Dark Legends Block Party!

Carissa Ann Lynch

Featured Book: Midnight Moss

Hi, guys! I'm Carissa Ann Lynch, author of the Flocksdale Files trilogy, Horror High series, 13: An Anthology of Horror and Dark Fiction, Grayson's Ridge, and This Is Not About Love. I like to write what I like to read—which is a little bit of everything!

How long have you been a writer and how did you come to writing?

I've always been obsessed with books, but I didn't write my first complete novel until about five years ago. I couldn't find a book to read, so I got this crazy idea—why not try to write my own story? It was harder than I thought, but I fell in love with the idea of being able to control the outcome of a story. It felt like reading, only I got to decide what happened next. I never expected to get a publishing contract, but once I did, there was no going back. I was hooked!

How did you come up with this storyline for Midnight Moss?

This story combines several ideas that have been rolling around in my head for a while. As a child, there was this section of our neighborhood that was mysteriously fenced off, so that's where the "mysterious fence" comes into play. I also love the idea of old houses and magic keys, so I was able to use that in the story as well. I usually write horror and dark fiction, but I have a serious love for fantasy and paranormal stories, so this book was so much fun to write.

What are the best and the worst aspects of writing?

The best thing about writing is it's like a drug for me. When I do it, I feel better. And as soon as I'm finished with one book, I'm ready to go looking for my next story idea, or "fix". I can see that as being a good and bad thing. I get obsessed with a story while I'm writing, and I work on it compulsively. So, it can be a pretty exhausting process for me.

What inspires you to write? Everything! Most writers will tell you that everything we see/hear/feel gets stored away in our memory banks to use later for our books. I like to write about serious social issues, but I also enjoy the escape of a magical story and light fun.

What would your friends say is your best quality?

I commit to things and do them all the way. I'm also loyal and I have a good memory, so I usually remember birthdays and old stories LOL.

Are reader reviews important to you?

I love when someone tells me that one of my books affected them, or made their day a little brighter. But I try not to get upset over bad reviews, and I don't change my stories based on what readers want. I just write what I want to write, and hope that people will like it. But if not, that's their choice. As a book lover myself, I know that some books everyone claims to love aren't my favorite. I know I can't be everyone's favorite all of the time, and I'm okay with that.

What do you do when you don't write?

I read A LOT. I prefer paperbacks and I always—ALWAYS—have a book with me everywhere I go. I can't remember the last time I didn't fall asleep with a book on my chest.

Tell us about your other books? The Flocksdale Files is a dark trilogy about a twisted town filled with the worst kind of monsters—the humankind. The Horror High series is a three-book series about a creepy school nicknamed "Horror High" where the cheerleaders are constantly being taunted by an unknown "sociopath." My other books are women's fiction, mystery, and paranormal.

If you could share one thing about yourself that you would like readers to know what would it be?

I would just tell them thank you. The fact that they took the time to read my book makes my heart soar, and means more to me than I could put into words.