Review- Ministry of Zombies-The Official Zombie Handbook (UK)

Ministry of Zombies - The Official Zombie Handbook (UK) begins its introduction with this paragraph:

"This book is about survival. It's about staying alive when all about you have turned into bloodthirsty ghouls. It's about equipping you with the knowledge, skills and techniques to say - I will survive the coming zombie apocalypse and will not become an easy snack for the teeming dead."

What I found after reading this book, my fiends, is this: Sean Page has created something much more than a zombie handbook for the UK. If you pull out all of the zombie references, you also have one hell of a start to a great, "general purpose" survival guide, from how to get your house stocked with supplies (including what kind of supplies) to how and when to bug out to a new location if needed.

Sean has even gone into detail about what public locations are safe and unsafe and why. This book is a great asset to anyone's library who is concerned with surviving any coming apocalyptic scenario (with the exception of a nuclear war, of course) .

The information on zombie history, level of threat, and other information regarding zombies, and how to defend yourself from them - including the "90-day survival plan" - is a thrilling read, and will entertain and educate any zombie enthusiast.

This book is a must read, because - as you all know - the question is not if a zombie apocalypse will happen, but when.

Check out Sean's Website: ministryofzombies.com

Sean also has a new book coming out this summer: War against the Walking Dead

Actress Kelli Maroney

Question: What does Kelli Maroney as "Sam" in Night of the Comet have in common with Russ Streiner as "Johnny" in Night of the Living Dead? Give up, my misguided miscreants?

"Daddy would have gotten us UZIs," and "They're coming to get you, Barbra," are by far two of the best horror movie quotes ever, along with "If you love me, Tina, you'll let me eat your brains!" You have to hand it to zombie movies - over the years they really have given us some truly memorable dialog.

Night of the Comet was no different. Actually, it is one of my favourite horror movies.

Kelli Maroney did a bang-up job as Sam. I really enjoyed her portrayal of this hyper, Coke-drinking, cocky, kick-ass cheerleader. You just want to "ra ra" her on all the way through the movie.

Night of the Comet was not Kelli's first adventure in acting. In fact, Kelli had already been a veteran with five years under her belt. She is a dynamo, and a credit to her profession. After all, it takes a lot of determination and willpower to keep going in the entertainment industry. Hollywood can be brutal, but like the tenacious Sam, Kelli is still going strong. I admire that.

Give yourselves a treat tonight, my minions: pop some corn, and have a re-watch of Night of the Comet. It is a classic sure to please.

Now, for the interview...

Lili's Lair: How long had you been acting before you got the role in Night of the Comet?

Kelli: I started out apprenticing at the Guthrie Theater in my home town of Minneapolis, MN for the summer and had gone to NYC, did 3 years on Daytime TV on Ryan's Hope, shot Slayground and Fast Times, so about 5 years

Lili's Lair: What was your experience like working on Night of the Comet?

Kelli: I loved it--we had so much fun, but I was pretty sure we'd have to wear paper bags over our heads when it came out. The story was so different at the time than the usual teen movie.

Lili's Lair: What is the best memory you have from the making of the movie?

Kelli: Oh, there are so many. One is that every time Cathy (Reggie) held up that white loafer and said "Look--here's Chuck" I cracked up. That's why I am shutting the door so weird. Sam (me) is in denial but Kelli was actually trying not to crack up laughing.

Lili's Lair: Had you always wanted to be an actress?

Kelli: Yes, from day one.

Lili's Lair: In your personal experience what do you feel is the best thing about being involved in the entertainment industry?

Kelli: Doing what I love, following my passion, never a dull moment, either.

Lili's Lair: What advice can you give to other aspiring actors and actresses?

Kelli: If you knew you'd never 'make it' and always be struggling and eating out of dumpsters and living in your car but you still want to do it, it's your calling. If not, don't bother--it's too hard a life. Don't let your insecurities keep you from going for it, work on your self esteem A LOT.

Lili's Lair: Kelli, you are currently involved with WCTV1 Producers. Could you please explain what this is, and what your involvement is with them?

Kelli: Well, I've done some producing and plan to do more. So far I've just 'met' them on Facebook.

Lili's Lair: What projects do you have in the works?

Kelli: Quite a few--it all depends on what gets financed first. Financing is everything. Otherwise it's all just conversation.

Lili's Lair: Are there any links you would like to share with my readers?

Kelli: Sure--thanks:

• www.kellimaroney.com - This is an at your fingertips site for casting and producers
• www.classickellimaroney.com - This has all my reviews, interviews, photo gallery, etc.
• www.Facebook.com/kellimaroney
• www.Youtube.com/lovesnerds
• Kellimaroneyfanclub@yahoo.com
• www.myspace.com/kellimaroney

Matthew Kohnen, Writer & Director Aaah! Zombies

It's people like Matthew Kohnen that really make me love what I do.

Matthew really appreciates the little creeps like me, and that makes a ghoul feel especially warm inside - like I've just ingested a nice yummy pile of guts. Matthew is the example of what a filmmaker should be like: talented, intelligent, modest, and appreciative of those around him. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next, but I am sure it's going to be just as good as what he's done thus far.

Make sure to watch his brilliant Zombie flick, Aaah! Zombies. It has some very clever lines and great scenes, and I really enjoyed it. On a Lili's Lair brains scale, I give it 4 brains.

I must go now, all the talk about warm guts and brains has made me hungry, and the meat train is not just going to stop at my front door. And you, my minions, must go now as well and read my little interview with Matthew.

Lili's Lair: Did anything in particular inspire you to write Aaah! Zombies?

Matthew: There wasn't some sort of existential epiphany about 'how do Zombies see the world', if that's what you mean. 'Aaah! Zombies!!' came about because my brother Sean (Co-Writer/Producer) and I decided we'd had enough of fruitlessly developing scripts or treatments for other people to make that never happened. We wanted to make our own. We knew we had very little money, and wanted to do something genre (Horror or Comedy) that was unique. 'Shaun of the Dead' had come out, and we loved it, thought 'maybe something like that', but not the same. We started riffing, came up with the 'Zombie POV' concept, and it seemed cool. But it wasn't until we hit on the Black and White/Color shift visual thing that it really took off. We did that because I kept saying we needed some way for the audience to be very, very clear what they were watching, and when we said 'what about color?', it just clicked that we could do a real parody that riffed off classic Romero films and yet did something totally new.

Lili's Lair: How long did it take you - from inception to distribution - to create the movie?

Matthew: It was a remarkably short time frame, actually. We had gotten money for another, slightly larger project that was entirely different from this one, more of a family drama about a kid and his dad, and we were darn near ready to roll on that. We had a nice cast, locations back in the Midwest, all good stuff, but a tragedy with our main financier's family made it all go away. Or, most of it, at least. We had a little money left from some investors who still believed in us, and they said, 'You got anything else?'. To which we, of course, answered 'Yes, give us a few weeks to get it into shape.' We had NO IDEA what we were going to do, but like I mentioned above, we started riffing, wrote the script in a scant three weeks, and were up and running a few months later. Overall, I'd say from beginning to end, if we go from the Screamfest premier which ended up being a rough cut, it was about a year from conception to finish. Maybe closer to 10 months. Fast...

Lili's Lair: What was the reasoning behind switching from black and white to colour in the movie?

Matthew: It's like I mentioned before, it started as a way to work out the issues of how to visually clue the audience into what we're seeing, which POV is it, and as we started to riff, it became clear that if we stuck with that, we could parody something like the original 'Night of the Living Dead' and it's classic look of B&W Zombies, and use that not only as a visual cue, but as a real piece of the movie, something to add to the comedy not only for the average public, but for the Zombie-phile's who really know their stuff.

Lili's Lair: IMDB has Aaah! Zombies titled as Wasting Away. Why was the name changed?

Matthew: For Domestic Distribution reasons we had to change it. It's still called 'Wasting Away' in Europe, but here it's 'Aaah! Zombies!!' The old title had two things working for it. It referred to the fact that the main characters are introduced sort of 'wasting' their lives, in that hard to figure out zone between school and professional success that hits a lot of us, and the idea was that getting Zombified was actually the best thing that ever happened to them. I gave them purpose on some level. And of course, the fact that they were Undead meant they were decomposing, so that fit, too. But our Distributors felt it was too serious, and maybe a bit too intellectual for a screwball Zombie Comedy in the Domestic market, so we changed it. I like the way it works with the DVD art, showing Tim and Cindy in a loving Zombie embrace, and then the idea that we are still screaming just because they're Zombies works with the whole theme of the film. Besides, it's high on the alphabet, and we all know that when folks look at a list of Zombie movies, we will be the first one there…

Lili's Lair: Do you think that because you wrote the movie it was easier to direct it as well, or more difficult because you had created it?

Matthew: Probably a bit of both. Obviously I wrote it with my own sensibilities in mind (with help from my brother), so when it came time to direct it, there was a seamless transition of tone and style. But that said, there were some things I was too close to, and had I developed it with a writer, might have had them change it before getting to set and post-production, where it was harder to deal with some of the issues of over-writing. But generally, I like to direct what I've written, and vice versa.

Lili's Lair: Most people with brothers and sisters have a sort of sibling rivalry going on. What was your experience working with your brother Sean on the movie?

Matthew: Excellent. Good enough that he's hiring me again… We have the great fortune of being very, very similar in what we like and our vision of things, so it's kind of like having a second brain in the room when I'm working. I couldn't imagine going through all of this without him there, because it's hard to find a real confidante that you not only share a vision with, and get along with, but that you trust completely. I consider myself very, very lucky to have him to work with, and we're in pre-production on another film right now, co-written, produced by him and directed by me. Can't wait...

Lili's Lair: Are you personally a horror film? (A typo in my interview questions. I meant to say "horror film fan." Matt is a funny guy.)

Matthew: You mean horror 'fan', right? Or fan of horror films? I'm assuming so, because I'd hate to describe myself as a 'horror film'. I'm much more of a screwball comedy in my own life…
I tend to think that the genre labels we give movies are really just for Distributors, so they know what section to put a movie in. For me, it's about the story and the storytelling. If that's good, then it's a good movie, period. I like the 'Horror' genre when the focus is more on the story and characters, what tends to be called a 'Thriller'. I particularly distaste the direction Horror has taken in the last decade or so in some circles, where it's all about what I brand 'Torture Porn'. Basically, the continuing infatuation with how horrible can we show people being tortured and killed, and why exactly that should titillate us. I'm not a fan of that kind of film, and don't really consider it a challenge as a film maker. As an FX Designer, it's difficult to make that level of reality, but as a director and a storyteller, it seems cheap and rather lazy to me. So many of my favorite Horror movies tend to be the classics that stuck to the story aspect, 'Silence of the Lambs', even 'Alien' are ones that really do it for me.

Lili's Lair: Is there anyone in particular that inspired you to become involved in movie making?

Matthew: I'd love to have one of those bios that say 'he started making films with a Super-8 camera his parents bought him when he was five years old, and won a preschool Academy award…', but I didn't. I came to it all kind of late, getting into theater and them moving to film when I came out to California for school. I've been working, writing, and directing ever since, scrabbling to get up the ladder. I've met a lot of great folks since doing so, but no one who really inspired me in that way towards film making, since they all seem to realize I don't need a lot of inspiration to begin with. My brother inspires me by being awesome, my dad inspires me to be a better person, I had a great high school teacher that inspired me to continue with theater, Larry Marsh (I wonder if he'll read this), a buddy I met out here a few years ago who went on to become a big producer inspired me to do better stories, Palak Patel. Those kind of small inspirations keep you going and help push through the solid fog that is the Movie Business.

Lili's Lair: What projects are you currently working on?

Matthew: Sean and I are prepping another film right now, it's in the Horror genre (if you need such labels…), shooting in Indonesia. I'm looking forward to it a lot, keep an eye out. It's called Carrier.

Lili's Lair: Where would you like to see your career headed to in the future?

Matthew: Since the job of 'Deep Space Explorer' seems to be getting further and further off the table for me, I suppose I'd like to finish 'Carrier', and have that move me to getting another film, a bit bigger than that one, and then another, a bit bigger, etc. I'm not sure I'm interested in the Studio model (although it would be hard to turn down an offer), I like the Independent way Sean and I are working, but of course, the money is slow and small. Ideally, I could do a film every year or two, write in between and direct TV or commercials. It's slow in coming, but I think it's possible. We have a few scripts that, if we could do them right, would be great projects to break us out, but it's always about getting a chance at bat. I've got another one, and I intend to make the most of it.

I would just like to close by saying a big thanks to you and all the other Independent sites and podcasts that have embraced us. It's hard enough competing with the Majors when they have all the money and Press. Without folks like you, we wouldn't have a chance. And I hope everyone checks us out, so that more Indy films can get made and keep moving forward. Thanks much!

Ghost Hunters International's Barry Fitzgerald

Here's a little peek through the veil, my minions, into fellow Irishman Barry Fitzgerald's ghost hunting world:

Lili's Lair: Do you think being from such an ancient country like Ireland, with all of our legends and castle ruins, made you more keen to be interested in ghosts and the paranormal than if you grew up some place else?

Barry: No not at all, this was a calling, but I'm glad to be from Ireland. I think being from Ireland its easier to understand some of the phenomenon and also to respect other components of it.

Lili's Lair: Was there a defining moment in your life when you said: "Yes, this is what I want to do as a living?"

Barry: Not a defining point per-say but rather a subtle realization that this is where I was meant to be. About 15 years ago I did try and move off and do my own thing and after about 6 months I was gradually turned back onto the path and knew from then on I was meant to be here.

Lili's Lair: I ask this of almost all paranormal investigators I interview, but most people like to know: What was the most frightening thing that has happened to you on an investigation?

Barry: Off the show, one of the most frightening things was in Romania and nearly drowning in a deep lake. Though I should say it was what was in the lake that caused the problem and I have been afraid to return. Though I will one day and face it off, I'm not so sure of my chances :)

Lili's Lair: How did you get involved with Ghost Hunters?

Barry: The show came to Ireland and I was asked to take part then. Since the show aired GHI was spawned and I was asked to be a part and I agreed.

Lili's Lair: What has been your overall experience with the show, and do you think it has changed your life?

Barry: Travel and meeting new folks has been a trip. Also seeing similar beliefs to ours here in Ireland was amazing and has lead to four written books by me and a fifth on the way which has been able to bear fruit because of international travel. The show of course would change elements within my life, but not me as a person. I like to explore and investigate still outside of the show and bury myself in nature.

Lili's Lair: What are you working on now?

Barry: Two new scripts, a new book and planning investigations in different continents which I will be attending outside of the public eye and events circle.

Lili's Lair: What would you like to see Barry Fitzgerald doing 5 years from now?

Barry: Shooting Alien crafts with a ak-ak gun and wearing a blue vest :)

Parapsychologist Loyd Auerbach

Loyd Auerbach has been investigating haunted places for quite a while now. In fact, he was a paranormal investigator before it was cool and all the rage in Hollywood. He gets a gold skull for that in my book. I will give him another gold skull for being a no-nonsense parapsycholgist who takes his job seriously.

His first book, ESP, Hauntings and Poltergeists, was named the “Sacred Text” on ghosts by Newsweek. In fact, he is the author of seven books on the subject. Also, to his professional credit, he has recently taken a position developing an online MA program in Parapsychology for Atlantic University.

Hey, I give credit where credit is due, fiends.

I am also awarding Loyd two more of my coveted gold skulls. One for doing a last-minute interview for little ole' moi (which was a totally kind thing to do, considering he was about to go out of town on business). And he gets another because he loves chocolate, and I mean he loves, loves chocolate...

No, my minions, I really do not think you understand how much he loves chocolate. Loyd loves chocolate so much he is not only in the process of writing a book about it, but he also produces Ghost Drops, specialty truffles and bonbons, and is developing a chocolate fortune system/set called "The Cocoa Oracle." How original is that? If you don't like what the oracle has to say just eat it. You can visit his website on chocolate, www.hauntedbychocolate.com to check it out for yourselves.

Well, my fiends, this interview has made me hungry. I think I need to go whip up something choco-licious.

Lili's Lair: When did you first become involved in the paranormal?

Loyd: In high school. I’d been interested in Parapsychology since I was about 12, and I was able to start a Parapsychology Society in my high school in Elmsford, NY, with the help of the Earth Sciences and Physics teachers – and a really good letter of recommendation from J.B. Rhine. Through a neighbor, who was a Yoga instructor, I got to meet/talk with well known parapsychologists Dr. Montague Ullman (co-author of DREAM TELEPATHTY) and Dr. Gertrude Schmeidler (who did some of the first research on the Sheep-Goat Effect and pioneered some true scientific protocols for researching hauntings). Later in high school, I also got to visit with Hans Holzer at his residence in Riverdale, NY.

Our club did not do any ghost hunting. We did, however, conduct ESP and PK experiments, and created some basic computer programs to test ESP (real time and precognitive).

Lili's Lair: How did you get involved with paranormal research?

Loyd: See above for my first “paranormal research.” In college while at Northwestern University, I volunteered at Dr. J. Allen Hynek’s Center for UFO Studies, then at his home in Evanston, IL. I was fortunate to have conversations with him about parapsychological topics – I started as an Astrophysics major, actually, and he was head of the Astronomy Department. However, I switched over to Cultural Anthropology at the end of my freshman year, and ended up with an advisor who subscribed to the Journal of Parapsychology and numerous courses in that dept. dealing with supernatural beliefs and practices (and observations of odd happenings we’d call “paranormal”). In my senior year, I stumbled across a mini-course on Parapsychology offered by Dr. John Bisaha and Brenda Dunne at Mundelein College in Chicago. That led me to the just started Masters in Parapsychology program at John F. Kennedy University outside of California.

I entered that program in September 1979, and did my first field investigation shortly thereafter as part of my coursework.

I went through grad school generally intending to end up in a research lab somewhere doing more traditional psi research, though I knew I’d certainly continue doing field investigations. By the end of the program, I was as interested in education and media outreach (to promote the field) as I was in lab research.

After getting my M.S. in Parapsychology, I came back to the NY area and began teaching adult ed courses in Parapsychology and considering my employment options in the field. Through a lucky happenstance, on a visit to the American Society for Psychical Research (ASPR) in New York City to offer some suggestions for connecting with the news media, I was shuffled in to meet with the new executive director who, upon hearing my ideas, offered me a job on the spot. In January, 1982, I became the ASPR’s Public Information and Media Consultant.

While there, besides my media outreach/promotional work, I also aided on occasional research conducted by Dr. Karlis Osis and Donna McCormick, and did a number of field investigations that came into the ASPR. I learned an enormous amount from Dr. Osis, along with research psychic Alex Tanous, about investigations and the phenomena – essentially a post-grad education in itself.

In 1983, I headed back to California to join the faculty of JFK University’s Graduate Parapsychology Program, doing media outreach for the program and conducting investigations as cases came in to our department – as well as supervising students on investigations. When the program ended in the late 1980s (after my first book had been published), Christopher Chacon and I founded the Office of Paranormal Investigations to pick up the slack for investigations left by the university program’s end.

All in all, I come to this subject with an education and experience.

Lili's Lair: In the history of your career what has been your most exciting investigation, and why?

Loyd: There have been so many, most of which are in my book A PARANORMAL CASEBOOK (Atriad Press, 2005). Three cases leap to mind…

First, there was one in 1985 where an entire family was seeing the same ghost – with their 12 year old son conversing with the ghost on a daily basis, but until just before they called had not even discussed this amongst themselves. My visit led to an odd conversation with the boy as intermediary/”translator” between us and the ghost (Lois). We were provided with specific information that let us confirm a number of things about the ghost (when she was living) that the family could not possibly have known, as well as some very interesting perspective from Lois as to what it was like being a ghost.

Second, the Moss Beach Distillery’s Blue Lady case is a favorite of mine. From the first visit, when the ghost opened a door for us on request 6 times, I knew the case would be different. Over the years I’ve had my own personal experiences with her (Cayte), including her apparently following me (and being seen at) some conferences around the country.

Finally, we had an exciting case where the family had numerous phenomena happening, from a “bad” spot in the home that caused headaches and dizziness, to shadows being seen out of the corners of all four inhabitants’ eyes, to floating noxious odors to mysterious fireballs popping up out of nowhere. What was most exciting was how none of it was paranormal – all of it was related to a confluence of environmental conditions (manmade) from the “bad” room being slightly slanted, to low frequency sound from overhead high tension wires, to seeping methane gas (from a nearby landfill) and high static electricity combining to create both the noxious odors and the fireballs (methane on fire because of the static electricity).

Lili's Lair: What is the most frighting experience you have ever had in an investigation?

Loyd: It had nothing to do with the paranormal. Early in my career, before I really recognized it was not a good idea to go on a case alone, I was called in by a woman claiming that some invisible force was beating her up. She also said her husband also witnessed this. When I arrived, she was alone – definitely bruised, and her story raised some serious questions. While I was there, her husband came home, a bit drunk, and immediately was furious I was there – she hadn’t told him she’d even called me, or why. He got a gun and began waving it around (though never pointed it at me).

With explanation, he calmed down. But I have to say it was frightening – and it was clear to me this was a case of spousal abuse. Later she admitted that she knew that there was nothing paranormal, though at first she tried to say her husband was possessed when he beat her (yes, but by “demon rum” not actual demons). I was able to convince her to bring the authorities into it and get help.

An important lesson: Ghosts don’t carry guns and knives. It’s living people you have to be afraid of!

Lili's Lair: Do you consider yourself to be more of a skeptic or believer, and why?

Loyd: First of all, the two terms are not opposites. The term “skeptic” should be applied to those who have not made up their minds, who also examine all sides of an issue. Unfortunately, groups like CSICOP and folks like the Amazing Randi co-opted that term, though they are mostly DIS-believers, not actually skeptics.

I like to call myself a “situational skeptic.” I believe in the phenomena, but take each situation, case, experience, etc. separately AND examine all reported events in a single case separately. One must look at the events and consider any and all alternative explanations before declaring “it’s paranormal!”

Lili's Lair: What projects are you currently working on?

Loyd: Right now, promotion of my latest book co-authored by Annette Martin, the psychic I’ve worked with the most over the last 15+ years: THE GHOST DETECTIVES’ GUIDE TO HAUNTED SAN FRANCISCO. It’s not a typical haunted location book, but more one that gives you a real look at what a parapsychologist and psychic do together on an investigation. We will soon be working on our next book dealing with locations in California’s Gold Country.

I’m also teaching an online Parapsychology course for Atlantic University (next semester to start in late August) and helping promote their Parapsychology and Consciousness Conference happening October 14-16, 2011, in Virginia Beach. It’ll be presenting some of the best researchers from around the country (actual parapsychologists and related scientists) and I’ll be speaking as well. I’m developing a few other courses to teach online for the university as well.

I’ll be back to working on a one-stop website to take folks to the most reliable organizations and websites on the paranormal and Parapsychology, the Psi Portal, quite soon.

I’ll be revamping my two websites over the summer (see links below) and beefing up my online chocolate shop for re-launch in the early fall (after the heat of the summer) with more chocolate products I’m making, including the Cocoa Oracle Chocolate Fortune System. I’ll also be producing special chocolates for the Forever Family Foundation and speaking at their conference on Long Island in November. And hopefully I can finally finish my book on chocolate.

Finally, I’m working towards a replication of Dr. Dean Radin’s experiment in putting intention into chocolate. Think of it as researching chocolate with a special message! Once I get all my (chocolate) ducks in a row, I’ll open it for volunteers.

Lili's Lair: Do you have any links you would like to share with my readers?

Loyd: My paranormal website: www.mindreader.com (note: due to shifting servers, it may be down for a week or two in early July)

My Haunted By Chocolate website: www.hauntedbychocolate.com

Atlantic University for info on my Principles of Parapsychology course (and info on the upcoming conference): www.atlanticuniv.edu

My parapsychological studies courses and certificate program, local and distance learning, through HCH Institute: www.hypnotherapytraining.com/parapsych.cfm

The Forever Family Foundation: www.foreverfamilyfoundation.org

And for excellent info on Parapsychology:

1) The Rhine Research Center, www.rhine.org

2) The Parapsychology Foundation, www.parapsychology.org

3) The Parapsychological Association, www.parapsych.org

Breaking News

So creeps a couple of news-related matters to tell you all about, and then you may go back about your business.

#1) There is a new dark and unholy location on the web for us creative types to go hang out, network, and whore our wares and services. It is free, but you do have to wait a wee bit for approval. It is a good thing to be approved, however: this way there will not be peeps who are not involved in such things sneaking on to irritate us.

The site is open to those who are in the following fields: Writers, Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Models, Film Makers, Artists, Photographers, Jewelery and Clothes Designers. If you feel you belong, just send me a message and I can find out if you do. Please join, as it is a great opportunity to network with those of like minds in similar fields. Trust me, there are not many opportunities that come along like this. http://brimstoneandash.proboards.com

#2) Lili's Lair will be getting a few tweaks over the next few weeks. I have wanted to include links and resources to related sites and such, and now we are going to finally be doing it. If you have a business or service you feel should be included, please let me know. I will not be charging 1 penny to include your link, as long as it's relevant to this site. As always you may contact me at Lili@LilisLair.com

You may go now.. Go on - shoo...

Author Christopher Golden

Greetings my fiends. Today I present for your dissection an interview with award-winning author Christopher Golden. After being so entranced with the Ghosts of Albion, I cannot wait to gobble up all of Christopher's literary genius. I would suggest you all do the same. Grab a few books and curl up next to a fire with a nice brandy. You won't be disappointed.

Lili's Lair: How old were you when you began writing?

CG: I dabbled as early as the age of twelve or so, but I believe the first time I wrote a full-length short story with actual intent was as a freshman in high school.

Lili's Lair: When did you decide that writing was what you wanted to do for a living?

CG: I took creative writing classes all through college. My senior year, I started writing my first novel, OF SAINTS AND SHADOWS. It was while writing that that I realized that not only did I want to be a novelist, but that I was capable of it.

Lili's Lair: What advice would you give up-and-coming writers?

CG: I always say "write as much as you can and read as much as you can." There are other things I commonly say as well. But my advice is changing. If you really want to be a writer, do two things immediately. Find a group of people whose opinions about writing you trust and who seem to have some idea of what they're talking about...be it a book group, a library group, an online writing circle, something. Take their criticism to heart, even if it's negative (though don't take any ONE person's response too heavily...take the aggregate). Then...start writing, and go digital. Use every online resource to post, promote, and later hopefully sell your work. The rest will come. That's the new world of publishing.

Lili's Lair: How did you first get involved with Ghosts of Albion?

CG: Amber Benson and I had written several Buffy comic books together and the BBC contacted me to ask if we would be interested in writing an online animated series for them. What they wanted was, essentially, a Victorian Buffy. But we passed on that. What they asked for was too close to Buffy and we knew people would accuse us of ripping it off. Instead, I talked to Amber about an idea I'd been working on ("Ghosts of Hollywood") that could easily be adapted to Victorian times. She loved it. We worked up a pitch for it together, and the BBC loved it. The rest is history.

Lili's Lair: Did you find working with a co-writer difficult?

CG: Not at all. I've collaborated many times on stories, scripts, and novels. Amber and I are good friends and creatively are very simpatico.

Lili's Lair: Ghosts of Albion is a multi-faceted project. Which aspect of it did you like working on the most?

CG: The best part of all was being in the studio in London, working directly with the actors, watching them perform, and watching Amber interact with them as director.

Lili's Lair: Is there a particular piece in the series that you liked working on more than the others?

CG: Similarly, it would have to be the first serial. Much as I loved writing the novels, the whole experience of inventing the thing from the ground up, creating the characters, casting the actors, and being in the studio with Amber, Jasmine, Emma, Anthony, the rest of the cast and the great BBC production team...that was one of the best creative experiences of my career.

Lili's Lair: Did you have any inspirations in the writing of the Ghosts of Albion series? If so, what were they?

CG: I've always loved Victorian fiction, particularly Sherlock Holmes. Taking my love of magic and the supernatural and monsters and putting it into that setting was a natural. There was no single inspiration, but my frame of reference for monsters and magic is fairly extensive. :)

Lili's Lair: Are there any other types of projects you would like to see the world of Ghosts of Albion taking on?

CG: There will, at some point, but more fiction. And, of course, we'd love to see a film or TV series someday.

Lili's Lair: What other projects are you working on at the moment?

CG: Hmm. The third book of THE SECRET JOURNEYS OF JACK LONDON with Tim Lebbon. A new novella with Mike Mignola. A trilogy of graphic novels with Charlaine Harris. And a brand new dystopian YA novel about which I can say nothing yet.