Nine Questions with… Lachelle Redd

Today I am joined by author Lachelle Redd. For anyone who hasn’t come across any of Lachelle’s work yet, let’s get better acquainted. Welcome! Why don’t you take a few moments and introduce yourself to the captive audience that you now have before you.

Hi, I am a horror/fantasy writer with a love of the “I didn’t see that coming” ending. My stories are a combination of imagination and real personalities and ticks that I see in everyday people. I enjoyed writing for many years, but gave up on my dream because no one would accept my submissions. Then thanks to the magic of the internet, I have been able to reach an audience that loves my work. (Well at least most of them do) I have recently signed with a publisher and am now working on getting my first novel out there for the world to see. So join me on this ride and I am sure you will be scared, laughing and grossed out to no end.

Tell us about your writing process?

I like to come up with new ideas. We’ve seen werewolves, vampires, etc and that’s fine. If I intend to use these characters, I want to see them in a new light. I also like to use other mythical creatures in my writing as well. I think of an idea and let it take control of where it wants to go and then I write.

Is there a genre, other than the one you currently write in, that you wish you could break into?

No, horror and fantasy are my ideal placements.

Tell us about the 5 books that have influenced you the most, and why?

Wild Blood by Nancy Collins – loved the idea of a coming of age story where the main character was a werewolf. Going through the changes that life takes us through can be quite uneasy and adding that extra piece that you are also supernatural was awesome.

The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King – I just loved the storyline, the planning and preparation the main character has to go through to be free is what really did it for me. Of course good over evil reigns supreme.

The Beach House by James Patterson– I loved the way he wove the story. Just as I thought it was going in one direction it took on a whole new tale. The wrap up in the end was awesome.

Dracula by Bram Stoker – This was my horror cherry popper. The very first horror novel I read “way back” in the day. I found the book in my high school library and immediately my love for the macabre began. The descriptions were so vivid and the story was just amazing to me.

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne – Although I picked this one up many years ago in college. The suffering of the main character was intense for me. In so many ways, we suffer ourselves over things that others inflict on us. Why do we do that? They are people just as we are and they too have something that gives them pain. We should not allow others to increase any pain that we already have to deal with.

Great choices! If you could cast one of your works, who would you choose to play your main characters?

I have been asked this one and I still can’t come up with anyone.

That’s fair. When I was asked this question the first time, I couldn’t think of anyone and the more I thought about it, I kept putting together groups of actors to play the ensemble. What is the first thing you would do if you woke up one morning to find one of your books on the NY Times Bestsellers List?

I would check to see if there was a typo, someone got the wrong list. Then if it was truly on there I would start calling my friends.

I’m sure it wouldn’t be a typo! Do you have any vices that you turn to while you are writing?

I don’t have any right now.

Hmmm, that was a bit cryptic – perhaps I should change it to include past vices! 😉 What do you do when you’re not writing?

Work a 9 to 5 and take care of a family.

It’s amazing what we can do with the rest of life banging at the door, isn’t it? Please share with us the first nine lines of your current work-in-progress.

I will do better than that because the drop at line 9 is too awkward. From my latest work entitled “When Angels Fall”

Five calls to his father and no answer or reply. Desperate and in need of funds David listened as the country music tone of Johnny Cash played on and on. His leg shook as he remembered the board meeting earlier that afternoon. The embezzlement scheme that had taken place under his watch destroyed their faith in his ability and left him without income. The spoiled young man had lived on the edge and spent every dime that he earned. The ski trips, cars, homes, women he had no sense to save for a rainy day. Now the roving bachelor was facing foreclosure and possible bankruptcy. With his name ruined, he would never be able to work in the field again. No other job allowed for the freedom he had enjoyed and the cash flow he had abused.

This time, the ringtone stopped and his mother, Gina, picked up the phone. A sudden relief washed over the young man.

“Hey ma, I need to speak with my father.” David’s tone was shaky, but urgent.

“You know how your father is he doesn’t want to talk to you. He already heard. What did you get yourself into this time?”

Great excerpt Lachelle! Now let’s take a sneak peek into The Hot Cauldron…

A collection of short stories featuring horror, fantasy, mystery and a ghost or two.