Guest Author Interview with Barbara Avon
I recently had the fantastic opportunity to interview multi-genre author Barbara Avon, author of romance, horror, time-travel, and so much more! I highly encourage any interested readers to check out her website or Amazon page – she has many more books available than what’s shown in the banner image or discussed below.
I hope you enjoy the Q&A! -AJ
Hi, Barb. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to interview you today. Can you introduce yourself and your book(s) to our readers?
Thanks so much for the opportunity! I’m a multi-genre, Indie author who has been publishing for eight years. I tend to enjoy writing horror the most. It’s an exciting genre to read and write. In 2022, I published my newest psychological horror, “Revived”.
Would you like to talk a little about your writing process?
My process is a little backwards! I decide on the title, create the cover, and then I start writing the story. I think in doing this, it inspires the rest of the story. I don’t outline before I begin writing horror. It’s as if I want to experience the surprises with my characters. I do tend to briefly plan stories of other genres. I also need complete silence when I write, so I don’t listen to music like some of my peers do.
I’ve read a number of your books, and all of them are set in past decades. I really enjoyed the feel I got from Sacrilege and Postscript. Both had a distinct 1980s vibe to them. What draws you to write stories set in past eras?
It was a simpler time in the sense that once you left your house, you were unreachable. Those who didn’t live through that time period will never understand the freedom that was afforded to us. Ironically, even without social media, we were more social. We talked to people face-to-face. We even talked to strangers sitting next to us, and sometimes, that blossomed into something else – a relationship. I want my readers to truly escape, and not read about Twitter, or texting, or world news. I want to focus on the characters’ interactions with one another. Plus, 1980s music is awesome!
I believe the first book I read of yours was Owl Eyes Motel, a series of interrelated short stories featuring the motel and its proprietor, Milton Petrie. He was a very intriguing character. Can you elaborate a bit on your process for coming up with him?
Milton was born out of thin air. I was picturing an eccentric man akin to the Penguin character in Batman, but Milton took on his own personality with his own idiosyncrasies. I thought I was being original with his name, and then my husband pointed out that we often drive down Milton Road. The name must have been in my subconscious!
And since it’s close to the holidays, I wanted to mention the related book, Speed Bump, which also features Milton Petrie, but is set on Christmas Eve. I think of all your books that I’ve read, the twist in the plot of this one was the most surprising. Do you have a method for coming up with your plot twists, and can you share a little about it?
I don’t have a method, per se. However, I do know the ending of my books even before I begin writing them. Twists are important in a story, especially when it comes to horror.
I know you also write in other genres, though I haven’t happened to read those books myself (yet). Do you find it difficult to switch to say, romance after you’ve finished a horror novel?
No, I don’t find it difficult. Once I finished my psychological horror “Revived”, I went back to romantic suspense with “A Crack in Forever”. There are, however, dark elements in the story. Not all of my books are dark. One of my personal favourites is my second book, “Briana’s Bistro” and it’s mainly romantic.
Do you have any upcoming releases you’d like to talk about?
I’d like to mention my last release (published on October 26th). Although it’s technically a sequel, “A Crack in Forever” can be read as a standalone story. My characters face a whole different set of circumstances, whereas in book 1, they meet for the first time. “A Crack in Forever” evolved into a romantic thriller, considering the subplot.
What project(s) are you currently working on, and can you share anything about them?
I’m planning another horror novella, or maybe a horror/time travel mix similar to my book, “Timepiece”. However, my big project for 2023 will be a romantic thriller titled “The Neighbour”. You can take a peek here – COMING 2023 | barbaraavon
Besides being a writer, what do you like to do in your spare time?
When I’m not writing, I’m reading, watching 1980s movies, or catching up with my peers on Twitter. I’m also a fan of cooking (especially slow cooking). I’m not sure that counts as a hobby, though!
Do you have any parting thoughts you’d like to share?
I’d like to thank you again for this opportunity, and I’d also like to thank everyone in the Twitter writing community for their support, and for brightening my days with funny GIFs, and discussions that sometimes only a writer can understand. To everyone who is just starting out, I’d like to say, write from the heart. My heart has never failed me.
A huge thank you to Barbara for taking time for this interview! Her books can be found on Amazon.com, or you can learn more at her website: barbaraavon.com.
Thank you once again for this wonderful opportunity!
You are very welcome!