The Beginner’s Guide to Being Evil by Craig Crawford

2/10/2024

Multi-volume, multi-genre author, Craig Crawford introduces us to his satirical book on negative morality, “The Beginner’s Guide to Being Evil”:
Hey! I'm Dave. And you have questions. You're probably starting with this one:

"Why should I not only buy, but actually read this book?"

Look, no matter what religious doctrine, books, laws, or commandments you follow (and even if you don't), 100% of you have committed sins, shameful deeds, etc. (Quit lying to yourself, yes you have. For some of you, it probably happened within the past hour.) Ergo, when you reach the afterlife, for a lot of you there’s going to be a closed door to the escalator heading Upstairs, probably guarded by two big goons with big stupid wings.

Shock of all shockers! You’re headed Downstairs.

"So, what happens down there, Dave? Is it really all that bad?"

Welp, I'll be honest. Most of you are probably looking at spending the rest of eternity working in wart diagnostics, slaving away in a food court (haha, "food"), or any of a thousand other awful careers. Did I mention the plumbing level?

"Isn’t there any hope, Dave?"

Oh, I'm so very glad you asked!

In my book, I give you the skinny and the lowdown on EVIL. What it is, how it works, and how to use said information therein to make your afterlife less pitiful. Heck, there’s even a test to assess your evil skills to see where you stack up and decide if you should work a little harder to better your situation. Because you can! Better your afterlife situation, that is.

Sure, you can ignore me. But while I’m not all "omniscient" like the Big Guy Upstairs (cheater), I’ll know whether you snubbed me because the old adage stands: you can’t bullsh-- a bullsh--er.
What’s a few measly bucks anyway if it earns you a decent apartment in the hereafter? Then you can point and laugh at all your friends who gave you crap for buying the book. (Trust me, they’re on their way Downstairs, too.)

So, come on! Don’t be afraid. You might actually learn something of value…not like high school and college—and it’s a lot cheaper!

~ Dave E. Lish

I have read several of Craig's sci-fi/horror books and had no idea he could write such funny stuff! There were a few funny lines scattered here and there in those other books that I loved so much but there was no hint of Craig's real comedic genius.
I am committed to not giving spoilers but I will say don't ignore the footnotes. There is a joke and humor around almost every comma and period.
I loved this book! 4.9 stars from me!

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Beginners-Guide-to-Being-Evil-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-the-beginner-s-guide-to-being-evil
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-beginners-guide-to-being-evil-craig-crawford
https://books.apple.com/us/the-beginners-guide-to-being-evil

You can connect with the author:
https://twitter.com/CRAIGLCrawford
https://www.facebook.com/CraigLCrawfordWriter
https://craiglcrawfordbooks.com
https://projectthreshold.com

Here is a link to the fourth book in the Project Threshold series, “Finale”, I have reviewed all of them so far:
https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/project-threshold-finale
I have reviewed the fifth book in the Project Threshold series, Season Two: "Team Berger": www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/p-t-season-2-team-berger
I have reviewed the sixth book in the Project Threshold series, season two, "Team Riker":
www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/project-threshold-season-2-team-riker

I reviewed another book by the author:
www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/zombunny-by-craig-crawford

Tags: spiritual, comedy, satire, afterlife, heaven, hell, devil

Copyright © 2024 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

51 Comments

Craig Crawford link

2/12/2024 09:11:51 pm

Hi Mark,

Always a pleasure to hang out with you and talk . . . writing!

Mark

2/12/2024 09:20:30 pm

Welcome back to the Word Refiner channel. I am very excited to talk with you about this book!

First question.

What was the inspiration for this book?

2/12/2024 09:39:25 pm

This book was a perfect storm in a lot of ways. I have a rich background in religion and philosophy, and I enjoy humor. Doesn't often show up in my writing but sometimes I'm just in a mood.

I've always been fascinated with the idea of the Devil--not the way most people would take that statement but from the standpoint of: if the Devil is real, what would he be like? His personality, thought processes and . . . his sense of humor? I always thought I'd write something about him eventually but this was several years in the making.

It started with a Halloween party. My wife and I had just bought a new house and we had room to host a party. We chose Halloween because we both enjoy it. I was trying to think of a costume that would catch my friends by surprise. They know I like my horror and would be expecting something along those lines and then the idea of the Devil popped in. But I knew I had to take it in a different direction. And then I had that a-ha! moment. I'm a very casual guy and only wear suits to weddings and funerals, so playing that, I decided to go as a Devilish Lawyer--suit, tie, the whole nine ;) I created business cards and decided my name would be . . . Dave E. Lish

And that's how he was born.

The novella didn't start for another few years. It was a good friend, acknowledged in the credits, who gave me a book for Christmas one year. It was a humorous spoof on supervillains and handing it to me she told me, "You could do something like this."

I read it and it was funny and then the creative gears started whirring and I then remembered Dave. After that it didn't take long to find his voice and start writing......

2/13/2024 08:11:29 am

That's a great story! I love it.

When I first saw your book, I was reminded of C. S. Lewis's "The Screwtape Letters". Your book is quite different from that story, and I laughed much harder reading your book.

Thanks for satisfying my curiosity.

New question.

How do you balance the demands on your time as a writer with personal relationships?

2/13/2024 08:59:10 am

It is funny you mention The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. Mannison Press, who published Dave--Deidre Owen asked if I'd read that, assuming I had. I honestly had gotten by reading some of Lewis' stuff without knowing those existed. I picked up a copy, thereafter and I found it very clever.

As to your question, that is one more piece in the writing puzzle for sure. Early on, before we had our son, I had time to write and got motivated. We have our 'down time' after dinner and in between daily life and I would use mine to write. I am a night writer so while my wife is falling asleep on the couch between 9-10 pm, I'm on the keyboard.

When our son came along, writing went to the back burner. He came first though I still squeezed time in, but I wanted to be a solid part of his life and he took priority. He's almost 20 now and so in his teen years, my writing time ramped up.

For now, I have a good chunk of time to split between marketing, advertising and writing, which I never would have had before now.

2/13/2024 11:11:38 am

Kids and family can take a lot of time, occasionally all of it.

Now, you have a lot more time to devote to your business as an author. You are being wise dividing your time between writing and marketing.

New question.

Did you have pieces of the story that were removed from this book? If, so why did you remove them?

2/13/2024 12:34:05 pm

Publishing is becoming a full time job though I need to ask my supervisor for a raise ;)

The original had a lot more side tangents. Funny thing about Dave but once he gets talking, he starts meandering and jabbering on and on. It was hard to keep him on track while writing this. Each thought led to another and then another--he does mention tangents from time to time during the book.

I can't think of any particular passages which got cut--actually I take that back. As you notice while you're reading, Dave has a love of movies and I pulled a few movie references during this discourse. I have a follow up book called Dave E Lish Presents: Let's Go to the Movies! He goes through all the genres, discussing his favs and a couple which annoy him...go figure. It's about 85% finished. I just need to take some time and knock it out...and then see if Mannison is interested in a follow up :)

2/13/2024 02:33:36 pm

That sounds like fun! Maybe Dave should start his own movie company. I can see it now, Hell In a Handbasket Movies.

New question.

Do you have any other creative outlets to pursue if you didn't write?

2/13/2024 04:09:19 pm

I like that! If Dave fronts me the money, I'd be happy to oversee it for him ;)

If I didn't write....I have always been fascinated with cryptozoology and I would be going off hunting those things if I wasn't writing. I have plans, even as a writer. I am quite possibly going to get to visit Loch Ness this year, which is kind of my holy grail, so that will be exciting. And I think, when I retire. I'm going to do more of that--go tromping about on excursions. The water cryptids are my favorite but there's no shortage of lakes in the U.S. and Canada to check out.

Aside from that, I learned origami a long while back and I still occasionally fiddle with it--it's a lot of fun. And then there's Dungeons and Dragons. I was absorbed by it as a teen and into my 20's. I would like to get back to it again some day when I have time to turn my creative pursuits toward it. ;)

2/13/2024 05:54:19 pm

Growing up on a small farm in southwest Washington state, sightings of bigfoot or sasquatch were common. As a boy scout and farm boy, I did a lot of tromping around in the woods, yet I never saw one. Of course, I never saw D. B. Cooper also. I confess, I would love to join you on those adventures.

New question.

Is there a cause you are passionate about, charitable or otherwise?

2/13/2024 07:12:02 pm

I am fascinated by bigfoot too, I just grew up more focused on the water cryptids. I would love to see a bigfoot though. I've had no sightings but two strange incidents that could possibly have been related--cannot confirm because I only heard sounds :)

I'd be happy to hunt along side you!

I'm a big fan of St. Judes--not for any particular reason other than the fact that life is rough enough without having to be a kid and go through the ordeals of cancer. We donate to it annually.

Also, we've donated to the Wounded Warrior Project. I think a great disservice is done in this country where we have people who serve in the military and do not get first rate health care. Or assistance. I have not served, but I genuinely respect those who do and I think the citizens of the U.S. should be happy to help contribute to their well being because of their sacrifices.

The older I get the more I realize how much young people sacrifice for my opportunity to live a normal life and we should return that favor by giving them the best opportunities when they are done, either due to injury or having served their time.

2/14/2024 08:45:04 am

Those are worthwhile charities.

I am not aware of any water cryptids in the Pacific Northwest. I spent 8 years in the San Francisco Bay area during most of the 70s. Until nearly 3 years ago, when I moved to Florida, the rest of my life was in the Pacific Northwest.

Nessie is probably the most famous water cryptid in the west, though I do know that there are sightings in many different places, even in America and Canada.

New questions.

Have you any favorite literary journals?

Do you experiment with writing or prefer to stay in the safe zone?

2/14/2024 09:49:11 am

Water cryptids . . . Caddy is a serpentine critter seen off the coast of California and on up the western seaboard. There are a few lakes out west boasting critters. I believe it was the Puget Sound around Seattle where someone witnessed a tentacle extend up out of the water and they claimed they saw fifteen feet of tentacle emerge from the water. Yeah. The Pacific Octopus is the largest known but even it is only documented to around 15-20 foot in length from tentacle tip to tip :)

For presses, I've worked with several of them now, and I do have my favorites. Mannison Press started my publishing journey--they made Dave happen as well as my first official short story publications: Don't Mess With Bunnies. Deidre and Ron are great people to work with. And of course, RedCape Publishing who is publishing my Project Threshold series. Also great people to work with and they have been supportive. They respond to my questions as I go down advertising paths, sharing their experiences, which is much appreciated.

Honestly, I have only had a couple of instances where my interactions with presses were less than stellar. For a lot of presses, I believe many of them have other jobs and do the best they can with the time they have. I have a lot of respect for them because, in many ways they're in the same boat I am as a writer, trying to establish themselves to that next level.

For presses falling more under the literary heading, I have not had much interaction because i tend to write genre fiction which is not widely accepted in those places. I tend skip over them when it comes to submitting my stories because they tend not to acknowledge the value of genre fiction.

As to experimentation, I don't often play with the story telling structure. I focus on the story I'm wanting to tell and the characters within it. I have a love of psychology and am genuinely fascinated with people and what drives them, how their behavior is shaped and why they do what they do. I tend to like writing about broken or driven characters because I think they're the most interesting.

I've read some books by authors who've played with structure and it can be done, if approached correctly. I often point to Cormac McCarthy's, The Road, which is a post-apocalyptic novel. It does away with a lot of the punctuation in it. I thought it worked to great effect, accentuating the erosion of humanity and our civilization as a father and son try to survive in the new landscape.

However, having said that, McCarthy tried that same approach with No Country For Old Men, and I didn't like it. I don't know if he was being purposeful, trying the same thing, but it didn't work. It felt disjointed in that story and honestly annoyed me.

I think messing with structure and experimenting with writing has to purposeful and used for a specific reason. I also believe the writer has to have a great understanding of the standard writing structures first before being able to experiment.

2/14/2024 12:41:23 pm

I didn't know about Caddy! I lived in San Francisco for several years and down the peninsula a little bit for a few more years, I do not recall hearing about a water cryptid. Darn. Catching a picture or two would have made me famous.

Small presses are struggling like the rest of us, no doubt.

I have not read anything by Cormac, but I appreciate the warning. I probably wouldn't get very far into either book because I think punctuation is needed for clarity and ease of reading.

I struggled with a book of poetry that was written with the caps lock on.

New question.

What type of scene do you find hard to write and why?

2/14/2024 01:46:23 pm

Yes--agreed. Punctuation, and proper punctuation help you drive home those powerful emotions. I remember The Sound and The Fury by Faulkner and the first quarter was written from the angle of the disabled character and I was so flummoxed and confused. Still can't decide if it was effective or not...

I think action scenes are still my toughest. You have to incorporate all the characters in the scene, know where they are in relation to one another and be able to resolve the action in a clear way that comes across to the reader so that it feels like it's happening in real time.

Early on in my writing I would unconsciously block out where everyone was, how the action was unfolding and so on, step by step, word by word. I would go back in later and remove all the words and descriptions and unnecessary pieces to speed it up and make it feel more fluid.

I still occasionally end up writing the blocking, like a stage play, but I do it less and less because I'm able to "see" it in my head and am better able to only show what needs to be seen by the reader.

2/14/2024 05:23:41 pm

Blocking sounds like a necessary skill. Being able to see it in your head would be easier than using Legos or paper dolls.

Action is difficult to write well, as you clearly state. Novice writers frequently make the mistake of overwriting action scenes. Too much detail actually slows the story down for the reader. The balance is hard to find and many miss it by a little bit.

Your action scenes work well for me. The action flows smoothly as it should without turning into an info dump.

New questions.

What did your family say when you announced your desire to be a writer?

What do they think now?

2/14/2024 08:49:06 pm

Thanks--I have spent many years refining that process. I have my writing/beta reader who knows me well and points out when I fall back into staging and blocking which helps a lot. I read GOOD books growing up, which portrayed action well and I have tried to learn from those authors.

I've always leaned toward writing. My dad was a creative, but he played guitar and sang. I think he always hoped I'd follow in his footsteps, but I didn't quite roll out that way. Still, he was supportive. Mom was pleased. She's a creative too--but more with drawing and painting--funny that I ended up in between. My regret is that I didn't really find my groove until later. Dad died before I could get anything published and Mom has dementia. She did get to read my fantasy novels but not my horror. That came on recently and I started getting published in the last four-ish years. I do wish she could have read some of my stuff to see what she thought. I believe enough in the hereafter to know they'll know, but I have moments where it bugs me.

My grandfather was my other inspiration. He loved science fiction and fantasy. He retired when I was in college and I basically brought my entire library of books to him after he retired--my grandparents only lived 6 blocks away so he and I had a lot of good talks on books. He was also very supportive of my writing endeavors.

2/15/2024 09:18:56 am

How nice to grow up in a creative family. You had a lot of support. Many authors have little to no familial support.

My mother was pretty creative also. Musically and artistically, she loved exploring different mediums. I think I got my love of reading from her. Did I get any musical talent? Well, I was quite good at playing the stereo. That is about it.

New question.

How do you maintain the excitement for yourself when you are writing? Your excitement impacts your readers.

2/15/2024 11:38:40 am

That is almost never a problem. When I'm writing, I am excited--to get the story out and down. I know I'm on a good path when I can "feel" the characters and the story, getting excited about where it's going. My excitement for writing also comes from not knowing exactly where a story is headed even though I think I do when I start.

I just finished another Project Threshold story--I knew what it was about and who the main players are, but I wasn't sure how it was going to end. I had an inkling, but it also could have gone at least four different ways. I did get bogged down for several days, because each of the different outcomes would affect the larger story line and I tried playing out each of them in my head to decide the bigger implications.

It was my mistake, you see: I was trying to control the outcome by gauging the different possibilities. I sat stuck until . . . I realized I just needed to write it and let the characters figure it out along the way--them making their decisions in the moment and then letting the story end however it would.

To my surprise, there was a fifth outcome, decided by Katie and Jessie, and after I wrote "The End" and came back to it the next day, I knew it was the proper story because it actually set up the next story and tied into the larger narrative I have going, even though I didn't see it when I was writing.

Thank you to my muse ;)

2/15/2024 02:44:56 pm

I love that. You are a good scribe, doing what you are told. Your excitement does impact the story well.

New question.

Do your friends and family members buy your books?

2/15/2024 04:29:04 pm

If I have learned nothing else about the writing game, it's that I am not in charge. I have to listen to my muse(s) and pay attention. ;)

I don't, when it comes to friends and family buying my books. If they want to I won't say no, but if they want to read my stuff, I'll hand them one. I say this because I'm looking at a bigger picture on this front. If I can find my audience and gain a following, get the publishing ball really rolling, then it's going to come from the other 8 billion people on the planet. My friends and family are not going to tip the scales on my publishing career and I don't want them to feel like they need to support me in that way, unless they really want to.

My number one and number two Project Threshold fans come from coworkers of all places--one is a quiet horror fan and the other just likes reading. One does buy my books, though I've given him other freebies, and the other is supportive as a beta reader and cheerleader :) :) And she gets freebies too ;) But they both initiated these things and I have offered books.

I feel like publishing is a career choice and while I would expect family and friends to be supportive of any job I choose to take, I don't expect them to buy my lunches or clothing or parking spaces to support my "job." They can support me by cheering me on, giving me feedback if I have questions or am wrestling with some issue, but other than that, they get to sit on the sidelines.

2/15/2024 06:09:33 pm

I like that perspective, it makes a lot of sense.

The long-term view is the best, I think. Make plans and execute them to the best of your ability. Knowing that not everything is going to work really well takes some of the pressure off also. It becomes easier to roll with the punches and try something else.

New question.

What area of your writing has the greatest need for improvement at this time?

2/15/2024 07:18:42 pm

Agreed. Part of being a writer/author in this new age is being able to weather setbacks and being able to try new things. There are no silver bullets unless you get those proverbial lottery moments.

Area of writing . . . everything can always improve but I'd like to be able to lay out more complex and interconnected plots. I feel like I can run a pretty linear plot, but I'd like to be able to layer my stories and take them to another level. It probably requires more up front planning on my part, and I may be limited on that in the way I write--letting the muse direct me, but I do like foreshadowing and setting things up that come into play later while seemingly have no bearing early on.

2/15/2024 09:02:31 pm

Foreshadowing is a great skill to work on. Some authors are very good at it. Studying some of their work might prove useful. Small details can come alive and grow so significant at the proper moment.

New questions.

On average, how long does it take you to write a first draft of a book?

How long from start to published, on average?

2/15/2024 10:17:52 pm

I will--being more deliberate with this kind of thing is something I want to do while keeping it subtle.

Almost all of my full length novels run between 80K to 100K and a full novel can take me anywhere from 4-6 months for the first draft. When I start writing one, I usually don't quit until it's finished. I did write one I'm tentatively calling The New World, which took three years to get the first draft, but I was sporadically working on it in between writing short stories and another novel.

I usually take a break once I finish a novel which can run anywhere from weeks to a couple of months--it depends on how much of a break I feel I need from it, what other projects are popping into my head and how much work it needs. From start to finish, it probably takes a good 9+ months depending on the story and what else is going on in my life.

For the Dave Novella, I wrote the first draft in a couple of months. I was into it and it just flowed. I sporadically edited it and then it ended up as a book for editing in that workshop internship I got with The Wolf Pirate Project. (incidentally, do you know what an "ort" is? I argued back and forth over that word in Dave with my Wolf Pirate person :) I was using it for alliteration but she just couldn't feel it :) )

For Project Threshold's full set of stories it took about four months. It was 95,000 words of material after editing and reworking and shaping. Again, those stories just started coming. I got out of the way and typed them down as fast as they arrived. I put it through several edits and RedCape put it through edits and my buddy edited it as well. That actually took about two years to actually get published but there were a lot of complications along the way.

This second set of Project Threshold stories is taking me longer, but I have been involved in marketing for the first set and that is definitely slowing down my writing time. It's a give and take and there is only so much time and energy in a given day.

2/16/2024 07:32:41 am

You have a variety of timelines there that is pretty normal. Life happens and always interferes with our plans. I do like that you have multiple projects at the same time. You can go wherever the muse takes you and your muse has been quite faithful.

An ort? I didn't until I looked it up. Most of the definitions were similar though one stood out as being extremely different. When I pursued it, the difference disappeared. I adore alliteration always.

New questions.

When do you think your next book will be published?

Will you do anything differently with this new book, in terms of publishing?

2/16/2024 08:33:00 am

I definitely take advantage of the muse when I can. If I'm not feeling one story, I definitely shift to others. I'm actually working on a 3rd book in my Adventures of Darby X, which is a sci-fi horror and probably a precursor to the Project Threshold series. I love the character and have envisioned 5-6 books in the story line. It pops up at me sporadically at the moment, but we'll see.

Somewhere in Dave he references humans as 'optimistic orts' and we good-naturedly argued back and forth over it--before Mannison got involved ;)

As for publication, I'm pursuing getting my fantasy lines going and submitting to presses. I'm going to start with one called Morana's Blades which will be a trilogy. I have three other books in that same world and actually have a game plan for several novels spotlighting characters in that world. It's a feudal world with magic and monsters and there are tons of mercenaries running all over. If you've ever read Glen Cook's the Black Company--I love those books and this is my take on high powered mercenaries using magic.

I've also got a post-apocalyptic stand alone I'm pushing too.

AND, I'm talking with RedCape about the next set of Project Threshold stories which are well on their way. They will most likely hit this fall in the same format though I'm going to add a few more stories I think. We'll see what my muse says ;)

2/16/2024 11:08:01 am

That is fabulous news! So many different stories in the pipeline. Your fans will be happy for quite a while.

To a polar bear and Dave humans are optimistic orts. Pretty funny!

New question.

Have you ever developed a fondness or attachment to one of your characters?

2/16/2024 11:45:12 am

Thanks--I am hoping that, as word spreads, I will get opportunities to expand my published list with these different books. It's part of that long term marketing plan. You slowly build as best you can and keep hammering away until you get opportunities.

I do get attached to my MC's on a regular basis. In my fantasy series world with Morana's Blades I have a trilogy centered around Collin, The Black Lion, who is a troubled soul. I wrote the entire thing, rooting for him and trying to help him find his peaceful place (without him getting killed ;)).

For Project Threshold, Berger had a bad time of it and in similar fashion I kept trying to find a bright spot for him amidst the hell. Same for Katie Pendelhaven. And then there's Riker. She's a ball of anger and frustration and I feel bad for her. She got some advice in the first set of stories and I hope she gets some use out of it in the 2nd incarnation.

Characters are so strange in many senses--at least for me. Even though technically they're my creations, I can't help but think of them as being real in a lot of ways. I struggle with them, root for them, get angry when they get screwed over and cheer when they get their victories, small or major.

I have ceased trying to understand it, but my characters do what they're going to do and I can't help but think of them as family, children, or whatever the appropriate term is. Without a doubt I feel connected to them.

2/16/2024 01:30:36 pm

I love that you are like the scribe following whichever character you have been assigned to and taking notes. It sounds like a fun way to get the first draft down. Like many other authors, you're not sure which ending will rise to the top until you get there.

You had me rooting for Berger and Riker, both. I love to get deep into a good story.

New question.

Have you ever killed off a character unwillingly because it fit the plot?

2/16/2024 02:00:32 pm

I honestly don't know how to describe the relationship, but there's something to it.

A long time ago I read a book called God Game by Andrew Greeley. He is or was, a priest, I believe, and he wrote a fantasy back in the 80's about a guy playing an RPG video game. Except something happens and the main character realizes, it's not a game but a window into another world. The MC gets attached to his characters in the game and, as the "god" of that game he can influence it but only in accordance with the rules of the video game. The MC has to get clever to save his characters from the big bad. I thought it was a clever story and sometimes I equate that to how I feel about my own MC's. I feel like I can push in certain ways, but ultimately it's left up to them as to how the story plays out.

Like with P/T-2 and a story with Katie Pendelhaven. I knew what I wanted to happen but I was getting bogged down with possible endings and it wasn't until I consciously let go and left things up to her, based on her actions, when the story finally found its proper ending.

I don't know what to make of it.

Now that I've avoided your question as long as I could . . . :) Yes. In Morana's Blades, there is a character I really liked, and I couldn't save him. I tried, I just couldn't figure it out without cheating the story. Still bugs me.

I'm also wrestling with that in the 3rd book of my YA sci-fi trilogy. I wonder if that's why I've been taking so long to write it?...I'm at the point where there is going to be a death of one of the major players and I don't want to do it. I've foreseen it (insert halo smiley emoji), I know it's gonna happen, but I keep dragging my feet. She's a feisty thing, which is what ultimately gets her into trouble, but somehow I know it's integral to the plot and the growth of the other characters.

I don't know if it's a generational thing, or just my mindset, but I can accept the "good guys" getting kicked around and beat down, but it does not sit well when my "good guys" don't win. And it happens--Project Threshold is case in point.

Now the Dave book--it's not really the same kind of thing, but I get a genuine kick out of Dave. Ironically, he may be the ultimate loser, but he will always land on his feet--just one of those guys....

2/16/2024 05:02:37 pm

Thanks for answering broadly. I like hearing about all of the stories.

Dave is the ultimate loser. Good description of him. He wants to take as many orts with him as he can.

New question.

Have you read any fiction books that have changed your perception of that genre or style of writing?

2/16/2024 09:06:46 pm

Nice--about Dave.

I do need to find a way to make more time for reading. There's some good stuff out there, but I haven't found many books that have really 'wowed' me in the last few years. Good stories to be sure, but not those few that blew my mind like when I was young. Maybe it's because I was new to the genres at the time, and maybe because I'm in the writing business I don't read with that same innocence I once did.

I will say I read and really liked Maurice Barkley's Lost and Forgotten book. It was a great combination thriller, adventure, speculative, historical. I need to review it after this--but he's a great writer and I'm off to get the rest of that series.

Mary Downing Hahn is another fav of mine. I started with her paranormal fiction: One For Sorrow. I love the way she tells a story.

I think the closest I've come to being wowed besides those two in recent years is Simon Green's, Something From the Night Side series. It's detective noir, supernatural and just off the deep end.

Strict fantasy has disappointed me a lot in the last decade because I don't see authors doing anything to test the boundaries of fantasy fiction--at least nothing I've read so far. It all seems caught up in the same tropes of good vs. evil in a monumental way and I feel like everything I've read is just a different shade of that. I'm looking for fantasy with a new direction or a new take. ;)

I know there are great stories out there--again, I need to make more time for finding them. So if you have any recs on that front, I'll take them.

2/17/2024 10:53:38 am

I am glad you enjoyed Maurice's book. Discovery is the first volume in the series. I have reviewed all four volumes and enjoyed them all.

I want to read those books you mentioned.

The Thomas Covenant series by Donaldson comes to mind. I read the first 3 or 4 volumes many years ago. I was struck by the originality of the premise and the writing was quite good.

I just finished reading A Song in the Dark by Reeves. A dark, high fantasy series, this is book 3. I enjoyed it quite a bit and the ending really surprised me! I will be promoting this book in a few weeks.

New question.

Do you use music or some other stimulus to cultivate a feeling within that will help you write certain types of scenes?

2/17/2024 11:18:44 am

I've read the Thomas Covenant series. I liked the Fafhrd and Gray Mouser books by Fritz Leiber. Joel Rosenberg wrote a fantasy series called Guardians of the Flame, about a group of RPG'ers who shift into a fantasy world. I love the Drizzt Do'urden books by Salvatore too. And Jim Butcher writes very well too :)

I'll add Reeves' book and check it out and tune in for the review too.

As for music, I often do write with music. I have a huge collection of music to build playlists though I often just throw on Pandora and play whatever they cue up. I also listen to Soundcloud and I have several pieces saved on Youtube.

Sometimes I like instrumentals to set mood or ambience. I am one of those people who does not hear the lyrics to songs while I'm listening unless I really concentrate on them so they don't distract me while I'm writing. The words to the songs just blend into the music.

I believe we talked a bit about this before but I am starting to keep track of songs that resonate for characters and writing. I will keep a playlist handy for readers :)

I don't always write along with music. Sometimes I'm just "into" the story and I tap away without distractions. Other times, the music gets me going.

I guess I don't have any specific go-to's. I listen to about every genre of music--certain songs jump out at me and I snag them for my library. I listen to everything from movie soundtracks to heavy metal to Indie. So if you look at my library of music, you'd see probably 1-4 songs by over a hundred different groups. It's more about the sounds than the lyrics. Now I have some groups I gravitate toward more because I like their overall sound, but I don't have that one band I love above all others.

These days I'm listening to: Agnes Obel, BRMC, Kasabian, Beck, Mazzy Star, and the Brian Jonestown Massacre :) Okay, I do love AC~DC. I've saw them in concert twice in their heyday and they just have great tunes.

2/17/2024 01:53:38 pm

Music is nice in the background for me also. I seldom focus on the lyrics without intention.

We might well have talked about music previously, this is our fifth interview.

You do have eclectic tastes.

New question.

Do the reviews of your books make an impact on how you write subsequent books or volumes?

2/17/2024 08:14:40 pm

For the most part, reviews of my books have been pretty positive. If I did get requests or questions asking why I didn't cover "x" I'd consider going down those roads.

I do get my fair share of rejections when it comes to shorts stories and my other novels, however. For the most part I take those with the proverbial 'grain of salt' because there is so much subjectivity to fiction.

I just got back a rejection on my fantasy novel yesterday and it was very clear the publisher did not 'get' the intent or the purpose of the novel by the details of what they included as to why they didn't accept it. They focused on a few small things which just tells me they didn't connect with it. Which is fine. When someone picks up one of my other novels, I want them to be excited about it or they won't properly represent it.

I did have a short story that wasn't getting published. After like thirteen or so rejections I tried to really take it apart to figure out what was going on with it that was keeping it from getting picked up. I had a friend read it to give me feedback. Horror isn't her genre, but she asked enough pointed questions it got my mind whirring and I ended up reworking it. I added another angle to the story. After, it got picked up on like the second submission. So thanks to her smart questions and honest assessment, she helped me improve it. I am forever grateful.

In general, I think enough reviews, good or bad, can give you an overview of how readers are perceiving your story, but individually, they don't mean your story is a hit or a miss.

2/18/2024 07:05:05 am

You make an excellent point about subjectivity. I think some new authors forget that. No one has ever written a universally loved and acclaimed book. It will never happen also. Taste is too subjective. While the words on the page remain the same, every reader has a different personal dictionary and filters that alter the nuances for each reader and their understanding of the story and its message.

New question.

Is there any particular time of the day that ideas usually hit you?

2/18/2024 10:50:13 am

Yes--when other writers get down about getting a bad review or rejections I remind them there are 8 billion people on the planet and chances are over half of them are NOT going to like their book, or even be capable of reading it :) That still leaves a lot of people, if they've written a well executed book.

Even publishers and editors have subjectivity. My first publication--Don't Mess With Bunnies, got rejected several times and then Mannison Press picked it up. Found out later one of their people liked bunnies...now that wasn't the only reason they liked it (I think I did write that one particularly well), but it was a subjective reason to take another look at it.

So I never beat myself up over rejections. It's gonna happen. I've had editors write me back telling me they "didn't get it" and then another editor picks it up later. Just like you and I have our own distinct tastes, at some point we'd find a book you thought was awesome that fell flat for me and vice versa. It's going to happen.

I don't know if it's my adhd or just the way the muse works, but I get ideas practically anywhere and any time. I will say that I walk regularly, and often on walks, letting my mind wander, I will get a fair share of ideas. It's also where I plot edit and work on problems with my stories.

Somehow that physical act of walking gets the gears whirring and leads to thoughts and ideas.

I've gotten ideas going to bed, waking up, while shopping, etc. I have found that if I'm wrestling with a story, I get a lot of epiphanies in the shower when I'm waking up. It's amazing to me. I will be standing there, half awake, thinking about nothing and the answer to some character or plot piece will show up.

The key, for me, is that I know my brain is working on my stories even when I'm not consciously engaged in them. It seems other creatives get those 'a-ha!' moments too, but I, for one, feel lucky and grateful every time that happens.

2/18/2024 01:48:55 pm

I suggest to authors, who bemoan a bad review, that the bad review proves that the good reviews are legitimate, they all didn't come from their mom and her sisters or other family members. I think most readers are astute enough to recognize a troll also.

Many authors have difficulty connecting with their muse, they are not nearly as blessed as you are.

Walking and most any other simple, non-writing activity allows the muse to work in the background. I suggested to another author, several years ago, that she get a pad of waterproof paper and a Fisher Space Pen to record the ideas when in the shower. I don't know if you need that or not.

New question.

Have you received any feedback from a reader of one of your books that influenced the next book?

2/18/2024 04:17:43 pm

That's good advice. I don't know that my situation is so much a blessing but years of figuring out how my muse operates. Early on my writing schedules were very random and haphazard. It took years to realize all these little things and recognize how to sync up with my muse to get the best working relationship I could.

To answer your question, yes. I have a handful of faithful readers for my stories and when they read something, occasionally they'll ask about characters or plot and even suggest things. I always take those into consideration even though I don't always follow through on them. As readers, they're not privy to my knowledge of where everything is headed.

However, I do listen. Project Threshold-2 is incorporating a couple of ideas that my readers had. I also got to talking with an author on Twitter and she posed the question about why aren't there more disabled people in stories. I ended up chatting with her on the side and she helped me shape a new character for #2 involving a disabled MC. I'm going to run the stories by her to get feedback once they're finished because I want to do it justice. I'm excited to bring a dynamic new hero to that world.

2/18/2024 06:27:54 pm

I am glad to be of help. As they say in the artillery, we aim to please.

That lengthy learning curve is not surprising. Most muses seem to exist on the edge of our vision and don't share their secrets very willingly.

Perhaps you saw the 1999 movie The Muse with Albert Brooks and Sharon Stone. Stone was great as the muse and was very flighty.

A disabled character is an interesting concept and they are few and far between in the books I have read. Some people are born with a disability whether visible or not. Others experience an accident or a disease. Lots of interesting choices, I can hardly wait to see what you come up with.

New questions.

For your own reading, do you prefer ebooks, audiobooks or print books?

What books are you reading at present for your business and for pleasure?

2/18/2024 07:27:01 pm

I've not heard of The Muse. I will check into it. Always looking for new movies and this would be fun.

As for the Project Threshold world, given everything they face off against, I'm surprised I hadn't thought of it. Lots of troopers get injured and taken out, though so far in my writing getting attacked usually means death :) :) :) It's a perfect pairing to my mind.

As far as reading, I still tend toward physical books though i do switch off to a Kindle for ebooks too. There is still something about holding an actual book in hand.

Audio books I haven't quite embraced yet. I have listened to a few, but I mostly listen when traveling. I will have to try more of them.

Just had a thought, but Amazon needs to come up with a way for authors to sign E-Books. With a big shift to e-books it should be a thing, so you can download books and still get a signature or note from your fav authors . . .

For fiction, I am finally getting to The Screwtape Letters (shhhh...don't tell Deidre--I bought it a while back but just hadn't picked it up). I am also gearing up for The Morning After, a sci-fi zombie apocalypse novel. And for non-fiction, it's always something from the fringe and I found: Ghostly Tales of Iowa by Ruth Hein and Vicky Hinsenbrock.

I'm investigating Reddit ads and advertising on Youtube amongst everything else... ;)

2/19/2024 08:49:54 am

I think you will find interesting ways for an injured member of Project Threshold to play a role in the future. Remember Avatar? it was the final injury of a team member that required the twin to function in his brother's place.

Audio books are wonderful for a lot of people. I have a good friend who struggles to read printed words due to severe dyslexia. He thrived as a contractor. He also loves stories and has 'read' thousands of audio books in his life.

Check your contracts for your books. If the publisher license audio book production for themselves, you might be able to create those on your own. Audio book production is very expensive. Audio books are a great secondary or tertiary format to offer to consumers. Many readers listen to audio books on commutes and long trips. Some readers struggle with dyslexia and can only utilize an audio book. However, very many countries use English as an official language and others have it taught as a second language in schools. There are many millions of these consumers who have only a smart phone to access the internet and for them an audio book is a great way to read a book.

Audio books are expensive to produce. But that industry is undergoing a bit of a shakeup with the advent of Artificial Intelligence, software is becoming much better at producing an audio book with AI. The robotic voice is disappearing rapidly and is sounding quite human. Many narrators are worried about being put out of business, but I think in the long run AI will be found to be a boon to all involved. First, price conscious consumers will find some audio books priced lower. Second, with voice licensing, an author could have their audio book narrated by a favorite actor at a much lower cost. Third, popular narrators could license their voice and offer a cheaper price point to an author. Fourth, human narrated audio books will become the cream of the crop and will be able to collect a commensurable fee. There will be those consumers who want the best and will be willing to pay a premium price.

Here is a link to a promotion I did several years ago for a wonderful audio book. The narrator joined us in the interview and I learned a lot. https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/heir-to-a-prophecy-by-mercedes-rochelle-narrated-by-kevin-e-green

Some authors resort to crowdfunding to cover those costs, that is an option also. I do recommend subscribing to one or two crowdfunding ventures before starting your own.

Autographing ebooks is a great idea! Some authors offer autographed bookmarks as a substitute.

I hope you enjoy Screwtape.

New question.

Was it difficult to choose between self-publishing and independent publishing?

2/19/2024 09:35:19 am

With an added perspective, I'm hoping to add some more angles to the Project Threshold world with my new character. I'm excited about it--and her.

Audio books--I think in the next 2ish years, we'll see a jump in capability and then yes, when books get cheaper it will really take off. I'll check out the interview--thanks!

Oh--I like the autograph bookmark idea...that's a really nice work around! I'll be checking into that.

Indie publishing vs. self publishing...I think I have just followed where I was led. I started writing short stories just a few years back and have had a lot of success getting them placed within a variety of presses. In that process I have formed relationships with some Indie presses which led to Indie publishing. It's been a progression.

I believe at some point I would have self published had those avenues not opened up. I still may--who knows? I feel like my fantasy stories are solid and well told, so if I do not find a publisher in the next few years, I may attempt it.

I think working with Indie publishers gives you a taste of the real publishing world. A lot of small presses do not have huge marketing budgets and rely on their authors to help with that. It's a good thing for the author to learn that side of it.

Ironically, it seems the big publishers are doing the exact same thing as Indie publishers--putting the work back on their authors, which begs the question of why going with one of the 5? Sure they have greater distribution and reach, but I've read and seen that they are struggling. Not because people are reading less, as they like to claim, but people are reading less books put out by them.

There are a lot of reason for it, I think, but ultimately, the 5 are not as capable, or no more capable than Indie presses in the marketing game, and frankly I like most of the Indie presses I've worked with. They are professional and respectful of their authors. That goes a long way.

For me, right now, I'm content working with the Indie crowd. They are free to publish what they want where as the 5 seem bound by publishing what they think the public wants, or worse, pushing what they think the public should read--that's a whole other conversation.

Currently, I'm smitten with and focused mostly on Project Threshold and I will keep putting out stories as long as they come. I know eventually I'll reach the end of it and that's okay, but in the mean time I've got more stories to tell. I'll stick with the Indie presses unless I reach a point I feel the need to give it a go on my own.

I've learned a lot about the publishing world in the last two years and I feel like I'm getting my feet under me. I don't know where it will lead, but I've got plenty of material to get out there for readers.

And I might have another Dave book or two to tell along the way ;)

2/19/2024 12:14:08 pm

I have no doubt that audio books will become a lot cheaper to make with AI. Before too long an author will be able to hire an AI powered voice based on one of their favorite movie stars. The voice actor will get a residual from licensing his or her voice. A human narrator can license his or her voice also and the computer will do a majority of the work. The human can go back and polish the files.

I think your experience mirrors that of quite a few new authors. So many lose a year or two querying their first book and wind up with a lot of silence and a handful of rejection letters. Traditional publishers of all sizes are operating on the thinnest of margins and can no longer afford to take a chance on a book launch fizzling. They play it safe and do as little as possible to get the book into the marketplace. Little as possible includes doing the minimum amount of publicity to enable the publisher to eke out a small profit.

The large traditional publishers ignored and devalued ebooks for the longest time. By charging nearly the same price as a paper book the publishers still hope to force readers to buy the paper book.

I have no doubt that you have learned a great deal about publishing and will be able to handle it yourself if you choose to. The downside is that you lose writing time. The upside is that you keep all of the profits.

New question.

Do you think independent publishers can produce a book as good as mainstream publishers?

2/19/2024 02:18:33 pm

Agreed on all counts. Audio books are only going to grow and as technology advances, it's going to get easier and easier.

And yes, on traditional publishing. I am down on them for the way they treat authors, published and not. They're failing because of short sightedness and the fact they see their authors as cattle. It would take a lot to change my mind about them.

I may try self publishing at some point if I gain an adequate following and feel savvy enough to tackle it all. For certain story lines like Project Threshold, I am more than content to continue working with RedCape. They are great people.

As for the Indie market's ability to compete, most definitely. They are putting out great quality books. They pick exciting story lines, can have powerful covers and are more invested in their authors. I'm tooting RedCape and Mannison press here! Mannison created the cover for Dave plus all the little things on the cover and back which were so clever. Red Cape came up with the covers for P/T and I loved the idea of case files given the story.

I have read a handful of books from the big 5 in the last few years and everyone of them had typos and editorial goofs which tells me they're cutting corners there too. The Indie markets are doing at least as well and oft times better.

Each year, more books are churning out from the Indie presses and for my money they are more exciting, engaging stories. Their big advantage is they are not arm locked by what they think the public wants like the big 5. Indie presses can dive into any genre and focus on it.

I love Indie publishers and presses.

2/19/2024 03:57:24 pm

I certainly agree, the big publishers see a book as not much more than a box of cereal is to a grocer. Put it on the shelf and someone will buy it.

The small indie presses tend to care more than that. And the books they put out are the equal of traditional publishers.

Last question.

What are the three most important considerations for an author to be certain of when publishing?

2/19/2024 09:44:30 pm

First I think an author has to be sure they have put forth the best form of the story they possibly can. Through multiple self edits and outside edits it should be pared down and shaped into the best possible telling of the story. Be concise, keep the story on track and get your reader from page one to "The End."

Second, you present the best package you can. From the cover art to the back blurb, you're presenting something to potential readers and this is advertising. Whether you believe so or not, your marketing journey begins the minute the book shows up available for potential readers to see. I think a cover should sum up the book, giving the potential reader a teaser but also a promise of what's to come. Same for the back blurb: it's your logline, your movie poster quote, your barker on a stage shouting "Come here, kid! Have I got something to show you."

Finally, you've got to get your book in the hands of potential readers and win them over. If you've done your job well, then the first few pages someone reads is going to draw them in and make them want to keep reading--plunk down their money and take your story home. Marketing and advertising are two wheelhouses most writers aren't used to in this 21st century but like Dave, it's necessary evils.

All of this is a fine art and I certainly haven't mastered any of it. I'm learning as I go and I sleep okay making mistakes along the way. It's the nature of the game and you learn by tripping and stumbling.

The real key in publishing is aiming for perfection but allowing for failure. Do the best you can at the time and even if things go sour, there is no time limit and no "last chance" as long as you can still tap away at the keys (and even in the afterlife Dave has jobs for that too) Keep doing what you do well and then work on the other parts which need .. . work ;)

I've heard quotes about how it's those who don't give up who succeed. It's the truth. Keep getting back up. Write and publish one story. Then another. Keep going. So what if the first six don't get you that fame and fortune everyone's so enamored with? If you're enjoying telling stories that's three quarters of the battle right there. Eventually you'll get where you need to be.

Heck, look at Dave E Lish. He was number two in the universe and then he got tossed down to the absolute bottom. Did he quit? No, of course not. He dusted himself off and said, "well, hell, it's only up from here." ;)

2/20/2024 07:32:35 am

Fabulous answer! You really nailed it. Commitment and never quitting are essential to achieve success in this business. Loving to tell stories will enable you to keep writing regardless.

On that note, Craig, our chat must come to an end as I have another promotion to attend to. I have enjoyed this weeklong chat and all of the others that preceded it.

Until next time, keep on writing.

2/20/2024 08:48:30 am

Thanks for everything Mark! These interviews really help me to dig into my own publishing journey--to define where I'm at and what I need to do to keep going.

I have a feeling we'll talk again soon...at the very least this fall when Project Threshold 2 hits the markets. And who knows...there may be another Dave book out there--he's always got an opinion on something...

The Beginner’s Guide to Being Evil by Craig Crawford

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