Written Author Interview
Tell me about yourself. What do you like to do outside of writing. What is a day in the life like for you?
My life is mainly focused on writing the next part in The Underworlds series, when my cat allows me to work on it. He’s gotten more vocal and affectionate ever since I lost my French bulldog of 13 years half a year ago.
What inspired your first novel? What was the thing that got you into writing in the first place?
It’s double-pronged. I had the idea for my first novel in my head since I was a little boy, about 8 years old. I kept developing more of it in my head over the years, but in Denmark, we learn English from an early age, so my story was always a mix of Danish and English (Danglish). The title itself was ‘No Way Back,’ even then.
I tried to write the story many times, but it never really came together. My last attempt was also the first time I attempted to write it in English, and it was also after an incident that left me paralyzed from cheek–to–toe on my right side.
How do you come up with characters? Are they spontaneous or meticulously planned?
Many of them are inspired by actual people, but with little tweaks to their personalities and ambitions. The rest are entirely made up to fit the character I wanted.
What are some of your favorite genres to read? Are there any books you’d recommend to first time readers or people looking for something new?
I love what I write: science fiction and fantasy. I will always have love for Charmed Life by Dianne Wynne Jones, which really sparked my creative gene as a kid.
What’s the most difficult thing about being a writer?
Getting noticed. Everything else is relatively easy by comparison.
What is your process to completing a novel from outline to final product?
Well, the outline is one thing, but to me, my ideas for the story evolve as I write. I like to say that I go on a journey with my characters. The second pass is closer, but just as in the original outline, nothing is set in stone for me.
And editing comes both last and in between writing sessions. The editing phase usually takes longer than getting the story down on paper.
What’s the most unhinged thing you’ve written in your novel? Don’t worry, we don’t judge here.
Maybe the concept of killing a soul in its entirety by ripping the still-beating heart from its body.
What’s one thing about being a writer that absolutely drives you up the wall?
Maybe it doesn’t drive me up the wall, but it’s frustrating how many groups try to incessantly sell indie authors things, such as interviews or reviews. It never ends and grows tiring.
What does being a successful writer look like for you? What type of life do you want to live as a writer?
Maybe if my book ended up being so good that it won an award, I almost had one once when ‘Taken With a Dark Desire’ was shortlisted. I’d also take selling enough copies actually to earn a profit!
Describe your writing journey. If you had to write a story centered around it, do you think you could pull it off?
It took over 37 years before I was able to write my first book. I might never have been able to if I hadn’t written in English, but that bodes its own challenges since it is my second language, and I have not been in the USA since 2015.
On a related note, my life has always been full of drama, so I imagine it would make a good story. I tried to write it once, but nope, I couldn’t do it.
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About
I believe magic is everywhere. When you’re born on Christmas, it’s hard not to, so I try to weave that magic into my works. We are who we are, my firm belief in karma and destiny has shaped who I am, so it’s only natural that it guides my stories as well.
I am a Denmark native, hailing from the same town as Hans Christian Andersen, the author who gave us “The Little Mermaid,” “The Ugly Duckling,” and many more classic fairy tales. As an author, I have been drawn to the fantasy genre from a young age.
I’ve faced a number of challenges as a Danish author. Interestingly, one of which was my inability to write in Danish! I’ve had stories brewing in my head ever since I was a child, and struggled to express them properly for years. I simply could not get my ideas to fit together in my native language.
Fortunately, I managed to find my writer’s voice in English, and am thrilled to now have the ability to share my stories with all of you.
Social Media
Website: http://www.dennisscheel.com
Instagram: @denscheel
Theads: @denscheel
X: @lorddenida
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