Welcome back, my fellow creatives! I’m thrilled to continue sharing some lovely indie authors I’ve met in our community–it’s so great to connect with folks again. This month, please welcome supernatural young adult author, Frank J. Camacho!

Let’s begin with some book love! What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?

My favorite underappreciated novel would be Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palhanuik or Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young. They are completely different, but both of their storytelling and characters left an impact on me. Not just as a reader, but as a writer as well.

I love when a reading experience has a bonus learning experience as a writer. You never know which author will bring those lessons to you, either. What authors did you dislike at first but grew into?

I can’t recall any authors I initially disliked and then grew into…and I’m not just saying that because I’m an author myself. I tend to know pretty quickly if a voice resonates with me.

That’s a fair point. I think the stage of life can have an influence, too. I had no patience whatsoever with Jane Austen as a teen, but these days she’s comfort food. 🙂 What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?

I think I realized it pretty early on, though I didn’t know what to make of it at the time. I remember writing a paper where I referenced some of my own upbringing and receiving unexpected feedback from my teacher. It helped me understand that words can hold weight or even change how someone perceives something.

You mentioned CW shows on your site’s bio, and that made me smile. Our favorite stories, whether on film or in books, are going to have that lasting influence. I know I couldn’t help but fall in love with sword duels after growing up on things like Star Wars and Highlander.

Nowadays, there are oodles of action-packed stories out there as well as lots of paranormal fiction. Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want? That is, do you see yourself hitting a lot of tropes, or working to steer away from them?

I love this question. I think I’m always striving to be original (which I’m aware is nearly impossible), but I naturally find myself brushing up against familiar tropes, especially those influenced by CW shows I grew up on, such as The Vampire Diaries, The Secret Circle (RIP),and Gossip Girl. One thing I intentionally carried into my writing is the use of cliffhangers. I try to end every chapter in a way that creates momentum. That’s something I picked up from those shows. Every scene felt purposeful and left you wanting more.

Oh yes, let’s dig into your writing now. The Monsters They Made Us is your debut novel—congratulations! Do you feel your writing process has changed at all since your book’s publication?

My writing process has stayed the same, but I’m much more intentional now. In earlier drafts, I would just write and refine later. Now, I find myself pausing to ask whether a scene or a piece of dialogue is actually serving the story, moving things forward, or adding something meaningful.

It’s not always easy to pursue the writing life, so any support we have is deeply appreciated. While my husband doesn’t read my stuff, he’s always happy to help me find research and music to help me develop my stories. Do your loved ones support your career as a writer, and if so, how so?

My loved ones have been so supportive of my writing career. Whether helping spread the word about the release of The Monsters They Made Us, offering input on design choices, or sharing their thoughts on a social media posts, they’ve been there every step of the way. They’re also helpful when I need to vent about something or feel like I’m not doing enough. Writing can be a solitary process, but their support has made it feel far less so.

How wonderful your loved ones have been so supportive! That’s just what I love to hear–especially when you’re going through the publishing process for the first time. It takes a lot of guts to publish that first novel, especially as you go out to speak with people about it, participate in book events, etc. Is it ego, do you think, that helps a new author put themselves out there? Or is it something else?

I don’t think it’s ego. At least, not in the way people usually mean. There might be a psychological element of wanting to prove something to yourself, but I think it’s about wanting to share something that once only existed in your mind. It’s about connection. Or a way to heal from past traumas. And sometimes, it’s simply an outlet you feel compelled to create and release.

Speaking of connection, I’ve seen all sorts of updates on your Instagram about your adventures in marketing your book. As a debut author, have you seen any particular approach to be extra-effective in terms of marketing your work?

I’m still experimenting with marketing. I’ve found that more humorous or personality-driven content tends to perform well in terms of engagement, while bigger moments like reveals or announcements drive stronger spikes in visibility. It’s been a balance of learning what resonates while still staying authentic and avoiding burnout.

Yes, balance! That is the name of the game with a lot of things, both in storytelling and in marketing. Just look at series writing, for as you say, The Monsters They Made Us is the first of a series. On the one hand, it’s cool to see how a story can grow and develop over the course of several installments. On the other hand, it can be fun to explore a world through the eyes of different characters, their stories not necessarily impacting each other. Without spoiling anything (of course), when you consider The Heirs of Driftmoor series, are you keen to have each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?

The Heirs of Driftmoor series is definitely designed as a connected body of work. Each book takes place during a different season of the characters’ final year of high school. The Monsters They Made Us is set in the fall, The Monsters We Became is in winter, and the final book is in spring. Each book stands on its own regarding the characters’ experiences in each season, but together they form a larger picture that (hopefully) becomes clearer as the series progresses.

It takes time to figure out how all those parts form that larger picture, too. Genre fiction with scifi, fantasy, or paranormal elements often have a lot of moving parts which readers, even avid readers of those genres, are not always prepared for. How do you balance making demands on the reader with taking care of the reader?

I think it comes down to trust and clarity. With stories that have a lot of moving parts, grounding the reader in a character first is helpful. If they feel anchored in someone’s perspective and emotional journey, they might be more willing to follow the complexity of the world around them. At the same time, I’m mindful not to overwhelm the reader with too much information at once. I like to layer details gradually while leaving space for discovery. It’s a balance between challenging the reader and guiding them, so they feel engaged rather than lost.

Do you hide any secrets in The Monsters They Made Us that only a few people will find?

There are definitely a lot of secrets and Easter eggs in The Monsters They Made Us. Some are subtle nods to the CW shows that influenced me. Others draw from personal experiences. And some are pieces of foreshadowing, like recurring imagery or objects that take on more meaning over time.

Thanks so much for chatting with me today! Let’s end on a question of vision: What does literary success look like to you?

For me, literary success involves creating a genuine connection with readers. It’s knowing that something I wrote from some of my darkest moments in life meant something to someone. While sales and rankings do matter to me, having a reader feel seen or relate holds higher value.

How true, my friend. How true.

My thanks again to Frank for taking time to chat with me. I’m excited to see where his series takes him! You can connect with him on his site as well as on Instagram.

Coming up, I need to talk about bucking trends. We’ll also explore Story Empire and listen to another podcast. I’ve also got some music to share along with an upcoming guest post from Blondie. Stay tuned!

Read on, share on, and write on, my friends!