1. Have you always been a writer?

I have always been a storyteller, but I gravitated toward poetry in high school. I did my senior project on poetry, most of it dark and depressing, and one of the judges gave me a failing score because he felt that I didn't pick something that would get me anywhere in life. I took that to heart and stopped writing for a long time. Then when my second child was born, I wrote a crappy young adult fantasy novel. I had a hard time convincing anyone to read it, and it promptly went into wherever projects go to die. I let go of my dreams of being a writer until I was speaking with my husband two years ago about that ill-fated YA novel, and he said to me, "Well that was your problem. Why don't you write what you love?"

He had a point. I LOVE horror and he knew it. So I sat down to see if I could write a short story and submit it to be published. And the rest is history, I guess.

2. When did you realize that maybe writing was actually a "thing" you could do, get published and even sell?

After I sold a few short stories, I challenged myself to write a horror novel and submit it. I've struggled my entire life with my self-worth being tied directly to my productivity and other people's opinions of my work, and I wanted to change that cycle for myself. I forced myself to finish the novel, and then I forced myself to submit it to a few places, even though I knew the chances of it being published were small. Now that I know what I am capable of, even if other people don't like it, I write things that I want to read; things that I want to see in horror. I won't let myself stop because this is one of the few things that I have done for myself, and have created by myself, wholly out of my own mind.

3. What was your first sale as a writer and how did it feel to sell your work?

My first sale was actually a short story called "Penny's Tea," to Unveiling Nightmares for the Body Horror Anthology 2. My first story was for a charity collection so there was no payment. I was elated, and I told myself that the day I stop getting that feeling when I see an acceptance email is when I stop writing. There's nothing like it for me. I'm not proud of myself very often, but that's the closest feeling I'll get.

4. How has writing helped you in other areas of life besides being something you could earn money from?

It helps to get things out of my brain. Sometimes I feel like there is so much in there all bouncing around at once that I'll go insane if I don't get some of it out on paper. It has also helped with my self-discipline and my issues with self-worth. Getting not-so-great reviews has been helpful for me, even though it's painful, but I appreciate the lessons I get from it.

5. What was your biggest accomplishment as a writer?

I am not sure I have a 'biggest' accomplishment yet. I like to leave myself room to grow. Getting my first novel published was definitely a milestone for me though, and the same with my second.

6. Who has inspired you the most in the writing field?

Aside from the obvious, Stephen King, there have been many writers that have inspired me. Most of the people who inspire me currently are the other authors in Unveiling Nightmares. Everyone is very supportive, and they all give great feedback.

7. What are some of the challenges you have faced as a writer and how did you overcome them?

My biggest challenge is my own doubts about the validity of my work, and actually finding time to write. I'm a mom, I work full time, and I have two giant dogs that knock things over and wrestle and generally wreak havoc on everything. I don't have a space set aside for writing yet, because we moved last year and made some changes to our household. We live in a much smaller space but have a huge outdoor space for gardening, etc. This was fine in the summer when I could sit outside with the dogs and write, but the rainy winter months make it tough to find a good spot. I'm a problem solver, though, so I know I'll figure something out.

8. What is the best writing advice you have ever received and why do you feel it is important?

I think there is something to that quote about the first draft being the story you are telling yourself. It's very hard for me to resist editing while I am writing so I limit myself to editing only after a chapter has been completed. I try to tell my children that the first draft is supposed to be trash even though every fiber of your being is telling you it shouldn't be. It is, and your job is to finish the trash and then go back and pick out the treasure.

9. What sort of writing do you do now?

Horror always and forever, though I'm getting more into thrillers as well. I still love writing short stories, and I feel like I have a good method for short and sweet (or not so sweet) ones.

10. Where can we find some of your work online?

Amazon, mostly. There are two anthologies I'm in on lulu.com, and one of my short stories was turned into a podcast episode on Creepy Pod.

11. What advice do you have for other aspiring writers thinking of taking the leap of getting their work published?

Try it. If it doesn't work the first time, try again. You are the only person standing in your own way.

12. What are your final thoughts about being a writer?

Persistence is key. And don't listen to idiots who tell you that writing won't get you anywhere. The world will always need stories, we may just have to change how they get delivered.

ABOUT DESIREE:

Desiree is a horror author and enthusiast. She can be found at home in the Pacific Northwest with her two dogs, two kids, and one husband. Her work appears in numerous spooky anthologies, including Autumn Tales II and III, Masks of Sanity, Body Horror 2, Flash of the Undead, Cursed Cooking, Halloween Horrors, and more. Her full-length novel, Midnight Mother, and novella, Of Teeth and Pine, is out on Amazon now! You can find her working on her latest story in her not-yet-haunted house, much to her disappointment.