This month I had the pleasure of chatting with a wonderful author who took time out of her busy schedule to chat with me.  So, without further delay let’s hear from

Devyn Quinn

Have you always wanted to be a writer and how did you get your start?
I’ve wanted to be a writer since learning how to read. It’s been a lifelong ambition, one pursued through many years. I’m going to assume that your question refers to when I got my start as a professional paid writer. That would have to be when I worked for a small regional newspaper as a reporter. As much as I enjoyed writing local feature articles, my heart has always been with fiction. As for writing fiction, I wrote a couple of gothic novels and several novellas for many small e-publishers before making the transition to New York.

Tell us a little about what makes Devyn tick.
I’m still trying to figure that one out! I suppose you could say all my pets keep me ticking, LOL. I have lots of cats, 4 ferrets and a dog. They keep me pretty busy with their care.

I read you love gothics. What about the genre appeals to you?
I’ve always had a heart and fascination with the supernatural and occult. Plus, I grew up on the gothics of the 70’s. There used to be a line of gothics through Ace, tales of vampires, werewolves and witchery that absolutely captivated me.  I must have read at least a thousand, though I can recall very few titles to this day. And the old television shows, Dark Shadows and the Night Stalker. I still have all my old DS and NS paperbacks wrapped in paper to protect them. Every once in awhile I’ll pull one out and read it, just to remind me why I loved them so much.

You write in several genres, do you have a favorite? Why?
Though I do write contemporary, I prefer dark paranormals—mostly because I like the ideas of shadows lurking in every day life. Most of my books are about ordinary people thrown into extraordinary situations when encountering the occult. It brings out the best—and the worst—in them. How they cope, why they cope, is something I enjoy exploring through my fiction.

How do your characters come to you?
They show up and knock on my brain. One day they are there, like magic. I have no conscious idea where they come from or who they are and why. They just suddenly show up, LOL.

Tell us some of your favorites: foods, music, movies, books, authors, holidays, and any others you would like to share.
Favorite food is Garlic Triscuits. I am absolutely mad for crackers, but Triscuits are the best.

Favorite music is classical. I love Vivaldi, Beethoven and Bach. I also get a charge out of heavy metal, like Ozzy Osbourne or Rob Zombie (gotta love that Living Dead Girl). But I also get a kick out of bubblegum pop, Avril Lavinge, Britney Spears, etc…. I am a sucker for a catchy tune and stupid lyrics.

My favorite authors are Kate Douglas, Morgan Hawke, John Grisham and Stephen King. These writers all have a different and distinct style that entertains. I also read a lot of biographies and history, in addition to all the magazine subscriptions I keep. I never miss a night to read, even if it is only a few pages at a time.

I am not really a holiday person. Any day the post office and banks close is a tragedy in my world. I’d like a 24/7 world.

And pets. I love, love, love cats and ferrets! Can’t have enough even though they are a lot of trouble, especially when you have as many as I do.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
As much as I’d love to say writing is a creative pursuit, writers have to learn to put their art aside and treat it as a cold hard business with a bottom line of the almighty dollar. You not only have to learn to hone your craft, you have to learn how the business works and operate within those parameters.

If you could travel to any place or time where would it be, and why?
I think I would travel to Vienna to meet Beethoven, because my first musical love is and always will be classical music. I would also like to meet Edgar Allen Poe. That would be cool to meet the man who wrote The Raven.

Do you enjoy hearing from your readers and what is the best way to contact you?
I love hearing from readers and I am fairly easy to contact through my website.

How do you promote your work?
Living out in the middle of nowhere, it’s difficult to do a lot of book signings and other appearances (not that I’m in a lot of demand, LOL). However I do try to make sure that readers visiting my website come away with something. Everyone can write and request the free goodies I am often giving away. Not only do I have signed postcards and cover flats, I’ve recently added bookplates, post-it pads and pens. It’s just my way of saying “thanks” to all the readers who buy my books.

When writing do you plan it all out before starting or does the story come to you as you write?
I start with a rough idea and then I just make it up as I go along.

What would a perfect day for Devyn involve?
Easily getting in my 2000 words without a lot of struggle.

What do you do in your free time?
I watch a lot of movies. I love nothing more than renting a DVD and spending a quiet evening with the pets.

What is your perfect writing environment? Do you need absolute peace and quiet or can you write anywhere?
I need music, preferably tunes that fit the theme of the story I am writing.  I also need a set place that I feel familiar with and comfortable in. Out of my space, I can’t write a word, LOL.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
Thanks for the interview. And I hope that people will drop by my site and say hello!