At Gothic Bite Magazine we love welcoming new patients to become part of our asylum. We question them and learn about them. It doesn’t matter what creative field they are part of because they’re our patient now. This week, we welcome Indie Author Karolyne Cronin!

Patient Name: Karolyne Cronin

I’m from St. Louis, Missouri, but I have lived and traveled most of the United States. I went to London last year and was inspired to spin more tales. It was a trip of a lifetime. I would love to go there again. 

I fell in love with horror and gothic tales when I was five and saw Vincent Price recite The Raven. At nine, I read Stephen King’s Pet Sematary, confirming to my mom that I was just as weird as the rest of the family. My love of this genre doesn’t come from the joy of being scared. It comes exploring the dark nature of the world. 

Horror seems to come naturally for me because I suffer from chronic nightmares. Been like that for most of my life. Writing the situations that my mind creates is a way of coping with that. The significant side benefit is that people seem to enjoy these tales. 

VISIT KAROLYNE CRONIN’S WEBSITE!

 The Questioning

ALEXA WAYNE (A.W.): When did you find out you would want to write novels?

KAROLYNE CRONIN: The summer before I started high school. We had just moved, and I didn’t know anyone. For some reason, they were showing all five versions of the Canterville Ghost on cable every time I turned on the T.V. (I think there are seven now?)

There was something about how each version interpreted the story that made me want to try my hand at it. I grabbed my mom’s electric typewriter and started banging away at the keys. It seemed like the natural thing to do.

A.W.: Which genre would you think you write, and what category is best to describe your writing?

KAROLYNE CRONIN: I think I tend to be a mix of gothic, horror, and urban fantasy. I would have to say eclectic is the best way to describe my writing.

I will toss angels, fae, and shapeshifters in the same story. Whatever feels right to move the plot along. 

FOLLOW KAROLYNE CRONIN ON FACEBOOK!

A.W.: You mentioned to me your work, all set in paranormal or Gothic settings, would you let our readers know why you are more attracted to that genre?

KAROLYNE CRONIN: I love that setting because it helps us explore the darker side of ourselves in the safety of a book. There are no limits except our imagination. 

A.W.: When writing about paranormal, do you do research, and if so, how far do you go with your research?

KAROLYNE CRONIN: Yes. I research everything. It doesn’t matter how small the detail. A novel that I’m working on is based in Wales.

I don’t live in Wales, but I went to Twitter and started asking people that live there what it was like. They were pretty open once they got used to my random oddball questions. 

A.W.: What is most important to you when writing your novels?

KAROLYNE CRONIN: Music. I have playlists for everything. It gets me into the mindset I need to be in to explore the world that I’m creating. 

A.W.: Which authors influenced your writing?

KAROLYNE CRONIN: Poe, King. Koontz, Stoker, Gaiman, to name a few. I could go on for days about authors that influenced me. 

A.W.: Which of your novels is your favorite, and why is it your favorite?

KAROLYNE CRONIN: Beauty by Robin Mckinley. It was an exciting take on the Beauty and the Beast story. It left a significant impact, and I still read it once a year.

The story helps remind me that even Beauty had doubts about her self-worth, and that helps me put my life into perspective. 

FOLLOW KAROLYNE CRONIN ON TWITTER!

A.W.: Do you believe in the paranormal, by that I mean in hauntings, that there are creatures out in the wild we still don’t know the existence of?

KAROLYNE CRONIN: Yes, I do. I live in St. Louis. Probably one of the most haunted cities that no one talks about. Home of the Lemp Mansion and Zombie Road. 

A.W.: What was your reaction when you learned a publisher wanted you as part of their authors? / What made you decide to be self-published? 

KAROLYNE CRONIN: I work with an independent publisher. I’ve known her for years. I actually went to her and told her that I wanted to publish it with her.

She misheard me and thought I wanted her help with submitting my stories into a more mainstream publishing company. Once I clarified that I wanted her to publish my stories, there was much jumping for joy on both sides.

I went with her because I trusted her and knew that she would be honest with me when I asked her opinion about my writing. 

A.W.: What sets you apart from other paranormal and Gothic authors?

KAROLYNE CRONIN: I don’t really try to compare myself to other others. I like to tell a good tale. I do want to think that I’m good at surprising my readers. With my stories, nothing is as it seems. 

FOLLOW KAROLYNE CRONIN ON INSTAGRAM!

A.W.: What can readers look forward to from Karolyne Cronin in 2020?

KAROLYNE CRONIN: I already have a short story in a horror anthology titled Dark Conjurings. Planning on a novella called Bedlam coming out in May. Finishing up my first full novel, and hoping that will come out later this year.  

If you enjoyed this interview, come back each week for other interviews with authors, editors and more! We love welcoming new patients! If you are a creative yourself, go to our CONTACT section and send us an email to become part of our asylum!

Until next time…enjoy the bite!