Interviewer: Renee Stevens

What got you interested in writing Sci-Fi/Fantasy stories?

• Realistic fiction has too many rules. You can’t do this or you can’t do that… you have to be rich or powerful to pull off most things. However, in soft sci-fi and fantasy, you can create your own rules, so long as you stick by them. Oddly that is sometimes more difficult than sticking by real societies rules though or makes you think of why there is a rule for that. So it can get interesting at times.
  

Was there anything in particular that steered you in that direction?

• As a kid I was able to disconnect with the world around me when I wrote. If I wrote about the real world I don’t think the disconnect would have been beneficial for me. I didn’t, and still don’t, like horror stories. I’ve written in a few genres, but usually come back to soft sci-fi/fantasy.
  

Out of all your stories, which one did you find the easiest to write?

• I wrote Forever Boy in three days. I wouldn’t say it was the easiest to write though. It was very emotional for me, almost a purging. It was like Darby was talking through me and his story had to get out of my head. I think I slept for an entire day afterward.
  

What one did you struggle with the most?

• Gefahradan. You all haven’t read it yet. It’s the world Catara is set in. I’ve been fighting with that setting and “series” since I was about eighteen years old. It won’t let me go and I don’t want to let it go.
  

You create some very intricate worlds, what do you like most about them?

• Depends on the story. I mean they all have their own personality with the associated strengths and weaknesses.
  

Which of your stories are you most content with?

• None of them? I’m very self-critical and I see things that can be fixed in them all. Some are minor, but some… I wish I had time to just rewrite.
  

Which story of yours do you feel is most under-appreciated?

• I’m not sure I can answer that. I was pissed when people were reading Forever Boy and not Catara because I felt that Catara was the better story. And some of my stories people don’t like because I write short fiction, not novel length stuff.
   
  So I don’t think it’s any one story, but the entire short story section that is under appreciated. They are not as easy to write as some people might think. Sure, writing a novel takes skill, but so does putting together a complete story in 1k to 25k words.
  

Is there anyone on GA you would like to collaborate with, either as a beta, editor, or author?

• Mark Arbour but we would kill each other or get naked so it might not be a good idea.
  

There’s been a lot of people recently publishing their works, do you have any plans for publishing?

• Yes, but I have to finish something first.
  

What do you think is the hardest thing about writing in the fantasy genre?

• Non-humans.
   
  You don’t want them to be too human or too weird, but since they are non-human they need to be able to communicate somehow with humans (or vice-a-verse). Of course this includes some bits of their language and names, both should be pronounceable by human tongue and not so confusing that they are hard to remember or get easily mixed up.
   
  Also if they are going to have sex their genitals needs to be compatible within reason or there needs to be a damn good explanation as to how it works. I managed this in Catara (and a couple other stories, but Catara the best I think).
   
  Then of course, are the shape shifters. You can’t ignore that fact. So somehow the shift needs to be described. You can’t just say, “He was standing there and suddenly a wolf was there instead.” I can’t imagine any way at all the transmorgifation would occur instantly.
   
  Clothing. Why would non-humans dress according to human (even American) sensibilities? It’s not required.
   
  Of course there are other things, but these just popped in my head.
  

Your Day stories were quite popular in the Anthologies. Any hints as to when we can expect the conclusion to that story?

• Well, Puck and I had a conversation recently. It went like this:
   

  
  Me: I know I spent a year telling you to shut up, but it’s your turn now. Come on talk to me.
  Puck: (one finger salute)
  Me: (sighs)
  Puck: (walks back into the swamp)

  
  

Children often make appearances in your tales, and they are usually well protected from harm. Is that a conscious choice or just the way your stories normally develop?

• Depends on the story and the age of the kid usually. I don’t like child abuse unless there is a damn good reason for it. However there are children in life, so why shouldn’t they be in stories about life?
  

Follow up to that question. Of course to every rule you have exceptions including this last anthology and your Forever Boy story. What draws you to the dark side that you explore here?

• Confluent was more about abusive relationships and fighting back as a teenager. There is really no way to know how long the relationships have been going on, just that he has had enough.
   
  Forever Boy was something else altogether. Children go missing in the US (and worldwide) every day. In some countries it is not impossible to purchase sex with a prepubescent child. For this to happen there has to be a group of adults who procure these children and teach them that sexual contact is what they want, need, and enjoy. I didn’t go into a lot of details with Darby’s story because I think a lot of that is… inappropriate… however I did touch on some of those issues.
   
  I also touched on how Darby felt through the entire process as it was from his POV. This story does have a bittersweet ending if you are planning on reading it and is not for the weak stomached.
  

You’ve been a member of GA for going on 7 years now. I’m sure there have been a lot of changes over that time. Is there anything you miss from your earlier years at GA?

• Joey (and others) being a teenager. They were hella fun.
   
  There were less rules and more respect for each other and the people running the place. People were happy to just have a place to hang out and post their stories. Now, quite a few people seem to think it’s their right to come here and spout off their bullshit.
   
  Authors were still Drama Queens (myself included) but members didn’t TRY to drive them away…
  

What are your future plans for your writing?

• I’m supposed to have plans? Damn I knew I forgot something! I posted some goals for the year in my blog. I’m not quite on track but I’m not too off track yet either. Take that as you will.
  

Any new stories that we can expect to see release in the near future?

• There might be something coming up for “Secrets Can Kill”, maybe. There is an anthology in September. I still have that Vega-5 that Cia is going to kill me if I don’t get it done. Um… yeah there might be something.
  

Is there anything else you’d like to tell your readers here at GA?

• Read. If your favorite authors aren’t writing, read someone new. Look in the Peer Review stories and see if you can find something in there. They are often new authors who are looking for feedback and readership. If you like them then let them know. If you don’t, PM them and tell them why – nicely. It will only help them in the long run.
   
  Review. I don’t care if it’s my stories or someone else’s stuff. If you read it, leave a review. One every couple chapters at the very least, then one at the end. Leave at least one like on the story if you can’t like every chapter. Follow your favorite authors, even if it’s anonymously. I follow a lot of you and you don’t even know it.
   
  Engage. Post on the forums (and not just the games and lounge). Talk about your favorite stories, your favorite authors, who you are reading now, even about who you didn’t like – and why! Always the Why!
   
  I know I don’t engage a lot with my readers, but that is mostly because my readers don’t talk to me much. Sometimes I wonder if I scare people. So I would like to issue this invitation -- If you like, or don’t like, something -- post it in my forum. I don’t mind explaining why I made that choice over another one… even if the answer was I flipped a coin (which I have done).