Join Jim as he interviews the biggest name in ‘adult fairy tales’ with LC Moon. Hear what makes them tick n tock and all things in between. All this and more on What’s Kraken!
Check out A Bedtime Story (Beauty Meets the Beast), the first installment of the Fairy Tales From the Underworld trilogy.
00:01.48
jim_phoenix
Hey, everyone Jim Phoenix here and boy do we have another exciting edition of what’s crackken. It is our ah our author edition look at that we are bringing you the biggest and brightest and best of the whole entire universe whirling galaxies depending which one’s bigger in your point of view. And we have none other than lcmoon who is the author of fairy tales from the underworld part one a bedtime story spoiler is not a bedtime story for kids beauty meets the beast Elsie how are you.
00:32.93
LC Moon
But I’m great. Thank you so much for having me Jim I really appreciate it.
00:37.10
jim_phoenix
Question number 1 and theoretical particle physics. No, that’s the wrong interview new set of questions. Sorry my bad so when when you were writing this I just want to kind of break through your.
00:42.67
LC Moon
Absolutely.
00:53.86
jim_phoenix
Your ability to write something does it go in your head first and then you get it in a page or you plot it out like chapter by chapter. How do you write your books having your book sealer. Yes.
01:02.33
LC Moon
Right? Well I mean this is my first book So I can about the technique so far and it’s actually I didn’t really have a technique. It’s been a story that’s been with me for so long and it’s always um.
01:20.50
LC Moon
It’s kind of started as a story I would tell myself before going to bed because you know always imagining this really intense relationship how it would play out at every. Night I would add on to it and add onto it until it became an actual like beginning to end act 1 act 2 act three stories and after that I would just I’ve always written but poetry I was never.
01:43.76
jim_phoenix
Um, right.
01:46.22
LC Moon
Never wrote a book I never set out to write a book but I always enjoyed reading for my own and I was disgusting with a friend and I was telling her like you know I thought of this really cool story blah blah blah you like Lin yeah, like you have to put it in a book. You know this is an amazing story. Yeah, like just write it and see where where you know you go from there. And I started just doing it on my own How I go is like I have to see the scene in my head first as if it was a movie and then I try to put on paper the I try to replicate what I see in my head on paper and that’s how I always go scene by scene when I’m writing.
02:09.58
jim_phoenix
Um, right.
02:22.99
jim_phoenix
That’s awesome and I wonder how close do you get from the senior head to the worth in the page.
02:29.63
LC Moon
How close I get from the senior head to the work. Yeah.
02:31.92
jim_phoenix
Seen in your head because you have this perfect vision in your head you’re gonna see everything and it’s gonna be this and this happens like a movie in your head. How close do you get that reality onto the page.
02:39.86
LC Moon
Yeah I Honestly will not stop until I get it So I can spend an entire evening on one. Stupidpid paragraph and like drive myself crazy and sometimes I’m in the zone and I’m Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom But as long as it doesn’t match exactly not just like what the characters are doing but the vibe the reaction the the manurism to me, they’re all.
02:53.72
jim_phoenix
Um, right.
02:58.94
jim_phoenix
Right.
03:06.38
LC Moon
Very real characters and it has to stay true to the authentic selves and the vibe and the mood of what I’m feeling and I want the ah the readers to go through how I felt when I was experiencing it in my head.
03:18.71
jim_phoenix
Well, that’s worth I think it comes through the perfection comes through us I know we review it is spoil alert. We reviewed it for our site and again fairy tales from the underworld part one a bedtime story beauty means the beast not for kids. And that’s I think’s being first thing our review says not for little kids but it is a bad time story from a certain point of view and from our review I know we’re gonna gush a bit we thought it was brilliantly done. It was smooth all the things popped out. It created the universe there. Some people have a hard time creating universes. So I think that.
03:53.77
LC Moon
Thank you, Thank you I am virgo so her perfectionist bite nature is a gift then it occurs and I but I think it’s definitely worth it at the end because there’s nothing worse than you’ you know you’re really submerge in an experience and then a bit of a dialogue or something just like.
03:54.31
jim_phoenix
Ah, hard work paid off right? I mean that’s from my point of view we are perfectionist.
04:12.46
LC Moon
Throws it off and then you become so aware that you’re reading a story as opposed to experiencing it. So that’s what I wanted to avoid.
04:13.60
jim_phoenix
Clunks it out. Yeah.
04:17.89
jim_phoenix
And I think you hit the realistically now I have to ask because I know what the book’s about I and I been for those, you don’t know I do read once in a while every once a while I do read review This is the thing I didn’t review your best like my staff member like they reviewed it.
04:30.70
LC Moon
Not my book though not yet.
04:37.69
jim_phoenix
But I said I would read it and I started reading I’m like okay my question was how old were you when you had this story in your head story is like oh okay, so your bedtime story in your head.
04:44.15
LC Moon
Right? Um I would say like early teens I yeah.
04:53.40
LC Moon
Um, yeah, yeah, but that I was older when I told her about like I started like the main like the characters are dynamic that started very.
04:54.26
jim_phoenix
And you’re you told your friends this but this particular story that I’m starting to read just.
05:02.72
jim_phoenix
It stopped it then okay got it that makes I was like my gosh like you’re more open than I was when I was like teenagers I guess.
05:08.99
LC Moon
Wonder no no, no, no, no that wast around like 2013 whatever it was like before I released it the first time. Yeah, yeah, time to and on.
05:15.74
jim_phoenix
So it really took time to grow and grow and grow and grow and you had the whole thing you had the whole thing joling from start to beginning or wait that is the same start and beginning is the same thing Joe Jim every right.
05:28.10
LC Moon
Not not. You know, not every scene explicitly but their journey that the key scenes the key aspect of their journey together. Yeah that I definitely knew like going and where where all that was gonna lead.
05:34.40
jim_phoenix
Right.
05:40.39
jim_phoenix
And you had this as a single books I know this is part one I’m guessing it’s gonna be part 2 and part three part z 3 okay, 3 and done just like star wars should have been 3 and done.
05:47.52
LC Moon
3 tell it? Yeah I well I mean I’m the generation of like the the second one like the second so I actually enjoyed I enjoy I answer.
06:02.11
jim_phoenix
That was is I was censoring my thought although you’re right should censor your jar jar biks with the like apartment was good in it now give me the important and I got to see yo to jump around everything else is kind of like it’s okay.
06:08.82
LC Moon
And and not Natalie Fordman I love naalie
06:21.30
jim_phoenix
It’s okay, we all have one. So if you had the entire did you, you have the trilogy planned out as a kid or do you said the first part as a kid. Okay.
06:28.13
LC Moon
Who know it was really the first part and it was actually at first it was meant to be just that and it was discussing with my very close group of beta readers friends trusted companions in this journey that oh look no no no no this there’s more to the story lynne. Just.
06:40.73
jim_phoenix
Right.
06:47.86
LC Moon
Go back at arriving board figure it out. There’s no way it ends there and at first I was kind ofnoing that Well, it’s my story. This is how it ends and the more I thought about it the more the story continued to reveal it to me and there is still some aspect. That’s why I took so long. There was some aspect that I still didn’t even know and then later on the more I.
06:56.37
jim_phoenix
Oh Wow right.
07:06.86
LC Moon
Delved into their universe and I was like oh yeah, oh yeah, sometimes I made connection that I didn’t even make and I made them later on I was like oh that’s why this because it makes sense. You know so on some level I feel like it was always a hole and it just picked up little tools at a time you know.
07:20.83
jim_phoenix
I like that because I like that you took the beta readers seriously because some people say again writing what was it like Chris Titus and Tony Horton talking about this like it’s ego is so weird because we’re both fergos I’ll go spoil or on this one. So for for me.
07:35.39
LC Moon
But.
07:40.83
jim_phoenix
I’ve been maybe accused of having a big ego same time very fragile one it like the biggest biggest ego in the world like I can do everything I’m very like somehow fragile the same time exactly I empower and know I know. However I know exactly? ah and I think.
07:45.20
LC Moon
It’s the edges.
07:52.43
LC Moon
Sucking Rigo of you.
07:58.69
jim_phoenix
Being able to take that advice from the Beta readers. But there’s a temptation to going like my books go f yourselves.
08:03.80
LC Moon
Of course and even like when I’m sending them chapter to chapter and every time there was a common my heart would sink and I agree with you know, like how she just doesn’t understand the Genius Yeah, you know and then you have to take a reality check and like you know what? I.
08:17.15
jim_phoenix
Ah, yes.
08:21.61
LC Moon
The way I deal with my E because I have a very fragile ego I have imposster syndrome I did not study creative writing I I didn’t do the official you know, like the way you’re supposed to do it I Just did my own thing and in the end I Understood how much my be readers cared about this story and the point is to make this.
08:28.80
jim_phoenix
Right.
08:40.66
jim_phoenix
Yeah.
08:40.91
LC Moon
Tory as good as possible and to take the backseat to the story. It’s not my chance to shine. It’s the story’s chance that right? so.
08:47.44
jim_phoenix
Stories chance very good I appreciate that and I think that’s something that a lot of younger writers especially are newer writers have to learn that hardway taking criticism. That’s one of the things you said about your background like I didn’t go to creative I did and that’s part of the things that you see is. Being able to take a punch you you have to be able to go I had a scene in my head at 1 It. It just fell flat and I make it better. Okay I got this advice now I can make this better and so yeah.
09:08.77
LC Moon
Yeah, what’s of course it’s crushing.. That’s you you doubt yourself and then you know so but like I said because I just kept focusing on the story itself and as long as. I would see it as okay I can do better. Not I did wrong I can do better I can bring it close are supposed to be so you know my better has faked me that I can do better. She’s not telling me, you’re not good. She’s telling me do it, Do it Justice Do It Better. So It’s a vote of confidence if you look at it like that right.
09:28.90
jim_phoenix
There you go.
09:40.33
jim_phoenix
Absolutely And and that’s the thing is anyone who’s taken enough time to read through. Everyone’s stuff and give them feedback. They’re invested in you. They’re invested in you. They’re invested in the story already. So their feedback’s just not to be mean is to make things better and I and appreciate it and it comes through on your book which is fairy tales.
09:48.81
LC Moon
Oh I think we’re having some technical issues.
09:59.44
jim_phoenix
By the way this is oh we are coming back and we are back live on air. This is how we do things live so when your book use your book out.
09:59.85
LC Moon
Didnt I want to you follow for a few seconds. Sorry.
10:14.59
jim_phoenix
I Know we got an arc I know it was out at beginning and it stopped and then it’s coming out soon again.
10:18.93
LC Moon
Yeah, so what happened is I wrote the book initially in 2014 and it’s an interesting project is how it happens is my sister is a composer and I didn’t tell her anything I just sent her the you know the chapters I was writing them just were for her.
10:26.58
jim_phoenix
Um, okay.
10:34.88
jim_phoenix
Right.
10:38.65
LC Moon
Feedback and she felt really inspired by the story that she composed in an instrumental soundtrack for it without telling me anything and I kind of recognize it like I was listening to this to the musical piece and I was like lana is that like Laura and Kane song is that this is that that proper and she’re like yes you know my god I can believe like you know.
10:57.28
jim_phoenix
Um, oh wow.
10:57.93
LC Moon
I did a good job if I can you know if you were able to guess at it’s their music then I did it correctly and it became a very collaborative creative process. She would give me feedback on my writing and I would give her feedback on her result like yeah, that’s not King that’s too aggressive. That’s to this. That’s that you know and her husband may he rest in peace.
11:05.64
jim_phoenix
Um, it’s cool.
11:16.59
LC Moon
Really wanted to he. He saw the opportunity and he wanted to see this and he was a businessman so he wanted to take over publishing and the you know the the Cd and everything at the time we were selling Cds in 24 team yeah
11:17.99
jim_phoenix
Um, right.
11:27.12
jim_phoenix
Um, Wow I remember those times right.
11:31.15
LC Moon
And unfortunately he passed away. It was a very tragic thing that happened in my family and I was going through very difficult struggles at the time on a personal level which I will spare you the joys of being a vergo under life is crashing down but I stepped away from writing altogether I sucked away. We took the book off the shels. I was crushed I was not say to be able to write and it was honestly like very serendipitous in 2022. It was actually my publicist who reached out to me and he like like there’s a very There’s a very real opportunity I think you need to work on this right now to really said and after what almost.
11:52.44
jim_phoenix
Um, right.
12:09.48
LC Moon
8 years of not touching anything I decided to you know what? let me let me go go read it again and you know maybe just like make sure you’ll clean it up and as I went back to just clean it up I realized you know what I’ve evolved a lot in those past 8 to 10 years
12:16.35
jim_phoenix
Right.
12:27.89
LC Moon
I think I can do the story Even do you know? do it more justice even write better.
12:30.13
jim_phoenix
But did you I mean what major events could have happened in the last couple years that would make people introspective and go oh my gosh. Oh my gosh and my gosh.
12:41.73
LC Moon
Ominously I was really amazingly and pleasantly surprised by the number of readers that stayed like loyal and followed and yeah, that was honestly as an author. It was the biggest compliment I Honestly I was like cannot even offer one person.
12:50.41
jim_phoenix
Um, really, that’s good.
12:59.40
LC Moon
Read it I’ll be happy. You know like if 1 person appreciates it I would have done my dot on it for me anyways and the response I’ve been getting has been so amazing from my 2014 readers and honestly I’m just gathering new readers. A lot of people don’t know about the background and it doesn’t matter. You don’t need to you know the story is its own.
13:13.50
jim_phoenix
Right.
13:18.60
LC Moon
Universe you know, regardless of its past. So yeah, it’s been.
13:22.99
jim_phoenix
Well, that’s one of the things I really like what I see and I love the journey of it I love the information ah end of it and when we’re talking about writing and writing processes. You talked about this going out first and then it kind of went off the shelf and it came back right.
13:32.61
LC Moon
Um, yeah.
13:40.76
LC Moon
Um, yeah.
13:40.95
jim_phoenix
So as we’re doing this series for authors and young aspiring writers. What advice would you give aspiring writers. Well you know young is always come on but you you you sp I.
13:47.33
LC Moon
Um, young thing. Um and ah but dog. Um.
14:00.16
jim_phoenix
Yeah, with me I guess.
14:01.52
LC Moon
My advice I would say stay true to your passion stay as long as you’re excited by what you write and you generally feel it Obviously you know have keep your ego in check when there’s a good criticism on how to take it. But.
14:03.41
jim_phoenix
Right.
14:13.66
jim_phoenix
Yes.
14:16.27
LC Moon
And sometimes I was feeling a lot of pressures to fit into a certain mold, especially that my book is considered dark romance Dark Erotica There are specific tropes that the readers expect and I’ve had a lot of readers. Lash out completely because I did my own thing and really like very you know they were very you can see and the reviews are very upset I’m like why would she do that. That’s a horrible way to you know, end things or whatever. There’s a bit of a twist ending a bit of a cliffhanger. So And. I had to accept that price to pay I accept that it’s not for everyone and it’s okay, but my reader the people its meant for will appreciate. It.
14:51.86
jim_phoenix
Yes I think that’s exactly it. Yeah, so many people try to write for everyone like we want to please all people at all times for gogan and it’s just you can’t you.
15:03.99
LC Moon
Um, yeah, yeah.
15:08.68
jim_phoenix
You’re in a mix. Especially now I’m gonna make someone mad. So my mean the most benign joke. But like oh we can’t say that anymore but we can’t I just said it So some somebody laughed now I I’m glad you said? there’s a twist ending now if ah out Spoilers Vo spoilers who does Kylo Ren kill on this one.
15:09.95
LC Moon
Exactly.
15:22.50
LC Moon
Um, yes, so I believe it’s his twin daughters.
15:28.30
jim_phoenix
Ah, that’s my worst one. Oh Kylo Quint Kyle re kills first papa and then the to one daughter. Oh my gosh, the guy it. Yeah, that’s item item daughter.
15:35.18
LC Moon
But Kylo ran is the guy or the girl in the new one. Okay, yeah, that’s the Adam dude right? He’s cool I liked his portrayal to be honest, he wasn’t bad I was I’m not good.
15:48.38
jim_phoenix
I Actually kind of see him in your book by the way.
15:53.49
LC Moon
A lot I did not expect to Cover Star wars.
15:54.96
jim_phoenix
Talking about star wars and those stars but but if you’re casting your book. Don’t you see? don’t you see Adam driver in your book.
15:58.96
LC Moon
Yes, no I that’s so funny you say that me and my sister actually sat down and did a full casting of the characters who okay so Kane I imagine a mix of like.
16:07.90
jim_phoenix
Who cast that cast that cast that cast it.
16:17.55
LC Moon
Ben Barnes and Henry Caville Laura I imagine like a young Kate Moss Natalie Portman that style thatsy so I’m not going to give away that the the others my view.
16:18.24
jim_phoenix
Oh yes.
16:25.73
jim_phoenix
Um, oh so know who’s talking about Star Wars now. Ah, ah.
16:31.79
jim_phoenix
No I know nothing but I can see that I can see that now maybe because I have Adam Drower tapless in my mind. Maybe that’s what I’m saying for.
16:35.99
LC Moon
But.
16:40.24
LC Moon
But and mixed with Henry is so much harder.
16:45.52
jim_phoenix
No sport. No no sps no judgment. No judgment. It’s all good and plus he’s not doing a superman anymore. Do So he’s he’s free. He’s free. Oh my gosh. Thank well Irish Actually we played wither. So.
16:50.43
LC Moon
There you go. He’s freak I see is he gonna watch hunted man youal. But maybe we should send it this p.
17:04.72
jim_phoenix
Or you’re doing this is there pressure then for the sequel like the sophomore Blues is an album right.
17:08.50
LC Moon
Oh of course of there’s a huge pressure and I’ve been told as any author your second book is the hardest one to write and it’s not just my second book as a second one of the trilogy which I that is the set the hardest one to write.
17:20.93
jim_phoenix
Yes, right.
17:26.45
LC Moon
Ah, so yeah, it’s very difficult because I’m not starting from a clean slate I have to take all the elements from volume 1 and take them into volume 2 and still make being true to the past and merdo like so it’s a very you’re very limited in your creative. You know, ah like. Creative process. But at the same time you still want it to be its own thing. You don’t want to replicate too much but you want to be to the essence. So it’s it’s very difficult but I am enjoying and that’s the 1 thing I’m really trying to do is to enjoy the process.
17:46.54
jim_phoenix
Correct.
17:58.70
LC Moon
Because I know once and now I’m looking forward to publication to but then once it’s publisher like oh I missed the Dave and it was in my living room. No stress just writing rage right.
18:05.37
jim_phoenix
Just doing in children now and now it’s a deadline. It’s herp and white that that’s book for vocation. Yeah.
18:12.60
LC Moon
So now I Just want to enjoy it and I’m you know I’m behind the curtains I’m doing my own thing. My readers are I’ve been amazing with me patient understanding. They’re there. They’re loyal I’m super plussed I’m very thankful to the people that I’ve had around me I think as an artist as anybody unless you just need to have a good. Support around you and it’s family or friends because the highs are high and and middle those are lows right? like it’s your Baby. You’re putting out there. It’s your heart and soul and as evolved as you want to be criticism is it’s Hard. You know so.
18:33.58
jim_phoenix
Yes, yeah.
18:46.78
jim_phoenix
Miss How it’s It’s one of those things that that they can’t teach you how to deal with unless you just get like it’s basically pricking yourself again and again and again. Ah but eventually like oh I can take it now now for your can we give about the second title. Okay.
18:58.44
LC Moon
Yeah, yeah.
19:01.58
jim_phoenix
So the first one’s fairy tales from the underwear part one a bedtime story beauty mix base and the second one’s going. What.
19:08.29
LC Moon
So the second one is called ah the berry tale and is star crossed lovers and the third one is oh to the fallen down the rabbit hole and that will conclude. The trilogy.
19:12.99
jim_phoenix
Um, nice.
19:22.40
jim_phoenix
That is very very cool and where that means you either had a lot of dreams as ah as a little girl or.
19:27.70
LC Moon
Yeah, you I’ve always I’ve had the craziest streams my entire lifes crazy nightmares crazy adventures Usually more negative than positive I’ve haven had those like okay I had touch your rest still sleep like no.
19:37.79
jim_phoenix
Um I can go if.
19:43.32
LC Moon
I’ve always had crazy nightmares I’ve always had a very very you know like um I’ve been very yeah I have a crazy imagination I’m always as a kid I spend a lot of time alone all is lost in my world telling myself stories imagining stories I spend a lot of time reading watching movies. So. Story telling in its art. You know whether it’s via books or novellas or theater or movies or Broadway is just something that really resonates with me because I find it. It’s not only diverse.
20:02.49
jim_phoenix
Um, yeah.
20:15.41
jim_phoenix
Yes.
20:15.98
LC Moon
But it helps it helped that there’s there’s lesson. There’s wisdom. There’s you know there’s things you can take from that. So.
20:20.40
jim_phoenix
I agree and I think that is a part where people want to do a movie or they want to do a book or they want to do a story and they haven’t read I’m like or watched like how do you tell a story if you doesn’t seen how to do it like I’m so glad you said you read a lot especially as a kid and watch all these movies. It helps get the structure of a story you start learning the rhythms you start learning the actual structures you’re putting it in and it works in that it sounds weird but that is actually part of the work.
20:41.93
LC Moon
Of course.
20:48.93
LC Moon
Of course of course and you know just so you get that it becomes second natureture to you so even like and like I’m sure it’s the same thing for you Jim but like 90% of the movies I watch I can tell you within 5 minutes exactly what’s going to happen right? So when you watch a movie that.
21:01.58
jim_phoenix
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
21:06.97
LC Moon
Can surprise you with such a like Wow moment and that’s why you want to be comfortable I did and I wanted to be comfortable in the narrative that so I have that structure from everything that has built me up that has helped create me as an author.
21:19.55
jim_phoenix
Um, yes.
21:25.43
LC Moon
But at the same time I wanted to do my own take on it I Want to put my little spice. You know.
21:31.30
jim_phoenix
That’s very very important and you’re doing this right now on fairy tales from the underworld.com right COMDotCom awesome
21:38.32
LC Moon
That’s exactly yeah, fairing from genderworld.com yeah and there’s the original soundtrack that’s available there as well. So I really hope but you guys will check it out it.
21:43.90
jim_phoenix
I checked out the site. It’s amazing. We were looking at this before and the instagrams and then othergrams and the telegrams and not buttergrams. It’s it’s all, but so but that’s the thing there’s so much more to do but before this call I was doing like I was doing Facebook um.
21:49.48
LC Moon
Um, and the tick power The face were broken.
22:02.91
jim_phoenix
Back on Facebook now whatever. But ah gosh there’s so much more to producing your book in 2023 and and pushing your book new 2023 there was ah 2013
22:03.20
LC Moon
I Left a few.
22:15.50
LC Moon
Absolutely ah hi personally I’m very lucky I have an amazing team around me I have my publish it I have my marketing team so they can focus on the that.
22:17.41
jim_phoenix
So how do you deal with that. How do you deal with the business side and the creative side.
22:29.31
LC Moon
Part of it and I can focus more on actually the creative process and you know interviews like that I mean this is amazing I love doing that again. Thank you so much for having me Jim and ah so that’s part of that to me is fun. You know I’m getting to you’re getting to know me, we’re having a normal conversation.
22:30.75
jim_phoenix
Um, that yeah.
22:38.18
jim_phoenix
Thanks for being here.
22:46.44
LC Moon
But being in charge of social media and stuff I’m letting other people handle that that they’re better at it Anyways, it’s more their their thing you know I’m not a great salesperson I don’t like the feeling of you know.
22:50.48
jim_phoenix
Yes.
22:55.88
jim_phoenix
You haven’t sold me on Casco Poine yet when you do that You be us the great whole.
22:59.19
LC Moon
Ah baby so itself. Let me tell you that Yeah, you’re gonna go there. You’re gonna take a picture as say where have you been all my life and you gonna post it on Huntologyji Ah I’ll be looking out for that post. Let me tell you.
23:08.32
jim_phoenix
But like it’s a grammy. Yeah yeah, we’ll see what happens when they do good stuff though. Yeah, but if you’re running at spot now I was gonna do a sped mon. So.
23:15.82
LC Moon
Osco did not sponsor So this Fy I This is.
23:24.90
jim_phoenix
I appreciate all of this time and I do have 1 less 1 final questions before you we let you go on the next book of the first one of course is called fairy tales from the underworld part one a bedtime story beauty meets the bees which can get right now correct or soon.
23:31.51
LC Moon
Um, we go.
23:41.17
LC Moon
Just.
23:42.81
jim_phoenix
At Fairy Tales from the underworld.com check out out. Book market. Always come back to it. Follow everyone like like sit got click subscribe and go I Do like you said you had up a street team as I just like balance. Everyone’s mic off because you can’t do this alone you this is a. Creative Arts You cannot do alone like I want to be the writer in the I have a tower that’s nice, but no, one’s going to read them. You have to have a team So what goes in to a good team for you.
24:10.43
LC Moon
First of all, you need to be a trust trust you need to be able to trust each other to know that you have each other’s best interest that hard and thought I wouldn’t just hire a stranger to do that. Even and if they’re an expert I don’t have the budget for that anyway. So somebody trusts somebody who who national who believes in the project.
24:13.24
jim_phoenix
Yes.
24:22.85
jim_phoenix
Um, try.
24:30.30
LC Moon
If it’s just your fan and she’s good at it. But she’s doing it to you as a favor. There’s only that much that somebody can do as a favor so you have there has to be something in it for them and they have to believe in the project and they have to have the skill the work ethics.
24:37.69
jim_phoenix
Um, yeah.
24:46.58
LC Moon
And you have to have that relationship where you can generally be yourself and give each other that criticism without always having to wear. You know those 5 pairs of white gloves and you know so I think that’s really the the yeah that’s the most important for me. That’s what’s been been able to.
24:56.14
jim_phoenix
Um, yeah.
25:03.44
LC Moon
Keep the project going and sometimes you know we have it down one one person is a bit more demoralized. So the others will be no, it’s good na na Nasa we can keep it exactly we can you know pun beach other and everything so it’s it’s a friendship too. It’s not just.
25:09.40
jim_phoenix
But yep, yeah.
25:16.60
LC Moon
Ah, marketing team. You know you have to be a team in real life and I think that especially as aspiring you know, authors that you don’t have unlimited budget and resources.
25:23.87
jim_phoenix
No I appreciate that I still remember like the we started as a punk scene publisher and it’s like punks like Amelia G and Forret Black and like blue blood and they would start out blacklow times the whole.
25:39.79
LC Moon
Um, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
25:40.28
jim_phoenix
Actual streak teams they would go out and put flyers out and there’s just like a couple people will find Xerox machine and that’s all it was back then day and now is kind of like the digital version of this but you had to trust each other otherwise you know there’s the dumps are right there like the Mitch Harber joke like 5000 houses or one dumpster.
25:52.39
LC Moon
Yeah I Well I mean that’s where where I say they have they have to have something in it for them. So you know like we have an actual business agreement in place they are gonna collect on the success of the book. So they’re in their best interest for the boat book to succeed and it does I’m like Yay you know the aut is.
25:59.19
jim_phoenix
Um, yes, yes, yes.
26:09.94
jim_phoenix
Um, yeah.
26:12.26
LC Moon
Happy. So obviously human nature we’re selfish by nature. You know we can. We can try to be as nice as possible but we there are some facts about human nature that can just disregard and you should work with it which is part of my book human nature now Always not. Everyone is nice and you know there’s.
26:26.35
jim_phoenix
No, and think that goes way and it goes brilliant I think that is part of it right there with the fairy tales from our little part 1 bedtime story now if you were to give 1 piece of advice to either your younger self as a writer or just.
26:30.83
LC Moon
Like.
26:45.20
jim_phoenix
Writers in general 1 thing one takeaway of you learn that you think everyone should absolutely do but would it be just yourself boom awesome sauce I agree I agree Alie Moon has been a poller.
26:50.64
LC Moon
Trust yourself.
26:56.80
LC Moon
Now that I do it. That’s what tell but young self you not accomplished that device thats yet. But and you want now. No no. But I mean it’s an ongoing struggle and I guess just know that you’re not alone feeling.
27:01.83
jim_phoenix
Yeah, no, its like it’s just flo every day you should. But you know there’s two days
27:16.63
LC Moon
That imposter syndrome that you know everyone is going through those doubts and I find a lot of time to feel so alone I’m the murder I’m that you know oh who is me and no, we’re all struggling. You’re not alone. You’re not crazy. Do your best and it’s enough right.
27:19.62
jim_phoenix
Yeah.
27:29.33
jim_phoenix
Forget the rest absolutely well Elsie Moon I appreciate it and if you want to check out Elsie Moon’s work. Go to fairy tales plural from the underworld dot com and also check out. Part one a bedtime story beauty meets beats and then get the soundtrack. Get it all in. Go all in make us you deserved eating like this go all in play a soundtrack read it get a bubble baff. It’s all goodness. Aliceie moon. Thank you so much everythinging bye. Everyone.
27:56.95
LC Moon
Thank you so much. It was Julie pleasure being here bye.
Episode four of Amazon’s Fallout wasn’t the best-liked. Of course, that’s relative to the rest of the season. While this is the second-to-last-ranked episode, it’s still an 8.1 on IMDB.
So let’s talk about why it might have slipped a bit but was still a great episode of TV.
The story
Let’s start our discussion of this episode with Maximus.
After he and Thaddeus successfully retrieved the head from the Gulper, they’re in high spirits. Together they celebrate around a fire, giving a lovely impression of two people who have been drinking despite not seeing a bottle in sight. Thaddeus even convinces Maximus to brand him.
While having a good time, Maximus’s consciousness gets the better of him. He admits to Thaddeus that he’s not Knight Titus, but he is Thaddeus’s old punching bag.
Rather than responding to this act of honesty with an equal measure of grace and brotherhood, Thaddeus immediately disables Maximus’s suit, taking the power source and the head. He then leaves Maximus trapped in the suit that he wanted so much, doomed to die in it.
Lucy isn’t in a much better place. If you’ll recall, last episode she drank radiated water out of desperate thirst. She’s now suffering from radiation poisoning. Fortunately, before she succumbs to this poison, she finds Maximus. He has the medicine she needs, and she can free him from his suit before he’s eaten by giant cockroaches. It seems like a win/win. If that is, the two of them can trust each other. And haven’t they both learned that trusting other people might be the most dangerous thing in this very dangerous world?
What worked
The first thing I want to draw attention to is the relationship between Lucy and Maximus. A lot has happened since the last time the two saw each other when there were some sparks but no time to do anything about them. Both have been betrayed and hurt. So while they’re instinct is clearly to trust each other, it’s also to be cautious. And that makes sense. They are both good people, driven by the desire to help others. But both are cautious of being hurt again.
This was not only relatable, but it gave a much different feel to a standard will they/won’t they relationship. Will they be able to trust each other enough to let their feelings out is the real question. Which is a lot more interesting, in my opinion.
I also found the giant, mutated bugs to be fantastic. They were the perfect blend of cute and terrifying. At first glance, they seem like a larger version of Hal from Wall-E. Then, you realize how few of them it would take to eat someone trapped in place. And how little time it might take.
And how long it might feel like while it’s happening.
We don’t need to see that happen to feel the terror there. And to feel some concern about the tiny pests that sometimes share our homes.
Of course, the highlight of this episode was the political intrigue surrounding Vault 33, and how its leaders always seem to be from Vault 31. This storyline is quickly becoming my favorite part of the season. It’s a dark and creepy mystery, which is always fantastic. But it’s also fascinating to see the character of Norm blossoming into someone whose life has meaning. Because at the start of the season, he was lacking that.
All in all, while this was a slower episode it was still a good one. And its ending certainly left me excited for what was to come.
(4 / 5)
If you like my work, you can check out my latest science fiction/horror novel, Nova, launching on May 17th. Pre-orders are available now on Amazon.
Gaming
Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones (2019), a Game Review
Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones (2019) is a tactical role-playing video game developed by Cultic Games, evoking Lovecraftian horror.
Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones (2019) is a tactical role-playing video game developed by Cultic Games, evoking Lovecraftian and cosmic horror. Published by Fulqrum Publishing, this game is available through Linux, macOS, and Windows. This review will cover the $19.99 Steam release.
The Great Old Ones have awakened, exiling Arkham after the events of Black Day. Design your character and face the abominations of Arkham. Explore the 1920s through a Lovecraftian aesthetic as you unravel the secrets that plague Arkham, facing unknowable cosmic horror and malicious abominations.
What I Like Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones
The depth of character creation starts the game off on the right foot. While appearance has various options, the game provides greater variety in motives, age, and origins, adding different gameplay elements. For example, age reflects lived experience and physical competency. The younger your character, the less experienced but more physically capable. This dynamic requires trial and error to find the best choice for you.
The paper cutout art provides a unique interpretation of a familiar (but stylish) Lovecraftian aesthetic. While not the most haunting execution of the Lovecraftian, it still manages to unsettle and unnerve while maintaining visual interest. That said, if the style doesn’t suit the player’s taste, Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones might leave that player wanting.
While I find the story engaging and the mysteries worth exploring, there’s a massive caveat to that claim. Regardless, if you fancy the Lovecraftian, few care as deeply and express as much knowledge of the genre as Cultic Games in this installment. This love and knowledge shines through in the often subtle allusions and references to the expanded universe. It may earn its place as the most Lovecraftian game out there.
The characters vary in interest and likability, but there’s usually something about them to add to the overall mystery. Naturally, this remains most evident in the companions that accompany the player on their journey.
In terms of horror, Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones achieves notable success. Despite the subjective points of aesthetics, the game brings out the most unsettling and uncomfortable elements of Lovecraftian and cosmic horror.
Tropes, Triggers, and Considerations
With an understanding of the Lovecraftian comes the question of how to deal with racism. Most properties try to remove this context, but Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones recognizes the text and era (the 1920s) with caricatures such as a lunatic in blackface. I won’t say it fully explores these toxic elements, but it’s not painted in a positive light.
Insanity and mental illness play a large role in the mechanics of the game, such as becoming a key component of casting spells. Loosely related, drug addiction and usage are mechanics with varying degrees of necessity depending on your build.
If these are deal breakers, perhaps give Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones a skip.
What I Dislike about Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones
In terms of story, this game is unfinished, leaving many plots, quests, and arcs with unsatisfying cliffhangers. My understanding is that Cultic Games planned to finish the game, but money ran out, and the focus shifted to an upcoming prequel. I imagine the goal is to use this new game to support a continuation. But that doesn’t change the unfinished state of Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones. The beginning and middle remain filled with content, but the final act (loosely stated) falls monstrously short.
While this unfinished state mostly affects content, I did run into game-breaking bugs. From my understanding, these bugs completely hinder progress. Most are avoidable, but some are unlucky draws.
It’s these points that make this a challenge to recommend, requiring the potential player’s careful consideration.
Final Thoughts
Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones accomplishes what many games fail, bringing to life the Lovecraftian. Unfortunately, this game falls short at the end and leaves game-breaking bugs as potential deterrents for full enjoyment. If what you read above entices you, it may be worth the investment. However, it’s unfair to recommend this game within its compromised state.
(2 / 5)
Gaming
Ashen (2018), a Game Review
Ashen (2018) is a souls-like action RPG developed by A44 and published by Annapurna Interactive available across all platforms.
Ashen (2018) is a souls-like action RPG game developed by A44 and published by Annapurna Interactive. This game provides a single-player and multiplayer experience with passive multiplayer mechanics. For this review, I am discussing the 39.99 Steam release, but it’s also available in the Epic Game Store, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation.
In this bitter world, your character seeks to make a home for yourself and others. This goal requires you to fight for every inch of land, building connections and alliances to maintain a thriving village. Venture further to make the world a more hospitable place, but know the further you travel, the greater the threats.
What I Like about Ashen
In 2017, Ashen earned a nomination for the Game Critics Awards’ “Best Independent Game.” It would later earn several more nominations in 2019. At the National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards, it received nominations for “Game, Original Role Playing” and “Original Light Mix Score, New IP.” It was nominated for “Most Promising New Intellectual Property” at the SXSW Gaming Awards. Finally, at the Golden Joystick Awards, it earned a nomination for “Xbox Game of the Year.”
The multiplayer experience remains essential for Ashen, focusing on you and a partner venturing together to explore an open-world environment. However, the single-player experience is my focus and the game accounts for this gameplay. Ashen often pairs you with a villager who helps with the challenges.
The art style remains a plus throughout the gameplay. Though muted in colors and lacking finer details, the style creates a unique world that allows players to get lost along their journey. If the aesthetic doesn’t evoke that curiosity, then Ashen becomes hard to recommend.
Vagrant’s Rest and the inhabitants remain a strong incentive to continue on your journey. Seeing the progression of the town and building connections with the people provide the most rewarding experience.
In terms of horror, the art style often evokes an eerie atmosphere. However, I won’t go so far as to say the game is haunting. Instead, it evokes emotions that can unsettle and unnerve the gamer.
Thoughts and Considerations
The souls-like influence remains straightforward. Progression requires the player to defeat enemies and collect currency for weapons or certain item upgrades. Ashen simplifies and focuses its gameplay, reducing variety to polish its choices. The gameplay remains fluid, with a few hiccups that might be a computer issue.
If you prefer magic or defined classes, the gameplay doesn’t enable this variety. Item upgrades and choices define your playstyle, allowing most items to be playable at any stage of gameplay.
Weapons make a greater difference in playstyle. Most of these differences are self-evident (i.e. blunt weapons are slower but stun), but upgrades make any weapon viable. You pick an aesthetic and function, sticking with it until something better catches your eye.
What I Dislike about Ashen
As mentioned, the game had some technical issues. I often assume this to be my computer, but I did note a few others mentioning similar issues. The gameplay remains fluid, so take this comment as a small point of consideration.
With limited roleplay options, liking the characters or art style remains essential for your time and money investment. As mentioned, the game doesn’t hold the variety of FromSoftware, which means their selling point comes from that unique art style and world.
Passive multiplayer is a major part of the marketing for Ashen. While I don’t mind this mechanic, 6 years after release reduces the overall impact. When so few wanderers appear in your game, it’s hard to see the overall appeal.
Final Thoughts
Ashen delivers a highly specialized souls-like experience, preferring to perfect what it can at the cost of variety. If the art appeals and the thirst for a souls-like has you wanting, Ashen stands as a strong contender. However, there are many contenders which make this hard to overtly recommend.
(3 / 5)
