Interview with Author Megan Guilliams

1.  When did you start writing?

I’ve always loved to write. I think I wrote my first story when I was seven. My first book debuted on Amazon in 2023, but I had a massive collection of literature I had been writing for over 10 years. Currently I have 31 novels published and have been in 8 anthologies.

2.  What was your journey towards becoming an author like?

I’ve always written for myself. It’s a passion I’ve had since a very young age. When I was in school, my friends enjoyed reading my short stories, and that gave me the courage to branch out later in life. Self-publishing was a mystery to me until I met my friend Kasey Hill. She guided me through the process and the rest is history. Of course, I’ve met people who don’t like my work. When that happens, I try not to let it bother me. Even the worst criticism can have something productive to say. Growing as a writer is the key. If I had known having other writer friends would be so fulfilling I would have attempted to find them sooner. When I’m at my lowest, they always find a way to lift my spirits. Being surrounded by likeminded people, who can talk openly about their passions can be amazing.

3.  What can you tell me about your latest book? (Feel free to include an excerpt.)

My latest book is a dark romance novel titled, Spellbound Hearts. When a young man’s sister falls prey to an evil spell, he must cross a wall that separates the humans from the supernatural to find someone who may be able to help. His sights are set on the last pure blood witch to walk Hemitog Nation, and it doesn’t even matter to him that she’s wanted for murder.

Here's the intro to Spellbound Hearts. (The E-book drops on May 5th and the paperback comes out on the 6th of May. In the following weeks there will be a limited-edition bundle pack that will include 1 of 4 signature scent, oil-based perfumes brought to you by Durty Gurls Soaps and Such, a hardcover copy of Spellbound Hearts, complete with 2 full-page color portraits done by a local artist, and a complementary necklace that represents one of the 4 main characters.

Leaning against the wall of Washbone Alley, Pepper slipped a hand-rolled smoke from her leather jacket and popped it in between her ruby-red lips. Her ears perked when she heard the clomping footsteps of Ginger’s foot soldiers approaching. It wasn’t the first time she had attempted to apprehend the girl, and Pepper was sure it wouldn’t be the last. Too bad she’d already fed, and the glamour had kicked in. All Pepper had to do now was sit back and let the clueless oafs make their way down Cherry Avenue, and that would be that. Chewing on the end of her rolled tobacco, Pepper closed her eyes and breathed in the cool evening air. It had rained a few hours prior to her arrival, and she could still smell the sweet memory of Spring. Little puddles littered the cobblestone nook she stood in, allowing the reflections of the streetlights above to give her presence a romantic feel. Cold mist pocketed, blowing a gust through Pepper’s dark, vermillion locks. The movement made chills go down the woman’s spine. Tiny goosebumps formed on her arms. The wind had been brisk but not altogether unpleasant.

“I think she went that way! At least that’s what the bar owner told me.” A husky voice called. Footsteps approached Washbone, but as anticipated, she watched with whimsey as they passed by her without so much as a glance. Pepper couldn’t figure out why Ginger constantly put her faith in the likes of those blubbering idiots. When Pepper’s mother was in charge, she wouldn’t have tasked any of them to pick up her dry cleaning, let alone avenge someone’s death. She assumed, at least, that was what they wanted her for.

If anyone else had told you the story, Pepper would have looked like a stone-cold killer. If you get the story from the horse’s mouth, though, you’d see it was all one big fat misunderstanding. Pepper loved her mother, and she could never have done what they accused her of.

Suddenly, Pepper’s head jerked towards the entrance of Washbone Alley. Another, more petite set of feet was approaching. Shoving her hand into her front pant pocket, Pepper retrieved a shiny, silver lighter just before the woman stopped right in front of her. Her eyes stared without seeing, but Pepper understood; the new girl could tell someone was in there. It never ceased to amaze Pepper how resilient Tandy could be. After what happened to Tandy right there in Washbone, she still didn’t hesitate to come looking for her best friend. Pepper shuddered to think what could have happened if someone hadn’t been there to save her… the night of the attack… The night Pepper’s mother, Camila, died.

“Come on, Pep. You know I hate it when you do that… You are in there, aren’t you?” Sighing, Pepper rolled her eyes and chewed on the filtered end of her smoke. Flicking the lighter, she released the glamour. The sudden spark of light made the new girl jump. Pepper must have found this entertaining because seconds later, the woman was laughing.

“What’s wrong, Tandy? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Growling just under her breath, the girl joined Pepper inside Washbone and snatched the cigarette from her thin fingers. “Hey!” She snapped, “That’s mine!”

“Not anymore,” Tandy announced, slipping the wet filter between her lips; she took a drag, grimaced, and then threw it into a puddle. The ember hissed and then dwindled out in a matter of seconds. “I was going to say that was payment for making me worry. Unfortunately, that was before I realized there wasn’t anything fun rolled up in that little burrito of yours. Don’t you know tobacco can kill you?” Tandy’s comment set Pepper off onto another round of uncontrollable giggles.

“Since when are you the healthy living police?”

“Since I found out you’re smoking again.” Pepper’s demeanor began to soften as she inched closer to the shorter woman.

“Usually, Pepper Stormgrave would have given Tandy a hard time, ruining her last cigarette. The supernatural community had outlawed tobacco unless it was burned for magical purposes, and it wasn’t like she could cross the border into Normie Land whenever she felt like it. Ever since her mother’s untimely death, Ginger had seekers guarding the entrances and exits 24/7. One thing Pepper could say about those goofballs when they were on a mission like that, they tended to be pretty thorough. If you didn’t have the correct paperwork, you weren’t going anywhere.

4.  What sort of methods do you use for book promotion?

I am absolutely horrible at marketing. I’ve attempted to use Amazon Ads before, but that hasn’t gotten me very far. My favorite way of promoting is by posting on my social media sites, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. I have some beta readers who get the word out as well, and I quite enjoy doing vending events. I’m old-school, and leave my business cards everywhere.

5.  Where do you get your ideas for stories?

I quite often bounce ideas off my husband, and he’ll add scenarios to things I’ve started creating. Sometimes I listen to music and make up little stories about what the singer could be singing about. Art is a huge inspiration as well. I’m a huge fan of lowbrow art, cartoon art, and pop art, including surrealism. Sometimes ideas come to me in dreams, or even when I’m walking one of the many wooded trails near my house.

6.  What are you working on right now?

The book I’m working on right now is titled, A History of Evil, Stories of Generational Horror. It’s a collection of short works I’ve done over the last year or so mostly about how the past can come back to bite you. I’m about 30,000 words into it, so I’d guess about halfway done.

7.  Any advice for other authors?

Read what you love, write what you know, and make sure to have fun! Don’t let skeptics keep you down. You can’t please everyone. Also, don’t be afraid to take a few risks with your writing, that’s how you grow. Branch out, and try new styles, write in a new genre or from a different POV.

ABOUT MEGAN:

Megan Guilliams is an Independent Fiction author who specializes in Urban Fantasy and Horror. She is a Franklin County native who lives in Virginia with her husband and two children. When she's not writing Young Adult and New Adult Fiction, she enjoys painting. Filling the walls of her home with colorful lowbrow art and Pop art, Megan enjoys bringing her book's characters to life. As a young child, Megan dabbled in short stories, often entertaining her peers. While Megan doesn't hold any specialized degrees that led her to her writing passion, she currently has over thirty novels published on Amazon and Kindle. You can find more of her work in the year to come, as well as read her story “Kroak” in Nature Triumphs: A Charity Anthology of Dark Speculative Fiction, “Love, Lies and Bleeding” in The Devil’s Playground: A Horror Charity Anthology for Drug Addiction,  “The Christmas Wraith” in Last Christmas: A Holiday Horror Anthology, “She Bitch” in Piece by Piece: An Anti-Valentine’s Day Collection of Short Stories, Poetry and Prose. A Taste of Heaven” in Beauty in Darkness, a Literary Tribute to TS Woolard, All Published by Dark Moon Rising Publications. You can also find her poem “Leon” in Sleeve of Hearts, Poems, edited by Lindsey Goddard, and brought to you by the Weird Wide Web. Other published shorts by Megan Guilliams include, “Over Easy” in Dark Harvest an Ecohorror Anthology, Published by Twisted Dreams Press.