Rainey’s self-awareness and attraction to the genre was an engaging undercurrent to explore in Liar. That backdrop created a space for the book to acknowledge hauntings, horror, and related themes in that way made her a fun character to develop.

E.F. Schraeder – 6 May 2021

The Back Flap

Who doesn’t crave a little escape? Dreaming of small town life and rural charm, Alex and Rainey find a deal on an old rustic home they can’t resist. But soon after Rainey moves, her preoccupation with weird local history and the complications of living alone in the woods take a toll. Alex worries that the long nights and growing isolation are driving her stir crazy. When the Sugar House is damaged and Rainey goes missing, Alex doesn’t know where to turn. Was it a storm, vandals, or something worse? What happened at the Sugar House? The only thing worse than wondering is finding out

About the book

What is the book about?

Set pre-marriage equality, Liar follows Rainey and Alex, a lesbian couple, on their search for someplace that feels like home. They hope to trade hostile Midwestern politics for rural charm when they move to New England, but end up facing internal and otherworldly challenges.

When did you start writing the book?

It’s been on the back burner stewing for a while, and I think I started sketching ideas for Liar years ago.

How long did it take you to write it?

From first draft to final edit, probably about three years.

Where did you get the idea from?

Like Rainey, I’m a horror fan who lived in Vermont, and some of the kernels for the book came from that experience. It was a particularly quiet landscape with a distinct feeling, many elements that seemed like a perfect setting for a creepy story.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

The themes of isolation and alienation were challenging to revisit during pre-publication prep. Even though it was written long before COVID, working through edits during a period of social distancing was intense.

What came easily?

Rainey’s self-awareness and attraction to the genre was an engaging undercurrent to explore in Liar.  That backdrop created a space for the book to acknowledge hauntings, horror, and related themes in that way made her a fun character to develop.

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

Despite what I’ve already admitted about having in common with Rainey, 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?

Influences are tricky since everything influences everything, right? I read widely and have way too many favorites for different styles and genres to list. My first speculative favorite was Poe. As to more recent speculative authors, many quirky, strange, delightful, and often and disturbing works of fiction inspire me: work by Lauren Beukes, Octavia Butler, Nicole Cushing, Camille DeAngelis, Gemma Files, Patricia Highsmith, Shirley Jackson, John Ajvide Lindqvist, Catherine Lundoff, Martin Millar, S.P. Miskowski, Cherie Priest, Eden Royce, Priya Sharma, Koji Suzuki, Kaaron Warren, G. Willow Wilson… that’s not even mentioning poets or editors whose anthologies I seek out… I go on kicks, so there’s at least another dozen (or more) works and authors I return to over and over.

Do you have a target reader?

Fans of offbeat supernatural stories who want to read with absolute confidence in one fact: the dog will always live.

About Writing

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

I set work aside for a bit before returning to edit so I can view it as a reader, and I prefer to work with hard copy once I have a solid working draft.  Read, edit, rewrite, rinse, and repeat.

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

Yes, I put together a loose framework of major plot lines and draft character bios (and other geeked out things to get in their heads) in the pre-drafting phase. That said, I do try to be organic about revision and follow a flexible approach to character development and plot directions.

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

Edits are a whole different beast, so I try not to edit much during first drafts.

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

Yes, but as to type it sort of depends on the project. Whatever it is, it’s always loud.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I haven’t worked with an agent.

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 had been reading and loving all the books coming out of Omnium Gatherum for years, so when the chance came up to pitch to them at StokerCon, I signed up right away. Working with the team at OG has been wonderful. It’s really a humbling honor to be included among such an incredible lineup of authors and editors.

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

Yes and yes. I  have worked with specific plans, but flexibly. World and life events sometimes override the best intentions (I’m looking at you, 2020). Marketing hacks for indie authors are always of interest to me, and I love connecting with readers, so I’m excited whenever I find resources and tools that help do that.

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

Keep going- reading, writing, and connecting. Meet other authors, editors, writing groups, librarians, genre reading groups, folks in your local literary scene and online.  Wherever you find it, that sense of community can be vital.

End of Interview:

For more, visit E.F. Schraeder’s website.

Get your copy of Liar: Memoir of a Haunting from Amazon US or Amazon UK.