Has there been a project that you're particularly proud of?
LB: I’m proud of my debut novel, The Black Act, which I recently re-released as a serial. I think I’ve grown quite a bit as a writer since I first finished the book, but it was a project that taught me exactly what it takes to write a novel. I put a lot of work in to it. It takes place on an alternate world, and I created a mythology and cultures unique to that world. There were a lot of notes written, and maps created, before I even started the book. I’m also proud of the screenplay I’m currently working on with a great collaborator who is also a great friend. He’s teaching me the finer points of writing a movie, and it kind of feels like when I wrote The Black Act in that I’m learning how to create something I’ve never created before. Novels and screenplays are entirely different creatures, and it’s fascinating to learn in detail just how they must be approached differently.
How would you describe your writing style?
LB: Hmmm… That’s a tough one. I tend to be influenced by a lot of British and Canadian writers, and I think that shows in my stories. My writing is quite visual and a little bit surreal, at least when I’m writing fantasy or speculative stuff. I like to enchant my readers, draw them deep into the story. So much so that they forget the world around them.
What kind of advice can you give someone just starting out as a writer?
LB: Learn everything you can about the craft, and especially about digital publishing. Knowledge is your friend. Learn the rules of writing but also learn the business side of writing. You need to know how to read contracts and if those contracts work to your benefit or should be turned down. These days, as ebooks become such a staple in the industry, I can’t stress enough how important it is to understand digital publishing. Self publishing, because of this, is becoming more and more prevalent. I self publish a lot of my books, and I’m lucky in that I can edit them, format them, and produce covers, but not every author has that advantage. If you do decide to self publish, you need to know what to look for in an editor, what kind of book covers are marketable, who can format your book. It also doesn’t hurt to know what trends readers are currently buying. I’m not saying you should mimic trends and chase them, but you should know what your readers want.
Can you tell us a little bit about your creative process, from idea conception to developing your story?
LB: My creative process can be kind of erratic. I take inspiration from just about anything—books, movies, something I see when I’m out for a walk, a snippet of conversation caught when I’m people watching. From there, I usually ask “What if?” and then the idea snowballs into a rough story. I usually write the story in bulk in my head first, then start to outline it, then I refine the outline before I start writing the first draft.
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