Meet The Authors Showcase Edition #2 (2 of 3)

A showcase with @DaveNite27, author of Dark hedges

1 what inspired the idea of your story?

 The idea came to me as I browsed Pinterest one afternoon. I came across a Photoshopped picture of Dylan O'Brien wearing a varsity jacket (which, turns out, was part of a larger Wattpad photobook LOL) and it all sort of derived from that. I was also heavily influenced by the TV show Fargo, which is one of my favorites. 

2 what is something you struggled with for your story?

 I want to make it heavy on the dark comedy, which is something I'm struggling with. Also, the fact that it's a TeenFic is hard pre se, because it's a genre that I've never written before.

 3 what's the overall response to your story from your readers?

 So far, it's been positive. However, it has very few readers. Since the forums disappeared, I don't really know where to advertise it. I've entered it into some contests, so I'm hoping that will bring forward some new readers. 

4 what did you enjoy writing most of your story?

 I'm really liking the murder/mystery aspects of it, along with the dark humor I'm trying to fill it with. 

5 is your story a stand alone novel or a piece of a series? 

This will be a stand-alone.

 6 what would you like your readers to take away from your story?

 The story is about questions and answers. It's basically about a sense of acceptance that, in life, there will be a lot of questions that you won't be able to answer and that's okay. It's good to have doubts and fears, because you're always discovering new things about yourself. Not having all the answers is what makes life interesting and exciting. It can sometimes be frustrating and terrifying, but you must learn to find the beauty in those mysteries.

7 what advice would you provide to fellow writers, when it comes to focusing on their own stories? 

Trust in your instincts, know what your story is about and what you want to convey with it. And be open to critiques. Don't take them too personally. Use them to improve. 

8 does your main character share any similarities to yourself? 

There's a little bit of me in all of my main characters. Teddy is not the exception. He's stubborn and conceited, like me, but he's also afraid and vulnerable. Most of all, he's also looking for answers and feels that, without them, he can't ever be complete, which is a situation where I found myself at one point in my life.

 9 what's something about your story, you believe would draw in new readers? 

The murder/mystery aspect is something I think readers will find attractive. The romantic plot will also be a huge draw, especially because it's a romance that includes a lot of self-discovery. Like any LGBT relationship that happens during the teenage years, it's not an easy path for the two characters, but the payoff will hopefully make it worth it. 

10 do you have any future projects?

 Yes. I have a sequel planned for my book A Timely Knight, as well as a YA novel with some fantasy elements to it. I'm very excited about both, and I'll get to them as soon as I finish Dark Hedges.