Smashwords Interview

 

Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?

 

Absolutely! The first story I ever wrote after deciding to become a writer was a novel entitled WHISPERING THE PAST. It's the story of a woman who moves into her childhood home with her husband. Her abusive past comes back to haunt her as her life begins to mimic that of her alcoholic mother. I was 14 years old when I started it. Two and a half years and three typewriters later, it was finished. It isn't bad, but I've never let anyone read it. No matter how much they've begged. Who knows? One day I may decide to drag it out, dust it off, and polish it up for publication.

 

 

What is your writing process?

 

My process usually goes like this:Have a brilliant idea at the most inconvenient time. Jot down every detail as fast as I can before I forget. (Learned to do that the hard way) The idea usually consists of the title, the opening, and a vague sense of where I'll end up, but no real idea how I'll get there. Eventually I'll finish another one of the other projects I have going and get around to starting that one. Then I go like hell for as long as possible, writing thousands of words a day (my record is 10,500). Once finished, I step away for a while before coming back to read through it from the beginning, adding and taking away, polishing the story as best as I can. Then I step away from it for a while and come back, reading through it from the beginning one more time and paying special attention to both the words and the story, catching as many errors as possible.I only write notes by hand, although occasionally I'll scribble out a short story or if I'm away from my computer and something strikes me, I'll write a scene by hand. Otherwise, I write it all on my laptop. I rarely outline anything. I've tried it. I don't like it. It just doesn't work for me. I like to go where the story takes me, and having an outline puts me under pressure to follow a strict route. It stifles me and I can't work that way.

 

 

Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?

 

That's a tough question because every book I've ever read had some sort of impact on me. The earliest books that really stuck with me were The Nancy Drew Mysteries. I read every one of them, and when there were no more for me to read I moved on to The Hardy Boys. I loved everything about them. The mysteries, the humor, the suspense, the entire worlds that were created on paper. It was amazing. But the book that means the most to me is Dean Koontz's Watchers. It was that book that made me want to write. I sat in my room after reading the last page, clutching the book in my hands, and simply staring across the room with wide eyes. I was in awe of him, of his stories, and mostly of the way he'd made me feel just by making up a story. He made me feel, and I knew right then that I was meant to do the same thing. I immediately set about writing my first novel. Watchers will always have a special place in my heart. If I'd never read it, who knows where I'd be now? I may have never discovered my calling.

 

 

How do you approach cover design?

 

The image I see in my mind for the cover usually comes to me early on, sometimes as soon as I have the idea for the story. Rarely do I have a story complete and have no idea what the cover should be. Since I make my own covers, I have the ability to make exactly what I see in my mind without having to convey that to someone else.

 

 

What are your five favorite books, and why?

 

Watchers by Dean Koontz because it's the one that made me realize I wanted to be a writer. Mine by Robert McCammon because it absolutely floored me on page one and didn't stop until the last page. A Simple Plan by Scott Smith because the story is brilliant and ironic, and I do love irony. After Midnight by Richard Laymon because it was the first of his I read and one hell of a ride. Misery by Stephen King because all writers want a loyal cockadoodie fanbase.

 

 

What do you read for pleasure?

 

I read horror, suspense, and thrillers.

 

 

What is your e-reading device of choice?

 

Kindle, hands down.

 

 

What book marketing techniques have been most effective for you?

 

Giveaways. You wouldn't think that giving away your work would increase sales, but it does. Not always, but most of the time. Nothing has been as effective as that for me. Not yet anyway.

 

 

Describe your desk.

 

My desk is cluttered. There are books and papers stacked a yard high, I swear. But it's okay because I don't write there. I have a laptop so my writing takes place wherever I happen to be. And it's a good thing because seriously. Someone needs to clean off my desk.

 

 

When did you first start writing?

 

I was about 13 when I started writing poetry. My junior high English teacher would assign us poems to write and while the rest of the class groaned, I enjoyed it. It was so easy for me. The words just fell out of my pen. I soon found myself writing them for fun. My childhood wasn't pleasant, and this was a great escape for me. At 14 I began writing my first novel. Other teenagers were running around with their friends, partying and other nonsense, but I was holed up in my bedroom clacking away at an old typewriter into the wee hours of the morning.

 

 

What motivated you to become an indie author?

 

I wasn't even aware such a thing existed until spring of 2011. I'd recently discovered J.A. Konrath and Blake Crouch and was reading everything of theirs I could get my hands on, including Konrath's blog, The Newbie's Guide to Publishing. At first, I thought self-publishing had to be a scam, but after doing a lot of research I decided it wasn't. I thought about it for a while and decided to give it a shot. The traditional publishing industry was such a hassle, I figured I had nothing to lose. I already had a few novels and short stories laying around, so I figured why not publish them and see if they'd sell. I was floored when I started selling books immediately. Literally the same day I published them I sold something like 10 books. I couldn't believe it. I've sold books every day since. I can't believe this didn't come along sooner. It's the best thing that has ever happened to writers, and I only wish I would've done it sooner.

 

 

How has Smashwords contributed to your success?

 

Without Smashwords, my books would've never been available to the public. They'd still be sitting on my hard drive, collecting virtual dust while I continued to live my life wondering whether or not I would've ever made it as an author.

 

 

What is the greatest joy of writing for you?

 

The people in my stories are real to me, so the greatest joy is simply telling their tales to the world. Of course having readers tell me how much my books mean to them is great too.

 

 

What do your fans mean to you?

 

Everything.

 

 

Who are your favorite authors?

 

Dean Koontz, Richard Laymon, Blake Crouch, Jeff Strand, Robert McCammon, Jillian Flynn

 

 

When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?

 

If I'm not writing, you can find me outside taking photographs, or stretched out on the couch watching television or reading. I'm a simple gal. I prefer staying home with my husband and son to going out.

 

 

What inspires you to get out of bed each day?

 

Pretty much always the urge to pee. That and the perpetual list of things I have to do.

 

 

How do you discover the ebooks you read?

 

Various sources. Word of mouth is the most common.

 

 

Is there a particular order in which we should be reading your books?

 

I try to write my books so that they can each be read independently, even the ones that are part of a series. For example, PUSHED and 22918 are both follow-ups to HELD but can easily be read as stand-alone novels. My MINUTES TO DEATH series can be read as individual stories, but there really is an order and it's as follows: THE LONELIEST ROAD, CLOSE TO HOME, THE LAST RESORT, SHOCK ROCK, and THE FRENCH QUARTER.

 

 

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Recently, I was fortunate enough to be interviewed by the seriously talented Aaron Loyd. If you aren’t familiar with him, he’s an up-and-coming artist who specializes in special effects. I’m lucky to be able to call Aaron a friend, and as an assignment, he interviewed me. I’d like to share the interview with you now. Enjoy!

 

Why do you live here in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri? Why not live somewhere else where you’re more likely to get your name out there?

 

I was born here and lived here all of my life, with the exception of the one year I lived in Tacoma, WA. There are so many reasons I stay here. I love the country. The scenery is beautiful, the people are caring and friendly, and there’s just so much room to move. You don’t get that in the city. Fortunately, with the internet, I can get my name out there just as easily from the middle of nowhere as I can from the center of everything.

 

How many years have you been an author?

 

I realized at the age of 14 that I was supposed to write. That means I’ve been fiddling with words now for 22 years. Wow. Has it really been that long?

 

What is your best-selling book? In your opinion, why do you think it’s sold so well?

 

My best-selling book so far has been HELD. Honestly, I’m not sure why it’s done so well. I mean, it’s a disgusting book. A great book, but disgusting. There’s torture, necrophilia, death and dismemberment, kidnapping, and some downright gross stuff going on in it. I had no idea when I wrote it that people would love it so much. Maybe it’s the snarky attitude of the main character. Everybody loves her.

 

What’s it like to be famous? You do have fans right?

 

I do have a lot of fans, which still blows me away. It’s hard to wrap my mind around the fact that all across the world, people are reading what I wrote and they’re craving more. They’re waiting—often impatiently—for me to put out something new. It’s thrilling and exciting. I mean, this is what I always wanted and it’s surreal that it’s actually happening. Though I don’t consider myself famous. Yet.

 

Which of your fictional characters do you relate to the most? Why?

 

I’d have to say I relate most to Brian Boozer, the main character in RAGE. Like Brian, I had a rough childhood. In fact, many of Brian’s emotions are based on my emotions from when I was younger. There’s a lot of myself in him.

 

Have you ever considered sending in one of your books to be formatted into a script or screenplay?

 

Actually, I recently had an agent in New York who was shopping around for a producer for my novel RAGE. As of yet, we haven’t had any takers. He’d mentioned to me that we should shop around for a producer for HELD too, but that’s still in the talk stages. A few years ago, I began writing a script for one of my stories. About halfway through, it got pushed to the back burner for some other projects and I haven’t gone back to it yet. But it’s possible. A friend of mine, Blake Crouch, recently had a company pick up his story PINES. It’ll air next year on Fox as a show called Wayward Pines. In this business, it’s always possible.

 

Do you have any writers that you look up to? What are some favorite authors that you read as a kid?

 

As a child, I loved Carolyn Keene’s Nancy Drew Mystery Stories books. When I’d read all of them, I moved on to Franklin W. Dixon’s The Hardy Boys books. My mom collected V.C. Andrews books, and I read all of them as well. When I was fourteen, I stumbled across a book by Dean Koontz called Watchers. That’s the book that made me realize I was supposed to write, the book that changed my life. Dean Koontz became my favorite author and I read everything I could get my hands on by him. He still—and always will hold a special place in my heart. Lately, some other authors have become important to me as well. J.A. Konrath (if not for him, I would still be unpublished and clueless), Blake Crouch, Jeff Strand, Richard Laymon, David Sedaris, Stephen King…I could go on.

 

When do you find time to read between writing, photography, and being a mom and wife?

 

It’s not always easy. However, I keep my Kindle close. Sometimes I manage to read a chapter or two before I go to sleep. Sometimes, I read a few pages while waiting on my son to get out of school. I always take it with me to doctor appointments and squeeze in a chapter or so while waiting. Gone are the days when I could snuggle down on the couch and read an entire book in a day. Now, I just have to grab a page or two whenever and wherever I can.

 

Favorite book?

 

This is the question I always dread being asked only because there are so many books that I love for various reasons, which makes it hard to narrow it down to one. But if I had to pick only one (and I do because you asked), I’d have to say Watchers by Dean Koontz. Not only is it a fantastic book, a great story written very well, it’s the book that made me realize I was born to be a writer. I’d been writing poems and songs for a couple years without ever even considering writing a book. However, when I read the last sentence and closed that book, I just knew. This was my calling. This was what I was supposed to do. I wanted to tell a story that drew the reader in and put them through an emotional wringer. I’m sadistic like that. I started my first novel that week. Watchers will always have a place in my heart.

 

Hobbies?

 

Boy, do I have hobbies! In addition to photography, I love to knit, crochet, embroider, and quilt. Basically if there’s a needle art out there, I’m into it. I sometimes kid that having hobbies is my hobby.

 

What is the reason you write horror stories? Is it just what you grew up with? Does stuff that shows up in your life reflect into what you write?  

 

I absolutely grew up on horror! Every horror movie ever made, I’ve watched at least once. Some of my earliest memories are of horror movies. I love that fear, that adrenaline rush and panic you feel while watching a horror movie or reading a horror story. To me, the scariest stories are those that could really happen. I’ve studied serial killers for a long time now, and I often incorporate things I’ve read or learned that have really happened into my stories. I also write about some of my own fears.

 

What do you think you would be doing now if you didn’t get into writing?

 

When I was younger, I wanted to be a teacher. Of course I also wanted to be a doctor and a lawyer. As I got older, I realized I had a bizarre fascination with forensics. I then wanted to become a forensic pathologist, crime scene investigator, or a medical examiner. If I didn’t write, I would more than most likely be in the forensic field. But since I do write, I use my forensic knowledge in my stories. It’s like having the best of both worlds.

 

Most memorable moment?

 

I have so many. I’d have to say my absolute most memorable moment would be having my son. It was a big deal to me, and I remember everything about it. After all, it’s not every day you expel a person from your body.

 

Greatest accomplishment?

 

Hm. Well, I think that my greatest accomplishment out of my whole life would have to be overcoming quadriplegia. Not many people can say they’ve done that, and I feel that I did a pretty good job of it.

 

If I were to give you $100,000 right now, what is the first thing you would do with it?

 

The first thing I would do is pay off my house and my car. I’d split the remainder two ways and donate it to St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital and The Ronald McDonald House.

 

Pet peeves?

 

Like hobbies, I have a lot of pet peeves. The ones that top the list though are: people who chew with their mouth open, people who misspell, misuse, or mispronounce words, people who say they’re going to show up at a certain time and either never do or are really late, and people who walk around with their cell phones attached to their ears and refuse to get off no matter how much it inconveniences other people.

 

What are some of the things you do for entertainment?

 

I love to watch people, take walks through the woods, go on road trips, and shop (even if I don’t buy anything; I just enjoy looking).

 

What does it feel like to be interviewed?

 

It’s fun! I thought it would get old, but it hasn’t. Not yet anyway. I know I enjoy reading interviews by my favorite authors, getting to know them a little better, so I enjoy being able to do the same for my readers.