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READERSVOICE.COM: Memphis really suited your story Of Blood and the Moon. What is it about Memphis that you think made it an ideal setting for a fantasy/ horror novel?

JIMMY GILLENTINE: The city of Memphis has many interesting locations that range from pleasant to downright spooky. I always thought it was the perfect setting for a horror story with it being near so many forests and abandoned buildings downtown. Other writers, like Elizabeth Donald who runs www.literaryunderworld.com, have used it for settings for their work. I guess you can say that there’s something in the water here in Memphis that makes it a perfect place for a horror story.

RV: Memphis has a lot of interesting history, and your lead character has a lot of history. Do you think Memphis history will end up feeding more and more into your stories in future?

JG: Oh, most definitely. Memphis’s history is full of tales that you could draw from to write horror/suspense stories from. One story from Memphis’s past that I find most interesting is the Yellow Fever Plague in 1878 that nearly destroyed Memphis when 75 per cent of the population died or fled the city. That is something I would like to tell a story about.

RV: What parts of Memphis did you grow up in and what was it like?

JG: We moved a lot when I was growing up in Memphis, so I don’t really have one spot in the city I call home. Growing up in Memphis was a lot of fun, with the zoo, Liberty Land, and the MidSouth Fair to go to. I have many fond memories going to those places and having fun with my family.

RV: What’s your daily routine in Memphis?

JG: Right now, my daily routine consists of working at night and sleeping most of the day like a vampire. I try my best to write in the spare time that I have and spend time with my kids. I also go up to Edwardsville, IL to visit my girlfriend every chance I get. I’m looking for a job in St. Louis so I can move to be closer to her.

– copyright Simon Sandall.