Project Threshold: Closing Dark Doors: Series II by Craig Crawford

12/13/2025

The entire second season

Multi-volume, horror-and-science-fiction author Craig Crawford introduces us to the complete season 2 of “Project Threshold: Closing Dark Doors:”
The Alaska event changed everything for Project Threshold. They know the beings called the “Ancients” are not only real but a force at the edge of things. Every team lost friends trying to contain the machine entity called Shattiq, and they’re trying to figure out how to carry on while getting back on assignment.
Berger gets used to a new role and brings Aurora Delgado into their ranks. Disabled by a sea monster, she sat on the sidelines until she got new legs and Berger coaxes her onto his team. Riker and McCoy are recovering but Kurt and Cass join the team. Riker finds clues about the monster that killed her parents, and a possible way to hunt it down and kill it.
Meanwhile, Talise practices her own abilities, gaining an old paranormal friend. Bodi takes the lead for another confrontation with the invisible entity in the woods. Kali isn’t the same at all after saving everything. Her psychic abilities have expanded and keep growing. Her power is a boon in the field, but she’s worried. Her talents keep expanding and she doesn’t know how to shut it off or what the limits of that power will be…

From Latin: Protect Humanity From Darkness

This series is fabulous! I love it so much. Science fiction is my favorite genre and fantasy is a close second. These books tickle both of those spots, for me, over and over.
The stories in this volume are quite memorable. Combining all of the stories of the second season into one volume is a wonderful idea. So convenient!
You are going to love this book! I know I do.

62 Comments

Craig Crawford link

12/15/2025 09:40:00 am

Good morning, Mark. It's good to be chatting with you again...

Mark

12/15/2025 12:09:54 pm

It's wonderful to chat with you again. This is our eleventh conversation, I think.

First question.

I love the idea of the omnibus. All of the second season stories in one place. There is also a collection of the first season stories, as it should be. How did the idea for a collection first come about?

Craig Crawford link

12/15/2025 02:13:49 pm

Hi Mark--I never get tired of these discussions! We always come up with new things to chat about...and speaking of which:

Red Cape Publishing wanted to do a hardback version of Season 1 and I was all for it. I like the omnibus too. I love the individual covers, but the complete season is nice for people to have all the stories in one place.

They designed the novella covers and the ombnibus cover--I like the stark black given the content :)

In its origin, Project Threshold began as one story but then morphed into a serial format with multiple teams. Early on I was working with another press on this but it became too large for them to handle and I eventually pitched it to Red Cape, who I'd published two other stories with. They picked up the entire first season and the novella format seemed like a good fit for the stories. However, most people are used to novels so this seemed like a great move, adding the hardback as well as the individual novellas.

Mark

12/15/2025 06:16:00 pm

A note to our visitors, both season-one omnibus and season-two omnibus are available as ebooks, as well. The convenience of the ebook is equally effective as the hardcover.

Red Cape Publishing is doing a good job for you.

My last question to you in our chat for Operation Rogue Weather was about the logo for your omnibus books and website. Before that, I asked about what kind of copy you sent your beta readers to examine. Let's pick up from there.

New questions.

Do you ask the beta readers questions to get feedback?

Do you do much rewriting after getting their comments?

Craig Crawford link

12/15/2025 07:45:16 pm

Feedback from betas can be pretty tricky. Early on, you get whatever you can for betas and most often it's friends/family. That can be hard because they want to be supportive and don't want to hurt your feelings, so getting honesty about a book or story is a challenge. Also getting depth out of them for how they perceive your writing and the story can be tough.

Answers about your work like "it was really good" or "I liked it a lot" become some of the favorites...but you don't really get anything you can work with.

So, yes, I have questions I'll ask betas and they are never yes/no questions. :)

Usually, I have an idea of what's working and what isn't and I'll try to lay out questions that don't obviously give away what I'm looking for. For example, I have Aurora Delgado in Season 2 and I did get a beta reader who is disabled to read Aurora for accuracy and realism in portraying a character who'd lost her legs. My reader was and is awesome, offering straight up perspective which was great because I'd miss things I have never had to deal with.

For other betas, I laid out questions to them to see how they viewed her with things like "Tell me what you think about her--tell me what you know about her." I was trying to get at whether I'd given enough information on her back story as well as how they saw her based on what they'd read.

I've also asked Betas which of Project Threshold's stories were their favorites and least favorites to see if I came up with patterns as to why. I know which of them resonates with me, but that doesn't always translate to which stories resonate with readers :)

Incidentally, "Not The Usual Night Crowd" topped the list. As for least favorite, from Season 1 it was Trespassers. I love the story for specific reasons but it's lower key than many of the others.

Just like reviews though, feedback is hard to get, and honest feedback is really tough.

I have two people now I've been tapping into on a post-apocalyptic novel and they've both been extremely helpful in catching things I missed in the initial writes and re-writes. Huge thank you's to them both!!!

Craig Crawford link

12/15/2025 07:59:07 pm

I neglected to answer the last part, but I really do take feedback to heart and add, cut and change things according to the feedback I get. My ultimate goal is always to make the story stronger and more enjoyable. I take feedback very seriously and usually when betas make a point of calling something out, they're right on the money.

I've got a long time friend who has been reading and editing my stuff forever. He knows my style well and can make solid points and catch those small things I overlook.

Mark

12/16/2025 09:16:44 am

That was a thorough exposition about beta readers, problems that can arise easily and workarounds. Thank you, that will be helpful for many authors. Not all authors ask their beta readers questions.

New questions.

Do you reward the alpha/beta readers in any particular way?

Do you have other writers you connect with, as in a critique group or support group?

Craig Crawford link

12/16/2025 09:25:35 am

I always offer beta readers copies of books and most often I give them nods in acknowledgements for stories they work on. I do value their perspectives and opinions because they can give me a real feel for how my story is hitting someone.

As for writer's groups...I don't have one I belong to, but I connect with a few other writers, and we will bounce ideas off of each other and even share stories to be read, edited and critiqued. I offer my perspective for their stories as well when asked. I think my personal style doesn't work well with organized weekly or monthly group meetings,, but that's my quirky nature.

I never mind offering feedback or critiques for other writers and I try to be honest while also looking at the story from their perspective as much as I can.

Mark

12/16/2025 10:46:51 am

Signed copies and acknowledgments are a wonderful way to thank those early readers for their help. Their eyes are important.

Sometimes, writer groups work well, and sometimes they don't. I have heard of at least one group where the group leader was the only one published and it seemed like he was trying to transfer his writing voice to all of the other writers, to make their writing a clone of his. Not a good thing. Working casually as equals is much better. Respecting a writer's voice is important in my mind.

New questions.

What is the most important thing you learned from publishing your latest book?

What are three things, that you wish you knew before you wrote your first book?

Craig Crawford link

12/16/2025 05:41:48 pm

Agreed on writing groups. I've heard horror stories (not the great kind) about some groups and positive experiences out of others. I think the hardest thing is making sure everyone comes to the table with the idea that each member is in a process of growth and no one voice has all the answers. It's hard to overcome egos and hard to speak up when someone else has a lot of successful experience--even those with many publications are not true experts.

Positive things I've learned from writing Season 2 is that I can trust my writing process. I came into #2 without knowing where it was going before I started. Honestly, I toyed with several paths but then the lights flicked on, and I knew it was going to follow the aftermath of Kali's entanglement with the enigmatic group, The Ancients. I could have drug that out over another season but I felt I had to resolve things quickly there.

Given my short story/serial format, I don't feel like I can just let things hang out in the ether for very long. I like resolution and I believe my followers and readers appreciate the same. Besides, i have lots of avenues to wander down with this series.

As for other learning, I am still struggling with the marketing side of things. I am learning as I go and it's up to me and me alone at present. I've been spending lots of time on it, but I work full time and when the stories start showing up (either for Project Threshold or other projects I have) everything else takes a back seat. It has too.

So, as I am learning and experimenting with marketing I'm probably going to progress slowly because there are just only so many hours in the day. Not much I can do about that because I have limited resources to devote to it too. I can't afford to hire out my marketing except on a limited basis, so for good or ill, it's where I'm at.

I've accepted that and really, much of that is mostly self-imposed deadlines and stress on my part. I have lots of time to build my name and my body of work. As an Indie author, it's hard though, reading up on tips to get the word out and all of these "experts" telling you you HAVE to do such and such early in the process, and a hundred other things to secure success.

Maybe in an ideal world, but I feel I'm pretty typical of an Indie author and maybe even have more resources than many. I can't juggle it all, so I do the best I can. I'm content with that because, for now, it's the best I can do.

My advice to other struggling Indie authors out there is to cut yourself a break too. Realize you can only control so much, do the best you can with the time and money you do have and just, above all, keep writing as your primary focus. You'll get there.

3 thing I wish I knew before I wrote the first book....hmmnn...

1) I wish I'd understood the marketing side better beforehand, but it really is "spilt milk" as they say, and if I've realized one thing about my writing it's that it comes when the stories are ready and I have to let that be my guiding force. I can't rush it and I can't put the stories to the side until I feel like I'm ready. When the urge hits, I go.

2) I'd go back and tell myself everything doesn't have to be perfect. I know I've spent a fair amount of time stressing over getting stories finished while juggling everything else and feeling like I HAVE to have everything neat and tidy before jumping in.

It's not so. I know I work best under deadlines and sometimes in the middle of chaos, but it also stresses me out trying to cover every angle and every "to-do" when I see them. I'd have been more relaxed just breathing and tackling what I could have. I survived obviously, but there was a lot of unneeded stress during the early process.

3) Understanding what the life of an Indie writer is really like. It's one of those things you can't "know" until you dive in, but I grew up on the image of authors being that mythical: you get published, you sit back and let the publishers deal with the marketing and the weird stuff, leaving the author to his or her creation process.

I don't know if that was ever truly the case, but the landscape of publishing has grown and changed completely. Most of what I hear on the five remaining big publishers is that they're making their authors get heavily involved in marketing too, so signing with them, other than advantages in distribution, is not absolving them of the marketing side of writing either.

And not to imply that I would have had second thoughts about being an author if I'd known it going in--it wouldn't have changed a thing. At the end of the day, I have an honest NEED to tell stories and no matter the uphill, I'd have dove in headfirst. Again, I think it would have helped prepare me mentally and helped me relax knowing how the world of publishing has changed.

But, eh? It is what it is, and I'm good with it. I tackle what I can as best I can and just keep tapping out stories

Mark

12/16/2025 07:40:10 pm

Thank you for sharing so honestly. You covered a lot of ground that needed to be covered. Your candid self-assessment is useful for a lot of authors. Nobody can do it all without hiring others to do some of the necessary footwork. The practical solution is setting priorities and dividing time among them.

Getting the books written and published are first of course. Building a fan base, reader base can be started at anytime. You have a good start on that. You have a website devoted to the world you are building and your newsletter is entirely in character for your series and world-building.

When is the best time to plant an oak tree? Forty years ago. When is the second best time to plant the tree? Today. That proves a good point: if you don't plant the tree, it will never grow.

Write when you need to write. Market and promote when you are not writing.

New questions.

Do you have a hero, real or fictional?

What are three things that you love about writing?

Craig Crawford link

12/16/2025 08:30:01 pm

Heroes. I gotta go with my dad. He grew up in a rough family with little next to nothing. I'm pretty sure he had ADHD though they didn't know anything about it back then. He had dreams of making it in the music world but never got anywhere substantial. But he carved out a good life and encouraged me to follow my passions. He taught me to keep trying and not to give up. I admire his relentless determination.

For writing I love being a "pantser." I write by the seat of my pants and let my characters lead the way. It feels like a magic of its own. Going along with that I love that ideas come from anywhere and everywhere. Ive gotten story ideas watching the river on my walk into work, watching documentaries on cryptids and even a story coming from a dream that freaked me out enough to wake me up. It's how I know my mind is always pursuing stories. And last, that elation and sense of triumph every time I write "The End" Never mind the editing and the submitting but that content satisfaction of finishing a story is a great feeling.

Mark

12/17/2025 08:29:06 am

Your dad sounds like an amazing man. You learned a lot from him.

Many writers are like you, pantsers. They enjoy following the characters and are elated as the storie develops in ways they didn't foresee. I have heard of at least one pantser who outlined or plotted the chapters after they were written. He claimed it made it easier to find things as the book grew in length.

If I wrote, I would probably be a hybrid of the two, plotter and pantser. I would start with an outline and go from there, knowing that the story might veer away from my chosen path.

New question.

Have you ever thought about writing a book about your dad?

Would it be a biography or fiction?

Craig Crawford link

12/17/2025 09:11:16 am

Thanks--he really was an unsung hero for overcoming a lot. And I should consider writing a book about him. I don't know if it would be Bio or fiction but I'm going to consider it. Thanks.

Back to pantsing, I think most writers, even self-proclaimed pantsers, fall somewhere in between the two extremes. I know occasionally I'll make rough story boards of my characters to keep straight who is doing what and when compared to the others.

For a sci-fi YA I finished up this year, I had an entire spreadsheet of the characters and side characters plus several pages of back history I needed to get down so that I could refer back to it. Now the plot continued changing on me up until the very end. It was slow going but exciting because I was either waiting for my characters to make decisions about things or trying to put myself in their shoes to see how they'd react (depending on your philosophical thought on the nature of pantsing and characters ;) ).

I love giving the story free reign, and it often goes down paths I don't see in the beginning.

This has been true for Project Threshold as well. My Kali character gets in over her head and her transformation in Closing Dark Doors unfolded on me as I was writing. The character affectionately called "Squishy" did not pop up until late into the writing, but it tied in so well to earlier things I had set up that I don't know how I didn't "see" it coming :)

And for Project Threshold 3, I created a story summation of what I have vs where I want to go with it just to keep things straight, visually. So, I am a pantser but I utilize aspects of the plotter's approach. As I said, I think all writers fall somewhere on that line, but some choose to lean further in one direction or another.

At the end of the day, more power to however it works best for getting your stories on the page. If you sync in by plotting things out, then it's excellent and you should embrace it!

Mark

12/17/2025 10:56:07 am

Dad's biography might find a larger audience than just family, especially if it was woven into fiction. I am glad you are going to think about it.

I agree. Most authors are hybrids, especially when they are dealing with a series or a long book with lots of characters. You are in the middle of that situation, working on the third season. Those tools will help you keep all the wires straight. I am certain the next set of books will be fabulous.

New questions.

What is the most valuable piece of advice you have ever received from another writer?

What is the worst piece of advice you have received another writer?

Craig Crawford link

12/17/2025 12:00:19 pm

Best advice: I've chatted with many writers on X/Twitter and also here. Most of them fall along similar lines of doing what works for a writer individually. Spending any time talking to other writers, you suddenly realize each person has their own process and it varies.

I prefer to write in the evenings because I seem to get a creative streak which starts in between 8-10pm. I often write while listening to music and I've got a separate room to create my monsters :)

For the most part, most other writers have been very respectful of individual writing "quirks" and I think if you write for any length of time, you realize there are no silver bullets to creation and that each person finds their own best path and patterns.

I don't think I've received that one illuminating piece of advice from someone that set off an "aha!" moment, but it's been a continuous trade of information and habits over the years that has helped me shape my own processes.

I'm interjecting after I wrote the last paragraph, but I did have one of those moments! But it came from an editor. Going through my fantasy novel, I was talking with her about details and I asked her, "how much is too much?" I know, for my own self, too much exposition on world details and info dumps paragraphs long do not keep my attention for very long. A paragraph or two at most is all I can take before I start skimming to get back to the story.

The editor simply wrote back to me and asked, "How much do you like when you're reading?"

That's when I started looking at my writing from my side of the keyboard but also trying to see it from a reader's standpoint. In story telling there is a tempo and a flow to the narrative. It's how you keep your reader firmly entrenched into the story. If you deviate from that tempo, you risk pulling them out of the story, forcing them to re-immerse. So, the challenge is to intersperse necessary details without bogging down the flow of the story.

That stuck with me.

Concerning bad advice, I've encountered a couple of writers who were convinced there is only one way to create--based off of what works for them and they simply can't see how anything else could work.

I think I've received the worst information from agents and editors. There's a lot out there about writing with the trends and to me that is no way to create something spectacular. Unless a trend matches up with what you're already doing, it's a waste of creative time and passion. I have to be reallllllllllllly inspired and into a topic or story to get excited enough to carry a novel or series through to "The End," and I don't think you can write your best if you're only writing for what's popular now. My opinion but I think it holds up.

I do remember one editor at a press who I'd submitted my Dave E Lish book to. I sent it for publication and her comments coming back revolved around me basically taking out all of Dave's commentary and I guess, making it more serious. I don't honestly know what her real intent was, but I wasn't interested in changing it and having her take another look. Honestly, she didn't "get it" or what I was doing with that piece of fiction and it never would have worked...Dave agreed with me ;)

Mark

12/17/2025 03:05:45 pm

No silver bullets? Of course not! Every person has to figure it out for themselves, exactly as you said.

One of the big traps that new writers can fall into is latching onto a how-to book or seminar by a well-known writer. Sure, that writer wrote some good books a few years ago. That once-famous author is now trying to generate cash flow because their last book or two didn't sell like the previous books. The market is fluid and constantly changing. I think writing to market is a big mistake unless the author is one of the most famous authors of the time; then their fans are going to eat up whatever the author writes, unless the author strays too far from what the fans want. Some of the big-name authors pick up a cowriter or three, and those sub-writers have to follow instructions and preserve that big-name's voice in the book. Books sell, and the fans are happy.

Artificial intelligence makes writing to market pretty easy. It can identify the trends and the proper voice. All the "writer" does is provide a detailed prompt, and a few hours later, a book is ready to upload to Amazon. Earlier this year, Amazon limited authors to three uploads a day. A. DAY.

That editor seemed to think there was no place for humor in your book. I am so glad you didn't listen to her. I knew Dave would agree with you.

New questions.

You have published a number of books. You are writing more. Are you writing anything strictly for your own pleasure, not necessarily planning to publish it?

What are common traps for beginning writers?

Craig Crawford link

12/17/2025 04:02:29 pm

That's my take on how-to books, books on how to market and "make 6 figures", and so on. What those books really represent is one author or marketer's approach that worked for them. Not a path to instant success.

Now, yes, there are methods which stand true and ways to streamline but if you learn the basics, you just have to keep doing what you're doing. You don't look back and you don't worry about what could happen.

I do want to divert into a discussion on AI. There's a lot of misinterpretation and a lot of mythology about what it is and what it isn't. Where I work, I've seen AI being used and I know some of the background on it.

What AI is not, is intelligent. It is not sentient. It is basically a Google search on steroids. the LLM's (Language Learning Model) is fed all kinds of data which it stores. Then, when asked questions, it creates an answer based on its store of knowledge plus how it was programmed to respond.

From our perspective it sure seems like it's "alive" and responsive. However, we do the same things mentally, just at a much slower pace. I am a writer, but I'm also an amalgam of everything I've read and written up to this point. Which means my style of writing is, in a sense, a conglomeration of everything I've learned and stored about stories and writing.

The difference is, it's taken me decades to get to this point whereas AI is fed all of that information fast and can analyze and come to a consensus based on its data in a matter of moments.

AI has a great many uses but story telling is not one of them. Yes, it can approximate a story based on its stored knowledge, but it's not going to be able to add a real writer's experience and emotion the way we as humans can. There's just more to it than that. Yes, AI can turn out books, but are they going to be books someone will call their favorite? Nope.

I use AI for my marketing. I've used ChatGPT to ferret out backgrounds on supposed companies and individuals who want to "help" me market my books. I've been inundated lately with tons of people and groups who claim to be legitimate but end up turn out to be scammers. It's a useful tool for cutting down on the amount of time I have to waste exposing these false leads.

AI is also useful for gleaning information on a topic. And in actuality, even those of you who are stoically holding out against AI, you're still actually using it. Looked at a Google search lately? It incorporates AI to come up with answers for you. So do popular manuscript software applications. Microsoft Word has been using limited forms of AI for a long time. The spelling and grammar checker in Word was a limited form of AI, which has morphed and gotten better.

And as we're seeing, almost every company in existence is now trying to incorporate AI into its folds in order to get an edge on selling you products and finding ways to streamline its costs.

There are, of course, a lot of "evils" that will come along with the use of AI--which you mentioned, Mark. Plugging a plot into an AI search and basically regurgitating out a variation of a book based on trends in an attempt to cash in on the market. It's sad and I stand by my statement that AI will never replace true artists in any medium. There's just something about human experience that can touch our souls.

Whew. Went off on a tangent. Onto questions!

As to books I'm working on. I have my very first fantasy novels--two completed, one called The Dragon Hunters. The second is called Dragon Hunted. That was my very first attempt at a novel and I still hold it dear to my heart. It was written in the aftermath of my father dying and it came about from one of those moments where I got the "Call" and decided if I was gonna do this writing thing, I needed to get to it. It wasn't my best writing, but I wrote both from beginning to end. I think it helped me a lot during that dark period but it's something I'll probably never publish. Maybe someday I'll pull it out and rewrite it, but it's not on my agenda.

I do have another fiction novel which I wrote and it's begging for a sequel. It's not my usual genres either. Much more philosophical and religious in nature, and that I really did write just for me, fleshing out my ideas about said subjects. The first is called The Salvation of Samuel but I keep it close to the chest. I've only let one other person read it and I don't think I'll seek publication for it. The second I, The Reclamation of Samuel, I poke at but haven't really gotten too deep into it. I mess about with it in my spare time.

For beginning writers, I think the biggest trap is too much self expectation. I know I've fallen into that. Early on, finishing my dragon hunting books, I was convinced it was the best thing I'd ever written, which it was. At the time. Now, I realize it was forging new ground and proving to myself I could write a novel, but I expected that to just "wow" the market. It never got close to being picked up by

Craig Crawford link

12/17/2025 06:53:07 pm

Guess I got cut off....so let's get back on track...

With my first leap into the publishing ground I stacked up rejections. Back then more often than not you had to mail in queries and got back responses in the actual mail. I think it was Stephen King who talked about pounding a nail into the wall and piercing his rejections on it. I did that too.

After a healthy try, I gave up on marketing it and concentrated on my next set of novels. But back to beginning writers, the key is to not let yourself get too caught up in the "failing."

The secret is, you're not failing at all. I once read that in order to master something you have to put in 10,000 hours devoted to what you want to master. So, while it's easy to think of yourself as "failing" you're actually just putting in the miles and the time. You're succeeding because you're not giving up. You keep getting back up and trying new things, slowly honing the skills you do have and building new ones.

So deep breaths and keep writing. Even when you fall into traps, as all of us writers do, dust yourself off when you realize it, get back up and go sling out another story...

Mark

12/17/2025 07:18:01 pm

You did cover a lot of ground there. I love it.

I have been watching AI for a long time. You are correct, it is little more than the maker of the biggest lists for any question. Since the Large Language Models have scraped the internet for every bit of data/information, (my website was scraped two or three times, several years ago), all the AI needs is a few directions (prompts) and off it goes like a well-trained bloodhound and rounds up everything that matches the shopping list.

AI might be the death of us, but it will be because it sucks up so much electricity. I think we might return to gasoline-powered cars because electric cars also use a lot of electricity. If there is enough power to distill the gasoline from crude oil. If not, then it's horse and buggy time.

In the west, people have been screaming about having their copyright violated. They are right. Cases are winding through the courts and there is lots of huffing and puffing in legislatures of many countries. India has just made a bold move. They passed a law that says the LLMs can have fair use of all published material in India. They are setting up commission to pay a royalty to copyright holders based on how successful the AI is. I actually think that is a good idea. India might leapfrog most of the west.

You only fail when you give up.

New question.

Do you think a strong ego is an asset or liability for a writer and why?

Craig Crawford link

12/18/2025 12:16:31 pm

Agreed on AI. Between electricity and also the water needed to cool the giant data servers, it's draining resources even faster than before. I don't know where it's all headed, but for the time being, we're along for the ride.

And the copyright infringements--AI has come into use with no parameters and no limits. We're in the equivalent of the wild west in terms of limits and there are plenty of companies and groups and individuals who are more than happy to take advantage of other people's work. I think it will sort itself out over time but again, it's going to be rough seas for the next few years.

To get to the question, ego is like so many traits in its potential to be a boon or a bane. I think you need a certain amount of ego to keep yourself going. It comes in believing in yourself to be able to keep writing and pushing your stories to publishing. Being a writer, actually any creative endeavor, is a career where you're often your own best champion.

You'll often get support from family and friends, but it only brings you so far. You, as the creative, have to keep yourself moving forward. Having enough of an ego to look in the mirror and tell yourself you can do this is essential.

However, like most ascents, it can become easy to give in to that ego and start assuming you're better than others if you do reach some semblance of fame and notoriety. I think that's always true. You see it in rising movie stars and people who suddenly attain mass fame and appeal.

The hard part is not believing your own hype if and when you make it that far.

Mark

12/18/2025 12:28:29 pm

I agree with everything you said about the ego. Without intrinsic motivation, you won't last in the long run. Motivation and praise from other people are short-lived. If your immediate results aren't nearly miraculous, the fickle crowd will rapidly lose interest and head for the next shiny thing.

History is littered with examples of people who let pride get in their way. As the wise man said so long ago, pride goes before a fall.

New questions.

Can you describe the demographic of your ideal reader?

Who is the person most likely to buy your book?

Craig Crawford link

12/18/2025 02:06:59 pm

My ideal reader....

demographically speaking, I do think it's tough to pin down. According to what research I've come across, horror readers are younger, supposedly mostly male and part of that niche that likes to be scared or at least unnerved.

I don't agree with much of that. From my experiences, my friends, and from what I've seen on social media, horror readers can come from several age brackets. I have a theory that horror fans are grown at home--it usually comes from an adult family member who is into horror and passes it along to their kids in some form. Thus, you get horror aficionados across the age spectrum.

As for gender, I don't believe that it's mostly male at all. I've come across so many women who are deeply entrenched in horror I don't buy into the statistics. Even on X/Twitter, there's a huge population of female horror fans. I have several female friends who love horror. And yay for that! :)

So, demographically, as I'm starting to advertise, I usually pin down targeting to the age bracket from 18-55 and all genders. I'll target horror and science fiction and psychological and a few others.

My ideal reader is a horror fan who prefers the slow burn with tension building as opposed to splatter horror. I am always very up front with potential readers that, while gore and horror can go together, the violence and the blood are at most backdrops for the stories I write. I want three dimensional characters, and my stories are much more about how they function and operate in the aftermath of some of the things they encounter.

There are deaths and sometimes grisly, but it's never the focus of my writing.

My ideal reader is an intelligent horror fan who is looking for books that will draw them into my world and make them contemplate some of the same struggles the characters in my stories wrestle with.

I want to entertain them but also make them feel some of what is going through my characters, instead of the slaughter-fest that lives in a lot of second and third tier horror movies.

Mark

12/18/2025 04:21:25 pm

I am a little surprised, like you, that the demographics for horror are rather narrow. I have seen so many women deep into horror, as you have.

I liked being scared as a teenager, but the movies were much tamer. Alfred Hitchcock's movie Psycho was very scary! When I saw Carrie for the first time, that was my limit. I haven't watched any splatter movies since then.

I love the way you write. Your characters are real and deal with extraordinary problems and overcome or die trying.

So many horror books seem focused on the gore. That turns me off.

New question.

Do you have an item or a routine you consider to be your writing lucky charm?

Craig Crawford link

12/18/2025 04:54:24 pm

Agreed. Gore does not scare me. It bores me because it feels like a crutch horror movies (especially) rely on instead of good story telling (okay, maybe I'm getting snooty after all :) :) :) )

My favorite horror movies are the ones that are clever and creative.

As far as routine, I usually sit down at my keyboard and often play a couple of games of solitaire or hearts and let my mind wander. I may pull up the story I want to work on but then I'll just kind of wait for a bit to see what shows up. Some nights I can literally feel the writing coming on. Other nights not so much and I'll turn to editing or research or marketing. I think I know what I'll be doing for the evening in about the first ten minutes of sitting down.

As far as lucky charms...not specifically. In my writing room I have my desk (which, for good or ill is cluttered with notes and notebooks, messages and all kinds of nonsense). I have a shelf to my left covered with various favorite cryptids, a Godzilla stand up frame, a couple of Jawas and a few other comfy knick-knacks. On the wall in front of me to my far left is a 3-dimensional plaster shadow looking like it's reaching out of the wall at you. It's cool and I snagged that a long time back, but he watches over me. To my right, I'm building a collection of prints I've bought from that artist--Eve Mout: Ursus Dark Art. I bought a calendar and then postcard prints and soon I'll be adding the prints from the illustrations she's creating for Project Threshold 3 :)

I'm excited about that!

Other than that, I don't have a magic notebook or coin, or anything else I keep handy to give me a confidence boost. I do like working on a mechanical keyboard--I love the clickety-clack as I type!

The door to the room stays open so my son or wife can come in and bug me...though they've learned to knock at the threshold if I have headphones on, and stay back until they catch my attention. More than once I've been in my writing zone and one of the two have come up next to me and I am totally oblivious, and they've scared the crap out of me in my chair :)

I should install a light or a bell...maybe I'll put my kid to work on that--he's studying to be an electrical engineer :)

I'll take pics of my messy writing space and post them on Twitter and Instagram one of these days...don't judge me too harshly ;)

Mark

12/18/2025 06:27:13 pm

My desk is messy too. My working space is a closet in an extra bedroom. I took the doors off the closet, and nearly everything fits in there. I'll post a picture of my workspace after you.

New question.

What is your writing Kryptonite and how has it affected you?

Craig Crawford link

12/18/2025 10:59:21 pm

Kryptonite...I have ADHD and it affects me in odd ways. I am terrible at following directions--not because I don't want follow them, but because my brain zones out after a few lines. I think it's why I don't like long exposition and info dumps. My attention literally fades fast. Also probably why I was constantly reprimanded as a kid for not following all the rules and lots of people assumed I was rebellious and defiant (well, maybe a little...)

It also catches me when it comes to getting things done. I do get distracted, but more so when I have lots of tasks building up on me, I tend to shut down and get nothing accomplished. Ironic because I can write in a sea of chaos, but if I have too many other things coming at me, it's a cacophony I can't control.

So, over the years, I've had to find ways to compensate. For directions, I have to tackle things in short increments. Like a recipe: read the whole thing but then break it down into segments I can handle. Same for lots of tasks bearing down on me. I pick an easy thing to accomplish, then try another little more complicated one. If I don't think about the totality of what's in front of me and can concentrate on the one thing, I can slowly slog through my jobs.

I think it's why I love writing. It fits with my mind and for some reason it's easy to keep track of everything. There, I can juggle as many characters and plot angles as I need to. I keep the details straight and don't forget side plots or handy twists I can use later. I don't know why writing works that way for me and not the really real world, but it does and writing and creating is where I find my peace.

fantasy-art-z link

12/19/2025 08:20:08 am

I have read 2 books of the "Project Threshold" that Craig so generously sent me and they are just amazing and intrigued. So easy read with captivating plot. Thank you so much Craig and please continue writing!

Craig Crawford link

12/19/2025 08:41:14 am

Thank you so much for that! You do not have to worry...I can't keep up with the stories rolling around in my brain and I have a back log of novels I haven't gotten published yet!

Love your art too, as you well know!

Mark

12/19/2025 08:43:47 am

Thank you for sharing that. If you find you would like to ask us a question, feel free to drop in again.

Mark

12/19/2025 08:52:24 am

We have much in common with ADHD. I am overwhelmed at times when faced with a large task or many small ones. I tackle the pile like you.

I think my ADHD has allowed me to focus on reading to the near-total exclusion of the rest of the world, depending upon how good the book was. It was all good until I married. I had to learn to keep one ear open for the voice of my wife. My hyper-spelling and proofreading ability benefit from the same focus. The misspelled words jump off the page at me as do the missing words. The lack of a word is quite jarring!

New questions.

Do you struggle with writer's block, if so, how do you overcome it?

Do you see an advantage of writing under a pseudonym, why or why not?

Craig Crawford link

12/19/2025 09:34:33 am

Writer's block is an interesting issue. I know most writers talk about it and deal with it at some point. I don't know if I have really had it or not.

I do have periods where no ideas for stories are coming. However, when those periods hit, I do other things. I concentrate on editing existing manuscripts and even going over my short story library. It's how I edit--I have a few novels I've probably gone through over a dozen times but I'll only tackle them every now and again.

Also, with the birth of Project Threshold, there's always more to be done on the marketing front, so if I'm not feeling the stories coming, I'll focus on that side of writing.

I look at writing in the same way athletes look at exercising. You have to do it regularly, but you also have to take breaks. When other writers talk about "Writer's block" I don't really know what that specifically means. Does it mean they haven't had a good idea in days, weeks, months? Are they just stuck on an existing story?

For me, I've also realized I have times of the year where I get in my writing groove. Typically, I write heavily from January to April or May, and often, if I'm going to write a novel, that's when it happens. During the summer months, I write sporadically or not at all. During the fall, things seem to pick up in September and October, but during the holiday months of November and December, it just depends on how busy I am with life.

I've learned not to push too hard and to take my cues from my imagination. Like an athlete, if you don't take breaks in between strength and endurance training you can actually hurt the muscles you're trying to build. I think in the same terms to writing.

However, I recognize that I need to take breaks too, to let those creative muscles rest and rejuvenate. As a writer you can't be in a constant state of creation. I think writers think they should be able to and that's not how it works. The creative side needs rest breaks too.

As to pseudonyms, I haven't written under one so far but who knows? Maybe someday. Currently I'm mostly a horror author, but perhaps if I make a name for myself as a horror author and want to dip back into my fantasy roots, or even Young Adult, it might end up being beneficial to try a pseudonym so people don't expect a horror story out of me when I'm trying to break out in another genre.

I know authors do it, but I haven't seen the need yet.

Mark

12/19/2025 11:00:06 am

You do exactly what I have been telling authors for years.

I think most of those who struggle with writer's block are new writers. They may have only one WIP. I think many of those believe they have to write each chapter in order. That is not really necessary if you have other chapters trying to claw their way out of a writer's head. Write the easiest chapters first. The chapters only have to be in order when the book is published.

Your fallback of working on another project or marketing is brilliant. As you already said, every writer finds their best method of writing over time.

Using a pseudonym for a different genre is not a bad idea. Many authors do that. I recall one author who had 3 or 4 pen names and a separate landing page for each. But when a person clicked through the landing page, they were taken to the main website that encompasssed all of the author's work. A good idea.

New question.

Are there any issues that are peculiar to writing this genre that might not apply to other genres?

Craig Crawford link

12/19/2025 11:53:16 am

I suspect a lot of writer's block is self-imposed based off of some goal. I definitely have non-creative times, and I have learned to switch gears. It makes all the difference in the world for me and keeps me from getting stressed out.

Good question. The horror genre is not unique in trying to build tension in a story. You have to keep the reader excited and get them to buy in emotionally. However, horror brings the added fear factor in a different way. I think the ability to actually get someone creeped out or even looking over their shoulder while reading or afterwards takes time through reading and watching and practice writing to get a handle on it.

Also, you can't keep people on that scary edge throughout an entire book or even story. There are highs and lows and you have to allow your reader to catch a breath between scares. I think that's why humor can work well with horror. After reaching those tense moments, interjecting a little humor to allow those emotional breaths is a great way to alleviate the fear, even if just for a few pages before pulling them back down into the creep.

Other genres do similar, whether it be action in fantasy novels, passionate scenes in romance or even calm scenes in comedic novels. The tricks of the trade are there for all genres, but for horror you're setting your reader up for scares and creep.

Mark

12/19/2025 01:14:10 pm

Great point. Every writer must raise and lower tension in turn. The characters need a chance to catch their breath, as well as readers. I think you can see it in every medium of expression.

New question.

Are there any writing styles or genres that you disliked at first but came to like after reading a book or two?

Craig Crawford link

12/19/2025 03:18:09 pm

I've read quite an array of genres, though two come to mind.

Romance. For the most part it's not my thing. However, I made friends with someone here and she writes romance but it's in a clever way and she creates great characters. I give her a thumbs up on this genre and I'll read anything she puts out.

The other is poetry. I'm not a poet, don't think I could write poetry, and it's not a writing form that really inspires me to thought. On the other hand, I've read a couple of poetry books now from people I've met here and they were both proving me wrong on my initial thoughts, so there's hope for more reading there :)

Mark

12/19/2025 05:10:22 pm

The first romance book I promoted had me worried when I started to read. I had not read anything in the genre. It was a good book and I enjoyed the story. After reading a few more, I realized that I was a fan of good writing. No matter the genre, with certain exceptions.

My experiences with poetry were similar to yours. My expectations were low; I felt I didn't understand poetry. I was shocked when some of the poetry skipped my higher reasoning and resonated within me, stirring up emotions unexpectedly. I enjoyed the ride and haven't regretted it.

New question.

Do you think reading, watching movies or listening to music helps you be a better writer? Please explain why or why not.

Craig Crawford link

12/19/2025 07:54:57 pm

I do agree: good writing can promote any genre.

I honestly have to go with reading. It's where you see words in action and how other authors use them. Words used on the page give you new insights on how great authors create sentences and paragraphs and pages. It's the sculpting of a story, shaping characters and plot.

It's not the same for movies or music.

Movies are stories condensed down and they can be great as a medium but other than seeing how a story unfolds on the screen it doesn't give you the nuances of description on the page.

Music helps me set a mood or a tone to get into the groove of the story I'm working on. It can be important and really affect story creation. I wrote and published a story called She's Never Gone, about a ghost and needing the truth to be revealed. I listened to a single song while writing it (I sometimes do that whena tune really hits a vibe), but it really helped me get into the desolate mindset of my character.

It set the tone for the story but it wasn't responsible for the words. It just pulled me into the emotional state I needed to feel the story.

Mark

12/19/2025 08:24:37 pm

Most movies don't do justice to a book. I prefer a book to a movie most of the time now. In my opinion, the best movie from a book is Jackson's LOTR. The Hobbit was pretty good, too. I have seen many movies in the past decades, but very few in the last 20 years. The last movie I saw was the new Zootopia. I took two pre-teen granddaughters to see it. I laughed; I am easily entertained.

Music is powerful! You are not the only author who leverages music to help write a scene or more. Some authors include a playlist in their book.

New questions.

At this time, do you read books for entertainment or just research homework?

What type of book is your favorite guilty pleasure to read or listen to for fun?

Craig Crawford link

12/20/2025 12:15:39 am

I grew up with movies. Mom and Dad loved them and they were always taking us to movies. And the drive-in. Mom loved horror movies and anytime they were playing at the drive-in we were there. Of course, this was back in the 70's when blood was paint and there was no gore. On the other hand, perhaps they were scarier because they relied on good stories...either way, it rubbed off on me.

I remember you talking about authors and playlists from one of our earlier chats and I have started keeping track of songs I use to write to. For Riker's stories, I'm going to have one called Past And Present and I used a song called Cedar Lane by First Aid Kit for inspiration. It captured the tragedy of that story perfectly.

For books, I read for both. As we've discussed, I'm still heavily fascinated by cryptids and I am always buying new books on familiar cryptids plus others on lesser known cryptids. That's for entertainment but also for inspiration for Project Threshold where the characters are always encountering strange things. It's a wellspring of ideas.

I also read more Indie writers these days. As I've become an Indie author, I'm also trying to support other Indie authors by buying and reviewing their books. There's some creative and wonderful books out there that just cannot get seen for all the noise that is the number of books that are put out each year. I try to highlight authors where I can--on social media, and even my other craiglcrawfordbooks.com website. It's an ongoing project and in 2026 I am going to try to interview more Indie Authors as I get time.

As for guilty pleasures, I have yet to get back into fantasy, but it is and was my first love. I'll get there again. These days, I feel drawn to horror and the paranormal. Christina Henry is probably my favorite current authoress--she just weaves a great tale. Jason Kruse is another excellent author. He even gets into zombies, which is not my first horror favorite at all. Often I avoid them because I just don't get excited or even uptight about them, but Jason took a different take with the concept and he writes amazingly well.

I like books on the paranormal too. I've had a few experiences of my own and I love reading about ghost stories and even some fiction on the subject. Niki Morock is both a paranormal investigator and a writer, and she's written fiction and non-fiction on the subject. She's a quality and clever writer.

So in between the marketing and writing, I do sneak in time to read, just not as much time as I'd like.

Mark

12/20/2025 09:21:22 am

I think a playlist can bring an interesting dimension to a story for most readers.

You do need to keep up on cryptids, new and old.

Indie writers supporting indie writers is wonderful. So much talent that doesn't get the deserved recognition because there is so much talent. What a paradox!

Zombies are an interesting genre that can go from gore to studying human group dynamics. My most recent read was a promotion for Infected by Michael Kelso. There was a lot of violence and some gore but the focus was on the people trying to avoid being infected and survive the outbreak.

Your book, Zombunny, was a great mix of humor and people trying to survive an outbreak. I would never have thought a plush rabbit toy would be an effective defense.

New questions.

Have you ever read a book that changed the way you look at writing?

If so, in what way did your writing change?

Craig Crawford link

12/20/2025 02:21:00 pm

Yes...I love horror but the gore should be a backdrop. Frankly, in movies and stories, it just bores me unless it has a point or directly affects the plot. For me, it is completely the psychological side of horror and how it affects the main characters which is important.

As to reading books that changed the way I looked at writing...early on, I read so many great books, each of them shaped me. I grew up reading Roger Zelazny and the way he wrote was so succinct and yet so descriptive with as few words as necessary that it amazed me. When I first started writing I definitely emulated his style, trying to get to the inside of how he concocted stories.

I still love re-reading his books and short stories.

The other big influence on me is an unlikely author, at least to my mind. In school we had to read William Faulkner's short stories. I was struck by how dour and downbeat most of his stories were. Not that it was a turnoff, but the stories were so depressing. I distinctly remember telling friends how morose and dark he was, and that it wasn't a good thing.

It wasn't until college when I saw him in a new light.

I had to read The Sound And The Fury for a class. It was a confusing book--basically the same story told from four different characters, but it starts off being told from a mentally disabled character so there's little punctuation or literary form. It's not until you read through the other narrations you "see" what's really going on.

After my first read I was just shaking my head, but then a lightbulb clicked on and I realized how talented the man was. He shaped stories in subtle ways and every story was deliberate and built like an architect.

I remember two distinct things about his writing. One, he created his own county that served as the core of his stories. Yoknapatawpha County and it struck me because he was world building. Much like a fantasy novel, he created his own mythical place tucked along inside our own.

It helped me as I started writing fantasy and building my own worlds. I wanted to put as much detail into the places I created, inspired by Faulkner.

The other major aspect I found fascinating about Faulkner was how he had recurring characters. Characters from stories would show up in others and that crossover was something that I thought, and still do, think is genius. It's another connection for readers--like easter eggs, and I am taking advantage of that concept even now.

With Project Threshold, I have my world, but I have multiple sets of characters and they are aware of each other, so in Berger's stories there are references to Talise or Riker, and tidbits of information about them that can be relevant later. I haven't had enough time to expand my repetoire of books and stories yet, but Project Threshold is showing up in another series I'm working on.

Plus a few of my published short stories are connected to Project Threshold. In 2019 I published a story called Below The Water Line with Soteira press and it set up the Berger story, What Lurks Below in Season One. Berger and his team even meet up with the Phil character from that story.

Season 3 in Riker's stories is going to touch upon a creature I wrote and published a story about called The Sea God, picked up by Jazz House in 2021.

It's true those early short stories made for a good plot for Project Threshold, but it's also been nice to give nods to my earlier works and to bring back characters and creatures I've already danced with.

I give William Faulkner full credit for inspiring that in me.

Mark

12/20/2025 03:40:09 pm

I love finding Easter eggs in stories! Everything expands rapidly.

I can't recall reading any Faulkner when I was in high school. If I did read one of his stories, I was very unimpressed. I never got around to taking a lit class in college, partly because I was self-funding my way through college, and I kept dropping out for one reason or another. I was in at least 5 colleges, including the Community College of the Air Force.

New question.

Would you agree or disagree with the statement: suffering is a requirement to be a good writer, and why?

Craig Crawford link

12/20/2025 05:47:09 pm

I was an English major and I had to read all the classics plus other books of all kinds. I did read a lot of tedious books but there were some gems there, too.

As to your statement...I look at it this way. I see the point of that statement as that a writer has to live enough life to experience great things but also terrible things in order to appreciate the human condition.

When we're younger, and even up to college age, we're sheltered in a sense from some of life's nonsense. Except in situations like extreme poverty, early death of parents and other traumatic events. Still, though, we need time living on our own to be able to appreciate the world as it is.

For writing, I don't think you can fully appreciate death and loss without experiencing it first hand. So I don't think a writer has to necessarily "suffer" in order to write well, but a writer does need a certain amount of "living" to find their groove.

I've read that many writers get going in their 50s, and I think that's why. For my own self I really started to find my style and voice in my early 50s and started getting published.

Everone has rough circumstances in their lives and I think writers can use those strong emotional experiences to fuel their stories. I wouldn't consider my self as having "suffered" in life though I've dealt with some traumatic things. But I've lived long enough, I think, I've seen and learned a lot about the human condition.

Mark

12/20/2025 06:11:57 pm

That makes a lot of sense. Everyone experiences ups and downs in life. Some of it is the result of poor decisions. Some of it is the result of poor choices made by other people. When you get enough of that in your past, you tend to think a little bit longer about possible consequences. Make no mistake about it, every choice a person makes has a consequence.

I started thinking a little bit better in my 50s, at least I thought so. In my 70s now, I realize that I was still making poor choices, just not as many. When I am in my 90s, will I look back and think, I was still a bit of a dumbass? I hope not.

New questions.

Do you ever brainstorm with non-writers, and if so, is it effective?

What was the best money you ever spent as a writer to enhance your career?

Craig Crawford link

12/20/2025 09:36:29 pm

I think you're right. Supposedly we get wiser with age and I think to a large extent we do. We learn from some mistakes but you still never reach a place of complete perfection. That's okay too, though. I feel like the world is an never ending place of learning as we go.

I try to cut myself slack for making mistakes, even now. I'm a bit of a perfectionist in the way I approach the day to day so I'm really good at chastising myself when I do make mistakes but I keep trying to ease up on myself. Often you really do learn much more when you screw up as opposed to when you do things right.

Life is a funny place.

Onto questions!

I will sometimes bounce ideas off other non-writers though it's often more me thinking out loud, talking through an issue. I think you're correct in the asking though--non-writers don't always think in the same ways we strange minded writers do, so they don't always give answers that help us solve our story problems (no math puns intended).

I've bounced conundrums off of my wife or discussed ongoing plots with a couple of people I trust just to see how they "see" the situation I have going. I don't always get a solution but they will occasionally set my mind in a direction I haven't contemplated which leads to a solution.

I think the hard for a writer discussing a dilemma or even a story with other people, even non-writers, is that you have so many facets in your head it's hard to give them the complete picture in a way that they can conceive of all the ins and outs of what you're doing with a story. That would take hours to lay out :)

Even other writers don't always offer a lot of help because, again, they don't have all of the details they would need to really help you out. Still, I do discuss my stories aloud with a few other people from time to time because they will give me enough insights to find a way forward.

I remember talking with a friend on Twitter/X about a story I wrote and finally published called Shibushi Bay. A simple monster story but I sent it out over a dozen times and it got rejected over and over. Now my friend was a writer too, but not even in the same genre. I had her read it over to get her take on it. She gave good feedback and while she couldn't come up with concrete reasons why she thought it kept getting rejected, she asked enough questions that made me think I had not just taken it far enough.

It read more like a single incident and brush encounter with a sea cryptid and after talking to her, I ended up escalating the encounter beyond the basic plot. It was all I needed and I revamped it. It got picked up for publication the very next time I sent it out. And yes, I gave her credit in the anthology :)

I don't know, maybe writers, who are naturally more in tune to plot and setup do make better sounding boards...

As to your second question, it remains to be seen :)

Honestly, there are no books or guides to writing and publishing which I point to that made a huge difference in my writing career. All of the "help" books on writing and marketing...there are tidbits here and there, but most of it is common sense.

There are no silver bullets to slay the literary werewolves.

I'm experimenting now with direct advertising so maybe after the holidays and into next year I'll have a better idea of what is offering me the most 'bang for my buck' but I'm still in the early stages of actual advertising.

I know people try advertising strategies and methods, and I cannot say they don't work but I've looked at a few and they seem to cost a lot more than advertised and they also seem to be very convoluted or full of extra steps and costs to achieve what is claimed as an easy marketing strategy.

Honestly, I think the best investments I've made for my writing career involve buying a solid computer for my word processing, a comfy chair, decent headphones and the mechanical keyboard I love clacking on to help me write.

I am investing in an illustrator and also a piece of software to help me build video ads. The illustrations are more for me to add something extra to Project Threshold 3 and I don't really care if it adds monetary value--I love the artist and her work (thank you Eva!) and I feel it will add to the depth of the stories--from what she's given me so far, I'm just wowed!

The video ads, we'll see what happens next year as I lean into them.

Mark

12/21/2025 09:33:34 am

Much of the time, we are our harshest critic. Getting older has taught me to evaluate things more carefully and accept that I have little to no control over the results after I have made my choice.

Thanks. I think I will change that question for future discussions.

Laying out the many variables in a plot could take a lot of time. There are always so many choices available, and some choices will move the story along better than others. Copy and paste is our friend.

Working with an illustrator is a good idea. Not simply to illustrate the stories but also to provide items that fans can purchase from your website or in person at a comic con. I know one author who started making miniatures of his characters and painting them. He also made dice and rolling towers in different designs for role-playing games.

New question.

Do you subscribe to any magazines, newsletters, blogs or podcasts that enhance your writing career? Feel free to share as many as you would like.

Craig Crawford link

12/21/2025 12:55:13 pm

I've wanted to work with Eva for a long time and this time around I just decided I was doing it. She has been very intuitive so far, coming up with illustrations that really are integral moments in the plot of my stories.

I think it's clever, authors coming up with unique merchandise for their books. I have created stickers and dog-tags for Project Threshold.

I subscribe to countless presses because they'll give me heads' ups when they have new calls for stories. I also subscribe to https://authorspublish.com/ because they give lists of presses seeking submissions on a monthly basis.

I subscribe to several cryptid and paranormal podcasts :)

https://intothefrayradio.com/
https://www.monstersamonguspodcast.com/
https://phantomsandmonsters.com/
https://www.nicollemorock.com/peep-podcast

These are four of my favorites for cryptids and strange encounters. Shannon LeGro runs IntoTheFrayRadio and she is awesome. I've met her in person but also advertised Project Threshold on her show.

I met Niki Morock at a horror convention and we've become friends since. She runs her podcast covering lots of topics, a few cryptid related but also paranormal, mind/body, and spiritual.

I subscribe to WriterBeware because it's a resource every writer/author should have in their back pocket. There are so many scammers out there trying to fleece authors from their money and it's hard not to fall victim to someone at some point.

The Fortean Times is a UK magazine I subscribe to. They cover a widespread number of topics, all cryptid, supernatural and paranormal related incidents.

Most of those fuel either my imagination for story topics or help me find avenues for submissions.

In the current climate of online connections I think you have to network if you're a writer/author and it's easy to find like minded magazines and groups no matter what genres you prefer to write in.

Mark

12/21/2025 02:10:09 pm

That is a great list! Thank you. The only one I know is Victoria Strauss at Writer Beware. She is one of the best when it comes to exposing the scammers and uses their material to make her points whenever possible.

There are podcasts and websites for every genre, I am sure.

New question.

What are your favorite reference books, sites or software for grammar and writing?

Craig Crawford link

12/21/2025 02:58:48 pm

I know I get ten emails a day from people offering to help my ratings on google searches and another half dozen bogus book clubs, marketers and advertising "gurus" offering to send my books to the top. It's silly and I could spend another 40 hours a week wasting time to see if even one of them are legitimate...which I doubt.

My favorite reference books are a pictorial book called What's What edited by Reginal Bragonier, Jr. and David Fisher. It gives pictures of obscure things and what they arecalled...it's very detailed and will give you names of every part of a baseball glove to vehicles and castles. It's really handy.

I take advantage of online thesauruses and even dictionaries for those pesky words I can never seem to remember how to spell.

I have only tried my hand at writing a movie script once but I discovered a great book at a writer's conference called Story Maps by Daniel Calvisi and it laid out the process in a way that made complete sense to me. Everything from Acts to loglines and to me, it's a great resource if you're going down that road.

I also have a book of slang, lists of cryptids across the world and reference books on said creepies. I often use Google maps when I'm finding settings for my Project Threshold stories and spend afternoons researching areas before actually writing one so I can get the feel of a place and maybe even some real pictures of the area.

For Season 2 in Aurora's stories when they went to the Superstition Mountains, I found parks in the area and looked at tons of pictures of the terrain while reading up on the weather, the flora and fauna...every detail I could think of.

There really is a lot of research that goes into writing...even for genres like fantasy and pure science fiction. Non-writers, I don't think they could even begin to appreciate all of the research that goes into story creation.

Mark

12/21/2025 05:04:22 pm

Ahh, research! I love research! I am the kid who would spend an hour in Webster's Unabridged Dictionary after finding the word I needed. That volume was huge! Four to five inches thick! It was unabridged, remember? It had a few dozen full-page pictures scattered throughout the volume and tiny drawings on every page. I would probably put off writing a book in favor of research, one reason I am not a writer.

Story Maps sounds like a wonderful resource. I have recommended to many writers that they take a course or two in script writing. Telling a story in another medium would help a writer express their thoughts in book form.

New question.

Have you ever created a supporting character that developed into a major player?

Craig Crawford link

12/21/2025 06:23:01 pm

I actually enjoy research quite a bit and I have to be careful when I stop a story to look something up to keep from getting sidetracked for too long! I know I've expanded my knowledge of all kinds of things, especially since writing in the Project Threshold world.

For characters...when I first wrote The Cave in Season One, Katie Pendelhaven was the newbie and initially, I didn't have plans to do much with her. But then Keeping The Monsters At Bay happened and she catapulted into a key member of the team. Her growth and transformation throughout the stories made her a favorite.

And in Season two, the oddball creature they call P.R.S., and more affectionately, Squishy, started as just a side story. Then as I turned it over in my head, I kept thinking more about its origins and suddenly it transformed into a key player for the finale. Squishy was initially just meant as a lighter hearted side mission but it turned into an important character.

And Squishy will keep involved in Season 3. Maybe not as prominent but he'll show up here and there...I've got more plans for him...

Mark

12/21/2025 07:51:54 pm

You are having lots of fun! Having several members on each team and several teams gives you a lot of flexibility in telling their stories. Squishy is such an unusual character. I am excited to see what happens in season 3.

New question.

Why do most authors write in 3rd person POV instead of first or second person POV?

Craig Crawford link

12/21/2025 08:18:53 pm

It was a fun creation and giving it the personality of a loyal dog just added to the fun...and for the other members of P/T. Well, maybe not for Kali but as Lazlo said--it's good for her :)

Second Person POV is a tricky thing to pull off in fiction. It doesn't feel natural and I think it's best suited for writing doing how-to or guides. I have tried to write in second person and I have never walked away feeling content with it.

First person POV can be done and I've written a few short stories and even an novel in first person POV. It can be a challenge too though because your reader only sees the book from one perspective. It can get tedious or difficult depending on the plot. I do think you have to work harder to represent other characters, but done in the right way, it can be a lot of fun.

However, with first person POV you can get into the thoughts and mind of your main character and offer a perspective from the inside. It's great for seeing a character's motivations, experiences and you can take a really deep dive into who they are and why they do the things they do.

Third person is the easiest I think because it's more versatile. You give the overview of the world and you can show the reader the entire board, as it were. You can also get into omniscience and get into the head of one or even multiple characters and their perspectives. It can add a lot of dimension to the story, seeing it from multiple perspectives.

Going back to William Faulkner, he did first person with The Sound and the Fury for the first 3 perspectives so we saw the same incidents from 3 different characters. He flips to third person for the final section and he handled it very deftly.

I see the value of first and third together--I guess I used both in Project Threshold Season One. I didn't think I'd mixed them so far. I got inside the head of my entity, Shattiq, while telling the rest of the stories in 3rd person. I hadn't even thought about that until you brought the question up.

I'm off track but third person perspective allows you to shift from background to characters and plot more readily. With first person you can only look at the world and the other characters from one vantage so it can be tricky. Still, I think all authors probably experiment with third and first.

Maybe second person too, but I have yet to come across a fiction story where it would work well...give me time :)

Mark

12/22/2025 09:32:36 am

Good explanation of the different points of view. Third-person omniscient is most commonly used by writers. When done without any headhopping, 1st person pov is wonderful to read. It's so intimate, but harder for the writer, as you mentioned.

In September 2017, I promoted a book written by Tessa Clare, Divinity Bureau. A mashup of dystopian science fiction and romance. Tessa blew me away with the story told in 1st person pov. Each chapter switched to a different character and their point of view. Most of the time, the transition was seamless. The story continued right from the end of the previous chapter. The climax was told twice from each protagonist's pov. There was even a short chapter from a dog's pov. It was cute.

New questions.

Do you think you were born to write?

Was it hard to learn the craft of writing?

Craig Crawford link

12/22/2025 10:25:22 am

That sounds really cool. I suspect I'll experiment more with POV's as time goes on. Especially with short stories.

Concerning your question, I used to actively say no, not wanting to get into the whole fate or destiny thing. I'm not really sure why, but I was hesitant to say so. However, in the past years, looking at it more objectively, I'm giving in on that statement.

From an early age, I was always telling stories (and not just to get out of trouble ;) ). With my toys I was creating scenarios and stories. I was drawing simple stick figure scenes and in some form or other creating simple plots. It was when I hit junior high school and started reading science fiction and fantasy (horror was on the back burner back then), that I started actually writing stories.

In 8th grade I met a guy who carried around cardboard journals and we became friends. It turned out that he wrote and it sucked me in. I've been writing in some form ever since.

I also grew up playing RPG's--role playing games like Dungeons and Dragons, and while I enjoyed playing, I found that I liked running the game more. In effect, I was telling stories there too, creating the adventures for the other players.

So, really, for whatever reasons, I clicked with writing and it just feels necessary to do. Thus I do believe that I was born to tell stories, to write and be an author.

Writing itself is not that difficult. You start by mimicking your favorite authors, coming up with stories and plots or characters. However, to write well and to create a story which pulls your reader in and keeps them turning pages, I think is very difficult indeed.

I've spent decades working on the craft of writing, much by trial and error but I also had classes in college and I landed an internship of sorts back in the late 2000's working with an editor on one of my novels. All of it has paved the way for me being able to submit and sell stories now.

Telling quality and enjoyable stories takes a lot of hard work. At least it has for me. I read once, and I forget who said it, but to master something, anything, you need to invest 10,000 hours in it. I think that's pretty close to what is necessary...being able to juggle plots and three dimensional characters and all that goes along with story telling requires a lot of determination and patience.

Mark

12/22/2025 12:23:15 pm

I would say you were born to tell stories.

I almost played Dungeons and Dragons. I missed the first two meetings of a new group and that was it. I never got to play.

"Easy reading is damn hard writing." This quote is attributed to Nathaniel Hawthorne by a number of sources.

Ten thousand hours is about five years of a full-time job.

New question.

What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?

Craig Crawford link

12/22/2025 02:01:18 pm

I like that quote by Hawthorne. It sums it up.

Writing is a lot more complicated than non-writers think. I was going through my first book of my YA sci-fi again and I believe it's the eleventh or twelfth pass. I put it through half a dozen edits or more and then handed it off to some beta readers before descending into more edits. It is funny because people assume that you write and finish the novel and it's just done. You fire out submissions and you're good to go. Getting your manuscript perfected to where you're content with it is a long process.

As to my process. I don't have any aspects that I dread. I love the creation of the story, but if I get stuck, I let it simmer. If I have passages that are troubling me, I'll turn them over and play with the language or the plot to find my way through. I don't mind editing because I get to go back in and make sure the prose reads the way I intended and to set up the flow and feel I want.

I'm used to sending out submissions and dealing with rejections.

If there's any one big complication to this writing "thing" it's that I have not reached the place where I can concentrate on it full time. I have to juggle too many other tasks and commitments in order to try to accomplish everything I have set in my head that I need to get done.

It's where I get frustrated with the writing process. Given I have a full-time job and family, it's the way of things. Some day if I start generating steady income from my writing and can devote more of my day to it, I'll be doing a happy dance. Until then, I plug along as best I can, doing as much as I can squeeze in while still having friends and family and a life.

Mark

12/22/2025 03:20:42 pm

Writing is complicated, and there are so many layers to consider. That is why rewrites and editing are necessary.

Your complication is what nearly every other author must deal with. Time. Work, family and everything else that flows from those. Like you, many dream of the day when they can write full-time without going to a job.

Last questions.

What did you buy with your first royalty check?

How did you celebrate when you published your first book?

Craig Crawford link

12/22/2025 03:41:21 pm

My first royalties came from a mini book published by Mannison Press: Don't Mess With Bunnies.

My royalties weren't that much but i took a pic of the incoming money to my PayPal account and celebrated by buying extra copies of DMWB to give to friends and family :)

It represented my first full fiction publication as well, so it was doubly exciting. It wasn't just a story in an anthology but its own book and I was ecstatic. I think I floated along in the clouds for weeks, a rope and tether around my ankle so my wife and son could reel me back in occasionally.

It was also even more excellent because I had that first taste of publication and I knew I could do it again. I celebrated by sharing copies and almost immediately diving back in to write other short stories. It increased my drive to publish again and keep escalating.

Mark

12/22/2025 04:25:36 pm

Congratulations on the success.

Many authors have answered that question by taking the family or a friend to dinner. A few at a nice restaurant and a few at a fast food establishment. The choice was usually dictated by the size of the check.

Thank you for answering my questions so thoroughly. I think this is our best interview to date. I am grateful that you hired me to promote your book.

Until next time, keep on writing!

Craig Crawford link

12/22/2025 05:47:32 pm

Hi Mark,

Thanks much for this. Again. I enjoy our talks--you always come up with questions to make me introspective about the way I write and my processes, which I appreciate. It helps me become a better writer.

I love these conversations and I'll reach out again after I get the next book published. It will probably be Project Threshold Season 3, but you never know.

Thanks for everything!

Craig

Project Threshold: Closing Dark Doors: Series II by Craig Crawford

The entire second season

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