Just recently, I sat down and interviewed Ms. Manegold so I could get to know her and be able to share her with you.
Author Q&A
ME: Most
of my favorite authors are indie or self-pubbed, what made me you
decide to go that route?
L.K.: After
trying to find a publisher that was right for my work, I decided upon
an indie press as there were a lot of others who specialized in the
dark fantasy types, which is what my work primarily consists of. It
seems like a tough area to get into and the mainstream publishers
seem like they have a set genre they prefer and it’s harder to get
into.
ME: What
was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your
books?
L.K.: Nothing
ever goes the way you plan it. Just when you think you know how the
characters are going, they turn out completely different and end up
doing the opposite of what you intended.
ME: Which of your characters are you most like? Least like?
L.K.: As
of right now, the leading characters in my book are Ezra, Brenner,
and Gemma. I would say that I am most like Gemma in the beginning as
she is the shy, timid type but as she grows she becomes more outgoing
and voices her opinion. The one that I am least like would be
Brenner; he’s always getting into some kind of trouble and just
when he thinks he has his act together, something else always moves
in on him.
ME: Do
you have a particular writing habit?
L.K.: The
one thing that I try to make a habit of is writing out a scene as it
comes to me or else I will completely forget!
ME: If
you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
L.K.: I
have read a lot of Stephen King’s work and I’ve not read Clive
Barker’s work, but I’ve seen his films and wow! I find him to be
beyond amazing and he has inspired me a lot. Outside of these two, I
do not really have an in-person kind of mentor.
ME: Are
there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
L.K.: I
have seen a few that have caught my interest and I hope to experience
their work in the future. I have seen some work of Rue Volley, which
the art alone is wow! And I have read some excerpts of JacquelynnGagne’s Blood Rose; she has a lot of talent, and I am looking
forward to more from Tasha Gwartney.
ME: What
is the hardest part of your writing?
L.K.: The
hardest part is basically just trying to get the time. I have three
young children who keep me busy on top of a full time job. Most of my
writing usually gets pushed to the side til the late hours of the
night or the weekends.
ME: Do
you have any advice for other writers?
L.K.: Yeah,
whenever those ideas come to you, no matter how small, write them
down. It may take time but those ideas and thoughts may eventually
lead into something bigger.
ME: Describe
yourself in three words.
L.K.: Calm,
collective, and awesome =)
ME: I
know characters are like children but if you could chose, who’s
your favorite from your books? Of all time?
L.K.: Well,
seeing as this is my first book, I would say that my favorite
character to start off with was Brenner. He has such depth to him and
expressing various emotions through him is a challenge. He would be
the troubled child.
ME: Any song or songs that could basically sum up the overall mood of
your writing?
L.K.: There
are tons! As of right now Def Leppard’s Hysteria has been blasting
through my mind. Pink’s Try was the first that got everything
started, along with Drowning Pool and even old school Creed.
ME: Do
you plot out your books or just freely write them and let the
characters tell you what to do next?
L.K.: I
never plot out my books. I find that I have to let the characters
come to me when something new happens with them. It seems more real
if I let them come to me. Trying to force it out only causes
unnecessary details and things that just seem…blah
ME: If you had to choose, which writer would you consider the biggest
influence in your writing?
L.K.: Stephen
King and Clive Barker. King has characters that are near real, every
day types that face some of the most horrible and strange situations
whether as children or adults. Clive Barker’s work, mostly his
films, have inspired my dark side. Night Breed is something that
helped inspire my book Dark Territory, that and some writings from
high school that I had tucked away. Combining it all helped create a
wonderful project, or at least I like to think so.
ME: What are your current projects? Can you share a little of your
current work with us?
L.K.: Dark
Territory is the name and other realms is the game. The only way I
can really describe it (and this will sound funny I’m sure!) is
that this first book is an introduction to characters and places; the
characters and the way they are is sort of like a paranormal and
demented version of The Avengers…with some dirty activities along
the way. Below is a passage of my work for your enjoyment:
Brenner sat quietly. This would be something that he would later
forget but it was something that would save Gemma now.
“Through the looking glass,” He thought of the Alice in
Wonderland tale and the different things she had seen.
“The what? I don’t understand…”
“It means reflections, mirrors, anything that you can see yourself
and then some. Most humans will look and only see their reflection
but people like you and me we see the other worlds.”
“But I’ve looked into mirrors several times and never once did I
see anything else other than myself,” Gemma said. Brenner smiled.
He knew she wouldn’t see past herself because that is how she was
raised. The inner realms tend to go unnoticed by humans or those who
have been raised as human.
“Try looking again…” Brenner took Gemma by the hand and led her
to a spare bedroom down the hall. He flipped on the light and closed
the door behind them. There was a full length mirror on the back of
the door. He moved Gemma in front of it.
“I only see myself,” She said. Brenner held her head in his
hands.
“Look again but past yourself and you will see.”
Gemma focused on the mirror and tuned out everything around her,
even Brenner. She did as she was told and looked past herself. What
she saw amazed and terrified her all at once. There was slight images
of people walking along the streets, cars, trucks, everything. The
only difference with her current world and the one she was viewing
was the color; everything seemed more vivid and alive and it also
provided a sense of fear.
She watched as a storm rolled in and the people on the street rushed
to get inside and out of the wind and rain. It was no ordinary storm
though; there was something evil behind it. There was something evil
that roamed those streets. The rain was so clear and close that Gemma
thought she could almost touch it. She did not realize that she was
now close enough to the mirror that her nose could touch it. She
raised one hand and was about to place it on the smooth surface, or
through it, before Brenner grabbed her.
“Jesus!” She screamed. Brenner had startled her from whatever
trance she had been in.
“Don’t do that. You must never touch it, unless you intend to
visit.”
“That’s the way in?” Gemma asked, knowing the answer. Brenner
nodded. “Have you ever been back?”
“I have a few times. I would sometimes go and satisfy my murderous
urges through the use of others in the inner realm. No one cares or
misses anyone really; they just go about their lives or what’s left
of them. They are easy to pick off but you must also never trust
anyone. They are quick to befriend but will roll you over in a
heartbeat if the price is right.”
*There
were so many passages to share that I really enjoyed writing! Some
darker than others.
ME: Thank you so much, L.K. for sitting down and talking with me and allowing me to get to know you a little bit better!!
FOLLOW L.K. ON FACEBOOK
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