Interview - Author DC Gomez

An accomplished, award-winning author in a multitude of styles and genres, author DC Gomez has built a solid career on the grounds of several acclaimed works over the years. Now, in honor of the release of her latest work "Cursed By Fur," I talk with her about her early interest in writing, the process she goes through for her work, and the upcoming novel.

Me: Hello and thank you for taking the time to do this. First off, when did you get into horror in general?

DC Gomez: Hi Don, it is a pleasure to talk to you. Thank you so much for the opportunity.

To be honest, when it comes to the horror genre, I think it has been an accidental transition for me. I have always described myself as a chicken for scary movies, so probably about seven years ago, I started playing with horror elements in my books.

Me: What films specifically got you into watching horror movies?

DCG: The first film that got me into horror was The Shining. It also made me extremely paranoid about hotels with long hallways.

Me: Who were some of your favorite writers growing up? Do you try to take influences from their style with your own voice in your work?

DCG: Two of my favorite writers are Jim Butcher and Kim Harrison. I’m a very plot-driven author, and their books are full of plot twists and turns that keep the characters on their toes. When I started writing, that was the feeling I wanted for my books- lots of actions with crazy plots.

Me: What was the starting point of becoming a writer? Were you always into writing growing up?

DCG: I have always been a storyteller. Back in 2017, I found myself at a point in my life where I was miserable. I had a successful career, but it wasn’t very creative. Writing became my outlet to express that creativity and find a balance in my life.

Me: Is there any specific type of character you prefer writing? What is the process like when you start in on a new story?

DCG: After many years of writing, some of my favorite characters are the supernatural ones. It’s exciting to create ones that have special abilities and powers and see how they function in a world with non-magical users.

My development process is usually the longest part. Regularly, I entertain several ideas at the same time. If one sticks around longer than a couple of weeks, that is usually the one I develop and outline.

Me: What is your writing process? How do you stay focused on writing?

DCG: Once I commit to an idea, I usually spend several weeks doing a basic outline of the book. While I give myself permission to deviate from the outline as the plot dictates, I always feel more comfortable having one to go back to. After the outline is created, I set myself on a schedule to complete the book within a couple of months.

Me: That brings us to your latest project, "Cursed by Fur." What can you tell us about the novel?

DCG: I have to admit I’m very excited about this book. This is a spicy retelling of Little Red Riding Hood in an Urban Fantasy setting. The catch to this story is, that Little Red is a serial killer with some anger issues towards werewolves. We have a full cast of many of my supernatural characters, all making appearances while trying to catch the killer.

Me: How did you settle on the plot for your novel? Was there any special significance to making the characters Death Interns?

DCG: I was invited to be part of the Once Upon Curse series, and the requirements were it needed to be a retelling with spice. When I asked my friend if I could do an Urban Fantasy with thriller elements, she was completely on board. My Urban Fantasy stories take place in what I call my Reaper’s Universe. It was a natural transition to have my interns be part of this.

Me: Was there any part of your real self injected into the characters?

DCG: This book has a full ensemble of characters. All with huge personalities and some with a lot of issues. I’m sure many of them have pieces of me. The one that sticks out the most is their love for their family. This is a group that has become bonded and become a family. While things might not be perfect, they stick by each other side.

Me: Once it was finally written, what was the process for having it published?

DCG: I’m very blessed to be an Indie Author. This gives me great freedom to work with artists and creates that complement my process really well. Once the book was written, I had the opportunity to work with the set cover designer and my editors to get this book ready for publication.

Me: Was there anything while writing the characters that you were surprised by in telling the story?

DCG: This book has three main POVs that switch back and forth to carry the story. I was really surprised how much I had to focus on keeping each POV separate without giving away the twist of the story. That took a lot more focus than I was planning.

Me: How do you do to keep your creative energy flowing?

DCG: One of my favorite things to do in between projects is to sign up for art classes. In the spring and fall, I take a Greeting Card class, where we work on creating seasonal cards. I have been doing the class for years and it’s a great way to recharge and focus.

Me: Lastly, what else are you working on that you'd like to share with our readers? Thank you again for your time!

DCG: I’m actually working on my new children’s book. The book is titled, Charlie and the Power of Imagination. It’s a fun story to encourage kids to play outside and challenge themselves with their own inner genius. This book is scheduled to come out in December.

Thank you so much Don for chatting. It was truly a pleasure.