When did
you know you wanted to be a writer?
When I was ll, I
wrote a story about the world opening up and creatures, called Leaks, crawling from the fissures. Fortunately,
I don’t remember much else about the plot. In high school I struggled academically
but had a teacher who gave me an A+ on a writing assignment. After that, I was
hooked.
The teacher, Mrs.
Silverstein, had a powerful impact on my life.
What genre
do you write and why?
Spiritual horror. For me, horror should not only be
organic to the story, moving the plot along, but contain within it a spiritual
message lifting the reader beyond the visceral.
I don’t like to write stories where the spilled
blood is wasted.
Tell us
about your latest book.
What does the
devil really want?
Nostalgic for
the Inquisition and plague, Satan feels neglected by the modern world that no
longer blames him for disease and death. He plans to create a new genesis, a
place where people will love him. For that, his son needs just the right soul.
And there is
one—unique, powerful, able to heal. To get it, Satan has a plan that begins in Ireland
A Satan Carol is a horror story about family
values--even if they originate in hell.
What
marketing methods are you using to promote your book?
I contacted review blogs, submitted copies of the
novel to Kirkus and Midwest Book Review, advertised on Goodreads and
BookDaily, posted interviews at
websites, arranged readings, gave an interview on an internet radio station,
participated in a blog tour.
What
formats is the book available in?
Print, PDF, Kindle, Nook, .epub, .mobi
Available from the
publisher, Wild Child Publishing, and at Amazon; Barnes and Noble.
What do
you like to do when you're not writing?
I own a karate
school, watch Ohio
State
Who are
your favorite authors?
Dickens, Faulkner, Harper Lee.
What
advice do you have for other writers?
Persevere beyond the doubts and rejections; write
what’s true to you, from the heart, even if that means a story where the heart
is removed by something hideous.
What's
your favourite quote about writing/for writers?
What a teacher told
me—“Don’t let your imagination devour the story.” This has to do with
restraint, economy of language, and control at all times of the plot.
What's the
best thing about being a writer?
You get to create a universe where there is
justice, retribution for evil, and hope.
Where can
people find out more about you and your writing?
Read the reviews, both good and bad, for my novel, A Satan Carol
and contact me
at alan@askessler.com or visit my web
site www.askessler.com to see a cool trailer.
As for my Bio: I
live in New England , have a wife, four
children, and a dog, Buckeye.
Anything
else you'd like to add?
Thank you for having
me. If anyone is interested in receiving a review copy of my novel, just send
me an email.
Alan and Wild Child Publishing will be awarding a $10 Wild Child Publishing GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour (international), and a 12 pack of Snackwells Devils Food cookies to another commenter (US/Canada only) So I encourage you to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:
