Paranormal author Trent Kinsey

I’m pleased to be interviewing Trent Kinsey on my blog today. Trent graduated from high school in May, 1996. Since that time, he has been in the Marine Corp, where he acted as a combat correspondent, public affairs chief, marketing and public affairs chief, and community relations coordinator. Since that time, he has begun working as a web contact manager for Marine Forces Reserves. During his spare time, he writes horror stories and novels. He currently lives in southern Louisiana with his wife and two children.

Trent, can you please share a synopsis of your book, Ghosts of the Storm?

Trent: Sure. Have you ever felt the sense that there's a happily ever after? When Bobby finds his neighbor, Joe, sitting out by the highway during the night a hurricane is making landfall, he is compelled to find out what is going on, because Joe always appears happy. Except tonight.

Bobby finds that Joe's wife, Becky, isn't the love of Joe’s life, but that Amanda, the girl every man in McDavid, Florida, has wanted to be with was once Joe’s lover. And Joe blames himself for Amanda’s death.

Even more concerning to Bobby is that Joe admits seeing the ghost of his lost love, Amanda, dancing in the median of Highway 49. And she wants Joe to join her.

Katie: This book is a paranormal romance and tragedy. What led you to writing in this genre?

Trent: My muse. I know it sounds simple, but I had a troubling experience in my life that caused me to sit out during the beginning of the last named storm we had last hurricane season. Being from Louisiana, we never expect storms in November to do much damage because the putter out by the time they make landfall. When I got back to my house, something told me to write a story about just that experience: sitting out in the storm. I left a note on my desktop pretty much yelling at myself to not forget the night of the storm. Then one day after working out, I sat in the hot tub at my gym reading an anthology and next thing I know my muse is telling me the story in the voice of Bobby. She loves to torment me by giving me great ideas I have to hold onto until I can get to a computer. I got home and began writing and finished the first draft in about two days.

Katie: This book is targeted at the adult age group. Have you always targeted adults in your writing?

Trent: Yes. I tend to be dark with most of my writings as I usually write horror. Targeting adults allows me to not hold as many punches about life.

Katie: I have a new found love for the paranormal romance. It seems like that genre is open to a lot of different writing possibilities. Do you plan on writing others like Ghosts of the Storm?

Trent: Actually yes. I love horror and started my writing career (other than journalism) as a horror writer, but there is something about paranormal romance that can pull all kinds of readers in and the stories are very intriguing when done right. I have one where I plan on bringing a muse to life that is currently in the works.

Katie: Is this your first book? How long did it take you to write it, from concept to print?

Trent: Ghosts of the Storm is actually my fourth story to be published. It took me close to two months before submitting it because I thought I might want to try and extend it to a novel. But I didn’t want to lose Bobby’s narrative so I changed my mind and submitted as is.

Katie: This is an ebook. Have you published others in this format? Why or why not?

Trent: All of my works are available in ebook. I never really knew much about the area of publishing until I began researching for my first submission. It was accepted and next thing I know, I found myself knee deep in the ebook publishing industry. I love both formats, especially when reading in the tub, where an ebook really shouldn’t be, but found that carrying so many books on my phone that I can read anywhere I go is a great thing!

Katie: Did you first pursue traditional publishing, or has it always been your intention to publish this as an ebook?

Trent: Since I really didn’t know anything about ebooks, I began my search for any publisher that my first work fit into its submission criteria.

Katie: What two pieces of advice would you give another author who is interested in publishing their work as an ebook?

Trent: Do your research. It’s always important to find the right home for your stories. And always make sure to check your works for errors before it goes live. That can actually go for both publishing standards, but with the varying opinions about ebooks, anything you can do add to the positive opinions only helps you in the long run.

Find out more about Trent and his books at http://www.TrentKinsey.com, http://www.moongypsypress.com/kinsey.php and http://www.trentkinsey.com/books/ghosts/ghosts.php