Blog Tour Interview: My Writing Process

My friend, Adam Ickes, invited me to join the Blog Tour Interview!! (read his post here)

Adam’s twitter & Adam’s FB Page

Of course I said yes. 🙂

Actually, I’m supposed to be doing this next Monday but there’s been some sort of misunderstanding I chose to misunderstand the whole thing because today, my blog stats are like way up. I do believe someone’s been stalking me. (Hi, mom! Please tell me it’s not you.) 🙂

Also, I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you guys that Adam’s book, 100 tiny tales of terror is currently free on Amazon. Get it while it’s free! But please write a review when you can. Reviews are very important to writers. 🙂

Anyway, thank you again, Adam, for giving me this opportunity to create a random post and to talk about myself. I miss connecting with my readers and I know for the past several months I’ve been posting only twice a week (for Friday Fictioneers and for the Photo Challenge) and that I’ve fallen into this pattern… Still, I’m really thankful for everyone’s support.Thank you to those who visit my blog regularly to read my fiction and view my photos. I appreciate your presence. 🙂

Question #1: What am I working on?

I should be working on a beach ready body. It’s almost summertime here and the sea is calling me. I should be packing my bags and booking a flight… My family wants me to go with them to Japan this April. But for a while, I’m going to have to put all that aside for the love of writing. I’m not complaining. 🙂

You all know I’ve been promoting my new book, 100 Nightmares, like crazy. And though I suck at selling myself, I have to at least try…

Because the book doesn’t suck. I believe in it. I worked hard. The artists worked hard.

I want it to be out there BADLY… bad enough to even pass on the chance to be a part of some really awesome anthologies…

My own book. This is my DREAM. I’ve dreamt of this since I was a kid. The only difference is that I thought I’d be writing romance novels instead of horror stories. I actually thought I’d start writing fiction when I retire… when I’m old enough to have people take me seriously.

But I’m doing this right now. In my 20’s. On my own. Self-published. 🙂 I want this.

That’s why I’m really grateful to everyone who joined my Blog Blast for 100 Nightmares, to those who liked my FB Page, and to you, because you’re reading this right now. 🙂

About the book

100 Nightmares is a book that consists of 100 stories, each written in exactly 100 words. Less than 20% of the stories have been posted on this blog. And 16% have been previously published in anthologies, magazines and online venues. The rest are all new.

I’d like to describe it as a wicked concoction of classic horror, bizarre stories, fractured fairy tales, murderers and monsters– both imagined and real. It’s an illustrated ebook with drawings from four different artists, including a couple of my brother’s artworks.

Initially, I wanted it to be “100 stories, 100 words, 100 illustrations” but as I’m being pretty selective with the illustrations (and some stories simply work better without visuals) I’ll probably end up with just a few. (I’ll update you on the number of illustrations). The release will be this April.

The brilliant cover art, by the way, was created by Dan Verkys.

Question #2: How does my work differ from others of its genre?

All writers have a unique voice. But unlike others, I didn’t grow up loving all things horror. In fact, when I was a kid, I AVOIDED all things horror.
Horror is something that I’ve started exploring just recently and falling in love with it was the last thing that I expected. What makes me different is the fact that I’m not heavily influenced by mainstream horror. Whatever nightmares I write on page was conceived in my own mind, from my deepest darkest imaginings.

Neil Gaiman, H.P. Lovecraft, Clive Barker and Edgar Allan Poe are some of the writers that I admire the most. They have huge influences on my writing, for sure. But I think, in order for horror to be effective, being honest is enough. Horror is after all, merely a reflection of real life. Everyone can relate to it. And no matter how you say that you dislike the genre or that it’s not your thing, it still keeps pulling you in, piquing your curiosity, turning into your guilty pleasure.

Question #3: Why do I write what I do?

Writing helps keep me sane. Simple as that. 🙂

But why do I write horror? Because it’s easy for me to write horror. I like that I don’t have to force it. Ideas just keep hemorrhaging inside my head. That’s why I came up with the idea for 100 Nightmares. It’s my way of relieving the increased intracranial pressure. 😉

Question #4: How does your writing process work?

Tough question.

I really don’t force myself to write. I write when I feel like it. And when I find the time… Like everything, it all starts with a silly idea. Wouldn’t it be cool/ sad/ horrible if… And then I start writing and then the story just reveals itself. When I reach a certain amount of words, that’s when I know I’ve come too far to turn back. Like if I don’t finish it, the half-formed monstrosities are gonna murder me in my sleep. ^^ So I finish the story even if it sucks. And then it sucks until it doesn’t.

I’ve also found writing prompts to be extremely helpful. I’m lazy, that’s why. I need the push. That’s why I love Friday Fictioneers so much. The word limit also helps in honing the participants’ editing skills.

I started writing fiction on this blog. Like, a year ago, if I’m not mistaken… and I have my friend, the Pirate, to thank for that. He saw something in me and kept encouraging me to write. I’ll always remember him for that.

I mentioned before that this was supposed to be fashion blog! haha 🙂 🙂 I was going to post photos of myself in various designer outfits. LOL 🙂 🙂 🙂
But I like this. I like that I have you as an audience. I like that you’re here. And I like how this blog has helped me grow. 🙂

Okay, now it’s time to pass the blog baton to this lovely lady…

Armed with a useless liberal arts degree, Riya Anne Polcastro is a student of human behavior and a conduit for raw words. A long-time resident of the Pacific Northwest, Polcastro aims to join the ranks of great Oregon writers. http://www.riyaannepolcastro.com

Riya’s Facebook & Riya’s Twitter

Be sure to check out her post next Monday. Better yet, visit her blog today 🙂

xoxo

K.Z. ❤

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