Sam wrote the poem, ENTS
Gnome & UnGnome Facts About Sam:
Sam Schifman (he/him) is a software architect, Quaker, blacksmith, black belt in Karate, author, father of 3, and husband to one; whose home is in New England, USA.
He loves to see things through other points of view and finds Speculative Fiction a great way to do that. That and all the crazy characters banging at the inside of his skull are why he writes.
He’s a member of The Writers’ Loft in Hudson, MA, and frequents their Speculative Fiction writers group.
Absol’s Q&A with Sam:
Good Day, Sam! Thanks for being our LEGEND of the WEEK!
If you could be any magical or legendary creature, who or what would you be?
It is tempting to answer Hobbit because sitting around eating is one of my favorite activities. But that isn’t really my answer. From what I have seen, the people who want to be mythical creatures are generally the ones for whom it goes really badly. You have to stumble into being a mythical creature.
So, I guess I would like to answer the question, What mythical creature do I think I am most likely to stumble into being? My answer for that would have to be a Warebear. I am always joking with my dogs that it is really their fault for coming to live in a household of bears, as both my wife and I have some bear nature. Teaching them not to jump on guests is pretty hard because neither of us cares.
Interesting. As I was born a gnome, and seldom stumble. I’ve never met a warebear…until today I guess.
Can you tell us a little about how you came to be a part of Gnomes & UnGnomes? How did you hear about the Loft and this project?
Writing has always been a necessity for me. From a young age, I have always had an easier time remembering plots than incidentals, like people’s names or my Spanish homework. Only recently have I thought about making more of my writing public and that got me to start looking for a community. I came across the Writers’ Loft via a web search and was introduced to the Spec Fiction Variety Hour through the Loft.
The first night I attended the Spec Fiction Variety Hour, Kristin invited people to submit for this project. I felt that I just had to jump at the opportunity to try new things, poetry is not something I write much of. I found it a real joy to work with other authors and creators. I can’t wait to see the final product.
I also can’t wait to see the finished book!
Tell us about your anthology poems what drew you to the Ents? You know, I’m very close friends with some Ents.
It was actually a bit of a tough one to arrive at Ents for a topic. The novel I am currently writing involves Werewolves, but the brief said to avoid humanoids like them. So I dragged myself through the litany of mythical creatures I knew about.
This thought process brought me to Tolkien. So much of the mythos I grew up with came from his writing and the sparks that it flared. A lot has been said about Tolkien’s relationship to nostalgia and the changes brought on by long passages of time. In many ways, I think the Ents are the epitome of his vision. While the Elves are kind of front and center in his stories, the Ents are the ones that actually are supposed to tend to the passage of time. Also, with the loss of the Entwives, Tolkien imbues them with a bittersweet nature that I think really reflected his worldview.
All that aside, Ents just have a fun way of looking at the world and I would love to ride around with one for a year or two.
I can tell you it is FUN to ride along with the Ents. They would probably oblige if you asked the right way.
What’s great in your life right now that you want to share, personal or professional? Some wins?
I am finally working on a novel that I hope to self-publish. While not exactly suitable for young kids, I have really enjoyed learning more about Ashina, the Female, Christain, Lesbian, Warewolf, who goes to MIT. I am very hopeful that others will also enjoy stepping into her world.
At the same time, I am starting to learn blacksmithing. I have built my own forge and have successfully produced a set of silverware, among other things. I find shaping metal to be very satisfying and a great complement to writing. In both activities I am forming things from raw materials, be they steal or words, but one pushes me to be physically precise while the other is just a way to get the screaming characters out of my head.
Tell me why you love to be a writer? What keeps you going?
I would like everyone to know that story, in all its forms, is an amazing tool. It can let us explore places and questions we can’t in the “real” world. It can let us dive into other points of view and embrace our fears. After all, it was a story, in the form of thought experiments, that allowed Albert Einstein to make one of the most fundamental discoveries of all time. In a world where we are ever more divided, a story is something that can help us heal and come back together. I hope everyone will be a “writer” one day.
I couldn’t agree more. Thanks for your time, Sam!
writersloftpress.com 