Ahem … Presenting Stephanie M. Loree
Hey there!
Friends and fans, in case you haven’t guessed by now, this is the time we have conversations with all of our authors from An Honest Lie Volume 3: Justifiable Hypocrisy. If you’d like to congratulate this year’s participants please leave a comment here. They have all crafted exquisite pieces for your enjoyment and we are working hard to bring you the best collection we’ve ever produced.
Okay … let’s dive right in. This week we are featuring Stephanie M. Loree. She’s blessed us with a fascinating story called Skin Script. There is little I can say to illuminate this tale for you. It’s a “what if” moment turned to a work of art. Not surprising considering Stephanie’s creativity seems to know no bounds. But, well let’s find out what she has to say about it.
Open Heart Publishing: On top of writing you are a vocalist and pianist. Do all these projects fuel your creative side, or do you do so many things because your creative side won’t be still?
Stephanie Loree: For me, music and writing are intertwined. It’s all a part of my creative side and my creative process. Making music is about taking a beat, a melody, and adding words. Writing is taking words and making them sing. They’re both concerned with telling a story. More than anything I think my creative side wants to be a storyteller, and these are the mediums it chooses. There have been other mediums, but sadly my drawing skills never advanced beyond “abstract” finger-painting.
OHP: Man do I understand that. It’s great when you can explore that creative side. Like your blog, I’ve really enjoyed reading it. What is your motivation for keeping it going when you have so much going on already?
SL:It’s hard sometimes, but blogging can be a lot of fun. When you make connections with other bloggers and writers; when people leave comments and participate in your events, that’s when it’s worthwhile. I’ve met a number of fantastic people through blogging, including my critique group. It’s really an invaluable tool for writers, both in learning from others and marketing your own work. It also helps to know there are others out there just as crazy (and weird) as you.
OHP: Your Twitter Fiction idea is brilliant. I loved the one from 4-21. Is it about the essence of love?
SL: Do you mind if I include it?
OHP: Allow me.
“The Sun burned up today, inhaled the world like a fiery maw. Four billion years to plan and all I could do was hold you.”
SL:Essence of love sounds good! I like to leave interpretations up to the reader, and I love it when people take away different things from my work. I can tell you that I wrote it because I was thinking about the Zombie Apocalypse and asking myself, “Are you prepared for zombies?” (And no, no I’m not.) Then I thought about the actual way Earth will end someday when the sun dies, and how no one really is planning for it (granted it is four billion years away). My plan is to basically snuggle with the nearest person. Maybe that would work for zombies, too?
OHP: Somehow I doubt it. The zombie horde is an unending relentless force. You write speculative fiction. As a genre it’s … open ended. What does speculative fiction mean to you?
SL: Anything weird; Science Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal, Magic Realism, Horror, anything that can’t happen in real life … I live real life every day. Why would I want to write about it? Talking swords and psychic tattoos are way cooler.
OHP: Way cooler. I noticed you are working on an Urban Fantasy. Would share a little of that story for us?
SL: It’s about a blind woman who sees dead people. More specifically, she sees the ghost of her fiancé–a cop who was killed in the line of duty. Together they attempt to solve his murder and learn that a woman who can’t see and a man who can’t touch can still find each other.
It’s a darker tale with a dash of romance. Readers who like my short story in An Honest Lie should find it similar in style.
OHP: Yeah that sounds like a good read. You do a ton of book reviews. Is all that hard work for fun or profit?
SL: Fun, though every once in awhile I get free books. I’ve also met a number of wonderful authors through book reviews and came across some fantastic stories I never would have known existed. I love reading, so reviewing became an extension of that and a way for me to expose my blog. I like it, though I expect that with my own work being published I will be doing less reviewing and more articles on writing, publishing, and the like.
OHP: Free books. I love fee books. Especially when it’s stuff I like to read. What are you reading now?
SL: HAMMERED by Kevin Hearne, #2 in his Iron Druid Chronicles. It’s a seriously awesome and funny urban fantasy.
THE HUM AND THE SHIVER by Alex Bledsoe; an ARC provided to me by the author. So far it’s, a really unique alternate history with a strong heroine.
REALMS #2, a compilation of short stories published in Clarkesworld magazine, which any SF/F fan should check out immediately.
OHP: Skin Script was one of the more fascinating stories I’ve read this year. What was your inspiration for such an amazing tale?
SL: I was talking to my critique partner and said, “Wouldn’t it be cool if someone could see your future on your skin? Like the pattern of your soul, in Technicolor lights.” And chaos ensued. Another critique partner had been discussing her tattoos with me, and she even went out and did some firsthand research. I have a dedicated critique group.
OHP: Yes it seems you do. And the research paid off. I may be mistaken here but in your blog it seems as if we are the first house to publish your work? Is that true? How does it feel finally being a published author?
SL: An Honest Lie will be my first professional publication, it’s true. It feels surreal, but completely fantastic! Most times I can’t believe it’s actually happening. It’s the acknowledgement, I think, from professionals in the industry that makes me believe maybe I don’t suck at this writing gig. It gives me the warm and fuzzies.
OHP: We all take up this crazy gig for one reason or another. What does writing mean to you?
SL: Like music, I write to entertain. It’s a means to convey the cool stuff in my head to others, and hope they think it’s cool too. It means I don’t have to contain the voices inside my head; I can let them out to play! It also means a boatload of work. Writing is hard. Those who say otherwise are dirty liars.
OHP: Horrible charlatans. If you were asked to give a class of aspiring writers a few words of advice what would you say?
SL: Finish it. Don’t stop until you type, “The End.” Don’t go back. Don’t restart. Don’t skip. Don’t give up. Don’t be me! Writers write. Aspiring writers… aspire.
OHP: Final question and I’ll get off you back. Do you play “Words with Friends”? If so are you willing to share your screen name with us?
SL: First I’ve heard of it. I play a lot of games, most of them involving
dice and/or pixels. Word games are great, but pwning your friends is
priceless.
Indeed it is, My Lady, indeed it is.
:)
Born and stuck in Ohio , Stephanie received her BS in Criminal Justice and works in a cubicle for “the man.” She writes speculative fiction and is a professional vocalist/pianist. Though she prefers money, Stephanie will also work for dark chocolate. She enjoys experimenting with everything from epic fantasy to twitter-sized sci-fi. A “SuperNerd” who loves gaming, technology, good sushi, and bad Kung Fu flicks. Stephanie’s story “The Skin Script” is her first published stoey for An Honest Lie .Learn more about Stephanie at blog.stephaniemloree.com and tweets @smloree.
Words and Wisdom
Welcome back dear Friends and Fans. As always we are glad to have you hear with us experiencing life at Open Heart Publishing. As you know we have quite a bit going on around here and it is my most humble duty to share what we’ve learned with you and to inspire you to your own little piece of greatness. Ha! Or maybe you’re like me and you’re looking to eat the whole pie. Either way, here’s another slice!
As you know, or may not know, Debrin, or illustrious publisher is off on a literary walkabout sharing his wisdom, meeting artists and writers like yourselves and spreading the word about Open Heart Publishing. “Growing the Brand,” you might call it “doing the dance arms all akimbo taking a major leap of faith. I am in awe of the gumption it must take. He was most recently in the Big Easy taking it slow on the banks of Lake Pontchartrain. There he met two of our returning contributors C.B. Calsing, who not only provided us with some great stories for our anthologies but also blessed us with a collection she wrote called “Along the Pacific”; and Robert Dean who gave us “Blue Eyeliner” for “An Honest Lie Volume 1: Encouraging the Delinquency of Your Inner Child”. That, is a great story. We’d love the read more of your work, if you’re reading this dude.
But, alas, on who walks about never can for long remain in one local so, Debrin has moved on again, the wanderlust snatching his feet and carrying him onward; this time to Nashville. Let us send with him our best wishes and let’s hope his luck improves. Here’s to you my brother … godspeed.
And while or publisher is doing the leg work on the road, we here at home are holding down the OHP fort. I am happy to say that we’ve read almost everything you guys have sent and we will be announcing the short list within weeks. I know it seems to have been an extra long haul with the submissions extension and everything but the time is drawing short I promise you. I can say that I am extremely pleased with the submissions we received. You are one creative group of writers and I am privledged to be one of the first to read your work. We are going to have a hard time choosing the lucky few, but I think we are about to put out our best book yet. I can’t wait.
Alright then, with all of the words and all of the wisdom imparted, I will see you anon.
This is Life @ OHP baby!
Hey ya’ll. It is I, your intrepid Jr. Editor back again with some great news. This news is so engrossing, so
engaging, so very world shattering that it will change the way you look at this life we live forever. But first I must aside.
I know things have been quiet around here lately so I want to ask you to wait for the other shoe to drop for a few hundred words more while I update you on what’s been going on. As many of you know we’ve extended the submission deadline for An Honest Lie Volume 3: Justifiable Hypocrisy. If you are going to submit I would suggest you do it now. Do it here. Do it now. Many of you already have and we truly appreciate it. I’ve read some very, very good stories and I’ve read some Great ones as well. I believe that AHL V3 is going to be our best volume yet! You guys are awesome.
Are you new here? Do you find yourself a bit confused about to what it is I refer? Well, we here at Open Heart Publishing pride ourselves in having released some of the finest books in the world of independent publishing. Our first two anthologies, “An Honest Lie Volume 1: Encouraging the Delinquency of Your Inner Child” and “An Honest Lie Volume 2: Delusions of Insignificance”, are chock full of great stories from some of the premiere emerging writers in the nation. One of those authors, C.B. Calsing blessed us with a fabulous collection set in and around San Louis Obispo called “All Along the Pacific”. We have also worked closely with the community through our opportunity project and put together, with the help of some very talented young people, “The Cave of Colors”. And our biggest book, our most controversial piece of work “The Children’s Book of Necromancy [Not Intended for Children]”. You can pick them all up here at our store.
Okay, you’ve done your due and sat through my PSA. You are now sanctioned to hear the news and you are not going to believe me when I tell you what we are doing this summer season. Well, by “we” I mean more specifically, Our Fearless Leader Debrin Case. He is embarking on a massive journey across our great nation to bring the Open Heart Publishing name to a home town near you. But he is not just promoting our company and our great products, oh no, Debrin is also bringing you a great message of vision and passion and nurturing both even if you have to start at Rock Bottom. He is embarking on a walkabout and, though he walks alone, he walks on behalf of us all. He, better than anyone, can tell you the depths of his vision and mission so I would suggest following his quest at his blog Ramble Tree and find out when and where he’ll be speaking at his mission headquarters Starting @ Rock Bottom.
I am completely proud of where we’ve been, I am excited to be involved with what we have going on now, and I see a bright and bold future ahead for us all. We love you guys. We do this for the love, but we also do this for the writers, for the readers, for the friends and fans, we do this for you. Take a moment to lend us your support. Submit your work, follow our Facebook and Twitter, and buy our books.
