Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a Seattle illustrator and author best known for my demon-poodle based comedy, Out for Souls & Cookies. I am also the creator of Faminelands and Lure and collaborated with authors on several projects as an illustrator. To explore a different aspect of my creativity, I write sci-fi, fantasy, and paranormal. Immortal House is my seventh written book, or (twelfth if you count the comics!) I live with my husband and two dogs. When not writing or illustrating, I love hiking and birdwatching.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Immortal House. It was inspired by the gentrification and how Seattle has changed with the technology boom and watching vampire movies. (I love horror movies, especially creature features.) In many contemporary vampire stories, vampires are rich and we see they live in huge lofts or fancy houses or an old Victorian that is basically a fixer-upper project for their thrall. I wanted to write the middle-class vampire, just trying to get by, live a life of an average guy in Seattle.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know how unusual it is, but my dog, Tycho, sets my schedule. He is a bit neurotic, so he loves the weekdays. Husband goes to work, dogs get walked. I sit down for three hours to do work. At 12:30, Tycho wakes up and scratches on the door. It’s time for lunch and a bathroom break. At 1:30, he’s trying to herd Rosie (the other dog) and me back into my closet so I go back to work.
Oh yeah, I suppose working in the closet might be a little weird for many people, but I live in a 640 square foot in-city condo. My closet is my office.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love Tanya Huff’s sharp conversational dialogue and fast pace. Stephen King is one of my favorite authors. Margret Atwood and Mary Doria Russell inspired me to want to write science fiction back when I was in high school. Finally Richard A. Lovett and David Brin, who honestly I just met at a convention, inspired me to keep going by a bit of kindness they showed me right after my debut novel was released.
What are you working on now?
I am working on two projects. I just finished a Kickstarter for the graphic novel of Out For Souls and Cookies. The graphic novel was funded so I have to finish up all the work for that. And I am working on a murder mystery based on a minor character from Immortal House. Its my first spin-off!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Honestly, I still do more face to face selling than online selling. Half my ebook sales comes from people meeting me at conventions or streetfairs.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write what you love and that you are passionate about. There will be points where you think why in the [Fill in crass word here!] am I doing this? This is really hard! However if you are passionate about the stories that you want to write, you don’t regret the time/money you put in your first couple books.
What are you reading now?
Severance by Ling Ma
What’s next for you as a writer?
Once the kickstarter stuff is done, I want to finish that murder mystery I mentioned in a previous question and then I want to go back to my first series: Other Systems. I would like to write a third book in that Universe. (Space is really big, so the books stand alone.)
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?
Any four big ones that I haven’t read before. After I read them, I’d probably need to burn them so I didn’t freeze during the night and I’ll need to cook the rats on the island. Plus maybe the fire would be seen by an airplane or passing cruise ship. Preferably the cruise ship. I’d want a steak, brocolini, cheesecake, and some espresso after my ordeal with the rats.
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