I'm pleased to welcome Horror writer, Derek Ailes!

1. Hello, and welcome to my blog! To start off, what inspired you to take the plunge into the world of publishing?

 I've been writing since I was a kid back in the 80s.  After years of helping my brother get his books published, we decided to do a collection of horror short stories together called Journey Into the Unknown.  I came up with so many story outlines during that project, that I had enough ideas to write and publish my first solo project Zombie Command: A Horror Anthology.

2. Tell me about your book.

 Second Journey Into the Unknown is the latest collection of horror short stories by Mark Cusco Ailes and I.  Like the first volume, Mark wrote several short stories and I wrote several short stories.  Mark and I collaborated on the new updated version of my Night of the Living Redheads and renamed it Day of The Redheads.  I have one story about a real zombie outbreak happening at a convention for a zombie television show.  I also did a story called Claws which is a parody of Jaws and Godzilla using a mutated cat.  Being a big fan of Sharknado and after seeing the Catfurnado poster on April Fool's Day 2014, I wrote Furnado.  Furnado is an exciting thrill ride.  Mark wrote a thriller about a killer doll which he split into three separate short stories.

3. What inspired you to write this book?

I grew up being a big The Twilight Zone, Tales From the Crypt, vintage and 80s horror fan.  I wrote a couple of the short stories in the style of The Twilight Zone.  There is a lot of elements in my stories that are a tribute to the old horror films.  I throw in my political humor when I can.  I also come up with my stories from watching the news.  When I see something I think that would make a great story, I go to my laptop and write away. The story Zombie Con is actually what transpired at the Walker Stalker Con in Chicago this year.  The convention was so unorganized and just what I witness there was a real horror story in itself.  I wrote about it and threw zombies into the mix.

 4. Are there any books/authors that have had a profound impact on your life?

Like most authors, I was heavily influenced by Stephen King.  My commitment to writing can be attributed to an interview from Dean Koontz back in the 90s.  Back in the 90s, I  met the late R. Karl Largent (Black Death, The Red Series) at a writing seminar.  He was one of my first mentors in the writing field.

5. What was your favorite part to write (without spoilers, of course)?

Claws and Furnado were a blast to write.  When you can have a good time writing something in the horror field and crack yourself up while doing it, you have something that's worth reading.



6. What do you most hope to achieve with this novel?


A cult following.  I'm looking for an overnight success story.  I looking to gain fans that will sit back and enjoy the thrill ride I put them on.

7. What do you do when you're not writing?
 If I'm not on social media promoting my work, I'm watching movies or television.


Off-Beat Questions


1. I see you write horror. Have some fears/phobias of your own?

Writer's Block, just kidding.  Every writer is afraid of that.  I fear things I can't figure out. 

2. I have to ask. Do you watch horror movies? If so, what do you think was the best period for horror films (for example, my favorite was the 80s, with Jason and Freddy Kreuger)?  

I can go further back than that.  The old time horror films with Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi, and Vincent Price will always be my favorites.  I love the 80s horror films, but during that time frame they became all about the gory killing. Everything had to be set up for a sequel.  The studios just couldn't let the franchises end.  With the newer horror films, I'm seeing originality return to the horror industry.


Links:

Website:  http://derekailes.weebly.com/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NDVWK88/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

  I am a science fiction & horror writer from Valparaiso, Indiana. I also love to write horror stories about zombies and evil cats. I am also a political satirist. In 1985 I wrote my first short story: "The Day It Rained Candy." I also started writing a science fiction series called "Power Force." In 1994 I published my first short story: "The Night Of the Living Redheads." My latest novel, Second Journey Into The Unknown, was written with my brother Mark Cusco Ailes.  I also write short stories for shortfictionbreak.com

Unlocked is free! To celebrate, here's a sneak peek of Lokte!

Unlocked is finally free on Amazon! Since becoming free, my ranking has shot from the 100,000s to the 8,000s! This is very exciting news! Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N200KBY/

To celebrate, I thought I would offer a short excerpt of Lokte before it comes out this Friday. Here's the prologue:


Prologue

           

            Thomas Jackson hung the phone silently on the receiver, his heart pounding like a drum in his chest. He was shaking. The news he received filled his body with dread, the shock spreading along his insides in a slow, creeping trickle. He wanted to move, but his feet seemed stuck to the hardwood.

            His phone began to ring again, sending a loud noise throughout the house. He feared answering it . . . but it could be him.

            He pressed the green, flashing button.

            “. . . Hello?”

            “Thomas,” a voice said. It was Sophia from church. She was old, and her words came out in sputters. “Have you checked on him?”

            “. . . What?” His mind was too fuzzy to process her question.

            “I know this news is awful, but you need to check on your friend. Now.”

            His feet began to tingle. “You’re right . . . I’m sorry. I-I’m heading there now.”

Tom hung up the phone and forced himself forward, his shoes clunking loudly as he exited the house. Darkness shrouded the city street. His weak legs formed long, earnest strides across the concrete as buildings zoomed past in a blurry whirl, the night air blowing drops of water on his flushed face. Streetlamps illuminated the sidewalk, flashing him with sudden jolts of yellow light beneath the clouded sky.

Why had he hesitated before? He had to get there soon; his friend needed him. He pressed even harder against his sore limbs, the world seeming to dissolve around him.

            It felt like ages before he finally turned on that familiar street. The tiny white house loomed ahead, its red door slightly ajar. He leapt on the concrete steps and past the front yard where the grass was beginning to turn a murky brown. He barreled inside.

            The house was dark, with a few pieces of furniture flipped over, and broken glass scattering the tan carpet.

            “Hello?! It’s me, Tom. Are you there? HELLO?!”

            Silence. A sudden crack of thunder boomed, and lightning flashed outside the dim windows. Steady drops of rain pelted the roof.

            His chest still heaving, he bent down and grabbed a broken frame lying on the floor. He stared at the picture with a heavy heart.

            “Lord,” he whispered, another strike of thunder sounding out behind him. “Only you can help him now. Please help him.”

            Outside, beyond his scope of hearing, a woman began to laugh, her high-pitched cackle resounding into the night sky.



Don't forget to join my Facebook Launch Party and become eligible for some free prizes! https://www.facebook.com/events/567820270010578/572882656171006/?ref=notif&notif_t=like

"Unlocked" is available! Also, here's an invitation!

I published "Unlocked" a few days ago on Amazon and Smashwords. It was a very nerve wracking process, being my first published work and all. But I consider it a great success :) I'm so happy to finally have all my hard work up and available to see!
The main point of this prequel is to get people ready and excited for "Lokte," coming out September 12 (twelve days, wow!). I think it serves as a great accent to the story, delving deeper into the history and the characters.

Here are the links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N200KBY/

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/470632


Both of these should allow you a free preview, so you can see if the story interests you before you buy it.

In other news, I'm holding a public Launch Party for "Lokte" on September 12. It should be a lot of fun. It's free to join, you'll be eligible for lots of prizes given away throughout the night, and all you have to do is stop by the invite page occasionally and make a few comments :) . Send an invite to your friends. The more people, the better!

Here's the launch party link: https://www.facebook.com/events/567820270010578/570488546410417/?notif_t=like


It's so nice to see things finally coming together. I can't wait to share "Lokte" with the world. I hope the story will touch all of you the way it has touched me.

A Prequel to Lokte!

Hey guys! I made a spur of the moment decision a week ago. After so anxiously awaiting the release of my debut novel, Lokte, I decided I wanted to write a prequel.

Knowing this, I set aside my other project and went to working on it straight away. I finished the first draft yesterday. It's a short prequel; only twenty-five pages prior to editing. But I have to admit, it was a lot of fun to write. I think it will be a great addition to help deepen the story of Lokte. It focuses on one of the book's secondary characters, Sophia, delving into her history of dealing with demons. It will be fun to see what this does for the story. Plus, it's gonna be free on Amazon. Can't go wrong with free fiction!

Now to decide whether or not Lokte needs a sequel. I have a sequel in mind, but deciding whether I want to write it or not is a tough one. I enjoyed writing Lokte, and I'm sure I would equally enjoy writing a sequel to it; but then, I feel as if the book should almost be a stand-alone. Hmm. Decisions, decisions. I suppose I will let my readers help me with that one.

At any rate, the prequel should be published sometime next week, once I get it edited and finalize the title. My first published work. I'm getting chills already.

I will soon share the Prologue to Lokte here on my blog, with links on my social media sites. Until then, forgive me for this post being so short. I just thought I would add a quick update to how things are going here in my crazy writing world.

Until next time!

I'm pleased to welcome Paul Seiple, author of Chasing Fireflies, Book 1 of the Morning Star series!

1. Hello, and welcome to my blog! To start off, what made you decide to take the plunge into the world of publishing?

First of all, thanks for having me. I've always "written." I started writing songs when I was kid and thinking I'd replace Vince Neil in Motley Crue. The songs weren't that good, neither was my voice. I decided to publish after I wrote The Shape of Things to Come, which was the first story that I truly wanted to share. 

2. Tell me about your book.

Chasing Fireflies is the first book in my new Morning Star series. It follows the life of a homicide cop with boxful of secrets from his past that refuse to stay hidden. 

3. I see you write thrillers and horror. Are there any horror/thriller authors that have inspired your writing?

Honestly, music inspires my writing more than anything. I learned to write from listening to Jerry Reed and Jim Croce. Every song told a story. If I had to choose an author, I'd say Joe Konrath's Jack Daniels series made me fall in love with writing serials. 

4. What part did you have the most fun writing (without spoilers, of course)?

With this being the first book of a series, I loved adding little snippets of the future that will only become obvious as the series progresses.

5. If you could achieve one thing with your writing, what would it be?

It's already happened. I had someone on twitter private message me and tell me that he loved my book. Selling books is great, but knowing that someone took the time to reach out and tell you he loved your book is what makes it worthwhile to me. 

6. What do you do when you're not writing?

When I'm not writing, I'm thinking about writing. My mind never turns off. There is always a story idea floating around in there. I also try to stay as active as possible. It's really easy to ignore physical activity when you're a writer. Health-wise, it's incredibly important not to take your body for granted. I spend a lot of free time hiking, biking, and playing basketball.

7. Can we expect more novels in the future?

Absolutely. The second book in the Morning Star series will hopefully be out in October. The lead character in the series is also teaming up with Joe Konrath's iconic Jack Daniels for a couple of adventures. 

Off-Beat Questions

1. You write horror. What is something you're afraid of? Any weird phobias (one of mine, for example, is small spaces)? 

I like heights about as much as I like Justin Bieber. In fact, my idea of Hell is being trapped on a roller coaster blasting Bieber songs. This is not really a fear, more of an odd fact. The Ouija board that is a key point in my book The Dark Stuff actually exists. It's in my basement now. There is a scene in the book where the board is used to contact a dead neighbor. That happened pretty much as it does in the book. I have no explanation for what happened. 

 2. You're a thriller writer. What would you say is one of the most thrilling things that has happened to you?

At the risk of sounding boring one of the most thrilling things has to be writing "The End" in my first novel. Since I write about the stuff, I wish I had a story about the time I hunted down a serial killer and caught him just before he took his next victim, but I don't. I'm such a poser. But seriously, even though I've written most of my life, I really didn't feel like a writer until I wrote the last sentence in the first novel. For me, that's pretty thrilling.

I'm pleased to welcome Richard Murrary, author of Killing the Dead!

 

 

 

1. Hello, and welcome to my blog! To start off, what made you decide to take the plunge into the world of publishing?

 

 I have wanted to write for a long time now and I have been an avid reader since I was a child. I've spent years creating the stories I would love to read, though limited to just my imagination. With my youngest daughter reaching an age where I am no longer needed unless it's a meal time, I find myself able to dedicate some time to getting those stories out.

2. Tell me about your book.

 

 This book (the first in the series) is set in England and starts out just as the zombie apocalypse kicks into full swing. The protagonist is a charming man who just so happens to be a somewhat psychotic and sociopathic serial killer who has just been given access to a world descending into absolute chaos. When a young woman pursued by the walking dead knocks at his door, he finds he has a choice to make between staying alone or saving a life.

3. What, if anything, inspired you to write this?

  

Well as I mentioned I love to read. I have read countless numbers of books over the years and the one thing that they all seemed to have, was a hero. You know the type, reluctant or eager the hero will still go out and save the day. Quite frankly I had reached the point where I was rooting for the bad guy just for something different. Eventually I realised that if I wanted to explore the world from the more morally ambiguous character, then I would need to write it myself.

 

4. Did you have a favorite scene to write (without giving spoilers, of course)?

 

Gosh, without spoilers it is hard to say. Some scenes were much more fun to write than others. With a main character who is most definitely not the norm, you get to have so much fun with so many scenes. Just trying to show how he sees the world, which is so different from most other people is exciting when you aren't constrained by the morality and rules of civilisation.

 

5. The zombie apocalypse seems like a hot topic these days. What do you think sets your book apart from other zombie books?

 

 The main character first and foremost. He is so different from your usual lead in zombie fiction which tend to mainly have the everyday guy who is terrified and trying to stay alive or the ex-military/policeman or even the gamer guy who was a loner but manages to be a zombie killing machine in the apocalypse. Instead we have a man who genuinely loves to kill. Fighting the zombies isn't a chore to him and he won't even generally notice the moral dilemmas that most people would face, which is where the other characters come in.

6. What do you do when you're not writing?

 

 Between work and being a single parent to an almost teen girl, the only other thing I do these days is write. I realised early on that to be able to do justice to my story I would need to dedicate all of my free time, which generally meant cutting out a lot of the things I used to spend my time and energy on.

7. Can we expect more books from you?

 

 You certainly can. Book 2 in the series is out now and I am expecting book 3 to be released sometime in September this year and I have to say I am really excited about book 3. At this point my favourite killer is definitely finding his way in the world and having a lot of fun with it. I really do love writing and sharing these stories and I am planning on doing a lot more in this genre and others.

off-beat questions

1. What's your favorite zombie fiction (can be books, movies, tv shows)?

 

 I would have to say it is a toss up between "The Walking Dead" graphic novels which I think we all know about now and the "Black Tide Rising" series by John Ringo which has some wonderful characters and an entertaining storyline.

2. I got to ask. Do you have a zombie survival plan? If so, what is it?

 I certainly do have a zombie survival plan and since I have written a zombie apocalypse book it is fair to say that I document it quite well through that book. I will tell you that one of the first things I would do before almost anything else, would be to gather up books. In an apocalypse knowledge would be key, it's no use surviving is you don't know how to grow your own food or purify water.

So Many Genres, So Little Time

I know I'm not the only author who feels inspired to write in multiple genres.

I suppose it's because I like to read so many genres that I'm this way. My favorites are fantasy, supernatural and horror, but I have also enjoyed sci-fi, romance, dystopian, inspirational, and even non-fiction. I've been trying to start out with the dual genre, different pen name thing, like J.K. Rowling/Robert Galbraith. But even that's hard! I have a fantasy romance that has been eating at me. Seriously, it won't shut up in my head.

I'm curious as to how many other authors have this problem, and how they handle it. Authors are often encouraged to stick to one genre, two at the most. You don't see Stephen King complaining that he wants to write children's adventure stories. But I wonder, does he ever get that non-horror story pop in his head? What does he do when it nags at him relentlessly? Just ignore it, I suppose. But as an artist, that just seems depressing to me. When a story wants to be told, it lets you know. Like, in flashing, neon colors.

I don't think there's any real answer to this question; only perspective. Sticking with one or two genres makes it easier to maintain a readership and bring in more money. But to ignore the other stories is to stifle one's creativity. Poverty, or restricting one's artistry. Depressing any way you slice it.

Granted, I'm being a little over dramatic here. I know of at least one person who makes a decent living off of writing multiple genres. Then again, they publish a book every month (seriously, they're a beast). I hope to publish every two to three months, but a book a month while working full time at a day job? I think my head would explode.

So, ignore the story and stick to two genres? Or release my creativity and explore multiple genres? An endless dilemma. I don't know. What do you guys think?

Interview with C.E. Martin, author of the Stone Soldiers series!

 



1. Hello, and welcome to my blog! To start off, what inspired you to take the plunge into the world of publishing?

Finding out I didn't have to sacrifice any more of my creations to the slushpiles of the gatekeepers. I could self-publish and let readers have a choice to read or not read.

 

2. Tell me about your book.

Well, it's more of a series... I'm up to nine books in it now, two years in, and ramping up production. Baically, "Stone Soldiers" is set in a world like ours, but with (more?) magic and psychics and whatnot. Supersoldiers in a small military unit respond to supernatural threats and take on monsters to keep America, and the free world, safe.

The first book in the series is "Mythical" about a prehistoric shapeshifter who tears out and eats the hearts of victims to steal their identity, memories and power.

The latest book in the series is #9, "Pale Horseman" is about a serial-killing centaur loose in Los Angeles, beheading victims and reaping their souls.

 

 

3. What inspired you to write this book?

I was binge-watching Supernatural on Netflix and was reminded how most scifi depicts the military as badguys, incompetant or last minute deus ex machinas that ride in to save the day when writers can think of nothing else. Being a vet, I wanted a book series that portrayed the military as the monster-smashing heroes they would be.

 

 

4. Are there any books/authors that have had a profound impact on your life?

Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir's The Destroyer series made me want to write. Piers Anthony, Roger Zelazny and Keith Laumer made me love science fiction and fantasy. Jack London captured my attention--"Call of the Wild" was the first novel I read as a child, and I was hooked on reading. Edgar Rice Burroughs, Lester Dent and Robert E. Howard made me a bookaholic in my teens with all their awesome pulp tales.

 

 

5. What was your favorite part to write (without spoilers, of course)?

I like the over-the-top, super-buttkicking fights in my novels. Where good guys put a serious smackdown on monsters that in most fiction are unstoppable until they're outwitted. I love beating evil to death on the written page.

 6. What do you most hope to achieve with this novel?

I hope to help bring back the alpha male, he-man swashbucklers and bare knuckle bruisers of yesteryear. Huge, Viking-like heroes of old who are literally larger-than-life. And I hope to offer military heroes who serve as fictional role models rather than the hated baby-killers so many works of fiction like to create lately.

 

 

7. What do you do when you're not writing?

I recently retired from a 17 year career as a criminal investigator. It was simply too stressful and depressing. I now work part-time for a law firm as a paralegal and devote more free time to writing and my family.

  

 

 

Off-Beat Questions

1. I see you write thrillers. What is the most thrilling thing that you have ever done?

Good-thrilling, or oh-crap-thrilling? Good thrilling would have to be attending the birth of my daughters. Exciting and a little scary. Bad thrilling? I'd have to say it was the time when I was stationed at McClellan AFB in California, back in 1993 and did a high-speed vehicle chase down a taxiway at night. Totally against regulation. Terrified I was going to hit an airplane, but more terrified the drunk driver who'd crashed through a fence and was driving on our runway was going to hit an airplane. My maniac driving got me to the scene first, and with help fom the local Sheriff's helicopter, I bagged the badguy and no one ever found out I'd broken regs racing along a taxiway. Best of all, the only damage done was to a section of fence, bad guy's truck, and a pair of my boots--but that's a whole nuther story.

 

2. As a writer, it can be easy to get lost in other worlds. If you could visit any fictional world, what would it be?

 

1930s Earth, as depicted in the Doc Savage pulp novels. I would share advanced (future) technology with Doc and ask for gold to take back with me to my own era/world to improve my family's life. I'd be getting to meet some of my favorite characters, improve their lives and score a nice payday doing it.

Mythical, free on kindle, http://amzn.com/B008913B3U

Pale Horseman, http://amzn.com/B00LLEN6QY

New Book, New Genre, Over 1000 Page Views!

Today I am celebrating two successes that I'm very excited about!

First off, I have reached over 1000 page views on this blog, after about a month of having it up! It started off a slow and agonizing process where I was lucky to get 1 page view a day. Then one day it sky rocketed to averaging 30-50 page views a day. I know a lot of blogs get way more than this, but I thought this was definitely an accomplishment worth noting! A big thanks to everyone who has viewed or commented on my blog! I am eternally grateful to all of you for your views and support :)

Secondly, I have announced the release of my new YA series, Fairy Tale Horror. Yup, you heard that right. I'm taking a bunch of classic fairy tales, removing all the lovey-dovey aspects that one associates with a fairy tale, and making them scary. Farewell happily ever after, hello big scary monsters.

My first in this novella series is Kill Me, Red, based on Red Riding Hood. It is also under another name (so as not to totally freak out readers of my other genre). The name is: Kelsey Warren-Bryant. Here's the cover and the description:

Red Riding Hood: A Tale of Horror

When Red's best friend gets dragged into the forest by a giant wolf, she sets out to prove that she didn't imagine it. She doesn't know the source of the mysterious growling outside her window every night. She doesn't know why all evidence of the wolf seems to vanish into thin air.

She doesn't know if she's being hunted.







Kill Me, Red, as well as it's sequel Poseidon's Grave, comes out on October 1 of this year. I had a lot of fun writing it, so hopefully readers will have fun with it too. These are definitely a flip-flop from the book I have coming in September, Lokte. 
That being said, my Christian readers who aren't digging the YA horror don't need to worry. I'll be releasing another Christian Thriller early next year. I'll keep you updated, but if I write the book I'm planning, it should be a lot of fun. It's dark and twisted, but will have a good message, so stay tuned for that.

Again, thanks to everyone who has been supporting me through this. I'm very excited about it all, and I can't wait to share my books with all of you :) Have a blessed day!

I'm Pleased to Welcome Ceinwen Langley, author of "Edge of the Woods"

I am pleased to welcome Ceinwen Langley to my blog! She is a fantasy author with feminist ideals, and I'm very excited to have her here.

1. Hello, and welcome to my blog! So to start off, what made you decide to take the plunge into the world of publishing?

 

 Thanks! I've always wanted to write novels, starting with a few attempts in high school (which will, thankfully, never reach human eyes), but at University I decided to take my interest in writing on a different track and followed it into a film degree. I went on to work in television as a scriptwriter, but although I loved the work, as I was writing new characters and stories would pop into my head. I tried writing them as films and TV concepts, but it never quite fit, so I filed them away and got on with my work. But then after three straight years working on a show that airs five times a week for most of the year, I took some time off and read my first new novel in what must have been years. The love came flooding back, and suddenly the ideas I hadn't been able to make work made perfect sense as novels. I started The Edge of the Woods in July last year and, absolutely relishing the fact that for once I was completely in charge of the creative process self published in May. It's been a really rewarding experience! 

 

 

 

2. Tell me about your book.

 

Emma is a young woman caught between what she's supposed to do and what she wants to do. What she wants is independence, to be able to work in a role she enjoys and earn enough money to support herself and her widowed mother. However, the society she lives in doesn't allow women to provide for themselves without a great amount of shame attached. Emma, like the other girls in her isolated village, is expected to marry before her eighteenth birthday - her only hope of a respectable income. Women who are passed over or whose husbands die without leaving them enough money to live on are ostracised, able to work only as cleaners and cooks for men without wives - like Emma's mother - or forced to beg. 

Meanwhile, there are horror stories about the woods surrounding the village. The local superstition is that they're home to demons waiting to tempt away the unfaithful. Young women have been going missing for decades, giving weight to the rumour, and allowing the village Mayor to enforce his unfair laws. While Emma struggles to secure a future for herself and her mother according to the expectations of the village, she starts to dream of a boy in the woods who promises her freedom. 

But as we all know, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Emma has a lot of tough choices to make. It's a coming of age story, with a little bit of romance, some action and some twists thrown in for good measure. 

 

 

 

3. I see your book is a fantasy. Could you tell me what fantasy elements readers should expect (without spoilers, of course)?

 

The fantasy elements in The Edge of the Woods are fairly subtle. I don't have swords, or dragons, or commonplace magic. But the world Emma lives in isn't the same as ours, and she meets some creatures who resemble the treacherous fairies from celtic folklore. 

 

 

 

4. Was there a particular part that was your favorite to write?

 

Yes, but it's a bit of spoiler! I'll just say it's when Emma finally gets Very Fed Up. But Emma in general was a character I really enjoyed getting inside the head of. I also really enjoyed writing Mama and Mona. They have some really fun dialogue and character traits. 

 

 

 

5. What, if anything, inspired you to write this book?

 

I've been wanting to write a book featuring celtic-style fairies for as long as I can remember wanting to write. So when I started writing this book, all I knew was that it was going to have some dangerous fairies in it - and they were going to be a much bigger focus. So I was very surprised when Emma put her foot down and redirected my attention to the village and her real struggle. The fairies still play a big part in the novel, but not in the way I expected. But what I've ended up with is a much more interesting story, so I couldn't be happier about the change. 

 

 

 

6. What do you do when you're not writing?

 

At the moment I work as a freelance writer, so I spend a lot of time in and around my house. I'm horrible at cooking, but I really enjoy baking (mostly decorating… and mostly eating the icing), and I've recently taken up gardening. My dog keeps me company in all of these activities and if you follow me on instagram (@feedthewriter) you'll find a wonderful collection of him looking very tolerant while I put things on his head. 

 

 

 

7. Should we be expecting any more books anytime soon?

 

I hope so! I'm working on a fantasy novella at the moment, and I've just started playing around with an idea for a sci-fi trilogy. I'm aiming to have one of these books out by the end of the year. 

 

 

 

Off-beat questions

 

 

 

1. From the description, it seems like your book has a strong woman theme. Would you consider yourself a feminist? If so, what do you think is the biggest problem facing women today?

 

Yeah, absolutely. I think it's important for young people to see women represented as interesting, complex and diverse characters in our media. We've come a long way in the last few years on this front, but we've got much further to go - in terms of representing anyone who isn't a (usually rich) straight white man. And whether you identify as a feminist or not, or support feminism or not, I don't see how someone wouldn't agree that introducing more diverse characters of different genders, races, sexualities and so on wouldn't at least make our stories more varied and interesting. I think every child deserves to see themselves represented as a hero, which is what feminism means to me. 

As for what I think is the biggest problem facing women, it's a tough call. There are so many factors and not every woman faces all of them - racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism and so on. But I think the issue I feel most passionately about addressing (and the issue that really encompasses these other factors) is violence against women - particularly in a domestic situation. One woman is murdered every week in Australia by her partner. One in every six women in America has been or will be the victim of attempted or completed rape in her lifetime - and roughly two thirds of rapes are attempted or committed by someone known to the victim. I think it speaks to a need, as I said before, to reconsider how we represent women in the media (as three-dimensional humans, rather than schemers, sex objects and murder victims), how we raise our children to respect each other as equals and how we teach our young adults - and adults - about consent, respect, and healthy expression of emotion, particularly anger. I don't believe men are uncontrollable animals, and I don't believe rape and violence is an inherent human trait. So something else has gone very wrong, and we need to look very seriously at how we can fix it.

 

 

2. I see your short stories come in a variety of genres. Can we expect any non-fantasy books in your future?

 

Absolutely! I've really been enjoying writing (very) short stories (which you can find on my website) as a way of experimenting with concepts and genres, and I've enjoyed dabbling in sci-fi and dystopia so much that I'll definitely be releasing some books in those areas down the track. I've also written some humourous contemporary stories for an online magazine for young women, which is a style I find really fun, though as I use novel writing as a break from my scriptwriting work (which is very much set in the present day) I'll probably keep my focus on writing speculative fiction books. 

Amazon link: http://bit.ly/TheEdgeOfTheWoods

 

 

 

 

The Edge of the Woods

 

For as long as anyone can remember, young women have vanished into the woods. Believing them to be weak willed and lured by demons, the zealous Mayor enforces rules to protect them: rules that render the village women submissive and silent, or face being ostracised. 

Emma’s only hope of a decent life is to be married by her eighteenth birthday, but her quick mouth and low social standing make her a poor prospect. Lonely and afraid, she finds herself dreaming of the woods, and of a mysterious boy who promises freedom and acceptance if she’ll only step across the border into the trees. 
With her birthday fast approaching, she has a decision to make: run away from her future, or fight for it.

 

 

 

 

 AUTHOR BIO

 

 Ceinwen Langley (pronounced Kine-Wen) is an Australian television writer and author. 

Born in a desert town with less than 300 people, one TV channel and nothing to do, Ceinwen learned to entertain herself by reading and making up her own stories. The habit stuck, and she's been trying to make a living out of it ever since. 

Ceinwen has worked in development on several local children's shows, taught and spoken at schools and universities and worked as a storyliner and scriptwriter for long-running soap Neighbours. The Edge of the Woods is her debut novel.