MY INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR ZOE BLAKE

MY INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR ZOE BLAKE

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

My name is Zoe Blake and I write in Dark Romance.

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

My current book is an anthology called Twisted Sacrament. I got together with six author friends and we each took a sacrament to twist into a horror story. My inspiration was the phrase “hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” My story is called “Lilith’s Revenge”. It is about a female demon who is tormenting a new priest.

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

Dark romance and horror as genres have more freedom to explore the dark more corrupt side of humanity than straight romance which really opens up the possibility for creative story telling.

What kind of research did you do for this book?

I researched ancient biblical lore and early Christian teachings.

Can you tell me about your Series?

My upcoming series will be a dark daddy dom centered around a group of female con-artists and thieves. It’s going to be lots of fun to write. I am currently reading books about classic diamond heists and art thefts.

Where did you get the inspiration/idea for your series?

I really love true crime stories and I thought it would be fun to create a series with aft thefts and heists.

What kind of research did you do for this book?

I’ve read several books like “Confessions of a Master Thief”, “Stoned” (History of Jewelry), “How to Steal the Mona Lisa” and “Flawless” (About the world’s largest diamond heist).

Was it always meant to become a series?

Yes.

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

I write in blocks of time. So, I will set aside two weeks to write and then go back to running my restaurant for a few weeks then back to writing. I usually write in my “writing cave” in Grand Rapids, MI for a few weeks then I return to Chicago.

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

My early historical books, all the secondary characters are actually character names from Dickens’ novels. hahaha

Where do your ideas come from?

Inspiration can strike from anywhere. A true crime you read about. A song. A movie. Life events.

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

I’ve recently started writing in horror which has been lots of fun. You can explore darker elements in this genre.

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Making the time to just live in a vacuum and write.

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

They’re fun. I have a few I created. The hard part is finding music which matches the theme and feel of your trailer.

What do you consider to be your best accomplishment?

Becoming an author who can support themselves thru their writing is a pretty big accomplishment since this is a very crowded field full of very talented people.

What’s the best thing about being an author?

Honestly, I really like the research. I love when I come up with an idea that requires research. I immediately go out and buy a bunch of books on the topic. It ties into why I love reading. I love learning new things.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

My plan is for writing to give me the freedom to travel. As a career, it is perfect. You can write from anywhere.

Have you always liked to write?

Yes. I excelled at creative writing in school and always enjoyed it.

What writing advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Do your research into the market/genre you want to write in before you start writing.

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

I would be an event planner again. I loved it. I designed memories for a living.

Do you read reviews of your book(s)? Do you respond to them, good or bad? How do you deal with the bad?

I read my reviews during release week but after that only occasionally. I don’t mind the bad reviews at all bc they are often informative. What one person doesn’t like about a book could be the reason why another person wants to buy it!

What is your least favourite part of the writing / publishing process?

The wrist pain from typing all day.

What are you working on now?

I am working on a new Dark Daddy dom series.

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

Dark Romance has the freedom to explore more extreme characters and storylines which is what I like about it.

Where did your love of books come from?

I have always loved to read. I believe it comes from my desire to learn. I am one of those people who never stops trying to learn new things.

Do you have any favorite authors or favorite books?

I am a big fan of the Victorian classics so my favorite authors are the Brontes, Collins, Wharton, Austen, James, etc.

Of all the characters you have created, which is your favourite and why?

I’m am particularly fond of Mirage and Paine. I just adore their love/hate banter.

Does writing energize or exhaust you?

Writing is a rather exhausting experience. It is more physical than people think.

What is your writing Kryptonite?

My restaurant. If my restaurant needs me then writing has to take a back seat.

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

I try to do both. I don’t write books I don’t think anyone will want to read so I definitely consider the market but I also like to give it my own special tweak or style.

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

I am friends with Alta Hensley, Addison Cain, Jennifer Bene, Jane Henry, Celia Aaron, Loki Renard and a host of other authors. They are a supportive group always there to bounce ideas off of, get advice and collaborate.

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

Lace and Whiskey.