Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written one novel as an adult, and seven feature-length screenplays as a high school student. Clearly parties and football games (and homework) weren’t high on my list of priorities in high school. I like writing about ugly things in the most beautiful way possible. Creating poetry or writing delicate prose about vile things to me is more shocking than any gorefest because, strangely enough, there is beauty in vile things. There is beauty in everything. You just need to find the right words.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest published novel, ‘Four o’Clock Alice’, was inspired by personal tragedy and has a nuanced relationship with Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’. I wanted to create a character with the same kind of curiosity and wonder as Carroll’s Alice, so I peppered my book with allusions to his story. I also wanted to use it to establish exposition and setting (Edwardian England) to show that the book was contemporary (though Carroll published his work 50 years earlier). As it turns out, those superficial allusions opened a Pandora’s box of hidden connections between mine and Carroll’s story that, thanks to your great question, I just noticed. For example, both stories can be considered coming-of-age stories. In each story, each girl learns things about herself and the world around her. Experiences fabulous and frightening things. Physically grows (and shrinks!). For better or worse, she goes on the adventure of a lifetime. Of course, it’s all subjective—some may see Alice in Wonderland as a political allegory and my book as a paperweight, but that’s what’s fun about literature analysis, isn’t it? The meaning is in the eye of the beholder.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I get most of my ideas while driving. Since I don’t drive often, that means I get my ideas when I’m being driven around by my chauffeur (read: boyfriend). That’s convenient, since all I have to do when an idea arrives is pull out my pad and pencil and jot it down. No pull-over necessary. I tried using a tape-recorder (because, after all, that’s what makes you look like an official important person with important ideas), but was too shy to speak any words to it, even when I was the only one in the room. Go figure.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m a big fan of Stephen King. I actually love how boring his books are. It sounds strange, but I think the true King fans will know what I’m talking about—at least I hope so… for all I know, they’ll want to burn me at the stake for calling their idol boring. In any case, what I mean is that for me, the best parts of his work—short stories and novels alike—are the exposition, where basically nothing happens. Gives you a chance to fall in love with the characters before you even get to the story. Anybody can write a good story, but for the characters to click, for there to be the right chemistry between characters–between the characters and the reader, even–that is not an easy feat.
What are you working on now?
I’m in the editing phase of my upcoming release, ‘Demon Dance’. This gritty short horror story collection is a big departure from Alice, and came from somewhere completely other within me. I think the strangeness of Alice is still there, though, and if you dig deep enough, so is the heart, but it’s surrounded by a lot of barbed wire.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have a Facebook author page, and when I’m not sharing pictures of my dogs, I’m busy promoting my books or sharing writing memes there. Otherwise I have my insidious ways… such as word of mouth via Facebook. I’ll happily admit that when people read my book, they shout from the Facebook rooftops how much they love it. Now if only I could get more of them to write a review. They should make a PSA: Don’t let your favorite author go hungry tonight. Leave a review!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write what you like, and those who like what you like will read it. Those who don’t like it will read your fans tweets, and say, “hmm, maybe I should read that.”
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t take anyone’s writing advice too seriously. – Lev Grossman
What are you reading now?
‘The Seventh Lane: A Mythpunk Noir’ by Camilla Ochlan
What’s next for you as a writer?
The sky’s the limit! I don’t believe you can peak as a writer. You have to be growing. Constantly evolving. Otherwise you bore yourself.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
‘The Silence of the Lambs’
‘Four o’Clock Alice’
‘The Stand’ – because I’m stranded… on a desert island. I’ll need reading material.
Author Websites and Profiles
Vanessa Ravel Website
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