Things have been pretty crazy in the Langille house as of late. For one, my kids picked up a virus at day care, RSV to be exact. I'm pretty sure RSV translates to, really shitty virus. Here's the funny thing too, I don't even need to take my kids to day care. My mom lives with us and helps out tremendously by watching the kiddos while my wife and I work. She's a godsend. That being said, my kids are in the house most of the day and don't get to interact with anyone outside of family, especially other kids. My oldest, who is three years old, LOVES playing with other kids. Whenever we go to the park, or Kangaroo Zoo, or anywhere else another kid could possibly be, she lights up and wants to play. Enter the day care....

I've been wanting to get them to a place where I could have them play with other kids. We found this day care that seemed pretty good and safe, so we took them there for 1.5 hours. Both my children had a blast! Loved every second of it and still talk about wanting to go back to this day. However, they brought back a special friend named RSV. This virus has swept through our house taking us all out one by one. Plus, RSV likes change. It can't just be a simple virus, no it changes into sinus infections and ear infections. Double plus, it doesn't know when to leave. It gets its grubby little talons hooked into you and won't let go. We've been dealing with thing in one form or another for two weeks now.

Coughing, puking, infected eyes, fevers, crying, ER visits, Insta-care visits...the whole shebang. #partofit. #nosleepfortheweary #OMGcanweallstopbeingsicknowplease

Basically what this translates into is, go to work, come home take care of sick kids, rinse and repeat. Progress on much else has come to a halt. I'm hoping there is a bright side, that perhaps they are growing antibodies to this particular strain and won't be affected again. 

Meanwhile, my writing has come to a slow crawl. The time I used to find is fading away and I haven't found a new groove yet. The shitty thing, is that I've got a deadline looming so I need to kick it into new gear and get the words flowing again. Along with that particular deadline (book three of the Dark Tyrant Series by the way), I've got so many other projects I want to start it's insane. I need time. Which brings me to my next point: the future (future, future, future, future....echoes).

I'm less than 18 months away from retiring from my current career. If things work out, the stars align, and Cthulhu wakes from his dreamlike slumber, then I can step away from the grind and focus on raising kids and writing books. I find the future to be exciting and scary as F#&K! I've got no idea how it's going to turn out. I suppose nobody does really. What I'm hoping for, is that with the new time I can really kick my writing in to high-gear and fully embrace that part of me. I know it is going to take discipline to make it happen, but I also know that I can do it if I put my mind to it. Which is why I need to get back into the groove NOW. I can't keep waiting for the proverbial later. I think to keep me honest, I'll post regular updates on my works-in-progress.

Finally, on top of all of this, I found out that I drew out for a Black Bear hunting tag! About three or four years ago I got an itch that I wanted to hunt and eat a bear. I'd done a lot of research and found tons of info saying how tasty they are and how incredibly hard to hunt they are. I started putting in for the draw. Well fast forward to now, three years later, and I finally drew a tag. My reasons for wanting to hunt a bear go deeper than mere curiosity. There's something about it that draws me in. Bears are elusive, and the particular hunt I've drawn means I either have to use dogs or spot-and-stalk. I don't have bear dogs, nor do I know anyone with dogs, so it means I've got to spot-and-stalk which also means that my hunt just got that much more difficult. Bottom line, I'm looking forward at the prospect of getting into some new wilderness, pursuing new game, and putting my hunting skills to the ultimate test. (Given my track record, the bears will probably be very safe around me)

I'll keep you all posted on what happens with this, and it may be the only time I ever go bear hunting. If you don't approve of hunting, I can understand that and respect it. It's definitely not for everyone. I'm not here to argue my point. I'm just here to share my experience. 

Final thoughts...stay healthy, stay active, keep writing, and beware the Really Shitty Virus!

What kind of books/stories do you write?
 
First off, thank you so much for the interview, Cody! I write in all kinds of different genres (action/hero, inspirational, young adult, police/crime, etc). However, the one common theme of all my works is that I try to write books with strong themes/messages that will stay with the reader long after they put the work down.
 
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
 
The story goes that I actually realized that I wanted to be a writer in the 2nd Grade. The main catalyst for my writing was my 2nd Grade Teacher at AP Beutel, Mrs. Scott. When I was in her class years ago, she gave me a homework assignment to write a one-page story. This was the first time I ever wrote anything, and I was inspired with the dream to be a NY Times Bestselling author one day! That experience breathed the love of writing into me and I’ve never stopped since!

What do you consider the most influential book you've ever read?
 
The biggest influential books I’ve read is Og Mandino’s The Greatest Miracle in The World & The Choice.

What other authors are you friends with, and how have they helped you become a better writer?
 
I get invited to a lot of local Comic Cons, so that is definitely one of my better opportunities to network with other authors. However, one of my best influences has been my former English Professor, Dr. Joy. She is a short story writer and her works have appeared in numerous publications. She was one of my major encouragements and inspiration to begin writing professionally.

What’s the best way you've found to market your books?
 
The best way to market books is to just be steady. There is no gimmick that will automatically make a book go viral and sell millions of copies. Instead, a writer builds their audience one reader at a time. I’ve found that doing a combination of a lot of techniques (reviews, interviews, guest posts, etc.) is the best way to build an audience.

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
 
It depends on the work. For historical works, obviously there is a ton of research done to ensure the work is authentic and factually accurate. My award-winning historical novel, Memories Of My Future, included months of research before I started writing it since I wanted to make sure that all my historical facts were in order. However, most of my novels may take a month or two at max for research, since those all take place in more imaginative worlds.

Any last thoughts for our readers?
 
Thank you again for the interview, Cody! If anybody has any follow-up questions, please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected]

Links/promotional things:
 
My books are available at:
https://www.amazon.com/Ammar-Habib/e/B00MMQVI9C/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Ammar+Habib?_requestid=950803
 
I can be found at:
www.ammarahsenhabib.com
https://www.facebook.com/ammarahsenhabib 
https://twitter.com/AmmarAHabib1
https://instagram.com/ammar.a.habib/

hat kind of books/stories do you write?
 I am an audio dramatist and love the medium.  I enjoy all kinds of stories that are driven by dialogue, sound, and music.  For about five years I produced a zombie horror serial called HG World which told the story of a diverse group of survivors and my favorite part was developing the voice of each character and how they were able to weave exposition into action and natural conversation. 

While HGW was horror, I also love the pulp adventure stories, noir and hard-boiled crime tales, westerns, and character-driven genre fiction.  
I spent the better part of the last three years researching social interaction and group behaviors in virtual worlds and interviewing long-term, hard-core residents of those worlds to learn why they “escape” into these worlds. The result of this is a novel series that follows in the style of Neal Stephenson and Ernest Cline echoing the hard-boiled style of Raymond Chandler and the fun of Gregory MacDonald’s Fletch series. 

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
 I really can’t remember.  There’s a photograph of me in 1982 with a Smith-Corona typewriter.  I remember being able to make that beast sound like a machine gun (with a cow bell signaling to change the magazine). I was 11 and translating my Dungeons & Dragons adventures into stories and writing dungeon crawls for my friends.  Later, I’d write plots for Call of Cthulhu, RIFTS, and Marvel Super-Heroes.  I wrote weird, little stories in different genres as I grew more confident in building a story structure and dialogue independent of role-playing games.  When those stories started making people laugh or react the way I intended (especially girls) it was a great feeling.  I just kept writing.

What do you consider the most influential book you've ever read?
There are several books that influenced me or changed how I write.  Growing up, I was inspired by the Choose Your Own Adventure books and Encyclopedia Brown series. I read a lot of short stories and loved the usual gallery of great, dead white men like Bradbury, Poe, Bierce, Lovecraft, Ellison.  I consumed every Arch Oboler, Orson Welles, Jack Webb, and Carlton Morse story I could find from radio’s golden age. Hunter Thompson’s work inspired me as a teenager as did Somerset Maugham’s “The Razor’s Edge” – both igniting a political and spiritual exploration beyond the fantasy worlds I hid inside most of the time.  Harry Turtledove’s alternate histories turned me on to that subgenre as much as Shea & Wilson’s “The Illuminatus! Trilogy” blew me away in terms of sheer weirdness.  Of every author I’ve ever read?  Douglas Adams remains the one who inspires me most.  His humor and his wordplay are like great jazz or psychedelic rock symphonies.  His satire, humor, and optimism inspire me

What other authors are you friends with, and how have they helped you become a better writer?
Sheesh.  I’ve been friends with Keith DeCandido for a number of years and he has taught me a lot about what it takes to dedicate yourself to a profession.  There’s a lot of work involved in not only producing the word count and telling a great story, but getting it and one’s self out into the market and building relationships with readers. Podcasting and social media have brought me together with many writers, all of whom I've learned from.  Without naming names, I would love to steal the talent or work ethic of at least three of them.
Dirk Maggs is an audio dramatist I’ve come to really admire as a person and a professional.  His writing is what inspired me to pursue audio productions where I have the most fun.  His interpretations of Superman and Batman for radio were exceptional in terms of writing and production and I cannot think of someone better suited to continue Douglas Adams’ radio adventures.  He taught me different tricks how to tell a visual story with sound.  
My fellow students from Seton Hill University - I learned as much (if not more) from them than the actual program.  It is such a diverse, generous group of writers in various stages of a professional career.  The instructors are working authors as are the administrators so this isn't just an English course taught by career academics, the people I've come to call my friends in the program have experienced every kind of challenge and failure in the industry.

What’s the best way you've found to market your books?
Even if you are represented by an agent and published by an established house, you will still need to market yourself through creative opportunities.  Marketing should be part of your budget and that budget should be tied to specific expectations.   Even when you buy business cards, consider how many sales it will take to offset that cost, who should get those cards, and what you will get in return for using them.  
While you, the writer, are a great human person you are also a “brand” representing an ever-growing line of products.  Who is your author brand?  That’s a complex question unless you are the brand you present to the world.  
Network.  Go to conventions to learn from writers.  Engage in workshops.  Get your work out there.  If you have a story you’re excited about but isn’t finding a publication that fits, consider sharing it with people as a sample of your work.  
Have a simple but attractive web site with key information that makes it exciting and EASY for a visitor to learn about and then buy your products.  Keep it up to date with your appearances, releases, and other writerly things.  Provide value in the form of tips for writers, reviews, blog posts – anything to encourage repeat visitors and build your audience.
Get to know convention programming directors and try to get added to the guest lists.  Even small cons can earn you a few new readers and fans.  Build your public speaking skills because that’s what will help you market.
Keep writing.  Even when you can’t write.  Write something.  Research.  Imagine new ways to tell your stories.  Take risks.  Don’t give up when all the voices inside and outside your head are telling you to give up and herd goats in the Shetlands.  Just write.

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
​For The Diary of Jill Woodbine, I pretty much had years of world-building and production completed in the audio drama, so I knew how the zombies (“eaters”) worked and how society was pretty much a mess.  I didn’t have to do a lot of research except when it came to the heroine.  Jill’s character revealed itself to me as I wove her into the mythology of HG World and since the story is told from her perspective, with insights and observations that are very personal, I came to the conclusion she was a lesbian.  This wasn’t a shocking revelation because she made subtle, almost apologetic references to being inspired and interested in various women through the book and that interest went beyond the “young feminist” I originally conceived.  When the character of Red Molly is introduced later on, she had become something of a hard-boiled character and Molly the femme fatale.  It made sense for the two of them to fall into an awkward but passionate relationship.  Being a CIS heterosexual male and in my early 40s at the time, I had limited perspective on what a millennial lesbian feminist would truly think or feel, so as I wrote the book, I had to read and talk to people who helped guide the character’s path through the story.  I guess it worked because, while I never intended the story to be an LGBTQ romance, it found a small niche as such among New Adult readers.
For The Resurrection Pact, I have always been fascinated by the intersection of story and interactive gaming.  After reading Janet Murray’s “Hamlet on the Holodeck” back in the 90s, I’ve been excited to see her predictions about intelligent and immersive gaming technology coming true.  Talking with people designing the next generation of virtual gaming, augmented reality, simulators, and especially adaptive story line algorithms that alter the game based on the preferences and actions of the player(s) I learned that it will become very easy to get lost in the vivid “reality” of a gaming environment.  
Lurking in the now-sparsely-populated realms of Second Life, I learned how people use open world technology to create a world that is emotionally as real to them as the meatverse.  With the population of SL dropping since its peak in the last decade, the remaining denizens are hard-core players, many of whom have formed groups to role-play new communities.  Some people use the platform as a digital model train set to distract or unwind from the stresses of reality.  Others use it as a tool to explore different sides of themselves, psychologically and sexually. Interviewing players in SL and other free play environments helped me understand some of the characters playing in the open world of Aeternus.  

Any last thoughts for our readers?
Be kind to one another. Relax. Do one thing every day that scares you, one thing you MUST do but keep putting off, and then one thing you love.  Every day.

Also, check out my books.  And audio drama shows.  I have student loans to pay and would like to entertain you so I can pay them.  Kthnks.


Links/promotional things (include any photos you would like)

• www.jaysmithaudio.com
• www.goodmorningsurvivors.com
• www.hiddenharbormysteries.com

What kind of books/stories do you write?
All the kinds! What you should ask is what kinds of stories I write well. Ha! I’ve written young adult, science fiction, horror, mystery (my favorite), fantasy, romance, and even a comedic mystery.
 
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
Funny story. For two years my husband and I couldn’t have kids. By the time I was the ripe old age of 23, I figured I needed a backup plan, so I decided to write a book. A handful of fertility treatments later and my body got things figured out. I went on to have five kids, attending writing groups regularly during each pregnancy. I wrote slowly. I finished my first book when I was 27. I finished it again when I was 31. It was better the second time, really it was, but I wanted to write a book with more spark to the plot. Something more like my favorite TV show, Veronica Mars. Something edgy, with conspiracy and a smart female lead and emotion desperate enough to push my characters to their limits. That book became my debut through Cedar Fort.
  
What do you consider the most influential book you've ever read? 
Why do you torture authors with questions like this? Mostly stuff I read when I was young. Little House on the Prairie, Trixie Belden, Anne of Green Gables, Nancy Drew, Harry Potter, The Brothers Karamazov and other Russian books—I went through a whole phase—everything by John Steinbeck and Leo Tolstoy, Babysitter's Club books, D-Day by Stephen Ambrose and hundred other nonfiction histories, and anything YA that shows up in my house even the ones I hate. I just make goals on how to avoid hating my own stuff.
 
What other authors are you friends with, and how have they helped you become a better writer?
Let me roll up my sleeves. Okay, here we go:
Eric James Stone got me into my first writer’s group, which he formed. Becca Fitzpatrick taught be to write cool and fast. Spencer Ellsworth knew how to make characters so interesting you didn’t even need plot (which caused me to not bother with them for a few years). Later I started meeting with Kathi Peterson, Kathleen Doughty, Maureen Mills, Ann Chamberlin, Char Raddon and others. They really hammered in the idea that plot, you know, wasn’t a bad idea. Plus taught me how to create one—a years-long process of gentle nudges during critiquing. Heather Clark and I raised our kids with one hand so we could use the other to call each other and expound on every single piece of writing teaching we ever learned so we could embed it properly into our souls. I can’t begin to list all the people at the Storymakers conference and tribe who influenced my marketing ideas and general enthusiasm for the profession of writing. Scott Forman and others in the horror sphere took me under their wing even if I do like happy endings and kissing. Just dozens more people than I can name, really. The writing community is really accepting.
 
What’s the best way you've found to market your books?
That’s the question of the year! I tried a big in-person launch party and loved it, but it didn’t pay for itself. I speak at lots of schools and conferences. I make sure my friends and family know they can get the book from the library. I’m working most on making fans, not sales, that way I have a platform to work with during my next release. I volunteer to help with conferences and writing groups. I give free writing webinars with Heather Clark on YouTube at 50FirstChapters. We’ve got a few thousand views over there, so that’s fun. Again, it might not make me money now, but I like doing the webinars and they’re free. If I ever start to make a name for myself, I have all these online landing areas for readers to go and become fans.
 
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
I research as I go. I like to write about subjects I’m already a semi-expert on. My book Shatter has a murder in the orchards of California where Hispanic workers are on strike against white land owners. Lots of gang activity goes on. That setting is pretty much my childhood. I have a story in an anthology called Under a New York Skyline where a dancer and a CrossFitter go head to head to prove who is in better shape. My husband owns a CrossFit gym and I Zumba. We tease each other all the time about who is burning more calories. However, every story needs research. I love Google, obviously. I also ask on Facebook for expert advice. It’s been relatively easy to link myself to professionals like fire fighters when I need to explode stuff. J
 
Any last thoughts for our readers?
How about an excerpt? Those are always fun. Thanks for letting me come on and participate!! 
Excerpt 
The class is dead silent. Mr. White’s lips tighten. He swallows. There’s something dangerous about the new guy. The teacher leans over AddyDay’s desk and spins her packet so he can read the list of partnerships. “Fine. We’ll break up the threesome. You’ll pair with . . . Salem Jefferson.”
At the sound of my name, I turn to look at my new partner.
The guy near the door is tall. He has the kind of incredible good looks that invite stares, but that’s not the only reason he’s getting them now. The cursive lettering of a tattoo rises from the opening of the guy’s worn flannel shirt. Two gold chains hang from his brown neck. A guy accessorized in gang paraphernalia, not caked with it. His only completely visible marking is an upside down V inked onto his right cheekbone, black and distinct. The tattoo calls my attention for some reason, even though I’m sure I’ve never seen a symbol like that before. An upside down V . . . it seems so familiar.
His expressionless, dark eyes dart to meet my gaze from under a stiff, backward-facing ball cap. My classmates watch him stare at me.
“Salem Jefferson,” he says slowly, putting a slight emphasis on my last name. He waits for my response.
I realize he knows exactly who Salem Jefferson is. Exactly who I am. I’m Carrie’s sister.
Terrified, I whirl back around to face forward. Gang members targeted Carrie, made her frightened. Was he one of them? The skin between my shoulder blades tightens. Why were gang guys after Carrie?
 
 
Author BioNikki Trionfo lives in Riverton, Utah with five kids, a CrossFit-training husband who writes computer code, and lots of hip hop background music. Her teen murder mystery, SHATTER (May '17 from Cedar Fort), won grand prize in LDStorymakers’ First Chapter Alongside Heather Clark, she hosts free writing webinars on YouTube at #50FirstChapters.

A committed party-girl, Nikki serves as the public relations director of LDStorymakers Conference. Other notable stuff includes an honorable mention in Writers of the Future and a spot in Utah Horror Writer's shorty-story anthology. This all sounds really serious, but if you run into her, she gets down. 

Shatter Links

• Cedar Fort Webpage highlighting the blog tour. http://blog.cedarfort.com/blog-tour-shatter/
• Amazon link to purchase Shatter. https://www.amazon.com/dp/146212013X/
• Shatter landing page. www.nikkitrionfo.com/Shatter
• Shatter Book Launch and Dance Off. http://www.nikkitrionfo.com/shatter-book-launch-dance-off/
• Shatter Playlist, with songs that inspired my writing. One song per chapter. http://www.nikkitrionfo.com/shatter-playlist/
• Inspired by Shatter contest for $50 and 5 books donated to your local school. http://www.nikkitrionfo.com/InspiredbyShatter/
• Dig into the Shatter World. Books about unions and reformed gang members. Blogs about my experiences writing with diversity. Some of the posts are League of Utah Writers award-winning essays. http://www.nikkitrionfo.com/shatterworld/

What kind of books/stories do you write?
 
I write fiction and poetry, often times with a speculative edge (horror, dark fantasy), and I also write essays and criticism on the horror genre itself. Specifically, my work tends to err on the side of psychological and body horror, and all of my poetry collections are composed thematically.
 
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
 
To some degree, I think I always knew that I wanted to be a writer because for as long as I can remember, I’ve been telling stories. I do specifically remember announcing it to my class on career day when I was eight, though.
 
As for being a horror writer, that revelation came around middle school. I had a healthy habit of reading vampire fiction and supernatural romance, so for me, monsters had to be involved in whatever I was doing. At that point, it was a natural progression for them to start showing up in my stories.
 
What do you consider the most influential book you've ever read?
 
This is a tough one.
 
The most influential piece of fiction that I’ve ever read would have to be Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, and I say this because first and foremost, it showed me how to write a story that spanned multiple genres. Depending on who you talk to, the book can be shelved in horror, science fiction, literary fiction, etc., and to me, that is astounding because it appeals to multiple audiences at once. I love that Shelley was able to include a number of speculative and literary elements in her work while never faltering away from the core of the story: the definition of monster and the complexities of man. Those motifs really made me think about how we classify villains and define monstrosity as a culture, and that grey area has shown up, and continues to show up, in my own work a lot.
 
However, when it comes to my sanity as a writer, Stephen King’s On Writing has kept me on track more than once, particularly in graduate school. Without reading that book, I’m not sure that I would have finished my MFA, let alone finished my first manuscript.
 
What other authors are you friends with, and how have they helped you become a better writer?
 
This list is far too long to answer this question with any amount of justice, but I will say that over my past six years working in the horror industry that I have made friendships and acquaintances with people from all around the world whom I have grown to love dearly. Joining the Horror Writers Association and attending their conferences has had a wonderful impact on my life in regard to networking, meeting other writers, and chatting with readers and publishers, and their energy, enthusiasm, and general love for the industry and genre is what keeps me writing. 
 
What’s the best way you've found to market your books?
 
For me, the best way that I’ve found to market my books is to have an active presence on social media. I use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and my author blog/website to do a lot of networking and marketing, and my publishers and publicist have done a great job at connecting me with reviewers and opportunities as well.
 
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
 
I tend to do a ton of research before I jump into the writing process too much, and I’m constantly reading up on the subject while I’m working on the book as well, particularly for poetry. I like to be as immersive as I can with my subject matter because it helps keep the momentum going for me. When possible, I try to do on-site research, interviews, and photography, too, much like I did when writing Hysteria: A Collection of Madness when I went to the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, West Virginia State Penitentiary, and Hill View Manor.
 
Let me tell you, nothing inspires you to write psychological horror like sitting in solitary confinement and writing about your fears and demons.
 
Any last thoughts for our readers?
 
Be true to yourself, write the stories you want to write, and don’t be afraid to go outside of your comfort zone. Oftentimes when we tackle our fear of the unknown, we find our calling as writers.
 
Links/promotional things (include any photos you would like)
 
Blog: http://stephaniewytovich.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @swytovich
RDSP Author Page: http://rawdogscreaming.com/authors/stephanie-wytovich/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Stephanie-M.-Wytovich/e/B00DTKIN2K
 
Author Bio: Stephanie M. Wytovich is an American poet, novelist, and essayist. Her work has been showcased in numerous anthologies such as Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories, Shadows Over Main Street: An Anthology of Small-Town Lovecraftian Terror, Year's Best Hardcore Horror: Volume 2, The Best Horror of the Year: Volume 8, as well as many others. 

Wytovich is the Poetry Editor for Raw Dog Screaming Press, an adjunct at Western Connecticut State University and Point Park University, and a mentor with Crystal Lake Publishing. She is a member of the Science Fiction Poetry Association, an active member of the Horror Writers Association, and a graduate of Seton Hill University’s MFA program for Writing Popular Fiction. Her Bram Stoker Award-winning poetry collection, Brothel, earned a home with Raw Dog Screaming Press alongside Hysteria: A Collection of Madness, Mourning Jewelry, and An Exorcism of Angels. Her debut novel, The Eighth, is published with Dark Regions Press. 

Her next poetry collection, Sheet Music to My Acoustic Nightmare, is scheduled to be released late 2017 from Raw Dog Screaming Press.

Follow Wytovich at http://www.stephaniewytovich.com/ and on twitter @SWytovich

What kind of books/stories do you write? 
I write short speculative fiction with a strong leaning toward the dark and the weird.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? 
I've been writing stories for as long as I can remember—I have a folder full of them from grade school and even some that survived from high school—but it wasn't until I was in the midst of training for my "real career" and so miserable I was considering giving up entirely that I decided to try my hand at being a writer. I've been at it for about four years now. Writing saved me from quitting my day job, which is great because now I can afford to also be a writer. 

What do you consider the most influential book you've ever read? 
I'm not sure there's a single most influential book, but there are a handful that have really stuck with me. From the Teeth of Angels by Jonathan Carroll; Night Shift by Stephen King; Beloved by Toni Morrison; and most recently, The Sea of Ash by Scott Thomas are all works that really spoke to me. Those are the kinds of stories I want to write. The kind that a reader returns to in their mind over and over again. 

What other authors are you friends with, and how have they helped you become a better writer? 
So, so many!! Too many to list but my core group includes Shauna Brock, Taylor Sublett, Sean Igo, and Stephanie Novak whom I all met when I decided to join the SLC writer's group. My closest writing friend and best beta reader is Gordon B. White. We started writing about the same time and met when we were crossed paths on a few of the same online writing sites. Since then, we've shared TOCs in a few anthologies (one of which won a Bram Stoker Award!) and co-authored a novella (which we are still shopping around.) All of these people give honest feedback and aren't afraid to tell me if something sucks. Better than that, if something DOES suck, they always have suggestions on how to make it better. But even the authors I'm only casually acquainted with make me better because reading their work helps to shape my own. I learn so much just by reading what other people have written, even if it does occasionally result in bouts of deep envy. 
 
What’s the best way you've found to market your books? 
At this point, my work has appeared elusively in anthologies and magazines. I find that supporting and promoting other authors' work is a great way to build rapport, meet people, make friends, and when I have a project, those authors are likely to share and promote for me in return. 

Any last thoughts for our readers? 
If you like a book or story, leave a review! Tell your friends! And if you're up for it, maybe message the author to let them know. I've received a few messages out of the blue from readers, and it's a boost that keeps me going during those times it seems like there's no point to writing another word. I'd also like to say that if you love of reading, pay for the content you love. You'll never know how many great stories and books never get published because people think that art should be free.

My author website: www.diagnosisdiabolique.com
Amazon author page: www.amazon.com/author/rebeccajallred 
Twitter: @LadyHazmat