I actually had to take about a month to mourn where her storyline was going before I could write it.

Christie Stratos – 23 August 2019

The Back Flap

Abigail Delilah is the firstborn of three Whitestone children – and she is the most regretted.

But is it really her fault?

She can’t help that the revelation of Father’s wretched secret coincides with her birth. She can’t help the fear she feels during Mother’s psychological – and physical – assaults. As the shadows grow stronger over her soul and the noose of pain tightens around her neck, Abigail will find out which is stronger: her family’s wicked assumptions about her or her true self.

Take your first step into the Dark Victoriana Collection with Anatomy of a Darkened Heart.

Multi-layered with motifs, symbolism, and psychological depth, this tale of dark Victoriana will appeal to the literary reader and the leisure reader alike, combining key facets of several popular genres. And don’t be afraid to get addicted – the collection continues exploring the intertwining threads that weave together the complex tapestry of the Whitestone legacy.

About the book

What is the book about?

Anatomy of a Darkened Heart follows the Whitestone family in Victorian America. They’re dysfunctional to say the least, and the story most closely follows the eldest daughter, Abigail, who is the most regretted and mistreated by her parents. Can she redefine herself and escape her abuse, or will she turn into exactly what she’s always hated?

When did you start writing the book?

I started in November of 2014 during NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), and that helped propel me through a good portion of my first draft.

How long did it take you to write it?

It took less than a year, and its official publication date was October 1, 2015.

Where did you get the idea from?

There was a particular orchestral song I listened to over and over that gave me a visual of a girl in Victorian times, beautiful on the outside but tortured on the inside. I had a different original idea of how the story would work, but the characters took over and created a much better story than my original.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

There’s one scene that is a turning point for Abigail—I can’t talk about it in depth because it’s a spoiler. But I knew what it would do to Abigail, and I had a very hard time writing it! I actually had to take about a month to mourn where her storyline was going before I could write it.

What came easily?

The characters themselves were very straightforward in my mind, and since my books are entirely based on character development, their clarity and consistency made most scenes pretty easy to write.

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

I borrowed from biographies and autobiographies of victims of abuse. I used what I already knew to be true about the psychology of abusers and their victims, and I used my reading to help solidify and build out my characters to make them realistic and believable.

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?

One of my biggest influences is Shakespeare! Hamlet was a major influence for me in writing the psychological aspects of my work. If I hadn’t ever read Hamlet, I’m not sure what my writing would be!

Do you have a target reader?

Anyone who likes dark fiction or enjoys costume dramas and family dramas would like my work. Readers who enjoy deep character development and psychological suspense will appreciate it too, as well as other books in the Dark Victoriana Collection.

About Writing

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

I don’t have much of a writing process, but generally I start out by using a journal/notebook that suits the mood of my writing. Without that, I’m sunk. So I start writing scenes, facets of the characters, general notes, and even printing out images that suit the book, like a physical Pinterest. At some point while I’m writing in the notebook, I get the overwhelming feeling that I need to move to the computer, and that’s when the official first draft really begins.

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

I don’t outline at all! I’m a total pantser. If I get some ideas for the rest of the book, I keep track of them in my dedicated notebook or in Scrivener, but I tend to veer far away from my original ideas anyway.

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

Since I’m an editor by trade, I do tend to edit as I go, but I don’t recommend that. It’s hard for me to stop myself, but I do end up editing all along the way.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I’m a professional editor with my own full-time editing business, Proof Positive, and I hire my senior editor for my own books. She’s extremely talented, and I trust her completely.

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

I listen mostly to orchestral music. If I’m working on the Dark Victoriana Collection, the piece I listen to most often is “Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor” by Bach (full orchestra version). I do need to mix it up though, so I listen to everything from jazz to cinematic music, Elder Scrolls music to Retrowave.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

No, I just wanted to tell my story in the way I knew was best. I didn’t want it edited to suit popular markets, I wanted it to be hard-hitting and intense.

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 knew that submitting it to agents and publishing houses would mean altering my novel to add more fluff and potentially things that don’t really suit it or my style just so it could fit into certain genres or fit a particular convention. I don’t believe in that. I believe in the book being the absolute best it can be without having to include tropes or clichés that have proven themselves to sell well. Originality and getting to the point with proper character, plot, and worldbuilding are most important to me. I find that lacking in a fair amount of traditionally published books.

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

Yes, I had it professionally done by Ebook Launch, and I recommend them highly! They’re excellent at listening to what you want and giving you back something way better than you imagined. It’s a really good give-and-take process with excellent results. I can’t tell you how many compliments I’ve gotten on my Dark Victoriana book covers.

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

Marketing is my weakest point. I just want to tell a great story, I hate having to do all kinds of research on marketing and advertising. I have my social media pages and that’s pretty much what I rely on for my marketing! I also have a Patreon where readers can get news before everyone else, get exclusive inside looks at excerpts from upcoming books, and get a peek at my research materials, so that’s all become part of my marketing.

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

Take your time and put out your best work. It’s not worth it to rush to publish, even if you’re excited about your book. It’s great to have that level of passion, but it’s even better to put out something truly excellent and gather permanent readers because of it.

About You

What are you working on now?

I’m working on the third book in the Dark Victoriana Collection, and it’s going to be a whopper of a dramatic story! I’ve also been slowly working on more horror short stories and a contemporary short story to release. I have a load of side projects too, but my main focus is always the Dark Victoriana Collection.

End of Interview:

For more from Christie visit her website, follow her on Twitter, and like her Facebook page.

Get your copy of Anatomy of a Darkened Heart from Amazon US or Amazon UK.