Ideally, I’d like to reach as wide of an audience as possible, but I definitely think people who identify as outsiders or misfits might enjoy or appreciate this novel a little more than others.
Angeline Walsh – 1 December 2019
The Back Flap
Mildred Mortale, aged 13 1/2, is the youngest of three siblings, and decidedly the most average. Until her parents transform her home into a funeral parlor in the midst of a yellow fever epidemic, and she discovers she can communicate with the restless spirits of their deceased patrons. Not to mention, the ghost of her cat won’t leave, and her estranged aunt on an extended visit is boarding in her bedroom…
About the book
What is the book about?
A girl whose parents transform her home into a funeral parlor during a yellow fever epidemic. It’s a coming-of-age story with ghosts and all sorts of other mayhem.
When did you start writing the book?
June of 2011.
How long did it take you to write it?
A little over 3 years.
Where did you get the idea from?
When my cat, Tim, died unexpectedly in June of 2011 at just a year old.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
I’m a perfectionist, so it typically takes me a while to get a full draft out that I’m satisfied with. I’m constantly editing as I go along.
What came easily?
The banter between the characters.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
I never base my characters on people I know.
Do you have a target reader?
Ideally, I’d like to reach as wide of an audience as possible, but I definitely think people who identify as outsiders or misfits might enjoy or appreciate this novel a little more than others.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
It’s changed over the years, especially since I’ve written this novel. Nowadays I literally sit down with a pen and a notebook and write. I think the activity of physically writing something—as opposed to typing—really gets my brain working, and I find my writing becomes more spontaneous and connected.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
I never outline anything I write. Sometimes I will make lists of ideas or events—that’s the extent of it.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
It depends on the project, honestly. With this novel, I edited as I went—over and over again.
Did you hire a professional editor?
I’m a college student and a part-time barista. I don’t have that kind of money.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
Yes, I love to listen to music while writing. Usually I’ll create a themed playlist for the project I’m working on—for this project, while I did the final edit, I made myself a Southern Gothic playlist—but it usually just depends on the day. I love listening to moody music like M. Ward, Aurora, or Billie Eilish when I’m writing, especially at night.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
Yep, for more than 2 years.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
I was sick of trying to cater to gatekeepers, honestly. I found that a lot of agents ask for “quirky” or “dark” things, but they don’t really like it when they get it. I’m very disenchanted with the world of traditional publishing; much like the film industry, it really needs to be uprooted and re-envisioned for it to move forward. I think art grows when artists are allowed to take risks, and the way the publishing industry is currently set up is not accommodating for writers who want to take big risks or write truly unconventional stories.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
I actually originally paid someone on Fiverr to design a cover that I described, but I didn’t really like some of the things they did with it, so I put it in Photoshop and changed most of it.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
A little bit of both. I’m trying to reach out to more niche groups to garner more attention. I joined the Historical Novel Society earlier this year and was lucky to get picked up for a review, which was just published.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
You can spend your time trying to appease other people, or you can take charge of your own project. You get more creative freedom with indie publishing, but it’s a challenge the same as trying to finagle your way into traditional publishing. You have to pick your challenge.
About You
Where did you grow up?
Ohio, and I spent two years living in Germany.
Where do you live now?
Ohio.
What would you like readers to know about you?
I’m an indie filmmaker as well!
What are you working on now?
My big project right now is called, The Coroner’s Assistant. It’s a show set in late Victorian England. Right now it’s in post-production, and our trailer is almost ready to be released. Other than that, I’m working on editing a manuscript, writing a novel in progress, and working on a couple of other film projects that are still in development.
End of Interview:
For more from Angeline, visit her website.
Get your copy of Memento Mortale from Amazon US or Amazon UK.
