Twice Upon A Time Blog Tour: Interview with Steven Anthony George

CONTRARY to the title of this anthology, working with such a talented cast of writers is an opportunity that usually comes once in a lifetime. From best-selling to greenhorn, independent or traditionally-published, the authors in this anthology span all ranges in addition to spanning the globe—from England to Australia and all over the United States. I've had the privilege of getting to know each and every one of them, and they have become a part of my extended family. I've even caught a glimpse of a secret side of them that only another writer...editor...is privy to witness through their words.

Through this series of posts, I plan on introducing you to my new family through a mini-interview of each. You may not get a chance to see their secret side, but you'll get a sneak-peek into their minds, their passions and inspirations, and what made them the writers they are today.

..The Mini Interview..

1. At what age did you start writing?

I wrote stories when I was in elementary school that caught the attention of teachers and as a boy I often improvised bedtime stories for my sister. I did not begin writing fiction seriously, however, until I turned fifty, when I had decided to no longer pursue poetry and playwriting on a full-time basis.

2. Which book introduced you to Speculative Fiction?

I was first introduced to the genre in fifth grade when I read A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'Engle. Much of that book influenced my writing as an adult, particularly in its loose treatment of time and space, and the reflection of universal concepts in very personal ones.

3. Do you have an all-time favorite book? What about it makes it your favorite?

My favorite novel has been The Other by Thomas Tryon. I never considered the book a horror story, but instead a morality tale about the consequences of indulgence. It fascinated me that boy's delusion, which would be harmless in any other context, could destroy a family, almost an entire town. The book gave me my passion for the psychology of characters over their observable actions.

4. Which author and/or book inspired you to start writing?

It was not in fiction writers, but playwrights that I found inspiration. I found the language of Edward Albee and Tennessee Williams both strange and poetic and I wanted to write in a similar style.

5. What would you say is the most important lesson all writers should learn?

Pursue whatever kind of writing that you are the most passionate about. Write the way your heart tells you. Creative writing is an art and there are no rules in art. For every teacher who instructs a writer not to do a certain thing, there is a writer getting published who is doing that very thing.

6. Of the entire publishing process, which would you say is the most difficult aspect to endure?

The most difficult process is just getting a first draft finished. It is easy to begin writing and a simple task to revise what is whole, but seeing a story to completion and to my satisfaction is a challenge.

7. If applicable, did you have a favorite character (to write) from your story? If so, what sets them apart from the others?

I can quite honestly say that I have no favorite character among those I have created. The majority are either pathetic, immoral, or merely insane and I don't like them. There is a character in the yet unpublished "Cannibalism" named Dmitri, however, who I admire because his combination of apparent innocence and clever insight.

8. On what projects are you currently working?

After I decided to change genres from poetry and short plays to short stories, I began adapting my plays and some of my longer poems to short stories in order to complete a collection for publication.

Read Steven's story, Patient Griselda, in your very own copy of Twice Upon A Time today!

Choose a format... Amazon|Kindle Amazon|Paperback

..About the Author..

STEVEN ANTHONY GEORGE is a poet and short story writer who finds inspiration largely from historical events, visual art, and film. His work has appeared in Poet's Haven, Houston & Nomadic Voices, and Cleaver Magazine, among others. In addition to having a story in Twice Upon A Time, his short story "Genevieve from the River" just recently appeared in Diner Stories, an anthology published by Mountain State Press.


Mr. George is active in the autism community and lectures on the topic of autism spectrum disorders. Formerly a resident of Dunkirk, NY and Marathon, FL, he now resides in Fairmont, WV where he works as a case manager for a homeless recovery program.

..Connect with the Author..

Twice Upon a Time Blog Tour: Interview with ... Your Truly?

Interview #2 in the blog tour for Bearded Scribe Press's remastered fairytale collection is now making the rounds. I'll refrain from posting it here at Wordweaver because it features ... me, and that would be awkward. Ahem. Instead, anyone who is interested can find the Q&A here, at Bearded Scribe Press's own blog.

Was I too terribly verbose? *shrug*

The paperback is purchased at Amazon, HERE.
The digital version is downloaded HERE.

SPARKS by RS McCoy: A Book Release Blast

Choose One Amazon|Kindle

Blurb:

"Everyone in the world has a spark, a light inside that guides them, keeps them alive.”

Myxini School for Children specializes in training young men and women who have powerful sparks. Strikers are taught to manipulate fire. Trackers learn to find animals in the most formidable terrains. Handlers are instructed in communication with large predators. But forty years have passed since the last time they had a Reader—a student with the ability to read minds.

When Lark Davies enrolls at Myxini, he knows there aren’t many like him, but he doesn’t realize just how rare his abilities really are. He thinks nothing of being asked to keep his spark a secret; after all, he can barely control it. Thoughts and emotions flood unbidden into his mind until he can scarcely walk or hold a conversation. But just when he needs it most, his ability fails him.

Lark meets Khea, a small frightened girl who mysteriously insights his protective nature. He has no explanation for the curious strength of their relationship, and it doesn’t help that she is one of the few people in the world whose thoughts can’t be read. As he struggles to get to the root of their unique bond, Lark begins to unravel more power than even his mentor expected, but in the process makes himself a target to political leaders eager to take control.

Teaser:

Wearing only my loose brown pants, I crawled into the most comfortable bed I had ever known and sank into the soft down pillows. I had just started to drift off when I heard a knock at the door. I’m going to kill Avis.

“What do you—” I started until I realized it wasn’t Avis. It was a stunning blonde with blue eyes. Khea.

“I’m sorry to wake you. I just—I had to see you.” Her arms moved to wrap around my waist and hold me tight as I questioned if I was really sleeping or not.

“Uh, do you want to come in?” We both knew the rules about being in someone else’s
room after hours, so I pulled her in and sat down on the edge of the bed, still a little surprised she was there.

In the dim light her hair looked a little darker, but her face was still sweet and there was no denying that the last two years had done her well. Who would have thought such a beautiful young woman would come from that skinny little girl in Lagodon?

“How’d you know I was back?” I asked her, trying to appear less tired or shocked than I was.

“A friend told me.”

“I didn’t think you—” Cared? It wasn’t the right word, but I was beyond amazed that she was interested in my whereabouts. I hadn’t seen her since that night at the Moonwater and it had changed everything for me since then. But for her, I wasn’t aware that she had been affected in any way.

“Ride with me tomorrow?”

“Uh, yea, of course.” It was a struggle to cover how little I wanted to wait. I would have given anything to have her stay.

A wide smile erupted across her sweet lips as she said, “meet me at the lake at noon.” With a lingering kiss on my cheek, she walked back through the door and disappeared into the dark stone corridor.

What just happened?

I hadn’t seen her in person in years, and we were hardly close before that. And now she arrived in my room in the middle of the night and kissed me on the cheek. Was it a kiss like a friend would give another? Or more? I couldn’t make any sense of it, but there was only thing I was sure of. I would be at the lake at noon if it was the last thing I did.

Praise for Sparks:

"...spellbinding..."

                "...fantastic characters..."

                                       "...imaginative and creative..."

                                                                    "...simply could not put it down..."

About the Author:

RS McCoy didn’t ever plan on being a writer. With a career teaching high school science, writing is the last thing she expected. But life never goes the way you think it will. 

While battling cancer, she picked up her laptop and let the words flow out. One year later, her first published fantasy novel has been released on Amazon and her second novel is in the works. 

She is a wife, mother of one with another on the way, a scientist, baker, gardener, and life-long science fiction and fantasy addict.

Connect with RS McCoy