Interview With Author Aspasia S. Bissas
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been fascinated by words and stories for as long as I can remember, and I’ve been writing them almost as long. I’ve dabbled in poetry, microfiction, non-fiction, short stories, and even plays and movie scripts, but my true passion is writing novels. I love delving into characters’ psyches, figuring out who they are, and where they belong in the world. Add in some paranormal and fantasy elements and I love it even more. So far, I’ve published two novels (and two related short stories), but have written a few more.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My recently published book is called Bleeding Heart. My love of plants merged with my vampire obsession and I came up with my character Mara, a vampire herbalist with a garden. She’s the main character in my first book, Love Lies Bleeding, while Bleeding Heart focuses more on Ash, an actor turned against his will (although Mara makes an appearance). Both titles are also names of plants.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Choosing to be a writer is unusual enough!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I think my earliest influences were fairytales and children’s stories like Alice in Wonderland. As I got older, I got more into horror, reading authors like Anne Rice and Whitley Strieber. By the time I started writing seriously, I was reading mostly classics: Robertson Davies, Dostoevsky, Dumas. These days my reading material consists of a mix of literary fiction and fantasy. I can’t point to any one influence because I believe that everything I’ve read has had some effect on my writing.
What are you working on now?
I’ve started on a couple of new novels (a sequel to Bleeding Heart and a paranormal YA novel). I’m also busy with smaller projects, including writing reviews of every episode of Supernatural (all fifteen seasons of it!)
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My best promotion method is blogging on my own site and chatting with the people who comment. Never underestimate the power of engaging with people.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write for yourself, not for the market.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I appreciate Stephen King’s advice to “kill your darlings,” but the best advice I’ve received has to be “keep at it.” Writing can be frustrating, so every bit of encouragement helps.
What are you reading now?
I’m just finishing some dense nonfiction, but I’m looking forward to reading The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern and Silver Fire by Freya Pickard.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Unfortunately, I’m a pretty slow writer, so I’ll be busy for the next long while with the projects I mentioned before.
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?
Ah, the torture part of the interview. Well, the first two books would have to be “How to Survive on a Desert Island” and “How to Get Off a Desert Island.” Aside from those, how about the Collected Works of Shakespeare, the Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, and Edge of Twilight by Maggie Shayne. This selection will probably change by tomorrow (other than the first two).
Author Websites and Profiles
Aspasia S. Bissas Amazon Profile
Aspasia S. Bissas’s Social Media Links
Author Interview Series
To discover a new author, check out our Featured Authors page. We have some of the best authors around. They are just waiting for you to discover them. If you enjoyed this writer’s interview feel free to share it using the buttons below. Sharing is caring!
If you are an author and want to be interviewed just fill out out Author Interview page. After submitting we will send it out in our newsletters and social media channels that are filled with readers looking to discover new books to read.
If you are looking for a new book to read check out our Featured Books Page.