Looney Monday

 By Graylin Fox

As I sit here and try to think of what to write today my DVR holds one of my favorite cartoons of all time. Looney Tunes, specifically, the roadrunner and coyote segments. I don't remember what I liked in my cable line up that made the TiVo record the old school Looney Toons. I do know my Saturday mornings are better for it. 

Just like my childhood I can get up, get something to eat, and laugh. From Elmer, who says he s a vegetarian, hunting wabbits, to the abominable snowman chasing bugs and Dafffy, to Marvin the Martian. I'm grateful the Cartoon Network plays these every day so I can be transported back anytime I like. 

I have to figure that this was my first exposure to aliens. ;) I had the Marvin the Martian water bottle in college. Vodka killed the plastic taste perfectly! 

To celebrate going back to childhood I'm giving away a signed copy of COMING HOME to one commenter. Just add your two cents on childhood memories and you could win!

Happy Birthday to Graylin Fox!

Today is my Birthday. So we are going to celebrate with the male characters who have affected my fantasies and thus, my writing. The characters who turn my head all have one thing in common, they cannot exist in our reality. I have accepted this, reluctantly.

David Bowie in Labryinth.  After all, he was a King, who could sing. And that wardrobe? Yes Please! Matter of fact, after I write this I'm going to see if I can find enough of that black leather costume so I can dress up in it for Halloween this year.

Another one is Orlando Bloom as Legolas. Yes, I lusted after the elf. But only the elf. Without the blue contacts, very cool elvish language, and ears, he is just another beautiful actor. In costume, I'd follow him anywhere. 

Let's get into the 80's flashback machine and take a look at Vincent from Beauty and the Beast. I LOVED that show. I wanted a mysterious lover with that voice. I actually have the cassette tape of Vincent reading poetry. Yep, still have it.

 Let's not forget both Spike and Angel from Buffy. That is a television show you can watch with the sound off if you want. And when they teamed up again in Angel, I was one happy woman.

And while we are on vampires. We cannot forget Stuart Townsend's Lestat from Queen of the Damned.

Who are the characters that fill your head with visions of fantasy and make your heroes too unique for reality?

Graylin

**Leave a comment, wish Graylin a happy birthday,

and you may win a copy of her latest book, Your Biggest Fan!

Graylin Fox's stop on the DP YA Blog Stomp

Graylin, dear, it seems like forever since I met Tessa, Kyl and family, and of course, Jasper. When did you first write Contagion, and what inspired it?

I wrote Contagion in September of 2010. I had just finished Coming Home and was inspired to write another fae story. I write poetry about vampires, dragons, werewolves, gargoyles, and knights, but nothing hits closer to home than something that is actually possible. I work in medical settings and the genuine fear I saw on parents faces when their child had to be hospitalized for the flu, started my wheels turning. 

This time I created a group of friends to go through adventures together. Contagion is a novella beginning to a series. It's an apocalyptic story about what I thought would happen if someone decide to "help" the yearly flu virus along. It does appear that when I write, people die, and I attribute that to being in a work setting where people die every day. It's a part of life that changes us the most and we talk about it the least.  

How much of you is in Tessa? How about the world of the woods and the cabin? I love the setting for this book! It doesn't have a real post apocalyptic feel, although that is the setting.

A LOT of me is in Tessa. I tend to speak without the filter of an edit or mute button. My mother spent more time rolling her eyes at me than anything else. My life hasn't been easy, I've lost loved ones and been betrayed by people I've trusted, have survived personal violence. Those losses and betrayals rebuilt me stronger even though I didn't recognize it at the time. And neither does Tessa. She is gaining strength even as she feels like her world is shattered and unrecognizable. 

I wanted to place this story in a contemporary setting but one that would leave her isolated from civilization. Every apocalyptic story I've read shows you the loss by taking you through the changes in a large city. I want the readers to feel the loss through Tessa. Her pain at losing her family and unwillingness to even watch the news because she doesn't want the images in her mind anymore. It also helps to place the portals to the Otherworld in areas of the United States where they could be and no human would notice them.  

What have you been suprised to hear about the book from reviewers and readers? Is there anything you'd change, looking back?

I've been very flattered by the reviews. The criticisms I've seen are centered around the length and brevity given the number of characters and revelations. So, yeah, if I knew then what I know now - Contagion would be the first 2-3 chapters of the first book. But when I started it, it was to be a small short story about survival. It evolved over rewrites and edits but never grew to the potential I now see in it. I'm hoping to remedy that in sequels. 

This means for me, this short story now is a wonderful introduction to this cast of characters and shows us how, and why, they met. They also save the world. There is that part. :) 

 Between Coming Home and Contagion, it's clear you have more than a passing interest in Celtic mythology. How did this start, and do you have plans to pull on that world in future works?

I'm half Irish. Belief in the supernatural is part of who I am. My father's Swedish side also has a strong belief in the power of myth,legend, and nature. I love writing with mythological creatures. Giving a dragon allergies still makes me giggle, although I'm sure Jasper would complain. 

I love mythology and blending it with contemporary settings. After all, if I can have an iPhone why can't I call a fairy, or Skype a demon, or find the twitter account of a wizard? The possibilities make me giddy. 

What are you working on now?

Contagion is the start of a series and I'm writing the next one, Interwoven, now. I love revisiting these characters and the convoluted, tangled, relationships they all have in the Otherworld is pushing the story into areas that surprise me daily.

I also have a science fiction story in the works about plant based beings escaping their planet because their sun is going supernova. It needs a lot of work but I'm hoping to submit it this fall. It's tentatively titled Deadly Beauty. 

And I have a werewolf love story on the back burner. It yowls at me from time to time and I'm hoping to have it ready for submits this fall as well.   

Graylin Fox is a science fiction, fantasy, and thriller author and poet. She began writing poetry in 1993 with her first poem published in 1995. In 2008 her characters demanded a larger format and she began to expand her talents into the short fiction market.

Decadent Publishing published her short story, Coming Home, in January 2011. Her short story series, Summer Fae, began with Contagion in April 2011. July 15th 2011, Decadent Publishing released Your Biggest Fan, a psychological thriller.

Her poetry can be found both in print and electronically. There are a handful available as free reads on her website. Lessons will be published by The Stray Branch, #8, Fall/Winter 2011. Unconditional Love published by Moon Washed Kisses in their debut edition. Dark Encounter was published in Strange, Weird, & Wonderful Summer 2010 Issue. Folded In Darkness was published by Dark Horizons. Issue 57, September 2010. Blood Bound was published by House of Horror, Issue 17. It was chosen to be in House Of Horrors 2010 Anthology.

Graylin can be found at http://www.GraylinFox.com

Just the Facts with Graylin Fox!

Well, I’m supposed to tell you some things about me.

Where to start? 

1.    I am grateful social media didn’t exist in the 80’s so the memories of me in the zebra striped mini-dress, 3 inch heels, and feathered aqua-net hair can fade with time. 

2.    I LOVE fairies. I love the history, the artwork, everything. The ‘got fairy’ image is on my keychain and one of my huge t-shirts.

3.    I was an athlete as a teen. I swam on the city swim team and even made it to regionals one year. 

4.    I am an earth/nature lover, tree hugger, who can NOT keep a plant alive for anything. You want to save the beautiful flowers, leave them where they are and send me a picture. 

5.    Spit makes me gag. Really. I can see other body fluids on TV and in movies, no problem. But hock a loogie and I’m gagging. Ick. Just got a little queasy writing this. 

6.    I can write gruesome horror but cannot sit through suspenseful horror movies. Gore, ok. Blood, ok. Guts, ok. Freddy Krueger? I’m under the seat.

Contagion is Coming Soon! You can get Coming Home now at the Decadent site or at Amazon.com

Thanks for stopping by!

Graylin

Spotlight Sunday with...

Graylin Fox!

Happy Sunday! I’m Graylin Fox and today we delve into my twisted little writers mind.

Has someone been instrumental in inspiring you as a writer? Yes, my mother was the first person who encouraged me to be published. Although, at the time I was strictly a poet I took that encouragement with me when I began to write longer stories. Then, as my mother has passed now, my father took over. He wants copies, large copies, of every book cover I get! He is a great friend and reliable cheerleader. Here we are just starting out. Knowing my mother, she read to me that night. After all, she bought me Harlequin romance novels in high school. How’s that for setting expectations for love?

Has someone mentored you in your writing career? Yes, I can start by acknowledging Kristine Kathryn Rusch. I may have gotten to this point without her but it would have taken longer. See, around November of 2009, Kris asked someone to create a blog about Science Fiction and Fantasy, akin to Smart Bitches, Trashy Books. I volunteered because at the time I had barely stretched beyond my poetry in public and thought it would be a great experience. It was. Knowing my blog posts would be read by Kris and Chris (Christina F York) made me edit my work carefully and helped hone my presentation. Now our blog didn’t last a year. It turns out we were too busy with our careers to keep up a blog. But the experience is with me forever. I still write to Kris when I have questions about writing and she always responds with encouragement and no BS answers.

Do you have critique partners or beta readers? Yes, I have one of each sometimes two CP’s if the story needs major revisions. After I complete a story and have it perfected, I send it to my critique partner. She irons things out, points out POV problems (I have a lot of those - I tend to wax poetic over scenery), and corrects things I didn’t know where there. Then I go through all of her corrections and we chat about how I can make things better. When that edit/revision is complete, I send it to my beta reader. She checks to make sure the changes didn’t leave holes or gaps in the story, or create new problems. Only after incorporating her edits do I submit the story.

Do you use a pen name? Yep! I made it up! I’m sure other writers may have wonderful stories about how they picked their pen names. I really don’t. I went to a name site on the web. One of the many that give you names to use for characters. I just kept hitting “more” until I had a combination I liked. That is how Graylin Fox came to be. Now all of my social media sites are in that name. It allows me the freedom to interact with other writers, fans, and friends without compromising the confidentiality of my psychology clients.

If I were to write a series of novels? Funny you should ask that! Contagion is going to be a series. It was definitely not the plan when I started the story. But as the story took off, I fell in love with these characters. It’s an ensemble group of Otherworld beings just trying to get by and survive. I put snark and wit into them because I need that for me to stay interested. That way the smartass comments you and I would have in the situation actually do pop out of someone’s mouth!

Describe my writing style. Hm. I have the idea for each story before I ever put a word on paper. Different scenarios play out in my imagination until I feel that “click.” Then I hook up my microphone and start to dictate/describe/narrate the scenes playing out in my head. The story falls out of my mouth at this point. I don’t think about anything other than getting as much detail into words as possible. The editing process will cover the POV, flow of story, and removing the ‘babble.’ This way I can write the first draft to a story in a matter of hours. That is after I thought about it for a couple of weeks!

10Q Tuesday with Graylin Fox!

1. How did I start my writing career?

I love answering this question because the truth is strange. In 1993, I worked in a high rise building in downtown Atlanta. I did data entry work. My brain was not required for this job, not even close to needed. So I brought in a walkman. Remember, this is 1993, no iPod or anything, an actual walkman that only had enough battery power for the week, and then I had to recharge them on weekends.

So listened to music and tried very hard not to think about the mindless task in front of me. And words began to wander through my mind. And yes, they were about “I need to dream of somewhere else.” But the same words wandered through my mind for a week. I knew I had to write them down.

So I did. And “My Warrior” was there on paper in front of me. I’d written a poem. Wow. Did NOT know I had that ability. Really, my writing skill was not stellar in school. Well, I had apparently popped the cork on the bottle and the poems began to flow. To this day, I can be given any topic, 15 minutes, and I’ll give you a poem. It’s my first love.

One day a poem cried out for a longer format. And then another. As of this writing, one of them has been published (“Guardians of the Keep” – http://yesteryearfiction.com). The other is creepy horror and I have not found a home for it yet, but I am actively looking.

In 2008, I gave up the argument with my characters and began to write short stories. Now they are growing, so don’t be surprised if you see novel length works in the next couple of years.

2. Where do I dream of traveling and why?

Ireland and Sweden. I’m half-Irish (Mom) and half Swedish (Dad). This makes for a very interesting combination (snarky seems to reign over both!). I would love to see the places my family came from. Both sides put together a family tree that went back to Sweden or Ireland, so I actually know what areas to see and, in Sweden, we still have family living there.

The Amazon rainforest, because it’s stunning, organic, and beautiful.

3. What is my favorite color?

Green! Every shade of green. My eyes are blue-green hazel so I have a closet full of turquoise, green, and blue clothes and I never get tired of them.

4. If I could spend the night anywhere, where would it be?

In a castle, and any of them in Europe would do. Just to wake up in that opulence would satisfy that inner fairy princess need I’ve had since I was little. I loved the one at the end of “Ever After.” That long carriage ride that showed the whole place made me want to go live there.

5. My Favorite TV Shows:

· Sanctuary. I didn’t think I would buy Amanda Tapping with dark hair and a British accent. But I do, and now the blonde American accent doesn’t feel right to me. Kudos to her for that! I love the premise; those who do not belong and must live in shadow have a champion. An imperfect one with a shady past. Love it.

· Big Bang Theory! Cause I’m a nerd and dork and can keep up with the dialogue. And it makes me laugh, very very hard.

· Two and a Half Men. The kitchen scenes with Berta are verbal sparring at its quickest and funniest.

· Mythbusters. Science is fun, informative, and better they do those experiments than the rest of us.

· The Graham Norton Show. A talk show without the politically correct American censors. Funny, irreverent, and wonderful.

· Castle. Nathan Fillion. ‘Nuff said.

6. What did I want to be when I grew up?

A singer. I used to sing into my hairbrush like everyone else. But I was serious about it, even got into Drama Club and chorus in High School. While that did not work out, I do still sing, and take voice when I can. Those dreams are a little worn now, but still pop up now and then.

7. What do I do to unwind and relax?

I love my TiVo. Seriously, it is unhealthy. But each weekend I take 3-4 hours and do nothing but watch mindless reruns on TiVo. I even fall asleep to them. Nap inducing they are not, but they relax me to nappage.

8. What group did I hang out with in High School?

All of them. I moved around a lot by the time I was 12. Five different states to be exact. So, I had left the popular vs. unpopular thing way behind. I tried to get along with everyone, had many friends, and loved high school. I’m really good at school. (Hence, the doctorate thingy.)

9. Have you attended a High School Reunion? What did you learn?

Yes, quite a few. And the second question is easy to answer. We have all realized none of us are as big a deal as we thought we were then, the folks I didn’t like in HS are still annoying as hell, and the friends I had then are still friends now.

10.Morning person or night person?

Night person. I perk up when the sun goes down. I know other people don’t like the time change that gives us darkness at 6:30. I love it. I light candles, put a log in the fireplace, and it’s still early enough for caffeinated coffee. I’m tough in the morning, it takes me about an hour for my head fog to clear, and then I can start functioning.

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Have a Wild Wednesday with...

Graylin Fox!

It’s Wild Wednesday and here I am. I’m Graylin Fox and I have three upcoming novels with Decadent, Coming Home, Contagion, and Your Biggest Fan. The first two are in my writing wheelhouse with elves, fairies, and Otherworld connections. The third is in my “real job” world of psychology.

I love the world of make believe. I grew up wanting to be a princess, but not any princess. I wanted to be a fairy princess. We moved every few years as I grew up, giving me the title of “new kid” seven or eight times before junior high. So I would escape into books. I wanted to be swept off my feet but only if I could have the same prince as Thumbelina, or Cinderella.

My mother loved to read and shared that passion with me before kindergarten. It was my coping mechanism, my escape from having to start over repeatedly. And it remains that way today. Even as an adult, I escape into books or movies where reality is bent and magical beings are a normal part of life. I love reading about dragons, elves, fairies, goblins, and ogres. I love it even more if they don’t have the smiley face of “everything is always happy” pasted on their face.

I reflect that in my writing. I escape to wonderful worlds in my mind when I write. But, if you follow these stories, you will also see a strong tinge of reality. I rarely write romance as I see it broken so often. What I see in my day-to-day world is death. And in my stories, it plays a very strong part. Death itself is almost a character as we watch its existence at the edge of my characters consciousness drive them forward.

Now I’m a Psychologist. Escape is no longer necessary. I’m settled in my career and move when I want to move. Now the adventure is in my work. I see great pain, sorrow, and mourning (my practice includes working at three hospitals). I also see hope, faith, and family in situations where the weak are ripped to bits without something to hold. Most come back from the tragedies of life. It’s the others we reach out for when the thunder gets too loud or the lightning too bright.

To me, life itself is wild. No accessories needed.

Graylin

and Coming Soon:

http://graylinfox.com

http://graylinfox.wordpress.com

Show & Tell - Coming Home

By Graylin Fox

Coming Home is a short story set in the marshes off the coast of Georgia. Lyn has returned to her ancestral home. Her life and heart recently shattered by the loss of her husband and small son, she is welcomed back with open arms. And concern for her safety. The lovely brownies who helped her Grandmother raise her know what is coming when she settles in for the night, as does Theena, a water dryad who lives in the marsh off the back garden. She shared her wisdom and her love with the young fairy in her youth.

The nightmares Lyn remembered from her childhood come to life and come out of the fireplace. Why is she being attacked? Where are these creatures coming from? She’ll have to survive the night to ask.

I live in the marshes off Savannah Georgia. There is something about driving to and from work over the bridges spanning marshland that inspires the writer in me. Some days, I leave home and the island wrapped in fog, barely able to see the streetlights, I get to the bridge and there the fog is a beautiful golden hue. The fog settled just below the bridge and off to the side I can see flocks of birds breaking through the fog to head offshore. A moving postcard makes me forget I’m driving.

This story is set there, on the edge of the marsh, in an old plantation home barely noticeable beyond the morning fog. That’s where I got the location and the inspiration for the story. I love the paranormal and the idea of brownies and a dryad in this environment made me glow.

Lyn starts as a tragic character with a wounded heart. Her journey is brief but we quickly see the strong, independent fairy her family knew. I love writing characters that have gained their strength through heartbreak. It builds an internal fortress that allows for less tiptoeing around issues. Or, in other words, it allows me to write tough characters that have earned that toughness.

I’m often, as with this post, asked to describe what went into my writing a story. The honest answer is listening. I didn’t plan or outline this one. I just started writing and the story unfolded as I went. I was as surprised by the ending as you will be. That’s the part of writing I love most. Rarely, if ever, am I more than an enraptured observer describing a story unfolding in my imagination.

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