Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My mom read to me from the day I was born, and I am thoroughly convinced that her dedication and intellectual nurturing is the greatest attributing factor in the passion for stories I’ve had all my life. I may be a cliché – a rom-com stereotype, if you will – but I literally was THAT kid. You know the kind – more interested in engaging with the pages of a book than actual people, nose always in a book, the “don’t-talk-to-me-right-now-I’m-in-another-world-entirely-and-won’t-hear-you” personality type. I literally carried a book in my purse with me to take to family outings, church gatherings, and parties. Sometimes I’d even coordinate. The first – and only – time my dad took me to a college football game, I brought along a Hardy Boys book that centered around a football player’s murder. I was teased good-naturedly by my friends and parents, chided by guardians for sneaking a book out of my bag to read when I was supposed to be socializing, and griped at by my sister for zoning out completely in the middle of a novel. And it never, ever stopped.
I’ve always loved to write as well, and all my life, I’ve written short stories, poems, songs, chapter books, plays. Unlike a lot of children, I knew from a very young age what I wanted to do with my life, after, of course, the obligatory stint in kindergarten where I thought I wanted to be a veterinarian – I wanted to write books. Now, looking back at some of the pieces I wrote when I was young, from grade school to high school to college and beyond, I can see myself growing and changing as a writer, and it’s a wonderful experience. I have always doggedly chased down that dream of publishing books, despite any opposition that has tried to intercept me. I’ve always been stubborn, especially when I knew what I wanted, and this, writing books and telling stories for the world to enjoy and learn from, was exactly what I wanted.
Besides reading and writing, I enjoy indulging in pop-culture – I love young adult literature, Doctor Who and Disney movies, playing Skyrim, cat videos and memes. I’m also a dedicated reader and writer of fan-fiction, and I like to use it to practice my writing, hone my skills, interact with other fans, writers, and readers, and, of course, put my own spin on my favorite stories. After all, if I love a character, story, or world enough, I’m rarely satisfied with what I’m given – I never want the character to fade, the story to end, or the world to dissipate back into reality – so I add to it and grow it, for my own personal enjoyment and that of others.
Crocheting is another hobby of mine, as is baking – and eating, sometimes en masse – sweet treats. My faith is extremely important to me. Cats, in my opinion, are the greatest creatures God put on this earth. Quidditch is my favorite sport (I’m a Ravenclaw). I think these seemingly random facets of my personality are incredibly important to who I am. Although some may scoff at my love of British science fiction dramas, video games, and young adult literature, what it says about me is that story is still, and ultimately, the most important thing in the world to me. A compelling world, a flawed but admirable character, a fairy tale, a story… this is what I love, and who I am, and who I am proud to be.
Currently, I have completed two books – one available now, and the other still awaiting editing – though I have many more ideas just waiting to be written.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest – and debut – novella, House of the Dead, is a glimpse over a mysterious garden wall in Munster County, Ireland – from our world, the world of the living, to the Celtic Otherworld, the Irish realm of fairies – and of the dead. It is an exploration of some of the most intriguing facets of Irish and Celtic myths, packaged neatly in a frame narrative about a young girl whose curiosity leads her right to the cusp of life and death. It’s not a depressing book, however – instead, I take some of the most terrifying and strangest creatures from this culture’s mythologies – the Dullahan, the Cat Sidhe, and changelings – and I present a different perspective on them, and in doing so, on death – and life – itself.
Within the frame narrative of eleven-year-old Blake Callaghan’s journey over the garden wall are three shorter stories. First, the story of the Dullahan – the headless horseman – and the stubborn old man who ran from death. Second, the story of the Cat Sidhe, and the prince who chased after death. And finally, the story of a changeling who dared to defy tradition, and the child who defeated death. House of the Dead is equal parts mysterious, fantastic, playful, and insightful – and though it is at times dark, it does not revel in the darkness. Instead, it uses what normally unnerves us – the dark, death, loss, uncertainty – to further define and tease out meaning in the light. It is meant to be an enjoyable read, but on a deeper level, it is meant to make you think – perhaps rethink – what we have long held as truths about life, about death, and about the power of story.
House of the Dead was primarily inspired by Celtic and Irish mythology. I have always been fascinated with folklore and legends, and although there are a lot of books out there today that retell stories from Greek, Roman, Norse, and Egyptian mythology, what you don’t see a lot of is Celtic and Irish. The culture is so rich, and even though it is, as most all mythologies are, preoccupied with death and the afterlife, I found so much potential for deeper meaning, not just about death, but about life, within.
The novella started out as a short story – less than 1200 words – for one of my creative writing classes when I was working for my Master’s degree a few years ago. It was skin and bones at that point, but it had so much potential – and I was so fascinated by the world I’d started exploring – that I decided to expand upon it for my creative thesis at the end of my graduate program. The deeper I delved into the myths, legends, and cultures of the Irish and Celtic peoples, the more I fell in love with them and knew I had to write more. After I graduated, I simply could not let this story go. It was something I knew I had to tell, because it was, to me, a revolutionary perspective on some of humanity’s most common assumptions about how the world works, and this fascinating mythology was the perfect conduit to present these ideas. Most notably, I wanted to use the literary technique of defamiliarization – where you take something mundane and present it in a new, fantastic way, and in turn, take something fantastic and make it mundane – to encourage readers to think outside of the norm about their lives and their stories.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have noticed over the past few years that every time I start to really concentrate on writing something, my head, of its own accord, it seems, begins to tilt ever so slowly to the left until it is actually resting on my left shoulder. I don’t know why I do this – if it’s a byproduct of concentration or just a strange quirk – and I don’t know if it actually accomplishes anything other than giving me a crick in the neck, but there you are.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
All of Rick Riordan’s young adult novels are a huge inspiration for me. The way he takes myths and translates them to the modern time, all while maintaining a snarky, lighthearted tone even in the darkest of situations, is phenomenal.
T.A. Barron’s novels, most notably his Great Tree of Avalon and The Lost Years of Merlin series, were a huge inspiration for House of the Dead in particular. Barron’s books were where I first, long ago, learned of the Celtic Otherworld, the great god Dagda, and the mists beyond time. His work has stayed with me since, maintaining my fascination with the Celtic myths.
Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book is one of the most charming, beautiful, and deepest books I’ve read to date. It has so much heart despite its dark subject matter – death – and it tells such a beautiful, awe-inspiring and eye-opening tale that it brings tears to my eyes every time I re-read the last chapter. The feel that he has in The Graveyard book is what I’ve always wanted for House of the Dead. I wanted to write a book that, despite its dark and usually distasteful subject matter, reveals the other side of the coin. One of Gaiman’s greatest achievements in this book is his subverting the expectations about death. In making the main character, though still alive, grow up with the dead after being adopted by ghosts, he makes death seem normal, and not only that, but he uses death to highlight the importance and beauty of life.
What are you working on now?
In a complete switch of genres, I am currently working on a fantasy satire novel that examines stereotypes and social expectations through the lens of fairy tale conventions. It’s somewhat in the tradition of Terry Pratchett or Jonathan Swift, with lots of laughs interspersed with some deeper commentary about society’s expectations and the consequences – and rewards – of defying them. Further into the future, I have planned a post-apocalyptic, character-driven thriller and a science fiction thriller that will use its fantastic setting to comment and critique some of our current society’s discrepancies. I seem to have no set genre; I simply write what stories I feel need to be told.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook is a great marketing tool if you know how to use it correctly. I’m still learning, but I have been able to generate quite a lot of interest through Facebook advertising, which is fairly cheap and pretty efficient. I have high hopes about marketing sites like Awesome Gang, Pretty-Hot, and Bargain Booksy as well. Poets & Writers is another great source to find marketing help and information, along with reviewers and contests you can enter for more exposure.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
This may sound cliché, but write. Just keep writing. Don’t let what others say discourage you, and if you want to self-publish, go for it, and don’t let anyone’s doubts or criticisms stop you. A few facts about the self-publishing industry to give you some perspective:
Self-publishing sometimes has a bad reputation, but that’s mostly because of the monopoly that traditional publishing houses have had on the industry for so long. The balance of power is shifting with the age of technology, however, allowing people with small budgets and large ambitions to make their own way in a once-exclusive market.
It’s an amazing tool, when used properly. And I think if the demands and process of self-publishing were more widely known, people would have a much greater respect for and would be more willing to support Indie authors. The people who self-publish and are serious about it have to be extremely dedicated, because they are their own publishing company – they have to arrange editing, design, cover, and, most difficult of all, marketing. It’s not an easy road, but it’s a rewarding one.
One of the difficulties of being an Indie author is the stigma that’s often placed on the idea of self-publishing. A lot of people think that if a book isn’t published traditionally, it’s not good. This simply isn’t true. People need to realize that the odds are stacked against any potential authors from the start – even if they’re great – because of the way that the publishing industry works.
Publishing houses only accept a certain number of manuscripts a year, and most won’t even consider one if it is sent in directly by the author. They require an agent. Agents are great, but they’re also expensive, and even with one, you’re not guaranteed publication because publishing houses have thousands of manuscripts and only a few spots to fill per publishing season. Know that self-publishing is a viable and legitimate form of self-employment, and that an author isn’t “bad” because he or she goes the Indie route.
Personally, I didn’t even try to go the traditional way with my book – I’ve always found self-publishing a more attractive option, especially knowing the sheer odds of even getting my book seen by a publisher. Do I think I could publish traditionally? I do, and someday I might make that plunge. But for a newlywed with bills to pay, getting an agent and pursuing the traditional route wasn’t feasible.
There have been plenty of self-published authors who have been contacted by traditional publishing companies after garnering a lot of success – some of them even becoming bestsellers! Believe it or not, some of these authors chose to continue self-publishing rather than sign on with a publishing house.
Just remember that, in the end, being published traditionally doesn’t come down to solely talent; it relies on other factors, like money, circumstances, and resources – like pretty much everything else in this life. This is a great time for independent authors – so if you are one, be proud, and if you’re thinking about it… take the plunge! It’s worth it.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Although I still sometimes struggle to follow this advice, I was recently advised to not allow criticism or negativity affect me. When you put yourself – your work, your story, your art – on the line, out there for the world to see, you will inevitably come across people who disagree with you or don’t like what you’re doing. I was told to remind myself of what I have accomplished, to remember how far I’ve come, and to hold my head up and be proud of my accomplishments, to have confidence despite any negativity or rejection that comes my way, because I know exactly how far I’ve come.
It’s easy to let one negative comment in a sea of positive ones discourage you and ruin your perception of yourself, but it’s not worth it. We can’t change what others think about us. It’s what we think of ourselves that matters most, and nine times out of ten, even critics and Negative Nellies are going to at least respect a confident individual, even if they don’t agree with or like their work.
What are you reading now?
To be honest, I haven’t been reading much lately since I’ve been so busy with House of the Dead. Although I haven’t actually picked it up in weeks, I am technically still reading Rick Riordan’s The Sword of Summer. I’m also listening to How to Fight a Dragon’s Fury on Audible with my husband. I’ve read the How to Train Your Dragon book series before, but it’s my husband’s first time – and he loves it as much as I do!
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ve got a book signing in a couple of weeks, along with some more promotions and events. When I have the chance, I’m working on the fairy tale satire I alluded to earlier and making plans for my next books, both of which are going to involve a ton of research and preparation, so I’ve got my work cut out for me, and I couldn’t be more excited.
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?
Now that’s just not fair. Can I have one of them be my Kindle with all of my favorites on it? No? Well, then, in that case… I’d bring my Bible, first and foremost. I’d also bring The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, The False Prince by Jennifer Neilsen, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling, I believe. Though I’d prefer to stay home with all of my books if it’s all the same to you, thanks.
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