A little bit about the author
An Apple For Zoë ~Book One ~ The Forsaken, marks his debut into horror fiction.
"I've always had a fascination on the subjects of Old Hollywood and True Crime. The best part of writing about these subjects is the interesting places you get to see when doing the research. Spending three hours in The Hollywood Forever Cemetery was an amazing experience!"
"The other thing I absolutely love about being a writer is...you can do this job, from anywhere in the world!"
Author: Thomas Amo
Publisher: Createspace
Published: Published March 21st 2011
Genre: Horror
Synopsis
Some Murders Shouldn't Be Investigated
The City of San Francisco is locked in a grip of fear. A series of occult murders has led, Inspector Thomas James, to a crime scene similar to a murder committed 90 years ago in the once grand Aleris Hotel. A place where power barons of the early 20th Century engaged in witchcraft. And silent film stars indulged in the most wicked of sins.
A place where no one questions the black smoke that rises from the hotel's incinerators in the middle of the night.
The City of San Francisco is locked in a grip of fear. A series of occult murders has led, Inspector Thomas James, to a crime scene similar to a murder committed 90 years ago in the once grand Aleris Hotel. A place where power barons of the early 20th Century engaged in witchcraft. And silent film stars indulged in the most wicked of sins.
A place where no one questions the black smoke that rises from the hotel's incinerators in the middle of the night.
Interview
1. First off Thank-you for stopping by Fiction Fascination book blog. How has your week been?
Thank you Carly, it is a real pleasure to be here. My week has been crazy. Just finished my first public outing as an author at the Literary Night /Tracy Library. That was so much fun and I got to meet 5 other amazing authors.
2. Where did the ideas come from to write for An Apple For Zoe?
The genesis of AAFZ came from a crime scene I worked on and wasn't able to discuss for 2 years. I didn't include anything from the crime, but just being there, the feeling I remember was one that you get, when you know there is something sinister out there and it knows you know it's there. That's what I wanted to tap into when it came to writing Zoe. Plus I always wanted to write horror for a living. I wrote comedy for the stage for ten years. Now that I was no longer a theatrical producer, I thought it was time to start writing that horror novel. As far as my ideas and where did they come from. Growing up I loved watching scary movies. Mostly the old B&W Universal horror films, Frankenstein, Dracula, The Wolfman & Mummy. You know the monster staples. But along came the 1970's and The Exorcist, Legend of Hell House, and Black Christmas. Between films like those and my interest in true crime, marrying those two seemed to be a match made in hell. That's kinda where it all came from.
3. Are you working on any writing it the minute?
Just putting the final touches on a novella based on one of my plays. So it's a comedy called, Let's Get Lade." It's a send up of the sixties, spy comedy and the likes of Beatles, James, Bond, Benny Hill. That's due out December 1st on kindle and paperback. Otherwise I'm trying to finish off writing the remainder of the trilogy for An Apple For Zoe.
4. Tell us about some of you favourite authors?
Always Stephen King. But I also love Richard Matheson, Sidney Kirkpatrcik, Robert Graysmith. But now I know so many author personally being an indie, I have to mention these people who have moved me with their writing. Michelle Muto, Sara Reine, Belinda Frisch. I love Sarah Spann, Allie Burke, Tiffany King, Sammie Spencer, M.E. Franco, and the dudes, Nicholas Denmon, Matt Merrick & Scott Cherney.
I mentioned so many but for so many reasons. They are such a diverse group of writers, I might not never had read them, if I hadn't been an indie myself. What a shame I would have missed out on so much!
5.What are your 10 favourite books —and why?
1. Red Asphalt -Scott Cherney. It totally changes the way you view driving a car. He's a master storyteller. He has that anger we all feel when we're trapped behind a stupid driver nailed!
2. Six Moon Summer by Sara Reine. My favorite summer read. I really connected with her main character. I felt for her, when it came to her parents divorce, and being the outcast in place where you don't want to be in the first place.
3. Wildflowers Come Back - Sarah Spann. A ghost story with twists and turns that would make Stephen King say wtf?
4. Dead Spell - Belinda Frisch. It's more than a horror story, it's a very real horror of teen cutting, and emotional issues and how it affects everyone around you.
5. A Cast of Killers - Sidney Kirkpatrick. I devoured this book nearly 20 years ago. It deals with the true life mystery of who killed silent film director, William Desmond Taylor. Such an amazing well written book. I could pick it up and read it over and over.
6. The Profession of Violence - John Pearson. It's the story of The Kray brothers, told by them and experienced by John Pearson first hand. In a rare opportunity to be privy to their world and protected and allowed to see it all first hand.
7. Rosemary's Baby - Ira Levin. I just read this book this year. I had always been a fan of the film, but finally my wife found my a hardbound first edition and it reads beautifully. Nicely chilling after 40 years.
8. Zodiac by Robert Graysmith. This book scared the pants off of me. Robert Graysmith worked for the SF newspaper that dealt with the serial killer directly. His book details and really gives you a scary peek into that world that I grew up around only living 120 miles away from.
9. The Prisoner of Azkaban - Rowling. My first HP book from cover to cover. She truly is an amazing author. I could only wish to write like her.
10. Don't Fear The Reaper - Michelle Muto. I reserved this book for last place because it is my favorite book of 2011. Michelle has written a story that deals with some real and serious issues and it make me laugh, be afraid and cry more than once.
6. What are some of your favourite things to do in your spare time?
Play drums, learn guitar, read other peoples books. watch the History channel. I love to be warm, so fireplace, hot tub anything to feel comfy! Of course with a writer's blood beverage - Coffee~ lol.
7. What would you like to say to writers who are reading this interview and wondering if they can keep creating, if they are good enough, if their voices and visions matter enough to share?
I say to them, don't you dare let anyone stop you! These are your dreams and your goals. So what if they aren't families, friends, or person you're in a relationship with. If you don't go for them, you will resent everyone around you most of all yourself. I don't like the idea, someone can say, you aren't good enough to be published. Those days are over with, the traditional publishers can't keep would be authors in the dark anymore. If you write and you get pilloried for bad grammar, holes in your plot, then you know what to do. Don't blame the messengers. Fix it, learn from it and do better. Jimmy Hendrix wasn't born a professional guitarist. He had to learn too. No shame in that.
8. What's the best part of being an author?
Being able to work anywhere in the world! All it requires seriously is a healthy imagination. (If you're writing fiction that it.) But it's a job you can do in your pajamas and stay at home. But you get to create lives, worlds, and go to places you could never go outside your own world.
9. And the worst?
Facing your own criticism. Thinking your work isn't worthy of reading, deadlines, and the dreaded writer's block. Of course getting bad reviews when the reader just really didn't pay attention. I hate when someone slams a book and they didn't read the blurb. They look at the cover and because there is a girl on it, they assume it's about sparkly vampires who are in high school. Then they write a terrible review because your picture and book didn't match Twilight. (that's an exaggeration but a hint of truth in it.)
10. What is an interesting quirk you have?
This one I just don't have an answer for...I thought on it....but nothing came.
11. Is there anything else you would like to let the readers know?
I seriously care about everything that goes into my books. I don't cop out and just say, oh well. If I can't get it correct, I don't write it until I do. I love to get to know readers, so I always welcome notes, tweets, or emails.
Thank you Carly, it is a real pleasure to be here. My week has been crazy. Just finished my first public outing as an author at the Literary Night /Tracy Library. That was so much fun and I got to meet 5 other amazing authors.
2. Where did the ideas come from to write for An Apple For Zoe?
The genesis of AAFZ came from a crime scene I worked on and wasn't able to discuss for 2 years. I didn't include anything from the crime, but just being there, the feeling I remember was one that you get, when you know there is something sinister out there and it knows you know it's there. That's what I wanted to tap into when it came to writing Zoe. Plus I always wanted to write horror for a living. I wrote comedy for the stage for ten years. Now that I was no longer a theatrical producer, I thought it was time to start writing that horror novel. As far as my ideas and where did they come from. Growing up I loved watching scary movies. Mostly the old B&W Universal horror films, Frankenstein, Dracula, The Wolfman & Mummy. You know the monster staples. But along came the 1970's and The Exorcist, Legend of Hell House, and Black Christmas. Between films like those and my interest in true crime, marrying those two seemed to be a match made in hell. That's kinda where it all came from.
3. Are you working on any writing it the minute?
Just putting the final touches on a novella based on one of my plays. So it's a comedy called, Let's Get Lade." It's a send up of the sixties, spy comedy and the likes of Beatles, James, Bond, Benny Hill. That's due out December 1st on kindle and paperback. Otherwise I'm trying to finish off writing the remainder of the trilogy for An Apple For Zoe.
4. Tell us about some of you favourite authors?
Always Stephen King. But I also love Richard Matheson, Sidney Kirkpatrcik, Robert Graysmith. But now I know so many author personally being an indie, I have to mention these people who have moved me with their writing. Michelle Muto, Sara Reine, Belinda Frisch. I love Sarah Spann, Allie Burke, Tiffany King, Sammie Spencer, M.E. Franco, and the dudes, Nicholas Denmon, Matt Merrick & Scott Cherney.
I mentioned so many but for so many reasons. They are such a diverse group of writers, I might not never had read them, if I hadn't been an indie myself. What a shame I would have missed out on so much!
5.What are your 10 favourite books —and why?
1. Red Asphalt -Scott Cherney. It totally changes the way you view driving a car. He's a master storyteller. He has that anger we all feel when we're trapped behind a stupid driver nailed!
2. Six Moon Summer by Sara Reine. My favorite summer read. I really connected with her main character. I felt for her, when it came to her parents divorce, and being the outcast in place where you don't want to be in the first place.
3. Wildflowers Come Back - Sarah Spann. A ghost story with twists and turns that would make Stephen King say wtf?
4. Dead Spell - Belinda Frisch. It's more than a horror story, it's a very real horror of teen cutting, and emotional issues and how it affects everyone around you.
5. A Cast of Killers - Sidney Kirkpatrick. I devoured this book nearly 20 years ago. It deals with the true life mystery of who killed silent film director, William Desmond Taylor. Such an amazing well written book. I could pick it up and read it over and over.
6. The Profession of Violence - John Pearson. It's the story of The Kray brothers, told by them and experienced by John Pearson first hand. In a rare opportunity to be privy to their world and protected and allowed to see it all first hand.
7. Rosemary's Baby - Ira Levin. I just read this book this year. I had always been a fan of the film, but finally my wife found my a hardbound first edition and it reads beautifully. Nicely chilling after 40 years.
8. Zodiac by Robert Graysmith. This book scared the pants off of me. Robert Graysmith worked for the SF newspaper that dealt with the serial killer directly. His book details and really gives you a scary peek into that world that I grew up around only living 120 miles away from.
9. The Prisoner of Azkaban - Rowling. My first HP book from cover to cover. She truly is an amazing author. I could only wish to write like her.
10. Don't Fear The Reaper - Michelle Muto. I reserved this book for last place because it is my favorite book of 2011. Michelle has written a story that deals with some real and serious issues and it make me laugh, be afraid and cry more than once.
6. What are some of your favourite things to do in your spare time?
Play drums, learn guitar, read other peoples books. watch the History channel. I love to be warm, so fireplace, hot tub anything to feel comfy! Of course with a writer's blood beverage - Coffee~ lol.
7. What would you like to say to writers who are reading this interview and wondering if they can keep creating, if they are good enough, if their voices and visions matter enough to share?
I say to them, don't you dare let anyone stop you! These are your dreams and your goals. So what if they aren't families, friends, or person you're in a relationship with. If you don't go for them, you will resent everyone around you most of all yourself. I don't like the idea, someone can say, you aren't good enough to be published. Those days are over with, the traditional publishers can't keep would be authors in the dark anymore. If you write and you get pilloried for bad grammar, holes in your plot, then you know what to do. Don't blame the messengers. Fix it, learn from it and do better. Jimmy Hendrix wasn't born a professional guitarist. He had to learn too. No shame in that.
8. What's the best part of being an author?
Being able to work anywhere in the world! All it requires seriously is a healthy imagination. (If you're writing fiction that it.) But it's a job you can do in your pajamas and stay at home. But you get to create lives, worlds, and go to places you could never go outside your own world.
9. And the worst?
Facing your own criticism. Thinking your work isn't worthy of reading, deadlines, and the dreaded writer's block. Of course getting bad reviews when the reader just really didn't pay attention. I hate when someone slams a book and they didn't read the blurb. They look at the cover and because there is a girl on it, they assume it's about sparkly vampires who are in high school. Then they write a terrible review because your picture and book didn't match Twilight. (that's an exaggeration but a hint of truth in it.)
10. What is an interesting quirk you have?
This one I just don't have an answer for...I thought on it....but nothing came.
11. Is there anything else you would like to let the readers know?
I seriously care about everything that goes into my books. I don't cop out and just say, oh well. If I can't get it correct, I don't write it until I do. I love to get to know readers, so I always welcome notes, tweets, or emails.
Giveaway
Thomas has been kind enough to offer a Kindle (not Nook) copy of An Apple For Zoe for one lucky winner. Giveaway ends on the 30th Nov 2011, winners will be notified within 2 days. Please leave your e-mail address in the post comments. Thomas will then forward the kindle copy on to you.
Good Luck.
Very nice interview. I liked your questions. I tweeted the giveaway too :)
ReplyDeleteStop by my blog & say hi when u get a chance.
If u need anything please shoot me a note (email addy on blog)
Your blog is very nice btw. I will def be back soon.
Books&Beyond
Thank-you :) I will, I have followed you. I will be in touch. :)
ReplyDeleteDidn't enter the giveaway, because I've already read and reviewed An Apple for Zoe. Loved looking at the interview though. Tom's great and I can't wait to read his newest venture. I'm also kinda waiting a little less than patiently for the sequel to An Apple for Zoe, but this isn't news to him ;) New follower here and on Twitter. Happy reading and reviewing!
ReplyDeleteAnd Apple For Zoe seems really cool and mysterious and the books her mentioned seem really cool so Im going to check to them.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful interview! Tom is wonderful, and so talented. I am really excited about the novella; it sounds so refreshing. Love his advice to other writers, and love your blog, Carly!
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone. :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fantastic read! Thanks for the giveaway!!
ReplyDelete