A.E. Bennett (she/her) lives in Washington, D.C. She is originally from North Carolina.
1. Tell us a bit about yourself! Where do you call home and what do you write?
Well, hello there. I’m A.E. Bennett, author of The Serrulata Saga. My books are a blend of sci-fi, fantasy, speculative, fiction, romance, and horror. (I know – that’s a lot of genres!) Currently, I live in Washington, D.C.
2. What drew you to that particular genre?
I read a lot of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror as a kid, so I’ve always been immersed in those genres. I didn’t really start reading and exploring romance until I was an adult, but I’ve been hooked on HEAs (Happily Ever Afters) since my 20s.
3. What’s your best known work?
The good thing about The Serrulata Saga is that there’s always more to write. This is also the most challenging thing about The Serrulata Saga. I’m currently waiting for proofreading edits from my editor on my second romance in the series, and I am drafting the third. Up next will be a horror novella. Then later in 2023 I expect to start work on Book Three in the series.
4. What inspired you to write it?
The Hale-Bopp comet, if you could believe it. I was in high school when the comet came around and was not only fascinated by the celestial body itself, but by different reactions to it. There were also a lot of articles written at the time about what life was like when it last “visited” Earth 2,000 years ago. So I started thinking about what life would be like when it returns 2,000 years from now…
5. Tell us about your writing process. Are you a plotter, pantser or somewhere in between? How do you research?
I like to call myself a “reformed pantser”. There is nothing wrong with being a pantser per se, but I wrote the first version of my first book, Gathering of the Four, without an outline and it was rather a disaster. Now I outline every book beforehand. I don’t always strictly stick to the outline, but plotting helps me figure out who needs to do what, when. Kudos to those who can fly by the seat of their pants, but I need structure!
6. What’s the strangest or most interesting thing you’ve researched for your writing?
How long it would take a head on a pike to decompose. (Spoiler alert: A LOT of factors are involved with decomposition!)
7. What’s the most personal story/scene you’ve written and why?
This is a tough one, not because I can’t think of any, but because I don’t want to give anything away. Let me just say there are some interactions between my four main characters that are incredibly heart-felt and emotional. When I tug at your heartstrings, I tug hard.
8. Who are your literary influences? In what way?
Oh goodness this is always such a difficult question. Growing up, I read Ursula K. LeGuin, Ray Bradbury, Issac Asimov, Stephen King, R.L. Stein, Madeleine L’Engle, L. Frank Baum, and C.S. Lewis, just to name a few. When I was in high school, I got into graphic novels, most notably those by Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman. Now, honestly, I read mostly indie authors and while these folks don’t necessarily influence my work, the community I’m now a part of makes me feel incredibly supported.
9. What books are on your bedside table right now?
My Kindle is chock full of indie books. My TBR is very long. I read according to my mood, so I’m not quite sure what I’ll pick next.
10. Last and most important, where can we find your books?
You can find all info about The Serrulata Saga at my website: https://www.booksbybennett.com
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