your butt in the chair every day and write write write. To me, if I don’t have an idea, I’m not going to write. I’ll edit or just read. ‘Pantsing’ has worked well so far. That’s how I did Ghosts of Demons Past and the book I’d written before that, which I’m now going back through and cleaning up.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author?I’m not exactly a seasoned veteran, but one of many things I’ve learned over the past 14 or so months is don’t be intimidated by other writers. I’ve suffered a big self confidence problem from the get go. In this age of social media, it’s not uncommon to ‘friend’ other authors or like their pages if you’re trying your hand at the whole writing thing. I’d see author X or writer Y touting their numbers or reviews or how proud they are of their latest work in progress. I’d find myself thinking ‘wow, they’re published, they have a huge backlist…will I ever be that good or can I stack up?’ At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what they’re doing. Do what YOU do and do it as best as you’re able. Don’t fall into the trap of trying to keep up with the Joneses.

What inspired you to pursue writing?
A common acquaintance of ours! I shall call him ‘MC’. As you know, he’s a big reader. He and I discuss books a lot. So, one night over more than a couple beers, I said ‘we should write a book together’. He agreed and we started running ideas. Some of them were pretty interesting but after months of talking about it, the project never came to fruition. But, he planted the writing idea in my head so I went out on my own. So I started with a couple short stories and it went from there.

What are your favorite TV shows/Movies to watch in between writing?Wow. How much time do you have? ;) Some of my favorite TV shows are The Walking Dead, Dexter, Justified, Game of Thrones, Orphan Black, Law and Order SVU. I could go on but your eyes would start to get that glazed over look. As far as movies, I’m open to just about anything. Funny fact though: even though I’ve been writing primarily horror/paranormal stories and books up to this point, I don’t watch many horror movies. Things that make ya go hmmmmm.

What are your current projects? Welp, Ghosts of Demons Past is currently being looked at by an editor. I usually do my own (I edited Words With Fiends myself) but this is my first full length book and I want it to be as highly polished as it can possibly be. That and 96,000 words is a lot to self edit. I’ve recently completed several more shorts this year, two of which are going to see the light of day via Padwolf Publishing’s ‘13’ series. While Ghosts is with the editor and I have no other anthologies to write for, I’m going through a novel I’d written BEFORE Ghosts. My very first book. I’d typed out about 128,000 words in a little over five weeks last year and I’m in the middle of trimming it down. I’ve knocked 32,000 words off of it so far. It’s kind of a life story/drama and it involves a funeral. But that’s all I’m willing to say about it at this point ;) But, all my time will be sucked up by Ghosts once I hear back from the editor. I don’t have to tell you how much work it takes to get it converted and ready for upload to Amazon!

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to readers? Thanks for reading! And to those who leave reviews and spread the word, an extra special thanks. Makes all the difference in the world for those of us who are self published.

Quick Fire:Cats or dogs? Dogs.
Coffee or tea? Without coffee, I don’t see the point in getting up out of bed in the morning.
Favorite food? Food happens to be my favourite flavor but I’ll go with all things Italian.
Vanilla or chocolate ice-cream? Chocolate.
What are 3 things you never leave home without? Smart phone, wallet, keys.
Laptop or desktop? Laptop! Got my first this past Christmas and I’m on the thing constantly.
Who are 3 famous people you would to hang out with? Iron Maiden’s lead guitarist, Adrian Smith. Ken Follett. Olivia Wilde.
TV or Movies? Always asking the tough questions! Movies.

Where you can find Matt Schiariti!Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Matt-Schiariti/e/B00AX9Y6GW/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1366676649&sr=8-1
Blog:
mattschiariti.blogspot.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6873499.Matt_Schiariti

Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!

All of my work can be found on AMAZON -- Kindle versions here

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase my full length novel, Covenant of the Faceless Knights, the short stories: Wothlondia Rising, and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.

Shannon Mayer Interview

I had the pleasure recently of meeting Shannon Mayer on twitter and she agreed to share some things with us here at Eye on Ashenclaw. As you may or may not know, I am in the midst of trying to spotlight some new authors (well, new to you anyway!) as to introduce my readers to as many people and good writers as I can. My blog will be performing several interviews over the next few weeks from different authors and I hope my people will enjoy it! So, please have a seat and learn a little something about Shannon as we commence with the interview.

In what genre do you write for the most part?

Urban fantasy or some sub-genre within that, I like to blend them just to make it interesting. So horror/romance, urban fantasy/mystery, are a couple of the crosses I’ve done.

When did you start writing? 

It was about eight years ago that with the thought of actually trying to get something published, I sat down at the keyboard. Before that I’d been writing for years, but just for my own pleasure.

What inspired you to write? 

I think it was reading great books that made me want to write my own stories. I loved to be immersed in new worlds and the idea of building my own and offering them to readers was exciting.

What would be your choice for a superpower? 

Control over the elements, that would be fun.

Who is your favorite author? 

Too many! Kim Harrison, Stephen King, Robert Jordan, Jacquline Carey, Brandon Sanderson to name a few.

What are you reading now? 

Dragon Badge by Scott Moon, it’s an urban fantasy that blends magic and cops. Pretty funky if you ask me.

Who is your favorite character to write?

I like all my characters about the same, otherwise I wouldn’t write them at all. :0)

Do you have a writing process? 

Write every day, don’t let external crap get in the way of my time on the keyboard, and always have chocolate handy for those emergency energy slumps!

What do you do when you aren't writing? 

I still have a day job, so that keeps me busy and my husband and I have a large farm and animals that keeps the rest of the free time I might have tied up. And occasionally, I take a break and bake cupcakes. ;p

What advice would you give to an aspiring author? 

Just keep writing and ALWAYS use an editor. You really can’t afford not to.

What sets your books apart from others of the genre? I think the blend of romance into the zombie tripe gives a bit of a different spin,  one that I hope readers enjoy!

What method do you use to publish your books for those of us who might not know how? I primarily use the KDP program with Amazon, though I do have a paperback out with Createspace now too.

Where can we find you on social media? 

Twitter- @TheShannonMayer, Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/ShannonMayerAuthor and my blog, http://shannonmayer.blogspot.com are the best places to track me down.

Bio- Reading and writing from a very young age I learned early on that stories built in a fantasy world were where the fun was at. Reading books by Robert Jordan spurred me on and it was the first real epic fantasy that I fell in love with. After that came Piers Anthony, Melanie Rawn and into my older teen years, Anne Rice.

It was in Rice's novels that the idea of urban fantasy really bloomed for me and it was about that time that my grandmother was letting me read her Harlequin Historical novels. (Okay, actually she was slipping them to me when my mother wasn't looking, but let's not get picky.)

The combination of love stories and darker fantasy stuck with me and it's now not only what I gravitate towards to read on my off time (Kelly Armstrong, Laurell K Hamilton, Kim Harrison), but has become the style I love to write in.

Besides writing, I love to spend time with my family and animals, horseback ride, garden and hike with my husband.

Shannon's Amazon Author Page 

 Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!

All of my work can be found on AMAZON -- Kindle versions here

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase my full length novel, Covenant of the Faceless Knights, the short stories: Wothlondia Rising, and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.