Ask the Author: F.D. Gross
Answered Questions (11)
F.D. Gross
Apologies that I just now seen this question posted. Let me answer as best I can.
Vampires have always captivated me since as long as I can remember. Maybe its the fascination fangs extend from the mouth to drain life blood away in order to sustain life? The exchange of knowledge and power for the curse of immortality? Maybe its the concept that vampires can literally be compared to life, society, and other facets to any era in history, past, present, future, any ideal found in books and modern day wars, energy vampires and those who abuse others in phycological ways. The list can go on and on, and I'm sure you will find something you can compare a vampire to for it's relevancy. Again, it's fascinating. The intrigue. The many costumes they wear (literally and metaphorically speaking). I will say Bram Stoker knew what he was doing when he created Dracula.
Hope this answers your question...
Vampires have always captivated me since as long as I can remember. Maybe its the fascination fangs extend from the mouth to drain life blood away in order to sustain life? The exchange of knowledge and power for the curse of immortality? Maybe its the concept that vampires can literally be compared to life, society, and other facets to any era in history, past, present, future, any ideal found in books and modern day wars, energy vampires and those who abuse others in phycological ways. The list can go on and on, and I'm sure you will find something you can compare a vampire to for it's relevancy. Again, it's fascinating. The intrigue. The many costumes they wear (literally and metaphorically speaking). I will say Bram Stoker knew what he was doing when he created Dracula.
Hope this answers your question...
F.D. Gross
Technically I've been to Middle Earth, The Shire, in New Zealand, drank and feasted at the Dragons Inn, so I can cross that off the bucket list. And I've been to Universal Studios in Florida to visit Harry Potter World, ridden all the rides, visited all the shops in Diagon Alley and Hogsmead, tasted butter Beer and Pumpkin Juice, so I can cross that one off as well. What does that leave me? I suppose a journey into some of my own story destinations; maybe the kingdom of Ashton in the Wolfgang Trilogy, or, perhaps to visit the grand city of X-Ocrath in my work in progress novel, Grelldragon.....
F.D. Gross
Haven't reached summer as of yet for 2024, but I speculate Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff and maybe Pax?
F.D. Gross
The girl had a choice as she approached the darkened hallway; descend the stairs or turn back to an alley filled with rats and upturned garbage bins. The light flickered in sync with the beat of her heart as she descended, for she knew her life would end yet her soul would be free...
F.D. Gross
Vampires, Ghouls, gothic cathedrals, and dark places. I was always been intrigued by the darkness. I would say its been a literary passion of mine for sometime. The sun can be a horrible place for fiends of the night, but for hunters, it is their salvation...
F.D. Gross
My main inspiration comes from music. My love for it. My obsession over it. Constantly I listen to my streams on Youtube or my 1,000 plus library of songs spanning over multiple genres I can't even begin to describe. If you are curious to what I listen to for influence, feel free to go onto my Youtube page. Its all there. Its strange my urges between classical music and atmospheric blackmetal.
Sometimes, a good movie or another book I'm reading will stoke the fire as well, but music usually is the winner. Strangely enough, the time of day has a profound affect over my mood of writing. I find that my brain has to spark before diving into a one-two hour assault of hammering away at the keyboard. But as for most authors, I think the the ratio of thought to actual paper is 80% to 20%. This is so true. My mind usually works much faster than my fingers.
Going back to movies and books. They have to have a good ending. Because it is that that really ignites the creativity and the need to finish my current works. Anything fantasy really.
Sometimes, a good movie or another book I'm reading will stoke the fire as well, but music usually is the winner. Strangely enough, the time of day has a profound affect over my mood of writing. I find that my brain has to spark before diving into a one-two hour assault of hammering away at the keyboard. But as for most authors, I think the the ratio of thought to actual paper is 80% to 20%. This is so true. My mind usually works much faster than my fingers.
Going back to movies and books. They have to have a good ending. Because it is that that really ignites the creativity and the need to finish my current works. Anything fantasy really.
F.D. Gross
Andrias! Thank you for the question. Let's see if I can answer this correctly:
I've been writing since the age of 12, writing short traditional tales about wizards battling dragons or knights entering a den of goblins to clear them out to help save the nearby town. But, the ideas for Wolfgang was probably summoned from a much earlier era, during the rise of the Castlevania franchise in 1986 or 1987? Not sure of the year and it doesn't really matter. The fact was and is, I've been a long time fan and I think its been bleed through my body over the years, from its long winding stages of brutal game play battling monsters to its overwhelming and emotional soundtracks. Couple that with a fascination with horror and Halloween things, reading a couple of books such as Dracula, Frankenstein, and Jekyll and Hyde, and boom, you get "Wolfgang"
But, at the same time, it is so much more than that as well. My story isn't a Castlevania spin off, but rather, a more in depth look into the human spirit. We all will do certain things to protect the ones we love, right. Wolfgang is just that, but written in a gothic world with added interests that influenced me over a lifetime. Prevailing against the worst of odds. Conquering your adversaries. Finding that drive that keeps you going. For Wolfgang, I think the most prevailing factor about him is that he possesses resolve in such a way that it nearly makes him sub-human, or, another entity all together.
But going back to the original question, I would say Castlevania is the main influence for the setting feeling, but it is life's struggle to exist that bleeds through the pages of Wolfgang. Traditionally, good versus evil has always fascinated me and writing about it something I love, however, at the same time, I ask myself over and over again, what IS good, what IS evil? The story Wolfgang explores this gray area to no end.
I've been writing since the age of 12, writing short traditional tales about wizards battling dragons or knights entering a den of goblins to clear them out to help save the nearby town. But, the ideas for Wolfgang was probably summoned from a much earlier era, during the rise of the Castlevania franchise in 1986 or 1987? Not sure of the year and it doesn't really matter. The fact was and is, I've been a long time fan and I think its been bleed through my body over the years, from its long winding stages of brutal game play battling monsters to its overwhelming and emotional soundtracks. Couple that with a fascination with horror and Halloween things, reading a couple of books such as Dracula, Frankenstein, and Jekyll and Hyde, and boom, you get "Wolfgang"
But, at the same time, it is so much more than that as well. My story isn't a Castlevania spin off, but rather, a more in depth look into the human spirit. We all will do certain things to protect the ones we love, right. Wolfgang is just that, but written in a gothic world with added interests that influenced me over a lifetime. Prevailing against the worst of odds. Conquering your adversaries. Finding that drive that keeps you going. For Wolfgang, I think the most prevailing factor about him is that he possesses resolve in such a way that it nearly makes him sub-human, or, another entity all together.
But going back to the original question, I would say Castlevania is the main influence for the setting feeling, but it is life's struggle to exist that bleeds through the pages of Wolfgang. Traditionally, good versus evil has always fascinated me and writing about it something I love, however, at the same time, I ask myself over and over again, what IS good, what IS evil? The story Wolfgang explores this gray area to no end.
F.D. Gross
In 2016 I published Wolfgang, book one of the Wolfgang Trilogy. Currently I am in the process of publishing my second book, book two of the Wolfgang Trilogy entitled, Inquisition. It is about so many different things, I couldn't possibly mention them all here and now. To name a few: Vampires; those who hunt vampires; love and loss, survival in cold mountain terrains; fighting action sequences; dysfunctional families; tainted humanity; prevailing humanity; The Carnalreesee; sadistic townsfolk; wagon chases; exploration; reveries; the supernatural.
Its all good and fun, I can assure you, and it plans to launch for all platforms and bookshelves this Fall 2018. paperback and ebook versions available. An official trailer will be released for it to really capture the essence of what the book is about. Some interviews and book readings will follow the same which can be found on the website, facebook, and youtube.
Its all good and fun, I can assure you, and it plans to launch for all platforms and bookshelves this Fall 2018. paperback and ebook versions available. An official trailer will be released for it to really capture the essence of what the book is about. Some interviews and book readings will follow the same which can be found on the website, facebook, and youtube.
F.D. Gross
My advice to aspiring writers is this: Write the book you've always wanted to read but no one else has. Whether you go the traditional route of querying for agents and publishing houses, or self/indie publishing your book, do it no matter what anyone else says. Remember, people's thoughts and comments are subjective. It is your responsibility whether or not their opinions matter to you where you would take action. I for one, do what I do, when I want, because it is my passion. Follow your passion. Tell the story you were meant to tell. If you have something unique to share with the world, no matter how small or minute it might be, just do it. Go for the jugular.
F.D. Gross
You get to escape into a realm that no one else can penetrate. You are your own master. You get to entertain people, something I've always loved doing.
F.D. Gross
I look to Alucard for answers and plead for him to help me. Who is Alucard you ask? Well, he is my preserved bat in a jar. He sits atop my writing desk, watching me, criticizing me constantly.
Other attempts at reversing the effects of writers block is listening to some dark and rancid music, something to put me in the mood. There is also the traditional approach I do as well, readings someone else's material, something different, a different genre.
Other attempts at reversing the effects of writers block is listening to some dark and rancid music, something to put me in the mood. There is also the traditional approach I do as well, readings someone else's material, something different, a different genre.
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