Throughout my publishing journey, I have met the most AMAZING authors! Everyone needs a support system for when they hit those plot holes, are deep in the querying trenches, and when they publish their first book.
On my journey, I met the wonderful Chelsea Lauren. She is the author of Creatures Most Vile, a spooky YA fantasy that is coming out October 12th, 2021 with GenZ Publishing. I sat down with Chelsea and asked her the tough questions (well, not THAT tough). But first, here’s a snippet on what her book is all about:
Stalked by monsters in the woods and her past, Anora finds safety in the quiet comforts of her small town life.
It’s another ordinary day when she’s sent to a Guardian assessment designed to unleash rare supernatural abilities, until she blasts a tunnel of water across the room. Her coach calls her gift a blessing, but Anora knows it’s a death sentence. Now she must train as a Guardian and battle the very monsters that have tormented her entire life.
After being thrown into the arena with a clawed and cackling creature, Anora refuses to accept this new life. She appeals to the Commander and begs her trainers to let her go home. The more they refuse, the more Anora realizes this isn’t a training camp—it’s a prison and they will never let her leave. Now she must escape the camp before the Commander catches on, for if he does, he may turn out to be worse than the monsters lurking in the woods.
What inspired you to write Creatures Most Vile?
Creatures Most Vile has two points of inspiration. I had a very vivid dream that sparked my original concept of a training camp for gifted teens to battle monsters. The first evaluation at the Compound is actually based off of that dream I had five years ago.
The inspiration that shaped Anora’s story was much more personal. I had struggled during graduate school. I wasn’t happy with the path I was on, but I had a lot of pressure to suck it up and stick it out because I had talent and it shouldn’t be “wasted”. I tried to, because I didn’t want to disappoint people, but I quickly fell into a deep depression. Eventually I realized that what everyone else wanted of me didn’t matter. This is my life and I decide how to live it. I infused that same perspective and motivation into Anora’s decisionmaking when she discovers that she has a gift and is told she must use it to battle the same monsters that trigger her PTSD.
Why did you decide on a monster-ridden dystopian world for this novel?
I AM A MONSTER JUNKIE! I am obsessed with everything and anything monsters, so naturally my first book had to feature some spooky creatures! My inspiration dream didn’t only have monsters in it, but this elite training camp of young people to fight them, and that sparked a cascade of worldbuilding questions. One example would be, what pressures would exist in a world to result in such a ruthless and desperate style training camp?
I find that’s the best way to build a world. Pester it with questions like you’re a five-year-old – haha. Ask ‘why’ of everything. Why is it this way? Why couldn’t it be like this? Questioning everything leads to an immersive, detailed world with few plot holes (ideally none!).
What’s your favorite monster (classic or otherwise?)
Hmm, it’s hard for me to pick just one. The creepier the better! I’d have to say one of my favorites is The Creeper from Jeepers Creepers. I mean, it’s in the name! I’m also a huge alien fan. I love most alien movies I watch, whether it’s horror or not, and it’s impossible for me to choose a favorite.
What’s your favorite monster in Creatures Most Vile?
The Werebat! It’s not a ‘were’ creature, meaning it’s not a human that transforms into a bat. It’s technically a cross between a werewolf beast and a bat, but Werebat was catchier than batwolf, haha!
Who was your favorite character to write?
Bron was definitely my favorite. His character arc in the first book of this series is in my opinion one of the strongest, and was also spontaneous! In my original outline, Bron wasn’t meant to be a main character. He was supposed to be just another trainer, but this soft side to him kept popping up in his scenes that I didn’t intend for but just… happened. It was like his character was trying to grab my attention through the page and say “Hey, you should do more with me than have me stand here and bark orders.” Haha! That probably sounds crazy, but if you’re a writer you understand what I mean.
When did you realize you wanted to pursue authorship?
My best friend actually suggested it. We had a small writing group during graduate school that was a way for us to de-stress. Creatures Most Vile was my project and after a lot of brainstorming it had turned into a solid concept for a novel and she encouraged me to finish writing it and try to get it published – and here I am five years later!
Why do you write?
I started writing for me, as a way to destress. Even though I’ve come a long way from that writing group in grad school, I’d say I’m still just writing for me. It’s an outlet, an escape, and I’m fortunate enough that people want to share in what I have created.
What’s your favorite read of 2021?
Skyward Series by Brandon Sanderson. I was really in the mood for something a bit lighter, a touch of humor, but still had all the passion and tension I love in YA and this book really hit the spot for me. If you’re into super-fast spaceships, snarky AI’s, and young women who won’t take no for an answer this book is for you. The third book in the series, Cytonic, comes out in November.
What genre do you write in and which do you read?
My debut, Creatures Most Vile, is a young adult dystopian fantasy. I have written some middle grade science fiction, but nothing that is fit for publication. Maybe one day!
My main genres to read are young adult and middle grade science fiction/fantasy. I also enjoy horror and the occasional thriller if it has the right hook.
What do you do when you’re not doing book related things?
I enjoy crafting, like making photo collages and cards. Spoiling my dog Otis with snuggles and belly rubs is a top priority. Game nights with friends or going out to dinner with my husband are a Friday night favorite. I’m a huge Marvel nerd and horror movie fanatic.
What are your future author plans?
Creatures Most Vile is a series and completing that is my main focus right now. I’m working on book two now and plan to roll right into the next once I’m done. Down the line, I’d like to pursue a middle grade project I have in my WIP pile.
Any advice for writers starting on their indie authorship journey?
Don’t lose sight of why you want to be published. You started this journey because you believe in your writing and yourself. Always remember to come back to this…
You will get rejections. Lots and lots of rejections. This will hurt and it will be hard to accept. After you get tens upon hundreds of rejections (Yes, even hundreds. I got over a hundred), you will ask yourself: What’s wrong? Why isn’t my book good enough? Why am I not good enough? You are going to change everything about your book. You are going to rewrite it a million times so that it fits an agent or publisher’s wish list perfectly. You’re going to get so caught up in what you think everyone else wants from you and your book that when you stop to look at your book, look at yourself, you may not recognize what you see.
I don’t want that to happen to you. I want you to know that YOU are amazing. YOU are talented. Your words belong in the world, just as they are. Don’t change them for anyone.
To Pre-order (or order, depending on when you’re reading this) follow the links below:
Follow Chelsea on social media, or visit her website:
Instagram: @bookish_clauren
