Meet Author John Paul Allen:
John Paul Allen describes himself as a semi-complete unknown. "I'm like a literary lounge singer," he shares, "but thanks to social networking, digital technology and good people who believe in my work my readership is expanding. Author of Gifted Trust (novel), Monkey Love (novella), and Dark Blessings (short story collection). His short story, House Guest, has remained in the top 100 for Kindle horror twelve straight months. John recently took part in Fresh Blood Old Bones, an amazing collection of works by some of the best tenured and new writers in the horror genre.
Former Michigander, Eagle Scout, and fourteen year veteran of the U.S. Navy John Paul Allen has lived in Cuba (GTMO), Florida, Virginia, South Carolina, Texas and now resides in Tennessee where he spends time with his girlfriend and enjoys being Paw Paw to one-year-old Makenzie and his new granddaughter, Zoe.
Follow John on the Fresh Blood, Old Bones Tour from December 23 – 29. Read special guest posts, enter to win John’s entire Biting Dog Press digital library, read reviews of Fresh Blood, Old Bones and even listen in on a live podcast interview. For more information, check out the John Paul Allen Tour page from FreeBookDude.com and Biting Dog Press.
Fresh Blood, Old Bones Synopsis:
Fresh Blood, Old Bones showcases the work of new and established writers in horror, fantasy, and science fiction (with bizarre thrown in for good measure). Enjoy eighteen tales as true masters of the genre (including Joe R. Lansdale, Nancy Collins, and Neal Barrett Jr.) combine their talents with stories from up-and-comers (including Tim Bryant, Monica J. O'Rourke, John Paul Allen, and many others) in this unique and exciting anthology.
Fresh Blood, Old Bones showcases the work of new and established writers in horror, fantasy, and science fiction (with bizarre thrown in for good measure). Enjoy eighteen tales as true masters of the genre (including Joe R. Lansdale, Nancy Collins, and Neal Barrett Jr.) combine their talents with stories from up-and-comers (including Tim Bryant, Monica J. O'Rourke, John Paul Allen, and many others) in this unique and exciting anthology.
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What They Don’t Ask
Interviews can be fun to do and they provide what writers need most - exposure. They also give us a chance to share what makes us tick with readers. The only downside is that the questions are usually predictable: When did you know you wanted to be a writer? Why do you write horror? What writers inspire you? Read the interviews of ten writers and you’ll see what I mean – predictability galore and boring. For that reason I’ve decided to share ten questions I wish I’d been asked and the answers.
Q1. How important is the money you make for your writing?
The answer to this question changes with success. Writers who live off royalties are more concerned in profit than those trying to expand a readership. I’m still on the “struggling writer” plain and the only number that matters is, how many are reading my work.
Q2. You’ve been known to say that nothing is off limits, in reference to your stories. Isn’t there any subject you consider off limits?
Nothing is sacred, though I hope I handle the more delicate ideas in a manner worthy of my readers. Undesirable topics are tools allowing me to create the story I’m really trying to tell. I use bestiality in Monkey Love to tell a story about one’s inability to face the end of a relationship. Little Miss, uses the torture of children to tell a story of a psychotic parent’s irrational desires.
Q3. Have you ever promoted a writer/book you didn’t really enjoy?
Once – it was near the beginning of my career. I was asked to write a blurb (short promo statement for another writer’s back cover) for a story I didn’t like. I did it to get my name on the back of someone else’s book. The result was a brief loss of credibility. Since then I have only promoted stories I enjoyed.
Q4. Do you think being published makes you special?
Let me share: I was in a library near Houston a few years back and found a copy of a book I wrote on the shelf – ok truth is I went to that library to find my book. After doing do I showed it to the assistant librarian. The following conversation took place …
AL: You wrote this?
Me: Yeah
AL: Wow cool, you’re an author.
Me: Ever heard of me?
AL: Eh no.
Me: Then it’s no big deal.
It would have been funnier if he had laughed with me. Do I think I’m special? No – I can write stories, but there are lots of things I can’t do … like bowl. Do you think bowlers think they’re special? OK bad example.
Q5. There’s a rumor that you don’t watch horror movies. Is this true?
Slightly … I won’t go out of my way to watch one, unless I like the story idea or one of the actors. I’m a romantic comedy guy.
Q6. Name three fictional characters would you invite for tea (beer and/or coffee work for this)?
Anne Rice’s Lastat de Lioncourt, Samwise Gamgee of Lord of the Rings and Stephen King’s Roland Deschain (The Dark Tower series).
Q7. Could you explain your motto, It’s all material?
The events of my life seem to show up in my stories – sometimes quite a bit, but usually it’s just a taste. While writing Gifted Trust I was working at an alternative high school near Houston. The school district wasn’t keen on my novel (they got their hands on part of it) and I was sent for questioning to the local police department. By the time I’d finished the story I added a teacher who worked for an alternative high school near Houston and he is questioned by two local detectives. Another example is my short, Marquee, which was written as a goodbye to my late wife. There’s a lot of us in the final pages of that one. The more I write the less this occurs. Little Miss, my short story for the Fresh Blood Old Bones anthology has no connection to my life beyond the fact that I once lived in Texas.
Q8. You mentioned the loss of your wife. What impact did this have on your writing?
The immediate reaction (first year) was terrible. I fell apart, hid away from life and drank a lot. I didn’t write much and when I did I was influenced by alcohol. Much of Monkey Love and House Guest was written like that. I had to make a choice. Either I was going to continue as I was or force myself back into the world. I didn’t accomplish this alone. I had friends like Dave Dinsmore and several others who have stayed close to me via facebook. It was with their help that I came back to life and a little more than a year after my wife’s death I met Lisa while driving from Texas to Toronto. The long term result – I became a better writer. I was forced to look at life - to understand the positive and negative moments and how these events not only played upon my life, but those of my characters.
Q9. What’s the Italian Hooker story?
If you’ve known me a while you already know. If not – you’ll have to wait a bit. I’m using it as inspiration for a novel I’m working on, Karma (working title).
Q10. What project are you most proud of?
This is a tough one, but I’d have to say my part in the Fresh Blood Old Bones anthology would have to take the top spot at the moment. Kasey Lansdale did an amazing job putting it together – eighteen writers (new and greatly experienced) put together in what I call a perfect blend. Even without my story, Little Miss, in the bunch I’d have it on my Kindle. There’s not one bad work in the bunch.
Note: I’d like to thank the following:
Free Book Dude (freebookdude.com) for putting together this book tour and for all they’ve done to help writers promote their works. Check out their site.
Biting Dog Press/Publications (Bitingdogpress.com) who puts out some damn good stuff.
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