The Inquisition

Ricky Fleet

(be sure to read this with a British accent)

1. What’s your favorite book of any genre, and why?

I always approach this in terms of ‘what would I take with me if I had to move to a deserted island’ and the answer is a tie between two. Watchers by Dean Koontz and Swan Song by Robert McCammon. I adore both of them because of the rollercoaster of emotions they trigger in me. Fear, to horror, to hope, to joy. They both start out with people hopelessly lost who find their place in the world, and that speaks to me.

2. What’s your favorite all-time horror/zombie/post-apoc novel or story?

I absolutely love David Simpson’s Zombie Road. He has such an eclectic mix of characters, but they all work so well together. I haven’t finished the series yet due to lack of time. For trad-pub, it would be Swan Song again, closely followed by The Stand.

3. What’s the first story you can remember writing?

I came to the game late in life. I was an avid reader ever since I could pick up a book, but the writing bug was always a dormant one until I hit my late thirties. Hellspawn was my first attempt at writing, and I’ve loved it ever since.

4. What three writers have influenced you the most?

I would have to say James Herbert, Brian Lumley, and Dean Koontz. I loved a lot of King’s early work, but I don’t know if my tastes changed or he did, but I wasn’t a fan of the later stuff. Lumley’s Necroscope series showed me how you can weave incredible worlds.

5. How would you describe your style of writing and what makes yours stand above the crowd?

Oh goodness, that’s a tough one. I would say the thing that makes my work stand out (I won’t say above    ) is my characters. The readers say I have a knack of writing well fleshed, easily relatable people in my books. That goes for if they’re a goodie or a baddie. Debbie in Hellspawn has elicited some quite visceral hatred from my readers.

In terms of style, I try to be a little bit fancy with my prose, as well as being detailed without going overboard. One of my pet peeves with Mr Koontz is all the bougainvillea that seems to crop up in every house he describes, right down to the colour of the doorknob.

6. Can you describe a typical writing session?

I try to aim for 2 – 3k of checked over work per day. It’s very low compared to some writers, but I often find that the well is running a bit dry after the 3k mark. I have had an 8k day, but that was a scene I’d had worked out for a good while.

7. Other than writing, what is your favorite aspect of being an author?

All the people I’ve met along the way. The horror community is one of the most supportive groups of peeps I’ve had the privilege to work with.

8. What do you find is the hardest part of being an independently published author?

Selling books! I hate the whole advertising/marketing side of the business. I just love creating worlds and putting people through hell. Sometimes literally. I’m a private person by nature and putting myself out there is really difficult.

9. If you could go back in time and give yourself one piece of advice without breaking the time-space continuum, how old would you be and what would you say?

I’d be a teenager. I would say you haven’t got much time left with mum so stop being such a little s**t! Then I’d give myself a backhander to make sure the point had sunk in.

10. What can we expect from you in the future?

I have no idea. My head bounces around between stories on a daily basis. It’s just as annoying as it sounds, believe me. I’ll be finishing off my current series like Hellspawn, Devoured World, Infernal, and Ascension. I’ve got ideas for a vampire series, a nuke series, all sorts. I’m also currently dipping my toe in the LitRPG genre with a new series which I’m really excited about. A guy called Mark is forced to travel to worlds that will see him battle orcs, demons, necromancers, dinosaurs, pixies, robots, and much, much more.

Find Ricky Fleet here:

http://www.rickyfleet.com/