This is long overdue should have been up last week, damn life keeps getting in the way, anyhow here is the new 10 questions.  This author I met years back at a convention in Oklahoma, The Underground Monster Carnival.  He was next to the booth I was working at, Tommy B. Smith is his name he had a new book of short stories out Pieces Of Chaos, which I bought.  We struck up a conversation and he was generally polite and honest fellow, I must say his work is awesome too.  I should have brought him aboard this blog a long time ago, his work is poignant and scary.  His passion for writing is only out measured by his love for his family, so as we proceed check into this man's work.  You won't be disappointed.  Here are his 10 questions:

     S: 1;  Who inspired you into writing?

     Tommy (T):  I've found inspiration in numerous places.  I recall a tide of voices rather than one specific voice.  Those who told me I wouldn't stand a chance might have inspired me in a roundabout way.  I read a lot of books when I was younger, but the authors are scattered across a spectrum.  I have Roald Dahl, Washington Irving, J.R.R. Tolkien, Shirley Jackson, Douglas Adams, Madeleine L'Engle, and Richard Matheson on my bookshelf, as well as many others, including books of mythology and non-fiction.

     S:  You seemed inspired by every aspect of books.  Which makes a very well rounded person in writing terms.  You have such a variety of writing styles to forge your path.

     S: 2:  Who is your favorite author either dead or alive?

     T:  This is one that doesn't work easily for me.  I've many favorites in regard to many things, authors included.  I usually tell people the latest work I've read that I enjoyed.  For now, I'm wandering between Robert E. Howard's tales of Solomon Kane and Mick Farren's Give the Antichrist a Cigarette (non-fiction/autobiography).

     S:  Those are two I never heard of but will look into, they both sound very interesting along with that answer.  You are certainly one with his own voice, most have favorites period, you look to what is making waves now.

     S:  3:  How do you come up with the ideas for your stories?

     T:  I'm primarily inspired by experiences, event, stories, and figments of the imagination.

     S:  4:  What would be your favorite horror film?

     T:  One of my favorites which sometimes arises in conversation is John Carpenter's original Halloween.

     S:  That is a classic for sure, many people like that Michael Myers definitely has many fans and some serious arguments between Carpenter and Zombie on which is better classics never go away.

     S:  5:  How many years have you been writing?

     T:  I've been selling my work, short stories and the like, to numerous publications for over a decade now.  My debut horror novella Poisonous was released in 2012.  A collections of my older stories, along with some newer material, came along with Pieces of Chaos in 2013.

     S:  I loved Pieces of Chaos, I'm sorry to admit I haven't bought Poisonous yet.  I need it for my collection (bowing).

     S:  6:  How much of your work has gone unpublished?

     T:  Considerably more is unpublished than is published.

     S:  Well that's too bad, but it is somewhat expensive to self-publish so I've heard.

     S:  7:  From conception (full novel) to finished product, how long (on average) does it take?

     T:  From commencing the writing of a piece to finishing up a final manuscript, it may take a few months on average.  There have been some major deviations from that average, however.  Some are quick, but some take much longer.

     S:  A few months sounds promising to me, I just hate it when life gets in the way of what I want to do (work, family, and especially responsibility).

     S:  8:  What do most people not know about you but you'd like to share?

     T:  If people don't know it, there is probably a reason they don't know it, but I can share a random bit for the sake of offbeat author trivia:  I once got into a fight over a penny.  That is, one cent, and yes, a real, physical fight, the kind where people get hurt.

     S:  I believe I have heard every offbeat answer, and they keep coming.  A physical fight over a penny, someone who can peel a banana with her feet, one who almost died, someone who saved a strangers life, and someone who takes baths for hours..........wow.

     S:  9:  How many conventions do you try to hit, in a year, and which is your favorite?

     T:  For a while, I was hitting between eight and twelve shows a year.  I didn't do that last year and I'm doing even less this year, but once a new book is out, I will schedule more appearances.
     There are a few conventions and shows I've made an effort to visit time to time again for varied reasons.  As of this interview, my last event was Underground Monster Carnival in Oklahoma City, certainly one of my all-time favorites and one I've been doing for several years.

     S:   That's where I met you Underground Monster Carnival, that is a great show wish I lived closer.  I understand the dynamics of shows without new stuff there isn't much reason to pay set-up fees and stuff.


     S: 10:  What fuels the fire (non-relation) to continue to write stories and novels, and do you prefer one over another?

     T:  My readers do.  Some friends have been highly supportive of what I do.  Sharing  conversations and experiences with my fellow creators at various events or otherwise also bolsters the creative inferno.
      Writing a novel and writing short stories are different experiences.  I appreciate both.  I wrote short stories for years, as mentioned, but lately I've turned more of my attention toward spinning out longer, novel length works.

     S:  I've also been writing for years never finished but one and am trying to gather steam to add more words and solidify my characters.  I appreciate all authors for churning out good quality stories that are both compelling and solid, of which i found in your works.


That would be 10 questions with author Tommy B Smith, as always it's a pleasure to be given the chance to ask people questions, of course receive solid feedback.  I like my readers appreciate all you do.  Thank you again for being a sport and letting me interview you.  SUPPORT INDEPENDENT



You can also check out his website at tommybsmith.com or FB at authortommybsmith

Author Bio:  Tommy B Smith is a writer of dark fiction and the author of Poisonous and Pieces of Chaos.  His work has appeared in numerous publications over the years to include Every Day Fiction, Night to Dawn, Black Petals, Blood Moon Rising, and a variety of other magazines and anthologies.  He has previously worked with Morpheous Tales as editor of the magazine's Dark Sorcery and Urban Horror special issues.  He presence infests Fort Smith, Arkansas, where he resides with his  wife and cats.