Today’s 3Q’s guest has written some truly remarkable and emotionally devastating books. Always one to rattle the chains of the readers, Newman’s work will find away under your skin one way or another.

I’m so honored to have James Newman join us today for 3Q’s!

Welcome, James!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try to write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

James: I don’t have any set schedule. I’m notoriously lazy and a world-class procrastinator. I write only when an idea grips me and refuses to let go, which sadly doesn’t happen often. I wish I had a better answer for you, but I gotta be honest!

Steve: You win the lottery and the only condition is that you need to fund another author’s book to be made into a movie. What book would you choose to be filmed?

James: Easiest question I’ve ever been asked. I didn’t even have to think about this one for a second . . .

BOY’S LIFE, by Robert R. McCammon. It’s my favorite novel of all time, the only book that ever made me cry. Man, what a great movie it could be in the right hands. Although it might work better as a mini-series. I wouldn’t even ask to direct — I would ask to co-write the screenplay with Mr. McCammon, then give all the money to someone like Jim Mickle to take the directing reins.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

James: My latest release is a novella called RIDE OR DIE. It’s about fifteen-year-old Amelia Fletcher, who recently discovered that her dad has been cheating on her mom. With the help of her two BFF’s, she decides to get a little revenge one night on the homewrecker — decorating her house with toilet paper, vulgar graffiti on the walls, stuff like that.

This is a horror story, though, so things take a dark and violent turn.

I think fans of non-supernatural horror, the kind of stuff Jack Ketchum used to write, would really dig this one. It starts out like another coming-of-age tale (my readers seem to love those), almost a YA book according to some reviewers . . . and before you know it our heroines are in Hell.

Steve: Bonus Question! If you could be an extra on any TV show, which one would it have been and why?

James: I would love to sit in Judge Judy’s courtroom for a day. I’m addicted to that show, can’t get enough of her disdain for stupid people. I’m terrified yet at the same time inexplicably aroused by her wrath. If she ever yelled at me I’m not sure whether I would curl into a fetal position or squeal with delight. Maybe both.

Oh my god, this might be the best answer I’ve had for this question yet! Judge Judy and People’s Court are amazing and I used to watch them everyday during University!!

Thank you so much, James!

To discover all of his wonderful work;

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/James-Newman/e/B0082Z5L18/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/newmanjam

Title: The Warrior Retreat

Author: John Lynch

Release date: November 11th, 2022

I connected with John some time back, when he was a full-time reviewer, and it’s been great seeing how he slowly began to the writing journey. I remember beta-reading a short story a few years ago (that ultimately got published) and was stoked to see how he’d progressed and how he was finding homes for his short fiction. That all lead up to the inevitable – the debut novel. So, when he announced this, I’ll admit, I was tentatively excited.

Excited for John to have created something longer than a short and was packaging it and getting it out there, but also tentative because of the subject matter. I’m not an overly ‘war-centric’ reader. Nor do I watch much war-based movies/shows. The PTSD aspect though, and how the synopsis reads still had me keen. When John reached out I happily agreed to give this one ago and see what we find when these guys arrive in the woods.

What I liked: The story follows a group of soldiers stationed together who get rocked by an unseen explosive device. Each suffers various injuries – mentally and physically – and each are changed forever from this event.

Lynch does a great job of bringing us to that place, based off of his own time serving in the military, and the characters are fleshed out and (while frustratingly at times sophomoric) feel like guys you’ve met before.

We do open with a unique sleep paralysis moment, which gives us a mildly touching character moment that will steer you in one direction.

When we do get to the cabin, the events that occur are horrific and (while all too-brief) showed their survival instincts and their ability to pull from deep within, no matter how many years it’s been since the deployment ended.

Lynch did a stellar job of showing how much the deployment took a toll on each one of the characters and how horribly it affected them.

What I didn’t like: While I liked this novel, there were a few things that ground my gears. The first is that the novel sets us up for a retreat in the woods. I kind of expected that to be the majority of the novel, but in actuality it’s only the last 25% or so and that time goes by really fast. I think it would’ve been more powerful if the entire novel would’ve taken place there and we see the events leading up to it in flashback form, but that’s just my thoughts.

The characters are cartoonish at times, and we get a significant amount of juvenile/sophomoric humor and insults. We also get a few random moments of depravity – an encounter in public at a bar and two guys picking up a bartender that didn’t add much to the characters storylines. It could very well be inspired by real convos (I won’t spoil anything from the afterword), but it could very well put a lot of readers off.

Lastly, and this was a big one, the opening sleep paralysis moment definitely makes the reader think this is going somewhere and then it essentially forgotten about, only briefly returning at the end. I really wished this would’ve been more expanded upon and the supernatural aspects heightened.

Why you should buy this: For me, and I’m just one reader, this is a solid debut novel that had a few-missteps. What I didn’t jive with may very well be the parts others love the most. I thought the idea was fantastic and I was really, very excited to get into the crux of all of these damaged soldiers going through group therapy together.

If you like Military-based horror with a side-serving of extreme Splatterpunk, look no further. I think many folks will really dig what Lynch has to offer and I’m very excited to see where he goes from here.

3.5/5

Title: Salamander Justice

Author: Tamika Thompson

Release date: October 31, 2022

Firstly – huge thanks to Beverly Bambury for reaching out to me to see if I’d take a look at this novella that is launching in a few weeks!

I was immediately intrigued by the title and synopsis of this one. It reminded me of ‘Come Closer’ by Sara Gran mixed with a creature-feature. Veda, this main character, keeps seeing something odd… but does she?

I was excited to dive in, so once it was emailed over, I raced through it, excited to discover what Thompson had created.

What I liked: The story is fast-paced and we dive in immediately with Veda getting ready to head to a social function. While attempting to get ready, she notices something darting around her place. A quick attempt to capture it occurs, but it finds a crack in the wall to hide in.

With that simple set up, we then follow as Veda goes and meets her semi-boyfriend/guy she’s hanging out with at his brother’s surprise birthday party. Thompson does a good job of setting the scene and when Veda meets the brother, sparks fly and feelings get hurt.

The ‘real’ story here is what propelled me along. It kept me guessing and was so very intriguing. I wanted to learn the truth of the dead ex-husband. I wanted to see if Veda was actually seeing something or was it all in her head. And the ending was perfect to cap that off and tie up some loose ends.

What I didn’t like: I honestly didn’t like a single character. Veda annoyed me, Sam and Adam were frustrating and their mother was an odd character. It felt like I was watching a reality TV series where they get the most ridiculous cast together and they all want you to believe they’re better than everyone else.

I will say – this does work perfectly for the dynamics between the characters.

Why you should buy this: I read this easily in a single sitting, maybe around 45 minutes or, so it made for a perfect little snappy shock to fit in. The pacing is fantastic, the ‘thing’ that is stalking the story is well done and overall, you get a solid story that makes you hope for an expanded sequel!

3.5/5

Oh man, do we have a fun one today! Catherine Cavendish is a name that immediately conjures two clashing images; the first would be dark, disturbing and eerie Gothic Horror. The second is that she is one of the most kindest and supportive people out there today! I’m always so excited to see what Catherine is conjuring with each release!

Please, do welcome Catherine!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try and write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

Catherine: I generally try to write something every day of the week. It doesn’t always pan out like that because life does have an annoying habit of getting in the way but I usually write in the afternoons. If I’m working on a first draft of a new story, I aim to complete a minimum of 2,000 words in one sitting. Sometimes, when I’m on a roll, it can be much more than that.

Steve: You decide to host a writer’s retreat. One weekend in a luxury house on an island. What three other authors do you invite to come along?

Catherine: A luxury house on an island sounds the perfect venue for a supernatural murder mystery. I would invite Ramsey Campbell because, aside from being a legend in his own lifetime, possessed of a keen sense of humour and a fund of fascinating and hilarious anecdotes, he is a brilliant horror writer with an amazing store of knowledge of all things dark and sinister. And he would also bring along some great wine. I think Gaby Triana and I would bounce some great ideas off each other. She is the Queen of Southern Gothic Horror and I write gothic horror with a British flavour so we have a lot in common. Val McDermid is a Scottish crime writer and I would love to learn some of the tricks of the trade from her. All in all we should have a stimulating, fun weekend.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

Catherine: My novel, Dark Observation is mainly set during World War II at the height of the London Blitz. Typist Violet Harrington works in the subterranean, top-secret Cabinet War Rooms, where Prime Minister Winston Churchill makes the key decisions that will dictate Britain’s conduct of the war. Above, the people of London go about their daily business, unaware of the life that teems beneath their feet.
Night after night the bombs rain down, yet, in that fateful spring, Violet has far more to fear than air raids.
She and her friend Tilly share a house with the strange and distant Sandrine Maupas di Santiago – a woman who doesn’t belong there; a woman who is hiding something. Where does she go at night – and what secrets lay behind that too-perfect exterior? But when they decide to dig a little deeper, Violet soon discovers some secrets are best left alone.

At home, and in her place of work, she cannot escape from the menace closing in on her. Increasingly isolated by events she cannot control, every day brings fresh fears. A mysterious man and a room that only she can see, memories she can no longer trust, and a best friend who denies their shared past…

Something is targeting her.

Tragedy strikes and little by little the web is unraveled, but the truth is more extraordinary than Violet could ever have imagined…

Steve: Bonus Question! You receive an invitation in the mail from one of these two people. The invitation invites you to have dinner and spend the night in their home. Do you accept the invitation from Victor Frankenstein or Dracula and why?

Catherine: On reflection (something of which, being a vampire, Dracula knows nothing 😉) I think Frankenstein’s invitation might be the one I’d go for. With energy prices soaring, it would be great to tap into his electricity supply. Given the amount he uses, he wouldn’t even notice, would he? Also, I am not all that keen on the sight of copious amounts of blood – especially mine – and with Dracula I feel there is a much greater chance of that happening. I can’ t see Frankenstein harvesting my body for spare parts. I’m far too old. So, all in all,  I think I would have a much better chance of surviving the night intact at Victor Frankenstein’s house. Plus, I reckon the food will be better. I mean, apart from blood, Dracula doesn’t eat, does he? And I do prefer my meat well done.

Thank you, Steve for a highly entertaining chat.

Thank you, Catherine!

To find more of her work, check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Catherine-Cavendish/e/B0059GDROQ/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Cat_Cavendish

Website: https://www.catherinecavendish.com/

Straight to the point today – our guest – one, Israel Finn, has been one of the nicest and most supportive people in the dark fiction community since I started. He’s released some phenomenally brutal pieces and seeing that something is coming down the pipeline has me all kinds of excited!

So, without further wait – please welcome the enormously awesome Israel Finn!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try to write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

Finn: I try to write every day, but that’s not always possible. Most days, I like to start writing after lunch and continue until dinnertime. I’m happy if I get five-hundred good words written in a day. If I get more, I’m happier. I tend to edit as I go (though I try to curb that impulse when I’m really in the zone) so my actual writing process can be a bit tedious at times. But it appeals to my meticulous nature.

Steve: If you could write a story for another author’s fictional world/series, which would it be and why?

Finn: Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series. That series is my “Harry Potter.” It hits all the sweet spots for me: robots, monsters, sorcerers, a gunslinger, a hero’s journey, flawed and fascinating characters, and my favorite element of all—interdimensional travel! I’m a sucker for that stuff.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

Finn: I wrote a collection called Dreaming at the Top of My Lungs, thirteen short stories of horror and speculative fiction. It has something in it for pretty much everybody. I’ve also got some other short stories out there in submission land at the moment. And I’m writing a novel called The Secret Song, a story about—you guessed it—interdimensional travel. So, watch for that.

Steve: Bonus Question! Do you have a cherished book?

Finn: I do! It’s Time and Again by Jack Finney (author of Invasion of the Body Snatchers). It’s a masterpiece.

Very cool!

Thank you so much, Israel!

Check the links and find more of his work!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Israel-Finn/e/B00H0ILX74

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ifinnfiction

Website: https://israelfinn.com/

Title: Songs for the Lost

Author: Alexander Zelenyj

Release date: Originally released September 1st, 2014, re-released April 3rd, 2016

I’m horrible with time/dates. What I mean is that – I’m 99% sure I’ve been solidly posting my reviews for about 7 years… maybe 8? But pretty sure 7? Or at least that many years of devoting myself to sharing my love of reading online versus just devouring books at home and not really telling people about it.

In that time – there’s a reviewer who I’ve connected with. We’ve become pals and DM buddies about books and he’s never steered me wrong. That guy is Tony Jones, who you may recognize from GNOH and Horror DNA. And even though I’m beyond burned out on reading short story collections and anthologies – when Tony asked if I’d read Alexander Zelenyj, I told him that not only had I not, I wasn’t aware of who he was. How shameful! Since that fateful DM, I’ve connected with Alexander – who happens to be a fellow Canuck! – and I’ve now devoured his collection, ‘Songs for the Lost.’

What I liked: I gotta be honest – one thing that always worries me is when a book/stories are described as ‘weird.’ I’m wishy-washy on Bizarro. Sometimes it works, most times, for me at least – it doesn’t. My reading brain seems to pocket weird and Bizarro into the same small circle and I worry I may not enjoy it. Zelenyj’s collection is described as “Horror, SCI-FI and Weird story collection, Speculative Fiction at its best.” Ok – so, I love horror, sci-fi and speculative. So, I can push past my hesitancy around the weird part.

This collection… er… uh… collects a cross-section of Alexander’s work over a number of years and lays them out in an order that flows really nicely. Usually, I point out a number of stories that I really enjoyed, but with this one I actually found myself engaged in every single piece and really wanted to see what happened to the characters involved.

As for the ‘weird’ aspect – I would say it’s more akin to the movie/magazine ‘Heavy Metal.’ Where a fairly straight-forward story occurs, with weirdness around it. It’s hard to really say a lot without specifically spoiling some stories, but if you’ve seen that movie and loved how each segment was phenomenal but also borderline bonkers – you’ll know what I mean.

When a collection is this solid from start to finish, a reader invariably will try and mentally relate it to other authors and their short story escapades. This one reminded me of a mix of what T.E. Grau has done, but also what would happen if Adam Nevill remixed Grau’s work. To a degree. It is really had to summarize vaguely enough to not ruin anything, but vaguely enough to get those eyes reading this excited for his work!

What I didn’t like: While I really enjoyed every story, I will say – a few were too brief, a few were too long and for each reader, as is always the case with collections – some you may just not like.

Why you should buy this: For those who devour short fiction as though it’s Lindt Chocolate at Christmas time, you’ll want to dive headfirst into this. I suspect for many, this collection would be a great gateway book to discovering a new favorite author and one that you’ll quickly look at snagging the rest of his work. Alexander is a painter whose paintings I’m glad to have discovered. A musician whose music I’m glad to have heard. And he does all of that with words, making him an author I feel so fortunate to have read. Thank you, Tony, for pointing me in his direction.

This is a collection for the ages.

5/5

It’s not very often someone leaves me speechless or shocked. Ask my wife. I can pretty much talk to anyone, anytime, anywhere. It’s a gift and a curse. Because I also don’t have much of a filter.

Over the last few years, a few moments have arrived though where I was left a bit speechless. Receiving a blurb from Andrew Pyper. Adam Nevill thanking me in his afterword. J.H. Moncrieff doing the same. My first writing award nomination. And when I received an email from Tiffany McDaniel a few years back. In my mind I have imaginary tiers of writing success/level of ‘visibility’ lets call it. Its a lame thing in my mind, but it’s essentially the line where, for me, a writer goes from being a writer to being a celebrity. Tiffany is absolutely that for me. She’s an internationally lauded author, someone who’s books break hearts, crush souls and move readers like no other. And when she emailed me, I was stunned!

I say all of this, because, she recently reached out again to see if I’d be up for reading her next release and after a few emails back and forth, I worked up the courage to ask her if she’d do a 3Q’s and GUESS WHAT! Well, it’s obvious – she agreed!

So, please do give her a hearty round of applause!

Welcome Tiffany!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try and write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

Tiffany: I’ve always written with pen and paper, only coming to the computer when I type the writing in to a file. I love the connection to handwriting a story. Because of this, I have notebooks throughout the house. I do write daily, but not at a certain time each day. I don’t have a word count I go for either. I think sometimes setting goals means you’re writing more for the goal than for the story.

Steve: You end up at an estate sale and discover an unpublished manuscript from an author you love. Do you keep it just for yourself or do you share it with the world?

Tiffany: Oh, this is an interesting one. There’d be so many questions of why it was unpublished. Was it lost? Stolen? Forgotten? I wouldn’t want to keep it, because I’m superstitious, and I’d feel a bit haunted by having it. And because I wouldn’t know the author’s wishes, I wouldn’t want to publish it without their permission. I think the best thing would be handing it over to the author’s family or estate, leaving the decision to publish with those who knew the author best.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

Tiffany: My newest is ON THE SAVAGE SIDE. It’s inspired by a series of women murdered in Chillicothe, Ohio. When the crime first took place, there were some in the community who felt the loss of the women wasn’t a big deal because of their association with drug use and prostitution. I really wanted to capture the spirit of such women and discover who they might have been beyond the headlines and show that their lives mattered. Like with my previously published book, Betty, there were some real-life places to visit. In writing On the Savage Side, I visited where the women’s bodies were found or where they were last seen. Visiting the water especially allowed me to step into the atmosphere of the crime and understand that the ripples of a river carry many voices with them.

Steve: Bonus Question! You wake up in a comic book. What is your comic book character and what is your superpower?

Tiffany: Such a fun question. Ever since I was a kid I wanted to be a writer and a witch. I’d say if I could get a superpower, it’d probably be hocus pocus. And what I mean by that, is the old school superpower of a witch. Being able to speak to spiders and cats, read cobwebs, stir up a good spell in a cauldron, and have some lightning magic in my fingertips. And of course, fly on broomsticks.

That is a fantastic superpower! And very timely for October as well!

Thank you so much, Tiffany! I’m excited to dive into ON THE SAVAGE SIDE even though it sounds like it’s going to destroy me like BETTY did!

To find more of her work, check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Tiffany-McDaniel/e/B01DAN905O/

Website: https://www.tiffanymcdaniel.com/

You know what really grinds my gears? Especially as every day, my hair thins and fades and retires from my head? Seeing Joe and they’re posts about waking up with ‘mad scientist’ hair and ‘oh, hey, just me and my crazy hair’ posts! hahahaah! Friggin’ disrespectful I tell’s ya!

Anyways, enough of my own problems, let’s er ah… no, that’s a horrible segue into Joe’s intro! Baha! Really losing it today, yeah!!

Today’s guest is a phenomenal writer, phenomenal human and someone who I’ve loved seeing create and unleash new and horrible reads on unsuspecting readers!

Please do welcome, Joe!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try to write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

Joe: I’ve been asked this many times and the answer keeps changing. I think it’s because my writing process changes with the type of project I’m working on and the character or mood of the piece. In general, I write every day, preferably in the morning and afternoon. I often spend so much of my time thinking about a project that it feels like I’m always writing even when I’m not typing. I have to get up and move a lot. In a very subjective intuitive way, I generally know when I need to wait for an idea to ripen before I hit the keyboard and when I’m being lazy and need to push myself to get down to business, but that time of day or night can be quite random.

For a first draft, I try for 500-1000 words a day. A long time ago I saw Betty Rocksteady mention 500 words a day was all she wrote, and that helped me relax and feel okay about being a slow writer. (Thanks, Betty!) I did the math and found you’ll finish a short story pretty fast that way and get a novella finished in a little over a month, and let’s face it, when the words are flowing it’s easy to exceed the daily goal. Giving myself a low word count goal allows more time crafting the first draft, which I like to do much more than slamming words on the page. I edit very slowly, generally going through at least three drafts, and a good first draft keeps that process from being too painfully slow.

Steve: If you started a series and for some reason had to have another author finish it, who would you choose?

Joe: This is a terrible question to ask because I’m a total control freak about my writing! Although, come to think of it, I’ve done three successful collaborations with great authors and been delighted with the results, so maybe I’m speaking too soon. Oh, gosh; I’d have to choose someone who understood that particular project and understood the meaning of the series arc, both emotionally, structurally, and creatively. It’s hard to answer without knowing the specifics. The collaborations I’ve done were each tailored to the strengths of the different co-authors and to what different strengths I brought to the table. Our differences are what made the pieces work, in fact.

Okay, so I think at this point I’m going to pick Kyle Winkler to finish the imaginary series. He’s a good choice because we intend to do a collaboration one day but haven’t gotten around to it yet, because he has a playful mind and weird poetic way with words that suggests he could satisfy someone who wants a “Joe story,” and because if I knew he’d have to finish the series I’d have fun going all out setting up impossible problems for him to resolve, ha ha. That’s not mere cruelty; I set up my stories that way for myself, to keep things interesting and see how hard I can push myself. Woe to anyone tasked with completing unfinished work after my death.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

Joe: My new collection CONVULSIVE came out in April and sold out right away, to my surprise. You should read it because the stories are more like experiences than everyday stories in the way language is employed poetically, surrealistically, and emotionally. They deal with issues of gender, religion, abuse, and autonomy, and these seem to be the issues constantly in the news these days, don’t they? Don’t get me wrong; there’s no simple message or preaching in my stories. Rather I present issues as complexes (in the Jungian sense) and mix the themes with references to art history, alternative music, my love of gardening, and anything else that resonates to make a sort of waking dream for the reader to consider. I’m told the final effect is a creeping dread that sticks with you for a long time.

Steve: Bonus Question! If they made a movie about your life, what actor or actress would you suggest they get to play you?

Joe: Sam Neill would be perfect. I bet he’d be a good sport and wouldn’t mind wearing a dress for the earlier years, too.

Great choice! And I feel like he would!

Thank you again, Joe!

To find more of Joe’s work – you know what to do!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Joe-Koch/e/B079TTBTSG

Twitter: https://twitter.com/horrorsong

Website: https://horrorsong.blog/

Really exciting 3Q’s Special today with a newish to me author! If you know Tony Jones, reader and reviewer, you’ll know he has a voracious intake of literature second-to-none. He is frequently recommending books to me. In this case, I reached out and asked him for some 3Q’s suggestions and Alexander was at the top of his list. Alexander and I connected not to long ago on social media, and it’s always great to discover new Canuck authors. In this case, I’ve just started reading one of his short story collections and I have to say – from what I’ve read so far, he should be on every dark fiction reader’s “must-read” lists!

Please, do welcome Alexander!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try and write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?
AZ: I used to write very late at night and into the early hours of the morning, but in recent years have changed things up, and write a little in the morning, afternoon, and night, every day. I try to sleep more, though I’m rarely successful. And no, I don’t pay too much attention to word counts—I just try to do good work, and if that means a smaller word count on any given day then that’s okay with me.

Steve: You end up at an estate sale and discover an unpublished manuscript from an author you love. Do you keep it just for yourself or do you share it with the world?
AZ: I would definitely share it with the world, because it would inevitably mean a great deal to a lot of people who likewise love the work of the author in question. But…I would hold onto it a while first, and read it, and savour it, and maybe share it with any friends who are also huge fans of the writer. Maybe we’d form a cult based around the manuscript. But after that, I’d spread the literary wealth with the world at large.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!
AZ: My new book is entitled These Long Teeth of the Night. It’s a retrospective compendium of my short fiction spanning the 20-year period of 1999-2019, published by the amazing Fourth Horseman Press. Fans of dark/Weird/cross-genre/ speculative fiction should check it out because it offers a good cross-section of my work, including material that’s been published in a wide variety of places, such as in my previous full-length collections and chapbooks, as well as in magazines and anthologies, so it has the benefit of getting the thumbs-up from multiple editors and readers. The book also has some new fiction, and introductions to each of the stories by yours truly, in which I talk a little about the stories, their inspirations, background, and assorted other details. The hardcover edition is currently available, with the trade paperback and digital editions coming very soon. Reviews have been positive, and people tell me the stories are difficult to classify in terms of genre, which suggests it’s an interesting and unique read that stands out from some of the other stuff out there.
I also have a book out entitled The Long Dirty Night Trilogy, published by Somniatis Press. It’s my version of a grindhouse novel, told in three interrelated parts/novellas. It’s a combination of very extreme horror and sleaze and dark humour, but with a very serious underlying message about personal freedom and the right to make important life choices in a difficult world. It’s also a lot of over-the-top fun. It was published as an extremely limited-edition omnibus, with all three novellas in one volume, and features three colour interior artworks by Greg Maxwell, and an introduction by Nick Cato, author of Suburban Grindhouse: From Staten Island to Times Square and all the Sleaze Between. The first edition is sold out, but there should be a second edition of the individual volumes available in the near future. Fans of transgressive way-out-there fiction should get a big kick out of it.

Steve: Bonus Question! You wake up in a comic book. What is your comic book character and what is your superpower?
AZ: Great question. If we’re talking about pre-existing comic books, I’d have to go with my childhood obsession and go with one of the barbarian/sword & sorcery comic books I loved: Conan or Arak or The Warlord. Who am I kidding: I’m Conan and my superpower is my barbarian ingenuity and the strength of my sword-arm, by Crom!
If we’re talking about an entirely new comic book character, I would be the Reader, and my superpower would be the ability to speed-read as fast as the Flash is able to move and to retain all that I read. So that way I’d be able to read every book ever written before I die. I’m not sure what greater use I’d put my power to, but I’d figure something out, and I’d be pretty happy with it.

Ha! Fantastic!

Thank you so much, Alexander!

To find more of his work, check the links!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AZelenyj

Website: https://www.alexanderzelenyj.com/

If my ongoing attempt at click-bait headlines doesn’t excite you, then maybe today’s guest will! Lex H. Jones has the distinction of appearing alongside myself in more anthologies than any other author. Think we’re at seven or eight currently! What that goes to show you is that somehow I’ve managed to sneak into some of these books featuring some amazing talent – one of which is LEX!

I’m a huge fan of his work, so I’m truly excited to welcome Lex as today’s 3Q’s guest!

Welcome!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try to write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

Lex: You know it’s funny, I’ve been all over the place with this kind of thing. At one point I had a routine, then that didn’t work for me anymore due to life changes, then I formed a new routine, then had a period of just doing what I could fit in whenever the mood struck me. Then I had a period of quite severe illness earlier this year, which made writing of any kind off the table for a long time (nerve damage in my skull, made laptop usage extremely difficult). So now that’s, thankfully, behind me, I have started a new routine of aiming for at least 2 pages per day, and then just carrying on past this point if I feel like it/have time to do so.

Steve: If you could write a story for another author’s fictional world/series, which would it be and why?

Lex: Oooh, that’s an interesting one. I think I veer between Masters of The Universe (which was my first real fictional love) and Batman. Both of those are worlds where I feel I could do something different, write something that hasn’t been done before, and where I have enough personal love and reverence for them that I wouldn’t mess it up. This may be a controversial point these days, but I personally feel that anybody taking on an existing franchise (be it films, TV, comic books etc) ought to really love and care about the thing they’re now continuing. That doesn’t mean it should all be “safe” fan-service with no risks or chances taken, but I don’t like the “screw what’s come before” approach that some seem to delight in taking. People loved these things for a reason, these franchises that you’re now being paid to write for still exist for that same reason, so have a little respect, please. So yeah, I definitely think the kingdoms of Gotham or Eternia are lands I’d like to explore and try something a little different in, but whilst still paying respect to what people love about them.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

Lex: My most recent release is a collection of short ghost stories called Whistling Past The Graveyard, which was released last year. I haven’t had anything new this year due to the aforementioned health concerns, but hoping to get some stuff done this year which may see the light of day next year. Whistling was something of a labour of love, because I love writing short ghost stories. The ability to dip into a world for just long enough to witness whatever oddness the protagonist is experiencing, and then leaving with the reader (hopefully) wishing they could stay a bit longer, is a joy to me. The style I go for is a bit old-school, subtle horror. So if you like the kind of ghost story that you’d read round a campfire, or by the fireplace on a winter’s night, then this book is for you. I remember you giving it a very lovely review, Steve, so thank you for that.

Steve: Bonus Question! Do you have a cherished book?

Lex: A Christmas Carol. I have a copy from 1923, which I read every Christmas Eve. I think it’s not only the greatest ghost story ever written, but the greatest story of any kind. It balances the dark and the light, the gloom and the hope, the despair and the joy so perfectly. Even if you think that seeing the film adaptations is enough, I still implore you to read the book because it’s so wonderful. A couple of Christmases back, I arranged for myself and some other authors to do live readings of one chapter each, which was really fun.

Outstanding! How very, very cool!

Thank you so much, Lex!

To discover more of his work – please do check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lex-H-Jones/e/B008HSH9BA

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexHJones