May | 2016 | yawattahosby

I’d like to welcome my special guest author Gina Moray who writes horror and thrillers. Please enjoy her insightful interview.

Devil's Bend

1. Do you have any advice for other writers trying to get published?

Don’t be ashamed to write what you love or to self-publish it. Always put your best foot forward and whatever you do publish, make sure that it’s the best you can do. Take your time and take advantage of people who are willing to beta read and critique for you.

2. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I hope that my stories frighten you and make you a bit uncomfortable, but that you love them enough to come back for more.

3. What genres do you write for? Your favorite aspect? Your least favorite aspect?

I write horror and thrillers mostly. My favorite aspect of both genres is frightening the readers, hopefully to the point that it sticks with them long after they read my book. I want to write a scene like the shower scene in Psycho. Thirty years later and I still peek out of the shower curtain. My least favorite aspect is that sometimes I have to write darker than I feel comfortable with and it leaves a lasting effect on me.

THE GUARDIANS COVER

4. What are your current/next projects?

I am currently writing a horror novel called The Candy Man. The best way to explain would be to say that if Sinister and Children of the Corn had a love child, it would be The Candy Man. I am also working on the first book of my thriller series and a few short stories.

5. Do you prefer to work alone or with critique partners/beta-readers?

Initially I work alone, but I do value the opinion of critiques and beta readers after I have a completed draft.

6. How do you find time to write?

I work full time, so I usually write during lunch, while waiting for meetings or appointments, during the evenings, and on the weekends. I have perfected the art of writing in the living room with my family, so I can interact with them, and still get words down on the page.

7. Did you always want to become an author?

I always wanted to be a writer, but until recently, I didn’t have the courage or confidence to see a story through to the end. Once I did that, there was no turning back.

8. Is there any writing rituals you complete before creating your manuscripts/drafts?

Since I grab writing time whenever I can, I can’t afford to have much of a ritual. I’m always creating new stories and I’m a pantser, so there are no outlines for me.

9. Do you write the beginning/opening first or do you tend to write our of order (with whatever scenes interest you the most)?

I always start with the opening chapter, but after that, I will write sequentially for as long as I can, until I hit a brick wall. Then I skip to the next part of the book that I can clearly see and go on from there, then fill in the holes later.

10. Have you ever hated something you wrote?

Some of my early short stories make me happy that no one ever saw them. They were atrocious, but I am rewriting some and bringing new life to them.

11. Which is the easiest for you–novel, novella, or short story? Why?

At first, all I could write was flash fiction and short stories. After I completed my first novel, I found it easier to write them because I have more space to develop the story and get creative. Short stories are always a challenge due to the length restrictions, but I still enjoy writing them.

12. While you were writing, did you ever feel like you were one of your characters?

Actually, no. I’m telling the stories of characters in my head and to be honest, I wouldn’t want to be in the same room with some of them. I can relate to some aspects of their personalities, but I try to distance myself from them to a degree because my stories frighten me.

13. How did you come up with the title?

You know, I’m not sure really. For some books, I just start writing and it comes to me. Others, the title comes while I’m writing notes on a new book.

14. What inspired you to write your latest book? What is the book about?

I came up with the idea when I was half listening to something on TV and I thought I heard someone say “nightmare candy.” As soon as I heard that, my mind spit out a story synopsis. It works like that sometimes. I had to end up creating the creature in the story and a legend to go with it, in order to make the story work. It’s about a creature that comes to town and preys on the children, through the use of candy, to steal their souls.

Moray