Review & Interview: Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger by KC Grifant

Description (from Amazon.com)

In an Old West overrun by monsters, a stoic gunslinger must embark on a dangerous quest to save her friends and stop a supernatural war.

Sharpshooter Melinda West, 29, has encountered more than her share of supernatural creatures after a monster infection killed her mother. Now, Melinda and her charismatic partner, Lance, offer their exterminating services to desperate towns, fighting everything from giant flying scorpions to psychic bugs. But when they accidentally release a demon, they must track a dangerous outlaw across treacherous lands and battle a menagerie of creatures—all before an army of soul-devouring monsters descend on Earth.

The Witcher meets Bonnie and Clyde in a re-imagined Old West full of diverse characters, desolate landscapes, and fast-paced adventure.

My Thoughts

As someone who has been a fan of westerns since I was a kid, I’m always on the lookout for a good read that combines the genre with something extra. And that’s exactly what I found in KC Grifant’s Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger.

From the moment I started reading, the fast-paced action and the strong character development drew me in. Melinda, the protagonist, is a tough gunslinger who fights against monsters in a gritty old west setting. But what I appreciated most was the way Grifant gave Melinda some serious depth, allowing us to see both humanity and vulnerability as well.

The plot is tight and well-executed and kept me engaged from start to finish. Melinda and her partner Lance travel from town to town, fighting various monsters that plague the terrified residents. But when a demon is unleashed, things really heat up. The tension never lets up. Grifant manages to seamlessly combine different genres–western, horror, fantasy, and thriller–without it feeling forced or disjointed.

The settings are described in vivid detail, and the monsters are imaginative and well-crafted. The world of Melinda was both familiar and unique at the same time. For anyone who loves a good western with a twist, this is a fun, engaging read that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. As this was the first book I’ve read by Grifant, I have to say I didn’t know what to expect. A great, fun, read that lets your mind just wander. There’s a time for that, and Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger is a great escape.

Available at Amazon: https://amzn.to/3JPC7ry

Interview with KC Grifant

Please share about the genesis of this book. Where did the ideas come from? And how did your thoughts change during the writing process?

Several years ago, I competitively played a horror-western-themed card game called Doomtown: Reloaded. This was the first time I became really immersed in the “weird west” genre (essentially a blend of Old West with sci-fi, fantasy or horror elements). I became inspired to explore the genre more seriously.

I wrote several original short stories starring two characters who are monster exterminators in an alternate Old West: Melinda, the stoic sharpshooter, and her easygoing partner, Lance. These weird west short stories were published internationally in magazines and anthologies, so it was a natural next step to write a novel starring them in an epic adventure.

My debut supernatural western novel MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER (Brigids Gate Press) takes place in the late 1800s in a location that resembles the southwestern United States but with a critical difference: species of monsters terrorize the land. The story features Melinda and Lance fighting everything from giant flying scorpions to psychic bugs, but during one of their jobs they accidentally release a demon that steals their friend’s soul. They must track a notorious outlaw across treacherous, monster-filled lands to save their friend before an army of soul-devouring demons descend on Earth.

In terms of how my writing changed throughout the process, most changes centered around cutting several creatures and side characters from the story to make sure the plot and action flowed seamlessly. I hope to incorporate those into future stories.

What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them?

My very first goal for this dark fantasy/horror western was to make sure it was a fun, fast-paced adventure foremost. Based on reviews and feedback, I’d say this was achieved!

Another major goal I had for this book was to subvert some of the classic archetypes in Old West retellings—for example, the lone, stoic gunslinger, the helpful mystic, the love interest. I wanted to do this because 1) I was tired of seeing the same stereotypical characters over and over again, and 2) it was fun from a creative, experimental writing approach.

Lastly, I wanted to bring diversity to my western setting. I introduced a variety of backgrounds and identities of people in the Old West by drawing on real-world, lesser-known historic accounts. I also strove for women to be around 50% of the characters. Women make up half the population, but you rarely see that balance in mainstream stories, especially westerns.

What was the hardest part of writing this book?

The hardest part in writing MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER was making all the moments and scenes fit—it’s like putting together a puzzle while you’re also creating the pieces. Specifically, I wanted to make sure action was driving the plot without losing sight of the human motivations that make stories compelling. It took a lot of fine-tuning to keep the plot focused and ensure every component was integral to the story in some way.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

Writing MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER was a lot of fun. The level of horror is not very dark or heavy; I was going for a level of horror that you might see in Buffy the Vampire or The Witcher, where the story is entertaining, sometimes scary, but not overly graphic. In these stories, the characters are dealing with epic stakes, but there are also plenty of moments of light-hearted humor.

Were there alternate endings you considered?

I usually have the endings of my stories in mind before I start writing them, so that is one thing that doesn’t change during the process typically.

What authors of the past have been major influences, either leading up to writing this novel or in your writing in general? Do you have a favorite?

As a teenager and young adult discovering my writing voice, I deeply admired the works of Margaret Atwood, Anne Rice, William Gibson, Octavia Butler, L.J. Smith, and Philip K. Dick for their distinct styles. I also constantly re-read the adventures of Sherlock Holmes and classic horror authors (Shelley, Poe, etc.) for their atmospheric settings. All these authors have inspired me to find ways to incorporate expansive world-building, complex character development, and evocative themes and plots into my stories.

Do you have a writing routine?

With full-time work and two small kids, I usually write in the evening once everyone is in bed and the world has slowed down. With a hectic schedule I also write on-the-go quite a bit; on my phone during a break or while stuck in traffic, for example.

Did you edit out anything you wish you would have kept in?

There were a few side stories and extra characters that I ultimately edited out for the sake of pacing and keeping the action prominent. These are safely stored away for short stories or future novels!

How has this writing journey been for you?

My writing journey has been evolving over a lifetime. I started creating stories pretty much as soon as I learned to write. I wrote novels (unpublished) and short tales throughout grade and high school. Around college I hit a multi-year writing block as I tried to figure out what I wanted to do professionally. Once I settled into my career and relationships, I found more peace of mind to return to writing and started regularly publishing short stories.

Having my debut novel release this year has been the culmination of many years of honing storytelling skills and pursuing despite countless rejections and setbacks that are part of this business. I’ve been extremely fortunate to have a very supportive family/friend network, as well as encouraging colleagues in the writing/horror/indie publishing community.

What other projects do you have planned or are presently working on?

I have several short stories lined up for anthologies and podcasts this year, both squarely horror and weird westerns. Also, I am in the middle of drafting the next book featuring Melinda West. It has raised stakes, nastier monsters and some twists that surprised even me in writing it!

Readers can stay updated at www.KCGrifant.com; by connecting with me on the major social media platforms @kcgrifant; or by signing up for my newsletter (http://eepurl.com/hmZGVb).

Links:

Instagram: instagram.com/kcgrifant/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kcgrifant
Facebook: facebook.com/kcgrifant
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kcgrifant

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8288519.K_C_Grifant

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/KC-Grifant/author/B01B3O66AY