# Please introduce yourself and your book(s)!
My name is Robert P. Ottone, and I’m a two-time Bram Stoker Award-winning horror author from New York! My new novel, Amityville Awakens is available for purchase/preorder from the wonderful gang at CLASH BOOKS. It’s an incredibly eerie, unnerving meta haunting story about what happens when the most haunted house in America is torn down.
# What is/are the real-life story(ies) behind your book(s)?
So, the Amityville Horror was born out of the very-real true crime story surrounding the DeFeo family murders. Whether you believe that Ronnie “Butch” DeFeo did in fact kill his entire family, is one thing. I, personally, do not, and know the truth about what happened there. Buy my book, message me, and I’ll tell you all about it.
# What inspires/inspired your creativity?
I’m inspired by everything, mostly I’m inspired by the world around me. My yard, the sky, all of it inspires me. It’s wild. I find it everywhere.
# How do you deal with creative block?
I don’t have this issue. The issue I have is not having enough time to execute the ideas I have. I’m a teacher, so I’m in the classroom 80% of my life.
# What are the biggest mistakes you can make in a book?
Following trends. Writing the same story over and over again. There are people who do this, and it works for them, so they’re not mistakes, per se, but it certainly doesn’t make me want to read more of their stuff. Following trends is the worst thing you can do, in my opinion. Life’s too short to always be trying to cash in on whatever nonsense the algorithm is pushing on you.
# Do you have tips on choosing titles and covers?
I’m the worst when it comes to titles. That’s almost-always the first thing that comes to me, but then it changes. Amityville Awakens started life with a different title. Thankfully it’s become what it’s become.
Covers are a different animal. Typically, I have a very strong vision of what I want early on, but again, that’s malleable. I’m not an artist. I’m sorta’ colorblind, so, when it comes to color that works on a cover or on-screen, I’m not your man. I know what looks good. I know artists I like. I’m fortunate to have the best horror artist in the world for my cover on Amityville Awakens, Trevor Henderson.
# How do bad reviews and negative feedback affect you and how do you deal with them?
They don’t. I appreciate anyone who gives my stuff a chance, whether they liked it or not. If you like it, that’s fabulous, please message me, review it wherever you can, all that stuff. Bad reviews and negative feedback mean nothing to me.
# How has your creation process improved over time?
I find that my ideas are exploring things that really excite me. I’m often excited by everything I work on, but lately, I’m supercharged. I just need more time.
# What were the best, worst and most surprising things you encountered during the entire process of completing your book(s)?
The most surprising was the response by young editors who didn’t understand that Amityville is an actual town, and thus did not need to be copyrighted. It was alarming how many editors legitimately have no idea that towns don’t need to be trademarked or copyrighted or whatever.
# Do you tend towards personal satisfaction or aim to serve your readers? Do you balance the two and how?
I write to personal satisfaction. I’m blessed to have an agent who’s supportive of the things I want to do. That said, I’m also hoping to keep him happy, lol.
# What role do emotions play in creativity?
I feel like they play a part, even a tiny bit. I try to keep my emotions away from the page, but it can be hard. Especially when it comes to when I write for younger readers. There’s an element of protection there on my end, as a teacher, so I guess that’s natural.
# Do you have any creativity tricks?
I put my phone on silent. The only person I want to hear from is my wife when I have my phone on silent. It allows me to focus, it tunes out all the nonsense distractors. We all should do that, but it’s easier for some of us than others, and I get that.
# What are your plans for future books?
I’m working on a couple different projects currently, but there’s one in particular I’m jazzed about. My agent is, too, so I guess I’m on the right track, lol.
# Tell us some quirky facts about yourself
- I legitimately believe that Bigfoot could be real.
- I like to think ghosts are real.
- I try to write something original in every book I sign. Something personal, something silly, whatever I can.
- I wear gym shorts in the house, even in the winter.
- My favorite sandwich is bologna and cheese.
- My favorite superhero is Booster Gold.
- I’m all about Letterboxd (@RobertOttone on there, please follow me).
Links to things:
https://www.clashbooks.com/new-products-2/amityville-awakens-robert-p-ottone-signed
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/amityville-awakens-robert-p-ottone/1149564891
https://bookshop.org/p/books/amityville-awakens-robert-p-ottone/a8893f7718adfefc
https://www.amazon.com/Amityville-Awakens-Robert-P-Ottone/dp/1968043292