Interview with urban fantasy writer Hugh Fritz

Today’s special author guest is Hugh Fritz and we’re chatting about his new urban fantasy, Made to Be Broken, the first book in the Mystic Rampage series.

Welcome, Hugh. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

I was born in Chicago, Illinois which is why I used it for the setting. The idea for this story first came to me when I was in high school but writing has not been a consistent hobby of mine so partially completed versions of it sat in my computer for years without being opened. It was only five years ago that I decided to take this project seriously and finish Mystic Rampage, and as I did, additional ideas came to me and it grew from a single novel into a series. Expanding the cast of characters has made working on the second installment more fun, but the real joy has come from joining a group of other writers to serve as beta readers and critics. They’ve been helpful in improving the quality of my writing and providing advice related to the plot and characters to make the story more interesting. I’m proud of what I accomplished in the first book, but thanks to their help the second one is going to be an improvement and I’m excited for it to be released.

Please tell us about your current release.

The book follows three characters that have the same powers but different motivations for using them. One focuses on protecting his loved ones, one believes in destiny and waits for people in need come to him, and one runs about looking for trouble which he is ready to meet with violence. These differences lead to arguments, and gradually their squabbles turn into a battle that puts their city and everyone in it at risk.

What inspired you to write this book?

Most of my efforts have gone into short stories. I enjoy flash fiction as a writing exercise and was working on a collection of them for a while. I became tired of reaching the conclusion after one or two pages so I decided to focus on completing a full-length novel. I’m not saying the flash fictions were a waste of time. Some of them provided fuel for the Mystic Rampage storyline and allowed me to expand it into a trilogy. Inspector R.E.D. and the Old Ticker originally existed in their own universes and had completely different adventures, but I decided to put them in the epilogue of Made to Be Broken and make them main characters in the second book.

Excerpt from Made to Be Broken:

Here is a portion of Inspector R.E.D.’s introduction:

He couldn’t remember who he was, which didn’t scare him as much as not knowing what he was. He remembered feeling numb, and then seeing light, but filtered light, as if he was looking through a fog. He then smelled wet grass and felt damp dirt on his hands. The last thing he became aware of was the man standing before him with a gun. His first instinct was to run but he couldn’t control his legs. He tried to scream but his voice was dry and hoarse, as if he hadn’t used it in a while. He started recognizing shapes of objects around him, and noticed he was surrounded by tombstones. He panicked. He thrashed and pounded his fists into the dirt as he tried to swear at whatever was making this happen to him. Suddenly, whatever was controlling his body released its hold and he was free.

What exciting story are you working on next?

Other than the other two installments in this series, I have a more traditional fantasy story that takes place in an imaginary kingdom. It’s about a knight, a farmer, a scribe, and a dragon who work together to overcome curses that were put on them by a sorcerer.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I don’t consider myself a writer because I’ve never had to rely on my work to get by. Real writers are people who need their books to sell in order to pay rent, eat, or even put gas in their car. The first time I felt proud of my creativity was when I was able to use my imaginary world as an escape from the real one. There was a time when video games and TV were my means of passing the time on slow, boring days and if they weren’t available I’d still think about games or scenes from a show. Since I started writing, my primary way of passing the time has been daydreaming about my characters and coming up with new scenarios for chapters.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I have never been a full-time writer and have always balanced it between a job, school, or both. However, even when I’m not adding to the story I’m always looking for new material. I try to incorporate information from classes into the plot and some of the places I’ve been employed have become settings in a few chapters. The only days I have time to write are Saturdays and Sundays, but it usually goes smoothly because I always dive in with new ideas to experiment with.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I take the potential for cosplay into account when coming up with my character’s attire. I’ve even tried making costumes which I sometimes wear during promotional events. The most recent was Albuquerque Comic Con when I made my own version of Flarence’s wrist cannon by knitting an armband and stitching an old brass doorknob to it. Someday I’m going to replicate Soleil’s toxic poncho.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Like a lot of kids, I had my heart set on being a musician and spent most of my free time playing guitar. That dream didn’t last because no band I was a part of stayed together for very long.

Links:

Website | Amazon | Twitter | Facebook

Thanks for joining me today.

To learn more about Hugh, feel free to visit his other tour stops:

November  4^th  @ The Muffin

What goes better in the morning than a muffin? Join us as we celebrate the launch of the blog tour for author Hugh Fritz’s book Made to be Broken. Read an interview with the author and win a copy of the book. 

http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com

November 5^th  @ Book Santa Fe with Crystal Otto

Crystal Otto shares her thoughts about the first book in the Mystic Rampage Series -  Made to be Broken by Hugh Fritz. 

http://www.booksantafe.info/booksantafeblog

November 6^th @ World of My Imagination 

Learn more about Hugh Fritz and his new book Made to be Broken as he shares a few thoughts in an interesting interview with Nicole Pyles at World of My Imagination.

https://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com/

November 7th @ Bring on Lemons with Carmen Otto

Middle Schooler Carmen Otto raves about the first book in the Mystic Rampage Series – she encourages everyone to read Made to be Broken by Hugh Fritz! Find out more today at Bring on Lemons.

http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

November 8th  @ World of My Imagination 

Nicole Pyles reviews Made to be Broken by Hugh Fritz – find out what you’re missing and learn about the first book in the Mystic Rampage series – if you love sci-fi you’ll love this book!

https://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com/

November 9^th @ World of My Imagination

Learn more about Hugh Fritz and his new book Made to be Broken as he shares a few thoughts in an interesting interview with Nicole Pyles at World of My Imagination.

https://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com/

November 14^th  @ Look to the Western Sky

Visit Margo's blog today where you can catch today's author spotlight and learn more about Hugh Fritz and his fabulous book Born to be Broken. 

https://margoldill.com/

November 15th @ Anjanette Speaks

Anjanette Potter interviews Hugh Fritz as well as reviewing his book Made to be Broken – find out more about the first book of the Mystic Rampage series – now available!

https://bookworm66.wordpress.com/

November 18^th  @ Breakeven Books

Today’s Book Spotlight at Breakeven Books is Made to be Broken (first book in the Mystic Rampage Series) by Hugh Fritz – don’t miss this great opportunity to add this exciting new novel to your collection!

https://breakevenbooks.com/

November 19^th  @ To Write or Not To Write

Sreevarsha reviews Made to be Broken by Hugh Fritz and delights readers at To Write or Not To Write with her thoughts about this fast-paced novel – it’s the first book in the Mystic Rampage Series – don’t miss this!

 http://sreevarshasreejith.blogspot.co.at/

November 20^th  @ A StoryBook World

Don’t miss today’s publicity post at A Storybook World as readers at Dierdra’s blog are introduced to the first book in the Mystic Rampage Series – you’ll want to run out and get your own copy of Hugh Fritz’s Made to be Broken! 

http://www.astorybookworld.com/

November 21^st  @ Lisa Haselton Reviews and Interviews

Lisa Haselton interviews Hugh Fritz about the first novel in the Mystic Rampage series, Made to be Broken. Readers will delight in learning more about this science fiction story with intriguing plot and multiple plot twists!

http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com/

November 22nd  @ Look to the Western Sky

Visit Margo's blog today where you can catch today's author spotlight and learn more about Hugh Fritz and his fabulous book Born to be Broken.

https://margoldill.com/

November 26^th @ Selling Books

Don’t miss today’s author interview with Hugh Fritz as Cathy Stucker finds out more about his latest release Made to be Broken – the first book in the Mystic Rampage series.

https://www.sellingbooks.com/

November 27^th @ Author Anthony Avina

Author Anthony Avina shares his thoughts after reading Made to be Broken by Hugh Fritz – don’t miss this review!

https://authoranthonyavinablog.com/

December 2^nd @ Bring on Lemons with Tara Forst

Wisconsinite Tara Forst shares her thoughts after reading the first book in the Mystic Rampage Series – find out more in her book review of Born to be Broken by Hugh Fritz.

http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

December 4^th @ Author Anthony Avina

Author Anthony Avina interviews Hugh Fritz about Made to be Broken  - the first book of the Mystic Rampage series.

https://authoranthonyavinablog.com/

New interview with novelist Alistair Cross

Writer extraordinaire Alistair Cross is back! Today we’re chatting about his new urban fantasy horror, The Silver Dagger (Book Two in The Vampires of Crimson Cove Series).

Bio:

Alistair Cross' debut novel, The Crimson Corset, a vampiric tale of terror and seduction, was an immediate bestseller earning praise from veteran vampire-lit author, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, and New York Times bestseller, Jay Bonansinga, author of The Walking Dead series. In 2012, Alistair joined forces with international bestseller, Tamara Thorne, and as Thorne & Cross, they write – among other things – the successful Gothic series, The Ravencrest Saga. Their debut collaboration, The Cliffhouse Haunting, was a bestseller. They are currently at work on their next solo novels and a new collaborative project.

In 2014, Alistair and Tamara began the radio show, Thorne & Cross: Haunted Nights LIVE!, which has featured such guests as Anne Rice of The Vampire Chronicles, Charlaine Harris of the Southern Vampire Mysteries and basis of the HBO series True Blood, Jeff Lindsay, author of the Dexter novels, Jay Bonansinga of The Walking Dead series, Laurell K. Hamilton of the Anita Blake novels, Peter Atkins, screenwriter of HELLRAISER 2, 3, and 4, worldwide bestseller V.C. Andrews, and New York Times best sellers Preston & Child, Christopher Rice, and Christopher Moore.

Welcome back to Reviews and Interviews, Alistair. Please tell us about your newest release.

The Silver Dagger, is Book 2 in The Vampires of Crimson Cove series and picks up where the first book, The Crimson Corset, leaves off.

Life in Crimson Cove has been good to the Colter Brothers since Gretchen VanTreese was staked and her horde of vampires scattered. But when she rises from the grave, the brothers are torn apart, their lives - and the peace between them - shattered. Meanwhile, a serial killer is stalking the little mountain town, leaving a trail of blood that leads to a truth Sheriff Ethan Hunter doesn’t want to face. The streets are no longer safe, nor are the forested paths, for a new and unknowable evil has come to Crimson Cove and everyone - vampire and human alike - must come together in order to survive.

What inspired you to write this book?

When I finished The Crimson Corset, I knew I’d return to Crimson Cove one day, but I had a few other stories that were demanding to be written first - I believe very firmly in writing the story that’s calling to you. I finished two other books (The Angel Alejandro and Sleep Savannah Sleep) and then began The Silver Dagger. So, it wasn’t so much about inspiration as much as it was simply time to go back and see what happened next. 

Excerpt from The Silver Dagger:

Crimson Cove’s sheriff, Ethan Hunter, is relaxing waiting for his fiancée, who happens to be a mortician, to get home, when his nosy neighbor, Gladiola Gelding hammers on the door with needs of her own.

He opened the door. Mrs. Gelding didn’t wait to be invited in. She barged into Ethan’s living room, a tray of cookies in hand, her one-sided conversation trailing her like a loyal hound. “Can you believe this heat? And the humidity!” Mrs. Gelding dropped the tray on the coffee table then inflicted her bulk upon Ethan’s favorite chair. “I almost had a heat stroke in the kitchen baking those cookies for you!” Her beady eyes followed him. 

“Uh, thanks.” For a moment, he stood there - sitting seemed an act of surrender - but finally, defeated, Ethan eased himself onto the sofa. Mrs. Gelding was a steamroller, flattening folks into whatever shape most suited her, and after the day he’d had, Ethan didn’t have the energy to fight it. He asked, “How are you, Mrs. Gelding?” 

She wasted no time getting to the point. “Well, I can tell you I’d be a lot better if it weren’t for all these bear attacks!”

A greasy sliding feeling roiled through Ethan’s gut. 

“It’s all anyone is talking about at the Senior Hall, you know.” Mrs. Gelding’s piggy eyes sparkled with excitement. “I’ve never even heard of a bear attacking innocent people for no good reason. Never! I do hope you’ve figured something out.”

“We’re working on it.”

She sighed. “I suppose it’s not my place to tell you how to do your job, but you might consider letting the public know what you’re doing about this. We don’t feel safe!”

Ethan frowned. “I can’t talk about it at this point, but rest assured, we’re doing everything we can-”

“Well, I just don’t know if that’s going to be enough. The public deserves to know more.”

And what she meant, Ethan knew, was that she deserved to know more. There was nothing Gladiola Gelding loved so much as being the star of the Crimson Cove Senior Citizen Center on Bingo night, the woman to whom all gossipers flocked. 

Just then, Sheila’s headlights cut through the living room window. Mrs. Gelding prattled on, taking no notice even when Ethan’s fiancee entered the living room. 

As Mrs. Gelding blathered, Ethan and Sheila exchanged glances. His said, Help! And after a whimsical smile, Sheila’s said, I’ve got this. 

“Hello, Mrs. Gelding!” Sheila spoke a little too loudly, cutting the woman off as she perched on the sofa arm beside Ethan. 

“Oh, hello, dear.” It was but a small speed bump in Mrs. Gelding’s sermon and as she opened her mouth to continue, Sheila sighed loudly and looked at Ethan. 

“Boy, am I glad to be home.” She shook her head. “We had another groaner in the morgue tonight.”

Ethan suppressed a snort.

Mrs. Gelding blinked. “A … groaner?”

Sheila nodded. “Yep. A lot of people don’t know this, Mrs. Gelding, but sometimes, dead people make noises. It’s just air escaping the lungs, of course, but when you’re in that dark room alone with the corpses, it’s pretty alarming.” Her gaze settled on the tray of cookies. She took one, bit into it, and groaned, long and low. “Mmmm. These are excellent, Mrs. Gelding. Nothing gets the stench of formaldehyde out of my nose like your cookies. Thank you.” She pushed the tray toward the other woman. “You shouldn’t have made so many, though. Please, have one.” 

All color had retreated from Mrs. Gelding’s chubby cheeks. Scandalized, she shook her head. “No, thank you, dear. I have plenty at home.”

Ethan was barely able to suppress laughter when Sheila barreled on.

“And twitching, too. Usually in the smaller muscles.” She popped the rest of the cookie in her mouth. “I’ll never forget the first time I saw a twitcher.” Sheila grinned at Mrs. Gelding. “I thought for sure there’d been some mistake and the guy was still alive.” 

“Yes, well … ” said Mrs. Gelding. “It’s a dreadful business, I’m sure.”

“You get used to it,” said Sheila. Her gaze cut to Mrs. Gelding, going grave. “Well, some of it, anyway. Not only do they groan and twitch, but, sometimes-”

“Well.” Mrs. Gelding cleared her throat and hefted herself from the chair. “I suppose I’d better be off.”

Ethan got to his feet and walked her out. “Goodbye, Mrs. Gelding.” After closing the door, he broke into laughter. “We need to do that more often.”

“Works every time.” Sheila held an uneaten part of cookie to his lips and he bit into it.

“She does make damned good cookies, though.”

What’s the next writing project?

There are always several things going on at once. As far as my solo work, I jumped right into the next Crimson Cove book after finishing The Silver Dagger and am madly, deeply in love with it thus far.

Then there are the Thorne & Cross novels, which I write with my friend, collaborator, and Haunted Nights LIVE! co-host, Tamara Thorne. Our serialized gothic/horror, THE RAVENCREST SAGA, is ongoing and we’re closing in on the third full-length novel in that series – which we’re calling Exorcism. The other collaborative effort we’re working on is a psycho-thriller called Spite House, which takes place in the fictional town of Snapdragon, where our #1 bestseller, MOTHER, was set.

All three projects are running very smoothly – which of course, makes me very suspicious! But so far, so good!

What is your biggest challenge when writing a new book? (or the biggest challenge with this book)

The greatest challenge with this book was keeping my facts straight regarding what happened in the book before it. Also, it’s a balancing act. You have to give enough information for new readers, but not too much for those who read the first book. That’s always a challenge.

If your novels require research – please talk about the process. Do you do the research first and then write, while you’re writing, after the novel is complete and you need to fill in the gaps?

Research starts before the book is written and continues throughout on an as-needed basis - which is ongoing. I try to do physical research as often as possible because reading something or watching a video online rarely gives you all the little details you need to make the writing come to life.

For The Silver Dagger, I took a trip to Santa Cruz, California, where a part of the story is set. We traveled through the mountains where Crimson Cove is (if it were a real place, that is) and went to the ocean to absorb the sights, sounds, and feel of the locations.

What’s your writing space like? Do you have a particular spot to write where the muse is more active? Please tell us about it.

I write wherever I can, which is usually at my computer in the corner of my writing room. As for my muse, I’m sad to say that he is a fall-down, black-out, pee-your-pants drunk who can only very rarely be depended upon. 

I just write. If my muse shows up for work that day, great. If not, oh, well. I still write. It’s my job.

What authors do you enjoy reading within or outside of your genre?

I’ll read everything from horror to historical romance to the back of an aspirin bottle to profane poetry scribbled on the walls of a public bathroom stall with a magic marker - and I love it all. I’m a word person. Words turn me on. They just do - and if something is well-written, I’ll read it. Usually twice. 

Anything additional you want to share with the readers today?

Yes – thank you for reading. Keep up the great job!

Website

Thank you for coming back to Reviews and Interviews!