Monday, September 8, 2008

Margaret L. Carter

Author Pen Name: Margaret L. Carter

CA: What genre(s) do you write? Why do you write the stories that you write?

MLC: Horror, fantasy, and paranormal romance. I started in horror. I’m motivated by fascination with getting into the mind of the “monster” and exploring relationships between human and nonhuman characters.

CA: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

MLC: When I was thirteen.

CA: Who or what was your inspiration for writing?

MLC: Reading DRACULA at the age of twelve. The book enthralled me so much that I went on to devour all the horror and fantasy I could get, and I started writing the stories I couldn’t find enough of at the library.

CA: What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

MLC: I allot most of the afternoon on Mondays and an hour or two each on a couple of other days of the week. I hope to be able to quit my part-time “day job” within a few years and spend more time writing.

CA: Your book is about to be sent into the reader world, what is one word that describes how you feel?

MLC: Hope.

CA: What was your biggest challenge in writing your book(s)?

MLC: Structuring the plots to avoid weak spots in the middle.

CA: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

MLC: Listen to folk and filk music; occasionally play Dungeons and Dragons; mostly read all the time.

CA: How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

MLC: Between fifteen and twenty, depending on whether you count stand-alone novella-length electronically published works as books. My favorite “book of my heart” is my first vampire novel, DARK CHANGELING.

CA: Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?

MLC: They come mainly from my imagination but may include details of physical appearance and mannerisms from real people.

CA: Do you have any advice for the aspiring writers out there?

MLC: Read constantly, within and outside your field of specialization. Find a good critique partner or group. Never give up.

CA: How can a reader contact you or purchase your books?

MLC: Please visit my website: www.margaretlcarter.com. In addition to information about my work, it features a variety of intriguing websites on the Links page, especially in the vampire category. My publishers are Hard Shell Word Factory (www.hardshell.com), Amber Quill Press (www.amberquill.com), and Ellora’s Cave (www.ellorascave.com), with a short piece forthcoming from Mundania Press (www.mundania.com). Most of my print books are available on Amazon.com, and most of my e-books are sold by Fictionwise.com as well as the publishers. For my erotic paranormal romances, go directly to Ellora’s Cave.

CA: Is there anything you would like to add?

MLC: My monthly newsletter includes brief book reviews, interviews with guest authors, and excerpts from my fiction. To subscribe, visit: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/margaretlcartersnewsfromthecrypt.

My website includes links to information about my discontinued fanzine THE VAMPIRE’S CRYPT. All issues are still available from the distributor. They contain exhaustive book review columns and numerous interviews with distinguished vampire fiction authors, as well as original stories.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

I've been really into reading paranormal romances lately this one sounds interesting

Zulmara said...

Love the cover...can't read horror...keeps me up at night...lol...however, I've been told that I need to try it...so maybe, this will be the one...

ADELANTE!!!

Zulmara

Anonymous said...

Ohhhhh THAT COVER. !!!! I nearly fell out of my chair! I have to read it just to have that cover in my hands. Brilliant. :)

Dena said...

I never read horror, I used to when I was a teenager though. Now I read Romance, every sub-genre with romance. I love Happily Ever Afters. Thanks for sharing Margaret.