Feature Interview: Author/Editor Patti Geesey

Author, Patti Geesey

Patti Geesey, author and editor at J. Ellington Ashton Press, is a contributing author of the horror anthology ALL THAT REMAINS with her short story, "The Barren Blaze”. She may also be a pyromaniac and a R'lyeh priestess awaiting the awakening of the Great and Mighty Cthulhu, but the jury’s still out on that. She was gracious enough to sit down for an interview with this humble blogger, and I, for one, welcome our new multiple tentacled overlord.

KARMA GIRL: Okay. Let's start with the Unusual Disclaimer: Please repeat after me (you may say this out loud, no need to type):

I, Patti Geesey, being of sound mind and body, do agree to this interview, in spite of considerable misgivings regarding the interviewer’s aptitude and sanity, and will promise not to beat said interviewer about the head for annoying me with her silly questions.

PATTI GEESEY: *hides baseball bat*

KG: Excellent! Now, according to your profile, you are an author and editor at J. Ellington Ashton Press. Can you tell my readers a little bit about what you do?

PATTI: Yes, that is correct. I am an author and editor for JEA. I write in the horror genre, mostly supernatural. As an editor I get to read some amazing stories by top notch JEA authors!

KG: What kind of stories does the JEA accept? Is it just horror, or do they accept other genres?

PATTI: We take submissions for horror, mystery, erotica, sci-fi, and more!

KG: What does a writer have to do to get published? Does the supplicant have to perform three trials and read an Enochian spell, or is it much simpler than that?

PATTI: Haha... they have to write something that captivates us! Although, an Enochian spell might come in handy....

KG: Cool! All those hours of binge watching Supernatural will finally come in handy.

What would you say is your biggest pet peeve when it comes to editing?

PATTI: My biggest pet peeve in general has always been "than and then" mix-ups.  As an editor, I don't really have a pet peeve, besides that.

KG: I can safely say, I have never done that...(insert sneaky eyes here)...

Has someone ever submitted a story to your publishing company that just freaked you the hell out so much, you didn’t know whether to publish it or call the FBI? And if so, will it be available for Kindle and Nook?

PATTI: Well, to be honest, before I became an editor for JEA, I was a beta reader (still am) for the almighty Paul Flewitt.  His story, "Paradise Park", is already out in one of our anthologies.  His novel Poor Jeffrey is another to watch out for.

All That Remains

KG: I've read "Paradise Park". It was good stuff, and I'm eagerly anticipating his upcoming novel.

You wrote a story for that same anthology—All That Remains—entitled "The Barren Blaze". It was incredibly creepy. I mean that as a compliment. Can you tell us about it? What inspired you to write it?

PATTI: "The Barren Blaze" was originally intended as a flash fiction piece for a contest. I showed it to Catt Dahman, CEO of JEA and asked her personal opinion on it, and she basically said she wanted it for her anthology. An hour later I signed the contract. 

Yes, "The Barren Blaze" was inspired by several things in my life. I cannot go into details, for my own safety.  But, it is about a young girl who starts fires in the town of Hillsville, just to hide a secret from the town people...to save her boyfriend.

KG: So...if I asked you if you ever burned a town down to save your boyfriend...you'd have to kill me?

PATTI: Well.... I never did burn a town down, so you are safe. Let's just say, "The Barren Blaze" was my way of putting a bad relationship...in the grave.

Horror writing is best when using reality, I feel.

KG: Yeah. And it usually involves a man doing something stupid to release the horror.

PATTI: Exactly.

KG: Was there a book that influenced you to get into horror and supernatural fiction, and if so, was it the Necronomicon? And do you still hear the voices of the damned? Seriously, that story you wrote really was creepy.

PATTI: Up until I wrote "The Barren Blaze", I never really knew I wrote horror.  Now, looking over all the stories I have sitting here, and in the process of writing, I realize they all are horror/supernatural in nature. 

Was there a specific book? No, not really... but Stephen King's The Shining is one of my favorites. Maybe because I can associate with the character Jack Torrence.  I work in a somewhat secluded hotel at night, I write, and I keep looking for those darn twins and a big wheel in the hallway!

KG: OMG! I do too every time I stay at a hotel. Never read King when you're going to do any of the following: stay at a hotel, go to the prom, buy a classic car, or breathe.

What are you currently working on, and when will it be available to the reading public?

PATTI: I am currently working on several short stories that take place in the southern Appalachia (Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina).  I am unsure when they will be available, but trust me... they will come at some point in the near future.

Ghosts, fires, etc.

KG: I'm looking forward to them.

Now it’s time for THE SERIOUS THREE. This is the part of the interview where I ask the interviewee three incredibly serious questions. Please try to answer these questions as honestly as possible. You may not invoke your 5th amendment rights. Are you ready?

PATTI: Ready as ever...

KG: Okay.

Question #1: Is it true that editors like the first page of a manuscript to have so much empty space at the top so they have room to place their coffee mugs?

PATTI: Is that why they do that? I've been laying my candy bars there.

KG: I've always suspected as much, but placing candy there is quite clever too. You have earned my respect, Madam.

Question #2: What’s up with the semi-colon; really?

PATTI: The semi-colon?  Well, it is the cousin of the comma, and really is a slacker. It likes to show up, and make long pauses in spots; it really makes things more creepy.

KG: I see what you did there; quite excellent.

Question #3: Where can your adoring fans follow you (Facebook, twitter, blog, conventions, etc.)?

PATTI: I have an author/editor page here on Facebook.  I share things on it about other authors that I feel deserve to be mentioned, and I write about my own writing endeavors.

https://www.facebook.com/pattigeeseyauthor?fref=ts

KG: Great! Thank you, Ms. Geesey, for a lovely interview, and please try not to invoke the great Cthulhu in any of your future writings!

PATTI: I will try not to, but can never promise.

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn, indeed.