Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Steven Lloyd. I write out of Southern Illinois, and have interviewed such authors and actors as Jack Ketchum, Nancy Collins, legendary film greats Bill Moseley and Sid Haig, from the “Devil’s Rejects” films. My work has appeared in several print and on-line publications.
In 2008 I launched a publishing company called Croatoan Publishing, dedicated to the Horror and Dark Suspense genre. Before closing the doors, I released “People are Strange” by James Newman and “Flesh Welder” by Ronald Kelly. You can visit me here http://stevenlloyd.weebly.com/index.html
I have a short story out titled “The Wooden Box”, which is in my new collection STRANGE ROADS. You can download The Wooden Box here: http://www.amazon.com/The-Wooden-Box-ebook/dp/B00BCNWI5Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361114050&sr=8-1&keywords=the+wooden+box+steven+lloyd to get a feel for how I write. 99 cents isn’t bad.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Strange Roads.
All the stories in Strange Roads are reprints. Just before publication I added two original stories “The Wallet” and “The Fight of the Century”.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Sometimes I write at work, but mostly here at home in my office.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephen King, James Newman, Brian Keene, Sara Brooke, Ronald Kelly, John Grover, Jason Brannon, Hemingway, Steinbeck, Golding, Bukowski, R. Thomas Riley, Jack Ketchum, Nancy Collins, and many, many others. Too many others to name here.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on a novel titled “Dogwood Summer” at the moment. Loving it so far!
Description:
When fifteen-year-old Hector McGee skipped the last day of school to go fishing with his best friend Vernon, he didn’t expect to hear a woman’s screams coming from inside the Buckmyer house. He heard a familiar voice, one he knows all too well—the raspy voice of his drunken father—dishing out brutal punishments that only he could give.
It’s the 1940’s and Hector McGee is on the run from the Buckmyer brothers seeking revenge after the disappearance of his father. Hector enlists the help of his best friend and several others as they plunge deep into the Dogwood Bottoms seeking the mythical voodoo doctor Pepper Jones. They will have to go through hell to find him and the trip may very well kill them all.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I hit all the boards I can. People I know run these, so it’s not a slap in their face when I promote. Facebook and Twitter are great outlets for my promoting as well.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up. If you’re writing for the money, just close the laptop now and walk away. Do it because you love it. Money will come later. I do it because I have to. It’s in my blood. I can’t think of doing anything else. Only when you know that you’ll probably never walk the same plane as Stephen King will you be able to grow as a writer. Put all that I’m—going—to—be—a—famous—writer—one–day—bullshit aside and write the damn thing. And keep writing. Read everything you can get your hands on. Reading is a part of the learning process. You’ll be better for it.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Nobody who can write worth a damn ever writes in peace.
–Charles Bukowski
And.
If what a writer wrote was published and sold many, many copies, the writer thought he was great. If what a writer wrote was published and sold a medium number of copies, the writer thought he was great. If what a writer wrote was published and sold very few copies, the writer thought he was great. If what the writer wrote never was published and he didn’t have the money to publish it himself, then he thought he was truly great. The truth, however, was that there was very little greatness. It was almost nonexistent, invisible. But you could be sure that the worst writer had the most confidence, the least self-doubt.
–Charles Bukowski
What are you reading now?
Prince Lestat by the always great Anne Rice
What’s next for you as a writer?
After I finish “Dogwood Summer”, I’m going to be working on a western story.
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?
“On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft By Stephen King.
Elmore Leonard’s 10 Rules of Writing.
Run with the Hunted by Charles Bukowski
Author Websites and Profiles
Steven Lloyd Website
Steven Lloyd’s Social Media Links