Interview with Author Chris Bedell
1. When did you start writing?
I’ve been writing since elementary school. So, basically all of my life. Even when my writing needed work at the line level, I always had some sense of plot.
2. What was your journey towards becoming an author like?
It’s been a very long journey. “Complicated” is a word that comes to mind. Creative fields, such as writing/publishing can be challenging to break into. There are things besides talent and work ethic that factor into success. And I think it’s great there’s so many small presses out there. The reality is, a lot of writers get unfairly overlooked by larger, traditional publishers and literary agents.
3. What can you tell me about your latest book? (Feel free to include an excerpt.)
The Lake House Massacre is a YA Horror novel. It’s a fast read…it’s only about 30,000 words. It’s basically a teen slasher with a slow-burn mystery. There’s a serial killer on the loose. And it takes place at a lake house over winter break.
4. What sort of methods do you use for book promotion?
Book promotion is a work in progress. Sometimes, I do virtual (blog) tours. Marketing is even harder than writing.
5. Where do you get your ideas for stories?
Sometimes I get ideas from watching the news. Other times I get ideas from the pop culture I consume. For example, if I read a book or a watch a TV show that deals with a specific issue, and I don’t like the way the issue is dealt with, then I write my own book about the subject.
6. What are you working on right now?
Lots of different things. I don’t want to get too specific, but it’s probably safe to say I’ll write more YA Horror/Thriller novels beyond The Lake House Massacre.
7. Any advice for other authors?
My advice for other writers is line editing is where the magic happens. And I don’t mean fixing typos or word usage errors. That’s important, but there’s more to line editing than that. Like the actual rhythm of the writing. Can you say what you said in fifteen words in eight words, while still maintaining the emotional truth to the sentence? Also, writing needs a mixture of short, medium, and long sentences. And finally, clarity. It’s important to be as clear as possible with your writing. Sometimes, a simple word works just fine. Writing ultimately needs to be concise.
ABOUT CHRIS:
Chris Bedell is the author of over twenty small press novels. He graduated with a BA in Creative Writing from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2016.
