Tag Archives: Fantasy

Calvin Daniels

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Interview with Canadian Pulp Fiction, Manga, and Sci-Fi Fantasy writer Calvin Daniels.

TB: I’d like to welcome you, Calvin, to Author’s Dialogue. You’ve had a long and interesting writing career; could you tell us when and why you started writing?

CD: I actually got my break winning a sports trivia contest in hometown paper, which led me to offer to do a sports column for them. I wrote a sample three-parter, which they ran as one column. I ended up doing a 1,000 words a week on sports for the next decade.

Shortly after starting the column, they asked me to fill in when they were short-staffed, and just sort of stayed on. I’ve moved to Yorkton since, but that was about 24-years ago.

TB: What have been your best and worst experiences as a writer?

CD: Worst hmmmm, answering questions about myself maybe. Seriously the bad are rare, although in a weekly newspaper the mundane drag after nearly a quarter of a century.

Best—that list is much longer.

Holding my first book, and each of the six since.

Twenty-five Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Association awards of excellence. Wish they came with a bonus.

Interviewing icons such as Tommy Hunter, Todd McFarlane (famous for Spawn comic), Mr. Dressup, several National Hockey League Hall of Famers, the last four Premiers of the province, and dozens of just ordinary people with great stories.

TB: How have those experiences prepared you for being an author?

CD: The newspaper work at least creates some discipline. But, to do fiction it’s more imagination, and love of Sci-Fi, reading, observing life that aids the process.

TB: Please tell us about your latest work.

CD: That’s a tough question in as much as latest work is a bit hard to identify. Unit 13 – The Horrors of Altenschatten is last in print effort. It sort of recalls comics of my youth, although this is a novel co-written with Tyrell Tinnin of Wichita.

The story has elements of Sgt Rock & the Howling Commandoes, and Weird War comics. It follows a secret unit in WWI behind enemy lines. The unit has some ‘unique’ powers among them, and the Germans are doing ghastly experiments which must be stopped.

At the same time The Starling, Crake & Crane Casefiles, Ghost Wind #2 and Black Wolf #3 are all in progress as well.

TB: What were your inspirations for writing it?

CD: A love of pulp fiction, old action comics, and Sci-Fi-fantasy in general.

TB: Are you a “blank-pager,” or do you utilize an outline?

CD: What is an outline? That would be way too much preparation, and too confining once started.

That is especially true for a co-write project. We use a sort of follow-the-leader process. I start the books ad then we do a chapter each in turn (generally). It really keeps it fresh because you never know exactly what twist the other writer might include.

There are characters which are ‘protected’ of course, but other than that we just let it flow.

TB: To what degree are your fictional characters based in reality?

CD: Well if you included an author’s twisted view of reality, then it all is. I will assume you mean a bit more mass view of a reality, so let’s see. Granton City is roughly Chicago in the 1920s. If we reference a baseball player or historic event we do check to make sure it fits the period.

That said, there is magic, weird tech, limited superpowers, so it’s definitely not true to life either.

TB: Briefly share your thoughts on traditional publishing vs. indie.

CD: Having done both, both have merits. It’s great having a publicist set up signings, and great having them distributing—it’s hard for indies to get in many bookstores.

That said pulps are a small niche. In talking to one publisher it would have been a year to publish, if they accepted the book. We have four books out in that  time. Remember pulps came out in vast numbers in the past. They were quick reads. We want to mimic that.

TB: Is there a different genre you would like to try writing?

CD: I am involved in an alternate reality western story for another publisher that is proceeding very slowly, with delays on the other end. That is one I really want to see complete.

Steampunk, a cousin to pulps in my mind, is another one I want to delve into one day.

I also have a really dark and twisted fantasy I would like to see in print, just need a co-writer to push it forward—hint, hint anyone!

TB: Can you tell us a bit about your next project?

CD: Let’s see. Ghost Wind #2 – The Runaway Princess is in the edit phase. The hero is thrust into the role of protector for a princess wishing to escape her pre-ordained role in the balance of power, and is on the run from it. Again very manga-influenced pulp from myself and co-writer Mitchel Rose.

The Starling #1 from Anthony Garcia and myself is nearing the halfway point. It is the first solo adventure for The Starling who debuted in Black Wolf and is a member of Unit 13. Now a covert assassin  The Starling must survive the web of lies and intrigue of 1920s Burma to carry out her mission.

Sean Kasper and I are at work on Crake & Crane Casefiles. Crake is the hardtack Sergeant from Unit 13 now in Granton City after WWI. He teams with the local coroner (Crane) to become a sort of ‘Odd Couple’ detective duo, on the search for a missing rich girl. The most ‘real life’ of the titles.

And Black Wolf #3 with Kevin Lee is just started. It will include a crossover cameo with another writer’s pulp character (a secret for now), introduce a new Granton City Press heroine, (or is she?), and will tie in with the background of reoccurring support character Pogs and Paully.

TB: Describe your ideal conditions or surroundings for writing.

CD: Anywhere, although 5th Avenue Cup & Saucer in Yorkton has become a favored haunt. My coffee table with baroque music playing works too.

TB: Do your dreams influence your writing?

CD: More the other way around. I often go to sleep with visions of Granton City Press characters dancing in my head. Beats sugarplums I suppose.

TB: I am aware that you have co-authored a number of pieces, can you give us a summary of the works?

CD: All the Granton City Press books are co-authored. My first three books, all hockey-themed were solo efforts.

TB: What advice can you share with writers who are just starting out?

CD: Write regularly. Make it important in your life. We make time for kid’s sports, and jobs, and gym. Make time to write.

If you sit down three days a week and write 750 words, that’s more 100,000 words in a year.

Don’t worry if you write out of order. Stuck on chapter five, write a love scene you can insert later. Write a car chase, do a character flashback. Just write.

TB: What are your quirks and do they influence your writing?

CD: Twenty-two finger rings, more tattoos than I can count, neither seem to influence writing, although I suppose it speaks to the fact most creative people are rather quirky.

TB: Please share with us, a little-known fact about you which others might find interesting/entertaining.

CD: Well you now know I have tattoos.

I love board games, in particular abstract strategy ones which rely on thinking and not luck. Dice hate me. So chess, Arimaa, Hive, Terrace etc.

I also craft, for own use, a lot of board games, either the ones people created and never got to the print stage, or games you can’t find.

Oh, and I grew up on a pig farm. If I won the lottery I’d be very tempted to have a small farm again, although the older I get the less likely that is.

TB: Calvin, thank you so much for joining me today.

CD: Thank you!

About the author, Calvin Daniels

Calvin Daniels has been a journalist for more than two decades, the last 20-years with Yorkton This Week where he is Assistant Editor. During his time at YTW he has earned 25 Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Association Awards, as well as numerous honorable mentions. During his career he has also freelanced extensively, to more than 150 publications in eight countries.

Daniels also published three books before embarking on efforts through Granton City Press; a fiction work Skating the Edge from Thistledown Press, and two non-fiction works from Heritage Publishing: Guts & Go: Great Saskatchewan Hockey Stories, and Guts & Go Overtime: More Great Saskatchewan Hockey Stories.

Drago is his fifth co-authored effort in the world of pulp fiction, and he promises more will follow.

Daniels resides in Yorkton, Sask. Canada.

Web site | Facebook | Ghost Wind: The Torn Veil on Amazon

Mitchel Rose

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Interview with Fantasy, Pulp Adventure and Science Fiction novelist, Mitchel Rose.

TB: Today, I welcome British novelist Mitchel Rose. Mitchel, you are the author and co-author of a number of books. When did you begin writing and what was your motivation?

MR: I started writing in my early teens as I read a lot of fantasy and had so many ideas in my head that I had to put down on paper. Later on I started to suffer from low self-esteem and depression issues and writing was a way of helping getting through it.

TB: I think it’s wonderful that you were able to use your creative outlet in a therapeutic way. Is this also a reason why you’ve chosen Fantasy as your major genre?

MR: Yes. I find it much more enjoyable and easier to devise outlandish creatures and magical realms.

TB: What was your best experience as a writer?

MR: My best experience, I think, was when Ghost Wind was published.  It was amazing to have my work in print and my name on the front of a book cover. I owe Calvin Daniels a real debt of thanks for giving me a platform for my dotty ideas.

TB: I’m sure Calvin will appreciate that kind endorsement.  And, am I correct to say that Ghost Wind is a ‘Pulp’ fiction?

MR: Yes, I think that’s the best way to describe it . . . with strong fantasy and magical elements.

TB: So, what was your worst experience as a writer?

MR: I don’t think I’ve had any real bad experiences as a writer although I have become something of a hermit and I rarely get to bed before 2 AM when I’m working on a book—which is basically all the time—so that might be considered a downside.

TB: How have those experiences prepared you for being an author?

MR: It’s given me the chance to hone my craft, gain the confidence to write in different genres and, more importantly, helped me to be able to work to deadlines and targets.

TB: I understand you are from a small mining town, Cannock, UK. Did you ever work in the industry, and do you think your cultural environment influences your writing?

MR: No I’ve never worked in the mining industry, it was kind of on the wane as I was growing up.  I think because a lot of my work focuses on other worlds and strange and different societies the cultural environment I grew up in does not have that much of an influence.

TB: I understand that you and Calvin Daniels collaborated on Ghost Wind through Facebook. Can you briefly describe that creative process? For instance, was one of you the lead?

Initially Calvin wrote the first chapter, setting the scene and establishing the main characters and I took it from there.  We then did an alternate chapter—each developing other characters and plotlines—and when we reached mid-point, we decided on a vague overall arc of what would happen and how it would all end.  If I had a particular idea I wanted to use I would pitch it to Calvin beforehand, but on the whole he let me get on with what I wanted to do, which is a good way to work.

TB: Did you also Skype your ideas?

MR: No, I haven’t used Skype as of yet, but I’m hearing it is quite popular.

TB: Please tell us about your latest work.

MR: I have a couple of projects on the go at the moment.  There are the Tales of Granton City Adventures I write with Calvin and I am also working on a comic book script for a dark horror adventure set in a Medieval fantasy world.  I am also working through the second draft of a Science Fiction adventure called Tiger Boy, which I hope will be ready for publication in 2012.

TB: What’s the name of the Medieval fantasy? And, can you give us a taste of the plot?

MR: The Medieval fantasy is called Defier and is about a demon/monster hunter who is asked to go to a remote kingdom being terrorized by a hideous creature so he can kill it.  The kingdom hides dark secrets and there is more to the threat of the creature than meets the eye.

TB: Are you a “blank-pager,” or do you use an outline?

MR: I’m a “blank-pager” definitely.  I have a few random ideas initially and weave them in as I go along.

TB: To what degree are your fictional characters based in reality?

MR: Not sure.  Most of my characters are inspired by other books, movies and TV shows.  I grew up on a rather unhealthy diet of fantasy adventures, Saturday morning cartoons and comics . . .  so that shaped my later writing.  I sometimes also base characters on people in history, usually the more unsavory types like Communist dictators and the more deranged and depraved Emperors of the Roman Empire.  They are tailor-made for fantasy.

TB: This just begs the question, which is your favorite cartoon character and why?

There are quite a few but I have a soft spot for Zoltar from Battle of the Planets.  He was quite deranged and cowardly, and had an army of human slaves and scores of giant robot monsters to terrorize the world with.  You couldn’t ask for a more perfect villain.

TB: Would you like to try writing in a different genre?

MR: I would love to do a murder mystery and a good fast paced thriller.  I’d also like to do some historical-based fiction, but it will mean a lot of research before I get that off the ground.

TB: What are your ideal surroundings or conditions for writing?

MR: At a writing desk with my laptop with the radio on in the background ideally playing eighties rock and an almost endless supply of tea to keep me going.

TB: Now, is that a streaming online radio and herbal tea, or a cranked Bose speaker system with a bottomless pot of caffeinated black tea at your elbow?

MR: I like large amounts of milk in my tea and I’d probably go with the online radio option.

TB: Do your dreams influence your writing?

MR: One particularly vivid dream I had gave me an idea for a dark psychological thriller, but I’ve yet to devise a coherent plot for it.

TB: You’ve already mentioned that you co-authored Ghost Wind with Calvin Daniels, have you co-authored any other work?

MR: Yes indeed, with Calvin Daniels for the Tales of Granton City range.  We have worked together on six books to date.

TB: Prolific! Six books. What are the names, please?

MR: Ghost Wind 1: The Torn Veil, Ghost Wind 2: The Runaway Bride, Drago Demon Slayer 1: Cult of the Crucifixion, Saileach Druid Warrior 1: The Shifting Shape of Evil, Scorch & Ice Superheroes 1: Curse of the Blight Stone, and The Adventures of Churchill Alien Bounty Hunter. I’ve also written a flash back story for the last one, while other writers focused on different eras in the alien’s life.

And, I am also working with an artist on my comic book.

TB: A comic book venture; how fascinating! Who is the artist?

He’s a gentleman called Edgardo Granel Ruiz.  He actually lives in Puerto Rico; like Calvin and I, we met through Facebook when I posted a message on my wall asking for an artist for a comic book project I was working on.  He has his own Facebook page showcasing his work.

TB: Can you describe to our audience your creative process? Do you feed Edgardo the story in sections? Do the two of you brainstorm on characters and plots and work simultaneously?

Essentially I send him sections of a script with dialogue and brief descriptions of any action, and he illustrates what I’ve written.  Like Calvin did with me I try to give him as much freedom as possible in interpreting the look and style of characters and surroundings, as that makes the project much more interesting and rewarding.  We discuss a couple of character points and plot development as well.

TB: Do his drawings inspire you?

MR: Certainly his drawings inspire me—the work Edgardo has produced so far has been amazing, and I am very excited in presenting the finished article to the world.

TB: If you could travel anywhere—with no concern for cost or disruption—where would it be?

MR: Switzerland has some wonderful scenery, so I think maybe there.

TB: Who has influenced you most as a writer?

MR: My main influences, among many others, are H P Lovecraft and China Mieville.

TB: If you could shake the hand of any writer, past or present, who would it be and why?

MR: R A Salvatore. His prolific career and excellent and exciting novels inspire me to emulate his achievements.

TB: Do you consider yourself to be an artist?

MR: Not really.  I think I am more of a jobbing writer.

TB: What advice can you share with writers who are just starting out?

MR: I think the best advice I can offer is to read as much as possible in the chosen genre you want to write in and beyond.  By reading as much as you can you learn how other writers craft scenes, present information and you can decide what works and what doesn’t.  Also write for pleasure rather than profit, it’s much more fun.

TB: That’s very thoughtful advice. Thank you so much Mitchel; I appreciate you opening up your private world to us and I look forward to the publication of your graphic novel.

MR: Not at all thank you for taking an interest in my work.

Mitchel is a prolific Fantasy, Pulp Adventure and Science Fiction novelist. Seasoned in the process of long-distance writing partnerships, his endeavors also cross into teaming up with Edgardo Granel Ruiz in the collaboration of a graphic novel. He lives in a small British mining town, Cannock, UK.

His books can be purchased through the Granton City Web site.

 

Kevin Lee

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Interview with Kevin Lee, author of the TRIO Trilogy

TB: We are thrilled to have Canadian writer, Kevin Lee, with us—author of the Fantasy series, TRIO—to launch “Author’s Dialogue,” our new author interview series.
Welcome, Kevin. Being that we are, originally, fellow-countrymen, it’s a pleasure to have you as our first guest. I’m curious, when and why did you decide to start writing?Kevin Lee

KL: I had the writing bug in high school, but never really put anything else to paper besides homework until I was out on my own and working.  I used to be in radio and had some free time during those long music sweeps.

It was on those long overnight shifts that I began to work on my writing when there wasn’t really a whole lot to do– I began to jot ideas down on paper and write up a few stories. It just grew from there until I reached a point where I wanted to take a shot at writing a novel and see if I could pull it off.   I found that I really enjoyed putting my imagination down on paper and kept working at it while I was at home during my off days. One idea always turned into another and after a few years I thought I’d give writing a novel a go!  The process turned out to be long and tiring at times, but at the same time quite enjoyable! I found myself writing certain passages, taking a day off and then coming back to it and adding further to the developing story. Before I knew it, my first draft of the novel was done.  J.R.R. Tolkien and Terry Brooks were both a couple of my favourite authors. It was from them where I found my inspiration to create my own work and attempt to keep anyone who would read my material hooked as they had hooked me.

It is really quite satisfying when you finish a project and then sit back and look at it.  Every time I do I always say to myself, I wrote this? Sometimes that’s good, sometimes bad (Kevin laughs) depending if it has been a productive writing session or not.

TB: What have been your best and worst experiences as a writer?

KL: Well the best would have to be every time I receive an email from out of the blue from someplace distant when someone has read my book and enjoyed it. You wonder how in the world they came across your book but those compliments make your day. As for the worst, I can’t really say that I’ve had one as yet, the closest would have to be the simple task of motivating yourself to sit down and just write. Some days it can be quite the challenge.

TB: How have those experiences prepared you for being an author?

KL: The reviews, whether good or bad, help me improve as a writer. If there are things I need to fix, or adjust, then getting that feedback is important.  You find out what things you are doing right as well. So then you’re able to keep those factors in the writing process and maybe even improve on those. It’s like anything else you do; you need to be able to take the good with the bad and run with it, using the readers as your teacher in a way. You can take that feedback and use it to give you the drive to sit down and write on those days where it’s hard to find the desire.

TB: Please tell us about your latest work.

KL: My latest work is the third book in my TRIO series of Fantasy novels, TRIO: Book Three ‘Ascension’.  It’s the final chapter in the initial trilogy for the characters I introduced in Book One and there are a lot of changes coming for everyone in the story.  An old nemesis from book one returns stronger than ever and bent on vengeance and destruction. The characters face an overwhelming evil and are sent on separate quests once again to find assistance in the forthcoming war. I introduce a few new mythical creatures in book three, a few other elf races and I bring some old English legends into play in book three, some of which I hinted at in the previous two books.  For me personally, the old English myths of King Arthur, Merlin and Excalibur have always intrigued me so I dropped some of that into the books to bring a little recognition to anyone who reads the books and hopefully pique their curiosity to keep turning the pages.

TB: Who helped you the most with getting your TRIO series to where it is today?

KL: I think those who have helped the most are the few who read the original story and encouraged me to do something with it. When I had given the initial story (approx. 100 pages) to a friend—who was writing some dinner theatre himself—he read it, and then his daughters, who were 12 at the time, got a hold of it and they loved it. All of them offered a few tips on how to make it better, and it just kind of went from there. Although, once it was finished, it basically sat on my desk gathering dust for about 10 yrs before I even looked at it again. So those three . . . plus I have to give a nod to my late father who passed away in spring of 2006. He told me to make sure I LIVED my life and enjoy it, because it really is far too short. So, it was in the fall of 2006 that I dusted it off and decided to try and do something with it. I gave it some touch ups, added a few things to it, and then the rest fell into place. So, I have to give credit to them the most for TRIO becoming more than a dust covered story I wrote to let my imagination loose.

TB: What were your inspirations for writing it?

KL: Inspiration comes from my imagination and the desire to get those ideas down on paper. I had TRIO three sitting in my head for so long that it was great to see it come to life as I worked on the project. By the time I got to work on Book Three I had gone through a few things in my own personal life that I was able to draw on for some of the storylines that played out in book three. There was one part near the end that was extremely hard to write and I believe because of what happened to me personally it made that part of the story so much more realistic for the reader.

TB: Do you think living on the prairies—with the stark contrast of seasonal temperatures—has influenced your writing?

KL: Perhaps a little, depending on the story and where the characters are. We get those fantastic light and sound shows during a prairie summer thunderstorm and I draw on those experiences and their variations in certain aspects of my storytelling. The dark ominous feelings of those thunderstorms are fantastic ways to give the reader a feeling of darkness approaching or the cold dampness of the rain which is a great way to make characters uncomfortable and miserable. Being a hiker it’s easy to relate that damp miserable feeling in my writings. The nice thing about being a prairie boy you do get quite the variation from winter, spring to summer and fall.  All of which can be great to use in one’s writing.

TB: To what degree are your fictional characters based in reality?

KL: There is a piece of me in each of my characters. Even a few readers have made that comment to me after reading the books. I think a character needs to have believable qualities that can make the reader connect to those characters. If your reader connects to even one little thing, say, this one character likes to drink a cool one after breaking their back at work all day then your reader will likely say, hey, I do that. So while the characters are created, you can create them to have qualities we can all relate to.

TB: Do your dreams influence your writing?

KL: Interesting question, well, it depends. Sometimes it can come into play if the story I’m working on has certain elements in it. I’ve always wanted to travel over to England, Scotland, and Ireland to see all of the history over there but have never had the chance to. Those dreams definitely come into play in TRIO Book Three with one character that gets to do just that.  I’m hoping to travel over there within the next year and live that dream myself.

TB: I was aiming the question more towards the unconscious state of dreaming. Are any of your characters based on dream-characters? And, while you are writing, do you write any of your characters or plots in your dreams?

KL: I can’t say any one character is based on any dream I may have had but I do write my characters and plots in my thoughts all the time, sometimes even in my dreams. For example I could be driving down the highway, which is a great way to let the imagination wander by the way, and an idea pops into my head about this or this and then I begin the process of how can I make that work or how would that character react to that? When I do wake up remembering a dream about a storyline I’m working on, I’d jot down what I came up with and sometimes after reading it I go what the?! (Kevin laughs)

TB: In the TRIO series, you mention an overwhelming evil . . . are you a spiritual or religious man? And, if so, is there a certain catharsis you experience as you work out these battles?

KL: There are some things I won’t get into a debate about, politics being one, and religion another because everyone has their own preference or beliefs. I will say though that I am a spiritual man and I believe there is good and evil.  Is there a certain catharsis as I work out these battles? Interesting question, I’ve never thought of it in that way but I’d have to say there is some of that once the scenes are finished. Good and Evil are the one constant in our own world, and in the realm of fantasy you can embellish both and give your characters some real tough choices to make. I would like to think I give the reader some food for thought as to whether they would make those same decisions if facing that circumstance.

TB: Can you tell us a bit about your next project?

KL: I have two projects on the go right now. One is a sci-fi time travel story I wrote years ago and I’m redoing, updating, and improving on it. The other is a third co-writing Pulp project with a fellow writer. I don’t know if I’ll continue with the Pulp stories after this one. After those are done, it’ll be back to work on the next set of TRIO fantasy novels.

TB: Is there a different genre you would like to try writing?

KL: Outside my fantasy novels I have co-written a couple Pulp projects.  I wanted to give it a try, and while it’s okay, it really isn’t something I want to continue in. I enjoy sci-fi and I’m currently reworking a time travel sci-fi story I wrote a number of years ago.  I wouldn’t mind taking a shot at doing a western novel.  I have an idea I might work on one day. Fantasy, though, is by far my favorite, and I’ve just finished off the storylines for the next TRIO series of books. I have an active imagination and I’m always open to trying new genres if it interests me.

TB: Have you ever co-authored a piece?

KL: I’ve co-authored two Pulp stories with fellow writer Calvin Daniels, Black Wolf: Metal Monsters of Doom, and Black Wolf 2: The Demon Door. We’re about to start the third Black Wolf story. It’s Calvin’s story, I just do my part to help it along.

TB: Describe your ideal surroundings/conditions for writing.

KL: To me an ideal condition for writing is a quiet evening, after the day is done, and everything else is out of the way. I can sit down at my desk and throw on some instrumental music of some sort depending on what I’m working on at the time. Then I just let the creativity take shape.

TB: Are you a “blank-pager,” or do you utilize an outline?

KL: I like to utilize an outline for the most part. It may change somewhat over the course of the story evolving but it gives me a guideline to follow and provides consistency in the storyline. I have co-written a couple other projects where we play it by ear and see where the story goes but not knowing where it’s supposed to be going is at times frustrating, even more so when the story isn’t mine and I’m just contributing.  It has been interesting to do, but I personally prefer an outline.

TB: What are your quirks and do they influence your writing?

KL: My quirks? Ha, well, I’ve put a few of my habits into some of my character’s traits in my stories (A fondness for a particular drink / catch phrases I say / My like for the great outdoors). I listen to various styles of instrumental music while writing, whether it’s a particular movie soundtrack, classical music or any assorted instrumental pieces. You could say those would be a few of my quirks.

TB: Please share with us, a little-known fact about you which others might find interesting/entertaining.

KL: I have to admit I thoroughly enjoy a good animated movie/cartoon. The creativity that can go into a film/TV show of that nature can be quite entertaining. One of my favorites this past year was How to Train Your Dragon. Great movie! My favorite author is Terry Brooks and would be a dream come true to actually meet the man one day.

TB: Briefly share your thoughts on traditional publishing vs. indie.

KL: Traditional publishing to me would be a great way to get more exposure and have the power of a big company behind you.  There are no guarantees anything you write will ever see the light of day. So I think a lot of great writers are not getting a chance.  However, with the emerging technology of e-books and other ways to get your book out there, Indie is a good way to see your work in the hands of someone. You yourself will have to do more groundwork and a lot of the grunt work to promote it. I used to work in radio and I always talked to a lot of bands who were dying to get signed by a major label but that isn’t always the better way to go. One band I came across left a major label because they had no creative control over their material so they went independent so they could do what THEY WANTED instead of being told what they had to create. There are advantages to both; it all depends on the individual.

TB: What advice can you share with first-time writers?

KL: If you have stories to tell, then tell them! Be ready though for criticism, for everything good you do there is bound to be certain aspects that will need to be tinkered with so don’t take it personally. Take every piece of advice offered; chances are it will help you at some point. Above all, never quit! If it is something you enjoy then keep doing it!

TB: If anyone is interested in knowing more, do you have a web site?

KL: If anyone would ever like to drop me a line or know more about the TRIO series or any of my other projects they can drop by my website anytime www.kevinleeauthor.ca I always make the effort to return each and every email that comes my way.

TB: Thank you, Kevin; it’s been a pleasure.

KL: Thanks, Terre. I greatly appreciate it!

About the Author, Kevin Lee

Originally from Sturgis, SK, Kevin currently resides in Theodore, SK, CAN.  His career began in radio but was hooked on writing during a long overnight shift. Inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien and Terry Brooks, and drawing on personal experiences combined with his imagination, although he has dabbled in co-authoring Pulp novels, he is, first and foremost, a Fantasy writer.

All paperback copies are signed by the authors.

The TRIO Trilogy will be available as eBooks in the near future.

You can contact him and purchase his books through his web site www.kevinleeauthor.ca

Other author links: Facebook Fan Page, Twitter & Zazzle

Meet Kevin on YouTube

Cover artist for TRIO: Book Three ‘Ascension’: Joewie Aderes.

The book covers are also viewable at the Sirius Press, Inc. Facebook Fan Page. Check it out and leave a comment!

 

I had the writing bug in high school, but never really put anything else to paper besides homework until I was out on my own and working. I used to be in radio and had some free time during those long music sweeps.

It was on those long overnight shifts that I began to work on my writing when there wasn’t really a whole lot to do– I began to jot ideas down on paper and write up a few stories. It just grew from there until I reached a point where I wanted to take a shot at writing a novel and see if I could pull it off. I found that I really enjoyed putting my imagination down on paper and kept working at it while I was at home during my off days. One idea always turned into another and after a few years I thought I’d give writing a novel a go! The process turned out to be long and tiring at times, but at the same time quite enjoyable! I found myself writing certain passages, taking a day off and then coming back to it and adding further to the developing story. Before I knew it, my first draft of the novel was done. J.R.R. Tolkien and Terry Brooks were both a couple of my favourite authors. It was from them where I found my inspiration to create my own work and attempt to keep anyone who would read my material hooked as they had hooked me.

It is really quite satisfying when you finish a project and then sit back and look at it. Every time I do I always say to myself I wrote this? Sometimes that’s good, sometimes bad (Kevin laughs) depending if it has been a productive writing session or not.

Fantasy Writer, Kevin Lee, To Kick off “Author’s Dialogue”

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We are gearing up for tomorrow’s launch of Author’s Dialogue: Sunday morning, April 17, at 6:00 a.m., EST.

Our first guest will be Kevin Lee, author of the Fantasy trilogy TRIO: Book Three ‘Ascension.’

Learn how Kevin turned one long night as a radio DJ into a writing career and how living on the Canadian prairies, dreaming of England, and exploring the spiritual concept of ‘Good vs. Evil,’ have all influenced his perspective as a Fantasy writer.

Learn more tomorrow, here, on Author’s Dialogue.

Hope to see you here!