Dark Oak Press author and editor, Kimberly Richardson, was kind enough to give us an interview. Read below to find out more about your favorite Goth Librarian…
What genres do you enjoy writing? As of late, I have enjoyed writing in both dark fantasy and erotica, although I am still getting used to writing in the latter. Writing in those two genres gives me a chance to explore my imagination and also answer a lot of “what ifs” that I wouldn’t normally be able to do in other genres. My mindset is very much of the Dark Side!
Tell us about your latest book: My newest book, Tales From a Goth Librarian II, is a continuation of the first book. More short stories with room for sequels! Although the stories are not Goth per se, they are still rather strange and unusual, of which seems to be very much liked by my friends and fans.
What inspired the story? Where did you get that first bit of “ah ha” inspiration.” Since Goth II is a collection of short stories, the a ha moments came whenever they felt like it! As for inspirations . . . the things that occupy my mind are my constant inspirations.
Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special? Honestly, I can’t really answer this question, since there are so many characters with so many personalities.
Who is your favorite character from your book and why? I don’t really have a favourite character from Goth II. I truly like them all for various reasons. (Editor’s Note: We’re pretty sure that the green fairy ranks up there pretty high on the readers’ list of favorites…)
How much research did you have to do for this book? Any travel involved? Aside from the journey into my mind, that was really it.
What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book? Wondering if perhaps I had gone too far with certain scenes.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? I am insane. That is all.
Which writers inspire you? Here we go – Ernest Hemingway, Iris Murdoch, Ian McEwan, Claire Messud, Clive Barker, Stephen King, Anne Rice, John Irving, Alice Walker, Toni Morrison, Tobias Wolff, Virginia Woolf, Amy Tan, Jack Kerouac, Caleb Carr, Margaret Atwood, Charles De Lint, Graham Joyce, Joris-Karl Huysmans, Aldous Huxley, George Orwell, Fyordor Dostoyevsky, Lawrence Durrell, Neil Gaiman, China Mieville, Robert Heinlein and many others.
What does your writing process look like? Are you a plotter or a pantser? It really depends upon the work. Sometimes, I will do what I call “ripple effect”, in which I will begin with a character and then create the story around them. Sometimes, I will actually create the entire plot from beginning to end before I write the story. And then sometimes, I will just dive right in and go.
What are you working on at the minute? In between editing manuscripts for Dark Oak, I am currently working a trilogy of erotic novellas, the latest Agnes Viridian story for Pro Se Press and the Wanderlust Chronicles that appear on my blog. My other new novel, Open A, is slated to come out in 2015. That novel is already written and is going through the editing phase.
How important are names to you in your books? Do you choose the names based on liking the way it sounds or the meaning? Do you have any name choosing resources you recommend? It really depends upon the story. When I created Hilliard Ravensdale for The Decembrists, I wanted a Welsh name and spent much time conducting research on name origins. Other times, I just randomly pick a name from my head, roll it around on my tongue to see how it feels and then assign it to a character.
Is there a certain type of scene that’s harder for you to write than others? Love? Action? Racy? Not really. My mind tends to feel the same way no matter the scene.
When did you decide to become a writer? When I was born. No really, ask my parents.
Why do you write? That’s like asking me why I breathe. I write because I can. To not write means I don’t breathe and then turn blue.
Where do your ideas come from? Me and the world(s) I inhabit.
What is the hardest thing about writing? Not having enough time to do it.
What advice would you give to your younger self? Don’t give in and don’t stop dreaming just because you need to “grow up”.
Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why? I really would not like to meet anyone famous – give me books, tea and friends and I’m good.
If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it have been and why? I would not have wanted to have been the original author of any other book. It would not feel right for me.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers? No matter what anyone tells you, no matter how many times people ask you if you will get a “real” job, don’t stop typing. No matter what.
Do you have any tips for readers or advice for other writers trying to get published? Attend conventions or writing conferences – listen, learn and network. Also, check out Poets and Writers Magazine – a plethora of information.
Tell the readers something about yourself that has nothing to do with writing. I am completely addicted to World of Warcraft!
What are your websites so people can find out more about you?
Also, be sure to check out Kim’s books:
Take a fascinating and disturbing walk through this collection of stories the darker side of the Gothic/Steampunk point of view as written by a Goth librarian.
Kimberly Richardson guides you back into the dark book stacks where you explore her strangely compelling world. She visits a few old favorites and then boldly heads deeper into her macabre imagination asking shadowy questions.
The Dark Oak Blog 