J.G. Clay is another Forsaken author with a mind as warped and twisted as any of us. Just perusing his website jgclay.com gives one the willies. So pull the covers up to your chin and ignore the noises coming from under the bed. Enjoy!
I was going to give you a
short story, but there's a slight problem. As my editor - the great Chris
Nelson- and my proof-reader - the workhorse known as Michael-Israel Jarvis -can
testify, my short stories aren't that short. I'd be rubbish at Flash Fiction,
let's put it that way. So, instead, here's a slightly whimsical gonzo take on my
Booktrope journey so far. Where the Crazy Carousel of Clay ends up is anyone’s
guess.
Sometimes I
Fantasise.....
Writing's a bit of an
obsession for me. It's the closest I get to OCD in my day to day life. It has
to be done, rain or shine, in sickness and health. Maybe that's why I do it.
Maybe it's my way tiny bit of order and calm in a life that's borderline
anarchic. Writing in itself though is only ever meaningful if there's someone
out there to read it. That's strictly my point of view, by the way, before you
grab your flaming torches and pitch forks.
Ever
since I first put pen to paper, there's always been a desire behind the
process, the desire for someone to actually read what my words and hopefully be
affected by them in some fashion. Whether it's admiration, repulsion or
offence, it doesn't t really matter to me. As long as there's some sort of
reaction. And, as any jobbing writer knows, to get these reactions,you need to
get the words out there. You need to pay obeisance to the Great God,
Publishing.
Over
a year ago, I self-published a little tome called 'Tales of Blood and Sulphur'.
It was pretty good - a bit rough and ready with a tinge of self-consciousness
but not a bad read. At least, according the six people who reviewed it anyway.
It didn't exactly set the world on fire. Thoughts of yachts, flash cars and a
lifelong season ticket for my beloved Birmingham City evaporated in the cold
light of the Amazon Sales Rank. But optimism is the name of the game in indie
publishing. As my fellow author S.E Rise says you've got to 'piss or get off
the pot'. (He didn't actually say those words by the way. It's the title of a
great little writing guide authored by the man himself. It's a good read).
So,
anyway, as I flounder about in the unforgiving Desert of Indie, I come across
that fabled citadel known in hushed tones as 'Booktrope'. There's no guards
about, so I shuffle up to the door, Adidas clad feet kicking up tiny dust
devils, a harsh wind blowing through what little hair is left on the top of my
head. I knock on the giant wooden door fully expecting a weird contingent of
mutant Monkey Guards to come gambolling through, ready to kick my sorry scruffy
Indie backside into the heat and dust of Desert Indie. To my surprise and sheer
delight, it doesn't happen. A hirsute but genial chap called Jesse James
smiles, opens his arms, ushers me in and places my fragile creative ego under
the care of a blonde pocket rocket of energy known as Maddie Von Stark. It's
been a long road but the journey has just begun.
All
of the above never really happened by the way. I submitted my manuscript, got
accepted and picked up by Forsaken. I was still placed under Maddie’s
stewardship, however.
I haven't looked back since. My experience has
been extraordinary, amazing and rewarding and I haven't even released a book
yet. I'm no longer floundering around on my own. There's a community and more
importantly, a team, behind me. It's a great feeling. Having other people
casting an eye over your work leads to insights never before seen - ideas that
would have vaporised becoming crystalline and solid and a sense of confidence
almost impossible to maintain when you go it alone.
This
is just the start of my Forsaken journey. The ‘Tales of Blood and Sulphur: Apocalypse
Minor’ is close to release. I can only wonder just how turbo charged this ride
is going to become from that point onwards.
J.G Clay is definitely a Man of Horror.
There can be no doubt. Putting aside the reverence he has for the horror
greats, such as King, Barker, Herbert, Carpenter, Romero and Argento, there is
another fact that defines his claim for the title of the ‘Duke of Spook’. He
was born on Halloween night. By a quirk fate, it was also a full moon that
night. Co-incidence?
The 41 year old hails from the Midlands in
the United Kingdom, is married with one step child and two dogs that bear a
strong resemblance to Ewoks. Beyond the page and the written word, he is music
mad and can hold down a tune on a bass guitar pretty well. He is an avid reader
and also has an enduring love of British sci-fi, from the pages of the ‘2000A.D
comic to the televised wanderings of Gallifrey’s most famous physician. Clay is
also a long-time fan of the mighty Birmingham City Football Club and endures a
lot of flak from his friends for it.
You can find J.G. Clay on Facebook, twitter, and his website, JGClay.com
Great post!
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