TQ: What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
Carrie: I write scenes out of order when I get stuck and piece them together as I reach that point in the main document when I’m writing a novel. I think the scenes I save for last usually are the slow-paced transitional pieces and most of the sex scenes. The easiest scenes to churn out are dialogue and action.
TQ: Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
Carrie: I’m mostly a non-fiction reader but some of the fiction writers I’ve enjoyed most are Jeri Smith-Ready, Nerine Dorman, comic writer Scott Snyder, Pearl S. Buck, Dean Koontz, Anne Rice and of course, Stephen King.
My writing is influenced by Stephen King, Anne Rice, and music. Lots of music. Type O Negative, Tool, Danzig, etc. Depends on what I’m writing for what comes to the forefront.
TQ: Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Carrie: I’m a crazy hybrid of both. I can plot all day long but it’s ultimately left up to the characters whether they agree that’s what happens. Pantsing is a lot of fun because I’m just as excited as the next person to see what does actually end up happening.
TQ: What is the most challenging thing for you about writing?
Carrie: Since writing in my league isn’t all that time-sensitive, there’s plenty of room to procrastinate. I can plot for years, but until I get my butt in that chair and start squeezing the story juice from my brain, ideas will stay just that.
TQ: Describe Crooked Fang in 140 characters or less.
Carrie: I’ll use my tagline: “Sometimes a vampire’s past can bite him in the ass.”
TQ: What inspired you to write Crooked Fang?
Carrie: Several things. One was a death of a close friend. I needed a place to put my grief and to help cope with the loss. Music was another. I was inspired by music videos and songs. Anne Rice wrote a smashing series of vampires that got me into the vampire genre. I kind of threw all this into a decade-long blender and Xan Marcelles/Crooked Fang came out of it.
TQ: Tell us something about Crooked Fang that is not in the book description.
Carrie: It has zombies and touches on the Navajo culture. Xan gets a peek at his Native American culture during the story.
TQ: What sort of research did you do for Crooked Fang?
Carrie: Everything that I didn’t know well. When I first set out to write Crooked Fang, I knew absolutely zip about music, the industry, and especially the instruments. I had to broaden my listening horizons first off and step out of just listening to mainstream stuff found on the radio. I had to learn how musicians talk and interact. The parts of a bass guitar. The fuel economy of a motorcycle. Geographical locations. What exactly will fit in a three car garage? Sure, I could have fudged a lot of this but since I took the time to learn about all of it, I benefited as well as the story.
TQ: Who was the easiest character to write and why? Hardest and why?
Carrie: Xan Marcelles was definitely the easiest because the story is written from his point of view. He’s just a normal guy that happens to have a set of fangs. Nin was the hardest because she’s female and females are difficult for me to write.
TQ: Without giving anything away, what is/are your favorite scene(s) in Crooked Fang?
Carrie: My favorite scene is where Xan and Serv bury Freddie together. It’s a grotesque situation but the dialogue cracked me up while writing it.
TQ: What's next?
Carrie: I’m working on Crooked Fang II, where Xan’s adventures continue and we learn a bit more about his vampire side. I’m also dabbling with a horror story dealing with the limbo a soul can fall into after death. It features a smart-ass Grim Reaper who’s given up the scythe and black robe in favor of cocaine, a long black car and a southern accent.
Also wanted to put out there that for the month of October, Crooked Fang is on sale for Nook, Kindle ($2.99) and in trade paperback (25% off).
TQ: Thank you for joining us at The Qwillery.
Carrie: Thanks so much for having me!
About Crooked Fang
Crooked Fang
Crooked Fang 1
Lyrical Press, August 20, 2012
eBook, 230 pages
Sometimes a vampire's past can bite him in the ass.
Xan Marcelles--bassist for Crooked Fang, vampire and full-time asshole, is content with his quiet existence in the backwoods of Pinecliffe, Colorado. But life at the Pale Rider tavern is set to become a little more complicated when he gets entangled with a feisty, blue-haired damsel and her abusive soon-to-be ex boyfriend.
To add to his woes, he's gone from hunter to hunted, and his past returns to haunt him when a phone call draws him back to New Mexico. With the help of friends from his living past, he must get to the bottom of a murder, and figure out where he stands with his lover and his band, all while keeping one step ahead of his enemies. Hiding won't be easy for him, especially with a mysterious woman dogging him every step of the way.
WARNING: Cussing, smoking, drinking and hot sex.
Crooked Fang is also available in Trade Paperback:
About Carrie
Crooked Fang (website) : Facebook : Twitter : Goodreads : Pinterest
The Giveaway
THE RULES
What: One commenter will win a print copy of Crooked Fang from Carrie Clevenger and a beautiful Sasha Bracelet from Synde at Cemetery Cat Designs. US ONLY
How: Answer the following question:
Xan Marcelles is a bass player. What profession would you like to see a vampire in?
Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted.
You may receive additional entries by:
1) Being a Follower of The Qwillery.
2) Mentioning the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. Even if you mention the giveaway on both, you will get only one additional entry. You get only one additional entry even if you mention the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter multiple times.
There are a total of 3 entries you may receive: Comment (1 entry), Follower (+1 entry) and Facebook and/or Twitter (+ 1 entry). This is subject to change again in the future for future giveaways.
Please leave links for Facebook or Twitter mentions. You MUST leave a way to contact you.
Who and When: The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a US mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Sunday, October 28, 2012. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.
*Giveaway rules are subject to change.*
I would love to see a detective or private investigator. I think they could smell them or sense them. I don't think I have read a story about one.
ReplyDeleteChristinebails at yahoo dot com
I'd love to see a vampire attorney.
ReplyDeleteWow... I really want to read this book now. I'm intrigued!
+1 comment
+1 email follower
debbie at burdeen dot com
I'd like to see a vampire cowboy.
ReplyDeleteI follow the blog.
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
I'd like to see a vampire as a private detective. It seems like their abilities would help greatly in that profession.
ReplyDeleteBarbed1951 at aol dot com
GFC: Barbara E.
A chef. There's something very sexy about a man with a passion for cooking.Besides, preparing nourishment for others seems a natural profession for someone taking nourishment from others. I think he'd be into creole cooking. Thanks for the blog and the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteFollower
memoritz@sbcglobal.net
I'd like to see a vampire as a professor.
ReplyDeletegfc follower
Skk25@aol.com
I am a follower and email subscriber. Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book. I would like to see a vampire as a psychologist. Tore923@aol.com
ReplyDeleteI would like to see one as a magician. Book sounds amazingh.
ReplyDeletedebby236 at gmail dot com
follower
I would like to see a vampire as a money manager. They could control the world that way. I am a GFC follower.
ReplyDeletejonesjnd at yahoo dot com
I think vampires would make awesome employees just about anywhere but some interesting ones would be: morgue, hospital, emergency services (firefighter, cop, EMT). Those would be fun ;-)
ReplyDeleteGFC: April V.
april dot vrugtman at gmail dot com