“Quirky horror stories with tasty recipes”

As her website, CaroleFowkes.com, attests, Carole is the author of quirky horror stories with tasty recipes.  That’s a peculiar combo.  Carole also writes Sci-Fi-Murder-Mysteries and Outlandish Fantasies with a touch of Romance.  More peculiar combos.

My personal favorite of Carole’s short story collections is titled Out of Character.  This contains two of her bizarre fantasies. Both stories are about writers, which may be why I like them so much.  Very Fun!

The first story, Out of Character, centers around a novelist who is writing a gritty murder mystery. She’s caught off guard when her villain decides to make her his next victim.

Next comes a recipe for Bacon Cheese Scones that is so good I’m drooling right now just thinking about it.

The second short story is Idea Man. Bestselling author, Lucinda, has writer’s block. Her fast-talking, mafia-like muse shows up wearing a thong bathing suit. He offers her a plot she can’t refuse. What lengths will a highly successful novelist go to overcome her writer’s block?

So Carole, do you have a wacky muse like the guy in Idea Man?  How do you come up with such quirky plots?

My husband is sometimes my muse, but he doesn’t wear anything even resembling a thong.  My ideas always start with ‘what-ifs’.  For instance, a family member was trying to drop out of a weight-loss program, and I thought what if there’s more to dropping out than breaking a contract.  That was the basis for a story called A Losing Contract.  Another idea came from watching plastic bags blow across a parking lot.  I thought what if those bags weren’t just innocently flying through the air.  The story from that is called White Bag.  I think you get the idea.

Idea Man is about writers block.  Do you ever get writer’s block? If so what do you do really about it?

I have had writer’s block at times.  A fellow writer and friend once told me when that happens, just work through it.  It does help.  So does eating massive quantities of chocolate brownies.  Another thing I’ve found is to be patient and let my thoughts free-flow.  That works best for me in the shower for some reason.  I also talk out the story with my husband or a friend and that helps me see where I want to go.

I have to say, both recipes in this book are fabulous and food seems to feature heavily in your stories.  I read that you are also a food and restaurant reviewer. Do you consider yourself a ‘foodie.’ 

I love the thought of food, the anticipation of eating, and then talking about it afterwards.  I’m more of a ‘sweetsie’ than a ‘foodie’ though, because I love candy, cakes, cookies, ice cream, and cupcakes, primarily of the chocolate variety.  I’m in heaven when I find a bakery or an enticing dessert counter in a restaurant.  My fantasy is climbing over the counter and stuffing myself silly before the police arrest me.

These drool-worthy Bacon Cheese Scones are unbelievably delicious. Where did you learn to cook?

I learned the basics from my mother who was a phenomenal cook.  I remember her pie crusts.  I have yet to make one as flaky as hers.  My first forays into baking were less than successful, like when I greased the cookie sheet so much that my chocolate chip cookies actually fried in the oven.  Ugh!  Bless my father.  He actually ate those greasy discs.

In Out of Character, the author’s husband tries to offer plot suggestions.  Does your husband ever risk offering you advice?

Oh does he!  He has a much more practical mind than I do, so his suggestions are often of a pragmatic nature.  At the same time, he’s also a kind man and prefers happier endings than are in many of my stories

 Thanks for visiting with me today. I look forward to reading your next story.  Care to tell us what you’re working on now? Or is it a secret?

Thank you.  No secret at all.  I’m working on three stories.  One is about a con man trying to get out of Hell.  Another is a sequel to my novella, Deranged Seating, and the third story concerns a man who learns it’s not good to take food from a stranger.