Interview with a Writer *
   by Ahneeta Cracker, Ace reporter for the Coupdevillian Chronicle

I stared out the window of Mugs Shots Cafe, waiting for my interviewee to arrive.  She was running late, which apparently wasn't unheard of with this writer.  I'd heard that J. K. Holmes was a woman of extremes -- early one day, late the next.  Red hair for a month and then back to natural brown only to return to red a few days later.  One thing seemed to remain constant, however.  No one had seen her wearing a dress, or even a skirt, since her wedding day in 2002.

Finally, with fifteen minutes gone from our allotted hour, J. K. arrives.

J. K. Holmes: Sorry I'm late.  I was working on Crimson Swan and had a really good groove going.  (She spoke in an excited voice with hints of a Mississippi drawl.)  I'm talking really good.  It's a fight scene and...well, okay, it's not really a fight scene, but I guess in a way it is.  You see, the protagonist has just escaped from a burning -- Oh, hi. (She interrupted herself to talk to the waiter.) MegaHugeGiganormus White Chocolate Mocha with extra whipped cream and a Big Honkin' Rice Krispie Treat, please.  No, not the chocolate covered one, just the plain.  Thanks.  Okay, now...what was I saying? (She drummed her fingers.)  Huh.  Gone.  Completely.  Guess it wasn't that important.

Ahneeta Cracker: Uh, Ms. Holmes --

J. K.: Call me J. K., please.   "Ms." makes me sound too damn old.

A. C.: Okay...J. K.  We're sort of limited in our time here.  You're busy with writing and I'm busy trying to keep the public informed about all the news that isn't news.

(The waiter brought over the biggest cup of coffee, piled high with a swirling cone of whipped cream, I'd ever seen in my life and set it down very carefully in front of J. K.  He left and returned with a small plate and a Rice Krispie Treat at least two inches thick, four inches long, and two inches wide.)

J. K.: Well, then...(She took a sip of coffee and whipped cream clung to her nose for a few seconds until she was able to ferret a napkin out of the holder.)...I guess we'd better get started.

A. C.: Your current book, Crimson Swan, what does the title mean?

J. K.: Crimson Swan is a slang term used by some of the vampires in the world I've created to refer to a blood donor. It's also the name of a bar in the book.

A. C.: I assume it's relevant to the book's plot.

J. K.: (Nodded and chewed a bite of Rice Krispie Treat, or RKT, as she called it.) Oh, definitely.

A. C.: I've heard the book starts with a bang.

J. K.: Hmm, that's one way of looking at it. Chapter one starts with the discovery of the third body.  All the victims' bodies are left nude and headless --

A. C.: Headless?

J. K.: Yep.  Decapitated. (She made a slicing motion across her throat with one finger accompanied by a strangled gurgle and protruding tongue.)  It's a thriller and you get the killer's point of view from the beginning, but you don't have a name to associate with the killer until later on.   I wanted to show the reader what was happening to these people and hint at the "why", but not give them the "who".  In essence, the reader is solving the case in the same way as the protagonist, the way they'd do in a traditional mystery.  (She sipped her coffee.)

A. C.: Sounds interesting. Anything else you'd care to add about it?

J. K.: Only that it's a book about vampires in a relatively small Mississippi town.  If anyone asks, you twisted my arm here, okay?  Here's a brief synopsis of Crimson Swan:

   Alexandra Sabian, a vampire Enforcer with the Federal Bureau of Preternatural Investigation, is tracking a serial killer through the streets of Jefferson, Mississippi.  Someone is killing vampires and it's her job to find out who before another body turns up.  But not everyone in Jefferson is unhappy about the rapidly decreasing vampire population.  Small town corruption and long buried hatred play out before the unforgiving eyes of the media.  Alex must find a way to exorcise the forty-year-old ghost of her father's murder, deal with the demons that have awakened within her, and find the killer before her brother becomes his next victim.

If you're really interested, I've got an excerpt of the first chapter on my website. (Click here for Crimson Swan excerpt.)

A. C.: I'll be sure to check it out.  But, why did you choose to set the novel in Mississippi?

J. K.: I'm a Mississippi native, and as far as I know, there aren't any vampire books currently on the market that are set entirely in Mississippi.  I know the geography and history of the state, so I said, "What the hell?"  It just made sense to me.

A. C.: Sounds like a good enough reason for me.  But, let's talk about you...where'd you get your degree?

J. K.: I got my Associate of Arts degree in history from Southwest Mississippi Community College.  I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in English, with a concentration in creative writing, from the University of South Alabama -- where I'm currently working on my Master of Arts degree in creative writing.

A. C.: Okay, what about some of your early influences?  Any particular writers, books, or films leave their mark?

J. K.: Dozens.  Probably more than I can ever possibly hope to name.  A couple of my favorite childhood books were the Bunnicula series, by James Howe, and a book titled The Book of Giant Stories by David L. Harrison.  Another favorite from childhood was Mr. Abracadabra by Charonne Wali and Nannette Grill.  But then, I moved into the world of science fiction and fantasy -- Terry Brooks, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, especially -- and mostly as a result of my involvement with role playing games, like Dungeons and Dragons.  I discovered mysteries (James Lee Burke), thrillers (Dean Koontz), and horror (Stephen King) in my teen years and have kept to the dark side of fiction ever since.

A. C.: Well, that covers books.  What about films?

J. K.: The first one I can think of as having a major influence was Star Wars.  I saw it and fell in love with Luke Skywalker.  I was hooked on the whole series from that point forward.  But, I would also have to list Alfred Hitchcock as having a major influence on me as well.   I'd seen several of his movies when I was a kid, but it wasn't until recently that I gained a true appreciation for his mastery of suspense.  I've learned a lot from studying his films about pacing and misdirection.  And, then, there's Monty Python...(She bit into the RKT and spoke in a muffled voice.)...that's where I developed my oddball sense of humor.

A. C.: How do vampires factor into all of this?

J. K.: (A slow smile turned up the edges of her mouth and an evil glimmer appeared in her dark brown eyes.) Vampires...my obsession.  I guess Bunnicula and Dracula -- the novel and the 1932 film with Bela Lugosi -- started my interest in vampires.  I've always had an interest in history, mythology, and folk lore.  Combine these with my own preference for night over day, and I guess vampires were just a natural match.  I studied the legends of Europe and a few other places, like southeast Asia, regarding vampires and other supernatural beasties.  Honestly, I can't tell you why I have such an obsession with vampires.  They're simply "there", whispering in the back of my mind, tempting me with the promise of immortality. (She shrugged.) Guess that's why I became a writer, to give voice to the voices in my head, and to find some form of immortality.

A. C.: What about music? Any favorites?

J. K.: Oh, yes.  Definitely.  I'm a child of the 1980s hair bands -- Poison, Bon Jovi, Faster Pussycat, Cinderella.  You name it.  But I also listen to other stuff, like Metallica, Marilyn Manson, Korn.  I like Red Hot Chili Peppers a lot.  And Alice Copper.  Kiss.  Disturbed.  Then there are the classics.   Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jimmy Buffet, the Eagles.  And I've also discovered several French pop artists -- Isabelle Boulay, for instance.  I'll listen to just about anything.  It all depends on my mood.

A. C.: (I glanced at my watch.) Oh, bother.  Looks like our time's up.

J. K.: Already?  Doesn't seem like it's been that long.

A. C.: (I gathered my things.) I know.  Time flies and all that stuff.  (I extended my hand and she grasped it firmly.) It was a pleasure talking to you.

J. K.: And you.  Feel free to stop by anytime.  I'm usually hanging out here in the mornings and sometimes during the afternoon, depending on what kind of day I'm having.

A. C.: Thanks, and I'll keep that in mind.   Good luck with the novel.

She smiled and waved through the window as I exited the cafe.  I stopped and stared, not trusting my own vision.  I waved limply and shook my head as I continued walking to my car.  "Nah.  It couldn't have been."

I looked once more at the table where J. K. was sitting.  A black cloaked figure stood behind the coffee-sipping writer.   He waved and smiled, showing a set of perfectly pointed fangs, as I pulled away from the curb.

THE END

* Note: Ms. Ahneeta Cracker is a fictional character.  Any resemblance to an actual person, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Mugs Shots Cafe is part of the author's Happy Place where she can hang out with the voices in her head and get to know them a little better. Any resemblance to an actual establishment is also entirely coincidental. The Coupdevillian Chronicle is a fictional newspaper. Any resemblance to an actual publication is entirely coincidental. In other words, the interview depicted here occurred only in my sick, warped imagination. Welcome to my world. Enjoy!

 Home