Will Hoge has produced music ranging from Stones influenced Rock n Roll to Americana, Southern rock, and back roots Country. With his ninth album Never Give In he offers country music with grit and soul.

What was it like growing up in Tennessee? What are some of your most fond recollections from that time in your life?

Great. My dad played music when I was a kid and getting to be exposed to everything going on in Nashville, I always felt like, was an advantage for me. Music is everywhere.

Do you remember what your very first favorite song was?

Band on The Run – Paul McCartney and Wings. I played the 45 on my Mickey Mouse record player until the needle wore out.

Who were some of your biggest influences musically and personally?

Hank Williams, Ray Charles, The Rolling Stones. I’m reading the new Johnny Cash bio now and love the control he was able to take in the business aspect of his career.

As a guitarist what would you say is your model of choice?

I’ve been playing a Gibson 335 (electric) a lot lately. I love it. I’ve got a couple go-to Telecasters that have weathered the storms with me. And my Gibson J-45 is what I write with most of the time.

What do you love most about making music? 

Everything. I love the writing of it, it is therapy. And I love getting to perform those songs and see how people react.

What was it like to work with Dan Baird? Had you been a fan of his work prior? What did you learn from that whole experience?

I worked with Dan early in my career and it was a great experience. He saw me play one of my first shows and wanted to make a record with me, but I already had a producer. He ended up playing guitar with me for a couple years. He taught me a lot about the business.

Do you enjoy producing music that is hard to classify into any one genre? Why do you think your work is so diverse?

I don’t really think about what “style” or “genre” it’s going to fit when I make it. I just make it. I think it’s diverse because I didn’t have any boundaries of what I listened to when I was growing up, to me it was just all music.

How did the album Never Give In come about? How does it differ most from your previous work?

It came about like the rest of my records…I’m always writing. We had a little more time to make this one, which I loved. I think it might be a little more grown up than some of my other stuff…maybe dealing with more adult themes.

Your song Strong has gained quite a bit of notice. Why do you think that is? What led you to record that particular track?

Our record was finished, but as I said above I’m always writing. That was a song I wrote with my cousin Zach Crowell and Ashley Gorley. The folks at Chevy heard it and made it the focal point of their 2014 Silverado ad campaign. Once that happened, he put it on the record at the last minute as a bonus track.

Is there any one moment from over the course of your career that stands out most in your mind?

There’s a lot of them. Finding out I was nominated for a Grammy for Song of the Year for Even If It Breaks Your Heart was special. I was on stage in Durham, NC and walked off stage and my manager told me I got a nomination. I went back out for the encore, announced to the crowd and played the song again.

How was becoming a father changed your outlook on life in general?

In every way. You begin to realize that there’s more to life than just yourself and it really makes you look at your priorities.

Are there any little known things about you that your fans might be surprised to learn?

Nah, I’m pretty straightforward. I like sushi, love my hometown of Nashville, and spend as much time with family as I can.

Do you think the public often underestimates the amount of work that goes into being a musician? What do you think, aside from talent, separates the great musicians from the weekend ones?

Luck. And, beyond that, perseverance. It’s real easy to give up on a dream when people keep telling you no.

What projects are you working on at the moment?

We’re really focused on working this record. We’re touring hard thru the spring, summer and fall. I’ve written a bunch, but it will probably be next year before we look at going back to make another record.

Anything you’d like to say before you go?

Thanks to those who come see us night after night. And if you haven’t seen us, come do it.

Booka Bickar worked (past tense) as a self taught commerical sculptor on projects such as Puppetmaster IV, Pee Wee’s Playhouse X-mas Special, as well as several Disney projects, models for Japanese amusement parks, and elements for the Paris Casino in Las Vegas. Upon retiring from the field he has taken up sewing, creating a series of finely crafted faux fur coats, and has since became an author and just enjoying being alive.

Personal Inertia

Those moments that come, a person, a place, a time, here, now, or at some point in the past, perhaps somewhere else. Nothing, no one, really ever stops for anyone. I remind myself to try to move within. The inertia is mine. Inside of me. Myself, anxious, paralyzed inside, while time and the world just rushes on by.

The emptiness and stillness of inertia, is like hands wrapped around my throat. A weight on my chest. Squeezing shut the airways, so that the only air I know is the empty air around me. The stillness is mine. Nothing, no one, really ever stops for anyone. Air that offers nothing, nor contains anything to aid my escape, anything of use.

And it’s not that I’m not breathing, it just feels like I’m not, while everyone around me seems to be drawing in deep expansive breaths. I remind myself to try to breathe, which in itself has become like a trick, a slight of hand illusion. Somehow fooling everyone. Except me. Nothing, no one, really ever stops for anyone.

“Personal Inertia by Bob James is a shining capsule of existential brilliance; this solid, creative effort has provokes an endgame that could reflect one’s pending, personal disaster by pills, gun, or the wheels of a train; a deeply piercing reach reflecting the devastation of our well-being, that yet might shine long after the black clouds have broken apart. . . .”

~ John Gilmore

Photo by Jennifer Robertson

With countless novels and short stories to her credit, Joanne Harris is perhaps best-known as the author of Chocolat. Her most recent works include, A Cat, a Hat, and a Piece of String (just out in paperback), The Gospel of Loki (available in hardback on February 13th), and The Little Book of Chocolat (slated for realease on March 13th). Her works have been published in over 50 countries and have won numerous international awards.

Is it true you were born in your grandparent’s sweet shop? Is that astory you liked hearing growing up?

Yes, it’s true. But it wasn’t the kind of chocolate shop I wrote about in Chocolat. It was a Northern corner sweetshop, selling newspapers and boiled sweets from big glass jars.

What were your families like? Do you think it is fair to say they encourage strong women? What would you say is the most important thing you learned from them?

The dominant personality on my English side was my grandfather, an ex-miner turned gardener who was a big influence on my childhood. He taught me everything I know about gardening, wild plants, animals and birds and the countryside. On the French side, the women ruled. The greatest influence there was my great-grandmother, the family matriarch, whose stories and superstitions were inspirational throughout my formative years.

Do you happen to remember what your very first favourite story was?

The Pied Piper. I’ve blogged about it here. I first discovered it in an illustrated fairy book, and I’ve been fascinated by it ever since.

http://joannechocolat.tumblr.com/post/52540193752/the-pied-piper-of-hamelin-i-posted-this-some

What did you love most about being a teacher? Do you ever miss it?

To me, the most important part of teaching was the human stimulus; the day-to-day interaction with people and the daily challenge of new and unpredictable situations. Nowadays I’ve learnt to find that stimulus elsewhere; on my travels around the world. I still miss it occasionally -though not enough to go back…

What is like dealing with synaesthesia? If you don’t mind my asking what is it like to experience certain colors as scents? Does any one particular color smell better than the rest? 

I can’t really explain what it’s like, because I don’t have any basis for comparison. I’ve never experienced what passes for “normal.” But yes, some scents are pleasant, some unpleasant. There’s a bright red that smells of chocolate, and a muddy yellow colour – rather fashionable with designers last year, I’m afraid – that smells of rotting fish. (You can probably guess that I avoid that one.)

You were once thrown out of the Eqyptian Museum of Berlin for not wearing any shoes. Did it feel freeing to be shoeless in such a place? 

I did when I was eighteen. Nowadays I don’t find walking barefoot in cities as appealing.

Why do you think you are happiest when by the sea? What do you love most about that whole environment?

I spent all my childhood holidays by the sea at my grandfather’s house on the island of Noirmoutier. For seven or eight weeks a year I was free to do what I liked, go where I liked, walk barefoot if I wanted to, sail, ride my bike, swim and explore freely and unsupervised. Seaside places still give me that feeling.

What is it like to have your work distributed in over 50 countries?

It’s great to have such a broad readership, but honestly, it doesn’t feel entirely real to me.

Did you ever dream that would happen when you first started your career?

Yes, I dreamed. Isn’t that what writers do? But I never expected the dream to come true…

What was it like to see Chocolat come to life on the big screen?

I’ve written a lot about this on my website (find it here; http://www.joanne-harris.co.uk/v3site/books/chocolat/chocolatfilmarticle.pdf), but it was a lot of fun. Stressful in parts, but mostly fun, because the actors, director and crew were so good to work with. Everyone had a terrific time.

What do you love most about the act of writing?

All of it. The voodoo.

You have said you like to pack for imaginary journeys. When did you first begin doing that? What would your favourite imaginary journey be?

I’ve always done it. Nowadays my journeys are more often likely to be real, but I still find it therapeutic to pack a bag for Hawaii, for instance, or for Alaska. I like to think that I’ve got so good at packing that if I had to fake my death and flee the country, I could be out of the door within five minutes…

Do you think people in today’s hectic world should try to use their imaginations more?

Yes. Imagination leads to empathy, and with that we could fix pretty much everything that’s wrong with the world.

What advice would you offer the women of tomorrow?

The same advice I’d offer to anyone: you can be anything you want if you’re prepared to work hard enough.

Can you tell our readers a little about the next three titles you having coming up?

A Cat, a Hat, and a Piece of String is a collection of short stories of all kinds, written mostly during my travels. The Gospel of Loki is a retelling of the Norse myths from the perspective of Loki, the Trickster. The Little Book of Choclat is… exactly what the title suggests. A little chocolate cookbook, with some chocolate facts mixed in.

What other projects are you working on at the moment?

I’m writing a novel called Different Class, which is set in a Northern grammar school; working on a Dr. Who novella and developing a TV project for the BBC. It’s a busy time…

What do you believe, personally is the key to living a life well spent?

Love, kindness, pleasure, curiosity. Joy in simple things.

Do you believe in the afterlife? What are your feelings on death?

I believe in this life. As for death, I’m avoiding it as best I can.

How do you hope to be remembered when you go?

With fondness.

Cala de del Descanso

(Cala de del Descanso–meaning small bay of rest)

Today they removed your body from the waters

of Descanso Bay. They said your car did not sink

quickly but bobbed nose down on the seal skin surface,

enough time to crawl out safe, make it back in time.

They say you sped down the steep hill, broke through the steel

barrier and landed on the deck of the docked

ferry. There you floored it, crashed through the raised metal

apron and launched off the loading ramp into waves

of sea below. I once jumped from a river bluff.

I remember falling, plummeting from the sky.

It was only a few seconds but time slowed down

enough to pray, think of loved ones and see jagged

slices of rock peer up at me. When my feet hit

the water, I shot like a torpedo losing

my bikini and breath. I swam up through the dark

layers towards an infinity of greener

light. Each layer like a silk dress sequined in flecks

of gold, bubbles that blistered and broke while I tried

to ascend my body through its frosted neckline.

You stayed fastened in your seat, gripped the steering wheel

and waited to sink like a stone. You held your ground

even when the damp sea air taunted your nostrils

and throat before fully taking your breath away.

(From the forthcoming book, Crows Taste Best on Toast from Lady Lazarus Press)

Pamela is a Gabriola poet and writer who resides there with her husband and two children. Her work has appeared in numerous magazines, anthologies and websites. She is the author of two chapbooks of poetry: Something from Nothing (Writing Knights Press) and Woodwinds (Lipstick Press). Pamela’s first full length poetry collection, Crows Taste Best on Toast is forthcoming this summer from Lady Lazarus Press. When Pamela is not writing, she’s sleeping. She believes sleep is death without the commitment.

Mother and Daughter by Vladimir Makovsky

The Lesson

Someday my mother will not awaken from her sleep. I will not be there to hear her cough through the night and pass judgment upon this world with a curse of breath. I will be asleep in my own bed, dreaming of her and me and the days in the garden that once was. I will be struck dumb of heart when she dies. I will turn to my side and shudder in the darkness. My daughter will attend the funeral and be there in her black dress when the grave receives her grandmother. She will monitor my response, judging this passing of grief for future reference. She will observe and memorize this transference, questioning its significance. I will not be able to see her through me. I will be the old one who will cough in the night and reach for flattened sheets while my daughter lies in her bed dreaming.

(Published in Hurricane Alice, republished in Kaleidoscope) 

Karen Foster’s poems been published in Fireweed, Rocky Mountain Review of Language and Literature, Redneck Review, New York Quarterly, Classifieds, Hurricane Alice, and others. Recently one of her poems, Nitroglycerin, won third place in High Plains Writers’ Contest. Her short stories have been published in Briar Cliff Review, Big Ugly Review, and others. A story, The Dog, won third place in a contest held by The Reader, an Omaha arts magazine. Stained Glass, one of her plays, has been performed at the Lincoln Community Playhouse, Lincoln, NE. She is currently Associate Professor of English at Dickinson State University, Dickinson, ND.

Daniele Serra is a professional illustrator. His work has been published in Europe, Australia, the United States, Japan, and displayed at various exhibits across the U.S. and Europe. He has worked for DC Comics, Image Comics, Cemetery Dance, Weird Tales magazine, PS Publishing and other publications. He is winner of the British Fantasy Award. His most recent offering is the lavishly illustrated artbook Veins and Skulls. As today also just happens to be his birthday, we would like to extend him our warmest wishes for the day.

Can you tell us a little about your background? What were you like as a child?

As all children I loved to play, to watch cartoons and to read fantasy stories. I was told that I was a pretty quiet kid, I did not really want to study. My babysitter was my cousin, I loved to listen to her telling me the summaries of the horror movies that my parents did not let me watch. I have wonderful memories of my childhood, a period which may not come back but at the same time is always within of me. My studies were very different from what I am doing now. I’m mainly self-taught, although I have attended two courses, one about comics and one of oil painting, very important and essential for me. Before trying to work seriously in the field of illustration, I worked for seven years as a graphic designer.

Were you creative as a kid? What is the first thing you remember drawing the most of?

I do not know if I was creative as a child, but I’ve always loved to see people drawing, remember that before going to school my father had to make a drawing otherwise I cried . I remember huge books with drawings to color, colored pencils, I loved all the stuff that were used to create a drawing, like rough sheets, tempera.

When did you first discover your love of art? Do you remember what sparked your interest in the very beginning?

I’ve always been attracted to the books of paintings by the great painters that there were at my house. I think it was my first encounter with the art, I remember especially the strong emotions caused by Giotto’s paintings, I was terrified by his Last Judgement , I loved watching the details of Caravaggio, Klimt lines, all with naive eyes of a child who found himself catapulted into fantasy worlds.

Your work seems rather dark. Why do you like to deal with darker imagery?

It comes naturally to me, it’s not something I sought after. At the moment it’s the way of expressing myself, I like to use a particular type of colors, to create certain atmospheres for pure pleasure. I tried to work on things more “solar”, but I didn’t enjoy it and so they are less impressive. I think it’s just something that binds to a type of feeling, an attitude which invades my life 360 degrees, all that I Ilike reading, watching, and listening to, it has often a patina of melancholy, but a beautiful melancholy, that makes you feel good. However, for me the dark aspect is secondary to the sensual romance, let’s say that I feel romantically decadent. Anyhow, I always work in a very instinctive way, when I plan to work, both as a structure such as lights / shadows inevitably loses freshness, so I prefer to work in a fast and instinctive way, and finally, the result is always something quite dark!

Why do you think society has always been drawn to the darker things?

It’s something I often wonder, maybe it’s a way of exorcising our fears, to visualize the fears often allow us to detach from the, take away as something external to ourselves. In Western culture the relationship that you have with death is often complicated, we are afraid to talk about it, it’s hard to accept, but probably there is a side of human being who is strongly attracted by it, because it is part of himself. All that concerns “evil” needs to be drawn, read, painted, because it allows you to classify it, framed, so we can say: Ah, ok this is evil, what scares me. And so we exorcise it.

You have worked some for DC. Are you a fan of comics?

I’m a big fan of comics, and, of course, the opportunity to work for DC has been a wonderful experience. I really like to work in tandem with writers, it allows to compare opinions and help to grow. I also love the fact that working on a comic gives the possibility to tell a story, something that I find beautiful. Now I have other projects of comics that I hope will soon see the light.

Who are some of your favorite living artists?

They are many, those who are most dear to me are Kent Williams, George Pratt, Ashley Wood, Jason Shawn Alexander, and many others.

When did you decide to be a professional artist? Did you ever want to be anything else?

In life I’ve done different studies and jobs, but I think my mind was always focused on finding the right way to be an illustrator. It is not easy, every day is a challenge, but that’s what I like to do, so I hope to continue like this. The real decision goes back about 5 years ago, when I left my job as a graphic designer to devote myself entirely to the illustration. Let’s say that I realized that maybe I could make it work this way when I signed the contract with DC.

What do you think is the main difference between a professional artist and an amateur one?

For me, the key difference is to meet deadlines and to work on commission. When you work as an amateur, if you’re not inspired you choose to draw only what you like. But when you are “forced” to draw certain things (which probably would have never drawn) and you have to do it in a high quality and delivering on time, you have to develop a professional capacity that goes beyond the talent and creativity. Here, the only thing that often distinguishes the amateur from the professional is the ability to work while maintaining high quality in spite of the various external pressures.

Are there any little known things about you that you’d not mind sharing with our readers?

It is better to remain mysterious about the habits of an illustrator!

What do you like to do when you aren’t creating?

I really enjoy reading, being with my wife and our cats, watching movies, and playing guitar. I would like to also do some carpentry work, that has always impressed me, but I never find the time. I also like sports and dinners with friends. A few quiet things, I don’t have a very adventurous life.

What is your favorite subject to cover?

Lately I’m very passionate with ghostly landscapes in watercolor, but I think I don’t have a favorite subject, so it’s often nice to have particular subjects on which I have never worked with to see what happens. I can tell you that I find the subject more complicated, for example where there are cars, I have big problems when I have to draw cars, I just do not like to draw them.

Do you have a dream project?

Many. But I cannot tell you.

What projects are you currently working on?

At the moment it just came out my art book Veins and Skulls for SST Publications and I am working a lot in promotion it. For the rest I have to do several book covers and a couple of projects with my writer friends for comics and illustrated books.

Anything you’d like to say before you go?

Thank you for the interview, thanks to all those who will read it. I really enjoyed. Thank you!

More examples of his work can also be found on Van Gogh’s Ear at: The Art of Daniele Serra

This interview originally ran January 21, 2011 and is no longer available anywhere. With his recent passing I felt it only fitting to show it to you all here.

Neal Barrett Jr. is likely one of the best, least known authors out there. His works have dealt with science fiction, fantasy,mystery/suspense, and historical fiction. With his first work appearing in 1974 he has written several novels, series, and short story collections. Barrett gained recognition recently when the Science  Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America named him Author Emeritus in 2010. In recent years he has been working on screenplays as well.

What was it like for you growing up in Oklahoma City? What was your very first favorite story? Do you feel your early experience have had a lasting impact on your as a writer?

Growing up in OC was, I guess, like growing up anywhere. I was born in San Antonio, but lived in OC from age 5 until I went to college at OU. I can’t recall a favorite first story, but I imagine it was the Mars stories of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Regarding early experiences having lasting impact on me as a writer, a great deal happens to every writer. If you read my works, such as The Hereafter Gang, you can see where I’m coming from.

Since there isn’t much about you out there, can you tell our readers a little bit about your background and interests?

I’d disagree. I think there’s a lot on sites and in reviews about me. Look at my bio, and you’ll find my career pretty well covered, I think. My interests, besides writing, are my family, my cat Mickey, my aquarium, my yard, and getting together with writer friends around here: Joe Lansdale, Bill Spencer, Brad Denton, and Don Webb.

What first led you to the world of writing? Why do you think you chose to pursue a career in it?

I’ve been asked before what led me to the world of writing. first, all writers started out as readers. I really have no idea how I became a writer. I didn’t choose it. It was just always there. I never said “I’ll be a writer.” I just was. That’s truly the way it happened.

Which genre do you most prefer to write in most?

No question on this one. the short story. I think it brings together the character’s story in such a way that one can’t do in a novel. I’ve done novels, and enjoyed doing them. but a short story is, if you’ll pardon the excessive language: a gem, a small, encased perfection. No writing, in my opinion, comes close to the really good short story.

Some of your works though not Westerns themselves have a distinct Western flair.Why do you think the whole Western slant has always had such appeal?

I’ve done westerns, but I see where you’re going with this. I’d say many of us in the Southwest have regional qualities to our work. Sometimes people complain about regionalism,but if you look around, you’ll find New York, Michigan, California,Maine, etc. writers. Why not? It’s the natural thing to do.

I heard that you have a story about your cat and dog teaming up to raid your pantry. Is that true?

Yes, that’s true. My wife and I kept seeing the dog peek around the corner, check us out now and then. Finally, I got up and went to the kitchen and found the cat on a high pantry shelf dropping bags of dog treats down to the dog. My question, knowing cats: What was in it for the cat?

Do you enjoy working on screenplays? How is it different from your other works?

I love working on screenplays. I also love writing comics. It’s about the same thing. In movies you have storyboards, a picture showing a scene, then another. Same thing with screenplays. I have written over a thousand pages of comics. I love to do it, love screenplays.

What is your favorite movie of all time?

 My favorite movie of all time? I have to put a few in there: Battle of Brtitain, Dam Busters, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, and Blade Runner. Many more, of course.

What one subject have you yet to cover would you most like to bring to the public next?

Hard to answer that one. There are a lot of things I have going, and I’m NOT going to talk about them here! I’ll say I’ve got several sf stories in the works, as usual, a couple of political projects, and a real scary horror movie.

Where you surprised to be named Author Emeritus by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America?

Yes, surprised. And greatly pleased.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Cordwainer Smith, Terry Bisson, Lawrence Block, China Mieville, John R. Maxim, Alan Furst, Bartle Bull, Patrick O’Brian, and a lot more.

I want to be with those who know secret things or else alone.

                                      –Rilke

The Queen

She can move in any direction,

but can’t break the boundaries of the grid.

None can.

No leaving the field.

And even though the board is preset at the beginning,

it morphs into countless situations.

I cannot say for certain if it’s finite,

though the plane itself has edges.

But if the big bang is an explosion still expanding,

those most ancient, outermost parts lead

to John describing this, then continue

on ever more molecular levels of space inside and out him.

So no matter how random the point

something begins from seems to be,

there becomes, that moment and thereafter, the pre-beginning,

like a chessboard set for the very first move.

It makes no difference that the start is arranged,

that it’s “set up,”

that there’s a beginning and an end.

That life lasts as long as the game continues.

To measure time we pick a random moment to begin.

Light moves.

There is no point in being light if you don’t.

The dark it moves into reveals itself.

From Favorite Bedtimes Stories (Salmon Poetry, 2014)

John FitzGerald is a poet, writer, editor and attorney for the disabled in Los Angeles. A dual citizen of the United States and Ireland, he attended UCLA and the University of West Los Angeles School of Law, where he was editor of the Law Review. His newest collection of poetry, The Mind, was published by Salmon Poetry in 2011. The poetry collection Favorite Bedtime Stories is forthcoming from Salmon Poetry in 2014. His first book, Spring Water, was a Turning Point Books prize selection in 2005. Telling Time by the Shadows was released in April 2008 by Turning Point Books. As yet unpublished works include Primate, a novel and screenplay, the non-fiction The People of the Net.

He has contributed to the anthologies Poetry: Reading it, Writing it, Publishing it (Salmon Poetry), Dogs Singing: A Tribute Anthology (Salmon Poetry), and From the Four-Chambered Heart: In Tribute to Anais Nin (Sybaritic Press) as well as to many literary magazines, notably The Warwick Review, Barnwood Mag, Askew Poetry Journal, Spillway, and Lit Bridge.

“The poet is a pariah, an anomaly.”
~ Henry Miller

Saint Pariah

Sings

“This is the time

For me and you”

He’s seen

Crumbled names

Of old

Grow green

Amid

Oceans of

Blood

Carried

Onto land

In vessels of

Evolution

Destined to

Crowd

Rhythm’s

Ancient shore

Where

Temporary

Eyes

Drown

Saint Pariah

Kneeling

Down

To touch

A tombstone

He cares about

Because he cares

About the about

And the when

And the why

He will be

Categorized

When he dies

Wishing

All would stop

Dying

Without meaning

Or purpose

These words could

Go on forever

If forever

Didn’t wear down

Indecipherable

Beneath

The great

Divide