Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi! I’m Alyanna Poe, eighteen year old author of Eaten. Eaten is my first published work. I self published through Amazon after many rejections from literary agents. I guess they aren’t into gore and horror like I am. Halloween is a huge holiday in my household, larger than Christmas in fact. So far, all of my writing projects fall under the category of horror, although I plan on writing in many other genres before I kick the bucket.
I love music (currently have it on as I’m writing this actually) and I couldn’t live without it. I generally listen to alternative rock, rap, and EDM. I love dogs. I have three of my own and plan on always having a fur baby around. I think both music and my dogs spark inspiration in my writing. Dogs play a big part in Eaten even though they aren’t main components in the story.
I live with my parents in northern California. Living in small agricultural towns and being surrounded by orchards has really impacted my writing, as you can see in Eaten and some of my shorter works that I plan on publishing soon.
My writing is my life and I plan on making a full career from it.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
EATEN is my latest publication. Amazon was a good fit for me, allowing me to keep my creative integrity and the freedom to market myself, taking on my work at full speed.
The main character of Eaten, Amelia, is an agonized soul, as many have told me. They tell you to write what you know, so I wrote about my experiences in school. Fourteen year old Amelia delves into her adolescence surrounded by bullies and adults that don’t understand her situation. Not to spoil anything, but Amelia’s life is very similar to my own except for her family situation. My parents have never been anything like Edward and Barbara, to my relief.
I was fourteen when I started writing Eaten and, after many cases of editing, I published at eighteen. At fourteen, I had anger issues from the stress of starting high school and being left out of everything. My best friend left me for my new friend. I tried to be friends with the people that no one gave a chance to, and I found out why they had no friends (they were *not* the nicest people). I was the awkward kid. On top of that, I have always picked at my skin. I remember all the way back to kindergarten, I picked at the bumps on my arms at night. I still have scars. I didn’t want to go to school in fear of the bully in my class. He found me and decided I was the one to bully. Years of torture led to anger issues and so many scars from picking. Recently I found out that it could be a mental disorder related to OCD. As far as the anger issues, my mom told me I needed to express myself in a way so I wouldn’t be so furious all the time. That night I started the notes for Eaten and four agonizing years later it has come to fruition.
Amelia was my way of telling my story with fictional bits mixed in. Linda and Dan aren’t real, but the pain behind those two characters are very real.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I usually light a candle and say a few positive words in my head before writing or working on marketing. I generally always have music on while writing as well. Even at twelve in the morning, I don the earbuds and get to rocking.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephen King really influenced me. I read King’s The Stand at age thirteen and fell in love with his writing style. I tried to model my writing style after his with my own twist. Growing up, I read a lot of YA like Heather Brewer’s The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod which really got me ready for the horror genre.
What are you working on now?
Currently I’m working on the sequel to Eaten. The title is a secret for now, but once I’m closer to being finished with it I’ll think about a cover reveal.
I had started a third novel, VERY separate from Eaten. As of now it is on the back burner until I can finish up this sequel. I already have a few people waiting for the sequel!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use a mobile app called Slasher to connect with other horror fans. So far I’ve made a few personal sales through there without having to pitch myself. The Slasher community is great. It’s similar to the set up of FaceBook but specifically for horror fans. There’s even a dating section, which I haven’t tried… yet haha. People are very nice on there, and I suggest it to any horror fans with a smartphone.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
WRITE. I can’t say it enough. When you have the urge to write and you feel that your writing is no good, write anyway. You won’t improve if you sit idle. And when you feel that you can’t write, read. It’s a good way of recharging the old creativity batteries in your head.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Honestly, the advice I just gave was advice given to me. I pass it on as much as possible because it really helped me.
What are you reading now?
Right now I’m in the middle of Dan Simmons’ Carrion Comfort. And as soon as I finish this book, I plan on reading Europa by Elias J. Hurst. I read a sample of it on Amazon and just had to get the ebook!
What’s next for you as a writer?
Marketing. So much marketing. I am learning how to connect with my target audience, horror lovers, and making connections with them. I love meeting new people and finding out how they go into horror. Everyone’s reasons are different.
Also, I hope to release my sequel by the end of 2020.
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?
First I would bring a favorite of mine, The Cipher by Kathe Koja. I just love that book and how dark and transcending it is. If you haven’t read it, I highly suggest it. And the next three would come from my TBR pile (consisting of over 600 physical books that are overflowing my shelves). I can’t wait to read The Man Who Couldn’t Stop by David Adam. It’s about OCD and it intrigued me from the Dollar Store’s book section so I had to have it. I haven’t read Dracula by Bram Stoker (yes I am very behind!) but I really look forward to it. And finally I would bring Stephen King’s Under the Dome as I have the novel but haven’t read it yet. I really enjoyed the first season of the television series and hope to thoroughly enjoy the novel as well.
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