Please forgive my tardiness, I lost track of the days of the week! The bliss of holiday vacation. My darkest days? Next week, when I go back to work with all the kiddos who also wish we were still on vacation!! So what did you think of this month's story feature? Share your thoughts on that and the interview with Jack below! 

Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla. Unless we’re not talking about ice cream here…?

What’s something personal about you people might be surprised to know? I hold a Master’s degree in Physics, though I’ve drifted far from that field professionally. On a less academic note, I am an enthusiastic Karaoke singer.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing? I love to travel, write songs, and—far too rarely—contemplate the universe. This year I published an AI-assisted music album, and last year I indulged my physics background by uploading a personal “Theory of Everything” paper online. It keeps the other side of my brain active!

What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story? Japan. 

What brought you to the GA? I discovered GA ages ago as a reader hunting for good shifter stories, and the site is a goldmine for them. When I finally took the plunge into writing, it felt like the natural home for my work. I do write erotica as well, though I usually reserve the explicit stuff for Nifty or my Patreon (Bob and the Biker being the exception).

You’ve added a variety of stories in different sub-genres to GA. Do you have a favorite one to write? Definitely (Dark) Fantasy.

What inspired you to write Darkest Days? It was early December here in Munich. A radio segment about the local “Perchtenlauf” (a traditional alpine parade) sparked my interest. That sent me down a Wikipedia rabbit hole regarding the “Wild Hunt,” and I just had to write about it. Fun fact: some of the icy imagery is a nod to Hemingway’s A Day’s Wait. I’m certainly not comparing my prose to his, but the atmosphere of that story has stuck with me for decades.

Do you have a favorite line or scene in the story? Not a favorite, but there is one line that sticks out: “…you mustn’t leave your washing hanging or the Wild Hunt could get caught up in it.” It’s a specific bit of local folklore here in Bavaria. It’s practically an inside joke that shouldn't be in a serious story, but I couldn't resist including it.

What other mythic lore have you considered writing into a story in the future? The list is endless. I’ve been brewing an epic with strong religious themes featuring a Biblical figure who is famous in name, but whose actual story is quite obscure. I also dream of writing a Roman history epic with wolf-shifters, though the sheer volume of research required is daunting! Greek gods are also top of the list.

Can you share something about your current or upcoming work with readers? I’ve resumed Hungry for Gains—it deserves a proper ending. I’m also prepping the second Lightbringer book (Histoire de Noir series) and work on redrafting/editing BigPaws for Amazon publication (likely under a new pen name to keep it separate from my Jack Poignet erotica titles).

As for something brand new: I’m planning a mash-up of Arthurian legend, The Ring of the Nibelung, and other myths and legends. Think swords, dragons, and lots of action. It is loosely based on an AI narrated (no-one wants to hear a German accent, right?) short story I did for a rather under-utilized YouTube channel I run–or rather don’t really run. I’ve figured I can’t do everything at once. Shocking, right?