Interviewed!

News for today, I was interviewed over on the blog Authors Supporting Authors!

You can check it out here!

Character Days: William Orwell Steele from May Day

Two character days this week!  So, without further delay, here's the second!

William Orwell Steele from May Day

Tell me a little about yourself and the world you live in.  (If the character and story is our world, tell me about the neighborhood or city, town, country etc)

Well, I think everyone knows I have the high honor and distinct privilege to be the 45th President of the United States. I live in Washington, DC, of course. Our nation’s capitol is a world apart from ordinary Americans’ lives. It’s a kind of hothouse environment all its own. I think that’s unfortunate in a very real way, because we who live and work inside the Beltway tend not to be as aware of how our decisions truly affect the way our constituents live as we really should be. I’ve tried hard to change that, but you’d be surprised at how little power the President actually wields on a day-to-day basis.

Of course that’s all changed since I was forced to declare martial law, following the May Day attack.

Tell us your most closely guarded secret?

I’m afraid there’s quite a number of closely-guarded secrets I’m not at liberty to reveal. I suppose, though, it’s fair to say most people would be surprised to learn how often I question whether I have the wisdom I’ll need to guide our nation through these, its darkest days, and the strength to keep making the hard decisions that only the President can make. But that’s what the job requires, and I accepted this burden when I took the oath of office.

Tell us about your single most important memory.  What was it and how does it affect you now?

Oh, God. It’s that afternoon in Cleveland, when my wife Julia died in my arms, struck down by an assassin’s bullet meant for me. It’s going on four years since it happened, and it’s as clear to me and as terrible now as it was on September 7, 2016. I think of it every day …

I apologize. Could I have a moment to compose myself before we continue?

What type of person are you?  Are you a hero or do you shy away from conflict? 

I certainly wouldn’t call myself a hero. On the other hand, if you shy away from conflict, you’re not very well-suited for a life in politics – especially at the national level.

Let me just say that I embarked on a political career with the hope that I could make a positive difference in the course this country is charting towards the future … and in the lives of ordinary Americans. Those goals have been much harder to achieve than I ever imagined, but I’ve tried my best to keep them in mind, even when the administrative responsibilities of the position pile up to the point that they block the view.

As the old saying goes, “Sometimes it’s hard to remember you started out to drain the swamp, when you’re up to your hips in alligators!”

Do you have any hobbies, any special talents?

Being Chief Executive leaves me very little time for hobbies, I’m afraid. I do try to spend at least a little time every day with my Great Dane, Duke. As for talents and interests, as you probably know, my degrees are in history and political science, and I think a knowledge of both of those subjects has stood me in good stead as President. My study of world history, in particular, is often helpful. Saroyan observed, “Those who forget the lessons of history are condemned to repeat them,” and I think there’s some truth in that.

And in that line, what would be your ideal day? 

I remember a particular Saturday at Camp David a couple of years ago. It was in early October, as I recall. The leaves were turning, the weather was beautiful, and Duke and I spent a couple of hours just hiking and enjoying each other’s company. It was only the two of us – and my Secret Service detail, naturally – and, for a while at least, I was able to forget the demands of the Presidency and enjoy a simple walk in the country.

Given the current situation, I don’t expect another such experience any time soon, so I treasure that one all the more.

Do you have anyone close to you, any family or friends of interest?

Well, there’s Andy Philips, my college roommate, who’s now White House Chief of Staff. We talk almost every evening – although our conversations these days are more a continuation of the workday than they used to be. And Marcus Clement, my personal physician has been a friend for more years than I care to count.

As for family, my parents are both dead, and my daughter Artemis is in graduate school at Berkeley, so we rarely see one another any more. And Julia’s parents … well, I think seeing me is just too painful for them, for obvious reasons. I still care about them, though. We exchange Christmas and birthday cards.

What is your most prized possession?

My daughter Artemis – that is, if a child who’s 23 years old, and an adult in her own right can be referred to as a possession. It’s no secret that relations between us have been … strained … since her mother’s murder. I know she blames me for that. Truth to tell, I sometimes blame myself. I can’t help but think that, if I’d chosen to stay in Colorado and run for another term as Governor, Julia would probably still be alive. But, of course, the past is fixed. All we can do is try to remember its lessons, as we look to the future.

What initially spurred your actions in this story.  Obviously it had to start somewhere for you, give us an idea of where that starting point is and where it all started.

The nuclear terrorist attack on Lower Manhattan at noon on May 1st, 2020 changed my life as much as it changed every other American’s – possibly more. I was in the middle of a speech to the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco when the head of my Secret Service detail gave me the news. Up until then, I’d been focused on my upcoming re-election campaign, and on the upcoming summit meeting I had scheduled with Vladimir Kropotkin, the President of the Russian Federation. That all changed in a single heartbeat. On the advice of Arleigh Solomon, my National Security Adviser, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I declared martial law on my way back to Washington, and it’s been very like the world’s worst roller-coaster ride ever since.

How do you envision your future?

Frankly, at the moment, I’m too focused on trying to salvage this country’s future to worry about my own. If the people of the United States re-elect me as President this fall, I’ll do everything in my power to justify their faith in me, but, right now, I just can’t be concerned about that. With the ongoing effort to rescue as many Americans from the Fallout Zone as possible, with the economy in shambles, with terror and hate groups coming out of the woodwork, and with the ongoing work of finding and bringing to justice the perpetrators of the May Day attack, I have neither the time nor the energy to worry about what the future holds for me, personally.

Tell us where we can read more about you?  

May Day – Book One of American Sulla begins with the detonation of a 20-kiloton nuclear weapon on the 63rd floor of 1 World Trade Center. A million people die. Millions more flee from a gigantic, deadly cloud of fallout.

The crisis has only begun.

President William Orwell Steele and his cabinet labor to cope with the aftermath of an unprecedented terrorist attack, while a host of ordinary Americans struggle merely to survive in a world where everything has changed. From the corridors of power to the squalor of refugee camps, from world capitols to the lawless frontiers of Pakistan, from economic collapse to armed rebellion, the impact of the May Day attack swiftly spreads to every aspect of society and every corner of the globe..

War – Book Two of American Sulla chronicles the following six months, as President Steele battles militia uprisings, a hopelessly-partisan, deadlocked Congress, and a collapsing world economy, while the military prepares for war with Pakistan. As the Presidential election looms ever closer, so does Steele’s world-shaking October surprise.

Revolution – Book Three of American Sulla takes us to the end of Steele’s second term as President, and the cascade of terrible and unexpected consequences of his daughter’s return to her father’s arms.

Author: Thom Stark has been a professional writer – which he defines as “one who gets paid for it” – since 1995, when his @internet column began appearing in the pages of LAN Times Magazine. He is probably best-known as a columnist and feature writer for the late, great Boardwatch Magazine. He maintains an archive of past columns and articles on his website at www.starkrealities.com.

Mr. Stark currently lives in Chillicothe, Ohio, with his wife Judy and their lovable mutts Wally and Watson, where he is hard at work on War – Book Two of American Sulla.

Buy link

Author's blog or website: www.starkrealities.com

American Sulla is a big, big novel (May Day alone is more than 147,000 words long). As you might expect, it has a gigantic cast, and William Orwell Steele’s is only one of many stories that make up the narrative. In addition to the political thriller component, the plot includes survival adventures, police procedurals, spy stories, tales of aerial, ground, and sea combat, and romances, inspiring heroes, the blackest of villains, and a host of ordinary people, simply trying to survive. It will keep you on the edge of your chair, make you think, break your heart, and capture you like no other novel you’ve encountered. 

Character Days: Howard V Graves from Grave Impressions

Today we have something a little different.  Instead of being from a novel, we have a character from a Graphic Novel series by some good friends of mine.  You should take the time to check out their comics, they're a real treat!

And you know, as always, if you'd like one of your characters interviewed, let me know!

Howard V Graves from Grave Impressions

Tell me a little about yourself and Pittsburgh: Ah, Pittsburgh. Nothing like breathing in smoke all day, every day, even when you’re not smoking! Haha, I kid! Pittsburgh is my kind of city – not the boondocks, not fifth avenue – just right. There’s nothing finer, even if it does have some secrets that are about as filthy as the air. As for me? I take in all manner of high life and lowlife all in one day, thanks to my good friend Dorothy – the classiest dame you’ll ever meet – and my job as a detective.

Tell us your most closely guarded secret? I don’t exactly go around broadcasting my uh…attraction to men – Dorothy helps me out with that jam. Plus she’s real handy to have around. You wouldn’t believe how many men spill their stories to a beautiful dame just because she bats her baby browns at ‘em.

Tell us about your single most important memory.  What was it and how does it affect you now? The day I figured out how to tickle the ivories. I think I’d finally grasped the concept of chords, and while my mother was washing dishes I slammed my foot on the pedal and played an F-sharp minor. Mama gave me the business for that stunt. I did a lot of odd jobs around the house to make up for the plate she broke. Needless to say, it’s a good reminder that someone’s always a critic.

What type of person are you?  Are you a hero or do you shy away from conflict? Listen, buddy, you don’t get anywhere as a detective by being timid. Unfortunately conflict seems to find me pretty often: I came home once with a black eye and Freddy just asked me how my day was! But I wouldn’t call myself a hero, either. Those are the guys in the shiny uniforms that get a big write up and their pictures in the papers right under the obituary section. Sad to say nowadays we got a lot of those and we’re gonna get a lot more if this war keeps on.

Do you have any hobbies, any special talents? One good thing about having Dorothy on my arm is that we get to go dancing. She’s a real swell dancer – part of me hopes she marries a dead hoofer so we still can still swing on the floor in years to come. Aside from that, I’m pretty handy with a lock pick.

Do you have anyone close to you, any family or friends of interest? Dorothy’s a real good friend. She thinks I’d be a real mess without her, and some days I think she’s right. Freddy and I have lived next door to each other for years now and if I’m ever in a jam, he’s the one I call on. He’s even bailed me out of the cooler before. If there’s anyone I trust more than Dorothy, it’s him. And then there’s Stirling. I don’t think there’s a man who works harder than he does. Whenever I’m stuck on a case and something doesn’t gel, it’s him I ring.

What is your most prized possession? My piano – I’ve got real nice memories that go with it.

What initially spurred your actions in this story? Obviously it had to start somewhere for you, give us an idea of where that starting point is and where it all started. I just thought it was going to be another normal day and then this whole mess with Nellie started. Dorothy doesn’t always bring me cases – but when she does, they’re bound to be interesting.

How do you envision your future? One of these days, I’m gonna have my own little agency. Oh sure, it’s not much – but it’ll mean I can be a detective full time.

Creators, please tell us where we can read more about Howard? Howard is part of the large cast of Grave Impressions! You can check him out at graveimpressions.com, or follow us on tumblr, twitter or facebook just by searching “Grave Impressions”.

Authors: Ziska, Nym, and Aleksi

Buy link: http://graveimpressions.storenvy.com

Author's blog or website: http://graveimpressions.com

Back Seat Gamer: Lollipop Chainsaw

Intro:  I've been a lover of zombie related things since as far back as I can remember.  Zombie video games and zombie movies hold almost as much of a special place in my heart as vampires and I don't mean the sparkly kind.  So what could be better then a hack and slash video game with the likes of zombies and a heroine that takes more then a few pointers from Buffy the Vampire Slayer?

Summary: It's Juliet's birthday and all she wants is to have cake with her decidedly interesting family and celebrate.  Of course, with the Rotten World breaking through into hers, that has to be put on hold.  Time to grab her trusty chainsaw and rescue her boyfriend Nick from the onslaught.  Oh and collect lollipops and cute outfits along the way!

Thoughts: 

From the get go this is a lovely stylized game!  I love the old catchy music that is peppered through the game with your special moves and the menu screens.  "Hey Mickey" and "Lollipop" are the most noticeable ones, but there are others.  This game does a great job of catching the 'eternal high school' idea so that whether you're a current high school student, an older parent or a college student you know expertly what they're aiming for.  Lockers, letter-mans jackets and cheer-leading cheers are everywhere but not in a painful way. 

The other thing this game does it expertly walk the line between gory bloody and sparkly magic without being annoying or completely over the top.  You're attacking the zombies with a chainsaw, so a certain amount of blood is required and expected.  However, like any good game or anime to come out of Japan, there are also moments where sparkles and fireworks and hearts come out and it all blends together in hilarious fun.

Nick is a particularly interesting element in the game.  It's no big spoiler that your boyfriend doesn't completely make it through his first zombie attack.  He's a head, attached to your waist, who gets to be confused at the whole situation.  But the most important part of Nick is not as noticeable - he grounds the game.  Yeah, I know that sounds ridiculous since I'm talking about a head, but it actually works.  See the game is pretty unbelievable and Nick is the character who expresses this.  He asks what the hell is going on and makes the comments that you - the player - would probably make in this situation.  He asks why letters are being thrown at you, he makes comments about killing a zombie teacher because he gave Nick's paper a bad grade and things like that.  In doing this, he makes it a little easier to believe that this cheerleader is a zombie hunter and really damn good at it.  I can honestly say that Nick was one of my favorite parts of the game.

The mini games were interesting, especially when you're using Nick, even if they're kinda what kept me away from wanting to play the game instead of watching.  I'm not so good at reaction commands, especially that quick in succession, so I didn't really ask to play because of them.  And then there's the retro arcade games that tried a bit too hard.

I also loved Juliet's family and how they played into the game.  Her family made me want many sequels with them as the main or playable characters.  Juliet's father, her mother and her two sisters were just all awesome and I would have even loved to play Morikawa sensei.  Here's hoping to some awesome sequels somewhere along the line.

How much I played:
None, nada.  Normally this would be my type of game, but I was just too caught in watching to ask to play.  The game is distracting like that ^__^

Grade:
Lots of old school hack and slash fun!  Honestly, the only minuses were a couple of the glitches we ran into.  They weren't major, but they were noticeable, so just be warned.

Extras:
As a side and not writing related, I've actually made the dress from this game as a commission for a friend of mine.  Sadly I don't have pictures of her in it, but I at least have an image of the finished costume.  Feel free to click on the link to read more about the outfit.

Character Days: Linvin Grithinshield from Quest for the Red Sapphire

Oops, due to the fact that I was out sick yesterday, I didn't get a chance to post the character interview I had planned, so here it is today, along with a contest and front cover reveal!

So first up - Solstice Publishing ebook giveaway contest!  Follow the link here to sign up for the contest being run through my own publisher.  They're giving away multiple ebooks and it's a great way to possibly win lots of books!

And now, time for the interview!  (As always, send me an email if you'd like one of your characters interviewed on my site.)

Linvin Grithinshield from Quest for the Red Sapphire

Tell me a little about yourself and the world you live in. 

I am originally from here in Fraylic, the capital city of Sartan.  When I was twelve I was sent to be raised in Valia.  There I was trained as a warrior and joined the army.  I advanced rapidly until I became commanding general.  Now I have been summoned home after my father’s disappearance to run the family merchant empire.  Fraylic is the most prosperous city in the entire world of Lavacia. 

Tell us your most closely guarded secret?

My Father had some hidden plan for my future.  That was the reason I was sent to be trained.  Somehow that education has proved of little use in my present condition.  There feels like there is something more I should be doing.  

Tell us about your single most important memory. What was it and how does it affect you now?

I remember being sent away as a child.  My mother was set against it but my father had his own plan.  As mother wept, we headed for Valia where I would be trained by Sedemihcra, the Master of Warfare.  Now that I am home, I see my mother’s plans for me had more to do with society and establishing a legacy.

What type of person are you? Are you a hero or do you shy away from conflict?

I have been ruthlessly trained to stand tall when others run and to fight for what is decent regardless of the odds.  That does not mean I am a fool.  It is through careful preparation that I persevere in all forms of battle.

Do you have any hobbies, any special talents?

I am surprisingly good at accounting.  That has come in handy since taking over the family business.  I have found some irregularities in the books in need of attention.

And in that line, what would be your ideal day?

An ideal day would be one in which business was running smoothly without me and I could turn my attention to my Father’s disappearance.

Do you have anyone close to you, any family or friends of interest?

My Uncle Anvar is like a father to me.  He is wise and mysterious but trustworthy beyond reproach.  Anvar is always there for me to lean on in troubling times.  In many ways I am closer to him than to my own mother.  Yet, even as close as we are, I know he still keeps secrets from me. 

What is your most prized possession?

Sadly, it is not in my possession.  My father’s sword, Falconfeather is a sentient being which embodies the living soul of Talana, Queen of the Falcons.  The blade will never break, dull or chip, even though it is carved from the great beast’s thigh bone just after her demise.  The weapon is light as a feather and responds to the commands of only my father or me.  Father had it with him on his last trip.  I fear he and the sword are lost forever.  

What initially spurred your actions in this story? Obviously it had to start somewhere for you, give us an idea of where that starting point is and where it all started.

I was in command of the Valian armies and had just defeated three separate goblin armies in successive days.  Then a note arrived from my mother pleading for me to come home after Father’s disappearance.  I resigned my commission and sped home.

How do you envision your future?

If the future goes the way my mother would have it, I will take an aristocratic wife and stay in Fraylic.  We will raise a family to take over the business when I am gone.  I, personally, find that scenario to be drab and a waste of my years of experience.  There must be something of more substance out there waiting for me.  This life cannot be all there is.

Tell us where we can read more about you?

Read “Quest for the Red Sapphire”.  The sequel will be out shortly called “Sapphire Crucible”

Author:  Rival Gates

Buy link 

Author's blog or website:

The sequel, “Sapphire Crucible” will be out in 2014.  And here is the cover for the sequel to this adventurous tale!

Character Days: Alicia Hargreaves from Beware the Seventh Wave

Welcome back to Character days!  This is where I interview a character from a book, about 1 to 2 times a week.  If you're an author and you'd like your character interviewed, just send me an email!

Characters Days: Alicia Hargreaves from Beware the Seventh Wave by Maureen Gregory

Tell me a little about yourself and the world you live in.  

Where do I start? Well, I am extremely successful, intelligent, articulate, beautiful and given my many attributes, quite modest considering.  I live in a quintessential English market town in the Peak District.

****

Tell us your most closely guarded secret?

You must be joking! I would not want to jeopardize future plans by discussing past secrets.

****

Tell us about your single most important memory.  What was it and how does it affect you now?

My first important memory was winning all the red rosettes and cups at pony club camp on my very expensive show pony whose name I soon forgot as mummy and daddy bought me an even more expensive one the following year. It made me realize that money does indeed bring happiness.

****

What type of person are you?  Are you a hero or do you shy away from conflict?  

I can not stand the hero/heroine types. What are they trying to prove? I am all for saving myself, other people and their silly problems do not interest me. I do however relish conflict, winning a disagreement gives me a buzz, and I always win.

****

Do you have any hobbies, any special talents?

I ride event horses and I win, win, win.

****

And in that line, what would be your ideal day?  

To win, win, win. The thought of losing out to a lesser person fills me with horror, not that it is likely to happen.

****

Do you have anyone close to you, any family or friends of interest?

I don’t do family or friends, however, there is one person who is of immense interest.

****

What is your most prized possession?

Myself

****

What initially spurred your actions in this story?  Obviously it had to start somewhere for you, give us an idea of where that starting point is and where it all started.

There would be no story without me!

****

How do you envision your future? 

Now that would be telling!

****

Tell us where we can read more about you?  

I believe some author person has mentioned me in their novel Beware the Seventh Wave.

****

Author: -   Maureen Gregory

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You can buy the book here! 

Author's Website  

Back Seat Gamer: Disney Duck Tales Remastered Review

Back Seat Gamer: Disney Duck Tales Remastered

Intro: 

As a young girl who was born in the 80's and grew up in that and the 90's I have fond memories of watching Disney cartoons that were awesome.  In fact I watched more cartoons then I did live action shows - I was a dork.  I love that these shows are on DVD now so I can rewatch them, though I'm still waiting for some like Aladdin.  Duck Tales was a lot of fun to watch and it was interesting how they managed to make a greedy jerk into a lovable character who really did care about his family in spite of his flaws.  I especially loved the spin-off which became Darkwing Duck, but that's another subject.

Summary:
It's just another day in Duckburg as the Beagle Brothers are trying to rob the moneybin and kidnap Huey, Dewey and Louie.  In the process of saving his nephews, Scrooge McDuck discovers a secret in one his paintings which will lead him to even more treasure and riches.  Unless, of course, someone else gets there first.

Thoughts:

From the opening screen through the entire game, this game makes you think of the show.  They have everything!  All the voices, as far as I can tell, are the same.  All the characters you vaguely remember from a childhood of being glued to the Disney channel are there and they all have a moment to themselves, reminding you about their various loves and plot points.  Gizmoduck, Launchpad, Webby, Duckworth... even Bubba Duck!  The team that made this game obviously know the show and make places for these characters that are useful and add to the fun, rather then just having them be part of the set in the background.

The music is catchy as heck and seems to be this perfect marriage between 8 bit midi sounding notes and remixes of the original show scene.  If you listen closely you can catch the main refrain in that techno theme and then it will never leave your head.  But it does a good job of walking the line and never quite becoming annoying.  You won't mind having these themes in the back of your mind while you're eagerly awaiting work to be over so you can play more.   (This actually means a lot coming from me as I have a tendency to get annoyed with traditionally sounding video game soundtracks.)

Apparently an added bonus in this game - my partner was sure it wasn't in the original - you can swim in the money bin!  Also, as you go through the levels, your collected treasure is added to the money bin too.  My only wish is that the level of coins would have changed, just because it would have been amusing.

How Much I Played:

Pffft.  You don't know me too well, but this is the sort of game I royally SUCK at.  Anything that involves the simple mechanics of having to time jumps onto villains' heads and the next platform spell out doom for me even at the simplest setting.  Sonic the Hedgehog tortured me with this as a kid and I just know from watching this game that I would have died so many times in the first level I would have given up from pure frustration.  So yeah, I didn't play any of this one, sorry.  Instead I was sewing and watching and occasionally doing the backseat driving of "Jump there, that thing, hit him with that!"  It's still a very enjoyable game to watch, especially if you've seen the show and have fond memories of the characters. 

Grade:
Old school remastered fun!
(Hmm, maybe I should come up with some sort of rating system....)