Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabrielle Faust.
Hi Gabrielle, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have been a writer and an artist my entire life, as was my grandmother and great grandmother before me. Storytelling is in our blood, so to speak – there has never been a shortage of wild tales weaving through my consciousness and dying to be jotted down on the page. However, it wasn’t until 2008 when my first novel, ETERNAL VIGILANCE: FROM DEEP WITHIN THE EARTH, was published by Immanion Press, a small imprint in the UK owned by the legendary fantasy author Storm Constantine. It was the first novel in the post apocalyptic vampire series that would go on to launch my career as an author. It truly was lightning in a bottle and at the time that shows like “True Blood” was all the rage, the series gained swift popularity. I went on to tour with this novel, as well as the rest of the trilogy over the next few years, becoming the Guest of Honor at the Endless Night Vampire Ball, as well as a Special Guest at multiple conventions throughout the United States. I was even crowned “Vampire Royalty of New Orleans” in 2011 by the Anne Rice Vampire Lestat Fan Club. While I was pursuing my career as a novelist, I was also actively engaged as an entertainment journalist covering alt scene topics like gothic fashion design, art, literature, and music, as well as interviewing celebrities like Ryan Reynolds, Danny Trejo, and Robert Rodriguez for various magazines such as Gothic Beauty, Fear Zone, Blastr, the SyFy Channel and many others. Since that time, I have gone on to release ten additional books and collections including REVENGE, 101 WAYS TO FALL APART, and BLOOD GAMES: A VAMPIRE ANTHOLOGY. My short stories and poems have also appeared in multiple different anthologies and collaborations throughout the years. Recently I released the first book in my latest paranormal thriller series HAUNTED, entitled THE MISSING. I am absolutely thrilled about this novel and excited to see what the world thinks of it as it was a truly emotional process writing it. I have already begun work on the second book in the series and am also in the process of building out my 2027 book tour, the first I’ve been on in quite some time.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been anything but a smooth road for me. My life has never been easy – I’ve always had to scratch and claw to make it in this life and my career has been the same. But, I suppose they say that a hard victory is always a little sweeter than one handed to you. The publishing industry is not for the faint of heart. It can be brutal at times and extremely unforgiving. I always say, you have to be a special kind of crazy to be a writer, especially one that aims to be published. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s been a weird wild ride and I’m here for it!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am predominantly a fiction writer, with exception to my entertainment journalism. I have always gravitated to the darker genres: horror, paranormal thriller, dark urban fantasy, and post apocalyptic/cyberpunk. I am best known for my vampire tales, especially my series ETERNAL VIGILANCE, a post apocalyptic story of a vampire who wakes up 100 years in the future after a long sleep and is draw into a war against a technological dictatorship that wants to become immortal by resurrecting a vampiric god. I’m known for writing complex, gritty, and chilling stories with highly intricate and emotional characters that readers can really get invested in. I’ve had many readers tell me that they feel like they know the characters and that is why they are drawn to my work — they feel it deeply. As for what sets me apart from other writers… I suppose it is my commitment to my own voice. A lot of writers will bend their voice until it doesn’t even sound like themselves anymore just to meet the demands of a trend or a marketer at a publishing house. I stay true to my vision, to my voice, no matter how strange and wild it may be. And so far, it has worked out for me quite well.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My main advice to young authors has always been to grow a thick skin. The publishing industry, as I have said before, is not for the faint of heart. It is brutal and will eat your soul if given the opportunity. Rejection is part of the game — even Stephen King was rejected over 100 times when he was first starting out. But he never quit. He never gave up. And that is difficult sometimes, when you’ve worked for years on something that you have poured your heart into, but the word “no” is not the end of the world. Because there will be a “yes”. Just give it time.
My other advice is to ask questions of those who came before you. Advice is a young writer’s best friend. When I was in the process of writing ETERNAL VIGILANCE: FROM DEEP WITHIN THE EARTH there was a night when I realized I had no idea what I was doing. I had completed the first draft and was trying to edit it and realized I needed help. So I thought to myself, I’m going to email my top 5 idolized authors at the time and just ask them for their advice. I never thought any of them would respond. But 3 did: Storm Constantine, Michael Marano, and Anne Rice. Storm became my publisher after that. Michael became my long time friend of 20 years and mentor. And Anne offered wonderful words of encouragement.
Lastly… when you do get that publishing contract, your editor is NOT your enemy. They are your friend. Will you agree with everything they have to say? No. But listen to them. They are there to make your work better.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gabriellefaust.com
- Instagram: @countessfaust
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/gabrielle.faust
