Welcome, Theresa Braun!
- For those who might not be familiar with you, would you be a dear and tell the readers a little about yourself? How did you get your start in the writing business?
(Theresa) I’m a writer of horror, and sometimes romance. I joke that there is a common thread between the two, since they both deal with high levels of extreme emotion—fear and love. And, with rejection and betrayal being linked to romance, it can easily become horrific. How did I start writing? I’ve always enjoyed being creative. When I was younger, I was more of an artist, painting and drawing (which I still do on occasion). Then at some point I shifted into creating stories. It became a great way to escape. And, there’s a thrill in creating an entire world with words.
- Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, please share how you handle it.
(Theresa) I’ve been a victim of writer’s block. One year it was so bad that a friend of mine got me a book on how to overcome it. She meant well, but it kind of made me feel worse. I say this jokingly, of course. But I’ve learned to cope with it much better. I’ve come to understand that sometimes a particular story is not working or coming along at the moment and it needs to sit. That’s when starting a different story comes in. By doing that, you aren’t beating your head against the wall and forcing something that isn’t coming along. If that doesn’t work, I use the time to network or market some of my published books. However, one of the biggest things that I would encourage writers to do is to connect with other writers. Having someone to talk to about “author problems” is really helpful. I’ve gotten out of several ruts that way, and I’d like to think I’ve pulled a few friends out of theirs, too.
- Contrary to what some people envision about a romance writer’s life, it’s not all glitz and glam. Well not for the majority of us. With that bubble sadly busted, when you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?
(Theresa) I lead a fairly ordinary life. By day, I teach high school English. By night and weekend, I’m either writing or spending time with family and friends. I really enjoy going to the movies, concerts, comedy shows, or festivals. Another thing that I make sure to do is read as much as I can. I think it was Stephen King who said if you don’t have time to read, you can’t be a writer, since they go hand and hand.
- I know many writers, such as myself, keep their pastime/career a secret. Do those close to you know you write? If so, what are their thoughts?
(Theresa) Everyone in my life knows I write. There are times I wonder if I should have come up with a pen name so I can hide a bit when I want, especially if I’m tackling a tough subject. But, in the end, I’m glad I’m out of the closet, so to speak. My mom has read all my stories so far, which is so nice. And, my dad, who hates to read fiction (he only reads non-fiction) has attempted to read a few of my stories. They’re both somewhat conservative, so it makes me feel good that they support me. A couple of my friends have read my work, but some don’t like horror. I get that and am totally okay with it. As much as I am grateful to have the support, I’d still be writing if I didn’t. I suppose it would be tougher, though.
- Will you share with us your all-time favorite authors? If you’re like me, it’s a long list so give us your top ten.
(Theresa) That’s a difficult task but here goes (and this is not in order of importance): Bram Stoker, Mary Shelly, Stephen King, Kurt Vonnegut, George Orwell, Aldous Huxley, Margaret Atwood, Robert Louis Stevenson, Edgar Allan Poe, and Shakespeare. (F. Scott Fitzgerald and Franz Kafka, if I could squeeze in 2 more).
- If you could choose one book to go to the big screen, yours or otherwise, which book would you choose and whom would you love to see cast in the parts?
(Theresa) I’d like to see more of Edgar Allan Poe’s stories turned into modern movies. Some of the older ones really stray from the plot and add random characters. “The Fall of the House of Usher” would be a great movie if it were done right.
I would cast Michael Fassbender as the narrator. Roderick Usher would be played by Tom Hiddleston.
Madeline Usher is a difficult one to cast, but I think I would go with…..
Mena Suvari
or Chloe Grace Moretz.
There would be Oscar buzz for this flick, I can just see it.
- Would you care to tell us what you’re working on now? That is if it’s not top-secret information. If so, just whisper it in my ear. I swear it’ll go no further.
(Theresa) I have a few irons in the fire. One is a tale about a group of satanic teenagers. I joke that I have drawn on my experience as a high school teacher for it. Another is about a therapist who travels through a mirror. What happens on the other side and what she has to do to deal with it are the crux of the story. And, I have my eye on an anthology that is looking for tragic or dark love gone wrong. That’s right up my alley, so I’m cooking up a plot and some characters as we speak.
Kam: Your story ideas sound like they will be interesting reads. Can’t wait to see the complete works!!
- Where can we find your stories, and is there a particular reading order?
(Theresa) You can find me on almost all sites where ebooks are sold. I usually direct people to Amazon, but that’s just my preference. My website is also a good place to find me. It’s currently getting a makeover and there will be more and more things on there as it evolves. There’s no reading order, since all of my stories are stand alones, at least for the time being.
- Would you please share how your present and future fans can contact you?
(Theresa)
Twitter: @tbraun_author
Facebook: www.facebook.com/groomanddoom
Website: www.theresabraun.com
- Before we conclude this enlightening interview, do you have anything else you’d like to share? The stage is all yours.
(Theresa) I’d just like to thank you for this opportunity to share my thoughts on writing. And, I’d like to thank anyone who has or will take the time to read my work. There are so many amazing writers and stories out there, so it makes me happy when people stumble upon mine and enjoy them.
~~ Closing remarks ~~
Ladies and gents, I want to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to visit us. I had a great time learning more about Theresa Braun and I’m sure you did as well. Before you run back off to the real world, please take a moment to step into the supernatural world created by Theresa. Below, I’ve shared a spooktacular tale, Dead over Heels, and my thoughts on it.
Enjoy and thanks!
Short story: 38 pages
Veronica’s first date with Sebastian not only stirs up a powerful attraction, but also a series of supernatural events that will tear them apart.
After countless hours of dead end online dating, Veronica meets up with Sebastian at a reportedly haunted restaurant, since he knows she has a fascination with the paranormal. While enjoying their meals and each other’s company, they share a shocking supernatural experience. Their romantic connection is overshadowed by the ghosts of their own pasts that threaten to destroy their budding relationship. Veronica decides she must return to the restaurant to face her past and dig up more answers. Unfortunately, she realizes she must go back, this time with a reluctant Sebastian. In the end, they join forces against the evil that stands between them, but will they make it out alive?
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique)
Whether I am reading a mystery, science fiction, supernatural, or romance novel/novella, I look for several items to gauge my score on. Does it have a nice opening segment? Does it have an interesting plot? Does it have engaging characters, and do I feel the chemistry between said characters? Does it have an end that leaves me eager for a sequel or to read the story over again and again and again?
I can safely say I answered yes to all the questions above.
As a fan of science fiction/paranormal shows such as Twilight Zone and Supernatural, I love storylines that tap into the unknown. In Dead over Heels, we watch as the past meets the present in the forms of spirits reliving traumatic moments, aka their deaths by the same murderer.
As you can imagine, the living playing unwilling bystanders to this horrific scene is one thing — the victims being someone near and dear to your heart is another matter entirely. It amplifies the experience 1000%.
Now I mentioned the importance of a solid ending. For fans of the ghosts/spirits, I assure you this ending was perfection. . It wasn’t your typical ending to a ghostly tale, and I like my plot twists.
Well done, Theresa. You wrote a spooktacular short story!
Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest)
Score: ❤❤❤❤1/2