Mikal Trimm’s story, Come to the Islands, appears in the Summer 2007 issue of Shimmer. To learn more about Mikal, visit his website or drop him an email here!

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STORY:

Where did the idea come from?
I spent a week in Tobago as a teenager, and this seemed like a good excuse to use free knowledge (as opposed to the type you need to do research for…heh.)

How did the story change as you developed it?
Somewhere along the line, it actually turned into a story — I certainly wouldn’t bandy words like ‘developed’ around, as it makes it sound like I knew what I was doing…

You know the advice “Sometimes you have to kill your darlings.” Was there a scene or line that it really hurt to cut, but cutting it made the story stronger?
Cut? What is this word, ‘cut’?

How is this story like your other work? How is it different?
I’m sorry, that’s two questions. If you really cared, you’d decide which one was more important to you. Why, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were just using pre-generated questions!

Questions About Writing:

What writing projects are you presently working on?
This questionnaire — it’s pretty daunting, let me tell you!

Favorite book you’ve read recently?
Blackburn, by Bradley Denton — a fellow Texas writer.

What fictional character would you love to drink tea with?
The Mad Hatter. Duh.

How long had you been submitting before you made your first sale?
When I started seriously submitting work (about six years or so ago), I sold my first story to its first market. Life was simple, then. Sniff.

How did you celebrate your first sale?
By making another sale shortly afterward. Those were the days…

Random Questions:

What is your darkest secret?
I’m actually one of Mary’s puppets.

If you had a working time machine what advice would you give a younger self?
This time, avoid the redheads — they’re trouble.

Favorite food?
You offering to cook?

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Younger.

What was the most fun you ever had?
I’m sorry. I’m married now, and my wife might read this.

If you have a day job, what is it? What do you like about it?
I don’t like to talk about The Bad Place…

Quiz: How many writers does it take to change a lightbulb? Please explain your answer:
One. But who knows what the writer will turn it into?