Risingshadow has had the honour of interviewing James Walley.

About James Walley:

Hailing from the mystical isle of Great Britain, James Walley is an author who prefers his reality banana shaped.

His debut novel, The Forty First Wink, released through Ragnarok Publications in 2014 scuttles gleefully into this bracket, with a blend of humour, fantasy and the unusual.

A clutch of follow up work, both short and long (including books two and three in the Wink trilogy) are in the offing, and have a similar demented flavour.

When not writing, James is partial to a spot of singing, the odd horror movie or ten, and is a circus trained juggler.

About The Fathom Flies Again:

It's time to wake up and smell the carnage. Just as every night gives way to dawn, all dreams yield to the break of day. For Marty, that's kind of a problem. When you've fought killer clowns, sailed the seven skies, and generally laid waste to your own dreamspace, real life can be kind of a drag. At least, until your nightmares crawl through the cracks and shadows, and take a liking to your town. When the jesters come a knocking, it's time to man up. When the unmentionables under your bed come a biting, it's time to grab your trusty, pint-sized pirate compadre and lead a charge against the night terrors. What does this mean for Marty? It means the crew of The Flying Fathom are back, surfing on rainbows, swashing their buckles, and saving the world, one sleepy little town at a time. Book one of this series, The Forty First Wink, brought you a glimpse of utter, rum-swilling madness. Now The Fathom Flies Again, pushing you over the edge and chuckling at your plummeting screams, before scuttling off to find something shiny to steal. Remember, if you hear something under your bed, don't move. Don't make a sound. Draw your cutlass and think of something devilishly witty to shout, because things, my friend, are about to get all too real.

GUEST POST BY JAMES WALLEY

M. L. Williams' Seers of Verde: The Legend Fulfilled was published in March 2016.

Information about M. L. Williams:

M. L. Williams is an award-winning ex-journalist. He retired after 39 years of battling deadlines to venture into the world of science fiction. Williams lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He spends his time reading, writing and enjoying his role as Grandpa. He has written two novels: Seers of Verde: The Legend Fulfilled and its sequel, Return of the Earthers.

Click here to visit his official website.

Information about Seers of Verde: The Legend Fulfilled:

Marauders from a renegade planet attack an Earth colony ship forcing landing parties to split into two groups in a desperate attempt to escape. The attackers are killed, but the colonists pay a terrible price. Their vessels are destroyed stranding them without their technology on either side of an imposing mountain range on the planet Verde Grande.

Descendants of a mysterious Seer now protect their people but become the bane of the hunter society on the other side of the mountain. All attempts to scale the mountain are thwarted for two centuries by the powerful Seers who want to preserve their religion and way of life no matter the cost.

One day, a party of hunters sets out to climb the mountain. To their dismay, the Seers cannot control a strange unreachable young woman who finds the passage to their protected valley. The reunion triggers a decades-long conflict between the Seers and the children of the “lost ones” - a struggle that forever changes the people of Verde Grande.

A REVIEW OF M. L. WILLIAMS' SEERS OF VERDE: THE LEGEND FULFILLED

Michael W. Garza's The Last Shadow Gate will be published by NeverHaven Press in March 2017.

Information about Michael W. Garza:

Michael W. Garza often finds himself wondering where his inspiration will come from next and in what form his imagination will bring it to life. The outcomes regularly surprise him and it's always his ambition to amaze those curious enough to follow him and take in those results. He hopes that everyone will find something that frightens, surprises, or simply astonishes them.

Information The Last Shadow Gate:

Summer vacation was never supposed to be like this.

It was bad enough Naomi had to be shipped off to her dad's home for the summer and deal with her half-brother Gavin, but when the siblings are forced to spend their break with their great-grandmother in upstate New York, everything changes. An investigation into the strange disappearance of their great-grandfather forces them to retrace his footsteps. They discover a gateway between worlds and encounter extraordinary creatures in a land where the people are desperate to escape the coming of a shade lord. To survive their adventure, Naomi and Gavin must settle their differences and find the elusive shadow gate that will take them home again.

A REVIEW OF MICHAEL W. GARZA'S THE LAST SHADOW GATE

Risingshadow has the honour of publishing a guest post by Alvaro Zinos-Amaro.

About the author

Alvaro is co-author, with Robert Silverberg, of When The Blue Shift Comes and Traveler of Worlds: Conversations with Robert Silverberg, which is currently eligible for Hugo nomination in the Best Related category.

Alvaro's more than thirty stories have appeared in magazines like Analog, Nature, Lightspeed, Galaxy's Edge, Lackington's, Farrago's Wainscot and Neon, as well as anthologies such as The Mammoth Book of the Adventures of Moriarty, The Mammoth Book of Jack the Ripper Tales, The 2015 Young Explorer's Adventure Guide, Cyber World, This Way to the End Times, Humanity 2.0, An Alphabet of Embers and The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 2016. Alvaro's essays, reviews and interviews have appeared in The Los Angeles Review of Books, The First Line, Asimov's, Tor.com, Strange Horizons, Clarkesworld, Foundation, The New York Review of Science Fiction and Intergalactic Medicine Show. He also edits the roundtable blog for Locus.

GUEST POST: Including the Reader by Alvaro Zinos-Amaro

Peter S. Beagle's In Calabria was published by Tachyon Publications in January/February 2017.

Information about Peter S. Beagle:

Peter S. Beagle is the best-selling author of The Last Unicorn, which has sold a reported five million copies since its initial publication in 1968. His other novels include A Fine & Private Place, The Innkeeper’s Song, and Tamsin. His short fiction has been collected in four volumes by Tachyon Publications, including The Rhinoceros Who Quoted Nietzsche, The Line Between, We Never Talk About My Brother, and Sleight of Hand. He has won the Hugo, Nebula, Mythopoeic, and Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire awards and the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Information about In Calabria:

From the acclaimed author of The Last Unicorn comes a new, exquisitely-told fable for the modern age.

Claudio Bianchi has lived alone for many years on a hillside in Southern Italy’s scenic Calabria. Set in his ways and suspicious of outsiders, Claudio has always resisted change, preferring farming and writing poetry to the company of others. But one chilly morning, an impossible visitor appears at the farm. When Claudio comes to her aid, an act of kindness throws his world into chaos. Suddenly he must stave off inquisitive onlookers, invasive media, and even more sinister influences.

Lyrical, gripping, and wise, In Calabria confirms Peter S. Beagle’s continuing legacy as one of fantasy’s most legendary authors.

A REVIEW OF PETER S. BEAGLE'S IN CALABRIA

Risingshadow has had the honour of interviewing Kandi J. Wyatt.

About the author

Even as a young girl, Kandi J. Wyatt, had a knack for words. She loved to read them, even if it was on a shampoo bottle! By high school Kandi had learned to put words together on paper to create stories for those she loved. Nowadays, she writes for her kids, whether that's her own five or the hundreds of students she's been lucky to teach. When Kandi's not spinning words to create stories, she's using them to teach students about Spanish, life, and leadership.
 

AN INTERVIEW WITH KANDI J. WYATT

Jordan Pinckney and Will Lenzen Jr.'s Destined was published by Destined Productions in April 2016.

Information about the authors:

Jordan Pinckney has written two screenplays and is currently working on a zombie comic book series. He has had a passion for the sci-fi genre since watching his first sci-fi movie, Predator, as a child, and thrives on getting “lost in the story”. Jordan has the uncanny ability to find creative inspiration in the day-to-day experience and turn it into an enthralling story to share with the people around him. Outside of writing, Jordan enjoys competing in highland games, working with children in need, and geeking out to “nerd culture”. Jordan lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa with his wife, Aubree.

Will Lenzen Jr. has a deep passion for storytelling. For nearly 20 years he has studied the craft as a writer, actor, designer, and filmmaker. With a small library of screenplays, articles, and short stories, he is now excited to be bringing his vision for Destined to the world. When Will is not working on The Blood Games Trilogy, he is Creative Director at Cycle Studios, focusing on design, illustration, and direction.

Click here to visit their official website.

Information about Destined:

These Weren't The Answers She Was Looking For

For years, sixteen-year-old Leana has been plagued with terrifying nightmares, and now they're getting worse, creeping into her waking hours. In a desperate attempt to help her make sense of them, her mother is sending her to the last person on Earth Leana would want to visit... her estranged father. On his farm, she finds answers she wasn’t expecting.

A REVIEW OF JORDAN PINCKNEY AND WILL LENZEN JR.'S DESTINED

Kim Newman's Anno Dracula 1899 and Other Stories was published by Titan Books in January 2017.

Information about Kim Newman:

Kim Newman is a well known and respected author and movie critic. He writes regularly for Empire Magazine and contributes to The Guardian, The Times, Time Out and others. He makes frequent appearances on radio and TV. He has won the Bram Stoker, International Horror Guild, British Fantasy and British Science Fiction Awards and been nominated for the Hugo, World Fantasy, and James Herbert Awards.

Click here to visit his official website.

Information about Anno Dracula 1899 and Other Stories:

A collection of horror short stories by acclaimed author, journalist and movie-critic Kim Newman. This volume contains twenty-one stories featuring famous figures from Jack the Ripper to Frankenstein's monster, and includes a brand-new, exclusive Anno Dracula story 'Yokai Town: Anno Dracula 1899'.

A REVIEW OF KIM NEWMAN'S ANNO DRACULA 1899 AND OTHER STORIES

Risingshadow has the honour of publishing a guest post by Ani Fox.

About the author:

Ani Fox lives in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg - the heart of ancient Europe. He's published short fiction in Jim Baen's Universe as well as in the Ragnarok Publications anthology Corrupts Absolutely? The Autumn War is his first published novel. In his spare time he holds down a day job, serves as Editor in Chief for the European Review of Speculative Fiction and does what his cat tells him. He holds a BA in History from the Rutgers University, a PhD (ABD) in World History from the Australian National University and a PhD in Indigenous Theology from ULC Seminary; none of which make him more fun at parties.

About The Autumn War:

Nothing is as it seems. After the mysterious death of his family, retired operative Spetz has come looking for answers, using himself as bait. The shadowy Syndicate has made him a job offer that a deranged cadre of Nazi super-soldiers, the various global Mafias, and a ship full of eco-fanatics would all prefer he decline. By midday, the U.S. Government has declared him a terrorist, and an unseen adversary has offered more than a billion dollars to have him killed.

In this covert global war, Spetz is forced to call in some favors from former associates: a rogue Artificial Intelligence, an ice-cold femme fatale, and a rescue team of former Soviet saboteurs. Among his enemies are Zeus, a genetically engineered soldier who styles himself a god; Mika French, the best assassin alive, and Hans Gutlicht, a mad scientist with a grudge... and the man who raised Spetz.

From the icy waters of the Canadian North Atlantic to the burning sands of Las Vegas, Spetz must keep two steps ahead of everyone, outfoxing some of the most brilliant and dangerous operatives alive. To unravel the conspiracies behind the Autumn War, he does the one thing he's always resisted: join 'The Game.' But can he win it in time to stop his faceless enemy? For Spetz, it's gotten very personal.

Game on.

GUEST POST: Epperperson and All Things Feminine when Writing

Brendan Connell's Clark was published by Snuggly Books in November 2016.

Information about Brendan Connell:

Brendan Connell was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1970. His works of fiction include Unpleasant Tales (Eibonvale Press, 2010), The Architect (PS Publishing, 2012), Lives of Notorious Cooks (Chômu Press, 2012), Miss Homicide Plays the Flute (Eibonvale Press, 2013), Jottings from a Far Away Place (Snuggly Books, 2015), and Cannibals of West Papua (Zagava, 2015).

Click here to visit his official website.

Information about Clark:

One of the best actors of his generation, Eric Clark was born José Fernando del Torres in Asunción, Paraguay. On a night in November, 1955, in New York City, a legendary spirit entered into him, complicating his destiny - a destiny which would make him a star in the booming Italian film industry of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s - in sword and sandal epics, spaghetti westerns and gialli.

A REVIEW OF BRENDAN CONNELL'S CLARK

Michael Brachman's The Vuduri Companion was published in October 2016.

Information about Michael Brachman:

Michael Brachman has a Ph.D. in Sensory Science with a minor in Computer Science. Rome's Revolution is his first science fiction series, depicting the enduring love between a man from the 21st century and a woman from the 35th century. Between the two of them, they fend off various threats to mankind. The science behind the science fiction is meticulously researched. It is so realistic, you will believe that these stories are true, they just haven't happened yet.

Information about The Vuduri Companion:

Behind every great adventure lie tales yet untold

The Vuduri Companion is a collection of 29 short stories and one novelette about the astounding and amazing 35th century world of Rome’s Revolution. Each chapter offers exciting backstories and fascinating glimpses behind the scenes of the people, places and technologies which inhabit this brave new world. Among the many stories within its covers, you will read about:

• The futurist who developed the Ark program
• Whatever became of the first colonists on Alpha Centauri
• Jack Henry’s secret bride
• The unlikely story of how Rome’s parents met
• How the Vuduri rescued the damaged Ark II
• Rei’s resurrection
• and much, much more

Also included is the original 1973 version of VIRUS 5, the precursor to Rome's Revolution. This first draft was written over 40 years ago and it is both interesting and quite amusing to see what elements were retained and which were discarded leading up to the modern version. In addition, this book contains two brand new short stories written exclusively for this volume entitled “The Invisible Man” and “The Immortals”. “The Invisible Man” tells the tale of the scientist who invented electro-gravity and the dark matter diode which lies at the heart of the Casimir Pump and the PPT star-drive. “The Immortals” continues the adventure of Rome and Rei the day after they discover they have been granted virtual immortality.

This volume should appeal to all fans of Rome's Revolution, The Ark Lords, Rome's Evolution and The Milk Run and who are always looking to learn more. So pick up a copy of The Vuduri Companion and take a trip back to the fascinating, eye-opening 35th century. You’ll love what you find there.

A REVIEW OF MICHAEL BRACHMAN'S THE VUDURI COMPANION

C. T. Phipps' Cthulhu Armageddon was published by Crossroad Press in August 2016.

Information about C. T. Phipps:

C. T. Phipps is a lifelong student of horror, science fiction, and fantasy. An avid tabletop gamer, he discovered this passion led him to write and turned him into a lifelong geek. He is a regular blogger on "The United Federation of Charles".

Information about Cthulhu Armageddon:

“Under an alien sky where gods of eldritch matter rule, the only truth is revenge.”

Cthulhu Armageddon is the story of a world 100 years past the rise of the Old Ones which has been reduced to a giant monster-filled desert and pockets of human survivors (along with Deep Ones, ghouls, and other “talking” monsters).

John Henry Booth is a ranger of one of the largest remaining city-states when he’s exiled for his group’s massacre and suspicion he’s “tainted.” Escaping with a doctor who killed her husband, John travels across the Earth’s blasted alien ruins to seek the life of the man who killed his friends.

It’s the one thing he has left.

A REVIEW OF C. T. PHIPPS' CTHULHU ARMAGEDDON

Risingshadow has had the honour of interviewing Betsy Dornbusch.

Betsy Dornbusch writes epic fantasy, and has dabbled in science fiction, thrillers, and erotica. Her short fiction has appeared in over a dozen magazines and anthologies, and she's the author of three novellas. Her first fantasy novel came out in 2012 and her latest trilogy, Books of the Seven Eyes, wraps up with Enemy in 2017. Silver Scar, a standalone future fantasy thriller, also drops in 2017.

In her free time, she herds her teenagers (like cats, only they talk back), snowboards, air jams at punk rock concerts, and follows Denver sports teams. She's just a quick google away by her name or Sex Scenes at Starbucks.

AN INTERVIEW WITH BETSY DORNBUSCH

Lady Dilke's The Outcast Spirit and Other Stories was published by Snuggly Books in November 2016.

Information about Lady Dilke:

Lady Dilke (1840-1904), born Emily Francis Strong, was an author, art historian, feminist and trade unionist. She wrote numerous articles and books on art, in both English and French, and, during her lifetime, published two darkly themed collections of short stories titled The Shrine of Death and Other Stories (1886) and The Shrine of Love and Other Stories (1891).

Information about The Outcast Spirit and Other Stories:

There is nothing else quite like the short stories of Lady Dilke in the annals of English literature, and even readers who have little sympathy with their stylistic affectations, allegorical pretensions and harrowing conclusions are likely to admit that they have a peculiar fascination. Those who find some resonance in their psychological ambience might easily think them touched with genius. The simple fact that they are so unusual is a great asset in itself, from the viewpoint of lovers of exotica, but they are not peculiar merely for the sake of cultivating unconventionality. Seen as an assembly, in fact, their visionary element acquires an extra dimension of coherency, and also manifests a marked evolution, from the slightly tentative experimental ventures of the stories in The Shrine of Death to the triptych of masterpieces constituted by "The Hangman’s Daughter," "The Triumph of the Cross" and "The Mirror of the Soul," which are truly remarkable works considered individually, but gain even more from being placed in the broad frame provided by this, the first comprehensive collection of the author’s fiction.

A REVIEW OF LADY DILKE'S THE OUTCAST SPIRIT AND OTHER STORIES

Risingshadow has the honour of publishing a guest post by Deborah Sheldon.

About the author

Deborah Sheldon is a professional writer from Melbourne, Australia. Her short fiction has appeared in many well-respected magazines, journals and anthologies. Her latest releases include the horror novel, Devil Dragon, the crime-noir novellas, Dark Waters and Ronnie and Rita, and the horror collection, Perfect Little Stitches and other stories, all of which are with traditional publishers. The title story of her horror collection, ‘Perfect Little Stitches’, was nominated for an Australian Shadows Award. Other writing credits include television scripts, stage plays, magazine articles, non-fiction books (published by Reed Books and Random House), and award-winning medical writing.

GUEST POST: From Idea to Story by Deborah Sheldon

Five Stories High was published by Solaris Books in December 2016.

Information about Jonathan Oliver:

Jonathan Oliver is the multi-award winning editor of The End of The Line, Magic, House of Fear, End of the Road and Dangerous Games. He’s also written a couple of novels and a bunch of short stories. He lives in Abingdon with his family and their cat.

Information about Five Stories High:

Five Stories High is a collection of five novellas each set in the same house Irongrove Lodge. This five storey Georgian mansion, once a grand detached property, has now been split into five apartments.

This is a building with history, the very bricks and grounds imbued with the pasts of those who have walked these corridors, lived in these rooms.

Five extraordinary writers open the doors, revealing ghosts both past and present in a collection that promises to be as intriguing as it is terrifying.

Featuring novellas by Sarah Lotz, JK Parker, Nina Allan, Robert Shearman and Tade Thompson.

A REVIEW OF FIVE STORIES HIGH (EDITED BY JONATHAN OLIVER)