Authors are listed alphabetically by LAST name beginning with F
*All the information/websites/links were current AT THE TIME OF INITIAL POSTING. As time passes, please be aware that the links provided might no longer be active.
Kevin N. Fair
Name: Kevin N. Fair
Genre(s) of your work: Upper Middle Grade/YA fiction
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
Paper Airplane, November 2017
Bio :
I graduated from Florida Atlantic University with degrees in education and history. I am currently a teacher, having spent the last ten years in classrooms. This has allowed me to see the struggles of teenage life today, and compare it to my teens. There are many similarities, but also some major differences. In many ways, teens have it MUCH more difficult now. Paper Airplane is my debut novel. It has already received wonderful reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and San Francisco Book Review, among others.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
YA stories are the best ones to tell! Who can’t relate to or remember all of the trials and tribulations, drama and awkward moments of their teenage years? It’s such a critical time in a person’s life, and if my stories can help a teen deal with some of the problems they are facing, or bring back fond (and maybe some not so fond) memories to an adult, then mission accomplished for me!
How has writing changed/altered your life?
Writing has always been my therapy, my medicine. Any time I felt some kind of way about something, I picked up a pen and wrote (yes, a pen, I still prefer writing over typing). Paper Airplane, in fact, was written during a particularly low point in my life, as a way for my mind to escape that reality. Without this novel, I might have made some decisions at the time that wouldn’t have been the best for me long term. That’s the power and impact of writing for me. And I encourage everyone to find their passion and make it their therapy, to use it as a means of coping with their emotions.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
I grew up on Judy Blume and Rachel Vail. I was already addicted to writing basically as soon as I was old enough to hold a pen. But I remember reading a Vail book titled Do Over in eighth grade, and I was immediately hooked. I saw so much of myself in the main character (named Whitman), and I still clearly recall how much that book touched and affected me. I wanted to make a similar impact on readers.
What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?
Bookstores of any kind are very necessary, as technology moves us further away from physical books. There’s definitely a time and place for technology, but I’m old school. I still enjoy the feeling of holding an actual novel in my hand, turning the pages, and escaping into another world.
What do you hope your readers will take away from your work?
One of the most difficult things to do as a teen is to be comfortable with yourself. Everyone, everywhere tells you that you must think, or act, or dress, or behave a certain way. Uniqueness is rarely rewarded. Following the crowd just seems easier in school. The main message I want young readers to take away is that it really is okay being yourself. A person is better at being themselves than they can ever be at trying to be someone else.
How much does personal experience play in your written work?
For me, personal experience plays a major role. I envy writers who can create a great story out of thin air. I’m not that good (laughs). My story has to be my story. It has to come from my mind and heart, my past experiences. That’s how I write the most effective narrative.
How do you find the motivation to complete a book/story?
To me, it starts with the motivation of wanting to tell the right story. I have to be invested in the story and in its message, and then I focus on trying to tell it in an authentic way.
What makes you NOT finish reading a book?
A lack of connection. If there is nothing connecting me to the characters, I can’t get into the book. When I say connecting, that can be in either a positive or negative way. If a character makes me angry with their behavior, I will continue reading to see if something bad happens to them. Kind of shallow, I know (laughs). I will also continue reading and hoping for good things to happen to characters I like.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
As a teacher (and student) of history and politics, I am a firm believer that no writing should be censored. The exchange of ideas should always be open and free. Writing, at its best, should lead to conversation and self-reflection. But that can’t happen if it is censored.
Any pet peeves in writing? In reading others’ work?
Simplicity. I love complex stories and complex characters. Beyond what characters are doing, I want to know why they are doing it. One-dimensional writing loses me.
Where can people find you and your work?
Check out my website, www.kevin-n-fair.com. Every book bought from the site is personally autographed, and you are automatically entered into a contest where one lucky winner receives a framed, autographed 24”x36” cover poster.
You can also purchase other items from my site such as bookmarks, notebooks, magnets, and (soon) fidget spinners. The preorder for Paper Airplane is also available via Amazon and Barnes and Noble. You can also follow me on Twitter @KevinNFair, Facebook, the usual. You can also check out my Amazon and Goodreads pages and follow me there, and my blog will be up and running shortly (as soon as I catch my breath from the start of the school year!). I look forward to hearing from you.
Andrew Farah
Name: Andrew Farah
Genre(s) of your work: Biography
Titles/Year of Published Work
Hemingway’s Brain, 2017, USC Press
Bio:
I am a psychiatrist, I focus on forensic work. I was raised in Charleston SC, now live on a farm in NC. Went to Porter-Gaud, Clemson, MUSC, and Wake Forest.
It is an honor to be asked to contribute!! I hope I don’t sound narcissistic- just excited to contribute to Sue’s post— with so many talented folks before me!
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I write in other genres, but the nonfiction/biography was my successful work to date as far as publishing/sales/reviews.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
Writing has always been a part of my life.
Your readers will understand that impulse to write from inside. No reason, just what we have to do.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
Hugh Maxton- amazing poet I can always re-read
Billy Collins- he was so nice to me when I met him
John Brehm- consider these lines:
To wrap yourself in the perceptions of others
and then enact the emptiness
of those perceptions.
Even a master illusionist is sometimes taken in
by reality – dragged offstage
in the tiger’s mouth.
What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?
Fun.
What do you hope your readers will take away from your work?
That I got it right— cleared up so many myths about Hemingway, that his psychiatric struggles and demise are now clarified.
I also clarified the original source of the phrase “grace under pressure,” and found a photo of Hemingway with his African muse.
I also discuss reading Hemingway forward, not backwards. So much Hemingway scholarship and popular press is about looking at his life and correlating past events with the work. The fact that he used his writing-life as a form of therapy, which informed his life going forward, is a far richer study.
DH Lawrence said that his pseudo-philosophy did not inform his poetry and fiction, his fiction and poetry informed his philosophy (of life). We must understand Hemingway the same way.
How much does personal experience play in your written work?
It’s always a struggle to keep myself out. I once ended a poem with the lines:
I start with the long poem
and keep subtracting myself.
My editor loved that. Every writer knows what I meant. (no one has published that poem, by the way)
How do you find the motivation to complete a book/story?
I always have desire/motivation/ideas. I am short of time – energy/mental energy- and the distractions of day-to-day work and pettiness keep me from writing.
I once took a week off and went to the beach. I swam in the mornings, wrote all day, and went to dinner alone. It was a great 4 days. Then a friend saw me, came back to my place, drank all my rum, and never left. He ruined my Karma and I came home early. But I wrote well for 4 days.
What makes you NOT finish reading a book?
Fiction: not caring what happens next (Faulkner)
Nonfiction: so technical as to lose then bore me (Ezra Pound scholarship)
Poetry: clichés
Magazines: infusing politics into everything/assuming I am a liberal or I must be stupid or evil if not (The New Yorker)
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
The politically correct answer is no. The psychiatrist I am says yes – I have met with secret service and FBI agents over the years to discuss psychiatric cases who threaten elected officials. The hatred in the mainstream news inspired most of them, but I think fictional works about assassination and school shootings should be off limits. I wish that vulgarity and disrespect towards religion and spiritual people was off limits but it is far too late to reverse that.
I think the fact that Catcher in the Rye was so associated with Hinkley and Chapman, (and at least one other murderer) exacerbated Salinger’s reclusiveness and regrets. But when art is put in the world, any connection or reaction to it is ultimately up to the interpreter, not the creator.
Any pet peeves in writing? In reading others’ work?
As above, the assumption of political leftism as a premise.
In the scientific/psychiatric realm— when people present my ideas as their own…
Where can people find you and your work?
Anywhere!! Amazon – B&N— USC Press website ….
Can email me with questions
Or get a signed book from me- hemingwaysbrain@gmail.com
Michael A. Ferro
Name: Michael A. Ferro
Genre(s) of your work: Literary Fiction
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
TITLE 13: A Novel (Harvard Square Editions, February 1, 2018)
Bio:
Michael A. Ferro’s debut novel, TITLE 13, was published by Harvard Square Editions in February 2018. He has received an Honorable Mention from Glimmer Train for their New Writers Award, won the Jim Cash Creative Writing Award for Fiction, and been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Michael’s writing has appeared in numerous journals in both print and online. Born and bred in Detroit, Michael has lived, worked, and written throughout the Midwest; he currently resides in rural Ann Arbor, Michigan. Additional information can be found at: www.michaelaferro.com.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
- I know that some writers feel like they have to write science fiction or fantasy to escape reality, but I feel compelled to write reality to escape the science fiction and fantasy that has become our everyday life here in 2018 America! Don’t get me wrong: I love what sci-fi/fantasy writers do—they provide a much-needed escape for our fatigued minds, but for me, there’s just so much awkwardness and absurdity in everyday life that makes literary fiction so appealing to me.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
- I have much less time to do anything else now; I’ve gained weight, lost friends, my dog hates me because I have less time to take him for walks, and a host of other things, but overall, I’m happier writing books. At the very least, it gives my life some meaning and keeps me out of trouble (for the most part).
Who are your favorite authors and why?
- Oh, there’s so many to name, but here’s a few: David Foster Wallace, Don DeLillo, Roberto Bolaño, Zadie Smith, Cormac McCarthy, Nickolas Butler, Ian Frazier, and Jack Handey. I love postmodern literature, especially anything that captures the absurdity of our modern lives and interactions, but I also tend to have an appreciation for the darker side of our culture. McCarthy nails our frailty with his epic, biblical prose, while folks like Ian Frazier and Jack Handey lend a satiric quality to life that makes it worth living. Things can be bad, but laugh sometimes, dammit. Life’ll kill you.
What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?
- While I will always prefer independent bookstores, if people are buying books, I’m not going to knock how they get them.
What do you hope your readers will take away from your work?
- I think we as an American culture have turned a blind eye for far too long to the darker subset of our society. I’m not talking about the murderers and criminals—we know about them—but rather I’m referring to the toxic underbelly of latent racism, ignorance, and hatred that has poisoned our culture. While TITLE 13 is indeed a satire, it’s also a serious meditation on how we as a people have allowed our country to come to the divisive state that it now finds itself in.
How much does personal experience play in your written work?
- I also write many satire and humor pieces, so just turning on the news these days is a goldmine of absurdity.
How do you find the motivation to complete a book/story?
- It helps to have crippling obsessive-compulsive disorder and a debilitating, incessant sensation of wanting to get something done. It’s why my email inbox always needs to be at zero. If I see that little red dot notification on my phone with unread email(s), I’ll stop in traffic to be rid of it.
What makes you NOT finish reading a book?
- If I get hit by a car or somebody stabs me, I stop reading.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
- I don’t believe any writing should be censored.
Any pet peeves in writing? In reading others’ work?
- I find the ampersand to be too fancy and a trifle pedantic.
Where can people find you and your work?
For more information on my writing, please check out my website and other links! Thanks!
- Author Homepage: http://www.michaelaferro.com/
- Goodreads Author Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17108839.Michael_A_Ferro
- Amazon page: amazon.com/author/michaelferro
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelaferro
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichaelFerro
- Poets & Writers Profile: https://www.pw.org/content/michael_ferro
- Publisher Website: http://harvardsquareeditions.org/portfolio-items/title-13/
Anne Fifield
Your Name: Anne Fifield
Genre(s) of your work: Children’s Mysteries
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
Princess Caroline’s Adventures Series – Book One – The Princess’ Hand – Published in August 2019
Book Two – Trip to Lake Ahrooo – Published in August 2020
Book Three – The Hunt for the Jeweled Swords – Published in November 2020
Book Four – The Missing Knight – Published in August 2021
Bio:
Anne Fifield is the creative visionary and best-selling children’s author of “The Princess Caroline’s Adventures” book series. Written for ages 7 to 12 and the young at heart, she is delighting kids worldwide. Her books are unique as she weaves in the elements of her rescued doggies, specifically basset hounds, into each of her stories and book covers.
Her first titled ‘The Princess’ Hand’ was released in August 2019, book two titled ‘Trip to Lake Ahrooo’ released in September 2020, book three followed in November 2020 with ‘The Hunt for the Jeweled Swords,’ and book four newly released in August 2021 titled ‘The Missing Knight.’ All are available on Amazon Books, Amazon Kindle, & many fine online book sites.
Anne is the youngest of three siblings and was born and raised outside Oklahoma City, OK. She met and married the love of her life, Tom, and they have been married for 24+years. Their kids are the four-legged variety who had adopted them over the years.
Her career was also a passion. She was an ‘American Sign Language Interpreter’ for over 25-years and taught ASL at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. Since both were her passions, she says she felt like she never worked a day in her life. In 2006, she became heavily involved in basset rescue and co-founded another one in 2011.
Now retired, she decided to move on to her next passion, the love of writing. She and her husband have rescued and fostered basset hounds for 20-years, so as Anne shares, “it felt natural to write children’s books with bassets as the characters. Our hounds provide the comic antics and inspiration for all my books. Thus, “Princess Caroline’s Adventures Series was born.” All the characters in her books are actual rescue dogs. Their pictures are on the back of each book.
Anne and her husband enjoy retired life and reside in the ‘Great State of Texas.’
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I’ve been owned by basset hounds for the last 20 years. I knew I wanted to write about my love of hounds, so a children’s book was appropriate. I grew up reading Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie. I knew my books needed to be mysteries. I affectionately refer to Caroline as the canine Nancy Drew.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
It’s widened my circle of associates and friends. I love it when parents send me a picture of their child reading my books. That makes my day and keeps me motivated to keep writing.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
Agatha Christie, James Patterson, and Patricia Cornwell. I love mystery and suspense.
What have you found to be a good marketing tool? A bad one?
Social media is important – your own website, an author’s newsletter, FB author’s page, Instagram, Twitter, Amazon author’s page, etc. So far, knock on wood, I haven’t encountered a bad one. Some are more successful than others.
Where can people find you and your work?
I publish on Amazon. You can search for me by my name, Anne Fifield.
https://authorannefifield.com
https://facebook.com/authorannefifield
https://instagram.com/authorannefifield
https://twitter.com/AFifieldBook
Brian Finney
Your Name: Brian Finney
Genre(s) of your work: Nonfiction and fiction
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
Money Matters: A Novel. Kindle Direct Publishing, 2019. Finalist in the 2019 American Fiction Awards.
Terrorized: How the War on Terror Affected American Culture and Society. Amazon: Kindle, 2011.
Martin Amis. Routledge Guides to Literature. London and New York: Routledge, 2008
English Fiction Since 1984: Narrating a Nation. London and New York: Palgrave
Macmillan, 2006.
- H. Lawrence. Sons and Lovers: A Critical Study. Harmondsworth, Middlesex:
Penguin; New York: Viking Penguin, 1990.
The Inner I: British Literary Autobiography of the Twentieth Century. London: Faber & Faber; New York: Oxford UP, 1985.
Christopher Isherwood: A Critical Biography. London: Faber & Faber; New York:
Oxford UP, 1979. Won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize.
Since How It Is: A Study of Samuel Beckett’s Later Fiction. London: Covent Garden P, 1972.
Bio:
I am a writer and Professor Emeritus of Literature at California State University, Long Beach. Educated in England, I obtained a BA from the University of Reading and a PhD from the University of London.
After serving three years as an officer in the Royal Air Force, I spent five years in industry as an internal management consultant and production control manager. Between 1964-1987 I taught and arranged extra-mural courses for the University of London. Since immigrating to the US in 1987 I have taught English literature at the University of California, Riverside, University of Southern California, UCLA, and California State University, Long Beach.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
Money Matters is my first work of fiction. But before that I wrote in a variety of nonfiction genres – biography, criticism, genre study, and a socio-political book.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
I first fell for D. H. Lawrence and made his shorter fiction the subject of my PhD thesis besides editing two volumes of his work. Next I fell under the spell of Samuel Beckett and wrote a pioneering study of his later prose pieces. More recently I have spent a lot of time reading and writing about the generation of British novelists who came to prominence in the 1980s and are still active, writers like Martin Amis, Salman Rushdie (not just British), Ian McEwan, Jeanette Winterson, Kazuo Ishiguro ad others. Most recently I have become an admirer of David Mitchell, a highly inventive writer.
How much does personal experience play in your written work?
Obviously my profession as a university teacher of literature determined the kind of nonfiction books I wrote earlier in my life. Having taught students how to read and interpret fiction I was happy to try writing a novel myself once I stopped full-time teaching. Money Matters, my debut novel, made immigration a major issue. Only after finishing it did I realize that of course I was an immigrant and had experienced some of the challenges my immigrant characters faced in the novel.
Where can people find you and your work?
All my work that is still in print is available on Amazon. Money Matters is available there as an e-book, paperback and audiobook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W62XLY6/ I have a website that offers extensive information on all my books and other publications: www.bhfinney.com All my books are also listed in Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/10250.Brian_Finney I post regularly on Twitter (brianfinneywri1) and Instagram (brianfinneywriter).
Jen Flanagan
Pseudonym: Jen Flanagan
Genre(s) of your work: Lighthearted mysteries, paranormal romance, and romantic suspense
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
Detective “Mal” Malone Mystery Series: Bad Company 2019
Here I Go Again 2022
Under Pressure 2022
Orca Cove Paranormal Romance Series: Books 1 & 2 coming in 2023.
Bio:
Jen Flanagan writes mystery and romance with a penchant for the paranormal to feed her soul. Based in the Midwest, she’s a lover of adventure, travel, immersing herself in other cultures, and bringing her daydreams to life on the page.
In her spare time, she can be found in her kitchen whipping up potions (aka natural products) or a variety of baked goods. She surrounds herself with good food, good friends, coffee, and puppies.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I write what I like to read. Often, I’m enjoying discovering the book I’m writing so much, I prefer to write than read something new.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
I feel like I have been able to spend more time exploring things I’m interested in. I’ve been able to dream harder and wider. I’ve been able to inspect my feelings and what drives me. I enjoy the psychology of creating a good character with all the history, pains, and accomplishments that come along with that. It makes for a richer character and a truer experience for the reader.
I spend more time assessing characters in movies and books and can better guess plot lines, which is fun. I am pickier on books that I read, however. That’s not always fun.
I would even say I think I pay better attention to what makes people different and appreciate those differences.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
Darynda Jones because she’s witty and writes realistically flawed characters. Elizabeth Hunter because she builds these entire worlds of amazing people and abilities.
Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why?
I believe there’s a huge market for audiobooks. However, until the cost of audiobooks comes down and royalty percentages improve, I don’t think we’ll see as many authors take advantage of them. I believe we may see better options in the future, though. I hope so.
What have you found to be a good marketing tool? A bad one?
I’m still learning marketing. I think Amazon ads are a good direct source, as you’re advertising to people who are actively shopping. However, there is a decent learning curve to get good at using it.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
I tend to believe in freedom of speech in general. However, I also think some topics, like glorifying the murder of the young for instance, are inherently wrong. I also believe that these writings wouldn’t generally get good reviews or retain any good reputation, so it’s doubtful they’d do well.
What is your opinion of Trigger Warnings?
I don’t have a problem with them. It doesn’t hurt if you think it could help a reader find the right book. You do run the risk of advertising to the wrong person, not meeting their expectations, and therefore getting a bad review.
Do you find that you sell better in person (at events) or through social media (like a personal blog, website, or Amazon)?
I’ve sold well in person and online through Amazon. I’m not sure that social media has helped me much, but I think it does help connect with readers when you get a good following. I have a website, but have very little traffic.
Where can people find you and your work?
Right now, other than in-person signings, I sell exclusively through Amazon. Signings aren’t frequent opportunities, but I do enjoy them. Through Amazon, I am selling paperback, e-book, and am on Kindle Unlimited. In the future, I may sell wide, but not while I’m doing well on KU.
Website: https://jenflanaganbooks.com
Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/stores/author/B09YVTQ6S6
Facebook: @jenflanaganbooks
Instagram: jenflanagan_author
Paul Flewitt
Your Name: Paul Flewitt
Genre(s) of your work: Horror/Dark Fantasy
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
Smoke (OzHorrorCon Book of the Tribes; A Tribute To Clive Barker’s Nightbreed and Cabal) – 2013
Paradise Park (Thirteen Horror’s 13 vol 3 anthology) 2013
Poor Jeffrey (Novel) 2013
Always Beneath (Vamptasy Dark Light 4 anthology) 2014
Climbing Out (Lycopolis Press Demonology anthology) 2015
Apartment 16c (Behind Closed Doors Anthology with Matt Shaw) 2015
The Silent Invader (Fragments of Fear TV show and Matt Shaw’s Masters of Horror anthology) 2016 and 2017
Clive Barker Career Retrospective Blog Spot (Meghan’s Houese of Books) 2019
The Last Madness of Dear Eddie (The Many Deaths of Edgar Allan Poe anthology) 2020
Defeating The Black Worm (Demain Publishing Short, Sharp Shocks series) 2020
Bio:
Paul Flewitt is a horror and dark fantasy writer from Sheffield, UK, where he lives with his wife and two children.
Paul began publishing in 2012, beginning with the flash fiction story, Smoke, for OzHorrorCon’s Book of the Tribes anthology. He went on to pen further short stories, including Paradise Park, Climbing Out, Apartment 16c and Always Beneath.
In 2012, he also published his first novel, Poor Jeffrey, which was received to much critical acclaim.
Paul cites writers such as Clive Barker, Stephen King, James Herbert and JRR Tolkien as inspirations on his own writing.
Paul continues to write, contributing to Matt Shaw’s The Many Deaths of Edgar Allan Poe anthology in 2020 with The Last Horror of Dear Eddie. He also began releasing free short stories and fanfiction on his Wattpad account for fun.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
That’s a question with quite a few answers. First and foremost, it’s probably because it’s what I read most often. It’s familiar, and I know the rules. It’s what I feel comfortable in, and that goes a long way towards being creative.
The longer answer is that I grew up as a fantasy nerd. My dad was big into writers like Tolkien, Donaldson and Brooks, and he passed those books onto me when I was still fairly young. I remember writing a story at school for a task that was only meant to be a few pages, but I filled several exercise books with the damned thing. I suppose that was a big pointer towards what I would eventually become.
My Dad was a hobby writer, mostly of poetry but he did write the occasional short story too. It was his fault that I started writing in my spare time, copying him by writing poetry. It became something of an obsession, and I went through a phase of writing a couple of poems per day. That progressed to writing short stories too, which seems pretty inevitable to me now.
My reading habits changed somewhat in my teens. I guess I figured out the formula for fantasy, and those books didn’t excite me anymore. I tried reading all sorts of other genres, but I couldn’t seem to find the exhilaration I had experienced reading fantasy. That’s when a neighbour noticed that I read a lot, and handed me a Stephen King book. That was Skeleton Crew, and I devoured it. Here was something quite different, more visceral and just what I had been looking for. A closer family friend saw what I was reading, and handed me her entire King collection, which ran to a hell of a lot of books. Mixed in there were some Herbert, Laymon, Masterton and Campbell books, and I was in hog heaven for months. Then the same thing happened with horror as I had with fantasy; I worked out the formula and they all became a little generic. They played by the same rules, and ended up in the same places. I was a little despairing because I suspected I might hate reading after all. Then I discovered Clive Barker, and he opened my eyes to new possibilities. Here was a writer that spoke my language, and never disappointed the teenage me. I’d struck around for ways to explain what it was I wanted to write, and here it was on the page with me. It was a melding of horror and fantasy, the real with the surreal, profundity with the banal. There were twists and turns, unexpected endings. I loved it, and I wanted more of it.
Of course, several writers since have emulated Barker, and I found writers that did similar things over time. That’s what really shaped me as a writer, and why I write what I do.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
It really hasn’t, and that’s a cool thing. The only things that changed when I started publishing is that I get to do it a lot more, and have a good excuse for doing it. I don’t make masses of money, partly because I don’t write so quickly, and because I haven’t yet secured a deal with a six or seven figure advance. I don’t even aspire to doing that, although I wouldn’t refuse it if the opportunity came along.
I suppose, if anything, publishing confirmed to me that I can do the only thing I ever thought I was truly good at. Before, I was always bang average at everything I turned my hand to, but this I can honestly look at and think I can do it pretty well. Obviously, I have the same writer hang-ups as everyone else, but the positive reviews, the pitches accepted, the favourable comments from other writers and the opportunities I have like this one (to sit and talk about writing with people like you) goes a long way to convincing me I might be okay.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
Well, I already cited a few in the lengthy reply to the first question, but there are many, many more. Obviously, Clive Barker is a huge influence and inspiration to me. In short, I think he’s a genius. His ability to draw a reader in and convince them of the reality behind his fantasy is beyond belief. His style is very approachable, with no filler or bloat. I just love what he does.
Stephen King was really my first love, because of his world building and characters. They are so relatable, and you actually care about them. He isn’t a great storyteller by any means, and his work is often a little bloated with unnecessary exposition which slows the pace down at times, but I’ll still always love what he does.
Tolkien was the first big influence on me, I think. Lord of the Rings was the first work I really got lost in, and I wanted to live in The Shire. Even re-reading it, I’m always a little sad to leave that world behind at the last page, and that’s the sign of a really good story. I doubt anyone has ever created a world with such depth of history, language, culture and politics as Middle Earth, and I guess we’d have to live a long time for another to come along. Some come close, but nobody yet has equaled the feat.
Then, of course, there’s Poe and Lovecraft, who I can’t not mention. They were the ones who write the blueprint for everything that dark fiction is today. None of us would be here today if it wasn’t for those two lunatics. They both rethought the way fiction is written, and created characters and situations that I doubt many would have considered at that time. You always have to honour those who went before, and these were the guys who sparked the flame.
Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why?
It isn’t something I really considered. I mean, people have been tolling the death knell of the book for many years, but they never seem to go away in the paper form. Now we have ebooks and audiobooks, which are just other ways to consume our content. That’s fine, and hopefully people find enjoyment from them.
From another standpoint, I think audiobooks particularly are important to allow people with disabilities to access written fiction. I know a very close family member loved his audiobooks, and he would never have consumed a book in paper form due to cognitive functioning not allowing it. Of course, there are also the visually impaired, who can’t always find the books they want in braille because they’re so damned expensive to translate and create. I did look into braille books, and the costs of production are very restrictive for an indie writer. So, audiobooks have their place in the market, and serve an important function.
Are they the wave of the future? Will they take over from physical books?
I doubt it. They’re far from a new thing, and nothing has yet taken away from the tactile and personal experience of opening a new paper book for the first time and reading those first lines. The smell, the feel and anticipation of that experience is something I doubt any constant reader will tire of.
What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?
I guess I have a love/hate relationship with them. Obviously, anywhere that makes books freely available is a good thing, right? But … the tastes of the customer are often dictated by those of the acquisitions manager, and if they don’t like a particular genre, they don’t get stocked. Frankly, I tire of walking up to “horror” shelves in these big stores and seeing only Stephen King books, like he’s the only one in the entire world writing the stuff. I hate that they refuse to take a punt on indie writers enough … even local talent. They’d prefer to just stock what they know they can sell thousands of copies of, and its always writers that are already selling in the millions. It’s a business, I get it, but surely there’s space for a big store supposedly dedicated to the written word to educate people on what’s out there? I see people saying all the time that dark fiction is a dying genre, that nobody reads it, and that’s totally untrue. There’s real talent out there, and people itching to find it, but you have to search. Guys like Dave Jeffery, Mark Cassell, Matt Shaw, Mark Allan Gunnels, Lee Murray, Lee Franklin are all writing very different styles, very different approaches to the genre, and all should have far better profiles than they have in the mainstream, but they’re limited to cult followings because they’re not with big presses. It sucks, and its what all bookstores should be doing to highlight ALL writers, not just those with cache.
And I’ll climb down from my soapbox now…
What have you found to be a good marketing tool? A bad one?
I’m far from being a marketing guru, but I suppose I’ve picked up certain insights into what works and what doesn’t.
First, I don’t think there’s a hard and fast rule that works for everyone. If there was, we’d all have bestsellers and have followings of millions by now, right? We don’t, and that’s because what works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for everyone.
I think there’s no substitute for gaining a reputation for consistently high quality work. Word of mouth goes a long way, and the only way to get that is by being consistent and dependable. After that, I think reaching out and being approachable is the next thing. Nowadays, fans don’t want their authors to be shrouded in mystique. They seem to want to get to know you on a more personal level. So, reach out to readers, and potential readers, and talk to them. Be yourself.
What doesn’t work, and never will, is endlessly spamming people’s inboxes with invites to groups, pages and links to buy books. That’s just annoying, and must be the industry equivalent of the unsolicited dick pic. Nobody wants that, nobody asked for it. If you want to sell me your shit, talk to me!
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
Hmm, now this is a tough one. It’s very easy to be militant about this and say that all literary efforts should be unencumbered by censorship, and that free speech should be sacrosanct. There is a grey area though, and free speech doesn’t come without consequences and responsibilities. I think that’s something that people in general often forget.
Do I think there should be censorship? Generally no, because I think important and difficult topics can be tackled in fiction if handled deftly and with respect. But, it has to be handled carefully. It’s increasingly easy to offend, to the point that books like To Kill A Mockingbird are now being slammed for their racist content, which entirely misses the point of the entire book. I think there are important conversations to be had, and they can take place in literature like nowhere else.
Where can people find you and your work?
You can find more information, and keep up to date with latest news at these links…
Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/Paul-Flewitt-Author-of-Dark-Fiction-352745188170046/
Amazon; http://www.amazon.co.uk/Paul-Flewitt/e/B00FG34L7O/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Twitter; @RealPaulFlewitt
Instagram; @paulflewittauthorofdarkfiction
MeWe: @Paul Flewitt
Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/DarkFantastique
Rebecca Flynn
Your Name: Rebecca Flynn
Genre(s) of your work: urban/paranormal fantasy
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
The Wild Hunted 2019
Iron Will 2021
Bio:
Rebecca has been writing since she was 10. She has written poetry and short stories in addition to several novels. She currently teaches creative writing classes online to help young kids bring their ideas to life. Her husband has been muse, research partner, idea springboard, and personal critic. Currently, she lives in the mountains of Tennessee with her husband, four children, and horde of dogs.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I was told once to write what you enjoy. Fantasy has been my favorite genre for a long time. I love the escape from reality.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
It helps me sleep better at night, believe it or not! There is so much going on in my head. When I write, it goes on the paper and I don’t have to worry about remembering it anymore. I can sleep in peace!
Who are your favorite authors and why?
I have so many authors that I really enjoy reading, too many to list. So, I will share my favorite book instead. My husband introduced me to Faerie Tale by Raymond Feist. It’s just such an amazing story. The characters are well thought out, the story truly pulls you in, and the premise for the book is intriguing. I could read this book over and over and still enjoy it every time.
Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why?
I can see the appeal of audiobooks. You can have so many more, you don’t run out of space, and it’s easy to bookmark. However, there will always be people like me who like to curl up and hold a book in their hands to read. I actually have both, but I will always enjoy the feel of the real book. I love the way they look sitting on the shelf, waiting to see which one I will pick next.
What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?
I’ve worked for one before and I don’t really have any negative feelings about them. I’ve been a part of signings for both famous and self-published authors. Big chains have more money to throw around for that kind of thing.
What have you found to be a good marketing tool? A bad one?
Signings are a good marketing tool. If you can find a local business willing to set up a table for you, have a signing. Bring a supply of your own books and make friends! I brought a box of books and sold half my supply in a couple hours. Plus, I made friends with the owner of the store and they welcomed me back to do it again!
Not really sure about bad marketing tools because I haven’t really come across anything that’s really bad yet.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
I don’t believe in censoring. Just because you don’t agree with something doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be written about or discussed. Once we start censoring, where do we stop? And who decides what is acceptable and not acceptable? I don’t use certain words or situations because I’m not comfortable talking about them. That’s my personal choice. Other people are fine saying anything or talking about any situation. Readers will tell you by purchasing or not purchasing your book.
Where can people find you and your work?
I am on Facebook and Twitter. My books can be purchased directly from the publisher (Black Rose Writing) or online at Barnes & Noble, Booksamillion, Amazon.
I’m currently working on my personal website, but I can be found on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaFlynnAuthor), Twitter (@rebeccaflynn79), and my books can be purchased from Black Rose Writing (https://www.blackrosewriting.com/fantasy-paranormal/thewildhunted?rq=the%20wild%20hunted) and (https://www.blackrosewriting.com/fantasy-paranormal/ironwill?rq=iron%20will).
| Black Rose Writing Rebecca Flynn (author) 1.28.21 (release date) http://www.blackrosewriting.com |
| Black Rose Writing Rebecca Flynn (author) 12.5.19 (release date) http://www.blackrosewriting.com |
Sue Rovens 