Pirates & Swashbucklers Interview with Ross Baxter
Filed under Interviews on August 22, 2011
Tagged: Larry McMurtry, Lonesome Dove, Pete Dexter, Pirates & Swashbucklers, Pulp Empire, pulp fiction, Relvan's Rescue, Ross Baxter
The release of Pirates & Swashbucklers, the anthology featuring my short story “Relvan’s Rescue,” quickly approaches. I’m not the only author with a tale of daring adventure included, however. I share the table of contents with several other names you may or may not know.
I wanted to discover more about my fellow contributors, so I asked them some questions and would like to share their answers with you over the next couple weeks while we wait for September 19th to finally get here. First up is Ross Baxter.
When did you first realize you were a writer?
Not for the first fifteen years! I started writing in 1995 whilst at sea with the British Royal Navy, and completed two full length novels. But no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t find an agent nor a publisher. Then suddenly it started to click. I got a flash fiction tale published by 365 Tomorrows, then I found Pill Hill Press who published one of my short stories. My confidence returned and since then I haven’t looked back since, with seven short stories and a novella published in the last two years.
What authors influence or inspire you?
Pete Dexter – the greatest American author of all time, and Larry McMurtry, who comes a close second.
What book(s) have you read more than once? What drew you back?
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. It’s a Western – but is such a compelling and realistic read. I feel Westerns give a greater canvas than any Sci-Fi – undiscovered lands, hostile environments, lack of law and order, greed, sex, and violence. In bucketloads. What more could you want?
In 25 words or less, how would you define “pulp” as a genre?
“Good, cheap, available, readable and varied.” What more could you want?
What made you decide to submit a story for the Pirates & Swashbucklers anthology?
I generally write horror but, as they say, writers should stick to what they know. After thirty years at sea, that’s what I know. Me hearty!
How did you come up with the idea for your story? What is your writing process like?
Its based off what’s currently going on off the Horn of Africa, off Nigeria, and in some parts of South East Asia. Some real life stories are stranger than fiction – and as I said earlier, it’s good to stick to what you know.
Do you consider yourself a “pulp” writer? Why? Is there another genre you like to write?
I would be honored to be considered a “pulp” writer.
Care to weigh in with your opinion of the e-book?
I’ve got a novella out on Kindle through Phaze Publishing. It’s cheap, it’s cheerful, and it sells. I think there will always be a place for printed books, but we’d be foolish to stick our heads in the sand and ignore new mediums. The growth of small publishing houses is very exciting, and e-books are a crucial weapon in their armories.
Where can someone find more of your work?
You could check out my author page on Amazon.co.uk, but I’d recommend Pete Dexter first!
Anything else you’d like to tell us about your writing?
No. I was going to say something cheesey about how much I like Pulp Empire, but if you’re reading this you’ll know how good Pulp Empire is.
