Knight Chills is Blazing: Interview with author Blaze McRob

Author Blaze McRob

Tonight we're in for a special treat. One of my favorite writers from the Masters of Horror: Damned If You Don't anthology is Blaze McRob.  After reading one of his stories, I couldn't help but feel as if a friend came over to treat me to a gem of a tale.  His narrative voice is straightforward and eloquent.  He's also one of the nicest guys you'd want to meet. Here's a glimpse into the gifted, Blaze McRob. 

Blaze McRob is primarily a novel writer, spinning his tales of horror. For years, he was a ghostwriter, long before anyone knew they existed. The industry's changing, and so is he. No more ghosting. Blaze has arrived.

His more recent additions include a number of short stories within anthologies:

"Shredded" for the "Damned If You Don't" anthology, published by Triskaideka

"Lakota Justice" for the "I Believe In Werewolves" anthology, published by Netbound

Eternal Love" a poem which won the best "spooky love" category for the "Vicious Spirits" anthology, published by Key Publications Network

"Tides Of Chaos", a joint collaboration short story with Lori Lopez for the anthology "The ePocalypse: e-mails at the end" published by Pill Hill Press

"Snow Of Blood" for the anthology "Undead Of Winter," published by RYMFIRE eBooks

N. Knight: 

Tell us about your latest work in progress.

Blaze McRob: 

My latest work in progress is a novel to be published by Vamplit Publishing titled, " '68 Buick". It is a Grim Reaper story dealing with Satan, Azazel, and a cast of thousands. I have many twists and turns in this story. The Reaper is the protagonist, dead but immortal, caught in a battle between Satan and God but also dealing with many sub-plots. I have finished this and am in the editing stage now. While I am editing this, I am writing the sequel, titled "Bokor", another novel called "The Butcher's Brain", a novel series within my "The Devil's Tongue" brand, and some short stories. I need to keep Gaynor at Vamplit busy.


N. Knight: 

How did you get started as a writer?

Blaze McRob:

In 1986, I was diagnosed with brain cancer and given six months to live. Not being thrilled with this, I decided to change my diet, up my running to 160 miles a week, and since I had a story I needed to tell-horror, of course- I wrote it. It was published in 1988 and started off my ghostwriting.


N. Knight: 

What makes you write horror?

Blaze McRob: 

I write what I know. By releasing the demons from my soul, I am able to keep the good within me. I have been in 'Nam and had many experiences there and elsewhere. Dealing with shit as a child gives me more to write about. I have a bad stutter and took abuse from other kids as well as my own family. Part of that will be in "The Devil's Tongue." Horror writers are able to rectify wrongs with a few strokes on the keyboard.


N. Knight: 

What do you like most about reading and writing?

Blaze McRob:

When I read, I gain knowledge. I am well read and enjoy all genres. When I write, I am able to tell my tales and hopefully make people think while I scare the crap out of them.

N. Knight:

Which author influenced you the most?

Blaze McRob:
Edgar Allen Poe! The master! Who can read "The Raven" and not be moved? He bared his soul to the world. I disregard anything derogatory anyone might say about the man. It matters not to me if he was troubled. His genius shone through on the written page. That's what mattered. I was reading Poe at the age of nine.


N. Knight:

Tell us 3 interesting things about you.

Blaze McRob: 

I have eight children, ranging in age from 2 to 36. For years, I was a world-ranked ultra-marathon runner. The best part of my life is now. This fall I will be together with my Yvonne.


N. Knight:

Many horror writers tend to write stories that carry stern warnings. In your Masters of Horror Damned If You Don't story titled, "Shredded" you make the reader realize their mortality. Is that something you often think about?-- A man's mortality?

I am not a religious man. Spiritual, but with no church ties. My faith is that we control what happens to us in this life and the next. Mortality lies within us. If we have been evil in this life, our mind will impose a sort of hell on us in the next. The people who try to do good will go to the next stage with no guilt and will be happy. I look around me and see a lot of evil within a lot of religions. There will be no groups mentioned here. In my novels: yes.


N. Knight: 

Best and worst part of being a writer?

Blaze McRob:

The best part is the release from within, the joy of sharing, the community of writers. There is no worst part.


N. Knight:

Advice to writers?

Don't strive for perfection in your first draft. Sit down and tell your story; let it flow. Forget about outlines: they make for a stilted, structured piece of shit. Your first draft is your outline. Edit and fine tune in your second draft. Don't allow anyone to tell you that you should forget about writing. If you want to write: write.


N. Knight:

Interesting story about writing.

I once wrote a novel that came to me in my sleep. Okay, a lot of novels are born within my sleep, But this one was different. Everything was so vivid, and word after word flowed forth onto my notebooks. A few years after it was published, I was out on a run and was traipsing through an old cemetery with stones dating back to the 1600s. One name caught my eye: he was the protagonist in my novel. I did some research and discovered that a lot of this man's life paralleled my story. A forgotten man, long dead, coming back to life once more. Does it get any better than this? I don't think so.


Thank you Nomar for allowing me to spread some tales about my tales. It has been fun. People can find out more about me on Facebook and my blogs:

blazemcrob.com

angelicknightpress.com

There you have it Knight Chills readers. Blaze is very candid and a classy man! Thank you Blaze for allowing us to get to know you better.  

Yes folks, go visit Blaze at his blog and purchase whatever book you see his name in because his stories never disappoint. 

© Copyright Blaze McRob 2011. All rights reserved. 

Blaze McRob has granted Knight Chills non-exclusive rights to display this work.

© Copyright Nomar Knight 2011. All rights reserved. 

A Knight Chills author interview.

A Knight Chills author interview.