tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post548518288933826850..comments2024-02-27T02:39:41.039-05:00Comments on Tales of Goldstone Wood: Introducing: Robert Mullin!Anne Elisabeth Stenglhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09462605949792523331noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-19397140619613933922013-05-18T14:48:20.060-04:002013-05-18T14:48:20.060-04:00I would have to say that one of my favorite author...I would have to say that one of my favorite authors (there are definitely more than one!) would be Jennifer Valent. I LOVED her Calloway Summers series. Her characters were moving and the story stayed with me long after I finished reading it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-2497974353349942742013-05-13T20:02:28.371-04:002013-05-13T20:02:28.371-04:00Just wanted you to know that starting tomorrow, Ma...Just wanted you to know that starting tomorrow, May 14, Bid the Gods Arise is free on Kindle until midnight of the 15th. (For some reason, it didn't go through as scheduled for today. Whoops!)Robert Mullinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07281141057549351365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-49306216758465893692013-05-12T22:48:33.256-04:002013-05-12T22:48:33.256-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Robert Mullinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07281141057549351365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-57160108526654324052013-05-04T15:48:14.636-04:002013-05-04T15:48:14.636-04:00Er, never mind. I see we do. Congratulations, Chri...Er, never mind. I see we do. Congratulations, Christy L! :)Robert Mullinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07281141057549351365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-55170273690777451982013-05-04T15:44:23.732-04:002013-05-04T15:44:23.732-04:00Rachel, I appreciate the interest, even if the boo...Rachel, I appreciate the interest, even if the book might be a little darker than might be your wont. I hope that you enjoy it; I know that it does push a few people's envelopes, but I haven't met anyone yet who was sorry they read it. :) Some of the reviews on Amazon or Goodreads might help you decide if it's right for you or not. <br /><br />Anne, do we have a winner to announce?Robert Mullinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07281141057549351365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-59540488527044612262013-04-28T12:44:50.684-04:002013-04-28T12:44:50.684-04:00My first thought looking at the cover was that it ...My first thought looking at the cover was that it looks darker than something I'd read, but the title is COOL. And then I read the interview, the excerpt, and Kessie's comment about the villain, and now the whole book sounds cool!<br /><br />I've always inclined toward fairytales and myths rather than cryptozoology, but your expedition sounds fascinating! You have the added bonus, of course, of searching for something you might actually find. I'll be watching the news for MM...Rachel6https://www.blogger.com/profile/15138745237488029817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-28300302317245040372013-04-27T14:09:44.494-04:002013-04-27T14:09:44.494-04:00Back on the subject of the book, to answer your qu...Back on the subject of the book, to answer your question, Lauren, I tend to be a little of both. I do like to plot out the major events of the novel, and several of the scenes come to me in advance, but when I sit down to write, it is generally a discovery process to see how the elements link up. <br /><br />WriterofDreamThings (I’m loving these names), the cast of my novel is large, but not horrendously so. I believe that as long as you use Deep POV as much as possible, the “voice” of each character should be fairly distinct. Other fantasy authors have done this fairly capably; the first that comes to mind is George R.R. Martin. By alternating extended sections or chapters of one character’s POV, you allow for a greater scope of story, but also give the reader time to know each character well enough to remember them. For the one-shot scenes you describe, I tend to let secondary characters be famous actors in my mind. Hopefully if I describe mannerisms or the like in such a way that even though people won’t realize that they’re reading a “cameo,” they will at least have a distinct impression of these people that show up here and there. <br /><br />Kessie, you crack me up and make my day every time you write about BTGA. ;) <br /><br />Thank you, everyone, for your interest, and good luck in the giveaway! <br />Robert Mullinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07281141057549351365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-45205322654813612952013-04-27T14:08:41.197-04:002013-04-27T14:08:41.197-04:00Thank you all for the warm welcome!
Hannah, I h...Thank you all for the warm welcome! <br /><br />Hannah, I hope that we will have some news on Mokele-mbembe soon. The chances are equally good to find a male or female; both have been described to us in detail (complete with mating habits). <br /><br />Bookishqueen, I mostly read up on Cryptozoology until the first trip to Africa in 2001. The circumstances leading to that were a bit odd. I had started a novel about the search for Mokele-mbembe. Around the same time, I found Clint Kelly’s THE LOST KINGDOM on the bookshelf at my local Christian bookstore. I got the book and got in touch with the author, teasingly chiding him about the fact that he wrote the book before I could (fortunately, our plots were very different, so if I ever get around to writing mine, I need not worry about repetition). He got me in touch with an email list (this was before Facebook) of like-minded Christians, Creationists, and Cryptozoologists, where I met Bill Gibbons. Bill had been to the Congo several times in search of the animal, which had always been my favorite of those last unsolved mysteries of Earth. I coincidentally read in a magazine that he was going to be heading there again in 2000, so I wrote to him and said something along the lines of, “I have no particular credentials to offer, but I’ll row your boat or carry your water if you will let me come along with you.” Bill replied that he was no longer going on that expedition, as the leader was “a paranormalist nut who would get himself killed if he went anywhere near the Congo,” and that he, Bill, was going to start his own expedition, and would I like to be the first member? I thought about that for a nanosecond, and the rest is history. I was very pleased after that first expedition to find several of my theories confirmed by further interviews with the natives, and several tidbits discovered that no one else has ever known. <br /><br />Imblest, one of the newer discoveries was the fact that these creatures have inflatable dewlaps used for vocalization . The sounds are indeed similar to what the Regeusters expedition returned with, although that recording is to be viewed with a fair amount of skepticism. <br /><br />Molly, no, we have found no bones. The discovery of unfossilized bones would be absolutely world-shaking news (in a scientific sense). We have found footprints, evidence of trees being stripped of foliage to a height of 18 feet, claw marks on the banks where they dig out their caves, and heard vocalizations and some tremendous splashing, but no physical evidence such as bones or scat. They live in the river, though, and breed in the swamp, so I expect that most of the evidence of their passing is eaten by the rainforest, as it were. It is really dense there, and you really don’t tend to find bodies of dead animals.<br /><br />Jennette, I have actually considered putting myself out there as a sort of cryptozoologist-for-hire, going to various places (on someone else’s bill) and doing the hard work of searching for the animal. I am intrigued by other cryptids, but there’s a soft spot in my heart for the living dinosaurs (probably because I love to watch arrogant people eat crow, and I already know just from what I’ve learned about MM that when certain animals are discovered, there are a whole bunch of science and history books just waiting to be rewritten). There is also a more personal reason for being partial to MM, but it’s kind of obscure, and may simply have to wait until the book (novel or nonfiction). <br /><br />(continued...)Robert Mullinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07281141057549351365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-91708284367066763062013-04-27T14:07:44.554-04:002013-04-27T14:07:44.554-04:00Thanks for the interview! Bid the Gods Arise is so...Thanks for the interview! Bid the Gods Arise is something I would love to read. Clarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05597065432344069069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-46893393692144204862013-04-27T00:26:56.267-04:002013-04-27T00:26:56.267-04:00It sounds really cool.It sounds really cool.Galadrielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12993204559713347090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-19361587298230519052013-04-26T18:52:04.321-04:002013-04-26T18:52:04.321-04:00As a beta reader for this book and now an avid fa...As a beta reader for this book and now an avid fan, I approve of this interview. What made me want to read it was the author's remark that the villains are a new twist on vampires. And boy, are they ever! But I shall say no more because of spoilers. :-)Kessiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15019626781634777336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-38586527257046423982013-04-26T18:36:36.863-04:002013-04-26T18:36:36.863-04:00Oh, cryptozoology! I've always loved dinosaurs...Oh, cryptozoology! I've always loved dinosaurs (when I was younger, I wanted to be a paleontologist really badly), and the idea of living dinosaurs makes me giddy.<br /><br />In regards to writing, how do you deal with a large cast of characters? When you have a character that may only have one scene yet you want to make them unique and memorable, what do you do?<br /><br />Thanks so much for dropping by the blog and giving us the opportunity to learn more about your fascinating book and hobbies. The excerpt was fantastic and makes me want to read more! And thanks for the giveaway!<br /><br />-Beka Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13171567731644896572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-13800459823086632902013-04-26T15:37:55.556-04:002013-04-26T15:37:55.556-04:00Robert, I love the sound of Bid the Gods Arise and...Robert, I love the sound of Bid the Gods Arise and will have to read it now. Thank you for the interview. It was very interesting.Alyssa Frybergerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10731226925975932612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-36931322824533815832013-04-26T13:36:24.619-04:002013-04-26T13:36:24.619-04:00Blogger is not liking me today, but three times a ...Blogger is not liking me today, but three times a charm, right? I just wanted to stop by and say that I love Bid the Gods Arise, and I was so excited to see this interview. Thank you, Ms. Stengl!<br /><br />Are you currently working on a cryptozoological project? Do you study other animals or just dinosaurs? Thanks :-)J. L. Mbewehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09829569927194713466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-47611874685314996582013-04-26T12:56:09.882-04:002013-04-26T12:56:09.882-04:00I think that the book sounds really intriguing!!! ...I think that the book sounds really intriguing!!! Do you plot your novels out in advance, or are you more "seat of the pants"? Laurenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00722707505716662772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-84328576132004689262013-04-26T11:48:57.658-04:002013-04-26T11:48:57.658-04:00I totally agree with Anne Elisabeth. The title and...I totally agree with Anne Elisabeth. The title and cover of your book is very eye-catching. I was hoping to find out more about it, so thank you Anne for hosting Mr. Mullins interview, and thank you Mr. Mullins giving it.<br /><br />Mokele-mbembe!!! My kids and I have been fascinated with this creature for years. Back in the late nineties, we attended a presentation by Dr. John Morris of The Institute for Creation Research, and if I remember correctly, he played a audio recording of what his researcher contacts believed to be Mokele-mbembe. He said coming back (at that time) with proof was very difficult because the extreme tropical conditions were very hard on the equipment. My kids always wanted to go in search for Mokele-mbembe. My son is now a senior wildlife biologist major, so it would be great if he could go someday. How did you go about arranging for such a trip? Was it an independent effort, or did you make contact with a group? I hope you are able to make the trip again soon.<br /><br />Thank you for letting us know about your book. It sounds like quite the adventure!<br />Imblesthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17186975233218066692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-4658952902184656392013-04-26T11:47:30.142-04:002013-04-26T11:47:30.142-04:00Have you ever found any bones of the Mokele-mbembe...Have you ever found any bones of the Mokele-mbembe? <br /> I've touched real dinosaur bones before (ahem I may or may not have done that when no one was looking) but I can't imagine how exciting it must be to actually find some yourself! <br /><br />This book sounds really intriguing! Yet another great book to add to my growing booklist ;) Mollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14814840750991556084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-40179207275798812732013-04-26T11:20:41.580-04:002013-04-26T11:20:41.580-04:00When did you first get into cryptozoology?When did you first get into cryptozoology?Bookishqueenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04815467506294547118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-89677957570040260362013-04-26T11:11:05.713-04:002013-04-26T11:11:05.713-04:00What an intriguing sounding novel. Congratulations...What an intriguing sounding novel. Congratulations on your success, Mr. Mullins!<br /><br />It is so awesome that you've searched for Mokele-mbembe!!! My brother and I were huge dinosaur fans when we were little, and the mystery of Mokele-mbembe always fascinated us! We always dreamed of finding him...or her.<br />One day perhaps, someone will get actual footage of that elusive but oh-so-big creature.Hannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15674350834544871474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7102067376746188002.post-76103966891153228142013-04-26T11:05:10.565-04:002013-04-26T11:05:10.565-04:00This sounds like a really interesting book. I can&...This sounds like a really interesting book. I can't wait to read it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com