Dr. K's Waiting Room

– First, introduce yourself a bit. What is your name (or pen name) and where are you from?

E.C. Hanson. I grew up in Monroe, CT. I relocated to Salem, Mass in the fall.

– Next, tell us a bit about your most recent work. Is this your first published book? What is it about and what genre would you classify it as?

Fake Somebodies/Real Nobodies. It is a collection of previously published stories. Although I tossed in a couple of new tales.

– What was your hardest scene to write in this (or any) book?

I am in final edits on a novella. There is a scene involving the act of suicide. I want to honor the reality of such a difficult moment and, if nothing else, capture some degree of truth. It means too much to me to get it wrong.

– Did you go the traditional route when publishing your book or did you choose to self-publish?

My first two books were with publishers. But I self-published this one to gain some new perspective on the entire process. I have to say that I love it.

– What would you say is the most difficult part of your writing journey and what advice would you give to other writers?

The best advice I can give is to write and read something every day. It could be one poem. It could be notes for a synopsis. It could be the drafting of a cover letter. If you take one step daily, you will eventually have some degree of success.

– Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?

I am about to finish a novella called The Clairvoyant. It is a spinoff novella from the main storyline in my debut collection called All Things Deadly (Salem Stories). It is too early to tell whether or not I will continue with the Frost family. But I had some unfinished business.

– Who are some of your favourite authors, what are some of your favourite books, and what inspired you to become a writer in the first place?

Sylvia Plath, Saul Bellow, Ernest Hemingway, Francine Prose. None of them are horror writers, haha. I took a playwriting elective in college. A day or two after I started the course, the professor said, “You should do this.”

– What would you say has been the best way to market your books?

Oh man. I try to promote the work of others. I really do. More than myself at times. But you have to hustle. Contact libraries and bookstores about events. Reach out to those that do podcasts. Swing away over and over. Someone is bound to say yes.

– Are there any tropes, clichés, or writing styles that you dislike and, if so, what are they and why?

I don’t like flowery language. I like spare prose that gets to the point and keeps the narrative moving.

– Do you read reviews of your book and, if so, how do you handle negative feedback?

I do. I am seriously grateful to anyone that tries one of my books. They gave their time. The only criticisms I dislike towards my work (or that of others) is when they say, “I could write something so much better than this.” Fine. Not debating it. But that’s a vague review. Put your work out there then. In this day and age, you can get your work out there for many to see. Put yourself in the firing line and then reflect on how you review a book. If someone says they hate my characters, prose, and dialogue, I would be fine with it. Why? Because it was strictly about the contents of the book. My work isn’t for everyone. I accept that.

– What are some of your quirks as a writer? Do you like to plot everything out or do you prefer to just “wing it” and see where the story takes you? Do you listen to music when writing and, if so, what do you listen to?

My background in playwriting allows me to wing it. But I like to make a scene list and then drift towards or away from that. It’s a light framework, so to speak.

– What is the best advice you’ve ever had when it comes to writing and what advice would you give to new writers?

Write and share. Write and share. There are so many writers that are better than me and they are afraid of trying/sharing their material with the world. Some might hate your work, but a few here and there might be inspired by it. Those people are worth it in my eyes.

– What’s next for you? Are you currently working on any new books or stories?

I hope to release The Clairvoyant. Also, I wrote a book with Mark Towse called Mischief Night. We are currently trying to land a publisher.

15. Finally, feel free to plug your social media, website, and links to Amazon, GoodReads, and other relevant sites below, and detail any current offers available for your book/s:

• Amazon
• Goodreads
• Instagram