Interview James Scott DeLane

by

Laura N. Hogg

1) The title of your work, Twisted and Other Tales, sounds exciting. What is the inspiration behind it?

The story concerns an advanced alien race which specializes in the construction of organisms rather than machines. Twisted is a reference to the DNA helix and how the genes of any living creature can be rearranged to form new creatures. This particular short story follows the exploits of a prizefighter who falls into the hands of a Gene Twister.

2) Tell us briefly about some of your characters and plots/storylines.

Each story is stand alone with the characters forced to deal with emotional conflicts in different fictional settings. With few exceptions, the stories feature a romantic connection between the male and female leads. Each tale, one way or another, is a love story.

3) How much and what kind of research was involved in the writing of this work?

The central themes are pathos with little focus on hard science fiction motifs. Whether on a rain forest planet or locked in a virtual reality dream, painful choices of the heart are always the same. I do make an effort to avoid outright nonsense in the stories, so I attempt to get the technologies at least plausible.

4) Describe the genre of these tales. What is your favorite genre to read and write?

These stories are fantasy based, even thought they might seem science fiction. I believe all great fiction tales are fantasy in one way or another. Was there really ever a great white whale or a time machine or Talos, the man of bronze? I think the worlds in which fictional characters live, past or present are flights of our mind’s fancy.

5) What else have you written? Do you have anything else in the works?

The Debt Collector (May 2007)

Mythradies Boutique (April 2008)

The Blue Orchid and Other Tales (October 2008)

Several others in various stages of completion.

6) Who are your favorite authors?

Patricia Highsmith, Shirley Jackson

7) Is there a special story behind your book cover?

The cover depicts the two main characters in the first story, Twisted. They were each human at one time, now they have only each other. I am a romantic, what can I say?

8) Will there be more tales like these?

I am always writing short stories, so hopefully there will more.

9) Tell us about when you signed the deal.

I had one book with Wings and I was pleased to have another! Hopefully there will be many more.

10) Do you have advice for aspiring writers or other authors interested in this type of genre?

You must write and write some more. Let your imagination run free and then get the ideas on paper. Don’t wait for the perfect story because it will never come. Magic happens when you write, so get after it! Read the works of other successful writers and learn from them.

11) Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Thanks to Wings for the exposure!