The Interview - ericwoodsauthor

Which character do you enjoy writing the most as a writer and why? If choosing a favorite character is like choosing a favorite child, which character do you find requires the most attention and detail from you as a writer?

Bree Aniston from the PUMMELED series was my first protagonist and the character I have most enjoyed watching grow. She is a bad-ass vigilante fighter who constantly faces adversity throughout her journey.

Can you explain your writing process? Do you prefer to create an outline and plan beforehand, or do you prefer to write more spontaneously and organically?

All published materials have had an extensive outline created first. I used to try pantsing a story and could never get far. Once I was able to figure out the outlining process (and especially having an idea for the ending), the books took off. This is not to say I go 100% off the outline. If the story takes you in a different direction, by all means, go with it. The outline is there for reference if you get stuck.

What are some books or authors that you would recommend to our readers?

Read the genre you are interested in writing. As a horror author, my favorites are Stephen King, Riley Sager, Grady Hendrix, Jess Lourey, Richard Chizmar, and Dean Koontz.

Tell us what you enjoy most about writing [genre].

I always enjoy reaching that point where the story takes off on its own, and I'm just along for the ride. That's when I know I have something special.

Describe the [book/series] in 10 words or less for people who are just learning about it.

STOKEBRIDGE: Some towns are better left dead.

Share some advice for aspiring authors. What advice would you give to your younger self?1. What is your favorite line from your book?

Don't sit on an idea if it's screaming to be written. We all have a thousand ideas, but I'm most successful at getting through a story when it's the one that I can't stop thinking about.
My favorite line: "Nightmares are patient. They don't always die when the physical body awakens. Sometimes they go into hibernation...and they wait for your mind to open up and let them back in." - Welcome to Oblivion

To date, what is your favorite (or most difficult) chapter you have ever written?

This Is How He Collects Them, Chapter V: Carnage. This chapter was a lot of fun to write, as it was a dream sequence, so anything goes. I feel it shows the reader just how perilous the situation is going to be moving forward.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

If I'm not writing, I'm reading, spending time with my girlfriend, exercising, or playing with my dog.

What are you reading right now?

I read a mixture of both traditional and independent authors. As October approaches, I have a slew of each that I plan to read: You Like it Darker - Stephen King, The Bad Place - Dean Koontz, and Middle of the Night - Riley Sager from the traditional side. From the indie side, I plan to read The Darkness Within Ourselves by Jessica Huntley and Shsskish by Alana Drex.

What can we anticipate from you moving forward?

I have so many story ideas, so who knows what comes next. I will have a collection of short stories coming out in 2025, and the final installment of the Stokebridge trilogy is tentatively planned for a fall 2025 release as well.

Did you always want to be an author? If not, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a writer since I wrote my first short story in third grade.

Do you have any personal connection to the story or characters?

In my novel This Is How He Collects Them, one of the main characters was heavily based on the mental state I was in at the time of writing. It was also based on a number of vivid dreams I'd had just months prior to coming up with the outline for the novel.