Crafting Crime and Cozy Mysteries: A Conversation with Kate Fellowes

42 Stories Anthology Interview with Kate Fellowes: Judge of the Crime Chapter

Biography

Kate Fellowes has published six mystery novels and many essays, with short stories featured in outlets like Woman's World and Crimestalker Casebook. By day, she works at a public library, and by night, she’s crafting her next mystery. When not writing, you can find her blogging at katefellowes.wordpress.com.

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BAM: Hi, Kate! Let's start with a bit of an introduction. Where are you located?

Kate: I’m based in Wisconsin.

BAM: A cozy location. And where do you write?
Kate: In the winter, I write at home. In the summer, I take my writing to the beach.

BAM: Writing at the beach sounds idyllic! Now, let’s break the ice. What’s your drink of choice before you get started?
Kate: Coffee, of course.

BAM: Classic choice! Which country do you enjoy visiting, aside from your home?
Kate: England—there’s something so special about it.

BAM: England is a wonderful place. What about sweets—what’s your favorite treat?
Kate: Definitely chocolate.

BAM: So, it’s caffeine and chocolate—perfect fuel for a writer! What books have you read recently?
Kate: Some great reads lately: How to Solve Your Own Murder, Mother-Daughter Murder Night, Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder, and The Framed Women of Ardmore House.

BAM: A solid list! Now, let’s talk art. Are there any artists whose work you particularly admire?
Kate: I’ve always enjoyed the Wyeths—N.C., Andrew, and Jamie. I especially love Andrew’s End of Olsons’, North Point, and Wind from the Sea.

BAM: I see the connection between your love of the sea and Andrew Wyeth’s paintings. Does the ocean inspire your writing?
Kate: Absolutely. It’s peaceful, yet powerful, and I find the beach atmosphere gives me a lot of creative energy.

BAM: Your passion for the environment shines through. Is there a message you want to subtly convey in your work?
Kate: I hope people reconsider eating animals. It’s not just about kindness to animals but about the environment. We can’t call ourselves environmentalists if we’re contributing to the planet's destruction through our food choices.

BAM: That’s a powerful message. As an experienced author, what would you say is your greatest achievement in writing?
Kate: It was incredibly exciting to see my cozy mystery A Menacing Brew reviewed in a national magazine when it was released in 2020. I also won the San Diego Public Library’s Matchbook Short Story contest in 2019 with my 50-word mystery, Whodunnit?.

BAM: That’s impressive! Rejection is part of every writer’s journey, though. How do you handle it, and how do you celebrate your successes?
Kate: I’ve gotten used to rejection, and I don’t let it sting as much anymore. I always know where to send my work next, so if it gets rejected, it goes right back out. I like to keep a dozen submissions out at once, so there’s always a chance of good news. When I publish, I buy a charm related to the piece for my bracelet—I’m on my fourth bracelet now!

BAM: Those bracelets sound like a wonderful way to celebrate your accomplishments. I’d love to see them if you ever get a chance to share a photo! Moving on to your future writing goals—what are you looking to work on next?
Kate: I’d love to write another book in my Kirkwood Clues cozy mystery series—maybe one set around Christmas. I’m also thinking about trying my hand at a sweet romance, a break from the mysteries. And I’ve got a Big Book in the works—something of a family saga/women’s fiction piece. I wish I could write every day, but for now, I aim for several days a week with a three-page minimum.

BAM: Your goals sound exciting, especially the Big Book! Thanks so much for your time, Kate. One last question: do you have a message for the authors in the Crime chapter of 42 Stories Anthology Presents: Book of 42?
Kate: I really enjoyed reading the variety of stories in the Crime chapter. With such crafty minds at work, I’m sure we’ll see a few novels emerge from these talented authors, and I can’t wait to see them!

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Connect with Kate Fellowes
For more about Kate, visit katefellowes.wordpress.com.
Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) @katefellowes.
Check out her contribution to 42 Stories Anthology Presents: Book of 42 in the Craft of Writing chapter, where she shares 42 words of advice on craft.

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What is the 42 Stories Anthology? The 42 Stories Anthology Presents: Book of 42² is a groundbreaking literary project. 📚 It’s a novel structured into 42 chapters, each containing 42 stories—totaling an astounding 1,764 stories. Every story has approximately 42-character titles and roughly 42-word bios, making it a truly unique reading experience. ✨ In addition to its innovative format, each chapter features 42 unique covers and highlights 42 Stories of Excellence Awards 🏆, judged by a panel of 42 experts. The anthology is more than just a novel—it’s a platform that brought together over 1,000 authors, from world-famous writers 🌐 to first-time published talents 📚. Contributors were limited to four acceptances, ensuring a rich and diverse collection of voices. Few authors reached that maximum, adding to the anthology's distinctiveness. 📝 Beyond the book itself, the project includes 42 Stories Anthology Presents: Interviews 🎥, an engaging interview segment where I aim to connect with as many of the participating authors as possible. These interviews amplify their voices 🎤, shining a spotlight on their craft. The goal is to celebrate and share the incredible talent behind the anthology, giving the world a chance to discover these remarkable wordsmiths. Too many great writers remain unknown, and this initiative strives to change that by showcasing 1,764 stories in a single anthology. 🌟 Where to Watch, Read, and Connect: 🔗 Blog Interviews: Find written interviews on Blogger: https://bamwrites.blogspot.com/ 🔄 YouTube Channel: Watch the interviews on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bamwrites42 📺 Stay Connected: 🔗 Mailing List: Subscribe here to stay updated. ✉️ Official Website: 42storiesanthology.com 🌐 Merch Store: Redbubble Store 🛍️ Social Media: 🕺 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/42stories 💍 X/Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/book_of_42 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/book_of_42 📸 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@42storiesanthology 💃 Threads: https://www.threads.net/@book_of_42 🔄 Connect with Me: 🌍 Facebook: facebook.com/bamwrites 📚 Twitter/X: twitter.com/bamwrites 🎨 Instagram: instagram.com/bam_writes 📸 LinkedIn: LinkedIn Profile 💼 Pinterest: pinterest.com/bamwrites/ 🌈 Medium: medium.com/@bam_42 🔗 Amazon: https://shorturl.at/AdS6n 📖 Blue Sky: @bamwrites.bsky.social 🌌 Goodreads: Goodreads Profile 🔗 Blogger: bamwrites.blogspot.com 🔗 Final Note: Thank you for supporting the 42 Stories Anthology! ❤️ Your likes, shares, and comments help spread the word about these amazing stories and their talented creators. Together, let’s celebrate the art of storytelling and give these authors the recognition they deserve. 🎉 Until next time, remember to remember! ✨~ Bam and the 42 Stories Anthology Team

42² Interview | Curtis A. Deeter | Special Guest Judge | Monster Chapter

Curtis A. Deeter is an author of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. He is the founder and editor of Midwest United States-based Of Rust and Glass, and the host and co-producer of the Proud to Be of Rust and Glass podcast, which celebrates all things artistic in NW Ohio and beyond. When he is not writing, he enjoys spending time with his family, discovering new music, and taste-testing craft beer at local breweries.

 

BAM: Who do you write to when you picture your reader?

Curtis: Anymore, I write for myself. When I have a story I want to tell, and I know that I’d like to tell it to a wider audience, I write what I’d like to read first and then think about the market in later drafts, keeping an “ideal” reader in mind when it comes to voice, character, content, etc.

BAM: So, you see the reader you want to be, and go with it. Makes sense. Curtis, what got you into writing?

Curtis: I started writing at an early age, and I always tell people it was because I used to be read to/read a lot, in particular, classic science fiction and fantasy stories on long drives back and forth between Wisconsin and Missouri. From there, I started with what’s essentially fan-fiction of those stories until I found my own style and direction.

BAM: Sounds like you have a lot of practice before deciding to write. It must have led to many drafts of stories. What are the most drafts you've done for a story?

Curtis: My current novel, Ronald, the Ronin, took 7 complete re-writes before I was comfortable sharing/querying. An epic fantasy I started in Middle School is probably in its 20^th or 30^th iteration, though it’s never been fully written from start to finish.

BAM: Will have to check the book out. While writing, do you play music or what shows/movies?

Curtis: I LOVE to turn up some instrumental music, whether it’s classical piano, prog/post rock without vocals (Russian Circles, Explosions in the Sky, Isis, etc.) or even good ole’ Lofi Girl. Headphones are preferable, as it shuts out the rest of the world, and lyrics throw me off because I love to sing along.

 (credit)

BAM: The French YouTube channel, Lofi Girl? I've seen a few of the videos. Okay, let's get more into your writer process. How do you handle story rejection, and celebrate acceptance?

Curtis: This depends on the day, really. If I’m having a rough Mental Health day, a rejection can feel like a dagger to my ribs. Most of the time, all it takes is a brief acknowledgement and a shoulder shrug. Rejection happens. If you want to be a writer with anything published beyond self-publishing, rejection comes with the territory. That doesn’t mean it’s easy, but it does mean you have to learn to accept it. If you don’t, writing as a business will eat you alive. As for celebrating, I should do this more. Usually, it’s a pat on the back. Sometimes, I’ll share the news with my wife for a brief, “Hooray!” but publication isn’t something I dwell on much. Royalty payments, on the other hand, those deserve a beer or two (quality dependent on the size of the check, of course).

BAM: Payments are a great reason to celebrate. Tell me about your writing goals. 

Curtis: For my writing, I will be a career writer in one form or another. I’m not there yet, but manifestation, amirite? I write primarily fantasy and science fiction, often a bit odder than a lot of the current commercial fiction, but I’m learning how to stay within my niche while also catering to a larger audience. As I’ve gotten more comfortable with writing, I’m also considering different avenues than traditional publishing (short form video and audio, possible work with an illustrator for digital/print work, serialized stories, etc.). I’d also like to get at least one screenplay adapted at some point in my life. That would be SO dope.

Short term, I’ve gotten away from my own writing over the last few years. It’s gone from being easy to being a slog at times, and that’s simply because I stopped writing every day. It’s true what they say about writing: if you stop using it, you can lose it. The more you write, the easier it flows, and it’s always easier to stick with it day in and day out than try to pop in and out of the work whenever you’re feeling frosty. So, that. To just get back to a solid routine.

Stay connected with Curtis's work on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and up to date with his writing on Amazon. And be sure to check out his 42 words of advice in the 42 Stories Anthology's craft of writing chapter.

42 Stories Anthology Presents: Book of 42 is available on Amazon, both physical form and e-book. We also have an anthology challenge page on Facebook. Keep up with the anthology through the website, Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and Threads. 

My social media: Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, Goodreads, Pinterest, Bluesky, and Medium.

Until next time, remember to remember

Anthology Release Announcement

 

Hello everyone. This post was emailed to many of the authors, but the email went into spam folders and promotions folders. 

I'm excited to announce that the anthology is released. 

Until New Year's Day, the book will be $30 USD for a physical copy. 

With that discount, authors are also able to participate in bulk order discounts. 

The publisher, MacKenzie Publishing, is willing to do a buy four, get one free deal. There's no limit. 

 To get this discount, email the publisher directly here. cathy42storiesanthology@gmail.com

If you just want one copy, they're available on Amazon and Pothi with more distributors to come.  

While the price is discounted from $42 to $30, it is a great chance to get a few copies as gifts for friends. 

On that note, if every writer were to ask one or two friends to leave a review of the book on Amazon and Goodreads, it's potentially over 1,000 reviews. 

This benefits not only the anthology sales, but also provides more chances of people reading your story and looking up other stories you've written. 

Note: We are in the process of making a hardcover version. The price is estimated to be around $50. However, it is unavailable as of now.

If a physical copy is beyond your price range, 

e-books cost $9.99.

There's also a merch store through Redbubble.

 Proceeds help me pay the editors and artists.

Also, if you were an author, artist, editor, or judge involved with the anthology, I'd be happy to interview you. A template for that is available through Google Drive. Simply download the template and email me the document with your answers.

There's also an anthology website where everyone involved with the book is listed: 42storiesanthology.com

Until next time, remember to remember.

BAM and the 42 Stories Anthology Team

42² Interview | Christine Hart | Special Guest Judge | Vampire Chapter

 

Christine Hart | Special Guest Judge | 

Vampire Chapter

 

Biography

Christine Hart is a copywriter, metalsmith, and mother who writes speculative fiction. Her debut YA, Watching July, won a gold medal from the Moonbeam Children's awards and an honorable mention from the Sunburst Awards. Christine’s backlist includes YA, NA, and MG titles.

 

BAM: Where are you located?

Christine: Langley, BC, Canada

 

BAM: Where’s your writing space?

Christine: Home, kitchen, living room, basement

 

BAM: Who’s your favorite author?

Christine: My favorite author is Neil Gaiman and of his work, American Gods still has my heart. I love the idea that human belief could bring a god to life.

 

BAM: Have been meaning to read that book. Do you have any favorite artists?

Christine: For visual artists, my top pick is a tie between L.S. Lowry and Roger Dean. Because I love the urban, industrial grit of Lowry’s work. And the pure fantasy of Dean’s images brings surreal worlds to life.

 

BAM: Hear you. Okay, before we get into writing, when you think of islands and beaches, what comes to mind?

Christine: My favorite beach is Jungmun on Jeju Island in South Korea. It’s the best combination of natural beauty, accessibility, and enjoyability (for a lack of crowds) in my travel experience.

 

BAM: South Korea has nice beaches. All right. Time for writer questions. Who do you write to when you picture your reader, or who is your target audience?

Christine: In my latest endeavor – mini books that accompany wearable art – my audience is primarily women. Each story features a protagonist at some stage of the maiden, mother, crone cycle. I draw on personal experiences and I borrow pieces of the many wonderful women in my life.

 

BAM: Great way to world build. Next question. How do you handle story rejection, and celebrate acceptance?

Christine: I try to normalize rejection as much as possible. I remind myself that most answers in the creative world are “no, thank you,” and I recover by finding a new market to try. I celebrate acceptances by sharing with a writer friend whenever possible.

 

BAM: Great idea to share with other writers to also motivate them to try. Tell me about your story outline process. 

Christine: My outlines (usually just for novels) tend to start broad and drill down as I develop each chapter. I’ll often start writing before an outline is fully flushed out, just to keep things moving forward if I don’t know exactly how everything works out in the beginning.

 

BAM: Sounds hopeful. What do you do about writer's block, though?

Christine: I think the idea of writer’s block is a funny thing. I treat writing fiction the way I handle web copy, blogging, fabricating metalwork, cooking, cleaning, or driving my kids around; it’s my job and needs to get done. When I have creative time carved out, I sit down at my desk or bench and tap things until I make something. In my corporate desk job days, I would never sit in an office not doing my assignment. Fiction can work the same way; make words come out and fix them later. Stories are never perfect the first time anyway.

 

Read more of Christine's advice in the Craft of Writing Chapter in 42 Stories Anthology Presents Book of 42² and go to her website to see her where you can find her other works: 

www.christine-hart.ca

42 Stories Anthology Presents: Jen Mierisch Interview

 Jen Mierisch won the Story of Excellence Award Winner in the Mythopoeia chapter for

THE DAY FRITZ MCROY GOT OFF HIS HIGH HORSE

Aliases in the anthology: 

Renata LeCroix (THE LADY IN BLACK WITH THE MONA LISA SMILE, Mystery chapter) and Abby St. Paris (THE HARD LESSONS HAPPENED ON THE HALF-PIPE, Sports chapter)

 

Biography

Jen Mierisch's dream job is to write Twilight Zone episodes. Until then, she's a website administrator by day and a writer of odd stories by night. Jen's stories can be found in The Arcanist, the No Sleep Podcast, and in numerous anthologies.

  

BAM: Where are you located?

Jen: Lincolnwood, Illinois.

BAM: Where’s your writing space?

Jen: Home and Library

BAM: Name some books you read recently. 

Jen: 

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

The Emerald Mile by Kevin Fedarko

Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

Arsenic and Adobo by Mia Manasala

Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning by Liz Cheney

^ All excellent books which I highly recommend!

  

BAM: Will check them out. What deceased or living writer do you want to meet?

Jen: I want to meet (1) Richard Peck, because I adored his books so much as a child and still reread them to this day, (2) Roald Dahl, because he seems like such a character and we share a birthday, and (3) Louis Sachar, just to tell him how much I loved the Sideways Stories books and Holes.

 

BAM: Your main distractors while writing are?

Jen: Social media, my kids, and going down rabbit holes of research!

BAM: Very common distractors these days. On editing, do you edit alone, have a friend read your work, or do you hire a professional editor? 

Jen: Mostly alone, but beta readers are the absolute best!

 

BAM: How do you handle story rejection, and celebrate acceptance? 

Jen: I am in a Facebook-based online writing group that does a weekly “Saturday Smackdown” post where we all complain about the rejections we’ve received that week. It’s incredibly cathartic and therapeutic to commiserate with other writers and realize that we’re not alone in our tons of rejections! This same group is great about celebrating acceptances also. We cheer each other on. A supportive writing community is just the best thing.

 

 BAM: "Saturday Smackdown" sounds encouraging. Could you tell me about how you organize writing in your life? 

 Jen: With a day job and two kids, I have very limited free time to write during a typical day. My writing time is after the kids go to bed, and on weekends I’ll also sneak off to the library for a couple hours to write. I’m writing this right now while away in a hotel, having just been to a friend’s wedding! It’s all about seizing what time you do have and then committing to it.

 

Jen's Website

 www.jenmierisch.com 

@jenmierisch on Threads

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What is the 42 Stories Anthology? It started as 42 Stories Anthology Presents: Book of 42², which is a novel of 42 chapters of 42 stories in each chapter totaling 1,764 42-word stories. The stories themselves have approximately 42-character titles and roughly 42-word bios. In addition, each chapter has 42 covers and 42 Stories of Excellence Awards that were judged by 42 judges. Not only is the project a novel, but also an interview segment called 42 Stories Anthology Presents: Interviews. That’s because the point of the anthology was to publish as many writers as possible into one book of 42-word stories. The authors were limited to four acceptances, and only a few of them have that many works in the book. Thus, the novel has over 1,000 unique and extremely talented wordsmiths. Some are world-famous authors, while others are first-time published writers. In this interview segment, I hope to chat with as many of the people involved with the book as possible, so that their words can reach a maximum audience. Far too many great writers remain unknown, and this is an attempt to let the world know about 1,764 of them who are in a single anthology. So, it’ll really help if you watch, like, and share the videos and blogs.

Merch store 

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Find me here

Website: www.bamwrites.com

Facebook.com/bamwrites

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LinkedIn   / bertram-mullin-b5519710  

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Blogger https://bamwrites.blogspot.com/

Until next time, remember to remember

~Bam and the 42 Stories Anthology Team

 

 

Celebrating the Life of Two Lost Friends: A 42² Blog

It's never easy to lose someone you care about, and over the past year I've lost several friends. 

Most recently, the losses were two of the staff members who helped with the 42 Stories Anthology.  

Among the Project 42² team were Karen L. Milstein (story editor and proofreader) 

 and Terry Groves (main critique partner, formatting editor, and co-proofreader). 

 Terry suddenly passed away August 23, 2024. He was 65. Obituary. 

The news was devastating. In celebration of his life, I made this video dedicated to Terry. 

When learning of the tragic news, I checked up on Karen. Last I heard, she was receiving chemo. Her family contact hadn't emailed me, and previously, I thought no news was good news. Only, upon checking up on her this past weekend, I learned that Karen had succumbed to cancer on July 3, 2023. She was 68. Obituary.

Terry and Karen were core members of the project. Whenever someone was negative about Project 42², they were championing it and encouraging me to move forward and get the project done. 

Karen, along with the award-winner in the Poetic Prose chapter, gave great feedback, which was to change the name of the chapter from Poetry & Prose to Poetic Prose, because the latter is what the genre should be called. 

Then, while under chemo treatment, Karen asked if she could continue to proofread one of the final drafts of the anthology. She did get to read the finalized version. However, she was too sick to continue on with the project during the last two years. Her work on it since 2018 will not be forgotten. When you get 42 Stories Anthology Presents: Book of 42², take a look at the Parent chapter cover of a mother cat feeding her kittens. That art piece was selected because Karen loved cats. She and her husband had several.

Where Karen left off with Project 42², Terry and others picked up. In total, the anthology had four proofreaders. 

That said, when Terry got to the book, he had mentioned it looked great based on Karen's edits. He then designed the contents sections and alphabetized them by last name for each of the 42 chapters. A final touch of Terry's was suggesting that we highlight the Story of Excellence Winner's in a special box so that the story sticks out within the chapter. 

Both Karen and Terry left a mark not only in my life, but in the world with stories you can find. 

As for the anthology, Karen's  

OUR CHILDREN COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES, is No. 32 of the Tragedy chapter, under Karen L. Milstein. 

Terry has three works in the book:

A FAIR DAY’S FARE ON THE WAY TO THE AFFAIR, which is No. 21 in the Thriller/Suspense chapter, under Grumpy Old Man

THE SECRETS WE KEEP AND THE DAMAGE THEY DO, which is No. 38 in the Humor chapter, under Grandpa Tiger

THE COLDEST DAY EVER EXPERIENCED IN AUGUST, which is No. 15 in the Humor chapter, under Terry Groves

The three are well-told stories, but the last one under his real name is the best in my opinion because so much happens in 42 words, and there's a solid ending. 

They have more writing that immortalizes them, and I highly recommend that if you want to know about these wonderful human beings, read what they left behind.

Karen's books are on Amazon here. Her favorite of the stories was one with a dragon named Fergus. She wrote Sky Clad Radine, Sky Clad Jalma, Sky Clad Rydul, and the one mentioned, Fergus and the Princess.

Everything Terry-related is on his Linked Tree here. His works available are 

Down the Tiger's Throat, Quest for Gold, Cruising Along, and The Summer of Grumps.

When you appreciate someone in your life, let them know while they're around. My friends who are now gone knew they were appreciated. They appreciated me, too, and it leaves me both sad they're gone, and stronger for knowing such extraordinary people.

Remember, to remember

~Bam

42² Interview: Nicole Ortiz

 Nicole Ortiz, Runner Up Award Winner of the Sports chapter for 

A TOUR OF THE CITY STREETS FROM MY SADDLE       

 Biography

Nicole Ortiz is an editor and writer based in New York’s Hudson Valley. She currently works as a healthcare editor for Morning Brew, and has been published in outlets including Adweek, Marketing Dive, Rewire.org, Greatist, and had a short fiction piece published in literary journal Pigeon Pages. 

 

BAM: Where are you located?

Nicole: Kerhonkson, NY, USA
BAM: Where’s your writing space?
Nicole: Home

 

BAM: Could you tell me some songs that you like?

Nicole: Local Natives, San Fermin, Kishi Bashi, As Tall As Lions, Coheed and Cambria, Milo Greene, The Starting Line, The Hush Sound

 

BAM: I'll check them all out. What are some movies/shows you like?

Nicole: “Mean Girls,” “She’s the Man,” “Past Lives,” “Titanic,” “Children of Men,” “Encanto” Shows: “Parks and Recreation,” “The Office,” “Schitt’s Creek,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Breaking Bad,” “Fleabag,” “Pen15”

 

BAM: Breaking Bad was one of the best. I used to call it the baldy show because 99% of the case had shaved heads. It's okay because so do I. Anyway, what are some of your favorite books?

Nicole: “Neverwhere,” “Fates and Furies,” “Boy, Snow, Bird,” “Pachinko,” “Y: The Last Man,” “Americanah,” “A Thousand Splendid Suns” // David Sedaris, Neil Gaiman, Roxane Gay, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

 

BAM: Great titles and authors you named. What are some books you read recently?  

Nicole: I recently blew through the entire “A Court of Thorns and Roses” and “Fourth Wing” series. I also recently read “The Nightingale,” “Yellowface,” and “Lessons in Chemistry,” which I enjoyed. Currently reading “Maame” and “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store,” and will probably take on the “Throne of Glass” series soon.

 

BAM: Sarah J. Maas is a fun writer. Let’s get into your writing, though. Tell me about the first story that you ever wrote.

Nicole: The first story I wrote was not published, but it was a memorable experience from my first-ever college creative writing class. I wrote a story called “Monster,” which was from the perspective of a young girl in an abusive household. It was impactful to share with my class because, until that point, a lot of the stories had been pretty lighthearted and silly. It made for in-depth conversation and changed the tone of class for that day.

 

 

BAM: Monster sounds like a gripping story. Your other successes show it at least led you to more. Could you tell me about your writing goals?
Nicole: I’d like to write a children’s book, possibly turned into a series. I’ve also brainstormed a book of short stories and maybe one day a novel. But for the short term, I’m trying to get into a regular writing cycle again to at least write a few times a week again and revise some existing short pieces I have that I got notes on.

 

BAM: Thank you. Readers will surely enjoy your story in the anthology and others works. To close, please tell everyone where they can find you on social media.

Nicole: 

Instagram, X, and Threads @neco_ornot

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleelizabethortiz/ 

Website: https://nicoleisortiz.com/  

 

 

 

42 Stories Anthology Presents: M. Huw Evans Interview

 

M. Huw Evans, Special Guest Judge of the Dystopia/Utopia chapter

 

Biography:

M. “Huw” Evans writes and edits in Seattle. He attended Clarion West, Kij Johnson’s novel workshop, and UW’s editing program. Huw co-edited the anthology Pocket Workshop and co-published Ex Marginalia. He’s working with three others to start a new small press: Homeward.

Video Interview

BAM: Where are you?

Huw: Seattle, Washington, USA

 

BAM: Where’s your writing space?

Huw: My cozy little study at home—though when I’m really into a project, I can write anywhere (so long as I’ve got my earbuds in).

 

 

BAM: Could you tell me about your target audience?

Huw: Last year, I wrote a novel for my kids—I realized that I had a very limited window in which to write a kid’s book for my kids while they were still kids. It was the most fun I’ve ever had writing, and I think that had a lot to do with knowing exactly who my audience was. Going forward, I want to try this with other writings—choosing a very specific audience and keeping those readers close in my head whenever I’m writing.
Also, always in my head when I’m writing are the voices of two of my Clarion West instructors, Connie Willis and Stephen Graham Jones, so I guess I’m always writing to them a bit, too.

 

 

BAM: Is there something you passionately want the human race to stop doing that might subtly appear in your writing?

Huw: So many things. Today, the one that comes to mind is cutting down the trees in cities in order to squeeze in more big, ugly modern houses.

 

 BAM: While writing, do you play music, or watch shows/movies?

Huw: I never watch shows or movies while writing—I’m too easily distracted—but I do listen to music. It has to be either music that I know so well that it goes in one ear and out the other without involving the conscious part of my brain too much or music that is kind of monotonous in some way. It could be repetitive electronic music, impressionist piano, renaissance choral or lute music. Sometimes I just put my earbuds in with no sound at all, and this helps me focus (it also lets my family know that I’m trying to work).

 

BAM: What deceased or living writer do you want to meet?

Huw: Hard to narrow it down to one. I’ve been super lucky to have met many of the living writers whom I most admire. I regret never having met Ursula Le Guin, so she’s definitely on my list of deceased authors to meet. 

 

Also, H. G. Wells, Jane Austen, and Victor Hugo. For living authors … hmmm … maybe Viet Thanh Nguyen, China Mieville, Susanna Clarke, Philip Pullman … there are a lot.

 BAM: What inspires you to write?

Huw: More than anything, it’s other books that inspire me to start writing. I’ll go long periods without writing, and usually what pulls me back in is reading some really wonderful passage in a novel—or maybe it’s a poem or even a quote someone posted online—but usually it’s a novel. Sometimes it’s an idea or a metaphor that strikes something in me and gets me thinking in new ways. When a piece of writing really moves me or changes the way that I see the world or understand other people, that makes me want to write—makes me want to have that same kind of effect on others. And then the thing that keeps me writing once I’ve gotten going is the stream of new things that emerge—the things I had never expected or intended but which find their way out of my brain onto the page. I don’t plan ahead very much when I write—at least not for first drafts—but even when I do try to plan out scenes or progressions of events, I almost always end up surprising myself. I’ll be writing what I’d expected to be a straightforward scene for getting characters from point A to point B while communicating important story information (and hopefully keeping the reader entertained), and then, suddenly, I’ll find that there’s a deep philosophical conversation going on between the lines, and it’s real-world stuff that I’ve been stewing over but that I hadn’t seen as connected in any way to the work-in-progress, and it makes the scene so much more interesting than I’d ever have imagined it could be. That’s what keeps me going—the surprises. There aren’t enough surprises in life; I treasure them when they show up.

 

BAM: If you ever get writer's block, how do you overcome it?

HUW: I’ve heard lots of different definitions of writer’s block. For me, the most useful one is inability to write the thing that I want to be writing at the time that I want to be writing it—despite having ideal conditions for writing. I’ve had this happen. I’m not a very disciplined writer, and I don’t set myself hard deadlines (and outside of academic settings, I’ve never written to anyone else’s deadlines), so when I can’t manage to write the thing I want to be writing, I just accept that something in me isn’t really ready to write it yet—no matter how much I might want to—and so I either write something completely different (a poem, an essay, a journal entry, a few paragraphs of foodie porn) or I stop writing and do something else altogether (play music, make art, walk in nature, play games with kids). Also, having kids is just a fantastic resource for writers in general—if I’m stuck because I can’t see my way through a plot problem or can’t understand a character’s motivations, I’ll often tell my kids about the scenario (sometimes in an age-appropriate diluted form) and let them pick it apart. They’re really great at helping me see why something’s not working, and often that’s enough to get me unstuck. Overall, though, for me, maybe the most useful thing is to tell myself that every phase of a writing project—including the “stuck” times—are part of my brain’s process, and that in order to write my best work, I need to accept and embrace the signals my brain’s giving me: if the way is blocked, find another way … or just wait for the block to melt.

 

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