I would like you all to meet Stephen Brayton. He has got one heck of a book he has shared with us (4 stars, see review). It certainly didn’t take seven days to know his book was good. So let’s move onto the interview, and please stay in your seats until it’s done. There is nothing in that shadow behind you, I promise…

1. Has anyone confessed to turning on the lights more to read Night Shadows?

Most people have commented how they either had to turn the light on when they slept or had to wait until someone else returned home. I think books are a little bit more enjoyable when they give you an ‘after’ feeling, either a shiver or looking at the world in a different way.

No kidding, I shivered a couple times. Okay, not really, but I got goosebumps and that’s the truth.

2. Night Shadows was a fascinating book. I liked Harry Reznik and Lori Campisi. Did you base these characters out of your head, or did you base some aspects on real people?

A little of both. When the idea started forming, the two main characters were fairly easy to write. In fact, I didn’t have any problems with names or general personalities. Once I had a story outline, the aspects and quirks of each character pretty much fell into place.

3. You have tamed down Night Shadows using cussing as H. or B.S. and others, yet it was still very graphic in nature, and it did have some cussing in intense moments without abbreviations. Tell me, why did you do that? Was it to show the extremity of the situation? Did you feel not abbreviating most of the cussing to be a more proper thing to do? Or do you yourself talk this way? I’m eager to know because I haven’t read a book that did this before!

Every time I write a story I think about the amount of profanity I want to include. I’ve read books written in the earliest part of the 20th century through present day and I enjoy seeing how language changes, what words and phrases were accepted then and now aren’t. With movies and many police procedurals and thrillers, profanity is common. However, I don’t think a lot of it is necessary. With Night Shadow’s medical examiner using initials for profanity, I just wanted an extra quirk to make him a little different. With Reznik, I think he would use profanity, but not excessively. I also try not to use anything too harsh unless there is no other alternative. For instance, you don’t see the F word in this story. I just don’t like it and try not to use it. In my upcoming book, Beta, I use it, I think once, but the situation was extreme and intense enough to warrant the word.

4. Did you know the ending before you started Night Shadows, or did you write and let your imagination soar?

No, I outline. I knew the ending. I plotted each scene and flashback. Unfortunately, my editor told me to chop off about 4000 words-basically the last couple chapters. I had already provided an explanation and didn’t need the extra. So, I trimmed the excess, but basically it’s the same ending as I envisioned.

5. Horror and Mystery are definitely your genres. If you ever thought of expanding your genres, what else would you like to try?

I’ve written an action mystery and am working on a thriller and started (egad!)a romance.

Strangely, I would pick up a Romance. The chemistry achieved while not intentionally writing romance so far is unbelievable in Night Shadows.

6. Have you ever thought of writing a series?

I plan to have Reznik and Campisi come back in more stories. I’ve been working on the sequel to Night Shadows for awhile and although I’m enthused about the concept, I’m not happy with the shape it’s become and I need to tinker with it a little. With my upcoming book, I’ve already completed its sequel and would like it to continue as a series.

7. Throughout your books, you’ve probably had reviews from other reviewers as well as author critiquers before your books finish. Tell us! Out of every review you ever got, is there one that stands out in your head as the most impressive to you?

I cherish everyone’s comments and thank them for reading my book. One of my dad’s friends liked it although he said I didn’t go far enough in the scene near the beginning with the couple in the park. He wanted more sex. Lol. Also, the mother of a writer friend also has enjoyed the book, even though the genre is not what she usually reads. So, I like that people can try something new.

8. Hey, you’re a book blogger too on Brayton’s Buzz. What’s the best book you think so far that you’ve actually read on your own site?

Well, I gave The Judas Gate by Bill Myers a black belt ranking but I likedAdrenaline by Jeff Abbott because he left me wanting more.

9. What do you think is the future for books? Everyone has their own opinion, but I’d love to hear what you think. I am an eBook reader, as you can tell. Are ereaders here to stay? Are they the death of publishing, or are they kindling something new and different?

In the past, writers went through publishing houses and agents. So when a book was published, you could be reasonably certain it might be a fairly decent book. With indie presses on the rise writers have a better opportunity to get published. But, with those, the author has to spend a little more time marketing. Now, with anybody able to write something, upload it, and sell it for whatever someone else will pay for it there is more of a challenge for serious writers to be noticed. You have to have a plan, and be willing to do what is necessary. I think what call ‘tangible’ books will continue to be published, but technology will continue to make it easier for writers and readers to put their stuff out there.

10. I took a quiz and it told me I write like H.P. Lovecraft (which coincidentally appeared in Night Shadows!) In your opinion, who do you think you write like? Do you feel like there was a special author you read that influenced your writing, or has anyone told you that you write like someone they’ve read before?

Lovecraft rules! I’ve enjoyed Lovecraft and Machen and Smith for years. Something about the mythos grabbed hold and I still try to pick up stories I haven’t read. I knew when I started Night Shadows I wanted to, if not parallel them, at least strike a familiar chord. I hope I write like me, if that makes sense. I don’t mind being compared to others, or if someone would someday put me in the same field or class as the masters, but I have to write in my style because copying looks like a copy.

11. You’ve got a second book called Beta coming out soon, so you need to tell us about this one.

Is it going to be an old fashioned detective story? A Horror, supernatural again or is it more about the adventure and action?

Mallory Petersen is a six foot blonde private investigator and martial arts instructor. Many of her cases tend to lean toward the nuttier side, however in Beta, she accepts a case to find a kidnapped eight year old girl. Using both her investigator and taekwondo skills, she finds herself encountering the dark underworld of child pornography. It’s an action mystery with serious issues tempered by humorous scenes.

12. You are a Taekwondo teacher. Do your students know you are actually an author too, or is it something you keep to yourself, like a bottled up special secret? Do you know if any of them have actually bought your book?

I’ve mentioned the books to them and a few of them have read Night Shadows. I’ve told a few martial arts friends at various tournaments, especially about Beta. I even had a feature regarding the upcoming book in my organization’s magazine which is distributed both nationally and abroad.

13. When does your new book Beta come out, and who do think is its target audience? Who should be adding it to the cart on the first day it comes out?

October first is the scheduled release date and I have one instructor who probably will be the first to download it the minute it’s published. I hope anybody who enjoys a good action oriented mystery will give this one a read. Of course, I hope martial artists will enjoy it because even though I don’t specifically mention my organization, I basically have Mallory’s school a member of it. I hope I’ve stayed true to my training in the techniques she uses. It is definitely not for children because of the subject matter. As I mentioned above, I’ve used profanity where needed, however, I’ve kept the graphic descriptions to a minimum. Readers will understand what is going on without me providing explicit details. I hope I’ve also shown Mallory’s caring and humanity in how she deals with this case.

Exciting. I wish you luck on your newest release and the success of Night Shadows. (I am personally looking forward to more of Campisi and Reznik.) Thank you very much Stephen Brayton for stopping by the site.