MSHP Blog Tour Week 8: An Interview with Stevan Ray Richards, Jr.!

I am interviewing Mountain Springs House Publishing editor, Stevan Ray Richards, Jr.  This is what he has to say!

1. What got you interested in writing? When did you get your big start?
I've been writing since I was 12. I started writing to process things I couldn't talk about and to deal with my physical limitations. My 'big start' just happened this week when I signed my fist contract, with Mountain Springs House.

2. Which author do you think influences you the most?
When I was younger, it was Stephen King. For a while it was Shakespeare. Recently, it's been Dashiell Hammett. For a time, it was Joyce Carol Oates. Not sure I really have a predominant influence anymore.

3. If you were only allowed to have five books for the rest of your life, which ones would you choose?
the Bible, the chronicles of narnia, if i could get them in one volume, mystic river, forrest gump, and the life of david gale.

4. What kind of writer are you: plotter, pantser, or a hybrid? Have you ever tried to switch it up?
I can be a plotter, though that's not my favorite way to work. I start with character and internal conflict, most of all, or my own emotional quandary of the moment and see what happens. I tend to talk to myself when I'm writing. Especially dialogue.

5. I know some writers have certain "superstitions" or things have to be a certain way before they can write-- a certain drink, music, etc. Do you have any peculiar things that have to be "just so" before you can get your writing mojo started?
I have no superstitions. But, if I'm stuck, I find that Sean Connery's advice from Finding Forrester is best. Start with somebody else's words. I have also found that sometimes, the first thousand words or so just prime the pump. It can take me a bit to get to the story. I have been known to listen to audiobooks while writing to shut up my inner critic.

6. Tell me about your current "work in progress."
I don't really have a work in progress. I have a story I've been sitting on for about 23 years that I need to type up and submit. It's about a little girl whose grandpa is half leprechaun. I just pitched an idea for a web series called 'The Confessional' to Ian Smith. Allison is pushing me to finish a novel I started in 1991 that's about a vampire who is a priest. It's tentatively titled 'Communion.'

7. If you could follow any writer for a day, who would it be and why?

I don't know if I'd want to 'follow him' for a day, but I would really like to have a few drinks with Stephen King and ask him a few questions. One of which would be, "Did you start wanting to write horror, or did it just work out that way?" A lot of his stuff is deeper than just the scare factor, if you look.


8. Reading reviews of your work, or work you're attached to: is it scary, or is it constructive criticism to learn from?

I've never read reviews of my work, or work I'm attached to. When I was in one of my last writing classes, what surprised and, I hate to admit, hurt a little, was when the readers of my story saw more in it than I did. Then I realized that was a good thing. Layering wasn't something I was trying to, or knew I could do. I concentrate on how I want my readers to feel at the end of a story. I don't expect everybody to like what I write. Opinions are like mouths... everybody's got one. I am willing to learn from anybody, but not everybody can teach me something.


9. Working for Mountain Springs House sounds like a blast. Did you ever see yourself being an editor before?

Working form Mountain Springs House is a blast. I saw myself as a writing teacher before I saw myself as an editor, but I like being an editor. Teaching is a lot more work. I'm an English Geek. I would edit TV commercials and newscasts if somebody would pay me.

10. The absolute best piece of advice anyone gave you about writing: What is it?

Don't judge yourself or your story. Write the damn thing.

MSHP Blog Tour Week 9: Plotter or Pantser?

In the world of writing, there are two extreme groups of writers:  Plotters and Pantsers.  Plotters, like the name implies, plot out their stories before writing.  Outlines, notes, and diagrams all lay out the road map they will take.  Pantsers go in by the seat of their pants, coining the term "pantser."  There are a multitude of hybrids, shades of gray in between the two, but they are all variations of plotting and pantsing.

For me, I think I'm somewhere in the middle.  I started of as a full-on pantser, but then I would never finish the projects.  I would end up writing myself into a corner that I could never write myself out of, and I would scrap it.  I would then feel like a complete failure, and "give up" temporarily until another idea hit me, and then I would repeat the process.

I have recently started a hybrid blend of both.  I start off pantsing it, but then follow up with summaries per chapter.  This gives me the guideline of what needs to happen in each chapter, and how they tie together.  If I come up with a cool quote or detail that just has to be in there, I can go back to that chapter and stick it in.  So far, it seems to make sense to me.  I haven't officially finished a project, but I have gotten twice as many words written.  It's impressive what a change in style will accomplish!

Any new writers out there, I would recommend playing with both styles, and create your own method.  There's nothing wrong with dabbling!  Experiment, and find what fits you!

So how about you:  Do you plot, pants, or fall in the middle?

MSHP Blog Tour Week 7: An Interview With a Character!

Today, I am interviewing one of my own characters for the blog tour!  I'm choosing to interview my hero and heroine, Justina and Gabriel.  In my story, this couple has to overcome centuries of hard feelings in order to overthrow a vampire dictator.

So, how did you meet?

Gabriel:  My blood-brother turned her in the early 1700's.  We lived together in Italy for many years before we had a...disagreement of sorts.

Justina:  (laughs) A disagreement?  He married another woman.  I'd hardly call that a disagreement.

Wow that can make life complicated! So, how is this "working together" thing working out?

Justina:  Surprisingly well, I think.  We used to make a great team before, so I wasn't surprised when we worked in sync again.  It was just a matter of trusting each other again after...

Gabriel:  Don't say it.

Justina:  I'm telling you, nothing will happen.  She's not Rumplestiltskin or Beetlejuice!

Gabriel:  It never fails, someone says her name and she calls.  Don't do it!

So, who is this mystery woman, is this the one that caused your estrangement?

Gabriel:  Yes, technically she's my wife, although according to our customs, our bond has dissolved.  Damien, my blood-brother and the leader of our family, forced our bond, many years ago.

Justina:  Damien has a habit of forcing many things upon those he "loves."  However, I think things will get much, much better soon.

I certainly hope things start looking up for you!  So, anything you would like to share with my readers about this partnership you have?

Gabriel:  No, not until it's complete.  Talk to us again after you publish our book, okay?