Lynn Zubernis Interview

Lynn Zubernis Supernatural Interview

Family Don't End With Blood, There'll Be Peace When You Are Done

I am a huge Supernatural fan and have been watching the show since 2005. How did you first get into Supernatural and why?

A friend of mine got into it right at the start, and wanted to share it with the rest of us. Every time we'd have a 'fangirl weekend' at one of our houses, she would bring Supernatural - on VHS tapes! We all watched Season 1 like that, all together. I liked the show, but wasn't really a fan of it or in the fandom that first season. When Season 2 started, I began watching it live, mostly so I could be caught up to chat about it with my friend. Then, during one of the first episodes of Season 2, I was grading papers while I watched, and I suddenly realized I was so captivated by it that I'd stopped grading, the papers had slid to the floor, my grading pen was hanging in the air. I thought, why did I not realize this is the most amazing show ever? That was it. I was hooked. I've never looked back.

I know you go to lots of conventions throughout the USA. I have seen you in lots of Alana King's videos on Youtube. Who have been your favourite cast members to meet?

What amazes me is that pretty much every cast member I've met has been so wonderful! I've worked with so many of them putting together Family Don't End With Blood and There'll Be Peace When You Are Done, and they have all been such a pleasure to work with. I'm in awe of how personal they got in their chapters in FDEWB, especially Jared Padalecki, Rob Benedict and Kim Rhodes. Those three chapters are amazing, so powerful and so personal. Everyone wrote their hearts out, though.

In terms of meeting them for the first time, I didn't meet Jared, Jensen or Misha for the first time at a Supernatural convention. Meeting Jensen for the first time way back in 2007 at Comic Con was nervewracking for me since Dean Winchester is my favorite fictional character EVER, but he has been unfailingly nice from that very first meeting, even when I was a total stranger. I met Jared for the first time that year too, in the candy line at a community theater in Texas, where we were both there to see Jensen in 'A Few Good Men', so that was much less nervewracking. I was blown away by how sweet he was. I met Misha for the first time in Vancouver, after he'd only done a few episodes of the show, for an interview at a local bar/restaurant.  I was struck by a) how smart he was and b) how open he was. That was a memorable conversation - we ended up talking for so long that Misha missed his next appointment!

Meeting Chad Lindberg (Ash) also comes to mind. It was memorable because the second time we met up, it was in New Orleans at an academic conference. We had become friends with the filmmakers who made 'My Big Break', starring Chad, and they all came to the conference to screen the film. Then we all hit Bourbon Street. It was Chad's first time there, and we had a wild time introducing him to the fun of it! But honestly, I love them all. They are an incredibly talented and creative bunch but they are also just plain good people.

I love your book 'Family Don't End With Blood', but unfortunately haven't yet read 'There'll Be Peace When You Are Done' as it is not out in the UK yet. How do you compile all of the different stories for these books and how long did it take to make each book?

FDEWB was easier and less stressful to put together, partly because we didn't have a strict timetable. I could let everyone write at their own pace, both actors and fans. Jared took two years to write his chapter, because he took it so seriously and worked so hard on what he wanted to say. Everyone did. And the actors who wrote for that book were mostly the people I knew the best from the conventions, so it was easy just to check in with them about how it was going since we saw each other frequently. There were some times when they saw me at a con and were like "Oh no so sorry, Lynn, I'm almost done my edits, honest!" before I could even say hello.  I felt like their professor or something!

For There'll Be Peace When You Are Done, we had an impossible timeline (a matter of months) to put the book together so it would come out in May when the show was scheduled to end. The book went to print before the show stopped filming, in fact. That meant that some people who wanted to write chapters just could not do it. Jared, Jensen and Misha were incredibly busy filming the show and dealing with its upcoming loss emotionally, so they couldn't sit down and write something like Jared did for FDEWB (for two years). That's why Jared and Jensen's chapters include some of the emotional things they had previously said about the show ending at public events, all in their own words, along with some new thoughts about Sam and Dean's legacy - so the chapters would be inspiring enough to really help fans through a tough time. Misha's contribution is short but heartfelt - and hopeful. There are a few people who didn't get to contribute anything and that was difficult, but the time frame was next to impossible.

I was lucky that the same publisher who did FDEWB (BenBella Books) took a chance on There'll Be Peace When You Are Done. They were on board for one of the most important things - donating a portion of proceeds from both books to charities born from the show and the fandom. For the new book, those charities are Random Acts (Misha Collins' global nonprofit) and SPNSurvivors (a nonprofit started by a Supernatural fan that focuses on suicide prevention). We wanted this book to help people, in multiple ways.

Apart from Supernatural what other films and TV shows do you like?

I don't have time to watch much else - I did love The Magicians, which also recently wrapped, and I like Eric Kripke's new show, The Boys. Schitt's Creek was a happy place recently as I belatedly discovered that show. And in the past I've loved shows like Buffy, Angel, X Files, Star Trek(s). I've never been in a fandom other than for Supernatural though, which has made it a very different experience.  Filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan is a friend, so I'm partial to most of his films but have loved other genre films too.

Who have been the most memorable people (not cast members) you have met at conventions?

You mentioned Alana King - I didn't meet Alana at a convention, but that's where our friendship solidified and where we've had all kinds of adventures together. I did meet my friend Kim at a convention; she started taking photos for my website at cons and then we became good friends. She contributed tons of gorgeous photos for FDEWB and coordinated all the photos for the new book, and we've also shared adventures all over the US.  I also met my friend Laurena at a convention, in a very odd way. At one of the earlier Chicago Supernatural conventions, there was a hurricane as the con ended, and I got stranded in Chicago without a hotel room. I finally found one that turned out to be in a VERY bad area (think bullet proof glass everywhere and so dangerous that the pizza delivery guy refused to come inside the motel!)  Terrified, I put out a tweet asking if anyone in the area could help me out, and Laurena answered! We had met at the con, and she drove over and picked me up and rescued me - and the rest is friendship history!  I also met some people who I'm still friends with to this day at my very first convention in 2007 in Vancouver. There were no actors there, just fans, but it was my first time meeting others who shared my love of the show, and we've stayed in touch for the past 13 years. And lastly, a big shout out to my fellow vendors, who are like a big extended Supernatural family at this point. I miss all of them!

Do you have any future writing plans at the moment? Do you have any more Supernatural books planned?

Every time I finish a book, I swear I'll never do another one, because it's so much work and so stressful. But then inevitably I get inspired and go back on my promise. No absolute plans now, but we'll see. Ask me in another six months!

Would you ever attend conventions in other countries (not the USA or Canada)?

Absolutely! I went to the Rome convention Jus in Bello once and had an absolutely amazing time. I also went to one of the first Rising Cons in Spain and again had an incredible time. I would love to do tons of other cons, but unfortunately the airfare is often prohibitive. That's actually one the book ideas floating around my head - this show has a truly international fandom, and it would be interesting to have contributors from all over the world talk about their experience of the show and the fandom. The fans I met in Rome were from all over the world, and it was so much fun to share something in common while also relishing our cultural differences and how that impacts our fandom experience.

If you could play any Supernatural character who would you want to play and why?

Rowena is what popped into my head, but I think that's just because I really love that character. And because she's not entirely dead. But really I'm not cut out for the hunting life, so I'd probably be best as someone like Donna's ex "new Doug" (played by Brendan Taylor, who I adore). He got a taste of what it was really like to be a hunter and was like, nope. That would probably be me!

How has life changed for you since Supernatural started?

The most wonderful friends have come into my life because of this show. I've travelled to so many places and had so many adventures (and misadventures) that I would never have experienced if it were not for Supernatural. I doubt I would have had the courage to start writing and publishing books (other than the academic ones I need to publish for my career as a professor and psychologist). The show has changed both my personal life and my professional life, and enriched both, and I'm very very grateful.

Do you have any words for all Supernatural fans who are sad, like me, that the show is ending?

I think we're all sad, and that's okay. When you love something, and something is important to you, it hurts to lose it. For many of us, Supernatural is one of the good things in our lives that keeps us going through the bad times. Its characters are familiar, inspiring - and beloved. We will miss them. The fandom community is equally important, a global group of like-minded people with whom we share thoughts and feelings and adventures, whether in person or online. Don't let anyone tell you that this is not a loss and that it is not worthy of grief. It is. The reason we put together There'll Be Peace When You Are Done is to provide comfort and inspiration in the face of that grief (and all the other losses we're unexpectedly facing in this pandemic).  We want the book to be something you can hang onto, and go back to. Something that will remind us all of just how special this little show has been and always will be, and what its legacy will be going forward. I asked everyone who contributed a chapter, both actors and fans, to talk about what they thought the legacy of this show and these characters will be, so the book is full of hope. It's a celebration of all that Supernatural has been and will continue to be. Because all the things it has given us? That will never end.

Emily McKay Interview

Emily McKay

The lovely author Emily McKay was kind enough to agree to do an interview with me. However, because of the current situation going on in the world we were unable to do this interview in person, so have relied on the use of email instead. Below are the questions I asked Emily and all of the answers she kindly replied with. 

Storybound is a novel about travelling inside a book. What book or book series do you wish you could travel inside?

First, off, the series that inspired the idea  behind Storybound, The Dresden Files, by Jim Butcher. Definitely. Even though it is a very scary world, it’s a world where there are so many good people fighting to defend the weak. I think that’s what I love about it. Oh, and everyone is smart and snarky. Who doesn’t love that?

As for other worlds I would to visit,  Narnia … because it was my first love. I think I spent my whole childhood opening wardrobes and trying to climb inside. Pro tip: they must have had some super sturdy furniture in England, because the wardrobe I begged my parents for was not big enough to get lost in.

Hogwarts. Obviously. Based on the amount of HP fan fiction in the world, I’m not the only one. And, if you haven’t stumbled over it, The Setup Wizard is amazing. I’m totally ready for Universal Florida to build a Hogwarts hotel, so that we can go there without having to walk past all those damn muggles on the way to the park!

Also based on Storybound, who is your ideal book boyfriend(s) and why?

 Okay … the book boyfriend question is hard for me. Because once an author sells me on a relationship, in my mind, the guy is off limits. Like, there’s no way I’m breaking up Mr. Darcy and Lizzie! Or Harry and Ginny! Which, of course, is part of where the conflict in Storybound comes from. But, that’s also one of the reasons that Harry Dresden works as a book boyfriend … because even though I believe he belongs with Murphy, they aren’t together yet. If they ever get together, he’ll be off the table. Does that make sense? 

Out of all the genres you have written (supernatural, fantasy, romance) what has been your favourite to write?

Oh, that’s a hard question!

They all have good things and hard things about them. 

I mean, romance is my first love. And there will always be a romance in everything I write. 

I mean, I’m the person who can read what is obviously a children’s story and be like, “Oh! I think there’s chemistry between that badger and that bunny! I wonder if they’re going to get together???”

So I guess that’s the answer. I love writing the romance no matter what I’m writing. 

Having said that, it is so hard to get the chemistry right between characters sometimes. So that is always hard. But so much fun when you mail it!

Are there any standalone books or book series that you wish you could of written? 

Yes!!!! But then this is hard too. 

Because inevitably, there’ll be a moment when I’m reading where I’m like, “OMG. This is so good. I wish I’d written it.” But then, when the book is really good, I always end up thinking, “OMG. I’m so glad I didn’t write it! What if I’d messed it up???”

I think that’s the writer’s biggest fear. That you’ll have an amazing idea and then suck the fun out of it because you’re a talentless hack.

Your the Farm Trilogy is about vampires. What are your favourite vampire books, TV shows or films?

          

Okay, so here’s the funny thing (giving that The Farm series is considered horror), I am a big wimp and can’t read a lot of the classic vampire literature.

But I do love Twilight. Yes, it has it’s flaws, but I really do love it. (Though, I like The Host way more, and wish more people had read it, because I’d love a sequel!)

And, Tracy Wolff’s Crave is totally awesome. I’m reading it right now (well, listening on Audible) and love it!

And then, for movies, I love The Lost Boys. And Buffy (both the movie and the TV show). We just watched the movie What We Do in the Shadows and it was amazing!!! 

I think, I have to have a balance of horror and humor, otherwise it’s too intense. Not that What We Do in the Shadows was true horror.

So maybe I just always want humor. In everything. Always.

If a movie or TV show was made of Storybound,  who would you want to play the main characters Kane and Edie?

Oh, this is easy! Because I always “cast” actors when I writing. For me, it’s a little about how they look, but mostly about the kind of “energy” they have, if that makes sense. Well, I didn’t really have the parts “cast” for most of the writing. Then when I saw The Kissing Booth, I was like, “OMG! That’s totally Edie and Kane!!!!” 

So, short answer: Joey King and Jacob Elordi. 100%

When writing your novels are there any places in particular you like to sit and spend time writing in? 

I know it’s now exciting, but I have an office in my house. That’s where I do most of my writing. 

Writing is so much about routine. About creating a space where you are prepared to work and where you’ve done good before. My office is what works for me.

Now, the other thing I like to do is wake up slowly and lay in bed and let my mind stay in that almost dream state as long as I can. I believe our brains do a lot of work while we’re asleep. So I try to lay there and think about my dreams and what my subconscious brain might have been working on while I was asleep. I know that sound very hippie-dippy. But a lot of good stuff comes from those Theta brainwaves you generate when you’re dreaming.

In regards to your romance novels, are there any job roles (police, fireman, swat, etc) you want to write romance novels about?

Well, for years, I wrote for Harlequin Desire. And for that line, it was all “Rich guy, businessman, billionaire!” While I loved writing those books and writing for Harlequin, I feel like that subset of heroes just done for me for a while. 

I’m working on a romance right now where the hero is a professor studying soil microbiology. Maybe I’m over correcting?

I always wanted to write a romance about a guy who writes horror novels and looks very scary and intimidating and the heroine is hired by his publisher to give him a makeover. I could never sell my editor on that idea when I wrote for Harlequin. So maybe I’ll work on that someday.

If Kane and Edie were in a TV show which show would they each be in? 

I would love to see a Storybound/Supernatural crossover! Wouldn’t that be fun? Edie and Kane pairing up with Winchesters for an episode!

What are your writing plans for the future? 

Well, I’ve got StormBound — the sequel to StoryBound — up next. And I can’t wait to get that story out in the world. And then SoulBound will be the final book in that series. 

I’ve some romance projects I’m going to work on after that. There are lots of books to write!

Thank you so much for having me!

Author Recommendations- Elizabeth Corr

Elizabeth Corr

The Witch's Kiss Trilogy, A Throne of Swans

I second everything Kate has recommended, although with Terry Pratchett my favourites are the ones featuring Granny WeatherWax, particularly 'Lords and Ladies' and 'Equal Rights'. Granny WeatherWax is one of the finest examples of a witch in literature that I can think of (grumpy yet wickedly fun and incredibly powerful too).

I'd also recommend Holy Black's 'The Cruel Prince' YA series as the world building is excellent.

Also 'The Dark Is Rising' Series (which is five books and middle grade). The Dark is Rising is loosely based on Authurian legend. Susan Cooper's writing is absolutely phenomenal, as is her world building. It remains my favourite series and is the reason I wanted to be an author in the first place.