Residing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA, C.C. Spivey
loves to write. She is the author of Reborn, a
horror fiction novel about immortality and vampires…
Welcome C.C.!
Gina: Vampires. They are
everywhere! Your title is intriguing and you cover art is enticing…
C.C.: Thank you Gina. When I
first thought about writing a novel, I knew that I wanted to focus on horror,
and what could be more horrifying than vampires? I know that
vampires have been done to death (no pun intended). So I decided to
put a whole new spin on a very old tale. As far as the title goes, I
actually wrote the entire novel based solely upon the title “Reborn.” For some odd reason, the
title Reborn spoke to me and inspired
me to write this novel.
I collaborated with my illustrator Patti Hultstrand
in creating the cover art. I really wanted the cover of Reborn to stand out amongst all of the
other books on the bookshelves, and with Patti’s skill and talent, I think we
succeeded.
Gina: What can we derive from you new
book?
C.C.: Reborn has been described to me by a lot of my readers as an emotional rollercoaster
ride. I wanted my readers to feel what my characters were feeling,
when reading this novel. Reborn
will make you laugh, cry, mad, happy, scared and angry all rolled up unto one
horrifying novel. I wanted to write a true page turner. With
every page written, I want my readers to want to know, ‘What happens
next?” And I actually had one of my readers write me and tell me
that if it weren’t for the fact that she had to go to work, she would have read
the entire 465 page novel in a day, because she could not put the book
down. That letter made me smile, and I thought to myself,
‘mission accomplished.’
Gina: I am a Bram Stoker fan. Who
is you favorite vampire author?
C.C.: Of course, Bram Stoker is the Godfather
of vampire novels, and is high upon my list, but Anne Rice is my absolute
all-time favorite vampire author. Bram Stoker brought the vampire to
the forefront and showed us how scary blood drinkers could be, but Anne Rice
showed me that they can be beautiful as well. As a matter of fact, ‘Interview with a Vampire’ was one of the
first vampire novels I had ever read, and after that, I was hooked. I
just had to read every book she had ever written…and I did. I love
Anne Rice. Reading her novels showed me how a reader can be pulled
into the story that they are reading, and she opened up a whole new world for
me.
Gina: And your favorite vampire
movie/script?
C.C.: I love them all. Well.
Maybe not all of them, but most.
‘Interview
with a Vampire’ is probably number one at the top of my list. I
love the story, the beauty and the scenery that it brings to big screen. But
I also loved the movie ‘Underworld’ because of the gore! I mean
really, what is a vampire movie without blood, gore and guts? After
all, I am a horror writer, and you can’t write a vampire horror novel without
getting your hands a little bloody. (J/K)
Gina: Do you bring your own life
experiences into your storyline?
C.C.: I would love to say ‘Yes’. I would love
to say that I have been “Reborn” into
a life of immortality by a tall, dark and handsome vampire, but sadly, I
cannot. My novel Reborn is
strictly fiction. Made up by me asking myself one simple
question. “What if vampires actually originated from the deep, dark
jungles of Africa many, many centuries ago?” And my novel Reborn is the answer to that question.
Gina: Does your environment and where
you live have an impact on your writing?
C.C.: Where I live, we suffer through
long cold winters, which is fine with me because it gives me time to write, and
I mostly write at night. That usually sets the mood for me. I
like it nice and quiet, with dim lighting. It helps me to
concentrate on my work. I am sometimes amazed at the thoughts that
come into my head when it’s late at night and the rest of the world is
sleeping. That is when my sick twisted mind comes alive and my
writing is at its best.
Gina: How do you maintain thoughts and
ideas?
C.C.: I am constantly writing, even if
it’s only in my head. Whether it’s a particular scene or chapter, or
if I have an idea that I would like to use for a new or existing character, in
my mind, I am always writing. So, I always, no matter where I am, or
what I am doing, I keep a pen and notebook in my backpack or next to my bed, so
that I can write down any and everything that comes to mind. So even
when I am not writing…I’m writing.
Gina: Describe your writing/editing
routine…
C.C.: First, I handwrite all of my
thoughts in a hard cover notebook. I have never just sat behind a
computer or laptop and just wrote. I enjoy the feel of the pen glide
across the paper. It gives me a sense of freedom as my thoughts pour
out on paper. (Besides, I write faster then I type.) And
after I have poured out all of my blood, sweat and tears on paper, I type it
all in on my laptop. That is when I fine tune my work and make any
changes that need to be made. When that is complete I send my
finished manuscript to my editor, Tiffany Williams, and she makes sure that all
of my T’s are crossed and my I’s are dotted. We go through the
entire manuscript together, and when we have made sure that everything is as it
should be, we send the completed project to my publisher Dianne Helm of Helm
Publishing, for her approval. And that is how “Reborn” was born.
Gina: What are you currently writing?
C.C.: I am currently working on the
second book to my Reborn trilogy entitled “Rebirth”
(working title.) It follows the life of the vampire child, Davion as he
searches for his mate and tries to find his way on his own, without the help of
his father Tytarion. Davion is a whole new breed of vampire that lives by his
own rules. (Evil grin)
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Gina: What are you currently reading?
C.C.: “The Influence” by author Bentley Little, was the last book I
read. Whenever I get a bout of writer’s block, I just pick up a
Bentley Little or Stephen King novel and curl up on the sofa and read until the
novel is complete. They always get my juices flowing again. But
I’ve been so busy working on my 2nd novel “Rebirth” that I haven’t really had the chance to sit down and relax
with a good book.
Gina: Do you have advice for novice
writers?
C.C.: Yes, I do. If you love
to write, then try to find time every day to write. There is nothing
more inviting to a true writer than putting a pen to paper or hearing the
clicking sound of fingers tapping away at a keyboard. So, if it is
your passion to write, then write, and if people ask you what you do for a
living? Tell them…”I am a writer.”
Gina: Do you believe vampires exist?
C.C.: I believe that some people believe
that vampires really do exist. And as long as there are people out
there that believe in, and love vampires, I will continue to write about
them. (Smile)
Connect with C.C…
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