Interview With Eric Enck

Author Pen Name: Eric Enck

CA: What genre(s) do you write? Why do you write the stories that you write?

EE: I write horror and crime fiction because it closely resembles my life. Also, there is a lot to be said for strong characters that beat all odds. The toughest odd to beat is the devil.

CA: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

EE: My family had a pet dog, and I loved it like a brother. My father forced me to kill it with a shotgun. I've been writing horror ever since.

CA: Who or what was your inspiration for writing?

EE: Everyone really. I think what inspires me most is courageous people. People who will drop everything to go up against some evil diatribe or entity. Also, the underdog. The one getting picked on and thrown in a corner only to come out laughing and bleeding each and every time. As far as literary inspiration, I have a mental mix of King, Barker, Koontz, Welsh, Gaiman, Moore and Dr. Suess.

CA: LOL Dr. Suess?

CA: What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

EE: I write 10,000 words a day. Usually from 7AM untill 3PM ( I skip breakfast and lunch.) Usually it's a novel length manuscript. I've written 11 manuscripts in the past two years. 5 of them are under contract now. I think 2008 will be the year of the short story and in novel length fiction, the return of the werewolf. Werewolves are coming back big time. So lately I've been hammering out short stories and submitting since I'm ahead of the game in manuscripts. I have (3) publishers now. It's very exciting and breeds a whole new meaning to the word alcoholic.

At 3 PM I break, spend the rest of the evening with my kids and wife. Weekends I am usually free, unless I'm doing book signings. Also, I tend to sneak in writing on the weekends.

CA: Your book is about to be sent into the reader world, what is one word that describes how you feel?

EE: Aroused.

CA: Now there’s a first!

CA: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

EE: When I'm not making stories, I'm making babies. Of course that has ended for the next few years. I collect "real" knives and "swords" the harder to get, the better. Anyone that knows me, also knows what a big punk rock, heavy metal fan I am, although I certainly don't look the part. It drives me bonkers seeing a lot of goth people spending all that moeny to look scary. To me, the scary guy or gal is the person in a white t-shirt and jeans with a normal face and a killer mind. The one that sits out in the parking lot and conjures up images of killing your family and then sitting down next to your body looking at your photo album. I'm also learning how to cook, which is a lot like President Bush learning how to tell the truth.

CA: How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

EE: I've written 11 manuscripts to date. 5 of them are under contract. My published works that you can order now or find in book stores are TELL ME YOUR NAME, THE RECKONING and GHOST OF A CHANCE. My next book is a comic/graphic novel illustrated by Danielle Serra of Dr. Who fame. It's coming out in March.In July, SNUFF will be released.

I co-wrote the novel with dear friend and journalist, Adam Huber. It's a sick, disgusting and brutally disturbing book that will probably get me thrown out of my country, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

CA: Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?

EE: Good question! Wow! I think it's both really. When I'm writing about vampires, obviously it's imagination, however if I want to do something different with vamps (like I did in THE RECKONING) I draw from real people.

A friend of mine dressed up like Dracula to go to a Halloween Party and he went there in a Mustang. I thought it would be cool to have a vampire going to kill in an old muscle car. Also, I'm infatuated with Mercury and it's poisonous properties. So when I wanted to make different characteristics for my vampires, they bleed mercury out of their eyes.

Most of the "imagery" so to speak comes from dreams, or when people really piss me off, I imagine killing them, and I do so in book form.

CA: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

EE: Even the best make mistakes. Keep writing, honing your craft. Take advice from people like me with a pinch of salt. Try to write the best book you can. Have friends critique it, then kill your friends so they don't steal your book. ( Its happened.) Try to get a good agent, which is much like finding a good attorney. Build your name alongside your books. People tend to think about the author when they're reading.

It's a subliminal psychosis thing. Don't listen to what everyone has to say. Especially people who want to drag you down because they are jelous of your success no matter what modicum of a level it's on. The worst thing about being an author sometimes is other authors. Stay away from pretentious ones who start rattling off how great they are. Writers of genre fiction are for the most part really screwed up. Horror authors especially. You write first for you, then your fans. If you don't like the book you're writing, chances are a lot of people won't either. So write your best book first. Do a lot of signings, they help establish.

Don't get caught up in yourself if you don't have a crowd at your first booksigning. Don't dance a jig if you have 1,000 people there either. Like dating and relationships, you can be up one minute (literally) and crashing to the floor the next noticing your teeth flying out of your mouth like piano keys. It's a serious business. Be prepared to go into rages, crying fits, moments of despair and horror. Moments of joy and revelations. Moments of complete failure. Moments of success no one else is achieving (or so it seems) Moments of sitting up alone late at night with eighteen cups of coffee and a cat at your feet. Moments of total mental breakdown where you see the world not the way anyone else does, and the world doesn't see you at all. Moments of depression.If you know what I'm talking about, you're serious about your career. Writing for a living is a tough life and it's crazy, relentless and I wouldn't have it any other way.And when you start selling a lot of books, do your self a favor and...hide.

CA: How can a reader contact you or purchase your books?

EE: They can contact me through My Space http://www.myspace.com/snuff08 Or through email: horrorwriter76@yahoo.com My books are available on-line and in stores.Eric Enck-

CA: Eric you’re truly a one of a kind. I swear you’re one of the nicest people I’ve ever met, but your books scare the hell outta me!
Here is my review for The Reckoning, Click Here
Here is my review for Snuff, Click HERE