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Millennium Science Fiction & Fantasy Magazine

Steven Climer is a prolific and much published author. His most recent book, BEARWALKER, now in print and in e-book form from Indigo, was recently reviewed by one of our top reviewers, Patricia White. Her recommendation of this author and his book was so high we decided that our readers might like to know a little more about him.

Steven Lee Climer lives in metropolitan Detroit and is a Ph.D. student at Wayne State University and a dual-graduate of Eastern Michigan University. When not writing, he teaches English at Detroit College of Business, and is an Internet producer for Fry Multimedia in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The greatest joy in his life is his wife, Karen.

Born of southern stock, Steve's parents and family are from western Tennessee. He spent the first five years of his life on Dog Hill before moving north with his family (wanted to go alone, but they insisted on tagging along). He spent all his summers in Tennessee up until he was 17.

His short stories have appeared in over a dozen magazines, including Implosion, The Midnight Gallery, Into the Darkness, Squane's Journal, Altered Perceptions and FrightNet.

His first novel, DREAM THIEVES was published electronically by Hard Shell Word Factory, and will appear in soft cover in the near future. It was a finalist for Best First Novel of 1997 in the International Horror Guild Awards, and won in the Fantasy category for Under The Covers Book Reviews Best Fantasy of 1997. One of his trademark tales is also in the anthology "Dark Whispers."

He is a very busy man and about to become a father, but he kindly took time from his busy schedule to allow us to interview him. So without further yakking from us, we give you "The Inside Story" about one of today’s most talented authors:

INTERVIEW WITH STEVEN CLIMER:

MSF&F: Steve, when did you start writing?

Steve: I can't remember a time when I wasn't writing. In 1995 I finished my Master's degree in Written Communications and at that point I decided to spend time on my career. I wanted to be an author, and I had been writing novels and short stories and poetry all along. I began to submit, submit, submit. And after a zillion rejections I started placing a few.

MSF&F: How did you get your first piece published?

Steve: I did the slush pile thing and made it into a small, small magazine that's no longer in business. My first paid writing was a few non-fiction health articles for a fitness magazine.

MSF&F: Was it a paying market?

Steve: The fiction wasn't, but the non-fiction was.

MSF&F: What are you working on now?

Steve: A new novel, which is nearly complete. I also have a few back-burner projects that I'll put on the front burner again. The main thing I'm working on though, is our adoption of a baby from China.

MSF&F: Steve, that’s wonderful. Congratulations to you and your wife. Ok, back to the interview. Do you have a degree and is that important for writing fiction?

Steve: As I mentioned earlier, I have a Master's degree in Pedagogy. I teach part-time at a small college. Not only do I love to write, but I love to teach writing as well. I teach composition and literature currently.

MSF&F: What mediums are you published in?

Steve: Print, audio (as of Nov.) and electronic.

MSF&F: What is your favorite medium of publishing? E-books, audio, print?

Steve: I think it's important to be active in all mediums so you reach the audience.

MSF&F: Patricia White did a highly recommended review of your BEAR WALKER for Millennium Science Fiction & Fantasy Magazine. What gave you the idea for this book?

Steve: It was inspired by a folklore class I had in college. We were reading about legends in Michigan and I thought the legend of Bearwalkers would make a great novel.

MSF&F: Why did you decide to go with e publishing?

Steve: I actually went with a publisher who published in print and electronic. Again, I wanted to reach the most people I could. DEMONESque is due out in late Fall in Audio from Fiction Works.

MSF&F: What is the difference in working with an e-publisher and a traditional one?

Steve: E-publishers seem more accessible and flexible. They embrace technology, taking advantage of email, chat, etc.

MSF&F: Tell us about awards you have won, or any other firsts you have had that you are especially proud of.

Steve: "By Any Name a Devil" appeared in the anthology Monsters from Memphis and was named Honorable Mention in The Year's Best Horror and Fantasy by OMNI Magazine, and also recommended for nomination for a Bram Stoker Award. It also won the Memphis Science Fiction Association's 1998 Darrell Award for Best Mid-South Short Story. My first novel, DREAM THIEVES was a finalist for Best First Novel of 1997 in the International Horror Guild Awards, and won in the Fantasy category for Under The Covers Book Reviews Best Fantasy of 1997. I'm proud of the fact DREAM THIEVES was the first electronic book ever nominated in the IHG. Another first, BEARWALKER was the first book published by Indigo.

MSF&F: Do you feel more pressure about writing now that you have several publishing credits to your name?

Steve: Not really. I still have the same philosophy that I'm writing books that I'd like to read. I hope to get more popular and maybe have a bestseller or two, but it's not important to me as it used to be. Adopting our daughter from China and being a good father and husband are the true challenges in my life. I'll always write. Even if I never sell anymore (Ah! God forbid) I'd still write. You should see all the manuscripts and story ideas just sitting around my house and office.

MSF&F: Tell us about your latest release.

Steve: Bearwalker is a really fun adventure book. It's short on purpose so it can be an easy read. It's also the first book in a series in which the Mystics will be revealed.

MSF&F: What got you started writing?

Steve: Survival.

MSF&F: What do you read: Genre, nonfiction, etc.

Steve: Surprisingly, I don't read a whole lot of horror and fantasy because I feel it would influence what I'm writing. Instead, I read a variety of things to hear different voices, see new characters, etc.

MSF&F: What about your day job? Is it writing related?

Steve: I'm a producer of e-commerce websites like godiva.com.  I love doing web pages and programming stuff. It's quite creative and it's the core of my new Internet horror novel Mortal Web that I'm just finishing.

MSF&F: What writers groups do you belong to?

Steve: I'm a member of EPIC, and an active member of the Horror Writers Association.

MSF&F: Well, Steve, it seems that you have worked very hard for your success, and we wish you much more. We and all of our readers would like to thank you for taking time out to visit with us. Do you have any parting words of wisdom for our writers out there?

Steve: Yes. Keep writing even if no one buys it. Write for yourself. Write what's missing on the shelves of bookstores, too. That's how I view it. I'd say "Hey wouldn't it be cool if there was a book that went like this...and that happened...and there's this character..."  Go write that book.