Bookstagram Author Interview
1) When did you first realise you wanted to be a writer?
I've been writing for as long as I can remember. My best estimate is that I was around five years old, but it may even have been sooner than that when I started committing stories to paper. I have always loved books and reading and wanted to be able to create my own too. So, in a way, it feels as if I've always known I wanted to be a writer and I can't point specifically to when it started. But I haven't stopped since.
2) What do you like most about your book?
I recently launched my new book, "Bitten", on Valentine's Day this year. It's the story of a police officer, Holleigh Ryder, and the pursuit of a vampiric serial murderer who strikes on Valentine's Day. It's an erotic thriller, a police procedural and a horror story entwined into one.
I worked very hard on this book and am very happy with the end result. As for what I like best, I'm not sure. I love vampires and I love police procedurals, erotic thrillers, gothic horror stories - so all these elements either separately or combined may be high on the list.
3) How long does it take you to write a book?
It varies from book to book. I was still in school when I wrote my first novel, which took me about two years to complete. My first novella took me just under a year to write around work, while my second novella took only six months (I was made redundant around that time).
I wrote my short story collection across a period of eighteen months. "Bitten" was already half written by the time I began working on it again just over a year ago, and I took a year to complete it. Both of those books were written around my day job, primarily worked on during evenings and weekends.
I would love to be able to work on writing full time in the future - which will then mean more books (or longer books) for my readers!
4) Where did you get your information ord ideas for books?
I find inspiration in many places. My stories usually start with a scene, a plot element, a character or a theme that begins flourishing in my mind, usually linking with other ideas that have come to me in the same way. I may start taking notes and developing the idea on paper at this stage, or I may just keep it in my mind for the time being and see if it can lead somewhere.
I read a lot, both fiction and non-fiction - books, magazines, articles and more; I also love film, television, music. Perhaps I may hear a song and the lyrics or music spark something or speak of an emotion I want to write about. Or I may overhear a conversation and take one sentence and let my imagination work on it. Many of these things may never reach the page or go beyond something that danced in my mind just for today, but others will link with existing ideas or inspire new ones.
Ultimately, a wide range of fragments coalesce to the point where I feel I have the beginnings of a story that I feel impelled to write.
I usually research the next book's themes in detail before I start, while continuing to research more minor elements throughout writing, often then double-checking details during redrafting. A lot of that research may ultimately have no direct impact on the plot or characters, or some research may only influence a small section - perhaps just a sentence. But I think context and authenticity are both very important to a story. Plus it gives me an excuse to order another pile of books for my non-fiction and reference library!
5) How would you review your book as a reader?
Now, that is a challenging question! I'm sure I would review it in much the same way as I do the books of others - highlighting the things that made the book enjoyable for me (you can subscribe to my Goodreads blog or follow me on Instagram @leeallenauthor for book recommendations).
For "Bitten", I'm sure I would be highlighting the same things as I reader that I like most about the book as its writer, hopefully with one notable addition - that the twists were well-plotted and that there was a shock or surprise or two.
6) What do you do when you are not writing?
I love reading, music, film and television. I have a keen interest in the topics and themes I write about, which makes research fascinating. I believe that's something that is key to writing - if a writer loves what they do, it bleeds into their work, and their readers will feel that enjoyment too.
I also enjoy going to the theatre and cinema, or eating out at a restaurant, at a time when we were able to do those things safely. But I'm frequently a home bird - it's where I feel most relaxed and most productive and my imagination is free to roam in my next book.
7) Have you ever received negative feedback for your book? How did you deal with it?
I actually just recently received my very first negative review. I'll admit I felt pretty disappointed by some of the comments and insinuations included in that particular review. Perhaps what cut the most about it was it felt as if the reviewer wanted to twist the knife, going out of their way to be negative.
But I try not to take it to heart. People don't all enjoy the same things. If you don't enjoy something, then don't read it. I write for the people who do enjoy my work.
On a lighter note, you probably haven't done an erotic horror thriller right if you don't manage to offend someone! Controversy can be as effective as glowing reviews in some ways I suppose.
8) What is the next topic you will choose for another book?
I'm not quite ready to share too much about what I'm currently working on yet.
But what I will say is that it's another horror thriller that will appeal to fans of my previous books "Whispers from the Dead of Night" and "The Jack O'Lantern Men". Something dark and unexplained is lurking in the shadows!
9) Words to all the book readers.
Thank you to everyone who has read my books and to everyone who is planning to pick up my latest book, "Bitten". I hope you will enjoy it!
Interviewed by Karma Book Blog - see the post on Instagram.
Order Bitten from Amazon, Lulu.com, and Barnes & Noble.
View all my reviews
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
I've been writing for as long as I can remember. My best estimate is that I was around five years old, but it may even have been sooner than that when I started committing stories to paper. I have always loved books and reading and wanted to be able to create my own too. So, in a way, it feels as if I've always known I wanted to be a writer and I can't point specifically to when it started. But I haven't stopped since.
2) What do you like most about your book?
I recently launched my new book, "Bitten", on Valentine's Day this year. It's the story of a police officer, Holleigh Ryder, and the pursuit of a vampiric serial murderer who strikes on Valentine's Day. It's an erotic thriller, a police procedural and a horror story entwined into one.
I worked very hard on this book and am very happy with the end result. As for what I like best, I'm not sure. I love vampires and I love police procedurals, erotic thrillers, gothic horror stories - so all these elements either separately or combined may be high on the list.
3) How long does it take you to write a book?
It varies from book to book. I was still in school when I wrote my first novel, which took me about two years to complete. My first novella took me just under a year to write around work, while my second novella took only six months (I was made redundant around that time).
I wrote my short story collection across a period of eighteen months. "Bitten" was already half written by the time I began working on it again just over a year ago, and I took a year to complete it. Both of those books were written around my day job, primarily worked on during evenings and weekends.
I would love to be able to work on writing full time in the future - which will then mean more books (or longer books) for my readers!
4) Where did you get your information ord ideas for books?
I find inspiration in many places. My stories usually start with a scene, a plot element, a character or a theme that begins flourishing in my mind, usually linking with other ideas that have come to me in the same way. I may start taking notes and developing the idea on paper at this stage, or I may just keep it in my mind for the time being and see if it can lead somewhere.
I read a lot, both fiction and non-fiction - books, magazines, articles and more; I also love film, television, music. Perhaps I may hear a song and the lyrics or music spark something or speak of an emotion I want to write about. Or I may overhear a conversation and take one sentence and let my imagination work on it. Many of these things may never reach the page or go beyond something that danced in my mind just for today, but others will link with existing ideas or inspire new ones.
Ultimately, a wide range of fragments coalesce to the point where I feel I have the beginnings of a story that I feel impelled to write.
I usually research the next book's themes in detail before I start, while continuing to research more minor elements throughout writing, often then double-checking details during redrafting. A lot of that research may ultimately have no direct impact on the plot or characters, or some research may only influence a small section - perhaps just a sentence. But I think context and authenticity are both very important to a story. Plus it gives me an excuse to order another pile of books for my non-fiction and reference library!
5) How would you review your book as a reader?
Now, that is a challenging question! I'm sure I would review it in much the same way as I do the books of others - highlighting the things that made the book enjoyable for me (you can subscribe to my Goodreads blog or follow me on Instagram @leeallenauthor for book recommendations).
For "Bitten", I'm sure I would be highlighting the same things as I reader that I like most about the book as its writer, hopefully with one notable addition - that the twists were well-plotted and that there was a shock or surprise or two.
6) What do you do when you are not writing?
I love reading, music, film and television. I have a keen interest in the topics and themes I write about, which makes research fascinating. I believe that's something that is key to writing - if a writer loves what they do, it bleeds into their work, and their readers will feel that enjoyment too.
I also enjoy going to the theatre and cinema, or eating out at a restaurant, at a time when we were able to do those things safely. But I'm frequently a home bird - it's where I feel most relaxed and most productive and my imagination is free to roam in my next book.
7) Have you ever received negative feedback for your book? How did you deal with it?
I actually just recently received my very first negative review. I'll admit I felt pretty disappointed by some of the comments and insinuations included in that particular review. Perhaps what cut the most about it was it felt as if the reviewer wanted to twist the knife, going out of their way to be negative.
But I try not to take it to heart. People don't all enjoy the same things. If you don't enjoy something, then don't read it. I write for the people who do enjoy my work.
On a lighter note, you probably haven't done an erotic horror thriller right if you don't manage to offend someone! Controversy can be as effective as glowing reviews in some ways I suppose.
8) What is the next topic you will choose for another book?
I'm not quite ready to share too much about what I'm currently working on yet.
But what I will say is that it's another horror thriller that will appeal to fans of my previous books "Whispers from the Dead of Night" and "The Jack O'Lantern Men". Something dark and unexplained is lurking in the shadows!
9) Words to all the book readers.
Thank you to everyone who has read my books and to everyone who is planning to pick up my latest book, "Bitten". I hope you will enjoy it!
Interviewed by Karma Book Blog - see the post on Instagram.
Order Bitten from Amazon, Lulu.com, and Barnes & Noble.
View all my reviews
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
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