3rd Anniversary as Writer

This Halloween marks the 3rd anniversary of the day I began my professional writing career. It was October 31st, 2003 when I first sat down to write "Dancing with the Moon" with the intent on seeing it published. I knew the moment I started typing this brand new story from my head onto screen, I wanted it to be read by as many people as possible. At least that is what I felt that day. Since then as I continued working on the project and reasearching publishers, I felt a little more wary each day that the public would hate my work and that my stories would have no merit to them.

But as I completed the work several months later and began the arduous task of self-editting it, I felt convinced that I had gold on my hands. Later when my friends got back to me after the book's May release date, they reaffirmed my faith in my writing abillity and totally validated my intentions and dreams of writing good, heartfelt, solid horror of a whole new genre where emotions and characters break and shatter stereotypes and heroes and villians are not as they appear to be. I wanted so much out of my stories and my friends and fans have thus far confirmed to me that I generously delivered.

So on this Halloween, I plan to restructure some ideas I've had and begin work on the sequel to the book that got me started.

An Interview I had with Kristin Johnson, author

The following is a transcript of an interview I provided for author and poet Kristin Johnson of Poems for You.com and book reviewer from MyShelf.com. This interview was submitted sometime last year and details some of my ideas as a writer. Enjoy!

David Conlin McLeod will soon release his fourth book, the prequel to the Dragon's Tear Chronicle that began with Dancing With The Moon. David has also published Two Past Twilight and The Audition. I'm a reviewer and fan of David's books, Two Past Twilight, http://www.myshelf.com/horror/04/twopasttwilight.html, Dancing With The Moon, http://www.myshelf.com/horror/03/dancingwiththemoon.html, and The Audition.
I was curious as to what makes this soulful horror writer, who focuses on vampires as people (much like Anne Rice and Brandon Massey as well as Laurell K. Hamilton), tick, and he kindly sent me his own dream interview:

Kristin: What makes your work in horror different than already established horror writers?

David Conlin McLeod: “I try to illustrate different shades of what is evil, what is horror, and what is terrifying. In the realm of fiction where anything is possible, I try to base much of what I do on shades or varying levels of reality, to not only give the fear or horror plausibility, but to give my readers points of reference. I also try to inject elements of common ground and twist them around to get fears we least expect. I want to try and take what you know and show you something about it that you wouldn’t want to know, twist it and make it somehow more frightening than what is on the obvious surface.”
Kristin: So pretty much the old saying, “Things are not as they seem”?
David Conlin McLeod: “Basically, but I apply it with heroes as well as villains and situations. That’s another difference I inject in my stories. Even the heroes of my stories have a little shade of evil, taint, or impurity. As in reality, nobody is perfect. I want to show dimension in my characters. I’m tired of cardboard, carbon copies of stereotyped heroes and villains. Even my villains have a lighter side to them or at least a cause or motivation behind their evils--as opposed to being evil for the sake of being evil.”

Kristin: It seems you like writing about underdogs, mostly young children or teenagers. It also seems as though these characters share some very common traits, is there a reason behind it?

David Conlin McLeod “Well, what happens to get published of my work is only a percentage of my total works, but generally I do tend to work with patterns, themes, and symbolism. I tend to identify most with children and teenagers, partly because it’s my own opinion that they have the most to be afraid of. They seem to face the most challenges when I think about it. They live in a big world where everything is sort of coming at them all at once, and seldom can they exert any kind of real control. I mean, they have parents telling them what to do, teachers dictate to them, bullies, childhood fears, their own development into adulthood, peer pressure, violence, and all that. I want to tap into that fear, because it makes no sense having heroes or protagonists facing death and not having felt fear. The full-grown macho, gun toting hero who fears no evil has been done too many times to count. I also like to write about kids and teens because there are so many ways to approach them. They are really at the Crossroads in their lives. They could be innocent, jaded, cynical, or whatever. I find adult characters to pretty much have set issues and personalities and motivations. They are what they are and seem too old to change much of who they are. They have too many experiences that have shaped them. “Now about patterns, most of my main characters happen to symbolize innocence and people with struggles that are both ordinary and also extreme. It is their innocence that is generally in danger. The other common trait I inject in these characters is that they have dreams, wishes, or secrets. They have something worth fighting for and something intimate that they can draw inspiration or strength from. Unlike a hero with weapons or guns, these heroes rely on the strength that resides within them.”

Kristin: I have noticed that in the books, “Dancing with the Moon”, “Two Past Twilight”, and “The Audition," there are main characters mostly drawn to ballet or gymnastics. Is there something behind that too?

David Conlin McLeod: “There’s a lot behind the characters’ interests and loves of ballet or gymnastics. In the case of the story “Wish” as featured in 'Two Past Twilight', I injected gymnastics for the character Alyssa based on a dare among some friends of mine. I normally write strictly vampire stuff, and they dared me to throw in the subject of gymnastics. So I did, but with a twist. I turned gymnastics into something innocent, but also the antagonist’s tool. It became the focal point of struggle. Also with gymnastics in that story, I sort of shed some light on the inherent fears some girls have when approaching that sport for the first time. With ballet, I find ballet beautiful and fascinating. I use ballet as a tool to bolster the imagery of innocence, grace, poise, and things that are fragile. This is very much the case with Amy in 'Dancing with the Moon'. She’s innocence incarnate. Everything about her is extremely innocent, beautiful, playful, and fragile. She is the heroine of that book and that series that will develop who has the most to lose, but what she does have keeps her strong and persistent. Her life revolves ound ‘dancing’ around the evils she encounters. She tries to avoid pain suffering, and things that hurt. It is very much the same for Paige in 'The Audition'.

Kristin: Why female main characters? Is there some reason why all your heroes are female?

David Conlin McLeod: “For some bizarre reason beyond my own understanding, I find them challenging to write about, but also more enjoyable to create and build situations around. I guess as a guy, it seems strange and seemingly unnatural for my fascination with female characters, but if my work had mostly male heroes, I think I would get sort of bored with my efforts. I write challenging characters. Male heroes don’t generally challenge me enough. I mean I don’t want to fall into a rut where I inject some male stereotype into a hero role. With females, I don’t readily think of stereotypes I am familiar with. With writing male heroes, it seems like all I can think about are archetypes that have been done to death.”

Kristin: I have also noted that you seem to inject the theme of child abuse in much of your works. Is there something to that? Why do you choose to base much of your characters in abusive environments?

David Conlin McLeod: “Well it’s a tad complicated. Mostly it’s because I want to illustrate that whole ‘shades of evil’ thing. Evil and hurt can come from many sources and not all of them are entirely fictional. I try to establish contrast. Here’s where the character comes from and why she has what she has and why she relies on the strength she manages to save. Then you see where she’s going and can see that there are greater evils or lesser evils or whatever have you. You see where she succeeds and what made her motivated to succeed. But I want to stress that it is all about character development, how my characters deal with the environments that shape them. How do they deal with extreme situations, or everyday life? How do they deal with cruelty? I suppose I also want to show or illustrate that child abuse is a real danger, not something to be taken lightly. It is the kind of danger that is not only found in fiction. The main characters who happen to be children are sending the message, 'This is how we suffer, and this is how we deal with it. If parents don’t stop, this is how we rise up or fall.' So I guess my stories have some moral lessons in them. I do find myself wanting to write stories that make the readers think, feel, and get something to carry with them for a while, why not some messages about taking care of the young kids among us?”

Kristin: Okay, simple question. Where do you get your ideas for your stories?

David Conlin McLeod: “Well they all spawn from ‘What if’ situations. What if a girl’s wishes were granted, but granted by someone possessing a dark, evil sense of humor? That was the basis for 'Wish'. ‘What if a girl’s grandmother was a vampire?’ That was the basic, basic premise behind ‘Dancing with the Moon.’ ‘What if a ghost story was in fact told by the ghosts themselves?’ That is where ‘Ghost Story’ came from. Lots of these questions and scenarios get their start from ideas I conjure up from shows like 'The Twilight Zone' or 'Night Gallery'. I also get some ideas from fiction I have read and generally find some way to bend situations and plot ideas around my own personal experiences and preferences.”

Kristin: Who are some of your literary influences and why?

David Conlin McLeod: “Stephen King, right off the bat. He, in my mind, taught me everything I know about honest stories and honest characters. He taught me through his many works what it takes to share a story with the reader and not just dictate it or tell it. I want to walk you through the story, be there by your side and let you explore and roam around a bit. I want to make horror stories that frighten you based on your human experiences and reach you at your level, eye-to-eye, and I think Stephen King has always done this the best. I can only hope to be a fraction as talented as him. Then there is Anne Rice. If Stephen King is my godfather, Anne Rice is the godmother, especially for someone who writes mostly about vampires. She helped me understand that there are no such things as stereotypical vampires. Vampires can be heroes, they can have redemptive values. They can be just as human and humane as us. They can feel. So often that is ignored. Of course I should really be giving credit to Bram Stoker! Without him, we wouldn’t have the vampire at all in contemporary literature, and with Bram Stoker as an influence, he gave history and vampires a direct link. He made me want to believe that vampires do exist. He gave the vampire a solid point of origin. Now as far as other influences are concerned, I have a deep jealousy and respect for J.K. Rowling. I wish I could have some of what she’s got. She has a gift for the imaginative and she is so prolific and makes wonderful worlds and stories. She came from nothing and has become an icon in children’s literature, and yet…she produced works that even adults can enjoy and become engrossed in. She has huge appeal and she deserves every accolade. It’s because of her though that I look down at my efforts in shame half the time. I long for her kind of talent.”

Kristin: What made you decide to choose vampire horror?

David Conlin McLeod: “I regard vampires as the best villains, best tragic heroes, and I find them so fascinating. There are so many stories I could write just based on vampires. I love them. I find so many possibilities in their existences. They deal with so many challenges. They have so much potential for good, as well as evil, and I want to explore more of that potential for good.”

Kristin: Are vampires all you write about? Aren’t you afraid of being typecast?

David Conlin McLeod: “It worked for Anne Rice for the most part. But no, I do plan on writing dark fantasy and maybe one or two erotic thrillers or some science fiction, but in between projects or on the side perhaps. I go where my muse takes me, and she hasn’t let me down yet.”

This article is also available at http://www.poemsforyou.com/davidmcleod.html

Movie reviewer/screenwriter Kristin Johnson composes personalized poems, speeches, toasts, vows, and family memories. Visit http://www.poemsforyou.com to order your personalized memories. She is also co-author of the Midwest Book Review "enthusiastically recommended" pick Christmas Cookies Are For Giving: Stories, Recipes and Tips for Making Heartwarming Gifts (ISBN: 0-9723473-9-9). A downloadable media kit is available at our Web site, http://www.christmascookiesareforgiving.com, or e-mail the publisher (info@tyrpublishing.com) to receive a printed media kit and sample copy of the book. More articles available at http://www.bakingchristmascookies.com

A Little Update

A little update for my fans, friends, and readers...

I have broken the 45 page mark on my lastest book, "While the Wolves Cry: Book Two of the Dragon's Tear Chronicle".

I can also tell you that I am polishing a collection of short stories I have and will probably go through the process of having them published. But the other possibility as I am editting them might be that I find one short story in particular that I may want to expand upon and build up to novel length. So I will update on that soon. I can think of one story now that might be headed for noveldom.

I have also begun final editting "Midnight Rhapsody"; a work that has been about a year in production. If I publish anything within the next year, it will probably be "Midnight Rhapsody" or my collection of short stories or something expanded from it.

There's still many ideas floating about in my head... but I am trying to take things one step at a time.

Now for a little spolier in the Dragon's Tear series...

"While the Wolves Cry" - Book Two will see the return of some very special characters sorely missed in "Dancing with the Moon" and "Chasing Shadows", but they will return not as we might expect them to. I will also say firmly that Amy will have an adventure unlike anything we've seen so far. She will come face to face with whole new dreams and nightmares and this time around the value of friendship will be tested all the more... and the test may not be something she can pass.

I can also say that there are far greater evils for Amy to face than what she saw in the vampire Robert James Whitworth... and these evils only show themselves "While the Wolves Cry"....

If I Were to Cast for Movie Versions of my Books

If I had my choice of actors and actresses to portray my characters from all my books I would instantly and immediately choose the following:

Kevin Spacey as Adam Cavanaugh
Julia Roberts as Beverly Cavanaugh
Morgan Freeman as Amos
Sir Anthony Hopkins as Lord Robert James Whitworth
Liam Neeson as Chief Sheridan
Antonio Banderas as Moon

The rest of the major characters like Amy, Robyne,Tsigane, and Grammy would be tough calls.

Harrison Ford strikes me as a good Chief Sheridan as well...
The youngest central actress in the movie "Mrs. Doubtfire"... Dakota something... would be my 1st choice for playing a young Amy.

Natalie Portman would also make a great Beverly Cavanaugh thinking on it.

Sometimes when I write characters, I do have vivid images of well known faces in the back of my mind and these faces sometimes best resemble well known actors or actresses. With some major characters though it isn't always easy... their faces change almost day to day as does their overall appearence in my mind. It's an odd observation. With Amy, she changed dramatically in my mind between how I imagined her in Dancing with the Moon and Chasing Shadows. But then again, I was covering more of her life's story and progression in Chasing Shadows so I had to see her many faces and expressions. Perhaps in the sequel still in progress I will get a new Amy?

Robyne in her Own Words - About Gymnastics

"To me gymnastics is a lot more than just a sport where pretty girls doll themselves up and slink into those skimpy leotards and flip around and dance all prettily and stuff... To me gymnastics is about having guts and courage. It takes a lot of balls to stand in front of crowd and be judged for every tiny little detail. It takes fearlessness to subject yourself to all the criticism, training, pressure, dieting, physical work, and mental anxiety... and for what? A score? Five seconds to two minutes of routine followed by a number score on a flashing board? All your hard work hangs on the approval of a panel of judges and if you make one mistep or screw up some tiny bit... who will respect you and pat you on the back?"

"That is fear... fear that you may fail and lose everything... fear that that score is all you'll ever be to these people. It's not always about the eating disorders and fatigue and injuries and mental games you play with yourself. It's ultimately about proving to someone or yourself that you're good enough. You're good enough to hurl your body in the air and land on your feet. You're good enough to look past the judges and think beyond the crowds of people hoping you screw up or do something awesome and spectacular. It goes way beyond being afraid of your own body in a skin tight leotard. If you can go beyond all the bull... and look back at that score and shrug it off...and go on to the next day... and still love yourself and love what you are doing... you are fearless."

"For me, I love the thrill of flying. I love the feeling of making everyone around me catch their breath. I love having control over something... my emotions, my body, and my fears. And when I land from my Yurchenko or Tsukahara vault routine and look at that score... no matter if it's a 1.0 or a 9.75 or something... I can still say, at least I wasn't afraid."

"I may not control much in my life right now... but damn it, I will control my gymnastics... and gymnastics will never control me. And for once in my life I will not be afraid to fly."

These words capture the essence of Robyne's attitude and help illustrate how I use something not quite typical horror fare- a sport like gymnastics- to show you a shade of fear and a different type of horror and courage. Sports novels are everywhere and they pretty much talk of courage and guts and glory... but do they ever talk about the fear so much? Do they explain why the athlete needs so much guts and courage? Do they really explain what glory is? Or do they simply fill your head with imagery and statistics? Maybe the sports novel is more about drama, but lacking in why it is drama? It's just an opinion.

With Robyne, there is a lot more going on that we don't see. But through her gymnastics routines we do catch a glimpse of it. We may gradually learn why she is seeking fearlessness. We may eventually get to know what she is running away from and why. And if we watch closely, we may see the strength she needs to stop running away and start facing that thing she fears most.

Chasing Shadows: Tales of East River... still available at www.publishamerica.com at a reasonable price. Check it out.

Chasing Shadows : Robyne Sheridan

Robyne Sheridan is one of those characters that I have written that will continue to grow and be nurtured, much like how Amy Cavanaugh has grown and been nurtured. Robyne is many things to many people in the town of East River, but to me, as her author and creator, she is in many ways a reflection of every girl I've known and also a very vivid reflection of me and how I was growing up in elementary school.

I drew directly from the isolation I felt as a kid. I drew directly from my experiences with bullies and self-destructive thoughts and low self-esteem and all that childhood trauma and drama. But the difference is, I gave Robyne the guts and strength and attitude I never had in myself at the time. Robyne represented to me, everything I wanted to be growing up. I wanted to have the courage and the guts to stand up for myself. I wanted the inner strength and the spitfire attitude.

It wasn't until much later, as I got involved with my volunteer work and moved on to middle school and high school that I started to grow my proverbial spine so to speak. And I think I threw much of my own personal development and insights into Robyne's thinking as well.

Now as for her own identity- what she knows or feels connected to anyway- Robyne to me represents someone in constant search of her true self. She is constantly searching for ways to catergorize herself or define her personality. She hates labels, yet she uses them constantly in defining who she is. She is lost and confused and in a constant state of change and re-evaluation. She is a teenager... she is a tomboy... she is a lesbian... she's a Christian... she's someone's bully, a friend, an older secret sister, she's a gymnast, an aloof spoiled brat, a victim, a survivor... she's lots of different things. In the end though, she keeps asking herself if what she is remains fixed. Is she sure she knows who she is?

A good portion of this book follows Robyne's inner journey towards self-acceptance. I explore the demons this girl faces- so in a sense the book is a different shade of horror. It is more of a human story- a drama really exploring the darkness that keeps someone like Robyne from being at peace with herself.

But Robyne comes with a huge brightness- much like Amy's inner light. Robyne does eventually find her inner strength... and she learns how to draw upon it to help her friend Amy. How she goes about finding something she never knew she had though... well that's the story isn't? I can't spoil it. You really need to sit and enjoy the book.

Chasing Shadows: Tales of East River

My fourth book, "Chasing Shadows: Tales of East River" was released August 29th, 2005. It is to date my largest work at 555 pages. It is also the work I am most proud of and most pleased with so far as story, plot, and character development and attachment is concerned. I also enjoy holding the book in my hand and flipping through the pages... I feel so accomplished seeing it all before my eyes.

I love the fact that I can read each scene on its own and get a fulfilling image or feeling inside of me. Each scene lingers and stays with me.

There is much I could talk about when it comes to this book, but I have no idea where to begin.

I wrote it mainly to set the readers up for "Dancing with the Moon", but to also tell stories about my favorite character, Amy and the town in which she lives in. I had in my mind millions of little scenes, characters, and stories that wanted to pour out of my brain and onto the computer screen... so I leaned back, took a few deep breaths and let it all flood out of me.

I would be sitting at the computer for hours a night typing and thinking and reading and typing until my eyes were bloodshot and hot with pain. And in the end, I would see the book grow from 20 pages to 50 pages to 75-100 pages in less than a month. I was averaging 10-15 pages a night religiously. And it all came out so easily and effortlessly. I was so comfortable in this world I created. I wanted to stay locked in it forever. A part of me still does.

It is an addiction... thank God it is a healthy one eh?

Anyhow, I will speak more of this book later on as more thoughts become organized in my head.

The Vampire, Moon

The character Moon... who is he really and what does he want? What does he represent? What sort of vampire is he and why did I write him? What motivates him to want to help Colette rescue Amy?

These were all questions I sought to answer as I allowed him to come to life on his own in my first book, "Dancing with the Moon". They are also questions I am constantly re-visiting as I struggle through the writing of its sequel, "While the Wolves Cry".

Now what I know and what you the reader may know or suspect are probably going to be different in some respects... but one thing we do know: Amy had an effect on him and he wasn't the same vampire or being at the end of "Dancing with the Moon" as he was when that book began. We know that he has gone through some transition of a serious nature. Not just the transition from mortal to vampire, but from indifferent thief/vagabond prankster to now a humanisitic, thoughtful being now clasping a little more desperately to his mortal nature. He isn't necessarily the same predator as he was before.

So why did he wish to save Amy? At first it was about the prize. He never did anything for free before and even then he didn't do anything without somehow cheating a person or without looking for some profit or advantage to be had. Most of this thinking came from Tsigane, his mentor. Tsigane was the true Gypsy of the pair. But... deep down, past all the bullshit, past the things Tsigane taught him or encouraged in him, there was something inside Moon that made him virtuous and noble in a sense. He didn't cheat Colette in the end and he didn't try and swindle her or look for some cheap short cut in saving Amy from Lord Whitworth. What made him take on this task out of the kindness of his heart? For that answer, you only have to look at Amy.

Amy was just a girl. She was of no value to the vampiric world. She didn't offend anyone and she didn't challenge or judge anyone. She didn't ask to be kidnapped or enslaved. She just wanted her Grammy and to dance like a good ballerina. The girl was innocent. And the only value Moon could see in Amy at first was that she was someone Colette was worth dying and killing for. Where Moon might have seen just another harmless mortal he may or may not drink from... Colette saw Amy as the source of her life. And if she was that important to Colette, then she was worth something.... therefore it was in Moon's interests at first to get something out of this bond.

Ah... but what he got was what Amy was willing to give... she wanted a bond with Moon. Moon was going to save her from the mean and nasty monsters and scary people. For that, Amy was going to make a special bond with Moon. Moon became a magical thing to Amy, a source of inspiration and strength. She worshiped Moon. And in time Moon felt that bond and found himself respecting it and nurturing it. Moon also began to understand through Amy and her perspective, that there were far more valuable things in life than rich stuff and rewards. There was love for family, friends, and loved ones. Life itself in all its varied forms was more valuable than personal gain.

At first sure, Moon was motivated by simple night by night survival. And he was drawn to luxuries in this life that he couldn't acquire in his mortal years. And he wanted to belong to something. He wanted to impress Tsigane to some extent, but he mostly wanted a place he could call his own and find a niche of some kind. I think even in the book he was still trying to find his place- which goes to show some people even after hundreds of years, never truly find themselves. Maybe it is beacuse they simply can't see past the end of their own noses. I think by the end of the book though Amy helps him to see things more clearly in front of him.

So going into the sequel, Moon will have much to dwell upon and he will have the "Dragon's Tear" to maybe help him or hinder him in his times of introspection. He will be evaluating his beliefs and his motivations. He will have to re-evaluate his goals as well.

I think to sum up, Moon may not be a true Gypsy by blood, but he most certainly is a wanderer and one without a true home to call his own. He was used to flying by the seat of his pants, but now I think Amy has shown him things that will change his life considerably. He is becoming a more thoughtful person. Maybe he will sink into angst, or maybe he will lash out and demand of himself to go back t0 where he was? Maybe he will see that a vampire cannot afford to have such emotions as compassion getting in the way of survival... we shall see. But certainly some of the answers may lie in the gemstone he wears about his neck.

A pastel work I found that in my mind depicts Amy in every detail.

"Amy" and I Talk About Her Favorite Place.... "Babbling Brook"

Hi, my name is Amy! I like my Babbling Brook beacuse it tells me things I like to hear when I feel sad or lonely. I like to sit and listen to the water. And it is magic. It tells me when it is nice out and sunny and bright and happy.

Why is that Amy? How does the brook talk to you?

That's a silly question... it just does. It's a nice brook. It helps like Grammy helps when I do ballet.

What kinds of things does "Babbling Brook" say to you Amy?

Only nice things to make me feel better if I am sad or scared. Sometimes I see things or hear bad names and means words that make me feel really hurt. I run away from the mean people and hide on my bridge so I can see the water and feel good again. I hate mean people that make fun of me. It's not nice that people make fun of me beacuse I am kinda different.

How are you different Amy? You don't look different than anyone else here... you look pretty and well behaved for a girl your age.

They call me bad names beacuse I am not smart as they are. They call me "Retard" and that is a BAD name! I hate it. But Grammy loves me and she says I am VERY smart. I go to the pretty brook and it says I am smart too 'cus I know how to listen and be good. It cheers me up. If I look in the water sometimes I can see things that are happy.

You see happy things in the water, like what Amy?

I see frogs, bugs, fishies, and colors.... sometimes I can see my face in the water and see myself smile. That's happy isn't it?

It sure is. What else is special about your special place?

It is a friendship place. I have a friend named Robyne and she is my age and we have lunch sometimes on the bridge and have burping contests and we sing songs and dance sometimes. We are best friends.

Grammy says I need to go now... she wants to teach me ballet some more! I have to put on my pretty tights and a leotard I like. Okay? So bye-bye!!!!!

Thank you Amy for sharing.... have fun then.

So you see.... even the youngest among us and the least little things like a bridge over a stream can show us something profound. There are "happy" places waiting for us. And mean people do suck... and mentally challenged girls do have feelings too and shouldn't be called names. And friends are the best things on Earth. And seeing yourself smile can make you happy.

You might ask what sort of writer I am who has conversations with his own characters... what sort of writer am I who believes his characters have souls, feelings, emotions, dreams, and conversations...

My answer... hopefully a writer that cares more about the story and the characters than the black and white words on the page. Hopefully I am the kind of writer that evokes images, memories, feelings, and maybe even sounds.... like the sounds of Amy plunking stones in a brook.

D.

This is a photo I took a year or so ago in Darien, Connecticut. In my mind this bridge is as close to "Amy's Bridge" as can be. I can picture Amy here plunking stones in the water, listening to her "Babbling Brook" 

A simple cover again, like "Dancing with the Moon". I wanted to keep the same mysterious theme I had with the other covers. Acrylic on canvasboard and tweaked on Photoshop. 

Another cover I painted... but this one was acrylic on canvas board for more detail. I painted a more complete version of this on a true canvas later. This cover is by far my favorite. This is the cover for my lastest work, "Chasing Shadows: Tales of East River" 

I painted this cover with acrylics on illustration board. I then scanned it and tweaked it in Photoshop. It was based on a photograph I saw on-line of a girl dancing along a beach. 

The Audition

Now I thought I might talk about my 3rd published work, "The Audition". This story was sort of in my mind a couple years ago, even before I started writing it. The idea was inspired by the budding interests I had in ballet as an art form- and as a piece of literary symbolism. I like watching ballerinas for the simple fact that I can appreciate the art form, the poise, the grace, the expressiveness of the dance form. I can also appreciate the hard work and training that goes into being a sucessfull, professional dancer, as an outside sorta peeking in.

In any event, I went into writing "The Audition" from the perspective of a lonely, despressed, but spirited young girl who hoped to escape her dismal surroundings. Her parents are getting a divorce. Her classmates treat her like garbage. She is among the "have nots" in a town caught up in labels and social pecking order. She has the feeling that the whole world is against her. The only thing she has that seems stable is her dreams of one day being a ballerina.

Now this story runs along the same parallel lines as "Dancing with the Moon" and "Wish". But I wanted to focus not on a character who is a victim or someone dependent on others for help and guidance. I wanted to illustrate a character that finds her own way and calls up her own inner strength and uses it. The character, Paige Tucker, sees a challenge and picks herself up and faces that challenge in her own unique way.

Now the horror element of this is that there is always someone trying to keep a girl down. And in my mind, I wanted to explore an alternate villian than one presented in "Wish". The villian in fact is a very alluring, seductive ballet mistress who is charismatic enough to twist and contort Paige's dreams against her in such a way that Paige can hardly find alternatives but to submit to this unusual stranger. The idea is that this villian of sorts is trying to see how far Paige is willing to go to achieve her dream. Would she be willing to enslave herself for her ballet ambitions?

And some of my fans may be thinking, "Geez another situation of slavery... or power and control..."

Yes... beacuse I think in most horror, there is always some form of power or control being put into question. Anytime you are placed face-to-face with something you fear, you must make a choice to either control your emotions or submit to them.... and in my brand of horror at least the source of fear is not always internal... and is generally in the form of a villian of some kind.

But in "The Audition" where one might assume that a young girl eventually caves into a strong dominant woman's wishes to enslave her... you'll see that Paige isn't all she appears to be either... and sometimes it's the shy, quiet ones that have the most to say.

D.