Here’s a possible blueprint for those youngsters wondering
if they are future horror writers or just plain weird.
10. A classmate
vomits and while everyone is busy gagging and saying “Yuck!” in your mind
you’re picturing the kid spit out his organs and actually find yourself hoping
for the worst.
9. On your way to
school you witness a man get hit by a car and as he’s being put into the
ambulance, you wonder if he’ll end up as food for cannibals.
8. Every time you go
to a cemetery you keep envisioning graves opening from the ground and zombies
rising to feed on the living.
7. In your imaginary
world, a Chihuahua can swallow Cujo whole.
6. You avoid mowing
the lawn at all costs because you could have sworn the neighbor’s cat was captured
by a large creature with talons.
5. When you get
bullied at school you think up of new ways to torture the offenders.
4. A walk through the
woods to grandma’s house ends with you turning into a werewolf and feasting on
your annoying little brother.
3. You throw a fit
when your mother wakes you from a nightmare so you won’t be late for school.
2. As far as you’re
concerned, you never drink fruit punch.
It’s blood, damn it!
1. And the number one
reason you know you are a horror writer…nothing makes you happier than hearing
girls scream which explains why your pockets are filled with spiders and other creepy
crawly creatures.
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.
It warms my heart to wake up to a good person's act of kindness. One of my favorite writers and poets, Jezri, decided to pass on the Liebster Blog award to Knight Chills. You can visit her cool website called Jezri's Nightmares here. And be sure to purchase her entertaining e-books on Amazon which you can link up through her site.
The award is given to recognize each writer's contribution to blogging. There are conditions upon receiving this award. The condition for accepting this award is to pass it on to 3 to 5 blogs that have under 300 followers.
There are plenty of great blogs that I read with less than 300 followers. However, I'll do my best to keep it to five. First up is my friend Julie Myers and you can find her blog in her fantastic website. My Paranormal Nightmares. It's a fascinating subject that hits close to home. Please visit her, you won't be disappointed.
Next up is my fabulous Science Fiction author and friend, M PAX at Wistful Nebulae. If she doesn't dazzle you with her prose, her awesome space pictures will get you.
Another writer whose work I enjoy reading is Aline S. Iniestra. She's a fellow member at Master's of Horror and writes excellent dark poetry. Check out the talented, rising horror writer star at In Darkness I Play.
Of course, not everything with me is about horror. That's why I gravitate toward the lovely and talented Biola Olatunde at her blog, Ephesus. Biola is the real deal. Her mastery with words dazzles every time. Plus, she enjoys featuring other authors in her segment, Center Stage.
Finally, Sean Paul Potterson hosts Blackprint Poetry. His dark poems hit close to home for me. Please show him some love, visit his blog and tell him Nomar sent you.
Thank you Jezri for nominating Knight Chills.
Have fun visiting a few of my favorites and don't forget, I'll catch you on the dark side.
It's not often a writer comes along and gets this Knight excited about vampire novels. Let's face it, I'm a huge fan of Anne Rice and Laurell K. Hamilton and since many authors have chosen to soften the sexy predators by making them light walking pretty people with fangs, I tend to lose interest. However, I'm please to announce that anything I pick up that's written by Carole Gill seduces me back to the vampire tales I grew to love. So when Carole agreed to give Knight Chills an interview, I jumped for joy.
This gifted writer as two contributions which have proved to be extremely popular with the Knight Chills readers. When you're done reading this interview you can read her amazing tales, Memoir and The Song, which by the way, was tied for story of the year on Knight Chills in 2010.
Without further ado. I give you the great Carole Gill.
A former Manhattanite, Carole Gill resides in England with her husband and two lunatic Parson Russell Terriers.
In 2000 she was selected by North West Playwrights of England for further development but found she preferred fiction writing.
Carole writes dark horror and sci-fi and is widely published in horror and sci-fi anthologies.
The House on Blackstone Moor is her first book and has just been published by Vamplit Publishing.
It is available from Smashwords now and will be in paperback early in 2011.
Carole is at work on her second novel for Vamplit. The story is a very different vampire love story and is tentatively entitled Passionata.
Tell us about your latest book.
The House on Blackstone Moorpublished by Vamplit Publishing is a tale of vampirism, madness, obsession and devil worship set in 19th century England. Integral to the plot is the taboo subject of the central character Rose’s abusive childhood and how a father's unnatural love for his child changed her life and her fate forever.
Rose Baines, only survivor of the bloody carnage of her family’s murder, perpetrated by her incestuous, suicidal father, survives her imprisonment in an infamous madhouse only to be given a position as governess at Blackstone House, a house built on accursed moorland. Nothing is as it seems and those who make the house on Blackstone Moor their home have hideous secrets, but the most hideous secret of all is kept hidden away in the cellar.
There are demons and fallen angels and a glimpse into hell itself for Rose, but there is also love from one who is damned, however it comes at a terrible cost.
This is not paranormal romance with racy bits. As my publisher, Gaynor Stenson of Vamplit Publishing says, ‘this is gothic romance in its truest form. A novel that even Mrs. Radcliffe might have gasped at whilst reading and that Matthew Lewis could have been shocked by.’
How did you get started as a writer?
There were two phases. The writing surfaced quite unexpectedly when I was 8 years old and wrote about a Martian invasion of earth. I continued to write but then life got in the way as it often does.
My second cycle of writing began in 2000 after a marriage break up and after the death of my mother.
I joined a writer’s workshop under the amazing leadership of Clive Hopwood here in England. Clive is an author and playwright who is devoted to teaching the craft. He encouraged me to try anything which I did.
I was selected by North West Playwrights of England for further development but found I preferred fiction writing.
I remarried and it is because of my husband’s kind support and belief in me that I started sending out stories seriously in 2009.
All but one was accepted and that one was re-submitted and became story of the month for a different publication!
I wrote constantly—whether I submitted or not. It is only in writing that our style and technique matures I believe. Having said that there are highs and lows and great challenges, but why not take up any challenge?
Who knows what can be achieved?
What’s a typical day like for you?
Typical day:husband leaves for work and I take our two dogs out and then write until he comes home.
I have to promote my novel now and it’s tougher than the writing was!
There’s promotion, networking plus writing. I am working on my second novel for Vamplit which is to be released later this year.
To summarize I spend 90 percent of my time writing a day (weekends too) and 10 percent on household chores. I have a very understanding husband!
What do you like most about reading and writing?
Reading takes me out of myself. It is an adventure to be treasured. Open a book and you step into another world. Reading is the greatest of escapes. It is also of great benefit to writers as they can see how others’ work.
With regard to my writing:
I can write of worlds and people that move me. I enjoy depicting the monsters that dwell among us for there are such beings. And they tend to be quite human. I think sadly my first marriage shaped my writing.
Also, I love history and enjoy stepping back into other worlds and times.
As for contemporary settings, those tend to be depicted in my short stories. Horror and sci-fi are my favorites to write. Sci-fi and horror blend well together because sci-fi has the element of the unknown within it, thus it is natural for horror to be present.
I enjoy depicting good vs. evil. Supernatural and human evil are very interesting to write about as I have done in my novel because in my opinion human evil can give supernatural evil a run for its money anytime!
Which author influenced you the most?
Daphne du Maurier did. I read Rebecca when I was 12 and my best friend and I used to read passages aloud.
It had the greatest influence on me bar none. From the opening line: "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again..."
Those few words sweep the reader right into the novel because we want to know where this place is and why it was dreamt about. And who is this narrator? What happened and so on.
In short, we are hooked!
And then you have the story of a young woman who becomes wife to the enigmatic Max and goes to live in Manderley but is detested by the evil housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers. We ask why, what is behind that hatred?
We must find out! That, in my opinion, is a book to be devoured!
I love so many of du Maurier’s books, yes they most definitely shaped my writing.
Tell us 3 interesting things about you.
I went to acting school
I’d live in the past if I could.
Worry is my middle name sometimes.
Would you say you write specifically for one genre and if not, what’s your favorite genre to write?
Yes horror and gothic romance is my thing. I want to take gothic romance where it has never gone before. I think for today’s reader it must have darker themes and far bolder storylines while retaining the majesty of the gothic narrative.
Best and worst part of being a writer?
Best is the sense of accomplishment when your work is published or even when it is completed!
The worst aspects are the tremendous ups and down that I know many writers go through, myself among them.
It is a hugely difficult thing to write, you work in utter isolation. Yes there is networking but basically you work alone. You start out with one blank page and even when you fill it, there is the next and the next. The trick is not to ever be intimidated but to extrapolate from your mind your ideas for stories and characters.
And despite the isolation and the various setbacks, you go on because you must, because it’s in you to write.
Advice to writers?
One thing I would advise is not to spend too much time away from your writing. Social networks are fun and they can be great for networking too, but they will be there later when you finish your writing for the day.
Interesting story about writing
An interesting story about writing? Hmmm. Well, truthfully I felt a let-down after I completed my novel! I guess it was because I had worked on it for so long and then it was gone and I had to focus on other things.
I read many authors refer to that as ‘post novel depression’ which I think is not only apt but hysterical. It helps to think of it that way. It made me smile and that helped!
I am full steam ahead now for I have plunged myself into the world of writing to be published and there is no turning back.
The seas are calm and the weather good, but I am ready for any storm and so should any writer be!
Thank you Carole Gill for an inspiring, revealing, and wonderful interview. Best of luck to you and I look forward to reading more of your work. To purchase Carole's book at Smashwords click on the book cover or here. You may visit her blog here.
