Storm Constantine

answers the Usual Questions

Storm Constantine

Has your interaction with fans, for example, at conventions, affected your work?

I do listen to fans and sometimes have taken things on board they've told me through correspondence or on my web site/blog. They've asked me to explore certain aspects of the Wraeththu Mythos, or want to know about minor characters. Story ideas can come from these queries.

Is there any particular incident (a letter, a meeting, a comment that stands out?

Quite often, the biggest fans are also the most eagle-eyed critics. For example, one reader noticed that a character in a scene in one of my novels had the wrong name throughout! I'd read that scene dozens of times, as had editors and beta readers. No one spotted it until it went to print.

Do you have a favourite author or book (or writer or film or series) that has influenced you or that you return to?

I have a number of influences, writers who inspired me and whose work helped me learn my craft. These are some examples: Tanith Lee for her dexterity with language, Robert Aickman for his strangeness, Michael Moorcock because his books inspired me when I was first writing, Shirley Jackson, again for weirdness, but also for the simplicity of her style which says much in an elegant spareness of words, Jack Vance for his use of language too, and Alice Hoffman for her sense of the magical in ordinary life. Those are a few of them - there are many more.

Who is the person you would most like to be trapped in a lift with? or a spaceship?

I don't like the idea of being trapped anywhere! It sounds terribly mundane but I think I'd just be happy with someone who could fix whatever problem we had that trapped us. However, if it's a situation where I'm stuck with someone for a length of time, I'd want a person who didn't grate on my nerves, liked to converse deeply, had a wry sense of humour and was easy on the eye. I keep thinking of Tom Hiddlestone for some reason, although I've no idea what he's like as a person. Might be irritating, shallow and humourless for all I know!

Who is the person you would most DISlike to be trapped in a lift with? Or a spaceship?

Too many to name. What I'd really like is for them to be trapped in a spaceship, I could step outside, and see them hurtle off into infinity, never to be seen again! I'm thinking mainly of the ghastly individuals who are famous just for being famous and add nothing whatsoever to the store of human knowledge and experience.

What would you pack for space? (Is there a food, beverage, book, teddy bear, etc that you couldn't do without?)

I would like to have the stories of Shirley Jackson and Tanith Lee (if I really had to choose between my favourites!), decent gin and blue cheese.

What is the most important thing you would like to get/achieve from your work?

I suppose like all writers, I want recognition, and preferably a large pot of money!

What is the special satisfaction of your work?

I love it when the words flow of their own accord and I'm just typing as a sort of vessel for them. It's amazing when I can look back over an afternoon's work and think 'where did all that come from?'

submitted by Storm Constantine

October 2015

For other answers to The Usual Questions Click here

Just the facts:
Born: The Midlands, UK
Resides: The Midlands, UK
Bibliography/Awards:
For bibliography, click here

Web site:

www.stormconstantine.co.uk
www.immanion-press.com
dreams of darkangels
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