It's pretty exciting to be invited back to Comicazi for another event. Saturday, May 3rd is Free Comic Book Day which I recently learned is a nationally celebrated holiday! I have to admit I am pretty excited (and only somewhat surprised) to find that The Atheist's Prayer seems to fit in quite comfortably among comic books, graphic novels, magic cards and action heroes. 
 
Comicazi, "the home of the bad kids," has been selling comic books in Davis square for over a decade. More than just a comic book shop, Comicazi hosts comedy shows, gaming nights, and author events on a regular basis. I'm thrilled to be a part of this community!

If you want to stop by this Saturday, the event starts at 11:00 AM and ends at 2:00 PM. (although it might run longer if people keep coming!) Comicazi is located at 407 Highland Avenue in Somerville.

Here's the list of creators and creations:
Tony McMillen, Nefarious Twit
Max Papas, Adventures of the GWF
Tonya Ratz, Make Me A Dragon
Amy Biddle, The Atheist’s Prayer
Art O’Callaghan, Rogan
Paul Axel, Legacy

While we're on the subject of comics, I recently found the following image floating around in cyberspace, and it seems like an appropriate time to pay homage to Bill Watterson. Since I read all the Calvin & Hobbes books front-to-back as a kid, I can't help but assume that the following comic was a subconscious inspiration for The Atheist's Prayer.  Enjoy.

The Writing Process Blog Hop is an author-run series, in which indie authors share a bit about their writing process, then pass the buck to the next guy. I’m following Katie French, one of my very first writing partners and a co-founder of Underground Book Reviews.


What am I working on?
I just took a class at Grub Street- a Boston-based writing collective that I would highly recommend to anyone in the area. I now have 8 or so short stories to clean up and shop around, and I'm thinking about turning one of them into a full-length novel. I just can't decide between post-apocalyptic zombie dystopian, or a bank robber on the run. Maybe I'll figure out a way to combine them. 


How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I've been told that the dialogue and character development is what makes my writing interesting and unique. I love a perfectly imperfect character, and I never let my characters conform to stereotype. I hate the concept of "good and evil" so when I write a story, the "bad guys" will have redeeming traits and the "good guys" will have flaws. I also have a crazy imagination. As I create characters and twist plots together, my goal is to surprise my readers, to take them outside their comfort zone, and to keep them guessing. My favorite thing to hear about my writing is anything starting with, "I didn't expect..."


Why do I write what I do?
I guess it all comes down to inspiration. Books were a huge part of growing up for me - I didn't have television so I spent my childhood playing in the woods and reading. My love of books was first fueled by Patricia C. Wrede's young adult series, called The Enchanted Forest Chronicles. Even today, I love how the main characters defy their storybook stereotypes (starting with a beautiful princess who hates pretty dresses and etiquette). As I got older, I was captivated by more serious books: To Kill a Mockingbird, 1984, The Stranger, Lord of the Flies. I love a story that ends on an imperfect note. I am also enamored with Kurt Vonnegut, Chuck Palahniuk and Christopher Moore, and much of my writing is inspired by their ability light, fast writing, and their ability to combine humor with catastrophe.


How does my writing process work?
I write best when I have a beginning and an end in mind. Even when I'm writing a short story, I can't start until I have a vision of the last scene. I don't need much, just a direction to push my characters towards, and something that I know I will be satisfied with. I had a very clear destination with The Atheist's Prayer, and although the book changed drastically from when I first wrote it to when it was published, the overall character arcs stayed the same.
 

Following me next week on the #mywritingprocess tour are:

Lynne Hinkey, a hilarious author and writer. Her newest novel, Ye Gods: a Tale of Dogs and Demons, is about the mythical Chupacabra.

R. A White, a talented fantasy writer. So far, she has written two books in The Kergulen Series, which follows an escaped slave girl named Rima as she confronts issues of race and culture... while battling dragons.