šā ļøšSpotlight Author: Angie Martinšā ļøš
Over a year ago I had the pleasure of meeting this weeks Spotlight Author, Angie Martin, at a signing in Kansas City. Now I get to introduce y’all to her.
Multi-award-winning, best-selling author Angie Martin relies on her Kansas upbringing to add a certain Midwest, small-town creepiness to her work. She has released several novels and short stories in suspense/thriller and horror genres, some with a unique paranormal or supernatural edge. She currently resides in the Tennessee, where she is working hard and losing sleep over her latest novel.
1. When and how did you find your love for horror/thrillers?
Iāve loved being scared ever since I was a child. I remember the tunnel scene in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and being terrified. Then, I read a Toad and Frog book with a short scary story for kids, and I was hooked. In 8thĀ grade, I read my first Stephen King and it was all over for me!
2. What did you find scares you more the supernatural or the evil within a person? Why?
Definitely theĀ evil within a person.Ā There are evil people in the world now and in theĀ pastĀ who have done truly terrible things that most of us wouldnāt dream of.Ā There is nothing that can top that because even for those who donāt believe in paranormal or supernatural, they still know that people are real and the evils that people can bestow upon each other are horrifying.Ā
3. If you ventured into another genre which would you choose and what would be the deciding factor?
SoĀ I am currently venturing into the genre of romantic comedy. Itās a story that I wrote, then a friend of mine and I turned it into a screenplay. After that, he left movies and gave the rights back to me. He much laterĀ passed away, so itās the right time to get this book done. Itās also called Getting Over Joe, so yeah, thereās that little fun with your hubbyĀ haha.
4. What is your favorite horror icon? Who do you find as the most intriguing serial killer? Do you ever use them or the characteristics in your books?
My favorite horror icon is Mike Flanagan ā heās not an actor portraying a killer or monster, but a director. His horror speaks more to me than anyone.
Most intriguing serial killerĀ has toĀ be BTK, Dennis Rader. I grew up in Wichita, so his killer name was everywhere. He was quiet during the time I lived there, he had just gone dark when we moved there in 2ndĀ grade, and he came back up after I had just moved away, but I was never more affected by a real life serial killer due to proximity. I still get goosebumps and tear up when I watch the news conference where they announced he was arrested!
I always try to create unique characters, but I know that my killers and monsters do have influence injected in them, at least subconsciously. Thereās no way around it!
5. What is the craziest thing youāve ever had to research for a book?
For False Security,Ā I attended a counseling session for violent domestic offenders who had been convicted at least two times of domestic violence. The sessions were mandated for them, and really opened my eyes to how to write a certain character in False Security and, later, False Hope.
6. How did your son, Christian, come to create music for The Chronicler and Mr. Smith?Ā
Christian has always been incredibly talented in music. I play piano, and have since I was young,Ā and alsoĀ write music ā so he gets it from me haĀ ha.Ā He picked up one of my guitars when he was in 8thgrade with no training and in a week, he was playing Guns and Roses. I immediately got him into guitar lessons, and he took them for three months I believe before we moved out of state. From there, heās entirely self-taught: guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, singing, screaming. I really wanted something special for The Chronicler and Mr. Smith, something not really done in our industry, so I approached him, told him what songs I loved listening to while writing, and he came up with that song. His best friend and my other āsonā,Ā David, plays drums on the track. I titled the song,Ā Vengeance Divided, and it all came together to define Mr. Smithās character even more than how I wrote him.
7. Have you ever had a story idea that was too graphic to release? Is there a story idea that you would love to come alive but fear it would mess with your own mind?
My short storyĀ SissyĀ did that for me when I wrote it. I was grinning as I wrote the ending, and that kind of scared me! But yeah, IĀ definitely haveĀ some other stories that would mess with my mind, and I do plan on doing them. I love to push myself as far as I can go.
8. Who is your favorite character from another author that you wish you had created? What draws you to that character?
This is incrediblyĀ hard, becauseĀ there are so many amazingly talented authors out there. I have to say, thereās not one character I wish I could have created first, even though Iām stunned by some characters. But there is a concept that a friend came up with that I wish I had thought of first. Max Lemuz isnāt published yet, but if he doesnāt publish this idea, Iāll beĀ very upset! Lol⦠I wonāt reveal it here, but itās brilliant!!!
9. Is it hard to switch off the editor side of you while writing a first draft?
Definitely, butĀ Iāve also continued to improve my writing to where my first drafts are mostly where I want them to be. Every author who pushes themselves and continues to learn and improve find themselves in that position.Ā But,Ā I do edit as I go, which is hard!
10. Where do you draw inspiration for your books from?
Mainly the world around us. Iāve taken inspiration from real life (like for Conduit) all the way to dreams (The Chronicler and Mr. Smith). Video games also inspired two of my books ā The Chronicler and Mr. Smith and The Boys Club. And of course, Supernatural inspired The Chronicler and Mr. Smith. Can you tell how much fun I had writing that book? š