Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Currently reside in Elkton, MD where I have hosted a few episodes on cecil.tv while also being on the other side being a guest of the show. I have written eleven books and currently am finishing up my first Sci-Fi Thriller titled We, R. My genre include but are not limited to Horror, Re-Imagined Contemporary Fiction and Sci-Fi.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is We, R and is a book I had started writing back in 2014. I’ve always enjoyed sci-fi growing up and believing that we are not alone in this universe. I started the book as more of a role play on facebook with another person. I would write a chapter of my character and the next day, she would write about her character. While it was fun and people were interested in it, it fizzled out unexpectedly when the other person went MIA. Fortunately, I had saved all the files and about two months ago while sifting through some old folders, I stumbled across the chapters I wrote. I nearly fell out of my seat and talked to my wife about it and she told me that it sounded really interesting and I should make it a book. With that, I pulled up every chapter and began cleaning the book up while adding more to the story in the process. It is currently on Pre-Order through Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085MVM9PW
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I had a really bad habit of using the word ‘would’ far too much and sometimes out of context. My editor has scorned me a few times and I have learned to curb that habit.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Ann Rice, Stephen King, TJ Weeks and Tawni Rae to name a few. The thing I like about the above mentioned authors is the writing style. Example is TJ Weeks who is a fantastic horror writer. He contacted me out of the blue one day after he read my novel ‘Stanley Swanson – Breed of a Werewolf’ and praised the story even though there were a few editing issues. After talking for a bit, I purchased his novel ‘Obsessed with a Kill’ and I was immediately blown away. After reading that, I learned a small amount of proper writing. It wasn’t long after that he asked if I would be willing to write the in between chapters of the serial killer of his novel, which I was blessed in doing. After about a year, he and I co-authored the horror book titled ‘Unfleshed’.
What are you working on now?
Currently working on the book ‘We, R’ the sci-fi thriller. Unfortunately, I had to put the third and final installment of the ‘Swanson’ trilogy on hold but it was a choice I had to make.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I recently have used facebook groups but no longer wish to do so. While they are convenient to use, catching the eye of a reader is extremely small as they mainly consist of authors promoting their work. Obviously once a post is up, seconds later it is bumped down as the next person makes a post. Just a lot of effort with little if any gain. I recently have decided the best method is to utilize my author facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/s.k.ballinger.author were I can promote my work, do giveaways, chat, share and update fans, friends and family in one spot. Another recommended and affordable way is by using services of fiverr.com. They have talented people that handle all sorts of services and usually with a minimum price of $5. Also, I do believe twitter is another great tool to promote your work. I use it under @SinyGuy
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I have tons of advice though I am still to this day learning new things as I go along. First and foremost, patience (which is something I struggled with a long time ago). My strongest advice is to always write something you are working on every single day. It doesn’t have to be much more than a single sentence, but do it. Something else to think about while writing or promoting your work, don’t get in too deep with what others might have to say about your work and except criticism as you can learn from it.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write one page at a time before flipping the next page. Which basically means, don’t get ahead of yourself. I once did that because I was anxious for my book to be released but by doing so and getting ahead of myself, I left a lot out or made mistakes.
What are you reading now?
Honestly, I don’t have much time to read as my wife and I have started a business. If anything from when I am not working, I am consistently re-reading my own work of ‘We, R’ as continue to write more in order to meet the deadline of the release date. No worries, I am not flipping to the next page or getting ahead of myself 😉
What’s next for you as a writer?
After the completion of ‘We, R’ I probably will be taking a very long break from writing and it will be my last piece of work for a good amount of time. Sometime down the road, I would very much like to finish the third and final installment of the ‘Swanson’ trilogy. I also have another horror book I would love to one day write. Recently as I write ‘We, R’ I have toyed around with the idea of making it a series. Again taking what I had saved from 2014, it is a strong possibility.
What is your favorite book of all time?
Bram Stoker – Dracula
Author Websites and Profiles
S.K. Ballinger Amazon Profile
S.K. Ballinger’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account