Let's get to know you a little better.
What were you like at school?
I was a nightmare for teachers
and students alike. I was in a horrible place at the time, so I am saddened to
say that I wasn't much fun to be around.
Were you good at English?
Oh, I have always excelled at
reading and spelling. I was not educated in the ways of punctuation until much
later, though. I had to drop out of middle school due to health issues.
What are your ambitions for your
writing career?
I am sure that people will call
me ridiculous, but I want to be known and understood. I have never had that. At
the risk of sounding melodramatic, I have been the subject of controversy ever
since I could first speak. When I was a child, I was always the black sheep no
matter where I went. I suppose I want things to be different for once. I
realize that my writing is going to be controversial, but I at least want some
people to see it and think to themselves, “You know, I get this guy. I like
what he does.” I want to show the entire world what I can do and how much I
have evolved. I want them to enjoy my fiction and think about the stories long
after they have read the last page. I want to be remembered for something
beautiful. I suppose that is what every writer wants, though.
Which writers inspire you?
I am not inspired by many
novelists, to be honest. I don't know of any writers in the literary world who
write the kind of stuff that I write. That being said, there are many writers I
adore. I am especially fond of Robert E. Howard. My primary inspirations are
Japanese role playing games such as Final Fantasy and David Lynch films. I love
his surrealist style and the way he explores the minds of troubled characters
through dreamlike imagery. When I watch films like Lost Highway or Mulholland
Drive, I feel like I am really diving inside the mind of the protagonist. I
feel like I am piecing together fragments of who they are with every seemingly
absurd thing that I see. In that way, David Lynch inspired the hell out of me.
While the Final Fantasy series inspired the concept of Lucifer's Ladder the
most, David Lynch had a huge hand in helping me find my style of character
exploration. I absolutely love that man and I would be honored if I ever have
the chance to meet him.
I am a huge David Lynch fan and I know he is an inspiration to many.
So, what have you written?
I can't tell you about everything
that I have written quite yet. I have some secrets to keep, but I can tell you
about what has already been released. Lucifer's Ladder is the book that was
most recently accepted by a publisher. It is a horror/dark fantasy novel about
a narcissistic teenage sorcerer named Hugh Aaron who wakes up in a post
apocalyptic wasteland to discover that he has been chosen as a candidate for
godhood by a mysterious entity known simply as “The Elder.” Hugh also discovers
that he has been tasked with liberating demonkind from Hell and killing the
current God (Yahweh) along with his entire angelic army. Needless to say, Hugh
is rather fond of the idea and makes it his mission to become God and reshape
the world in his own image. He is a real bastard, but I love him. He is my boy!
Give us an insight into your main
character. What does he/she do that is so special?
It isn't necessarily about what
Hugh does that makes him special, but how he does it. Most of the angels swoop
down with the expectation that they can just overpower him, but Hugh is more
than capable of using his limited magical strength in a way that can take down
even the mightiest of foes. Whether it is through simply exploiting a hole in
their defense or using their own powers against them, Hugh refuses to become a
victim of those who are more powerful than he is ever again.
What are you working on at the
minute?
I am working on the sequel to
Lucifer's Ladder! It is going to be incredibly badass.
What’s it about?
I can't give you too many
details, but it is a continuation of the events that begin in Lucifer's Ladder
and it explores the incredible impact that those events have.
What genre are your books?
I primarily write psychological
horror and dark fantasy, but I have written a few crime stories as well.
When did you decide to become a
writer?
I decided to become a writer the
moment that I realized that I was never going to see the kind of story I wanted
to write if I didn't write it myself.
Why do you write?
I write partially because it
helps me stay sane and mostly because I like creating stories that I can be
proud of.
What made you decide to sit down
and actually start something?
Boredom mostly. I realized that I
wasn't ever going to see the sort of characters or story that I had been
thinking about, so I finally wrote them down. However, I likely would have
never done that if I had something that I thought would have been more
entertaining at the time.
Do you write full-time or
part-time?
I am hoping to make it a full
time job, but right now it is part time.
Do you have a special time to
write or how is your day structured?
I usually write at night. I am at
my best in the darkness.
Do you write every day, 5 days a
week or as and when?
I try to write every day, but
sometimes I don't have the time. I write when I can.
Do you aim for a set amount of
words/pages per day?
I try to write more than one
thousand words per day.
Do you write on a typewriter,
computer, dictate or longhand?
I write on my computer. I can't
imagine writing with anything else.
Where do the your ideas come
from?
I am honestly not sure most of
the time. Sometimes the ideas are just there.
Do you work to an outline or plot
or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?
I usually like to have some idea
of what kind of story I am writing and where everything is going to end up.
What is the hardest thing about
writing?
Convincing myself to sit down and
write. God, that can be so difficult sometimes. I enjoy writing, but I become
distracted pretty easily. I constantly have to fight myself to get stuff done.
What was the hardest thing about
writing your latest book?
Probably facing the world when I
was channelling so much pain and rage every single day. I snapped at a few
people after I wrote a certain chapter because of how raw the emotion was and
how stressed out those scenes made me feel.
What is the easiest thing about
writing?
Creating characters is the
easiest part for me. I can create entire identities in an instant as long as I
am behind a keyboard.
How long on average does it take
you to write a book?
It usually takes me at least six
months, but Lucifer's Ladder only took me three, I believe.
This book is part of a series,
tell us a little about it?
Lucifer's Ladder is indeed a part
of a series. It will be a trilogy focused on Hugh's war against those who
conflict with his ideals and his blood-drenched struggle to achieve true
paradise in a reality that will not easily allow it.
What are your thoughts on writing
a book series.
I believe that each book in a
series needs to end on a satisfying note that ties up most of the loose ends
that are exclusive to that individual story. Obviously some unfinished puzzles
need to be left that way until the series is ready for them to be resolved, but
I think there is a difference between a satisfying cliffhanger and a
cliffhanger that makes you think, “Wow! There wasn't nearly enough
gratification here!”
Do you read much and if so who
are your favourite authors.
I read as much as I can. My
favorite authors are probably Stephen King and Robert E. Howard. I also love
Hideaki Sena and Koji Suzuki.
For your own reading, do you
prefer ebooks or traditional paper/hard back books?
I want to feel the real thing in
my hands! I am glad that people who prefer owning things digitally can have it
their way, but I personally love being able to hold what I am reading.
What book/s are you reading at
present?
I am reading the Preacher comic
series for the first time and I am hopefully going to start Dune sooner than
later. I want to read that eventually.
Who edited your book and how did
you select him/her?
A lovely woman by the name of Majanka Verstraete did the final edit for Lucifer's Ladder.
Catherine Lenderi (my best friend) did some editing beforehand, though.
Who designed your book cover/s?
The cover artist for my publisher
(Fear Front Publishing) did that. His name is Scott Deyett and he is excellent
at what he does… as you can see for yourself.
Do you think that the cover plays
an important part in the buying process?
Hell yes! Many people judge books
by their covers. An alluring cover is absolutely necessary.
What is your favourite
motivational phrase.
“It is not over until I say it is
over.” It motivates me to remind myself that I am in control.
What is your favourite book and
why?
Maybe Parasite Eve by Hideaki
Sena? I love the insane questions it brings up. Plus, it is just an excellent
novel.
What is your favourite quote?
“Something smells fishy here and
it ain't cod.” It is an actual line from Final Fantasy V. God, it is so
beautifully horrible! It makes me laugh every time. Don't judge me!
What is your favourite film and
why?
Gremlins. There are better and
more thought-provoking films out there, but the reason that I love Gremlins so
much is because it puts almost everything I love into a single movie. It has
adorable creatures, dark comedy, violence, and mayhem. That film might as well
have been made for me.
Where can you see yourself in 5
years time?
I try not to think about the
future too much, but hopefully I am not mauled to death by zombies or something
along those lines. That would suck.
What advice would you give to
your younger self?
Hide your horror movies in a more
secure location! Jeez!
Which famous person, living or
dead would you like to meet and why?
I would love to meet David Lynch!
He is my idol.
What advice would you give to
aspiring writers?
Just keep at it no matter how bad
you think your writing is. Your writing style will improve gradually as you go
along, I promise. Don't give up on your dreams. The only thing separating you
from your idols is practice and a publishing deal.
How can readers discover more
about you and you work?
You can check out my website in
the link below and follow me on Facebook or Twitter. (Preferably both) You can
also check out my author page on Amazon. I hope all of you buy Lucifer's Ladder
and visit my social media pages to chat with me about it. I would love to
answer your questions and hear your thoughts on it. All of my fans mean the
world to me and I smile every time I hear from them. I cannot wait to show
everyone Lucifer's Ladder and I hope that you will join me on this admittedly
ambitious journey that I am undertaking. W.D. Frank out!
Book Links:
Paperback: https://www.createspace.com/6601563
Thank you so much that was an awesome interview.
I would like to wish you every success in your writing career.
Readers and bloggers please share this post for WD Frank.
Thank you for reading,
Sarah Jane
