Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I always feel so awkward talking about myself! Here goes nothing!
I’m a native Floridian with a soft spot for cute animals, motivational clickbait, and strong coffee. I’m a lifelong reader and storyteller, but I’m very green as far as the publishing world goes. As of now, I have published two co-written books and I also have a short story in an anthology. Being a daydreamer by nature, I tend to include fantastical and speculative elements in all of my stories.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Bait, Brutes, and Bullets: Tales from New Biloxi. Bits and pieces from all over the place inspired that one, but the setting was somewhat inspired by Fallout: New Vegas. That’s a video game, for those who don’t know. I’ve always loved that series because even though it’s set in this rather bleak post-apocalyptic world, the stories can still be somewhat upbeat and comical at times. I’m a big fan of that sort of contrast in entertainment. Monte, my first book, is similar in that it touches on some dark subjects in such a way that you find yourself rooting for the villain, even though you know you shouldn’t.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think that they’re too unusual… I just need plenty of coffee and a space without too many distractions. Sometimes listening to music beforehand can get me inspired, but I have to listen to instrumental or nothing at all while I write since lyrics make me drift.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I read a lot of horror and crime as a kid because that’s what we had on the bookshelves at home and I would blow through my library borrows way too fast. I was fortunate enough to be in a school that hadn’t banned any classics from the reading list (The Scarlet Letter, Pride and Prejudice, To Kill a Mockingbird, etc) so while I was reading those, I also had stuff like The Body Farm, The Silence of the Lambs, and Interview with a Vampire in my backpack. I think that reading whatever was put in front of me helped me to really appreciate just about every genre of fiction.
What are you working on now?
Currently, I’m working on my third co-written effort about a doomsday cult in Florida, as well as my first solo book – a paranormal romance that takes place in a dystopian setting.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve been doing a lot of Facebook promoting with the help of friends, but I’m trying to expand to other platforms as the restrictions on some social media sites can limit the audience. It’s all new to me, so it’s a trial and error thing at the moment.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t be afraid to put your work out there. If I regret anything, it’s that I allowed my self-doubt to hold me back for so long.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
People who are very good at something, who are professionals, do not wake up every day and feel excited and motivated to do what they do. They face the same challenges and lulls in motivation that hobbyists do. What sets professionals apart from the rest is that they keep going, even on those days that they don’t really feel like it.
I read this in a blog post that was much more eloquent than I am, and I wish I could remember the source, but it definitely has helped me to get back to the keyboard on my less motivated days.
What are you reading now?
Vindicate by Virginia Johnson. It’s evil and bloody in the best kind of way.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Hopefully a long, successful career of doing what I love! I look forward to attending book signings and conventions in the not-too-distant future.
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?
Now this question is just impossible to answer! There’s no way I can pick favorites.
Author Websites and Profiles
Lila Vale Website
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