TBR welcomes Griffin Hayes

TBR: Welcome to TBR, Griffin Hayes. Will you share a little bit about yourself?
Griffin: I'm a YA and horror thriller writer. My horror novel Malice is now on Amazon and B&N. I've also recently made the move to writing full-time. 

TBR: Tell us about Malice and where it's available.
Griffin: At heart, Malice is a story about revenge and redemption. My goal was to tell a creepy story that fans of King's early work would appreciate. So if you're looking for a fun, spooky tale with witches, mystery and some romance, then Malice is definitely for you. Available at Amazon and B&N 

TBR: Please tantalize us with a story blurb or excerpt.
Griffin:

Something unspeakable is murdering the townspeople of Millingham and only seventeen-year-old Lysander Shore knows what it is. A dark shadow that can possess its victims and force them into grisly acts of suicide. Lysander knows because he has seen it and he's pretty sure it saw him too.

Now he can't shake the eerie feeling he's being watched. And when his friends and neighbors begin to die under mysterious circumstances, he knows his only hope is to uncover what the shadow wants.

Lysander's frantic search for answers leads him to a dark secret. One that traces back to a witch's brutal torture and execution 350 years before. A secret about himself Lysander never knew. A secret he desperately wishes he could forget.

TBR: What inspired you to write about the theme?
Griffin: I like the idea of a flawed character seeking redemption for past mistakes. I'm also fascinated by the idea of a character being hunted for a crime he has no memory of comitting.

TBR: Are you a plotter or pantser?
Griffin: I try to plot out my novels as little as possible. That being said, I need to know roughly where I'm heading, but other than a few cursory road signs along the way, I usually end up winging it.

TBR: How do you develop your characters?
Griffin: In the same way that I develop the plot. I start writing and sooner or later my characters begin speaking to me. If they don't, I go back and try to find out why. It's normally because the story lacks sufficient conflict.

TBR: Did any music inspire your book? Do you have a playlist?
Griffin:  I wrote Malice to the Donny Darko soundtrack. It's moody and disturbing, which was exactly what I was looking for. The only problem is, whenever I listen to it now, all I think about are my main characters Lysander and Samantha.

TBR: While creating your books, what was one of the most surprising things you learned?
Griffin:  How easy it is to procrastinate. Dusting and vacuuming don't nearly feel as pressing as when you're stuck on a scene that just isn't working.

TBR: What's next for you?
Griffin:  I have quite a bit in the cooker. Early next year I'll be coming out with a zombie novella called Hive as well as another horror novel tentatively tiltled Nocturnal. My goal by the end of 2012 is to have 10 works online. 

TBR: Any other published works?
Griffin: I currently have two free horror short stories (readers can find links for them on my blog) as well as a horror novella about two bar owners in Alaska out to save their town from a flying monstrosity.

TBR: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
Griffin:  I see a lot of talk online about the price of eBooks. What do you all think is a fair price to pay for a novel you're interested in reading.

TBR: Thanks so much for visiting TBR, Griffin. All the best to you.