Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am 22 years old, and while I’ve worked as a journalist, an editor, a copy editor, and a writing consultant, I have always wanted to be an author. I published my first novel, Cerberus, just last month and couldn’t be more excited. This is really the fulfillment of a dream for me. This is nowhere near the end of the line, though. I’m already working on book 2 and have the rest of the series planned out in my head. I guess you could say I’m just getting started.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Cerberus: Book 1 of Parish has actually been a long time in the making. It originated as a role play; a friend and I thought it would make an interesting writing exercise. The role play itself was something of a failure, lasting only about 5 posts, but for some reason I couldn’t get the character I’d made for it out of my head. Who was this boy with the haunted look in his eyes and the angry set to his mouth? Why were his clothes ripped and bloodied? Why did he feel betrayed? In answering these questions, I created the first incarnation of Kaeden Parish, the protagonist of Cerberus, and around him sprung up the story on shelves today.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Only if you count the fact that I do all my writing with a pencil and paper, typically in the middle of the night. I don’t know what it is about late-night stillness and the smell of graphite, but the combination is the ultimate stimulant for my normally flighty muse.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve got to say that my biggest influence has been Stephen King. It was from him that I learned genre fiction can be literary as well, that just because I’m writing a story about the paranormal doesn’t mean that I have to sacrifice my metaphors and allegories and deeper meanings. Neil Gaiman’s Coraline was also formative, teaching me that just because I write for a younger audience (though a bit older than that of Coraline), that doesn’t mean I must constrain myself to juvenile themes or storytelling. The success of that novel showed me that it’s alright to push the boundaries of one’s chosen genre and, at the end of the day, to tell the story I want to tell.
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on Receptica, the sequel to Cerberus. It’s going to bring to a close the Parish arc of the City of Solace series, which makes me a little bit though I’m excited to be able to focus on some new characters and explore some new aspects of Solace. Receptica really ramps of the pace of events. I think readers are going to enjoy ride.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
BookRix, the company with which I published my book, does a lot to help me promote and connects me with a lot of other writers and readers.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing. Don’t listen to anyone who says it’s a waste of time, or that you’re not good enough, or that the odds of success are too low. If you’re passionate about writing, then write. Create something you’re proud of, and no one can ever say you didn’t succeed.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
One of my professors told me once that I shouldn’t believe the stigma attached to self-publishing. He said that even though it’s difficult, it’s not impossible to be successful, and that there’s nothing a publisher can do for you that you can’t do yourself. I don’t know how true that last bit is, but I do know that at present, I am an indie author, and I don’t at all regret it.
What are you reading now?
I am currently reading Cassandra Clare’s City of Lost Souls. I started the series back in high school but never finished. With the movie coming out, now seems like as good a time as any to get back into it.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m not really sure. At this point, I’m kind of just going where the road takes me. I would love to write a classic or be the next literary giant, but for now, I’m content to just work on my series and bask in the fact that I’ve come far enough for someone to ask me this question in the first place.
What is your favorite book of all time?
I would have to say the Shining. It was the first book by Stephen King that I ever read, and I was just blown away by how much there was to it, how profound the ideas between the lines were. It gave me something to aspire to, and for that reason, it will always have a place in my heart.
Author Websites and Profiles
P. K. Gallagher Website
P. K. Gallagher Amazon Profile
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