StanleyWheeler

 Survival Drinking I've suffered from a debilitating affliction in recent times, and as a result the time I have spent writing has been limited. I'm not sure as to the cause of this disorder. One theory holds that chemicals may be the cause. Not long ago, I picked up a case of Flamin' Hot Mountain Dew. I remain ignorant of the composition of the substance within the gaudy cans, but I would wager that it consists of some chemical melange. (On a different note, don't you think melange looks like one of those names some parents create by jamming together parts of different names--like they put together Melody and Angie and came away with Melange?) Anyway, when I cracked open the first can, a peculiar fragrance tickled my nostrils--if tickled is interpreted to include a violent thrashing with a pine bough. Nevertheless, I was intrigued. I knew this drink was not the average soft drink when I took the first mouthful.The taste was not unpleasant. I liked it. First there's...

  Author Interview with  Crystal Cherie  Author of The Divine Houses series  Please tell me a little about your current work in progress. My current WIP is book 2 of my newest, Modern Fantasy series, The Divine Houses. After everything that’s happened in book 1, Robin thought life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're only half human, your best friend is dead, and you can suddenly control the power of life and death? I’m really excited for this particular book, and I like the series a little more with each book that I write. ( I note that since Crystal responded to this interview in October 2021, she has completed book 2 and is working on book 3 ) Where did you get the idea for this book or series? I got the idea for the series based on a character I had dreamed up in my head for a while. I also combined a couple of my favorite fiction worlds: Harry Potter and Sailor Moon. I’d always wanted to write a story involving both magical realism and celestia...

  It wasn't 1814, but I took a little trip along with my wife down the mighty freeway. We didn't take bacon and we didn't take beans, and we caught our daughter in a town that wasn't New Orleans. We had a delightful time with the daughter as she made an important life-step with the assistance of some awesome folks. On the way home, we almost witnessed a freeway crash. A short distance ahead of our car was a big white truck--like a furniture truck. We were slowly gaining on the truck. A lone male driving an older white car came roaring up on our tail and passed us. Our car was a few seconds away from the point when I would move over to start my own maneuver.  The old white car, instead of continuing on to pass the truck, jerked back toward the right lane. With two wheels, and half the car over the dotted line, and the odometer on his life expectancy rapidly clicking toward termination, the driver must have looked up or otherwise realized that he was about to adopt the re...

  Interview with Kimberly Hennessey  Author of She Runs with Wolves  Please tell me a little about your current work in progress. I’m working on several things, namely three screenplays, some copywriting, and finally a sequel to my novel She Runs With Wolves, which will most likely be the conclusion of the two part Saga, as well as a pet project close to my heart, which I’m writing under a pen name. It’s a historical fiction set in the 1800’s between Ireland and Canada. Where did you get the idea for this book or series? Several things sparked this book, but I would have to say the main driving force has always been Albert Einstein’s quote: “ I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.” This quote inspired me to build a world that was as though we were living during the paleolithic age, but with remnants of a technologically advanced society. I was very much inspired by “Mad Max”, and “Quest fo...

  I recently came into possession of something unusual. At least I've never seen anything like it before. I note that it says "Survival Cracker" not "...Crackers" -- At 18 pounds, I'm wondering if I can get the cracker out of the can. I don't see a "best used by" date, but it was sealed in mid 1964. The contents are older than most of the people with whom I associate. I should work this object and the mystery contents into a story. Until I feel inclined to create such a story, enjoy the excerpt below from the rough draft of In Death Bedrenched , the prequel to Tomahawks and Dragon Fire series. The prequel shows how Lucette obtained the map, how the commander obtained his dragon stone, and how they both got to the opening of Threading the Rude Eye . ________ “Tell me about this cache,” Gavrel broke in. “We don’t need a lesson in geography, war, or troop strengths. We need a weapon. If we cannot stand against this mysterious commander the Englis...