Unless you're referencing my prodigious waistline then no, I am most certainly not the next biggest thing. BUT, this here is part of a blog hop. The premise is simple. Someone who thinks I'm pretty groovy sends me and two others a list of questions. We answer them on the Wednesday after the blogger who tagged us posts theirs. In turn, we choose our own victims, send them questions of our own sinister design and send them along. Wash, rinse, repeat.
So, who tagged me and thinks I deserve to be a part of the 'next biggest thing' blog hop? A lovely person by the name of
Lisa Woods. She's recently had a story called 'Die With Your Boots On' published in the anthology
'Fifty Shades Of Decay'. Check it out!
Now, onto the questions.
What are you working on right now?
At this very moment I'm working on draining an oil can of Foster's Premium Ale. Insofar as writing? When I'm not promoting my upcoming Urban Fantasy/Paranormal novel 'Ghosts of Demons Past' I'm cleaning up a novel I'd written even before that. I have a title, but I'm not giving that up just yet. What I will say is that it's a total departure from 'Words With Fiends' and 'Ghosts'. It has a Lifetime movie of the week feel to it. *enter sappy violin music here*. Sort of a life story. The only hint I'll give as to the plot is that the main character is already dead. But that's all you get...for now! *twists imaginary mustache*
How does it differ from other works in its genre?
As far a 'Ghosts of Demons Past' is concerned, none of the other works in its genre have been written by me, thus making it a spectacular departure from anything you've ever read! All kidding aside, Urban Fantasy seems to feature female lead characters. My main character, Seth Gabriel, is a guy--as if you couldn't tell by the name. It features no vampires, no werewolves, no fairies. Seth is a medium who can see and speak to the dead and his life hasn't been pleasant as a result.
What experiences have influences you?
This is such a broad question I don't even know where to start, so I guess I'll just give a broad answer. We're the sum of our experiences. Everything we've ever gone through up to this very moment makes us who we are in the here and now. Nebulous answers...I has them.
Why do you write what you do?
Also another question I've been asked on more than one occasion in which I've yet to formulate a proper answer. Why are my stories 'Hollow' and 'Words With Fiends' horror? Why'd I write them as such? I've no idea. They're just story ideas that popped into my head and seemed would be cool to write. I don't read a whole lot of horror to be honest. Why did I write an Urban Fantasy? I read more UF than horror so I guess it was bound to happen but, once again, the character and some story elements came to me one day and I worked around that. Plenty of ideas knock around in my noggin and not all of them are horror or paranormal. Some are sci fi, some are goofy, some are straight up contemporary fiction. As long as I think the idea is good and it'll both be fun to write and tell a good story, I'm all for writing it despite the genre.
How does your writing process work?
So far I've been flying by the seat of my pants. I don't do long, involved outlines. I don't have a room resembling that of a conspiracy theorist's, filled with note cards, clippings, print outs, all connected by red yarn. The flow of the stories tend to reside in my head before I write them, at least the general arc. I come up with some characters as I'm dreaming up the story and then I start to write when I think there's enough there to make a move on. It's worked for me so far and that's how I've written every single word to date. Will it change? It might. Who knows? Also, I write when I want to or feel like it. I'm not the type to sit at my laptop and force myself to write if I'm not feeling it. Many writers would banish me to the tenth level of writer's hell for even thinking such a thing, but hey, different keystrokes for different writers. There's no method that works for everyone. You do what you do and do it as best you're able.
What is the hardest part about writing?
Another question that's difficult to answer. I'd just answered the same question in an interview not too long ago, although it was worded a bit differently. The hardest part of the actual writing for me is turning an idea into a plot and turning that into a story. An idea will only get you so far but making a cool plot with characters that readers will get attached to? Nothing's harder than that if you ask me.
What would you like to try as a writer that you haven't yet?
I've written books and I've written short stories, so those are covered. Honestly? I don't know. Being that I'm pretty green at this whole thing, I haven't done all that much, so it's all new to me. Although, come to think of it, writing a full novel in third person perspective from multiple points of view is high on the list. My short stories have primarily been third person, but both of my novels have been first person. That's just the way they formulated in my mind. But yeah, a full novel in third person from several different perspectives. I'd like to try that and, if the ideas I have for future novels work out the way I have them tentatively planned, it may come to fruition.
Who are the authors that you most admire?Yikes. So many to name. Ken Follett is absolutely amazing. He's the master. 'Pillars of the Earth' is my favorite book of all time. James Rollins is up there as well. So are Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. Deborah Crombie, Brian Freeman, Kim Harrison, Peter F. Hamilton, Arianna Franklin...just too many to name.
Who are the new authors to watch out for?
Once again, tons to name and I hope any writer who happens upon this and doesn't see their name doesn't get offended! Tracy Tucker, Richard Wright, Belinda Frisch, Marika Christian, Holand Peterson, Lisa Woods (yes, I went there!!!!)...just too many to name.
What scares you?
Sentient household appliances. Seriously though. What frightens me the most? The future and its uncertainty.
So, that's all folks! Who have I chosen for my victims? Right now, there's only one. I know, it's supposed to be three but I put out the feelers on my author page and nobody bit and I'm not going to bug people about it! So *begin drumroll here* my victim issssssssssssssssssssssssssssss:
Belinda Frisch! Yes, she's (un)lucky enough to deal with a bunch of questions that my twisted mine has (yet to) come up with! Look for her answers to my inane questions one week from today!!
Take care, talk soon, be well, thanks for popping by!
