Please welcome Livingston Slate to GNoH with their entry in our 5 Minutes with a series of author interviews to promote their latest release, Exceptional Crimes.

Livingston Slate

BIO

I was born and raised in the southeastern USA. When I was young boy, my father worked primarily in construction, so my family moved around a lot. I have a bachelor’s degree in Psychology but haven’t used it much. Before becoming a fiction writer, I worked mostly in office positions, in various areas of business. I have never developed what you could call a real career – until hopefully now.

 

WEBSITE LINKS

My Author Website: https://livingstonslate.com

UK Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Livingston-Slate/author/B0CQ3H99J7?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

My Goodreads Author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard?ref=nav_profile_authordash

UK Amazon link to my novel: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Exceptional-Crimes-Livingston-Slate-ebook/dp/B0CQ32N745?ref_=ast_author_mpb

Barnes and Noble link to my novel (please check if delivery is an option if outside the USA): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/exceptional-crimes-livingston-slate/1144495533?ean=9798989220304

Could you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?

I have always been a curious person. As a child, while others were outside playing sports or engaging in activities that most boys do, I was catching spiders and mantises in fruit jars, and keeping them as pets. About the only things I enjoyed reading about in those days were science related subjects, with my favorite topic being dinosaurs. I was fascinated by the world around us. That was true then, and it is still true now.

I have been a horror and science fiction movie fan since as far back as I can possibly remember. When I was very young (maybe three or four), my mom once attended some kind of televised event where the Dark Shadows actor Jonathan Frid was appearing. We ended up meeting him, and he carried me around in his arms for a short time. I can still remember small flashes of it. My mom thinks that the reason Frid was so amused by me was probably because I was constantly staring at his teeth. (True story.)

Which one of your characters would you least like to meet in real life?

There aren’t many characters to choose from but obviously, Eldric Brighton. He is intelligent, manipulative, and holds grudges forever. Getting on his bad side would not be a good idea.


Other than the horror genre, what else has been a major influence on your writing?

Outside of horror, the most major influences on my writing have been life experiences, psychology, and the Bible. With respect to the Bible, I am very knowledgeable of its contents and about religion in general. One non-fiction writer who has had a strong influence on my work is the renowned cult expert Steven Hassan. Movies, in general, have had a major impact as well. I try to create the feeling that you are watching a film while you are reading Exceptional Crimes. And of course, television has had a huge impact – and here’s a little secret – I occasionally binge on teen dramas. (You should ignore my photo; I am still a teenager at heart.)

The term horror, especially when applied to fiction always carries such heavy connotations.  What’s your feeling on the term “horror” and what do you think we can do to break past these assumptions?

To me, horror is just one of many genres that people enjoy. What sets it apart is that it uses your natural fear response as a form of entertainment.

And horror itself can come in many forms. It could be a werewolf going on a bloody killing spree during the full moon. Or it could be a deranged cannibal terrorizing unsuspecting co-eds who happen to be camping in the woods. (By the way, you should probably think twice before heading out to a lake house this weekend, and you should always stay away from any house that lies at the end of a street – I’m just saying.)

But back to the question, some people do not like horror because it often depicts supernatural things (although not always) that could never happen in the real world. To target this perception, I try to blend the supernatural and natural elements of the story in a subtle way to hopefully make the plot feel more ordinary. You might say that this sounds contradictory and ask why you would ever want to make your storyline seem ordinary. But that is not actually what I am saying; what I mean is that the supernatural elements of horror (or science fiction, etc.) become much more believable when they are surrounded by or hidden among ordinary things – the things we see every day. It’s about that suspension-of-disbelief thing.

A lot of good horror movements have arisen as a direct result of the socio/political climate, considering the current state of the world where do you see horror going in the next few years?

Well, you are probably going to see more inclusiveness, not just in horror but in all areas of entertainment. In the past, members of certain groups usually found it difficult to obtain significant roles in movies directed toward what were mostly white audiences and were sometimes not even represented in fictional books directed toward the same audiences, but all of this has begun to change. You are now seeing more and more previously marginalized groups being represented as the main characters in fictional books and films. And I expect this trend to continue.

Given the dark, violent and at times grotesque nature of the horror genre why do you think so many people enjoy reading it?

We are all basically sociopaths at heart. Just kidding, well, sort of. I do think that people have a natural dark side within themselves that longs to come out in some way. One civilized way to let that happen is through fantasy. For example, you could visualize yourself brutally maiming and slaughtering that scumbag boss who told you your advertising proposal sucked (not my fantasy, I’ve never worked in advertising), and you could do it without actually hurting anyone.

What, if anything, is currently missing from the horror genre?

I will have to confine this answer to the area of movies, but I think it would probably apply to books as well. What I mainly see missing today is originality. I wouldn’t go so far as to say it has become an extinct concept yet, but I would definitely classify it as an endangered species. We are seeing far too many remakes, reboots, prequels, sequels, and requels (until recently, I didn’t know that last one was a word). It is quite refreshing when you see someone come up with a genuinely new idea these days.

What new and upcoming authors do you think we should take notice off?

I can’t answer that yet. Until recently, my reading involved almost exclusively non-fictional material. I am changing that now, but I have started by reading some of the old stuff first. After that, I will start reading some of the newer material, and then I can give you an answer.

Are there any reviews of your work, positive or negative that have stayed with you?

I have not actually had any written reviews of my work yet. I am looking forward to hearing what readers think.

What aspects of writing to do you find the most difficult?

To me, pacing is the most difficult thing to master. It is easy to stay on a scene too long or not provide enough detail in a description. Things need to move along at a deliberate pace designed to lead to an intended effect. Accomplishing this is no easy task.


Is there one subject you would never write about as an author?

This is perhaps the most difficult question you’ve asked. But I would have to say the answer is no. Now, don’t get me wrong, there are many things that I would have difficulty writing about and many more that would make me uncomfortable to write about, but I don’t think there are any subjects that I would not write about under any circumstances. I say this because there are times in which certain subjects need to be addressed even if talking about them make us feel uncomfortable. And fiction writing is one of the ways that we can address those issues, while using a slightly less direct approach to accomplish our goals.

Writing, is not a static process, how have you developed as a writer over the years?

Even though this was my first novel, my style has changed several times during the writing process. The published form of Exceptional Crimes was the product of numerous drafts, each with a slightly different style. The first draft was incredibly boring and had the tone of a newspaper article (not an exciting one either). But over the years, I learned better and more effective ways to express what the characters were experiencing and to share that with the reader. Today, my style utilizes a great deal of dialogue and uses it in a way to enable the reader to know the characters deeply and to experience things along with them, allowing the reader to become an active part of what is happening. And I fully expect my style to evolve more while writing my next novel and to keep evolving after that; I just hope that with each change, it will make my writing just a little better each time, not worse.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received with regards to your writing?

The best advice that I have received so far is to not stop writing. I have read that once you have finished with a work, you need to get started writing your next book as soon as possible. In today’s world, with so many books out there, competing against each other, your best chance of success is to treat writing like a marathon, not a sprint. Hopefully, you will eventually cross the finish line as a successful and respected writer.

Which of your characters is your favourite?

Stan Keuten is my overall favorite. He is very intelligent and reluctant to give up, even when it looks like he should. He is also a little quirky and interesting.

Which of your books best represents you?

I have only written one book, which is Exceptional Crimes. The book doesn’t represent my life, but it does represent what kinds of things I enjoy reading about, and it does incorporate some aspects of my experiences. (Don’t read too much into that – I’m not a serial killer!)

Do you have a favorite line or passage from your work, and would you like to share it with us?

“He’s intelligent, and he’s angry. It’s a ‘really bad’ combination.” 

Can you tell us about your last book, and can you tell us about what you are working on next?

I have written one book. What comes next largely depends on  my reading audience. I have a couple of ideas about where to go from here.

If you could erase one horror cliché what would be your choice?

It’s not really what you would call a cliché, but I think it basically applies to the question. I think we need more realism in plot designs. I am not talking about special effects in movies, which are, by far, the best they have ever been; instead, I am referring to characters making clearly stupid decisions whenever they find themselves in trouble. To me, this is not the best way to create suspense and drama. I think a better way to do it is to have your characters make sound, logical decisions, and then even after doing that, they still find themselves in trouble. This takes a little more effort, but I think it produces a better product. To put it another way, my motto is to keep it mostly believable, so when the time comes, the unbelievable will be a little easier to believe.


What was the last great book you read, and what was the last book that disappointed you?

I think the last truly great book I’ve read was In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. I liked the unusual way the story was told. It was a true story, but looked like a fiction novel. Arranging it like that was a great idea.

On the other hand, I read Gerald’s Game by Stephen King and was a little disappointed. The first half of the book was outstanding, but I felt that at about the halfway point, it began to level off in intensity and never regained it. Overall, I would still rate the book as above average, but it just wasn’t one of my favorites of his. (But with that being said, Stephen King, along with Edgar Allan Poe, are my two favorite authors overall.)

What’s the one question you wish you would get asked but never do?  And what would be the answer?

At this point, I am just getting started, so I’m just dying to get asked any questions period – from anybody, anywhere, any planet. You get the idea.

Exceptional Crimes by Livingston Slate

Exceptional Crimes is a science fiction novel in the truest sense; however, as its name implies, it feels more like a crime novel. It takes place primarily in the early 1990s and tells the riveting and graphic story of what it could be like if members of law enforcement were to suddenly find themselves facing the daunting task of stopping the most intelligent serial killer the world has ever known. This is a special kind of psychopath who cannot be stopped by ordinary measures. It will be a war of geniuses against the ultimate genius.

Exceptional Crimes is very realistic and detailed, and it plays out in what feels a lot like real time. As you read, you will experience the excitement and frustration of living out this complex ordeal along with the characters. It is a story that will stimulate your mind and your intellect as well as take you through the whole gamut of emotions. If you are a fan of either the science fiction or the crime thriller genre, I believe you will truly love this book.

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