Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have been writing since I was a kid, but I embraced the art as a full-time career in the April of 2015. My first published novel (Future Winds) came out on November 25th of the same year & my second Book (Emotive) is scheduled for an April 5th of 2016 release.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Emotive would be my latest work and the way that I wrote it was odd. It wasn’t really inspired by anything and I had no idea where I was going with it when I crafted it. In the end, everything just seemed to flow together and the result was something beautifully dark, yet powerful. Had it ended up being junk, I would not have published it, but I really think that it ended up being something special.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I really enjoy writing on the floor. Part of it is that I consider the ground to be my Zen space. Another reason I have about floor writing is that I have a house rabbit and he often will come say hello while I am writing. I do some serious damage to my mind sometimes with the dark places that I go and a cute bunny licking my face helps to mitigate that damage. lol.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Mark Twain had a dark side that most are not aware of and I really like him. Tolkien, Poe, Orwell, Clancy, Lovecraft, & Hunter S. Thompson are also some of my favorites. I am partial to minds that most would consider to be mad.
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a collection of short stories. The name of the collection is not set in stone, but as of right now it is labeled; “Dark Matter: A Collection of Short Stories for the Modern Day Psychopath.” I really like that name, but I am afraid that some people might be afraid to touch a book with such a name. lol.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Twitter & Instagram are currently my go-to sites for connecting with fans & promoting my work. I use Facebook also, but I completely disavow Facebook as an honorable or good service. They are a government psyop organization that is allowed to operate outside of the laws of the people because they can call themselves a private organization and I think that it is sick.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
You have to keep going. You have to check yourself and keep your mind in a good place. Nobody cares about you or your work. Go ahead, say it out lout. It is harsh but true. Now, with a mindset of not giving a damn, write something that YOU can be proud of. Writing is an art and as such, it can be a tremendous mental benefit for oneself to write. Do it for YOU first. In time, the rest will fall into place.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To stop caring. I am generally a carefree person, but our society is shifting towards this weird place where everyone feels as though everything they do has to be judged by other people. Your life is not defined by Facebook & Instagram likes.
What are you reading now?
I just started up Atlas Shrugged. It is supposed to be pretty good, but we shall see. 🙂
What’s next for you as a writer?
After my collection of short stories is published, I am going to spend some time working on a dark fantasy adventure novel. The novel is going to be my longest yet, so I am going to dedicate a year towards writing it.
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?
Some Edgar Allen Poe & H.P. Lovecraft collections, a few Japanese history books, The Zombie Survival Guide (Just in case there is an outbreak on this island) & a couple vials of ink with paper so that I could document and write about my adventures on the island. Perhaps after I perish, someone will find the text and think I was the sole survivor of an ancient island civilization! lol.
Author Websites and Profiles
Kevin Laymon Website
Kevin Laymon Amazon Profile
Kevin Laymon’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account