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Your new book Tales to Chill Your Bones to - in a few words,
what is it about? It's an anthology of short stories (and a
trio of mini-plays) revolving about pretty much everything from Christmas
miracles to malicious potholes, from an android uprising where you least
expect it to a squashed rodent revolution, from love gone weird to
religious fanatism brought to new heights - and pretty much everything
in-between. And most of these stories have a macabre and at times also
darkly humourous touch to them. What were your sources
of inspiration for writing Tales to Chill Your Bones to? These
stories were written over many years (one even in the early 1990s), so the
inspirations where manyfold. But since of many of the stories were written
for (and originally published in) anthologies of the WPaD
collective of writers, they were written for a certain genre as all their
anthologies are themed - so basically, oftentimes the genre was the inspiration and I
just put my own spin to it - own spin meaning for example that one of my
contributions to their horror anthology was called So Cute and Cuddly.
Other times the inspiration is really that I just come up with a silly
title - like Robomancer - and someone challenges me to write a
story for it. What made you decide to release Tales to Chill
Your Bones to exactly now? The answer's really
disappointingly logistical: I had planned to put out an anthology for ages, but only now
did I have enough stories to actually fill a book. And why did I want to release an anthology in
the first place? I love to write, but I also want to reach an audience
as wide as possible (and if it's a paying audience, even better, won't lie
here), and hopefully entertain them. Plus, it's just an awesome feeling to
hold a book in your hands that has your own name on it - so call it an ego
trip if you will. Many of
the stories in Tales to Chill Your Bones to are of the horror
variety - is this a genre especially dear to you, and why (not)? Horror
is great, because as a writer, it gives you lots of freedom - there's
really nothing you can't do in horror, even break the laws of nature. And
you can also get in touch with the dark nether regions of your mind
without being a threat to anyone - so in that way, writing horror is very
cathartic ... and it can be wickedly funny if done right. That, and I have always had a predilection for the macabre,
which really plays into the genre.
You're mostly known as a
screenplay writer - so what inspired you to write prose for a change, and
how does writing for the screen differ from writing a book, and which do
you prefer, actually? Thanks for saying I'm known for
anything at all,
haha. But to answer your question, I've always written prose, at least here and
there, I think ever since I had learned to write. I've concentrated more on screenplays, especially of late, because
I just love movies, and fortunately there's even a bit of a demand for my
screenplays. The difference between the two really is mostly the format,
and in screenplays you better keep it simple and natural, while in prose
you can get a bit more artful with your wording. And basically it comes down to this, it
doesn't really matter what I prefer, it's really down to the story I'm
trying to tell: some really come across better in words on paper, some you
need to see on screen, that's pretty much the gist of it. My approach to
both is the same, I sit in front of the computer and type the words in ;) How
do you go about writing in general, do you have a special ritual or
something? I know many writers do - but I don't, not at
all. Usually I first think up a story, then sit down in front of the
computer (and typewriter before that - yes, I'm that old) and write it out.
But sometimes I first sit down in front of the computer and then think up
the story - it's less likely though, as once in front of the computer I'm
too distracted by social media. And if I need to clear my head, I take a
long walk. If that's all a ritual, so be it ... So where is
your book available from? e-book version:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SQRZVSN
Paperback version:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1075579422
Stop by to leave a lovely review, we authors love that!!! The e-book
will also be available from all the other big online retailers soon, so be
on the look-out!
Anything you can tell us about audience and critical
reception of Tales to Chill Your Bones to? People
really tend to like it. Haven't had one complaint yet but several praises.
There's just one review as such in yet, but it's a great one, too:
https://vampiremaman.com/2019/07/01/2019-summer-reading-chilling-and-thrilling/
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Michael Haberfelner
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Based
on your experiences with Tales to Chill Your Bones to, will you
ever release another book? And other future projects?
That's a definite yes, when just depends on whenever I have
enough short stories to fill another anthology. But I'm a writer out of
passion, so that will probably happen before too long. Other projects?
After a lengthy post production process, our feature There's No Such
Thing as Zombies is on the finishing lane, so look out for that one
soon. Also, our short Espresso to Die For is still in post, but we
hope to have good news about that one before long, too. Both films star horror
faves (and dear friends) Debra Lamb [Debra
Lamb interview - click here] and Lynn Lowry, so
every self-respecting genre fan needs to see them ;) Apart from those there are several
projects gestating at the moment, but it's too early to talk about any of
these yet. Your
website, Facebook, whatever else? No website yet, but I've
grown pretentious enough to launch my own Facebook fanpage ;)
https://www.facebook.com/Michael-Haberfelner-Writer-691705051267542/
Oh, and you also might want to check out our There's No Such Thing
as Zombies Facebook page of course: https://www.facebook.com/theresnosuchthingaszombies/
Anything else you're
dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask? Only
my sincerest gratitude to Mandy White [Mandy
White interview - click here], who has taken it upon herself
to proofread my short stories in Tales to Chill Your Bones to, and who is
not only a great friend but also a ridiculously talented writer with a
twisted mind I can only dream of in her own right. You really need to check her out:
https://www.amazon.com/Mandy-White/e/B004IOCQ1U Thanks
for the interview! And thank you of course!
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