#Authorinterview with Margaret A Millmore @MMillmore

Today I have on my blog another Creativia author, Margaret Millmore.  Welcome and thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.

So, which books do you want to talk about today?

What Haunts Me (Ghost Killer – Book 1) is the introduction to George Sinclair, a seemingly ordinary man in his mid-thirties who suddenly begins to see ghosts and demons. However, the ghosts and demons that wander among the living do not haunt in the traditional sense; instead, they plague the innocent with disease, deformity and addiction. And once a ghost finds its victim, it will haunt them for a lifetime… or kill them quickly. George soon realizes that he can kill these ghouls, relieving their victims of a life of suffering…or imminent death. Unfortunately, this newfound ability is also destroying the life George has carefully built for himself and he must find what and why this is happening to him.

Click on cover to read a preview.

The Edge of the Cemetery (Ghost Killer – Book 2) is the continuing saga of George’s new life as a ghost killer. George now works alongside his new friends and assists the Watchers: an international group of ghost killers and supernatural experts who monitor the world for ghostly sightings and demon infestations to maintain the balance between the living and the dead. When San Francisco and the surrounding area are suddenly plagued by rogue groups of ghosts and demons, the Watchers know it isn’t a random occurrence. The monsters are possessing their victims and once the ghost killers arrive, the demons direct their attention towards them. As George and the Watchers investigate, they discover that a demonic presence is behind the attacks. With the clock ticking against them, they must find the source of the evil and destroy it, before it destroys San Francisco.

Click on the cover to read a preview

What inspired these tales?

The inspiration for the ghost killer series came about because of a strange dream my husband had. He’d dreamt that he was at a friend’s house, their young child had Down syndrome, and was absently focused on something in the room that no one else could see. In the dream, my husband saw two ghosts in the room with them, and that was what the child was focusing on. He picked up a stick and stabbed the ghosts, they swirled away into a grey mist. The dream was pretty detailed and I wrote it all down for later review (I was working on my novel, The Dragonfly Door at the time and couldn’t concentrate on something new), however that dream festered in my mind, and before I knew what was happening, the ghost killer series was born.

Click on the cover to read a preview

Did you have to research for this novel and if so, why?

The books are set in San Francisco, and although I’ve lived here for more than half of my life, there are scenes in the books which take place in areas of the city I rarely go to, or haven’t been in quite some time. I really wanted to do the city justice, so I revisited quite a few of those places to be sure the descriptions were accurate. I also took the SFGhostHunt tour, which was fantastic and helped to spur the story along, the owner and tour guide, Jim Fassbinder (now retired) was also the inspiration for one of my main characters, Phil James. In book 2, I use actual San Francisco history, and that needed to be as accurate as a fictional tale would allow, so quite a bit of research went into that book.

If you did research, what do you think surprised you most to learn and why?

To be honest, the biggest surprise was the discovery of the ghost tour. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t heard of it before, but I’m so glad I did!

What made you write this character; what made them important to you or made you want to tell their story?

I wanted a character that was relatable and likeable, someone normal and hardworking like most of us out there. George fit the bill perfectly. He’s a good guy, works hard, loves his family and friends and even though he’s thrust into a world he doesn’t understand, he takes the bull by the horns and runs with it.

Now, it’s tune to meet your character.  Who are you?

My name is George Sinclair

Are you a fictional or historical character?

Fictional (which is probably a good thing, because if I were real, then the ghosts and demons that haunt are real too…)

What should we know about you?

I’m a good guy and would give my life for my friends and family.

Tell us about your story:  When and where is your tale set?

Its mostly set in San Francisco, although I hear my next adventure is going to traverse the country, but of course, it will end in SF.

What is your personal goal? I mean, what do you ultimately want?

I’d really like to go back to being just a normal guy, but I don’t think that’s ever going to happen.

What is standing in your way? What conflict(s) do you face?

Unfortunately, the dead keep haunting, which means I’ll never be normal again, after all, I can kill them.

I love ghost stories, and this sounds like a series right up my alley.  I’ll have to check it out.  But first, let’s learn more about you, as a writer. 

Who is Margaret Millmore?  What inspired you to start writing?

I dabbled in short (unpublished) stories when I was a kid and continued to make notes about story ideas through adulthood. When I decided to leave my 20+ year career in 2009, I needed something else to do. My husband suggested I try my hand at writing and I’ve been doing that ever since.

What is your favorite book you have written and why?

Definitely the Ghost Killer series. I just really enjoy the way the characters have developed and come together. It’s fun to see what they’ll be up against next. I’m currently working on book 3 in the series, no plot hints at this point, but I will be updating my website and posting updates on my Facebook author page and Twitter feed once I’m far enough long.

What are the best and the worst aspects of writing?

Getting that first draft done is one of the best moments I’ve experienced. There’s a great sense of accomplishment and relief when the story has finally been told (they tend to haunt you day and night until they get out of your head, that can be quite burdensome…). Editing comes in as a close second to the worst…I’m my own worst enemy in that regard, I’m just terrible at it. However, I’ve been fortunate to find an amazing editor and a few beta readers and author friends to assist in getting the product in shape. The worst however, is marketing, I’m really, really terrible at that, but it is a necessary evil, so I try to devote at least one day a week to it.

Are you an Indie Author or are you part of a publishing house?

Both. My first four books were published via World Castle Publishing, and then re-published independently. My fifth book was self-published. The ghost killer series is published with Creativia Publishing.

If you’re self-published, how have you found the experience of being an indie author? What were your highs and lows?

Self-publishing is nice, in that you have complete control over every aspect of your book. But that also means you do everything, from beginning to end (as most self-pub authors know, there is so much involved in getting a book to market and getting the word out about your book). I enjoyed the experience, but I have to say, having an experienced publisher such as Creativia, frees up so much time for writing, and that is really what it’s all about.

What do you enjoy most about being an author?

As Ray Bradbury once wrote, “My stories run up and bite me on the leg – I respond by writing down everything that goes on during the bite. When I finish, the idea lets go and runs off.” The biting process is painful, but the running off process is the best feeling ever.

Do you read books within the genres you write?

Typically, I don’t read books in the supernatural/paranormal genre (although I am a huge Stephen King and Dean Koontz fan). I like mysteries and detective series books and am a huge fan of many Indie authors, in fact I haven’t bought a book by a mainstream author in years.

When you are not writing, what do you do to recharge?

Travelling, dinner and outings with friends or just watching my favorite TV shows, and reading of course, I read anywhere from 5 – 8 books a month.

What makes you laugh?

I think my husband makes me laugh the most – a prime example: this morning I was walking past the bedroom while he was getting ready for work, I heard him say out of the blue “and meanwhile at the Legion of Doom”, no reason for that comment and he was just talking to himself, but I laughed uncontrollably, he does goofy stuff like that all the time, it makes life fun.

What (not who) would you like to take to a lonely island?

My IPad and an internet connection so I could read all the time.

Well, that’s it for the questions, and It’s been a pleasure having you on my blog.  Tell me, how can your readers connect with you?

Twitter     Facebook     Goodreads

Blog / website

Amazon Author Page