ARIANA OVERTON

Beverly A. Rearick: What genre do you write?

Ariana Overton: I primarily write mysteries and thrillers. However, I thoroughly enjoyed writing the GLASS HOUSE trilogy (Sci Fi Action/Adventure) and A GIFT FOR ROO, a children's picture book.

Beverly A. Rearick: What genres would you like to write?

Ariana Overton: I'd have to say I love my mysteries. Since I've tried so many, I'm sure that's where I belong as a writer.

Beverly A. Rearick: Where do you get your ideas?

Ariana Overton: Everywhere! The idea for TH DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS came as a result of a chance remark my husband Max made one night. We were watching 'Forensic Files' and he happened to remark on a serial killer who left his victims in unusual poses. Then he said, "I wonder how that guy would like it if someone stuck one of those up his...?" That did it! I wrote the book.

Beverly A. Rearick: Do you pattern your characters after any real people?

Ariana Overton: Always. I love studying people. When I worked for a company that flew me all over the country, I spent a lot of time in airports. That place is a goldmine for characters. Also, I've traveled all over the place, including Australia, and all of those travels gave me a great backlog of characters, voices, mannerisms and more.

Beverly A. Rearick: What authors do you admire?

Ariana Overton: I know everybody is getting sick off hearing this but I love Michael Crichton. In the self-published/ebook realm of authors there are too many to list! For a quick list, try these: M.J. Rose, Pauline Baird Jones, Monette Michaels, Phyllis Ann Welsh, Jane Toombs, Beth Anderson, Miles Archer, Kate Moore, Charlee Compo, Bob Rich and many, many more.

Beverly A. Rearick: What authors do you read?

Ariana Overton: All of them! I not only love to write; I love to read too. The big problem is finding time to do it. But, if pressed, I'd certainly list Koontz, King, Rule, and Clancy in my top 10 list.

Beverly A. Rearick: What genres do you read?

Ariana Overton: Again, primarily mysteries and thrillers but I also enjoy a great Sci Fi or horror story.

Beverly A. Rearick: What do you see yourself doing in 10 years?

Ariana Overton: Trying to figure out how to get my keeper to write my book for me? *G* Seriously, probably exactly what I'm doing now. I write, edit, do cover art, garden, go camping with my family, read, and spend lots of time with my family.

Beverly A. Rearick: Do you see yourself ever not writing?

Ariana Overton: Only if I lose my fingers, eyes, ears and toes! Even then, I'd probably figure out a way.

Beverly A. Rearick: What books do you have planned in the near future?

Ariana Overton: I have a few, but just a few! Right now, I'm in the middle of working on another mystery, SCARAB. It should be completed by this Fall. After that, I have others ready to fly; Druid, Deerpata, and Deja Vu Die, all mysteries.

Beverly A. Rearick: How did you get started writing?

Ariana Overton: Well, I figured out that if I didn't learn how to use that crayon for something useful, I'd either get a spanking or have it taken away. I opted to learn how to use it.

Beverly A. Rearick: What age were you when you started to write?

Ariana Overton: To the best of my memory, around 10 years. I thought I could be the next Agatha Christie. After all, I'd read all her stories several times over!

Beverly A. Rearick: When is your next book due?

Ariana Overton: This month! Max and I just completed LOOKING GLASS, the third and final book in the GLASS HOUSE trilogy. It's now with Linda Eberharter at Atlantic Bridge.

Beverly A. Rearick: Was there any author or authors that helped you get your start in writing, or helped you break into the field?

Ariana Overton: You know, when I set out to sell my first book, TRAPDOOR, back in early 1998, there wasn't too many e-authors out there yet. BUT, the ones who were there almost to a person were willing to help newbies. One author in particular comes to mind when it comes to gracious and generous -- that's Diana Kirk. I owe her much.

Beverly A. Rearick: What do you feel makes your books unique or stand out from others in your genre?

Ariana Overton: I truly don't know that they are unique, other than they have my 'voice' in them, but I do know that many readers write to me to say how much they love my fast paced action packed books. That's my style.

Beverly A. Rearick: What made you choose the genres you write?

Ariana Overton: For many years, during the 70s and 80s, the United States seemed to breed so many serial killers that the general public couldn't help but be fascinated with the phenomenon. I took abnormal psychology in college because I was so taken with the question of 'WHY?' that I wanted to study it. How could we go from being the 'Leave it to Beaver' country and suddenly, viciously produce monsters like Bundy, Manson, and the Zodiac? The more I studied them and others like them, the more fascinated I became.

Beverly A. Rearick: Do you have a special subgenre?

Ariana Overton: Well, I consider all genres and subgenres fair game. Anyone who has read my books will tell you that they contain an element of many, not just one or two. Real life is a mixture of everything. Why shouldn't a good story contain them too?

Beverly A. Rearick: Do you have a favorite place you like to write?

Ariana Overton: No, not really. I can write just about anywhere: office, living room, kitchen table, park, car.

Beverly A. Rearick: In what order do you write? For example starting beginning to end, combining parts, in random order or in development cycle?

Ariana Overton: I pretty much write from beginning to end. By the time I start writing a story, I have it all in my head, minus deep detail (my characters give me those as we go along). I write down the 'movie' I have in my mind so it would be pretty confusing to do it otherwise.

Beverly A. Rearick: Do you feel that the e-books offer authors a bit more freedom of expression in their books?

Ariana Overton: No, not any more than traditional authors. We're all bound by the same unspoken rules as hardcopy authors; write what readers want to read, do not cross the lines of bad taste, political correctness, or social faux pas. Sure, there are some things that an author will do that a hardcopy author isn't allowed to do, but not many and not the norm. In general, we all have freedom of expression; that's what makes us authors.

Beverly A. Rearick: What do you feel is, or isn't being done to promote authors?

Ariana Overton: There is so much going on now that I'm hard pressed to think of anything that is or isn't being done! E-book authors do much promoting themselves that I doubt anything is being overlooked.

Beverly A. Rearick: Do you feel that the marketing departments have their finger on the pulse of readers?

Ariana Overton: If you're talking about 'traditional hardcopy' publishers, no, not even close. There are maybe -10 top authors who sell their books every year, and I just names a few above, but there are far more 'grist' authors that are tried out, fill up a gap and dumped too. The hardcopy publishers are losing their battles to hold on so badly that they have to stick with old tried-and-true storylines. Unfortunately, their lack of vision and willingness to take risks, what made this country so successful to begin with, will be their death call. Without changing, you stagnation, then death. It's a fact of life and of business.

Beverly A. Rearick: How do you feel about the review rating systems?

Ariana Overton: Reviews of books are so subjective that you cannot really place any real value on the rating. Every reviewer has their specific tastes, pet peeves and good and bad days. One reviewer's five star might just as easily be another's one star. That's why, although I enjoy getting good reviews and I realize readers need some kind of guide, I don't place much value on them. If I know the reviewer is a reasonably objective reader, then, yes, I will place value on it but it doesn't happen often.

Beverly A. Rearick: Through what venues do you feel most of your books are being sold?

Ariana Overton: Word of mouth is still the greatest sales tool. I do get the occasional email from a reader who bought a book of mine through the publisher site or Amazon, but, more often than not, they buy as a result of someone recommending the book.

Beverly A. Rearick: What do you feel is the best part of the publishing industry?

Ariana Overton: the best part has to be how the ebook publishing industry is opening the doors wide for new authors, new voices, new perspectives, to be printed. It's a common saying that a generation is best understood and remembered by its literature. This is true. How would we understand how a Victorian family lived on a daily basis, how relationships were handled, childrearing or even politics, if we didn't have novels written at that time to give us insight? Now, our generation is having a larger voice because we no longer are shut out.

Beverly A. Rearick: What do you feel needs to be changed about the industry?

Ariana Overton: To be brutally honest, the ebook industry needs to mature. It is making fast and good headway but there are still problems with amateurs thinking they can start and run an ebook business. This makes for 'businesses' that are unethical, underfunded, badly run, with no business plan or strategic process to play. That has made for a lot of usery, bad feelings and author dissatisfaction and disillusionment. Unfortunately, there are still some epub out there who should not be in business. They do not honor contract agreements, they lie to and use their authors, and they are not business people. But, it is changing and I see many epubs run well and with sound business practices.

Beverly A. Rearick: Do you think small press and e-books will be the wave of the future?

Ariana Overton: I think they already are the future and the future is here.

Beverly A. Rearick: What of your published books is your favorite? Why?

Ariana Overton: I'd have to say GLASS HOUSE continues to me my favorite, although THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS is so close that they are both. GLASS HOUSE is a story wrapped around the mysteries of Australia. That country occupies a soft spot in my heart so doing a story about it was a real joy.

Beverly A. Rearick: What do you feel is the worst piece of advice anyone ever gave you about writing?

Ariana Overton: The worst advice I ever got was from a 'publisher' who was protecting herself and didn't have my best interests in mind. She told me to be willing to put up with whatever was thrown my way in order to succeed as a writer. I didn't and still won't do that and, although I don't consider myself successful yet, I do know that I take my craft and this industry to heart and will be some day. In the process, I won't lower myself or this business by taking that kind of advice.

Beverly A. Rearick: What is the best?

Ariana Overton: "Learn the craft and perseverance and you will succeed!" That came from Diana Kirk, a long-time friend and a very wise woman.