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Suburban Vampire: Welcome, K.A.! How did you first come up with the idea of merging the bloodsucking world of retail with an actual bloodsucker?
K.A. Corlett: Truly, when it all began, I was working in a department store and blithely collecting anecdotes as a form of protest. I mean, the most stupid, utterly puerile things occur in retail every day! And old-school department store retail is the dreary bastion of pastel walls, grimy baseboards, and water-stained ceiling tiles. Of soul-suckage, really. Then, one evening, as I was puzzling over how redemption might ever be achieved, this tall, elegant gent waltzed across my mind's eye. He was grinning ear to ear—not a pleasant smile, exactly, but one that was in sync with my own sentiments at the time. I was slow to sort out the ironies. But soon enough it became clear: even a pastel apocalypse needs its Pale Rider.
SV: What was your oddest experience in your own life as a retail employee?
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| K.A. Corlett |
SV: Oh, my. On a slightly less sinister note, tell us a little about your vampire, Maximillien Lambert (and feel free to make sure we're pronouncing his last name correctly).
KAC: Mais oui, that would be a nasal French 'a' (kind of an 'awm' said through your nose, without the 'm' actually being pronounced separately). The 'ber' is a lot more like 'bear' or 'bairrr'. Skip the final 't' while you're at it. It will still cause a raised eyebrow, but what can we do? Max is a disturbingly charming dead guy. He plays a mean jazz piano and an even meaner harpsichord. He's also an adept yogi who can mess with mortal wiring at fifty paces. When it comes to Death, he works for the Really Big Guns: Max is a devotee of Kali Ma, the fearsome blood-drinking Black Goddess of Hindu lore. Sleep with one eye open... you may already know too much.
SV: What would Max say about the current vampire entertainment craze?
KAC: Hmm... when I asked him, I believe he said, "This too shall pass." Then he smirked and added, "On the other hand, a more intimate relationship with Death could improve the human condition immensely."
SV: When and how did you first become interested in vampires?
KAC: I suppose I'd have to blame that on bad Saturday afternoon horror flicks back in the 1970s. That Bela Lugosi was one snappy dresser.
SV: What are some of your all-time favorite novels?
SV: What are you currently writing?
KAC: I've got a few things up me wee sleeve, including the anti-sequel to Ever Your Servant, tentatively titled In Her Service (lame, but I had to think of something, because the working title has so far been Tabernak. Oops.). I'm also working on a novella, The Commission, which is set in eighteenth-century France. Bubbling on the back burner are future projects like the story of the Vicomte de Porte-Noire's life (imagine Max not dead!), and a book that belongs just to Tony, that sexy Irish necromancer (before he became a sidekick). A collection of short stories is also in the works.
SV: Where can readers learn more about you and your work?
KAC: I cordially invite them, one and all, to join me at my web site, www.kacorlett.com. They can read a snatch of Ever Your Servant's opening chapters, a few short stories, and sneak previews of upcoming works there. They may also want to eye up my wares at Amazon.com, where they can snap up the new Coachlight Press e-book and POD editions of Ever Your Servant.
SV: Thanks so much for joining me in the burbs, K.A.! I wish you the best for Ever Your Servant.
KAC: My pleasure—thanks for having me!
K.A. Corlett has graciously offered to give away a free ebook copy of Ever Your Servant. To enter:
1. In the comments section of this post, answer the following question: What's the most miserable job—or most miserable job moment—you've ever had, be it in retail or otherwise?
2. Please include your email address or a website containing your contact info if you don't plan to check back on the day I draw the winner.
DEADLINE: Monday, October 3, 2011, 8:00 AM Pacific Time
9 Comments - Join the conversation:
I'd say that my most miserable retail moment was collecting carts in deep snow. It was impossibleto push them.
sgiden at verizon.net
just because I'm your first older sister-wouldn't want to admit that I am the ... SSSHHH_ middle child! :) there being one yet so ever above me... I must say that I am proud of your eternal weirdness- keeps me laughing and thinking...
Love Kell
One utterly horrible job I had was to wait in an empty office on an deserted floor in a half-empty skyscraper for a week, with a message to deliver if anyone called.
No one called.
I am pleased to be eternally weird. It reassures me that I remain true to myself...
K.A.: I'm glad you're sharing your eternal weirdness with us.
Sandy: Collecting carts in deep snow would be utterly miserable...and probably nearly impossible.
Kelly: Thanks for supporting your little sis.
Zahir: Wow! What a bizarre job assignment.
One of my most miserable job moments was when I worked in a movie theater as a teenager. If the popcorn ever got burned, my manager threw chairs around his office in anger. Plus there was the formaldehyde smell of the nasty liquid in which we had to preserve the hot dogs.
LOL the worst moment when I worked in restaurant was to tell this mother daugther duo that they couldn't share the all you can eat salad bar (even though there were at least 5 signs posted) and have them go off on me for just doing my job.
Ah, yes, the old shared-salad-bar rule. That wouldn't be fun to enforce.
KC
I'm sure Iv'e seen you hangin around the Red Cross...at night?
Love the Kitties!
Love,
Riff Raff
Anonymous: I know who you are, and where to find you! Muah hahaha... (humourless laughter)
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