When writing drabbles, you have to make every single word count. Story is always king and there must be a beginning, a middle and an end to each tale despite the word limit.

K.Z. Morano – 14 August 2014

The Back Flap

100 Nightmares by K.Z. Morano is a collection of 100 horror stories, each written in exactly 100 words, and accompanied by over 50 illustrations. Inside, you’ll find monsters—both imagined and real. There are vengeful specters, characters with impaired psyches, dark fairy tales and stories and illustrations inspired by bizarre creatures of Japanese folklore.

About the book

When did you start writing the book?

I started writing most of the stories around February 2014 but I’ve had this idea for the book since late 2013.

How long did it take you to write it?

I took me about two to three months to write the one hundred stories and compile all fifty illustrations. Writing micro-fiction is a lot more complicated than it seems. When writing drabbles, you have to make every single word count. Story is always king and there must be a beginning, a middle and an end to each tale despite the word limit. Micro-fiction is not a bunch of meaningless or pretty or horrifying words put together. Writing a 100-word story requires a certain formula. The writer must effectively present a scenario, create a character, and build a world while injecting imagery and packing a punch in a limited amount of words.

I could’ve written several stories in one sitting but I chose to take my time in writing each story. I wanted each piece to be unique—with no two stories that are the same. In order to do that, I had to limit myself to one-two stories daily while continuously seeking inspiration and searching for fresh concepts every day.

The illustrations demanded a great deal of my time—more than the stories, actually… I worked with four different artists for this project. During the process, I’ve eliminated a lot of illustrations… I’ve discarded plenty of stories as well. I knew very well how a single poorly constructed story can ruin the whole book.

Where did you get the idea from?

Several of my stories have been published in various anthologies, magazines and online venues over the past few months but 100 Nightmares is my first solo project. I thought it was about time that I create something that can truly call my own.

I’ve always been passionate about writing micro-fiction and I’ve been writing 100-word stories for a little more than a year now.  There’s just something exhilarating about building a whole world with fully realized characters and getting the point across in just 100 words. Writing drabbles is very different from writing stories in the traditional length. The word restraint provides a bit of a challenge but in the end, you come up with a perfect little piece with no unnecessary words or excessive description or dialogue… just the pure shock or the insidious ending that the story was meant to deliver or that tiny seed that was meant to be planted inside the readers’ mind which will eventually grow to haunt them.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Coming up with unique concepts for 100 stories and 50 illustrations proved to be a very challenging task. I aimed to stay away from common, clichéd horror subjects and to create new things for readers to fear. I wanted a truly eclectic collection. I wanted there to be a little something for everyone so that each reader would be sure to meet his/her worst nightmare inside the pages. In the end, I’d like to think that the readers were able to appreciate the extra care that I took in constructing each individual piece and the fact that no two stories in the book are identical.

What came easily?

Now that I think about it, I’m not sure if anything came easily at all. While it’s easy enough to write about stuff that you enjoy, there’s this constant pressure to deliver your very best. We owe it to our readers, after all. They spend hard-earned money and precious time to purchase and to read the books so, as an author, I felt that it’s truly my responsibility to produce a top quality product that would meet, if not exceed, my readers’ expectations.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

When it comes to my stories, I prefer to think of myself as a spectator. I’ve never written myself as a character in any of my pieces. I believe that it’s necessary to minimize subjectivity, thus, allowing the whole story to unfold naturally and to create the most unexpected twists and endings…

I like being surprised. I hate it when stories and the characters’ fates are predictable. And creating fictitious characters is like meeting people for the first time. You’ll never know how they’re going to behave and respond to certain situations.

Well, unless someone does something to piss me off. Then, they might end up in one of my stories. And the characters in my stories tend to have very short lifespans, unfortunately. 🙂

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

There’s great writing and then there’s magic… the kind of writing that makes you forget who you are and where you are at the moment. My favorite authors are H.P. Lovecraft, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Clive Barker and Ursula K. Le Guin. I like authors that give as much attention to words as they do to the plot. These are the kind of authors that truly inspire me. Still, I know that as a writer, it’s very important to find your own voice and to develop it. While I would love to be the next Clive Barker or the next Poppy Z. Brite, I know that I would never be like them. There’s only one Clive Barker. Only one Ursula K. Le Guin. I’m happy being a fan. I have my own unique voice and so far, I’m pretty proud of what I’ve done with it.

Do you have a target reader?

100 Nightmares is for the lovers of the horror genre. This book is also for the fans of micro-fiction. But this is also for readers who are looking for something different.

If you’re intrigued by stories of bizarre monsters or humans who act like monsters, or fairy tales with a dark twist… if you like very short fiction or quick reads in between novels or daily chores… if you enjoy illustrated books and creepy artwork… If you’re a fan of the horror genre or maybe it’s your secret guilty pleasure, then 100 Nightmares just might be the book for you. 🙂

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I write when I can and only when I feel like it. Like most authors, I struggle for balance between writing and real life. I’ve always disliked schedules. The word ‘routine’ makes me cringe. 🙂 Whenever I get random bursts of inspiration and I happen to be free, I grab onto my muse and go straight to writing. Like everything, the inspiration starts with a random, silly idea. And then I start playing around with words and then the story just reveals itself. When I reach a certain amount of words, that’s when I know I’ve come too far to turn back. I finish the story when it sucks. 🙂

I’ve found writing prompts to be very helpful. I post fiction on my blog and participate in writing prompts because sometimes, I need the push and even a little bit of friendly competition. It’s amazing what brilliant ideas a random word or a photo can inspire.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

No, I don’t do any extensive outlining. I tend to write freely. But that’s because most of the stuff that I write are flash fiction and short stories. I think outlining can be very useful when writing novels though.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I like to edit as I go. It has something to do with my mild OCD. I’m not sure if I can move on to another sentence if the previous sentence doesn’t feel right. 🙂 haha Of course, I have to edit the whole thing again after I finish writing the first draft.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I usually submit my short stories to anthologies released by small presses. As I result, I’ve learned to trust and work with editors and to appreciate their efforts.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

I love music and I listen to a variety of music due to my eclectic tastes…. But I prefer to write in silence.  Sometimes, however, listening to music before writing helps to get me in the mood. For example, I’d listen to folk metal music like In Extremo’s Wind from Sünder Ohne Zügel before writing the battle scenes for my fantasy novel (a work in progress).

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

No. For my first solo project, I decided to self-publish.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

100 Nightmares is my baby… my labor of love… my offering to the horror genre. Several of my stories have been published in collections featuring the works of various authors but since 100 Nightmares is my first solo project, I wanted the whole experience to be special. I wanted to be present in all the different phases– to experience all the pleasures and pains of self-publishing. I wanted to be a part of everything from its conception to its distribution.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

I decided to have my cover done professionally by artist Dan Verkys. He’s really talented! I believe that the book cover plays a very essential role in the success of a book. For 100 Nightmares, I selected a cover that truly spoke to me. I look at it and see every imaginable horror that exists– the sick, the possessed, the anguished soul, the undead… the predator turned prey. It’s beautiful and eye-catching. But above all, it’s a warning. The artwork managed to embody everything that you’ll find inside the book. To me that’s the most important thing.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

Just winging it, really. 🙂 Marketing has never been my strength. And I’m a newbie. I really need all the help I can get. haha I know for sure that author interviews help a great deal so I’m truly grateful that there are generous people whose love for books and dedication to the horror genre urges them to help in promoting the works of struggling indie authors such as myself. 🙂

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Find your readers. Indie authors don’t have the advantage of having a dedicated marketing team and professionals to look after the marketing of their novels. So know your target audience and reach out to them. You’ll need friends. 🙂 I’ll admit I’m not very good with marketing and I don’t have a devoted team of professionals to help me out. However, I am fortunate enough to have a few author friends and blog friends who were willing to help me in promoting my book. Some are not very much into horror but I’m very thankful that their confidence in my writing was enough to gain their support.

Remember that if you don’t promote your work, no one else will. I promote my book on my blog because that’s where I have the most following.

Lastly, keep in mind that it’s important to respect and support Independent publishing and fellow Indie authors by ensuring and maintaining the quality of your work. 🙂

About You

What would you like readers to know about you?

I’m K.Z.—an eclectic eccentric… I’m a shopaholic, a beach bum and a chocolate addict. I get bored easily and crave for a constant change of environment. I prefer keeping only a handful of real friends… and I love them fiercely. I adore weirdness.  I read and write anything from romance and erotica to horror and SF, F and WTF. Find me at http://theeclecticeccentricshopaholic.wordpress.com/

What are you working on now?

My future plans are a mystery even to me. I’ve always been the type of writer who values quality over quantity so I tend to work slowly. I write short stories when I have the time and some of my works will be appearing in various forthcoming anthologies. I’m contemplating on making a short story collection but I’m not in a rush. I guess if I’m going to come up with something new, it definitely needs to outdo 100 Nightmares or any of my latest works. 🙂

End of Interview:

For more from K.Z. Morano, visit her blog, follow her on twitter, or like her Facebook page.

Get your copy of 100 Nightmares from Amazon US, Amazon UK, or Smashwords.