I would like to welcome author Vanessa Morgan to the blog today. After checking out her blog I became increasingly intrigued with her stories and her writing process. Vanessa has several spooky projects published which are all available on Amazon.
1. How did your latest work, A Good Man come about?
1. How did your latest work, A Good Man come about?
In 2010, my short story The Strangers Outside was brought to the screen. The main actor in that film, Pierre Lekeux, is also a producer. He loved what I had done with The Strangers Outside and he asked if I’d agree to write their next feature film. He wanted to jump onto the wagon of the current vampire-craze and he thought that I was the ideal person to bring this project to life. The result is A Good Man that I could best describe as American Psycho with a vampire. Some people have also compared it to the TV-series Dexter. It's a fun and moving story and it turns the vampire myth completely on its head. It's not the kind of vampire story you've seen before and if you think you know how things will turn out, then think again.
2. So A Good Man is a screenplay?
To clarify a few things, A Good Man is only a screenplay and not a novel, but I released it in book-form on Kindle etc. A lot of filmmakers do it; even Quentin Tarantino.
2. What is your writing process like?
Writing is my day job, so I get up around 8 a.m. and after having fed my cat I start to write, usually until about 6 p.m. or much later depending on my evening activities. I mainly write from home, but I also like to work in coffee shops, airports and hotels. As I’m currently visiting my niece who lives in Ibiza, I’m filling in this questionnaire on the sunny terrace a with view on the old city.
As for the writing itself… I mainly use freewriting, especially for the first draft. I noticed that outlining too much blocks my creative process, but when I use the freewriting technique I always manage to surprise myself and be truly original. The rewriting phase is definitely the most difficult one, because rewriting is all about crossing my own bounderies and leaving my comfort zone as a writer. Every writer has his or her limits and the rewriting process is about overcoming those. Having a clear vision of what you want your story to become is important while doing this. So is listening to the advice of others in your field, as long as you stay true to your own voice.
3. I saw that you have a quote from Lucky McKee on your blog. I *have* to know how that came about. (May is definitely one of my favorite horror movies.)
Lucky and I met on the Brussels International Festival of Fantastic Films in 2009. He was there to present his movie Red while I was at the festival to present my first novel Drowned Sorrow. We got along really well and he read Drowned Sorrow on the plane back to the US. When he came back home he emailed me to say how much he loved the book and thought I was ‘a startling new voice in horror’. I jokingly answered if I could use that as a quote and he agreed.
4. I know authors don't like to pick a favorite book, but out of A Good Man, Drowned Sorrow and The Strangers, which one did you enjoy writing the most, which one effected you the most.
I think that my first novel, Drowned Sorrow, is still my favorite. I wanted to write a story that was so eerie that my readers wouldn't be able to sleep for nights to come. One of the reviewers said about the book: "Drowned Sorrow is definitely creepy. Possibly even crawly. I wouldn't sleep in the same room with it." That's exactly what I wanted it to be and that's probably also why I like it the most.
5. Have you seen a change in your writing or storytelling with each book?
Every new story makes you grow as an author, especially if you take the rewriting phase seriously. A Good Man in particular was helpful, because I wrote it for a production company and they gave advice and constructive criticism along the way.
6. Why scary stories? What attracts you to this genre?
I've been a horror girl for as long as I can remember. Even as a toddler, I was torturing my Barbie dolls and acting out horror movies with them. I guess horror is in my genes.
7. What are you currently reading?
I'm reading a French book called L'enfant nucléaire. It's the second novel from Daph Nobody, who is by far the most original new voice in French literature.
Bio
Screenwriter and novelist Vanessa Morgan is known as the 'female version of Stephen King'. You can find out more about Vanessa Morgan and her work by going to her personal blog http://vanessa-morgan.blogspot.com. If you like cats, you might also like the web comic about her cat Avalon at http://avalon-lion.blogspot.com.
Books by Vanessa Morgan
A Good Man
Do you like Dexter and American Psycho? Then chances are you will love A Good Man.
Louis Caron is a good man – he's a vegetarian, feeds homeless people, takes care of animals and is converned with the ecological well-being of the planet. But his altruism has a sinister edge – he's a vampire and local detective Taglioni becomes increasingly suspicious of him. Louis' attempt to escape the police will take him on a journey into his own private hell where he is not only forced to confront his worst fears, but where he will also destroy the lives of those he cares about.
The Strangers Outside
Two sisters, Jennifer and Louise, return to their remote holiday cottage after a day at the seaside. But little do they know they're being surrounded. Soon after their arrival, the girls will come face to face with the strangers outside. When the assailants make their intentions known, things take a shockingly terrible turn and an intense battle for survival will begin.
Drowned Sorrow
Megan Blackwood has just lost her son in a terrible accident. Now she has come to Moonlight Creek with her teenage daughter Jenna, hoping that a change of scenery might help to put her life back together. But something odd is going on in Moonlight Creek. When rain falls over the village, the inhabitants commit grisly murders, leaving the village deserted with the first rays of sunshine. Beneath the lake's surface, an eerie presence watches... and waits... Waits to reveal a tragic past drowned in mystery and fear. One that doesn't bode well for visitors. By the time Megan realizes that her daughter is in danger, it might already be too late
Thank you for joining Midnyte Reader today. Ibizia and Lucky McKee...Can I get any more envious? Yeah, I used to torture my Barbie dolls too. I drowned them and then froze them. My parents got mad when they used to find dolls in the ice bucket. Please visit Vanessa's blog HERE...it's not just about her books, but what she enjoys and other interesting tidbits. I just downloaded The Strangers Outside and I hope to get to it soon. (pssst! It was only 99 cents on Amazon!)
3 comments:
Awesome interview! I am definitely going to check out her books, she seems like a good fit for my morbid reading interests. ;)
What a great interview! It's hard to imagine that sweet faced beautiful woman in that pic above could write some gruesome and scary horror stories! I have not heard of her before, but I am on my way to amazon after this to check out her stuff!
Thank you for the interview! I've added one of her books to my TBR pile. I love creepy, scary reads!
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