Author Bio:
Fred Wiehe is a member of the Horror Writers Association. He’s the author of six novels, a collection of short stories, and numerous short stories that have appeared in anthologies, magazines, and e-zines. His adult novel Aleric: Monster Hunter became an Amazon Bestseller on Friday the 13th in 2012. His collection of short stories for young adults and adults, Holiday Madness: 13 Dark Tales for Halloween, Christmas, & All Occasions, became his publisher’s #1 Bestseller for 2010. Fred’s new YA (ages 13-17+) novel Fright House was released on April Fool’s Day 2015 from Damnation Books. He’s now working on The Collected Nightmares, a collection of short stories for adults; a screenplay based on his short story The Uglies; and Zero Sin, the sequel to Aleric:Monster Hunter.
What inspires you to write?
If I didn’t write I’d be in a straightjacket, sitting on a cold cement floor in an asylum, banging my head against the wall. Writing for me is therapy. Expressing myself through my writing keeps my demons at bay. And it’s a pretty cool job too.
Tell us about your writing process.
I’m a visualizer. I play my project like a movie in my head over and over again, from beginning to end, visualizing it and hearing it until I know the story and characters as well as I know myself. Then and only then do I begin putting it into words. That’s probably why people have told me that my stories and novels would make great movies. In fact, Fright House was first a screenplay I adapted into a novel, and I adapted my short story The Uglies into a screenplay.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I’m never alone. My characters talk to me constantly, guiding their own stories. I don’t usually talk back, though. That would be crazy. Wouldn’t it? I mostly listen.
Who are your favorite authors?
I have very eclectic tastes: Jonathan Maberry, Poppy Z. Brite, Stephen King, Peter Straub, Nate Kenyon, Kurt Vonnegut, Richard Brautigan, Michael Crichton, Laurell K. Hamilton, Nicholas Grabowsky, Jack Shafer, George Saunders… The list goes on and on.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I publish with traditional publishers. I believe every writer needs an editor. Really good editors can make all the difference, Their job is to help you make your book the best it can be. Self-publishing misses that crucial step.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
My message to large publishing houses is evolve or die. Unless they change the way they do business, they will become extinct. Anyone can publish a book now with digital publishing. That has given voice to a whole new generation of writers who would have never been heard. However, unfortunately, that also has given rise to a lot of subpar books and novels due to lack of editing and new writers not honing their craft before putting it out there for the world to read. My hope is someday it will all balance itself out, like the scales of justice.
What genres do you write?
horror, fantasy, science fiction, suspense, thriller
What formats are your books in?
eBook, Print
Website(s)
Fred Wiehe Home Page Link
Link To Fred Wiehe Page On Amazon