Monday, March 27, 2017

     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.

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

     This is a first for Depths of horror blog a music video/band Darkness Visible.  A small band of misfits from Australia.  They contacted me about doing a review for them.  Skeptical at first I looked into it, and they approach the music video as more of a short film, as evident with some photos below:


     And so it began with such sickness, impressive spfx and highlighted with some highly recommended actress, award nominated actresses in Australia:



     Skin is never a bad thing in almost everything horror, no offense ladies, but video vixens is always good.  The band has 8 videos out this will be it's ninth video coming very soon, a must for any fan of the horror genre.  I was very impressed with these motley group and very thankful the way they brought their style of music to the masses.  I want to say so much more but I prefer you to witness the craziness for yourself.  It is great.  Links are left below to check what's up with the band:








     Had trouble with links may need to input manually UGH!

     Check out Whitney Duff on IMDB she's in the video and Amber is from Murderdrome (she's one with the pasties)



     Thank you David Black, I hope this meets your expectations, any promotion can't be bad, this maybe the start of new category for me.  Thanks again David I hope the best for the band, love the name, everybody has a dark side that is visible some try to hide there real selves.


     Support all things indie, check out local artists in your city there are diamonds waiting to be discovered.


Friday, March 3, 2017

      This is by far my biggest interview yet, he is a legend amongst the extreme horror writers out there.  He writes for many different publications small and large, I am talking of Wrath James White.  He is a leader among men supporting a family and finding time for his many deadlines, he also runs marathons.  His graphic style you wouldn't expect from a family man, but he does both with ease.  I was stunned the first book I picked up he wrote, it was just what I wanted.   I love graphic extreme horror in my novels, he has wrote many shorts, and novels with more on they way.  He has agreed to my 10 questions so enjoy these:



      Steve (S) 1.  How did your boxing career go and turn into being an author?

      Wrath James White (WJW) 1.  I always wanted to be a writer. That was my dream since I was young. The boxing and kickboxing came later. I am of the belief that you should try everything you have even the smallest talent for. The only true sin is unrealized potential. When my fighting career ended, it was natural for me to devote all of my time to writing.

     S:  That is so cool it should be inspirational to a lot of people, I think most people have underdeveloped talent for whatever reason and laziness.

     S.   2.   Have you had any formal writing classes, or just winged it from the beginning?

     WJW  2.  I was a creative writing major in high school. I attended Creative and Performing Arts High School in Philadelphia. As a writing major, I had to take three writing classes a day in addition to the standard curriculum. Then, in college, I switched to Philosophy. Still, when I started writing my first novel, I had to teach myself everything all over again.

     S:  Wow that's a lot of English, I want to write have many shorts only one finished, but couldn't handle English in school, but it hasn't stopped me yet.

     S.  3. How long were you writing before finally getting published?

     WJW  3.  I created my ten year plan in 2000. My first novel, Succulent Prey, was published in 2005.

     S:  That was the first novel I picked up around 2010 I believe and have been captivated ever since.  Great novel truly well written.

     S.  4. What is your favorite horror novel?

     WJW  4.  That's very hard to say. Probably Exquisite Corpse by Poppy Z. Brite. Brilliant juxtaposition of the erotic, the poetic, and the horrific.

     S:  I own that, it had me at first chapter, the rest was frosting on the cake.  It is one of my top five novels ever.
 
     S.  5.    When did you realize that these sick and twisted ideas were going to make you a horror author?

     WJW  5.  Horror is the only thing I've ever wanted to write. I never doubted my sick mind would make me a horror author. My fear was that it would make me a serial killer.

     S:  LOL, a serial killer, I have the same issue I love horror there isn't much romantic in my shorts, but your stories truly did, and leave, deep emotional scars.

     S.  6.  Have any of your stories or novels been optioned for film?

     WJW.  The Resurrectionist was adapted into a film in 2014. It's currently streaming on Netflix. The name of the film is Come Back To Me.

     S:  Why must they change the original name, people want to see what others see as your vision.  I will have to search that out and see it.  Hopefully your offered more movies from your stories.

     S.  7.   Which story (or novel) do you feel is your best work, and would make the best film?

     WJW.  7.  Those are probably two separate questions. 400 Days of Oppression is probably one of the novels I'm most proud of. But I'd really like to see Succulent Prey or Population Zero on the big screen.

     S:  I haven't read Oppression yet, will get on that, Prey would make a great film and Zero I need to get my hands on too.

     S.  8.    What do most people not know about you but would be willing to share?

     WJW.  8.  That I love to cuddle.

     S:  An extreme horror novelist likes to cuddle, wow, the amazing answers I get to that are so cool, one of my go to questions.

     S.  9.   Who is your favorite author alive or dead?

     WJW.  9.  I can't say I really have a favorite author. Perhaps Dostoyevsky. Stephen King maybe. He's probably the author I've read the most. I read lots of different authors, though I haven't read anything from him since the eighties. I don't really have one go-to author that I read faithfully. My loyalty begins and ends at the next book. If the book doesn't interest me, I won't read it, regardless of who wrote it.

     S:  Dostoyevsky I have never heard of, which means homework, may need to get one to see all he's about.  King I can agree I haven't read since I finished The Stand I believe.  I have like 4 go-to authors I love to read, I must admit you're no. 4, honestly.

     S.  10.   Other than money what drives you to be the best author you can (no family)?

     WJW.  10.  I want to be remembered, for my work to influence culture, long after I am dead. That is the conceit of all artists I believe.

     S:  That is a profound answer, not that most seem to get more popular after death it seems, but I like to find new authors before they "make it."


Well I want to thank Wrath James White for taking the time for my blog.  He is a true artist in his genre of writing.  He is a very busy man, but found time to spend finishing my questions.  He is working on more novels and stories, this man seems to have never ending time.  But please help the man out by giving his books some love.  You won't be disappointed.