Amber Drappier

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi and thanks so much for this opportunity! My name is Amber I was born on the twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago, where I grew up with my mother, father, and brother. I have a degree in Human Resource Management. I’m a bit of an introvert who tends to get along with the characters in my head better than real people but that’s something I’m working on fixing!

My father is Belgian so I’ve spent some time in Europe with my grandparents who lived in the Netherlands, and right now I live with my husband in Florida, USA, with five cats, three dogs and an assortment of birds (they’re not exactly my pets but they live in and around my house)

To date I’ve self-published five books:
Unnatural Encounters: Only in Trinidad and Tobago (Caribbean Folklore), Toby (thriller/suspense short stories), Thorns of the Tumbleweed (western), A Schizophrenic Rant (poetry/art), and The End of Things (poetry).

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest published book is entitled “Unnatural Encounters: Only in Trinidad and Tobago” and it’s based on the folkloric characters of my home island. I was always fascinated by thevibrant folkloric characters of the Craibbean, so in a sense, this book was my ode to Trinidad and Tobago!

The book itself consists of a series of short stories and real life encounters with the supernatural beings that have been known to exist on our island, but I think the true beauty of it is that it simultaneously highlights the rich and diverse Trinbagonian culture while enveloping you in a world of supernatural lore.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not really sure if this is unusual but I tend to just write without direction. I’ve never been able to plot out a story and then stick to the scripted plan. In the times I have tried that, I’ve found that in knowing the story’s progression and ending I tend to never finish it (or if I do the writing tends to be lacking in many senses). So for me, I sit down with a very vague notion for a story and from there, I write and I allow the story to grow and become what it wants to. Many times when I’ve reached the ending of a story I sit back in shock at where things ended up. Perhaps this is more common than I think but it’s the closes thing to an unusual writing habit that I can think of.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve found that I’m inspired by everything including the world around me. People I meet, things I see and experience, everything I do can inspire my writing to some extent. In terms of my favorite authors, the list really does go on and on—Stephen King, John Perkins, Dan Brown, Michael Crichton, Lewis Carroll, Jean Rhys, John Steinbeck, H.G. Wells, Dr Seuss, Roald Dahl, Joyce Carol Oates, Paulo Coelho, J.K. Rowling, Isabel Allende, Chuck Palahniuk, Janet Fitch , Friedrich Nietzsche, V.S. Naipaul, J.R.R. Tolkien, Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen Hawking, Jeff Lindsay, Vladimir Nabokov, just to name a few, are some of my favorite authors.

What are you working on now?
Right now I’m all over the place since I’m trying my luck with various genres. Most of my life I’ve been writing thriller/ suspense/ horror stories but recently I’ve been trying to expand my genres (romance, drama, coming of age/young adult etc)

You can see all my upcoming stories and all the projects I’m currently working on here: http://amber.drappiertech.com/upcoming/

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m a new and self-published author so my marketing strategy isn’t that great or well-developed yet. I do have a website and my books can be found and purchased on Amazon. I also use CreateSpace to publish my physical books, and I can also be found on Goodreads.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Aside from “keep writing” and “get your work out there” I’m a new author myself and I really don’t think I’m in any position to give out advice at the moment. I’m actually in the position where I need advice more than anything! *laughs*

Hopefully in a few years when I’ve gained a bit more knowledge and experience I can pass it on to new authors.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Regarding life: Do the best you can and live without regrets. If something is meant to be, then things will work out, and even if it doesn’t you’ll always know that you tried your best and you did all you could ~ my mother.

Regarding work: If you do what you love you will never have to work a day in your life ~ my father.

Regarding writing: Never stop writing. Even if you don’t feel like it or you think you have “writer’s block” put pen to paper and write, write whatever comes to mind and write whatever you feel like writing in the moment. Even if it’s bad, that doesn’t matter, what matters is that you’ve written something. (I’m honestly not sure who gave me this advice or if it was something I told myself at one point but whichever it is, it’s always stuck with me!)

What are you reading now?
Right now I’m re-reading one of my favorite books – “White Oleander” by Janet Fitch. Before that, I read “Beach Music” by Pat Conroy.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I honestly have no idea. I really just write for the enjoyment of it. But whatever my next move is, I’m sure I’ll continue writing my stories.

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?
Hmmm…. I’m tempted to give the smart Alec answer of “how to survive on a desert island” or something like “how to build a raft out of sand” but really I would take:
1. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
2. The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King
3. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
4. The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss

Now I know that #1-3 are all technically more than one book but that’s my answer and I’m sticking to it! *laughs*

Author Websites and Profiles
Amber Drappier Website
Amber Drappier Amazon Profile

Amber Drappier’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile