Last month, Stealthbot and I stopped by the World Horror Con that was held in SLC. For a con that was dubbed “a weekend of celebrating everything scary”, blood and macabre was surprisingly low key to almost nil. I admit, when it comes to the horror fiction genre, Stephen King is who comes to mind along with H.P. Lovecraft.
I know that’s not all Horror is. That would be like a day job. So very routine.
I’m drawn to media and ideas that are like mixed drinks. Start out with a little science fiction combined with an element of mystery, psychological thrills and a dash of steampunk. Next, maximize that palate by introducing new tastes to stir the imagination thereby shaking up the reader. Blend well and serve over ice.
Gabrielle Faust excels at quenching that thirst.
What first got you interested in ‘writing’?
I have been a storyteller since I was a small child. My father was a singer-songwriter with a ridiculously wild imagination. I learned how to spin wild tales about imaginary creatures from him and, with the encouragement and critique of my grandparents I continued to hone my craft.
What are some of your favorite Books/Novels? What type of books are you drawn to?
A few of my favorite novels are Neuromancer by William Gibson, Memnoch the Devil by Anne Rice, Dawn Song by Michael Marano, Beautiful Losers by Leonard Cohen. Ilium by Dan Simmons, Renfield by Barbara Hambly and The Difference Engine by Bruce Sterling and William Gibson, just to name a few. The list of my favorites is a mile long, for certain. As for the types of books I’m drawn to… I have my favorite genres, of course—horror, dark fantasy and cyberpunk science fiction. However, it is more about the lyrical quality and depth of literary investment in the creation of believable characters in a believable world, no matter how fantastical it might be. You can tell when a writer is obsessed with language and is a keen observer of humanity. Equally, it is blatantly obvious when a writer is simply writing to make a buck.
What did you like to read when you were growing up?
I suppose my literary tastes really haven’t changed much since I was a kid, except I tend not to read as much high fantasy as I did in elementary and junior high school. The “dragon quest” type books are still fun, but I need far more challenging material to really keep my attention for long durations.
How would you describe your writing process? What are your writing habits like? How do you create?
I always have multiple projects going on at the same time. It is impossible for me to work on one story at a time. I am constantly coming up with new ideas that take on a life of their own. Thus, when I sit down to write I have to focus on whatever story is screaming at me on that particular day. In regards to the technical process—it usually starts with a synopsis and the first few main characters fleshed out in my mind. From there I usually write the first couple of chapters before I actually sit down to write a lose outline. The reason for this is that I want to make sure I am actually as obsessed with the story concept as I think I am. If I decide to proceed with a novel the outline gets tweaked every couple of chapters or so as the characters and plot evolve organically within the timeline I’ve set for it. The ending is always a surprise. Even for me.
What do you consider the elements of a good novel? A great one?
You walk away from a good novel feeling content and inspired. A great novel, however, changes the way you see reality and yourself.
What sort of things do you study and/or consider when writing a novel?
Well that really depends on what the concept for the novel is. Whatever the main concept and setting is, as well as the backgrounds of the characters themselves, dictates what research I conduct. But, no matter what, my research is always extensive.
At what age or time in your life did writing cross from a hobby into something more serious?
When I first began writing Eternal Vigilance I: From Deep Within the Earth I never thought it would actually be published. It was yet another personal project of mine created for my own enjoyment of the process of writing. However, when it was accepted for publication in 2007 by Immanion Press a switch clicked inside of me and I realized that I could, if I really applied myself and fought for it, my passion could become my actual career. There was no looking back!
How would you define the actual role that an Author is supposed to fill?
Asides from bat-crazy wandering storytellers with a pension for fine scotch? In my opinion, it is the duty of the Author to keep the imaginations and the intellect of humanity from devolving into a short-attention span confederacy of reality TV stars and celebrity gossip magazines. We, along with all of our other various infamous outlaw artist brethren, are the barrier between civilization and chaos, yet always ensuring that anarchy reserves a place at the dining table of history.
When you started writing books/novels/short stories, did you set out to do a specific thing?
I don’t think I set out with a specific purpose consciously in the beginning. I simply wanted to write the stories that I had never read before. I wanted to challenge the way people thought about reality and their own existences.
What was your inspiration for ‘Revenge’?
REVENGE began with a very vivid nightmare about walking across an island made of bones. I instantly wrote the scene down upon waking. A few nights later I had another nightmare about the Demon of Regret, Desiderium and a church made of obsidian. After writing the first few chapters, which was initially a novella entitled REGRET, I approached my friend Solomon Schneider about taking the concept and expanding it to create an epic tale where we could explore more philosophical and metaphysical concepts.
What type of world did you set out to build in ‘Revenge’?
We wanted to challenge every past preconception of the supposed realms of existence by taking the classic structure of Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, Limbo and the Physical Realm and allowing our imaginations to run wild. We wanted to reader to experience a world that was somewhere between a Clive Barker nightmare and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen!
As far as the horror content in your work, what part does fear play in the storytelling process?
The element of fear can have multiple purposes. At times it is the development of suspense and a defining tool in the creation of an intimate connection between the reader and the characters within the story. At other times it is to force the reader to explore a philosophical or sociological concept in a way that other emotions simply cannot access.
What do you think is the appeal of Horror generally?
The adrenaline rush from the fear that well-crafted horror inspires reminds us how good it is to be alive.
When the Horror in Horror fiction fails for you, what’s usually the reason?
Predictability and lack of suspense. Anyone can write gore, but if you can predict when the horror is going to happen the surprise factor is eliminated.
How often does the real world give you something seemingly inexplicable, something weird, that becomes a spark for a story or novel?
Unbelievably often, actually. Hence the reason I usually have several projects going on at the same time and a notebook full of ideas for future books.
Your relationship with your readers is very close, very interactive. And I wonder how different it might have been if you had been growing up today, as a reader and someone who loved authors?
That’s hard to say. Not all authors are as interactive with their readers. However, social media has definitely made it easier to contact authors. When I was growing up the authors I looked up to were like rockstars to me and I suppose in a way they didn’t seem real. I would have had the same disbelief about the opportunity to speak with them as if someone would have handed Ozzy Osbourne’s phone number to me.
At this moment in time, are we at the end of something? And what about the changing role of publishers in the book world?
End of something? That’s a rather big question. We are always at the “end of something” because that’s evolution and progress. However, I suppose one could say we are definitely at the end of the golden age of publishing. Gone are the glory days of publishers with multi-million dollar marketing campaigns and bookstores packed to the gills with rabid readers for a signing. That sort of thing is a rarity these days. Publishers don’t have the money and readers are frankly overwhelmed with the number of authors doing events. We also exist in an age where people would rather sit in front of their computers than venture out to an actual event. Is it because of the short attention span century? It is because people are exhausted from the stress of everyday life? Is it because virtual events are now replacing live events? It is simply that people don’t have the money when gas is $4 a gallon? My guess is that it is a combination of all such factors. I know personally I am attempting to gauge what the next evolutionary stage will be in the marketing and promotion of novels. And with publishers become more like print reps than the marketing machines they were forty to sixty years ago where does that leave the author, especially those without any marketing experience? It’s an interesting time in the world of publishing. An interesting and often scary time.
Publishers are certainly segmenting audiences more and more, to reach more people. But is this any good for writers or for books?
There are two sides to that argument: On one hand it is easier for bookstores and the reader to catalog and locate a very specific type of book they are looking for. However, on the other hand, it limits the scope of what the reader my otherwise be exposed to. Half of the fun of going to a bookstore, even though there may be one specific title you’re looking for, is stumbling upon something that is completely unexpected but catches your attention. My work is largely cross-genre. I mix elements of horror, dark fantasy, metaphysics, philosophy, cyberpunk and science fiction. Many people who enjoy fantasy would definitely enjoy my novels as much as the horror fans I have, but if you were to simply place my books in fantasy it would eliminate and even alienate an entire segment of potential readers. However, in the end, there are only so many shelves in a physical bookstore. And I have noticed some of the online book retailers cross-promoting books in multiple genres even though the publisher slapped only one on the spine. It’s hard to say really…
Do you feel it is a good time to be a young writer?
It is always a good time to be a young writer!
Does writing music help with your novel writing and vice versa?
Absolutely. Writing music, for me, helps me to relax and allow the creative flow to begin before I delve into more intricate prose.
What is next for you?
I am currently working on a new vampire novel entitled “The Lineage”, a proposal for the memoirs of Father Sebastiaan, a historical fiction novel based on the life of Pamela Coleman Smith, and the fourth book in the “Eternal Vigilance” vampire series. At some point this year I will start outlining the sequel to “Revenge”, as well. In addition I am working on a new vampire anthology for Evil Jester Press, which I will be submitting a story to, as well as acting as the editor on. It is a very busy year for me, as always.
Where can our readers find out more about you?
www.gabriellefaust.com
www.facebook.com/AuthorGabrielleFaust
www.twitter.com/Gabrielle_Faust
www.revengenovel.com