HORROR INTERVIEW : JANE DOMAGALA

DIABOLIC TALES III

Jane has  been writing stories all of her life  life, but in 2004, during her last year at university, she  made the decision to become a professional writer. She  completed her  Bachelor of Science, majoring in physics and astrophysics. A far cry from writing you might say. However, she loved doing science and found that inside a logical world could live the illogical. In the same way characters can be the chaos in a logical plot. 

Once she  finished university she focused more on writing and completed a creative writing course run by Queensland Tafe

She has  written twelve novels and many short stories during my career. She  loves writing epic fantasies, but dabbles in other speculative genre.She is  a member of the Qld Writers Centre, the Vision Writers Group and the Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA).

Her aim is to provide new authors with the support and guidance that she received when was first starting writing.

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JANE DOMAGALA

Could you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?

I live in Brisbane, Australia. Despite being a dark horror/fantasy writer, I love sunshine and summer time. Sometimes I like to write with music, or with the television on in the background. I also have a degree in physics, though I've forgotten most of it.

Do you prefer the term Horror, Weird Fiction or Dark Fiction?

I like all of those terms, but if I had to pick one I'd go with Dark Fiction. The word Dark can conjure all sorts of images and can incorporate elements of horror and weird fiction.

Who are some of your favourite authors?

I'm a fan of Stephen King, as well as H.P. Lovecraft. I like fantasy authors Robin Hobb and Jennifer Fallon, and so many more. There are too many to choose from.

What are you reading now?

I'm reading Trent Jamieson's (Australian author) The Business of Death. It's a fabulously dark and sometimes humorous take on life and death and the underworld.

How would you describe your writing style?

I like to build atmosphere and tension. I'm not afraid to push the boundaries, when the story calls for it and I love to torment my characters.

Describe a typical day spent writing. Do you have any unusual writing habits?

A typical writing day for me is a tad boring. I spend all morning trying to wake up and struggle to put sentences good together! But then by the afternoon and evening I'm writing up a storm. I call myself Night Writer.

What’s your favourite food?

Chocolate and wine, although wine is more of a drink, but definitely chocolate, and lasagne, and pizza, and roast chicken, and apple pie, and... do I have to choose just one?

What’s your favourite album?

I find it hard to pick a favourite when it comes to music. I love most styles from heavy metal, to classical. I used to play drunks in a punk rock band a long time ago.

What’s the most important lesson you have learned about writing?

Perseverance. Sometimes it can be hard to make yourself sit down and write, especially when you get stuck on a scene or chapter. The best thing to do is to push through, even if you think everything you write is awful. Eventually you'll get into a rhythm again and instead of pushing the boulder up the hill, you'll be running down after it.

Fame and fortune, or respect?

When I was young it was fame. At present it's fortune. In the future, when I'm older and wiser, it'll probably be respect.

What piece of your own work are you most proud of?

I really love the novel I'm working on at the moment. It's a dark fantasy. I find each new piece you write you get a little better and learn something new about your writing.

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

My last book was another dark fantasy about an indentured servant, Axonia, who is desperate for her freedom, only to have it ripped from her grasp when she becomes tethered to a magical scroll. Thrust into the middle of a war, on a world not her own, the only way Axonia can break the scroll's bond is to die.

My current book is about trapped souls, crumbling mountains, and a young man touched by the gods.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/Domarella
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JaneDomagala
Blog: http://domarella.blogspot.com

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