Great to have you here, Teel and thank you for completing my interview! Over to you, can't wait to hear about your latest projects with Eternal Press...
1) Did you set any goals for 2010?
I’ve got six complete books that I am shopping at the moment- looking for an agent to move ‘up scale’.
2) What is the best part of the writing process for you?
I really love it all—from the staring at the ceiling till I sweat blood while thinking the stuff up until I read the last line on the computer screen and smile.
3) The worst part?
Wondering if my ‘new child’ will find a home.
4) What is the book you wish you’d written?
I have so many rolling around in my head; I suppose that Drums Along the Mohawk is pretty much a perfect book. Or Princess of Mars—Gosh that is gets my blood stirring every time I read it.
5) Favourite author/s & book/s?
ER Burroughs, Lester Dent and Robert E Howard a are top of the list for authors who understood action; Richard Matheson for his mood and characterization and Nathanial Hawthorne and Poe for their language.
Best book? Probably Tarzan of the Apes.
6) Tell us about your latest release?
My first book novella for Eternal Press was The Horsed Thief: a virtual tale of old Basra and is a romance/mystery that flashes between present day and a virtually created 6th century Arabia. My other book due out from Eternal Press is a Traveler’s Tale-is due out in June and is a straight up high-fantasy romance set on my Seven Kingdoms world.
Korvan, a lowly Gypsy (a Traveler he would say) is rescued by a Princess from some racist thugs an later returns the favor when she is attacked by a dreaded clazbear! Needless to say, a forbidden romance ensues and Korvan, our hero becomes embroiled in a political plot against the crown….good old fashioned intrigue. I hope to do more for Eternal on these characters/world….
7) Tease us with a blurb/short except
My name is Korvan Orm and I am what the rest of the world calls a Varnian Gypsy, or, insultingly “Darkhairs”. We call ourselves, simply, the Travelers. I was backed against the wall of the barn while the two stablehands, armed with cudgels, advanced on me with a look in their eyes that I had seen before: pure racial hate.
“Linden,” Midan said, “I am a loyal Pyrran but I swear I can’t see the sense the King has in letting scum like this have even a job shoveling horse droppings. I lost a brother fighting in Ardulia to keep Pyrran pure and then they let this sort walk the streets with full citizen rights.”
The two men were big and broad with faces that might have been handsome had they not been twisted with almost bestial rage. Their blue eyes were fixed on me with very clear, vicious intent. They were dressed in rustic leathers jerkins that were stained with tobacco and ale. A few stains just might have been blood picked up after their night at the tavern. On their arms they wore the sleeve markers of the “Pure Pyrran” cult that was sweeping the country because of the bad state of things.
“Gentlemen,” I said with the best non-threatening smile I could muster, “surely you have me confused with someone else. I am from Shinaria.”
The two thugs exchanged a startled look at that, not because my statement was credible but for exactly the opposite. Shinarians were blonder and paler then my new playmates. Like most of my race, I am dark, tall and lean (well, young Travelers are lean—it’s amazing what pear-shaped fellows so many of the elders become with us young bloods doing all the work).
Midan, who seemed to be the lead buck, shook his head and smiled an ugly smile. “You think we are as stupid as a Gypsy, huh?”
……
8) What is your favourite attribute of the hero and heroine?
Korvan has been raised to be pretty self sufficient-though even with the Travelers he’s something of a rebel- and his determination to never give up-is what I admire most. As for the Princess—she has the same determination to do what is right despite convention and that is what , I think, first connect the two who are from such different worlds…
9) What’s next?
More of the same.
I have a collection of stories about a husband and wife team –Moxie and Maxi Donovan- who investigate weird crimes in the 1930s—but with a light touch. Think of the Front Page meets White Zombie.
He’s a reporter and she a showgirl. Bela Lugosi even shows up in two of the stories as a goodguy. The book is called Deadline Zombies and is out from BooksforaBuck in May.
I’m working on sequels to a number of my books—I tend to write in series.—once I ‘meet’ a character its hard for not to want to say goodby….
10) Tell me where you write?
I have a studio apartment so I write at a desk smack in the middle of it—the advantage is that I’m two steps away form all my reference books, the kitchen and the work out area. The disadvantage is that I’m two steps away form all my reference books, the kitchen and the work out area….
11) Where would you like your career to be in 5 years?
In a bigger apartment! lol! I hope to be continuing to write full time-to the point where I won’t have to take time off for films. And I’d like to see some of my work adapted for the big screen.
12) Where can we find you?
Theurbanswashbuckler.com,
Wordcave.wordpress.com
And on amazon, fictionwise, smashwords and gypyshadow.com
Fabulous! Comments, comments, comments, please!!!
That's the great thing about writing and reading a series, we don't have to say good-bye to the characters we love.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with yours!