I have invited a a couple of fairly new bloggers with a horror, paranormal, urban fantasy blog for a little tete-a-tete, so we can get to know them better.
Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to SB from Urban Fantasy Fan, who started there blog in September. So make sure you stop by and say hi!
BCC: When and why did you start blogging?
SB: Really I just started in mid September. I started because I love the genre and read all the time and wanted a chance to express myself. Plus, this is a way to begin establishing a social network for when my novel is finished being edited and is (I hope) published.
BCC: Tell us a little about your blog?
SB: It focuses primarily on contemporary or urban fantasy and has two goals: To keep things light and to add some perspective. As for keeping things light, I try to do that through humor, or failing that, bad puns. As for perspective, I imagine at my age (42), I’m a bit older than the typical novice blogster. That means that even though I don’t quite read 100 books a year which is nothing compared to some of you book horses, I have a lot more years of accumulated book reading to draw upon. So, I try to write review essays that draw upon multiple novels and put things in some sort of thematic perspective.
BCC: Tell us a little bit about yourself?
SB: I’m married with three kids, a dog, a cat, and a pyscho bunny. I have a Ph.D. in Political Science from Duke University. I’ve been a missionary, a soldier and an educator. Currently, I help run a non-profit organization that tries to improve urban education. And as part of my job, I’m co-writing a book for Harvard Education Press. I also recently completed an urban fantasy novel that is being edited as we speak.
BCC: What’s been the highlight of blogging so far?
SB: Several highlights. First, having Lev Grossman offer to let me interview him. Second, a very supportive conversation I had with 5x Hugo winner (33 time Hugo nominee) Mike Resnick. And third, it’s just amazing to already have so many blog followers. I think I need to get some of these ad
BCC: What was the last book you bought and why?
SB: I tend to buy in bulk. But I’ve been reading a lot of female protagonists for over a year now as I worked on my novel, which has a female protagonist. And since I finished the draft of it, I’ve recently decided to balance it out with some male authors and/or male protagonists . So, I’ve been reading Simon Green. Mark Del Franco. Lev Grossman. Rob Thurman, Mark Henry, MLN Hanover, and then P.N. Elrod (for her male protagonist).
BCC: What’s your favourite horror book of all time? (you can choose from all the sub genres as well, eg, paranormal, urban fantasy etc)
SB: Favorites are hard for me. I love the way Stephen King writes, but I have to say I get really freaked out by horror. I’m sort of a wimp. I started reading It, and the little boy was in the basement reaching for a jar of turtle wax, and I was already so freaked I had to put the book down and I never picked it up again.
BCC: Who are your favourite authors?
SB: I like to keep things light. So I really enjoy reading Janet Evanovich, Lisa Lutz, Mary Janice Davidson, Donna Andrews, Katie McAlllister, well, there’s just too many to name them all.
BCC: How do you celebrate Halloween?
SB: I take my kids out trick or treating. I really enjoy getting into the whole costume thing.
BCC: Have you had a scary experience or a ghostly encounter?
SB: Not personally, but when I was sixteen I saw the Exorcist for the first time, and I couldn’t sleep for days. Then, there was my 40th birthday. That was terrifying. 
BCC: What beastie do you like reading about the most: vampires, werewolves, demons etc?
SB: I’d say what I like most in a villianous creature is a creature with enough redeeming qualities that we’re never entirely sure if we should hate them or not. It doesn’t really matter if they’re after my blood, my flesh, or my soul so long as they’re creepy that way.
Thanks SB!
3 Comments
Awww, gotta love a blogger who can appreciate SK!
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Good interview! SB has been a missionary, a soldier and an educator? Wow, what a history! Am now a follower of Urban Fantasy Fan, so thanks for the introduction!
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Thanks BCC for doing this interview. As follow up, last week, I accepted the invitation from fantasy literature to take over their blog. so, from now on I'll be at Fan Lit, Frankly, @ http://www.fantasyliterature.com/news.
Thx again,
SB Frank
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