Author: J. Nathan Couch

I've never understood vandalism; tipping over tombstones, smashing windows, littering. Such activities aren't metal, they aren't punk, they're just ignorant.

However, Guerrilla Art is something I respect. It's a nice slice of anarchy, but in a creative way. I don't mean someone spray-painting "Cooter Wuz Hur" on the water tower. I mean creative, imaginative street art. One night it just appears, and makes a statement. These days this type of artwork is no longer limited to graffiti on rail cars or abandoned buildings. Artists are putting up elaborate art installations overnight, often as a way of attracting attention to a cause and/or their work.

Such an installation has appeared in Eau Claire in the middle of the Chippewa River. A sculpture in the form of "the Loch Ness Monster," appeared out of nowhere. Once discovered, the Department of Natural Resources declared "Chippy," as it's now being called, an illegal obstruction and wants it removed, both for environmental and safety reasons (it's in the middle of a navigable body of water).

An artist who only calls his or herself "The Phoenix" has taken credit for the art, and says it'll be removed within the next 10 days. In the meanwhile, the Eau Claire based company Menards (where you save big money) has came forward offering to buy the sculpture and put it in one of the ponds on their property. There is also talk of finding a place for it in the Eau Claire park system.

Apparently, "The Phoenix" also took responsibility for putting a large yellow-y rabbit head sculpture in the same location last year, but it washed away (if anyone has a photograph of this rabbit head, e-mail it to Wisconsin Sickness please).

"The Phoenix" obviously wants attention, and By God, I want to give it to him (or her). Anyone creating anarchistic cryptozoology installations is someone who must be heard. I'd like to interview "The Phoenix" right here on Wisconsin Sickness. The gauntlet has been thrown down. E-mail me! May Chippy survive the ages, where ever it ends up.

I’ll let you in on one of my deep, dark, little secrets. I don’t listen to metal much anymore. At some point metal stopped being about loud fuck-the-man black magic rebellion (Black Sabbath, Kyuss) and it just started to be lame. I think for me it all began when Limp Bizkit and Korn burst through the stratusphere. Shitlocks and little red baseball caps sent me running to the Ramones and until recently I hadn't looked back.

I know what you’re thinking… “1998 was a long time ago. Get over it old man!” I assure you I’ve tried. These days hardcore metal has since replaced rapcore idioacy, but I just don’t dig the growl. Now, before all of you begin to prod my now exposed shame, let me finish... . Since I signed on with Wisconsin Sickness last year I’ve been thrust into Wisconsin’s indie-metal scene and discovered a handful of bands that are turning me back towards the dark side. Here’s four Wisconsin metal bands that stand out from the pack.

38DD (Pleasant Prairie)
In my opinion the best metal songs are the ones girls can quickly and confidenly wriggle from their clothes to. 38DD plays exactly that sort of music. Fast and dirty like Motothead, groovy and real like Kyuss. These guys formed back in 1990, and reunited in 2008, and they’re still an incredibly well kept secret. That needs to change.
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The Mood Manual (Madison)
Tool-inspired bass, a jazzy sensibility, a front man who sounds a bit like a serious-version of Rodney Anonymous (Dead Milkmen) and enough ball-tripping qualities to keep even the most jaded Pink Floyd fanatic happy, The Mood Manual definitely stands out in Wisconsin’s metal scene. The band describes their unique sound as Progressive Alternative Rock and Metal (P.A.R.M. for short).
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Penguins With Shotguns (Kenosha)
Louder than murder and faster than a drunk emo girl, what makes PWS stand out is the vocals of Sean Kory: imagine a pissed off Max Bemis (Say Anything) fronting a band superior to Killswitch Engage and you get the idea.
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Dubchug (Cedar Grove)
Not many genres of music are as exactly opposed as metal is to dubstep. When I first checked these guys out I thought it’d be absolutely terrible; some amalgamation cooked up for the sake of absurdity. What I heard was loud and brutal covered in a not-so-subtle electronic glaze. Smooth enough to take the girlfriend, tough enough to jump in the pit.
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Seth Nayes is a veritable alternative renaissance man: actor; model; dancer; anti-bullying spokesperson. Seth got his start in the entertainment industry as a professional wrestler (Sometimes as Syrin, sometimes as Gigi Gaymore) — an unusual and particularly hazardous route for someone who’s openly transgender. In this interview we discuss his former wrestling career, bullying, and his current status as Madame Envy in the Peach Pie Caburlesque troupe.

JNC: You got your start in professional wrestling. That's a very homophobic environment. Did you receive extra punishment because of that?

SN: I was around for a few years on the production staff before I started training so I made a lot of friends and learned the business a bit before I just jumped in the ring. My mentor Val Malone and her husband the uber-talented Silas Young helped me out a lot. Sam Hayne, who is a legend within the Indy Wrestling scene, gave so much advice and was very accepting. Of course there were those who didn't quite accept me and gave me a hard time (they secretly wanted it in the pooper). There would be the occasional stiff kick to the throat from people who tried to actually hurt me, but you have to get up, shake their hand and say "thank you sir, may I have another?"

JNC: That leads well into my next questions… you're involved with a project called "Ouch, Bullying Hurts!" Tell us a bit about that.

SN: It is a beautiful video put together by Arketype Inc. It's shown in schools to raise awareness of not only bullying, but ways to stop it. A lot of kids are afraid of speaking up. Growing up can be tough, there are too many kids offing themselves because of the rough treatment they get at school. If I can help someone get through high school, into the real world, and past that stage of helplessness it's been a job well done.

JNC: Outside of the wrestling ring have you experienced a lot of bullying because of your sexual preference and lifestyle?

SN: I grew up mostly on an Indian Reservation in Lac Du Flambeau. So when I was younger, I was jumped and tormented daily—not only for being a ginger, but for wearing fishnets and socks on my hands. I [took] karate and after years of training I could defend myself and they started leaving me alone. I decided after those 5 years of torture and bullying that no one would ever make me feel that way again.

JNC: Now that you've discovered the world of burlesque via the Peach Pies Caburlesque troupe, you're Madame Envy. What's your goal on stage?

SN: Oh my, after being a part of the Best of Midwest Burlesque Festival, I am so inspired to go above and beyond what I was doing before—the flash, the buildup, the excitement. When seeing a legend such as Ophelia Flame literally light up a stage it inspires you to reach for the stars. I have many goals within burlesque. But my main goal would of course be the first transgendered Queen of Burlesque—this is only the beginning.

JNC: What's the atmosphere like in the Peach Pies?

SN: Sassy, ridiculous, cheeky, scandalous, outrageous. You never know what to expect. These women are seriously the craziest broads in Wisconsin. I love them all to peaches; I mean pieces [laughs]. Moxie Rhodes and Kitty LaRue have taken me under their brilliant feathered wings and it's been the best time of my life. We've only been getting better and better. If you get the chance, come see us shake and shimmy for yourself. The ridiculousness can only be truly experienced if you're close enough to catch a garter.

JNC: [laughs] I’ll take it under advisement. Do you have any upcoming creative projects you'd like to share with us?

SN: Well there is talks of starting a web series based off of my first horror film "Spawn of the Zombies" which is now an ode' to Left 4 Dead. I'll be brought back in a living role. But don't worry I'm sure I'll be eating brains again in no time! I also have a huge shoot coming up at Ohio State Reformatory, a huge haunted abandoned prison where I will be shooting with one of my favorite photographers, Dividing Me. Stay tuned! But most importantly, Peach Pies Caburlesque will be coming at ya in the flesh! 'Oh! And I was just featured in a publication, Gorgeous Freaks Magazine. This is the year of the dragon baby, and this dragon is blowin’ more than just fire!

Amelia Klem Osterud’s 2009 book “The Tattooed Lady: A History” delves into the lives of several unique and daring women who displayed themselves and their body art for carnival crowds all over the U.S. during a time when women were expected to cover as much of themselves as humanly possible.

Since the publication of said book, Amelia has written several magazine articles on the subject, and lectures on the topic of tattooing whenever possible. I myself love body art despite the fact I’m far too indecisive and chicken-shit to get any myself. Amelia and I discuss the history of tattooing, cliches about the tattooed, awful tattoos, and other things involving tattoos. Did I write the word tattoo often enough?

George Orwell’s dystopian novel of near omniscient totalitarianism has never been more relevant than today. Personal privacy has nearly became an antiquated concept, our civil rights are continually being chipped away, and being refused a job because of something a would-be employer found out about you on Google is a common occurrence. Big Brother is watching, there is no doubt. While Orwell’s dark post-atomic future has yet to become total reality, this brilliant—though some would say subversive—piece of speculative fiction should remain always in the world’s collective consciousness otherwise it runs the risk of transcending into the realm of prophecy.

Project Empty Space Productions and Bad Example Productions have brought Michael Gene Sullivan’s Nineteen Eighty-Four stage adaption to Milwaukee for a three week run at the Alchemist Theatre, directed by David Kaye. Wisconsin Sickness was present for opening night, March 1, 2012.

I don’t know much about art but Amber Michelle Russel immediately caught my attention. Not only is she beautiful, intelligent, and talented, but her art immediately triggered a strong reaction inside me. Her work ranges from finely crafted portraits to the brutally raw and visceral.

JNC: A previous Wisconsin Sickness article mentions that for you art is a therapy which you need. I know what that’s like. For me writing is a release. Either I'm gaining the satisfaction of creation, or I'm exercising some sort of demon. Which is it most often for you?

AMR: I would have to say both. There is no greater beauty than in release. Getting your feelings out through a canvas or an idea on paper is one of the best experiences humanly possible. The fact that people enjoy it as well is just a perk.

JNC: I'd read somewhere that you've no formal art training. This came as a surprise to me based on the quality and the originality of your work. Did your skill come merely through constant practice, or where you able to identify and emulate the fundamentals and principles involved in making art at this high a level?

AMR: This usually comes as a shock to most people. Personally I take that as the highest of compliments. Art was something that I was always interested in. It was the one thing that made sense in the world. I remember being a little girl and always having a “doodle pad” in my hand at all times. Most children were outside playing while I was inside drawing or coloring. I think being consistent with my art over the years and always pushing myself has really helped me grow as an artist.

I enjoy Will Farrel and dick jokes as much as the next guy, but I’m also the kind of guy who’s always on the lookout for comedy that has the balls to be unique. The Marvellous Unspeaking Troupe of Entertaining Scouldrels are an example of such comedy, relying on such silent film-era staples as prat falls, sight gags, and slapstick to entertain. And you don’t need to visit Chicago, New York, or Los Angeles to get on board their band wagon. The M.U.T.E.S. are quietly honing their craft right here in Wisconsin. And yes, that shitty pun was completely intended.

There’s a dream like quality to watching a M.U.T.E.S. sketch: Beautiful women and bungling men adorned in the onyx and alabaster of the silver screen struggling with absurdity while the Brechtian punk cabaret songs of the Dresden Dolls fill the theatre. I recently contacted one of the troupe’s founding members Alice Wilson, otherwise known on stage as the beguiling Vine Pewter. I wasn’t very surprised when Alice informed me the idea to form the M.U.T.E.S. came to her in a dream. Since that fateful night the troupe has performed at such Brew City big deals as the Milwaukee Film Festival, the Milwaukee Comedy Festival, and Pridefest.

I’m not originally from Wisconsin—I grew up in Georgia—but I write about my current home constantly. On the rare occasion when I’m asked to speak publicly, the dozen or so people who come out are always a bit surprised that I sound more like an Andy Griffith Show character than someone from “S’consin.” Despite my southern drawl, I’m completely infected with Wisconsin’s sickness. While I’ll always be a southern boy at heart (go Braves) I’ve found I fit in better here than anywhere, and I can sum up why in five reasons.

5-Wisconsites Love Halloween.

While I’ll never be ashamed of my home state of Georgia (no matter how badly the Falcons play in the post-season) I cannot forgive the state’s Halloween-a-phobia. A large, very vocal segment of Georgia’s population (mostly fundamentalist Southern Baptists) refuse to allow their kids to even trick-or-treat least the devil lure them to an Ozzy Osbourne concert with a mini-3 Musketeers bar. Here your average Halloween yard display consists of an entire graveyard, a gaggle of zombies, and at least 3 graphic murder scenes. Even the CHURCHES host wonderfully grotesque haunted houses.

4-Porn and Fireworks.

If you ever take a long interstate drive through Wisconsin you’ll realize these two items are the state’s biggest imports AND exports (besides the delicious combination of cheese and beer). After a few dozen miles you’ll be surprised at the scenarios your mind can create involving these two very fundamental and basic resources. “Pow”, “Bang”, and “Sizzle” are applicable sound effects regardless of which of the two you decide to fixate on more.

3-Neil Gaiman Lives Here.

The British-born author of “American Gods” and “The Sandman” moved to Menomonie to be nearer his then-wife’s family in Minnesota. Even though that marriage ended several years ago, Neil still resides in Wisconsin. If it’s good enough for the Prince of Stories, then by God, it’s good enough for me.

2-Roadside Attractions.

Drive in any direction and you’ll quickly stumble across something you never dreamt could exist. LaCrosse is home to the world’s largest six pack. While they're actually giant storage tanks shaped like lager cans, they once held 22,200 barrels of brew. Hayward’s National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame is inside an enormous fiberglass and concrete muskie. Then there’s the House on the Rock in Spring Green. The house itself is a Japanese inspired house built on chimney rock with an unsupported 218 foot long “Infinity Room” that dangles 156 feet in the air. Around this house is an entire campus of amazing weirdness including the world’s largest carousel with no horses, a 200 foot high statue of a kraken’s fight to the death with an unknown species of whale, and a plethora of coin operated music machines that appear to play themselves. Anyone who’s ever accused me of lacking religion has never seen me at the House on the Rock.

1- “The X-Files” is Considered a Documentary.

These days the paranormal is popular damn near everywhere, but in Wisconsin it’s a way of life. The towns and highways are littered with ghosts, the woods are overran with werewolves and goat men, and the skies are congested with flying saucers (three different towns claim to be the UFO capital of Wisconsin). Speak openly about any of these topics anywhere else and people will stare at you like an elk just leapt from your sphincter. In this state, people whip photos of full body apparitions right out of their wallet. My kind of people.

Now that I’ve written this all out, I realize I could condense this article to a single sentence: “Wisconsin is weird and so am I.” But where’s the fun in that?

Burlesque has a bad rep. What started in the 1840s as a rebellious blend of comedy, song, and sexuality that liberated female performers on stage and screen eventually devolved into nothing more challenging than exploitation. However since this century began, a new generation has rediscovered burlesque and an art that was thought to have died a sleazy, scandalous death has shambled back to life, covered in tattoos, middle fingers outstretched high in the air informing the world otherwise. In Milwaukee, a troupe called the Brew City Bombshells wants the world to know they are a helluva lot more than strippers wearing a vintage aesthetic. I recently interviewed seven of the ladies: performers Jezabella Darling, Trixie Tang, Sugar St. Clair, singer Aurora A'Leur, Emcee/Comedian Kandi Kickass, and Bombshell co-managers/founding members Raven McCaw and Vee Valentine.

JNC: This type of performance is about as underground as it gets. Exactly how did each of you become a Bombshell?

Raven: I was actually one of the founding members of the Brew City Bombshells Burlesque, along with Vee Valentine and a couple of others that are no longer with us. I had already been performing for about 6 months when the group (about 5 or 6 of us at the time) established its identity.

Jezabella: I've been a sex/body-positive individual for as long as I can remember. I'd been working at the Tool Shed as a sexual health educator for a couple of years, and we had sponsored the troupe. It just made sense in the natural progression of my self evolution to push myself to be a more visually empowered individual and to use performance art as another medium for activism.

Aurora: I joined a community choir in the spring of 2011 where I met the photographer for the Bombshells, and he knew they were looking for a singer! Secretly, I had ALWAYS wanted to get into burlesque, so long story short, I auditioned and I am now a Bombshell!

Trixie: …I auditioned? I think they thought I was another Milwaukee performer’s cousin or something.

Sugar: I have been friends with members of the Dead Man's Carnival for a few years now, and I was introduced to burlesque via one of their shows. From then on, I was hooked! Actually, I was living with a lady who also became a WI burlesque performer, Lady Ambrosia. She and I just went crazy with movies, costume ideas, and history books. When I heard that the troupe (then Alley Cat Revue) was having auditions, I put together a number and jumped right in.

JNC: For those who know better, burlesque is very different than exotic dancing. However many people hear the term "burlesque" and think “stripper.” What happens when someone makes this mistake with a Bombshell?

Vee: Ass kicking time! Just kidding. I politely explain that Burlesque is more about the tease than the strip. Also, burlesque does not equate clothing removal. If I'm not feeling the audience's love, I can choose to stop removing clothes whenever I want - that's the fun!

Trixie: Haha!! Nobody thinks I’m a stripper, or refers to me as a stripper... anymore. [winking]. But seriously, I have been treated with respect about [my] being a burlesque dancer.

Raven: I simply explain and invite them to see a show for themselves. Yes, there are similarities, like the fact that both disrobe. Generally. To me the difference is that we have a bit more creative freedom. Some of our costumes are quite lavish, and some of our performances involve skits or extensive stage props. There is definitely a theatrical element to what we do. Some burlesque performers do not even go down to pasties, and some don't take anything off at all. Some start in panties and pasties and dress themselves on stage, often referred to as "reverse burlesque." I do not get upset if someone mistakenly calls me a stripper; it's not necessarily their fault that they don't know or understand. Perhaps they were never exposed to burlesque. Perhaps they were misinformed. Usually after we explain the difference, or after they see a show, most people are pretty supportive.

Jezabella: I'm a supporter of sex work and the sex industry. While what I do is very different than stripping, I also don't find it "insulting" to be mistaken as such. Strippers are hard workers and often brilliant, talented people - I just think that my idea of burlesque is more art than sex work. While yes, being a sexual being and tantalizing the crowd with undressing is seen as a sexual act, I have a message in what I do, and often that takes more of an importance than the revelation of my tits.

Sugar: You know what, I would face this problem quite frequently when I was living in France, actually. To tell someone you do strip-tease is to basically say you're a stripper in a club. I usually just explain the historical aspect of my performances to people but without a doubt, what I do is meant to be sexy. Plus, even the great stripper Gypsy Rose Lee was okay with the term "stripper." There are far worse insults, in my opinion.

JNC: What is it about burlesque that you find so attractive?

Kandi: Burlesque is a celebration of beauty and sexuality. It's playful, not dirty. It' fun and exciting and when you watch it, you feel like part of a community.

Raven: On a basic level, I love the colors, the boas, the glitter, etc. I love that I can take those basic elements and create awesome costumes and props. It's really satisfying when I put my idea on stage, knowing that I made everything. To me it's like breathing life into my ideas. I love that I can do a traditional, sexy striptease, but have enough creative freedom to do silly or grotesque numbers. I love that I have control over the audience; if they are not into it, I shimmy a little more. And if they still aren't, I simply do not take an article of clothing off. I think most of all I love how much burlesque has changed me. It put me in touch with my womanhood, and really helped with my self-esteem.

Jezabella: Sexual inequality is still so prevalent in today's society, so getting a chance to be the one in control of the sexuality I want to project onto the crowd gives me such a sense of empowerment, and also healing. I can project my spirit into my dancing. My feminism believes that women are strong, women are sisters, women are lovers.

JNC: Do you have any personal goal you hope to achieve when you walk out on stage? What makes a performance successful for you?

Raven: Haha! To not freak out! Seriously, I've been doing this for almost 4 years and STILL, every time I get on stage I tremble, I have to pee, I get nauseous, I break out in a cold sweat, I think I'm forgetting costume pieces, I'm afraid of tripping over my feet and looking like a drunk. It's why I will rarely choreograph anything. I get so nervous that I forget everything and end up doing improv anyways. I absolutely love doing this, but I get nervous every single time. So I guess my personal goal for every show is to get through each number without the audience knowing how freaked out I actually am.

Jezabella: If I inspire even one woman to love her body more, or feel sexy - then I've achieved my goal.

Trixie: My personal goals are realized and made, usually when they are about to happen. I don’t really set goals for myself but rather think about how friggin sweet something is as it’s about to happen. For instance, I have a bird number I do to the Grateful Dead’s "China Cat Sunflower". I had the chance to perform it at the old Circus Club in a birdcage. When I was about to go on, I was holding my bird wings and wearing this ridiculous mask listening to this uber professional drag queen announce me thinking, “Holy shit, I am actually in a bird cage right now being announced to do my weird ass bird dance in this out-of-control, awesome club. This can be written on and checked off the ‘Goals in Life" list.

Kandi: Burlesque started in vaudeville, so I try to bring that feeling back. Every time I walk on stage I have 3 goals: Keep the show high energy, keep the crowd entertained, and introduce each performer with the respect they deserve.

JNC: Crowds at these types of shows can be pretty rowdy, and to some extent, it’s even encouraged to get the crowd excited. What’s the strangest, wildest thing that’s happened while you were dancing?

Trixie: Weird and wild are a natural occurrence in my personal performance. I’ll replace “weird” with “awkward”. I’d say something awkward happens almost every time… maybe Jesus interrupts my number to give me a high five. But if there is one thing that has stuck out in my head as for what NOT to do, its getting drunk before going on stage... especially if I’m going to be using a hula hoop.

Jezabella: Someone once yelled, during a very intense and emotional number, "Yeah girl! You get that armpit!"

Vee: Besides "pasty malfunctions"... I've gotten a lot of unconventional cat calls, such as "I want to pay your bills" and "Will you marry me?"

Sugar: Honestly, our audiences have always been very kind and respectful towards me. I've had my flubs, for sure, but the best thing they could possibly do is cheer! My very first fire eating act, I couldn't light my torch. I lucked out however, that someone was nice enough to light my torch with a better lighter, I just couldn't have asked for a better crowd!

JNC: Where do you get the costumes you wear? Is there a particular shop you frequent, or is a lot of it do-it-yourself?

Raven: I do a lot of DIY costuming. Usually I get basic bras and panties and sequin the hell out of them. I get a lot of pieces at thrift stores and estate sales as well. Even if we buy something ready-made, it usually needs to be rigged with velcro or snaps to make removal easier. (like button-down shirts and tear-away pants) Antique shops are good for vintage accessories such as jewelry, hats, and gloves.

Sugar: I've always sewn the vast majority of my own costumes. Even if I buy a "base" bra, it always comes out as a far more fabulous, unrecognizable incarnation of its former self! I've been expanding my sewing lately, however, and really doing most of it by hand. I've always sequined my own pasties by hand, but now I'm learning how to make my own lingerie. It's tough but extremely rewarding. My craft space right now is nothing but feathers, sequins, rhinestones and satin. It's crazy!

Trixie: My costumes are partially store bought, and by store bought I mean Ebay. Then I jazz it up. Or get in a fight with a bedazzler... whatever comes first. But for monstrous projects I usually get by with a little help from my friends. As of lately, Sugar St. Clair has been so gracious to create a mermaid fin for me. It looks so good; it brings a tear to my eye. So, I am extremely lucky to have such awesome friends who are passionate about burlesque and costume making!

JNC: I feel obligated to ask a cheesy personal question for all those office chair lotharios out there, but I don’t really want to because it’s so cliché. I’ll just ask this: Is there anything you want the guys (or gals) out there know about you personally?

Sugar: Hmm...well, I'm bilingual in French so when I've had a drink, I suddenly have a certain je ne sais quoi and am compelled to parle français with practically tout le monde!

JNC: Is there anything in particular you want the world to know about the Bombshells?

Kandi: This group has exceptionally high standards and ideals. This is an incredibly talented, accepting group of women who promote the ideals that all women are beautiful, and that it is ok to celebrate your feminity. It is an honor to be part of this troupe.

Raven: One thing that is really important in our group is that we have a strict no-diva policy. In any area of performance it can be really easy to develop an inflated ego but we keep each other in check.

Sugar: The Bombshells are an amazing group of women. We're all so diverse in our personas and talents that as a whole, I feel we're a really well-rounded group.

Vee: I mostly want people to really know how much love, care, time, and heart goes into each of our shows. Burlesque pretty much consumes all of our lives, and most of our extra cash, too. Each of our numbers are meticulously planned, we put so much of ourselves into them. This isn't just ladies taking their clothes off, this is women pouring themselves out to you. Appreciate every shimmy.

Aurora: The Bombshells are the GREATEST group of women I know! Every single one of them is sweet, genuine, and excepting of everyone. A group without a solid core won't last. The Bombshells will be around a LONG TIME!

Vee: It isn't a hobby - it's a way of life.

Follow the Brew City Bombshells on Facebook for upcoming performances and other events right here.

I recently had a chance to conduct an online interview with J.R. Turner. A fitting avenue considering her newest dark fantasy novel “Redemption” is available exclusively in e-book form. JR is an award winning writer, editor, and the current executive director of the Wisconsin Writer’s Association.

JNC: Your newest e-book "Redemption" is full of resurrection, demons, and mutants. What do you do in preparation for writing a dark fantasy of this type?

JRT: I wrote this book in 2009. At the time, my father was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given a few months to live. Of course this was devastating to me and as usual, I turned to writing to explore my feelings. I always wanted to do a straight up paranormal book and considering the life and death issues I was dealing with, the themes of heaven and hell, good and evil, choices and their consequences seemed the natural go-to elements for this book. Plus, I was having confidence issues with my writing ability and I thought "redemption" was a great personal motto to work with. Eventually, this became the title of the book as both Savannah and I sought our redemption on those pages.

JNC: It sounds like this project started as a very personal adventure. I know for myself writing is a superb way of exploring yourself (like all forms of art). Did you take away anything lasting from writing this book?

JRT: My personal transformation over the course of writing Redemption was dramatic. I was very dedicated to exploring my own morality. Savannah's secret guilt, the reason she has a chance to earn her redemption, worked directly off my secrets and guilt, something we all have. By working to convey a heroine who did something so terrible, so awful, in a sympathetic way, it forced me to look at the darkness inside of myself and embrace everything I feared facing. I came out of this book a lot less self-condemning and with a lot more self-esteem. In other words, I found myself at peace with my own fallibilities. It's okay to not be perfect, to make mistakes, to be human—something I surprisingly never allowed myself before.

JNC: There are mutant creatures in the book called "revenants" with a taste for human. Are these creatures that will seem familiar to my fellow zombie fanatics or are they something else entirely?

JRT: Oh, I  am such a zombie-holic! While there are direct references to some of my more favorite directors, writers, and films throughout the book–the revenants are more mutants than zombies. Think “I Am Legend” with Will Smith and “Priest” with Paul Bettany and you'll be closer to my vision. These creatures were never really human, but descendants of those immune humans who survived the bio-toxin bombing that destroyed the world.

JNC: It sounds like you, much like myself, consume a lot of horror related entertainment. Is there anyone or anything out there in the genre that's had a particular influence on your career?

JRT: George A. Romero! This guy takes horror to an intimate level by exploring societal issues within his movies and scripts. There's a fantastic underlying element of class distinction, of good people forced to make bad choices because there are no good ones. This is fascinating to me. What if in order to save yourself you had to watch many people die horribly? These sorts of questions are often touched on in the horror genre, but Romero does an excellent job of making it the focal point of many of his stories. He rocks!

JNC: You mentioned earlier you wanted to write a "straight up paranormal book." Have you ever experienced anything on the supernatural side?

JRT: I'd love to say yes because the few moments in my life that 'felt' supernatural are important to me. For example, shortly after my brother died in a car accident, I was overcome with grief as I did my daily cleaning. I remember closing my eyes and sobbing from the sudden agony of his passing. Then, the scent of him and warmth, like a hug, surrounded me and the pain became immediately bearable. Part of me wishes my brother came back for a brief moment to comfort me. Another part of me believes it was my brain's way of dealing with the grief. Who knows for sure? In the end, I prefer having a visit from brother.

JNC: You've several books available in e-book form. The ease of digital publishing is changing the literary world completely. Anyone with an idea, the drive, and a small amount of capital can publish their book. It's given rise to a sort of underground punk rock sort of writer. People who are by-passing more traditional publishing routes. Do you have any advice for any of these D.I.Y. writers out there?

JRT: While I'm not self-published—there are times I really wish I was! When I began in 1999, the publishing industry was very, very different. We were taught by the alumni in the field that self-publishing was career suicide. Of course that's no longer the case and I encourage every single author out there to self-publish at least a portion of their work. Today, the alumni (and me!) are saying: Self-publishing badly edited books is career suicide. So if you do decide to go this route, either invest in a great editor, or find some highly skilled people to polish your book.

JNC: For any of these "Literary Ramones" out there could you elaborate on what sort of "highly skilled" people?

JRT: It can be hard to find professionals who have time to help a new author. However, there are ways to offer your support to up and coming professionals who will, if personalities click and friendships develop, offer their (or their friend's) expertise. Writing groups and organizations were designed for exactly this purpose–just choose one in the genre you write.

When it comes to purchasing the opinion of professionals, do your homework. There's nothing more disheartening for a romance author than to get feedback from a skilled person who thinks the genre is beneath his or her respect. Find someone who is an expert in the genre you write. Think small at first. You may get a lot more help (and spend a lot less money) if you choose to get feedback on a single chapter, rather than a whole novel. Don't waste time (and money) having the expert read something other than the very, very best you have to offer.

JNC: Lots of people want to be writers and the first step is always the hardest. What would you like to say to any aspiring writers who are reading this now?

JRT: If you don't have discipline, you're going to have a very long road ahead of you. As with anyone who is self-employed, you must be determined to set and meet your own deadlines–even if it means giving up your birthday or forgoing a concert you wanted to attend. My advice is to first determine if you love writing more than a social life, and then work on discovering what it is you're actually meant to write.

JNC: There's a cliche I'm fond of; "writer's write." Would you like to tell us about any projects your working on for the future?

JRT: Oh goodness! I have the last three books in my Delbert Dallas series (middle-grade fantasy for reluctant readers) to complete. I have the fourth novel in the Extreme Hauntings series (my YA horror books) to finish–I'm sort of excited about this one because I get to do a haunted boot camp. I have a nanotechnology/paranormal thriller in the research stages, a nearly finished final draft of a romantic suspense titled “Still Life in Death” about a female artist who is being stalked by a serial killer. In 2012, Echelon Press will release another horror novel, this one about werewolves. So lots to do on the personal side of my writing life!

Visit J.R. Turner here: www.jennifer-turner.com

Her book “Redemption” can be found at Amazon, Smashwords, or Omnilit