[Blog Tour] Interview with David R. Slayton about White Trash Warlock, Writing, Haunted Hospitals, and More!

I’ve just finished reading a book that is, quite honestly, a piece of perfection.

I had such a good time reading White Trash Warlock! It gave me massive Supernatural TV show feels 😙👌🏻 (I  used to watch that show obsessively). But make it gay with complicated mysteries and brothers warring with betrayal and healing. It’s the kind of book I always wanted, but never found until now, and am super glad it’s a series because I need more of this world of elves and magic, witches and warlocks, barely contained evil and people with surly fronts but hearts of gold.

Adam Lee Binder grew up in a trailer park with everyone thinking him crazy for hearing voices, when really he has the Sight and can see other worlds. His past will break your heart, but the way he rebuilds himself and doesn’t hesitate to save and help, no matter the cost, was everything. Also it’s perfect as an YA-to-adult crossover since Adam is only 20, and there are sassy elves and demons and magic. Super intrigued by Adam’s complicated past with Perak, and his uncanny and accidentally meeting with the young cop, Vic. That feel when you randomly save a life and fall a little bit in love 😌. The high stakes of ancient unearthed demons and worlds cracking apart was just so enthralling too. I whipped through the whole book so fast.

Addictive and fun, White Trash Warlock will break and remake your heart and take you on a dark spiralling adventure.⁣

 

I have an interview with the author below and an intl giveaway on my instagram as part of my stop with MTMC Tours!

THANK YOU TO MTMC TOURS FOR HAVING ME!

Adam Binder has the Sight. It’s a power that runs in his bloodline: the ability to see beyond this world and into another, a realm of magic populated by elves, gnomes, and spirits of every kind. But for much of Adam’s life, that power has been a curse, hindering friendships, worrying his backwoods family, and fueling his abusive father’s rage.
Years after his brother, Bobby, had him committed to a psych ward, Adam is ready to come to grips with who he is, to live his life on his terms, to find love, and maybe even use his magic to do some good. Hoping to track down his missing father, Adam follows a trail of cursed artifacts to Denver, only to discover that an ancient and horrifying spirit has taken possession of Bobby’s wife.
It isn’t long before Adam becomes the spirit’s next target. To survive the confrontation, save his sister-in-law, and learn the truth about his father, Adam will have to risk bargaining with very dangerous beings … including his first love.

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David R. Slayton grew up in Guthrie, Oklahoma, where finding fantasy novels was pretty challenging and finding fantasy novels with diverse characters was downright impossible. Now he lives in Denver, Colorado, with his partner, Brian, and writes the books he always wanted to read. White Trash Warlock is his first novel. In 2015, David founded Trick or Read, an annual initiative to give out books along with candy to children on Halloween as well as uplift lesser-known authors or those from marginalized backgrounds. Find him online at www.DavidRSlayton.com.

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Hi David! Thanks so much for stopping by PaperFury to talk about your new book WHITE TRASH WARLOCK! Can you tell us a little about your journey from seed idea to published novel?

I used to live near a hospital that was being demolished and I’d walk through it, explore it, sometimes at night. I imagined a doctor who worked there and the spirits that might be unleashed when they tore the walls down. That’s basically chapter two—Bobby the doctor with the perfect life and perfect wife who realizes that the backwoods superstition he left behind is coming back to haunt him.

Adam was trickier. I was driving late at night in North Carolina and listening to the radio, watching the trees overhang the road and block out the moon. I started mixing that imagery with the feelings the place brought out, the sensations from growing up in Oklahoma and Adam came from that, a bunch of feelings. He’s got a lot of me in him, a lot of my experiences. In many ways he’s the most personal of my characters, the one closest to me in makeup. He was born from driving, so you’ll probably notice he drives a lot.

This is such a fantastic origin story! How did you decide on the title? Did it go through any changes?

You know it’s funny, a couple of people thought the title might be too much, but it is catchy and I knew instantly that it was the right one. The original title was Binder, Adam and Bobby’s last night name, but that’s not very striking. I kept playing with words and phrases until White Trash Warlock came to me. So it’s the second title, but I knew I couldn’t send a book on submission with something like Binder. I also know that titles aren’t set in stone. In traditional publishing the publisher may choose the title. I was prepared for that, but my editors really liked it so I got to keep it. Blackstone have been incredible partners, from marketing to the cover art, and I can’t thank them enough for bringing this book to life.

Oh, that title is so eye-catching for sure (and really perfect). Which part of a novel is easiest for you to write — the beginning, the middle, or the end?

Beginnings are always the easiest for me. They’re more about setting the tone and the feeling of the book, but they’re also the hardest to edit. They have to do a lot of work and carefully balance introduction without dumping too much information on the reader and losing their interest. The last thing I always do when writing a book is to go back and edit or rewrite chapter one.

Honestly same for me too 😂I rewrite my beginning chapters the most. Okay so tell us 3 random facts about Adam!

1. He is smarter than he thinks he is.
2. He loves to read and work on cars. Those are the things that calm him and let him focus so his Sight and empathy don’t overwhelm him.
3. His favorite food is blueberry pancakes, because that’s what his Aunt Sue makes him whenever she can afford it and he’s down.

And lastly! Was any chocolate harmed in the making of this  novel? 👀👌🏻

The casualties were unfortunately high. While coffee is my main writing fuel, I do love chocolate, especially dark with almonds, pretzels or anything with a touch of salt.

We appreciate the chocolates’ sacrifice to bring together such brilliance. 😌 Thanks so much for this inside look at your book, David, it’s been great having you!

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tell me if you’re a Supernatural fan!! and is this on your tbr? (because it should be 👀)