It’s tour time! Today I have just a really incredible short story collection from a guy who knows what he’s talking about. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this book. Before we get to the interview, though, let’s see just what Irredeemable is…
Flowing like mists and shadows through the Appalachian Mountains come 18 tales from the mind of Jason Sizemore. Weaving together elements of southern gothic, science fiction, fantasy, horror, the supernatural, and much more, this diverse collection of short stories brings you an array of characters who must face accountability, responsibility, and, more ominously, retribution.
Whether it is Jack Taylor readying for a macabre, terrifying night in The Sleeping Quartet, the Wayne brothers and mischief gone badly awry in Pranks, the title character in The Dead and Metty Crawford , or the church congregation and their welcoming of a special visitor in Yellow Warblers, Irredeemable introduces you to a range of ordinary people who come face to face with extraordinary situations.
Whether the undead, aliens, ghosts, or killers of the yakuza, dangers of all kinds lurk within the darkness for those who dare tread upon its ground. Hop aboard and settle in, Irredeemable will take you on an unforgettable ride along a dark speculative fiction road.
***
SJ: Every writer has some sort of process. Give us a glimpse into yours. Do you meticulously outline? Do you write depending on what calls are out there?
JS: I’m not particularly formal when I write. The only preliminary work I do is to try and write a short (200 words or so) synopsis of the plot. If I’m having trouble filling in the plot, I like to start the process of writing the story, perhaps the opening scene, and let my imagination unfold from there.
SJ: Are you a meticulous planner or do you believe in the muse? Where do your ideas come from? Do they filter in through your dreams? Do they show up at inopportune times and whap you upside the head? Do they result in a shady deal with a dark power?
JS: My muse is a cruel creature. She is very persnickety about things like silence, sitting position, number of nearby cats, etc. But I have to give her credit, when she’s ready to work, she can crank out words at an incredible rate.
SJ: bonus question – If your muse had a physical manifestation, what would he or she look like and how would she or he act? Is it a sexy superhero version of Callisto? A sharp-tongued rogue? A reptilian alien? Do they have a catch phrase?
JS: My muse is a grumpy librarian, but instead of always walking around going “Shhhh” she yells “SHUT THE HELL UP!”
SJ: What’s the book/story that’s closest to your heart? Is there a piece that you clearly feel is a piece of you? Do you play favorites?
JS: Mr. Templar, even though I wrote it, hits me in the Feels every time I read it. I’ve long been a sucker for movies like Silent Running and A.I., and love to explore the relationship between robots/androids and humans. The story that is most “Jason” would have to be Yellow Warblers. It addresses many of the beliefs and societal pressures that I encountered as a youth: xenophobia, disrespectful youth, alienation.
SJ: If you could only write one genre ever again upon pain of being sacrificed to Cthulhu, what would it be and why?
JS: Cthulhu will be pleased with my answer—horror!
SJ: What’s your biggest frustration as a writer? What do you consider the downside, or is there one? Is there any cliché that makes you want to wring people’s necks?
JS: My biggest frustration is that I don’t have more time to write! Between my day job and my Apex work I have too few chances to be much of a writer.
SJ: If you had to be stuck in one of your own books/stories for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? If you had to stick a loved one in one of your own books, what would it be and why? An enemy?
JS: Ha, I like this set of questions. I don’t think I want to be stuck in any of the stories of Irredeemable! But I would gladly stick an enemy in the world of Plug and Play. Let the bum work for a bunch of smartass androids and be an unwitting drug mule!
SJ: Do you think it’s possible to develop a sure-fire recipe/formula for success as a writer? Would you want to, or does that compromise the art or the fun of it?
JS: As a publisher, I feel like I should have special insight into this question. The sad truth is I don’t. There are things a writer can do to improve their chances with publishers, such as being professional, networking, being familiar with the publisher’s catalog. But in the end, it all comes down to the quality of the work and if your work catches the collective readers’ zeitgeist. Barring that, old-fashioned hard work is your best shot.
SJ: Everyone has words of wisdom for young writers, so I’m not going to ask you about that. With a few unknown writers becoming success stories, a lot of people seem to think it’s an easy career choice. What would your words of wisdom be to these people?
JS: There is no easy path, and being one of the Hugh Howeys or Amanda Hockings of the world is akin to winning the lottery.
SJ: It seems like everyone likes to gang up on certain genres as being inferior, less meaningful, or cheap entertainment (especially if it’s speculative in nature). Make a case for the genre you write.
JS: I don’t feel compelled to make a case. I ignore people with these types of attitudes toward any type of fiction.
SJ:What do you want people to instantly think of when they hear your name or your work mentioned?
JS: “That Sizemore, he writes some weird stuff, but damn if it ain’t entertaining!”
SJ: Please tell us about your latest/favorite work or a little bit about what you’re working on right now. It’s plug time, so go for it!
JS: At the moment, I’m working on a collaborative novel with Maurice Broaddus. It is my first venture into ‘feature’ length work, so I’m both nervous and excited about it.
BUY LINKS:
TRADE PAPERBACK
Amazon US – UK – CA
B&N
IndieBound
Seventh Star Press
Book Depository (Free global shipping!)
EBOOK
Kindle US – UK – CA
Nook
iTunes
Kobo
BLURB:
Flowing like mists and shadows through the Appalachian Mountains come 18 tales from the mind of Jason Sizemore. Weaving together elements of southern gothic, science fiction, fantasy, horror, the supernatural, and much more, this diverse collection of short stories brings you an array of characters who must face accountability, responsibility, and, more ominously, retribution.
LINK TO FREE STORY:
PERSONAL LINKS:
Come Selahway With Me... 