The Fear Behind the Smiles

Special Guest Interview with William Sibley Hart of The Walking Dead!!!

It's not every day I get to talk to a zombie, but with big love and extra special thanks to my friend Doree Anne, I not only got to chat with one, but I got to interview an actual, live (or, well, you get the idea) walker from The Walking Dead!

Specifically, William Sibley Hart aka the ankle biter in the season 3 premier of The Walking Dead (shown in the clip above, thank you, YouTube!). Being a former media chick in a not-too-distant past, I'm always fascinated by the process and the actors involved. Not only is William Sibley Hart an awesome guy, but he's deliriously interesting to chat with, so without further ado I turn it over to him!

What drew you to the part initially?

A few years back I was working for a large coffee company, yeah probably the one that just popped into your head. The Walking Dead was still shooting Season 1 and was filming nearby. As an avid book fan, I have read books on Cold Reading (think John Edwards), when a bunch of people came in talking enthusiastically about the zombie shoot, I picked up on a trend. Eventually Melissa McBride saunters in, sporting dog tags that said zombie #1 or something. I connected the dots and said something to the effect of “You must be with that movie shoot I keep hearing about, the zombie one.” She was of course taken aback, as I don’t believe we had even gotten to her order yet. This gets us chatting very quickly. She is really a very lovely woman. She suggested that I try to find my way onto the set. Well of course this piques my interest so I hunted out the show and immediately got sucked in and fell in love. Fast forward a year later, my philosophy teacher is incredibly hung over and just having us do a little reading quiz, then go. This was actually really fortunate, 'cause I had run into him while out at the bar, and I don’t think either of us were in good shape. With my new-found time off, I got on Facebook. I know, shocking, a college student on Facebook. I saw the rush call on Facebook, sent in my picture, and took a nap outside my next class. I’m sure I looked like a freaking hobo to people passing in the hall. Literally as soon as my professor started lecturing my phone went off. I yelled out a whoop, he was NOT impressed, showed him the email and bolted. I may have come back once, during the next two weeks. Season 2 finale was a lot of work, we were all out there 18+ hours a day, to over run the farm.

What were some ways you prepared yourself to play a walker?

To be honest, I totally bolted out the door, bag in hand before I even considered that. I was on set, after having to pause and wait for a herd of ~90 zombies, in full makeup and wardrobe tromp past. On set I befriended the people around me, who gave me the zombie school run down, AKA cheap condensation of the “official” zombie school. Seriously, don’t play me in cards, I have a wicked luck streak. That was the first time I had prepped, I think being hung over helped for the first day. I am fortunate enough to be an autodidactic learner (I learn better from self-study than from teachers) so being in the environment allowed me to adapt fairly quickly. Basically the same principle for how an immersion language course works. For myself, quite possibly due to the hangover I had during my first day on set, I kinda recreate, physically, a state of being really drunk. I find it helps create some disjointed movements in my gait, no particular pattern, speed, etc. For biting Hershel, this of course came to no use. As we shot it in segments, ending with the actual tendon pulling, I already had my contacts in by the time I was getting direction from Greg. this posed a unique problem as I couldn’t see much more than a general outline and bright patterns on clothing. A PA  stepping in front of the light that was trained at me was what made getting direction possible. I spent 6 hours mostly blind, unless I knew the person by voice, I have no clue who I was talking to, all day. This was literally during angle change for the bite itself. What you saw in episode 3 had been declared to me as “rehearsal,” Kevin said he was gonna wait for the full run to pump blood, etc. With all the prosthetics on my face, I didn’t feel the gush I only noticed after I was “dead.”

Did you enjoy it?

Cacatne ursus in silvis? This is the latin phrase, does a bear shit in the woods. OMG, super 8000000x geekgasm. Words cannot begin to describe how amazing it has been to get paid to go have a blast on set. Sure the day may be painful, long, tiring, frustrating or any number of adjectives, but that is momentary discomfort and very fleeting. As an adrenaline junkie, the experience of having lots of guns fired at me (S2 finale), put in a burning building (inside the barn) etc is totally a dream come true. Honestly, I was shooting for a stunt upgrade, I told them they could totally light my jeans on fire, just let me drop my thermal undies first (it was 25 degrees out that night, I wore two sets). I’m a boy, you better believe that some of my stupid fire related shenanigans (read alot, most intentionally) got me light on fire. Really it’s a miracle I made it to 18, I think my folks lost money on a bet because of it. As I may have mentioned before, my name is Will and I’m an adrenaline junkie. That doesn’t make me smart, it just means I accept that I will die when it is my time and not a moment before. I choose to grab life by the balls and make it my.... Well you get the idea. I try to live with no regrets, if you always ask yourself what if.... it eventually turns in to what could have been. I think we can all agree that regrets suck, I prefer not regretting having tried it, and having learned a lesson from the pain (And no, i’m not a super scared up guy). I could literally write forever on this subject, it is worth every second of pain, every scratch, nick, burn, destroyed bed stuffs (the ears can literally hold makeup for weeks). If I never take an acting career further (I have a golden ticket, that doesn’t mean that the box I trade it for won’t be shit), or even if it blossoms into something, my experience will stick with me, I am still in awe that I have had the chance to be a part of it. Yup, that folks was another geekgasm. *lights cig*

What was your favorite experience on the set?

I get this question a lot, you’d think it would be easy to answer by now. Hard to pick a favorite moment from all the wonderful experiences I have had, and people I have met. Yup, this one gonna get me all geekgasmy again.

This question is like asking which one of your toes will you let me cut off and then trying to pick one. To be able to work with such legendary and talented folks is beyond an honor and leaves me dumbfounded and excited and giddy like a damn school girl. That being said, there are a few moments that stand out, predominately.

Folks, I don’t recommend not sleeping for two weeks and working almost non-stop. If you survive, you will have a myriad of memories, feelings, etc. As I mentioned before, it was really cold (I know we’re sissies in Atlanta, lived in a ski town for years. Big shout out to Flagstaff friends, y'all are family and I miss you), no one was prepared for the cold. I swear it was 25 in November, but tee shirt weather the rest of the damned winter. The first night of filming was arduous, especially for the lady zombies. I got jeans a shirt and a flannel shirt, many of them were in lady clothes, skirts, dresses, etc. The intensity of the cold surprised everyone, many of the girls were icicles. In between takes, Chandler’s (Carl) PA runs out to bring him a jacket and some hand warmers. Without missing a beat, this 11 year old boy turns to the closest shivering zombie, puts his jacket around her shoulders, and gives her the hand warmers. I don’t know about you, or your readers, but at that age I woulda put the jacket on, pulled out my gameboy (80’s baby represent) and ignored humanity till I had to do something. Ok, so maybe I was a brat and had a lot to learn, my mother is OCD down to the point that friends were basically chosen for me. Seriously, keep watch on that kid, he’s going to go far.

What was your least favorite experience on the set?

Honestly, the aches and discomforts and pain experienced become a proud badge. Ok, so sometimes the day gets long and frustrating, but holy shit... Come on... It’s THE WALKING MOTHER FUCKING DEAD *yeah my geekgasms are getting intense, this is a fun interview* It all boils down to being a fan that got to go and play Hollywood. Every time I step on to the set, even through the next half of Season 3 (you MAY see me in 12) I feel like the most popular girl in school cried and pleaded to have me as her date for prom. Every moment after is just the next best moment of my life.

How do you feel when you see yourself as a walker on TV?

I now know roughly what it would look like to be burned alive (inside the barn S2 Finale), shot from a distance and up close, execution style. While I may know what the scene looks like from my view (which if I’m lensed is highly lacking to non-existent), I don’t know where it’s coming, when, or how it looked on the monitor. The first time I saw the footage of biting Scott (Hershel. Pretty sure I nicked his calf in one of the sequential takes before the prosthetic, sorry dude) was as it aired. I figured that it would be towards the end of the episode, based off the amazingly, awesome prosthetic Kevin Wasner built (yes that man truly earned his Emmy), but had no clue it was their cliffhanger/shocker moment at the very end. Since I know a lot of the zombies, watching the show has become a recognize the zombie game. Seriously, it’s really hard, however, when posed as a drinking game, yell the name out and drink, none of the other zombies will play. I have posed this at several zombie get-togethers at bars and or houses for viewing parties. Speaking of which, if you live in Atlanta and plan on doing Diesel Filling Station, any premier or finale, buy your entry ASAP or go down before 3, they hit capacity at like 4:30.

When you're not a walker, what else do you like to do?

Everything and anything, I am a a student of life and live by the philosophy of I cannot make a decision without having some knowledge to base my opinion about. I don’t fear the unknown for I cannot fear something that I do not know if I would enjoy or not. I stick to fearing things I know suck.

Lately, I have been doing what I call an absorb phase. Through my role on the show, life has blown up. Bite a guy on the leg on TV and the rules change. Like G.I. Joe said, 'Knowing is half the battle'. I like to at least have a little something known before I just hand out my Golden ticket to any old scammer. The Google Fu is strong with me, as is my thirst for knowledge. If I lived in the Garden of Eden, I would have eaten all the damned apples in the entire place. Anyone (from my experience) denying the gift knowledge, has something to hide that I’m going to find out. Seriously, I went to boarding school for 2 years, I read almost the entire library. Absorb phases can be freaking ridiculous if I have the time to let go and soak in. Most of what I have been doing lately is drinking down books, suggested to me by Dave Vescio. If you saw the movie Hick, you watched him play the creepy pool shark in the bathroom (deliberately vague, I hate knowing spoilers and won't give any and ruin your fun). I have recently discovered the value of Twitter and have been enjoying chatting with fans worldwide, follow me @whart31, I try to reply to every comment, but it can be difficult. Social dynamics absolutely fascinate me, frankly, I think anyone that has to relate with another human being should have an interest in it. Ego is a really powerful thing, especially male ego, we can be bullheaded and stubborn but the day that is bad enough to smash the ego and send you into the self help section, will change the way you view the world. I have devoured books on topics ranging from body language, cold reading (mentioned prior), to just regular interactions, on top of people-watching in all environments. Funny story, my Anthropology professor, also was a people-watcher and not as subtle as he thought he was at 6’+ with huge Oakely sunglasses, wearing a very nice suit (different daily), walking around the Georgia State courtyard. I pulled him, second week of class, and asked him about it. He suggest I become an anthropologist. Frankly, there is too much to do and too little time to master it all, I am content with eating up as much info as I can about things that interest me. In another life I can pick just one and play with that, for now I am like a vampire, always thirsty for more.

Any additional comments?

Thanks for having me be part of the blog. I really dig the questions, got me deeply into my passion and even ripped more than a few geekgasms outta me. *lights another smoke* I really gotta quit these things, anyone got suggestions for what helped them and wants to be a part of my team fuck (can I say that here?) being a slave to tobacco/save me lots of money by changing my tobbacco to none, hit me @whart31 or on my fan page at www.facebook.com/WilliamSibleyHart

 

TW Brown Asked for It

To start out, I have TW Brown to thank for tagging me (first on the list, no less!).

The rules:

1. Thank the person who nominated you. Thanks, Todd!

2. Post eleven random facts about yourself.

3. You answer the eleven questions asked by the person who nominated you.

4. You think of a new set of eleven questions and nominate eleven others to answer them.

—–

To start…eleven random facts about me:

1. The first time I ever saw the Rocky Horror Picture Show live, I played Riff Raff.

2. I spin yarn. On a castle upright spinning wheel made by Kromski. I also knit and crochet.

3. My first novel, NEMESIS, was written in my senior year of high school and took 13 years to edit. The second edition has just been released in both print and eBook formats with May December Publications (like, literally just released as of 1/29/13).

4. I write and have published under two male pseudonyms.

5. I have a BA in Media Arts and an MSIT in Instructional Technology (aka Instructional Design and Interactive Technology).

6. Was a member of both Science Olympiad and Scholastics (think YA Jeopardy) in high school, and placed in the top 10 during the Science Olypiad State competition for both Chemistry Qualitative Analysis and Rock and Mineral Identification, thus sealing my fate as an uber geek.

7. One of my favorite bands is Fields of the Nephilim.

8. During college I hostessed a local cable show that highlighted old horror flicks.

9. Was a radio DJ for 5 years, and played the moose mascot for one of the adult contemporary stations while going for my masters degree.

10. Currently live in the 'snackfood capital'. It's conveniently located around the corner from the Land of Chocolate and Don't Even Bother Getting on That Scale Town.

11. Every TV show I have ever loved has been cancelled within three seasons or less. Cancelled after its first season if on a major network and starring Sam Neill. 

Here are Todd's questions for me:

1. Favorite sporting event to play? .... Sport? :) Does archery and darts count as a sport?
   
2. Your least flattering feature? The area under my chin.
   
3. Blondes, Brunettes, or redheads (or shaved heads if I tagged a female)? Brunettes all around.
   
4. If you could relive one year (nothing changes, you just get to relive it) which would it be? I'll let you know when I get to it.
   
5. What hobby would you like to pursue but just have never "gotten around" to it? Metal sculpting.
   
6. Strangest dish you've ever eaten? Snail pot pie tied for first with squirrel meat, though I wouldn't call the squirrel a 'dish', it was more just meat.
   
7. Your personal comfort food? Anything Italian, or moussaka.
   
8. If you could choose an eye color from ALL colors, what would it be? Green.
   
9. Favorite Doctor from Dr. Who? No contest. Tom Baker.
   
10. Fast zombies or slow? Preferably NO zombies.
    
11. Book you wished that you wrote? Wuthering Heights.
    

I SURVIVED NaNoWriMo!!!!! Didn't I?

 

Yes, I am a winner.

There were so many versions of this post in my head when I began to write it, but naturally they flitted away like really fast and beautiful butterflies (and I mean REALLY fast) as soon as I attempted to put them to electric paper.

 

There was a veritable Emmy-nominated thank you speech to all who supported me and cheered me on during my first and possibly only foray into NaNoWriMo (aka National Novel Writing Month), I imagined there would be lots of tears and hugs and all manner of cheers as I hit the virtual town with all of my electric friends and we held a celebration in the etherverse that would rival the ringing in of 1999, as it were.

When I took my lunch break from my day job to finish up this afternoon, I had 440 words left to reach the required 50,000. From my point of view, after having written roughly 7,000 words yesterday alone, 440 was almost a vacation. I got them done, saved and backed up my novel, and posted it to the NaNoWriMo site to verify word count. I stared at the 'Congrats!' message for a long time, my breath coming in tiny little gasps as the full impact of what I had done finally got through to my shocked brain: I had written a 200 page novel in 30 days.

I printed out my official 'you wrote a LOT in one month, congrats!' certificate and have it proudly displayed on my bookshelf as I typed a few more words to round out my last day, and then I made the phonecalls to announce my accomplishment. No one was home. *blink*

Yes, I finally did get through to family and called my hubs, and got the obligatory kudos, but by then I was already throwing myself a personal 'yay! you did it!' party. I think a lot of people are under the impression that all a writer has to do is sit on the toilet, and out comes a book. Not so!

For the truly dedicated writer it's more like we stand at the sink and open up our veins and BLEED that book out. Our blood, sweat, tears, cheers, and curses fill ever sentence of every page of everything we write. It's NOT easy to be a writer or any creative type, as what we do is generally seen as being 'fun'. Yes, to an extent, it is fun to create an entire world, but come on, give us some credit: we just created an entire world! Last time I checked, religions get made based on that ability.

But back to the BFD of writing 50,000 words in 30 days. That equals 200 pages. In 30 days. In the month of November, which is perhaps the very worst month to decide to write an entire novel. For one, it's a short month. No luxurious 31 days here. Second, holiday angst. Oh yeah, we sit around and say how thankful we are, and believe me, I AM thankful for those awesome friends who cheered me on when I was losing faith in myself, but I'll get to that in a minute. See this post? Right now, I'm clocking in at 530 words, to give you an idea of what that looks like. For sanity's sake, we'll round down to 500 words. Now multiply this portion of the blog post by 100 and you have a novel. Kind of puts things in perspective a little: I wrote 100 of these blog posts during one of the busiest months of the year.

Here's where I get to get a little sappy and do my thankyou's. Because seriously, I need to send out some serious love to folks.

First and foremost: I'd like to thank my son. Yes, he's officially a toddler now (he turned 1 on the 20th). I think without his smile and laugh for the last 30 days, I might have gone completely over the edge.

I'd also like to thank my husband and family for looking mildly impressed when I said I was writing 50,000 words in a month, then actually being impressed when I translated it to page count. :)

A huge thank you to my electric and in-person friends of Facebookland, who cheered me on and fed my ego as needed and who were kind enough to say they missed my Facebook posts while I was trapped in the NaNoverse.

And finally, last but definitely not least, a very special thanks goes out to Mr. TW Brown. I've never had a mentor until this past month, and it was a great feeling to know someone was out there who cared about my success. When my word count would lag, I could count on a message in my NaNo mailbox telling me not to give up and to keep going. To be perfectly honest, I don't know if I would have finished the novel if I hadn't gotten those messages. It's in my nature to more or less slack off after the majority of the work has been put in and worry about polishing the project up at some (distant) future date. Those NaNo messages and my fellow writing buddies' progress kept me on track and on time.

For the month of December, I was going to hibernate, but then I got the edits back from the publisher on another project I've been working on, and it looks like edits for some other stuff may be coming down the pike in the near future.

No rest for the weary.

~ Suzi M

On Writing and The Process

As a writer I do occasionally get asked about my 'process'. Tonight, however, I asked myself about my process, as I've started to realize I've got quite a few idiosyncracies when I get to work on something.

When I'm creating art in any form, be it writing, film, screenplay, or music, there's always one constant: music. OK, so we've got that one constant element. But what else?

With art, I start with the medium and go from there. I prefer pre-stretched canvases to paint on because I'm lazy, plus buying materials in bulk is silly. I do about three paintings a year on a good year, so to have tons of canvas and stretcher frames is not at all cost effective unless there's a sudden rush on the market and prices skyrocket. I can kick myself later if that happens. I also adore the scent of oil paints but suck at the actual ability to paint with it. Acrylics are much easier. I'm lazy AND impatient, and acrylics dry faster. I also adore water colors, but again... one of those things I will probably never master but I have a collection of water color paints that I like to take out and fondle every once in a great while. As for paint brushes, I confess I have no clue which brush would work best for what type of paint. I go through the aisle and feel the brush. If it feels like one I would like to use, I buy it. Easy as that. I'm almost certain I'm using water color brushes for acrylic painting, but I'm more concerned with the end results than being a proper artist. Since when did artists adhere to rules anyway?

With music, I've generally got an idea of where I want to go and how I want to accomplish it. Same with film. There's always an end product in my mind, I just need to translate it into the physical world.

On to the writing process.

Here's where I get weird(er). A lot of my stories start out in journals. Not just any journals. They have to have unlined pages, and they have to be interesting to look at. To me each blank book is reminiscent of a block of stone ready to be sculpted. The book or story is already in there, I just have to bring it out of the pages. If I already have a project in mind, I'll try to match the book to it. Typically I like a good Moleskine in which to write. The pages are a good thickness and smoothness, the covers wear well, and they have pockets in the back for when inspiration hits and all I have are napkins to use as paper.I also adore handmade journals from folks on Etsy.

Each character comes forward to tell me his or her story, and I let it flow through me and onto the pages. These days writing in the journal is more of a jumpstart, especially for longer pieces or novellas/novels. Once I get the story going on the written page it moves over to the electronic typed page. For short stories, I stick with the journal until it's done, then edit as I type it into the computer.

When I write dialog, I sort of channel the characters in a way. It feels as if I'm an actor in a film, and I find that my face makes the expressions as I'm writing it down, in my head I can hear the character say the words, and I more or less feel how they're feeling. Anger, love, lust, happiness, sadness all flicker by with the cursor across the screen or in the flash of a pen on paper.

I'd be remiss if I didn't discuss pens here, at such a convenient transition point. I have a collection of pens that would make an office supply store seem woefully lacking. Some pens are antiques, from the mother of pearl dip pen and still-working button-fill vacumatic Parker fountainpen to the more modern fountain pens, rollerballs, and souvenir pens from various places I've been. A website with writing supplies that is damned near akin to pen porn is Levenger. I could peruse and window shop there for hours.

For writing stories, I prefer certain ballpoints mainly. For some stories that are location-based, I'll pick up souvenir pens to write with so it keeps the memory of the place fresh. I can't explain why I have such an involved process, all I can say is it works, so I'm not about to try to fix it and thin out my pen and journal collection.

Guest Blog Post @ The V Spot Vampire Blog!

Going along with the free downloads for NEMESIS (the first novel in my Immortal War vampire series) is a guest blog post at the V Spot Blog.

Check it out!

http://www.vampirebookrealm.com/1/post/2012/07/creating-a-monster-out-of-a-god-suzi-m.html

Second-Hand Sarah: This Stuff's Getting Real Now...

If you haven't checked out the latest in my fiction forrays, it's high time you paid a visit to the Second-hand Sarah blog, don't you think? It's free. Nothing to download or buy. Just free pseudo-fiction for your reading enjoyment. That's not to say I get nothing from it. I enjoy writing it immensely, and I enjoy feedback.

One of the greatest compliments I've received (and from more than one person, mind you) is that the readers are so excited that I got such a bargain of a house with so much to explore.... .

I guess my story and my writing may have been a little too good. Too real. Too... believable?

I'm not complaining. Not at all. The pics are real pics taken from my own home renovations, my own travels, and a lot of what Sarah went through I also went through at one point, so yeah, the emotion and drive are definitely there. She's my sunny side up, I guess. She's likable. She's human, where I tend to try to pretend that I'm superhuman or not human at all. I scoff at humanity and I've lost faith in mankind. She's been kicked, but she's not staying down. She's the part of me that picked myself up and kept going even though some days it felt like my heart would break. I put on my angry mask every day and walked out of the house snarling.

But not really.... inside of my little black heart is Sarah optimistically typing away with my fingers. More and more I find myself exploring the fictitious old Victorian home in my head and poking inside the closets and cellars in search of more blog posts. So far I haven't been disappointed. This week alone Sarah and I found a secret passageway, a mysterious tower in the woods, and countless journals filled with all sorts of writings. We found a bunch of other stuff, too, but I won't spoil the surprise.

More and more I find our personalities merging into a more realistic person. She's a little too sunny, and I'm kind of gloomy. Combine us both, and there may even be a normal person there.

The transformation first began when I had my son. After he was born, I found I didn't want to leave behind a legacy only of darkness and horror writings. I wanted to leave him something he could show people and say, 'My mom wrote these books!' and not have them smile politely while nodding and backing away. I wanted to leave him something that he could show to people and they may actually say something like, "Holy crap, that's YOUR mom?!"

Or better still, when he gets older, it's a project we can work on together. Maybe even build a miniature version of the house in order to take outside pictures for the blog.

Either way, it's the little blog that could, and it's so great to see folks enjoying the story as much as I'm enjoying writing it. It's even more great to see folks getting inspired by Sarah herself and her spunky optimism. Here's to the momentum picking up!

For those following the blog, I've got a TON of pics to edit and get ready to be posted for when she FINALLY gets up to the attic. And yes, I do in fact own a LOT of antiques. More than I realized.

I'm having far too much fun with the Second-hand Sarah blog. :)

FREEBIES MAY 1ST!

In case you were unaware, the Zombiebabypocalypse has begun, as evidenced by the HypnoSpawn just before he gummed the hell out of us.

Yeah, he's a funny kid. But I digress....

For those who were curious about my writing but didn't want to fork over that .99 cents for a story by a relatively unknown author, I get it, and May 1st is your lucky day!

 

In celebration of Labor Day/May Day, I've got a bunch of stories along with my first novel, NEMESIS free-to-download for the entire day May 1st ONLY.

Not sure which one you'd like to read? Here's a little about each one:

NEMESIS: First novel in the Immortal War trilogy/series. Yes, here there be vampires. No, they don't wear glitter. The other two books in the series are LAMIA and THE TOWER (note that these last two are not free).

The Four Goldfish of the Apocalypse: A short short story. Somewhat poetic, and very tongue-in-cheek.

The Demon's Tale: A short story about a topic that has always fascinated me: what's under Glastonbury Tor? The reviews are in, and the theories that the readers have come up with are far more than I ever thought of while writing it, but I'm loving every minute of it.

Enoch's Devil: A fun romp of a short story starring the biblical man Enoch himself. Guest appearances by Lilith and Cthulhu. Because what story is complete without a surprise appearance by an ancient Sumerian deity?

The Lazarus Stone (Conspiracy Edit): The most realistic story I've written to date, and written under one of my pseudonyms 'Xircon'. Very apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic novella. No zombies, sorry.

The Stonehenge Man Incident: A bit of a short story nod to HP Lovecraft and Orson Welles, but told in torn snippets of newspaper articles that outline the mysteries of an apparent apocalypse.

All of the titles are available for Kindle and the free Kindle apps (so no need to own a Kindle). They are also available to loan to friends. I'm not stingy, and I believe everyone should have access to free reading, especially in the summer, so loan away!

Happy May 1st, everyone!

~ Suzi

Behind the Scenes at Second-hand Sarah

The little blog that could. I sit here putting together playlists of old jazz while listening to old Bauhaus songs ('All We Ever Wanted Was Everything', for those keeping score) and sorting through literally HUNDREDS of pictures from the actual home renovation we did here over the last few years.

Now when I walk around the neighborhood I bring my phone so I can take pics that will ultimately be incorporated into the Second-hand Sarah blog at a later date. It's a bit like playing chess in that I have to plan the posts in advance and keep track of where they should go in the long run. Eyes on the prize and what-not.

I'm trying to keep it as close to relatively realistic as possible, right down to the weather in Maine at this very moment. High of 73 today, current temp of 68. Tomorrow going up near 80.

It's a bit like writing The Lazarus Stone (Conspiracy Edit) all over again, but with a happier ending, I would imagine. No apocalypse in Sarah-land, after all. I mean that statement in the respect that I need to 1) research the hell out of the facts, such as the differences between Victorian houses and Colonial (which is what we renovated), 2) little things like local weather (can't say how hot it is in Maine today when it only got into the 70's, meanwhile here in central PA it's 90+), 3) put on my Sarah mask and write AS Sarah would. It's a trick I use when writing my characters in general, but I've never channeled a character on a long-term basis.

I also have to remember not to post all the blog posts at once and to make notes in the actual journal of how many days have passed in Sarah-land, and what date each post will be going live so I can keep track.

No. Easy. Task.

I'm thinking of creating a Pandora station based on Sarah's taste in music so folks can listen while they're reading. Now if only the internet would let me insert smells so the visitors to Sarah's house can smell that old wood and salty air and the lingering ghost of a pot of strong coffee. Someday... :)

Second-Hand Sarah: A Blog of Quirky Optimism and Explorations of an Old House

If you're wondering about my pseudo-radio silence of late, rest assured, I've been busy. If you haven't already checked out the new blog (special note: it's NON horror!), feel free to do so now.

It's called Second-Hand Sarah, and it's a bunch of fiction with some fact thrown in for anecdotal purposes.

Pictured to the left is the actual journal I've been writing in for the blog entries. Little notes, jots, pics to include, etc.

It's a strange process, this new blog. It's almost acting, almost writing, and a lot of making stuff up, scouring old pictures to use on the blog and digging through my own roomfuls of antiques and general clutter to find things that might have been 'discovered' during a renovation.

It's a fun process. Typically I write pretty early in the morning or during lunch, and I dress the part, which makes me laugh at myself. I put on jewelry or clothes and think 'No, that's not right, Sarah wouldn't wear that.' and change.

Likewise, music. Typical playlist for a Sarah blog includes new age, old jazz, classic rock, and sometimes even pop. Little to no industrial or goth (The Cure... where do they fall - pop or goth? I guess both.).

I'm playing a part with the blog, and discovering some things about myself while I do it. 1) I'm not bad at this optimistic writing thing. Not quite chick lit, it's much more empowering and uplifting but without going the gamut to religious zealotry or militant feminism, 2) the research is just as much fun as the writing, and 3) I genuinely like Sarah.

I also really like where the story will be going. Lots of hidden elements to the house, lots of secrets and histories, and just an absolute adventure as soon as the first explorations are made. I have to admit, I'm as excited about writing it all down as I would be if I were exploring an old mansion and finding all this crazy stuff myself.

Without further ado, enjoy Second-Hand Sarah's blog.

Enter the Give-away!

If you haven't yet liked my Facebook page, now's your chance so you can enter for a chance to win a signed copy of The Lazarus Stone (conspiracy edit) OR The Demon's Tale.

Please be sure to read the rules for entering the give-away before posting to the Facebook page.

For those who would like to enter, post a COMMENT to the Facebook page saying you want to enter.

Winners will be drawn at random and notified via Facebook. You will need to provide a physical mailing addee so I can send you the signed copy if you win.

Good luck!

~ Suzi