Tag: member spotlight

Member Spotlight: Patrick “Bahumat” Rochefort

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1. Tell us about your most recent project (written or published). What inspired it?

My most recently published anthropomorphic project is the short story “Prospero” for Tarl “Voice” Hoch’s horror anthology, Abandoned Places. I’m really fond of taking genre tropes and subverting them. In this case, I started with the common trope of “furries through genetic engineering” and went further than humanity. It’s a cautionary tale about the consequences of humanity trying to use science to distance itself from nature, and how you can’t out-think instinct.

The story is presented as a letter home from a pygmy marmoset, the titular Prospero. He’s genetically engineered to be hyper-intelligent, and was sent out into space to function more or less as a biological component of a larger computer system. Just a piece of the machinery that’s more efficient and economical to launch and operate than silicon for the tasks anticipated. So humanity casts a hyper-intelligent social primate out into the void, alone, and neglects to ask him if he even wanted to go, or for that matter, if he’d want some company along the way. And humanity pays the price for this.

With a theme being “Abandoned Places”, I can’t think of anywhere more lonely and abandoned than the silence of deep space.

2. What’s your writing process like? Are you a “pantser,” an outliner, or something in between?

I’m a “seeder”. Stories tend to come to me with a climactic scene popping into my head fully formed. From there, I have to outline, plot, and write forward and backward from that point, to understand both the circumstances that led to the dramatic scenario I envisioned, and its consequences.

I’m trying to get better about starting my stories from the beginning, once I have the climactic scene in mind. In fact the project I just finished for SofaWolf’s Hot Dish anthology is the first I set out to to rigorously write from the beginning.

Before writing, I’ll play music I consider relevant to the pieces I’m working on, as I envision scenes. Once the writing starts, though, I work in silence and solitude as much as possible. My typical writing window is ninety minutes to two hours. Chemically, one to two standard drinks of alcohol, three to five of caffeine, in that time period, keeps the words flowing. On a good day I can turn out five thousand words in those two hours.

3. What’s your favorite kind of story to write?

Pornography for the heart. In a past life I’m pretty sure I wrote soap operas and melodramas. I delight in making my beta readers bawl their eyes out in a reading, and then laugh out loud, or otherwise react unconsciously. A room full of beta readers being silent? That’s a story without punch.

My goal is to move my readers emotionally. I write stories about flawed protagonists who earn their scars, and not all of them are worn with pride. Some are just worn because they were wounded. I like my villains to be the protagonists of their own stories; everyone brings their own stakes and reasons to the table.

I also love taking cliches and common tropes and twisting them in on themselves, subverting them, taking the reader on uncomfortable journeys they’re glad to have taken.

Continue reading “Member Spotlight: Patrick “Bahumat” Rochefort” →

Member Spotlight: Rahne Kallon

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1. Tell us about your most recent project (written or published). What inspired it?

My most recent story is a little something I’ve been working on called Vancouver Midnight. A lot of my stories are set in Toronto in my Lakeshore Universe, but for this I wanted to do something a little different. Since Vancouver is my favorite city, I wanted to write something that really showcases the love I have for traveling, what it’s like to be in such a wonderful place, and the sort of…grief you feel about having to leave. It’s a special kind of story, one that I haven’t really written before.

2. What’s your writing process like? Are you a “pantser,” an outliner, or something in between?

I’d definitely say an outliner. I plan almost everything out before I get to writing. Sometimes stuff just comes to me spontaneously while I’m actually writing (and that’s an amazing feeling), but the majority of the story is stuff that I actually plan out. I do this, because I like to have some direction, and I like to know where I’m going. Otherwise, with me being the easily distracted kind of person I am, I can end up losing sight of what I’m trying to do with this story or that story.

3. What’s your favorite kind of story to write?

Contemporary romance dramas. By far.

4. Which character from your work do you most identify with, and why?

My Border Collie, Ian Morlen. He’s probably my most popular character. I feel like he’s me in so many ways; very down to earth, but stubborn, often conflicted, sometimes at odds with himself or his friends. The relationship he has with his boyfriend Jamie Readon (Golden Retriever) is something I wish I had.

5. Which authors or books have most influenced your work?

Within our fandom, probably Kyell Gold, by far. He writes exactly the kind of stuff I like to read. I mean in terms of just subject matter, he nails it. Romantic dramas are a huge part of his repertoire as an author, and the way he writes them is mesmerizing. If I have to cite books specifically, I would say Out Of Position and Bridges impacted (and influenced to an extent) me the most. Continue reading “Member Spotlight: Rahne Kallon” →

Member Spotlight: Donald Jacob Uitvlugt

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1. Tell us about your most recent project (written or published). What inspired it?

renards coverFor my furry writing, I’m in the process of revising a novel set in the same fantasy world as my short story “Irula’s Apprentice,” but a couple of generations later. In this world, I envision what a society of intelligent lions might look like if one takes existing lion behavior as a given. It’s also been interesting to see how a leonine society might take on different dimensions depending on the setting.

The novel is in a lot rougher shape than I’d like it to be, but I’ll be looking for a publisher when I get it in a shape that I like.

With my non-furry work, I recently had a piece of flash fiction accepted for publication that combines aspects of the Cthulhu mythos with the legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. A science fiction story will soon be released by the Wily Writers podcast.

2. What’s your writing process like? Are you a “pantser,” an outliner, or something in between?

Most of my stories have a fairly long period of rumination, where I’m working out story issues in my head. I tend to do a lot of research, which I may or may not use in my writing. I try to write a first draft as quickly as I can; sometimes I have a broad outline, sometimes I know what I want to do in the next couple of sections. And sometimes I just write to see where the characters and concept will take me. I try to revise as best as I can, and then try to get beta readers involved before I make a submission-ready draft — although deadlines don’t always allow me to exercise the full process.

3. What’s your favorite kind of story to write?

Most of my stories tend to be speculative fiction of one sort or another, with horror and dark fantasy predominating lately. Often my stories focus on individuals thrust into extreme situations and how their choices wind up making or breaking them. World creation is important, and I hope I do it reasonably well, but in the end I want the characters to be most important.

4. Which character from your work do you most identify with, and why?

I would probably say Raalfarinoor from my lion novel. While I don’t think he’s a Mary Sue/Gary Shrew, there are a lot of ways he represents an idealized version of myself. His courage, his integrity, his humor and his curiosity are all something I strive for.

Continue reading “Member Spotlight: Donald Jacob Uitvlugt” →

Member Spotlight: Elijah Lapso

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1. Tell us about your most recent project (written or published). What inspired it?

My most recent publication was the pair of poems featured in the anthology Will of the Alpha. They were sort of an on-the-fly kind of pair but I think they came out nicely.

Current projects include a piece that I am going to submit for Heat that I’m hopeful about. I’ve had it proofread by a friend who adored the piece. Inspiration for that actually came from a role-playing game of all places but definitely took on a mind of its own after I began.

I’ve also got a set of novels I’m brainstorming about right now. One of them I’ve started and restarted probably seventeen times now. I just start getting into it and then hating all of it. Hopefully that will rectify itself soon though.

The theme behind it is acceptance. It’s going to have a lot of self-doubt for the main character to work through and the environment itself will help set the stage for key events in the plotline. Without giving too much away now I will say it’s about a woman named Rachel, otter, and her relationship with a mysterious woman whose name I haven’t nailed down yet. She’s a possum. The working title for the project is “Storm Warning” so take that how you will.

2. What’s your writing process like? Are you a “pantser,” an outliner, or something in between?

A lot of getting frustrated and starting over. Random fits of creativity where I actually produce something halfway decent and planning that just sits around until I remember it exists.

3. What’s your favorite kind of story to write?

Poetry, by far, is one of my favorite things to write. I love dark romance as well. Something about tapping into the darker aspects of human nature that people deny themselves is just exciting. Looking into the primal, the brutal, the things that make you really empathize with the main character.

Not to be all doom and gloom I do quite enjoy writing lighthearted pieces. While not my best written piece my favourite tale to date is “Fitting Roles.” It’s silly but nice.

4. Which character from your work do you most identify with, and why?

Can I point out the stories involving my own sona? Those aside, however, I do relate to a few characters. I’d rather not say who though and let others figure it out for themselves.

5. Which authors or books have most influenced your work?

Watership Down was a big one for me. The way Richard Adams conveyed the supernatural aspect while maintaining this world where you genuinely want the main characters to survive was fantastic.  I have looked at books like Silverwing as well. Oh, and the novel Blood and Chocolate is one of my favourite sources when dealing with the idea of shapeshifters.

6. What’s the last book you read that you really loved?

That’s a tough one honestly. I’ve taken up reading a lot of creepypastas lately as well as several short stories. In terms of actual books I have recently been reading through Bewitching the Werewolf. I’ve also been rereading the Out of Position series by Kyell Gold.

7. Besides writing, how do you like to spend your free time?

I help run a werewolf game with friends and do other LARP games as well! It’s a great creative exercise.

8. Advice for other writers?

Keep writing. Write anything; even if you think it sucks. The more you write the better you get. You will write hundreds and hundreds of lackluster pieces before finally getting to the point where you start getting really good. Just keep working on it.

9. Where can readers find your work?

The easiest place is on FurAffinity under the username Lapso.

10. What’s your favorite thing about the furry fandom?

The diversity and ability to be whoever and whatever you want.

 

Check out Elijah Lapso’s member bio here!

Member Spotlight: Heath Pfaff

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1. Tell us about your most recent project (written or published). What inspired it?

Crown coverMy current project is a three part fantasy series called Chaos Awakens.  Book one, Servant of Steel, and book two, Crown of Steel, have already been published and I’m hacking away at the third book currently (SOMETHING of Steel).  My goal is to have it published by the end of the year.

This series was inspired by my love of dark anti-heroes and epic conflicts.  I really wanted to create a world that was gripped in the late stages of its own demise, and to tell the story of the people who became heroes not out of choice, but out of necessity.

2. What’s your writing process like? Are you a “pantser,” an outliner, or something in between?

I’m the sort of writer who likes to dive right into a project.  I’ve tried outlining in the past, but I find that the process of outlining causes me to fall into formulaic story arcs.  It’s far too easy to become systematic when you’re basically making a list of key elements of your plot.  Instead, I build the story up in my mind, take notes on key points I want to include, and then start writing from the beginning. While I’m working I’ll reference my notes here and there, change them, rework plot details, and often scrap large portions of my original plans.  Everything in service to the story.

When you’re reading one of my books you should never be bored.  If I re-read something and it’s dull, I throw it out.  It’s actually a chaotic process.  I wouldn’t recommend it at all.

3. What’s your favorite kind of story to write?

I’m a huge fan of fantasy, but I really like to throw in elements of horror.  I like to be scared, and I like to scare other people.  It’s intoxicating.

4. Which character from your work do you most identify with, and why?

This is a difficult question.  I’m always tempted to pick the current lead from my long-term project because, at any given moment, that is the one character I need to identify with the most.  For my current series I’ve spent a lot of time in the head of my lead character, Xandrith.  We share a degree of dark humor and bitterness, but he also differs from me in a lot of ways.  The lead from my previous trilogy, The Hungering Saga, was probably closer to my actual personality.  He could be a real bastard at times.   He tended to let his emotions lead his actions, and I have to admit I do that more than I should.  I guess I identify with him, Lowin, the most.

Continue reading “Member Spotlight: Heath Pfaff” →

Member Spotlight: Dwale

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1. Tell us about your most recent project (written or published). What inspired it?

My most recent completed project is a short story called “The Darkness of Dead Stars.” It was inspired by what I’d read about the ultimate fate of the universe and eschatology, though beyond the basic premise, it didn’t start to come together until I’d seen Von Trier’s film “Melancholia.” As with “Melancholia,” mood and atmosphere take priority over realism. This was necessary for my story because there yet remain unanswered questions in physics that make it impossible to determine certain details about the future of the universe; we just don’t have the data right now. However, I hope it will all sound feasible at the time of reading.

2. What’s your writing process like? Are you a “pantser,” an outliner, or something in between?

I usually let an idea bounce around in my head for months, even years before putting down any of it. That shouldn’t be taken for planning, though, as the plot is never more than roughed out when it comes time to write. Once it gets to that point, I alternate between daydreaming and trying to articulate those daydreams. I try to edit as I go as much as possible.

Once a rough draft is completed, it goes through a couple of rounds of editing, then I try to leave it alone for a few months. After that, I decide if the story should be scrapped, edited further, or completely rewritten.

For poetry, I employ automatism at first and clean it up as I go.

In both cases, the germ is usually something retained from hypnagogia.

3. What’s your favorite kind of story to write?

I have the most fun writing things that are completely absurd. Think “Looney Tunes” logic, but sordid, morose and infused with my personal symbology. It’s rare that I venture into this territory, though.

4. Which character from your work do you most identify with, and why?

That would vary, but the easy answer is “Aunty Fjola.” We’re both struggling with afflictions, though her ailment is as much physical as it is psychological, we’ve both also had to readjust from a life that was fairly bustling to one that is more passive and sedentary.

5. Which authors or books have most influenced your work?

Watership Down is the book that made me want to write seriously. I read it when I was eighteen or so, I had been writing poetry for years then and liked to think I knew what I was doing. Nope! I was humbled and resolved that someday I would be able to write something that good. I’ll let you know if it happens.

Orwell’s 1984 was also a big influence, I’ve read it many times. Terry Pratchett is someone I haven’t been reading very long, but he’s already made an impression. Neil Gaiman, William S. Burroughs, HP Lovecraft and Khalil Gibran also deserve mention, as do others I’m forgetting.

6. What’s the last book you read that you really loved?

“Loved” isn’t a word I would normally use, but… Going Postal by Terry Pratchett. It’s rare for a book to make me laugh aloud, but this one did, more than once.

7. Besides writing, how do you like to spend your free time?

Well, I like to spend my free time attended by nymphs in the pleasure gardens, but as this occurrence would be charitably termed “uncommon,” I mostly enjoy reading and taking in movies and music these days. The woods are nice, but we don’t have them here. I will always stop whatever I’m doing to watch rain or windstorms, that’s my favorite.

8. Advice for other writers?

Always strive to improve. Always do! Your art is not so small that you’ll ever want for room to grow.

9. Where can readers find your work?

Has mostly rough drafts, but there are some more polished ones. Persons are also welcome to contact me directly.

10. What’s your favorite thing about the furry fandom?

Furries are some of the most open and accepting people. No one’s worried about the skeletons in your closet, no one’s trying to look cool…or at least, no one’s succeeding! We have our share of unpleasant types, every fandom does, but there are some truly wonderful people who make it all worthwhile.

 

Check out Dwale’s member bio here!

Member Spotlight: Sarina Dorie

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1. Tell us about your most recent project (written or published). What inspired it?

My most recent project has been weeding the garden. Aside from that, I have been writing a lot of short stories. I was really excited my story, “Day of the Nuptial Flight” came out in the July/August Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine, a story someone called “alien, insect erotica.” I recently sold a series of 7 stories/paranormal love advice columns to Daily Science Fiction. Imagine Dear Abby meets the bogeyman.

The project I know I should be working on is Shadows and Starlight, the sequel to Silent Moon. The first book in the series came out with Soul Mate Publishing this year as an e-book and will be coming out as a print book on Amazon next month. The first book is a gothic mystery with werewolves and a Jane Eyre feel to it. The sequel will focus on one of the “wolfmen” in the first book and his relationship with a shapeshifter who resembles shadows and starlight in her true form. It has been really hard to find the time to finish editing it when I have been successfully writing and selling short fiction. It’s all a balancing act on the tightrope of time management!

2. What’s your writing process like? Are you a “pantser,” an outliner, or something in between?

I think I am something in between. I really like writing character and dialogue, possibly influenced by early play writing classes in college, but I know if I don’t make a plan, my characters will and that might not make the best story. Outlining means less cutting later, but it also takes away from the joy of spontaneity. It is a difficult balance. More tightrope walking.

3. What’s your favorite kind of story to write?

I love to write about magic and I like to write about relationships. I heard a writer once say that all romance is a kind of magic and that might be why many of my stories lean toward romance.

4. Which character from your work do you most identify with, and why?

Arg, that is so hard. I went to art school to be an illustrator and one of my teachers once said all portraits are self-portraits and all paintings are of yourself—whether you intend it or not. I think I put something of myself in every character and the ones I don’t are the flattest and least alive. Usually when I write about school teachers those are the characters that are the most authentically myself because I am putting direct experiences into my writing. The characters that are aliens or outcasts or monsters that I write about feel symbolic of my experiences living overseas because I was an alien in those circumstances.

When a friend and I were discussing my beauty and the beast obsession, most recently seen in “A Monster and a Gentleman” which came out in Hot Dish this year with my pseudonym, I wondered what that meant about my mindset and mentality toward men and women and gender roles. My friend said that actually she thought I thought I was the monster, not the beauty. That gave me a different perspective. I think this really came out in Cassia in Silent Moon. I identified with the struggle for acceptance and self-acceptance of being a monster/flawed/an outcast.

Continue reading “Member Spotlight: Sarina Dorie” →

Member Spotlight: Paul Kidd

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Paul KiddFor those who don’t know: I’ve been a full-time professional writer for 30 years now. Authored computer games, tabletop games, novels, comics, and have been working hard at breaking out into feature film and TV. I’ve been a part of furry fandom since 1986, and wrote the first furry novels written from within the fandom: “MUS OF KERBRIDGE”, “FANGS OF K’AATH”, and “A WHISPER OF WINGS”.

 – And I’m still writing!

1. Tell us about your most recent project (written or published). What inspired it?

Well – I’ve just finished writing the first book in a new series called “Spirit Hunters”

– “SPIRIT HUNTERS Book 1: The way of the Fox”.

This is a novellisation taken from a huge ‘furry’ television series I have written. The stories are wonderful ‘Samurai Ghostbusters’ tales set in a sort of magical medieval Japanese otherwhen. The starring character is a wonderfully lackadaisical, devious, charismatic fox priestess. We follow her story as she battles monsters and unravels intrigues – somehow flitting along the path to wisdom. These are delightful tales that all link together into a great, sweeping story arc full of adventure, love and action.

I’m releasing this book in the next few weeks. I wanted create something the furries would love. Hopefully it will be a big hit amongst the furry community.

Previous to that, I have just finished a titanic 4 book series called  ‘Effectuators’ – deliciously ormolu tales set in London in 1869. Ancient mysteries and weird creatures – and a deliciously bewitching main character.

I’m also now just finishing up a new furry roleplaying game. So far, it looks gorgeous!

2. What’s your writing process like? Are you a “pantser,” an outliner, or something in between?

For me, writing is a calling – not a job. I do it because I have to. It’s what I do.

I tend to spend a while fretting and taxing myself to come up with ideas – covering the room with notes, scribbles and drawings. I push hard – often too hard – adding to ideas bit by bit, until one starts to gel. I then sit down and start to flesh that idea out into a full project.

A lot of what I write comes from very extensive research. This can be physical experience, or deep research. So – research is all a part of the development. I make a story plan, but it is very generalised: the story will write itself in its own way. Once I have the feel properly set in my head, I start writing and just let it flow.

I find the writing stage to be full of fun. I research as I write, and let the piece try to find its voice. But it is a very hard grind: 12 hours a day for months and months.

I am extremely disciplined and driven. I forge forward diligently to the end of a project, and utterly exhaust myself. The trouble is, when I’m not writing and creating, I become horribly restless and depressed. So I have to fling myself straight into another idea.

I’ve been doing it for 30 years, working all that time as a full-time professional writer. I’ve never earned a dime doing any other work.

3. What’s your favorite kind of story to write?

I’m a romantic. I love stories filled with cunning and cleverness, heroic deeds and adventure. Love and friendship. Stories with heart. Stories with humour. Stories that entertain.

I do love to write good action scenes – fights grounded in the real.

And I love to make a visual world – something full of colour and vista. Something the readers can close their eyes and see. 

One thing I take pride and delight in doing is in creating strong female characters. Many of my books star a female lead character. I’ve always felt that genre fiction does a terrible disservice to female characters. I take a great joy in trying to redress the balance.

Continue reading “Member Spotlight: Paul Kidd” →

Member Spotlight: Searska GreyRaven

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1. Tell us about your most recent project (written or published). What inspired it?

Currently, I’m working on a sequel to my novel Camp Mana. I love the main character, and I wanted to explore that world a bit more.

2. What’s your writing process like? Are you a “pantser,” an outliner, or something in between?

Hoo boy, my writing process. I start off with an idea and doodle outward from there. I don’t always have a clear idea for how things will turn out, but I usually have a general idea of where things will end up. Of course, once I get going, the story often has ideas of its own.

3. What’s your favorite kind of story to write?

Speculative fiction, things that deal with the Big Questions. The first story I ever got published (“And the Sea Full of Stars”) was one.

4. Which character from your work do you most identify with, and why?

Serra Sinclair, the protagonist from my novel Camp Mana. Despite living in a world where she’s significantly out-gunned, she manages to not only survive but thrive. She taught me that bravery isn’t so much about not being afraid as it is being terrified, but doing the right thing anyway.

5. Which authors or books have most influenced your work?

Wow, probably too many to list here. Neil Gaiman, Jim Butcher, Charles de Lint, Scott Lynch, Kevin Hearne, Stephen King, H. P. Lovecraft, just to name a few. I loved the Harry Potter series (I grew up with it!) and The Lord of the Rings, and I read Jurassic Park over a dozen times before I reached High School. I have to give a nod to the Animorphs series as well.

6. What’s the last book you read that you really loved?

The Dragons of Babel by Michael Swanwick. It’s a deconstruction of the whole “reclaiming your throne” trope set in a steampunk faerie realm. And it’s a wild, crass, and sublime ride from beginning to end.

7. Besides writing, how do you like to spend your free time?

Reading, mostly. Although I’ll probably vanish for a couple of months when the new Dragon Age game comes out.

8. Advice for other writers?

Read. Read. Read. And when you aren’t reading, write. There’s no trick, no gimmick to this art. Like every other art, it requires practice and an eye for detail. People talk about “show, don’t tell” and “kill your darlings,” but it’s all meaningless drivel unless you’ve got a feel for how a good story is supposed to flow. And the only way to get that feel is to practice. And once you’ve developed that feeling, you’ll know when you are showing instead of telling, and which darlings are due to be culled.

9. Where can readers find your work?

You’ll find me on FA here: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/searskagreyraven/
And my other work here: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/SearskaGreyRaven

10. What’s your favorite thing about the furry fandom?

This fandom is probably the most inclusive I’ve ever found. Gay, straight, white, black, rich, poor, transgendered-asexual-lupine-that-identifies-as-a-mocha-frappuccino, it doesn’t matter. Drama comes and goes. It doesn’t fester the way it does in other lifestyles/fandoms.

Check out Searska’s member bio here!