Earlier today I posted my review of Night of the Chupacabra by Michael Hebler.

The Chupacabra Series – Book One

Night of the Chupacabra

Add To Goodreads

You can read my review here .

As soon as I hit the publish button it said 200th Post!

I’ve come a long way this year in the blogging world. I’ve met some awesome people and authors, read some amazing books and made some new friends! And I feel like celebrating.

And so does Michael! His new book Night of the Chupacabra was released today.

What better way to celebrate than with a giveaway! Michael is offering one Signed paperback and one e-book copy of Night of the Chupacabra and he is stopping by to chat.

Thanks for stopping by Michael. I don’t want to keep you from your celebration for the release of Night of the Chupacabra, so let’s get started.

Are you kidding? This IS part of the celebration! Of course, no celebration would be complete without champagne.

Why the Chupacabra? There are many mythical creatures and I’m curious as to how you picked it for your story.

Actually, this story started before the chupacabra became involved. I had wanted to do a heavily character-driven type horror-western tale. When the story first started, it was going to be a serial killer in the Old West, but somewhere along the way, it took more of a supernatural turn and I birthed a monster from my imagination. Then one day, I was heading to the fridge(no surprise there) and noticed one of my roommates had  posted an article from the Orange County Register about a Santa Ana man blaming the death of his newborn on a “chupacabra”, which I had never heard of. The roommate thought the article was hilarious – she was disturbed that way – and the article managed to hang on the fridge door for a year.  I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but then I sat down to watch one of my favorite TV shows, “The X-Files“(yes, this was in the 1990’s), and they did an episode on the chupcabra and I was suddenly fascinated by it. It was scary how many similarities there were to my completely manufactured monster. I did as much research as I could, but there wasn’t much at the time…and I’m glad too! Dial-up on the internet was SO SLOW! And so I decided to replace my monster with the chupacabra.

Your story takes place in western times. Did the era come first or the creature when you decided to write this book?
Oh, definitely the western first. When I started this story, Clint Eastwood‘s dark western “Unforgiven” had recently won a Best Picture Academy Award, thus sparking my love for the genre – it’s still one of my Top 10 favorite films to this day. Then, a friend of mine in college, Eric Person, had written a one-act play about a group of cowboys and civilians trapped inside a saloon while werewolves were trying to claw their way inside. I was instantly inspired. I loved this new concept of crossing genres! So, once I had decided to give the creature I created the pink slip and hand the part over to the chupacabra, I knew it had been the right choice because I then had the Old West as a setting to create an origin story. But as things transpired and back stories were created, I found I had more than enough to hold off on a true “beginning” story, which will now be book four in this anthology, “Dawn of the Chupacabra”, and is most definitely my Greek tragedy of the series.

What do you think makes a good story?

Well, really, all the elements need to work together. I think they are all equally important, but what I tend to gravitate to more than theme, plot, or pacing is characters. Like I mentioned before, I wanted this story to be character-driven and I wanted compelling relationships and situations that were not only scary, grotesque, and intense, but funny, heart-warming AND heart-wrenching. I wanted to make sure there was a little bit of everything; a little something for everyone with an emphasis on the scary and grotesque, of  course.

What is your favorite scene in Night of the Chupacabra?

If I said, “That’s like asking me which of my children I liked best”, would you hate me for being cliche? But in all actuality, I kinda/sorta do have one. In the 15+times I rewrote and rewrote, and then rewrote my editor’s rewrites, one scene always felt magical to me. It’s around Chapter VI or VII when Jessie is in the basement making her case to Sheriff Dillmore and Miss Christie about the monster they just missed seeing, then Suzanne suddenly comes to Jessie’s aide. I think what I like most about that scene is that it really tells a lot about the web of relationships of the four characters who were  juggled  around in a way that – at least to me – flowed at an even pace. The dialogue is fiery,as is Miss Christie, one of my favorite characters in the entire series. She really shines in that scene.

Is there a deleted scene that you liked but it didn’t work?

Yeah, just about the entire 1995 first draft! But actually there was this one scene that took place inside a church where a group of townspeople huddled because they were convinced God would protect them from the “devil”, and when they discovered they were wrong, it became quite chaotic. Unfortunately, the character dynamics were completely different then. Jessie had a do-gooder, older brother, Clarence, whom she was trying to save. Unfortunately, she couldn’t save him from me because she is now an only child. Plus, I also wanted to steer clear of the sensitive subject of religion when this book was supposed to be just a form of entertainment.

What was the most challenging thing in writing your book?

Well, it doesn’t help being mildly OCD. There’s a certain amount of perfectionism that I expect from myself and learning to finally drop the pen and let my baby fly the coop took a lot of deep breaths… and some alcohol. If you haven’t done the math yet, the end result did take about 20 years.

Can you tell us something more about this series, maybe what we can expect?

You can expect at least four more books. The first three(Night, Curse, and Legend) are their own trilogy but will have a different protagonist for each. As mentioned, the fourth(Dawn) is an origin story and the fifth(Return) will take place around the 1970’s – 1980’s. I do have a story I’m very, very excited about for the fifth book, but it’s still undecided if there’s enough for another trilogy. I don’t want to squeeze it out; it has to come naturally. And I promise not to take 20 years between each story. Curse and Legend are already written and on my editor’s computer screen now, and Dawn is half outlined. In fact, if all goes well, I expect Curse of the Chupacabra to be released around September 15, 2013 and then each one a year later.

Is there anything you would like to share with your readers?

Well… I expect the first round of readers will be avid dark thriller/horror fans and chupacabra fans, so I guess I would like to share a disclaimer for those who believe in the chupacabra:  There are many theories out there about what the chupacabra is and where it comes from. Everything from an alien pet left behind to a toxic mutation of an extinct animal from the Roman Empire. The Chupacabra Series is for entertainment purposes only. I am not trying to lay the ground work for its mythology or an explanation of its existence. This is purely a creative work of supernatural fiction. But if you wish to have a discussion, you can always email me:  info@michaelhebler.com

Five Fun Shorts!

1) favorite beverage? Alcoholic – Pineapple Upside Down Cake (I wrote a whole thing about it on my blog). Non-alcoholic – milk.

2) swim in the ocean or a pool? POOL!!!! Unless the water is crystal clear, I can see that shark a mile away.

3) phobia? You would think sharks, wouldn’t you? But no… heights.

4) favorite movie? The Color Purple.

5) hardcopy or e-book? Hard copy.

That’s a wrap! Thanks so much for sharing with us Michael. I look forward to having you back soon.

Thank you. I hope to be back for the Curse! (that didn’t sound quite right, did it?)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRiCp9MKQ6g]

.

So let’s celebrate shall we?
To Enter the Giveaway
Just leave you email address and answer this question, “What monster scares you?”
That’s all it takes and you’re entered for a chance to win a paperback or an e-book copy of Night of the Chupacabra.
Contest ends November 1st.
US only
While it’s not required, it would be nice if you followed me on twitter and my blog.
You can find Michael here:
Comments
  1. fundinmental says:

    I haven’t read the entire interview yet, but I wanted to be the first to comment. I so want this book. Now I will finish reading and comment again. lol

  2. Monster that scares me I think is the Freddie kind of monsters!!! I mean everyone has to sleep… Sounds like a great book. Thanks, Emily

  3. fundinmental says:

    Awesome interview. I was laughing through it. Great questions Laura and I love your sense of humor, Michael, along with your friends. lol Some sick friends can surely be some help when writing a book like this.

  4. Elisabeth says:

    Congratulations! 200 is a big one! =D

  5. fundinmental says:

    Sorry, forgot to congratulate you on 200, awesome. Didn’t name my monster either, but I do have a love of critters. All kinds.

  6. Cynthia says:

    I’m a die-hard horror fan and this book caught my eye 🙂 Awesome giveaway!

  7. Susan Laine says:

    Cthulhu and ghouls give me the heebie jeebies! Cosmic horrors and underground madness… Yeah, that does it for me.

    Sounds like a fascinating tale. I just keep remembering the old X-Files episode about the Chupacabra… 😀

    -Susan-
    susan.laine@hotmail.com

  8. Great interview. I have to read this book now, as you have sparked my curiosity. Monsters?? I think any monsters that sneeks up behind me, would scare me if the mood was right. I love a good scare 🙂

  9. jannashay says:

    Congratulations on your 200th post. I’m sure everyone of those posts were just as great as this one.
    Great interview. Night of the Chupacabra sounds like a good thrilling read for a dark night.

  10. Emma says:

    Congrats on your book release. Pineapple Upside Down Cake? I want some of that.
    The clown from IT scares me.
    emmameade83@hotmail.com

    And congratulations Laura on all 200 posts. Woohoo!!

  11. Michael Hebler says:

    Thank you again, Laura. That was a fun interview, and congratulations on the Big 2-0-0! I’m happy you all chuckled a time or two – I promise it wasn’t the champagne doing most of the talking. And yes, fundinmental, inspiration usually comes from the most unlikely of places and oddest of people. And she was ODD!

  12. Juana says:

    I am so loving the title and cover. I not sure what scares me I am scared of snakes but they are not monsters though mostly when I dream about them I am so terrified. Though where I was born the scariest thing was La llorona, la bruja and the chopacabra. If I lived down there still I’d be scared of all those too. My e-mail is angel19heart@yahoo.com

    • Ah yes! La Llorona – the Latin banshee. I’ve heard of her. And the bruja I only know about from “True Blood”.

      • Juana says:

        Lol, over where I was born people that never drank or where crazy in any way sweared to god they saw both even the chopacabra all of those were the famous ones. There is a whole lot of legends down there. Pretty scary ones too.

  13. Long live active imaginations – and long live the chupacabra!

  14. Andrew T. Kuligowski says:

    The monster who lived under my bed when I was a kid STILL scares me – decades later!! Have no idea what he (if it IS a “he”) looks like, but the concept that he’s there … waiting for me …

  15. Happy 200th post, Laura! WOO HOO!!!
    I would love to win this book. It sounds terrific!
    When I was quite little, I watched some of the movie “American Werewolf in London”. I wasn’t supposed to, but I think my older brother might have had something to do with that. Ah, brothers. Anyway, the movie terrified me! I’ve been creeped out by werewolves ever since, and have never been able to shake that feeling of dread when I think of them.

  16. What scares me most isn’t a monster per-se, but a character in one of Stephen King’s novels. Gerald’s Game has a scary monster looking man who haunts the woman chained to the bed. I had nightmares for a month after reading that book. 🙂

    Congratulations on the 200 post milestone! That’s a big one. Great interview, too. Sounds like a great book!

    e-mail is yassabook2012 [at] gmail [dot] com.

  17. I need to check this book out!!! Yumms! Thanks Laura because you and Sherry always bring such great books to light that no one would know about! Take care, Emily

  18. linda mueller says:

    Looking forward to reading this!

  19. JohnZ says:

    “What monster scares you?” The Republicans…. Oh wait, the Democrats…. Both!!!

  20. What kind? The human kind no doubt.

  21. Anddeea says:

    Vampires scare me, lol. But not the ones from TVD or other shows/books, the really scary ones, like Dracula xD

    andd.deea@yahoo.com

  22. Donald Hornbaker says:

    Giant Spiders

  23. Kelly Powell says:

    Congratulations on your 200th.

    Great interview. I haven’t read that book.

    What monster scares you?

    Leatherface – The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Sometimes I dream I can run very fast without getting tired LOL!!!

  24. Thanks for the invite…if I win I know just who to give the book to !

  25. Sorry…monster that scares me? The real ones Huge corporations that do not want to lable our food so we know what we are consuming like GMOs….Political movements that advocate war and succeed. Oh there are so many..the real monsters scare the hell out of me…the Chupacabra is fascinating and it thrills like a ride……

  26. Irene Menge says:

    The scariest monster I can imagine is the one I can’t see coming. My father was a physician and we lived in a town in New Jersey not far from Seaside Heights of Jersey Shore fame (?). At that time, the closest hospital to Seaside Heights was at least half an hour away. There were enough accidents associated with Seaside (cars, boats, boardwalk and beach) that the town doctors set up a system so that there would be two doctors on call on weekends to see emergency cases that needed urgent care before transport to the closest hospital. My father’s office was in our home, so I saw many of these cases brought in. One was a girl who had been swimming in Barnegat Bay and was attacked by a shark. (Contrary to popular belief, they do enter inlets and swim up rivers.) After that I refused to swim in the ocean and was reluctant to swim anywhere where I couldn’t see the bottom. But I would be willing to scuba dive, even with sharks.

    • fuonlyknew says:

      Jersey Shore!

      I remember the first time I went swimming in the ocean. I kept replaying Jaws in my mind and I’ve never lost my fear when I enter the water. I’ve seen some sharks out there that were so huge. Of course, I was in a boat, but I wished for a “Bigger Boat!”

  27. Werewolves were always my favorites as kids. Today I’d have to say “fast zombies” scare me quite a bit. 🙂

    • fuonlyknew says:

      Author Angela Scott was telling about a zombie spooky house she went in and she mentioned crawling zombies. I think that would really creep me out too!
      A fast zombie is really bad news!

  28. marnij says:

    The scariest monster? Have you watched Doctor Who? If you have, you know who the Weeping Angels are. To me, they creep me out BIG time!

  29. Marina says:

    I watched Doctor Who too. Weeping angels were really scary. Ordinary monsters do not scare me at all. chick.library.cat@gmail.com Whatever you do, don’t blink!

  30. The monster that scares me the most is the one I cannot see when my hubby is out of town but it keeps me awake or the government 🙂

  31. Wendy Boissevain says:

    The monsters within me scare me. Isn’t that where all monsters originate, from within us?

  32. Anything insectoid with that chittering, dry scraper sound in the dark

  33. Anything insectoid with a chittering dry scrapey sound in the dark

  34. Lori Hayes says:

    The Chupacabra scares me, what kinda monster is it REALLY!

  35. CarolRae says:

    Witches who fly through a room screaming and slamming doors, leaving a lone child terrified. (….from old childhood night terrors!)

  36. Daniel M says:

    zombies scare me!

  37. […] A Giveaway To Celebrate! Night of the Chupacabra! (fuonlyknew.com) […]

Let's Talk

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.