About C.R. Drakeloch:
My name is Christopher Riddle, but I go by the pen name C.R. Drakeloch. I am 27 years old, soon to be 28 on Earth Day, and I am a novelist who was born and raised in Central Missouri. Growing up I always had a very vivid imagination. I often liked to draw, and whenever I would draw I would often end up dictating a story for whatever was going on in the scene. This I think, was probably the spark for what would eventually lead me to become the author I am today.
What inspires you to write?
The things which inspire to me to write the most, are unsurprisingly, the interests I grew up with. Animals, history, mythology, folklore, and things such as that. I grew up with a forest right behind my house, so it's no surprise that nature and animals make repeat apperances in my novels. And I suppose it's also no surprise that magic and spiritualistic elements appear as growing up in catholic, faith-driven environment drove me to be inspired and to see the world in a way that is something more than just we can register in a material manner. I feel there is something…powerful, in the unknown. Something which pulls at the primal instincts of man. Whether it inspires awe or fear.
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
Well, Brian Jacques of course, as he was the one whose book Rakkety Tam, first got me into writing. Also C.S. Lewis and Tolkien were major contributors, as well as Terry Brooks. The descriptiveness and detail Brooks used in his works, especially showed me how I could improve as an author, and how descriptive details could make a story all the more enthralling.
Tell us about your writing process.
My writing process is very much without structure. This isn't to say that for me, I haven't tried using outlines and the structures that are taught in English classes. However, I keep going back to just letting the story develop itself. Letting the characters grow on their own, as I've found it allows the characters to have their distinct flaws and characteristics. It makes them seem more genuine. Not to mention I see a story as a simulation of life. Our lives are not perfectly structured. They are constantly changing and expanding. And through that thought process, I take the same approach to my writing. The story constantly grows and changes, taking it's own path.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Interestingly enough, I do both. Seeing as how the characters gradually become like real people to me, I do hear them talking to me, as crazy as that probably sounds, while I'm writing. No I'm not schizophrenic. But what I'm saying, is when you spend enough time developing a character, writing their personalities and their appearance and their dialogue, you do start to hear them and even talk to them a little, wondering how they want their part of the story to play out next.
What advice would you give other writers?
I would have a few pieces of advice for other writers. First, know what genre works for you. Fiction writers? I honestly believe we're 50% inner child, 50% professional liar, and 10% a little crazy. But that's the case with any artist, I think. You have to be a little out there, a little different to do any artistic profession. For non-fiction writers, you have to be able to combine that same sense of artistic nature and creativity with research and dedication to the facts. The thing both have in common, is you have to have persistence, dedication. And the understanding that there will be days where you have to push through that feeling of wanting to scream at a project, and where you ask yourself, "Why am I doing this?" Because if you can get through those days, it really is worth it in the end.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
Research. That really is what it comes down to. You have to honestly look at your wallet or purse or pocketbook, or whatever you use, and ask yourself what format is best? For me, the self-publishing format was best, because it was the most cost effective and it gave me the most control over my book. I was able to set my own pricing, create my own cover. The only downside, was I didn't have the business sense. So I had a struggle getting my presence out there, until I met my agent. Had I gone traditional, I could've had an agent represent me to a publishing company, but typically an agent in that instance gets a 15% cut of the advance, and you don't even know if your book will sell or if you will make more money. And you can end up sinking 10-15000 into it. Same with hybrid, you can sink 14000 in and not even know if your book will sell. It's why I'm satisfied with my situation, because I have representation and a chance at selling books at an affordable cost. If you have a low budget, I would advise using self-publishing because it at least increases the chance of your book getting seen by a representative at a lower cost.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think it depends on the format we are discussing. I think, given the recent increase in price for materials like ink, paper and such, and the increased popularity of e-books and audiobooks, especially of sites like Amazon and Spotify, that we're seeing a trend of e-book publishing become more popular than print publishing at least with the younger generation. I know the generation older than me, still enjoys print books. And I do as well. I'm one of those who just likes the feel of a physical book as I turn the pages. But nostalgia aside, I do feel we are seeing fewer and fewer bookstores, as a sign of changing times.
What genres do you write?: Post-apoc, high fantasy, sci-fi, dark fantasy, alternate history, alternate reality
What formats are your books in?: eBook, Print, Both eBook and Print
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All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
