The Greener Forest by Vonnie Winslow Crist

My friends over at Cold Moon Press are getting ready to release their next book, The Greener Forest by Vonnie Winslow Crist. It is a collection of short stories, and Vonnie also did all the illustrations. You’re going to love it!  Here is a bit about it:

In The Greener Forest anything is possible. Silver maples sing in angel-song. Spriggans skulk about cypress knees and wreak havoc at an amusement park. The Applehead Lady’s true identity is revealed by moonlight filtering through the branches of an ancient tree. A scarecrow finds true love in an ash grove. And a wayward beech tree root sends a woman into the arms of a kindhearted giant.

These stories and more lead the reader into the depths of The Greener Forest, where Faerie and the everyday world collide. There is dark and light, evil and good, and uncertain dusky gray lurking between the pages of this book. Discover that all is not what it seems at first glance and wondrous things still happen in The Greener Forest.

They have a special pre-order offer. If you purchase it at the discounted price of $14.99 plus $3.50 shipping before March 5, 2011, you get an autographed copy of the book before it is available in the store! As a special gift for pre-ordering, you will also receive another of the author’s books, Essential Fables. Books will be shipped by March 15, 2011.

Here is a snipet from one of the stories, “Blood of the Swan”:

His grumbling stomach refocused his thoughts on the swan. It had been flying between the tree branches, sailing low, preparing to land when Jorund loosed his arrow. The cry the creature had made when wounded had been like nothing he’d heard before. It had sounded almost like a frightened child. He shivered. Jorund rarely pitied his prey, but the swan’s cry had chilled the marrow of his bones.

He stopped walking. Though the falling snow muffled noise, he thought he heard someone calling. He veered from the path and pushed his way through a thicket of brambles. The voice grew louder as he neared a rocky outcrop. The swan would have to wait. Anyone lost in such weather would freeze to death. And freezing wasn’t a pleasant way to die.

Jorund could clearly hear a voice now. It sounded like a woman or maybe a child. At the base of a large boulder about fifteen strides in front of him, someone dressed in a blood-stained white cloak laid sprawled in the snow.

Recent Author Event at the Eldora Library

I wanted to thank Dan for having me at the Eldora Library. It was great to make it back here again. I met some wonderful people and we sold some books. (Always a winning combo.) We even had a reporter from the local newspaper show up and conduct an interview. A good day all around! Here is one of the many pics from the event. More of them are on the fan page…check them out.

Eldora Library Today

Here we are at the Eldora Library fans and friends! A pic or two for you all.

Interviewed by Cold Moon Press

This week, I was interviewed by my publisher, Cold Moon Press. You can read it soon on their website (http://coldmoonpress.com), but I’m posting it here for my fans first! Enjoy!

Tell us about your writing process for this novel.

The creation of this latest work followed the first two books with regards to how I construct my ten chapter outline. In my normal writing calendar, this would mean within 60 days, I would have my first rough draft ready for editing. But 3:16 was very different indeed…after I did a once over of the storyline, I literally had a gag-reflex. (I’m so not kidding.) Simply put, the chapters were lifeless, and the main characters seemed to aimlessly wander the pages without a sense of purpose. So I did what a reasonable author of serial killer novels does…I sent those pages to their new place of residence called the Recycle Bin. I then took a few days scouring my favorite music site and downloaded a compliment of tunes which would assist me in creating something wonderful. All of my characters were redesigned, and any likeness from the previous players was stricken from the record. After I completed a second ten page outline, it was again time to review. A devious grin filled my face as I realized it was time to move forward, and put the other subplots into motion. This novel took almost a year to complete, but I can truly say it was worth it. Now, it’s the fans turn to decide…

This novel has multiple points of view and several main characters, making it your most complex yet. How have you grown as a writer, and what have you done to facilitate that growth?

I knew after my second novel, Deadly Demented, was published. I knew it was imperative to test my writing skill set and spend some time creating a few short stories. I thought, if I could entice readers with a full length work, why couldn’t I accomplish this with a story much less in length? Going from 80,000 words to 8,000 has some very obvious challenges, and I welcomed them with arms wide open. Needless to say, the Mark Blakenship short story series ensued and BELIEVE it or NOT, they don’t involve my patented serial killers or the men who chase them scenario. I have come to realize that the only way to hone this craft and make it believe my next book is always better than my last.

The key to growing in this field is in the ability to research the craft and perseverance of that craft. WRITE! WRITE and WRITE some more!

Describe the three main characters for your book. How are the alike/different?

Ah, only a taste, my dear interviewer. The first character is…drum roll please…Brandon Thornley. He is a security guru for a Threat Assessment Company called Langston Security Solutions. A definite leader of men, Brandon uses his fame and fortune to partake in a murderous reign by using the local social networking website, konnect2u.com. Brandon sends friend requests to select people, and you can only imagine why…Hehe!

Next up is Donovan Petrie. He’s a blue collar type of gentleman who recently has found a hobby of his own, and believe me…it’s truly diabolical and disturbing. Donovan is also one of Brandon Thornley’s select individuals, but Donovan has other plans for the security genuis…but they don’t include playing golf at the local country club.

Finally…Homicide Detective, Patrick Morgan: Yes, he’s the brazen and talented investigator tasked with the challenge to catch a killer, but his competition is fierce, and this individual will do anything to ensure Detective Morgan fails… and I do mean anything.

Let’s ponder the likes of the three.

1. All of them are motivated to accomplish designed goals, and all of them will use any means necessary to ensure their success.

2. All three are confident and understand how this trait works in their everyday contact with outsiders.

Now the differences.

1. Brandon will balance his secret life with his 9-5 career and has little trouble coordinating both.

2. Donovan is fueled by hate and rage, and at that rate… he will unravel.

3. Patrick Morgan is led by honor and commitment, but family obligations are a cross to bear…to say the least.

4. Brandon thinks he’s untouchable and more intelligent than those around him.

5. Donovan is careless and reckless but possesses unseen knowledge the reader would least suspect.

6. Patrick is street savvy and lacks faith.

Where do you get inspiration for your plot?

Now, if I tell you that… you will know the method to my madness…hehe.

Okay, I wanted to use something relevant in this novel with regards to everyday life. A great deal of people use one form or another when it comes to social networking, I wanted to use this as a medium for our killer. This is very real and almost scary to think about. But I think it has a universal tone, and people will be enticed…

What projects are you currently working on? What’s next?

This is like a double secret probation question YOU know…

1. Well, I was trying to complete a Valentines Day short, but as it has developed, Cupid’s Kill will be more than likely be a full-sized novel.

2. Weaving Evil: Female serial killer uses toxins of various deadly insects to seek vengeance on her victims.

3.Death Map: The compilation of Brian Jeffers, Kelly Jordan, AND Mark Blakenship will coordinate efforts to stop a killer who uses the popular geocaching sport to locate potential victims and leaves a travel bug like no other has ever come across…I guess you better find out what a travel bug is…hehe…

Hmm…I should mention the screenplay for my first novel, Lucifer’s Calling, too…

A Great Event at Beaverdale Books!

Many, many thanks to the great staff and my wonderful friends and fans who came out to the signing at Beaverdale Books last weekend! I signed a bunch of books, met some new people, and had a few pics taken (see below).  If you missed this even, make sure you visit Beaverdale Books, and come to my next signing at the Eldora Public Library on February12.