My Interview with Author Chrystal Vaughan
Recently, I started reading Dead in the Water by Chrystal Vaughan and couldn’t put it down. I read into the wee hours of the morning, then finished it as soon as I woke up the next day. It’s a fascinating read, especially for anyone who enjoys Young Adult Paranormal Thrillers. I’m delighted that Chrystal Vaughan and I decided to interview one another on our blogs. Using the same questions that Chrystal developed for author interviews, I now present Chrystal Vaughan...
Book Covers for Chrystal Vaughan's Books:
Synopsis for Each of Chrystal Vaughan’s Books:
Conspiracy of Ravens: "Judgment comes on deadly wings..." Sophia Pascale is a rising star at the Philly Herald. Her latest assignment sends her to the Philadelphia State Penitentiary to interview the "Raven Witch Killer," a self-proclaimed serial killer who is willing to talk...to the right people. Sophia gets more than she bargained for when she steps foot into the prison; Catherine Meara is more than she appears and the handsome Officer Shaw is a wrinkle in Sophia's plans she didn't count on.
Struggling with her past, her beliefs, and her desire, Sophia will be tested by her ordeal in the prison in more ways than one. She confronts her inner demons and the very real ones embodied in the black shapes perched above the prison entrance...and etched into the skin of her enemy.
Will Sophia find true love and launch the story of her career? Or will she be yet another victim of the "Raven Witch Killer"?
Dead in the Water: Eva Dunbar is afflicted with an unusual ability: she is the hand that writes for the dead. Her latest brush with the other side has her writing the words "dead in the water" over and over in her notebook. Unnerved and unable to share her strange life with others, she is ostracized by her peers. Once upon a time, though, Eva was best friends with golden boy and now high school hero, Jesse Williams. Now he's wormed his way back into her life, and she's not sure if that's a good thing or not. Will Eva be able to trust Jesse with her secret? Will Jesse help Eva, or abandon her again? And will Eva ever find out what "Dead in the Water" really means?
Sideshow: Nine-year-old Hailey Ames is hunted by an evil that shadows her. Can she and her new companions, members of an unusual circus, run fast and far enough for fate to lose Hailey's trail? Will Hailey be able to make the choices that will ultimately save her and her friends, or doom them all?
Sideshow is a tale of horrors overcome and the triumph of the human spirit. Hailey Ames is a unique girl, faced with problems that most adults would recoil from facing. Ultimately, her own salvation lies within herself and her ability to make the most difficult decisions, with the help of a few strange and wonderful friends.
Interview questions:
Please tell us about your latest book.
My latest book, Conspiracy of Ravens, is a paranormal thriller with some heavy occult leanings. It's about a young woman, Sophia, who is looking to make her way into the world as a journalist for the Philly Herald. She gets more than she bargains for when an assignment takes her to a prison where a witch who is also a serial killer gets inside her head. She also meets a handsome cop at the prison who distracts her from her job but in a good way. Or is it?
How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?
I always infuse a bit of myself into my writing. Only people who know me well would recognize the bread crumbs of "me" that are in my stories but they're there.
When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to submit your first manuscript?
I have been writing most of my life; I won awards for my writing in junior high and high school. I didn't submit my first manuscript until last year, though.
Generally, how long does it take you to write a book?
It depends on the book. My first book, Sideshow, took over a year. My second, Dead in the Water, took about eight months or so. Conspiracy of Ravens only took a few months; I was obsessed. Or possessed (laughs).
Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?
If I try to follow a strict writing schedule, I blow it immediately. Just like diets; I can't be told what to do or when to do it, even from myself. I write when the mood strikes me because the writing is better if I don't force it.
What about your family, do they know not to bother you when you are writing – or are there constant interruptions?
For the most part they are pretty good. My daughters know when I'm writing and my husband has become resigned to it. If I'm writing on the computer I'm more likely to be interrupted than if I'm writing longhand. Longhand means I'm deadly serious and completely involved with what I'm doing. Computer writing could be blogging, novel writing, emails, social media etc. and that's harder for them to tell if I'm "really busy" or "sort of busy."
What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?
I am a knitting geek, so I spend a lot of spare time knitting. I also spin my own yarn (pun intended) which is soothing. I love the beach; we go there as often as we can. And swimming has become a great source of exercise for me, which gives me energy.
Where do your ideas come from?
Everywhere. I feel bombarded by them sometimes. I have hundreds of notes and story ideas typed up on my computer and stuffed in notebooks. Sometimes on the backs of receipts. It could be anything that trips a new story idea; something I've read, something I see, a taste or a smell. I never know. It just happens.
What kind of research do you do?
I do extensive research for my books. For instance, I know more than most people about the circus thanks to my first book, Sideshow. For Dead in the Water, my research subjects were all around me every day (I work in a high school). For Conspiracy of Ravens, I did exhaustive research about prisons and serial killers, including the psychology of serial killers and how they get away with their crimes for so long in many cases. That was challenging because there are not many female serial killers and I wanted something different for my book. I also knew a great deal about the occult before I wrote the book, but some things I needed to check or double check to be sure I was consistent. I hope no one ever looks at my Google search history...
Please tell us about yourself (family, hobbies, education, etc.).
I recently graduated from college, earning my BA in English. Next year, I plan to teach English at the high school where I work (fingers crossed!). I'm also an editor and proofreader for Solstice Publishing. I have been married to my awesome husband Caleb for nine years. I have a daughter who is nineteen and another daughter who is nine years old. My stepson is eighteen. I'm close with my mom. I have three cats, two dogs, a bunny, and a tarantula. My hobbies are knitting and spinning yarn, and reading...I can't get enough reading.
Fill in the blank favorites –
Dessert: Ice cream
City: Brookings, Oregon
Season: Summer
Type of hero: Strong and brave
Type of heroine: Smart and unexpected
What are some of your favorite things to do?
I love reading, as I said. Swimming, knitting, reading, hanging out with my family. My husband and I have shows that we watch; I love Penny Dreadful, True Blood, Boardwalk Empire, and am looking forward to Outlander on Starz this fall.
Do you have a favorite author? Favorite book?
I'm a big fan of Dean Koontz and Stephen King. My favorite book, however, is called The Journeyer by Gary Jennings.
Who are some of your other favorite authors to read? Do you have a recommendation for those who are interested in reading your books?
If you like Dean Koontz and Stephen King, you'll love my books. They are the height of thriller/horror/scary-ness that I aspire to.
Among your own books, have you a favorite book? Favorite hero or heroine?
Sideshow will always be special to me because it was my first and I poured a lot of myself into the book and its characters. Hailey feels like one of my own children. I have had the tiger, Shardul, tattooed on my forearm in his honor.
What book for you has been the easiest to write? The hardest? The most fun?
The easiest book to write was Dead in the Water. I wrote it for my students who were upset that they couldn't read my first book (it's much too graphic to take to a high school). The hardest book to write was Conspiracy of Ravens; it has a lot of murder scenes in it which were tough.
Which comes first, the story, the characters or the setting?
Most of the time, it's the story. Sometimes, it's the characters. It just depends on the story.
What is the hardest part of writing/the easiest for you?
I seem to be great out of the gate, but have a hard time finishing books, especially if I type them. I know what the endings are typically, though it changes depending on what the characters decide to do, but I slow down as the story progresses.
Have you experienced writer's block --- If so, how did you work through it?
I have; in one book, I had to kill off a beloved character. I wrote an entire new book while procrastinating the death of that character.
What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?
Finishing a book is a great feeling of accomplishment. When a reader tells me they found my book riveting or that they liked it, that's very rewarding. I also love being able to create worlds and people from thin air.
If you weren't writing, what would you be doing?
Teaching! Reading! Knitting!
Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?
Write everything down, no matter how trivial it may seem.
What can we expect from you in the future? How many books have you written, how many have been published?
I have two books published right now at the time of this interview; Conspiracy of Ravens is due to be released from Solstice Publishing at any moment. I have a sequel for my first book Sideshow due out in October of 2014 (called Straw Houses). And I have about seven or eight others of various genres in various stages of completion.
Five things readers want to know about you:
1-I'm deathly terrified of sharks.
2-I am a huge nerd for anything Harry Potter, LoTR, the Hobbit, Star Wars, Doctor Who, and other various fandoms.
3-I have several tattoos. I'm not telling you where they all are.
4-I once forgot how old I was so went around for an entire year telling people I was older than I actually was.
5-I cry over commercials, like the Budweiser ones and the ASPCA ones.
My Review of Dead in the Water by Chrystal Vaughan:
My Review of Dead in the Water
Wrap up:
Book Trailers
Social Media links:
Facebook
Twitter: @TheChrystalShip
Goodreads
Amazon
Blog
Pinterest
Tumblr
LinkedIn
Google +
Buy Links for Books:
Sideshow on Amazon
Sideshow on Barnes & Noble
Dead in the Water:
Dead in the Water on Amazon
Dead in the Water on Barnes & Noble
Dead in the Water at Solstice Publishing
Conspiracy of Ravens:
Coming soon to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Solstice Publishing!
Thanks so much for a fascinating interview, Chrystal!
Book Covers for Chrystal Vaughan's Books:
Synopsis for Each of Chrystal Vaughan’s Books:
Conspiracy of Ravens: "Judgment comes on deadly wings..." Sophia Pascale is a rising star at the Philly Herald. Her latest assignment sends her to the Philadelphia State Penitentiary to interview the "Raven Witch Killer," a self-proclaimed serial killer who is willing to talk...to the right people. Sophia gets more than she bargained for when she steps foot into the prison; Catherine Meara is more than she appears and the handsome Officer Shaw is a wrinkle in Sophia's plans she didn't count on.
Struggling with her past, her beliefs, and her desire, Sophia will be tested by her ordeal in the prison in more ways than one. She confronts her inner demons and the very real ones embodied in the black shapes perched above the prison entrance...and etched into the skin of her enemy.
Will Sophia find true love and launch the story of her career? Or will she be yet another victim of the "Raven Witch Killer"?
Dead in the Water: Eva Dunbar is afflicted with an unusual ability: she is the hand that writes for the dead. Her latest brush with the other side has her writing the words "dead in the water" over and over in her notebook. Unnerved and unable to share her strange life with others, she is ostracized by her peers. Once upon a time, though, Eva was best friends with golden boy and now high school hero, Jesse Williams. Now he's wormed his way back into her life, and she's not sure if that's a good thing or not. Will Eva be able to trust Jesse with her secret? Will Jesse help Eva, or abandon her again? And will Eva ever find out what "Dead in the Water" really means?
Sideshow: Nine-year-old Hailey Ames is hunted by an evil that shadows her. Can she and her new companions, members of an unusual circus, run fast and far enough for fate to lose Hailey's trail? Will Hailey be able to make the choices that will ultimately save her and her friends, or doom them all?
Sideshow is a tale of horrors overcome and the triumph of the human spirit. Hailey Ames is a unique girl, faced with problems that most adults would recoil from facing. Ultimately, her own salvation lies within herself and her ability to make the most difficult decisions, with the help of a few strange and wonderful friends.
Interview questions:
Please tell us about your latest book.
My latest book, Conspiracy of Ravens, is a paranormal thriller with some heavy occult leanings. It's about a young woman, Sophia, who is looking to make her way into the world as a journalist for the Philly Herald. She gets more than she bargains for when an assignment takes her to a prison where a witch who is also a serial killer gets inside her head. She also meets a handsome cop at the prison who distracts her from her job but in a good way. Or is it?
How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?
I always infuse a bit of myself into my writing. Only people who know me well would recognize the bread crumbs of "me" that are in my stories but they're there.
When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to submit your first manuscript?
I have been writing most of my life; I won awards for my writing in junior high and high school. I didn't submit my first manuscript until last year, though.
Generally, how long does it take you to write a book?
It depends on the book. My first book, Sideshow, took over a year. My second, Dead in the Water, took about eight months or so. Conspiracy of Ravens only took a few months; I was obsessed. Or possessed (laughs).
Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?
If I try to follow a strict writing schedule, I blow it immediately. Just like diets; I can't be told what to do or when to do it, even from myself. I write when the mood strikes me because the writing is better if I don't force it.
What about your family, do they know not to bother you when you are writing – or are there constant interruptions?
For the most part they are pretty good. My daughters know when I'm writing and my husband has become resigned to it. If I'm writing on the computer I'm more likely to be interrupted than if I'm writing longhand. Longhand means I'm deadly serious and completely involved with what I'm doing. Computer writing could be blogging, novel writing, emails, social media etc. and that's harder for them to tell if I'm "really busy" or "sort of busy."
What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?
I am a knitting geek, so I spend a lot of spare time knitting. I also spin my own yarn (pun intended) which is soothing. I love the beach; we go there as often as we can. And swimming has become a great source of exercise for me, which gives me energy.
Where do your ideas come from?
Everywhere. I feel bombarded by them sometimes. I have hundreds of notes and story ideas typed up on my computer and stuffed in notebooks. Sometimes on the backs of receipts. It could be anything that trips a new story idea; something I've read, something I see, a taste or a smell. I never know. It just happens.
What kind of research do you do?
I do extensive research for my books. For instance, I know more than most people about the circus thanks to my first book, Sideshow. For Dead in the Water, my research subjects were all around me every day (I work in a high school). For Conspiracy of Ravens, I did exhaustive research about prisons and serial killers, including the psychology of serial killers and how they get away with their crimes for so long in many cases. That was challenging because there are not many female serial killers and I wanted something different for my book. I also knew a great deal about the occult before I wrote the book, but some things I needed to check or double check to be sure I was consistent. I hope no one ever looks at my Google search history...
Please tell us about yourself (family, hobbies, education, etc.).
I recently graduated from college, earning my BA in English. Next year, I plan to teach English at the high school where I work (fingers crossed!). I'm also an editor and proofreader for Solstice Publishing. I have been married to my awesome husband Caleb for nine years. I have a daughter who is nineteen and another daughter who is nine years old. My stepson is eighteen. I'm close with my mom. I have three cats, two dogs, a bunny, and a tarantula. My hobbies are knitting and spinning yarn, and reading...I can't get enough reading.
Fill in the blank favorites –
Dessert: Ice cream
City: Brookings, Oregon
Season: Summer
Type of hero: Strong and brave
Type of heroine: Smart and unexpected
What are some of your favorite things to do?
I love reading, as I said. Swimming, knitting, reading, hanging out with my family. My husband and I have shows that we watch; I love Penny Dreadful, True Blood, Boardwalk Empire, and am looking forward to Outlander on Starz this fall.
Do you have a favorite author? Favorite book?
I'm a big fan of Dean Koontz and Stephen King. My favorite book, however, is called The Journeyer by Gary Jennings.
Who are some of your other favorite authors to read? Do you have a recommendation for those who are interested in reading your books?
If you like Dean Koontz and Stephen King, you'll love my books. They are the height of thriller/horror/scary-ness that I aspire to.
Among your own books, have you a favorite book? Favorite hero or heroine?
Sideshow will always be special to me because it was my first and I poured a lot of myself into the book and its characters. Hailey feels like one of my own children. I have had the tiger, Shardul, tattooed on my forearm in his honor.
What book for you has been the easiest to write? The hardest? The most fun?
The easiest book to write was Dead in the Water. I wrote it for my students who were upset that they couldn't read my first book (it's much too graphic to take to a high school). The hardest book to write was Conspiracy of Ravens; it has a lot of murder scenes in it which were tough.
Which comes first, the story, the characters or the setting?
Most of the time, it's the story. Sometimes, it's the characters. It just depends on the story.
What is the hardest part of writing/the easiest for you?
I seem to be great out of the gate, but have a hard time finishing books, especially if I type them. I know what the endings are typically, though it changes depending on what the characters decide to do, but I slow down as the story progresses.
Have you experienced writer's block --- If so, how did you work through it?
I have; in one book, I had to kill off a beloved character. I wrote an entire new book while procrastinating the death of that character.
What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?
Finishing a book is a great feeling of accomplishment. When a reader tells me they found my book riveting or that they liked it, that's very rewarding. I also love being able to create worlds and people from thin air.
If you weren't writing, what would you be doing?
Teaching! Reading! Knitting!
Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?
Write everything down, no matter how trivial it may seem.
What can we expect from you in the future? How many books have you written, how many have been published?
I have two books published right now at the time of this interview; Conspiracy of Ravens is due to be released from Solstice Publishing at any moment. I have a sequel for my first book Sideshow due out in October of 2014 (called Straw Houses). And I have about seven or eight others of various genres in various stages of completion.
Five things readers want to know about you:
1-I'm deathly terrified of sharks.
2-I am a huge nerd for anything Harry Potter, LoTR, the Hobbit, Star Wars, Doctor Who, and other various fandoms.
3-I have several tattoos. I'm not telling you where they all are.
4-I once forgot how old I was so went around for an entire year telling people I was older than I actually was.
5-I cry over commercials, like the Budweiser ones and the ASPCA ones.
My Review of Dead in the Water by Chrystal Vaughan:
My Review of Dead in the Water
Wrap up:
Book Trailers
Social Media links:
Twitter: @TheChrystalShip
Goodreads
Amazon
Blog
Tumblr
Google +
Buy Links for Books:
Sideshow on Amazon
Sideshow on Barnes & Noble
Dead in the Water:
Dead in the Water on Amazon
Dead in the Water on Barnes & Noble
Dead in the Water at Solstice Publishing
Conspiracy of Ravens:
Coming soon to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Solstice Publishing!
Thanks so much for a fascinating interview, Chrystal!
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