Interview With Author Lailo Lema
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a dark fiction author who explores the tension between desire and dread in my stories. I write anything dark, sexy, fantastical, or weird. My favorite genres to work with are erotic horror and gothic fairytales. I would say that my signature style is somewhat of a cross between the two. So far, I have written countless stories, most of them short, but I have released about 3.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest story is a horror short titled, ‘Off.’ It follows a sick woman who needs reassurance from her partner and the dangers he will put himself through to prove to her his love. I’ve dealt with a fear of abandonment and I think that’s what is at the root of this story. We all want to feel loved and like the one we care so much for will never let us go.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Something I like to do when I’m experiencing writer’s block is to go for a walk and voice record myself talking through it. I also find that listening to music gives me inspiration as well as meditating to music that fits the vibe of the story I’m writing and drawing a scene. Although I might need to work on my drawing skills.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
One of my favorite authors is Devin McCamey. I am a huge fan of his short cosmic collection, ‘Mortis Maledictum.’ I think it is the fantasy, the mood of it all. Those old gods and cryptids, there’s something comforting about reading it. Another author that comes to mind is Al Sarrantonio, one of his shorts, ‘Children of Cain’ is one of my favorite reads. What I love about it is that we get to see this young boy have a coming of age story but he is developing into a serial unaliver. It’s psychological, and it’s taught me that a large part of horror is building that dreadful pit in the reader’s stomach, that something awful will happen.
What are you working on now?
Currently, I am working on my debut novel, Sick Punt. This will be the first full length novel I will release in the style of a vignette, and I couldn’t be more excited! I don’t want to spoil to much just yet, but I will say to watch out for living dolls, humiliation rituals, and a bully boyfriend.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I love to promote my books on social media and direct my audience to view my portfolio on my website. I am very active on Tiktok and Instagram. Pretty much all of the social media platforms to be frank. It’s kinda funny though, because I love it. I know that many authors dread the promotion side of things, but cinematography is an interest of mine. I like to post aesthetic videos and excerpts of my stories along with other projects I’m working on and a little piece of me.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
One piece of advice I can give to new writers is to not get so hung up on word count. I actually find it to be a bit discouraging. A better way to manage finishing your book is to make a goal of how many pages to write a day. Granted you can calculate on average how many words you write per page and how many pages you’d need to finish within your time frame. It is so much easier to add an additional few thousand words towards the end if you need, than to be stressed over tens of thousands from the beginning.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Oh my gosh, that creativity comes from outside of ourselves, not within. I heard this from Derek Murphy, amongst other great tips. Many creatives of various fields tend to see ourselves as the embodiment of creativity. And while I don’t disagree, in moments when we feel stuck, it is so important to remember that me must get out and live, and that’s when creativity strikes, when we are inspired by something outside of ourselves, something bigger.
What are you reading now?
‘Strange Bedfellows’ by Jasper L’Estrange. I’m really enjoying it so far and he narrates his stories as well which is incredibly entertaining. It has that comforting old style you can relax to and they’re peculiar, the stories. If I’m ever in a slump, listening to him gets me out.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I would love to interpret my stories with other art forms, like artworks to go along with them, motion graphics, narration and short films. It would be an absolute dream for me to execute or have a team to help me. I binge stories this way myself to I would love to make my stories this way as well.
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?
Oh my goodness, how can I answer this? It’s so hard. Okay let’s see. I have to start with ‘Mortis Maledictum’ as mentioned before, I mean it is one of my favorites. Queen Alora and Winter Ease, a children’s book that is so healing to my inner child. Also, One of The Clique books by Lisa Harrison, because duh. And for the grown up in me, let’s see, I’m going to need some smut so maybe, Just the Tip by Jenika Snow, so filthy.
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