JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Russell A. Mebane, author of Flowers & Kittens: Dark, Weird Stories
Eight weird and dark stories of the speculative fiction variety. Three stories center around utter randomness. One centers around environmentalism. Two stories are centered squarely around the nature of god. Another tale is a futuristic duel between two African soldiers, and there’s a story in it about computers feeling pain.
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write Flowers & Kittens: Dark, Weird Stories?
Russell A. Mebane: The Doll: Frustration with technology
The God: Frustration with theological issues
The House: Insects in my house
The Shoveler and the Day: Free-form brainstorming in an attempt to be random and a little anime
The Conqueror: Anime with samurai duels
The Fairy: a valid attempt to see how dark I could get and still make sense
The Vegan: sitting through one too many cop shows
Oh, and the Bible. I try to mirror the styles and tones of the Old Testament.
JP: What sets Flowers & Kittens: Dark, Weird Stories apart from other books in the same genre?
RAM: Moral ambiguity with strong narrative hooks. No guaranteed happy endings. Lots of uncertainty.
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Flowers & Kittens: Dark, Weird Stories getting out to the public?
RAM: Dedication to writing even when I’m tired. Seeking out proofreaders.
JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish Flowers & Kittens: Dark, Weird Stories?
RAM: Flowers & Kittens is 85 pages, so it didn’t take me long to write. My process is to outline and brainstorm it first. Then I handwrite it on paper. I proofread that and then type it up. Then I print the story and proofread it again. Then I save it and move on to the next one.
JP: What’s next for Russell A. Mebane?
RAM: I’m currently working on Ruins of the Fall: Infinite Army. It’s the sequel to my first novel: Ruins of the Fall: Tree of Might. I’m also four stories into finishing my next short story collection: Hugs & Bunnies.