Author Interview: Blakely Chorpenning

Blakely Chorpenning, the fabulous author of Frayed: A Madison Lark Novella (click link for my review of this book), has graciously sat down with me to have a little chat. Caution: This interview may contain silliness and occasional full out nutty behavior. View at your own risk, for you will walk away a changed person. *giggles* I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did. I have to say, Blakely is one rockin' author.


Jennifer: First, I want to congratulate you on being full of awesomeness. I truly loved reading your urban fantasy novel Frayed: A Madison Lark Novella. I hate to be cliché, but I have to ask. How did you come up with the idea for your book?

Blakely: After having my daughter in 2008, I went through a lot of personal changes in the way I view the world and, most importantly, myself. I realized that a lot of women experience these small personal evolutions in the undercurrent of daily life (at various turning points in our lives, not exclusively after children), and many of these moments go unspoken. So when it came time to start a new project, I wanted a multidimensional heroine who reflects the wear of the world, but also possesses a resilience to thrive. One who can even find time in the midst of a melting world to just laugh and let loose. A candid, sassy woman who can make the bullshit work for her rather than let it control her.

I needed a modern woman.

In a matter of days -through dreams and small brainstorms- Fray and her world came about. While Fray definitely isn't afraid to assert herself, I felt it was more important for readers to have access to her own quiet sorrows whispering through the world because every woman is made up of so many combinations and layers -faces, emotions, cultures, ethnicities- but we only have one heart, and it always tells the truth. I guess everything comes down to the truth. I know, truth in fiction? Even in the presence of shapeshifters, werewolves, and vampires, I think a good character speaks to the heart of every reader. And I can only hope that Fray does that.

Jennifer: I love it. You're a writer with heart. How can I get one? Lol, just kidding. But in all seriousness, I love the profoundness of your writing. It seems like you have your technique down as well as a creative vision that goes beyond everyday fiction. Which makes me wonder. Did you run into any difficulties while writing Frayed? Even as a writer in general, what have been some obstacles you have faced and how did you overcome them?

Blakely: Okay, you are making me sound so good I'm wondering who this writer is you're talking about. Ha ha. And I definitely wouldn't say I have my technique down, but it's nice that it looks that way on the outside. I just strive to make each project better than the last. That mostly involves harping, harassing, sometimes candy, and -during extreme rewrites- highly funky dancing to questionable music.

I have to say, I didn't run into any major snafus while writing Frayed. Just the usual: trying to make point A fall madly in love with point Z without ticking off the rest of the alphabet. Oh, and have it all mean something. As a writer, I need to capture the reality of a situation, even if giant shapeshifting lions are ramming a car off the sidewalk, or the heroine is busy bench-pressing furniture out a second story window. So my obstacles have always involved blending crazy ass, supernatural events with sincere, down-home feelings. Sometimes it works, and sometimes I fail horribly (cue funkster dance improv).

My largest obstacle to date has been the issue of traditional publishing vs. the indie route. My first manuscript was received with interest from a few agents, but (*sigh*) a growing number of people, including publishing houses (*double sigh*), are over vamps and the regular bump-in-the-nights at the moment. And then I wrote Frayed. A novella. Publishing houses, on average, do not buy novellas from debut writers, which greatly reduces...well, everything. Having self-published my own novella, I can now say that novellas are kind of a pain in the ass. I sympathize with said publishing houses. However, I love my pain in the ass, and I believe in it. So my obstacle wasn't ever getting an agent or a publishing house to commit, but rather gaining the self-confidence to find my own audience for Frayed. And so far I love it all.

Jennifer: Don't worry. I totally get it. We love funky music and even more funky dancing over here at my blog. Oh, and chocolate. Chocolate is a must at my blog. It's the fuel for the whole operation. But before I start on a tangent on how chocolate should be a daily part of everyone’s diet, let's get back to the star of this interview, you. Since you mentioned it (so this is totally your fault that I now plan to evilly squeeze out every bit of information you have), can you tell us a little more about your experience with trying to get traditionally published? Also, how has the road to self-publishing gone so far?

Blakely: Well, I did all the wrong things at first. My manuscript (although I didn't see it then) was highly chaotic and riddled with craziness, and my agent queries sucked. I should have spent more time eradicating gremlins and educating myself on the "do's" and "dont's". My first query went something like, "Aaahhhh, I flippin' finished my book, here it is, look at it, it's amazing because I finished it bitches, and it's my first one!!! Aaahhhh!!!" (Okay, not one hundred percent accurate, but close.) Through years of querying, getting rejected, researching, and re-querying, I not only learned a lot about the publishing world, but also squashed a few large gremlin colonies in my manuscript.

It's probably no surprise that after six years a new project of length was due. (I have tons of short ones.) While writing Frayed, I employed everything I've learned, and especially avoided the "dont's". And though I feel like this is my best effort yet, an agent (who has been very kind to me) offered one sobering remark, "I can't sell this to a publishing house". The word count didn't hack it.

There were a lot of paths to choose from, but self-publishing is a little bit of an unknown wilderness on the edge of the big city (and that intrigues me to no end). I had already been making googly eyes at self-publishing, so I got serious and really did my homework. Of course, researching is much different than doing. I spend much more time pleading the learning curve than saying, "Yes, I knew I wouldn't flub that shizzy up." And I have many mental notes filled with "for-the-love-of-everything-shiny don't evers" and "pretty-please remembers" for my next self-pub endeavor.

Hopefully, though, I've done enough right to join the ranks of indie authors doing what they love, and finding a readership who appreciates it.

Jennifer: I thought about it and it's decided. You are officially the funniest author I have ever come across. It's hard to make me laugh (as mentioned before, the lack of heart) but you had me cracking up about twenty times in a span of three paragraphs. (Okay, maybe twenty is an exaggeration, more like nineteen). It's obvious you have spent many years writing, but has it always been your passion? Was it your first and last career? When did you know you wanted to be a writer, especially in urban fantasy?

Blakely: Thanks! Sometimes I can just be socially awkward, so I'm glad someone else is laughing with me. Then the person not laughing with us can feel awkward instead. Ha.

Okay, okay, back to the questions. I have always written, even before I realized that what I was doing could actually be a career one day. I think I'm very lucky because I still have most of my old writing and notes so I can see my progression, and I'm in the slow process of gathering all of this together from storage, my parents' house, and random files to try and make sense of it all. But I have a nagging feeling that once they are in one location, it's either going to look like a scene from Conspiracy Theory or resemble a disturbing collage like Drew Barrymore's character made in Mad Love. Neither one very flattering (although I could definitely stand to look like Drew Barrymore).

As for careers, I had the list of all lists, but not enough human years to do everything. The top two from my "grownup" list are writer and anthropologist. The top two from my childhood would be vampire (if that can be considered a career. They would need a dental plan, though.) and professional rollerblader (I had the knee pads, but lacked the agility required to succeed. I know, it was a blow to my parents, too). So far, I'm quite happy with my career route. I can unleash my crazy imagination and still flip open some useful anthropology books. Especially the forensic books because my imagination can be brutal on characters.

I love the whole process of writing, and I love urban fantasy and weird fiction just as much. Anything with a supernatural element or twist appeals to me. Urban fantasy, in particular, because of the generous amount of good/evil gray area, the strong female lead, and the idea that anything is possible leaves so much open to the imagination. The scope of possibilities truly makes me giddy. And it's that excitement that makes urban fantasy so thrilling to write as well as read.

Right now, I consider myself very lucky. I'm able to stay at home with my daughter AND pursue my writing career.

(And I haven't given up my rollerblade dream yet.)

Jennifer: Oooh, rollerblading. I like this possible career choice you’re heading towards: Rollerblading writer. It has a ring to it. And you’re pretty much my twin when it comes to why I think urban fantasy is so awesome. Now, with you being such a character yourself, it makes me wonder if you have put a little of yourself in your characters. Do you create your characters from scratch or do you base their personalities and traits on yourself and the people you know?

Blakely: I make it a rule not to use people I know (because I want to keep my friends) or myself (because that's no fun). Although, I'm sure a little of me seeps in, like certain beliefs or standards. And sometimes I try to capture landmark emotions from my own life, though the circumstances creating those feelings are completely different for the characters. It is fiction, after all. Otherwise, I have fun with the making of a character, like Doctor Frankenstein. Sometimes I'm intrigued by dueling personality traits, so I toss them into one brain. Or I'm inspired by the look of a couple I see on the street, so they blossom into some crazy alternate world version in my pages, which might not even resemble them at all when I'm done. (And sometimes I rub my hands together in a sinister manner and cackle when I can't stop the madness.)

People-watching is the key, though. I don't ever copy a person. I might see a subtle look, or a unique stride, or hear a voice that sounds beautifully pained, or see a face that just startles me in a magnificent way. Or I might see an object that suddenly makes me think of a good character.

Now, after saying all of that, I am actually working on a small side project with a main character that shares my likes/dislikes. While the character is my exact opposite in so many ways, she loves eating artichokes and filo dough because I do. She hates potatoes, but loves french fries because I do. However, all of the events and relationships are her own and in no way mirror mine. Honestly, I did it because I've been writing this between larger projects and wanted to be able to pick it up and start writing whenever the mood strikes without consulting paperwork -my beloved character cheat sheets. But it has been a refreshing and interesting change of pace.

But Fray is definitely her own woman. Maybe stubborn like me, but in her own ways. And I think her heart is one to strive towards. A self reminder to always try to be better. So maybe I'm really looking for characters to learn from, rather than creating projections of myself. (Ohhh, I think that was a moment. Ha.)

Jennifer: I have to say, that sounds wonderful. A character to learn from. What a great answer. Now that you had your moment, let's have a little fun. Out of all the characters you have created, which one would you most like to sit down and have dinner with? What would the two of you talk about and eat?

Blakely: Wow, you are really making me think. I guess it would depend on my mood. If I was in a serious or curious mood, I would pick Onyii, a female character from a short story entitled 'Chicken Blood & Roses' that I wrote a few years ago for a creative writing class. We would go to the locally-owned pizza deli I like and order an extra large carnivore pizza (my personal favorite). Seeing as how Onyii raised her boyfriend from the dead, I would totally avoid relationship talk. So we would probably discuss the differences between voodoo and hoodoo. And I would ask how her Grandma Nena is doing.

But overall, I would probably be in the mood for comfort, so I would eat at the local Italian place (stromboli, thank you) with Seth from my upcoming novel 'Souled Out'. He's a vampire and he has manners, so he would casually drink someone's blood before showing up in ripped jeans and flip-flops. We would talk a little about everything, like silly license plates we've seen recently, and I wouldn't be afraid to mention personal things like irrational insecurities or mean-spirited nicknames from middle school. We would drink beer and laugh a lot, as well. And then the dinner would be crashed by Gideon, a crazy bloodsucker with no personal boundaries. We would get kicked out soon after.


Jennifer: Now I'm jealous. I want eat with Seth, too. He sounds so intriguing. And now that you mention it, can you tell us a little more about your other novels and what you are working on now?

Blakely: I'm getting ready to make final changes to 'Souled Out' before sending it to my editor. It's a 'new adult' novel due later this year. The main character, El Clyne, is a young woman who reads souls for the vampires. And when they discover her family secret, she realizes that she has been protecting the one person that "souled" her out. Overall, it's about a girl looking to reconnect with her family and forge new bonds as she reclaims her life. Soulless.

As I mentioned before, I'm also very excited to resume working on my young adult project with the main character that shares my likes/dislikes. All I can really say is that it flirts with the supernatural, though it has nothing to do with traditional monsters. It is also minimalistic where description is concerned, which is something completely new for me.

Of course, I always have about eight projects in line at any given time. So I usually have to yell, "No line cutting!" to remind myself to focus. And I'm not done with 'Frayed' just yet. I would love to see a graphic novel and audio book in the near future.

Jennifer, thank you so much for taking the time to come up with completely kick ass questions, for having so much enthusiasm for Frayed, and for your extreme patience. Obviously, I'm unable to answer something quickly. Now you know what my husband puts up with. He never gets one half-assed excuse. I always have three or four really awesome ones. Ha ha. But honestly, I hope everyone enjoys reading this interview as much as I have enjoyed being a part of it. Thank you!

Jennifer: I want to thank Blakely Chorpenning for taking the time to chat with me and answer my many questions. I have to admit, this was one of the funnest interviews I ever had. Clearly, Blakely thinks outside the box and has an amazingly boisterous personality, and she's not afraid to use it.

Make sure to be on the lookout for the upcoming giveaway of Blakely's ebook, Frayed: A Madison Lark Novella.