1. What do you wish that people would ask you about your writing?
Heck! If there is one subject I love holdin' forth on as much as books, it is music. I sure wouldn't mind folks askin' me about the music involved in making a story or novel.
In the case of There Is No Lovely End, I listened to a hellton of Philip Glass (his Dracula soundtrack), Danny Elfman, and random tunes set to the mood of whatever character I was writing. For example, I listened to a lot of Paolo Conte and World Inferno Friendship Society while writing the character of Sarah Winchester. The more physically aggressive character of Hester Garlan had me listening to Goddamned Gallows, Misfits, and AC/DC.
2. Which of your characters would you most like to meet and why?
There are living, dead, and even a few animals from this novel I'd love to meet in real life.
Living: Outside of the obvious main character love I have for Sarah Winchester, I'd have a helluva palavering with the Reverend Dr. Enton Blake. He runs a medicine wagon and can see ghosts. Dude has some serious stories and I'd sit with my ears open for all of 'em.
Dead: Graham Johnson is a ghosty newspaperman. He's prone to perverted imaginings and gin drinking. I think he's hilarious and a giant dork and I would love to sit with him some summer night.
Animal: CORT!!! I love Cort. He is Sarah Winchester's childhood dog. Yes, he's a fictitious character and authorial wish fulfillment. I want a puppy SO BAD and have for years. Cort is the scruffy, Ewokian mutt I want curled on my lap while I'm sitting at my coffee table writing.
3. Do you always dance to strange music with stranger people at Cons?
I will dance with anybody, anywhere, anytime.
I once pulled over my car to dance in a parking lot at 2 a.m. A policeman stopped by to make sure I wasn't drunk. I was not. Billy Idol's "Dancing With Myself" had popped on the radio. I acted accordingly.
I don't so much dance as flail appreciatively and I invite everyone around me to join in.
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