Interview with Author, Nick Vossen
My interview today is with fellow Dark Visions author, Nick Vossen. His novel, The Eldritch Twins has been described as a delightfully weird, fast-paced adventure. Sounds intriguing to me!
What inspired you to write the Eldritch Twins?
I’ve had this idea in my head for a very long time to write a full-length novel which had a distinct Lovecraftian feel about it. I wanted it to have all the popular “cosmic horror” tropes, but I also felt like that genre has so many tropes that are overdone and too ‘serious’ in my mind that I wanted to do it differently. So I blended it with lighthearted humor, while still hanging onto that familiar feeling of existential dread that comes with it.
Tell us more about the Eldritch Twins. What is special about it?
Oh I kind of already answered this in the previous question now, didn’t I? Well, what’s special about The Eldritch Twins though is that it’s my first ‘full length’ work, a true to heart novel and thus the biggest piece of consecutive writing I’ve done up to now.
Which character in your book are you most like?
I kind of modeled Quincy Swansong a bit after myself. Skeptical, careful and a real over-thinker. But more than anything, a genuine caring person.
That really is special! I remember holding Ruby Slips in my hands for the first time. How long have you been writing? Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?
I’ve been writing and daydreaming stories for as long as I can remember. But it’s only been a couple of years ago that, thanks to the heartfelt support of a good friend, I’ve really started to develop it and started submitted short fiction to several publishers.
Tell us about your writing process. What’s the journey from draft to published piece?
This actually varies a lot for me. Sometimes when I aim to write a piece of short fiction and I have a certain idea in mind, I could technically have it done in two to three sessions, ready to send to a publisher. Other times, such as with The Eldritch Twins, so much can change between starting the work and finishing it, the first drafts are nearly unrecognizable. The one thing I hold onto however, is that I try to write as much as possible, get the story flowing as it were, and I worry about grammar, syntax, sentence structure etc later. I can change how something is written, but if I have a good idea for the story, I have to get it down asap.
Where do you write?
I have an office with a desktop PC where I do a lot of writing, but I also have a 11” laptop which is ideal to take with me and jot something down on really quick if the inspiration hits.
Do you have a writing goal you want to achieve?
My dream was to write and publish a novel. So you might say I’ve succeeded in that already. I had my doubts when it came to self-publishing because I felt it lacked the recognition a writer must obtain in order to get something published. For now, I simply wish that the book is enjoyed by as many people as possible, and I’d love to hear what people think about it. I’m not in it for the money, but I’d love to have created something that people could talk about with a genuine passion. That’s probably the real dream right there!
How do you feel about critiques?
Sure, bring them on! As long as they are fair and well thought out. Telling me my character sucks isn’t helping me, but telling me my character wasn’t well fleshed out because of “X” and “Y” reasons, now that’s something I can work with and improve upon in the future, and I welcome it!
It is amazing to imagine other people reading what you wrote. I remember getting my first review that wasn’t from a family member or friend and being over the moon. Do you have a favorite review of your book? Can you share why you liked it?
Not many reviews have poured in yet. But one reviewer called the book “A delightfully weird, fast-paced adventure.” I mean what bigger compliment is there to get? It describes the exact feeling I wanted to invoke with the book!
That’s awesome! What helps you most when it comes to writing?
From a creative point, I sometimes like to read dialogue out loud in my office to see if it flows naturally. Also I read a lot of books myself, watch TV-series and films and the like. Not to plagiarize of course, but to get inspiration from it. I think every great piece of work, be it music, film, theater, a book or anything else, has to have drawn inspiration from somewhere.
From a practical point; I write better when I have a clear mind. So being well-fed and well-rested helps 
