Meet Billie Sue Mosiman

Today I'm talking with Billie Sue Mosiman. If you haven't met her or friended her on Facebook, you should go do so right now. She's down to earth, friendly, and always willing to help another author out. What more could you ask for in an award winning author?

Billie Sue happens to be giving away a shit pot load of FREE books in celebration of her birthday tomorrow. That's right, it's her birthday, but you're getting gifts. I told you she was sweet. You can see just which ones she's giving away here.

Also, I read one of the FREE stories- Dark Reality. You can read my review over at See Spot Read. Go on, I'll wait. Back? Sweet! Here's Billie Sue~

How long have you been writing? Since I was a kid. I began crafting short stories around eighteen years old. I wasn't a very good writer until my thirties.

What's the first thing you had published? It was a non-fiction piece for a book called Successful Housewife Writers. The first piece of fiction I had published was a short story in HORROR SHOW, I believe it was, and a novel, both sold in the same month.

Do you write full time or do you have a day job? I write full time. I’ve never been good at jobs. I tend to have a wandering mind, not paying attention to the work for other people. I make a very bad employee.

What is your writing routine? I used to get up and begin writing right away. Nowadays I write when I feel like it, maybe 3-4 days a week although every day is spent thinking about stories, researching stories, reading them, or promoting them.

Have you always been a fan of the Horror genre? I came to it after I was older. In the beginning I was into literary novels and classics.

What scares you? Any silly phobias? The idea of drowning scares me or of falling from a great height. I have a small phobia about riding in cars in traffic. If it is a small car I panic. The bigger the vehicle, the safer I feel.

What other writers do you admire? I admire Ed Gorman, Scott Smith, Stephen King, and in the classic writers, I admire F. Scott Fitzgerald, Steinbeck, and Flannery O’Connor. I like a lot of the new writers on the scene, particularly Bryan Hall and Franklin E. Wales.

What is your favorite thing about the Indie Movement? The control and the community. It’s about time authors had more control over their works. Traditional publishing did well by me and I have few complaints, but now that I am doing my own thing, I can see how much more leeway I’m afforded, how much creativity I can indulge. One never realizes the constraints until they are taken off. I also like the non-competitive (mostly) atmosphere surrounding the Indie movement. It’s a whole new world in publishing and I embrace it totally.

Best writing advice you've ever been given? “Don't fall for the romantic notion of the 'writer' who boozes, does drugs, and acts outrageous. Live a quiet life and concentrate on the work.”

What advice would you give any newbies out there? If they would like to follow my path they would read tons of books, especially in their genre, but also all the great writers of the past. Without a background in literature, a writer’s style might not mature into a distinctive style. They would write a million words before worrying about publishing. They would love writing with all their heart and care more about storytelling than anything else—more than about selling or making money or getting fame and attention. They would help their colleagues when they could and do no harm to them if they could help it. They would stand up for their rights, always, and never back down from bullies or from people who tell them they can’t do it. They would listen to their inner muse and the rest of the world be damned. They would expect perfection from themselves, or as near to it as they can come. They would not give up, if storytelling means anything to them, not until their dying day. They would enjoy the creative life, knowing they are blessed, and stay grateful and not big-headed. They would understand it's important to write fiction that entertains over trying to teach or edify their readers. They would write, write, write.

Bio:

Author of 14 novels, 160+ short stories, Edgar and Stoker Nominee, writer of suspense and horror fiction. Traditionally published 13 of her novels and all her stories, which were in various magazines and anthologies. In 2011 decided to go Indie and published BANISHED and many short stories and novelettes.
blog: http://www.peculiarwriter.blogspot.com
FB: http://www.facebook.com/billiesuemosiman
Twitter: @EdgarNominee

Thank you, Billie, for stopping by. And thank you, readers, for coming over as well.

♥Stacey

The Vagrant by Bryan Hall

Hello!! *waving wildly* I'm so excited. First, we are releasing a brand new novelette today by Bryan Hall. It's called The Vagrant and it's the first in a series of novellas/novelettes called the Southern Hauntings Saga. And let me just tell you-- they are GOOD. If you don't love them, there might be something wrong with you. Okay, so I might have become something of a "fan girl." So sue me. Anyway- you can purchase The Vagrant (and see that I'm right) here.

Second, and just as exciting, Bryan set up a website for his main character Crate Northgate. You can access that here. And I have been privy to an awesome, if somewhat awkward, attempt to interview Crate. And you, lucky folks, get to read it here first. Without further ado~

To whom it may concern,

My name's Joshua Roy.  I'm writing in regards to the man known as Creighton Northgate, or "Crate" for short.  I had heard of him months ago through a few local rumors, but finally learned a bit more about him through the http://www.whoiscratenorthgate.weebly.com site (which I'll also send a copy of this letter to).  A few days after visiting that site, I was in the right place at the right time.  It was a seedy little bar just outside town (I live in the middle of nowhere in Arkansas) and I heard a couple of fellas talking about the man that George and Ella Jenkins had hired to root out something going on at their farm.  They pointed him out to me, sitting at the bar.  Said his name was "Crate Something or Other".  I switched on my cell phone's audio record feature and tried to strike up a conversation with him.  I could tell within the first three words he said that he was getting close to being shit-hammer drunk.  It wasn't a long conversation, but I figured it would interest somebody.

 What follows is a transcript of the conversation:

Joshua - You look like a feller who could use another drink! Name's Joshua! Never seen you before...whereabouts you from ?

 Crate – Around.

Joshua - Never knew anyone from "Around"...that over by Bluff City? Hey next rounds on me! 

Crate - I appreciate it, but I think I've about had enough, friend.  Last thing I need's a hangover in the morning. Just needed a couple to...to help me sleep.

 Joshua - Oh yeah? I have problems too. Odd jobs have me going in every direction and I never know if I'm waking up or going to bed at 6am! What causes your troubles? 

 Crate - Heh.  Nothing you'd understand.  (a long pause)  Hell.  You heard of the Jenkins Farm?  Problems they've been having?

Joshua - They had to call in some sort of voodoo snake handler or something. How'd you hear about it?

Crate - They called me.  I ain't got much use for snakes, though.  Or voodoo.  Had a bad time with that shit a few years back.

 Joshua - Oh wow! So that's you. So this is how you make a living? Strange things happen and people call you to fix it?

 Crate - More or less. They don't always get fixed, though.

 Joshua - So what is it you try to fix? Ghosts? Spirits? Zombies? 

 Crate - Yep. Well...aside from the zombies.  Ain't seen a dead body yet that can stand back up.  Rigormortis is hell on the muscles.  You ought to try and drag a body that's been dead for a little while.  It don't bend and go all limp like in the movies.  Few hours and it's as stiff as a log.  Heavy as one too.  So nah.  No zombies.  (another long pause).  I'll have that beer now, I guess.  One more won't hurt.  Anyways...there's plenty out there you've heard of, friend.  Plenty you probably ain't believed in.  I'm here to tell you....believe it.  Believe it all.

Joshua – How the hell did you end up doing this?

Crate - Some folks are good at football.  So they play football.  Some of 'em are good at numbers.  So they become accountants or something.  I've got...talents that let me do what I do.  Beats being a carpenter all to hell.  Ain't like I've got a lot of competition. 

 (Note - at this point I noticed him eying me oddly and could fill his suspicion growing.  I filled the next few moments with idle chatter about the football game on the television until I was confident I could work in another serious question without drawing suspicion.  That portion of the conversation has been edited from this transcription for the sake of brevity)

 Joshua – You ought to film it.  When you're helping folks, I mean.  Fella could get rich off stuff like that, way all those Bigfoot and ghost hunting shows are all over the TV.

 Crate – I ain't trying to get rich.  And the last thing I need's to get famous.

Joshua – Hell…you are kinda famous.  Everybody's heard a little about you.  Didn't you have a brother or something that went missing?

(A long pause – I could tell I'd stepped over the line)

 Crate – Time for you to get the hell on from here, you lying son of a bitch.  You knew who I was.

Joshua – Hey man!  I'm just –

Crate – I said go to hell.

And that was it.  He finished his beer and left the bar a minute later.  I never saw him again, but I heard that that same night he managed to take care of whatever problem it was that had really been going on out at that farm. 

 I don't know if this helps shed any light on Creighton Northgate…but I can say he's not like anyone else I've ever met.

Thanks for listening,

Joshua Roy 

Go on, you know you want to see what all the fuss is about.

♥Stacey