The following is an interview with Austin Case regarding the release of the horror/fantasy novel, Wild, Dark Times, through Between the Lines Publishing. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Case about the inspiration behind the tale, what readers may take away from the story and characters, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the release of your novel, Wild, Dark Times! For those who may be unfamiliar, how would you describe the book’s premise, and what inspired you to tell this story?
Austin Case: Thank you! So, the story follows Elizabeth Megalos. She’s an art school grad working as a bank teller, and she gets rescued from a possessed coworker by Eddy. Eddy is a sorcerer with amnesia who’s working with his fellow magic-using celebrity friends to stop a creature out of Gnostic mythology from ending the world with Elizabeth’s help. There’s lots of music, drugs, and magic along the way as Elizabeth tries to figure out her role to help stop the Apocalypse.
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums. How do you feel that Elizabeth’s story will connect with and impact readers?
AC: At its best, I hope that the novel can provide hope for people living through darkness, especially darkness that seems insurmountable. Things in the US have been so bad lately, but there’s some legitimate hope and momentum now. I’d like to think that at its core, this story is about staying persistent amidst terrifying situations and seeing beauty even during those hard times.
BD: Do you foresee expanding the novel into subsequent books or even into other entertainment mediums, if given the opportunity?
AC: No, no sequel. Obviously, if someone were interested in optioning it for some other medium like a film or series, I’d be thrilled.
BD: What makes Between the Lines Publishing the perfect home for Wild, Dark Times?
AC: Between the Lines Publishing was a great fit for my novel, given their focus on publishing materials that toe the line of the mundane and otherworldly. This is especially true of the imprint Liminal Books that put my novel out. Aside from my novel being a fantasy, it also fits those criteria by incorporating sections of stream-of-consciousness writing.
BD: Are there any upcoming projects on which you are currently working that you would like to share with our readers?
AC: My current work-in-progress is basically a New Weird Fiction Noir novel. A city full of literal and figurative slime. A murder of an angel-like being. Lots of creepy crawlies and gear-punk alchemy aesthetics.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about Wild, Dark Times?
AC: Anyone who’s interested in Wild, Dark Times can read about and purchase it on my author’s website and Amazon. And Goodreads has plenty of reviews from readers offering their own thoughts about the book.
Thanks so much, Fanbase Press, for letting me talk to you a bit about my writing!
