Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
The Bunker is my first published work. It is made up of a short story series that I wrote and compiled for self-publishing.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest is my first and only. It is titled The Bunker and it was inspired by a writing prompt in a discord channel called the Author’s Cafe. The prompt was “I saw the sun for the first time in my life”. One of the stories was also written as a submission for Chilling Tales for Dark Nights and was originally a prequel to the series. So after compiling enough stories in the series to have a novella sized story, I decided to make it my first self-publishing project.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Naming cities in my stories after streets that I have lived on seems like a pretty unusual one. Not sure of many other strange ones, though. I love to have nice hot cup of tea or coffee, and usually have to push my dog or cat out of the way over and over.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephen King and H. P. Lovecraft are definitely two big influences. I also love John Grisham, H. G. Wells, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
What are you working on now?
Submissions, submissions, submissions. I have been gathering as many places to submit short stories as possible and knocking them out one by one.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Well, I have not had any experience with this yet. So I guess that means that this one is!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I am a new author, so don’t listen to anything I say! Just kidding, but I really do have much more to learn than I do to teach at this point. The best advice I have heard so far is to do your best to read and write something every day.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Well darn, looks like I just burned this answer on my last answer. If I had to pick another piece of advice that I’ve heard I would go with someone who said just start writing, you can always fix bad writing later. What you can’t go back and fix is no writing.
What are you reading now?
I am beta reading If Hell is What You Want (vol. 1) by H. G. Gravy, which is fantastic so far. Before I got the opportunity to do that I was reading Halloween Season by Lucy A. Snyder, and I can’t wait to go back and finish that one as soon as I am done with the other.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to continue self-publishing more of my own work while also getting some short stories accepted into anthologies and other publications.
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?
Goblet of Fire, ‘Salem’s Lot, Frankenstein: Prodigal Son, & The Hobbit. Gotta have some nostalgia if you are stuck on an island.
Author Websites and Profiles
C. D. Kester Website
C. D. Kester Amazon Profile
C. D. Kester’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account