Author Interview & Contest with Lincoln Crisler

My second author interview this weekend is with Lincoln Crisler! His new book Magick and Misery is coming out soon and I am looking forward to reading it.

Read the interview and then enter the contest for your chance to win an ARC of Magick and Misery!

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Amber - Welcome to Amberkatze's Book Blog! It is great to have you as a guest here and I hope you will enjoy your time here ;) Maybe you can start things off for us by telling my readers a bit about your upcoming release MAGICK & MISERY?

Lincoln - MAGICK & MISERY is my second collection of short horror and dark fiction stories, several of which are previously unpublished. It also includes two reprints, one from Shroud's ABOMINATIONS anthology and another from my out-of-print OUR SHADOWS SPEAK anthology. There's everything inside from zombies to supernatural creatures to the simple horrors of human existence. It's being released this summer by Nick Grabowsky's Black Bed Sheet Books.

Amber - How was the idea for MAGICK & MISERY born? Was it a long process or something that just came to you?

Lincoln - Well, when you write short stories the natural tendency is to send them to magazines and anthologies for publication and then to collect them in a book when you have enough. As for time-frame, a couple of these stories are from 2006 and were written during my deployment to Afghanistan (as were most of the stories in my first collection, DESPAIRS & DELIGHTS) and the last was finished early this year.

Amber - How much research did you have to for MAGICK & MISERY?

Lincoln - For some of the stories, I had the pleasure of making it all up! Some of the others drew on my experiences growing up in the inner city and another was inspired by my love of Isaac Asimov's robots growing up. 'Old Stooping Lugh,' which first appeared in ABOMINATIONS, required the most actual research. It's set in early 20th century Boston, when the Irish and Italian gangs had the city split up. I really wanted to make sure the setting was authentic, so I think I spent more time researching than writing the story. This is the second time the work's seeing print, though, so I'd say it's paid off!

Amber - MAGICK & MISERY is due out soon but what other projects are you working on?

Lincoln - I'm writing my first horror novel right now, about a stage magician who has trouble with rejection. I'm also working on various novellas in progress. I won't name names right now, but a small-press publisher I'd be very happy to work with has indicated that they'll look at a book from me early next year, no matter what their website says about submissions, so I'm thinking a trio (or foursome even) of novellas might do the trick.

Amber - How did you end up being a writer? Was it something you always wanted to do?

Lincoln - It's not something I've always wanted to do; it's something I've always done, with the exception of five years between 2000-2005. I've been telling stories on paper since I could hold a pencil. They've been worth selling (and I've been focused on an eventual career as a professional) for the past three years or so.

Amber - Are you a full-time writer? What kind of jobs have you had in the past? Have any of them helped your writing?

Lincoln - I'm not a full-time writer; I'm actually an Active Duty soldier in the US Army. It's definitely helped my writing. I had ADD growing up and without learning discipline from my training I don't know if I'd be able to complete projects successfully. I've been in the service since 2000 and the plan is to retire in twelve years when I'm 38. By then, I hope to have made it to the big leagues!

Amber - What books do you like to read when you have time? Do you have any must read authors/series?

Lincoln - I always read the new Stephen King book when it comes out; some are better than others, but I think he's hit a streak with the last few he's put out since CELL. I'm an official reviewer for Leisure Books and Bloody Books and they keep me pretty busy. There are a few other authors and publishers that send me review material, too. I feel very loved. I review most of what I read (and if I can't read it for fun, I just put the book down) on my website.

Amber - How do you relax?

Lincoln - When I finally do ever relax, I'll let you know how I did it. I work twelve hours a day (with time in there to work on my writing/research and go to school), plus I'm working on all the projects we've discussed, PLUS I'm doing coursework towards my Bachelor's degree. The closest I come to taking a break is having my allotted three beers a night after I get off shift, and you know what? Some nights I have the laptop with me then, too!

Amber - Lots of authors have playlists for their books. What music or bands would find their place on a playlist for MAGICK & MISERY?

Lincoln - My musical tastes are so diverse and the time frame during which MAGICK's stories were written is so wide that I can't nail down a specific playlist for the book. When I'm writing in general, though, I have several playlists on iTunes. There's a Celtic Punk one (i.e., Pogues, Murphys, Flogging Molly) an R&B one (i.e., Sade, John Legend, Rihanna, T-Pain) and a Rock one (i.e., Daughtry, Audioslave, Tool, Nonpoint). Right now I'm really into the latest albums from Nikka Costa, Chris Cornell and The Streets.

Amber - If you could be any paranormal creature what would you be and why?

Lincoln - I'd go with the Vampire. I don't think I'd really want to live forever, exactly, but a few hundred years might be cool. When I finally got bored, I'd just walk out into the sun.

Amber - You are stranded on a desert island. What 5 things do you hope to have with you?

Lincoln - Computer with satellite internet, a case of scotch whisky, sugar, yeast and brewing materials!

Amber - Thank you so much for being a guest on Amberkatze's Book Blog.

Lincoln - Thank you so much for having me!

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Contest Time!

Lincoln has very kindly said he will give the winner of this contest a PDF ARC copy of his new book MAGICK & MISERY!

To enter the contest tell us what book you are reading right now!

No Book Title = No entry!

The usual rules apply!

Earn another entry for each place you link this contest on the net. Make sure you add links here for me to confirm your entries!

You can also earn extra entries by emailing your friends about the contest. Just make sure you send a copy of your email or receipt to me at Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot net.

The contest will stay open until Sunday 21st of June 2009 4pm CET and the winner will be picked by a randomizer. Entrants should check back to see if they have won. I do not hunt down winners and will pick new winners for any prizes not claimed within 7 days.

If you are claiming a prize, have emailed me and have not heard back before the 7 day limit is up then post a comment here on the blog. Your email may get sucked into my spam filter.