Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with Jamie Killen
Book Title: Red Hail
Released: 01/21/20
Genre: Dark Science Fiction
Interview by Heather L. Barksdale
What inspired you to write “Red Hail”?
Killen: My inspiration for writing Red Hail was a combination of reading accounts of "mass hysteria" incidents and becoming really fascinated with them, as well as wanting to write a science fiction story set in small-town Southern Arizona. I was thinking about those elements as separate stories for a while, and then they eventually came together.
Is there anything that you want readers to know about you, your writing process, or your book?
Killen: As far as writing process goes, I'm in a weird gray area between plotter and pantser. I don't outline my plots in a huge amount of detail, but I do really detailed character biographies and backgrounds.
If "Red Hail" was adapted into a movie, who would you like to see cast to play your lead characters?
Killen: Ooh, this is a tough one! I thought about this for a while, and the only character who I can really picture with a specific person playing the role is Carly Chaikin as Sonia. She has the right spiky energy for it.
When you encounter writer’s block, what do you do to break yourself out of it?
Killen: I think my problem is sort of the opposite of writer's block. I don't run out of ideas, I just get really distracted by new ideas before I finish whatever I'm currently working on. I think the pattern for me is that I start to feel burned out on stories at about the halfway point, and I've learned it's best to just take a break and work on something else for a bit until I feel excited about the first story again.
What is your favorite book, genre, and/or author?
Killen: I like a pretty wide variety of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. Top of the list are Neil Gaiman, Connie Willis, Victor Lavalle, NK Jemisin, China Mieville. . . we could be here all day.
Are there any tips that you would like to share with other aspiring authors?
Killen: Join a critique group. Learn to take criticism and write constructive criticism of other work. It's really the best way to learn your own bad habits and break out of them.
What are you working on next?
Killen: I'm working on a couple of different things right now, including something I hope will end up as a book manuscript as well as some audio drama ideas.
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