Interview: Author and Editor Richard Thomas + giveaway

Today we talk with multi-talented Richard Thomas. He has a story collection, Tribulations, coming out next month as well as running a Kickstarter campaign this February for a neo-noir speculative fiction weekly online magazine called Gamut. Then we talk music and collage and trees...

Welcome to the flock! Take a seat, grab a moon pie and a cup of Kool-Aid. You’ve been a busy little lamb. Let’s talk about your three most recent projects…

Sharon: You have a short story collection called Tribulations (Crystal Lake Publishing) coming out next month. Can you tell us a bit about it and what kind of reader it will appeal to?

Richard: Thanks for having me. Love moon pies, and Kool-Aid, how luxurious! Tribulations is my third collection of short stories. I write dark fiction, what I call neo-noir (which just means “new-black”) that sweet spot between horror and noir, sometimes transgressive, sometimes speculative. I like to put my characters in tough situations and see how they handle it. My stories deal with taboo subjects, but it’s important to see how they survive, how they adapt, how they exact vengeance when needed, and what growth occurs. The light at the end of the tunnel isn’t always a train—sometimes it’s a flashlight, leading you out of the darkness, a way to find hope. I want my readers to be captivated, I put them IN the story, typically first-person, so they can go through it all with the protagonist. I want you to laugh, cry, get aroused, get scared, hold your breath, sweat—to come out the other side saying, “That was intense,” glad to be alive. I grew up reading Stephen King, so you’ll see that influence, but also Mary Gaitskill, Clive Barker, Cormac McCarthy, Dennis Lehane, Denis Johnson, Joyce Carol Oates, even a bit of Haruki Murakami.

Sharon: But, sometimes there is a train, right? Do any of the stories end like that?

Richard: Oh, definitely. Sometimes it’s a train for sure.

Sharon: You also released a novel in January called Breaker: A Windy City Dark Mystery. Fill us in on that one!

Richard: Yes! Thanks for asking about it. It’s my third novel, the second in the Windy City Dark Mystery Series. This is not your typical mystery; it’s more contemporary, leaning toward a dark thriller, really. The thread that ties these together is the backdrop of Chicago—the city is almost it’s own character. The first book, Disintegration, was set in Wicker Park, this one up the road in Logan Square. Where Disintegration was a bit more surreal, a mix of Dexter and Falling Down, Breaker is inspired by a few other books and films—Leon: The Professional, Of Mice and Men, The Green Mile, and To Kill A Mockingbird. Ray is a big man, pale, doughy, trying to break the cycle of abuse. His neighbor, Natalie, is a teenager trying to survive the rough neighborhood, as a man in a white van prowls the streets. Both books are not without hope, but they are dark stories, rollercoaster rides.

Sharon: There is also a Kickstarter for an online magazine called Gamut. This one really caught my attention! What makes Gamut stick out from the crowd?

artist: Luke Spooner

Richard: I’m really excited about Gamut. We’re launching the Kickstarter on 2/1/16 for a month. I’ve wanted to start a magazine for many years, and online seems the best way to go, avoiding print and postage costs, but we still need to raise $51,000. It’ll be new fiction weekly, original and reprint, with columns, non-fiction, serializations, and poetry, too. Depending on how much we raise, if we are successful, and hit a few stretch goals, we could have new content every DAY. It’s the kind of neo-noir, speculative fiction with a literary bent that I’ve published at Dark House Press, and it’s the kind of dark, edgy writing I’d edited and published in The New Black and Exigencies (DHP), Burnt Tongues (Medallion Press) with Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club) which was a Bram Stoker finalist, and most recently, The Lineup: 20 Provocative Women Writers (Black Lawrence Press). The main reward at our Kickstarter will be the $30 annual subscription, which is only $2.50 a month. For over 400,000 words a year, not to mention the art with every story, it’s a great deal. This rate will never be offered again, the regular price going up to $60 (still only $5 a month). AND, by subscribing NOW, your rate will never go up. NEVER. As long as you renew, it will stay that rate. I’ve got a great staff around me, excellent columnists and look at these authors: 

Stephen Graham Jones, Laird Barron, Brian Evenson, Usman T. Malik, Matt Bell, Damien Angelica Walters, Letitia Trent, Mercedes M. Yardley, Alyssa Wong, Benjamin Percy, Lindsay Hunter, Axel Taiari, Amanda Gowin, Laura Benedict, Nathan Ballingrud, Dino Parenti, Ted E. Grau, Rebecca Jones-Howe, Sarah Read, Paula Bomer, Kelly Luce, Livia Llewellyn, Josh Malerman, Carmen Machado, Peter Tieryas, Kevin Catalano, Paul Tremblay, John Langan, Nina McConigley, Nik Korpon, Craig Wallwork, Steve Himmer, Antonia Crane, Steve Rasnic Tem, Kristi DeMeester, Tara Ison, David James Keaton, Cassandra Khaw, Nikki Guerlain, Lucy A. Snyder, JS Breukelaar, Helen Marshall, Amelia Gray, H. L. Nelson, Craig Davidson, Jacklyn Dre Marceau, and Lincoln Michel.

Gamut Magazine twitter

Gamut Magazine FB

Kickstarter link

Sharon: O_O what a great incentive, getting the magazine subscription at half price—forever! Are you also offering some of the artwork as an incentive?

Some of the talented illustrators, designers, and photographers whose work will be included.

(L to R: Bob Crum, Daniele Serra, Jennifer Moore, George Cotronis)

Richard: We talked about t-shirt and hat and art prints and all of that, but the advice I got was to NOT be in the t-shirt business. We will definitely sell products after we launch, if we raise the funds, and we have a place set up for that. I’ve seen many Kickstarters fail because the cost of printing, or shipping, sunk their rewards. There will be plenty of excellent art, though, for sure.

Sharon: Running a Kickstarter has got to be insane! What piece of advice do you wish someone would have told you before you started one?

Richard: Well, I did read an excellent book by Jamey Stegmaier on Kickstarters, he’s launched campaigns that have raised over a million dollars, so that has been HUGE in my understanding how complicated it is—not just crunching the numbers, but taxes, social media, videos, what to include, what not to do, etc. I wish I would have done this sooner, but it intimidated me, there’s a good chance I could fall flat on my face, but I’m willing to risk it because I love these authors, they inspire me, so I’m taking the shot. I believe we can do this. We’re also paying ten cents a word—double the current pro rates.

Sharon: Our readers embrace their nerdy side. What is the nerdiest thing you own? (pics always welcomed).

Richard: Well, I’m currently wearing a new Star Wars sweatshirt, does that count?

Sharon: Nice. Did you enjoy The Force Awakens? Are you a Kylo-Ren lover or hater?

Richard: I liked it a lot. Hard to say, I guess since he killed XXXXXXX a hater?

Sharon: Let’s play date/marry/kill with the Disney princesses/princes)…

Richard: Oh lord, I guess I will now let my freak flag fly. HA, too much. We’re assuming they’re all of age, at this point, right? Had to Google their ages, you trying to get me arrested? I’d probably date Merida, she’s got a lot of energy, seems like a lot of fun—redheads, right?; marry Snow White, right, she’s the one you settle down with (and that’s what I call my wife now and then); couldn't kill ANY of them, but maybe Ariel’s singing would get on my nerves? LOL

Sharon: Lol! Well…since you open this door…if your wife is Snow White, which dwarf would you be or are you prince charming all the way?

Richard: LOL, depends on the day? Some days Grumpy, but hopefully she still thinks I’m her Prince Charming, I mean, she did say yes.

Sharon: You were involved in theater and a member of the Delta Upsilon Fraternity in college. Got a good memory of that time?

Richard: Wow, those both came out of left field, lol. I did theater in high school (Grease) and college (The Sound of Music) and was in the choir. Some of the performances at Bradley University that we did with the Peoria Civic Opera and Orchestra were amazing—Beethoven, Bach, Haydn, it was pretty moving, the sound, the complexity, the beauty. I loved joining DU, we were considered the “boy scouts” of the fraternity system (I’m actually an Eagle Scout, lol) but my freshman year we won the All Sports competition, and had a huge party. It was like the movie Animal House at times—beer on tap 24/7. I eventually outgrew it, preferring to focus on writing and hanging with other artists my last two years, but they were some good guys, had a lot of fun. I loved Bradley. Great education, wonderful teachers. I remember my final exam for my Fantasy and Science Fiction class was drinking beer and watching Blade Runner. (Aced it, of course.) Good times.

Sharon: I was in the co-ed frat Alpha Phi Omega…also considered the boy/girl scouts of the fraternity system. I admit to nothing! (I have teenage daughters so denial, denial, denial <G>)

Richard: Ha.

Sharon: If you can pick a song/album/artist/group that represented your teenaged years, what would it be?

Richard: Tough call, but it’s between The Smiths and The Cure. I remember listening to Meat is Murder, as well as The Head on the Door. I never saw The Smiths, but did catch The Cure here in Chicago at Tinley Park for the Hot, Hot, Hot tour—wow, it was amazing.

*musical interlude while we reminisce*

(side note: I couldn't get close enough to spelling reminisce for spellcheck to find it. Had to go to a thesaurus and find it...took three tries)

Sharon: If you had to live in a forest what kind of trees would you like it filled with?

Richard: There is something to be said about the Weeping Willow. It’s such a weird tree, and it fits in with my dark aesthetic.

CC0

Sharon: You do know they don’t live very long? Usually only 30 years…just saying <G>

Richard: Nothing lasts forever, right? 

*Katie swings in on vine*

Katie: Except sexy vampires!

*Katie swings out on vine*

Sharon: Don't ask...

Sharon: Of the 7 deadly sins, which one did you commit most recently?

Richard: Ha, good question. Wow, I run through quite a few of them on a daily basis, probably—lust, envy, pride. I’m a Scorpio, though, so I probably have to say lust. LOL

Rapid Fire:

Sharon: classic or trendy?

Richard: Trendy, I do write neo-noir, right? New is right there.

Sharon: Coke or Pepsi? (you have to pick one, we are at war over here)

Richard: Nothing beats an ice-cold Coke on a hot day. Except maybe an ice-cold Budweiser.

Sharon: Wow, and I thought we were going to be friends… *wipes tear away*

Richard: Well, I like Pepsi, too. Having one right now, actually. You said ONLY ONE!

Sharon: Fly away or sail away?

Richard: Fly away for sure, although I’ve never sailed. Those airplane seats are small, though. I’ll assume first class here.

Sharon: Blonde or brunette?

Richard: Oh, God. You date the blonde and marry the brunette, right?

Sharon: or according to you: date a red head, marry the brunette, then kill a red head…

Richard: It’s complicated, right? You know red heads are trouble. But usually worth it.

Sharon: pizza or taco?

Richard: Man, I’m in Chicago, a great pizza town. I love tacos, but have to say pizza, it’s really the perfect food—for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Sharon: washcloth or showerproof?

Richard: Ha, I just turn the nozzle on full blast, right

Sharon: R2-D2 or BB-8?

Richard: Finally an easy one, has to be R2-D2 (and see how I defy my own classic/trendy choice earlier?)

Sharon: You are an enigma, Richard…

Richard: Wrapped in mystery, shrouded in riddles.

Thanks for playing with us! You’re welcome to explore our dungeon. Remember to ignore the screaming and stay on the path…there is a dragon *Hands Richard a double edged ax and a football helmet*


About the Author:

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Richard Thomas is the award-winning author of seven books—Disintegration and Breaker (Random House Alibi), Transubstantiate, Staring Into the Abyss, Herniated Roots, Tribulations, and The Soul Standard (Dzanc Books). His over 100 stories in print include Cemetery Dance, PANK, story South, Gargoyle, Weird Fiction Review, Midwestern Gothic, Arcadia, Qualia Nous, Chiral Mad 2 & 3, and Shivers VI. He is also the editor of four anthologies: The New Black and Exigencies (Dark House Press), The Lineup: 20 Provocative Women Writers (Black Lawrence Press) and the Bram Stoker-nominated Burnt Tongues (Medallion Press) with Chuck Palahniuk. In his spare time he writes for LitReactor and is Editor-in-Chief at Dark House Press. For more information visit www.whatdoesnotkillme.com or contact Paula Munier at Talcott Notch.

GIVEAWAY

ONE copy of The New Black, USA only

The New Black is a collection of twenty neo-noir stories exemplifying the best authors currently writing in this dark sub-genre. A mixture of horror, crime, fantasy, science fiction, magical realism, and the grotesque—all with a literary bent—these stories are the future of genre-bending fiction.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Sherlock Holmes Stories I Always Wanted By A.C. Thompson, editor

The Sherlock Holmes Stories I Always Wanted

By A.C. Thompson, editor 

Welcome to my obsession.
I guess I shouldn’t call it obsession. That makes me sound mentally unstable. Perhaps it would be more socially acceptable if I called this new anthology, An Improbable Truth: The Paranormal Adventures of Sherlock Holmes from Mocha Memoirs Press my “labor of love.” I’m not what one would call a “devout Sherlockian.” I couldn’t tell you the exact measurements of the sitting room at 221b Baker Street. 

If you want to know every detail check out this site
http://www.stutler.cc/other/misc/baker_street.html

Nor can I recall the basic plot-line of every single story. In fact, when it comes to the origins of my love affair with Sherlock Holmes, they’re based more in movies than the original books by Arthur Conan Doyle. Young Sherlock Holmes and The Great Mouse Detective were my introductions and ever since I’ve devoured everything I could get my hands on.

At first the original canon might seem dry or difficult to follow with its Victorian prose and expository style. After all, most of the stories are told by Dr. Watson after the fact. With our action-packed lifestyles these days, that style of writing can prove very tedious. In the BBC’s Sherlock, the viewer is part of the action. We’re right there on Watson’s shoulder observing and participating in everything that happens. They even go so far as to animate Sherlock’s thought processes for the viewer. Imagine if the whole show was two people sitting in a parlor smoking pipes and telling stories. It would get really boring, really quickly. So the first thing I wanted to do with this anthology was to capture the feel of watching it on screen. Every story in An Improbable Truth is fast-paced and will carry the reader along with Holmes and Watson. The expository diatribes are quick and serve to move the story along.

My other goal in compiling this anthology was to BRING THE HORROR. It’s no coincidence that Hound of the Baskervilles is the most popular story in the Sherlock canon. Kidnapping a sweet young girl, a ferocious and bloodthirsty Hellhound, a terrible curse, and a Gothic location—it’s a horror story. Of course, there’s a Scooby Doo moment in the end that disproves the paranormal aspect. I got to thinking, what if there was no Scooby Doo moment? Mystery is a genre that naturally lends itself to horror. What if we could create stories that are really scary? Cases that would make Sherlock question his own mind and test his powers of deduction. Gruesome murders, monsters, depravity—really play up the horror aspect. Besides, Holmes is a perfect Gothic hero and Watson is, of course, the girl falling down for no reason and showing us her underwear. An Improbable Truth is the Sherlock Holmes anthology I’ve been wanting my whole life.

Thanks again to the I Smell Sheep crew for having me today and letting me gush about Sherlock. Usually people ask me to stop when I do that…

Excerpt from “The Fairy Pool” by Lucy Blue:

“Well done, John.” His friend’s color was high and dramatic. Either he had already imbibed some chemical stimulant at nine in the morning, or the mere fact of John’s leaving had sent him into the first stages of frenzy on its own. “For once, you’ve hit upon the crux of the question without prompting. Why indeed?” John removed the train tickets from his pocket, and Sherlock snatched them from his hand. “Ravenglass,” he read.

“In the Lake District,” John said, taking them back. “Mary’s friend Seraphima grew up there. It’s meant to be quite lovely.”

“In summer perhaps.” The great detective was obviously unconvinced. “In October it will be a miserable bog. And really, John, Seraphima? Is that the limit of your invention? Seraphima is the name of an Italian carnival dancer, not the school chum of one’s respectable fiancée.”

John was inclined to agree. “Nevertheless, that is her name. Her aunts are the novelists Nora and Mirabel May. Perhaps one of them chose her name.”

Sherlock frowned. “That does seem plausible.” He took the tickets again and sniffed them. “As spinsters and the most prominent and financially successful members of the family, they would no doubt exert a certain influence over the naming of offspring, particularly those from poorer branches of the clan.”

“Seraphima was orphaned at an early age and brought up by the aunts,” John said. “So I’m sure you must be right.”

“One hardly follows the other, but yes, I must be.” He sniffed the tickets again. “When did you purchase these?”

John took them back. “Yesterday afternoon.” He put them back in his pocket. “I had just returned from the station when I told you about our trip.”

Sherlock’s smile was positively demonic. “That is a lie.”

“Holmes, really—“

“Those tickets rested for no small time in close proximity to the bare skin of your fiancée—next to her bosom, unless I miss my guess.”

John’s eyes popped. “I do beg your pardon!”

“They reek of her perfume—an ordinarily subtle scent intensified precipitously by abundance, heat, moisture, or some combination of the three. Since Mary is an extremely hygienic young woman not given to bathing herself in perfume or acts of great physical exertion, I deduce that she carried the tickets next to her skin while in a state of anxiety which resulted in greater than usual perspiration.”

“Have you been sniffing my fiancée?!?”

“Don’t be absurd.”

“No, but really!” Ordinarily Holmes’ deductions were a source of wonder and no small delight to his friend, but this seemed not only improper but highly perilous. “Who are you to recognize her scent?”

“I recognize the presence of Mrs. Hudson’s favorite hack driver by the lingering aroma of horse shit on my hall rug,” Holmes said. “This in no way represents a symbolic romantic attraction.”

An Improbable Truth: The Paranormal Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

by A.C. Thompson
268 pages
Publisher: Mocha Memoirs Press
October 27, 2015
“When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains,however improbable, must be the truth.”

Sherlock Holmes is one of the most recognizable characters in Western literature. Conan Doyle’s inimitable detective has been the subject of literally thousands of books, movies, television shows, plays and even songs. With the rise of the BBC series and the release of most copyrights, the beloved character has found a new life among modern audiences.

In An Improbable Truth: The Paranormal Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, 14 authors of horror and mystery have come together to create a unique anthology that sets Holmes on some of his most terrifying adventures. A pair of sisters willing to sacrifice young girls to an ancient demon for a taste of success, a sinister device that can manipulate time itself, and a madman that can raise corpses from the dead are just a few among the grisly tales that can be found within these pages.

Curl up with a warm cuppa and leave all the lights on. This is not your grandfather’s Sherlock Holmes.

Mocha Memoirs-Amazon-B&N

About the Editor:
website-FB-twitter
A.C. Thompson is the editing alter-ego of novelist Alexandra Christian. Lexxx is a native South Carolinian who lives with an epileptic wiener dog and a pet ghost hunter. She has published several novels, novellas and short stories with Ellora’s Cave, Purple Sword Publications, and Mocha Memoirs Press. Her long-term aspirations are to one day be a best-selling authoress and part-time pinup girl. Questions, comments and complaints are most welcome at her website:  

Interview: Llamageddon director Howie Dewin and editor Chet Steadman

Got a special treat for the flock today! We talk with two of the people behind Llamageddon. Here is the official trailer

(does have a naughty word in it)

Official Blurb: It's the best damn killer llama movie from outer space there is.
Directed by Howie Dewin
Written by Howie Dewin & Jacques M. Felin
Director of Photography - E. B. Buxxner
Film Editor - Chet Steadman
Original Score by Spxxkymvldxr

Starring 
Mel - Pinki Brainweis
Floyd - Jacques M. Felin
Trent - Gooch Jesco III
Manda - Leona L. Dandee
Dan - Jon Selmy
&
Introducing Louie The Llama

Sharon: Hello Howie and Chet, welcome to the flock. We heard about your upcoming cinematic masterpiece when one of our flock members (waves to Dani Harper) posted the trailer in our FB group. The question that is on everyone’s mind…why llamas and not Alpacas?
Howie: We decided on llamas and Llamageddon for that matter because at the time we had access to a llama and not alpacas. That made it an easy decision but we are still holding strong to work with alpacas in the upcoming sequel Alpacalyspe!

*Sharon and Katie look at each other then back to Howie* 

Sharon: Seriously? Alpacalyspe…cause that's brilliant.
Howie: Yeah, seriously. IF llamageddon is succesful as we hope then you can expect to see Alpacalypse in the near future. And yes. The alpacas will have flying jet packs.
Sharon: sniff *wipes tear from eyes* I love you guys!

Sharon: Would you tell us a bit about the movie? What can we expect?
Howie: The film is about a killer llama from outer space who crash lands on Earth and begins reigning havoc on a group of unsuspecting college partiers. You can expect lots of death and destruction as well as nonstop laughs. We have a variety of Llama kills throughout the film, each more ridiculous than the last.
Chet: Expect complete insanity. The movie was a blast to make and hopefully it’s just as much fun to watch.
Sharon: Going for campy?
Chet: We’re going for fun, weird, over-the-top, and academy award winning all at the same time.
Howie: We are going for cult classic. This isn’t something you’ll easily forget.

Louie

Katie: What are llama’s like to work with onset? Do they act like divas?
Howie: Like most llamas Louie is a diva, he refused to even step one hoof on set without grain. Which naturally we obliged, once his needs were met he was as true a professional as Tom Hanks.

Sharon: What was your budget and how did you raise the money?
Howie: The budget was just under $3,000 which I received as a grant from a professor at my University. 
Sharon: Cool! What university? Are you a grad student?
Chet: Do to Howies extreme measures of reclusiveness he would rather not disclose that info. BUT he was in fact a grad student who managed to squeeze out every penny of that budget. We’ve got things in this film that no one expected us to pull off from explosions to helicopters and even animations. Things just kept coming together and escalating in the best/worst ways. It still surprises me what we were able to accomplish.

Katie: What was your biggest challenge as an editor/director in bringing killer llamas from outer space to the big screen
Howie: Every movie I make seems to have its own new set of problems as well as those that always occur (scheduling, budget, casting etc.) but with Llamageddon things just seemed to fall into place. Safety was the biggest issue, not only around Louie but during all of the explosion scenes (yes there are many). This was the first time I had used major practical effects in a film and blending them with visual effects was a challenge but it worked out great.
Chet: The biggest challenge editing was creating something obscure and completely out there in terms of content but also making it entertaining. We continue to laugh at it so I think we may have done something right.

Sharon: What was your biggest expense, other than your filming/editing equipment?
Howie: The largest expenses was in the Art Department, we built lots of props for Llamageddon. I don’t want to give away to many secrets but the fans will strongly appreciate the time, effort and money we put into the film
.Chet: Definitely Rum.
Sharon: Truth…is Louie a lush?
Howie: Lets just put it out there. Louie likes to have a good time. Not only does he follow in the footsteps of Jack Sparrow with his love for rum; he also like to puff the magic dragon.
Chet: There were many a nights when we couldn’t find half the crew because they were out late with louie getting crazy and hollerin at sheep.

*I Smell Sheep does not condone animals puffing the magic dragon, underage animal drinking or sheep hollerin. Drugs are bad llamas, Mkay.*

update: Unless you are a dragon...*glares at Jake, walks away mumbling about pain in the ass dragons*

Sharon: When your movie gets picked up by a major movie studio which major celebrities would you want to star in the movie?
Howie: This is a hard one, there are so many talented people out there that I truly enjoy watching and can only imagine how great it would be to work with them. If I have to throw a few names out there I would love to work with Bruce Campbell and Bill Murray. Both are extremely talented and wonderful people.
Chet: I could see Daniel Day Lewis in an unforgettable role in a killer llama movie. Jennifer Anniston would be fun to. She may be a little out of our echelon but then again she was in Leprechaun.

Manda

Sharon: Were there any injuries on set? I can imagine working around llamas that can shoot lasers out of their eyes can be dangerous.
Howie: Fortunately for us there were no injuries on set, how that happened I’m still amazed. Pinki and myself both fell down a six foot cliff at two different times and neither of us had as much as a scratch.
Chet - I don’t recall any injuries either. Just a lot of sleep deprivation.

Dan, Mel, Floyd

Katie: Do you guys have any other projects down the pipeline?
Howie: We are filmmakers, so we always have other projects down the pipeline, at the moment I am unable to talk about any of them because we are still hashing things out with producers. As soon as I know more you will be the first to know.
Chet: As Howie said, we do have more projects but unfortunately we aren’t able to talk about them.
Sharon: Can you say whether or not they include livestock? I hear sheep are great to work with…just saying…
Howie: It would be hard to top the film Black Sheep so I will be avoiding them for a while. I can say that our next project will be a crime drama with a significantly larger budget.
Chet: Stay tuned.
Sharon: Black Sheep was awesome, I understand your hesitation.

Louie, Floyd, Mel

Sharon: Where can folks expect to find Llamageddon
Howie: We will be submitting the film into dozens of film festivals across the country. As well as taking it to various conventions in the area like HorrorHound. Then the movie will be sold independently online, we are working to get it on amazon as well as a video on demand/streaming site.
Chet: Until someone buys the film we plan to distribute it ourselves the good ol fashioned way. With a DVD burner and a lot of hustle but I think that type of start for a film like this only adds to its goofy charm. I like the idea of someone trying to sell this film out of the back of their van along with some other bootlegs. Builds character.

Sharon: You know we review movies as well as books and comics here at I Smell Sheep. Keep us in mind when you send out screeners!
Howie: We’d be happy to send it to you as long as you promise to play the built in drinking game with a minimum of ten people.
Chet: Can I come?
Sharon: Wouldn't have it any other way!

Rapid Fire

(pew-pew)

Sharon: Llama spit in the eye or in the mouth?
Howie: Having been spit on just about everywhere by a llama I’m gonna have to say eye, there’s no getting that taste out of your mouth. It still haunts me.
Chet: Mouth
Sharon: Chet…you need to talk to Howie about that.
Chet - I’m so lonely…
Sharon: I honestly choked on my cereal (Lucky Charms) at this response. You are my new hero.

Katie: Kentucky fried or California rolled?
Howie: Kentucky Fried!
Chet: Fried every time

Sharon: What’s your favorite fried food?
Howie : KFC’s Double Down. I don’t know how the world has gotten by so long without chicken for buns.
Chet: Im a fan of those little baby calimaris. It makes me feel like a giant eating a whole baby animal at one time.

*I Smell Sheep does not condone the eating of baby squids. Hail Cthulhu*

Sharon: Coke or Pepsi?

Howie: Coke but only if there is nothing else, including water.

Chet: Coke… with rum
Katie: Sweet! *high fives Chet and Howie*
Sharon: *hugs her Pepsi bottle* Don’t worry, they don’t know what they’re saying…
Howie : Baja Blast or nothing!
Chet: I could go dr. pepper but that’s the closest I get to Pepsi.
Sharon: *twitch, twitch*

Katie: Cookie dough or brownie dough?
Howie: Cookie dough
Chet : Both at the same time!

Sharon: snow cone or ice cream cone?
Howie: Snow cone- I’ve even got my own snow cone maker.
Chet: Snow Cone
Sharon: favorite flavor?
Howie: Snappleson. Jameson and Snapple tea.
Chet: Purple

Katie: The Black Pearl or The Love Boat?
Howie: The Black Pearl
Chet: Black Pearl

Sharon: New York City or L.A.?
Howie: Los Angeles- The city of Llamas
Chet: Neither, big cities freak me out.

Katie: Secret handshake or secret winky-nod thing?
Howie: Secret handshake
Chet: Secret Winky nod thing

Katie: Thanks for taking the time to talk with us. I know you guys have a llama and orchestrating the end of the world to get back to! If people want to keep up to date on all things Llamageddon where can they go?

Howie: Stay tuned for updates on the facebook.com and twitters. Be sure to subscribe to our pages to get sneak previews and updates periodically. We’re hoping to live tweet updates during re-shoots so fans can join the action and see the madness unfold. Thanks for showing interest in our flick and interviewing us. You gals are awesome
https://www.facebook.com/llamageddonfilm
https://twitter.com/llamageddonfilm
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The Pros and Cons of Being an Anthology Editor By Scott M. Sandridge

The Pros and Cons of Being an Anthology Editor

By Scott M. Sandridge

I spent four years being the managing editor of an online periodical zine. Only recently have I started editing anthologies, and I edited three anthologies simultaneously my first time in that arena. What can I say? I’m insane.

I learned a lot while editing those anthos, enough to be able to compare the experience with editing a periodical. And to learn the pros and cons, especially in comparison to periodicals.

Let’s start with the pros:

You can fit more stories in a 300+ page anthology than you can in a 64+ page zine. Even online zines can be severely limited in the number of stories that will be published each week or month.

Most anthologies are “themed” and thus provides a bit of cohesiveness. It also helps to narrow down on what to accept when it comes to submissions. After all, you won’t be putting a story about vampires in a faerie-themed anthology (unless it’s some kind of vampire-faerie…thing…).

Once an anthology is finished; it’s finished. You won’t need to keep worrying about whether or not you’ll have enough ready stories available for the next issue as you’re putting together the current issue. And that allows you much more time to promote the work than you would otherwise have.

And finally, anthologies are just plain cool.

Now for the cons:

It’s a lot of work to edit an anthology. And I mean a lot of work. It’s the equivalent to editing a novel word count-wise, with the addition of having a slush pile of short stories to go through, and multiple authors to work with. Per book.

“Themed” anthologies limit what types of stories you can pick. Stories that I would’ve accepted for Fear & Trembling Magazine I had to reject for the two A Chimerical World anthos simply because they had no faeries in them. So there’s a chance of having a large slush pile but very few stories that are suitable. Fortunately, I didn’t have to deal with such a scarcity problem; although, for a time I feared I would.

And the biggest con is…once it’s finished, it’s finished. There is no accepting stories to put in later issues a month or two down the road. You have to be willing to reject stories that both fit the theme and that you like, but just aren’t as “good” as the others. Not unless you plan to do a thousand page (or more) antho, which would be quite big and quite pricey. Or separate the anthology into two separate volumes….

But despite the cons, especially once you’ve seen the finished product, all the work and worry involved becomes completely worth it.

A Chimerical World: Tales of the Seelie Court

edited by Scott M. Sandridge
Kindle-Nook
The Fey have been with us since the beginning, sometimes to our great joy but often to our detriment. Usually divided (at least by us silly humans) into two courts, the first volume of A Chimerical World focuses on the Seelie Court: the court we humans seem to view as the “good” faeries. But “good” and “evil” are human concepts and as alien to the Fey as their mindsets are to us.

Inside you will find 19 stories that delve into the world of the faeries of the Seelie Court, from authors both established and new, including George S. Walker, Eric Garrison, and Alexandra Christian.

But be warned: these faeries are nothing like Tinker Bell.

Here is a list of the authors and stories to be featured in A Chimerical World: Tales of the Seelie Court
“Extra-Ordinary” by BC Brown
“Dead Fairy Doormat” by George S. Walker
“Taggers” by Christine Morgan
“Wormwood” by Alexandra Christian
“The Harpist’s Hand” by Steven S. Long
“Sanae’s Garden” by Chantal Boudreau
“Mark of Ruins” by SD Grimm
“Birdie’s Life at the School for Distressed Young Ladies” by JH Fleming
“Cultivated Hope” by Jordan Phelps
“Seelie Goose” by Eric Garrison
“I Knocked Up My Fairy Girlfriend” by Brandon Black
“The Body Electric” by Sarah Madsen
“The Last Mission” by Cindy Koepp
“The Beggar-Knight & the Lady Perilous” by Matthew A. Timmins
“The Filigreed Lamp” by Edward Ahern
“Keys” by Michael M. Jones
“Like a Sister in the Proper Court” by Lisa Hawkridge
“Gnome Games” by Saera Corvin
“The Goat Man’s Garden” by Marten Hoyle

A Chimerical World: Tales of the Unseelie Court
edited by Scott M. Sandridge
Kindle-Nook
The Fey have been with us since the beginning, sometimes to our great joy but often to our detriment. Usually divided (at least by us silly humans) into two courts, the second volume of A Chimerical World focuses on the Unseelie Court: the court we humans seem to view as the “evil” faeries. But “good” and “evil” are human concepts and as alien to the Fey as their mindsets are to us.

Inside you will find 19 stories that delve into the world of the faeries of the Unseelie Court, from authors both established and new, including Michael Shimek, Deedee Davies, and Nick Bryan.

But don’t be surprised if these faeries decide to play with their food.

Here is a list of the authors and stories to be featured in A Chimerical World: Tales of the Unseelie Court:
“In Plain Sight” by Rebecca Leo
“The Wunderhorn” by David Turnbull
“Treehouse” by Kim Smith
“I’ll Watch Over You” by Angeline Trevena
“The Enemy of my Enemy” by Deedee Davies
“Maestro” by Nicholas Paschall
“Prey of the Boggart” by Rony Blechman
“Fear of Little Men” by Mike Pieloor
“Faerie Stories and the Bean Nighe” by Carmen Tudor
“Gifts” by Michael Shimek
“Djinn and Tonic” by S. Clayton Rhodes
“The Bet” by Jodi Ralston
“The Fool and his Money” by Nick Bryan
“The Yielding” by J. A. Ironside
“The Tamer of Beasts” by Doug Blakeslee
“The Last Sword of Barrow Thorns” by Matthew A. Timmins
“The Rose and the Dragon” by Steven S. Long
“The Brothers Doran” by John A. McColley
“Wonderland” by Stephanie Jessop

About the Editor:
website-FB-twitter-Goodreads
Scott M. Sandridge is a writer, editor, freedom fighter, and all-around trouble-maker. His latest works as an editor include the Seventh Star Press anthologies Hero’s Best Friend: An Anthology of Animal Companions, and the two volumes of A Chimerical World, Tales of the Seelie Court and Tales of the Unseelie Court.

Tour Page URL: 

http://www.tomorrowcomesmedia.com/a-chimerical-world-anthologies-virtual-tour/

Sharon comes home to Sheep!

Sharon comes to us from North Carolina, where she lives with her husband and two daughters (Lauren 22 and Holly 17). Mini Sheep? I think so... lol

Sharon is a big fan of Dark UF with a romantic element, but can relax and enjoy just about anything Paranormal. She holds a 2nd degree black belt in Taekwondo and with a personal motto like "What doesn't kill me, better run pretty damn fast" this is one gal you do NOT want to mess with. :) She may like Pepsi *shivers* but she is also a huge fan of Star Wars and the TV show Supernatural.

Some of her favorite authors are:
Charlaine Harris, Kim Harrison, JR Ward, Josh Lanyon, Madelyn Alt, Keasley Cole, Kat Richardson, Mary Stanton, Terri Garey, Karen Marie Moning, Shirley Damsgaard, Angie Fox, Larissa Ione, Ilona Andrews, Karen Chance, Joleene Naylor, Linda Welch, Kalayna Price, JA Saare, Dakota Banks, Jocelynn Drake, Vickie Pettersson, Jeaniene Frost, Donna Augustine, Juliana Stone, Laruel K Hamilton, Scott Nicholson.  As you can tell, she likes reading A LOT and is definitely going to fit in with the rest of us nerds around here. :)

While she could not pick sides in the Marvel vs. DC Universe battle, she picked Marvel! she did have this to say about comics:
"I think I am more of a Dark Horse and Valiant kind of gal and Action Lab Entertainment. I do love Manga! Vampire Knight, Trinity Blood and Loveless are some of my favorites."
*"Yay, Dark Horse!" shouts Ben from the gallery*

Sharon has a wonderful sense of humor and is an all around fun and witty gal. When asked what she will bring to the blog she said, "chocolate! I try to keep my reviews short and to the point. I don't dwell on the plot much cause that information is usually in the blurb. I tell you how a book made me feel and if it satisfied me. When it comes to alpha-males, I am a fangirl and will have fangirl moments. Please, don't tase me! I will calm down on my own "

Sharon also has an editing site, Devil in the Details Editing. She does content and line edits.

http://devilinthedetailsediting.blogspot.com/

Interviews with Sharon

Interview with me over at Adria's Romance Reviews

Interview with me over at author Donna Augustine's website

Interview with me over at Unique Creations