South African writer and coffee addict, Baileigh Higgins, lives in the Free State with hubby and best friend Brendan and loves nothing more than lazing on the couch with pizza and a bad horror movie.

Her unhealthy obsession with the end of the world has led to numerous books on the subject and a secret bunker only she knows the location of. 

She’s the author of numerous apocalyptic and dystopian tales of survival including her best selling series, Dangerous Days and The Tides of Blood.

GJ: Thanks for joining today Baileigh. Before we get down to business, where is your secret bunker?

BH: It’s called a secret for a reason, haha! Seriously though, if I had one, only my closest family and friends would know about it.

GJ: Can you describe your journey to first publishing?

BH: It was a long one involving many ups and downs. Nothing about indie publishing is easy, and I made many mistakes along the way. My first book took 2 years to write and another year to be critiqued and edited. Only then was I ready to publish it, but I haven’t ever been sorry I took that first step. It’s been a wild ride, for sure, but also a very rewarding experience.

GJ: What does your family think about your obsession with the destruction of society in a world ending event?

BH: They think I’m nuts, of course, and gently humour my ridiculous fancies. It doesn’t bother me in the slightest, though. We all have our interests, and the end of the world is one of mine.

GJ: What is the biggest challenge you have had to overcome as an author?

BH: Learning to trust my instincts. There’s a lot of information out there, some good and some bad. You have to be able to trust in yourself. If something feels wrong, it most likely is.

GJ: Do you ever see yourself writing any other genre?

BH: I wouldn’t say never. I might one day branch out into fantasy, but for now, I’m firmly fixed in the apocalyptic genre though I do dabble in a little horror too.

GJ: What can we expect from you in the next twelve months?

BH: I’m currently writing the final book in a young adult zombie apocalypse trilogy and the next series in the works will be a vampire apocalyptic horror. Expect a lot of gruesome action!

GJ: What has been your proudest moment as an author?

BH: Holding my first book in my hands. That’s a feeling I’ll never forget.

GJ: Can you describe a typical writing day for you?

BH: A typical day starts at eight in the morning and ends around six or seven at night, but I don’t have a fixed routine. It depends where I am in the publishing cycle. Sometimes I’ll write the entire day, and on others, I’ll do admin, taxes, marketing, emails, and social media. I usually put in an extra hour before bed on my tablet too, checking messages and Facebook. I try not to work on Sundays, though, and Fridays are always half-days for me. A girl has to get some rest!

GJ: Where do you get your inspiration from?

BH: It’s a gift from God. Stories and ideas just come to me without rhyme or reason, and I consider it a blessing.

GJ: If you could go back in time and give yourself any advice, what age would you go back to and what would the advice be?

BH: I’d go back fifteen years and tell myself to stop procrastinating and start writing!

GJ: A big thank you to Baileigh for taking the time to talk with me. If you love Apocalyptic and Dystopian books, Baileigh’s Post Apocalyptic: Beginnings series is packed full of 4 books with over 900 pages of suspense filled, character driven, post apocalyptic fiction and is available for $0.99/£0.99 from Amazon now or free if you join her mailing list!

You can also keep up to date via her Twitter and Facebook pages.