Sitting Down With New Author Alice Brooks

One of my favourite things about the book community is meeting talented and creative people on a daily basis. As soon as I clicked follow on Alice I knew she’d join that list so fast. I reached out to her to discuss her upcoming debut DON’T TRUST THE RAVEN. Available for pre-order now!

What inspired you to be an author?

I've always been that head-in-the-clouds type of person. I loved writing as a child already, and even though I didn't do it for a long time, I've always known I wanted to do something that'd put my work out into the world. Back then, I didn't know yet what it meant; as a kid I really just wanted to be famous, but looking back I've realized that all I wanted was to share a piece of me with the whole world. When I rediscovered writing, I knew that this was what I'm meant to do with my life. Writing fulfills me in a way nothing else does, and if I weren't an author, I wouldn't know what to do with my life. This right here, what I'm doing, is everything to me.

What is your writing process?

In a smaller sense of how I get through one session of writing: I like to drink my favorite tea (turkish apple!), set colored mood lighting depending on the scene I'm writing, get some snacks, put on my favorite playlist and focus on nothing but my document. I do at least 1000 words per day, at least I try to. In a larger sense regarding my book-writing process: My first draft is already a somewhat coherent work, although in need of heavy fixing, but I don't like to do the [add later] thing because it takes me out of the flow. After draft one is done, I like to go right into editing by rereading and restructuring, then doing that again where needed. This is followed by beta reading, then another round of self-edits and adjustments before I send it to a professional editor. One last adjustment-round and fixes and then I'm all good to go! At least that's how it went for my debut.

What should we expect from 'Don't Trust The Raven'?

You can expect an ending that will render you speechless. Expect a character who steadily spirals downwards, who tries to grasp her own mind, who can't trust anyone but herself—and even that is not a given. Don't Trust the Raven is made of my heart and soul, and I hope that the devotion I poured into it will bleed through the pages.

Can you tell us 3 of your favourite authors?

I love Dana Schwartz' writing! I also really love Christina Henry's and Kalynn Bayron's books.

Are you nervous to be debuting?

Ridiculously nervous. I've never done this before, and I'm figuring it all out on my own. Of course, I've got a great community who's got my back and endless support from my friends and family, but this is a huge step toward the direction of my life's dream, so I'm a bit scared. But that won't stop me!

What inspired you to write a mystery/low fantasy?

My favourite genre is thriller and crime, and I enjoy books that add a sprinkle of fantasy into an otherwise "normal" world. Mix those up and you get what I wrote with my debut! I just really like wondering what on earth is happening when I read, and I want to give my readers that same feeling. I want them to wonder who they can trust and who is lying, and I want them to figure it out alongside with my protagonists.

Do you think you'll branch out and try any other genres?

Already have! I'm not really set on anything yet, I think there's a whole world out there for me to see regarding genres. I would love to write a Choose your own adventure story one day, and I'm intrigued by the psychological horror genre, and I'm big on character exploration-focused novels.

Do you have any advice for new authors?

Writing is hard. It's hard, but it's worth it. You'll encounter endless different types of advice on what to do, and the only thing that really matters in the end is to enjoy your craft. If your bend and break your story to fit rules and expectations, you won't love it.

What should we expect next from you?

I'm currently working on two other projects, but the one that you'll likely see next after my debut is a murder comedy novel with a focus on character exploration. It's currently being beta-read. I can't tell you the title yet, but it follows a murderer who dies and gets an unexpected chance to return to his life to make up for what he did. Along with him is a grim reaper, tasked to essentially babysit him. The storyline follows them as they try to make up for the protagonist's actions—if that's even possible at all—and dives into his mental health, guilt, and the bond that forms between them.

What is your favourite snack while writing?

I'm a deeply indecisive human being, so my answer is: It varies. Sometimes chocolates, sometimes salt sticks, sometimes fruit or nuts or carrots. It really depends on my mood!

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