1. For those who haven’t read it yet, can you describe “Bone Daddy” in one sentence?
It’s what you would call minimalist speculative fiction: paranormal creepiness wrapped up in an urban fantasy tale.

2. Perfect. Mr. Johnny Trick is scary as hell–and actually reminds me a lot of the (in retrospect, yeah, super creepy) imaginary characters my best friend and I would invent when we were really young. Please tell us a little about where you came up with the idea for him.
I had a nightmare about him. It was one of those dreams where you’re walking through a weird combination of all the places you’ve ever lived in, in the dark of course. I felt his hot breath on the back of my neck, but I couldn’t turn around. My dream self is kind of a pussy sometimes. Anyway, when he appeared in front of me as a shadow, I woke up. I couldn’t forget that dream like I normally did. When I realized I couldn’t forget it, I had to write about it.

3. That would explain why he’s so vivid. Yikes. So what’s next for your writing, and where can we find it?
I’m selling an e-book of short stories in the fall available in as many formats as possible. I just started a tumblr for my more graphic free writing projects. It’s a new medium I’m heading into, but I think it’s going to be fun when I gain momentum.

Definitely, sounds fascinating. Thanks for humoring us with the questions, Britney, and we hope to have you back here someday soon. Everyone else — really. “Bone Daddy”. You won’t regret it, RPP guarantee.

The Red Penny Papers, Spring 2012 Quarterly

Free for all, as usual. But don’t forget to stop by The Red Penny Papers page there, too. After all, there’s The Darkest Shade of Grey to consider, too.

Click the cover for adventure, excitement, and all manner of sensational reading experience. Much thanks to  S.A. van Muijden for bringing Mr. Worden’s “The Black Hole” to our cover.

Next week: the eBook version, free for all, as ever.

As good pulp fiction should be, Baxter’s story is fast-paced, yet the author maintains a noir atmosphere effectively, not simply via plot maneuvers and archetypal characters, but through snatches of effective description and a dark sensibility that is integrated into the details. He’s not afraid to stop and smell the waste run-off occasionally.

For more, click on through to the whole review — and thanks for checking it out, Mr. Hood. Don’t forget, purchasing the eBook version of Darkest Shade from either Amazon or Smashwords is a great way to support both Alan’s wonderful work and The Red Penny Papers.

To celebrate, we’ve had Alan swing by for one of our tiny interviews. Thanks, Alan!

1. I know this sounds like a ridiculous task, but could you describe The Darkest Shade of Grey in one sentence?

The story of a man weighed down by demons, who seeks redemption in the plight of a broken homeless man.

How’s that? Man, tough call!

2. David is such a real character — flawed but also strong in his own way — and the supernatural aspect of his world so gritty. What can you cite as inspiration for him, or even for certain aspects of his story, without giving away from where his, er, problems are coming?

The world David inhabits is one I’ve explored in a few ways. My novels, RealmShift and MageSign, are set in the same world, or least a subtle variation of it. As is my third book, unrelated to the first two, which is currently unpublished. It’s probably fair to say that a lot of my short fiction is set there too, or in one of those variations, so I guess I’ve had time to realise it quite fully in my mind.

David himself is a gestalt entity, the melding of several inspirations. There’s no one person who informs the character of David, but I can think of a few people who have had an influence. And I expect there’s a bit of me in there too, but I suppose that’s true of all my characters. It’s hard to write a character completely divorced from myself as a writer. And, while David grew on the page as I told his story, he’s one of the most complete characters I’ve ever had – he appeared in my mind almost fully formed from the very start, which is unusual.

3. What’s coming up next for you and your fiction, and where can we keep track of it?

I’m currently looking for a publisher for my third novel and I have a few bits and pieces of short fiction due out soon. In the meantime, I’m working on a fourth book and I always have various short fiction projects on the go. And I’m working on a collborative novella with fellow Gryphonwood author, David Wood. You can keep up to date with everything at my website – www.alanbaxteronline.com

Thanks so much, Alan!

If you haven’t been following along as we publish new episodes, or maybe you just want to sit down with an ereader instead of reading on the web, we have great news. Next week, The Red Penny Papers will publish an eBook edition of The Darkest Shade of Grey, which will be available at both Amazon and Smashwords for $1.99. It’s a great way to get your fix — and support both RPP and the author. Of course, as always, the free episodic version will remain on our site. This is an optional extra, and one readers have requested many, many times.

This is an option we hope to offer to all our serial authors in future — and unlike the quarterly issues, the serials won’t disappear after a few months. For updates on the policy, you can check out the submissions page, but that’s the long and short of it.

We’re really happy to have Darkest Shade of Grey as our first eBook novella, and hope you’re enjoying it. Come back next week for the collected version and a mini-interview with the author himself.

-Katey

‘Why didn’t you just walk away, Johanssen?’

A great question, though I think we all know the answer. Even if we don’t want to admit it. And after this episode…

Well, I’ll let you see for yourself. One more to go after this, and then a new way to read your serial. More on that next time.

You can click the link above to go directly to episode three, or start from the beginning with the table of contents. Happy weekend, from The Red Penny Papers!

‘Alcoholic,’ The Suit continued. ‘You played around with magic and got burned. Now you’ve lost everything and you’re desperate for some kind of repentant catharsis. This, I’m afraid, isn’t it.’

‘Who the fuck are you?’

‘Let’s just say that I’m a company man, here to take care of some business.’

Ready for the second installment of Alan Baxter’s Darkest Shade of Grey? Follow this link to go straight to episode 2, or start from the beginning with the table of contents!

Cover art by Megan Eckman

Click the cover to go to the Table of Contents page and find episode 1!

Coming up this spring, we have some excellent goings on. Beginning in a few weeks, when we begin our latest serial fiction, Alan Baxter‘s The Darkest Shade of Grey. Let’s call it… Aussie Supernatural Noir. Yeah, I like the sound of that — and I’m sure you all will too. Darkest Shade will have a cover drawn by the wonderful Megan Eckman, who did our Spring 2011 cover. The original of which is on my office wall. Gorrrrrgeous.

We have some special things planned for this novella, but I’ll leave it at that until all the Ts are crossed and the Is dotted. Think you’ll love it, though.

And then we have, of course, the spring issue, which will drop in the middle of March. Here’s what you can look forward to (because I know I am):

The Red Penny Papers Spring 2012 Quarterly

“The Black Hole” by Patrick J. Worden
“Bone Daddy” Britney Smith
“Garlic Squash” by Nicki Vardon
“Sacrifice” by Natalie L. Sin
“Pins and Needles, Silk and Sawdust” by Tonia Brown
“The Castle of Ashes” by Alexandra Seidel

And a cover by the wonderful S.A. vanMuijden.

See you there.