Welcome, travelers. While we typically conduct interviews that go a bit deeper into the content and character of a world and its author, we’ve come upon a very interesting opportunity to talk to a number of storytellers who have all worked on the same anthology. These authors have collaborated on Beth Connor’s collection, The Golden Gull, which takes place in her world of Isdralan (and beyond).
Because of the shift in the way we’re interviewing these storytellers, we’re going to keep things a bit more open-ended, with this format serving as a sort of template for each of our interview subjects.
Today, you’ll get to meet one of the authors, a quirky pirate by the name of Redd Herring, and you’ll find out a bit more about them, including what other stories they’ve got in their catalog, and what they’ve got coming up. Read on to learn more about one of the authors of The Golden Gull!
Tellest: Greetings! First off, let me say that I appreciate you taking the time to share a bit more about yourself, and to talk about your story in The Golden Gull, as well as any other stories you’re prepared and excited to talk about! If you wouldn’t mind, could you please give a very brief introduction of yourself to readers?
RD Lancaster: RD Lancaster, author of Balloon Buster.
T: In the typical interviews that I conduct, I first try to find out some of the formative information about what turned an author to writing and storytelling. What was it that inspired you to tell your own stories? Did you have a favorite author, story, movie, or show growing up that helped to encourage your creativity? Or did you have a family member or person in your community who had the storytelling bug, and they managed to pass that on to you?
RD: I grew up sitting on the wood floor after dinner while my grandmother read to us every night. Listening to those stories woke something in me, and I knew I wanted to be the storyteller and not just the audience. In my teen years, I devoured TV shows like Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, Ray Bradbury Theater, Star Trek, and Mystery Science Theater 3000. I also started reading more and was hooked on the Thieve’s World series, anything Tolkien or Asimov, and the Dune books. In college, I found Stephen King—especially The Dark Tower—Philip K. Dick, and Richard Matheson. I especially loved how Matheson churned out short work that was made into television episodes for Twilight Zone, Gunsmoke, and even Star Trek.
T: How did you begin your own writing journey? Did you have a specific story that was turning in your head that you needed to commit to paper? Was there some sort of contest that you were invited to participate in? Or was it something else altogether?
RD: I used to write stories in high school, but I would not show them to anyone. I was terrified of being made fun of. I think a lot of people hide their creative tendencies out of that fear. I didn’t really let anyone see my work until a few years ago when I began entering the weekly Reedsy contests. That really changed me, as I had an outlet where like-minded people could read my work and give me honest feedback in a constructive way.
T: How did you first collaborate with Beth Connor? Were you already familiar with Isdralan when it was determined that you would write a story for The Golden Gull?
RD: I met Beth when she commented on one of my stories, “Whiskey, Diet Coke, Two Dollars, and a Pistol”, which was about my mother’s death and how I had to deal with it. Beth, along with some other great people on Reedsy, gave me so much good feedback on it that I felt maybe I could do this. I knew of Isdralan, because I had previously read Micah and the Candles of Time. Beth contacted me when she was starting The Golden Gull. She pitched the concept and I was all in.
T: Could you describe the process of developing your story for The Golden Gull? How did the ideas come about, and how much would you say you communicated with Beth throughout the creation of your tale?
RD: Part of the allure of The Gull is that it can take different forms. I was trying to decide what my version of The Gull would be, but I was just hitting a wall. One morning, after a long night with little sleep, I somehow fell down a rabbit hole and ended up reading about a WWI flying ace named Frank Luke. His story fascinated me, and I thought I could do him justice in a story where The Golden Gull was a fighter plane. I sent Beth a rough idea, and she loved it. I think I communicated with fellow Golden Gull author Riel Rosehill the most on this project. The story is the shortest in the book—I would categorize it as flash fiction—so every word counts. Riel was so instrumental in helping me get the most out of each word. There is no way this story would even be close to what it became with her help. THANK YOU RIEL!
T: What other stories would you like readers to know about that you have written—or that you are working on? Could you also give us a quick synopsis of any of the tales you want to bring attention to?
RD: I am an emerging author, so this is my first piece that is published. I am working on a novel about a middle school volleyball player and the struggles she goes through. She is the player that is not quite good enough to make the team, but the coaches love her because she works so hard and has “heart”. As a former coach—and I am sure any of you out there that are coaches would agree—I can say that these are the kids we look at and say “If I had ten like her, I’d take that all day even if we never won”. The tentative title is “LAST”, and we will just have to see where it goes.
T: Where would you like to see yourself in the next several years? Would you like to have a full series under your belt? Are you designing a massive, shared universe that you’d like others to play in? Or are you excited by telling shorter, more intimate tales?
RD: I am a teacher, and that’s where I will be. Writing is an outlet for me, but I would like to see where it might take me. Right now, my focus is on “LAST” and, quite honestly, I need to get back on it. I have been experiencing some writer’s block, but I also just run out of time once in a while and have to pull back. My goal is to complete “LAST” this coming summer. Beth is teaching me the ropes when it comes to publishing.
T: Finally, what is the best way for readers to learn more about you? Do you have a website that they could visit, or do you prefer for them to follow you on a specific social media channel?
RD: I am on Amazon, obviously. If you want to send me a message, the best way is through my good buddy, Redd Herring. When he showed up, we just hit it off like we had known each other our whole lives. His website is www.reddherring.com, and he can get a message to me. Now just so everyone knows, Redd spends most of his days in the Crossroads Cantina where he trades stories for drinks, so it might take a few days for him to get me the message!
T: Thank you very much for spending some time chatting with us. This was a little bit more of an unconventional interview than we normally perform, but I hope that you had a bit of fun discussing your writing journey, and that this helps more readers find you!
RD: THANKS for the interview. Everyone, please keep supporting emerging writers!
Tellest: I’d like to once again thank RD Lancaster for taking us to the skies and beyond in chatting about how he contributed to The Golden Gull, as well as what he has on his radar for the future. Do be sure to check out the author’s friend’s website, and don’t forget to check out The Golden Gull: The Isdralan Chronicles on Amazon today!
Michael DeAngelo
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