Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a former journalist for a large metropolitan daily newspaper and also an avid book reviewer, with more than 200 reviews posted on Amazon. The Sisters is my first book. I’ve got another book just about ready for release called The DeathBorn, in which a creature from before time reincarnates as a serial killer. Readers can preorder it — it’s due out in May.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Sisters: A Mystery of Good and Evil, Horror and Suspense was inspired by a winter trip to Cape May, NJ. As my wife and I walked up and down the deserted seawall opposite these magnificent old Victorian homes, I tried to imagine what dark tales they might tell.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I try to write regularly, whether possessed by inspiration or not. I find that, as Stephen King once said, even the stuff that you thought was terrible on the day you wrote it, winds up just about the same as the stuff you thought was brilliant.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Well, Stephen King, Peter Straub and the old masters Poe and Lovecraft come to mind. But I also love the quirky characters and masterful imagery of Roald Dahl’s adult work, as well as Ray Bradbury’s wonderful foreshadowing of evil.
What are you working on now?
As I said, my current project is The DeathBorn — getting it just right is turning out to be a challenge. Creating the characters so they’re credible and vulnerable — not to mention the bad guy, who needs to generate a genuine sense of dread in the reader — especially when he’s not “onscreen.” There’s nothing like the thrill of dark anticipation in a really good horror book or film.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Awesome Gang is among the best followed by four others for paid promotion. Of course, there’s the behemoth BookBub, which returns an excellent profit if you have enough reviews and deep enough pockets to access their million+ readers. But good old-fashioned blog hopping and the building of relationships is key as well. I should mention, too, that I got an excellent book trailer produced by BrilliantBookTrailers.com that has been great for building buzz.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Stay true to your vision of what you want your story to be. Let your characters come to life on their own, sometimes even surprising you by what they do — or don’t do.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Writers write. There’s no substitute for just sitting down and cranking it out, whether your muse is speaking to you or not. And I forget the other pithy pearl of wisdom, but it’s along the same lines…
What are you reading now?
Well, I also review books for other authors currently — almost 100 a year — so I find I don’t have much time for pleasure reading anymore. But when Stephen King puts out a new novel, I drop everything to read it.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Trying to just stay focused on my craft and, as I keep saying, cranking it out on both the good days and the bad.
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?
The Stand, The Lord of the Rings, and the Collected Works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Author Websites and Profiles
Don Sloan Amazon Profile