We were lucky to catch up with EH Drake recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi EH, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
I’m usually working alone so first, I eliminate distractions. I’ve even started writing my first drafts in an actual journal, just to prevent to lure of TikTok or Insta when I’m struggling with a certain plot point. I also play elevator music and brew my favorite tea, setting the mood and triggering the habit. Finally, I have a simple goal. One sentence. Because it’s like eating a single potato chip, you won’t stop there.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m just a simple fantasy author who can never stick to just one lane. I like to mash genres together, creating fun stories that twist the standard tropes. My books are known for a serious adrenaline rush and wicked sense of humor.
The whole thing started because I felt that the traditional vampire scene was missing something—I wanted to explore the real, historical baggage a creature living for centuries would carry into our modern world. That curiosity led to my Vampire Buddy Cop Mystery series, the Blood Herring Chronicles.
This trilogy is special because it grounds the supernatural in gritty reality, focusing intensely on the conflict between two sworn enemies: a human vampire detective and the vampire he is forced to partner with. It’s a fast-paced blend of mystery, action, and fantasy that centers on complex alliances and moral ambiguity.
With the Blood Herring Chronicles complete, I’ve moved on to my next wild experiment! And since I can’t stick to one lane, I’m currently writing a zombie western, “Got Zombies? Call Anthea,” and a young adult duology , “Superheroes Aren’t Named Molly.”
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
This one is hard to answer. My father was a writer, and my mother was a self-made businesswoman, so that’s just normal to me. But I will say, when I decided to publish, I got very overwhelmed trying to build all the social media, and it ate the tiny remnants my sanity (along with my writing time). Focus on your story first, you can learn the other skills as you go, but creating TikToks is not the same as writing your book.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
Distractions: As I mentioned earlier, it’s really easy to be typing your book and then get sidetracked into social media, marketing, etc. So I’ve stopped drafting on the computer and started writing in notebooks. Suddenly, the words are pouring. I’m sure I’ll still struggle with writer’s block, but this gives me space to focu on one task.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://EHDrake.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_ehdrake/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ehdrake
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ehdrake?lang=en
Image Credits
The man I am giving bunny ears to is author Karl K Gallagher – I’d highly recommend interviewing him next.
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
