Interview with R. G. Porter

Today, I have an interview with prolific fantasy author R. G. Porter, author of the DARKNESS UNLEASHED and DEMON’S GATE series of paranormal novels, as well as the upcoming GUARDIANS OF NATURE series. Mrs. Porter has hit on a very successful formula and—as evidenced from the sheer number of books she’s written—is making a huge impact on the indie scene.

Without further delay, here is the interview you’ve all been waiting for.

Could you tell us about yourself and your writing?

Well, I’ve lived from the midwest to the far south and now I reside in Texas for the moment. I work fulltime during the week and write whenever I can get the chance. I’ve loved writing for as far back as I can remember. I love the feeling of immersing myself in creating a word, a conflict and seeing the characters resolve their issues.

I see on your Amazon page that you write about werewolves and vampires and magic worlds. Is there one world in which you write all your stories or does each story have its own unique universe?

Each of my series has their own world created. This allows for a greater ability to evolve it in its own way and path. Some things are taken from the world I see around me, but much of it is from my imagination.

How did you become interested in the paranormal?

Ever since I was a kid I found that the things that could not be explained could be the most fascinating. I’d listened to friends families talk about occurencs that happened to them and things they could not put a real world answer on. Besides, it’s much more interesting to believe there is more out there than we can see with the naked eye.

What interactions have you had with your readers?

I try to talk to any reader that approaches me. From Facebook to twitter to my blog. I am always open to talking with those who have read my work. It is there for them and because of them.

Is there any theme in your writing you keep coming back to?

There is quite a bit of good vs evil that is done. Though it varies from storyline to storyline, I think it is something that most people can relate to.

Is there a message you want the world to hear through your writing?

Through many of my books it is mostly going to be that through perserverance, one can find a way to get through anything, but that you must not fear relying on others. Now, there is a new book coming out soon that addresses a much larger issue of the inbalance mankind is causing to Earth. It will be covered in my Guardians’ of Nature series that will be released next month.

Are you a pantser or a plotter (outliner)?

I started out as a pantser, but have since started to incorporate both ways of writing. I will do very rough outlines/workups of what the novel will cover, but it is only a guideline. The story itself, still unfolds as I write.

If you could make a movie based on your writing, would you, or do you prefer to tell your stories through the written word? (If you would make a movie, who would you cast and would you want to direct?)

Most of my novels are best as novels. Something would definitely get lost if they tried to adapt it to film. With that said, my horror novel that I’m going to be releasing would be fantastic as a movie. It is one of those books that while I’m writing it I can see it unfold as a movie in my head. Now most of my books I do that anyway, but this one was beyond vivid. As for who would play in it, that might be a bit more tricky. I know for the male lead, I could see Karl Urban perfectly as Andrew.

What lessons have you learned from self-publishing?

That the work never stops. An author has to be very vigilant and disciplined if they are going the indie route. From keeping their own deadlines, to finding the right editor, to making sure that the cover artist knows what they are looking for. Even the marketing aspect is a never ending job. But in the end, it is worth every bit of time and energy invested, because the end result is the happiness and wonder our readers can find in the stories we create for them.

Who / what are your creative influences?

Anything and everything for me. I tend to look at everything and try and find ways to describe it in my head. I listen to people and watch the interactions they have. If you love to write you can find that inspiration to set off the creative juices in just about anything you see.

 

You can find out more about R. G. Porter by visiting her website and her blog.