Nate: How long have you been writing? Did you start off writing stories or something else like poetry?
Holly: I first discovered I had a talent for creative writing when I was in the second grade. I wrote a three-stanza poem entitled “The Talking Horse.” My teacher and fellow classmates paid it many compliments. I enjoyed the attention. In third grade, I wrote a very long, rambling poem called “The Hawk.” The following year, I made a departure from animal themes and poetry; I began writing haunted house stories.
Nate: Nice. Can you tell me about your most recent book?
Holly: Well, it’s funny—I was just talking about how I started writing about animals, then gravitating to horror. I guess things really do come full circle! My first two books were in the horror/ suspense genre. My third was a memoir detailing my father’s battles with homelessness and Alzheimer’s. My latest is, of all things, a cat book! It’s called “My Life With Cats.” A few years ago, I wrote a short story about my late cat, Deej, which was published in an animal stories anthology. I realized that I actually had lots of cat stories to tell. My passion for them can be traced back to my childhood when I wasn’t allowed to have pets. Then, as a teen, I started rescuing the kittens of neighborhood strays. I didn’t have a cat of my own until I was 30. The hardest part of writing this book was finding and scanning photographs of all those kitties! $1 from each copy sold is donated to Caring For Cats, a nonprofit rescue group based in Three Mile Bay.
Nate: It’s fantastic that $1 is donated per book. Do you self-publish, or do you use a traditional publisher?
Holly: I self-publish. I used Outskirts Press for my first two books and Createspace for my third and fourth. I plan on utilizing Createspace for my future projects as well.
Nate: Createspace is great. Have you or do you plan on making writing your career?
Holly: That was definitely a dream of mine from about the fourth grade and throughout my high school years, but it doesn’t seem realistic at this point in my life.
Nate: Are you working on a 5th book?
Holly: I am working on several projects simultaneously, which may explain why it takes me so long to complete any one thing! I’m working on at least one short story for a local author anthology, which hopefully will come out next year. I also have three ideas for novels. One is general fiction for adults. The other two are young Adults; one is pretty dark and scary, and the other deals with the supernatural. Also, I completed a children’s book about five years ago but never published because of the lack of an illustrator. I actually had six separate artists agree to the project and then pull out for various reasons! I guess that one just wasn’t meant to be.
Nate: What marketing techniques do you find useful?
Holly: I realized the importance of social media early on. In fact, that’s the only reason I signed up for Facebook originally. I swore when I first created my account that I wasn’t going to post personal stuff; I’d only use it to market my books. Immediately, I started getting friend requests from people I hadn’t thought about since high school… most of whom didn’t even speak to me in high school! They were all so impressed that I’d written and published a book. Of course, I wound up getting addicted to the social aspect of Facebook. Business-wise, I’ve found Facebook to be the most effective marketing tool, even more so than having a website. I have a “fan” page, Holly Gaskin Author, where I post about what I’m writing, new book releases, and book signings. I then “share” the posts on my personal timeline so more people will see them. When I have a brand new book out, I’ll contact the local newspapers, hoping they’ll give me a mention. Networking with other local authors is also essential. We’re a supportive community, not competitive.
Nate: What do you like to do for enjoyment when you are not writing?
Holly: First, and perhaps most obviously, I like to read. I work in a bookstore, and I pretty much have the world at my fingertips there. I’ve discovered a lot of great authors and books that I might not have otherwise read. I never used to be a movie person, but I’ve found a new hobby in the past year or so: watching films that are based on novels. I read the book first, then watch the movie. 99% of the time, the book is better. Also, I enjoy eating out in different restaurants and posting my reviews on Yelp. I like to attend concerts when I can or find local bands that are playing live.
Nate: How about some favorites? What is your favorite color? Number? Foods? Movie(s)? Book(s)? Or any other favorites you want to mention.
Holly: My favorite author is Stephen King. I like seafood, as well as Greek and Asian cuisine. My favorite season is fall, and my favorite color would be the colors of Autumn leaves.
Nate Foy: What is the main message you want to give your fans as an example as an author? Is there anything else you’d like to add before we finish?
Holly: I’d like my readers to understand that I’m very diversified in my writing, so they shouldn’t expect the same book from me twice. No sequels. When I finish writing a book, I’m completely done with those characters and that plot. I’m always reluctant to talk too specifically about what I’m currently writing because I can start with an idea or an outline, and as I’m writing, the story will go off in another direction. So, all I can say is… stay tuned for whatever lies ahead. The best is yet to come!
Nate: Thank you for taking the time to do this interview.
