Thursday, January 13, 2011

Guest Author Interview: Stephen Carpenter












Please welcome today's guest author Stephen Carpenter!  Stephen is the author of Killer, and The Grimm Curse.

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Stephen: 
I began writing in the 7th grade. I was fascinated by Poe, Shakespeare, and popular authors. I began by trying to write plays, then I started writing short stories. But I later gravitated toward writing screenplays, which is how I've made a living.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Stephen: 
I came to the fantasy/paranormal genre through my interest in Stephen King on my own, and later, through my son, after reading so much of Harry Potter, Twilight, etc.

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Stephen: 
As pedestrian as it sounds, my one supernatural talent of choice would be the ability to stop time. I would get a lot more done, and be more rested, and thus, better looking. But mainly, I would be able to live out the fantasy of the famous Twilight Zone in which Burgess Meredith finds the stopwatch that stops time at will.

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Stephen: 
I hope people like The Grimm Curse (Once Upon A Time Is Now) because they can find a contemporary re-telling of the famous fairy tales we all grew up with. It's one thing to think of Little Red Riding Hood in a forest long, long ago...it's quite another to think of her as a high school girl in a red hoodie who is stalked by a football player from the Wolverines, from a rival high school. It's all about reinvention.

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?

Stephen:
  I would cast unknown actors for the simple reason that I am tired of the same old faces all the time. Aren't we all?























The Grimm Curse (Once Upon A Time Is Now) by Stephen Carpenter.

Fifteen year-old Jake Grimm is the last living descendant of the Brothers Grimm, who wrote the famous fairy tales in the 1800's. But Jake grew up with foster parents in Los Angeles, never knowing his true destiny until he ran away from his unhappy foster home, to the place of his birth--Woodland--a small town nestled deep in a Northwestern forest.  In Woodland, Jake discovers that the famous fairy tales are all real, and they are happening today. And Jake, as the last living Grimm, is the only one who can stop the witches, big bad wolves, and evil stepmothers who are all alive and well, and about to wreak havoc in the small town of Woodland, following the death of Jake's great-uncle Eustace.  But these fairy tales creatures are not like those in the old stories. Woodland is a modern place, and the creatures Jake battles seem like completely normal, modern people--to everyone but Jake. Only Jake can see them for what they really are, and, together with his friend and apprentice, Madeleine, he must fight to prevent the evil that is all around the unsuspecting teens at Woodland High.

Thank you Stephen for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

12 comments:

  1. How cool! I really enjoyed the story and movie, would love to read more. Very cool how he continued the story =) Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thanks so much, I hope you like the series on NBC. I've also written a new book, KILLER IN THE HILLS, which is available at Amazon. Hope you like it.

      Stephen Carpenter

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    2. Stephen,

      I posted the below message to a blogspot account that supposedly belonged to you, but I wasn't sure if it was legitimate so I figured I'd try posting it here! If this is bad protocol or not appreciated I apologize in advance and understand if it is removed.

      ***************************************

      Stephen,

      I'm not sure if you ever even check this blogspot account (making the assumption this is really you). I understand you write for the TV show Grimm. My whole family loves the show and my daughter in particular. I was curious if you knew how a person would go about getting in contact with the right people to see if there are any bit parts. I would love to see if my wife or I could appear in some way on the show because it would completely surprise our children and they'd think we are even more awesome (I always try to increase my awesomeness in their eyes). My wife is absolutely gorgeous, completely photogenic and a natural at drama. I'm ok to look at I guess since I got her (I do try to stay in shape) and I've taken theatre classes. However, even though I aced those courses, my instructor accurately pointed out that I am technically proficient but not a natural. Not sure if any of that matters, especially since I don't care what form it takes so long as our kids see us on the show (though the more "cool" the better, naturally). Doesn't have to be paid or anything (though if it was don't expect me to say no, ha). Anyway, any help would be appreciated. You can reach me at ericbachura@gmail.com, thanks!

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  2. Great interview! I look forward to reading some of his material very soon! Thank you for sharing

    Moonlight Gleam's Bookshelf

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  3. Ohh Stephen

    Looking foward to reading and REVIEWING

    contact me at www.prg.booksonreview

    Gloria Lakritz
    Review Chair for the Paranormal Romance Guild

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  4. Ooooh! sounds great - Definitely going on my TBR list. Thanks for sharing with us Stephen.

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  5. This book sounds so good. What a great idea! I've already added it to my TBR list. Great interview!

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  6. Wow that's really original!!!

    Thanks for hosting this interview!

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  7. Great interview. Stopping time would be very beneficial :). The book sounds fantastic! I too have added it to my TBR.

    Cheers,
    BK

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  8. Thanks so much for your kind comments, and thank YOU, E.J. I hope you all enjoy reading the book as much as I enjoyed writing it. And Grammy1, I will contact you forthwith.

    Thanks again!

    Stephen Carpenter

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  9. I hope you're busy writing again. I've read two of your books and enjoyed them both immensely. Though totally different, I can definitely see both as movies.

    Sad thing about finding exciting new authors {{{sigh}}} is that they can never write as fast as I read. ;-)

    Thank you for a couple of great reads in the past week!

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  10. Nice...I did a review on The Grimm Curse. I r eally liked it and hope you contiue on with more books that follow the adventures of Jake Grimm. I also read 'Killer' and liked that one a lot too. Keep up the good work.

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