Interview by S. Joan Popek:

Jeff Strand grew up in Alaska, where his parents will insist he had a normal childhood, no matter what you might think after reading this novel.  His genre of choice is comedy, and his comedic material has appeared in several publications, including a whopping 1/365th of the anthology HORRORS! 365 SCARY STORIES.  The story involved improper use of an electric carving knife, but it was meant to be funny. Really. You can write to him at JeffStrand@aol.com

(The above introduction was lifted directly from Jeff's WEB site. No one could say it better or funnier so we just didn't try.)

Be sure to visit Jeff's "Seriously Whacked" website at http://www.jeffstrand.com.

His publications include:

GRAVEROBBERS WANTED: No Experience Necessary, Wordbeams. http://www.wordbeams.com )

How to Rescue a Dead Princess, Hard Shell Word Factory. http://www.hardshell.com

OUT OF WHACK, Street Saint Publications. Coming soon at:http://www.streetsaint.com

Jeff's other publishing credits include such publications as Horrors! 365 Scary Stories, Twisted Magazine, Nuthouse, The Nocturnal Lyric, The Absinthe Literary Review, and Planet Relish.

His favorite authors are Dave Barry, Robert R. McCammon, Christopher Moore, F. Paul Wilson, David Martin, Douglas Adams, and David Prill.

Now, lets Talk To The Author!
 
 

MSF&F: When did you decide you wanted write for publication?

JEFF: I've always wanted to write, and I always wrote for an audience. Even when I kept a diary (briefly, due to my limited attention span) in elementary school, I crammed it full of jokes, brain teasers, etc. and let people read it. My parents tried to explain that this wasn't really the purpose of a diary, but I didn't see any point in writing it just for myself. So even though I haven't always been devoted to the idea of being, say, a published novelist, I've always wanted to write stuff that people would actually read, or see performed, or play on their computer, or whatever.

MSF&F: Why do you write in the genre/style you do?

JEFF: Well, I write in several genres, but they all end up in the same wacky style, whether I want them to or not! It's tough/impossible for me to write stuff without some humor in it, and I usually don't even try. Very often when I start a new project I'll try to make the humor a little less outrageous than my usual nonsense, but that generally lasts half a page or so. Then I have to go back and rewrite the half-page.

MSF&F: Have you had to overcome any great obstacles or problems to be a writer?

JEFF: Ummm…personal laziness? I'd like to impress everyone by saying that I wrote books instead of getting my 15 minutes of sleep a night between my three jobs in the coal mine, the cannery, and the toxic waste disposal center while going to school full-time and caring for my eleven children and two wives, but really, the biggest obstacle has been the lack of a butt in a chair in front of a writing device.

MSF&F: Who or what influenced you the most in deciding to write in your particular style?

JEFF: That's a tough one, because I never really decided to write in my style, it just happened. There have certainly been influences, such as Dave Barry and Douglas Adams, but I started reading them after the basic style was already there. When I was much younger I really loved Bananas magazine, a humor magazine for kids edited by R.L. Stine, and my friend and I would make our own Bananas rip-offs, so maybe you can blame Mr. Stine.

MSF&F: Have you found those closest to you to be supportive or the opposite?

JEFF: It's interesting…my family has ALWAYS been incredibly supportive of my wanting to be a writer, but they never seem to like the stuff I write! It's the whole comedy thing that bugs them. I keep forwarding my parents reviews saying "This book is absolutely hilarious!" but they still don't get it. My mom enjoyed Graverobbers Wanted (No Experience Necessary) for the mystery/suspense elements, but she didn't find it even the slightest bit funny! It wasn't just that she wasn't amused by the jokes…she didn't even notice their presence! I'm sure they'll all hate How to Rescue a Dead Princess. My dad suggests a new genre that I should write in every time I talk to him…I think last time he wanted me to write a true crime book. Despite their misgivings about what I write, my entire family has always been amazingly supportive and proud of my accomplishments.

MSF&F: What has made you the most unhappy or most angry in your quest for publication?

JEFF: The number of letters I got from publishers who loved my books, but didn't think they could successfully market them. When you get a letter from somebody saying "This is something I'd read on my own time, but we can't use it," it's both encouraging and incredibly frustrating.

MSF&F: What has made you the happiest?

JEFF: The overwhelmingly positive reaction to Graverobbers Wanted (No Experience Necessary)…most of which focused on comedy! YES! Of course, there was the review that said "One is made to wonder what bizarre thoughts marched through the mind of the author during those long dark nights in his native Alaska" but it was still positive. That one didn't get forwarded to my parents.

MSF&F: Why did you decide to e-publish as well as or instead of going the route of "traditional" print?

JEFF: I'd been trying to get my humor novels published for years, but nobody was buying. After one huge wave of submissions failed to get even a nibble, I finally just said "This is ridiculous! Think how much Snapple I could be buying with the postage money!" and decided to devote myself 100% to screenwriting. I met Pauline B. Jones, author of The Last Enemy, when she praised one of my scripts on a critique site, and we later made contact again when I congratulated her on winning a writing contest. She suggested I try to e-publish my books. To me, that was vanity publishing! I wasn't THAT desperate! But she sent me links to a couple of e-publishing sites which, surprisingly enough, seemed professional. I sent out How to Rescue a Dead Princess, and both publishers ended up offering me contracts! I went with Hard Shell Word Factory, and as I learned more and more about e-publishing, I became more excited at this opportunity. I dug out my older novels (at least the ones that weren't banished to hide from human eyes for all eternity), and sent them off to different e-publishers, eventually getting contracts with Wordbeams, Street Saint Publications, and DiskUs Publishing.

MSF&F: How long have you been writing?

JEFF: Since shortly after I developed the ability to drool.

MSF&F: How did you get your first piece published?

JEFF: A friend of mine, John McIlveen, forwarded me an e-mail with the guidelines for a new publication called Twisted Magazine, which was looking for horror, humor, or a combination of the two. I sent off "The Private Diary of Leonard Parr," a really warped humor piece which I later shamelessly incorporated into my novel Out of Whack (recycling saves the environment). The editor, Keith Burgin, e-mailed me an acceptance the next day!

MSF&F: Was it a paying market?

JEFF: No. I did get twenty-five dollars on acceptance of a story called "The Socket" for the second issue, but the magazine sadly expired after the first. I accept no more than 38% of the blame. I later sold the story to an Australian journal, Winedark Sea. It's a sick one. Normal people shouldn't read it.

MSF&F: What are you working on now?

JEFF: Another novel starring Andrew Mayhem, the hero of Graverobbers Wanted (No Experience Necessary). I wanted to call it Naptime For the Midnight Sun Mangler, but then Iinvalidated that title by removing the mangling element, the midnight sun element, and the naptime element. I don't plan ahead very well. It's now called Single White Psychopath Seeks Same.

MSF&F: Tell us about awards you have won, or anything else that you are especially proud of.

JEFF: While I have not personally won any awards for my e-books, I was asked to be the Master of Ceremonies at the first annual EPIC Awards Banquet in Omaha, Nebraska at the end of August. So I will get to shake hands with a bunch of winners andsuck away their energy to use for my own nefarious purposes.

MSF&F: Do you feel more pressure about writing now that you have several publishing credits to your name?

JEFF: I feel less, actually! I was concerned that when Graverobbers came out, people were going to say it was too silly, it was too dark, it was too over-the-top. But initial reaction has shown that people LOVE that it's silly, dark, and over-the-top! So I'm having quite a bit of fun writing the sequel, knowing that I've got a built-in (if small, at this point) audience of really sick individuals wanting more!

MSF&F: Well then, I guess you better count us in as part of the "sick individuals" because we loved it and can't wait for the sequel.

MSF&F: What do you read: Genre, nonfiction, etc.

JEFF: When I'm reading fiction, I tend to gravitate toward thrillers, preferably the really scary, intense ones. I probably read more nonfiction…some humor, and a lot of movie-related stuff. I keep vowing to read a lot of the classic humorous literature, but I usually end up reading a book of Roger Ebert reviews instead.

MSF&F: What about your day job? Is it writing related? Do you have one or are you a full time writer?

JEFF: My day job involves ghastly, horrible, grotesque things like processing insurance payments for large companies. It works out very well for me, because as hard as I try, I can't become obsessed with inputting bills and allocating premium, leaving my mind free to focus on writing when I get home. Sadly, one of the wankers in upper management made me remove the display case I had of Graverobbers disks for sale.

MSF&F: What writers groups do you belong to?

JEFF: I'm a member of EPIC (the Electronically Published Internet Connection), and was recently elected Secretary. You'd think people intelligent enough to have written books would know better, but apparently not. I was also a member of the Horror Writers Association for a few years, though I've since dropped out.

MSF&F: Do you think they have helped your writing career?

JEFF: Absolutely! HWA put a dumb kid with no contacts in touch with people who had actually WRITTEN BOOKS! By actively participating in the electronic bulletin boards, I learned an incredible amount of stuff, as well as hearing about market information that I never would have found otherwise. And the contacts I've made through EPIC have opened even more doors (in fact, I ended up selling Outof Whack because Tom Boyle at Street Saint Publications had read a post of mine on the EPIC mailing list about Graverobbers).

MSF&F: It takes a special sense of humor to do what you do. I admire that greatly (Okay, truth time--I ENVY that.). The body parts scene in "Graverobbers" was indeed an excellent example of scary humor. I loved it because although it was gruesome, I didn't get the effect of gory because of the humor. I hate gory, but you made it not only palatable, but downright enjoyable! Thank you for such a delightful read. I read it all in one evening because I couldn't put it down. You also have a special talent for creating tension with just enough clues to keep the reader turning the page. Your mixture of seriousness and humor is extremely well done. I'm impressed.

MSF&F: Now, tell us about GRAVEROBBERS WANTED (No Experience Necessary.) Is it your first e-book? How did you come up with such a great mix of horror and humor?

JEFF: Graverobbers is the first e-book I've had published, though How to Rescue a Dead Princess was my first one accepted. It was conceived purely as something I thought I could sell…after all, lots of humorous mysteries were being published! Well, during the writing process it turned into this twisted, grisly, totally off-the-wall adventure that wasn't quite what I'd intended! (To be honest, it turned into that pretty early in the writing process and I made no effort to stop it.) I did remove one sequence that was just too slapsticky, and I cut several of Andrew's wisecracks because I didn't want him to be overconfident in the face of danger, but beyond that I tried to make it as funny and as scary as I could…preferably both at the same time!

MSF&F: Well, you definitely succeeded. It's the funniest scary story we've read in a long time!

MSF&F: Tell us about your latest release.

JEFF: It's called How to Rescue a Dead Princess. It's a fantasy spoof, though you don't need to have ever read a fantasy novel to appreciate it. My goal was to set a record for the most jokes ever crammed into a single book. It does have genuine conflict, plenty of danger, and forward momentum to the plot, but really, the book ONLY exists for laughs. It's one goofy novel, and I think people will have a lot of fun with it. Weird people, anyway.

MSF&F: Tell us about the personal you. Do you have a "significant other?" Siblings? Children? Pets? Bad habits? Good habits? Skeletons in the closet? Etc.

JEFF: I've been married for three years to another writer (for the record, her pen name is J.L. Hansen and currently has an agent marketing LogOut, a large-scale techno-thriller. I strongly encourage publishers with large bank accounts to get in touch.). Being married to a writer works out well because I can spend all weekend in front of the computer and not be considered an absolute, total loser. I have one sister, no children, and an insane yet stupid cat named Pandora. My worst habit is probably going up to people on the street and throwing dead tarantulas at them. I really need to knock that off. I have no good habits to speak of, and quite honestly, I think publishing a book like Graverobbers Wanted (No Experience Necessary) is enough of a skeleton in the closet for anyone.

MSF&F: Remind me not to walk on the same street as you. Flying spiders are not my idea of a good time. It was great having you visit with us, and we are all looking forward to reading more of your terrific books. Thanks for this insightful interview, Jeff.

MSF&F: Folks, if you haven't experienced Jeff's e-books yet, RUN--DO NOT WALK to the nearest computer and order one. You will be glad you did. To keep up with all the latest ridiculous developments, send a blank e-mail to SeriouslyWhacked-subscribe@egroups.com.

Interview by S. Joan Popek:

    Steven Climer is a prolific and much published author. His most recent book, BEARWALKER, now in print and in e-book form from Indigo, was recently reviewed by one of our top reviewers, Patricia White. Her recommendation of this author and his book was so high we decided that our readers might like to know a little more about him.

    Steven Lee Climer lives in metropolitan Detroit and is a Ph.D. student at Wayne State University and a dual-graduate of Eastern Michigan University. When not writing, he teaches English at Detroit College of Business, and is an Internet producer for Fry Multimedia in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The greatest joy in his life is his wife, Karen.

    Born of southern stock, Steve's parents and family are from western Tennessee. He spent the first five years of his life on Dog Hill before moving north with his family (wanted to go alone, but they insisted on tagging along). He spent all his summers in Tennessee up until he was 17.

    His short stories have appeared in over a dozen magazines, including Implosion, The Midnight Gallery, Into the Darkness, Squane's Journal, Altered Perceptions and FrightNet.

    His first novel, DREAM THIEVES was published electronically by Hard Shell Word Factory, and will appear in soft cover in the near future. It was a finalist for Best First Novel of 1997 in the International Horror Guild Awards, and won in the Fantasy category for Under The Covers Book Reviews Best Fantasy of 1997.  One of his trademark tales is also in the anthology "Dark Whispers."

    He is a very busy man and about to become a father, but he kindly took time from his busy schedule to allow us to interview him. So without further yakking from us, we give you "The Inside Story" about one of today’s most talented authors:

    MSF&F: Steve, when did you start writing?

    Steve: I can't remember a time when I wasn't writing. In 1995 I finished my Master's degree in Written Communications and at that point I decided to spend time on my career. I wanted to be an author, and I had been writing novels and short stories and poetry all along. I began to submit, submit, submit. And after a zillion rejections I started placing a few.

    MSF&F: How did you get your first piece published?

    Steve: I did the slush pile thing and made it into a small, small magazine that's no longer in business. My first paid writing was a few non-fiction health articles for a fitness magazine.

    MSF&F: Was it a paying market?

    Steve: The fiction wasn't, but the non-fiction was.

    MSF&F: What are you working on now?

    Steve: A new novel, which is nearly complete. I also have a few back-burner projects that I'll put on the front burner again. The main thing I'm working on though, is our adoption of a baby from China.

    MSF&F: Steve, that’s wonderful. Congratulations to you and your wife. Ok, back to the interview. Do you have a degree and is that important for writing fiction?

    Steve: As I mentioned earlier, I have a Master's degree in Pedagogy. I teach part-time at a small college. Not only do I love to write, but I love to teach writing as well. I teach composition and literature currently.

    MSF&F: What mediums are you published in?

    Steve: Print, audio (as of Nov.) and electronic.

    MSF&F: What is your favorite medium of publishing? E-books, audio, print?

    Steve: I think it's important to be active in all mediums so you reach the audience.

    MSF&F: Patricia White did a highly recommended review of your BEAR WALKER for Millennium Science Fiction & Fantasy Magazine. What gave you the idea for this book?

    Steve: It was inspired by a folklore class I had in college. We were reading about legends in Michigan and I thought the legend of Bearwalkers would make a great novel.

    MSF&F: Why did you decide to go with e publishing?

    Steve: I actually went with a publisher who published in print and electronic.  Again, I wanted to reach the most people I could. DEMONESque is due out in late Fall in Audio from Fiction Works.

    MSF&F: What is the difference in working with an e-publisher and a traditional one?

    Steve: E-publishers seem more accessible and flexible. They embrace technology, taking advantage of email, chat, etc.

    MSF&F: Tell us about awards you have won, or any other firsts you have had that you are especially proud of.

    Steve: "By Any Name a Devil" appeared in the anthology Monsters from Memphis and was named Honorable Mention in The Year's Best Horror and Fantasy by OMNI Magazine, and also recommended for nomination for a Bram Stoker Award. It also won the Memphis Science Fiction Association's 1998 Darrell Award for Best Mid-South Short Story. My first novel, DREAM THIEVES was a finalist for Best First Novel of 1997 in the International Horror Guild Awards, and won in the Fantasy category for Under The Covers Book Reviews Best Fantasy of 1997. I'm proud of the fact DREAM THIEVES was the first electronic book ever nominated in the IHG. Another first, BEARWALKER was the first book published by Indigo.

    MSF&F: Do you feel more pressure about writing now that you have several publishing credits to your name?

    Steve: Not really. I still have the same philosophy that I'm writing books that I'd like to read. I hope to get more popular and maybe have a bestseller or two, but it's not important to me as it used to be. Adopting our daughter from China and being a good father and husband are the true challenges in my life. I'll always write. Even if I never sell anymore (Ah! God forbid) I'd still write. You should see all the manuscripts and story ideas just sitting around my house and office.

    MSF&F: Tell us about your latest release.

    Steve: Bearwalker is a really fun adventure book. It's short on purpose so it can be an easy read. It's also the first book in a series in which the Mystics will be revealed.

    MSF&F: What got you started writing?

    Steve: Survival.

    MSF&F: What do you read: Genre, nonfiction, etc.

    Steve: Surprisingly, I don't read a whole lot of horror and fantasy because I feel it would influence what I'm writing. Instead, I read a variety of things to hear different voices, see new characters, etc.

    MSF&F: What about your day job? Is it writing related?

    Steve: I'm a producer of e-commerce websites like godiva.com.  I love doing web pages and programming stuff. It's quite creative and it's the core of my new Internet horror novel Mortal Web that I'm just finishing.

    MSF&F: What writers groups do you belong to?

    Steve: I'm a member of EPIC, and an active member of the Horror Writers Association.

    MSF&F: Well, Steve, it seems that you have worked very hard for your success, and we wish you much more. We and all of our readers would like to thank you for taking time out to visit with us. Do you have any parting words of wisdom for our writers out there?

    Steve: Yes. Keep writing even if no one buys it. Write for yourself. Write what's missing on the shelves of bookstores, too. That's how I view it. I'd say "Hey wouldn't it be cool if there was a book that went like this...and that happened...and there's this character..."  Go write that book.