Carl Palmer’s poem “Visitation” will appear in the Gothic Blue Book: The Revenge Edition this month.

1. Vampires or Zombies? Which do you prefer in fiction?
My preference is that neither be portrayed as fiction since Vampires and Zombies are real.

2. Haunted House or Haunted Mental Asylum? If you had to spend the night in one to write about your experience which would you chose, and why?
As in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the asylum inhabitants are visible and available, yet locked up at night. Haunted house poltergeists and spirits tend to be evasive in daylight, yet disruptive in the dark. I’d probably get more writing done during my overnight stay at the asylum.

3. Have you ever read a book or a fictional story that frightened you so much you had to put it down at least once while you were reading? If so, what was it? What frightened you?
Presidents of the United States writing instant best sellers while in office scare me. Aren’t they busy enough? Do they need the extra income? Will their book be in the library dedicated to their legacy?

4. Why do you enjoy writing Gothic/Literary horror/horror/paranormal fiction? Or just, why do you enjoy writing in general?
I can create my own reality, get away with using family and friends as my renamed story characters.

5. What other projects do you have in the works?
Deciphering the code, finding the pattern and understanding the strategy.

CARL PALMER has been nominated twice for the Micro Award in flash fiction and thrice for the Pushcart Prize in poetry. Palmer is from Old Mill Road in Ridgeway, VA but now lives in University Place, WA.
Palmer’s motto is ‘Long Weekends Forever.’