I have read a great amount of classics and have been studying literature for the past ten years. I cannot say how many books I have read, but I think, if this doesn’t sound strange, every single one of them has influenced me. 

K.P. Ambroziak

The Back Flap

In 1216 BCE, Vincent du Maurier was promised an eternal life. Today, in 2052, he faces extinction as the outbreak of the living dead threatens his sustenance. When he finds one of the last human survivors, a pregnant girl, he decides to save her. For both the human and vampiric races, he must keep zombies from eating her flesh and vampires from draining her blood. Hoping to outlive the pandemic, he chronicles his attempt to salvage humanity … and himself.

About the book

What is the book about?

The Journal of Vincent du Maurier is the first book in THE FIFTH EMPIRE trilogy. It is a dystopian vampire novel about a small clan of vampires trying to survive the zombie apocalypse. Vincent du Maurier is his clan’s elder and is doing his best to keep them all from starving. This is his journal, the history he is recording of their survival. There are fewer and fewer living humans left, and as the vampires get weaker for want of blood, the dead are becoming harder to evade. Vincent has begun the journal at a pivotal moment; his lover is on the verge of deterioration, one of his clan members has been attacked by a mob of zombies, and Vincent is on the cusp of discovering one of the last sources of fresh blood around—Evelyn.

When did you start writing the book?

I began the book at the end of March.

How long did it take you to write it?

I finished my first draft by the end of May. Re-writes didn’t take too long because I was able to spend a concentrated amount of time on the project. The book was finished and edited by the end of June.

Where did you get the idea from?

I don’t know really. I love the Walking Dead (TV show), and perhaps it inspired by the conflict between vampire, human and zombie that was the seed of the story. Once I decided to write the book from the vampire’s point of view, I heard Vincent’s voice in my head. In fact, I wrote 30,000 words in the first week.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Certainly. The second half was probably where I struggled the most. I kept writing diligently every day but only after taking three weeks off between the first and second half of the novel. It took me a while to get back into the story, but once I did it seemed to flow again. The ending too was a struggle. I hadn’t intended to write a trilogy, but when I finished the first book, I knew Vincent had to go on.

What came easily?

The voice of my protagonist came easiest. I don’t know if I have conveyed his story to his satisfaction, but I couldn’t help but hear him as I wrote. To me, his voice was riveting.

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

They are entirely fictitious.

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?

I have read a great amount of classics and have been studying literature for the past ten years. I cannot say how many books I have read, but I think, if this doesn’t sound strange, every single one of them has influenced me. I have not always liked what I’ve read but I have certainly been influenced by it. Although I have only read Leo Tolstoy and Gabriel Garcia Marquez in translation, those are two writers I love to read. I think One Hundred Years of Solitude is one of the most transforming books I have ever read. I was completely taken with it. But I often finish a book, including the indie authors I read, and wish I had written what they had. I am a big admirer of words and beautiful prose.

Do you have a target reader?

Not really. I think anyone can enjoy my book. As a reader, when I choose a book it is often for its writing rather than its genre. I always read the preview available, never the reviews, when choosing what to read. That’s how I know if the book is right for me. I think some (perhaps many) readers will be scared away by another dystopian and/or vampire novel, but it really comes down to whether or not they connect with my prose and style.

About Writing

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

I sit down and write until I’ve hit the amount of words I have told myself to write. As I said, with the first 30,000 words of the first novel, I wrote 5,000-6,000 a day. When I was finishing the second half, I wrote only 2,000 a day. With the second book, I wrote 2,000 words a day. Period. I force myself to finish my daily quota, which is often not too painful … BUT when I struggle, I push through until it’s done because if I don’t, the following day at the keyboard will be difficult.

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

I don’t really outline, but when I sit down to write I know exactly what scene or event I am tackling. It’s always a mental note, but the writing will only go smoothly if I know where the story is going. I will often have a loose picture of the overall plot line, and then a firm picture of the scenes as I write them. If I sit down to write without that mental “scene assignment,” I will have writer’s block.

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

I edit as I go for the most part. But I don’t obsess over something to get it perfect. I will make it right in the re-writes. This way I am always moving forward each day, rather than going over the same thing several times before the book is done. I need to finish the manuscript before I can do any legitimate editing. I need to know how it ends to go back to the beginning again.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Yes.

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

I do, yes. But I won’t spill those beans—it’s too intimate. I will say, however, the music is often cinematic. With this book, I was quite taken with one particular piece of music that I played on repeat. I couldn’t write without it.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I submitted the manuscript for The Journal of Vincent du Maurier to five agents, but the ones who responded were not interested in seeing it. I knew vampires were a tough sell, and so I didn’t have my hopes up.

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

I think self-publishing is fantastic. As I said, I know vampires are a tough sell and so I thought self-publishing on Amazon/Barnes and Noble/Smashwords is the best way to find readers. I have discovered some high caliber indie writers because of self-publishing. As a writer and reader, I am grateful for the platform.

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

My partner has experience with graphic design, and he made the cover.

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

I am reading as much as I can about promotion, and am following the advice of others, but for the most part am winging it. I am a writer, first and foremost, and so my big plan is to just keep writing and making my work available.

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

Try to enjoy the process of writing, and be diligent and disciplined about it. Don’t try to write to trends; write what you want to read. If I hadn’t had this strong desire to write Vincent du Maurier’s story, I would have never written a novel about a vampire. The vampire story seems to be the pariah of fiction today. But the thing that has been the most important to me has been the reception my book had with someone who is incredibly important to me. When that person, who is always brutally honest with me, told me they thought my writing was strong, I was satisfied. That is what keeps me going. That is why I write.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Ottawa, Canada.

Where do you live now?

I currently live in Brooklyn, NY.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I appreciate the time they spend reading my words. I know time is one of the most precious gifts someone can give another, especially a stranger. And I like Basset Hounds—they’re funny.

What are you working on now?

I am writing the third book of THE FIFTH EMPIRE trilogy. And researching … ah, I mean, writing my dissertation.

End of Interview:

For more, visit K.P. Ambroziak’s blog.

Get your copy of The Journal of Vincent du Maurier from Amazon US, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords.