Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Im a 34 year old american author, I have written multiple short stories posted on reddit but have one published anthology book with 7 of my short stories called “Shadows of my Mind” and one published novel called “My Tiny Town Just Got Put on Lockdown” Im also currently working on another novel in that series called “The Study”
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest fully finished and published book is “My Tiny Town Just Got Put on Lockdown.” The initial idea for the story came from the first few weeks of covid. Typically at work I listen to books on audible or creepy stories narrated from reddit on Youtube. One day after listening to random story after story play on Youtube I thought, you know I bet I could write a scary story. That night I was talking to my wife explaining my desire to try and write a story. Her suggestion was that I try to do something involving the pandemic and even though my story has nothing to do with it I took her suggestion and began writing about the lockdown side of the situation. It was originally just going to be a few short story parts posted to reddit’s nosleep but then I just kept going with it. Eventually I ended up with just over 90k words and 20 chapters and realized that I had written a full length novel. Because of how well received that book was I decided to turn it into a series and am working on the second book in the series currently. I named the novel series Effluvium Haze and will eventually be a 3 book series.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure how unusual this is but I find that I focus and write the best when I turn off all the lights, put my headphones on to block out everything else in the house as well as blast my EDM, and type away on the computer. It seems like even if I’m not particularly in the mood to write, once I get all that set up I find the groove within a couple sentences.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
The two stories or books that have influenced me the most have been The Left/Right Game by Neon Tempo and Tales from the Gas Station by Jack Townsend. Other influences in my particular writing style have been Dean Koontz for how much detail and description he puts in his books and lots of various other authors of short stories from reddit.
What are you working on now?
Currently I am working on book 2 in my Effluvium Haze series (Tiny Town) called The Study which is an early look at the same event from Tiny Town but from the perspective of a research scientist in Florida. My Tiny Town Just Got Put on Lockdown follows a midwest family doing their best to survive a situation they had no warning of. The Study follows a research scientist in Florida as him and his team discover a terrifying apocalyptical event just as it begins to happen.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Honestly I don’t have one. I do my best to promote my books on my facebook, and twitter, and mostly my twitch channel but my influence reach isn’t very far so it’s not as effective as I’d like it to be.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Details! Lots of details! Play to your readers senses to make them feel like they are in the moment. Details make all the difference in excitement and quality. It can turn “I walked into a room and saw a candle sitting on a table.” into “The smell of rot and decay hit me hard as I stepped into the dimly lit room. The soft amber flicker of the candle resting on the desk was the only thing illuminating the darkness.”
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Remove all distractions. Distractions are like kryptonite to your writing flow so avoid them at all costs. Being in the groove of writing can be completely destroyed by even the shortest distraction, so avoid them at all costs.
What are you reading now?
Currently I’m re-reading Seize The Night by Dean Koontz. I was a teenager last time a read it so I wanted to go back and read it again.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Next I hope to finish this book and get started on the third and final book in that series. Then who knows, I might start a completely different series, or just do stand alone novels. We will see when the time comes.
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?
Dante’s Inferno (because I’ve always wanted to read it.)
How to survive on a desert island (seems appropriate for the situation)
Intensity by Dean Koontz
Author Websites and Profiles
Cryptic Nightmares Amazon Profile