Allen Stanfill Interview Published on: 26, Jul 2019
Where did you grow up? What were your favorite TV shows as a child?
I grew up in Manila, Arkansas, a little small town with around 1,000 people. I had many favorite TV shows growing up, Step by Step, Family Matters, Superman, Power Rangers, etc.
Where do you live? Do the place and its characteristics appear in your writing in any way?I live in Powell, Wyoming, a big step from the small town from so many years ago. Can't say that it does, the characteristics from the small town of Arkansas is in my stories though.
What did books and writing mean to you as a child? Is anyone else in your family involved in the literature field?Even as a kid I enjoyed reading and writing, I did write a few short stories back in the day. None of my family members was into that kind of stuff, guess I was different in that area.
What are the other activities apart from writing you like to indulge in your free time?Apart from writing, I do enjoy fishing, hiking, and flying kites with my two kids.
It is very important to have your work-life and personal-life balance out. If you're so caught up in your work you will miss out on the important things in your personal life.
What inspired the character of Joe Frost in ‘Inside The Midnight Hour’?I watch a lot of detective shows and the name Joe Frost just came to me in the middle of one of those shows as well as his attitude and swagger.
What is it about the mystery genre that you enjoy writing it so much? Do you plan to explore any other genres in the future?It's exciting to write about something the readers are into, especially figuring out who the killer is before the detective can. Leaving clues and hints in certain parts of the book is my favorite part. Exploring writing fantasy at the moment.
Who was your favorite character to write in the Killer In The Woods? Who was the most challenging?Bobby was my favorite character to write about in Killer In The Woods and the most challenging.
What is one thing that has changed after being an author? Do you miss anything?Nothing has changed yet anyways. Can't say that I do.
Who were your inspirations for the characters Albert and Bobby in "Killer In The Woods"?I watch a lot of horror movies, such as Friday The 13th, Nightmare On Elm Street, etc. That is where I got my inspiration from for those two characters.
The mystery is a genre many new writers are exploring. How do you plan to reach the readers in such competition?Try and bring a different approach, something fresh to the mystery genre.
‘Children Of The Cursed’ has a wonderful cover for the book. Who designed it? How important do you think covers are for good marketing of a book?Thank you, I think it's a great cover as well. An artist from Next Chapter Publishing did the cover art. I think a good book cover is very important if you don't catch the eye of the reader you're not going to have very good book sales.
Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with your readers about?Right now I am working on another fantasy book called The Tomb Of Carnage the second part to the Children Of The Cursed series.
How do you feel about the rise in digital books in recent years?Digital books may be on the rise and that's not a bad thing at all. But in my opinion, you can't beat a good paperback book.
What were some of the challenges you faced on the road to publication? How has been your experience working with AllAuthor?The biggest challenge I faced was getting past the rejection letters but I picked myself up dusted myself off and didn't give up. Working with AllAuthor has been great, my books have gotten in front of many eager readers.
