What kind of books/stories do you write?
Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Sci-fi, Fantasy, Steampunk, Gothic Horror, YA, NA and Adult

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
About four years ago. I had written three books by then and was about to have my first book published and I realized that this is what I wanted to do.

What do you consider the most influential book you've ever read?
Wow, uhm, Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett or DragonLance by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Both of them changed the way I looked at books and fiction and made me believe for the first time in people that weren’t real.

What other authors are you friends with, and how have they helped you become a better writer?
Oh man, I have about two thousand authors on my friends list. I go to a lot of conventions and meet tons of people. I would say though that my close friends have helped me by pushing me to go farther and be better and not just settle for being okay or good. They also inspire me to keep going when I want to quit for a while.

What’s the best way you've found to market your books?
Write good books. Write them fast and release frequently. Have great covers and good blurbs and have an ever growing newsletter list.

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
Depends on the book. Most require minimal research but my Fairytale Retelling series Fairelle took quite a bit since I needed to flesh out my world building a lot and figure out which technologies I would include and which I wouldn’t. I did a lot of studying up on terminology for the Fudal system. If I’m writing in a real city I’ll do a lot of research about that city to make sure things are accurate. 

Any last thoughts for our readers?
Read what you love. Don’t let anyone dissuade you from your passion. Try new authors there are millions out there. And if you read a book you like, the best thing you can do for an author is leave a review.

Links:
Twitter ~ Facebook
Amazon, BN, Kobo & Itunes

What is it about the outdoors that appeals to you? 
 
The hard part about this question is narrowing it down. I love the solitude, the scenery, and the smells.  I really enjoy gaining altitude, sitting at the top of a peak feeling tired and relaxed all at once and just taking in all that’s below!
  
When did you first start hunting/fishing?
 
I started hunting with my dad and uncles when I was 8 years old.  I would just try to keep up with my dad.  One thing I remember is that my feet were always cold!
  
What is one of your most memorable outdoor moments?
 
Wow, tough one!  I’ve made so many great memories; however, one memory that sticks out is from a Mountain Goat Hunt.  The hunt was with two of my sons, one of them had drawn an Mtn Goat tag and we spent a lot of time together scouting, getting in shape and shooting.  When the hunt arrived the three of use backpacked into some of the steepest and roughest country you can imagine. The night prior to the opening we found the Goats and put them to bed. That night a storm rolled in with 80 mile and hour winds along with snow, luckily we had put our camp up behind some small trees just off of the ridge.  In the morning we found that the weather had pushed the goats off of the mountain top and into the cliffs below making it impossible to get an ethical shot at the goat we were after.  After watching the goats for a couple of hours they finally moved into a semi flat area and my son made a great shot on his goat.  Just after reaching the goat is when the real storm arrived, we took pictures and broke the animal down as fast as we could.  From the time we shot the goat and got back to our tents it had dumped over a foot of snow and visibility was less than 50 yards.  We broke camp and started off the mountain, the trail was impossible to see so we slowly picked our way across the mountain mostly from memory. We all carried heavy packs and that combined with deep snow covering the steep and treacherous terrain made it very slow going.  My most memorable moment came when after a couple of hours I stopped and the bottom of the last steep hill we had to climb, and turned around to wait for my son.  I knew he was behind me and I knew he had the goat on top of his pack and yet when he appeared out of the blizzard behind me it startled the crap out of me.  He was covered in snow and with the goat on top of his pack he looked like a Yeti!  Even though we were tired and cold we all stood there and laughed about how funny and ridiculous this situation was.  There was no complaining, we just enjoyed the moment together and pushed on through the snow.  The time spent on the mountain with family, the common challenges and experiences is what it’s all about.
 
What is your favorite animal to hunt?

Mule Deer!  Why, I love hunting in the high mountains, and for me nothing beats the challenge of hunting mature, smart mule deer!  Score is not what it’s about for me it’s about out smarting the mature animal and the experience!
 
Why do you think hunting/fishing is important in today's modern age?
 
It gives a rare opportunity to unplug from the chaotic world, and leave behind the ease and comfort of daily life.  It’s a reminder of what is important, it a time to reflect and for me it’s a time to get closer with family and friends.  Hunting gives me the time to push myself physically; it’s a time to concentrate on just one thing and to let the stress of daily life fade.
 
What is something you would like to share with non-hunters out there?
 
I’ve been asked by a few of the rational non hunters that I know why I kill an animal that I truly respect and enjoy and why I don’t just take pictures.  My answer is hard to put into words; there is something deep down that draws me to hunt and to kill an animal. It’s not just the challenge, or the great memories, or the great meat that I get.  I love taking pictures of animals but there is something missing, maybe it’s deep connection with nature or a primal drive but with the kill something basic is missing.  As a hunter I do everything possible to make the kill humane, I practice hours on end with my equipment, and I know my limitations.  Nature is not always kind or humane but I do everything I can to make a clean swift kill and to avoid any unnecessary suffering. I don’t apologize for hunting, it’s legal, ethical, moral and it’s a huge part of who I am! 
 

What name would you like me to use for this interview?
 
I have this split personality thing going on. Kay Charles, she’s the nice one (Doesn’t use the f-word. At least not in her books). As for that Patricia Lillie, she’s the evil twin. They had an argument over which name to use. They both think they won. 
 
What kind of books/stories do you write?
 
As Patricia Lillie, I write quiet horror or weird fiction and in the past wrote picture books. As Kay Charles, I write cozy-ish mysteries.
 
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
 
I’m not sure. Writers have always been vaunted, wonderful beings to me, and I have been both envious of them and worshipped them for as long as I can remember. I’m not sure when I got up the nerve to admit I wanted to attempt to become one.
 
What do you consider the most influential book you've ever read?
 
I think every book I’ve ever read has influenced me some how. I can still recite Ludwig Bemelmans’s MADELINE, the first book I ever checked out of a library, as well as many of the Dr. Seuss books with which I learned to read. I’ve read and re-read Margaret Atwood’s THE HANDMAID’S TALE about fifteen times since it was first published and it gets me every time. Shirley Jackson’s THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE is probably responsible for my taste in horror. I was around eleven when I first read a collection of Harlan Ellison short stories (and the therapy bills are still arriving.) I discovered Agatha Christie around the same age. And then there’s Kate Wilhelm’s short, “The Funeral,” which still terrifies me when I revisit it. I think I need to stop now, because I can go on and on!
 
What other authors are you friends with, and how have they helped you become a better writer?
 
Most of the writers I know I met through grad school—Seton Hill University’s MFA in Writing Popular Fiction Program, either as classmates or faculty: V.M. Burns, Michelle Lane, Lana Hectman Ayers, Jessica Barlow, some guy named Cody Langille, Chris Shearer, Scott A. Johnson, Victoria Thompson—once again, I could go on, and I know I’m forgetting people and will feel bad about it later. All have helped by encouraging the good and pointing out the bad or sharing their knowledge and experience or being guinea pigs—I mean beta readers. I never would have finished my first novel, let alone had the nerve to send it out into the world without their support. Even if I somehow had, it would be a far lesser book.
 
What’s the best way you've found to market your books?
 
I am still fumbling around on this, and I think it depends a lot on genre. For the cozy-ish mystery, there are *a lot* of Facebook groups where authors interact with readers. Cozy readers appreciate the accessibility and love looking for new series, so reaching out to them online has been fun and productive. The quiet horror crowd doesn’t congregate on social media the same way. Since I haven’t done any genre related cons, I’m a total unknown to them. Finding ways to reach out is harder, but I keep trying. Word of mouth really seems to be the best marketing, but getting that started is tough! Right now, I think the best marketing would be to get the next books finished!

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
 
Although I sometimes research before beginning a book, since I’m a pantser I do most of my research while writing. I do Google searches and most important, take advantage of library resources. I’m lucky enough to have one dear friend who is a Reference Librarian at a public library and another who is Interim Director at an academic library. Between the two of them, they can find ANYTHING. The best research advice I can give any writer is befriend your local librarians. Take them cookies. And don’t say “but my local library is so small.” Doesn’t matter. Reference Librarians are WIZARDS. They can find anything and will go to the ends of the earth to do so.
 
Any last thoughts for our readers?
 
Readers are wonderful beings. Keep reading.
 
Links/promotional things (include any photos you would like)
 
Patricia Lillie’s website: patricialillie.com
Patricia Lillie’s Amazon page: amazon.com/author/patricialillie
 
Kay Charles’s website: kaycharles.com
Kay Charles’s Amazon page: amazon.com/author/kaycharles
Kay Charles on Facebook: facebook.com/KayCharlesMysteries

What's your favorite RPG system and why?

Sure, start with the nightmare question. I think recent tabletop games (including non-RPG games) have really pushed the boundaries in great ways. You’ll always have your classics. Dungeons and Dragons found a great rhythm with fifth edition. Fantasy Flight has an amazingly innovative dice system with narrative consequences. Then you have your real passion projects like Shadow of the Demon Lord, which is a fantastic system that found a home (and funding) on Kickstarter. I think I’d have to say that my favorite is Fantasy Flight’s Star Wars system, Edge of the Empire. They’re currently working on a new edition of Warhammer Fantasy, and I’m really excited to see what they do with it. If they implement a lot of the mechanics from Edge of the Empire, Warhammer will most likely become my favorite system by far. I think the narrative dice system is way more interesting than the flat number restrictions we mostly accept as the standard.

What made you want to become a DM/GM?

I have a steady group of friends who play together. While I wasn’t our first DM, I did become our most consistent DM early on. I originally offered to run games because it just seemed fair to trade off the responsibility. Plus, my friends were mostly running high fantasy settings like Forgotten Realms. Running my own campaign was my opportunity to bring in elements of horror, which is something I love about dark fantasy. I became a more consistent DM in our group because people really enjoyed those darker elements. In recent history, I only DM when I think I have some great ideas for a campaign. I have a lot of old Ravenloft setting books that provide plenty of inspiration. 
How much prep time do you conduct before a gaming session?
That’s a perfect follow-up question. Ultimately,  when I’ve taken a break from being the DM, it always had to do with time constraints. I enjoy spending a lot of time preparing different characters and scenarios for the players. However, I’ve also learned to keep things flexible. Nobody has fun when a campaign feels rigid. Lately, I’ve favored systems like Shadow of the Demon Lord that have a shorter prep time. For Shadow of the Demon Lord, I spent a lot of time upfront learning about the setting. After that initial time investment, I ran pre-made story arcs where you could prep a session maybe twenty minutes ahead of time. The sessions were really great. If you’re like dark fantasy and want to DM without investing a ton of time, look into Shadow of the Demon Lord. From setting to mechanics, the system really shines.
What is one of your most memorable moments running a game?
Journey of Legends! This was less of a moment and more of an entire weekend. So, my friends and I were playing the fourth edition of Dungeons and Dragons at the time. We were separated most of the year because of college, and that presented challenges with running anything on a regular basis. Looking to reconnect, we all decided to meet up at a friend’s house for a long weekend of Dungeons and Dragons. I offered to run sort of mini series of sessions called Journey of Legends. The premise was that everyone would use one of their favorite characters from the past. Our group rarely made it past level ten before a campaign fizzled out, so this was a chance to make your hero a legend. We started around level twelve or thirteen, and everyone received a flat stat boost of six to everything. This was the player’s chance to be that kind of Drizzt or Aragorn figure. Even the skills you’re not very good at are exceptional by normal standards. To balance the experience a little, they faced brutal enemies and incredible challenges. They were like superheroes of fantasy, so they faced that level of challenge. We had an incredible weekend with that. I ran a few more sessions like that afterward, but I think the first time will always be my favorite. The idea and execution were both new, so it was very exciting because the players had no idea what was coming.
Do you do anything to set the mood or atmosphere?
It depends on the environment we’re playing in. Sometimes we have a friend’s house to ourselves, while other times we’re around family and friends. Occasionally, particularly more recently, we use Skype to play from afar. I like using music when it’s possible. My friend Jeff would always throw on The Witcher’s soundtrack during fights. That always made things feel grandiose in a cool way. Our group would also throw in a dvd called Radiant Fireplace to get the sound of a crackling fire in the room. On Skype, and even in person, I favor descriptions when trying to set the mood. When you don’t have access to outside music or fake fireplaces, it’s up to the DM to establish a mood and a tone. I always find that a character can do this very well. Having the players interact with someone unhinged, or sending them into a room where something horrific happened, are both ways to quickly pull players into a darker tone. If you’re looking to do this in your own game, it’s all about trial and error. Eventually, you’ll find something that works for your and your players. No two groups are the same, so you need to approach each campaign with fresh strategies.
What's one tip you would give to other DM/GM's out there?
Be adaptable. Don’t spend too much time planning every little detail of your session. Even the most predictable player can have a wild, fantastic idea that’s worth pursuing immediately. The more you’ve planned, the more rigid your session will be. If you can work from an outline, you’ll be receptive to new and better directions. This is true in writing as well. The more planning you do, the more things feel like they’re set in stone. You don’t want to waste all the time you put into preparing, right? So you shoehorn in the prepared idea whether or not it’s the most interesting idea. Instead, plan a little less and call for a break when something new and interesting pops up. Use the break to plan your next step. I’ve found that familiarizing yourself with the setting and unique elements of the world to be worth a lot more than memorizing any stats or enemies or anything like that. You and your players have ultimately gathered for a shared storytelling experience, and you never want to lose sight of that.
Any last thoughts for our readers?
​Sure. Well, first, thank you for having me on the site. This has been a cool experience. I love talking about tabletop games. I guess games in general, actually. If you’re reading this and you’re thinking about becoming a DM/GM for your gaming group, then I strongly encourage you to go for it. Look at different systems, settings and characters within those systems, and really find something you’re excited about. If you’re excited, you’re more likely to prepare for sessions without it feeling like work. Plus, excitement from a DM is potent. The players get excited and they make richer characters because they feel like the campaign will go somewhere. Enthusiasm is contagious, so go ahead and pass it around the table.

I just put together my first collection of horror stories! I'm pretty excited about this because it revives a lot of stories that have been previously published under various presses. I give a little insight as to what was going on at the time it was picked up, or what inspired each tale. Another cool thing, was this was my first time creating my own cover art. It was quite the learning experience for me, but it was definitely fun. Check it out!

The storm rages on, leaving death and destruction in its path. With the chaos comes strange tidings and wicked ordeals. 

From C.R. Langille, author of the Dark Tyrant Series comes a collection of weird and horrifying stories spanning all across history: the Spanish Conquest; the Old West; present day; and even a desolate, apocalyptic future.

Haunted hotel rooms, mysterious, mind-bending spots, infernal cargo, and misplaced wishes abound in this collection. 

What kind of books/stories do you write?
I mainly write science fiction and fantasy. Often, these include romantic elements, and I’ve even been known to write the occasional romance. Though, the romances tend to be filled with lots of people who love science fiction and fantasy.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
My senior year of college. After 3.5 successful years as a psychology major, I decided I wanted to write stories. So, I got my B.A. and went to grad school for fiction writing to learn the ropes. Now, I do, indeed, write stories, and yes, that psychology degree does come in handy for analyzing my characters.

What do you consider the most influential book you've ever read?
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. The story sticks with me to this day. I just loved the sense of wonder and adventure and also loved the idea of taking readers on a journey of my own. A close second might be Book of Enchantment by Patricia C. Wrede. It’s a bunch of short stories, followed up by Wrede’s inspiration for each one. That inspiration really stoked a fire for me. It was the first time I thought “hey, I could do this, too.”

What other authors are you friends with, and how have they helped you
become a better writer?
I am forever indebted to the community of Seton Hill University’s Writing Popular Fiction program. If not for them, I’m not sure where I’d be. The program kicked my butt into gear and really helped me find my writing feet, as it were. I also must thank my local writer’s support group, where I met my boyfriend. They, and especially he, have helped me grow as a writer in ways beyond the capabilities of an MFA. The combination has really helped me hone my craft.

What’s the best way you've found to market your books?
Hah, I have no idea. Lol. I know in today’s market author’s must also be business people. I won’t lie. I’m much better at authoring than advertising. But I’m working on it. That said, write an amazing, gripping book. I suspect the rest will follow.

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching
before beginning a book?
Are you sitting down? Good. I don’t research before starting. Nope, I just dive right in. Then, I do research as I go along. It makes the entire process feel much less daunting. I find it much easier to build a world around a story, rather than building a story into a world.

Any last thoughts for our readers?
How much time do you have? 😊

Promotional links:
Website/blog: http://mtdesantis.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/desantismauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/desantismt
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16611979.M_T_DeSantis?from_search=true
Amazon Author Page:
https://www.amazon.com/Deanna-Dee/e/B00T88WP6M/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1423236096&sr=1-1
​

What kind of books/stories do you write?

--I call myself a nontraditional urban fantasy author, because I buck a lot of the established trends for that particular sub-genre. My books also have a healthy dose of alternate history, and I think I’ve created a fun playground for my characters. Luckily, I write for a small press that is known for bending the rules, and so far they support my creativity.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

--Around the summer I attended my third Space Camp, much to my parents’ dismay. My love of space and science led me to science fiction, and eventually, creating my own worlds seemed so much more interesting (an attainable) than merely leaving this one.

What do you consider the most influential book you've ever read?

--Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy (known more commonly in the United States under The Golden Compass) was a huge inspiration to me in high school because it combined so many disparate elements of fantasy set in a familiar, yet completely different, world. It’s been a guiding star in my creative endeavors, especially as I see so many other stories forced into certain molds due to mainstream genre expectations.

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

--While I do extensively outline my books, scene by scene, before I start writing a word, if I did all the research I thought I might need beforehand, I’d never actually write the book. Instead, I get a good sense of the big picture, which might mean dedicating a day to immersing myself in Chinese names online or visiting the Smithsonian Natural History museum. Then, as I come across minor details while I write, I leave notes to myself about things I need to look up to fill in the narrative canvas during my second draft.

Any last thoughts for our readers?

--As a small press author, I love encouraging readers to try something new. While it’s certainly easy to stick to what’s put face-out by the booksellers at Barnes & Noble, there are dozens of excellent authors going the indie publishing route (whether small press or self-published) for every one published by a big New York company. A great way to start is to check out what your favorite authors are reading if they talk about it on their blog or other social media.
​
Links/promotional things (include any photos you would like)
--Blog: www.jlgribble.com
--Facebook: www.facebook.com/jlgribblewriter
--Twitter: www.twitter.com/hannaedits
--Instagram: www.instagram.com/hannaedits

--Steel Victory (Steel Empires #1): http://amzn.to/2d4BacM 
--Steel Magic (Steel Empires #2): http://amzn.to/2dBFAM4
--Steel Blood (Steel Empires #3): http://amzn.to/2pPShZH

Last year I sold my short story, "Kathy Loves Kittens" to Tales to Terrify. It just recently debuted as an audio short story on their podcast. The story is about a man who survives a horrible car wreck, only to find out that his wife died in the crash and his daughter disappeared. She didn't just go missing, but has been completely erased from existence. Her room is empty of furnishings, pictures that used to be of her are left empty, and nobody believes that she was ever real. Things get even stranger when a short wave radio appears on his doorstep, pre-tuned to a numbers stations playing his daughter's voice. 

You can listen to the story here for free!

http://talestoterrify.com/tales-to-terrify-314-c-r-langille/ 

Today we meet, Luke McLaughlin, Founder, Director and Instructor at Holistic Survival School outside of Asheville, NC. He's an avid outdoorsman, survival/primitive skills instructor, and appeared on the television show, Naked and Afraid (twice). In fact, I took a survival skills course from him awhile back. You can read about that here. 

What is it about the outdoors that appeals to you? 

It's hard to answer that question because I view the "outdoors" and nature as everything.  I firmly believe that if we humans wish to live full, healthy and meaningful lives we must be connected to the natural world.  For hundreds of thousands of years our ancestors have lived a life where nature was our food, shelter, clothing, gods, entertainment, and everything else.  That is how we have evolved and we need nature emotionally, physically, spiritually.
Beyond that I love the stillness of nature, the endless connection, and the contradictory nature of nature (gentle yet savage, slow yet quick)  

When did you first start having an interest in the outdoors and specifically learning bushcraft/primitive survival skills? 

I got introduced to primitive skills by working at a Wilderness therapy program in Utah.  In the program students lived in the West Desert of Utah for 2- 3 months.  My job was to keep them alive, have fun, and help them work through their issues by teaching them primitive skills.  I loved the skills and the way they can teach us more about ourselves and each other.  After a few months working their I felt the most whole I had ever felt so I dedicated my life to the Earth and learning and teaching these skills. 

What is one of your most memorable outdoor moments?

Hmm. Probably that one time I was being stalked by a leopard in Namibia.   She came and sniffed me in the middle of the night. I didn't hear a thing but saw her tracks.  She was less that 15ft. away from me.  Turns out, I had invaded her territory and she had a small 2 month year old kitten.  She had the right to kill me and I wouldn't have blamed her.  I am always grateful to her for sparing my life. 

What is your favorite patch of wilderness?

Oh man that's hard.  I got too many.   I love the Great Basin Desert, Northern Michigan forests, Southern Appalachia, and everywhere in between.  I love them all for different reasons. 

Why do you think bushcraft/primitive survival skills are important in today's modern age? 

If we want to continue as a species on this earth we need to come back to our roots. Simplicity, connection, community, gratitude.  These are the things that will save us, not new technology, more agriculture, and the cure for _______.   Primitive skills are doorways for us to learn the traits of our ancestors and learn how to live in balance again. 

What is one piece of survival equipment that you cherish over anything else and why? 

haha to be honest I hate how people fetish-ize survival equipment.  If our ancestors can make it work with no bone and stone then I can do it with any steel.  One of my favorite (less sexy) pieces of equipment is the fire flapper. It's really just a simple piece of bark or sleeping pad that you can use to feed oxygen to the fire.  It has saved my life a few times in really cold, wet situations. 

Any final thoughts you would like to share with our readers?

GET OUTSIDE!!! now!   Stop reading and go play.  you will be happy later because of it.

If you want to know more about Luke McLaughlin and his courses, check him out here:
https://www.holisticsurvivalschool.com/