We’re coming up on a year since we published our collection of Quarantine-Themed short fiction: The Covid Quarantine Cantina. And I thought it would be a good idea to take a moment with each of the authors from that book so we can see what they’ve been up to since last we spoke.
Today’s author hails from Kansas City, I believe, and has what looks like an MS Paint-themed icon for his Facebook Profile. It’s Derek Alan Elkins.
How was your experience writing your stories for the Covid Quarantine Cantina?
I’m not much of a self-motivator, so I enjoyed the forced motivation that the writing provided. I love the act of creating new stories, but I get distracted easily with movies and video games. Plus, I really enjoyed the camaraderie with the other authors.
Of all the stories you wrote, which was your favorite?
I’m a big fan of fantasy in all its forms: horror, science fiction, sword and sorcery, etc. I love stories that cram a ton of creativity into the story. The story of mine which I think was most creative was “The Farmer, The Demon, and the Canyon of the Four Winds.”
If you can…can you name your favorite story from each of the other authors?
Joseph Courtemanche – “God’s Rules” Got to love a twisted and depraved mind. Courtemanche leaves it all out on display in this story.
Jamie Greening – “Academia” It was tough picking one of Jamie’s stories, because I am fond of science fiction. But this one comes with enough twists and turns to shove it into first place.
Joe Shaw – “The New Family on Beecher Street” I love a good analogy and this story is one big, beautiful analogy.
Kathy Kexel – “Secrets, part one through three” Janelle…that’s all I need to say.
Rob Cely – “The Unessential” Rob’s got a big heart for the outcasts and this story puts his big heart on full display.
Paul Bennett – “An Acre of Peace, parts one and two” It’s a simple story with layers underneath. Paul is awesome at those bean dip kind of stories.
How has the Covid Pandemic affected your life?
I’m an introvert, so I have seriously enjoyed working from home. I could get used to this kind of life.
What are you working on right now and in the near future?
I’ve got the iron in a few fires these days. Up front and close to the chest, I am working on a stage play about a girl that falls in love with a superhero, only to find out that the superhero was all in her mind. The story revolves around reality and if our beliefs mirror reality or if they reveal something else. I’m also working on several movie scripts, the most prominent is called “A Steamworx War”. The movie is set in a steampunk world and concerns a Steampunk version of Charles Dickens investigating the kidnapping of scientists by a mastermind to start a war. I’m also about 60 pages into a novel I’m writing called “Shadow Apprentice”, a follow up to “An Introduction to Shadow”. The sequel is set in a world where people called Awakened fight monsters, called Fallen, hiding within the bodies of normal people. I’m also starting a podcast this weekend called “Creative Diarrhea” with my son and a friend. Each week, we’ll be brainstorming something slightly weird like craft projects involving a dead hamster and how many weasels would it take to kill a T-Rex? Should be mildly diverting.
Where can readers reach you if they want to read more of your stuff?
I have a website, where I occasionally blog and stuff: derekaelkins.com, also, I have books and short stories on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
See more of Derek’s work, as well as each of the Fondue Writers, in our now-almost-a-year-in-publication book, The Covid Quarantine Cantina: