It is good to see everyone back today for a special interview with our publisher, Debrin Case!

Debrin is one of those enigmas, who runs between the fine line of genius and crazy at the same time. Whenever we meet, my mind flashes back to Truman Capote, without the flagrance.  Like Capote, he shows his love for writing and literature, his intellectual flare with questions and answers, but most of all, his aura and essence of being.

It’s almost Thanksgiving and a little chilly, so grab some mulled cider to get into the mood and join Debrin and I for an informative and a somewhat whacky time together!  Three, two, one, you’re on Debrin!

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Deborah: I understand you have recently completed a national marketing campaign which took you all around the country. Could you explain what the campaign was for?

Debrin: Seriously, I was running away from home.

In the grand tradition of Toby Tyler and various other wayward souls before myself I was hitting the road and off to join the circus, and being the rather original fellow that I pretend to be I decided to start my own Circus.

Now technically, my Circus began when the first volume of An Honest Lie was published, however I knew that if I intended to tame lions and perform aerial stunts of death defying feats, I couldn’t continue to hold my show under the roof of my condo in Dallas. So with a few hundred books under arm, a suitcase with a week’s worth of clothes and pre-booked classes across the country I jumped on a train bound for Austin and set out to give more publicity to Open Heart Publishing.

The journey went rather well for a first run. I met many great new writers, alumni that I had published and hadn’t had the privilege of meeting before, artists of many persuasions, weirdoes, freaks, republicans, drunks, ministers and just average folk who were way above and beyond average. I sold a number of books, taught a number of classes and drank a few beers for good measure. A huge thanks goes out to all of my new friends from the road and here is my hope that you will continue being the amazing people that I had the privilege of getting to meet along the way.

 

Deborah: It sounds like you had a fantastic time with a conundrum of people! You spoke of teaching classes, what advice can you give to writers who wish to protect their work?

Debrin: First off let me state for the record that although artistic theft can happen, it is a very rare thing. Far rarer than you may imagine, spontaneous ideas are rather common though and just because two or more writers are working on the same conceptual idea it does not mean that one or the other stole from anyone… even if the concepts are very similar.

So my first bit of advice is to simply relax. However, if you are truly serious about protecting your work because you truly feel that there is a need to protect it, you should consider placing a writer’s copyright on your work. It’s a simple process, simply print out your original work and mail it to yourself in a certified letter before you submit it anywhere.

This letter is never to be opened unless needed in a court of law to prove that your story was your original idea and when you wrote it. This simple process could protect you from plagiarism.

 

Deborah: Very sound advice!  And a lot cheaper than putting a copyright on your work which will later be changed by the editor. As a publisher, why it is so important for submitting authors to follow Open Heart Publishing’s submission guidelines?

Debrin: It’s important to follow all guidelines for any submission you present to any publisher. Publishers don’t set these guidelines arbitrarily; in fact these guidelines are there to make the process as easy as possible for everyone involved. When a publisher sees that you are making an effort to follow their guidelines it shows to them that you are mature enough of an individual to consider working with. I know this is the first place I look when I consider a submission, even before I read a piece to find out if it is a decent story or not.

Hate to bust the myth that your story will be good enough without following the guidelines, as far as Open Heart Publishing is concerned, guidelines are our first priority.

First rule, did the author follow the guidelines we have established? Second, does it fit the theme? Third, Do I like it? Is it a story that I believe comes from an author with more to say? Fourth, does one or more of the staff also like the piece? Fifth, does the story fit within the paradigm of An Honest Lie as it is defined by Open Heart Publishing? If I answer no to any of these guidelines then that’s an automatic rejection letter, it’s that simple. 

Yes, there is the minutest of chances that I could miss out on something absolutely amazing, but far more often than not, it truly isn’t worth the extra effort needed to make such a piece ready for publication.

 

Deborah: You are absolutely right!  There have to be guidelines, otherwise, I’d hate to imagine what could be submitted! Let me ask you this. How was Open Heart Publishing founded? 

Debrin: Open Heart Publishing was founded in the grand tradition of transubstantiation and sheer bravado, of course. Where did I place that Top hat?

 

Deborah: It’s right next to you and I know you’ll put it on for the answer to this next question! I love the idea of An Honest Lie being anthologies, what is the concept behind An Honest Lie, and how did you come up with the name?

Debrin: I feel it would be a travesty for me to interpret either the meaning of this year’s theme, the meaning of our masthead, or even how we came up with the name of our masthead. This is something I would rather leave to the interpretation of the individual reader as opposed to defining it and ruining all of the fun.

  

Deborah: You didn’t let me down with that answer! Here’s another Top Hat question. In addition to publishing, Open Heart Publishing also offers a yearly Opportunity Project. Could you tell us about the Opportunity Project and what its goals are? 

Debrin: The mission statement of the Opportunity Project speaks for itself “Giving a Voice to our Future, Today”. 

Birthed from a spirit of Philanthropy, Open Heart Publishing works hand in hand with youth organizations to instruct future generations about the positive changes they can make in the world around them, as well as the limitless opportunity their lives will offer them, so long as they are willing to look for those opportunities.  Through the crafts of writing, art, editing, marketing, and publishing, these groups create a book the children can then sell.  100% of the profits benefit a charity of the children’s choosing. 

Our first project was “The Cave of Colors,” which became a beautifully crafted communal project spearheaded by the children in the 1 – 3 grade Sunday school class. It inspired other members of that community to get involved through music and voice acting for an accompanying C.D.

Our next project is with the Macie Love Foundation and more details will be coming soon.

 

Deborah: This is such a great opportunity! It’s so wonderful to be involved with a great company that offers projects like this! With these opportunities, I understand there’s advancement through voting portals. Would you explain what An Honest Lie’s voting portals are and what their use is?

Debrin: Gladly, every year (as many of you already know) Open Heart Publishing runs a contest for the authors of An Honest Lie. The competition is based upon which author is the most popular based upon votes and sales of the book from that individual author. Our yearly winner is then given a book contract with Open Heart Publishing, and working as a united team we produce their book (Our first Winner Eric Trant has a book that is due to be released this year as well so keep your eyes open for it).

There are two ways to vote for your favorite author. The first and most efficient way to show your support for your favorite author is simply to buy a book from their individual voting portal. By doing so, you give your favorite author 500 voting points, and a greater chance at winning our competition.

The second way to vote for your favorite author is by visiting their voting portal (aka a webpage) that will allow you to vote once per day for your favorite author. Though it only gives one vote per click, it still enables an author’s supporters a chance to help their friend win, without making a single purchase.

Though highly unlikely it is quite possible for an author to win without a single book sale. We believe in leveling the playing field as much as possible.

 

Deborah: That’s a genius way of advancement for an author! Here’s another question for advice to the author. In your opinion, what elements are required for an outstanding story/novel?

Debrin: For any story to be worthwhile the reader must believe in the authenticity of the tale… even if it as outlandish as prepubescent teens learning the magickal arts at a boarding school somewhere in the United Kingdom. 

The story must feel true; it has to be believable even if it is only definable by the logic found upon the pages as you read them. If it feels forced then the story isn’t crafted as well as it could be.              

  

Deborah: That is so very true and should be noted by all authors! This, I’m sure, is a question many readers have, but haven’t asked. Does Open Heart Publishing accept novel submissions?

Debrin: Open Heart Publishing does accept novel submissions, but only from authors that we have worked with previously. We do not have open submissions on non-anthology projects, but rather prefer to work with authors who have already been a part of the Open Heart Publishing family. 

 

Deborah: There you go readers! Get those anthology stories submitted! Each publishing house is different as far as what they accept, and Open Heart Publishing is no different. What genre, or type, work does Open Heart Publishing accept?

Debrin: Fiction, in various disguises and ambiguities. We will accept sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, literary, modern, spy stories, horror, suspense, romance, etc. The genre isn’t as important as the content of the piece. Hell, we’ll even accept true stories so long as you don’t ruin it for us by letting us know its nonfiction.

 

Deborah: This really opens up the field for our readers as well as future submissions! With submissions there are rejections. What advice would you give to authors whose submitted piece was not accepted?

Debrin: Pay attention to that rejection letter. There was a reason it wasn’t accepted, and more often than not you can determine the reasoning behind the rejection letter.

Often when people experience rejection letters their first reaction is to view it as a rejection of themselves as a writer. Nothing could be further from the truth, the rejection letter is simply stating that the piece you had submitted is not what the editor or publishing house is looking for.

If the staff took the time to write a personal letter or even made some other kind of contact with you pay attention to what they are saying, perhaps it is something you overlooked before you submitted (did you forget to run a spell check?) or maybe though the piece is well written it doesn’t fit what they are going for. 

If it is too hard to reread that rejection letter (and some writers out there are excessively sensitive) ask a dear friend or colleague to do so for you and then tell you what they feel it means. Sometimes hearing a trusted friend or colleague explain their interpretation of a rejection letter can help you discern what is intended. 

Take their advice or at least listen to what they have to say and then move on to the next project, do not let it steal the wind from your sails.

 

Deborah: That’s some awesome advice for writers! However, authors are super sensitive about their work, in your opinion, what is the best way for authors to handle rejection letters?

Debrin: The best way to handle a rejection letter is to simply relax and remember that not every arrow you fire will hit the target… heck, you may even be aiming at the wrong target.

I will say that if you don’t have at least a stack of rejection letters looming over you somewhere then perhaps you aren’t submitting enough. Like many things in life getting published is a numbers game. If your story is truly ready to be published it will eventually find a home. 

Want to know if the place you are submitting your work to will publish your story? Read their previously published material and find out if your work fits within their paradigm. Know your market and you will have much better success in your writing endeavors. 

 

Deborah: You really have some great advice, but then, you do know your job. On a personal basis now, would you tell us about your own writing endeavors?

Debrin: I am currently working on getting ready for NaNoWriMo, I have stocked up on Condiment Lollipops (ahem… Catch Up, Suckers) for my fellow writers who are picking up the gauntlet with me as we get ready for this grueling competition. 

Besides this frivolity I am also working on a book I have tentatively named “The care and feeding of your fat girl”.

 

Deborah: What I think is awesome, is that you are filled with so many ideas for stories, not only for yourself, but also Open Heart Publishing! I’ve heard of NaNoWriMo, but many of our readers may not know what it is. Could you tell them about it?

Debrin: NaNoWriMo is the National Novel Writing Month.  It’s a yearly internet-based creative writing project which challenges participants to write a 50,000 word novel between November 1 and November 30.

There are no official prizes.  Anyone who reaches the 50,000 word mark is declared a winner. Beginning November 25, participants can submit their novel to be automatically verified for length. Those who complete their novel, receive a printable certificate, as well as an icon they can display on the web, plus inclusion on the list of winners. No precautions are taken to prevent cheating, since the only reward for winning is the finished novel itself and the satisfaction of having written it.  NaNoWriMo to begin offering winners a single free, paperback proof copy of their manuscripts, with the option to use the proof to then sell the novel on Amazon.com.

Here is the link for more information:  http://www.nanowrimo.org/

For those of you, who would enjoy this type of competition, there is also a sister event which is a script-writing challenge taking place in April called Script Frenzy.

I encourage all of you to take part in these exciting competitions!

 

Deborah: These events really allow authors some notoriety, having the icon on their website as well as their bios! Earlier you spoke of your stories, how can our readers view samples of your personal writings?

Debrin: I would highly suggest buying a copy of An Honest Lie (either volumes 1, 2, or 3), or A Children’s Book of Necromancy (the only coloring book guaranteed to teach you how to raise the dead), or for those of you who like things cheap or better yet for free, you can always take a look at my blog at www.debrincase.com

 

Deborah: Readers, if you haven’t read his book, do! It is great! (Not that I’m prejudice here!) Taking advantage of your experience, in your opinion, how could authors best generate interest from publishers and editors?

Debrin: First off, follow any guidelines you find for their submissions. These are rather imperative to all publishing houses. By showing the staff of the various publishing houses that you care about their guidelines during the submission process, you are representing yourself as an individual who understands the importance of following directions. This is not only a desirable trait, it is the primary trait many (if not most or all) publishing houses look for from their contributors. The process of preparing a story for publication is a very time consuming process and as such requires the diligence of all parties involved.

Next, start developing your own following. Not only is it worthwhile that you have something to say, but equally important is having an audience that is receptive to your message. Start locally and think globally. Begin with family and friends, network with other writers through writing groups online or in person, attend public readings and open-mic nights. Network through social networking sites such as Facebook or Myspace or a gazillion other sources available online.

Another excellent tool is a blog. You can go a traditional route and have a blog geared towards a specific subject (maybe writing short stories) or have an all-encompassing fiction blog, or even a writer’s group blogging experience. The possibilities are practically endless. The only thing you need to do is get moving in the direction you desire to go.

My personal motto is, “You don’t have to get it right; you just have to get it going.’ There will be time enough to learn from your mistakes, the best thing to do is just to get started on your own shameless self-promotion extravaganza!

Being shy is a hindrance and can quickly cause you to be excommunicated or worse ignored.

 

Deborah: Here’s some more great advice readers, just by joining us for Debrin’s interview! I hope you save this link, because here’s another answer you need to know! What makes a story sellable?

Debrin: I believe all stories are sellable, provided the author cunningly uses their words in a manner which pulls the reader into the tale. Not all sellable stories are acceptable for all publications though. This is where the writer needs to research their markets. 

A highly religious oriented piece is not a good fit for The Atheist Quarterly, nor is a story about your funniest sexual misadventures a good fit for Martha Stewart Living. 

The right story needs to be in the right market and the trick is to determine if what you write belongs with the publisher you are sending it to. 

When in doubt, buy a copy of the publication (if possible), or even a book previously published by the publishing house and read it to determine if you and the publishing house are a good fit.

 

Deborah: Invaluable information! Let’s jump back to a personal question that is also another Top Hat question. How do you find inspiration for your writing projects?

Debrin: I am inspired by so many diverse things, topics or ideas that it would be hard to pinpoint just one. Instead I will say like life, it’s more of a gestalt kind of thing. If an idea comes to me, I have to jot down a few notes, if those notes evolve into a story then I let the story evolve, if they don’t quite gel into something useable at that time I set the idea on a back burner and wait for it to either come together or remove it from the stove and move on to the next idea.

 

Deborah: The secret of a genius is out! Earlier you spoke of opportunities for authors, let me ask you this. Open Heart Publishing’s policy is to give authors a personable and friendly business association. Why is that?

Debrin: Life is too short not to be courteous, pleasant or helpful to your fellow human beings. It’s a simple motto that we do our best to live by; and yes, we have made mistakes in this effort on occasion, but we are also rather quick to resolve these matters as well.

Call it what you will, the golden rule, karma, the rule of three, being a good neighbor, having good manners, it is something that rings true in life as well as business as far as Open Heart Publishing is concerned.

 

Deborah: I hear a big “Amen” on that from our readers! Continuing to look at the big picture of OHP, what is the most important part of your job as publisher? 

Debrin: Listening and making decisions based upon all that I have heard.

 

Deborah: What advice would you give to struggling authors?

Debrin: I hate to use the word struggling when paired with author or artist. It could imply that writing is a hard chore that requires tedious work and it is like a fight to place words upon the page. Or it could imply that only a handful of authors make it in the big old world at large, and the rest are doomed to walk the earth in anonymity.

If you begin to feel like this as a writer, take a break. Walk away from that blank page and relax and try your hand at another project entirely. Have you had too many rejection letters and feel like you’ll never see your work published? 

Go have a cig, or a drink, or a coke or a night out or a day off from work. Walk away from your word processing monster and remember why you started writing to begin with. Then approach it with a fresh set of eyes and remember that if, at any time, it becomes too much you can always walk away and regroup.

 

Deborah: That’s the living truth there! Here’s an equally important question for you. Do deadlines apply to the publisher as well as the author? 

Debrin: Most assuredly, Deadlines apply to everyone.

 

Deborah: (Laughing) Or, we’d all run amuck, wouldn’t we! Considering all the decisions, the Top Hat, and Open Heart Publishing’s big picture, what is the most rewarding part of being a publisher? 

Debrin: Seeing the completed book in front of me for the first time. It never gets old.

 

Deborah: The special moment is revealed! Truly special! Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. The author answers to the editor. The editor answers to the publisher. Who does the publisher answer to? 

Debrin: Everyone.

 

Deborah: That makes for one big list there, boss! But that’s why you are you! And as you’re the Great and Powerful Kahuna, what is a publisher’s most valuable asset? 

Debrin: Chutzpah (see Balls)

 

Deborah: See, I told you he reminds me of Truman Capote! All of our authors had the pleasure of answering some “just for fun” questions, and I/we feel you should be no exception. So, here we go!

 

Deborah: Do publishers get to have fun, and if so, what type of fun do they get to have? 

Debrin: It depends on the individual, but frankly my life is full of fun. If my job wasn’t fun I wouldn’t be doing it. Of course our definitions of fun may be somewhat different. My idea of fun involves reading, writing letters of encouragement, helping others succeed, and bantering with my staff.

 

Deborah: You make your life sound fun, and yes, we love the bantering! It gives us sweet dreams when we sleep! Does the publisher ever get to sleep, or have a day off?

Debrin: Sleep is for the weak. Real men Hibernate when production time is over… and publishers get to hibernate when they get placed into that pine box that is interred into that most expensive piece of real estate a person will ever own.

 

Deborah: That kind-of sounds like life as an editor as well! So, is that the scariest thing that will ever happen to you?  Wait! You’re not dead yet! What is the scariest thing that has ever happened to you?

Debrin: Falling in love is the scariest thing that has ever happened to me. I’ve been shot, had a motorcycle wreck, been run over by a car while crossing the street, dealt with some very psychotic individuals and a number of other harrowing events and still, falling in love is the scariest thing there is… bar none.

 

Deborah: Sounds like your life has already been through the wringer! And after all that, it’s love that threw you? Then you’ll be able to relate to this next question. You have a running chain saw in one hand, the beaters to an electric mixer covered in chocolate cake batter in the other hand, a hunting knife clenched between your teeth, and are wearing one of those childhood caps with propellers on top of your head. What action is this a prelude to?

Debrin: Either finding the condoms or asking for a loan from the bank, it’s a tossup.

 

Deborah: I don’t think I’d like to see the results of either, to be frank! Moving on …what hidden talents do you have, and why are they hidden? 

Debrin: Every February 31^st I do something different. I change my persona. I turn into an aardvark. It’s not easy being a werevark, we don’t get much publicity.

 

Deborah: Well, that answers a few things I’ve been wondering about you! On a normal day for you, let’s say you are out for a casual stroll in the countryside when you come across a cow, peacefully chewing its cud. It turns to you and asks what? 

Debrin: Do you have any Grey Poupon?

 

Deborah: And what answer do you have for that talking cow? 

Debrin: Sorry, I left it in my Rolls Royce.

 

Deborah: Okay, one last question! If you were to give yourself a Tarot reading, what would the cards tell you?

Debrin: Would it be too much to ask for you to wash your hands before you shuffle us again?

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Readers, this is the publisher we know and love!  Debrin, I’m thrilled you were able to join us and share your valuable information. You know, earlier, I mentioned that Debrin reminds me of Truman Capote. Remember? Now, you too can see the similarity. Wait! Could it be Debrin is Truman, reincarnate?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL FROM EVERYONE AT OPEN HEART PUBLISHING!

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Debrin Case has been making the story more interesting since 1970! He holds a B.A. in English Literature and is currently the founder/publisher of Open Heart Publishing, a company that promotes, showcases, and opens doors for new authors with its annual anthology An Honest Lie, but also for children through its charitable project called, The Opportunity Project.

Additionally, Debrin oversees intuitive writing workshops, writes grants for charities (non profits and artistic endeavors), and is an experienced storyteller, ghost writer, and fiction writer.
Previously, he’s held the positions of editor for Hedge Wizard Press, and also co-editor for Red River Review.
When asked of the validity of his tales he will normally reply, “My stories are 50% bullshit… and the rest is questionable, but at least they are honest.

For more information on Debrin check out his website: http://debrincase.com/

       

Open Heart Publishing is pleased to announce the release of An Honest Lie, Volume 3; Justifiable Hypocrisy. Copies are available at http://ahlvol3vote.debrincase.com/.

 

As happens every year, the book will not be available at Barnes&Noble or Amazon until January 2012 earliest. Soft cover price is $17.00 plus shipping.

Requests for hard copies, Ebook copies, and questions should be directed to our sales department through email at

sales@debrincase.com

And now, for your delight, here are excerpts from the book!

 

Anna Likes to Die, by Will Terry

       People in lines, at government offices, seem so drained of life you can almost see right through them. They shed opaque-like thin layers of plastic stripping off a severed limb. If they stand just right, with the sun, you can see straight through the organized tolerance for waiting and observe that beneath the translucent social mores is just another torn appendage like everyone else, waiting to be delivered to another line. 

The Dognapper, by Yance Wyatt

        Daniel exhibited unprecedented self-discipline in the following months. When he went to the supermarket with his mother, he refrained from buying video games and junk food. To avoid the temptation, he refused to walk down those towering aisles of kitsch, the ones gleaming with shrink-wrap. Instead he waited on the sidewalk with other men who didn’t want to go in. He loitered near the newspaper dispenser as they deposited their coins, then caught the door as they turned away, just in time for a freebie. There in the classifieds, Daniel circled terse descriptions of various breeds, but most of them were at least two-hundred.

Rolex Ruby, by Sally York

       She picked up the laminated menu the waitress had left on the table when she’d taken Ruby’s order for a Bloody Mary, and studied it. She was hungry, but reluctant to blow twenty bucks on lunch. She still had about $7,000, but that would get chewed up by bills in a few months. She was weighing her decision when she heard pockets of laughter rise from some of the tables.

Civil Serpents, by Joshua J. Mark

            “If it is clear, then say `Yes, Mr. Oculato, we understand.’”

            “Yes, Mr. Oculato,” they all said in unison. “We understand.”

            “Fine,” he smiled. “Point two is equally simple. If, having uttered the name of that fascistic den of iniquity, and having properly named it ‘the K-Mart of the mind’, you should then mention it again, for any reason, within ten minutes of having first mentioned it, and you must then say `and, you know, it is a communist country.’ Is that also clear?”

Furries, by Ruth Webb          

            The liquor was starting to hit him hard, but instead of the reassuring buzz he usually felt when drinking in character, Doug felt more and more insecure, unsure of himself. He kept looking down at his fox suit, which had seemed to fit his personality so perfectly a few months ago, and rejecting it as old, dated, slightly pathetic. He wondered if it was the condition of the suit itself, but thought, no, it was the fox persona that wasn’t working for him.

       Choosing the fox as his personal furry had not been a rash decision, he had pondered his furry animal at length. In addition to being beautiful animals, the strength of a wolf with the slinky sex appeal of a cat, foxes were sneaky, opportunists. But what really made the decision, what made the fox a definitive “Doug” character, was defined in one word, sly.

Melvin Gee’s Short Trip to Hell, by Eric Trant

            Melvin noticed that where the angel’s bare feet touched the path, the grass crept toward the prints, pinching off the trail behind her. Melvin hurried to follow her, both of them walking toward a range of mountains several miles in the distance.

            Holding her pen between her fingers, trying not to mark her robe, the angel rubbed her left shoulder as she walked; the ink stains on her robe spelled old habit. “Yes, I know what you’re thinking: the sky, this field, that little stand of trees, the mountains … beautiful. Peaceful, isn’t it. Makes you want to lay down and sleep. Don’t. This is the Old Garden, the one you cats got booted out of. If you fall asleep, or slip off this trail, or God help you if you steal one of those precious apples, you’ll get carried off. But I bet the big question is why I don’t have wings.”

            “Actually,” said Melvin. “I was wondering about the path. It—”

            “We don’t have wings anymore. Not since that whole fallen angel thing. ‘For security reasons,’ they said.” The angel glanced over her shoulder at Melvin. “Security! Ha! More like penance for a sin I didn’t commit. You should have seen my wings!”

 The Easy Way Out, by Greg Kuehn

            We were at the hospital a lot in the beginning. With all the testing they did on her, you would have thought she was training to be an astronaut or something. Neurological exams, MRIs, CT scans, a biopsy. The doctors and nurses, they knew, but they had to be certain. We all had to be certain. Then, it was certain. A glioblastoma multiforme brain tumor, grade 4.

            There was crying and anger and fear. And love. There was love then.
In the beginning, I hated the hospital. I hated the surgeries, the chemotherapy, and the radiation treatments, what they each took from her. They took all the good parts. I hated the doctors and the nurses, the cheap toilet paper, and the vending machine dinners. I hated the unorganized piles of hunting and gardening magazines and the waiting.

            They were constant reminders of the devastating illness that had been inflicted upon the wife I adored. But once the cancer began to worsen, and she grew weaker, trips to the hospital became a refreshing break from it all.

Suspension Bridge, by Dorene O’Brien

              I told him that Paolo Caliari painted the Marriage at Cana, which now hangs upside-down in the Louvre, and that Federico Barocci paved the way for Baroque art with a largely unheralded painting of the first meeting of the Society of Carpenters.

           He intermittently growled and purred as I spun the names off my tongue with a self-styled Italian accent, as I wove a strange tapestry of artistic truth and fiction that even I would be unable to reconstruct an hour later. But none of this concerned me because I’d quite naturally assumed the role of artist myself, experimenting with form and composition, manipulating content for dramatic effect, curating an inexhaustible repository of images and ideas. I was made to feel invincible by Tony’s insatiable appetite for interpretation and his apparent belief that I could provide it. I extrapolated world histories from painting titles, genealogies from family portraits, landscapes from a single hill.

Mike from the Mailroom, by William Walton

            Most mornings I watch until she comes out to get the paper, usually about an hour after it arrives. My regular parking spot is just around the corner in front of an empty house that’s for sale. It’s perfect. I can see her house, but she can’t see me. No one else notices me either.

            Sometimes she comes out with a cup, probably coffee, in her hand. That’s what she drinks at work. She comes out in her robe, with her hair all mussed up. She looks so natural, so vulnerable. As soon as she picks up her paper, I leave for work. That way I’m early enough to sharpen her pencils before the others arrive. I leave one or two unsharpened so she won’t notice.

            Helping her without her even knowing brings me unspeakable joy. I used to go out to the parking lot to check the pressure in her tires. But since I have no way to correct it when it’s low without being noticed, I don’t do that anymore. It still worries me though. Mostly I just love watching her, daydreaming about the time when we’ll be together. Of course, at work she has to keep things very professional, so my favorite times to watch her are at night and on the weekends.

The Great Oppression, by ME Johnson

           I turned back to Mr. Jessen, my mouth full of more hate than blood for what he had just done to Jimmy. But by that time, Mr. Jessen had grabbed hold of Vera an’ was pushing her into his car.

            “You leave her alone!” I cried as I rushed toward him, but he didn’t listen. He just laughed – laughed an’ laughed. That made me even madder. I started hitting him as hard as I could, pounding him with all the hate I could muster, which was quite a lot. But it didn’t do any good. He just kept laughing until he’d had enough. Then he pushed me away so hard I fell to the ground, skinning my knees an’ hands.

           But I wasn’t done with him. I quickly got back up an’ charged him again. This time, he slapped me across the head so hard I got dizzy.

             An’ then he hit me again, an’ again. I fell to the ground, my ears ringing, my heart racing, an’ my head hurting so bad I couldn’t think. That was all the time he needed to shove the wad of money in his pants an’ push Vera back in the car. She had tried to climb back out when he was hitting me.

           As he got in after her, he yelled back at me, “You tell your Momma this money is mine. And you tell her she’s going to pay for lying to me!” Then he hit Vera a couple of times to shut her up ‘cause by now she was crying an’ bawling real loud.

           “Etta, Etta!” She yelled. “Don’t let him take me away!” But I couldn’t help her. I couldn’t even help myself.

             Even though my ears were still ringing, I couldn’t mistake the sound of his car door slamming shut an’ the race of his engine as he started it up an’ drove off. I’ll never forget the look on Vera’s face. She had pressed herself against the window, looking out at me in passing. She was terrified. I could see her lips saying the words, “Help me, Etta, help me!”

          An’ then they were gone, lost in the shadows of the night. I must have stood there for a long time, not believing what had just happened. At least, it seemed like a long time. I looked back at Jimmy. He hadn’t stirred one bit, an’ suddenly, I knew something was terribly wrong with him.

Scent, by Donna Hole

            Near the gates, he undressed and shifted, and was about ready to seek an entrance when he heard the clump of goat hooves. It sounded muffled, slightly odd, but Reggie decided the cement was distorting the sound. It felt good to be stalking hoofed prey, and Reggie took his time following the clumping sounds. Once he located the stomach rumbling noise, he tracked it from behind a hedge. When he could stand the sounds no longer, he leaped over the greenery, fangs and claws extended for a quick slash across where the neck should be.

            What he landed on was a young girl wearing pink platforms and a matching pink skirt. Reggie was as startled as the girl, and tried to stop his attack mid-leap. He managed to close his jaws as his face connected with her chest, but the swipe of his paw left a deep bloody slash from shoulder to hip.

            She screamed and kicked her heals against the ground, and the semblance of dying prey hit Reggie’s wolf senses with renewed strength. An efficient bite to her neck stopped her screams. Reggie sat back on his haunches for a moment, licking her blood from his lips and wondering what he should do now.

The Santa Fix, by Bill McCurry

            As Max pressed the earpiece to his ear it began buzzing. He waited in silence while it buzzed three times. At the fourth buzz he glanced over at the woman and smiled. She did not smile back. At the seventh buzz Max stopped smiling too. At the tenth buzz Max realized that his right foot was tapping like a Geiger counter, and he willed it into immobility. Somewhere before the fifteenth buzz Max’s head had dropped, dangling below his shoulders like an ox in Death Valley. He glanced up and realized that the woman would happily beat him to death if only she had something heavier than lingerie in her shopping bag. But a glance at the boy showed nothing but beatific confidence on his face.

            Just after the seventeenth buzz a concerned voice in the earpiece answered, “Hello?”

            “What the h—“ Max erupted, and then he calmed himself as he looked at the kid from the corner of his eye. Max went on, “I’m calling from the elevator, and there’s a problem. We’re stuck at the eighth floor.”

            “Who is this calling?” the voice inquired, having dropped into a calm and businesslike tone.

            Max paused, aware that the boy was soaking in every word. “This is Santa Claus,” he managed to reply without grimacing.

Affectionating, by Helen Chapman

            While Noreen used her cell phone to make the call, Denver stepped out of his truck to assess the job to come. Noreen was always surprised when she stood next to this man. She was not a small woman, but this former sheriff’s deputy fairly towered over her. And today, he wore his cowboy boots, giving him another two inches in height. Looking at him now, though, no one would ever think he had ever worked in law enforcement. With his long sun-bleached hair and tattoos, he might more readily be mistaken for a former inmate.

            With Noreen leaning on the side of her car and Chuck still seated safely in the back seat, Denver noisily backed his big truck up to the rear of Achmed’s van. With as much squealing and thumping as he could manage to get out of his hoist, he began running the hook under the rear of the vehicle, just as the door of the trailer burst open and a short swarthy man emerged, followed closely by a very young woman holding one of the twins and an older, much heavier woman carrying the other. They rushed towards Denver as he got up from the ground without hooking the axle.

            “What you think you doing, man?” the man, presumably Achmed asked. “Get the hell off my van.”

The Skin Script, by Stephanie M. Lorée

            She smiled. “I’ll try to keep my hands to myself.”

            He caught himself grinning as he began. “Talk to me about you. I want to know it all.”

            “You already do, limner,” she said, “but I’ll tell you anyway.”

            As he filled in her future, she relayed her past. And when the pain ceased, they smiled. Together they whispered deeper truths under florescent lights. Skin against skin.
Twice Jules negated her death. Maybe his too, he couldn’t know.

            Years would pass in guile and secret rendezvous. Mistakes that might have led to their discovery, simply erased. No taint of their love allowed on her neck, no exchange of passion interrupted by a curious father.

            Her skin consumed him as he worked. The smell of iron and ink. The smooth delicacy of her touch. The flavor of peppermint lip-gloss. The heat. He might illuminate her body, but she carved a channel inside Jules. She liberated him from a prison of plastic walls and cold steel. Worse, she made him laugh. 

Our Storybook Bear, by Debrin Case

          And so our storybook bear allowed the mouse to scurry ahead of him as they wound their way into the fiefdom of Lesser Mousefield.       

          Along the way he found that as he grew into being more awake he had more strength and what began as slow plodding steps on all threes, he learned a galloping maneuver that allowed him to keep his head raised. The crafty mouse wound his way between warehouse shelving with thousands of decrepit boxes, and darted under a salmon colored couch with a missing seat cushion.

        “This way friend bear,’ he squeaked, and there under the couch was a mouse hole unlike any other seen before by neither man nor beast. About the archway of the entry point into Lesser Mousefield was a solid silver frame upon which was engraved the words “The citizens of Lesser Mousefield welcome you”.

A quite wonderful selection of stories, wouldn’t you agree? Don’t forget to visit our shopping/voting portal, and while you are there, give your favorite author a vote. If you want to support him/her further, you can purchase your copy through his/her portal. If you don’t want to submit a vote, you don’t have to – and you’ll still be able to buy a copy of the book. We’ll be looking for your there!

We’ve had many requests about theme for Volume 4 and when submissions will be open for it. Please check back as we will soon be providing that very same information!

* * *

Another note from the Senior Editor: I’m really enjoying meeting all you readers here! You’re a great bunch, and I hope you keep on coming back!

 

What do we have for you today? Two alumni winners! Yes, that’s right, winners! Both of the gentlemen we’ll be talking to today have received a book deal from Open Heart Publishing. How sweet! In our interview, they are going to tell us how they got the book deal, and give you some insights into how you could get a book deal too!

 

Our faithful Junior Editor, Deborah Still, is here again to conduct the interview. I asked her if she’d like to have me break out the chains and whips, but she said she’s confident enough she can coax out some answers just with her sweet smile. Let’s go see if that’s working! Deborah?

 

Deborah: (smiling) I know you met these two gentlemen in our last interview, but let me introduce them again, in brief.

 

Once again, shake hands with Eric Trant. (Okay, I know your hands can’t reach that far, so how about a hearty welcome!) Eric hails from The Colony, Texas, is the sole-proprietor of a successful business, and the wonderful father of two young pre-teens and one sweet toddler. I wonder if this dedicated dad coaches softball?

 

 

 

Also returning is William Walton. No, I won’t ask you to shake his hand. I already know you can’t. So instead, how about a hearty welcome for William, too! William hails from Corpus Christi, Texas, is a Yale graduate, a skilled sailor, and a loyal master to his dog, Cyrus.

 

 

 

Deborah: Thanks for joining us Eric and William. Who wants to start us off? Just raise your hand and waggle it fiercely! Oh, look at that! Two fiercely waggling hands and I haven’t even asked the question yet. You know, I could take this opportunity to ask something like, “What are your names?” (He He!) Okay, here’s the question, the real question! Gentlemen, would you describe your personal writing process, how you go from concept to story?

 

William Walton: I keep good notes. Hell, I have a dive slate in my shower so I can record ideas that come to me there, which is not an infrequent occurrence. But, once an idea gets embedded in my mind, it seems to take off and have a life of its own. Sometimes, I swear, I am nothing more than the scribe who writes down whatever these stories want to say and who travels whatever path they want me to take. God, I love it when that happens.

 

Deborah: I think our readers would heartily agree with you on that, William. Inspiration like that is so wonderful! Eric, would you describe your personal writing process, how you go from concept to story?

Eric Trant: I start with a few characters and an idea and a scene. I keep adding characters (as needed), and new ideas, and new scenes, until the end presents itself. If I ever pre-draft a chapter with an outline, I end up scrapping it, because the outline never seems to work for me. I have to write it first, and then read it, if that makes sense.

 

Deborah: It makes perfect sense, Eric. I have had the same experience, and I wouldn’t doubt that our readers have too. While we are on the subject of writing, let me ask you this, you’ve worked really hard on a story, but just can’t find that perfect ending. What advice could you give our readers for finding that perfect ending? William?

 

William Walton: Actually, I am in that very situation with my personal favorite out of my stories. My writing group is divided right down the middle on two alternative endings. An editor friend, whose question I am answering right now, says neither. As a consequence, I am working on a third ending that I think will really nail it. My point is that it is really worth the time and effort to make it right. I mean dead-on, without a doubt right. 

 

Deborah: I must agree with you there, William. The ending can make or break a story. You mentioned attending a writing group, so I take it you belong to one. What do you get out of it?

 

William Walton: Yes I do. I consider carefully every suggestion given me, embrace those which make my story(s) better (what a gift!), reject those that do not, and always, I mean always, stay true to my own voice. I am the final editor of my work! 

 

Deborah: Good for you, William! A wise sage once said those same things to me. Maybe it was you in disguise! (This sends William into a fit of laughter.) Okay, William, I’ll give you a break. Let me move back to Eric. He didn’t get a chance to answer my previous question. So, Eric, you’ve worked really hard on a story, but just can’t find that perfect ending. What advice could you give our readers for finding that perfect ending?

 

Eric Trant: I write to see what I have to say. Most of the time I have no idea what the ending will be. It always presents itself, though, and with few exceptions, I walk right into the ending and out the Exit Door without missing a step. Even if I don’t see the ending coming, I walk ahead anyway and keep writing.

 

Deborah: I can hear Yoda now, “Walk ahead young warrior, walk ahead.” Oh no, now I have Eric in stitches. Back to William, then! When you are writing, and run up against the proverbial “brick wall”, how do you get the inspiration going again?

 

William Walton: You know, I just experienced that with the loss of my wife of 26 years, whom I loved with all my heart. I just continued to keep good notes of things I observed or heard. I also continue to review the work of others in my writing group. I trust my upcoming contract with OHP will jump start my getting going again. I feel a roll coming on!

 

Deborah: Roll on, William! We’re sorry to hear of your loss, but it sounds like you have used it in a positive way. Keep on rollin’! Now, here’s a question for Eric. Your editor tells you that you must completely scrap everything you have written for a particular piece, and must start over. How would you handle the situation?

 

Eric Trant: I would re-write what she/he asks, on the schedule she/he requires. Case in point is this interview, which I at first wrote as a first-person present tense narrative between her and me. My editor felt like a heel asking me to scrap my story, but that is the nature of the business. As a writer, I must be able to Write-On-Demand, or WOD as I think of it. Furthermore, it is the editor’s job to understand when something must be kept or tossed, and possess the strength to say so, often in the face of wild contention. I have to trust that decision, because it is never an easy one to make.

 

Deborah: Once again, Eric, you show a remarkable respect for editors and the job they have to do. I’m sure that will take you far. I see William wants to answer this question too. William, how would you handle the situation?

 

William Walton: I’d send the piece I’d already written to another publication if I thought it worthy, and start a new one for my editor. What I’d write, or if I’d write it, would depend on why the editor felt I needed to start over in the first place. 

 

Deborah: Good judgment, William. Thanks to you, we now have two very recommendable paths. You show us that in addition to respecting the editor, a writer should also respect his/her own work, and stand by it if the case requires. Thank you. Okay, one quick question and then we need to move on. Eric, what characteristics make a good antagonist?

 

Eric Trant: I have to enjoy writing them. To me, if I enjoy writing them, the reader will enjoy reading them. I do try to stay away from diving into the point-of-view of a severely demented antagonist, though. I may do it, and I have, but I prefer to read and write about how bad someone is, rather than see it from inside their own head.

 

Deborah: What an interesting point of view, Eric. Thank you. William, what characteristics do you think make a good antagonist?

 

William Walton: This is a really good question. First, let’s talk about what makes a good protagonist. I think that you need to humanize your protagonist by giving him or her some character flaws while keeping their overall integrity intact. Solid, but not perfect. . By the same token, your antagonists need to have (1) qualities that humanize them, too, and/or (2) traits that make them even more formidable opponents. Always give your antagonists attributes or skills that make them more formidable.

 

Deborah: Well, there’s some advice you can really sink your teeth into, especially if you are the antagonist! Thank you, William. Now let’s take a look at these two winners and hear what they have to say about the businesses they run and what winning the book deal means to them. Eric, will you start us off? You are the sole-proprietor of Trant Logistics, LLC. Can you briefly tell us about your company?

 

Eric Trant: I’d love to Deborah, and thank you for asking. I own a small software company, Trant Logistics, LLC, which specializes in providing operations and well planning software to the oil field. By small, I mean sole proprietor. The software includes the algorithms and graphics needed to plan and drill a directional oil or gas well. Most people don’t realize that oil wells don’t go straight down. Many of the wells are curved, and form either an S or a slanted L beneath the ground, and many of those corkscrew as they are drilled as an S or an L. Because you cannot see the drill bit, and because you still need to know where the drill bit is located, a software package is required to calculate the wellbore position, based on magnetic readings taken at the bottom of the hole and fed back up to the rig. I wrote the software over the course of several years, and so far it’s in use in the US, South America, Europe, and Australia.

 

Deborah: How very interesting! Thank you for sharing that with us. William, you have worked with troubled youths. Would you tell us a little about that?

 

William Walton: My work with troubled youth, the most personally satisfying work of my life, was 27 years ago and, hence, old news. If I told you what I do now, a contract would have to be put out on you, and neither one of us wants that. Since my business does not involve any contact with the public, I have no desire to plug it. In fact, I absolutely love my occupational anonymity (everyone in my building wonders about those folks in 305). Just tell ‘em I’m a writer (you could say I am a good one if you feel absolutely compelled to do so).

 

Deborah: Well, William, my curiosity is absolutely peaked, but since I don’t want a contract on me, I won’t ask further. Let’s just say that we do feel compelled to say you are a good writer! Moving on again, you have often talked about a collection of stories that you would like to see published. We can’t, of course, confirm or deny that Open Heart Publishing will be publishing them (it’s all top secret for now), but in respect for all the time and effort that must have gone into that collection, we’d like to ask you to tell us about it. (Remember, this is all top secret!)

 

William Walton: Most of the stories in my collection, Madmen and Fellow Travelers, speak to the isolation we experience as individuals, how hard it is to bridge the differences that separates us, and the lengths to which we will go or wish we had gone to cross them.  Some characters fail at building that bridge, some succeed if only briefly, and others, the happy few, build bridges that last a lifetime. At their best and worst, those successes and failures shape their lives.

 

Deborah: Oh how I wish we could ask you more about that collection, William. It sounds truly interesting. What a wonderful concept. But, I’d better get back to Eric. We’ve left him twiddling his thumbs, and I don’t want him to fumble and drop them. Eric, you have a novel coming up for publication this fall, by Open Heart Publishing. Would you tell us about it?

 

Eric Trant: Out of the Great Black Nothing is a retelling of my Percy Freebottom short story, One Small Step, which can be found in Open Heart Publishing’s An Honest Lie Vol. 2: Delusions of Insignificance. The inspiration for both stories, of course, is the moon. I believe whole-heartedly that without the moon, humankind would have little inspiration to look into the heavens, much less go there. The space program itself would never have been birthed, because where would we go? To the upper stratosphere and back again? While writing each of these stories I spent a good deal of time watching the moon in the late evening hours. Do that sometime, sit and look up at the moon, and then tell me it isn’t one of the most inspirational objects in our known universe.

 

Deborah: I do find it inspirational, Eric, it and the entire night sky. I wonder if Aristotle found it as inspiring as you. Thumbs up to the moon! All right, coming back down to Earth, let me ask you this. How do you feel about the book deal and what does it mean to you personally?

 

Eric Trant: Out of the Great Black Nothing is my debut novel. Every author gets only one of these, and it is often the most-remembered piece as the author continues to publish more works. It also heralds the beginning of what I hope is an extensive writing career, so in some ways this is a celebration party, a coming out of sorts, and a birthing of a new author into the world of storytelling. It makes me feel fresh and invigorated, and has already encouraged me to pour energy into future works, with the second, third, and fourth books already in various stages of draft.

 

Deborah: Oh, my! Looks like we will be wishing Out of the Great Black Nothing a Happy Birthday! Thank you, Eric. Our readers must be eager to read this exciting sci-fi/fantasy book. I know I am. Now, turning back to you, William, let me ask you the same question. How do you feel about the book deal and what does it mean to you personally?

 

William Walton: I’m ecstatic. I wasn’t kidding in my bio, about feeling that my footprint on this earth is small and hoping my writing leaves a larger one than my actions have. Of course, I’m not done in either area. But this is heartfelt, not false modesty.

 

Deborah: I think I would feel exactly the same as you, William. It must make you very proud indeed! Okay, it’s time to ask that question that all our readers have been waiting for. William, what do you think you did to earn this book deal?

 

William Walton: I’d like to think I earned it by the quality of my two stories published in An Honest Lie, Volumes 2 and 3. If I sold the most books (and I don’t know if I did) but someone else’s stories were clearly superior to mine, I think they should get the book deal. I’m serious. That said, I did work to sell books, whether it be through my sales portal or the trunk of my car. However, my rule for direct sales was that I would not sell anyone more than one book. If they wanted one for a friend or relative, they had to go through the portal. A number of folks I know around the country said they bought a copy. Of course, I have no way of knowing how many actually did.
     OHP’s and my interests are the same, to promote each other and to sell our books. If being a team player played a role in my selection, I think that is a positive so long as my stories merited the selection. Finally, as for the popular vote, I can’t explain it. There are only so many bars and restaurants (whose employees jumped on the bandwagon) that I can frequent.

 

Deborah: It sounds like your creativity and dedication really paid off, William. Thank you for sharing that with us. I’m sure our readers enjoyed your stories as much as we did, and we are all looking forward to what you have for us next. All right, Eric, put your thumbs down now. It’s your turn to answer. What do you think you did to earn this book deal?

 

Eric Trant: When my first story, Apple Tree, was accepted to An Honest Lie, Volume 1, the publisher announced a contest among the anthology authors. The author who logged the most sales would be offered a book deal. So I got to selling the books among my friends and family. Many of them bought multiple copies to hand out as gifts. I also networked online via social networking, specifically blogging (www.erictrant.com) and on Facebook. I spared no shame in promoting that anthology.

 

Deborah: Awesome, Eric! The dedication to your work that both you and William have shown is absolutely a plus for you and we here at Open Heart Publishing are proud to have had the opportunity to work with you. You are an inspiration to all of us, and to all our readers and future authors! Thank you so much for sharing you thoughts with us today! With that, let me bid our readers adieu for now. We’ll be back soon with yet another exciting interview. Up next is our publisher, Debrin Case, who will share many good tips and much sound advice. We may even give him some really tough questions! Join us, won’t you?