Interview with Norm Applegate, author of Into the Basement and Into the Spell
questions by ellen george

I had the priviledge to ask author Norm Applegate some questions......

ellen - Norm, you have one of the most unique heroines I have ever read, Kim Bennett - a Dominatrix - can you tell us about her?

Norm - Kim is our heroine in our series. She's a muscular brunette with hair down around her shoulders, a strong but feminine jaw line and cheek bones that gives her that sultry look. Moving from New Jersey to San Francisco she grew a successful clientele of men and women who wanted nothing more than pain with their pleasure. With a reputation of making young girls do the thing they have never done before, Kim is a professional in the edgy world of S&M. Her favorite music is the sound of leather stiking someone's ass. When nervous or bored, has a disturbing habit of counting the letters in words people say. Street smart, and with an uncanny ability for memorization, she is an old soul, hardened on the outside, a huge heart, and won't run from trouble. Oh yeah, don't ever challenge her with a dare.

ellen - Where did you get the idea to have her as a main character for your books Into the Basement and Into the Spell?

Norm - As I started writing 'Basement', I knew it was going to have a female heroine as the lead, I just didn't know how or what the stories would be and as they developed, Kim took over - I know her so well she is real for me.

ellen - My first review of your book, (Into the Spell) I wrote "This is not your Momma's thriller!" What do you think when you get that kind of reaction?

Norm - My Mom loves my work, she is a James Patterson fan but  think I have won her over. I don't know anyone that writes my type of erotic horror/thrillers, so I guess it's a good thing. It WAS a compliment, wasn't it?? That's a great catch phrase and it snagged me, as you well know it has lead to a relationship with Triad, myself and you. What your readers may not know is I asked Vern Firestone at Triad to contact you as a book reviewer and it has opened up a rewarding avenue for the other authors at Triad, and yourself - this interview today is another example of that growing relationship - thanks.

ellen - Norm, how did you 'research' Kim's world?

Norm - You'll have to beat it out of me....(to which ellen replied, Kim would love that, wouldn't she? smile)

ellen - Your 'Into the'series is very adult with sex and violence - did you mean to write such a specific theme?

Norm - I was increasingly nervous as the release date for 'Basement' was approaching. I attempted to create a realistic novel about abduction, torture, and murder. Which naturally lends itself toward sexual overtones, and at one point considered not publishing the novel, however, after its release it was a non-issue - the responses have all been great. I'm finding 80% to 90% of my correspondence is from women looking for the erotic suspense thriller and particularly a novel with the strong female lead.

ellen - In 'Into the Spell', your second book in the series, you have Madam Blavatsky featured - can you speak about her and why was she included in the book?

Norm - Yes, while traveling through New Zealand and Australia as a hypnotherapist in the 1980's I stumbled upon Theosophy, some call it a religion, I won't go into that here but it's premise is the truth in life is the combination of Philosophy, Science, and Religion. The infamous H.P. Blavatsky, and I say infamous because she was a clairvoyant with claims to a number of psychic abilities and founded The Theosophical Society and I was looking for a figure that the deranged criminal Titus in 'Spell', would talk to in his mind - she was perfect. (note from ellen - Madam Blavatsky's books are still being sold)

ellen - You introduced vampires in your series - will we be seeing more vampire involvement in the subsequent books?

Norm - Absolutely, my next novel, 'Into the Haven', we'll go into the Blood-bar, meet some vampires, and talk about Jack the Ripper.

ellen - Where do you see this series going?

Norm - I'm thinking the follow up novels will be a vampire series with Kim Bennett in the middle of some wicked thrillers with a horror twist.

ellen - Ever think we'll see Kim Bennett in a movie?

Norm - Yes, I'm writing the screenplay to 'Basement', with Kym Wilde - it will be finished the middle of '08, talking to a director, some music people, and we'll see where it goes.

ellen - Would you tell the readers the flavor of your work is - always been in this genre?

Norm - Genre is horror/thrillers, however there are layers to what we mean when we say horror. 'Basement' has an S&M quality to it, 'Spell', more of a twilight zone influence, and 'Haven' will be an erotic vampire affair, but all deal with the power exchange of a female character solving a series of murders.

ellen - Always been a writer?

Norm - I've always been a dreamer, just didn't make the connection with paper and pencil until about 6 to 7 years ago.

ellen - What's next for you?

Norm - On March 23 at 4:00, I'll be on The Jane Crown Show  - internet talk radio. March 28-30, the World Horror Convention in Salt Lake City, Nicholas Grabowsky and I will be signing 'From the Shadows', a horror anthology, 13 stories released in February just in time for Valentine's Day - Then in June, the Mystery Mingle, a thiller writers weekend event at Lido Beach in Sarasota, Florida.

ellen - You are a big part of Triad Publishing Group - describe your association with them -

Norm - You're making me blush. Vern (Firestone) and I have a great relationship, talk every two or three days, laugh a lot, and amazed what's happening with both Triad and my career.

ellen - Vern, the Triad publisher, also designed your covers, didn't he?

Norm - Actually, he designed both books, but my wife's father painted the cover for 'Basement' and both novels' covers portray the story lines very well - I love the eyes from 'Spell'.

ellen - What advice would you give to readers who have a book in them?

Norm - Get that alien out of your chest and start writing! I do an outline, just a sentence or two for the first 15 chapters so I have some direction and then it develops on its own.

ellen - Where can fans reach you?

Norm - They can reach me at www.normapplegate.com and www.myspace.com/normapplegate

Thanks Norm! You have been so great to me, and I appreciate your participation and your work!

 

ellen's reviews of Into the Basement and Into the Spell are on AuthorsDen.