Dear Arsians:
The common advice is to not ask an author about their inspiration and ideas. Me, I love to talk about my inspiration. My problem is remembering it all.
I know I’ve been drawn to the Old West and pioneering times ever since I opened my first Little House on the Prairie book or watched young Melissa Gilbert running down the hill on my TV screen. Recently, I had to collect all the Covered Wagon Women series by Kenneth L. Holmes, and that reminded me of the misadventures of my characters on The Oregon Trail video game (and the hilarious tombstones young me erected for later players to find).
I also wrote a fanfic about the Picasso of Death, Castiel of Supernatural, because I was still processing an unexpected death of his. (You have no idea how many times I replayed that season 12 finale.) (But you may now have an idea why so many black-haired, blue-eyed men show up in my stories.) So you’ll excuse me if I call you fans “Arsians,” for “Ars Moriendi” was the original title of my fan work—and I just couldn’t let that title go. (Still can’t, see?)
Now what about my love of weirdness and horror, eldritch locations
and butterflies? That would take quite a while to untangle and relate.
But you might like to know I used to raise black swallowtails as a
hobby and have been trying to find a way to connect them to fairies in
my fiction for a while. (Someday I’ll relate how I started on that. For
now, here’s a pic . . . )
As for my love of the weird? Its origin is impossible to pinpoint, but I have feed it Lovecraft, Area X, hours of TV Tropes, The Sick Land, and most recently—SCP tales. (And lots and lots of zombies.) Some of this predated “Ars,” and some of it came after. (Zombie love is undying, though.)
Long story short, I’ve been writing ADW or “Ars” for several years, in fits and starts, and finally, it has consolidated enough for me to begin sharing it you with you Arsians.
I am in the process of setting up a proper mailing list, but in the meantime, if you Arsians would like a head’s up when the next part is published, fiction tidbits or sneak peeks, or more ramblings like this, please email me at authoress AT chiaroscurohouse DOT com. Also please share your thoughts with me on “Ars,” on butterflies, on zombies, or whatever tickles your fancy. I appreciate hearing from you all.
Thanks,
Jodi Ralston