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Interview with author Brandon Massey

10/29/2013

This is an interview I had with Brandon several years ago:

Keith: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Brandon:The idea that I wanted to write for a living clicked when I was fifteen. I’d been an avid reader since I was a child (thanks to my mother), loved to write for classes in school, and finally realized one day that I should aspire to doing it as a career.

Keith: How long does it take you to write a book?

Brandon: It varies, really. I’ve written books in three months; others have taken a year. It just depends on the length of the novel and the deadline I’m facing. Ideally, I would get nine to eleven months.

Keith: What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

Brandon: When I’m working on a book, I write every day. I do my best work in the mornings, when my mind is well-rested. I can accomplish a lot in a solid two-hour writing session.

Keith: What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Brandon: I always brew a strong cup of black coffee before I sit down to write. I’ve been doing it for decades.

Keith: Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

Brandon: Ideas are everywhere. I like to take a realistic scenario, something everyone can relate to, and put a twist on it. I’ve never had problems generating ideas.

Keith: When did you write your first book and how old were you?

Brandon: I wrote my first novel when I was nineteen. The title was THUNDERLAND. It took ten years for me to get it accepted by a traditional publisher.

Keith: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Brandon: I enjoy spending time with my family and watching movies.

Keith: How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

Brandon: I’ve written nine novels and dozens of short stories. I don’t have a favorite, but the reader favorite is definitely DARK CORNER.

I would like to thank Brandon Massey for taking time out of his business schedule to do an interview with me. Show your love for Brandon. You can find his books at any brick and mortar and online bookstores.

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Interview with author Steven Barnes

10/28/2013

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This is an interview I had with Steven several years ago.

I had the pleasure of interviewing author Steven Barnes and I would like to share it with you.

Steven Barnes was born in Los Angeles and lives there with his wife, author Tananarive Due. He has written episodes of The Outer Limits, Baywatch, Stargate SG-1 and Andromeda. Barnes first published piece of fiction, the 1979 novelette "The Locusts," was written with Larry Niven, and was a Hugo nominee. He is a science fiction writer, lecturer, and creative consultant.

His true passion, other than writing, is martial and physical arts. He is a Black Belt in Kenpo Karate, and Kodokan Judo. He holds an instructor certificate in Wu Ming Ta, and has an instructor candidate ranking in Filipino Kali stick and knife fighting.

Barnes has co-author his wife, Tananarive Due and actor Blair Underwood to create the Tennyson Hardwick series: Casanegra: A Tennyson Hardwick Novel (2008), In the Night of the Heat: A Tennyson Hardwick Novel (2009), & From Cape Town With Love (May 2010).

Keith: What inspired you to write your first book?

Steven: The opportunity to write with one of the great science fiction writers, Larry Niven.

Keith: Are there messages in your novels that you want readers to grasp?

Steven: The universality of human experience, and the boundless potential of our spirit, if we are true to our values.

Keith: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

Steven: No.

Keith: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Steven: Balancing being true to myself with finding and building an audience.

Keith: Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?

Steven: A fair amount. I've toured internationally, and traveled to Africa for research. But that's nothing compared to some other writers!

Keith: What is the hardest part of writing your books?

Steven: Actually doing the basic work of a first draft. Every-day discipline.

Keith: Do you write an outline before every book you write?

Steven: Yes.

Keith: Do you ever experience writer’s block?

Steven: No.

Keith: What is your favorite theme/genre to write about?

Steven: Human potential.

Keith: You’ve collaborated in the past with other authors. How were those experiences?

Steven: More of a dance. You have to understand each others' process and comfort zones, as well as clearly defining responsibilities.

Keith: You’ve collaborated with Blair Underwood and your wife, Tananarive Due to create the Tennyson Hardwick series. Will that collaboration eventually come to an end or do you plan to continue working on the series with your wife and Blair for the unforeseeable future?

Steven: For the foreseeable future. We'll see.

Keith: Are you collaborating with any other authors? If so, can you tell us about the project?

Steven: Working with Charles "Middle Passage" Johnson--I'll say it is a near-future project.

Keith: You’ve written books in both the Star Wars and Star Trek universe. Is it strange writing about characters that are so familiar to science fictions fans across the globe?

Steven: Yep. Very strange. The fans are, well...fanatical. And if you get something wrong, boy, are they gonna let you know it.

Keith: With you and Tananarive being authors, does it ever get competitive at home between you and your wife?

Steven: Not directly, but we do have...ummm..."spirited debates" about writing and storytelling.

Keith: Do you have any advice for other writers?

Steven: Write 1000 words a day, and read 10,000 words a day.

Keith: Thank you so much Steven for agreeing to this interview. Is there anything you like to say in closing?

Steven: Thanks for having me! Check out my websites: http://www.diamondhours.com andhttp://www.thewriterscircle.ning.com

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Interview with author Clare Dargin

10/25/2013

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This is an older interview I had with Clare Dargin

Clare Dargin is a writer who loves science fiction, fantasy, romance and the military. She enjoys weaving those worlds together. Her first novel Cold Warriors was published with Aspen Mountain Press. Her second novel is entitled Speculative Sky which will be published July 2010 by Red Rose Publishing.

About Cold Warrior

When Caitlin Driskoll is awakened from a cryogenic stasis, she's got a lot of adjusting to do. It's a new century and the planet is at war. Once married to a Navy JAG, she now experiences life from the viewpoint of a Jarhead, and the view isn't pleasant. Colonel Medoro Keegan lost the two most important things in his life during his Marine career: his wife to friendly fire, and his ability to fly combat missions. Now, he's stuck aboard the Blanchard as the XO. The Corps is the only family he has left and he's not about to lose the last thing he values. Until he meets Caitlin, who isn't shy about telling Medoro what she thinks about his Marines. How can such beauty wrapped in an icy body have so much fire? It's the future, and a new kind of prejudice has replaced the racial prejudice Caitlin experienced in the last century. After all, when you've been given a second chance at life, you are expendable.

About Speculative Sky

A star gazer her entire life, April Mullen jumped at the opportunity to be an astronomer on a far away planet. Finally she had the chance to live out her dream--to discover intelligent life among the stars. However when her dream starts to become a reality, things are not as they seem.

She is working on a few more projects. If you'd like to check out her work, you can visit: The Haven at http://www.thescifihaven.bravehost.com or Cold Warriors athttp://www.coldwarriors.bravehost.com

Keith: What inspired you to write your first book?

Clare: Well, ever since I was a child I always wanted to be a writer. It was a dream of mine to be published and to write stories that everyone could enjoy. My first novel “Cold Warriors” was actually inspired by a short story I wrote many years ago and had submitted to the L. Ron Hubbard 'Writers of the Future' contest.

The story did not win, however it was liked by one of the judges who sent me a personal letter back home saying how much he had enjoyed the story and thought that it should have won. From there, I reworked and expanded the story until I ended up with the novel Cold Warriors.

Keith: Do you have a specific writing style?

Cloare: Yes, I do but I am not sure what to call it. I like to place people right there in the environment where they can almost hear, taste, smell and see the action going on around them. I tend to write tight stories with quick pacing. It's what I like to read and consequently how I write.

Keith: How did you come up with the title?

Clare: A good friend of mine, novelist D. K. Gaston actually came up with the title. I was in his writing group who really helped me tie the novel together and to get ready for publication. I remember that I was having trouble coming up with a name for the book and Keith who was fan of the genre and liked my work came up with the title! He did an excellent job! I am forever grateful!

Keith: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Clare: Yeah, don't give up on your dreams. You see both of the main characters had a dream of a kind of life that they had wanted to lead but was taken from them tragically. However they managed through hardship and struggle to find the life of their dreams together.

Keith: What books have most influenced your life most?

Clare: To be honest, the old Star Wars books that came out in the eighties after Return of the Jedi. The expanded universe books taught me more about atmospheric and expanded universe development and how to write a cool leading man than anything!

Keith: If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

Clare: Douglas Preston and/or Lincoln Child. They write incredibly compelling books of which I generally can't put down.

Keith: What book are you reading now?

Clare: To be honest and I am almost finished with “Book of the Dead” with Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. I'll be going through their back list very soon in order to get caught up.

Keith: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

Clare: One night I was thinking about The Friday House by D. K. Gaston and how it's a compelling story about assassins who have no memory of their being programmed and stuff. I think it's cool. And several books on the military scifi romance front that I have recently heard about. I write in a tiny subgenre so it's nice to see what other authors are doing in it. That way I don't get lonely!

Keith: What are your current projects?

Clare: Presently I am finishing up the final editing for “Ice and Peace” the sequel to Cold Warriors. As well as having another expanded universe book in the works. Not to mention, two futuristic romances that are completely different from my military fiction.

Keith: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.

Clare: The Motown Creative Writers Group--they helped get on the road to being published. I'm grateful for that.

Keith: Do you see writing as a career?

Clare: Yes! One day I hope to do it full time.

Keith: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

Clare: Yeah that's why I have to hurry up and get it out of my hands cause I keep changing it!

Keith: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

Clare: As a child, my father use to encourage it. I use to write stories for my family and give it to them and they would say “Maybe one day you could get this published!” I was like five.... and then when I was in middle school I found out that S. E. Hinton had been published at sixteen-- I became truly determined then.

Keith: Can you share a little of your current work with us?

Clare: Certainly. Ice and Peace, published by Aspen Mountain Press, takes place approximately 3-5 years after the first book Cold Warriors. Medoro Keegan and Caitlin (Driskoll) Keegan are now married and settling into their lives when the problems from her past and his arise and threaten to take away the happiness that they have established.

Keith: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Clare: Yeah, getting through the first draft!

Keith: Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

Clare: Just get the first draft down on paper and don't be afraid to make stupid mistakes and have dumb lines on paper, cause it's the first draft and you are allowing the characters to come alive. Later on you can fix and micro manage but don't try to do it the first time through, cause it will stifle your creativity.

Keith: Do you have any advice for other writers?

Clare: Don't give up on being published! Try every avenue! There is away for you!

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. It was a pleasure interviewing you.

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Interview with Valjeanne Jeffers

10/24/2013

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This is an interview I had with Valjeanne several years ago.

Valjeanne Jeffers is a Spelman graduate and a member of the Carolina African American Writers' Collective. Her poems have appeared In Revelry 2006, Pembroke Magazine 2007, Drumvoices 2007 & 2008, and the anthologies: The Ringing Ear: Black Poets Lean South, Making Sense of the Madness, Little Black Book Vol II: Bedtime Stories for Lovers, and Liberated Muse Vol I: How I Freed my Soul 2009, the featured anthology for the Capital City Soul Fest and PurpleMag #7

She also writes under the pen name Valjeanne Jeffers-Thompson. Valjeanne is the author of Immortal 2nd edition and Immortal II: The Time of Legend. She is also an active member of RIM.

1. Introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Valjeanne Jeffers poet, SF author and artist. I’m also the author of Immortal and Immortal II: The Time of Legend. Sister Moon is my wolf totem sprit and muse and I gladly embrace her. I believe that we should love God, ourselves and our world. One of the ways we can do this is by changing something to make our planet better in any way that we can no matter how small.

I’ve been published in Revelry, Drumvoices, The Ringing Ear, How I Freed my Soul Volume I, Pembroke Magazine and PurpleMag.

2. Tell us about your books. And the world of Immortal that you created.

In the year 3075, Tundra has been at peace for 400 years. There is no poverty or racism. Yet the planet is threatened by an ancient evil. Karla, a young Black woman, is a recovering addict working as a drug counselor. Intelligent and capable, she knows exactly where she’s going and what she wants.

Until she closes her eyes at night and enters a seductive and dangerous world.

To save Tundra Karla must find Joseph -- the one man who can unravel the mystery of her dreams -- and unleash the werewolf sleeping inside her.

In Immortal II the journey continues as Karla and Joseph fight to save their planet -- and their love. More characters are introduced each with their own set of personal issues which must be resolved before they can grow. So you see there are layered struggles taking place in Immortal: the struggle between the characters and themselves, and the struggle to save their world.

I strive to make my art imitate life and there are no totally “good” or “evil” characters in the Immortal series. All of my good guys and gals have a little “evil” in them -- and my villains a little “good.”

3. Why did you become a writer?

Writing is not what I do it’s who I am. I write because I don’t have a choice: creating new characters and worlds is as vital to me as my next breath. I am in love with writing.

4. Tell us about your publishing journey.

I began my journey the way I believe a lot of authors have: trying to break into the traditional industry with an agent who would help me get published. Even as I did I knew, as a Black science fiction author, that the odds were stacked against me. Back in 2004 when I began writing Immortal, I knew of only four published Black SF authors. Years later I would find a whole community of them at

http://www.blacksciencefictionsociety.com but still many of them are still, like myself, self-published.

I had a lot of doors slammed in my face and it made me mad -- I know writing and I knew my novels were phenomenal! I’d also seen trash, more times than I can count, sitting on library shelves. So I decided to self-publish. It hasn’t been easy, but I found a supportive niche online and I’ve never regretted my decision. I’m doing my thing and I love it.

5. Has your work touched anyone? How?

Honestly I believe it has. I’ve had readers tell me that Karla, Joseph and my other characters are realistic and likable. I’ve also been told that my writing projects true hope for the future and optimism.

6. What's on the horizon?

I’ve finished my third novel Immortal III: Stealer of Souls, the third novel in the Immortal series which I plan to release this summer (2010). In Stealer of Souls, new characters, like Annabelle, are born and old friends are reunited. Stealer is fast-paced, imaginative, very sexy and blurs the lines between SF and horror.

An excerpt from Immortal III has been published in Pembroke Magazine and another excerpt will appear in the Black Science Fiction Society anthology, Future Passage (2010).

I’ve also had three stories, The Visitor, Grandmere’s Secret, and Awakening published in anthologies.

7. Encouraging words for aspiring authors.

If you chose to write, do so because you love it and you can’t imagine not being an author. Second of all, be stubborn. Don’t listen to anyone who tells you don’t have what it takes. And finally, find a supportive, loving writing group that meets at least once a month where you can share ideas and have your work critiqued. Don’t give up!

8. Morning Rituals?

Each morning I smoke my first cigarette of the day -- a bad habit I know, but the last one I have -- start my coffee pot and check my emails. This is usually the time of the day that I get my best ideas too. I’m sure this is because mornings are the time of day when our minds are least cluttered, so our creative spirit can whisper to us without interfering noise. In the AM dialogue and plots often leap into my head and I mentally bookmark them until I have a chance to write.

9. Describe your perfect writing environment.

For me this is a room with a computer and a notebook, and with no one awake but me. I like to write from 12AM on, because by then everyone is asleep. A full moon makes this “space” even more stimulating. 　

10. Who are some of your favorite authors and why?

I love Octavia Butler. She has the ability to say so much with so few words -- like conjuring a room from thin air. I’m also a big fan of Charles Saunders. His writing is like water -- fluid and beautiful. Charles takes African myths and history, both very difficult subjects to work with, and weaves magic in a genre he created called Sword and Soul.

Milton Davis is also one of my favorites -- he can write anything. But Sword and Soul is also his specialty. Brother Davis make his characters come to life and walk across the page, and his Afro-mythic battle scenes make the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

Edward Uzzle is one of the most imaginative authors I’ve had the pleasure to read. When I read him he blows me away -- one of those writers that make you wonder: “How did he come up with this?” I always get a militant, pro-black buzz from his novels too.

I also enjoy erotica and I feel that sexuality when written about should caress the ear like the brush of lips and evoke delicious imagery (e.g., juicy mangos, billowing silk etc.) So for writing that sizzles my picks would definitely be B. Sharise Moore and Quinton Veal.

I ’m also a big fan of Zora Neale Hurston, Richard Wright, Ralph Ellison, Audre Lorde, Tananarive Due, Steven Barnes, Stephen King, Dean Kootz, Tad Williams and too many others to name.

11. Favorite books?

Some of my favorite novels are:

Wild Seed
(Octavia Butler)

Neters: Issue O and RETRO-KM (Edward Uzzle)
Taste (B. Sharise Moore)

Imaro I & II
(Charles Saunders)

Meji I & II
(Milton Davis)

The Friday House
(DK Gaston)

Banjo Strings
(Larry Winfield)

Their Eyes were watching God
(Zora Neale Hurston)

My Soul to Keep & The Good House
(Tananarive Due)

IT (Stephen King)
The Talisman

(Stephen King & Peter Straub)
Invisible Man

(Ralph Ellison)
I could go on and on!

12. How did you come up with the title?

I didn’t have to think about, the title just jumped in my head -- like the story itself. There was no question in my mind that Immortal was it and would always be it. Later I was amazed that the title I chosen (well before I was anywhere close to being finished) fit so wonderfully with the main characters that grew to people my books: all of them immortal.

13. If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

I’d have to say Octavia Butler, not just because she’s an awesome writer but because she opened the gate for so many of us. Before I read Wild Seed, I didn’t even know that Black folks wrote SF, and I’d been reading authors like Stephen King for years. Octavia made me believe that I could conquer this genre -- that I could be a SF/fantasy author. I’ve also been told that our writing styles are similar which I consider a huge compliment.

14. Parting words.

I’d like to thank Brother DK for taking the time to interview me and for his support. And to all my creative brothers and sisters: peace and strength to your writing hands!

Visit me at: http://immortalfantasynovels.com/

I like to personally thank Valljeanne Jeffers for taking the time to interview with me.

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Interview with author Milton Davis

10/23/2013

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This is an older interview I had with Milton Davis

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

A college instructor summoned me to her office after reading one of my essays and ask me why I was a chemistry major. She was impressed with my writing apparently. At the time I was a big scifi fan so I decided to give it a try.

Describe your perfect writing environment.

It depends. I prefer to write longhand, usually laying on the floor with my journal listening to jazz. During football season the jazz is replace by TV.

What are your morning rituals?

I have a nine to five but I get up early enough to do a little writing before I go to work. A page a day is my motto.

Tell us about your publishing journey.

I'm an independent writer, which means I'm self published. I went through the mainstream publishing process years ago, working my way up from form rejections to comments from editors with my rejections. I figured at that point I was a decent writer but I wasn't writing what editors wanted to publish. A few years later I went through my African enlightenment and knew exactly what I wanted to write. I didn't think it would agree with the market so I decided to self publish. It's been tougher than I imagined but I'm enjoying the results. I'm doing what I want the way I want and that's great.

What books have most influenced your life most?

One book stands out in my mind the most. Dune by Frank Herbert was the first scifi book that blew me away. I still hold it up as the standard for world building scifi. The other book is Imaro by Charles R. Saunders. I discovered his book after I completed Meji and Changa's Safari. It was the book I wished I had read when it was first released.

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

Most of my favorite authors right now are self published. Valjeanne Jeffers, Edward Uzzle, Ronald T. Jones, Carole McDonnell and you are on my list. I also like David Anthony Durham and Joe Abercrombie.

Do you find it difficult to write different genres?

Sword and Soul comes easy for me. I like to write scifi and I've been told my scifi is good but I'm less confident with it. I've played with other genres and I think I could give them a good go but I'm not interested.

Tell us about the world you’ve created for Meji.

Meji takes place on the fictional continent of Uhuru. It's an alternate Africa where the various cultures of the Motherland are drawn closer in order for me to play with interactions that would not have existed in Africa. There a lot of imagination thrown in as well.

What is the title of your latest book?

My latest book is Changa's Safari. It's the first in a four book adventure about Changa Diop, 15th century Swahili merchant whose adventures take him throughout the Spice Trade world. Changa is also a Kongo prince who escaped death at a young age and has vowed to return home to claim his kingship. It's different from Meji, more action-adventure than epic.

What’s on the horizon?

I'm currently working on a Sword and Soul anthology with Charles R. Saunders titled Griots. It's a special project for both of us and a first of its kind. I'm also working on two other novels and hustling to have the second installment of Changa's Safari ready for next fall.

A lot of urban audiences are not drawn to fantasy/horror/thrillers/mysteries. Please shed some light on what makes them good reads.

I think all these genres offer an escape from the daily reality of our lives. That's the reason why I read them. I think urban audiences would read more of these genres if they were exposed to them. We like to see ourselves in what we read and we haven't been represented in these genres. That's changing.

Do you have any advice for new authors?

Take writing classes, join a critique group of writers better than you, write constantly and read constantly. Be open to criticism but learn how to distinguish positive criticism from personal attack. And if you working toward mainstream publication be patient and persistent.

Parting words.

Thank you for the opportunity, D K.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. It was a pleasure interviewing you.

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Interview with author Brandon Massey

Interview with author Steven Barnes

Interview with author Clare Dargin

Interview with Valjeanne Jeffers

Interview with author Milton Davis

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