This week we welcome psychological thriller author, L.A. Brink to the website! I’m a HUGE thriller fan myself, so I’m definitely adding her novel, Unstable, to my to-be-read (TBR) pile!
L.A. Brink is a writer from Illinois with a Bachelor’s degree in photography from Illinois State University, but she has always had a passion for writing. Brink lives with her husband and two sons. She writes any chance she can get.
Q: When did you first catch the writing bug? What drove you to persist?
A: When I was really little I used to cut out paper squares and staple them together to make little stories. I also ended up winning the young author award in first grade, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I came back to writing and really felt like it was something I was meant to pursue.
Q: Does writing energize or exhaust you?
A: When I am on a roll with the story and everything is coming together in my head it energizes me. I get really excited about the story I’m creating and usually end up telling my husband everything I just added and plan to add.
Q: If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
A: I would tell her that she should have pursued writing way earlier and that it was okay to consider it for a career choice.
Q: Do you have an all-time favorite writer, or does your favorite change over time? Who is your favorite writer today?
A: Honestly, my favorite writer has changed as I’ve gotten older. The authors I used to read as a child or young adult are not the authors I read today. I’m very much a mood reader so my choice of genre changes with my mood. Some of my favorite authors are B.A Paris, A.J. Finn, Freida McFadden, Constance Sayers, Erin Morgenstern, Rebecca Yarros, and Raven Kennedy.
Q: What is your favorite genre to read? Do you write in that genre? Has that always been your favorite genre, or has your taste evolved as you have grown as a writer?
A: My favorite genre is thrillers so my first book was in fact a thriller. Lately I’ve really enjoyed fantasy books so the book I’m working on now is actually a fantasy.
Q: What does “literary success” or success as an author look like for you?
A: Just having my books in stores and people taking the time to choose my book out of so many others. It really means the world.
Q: What kind of music or sounds do you like to listen to as you write, or do you prefer complete silence?
A: I need complete silence when I write.
Q: How many hours a day do you write?
A: I generally write an hour a day after my kids go to sleep. I wish it could be more, but for now I do what I can.
Q: How do you select names for your characters?
A: I’m not sure if I really select them. Their names sort of come to me as if it’s who the character always was.
Q: Do you read your book reviews? How do you handle those reviews, whether good or bad?
A: I do. I love reading the good ones, it makes me feel like I’ve got it right. The bad ones hurt a little, but I try to not let it affect me. If it’s good criticism I’ll take it and work on it for the next book.
Q: What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
A: Probably the editing. I print out the entire book and read through it. Then I hand write all of my changes in a separate notebook before typing.
Q: Does your family support you as a writer?
A: Absolutely! They’ve been an incredible source of support—reading my drafts and providing invaluable feedback, watching the kids to give me more time to write, and attending nearly every one of my signings. My husband has been my greatest champion, always encouraging me to keep going, even during the moments when I felt like giving up.
Q: How long (on average) does it take you to write a book?
A: A couple years. I’m a mom first.
Q: Do you believe in writer’s block? If so, how do you break through it and begin writing again?
A: Absolutely! It differs from time to time but sometimes I have a glass of wine… when I’m able. Or I read a book in the genre I’m writing.
Q: Why did you choose to write in your genre? If you write in more than one, how do you balance them?
A: I’m a passionate fan of psychological thrillers, and as someone who has experienced the terror of sleep paralysis first-hand, the story naturally unfolded from that fear. As for my fantasy story I’m working on now, I read a couple of books that I absolutely loved and I couldn’t find anything that I felt was similar. So I decided to write one.
Q: How long have you been writing?
A: Almost 4 years now, but I’ve always had stories in my head that I just never wrote down.
Q: What did you enjoy most about writing your most recent book?
A: I enjoy all of the characters and feeling like I get to be a part of their journey.
Q: What is the most important thing that people DON’T know about your subject/genre, that they need to know to properly understand and fully appreciate it?
A: I guess that would be the sleep paralysis aspect. Most people have never heard of it. To really get sucked into my book, they would have to realize how utterly frightening and REAL those occurrences can be and feel.
Q: What inspires you to keep writing?
A: My love for telling stories and also my kids. I want them to see that it’s okay to follow their dreams
Q: What process did you go through to get your book published?
A: I self published. So there was a huge learning curve. It was a lot of hands-on back-and-forth emailing with editors and formatters to make sure I received exactly what I wanted.
Q: What makes your book stand out from the crowd?
A: The sleep paralysis aspect as well as the cover. I created the cover myself. The bloody handprint on the canvas is my actual handprint, and the photo was taken in my sister’s basement.
Q: What other books would you recommend to our readers in addition to your own?
A: I would recommend Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris, Never Lie by Frieda McFadden, The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Connect with the author
Now available in print and on Kindle!
While you’re here, don’t forget to check out my latest suspense novel, It Had to Happen, now available in print and on Kindle!
Book Summary
When Jack Utley loses his daughter just as his business is about to soar, it seems he’s traded financial gain for Callie’s life. After an encounter with a mysterious woman on the eve of Callie’s funeral, Jack wakes up to find that time has somehow rewound to the morning of Callie’s accident. Jack gets an opportunity that most grieving parents can only dream of – he saves his daughter’s life.
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