Interview Tag!

Greetings, gentle readers!
It’s been a busy, busy few months preparing Surviving the Crash for submission and working with beta readers on some new projects.  However, when fellow writer, Doug Murano, requested my participation in a little online chain interview, how could I say no?
Oh, and you can find Doug here:  http://muranofiction.blogspot.com/
What are you working on right now?

I just subbed out my first novel, Surviving the Crash. 
How does it differ from other works in its genre?

Well, the time period is unique for one.  The book is set in the aftermath of the stock market crash of 1929.  The story is also different from the classic pulp tales I drew inspiration from as I relished twisting around a lot of the stereotypes present in those tales.  And while an apocalypse has occurred, there are no zombies in sight.      
What experiences have influenced you?

Reading H.P. Lovecraft’s stories in college made me interested in taking up writing.  People can badmouth his prose style as much as they want, but few creators can match the scope of his vision.  As to more practical matters, the blue-collar jobs I’ve held have been very informative in creating characters and writing dialogue.    
Why do you write what you do?

I’ve loved horror since a tender age and that affection has only grown as I’ve gotten older.  The genre is very therapeutic for the imagination.  You can bend reality and do all the crazy things you can’t include in stories set in a normal world.  
How does your writing process work?

Usually, an idea just slaps me upside the head.  I start brooding over it, making a kind of mental outline.  After that, I write a minimum number of words per day until the rough draft is finished.  Then, the copious self-editing and beta reader work begins.   
What is the hardest part about writing?

Probably the uncertainty that comes with it.  It’s always tough pouring your heart into a story and having no idea if readers or publishers will connect with your work.  I’ve also always found going through peer and professional edits a hair-pulling (but necessary) process. 
What would you like to try as a writer that you haven't yet?

I think I’d like to try writing a screenplay at some point.  I love movies and we are in dire need of some good ones right now, especially genre films.
Who are the authors you most admire?

Clive Barker (my favorite), Robert E. Howard, H.P. Lovecraft, Joe Hill, and Rod Serling.  I’m also getting into Nate Kenyon and Rick Hautala.  
Who are new authors to watch out for? 
  
D.L. Snell, Richard Finney, and Dave Dunwoody are all relatively new and extremely talented.
What scares you?

Not much, but there are a few things.  I think everyone finds the thought of eventually losing their loved ones extremely distressing.  As to more unique issues, I hate extreme heights (flying is intensely nerve-wracking for me), and the prospect of being in a situation where I can’t move/care for myself.

Well, enough about me.  Go check out these fellow writers a week from now and see what they have to say:


Kody Boye William Todd Rose 
Ben Eads