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Clare Dargin is a writer who loves science fiction, fantasy, romance and the military. She enjoys weaving those worlds together. Her first novel Cold Warriors was published with Aspen Mountain Press. Her second novel is entitled Speculative Sky which will be published July 2010 by Red Rose Publishing.

About Cold Warrior

When Caitlin Driskoll is awakened from a cryogenic stasis, she's got a lot of adjusting to do. It's a new century and the planet is at war. Once married to a Navy JAG, she now experiences life from the viewpoint of a Jarhead, and the view isn't pleasant. Colonel Medoro Keegan lost the two most important things in his life during his Marine career: his wife to friendly fire, and his ability to fly combat missions. Now, he's stuck aboard the Blanchard as the XO. The Corps is the only family he has left and he's not about to lose the last thing he values. Until he meets Caitlin, who isn't shy about telling Medoro what she thinks about his Marines. How can such beauty wrapped in an icy body have so much fire? It's the future, and a new kind of prejudice has replaced the racial prejudice Caitlin experienced in the last century. After all, when you've been given a second chance at life, you are expendable.

About Speculative Sky

A star gazer her entire life, April Mullen jumped at the opportunity to be an astronomer on a far away planet. Finally she had the chance to live out her dream--to discover intelligent life among the stars. However when her dream starts to become a reality, things are not as they seem.

She is working on a few more projects. If you'd like to check out her work, you can visit: The Haven at http://www.thescifihaven.bravehost.com or Cold Warriors at http://www.coldwarriors.bravehost.com

What inspired you to write your first book?

Well, ever since I was a child I always wanted to be a writer. It was a dream of mine to be published and to write stories that everyone could enjoy. My first novel “Cold Warriors” was actually inspired by a short story I wrote many years ago and had submitted to the L. Ron

Hubbard 'Writers of the Future' contest.

The story did not win, however it was liked by one of the judges who sent me a personal letter back home saying how much he had enjoyed the story and thought that it should have won. From there, I reworked and expanded the story until I ended up with the novel Cold Warriors.

Do you have a specific writing style?

Yes, I do but I am not sure what to call it. I like to place people right there in the environment where they can almost hear, taste, smell and see the action going on around them. I tend to write tight stories with quick pacing. It's what I like to read and consequently how I write.

How did you come up with the title?

A good friend of mine, novelist D. K. Gaston actually came up with the title. I was in his writing group who really helped me tie the novel together and to get ready for publication. I remember that I was having trouble coming up with a name for the book and Keith who was fan of the genre and liked my work came up with the title! He did an excellent job! I am forever grateful!

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Yeah, don't give up on your dreams. You see both of the main characters had a dream of a kind of life that they had wanted to lead but was taken from them tragically. However they managed through hardship and struggle to find the life of their dreams together.

What books have most influenced your life most?

To be honest, the old Star Wars books that came out in the eighties after Return of the Jedi. The expanded universe books taught me more about atmospheric and expanded universe development and how to write a cool leading man than anything!

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

Douglas Preston and/or Lincoln Child. They write incredibly compelling books of which I generally can't put down.

What book are you reading now?

To be honest and I am almost finished with “Book of the Dead” with Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. I'll be going through their back list very soon in order to get caught up.

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

Last night I was thinking about The Friday House by D. K. Gaston and how it's a compelling story about assassins who have no memory of their being programmed and stuff. I think it's cool. And several books on the military scifi romance front that I have recently heard about. I write in a tiny subgenre so it's nice to see what other authors are doing in it. That way I don't get lonely!

What are your current projects?

Presently I am finishing up the final editing for “Ice and Peace” the sequel to Cold Warriors. As well as having another expanded universe book in the works. Not to mention, two futuristic romances that are completely different from my military fiction.

Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.

The Motown Creative Writers Group--they helped get on the road to being published. I'm grateful for that.

Do you see writing as a career?

Yes! One day I hope to do it full time.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

Yeah that's why I have to hurry up and get it out of my hands cause I keep changing it!

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

As a child, my father use to encourage it. I use to write stories for my family and give it to them and they would say “Maybe one day you could get this published!” I was like five.... and then when I was in middle school I found out that S. E. Hinton had been published at sixteen-- I became truly determined then.

Can you share a little of your current work with us?

Certainly. Ice and Peace, published by Aspen Mountain Press, takes place approximately 3-5 years after the first book Cold Warriors. Medoro Keegan and Caitlin (Driskoll) Keegan are now married and settling into their lives when the problems from her past and his arise and threaten to take away the happiness that they have established.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Yeah, getting through the first draft!

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

Just get the first draft down on paper and don't be afraid to make stupid mistakes and have dumb lines on paper, cause it's the first draft and you are allowing the characters to come alive. Later on you can fix and micro manage but don't try to do it the first time through, cause it will stifle your creativity.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Don't give up on being published! Try every avenue! There is away for you!

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. It was a pleasure interviewing you.

Steven Barnes was born in Los Angeles and lives there with his wife, author Tananarive Due. He has written episodes of The Outer Limits, Baywatch, Stargate SG-1 and Andromeda. Barnes first published piece of fiction, the 1979 novelette "The Locusts," was written with Larry Niven, and was a Hugo nominee. He is a science fiction writer, lecturer, and creative consultant.

His true passion, other than writing, is martial and physical arts. He is a Black Belt in Kenpo Karate, and Kodokan Judo. He holds an instructor certificate in Wu Ming Ta, and has an instructor candidate ranking in Filipino Kali stick and knife fighting.

Barnes has co-author his wife, Tananarive Due and actor Blair Underwood to create the Tennyson Hardwick series: Casanegra: A Tennyson Hardwick Novel (2008), In the Night of the Heat: A Tennyson Hardwick Novel (2009), & From Cape Town With Love (May 2010).

What inspired you to write your first book?

The opportunity to write with one of the great science fiction writers, Larry Niven.

Are there messages in your novels that you want readers to grasp?

The universality of human experience, and the boundless potential of our spirit, if we are true to our values.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

No.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Balancing being true to myself with finding and building an audience.

Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?

A fair amount. I've toured internationally, and traveled to Africa for research. But that's nothing compared to some other writers!

What is the hardest part of writing your books?

Actually doing the basic work of a first draft. Every-day discipline.

Do you write an outline before every book you write?

Yes.

Do you ever experience writer’s block?

No.

What is your favorite theme/genre to write about?

Human potential.

You’ve collaborated in the past with other authors. How were those experiences?

More of a dance. You have to understand each others' process and comfort zones, as well as clearly defining responsibilities.

You’ve collaborated with Blair Underwood and your wife, Tananarive Due to create the Tennyson Hardwick series. Will that collaboration eventually come to an end or do you plan to continue working on the series with your wife and Blair for the unforeseeable future?

For the foreseeable future. We'll see.

Are you collaborating with any other authors? If so, can you tell us about the project?

Working with Charles "Middle Passage" Johnson--I'll say it is a near-future project.

You’ve written books in both the Star Wars and Star Trek universe. Is it strange writing about characters that are so familiar to science fictions fans across the globe?

Yep. Very strange. The fans are, well...fanatical. And if you get something wrong, boy, are they gonna let you know it.

With you and Tananarive being authors, does it ever get competitive at home between you and your wife?

Not directly, but we do have...ummm..."spirited debates" about writing and storytelling.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Write 1000 words a day, and read 10,000 words a day.

Thank you so much Steven for agreeing to this interview. Is there anything you like to say in closing to the group members of Black Magic and Science?

Thanks for having me! Check out my websites: http://www.diamondhours.com and http://www.thewriterscircle.ning.com

Clare Dargin is a writer who loves science fiction, fantasy, romance and the military. She enjoys weaving those worlds together. Her first novel Cold Warriors was published with Aspen Mountain Press. Her second novel is entitled Speculative Sky which will be published July 2010 by Red Rose Publishing.

About Cold Warrior

When Caitlin Driskoll is awakened from a cryogenic stasis, she's got a lot of adjusting to do. It's a new century and the planet is at war. Once married to a Navy JAG, she now experiences life from the viewpoint of a Jarhead, and the view isn't pleasant. Colonel Medoro Keegan lost the two most important things in his life during his Marine career: his wife to friendly fire, and his ability to fly combat missions. Now, he's stuck aboard the Blanchard as the XO. The Corps is the only family he has left and he's not about to lose the last thing he values. Until he meets Caitlin, who isn't shy about telling Medoro what she thinks about his Marines. How can such beauty wrapped in an icy body have so much fire? It's the future, and a new kind of prejudice has replaced the racial prejudice Caitlin experienced in the last century. After all, when you've been given a second chance at life, you are expendable.

About Speculative Sky

A star gazer her entire life, April Mullen jumped at the opportunity to be an astronomer on a far away planet. Finally she had the chance to live out her dream--to discover intelligent life among the stars. However when her dream starts to become a reality, things are not as they seem.

She is working on a few more projects. If you'd like to check out her work, you can visit: The Haven at http://www.thescifihaven.bravehost.com or Cold Warriors at http://www.coldwarriors.bravehost.com

Steven Barnes was born in Los Angeles and lives there with his wife, author Tananarive Due. He has written episodes of The Outer Limits, Baywatch, Stargate SG-1 and Andromeda. Barnes first published piece of fiction, the 1979 novelette "The Locusts," was written with Larry Niven, and was a Hugo nominee. He is a science fiction writer, lecturer, and creative consultant.

His true passion, other than writing, is martial and physical arts. He is a Black Belt in Kenpo Karate, and Kodokan Judo. He holds an instructor certificate in Wu Ming Ta, and has an instructor candidate ranking in Filipino Kali stick and knife fighting.

Barnes has co-author his wife, Tananarive Due and actor Blair Underwood to create the Tennyson Hardwick series: Casanegra: A Tennyson Hardwick Novel (2008), In the Night of the Heat: A Tennyson Hardwick Novel (2009), & From Cape Town With Love (May 2010).

• The Dream Park series:
• • Dream Park (1981) (with Larry Niven)
  • The Barsoom Project (1989) (with Larry Niven)
  • The California Voodoo Game (1992) (with Larry Niven)

• The Aubry Knight series:
• • Street Lethal (1983)
  • Gorgon Child (1989)
  • Firedance (1993)

• The Heorot series:
• • The Legacy of Heorot (1987) (with Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle)
  • Beowulf's Children (1995) (with Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle)

• The Insh'Allah series:
• • Lion's Blood (2002) (winner 2003 Endeavour Award)
  • Zulu Heart (2003)

• Stand-alone novels, screenplays, and other works:
• • Casanegra (with Blair Underwood and Tananarive Due)
  • The Descent of Anansi (1982) (with Larry Niven)
  • The Kundalini Equation (1986)
  • Fusion (1987) (comic book mini-series)
  • Achilles' Choice (1991) (with Larry Niven)
  • Blood Brothers (1996)
  • Iron Shadows (1997)
  • Far Beyond the Stars (1998) (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novelization)
  • The Lives of Dax: "The Music Between the Notes" (1999)
  • Saturn's Race (2000) (with Larry Niven)
  • Charisma (2002)
  • The Cestus Deception (2004) (Star Wars) Great Sky Woman (2006)

http://heroesinthenight.blogspot.com/2010/04/hero-profile-16-captain-black.html#comments

NADRA ENZI AKA CAPT. BLACK

NADRACAPTBLACK@YMAIL.COM

http://www.captblack.info

(912) 272-2898

He was born June 9, 1973, in Waukegan, Illinois. He was raised in Zion, a suburb north of Chicago. He currently resides in metro Atlanta.

He originally self-published his first novel, THUNDERLAND, and after managing to sell a few thousand copies on his own, Kensington Publishing Corp. offered him a two-book contract. Kensington published a new, revised edition of THUNDERLAND.

Massey writes in several different genres including horror, thrillers and suspense.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

The idea that I wanted to write for a living clicked when I was fifteen. I’d been an avid reader since I was a child (thanks to my mother), loved to write for classes in school, and finally realized one day that I should aspire to doing it as a career.

How long does it take you to write a book?

It varies, really. I’ve written books in three months; others have taken a year. It just depends on the length of the novel and the deadline I’m facing. Ideally, I would get nine to eleven months.

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

When I’m working on a book, I write every day. I do my best work in the mornings, when my mind is well-rested. I can accomplish a lot in a solid two-hour writing session.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I always brew a strong cup of black coffee before I sit down to write. I’ve been doing it for decades.

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

Ideas are everywhere. I like to take a realistic scenario, something everyone can relate to, and put a twist on it. I’ve never had problems generating ideas.

When did you write your first book and how old were you?

I wrote my first novel when I was nineteen. The title was THUNDERLAND. It took ten years for me to get it accepted by a traditional publisher.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I enjoy spending time with my family and watching movies.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

I’ve written nine novels and dozens of short stories. I don’t have a favorite, but the reader favorite is definitely DARK CORNER.

I would like to thank Brandon Massey for taking time out of his business schedule to do an interview with me. Show your love for Brandon. You can find his books at any brick and mortar and online bookstores. You can click the books above to purchase his novels.

About Brandon Massey's book:

Don't Ever Tell

DARK SECRETS.

With a new identity, a new city to live in, and a wonderful new husband, Rachel Moore believes she's finally free of the demons in her past. But nothing could be farther from the truth. For the deadly secrets she thought were long-buried are now on the brink of being exposed.

HAVE A WAY.

Someone has a vendetta against Rachel. Someone whom she betrayed a long time ago.

Someone who is determined to make her pay-no matter the cost.

OF COMING BACK WITH A VENGEANCE.

Now Rachel knows it's just a matter of time before her dangerous past meets up with her present-and destroys everything she's worked so hard for. Because if there's one thing that can be counted on-her enemy never forgets or forgives and will do whatever it takes to see Rachel suffer...

I've been reading a lot of articles about we Steampunks of Color and while it's cool to know that we are out there, some of the over-analyzation about being a minority in this subculture is kind of self-defeating, not to mention borders on the whiny. I’m far from naïve, and know that perception is everything, but why are we iconoclasts of color—in whatever realm we choose to call home—still trapped in that maze of culture consciousness that Caucasians never seem to have to deal with?

I mean really, is dressing in semi-Victorian fashion somehow a rejection of our culture? If that’s the case, then perhaps us anime geeks had better find another hobby as well, since anime is well Japanese. It’s a rather silly argument because there were black Victorian women who DID wear corsets and bustle skirts.

The irony here is, Steampunk isn’t REAL. It’s history (somewhat) with a mechanical edge. This means that anyone can grab their goggles and take off to parts unknown in a dirigible. True, most Steampunk is set in a Victorian-era London, but that’s because way too many authors and participants limit themselves as to what Steampunk can be (sort of like most genre fiction). Who says that a Steampunk novel can’t be set in the African Diaspora in which the wealth of gold, diamonds and natural resources has created a pan-continental superpower rivaling that of Europe? Or set in Hawaii where Queen Liliuokalani kicks major butt against the imperialists trying to take her throne using steam-powered surfboards? Oh man, remember Will Smith as James West in The Wild Wild West?

(Oh snap, brainstorm!)

Steampunk is about ALTERNATIVE HISTORY, which means perhaps the British Empire doesn't get to colonize the world and that other cultures can (and should) come to the fore and participate. Like science-fiction or any speculative work, we writers get to play god and create this mechanized world in our own image. We can flip the historical/social context on its stuffy little ears and make these worlds believable—and hopeful. It also means that we geeks of color shouldn't feel strange because we might be the only one at any given gathering. If Steampunk provides us anything, it's an impetus to really look into history and see that people of color weren't always victims and that we have great people whose names should be taught alongside the usual cast of historical characters. That's the best reason of all, I think, for more people of color to participate--to tell and even re-imagine our vibrant history, and perhaps educate the poor fools who still think Paul Revere made that famous ride.

He didn't, by the way, but William Dawes just lacks that poetic ring.

Steampunk allows for the creative artist to re-imagine a world where everything is possible. Want to wear a walking suit made of African mudcloth? Go for it! Dragons and airships can co-exist (unless you piss off the dragon or it ate someone really spicy and has a case of the burps). Steampunk is a playground of the mind. It encompasses novels, fashion, jewelry, performance art, music—anything and everything can become a part of this world. That’s as it should be. There are no signs that read ONLY EUROPE CAN BE THE SETTING FOR STEAMPUNK. How boring would that be?

Granted, there will always be one or two troglodytes in the Steampunk subculture (as in any subculture) who feel the need to question why we are there, but honestly, if those people are that concerned, maybe they need to find another place to play and let us grown-ups don our merry apparel and mod-out our modern electronic devices with gears and wheels.

The real question we really should be asking is WHY AREN'T THERE MORE OF US? It's the same question I’m sure we’ve all asked when in garb at a Renaissance festival, headbanging with our favorite metal bands, attending sci-fi/comic/anime conventions, and windmilling at goth clubs.

Where the hell are we?

The answer is simple and it’s uncomfortable and few want to talk about it, but it needs to be said. In a nutshell, only white people get to be individuals. That’s the perception that continues to linger in many communities of color. That to step out of some preconceived notion as to what we are and should/should not be means that we’re “selling-out”, our ties to our culture questioned and even challenged. We see this when many of us chose to date/marry outside of the race or pursue learning rather than accept ignorance. Those of us who read/write science-fiction tend to get "the look" from family and friends who don't quite get why we dig "that white boy stuff".

I find it amazing that the negative images in the mass media have become not merely accepted, but expected, and the irony in this is how angry those who are guilty of perpetuating stereotypes become when the dominant culture uses those selfsame stereotypes to maintain control of our images…and of us period.

Maybe it’s me, but it strikes me as odd when one of the criticisms leveled at President Obama—when he was still Candidate Obama—was that he wasn’t “black” enough. This crap came from the typical suspects, but it was interesting that even whites weren’t (and many still aren't) certain where to place this guy with the prestigious university education and measured cadence in speech. His pants didn’t sag to his kneecaps and he wasn’t calling his wife “my ho”.

So imagine the teachable moment that happens every single time one of us ventures into the places we choose to be a part of. Imagine how, even when nothing is ever said, that another brick in the wall (with apologies to Pink Floyd) in the myth of white supremacy, has just come crashing down around their ears. And imagine stepping out in public in full-on whatever gear one chooses. Some will laugh, some will make stupid comments, but it’s the silent rebel who sees us and finds the courage to be true to themselves. I might have read Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov as a child, but when I read the brilliant Octavia Butler, that was the moment when I realized I could play here too.

I believe one of the unspoken but important tenets of the Civil Rights movement is the right of self-determination. That means the right to not be limited by skin color, to determine for ourselves what blackness is. I don't allow white people to determine that because they always get it wrong. I don't allow blacks to determine that for me because THEY always get it wrong too.

Saturday was a big day for Outerregion. In the afternoon, Camille participated in a panel discussion with two of the other artists who are featured in Truth or Fiction?

The artists’ works in the show all have elements of challenging the notion of a single story of Canadian history. Have we been told the truth? Whose story is being told? Who is absent? Can we make our own narratives and tell stories in our own ways? Can we create new
realities? Can we change the future?

Very interesting discussion. Camille was asked some questions that were new to us, i.e. – given our appearance [heads covered], and in the current political [anti-Muslim] climate, have people ever interpreted our work as militant or as an invasion. To answer – no, this has not been our experience thus far. For the most part, people have only related to us as peaceful beings. However, we do wonder whether people would relate to us differently if we were of a different race or if we covered our faces.

Saturday evening was the Truth or Fiction? Launch and opening party. The Final Frontier presentation was visually spectacular! The gallery’s contractors constructed a spaceship bridge for us. Inside the bridge, were two consoles we shipped from Toronto, upon which two of the videos played the footage from our travels across Canada thus far. When
sitting at the consoles, equipped with various lighted buttons and levers, with a video of the earth spinning in front of you, you really feel that you are in a spaceship careening towards earth. Outside of the spaceship, a video plays the interviews from people on the street
who participated (or didn’t) in our performances.

The show seemed to be very well received. Many people congratulated us and had a lot to say about our work. Several people, with roots in other cities, questioned when the aliens would be arriving in their home towns…

The presentations from each of the artists in Truth or Fiction? were all thought-provoking and engaging. One that I will comment on is a piece by Kent Monkman as it will stay with me for very long time. Kent has a persona, Miss Chief Eagle Testickle, who often appears in his work. In Truth or Fiction? Kent presented a piece, entitled “Queen-Sized Body Bag”. The piece is a critique of the federal government’s delivery of body bags to reserves in northern Manitoba to help them ‘respond’ to swine flu outbreaks. The piece is a huge – about
10 foot high – body bag. On one side is a photograph of Miss Chief Testicle and on the back is a Hudson’s Bay wool blanket. (above description adapted from

http://www.trepanierbaergallery.com/uploads/documents/news207.pdf)

An accompanying written piece comments on the outrage and offensiveness of planning for the death of a peoples. Shameful…

I am definitely a fan of Mr. Monkman. For more on his work, go to: http://www.kentmonkman.com
Today’s accompanying clip is a short video of the opening – taking you inside our spaceship. I hope you will see the real thing one day if you haven’t already.

Imaro’s mother surrendered her five year old son so that he could become a great warrior of the Ilyassai tribe. His mother’s people treated him with disdain and ridicule. Through it all, Imaro grew to be the biggest and strongest of the Ilyassai children. When he reached manhood and the time had come for him to truly become an Ilyassai warrior and be accepted by his mother’s people, an evil magician strip him of that reward, spiraling Imaro’s life into a world of slavery, murderous thieves, and black magic.

Charles R. Saunders takes the reader through an Africa untainted by Europeans influences, whose history is quite different than the one we have always known. Imaro is to become a great warrior in a world he doesn’t feel he is apart of. Through his adventures, Imaro becomes a threat to enemies who work within the shadows and manipulates the weak willed and innocent to do their bidding. Imaro soon realizes if he is to survive, he must take the battle directly to the evil that plagues him.

Imaro is a must read novel and is the first book in a series. I’m looking forward to getting my hands on the sequels and continuing with the further adventures of Imaro.

I’m Karen – Camille’s sister and Outerregion co-collaborator. Camille has given over the reigns to the blog for now. This is my first post & likely the shortest as I am suffering from a horrible case of jetlag. I promise you this – I will never fly into Kamloops on a tiny little propellor plan again! My heart (& stomach contents) nearly left my body several times throughout that ordeal…

Here I am in Kamloops. So far, a very interesting city. Beautiful surroundings – majestic mountains, clean, fresh air….and then the waft of smoke winding its way through the mountains from the Domtar Factory nestled amongst the trees.

Tonight (really this afternoon – not used to the 3 hour time difference as yet), we met with some of our film crew. I realize how difficult it is to explain what we do to people. We, The Final Frontier, have come to Kamloops to interact with people through interventions to heal the earth, themselves and ourselves. This is what we’ve done when we’ve ‘appeared’ in other sites. What is difficult to explain is the intervention itself. This is because we don’t know what the intervention should be. In Lethbridge, we celebrated the harvest, and communed with each other, giving each other gifts of grain. The townspeople eagerly joined in, bringing their children, and used the intervention to teach their children how to share and how to embrace and relate to people who look different from themselves.

For Kamloops, we have much to figure out. We’ve brainstormed ideas, such as looking at the relationship of paper to the people – the Domtar paper mill both hires people, and pollutes the town, and throughout this, people are not environmentally conscious and callously throw away paper items (such as cups) without thinking. The difficulty in our brainstorming is that our interventions are successful, not because we’ve planned them well, but because we’re willing to develop the intervention spontaneously with the people who are in effect our
clients. The process itself is what is most important. Often, we don’t know what we will do, but it comes together as it’s the relationship between our clients and us that is important. In addition to our physical actions, we want to know what people who are observing from
afar think and say about us. They are also an important part of the intervention. All of this is difficult to explain to a film crew. We can’t tell you where to go, what to say, who to focus on. It will all reveal itself.