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

In AtA #49, we heard from authors AC Benus, Parker Owens, HinderToyBL, and Milos. 

Today in AtA #50 we hear from authors Mann Ramblings, Parker Owens, Mikiesboy, and W_L.

First up today is Signature Author Mann Ramblings.  In addition to writing, this Michigan Man is quite the artist; have you seen the new avatar image? or the book cover he did for Cia? It’s been four and a half years since Mann first followed his heart to GA, and we’ve sure benefited from it.  While his time with Wayward Ink was not as long as anticipated, I’m sure that Mann’s stories will find another home soon.  In the meantime, if you snoop around his GA stories, you’ll find plenty to keep you occupied.  He’s got a Premium story now: Innocence & Carnality Part 2 is the sequel to what was originally written in 1k word-spurts for the flash fiction group.  The original story (Part 1) is also a Premium story and explores the changes to main character Nathan as he finds out about the arrangements for his marriage and what happens in his life from there.  Given Mann’s rather wicked humor, this is a can’t miss.  But, as the author says, make sure you read them in order! 

To Mann Ramblings:  Your pseudonym is a nice play on words, how did you come about it?

When I was first getting up my nerve to write M/M, I figured I needed a pseudonym because I knew my stories would have erotic elements. (In the beginning, that was the focus.) Granted, I hadn't actually written anything yet, but organizing a plan is how I function.

Anywho, I only knew of one mainstream writer who had delved professionally in erotic stories: Anne Rice. I have a number of her earlier novels and I was a fan. One of the names she wrote erotica under was Anne Ramplings. Looking at it, Ramplings became Ramblings since I wasn't overly confident in my writing skills. (I hadn't written anything in years and never finished any stories that weren't for school.) And since I wanted to emphasize the male aspect of my writing, Anne became Mann.

It was all a play on words and a nod to a author whose work I respect and appreciate.

Yes, you read that correctly; Parker Owens joins us once more!  This is a rare double-shot, getting the same author two months in a row, but Parker keeps his name fresh in our minds with his regular poetry submissions and activity in the forums.  He recently finished Predator Prey, a story about finding redemption.  If you’ve been the bad guy all your life, and then suddenly become the victim, how might that affect you in the future?  Prey explores this and more.  Another recent addition is Fool Me Once, Parker’s submission to the April Fool’s anthology.  Author and the main character Oliver have a lot in common, both being math teachers, but Oliver has a bit of a problem - or, really, more than one problem.  It’s like Murphy’s Laws are out to get him: if it can go wrong it does go wrong.  Read and find out how Oliver handles the obstacle course falling in front of him.

To Parker Owens:  How and why did you get the idea of using science subjects for your poetry?

I am a math teacher and all around nerd. These are fun subjects to play with both for the ideas, for their metaphors, and for the words on their own. Math and science subjects for poems sometimes come up as a consequence of a student question, or an image from a way of thinking about a complex subject.  Besides, who can resist the challenge of writing poetry about the universal gas constant?

Foodie and Author Mikiesboy is up next.  Despite protesting being called a “food blogger,” Tim continues to keep us apprised of his food explorations.  He used to be the guy with all the food pictures and although he’s down to only 4 pictures of food, it’s still enough to make your belly rumble.  Mike is amazingly lucky to be the recipient of all that good food…. Even if he does buy pie from the store.  Tsk!  We’ve had a lot of poetry from Mikiesboy this year so far in 2017, but take a chance on Miss Silver Pretty-Pink-Toes, a delightful short story told like an old-fashioned fairy tale.  Complete with love, revenge, magic, and a riddle, Miss Silver will take you on a fun ride reminiscent of childhood, but without all the innocence. 

To Mikiesboy:  How hard is it to write about your personal life and the hard moments you've experienced through life?

Wow, good question. It is hard in a way but it is also cathartic. I starting writing poetry after I was thrown out of the house at 15 and was learning to survive on the street. Years later when I survived a severe beating, and was off the streets, I decided to write as a therapist thought it might help me deal with things. I had recurring nightmares for many years. So I decided i couldnt be timid about it, that I had to be honest and brave and face the things that frightened me. But when I write about myself, I have to do it like a reporter. I have to take a step away and write it without a lot of emotion. The facts, baby, only the facts!! So when I write about me or anything, I try to be brave, and try to push myself.

Today’s final author has been with us for just over 9 years.  Author W_L writes to us from Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Be careful talking politics with this guy, as he’ll definitely tell you what he thinks in that sharp, dry wit he possesses.  He, like Parker Owens is an unrepentant math geek.  When I see math jokes in the Make us Laugh thread, this is one of the guys I think of.  For example: how do you make seven an even number?  WL also enjoys food, and if you ask nice, he might share some of his recipes.  In the part of his brain not trying to master calculus and not taking pictures of his dinner to share with us and the part not devising more ways to educate us on current events, WL has managed to squeeze out a story or two.  The Real Me is an entry for the April Fool’s anthology, a curious mix of comedy and sarcastic commentary of local governments.  Herman is a retired superhero who gets to swoop in and save the day one more time.  And he still remembers to get his coffee!

To W_L:  AJ sees you have written a story called 0's and 1's. He wants to know if you can actually do binary math. if not, why not.

01001001 00100000 01101100 01101111 01110110 01100101 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101 00100000 01000001 01001010

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 repeats from MrM, Timothy M, Headstall, and a last chat in memory of SkinnyDragon.

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

Until next time!

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