Ask the Author: J.H. Moncrieff
Answered Questions (12)
J.H. Moncrieff
Hi Patricia,
Samhain Publishing held a call, looking for novellas that dealt with childhood fears for a new anthology collection. That sounded fun to me, and I've always loved the classic haunted-toy trope, everything from the Twilight Zone's "Talking Tina" to Stephen King's "The Monkey." My dad had given me this hideous panda that used to be his when he was a kid, so that's where the initial idea for Edgar came from.
However, once I started to write, the characters had their own ideas. Josh said, "No, it wasn't my dad who gave me the bear...my dad's dead. It was my stepfather." And once he said that, the story got a whole lot darker than I ever imagined. I was actually afraid it would be too dark for Samhain, but then-editor Don D'Auria loved it, and the rest is history. It won the contest and ended up being my first published book.
Thanks for asking!
Samhain Publishing held a call, looking for novellas that dealt with childhood fears for a new anthology collection. That sounded fun to me, and I've always loved the classic haunted-toy trope, everything from the Twilight Zone's "Talking Tina" to Stephen King's "The Monkey." My dad had given me this hideous panda that used to be his when he was a kid, so that's where the initial idea for Edgar came from.
However, once I started to write, the characters had their own ideas. Josh said, "No, it wasn't my dad who gave me the bear...my dad's dead. It was my stepfather." And once he said that, the story got a whole lot darker than I ever imagined. I was actually afraid it would be too dark for Samhain, but then-editor Don D'Auria loved it, and the rest is history. It won the contest and ended up being my first published book.
Thanks for asking!
J.H. Moncrieff
Thanks for asking, Jennifer! My first Stephen King novel was Different Seasons. I loved it (except for the last story, The Breathing Method), but I found Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption a bit slow until I got older and could appreciate it more. I loved The Body and Apt Pupil disturbed the hell out of me. I was between seven and nine years old.
J.H. Moncrieff
Stephen Blackmoores's Dead Things, Frazer Lee's The Skintaker, Nick Cutter's The Deep, Caryn Larrinaga's Donn's Hill, John R. Little's Little by Little, Chuck Wendig's Mockingbird, and Ev Bishop's River's Sigh B&B series (needed something a little lighter in there!)
J.H. Moncrieff
I'd love to find out what really happened to my grandfather and my brother (both deceased). The stories keep changing, so I'm not sure what the truth is any more. Definitely a real-life mystery, but one nobody wants to talk about.
J.H. Moncrieff
Hey Kimberly!
Two publishers are interested in my work in progress, so hopefully I'll have good news about that by the end of the year. I also have four books I'd like to get a traditional deal for, and I'll be submitting them in the fall, so fingers crossed!
In the meantime, I have a free ebook available on my website. All one has to do is sign up for the newsletter and it's her's! Hope that helps. Here's the link:
http://jhmoncrieff.us8.list-manage.co...
Thanks for asking!
Two publishers are interested in my work in progress, so hopefully I'll have good news about that by the end of the year. I also have four books I'd like to get a traditional deal for, and I'll be submitting them in the fall, so fingers crossed!
In the meantime, I have a free ebook available on my website. All one has to do is sign up for the newsletter and it's her's! Hope that helps. Here's the link:
http://jhmoncrieff.us8.list-manage.co...
Thanks for asking!
J.H. Moncrieff
Samhain Horror wanted novellas about childhood fears, and I immediately thought of writing about a cursed toy, because I'd always loved those stories. My dad gave me a very creepy teddy bear when I was a kid, and viola! Edgar was born.
J.H. Moncrieff
I'll get inspired to START a novel by the initial idea--the idea has to excite me. And the protagonist who tells me his story has to interest me. But for the everyday act of writing, I don't wait for inspiration to strike. I just pick a time and do it.
I love writing, but it is a job like anything else. Who waits to be inspired before going to work?
I love writing, but it is a job like anything else. Who waits to be inspired before going to work?
J.H. Moncrieff
A new twist on the sea-creature story (almost done, yay!) and a "secret" project in an entirely new genre.
I also have four books in need of final rewrites. I hate rewriting, by the way. Necessary evil.
I also have four books in need of final rewrites. I hate rewriting, by the way. Necessary evil.
J.H. Moncrieff
Read a lot and write a lot. I'm amazed by how many people want to write a book even though they've never read one.
And it's been said a million times, but it bears repeating--never give up. A lot of success is being in the right place at the right time with the right book, and that doesn't happen overnight.
And it's been said a million times, but it bears repeating--never give up. A lot of success is being in the right place at the right time with the right book, and that doesn't happen overnight.
J.H. Moncrieff
As a writer, you get to be your own therapist. I don't know what it is about writing, but it seems to resolve almost every problem, probably because most of our problems are in our own heads.
J.H. Moncrieff
I've never had writer's block. What I do have is time management issues. So many books to write, so little time.
J.H. Moncrieff
Hmm...my favorite teddy bear was a huge, gorgeous snow-white cuddly thing named Puff. Never any evil intentions there, but the bear in the book was inspired by an ugly panda that was my dad's when he was a kid.
It has a sneer on its face and is just as stiff and creepy as Edgar, minus the fangs. For some reason, I named it Wendy. My parents gave it to me, and it always made me nervous.
It has a sneer on its face and is just as stiff and creepy as Edgar, minus the fangs. For some reason, I named it Wendy. My parents gave it to me, and it always made me nervous.
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Dec 03, 2017 11:46AM