Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in Yorkshire with my husband and two lunatic terriers. I’ve always written but life, as it often does, got in the way and I turned back to writing some years ago. In 2000 I was selected by North West Playwrights of England for further development but found I preferred writing fiction (novels and short stories).
Over Christmas I took up a challenge to write 52 stories this year. I began on New Year’s Day. I am keeping up with it. You can follow my progress here:
http://carolegillauthor.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-challenge-52-stories.html
My publisher, Creativia will be publishing the stories.
I am widely published in horror and sci-fi anthologies. Currently I have a four novel series out, The Blackstone Vampires Series, published by Creativia. I’ve just completed the first book in a new series.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Fourth Bride (of Dracula). Actually two things inspired me. One, was the novel, Dracula and the other was Francis Ford Coppola’s film, Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992). The film was able to combine real romance with horror: dark horror. Dracula is both demon and lover. The seed as they say was planted! It was only a question of time when I would get it down on paper. Well it is in paperback and kindle!
I spoke with a number of people about Dracula (while writing it) and I found that many expressed the same opinion, with regard to depictions of Dracula (pre-Coppola’s film) in fiction and film, they said they would have liked Dracula’s background and living life to have been shown in greater detail. Well, I’ve done that in my novel.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I love writing in the kitchen or living room. I can retreat to an office upstairs, but I love being in the center of the house. I prefer to write early in the day. When I am writing a novel my aim is to write one chapter a day which I do with very few exceptions.
With regard to unusual writing habits–I don’t think I have any. I’m quite happy as long as I have coffee and my laptop at my disposal!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Charlotte Bronte, Emily Bronte, Anne Rice, Edgar Alan Poe, Susan Hill, Daphne Du Maurier, Shirley Jackson, Stephen King and Richard Matheson.
If you took Wuthering Heights, added Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher and topped it off with Dracula and Interview with a Vampire, you’d have what kick started my writing.
What are you working on now?
Just readying book 1 in my new series for Creativia.
I write historically based horror (longer fiction) . This novel is expansive. It tells the story of Justine who was born in pre Revolutionary France. There are aristocrats behaving badly (I love doing that) in France and England–the ones in England fare better what with Mme. Guillotine.
This is my most romantic novel and I’ve had a good time writing it. The second in the series tells of a doomed love in Ancient Egypt, one that cannot be. It will cover many centuries.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I like blogging. Truthfully, I rather promote that way than plaster the newsfeed on Facebook and Twitter.
I really enjoy blogging because I try to keep it interesting. There are excerpts and articles that relate to what I’m writing that I often expand upon.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’d say to read a lot–to write as well, start with stories. Flash fiction can be a great deal of fun. Also, flash contains the basic elements of a story.
And really, everyone has time for very short fiction!
I’d also say that your writing keeps changing, it improves. But writing is a commitment and has to be seen as such. Whatever your expectations are, you will keep finding yourself surprised along the way.
It is one ongoing learning experience that never stops.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The very best was not to wait for inspiration. Inspiration comes as you write. If you have an idea for something, go with it. Writing is a discipline. You make time for it. You can’t not make time for it. Eventually you learn how to do that. Time can vary in different amounts, remember.
What are you reading now?
River God by Wilbur Smith.
I not only love historical fiction, I am using it as research for the second novel in my new series!
What’s next for you as a writer?
As far as I know, I will just continue to write. I enjoy it. I can’t imagine not writing.
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?
Wuthering Heights
The Vampire Chronicles (Anne Rice)
Works of Edgar Allan Poe
Author Websites and Profiles
Carole Gill Website
Carole Gill Amazon Profile
Carole Gill’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account