Author Interview - Lisa V. Proulx - PUNCTURE

Author Interview

1.) When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I wrote my first horror story when I was about 8 years old. It was about a family of witches and I called it, "Lily Was A Witch". I then went on to write sc-fi and more horror, poems, songs, you name it! In 9th grade, I wrote a horror poem called "Screams of No Repy" which my English teacher had published in the newspaper. I had a lot of calls about it and I felt like a celebrity. That was the first time that I realized that not only my parents thought I was talented.

2.) What type of genre do you write in?

I mainly stick with horror but I have recently written a memoir about a woman growing up in the mountains of Applachia during the Depression. I am shopping for an agent now. I have also written some comedy, sci-fi and tried my hand at romance. :) But horror is what I know and love.

I also write serious pieces about pain and heartache. In fact, I wrote a short story about my mother as she lay dying back in 2006, and it was recently published in The Barefoot Review magazine.

3.) What inspires you to write in this genre?

My fears inspire me. I have always been afraid of people/things coming back from the dead, losing my mind and being committed, things like that. I have also been inspired by my nightmares to write a lot of stories. Pain, heartache, loss, sadness...People ask me all the time where I come up with these ideas. Well, that's where they originate.

4.) Where to you get your ideas for your writing?

Well, like I said, my fears and nightmares plus every day things that occur. I can make a toaster scare the heck out of you! :) In my stories you will usually find an evil man and a strong woman. It's like in life, good vs evil...Heaven vs Hell...love vs hate. If I am sad or hurting, I seem to write the best work.

5.) Who are your favorite authors and why?

I love Jeanne Kalogridis who wrote The Covenant of the Vampire about the true story of the family Dracul (Dracula). I simply could not put that book down! I wrote her and told her and was almost afraid to write again, how could I ever be that good? She laughed and said that she felt that way after reading The Vampire Tapestries but we all have our own voice and no two people write alike. That really inspired me!

I also like Elizabeth Gilbert who wrote Eat,Pray,Love...I just love that book and could really relate. It made me laugh out loud and say, 'that sounds just like me!'

I also like Mary Shelley who wrote Frankenstein...as a kid when I found out that it was written by a woman, that to me was so awesome and made me realize that I could write scary stuff too.

6.) In your opinion, what key parts of a story make it great?

If it is believable. I cannot stand to read something that starts off real and might possibly happen then turns silly or just plain dumb. Some movies are like that too.

When you write about what you know, I think it must ring true. Your emotions are bound to float to the surface and that can only be a good thing.

7.) What activities do you undertake for inspiration?

I am a total homebody! I love to cook, bake and take care of my family. I have also raised Rottweilers for over 13 years and used Kurgan and Lucy in PUNCTURE. As far as inspiration goes, ideas just pop into my head at any given moment. Wait, I think I hear one now...

8.) Do you belong to any writing communities, or critique groups?

No, I have never belonged to any groups except the ones on FaceBook. I would entertain the idea though if there were some in my area.

9.) Do you have a day job?

Yes, I am a feature writer and columnist for my hometown newspaper, The Brunswick Citizen and a freelance writer and play critic for The Frederick Gazette. I am also a belly dancer!

10.) If you could do it over again, what aspects of the writing/submission process would you change before becoming published?

Get my act together! What I mean by that is, have your ducks in a row, know your genre and your audience, and put together a polished book and proposal. Also be proactive and promote, promote, promote!!! Some people think, hey I wrote a book, now I can sit back and watch the money roll in...Wrong! You need to get out there and put your name and book out into The Universe. I look at it this way, if I knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, I am going to wake up somebody!

11.) What is the title of your upcoming/newly released novel, and where can we find it?

PUNCTURE is my baby! I wrote this vampire novel back in 2004 but have since "re-vamped" it and rewrote some scenes. I love the new cover and am so happy that it is now available on Amazon.com and many other sites. It is available now in eBook and will be out in paperback in January 2012. After the holidays, I will be going on a book tour to promote PUNCTURE and my other books.

You can also buy them on https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/lisavproulx and Barnes & Noble Nook.

Thanks so much Lisa for taking to time to be a guest on my blog! I love your cover, and I can't wait to read PUNCTURE :)