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Staci Layne Wilson Interview
Dark Moon Rising's Lynda Dale MacLean wrote several questions for author Staci Layne Wilson, about her writings, her book, Rock & Roll Fantasy, and her life. Enjoy this wonderful interview with a great talent!
LDM: What was the inspiration behind writing Rock & Roll Fantasy?
SLW: Maybe this isn't a shining example, but like Luc Besson with The Fifth Element, I wrote the story as a teenager. However, unlike Luc (I suspect), my story went through several incarnations and is much improved for it. Still, the heart of the story is the same: an homage to classic rock, wrapped in puns and riddles, and fanned by tarot cards.
LDM: Have you encountered any difficulties being a female writer of fantasy?
SLW: Not at all. While most of the legendary fantasy authors are male (Tolkien, Adams, Bradbury), I don't find that the genre as a whole is gender-biased in any way. Besides, I wear very short skirts to my signings – let's see Clive Barker try that! (Oh, wait a minute… he just might.)
LDM: Have you thought about this novel being turned into a film, and if so, which actors do you feel would best represent the characters in Rock & Roll Fantasy?
SLW: Sure. What author doesn't dream of seeing their vision projected onscreen? My book would probably have to be one of those Hallmark Hall of Fame type mini-series, because it's very fanciful in an epic-journey sort of way (it's been favorably by reviewers compared to Homer's Odyssey, and Alice In Wonderland).
Ooooh… doing the casting in my mind! How fun. Well, they would all have to be played by real life rock stars. Let's see… Pink would be the heroine, for sure. She's got just the right sass, but you can see the pathos beneath the bravado. There are so many peripheral characters, I'll just pick a few: Eminem would be great as the evil slave trader, Acsel Thorne; Marilyn Manson as the maniacal Alice; Liam Gallagher as Micjag the Fool; Dave Navarro as The Duke of Amboy; Eve as Pearl; and Josey Scott as Mr. Kussen, aka The Devil.
LDM: Are you planning a sequel to Rock and Roll Fantasy?
SLW: Been there, done that. I always thought it would be fun to have a whole series of books on the same theme, though – like a country mystery, a rap romance, a blues horror, etc. But that's a lot of work to do it right (lots of research involved), so unless a big publisher wants to pony up the bucks (all I got for Rock & Roll Fantasy was a bucking pony… not exactly the same thing) I'm just moving on to whatever else interests me next.
LDM: How has having your writings published changed you?
SLW: I'm totally insufferable now. Ask anyone. I'm like, "Hi, I'm Staci Layne Wilson. Published author." Then the waitress will just roll her eyes and leave the menu.
LDM: Is there a side of yourself that you didn't know existed until you started writing?
SLW: Yeah. Especially when I started writing ransom notes. Boy, did the money start rolling in then!
No, I've been writing ever since I can remember, so that's a difficult question to answer. My mom (Nancy Bacon) is a writer, and growing up in that environment has always been a part of me.
LDM: I read that you review movies, and are an entertainment reporter, which is pretty cool indeed. What sparked that interest, and are there any movie reviews, or interviews that stand out in your mind?
SLW: I have always loved movies. I grew up in a house where the TV was always on – which was a good thing, in my case. Before I was 10 years old, I knew about all the great classic dramas and comedies, and who acted in them. It shocks me to this day when people don't know who Clara Bow was, or William Powell.
The movie review that stands out most in my mind is the one I did of Signs. I gave the flick a lukewarm review, but from the extreme and vicious hate mail I got in response, you would have thought I mercilessly trashed it and personally kicked Mel Gibson in the shins.
Which brings me to Mel himself – one of the nicest guys to interview. On the red carpet, upon which the press lines can be very long, he stops and talks to each and every reporter. So does Brad Pitt, and a few other mega-stars that you wouldn't think have "time" for all the outlets, right down to the smallest websites. Of course, it's for good reasons like that that these people are "stars" – they know what side their bread is buttered on.
LDM: How do you prepare yourself for writing? Do you approach each movie review, novel, or short story differently?
SLW: I've been writing professionally for most of my life. My first article was published when I was 12. So nowadays, there is a lot of procrastination involved. I do so many different types of writing – fiction and nonfiction books, interviews, movie reviews, articles, etc. – it gets to be a little overwhelming sometimes. No one thing has "hit" yet financially, so I'm still kind of playing the field to see what happens.
LDM: When do you find your creativity peeks highest?
SLW: When I have a deadline to meet.
LDM: I read that horror is your preferred taste, what draws you into that particular genre?
SLW: Blood draws me to horror. Get it? Drawing blood? OK, deny me the rim-shot then. See if I care!
I just think that out of all the genres, horror and dark fantasy allow the creator to have the most leeway. There is also something about being scared that appeals to our depraved little lizard brains – something very primal about being afraid of the dark. It's a thrill that reminds us we're lucky to be alive.
LDM: Did you have doubts with your writing ability, and if so, what ways have you learned to overcome them?
SLW: Sometimes I've come to impasses in plotting, and how to move my novels along. I feel that "padding" is my weak suit; I am more comfortable writing short stories than novels, but once a novel is published it seems like so much more of an accomplishment. The only way to overcome any kind of writer's block is to just move through it.
LDM: Who's been your biggest influence outside of the writing world?
SLW: My husband and my parents have all been very supportive and encouraging of my artistic endeavors. Aside from that, I don't have influences (as Albert Schweitzer and Ghandi look at each other on the heavenly plane and go, "Humph! What are we, chopped liver?").
Inspiration, however, has probably been animals – I love my animals like they are my children, and I always put animal-characters in my books and stories, where ever possible. Especially cats, horses, and most importantly, ferrets. I'm fed up with ferrets being cast in books and movies as the "weasel / bad guys". Two great ferret-boosters have been (onscreen) The Beastmaster and (on the page) Richard Bach's Ferret Chronicles.
LDM: What piece of advice would you give to aspiring writers?
SLW: I wouldn't recommend starting right off the bat with a book. Unless, of course, you have a book that you are just dying to get on paper (you know who you are). I'd begin with short stories, and I'd definitely join several online writing communities (winding up with only a few -- join several at first to get a feel for the tone of the groups and their members. Like real world communities, each one attracts certain types of people). There are lots of good ones to be found at http://www.yahoogroups.com
LDM: Animals have a huge place in my heart. I read that you'll be donating a portion of the sales from Rock & Roll Fantasy to such an admirable cause. Which animal shelters and rescue organizations do you support?
SLW: A major chunk of the proceeds from The Horse's Choice went to a rescue organization that I and my husband co-founded, HorseAid.
As for other books and articles sold, I use my money to buy goods (food, blankets, medicines) to donate to various organizations that accept them (I am always leery of rescues that only accept funds).
Best Friends: http://www.bestfriends.org/
Ferret Family Services: http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~sprite/ffs.html
HorseAid: http://www.horseaid.org
Lange Foundation: http://www.langefoundation.com
I plan on donating some copies of animal-appropriate books to shelter raffles, to help them raise funds. (Rock & Roll Fantasy and Horrors of the Holy have ferrets in them; Horses By eMail has an equine theme; and The Life & Times of Rapunzel is all about cats.)
LDM: Are there any other projects you're working on that you can tell us about?
SLW: Luckily, I'm not working on any novels at the moment -- this year is when a whole bunch of them come out! Now the real work begins… thank goodness for the Internet, but promotion is a beeyatch. Book signings are fun, and I have a few lined up for Rock & Roll Fantasy and The Life & Times of Rapunzel, which is being released in paperback by Amber Quill Press in early April 2003. Later on this year, AQP will be releasing my full-on horror novel, Ghost Writer, and my vampiric romance/mystery, Dark Lullaby.
LDM: It's been a pleasure having this opportunity to get to know a little more about you and your writing. We at DMR wish you continued happiness and success!
SLW: Thanks, Lynda! It's been fun.
