“Tempus fugit.” …

“It escapes, irretrievable time.”

The latin above is better known as “time flies.” That’s an overused idiom, but it gets truer every year. I used to hear all the time from old people (that’s me now) that it goes faster the older you get. I hear the same revelation from every age group these days.

Of course, we know time doesn’t speed up, but it definitely feels like it. And an entire year has flown by since I started interviewing creatives. That’s a crazy fact.

Despite the speediness, so much can happen in a single year when you spend your time creating and producing works. In this blog you will have that point driven home by four of my first guests as they share their updates on the exciting things that have happened for them in the last year.

I was thrilled to check back in with sword and sorcery fantasy author Douglas W. T. Smith and see how life is going in New South Wales. Same for fantasy/horror author E. B. Hunter and his crazy busy year in Alberta, Canada. High Fantasy/Horror author Lucky E. Noma has branched out into all sorts of creative endeavors from his home in Nigeria, and he and I have spent loads of time over the last year sharing our writing adventures and brainstorming ideas.

We will also peek into the world of lifestyle adventure photography with Joey MacLennan. Last year Joey told us about his photographic journey in the Pacific Northwest and his recent engagement. It was hard to pin him down between mountaintops then, and even harder now, but I managed it!

Read on for a few words from these bold and creative people on the happy surprises life has sprung over the last year. And feel free to share your own highlights with us in the comments.

Douglas W. T. Smith – See Original Interview

DLL. Thank you, Douglas, for dropping by with some exciting updates. I know what a whirlwind year you’ve had. Tell us what’s going on.

DWTS. Wow, a year has passed, Darci. If your readers haven’t read the last post, or are unsure of who I am. I am Douglas W. T. Smith and a self-published author.

Since the release, things have been slow. My debut novel To Wield the Stars, originally to be published by Of Metal and Magic Publishing, has suffered many pushbacks, but alas, the book is getting ready for publication. In its final stage of editing (I’ve said it before, but this is serious now).

To Wield the Stars, published by OMAM Publishing in the CORE Series with authors Richie Billing, JM Williams, and EA Robins, has been scheduled to release late 2023.

Also, when not engrossed in the realms of fantasy, I have found a new passion for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It has given me consistent and structured exercise while managing two children under the age of 3.

DLL. What a beautiful family. I’m really happy to hear your novel is set for publication, and what a great group of writers to be involved with! Glad your writing is picking back up and you’re finding awesome outlets to balance a writer’s life. Good luck on the release, your new novel, and your podcast!

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E. B. Hunter – See Original Interview

Here is the full list of what I was fortunate enough to have picked up!

Dragon Soul Press:

• Graveyard Shift (A down on his luck cashier makes an unwitting deal with a supernatural being)
• Everglades (A mother does all she can to save her son after a home intrusion sends him to the ER) and
• As you Wish… (A man is possessed by a djinn and granted wishes that he didn’t make)
• Kjell of Vittra: Rising Smoke (Kjell faces his first monster, squaring off against the dragon that took his sister)
• Pink Lights (The last earthling must come to terms with the loss of his planet as he learns to love again aboard the F.S. Okanis)

I have a story published with Starlite Press:

Luck  featured in Starlite Pulp Review #2 (A man blacks out after an encounter with a stranger. He wakes to find he’s been made a pawn in a game between two Irish deities)

I have been fortunate enough to find some success on the website Vocal Media as well, with Graveyard Shift and As You Wish… being awarded Top Story status on the site. If you want to read these stories, visit me on Vocal Media.

I’ve continued working on my urban fantasy novel Into the Grey, and have sent it out for what I am hoping is a final Beta read before querying literary agents. With having some time between edits, I’ve started on a new project about an alternate reality 1874 Wyoming. This book follows a man who is looking for revenge against the reformed confederate army (the Green Coats) for slaughtering his family. He works with a rogue demon (not bound to a summoner) to take down this force for evil.

DLL. What an amazing list, Eric! Your stories on Vocal Media are awesome! I enjoy following you there and it’s a great place to share stories. And congratulations on being a panelest for WriteHive! I’m excited to say I’m one of your beta readers for Into the Grey and enjoying it like crazy, and after getting the scoop on your alternate Civil War horror project, I am hooked! I can’t wait to see where you’re at next August. All the best to you!

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Joey MacLennan – See Original Interview

Instead of grabbing me between climbs this summer, you’re catching us before our big move back to our home state of California, like this week! But I think I can fit in a few highlights before hitting the road.

I did shoot a few rolls of film for the trip and look forward to getting the photos developed. I will definitely send some favorites over when I get those back. For now please enjoy some photos I took on my iPhone while on the trip. I’ve been really enjoying the freedom of the small phone and editing on the Lightroom app.

Other than that, I’ve become obsessed with rock climbing and have been climbing all over Washington. The move back to California is extremely exciting, as there are some of the most beautiful and classic crags in the world at our disposal. I think a climbing photobook is in the future!

Thanks for having me back for an update, Aunt Darci. Who knows, maybe next year we’ll have more big news.

DLL. Thank you so much for joining me in the middle of a hectic week, Joey, and supporting my Spotlight Interviews. Wow! A rock climbing photobook is an exciting prospect. I’ve seen some of those stunning images!

To see them for yourself, follow Joey on Instagram and visit his gorgeous website. Of course, as the Auntie, I have to include a photo of one of the most beautiful weddings I’ve ever been to. The location, because I know you will ask, is Siskiyou County, California.

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Lucky E. Noma – See Original Interview

DLL. So glad you could join me again, Lucky! I will start off by saying it has been an absolute blast chatting with you over the last year and sharing stories, ideas, and artwork. I’ve learned so much. It’s proof how valuable having a writing community can be. What are your highlights since last August?

LN. As you know Darci, it’s been a busy year writing, laboring over copious amounts of editing, and producing videos for my YouTube channel. I have really enjoyed experimenting with digital art for my stories. And I’ve also enjoyed our brainstorming sessions and covering so many crazy topics.

We even got to collaborate on an anthology project and promote it together on Instagram — inspired by your story Hellbound Hiatus. I’m two up on you. You need to catch up!

DLL.😂 I’ve got another story in my head that needs to get out, but it’s hard to keep up with you, Lucky. As a teaser, here is my digital concept with the help of Photoleap.

You’re working on some major epic high fantasy tales. I’ve enjoyed reading them and your short stories. The launch of your novella, African Horror Story, did so well on Amazon ranking at the top of African fiction. That was an exciting day. Thirty: XXX is an equally dark and compelling story. The cover is stunning.

LN. Thank you. That was an exciting day. It was great getting these published in the midst of working hard on my bigger pieces.

DLL. You also made a super clever video to go with Hellbound Hiatus. It will be fabulous when we can put these stories together with video and narration and publish them on YouTube, which is our big goal, in addition to an eBook. Your contributions are Takeshima, Dance of the Gods, and what I decided to call Hell of a Deception, but that’s only a working title and maybe my favorite of the three stories–if I had to choose.

Ah. So many plans. But like the theme of this post, time flies and it is precious. We’ll just have to keep producing a little each day despite life’s big interruptions. I’ll say it again, it’s been a lot of fun hashing out ideas! And if that’s all we get to do, I’ll be happy with that.

Here’s a little more on our digital concepts for Hellbound Hiatus.

I really appreciate you showing me the ropes on the amazing AI applications out there. And your digital art is really gorgeous. Your videos are each eerier than the next and stunning as well.

I did a little tech punk portrait of you that I thought I would wedge between your wonderful pieces. What do you think? 

LN. That was a fun day shooting our digital creations back and forth and I loved my superhero portraits! Thanks for having me back, Darci.

DLL. Thanks so much for stopping by, Lucky!

For more amazing interviews, see my Gallery of Guests 2022 and 2023.

Thank you for visiting with us today. Feel free to leave comments and questions below and sign up for my newsletter to stay posted on news and future interviews.