Something Wicked Comes! Author Interview with Brett J. Talley, author of That Which Should Not Be and The Void

Something Wicked Comes....bringing Zombies, Werewolves, Vampires, Ghosts, Witches and more. Oh My!  What is this wicked thing?  Why a month long blogging event celebrating all books paranormal/supernatural or Halloween related.  Every day during the month of October there will be several stops.  Each blogger will be featuring a favorite paranormal book and offering it for a giveaway.  Think of it as a month long Blog Trick or Treating Event...

Will Spook For Books!  

Go HERE to get the full schedule...

As much as I love chocolate, if everyone in the neighborhood was giving away books, I'd be more excited about trick-or-treating than my kids! :-)

Today's guest is one of my favorite authors, Brett J. Talley. Brett is no stranger here, and I'm sure if you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you've seen me occasionally rave about his writing talents (or maybe tossing a War Eagle his way). I had the privilege of interviewing him just before he released his debut novel, That Which Should Not Be, about a year ago. If you'd like to check that out, you may do so HERE.

This year, Brett has released a new novel, The Void, which I reviewed here yesterday. 

So, to really get the Halloween season going, Brett was so kind to stop by and hang out with us again, AND he is offering up a SIGNED COPY of either one of his novels to one lucky winner.  Find the details after the interview. And, please, show Bretty some love! Buy his books! Spread the word! :-)

Author Interview

Brett J. Talley

That Which Should Not Be

The Void

GL: Welcome back, Brett! For anyone that might not be familiar with you, please tell us a bit about yourself.

Brett: Great to be back! I’m just a guy from Alabama who likes to spin a horror yarn every now and then. I’m a lawyer, though I’ve been working on Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign for the last six months or so. When that finishes up, I’ll head off on another adventure.

GL: I didn't know you were working on his campaign! Wow. 

GL: Now, for anyone that hasn’t gotten on the wagon (I mean, really…), tell us about That Which Should Not Be. Please feel free to toot your own horn ;-)…

BT: Well, That Which Should Not Be is a little Gothic horror novel that I wrote, set in the late 1800s/early 1900s.  It's the story of Carter Weston, a student at Miskatonic University who is sent on a quest by one of his professors to recover an ancient book that has turned up in a small fishing village on the Massachusetts coast.  But by the time he arrives, a nor'easter has struck, and he is forced to take shelter in a local pub.  There he comes upon four men, each of whom has a story to tell.  As the stories unfold, Carter realizes that they are connected and lead directly to the object he seeks.

I’ve been really gratified by the reception the book has received. People seem to love it, and last year it was a finalist for the Bram Stoker award, the highest honor in horror writing. So yeah, I’m pretty pleased.

GL: As you should be! Definitely ranks among my very favorite horror novels...

GL: This summer, you released another novel with JournalStone. What is The Void all about?

BT: In The Void, we follow six people on a routine, deep space mission. But all six have something to hide, and in the dreams that come with space travel those secrets are revealed. And madness follows.

GL:  How is The Void different from That Which Should Not Be, and why did you choose to go in that direction?

BT:  The Void is very different from That Which Should Not Be. It’s set in the future in space rather than in the past. But while the setting is different, much of the style is similar. It’s still psychological, and it’s still about the unknown. I wanted to do something as different as I could, while sticking with my style. I think I accomplished that.

GL:  Will either of these novels turn into a “series” or will you release any related books?

BT:  The Void is definitely stand-alone, but That Which Should Not Be will probably become a series. There’s so much left unsaid in TWSNB, so many stories left to be told. That’s probably my next project . . .

GL: Yay! :-)

GL:  Did you decide to write The Void based on the short story (“The Substance of Shadow”) or did someone else suggest it?

BT: As soon as I finished “The Substance of Shadow,” I knew there was a book there. Science fiction really does present a fertile field for horror. So much is unknown. The horror comes when you start poking around in the shadows.  Who knows what you will find? And if something is hidden, maybe it’s hidden for a reason. We still see that same mystery on the edges of science and in science fiction.  That’s one reason I wanted to focus on such mysteries in The Void.

GL:  How was the publishing process different for The Void compared to That Which Should Not Be?

BT:  It’s nice having a publishing contract. No query letters, no piles of rejections. But there is more pressure to finish when you are already working with a publisher. TWSNB was a pretty leisurely process. The Void? Not so much.

GL:  Would you rather warp through space and have horrible nightmares or face a mythical beast and save the world?

BT:  That’s a great question. I think the former, just because I would absolutely love to go to space. But I have to equivocate a little bit. I have a love affair with the turn of the century, and fighting mythical beasts to save the world while living in that era would be pretty sweet.

GL:  I think I'd have to go with facing mythical beasts myself. I'm pretty sure I couldn't pass the first astronaut test! :-) I'm on the verge of a panic attack just thinking about it...

GL:  What was the first Lovecraft piece you ever read?

BT: A story called "Dagon." It’s very short, and rather rough. It was one of the first Lovecraft ever wrote. But you can see the genius there and the beginnings of the Cthulhu mythos. He was a true literary giant and an inspiration to anyone who’s written horror since.

GL:  Are you dressing up for Halloween this year? What will you be? If not, what is your all-time favorite costume? (Or answer both!)

BT:  Sadly, I probably won’t dress up for Halloween. I love Halloween. It’s my favorite holiday. But for whatever reason, I’ve never been big on dressing up. My favorite costume was probably a pirate from when I was 6. I always liked pirates. Arrr.

GL:  What is the last book you read? What did you think about it?

BT: The last book I read was J.G. Faherty’s latest, The Burning Time. Great book with clear Lovecraftian influences. I’ve read a lot of his books, and they just get better and better. This one will be very successful, and I encourage everyone to pick it up when it’s published.

GL: I haven't read that one yet, but I'm a big Faherty fan too! Can't wait to pick it up...

GL:  What about the last movie you watched? Thumbs up or thumbs down?

BT: The last movie I saw in the theaters was The Dark Knight Rises. Simply fantastic movie. Not as good as The Dark Knight, but pretty close and much better than any other movie I have seen this year.

GL:  What are you working on currently?  What do we have to look forward to?

BT: I am working on a shared world anthology with several other authors including Jonathan Maberry, Joseph Nassise, Benjamin Kane Ethridge, and Anne C. Petty. All of them are quite successful, and I am honored to join them. The idea behind the book is to have five authors write five separate stories that all take place in the same world, in this case, a world in which exists the shadowy employment agency named LIMBUS.

GL:  Please tell everyone where they can find out more about you and your books.

BT: I’m all over the web these days. People can find me on Facebook, twitter, or they can just go to my website, www.brettjtalley.com. There they’ll find short stories, interviews, my reviews of other people’s books, and their reviews of mine. Hopefully, they’ll get a little scare as well. 

GL: As always, thank you so much for hanging out with us today! You're super awesome :-)... And thank you for offering up one of your novels. Can't wait to see who the lucky reader will be...

So, here's your chance to get your hands on a signed copy of one of Brett's fantastic novels. Just fill out the Rafflecopter below (or, if for some reason you can't, email your entry--Name/Email/FB/Twitter/Etc. to gatheringleavesreviews@gmail.com with "Something Wicked Giveaway" in the subject line). The contest will close at the end of the day, October 31st - Halloween night! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Feature: The Void by Brett J. Talley

The Void

by Brett J. Talley

ISBN: 9781936564439

Published July 13, 2012 by JournalStone

Available Format: hardcover, paperback, ebook

My Rating: ★★★★

Publisher’s Synopsis:  In the deepest reaches of space, on a ship that no longer exists, six travelers stare into the abyss . . . and the abyss stares back.

Man has finally mastered the art of space travel and in a few hours passengers can travel light years across the galaxy. But, there's a catch—the traveler must be asleep for the journey, and with sleep come the dreams. Only the sleeper can know what his dream entails, for each is tailored to his own mind, built from his fears, his secrets, his past . . . and sometimes his future.

That the dreams occasionally drive men mad is but the price of technological advance. But when a transport on a routine mission comes upon an abandoned ship, missing for more than a decade, six travelers—each with something to hide—discover that perhaps the dreams are more than just figments of their imagination. Indeed, they may be a window to a reality beyond their own where shadow has substance and the darkness is a thing unto itself, truly worthy of fear.

I’ll admit, I felt like the first bit was pretty slow and sometimes hard to follow. I did read the ARC rather than the final product, so some of the errors and such might have been tweaked out afterward, but it wasn’t terribly distracting—not like some things I’ve come across, for sure! The swapping from first names to last names, and vice versa, did confuse me a little at first, but then I learned the characters and had no problem.

Once things really started happening, I couldn’t put the book down. In fact, I read the last sixty-five percent or so in just a few hours.  Late at night. Just before bed. And I quickly started thinking maybe reading a creepy book about crazy nightmares might not be the best choice I could have made. But, I was okay. J

I don’t think The Void outshines That Which Should Not Be by far, but I still admire Brett’s writing skills and his ability to absolutely creep someone out. I think maybe the sci-fi aspect wasn’t really as interesting to me (as opposed to the mythological feel of TWSNB), and the jumping from one character to another and to different times and places made things a little harder to follow. The character and scene shifts were much more defined in TWSNB, and the narrative flowed a little more smoothly.

I hate to keep comparing the two novels and I hate that it seems I have more negatives than positives.  I really did like the book. I really did love the ideas behind the book. I’ve always been a big “dream” person. And who hasn’t wondered what might be lurking in the shadows? I absolutely enjoyed the short story that was the inspiration for the book. And Brett is still one of my favorite authors. I’m just hoping that his next novel will showcase his talents a bit better. :-)


Be sure to stop by tomorrow for an interview with Brett, where you'll be able to enter to win a signed copy of one of his books!!!

Author Interview: Alannah Lynne, author of Last Call (Heat Wave #2)

Good morning, guys and gals! I hope you are having a wonderful Tuesday so far. 

Today's guest is a super-sweet lady with a talent for writing some steamy romance (that would put Alabama humidity to shame), Ms. Alannah Lynne. Her lastest novel, Last Call, the second installment of the Heat Wave series, is officially released today, October 2, 2012. 

In case you missed my review, you can find that HERE.

Author Interview
Alannah Lynne
Last Call (Heat Wave #2)

GL:  Thanks for joining us today, Alannah, and congratulations on your latest release! Please introduce yourself to everyone.

Alannah:  Hi. Thank you! Thanks so much for having me! I’m a “hybrid writer” (I have a novella published with Samhain Publishing, and I also self-pub). I write contemporary and erotic romance, and I’m also working on a mystery series that will be published under the name J. L. Wilcks (Those books will be available starting in the spring 2013).

GL:  Now, tell us a bit about Last Call.

AL:  I wrote Last Call for the Kensington Brava Writing with the Stars Competition. The story finaled in the competition, but ultimately didn’t win. I wrote the story in about two months, from start to finish, which, oddly enough, seems to be the best way for me to write. By writing that fast, I get so wrapped up in the story it’s like I’m living it with the characters, and I really enjoy that feeling and process.

Here’s the synopsis: Gavin McLeod is a man who has it all. His corporate climb has positioned him for the coveted title of CEO. He’s financially stable, allowing him to provide for the grandfather who raised him, and his successful seduction of the sexy bartender last night proves his private life is also on fire. Until the amazing woman in his arms turns out to be a serious roadblock to his future. One that could bring everything he's worked for crashing down around him.

Sunny Black has spent her entire life tending to the needs of others, caring for her younger brother since she was ten, and serving bar patrons night after night. For the first time in years, she thinks of herself and gives in to her body’s demands, taking a trip to the wild side with a customer whose raw sexuality is too strong to deny. The next morning, however, she learns that, in addition to rocking her world, the stranger might cause it to crumble.

A game of sexual seduction and corporate chess ensues, with neither Gavin nor Sunny realizing the ending could come in the form of a permanent checkmate.

GL:  What other books have you written/published?

AL:  Reaction Time is a D/s (Dominance/submission) novella published by Samhain. And I have 2 full-length titles, Savin’ Me and Last Call, that are self-published.  All are available at Amazon, B&N, Kobo, Smashwords. The third novel in the Heat Wave series will be available early 2013… Did you know we’re working on that in December? <g>

GL: Yep, and I can’t wait!!! :-)

GL:  What made you decide to write romance?

AL:  I’ve always wanted to write. I can’t tell you how many times I said, “I want to write a book about XX.” But I thought I needed a special degree or to be… I don’t know, something more than I was to be a writer. Then I discovered romance. I was a late bloomer to the world of romance (I was probably 35 or 36). The first romance I read was Janelle Denison’s The Wilde Side, and I was instantly hooked! I read everything of Janelle’s that I could find, then branched out to her Plotmonkey buddies. I became friends with them through their blog and, with Janelle’s encouragement, decided I needed to at least give it a try.

GL:  So far, who is your favorite character? (Don't worry, we won't tell anyone.)

AL:  Of the books that I have published, Nikki from Reaction Time is my favorite. But the characters in the story I’m writing now, Kevin Mazze and Samantha Wallace… Wow! They keep me on my toes and make me laugh on a daily basis. I am thoroughly enjoying writing their story.

GL:  Who is your least favorite character?

AL: Hmmm… That’s a toss-up between Max Holden (Last Call) and Elise Winstead (Savin’ Me). They’re pretty similar in nature, only concerned with themselves and not caring who they have to hurt to get what they want, so it makes sense, I guess, that I dislike them equally.

GL:  Which character do you think most closely resembles you?

AL:  I can’t say that I’m MOST like any of them, but I identify with all of my female characters in some way. Nikki (Reaction Time) is a drag racer. I love racing and wanted to be a racecar driver when I was growing up. I tend to have a smart mouth like her, and she drives a GT500—my dream car! I worked in advertising for ten years like Kat (Savin’ Me), and like her, I got tired of the cutthroat aspects of the business. It’s a tough field, and I burned out. I’ve had several people tell me that Sunny (Last Call) reminds them of me. Not in the physical description, but her strong-willed tenacity and “Never Give Up” attitude. That’d be me to a T. A definite benefit in this business!! LOL

GL:  I can definitely see you as a good mixture of the last two (I haven’t read Reaction Time yet :-().

GL:  After working on Last Call with you, I told you I'd love to know more about Robby, Sunny's brother.  Any chance he'll get a starring role in an upcoming novel?

AL: He will eventually get his own story. He’s just left for college, so I think he needs a few years to grow and mature before that happens. I’ll let him have a few good years of fun and games before I put him through the ringer. <g>

GL:  Sigh… I guess I can wait. ;-)

GL:  Do your novels typically cross over (certain characters from one story get a story of their own)?

AL: They do. Savin’ Me was the first in the Heat Wave series, and Last Call is the second in that series. Last Call introduced a set of new characters, but from here on out, there will be a blend of characters from those first two books. Book three will feature Kevin Mazze, who was instrumental in Erik (Savin’ Me) getting his happily ever after. At some point in the next year, Steve Vex, another secondary character from Savin’ Me will get his own story. I already know how his story starts, and it’s not a very happy place, so it’s going to take me a lot of mental preparation before I write his. I’m not quite ready yet. J

GL:  What inspires your steamier scenes?

AL: The characters. They inspire everything. I say it often, but I truly don’t make this stuff up. I don’t know where it comes from… The universal mind, I assume. But it’s filtered into my brain from someplace else, and I just follow the characters where they lead me and try to get it all down. I think that’s what allows me to write so fast. It’s like taking dictation. Sometimes, I’m even a little uncomfortable with where they go. LOL When Kat (Savin’ Me) started doing her striptease for Erik, I thought, What?! I don’t know anything about this. How am I supposed to write this scene? I ended up doing some online searches and watching “how to” movies before I was comfortable going forward with that scene. :-D

GL:  LOL…  I can see it now…  “What, honey? It’s just research!”

GL:  Who does your cover art, and where do they get the models? :-)

AL: Tricia “Pickyme” Schmitt did the covers for Savin’ Me and Last Call. She’ll also do the cover for the 3rd book in that series. Whenever possible, she uses Jimmy Thomas. Jimmy and I have gotten to be friends over the years, so I like to use his images whenever I can. He fits the description of most of my heroes—not something I’ve consciously done; I just tend to write dark-haired heroes. Plus, Jimmy’s images are so smokin’ hot they work perfectly for my covers and website.

GL:  Do your husband or kids ever read your books?

AL: No. Never. I have boys, so they’re not interested in reading romance. And my husband is too ADHD to read anything. LOL I tried reading him the opening scene of Reation Time once. I wanted his opinion on whether or not Nikki would need to put her car into 6th gear, if she was only going 110 mph.  He said, “No.” I said, “No, she wouldn’t need to use 6th gear?” He said, “No, that guy wouldn’t have thought about kissing her at the end of that scene. He would’ve just done it.”

*blink* *blink*

I said, “It’s called romance, honey. You might want to learn about it.” <g> He’s never read anything since, and I haven’t asked him to read any of my writing since. LOL

GL: Hahahaha…

GL:  What do you like to do in your downtime (if you ever get any)?

AL: I watch a lot of sports, especially NASCAR and college football. I like to spend time on the water. We have a place on the Pamlico River, so we spend as much time there as possible when the weather is warm. I also like gardening, but I’ve been so busy this summer I’ve totally neglected my yard.

GL:  Name one place, real or fictional, you would LOVE to visit.

AL:  I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about this and I can’t come up with a single interesting thing to say. LOL Put me on a beach, and I’m a happy camper. So, really, anywhere there’s an ocean and a nice, sandy beach will work for me.

GL:  If you weren't a writer, what would you be?

AL: If I wasn’t a writer and I was 25 years younger, I’d either study quantum physics, do research on the brain, or be a forensics investigator. LOL Pretty diverse, huh?!  I’m absolutely fascinated by quantum physics and love to watch documentaries like “Down the Rabbit Hole” and “The Secret.” My interest in brain research comes from having two ADHD children and a husband with a brain tumor. We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of what the brain is capable of doing! I’m also fascinated by forensic sciences, so that would be pretty cool, too.

GL:  What authors/books have been an inspiration for you?

AL: I think I covered this up above, but Janelle Denison and the Plotmonkeys have, hands down, been the biggest inspiration for me. Not just as writers, but in the way they interact with their fans and what great people are they are.

GL:  What are you working on now? What do we have to look forward to?

AL:  I’m currently writing Chiaroscuro (It’s an Italian term which means light/dark), which is Kevin’s story and is the 3rd in the “Heat Wave” series. I’m also working on my mystery series and hope to release both of those in early 2013.

GL:  Where can we find out more about you and your work?

AL: The usual places like Facebook (www.facebook.com/authoralannahlynne) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/AlannahLynne), as well as my website, www.alannahlynne.com, and my blog, www.alannahlynne.blogspot.com. I’m also on Goodreads and have excerpts on Wattpad.

GL:  Thanks so much, Alannah! I can’t wait to get my hands on Chiaroscuro… Keep writing, lady :-)…