10 Questions with Drake Vaughn
1. What does crinkled fiction mean to you?
I chose the word “crinkled” for my fiction because it evokes both a visual and a sound, neither of which are pleasant. There’s something off about the word and that’s why I love it. Unlike glossy romanticized fiction, my writing delves into the gloom and pain lurking behind shiny surfaces. The bigger the warts, the better. It’s an extension of the veristic style that focuses on the character’s flaws and shortcomings, rather than a heroic quest. The best way to understand crinkled fiction is to read it.
2. Who has been your biggest influence as a writer?
As a teenager, I read every Stephen King novel I could find. Unlike the books we were forced to read in school, I actually enjoyed King. Even though his yarns are filled with over-the-top crazy, he manages to hit on certain truths, such as relatable characters and working-class struggles absent from other novels. Since then, I’ve expanded my taste in horror fiction, but King was the original spark that set me down this path. I’m a proud “constant reader” and a huge fan.
3. Why did you set your novel When the Devil Climbs on a billboard?
The idea for a billboard came from a family friend who worked hanging them. I thought they offered the perfect setting for a horror story since they are isolated and possess the natural danger of falling. The idea of being trapped atop one is terrifying, especially since one has a clear view of the surroundings. Plus, on a more metaphorical side, they are glossy ads on the surface, but cover a darker, more hidden truth, which is the underlying theme of the book.
4. What’s the greatest moment in your writing career?
I really enjoy hearing from fans that’ve been touched in some way by my writing. After I published my novella, The Test, which deals with a high-school student who discovers his best friend is gay, I had a man email me about a similar experience from his past. Getting paid is nice, but really, it’s these correspondences that motivate me to keep writing.
5. Do you outline prior to writing your story, or do you work out the plot as you write?
I always outline. Before I start the first sentence, I have detail character sketches and know their arcs. That’s not to say I don’t deviate from my original outline. Most times, it’s more of a sketch than a paint-by-number routine, and I typically add more and more crazy with every edit. The plot can be quite fluid, but as long as my characters remain true to their arcs, the story turns out fine.
6. How did you land your agent Melissa Carrigee and what is your relationship with her like?
Melissa is terrific! I read Publishers Weekly along with listening to their podcasts, and LLA (the agency she works for) did a press release welcoming her to the agency. New agents tend to be looking for new writers, so I contacted her and passed along my manuscript. She loved it and took me on as a client.
7. What made you start writing?
Being a huge reader throughout my entire life, becoming a writer seemed a natural step. There was no exact moment I made a decision, but I’ve been writing since I was a child. In school, I’d draw cartoons and comics, many featuring silly caricatures of the teachers, and received positive attention from the girls. That’s probably my underlying psychological motivation. That and pain.
8. Is there any subject that is off limits for you as a writer?
No! I adore exploring arenas that are typically forbidden in real life. That’s the point of make-believe. The darker the better. Nobody was ever hurt by a book. If you aren’t triggering something, you’re doing it wrong!
9. How do you define success as a writer?
Success is having devoted readers. All the other stuff is a distraction.
10. If Hollywood was making a film adaptation of When the Devil Climbs, and the director asked you to cast the role of Russ Grote, who would you choose?
Ha! If I could only be that lucky. Honestly, I’d take whoever wanted to do it. In make-believe land, I’d have Tim Fehlbaum direct. He did an amazing job on Hell. The post-apocalyptic world he created was unbelievably terrific and truly terrifying. I can’t wait for his next feature. As for casting Russ, I’d choose someone like Stephen Moyer or Zeljko Ivanek. Both do amazing southern accents and express a hidden painful past, which would be perfect for Russ.
I chose the word “crinkled” for my fiction because it evokes both a visual and a sound, neither of which are pleasant. There’s something off about the word and that’s why I love it. Unlike glossy romanticized fiction, my writing delves into the gloom and pain lurking behind shiny surfaces. The bigger the warts, the better. It’s an extension of the veristic style that focuses on the character’s flaws and shortcomings, rather than a heroic quest. The best way to understand crinkled fiction is to read it.
2. Who has been your biggest influence as a writer?
As a teenager, I read every Stephen King novel I could find. Unlike the books we were forced to read in school, I actually enjoyed King. Even though his yarns are filled with over-the-top crazy, he manages to hit on certain truths, such as relatable characters and working-class struggles absent from other novels. Since then, I’ve expanded my taste in horror fiction, but King was the original spark that set me down this path. I’m a proud “constant reader” and a huge fan.
3. Why did you set your novel When the Devil Climbs on a billboard?
The idea for a billboard came from a family friend who worked hanging them. I thought they offered the perfect setting for a horror story since they are isolated and possess the natural danger of falling. The idea of being trapped atop one is terrifying, especially since one has a clear view of the surroundings. Plus, on a more metaphorical side, they are glossy ads on the surface, but cover a darker, more hidden truth, which is the underlying theme of the book.
4. What’s the greatest moment in your writing career?
I really enjoy hearing from fans that’ve been touched in some way by my writing. After I published my novella, The Test, which deals with a high-school student who discovers his best friend is gay, I had a man email me about a similar experience from his past. Getting paid is nice, but really, it’s these correspondences that motivate me to keep writing.
5. Do you outline prior to writing your story, or do you work out the plot as you write?
I always outline. Before I start the first sentence, I have detail character sketches and know their arcs. That’s not to say I don’t deviate from my original outline. Most times, it’s more of a sketch than a paint-by-number routine, and I typically add more and more crazy with every edit. The plot can be quite fluid, but as long as my characters remain true to their arcs, the story turns out fine.
6. How did you land your agent Melissa Carrigee and what is your relationship with her like?
Melissa is terrific! I read Publishers Weekly along with listening to their podcasts, and LLA (the agency she works for) did a press release welcoming her to the agency. New agents tend to be looking for new writers, so I contacted her and passed along my manuscript. She loved it and took me on as a client.
7. What made you start writing?
Being a huge reader throughout my entire life, becoming a writer seemed a natural step. There was no exact moment I made a decision, but I’ve been writing since I was a child. In school, I’d draw cartoons and comics, many featuring silly caricatures of the teachers, and received positive attention from the girls. That’s probably my underlying psychological motivation. That and pain.
8. Is there any subject that is off limits for you as a writer?
No! I adore exploring arenas that are typically forbidden in real life. That’s the point of make-believe. The darker the better. Nobody was ever hurt by a book. If you aren’t triggering something, you’re doing it wrong!
9. How do you define success as a writer?
Success is having devoted readers. All the other stuff is a distraction.
10. If Hollywood was making a film adaptation of When the Devil Climbs, and the director asked you to cast the role of Russ Grote, who would you choose?
Ha! If I could only be that lucky. Honestly, I’d take whoever wanted to do it. In make-believe land, I’d have Tim Fehlbaum direct. He did an amazing job on Hell. The post-apocalyptic world he created was unbelievably terrific and truly terrifying. I can’t wait for his next feature. As for casting Russ, I’d choose someone like Stephen Moyer or Zeljko Ivanek. Both do amazing southern accents and express a hidden painful past, which would be perfect for Russ.
No comments have been added yet.
