So, since I’ve been doing this awesome 3Q’s stuff, I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing so many different authors – all at varying stages of their writing journey. One thing that became clear, was that most readers of this feature wanted me to stay doing one a day. I think that works best, but once in a while a special case needs to be made. Additionally, you may notice that fancy 3Q’s logo there. That’s courtesy of one, Bo Chappell. Bo sent me this and said to use it as I saw fit. My own 3Q’s logo’s may be rudimentary and ‘poorly’ made, but that is the entire point haha! The punk ethic of DIY. But – this logo is gorgeous and I decided it’ll be utilized for the 3Q’s Specials and today is the first one.

Gwendolyn Kiste is a 3-time Bram Stoker Award Winning Author who is just about to drop her newest novel ‘Reluctant Immortals.’ The synopsis is great (which we’ll share in a minute), but Gwendolyn has always been super kind and supportive of myself, so I wanted to make sure I shared some of that love back, especially as her newest drops.

So, please, do welcome Gwendolyn!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try to write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

GK: My writing time is basically a new adventure every day. I’m more likely to write in the evening, but especially if I’m on deadline, I could be working at literally any time, even three in the morning. I’m personally not a fan of hitting a specific word count; when I’ve tried to use that approach, I feel like I’m writing more in terms of a number than in terms of quality. Then I just have more editing to do on the other side. So I try to keep it open and see where each day leads me. Creativity can be such a mysterious process, and I really enjoy allowing my writing to develop in a way that feels organic to me.

Steve: If you could write a story for another author’s fictional world/series, which would it be and why?

GK: So my forthcoming novel, Reluctant Immortals, is actually a retelling/sequel of both Dracula and Jane Eyre. I’ve been a fan of classic gothic horror ever since I was a kid, so returning to these two beloved books and reworking them in a more modern way was such a great time. I love the characters from those books, and it was fun to spend time with them.

In terms of a fictional world that I haven’t yet written in, I very much want to do a retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray. There’s such a rich subtext in that story, and there haven’t been enough, if any, feminist reworkings of it, so I feel like that would be such an interesting direction to take it.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

GK: I feel like I’ve been screaming from the rooftops for weeks about it, but in case anyone hasn’t heard yet, my new novel, Reluctant Immortals, is due out with Saga Press on August 23rd! It follows Lucy Westenra from Dracula and Bertha Antoinetta Mason from Jane Eyre as they battle Dracula and Edward Rochester. It’s groovy, it’s gothic, and it’s all about female empowerment. It’s also an homage to Hammer horror films and that whole era of classic horror cinema, so it’s definitely a love letter to everything I—and so many other fans—love about the genre.

Steve: Bonus Question! Do you have a cherished book?

GK: Definitely. It would have to be We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. That book, more than any other, makes me feel less alone. Merricat Blackwood is such a fantastic character, and her voice is so vivid and unforgettable. I’m happy to exist in a world where that novel was written. For anyone who hasn’t had the pleasure of reading it yet, I can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s such a perfect example of a slow-burn gothic horror novel. It’s as delightful as it is diabolical, and nobody does weird and whimsical quite like Shirley Jackson.

Great choice! I think this has been the most popular answer to this question by a long shot!

Thank you so much, Gwendolyn for doing this and best of luck with the launch!

To find more of her amazing work – as always – check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Gwendolyn-Kiste/e/B00QXGAIUC

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GwendolynKiste

Website: http://www.gwendolynkiste.com/