Project Threshold: Season Two: Operation Rogue Weather by Craig Crawford

8/17/2025

Multi-volume, horror-and-science-fiction author Craig Crawford introduces us to the finale of the second season of the Project Threshold series, “Operation Rogue Weather”:
Things blow out of control as an unnatural storm manifests and starts eating everything in its path. Team Berger and Riker arrive on the scene, their last communication with Talise pinpoints her at the center of the storm. They have no choice but to wade inside, hoping they can find Talise’s team and figure how to stop this force before it rolls over the Earth. Except none of them count on having to confront a dark goddess . . .

I am digging this series so much! The construction of the stories are wonderful. We get to read only the good stuff. Most of the boring and in-transit material has been left out. The character lineup changes in each story with the main characters present most of the time. Some of their discussions and reactions when faced with the weird and usually dangerous critters are quite enjoyable. I am glad they are on the job because I am not sure I could handle it.
4.9 stars because I am picky about certain things.

47 Comments

Craig Crawford link

8/18/2025 11:41:24 am

Hi Mark! Good to touch base again.

Mark

8/18/2025 02:47:36 pm

I agree. We have had several wonderful chats in the last couple of years. You have found a good balance among family, work and book worlds. Congratulations on that.

We will pick up where we left off in promoting Team Talise, Season Two.

First questions.

Do you have a classical author or poet you admire?

What popular modern authors have influenced you?

8/18/2025 07:24:06 pm

Hi Mark, let's hit it!

I grew up reading a ton. I have lots of authors I was influenced by. Primarily I was grounded in science fiction and fantasy so all the old greats. Roger Zelazny, Fritz Leiber, Robert Aspirin, Michael Moorcock, but also Robert Heinlein, Ray Bradbury. The list could go on.

For writers in the mainstream of the time, there is one that took me a long while to get into but one who I think has influenced me greatly. William Faulkner. Very dark and bleak but he also had a lot of talent which took me a long while to see and get. The Sound and the Fury is a tough read, but very creative in how he told the same story from different angles. I also think he influenced me from the aspect that he told short stories but had characters from other stories showing up in different works. I thought that was clever and I loved the overlap.

I give his influence credit with at least some of that in my Project Threshold series--I love crossovers. And I like the appeal of taking that into my other novels. I'll be doing more of it.

As for modern authors, there are several there too. I still read quite a bit though I have to work harder to squeeze it in. For fiction, I really like Mary Downing Hahn and the way she tells a story. I have read a few of her works but One For Sorrow is my fav.

My newest fav in the last five years is Christina Henry. She puts a real world spin on fairy tales. She's very dark and stark in her prose but she just tells a great story. My favorite of hers is The Horseman--her take on the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. She has a way with words!

Then there are my cryptozoology authors, which is always giving me fodder for stories and also intriguing for the larger world we live in. I'm a fan of Ken Gerhard, Jeff Meldrum and Lyle Blackburn. They investigate some really interesting stuff that questions the reality of the world. I'm always reading new people there and could come up with quite a bibliography of non-fiction there.

8/18/2025 08:41:20 pm

I don't recall reading Faulkner. Maybe he will hire me to promote one of his books if I wait long enough. ;-)

The crossovers or the character intermingling is one of the things I like the best in your series. Everyone gets their chance to shine in a story.

The cryptozoology stuff is fascinating. So many unanswered questions. How have these creatures evaded capture for so long in many cases? Are they from a previous age or from a different earth? Could they be spiritual entities in disguise? Some of them seem pretty nasty.

New question.

Have you ever been asked for writing help or to mentor a fledgling writer?

8/18/2025 09:19:19 pm

Yes on the cryptozoological front. I don't necessarily buy in on all of it, but it fascinates me and gets me to thinking about the ideas of whether there are other layers to the world we can't see. Or at least perceive normally. There are literally hundreds of books on accounts of things people have encountered and it's not just the repeat of a few things over and over.

If the spiritual and the divine exist why not other things--seeing is not believing but the other way around. It's another subject I could talk about and discuss for hours on end.

As to your question, I have several times. It's a funny thing and precarious situation to me. People ask for help, but I tread carefully. I am certainly no expert on writing and even if I had the weight of fame and high level success I'd be careful about offering my opinions.

During my time writing, I've seen people approach the career in unique ways and it's just showed me that there is more than one way to not only write but succeed in story telling. The times I've been asked for my opinions on editing, writing, etc., I always caveat it with "Take what I say with the proverbial grain of salt--I am only one writer and the way I approach story telling is not the be-end-all."

I'm a pantser first and foremost and I have no clue how those other folk plan everything out before writing. To me, it's alien. I would feel hemmed in doing it that way and never get a powerful emotion fueled story. I have to be down in the thick of it as the story is unfolding and feel every twist and turn as it's hitting.

That doesn't work for everyone. And I'm good with it. I try to be aware of that and reiterate that when I'm working with someone and their own writing and style. My words on someone's story are never intended to be the final say but only as a guideline or my "two cents" worth.

I've had good and bad experiences being a "mentor" or offering advice. In the end, I tell people who come to me to take my advice or not--it's still their story and far be it from me to dictate otherwise. :)

8/19/2025 09:43:36 am

There are many things we cannot perceive. I read an article about pollinating insects and how they can see in the ultraviolet range. UV pictures were included of many flowers, and they sparkled with beautiful reflections to guide the bees to the pollen deep in the flower, frequently.

Your caution is wise. I have heard more than one author say they refuse to look at a manuscript by an aspiring novelist. They don't want to be accused of plagiarism in the future. It's a tricky part of being an author.

New question.

What software do you use to write and publish your books, and why do you use those?

8/19/2025 11:20:32 am

That's another consideration too. There are people who would probably steal an idea. Personally, if you have to take someone else's ideas you're not going to create anything earth shattering with it.

It's your inspirations that keep you passionate.

As for tools...Microsoft Word is my goto. I know it well and it's the easiest to use. Other than the occasional Google search for a thesaurus, that's about it for writing.

I have Red Cape who creates covers and formats the books. I use Mailerlite for my newsletter and am using InVideo to create video ads.

Mailerlite is a bit clunky but InVideo is really great. It's very plug and play and I picked it up quickly.

8/19/2025 02:20:47 pm

Stealing another person's idea is silly. There are so many ideas available. Idea prompts are floating around all the time. If ten people respond to the same prompt, ten different stories will be written. There are those who steal a book and post it on a pirate sight for little or nothing. That is real theft and many sites will pull it down if presented with a proper demand.

Almost everyone uses Microsoft Word around the world. Some countries teach English as the official language, many others teach it as a second language. I think it's odd that the USA doesn't have English as the official language. That's the way it is, though.

Managing email lists is a big deal and I hear from authors frequently that they are changing providers as their list grows or shrinks.

New question.

We know you are a self-proclaimed pantser. This series is now 8 volumes. How do you keep track of all the characters and events in your books?

8/19/2025 05:18:17 pm

Agreed on all those fronts.

As to "pantsing", first I'm going to clear up some myths.

First, plotters have this idea pantsers just start writing with no rhyme or reason. Which is false. For my own self, I start writing when I know the story premise and I discover my main players. Often I know the end or at least a rough idea of it. I know the trajectory.

2nd, there's this idea that pantsers wing everything. Also, false. Again, for me, I'm not plotting things down on paper but I'm keeping notes in my head. I "see" the story unfolding in my head and plans happen, plot twists happen and all manner of things are going on in my head.

Sometimes I do make notes, but I don't lose critical plot elements when I have those story revelations.

3rd, pantsers can't write complex plots because they're making it all up as they go. Again, false. I think those twists show up as we're writing. I'm guessing plotters have those same Aha! moments we do, but they try to do it beforehand. We just incorporate them along the way.

You read Operation Rogue Weather. Squishy has a purpose--I explored his back story as I was writing him on the page. His function in the plot hit as I wrote that story because I considered the whys and whats of his existence while that story unfolded. And, back in Riker's stories, it was building even then when McCoy had her frustration moment and yelled at the ceiling.

That kernel of an idea sprouted from the moment I knew the crux of this 4th book and as I wrote the other stories, I never forgot that angle and it just kept building over time.

So, this was my long way of explaining how pantsers write. I think our brain pens do take notes and mentally write things down. However, we discover those moments along the way.

I knew how this finale was going to unfold in the beginning. I just didn't know other characters like Q and Squishy were going to happen until I started writing. For pantsers, I feel like we're more sculptors. We have the story and we slowly shave away at our lump of clay, peeling back the details bit by bit. But uncovering pieces leads you to other features until you have it all come into clarity.

Finally, myth #4. Pantsers' stories are rife with plot holes. Absolutely wrong. In fact, without the safety net of notes to work from I'd guess we're more aware of our unfolding plots to prevent that. Doesn't mean we never have them, but I've never had a major plot hole collapse a story or novel precisely because I keep the overall plot in my head at all times, constantly assessing pitfalls of my characters' actions.

I continue to say and stand by my words, but I don't pretend to understand my story creation process. I just trust in it. Complete faith and when I do run into problems it's almost always because I'm trying to force my will on a story instead of letting it become what it wants.

8/19/2025 08:49:15 pm

Thank you for clarifying things. Labels can be overly broad at times and only hint at the reality much of the time.

I heard about a pantser who outlined each chapter after he wrote it. He said it made finding a certain passage much easier. I thought that was a brilliant idea. I have also heard from more than one plotter who admitted the story didn't always go according to plan and the book was better for it.

People like labels and sometimes those labels get in the way.

New question.

Who is the easiest character to write in this book?

8/19/2025 11:10:57 pm

I actually think that's a pretty good idea. I have times where I'm trying to find a particular passage and it takes some rooting to find it. Mostly I'm trying to clarify something I've done, but often I can remember enough to use "Find" in Word to pick up on key words I remember in the scene. Still, outlining after is something I'm going to consider. It would help me in the creation of a synopsis too.

Often I think people come up with labels off of half truths they hear from others, and they rely on labels when they don't understand the reality of a topic.

I have no issue with plotters--if it helps them map out the story, go for it. I think we are all variations of those two poles--as I said, I'll make notes in notebooks. I guess I neglected to include notebooks in my "tools" of the trade but I use them frequently. I usually carry one around for specific scene bites that hit me.

So I'm not a complete pantser. I'm an amalgam and I'm confident every writer is a blend of the two disciplines, some leaning more one way than another. For my YA sci-fi, the plot line was getting so complicated I created timelines for the three different factions, a spreadsheet for the characters and a multitude of notes. I did do some plotting on the 3rd book, trying to keep straight which characters were where and who was going on which mission and so on. It gave me a cheat sheet to keep things straight so I didn't have to go back and count heads for every scene :)

Concerning your question...hmmmn. Honestly, it's got to be Kali. She's also my favorite to write about. The others are near and dear to me, don't get me wrong. Just like your children, you love them all for different reasons and you never really love one more than another, even though it might seem so in certain instances.

I love Harris Berger and he's gone through a lot of turmoil, but seems to be headed in a good direction finally. Jessie and Katie are an ever unfolding drama, and Aurora--my newest, we're still talking and figuring each other out :) I love the Riker and Kurt drama--God help anyone who ever gets on their collective bad side. McCoy is my quiet power, so gentle--almost too gentle for that world. Cass is my rock of common sense and the rudder. Talise is just born to lead and she's so smart and clever--I admire and love her to death--especially as she referees between Bodi and Kali. Bodi is like that one guy everyone knows who always just lands on his feet.

Then there's Kali. Such a storm of emotions. Like storm clouds she's cynical and often dark--never revealing too much about herself. She had a rough but non-linear path to where she is now, but I love her zeal, her fearlessness and yet, somewhere in there, she really does care. She'd never let anyone know it, especially Bodi, but she's got a big heart. I have a ton of avenues I could go down with her and will. Whenever she shows up in a story, it always writes itself fast. I think that's why I loved writing her story, "Wrong Turn." The words came easily and I wrote it in less than two sittings. Kali makes it easy to write about her.

She's definitely going to end up in a crossover...

8/20/2025 09:30:45 am

Labels are too convenient when we do not have a good grasp of a situation.

I agree, most authors are a combination of the two styles of writing a book. Whatever way you write, I suggest writing the easiest scenes first, even if it means writing the last scene or chapter before the others. Here is a guest post about that very topic, copy-and-paste time or hit the search box below: http://www.wordrefiner.com/guest-blogs/non-linear-writing

Let's flip the previous question.

Who is the hardest character to write in this book?

8/20/2025 01:07:29 pm

It's funny because I usually save those scenes I can't wait to write as my carrot to get me there. In the Finale, in the first story I wanted to write Kali's scene where she was completely losing it: capturing that complete chaos but I waited until I wrote the rest of it. Some of it was the fact I knew where it was headed but also because I wanted to write the other sections from the outside--the teams not knowing exactly what was happening, and even Talise and Bodi not understanding the environment either.

When I finally got to Kali's scene it made it all the easier to descend into madness with her. 😁

As to your flip, it was actually Berger. I was trying to achieve his burden of leadership even though he had a smaller role. Technically he was in charge of everyone but he was also trying not to overstep on Aurora. I had to keep track of these details and constantly remind myself of the hierarchy writing these scenes and it was tricky. Yes, Harris outranked most everyone but staying true to his personality and the context that Talise is also similar in rank, and his style of leadership, I found it complex to write as things unfolded.

8/20/2025 02:24:41 pm

I think the carrot idea is good. It works partly because you know the characters and the storyline. For new authors, trying to write in chapter or chronological order can result in writer's block. My recommendation is to follow the muse, the inspiration wherever it lands in the story, to keep the story flowing.

Your choice about Kali was excellent and served the story well. As a reader, I was in the dark almost as much as the team.

I know that Berger was thinking "It's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission."

New question.

Have you had the experience of the story swerving in a different direction than planned, as if a character was driving it in this book?

8/20/2025 09:41:58 pm

I agree. When you're starting out it really is about what works for you. I've attended many writer's forums and everyone always wants to know the "silver bullets" of how to write and the secret is, you have to find out what works for you. It's the only one.

I remember trying all kinds of strategies early on. I even tried writing early in the morning because a lot of writers do that. I think it is peaceful and quiet, kind of like night time, but I have never ever been a rise and shine kind of guy. I discovered that it's when the sun goes down that my biggest bouts of creativity hit.

But it's trying things out that get you where you need to be on processes.

I was fearful on this finale because I really went off the deep end and far out to sea without land in sight. I didn't know how it was going to turn out or, more importantly, how it would resonate with readers. Or not. The more pages I wrote, the more it felt right and in the end I felt good about the story. Red Cape really liked it too. And I've gotten some feedback from readers on it as well.

As to your question....many stories I write go that way. I laugh because I never quite feel like I'm in charge. For Project Threshold Season 2, I knew where it was headed from the beginning after what happened to Kali in the first, but I had no clue it was going to play out like it did.

Riker's stories are case in point. I knew Kurt staying up north was going to cause problems but I did not see coming what Kurt discovered. I knew there was a source and at first I was like him--I assumed he was so sensitive that the energies up north just overpowered him. I had no clue it was going to take the turn it did. I also didn't see the twist in the first story coming either. It was one of those a-ha moments based on what happened to Riker in the Kushtaka story. After the fact, it all but fit together like a puzzle but I didn't see it during Season 1. Then that side business (trying not to include spoilers) culminated with Kurt sticking around and led to the finale of Riker's stories.

And in the process, it set up Season 3 :)

Of the novel's I've written, I have had plots shift sideways so many times and even endings readjust because of what the characters say and do on the page. Honestly, it spooks me sometimes because once I start writing these characters, it's like they start doing things on their own, acting and reacting to everything else going on. I end up feeling like a guide on a tour and having my audience run off in another direction because it's more interesting.

I've learned to drop the reins and let them take over. I am always having unexpected side effects showing up because of the characters' actions. Actually I love that when it happens and it's part of what gets me to the keyboard every night.

I don't question it anymore and I certainly don't get in the way of it. I sit back and try to write it down as fast as I can to keep up with the characters.

Jen link

8/21/2025 06:07:30 am

Hi Mark and Craig. Wanted to wade in, if that's okay? It’s fascinating how organically your stories evolve Craig, almost like the characters are co-authors. That kind of subconscious storytelling seems to tap into something deeper than logic, like emotional memory or intuitive world-building. You mentioned being spooked by how things unfold unexpectedly, but I imagine that's also what makes writing so alive for you?

Have you ever had to revise or walk back a character’s action or story direction? Either because it didn’t sit right later, or because it conflicted with something you’d forgotten or hadn’t planned yet? How do you handle those “course correction” moments without losing momentum or that organic feel?

8/21/2025 10:44:33 am

Hi Jen, it's nice to see you here again. I loved our chat when I promoted Monarch Child.
Great questions! Thank you for asking Craig about writing. His answer will be fascinating and entertaining, I am sure.

8/21/2025 06:06:08 pm

Hi Jen--thanks for showing up :)

In answer to your questions, first--yes--I readily admit I'm only sort of in charge of my stories. I don't know how to properly explain it. I just trust it. In a lot of stories I write, I have a rough idea of how they'll end but it can change depending on the actions of the characters--protagonists and antagonists. Sometimes it DOES feel like they're acting and reacting to each other and new outcomes happen.

I went into detail on this on my personal website with a story called A Murmuration of Starlings. I had a lot of trouble with that story but I finally realized I was pushing it to be a "monster" story and it was nothing of the sort. It ended up being about prophecy. Once I let go of my vision, I finished it in like two days and it got picked up for publication quickly.

To stick with Project Threshold, in Season 1, I started with Harris Berger and his stories. I wrote three with no problem, but then bogged down because I couldn't "see" how it was supposed to go. That's when I came up with Talise's team and then Riker's. I worked on those for a while while still trying to piece together Berger's stories. I started with a premise about a haunted Christmas decoration but that went absolutely nowhere. Then I had this a-ha moment reading back through what I'd already written and realized that all of Berger's stories were really about him--being the veteran supposed to hold the team together while juggling his homelife which was in shambles and losing ground on every front. It's when Story #4 punctuated his predicaments and #5 actually led to redemption and realization for him. I planned none of that consciously...it just happened.

And to answer your next question--yes, I think it's that "magic" that keeps me writing. That not knowing what might happen until I start typing on the page, seeing the story shift in ways I never expected which makes this so much fun and so fulfilling. Some days I feel like I'm reading the story as it unfolds in front of me, me being the proxy who is writing it all down.

As to your last question, Sometimes. Much like that Starlings story, I went back and cut about six pages because it wasn't working. This spring I finished a science fiction trilogy. I had been stuck on book 3 for over a year, I think. I had started #3 but then bogged down. In retrospect, I realize now it was because somewhere in there I knew a major character was going to die and I kept putting off writing it because on some level I didn't want to write that part. I tossed it off at the time because Project Threshold got published and I really was busy with all aspects of that but it was a convenient excuse not to have to write it. And, in the aftermath, I exploded with ideas, but it also opened up a lot of avenues and I spent over two months writing new sections, but then stopping because something wasn't right. I probably deleted 40ish pages and went back and rewrote the story in several places because I'd explore paths, realize they weren't right, and go back and try another. It took me about 5 months between December to April to finish it but it was worth it. Exploring paths on paper even though I changed directions and didn't use those pages was part of the process to get it right.

Most times though, if I sit down to write a novel, I do it in a span of months working 3-5 nights a week, start to finish until it's done. It's like it's all there even if I don't know the details. Once I sit at the keyboard it starts coming. The other cool part is, I can stop at night, go to bed, work, etc., and then come back to the keyboard the following night or even a couple of days later and pick up right where I left off.

I don't know how that works. The best I've ever been able to explain it, is like I tune in or switch to a TV station to a program I want to watch, or a movie that's been on "pause." I sometimes reread the last couple of pages to get the feel again but then as soon as I start typing, I'm back into the story and continue on.

8/22/2025 09:28:59 am

Thank you for your thoughtful answers :)

8/21/2025 10:57:27 am

Knowing you are a pantser, I was pleasantly surprised at how tight the weave of plot threads were in season two. You made it seem effortless and quite natural. More than one author has commented about how the characters take control sometimes and it's all the author can do to keep up so as not to lose the good stuff.

Now, I look forward to Season 3. As do all of your other fans. If you are a fan of Project Threshold and you haven't signed up for Craig's newsletter, get over to his website (the link is above the interview) and correct the error. The newsletter is PT themed, and you will enjoy it.

New question.

Do you have a defined space for writing at home, or do you write wherever it seems right, or do you prefer to write in a coffeeshop?

8/21/2025 06:20:20 pm

Thanks for the compliments and the plug. I'm looking at the Newsletter as an extension of world building for the stories. It's tricky keeping it going and trying to add new information without giving away spoilers for the stories but it's kind of fun too. I've read too many newsletters where it feels like the author doesn't really want to be there either and I felt like I had to find a way to make it fun for me too.

As to writing, over the years, I've done writing in just about every place you can imagine. I've written at lunch in a restaurant, at a table in a crowded mall, in the car, outside--anywhere I could sit with a pen and a notebook (last fall I bought my first laptop so now I'm back to a keyboard :) )

Presently, though, I knock out most of my words in what we refer to here as "The computer room." It's where my desktop is and it's where I have my headphones, an actual thesaurus, notepads, tchotchkes of everything from monsters to Godzilla to a sculpture of a shadow coming out of my wall :) I can put on music for white noise or not, and I've got two screens--one for writing and one for research when the need arises. And yes, my desk is a cluttered mess. No organization I'm aware of--just random notes, a couple of books I want to read at the edge, usually a soda can next to me and pens and extras.

This is where I "zone" in and turn out 90% of my words. I may write scenes as they hit me or make notes when I'm out in the really real world, but most of my core writing is done here.

On a side note, I prefer the keyboard to physical writing with a pen. I know a lot of authors prefer the opposite, but I can write much much faster on a keyboard than by hand. I'm a lefty and my handwriting is more like hieroglyphics sometimes than words--I've had trouble going back over my handwritten words and deciphering them :) With a keyboard my fingers can almost keep up with my train of thought and it helps when the ideas are firing out at me.

8/21/2025 07:40:20 pm

World extension is what I like about your newsletter. Your stories seem more real when I read the newsletter; it makes me feel part of a team.

I understand about your desk, mine is similar. In my last house, I had a sign in my garage, "A place for everything and everything all over the place." It's so easy to set something down instead of putting it away.

I can type fast like that too, but I don't because I am tired of hearing the spellchecker sob in the corner. ;-) If I slow my typing the spellchecker is much happier.

I have never had very good handwriting. I was a drafting assistant before personal computers and AutoCAD. Everything on the blueprints was lettered by hand. My printing is decent, especially if I take my time. If I don't take my time, I cannot always decipher my handwriting.

New question.

Action, dialogue, or narration; which is easiest to write?

8/21/2025 09:52:27 pm

Thanks Mark. It was my thought too on the newsletter. To me, it's a chance to give your readers even more and take them into the story from a different angle. I would like to do more mini stories and give them away--too late I thought of building Magellan's character with backstories so that when Season 2 hit they would know all about him but I only thought of that as Season 2 started coming out. Maybe for #3 though....hmmn...yes. I have an idea--thank you!

It's discussions like this that start that inspiration machine...

Concerning your question, dialogue is the easiest. Action can be tricky because I have to see the scene in my head first, visualizing where everyone is, what's going on and how the action is progressing with each character in each moment. As a plus, I played a lot of Dungeons and Dragons in my teens and well into my late 20's so blocking out battles was great prep.

As for narration, that can be tricky too, knowing the sweet spot of how much to dole out without it turning into an info dump. Keeping that pacing to give information and setting yet keep the story moving is a balancing act.

Dialogue, on the other hand, that has always come easily for me. Again, I think it's because I get to know my characters so well that I start to think in their terms. I can hear their individual voices, know their vocabulary, and it's amazing how distinct they are. Like Kali is not afraid to toss out a curse word and she goes from even keel to completely annoyed in a span of about 5 seconds. Melissa McCoy, on the other hand, is one of those quiet, methodical thinkers. Her words are all business and she's a bit awkward socially. Cowler has this kind of "above it all" attitude about everything, plugged in to the pulse of the world around her, but very educated and sharp.

As I say their names I can hear their voices in my head.

So the dialogue comes easily because I know how each of them talk. Again, don't ask me how, but I do.

8/22/2025 09:48:50 am

You are welcome.

You make a good point about all three. It's all about balance in each category. Each category has its own need for pace and flow.

Your dialogue shines because you hear them speak as an individual. That makes a big difference!

New question.

Of the five senses, which is the easiest to write and which is the hardest?

8/22/2025 10:06:27 am

Hi Mark,

I think sight and touch are the easiest. I think they're the most universally relatable. Colors, details and even the feel of objects seem common enough. Sound, to me, can be trickier. Especially getting into horror and not so real creatures describing their roars or barks to add to the alien-ness.

Smell and taste are the toughest to me. Taste can be very individual a d descriptive words for both taste and smell often feel very limited.

8/22/2025 11:59:01 am

You make a good point about alien noises. Our audible range is fairly limited, just like our visual range. Without specific instruments we cannot see in the infrared or ultraviolet spectrums. I am reminded of Tolkien's tree people, the Ents. They spoke extremely slowly and in a very low register.

Most of the authors I have spoken with agree with you about the senses.

New question.

Have you ever participated in theater in some way?

8/22/2025 01:29:58 pm

Yes...for sounds, and odd ones I often try to equate with instruments--like a cello or bassoon, etc. Personally I love those deep resonating chords of the cello and it feels like a fit.

I participated in drama all through high school. I acted in several plays but also worked behind the scenes. I do think it helped as far as stage direction for action scenes and thinking in those terms when blocking out a battle or action sequence.

8/22/2025 03:47:48 pm

I have no doubt that your theatrical experience has been valuable in your writing. Many authors have no experience in acting in a play. I have recommended to many that taking a screenwriting class would be useful and provide a different angle on writing a novel.

New question.

What kind of marketing, besides working with me this week, are you doing or planning on doing for your book?

8/22/2025 04:34:11 pm

So I am taking a layered approach spread over time.

I started early in the summer running video ads on a favorite podcast of mine and a couple of other places. Then I turned to some of these smaller marketing groups that pop up from time to time. When I get approached by someone about marketing I've started using ChatGPT to vet them-- have that tool scour the internet for me on the likelihood it's legitimate or not. Those that pass that test, then I investigate further and then run small scale marketing with them. I've used about half a dozen.

Starting now and into the fall months Im going to be running some pricier ads in more prominent horror magazines with established reputations and see what that yields.

Then in early October Im going to jump into direct advertising through YouTube and either Facebook or Amazon.

Along the way I'm coordinating with my press to see which are having an effect.

So far I haven't seen much for the increase in sales but I've been adding newsletter subscribers.

I've been researching on this for well over a year and now it's time to invest and see how it goes.

8/22/2025 07:39:04 pm

You are following the plan you laid out for us a year ago or so. It's a grand experiment and one that will never quite be over because the market is always changing as well as the platforms. They keep adjusting their algorithms to maximize the amount of money they make.

I am confident you are on the right track. Keep publishing two or three books a year and fiddle with the ads, your sales should grow slowly.

New question.

How do you know when a book is complete, and you should stop working on it?

8/23/2025 12:32:47 am

Thanks Mark. Yes, this really is my first foray into real marketing so I am not expecting the world. Best case scenario is I make back some or most of the money I invest into it, but learn from it to turn around and hit it again. I'd be good with that.

As for a book being complete, it is about a sense of satisfaction in relation to the theme of the book. When I start writing, I have a rough ending in mind. It's based off of my protagonists and the conflicts they're up against. It also weighs in the antagonists and the other variables in the story.

To me, the end of the book comes when everything that needs to be resolved is taken into account and factored in. You have to look at what your story is really saying or rallying for and incorporate that into the last page, or pages. Granted, that's a little different in a series where you have multiple books, but even so, each individual book has a theme within its pages and I think you have to reflect that in the last page to give your reader some sort of satisfaction. Even if you end it on a cliffhanger, you still have to resolve enough for the reader to feel satisfied--either toward some goal or psyched for the next book which will ultimately lead toward that resolution. Yet even on a cliffhanger you can still leave the reader with some sense of victory in there somewhere.

Some endings are easier than others. In Project Threshold 1, it obviously came down to being able to stop a world threatening event. However, that wasn't the only crux of the story. To me, the real statement of the story was about these characters. They put so much of their own potential lives on hold for people they don't even know, and there's a lot of death and trauma along the way. Some characters survive, but others die or lose friends and so for me, while it was about defeating the "big bad" it was more about finding a win for the remaining team members.

Writing it, I wasn't exactly sure how it was going to ultimately end, but then as things wound up I thought about that theme: all of these main characters sacrifice for the good of absolutely everyone else on the planet so where's their win? And I realized the answer started with the first book and Harris. So the book had to end with him, and the last three lines summed up everything from the all four novellas.

I wrote those 3 lines down and knew I'd said all that needed to be said, and it was done.

8/23/2025 09:22:07 am

Well said, Craig. There is a great deal more that needs to happen before those two, little words: the end, appear. Now, I want to go read those three lines in the Season One Finale again.

The theme of self-sacrifice has echoed across the eons and is relevant today. People don't change on the inside, only how they make their body look to others.

New questions.

How much research did you have to do for this book?

What were the major topics?

8/23/2025 12:44:50 pm

And your answer leads me back to pantsing. I didn't think of that ending along the way, or plot it out ahead of time. It came to me after the last pieces of destruction crumbled and the characters finally breathed that sigh of relief. It just popped but I realized it was perfect because it summed up the entire four novellas--answered the "Why" on that job that those people struggle to do every day.

It's why I trust in my process for writing. Somewhere in there (or maybe above and beyond me) is "something" sitting on my shoulder helping me keep track of the details and tapping me on said shoulder from time to time and whispering ideas into my authorial ear.

I give thanks and respect to that bigger source every day.

Getting back on topic, I am always researching scientific topics for one. While this is technically akin to urban science fiction, I still want it grounded in reality. In the first set of books I did research on acids for Berger's story, number 2, looked up information on invisibility for Talise #1, and a whole variety of other things along the way. I also do a lot of research on weapons--watching a lot of videos on recoil, which guns are actually usable by people of different body sizes and so on. I watched videos on helicopter crashes for Talise #1 too because I knew real life wasn't like the movies and every time something crashes it doesn't explode into a spectacular display :)

I also research into my world of study--paranormal and supernatural. Since my books involve cryptids, I spent a lot of time researching on mermaids, fairies and goblins, the Missing 411, ghosts, transcendentalism, just to name a few. To me that's not hard at all and I have a pretty good lore, but I still always like to back things up with the common perceptions and not just my recollections of a subject set in the strange.

I was fascinated by tulpas (interesting reading) which came into play in Talise #2.

I also have done a lot of research into Native American lore and Celtic lore. I am hesitant these days to tie things to the Native American cultures because I am not Native American (I have some in my tree but not enough to count myself a member of an existing tribe) and don't feel qualified to speak on those belief fronts. Also, I think people tend to take advantage and just ascribe things to Native American culture whenever they get to talking about "Spirits" and such which is a disservice to Native Americans and their spiritual beliefs. I am trying to tread carefully so as not to offend on that front because I really have a huge respect for the Native American culture.

Overall I would say I probably spend, on average, maybe an hour of research on every story I write, in some form or another. Whether it's online or going through my personal library of books on cryptozoology/supernatural :)

8/23/2025 02:55:26 pm

A tulpa sounds a little like dissociative identity disorder, which is spontaneous, unlike what a Buddhist is trying to achieve. Either can be imitated by a spiritual entity, especially for the Buddhist. Many of the imitators from the spiritual plane are bent on deception and do not have the best interests of humans at heart.

There is a lot about NA Indian culture I respect also. I read many books as a youngster and imitated some of their hunting ways.
The Warm Springs Indian tribe in Eastern Oregon caught wild salmon in the Columbia River and had celebratory feasts for tourists on their reservation. I enjoyed the salmon bake and ceremonies more than once.

New question.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of this book compared to the first book in the series?

8/23/2025 06:52:09 pm

Yes on the tuipa. Definitely not necessarily benevolent at all. I'm intrigued because the premise leads you to believe you're inviting in a "friend" when the opposite sounds more accurate. It's a deceptive thing as Karen found out 👿

And yes...I think the Native Americans know more about the world than we give them credit for.

The first draft of Season 2 probably took 5 months. It's hard to gauge individual books because I don't write the stories in order. My "muse" feeds me stories, but it jumps around. Again, I don't question it but I have faith in that higher force and follow where it leads. I trust. I believe in God, and it just feels like my life was built to write. I go down dark paths with my writing, but the dark is a backdrop for how characters keep trying despite the obstacles and challenges. Overall, I "hope" my stories encourage others to have hope and not give up.

8/23/2025 07:44:56 pm

Using drugs, whether natural or synthetic, can open doors to spiritual beings from another plane or dimension. Some of those experiences can seem harmless at first and a spiritual guide might be ever so helpful. Sadly, it doesn't always end well for some people.

There is a lot of darkness in this world and bad things can happen to anyone. When realistic characters can overcome or at least survive to continue the work down the road, then a reader can grab some of that hope for themself. Sometimes that is all it takes. A little hope can go a long way.

New question.

Going back in time, did you do any kind of creative writing, even back in grade school?

8/23/2025 10:20:15 pm

I agree. You have to be careful with things like hallucinogens or DMT. I have never had the desire to play with any of that--my imagination does just fine on its own, thank you. While I'm interested in the paranormal and things associated with the fringe, I am very wary of it all too, and do not blindly intersect with those things, even when I happen upon them.

That's what I think, too, on dark things. I think it's partially why I like the horror genre as a background. There can be some scary stuff, but the "heroes" can still overcome, and survive and even thrive against it. Most of my stories involve some sort of hope or redemption because I do not believe anyone is a lost cause.

I didn't really do any creative writing until junior high school. It's when I met up with my still best friend. He introduced me to science fiction and fantasy (before that I was mostly mysteries like the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew :) and some creepy stories in there too). He was also writing, which got me interested.

However, as a younger kid, I had quite the collection of action figures from back in the day. Mostly superheroes, though I had a G.I. Joe, and the Bionic Man. While I did not write, I created intricate story lines with my action figures and there were always stories in my head using those toys to act them out. So, in a way, I was story telling even back then, just not in the traditional sense.

8/24/2025 09:09:02 am

As a pre-teen, my sisters and I would play with an Ouija board. Something about the game scared us badly, though I do not recall what it was. I burned the thing in fire. I do not remember playing with any other things like that after.

Agreed. There is always an opportunity for redemption as long as you are above room temperature.

As a young boy, a friend and I played with the plastic, green army men. They were about 3" tall as I remember. We acted things out and we built forts and tunnels.

Storytelling is definitely in your blood.

I have played a storytelling game with my grandkids in the past. We would take turns telling one or two sentences of a story we made up then another person would continue the story.

New question.

How early was it that you realized how powerful words can be?

8/24/2025 02:10:23 pm

It's funny because I am very interested and open to the paranormal but a Ouija board is the one thing I do not mess with. We had one in the house as a kid but I don't really remember playing with it. As I got to be an adult, the more I read accounts of people using them, the more I realized the potential for bad things. I don't believe they always create a gateway otherwise I think there would be a lot more problems than there are with otherworldly entities and spirits.

On the other hand, I do think they represent a potential. You are actively inviting something into your life and it's a random spirit/being/entity and you don't know what that represents. Most times it's probably innocuous, but who knows. And, even if they are not a conduit to bring spirits forth, mentally you're still opening yourself up to allowing this other "something" into your life and that belief has the potential to impact you for good or bad.

Sorry--off on a tangent. Ouija boards creep me out.

Words. Looking back, I can see that the stories I read as a teen had a huge impact on me. It was other people's visions of the worlds they created which wow-ed me and led to me taking up the pen to unleash my own. It really was great writers who inspired me to follow in their footsteps.

There are certainly many examples throughout history of people inspiring others with words, and I do believe it's why stories are still so important in our lives. Despite what the 5 largest publishers keep saying about how people are not reading as much anymore, I personally don't believe it. I think people are just reading other books than what they put on the shelves. I will agree people are spending more time on social media instead of reading books, but I think it's a phase that will evolve.

Story telling is a way of communicating feeling and also making sense of our own lives. In earlier times, people used stories to relive stressful events in order to come to terms with them, but those events also marked history in the process. As lives became less about survival, stories started being used to ponder the "What if's" of life but still take us on stressful quests and adventures.

As to when I realized the power of words...I think it was in high school, my buddy and I taking a creative writing class. It wasn't anything grandiose, and no social statement I happened across.

We'd been writing for a while by then, so we knew the basics. Our teacher, Mrs. Graham, set the class to work writing and then called me and my buddy up to her desk. I immediately went on guard because, you know, that's almost never a good thing. :) I remember Mrs. Graham just looking at us and telling the both of us that we didn't have to follow the syllabus any longer. As long as we turned in a story each week, we could write about anything we wanted.

It's not that my words were great or that we said something meaningful, but in retrospect, she saw and read that we were "into" the art of writing. Our words did have impact on her in the sense that she realized we were learning and the best she could do for us was to get out of our way with themes and "story starters" and just let us create with no boundaries.

That was a monumental moment for me. I knew had some skill with what I was trying to do, and an adult, who was teaching us about the craft of words, had quietly validated me by telling me to keep doing what I was doing, in effect telling me I not only had some talent, but also potential.

At the time I didn't see it fully. I knew I must be doing okay with my writing, but I didn't see the impact like I do now. Still, on some level I realized my own power for stringing words together and it encouraged me to keep going.

8/24/2025 02:52:35 pm

Ouija boards creep me out, too. As do tarot cards, astrology and most anything else that offers access to secret knowledge. There is that.

I love that you and your best friend were writing back then and the teacher recognized it. So cool! I sucked at creative writing. All I wanted to do was read a book. I always had a book with me.

New questions.

Many new authors struggle with finding beta readers. Because, after the first draft is done, fresh eyes and feedback become very important.

Do you have alpha-readers and/or beta-readers to help you smooth out a lot of wrinkles before publishing?

If you don’t, why?

8/24/2025 03:17:37 pm

I think a lot of those resources are up to interpretation and your "faith" in those cards, boards, etc. But it can be a slippery slope too. Critical thinking is always necessary whenever trusting any outside source--people or otherwise ;)

Beta readers and alpha readers are important but they are hard to come by. You've got to find the right kind of people who will not be afraid to give you feedback beyond "it was really good."

I use them and I have slowly pulled in a few over the years. A couple are other writers, including my writing friend above--we've been close friends most of our lives and he knows my writing style and what I'm going for in a story. And since we've known each other for decades he has no qualms about giving me honest feedback. Which I appreciate!

I think you need outside eyes to pick out the things you can't. I firmly believe I'm too close to my own writing to be able to "see" where I fall short. Rereading your own material, you tend to mentally gloss over things--because you know what you intended to say, and it's hard to take an objective look at your own stories.

I am grateful for alpha and beta readers and always offer them signed copies when the hard work is done or other perks and merch. And acknowledgments in the credits--to me that's the most important one because the book wouldn't be nearly as good without them.

8/24/2025 04:42:12 pm

There is a lot of interpretation involved, without a doubt.

Nearly every author has struggled to find beta readers who will give honest feedback. Now, there are people on X who advertise for beta reading. Fresh eyes are vitally important, just as you said. I think our brains tire of seeing the same thing over and over. They whisper, it is perfect. The brain wants something new.

On my personal blog, Words For Thought, I have 13 ways to trick your brain into seeing old material as fresh and new. Then the errors pop up easily.

Most authors gift their advance readers a signed copy of the book. Many also thank them by name in the preface.

New questions.

At what stage in your writing process do you bring in the readers?

Do you give them an e-version like a PDF or a hard copy you printed?

8/24/2025 05:27:38 pm

I'll check out your articles because even though I've got readers I am always looking for ways to sharpen my own skills.

I always offer my readers and helpers physical books. I acknowledge people who help with other aspects of my books as well. Deidre Owen, from Mannison Press, helped me design Project Threshold's logo and I am always eternally grateful. I've had others who have helped in smaller capacities but I like to acknowledge them too. A Twitter friend helped me work out the Latin on my logo too.

As to your question, I don't bring readers in until I've finished and gone through a story multiple times myself. I want readers focusing on the story and not on typos and mild grammatical errors. I'm more interested in story pitfalls or scenes that don't play out well, or sound awkward. Those are the kinds of edits I want in order to smooth it out and help the story read well from start to finish.

I'll send it to them in whatever form they prefer. One friend does prefer a physical copy in order to make notes. I actually prefer editing on physical copies too.

8/24/2025 07:06:10 pm

I like the logo. It is interesting.

I think that is wise use of your beta readers. Finding those rough spots that don't read as smoothly as they could.

When I began proofreading for a friend in the late 70s, he mailed me a carbon copy of his manuscript. I mailed it back to him. Now, I prefer a MS Word document. I use the commenting feature to reveal the issues I see and suggest a correction.

Last question.

Your logo has an interesting eye motif with 7 dots under it and the Latin phrase above. Can you explain the significance of the symbols and the Latin?

8/24/2025 07:18:15 pm

Yes--I do like the comments feature in Word and when I'm working with presses they often make use of it. It does make it easier for me.

I've edited other people's work and using Word is the easiest--especially with my handwriting being very illegible. :)

For my logo, the Latin translates to "Protect Humanity From Darkness" which is Project Threshold's motto and is their guiding principle. I tried using a Google translator online but in letting my friend look at it, she had a friend who had a degree in Latin and helped me straighten it out :)

For the 7 dots below...currently, most agents are not cleared for that information. Not even Berger, Talise and Riker have full access to Project Threshold's records...

In the aftermath of Season 2, that is going to change because things have been escalating. Perhaps we'll find out in Season 3 ;)

8/24/2025 07:31:01 pm

My handwriting is pretty poor, also. If I take my time, then it is somewhat legible. Because I was a drafter for a couple of years in the early 70s, my printing is decent, and nearly anyone can read it.

I am glad you got the Latin figured out.

I guess this lowly agent will have to wait. But I am wondering about the founders of Project Threshold and what issues they ran into, however long ago.

Thank you for being a fabulous guest again! You have answered my questions so candidly, well, most of the time. ;-)

Until next time, keep on writing.

8/24/2025 08:05:32 pm

Thanks for everything Mark. I love discussing writing and processes. Hanging out here, I love the hard questions because it makes me contemplate why I DO the things I do.

As for the origins and when you may be cleared for more access to Project Threshold, it won't be forever before Project Threshold 3 rises.

I always appreciate your time!

Project Threshold: Season Two: Operation Rogue Weather by Craig Crawford

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