I get questions from time to time and felt it appropriate to post them here.  If you have one that you don’t see listed, contact me.

Q – Your bio says you’re a founder of the Colorado Springs Fiction Writers Group.  Are you still active with them and are you the one running it?
A – Hollie – my wife, John Irwin and a couple of others founded the CSFWG back in January of 1996.  Since that time I’ve held the positions of President, Vice-president, Officer, Secretary and Webmaster – with the presidency being the most prevalent.  I’ve retired from the CSFWG offices (over thirteen years is long enough to avoid cutting those apron strings), but am still active as a member.

Q – Do you write anything other than horror?
A – Checks.  Seriously, I’ve been published through the years in basic nonfiction and a few times in religious studies (no, folks, that’s not a joke, but I’m sure there’s a punchline in there somewhere).  Thanks to the current CSFWG President, J.T. Evans, I’ve exposed myself to the concept comedy writing and hope to submit a short work once I find the time to rewrite it.

Q – If’you’ve been active in the writing world since 1996, why is it that your listed publishing history only starts in 2010?
A – Good question.  I’ve written fiction since I was a kid and always for my own enjoyment.  We created the CSFWG on the advice of our creative writing instructor and focused on avoiding problems other writing groups experienced for years.  The next thing we knew there was a website, dues, multiple physical groups, acknowledgements by Writers Digest Magazine and Predators & Editors.  During that process I found myself only having time to write first drafts as the group took more time than I expected to keep running smoothly.  By the time I stepped down as president of the CSFWG I needed a break for a while to catch my breath.  Now during these years of running the CSFWG I published a piece or two here and there as time allowed, but wouldn’t truly count that as actively writing.  In late 2009 I was ready to tackle the writing beast and began actively writing for publication in January of 2010.  As of the time I’m answering this question in mid-April of 2011, one podcasted short story is out - with two others coming in the next few months, three stories have been accepted for publication – one of which, “A Murder of Crows” made the anthology’s cover, two-thirds of a novel is completed and nine additional stories are currently out for publication consideration.  Over all, not a bad break onto the scene.  Check the “Publications” page for updates.

Q – Where do you get your ideas?
A - Next question.

Q – Why horror?
A - I don’t remember when I first became enamored with horror, but I must have been pretty young.  Officially I blame my parents for taking me to see Jaws in the theater when I was five.  That started the downward spiral followed up with a drive in double feature in ’77 or ’78 showing Fantastic Planet and Phantasm.  I watched whatever spook flick I could get away with.  Then came the discovery of horror comics, magazines and finally books.  With these I could draw out the story, let it linger in that terrifying “what if” land a little longer.  When I had the skills to start writing my own, it just came naturally.  Now, to clarify one point, I write horror, but I read pretty much everything.

Q – Ever put someone you know into one of your stories?
A – Officially . . . only once – and that was with his permission.  Unofficially – yes and no.  Writers don’t grab someone they know and then simply put them into the pages of their prose.  We do take events, personality traits, physical aspects, funny stories, etc. and, after gutting the reality, we take what’s left and use it.  So when you hear, “I’m putting this in my story,” don’t get mad when you read it and discover that it doesn’t bear a whole lot of resemblance to the actual events.  Just be happy you Mused a writer – so to speak.

Q – Do you get mad at criticism?
A – Not at all.  That’s actually the point of the critique groups I attend.  I listen and take note of what is said.  Even if I don’t agree with their opinion, the person may very well open my eyes to another problem or point of view I hadn’t considered before.  So I welcome honest criticism.

Q - You mentioned “honest criticism.”  Is there a difference?
A – Oh absolutely.  There are those people just looking for the opportunity to be nasty for the sake of being nasty.  I think most writers can swallow the, “Your book/story sucked,” so long as it’s followed up with, “and here’s why.”  We may not be happy, but without the “Why” we don’t improve.

Q – What do you say to ”dishonest criticism?”
A – Talk to the gnome.