In Depth Interview with Eve Lestrange, author of Widdershins: The Christina Lafage Chronicles Book 1
What were you like at school? I was definitely not the cheerleader type, I was the creepy chick in the corner reading a book.
Were you good at English? I was always very good at English & terrible with math & sports.
Which writers inspire you? My main influence is HP Lovecraft, not just for what he wrote, but his style. He had such a unique literary style that pulls you into his stories.
So, what have you written? I have written a 3-part (so far) series entitled The Christina Lafage Chronicles which includes the titles Widdershins, Solitary Fire & Path of Shadows.
What are you working on at the minute? I am working on an as yet untitled ghost story right now.
What genre are your books? I write occult/horror stories.
What draws you to this genre? I have always had an interest in the occult & horror, so it was only natural to write stories filled with occult imagery & themes.
Which actor(s) and/or actress(s) would you like to see playing the roles of your main characters if your work was adapted for the big screen? I would love to see Lucy Lawless in the role of Madame Duchamp & Manu Bennet as Lucien. I’m not really sure who would play Christina, maybe an up & coming actress.
How much research do you do to add depth to your works? I try to do as much research as I can. For me, the research is half the fun. I want to make the story as authentic as I possibly can, right down to travel conditions of the time, the way people spoke, what they ate and so on.
When did you decide to become a writer? The band I was playing bass for broke up & I needed another creative outlet. I tried other bands but just couldn’t find the right one, so I decided to focus on writing.
Why do you write? I write because I enjoy it & it gives me the creative outlet that I need.
What made you decide to sit down and actually start something? I had an idea for a great horror story, so I ran with it.
Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured? I don’t really have too much structure, I write when I feel the urge.
Do you write on a typewriter, computer, dictate or longhand? I write longhand, as I find it impossible to sit at a computer & write. Writing is a ritual for me, I go into my writing room with candles, incense & music.
Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you? I usually have an idea about where the story will go, but sometimes it just goes off on its own.
What is the hardest thing about writing? The hardest thing is trying to block out distractions.
Any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer’s block? Music always works for me & is definitely part of my writing ritual.
If this book is part of a series, tell us a little about it? Christina Lafage is an Eighteenth-Century French girl who sells her soul for the fierce power of the Black Arts. Christina's world is filled with spellcasting, black magic, distant lands and intense power. The story unfolds with Christina's introduction into the Black Arts by a mysterious benefactor she meets in a wooded grove. This benefactor, Madame Duchamp, takes Christina under her wing and teaches her to use the power of the occult and bend the laws of nature to her will. Christina's power continues to grow amid a series of electrifying events and surprising revelations that drive her toward mastering the Black Arts.
Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors? I try to read when I am not writing. I love old occult books, as they are great for research & I’ve been reading them since I was about 12 years old. My favorite fiction authors are HP Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe & Dan Brown.
For your own reading, do you prefer eBooks or traditional paper/hard back books? I have both, but lately I’ve been buying eBooks because I’m running out of room for traditional books.
What book/s are you reading at present? The Occult Book: A Chronological Journey from Alchemy to Wicca by John Michael Greer. The research never ends!
Do you proofread/edit all your own books or do you get someone to do that for you? I prefer to do the proofreading myself. It’s not as hard as you may think it is & the old adage is true: if you want something done right, do it yourself!
Do you let the book rest – leave it for a month and then come back to it to edit? No, not usually.
In what formats is your book available? All 3 books are available in paperback & eBook format. Who designed your book cover/s? I was fortunate enough to have a great artist, Jose Pardo, do the artwork for Widdershins.
Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process? Yes, I think a good cover is needed to catch the eye of the reader.
How are/did you publish this book and why? e.g. Indie, traditional or both? Widdershins was originally published by a small, independent publisher that is now (thankfully) out of business, so I took matters into my own hands & published independently.
What is your opinion on the age-old ‘which is better?’ self-publishing vs traditionally publishing question? Pros & Cons? For me, indie publishing is the way to go. You have control over your work, you actually receive your royalties & you can publish whenever you want. The only con I found was marketing, but I’ve found that horror conventions are a great way to get the books out there.
Do you have any advice for other authors on how to market their books? Find where your audience is & bring the book to them.
How do you relax? I usually relax with music.
What is your favourite motivational phrase? “Get off your ass & do something!” – courtesy of my mom!
What is your favorite book and why? Anything by HP Lovecraft, not only for the stories he wrote but the beautiful style in which he wrote them.
What is your favorite quote? “Nothing is dead that can eternal lie & in strange eons even death may die” – HP Lovecraft
What is your favourite film and why? The Bride of Frankenstein, for the mood, the atmosphere & Boris Karloff – very creepy.
Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why? HP Lovecraft, he was truly a master at his craft.
If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it have been and why? The DaVinci Code, because I think it’s very clever & I love the way Dan Brown was able to blur the lines between legend & history.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers? Write what interests you, write what you know, research what you don’t & PLEASE proofread your work.
Where do you see publishing going in the future? I think we will see many more independent authors. It’s nice to see that the big publishing houses are no longer the be-all-and-end-all of the publishing business. Just because an editor sitting in a big office in Manhattan isn’t interested in your work, doesn’t mean that it’s not good or there’s no audience for it.
You can also catch me signing books at Monster Mania 40 in Cherry Hill, NJ, this weekend & Monster Mania 41 in Hunt Valley, Maryland, September 28-30. http://monstermania.net/
Thank you so much for taking the time to interview with us. It has been a pleasure getting to know you!
What would you like to know about Eve Lestrange? Leave your question or comment here!