The Author Interview featuring Alyanna Poe

Welcome to the Author Interview. This time, it features the lovely Alyanna Poe, author of Eaten.

If you’re an author who’d like to take part in the series, email me: debbie@myrandommusings.co.uk

Now over to Alyanna.

1 Firstly, tell us a little bit about yourself

Hi! I’m Alyanna Poe, a horror author from Northern California. I’ve been writing since a young age, finishing my first children’s story when I was around eight years old. Now at twenty-one I have four self-published books and a few short stories and articles published here and there. I’ve always loved Halloween and that translated into a love of horror.

2 Tell us a little bit about your books

Eaten: a tale of hatred and apocalyptic gore. Eaten was my first novel. I started it when I was fourteen and self-published when I was eighteen. If I had one word to describe it, it would be angst. Lots of teenage angst went into it and as of now it’s the goriest piece I’ve ever written. If you like fast zombies, mind control, and violence, check out Eaten.

Void is the sequel to Eaten. It’s actually written from a completely new character’s perspective and follows part of the timeline in Eaten as well as a while after. Some people have said it seems as if it’s written by another author, but I think that’s only because it’s psychological horror and not gory, splatterpunk horror.

Cradles the Brain is my first short story collection. It includes personal, true stories, poetry, and short horror stories. One of the stories is actually novella length, and I plan on continuing that story into a full-length novel probably next year. I published this book in celebration of my twentieth birthday, never expecting to turn it into a tradition.

Rejects is my second collection of short stories. All of these stories are horror and have been rejected by publishers at least once. This one was published in celebration of my twenty-first birthday, and I learned a lot while working on this one. Inside lies everything from cosmic to gothic to gory horror. I really wanted to include something for everyone in it.

3 Where do you find your inspiration for your books?

Depression. No, seriously, a lot of pain goes into my writing. I’ve never been the expressive type with people, but a blank page can be so forgiving. I originally started writing Eaten at such a young age because my mother told me I needed a way to deal with my anger. I plotted out the book the night we had this discussion. At that time, I never expected to be a writer full time.

4 What, for you, is the best thing about being a writer?

The euphoria. When a string of words can be laid out so effortlessly, it’s as if the gods themselves have chosen you to write. I love piecing together stories and thinking about it all day. When I think about a career, this is all that feels right.

5 And the worst?

Not feeling good enough. Sometimes I’ll go a month without making a sale despite keeping up on my social media and trying different marketing strategies. It can be tough to keep going, and sometimes it takes all I have to not quit the dream and to start a career that makes actual money. I realize the weight of my words have value, but that’s not going to put food on the table. I’m lucky enough to live with my very supportive parents, but it’s been my dream to make enough money to take care of them the way they’ve taken care of me.

6 If you could have any super power, what would it be and why?

Shape shifting. At that point, you can have any and all powers. Flight? Turn into a bird or grow wings. Breathing underwater? Become a fish. Want to be super fast? Boom. I’m a cheetah. Plus, I could quickly change into someone else if I saw someone from high school at the store.

7 Do you have any tips for anyone wanting to write their first book?

Nothing to it, but to do it. So many people have told me they’re apprehensive about writing, but in reality, there’s nothing to be scared of. Hide in your room, under the blanket even, and write the first sentence. No one has to know. Bare yourself to the universe, show yourself to the blank page. And if you read it the next day and think it’s absolute trash, write it again, but better.

Only you have your voice. Only you have your experiences. And someone out there might just need to read your words.

8 Tell us one random fact about you

I love photography and have since I was a kid. The focus used to be flowers and my dog, and it’s slowly progressed to cryptid self-portraits. I love pushing the envelope by creating traditional portraits with a spin. My author photo is a lighthearted version of that, being a normal portrait but with a book on my head. On two of my book covers, I’ve edited myself into a demon and a faceless woman with many versions of her face surrounding her. I love photo editing and forcing myself to improve. The real challenge is running in front of the camera before the timer runs out.

9 Who is your favourite author?

Stephen King. I know, not the most unique answer, but his is always a style I can return to, yet still find something fresh. His novel The Stand inspired my first novel as well.

10 And your favourite book(s)?

The Stand by Stephen King will always hold my number one spot because it’s the entire reason I ever had the material to start a writing career. It heavily inspired Eaten and, at thirteen, it was my first real experience with adult horror.

Now a book I would want to experience for the first time again? The Cipher by Kathe Koja. What a sticky, depressing, horrific mess, and I couldn’t get enough of it. I feel like that book taught me how to write with emotion.

11 What book are you reading right now?

Just about twenty of course! I hop around from book to book a lot, something I never did as a child, but my main two are Body Horror, a collection of short body horror stories including The Fly, Who Goes There? and The Tell-Tale Heart, and a book from the sixties about Irish ghosts called The Lively Ghosts of Ireland by Hans Holzer. It’s all true accounts he’s had with his medium, but as most ghost hunting shows go, it’s hard to believe. Fun to read though!

12 Where is your favourite place to write?

Anywhere I can get into my mindset. My bed, my office, my backyard, the desert. I don’t think I think about my placement so long as I’m in the right mood for writing.

13 Do you prefer to write in silence or do you have a writing soundtrack?

Currently listening to music. I almost always have something on. Unless I can’t focus at all, music is always on. Generally, it’s something without lyrics, like EDM, phonk, lo-fi, or classical. Just depends on my mood. I do love other genres, but sadly I’ll start singing and distract myself if there’s lyrics. Must. Stay. Focused!

14 What can we expect from you next?

Lord. A podcast hopefully airing its first episode on July 15^th, 2022. Here’s the premise: Adam’s Murder is the transcribed audio diary of Abigail Drummer, Adam’s sister. When Adam is brutally murdered, Abby wonders if his addiction and dangerous lifestyle played a part, and when police don’t do anything to solve his murder, twenty-year-old Abby must take things into her own hands. She records an audio diary as she discovers just how dark Adam’s life was and meets the people closest to him, some of which she didn’t know existed. Along the way, she finds herself under the microscope of those she suspects most. Grief, fear, and anger fuel her through this investigation. This book will be read on my podcast, Indicted Fiction. Each season is a book itself, and each chapter is an episode. I wanted to provide an audiobook-like experience for free for my readers. The book will be published on the last air date.

Also, I will be keeping up with my birthday anthology, so expect a fantastical horror anthology on February 8^th 2023 with twenty-two stories total (same number as my age).

Not to mention I’m currently querying for a thrilling novella about the kidnapping of a college aged woman and her monstrous transformation. Beta readers have enjoyed it so far, and I look forward to finding it a home.

Plus, yeah, it’s a lot I know, this November I’ll finally be prepared for #NaNoWriMo as I actually have a project planned out! I’m considering traditional publishing for this piece, but as it’s going to be splatterpunk horror and absolutely the most grotesque thing I’ve ever written, I’m unsure if any traditional publishers would be interested.

I’ve got about five other projects that I’m somewhat keeping under wraps, but you can definitely expect to see more from me this year and the next.

15 Anything else you’d like to share with us?

As an indie author myself, I know it’s difficult to get interviews like these, so I’ve started a self-serve author interview service on my blog. It’s totally free – just click here.

Soon I’ll have the Indie Book Spotlight, Small Horror Business Interviews, and New Book Release Alert webpages and forms ready, so be sure to keep an eye out! I’d love to promote you and your work 🙂

16 Where can we find you? (Links to your Amazon page and social media)

My website, my Amazon author page, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Good Reads.