Interview // Author Joe Albanese

When was the moment that you knew writing would become part of your life?

Once I started writing my first screenplay by myself, I really started enjoying it for the first time–creating something from scratch all by myself. It didn’t turn out well, but it was the first time I really enjoyed a hobby, and I knew I was going to keep doing it.

You’ve written three crime fiction and one collection of poetry. Do you find that you enjoy writing one genre over the other?

The poetry was always more for therapeutic reasons and as a way to practice spicing up my prose. There is something I’ll always appreciate about my time writing poetry, but crime fiction is much more fun. Stepping out of myself and into characters I create really is more enjoyable. I’m creating new worlds instead of just reporting on my own.

What was your most satisfying moment while writing your latest release, For the Blood is the Life?

The vampire genre has been done to death, no pun intended. So when I realized I could put a twist on it and sort of bring it back to its roots, while also bringing a certain level of originality, I knew I had something special.

While writing For the Blood is the Life, did you find that it stayed on your chosen path or did it develop into a completely different story?

For the most part, is stayed on the path I laid out from the beginnings. For this one, I did a ton of notes and outlined over and over until I felt it was right. Once I got it all written out, I only had to do minor adjustments to the story before it came out perfect.

Do you have a favorite character from your books? Why this specific character?

Lee from Caina was probably the most fun to write. He is kind of a lovable loser, and is close to me in his sense of humor. Caina was written in the first person too, so I could bring the most of my personality, at least the parts I wanted to, out.

Can you tell us which of your books is your favorite and why?

I’m always most excited by my most recent, but objectively, I think Caina is probably my best work. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, but also tackles serious issues with irony and and my own personal experiences. It’s the most me, so probably the most authentic.

If you only had one sentence to capture a new reader for your books, what would it be?

I absolutely hate the individual sentences I write. Whenever i read them, I want to go back and rewrite every single one. A book i just finished, Candy Apple Red, has a great opening paragraph though, so I’d like to be able to say that one if it was published already.

What author has inspired you the most in your writing?

I always say Charles Bukowski influenced my poetry the most, while Hunter Thompson sort of influenced my fiction.

Of course we have to know, what is in-store next – books, events, etc.?

Like I said, hopefully Candy Apple Red will find a home soon. I also have a full-length novel, Benevolent King that I’m very excited about. Hopefully I’ll be able to share them with the world in one way or another. For now, you can enjoy Smash and Grab, Caina, and For the Blood is the Life, as well as my poetry collection, Cocktails with a Dead Man.

Other works by Author Joe Albanese. Grab up your copies today!

Joe Albanese is a writer from South Jersey. His fiction, nonfiction, and poetry can be found in publications across the U.S. and in ten other countries. Joe is the author of Smash and Grab, Caina, Candy Apple Red, For the Blood is the Life, and a poetry collection, Cocktails with a Dead Man.

Thank you, Joe, for chatting with us for our latest author interview and congratulations on your latest release!