Author Interview - E. G. Gaddess

Is your family supportive? Do your friends support you?

Yes, my friends and family support me, to differing degrees. Some of my biggest fans are my friends - they recommend my book to everyone. I have a particular friend who is helping me get over the idea that I can't toot my own horn. She's been doing it pretty loudly, and I guess that is helping my confidence grow so that I can too.

What is hardest = getting published, writing or marketing?

Marketing. Writing is hard, but I get enjoyment out of it. I love it. As for getting published, I self-published Dhampyr Heritage, and find the mechanics of that easy, and started a company to publish the rest. I am hoping to learn how to publish so that I can publish others. But marketing kills me; I hate it. I haven't lost hope about getting a publishing contact one day - but I keep being told that there is not market for what I write. I don't agree, as I have found a very small market for it.

Tell us about your new book? What's it about and why did you write it?

Dhampyr Journey is the story of a young man in 1910 England who offers to help his brother out, and things get scary. There is a vampire that get's released on a train and he has to figure out how to destroy it. There is also a person from his past on the train that he is trying to break away from, and someone new he'd like to get to know better. Edwin was a brother in the first book, a minor character, but I liked him and so did some of my fans, and they wanted to know more about him, so I gave him an adventure.

When you are not writing, how do you like to relax?

I love to read, but I find that I am getting pickier the older I get. I think it has to do with having less time for myself. I need to make sure it's quality. I also love to cook, and I'm lucky that it is part of my daily routine. I've found myself making foods that my characters eat (or at least my version of them.) I put a lot of cinnamon in my version of the sweet morning rolls Gideon eats at his Grandmother's house (pao doce).

If you could do any job in the world, what would you do?

Write (which I do part time) and I am an editor (of technical documents) , which I like a lot. I think if I wouldn't writ though, I would be a very good fiction editor. Which, by setting up my own publishing company, I intend to do to a certain degree.

Sometimes it's so hard to keep at it - What keeps you going?

My daughter keeps encouraging me, reminding me to write and to read what others write. I also get encouragement from my friends who are fans. When I reach the end, they pester me for when it will be published. I can't let them down. I also love to write. Not everything is for the consumption of others. Sometimes, I just write for myself.

What makes you angry?

The perpetuation of inequality in any form. Gender, ethnicity, rich vs poor, city vs country. I think we've forgotten how to take care of each other, and that also makes me very sad.

How do you feel about self-publishing?

Well, having self-published, I'm all for it. But, you have to be realistic. Most writers aren't going to become millionaires by self-publishing. and I think you need to be serious about it. I've read self-published books that are crap. And while I know mine aren't perfect, I put a lot into them, hiring a proofreader and an editor to read and mark-up my manuscripts - and I listen to what they have to say. I have beta readers and others that help me put together a semi-polished product. Self-publishing will never be as polished and regular, standard publishing - there just isn't the money being put into it. I think it has a place in the publishing world.

How many friends does a person need?

I think this depends on the person. I have my husband, and that is very important. We are a team in life. We have each other's backs. I have a few close friends, and then many acquaintances. I am a bit of a loner, so what friends I have fill many roles for me. I think a person needs as many friends as they need -and that is different for everyone.

Are you a city slicker or a country lover?

I currently lie in a city, and am happy. However, there are things I miss about the rural life I had as a child. I would love to have chickens, but ordinance won't let me. There is less freedom in a city. But, I can get groceries five minutes from my house, and there are plenty of gas stations around. I don't think i could live in New York or L.A. I need greenery and a little land I can call my own.

What social issues interest you the most?

I care about anything that will impact my daughter's life in the future - sustainability of the land, women's and minority equality, access to healthcare for everyone, the ability for an individual to make their own choices (even if I don't agree with that choice, like abortion, I don't believe I should be making a choice for someone else), religious freedom.

What's your favorite meal?

My daughter and I became vegetarians (her more, me less) in April 2013. My favorite meal used to be a good steak. I still eat fish, so now it is salmon (which I liked before, too) and I love Brussels sprouts - especially roasted with garlic. I also love parsnips, and my daughter makes a great creamy parsnip soup. So, my favorite meal would have grilled salmon, roasted Brussels sprouts, and creamy parsnip soup to start.

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Genre - Young Adult, vampire

Rating –  PG-13

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