Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Justin Alcala, an author from Chicago, Illinois. I’m the creator of three urban fantasy novels, Consumed (BLK Dog Publishing) The Devil in the Wide City (Solstice Publishing) and Dim Fairytales (AllThingsThatMatterPress). I also have twenty short stories published in anthologies and magazines, including It Dances Now, The Lantern Quietly Screams and The Offering. Besides being a shamelessly nerdy tabletop role player, I am also an avid blogger. My latest manuscripts focus on the playfully bizarre and dry humored, with mild influences from Christopher Moore and Andrew Smith.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
When I first started writing “A Dead End Job” in 2019, it was nothing more than an agglomeration of daydreams. The idea of a hard-boiled hitman working for a comical Grim Reaper burrowed a hole in my brain, so I put it down on paper and sent it out. The amazing Parliament House Press contracted the book (No, I’m legally obligated to say that — Why would think that?) and we hit the ground running with edits. However, life delivered a shot to the kisser during the book-butchering phase. I moved across the country, had my second child and then the pandemic hit. I discovered a bovarism in myself, and the world around me, that I didn’t like. I would always still be the dick-joke toting writer, but some very serious allegories weaved themselves into the story while I edited. I want to acknowledge those who helped me recognize these issues.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
These days, I sneak down the stairs in the morning, wave hi to our resident ghost, let out the werewolf in the backyard, then sit in silence in front of a computer. There’s mumbling, funny sound effects, and theme music constantly playing low (as to not wake the little banshees), that filter out all of the noise that can steal most writers’ concentration.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Andrew Smith, Christopher Moore, Mary Shelley, Anne Rice, Jim Butcher, Stephen King, Margaret Eleanor Atwood, Rob Schrab
What are you working on now?
There’s three projects boiling on the kettle. The first is a middle grade horror novel called “THE LAST STOP.” It’s about a girl who takes for granted all that’s going right for her in her strange new town of Weepingbridge, and learns the hard lessons of being caught up in her own head-noise.
The second is “THE TAMING OF THE CTHULHU” which is what happens when William Shakespeare goes off on early adventures (before he was ever famous) to the Spanish Main with some unlikely sea dogs in order to hunt down treasure said to be left by natives for…The Old One.
Finally, I’m working with some other well known comic writers and artists for an upcoming graphic novel. It’s bizarre. It’s cerebral. It’s very, very entertaining. I can’t give titles, etc. right now due to legal and marketing strategies, but stay tuned!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
It’s not one thing. It’s staying active and relevant. You are only as good as what you do today. If you haven’t done one thing to reach your readers today on any social media sites, you’re behind. Posts, blogs and art daily are important to keeping your name out there. Many old school authors have refused to do this and with them goes their fading name.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I had a young writer connect with me on advise. I love giving advise so people can skip all of the mistakes I might have made. When I checked in with this fella’ though, I learned that he thought he could rewrite the rules. He didn’t use the proposal formats that most publishers and agents want. He wouldn’t listen to the proofreader who received his work. Essentially, I think his idea of what being a writer should be didn’t fit what it was and so he tried to reinvent the wheel. I applause his boldness, and if his aspiration was to change the way we do things in the publishing world, mad props. I think his goal though was to get his book published. If you really care about your work, learn what it takes to get that first one out there. From there, you can be a gunslinger, but first learn what it takes to be a writer before you change its world. You must be ordinary before you can be extraordinary.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Margaret Atwood “There will be interruptions.”
What are you reading now?
I have jumped into a new way of life- supporting less than mainstream authors. Do I occasionally hit a wall with something I don’t like? Of course, but I do that with mainstream books too. These days I read a lot of books from smaller, Indy publishers like BLKDOG Press, THOR Books, etc. Let me tell you, it’s a shame that there’s so many great authors who will never be heard. I’d invite readers to take a chance on them.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m planning my trip to the cosmos. Is there life on Mars?
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?
A book on how to make boats. Another on how to get off a desert island. The third and fourth books would be very light and airy so that I can use them as floatation devices.
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