Hello my little chickadees
Soon we will be putting the clock forward to one of favourite times of the year. I can't wait to feel that warm sun on my face again. We've waited so long.
Talking of favourite things, today on my blog I have that little Welsh stud muffin C Reg Jones. We have been treading the boards together since I got him in a head lock and persuaded him to follow me to what was then my current publisher. We've been almost like tram lines at times, but when the tram lines started to meet we'd have a quick catch up and then carry on our way.
It didn't take much doing getting him in a headlock this time to be interviewed thank goodness. So this was the catch up we had recently.
~o0o~
Reggie babes I reckon we must know everything there is to know
about each other but I bet there’s a few tales tucked away that even I’m not privy
too.
So here we go…
Q. Tell my blog fans all about C Reg Jones
– and yes you can say that.
A. C Reg Jones, also known as Richard Rhys
Jones, hails from the sunny shores of Colwyn Bay, north Wales, is hanging in on
the right side of fifty, married with two children, and is owned by a cat. A
passionate lover of ales and beers, hard music and even harder curries and
chili, he spends his middle ages trying and failing to recapture his laughably
rash and nearly forgotten youth.
Q.
Hobbies – No sneaking in outrageous videos here but you can mention that time when you… ??? J
A. Being the tragic victim of the male
menopause that I am, I play the drums in a Metal band, (Thrash and Hardcore
orientated for anyone in the know). I've been playing the drums now since May
'93, and went from Rock, to Metal, to Blues and then back to Metal. The Blues
band was cool, but it didn't really challenge me. I won't say Blues drumming is
easy, but I used to get whammed while playing on stage quite a lot. I liked the
music, I liked the guys, but it was just missing something besides controlling
my insobriety on stage.
Not very professional, I hear you mutter?
We weren't professionals, so it was all good. So after giving the drums a miss
for about a year, I fell in with a Metal band and that's where I am right now:
the drummer for Due Vengeance. Unfortunately, with Metal I can't even drink
while we practice as I have to concentrate so much, but we take the cards we're
dealt and play our best hand, right?
I've been very lucky with the groups I've
been involved with. All have been manned by great guys who shared my quirky
sense of humor; and that is worth its weight in gold… though I'm not actually sure
how much a sense of humor weighs, if I'm honest.
Tee: < Grins > Your sense of humour I'd guesstimate at about 50 kilo
Q. Favourite drinking house in Germany and
Wales
A. Aaaaah… pubs!
I have a
few faves over here.
In
Salzgitter, it's the "Jever-Klause", in Wolfenbüttel, "Zur Mühle",
and in Paderborn it's "Limericks", (The Irish bar from Hell). The Jever-Klause
is a real traditional pub, very friendly service, damn fine German pils,
(Jever, one of the best) and a good bunch of regulars.
Zum Mühle
is the pub where I first learned to drink German beer, though in those days of
yore, to us young squaddies it was simply called, "The Bierhaus".
I've been going there on and off since 1987, and the chap who runs it now is a
good friend. They also sell Guinness…
Limericks
in Paderborn… well, I have no words. My mate Gareth runs it, and I think it
holds the title as being my most fave watering hole in the world. Another pub
that serves Guinness, I can't count how many times I've gone there for,
"just the one or two", and it's all gone horribly wrong, or right
depending on what day it was. They celebrated their 20th year in
business last year, which speaks volumes for its popularity.
Wales,
however, is another thing entirely. Being normally only a visitor, I tend to
drift to the bars my family frequent. I miss my home town, but I'd be telling
porkies if I said I had a favourite watering hole there.
Q. The village you live in.
A. Drütter has a population of about 450,
(that includes wild cats and chickens). It's small but perfectly situated
between the three larger towns around it. We don't have a pub, (!!!) but we do
have a village hall where we all party and meet up. I love it here. It's so
quiet, the people are friendly and the night life a bus ride away.
Of course the downside is that we're in the
country, so incest, bestiality and witch trials are de rigueur, but
otherwise it's pretty cool.
Tee: Incest, bestiality and witch trials? All sounds good to me sunshine.
Q. Is it possible to compare Germany to
Wales – Good bits/bad bits of both countries?
A. A lot of my Brit mates might not want to
read this, and a lot of my German mates too, but we really are very similar.
The German sense of humour is just as sick and twisted as the British idea of a
laugh.
If I have a beef about Germany it's the
lack of Rugby on the telly.
That really does gall me.
Q. How many books have you written?
Backgrounds/synopsis’s
A. I have four novels and a novellette out
there with my name on. "The
Division of the Damned" is about vampires working for the Third Reich.
"The
House in Wales" is a ghost story with satanic edges to it, set in
north Wales.
"Sisterhood
of the Serpent" is … well, if you can imagine a cross between The
Towering Inferno, The Shining and Hellraiser, you'll be in the right zone.
I also have my name to an anthology of
short stories called, "The
Chronicles of Supernatural Warfare", which puts a paranormal twist to
what would normally be war stories. I made it with my mate Paul Rudd, and it's
released through Ravenous Roadkill
publications. "Chronicles" is the product of a certain
individual's idea of collecting my shorts into one book, can't remember who it
was though… Paul loved the idea and now
it's actually out there!
Ah yes, Tee, I do believe it was you who
planted the seed of the idea. So how do you feel about that?
The novelette, (stupid word) is the, "Fiddler's Soul". It's also set in
north Wales, and revolves around a group of psychics who want to save the soul
of a fiddler who was last seen entering The Devil's Cave… (cue scary music).
Q. Are you Reggie-mented in your writing
habits or is it just when the muse takes you?
A. I'm a shift working father; I have no
time to write so I just do it when I can. I really do wish I had the free time
to just write when the mood takes me.
That's an awful pun by the way, Tee.
Tee: I do try honey.
Q. Self Publishing v Publishers. What are
the highs/lows/advantages of both?
A. I think I prefer a publisher to work my
books for me. I really am rushed off my feet and find it hard to just do the
writing. That said, Ravenous Roadkill, the publishing project Chronicles and
Sisterhood are released on, is just myself and Paul at the moment. We sort of
check each other's work out, run through ideas with each other and squabble
horribly over royalties and book rights, (just joshing there).
Seriously though, it's a good set up with a
bloke I know I can trust and rely on.
Truth be told, whether it's self publishing
or with a publisher, I'm just glad my stuff is out there being read.
Q. Is there a work in progress at the
moment?
A. "The Division of the Damned part Two: Gulag" is my work in
progress. Basically it's set just after WW2 and the SS heroes, (yes, that's
right, the heroes in the first book were SS, all be it disillusioned
anti-heroes) are now in a Russian POW camp. I don't want to go too much into
the story, so I'll just say werewolves and leave it at that.
Q. Favourite place to holiday J
A. Holiday… and that is, exactly?
I always go home to see my family. I'd like
to go to Egypt and see the Pyramids some day, and Rome and Greece interest me
too. I'd also love to see the ruins of Troy. However, until my kids can pay
their way and my house is paid up, then it's good old, Old Colwyn for me, (the
town just outside of the sprawling metropolis that is Colwyn Bay), which suits
me fine.
Tee: Greece is awesome. I can recommend it.
Q. You are given the opportunity to travel
to any country world wide, with all expenses paid. Where would you go and
what’s the attraction.
A. Oh, it seems I've just answered this
one!
Tell you what,
I'll throw in the Yucatan area for the ruins there. The Maya, Toltec, Olmec, Aztec and Inca have always fascinated me.
Dealio?
Can I take my wife, the kids can stay with
granny…?
Tee: < sighs > Yes of course the kids can stay with the granny. Ok... the wife can go as well.
Q. What makes you laugh out loud?
A. Most things, to be fair.
I'm not really a lover of slapstick, Mr.
Bean is funny for about three minutes, then I'm bored. However, I laugh easily
and prefer smiling to a scowl.
If you want to peg me down, I'd say series
like The Office and Extras had me in tears. The scene with David Bowie in
Extras is a lesson in comedy in itself.
Q. If you could have any animal from time
immemorial as a pet for long freezing days and nights, what would you choose
and why?
A. A cat.
Sorry if that's boring, but I love cats.
They're so shamelessly self interested, nothing else in the world matters but
their comfort, I can't fault them.
However, if I'm meant to be interesting
here, (Yes Reg, you are) then I'd go for a dolphin. Yes, I know they're meant
to be gay sharks, but they're meant to have human intelligence so with a bit of
training, I might make it my proof reader.
Tee: I would choose a cat every time and we don't seem to be alone.
Q. Do you prefer heat OR cold?
A. Cold.
No, scrap that, heat.
Yes, defo heat.
Naaaah, cold.
Tee: LOL and I get called indesisive at times
Q. Tell me about your publishers. Do they
leave you alone to promote or do they hassle. Do they give you support?
A. Wild
Wolf hold the rights to two of my books, and I must
say that I love working with them. They're so relaxed and real, it works for
me! I think they know that Division and House have both shot their bolt and are
just treading water, so they don't stress me and I don't stress them.
Q. Favourite meal (hot and cold)?
A. Curry, (which is about as general a
moniker as saying coupe for favourite car) or chili.
I love Indian food… actually I love most
food. Not really into vegetarian stuff, and I prefer my meat to come from
creatures with less than four legs, but if it's spicy and cooked, I'll try it,
(within reason).
Q. Favourite drink (hot and cold)?
A. Real Ale. Room temperature, with no
froth, and a slightly nutty taste is alcoholic perfection. There's a lot of
rubbish being sold as Real Ale nowadays, it seems any old Tom, Dick or Harry
can set up a brewery in their garage and churn out gloop for their local, so I
generally stick with what I know. I'm 49, I'm done with experimenting, I know
what I like and that'll do me.
Q. How hard do you find book promotion?
A. Very. I simply don't have the time anymore.
However, I do share every review I have, and I have been known to make the odd
promo now and then to sell my wares.
Q. Any tips or hints you’ve found that were
successful for you in promotion?
A. Nope. When all you have is social media,
then your coverage is going to be small. However, if you can persuade people to
write reviews, Amazon will take notice and they'll then help promote your work as
well. This is why I'd prefer to give books away in exchange for reviews than
hoard my work and demand payment for every syllable.
Q. Favourite genres to read and write?
A. Horror, historical and warfare, but not
necessarily in that order.
The first two stories in The Chronicles of Supernatural Warfare
are "The 300 Vampires" and
"The Wooden Wolf of Troy",
and I absolutely LOVED writing them.
300 Vampires is a take on the battle of
Thermopylae with King Leonidas and his men all being vampires. Yes it is very
stylized, and yes the geography of the battle area is different to where it
actually played out. However, I stayed close to that authentic time line of
what happened,( or as far as we know it today), and used the genuine names of
the characters that were in charge. The same went for "The Wooden Wolf of
Troy", though I changed the story a little to keep an edge of surprise.
Actual history with a horror twist, using the names and dates that we recognize
is what I'd like to do more of. I have an idea for Spartacus, which I've
already 10.000 words down for, and another about Vikings discovering America, although
that has an angle to it that I guarantee nobody will ever work out.
Q. You’ve set up your own fantasy
publishing house using FB writer friends to help run it. What would you name
it? Who would you choose to run the different departments? As the owner, how
would you ensure the FB staff achieved success for you? (Have fun with this)
A. Colwyn
Pub Carnage Publications
El Presidente: Moi.
Vice president: Paul Rudd, in charge of
hiring and firing. Paul's such a top bloke, he'd hire everyone we know. ..
which is fine by me. The Christmas party would be a smash!
Chief Wiccan: Tee. You're duties would
involve cursing the competition and basically being our own Harry Potter… or
Hermione.
Tee: I've never read HP but I understand he's out of the top drawer of the filing cabinet.
Speller in Chiefs: Poppet and Kris Stone.
We need two editors, because let's face it, we're carp at spelling. (See what I
did there?)
Tee: Yes... < more sighs >
Directors of Comedic Content: Mike Church
and Patrick Barrett. Again, the need for more than one boss is imperative as I
find it's all too easy to lose that smile at the work place, (especially with
such an ego driven President like you guys will have!)
Controllers of Financial Fair Play: John
Holt and Jeff Blackmer. With these two on board, we'll all be guaranteed a fair
share of our astronomical profits, (well, that obviously doesn't include El
Presidente, who takes the lion's share).
Instigators of Tomfoolery and Other
Questionable Shenanigans: Chuck Lovatt and Johannah Pontes Frappier would have
joint control over any japery we might find ourselves up to. It's all fun and
games until someone loses an eye, which is why we have to be sure we've enough
spare eyeballs. This is where these two guardians of all things ocular come
into play, dishing out corneas, pupils and irises as needed… I'm being silly now,
aren't I?
I'll stop.
Office Cuties: Jill, Hannah, Jo, Soooz,
Elaina, Paula B, Bev, Moni, Kelli, Catherine and Gerry, because they've all a
place in my heart and they'll need a job… and I'm a sucker for a good woman.
Thanks for having me, Tee, I hope your
readers enjoyed this interview.
Tee: Thank you for popping by my lovely piece of Welsh lamb...
Reggie babes links:
Book Covers:
So there you have it my little chickadees. I hope you enjoyed my chat with Reggie babes.
Laters Potaters
