Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I wrote my first book “Brightleaf” about 6 years ago and self-published it on Lulu.com, it’s a general fantasy story about fairies, elves, and humans working together to save a kidnapped queen in a wizard’s dungeon. It went over really well with the 11-17 year olds, but I got distracted and never published any sequels. So my vampire book came very suddenly and I’m still surprised by it.
I flit between being very classy and being a complete nerd. I enjoy listening to symphonies and studying impressionist artwork, but also my 21st birthday was a Lord of the Rings LARPing adventure and I love Star Trek and I go to conventions. So my book “Prince Orlofsky, Vampire Hunter” blends the two together: it’s a journey through European/Russian history, art, architecture, and music, through the eyes of a Russian prince who has unabashedly genre fiction adventures. As an example, I have a character Franz Liszt who is an important composer in classical music, but in my book he’s also a werewolf. It’s the best of both worlds.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Prince Orlofsky, Vampire Hunter.” It came about because there was an opera called “Die Fledermaus” which took place at a prince’s villa where he was throwing a party. I thought, wouldn’t it be funny if it was a horror novella where a monster destroyed the party and killed the characters one by one? So I started writing that, but I found myself distracted by the prince. He was funny and eccentric and I really just wanted to write his story. So I took Prince Orlofsky (who was a real character in Die Fledermaus) and explored all his weirdness. In the opera he’s bored all the time, and says “in my eighteen years I have lived through forty”, so I figured he was probably some kind of vampire weary with life.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I talk to myself as my characters, in odd places: the bathtub, the couch, out walking the dog, the toilet. So if anybody listened in on me when I went into a bathroom, they’d probably hear me muttering melodramatic lines, and answering them back equally dramatically. “Do you want me to stake her for you?” “No, I would never forgive you if you did that” “Just say the word. If I knew that you wished it, I would do it in a heartbeat!” *flush* *faucet* Yep.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I read Dracula right before writing this vampire book, so a lot of the lore is straight from Dracula. But as far as authors go, Edgar Rice Burrows has a hilariously melodramatic way of writing sci-fi that still manages to feel super cool and epic, so I try to emulate that sometimes. And Charles Dickens has a wonderfully sarcastic sense of humor. Like in “A Christmas Carol,” he says someone is “as close to Scrooge as I am to you now, and I am standing in the spirit at your elbow.” Okay Charles Dickens, lovely to think about. That’s my favorite book, I read it every Christmas. I grew up on a diet of Dickens, Alexandre Dumas, and Narnia, Lord of the Rings, and Redwall.
What are you working on now?
I’ve finished the sequel to Prince Orlofsky, which is about to be edited, and I’m almost done with the third installment. So after that, I’ll be writing the fourth book, “Prince Orlofsky’s Vampire Bride,” which will have so much lovely vampire angst in it. Then the fifth one will be the Russian revolution.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have a facebook page for it, and I’ve figured out boosting posts can get you some clicks. I like it because it’s direct and on someone’s facebook, which is basically their homepage now. But it costs money, so I’m hoping to try out Amazon’s promotion options next.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Even if you suck, write anyway. I always loved to write but thought I was no good at it. So I spent years not writing, thinking I could never measure up. Then I walked into the sci-fi/fantasy paperback section of a used bookstore. I saw all sorts of obscure stuff there, and some of it was amazing and some of it not so good. What they all had in common is that they weren’t going for a Pulitzer. They were just telling a cool story. I realized that these people wrote anyway, even if they sucked, or thought that they sucked. So instead of letting the self-doubt hold you back, write anyway, and if anyone hates your book, you can say “well F you. It got made.”
Make a thing. Make it exist. It’s awesome.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
My college film teacher used to say “Just do it. You’d be amazed how many people don’t do it, and that’s why they don’t make it in this business. Just do it.” He was talking about diving in and making your book, movie, or project happen. And not worrying along the way. Just do it. Want to audition for something in NYC? Buy a cheap megabus ticket and make it happen. Just do it.
What are you reading now?
“Master and Commander,” by Patrick O’Brian. And “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley.
What’s next for you as a writer?
A sci-fi/space book I’ll be writing with my husband about a sonoluminescence power core, and using sonic weapons to vibrate through matter and tear stuff apart. We’ve been planning it for a few years now, I’m already in love with the characters.
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?
War and Peace, because I’ve always wanted to read it and it’s super long.
A Christmas Carol
Treasure Island (very few books do I reread but this one I have, and can quote many of the lines. Some even made it into Treasure Planet, and I love that.)
The Phantom of the Opera (I’ve also reread this one. Seven times. I love losing myself in the bustling old world of the Garnier opera house)
Author Websites and Profiles
Isabelle Glass Website