I bumped into L.A. Tafe on Goodreads and found that we both have a couple of things in common. One, we both are authors, and two, we both love horror. With being in the business of helping other authors, I decided to put his book Inner Horror on my list of to-reads. It is my next to read and I fell head over heels for it after reading the first chapter on his blog (http://latafe.blogspot.com/). I decided to conduct pre-review interview.
So, L.A., tell us a little about yourself.
Well, I grew up in Southern California. Started writing small stories at the age of eight or so, I think my first attempt was some time traveling story about dinosaurs haha. Now I live in central Kentucky , soon to be moving to tennessee, with my girlfriend and our mischievous cat that thoroughly enjoys helping me write by walking across the keyboard. My writing has moved from dinosaurs, at least for now haha, into the Horror genre mostly. But I have plenty ideas for every genre fermenting on my hard drive.
Tell us more about Inner Horror.
Inner Horror is really my greatest revealing of myself. If you have ever read "The Picture of Dorian Gray," the artist, Basil Hayward worded it very nicely about his portrait of Dorian. How every work is a reflection of the artist and the portrait reveled far to much of himself. That is what Inner Horror is for me. I had nightmares as a kid because I watched a lot of horror movies against my will haha. And over time I began fearing the vivid nightmares that followed more than the movies themselves. So the realism of dreams and the thin line between dreams and reality is the real underlining of Inner Horror. Things like the protagonists name is my real name, the villian is named after a play on words a friend once called me cuz I love practical jokes and he didn't take kindly to it haha. The protagonists fears are also my own. I was actually half asleep when I came up with the idea. Shot up out of bed and opened my computer to get it down on paper and it just went from there. I knew it was going to be my first full length novel right then. It really had all of the things I wanted for my first, it is unique, allowed me to make my own world while rooted in reality, and it had a big chunk of myself in it. I am very proud of the way the story turned out. Have a sequel planned that I am itching to begin.
What inspires you, and do you have any rituals when it comes to writing?
It sound cliche but just about anything inspires me. Media, people, places, events, my mind can see look at an empty bottle of water on my desk and that will get me thinking about what I had in it, then where that came from, then what contagion could I possibly have attained by drinking the contents haha. So I can really look at anything and my mind will end up somewhere completely different within a few seconds. Inspiration is simply infinite.
As for rituals. Most of the time I'll lay down on my bed with my head propped, Mac on my lap, and some music playing and then I just go at it. My attention tends to wander if I am editing or just not too into what I am writing so I have a bunch of things open in the background as well haha.
What is your goal with your writing?
In a few years I hope to be writing full time, getting at least three novels out a year with short stories being posted on my blog or on the kindle store for $0.99. When I really start making a living with my writing I want to give as much as I can to my fans, really getting them involved with what I am writing when I am writing it, doing giveaways, and always being available to anyone that wants to talk. Right now with a job and hectic home life to take care of, I barely have time to write let alone keep in contact with fans and fellow authors for reviews and interviews. Basically my goal is to be the best author I can be and never take myself to seriously.
Do you have any plans with future writing?
Right now I am working on Zombies Ate My Neighbors, a zombie thriller that really takes hold and doesn't let go until the last page. Pretty sure I will be changing the title before I release it, I named it that two-three years ago and kept it as a working title. Pretty sure the name is copyrighted by Sega anyway haha. After I finish with that it is really a toss up. As I mentioned before I have an outline ready for an Inner Horror sequel, but lately with all of the political stuff going on an idea I have for a anarchy thriller (not sure what to label it) has been nagging at me almost non stop.
Now I'm going to ask you some horror related questions, just so the reader can get to dig into your brain a little.
Who or what was your boogey man when you were growing up?
There were quite a few of them but the one that sticks out in my mind is Pennywise The Clown from IT. He is the soul reason for my clown fear haha.
Who do you think is scarier; a fictitious monster, such as a werewolf, or one that could be real, like a psychopath?
To be absolutely exact: Ghosts. I actually had this discussion this last weekend as my girlfriend and I debated whether or not to stay in a haunted hotel. I told her no and she asked why. I believe my words were, "Because a killer comes in your house or attacks you on the street and I am confident I have a fighting chance... You can't f***ing kill a ghost." hahaha.
If you're being chased by a monster, would you look over your shoulder behind you to see how close it was?
Nope. That is what reflective surfaces are for. And if no reflective surfaces are easily accessible, I do not need to see how close I am to being eaten.
In the way of tradition monsters, do you prefer the old tradition? Example: Vampires and sunlight, werewolves and the cycles of the moon, and stumbling zombies. Or you do you like the break out of new and improved monsters? Example: Indestructible vampires, werewolves shifting at will, and runner zombies?
I like them all. I believe they are all separate entities and dynamic in their own ways. Except for twilight vamps... 'nuff said
Here is the mother loaded question. The zombie apocalypse has fell upon us. Society and government has collapsed. All of technology and conveniences of modern day have crumbled. Groups of survivors are gathering the remnants of what is left and trying to rebuild a new world. You have to start over from scratch. You have nothing. You have to build your own house, grow your own food, and make your own fuel, medicine, and clothing. The question is this: What is the one thing (thing not person) you would miss the most in the world that you live now?
It took me a while to think something up, to be honest I can do without a lot of the shit I use everyday because if I had to work within a community for everything then I wouldn't have time for anything else. But I can not stand relentlessly hot, humid weather. So air conditioning is the thing I will miss haha.
Is there anything you would like to tell the readers?
I am not going to give twenty links to my different social sites, just to my blog http://latafe.blogspot.com/ If you want my Twitter, GoodReads, book info, etc. It is all there. And like I post just about everywhere, if you want to know more about me or just want to talk, email me: L.A.Tafe@live.com
Thank you Carrie for taking some time to interview me, hope to return the favor soon. Thanks to the readers for taking the time to read my rambles. Hope we entertained you for a brief time. And keep on reading!
I'd like to thank you for taking the time to answer my crazy questions. I look forward to reading Inner Horror soon. And to my blog followers, look for my review of it soon.
Have pleasant vampire, werewolf, and zombie dreams. www.authorcvhunt.com
