Danielle talked about how her childhood in Tucson shaped her and the evolution of arts in her, including development of book reading habits. Her developing thriller story ideas are unique. She feels that love for horror and suspense ultimately was passion for thrills and chills.
Gathering different ideas for stories and save them for later was her one of the techniques. Therefore, keep continue reading and explore more about writing and other important things.
Danielle McCrory was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. She attended school in Tucson and Flagstaff, and has degrees in Graphic Design and Physical Therapy. She currently lives in Tucson with her husband, Ryan McCrory, and their two cats, Brodi and Jaxson. Danielle loves writing because she believes there are still so many scary stories left untold, and she is thrilled to get the opportunity to tell some of these stories. She is currently working on her next two novels, which she plans to release next year. Danielle’s love for writing continues to grow, and she is always looking for more books to add to her library.
“There’s nothing like curling up with a hot cup of coffee, a cozy blanket, and the most gruesome horror novel you can find.”
Danielle talked about
How did you spend your childhood, and what is your favorite city where you feel the most comfortable?
Danielle: I was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, which is in the southwestern United States. My childhood was a pleasant one, and I enjoyed spending my time playing with friends, watching TV, and reading books. I was particularly fond of arts and crafts back then, and filled most of my summers doing various craft projects, such as drawing, painting, quilting, and pretty much anything else I could find at our local art store. I have lived in Tucson all my life, except when I attended college in northern Arizona, and it is definitely the city I feel most comfortable in. As for my favorite city, I think I would have to say San Diego, which is our go-to vacation destination.
How do you come to know writing thriller story ideas? And, how to pick the right one for your story.
Danielle: I have always loved horror and suspense, so I had no doubts that the books I wanted to write would follow my passion for thrills and chills. I am constantly coming up with ideas for different stories, whether I’m driving in my car, doing chores around the house, or going out for dinner. Every idea I have that feels promising, I make sure to write down. When I am ready to begin my next book, I go over the ideas I have collected and consider which ones have the most potential to develop into a novel. The idea that I feel most inspired by becomes my next story, and I save the others for next time.
Does so many ideas jumble up to you, and what is your take on to stick to one? Therefore, how to survive with the selected ideas without get disturb from the other ones?
Danielle: This can be quite a challenge, and one that I am still working on. Story ideas will come to me at any time, even when I am in the middle of writing another novel. I make sure to write all of my ideas down, whether they are big or small, so I can come back to them once I complete my current book. I have attempted writing two separate books at once, but found this to be too distracting, so I much prefer to focus on just one book at a time.
How do you come to know that only thriller inspire you to write and why not other genres? What are the source of ideas you get from?
Danielle: I have been a fan of scary stories for longer than I can remember. My father taught me how to read with Goosebumps books, and I then went on to read Fear Street novels, before eventually making my way to Stephen King, who is my favorite author. When I decided to start writing stories myself, I immediately gravitated toward horror/suspense and thrillers because they are my favorite type of story. My ideas come from my own experiences, or from things that frighten me. For example, I have gone hiking before and thought about how terrifying it would be to be alone on a trail with a dangerous animal, so I took that simple premise for a story and used it to write my first novel, Wasp Canyon.
Tell us more about your novel, “Wasp Canyon” and when did you complete your first draft and obstacles you faced while writing?
Danielle: Wasp Canyon is a horror/suspense novel that follows Jessica Cleary, a grieving young woman that takes up running the Arizona hiking trails as a way to cope with a recent loss. One day, while out on a run, Jessica stumbles upon a gruesome scene and finds herself injured and running for her life. Before long, people in town start falling victim to a mysterious predator, and Jessica then realizes it’s time to stop running and fight.
I completed my first draft of Wasp Canyon in 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic. I had recently suffered a loss of my own, and turned to writing as a way to cope with my own grief. What, I thought, would end up being a short story, if that, developed into a full-length novel that was so much more than I ever expected it to be. There were definitely some challenges along the way, especially when I realized that completing my first draft was only the beginning. I now know that the editing process following that first draft can push anyone close to the brink of insanity, and that there are many, many drafts that must be completed before your story is ready to publish. My advice would be to stick with it, draft by draft, and to not rush the process.
Why do you think Amazon platform for self-publisher is a great and number one place for aspiring writers?
Danielle: Amazon’s self-publishing platform offers aspiring writers the means to get their books out there for people to read, which can be very challenging using the traditional publishing route. Amazon allows writers control of all aspects of their books, from the layout, to the cover, to the price of the novel. So far, I have enjoyed using Amazon, and I am planning to publish my next book with them later this summer. Regardless of how you publish, I have learned that marketing can quite possibly make or break your success, so it is very important to start getting your name out there as soon as possible. The more people that are excited about your book, the better!
