Daleks, Evil Overlords, and D.L. Carter

D. L. Carter is a writer, meme maker, and extraordinarily fun person to know. Her range is diverse in that she can go from regency romance to writing fantasy with one swift click of the mouse (yes, I used mouse, no, I will not acknowledge the "intelligent touchpad" see Facebook post for further explanation). I'm going to talk to her today about creativity, fantasy writing, and the Evil Overlord. I’ve had the pleasure of writing back and forth with her for several months on Facebook and have grown to really admire her creative posts and amusing memes. I just recently read an excerpt from one of her manuscripts and wanted more. Sadly, it’s still a work in progress.

Here is our interview:

D.L., how long have you been writing?

My mother tells me that when I was very young she would read me a story and I would ask what happened next. When she told me the story was over I would take the characters on new adventures. I think I was two.

Bad Husband thinks that women write romance because they are programmed that's what they are supposed to write, what do you think?

I made the economic decision to write romances because it is a multibillion dollar industry. Wait? Too practical? How about, I think a good story is well rounded. Adventure, character development. Excitement. And .... romance.

What is your current project and what inspired you to write it?

My current project is another regency. The Sins of The Brothers. I have three brothers. Enough said.

I've noticed from being your friend on Facebook that you have some awesome memes with the Evil Overlord, how did that happen and do you post them anywhere else?

It is frustrating when people - movie screen writers, other book writers, use blantantly obvious over used cliches to complicate their books. Phoey. If a five year old child can see your plot hole then fix the plot hole. (D.L.'s referring to the references in the memes). 

As for The Overlord, otherwise known as my cat, Mighty Max, he is just too cute not to share. I don't post his photo anywhere else but Facebook. What you might not have noticed is the ongoing adventures of the Daleks verses the Duckie Planet - my online endless adventure that is a bi-weekly diarama involving all the action figures in the house.

When can we expect more awesome from you?

Coming this year, as per the request of my publisher Corvallis Press, I am alternating regencies with paranormals. First there will be Sins of the Brothers then the sequel to The Uses (my elvish universe) then the sequel - fingers crossed, to Ridiculous. I am hoping to squeeze in the sequel to First Destroy All Giant Monsters, which is entitled DO NOT AWAKEN THE ANCIENT EVIL - YOU MORON. That is going to be fun.

What advice would you give to writers or anyone else trying to pursue their dreams?

There is an old joke - two people disturb a bear and start running. One says to the other, what are we going to do? We can't outrun the bear! The other says, But I only have to outrun you! This is not supposed to be a suggestion that I have to win over other writers but that the writers you see out there are those that keep running. If you stop writing, stop going to conferences and meeting agents, If you stop trying of course you will never get published.

CHECK OUT D.L.'s books!

I think we may been    separated at birth. 

D.L. has graciously offered to give away a signed copy of Ridiculous! Her best selling regency romance novel. Comment below or share this blog on Facebook for a chance to win! Also, like her fan page.

For those of you that need links and haven't figure out how to click on highlighted words:

https://www.facebook.com/deeleana.carter

www.funwithghoulsandgoblins.com

http://www.amazon.com/D.L.-Carter/e/B0064R8COE/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Best Wishes,

Katie Cord

An Evil Girlfriend with a Pen

ZOMs, California, and Rick Marson

At the end of a long two week work excursion in the desert, I had the opportunity to hang out with Rick Marson. He's the creator of ZOMs a plush zombie doll that will steal your heart...and your brains. I met Rick in 2011 at ZomBCon in Seattle, WA. He's a super nice guy and when you talk to him, his enthusiasm for toys, comics, sci-fi, and creating radiate from his core. No seriously, I kept waiting for him to rip off his shirt exposing his superhero outfit with a big bright "Z" blazing in the middle of his chest.

Later, I found out he has a messed up alter ego on youtube called Fireball.

We spent our evening together shambling around San Diego and talking shop about starting your own business, trying to work full time, and living the life you really want.

Here's our interview:

Rick, what made you decide to take the leap from being a dreamer and schemer to actually making your ideas a reality?

I think it's all Japan's fault. I went there for two weeks, just because I wanted to. And then I was like "Holy crap! I can just do things because I WANT TO!?!?!" It didn't sink in right away. I spent another year working at a job I was pretty over. Then I went into my boss and I said, "I'm taking a three month leave of absence to go back to Japan." I wanted to make sure they'd be able to plan for me being gone, so I told them about it three months before I planned to go.

One and a half months later I went back into my boss's office and told him that when I left I wouldn't be coming back.

Traveling around the world alone, meeting new people and dealing with all sorts of interesting situations further engrained the "I can just do things because I want to" idea. I knew when I came home I did not want to go back to a job like I had had. So I made plans to make something amazing and that thing turned into ZOMs.

What have you learned from these experiences?

Wanting to do something is probably the very best reason for doing something.

Has anyone really discouraged you?

Only the voices in my head. I can't remember a single person being discouraging or telling me maybe I couldn't do it, except that annoying voice in my head, and that guy is always a jerk, so I try to ignore him.

How have you been helped and encouraged along the way?

I was being helped long before I finally made the jump. My parents believed in me from the get go. As far as they were concerned anything I wanted to be, I could be, and they would do what they could to get me there. They have never not supported me.

All of my friends have helped and encouraged me. If your friends are not being encouraging you should find new friends. Really, don't spend time with people who are just going to be down on the things you really want to do.

Seven or so years ago I met Daniel Davis, the co-founder of Steamcrow. An amazing artist and super motivated in his own right, he encourages everyone he meets. Every time I go to a con I meet more great people and make more friends that i'm inspired and helped by and I hope that I'm helpful and inspiring to.

What has been one of the best things that has happened to you since starting ZOMs? Any fan mail?

Cons are the best thing. I wish that I could go to all of them. I love talking to people. It's really great when ZOMs are recognized from another show or a shop that sells them. When people I've met at other cons come talk to me, or when people specifically seek out the booth. One time when I was walking around Wondercon last year with Horace. I didn't even have a booth there I was just going to the con. This guy was walking past the other way and as he past said, "Nice ZOM." I stopped dead and turned and looked at him. He looked at me for a second, and then he said, "Are you the guy?" We talked for a while, he had backed my Kickstarter and we'd even been talking on Facebook, but we'd never met until then.

How do you keep motivated to pursue your dreams?

Other people that are pursuing dreams motivate me. You motivate me.

I also actually find a lot of motivation from music. I sync with particular lyrics, and some songs just jazz me up. Then while I am listening I'll realize that I'm listening to another person pursuing their dreams. 

I look around and I see people working on doing what they want to do. I can see a world where I have done all the things I want to do, and I want to get there.

(I need to add here that Rick played some dubstep for me and my mind began to fill with killer robots fighting one another. It was a pretty cool experience.) 

When are you going to write something for Evil Girlfriend Media? We know your brain is crawling with stories.

The ideas have already started trickling. There's something new that I thought of just today, and it's slowing moving through my brain. Right now it's just a protozoa story, but it's already started gathering mass, finding connections and purpose, it's evolving…

What would you tell someone who has a great idea but hasn't started pursuing it?

Find the thing you need to kick your butt into motion. There are a lot of things/people who can do that for you.

Tell your idea to a trusted friend, they are great at letting you know how amazing it is and they are mad at you that you aren't already a millionaire.

Also if you are inclined, look up "brain crack" on Youtube, specifically in videos by zefrank1 and vlogbrothers. Youtube is another land of people pursuing the things they love to do, and that's what most great ideas are.

Find out how hard it would be to do the thing you want to do. A lot of people don't get any further than thinking how great something would be. (see "brain crack" above) You might actually be surprised how little it might take to get started doing what you want.

START DOING WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. Even just a little. And let people know, people will be interested, they will want more.

Like Rick's ZOMs page on Facebook. Heck, go check out his page and buy one of these cuties! They are great for any member of the family, a friend, or a complete stranger. They are Katie approved! Help Rick continue his dream of bringing cool toys and art to the people. 

Best Wishes,

Katie and Daisy (my very unique ZOM)

Evil Girlfriend with a Pen

Zombie Shirt

I'm currently on an out of town assignment in a small town. I got bored so I went to WalMart. I grew up in a rural southern area and this was the thing to do. So, I went back to my roots. Anyway, I rarely go there back in the northwest so I was pleasantly surprised to find this sweet little shirt:

First off, it's pink with lime green. Second, it's zombies. Third, it was $4.98! I know there are multiple reasons why this shirt is oh so wrong- corporate greed, abuse, and sweatshops but damn it's pink with lime green!

However, here are some issues:

Super long, a little on the thin side, and the sizes are extreme. Not your normal sizes. I couldn't wear the large and extra large is being tied in the back so it doesn't look like a tent.

Hope this helps!

A new year, a new plan, and a new way.

I'm taking Evil Girlfriend with a Pen from my personal blog to a place for interviews and news related to sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. I'll be featuring my favorite movies, books, items, and some really cool writers over the next year. If you are interested in me personally or as a writer you can keep tabs over at www.katiecord.com.

If you would like to be featured on this blog, contact me: katiecord at katiecord dot com.

Please visit www.evilgirlfriendmedia.com for great products that I'll be producing with other talented sci-fi, fantasy, and horror writers.


Best Wishes,

Katie Cord
An Evil Girlfriend with a Pen