Interview With Author Aaron Ray Ballard

 

1. What inspired you to write this book? I've been writing all my life: books, screenplays, short stories, copywriting, you name it. I write because I love it. But life gets in the way, and it's hard to find the time to do so. But when Covid happened and everyone was on lockdown, I finally had some free time, so I decided to write a book. I chose to write a book of short stories because I have so many in my head that needed to get out. So I'm grateful to the lockdown for giving me that time.  

2. What exactly is it about and who is it written for? It's a book of horror short stories; each featuring a monster of some kind, whether it's supernatural or all too human as well as evil or kind. The book is written for anyone who loves horror, from pre-teens to old, male or female. Basically, anyone who has ever sat around a campfire telling scary stories or put a flashlight under their chin to spook their siblings in the dark.  

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? I hope they are entertained, scared, or even moved. I put a lot of sweat, tears and figurative blood into this passion project so that they are entertained. I want them to feel like they got their hard-earned money's worth. As an indie author, I want them to enjoy my book enough that they give other indie authors a chance.  

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? The title was a play on the old saying, 'All the Devils Are Here.' Plus, it was title that hadn't already been taken. It also fits the theme of my book which is monsters in every story. The cover design is courtesy of the talented artists at Page Publishing. I'm very happy with it and think it's extremely eye-catching.  

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!? If you want to write, keep writing. If you love to write, keep writing. If you want to get better at writing, keep writing. It doesn't get any simpler than that.  

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? I see a future of even more self-help books, how to better yourself, how to better deal with others. Basically, any book that helps you get better. In this day and age, people have realized what's really important, and that's mental health. So if you have a smart point-of-view of how to become a better person, start writing. The world needs your voice and advice.  

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? I've had dealings with my share of monsters in my life, but they were all too human. My escape was stories and storytelling. My imagination and being able to put words on paper helped me through some very tough times. As we all know, being scared while reading books, riding rollercoasters, or watching movies is much better than being scared in real life. It's a safe kind of scared that gets the adrenaline flowing and reminds you that you're alive. And we all need reminding of that every now and then to keep us on a good path and better appreciate what we have.  

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? I'm a lean writer who tries not to waste anyone's time. I like to get into the story and get out before I've worn out my welcome. I also try to create a sense of realism, no matter what crazy situation I've come up with. I want readers to understand what my characters are going through at any given time. I want them to relate to a lovesick zombie or a chatty vampire. Because even though they are "monsters," they have the same wants and needs that we have, minus the blood drinking and flesh eating. As for an author comparison, I would love to be compared to Stephen King or Richard Matheson or Ray Bradbury or Rod Serling, but let's be real. I hope to one day be able to be mentioned in the same breath as those legends. Hopefully that day will come. For now, I'll just settle for being considered a decent writer who hopes to get better at it. I can only do that by writing, with the goal of doing it for a living.  

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? I was still writing my book when the lockdown ended. So, my goal of finishing the book no matter what meant that I now had to find the time to write while also working a full-time job. But that is any writer who works for a living or has a family. If you want to write, you have to make the time, no matter how busy you are or what time of day or night it is.  

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? Above all, my book is entertaining. It moves fast, so hold on tight and turn on the lights. Best of all, you don't even need to be a horror fan. The stories are relatable to anyone. I try to bring the horror home to a place where it feels real and understandable, no matter how "out there" it gets. And don't worry about being offended or grossed out, well, maybe a little bit, but nothing major. If nothing else, reading my book might remind you of being a kid and telling scary stories in the dark to your friends. If you cherish those memories, you'll love my book.  

About The Author: Born and raised in West Texas in 1969, Aaron Ray Ballard spent a little over two decades in the mad, mad world of advertising and has been working at a TV news station since 2014, telling other people’s stories by making commercials and PSAs for their businesses and nonprofits. But ever since he was captivated by his very first episode of 'The Twilight Zone' as an impressionable kid, he’s wanted to be a storyteller, whether it’s writing short stories, screenplays, or making films, much like his literary heroes—Stephen King, Rod Serling, and Richard Matheson. for more information, please see: All The Monsters Are Here | Page Publishing

 

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About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on Twitter @theprexpert. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2023. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.3 million pageviews. With 4,400+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and two jobs at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. He has been featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald. For more information, please consult: www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum.