R.A. Evans's Blog, page 2

People Watching Provides Great Inspiration

Yes, I’m one of those…I watch people. No, not in some creepy stalker sort of way; I’m a fly on the wall. At least that’s my plan but perhaps I’m not nearly as good at being stealthy as I think I am.

I have drawn inspiration from complete strangers while standing in line at the grocery store, waiting impatiently outside the dressing room while my wife tries on outfit after outfit, and even at my son’s school events. In fact, my current project features a protagonist who for all intents and purposes was inspired by the gentleman who changes my oil at my local Valvoline. I sure hope he’s not a fan or follower of this blog. Who know’s what he could do to my break lines while he’s changing out my oil filter!

Although most of the character’s I write about are based in some way on real people in my life -  this practice helps me to attach emotion to them – some are completely based on strangers and my vivid imagination. For instance, in my thriller Asylum Lake the majority of  characters are real to me in some way. April was indeed my first kiss, and Frank Griggs is a conglomeration of two of my older siblings. Even the trooper Jim Bowling, a bit player who meets a very tragic end, is based on my sister’s boyfriend from high school – a real a-hole if I ever met one.

The character I had the most fun with, however, was Douglass Wyatt – the hospital orderly from Hell. Doug broke my nose in high school and it only took me twenty years to find a way to suitably repay him. No spoilers here…but I encourage you to read and learn about Mr. Douglass Wyatt and his fondness for young boys. In fact, I enjoyed writing this character somuch that he features prominently in Grave Undertakings, the chilling sequel to Asylum Lake.

To my writer friends, I encourage you to find inspiration where you can. For me, it comes from strange places and people.  To my fans, followers, and even family – you never know, I may be behind you in line at the grocery store sometime — so be careful how you act.

Give your brain the stimulation it really deserves!

Don’t own a Kindle? You can still download the free app and read from the comfort of your laptop, smartphone, or tablet. Skip the latte and make an ebook part of your regular routine.
 
 

 

Character Development: Getting inside the minds of those you write about

Last night I completed my character development questionnaire for the antagonist in a new project I am toying with.   Usually, the antagonist is the easiest character for me to develop; I get to infuse the character with all of the cool, evil and twisted things I wish I could do and say.

I’ve mentioned the questionnaire I use before and thought I would share a bit of it with you.  Some questions are fairly basic and standard. Others reflect my own unique ways of getting into a character’s head. Here are 20 of the 100 questions I answer about each of the characters in my stories.

What is your character’s name? Does the character have a nickname?
What is your character’s hair color? Eye color?
What kind of distinguishing facial features does your character have?
Does your character have a birthmark? Where is it? What about scars? How did he get them?
Who are your character’s friends and family? Who does she surround herself with? Who are the people your character is closest to? Who does he wish he were closest to?
Where was your character born? Where has she lived since then? Where does she call home?
Where does your character go when he’s angry?
What is her biggest fear? Who has she told this to? Who would she never tell this to? Why?
Does she have a secret?
When has your character been in love? Had a broken heart?
Describe a recurring dream or nightmare this character might have.
List the choices (not circumstances) that led this character to his/her current predicament.
List the circumstances over which this character has no control.
What wakes this character in the middle of the night?
How would a stranger describe this character?
What does this character resolve to do differently every morning?
Who depends on this character? Why?
What is this character hiding from him/herself?
Does this character believe in god?
What has this character lost?

There you have it. Now you know where I start with my characters. At some point I’ll post the entire Q&A lists for the main characters in Asylum Lake. I think you may find some of the answers quite surprising!

Fellow Horror Author Brooklyn Hudson Interviewed Me Today

It’s been awhile since I’ve subjected myself to any interviews. I’ve been trying to write and trying to sound witty and interesting can really drain the creative juices. But when fellow writer Brooklyn Hudson asked if I would be willing to answer a few questions on her blog I couldn’t say “no”.

CLICK HERE to read the full interview. And if you’re looking for a new book to sink your teeth into – try Brooklyn’s WISHBONE.  It’s just the right kind of creepy tale to keep you up past your bedtime.

Turning the Lense of Character Development Upon Myself

We’re all flawed in some way – and its not necessarily a bad thing.

I have a list of 100 questions which I have compiled over the years to help me flesh out the characters I write about. Everything from religious views and level of education completed to bad habits and unrealized dreams falls somewhere on the list.  Its always a chore to complete this questionnaire as I create my characters but it  pays off in the end.

In fact, a little known detail about the popular character of  Frank Griggs from my thriller Asylum Lake – he squeezes the loaves of bread at the supermarket.  April would cringe every time she saw him walk into Kroger because she knew a slew of people would be complaining about the bread.

Why is that level of detail important? Good question. It’s not like that weird habit ever made its way onto the printed page. It does help me, however, figure out what makes a character tick.  I always heard that the true measure of a man can be taken by how he acts when he thinks nobody is looking. Well, love him or hate him, Frank Griggs squeezes the bread when he thinks nobody is looking!

Late last night I turned myself loose on those 100 questions and answered them as honestly about myself as I could.  Although I came to no earth-shattering conclusions, I did realize that in many ways I really don’t know who I am. Like many of you, there is the “public me” and the “private me and somewhere in the shadows between lurks the real me.

A few items of note, however, may surprise you. Although I religiously quote Pearl Jam lyrics, I am mostly likely to find myself singing songs of a much less cool variety (of late it has been Hall & Oates).  I often find myself driving with my blinker on – and yet still complain when I see others doing it. Most shocking to me, however, is the realization that people are often much better friends to me than what I reciprocate.

So to those of you who count me as friend,  please know that I have put myself on warning (a double secret probation of sorts).  Your friendship and support is greatly appreciated.

In light of this new-found insight, I am off to do a bit of writing. Although I promise Pearl Jam to be my soundtrack this afternoon, know that it is the lyrics to Rich Girl that calls to me.

 

 

The Human Psyche – The Source of Real Horror: Guest post by author Ashley Fontainne

Editor’s Note: I forget exactly who it was that turned me onto the works of Ashley Fontainne but I will be forever in their debt. I’m a sucker for a good story and Ashley weaves ‘em with the best. She’s dark and twisted in all of the right ways. I’ll be subjecting her to a special 7 Deadly Questions in the near future and even posting a review of her thriller Accountable to None. It’s an honor to have her as my guest today – and to get her take on one of my favorite subjects – FEAR.

 

R. A. Evans recently asked me to discuss what really frightens me–what sends cold shivers up my spine and causes the hair follicles on my arms to tingle with fear. My immediate response was spiders. Those nasty, eight-legged creepy crawlers terrify me enough that I have been known to jump on a table and scream “SPIDER!” at the top of my lungs while I impatiently wait for someone to remove said arachnid from my presence. 

That primal, irrational fear, I’m sure, was not exactly the type of answer Mr. Evans was searching for.  Once I cleansed my mind of arachnophobic thoughts, I pondered: what really does scare me?  Is it ghostly apparitions appearing from thin air while their eerie voices screech out, intent upon causing me bodily harm? How about the mangled monsters lurking under the bed, in the closet or prowling around in the basement that desire nothing more than to rip me limb from limb? Oh, I know! Maybe the grotesquely rotted, brain-eating zombie that is lurching its way ever so close, ready to chomp down on my skull for dinner? Perhaps a rabid beast that only wishes to drain my entire body of its crimson life force, leaving in its wake nothing but a hollow corpse?

All of these ideas make for great reading choices for fans of horror and thrill seekers looking for their next big “scare.” I love reading a novel that makes me keep the light on, or one that jolts me enough to look over my shoulder every two seconds, ensuring I am alone and not the next meal/victim from some unholy thing. However, what strikes the chord deep down in my soul and doesn’t leave is simple: the human psyche.

What moves one person’s core behavior, whether consciously or subconsciously, to respond in a viscous manner to another human being, inflicting great pain or death?  Why does one child of an abusive family grow up to be an advocate for battered souls, yet another becomes a serial killer?  What twisted forces alter an individual’s perception on life to the point where taking the life of another becomes as simple as swatting a spider? Why does the obsessive need for more wealth, power and notoriety cloud the judgment of some, allowing them to sleep at night after they signed the death warrant of others? What part is missing in the internal moral code of one that kills for unrequited love? Why does one person chose the socially acceptable course for justice when wronged yet another bucks tradition and succumbs to the animal urge to kill?

These questions, and more, are what drive me under the covers to snuggle closer to my husband while reading a psychological thriller. They are real life issues that each of us must face in one form or another.  A book that makes you ponder what you would do if faced with the same situation, causing you to delve into your own moral code and what might direct you to stray from it, is what I love to read. If faced with life-altering events, what would you do? Could you become a killer?

The first two novels in my Eviscerating the Snake series, Accountable to None and Zero Balance, address these theories. The heroine, Audra Tanner, is faced with a cataclysmic event that transforms her way of thinking, shifting her well educated and “normal” mindset to territory it had never dared tread.  She becomes a different person that is hell-bent on seeking revenge against the people that were responsible for her mental anguish and physical pain. However, there is still enough moral rope pulled tight to keep her from crossing over into the dark waters of a murderer.

In Zero Balance, Audra believes her nightmare is over after obtaining her revenge.  Unfortunately, she finds out that there are those who have no ‘moral rope’ keeping their sanity tethered in reality, and discovers that some will stop at nothing to seek revenge, including murder. Audra also learns that once the cycle of revenge starts, where does it end?

The warped psyche of a damaged mind, one that has no traces of humanity left inside, is where true horror begins. The sinister acts that one human being inflicts upon another congeals to make up the most terrifying monster around.

A sincere thank you to not only R. A. Evans for inviting me to be a guest on his blog today, but also to every single one of my fans from around the world.  To be able to share the words that once only existed in my own mind with each of you is truly a blessing. You took a chance on an unknown author, and for that, I will forever be grateful.  

 

About Ashley

Out of all the great classical texts that deal with revenge, the one that became a part of me, and what inspired me to pen Accountable to None, was The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas.  The physical and emotional pain suffered by Edmund Dantes left me an emotional wreck.  His calculated plans against all those that used him as a pawn in their life-altering game fascinated me.  Edmund’s transformation from the meek, mild-mannered gentleman into a revenge-fueled creature is truly a dark glimpse into the ravaged remains of a ruined mind.

 

Revenge for injustices perpetrated upon us is a tightly interwoven thread of the human condition.  Responding to immoral acts in a violent manner has been a part of society since the beginning of time.  The only thing that has changed over the centuries is the means by which an avenger might seek to accomplish their redemptive plans.  

 

Accountable to None was written as an homage to Dumas’ masterpiece.  Set in modern day Phoenix, Arizona, the book centers around the upper management of a large, successful accounting firm, Winscott & Associates.  I chose to set the scene at an accounting firm since, according  to the most incredible words ever put on paper, the Holy Bible, the love of money is the root of all evil. Corporate greed is showcased through the actions of those that run the company.  The heroine suffers unimaginable pain and vows to seek revenge, which she ultimately achieves after years of plotting and planning.

 

I wanted to take the entire revenge motif to the next level in the sequels, Zero Balance and Adjusting Journal Entry. Sometimes, we tend to cheer and root for the avenging underdog, especially when they finally achieve their long awaited revenge.  However, rarely are the after effects explored once the revenge is completed.  My hope is that after reading these novels, someone contemplating vengeful acts upon another will give pause and reflect on the unfathomably high price of revenge.

 

Links to my books:

Amazon – US:

Accountable to None

Zero Balance (Eviscerating the Snake Vol II)

Amazon  – UK:

Accountable to None

Zero Balance (Eviscerating the Snake Vol II)

Book trailer for Accountable to None

Book trailer for Zero Balance

Website: http://www.ashleyfontainne.com

Sir, you need help?!? – How a simple trip to the grocery store took an uncomfortable left turn

It happened again – my imagination got the best of me.  I was at the grocery store recently enjoying my weekly people watching excursion and picking up a few random items (beer and Funyons) when I found myself by the meat counter.

My father was a butcher and for some reason I am always drawn to this area of the grocery store.  I can vividly recall the reality of life, death, and the joy of being atop the food chain being played out in great detail inside my father’s butcher shop. Hell, during hunting season I would also come home from school to find deer strung up in our garage  ready to be dressed. On more than one occasion I was scolded for my bloody footprints leading into the house.

I digress – grocery shopping. Behind the meat case was an older woman grinding beef. The steel grinder looked ancient. With each rotation of its metal arm chunks of animal flesh would spill out. I was silently watching this woman work when it happened.

“Do you ever worry about someone coming up behind you and forcing your hand into the grinder as you work?”  The words were out of my mouth before I even realized what I was asking – a thought spoken aloud.

The woman looked up from her work, startled by both my presence and the question.  I tried my best PR smile to cover my awkward words; she wasn’t buying it, however.

“Clint,” she called anxiously taking a step back from the grinder and letting some of the meat fall to the floor. Through the swinging doors behind where she stood, leading to where the real work in a butcher shop takes place, strolled quite possibly the largest man I have ever seen. Clint leaned down as the woman whispered something into his ear. I could only imagine what she was saying.

Clint nodded as the woman stole one final glance in my direction before walking through the swinging doors. My attention diverted by her hasty retreat, I failed to notice Clint’s approach. “Sir, you need help?!?”

He was standing at the counter, over-sized hands resting atop the meat case’s shiny surface.  I couldn’t tell if his words were a question or a statement. Unsure of how to respond, I merely smiled and nodded as I proceeded to wheel my squeaky cart away from the meat counter.

I’m not sure if I will be welcomed back at that meat counter, but the experience did make for a fruitful night of writing. And, something tells me that woman will never again operate that meat grinder without worrying about who might be lurking behind her.

To crawl even further inside my twisted mind, check out my debut novel Asylum Lake. It’s a Kindle exclusive and can be yours for the very reasonable price of $2.99.   That’s right – for less than the cost of a fancy cup of coffee you can dive into a Top 5 Haunted Read (according to FOX17 WXMI).

Inside the Story of Grave Undertakings

According to Native American legends, the souls of the dead are carried to the afterlife on the wings of a crow. Sometimes, however, the manner of death is so vile that the soul is weighted down by sadness, grief or guilt. In these instances, the crow is unable to carry the soul to the land of the dead, leaving the  soul in limbo.  These unfortunate souls, carried by crows, cannot rest until those wrongs have been righted.

For those of you who have read my thriller Asylum Lake you know of the restless souls searching to right the wrongs which still hold them captive. It is through their tormented eyes that many of the secrets of the mysterious abandoned asylum will continue to be revealed. Their souls, however, are not the only burden carried on the wings of the crow.

Other legends provide vastly different accounts of the crow.  These legends speak of the black-winged bird as a scavenger of the dead, a feeder on the flesh of the departed, and even a devourer of the souls of the living.  It begs the question – to what use would a crow put the soul of a man?   Is it merely a coincidence that the crow  flies higher into the heavens than nearly all of its feathered bretheren?  Perhaps it is the stolen souls of men which carry the crow ever-closer to the creator.

In Grave Undertakings you will learn much more about the never-ending  journey of  the soul.  The veil which separates the living from the dead has been parted, allowing the most restless of souls to revisit their grief, anger, and loss upon the living.  This parting, however, also provides the living an opportunity to prey upon the souls of the dead.

The cast of characters widens with Grave Undertakings as the story moves both forward and backward in time to reveal even more secrets.  Although much of the story is spent within the walls of the Lake View Asylum, readers will also journey beyond Bedlam Falls to follow the trail of Dr. Wesley Clovis.  From the coal mines of West Virginia to Gray’s Crossing, Indiana, the search for answers eventually leads back to The Lake of Tears.

I look forward to the unearthing of Grave Undertakings in the near future and hope you find as much enjoyment in reading my dark tale as I have had in writing it.

Cheers from Bedlam Falls!

R. A. Evans

Asylum Lake is FREE on KINDLE!

I talk a lot about prostituting myself to sell books, and if that’s the case then my pimp is gonna be pissed because today I’m giving it away for FREE! You have until 11:59 pm PST to download the indie smash Asylum Lake for free on Kindle. Don’t own a Kindle? No problem, simply download the app to read great books like Asylum Lake on your smartphone, PC, or laptop. Heck – you can even read Kindle titles on your iPad!

CLICK HERE to download your FREE copy of Asylum Lake and I’ll even throw in a week’s worth of nightmares at no additional cost!

Indie Book of the Day Honors Asylum Lake with Award