Author Overlord: Please tell me a little about your Books/Writing, or anything related to that that comes to mind...
Helen Huntley: I suppose I should talk about writing. I write whatever inspires me. It’s usually nothing very profound other than an idea, or concept that starts formulating in my mind. It may start out one way and then evolve with other concepts or ideas adding to it until I have something solid to put on paper.
AO: What makes your Book/Characters unique?
HH: I don’t know if my characters or books are unique. I don’t want them to be like any others, but I don’t want them to be way out there either. I just want them to be entertaining. I want people to read and enjoy themselves throughout the book. I do try to make my characters as real as possible, and I want my readers to be able to relate to them and like them or hate them depending on the character.
AO: How long have you been writing? And have you been able to make a living of it?
HH: I’ve been writing for several years. I originally wrote plays for theater and either directed them or helped direct them. I only started self-publishing about four years ago.
I haven’t been able to make a living at it. Probably because I despise marketing and I’m poor. If I could hire someone to do it for me, and just keep popping out the books and not have to deal with it there might be hope of making a living. Until then I’ll just keep writing and squeak out a promotion now and then.
AO: Tell us about a memorable moment that inspired a scene/chapter/entire book.
HH: I don’t think there are any memorable moments that have inspired me to write. Like I said previously I work off concepts and ideas but. . .
My book Menacing Masquerade was written from something I read in a history book about Julius Lucius and how he was taken and enslaved instead of killed because he faked being retarded. Then twenty years later, rose up and led an army to defeat the enemy. My book doesn’t go through twenty years, and it is in space, another galaxy and I added a love story to it but that’s where I got that idea.
The sea Ghost was written because I read a short pirate story that was so horrible and badly written with lame characters that it angered me, and I had to write my own with some substance to it.
The Ghost of Manor Ren started out as an idea for an erotic ghost story but then I thought sex with dead people, even ghosts was gross, so I changed the concept, added a plot and it’s one of my best sellers with five star reviews.
AO: Cool. Who are some of your authory influencers?
HH: I really love Charles Dickens, what a genius, but I could never write like him. The depth of character, the plots, the emotion, the descriptions are all way beyond me, but I try.
AO: In a world where everyone can publish a book on their own, what struggles have you found when trying to get your books noticed? [Have you gone to conventions, done other interviews, book signings/readings, etc.?
HH: I’m a bit of an introvert. I cringe at being in public let alone receiving attention. Book signings and conventions are out of the question. I read a book called, Marketing for Introverts, and it wasn’t introverted enough. I basically wanted to know how I could market and not have to do anything, but they didn’t have that chapter. I’ve tried a few things and I’ve gotten ripped off by over enthusiastic marketers who are confident they can sell my book. I would think if you gave someone a lot of money to market they should use that money for something more than just tweeting once or twice and putting a few impotent comments on Facebook. I think unless a marketing god falls from the sky and crashes through my roof, then gets hit on the head and thinks he is my slave, it’s going to be a long slow haul.
AO: [laughs] I think that would come in handy. What good, bad or ridiculous feedback have you received that particularly sticks out in your mind?
HH: One thing that someone said about my book Darkness Hovering was that it didn’t have a strong female lead. I just thought it was odd because the book is about a man.
My readers seem to occasionally have a difficult time if any of the men in my book say something inappropriate to a woman. (usually a woman). If I had to dumb down everything I wrote I couldn’t write. I find it strange that people accept and like books with gory murders, insane slashers, seriously sick psychopath’s, BDSM, sex slavery, etc. but if a man in a book calls a woman ‘honey’ they become outraged and want to ostracize you.
I have had a lot of good, encouraging feedback and even though I don’t sell a lot of books, the ones who have reviewed usually give me four and five stars.
AO: I think you're an excellent writer, and those stars are greatly deserved. What happened in your life that transformed you from a reader to an author?
HH: I came to a point where I had to get it all out of my head and write it down. I was too constrained writing theatre. I couldn’t express everything I wanted. Also, there were too many opinions and people wanting to change things not always understanding my ideas. I really appreciate constructive criticism and anything that will help me learn and do better, but not if it isn’t genuine. Not if the motive is to promote their own ideas and opinions, and there is a lot of that out there. It got tiring. I wanted to just write.
AO: Here's a dumb question I ask everyone for some reason. Do you believe in Bigfoot?
HH: I don’t think that do ‘I believe’ is the correct question. I think it should be do ‘I care’ if there is or isn’t a Bigfoot, and the answer is no. I don’t care.
AO: Fair enough. Is there anything you'd like to tell the world right now? (Such as links/webpages/etc.)
HH: My website address is authorhelenhuntley.com The coming soon page is my favorite. I’m currently working on Book Five of the Onaterian Series, “From out of Silence”.
Two more books are on the horizon. I have already completed them, but I’m in the beta reading/editing stages of both.
One is a historical suspense romance that takes place during the Napoleonic War called “Deceitful Malice.” It’s loaded with action and suspense, there was so much of that I didn’t have room for the sex, which is a first.
The other is a side story in the Onaterian series, lots of magic, an alien vampire, snake people, it turned out good and is one of my favorites. I had it end in a way that I could do a continuation of it. It’s called “The Gods Who Don’t Forgive.”
I have too many books to put all the links on here, but you can go to pretty much any online bookstore and put in my name, Helen G Huntley, and my books will come up. I really need reviews so don’t be shy.
I’m slowly moving to Amazon exclusively because of the ease in putting out a print book. I just published Ogre Lake on Amazon and was able to easily produce a print book as well as an eBook. I am not computer savvy so easier will win with me.
AO: Awesome. Thanks Helen. Good luck with your writing in the future. Readers, you can also find Helen's books directly below this interview. They all offer direct links to purchase.
