Welcome, Arlo!

Arlo Zven Graves lives in a salvaged shack deep in the woods and mostly comes out at night. They can be found lurking, collecting cool rocks, or playing ocarina. Zven doesn’t bite (often) and you should come say hi on social media. Learn more at: https://www.arlozgraves.com/.

About Black Rose

Only one revolver shoots silver and the Black Rose suffers no fools. In an Old West where machines come to life and deadly silver terrorizes the land, Warden Valasquez craves vengeance. He needs the legendary Colt Buntline revolver, the Black Rose, to get it. But the Black Rose has other plans.

Interview with Arlo Z. Graves

Tell us about yourself – what is something readers would be surprised to find out? 

They might be surprised to learn that when I say ‘salvaged shack’ in my bio, that I mean it. I live in a cabin named Gerald that had been left to rot in the woods, filled with trash. My partner and I rebuilt it. Dad taught me how to plumb it, so I put all the copper in. I struggle to keep up with social media, but I can install a toilet.

What is it about the Weird West genre that draws you to it? What are your favorite aspects or examples of this often-underappreciated genre?

I’m really into reimagining history. For me, Weird West is a canvass to talk about American wrongs, past and present. I have a soft spot for The Haunted Mesa (not terribly weird).

What inspired you to write this story?

I was a teenager when Van Helsing with Hugh Jackman came out. I was obsessed with the movie but also Tombstone for some reason. I wrote 20 pages of a crossover fanfic that involved a silver-haired wraith-like being and a cursed revolver called the Black Rose. Dad liked it for some reason, and after 20 years of pestering me to write it…I did.

If you were living in the Weird West, what kind of character would you be?

Probably dead, lol. Or maybe a wraith living in a silver mine.

Are there any other writing projects you’re working on?

My first fantasy novel comes out May 20^th and I’m in the second draft of Book 2. Book one is The Ice Moves for No One. Think: shapeshifting sky Vikings.

What are you reading right now?

Fly Stone, Fly by Dust Kunkel.

Favorite weird west movie/book/comic/etc. and why?

“Ghost Riders in the Sky,” the song. I love several versions of it. To me it paints such a vivid image and tells a compelling story in just the space of a song. I listened to it many times while writing Black Rose.

Anything else you’d like to add about writing or the Weird West (tips, etc.)?

Trying to replicate how folks might have talked was a cool challenge. Fun fact: I had to edit out a lot of cussing from Black Rose because slinging around the F word wasn’t actually how folks talked.

If you enjoyed this profile, sign up for Arcane Saloon, the Weird West Fiction newsletter, to receive future author spotlights and other related news!

Check out this #WeirdWest author profile at @WeirdWestFic!

Tweet