I Love Canadian Authors discussion

Take it away Steve.

Hey gang.

My name is Steve Vernon and I run a sort of double-life.

I started out in the mid-eighties writing horror stories which have appeared in such magazines, markets and anthologies as The Horror Show,Cemetery Dance, Edge Detector, Hot Blood, Not One of Us, Karl Edward Wagner's Years Best Horror, Shivers and many other.

I've since gone on to publish a novel and many novellas of strong horror.

Hard Roads paperbackGypsy BloodLeftoversLeftoversNOTHING TO LOSELong Horn, Big Shaggy

Then, in 2004 I pitched my first ghost story collection to the folks at Nimbus Publishing, a regional Nova Scotia press. The book is entitled Haunted Harbours and has gone on to sell about 7000 copies - not bad for a regional press.

Haunted Harbours: Ghost Stories from Old Nova Scotia

Since then, I have written another ghost story collection entitled Wicked Woods: Ghost Stories from Old New Brunswick; as well as my unique do-it-yourself ghost walk Halifax Haunts: A Guide to the City's Spookiest Spaces and my very first children's picture book Maritime Monsters: a Field Guide.

Maritime Monsters: A Field GuideHalifax Haunts: Exploring the City's Spookiest SpacesWicked Woods: Ghost Stories from Old New Brunswick

So some people come to me for blood-curdling horror and some come looking for fine old folklore collections. To make it worse I am now branching out into the field of YA with my first YA novel due out in the Spring of 2011 - a heart-rending tale of dories, sea monsters, tourism and caber tossing.

Renee and Erma have kindly asked me here to answer any questions about the oral storytelling tradition, writing ghost story collections and writing and publish free range horror.

I'm looking forward to hearing from all of you folks and will check this page out at least once a day.

But for now...supper.

YA? Reaally? My daughter is looking for a new author to read, why not a Canadian one? What is the name of this book and will it be available in stores or online only?

Your story is interesting to me because I started out writing horror and children's fiction. At the same time. The children's fiction petered off, it takes a special mind to write that. I'm talking special in a good, my mind is not at that level kind of way. Now I write mainstream, and although I love horror and still write short fiction with a dark bent, I found my 'place' with mainstream.

Do you feel torn between the genres you write in? Do you have a favourite?

I never read horror, but somehow yours seems different. It's heavily based in the maritimes, and I'm gathering that some of your books are actual stories that have been passed down. Are some real haunts? Are you a maritimer? I love the maritimes and your angle intrigues me. 7,000 copies sold makes it a best seller! Congratulations!

With all the ghost stories floating around Nova Scotia and the Maritimes, how did you choose the ones for your books?

Steve, what is your background that you got into the folklore part? Was the draw just a natural branching from horror to ghosts and ghosts to folklore? How did you research your ghost stories? Did you talk to old-timers or ...?

Renee wrote: "YA? Reaally? My daughter is looking for a new author to read, why not a Canadian one? What is the name of this book and will it be available in stores or online only?

Your story is interesting t..."

The working title of my YA novel is Deeper and it will hit the bookstores by the Spring of 2011. So, there's a bit of a wait - but it will be available in bookstores as well as on line. Because it is from Nimbus, my regional publisher, it will be available primarily in Canadian bookstores and then available on Amazon a few months following its release.

Torn between genres?

Well, I really love to write horror but so far I've made very little money from the horror. Small press releases sell very slowly. And, I am in this for the money. Not because I'm greedy, but simply because if I make a lot of money I can afford to spend more time at my keyboard.

Still, I am really enjoying the YA. Nimbus has already begun talking to me about a second kid's picture book and I am working on a second YA novel for a larger Canadian publisher.

That is awesome and ironically I did a blog post about authors writing for love or money. I am totally writing ot make money as well, for the same reasons. Money means I can spend more time doing what I love, writing.

Please remind us again when your YA book is out, I will definitely pick it up. Good luck with the second books. That's exciting.

Erma wrote: "I never read horror, but somehow yours seems different. It's heavily based in the maritimes, and I'm gathering that some of your books are actual stories that have been passed down. Are some real h..."

All of my collections, (Haunted Harbours, Wicked Woods, Halifax Haunts & my picture book Maritime Monsters), are all based on folklore - tales that I've dug up from the archives and old collections; as well as stories that have been told to me by the older folk of the province. So yes, these are all actual stories that I have simply tuned up and made a little more lively.

Am I a Maritimer? I grew up in Northern Ontario, raised by my grandparents. I came to Nova Scotia to visit when I was seventeen and have lived here for about 35 years.

Yes, I am older than the dirt that grows on dirt.

I have hitchhiked across the entire country, except for Newfoundland, but I still will always hang my hat here in Nova Scotia.

A. F. wrote: "With all the ghost stories floating around Nova Scotia and the Maritimes, how did you choose the ones for your books?"

I try to choose a ghost story that has a bit of history behind it. There are many tales that simply begin and end with "we heard some spooky sounds up in the old house". I prefer to use the stories that have a little meat and bones to them. There has to be a real story behind the actual phenomenon for me to have any interest in it.

Shannon wrote: "Steve, what is your background that you got into the folklore part? Was the draw just a natural branching from horror to ghosts and ghosts to folklore? How did you research your ghost stories? Did ..."

Shannon, my background consists of being a full blown windbag, professional blabbermouth and a natural-born ham. I got my start early in life, telling bedtime stories to my daughter. Then, when she got a little older I told them at her birthday parties. Then, when she got a little older still I told them at her school and sometime told me I was quite the storyteller and I thought - "Wow, so that's what I really am."

As for research I spend copious amounts of time in the archives and in used bookstores. I also spend an equal amount of time telling my tales in old folks homes and the local rehab centre - as well as at schools right across the province.

Sooner or later, some old gaffer will come up to me and say "I liked your stories but you ought to hear some of mine." I keep my ears open and pay attention and soak up as much real living history as is humanly possible.

Stories stick to me like flies on flypaper.

"You're older than dirt that grows on dirt" -- You're a funny guy. Are your books funny? Did you make that up?

Erma wrote: ""You're older than dirt that grows on dirt" -- You're a funny guy. Are your books funny? Did you make that up?"

Did I make that up?

No, it's very true.

(heh)

I have a wry sense of humour that soaks through into most of my writing. Some like it, some don't - mileage will vary.

Maritime Monsters
(an excerpt from the opening tale)

It was August 1883—a day so dry the trees were hoping for hound dogs.

Young Billy Walker
decided to go fishing. He aimed to catch a big one.

“I got big-fish bait,” Billy said to his buddy, Caleb Myers. “My mom’s roast beef.”

“You’ll catch something swift and sudden for stealing Sunday supper,” Caleb predicted.

“Not so bad as what you’ll catch,” Billy said, “since we’re taking your dad’s dory.”

“Why do we need a dory?” Caleb asked.

“The bigger the boat, the bigger the fish,” Billy said. “I mean to catch a big one.”

“Maybe we need a bigger boat,” Caleb said. “That’s an awful lot of roast beef.”

“It won’t be after we eat some,” Billy replied.

I really like that simple maritime feel to it. Meant to ask you. One of your books deals with Halifax haunts. Do you believe in ghosts?

Erma wrote: "I really like that simple maritime feel to it. Meant to ask you. One of your books deals with Halifax haunts. Do you believe in ghosts?"

I do believe in the afterlife and the existence of ghosts. I don't necessarily believe they are like Casper the Friendly Ghost. I also don't believe they are evil. And you certainly would not find me sitting in an abandoned house with a tape recorder and video camera.

That's some other guy.

However, there is just too much in the human spirit for me to believe that it can simply be snuffed out like a blown-out match.

Hi Steve;
Re: "However, there is just too much in the human spirit for me to believe that it can simply be snuffed out like a blown-out match."

So, do you believe in reincarnation, then?

And, how did you get into writing in the horror genre? Aren't NS folks more interested in sea-faring tales?

Best,
Wally

Waheed wrote: "Hi Steve;
Re: "However, there is just too much in the human spirit for me to believe that it can simply be snuffed out like a blown-out match."

So, do you believe in reincarnation, then?

And..."

Hi Waheed,

Do I believe in reincarnation?

I don't know. What I do know is that there can be no definite answer to any of these questions. I don't pretend to know exactly how the whole thing works - but I am pretty certain that there is something more than just - "Well there's old Wilbur, we threw him in the ground and the worms will gnaw on his bones."

Alas, poor Wilbur, I knew him well...

I grew up in Northern Ontario - raised on a steady diet of ghost stories, old legends and monster movies.

Now I'm calling it a night. My eyes are pissholes in the snow and I'm ready to drop.

Waheed wrote: "Hi Steve;
Re: "However, there is just too much in the human spirit for me to believe that it can simply be snuffed out like a blown-out match."

So, do you believe in reincarnation, then?

And..."

Ghost stories and sea-faring tales are equally popular in Nova Scotia, Waheed. Sometimes you get both in one story.

Amen, A.F. Amen, indeed.

I put Halifax Haunts on my TBR. Just wondering, did you visit all those places in Halifax you write about, and if so, did you encounter any strange vibrations?

Having lived in Halifax for about 35 years I have visited most of the locations that are publicly accessible. I was actually given a tour of the Halifax courthouse's attic after the book was released. It was truly an eerie and creepy experience.

Have you ever done any of the Halifax ghost tours, Steve?

There must also be stories from the Halifax explosion.

A. F. wrote: "Have you ever done any of the Halifax ghost tours, Steve?"

I've taken several and given a few myself. I did it one summer, very briefly, for a bargain basement bus touring company. The company moved down south halfway through the summer and that was the end of that.

Erma wrote: "There must also be stories from the Halifax explosion."

Oh yes. The Explosion is a very large occurrence in Halifax history and you will find pieces of it scattered throughout local folklore.

And likewise scattered throughout my book.

Looking forward to it.

Erma wrote: "Looking forward to it."

Do let me know what you think of it.

For those in need of a giggle or two - check out my latest journal entry...

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...

Please allow me to slide in a little blatant self-promotion.

This was just posted a short time ago over at the Dark Regions web page. My brand new collection Do-Overs and Detours is now available for pre-order. Fifteen tales of eerie fiction.

http://www.darkregions.com/products/D...

It is available in a limited edition hardcover and an ultra-limited thirteen-copies-only leatherbound edition.

The ultra-limited edition comes with three bonus stories never published anywhere - including a guaranteed-to-be-unforgettable brand new Captain Nothing yarn entitled "The Tracks We Left Behind" as well as the story "I Survived The Apocalypse and all I Got Out of it Were A Dozen Dirty T-Shirts".

It's been a while since I've been here, but I thought I'd mention that my award-winning epic poem Barren: A Study in Futility is now available for reading at ChiZine magazine - for FREE!!!

(wheee)


http://chizine.com/barren.htm


Hope you enjoy the read.

Thanks for posting the link. Will check it out. Am reading Halifax Haunts: Exploring the City's Spookiest Spaces, and really enjoying it. I love all the history behind it all too.

Erma wrote: "Thanks for posting the link. Will check it out. Am reading Halifax Haunts: Exploring the City's Spookiest Spaces, and really enjoying it. I love all the history behind it all too."

Glad to hear you're digging Halifax Haunts.

Didn't know all the history of Halifax and the Titanic. Really fascinating.

A question about Wicked Woods: Ghost Stories from Old New Brunswick. My motherin-law's from Acadia and might like it. Was wondering if you touch on some stories around Bathurst and/or from some of the French villages around there?

I have a story from Bathurst ("The Phantom Ship of Chaleur Bay") and a story from Dalhousie ("The Cannibal She-Queen of New Brunswick") Haunted Harbours has a marvelous Acadian tale as well, entitled "The Iron Box at French Cross".

Thanks, my mother-in-law will love it. Grew up on Chaleur Bay.

It's October - my busiest time of year.

I thought I'd post a link to my journal for those folks who are interested in what-all a teller and writer of ghost stories does over the Halloween season.

http://steve-vernon.livejournal.com/2...

Hope you dig the story.

I don't know how many people still bother reading this thread, but I thought I'd post that my very first YA novel, SINKING DEEPER, (due out from Nimbus Publishing in mid-April) - has just recieved its very first review.

http://www.umanitoba.ca/cm/vol17/no27...

Suffice it to say that I am totally blown away. What a great review and a great way to kick off a new release.



Sinking Deeper: Or My Questionable (Possibly Heroic) Decision to Invent a Sea Monster

Awesome review. "virtuoso story teller" - can it get any better. Congratulations!

Congratulations on the review! Am sure the review is the first of many to come. Love your Maritime stories!

My YA novel, Sinking Deeper, has just begun to show up in local bookstores. The official release date is April 15th, so we are a few days ahead of schedule.

For all the info on my new book come and "like" my new Facebook SINKING DEEPER page. There will be a Facebook launch, some nifty giveaways, and a contest or two.


https://www.facebook.com/stevevernon0...

Definitely worth checking out.

Glad to hear the good news! Checked out FB page.

Will hceck out your fb page next time I log on. Thanks and good luck!

Thanks, Shannon & Erma.

Did I ever tell you that "Erma" USED to be my grandmother's name???

Wow, that's interesting. Not a common name; it's more common with an 'I'. I read somewhere that it was popular in the 1930's for about half a year.

Her name was Erma Vernon. She wasn't happy with the name - because, being young, she had been called "Ermie-Wormy" - which had stung a lot. So when my grandfather Hanlan Vernon - who was named after the oarsman Ned Hanlan - set out to court her he told her that he would call her "Judy". Well, things being the casual and uncluttered way they were back thing that name stuck. It's on her death certificate and her tombstone and her obituary and everyone in our home town knew her as "Judy".

Like your grandmother I never cared much for the name, especially when I heard the ERRR... sound in the beginning. But Judy's not even close! Now Hanlan, that's a super name!