Interview with Naima Haviland, author of Bloodroom and Night at the Demontorium
CURATUS: You guys are going to love Naima. Lovely, intelligent woman and a damned talented writer.
Storyheart: So naima what do you write?
NAIMA HAVILAND: I write horror
Storyheart: Hang on do I need to turn the light on ??
NAIMA HAVILAND: You might, I'm pretty scary!
CURATUS: I would if I were you. heh heh heh
Storyheart:::: reaching back for a fresh clkove of garlic:::
Storyheart: Naima.. So what writings have you produced?
CURATUS: Yes, Naima, do tell us.
NAIMA HAVILAND: My vampire novel Bloodroom was released in April
Storyheart: See I was right to get the garlic
NAIMA HAVILAND: My collection of short stories, Night at the Demontorium came out last October
Storyheart: Are they short horror stories.. like the "tales from the crypt" TV shorts?
NAIMA HAVILAND: Night at the Demontorium is a collection of 4 short stories inspired by my nightmares
CURATUS: What made you want to write horror, Naima?
NAIMA HAVILAND: Well, I've always been fascinated by the dark side. I read horror comics growing up. I watched Dark Shadows and read Edward Gorey books. My parents had Edward Gorey books around before I could read, so I was flipping through those before I could read.
CURATUS: When did you begin to write horror?
NAIMA HAVILAND: I really just messed around writing Bloodroom every now and then in the 90s Then starting 2000, I got serious and put in the time till I finished. I actually started Bloodroom thinking it would be a vampire romance. I always wanted to write romance. But with horror, I found my niche. Still there's a love story in Bloodroom
Storyheart: How do you come by the plot? your nightmares??
NAIMA HAVILAND: Yes, my nightmares are extremely instrumental in my writing
Janet: Some romances are horrors. Ask any abused wife.
NAIMA HAVILAND: Yes, Janet, love is Hell
CURATUS: You remember your nightmares?
NAIMA HAVILAND: Vividly. I had one the other night that hurt terribly and I tasted blood
Storyheart: Do you wake up and right.. or remember in the morning?
NAIMA HAVILAND: I wake up
CURATUS: Are your stories inspired by them, or do you dream the entire plot?
NAIMA HAVILAND: I almost dream the entire story. My challenge by day is to fill them out and make them plausible
Janet: I always dream about my characters and story AFTER I start writing them.
Storyheart: So you dream the plot and pad it out??
NAIMA HAVILAND: I dedicate my book Demontorium to God and thank him for the nightmares. I really do believe they are a blessing in disguise.
CURATUS: I believe that. Have you ever tried to write anything but horror?
NAIMA HAVILAND: Yes, I tried writing romance
CURATUS: And did you have any success?
NAIMA HAVILAND: It is more difficult than it looks, huh Storyheart? Well, when I let Bloodroom stop being primarily a romance, suddenly all my characters got a lot nastier And I had a story that I really liked, because they could be more complex. Bad people have a good side, an endearing side People who are basically good sometimes do evil--- My herione is pretty goody, but she is temperamental and pretty sick of Julian's (secondary lead) weird "habits." And bad people tie themselves up in evil situations that trap them. That happens to Julian in Bloodroom. One reader calls Bloodroom a Shock Romance.
DENISE: Those are your two novels then, Night at the Demonatorium and Bloodroom.
NAIMA HAVILAND: Natalie has knowledge of Julian's existence as a vampire locked in her repressed memory. Julian has to kill her before she remembers. That's Bloodroom. Night at the Demontorium is a book of suburban horrors. What could go wrong in the everyday. Sometimes supernatural, sometimes human evil
CURATUS: Is there anything you're afraid of?
NAIMA HAVILAND: Yes, I'm afraid of murderers. Have nightmares about being killed all the time. Honey, just come inside my head! It ain't easy being me
Janet: Naima, have you ever seen a shrink about that?
NAIMA HAVILAND: They'd lock me away!
Janet: Naima, who is your publisher?
NAIMA HAVILAND: Catalyst Press. Would you like me to rattle on? I could.
DENISE: what format are your books published in?
CURATUS: Give us enough to make us want to read the book but no more <G>
NAIMA HAVILAND: In Julian’s private world, modern innovation meets timeless depravity. Handsome young Andrew, sinking from within. Natalie, the battered ballerina. Julian, bloated and corrupt inside his fine clothes. They are connected more deeply than Nathalie's shattered psyche will allow her to know, for Julian Mouret, their new benefactor, is a vampire.
Janet: Naimi, how is your book selling? Are you rich yet? LOL
NAIMA HAVILAND: Well, I haven't put a down payment on a yacht. Monica keeps track of my sales, if we're talking about the same Monica
DENISE: How do you promote your novels? Do you go to horror cons to sign?
NAIMA HAVILAND: I have a website www.bloodroom.com You can read a first chapter and read the characters' bios. I go to conventions and sell a lot of books that way. I created bookmarks and gave them away at conventions
CURATUS: Will you be at Horror Fest in Orlando this year?
NAIMA HAVILAND: Oh Boy do I wish! It just didn't work out this year, but definitely next year
NAIMA HAVILAND: I plan to approach the local library here and in Charleston, SC where the novel is set. I will approach the library in my home town, too. And mom and pop bookstores. I decided to spend my dough on revamping my website. It's out of date. And designing press kits to take to libraries.
CURATUS: Borders Bookstore is always receptive.
NAIMA HAVILAND: Oh yeah, Borders will hear from me
Peter West: are you having a pro designing the site?
NAIMA HAVILAND: No, my background is Graphic Design, so I'll design it myself. I designed art originally before I got the cover art for Bloodroom and that art is still on my web site. Whenever I travel, I try to get a bookstore to handle Bloodroom, bec. then I can call it a business expense on my taxes. Even if they say no, I can still write it off.
CURATUS: There you go <G>
Peter West: at the conventions you can write that off too
NAIMA HAVILAND: Yep! I try to keep the majority of my time ear marked for writing new stuff, though.You just can't rest on any one piece of work. Especially if you're new. I devote fifteen hours a week to writing and promoting. You can write it off on your taxes if you put in fifteen hours a week.
CURATUS: Don't forget that you can also speak on horror at the bookstores, to writers groups. And, of course, bring along a few of your books.
NAIMA HAVILAND: I find horror movies very inspiring for writing, maybe I could write off my rentals. I try to make my writing as immediate as the visual in a movie.
CURATUS: Did your characters come from your dreams or are they based on people you know? Or both?
NAIMA HAVILAND: My characters often come before the plot. Then I think what would this person do? How will they try to screw something up or somebody over and what will happen because of that? I'm very character oriented. My evil characters are my faves, natch But I like the idea of someone grappling with truly overwhelming odds. I try to show how the story has changed the character by the end of the book
CURATUS: Do you plan a sequel to Bloodroom?
NAIMA HAVILAND: Yes. I am writing a sequel, but it'll be with a twist. You'll see when it comes out! Some of the same characters are unrecognizable, to say the least. I have it fully formed in my head, I'm writing it now. Can't think what to call it! I didn't think up the title Bloodroom till it was nearly finished
CURATUS: Anything but Bloodroom II <G>
NAIMA HAVILAND: too right!
NAIMA HAVILAND: My dad said that he found Bloodroom "gruesome and perverse." Maybe that's what I'll title the next book
CURATUS: Sounds like a successful venture then <G>
NAIMA HAVILAND: It is gruesome, by the way. And perverse. Bloodroom is also pretty stylish. Because I wrote for the fashion industry for so many years, everyone is gorgeous and you always know what everyone is wearing. Daddy also said it was good writing, but I like Gruesome and Perverse the best
Peter West: I think it's a great compliment
NAIMA HAVILAND: Me too
CURATUS: I agree with Peter
NAIMA HAVILAND: I like Ruth Rendell a lot. She develops really excruciating psychological suspense, the characters' predicaments develop because of their own neurotic defenses and it just gets worse until they can't escape.
CindyLynn: Ruth Rendell also writes as Barbara Vine. I am not nearly as good, but I do that somewhat with Bloodroom
NAIMA HAVILAND:Thanks for being the hostess with the mostest, CURATUS!
CURATUS: Always my pleasure, darlin'
Jerry: How can such a sweet person write such devious, creep stuff!
NAIMA HAVILAND: oh boy, Jerry! I am often asked that question! You never know what goes on behind a face. That's the beauty and horror of this world
Jerry: I suppose.
DENISE: What's the most difficult part of writing for you Naima?
NAIMA HAVILAND: Actually WRITING I hate it! I love thinking, dreaming, researching, but writing takes discipline
Jerry: NAI, your interiors descriptions are so lavish. Are you an interior designer? All the posh, trendy furnishings...
NAIMA HAVILAND: No, but I have TONS of Architectural Digests and GH mags And Vanity Fair
DENISE: do you work a 9-5 job?
NAIMA HAVILAND: I do work 9-5. I'd love to write full time, maybe someday . . . I was in the mentor program sponsered by HWA. My mentor was David Prill. He read my short stories and he said, You have definitely got it. Thank you David, you are a Prince among Men
Jerry: I think he was right.
DENISE: what a compliment.
thebubblegumkid: I wish I had a mentor
NAIMA HAVILAND: He is a fantastic writer too, y'all. He wrote Serial Killer Days and many others. Check him out. It is good to have friends who are writers, the advice and encouragement they gave me is immeasurable
Jerry: NAI, do you understand why you are given to horror? That is, from whence the interest?
NAIMA HAVILAND: well, my early influences were horrific. My dad collected comic books– horror comics, Erie magazine, Edward Gorey books. I believe in the little person looking up to a big evil and somehow prevailing. Although, a lot of my people to not prevail
Jerry: MOst of your male characters are real cads. Why?
NAIMA HAVILAND: and I like to write about people who have allowed themselves to forget about the unpredictability of life. By the way, we are closing in on 9, I'll stick around, but if you want to just chat round table like I don't have to stay the "featured guest"
Jerry: How can we purchase "Bloodroom?"
naimahav> You can buy it directly from the publisher on www.catalystpress.net/ You can get it through a link on www.bloodroom.com. You can buy Night at the Demontorium on my site.
Jerry: Cool. Is "Demontorium" in print still?
NAIMA HAVILAND: Demontorium is still in print- a limited supply, though.
SalemJay: I liked Demontarium
Jerry: There is one thing wrong with "Demontorium." Not enough stories!!
NAIMA HAVILAND: AAAhhh
Kimberley: I agree with that!
NAIMA HAVILAND: I had a doozy of a nightmare the other night. Maybe there's a short story collection in it. Wish me "bad night", not good night. My last dream was inhabited by vampire kids, with claws that sprang out and got my hand when I tried to push them away
Kimberley: COOOOLLLL
NAIMA HAVILAND: It hurt and my mouth filled with blood. I could taste it
Kimberley: EWWWW, yet still cool.
NAIMA HAVILAND: you would think so, Kim, you sick little monkey
Jerry: I wonder if vampires ever use Tic Tacs.
NAIMA HAVILAND: that's an interesting thought, Jer. would their breath be fetid from blood?
NAIMA HAVILAND: Kimberly just finished the first draft on her next novel
NAIMA HAVILAND: Is it a vampire novel, Kim?
Kimberley: Yeppers.
NAIMA HAVILAND: Cool
NAIMA HAVILAND: Mina's Journal by Kimberly Zagoren
CindyLynn: Could I make a small announcement? DENISE wrote a nifty book called The Guardian, as you all may know,
NAIMA HAVILAND: Way to go, DENISE!
CindyLynn: and recently a lass named Nina Lake sat down with her character, Lea Netera, and conducted a fabulous interview. You can see it at www.apenandfire.com/ninalake.html :) Please check it out. it's a series of (I hope) interviews with nifty fictional characters. Ok, Now I'll behave myself.
NAIMA HAVILAND: Where do we find The Guardian
Kimberley: That's really neat.
NAIMA HAVILAND: Cool, I wrote it down
Kimberley: What a cool idea.
CindyLynn: Thanks guys for letting me mention it...I'm really excited about it.
NAIMA HAVILAND: I'm glad you did! I haven't had any stalkers
Jerry: Nai, why do you not write in the 1st person?
NAIMA HAVILAND: I wrote The Entrepreneur in 1st person. In Demontorium I didn’t. But, that's a good question. I'm not sure why. I guess I like to look at the person the action is happening to. That may be it
Jerry: I see.
Kimberley: Very hard to write subplot in 1st person. LOL, NI!!!
NAIMA HAVILAND: You had two people change dramatically when they became vampires. I didn't know who to trust! A writing teacher advised if you're having trouble putting words in a character's mouth, imagine what they're feeling.
DENISE: Well, our time is up. If anyone is interested in scheduling chats in here email Netera@aol.com
NAIMA HAVILAND: Thanks for setting this up, DENISE. See you next week for Chandler
DENISE: Looking forward to it. See you all then.