leemather

Today I speak to fellow author Sean A Lusher about his new novella, Liberation Road, a horror mystery with the promise of a big, nasty monster in it. Sean also gives his views on the state of the publishing industry and how this affects new authors.

Hello Sean - thanks for speaking to me. What can we expect from Liberation Road?

SAL: A mystery/horror novella. It's very atmospheric, with a lot of emphasis on apprehension, dread and an antagonist of a slightly more unique (I hope) nature.

LM: Who is the book aimed at?

SAL: Those who love horror that builds, and tension and dread that boils up slowly, as oppose to pops out all at once.

LM: The main character is Jared Collins. What is he like?

SAL: A twenty something social recluse. He spends a lot of time indoors, retreating from a threatening world. He's very out of his element in this story, even before the creepy stuff starts, making it that much worse.

LM: What gave you the idea for Liberation Road?

SAL: Strangely, two sneak previews. The first being a plot description of Stephen King's e-short story, Mile 81. The thing that really stuck out for that was the rest stop. I knew, all at once, that I wanted to write a horror story set at an isolated gas station. And that kind of set up the intro. But then a friend showed me a video of a horror game called Amnesia: The Dark Descent. It looked really terrifying, but also featured some kind of monster, and I knew I wanted my antagonist to be inhuman. And after that, everything else kind of just...fell into my head.

LM:  The blurb tells of Jared being hunted by ‘something decidedly inhuman’. Care to reveal a little more?

SAL: They say mystery builds suspense, and suspense builds anticipation.

LM:  Did you do much research for the book?

SAL: None at all, I'm afraid.

LM:  What are you writing next?

SAL: That's probably the hardest question I've come across, because I'm so often at odds with myself. On the one hand, I don't like telling people what I'm currently working on, because it can, and probably will, change, and then I'll have gone back on my word. But, on the other hand, I love telling people what I'm currently working on. So, I'll tell you.

Currently, I'm working on three pieces.

The first, which is already written, the end just needs some work, is a fantasy/tragedy novel written in a tense I've never written before, or since. It's very grim, very bleak, very dark.

I'm about halfway through a Sci-Fi/Horror novelette set on a derelict space ship.

I'm also working on a Sci-Fi/Horror Zombie novella, the first in a planned mini-series.

LM:  In general, as a reader, what do you think good writing is?

SAL: That's a tough one, too. Right off the bat, it's got to be grammatically sound, but I guess that's a given...man, I'm really stumped for this.

Because, if you took a look at all my favorite books, they're written completely differently. Neil Gaiman's American Gods is a very atmospheric and yet mute novel, told from the perspective of an emotionally numb main character experiencing events almost beyond his scope of comprehension.

Joseph Heller's Catch-22 is an insane collection of characters where the writing is at times beautifully descriptive and at other times incredibly repetitive.

Stephen King's Duma Key is a first person narrative of a former construction foreman's path to recovery through painting on an island just off the coast of Florida.

Daffyd ab Hughes and Brad Linaweaver's novelization of the original Doom video game, Knee-Deep in the Dead, is also a first person narrative, but this one by a career Marine of questionable sanity.

As I sit here, thinking about it, I've got to say that good writing is kind of like a good bad guy. I don't know what makes them, but I know one when I see one.

Although I AM partial to atmospheric writing.

LM:  It has been a rough couple of years for the traditional publishing industry. What do you think are the challenges and opportunities for new authors?

SAL: This one is fun to talk about.

With the advent of the Kindle and self-publishing, the playing field is level. We can now make our own covers. We can now set our own prices. No longer are we forced to make unnecessary edits, arbitrary cuts or put up with a ridiculous cover. No longer do we have to wait EIGHTEEN MONTHS for a book to come out, only to be put on the shelves for two weeks and then abandoned. We don't have to rely on people who aren't sure what sells.

Of course, on the other hand, now we have to make our own covers. Now we have to figure out what the right price is. Now we have to edit ourselves. Writers will now have to be a lot more independent, and befriending artists and editors will be a must if you can't do this yourself.

But the biggest problem? Getting the word out there. That's the one thing the publishing houses still hold over us: no one starting out fresh has the sheer, raw muscle they do when it comes to promotion, marketing and advertising.

LM:  Your Kindle is broken and you can only have one book (not your own) on there. What would it be and why?

SAL: It'd probably have to be Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. This is my favorite book and I love reading it. A perfect comedy, as well as commentary on society, as I have come across

thanks Sean! Good Luck with the book!

To find out more about Sean check out his blog In Deepest Darkness: http://indeepestdarkness.blogspot.com

Liberation Road is available now to buy at: http://www.amazon.com/Liberation-Road-ebook/dp/B005X51BFK