1. Tell us about your most recent release, Blue Girl. 

Hi Lisa, thank you for having me today. Let me see, Girl Blue, in one word—bizarre. The story revolves around an extraordinarily talented sculptor named Jeremy Copper. His specialty is carving nude women in stone. Jeremy is one of the best in the world at creating his female erotic statues. But Jeremy is dying and he wants to make his last creation his legacy. Girl Blue will be carved from a rare block of blue granite. What Jeremy doesn’t realize is this rare block of granite is “haunted” by the vengeful spirit of a woman who lived in the 1920s. Girl Blue is an erotic supernatural tale about Jeremy’s quest for perfection and what he gets instead. No matter how many more novels I write, I will never write another story as bizarre and sensual as Girl Blue.

2. According to your Amazon Author Page, you have spent a good amount of time in various parts of the country.  Do you find that any particular change in atmosphere affects your writing (and if so, how)?  

Not really, Lisa. I’ve spent time in Texas, California, New Mexico (decades ago), and Wisconsin. And it doesn’t seem to matter—stories and ideas don’t seem to be particular. They can arise any time, anywhere. I just need a pen and paper near so I can jot them down. I do tend to forget easily.

3. You’ve written a wide array of horror, and even a love story.  Which genre do you find to be most fulfilling to write? 

It’s not the genre that makes a story fulfilling for me, but the actual story, regardless of the genre. If the idea grabs me enough, then I’m going to feel compelled to write it.

4. Any genre which is the hardest for you to write?

The genres that I’ve written in are romance (only one), thrillers, adventure and horror. Oh and I even wrote a children’s story. Again, it’s not the genre that determines how difficult the book will be to write, but the actual story. Though having said this, GIRL BLUE was not an easy write as I knew absolutely nothing about art and sculpting in particular so I had to resort to a lot of research, which I find tedious at times. I could never be a sculptor—that is one difficult art form.

5. How did you get your start in writing and/or publishing?

Lisa, I started out the conventional way. I completed a manuscript, found an agent and eventually—after numerous rejections—sold to a big six publisher. Unfortunately the book didn’t do well so for some years I found myself adrift in the Nopublishing Sea. Then the ebook opportunity came floating by, so here I am an indie author, though GIRL BLUE was published conventionally (Samhain, 2012).  I am both trad and indie at this time. Whatever opportunity comes along, I’ll go for it. 

6. Do you enjoy reading?  What would you say is your all-time favorite book?

Love to read. I read several books a month—and when I’m not on a writing deadline, a novel a week. I’m one of those writers who firmly believe to create good entertaining stories you have to read good entertaining stories. Like in music (no all time favorite song), I don’t have an all time favorite book. There have been so many books in differing genres I’ve enjoyed over the years it would be impossible to narrow it to just one.

7. Where do your ideas come from?  Do you brainstorm, or do you develop your books as they come? 

Lisa, I guess I would say I develop my books as they come to me. However once I decide on the next story I am going to concentrate on I might do some brainstorming as far as developing the major plot points. Yet even these often change once I’m in the story.

8. Do you have any personal fears?  Do they ever work their way into your horror? 

My biggest irrational fear is flying—so far that hasn’t played a role in one of my books—but one day it will. If I don’t perish in a plane crash first. (talk about sick humor…)

9. You have a nice selection of books available through Amazon.  How would you say your books have progressed since the very first piece you saw to completion? 

That’s a tough question, Lisa. I don’t think it’s that the stories have progressed as much as they have delved into different genres. When I wrote my first two novels--GARGOYLES and THE UNNATURAL, thriller and horror—I never thought at the time I would ever write a love story (BARBARY POINT) and especially not a children’s story (RETURN TO UNDERLAND). So maybe a more accurate word is diversified rather than progressed, if that makes sense.

10. If you could say one thing to your readers, what would it be? 

Dear Mr. or Mrs/Ms. Reader, if you happen upon one of my stories by accident I hope you enjoy it. I did my damndest (is that a word) to make it entertaining. (Hm, that reads like an epitaph—lol)

Bonus question: If your entire life history were somehow to find itself carved in blue granite, what would the sculpture look like? 

Wow, that would be one disturbing sculpture!  I think I would keep a sheet over it.

And thank you again, Lisa, for hosting me on your blog. 

Thanks for stopping by!

About the author:
Alan Nayes was born in Houston and grew up on the Texas gulf coast. He lives in Southern California. He is the author of the horror/thrillers, GARGOYLES (Resurrection Trilogy, Book One) and THE UNNATURAL. His most recent releases are BARBARY POINT, SMILODON, GIRL BLUE,  PLAGUE (Resurrection Trilogy, Book Two) and RETURN TO UNDERLAND, a children’s adventure story.  

An avid outdoorsman and fitness enthusiast, he is one of only a few individuals to  ever swim across Wisconsin’s chilly Lake Winnebago. When not working on his next project, he enjoys relaxing and fishing at the family vacation home in Wisconsin.