Three Worlds Press has started a fun series of shorts which is planned to be compiled into anthologies as we go :) They all have to do with the Sea and a little light horror, and the one to launch this week is gothic horror! I have the author guest blogging as well as his buy links and a little som'in som'in from his book!
- Would
you want to live in the world you’ve created and why/why not?
My world (in the book) is our world. The only difference is
much of the magic we see in movies or phony "documentaries" is real
in the world of the book, though much more subtle than in traditional fantasy.
I'd love to live in a magical world. My universe--to which the book provides
only a glimpse through a window--has magic, monsters, gods and demons, and many
typical fantasy elements, but is otherwise our normal, workaday world. What
makes it interesting, I hope, is that nothing is overt. The magical underbelly
of reality exists largely unnoticed by most people.
- Did
you have a favourite book or author as a child? Have you got one now?
I loved a book series called The Three Investigators. I
recall them having business cards and thinking that was so cool--there was some
kind of power in that. They--much like Scooby Doo--always found a rational
explanation for seemingly supernatural phenomena. That is attractive to me in a
way. But then I have always been inspired by Poe and Lovecraft (my daughter is
Raven and once son is H.P.). In the past decade, I've noticed a theme of Neil
Gaiman running through my life--movies, books, and other forms of media had
links to Gaiman. Long before I knew who he was (or recognized the value of
following authors rater than stories) I was reading comics he wrote (one,
Death: The High Cost of Living, is still a favorite). I figured he was one of
these ubiquitous writers--a Stephen King who everyone has experienced
somehow--but no. Gaiman appeals to a certain community, and those people
gravitate toward his projects not necessarily because of him (generally), but
because of their temperaments and the style and quality of his projects. I also
enjoy the early writing of Orson Scott Card, and who doesn't love Bradbury,
Asimov, Heinlein, Clarke, Dick, Blish, etc.
- What
do you find hardest to write?
My mind always wants to explore my universe, so constraining
stories to the relevant characters and plot lines is a constant battle. I
sometimes satiate myself by dropping in Easter Eggs that only I recognize as
such (as my body of work grows, maybe they'll be more recognizable). But when
you've got a world in your mind filled with interesting characters, it's hard
to keep them from popping up at every opportunity. I remind myself to keep a
steady pace--over time I will begin to explore more of the people/beings.
- Do you
have any other books in the works?
I have a few in process, most set in this same world. I
enjoy world-building, so expect to see at least some of the characters from Sea
Foam again.
Author Bio:
D.J. Kozlowski writes gothic horror, dark fantasy, and magical realism, drawing inspiration from the likes of Poe and Lovecraft. When he’s not writing, D.J. counsels businesses as an attorney. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, 3 kids, and fish, the latter of which is constantly being replaced for the sake of the children. He tries not to take life too seriously.
Blurb:
Minor magic can have unintended consequences. At the beach across from the Sea Foam Apartments, the fates of five people are tragically altered through Melinda’s well-intentioned meddling. Now, Melinda has a chance to help these people find their destinies and restore life to the beach, but she’ll need some help. Fortunately, someone has been watching.
Quotes:
“She recalled the sun rising from behind the sea, darkening then illuminating the lighthouse and brightening the sands whose sparkle mixed with the shimmering waves to cast all the early joggers in a discotheque strobe. This place had magic to it.”
“The rustling of the curtains was enough to rouse Marc from a dead sleep. When he was younger and living in that apartment at the end of Seaside Avenue, the curtains rustled. At first, he thought he’d left the balcony door ajar, allowing a sea breeze into the apartment. Only later did he realize the curtains moved regardless of the door or the breeze.”
