An Interview With Heaven Leigh Eldeen

Today I have the lovely and brilliant Heaven Leigh Eldeen author of The Demon Side at my place! You can win a copy of her amazing book by leaving a comment below.

How did you come up with the idea for The Demon Side?

My husband loves horror flicks. I absolutely hate watching scary movies. I do okay with the slasher films such as Friday the 13^th and Halloween. However, movies that deal with the unseen, ghosts, and entities, flip me out! It doesn’t matter that I know the movies are completely fake and improbable. I can’t help but run through my house, turning on every light, screaming for my husband to hold my hand while I relieve my bladder during a commercial break. Of course, the jokester my husband is, never resists cracking a few jokes about what a pansy I am or attempts to scare the poo out of me on our way back to our recliners.

Tired of pranks and jokes, I built a self-defense mechanism in my head. I keep my eyes on the television but send my brain into La-La Land. Well, they have scary monster in La-La Land too. Lucky for me, I set the rules for that amusement park.

Short story longer, one evening I snuggle into my hubby as he turns on what is not just a scary movie, but the worse kind of scary movie, one about demons and ghosts attacking you in your sleep. How do you defend against that? You can’t. So, my defenses raise and off goes my brain to stand in line at the tea cups, when suddenly a Demon stands in line behind him.

Being the cordial little guy, my ball of pink spaghetti happens to be, he strikes up a conversation with the mortifying beast. Next thing I know, Rahovart, Etta, John, Alastor, The Arches and Rene are at the snack bar, stuffing their faces with nachos, sucking down lemonade and trading stories back and forth while I sit in the background typing every word that passes between them.

I know a lot of writers inadvertently write themselves into their stories, do you identify with any specific character?

I identify with two characters in The Demon Side, Rahovart and Etta. They are both two aspects of my life, Rahovart being my Demon and Etta representing the innocent part of me.

Rahovart is not your typical hero, did he come to you fully formed as a hero or did you have to make him a hero?

Oh he was my super hero from day one. I’ve always believe even evil could do good and vice versa. It just needed a reason. And for Rahovart, what better reason than a girl who accepts him for what he is and sees what he can be.

All of your characters are tortured in some way. This makes them incredibly complex. Do you know things about them that might surprise your readers?

Oh naughty, naughty Katie. Well, I don’t want to give away too much, but the love story does involve more than just Etta and Rahovart as we move through the trilogy.

The Demon Side is a good vs evil story. Did you enjoy writing the good or the evil more?

I loved writing the evil side but felt I had to really hold back or the story would get lost in gore and debauchery *Yes, Benjamin I know what debauchery means*

What has been the best advice you’ve received as a writer?

Never…ever…never…never…ever give up. Your success can only be measured by what YOU put in the scales.

I know it’s difficult to choose a favorite book, what books have you read the most?

Well there is one series on my top ten list, but I cannot divulge the title at this time since I have been given a sneak peek before its release. Next to that, I’ve been reading mostly blogs posts and What Tangled Webs by Dan Dillard. It’s a hilariously spooky compilation of terrifying short stories.

What author do you identify with?

Definitely my friend, my internet mommy, and role model Hell Kat.  Her incredible writing describes emotions I could never peg. As if she took a page from my book of life and made it make sense.

*Hang on. I need a tissue. No, I’m not crying! My eyeballs are just sweating*

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Just write it from the heart and your soul will follow. And no matter what is said about your work, know that if you feel satisfied at the end of the day that is all that matters! And, never say just!

Tell us about your next release.

Oh that is a toss-up on which will be completed first. I currently have six works in progress, including book two in The Demon Side trilogy, The Human Side. I have another completed manuscript, Vineyard House Chronicles, which is in the revision stages and almost ready for editing. But I have the feeling if I don’t get The Human Side, I’m going to find you in my bushes one day, waiting to tie me down to my computer chair.

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Buy The Demon Side here!!

Decadent Publishing

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Heaven Leigh Eldeen