Today's guest is Carrie Clevenger, who lives in Austin, Texas with her ever-so-patient family. Main influences include Maynard James Keenan, Stephen King, Anne Rice, and the late Peter Steele. She recently published a novella, Blood and Fire, in collaboration with Nerine Dorman and her debut novel, Crooked Fang, will be published by Lyrical Press in August 2012.
Tell me about your book.
Blood and Fire is a collaborative crossover between the Crooked Fang and Inkarna universes. We set out to provide a somewhat neutral ground for Xan Marcelles and Ashton Kennedy to interact on. It’s a pro-edited novella via Dark Continents Publishing and packed with magic and action.
What was your motivation for writing it?
As one of the authors of this book, I would hope that Blood and Fire offers a little edge-of-the-seat tension, action, and enough snark to make our readers chuckle. It’s a perfect commuter length, or way to while away a lazy afternoon.
How long did it take you to complete?
Blood and Fire from initial mindstorming to finish took about twenty-two weeks. During this, we also were arranging for an appropriate cover.
What's your favourite part of the creative process?
The escape. A focus on something besides day-to-day life’s doldrums. I love placing my characters into new situations and then letting them fight their way out of it. Usually, I’m just as surprised as everyone else.
How important is a good title?
I think that a good title is very important, because it’s the ultimate punch line for browsing would-be readers. A carnival come-on, and coupled with the cover, can make or break the sale of a book.
How important is a good cover?
Terribly important. We as humans tend to be visual creatures, and as technology has improved, lackluster covers on books can be enough to keep our eyes roving to the next selection. The cover needs to grab attention, invoke a sense of curiosity, and show enough ‘leg’ to draw a reader in.
Blood and Fire is a collaborative crossover between the Crooked Fang and Inkarna universes. We set out to provide a somewhat neutral ground for Xan Marcelles and Ashton Kennedy to interact on. It’s a pro-edited novella via Dark Continents Publishing and packed with magic and action.
What was your motivation for writing it?
As one of the authors of this book, I would hope that Blood and Fire offers a little edge-of-the-seat tension, action, and enough snark to make our readers chuckle. It’s a perfect commuter length, or way to while away a lazy afternoon.
How long did it take you to complete?
Blood and Fire from initial mindstorming to finish took about twenty-two weeks. During this, we also were arranging for an appropriate cover.
What's your favourite part of the creative process?
The escape. A focus on something besides day-to-day life’s doldrums. I love placing my characters into new situations and then letting them fight their way out of it. Usually, I’m just as surprised as everyone else.
How important is a good title?
I think that a good title is very important, because it’s the ultimate punch line for browsing would-be readers. A carnival come-on, and coupled with the cover, can make or break the sale of a book.
How important is a good cover?
Terribly important. We as humans tend to be visual creatures, and as technology has improved, lackluster covers on books can be enough to keep our eyes roving to the next selection. The cover needs to grab attention, invoke a sense of curiosity, and show enough ‘leg’ to draw a reader in.
What are your views on e-book pricing?
I really hate seeing so many low-cost e-books. The 99 cent e-book has become the expected norm, with the next step being free. Free doesn’t inspire me to create more. It makes what I do worthless. However, on the same page, free can be great, to offer a sample risk-free to a cautious new reader. It can go either way.
How do you feel about interviews?
I don’t really enjoy them, mainly because I’m a writer, not a journalist. I’m not looking to share any obscure wisdom, nor do I feel I am qualified to. But I do realize that sometimes people want to know more about the person behind the books, so interviews are a necessary evil.
What are you currently working on?
Currently I have Crooked Fang’s revisions on my plate. Once I finish getting ti ready for publishing, I’ll either continue to work on its sequel, Pale Rider, or drag out a brand new concept. I have more than a few pots boiling on the backburner.
How can we keep up to date with your news?
I participate in Twitter at @carrieclevenger or post news/giveaways and such at Crooked Fang’s Facebook page which is here: http://www.facebook.com/CrookedFang
I also post flash fiction at: http://www.carrieclevengerstories.com/
What would your epitaph be?
“The End”
I really hate seeing so many low-cost e-books. The 99 cent e-book has become the expected norm, with the next step being free. Free doesn’t inspire me to create more. It makes what I do worthless. However, on the same page, free can be great, to offer a sample risk-free to a cautious new reader. It can go either way.
How do you feel about interviews?
I don’t really enjoy them, mainly because I’m a writer, not a journalist. I’m not looking to share any obscure wisdom, nor do I feel I am qualified to. But I do realize that sometimes people want to know more about the person behind the books, so interviews are a necessary evil.
What are you currently working on?
Currently I have Crooked Fang’s revisions on my plate. Once I finish getting ti ready for publishing, I’ll either continue to work on its sequel, Pale Rider, or drag out a brand new concept. I have more than a few pots boiling on the backburner.
How can we keep up to date with your news?
I participate in Twitter at @carrieclevenger or post news/giveaways and such at Crooked Fang’s Facebook page which is here: http://www.facebook.com/CrookedFang
I also post flash fiction at: http://www.carrieclevengerstories.com/
What would your epitaph be?
“The End”
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