Tuesday, September 20, 2016

A Bookish Conversation with Michael Phillip Cash, author of 'Stillwell: A Haunting on Long Island'




Michael Phillip Cash is an award-winning and best-selling novelist of horror, paranormal, and science fiction novels.  He's written ten books including the best-selling “Brood X”, “Stillwell”, “The Flip”, “The After House”, “The Hanging Tree”, “Witches Protection Program”, “Pokergeist”, "Monsterland", "The History Major", and “Battle for Darracia” series. Michael’s books are on the Amazon best-seller list and have also won numerous awards. Additionally, he is a screenwriter with 14 specs under his belt. Michael resides on the North Shore of Long Island.

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Title: Stillwell: A Haunting on Long Island
Author: Michael Phillip Cash
Publisher: Chelshire, Inc.
Pages: 192
Genre: Paranormal/Horror

Paul Russo’s wife just died. While trying to get his family’s life back in order, Paul is being tormented by a demon who is holding his wife's spirit hostage on the other side. His fate is intertwined with an old haunted mansion on the north shore of Long Island called Stillwell Manor. Paul must find clues dating back hundreds of years to set his wife's soul free.

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Thank you for this interview!  I’d like to know more about you as a person first.  What do you do when you’re not writing?

I love to hang out with my kids and watch movies. Right now, my 8 year-old son and I are watching the classics from my childhood ‘Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure’, ‘Indiana Jones’, ‘The Goonies’…etc….We also play a ton of video games.

When did you start writing?

I’ve been writing since I’m 15 years old. Screenplays since I’m 20. Novels since I’m 30.

As a published author, what would you say was the most pivotal point of your writing life?

Getting an entertainment attorney…and a powerful one at that.  I’m repped by Susan Grode at Katten Law.

If you could go anywhere in the world to start writing your next book, where would that be and why?

I’m not that big on traveling out the states.  I’m actually taking my family to Orlando for a vacation soon, so I’m looking forward to seeing the different theme parks.  I have a new idea for a Great White Shark park I’ve been ruminating about.

If you had 4 hours of extra time today, what would you do?

Cook more bacon.

Where would you like to set a story that you haven’t done yet?

As I mentioned above, I’m really into theme parks now – thanks kids. It’s impossible for a Great White Shark to be kept in captivity. I’d love to read a book about an aquarium that actually does capture a great white and puts it on display.  Would make a scary tale.

Back to your present book, Stillwell, how did you publish it?

I used to publish all my works through Create Space. They are the self-publishing arm of Amazon and have been instrumental in my new business.  They really make it easy, and when I self-published Stillwell, it was literally uploading my manuscript and cover, the layout, etc…and Amazon has it around the world within 24 hours.  It’s really remarkable.

In writing your book, did you travel anywhere for research?

Just my den and kitchen. I would walk to my kitchen to eat kielbasa. Then back to my den to write. 

Why was writing Stillwell so important to you?

I pitched my screenplay Brood X to a super producer in Hollywood. They loved it but mentioned that they are looking for a new spin on the movie Taken.  I thought, what would be a worse case than having your daughter kidnapped?  How about having your wife’s soul kidnapped by a demon.  Stillwell was born.

Where do you get your best ideas and why do you think that is?

Watching good movies has been, by far, the most inspirational aspect in my writing.  I can watch an old horror movie, put a spin on it, and make it my own. All stories are really the same. It’s just how can you put your own signature on it. 

Any final words?

I’m working on three other books and three other screenplays now.  Witches Protection Program Part II. Monsterland Part II, and a sequel to my unreleased Dragged Down Deep.  Three scripts in the works are called Taoboys, Will, I Am Colossus.  Stay tuned…

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