Interview with Horror and Fantasy Author A.I. Winters

Interview with A.I. Winters

1.  Congrats on your newest publication Summoner of Sleep! Without giving away spoilers, could you please share a little about this book?

Image: A. I. Winters

Thanks so much! Summoner of Sleep is about desperate insomniac, Ryder Ashling. He’s lost his job, his wife, and now he’s doubting his sanity. Behind his descent are horrific nightmares, so vivid that they follow him into the waking world. When he discovers his neighbor has been monitoring his nightmares with scientific precision and leaving him vials of a drug called Summoner of Sleep, things get weirder. His neighbor disappears and Ryder follows his trail to Marble Woods, a town erased from all maps after a historical atrocity. Now it’s whispered to be the home of marble-skinned demons, as well as the source of the plants used to manufacture Summoner of Sleeper. As Marble Woods reveals its secrets, Ryder comes face to face with the darkest of family secrets and is forced to make a decision that will change the fate of the world. 

2.  What was your inspiration for writing Summoner of Sleep?

Some nights I would wake up after having a good dream and think to myself “why can’t I have those kinds of dreams all the time?” It would be SO MUCH better to have dreams of flying through the galaxy, hanging out with your favorite musicians, and eating all the donuts you want. I had the same thought when I woke up after a bad or boring dream. Who wants to dream about grocery shopping, falling, or being chased? This sparked the idea for Summoner of Sleep. I thought it would be a neat concept to have a character who tries to perfect dreams using magic. I’ve always been interested in dreams, which is why they are prevalent in all my stories. Summoner of Sleep allowed me to really explore my own dreams and how they impact me on a day-to-day basis. I love that a lot of my readers have shared their dreams with me and how this book has impacted them.

3.  If Summoner of Sleep was made into a movie, who would you want to play Ryder Ashling and why?

Great question. Ryder Ashling is tall, pale, lanky, with dark features, so probably someone like Adrian Brody would be a good fit. Plus, he’s super talented and I think could really bring the character to life a la The Jacket.

4.  You’re also the author of the Strange Luck series. Could you tell us a little about them?

There are three books in the Strange Luck series, Strange Luck, The Nightmare Birds, and A Darling Secret. They chronicle the supernatural adventures of Daisy Darling– an eighteen-year-old with a weakness for chocolate cake and fairy tales. She must leave the confines of her inherited antique shop to find a cure for her ailing father. Along the way she encounters time-altering portals, beautiful and sinister landscapes, and characters from her childhood stories. I’ve been told the series in comparable to a dark Alice in Wonderland meets The Neverending Story.

5.   What sparked your interest in the fantasy and horror genres?

I like stories where anything can happen and these two genres definitely have no limits. It’s so much fun writing about everything from other worlds, magic, to monsters. It’s a fun, creative process that I really enjoy.

6. If you could collaborate with any author, dead or alive, who would you pick?

H.P. Lovecraft. After all these years of reading Lovecraft, a single sentence can still send a shiver down my spine and inspire me on so many levels. I picture everything he writes so vividly and that to me is pure talent.

7.   If you had to describe your writing style or “brand” to readers in a single sentence, what would it be?

I like it spooky.

8.  You mention on your website that in addition to writing, you enjoy baking. Me too, especially around Halloween! Do you have a favorite spooky recipe?

Yes! I usually bake healthy, sugar-free things, but sometimes I splurge. My favorite recipe is pumpkin spice streusel muffins. I’m salivating just thinking about them. :P

9.  Do you have a favorite horror movie you love to watch during the spooky season?

I love to watch all the classics, but my absolute favorite is Evil Dead 2.

10. This is your chance! Is there anything else you’d like to mention? Also, where can people find you online?

You can learn more about me and my books at: aiwinters.com. Buy all the books on Amazon.

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