The names of the characters in your stories seem quite diverse…you have a character called David…and then other more exotically named characters, one called Eryle. Do you spend a lot of time considering the names of the characters?
I actually don't allow myself time to think about the names of my characters or I obsess on making them perfect. David was just a generic name I pulled out of the air and Eryle was the name of a former coworker.
In real life you get a mixture of odd and ordinary names, so this works out.
Are there any authors that have influenced your writing?
Kathryn Meyer Griffith is one. Her books have the same haunting feel.
Other key writers are Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, the authors of Relic. I love the writing style and pace of that book. Very suspenseful.
I get the impression your stories are for quite a young age group, (not children as there is some strong expletives)… have you written stories that are aimed at an older generation?
My current books are aimed at the young adult market. This market is rapidly evolving, becoming more vibrant and dynamic every day. Look at books like "The Hunger Games," "The Maze," "Monument 14," and "The Living." All are amazing books that have captured the imagination of the young and old.
I have written adult fiction as well. I recently sold a short story called "Trap Door" which is scheduled to be published this fall in an anthology. I also have several books coming up that will be published for adults.
What gave you the idea for your book?
Funny story. Like many writers I swore I would publish a book...someday. One day at work, (August, 14, 2014, to be exact) I got to thinking about this. Why couldn't I get there? Why couldn't I finish and publish a book? I came to the conclusion it just seemed too big of a task. Then at lunch I was looking at books on Amazon and saw someone was selling a book of short stories (Kathryn Meyer Griffith's book, Spooky Short Stories) and it was just four stories. That's when it occurred to me that I didn't have to write a huge book. I could write a small one. So I ordered myself right then and there to write a book of short stories and to finish it by Halloween!
The problem was, I only had ideas for future books and one short story that was the first chapter in one of my books. But I was under orders now, you see. No turning back. That's when I came up with the idea of just telling the readers that these stories were for future books and to even have an interview section where the fictional characters talked about their future books. My book suddenly turned into something new and fun. I even had readers vote on what order I'd publish the books.
How did you come up with the title “Gray Shadows under a Harvest Moon”? It sounds like a piece of poetry…
As I mentioned earlier, I ordered myself to write this book on August, 14, 2014. I told myself I had to come up with my branding and book title on the hour drive home that day. What can I say? I was on a tight deadline.
To begin with, I very quickly decided that Halloween would be my branding. This created direction for my book title.
Clearly I used my last name of Gray for the first part, but then I wanted to come up with something that reminded people of Halloween. I brainstormed in my head anything that reminded me of October and settled on Gray Shadows Under a Harvest Moon because 1) I knew the cover would be black, gray, and orange, perfect colors and 2) It sounded almost poetic, just like you said.
What are you working on next?
My next book is "The Hunted Tribe: Declaration of War." This book is a full length novel. It is based on the short story "Summer Vacation" from my first book and is scheduled to be published in September of this year. As I mentioned earlier, I let my readers vote on which book I should publish first and they picked this one.
Where can people find out more about you on the internet?
http://trickortreatthrillers.com
http://www.amazon.com/Shadows-Under-Harvest-Trick---Treat-ebook/dp/B00UG8U9C0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1434977812&sr=8-1&keywords=gray+shadows+under+a+harvest+moon&pebp=1434977815441&perid=03K85SQW52FK951MN5VE
I actually don't allow myself time to think about the names of my characters or I obsess on making them perfect. David was just a generic name I pulled out of the air and Eryle was the name of a former coworker.
In real life you get a mixture of odd and ordinary names, so this works out.
Are there any authors that have influenced your writing?
Kathryn Meyer Griffith is one. Her books have the same haunting feel.
Other key writers are Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, the authors of Relic. I love the writing style and pace of that book. Very suspenseful.
I get the impression your stories are for quite a young age group, (not children as there is some strong expletives)… have you written stories that are aimed at an older generation?
My current books are aimed at the young adult market. This market is rapidly evolving, becoming more vibrant and dynamic every day. Look at books like "The Hunger Games," "The Maze," "Monument 14," and "The Living." All are amazing books that have captured the imagination of the young and old.
I have written adult fiction as well. I recently sold a short story called "Trap Door" which is scheduled to be published this fall in an anthology. I also have several books coming up that will be published for adults.
What gave you the idea for your book?
Funny story. Like many writers I swore I would publish a book...someday. One day at work, (August, 14, 2014, to be exact) I got to thinking about this. Why couldn't I get there? Why couldn't I finish and publish a book? I came to the conclusion it just seemed too big of a task. Then at lunch I was looking at books on Amazon and saw someone was selling a book of short stories (Kathryn Meyer Griffith's book, Spooky Short Stories) and it was just four stories. That's when it occurred to me that I didn't have to write a huge book. I could write a small one. So I ordered myself right then and there to write a book of short stories and to finish it by Halloween!
The problem was, I only had ideas for future books and one short story that was the first chapter in one of my books. But I was under orders now, you see. No turning back. That's when I came up with the idea of just telling the readers that these stories were for future books and to even have an interview section where the fictional characters talked about their future books. My book suddenly turned into something new and fun. I even had readers vote on what order I'd publish the books.
How did you come up with the title “Gray Shadows under a Harvest Moon”? It sounds like a piece of poetry…
As I mentioned earlier, I ordered myself to write this book on August, 14, 2014. I told myself I had to come up with my branding and book title on the hour drive home that day. What can I say? I was on a tight deadline.
To begin with, I very quickly decided that Halloween would be my branding. This created direction for my book title.
Clearly I used my last name of Gray for the first part, but then I wanted to come up with something that reminded people of Halloween. I brainstormed in my head anything that reminded me of October and settled on Gray Shadows Under a Harvest Moon because 1) I knew the cover would be black, gray, and orange, perfect colors and 2) It sounded almost poetic, just like you said.
What are you working on next?
My next book is "The Hunted Tribe: Declaration of War." This book is a full length novel. It is based on the short story "Summer Vacation" from my first book and is scheduled to be published in September of this year. As I mentioned earlier, I let my readers vote on which book I should publish first and they picked this one.
Where can people find out more about you on the internet?
http://trickortreatthrillers.com
http://www.amazon.com/Shadows-Under-Harvest-Trick---Treat-ebook/dp/B00UG8U9C0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1434977812&sr=8-1&keywords=gray+shadows+under+a+harvest+moon&pebp=1434977815441&perid=03K85SQW52FK951MN5VE