Today I welcome author Gail Briggs, who hails from the UK! Her genre is Supernatural/Paranormal. Her second release, Exorcism of the Species, hit bestseller list on Amazon on its first day of release!
Hi, Gail! Tell us a little about yourself!
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Hi, Gail! Tell us a little about yourself!
What is your favorite thing about being a writer?
My favorite thing about being a
writer is sitting at my desk and writing down ideas that have been in my head,
watching them grow into real stories, and knowing people are reading and
enjoying them.
What genre(s) do you write?
I write in the
supernatural/paranormal genre. I have written three children’s
stories, but they will never see the light of day. Right now, I am
concentrating on getting the immediate ideas out of my head and onto paper
(computer), but I would like to try my hand at other genres. I have a fantasy
novel idea that I am working on, and want to see how that goes in the near
future.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
The hardest part is moving on to
the next chapter. Trying to finish a chapter when my inner grammar buzzer won’t
be quiet is very hard. Getting the words out in the first draft is a matter of
simply writing and getting it down, which is an alien concept to me. It was a
hard lesson, but worth learning.
Another difficult part for me was
knowing that, within the supernatural genre, I was writing books about demons,
when the world was reading about vampires and zombies. Having faith in myself
and knowing I was doing the right thing for me, was a challenge.
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
A little bit of both. I plot the
first five chapters and the last chapter in the book before I start writing.
Then when the writing process has begun, the characters shape the way the story
actually unfolds and gets us to the end.
What do you hope readers take with them after reading one of your
stories?
I hope readers take with them a
slight sense of fear of the unknown. Maybe it could happen, maybe not.
Satisfaction in the story is another thing I hope readers feel when they reach
the end of one of my books.
How long have you been a writer?
I have been a writer for a year
now. I have always wanted to write, but life tends to take over. I’ve recently
found the time to write, as my children are all grown up now, and I enjoy the peace and quiet this brings which
allows me to write in peace.
How much time did it take from writing your first book to having it
published?
I began writing Fabled Enigma in August of 2011, and
it was finished, edited and published in February 2012. My latest novel, Exorcism of the Species, was started
in March 2012, finished in July and edited and published on 30 August 2012.
Are any of your characters based on real people or events?
Some of the events in the books
are loosely based on experiences in my life. Only one character is based on an
actual person, but I’m not going to reveal who. The person asked to be included
in my book, and I thought ‘why not’. But the character was changed just enough
that only the friend knows which character it is.
What books or authors have most influenced your life?
A Woman of Substance was an amazing novel and shaped the way I
thought of the world. Bless the Child
is another novel that spoke to me.
How do your family and/or friends feel about your book or writing
venture in general?
I have had a mixed responses from
both family and friends. Some were shocked and surprised, others thought my
writing was a ‘phase’ I was going through, and others still never even raised
an eyebrow. They are all mostly supportive now though, which I am thankful for.
How do you come up with the titles?
Fabled Enigma, my first novel was
originally named Stealth. I changed it one morning on a whim that popped into
my head. My second novel, Exorcism of the Species was names so because the
first book talked about the subject, and the book is all about exactly what the
title says.
Has your life changed significantly since becoming a published writer?
My life has not changed at all. The
only thing that has changed has been my mindset on the writing process.
Do you work on one project at a time? Or do you multi-task?
I definitely multi-task. At the
moment I’m working on three or more projects, including the third book in the
Stealth series, which will see a Christmas release, hopefully.
When not writing, how do you relax?
I read, a lot. I have a kindle
and it never leaves my side. I always seem to have at least four books that I
am reading at once.
Please share with us your future projects and upcoming releases.
I have just released my second
novel, Exorcism of the Species, on August 30th 2012, and I am proud
to say that it reached number 4 in the supernatural best sellers list on
Amazon, on its release day. It’s still in the top 30 in the supernatural
category, and I hope it remains so for a long time.
Book description:
Humanity is in danger of
extinction from an otherworldly race of savage creatures hell bent on revenge
for their banishment from the physical realm eons ago. They aim to take back
what was once theirs, the physical realm, by culling the human race. They are
coming through an open portal into this realm in their thousands and spreading
across the whole country, waiting for the signal to begin their invasion.
It's a race against time as Elena
has no choice but to join forces with her enemy and enter the forsaken realm to
search for the lost items needed to re-enact the banishment of so long ago.
Join them on their journey
through the forsaken realm. Travel with them as they battle creatures, tackle
obstacles, and seek to avoid letting the savageness of the realm change their
very souls.
Each group seeks the means to
exorcise the other species from existence.
Only one race can survive.
Connect with Gail at the following sites!
