42 Stories Anthology Presents: Leslie Soule Interview

 

Leslie Soule, Judge for the Fantasy Chapter

Biography

Leslie Soule is a fantasy writer who has won the Fiction Award from the Sacramento State Writing Club, for her novel Fallenwood. In addition, she has recently released a book of poetry titled My Mentor, Death, currently available from Terror House Press.  

 

BAM: Hi Leslie. Thank you for your time for this interview. Where are you now?

Leslie: I am currently in Helena, Montana.

 

BAM: The capital city. So, where is your writing space?

Leslie: Sometimes I write at home, but most commonly, I find a cozy coffee shop to do most of my writing in.

 

 

BAM: Let’s get into some icebreaker questions. Tell me about some foods you enjoy.

Leslie:

I love sushi!!! Big chunks of sashimi. Oooh… 

BAM: Really? I've been in Japan for 10 years now. Interestingly, the first day I moved here, I had sushi from 7-Eleven's convenience store. It was better than anything in America I'd had. Anyway, what do you drink with your food usually? Coffee or tea?

Leslie:

I like both. I worked in a little British tea room for a while, making fish & chips and pouring the tea, and it was a lot of fun. I really liked that job. And I drink coffee every day, to help me get motivated in the mornings.

 

BAM: Cool sounding job. Now I'm imagining you doing a British accent. Same here, by the way. Coffee in moderation is good, but more than the mornings seems like an addiction. And tea is healthy for you. So, Leslie, let’s move onto writing. When did you realize you liked it?

Leslie:

I have always liked writing. When I was a child, I used to create stories on the word processor that we had. It helped keep my imagination active.

 

BAM: So, what inspires you as a writer?

Leslie:        I really love 80s fantasy films and classic high-fantasy novels. I’m currently reading through the books of the Mallorean series by David Eddings. I like how his novels embody a sense of friendship/teamwork/overcoming obstacles with the help of friends and such. I feel like a lot of more modern novels are missing that.

 

BAM: Do you play music any music while you write?

Leslie: No, I usually write in silence. I find that music sometimes gets in the way of my ability to concentrate.

 

BAM: What writer do you want to meet?

Leslie:

George R.R. Martin. I had a dream once that he had me over for a garden party and started making me a mint julep. Ha ha!

 

BAM: I had a dream once of reading the Winds of Winter. It's still just a dream. He's quite an accomplished writer. On that note, Leslie, again, thank you for your time. Why don't you leave readers with the greatest writing accomplishment you hope to receive?

Leslie:

I think there’s one that Baen gives out, made of hand-blown glass, that looks really neat. That one would be cool to win.

Social Media:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4349288.Leslie_Soule

NOTE: Image credit goes to https://deepdreamgenerator.com/

42 Stories Anthology Presents: Emily Vieweg Interview

 Emily Vieweg was the Guest Judge for the Macabre & Morbid Chapter

Biography

Emily Vieweg is a poet/writer living in Fargo, ND, USA. MFA Poetry 2015. Her first poetry collection is alive thru Finishing Line Press. When she grows up, Emily wants to be the crazy-cat-witch-lady in the house at the end of the road. 

BAM: Emily, where are you located?

Emily: Fargo, ND, USA

BAM: Oh, Fargo, huh? Y'all get some heavy winters. So, where is your writing space? 

Emily: Wherever I am inspired – sometimes, while I’m driving, I see or hear something and grab my phone (after pulling over, of course), and hit “record”. . . I revisit the recordings later to get the ideas down. 

BAM: Okay. Now for some icebreaker questions. What are some of your favorite foods?

Emily: Chicken Parmesan with mozzarella. Imo's Pizza (St Louis, MO)

BAM: That used to be my favorite, too. Now, I'm all about healthy foods, but I might make some for my next reward meal. Thanks for reminding me of the nostalgic taste. How about movies? 

Emily: ET the Extra Terrestrial, Up, and Inside Out 1 & 2.

BAM: From classic to modern. What about a favorite mountain? 

Emily: The only mountain I've been on is Mt. Wachusett in Massachusetts, USA. My sister and I called it "Snuffy Mountain" because it reminded us of Mr. Snuffleupagus from Sesame Street. 

BAM: Mr. Snuffleupagus was my favorite as a kid. It was a shock when my brother told me they'd removed him because he creeped children out. Snuffy was not creepy. Okay, let's get into book talk. Name some books you read recently.

Emily: I read "One Second After" for a class this summer, while also listening to the audiobook. It was fascinating reading as a student, then reading as a writer. 

BAM: Will have to add that to my reading list. So, what got you into writing?

Emily: My first favorite author was Dr. Seuss. He played with words, created characters, created words! "The Sneetches and Other Stories" was one of my favorite books as a child.

BAM: Yeah, Dr. Seuss is way underrated these days. And the oddest part is few people even say "Seuss" correctly. On Writing. Do you play music in the background when you write?

Emily: I do listen to music, but it has to be music that has never been in a film, otherwise I will "see" the movie instead of seeing the poem.

BAM: Makes sense. It might be impossible to listen to something such as "Going the Distance" by Bill Conti without thinking of Rocky's 14th round fight. Speaking of fights. Writing can often feel that way. But our achievements make them worth the hassle. That said, what’s the greatest writing award you hope to win?

Emily: I really want to get a Guggenheim Fellowship. I made it through two rounds one time, but had to take a step back from writing for a while to focus on my day jobs. 

BAM: Hopefully you get it. You can close. Work can create writers block in a way. How do you overcome it?

Emily: I just don't write for a while. Some people say that you need to write every day - it's not practical for all of us . . . I write when I am inspired - sometimes if I haven't written anything in a long while, I'll do a freewriting exercise in the middle of a park to get things going; or I'll take a writing workshop to get more ideas started. 

BAM: Interesting. Sometimes, going to our roots can help us overcome writer's block, too. What was the first story you ever wrote about?

Emily: I wrote my first short story at age 9. "The Truth About Santa Claus" I wrote it in a spiral notebook back in the early 1980s ... it's somewhere in my parents' basement. 

BAM: I'm sure they're proud to have it. Emily, thank you for your time. Would you like to include a personal message to the authors of the chapter that

you read? 

Emily: I am fascinated with morbid and sci-fi storytelling - creating new and strange worlds - fascinating that it can happen in 42 words.

Social Media

https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product/but-the-flames-by-emily-vieweg/

NOTE: Images were generated using Adobe's free Ai generator. https://www.adobe.com/products/firefly.html

42 Stories Anthology Presents: Sherry Shahan Interview

Sherry Shahan, Judge for the Escape chapter

Biography

Sherry Shahan’s short stories, personal essays, and poetry have appeared in national and international magazines, newspapers, literary journals, and anthologies. She holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and taught a creative writing course for UCLA Extension for 10 years. She’s been nominated for The Pushcart Prize in Poetry and Best of the Net.

BAM: Where are you located?

Sherry: A laid-back beach town in California.

BAM: Where’s your writing space 

Sherry: Most often my home office. But also wherever I happen to have a pen and paper. 

BAM: Coffee or tea or something else? 

Sherry: A crisp chardonnay. 

BAM: Good taste. I had some chardonnay to bring NYE 2024 in fact. Okay. How about music. Could you tell me some of your favorite bands or musicians, or something in between? 

Sherry: I’m obsessed with Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball concert; Sia’s song “Chandelier,” and anything by Leonard Cohen and Sixto Rodriguez.

BAM: From modern to classic. Hallelujah, Everybody knows Leonard Cohen. Pardon the puns. What about movies? 

Sherry: “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “They Came Running,” “Butterfield Eight,” “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” and anything Quentin Tarantino.

BAM: Great writers behind those stories. Tarantino, huh? Hopefully we’ll get a Kill Bill 3. Who knows. Actually, The Bride is partly who inspired me to learn to walk again. After my last three of eight back operations, I couldn’t move my legs. My left leg was numb for about five years. While on the recovery bed, unable to stand up, I was thinking of Uma Thurman telling her toe to move. I tried it, tried, and tried, and eventually walked again. Anyway, enough about me. How about an icebreaker question before we get into depth about your writing. What are some islands and mountains that inspire you?

Sherry: As for islands, New Zealand, Cuba, and Iceland. All have unique histories, stunning landscapes, interesting food, and big-hearted people. And for mountains, I once hiked Mt. Whitney (tallest peak in contiguous U.S.) in a single day and was caught in a deadly electrical storm on an exposed ridge. Three women in my party were struck by lightning.  

BAM: Okay, let’s have some writer talk. Do you have a writer circle? 

Sherry: I’ve been in two writers’ critique groups for over twenty-five years. I frequently attend writers’ workshops and tune in to webinars as a member of the Society of America Travel Writers, Society of Children’s Book Writers, Authors Guild, and other organizations.

BAM: It’s great to keep your network wide like that, so to get your name out there more. It’s really tactical. I’ve noticed tactical and strategic work into your writing as well when I checked out your website. Something I wondered, though. With your diverse craft, who do you write to when you picture your reader. Meaning, who’s your target audience?

Sherry: I don’t picture a specific reader. I just try to tell an interesting story with compelling, relatable characters.

BAM: Sometimes autonomy can bring out great stories. Okay. What’s the best way to write? 

Sherry: “One true sentence, and then another,” Ernest Hemingway.

BAM: Agreed. Hemingway was quite an accomplished writer. As are you. What's your greatest achievement in writing so far? 

Sherry: My middle-grade Alaskan-based adventure novel FROZEN STIFF (Random House/Yearling) has sold over 100,000 copies. It’s been translated into several languages and has appeared on America’s Battle of the Books list (gr. 4-6) for decades. 

BAM: Frozen stiff isn't just about survival, but the bonds of family between Cody and Derek. Some of my closet family members are cousins, so the book really gelled with me. I should give a copy of your book to all of my cousins, in fact. Writing relatable characters, which can sell books, isn't easy. That brings me to the next question. As an experienced writer, you’ve probably come across some trials and tribulations. How do you handle story rejection?

Sherry: When I first started writing, one wall in our family room was corkboard. Each time I received a rejection—back then, they arrived in the mailbox—I tacked it to the wall. In the beginning they were little form notes. Slowly, editors began to add, 'Try again.' The notes on the board multiplied. I remember thinking, I won’t let them get me down! I’ve always been stubborn. The best way to learn is ‘to do.’ I haven’t stopped ‘doing’ since I wrote my first story. 

BAM: Another great tactic. You only fail if you don’t get up. Sherry, what was the first story you ever wrote about, and was it published?

Sherry: In the late 70s, began writing short stories for assorted men’s magazines. They sold right away, probably because the first-person, female p.o.v. was unique. Writing short fiction taught me to structure a story with a compelling hook, a forward driving middle, and a logical, yet unpredictable ending. When my daughters read middle-grade novels by the brilliant Judy Blume, I thought, This looks like fun! So, I switched to writing for children. I’ve been a travel journalist and photographer for 4 decades. My survival novels for young readers, Alaskan-based FROZEN STIFF, ICE ISLAND and DEATH MOUNTAIN, were inspired by my adventures.

BAM: Thank you for sharing your words, and now I want to go to Alaska. Where can viewers find you on social media?

Sherry: https://www.SherryShahan.com and I’d love to hear from you: kidbooks@thegrid.net

BAM: Any last words?

Sherry: I admire the dedication and enthusiasm of writers just beginning their journeys. Find a like-minded writing tribe, experiment with style and voice. Be flexible. Give yourself the gift of time to write. Follow your heart. 

42 Stories Anthology Presents: Lorisha Adams Interview

 

Lorisha Adams was the Story of Excellence Award Winner in the Fairy Tale chapter for

THE DIVINITY AND DEEDS OF KWAME AND KOJO

 

 

BAM: Where are you now, Lorisha?

Lorisha: Columbus, Ohio in the USA.

 

BAM: Where is your writing space?

Lorisha: Home Office.

 

BAM: What works and writers inspire you?

Lorisha:

I love literary and historical fiction; reading about different time periods is an otherworldly experience. Hiliary Mantel, Sue Monk Kidd, Toni Morrison.

 

BAM: Ah, Toni Morrison. She wrote a book called Jazz in 1992 that’s been on my to-read list for far too long. A magnificent writer, as were the others you mentioned. I appreciate their passion and unique narrative voices. Okay, before we delve into the writer that is you, Lorisha, tell me about some foods you enjoy.

Lorisha:

I love junk foods (i.e. cookies, ice cream, cake), but I’m trying to give all that up for healthier options

 

BAM: It’s hard to avoid junk food. It’s not about motivation, as some believe, but discipline and drive. I have to tell myself that it isn’t part of my plan and move forward when a donut or hamburger ad temps me. Takes a lot of willpower. How about we discuss something else before I start thinking of ice cream? Tell me about your musical preferences.

Lorisha:

I love all types of music, everything, except country, for some reason I can’t just listen to country

 

BAM: There’s always one good artist, but I hear yeah. What about cinema? What pulls you in?

Lorisha:

I like horror films and cooking shows, both are filled with messy gore that someone has to clean up.

 

BAM: You got me laughing now. I’ll envision a gory mess the next time I’m cooking. All right. Coffee or tea?

Lorisha:

Both! Coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon

 

BAM: Finally! Someone says both! Same here. So, Lorisa, tell me when did you realize you liked writing.

Lorisha:

When I first held a pencil in my hand, maybe age two? I liked the way it felt and the marks it made on the paper.

 

BAM: Poetically stated. Rhythmic in fact. By chance, while writing, do you play music?

Lorisha: Yes, music to fit the genre or just general sounds to help me focus.

 

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

Lorisha:

Authors bell hooks and Hilary Mantel

 

BAM: Interesting. Mantel was a Booker Prize winner in 2009 and 2012. What's the greatest writing award you hope to win?

Lorisha:

Don’t all writers hope for a Pulitzer?

 

BAM: Pulitzer’s are okay. I’d be happy with a Pushcart win, though. Tell me about your story outline process. 

Lorisha:

I guess I’m a “panster”. I don’t use an outline. The first draft is the outline. I write it out and then fix it up. I cannot outline a story from start to finish. I tried outlining a few times. Those stories never got written.

 

BAM: What you said has truth to it. The first draft is in many ways an outline, even if some writers don’t realize it. Could you tell me about how you organize writing in your life?

Lorisha:

I probably should do it more religiously. If I were getting paid for it, I would. I think that’s where writers get confused. Should I force myself to wake at 4am to write every day? Why would I if I’m not getting paid to do it? Many may disagree with me, but if you’re a paid writer you should be writing religiously. If you’re trying to get a writing job, you should be writing religiously. If you’re trying to get published, you should be writing religiously. If you are not currently on those tracks, you write as your conscience dictates.

 

Biography

Lorisha Adams lives to write and writes to live. She has a BA in Human Services and is a member of the Ohio Writers Association.

Literary Mama

https://literarymama.com/blog/archives/2017/02/writing-prompt-reader-response-13.html

 

Rigorous Magazine

https://www.rigorous-mag.com/v4i4/lorisha-adams.html

 

42 Stories Anthology Presents: Steve Gerson Interview

 

Steve Gerson won the Story of Excellence Award in Alternate Reality Chapter for THE LARK AND NOT THE NIGHTINGALE, HE SAID

 

BAM: Where are you located, Steve?

Steve: The United States in Overland Park, Kansas.

 

BAM: Never been to Kansas. Where is your writing space?

Steve: Home, handheld Smartphone.

 

BAM: Very modern. Who are some of your favorite authors?

Steve: Vonnegut (Slaughterhouse Five), Hemingway (Old Man and the Sea), Fitzgerald (The Great Gatsby).

 

BAM: Got a funny story about Fitzgerald if you ever want to know it. Anyway, this is your time. Are there any artists or paintings that inspire creativity from you?

Steve: Jean Michel Basquiat, Frank Stella, Caravaggio, Larry Thomas.

 

BAM: Caravaggio. Nice. I've got Judith Beheading Holofernes handy on my computer desktop for inspiration. My house boss said that we can't have a real version of the painting displayed. Do you have any go-to foods?

Steve: Hamburgers and hotdogs.

 

BAM: Umm, I haven't had a hot dog in ten years. They're no good in Japan because they're pork. I miss American beef dogs. Please get my mind off that, Steve. What bands do you like?

Steve: REM, Willie Nelson, Buffalo Springfield.

 

BAM: All talented musicians. And that wasn't just a dream. Do you have a favorite beach?

Steve: Galveston, TX

 

BAM: Nice. As a child, often went there in the summer with friends. In fact, my first excursion as an official driver was from Houston to Galveston. Stayed in my car overnight and watched the sunrise. That beach was a great place. Where's one of your favorite places?

Steve: Santa Fe, NM

 

BAM: Cool. Favorite country?

Steve: England

 

BAM: First, Americans want out, then like it again. Can’t decide, right? What are your favorite sweets?

Steve: Macarons

 

BAM: Nice. How do you relax?

Steve: Sports

 

BAM: Right on. Take it you mean watching them. What’s the best animal on Earth?

Steve: The best animal on Earth are Elephants because they are caring, family oriented.

 

BAM: True. They also never forget. Okay, coffee or tea or something else?

Steve: Coffee

 

BAM: The stronger, the better, huh? Now let's talk about writing. Many authors, whether they realize it or not, in a subtle way send a message to readers about their beliefs. That said, is there something you passionately want the human race to stop doing, which might appear somehow in your writing?

 

Steve: Being selfishly ethnocentric

 

BAM: Wholeheartedly agree. I think it’s more of an issue with Americans, though. I don’t want to go on a rant. More people should try and understand other cultures before judging them. Tell me, what’s the best way to write?

Steve: I can write anywhere.

 

BAM: What's your greatest achievement in writing?

Steve: Co-authoring textbooks with my wife

 

BAM: Sounds fun. What got you into writing?

Steve: Inclination and education

 

BAM: Tell me more. When did you realize you liked writing?

Steve: High school

 

BAM: Around the time it becomes more important in school. Makes sense. While writing, do you play music, or watch anything?

Steve: No, I like a somewhat quiet environment

 

 

BAM: Is anyone in your family a writer?

Steve: My wife, daughter, and brother-in-law.

My brother-in-law has written over 30 history books.

 

BAM: Family of writers. What deceased or living writer do you want to meet?

Steve: Kurt Vonnegut.

 

BAM: One of my creative writing professors took a class he had taught. Apparently, Vonnegut was an amazing and memorable teacher. Also, he won so many awards. What's the greatest writing award you hope to win?

Steve: No aspirations.

 

BAM: Oh, okay. On editing, do you edit alone, have a friend read your work, or do you hire a professional editor?

Steve: My wife proofreads my work.

 

 

BAM: I’m trying to talk my fiancée into doing something like that. Feel free to email me tips on how to convince her. Okay, let’s turn a page and talk about writer's block. How do you overcome it?

Steve: I’m in the midst of a prolonged writer’s block NOW.  It’s very troubling to me. What I’m writing of late is inferior to what I’ve written in the past, in terms of topic and performance. I’ve tried to continue writing, and sometimes a few poems come out OK, but they still fail to meet my expectations. So, I’m putting myself in a self-imposed sabbatical from writing, just to let my brain calm down. We’ll see how this works.

 

BAM: Famous writers say just jot something down. It’s better to have written something than nothing. Then again, a break can lead to stronger performance later. On the other hand, I’ve heard returning to the beginning can help writer’s block. What of the way you got started? Or perhaps, could you tell me about the first story you ever got published?

Steve: My first published poem was entitled “Once planed straight.”  It is a pastoral, almost-landscape portrait of a barn that I passed by daily for about a decade. The barn, little by little, sagged into the earth. I saw it disintegrate. The barn came to represent for me a lost agricultural, small farm age. It’s still one of my favorite images. The poem came to be the title of my first book of collected poems.

 

 

BAM: Coincidentally, I read your poem here https://panoplyzine.com/once-planed-straight-steve-gerson/ Will definitely check out the book sometime. Thank you, Steve.

 

 

 

Biography:

Dr. Steve Gerson, professor emeritus, has published in CafeLit, Panoplyzine, Crack the Spine, Decadent Review, Vermilion, In Parentheses, and more, plus his chapbooks Once Planed Straight; Viral; And the Land Dreams Darkly; and The 13th Floor:  Step into Anxiety from Spartan Press.

42 Stories Anthology Presents: Debbie Wingate Interview

(Interview with the Vampire: Louis Pointe du Lac 4)

 

Debbie Wingate won the Story of Excellence Award in the Tragedy chapter for

A LONE SHOE

LEFT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD

BAM: Hi, Debbie. Where are you located?

Debbie: USA. Gresham, Oregon

BAM: Where’s your writing space?

Debbie: Home office

BAM: Historically, famous writers say that you need to read to be a successful writer. What are some of your top books? 

Debbie: Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice, Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, Dark Rivers of the Heart by Dean Koontz, The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

BAM: Interview with a Vampire brings back memories. It was one of my sister’s favorites, too. By the way, do you have a writer circle?

Debbie: The Facebook group, Writing Prompts and Critiques has netted me a small group of writers to share, critique and encourage each other.

BAM: Sounds like a great way to strategize and organize your writing. So, who do you write to when you picture your reader, or who is your target audience? 

Debbie: Interesting question. I never see the reader until after it’s finished. During the process, I’m completely inside the head of the main character, so my goal is to tell an interesting story that is also believable.   

BAM: Okay. Non writing question time. Coffee or tea or something else? 

Debbie: Wine

BAM: I’m making some Japanese plum wine now. It takes about a year minimum until it’s drinkable, but worth the wait. Highly recommended. Now for another writing question. Please elaborate as much as you want. How do you handle story rejection, and celebrate acceptance? 

Debbie: I’m bummed when a story is rejected, but am encouraged when it comes with feedback so I can improve it for the next submission. Acceptances are quietly celebrated, being grateful that my efforts were appreciated and recognized.

BAM: I see. Why don’t you tell me about your story outline process? 

Debbie: None. I write when my characters start conversations in my head.  Occasionally, I will look for photos to help get a clearer picture of them, but I don’t outline or write the complete story beforehand. I did that once, and got so bored I didn’t finish it. My characters weren’t talking to me because I had stolen their 2 am conversation moments. It was a sad experience and I vowed to never attempt to be organized again. 

Biography: 

Published works include a self-published memoir and short work of fiction. Stories in anthologies: Apocalypse Dark Drabbles #6, Black Hare Press; Circle of Magic, WPC Press; Holiday Spirit, WPC Press. And, of course, a story featured here in the 42 Stories Anthology.

Social Media: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00BUUOS2A/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=c05b09f9-f9a5-4d2f-8ae9-e3ee22332899&ref_=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1