An Interview with L.M. Preston

I had the pleasure to interview author L.M. Preston about her upcoming novel Insatiable Darkness and her life as a writer.




L.M. Preston was born in Washington, DC, where she started writing poetry and short stories at a young age. After over 16 years of teaching, she began writing Science fiction encouraged and supported by her husband and her four children. Her stories feature young people overcoming overwhelming obstacles.





First of all, thank you so much for this interview.



You write Science Fiction, Fantasy and Young Adult. What do you like about the genres?

Writing young adult fiction is incredibly fun. It allows me to write exciting stories and be creative without the heaviness of adult restraints, or knowledge. My characters get to discover themselves as they grow through exciting worlds.



What inspires you to write? Who are your writing role models?
My kids inspire me to write. The give me the best material and writing allows me to put my daydream on paper. I really enjoyed Olivia Butler, Toni Morrison and L.A. Banks.


Do you get writers' block and if yes, what do you do against it?
I do get writer’s block, usually when I go off the path of my outline. When it happens, I just write through it, even if the section isn’t that good. I highlight that portion of my manuscript to remind myself that that was a challenging part to write so I can pay special attention to it during my initial edits.


How many books have you written so far?
I have written 13 books so far that are published.


How do you prepare for the releases of your books?
I usually start sending out review copies and cover reveals about three months before launch. Then I do collaborative promotions through various outlets.


You upcoming novel Insatiable Darkness is part of your Vigilant series. How did you get the initial idea for the series?
The name is really close to the struggle of the characters. They won’t be able to give up if they want to survive their journey.


When did you start writing the series?
I started writing this series about six months ago. Insatiable Darkness is a prequel novella about one of the main characters. This series will have an origin story for each character as requested by some of my readers.


Where does the title come from?
I truly just made up the title.


What made you write a prequel?
This series will have four main characters. Each have their own separate book and are all related to each other. I wanted to try something different and give each an ‘origin’ story. Starting with the prequel set the tone for the characters.


What would you like your readers to know about you?
I write characters that show how much we as humans can withstand and still survive and rise above. It’s because, that is my own personal life realization.


And one last question: what is your favourite quote?
‘Actions speaks louder than words.’

EmVee didn’t know what to think about this new town her father’s passion for boxing lured them. It was an unlikely location for her to pursue her dream of going semi-pro. Just when she started getting used to the school with gorgeous jocks and strange cheerleaders, the depth of the danger her father’s choices dangled them in front of became clear. EmVee hoped Silas and Kayson will be able to help her uncover the mystery identity of the person who is threatening her family. The question is, will she survive to expose the mystery.

Insatiable Darkness can be found on Amazon

Wrath

'Bia!'

She loved how he shouted her name. The dæmon turned to the one who called her and smiled. Her smile dropped when she saw the caller. Merely human, his anger was so pathetic it bored her. For a moment, she just looked at him, waiting. He had no spark in his eyes, his chest was merely heaving out of fear. She reached out and grabbed his throat. Maybe, he would truly be angry, if she killed him. Bia squeezed and watched the man's fear shift to the wrath she had wanted She let go. Her work here was done.

A smile and a violin

True happiness is so rare that it should be cherished, especially since it can be lost. Patrick "Paddy" Kelly didn't go through the second world war just because he had to. If it had been up to him, he had never left Ireland, but Paddy has principles and so, his sister Georgianna waved goodbye in 1941. The next four years were hell. 

Back in Belfast, Paddy lifts bricks all day and it's killing him a bit inside. Paddy just wants to play violin which is why he accidentally summons the leanan sídhe Tess and they embark on a journey. Paddy hates journeys.

Appearances

Thalia, Muse of Comedy

The muse of comedy truly has an awful sense of humour. Not only does she find almost everything funny she also finds the time to crack a joke in the most dire of situations. This is only one of the reasons she is hated by many of the gods and also secretly feared by them.

Where many of the other muses are tall and elegant, Thalia is pretty small and quite annoying to be around. Her bubbly personality is guaranteed to go on everybody’s nerves and she enjoys jokes more than she values others’ respect. Her eyes are as green and poisonous as her favourite plant.

Crowned with ivy, Thalia enjoys travelling through the mortal realm, but she definitely doesn’t enjoy the battle of Troy. In fact, she blames Aphrodite for it and considers it the worst thing to ever happen to humanity.

One could say that her family situation is complicated. She has never really been able to get along with her father, Zeus. While she loves thunder and lighting, she just can’t bring herself to talk to the god of thunder. She also has a slightly complicated relationship with Apollo. While they share a love for poetry and random hookups that got them their son Corybantes, they both aren’t the kind of immortals who would want a relationship, especially not with each other.

 Thalia first appearance is in Winged Pain.

Appearances

 

She wants your blood, she owns your soul

It takes a very strong kind of woman to hurt people she doesn't want to harm.

Tess is a leannan sídhe which means she needs blood to survive. During her years on earth, Tess never really learned to have her own interests. It was always about what the people whose blood she drank wanted. Tess is O Negative and can therefore only drink O Negative blood.

Tess is one of my favourite characters to ever write. She is a very strong woman and I always enjoy putting her in front of new obstacle. To be honest, I probably put her in front of too many obstacles. 

Appearances

There be Demons

'Everything daemonic is between divine and mortal.'
Diotima to Socrates

Greek mythology has always been fascinating to me and the dæmons are especially interesting. The difference between them and the gods is subtle, but important.

Where ares is the god of war, fighting in the battles is what he does and goading people is what he loves, but in a way he is still a spectator. Meanwhile, Polemos is the personification of war. He embodies the battle and the blood she on both cities.

I currently write drabbles about 10 of the Daímones.

Adikia 

Injustice

Injustice is everywhere and so is Adikia. She is covered in tattoos each showing one of the wrong-doings she cherishes so much.

Ananke

Necessity

No one can stop Ananke. She is inevitable. According to Plato, she was there at the creation of the universe where she was united with Nous (intellect), but that union ended as chaos spread.

Bia

Anger

Anger is not the opposite of love and Bia loves to remind Eros from that. While she says otherwise, her anger controls her more than she controls it.

Coming soon...

Hypnos

Sleep

Everybody needs sleep and therefore everybody needs to stand in Hypnos' good graces. The personification of sleep want nothing but peace and quiet.

Kratos

Strength

Kratos walks with the strength of a thousand men and their burden looms above him. He could carry the heavens with a smile.

Limos

Famine

Starving is a matter of concentration. Limos knows that and to him it is an art. When he looks at his reflection, the way his ribs spread his skin makes him smile.

Coming soon...

Moirai

The Fates

Fate comes in threes. Here, it is Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos. The three are a package deal, not even looking for individuality. Heroes may try to defy them, but in the end, fate is stronger than hubris and they will cut that thread of life. 

Coming soon...

Polemos

War

Blood in Sand (in Forgotten Ones)

War and love go hand in hand. At least that's what Polemos tells Eros whenever he makes his advances. Apart from that, he just loves the battle. Every splatter of blood on his skin broadens his smile. 

Thanatos

Death

I have always seen the personification of death as a lonely soul. There is a beauty in death, reflective in Thanatos that he hopes takes the fear away from those he carries into the underworld. While one of the most powerful of the Daímones in ability, he holds none of it within the underworld. Aidoneus (Hades to the Olympians) only gets to reign, because Thanatos lets him.