What genre do
you write and why?
My current novella is humor with a touch of magical
realism. But I also write cyberpunk,
sci-fi, fantasy and dystopia. I just
love to write things that have one foot in reality and the other in the realm
of dreams and speculation.
Tell us about your
latest book.
My latest book, Let’s Stalk Rex Jupiter is a
farce that takes place in Bellingham, WA.
It centers on three couples: an aspiring film noir detective and her
hipster husband; a Bearded Virgin and a hero who resembles Frida Kahlo, and; a
self-important egoist and his conservative tea-totalling housewife. Their lives converge as they all deal with
the presence of the infamous and controversial author, Rex Jupiter.
What marketing methods
are you using to promote your book?
Mostly I’m utilizing social media, although I
have also partnered with Goddess Fish Promotions who are leading the charge on
my blog tour. They are doing an
excellent job, by the way!
What formats is the
book available in?
Let’s Stalk Rex Jupiter can be found both in
print and e-book format.
Who are your favourite
authors?
My favorite authors include Ray Bradbury, Ursula
Le Guin, and Kurt Vonnegut. I also love
the work of my fellow Mariya Suzuki Collection authors, Dean Moses and Shannon
Barnsley. Their stories are excellent!
What advice do you
have for other writers?
Write for the joy and necessity of
writing. Enter as many contests, and
submit to open solicitations as often as you can. Bring your A-game. Build your network. Build your writer street-cred an gain lots of
XP so you level up. Most of all—enjoy
yourself!
What's your favourite
quote about writing/for writers?
“Every creator painfully experiences the chasm
between his inner vision and its ultimate expression. The chasm is never
completely bridged. We all have the conviction, perhaps illusory, that we have
much more to say than appears on the paper.” ~Isaac Bashevis Singer
What's the best thing
about being a writer?
The best thing about being a writer is the
writing. It’s getting the weight of words off your chest so that the pressure
subsides and you can breathe again.
Where can people find
out more about you and your writing?
If you’d like to learn more about me, you can
check out my website allisonspector.com.
I can also be found on Good Reads at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14587362.Allison_A_Spector
Who is you
favourite character in your book and why?
The character nearest and dearest to my heart in Let’s Stalk
Rex Jupiter has to be Marian Krause, noir detective extraordinaire. She’s learned everything she knows about
sleuthing from books and movies and tries to stay true to the tropes. Marian is fanciful to the point of
near-delusion, and yet is brilliantly grounded in the reality of her universe. I’m
quite fond of her.
Why do you think
readers are going to enjoy your book?
Readers will enjoy my story because it was written with a
great deal of joy and whimsy. It’s pure
farce and does not take itself too seriously.
The book wants to be read, but will not nag or cloy to inspire your
attention. It’s simply good honest
silliness.
How long did it take you to
write your book?
I wrote Let’s Stalk Rex Jupiter as part of the 2015 Summer Writing
Project conducted by 1888 and JukePop.com.
I posted my story one chapter at a time over the course of the
summer. In total it took about three
months to write and another few to edit.
So it went FAST!
Who designed the cover?
Wonderful question! My cover
was designed by Mariya Suzuki. She’s an
amazing artist and in fact, her custom cover was part of the prize for being
selected as a Summer Writing Project author.
It was a great honor to be included in the collection and to have my
cover created by an artist of such talent!
Did you learn anything
from writing your book that was unexpected?
I learned that I can write at a breakneck pace if given proper
motivation to do so! It was a very
empowering lesson.
Where can a
reader purchase your book?
My story can be purchased through 1888 (http://1888.center/product/lets-stalk-rex-jupiter/), and Amazon.com
What are you doing to
market the book?
I’m doing lots of social media promoting as well as this fabulous blog
tour.
Who inspires you?
This might sound strange, but my greatest inspiration to write came
one day when I was at a Barnes and Noble bookstore coffee shop. They have that mural of famous authors over
the counter of the in-store Starbucks. I
would stare up at it and think… hey, I
love writing. I need to put words on
paper too so I can be up there someday!
How do you research your
books?
All my research takes place on the Internet. I am incredibly lucky to be born at a time
when all the world’s information is available with the click of a mouse.
What is your work in
progress? Tell us about it.
My work-in-progress is called The Fringers and is current incarnated
as a serial novel being posted one chapter at a time to JukePop.com. The story centers on a dystopian Jersey Shore
where reality stars are indentured servants and personal privacy no longer
exists.
What are your thoughts on
self-publishing verses traditional publishing?
As long as you put in the work to perfect and promote your art, both
self-publishing and traditional can be tremendously worthwhile, in my opinion.
Who or what inspired you to
become a writer?
I’ve written poetry and short prose for as long as I can remember. I think there’s an innate drive within me to
do so. That said, my family has always
encouraged me to write and my husband is always nudging me to keep going
whenever I lose creative momentum. So I
definitely have a lot of support from those who care about me.
Does your family support
you in your writing career? How?
Oh, absolutely! Everyone in my
household takes for granted that I need some space to stretch out and write in
the evenings. And when the Summer
Writing Project was happening, my husband took on all the chores just to make
sure I met my deadline. I think that
understanding comes from the fact that both my husband and myself come from a
long line of creatives (my husband is a glass artist). We understand what a
lonely pursuit art can be, and we empower each other to create.
What are you currently reading?
I’m currently reading “Black Earth:
The Holocaust as History and Warning” by Timothy Snyder.
What books or authors
have most influenced your life?
Some of the most influential books have been “The Virgin Blushed, God
Yawned,” by Peretz Kidron, “Breakfast of Champions,” by Kurt Vonnegut, and “The
Girl Who Owned a City” by OT Nelson
When you’re not
writing, how do you spend your time?
When I’m not writing, I’m spending time with my family (when
somewhere this is a possibility) romping through the forest, scrambling over
rocks, and exploring caves and waterfalls!
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