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Our next interview is with Russell Smeaton, author of the brilliant Apples & Snail Trails, Book 32 in the Short Sharp Shocks! series. Recently Dean and Russell sat down to chat.
DEMAIN PUBLISHING: Hello Russell. For your new readers, can you tell us a little about yourself and how you became a writer. RUSSELL SMEATON: Hi. So as you’ve probably guess my name is Russell Smeaton. I’m a 40-something (ahem) writer, living in the North East of England. I’ve spent a bit of time travelling around, but seem to have found my perfect place up by the North Sea. Why did I become a writer? That’s a great question, and I probably don’t really have a good answer. I don’t really consider myself to be a writer. I’m more someone who has loads of ideas floating around my head that occasionally make their way to paper. DP: Ah, well good for you. I would say that you are definitely a writer and we truly loved both of your stories...can you tell us something about your stories. RS: I dabble with a few different ideas, but I’ll try and sneak in a cat into quite a few. DP: I love writers that do things like that. In some of my own stories I drop little ‘secrets’ in and have actually started linking a lot of work together. I’m not sure whether anybody notices (or even cares!) but it gives me a smile. A good friend of mine created this character called Candide who I absolutely loved so now and again Candide does get a mention...can you say something about your protagonists? RS: In Apples, the main characters are father and daughter. I lent heavily on my own experience of being a dad – my daughter is often telling me what to do, and I generally do it. She’s usually right. DP: Did you have to do much research this time around? RS: I’m very lazy so generally try to write about stuff I know. I’ll do a little bit of research from time to time to fact check stuff, just to ensure a bit of credibility. I’m in the process of drafting out my first attempt at a novel (stop the press!) so I’ve had to go to the library a few times to read up on English history. Luckily for me they have a comprehensive kids section which is about the level of my historical research. DP: English history? Cool – sounds very much up my street. Make sure you think of DEMAIN when it comes to publication...for your Short Sharp Shocks! were there any scenes which you found difficult to write? RS: Action scenes are something I’ve been experimenting with. Writing weird fiction often involves, well, weird stuff and not necessarily action stuff. I think to actively get across a sense of excitement through words is no easy feat. Also, genuine fear. So far, I’ve only read one short story (by a wonderful writer called Michael Wehunt) that has actually scared me – and if I can ever achieve that feeling of fear, then I can happily bottle it up and sell it! DP: Oh that would be really cool to check out...creatively Russell what would you say is your biggest success? RS: That’s a good question. Way back in 1997 the band I was playing had a record contract and we released an album so that was pretty exciting. As I was the drummer, I can’t really take too much credit for that. So, I’ll go with my first Kickstarter. It was quite modest, a series of postcards featuring some pictures I created. It was a bit of a gamble as I only had a small amount of people interested, so I was over the moon when it reaches its goal. It didn’t make any money, but for me it was a big deal. I also kickstarted my first book collection, which was exciting. I stupidly funnelled all the profits into the book so came out with no profit. But the book looked lovely, with black inlays – something I’m very proud to have completed. DP: A man with many talents. Never give up is my motto whatever your creative field is, the hard work will pay off in the end. So what books (or authors!) do you read and do they have an influence? RS: I try and read all sorts, graphic novels as well as books. It’s hard to say the direct influence I get, but I’m without a doubt swayed by certain things, certain moods that other writers achieve. Writing is a continual learning process for me, so I’m always discovering something new. If you’re looking for names of things, then I’ll have to go with the classics like Lovecraft or Clark Ashton Smith, and then move forward in time to Kurt Vonnegut and Jack Kerouac. Another author I keep coming back to is Martin Millar, who wrote The Good Fairies of New York. I absolutely love that book, and I think that might be the one biggest influence on what I try and achieve. DP: Another book for me to check out. I love doing these interviews because I’m learning so much...with that in mind, what is ‘horror’ to you? RS: This depends on my mood. Some days horror is a big monster hiding under the bed, some days it’s the uncertainty of daily existence, other days it’s the loss of loved ones, or the crushing realisation that everything is just a bit pointless. I could go on. Ask me on a specific day and I’ll tell you something different. DP: Sometimes I wonder myself if it is all pointless...anyway anyway...is there a genre book or film you’re looking forward to reading / seeing? RS: I’m woefully out of date with modern developments. I’ve been recently re-reading older books and thoroughly enjoying them. I’m friends with quite a lot of writers via Facebook, most of whom have things in the pipeline, and that’s always something to look forward to as well. I’m still waiting for a decent Lovecraft movie, and whilst there’s lots of talk of the Nicholas Cage movie, I’m not sure I’m looking forward to it! We’ll see. DP: You mean the one directed by Richard Stanley? (it’s brilliant – I saw an early cut – hopefully you’ll love it too). Is there anything that Russell Smeaton is afraid of? RS: I’m afraid of plucking my bellybutton too hard and somehow becoming unravelled. I’m not sure if that’s ever worked its way into my stories. Not yet anyway! DP: Haha what a great idea – please write that. I’m laughing to myself wondering whether there is actually a sub-genre of ‘belly button horror’. I was going to google it but then stopped. Just in case. Ha ha. Creatively is there something you haven’t yet achieved? RS: I’m in the process of creating a game with some friends. Whether it will amount to anything we shall see, but it’s an exciting thing to see morph and develop. DP: Good luck with that. Okay, couple of fun questions. Marvel or DC? RS: Zap comics for me! DP: Nice. And finally then, can you tell us something surprising about you? RS: I dunno – I don’t think I have any secrets anymore! Social media is great, but it’s all out there, eh? I have a few tattoos, that usually surprises people? Thank you Russell for your time. The best of luck with your Short Sharp Shocks! which is out on the 27th September. If you would like to connect directly with Russell: Website: https://facebook.com/tikirussy Twitter: twitter.com/tikirussy
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CategoriesArchives
November 2023
AuthorDean M. Drinkel |