I’m usually pretty on the ball with knowing when I’ve connected with somebody on the various social media platforms, but for some reason I actually can’t for the life of me remember when myself and Brian J. Smith connected! Either way, we’ve interacted and supported each other for some time now and it’s been great seeing him continue to release fantastic dark fiction!

Welcome Brian!

Steve: What does your process look like once you finish your first draft? Do you immediately dive back into it, or do you take some time away?

Smith: I dive back into it the very next day.

I print the first 50 pages and read them out loud and write any corrections on a wide-ruled notebook and finish them on my desktop. I continue that process until the book is done and then repeat that process again one more time to make sure everything is done right.

Steve: What’s the one thing you’d change now if you’d have known it when you started writing?

Smith: If I could change anything I’d have to say conveying more emotion. When I first began writing at the age of thirteen, I failed to convey any real emotion into my stories and into my characters and that was where I had failed as an author. Emotion creates characters that people will love and along with good storytelling you have a good book on your hands.

Steve: Of the books or stories you’ve released, which is your personal favorite and why?

Smith: When it comes to books, I’d have to say “Consuming Darkness” because I’ve always been a fan of creature features like Creature From The Black Lagoon and The Thing From Another World and The Night Stalker series w/Darren McGavin. I didn’t get to fully enjoy the latter until I was in my teens but I’d watched the former with my father every time it was on cable tv.

When it comes to stories, I’d have to say my supernatural horror novella “Dark Avenues” because I’ve always believed that our dearly departed never go away. They visit once in a while to see how we’re doing but in Kevin Perkins’ case Marilyn had visited him because of an injustice that needed to be corrected. The death of my parents had taught me how deep and cold grief can feel once it settles in on us.

These components alone make a good story because an author who has experienced such things and put them down on paper can connect with a reader who has been through the same thing as well.

Steve: Bonus Fun Question – Would you rather be lost at sea or in the mountains?

Smith: I’d have to pick getting lost in the mountains. A nice cabin with a bright crackling fireplace and a good book and a writing tablet or five would be just fine.

Steve: Great choice!

Thanks so much for doing this, Brian!

To find more of his work – check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Brian-J.-Smith/author/B071HYLBN3

Twitter: https://twitter.com/beardedauthor9