My Interview with Author Renée Gorlitz!

My Interview with Author Renée Gorlitz!

What’s your name and what genre would you consider your books to be?

Kristen Renée Gorlitz and I work primarily in horror and sci-fi doing comic books and movies.

Tell me about your book. How did you come up with that (story, angle, idea)?

I adapt comic books out movie scripts I write, and this comic book, The Empties, came from one of my screenplays. I was working in horror because it is one of my favorite genres and it is also more affordable to make into a movie because you can get really creative and limit the story to a single location with fewer characters. I spent years working with a partner on a script that was more of a Cabin Fever type story that we had seen before, and then I realized that I was not personally invested in the story, so I looked closely at what actually scares me and came to the conclusion that being powerless and watching someone I love lose their mind or die in front of me is a really horrific scenario. And in past relationships, I had watched someone slip away (not die) but turn into someone unrecognizable, and it took a lot to get through that – so I turned it into a zombie relationship story called The Empties.

How did you get interested in writing this particular genre (historical novels, mysteries, sci-fi, children’s books, etc.)?

I am interested in writing mainly because of my interest in movies and now comic books. I love the visual mediums and I use words to create those worlds.

What kind of research did you do for this book?

Personal research, looking inside myself and examining past relationships that I had lived through. I learned a lot!

Can you tell me about your Series?

The Empties is a comic book series that will consist of 6 issues and then be collected into a graphic novel. My team and I have completed on issue and are just finishing up the second issue.

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What’s a typical working day like for you? When and where do you write? Do you set a daily writing goal?

Most of my days are spent marketing and creating business plans. But I do write something every day.

Do you have a new book in the making and if so, what’s the name of your upcoming book?

I have the next issue in my comic book series, The Empties, almost complete.

How important are character names to you in your books? Is there a special meaning to any of the names?

Character names are important. It took a long time to come up with the character names in The Empties, and the characters really evolved into those names.

Where do your ideas come from?

Working. Working generates ideas. If you’re stuck, keep working. Work long enough, ideas will come.

Is there a genre that you’ve been wanting to experiment with?

Not yet, I’m happy with the genres that I am in for now. But when I make movies, I would love to make a musical. That is not a typical genre for me, but it would be a blast.

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Being patient and finding the time to write.

What do you think of book trailers? Do you have a trailer or do you intend to create one for your own book?

I don’t really know much about them.

What do you consider to be your best accomplishment?

I am very proud of this comic book series, The Empties. It is a very personal story that I think many people can relate to.

What’s the best thing about being an author?

Telling stories that entertain other people.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Having directed multiple feature films and working on my next one.

Have you always liked to write?

Nope, but I (almost) always have written.

What writing advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Keep writing. Write lots of books. Learn marketing. Fail a lot and keep going.

If you didn’t like writing books, or weren’t any good at it, what would you like to do for a living?

I write so that I can make movies and comic books. If I could not do these things, I would create some other kind of business / run my own company.

Can you give us a few tasty morsels from your work-in-progress?

Nom nom nom.

Why did you choose to write in your genre? If you write in more than one, how do you balance them?

Sci-fi and horror are my favorites! I love what you can find out about our deepest desires as explored in these genres.

Do you have any favorite authors or favorite books?

Ursula K. Le Guin is one of my favorite authors and favorite books include: War and Peace, Ulysses, The Dispossessed.

Does writing energize or exhaust you?

Both.

What is your writing Kryptonite?

Time?

Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

I try to tell a story true to myself, one that I am the most qualified to tell, and one that appeals to people. I want my stories to be as entertaining as possible!

What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?

Dennis Etchison taught me so much about horror with his classes. He taught me how emotional the genre is, how not to spoil the reveal (I like to say everything at once, but you need to preserve the mystery). Peter Atkins also has helped me by reading my comics and reviewing them for me. I have many author friends, and they teach me tricks of the trade. I’m lucky to have so many talented friends.

If you were writing a book about your life, what would the title be?

Time Waits for No One (because why not? Also, I’m obsessed with time).