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Sunday, June 9, 2013

ConCarolinas 2013 Interview: John Hartness + giveaway

I have seen John Hartness at many conventions, but only recently gotten to know him (I was lucky enough to be on two panels with him at Mysticon 2013). He is such an articulate speaker and has a wicked sense of humor. If you ever get a chance to sit in on one of his panels, go! Not only will you be entertained while learning something, he has one of the best sounding voices. 
John Hartness, concarolinas, author, image

Sharon: How many times have you been to ConCarolinas?
John: This is my second year as a guest. My third year attending over all.
Sharon: How does this convention compare to others you attend and why do you keep coming back?
John: This is one of my favorite conventions because it’s kind of like a homecoming, I see some of my best friends here, some folks I only see once or twice a year. And I get to sleep in my own bed cause I live 15 minutes from the convention site. It’s awesome. I also think this con has one of the most robust writers tracks of any convention of its size in the southeast. So for aspiring writers or writers who are seeking publication, seeking to expand their career this is one of the best places to be in the southeastern US. There are very few places you can get to hear real live advice from a consistent level of expert professionals.

Sharon: wow, I had no idea.
John: it’s awesome for a con this size to have as many guests of a level of experience and sales like a Gail Martin or Faith Hunter or AJ Hartley or David Coe or Kalayna Price. You wouldn't typically get that many at the same convention.

Sharon: especially since it is so small relatively speaking, you have an intimate setting and can actually talk with the guest as opposed to just seeing them on panels.
John: Right, you can talk to people face to face and get some real contacts.

Interview Roulette


While picking questions he asked if he should tell the readers who he is… *interviewer fail* you would think after all the in person interviews I’ve done I wouldn’t be pulling the dork card still.

John: So they already know I am an amaaaazing humorist, brilliant anthologist and generally full of crap?

Sharon: *taking the hint* So why don’t you go ahead and tell us about your next book getting ready to drop?
John: The newest project is The Big Bad: An Anthology of Evil. Published by Dark Oak Press and it is a collection of 30 short stories featuring bad guys. Everybody loves the villain. The villain always has the best story. So the only restriction on submissions to this anthology was the protagonist had to be a bad guy. So we got super villains, we've got monsters, demons, werewolves, vampires, human beings. Cause human beings can be the biggest monsters out there. So that is currently available in all ebook formats and in hard back and trade paperback. It’s a lovely hardback volume. I suggest everybody by 10. And if you are into digital it is on amazon right now for $2.99. You are paying a dime a story at that rate, you can’t beat that. 

John: okay, let’s see what’s in this little yellow thing…
Q: What is in your pocket and can we take a picture?
John: yes you can cause there is nothing particularly interesting.
Sharon: no body parts?
John: no, and I’ve already taken all my drugs. We’ve got cash, wallet, a pony tail holder, some business cards and a pocket knife because I am a redneck and I don’t go anywhere without a bladed implement of destruction. Oh, and a valet parking stub.
Sharon: *takes picture* thank you
wondering why I didn't ask him to open the wallet... now wondering if he would  have...
John: now I got to put all my crap away. 

Q: What is the nerdiest thing you own?
John: It depends on what flavor of nerd we’re talking about. I have a collection of somewhere in the neighborhood of 10,000 Magical The Gathering cards.
Sharon: O_O okay, that would count…
John: I have the starry starry night exploding tardis poster autographed by Peter Davidson. I have full run of Comico Grendel comic books with number one autographed by Matt Wagner. I have a World Wrestling Federation Honky Tonk man intercontinental action figure. I have a autographed Larry Elmore print of the artwork for the cover of the first Dungeons and Dragon Box set.
Sharon: I actually have that game at home.
John: My nerd-fu is pretty good.
Sharon: yeah, you rank pretty high up there.
John: I don’t have any Star Trek or Star Wars. I have a book case full of signed books from author friends or just ones I’ve met.
Sharon: That’s not nerdy, that’s cool.
John: I don’t know, one of those is the nerdiest thing I own.
Sharon: the 10K cards wins.
John: that’s probably it.
Sharon: there is a zombie sheep one!
John: there is also a Ovinomancer which is a blue creature that you tap it and it turns another creature into a sheep.

Q: Saint Patrick’s Day or Cinco De Mayo?
John: neither one. Real men don’t drink on amateur night. 



Q: Thor’s hammer or Harry’s wand?
John: Thor’s hammer.

Q: Chainsaw arm or shotgun leg?
John: shotgun leg cause that is just F’ing hot. The one on the chick. That’s just F’ing hot. Because women that can kill you are hot.

Sharon: what’s that movie coming out with the woman with a metal brazier that shoots bullets?
John: I don’t know, but you now have to email me when you find out.

*we did remember, The Lone Ranger with Johnny Depp*

Thanks to John Hartness for taking the time to talk. I look forward to seeing you at the next con!


About the Author:
website-FB-twitter
John G. Hartness is a recovering theatre geek who likes loud music, fried pickles and cold beer. John is an award-winning poet, lighting designer and theatre producer, whose work has been translated into over 25 languages and read worldwide. He's been published in several online literary journals including The Dead Mule School of Southern Literature, cc&d, Deuce Coupe and Truckin'. His poem "Dancing with Fireflies" was nominated for a 2010 Pushcart Prize.
His first novel, The Chosen, is an urban fantasy about saving the world, snotty archangels, gambling, tattooed street preachers, immortals with family issues, bar brawls and the consequences of our decisions.

He followed up The Chosen with Hard Day's Knight, a new twist on the vampire detective novel and the first book in the highly successful series The Black Knight Chronicles. The second book of The Black Knight Chronicles, Back in Black, landed in March 2011 and has enjoyed immediate success. Knight Moves, the third Black Knight book, was released in August 2011.

John is also the host of the popular YouTube writer's video series Literate Liquors, where he and other science fiction and fantasy authors talk about the best alcoholic beverages to enjoy while reading. He can be found online at www.johnhartness.com and spends too much time on Twitter, especially after a few drinks.

GIVEAWAY
an ecopy of The Big Bad: An Anthology of Evil

a Rafflecopter giveaway



18 comments:

  1. I think I'd have to go with a chainsaw arm.
    I'm already lazy enough. If I had to wobble around on a shotgun leg I don't think I'd get anywhere. lol

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  2. I would prefer shotgun leg. The chainsaw might get in the way too much.

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  3. Janet Walden-WestJune 9, 2013 at 9:21 AM

    Nice meeting you at Concarolinas, Sharon :)

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  4. Oh, I almost forgot. I'd go with the shotgun leg.

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  5. Shotgun leg ;) That way I don't accidentally saw anything. Oh and I'm almost ashamed to know this but there's another movie coming out w/ a bra gun... Machete 2.

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    1. That's right! I just saw that trailer at the movies. Hard to believe there is going to be another one of those :)

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  6. I'll go with shotgun leg. I need two sets of opposable thumbs.

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  7. THANKS FOR THE GIVEAWAY! SHELLEY S. calicolady60@hotmail.com

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  8. Neither lol. But if I had to pick, I'd go with the shotgun leg

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    Replies
    1. I am thinking bullet shooting boobs should have been an options

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  9. I would go with the leg, but really want that bra LOL Thank you for the great interview and making me smile.

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  10. Chain saw arm! I'm not that flexible to be able to use the shotgun leg effectively!

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  11. Shotgun leg? I can live with that! Chainsaw arm? I, may be killing myself unintentionally ;p

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  12. LOVE LOVE LOVE JOHN. He is a very cool guy. Misty Massey and John did a reading of their books at MystiCon. I got to see mini monster hunter theater AND mini pirate theater. Neither one of them minded my daughter's concentrator beeping through the whole thing. =)

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  13. Shotgun leg, I don't have running water, showering blood off with every kill would be a pain!

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