Interview With Author J.R. Blanes
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
J.R. Blanes is the author of the debut Southern Gothic Horror Novel, Portraits of Decay, released by Ruadan Books on October 21, 2025. His short fiction has been published by Tales to Terrify, The No Sleep Podcast, Allegory, Creepy, Macabre Magazine, among others. He lives in Chicago with his wife and their neurotic dog. When he’s not writing, his jamming on his bass or working as a legal assistant for an immigration law firm, assisting people with getting their green cards and naturalization. You can visit him at jrblanes.com or ruadanbooks.com
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Portraits of Decay is my debut novel. It was inspired by living part-time in New Orleans back when I worked for a private railroad company that traveled back-and-forth every week from Chicago to New Orleans. I fell in love with the city and it’s culture and folklore and I wanted to write a horror novel based there. I was also inspired by a conversation I had with a musician friend where we discussed what would happen if we could no longer create our art. If that was just taking away from us. As creativity is a huge part of my identity and spirit, I began to explore the idea of a character who has that taken away from him.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know if I’d call this habit, but I can pretty much write anywhere. I write in my home office. On the couch. At work on my lunchbreak. On the El train when I’m going to work. In coffee shops. Whenever and wherever the moods strikes–which is all the time. I’m constantly thinking about stories and ideas that I want to pursue. When I don’t have my computer, I type into a notepad on my phone.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Early on in my life, I was hugely influenced by Clive Barker. Reading his Books of Blood anthology opened my eyes to the possiblities that the horror genre offered. As someone who was already really into the Universal Monsters and Son of Svengoolie, this was the necessary next step I feel. Of course, even before Clive, I’d fallen in love with Edgar Allan Poe. He showed my the darkness, but Clive was the one who took me by the hand and led me in. I’ll forever be grateful to his writing for introducing to my love and passion of the horror genre.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on my third book while shopping my second book to agents/publishers. The third book takes place in Chicago and is a slasher-thriller during the time of the 80s punk rock scene there. It jumps between 1983 and the present time. Parts of it are written like a documentary.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My website is https://jrblanes.com/ I blog and promote reviews, interviews, and events along with my writing. I also promote on my social media pages, which you can connect to through my linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/jrblanes76
My publisher also promotes through their website: ruadanbooks.com
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be Yourself. Don’t try to copy other writers. Yes, it make take a long time to get noticed, but in the end, you’ll be happier when you write the books and stories you want to read. It’ll make your writing authentic and readers will gravitate toward that.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
A sculptor is given the clay to make his statue. The author has to make his clay, which is the rough draft. Only once you have that draft can you begin to sculpt the story you want to tell. My oldest brother, Marc Kniola
What are you reading now?
Rebecca Baum’s The Brood and Emma E. Murray’s Shoot Me In The Face On A Beautiful Day
What’s next for you as a writer?
I will be at a few events: The Evansville Horrorcon and The Milwaukee Horrorcon
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?
Hex-Thomas Olde Heuvelt
Weaveworld-Clive Barker
Brother-Ania Ahlborn
The Reformatory-Tananarive Due
Author Websites and Profiles
J.R. Blanes’s Social Media Links
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