1.  For the uninitiated, tell us what your novel Crystal Bay is about. 

Crystal Bay is sort of a supernatural Fatal Attraction concerning an evil sorceress who will stop at nothing to maintain her immortality. In her spare time, she seduces young men and obtains her strengths by robbing them of theirs. Now, she has her sights set on Gage, a married aspiring writer who has just moved in next door.

2.  What sources of inspiration did you draw from when writing Crystal Bay?

For the character of Gage, my inspiration really came about because I was going through a lot of the same things he was. I really wanted to begin my career as a novelist and I knew that the only way to do that was to start writing my first novel. And, like him, I was dealing with the daily hardships of being mired in a job I couldn’t stand.

For Amanda’s character, I thought long and hard about every single psychotic bitch I’ve read in books, seen in movies, and even known in real life. Sharon Stone’s portrayal of Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct is a prime example of what type of character Amanda really is: beautiful, enticing, seductive, and murderous. I’ve always loved these kinds of characters, so it was a lot of fun to write Amanda.

3.  Is there a particular famous novel or short story that you wish you
had written?  If so what is it and why?

Oh geez, there are tons. But one novel recently that I absolutely loved was The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum. Such a gripping and disturbing read that in between page-turns, I couldn’t help thinking to myself, “Man, I wish I’d written this!” I’ve grown quite envious of Ketchum’s style and technique. I think he’s one of the best genre writers working today.

4.  What are you working on now?

Right now, I’m working on 2 new novels. Diary of a Teenage Victim concerns a young woman who is sexually abused by someone very close to her and in the end exacts a bloody vengeance. Pay Phone is a twisted story of a ruthless serial killer who finds his victims through a public phone residing across the street from his apartment building.

5.  What has been your proudest moment as an author thus far?

Probably receiving my author copies of Crystal Bay. This was a novel I wrote 4 years ago and spent countless hours trying to get published. I literally mailed out hundreds upon hundreds of letters to editors and agents all around the country and each time I though I might actually make it, I was shot down. Finally seeing the book in print form was a surreal experience and one I know I’ll never forget.

6.  Horror novels and movies are rife with clichés.  Which clichés did
you take pains to avoid when writing Crystal Bay?  Are there any
specific clichés that are particular pet peeves?

One thing I really can’t stand is the famous “killer’s monologue.” In the genre whenever there is a killer that conceals their identity until the last scene, they always have this monologue where the recite exactly what they did and why they did it to a character that is intended to be the final victim. The so-called “final victim,” of course, gets away.

As for storylines, there are dozens that have been done hundreds of times before, yet still creep their way into print every single day. I’m really tired of in-bred families living deep in a remote forest. I’m really tired of techno-thrillers. I’m really tired a lone detective tracking a serial killer (this particular cliché is probably the most overused and one that annoys me more than any other).

You cannot avoid clichés like these in modern storytelling and I try very, very hard to come up with something original. And if I can’t come up with an idea that’s 100% unique, then I at least try and tell the same story a different way. There were one or two sequences toward the end of Crystal Bay that I fully admit have been done before, but I definitely tried to tweak them so that the reader doesn’t know what’s going to happen on the next page. I won’t reveal what those clichés are, though. You have to find out for yourself. J

7.   On your blog, you mention how tough it is to self-promote.  Do you
find that promoting the book is more difficult than actually writing
it?  What difficulties have you encountered in getting the word out
about Crystal Bay?

In some ways, yes, self-promoting a book can definitely be more difficult than writing the manuscript itself. I’ve pissed off a lot of people by using their forum space to create awareness about my book. I’ve gotten hate mail from people because of it, too. I’ve gotten my messages and topics deleted a number of times as well. But at the same time, I’ve received many messages from people congratulating me on beating the odds and these are messages from people I can immediately tell already know how hard it is to get a first novel out there and most of all, how hard it is to promote it on your own.

I’ve also e-mailed many, many websites that focus on not only books and writing, but the horror genre as well. For the most part, I’ve either gotten no responses, or “Sorry, can’t help ‘ya out.” And then there’s the webmasters who request a copy of the book for review consideration. Now, I’m not a rich guy and I definitely can’t afford to keep sending out free copies left and right. If I’m going to send a complimentary copy of my book to someone, I definitely expect a review or a mention at the very least. I guess some people don’t see it that way.

But then again, there are other websites who offer to promote the book and expect nothing in return. For example, HorrorMovies.ca. I posted a message about the book in their forum and they took it upon themselves to post a news bulletin about it for me without my even asking them. Very nice indeed. And then there’s J.B. Kohl, who also has a book out from Arctic Wolf. She more than happily gave me a nice little mention on her personal website and even conducted an interview with me. So, yes, there are people out there who are willing to help the little guy, but there are way too many people who’d rather just delete my e-mail the moment finish it.

8.  Do you have a guilty pleasure in your book collection that you would
be embarrassed to admit that you enjoyed?  

Absolutely. I really, really enjoyed Elvira’s trio of books: Transylvania 90210, Camp Vamp, and The Boy Who Cried Werewolf. Very campy and a lot of fun to read. These particular books are aimed at a young adult audience, but I still find myself picking them up every now and again.

I’m also a bit embarrassed to admit that I enjoyed Star by Pamela Anderson. I didn’t find out until months after I finished it that she didn’t actually write it. Shame on you, Pam.

9.  Any parting thoughts?

Well, I’d just like to say thanks very much for allowing me this opportunity to speak my mind and many, many thanks for your help in promoting Crystal Bay. Wish there were a lot more of you out there.