Ask the Author: K.L. Phelps
Answered Questions (4)
K.L. Phelps
How about just a one-sentence horror story?
Just as he typed The End, lightning struck the building, the sudden power surge frying his computer and destroying all his hard work!
Just as he typed The End, lightning struck the building, the sudden power surge frying his computer and destroying all his hard work!
K.L. Phelps
Good question. So many choices. My immediate answer would be that I can’t pick just a single world because I’d need to pick an entire universe. And that universe would of course be the Star Wars universe. Yes, I know many might think that’s a bit of a cheat since the Star Wars universe started in the movies, but the Star Wars universe has expanded exponentially over the years, with fantastic stories taking place in numerous books and even video games (Knights of the Old Republic had a heck of story). I remember my first experience with the literary Star Wars universe happened back in �90 or �91. I walked into Waldenbooks (I miss that chain. So many fond memories of that place) and seeing Timothy Zahn’s Heir to the Empire in the front display. As a Star Wars fanatic I couldn’t buy it fast enough. And wow, not only was it new Star Wars, it was awesome new Star Wars. Zahn weaved a hell of a tale and introduced a killer new bad guy in the form of Grand Admiral Thrawn. We also not only saw Han and Leia married but expecting twins as well. Sadly, I believe that much of the literary Star Wars universe has been made null when Disney purchased Lucasarts and they drew a line on what would be considered cannon and what wouldn’t. What would I do in this universe? Become a Jedi of course!
That would be my #1 pick, but there are so many wonderful worlds/universes I wouldn't mind visiting.
That would be my #1 pick, but there are so many wonderful worlds/universes I wouldn't mind visiting.
K.L. Phelps
Good question. And yet it’s one that is hard to answer. First I should tell you that my reading habits are a bit bizarre (shocking I know, right? lol) and at times could probably be classified as somewhat ADD. What do I mean by that? Well just as with my tastes in music, I tend to love all kinds of books. If you look at my music collection you’ll find everything from the soundtrack to The Little Mermaid to Metallica and Guns N Roses to Eminem to Taylor Swift to The Pet Shop Boys to Darius Rucker (both his country albums and music from when he was with Hootie and the Blowfish). Getting the picture? I tend to like a bit of everything. The same is true when it comes to books. I will jump from genre to genre. One day I may be reading a hard-boiled mystery, the next a thriller, a sci-fi adventure, a fantasy, or I might even be reading non-fiction—often times with non-fiction it’ll be a book on writing as I am fascinated by how others ‘view the craft� (that sounds so fancy, doesn’t it? Certainly more professional than saying I am interested in seeing how other people make crap up, lol)—but not always, sometimes it’ll be a history book or even a book on theoretical quantum physics. I can’t claim I always understand all of it…or even most of it, lol. The truth is a lot of it goes right over my head. But my ADD reading habits go even deeper than that. Not only do I read books from all genres (okay, almost all genres, I don’t tend to read straight up romance novels…though I am not adverse to a romantic comedy) but at times I may actually be reading a multitude of genres all at once. Okay, not literally all at once. I only have two eyes and generally they can only focus on a single book at a time, but I have been known to stretch out on my couch with a stack of books and switch from book to book after each chapter. I think the most books I have ever read simultaneously would be 8 or 9. And when I say that I mean that I am actively reading those books, not books I start reading then don’t pick up again for like a month. I’ll admit it’s been a while since I have tried to juggle that many stories at once. These days it tends to be only 3 or 4 at a time.
So with that being said, you asked about my summer reading list. Once again I can’t answer that without letting you know a bit more about my reading habits …and my book buying habits. (You’re starting to regret asking me this question, aren’t you? lol) When it comes to books I have almost no impulse control, never have. I buy them like they’re going out of style. In the old days it was paperbacks and hardcovers. I have boxes and boxes of books, not to mention my bookshelves and overflowing. And of course I have a kindle (a couple actually) and that’s where it gets scary because I have an insane number of kindle books waiting to be read. No, I am not going to tell you just how many, because (1) it’s insanely embarrassing, (2) you probably wouldn’t believe me. Heck, I don’t believe it myself! So this is my way of telling you that quite often what I am reading might not be that hot new release that has just hit the shelves. There’s always a chance it could be, but there is a better than average chance it could be something that’s been out for a while. Of course there is also a better than average chance it might be something I’ve read a time or two before. Yes, even with thousands of books waiting to be read I can often be found reading a book I’ve read a time or two (or ten) before. For me there are certain books I just feel compelled to reread from time to time.
So is it time to tell you what I plan to read this summer yet? Almost. One last thing I need to tell you about my reading habits. I already mentioned that I often jump from genre to genre, but I should also tell you that there are other times where I can’t get myself to read a certain book or a certain genre. Times when no matter how hard I try or think I want to read a certain book I just won’t be able to get into it. Once such book was Bag of Bones by Stephen King. I tried to read the book on multiple occasions, but I just couldn’t get into it. For whatever reason I wasn’t in the mindset to read it and kept setting it aside. Then on my third attempt something just clicked and I blasted through it. And let me tell you I absolutely love that book and have now read it half a dozen times. Of course there are also times I will purposely avoid a certain genre as well. Sometimes if I am writing a book of a certain genre I’ll avoid reading books in that genre. And yet at other times I’ll read nothing but the genre I’m working on. Why? Heck if I know why I do the things I do. Don’t tell me I said this, but sometimes that guy I see in the mirror doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense, and he scares me! (I realize you might need to read that sentence over a few times for that to make sense, lol)
Okay so what do I think I might read this summer? (Yes, I’ll actually answer you now. Of course by now you’ve probably stopped reading. Don’t worry, I don’t blame you.)
I never know what random books I am just going to pick up and read (there will be plenty of those), but I have a number of books a friend of mine has either recommended or both recommended and sent to me, so I intend to get to these:
Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman by JB Lynn
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones
In addition to those and the multitude of random books I’ll read, I’d also like to try and get around to these:
Fellside by M.R. Carey, who happened to write The Girl With All the Gifts, which was one of the most unique zombie books I’ve read in a very long time.
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. I read the first dozen or so pages while I was at my nephews house one day and have to say I was fascinated. The way in which the story appears to be told is so different, odd and yet brilliant. If you see a copy go ahead and flip through it to see what I mean. And my nephew raved about it so I need to get around to reading it.
House of Leaves by Mark Z Danielewski I have had this book on my shelf for like a decade and still haven’t gotten to it. I’ve been told by some that it’s the scariest book they’ve ever read. I understand it’s a bit experimental, both in how it’s told and…well how it’s told…as in just the books formatting. Hard to explain, just as with Illuminae if you are in a bookstore find a copy and flip through it to see what I mean. I don’t think there is a kindle version and with good reason. Once you flip through the book you’ll understand why I say that. Not sure why I haven’t gotten to it yet, but this summer I’m hoping to finally read it.
The Last Coven by Rick Gualtieri Part of me doesn’t want to read this because I know it’s the last book in the Bill the Vampire series and I’ll really hate knowing there isn’t another one coming to look forward to.
Fields of Fire by Marko Kloos. Frankly I am not sure why I haven’t read this one yet. It came out at the end of February and I’d been anticipating it for quite a while. It’s the fifth book in the Frontline series, an epic sci-fi series I really love.
The Fireman by Joe Hill. If you don’t know Joe Hill, you aught to. While he publishes under the name Joe Hill, his full name is Joseph Hillstrom King and he just happens to be the son of the one and only Stephen King. And let me tell you, he’s damn talented in his own right. I’ve found his work brilliant and he has yet to disappoint me.
Speaking of Stephen King and sons of Stephen King, while it won’t technically be summer when this one finally releases, I am looking forward to Sleeping Beauties, a book that Stephen King has written in collaboration with his other son Owen King.
That’s all I can think of off the top of my head. There are plenty of others I would like to get to and no doubt dozens more that haven’t been released that I don’t yet realize ‘I need!�. Of course I won’t be surprised if I end up rereading a number of books this summer as well. As I mentioned I tend to do that fairly often. With the coming of the Dark Tower movie this summer there is a better than average chance I end up rereading those books for the umpteenth time. I also won’t be surprised if I reread Boy’s Life by Robert R. McCammon, another of my all-time favorites. There’s also a good chance I could reread Patrick Rothfuss’s Name of the Wind and The Wise Man’s Fear yet again. Absolutely love these two books and the wait for the 3rd book in the series is beyond maddening. And I am also feeling the urge to go back and reread Joe Hill’s fantastic NOS4A2.
You probably didn’t expect such a lengthy answer, did you? Probably thought you were just asking a simple question, and for 99% of the people out there it probably would have been, but I’ve always been difficult! Bet you’ll think twice before you make that mistake again, eh? lol
Happy reading!
So with that being said, you asked about my summer reading list. Once again I can’t answer that without letting you know a bit more about my reading habits …and my book buying habits. (You’re starting to regret asking me this question, aren’t you? lol) When it comes to books I have almost no impulse control, never have. I buy them like they’re going out of style. In the old days it was paperbacks and hardcovers. I have boxes and boxes of books, not to mention my bookshelves and overflowing. And of course I have a kindle (a couple actually) and that’s where it gets scary because I have an insane number of kindle books waiting to be read. No, I am not going to tell you just how many, because (1) it’s insanely embarrassing, (2) you probably wouldn’t believe me. Heck, I don’t believe it myself! So this is my way of telling you that quite often what I am reading might not be that hot new release that has just hit the shelves. There’s always a chance it could be, but there is a better than average chance it could be something that’s been out for a while. Of course there is also a better than average chance it might be something I’ve read a time or two before. Yes, even with thousands of books waiting to be read I can often be found reading a book I’ve read a time or two (or ten) before. For me there are certain books I just feel compelled to reread from time to time.
So is it time to tell you what I plan to read this summer yet? Almost. One last thing I need to tell you about my reading habits. I already mentioned that I often jump from genre to genre, but I should also tell you that there are other times where I can’t get myself to read a certain book or a certain genre. Times when no matter how hard I try or think I want to read a certain book I just won’t be able to get into it. Once such book was Bag of Bones by Stephen King. I tried to read the book on multiple occasions, but I just couldn’t get into it. For whatever reason I wasn’t in the mindset to read it and kept setting it aside. Then on my third attempt something just clicked and I blasted through it. And let me tell you I absolutely love that book and have now read it half a dozen times. Of course there are also times I will purposely avoid a certain genre as well. Sometimes if I am writing a book of a certain genre I’ll avoid reading books in that genre. And yet at other times I’ll read nothing but the genre I’m working on. Why? Heck if I know why I do the things I do. Don’t tell me I said this, but sometimes that guy I see in the mirror doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense, and he scares me! (I realize you might need to read that sentence over a few times for that to make sense, lol)
Okay so what do I think I might read this summer? (Yes, I’ll actually answer you now. Of course by now you’ve probably stopped reading. Don’t worry, I don’t blame you.)
I never know what random books I am just going to pick up and read (there will be plenty of those), but I have a number of books a friend of mine has either recommended or both recommended and sent to me, so I intend to get to these:
Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman by JB Lynn
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones
In addition to those and the multitude of random books I’ll read, I’d also like to try and get around to these:
Fellside by M.R. Carey, who happened to write The Girl With All the Gifts, which was one of the most unique zombie books I’ve read in a very long time.
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. I read the first dozen or so pages while I was at my nephews house one day and have to say I was fascinated. The way in which the story appears to be told is so different, odd and yet brilliant. If you see a copy go ahead and flip through it to see what I mean. And my nephew raved about it so I need to get around to reading it.
House of Leaves by Mark Z Danielewski I have had this book on my shelf for like a decade and still haven’t gotten to it. I’ve been told by some that it’s the scariest book they’ve ever read. I understand it’s a bit experimental, both in how it’s told and…well how it’s told…as in just the books formatting. Hard to explain, just as with Illuminae if you are in a bookstore find a copy and flip through it to see what I mean. I don’t think there is a kindle version and with good reason. Once you flip through the book you’ll understand why I say that. Not sure why I haven’t gotten to it yet, but this summer I’m hoping to finally read it.
The Last Coven by Rick Gualtieri Part of me doesn’t want to read this because I know it’s the last book in the Bill the Vampire series and I’ll really hate knowing there isn’t another one coming to look forward to.
Fields of Fire by Marko Kloos. Frankly I am not sure why I haven’t read this one yet. It came out at the end of February and I’d been anticipating it for quite a while. It’s the fifth book in the Frontline series, an epic sci-fi series I really love.
The Fireman by Joe Hill. If you don’t know Joe Hill, you aught to. While he publishes under the name Joe Hill, his full name is Joseph Hillstrom King and he just happens to be the son of the one and only Stephen King. And let me tell you, he’s damn talented in his own right. I’ve found his work brilliant and he has yet to disappoint me.
Speaking of Stephen King and sons of Stephen King, while it won’t technically be summer when this one finally releases, I am looking forward to Sleeping Beauties, a book that Stephen King has written in collaboration with his other son Owen King.
That’s all I can think of off the top of my head. There are plenty of others I would like to get to and no doubt dozens more that haven’t been released that I don’t yet realize ‘I need!�. Of course I won’t be surprised if I end up rereading a number of books this summer as well. As I mentioned I tend to do that fairly often. With the coming of the Dark Tower movie this summer there is a better than average chance I end up rereading those books for the umpteenth time. I also won’t be surprised if I reread Boy’s Life by Robert R. McCammon, another of my all-time favorites. There’s also a good chance I could reread Patrick Rothfuss’s Name of the Wind and The Wise Man’s Fear yet again. Absolutely love these two books and the wait for the 3rd book in the series is beyond maddening. And I am also feeling the urge to go back and reread Joe Hill’s fantastic NOS4A2.
You probably didn’t expect such a lengthy answer, did you? Probably thought you were just asking a simple question, and for 99% of the people out there it probably would have been, but I’ve always been difficult! Bet you’ll think twice before you make that mistake again, eh? lol
Happy reading!
K.L. Phelps
That's quite an interesting question. Sadly, I don't think I have any real mysteries in my own life. If there are, then their very existence is a mystery to me! But somehow I don't think 'why the heck does he love pizza so much?' would qualify as much of a mystery. (It's pizza, duh! Mystery solved!) That being said life experiences definitely influence my writing, plots for my stories. Almost anything can trigger an idea, a 'what if'. One of the first stories I can remember writing (maybe in the 1st or 2nd grade) was called The Red Car (at least I think that was the title) and if I'm remembering correctly it came about when me and my friend were out playing in the front yard and seeing a red car stop in the middle the road. It just sat there were a few minutes. I can't remember if the windows were tinted or if there was just sunlight reflecting off the windshield but we couldn't even see how many (if any!) people were in the car. After a couple of minutes the car just drove on. For most kids that would have been the end of it, but even back then I was always thinking up stories and so I ended up wondering who was in that car, what were they doing, why did it stop? I honestly can't remember what the story ended up being about, somehow I think it might have been about kidnapping, but I can't be certain. Was it really some great mystery? No. More than likely it might have been someone just trying to figure out where they were (this was WAY before things like GPS and the like) but of course in my mind it became a mystery.
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