I have a disorder where I mostly experience nightmares, including night terrors, and at the time they had become frequent again. There’s a chunk of the book that deals with this in a creative way, but there were moments when I had to push through some of my worst fears to get to the end of the book. I just leaned into it instead of avoiding it, and I poured all of that anxiety into the writing. 

Shane Blackheart – 17 February 2023

The Back Flap

When Dark is good and Light is evil…

Ten-year-old Sera is isolated and depressed; bullied at school and at home by her father. Her mind gives her no respite, suffering from a panic disorder and a second voice in her head that forces violent, intrusive thoughts.

She meets the fallen angel Byleth one night while wanting to end her life. He isn’t a fan of kids and intends to leave immediately, but Sera’s aura catches his eye. It’s dark, and it isn’t from her trauma that pulls at his heartstrings. It’s also attracted a corrupt angel who wants to rid the world of another Hellspawn child.

Sera has a lot on her plate, but as she ages and transitions to Sean, a disabled trans man with C-PTSD, he not only meets more spirit guides from Hell, he realizes that his biggest threat has always been the ‘other’ that dwells in his own head.

About the book

What is the book about?

A ten-year-old girl, Sera, who doesn’t yet know she’s transgender, struggles with a life where she’s bullied at school and abused at home by her father.  She meets an unlikely spirit guide in the form of a sassy fallen angel named Byleth, and he develops a paternal sentiment toward her. She finds out that she was born with a dark aura, which is the perfect reason for an angel with a grudge against Byleth to finally enact revenge. If the angel can also rid the world of a child of darkness, it’s two birds with one stone.

The book reverses the light vs dark narrative, and we follow a trans trauma survivor from childhood to adulthood as they face not only an evil angel, but also a sinister force in their own head.

When did you start writing the book?

In the spring of 2020. I needed a distraction from everything going on, so it was a good time.

How long did it take you to write it?

The first draft took me about a week or less, although it wasn’t nearly as long. I finished the final version about two years later in between some some difficult life stuff.

Where did you get the idea from?

The story is based on my own life and my journey as a trauma survivor, so I reached back into my memories and used a lot of that to make it partly memoir in nature. I’m also really interested in religious subjects, like angels and demons, and since the subject matter was a part of my past, it just ended up writing itself.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Considering the subject matter, definitely. I struggled with a lot of stuff in part two, which I wrote during some really difficult days with mental health. I have a disorder where I mostly experience nightmares, including night terrors, and at the time they had become frequent again. There’s a chunk of the book that deals with this in a creative way, but there were moments when I had to push through some of my worst fears to get to the end of the book. I just leaned into it instead of avoiding it, and I poured all of that anxiety into the writing. That’s where horror elements come into the book. I had to take time for self-care afterward, but it was important to me to write it honestly.

What came easily?

The chemistry and dialogue between characters, especially Byleth and Sera, as well as the other spirit guides that come into the picture after Sera transitions as a trans man. There’s a personal reason for that, mostly because I had something in real life to work from.

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

Most are based on real people. As for the spirit guides who are there for Sera, or Sean as he’s later known, they are my actual spirit guides. I’m plural, which means I have OSDD — Otherwise Specified Dissociative Disorder — which is similar to DID — Dissociative Identity Disorder. I often include my alters and spirit guides in my stories, and I try to be open about that were I can.

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’ve always looked up to V.C. Andrews and Anne Rice. Their books are beautifully dark and cover subject matter in a way you don’t often see, like Rice’s unique take on vampires and Andrews’ complicated, and controversial, family dynamics through a Gothic lens. Sometimes their stories raise eyebrows, but that’s part of why I enjoy them. They force you to confront some difficult realities, and especially in Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles, there’s the over-arching theme of life and death and what it all means. Existentialism. Their writing styles are both so unique, I think, and they both got me back into reading when I was a teenager. I think their styles have definitely influenced my own, Anne Rice’s especially.

Do you have a target reader?

Definitely the adult LGBTQ+ community and those who are trauma survivors. Generally speaking though, I hope my book finds people who may not understand trans people or severe mental illness. It’s my hope that I can change some minds about people like me, and also help to destigmatize certain mental health conditions often portrayed in negative ways in media.

About Writing

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

I’m what I call a discovery writer. I don’t do a lot of planning beforehand, and I keep a loose page of notes while the story evolves as it wants to. As soon as I get a spark of inspiration, I drop everything and jump on my computer or open a document on my phone. My brain never really turns off, so I’ve got several creative ideas usually floating around somewhere. I’ve tried outlining, but the story never goes the way I initially plan, so I just let it take me on a journey, which is when I feel the most passionate about what I’m doing. I’m discovering all the twists and turns like the reader will, and it’s an exciting experience. I ignore most rules until the story is done. I don’t like limiting myself in any way because I feel it stunts my creativity. I treat writing like an art the same way you’d draw or paint something.

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

No, I never outline beforehand. Keeping a page of notes while writing for when something pops into my head for future chapters keeps the story going, and my stories will eventually evolve organically.

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

I do some editing as I go because I have to reread the previous chapter or two before I continue anyway. Having chronic illnesses on top of a dissociative disorder makes it difficult to remember important details sometimes, so I have to refresh my memory to move on.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Yes, that’s a really important step for me. I have one I work with who has helped me evolve as a writer in ways I couldn’t have otherwise, and I know I’m too close to my own writing to properly see flaws in early drafts.

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

Yes, I have a playlist for every single book I write. While writing, the music has to be instrumental because I’m very easily distracted by lyrics, and I listen to all genres and generally love music as a whole, so I have no trouble finding something. Depending on genre, dark ambient can never go wrong, and composers like Danny Elfman and Peter Gundry are always on a playlist somewhere.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Yes, I did for a couple of years, but it didn’t really work out. I like having control over my work and the process anyway, so I probably won’t in the future.

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

My stories mean a lot to me, and I always had a fear that publishers and agents would want to change my book too much, or I’d be unhappy with the cover, or we wouldn’t be able to see eye-to-eye. So I finally decided to self-publish. I have a very specific vision for each book, and the cover and general design are a big part of it. I just like being able to control that so I have a book that I’m proud of.

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

Both, kind of. I made the initial design, and then reached out to a professional cover designer who brought it to life in a way I couldn’t.

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

With as much studying as I’ve done over the years, marketing is a beast. I had made marketing graphics before publishing the book, and I continue to. I knew my main audience would be on Twitter, and I have since learned TikTok since that’s also another smart way to go. There are other things I’ve tried, but really, it’s about getting your book in front of as many eyes as possible across multiple platforms. The tools are all there, it just takes a lot of time, dedication, and perseverance.

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

If you’re considering self-publishing, I cannot stress enough just how important research is. You should be researching this stuff way before you’re planning on releasing a book. Make checklists, read blogs for advice, start collecting books on self-publishing and the publishing world. Research all your options. Self-publishing isn’t just uploading a book, a cover, and then hitting publish to wait for the money to roll in. If you’re in it for the money, you’ll only set yourself up for disappointment. You have to be in this for the long haul because it’s a marathon, but if you set realistic expectations, it is worth it. Don’t do your book, or your readers, a disservice either. Find an editor, beta readers, a cover designer, and an interior formatter. Take the time, don’t rush it.

About You

Where did you grow up?

My parents moved from a growing city in the 90s, where I went to elementary school, to the country in the early 2000s, where I went to middle school and high school. I saw a lot of cornfields and cows for most of my teenage life.

Where do you live now?

Close to where I grew up. A small town close to the country where nothing much really happens.

What would you like readers to know about you?

Ultimately, I just want my stories to be read and to reach the people who want them. So if you ever find yourself in a bind and can’t afford one of my books, send me a message. I’ll get one to you.

What are you working on now?

The sequel to Everything Is Wonderful Now is planned to be released this spring/summer if all goes according to plan. Otherwise, I’m currently writing my next book, which will be pretty different to shake things up. It’s certainly the most bizarre thing I’ve written, but I’m having fun with it.

End of Interview:

For more from Shane Blackheart, visit their website and follow them on Instagram and Twitter.

Get your copy of Everything Is Wonderful Now from Amazon US or Amazon UK.