When a family heirloom given into Daniel Asher’s protection is stolen, he must get it back before it can be used to unleash his family’s dark secret upon the world.
We spoke with writer, Michael Alan Nelson, about the book.
TheBigBadWolf:
Can you tell us a bit about the character Dingo?
Michael Alan Nelson:
Dingo is a man who, like all of us, tends to make mistakes in life. He's taken wrong turns, made poor decisions, and fell in with the wrong people. All of this is exacerbated by his having a very popular rock star for a brother. So Dingo has a well-developed sense of biting angst toward the world and even a tiny hint of self-loathing. But his greatest burden didn't come from a mistake, but from doing the right thing. And the mysterious box is the physical manifestation of that burden.
 TheBigBadWolf:
The book cover shows a giant Dingo next to the character. Does Dingo have the ability to transform into that beast?
Michael Alan Nelson: Actually, the dog you see on the cover isn't a dingo, but another core character of the series: Cerberus. Dingo doesn't have any powers or abilities other than a tenacious drive to get back his box, no matter how badly he gets hurt in the process. As for Cerberus, well, from the get-go we can tell that he isn't an ordinary dog (being the size of a Buick is probably the first clue). But what he is and what he can do are things you'll have to learn from the story.
TheBigBadWolf:
What is the importance of this box that Dingo is after?
Michael Alan Nelson:
The box is a family heirloom that he was entrusted to keep safe from those who would use it for nefarious purposes. The box itself isn't anything special (other than having sentimental value). However, what's inside is something altogether different. I can't say what it is because that would spoil the surprise, but suffice to say, it's something that people are willing to kill for and Dingo is willing to die for to get back.
TheBigBadWolf: Can you talk a bit about the supernatural aspect of this book?
Michael Alan Nelson:
This is definitely a world of magic, but not necessarily the kind of magic we're used to seeing. Dingo's world is populated with people and creatures grounded in mythology and their powers derive from that history. Dingo's chief nemesis is his ex-wife Darby Graeae. For those who are familiar with the term Graeae will have a good idea of her lineage as well as what her innate abilities might be.
TheBigBadWolf:
What can we expect in terms of blood?
Michael Alan Nelson:
It won't be a gore fest, but there will definitely be blood. No showers of blood and viscera on every page, but Dingo lives in a violent world (the chapter "Darby's Inferno" is proof enough of that) and it's that violence that has ultimately set him on this path. It wasn't dealt by his own hand, but the brutal actions of others have sent Dingo in search of redemption in a world that he doesn't belong to and wants no part of, but, because he was born into the wrong family, isn't given much of a choice.
TheBigBadWolf: Is Dingo a character we will see in any other books that you write like Fall of Cthulhu?
Michael Alan Nelson:
In my mind, Dingo and Hexed share a universe, though Dingo's part of that world isn't as heavy with magic as Lucifer's. I can definitely see the two of them crossing paths at some point. There is a character in Dingo by the name of Eunice Devereaux whom I see as being related to Madame Cymbaline in Hexed. They're both characters outside of the main story, but they're there, waiting in the wings, biding their time. I will say that I've been having a lot of fun creating my own universe and populating it with my own characters. Hopefully I'll be able to do more with both Dingo and Hexed to build that universe and expand it. Having my own sandbox is an absolute blast.
TheBigBadWolf:
When is the release date and what is the price of the book?
Michael Alan Nelson:
Ah, I'm practically in the dark when it comes to release schedules, but I want to say that the first issue drops in December, but don't quote me. As for price, it will be the standard $3.99.
TheBigBadWolf:
Where can our readers find out more about Dingo?
Michael Alan Nelson:
Dingo is actually based on a novel that I wrote several years ago. Anyone who's curious about the story and wants to give the novel a read, you can find it at http://dingonovel.blogspot.com/. And it's free, so go check it out.
TheBigBadWolf:
In closing, what would you like to say about Dingo?
Michael Alan Nelson:
It's hard to classify this story and even harder to describe in just a sentence or two. And that's a good thing. They say there's nothing new under the sun and that certainly may be true. But if Dingo isn't something new, it certainly isn't a story you've read a thousand times before. Dingo is also the story that launched my writing career. If it wasn't for this story, I wouldn't be where I am today. Needless to say, it's very special to me and I think that comes through to the reader.
TheBigBadWolf: Thanks so much Michael. Good luck with Dingo.
Comment on the Dingo Interview.
|
