What would you like to tell readers about yourself?
* Robin was born on a cold winter night in Oslo, Norway, 1989. Growing up, he was always fond of telling stories, leading people to wonder when, not if, he would move on to writing stories of his own. Inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, he wrote his first short story, 'Beneath', in 2015.
So, Robin Heggelund Hansen, what/who inspired you to become a writer?
* I’ve wanted to tell stories for as long as I can remember. At an early age I inspired to be a filmmaker. I didn’t even consider writing before my fourth grade English teacher started reading my stories to other pupils.
When did you attempt your first story? What length was it? What's become of it?
* I know I’ve written a lot of stories at an early age. The first that comes to mind though are the stories I wrote in English class back in fourth grade. I wrote short stories revolving around a Sherlock Holmes inspired detective. My teacher liked it so much she started reading it to her younger pupils. They weren’t long, maybe ten or twelve pages, and they were ridden with spelling errors and the like. But I guess the story was fun enough. If I remember correctly most of those stories were in a notebook, which I gave to my teacher at the end of the semester as a parting gift since I was moving away.
How many stories did you complete before you sold your first?
* I don’t know. I’ve written a lot of stuff, in many different forms and genres. I’ve written manuscripts for short films and feature length films. I’ve also made several attempts at writing an entire novel, but I haven’t had the patience for it. Then after high school I hardly wrote anything. It was only recently that my passion for writing was re-kindled, and I think it had a lot to do with the fact I never did publish anything, and I wanted to see if I could.
What are the best and worst pieces of writing advice you ever received?
* The best advice I’ve received is simply to write something everyday, no matter how much. Getting a habit of writing every day really is the first and best thing you should do.
* The worst advice I’ve ever received is to never use semi-colons. They’re awesome; why wouldn’t you use them?
The book you’re promoting, is it a stand-alone story or part of a series?
* It’s a bit of both really. It is a part of a series, but the story is standalone, as are the other stories in the series. The series really is Eldritch City and what happens there. So every story is about Eldritch City in some way, but you can read them in any order as you see fit.
What sparked the idea for the story/series?
* I’ve always been interested in shows like X-Files and Fringe. I’ve also been particularly interested in the works of Lovecraft. So while writing ‘Beneath’ I thought to myself: This is cool, but why is it happening? That thought sparked other thoughts and ideas like: what if things like this happens in a specific location? Sort of like the Loch Ness monster, or the Bermuda triangle. What if there is a city where mysterious things happen, and what would such a place look like?
*** Now for some fun info… ***
Would you/have you own(ed) a snake or some other exotic pet?
* No. I’m not really a pet person, but even if I was, my mind would constantly imagine what would happen if a snake, or whatever, got out of its cage and decided to turn on its master. I would never be able to sleep.
Which do you prefer: rain or sun & warm weather or cold weather?
* Depends. If I’m inside I prefer rain. I find it mesmerizing and could stare at it for hours. It also allows me to focus for some reason. Of course, when outside I prefer it not to rain. I hate walking in wet clothes as much as anyone. When it comes to temperature I prefer it to not be to cold, and not to warm. I don’t want to feel cold, or sweat after walking hundred meters.
If you could live anywhere in the universe, where would it be and why?
* I’m pretty happy where I am. A home is what you make of it, and every place has upsides and downsides, so why not make where you are as good as home as you can make it?
If you were stranded on a desert island and were only allowed to have five modern conveniences with you, what would they be?
* That’s easy: - A hammock - A blanket - My computer - Someone who could cook - Someone who wanted to read the things I wrote
* I cannot eat, or sleep, or even close my eyes for longer than the briefest of moments. I feel as if I’m about to lose my mind, but I’m clear enough to realize that I have to get this story off my chest, before it consumes whatever sanity I have left. Unfortunately, the only recipient I can trust with a story as bizarre and horrible as this are the same pieces of paper upon which these words are written.
ANNOUNCEMENT! Robin Heggelund Hansen will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour! So be sure to leave a comment AND use the Rafflecopter below. Also, visit the other tour stops for a greater chance of winning!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
