Ask an Author #48

Welcome back to another quirky question and answer session with your favorite authors!

In AtA #47, we heard from authors Riley Jericho, SkinnyDragon, Craftingmom, and Roberto Zuniga.  

Today in AtA #48 we hear from authors JackBinimbul, Mikiesboy, Palantir, and WolfM.
 

Please welcome Texan and Author JackBinimbbul to the blog.  Jack has been with GA for almost a year but has dabbled in writing for a long time.  He’s the author of the popular crime/romance story Painted Blue, just what the BDSM genre needs after the horror that is “Fifty Shades....”  Jack’s family has a history of service in law enforcement, and you know what they say: “write what you know!”  Painted Blue is about a detective who begins to understand and allow himself to enjoy aspects of himself that our society often labels taboo.  Law enforcement and BDSM are two genres commonly ridiculed or demonized, so it’s awesome to have a story that’s so real.  Despite the play on the Dorian Gray name, the characters are wonderfully down-to-earth and the information about what happens in a real “scene” is a can’t miss, even if you’re not normally a fan of the genre.  

To JackBinimbul:  How have you planned out the crime/mystery part of Painted Blue?  What challenges have you run into attempting to weave the mystery aspect of Painted Blue into Dorian and Felix's story?

Well, I won't be giving any spoilers!  That said, it's been relatively difficult to weave everything on the crime/mystery level so that it's not readily apparent, but in hindsight, the reader will be able to see all the threads as they converge.  It will be a fairly large reveal, but I want it to still be believable.

It has been a bit of a challenge working everything in with the relationship between Dorian and Felix.  I didn't want either elements of the story to completely overshadow the other, but I also want them to feel interconnected and to play off of each other organically.  It has been tempting to just focus on the crime aspect, or the developing relationship and I've really had to be disciplined about giving them equal consideration.

Author Mikiesboy joins us once more.  For those of you not familiar with this guy, Timmy is from Ontario, Canada and has published about 20 different items in his year and a half here on GA.  An avid participant in the weekly prompts, Timmy also writes some amazing poetry.  In January, Timmy gifted us with Miss Silver Pretty-Pink-Toes, a fairy tale story with some breathtaking imagery.  While I am not the only one wanting more from this author, unfortunately life has a way of throwing curve balls.  We might be seeing less of Timmy in the future as he puts things in perspective and focuses on what is truly important to him.  Still, he’s given us some rich memories which will be treasured.  

To Mikiesboy:  Do you have any future projects planned? 

I don't plan to write poetry, not like you'd plan to write fiction, poems just sort of come to me.  They are a way for me to deal with issues, good or bad, that happen in my life.  However I do work on AC Benus' Poetry Prompts, which are a great opportunity to learn. For these I have to plan to write them. It's a challenge and I think making yourself try new things, step out of your comfort zone, follow the restrictions of the form, makes you more creative and a better writer.

Future projects, yes, I am currently working on a new fictional piece, a kind of dystopian story. I also have something almost ready for the Pre-2016 Anthology Themes. It's something completely different for me.  I'll probably continue to write a weekly prompt now and again and definitely will do any of AC Benus' O'Henry Prompts when he puts out another one.

You might remember member and writer Palantir by his former name Iarwain.   With GA since 2009, Palantir has had an amazingly varied life.  He calls Melbourne, Australia home now but he has travelled extensively over the years and can tell you quite a bit about a number of different places.  I’ll bet all those stories made him a wonderful teacher, too.  He now has a website dedicated to his stories about what he’s calling the Terran Diaspora, which you can also read here.  For those of you who are not sci-fi fans, this generally refers to Terrans (us, Earthlings) leaving Earth and settling on other planets.  Closer to home, you might remember The Ocean Walk, one of Palantir’s first stories.  Two guys off hiking along the beach keep meeting up as small catastrophes keep trying to ruin their adventures.  If you like nature, this is one for you.

To Palantir:  What inspires you to write? How is it that you put an idea together for a story?

The inspiration to actually write? = a sense of achievement - hopefully a kind of legacy - the wonderful gift when readers express their enjoyment - the act of creation

Inspiration is a very tricky beast and I never know where it's going to come from. All my major stories have started with a germ of an idea and then fleshed out with the characters somehow  running away with their own ideas and actions.

When I've committed to a story it's with me everywhere. Sometimes I realise I've walked through the bush or along a beach and seen nothing because my mind has been trying out ideas and approaches for the next section of the story.

Last but not least today is author WolfM.  We’ve seen a lot from this author in the past few months, as he’s the creative force behind Running with the Pack.  With more than 350 reviews on this story alone, can you believe WolfM was once told he has no talent?  Running is an epic tale pushing 250-thousand words and 50 chapters as of January 2017 and WolfM should feel pride in such an accomplishment.  He’s enjoying some time off writing right now, but let’s hope he brings us some more of Ethan and Aiden soon!

 To WolfM:  Do you plan on having expanding the world of Running with the Pack with future stories or creatures?

As I've been writing Running with the Pack I have given thought at times to a possible follow up story.  At this point I have absolutely no idea what form it would take, what characters would be included or even if new species of shifters would make an appearance.  Unfortunately the best answer I can give to any of the readers who have encouraged me with their support to keep working on RWTP is that my current focus is on completing this project and taking a little break from writing so I can catch up on many of the stories I very much want to read.  I will say that after spending so many years with these characters and having them in a sense before friends and family to me, I might not be able to let them go completely once I do reach the final chapter.

That’s it for now!  For more info on these authors, go check out their stories, post in their forums, and/or catch them in chat!

I’ll see you next time, with authors AC Benus, HindertoyBL, Milos, and Parker Owens!

I’m always in the market for new questions!  Simply PM me (Dark).

Until next time!

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