Interview with Shells Walter

I am happy to have the chance to interview Shells Walter, writer and promoter of others. Shells Walter is the author of Demon Alley, Bite This, and coming soon Justice Served, which will be published later this year through Sonar4 Publications, a sequel to Justice Served, Devil's Own, and she has written another book entitled; Dead Practices which will be published in 2010.

1. Tell us about Sonar4Productions and what projects you are working on.

Sonar4 Productions will be a film production company. It's in the ground working stage right now. What is hoped to be accomplished by this venture is to have feature films produced by the company and to have screenplays be written for those who wish to have one written but don't know how, so that service will be offered. Virginia has just passed legislation to allow more of an incentive for filming in the state so that has become a big plus. Hopefully everything will be up and running in 2010 fully.

2. Tell us about your newest book.

The newest book coming out later this year is called Justice Served. It's about a lawyer named James who marries the woman of his dreams so to speak. What he doesn't realize is that her father is the Devil. He then has to defend the Devil against souls who say they had their contract wrongly imposed. From that lawsuit comes several other situations, including James having to defend one of the most notorious killers of all time. I love Horror and lawyer situations, court battles ect. This was a fun book for me to write. It has both those things in it.

3. Tell us about your newest venture, I believe it's a radio show, what's that all about?

I think the internet has brought about so many new ways for writers to get exposure. When coming across things for promotion, I had discovered blog talk shows. The Dark Fiction Spotlight and the Odd Mind are some of the great ones. After Sonar4 Mag was closed as a print publication, awhile later the idea came about to have our own blog talk show called Sonar4 Mag talk show. I then discovered a great co-host who I've known for sometime now, Tonia Brown. She's a riot and I thought would make an excellent addition. The show itself will interview anyone in the Science Fiction and Horror Industry. This includes: authors, artists, screenwriters, production companies, publication companies and anyone else. We chose to do it on a Sunday and twice a month to start out to see how everyone enjoys it. We may move to more days or more times a month as things progress. The show site where people can find out about bookings is located at www.sonar4mag.com

4. What are your writing plans for the future, any other books on the horizon?

I'm hoping to get a few screenplays written for one. I have a few written already, but wish to get more into that. At this time, Justice Served is coming out this year, and in Nov for Nanowrite I'll be working on the Sequel to that called Devil's Own. The research for that book has already been done. Currently, also am working on Dead Practices which will be published in 2010 through Sonar4.

5. You are a fantastic promoter of other writers, why do you enjoy this so much and how has it helped you as a writer.

Thank you, that is very kind. I believe when running a publication company it is part their responsibility to help get a writer noticed. Also, I believe as a writer it becomes hard at times to get that promotion. In that regards, I feel whatever I can do to help I will. As a writer, how has it helped? Well, I believe that it has helped me grow as a writer and allowed me to be able to meet a wide range of talented authors and experience their craft through their eyes.

6. Where does your inspiration come from for your stories and books?

Experiences and emotions. I have always felt that emotions can make for some interesting writing, and as such a lot of my Horror writing comes from emotions I want to express but is not always doable in the reality world. Sometimes inspiration just comes from a passion I have about something such as 'lawyer stuff' as I put it. I love learning about it and researching it. I'm also big into learning about different religions, the good and evil factor which plays a lot into my stories.

7. What advice would you give new writers about submitting their work?

The most important thing I would suggest is to read the guidelines of the place you are submitting too. Often more than not writers don't read them and get rejected on that alone.

Also, make sure you know the publication you are submitting to and what they publish. You don't want to send a Romance type work to say something that just publishes Horror.

The final thing would be to keep trying. Several rejections have hit my email doorstep and yes at times have hit me hard. However, the best thing is to move on. One place may not feel it is a right fit for them, others you never know.

8. What are some of your writing goals for the coming years?

To have one of my books made into a screenplay, to write more screenplays and perhaps write a sequel to Bite This.

9. What is your favorite genre, and why?

I would have to say Horror and Science Fiction. Horror for me is where I started writing with poetry. It is such an extreme genre, with at times no boundaries which allow my emotions to go rapid in characters. Science Fiction has fascinated me because I have always loved anything to do with robots or artificial intelligence. The idea that someday things maybe overrun by that fascinates me and frightens me all at the same time. Of course movies have great ideas when it comes to both genres and have made a lot of cult classics because of them, such as Logan's Run.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Michael Moorcock, Phillip K Dick, Issac Asimov, Edgar Allen Poe, Stephen King, Eric S. Brown, Charolette Gledson. D.H. Lawerence, Alexandre Dumas, and so many more, hard to list all of them.