Can
you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this
particular genre?
- Well, my home has been Utah my entire life, but
I spent weeks and months each year traveling through Idaho and Montana. Lots of
time to kill on the road as a kid, so I started reading. I was really into
fantasy novels. So, I began imagining on my trips mysterious things happening,
like monster attacks or finding something magical. I got into Urban Fantasy
because I always was in my own world of imagination trying to think of what
modern weapons could do against different creatures or how society would react
if they found out monsters were real. Honestly, how cool would it be watching
someone fight a werewolf or a vampire with a machine gun? But, Urban Fantasy
also allows me to blend old world fantasy with new world technology; two things
that are contrary to one another.
What is it about the paranormal, in
particular vampires, that fascinates you so much?
- This is a little bit of a spoiler, but my
vampire doesn’t appear until the very end of my book. In A Campfire Nightmare I mostly use monsters known as “warwolves”, like a werewolf, but with subtle
differences. But, I will admit, in book two, which I hope to release soon
enough, I have a pair of vampires, one of which I have never seen the likes of;
I draw him from a real, old legend, from an ancient people. He is going to be
fun and that’s all I’ll say about him. I like using these monsters because they
are an amazing representation of corruption. I only use that in a general term,
but the corruption of the human soul and becoming like the darkness humanity
fears is incredible and terrifying. They are just fun to write about!
What inspired you to write this
book?
- I started this book more than four years ago as
I worked full-time in a cheese factory, went to school full-time and tried to
juggle a social life. I would daydream at the cheese factory I worked in,
thinking about my favorite place on earth, Flathead Lake, Montana. Finally, I
decided I should start writing it down. Whenever I found time in-between
classes, or even during some classes, I would write. I came up with odd ideas,
wanted to create something new in the world of fantasy, and I realized that my
little story was becoming more than just a short story. I accidentally wrote a
book. I literally wrote a book on accident, but I loved it.
Please tell us about your latest
release.
-
So, my latest, and only so far, release is ACampfire Nightmare. It’s an Urban Fantasy aimed to draw new readers into my
world. It is described as a YA since my main characters are around 16 years
old, but it really was written for people of anyone older than fourteen to
enjoy. So, let me tell you a little about it:
James “Jimmy” Downs is your typical sixteen
year old boy. He wants to be popular, have a lot of friends and just be happy.
But, there is one problem for Jimmy, his family is on the low end of the income
scale. Apparently, money is everything to the kids at his school.
Jimmy and his best
friend, Michael, believe they hit the jackpot when both of them are accepted
into the most prestigious music camp in the world; Colman’s Amateur Music
Program, also known as C.A.M.P. The camp is located on the shores of a glacier
fed lake in western Montana. What the two boys don’t realize is that their
families’ economic statuses will put them on the low end of the food chain in
C.A.M.P. as well.
The two boys believe
that bullies would be the worst thing at C.A.M.P., but the land on which the
camp is situated has a deep, dark secret. At night, monsters haunt the forest,
trying to get to the campers and the only thing stopping these beasts are two
guardians. One little mistake and the balance of the guardians are tipped
against them. Jimmy and Michael find that their dream camp, is really a
nightmare.
Is there a character that you enjoyed
writing more than any of the others?
- My favorite character to write about is Michael.
All my other characters are awesome, but Michael is my comic relief. He is the
perfect tension breaker. So many times in this series I get to have him make
jokes at inappropriate moments and odd comments. I can always rely on Michael
to, not only do the right thing, but to make jokes about it as he goes. His
humor will never change.
Do any of your characters have
similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are they?
- Once more, Michael, but also Jimmy. I have a
strange sense of humor and I make inappropriate jokes at the worst moments.
Plus, Michael and I don’t really know when to shut our mouths sometimes. That’s
why he is one of my favorite characters, but these are also the reasons why he isn’t
my main character. Jimmy and I both have serious natures at times. He and I are
the same that we need to think some things through. When my Michael personality
is gone, it is Jimmy’s thoughtfulness that appears.
What is your favorite scene from the
book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?
-
My favorite scene in the book is definitely the
legend of the Flathead people. Here is just a tiny piece directly from the
chapter, no spoiler in it!
Like now,” Rox said, pointing
toward the mountains across the lake, the sun dipping behind the mountain, but
strangely, it gave a little light from its hiding place, “the sun withdrew its
protection from the people and unleashed the hounds from their hiding places.
“Their howls could be heard from miles away, and by this point, the poor
Flathead people knew what that meant. It was time to go to war. Women and
children ran to hide in their tepees, as if the weather-proven deer hide could
really hold back the shredding power of the warwolves’ claws. The men, young
and old, prepared for a night of chaos and death.
“Horsemen sat astride their mounts
with massive, stone-tipped lances, and archers were scattered through the
woods, some in trees and others crouched on the ground. All had been anointed
by their families and the medicine man with war paint, giving them a ghastly
visage. Hatchets and knives had been prepared for this moment, a war that would
never be known about in the outside world.” A scream in the crowd drew
everyone’s attention toward Stephanie, Janie, and Peter, but the three of them
were looking elsewhere, behind Jimmy, Michael, and Kylee, into the forest. As
soon as everyone realized the direction of what had frightened Peter and the
two girls, the massive group shifted to stare into the woods. Some of the
people gasped immediately, but it took a few moments for some of their night
vision to sharpen enough to see the men lining the woods. Ten massive men stood
in the shadows of the trees, all staring at the campers. None of them made any
type of movement. They were dressed in deer chaps, headbands, and moccasins,
and one had a massive headdress of feathers sitting atop his head like a crown.
Each held weapons: hatchets, bows with arrows notched but not drawn, and
knives, and a couple held large lances adorned with eagle or osprey feathers.
It was clear that they were native Flathead Indians by the way their foreheads
slanted up sharply. The paint they wore gave them an intimidating look. All
were muscular men between the ages of nineteen and thirty, and they had the
steely look of soldiers on their countenances. “Don’t move!” William shouted as
campers began to get up. “They are only echoes; they cannot hurt you.” As the
group calmed, the director spoke softly, with reverence in his voice. “Look at
them. They represent what the idea of honor and human determination really is.
They are heroes and deserve nothing but respect.”
-
I hope that caught a little interest!
Did you find anything really
interesting while researching this or another book?
- While I was writing this book, I looked into
several different legends of monsters and found incredible links between tons
of countries and their versions of vampires and werewolves. A few of which I am
hoping to use.
Something super interesting I get to do for
my next few books is learn about cultures not just long dead, but some in which
little is known about them. One particular place I have found is supposedly
somewhere near Russia, and is a harsh, cruel land. Now, what do you think could
come from there? Something super tough and scary. How cool is that? Add their
legends into it and you have a crazy Molotov cocktail.
Can you tell readers a little bit about
the world building in the book/series? How does this world differ from our
normal world?
- I love this question because my world isn’t
really any different. I mean, sure, there are monsters and a couple secret
societies, but, for the most part, these are normal kids. I created creatures
that only come out during the night. Mankind as a whole is scared of the dark;
not because of the lack of light, but that there is something there that they
can’t handle. Monsters that lurk in the dark is our greatest fear and I just
played that up.
The differences, I can’t give any real
details because that’ll spoil bits about book one and two. They may be subtle
in the first book, but they hit you like a freight train in book two.
Do you have any weird writing quirks or
rituals?
- Before I write, I have to find music that will
set the mood for a scene. If I am writing for my villains, I need dark creepy
music, for my fights, I need crazy rock, you know, for a good ass kicking theme
song. Whenever I write something sad, I choose mostly slow violin music, it
really helps break my heart.
Also, some of my best writing comes around
10:30 p.m. until about 1:30 a.m. when I shut off all the lights, so all I can
see is the screen of my computer. Nothing will distract me at that moment.
Plus, I am generally dressed in a hoodie with the hood up and headphones on. I
rock out in the dark like your typical shut in. If I don’t have my surroundings
like that, I can’t focus and have a hard time writing even a single page.
Other than writing, what are some of
your interests, hobbies or passions in life?
-
One of my favorite interests, besides writing,
is nature photography. Too long do I spend inside, writing as fast as possible
or working. I like to get outside and hike through nature, taking photos as I
go. I have seen some amazing things. I have photographed eagles around lakes,
quail scurrying across paths, ducks landing on water, moose with their young
and so many other animals as well as all four seasons, waterfalls, mountains
and fires. It’s amazing what you can find as long as you leave the road behind
you.
Another interest
of mine is working with my puppy. I have a Liver-Spotted Brittany Spaniel. She
is amazing! I got her when she was just a little puppy and we are hard to
separate. She is smart and learns quickly and we enjoy hiking everywhere
together.
What can readers expect next from you?
-
Honestly, great and new ideas when it comes to
Urban Fantasy. I am working to release two more books this year (2016). I have
so many more in mind, and I plan to even delve into other genres as I go. A Campfire Nightmare is the start of, what I hope to be, a long and creative
career as an author. I hope that my followers will enjoy watching my characters
grow and reach their potential, going from picked-on kids to legends.
Where
can readers find you on the web?
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