Face the Night received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Alan Lastufka.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
Face the Night hits bookshelves on March 8, 2022.
What’s the book’s first line?
“Adriana mentally ticked off all the things she’d let herself forget over the last three years. Like the way his lips held a cigarette, limp, until he laughed and it shot straight up, threatening to burn his cheek. Or his dirty crew socks, always frayed around his long second toe. Or just how much he bled when she stuck him.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Rookie sketch artist Adriana Krause just drew the wrong face. A face with no name. With no voice. But with one hell of a secret…
Adriana has a talent for bringing subjects to life. Until she draws a rotting, mangled face instead of the described suspect. Shocked, she realizes she’s drawn the man who haunts her nightmares. No one has seen this face before-except Adriana.
With few allies on the force, Adriana is alone in her pursuit of the hellish figure from her dreams, while battling her father-the mayor-as he tries to take custody of her young son. She needs this job to save her family, but now the unknown man is all she can draw.
When her nightmares become waking dreams that lead to a series of violent outbursts, Adriana turns to near strangers for help. She must keep her son, unlock the mysteries of this strange face, and uncover one of the darkest secrets ever buried in her small town.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
The character of Adriana had been kicking around in my head for years. A police sketch artist who could only draw one face, the wrong face. The idea fascinated me. But it wasn’t a story yet, just a cool concept.
Then I decided to try my hand at NaNoWriMo back in 2017. I started with the cool sketch artist concept and built the story up around her. I was very pleased to discover how rich (and dark) her world was. A dozen revisions later, and here it is: FACE THE NIGHT.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
FACE THE NIGHT is scary and powerful, but the violence and heavy themes aren’t overwhelming. If you like mysteries and horror with a bit of warmth and heart, this book will satisfy.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
Adriana has second sight, she can see and hear things beyond our everyday realm. That’s quite special. But she’s nervous and unsure of her gift, which keeps her grounded. She reminds me of many Final Girls in horror films, special but relatable.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
Yes. I’d published a few short stories before finishing FACE THE NIGHT, one of which was awarded an Honorable Mention in the 89th Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition. But this is my first novel.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
While I wouldn’t turn away from fame or fortune, I’m mostly driven by the authors I fell in love with as a kid. The characters and stories they wrote stayed with me for life. They inspired, motivated, and entertained me. I want to give that gift back and be that author for the generation who are falling in love with books today.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
Stephen King, cliché as it is for my genre. He’s written so many great characters, stories, and moments. He scares you, sure, but you’re only scared because you care about the characters he’s invented. Anyone can give you hellish creatures. Anyone can give you a bloodbath. But to do it with so much heart, is rare.
Which book do you wish you could have written?
HOUSE OF LEAVES by Mark Z. Danielewski. The book within a book within a book. The house that’s larger on the inside than on the outside. The footnotes! It’s brilliant.