PT - Where did the idea for the Desolace series come from? 
LB - The idea started with some odd dream elements that I jotted down upon waking. One day I happened to be looking at some of these notes and asked myself the eternal question, what if? The story pretty much took on a life of its own after that.

PT - What attracted you to the horror/paranormal genre? 
LB- As long as I can remember I’ve been a huge fan of horror, both in books and in movies. Paranormal entities such as ghosts, demons, vampires, and werewolves have always fascinated me. What better way is there to explore the things that interest you than by writing about them?

PT - Who is your favorite author? 
LB - I would normally answer this question with a resounding, Stephen King, but since I began to publish my own books I discovered a whole new world of “indie” authors, in which I found another author that I really enjoy reading, J.H. Glaze.

PT - Did you learn anything from writing your books and what was it? 
LB - Yes, I have. I learned that no matter what you may think of your work, never be so arrogant to think that you can do everything yourself. It takes more than just one set of eyes on a manuscript if you care about the quality of your writing. Grow a thick skin, not all readers will love your work. You have to be willing to accept the bad with the good.

PT - Do you have any advice for other writers? 
LB- Yes, I do. Two very important things to remember...A good editor is the best investment you will ever make, and never be discouraged from writing by critics. Look for the useful criticisms and use them as fuel to better yourself and your writing.

PT - How do you react to a bad review of one of your books? 
LB - It really depends on how a bad review is written. If it contains helpful information about things that could help me become a better writer I am thankful to the reviewer for pointing out the areas where my writing needs work. If, however, the review is full of hateful remarks, to the point of the comments feeling like a personal attack, I get a little upset. But who wouldn’t?PT - What are the most important attributes to remaining sane as a writer? 
LB- Is there really such a thing as a “sane” writer? I can’t speak for all writers, but I feel that any good work of fiction demands a certain level of insanity on the part of the writer. If the author isn’t willing to throw themselves completely into the worlds they create for their readers, then the story isn’t likely to captivate the reader.
PT - Are there any occupational hazards to being a novelist? 
LB- I can think of a few. Long hours of sitting in one place, devoid of human contact, often being oblivious to anything happening around them. I’m sure many novelists could be considered hermits. That isn’t to say we never go out into the world, because many of us are people-watchers when we go out in public, but we often work in complete solitude. Other, more normal, occurrences would be things like soreness and stiffness from sitting in one place for long periods of time, or getting headaches from staring at a computer screen all day. If one writes the “old-fashioned” way, with pen and paper, they would likely suffer from writer’s cramp as well.

PT- How many people have you done away with over the course of your career? 
LB- Eight, but that is before I add in the fact that one character died twice (once as a human and another as a vampire) and another that wasn’t really human but a cyborg replica of a character. Along with these, there have been two horses, a rabbit, and more zombies than I can count that have met their demise by my doing.

PT - If you were going to commit the perfect murder, how would you go about it? 
LB - I’m sure that however I would commit such a thing it would undoubtedly be very gruesome, but if I told you it would no longer be a perfect murder, now would it?
PT- Can you share a little of your current work with us? 
LB- The following is a small excerpt from the novel I am currently working on, Innocence Lost.
    "Frank! Get out here this instant!" she yelled.
    He ignored her and stood tensely waiting for her to come inside. Seconds ticked by. Still, she would not come in. Frank kept waiting, poised to bring the hammer down as soon as his mother crossed the threshold.
    Finally, he heard the shuffle of her footsteps. As he listened, Frank realized the footfalls were going in the wrong direction!
    "Fine! Starve then!" his mother grumbled as she walked away.
    Frank broke cover and quickly made up the distance between them. Before his mother had a chance to turn around, Frank brought the hammer down viciously, sinking the claw end deep into her skull. Blood sprayed out in a fine mist, covering his face in spatters of warm, sticky, blood. A thin red veil washed over his eyes as he watched his mother slump to the ground, the hammer still embedded in her head.

 About the author
Lucian began his writing career late in 2010, but has spent most of his life writing stories. He is a fantasy/horror novelist that enjoys weaving aspects of the paranormal into each story. Lucian's first published works were released in 2012. His third series book, Outpost 13, was just released on March 13, 2013. His next project will be a horror novel titled Innocence Lost. Lucian lives in Pueblo, Colorado.
For more about Lucian Barnes and the Desolace series:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Desolace/292242934166864
also on Twitter @LucianBarnes