About Author

Alan McGill

Alan McGill
  • Genre:

    Thriller Suspense Mystery Supernatural Suspense Action & Adventure Romantic Suspense Historical Fiction Science Fiction Fantasy Horror
  • Country: United States
  • Books: 4
  • Profession: Author
  • Member Since: Oct 2021
  • Profile Views: 13,371
  • Followers: 232
  • VISIT AUTHOR: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon,
BIOGRAPHY

Being close to my grandparents I grew up hearing tales of WWII and life in a rural coal mining town. Inspired by hero's who always strived to do what is right like the Lone Ranger, Batman and Captain America, I developed a strong desire to tell stories and make people smile. Most of my tales are about people overcoming odds beyond their control with an underlying theme that love is the only thing that defeats evil.

Also, I narrate and produce my own audio books A Cry in the Moon's Light, Red Door, and Father Daniel's Compendium of the Undead. You can find it where most audio books are found.

Alan McGill's Books

Stay in the loop on books by Alan McGill. See upcoming and best-selling books by the author here. You'll also find the deals on books by Alan McGill.
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Book
Red Door (A Cry in the Moon's Light)
$3.99 kindleeBook, Paperback, Audio,
Red Door (A Cry in the Moon's Light)by Alan McGillPublish: Sep 09, 2022Series: A Cry in the Moon's LightThriller Supernatural Suspense Action & Adventure Paranormal Romance Romance Horror more»
A Cry in the Moon's Light
$3.99 kindleeBook, Paperback, Audio,
A Cry in the Moon's Lightby Alan McGillPublish: Oct 30, 2021Series: A Cry in the Moon's LightThriller Suspense Romantic Suspense Fantasy Horror
Father Daniel’s Compendium of the Undead (A Cry in the Moon's Light)
$1.99 kindleeBook, Paperback, Audio,
Father Daniel’s Compendium of the Undead (A Cry in the Moon's Light)by Alan McGillPublish: Oct 30, 2021Series: A Cry in the Moon's LightThriller Romantic Suspense Horror
The Undead Wars: A Cry in the Moon's Light Book Two
$17.99 kindleeBook,
The Undead Wars: A Cry in the Moon's Light Book Twoby ALAN MCGILLPublish: Jan 25, 2024Series: A Cry in the Moon's LightSupernatural Suspense Romantic Suspense Horror

Alan McGill's Series in Order

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Alan McGill's Awards and Achievements

    Alan McGill has earned excellence awards over time. Here is the glimpse of the accolades clinched by the author.

  • Podbean Top 10 in Fiction Drama 2021
    2021

    A Cry in the Moon's Light

    achievement

Alan McGill Interview On 28, Feb 2022

"ALAN MCGILL grew up in rural America with most of his family being coal miners. He has been writing stories ever since he was a paperboy in a small town. He is a storyteller, a narrator, and a podcaster. He lives in Northwestern Pennsylvania with a clowder of cats."
Tell us about your life and your struggles.

I grew up in rural America with most of my family being coal miners. I was close to my grandparents. My father had died when I was 26 at which I found myself a bit adrift for a while. Not long after that, my best friend died in a motorcycle crash. Writing became a cathartic way for me to immerse myself in other worlds. I have a passion for animals and had five dogs not long ago. One by one, each passed due to old age or illness. I found myself writing again to compensate for the loss of their friendship. Now I live with four cats who help me write by laying on my keyboard or walking in front of my monitor.

How passionate are you about writing?

I think of myself more as a storyteller than writer. I enjoy being entertained with a good story whether it is in books, tv, movies, podcasts, radio, or another type of medium. I love telling a good story using a variety of different methods, writing is just one of. My books are also audiodramas. Not simply an audiobook that is narrated, but they are a hybrid of old-radio and a play with sound fx and music. In addition, I also produce the artwork that accompanies the books. One of my books is a combination artbook and guidebook to the entire horror fantasy world I created. So, combined with the podcast audiodrama, the novel, and the artbook, the audience can get a fully immersive experience. The only thing I lack is visual motion.

How long have you been writing and what inspired you to become a writer?

I’ve been writing stories ever since I was a paperboy in a small town. I would tell myself stories on my route to pass the time. Some of those I wrote down but never did anything with them. Before the pandemic, I had a story idea that I wanted to tell for a long time. I began working on the concept when I remembered I had my current story finished. So, I decided to produce it first.

How did you get the idea for your first book?

The first book I wrote was never published. It was about a private investigator in a futuristic world who goes about solving a series of murders. It is complicated by an old girlfriend who is smack in the middle of it all. At the time I wrote it, there were a lot of these type of stories in the headlines. I always liked detective mysteries and thought it was an interesting concept.

While choosing a name for your character, what aspects do you consider that determines what you finally call them?

For my main character, the heroine, I kept her name hidden through the entire first book. She is only referred to as mi Lady. This is her proper title in society at the moment and time we encounter her. I do reveal her name in the artbook as well as the prequel novella I have coming out. I wanted something elegant, yet strong as she become a warrior in book two of the trilogy. Her love interest needed something strong and feeling as if it matched her.

The others are largely based on their role in the story itself. I have an anti-hero type named Colonel Voelker. He is a Hessian Soldier and you are never quite sure if he’s good or evil. I came up with the name as it sounded strong with heavy consonants to imply his heritage. I have another villain in the prequel novella named Bouchard. I came up with that name toying with syllables, but I wanted something that sounded like a murderous road agent type.

How did you come up with the idea for your book, A Cry in the Moon's Light?

I was playing an online game called Utopia that involved picking a kingdom to command. There were several races to choose such as Humans, Avian, Dwarf, Elf, Halfling, and Undead. I always selected the undead. In the game there is a message board between your kingdom mates. I used to create these elaborate stories about my undead army and their triumphs.

This sparked my interest in the horror drama theme. I found the stories most of my kingdom mates liked most involved a romantic element. I didn’t want to do another vampire story, so I decided on the werewolf being the central monster. I also believe in the concept of true love. When you love someone so purely their happiness, wellbeing, are all that matters. No jealousy, no envy, just a giving love. I thought this would make the perfect element in a werewolf story. I know my intention for this concept in the story, but I leave it to the reader to decide what that means in the story itself.

Have you ever modeled any characters after your best friends?

No I haven’t done that in my current book. In book two I wrote myself as a character. The name is the same but spelled a little different. In the end the character ended up being less like me than I intended. In my future work, I am using my great grandfather, grandmother and my nine great-aunts and uncles as the central characters in the book.

How do you choose which stories to tell?

I started with A Cry in the Moon’s Light simply because I knew I could narrate the story myself. I put it out first as an audiodrama podcast to test the stories likability. The podcast did so well it achieved being listed as the Top 10 Fiction Drama for 2021 on Podbean, I decided to publish the novel. Fans were asking for more, so I wrote the second book which I intend to publish late this year or next year. I decided to publish the prequel novella as a podcast audiodrama and novel. This tells the story of how the main characters fell in love as well as how the Black Wolf first comes to hate them. Once I have these released, I intend to finish my original work with the story involving my family.

Do you ever get writer’s block ?

I’m not sure if it’s writer’s block, but I get stuck sometimes. I usually do a very rough outline of where I want the story to go and decide how I want to get there. But during the storytelling, I come up with new ideas and those can sometimes be a struggle to figure out how I need to get my characters moving forward. I usually take some time to think about the story while cutting grass, driving, or some other activity where my mind can wander.

Do you have a special time or place for writing?

I like to write in the morning or afternoon. Although if I am on a roll, I will go into the evening and night. My favorite place is my home office. I prefer my desktop which is also my podcast studio. My nerd wall is on two sides of me with an eclectic collection of things I enjoy. Everything from my autographed batmobile signed by Adam West and Burt Ward, to my Zombie Captain America custom made by Mike Smash. I have framed comics I love, as well as so much artwork on the walls along with action figures, bobble heads, mugs, die cast cars, you name it.

What does the word “story” signify for you?

It means a good tale that immerses the audience to a new place and time. Something that makes you forget the here and now.

Do you have a “reader” in mind while writing?

Other than someone who enjoys the genre, not really. If the reader is hypercritical of things and easily distracted by elements that don’t matter, it’s probably not for them. The readers I have in mind are ones who want to sit back and enjoy, not spend their time looking for flaws. They also have to be a bit patient. I don’t reveal everything right away. Some things, questions, become clearer as the story unfolds. I also don’t explain every little thing. I think a good mystic to stories keeps them interesting.

Who is the first person to read the first draft of your books?

I don’t really have one person. Sometimes its friends, other times its my editor.

Are you currently working on anything?

Yes. My prequel novella “A Cry in the Moon’s Light: Red Door” is being polished now. The publishing company will get it in a few weeks. It will have several illustrations in it as well. We are hoping for a release in late spring early summer. I am also in the process of producing the audiodrama as a podcast. I am narrating and playing several characters, but this year I have hired a couple of voice actors to play other roles, and they sound amazing. This will be released along with the novella of the same name. The second book in the trilogy is written, but I am looking to put that together later in the year.

Lastly, I continue to work on the story involving my family set in the coal industry in western Pennsylvania. This will be a historical fiction drama. Plenty of action and a touch of horror, although probably not fantasy or supernatural. I haven’t decided yet.

When did you join AllAuthor? What has your experience been like?

I joined about six months ago with the release of A Cry in the Moon’s Light and the accompanying artbook, Father Daniels Compendium of the Undead. The experience has been great. I enjoy the cover contests and all the authors featured. Certainly need the help getting noticed as an independent, self-published author so I am thankful this service is there to help get us noticed.

Ask Alan McGill a Question

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      • Alan McGill Alan McGill 2 years ago
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      • I'm not really sure to be honest. But a couple of those that have read some advanced copies of my current trilogy have said it reminded them of Dean Kootnz. Seems like high praise that I haven't earned yet, but that is their overall impression.
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    • AllAuthor AllAuthor 2 years ago
      Allauthor
    • Have you ever incorporated something that happened to you in real life into your novels?
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      • Alan McGill Alan McGill 2 years ago
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      • Yes, not so much in the current works I am putting out. But in future books that are being planned have many things that are derived from real life situations.
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      • Alan McGill Alan McGill 2 years ago
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      • I'll be able to answer this a little more thoroughly later as the books are not out just yet. But, I did produce the first book as an enhanced audiobook podcast. I received about 100 comments. Only a few had some minor negative comments. I don't give negative reviews on art much weight. Opinions vary so much. What one person enjoys another does not and vice versa. I never give a negative review on any artform because of this reason. I would not want to take away the possible enjoyment of something for someone else simply because I don't like it. I think negative reviews should be reserved for services or businesses, government etc.
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    • AllAuthor AllAuthor 2 years ago
      Allauthor
    • If you could choose three people to invite for a dinner party, who would they be and why?
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      • Alan McGill Alan McGill 2 years ago
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      • The question doesn't specify if they are living or deceased nor real or fictional. I'll assume they are real or at least, were a real person and not a character. So based on that premise I would start with Adam West. I met him once at a comic book convention, a few years before he passed. He was very gracious and kind to me and his fans. I would have liked to talked with him more. The second person would be Larry David. I always admired his comedy and when you are at a dinner party you need to have somebody lightening the mood. I image I would be laughing the entire time. My grandfather. I would like to have heard more of his stories.
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    • AllAuthor AllAuthor 2 years ago
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    • How do you think concepts such as Kindle, and e-books have changed the present or future of reading?
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      • Alan McGill Alan McGill 2 years ago
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      • It's a lot easier to carry 100 books on a Kindle than in a backpack. This allows readers to enjoy more books in a wide range of places. The story is the same, but I think there is a loss in the overall feel of a book when it is in an electronic format. The artwork isn't quite the same and for me that quality of the work is lost. Comic book being the best example or perhaps an illustrated book.
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      • Alan McGill Alan McGill 2 years ago
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      • These are very important pieces to the overall marketing of the book. For me, if I have no knowledge about the author or story itself, then the cover and title draw me or repel me from the art. They draw new readers in along with a good blurb, then the story has to up to the task in keeping them there. I love artwork. I enjoy working with the artists and designers to create the covers. I always remember the lesson of Conan the Barbarian. The book did modestly well at first. It wasn't until they put Frank Frazetta's rendering of Conan that the book took off. The importance of these elements cannot be overstated. It's hard to know what will tickle the masses, it can be something simple or sophisticated. Sometimes you just have to experiment.
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      • Alan McGill Alan McGill 2 years ago
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      • I listened to stories from my grandfather and grandmother about their lives from the time I was little. My maternal grandfather was in the Navy in WWII and at Normandy. My grandmother worked in a potato chip factory. My paternal grandmother grew up in a coal mining town and later moved to Manhattan with her sisters right after the Great Depression. They all told humorous and gritty tales of their lives. I am sure the love of storytelling came from them and their adventures. Although they would just call it living. This sparked my imagination and I found myself telling stories from an early age. From the time I was 10 years old I would be weaving imaginative journey's over multiple genres. Most I never published until now.
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      • Alan McGill Alan McGill 2 years ago
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      • Although it is probably a bit cliche, I truly do feel a sense of accomplishment when someone reads one of my stories and enjoys it. I would like to cover the costs of my production but if readers find themselves lost in the story and enjoying themselves for a short period of time, that is success to me.
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      • Alan McGill Alan McGill 2 years ago
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      • I would tell him to edit, edit, edit early. Save often, save early too. And get all the pieces assembled early too. Finish the story. Get the cover, artwork, marketing strategy, promo's, all done early so when you decide to launch it is all there and you can pick a date without rushing. The second thing would be, save your money to hire a professional editing and layout designer under one banner. Having a really good editor will make the product look that more appealing and professional. Reader deserve a good story and professional looking book. They are not promised a best seller or the greatest story ever told, but it is reasonable for them to expect a professional job even if they don't like the story itself.
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