Eric S. Brown is a new writer who is just starting out on the road to fame. In the past 13 months, he has had 44 tales and 7 articles accepted for publication. He has been interviewed on the Jerry Lentz radio show, at Twisted Tales, and now at Eternal Night. He is 27 years old and lives in western NC with his wife Shanna and cat Howard. He works as Fantasy editor for Alternate Realities, Horror editor of the Swamp, book reviewer for The Haunted, is a member of the HWA, and has worked as a copy editor of the newspaper called the Smoky Mountain News where he also writes some non-fiction when the mood strikes him. Like Robert Jordan, Eric doesn't plan to stop writing unitl they nail his coffin shut. Questions and Answers Who or what has been a major influence on your writing and why? Believe it or not, David Drake is most likely the biggest influence on my work. That may sound strange coming from a horror writer as Drake is best known for his Sci-Fi. Most of the stuff I write has a very military feel. I love Drake's Hammer's Slammers series. To me, very few writers out there can match Drake in terms of an enjoyable read. Greg Gifune, Dan Simmons, Robert McCammon, and Mark Mclaughlin for making me laugh are about the only ones who come close. When did you first feel that you were an author? You know, I still don't feel like a writer. In the past 13 months, I have had 44 tales accepted, sold 7 professional articles, got my own review column at the Haunted, worked as an editor for two e-zines and a newspaper with a distribution of over 15,000 copies weekly, been interviewed three times counting the Jerry Lentz radio show, became a member of the HWA, and even taught workshops about writing at local bookstores where I had signings, BUT I still don't feel it. Maybe when I land my first book, be it a collection or novel, I will then, but right now, I still don't. Do you have a favorite place to write? Oddly enough, I like to write in my car. It's an old beat up Dodge Shadow that I just don't have the heart to replace. I'll hop in it and drive out to the middle of nowhere and set under a streetlight in an abandoned parking lot and write my tales. To me, there is no better way of getting rid of distractions that keep the ideas from coming out on paper. Weird, Huh? Do you enjoy collaborating? I really love collabing on a tale with just about anyone who is willing. I have written with big names like Mark Mclaughlin and the Stoker recommended author Jason Brannon to beginners like Pete Allen over at the Swamp to complete newbies like Gail Davis who'd only landed one tale at a non-paying e-zine when I met her. The experience of collabing is just really fun. It's great to watch other people take your idea in a direction you never saw it going. Do You Always know a Story's Ending When You Begin Writing? No, not always. Often the tale, I am writing will come alive and end itself. For example, my collab with Gail Davis started easily enough but we had like seven ideas for the ending. When she sent the tale back to me to finish though there was only one way it could end that seemed powerful and natural so I wrote it that way. Is there something you are particularly proud of? Yes, I am just proud to be published. That may sound odd from a guy who's very first tale was accepted by both Burning Sky and Black Petals magazines but it doesn't seem that way to me at all. I spent years talking about writing and dreaming of being a writer before I ever got the nerve to send off that first tale. When I got those two first contacts and found myself where I had a choice of publishers for my first tale, I nearly died of a heart attack. Those acceptances changed my life and the way I looked at myself. When I read my bio in Burning Sky issue nine now and compare it to the latest one that has came out, I often just find myself thanking God for the luck I have had. If you could give one piece of advice to a would-be author, what would it be? My advice is simple: WRITE and write some more until your fingers bleed and your keyboard is smoking. Then make submitting your 2nd job. You never know if you can really do it until you really try. Writing is hard even when you are getting published though it becomes different then. Never give up and keep at it. You may be the next H.P. Lovecraft just waiting to happen. Plug away - what do you have coming out? Eek, that's tough question. I don't think I can list everything. In June, Sinisteria will be running my tale "The Adversary", in May The Haunted will be reprinting "Mr. Greenwood" as well as posting some of my reviews, I have an interview with Greg Gifune and an editorial in the May/June issue of the Swamp, I have tales coming out in Wicked Hollow (July), Dark Angel (June), Elements (this Summer), Shadowkeep (next December), a tale soon out at Demensions webzine, one at DogEared webzine this June, and three more coming soon in Black Petals. It is hard to keep track these days. In May alone, I will be on over 18 websites (including HorrorFind.com) which will be featuring everything from fiction to articles to editorials to just news about me and my career. I am very grateful that people are taking an interest in my work and just pray it continues. Brian Keene once called me a "Publishing Bulldozer" because I was getting so many acceptances so fast even though I was just starting out. I hope I can live up to his words. Many Thanks, Eric! Relevant Links The Swamp Webzine Alternate Realities Zine