Urban Harvest: Tales of the Paranormal in New York CityAnthology
Publication date: September 22nd 2013
Genres: New Adult, Urban Fantasy
Urban Harvest contains tales of the paranormal from Alex Shvartsman, Laurie Treacy, Donna Ansari, Tara Hill, Laura Wenham, Andrea Stanet, Don Corcoran, Saif Ansari, and Sean Sakamoto.
In keeping with the spirit of harvest, all proceeds from this anthology will go to support City Harvest, an organization that feeds NYC’s hungry.
AUTHORS
Donna Ansari
Vampires of the G Train
INTERVIEW
Donna Ansari is the editor and a featured author in Urban Harvest: Tales of the Paranormal in New York City.
Tell us about Urban Harvest. Why urban fantasy? Was this your first anthology? How did you settle on City Harvest as the charity of choice?
New York City is so full of people that on one hand, it seems a highly unlikely location for paranormal activity. But on the other hand, it also seems like the perfect location—lots of places where all sorts of nasties can hide in plain sight.
There are so many worthwhile charities, so picking one was a difficult decision. But you can't live in NYC without seeing how many people are going hungry. It's often a stark contrast to the amount of cheap junk food that's available. And with the season now being autumn, the harvest, I couldn't help but think of those who go without enough food.
As an editor, what do you look for when reading submissions? Can you share any tips for writers (like something you see repeatedly or things that bother you)?
Apart for being good stories in their own right, each story that goes into an anthology has to fit in and play nicely with all the others. In this anthology, I tried to feature a mix of different kinds of stories, while having them all feature NYC in a prominent way. As to what particularly bothers me as an editor--that would be writers who don't proofread their work! You could have a brilliant idea for a story, but if I'm going to have to spend several hours picking through the mistakes, it's not worth it.
Who are some of your favorite authors? Have they inspired you in any way?
About 20 years ago I first read a book by Charles DeLint, and was introduced to the concept of urban fantasy. Neil Gaiman has also been a big inspiration to me, particularlyNeverwhere, which takes place in London, another one of my favorite cities. Mike Carey's graphic novel, Lucifer, taught me that it's okay to route for the "bad" guys, and I'm currently enjoying his urban fantasy Felix Castor series.
Can you tell us a little bit about any other projects you are working on?
I also write an urban fantasy series, Vampire in the City, which is about vampires in New York City. Emma, the protagonist of the series, was turned into a vampire in book one. Prior to becoming a vampire, she worked at an ad agency, lived alone, and had relationship issues. Now she still works at an ad agency and still has relationship issues, but lives with a witch and a werewolf. Emma has not fully come to terms with being a vampire yet. She is happy about not being allergic to her cat or having to wear glasses anymore, but doesn't like to involve herself in vampire politics. There will be a total of six books in the Vampire in the City series, and Book Four is about to come out.
Do you think you'll put any other collections together?
I enjoyed putting together Urban Harvest so much that I am strongly considering doing another one next year. Perhaps I would do one with a different theme and to benefit a different charity. An anthology to benefit an animal shelter that features shifters sounds kind of cool.
Where can readers find out more about you and your books?
Webpage Facebook Twitter Goodreads
Alex Shvartsman
EXCERPT
A Shard Glows in Brooklyn
“Philippine Energy Beetles are nasty critters,” I lectured him as we walked, straining to be heard over the noise. “They nest by the power lines and feed off the electricity. Those flickering lights the power company says are caused by faulty wiring are often caused by an infestation.”
Having finished with the cars, I fumbled with the lock on the front door of a vacant house.
“This place is lousy with beetles,” I explained. “We’re gonna have to fumigate.”
“That’s just great,” said the prospect. “I can’t stand bugs. Now you tell me the Watch is in the exterminator business? This couldn’t possibly get any worse.”
But, of course, it could. He hadn’t seen the beetles up close yet. The prospect’s problem with insects was part of the reason I had brought him to this place. I needed to know, when push came to shove, that he’d be able to handle himself. I needed him to overcome whatever phobias and preconceived notions he’d been living with, before he learned about any of the really bad things that are out there.
“Relax,” I told him. “There’s some good news. These critters hate loud noise.”
The lock finally surrendered to my ministrations and the door was forced open by the pressure from the inside. Hundreds of fully grown beetles burst out of the house. Each of them was two to three feet long and stood at least a foot tall. The entire swarm rushed past us and toward the sewer, trying to get as far away from the roar of the sirens as they could. The prospect turned white as a sheet, but he didn’t run. This one just might be a keeper.
“They are . . .” the prospect gulped, “enormous.”
“This is New York,” I told him. “We don’t sweat the small stuff. You should see the size of the troll under the Verrazano Bridge. Come on.”
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Laurie Treacy
Wished Away
INTERVIEW
Laurie Treacy is one of the authors featured in Urban Harvest: Tales of the Paranormal in New York City.
What do you like about writing in the paranormal genre?
As a writer, I like the possibilities presented by the paranormal genre, not knowing about the unknown, about ‘otherworldly’ creatures and realms. What a creative playground for writers to play in!
What prompted you to write this story?
“Wished Away” was originally a short story I wrote in 2012 titled “Scarecrows and Sunflowers” to enter into a competition. I didn’t win, didn’t expect to, but I wanted to explore the short story format. What I discovered was I liked creating shorter pieces. When I read the call for submissions for Urban Harvest, I thought “I can do this. I’m a New Yorker!” My favorite place in the city is the banks of the Hudson River, especially the Metro-North station at Riverdale. Many an hour I’d spent there and I’d also walk down to Spuyten Duyvil. There was my setting. While researching for another story, I discovered the urban legend of Henry Hudson’s “ghost ship.” There was the foundation of my urban lore. The Scarecrow story was still in my mind so I opened the file and began thinking. Ghost ship. Riverdale. The word “wish” popped into my mind. I was intrigued and a new story began to take shape. Within a few days I had my first draft of “Wished Away.”
What other things have you written/are you writing?
I wrote a paranormal New Adult short story, “Powerless,” which will be included in the Stalkers anthology edited by Cynthia Shepp and Rene Foslom. I also wrote an adult paranormal short story “Just One Bite,” which will be part of the In Vein vampire anthology, edited by Jodi Pierce. Both anthologies are expected to be published later this year. I am also writing two Young Adult novels, a paranormal, Strays, and a fantasy, End of Silence, finishing up my YA paranormal, Everlast, besides other works-in-progress.
Do you consider your writing character-driven or plot-driven?
My writing is definitely character-driven. On my blog (www.laurietreacy.com) I call myself “The Story Channeler.” I feel like Theresa from TLC’sLong Island Medium, except I hear the voices of characters telling me their stories. I’ve learned whenever characters begin speaking or images pop into my mind, I grab paper or my laptop and get it out. It could be a page or two or even longer, but those spurts of inspiration can lead to short stories or novels. I let the characters take the lead.
Do you plot ahead of time, or let the plot emerge as you write?
Much like baking, the plot rises out of my stories during my writing. I do like to roughly outline first and then I will go back and plot the story.
Do you have a writing mentor or inspiration?
I don’t have one particular mentor. I regard inspiration like a sponge seeking water. I am inspired by the books I read and love. As a frequent conference attendee, I am fortunate to meet many in the industry, listen to them talk about their own journeys and that inspires me. I am also inspired by images, pictures, paintings, and by nature. Many times I stop driving to capture a picture of something because it speaks to me. I never know when I may need that picture for creating a particular setting or as the catalyst for a story idea.
When and how did you first become interested in writing?
I wanted to be a writer ever since I was a kid. Growing up in New York City, I spent many summers in the public library, lost in books. I still have two books I began writing when I was in the sixth grade (of course, both were Young Adult stories, one paranormal, one contemporary romance). In college I was very active with the school newspaper and literary magazine, majored in Journalism, and won some writing awards (I won an award from Columbia University for my Bruce Springsteen record review which was really cool).
Writing schedule?
I try to block out some hours in the morning but that doesn’t always work. I will say whenever inspiration strikes, I do pay attention so you may find me writing while waiting for my daughter at dance or while my son is practicing soccer. I need to write where I can see the outdoors and make sure I can listen to the playlist for that particular work.
What’s next?
I’m really looking forward to Nanowrimo this year. I have a title and story outline all ready to go. I’m excited ever since I was inspired by an urban exploration I went on. It will be a New Adult paranormal.
Anything else?
I’m a member of the SCBWI. I love to write YA and read a lot of books in this market. I’m also an active book blogger at Reader Girls, a blog I started in 2009. I get to meet many wonderful authors, publicity people, and other readers as well as discover new and exciting books.
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Tara Hill
EXCERPT
Don't Be Afraid
Every night, I rise just as the twilight ends and night descends around the city. Walking through the old cemetery, I wander to the front doors of the church. Old Trinity Church welcomes me long after the last visitor’s steps have faded into the sounds of the bustling streets. Walking the long aisle, I always stop at the altar to pray. Only this night will be different. This is All Hallow’s Eve, the one night of the year when the veil between the Spirit World and the Living is thinnest. Every year at this time, I go back to the old neighborhood hoping to find the one that I lost.
Having said my piece, I exit the church and start the long, lonely walk. The city is busy with people and spirits roaming about. Another gentleman and lady from my time nod their heads as I pass by. I tip my hat in return, but there are plenty of spirits from all walks of life and eras here. If the Living only had the sight, they would see souls of people from modern times all the way back to the ancients who first walked the land. All gather together sharing ideas and helping to influence the ones on the
physical plane when they can. Most come and go as they please, but others are stuck here on the Earth. I should know because I am one of them. While people use the terms interchangeably, the real difference between a ghost and a spirit is that a spirit has the ability to shift between the two realms at will.
How I died is not important. I do not really remember it being different from any other day. I seemed to wake up just as I always did. Actually, it was a lot like waking up from a nap. I opened my eyes to find myself fully dressed even though I thought I remembered having gone to bed the previous night. I was sitting in my study, only the shades were drawn and the windows were closed. I had always liked to have them open even during the coldest days so that a bit of air could get into the room. Standing up, I walked out into hallway and toward the center of the house. That’s when I heard the weeping. It was a sad sound that shuddered up and down as it came to me from across the hall. Astounded at the noise, I still swept forward to find the source of it. My hand stopped at the parlor door, which was wide open for a viewing. Everything was draped in black and candles burned all about the room amidst the overwhelming perfume of flowers.
My wife and our grown children sat in the parlor, surrounded by friends and other members of the community. The grandbaby sat on his mother’s lap, his fingers stuck in his mouth to soothe himself. They all wore black and grey. Shaking my head, I looked toward the raised dais in the back of the room. All conversation was lost on me for the moment; I had to see for myself to make good their words.
Walking over to the coffin, I stared down at the remains of the body that I had only recently occupied. There was the strong, square jaw, the jet black hair laced delicately with grey at the temples, the broad shoulders and wide chest. I had been in the peak of health for a man in his sixties. What had happened? Surely someone must know.
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Laura Wenham
Coexistence
INTERVIEW
Laura Wenham is one of the authors featured in Urban Harvest: Tales of the Paranormal in New York City.
Your story, Coexistence, is about dragons who live under NYC. What prompted you to write this story?
The idea for my story began when I got my first job in Manhattan and walked every day past manhole covers that were constantly emitting streams of steam and smoke. At first I largely thought how inefficient the steam heating systems were to be losing so much heat. Then, as I kept walking past them, I thought all of that smoke would make a good cover for dragons hiding underground. Then I began to wonder how much evidence you would need to support the idea of underground dragons and what the likely reaction of the rest of society would be if a scientist claimed to have discovered dragons under Manhattan. I couldn’t figure out what might cause a scientist to seriously research this until the various steam pipe explosions began happening in Manhattan. Like the character in my story, I walked right past the hole left by the explosion in front of NYU’s library, which made quite an impression on me.
What other things have you written/are you writing?
I have folders full of stories and poems and songs on my computer. I am very good at coming up with interesting ideas and very bad at figuring out where the plot and characters want to go. I am currently working on two different short stories. One of them is based on the idea that we become able to communicate with our dark-matter doppelgangers and the new rich tourist activity is not traveling into space, but instead meeting their doppelgangers in a room sealed by plasma to keep the universe from exploding – until one of the dark-matter doppelgangers is murdered after the meeting and the detectives on our side of the universe have to figure out the motive without access to any physical evidence. The other story is about these tiny kangaroo-like robots that are built to be used for surveillance of enemy terrain (http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/robotics-hardware/tiny-jumping-robot-finds-room-for-a-tail). When the military figures out a way to also have them radiate to increase the enemy’s feelings of fear, an anti-war group decides to make them broadcast feelings of peace, make them self-replicating, and releases them in the US, with wide-ranging results. I am also trying to write down the amusing anecdotes of my 2.5 year old son’s daily adventures.
Do you have a writing mentor or inspiration?
I am extremely grateful to the members of the Mom’s Writer’s Group at the Midshore Mothers’ Center (http://midshoremotherscenter.org/) who, when I described my story idea to them, patiently encouraged me to actually finish and submit it. I would also like to thank my various friends who read the final draft for mistakes, particularly Preston Ray, whose edits were extremely helpful in decreasing my word count without losing content.
What’s your writing schedule? Do you have a favorite place to write?
With a 2.5 year old, my writing time is limited – which is why I value the free write time we have as part of the Mothers’ Center group as well as late nights in bed typing (sometimes incoherent) story ideas on my iPad.
What’s next?
Our Writer’s Group starts up again in early October, so I intend to keep working on the two stories I mentioned above (as well as the several ideas I will probably come up with between now and then).
Anything else you’d like to add?
I love the idea of writing anthologies and donating the profits to charities, particularly when they are local, meaningful charities such as City Harvest. Not only am I now a published author, but as I encourage my friends and family to buy the anthology on Sunday because I want them to read what I wrote, I also do so knowing that they are helping out a great cause! (And I have to confess I am terribly curious about and anxiously waiting to read the other stories in the anthology!)
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Andrea Stanet
EXCERPT
Under the Mattress
A fresh bouquet of assorted flowers added the only splash of color to the otherwise dismal family plot. Nate’s eyes roamed over the simple engraving on the stone, stopping at the date. Three years ago. The end of good times.
As he kneeled to straighten the flowers, water seeped through his jeans.
The rain stopped. His hands stilled. Then they clenched into fists. Nate ground his teeth together so hard they hurt. “I’m so done with this shit, Dad. I’m supposed to be the kid, not the parent! She’s useless!” Sitting back on his heels, he ran a hand through his curly black hair. “Ever since she came back—”
“I know, Nate.”
The voice came from behind him.
Nate gasped. He whipped around, fell over, his butt squelching into the wet grass, his spine smacking against his father’s headstone. Nate visited the grave often because he always felt his father’s presence, somehow. But he had never expected to see his Dad again—not in this world, anyway.
His father stood in the at-ease stance, his chin held high, across the grassy aisle that separated his section from the next. He wore his dress blues, the ones he had been buried in. Nate could see rows of headstones behind the transparent figure. It was impossible, yet there he was.
“Dad?” He reached for his father, then let his hand flop back to his lap. That’s it—I’ve finally cracked.
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Don Corcoran
An Elegant Cross
INTERVIEW
Interview with Don Corcoran, one of the authors featured in the anthology, Urban Harvest: Tales of the Paranormal in New York City.
What do you like about writing in the paranormal genre?
The paranormal brings three things to my writing: Suspense, Wonder, and The Creep. Supernatural elements bring a level of uncertainty to the page. The idea that a protagonist can be threatened indirectly and must approach problems through the same murky process heightens the readers anxiety. Often the reader hasn’t internalized the rules of engagement making plot development and character interactions more of a mystery (without making the piece a stone cold whodunit). That mystery delivers suspense – what is the bad guy going to do and will the white hat, superior in many ways, be able to see it coming.
That mystery is the source of wonder. I am not a person that likes writing about fireballs and flying vampires. I like my fantasy to be subtle and in the background. I like my paranormal to incite curiosity and illicit the reader to want to learn more, a forever moving target, like dark spots in your vision to chase.
It’s the ever-present, background weirdness that brings shivers to ones spine. When the reader starts to think about what’s going on and they think they’ve got it or they start to understand the implications and insert themselves into the narrative that the creep settles in. It’s not quite horror. It’s not disgust one gets from gore or the darkness revealed in a characters soul, rather it’s the inevitable. The slow crawling doom you see the characters approaching despite their best intentions.
Sure, some of this can be maintained through mundane means but there’s a balance that further enhances the effect of paranormal elements.
What prompted you to write this story?
I write supernatural westerns. I saw the submission call for the anthology and thought about some of the material that gets lost in the research process of my other work. I recently read A Passionate Girl, by Thomas Flemming, watched Copper, and had been doing a lot of research on New York during the Civil War. I am writing novels set at the beginning of the war in New Orleans. There’s just not an opportunity to explore religious immigration and the roles of slavery in Manhattan in the mid-1800s in my books, right now. I have nowhere to talk about Tammany Hall, political corruption, and the gangs of Five Points. Writing short stories allows me to not only express the fascinating details of those spaces but also lets me create a more complete picture of the setting without diluting the novels.
What other things have you written/are you writing?
I am currently writing a Voodoo Western Dime novel series. It follows the exploits of a black union soldier behind enemy lines desperately trying to free his mother from slavery. In the process he’s drawn into the politics of voodoo and discovering his supernatural inheritance.
Do you consider your writing character-driven or plot-driven?
That’s tricky since my plots are character driven. So my writing follows a very narrow path and leads to a focused point but that end point is developed by understanding what the goals of the characters are, what are their obstacles, and how they will change over time. A story begins by recognizing a character’s deficiencies and it ends in the afterglow of those changes
Do you plot ahead of time, or let the plot emerge as you write?
It’s semi-organic. I start by doing a character study of each main character, what they want and where they are going. Then I have a solid idea of where the story will go and what the whole things looks like from the top down. Once I have those general ideas then I plot out the story scene by scene every 10,000 to 15,000 words. I usually use a three scene/three act scene structure to think about the rise and fall of drama.
Obviously, with a short story I plot out the whole thing. With the story for this anthology I went through two first drafts, reorganizing the focus of the story and rethinking where I want it to go. With something so small I find that much easier to do.
When and how did you first become interested in writing?
My sister asked me if I’ve always been writing and I recalled that I write my first novella when I was thirteen, hand written on loose-leaf. I’ve always been a gaming and movie nerd. Have always been way over-educated. Writing allows me to express those interests and draw out the narratives in my head. Nothing gets me going to write than seeing something done poorly. It was inadequacies (or at least intriguing variations) in books, films, comics, and games that inspired me to rethink a fictional space. It was great authors like Lamour, Bradbury, and Eco that gave me the bar to set my craft to.
What’s your writing schedule? Do you have a favorite place to write?
I wish there was a “schedule.” I have opportunity to write daily, thank goodness. I drop my daughter off at daycare, sometimes jog to get the blood flowing, sit at a café to get in about four pages of hand-written journaling, then sit at my desk and write to a dedicated playlist. That said, I usually can get a short story done in a day and a novel’s first draft in a month.
What’s next?
I am doing research on the Industrial Revolution for my next series. There is a strong possibility that the Voodoo Western series will extend to two more trilogies after this one. Each book I write is usually accompanied with one or two short stories exploring other characters and spaces in the periphery of the novels.
All of my books have a social message, putting a finer point on various social issues. The Voodoo Western is all about race and religion. The new series will be about living wages and the loss of craftsmanship.
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Saif Ansari
EXCERPT
Pipes
Six months ago I started working in the Goldbar building. It’s art-deco facade reflected by the other buildings on the block. All of them tall, tapering skyscrapers washed clean and well maintained by the wealthy corporations housed within them. The Goldbar building had just become the home of a computing firm that was dissatisfied with its data pipeline. Old buildings are notoriously difficult to rewire, especially when they want to connect directly on private lines to their main office half way across the island. I was assigned to this building as part of a team to come up with a solution. Our head engineer, Doug O’Brien, had discovered one.
“Pneumatic tubes,” he said, the self-satisfied grin on his face that spoke of a successful youth. When a flat silence returned his grin he slapped his hand against one of the old tubes next to him, creating a hollow sound that filled the cramped office. At the moment, the tube was cleverly disguised to appear as part of the room’s streamlined corporate appearance. But the masquerade was easily dispelled once it was pointed out.
“The Goldbar has these things crawling around everywhere. Now, they’ve been blocked off for about sixty years, but that doesn’t mean they’re not useable.” The complete confidence he exuded was tangible, palpable. He was the kind of man that seemed successful no matter what. He was the kind of man who made you feel as if your life were missing something very specific in it, even if it was just a really great tie or a solid suit.
“What we need to do is split up into smaller teams and start mapping the network. Once we have a full schematic, we can move on to figuring out how to run the wires through them. Now, in the intervening years, things may have gotten a bit…” he hesitated casting about for a word but the smile never faltered. He managed to make it all seem playful. “Cluttered insides the pipes. One of the primary exit points was the former mailroom, which is in the third sub-basement. It’s been empty for over forty years. That’s going to be our check spot. Building management wants that area locked at all times so each team will have a set of keys.”
Doug never went down into the Mail Room. He was instead set up in a spare office on the thirtieth floor with a sliver of the park visible between two buildings across the street from his window. After my first visit down to the Mail Room, I never called it that again. Maybe it had been a Mail Room once, but it was something else, now.
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Sean Sakamoto
Ghosts of New York
INTERVIEW
Sean Sakamoto is one of the authors featured in Urban Harvest: Tales of the Paranormal in New York City.
What do you like about writing in the paranormal genre?
Albert Camus famously said, “Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth.” If that’s true, and I believe it is, then paranormal, or any speculative fiction, is an even greater lie through which we can tell an even greater truth. I love the freedom to create any device to get at the heart of a story, and genre frees me to do that. If I need to explore how blind optimism can be dangerous, then I can create a virus that causes optimism and wreaks havoc upon the world. If I want to explore the sheer terror of being stopped and frisked by uniformed police, why not show my city under occupation by aliens who can grope my mind and broadcast my secrets? Genre, and specifically paranormal, give me a language for going deeper into the horror, adventure, or hilarity of the human condition.
What prompted you to write this story?
In my story, Ghosts of New York, 8 million ghosts are released from a rotten seam of rock in the dig for the second avenue subway line. Every New Yorker gets one ghost, and that ghost tells the truth about them to everyone nearby. I wrote this story because I often feel like I’ve got a ghost on my shoulder that whispers my worst fears into my ear. “Your writing sucks. You have no imagination. Everyone knows you don’t belong at this party. You’re getting too old for this kind of fun.” ad nauseum. One way I have found to get on with living my life despite these nagging doubts is to admit that some of them are true. My worst fears are true, and once I’ve been honest about it, I have nothing left to hide. Yes, I’m no Shakespeare. Yes, I’m getting old. Yes, I’m usually not the brightest guy in the room. That’s fine. Once I embrace the truth, as unflattering as it is, it has no power over me. I wanted to imagine a way for all New Yorkers to confront this, and have it literally play out. I wanted to take the power away from the ghosts that whisper in all of our ears.
What other things have you written/are you writing?
I was recently the story editor and associate producer on Star Trek: Secrets of the Universe. It aired on History, and it was a look at the science of Star Trek, and a glimpse behind the scenes and on the set ofStar Trek Into Darkness. I’m also writing an apocalyptic novel called Rictus, about a pharma virus that jumps the lab and infects the world with blind, relentless optimism.
Do you consider your writing character-driven or plot-driven?
I consider my writing idea driven, and then it’s up to me to make the plot fun enough, and the characters interesting enough to keep the reader interested. Ideally, nobody would spend any time at all pondering the idea behind my writing because the story is too much fun. I’m not trying to lecture or teach anyone anything, I just find that some kind of overall idea to explore is how I find my way into a story and then I need to tell it well enough that readers have a great time with it. Ideas are what get me writing, but my purpose is to entertain.
Do you plot ahead of time, or let the plot emerge as you write?
I plot ahead of time. I usually have a shot list of scenes that will get me to the end, and then I write my way through each scene. If the story is thin, I’ll add some scenes to help connect the major points, or flesh out a character. I have to work out the plot before I write because I find it too confusing to tell the story and work out where it’s going at the same time. That feels like multi-tasking to me, and I’m easily frustrated. If I feel like I don’t know where my story is going, I can easily become overwhelmed and get lost on the internet in full retreat. I need to break my story down into discrete steps and small goals to keep myself focused and prevent panic.
Do you have a writing mentor or inspiration?
I enjoy the podcasts Starship Sofa, and The Functional Nerds. Those are both great for keeping up with stories, ideas, and TV shows that are good. I’m always looking for more sources, especially for independently published fiction. I attended Viable Paradise, a Science Fiction and Fantasy writing workshop and I learned a ton while I was there. It really helped me understand how to write science fiction and fantasy for an audience and I’d recommend applying for anyone who wants to spend some time with great writers and editors and learn about the work.
When and how did you first become interested in writing?
When I was a kid, I remember sitting with a neighborhood friend and making up stories to pass the time. I was probably 13 or 14 and I realized then that I wanted to be a writer. I loved being able to let my mind run, and I loved the feeling of being in a new place that was being invented word by word. Since then, I feel most comfortable when I’m reading a story and it takes me over. I love the feeling of immersion in a world that was utterly constructed by an author. I seldom feel that way as a writer, but that is a feeling I want to provide readers. When I first became interested in writing, it was because I thought I had a lot to say and I wanted people to pay attention to me.
As I’ve grown, that has changed for me, thankfully. Now I want to give people something. I’ve shifted my internal focus from me to them, and I think my writing has improved as a result. It’s wonderful to be part of a conversation whether as a reader or a writer, and that’s all I’ve really wanted I think.
What’s your writing schedule? Do you have a favorite place to write?
I have time to write in the mornings, but I often squander it. I find it hard to focus, and I’m easily distracted. I’d love to bring more discipline to my schedule. I don’t have a favorite place to write, but I am thinking about finding one. I’ve got a great son, and wife, and a busy life, so I make time to write when I can. When I have to write something professionally, as I did with Star Trek: Secrets of the Universe, then I work every chance I get. But with my own projects I’m less disciplined.
What’s next?
I’m rewriting Rictus, which I hope to finish by Spring. I’m also co-publishing a series of speculative fiction with Saif Ansari called Slipstream City. In our first volume, Tales from Other New Yorks, we had stories set in New York City. Our next volume will contain stories on the theme of Occupied New York. The stories will all be speculative fiction, all exploring some aspect of life in New York City under occupation. The stories could be set in any time with any aspect of occupation that the author wants to explore. I’ll have a piece in there about New York City under alien occupation, with mind-probing checkpoints and the measures that ordinary citizens take to resist this dismal life. It should be fun, and I’m looking forward to seeing what other writers come up with for the anthology.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I want to thank Donna for putting this together. I hope we feed some people with the proceeds of this book. I’m very excited to live in a time when interested readers and writers can put together a book around ideas that excite them and connect on a kindle, or any e-reader. This is an amazing time for fiction and I feel lucky to be able to read so much great stuff nowadays.
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