Your story is one of the raciest we've ever printed in Strangely Funny. How did you decide what would happen?
I've always enjoyed pushing limits, so that comes naturally to me. I have a 12-book series with Rena Marin about a deranged sex doll. Because of that, not much feels too wild to me. I enjoy writing satire and making people laugh, so there are generally hidden messages about society and social situations in my work. By day, I work as a therapist and find that laughter is the best treatment plan for anything. My writing reflects that often. 

You've teamed up with other authors (Rena Marin, Sara Schoen) to write novels, which is anathema to most of the authors I know. What helps the most when working with another creative mind?
I have about 100 published titles. About half of those are co-written. I've been really fortunate to make close friendships in the indie writing community. Rena and I generally write humor, while Sara and I write thrillers. With Rena, the ability to banter back and forth as characters helps keep things funny. With Sara, we write with no plot and keep each other in suspense - something that translates into our books for readers. For me, co-writing is nice because it gives me new ideas and has taught me to write in all tenses and points of view. 

You're phenomenally prolific. Can you tell us a little about your writing process? Do you have a psychedelic hut somewhere? A fairy godmother? A shrine to Stephen King?
LOL. I wish I had a magical answer. My true answer is discipline. I write 2,000 words a day seven days a week no matter what is happening in my life. Some days, those words are only journal entries but they keep me in the habit of daily practice. 

Kay Hanifen was born on a Friday the 13th and once spent three months living in a haunted 14th century castle. So, obviously, she had to get into horror writing. She's a certified monster nerd and a former contributor to Screen Rant. When she isn't reading, writing, and taking in pop culture with the voraciousness of a vampire at a blood bank, you can find her on Twitter @TheUnicornComi1.

When did you begin writing your own stories? What inspired you?
I honestly don't remember when I first began writing, but storytelling has always been a big part of my life. As a little girl, I'd dictate my stories to my mom and then illustrate the little picture books we made. My family also played this game that was one-half improv and one-half campfire tales where someone would start a story and then we'd go around in a circle adding to it until we finished. I was a big reader, and I wanted to inspire others the way that I had been inspired by the writers that shaped me.

In your bio, you said you lived in a haunted castle for three months. Where was the castle, and what was it like? How did you get this opportunity?
It was through a study abroad program. My college has a campus in the rural Netherlands that also happened to be a 13th-century castle. During the week, we'd live and study there, and on the weekend, we'd travel to other countries. My room was at the top of a guard tower, and we had to climb a dark, claustrophobic spiral staircase up there that I called "the nightmare stairs." Aside from feeling uncomfortable when alone in a certain part of the castle near the computer lab and my fully charged laptop's batteries randomly draining one night, I didn't experience anything supernatural. However, some of my friends heard whispers in the common room in the middle of the night. One of them also said that a ghost laid down in her bed while she worked at her desk. She saw a depression in the mattress, but no one was there. Reportedly, the ghost of a little girl called Sophie roamed the halls.

How did you get the idea for "Advice on Dating a Succubus: An Asexual’s Perspective?" It's different, even for this series.
The idea has been rattling around in the back of my head since high school. In the first draft, the asexual woman goes on a blind date, only to discover that the date was a succubus and shenanigans ensue. At the time, I was just growing comfortable with the labels of homoromantic and asexual for myself. I wanted to see some positive representation and explore what such an odd couple's relationship might look like. I decided to write it like an advice blog post from another world because I've always enjoyed the epistolary style of writing and I'm fascinated by advice columns. You're reading the story of an anonymous person's problems and the advice in response but rarely find out the whole story. It's just a snapshot, but you learn so much about the person sending the letter and the advice giver. It seemed like a fun way to build a world and characters. I chose Lilith as my romantic interest because she's one of my favorite mythical figures. I'm admittedly a bit of a monster nerd, and I once went on a research binge about her for a school project. The thing that stands out to me about her story is that she's powerful and is condemned for demanding equality. She also lends herself surprisingly well to humor. From what I've read, although she's been referenced in other ancient texts, her first appearance as Adam's wife was actually in a medieval Jewish satire called The Alphabet of Ben Sirach. In the story, she leaves Eden over an argument with Adam about who's on top in their relationship and the angels fail to bring her back. I just think the mythical figure of her is so fascinating and hopefully, I did her justice.

Who is your favorite author, and what really strikes you about their work?
It's hard to choose just one! I'm a huge fan of Shirley Jackson, especially The Haunting of Hill House. She's a master of capturing atmosphere and her prose is just beautiful. I also take a lot of inspiration from Neil Gaiman, especially in the way that he blends mythology and urban fantasy. Another author that I admire is the comic writer, Gail Simone, because she's so great at developing characters with distinct personalities and humor in the face of impossible odds. A more recent favorite is Jonathan Sims. I discovered his writing through his fantastic cosmic horror tragedy podcast, The Magnus Archives. It's so well written and I recommend it to basically everyone I meet. His debut novel, Thirteen Storeys, is also excellent. He's so skilled at creating distinct and memorable characters in a short amount of time and knows how to weave plot threads into a complex tapestry of horror.

Nathan Pettigrew, author of "The Steel Pelican", was born and raised an hour south of New Orleans and lives in the Tampa area with his loving wife after sharing a close friendship as residents of Massachusetts. Recent stories have appeared in “The Year” Anthology from Crack the Spine, Switchblade, issue 12, and at Bristol Noir. Other stories have appeared in Stoneboat, and the Nasty: Fetish Fights Back anthology from Anna Yeatts of Flash Fiction Online, which was spotlighted in a 2017 Rolling Stone article. His story “The Queen of the South Side” was named Honorable Mention in the Genre Short Story category for the 88th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition, while his story “Dog Killer” was named among the top four finalists of the Writer’s Digest 8th Annual Popular Fiction Awards for the Crime category. Other genre stories have appeared in the award-winning pages of Thuglit, and at DarkMedia.com. Visit Nathan @NathanBorn2010.

What is your favorite part of Mardi Gras?

That’s a difficult question to answer since there’s so much going on. It’s basically a month of parades, great food, killer cookouts, drinking, getting together with friends and family but also with strangers to celebrate the joy of just having a good time.
If I had to narrow it down, I would say the friends and family part. For example, I have cousins that live in Lafayette, which is 2 hours away from Terrebonne Parish where I grew up, and so they’ll drive down to go to the parades with us. It’s that serious where family from all over the state will meet up for at least one parade. In fact, I have cousins who live in Alexandria which is 4 hours away from Terrebonne, and even they’ll show up. It's more serious than Christmas down there, and it can either be a pleasant reunion or some good ol’ family drama. Lol. Same with friends. There are a handful of different high schools in Terrebonne, and you get to meet up with friends from other schools that you might’ve gone to grade school with. This is all extremely fun so that would have to be my favorite part.
Now people from all over the world come to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, but Terrebonne is an hour south near the Gulf.

Do you find any similarities between Mardi Gras and Tampa Bay's Gasparilla celebration?

Yes and no. The obvious similarity is the community coming together to celebrate a good time, but I see Gasparilla as a different thing—the pirate theme being the main difference, and the “krewe” element being the only direct link. I must confess that I don’t know the history of Gasparilla, however. Also, and this might be surprising, but I see Gasparila as much more unique than Mardi Gras. Gasparilla is exclusive to the Tampa Bay area from what I understand, while Mardi Gras goes on in within a few different communities around South Louisiana. Mardi Gras is also more commercial, and by that I mean the tourist element and those sleazy videos they used to sell on infomercials that suddenly turned Mardi Gras into a flashing fest.

You were an editor of the ezine Solarcide the last time I interviewed you. Are you involved in something similar these days?

Sadly no. Solarcide was Martin Garrity's baby—he was a short story author from the UK who asked me to be a co-editor with him. In exchange, he let me promote my short stories on the site under my own section or author page. So, I was co-editor and featured author of Solarcide. I also conducted interviews with authors and found artwork to feature while Martin maintained the site, edited submissions, and put 3 short story anthologies together.
Somewhere along the way, Martin lost his passion for writing. I tried to keep Solarcide going by myself for a couple of years, but could never secure the rights and the domain expired.
We didn’t have a falling out or anything like that—I still consider Martin a friend. He simply lost his passion and walked away, but fully intended on giving me the ownership. For one reason or another, that never transpired. It was a situation like, “I keep meaning to transfer the ownership to you.” And I would respond, “Great! Thanks so much! Looking forward to it.” Next thing I knew, the domain expired.
All that said, Solarcide was one of the greatest joys of my life, and I would gladly be part of something like that again if someone asked. I cannot thank Martin Garrity enough for the Solarcide experience.
I’m glad you asked this, by the way.  

What gave you the idea for "The Steel Pelican?"

I watch the Joe Rogan Experience sometimes and he talks a lot about DMT. He had Mike Tyson on as a guest, and Mike Tyson revealed that he had taken DMT and explained how it completely transformed him into a kind, loving person who just wants to help others and see humanity succeed. I was blown away by his enthusiasm and thought, “Damn. What if a serial killer took DMT?” And that was in addition to a previous question I had, “What if a serial killer had mistakenly chosen a distant cousin as his next victim?”
That brought a family element to the story, which is important during Mardi Gras. So, it started with questions, but I didn’t have any motivation to answer those questions until I saw the announcement for Mardi Gras Mysteries. There wasn’t a chance that I would pass on the possibility to appear in Mardi Gras Mysteries, so I got to work, just writing about a serial killer who takes DMT and the results. The rest of the story came to me while writing—Thank God. I started seeing the serial killer as a lawman, but the setting was easy because most stories I write take place in the community where I was born and raised.
And then it came full circle. People who take DMT claim to encounter entities, aliens, and jesters. Perfect!  The serial killer encounters Mardi Gras jesters when taking DMT.

What is your current project, and can you share a little of it with us?

Current projects are submissions. I’m working on a few stories that I hope to have finished before certain deadlines, and I’m waiting to hear back on 4 stories that I feel very good about. These stories include crime fiction, and I guess what folks call “literary fiction” (not a fan of the term). I also just finished my second non-fiction piece.
My goal for now is to see a short story collection published. My favorite books to read are short story collections, examples being Knockemstiff by Donald Ray Pollock, Jesus’ Son by Denis Johnson, And Her Smile Will Untether the Universe by Gwendolyn Kiste, Crimes in Southern Indiana by Frank Bill, and Drown by Junot Diaz.
Honestly, I’m just glad to be writing and seeing stories published again. I took a few years off from writing to address some personal matters and wasn’t sure if I would return but 2020 was very good to me writing-wise, and I’m confident that I’ll reach my goal in 2022 or 2023.
I’m yet to write a story that fails to find a home, and I’m very proud of that. But I must point out it’s best to submit to publications that you read and enjoy vs. just trying to rush the kids off to college.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

When I’m not writing, I enjoy spending time with my wife. She’s an extremely funny person, far more intelligent than me and was my best friend for 20 years before we finally fell love or at least admitted what it was between us. We enjoy going to Honeymoon Island on Sundays (a beach area near our home) unless it’s football season. We are football fanatics. We used to live in Massachusetts, so we were Patriots fans, and my wife likes to tell herself that Tom Brady moved down to play for Tampa Bay because he missed her. LOL. So yeah, I’m a Saints guy first and foremost, a Bucs fan when they’re not playing the Saints, and a Pats fan unless they’re playing New Orleans or Tampa Bay. We also have a dog named Brody and a rabbit named Milky and they keep us busy. Wish there was more to my life that I could tell you, but since the pandemic hit our life is basically working from home, me writing after work while my wife makes some monster meals, TV time together before bed, the beach or football on weekends. Oh, and we absolutely love spending time in downtown Dunedin!
One thing I’m thankful for during this whole pandemic mess is the chance to catch up on reading. I’m always reading but have a long queue. I also tend to reread a lot of books vs. moving on to new ones right away. My favorite books to read are short story collections and anthologies. I still enjoy novels, but not nearly as much as short fiction.  
Currently I’m reading Coyote Songs by Gabino Iglesias, Untethered by John Bowie (almost finished), and the new issue of Pulp Modern. No novels right now but I am about to start Always the Dead by Stephen J. Golds and am really looking forward to it based on how much I enjoyed his 2020 novel Say Goodbye When I'm Gone. Other authors among many that I’ve read and enjoyed are Sarah Read, Gemma Files, Fred Venturini, Tamela Miles and Gabriel Hart.
Geaux Bucs!!

What is your next project?

My next story to come out is called “Lola”, and it will be featured in Deep South Magazine. 
“Lola” should be published there within the month, and it’s my first non-fiction story, so I’m very excited about it.
Lola was the name of one of my rabbits that passed away in June of 2020, and the reality of that event was extremely difficult for me to accept. Writing about her was also hard, but the end result is a story that Deep South editor Erin Z. Bass was kind enough to call “a beautiful story” and she expressed that she’s excited about it as well.
Beyond that, it’s back to crime fiction and I have a football crime story called “Manny” appearing in Hoosier Noir: Three, and a story called "Justice for Leandro” that will be featured in the Tainted Hearts & Dirty Hellhounds anthology from Bristol Noir. The Hoosier Noir: Three and the Bristol Noir anthologies should be coming out sometime in Q1 of 2021.

When did you begin writing your own stories? What inspired you?
I've been writing since I was little. I'm disabled, so my body didn't always work well for me to do other hobbies. Writing just kind of ... was the only thing I could do.

Tell us about Love & Bubbles! How did this anthology come about?
I don't know exactly how it came about, but I can tell you how I got involved. Jaylee James was the first editor to ever publish my work, and we became friends. Around the time he was working on Love & Bubbles, I got the idea to work on my own anthology and I asked him for advice. He took me on as an assistant.

How did editing an anthology change your process of writing? 
We got so many good stories that were the classic "mermaid meets human, falls in love" story. The ones that were different instantly got our attention. So no matter how good the story is, I've learned that it's always a good idea to go for the weird, the 'out there.'

What is your current project, and can you share some information about it with us?
I've got stories in a couple anthologies coming out soon, but I'm not sure how much information I can share right now. So let me promote my other anthology I co-edited with Brian McNett:
​Space Opera Libretti.
Space Opera ... emphasis on the opera. 20 stories, poems, and even an actual opera script fill the pages of this comedic and musical science fiction anthology.
Time traveling cats! A song that never ends! Invisible bears! All that and more from first-time authors and award-winning veterans.

​Kelly Gould lives and writes in Oregon with his wife and children. He is an avid fan of the Chicago Bears and Van Halen (w/ Sammy Hagar). When he isn’t writing he is usually enjoying good whiskey and bad horror movies.
His work has been included in anthologies from Lycan Valley Press, A Murder of Storytellers, Deadman’s Tome, Lycopolis Press, Aphotic Realm, and Weirdbook. His story, "Hopelessly Devoted," was a part of the anthology, Stories of the Dead: A Tribute to George Romero.

​How did you choose the genre you wanted to write in (if it was a deliberate decision)? 

I don’t think I ever made a conscious decision about genre. I write what I’d like to read. I’ve always been drawn to horror with a tinge of weird (or weird with a tinge of horror). Twilight Zone, Amazing Stories, and Tales from the Darkside shaped my childhood as much as Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, and Creepshow.

Who is your favorite author, and what really strikes you about their work?

No surprise with this answer. Stephen King. The guy made me want to write. He’s best known for horror, but his work is truly genre-spanning. His mammoth novels get most of the attention, but I prefer his short stories/novellas. The Long Walk and The Mist are must reads.

Tell us how you came up with the idea for "Platinum VIP". Have you ever been on a tour like this, minus the time travel?

No, I can’t say I’ve ever been on a tour like the one in this story. One of my favorite movies, Stand by Me, was filmed near where I live and I’ve toured some of those locations. I’ve done a few meet and greets at conventions and my wife has staked out a Wahlburgers to meet Donnie Wahlberg (she got a hug and a selfie).

The initial idea for "Platinum VIP" came when I read about Anna Kendrick starting out her career on Broadway as a 12-13 year old. That got me thinking. Nowadays there are all sorts of VIP experiences available to those with the means to purchase them. Imagine being able to interact with your favorite actor/athlete/politician/author before they became a household name. Watch Michael Jordan play basketball in high school. Buy women’s shoes from George Clooney. Bump into a teenage Elvis Presley and have a peanut butter and banana sandwich. Time travel doesn’t have to be such a serious proposition.

A prequel to "Platinum VIP" (or is it a sequel? With time travel it’s hard to tell.) was published in the magazine, Aphotic Realm #3: Classified. 

What is your current project, and can you share some information about it with us?

Out later this year, I have a story included in On Time, an anthology from Transmundane Press.

Recently, I finished the first draft of my first novel (there’s a sentence I never thought I’d write). Editing is now the bane of my existence. 

In your bio, you say that you watch a lot of bad horror movies. What is your favorite bad horror film, so bad it's great? (Mine is Vampire Hookers.)

I probably should stop calling them “bad” horror movies. B movies? I don’t like calling them guilty pleasures. Maybe 'Movies-that-I-appreciate-but-others-might-not' would be more accurate. There are tons of these movies I enjoy but I know my wife would not. Return of the Living Dead, Chopping Mall, and Maximum Overdrive are the ones that immediately come to mind. I saw Maximum Overdrive at a drive-in when I was a kid. Freddy and Jason never really scared me (although I still love those movies) but the opening scene of Overdrive on the drawbridge haunted me.

Plotter or pantser?

More pantser than plotter. I usually have a an ending figured out before I start, but getting there from Chapter 1 can be interesting.

When did you know you wanted to become a writer?

About ten years ago, I wrote my first fiction story to entertain my young sons. It turned into quite a project. We ended up self-publishing it, and I discovered my love of writing for children. I've authored 11 traditionally published children's book titles. In the last year or so, I've started writing short stories for adult anthologies. I've enjoyed being able to address more mature themes and leverage higher vocabulary.

Who is your favorite author, and what really strikes you about their work?

That is a Sophie's Choice. There are so many great authors from which to choose. Among my favorites are J.R.R. Tolkien, Kevin Hearne, Maggie Stiefvater, Isaac Asimov, and Lloyd Alexander.
 
Your story is funniest for people familiar with the Beatles. Are you a huge Beatles fan, or did you come up with the idea and then research the details? Tell us about your fandom and/or creation of "Four Fab Physicists."

I admire the Beatles' music, but I'm not a mega-fan. I simply got the idea to write about a group of people who were famous for one thing, but had a hitherto unknown secondary skill. Not unlike Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. I also find incongruous mashups amusing, so this story is The Beatles meet Big Bang Theory, with a touch of This is Spinal Tap.
 
What is your current project, and can you share some information about it with us?

I have several adult horror, fantasy, and sci-fi short stories on submission (including my first steampunk and western horror stories). For kids, I have a sci-fi middle grade novel and short story on submission. To be published later this year and next, I have a contemporary magical realism early chapter book (The Magic Spatula), a narrative nonfiction picture book (I Am Smoke), three short stories for Highlights for Children and one for Ladybug (Cricket Media). My website is www.henryherz.com

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Sorry, I don't understand the question.  :)

The tour stops are below. Check them out for interviews, reviews, and guest posts, and be sure to stop by our promo page at Escapes with Dollycas for a number of ways to get additional entries for our giveaway!

Join us next week to read interviews with the authors - and the characters!
​More to come soon...

Curtis A. Deeter is a writer of fantasy, science-fiction, and horror, who typically weaves comedy into his stories. He works a mundane government job in Ohio, so storytelling has always been integral to maintaining his sanity. When he is not writing or reading, he can be found at the local brewery enjoying the tunes and sampling the brew.  
A small press is working with him to publish his debut novel, Morning Blood in Mio. It's a comedic, supernatural murder mystery. The date of release is still tentative.

You have a wistful writing voice (I'm thinking about "Itsuki’s Snowflake"). What do you like about the genres you write in?
I find myself bouncing back and forth between genres, and I love it because there are so many different stories to tell in so many different ways. Each new project is a learning experience. As far as being wistful goes, I think we all tend to look at our pasts at the things we've let slip away and ask "what if?" Great material is born from those places.

Can you tell us a little about your writing process?
For the most part, I try to write short stories in one feverish sitting. That way, the original essence and voice of the piece stays consistent. Novels, I'm still figuring that process out. It generally starts with a handwritten draft and gets shelfed until I'm ready to finish it.

How do you select the names of your characters?
Most of my characters are named randomly. I essentially use a name as a placeholder to get the story out. More often than not, those names stick.

Tell us more about Humbert and Miriam, the heroes of "In a Silent World."
Humbert and Miriam were inspired by my now wife's old neighbors. They were a team of paranormal investigators who were quite ... over the hill. I don't know why, but I found it hilarious and couldn't stop thinking of the possibilities. I have a whole list of standalone shorts and half a novel written about them.

What's your next project?
My next project is a local literature and arts community centered around the focal point of a monthly e-zine called Of Rust and Glass. While my novel is with the editor, I'll be focused on that.

Cheryl Zaidan is a full-time marketer, part-time writer and hardcore dreamer who enjoys creating fictional characters just so she can do bad things to them. 

When did you know you wanted to become a writer?
I'm a lover of words so I suppose it was inevitable. I've always enjoyed writing both fiction and non-fiction and have done quite a bit of freelance writing in the past. I have to admit, I used to love writing short stories, but for awhile my creativity was stalled. It wasn't until I decided to stop censoring my imagination and embrace the weird, that the words started to flow again.

The main characters in your story are male. What's the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
Oh boy, I love writing characters that are nothing like myself regardless of sex. It's so much fun to get into somebody else's head, embrace their mannerisms, their dialect etc. even if they ARE fictional. I also like a lot of diversity so whether they're male or female, they come from different places and all walks of life. Poor hapless Rufus who I wrote for this story was a blast to create, although the spellchecker didn't like his language sometimes. I still can't convince Microsoft Word that "ain't" is what I meant to write.

What is the most difficult part of your creative process?
Sitting down and actually doing it. I just started writing and submitting in earnest late last year and it's been fun, but it took longer than I'd like to admit to get a little serious about it. Also I only write when I feel like it and don't force myself when I don't. That goes against all the rules that tell you that writers must write everyday, but hey, my muse only works part-time. 

What is your current project and can you share a little of it with us?
I'm working on a writing site/blog at www.CherylZWrites.com and I'm also planning on editing one of the many, many novels I've written during National Novel Writing Month. I'm a big proponent of that program. 

What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Well, working. But also reading, yoga, watching horror movies, listening to music and bugging friends and family.

What's next for Cheryl?
Cheryl's next story is called "Ugly Eyes" and will be featured in the ezine "The Asylum Diaries – Autopsy."