Book Giveaway and Author Interview: Purgatory by A. Lopez, Jr.

Please welcome to A Three Way Tie, A. Lopez, Jr. !

Bio

Born and raised in Texas and now residing in Arizona, A. Lopez, Jr. (Junior) has published his first work Purgatory - 13 Tales of the Macabre. Horror is the choice of genre for this first book, with a upcoming series of horror novellas being worked on for 2012 titled Night Dreams His full-length novel, 31 Days is being researched and in the early stages of the first draft.

Hungry for more info? Check out his website here!

Interview

When and why did you begin writing?

I have liked writing and storytelling since high school, if not before. I wrote two movie scripts (in my mind anyway) during high school. I remember one very well. The other I have a hard time recalling. Unfortunately, both have been lost over time. That started my early writing career and I would write off and on, nothing serious, while raising my kids. 

Over the years many ideas have stuck with me and I didn’t really get into writing, and planning the process for a book until about three years ago. The reason why I write, to me, is simple. I enjoy telling stories, verbally or through writing. The thoughts and ideas have always been there so letting them out through writing seemed like the natural thing to do.


What was the hardest part of writing your book? What is the easiest?

The hardest part of writing “Purgatory” was making the endings of the stories. I wanted all of them to have a good twist or shock at the end, but at the same time leave the reader thinking of the message within the stories. Along with that I would say that editing the book, shortening and tightening up the stories and correcting grammar errors was just as hard. The easiest thing for me was coming up with the ideas for all 13 stories. Many of those were already in my mind and some would come to me out of the blue.


What music do you listen to while you write?

Depending on what I’m writing about, I usually don’t listen to music as I write, although I have a very versatile music library. While writing this horror book I did at times listen to Horror Movie soundtracks on satellite radio. The only other thing I listen to would be on a sound effects app on my phone of rain or a flowing river or stream. The sound of rain or water makes it easy for me to write.


What inspires you?

I find inspiration in many things, but mainly the passion to write drives me. The inspiration for a story can come from a dream, an object I happen to run across, or family or friend’s own account of something that has happened to them. Listening and observing things around us can trigger many ideas. But, I have found that by reading someone else’s work, be it a short story or novel, I can feel their own passion in the words that tell their story. That passion to write not only inspires, but drives me to tell my own story.


Do you have any hidden talents?

To the people who know me I would say that those talents are not hidden, but I like the originality and creativeness that comes with playing chess. In a way, chess parallels writing at some points with thinking ahead and plotting the next sequence of words or moves. In other ways you write, or play off the cuff and see what the result brings you then. Either way, they both keep the mind stimulated and creative. I also love the game of baseball and like to draw, but it is something that I don’t do often enough.


What are your current projects?

I am currently working on a fictional sports story I am dedicating to my father. It’s not of the horror genre, but it has special meaning to me since he taught me how to play, and baseball has been a major part of my life since I was a kid. I feel I can write in many different genres but horror is my favorite. I am also working on a horror series called Night Dreams about a dream psychologist who lives his out his patient’s nightmares, not by choice, to help them beat their own demons. My next horror novel will be 31 Days which I will have out in 2013. More details to come!


What book are you reading now?
Currently I am reading H. P. Lovecraft’s complete works and Stephen King’s Under The Dome. I try not to read, or get involved with too many books at once unless I can separate them in my mind as I move from one to the next.


Quick: Vampires or Shapeshifters? Why?

If I had to choose quickly I would say vampires, but I like the way that the stereotype of shapeshifters is changing from werewolves as the popular theme, to many other and creative beings. I like the idea of the vampire because they are dark and mysterious. They only come out at night, which is when I do most of my writing.


Do you have any advice for other writers?

I feel that the best advice I can give to anyone wanting to write is to read. I have learned many things that I was not aware of by reading other author’s works. Even if you write in a specific genre, reading authors in different genres will help with style, form, and how to finish your project with your own style. I would tell anyone who asks, to read Stephen King’s On Writing. His memoir has really helped me see things from a different point of view when I write. Lastly, I would say, let the words flow, worry about editing later. Tell the story that’s in your head.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Many many thanks to everyone who has taken their time to read my book and given me feedback and their own opinions. It is a busy world out there and time is a precious commodity, so for anyone who has used some of their time to read my stories, THANK YOU! Keep on reading… here  for more info and the book trailer for Purgatory.

Giveaway

In the spirit of King, Laymon, Little, and Keene comes a collection of 13 tales of horror and the macabre. In the name of research, a world-famous horror author spends the night alone in one of the most haunted houses in the land, "Ritter House", only to discover that reality is much more horrific than fiction. In "Road Trip", a man must travel across state lines to identify his brother's dead body and drive him home in the back of his station wagon to a mortuary run by a dead man. A man has 2 hours to try and prevent a catastrophe in the building that his wife works in. Only, he can't recall how or why, his only clue is the recurring nightmare he had 2 hours earlier. The clock tics in "Tic Toc" Christmas will never be the same again for a little boy in "Santa Claws". An old wooden box in a warehouse carries a story all its own in "The Crate" A trip to Purgatory will open the door to these stories and more.

Giveaway Details:

1. To be eligible for this giveaway, you must be a follower of my blog.
2. To double your chances of winning, you must follow the author's twitter (click here to become a follower and send him a direct message with the word purgatory).
3. Leave a comment with your name and email address.
4. This giveaway ends March 13 at 11:59pm.

5. There will be TWO winners!


Please make sure to thank this awesome author, A Lopez Jr.!

**And please note that you can only DOUBLE your chances of winning by following the author's twitter profile and not mine. Please remember that in order to send you your prize (if you win) that I need your email address and name. Good luck to all!!**

*cheers from the peanut gallery*