MY INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR SEAN KERR

MY INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR SEAN KERR

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

Hello! My name is Sean Kerr, and I write in two distinct genres (though often they blur into one!). I write MM Paranormal Romance, and I also write Horror. Some of my books, in particular my Dead Camp series, blur the lines and while classified as Paranormal Romance, those books have some very strong horror elements to them. My new book, which released on 30th September, is a Gothic Paranormal Romance set in 1850, but there is the odd ‘disturbing’ elements that creep into the story.

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

‘The Man Inside Me’ was inspired by the fact that I am fast approaching fifty! As a middle-aged gay man, I sometimes feel that I have become a bit invisible, and I find myself hankering to reclaim some of my lost years lol. I think that is something that we all feel at some point in our lives. It has been a year of change for me. I collapsed with a cardiac arrest at the end of February, and I was in a serious condition for two months and underwent open heart surgery. It was a complete life altering event, and it has changed my perspective on life. Just because I am approaching fifty does not mean that I have nothing left to offer. While I was in the hospital, my husband brought my lap top in for me because I needed to work, and the idea came to me then. I jotted down some notes, and as I kept thinking of my own situation, the idea grew and developed. ‘The Man Inside Me’ is a tale of two middle aged men who live in a time when being gay was illegal, and so the love they found together in their youth is sacrificed in the name of safety and their careers. But, as with everything I write, there is a twist in the tale, and I take the reader on a dark journey, where we start to ask one simple question. What would we do, and how far would we go to reclaim our youth?

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

Most of my work has an Historical edge to it. My ‘Dead Camp’ series takes place during world war two but spans from the crucifixion to Victorian London. My ‘The Last Child’ horror trilogy, while set a few years into the future, uses events from the past to frame the story. I love complex intertwining plots, and I love conspiracy theories. Dan Brown is one of my absolute favorite authors, so he is a big influence on me and the way I tell stories. Also, ‘The Historian’ by Elizabeth Kostova changed the way I approach writing forever. It is a very detailed, very creepy chiller that involves Dracula, and the way it is written, through the use of diaries, letters and detailed historical information, blew my mind. I also watch a lot of documentaries, and I am a massive film buff, so all of these things have influenced me and helped me to hone my own particular style. I love detail. I love accurate historical detail. I love description. But I also love to twist history and put my own spin on events. ‘Dead Camp’ took history in a completely different direction while staying true to the facts, and ‘The Man Inside Me’ uses a classic tale, but with my own interpretation to make the story new again. Oh, how I love my job lol!

What kind of research did you do for this book?

For ‘The Man Inside’, I read a few books…one of which was vital to the writing of this story, and while I cannot reveal what it is without giving the whole thing away, it really put me in the correct space to write the book. I had to do a lot of research into the Victorian Era for my ‘Dead Camp’ books, so I was already very familiar with the era. However, I also had to do some research into the politics of the time, in particular the laws passed to repress homosexuality, as that plays an important role within the book. Also the language used in books written around that time is very different to the language we use today, and while I didn’t try to emulate the language exactly, I did structure it in such a way so as to give the feeling and mood of the period.

Can you tell me about your Series?

‘Dead Camp’ is a series about a Vampire who has no memory of ever being human. It is his story of discovering who and what he is, and the role he has to play in history. It is a complex five book series, with each book linking to the other to tell one enormous saga. Again, it is classified as an MM Paranormal Romance. This series seriously messes around with history, and I have note books upon notebooks filled with all my research and plot outlines. Every character is linked together and through the course of the series you find out how and why. This was my first book, and my first series, and I am very proud of it, even though there were times when it broke my heart. Book three…oh dear, I cried and cried lol!

‘The Last Child’ trilogy is a supernatural thriller series, a sort of combination of Dan Brown and The Omen. Again it uses events from the past to tell a story that takes place in the near future, of a woman who loses her parents in a tragic accident and befriends a boy at the school where she teaches. The boy is being bullied, and it reminds Christina of her own youth and she tries to help him, but as the story progresses, we find out that they are inexplicably linked in a fight between Heaven and Hell that threatens to plunge the world into Nuclear Armageddon. It is a powerful story, and as someone who was viciously bullied as a child, it was easy for me to use my own experiences for Samuel and to try to make his tale as realistic as possible, even though the tale takes a turn towards the fantastic. Again, I used current political events to frame the story, and I wrote much of book two while in hospital.

‘The Man Inside Me’, my new release, is set in the 1800’s and is my first completely historical novel. I used a lot of period detail and language to build the book which is the story of two middle aged men who cannot be together because of the time period in which they live. I wanted this story to be heavy on the romance side, because it is, in effect, an old-fashioned love story, albeit given the ‘Sean Kerr’ twist. When the twist is revealed, the story shifts gear and takes you on a harrowing journey into the mind of madness. But, as I said, this is a story of true love, and the depths we will go to, to hold onto love and recapture our lost youth.

Do you have a favorite book out of this series?

“Dead Camp book 3’ is my favorite out of that series. While it was a very difficult book to write, set mainly at the time of the crucifixion, it was also the most satisfying, because it brought together the first two books and revealed the truth. It was also the game changer for the series…and that last chapter…OMG! I cried when I wrote that book. I cried when I re-wrote that book. I cried when I edited that book and then I cried again when I went through the edits with my editor lol!

My favorite book of all is now ‘The Man Inside Me’. I can identify with the characters. They are real to me. Their love is very real, and their loss is very real. Just to immerse myself in the period, and to allow the language of that time to fill the page was an absolute joy. Also, because it is a standalone book, I found it very liberating. It is one story, contained in two hundred and twenty odd pages, and so I was able to keep the story telling very tight and clean. Every character and plot point was clearly defined to me, and while no book writes itself, this one certainly helped me! I loved writing this book, and I am so very proud of it.

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

Before I was taken ill, I had an interior design business which kept me very busy. Writing was something I would do on my days off and in the evenings. I would get home from work around six pm, make dinner, and then fire up my lap top and write until midnight. Sometimes later. Much later. When Dead Camp book 1 was published, I realized that my dream had come true and I was an author, and that spurred me on. It has and continues to obsess my life. I lost the business when I was in hospital, and I took the opportunity to treat writing as a full-time job while I am in the recovery period. So I wrote my ‘The Last Child’ trilogy and ‘The Man Inside Me’. I have worked long, long hours doing this, determined that something good should come out of my circumstances. And I have loved every moment of it.

I also have an Etsy Shop, KERRCARDS. I make handmade cards and handmade jewellery. It came out of my need to try and earn some money, having lost my only means of income. So at the moment, I split my time between crafting, and writing in the evenings.

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

I have a number of ideas in a file on my lap top. I have opened a new document, and it is titled ‘Alive’. I have tentatively started the prologue and research. This book is contemporary but will use journals and newspaper clippings from the 1700’s to tell part of the story. This is going to be a complex juggling trick, but something I am eager to get on with. It is an MM Paranormal Romance, but with a difference. This will be unlike anything I have written before, so at the moment I am approaching it cautiously. With the launch of ‘The Man Inside Me’, I don’t want to get distracted from that, and ‘Alive’ is intended to be another series. It remains to be seen if I continue with it or put it aside for now.

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

Names are so difficult! In my ‘Dead Camp’ series, I wanted all the names to have meaning, and they are all old Hebrew names. Somewhere, in my files and files of notes, is a list of all the names I used with their meanings. For instance, Eli, the main character, lives in an abandoned castle called ‘Alte’, and ‘Alte’ is old Hebrew for Old One. Names are very important, and its something I thing all authors struggle with before starting.

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

I want to write sci fi. I am a huge Doctor Who fan, and I love all the old British sci fi serials, such as Quatermass and Sapphire and Steel. They have all been a huge influence on me. There is a story I want to write, another possible series that is heavy on the sci fi, and if ‘Alive’ doesn’t take off yet, I may have a stab at starting this instead. When I was a child, I had a terrible nightmare that has stayed with me all my life. It was so very vivid. It forms the basis for this sci fi series, and as I write this here, I find that I am leaning more and more towards starting this lol! AAAHHH!

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Sex scenes. Oh god they are difficult to write. To make them interesting and believable is really difficult. We all have preconceptions of sex, so trying to make them different can sometimes lead me to slamming my lap top closed in temper. But there is also a very fine balance between a sex scene that is involving, and one that is crude, so finding the balance is tough. ‘The Man Inside Me’ is a prime example. I wanted the sex scenes to be relevant to the story, and to help move the story forward. They had to portray first time sex, first love, tenderness and absolute love. Then, when things change, the sex has to become more animalistic and rawer. That was fun, I can tell you!

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

I LOVE book trailers, and I have made trailers for all my main works. I have put the you tube link for my ‘Man Inside Me’ trailer here, because it is my favorite one, and the music I used for it makes me tear up every time lol!

The Man Inside Me trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLfz0NB57KQ&t=5s

What do you consider to be your best accomplishment?

Being published for the first time. It was a life long dream. Books and writing has been my passion for most of my life, and to be a part of the author community is an absolute joy and a privilege.

What’s the best thing about being an author?

Meeting other authors and getting to know your readers. I have met some incredible people over the last few years. Maggie Lane and Ian Cadena have become two of my dearest friends, my family, and I would not have them in my life if it wasn’t for my books. Friends. The friends and the experiences it brings is just amazing, it fills my heart with joy and it makes me so very happy.

Have you always liked to write?

When I was eight, my aunty bought me a book in a jumble sale and I read it over and over again. That book was Bram Stokers Dracula. From that point on, all I wanted to do was write. I wrote my own vampire stories, I wrote Doctor Who stories, and I even wrote a sequel to Alien! All really bad of course, but hey, I was a kid. But, the love of words and of story telling has always been in there, and it is my honor to be able to do this professionally.

What writing advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Never give up. If you have a love for what you do, passion will always come through. Write with passion, and write what you believe in. There is no point in writing something that does not interest you, or the reader will not be interested. And find a good editor and listen to them! I have the best editor, Laura McNellis of Alternative Edits. She is my savior and my god, and my dear friend. But more than that, she has taught me to hon my craft, and has helped me to become a better writer.

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

I do read the reviews, yes. It is difficult not to. At first, if I saw a bad review, I would stress over it no end. But everyone is entitled to their opinion, and not every book will appeal to every person. So we learn to live with the bad and love the good, but more importantly, we don’t let it rule us, or we would never write! I am immensely grateful for reviews, good or bad, because someone has taken the time to buy my books, read them and write a review. That in itself is fantastic.

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

Will people read it. A book is just words on paper unless someone reads it. I am known for writing unusual, off the wall stories, so every book is a risk. It takes a long time to get a book to the point of publication, and a LOT of work, so when it goes live, we all sit there with baited breath waiting to see if it sells. That is the hardest part of this process. It doesn’t matter how hard I work, or how much I love writing a particular book, waiting to see if it is read and what people think is torture. We are all human at the end of the day, and we all want to succeed and be as good as we can. I put all my heart and my soul into my work. That is the way I have always been, in my working life and author life. I try my absolute best. So it becomes personal then. Every book lives in my heart, and as an author, I want my books to live in my readers hearts too.

What are you working on now?

Toying between two book ideas. ‘Alive’, a Paranormal Romance, or ‘The Quellor Event’, a LGBT sci fi. I have no idea at this point which one will win!

Do you have any favorite authors or favorite books?

Ian Cadena is an author to watch. He writes the most amazing Urban Fantasy. ‘The Nexus’ is a work of genius. T.L Travis, Emery Lee Ann, Elizabeth Kostova, Bram Stoker, Dan Brown, Stephen King to name but a few. Alexa Land and Aimee Nicole Walker are two MM Romance Authors who are amazing, and I can only dream to reach the excellence they have achieved.

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

From my first book, Eli. He is a flawed, fragile creature. He has an ego the size of a planet, yet it is a shield he uses to protect himself from the pain of his past. He is a very sensual man who only wants to be touched, but the love of his life rejected him, and it left his broken. I can relate to Eli. Sex is a tricky business, and I have a high…drive…and it doesn’t matter how long you have been with your partner, sometimes that side of life gets neglected, and I find that very difficult to contend with. That is Eli. He was a very cathartic character to write, and there is more of me in him than I care to admit!

Does writing energize or exhaust you?

Bit of both. It completely invigorates me, but when I go to bed and I can’t sleep because plots are spinning around my head, or I have stayed up too late writing and I can’t sleep, its can be exhausting. But I wouldn’t have it any other way!

What is your writing Kryptonite?

Beginnings. I always need a way into my books, a hook to get me started. I need to find the tone right at the start, and sometimes that can result in me pressing the delete button and starting again. But that’s a good thing. The tone for Dead Camp was very raw, and a bit brutal in places, but that allowed me to tell the story I needed to tell. The Man Inside Me was altogether different, as it had to give the feeling of loss, the loss of youth and vitality, the loss of human touch and connection. Most of my books start with a prologue…I do love a god prologue…and it is there that I need to set the tone and the feel for the book. Once I am happy with a prologue, and I have found my way into a book, then I’m away.

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

The question is, what do readers want? Everyone has a different experience reading a book, and everyone approaches a book differently. It is impossible to please everyone. I write what the story needs, and what the characters need. Plot and character are my two most important things, and they have to be true to the concept and true to the book. I suppose I’m a bit of a rule breaker with regards to this. My books don’t all have happy ever after endings. Some are bitter sweet. Some are downright dark. Dead Camp does not get its ending until the very last book. The Last Child ends in a very unexpected way. The Man Inside Me, while more of a traditional romance, breaks the rules and takes you to another place before it offers up its ending. I try to be as original with my work as I can be, and I firmly believe that rules are there to be broken!