T.C. Ricks, Author of Grenademan vs the Zombies

Today we are interviewing T.C. Ricks, author of the urban fantasy novel "Grenademan vs the Zombies."

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I have a very varied background.  I started out getting an English degree but when I got back from Venezuela, thought I'd go into science.  That was...very hard, but I eventually go my bachelor's...in Microbiology, somehow and then proceeded to try and get my Masters. Didn't happen but I've been keeping the lights on since then as a  Project Manager/Business Analyst.  But the writing is where my passion is.  I started taking it seriously about 15 years ago, and started work on my first novel.  Then I eventually moved to this one and have done two since.  I enjoy a lot of things, including table top gaming, reading, writing, poetry, science, and exploration. My wife and I travel quite a bit and just recently moved from Charlotte, NC to Miami, Florida.

Describe the plot of “Grenademan vs the Zombies” in a few sentences.
It's really more a story about hubris and the smack gaming groups talk to each other about all the time, and what would happen if one of the more insane people in some groups could take it to the extreme they'd like to prove a point.  Grenademan and the Zombies are really forces around that, though it is a story of good vs evil.

Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
People who like both Super Heroes, Humor and Zombies.

What inspired you to write a novel about zombie apocalypse that is set in motion by a bet?
A bet.  My step father has a writer that he likes a lot that had close links to a publisher a few years back who put out an open call for Zombie stories.  My step dad wanted me to enter it, and while  I had a script for Grenademan, there weren't zombies in it.  Skip pitched the title to me, and I agreed to do it if he'd proof it.  He did, and at that point it kind of wrote itself.

Tell us a bit about the protagonist, Grenademan.
Grenademan is...unique.  He is insane, but more sane than you might think.  He's very smart, but his true power comes in that thumb tack on his helmet that looks ridiculous.  It's forged from the Golden Helmet of Mambrino, which only the mad can wear and wield.

Zombie fans will be delighted to learn there are a variety of different kinds of zombies in this novel. Can you tell us about the different kinds? Do you have a favorite?
There are seven different kinds.  I will save some as a surprise but my favorite are Snark Zombies, which are really a mental construct; an analogy to those people who wander through life on auto pilot.  Purists will love the actually dead dead zombies who are...you know.  Dead.  There are also blood zombies akin to the zombies of 28 Days Later.

There’s a fair amount of humor in this book. Has humor always been part of your writing? Or is it something that developed as your writing progressed?
I have always had a fair degree of humor in my writing but my first novel also took itself 'very seriously' and such.  The second novel had dark humor in it is as well but the characters in it are all assholes.  I'm not sure if either of them is salvageable to be honest.

Who was your favorite character to write?
Grenademan is, of course, my Mickey Mouse.  He's definitely my Hermione or Harry Dresden...my alter ego.  He is the most FUN to write, though to be honest? I think my favorite to write at this point might just be Ghost from Forever West.

Are there any authors who have influenced your writing style?
Terry Pratchet, Jim Butcher, Elizabeth Moon, Roger Zelazny, George R R Martin.

Tell us about your creative process, from initial idea to published manuscript.
Sure.  I start out by producing utter unreadable crap and getting friends and family members to have their eyes bleed, then rewrite many times, then get an editor, then rework it a lot more times, then proof it.  Though....was that what you meant?

Is there any aspect of writing you don't like?
In a novel the part between the beginning and the middle sucks.  A lot.

Outside of writing, you have a podcast, Tossing Grenades at Windmills. Can you tell us a bit about that?
Absolutely, I set it up to have SOME kind of an audience for my writing.  I read the fourth novel on it, and we've got some from this one.  I also have some short stories and poetry.  There were sound problems but we're fixing those.  Just got a new bumper which is really neat.

What do you have in mind for your next project?
The next literal project is a chapbook with my poetry as Emmit Other called Spiders in the Sugar Factory.  My fifth novel, “Forever West” is being proofed right now and will likely come out late this year or Early next year.

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
Yes. I firmly deny that if you read it, it will give you super powers. It will not.  And please ask others to stop spreading rumors that it does.

"Grenademan vs the Zombies" book blurb:

Order and Chaos have fought their little chess matches on world after world, often coming to draw. so when Order found a new, and powerful champion in a n insane superhero, Chaos had to step up his game. And he found it in an ambitious would be sorcerer called Jarvi who had bet his gaming group t hat they could not survive the Zombie Apocalypse and really MEANT it. now Jarvi would start an apocalypse just to prove them wrong.

And somehow, Grenademan had to stop it. While the Circle of Gamers regard him a insane, the government trying to kill him and his own sanity quite questionable, Grenademan has to keep four people alive while seven different kinds of zombies are trying to ill them.

More Information
Buy "Grenademan vs the Zombies" on Smashwords
The Tossing Grenades at Windmills podcast
Buy "Grenademan vs the Zombies" on Amazon
Check out the Tossing Grenades at Windmills podcast on Stitcher

Kalynn Bayron, Author of Six Points of Light: Hook's Origin

Today we are interviewing Kalynn Bayron, author of the young adult novel, "Six Points of Light: Hook's Origin."

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I grew up in Anchorage, Alaska. Lots of fishing and snowball fights. I love Alaska but the weather is tough! I still consider it home though. I live in Colorado now, with my husband and our kids. I am a huge Hozier fan and I listened to his album exclusively while I was writing Six Points of Light. I love music and actually studied Opera in college. I'm vegan and I am passionate about animal welfare.

Describe the plot of your new book in a few sentences.
Six Points of Light is the origin story of Captain James Hook. So many books and movies focus on Peter (there is a movie coming out soon that focuses on Peter's origins called "Pan") but I wanted to know more about Captain Hook.

James Cook is an orphan who has been living at St. Catherine's his entire life. He is sickly, but he is highly intelligent, a lover of books and he's extremely close with Sister Maddie. She raises him and he loves her like a mother.

Peter comes to St. Catherine's as a young boy and he and James do not see eye to eye. Peter is disruptive, loud, and a know-it-all. Sister Maddie asks James to take Peter under his wing and the two form a bond. They essentially become brothers. However, Peter is hiding a wealth of secrets that will test their friendship and ultimately set them on a path to become the most bitter of enemies.

We learn how James loses his hand, we learn how he came to have a hook in its place, and we learn his motivation for turning on Peter. I think readers will come away with a new understanding and appreciation for Captain Hook.

Author Kalynn Bayron.

Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
Anyone who loves fairytales will love this book! Also, anyone who loves origin stories will love it. There is a little bit of everything, mystery, romance, action, and even a few magical creatures!

What inspired you to write about the early life of Captain James Hook?
I have always been fascinated with the villains in fairytales. I have always wanted to know what made them so evil. It didn’t make sense that they would come into the world that way, there had to be a reason. I was watching Once Upon a Time one night in late 2013 and I was so enthralled with the stories of these characters. The show kind of goes back and shows you where they came from and what happened to them. I thought it was great but I wanted to know about the bad guys. After looking into it I couldn’t find anything that answered my questions so I decided to create the story myself.

In your novel, James and Peter, who ultimately become archenemies, start out as friends. What made you decide to take this approach to their characters?
I think we have all had experiences where we've had a falling out with a friend or family member. Those experiences are what inspired me to have James and Peter start out as friends. I knew that the level of betrayal experienced by James would have to be monumental, and the only way to achieve that was to have them be as close as brothers.

Other than Peter and James, are there any other characters readers will recognize in your book?
Wendy plays a pivotal role leading into Book 2 in the series. Tigerlilly makes an appearance, but I can assure you she is no damsel in distress. She is a warrior princess and the leader of her tribe.

Who was your favorite character to write?
James is my favorite. He is such a complicated character. I really had to put him through the ringer in order to show is true mettle. I love him. He's strong and smart, and he is loyal to a fault.

Are there any authors who have influenced your writing style?
I read allot. I love books. I have read so many that I am sure I've taken on some of the characteristics of my favorite authors but it's not a conscious decision to say "I'm going to write like this person." I just follow my characters wherever they take me.

Tell us about your creative process, from initial idea to published manuscript.
The idea had been floating around in my head for years. I decided to sit down and write it when my dad passed away. I realized that there was no point in putting it off for another day because tomorrow is not promised. I sat down and just started writing. I got about a third of the way through and I realized I had to scrap it and start over. I was writing two different story arcs and was going to have them converge at the end but it became too complicated so I separated the stories and found that I had two books in a series. It worked out well for me! I kept notebooks for each of my main characters with little tidbits about their personalities and physical appearances. I wrote through the first half of the book (after the initial revision) and then outlined the second half of the novel because I was all over the place. It helped me keep things on track and in line.

It took me over a year to write it and when I was done I went through two rounds of edits and revisions before having it edited by a professional. I ultimately decided to go with self-publishing because I wanted people to have access to my work but I understood how minute the chances of getting a publisher to pick up my story were. I'm definitely open to traditional publishing but self-publishing gave me so many options. After the final edit I put it on up Amazon, Smashwords and Kobo.

How do you feel about the increasing popularity of ebooks?
I love that I can carry all of my favorite titles around on one device. It's convenient and eBooks are incredibly affordable. However, I'm also a fan of actual books. I love having the book in my hand and physically turning the pages. I love beautiful cover artwork. I love seeing the title on my shelf when I've finished reading it. Those things cannot be replicated with eBooks, but I'd be a fool not to realize that eBooks are the way of the future.

What are your goals as a writer for the next ten years?
I want to put my books in the hands of as many readers as possible! That is always my goal. I want to write engaging, interesting un-put-downable books for my readers because that is what they deserve. 

Is there any aspect of writing you don't like?
Editing is tough. It's hard because in my mind the story is complete. But making sure it's translated onto paper properly can be tough. It's a necessary part of the process. I'm thankful to have material to edit.

What do you have in mind for your next project?
I'm working on part two in the Six Points of Light Series. It will pick up where Hook's Origin left off. I am also working on book two in the Zero Antigen Series and book two in the Drasal Lands series.

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
I love to write and my goal is to give my readers something to look forward to after every page turn. I hope I'm doing that! I'd also like to say thank you to anyone who took a chance on me and my writing because I'm just one indie author in a sea of talented authors. It means so much to me that someone would pick up my work and read it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

An excerpt from "Six Points of Light: Hook's Origin":

She fluttered up quickly and landed on top of one of the fallen clocks. She shook her wings violently dusting the clock with the glowing powder. The clock, still tick tocking in its housing, began to rise up, floating above the ground.  

James saw the creature draw back just slightly. It lunged forward, jaws gaping, and before James could scream, the floating clock flew into the alligator's open mouth. The creature stopped, a stunned look filled its beady black eyes. The clock was no longer visible in the monster's throat but James heard it ticking as it lunged forward again, catching James' right hand in its mouth, he heard a pop as the bones splintered like dry wood.

More Information
www.KalynnBayron.com
www.facebook.com/kalynnbayron