Our readers would like to know a little about you and your books. At the bottom of the page are a few questions that you can copy and paste to your computer and then answer the questions. You can either copy and paste your answers to the form below or email it as a PDF or Word attachment to breezeemc@yahoo.com. If you would like to include a picture of yourself, a book cover and/or link to your book or your blog and an author bio, please add it to the bottom of your answers.
Chair to Chair with Cora Buhlert
Author of many wonderful books
What was your first attempt at
writing and how old were you?
In elementary
school, I wrote some Enid Blyton pastiches, a story about a talking zebra and a
story about two sisters going mountaineering in the Alps in search of the
elusive Edelweiss flower. All of those early attempts are thankfully lost in my
parents' attic. My next attempt was writing and composing an opera at the age
of approx. 14 (What can I say - I was a weird kid). I started writing my first
SF novel a year later, that is at 15. It involved aliens in a flying red
sportscar kidnapping two teenaged girls. However, I didn't get serious about
writing until my second semester at university.
Are you an Indie author or do you
have a publisher?
I'm an indie author.
I still occasionally submit short fiction to magazines and traditionally
publish my scholarly work, but all of my fiction is self-published.
Why did you choose this method of
publishing?
I had some
traditional publishing experience with short stories and poetry. Initially I
was skeptical about self-publishing. However, I was regular reader of the blogs
of Kristine Kathryn Rusch and Dean Wesley Smith. When they started advocating
for self-publishing and telling horror stories about bad agents and bad
contracts, I thought, "These two really know their stuff, so maybe I
should investigate this self-publishing thing." So I took some previously
published backlist short stories, edited and formatted them, designed a cover
and put them up on Amazon (and later elsewhere). The stories sold and I found
that I really enjoyed both the indie publishing process as well as the freedom
it gave me.
How are your books delivered?
e-book/print/both
So far, I only have
e-books, because all of my books are short stories or novellas and print is not
all that viable for short works. However, I hope to make some of the longer
novellas available as POD editions soon, once I master the learning curve.
In which genre do you normally
write?
I write in various
genres, such as historical fiction and historical romance, crime fiction and
suspense with the occasional literary short story thrown in. But my fist loves
are fantasy and science fiction.
What influenced you to write in
this genre?
Like most writers, I
write what I read. And since I read in multiple genres, I also write in
multiple genres. However, fantasy and science fiction are the genres I read
most frequently, so they are also the genres I'm most drawn to writing.
Which of your characters is your
favorite and why?
That's a difficult question. I have a soft spot for
Stella, the opinionated sorceress from Cartoony Justice, and Arianna
Delora, the teen girl pirate from Rites of Passage, because they are
some of the earliest characters I ever created (at the age of approximately
eleven or twelve). I adore Carrie Ragnarok, the kick-ass spy who narrates Courier
Duty and one of the short stories collected in Flights of Madness, because
her voice comes so easily to me and it's so much fun writing her. I really love
Richard Blakemore, 1930s pulp writer who dresses up as his own character to
fight crime in the Silencer series, because there's so much I can do
with him. Finally, I'm very fond of Holly di Marco, the mercenary turned
intergalactic rebel from Mercy Mission, because I love her voice and the
mixture of cynicism and vulnerability she projects. But really, I love them
all.
Do you receive accolades from your
fans and how do they contact you?
I sometimes get
emails or blog comments from readers. Plus, I have a mailing list where fans
can sign up to be informed about new releases. Back when I was publishing
poetry and the occasional short story in the literary magazine of my
university, I sometimes had readers come up to me in person to tell me that
they really liked my story or poem. This hasn't happened since I went indie,
because my readers don't necessarily reside on the same continent, let alone
the same city.
Does your family support your
writing?
I'm single and don't
have children, so the issue doesn't really come up. My parents know that I
write and are generally supportive. More distant relatives usually don't know
or don't care about my writing, though I recently discovered the name of my
cousin on my new release mailing list. I suspect he found out about my writing
when my books started crowding out his technical tomes on electro-polishing
technology on Amazon.
Do you use a pen
name and why?
No, I write under my own name. I'm blessed that my
name is unique – I'm the only Cora Buhlert in the world – not too difficult to
remember and spell and low in the alphabet. What is more, I am proud of my work
and want it out there under my own name. If I wrote under a pen name, the books
wouldn't really feel like mine.
I might decide to use a pen name if I ventured into
hardcore erotica or wrote a tell-all exposé on the mafia (which is rather
unlikely since I don't actually know any juicy facts to expose about the
mafia). But otherwise I'll stick with my own name.
When and where do the ideas for
character/scene development or dialogue come to you?
Ideally, ideas would
only come when I am at my computer with time to write. And preferably they would
arrive in the correct order as well, that is I would only get ideas for my
current work-in-progress and only for the scene I need to write next, not for a
scene three chapters down the line. However, life and particularly creativity
are rarely ideal. And so I get ideas anywhere, in bed trying to fall asleep, in
the shower, while driving, at work, while cooking, while out grocery shopping,
while watching TV. That's the reason why I always carry a pen and a notebook
around, so I can record ideas, scenes and dialogue snippets as they come to me.
Have you ever thought of giving up
on your writing?
Of course. I don't
think there is any writer who hasn't been discouraged and thought about giving
up. Luckily, I always get over it within a few days.
Author bio:
Cora Buhlert was born and bred in North Germany, where she still
lives today – after time spent in London, Singapore, Rotterdam and Mississippi.
Cora holds an MA degree in English from the University of Bremen and is
currently working towards her PhD. Cora has been writing, since she was a
teenager, and has published stories, articles and poetry in various
international magazines. When she is not writing, she works as a translator and
teacher.
My personal website: http://corabuhlert.com
My publisher website: http://pegasus-pulp.com
My Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Cora-Buhlert/e/B005F04ZJW/
My books at B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Cora-Buhlert?keyword=Cora+Buhlert&store=allproducts
My books at Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=Cora+Buhlert
Cora's Books
Chair to Chair with Tessa Stokes
Author of The Seven Spell Saga
· What was your first attempt at writing and how old were you?
I had always written very long stories in school and at about ten years old, I started writing poetry. I would submit my poems to various teen magazines in the hope they would be published. I did have a couple of poems published in a national magazine aimed at teen girls and their young love hopes. I had stories and poems published in the school year magazines; but I never counted them as real publishing.
· Are you an Indie author or do you have a publisher?
I am an Indie author.
· Why did you choose this method of publishing?
I chose to publish my own books because of the universal acceptance of e-books. It’s so much better to have your work out there for readers than to be waiting for the traditional publishing avenues to open up.
· How are your books delivered? e-book/print/both
My books are e-books. They are available for Kindle, Nook, Apple iPad and e-pub readers.
· In which genre do you normally write?
This last two years I have written in the paranormal genre, predominantly paranormal romance.
· What influenced you to write in this genre?
I had ideas for a few years and made notes on my computers and kept ideas in my head. After looking back on a few weird personal experiences I decided to weave a few of them into these ideas for books. The genre found me more than I found the genre.
· Which of your characters is you favorite and why?
Yikes! I can’t choose, I love them all, seriously, they are real to me, I can see them, all of them in my mind, the way they move and sound.
The things they love and would say or do.
· Do you receive accolades from your fans and how do they contact you?
Not so far, LOL, but there are a few nice reader reviews around and five star ratings. If readers want to contact me my email address is on my website, http://www.tessastokes.info
Goodreads, Author’s Den, Smashwords, Amazon profile, and finding me online is easy as I publish a blog, http://tess-three-in-the-morning.blogspot.com which is fed to Zimbio, Goodreads, and The Seven Spell Saga Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Seven-Spell-saga/138580806204048?sk=wall
I am on twitter as Seventhspell.
· Do you use a pen name and why?
No I don’t use a pen name, I think ‘own what you write’, even if people do not like it. At the same time I have nothing against pen names, and people are free to use them, I have read books by people and then discovered they are writing under a different name, who cares really.
· When and where do the ideas for character/scene development or dialogue come to you?
Well, everywhere, I suddenly find I have to jot down a note at any time of day, and night.
· Have you ever thought of giving up on your writing?
Yes. I was writing a lot of educational, non-fiction “stuff” and I was very tired of it. I felt as if I could not write at all any more. It had been a while since I had allowed myself to write creatively for public consumption and it’s scary wondering if what you think is a great idea or the characters you love will interest others.
I wanted to get back to my creative roots and knew if I did not just do it, then I was stuck in a place I could no longer inhabit.
I just let myself write the fiction that was in my head and once the creative spark was lit again it’s not gone away.
Tessa Stokes
Chair to Chair with Traci Hohenstein, Author of Burn Out
1. Are you an Indie author or do you have a publisher? Why did you choose this method of publishing? -- I chose to go the indie route after many near misses with the publishing industry. I haven't looked back since.
2. How are your books delivered? -- Burn Out is available as an ebook on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords. The paperback version will be available via Amazon.com and my blog site, www.msthriller.wordpress.com in late May 2011 for around $8.95.
3. In which genre do you normally write? What influenced you to write in this genre? -- This is the one thing about going indie that I love. You are not confined to a certain genre. I mainly write thriller/suspense novels. I love to read those types of novels so it was only natural for me to write them as well.
4. Which of your characters is you favorite and why? -- My main character in the series is Rachel Scott. She is a strong, independant woman who doesn't back down when faced with adversity. Rachel's daughter disappeared when she was three years old and was never found. She started a search and rescue company to help locate other missing perons when she realized there was only so much law enforcement could do to help. In the novel Burn Out she is called in to help locate a missing firefighter who vanished during a warehouse fire. She races against time to find out what happened to the firefighter while dealing with the firefighter's estranged husband, a scorned ex-lover and the drug cartel.
5. Do you receive accolades from your fans and how do they contact you? -- I have gotten a lot of awesome feedback from friends and family but nothing beats it when a total stranger leaves you a 5 star review for your novel. I have gotten compliments on Facebook, Twitter, my blog site and Goodreads. It just feels wonderful!
6. Does your family support your writing? -- Absolutely. My mom edited my last manuscript with an eagle eye. She caught more mistakes than my paid editor. My oldest son Chase, who is nineteen, is writing his first thriller. We often toss ideas around and offer feedback on each others work. My husband, who is a firefighter, was part inspiration on my novel Burn Out.
7. Do you use a pen name and why? -- No.
8. When and where do the ideas for character/scene development or dialogue come to you? -- I have an idea of what I want to write when I actually sit down to type it all out but I don't work from an outline. I find it cramps my creativity if I think to much about what to write. I participated in NANO last November and loved the feeling of just sitting down and letting the words flow without self-editing.
9. Have you ever thought of giving up on your writing? -- Writing is my passion. I have never given up. While it may have taken me awhile to get going - I've been a little busy raising kids and having a real estate career - I decided to take a leap of faith and make writing a full time job. Whether I will make a lot of money doing it - that is to be determined!
www.msthriller.wordpress.com
Chair to Chair with Julianne MacLean
Author of The Color Of Heaven
Buy it on Amazon, Smashwords, or Barnes & Noble
You are a traditionally published author of 15 historical romances and have hit the USA Today bestseller list. Why did you choose to self-publish The Color of Heaven?
I came up with the idea for this book six years ago, and wrote half of it while I was between contracts for my historicals. My agent shopped the half-finished manuscript around in 2007 to all the major New York publishers, but we had no offers. We were told things like:
“I wouldn’t know how to position this book.”
“It’s too commercial for our line.”
“I wasn’t fully convinced of the book’s commercial appeal.”
“I did not feel connected to the character of Sophie.”
“I was connected to the character of Sophie, but didn’t connect with Cora.”
One editor loved it and said it brought tears to her eyes, but when she showed it to her senior editor… Well, that editor felt differently.
I had just signed a new deal for two more historical romances, so I had to shelve this project and get back to work on my books that were actually selling.
Skip ahead to 2010. I still believed in the story and was never able to let go of the characters, and I was following the changes in the industry in terms of authors choosing to self-publish their work as E-books. Some authors were seeing great success, and the idea of having complete creative control excited me, so I reworked The Color of Heaven over the summer, and here we are.
The Color of Heaven is told in first person as if it were a true story. How much of your own experiences went into the plot and the creation of Sophie’s character?
A tremendous amount of this book is based on my own life, starting with Sophie being a writer. Our experiences were very much the same, in that I have worked at home while trying to balance the writing with motherhood. Toward the end of the book, she is trying to sell a novel, meeting with rejections, and I’ve been there, done that. It took me six years and five novels and countless rejections before I sold my first book to a publisher.
Another element from my own life is the car accident. I skidded off a road and rolled down an embankment when I was twenty-five years old. I am still amazed that I survived it, because it was a pretty horrendous wreck.
In The Color of Heaven Sophie's daughter is very sick. How much research did you have to do about medical issues?
The emotional side of that difficult period in Sophie’s life again comes from my own experiences. My daughter was very ill with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome when she was two-and-a-half years old, which is a blood disease and very similar in many ways to the treatments that Sophie’s daughter receives. I spent six weeks living in the children’s hospital and going through some very difficult times when we weren’t sure our daughter would survive. There are some moments in the book that are almost exact, and they were difficult to write.
I did have to do a fair amount of research, however, into the science of it all – treatments, medications, etc – and that was a bit painful, to be honest. There were days when I wondered what the heck I was doing, and why I was putting myself through that.
The Color of Heaven includes a scene about a near-death experience. Have you ever experienced such a thing?
No, but I’ve always been fascinated by near-death experiences, and since my car accident, I’ve often wondered “what if?” I did a lot of research on the subject. I read about the science of it, and I also read The Tibetan Book of the Dead, which is quite beautiful in places.
You’ve written historical romances in the past. Why did you take a pen name?
I struggled with that quite a bit, because this book is very different from my romance novels – in structure, voice, and genre conventions - so I wanted to make sure readers would not have unrealistic expectations. The wrong expectations can really spoil a book for some people.
Will you write more mainstream contemporaries?
Yes, I definitely want to write more books like this and I will continue to self-publish in the future. I also want to write more historicals. I just wish there were more hours in the day, and more days in the year.
Thanks for having me!
Chair to Chair with Mike Faricy
Author of several awesome books!
Some of which are:
Russian Roulette .99 Cents Kindle Edition or buy it on Smashwords
Chow For Now $4.99 Kindle Edition or buy it on Smashwords
Slow, Slow, Quick, Quick $4.99 Kindle Edition or buy it on Smashwords
End of the Line $4.99 Kindle Edition or buy it on Smashwords
Baby Grand $4.99 Kindle Edition or buy it on Smashwords
End of the Line $4.99 Kindle Edition or buy it on Smashwords
Baby Grand $4.99 Kindle Edition or buy it on Smashwords
Merlot $4.99 Kindle Edition or buy it on Smashwords
Finders Keepers $4.99 Kindle Edition or buy it on Smashwords
Bio:
I live in St. Paul, Minnesota and Dublin, Ireland. I’ve been a soldier, a bartender, and a freelance journalist. I’ve sold designer cakes as well as owned a small painting and decorating company. On the off chance none of my paying jobs offend you, I also play the bagpipes in the Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band.
All my books are stand alone, read them in whatever order you wish. I write about the sort of oddballs we’re curious about, but wisely prefer to keep at a distance. None of my characters will be saving the world from terrorism, international banking conspiracies or coups to take over the government. My characters inhabit a world just below the surface of polite society with one foot on either side of the law. They serve not as an example but as a warning. The circumstance of their lives are usually the result of bad decisions, but then bad decisions make for interesting stories.
How did you meet your wife?
I was in Dublin, staying with a friend who was there on business. It was the first time I’d been there, just a three day visit. We met in a pub with dancing, …okay, a meat market, Dublin style. She’d sworn off guys and I’d sworn off nice women.
She was on crutches at the time, due to a car accident and it was her first night out with friends in six weeks. I was dancing with a woman she’d had words with earlier. So I’m out impressing this woman with my dance moves when a voice whispers in my ear, “What are you dancing with that old prostitute, when there’s gorgeous girls like me around.” Then she took off into the crowd on her crutches. Just for the record, the woman wasn’t old.
Anyway, I finished the dance, then went to look for her. Suddenly this blond pokes her head out of the ladies room, she’s on crutches. We started chatting, I walked her to her girlfriends car at the end of the night and kissed her goodbye. The kiss was electric, I’m not kidding. I phoned her the next day and we went for coffee, that turned into an afternoon, then dinner, then music afterwards. I flew out of Dublin the following morning.
About a week later, I’m back in St. Paul. The bank had lost a deposit of mine. My receptionist yells Teresa on line one. Teresa was the name of my book keeper. I picked up the phone, growled ‘Now what?” And here is this gorgeous Irish accent. “Hi, just wondering would you ever consider coming back to Dublin?” I thought why not? Called her back an hour later with my flight info. We dated long distance for a number of years. I always tell people she’s good to me and good for me, and I mean it.
How did you start your writing career?
I started by writing. I know, Brianna, that sounds really dumb but that’s it. I worked for a company creating product catalogs from start to finish. When I came on board they were doing one catalog annually. I had to write all this witty, clever (my terms) ad copy, one or two award winning sentences for each of the thousands of different items. It must have worked, six years later I was doing that same catalog quarterly, plus a seventy two page catalog twice every month. We’d grown from printing 100,000 catalogs a year to close to three million a month. I might add this was pre-Internet
From there I began doing free lance articles, some for a local publication, The Irish Gazette, and some of those articles were picked up by other publications. One day my editor got a nice letter from Malachy McCourt, his brother Frank wrote Angela’s Ashes, anyway, he enjoyed an article I had written about my wife and I being detained at the Canadian border because she didn’t have her passport. I’ve since met him, he’s a really nice guy. That got me writing my first book, Candigram. Ever hear of it? I’ll save you the trouble, no, because it’s still under my bed. I think it came in at about 450 pages.
I had lunch with William Kent Krueger, a really great author who lives in St. Paul, he was gracious enough to encourage me and suggest that every writer has a book or two that is still kept in a box under the bed. I cut Candigram down to about 325 pages and it’s still in a box under the bed. But, I was bitten by the bug. I write every day. I have to say I’m really disciplined, my wife might use the term crazed.
I also lead the league in rejections, usually I got the standard form, card or letter about the dismal state of the industry and you think, well if it’s that bad, get out. Anyway, I’d written book three or four and sent out another seventy five or a hundred query letters, enclosed a self addressed stamped envelope so I could pay for the privilege of getting the rejection letter. Then, one day I got my query letter back, unopened. Stamped crookedly in large letters across the front in reddish purple ink was “RETURN TO SENDER”. Then on the back was a hand written note that said “This does not fit our needs at this time”. This was from a large New York publishing house, maybe not in the top six, but certainly in the top ten. They couldn’t even be bothered to open my envelope. It suddenly dawned on me that I didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell with these people. Even I got the message at that point. I went back, re-edited my books had maybe thirty different pairs of eyes go over them, and then wrote two more. Then I uploaded them to Amazon, Smashwords, some other places and I haven’t looked back.
I know there are people who don’t want to read eBooks, maybe shudder at the concept, but it’s allowed me, a guy from St. Paul, Minnesota, to have a chance. All my books will be available as ink on paper, print on demand, through Amazon later this summer. In the not distant past, I would have had to accept that “RETURN TO SENDER” stamp as just tough luck, that’s the way it was. Now, I’d actually like to thank the jerk who did that, because it got me motivated to find another, better way.
It’s hard work, but definitely a labor of love. Fortunately my wife and family keep me grounded so I don’t become too obsessed with whatever project I’m currently on.
Tell us about your current release.
My current release is Russian Roulette. In it, I introduce a character, Devlin Haskell. Dev is a bit of a hap hazard private investigator, sort of a loveable ‘ner-do-well who might be fun to chat with at a bar, but you wouldn’t want him dating your sister or daughter. Women find him interesting, maybe even intriguing, at least initially. Perhaps they look at him as a good project, or an adventure, I don’t know. I do know that eventually they all throw up their hands in disgust. There seems to be an ocean of failed relationships bobbing in his wake, amazingly none of them his fault. His idea of the perfect woman would include a penchant for alcohol, too much perfume, stiletto heels and the moral standards of an alley cat. He’s late for dates, stares at other women when he’s on a date and seems to constantly make bad decisions. But then, bad decisions make for interesting tales. Sounds like a great hero, right?
In Russian Roulette, Dev ends up in bed with his latest client, only to wake up and learn he’s suddenly signed on with the Russian mob. Of course along the way he’s shot, beaten, car bombed and used as a human shield. You know, just an average week in St. Paul. There might be a woman or two he runs into who think they’re up to the challenge of setting him on a proper course.
By the way, the cover shot on Russian Roulette is my son, that’s his fiancée with her hands holding the gun to his head. We took the photo in the Spot Bar, in St. Paul, where Dev likes to hang out. It was about 10:30 on a Sunday morning and the liquid brunch crowd had a great time throwing one liners at us while we did the photo shoot. My son told them it was the photo for their “Save the Date” card.
Tell us about your next release.
My next release is titled Mr. Softee. It is my second Dev Haskell novel, but they are stand alone works, as are all my books. You can read my books however you wish, there’s no specific order.
In Mr. Softee, Dev has a client, Weldon Sofmann, a real bad guy who uses his ice cream empire as a front. The guy insists on being called Mr. Softee and he has a fleet of trucks going through neighborhoods selling ice cream treats to kids. Mr. Softee has a flashpoint temper, a ruthless streak, and a penchant for eliminating competition. Of course there’s a wonderfully trampy woman Dev is attracted to and a really nice woman who could probably do a lot better for herself.
I initially got the idea for this book listening to the ice cream trucks driving through our neighborhood on the north side of Dublin. They constantly play this chime over and over, you’d think the poor driver would go nuts. Anyway, the ice cream trucks are called Mr. Softee. We were laughing about it one night and the next morning I woke up obsessed. Yeah I know, my poor wife.
As it happens I’m shooting the cover for Mr. Softee this coming weekend. There may be models in it, if so, it will just be their lower legs and very high heels. I’m planning to have them standing around a chalk outline of a body, like a crime scene, with an ice cream cone melting blood. Pure genius, right? Well, anyway, it will be a lot of fun.
I’ve got another Dev Haskell following Mr. Softee, I’m pushing for an end of August release if I can get by without sleeping for four or five weeks. I’m still toying with a title on that one. I’ve really enjoyed developing Dev and the entourage that allows him to act irresponsibly.
How do you describe your writing style?
Constantly evolving. It’s getting tighter all the time. I think that’s good. I read an awful lot and I have a tendency to inhale everything an author has written. I’ve read all of Michael Connelly, Elmore Leonard, Ian Rankin, William Kent Krueger, Robert B. Parker, Ed McBain, John Sandford, Stuart MacBride, Carl Hiaasen, Stephen E. Ambrose, the list continues to grow. As I read them and others, it affects my style, things they do that I like or don’t like for that matter. I’m a lot more dialogue driven today than I was ten years ago. My Dev Haskell books are all written in the first person singular, which has been a bit of a transition for me, but ultimately an enjoyable one.
If you’re looking for long descriptions of sunlight reflecting off dust motes or the ripples on a pond signifying an unending pursuit of tranquility, I’m probably not the guy you would enjoy reading. I hope my style is concise, witty and entertaining.
An interesting exercise was to record casual conversations with some friends. Then write them out, verbatim. We rarely speak in full sentences. Go back and watch a contemporary movie from just twenty five or thirty years ago. The language can really seem stilted. Go back to films done in the fifties, no one speaks like that anymore. Abbott and Costello had a comedy routine, Who’s on First, I think they first presented it around 1945. It’s a classic and today a lot of people will turn it off before the thing is finished. We’re not programmed to communicate in that fashion, anymore. We speak more like we text. I come from a time frame where I remember family members cautioning “long distance” during a Christmas phone call from a relative living in Chicago. Now I Skype to my wife daily when I’m in St. Paul and she’s in Dublin. It’s a different world with the Internet and communication, just look at this interview and blog site. My sense is people want to enjoy a read but that means it has to move.
I want my readers to feel entertained. I want them to be excited about getting to the next page. I’d like them to put the coffee on late at night because there’s only sixty pages left. I want them to hurry home so they can get back to my book. I want them to be excited when they see I have another book coming out because they’ve read all my others. When I get that, I’ll describe my writing style as satisfactory.
Do you hear from your readers? What kinds of questions do they ask?
I hear from my readers all the time, and I welcome their comments. Anyone who wants to contact me can email me direct at mikefaricyauthor@gmail.com I welcome readers input.
Interestingly, the majority of comments usually run along one of two lines. Either they refer to a particular scene or situation and suggest that it was a little too far fetched, in which case, the scene in question is invariably the only true fact that actually did occur, only I’ve tamed it down. Or, they experienced something or know of someone who experienced something similar to what I wrote about and wonder how I’m connected. Thus far, I never have been connected.
Another thing they wonder about is where I get some of the names I use. Actually, they’re all names of real people, most of whom, if I didn’t know personally, I knew of. Occasionally I’ve had someone request to have their name in a book. I had a couple of people who wanted to be in a book and they were gracious enough to make a donation to a particular charity here in St. Paul. The interesting thing is when I do use a specific individual’s name, they seem to enjoy it more if I use their name as some sort of nefarious character, the name of a strip club or an awful bar rather than someone who is a kind soul, doing good deeds.
A lot of readers who contact me say they enjoyed some good laughs, then maybe go on to question my basic sanity. One woman wrote and said, “Dude, you are one sick puppy.” I took that as a compliment.
How do you develop your plots and your characters? Do you use any set formula?
I start by sitting down and turning on the computer. Then I begin tapping keys, at the end of the day, no one is more surprised than me. I don’t work off a written outline, I don’t have a specific page count in mind. I do not push to write a specific number of words each day. I do work hard. I’m usually writing by 5:30 or 6:00 every morning. The first thing I do is read out loud whatever I wrote the previous day, making corrections along the way. I write all day, I take a short break for lunch, maybe twenty minutes.
As I mentioned I don’t work off a written outline, that said, I do pen a lot of notes to myself along the way. Something like; make sure the pay off amount is short by a grand, or a specific character leaves a clue, that sort of thing. When I’m not writing, various scenes and scenarios always seem to be percolating in my head. I might be on a walk with my wife and she’ll ask what I’m thinking. Of course I’ve got someone tied up in a closet or stuffed in the trunk of a car that I’m worried about. She just shakes her head and probably wonders why she bothered to ask. The plots sort of gradually unfold as I write. I really don’t have any idea what’s going to happen. At the end of the day I’m as surprised as the reader.
I don’t have a set formula but I like the idea of quasi-normal folks ending up in a bizarre situation, not of their own choosing, and they’re forced to deal with the situation. As a reader, I have trouble with super hero sorts of characters. The ex Special Forces guy who speaks six languages and was a tennis partner of Vladimir Putin bugs me. The person who remembers a forty digit computer code to open a safe, I can’t even remember my password to Face Book for god’s sake. I like my tales to be somewhat believable. So right now, Brianna, your readers are asking themselves, are you kidding? You think some goofball like Devlin Haskell is believable? Of course the frightening answer is, yes.
Like I said earlier, I start writing and things just sort of happen. It probably worries my mother, I can hear her, “honest to god, where did you come up with these things?” Of course this is the same woman who still won’t let me in her living room with a glass of red wine.
What songs are most played on your I-pod?
I have the best I-pod. My wife wanted to drag me into the twenty-first century and get me an I-pod for Christmas. She wanted me to pick it out so that she purchased the one I would enjoy. We went to the store, and to tell the truth, some times I’m just cheap. I didn’t want to pay the price. I forget, I think it was three hundred bucks for an I-pod, something like that. Anyway, we left the store without making a purchase. We were talking to a school teacher friend later and she said all her students, she does high school special ed., told her the best place to get an I-pod is the pawn shop. So off we go, my wife had never been in a pawn shop before. They had about a dozen I-pods, I picked out one for a hundred and twenty bucks. We bring it home, charge it up and there were over 5000 songs on it. I deleted about 500, sorry, I’m not going to become a fan of Insane Clown Posse, no matter how hard I try. But this thing has all sorts of music, bag pipes, rock, country, classical. It’s fantastic. I’m thrilled, we got it for less than half the cost of retail and at .99 a tune, I’ve still got a library worth $4500. I walk a lot so I just set the thing on shuffle and if I’m not in the mood for the tune I just jump to the next one. Fantastic.
What group did you hang out with in high school?
I’m a product of an all boys high school, St. Thomas Academy, up here in Minnesota. When I went there it was relatively small, maybe five hundred and fifty boys. It wasn’t for everyone, but if you could hang in there they had a way of making kids feel that being successful, a good student, good person, good athlete was cool. I might have been a good person, or tried to be… sometimes. But I wasn’t a good student, I wasn’t a good athlete. I was not cool. I was like a lot of kids, desperate to be with the in crowd but deep down probably knowing that just wasn’t going to happen, ever.
I was really afraid of girls. I was probably the homecoming date from hell. We would go to dances and try to act cool. I probably ended up just being really squirrelly. I never really had a girlfriend until the last semester of my senior year, I think she ran off and joined the Foreign Legion or something after dating me.
But you know how you look at things one way and reality is another. One of the things I do is play the bagpipes, I have for years with the Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band. Years after high school, I piped the funeral of the father of a girl I knew. Like all girls she was way above me on the social scene. We were chatting after her father’s funeral, she was sad and I felt so sorry for her I gave her a kiss on the cheek. She burst out, “God, finally, I’ve waited all these years and you never paid attention to me when we were in high school.” I was shocked, I didn’t think she knew I even existed.
I think at the reunions I might be one of those guys people ask “Whatever happened to that guy that...?
But in truth, I don’t know anyone happier than me, today. I’ve had some rough sledding in life, kicked around the block a few times, like all of us. But, my life is good. I’ve a great family, my wife hangs in there with me. I write books, I get to work at something I enjoy. I’m really blessed.
What are you passionate about these days?
I’m passionate about my writing of course. I’m passionate about my family, I’m so proud of all of them, spouse, siblings, parents, children. I’m passionate about our country, the United States. Do we have problems? Yes. Are they fixable? Yes. Provided we are willing to sit down and look at them like responsible adults, make some hard decisions and then roll up our sleeves and get to work. This shouldn’t turn into a rant but I’m passionate about two things that concern our future, our children and the people who come to this country from else where, our immigrants. Both are our future and the future, in my opinion, is bright. We’ll have some difficulties, but we are capable and must be capable of rising above them. Someone once said the most American thing you can do is be an immigrant. Think about it. Okay enough of my rant. Oh yeah, and I’m passionate about people enjoying my books.
Do you have any suggestions for beginning writers?
Yeah, start writing. Whether it’s poetry or the next To Kill a Mocking Bird, get going. I hear from people all the time, “Oh yeah, everyone says I should write”. Well, are you? Start putting the words down, work at improvement, read authors you enjoy. Get going. I think John Grisham said he had to write a least one page a day when he was practicing law. That takes discipline. You have to make time, maybe before or after kids are in bed. Turn off the tube, get off the Internet and stare at a blank screen and come up with words you would consider showing someone else at some point.
It’s not easy. I think it kind of goes in stages. If you discipline yourself to write, then eventually you might mention it to a friend. Of course after you build up the courage and finally spit out the fact that you’re writing, they’ll say something like, “Are you getting this round of beer or am I?” Then, you’ll work up the courage to show whatever you’ve written to that friend or sibling, ask them to read it, check back in a week waiting for the applause, only to learn they haven’t had time because they’re really into Ad Men, Judge Judy or Entertainment Tonight.
I really believe you have to write every day, edit, tear it apart, make it better, then do it again, and again. Be honest with yourself. Like William Kent Krueger told me, “we all have something kept in a box under the bed.” But, that usually means the next one will be a little better. What’s the old adage, you have to practice something for at least 10,000 hours to be good.
Do you have a website or a blog?
My website is www.mikefaricy.com please check it out.
My blog is http://mikefaricy.blogspot.com/
My email address is mikefaricyauthor@gmail.com please feel free to email me at any time.
Do you have anything specific you would like to say to our readers?
Yeah, first of all, thanks for getting this far in my rambling. Brianna, thanks for having me and I hope you’ll let me return at some point. It’s been a lot of fun. To all the folks who took the time to make it this far, thanks for your patience and please feel free to contact me with any input you have. I would like to offer everyone a free download of my latest eBook, Russian Roulette. Just email me at mikefaricyauthor@gmail.com If you enjoy the book, please tell 2-300 of your closest friends. Many thanks and wishing you all the best, happy reading.
Chair to Chair with Rose Gordon, Author of Intentions of the Earl $2.99 Kindle Edition,
To Win His Wayward Wife $3.99 Kindle Edition and Liberty For Paul $2.99 Kindle Edition
• What was your first attempt at writing and how old were you? Truthfully? I was nine and in the fourth grade. I’d finished with my assignment and didn’t want to read quietly at my desk, so I grabbed a few pieces of paper and started to write a story. I can’t remember what it was about, the only reason I remember this is because the boy who sat next to me asked me to put him into the story, which I did. A few minutes later, this girl who sat it our little group of desks asked me to put her into it, too. My story, the whole two pages it was, was nearly done, so I just threw in a line or two about how our hero (the boy to my left) walked past a Dumpster and saw a girl inside eating a sandwich (which, as you can guess, this girl in the story resembled and had the same name as the girl who asked me to put her into the story). After that, the girl told the teacher on me and the teacher sent a note home to my parents. After that, I didn’t write another story until I was twelve and my English teacher required we turn in a 500 word story each week. My first one was titled, “My Day in the Life of an Eraser”. In the story, I used a first-person POV to give life to an eraser who began its life hanging on the rack of K-Mart priced at .99 then somehow made it to school and was used to erase all sorts of things from wrong answers to love notes. The story was such a hit in my class, the teacher asked if she could have it run in the school paper.
• Are you an Indie author or do you have a publisher? One hundred percent Indie.
• Why did you choose this method of publishing? Well, I had an interesting time with agents and publishers. I queried a few, maybe thirty total, and of that thirty, twenty five asked for a partial. After I sent my partial, I typically got a response similar to, “Your writing is good, but I have no idea if such an unusual plot could be marketed.” One small publisher liked it well enough and offered me a pittance for all three books if I’d make a few changes. I didn’t like the changes they wanted me to make, so I declined their offer.
• How are your books delivered? e-book/print/both Electronically only, for now. With how long my books tend to run, I can’t see the point in paperbacks, they’d be too expensive.
• In which genre do you normally write? Historical Romance, particularly Regency.
• What influenced you to write in this genre? To tell that, I’d have to tell you why I started writing my first book to begin with. I started to write because I’d been reading a lot in this genre and was tired of the same old plot where the impoverished lord trapped a wealthy heiress into marriage, but falls in love with her despite his original plan. I thought the story needed to go in a different direction. So, I sat down and started typing out a plot I’d never seen, one where the hero would get his fortune, not by marrying an heiress, but by not marrying her. What started as just a simple thing to relieve my current boredom turned into something I love to do.
• Which of your characters is you favorite and why? I honestly cannot say. I’m currently writing my sixth book and I’ve had so many characters I’ve gotten to explore and write about, I cannot possibly pick one. Plus, if I did, as I tell anyone who asks, my favorite character/book is always the one I’m in the middle of writing or editing. Funny how that works.
• Do you receive accolades from your fans and how do they contact you? I get several e-mails a day. Most say something very nice about my books or compliment my humor, telling me their sides hurt after reading a particular scene. A few have been just a little strange, such as the one where the reader asked me if the hero was modeled after my husband. This came after a blog post in which I said that even though my parents thought the hero to my first book was based on my husband, he was not. A day, maybe two, after I put out my second book I got an “Urgent” e-mail asking if the hero from that book was modeled after my husband.
• Does your family support your writing? Yes. I was actually really surprised by the amount of support I’ve had from everyone from my husband to my own parents and everyone in between.
• Do you use a pen name and why? I use my real middle and last name. My first name is long and often misspelled/mispronounced. I wanted something short, simple and easy to remember. So even though, it has as an alarming similarity to rose garden, I opted to use my middle and last name.
• When and where do the ideas for character/scene development or dialogue come to you? Real life. Most of the humorous scenes/dialogue I write is based on something that wasn’t so humorous that happened in my real life. For my characters, I’m sure I pull some of their personality traits from people I know. But I’ve never written a character completely after a person I know. Not even an enemy I wanted to torture. I do like to see growth in characters, and almost all of mine grow in some way from the beginning to the end of the book.
• Have you ever thought of giving up on your writing? No. I’ve had such a positive response that I don’t think I could give up writing if I wanted to. However, there have been a few times (mostly while editing) when I felt like tossing the book and starting over. But I’ve never actually followed through with that urge.
Thank you for taking the time to interview me!
Author Bio-Rose Gordon writes fast-paced, witty Regency Romances. You can visit her website at http://www.rosegordonromance.com or her blog at http://rosesromanceramblings.wordpress.com
She’s also on facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Rose-Gordon-historical-romance-author/178033968907233
You can find all her books from amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/Rose-Gordon/e/B004QXMVHW
Chair to Chair with Kenneth C Ryeland
Q) What was your first attempt at writing and how old were you?
A) I was taught to write detailed, accurate technical reports when training to be an engineer early in my career and I provided technical articles to various learned bodies for many years afterwards. However, my first attempt at writing for pleasure was when I began to record my experiences of living and working in West Africa for my memoir The Up-Country Man, which I started to write in 1995.
Q) Are you an Indie author or do you have a publisher?
A) I am a little of both. My first book was produced through a publisher, but my second and third was published by me using an online book producer.
Q) Why did you choose this method of publishing?
A) After the first book was published, I decided that I wanted the freedom to produce what I liked, when I liked and this is what an online book producer can offer.
Q) How are your books delivered? e-book/print/both
A) My three full length books are available as e-books and in print. However my three novellas (extracted from my compendium of short stories Tribal Gathering) are only available in e-book format.
Q) In which genre do you normally write?
A) I guess you could say all my books occupy the Action/Adventure genre (even the memoir).
Q) What influenced you to write in this genre?
A) It seems to come naturally to me.
Q) Which of your characters is you favorite and why?
A) This is a hard one. I enjoy all my characters because they are so diverse and it would be difficult to pick just one. However, if pushed for an answer I would choose Inspector Bello Akure in The Last Bature (pronounced Batuuree, a Hausa word meaning white man). Here is an ordinary policeman watching the infrastructure his country collapse around him due to the corruption of the politicians and, subsequently, the military junta, but he maintains his composure and his integrity and does the right thing, no matter what.
Q) Do you receive accolades from your fans and how do they contact you?
A) I have had one or two readers e-mail me to thank me for the enjoyment they experienced when reading my books. I would like more of course, and they can contact me through my website http://africantales.wordpress.com
Q) Does your family support your writing?
A) Yes, I have support from my children in a low key way. They’re not shouting from the rooftops, but they are proud of their father.
Q) Do you use a pen name and why?
A) My pen name is Kenneth C Ryeland and I used it because when I began writing I occupied a senior post in the research, security and insurance areas of the international vehicle manufacturing industry and I didn’t want any misunderstandings to cloud the relationship between the institute I worked for and our many clients.
Q) When and where do the ideas for character/scene development or dialogue come to you?
A) Many of my ideas come to me during my long daily walks in the lovely countryside that surrounds where I live in Berkshire in the UK.
Q) Have you ever thought of giving up on your writing?
A) Many times! Then another idea slips into my head and off I go again.
My webpage is http://africantales.wordpress.com
Chair to Chair with KATIE KLEIN Author of
The Guardian $2.99 on Amazon or Nook
Cross My Heart $3.99 on Amazon or Nook
· What was your first attempt at writing and how old were you? You know, I don't even remember. I've always enjoyed telling stories, and I loved filling notebooks with ideas and naming my characters. I've been writing my whole life, but I'd say I was about 15 years old when I sat down at a computer with the intention of writing an entire novel. I failed. Miserably.
· Are you an Indie author or do you have a publisher? Both. My first YA novel was published traditionally under a different name. My latest two were released as indies.
· Why did you choose this method of publishing? I was curious, actually, so dipping my toes in the indie pool was kind of an experiment at first. I couldn't see any disadvantages. I love having control of the content and the cover. Traditionally published authors typically have a two-to-six month window to make an impact in bookstores (if they're even picked up at all). I like that my shelf life is permanent, and that I can build an audience.
· How are your books delivered? e-book/print/both Both of my current YA novels, The Guardian and Cross My Heart are available as ebooks for Kindle and Nook.
· In which genre do you normally write? I write young adult novels. The majority of the stories I've written are realistic contemporary with a strong romance storyline. The Guardian is an urban fantasy, but if I had to categorize myself I'm solidly contemporary YA fiction (Think Sarah Dessen, Elizabeth Scott, Courtney Summers, etc.)
· What influenced you to write in this genre? I just love the YA voice, in general. So much happens during the teen years. There are a lot of "firsts," and those are the things I like to explore.
· Which of your characters is your favorite and why? I'm not sure I have a favorite. I like all of my characters for different reasons. I love Jaden from Cross My Heart because she's like me in a lot of ways (not that I would ever make it to Harvard Med School, but I digress). I love Genesis from The Guardian because she has so much potential. I have a horrible habit of falling for my main male leads, too, so Parker and Seth are both amazing to me, but in different ways.
· Do you receive accolades from your fans and how do they contact you? As of yet, I haven't gotten any fan mail as Katie Klein, but I'm pleased with the four and five star reviews I'm getting, so the fact that my readers are out there enjoying my stories is enough for me. I can be contacted via email, so if a reader ever wants to drop me a line, they're welcome to.
· Does your family support your writing? Yes, they do. I think it's hard for some people to understand what it is, exactly, I write. For those not familiar with YA novels, or those who don't understand how ebooks work, it can be a hard concept to grasp. Then there are those who still think self-publishing is the kiss of death. I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that, by the end of this year, I will have sold more ebooks than copies of the novel in print.
· Do you use a pen name and why? Yes, I use a pen name. My original reason for the pen name was because my traditionally published novel was realistic contemporary, and The Guardian was urban fantasy. I didn't want the confusion there. I decided that I liked the pen name, though, and when I realized I was building an audience as Katie Klein, I decided to keep it when I released Cross My Heart (which is a realistic contemporary romance).
· When and where do the ideas for character/scene development or dialogue come to you?
The ideas come straight from my head. My favorite thing to write is dialogue. I write in layers, and the dialogue always comes first. When I'm revising, the dialogue doesn't change much from first draft to final, either. I have to work harder to get the scene constructed and to get my character's inner thoughts right.
· Have you ever thought of giving up on your writing?
In the time between my first published novel and when I went indie, I was very frustrated with the market. Cross My Heart was rejected by 75 literary agents before I released it myself. I kept hearing that the "market is too saturated" and "this won't stand out." I don't think I could ever give up writing because it's such an important part of who I am, but I've seen some dark days. Just like when you fall off a horse you have to climb back on, after those bad days you just have to sit back down at the computer. Writing is such a strong part of who I am that I don't think I could ever give it up. Not permanently, anyway. I'll always be writing. The fact that I have an audience now is just a bonus.
LINKS:
The Guardian for Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004FPYO8K
The Guardian for Nook: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/books/product.aspx?ean=2940011931468
Cross My Heart for Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004S7MLWQ
Cross My Heart for Nook: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/books/product.aspx?ean=2940012246912
BLOG: http://katiekleinwrites.blogspot.com/
BIO: Katie Klein is a diehard romantic with a penchant for protagonists who kick butt. She currently resides on the East Coast and is hard at work on her next YA novel. She is the author of THE GUARDIAN, a YA paranormal romance, and CROSS MY HEART, a YA contemporary romance.
Chair to Chair with Sarah Woodbury Author of
And her newest: Daughter of Time
The Last Pendragon: A Story of Dark Age Wales (historical fantasy)
$2.99 Amazon link: HERE At Amazon UK: HERE
Footsteps in Time: A Time Travel Fantasy (historical fantasy/time travel fantasy/YA)
After Cilmeri Book One 99 cents
At Amazon.com: Footsteps in Time Amazon UK: Footsteps in Time
Prince of Time (historical fantasy/time travel fantasy/YA)
After Cilmeri Book Two $2.99
At Amazon.com: Prince of Time
At Amazon UK: Prince of Time
Daughter of Time (historical fantasy/time travel fantasy/YA)
At Amazon.com:
Daughter of Time: A Time Travel Romance (After Cilmeri) or buy it at Amazon UK
1. Are you an Indie author or do you have a publisher? Why did you choose this method of publishing? -- I am an indie author. I have a NY agent and a book on submission, but after consultation with my agent, I decided to publish three of the seven books I've written, rather than have them molder another day on my laptop, unread and unloved. Indie publishing gives me the opportunity to share my stories, even if they've not found a place at a traditional publishing house.
2. How are your books delivered? -- My books are ebooks, though The Last Pendragon will soon be available in paperback.
3. In which genre do you normally write? What influenced you to write in this genre? -- I write historical fantasy. I have a Ph.D. in anthropology, so research is nothing new to me, but I find the ability to alter the 'real' trajectory of history freeing. Much of 'real' history, ends (quite frankly) badly for the protagonist. I very much subscribe to the philosophy of Donna Tartt: "The first duty of the novelist is to entertain. It is a moral duty. People who read your books are sick, sad, traveling, in the hospital waiting room while someone is dying. Books are written by the alone for the alone."
4. Which of your characters is you favorite and why? -- Oh, I have so many . . . I suppose one of my most favorite is a secondary character in my After Cilmeri books, Humphrey de Bohun. He is complicated and hard to pin down. He lives in the gray area between right and wrong and that makes him fun to write. I have a book just about him percolating in the back of my mind.
5. Do you receive accolades from your fans and how do they contact you? -- I have had the pleasure of receiving quite a bit of feedback from my readers--whether via my blog, email, Twitter, or Facebook--in the last few months. There's not much that makes an author happier than the words, "I loved your book!"
6. Does your family support your writing? -- Yes! My daughter has been writing fiction since she was 9 and it was she (by then a teenager) who encouraged me to start writing fiction seriously 5 years ago. My husband is hoping that he'll get to retire soon and live off my earnings :)
7. Do you use a pen name and why? -- My pen name is my maiden name because my married name is impossible for English speakers to pronounce or spell!
8. When and where do the ideas for character/scene development or dialogue come to you? -- Sometimes I've plotted everything out carefully, but the best times are when It's like magic. When I'm writing a novel, I need to take time away from the computer or electronics and give myself permission to daydream. And then, when I'm actually typing at my laptop, often I have no idea what I'm going to write until it flows through my fingers. I love it when my characters take me in a direction I had never considered before.
9. Have you ever thought of giving up on your writing? -- My darkest hour was about 2 years after I started writing seriously. My second book had been rejected by over 70 agents during the course of an entire year (I didn't try to get an agent for my first book). And then the very, very last agent I queried called and said she wanted to represent me. That relationship didn't work out, but it gave me energy to keep on going. I don't know that I considered quitting writing even then, but I certainly considered giving up on that book. I'm happy to say that, through indie publishing, I can share that second book with everyone, as it ultimately became Footsteps in Time, the first of my After Cilmeri series.
http://www.sarahwoodbury.com/
Chair to Chair with Julie Christensen, Author of
Searching for Meredith Love and
The Truth About Dating
The Truth About Dating <<< Buy it on Amazon or
Amazon UK or Nook
Searaching for Meredith Love <<<Buy it on Amazon or Amazon UK or Nook
What was your first attempt at writing and how old were you? To the best of my recollection, I started writing a lot in the second grade. My teacher had a file with index cards that gave the first sentence of a story, and we used them to write stories once a week. I loved this activity, but the class used to moan whenever it was announced, so, obviously writing is not for everyone.
Are you an Indie author or do you have a publisher?
Indie author all the way! I love that term – it makes me feel so cool! Actually, I tried to find an agent for years. With my first book, I had a lot of interest that didn’t go anywhere. With the second book, the publishing industry was kind of melting down, and hardly anyone was interested in a book that didn’t fit in a clear, marketable genre. I did have a couple of people reject me but send encouraging notes about my novel, which was nice.
Why did you choose this method of publishing? I heard about self-publishing on Amazon via an NPR radio interview with Karen McQuestion. Actually, my husband heard it, and I listened to the podcast later. As soon as I heard her story, I knew that I was going to self-publish. I wanted to drop everything and do it right then and there, but I had to wait to format the book and get a cover.
How are your books delivered? Right now my books are exclusively ebooks, but I expect to change that down the road. I’d like to do hard copy and audio books.
In which genre do you normally write? Well, let’s see. I love chocolate ice cream, but also eat cookie dough ice cream. My writing is kind of the same. My first novel, Searching for Meredith Love, is a sort of coming of age book for women. I guess the closest thing in genre would be chick lit, but it’s not quite as light as most. The Truth About Dating is humor. You could say, chick lit humor, I suppose. But my third book, which I’m halfway through, is a mystery set in Brooklyn.
What influenced you to write in this genre? I just write and the genre comes out of me. I’m always surprised by what happens on the page. Even in terms of plot, I never know what’s going to happen until I write it down. I don’t write anything like my favorite novels, which tend more toward literature.
Which of your characters is your favorite and why? I guess my current favorite is Meredith Love. I like characters that evolve during the story. When we first meet Meredith, she is utterly and quietly miserable, and as a result, not altogether loveable. But Ben Abel sees one little piece of her that makes him fall in love. He would be my second favorite character, I think. Just as Meredith starts to realize what true happiness is, she loses Ben. I love the way that she breaks through all of her fears to try to win him back. And I love how she soldiers on, trying to salvage the happiness in her life, even when Ben is gone. (Don’t worry – I didn’t give any spoilers!)
Do you receive accolades from your fans and how do they contact you? Fans usually email or post on my blog or Facebook book page. I love it! I wish I could start up a reading group with fans where they could post comments for each chapter and I respond. I absolutely love to talk to readers when they are in the middle of my books, to hear what they think of various events and characters. It’s by far the most rewarding part of writing!
Does your family support your writing? Oh yeah! My parents and sibs have always supported me. They are the best. And I bounce plot ideas off my husband, who is also a writer. He also helps me carve time out of our very busy life (full-time job, and a 3-year old and 2-year old) to write.
Do you use a pen name and why? I never thought of using one, but I suppose if I got rich and famous, I would wish I had. J
When and where do the ideas for character/scene development or dialogue come to you? I come up with most of these ideas when I’m out on walks or when I’m falling asleep at night. I love to think about my current novel before I go to bed. I don’t sit down to write unless I have thought up my next scene in the book.
Have you ever thought of giving up on your writing? Absolutely. After my second novel was rejected time and again from agents, I never expected to write another novel. But e-readers have changed everything by allowing me to by-pass traditional publishers and sell my books directly. In the five months that my e-books have been for sale, I’ve sold more copies that I ever could have imagined. Now I’m on my third novel and I expect to write many, many more.
Chair to Chair with Talia Jager, Author of Damaged: Natalie's Story and Teagan's Story: Her Battle With Epilepsy
Damaged: Natalie's Story $2.99 Kindle Edition or Buy it on Nook
Teagan's Story: Her Battle With Epilepsy $2.99 Kindle Edition or buy it on Nook
1. What was your first attempt at writing and how old were you?
I can't remember my first attempt, I was that young. It has always been in my life. In high school, I would keep my current writing notebook under my class notes, so I could work on it without getting caught. At night, I would hide under my covers with a notebook, pen, and flashlight and write until I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer.
2. Are you an Indie author or do you have a publisher?
I am an indie author.
3. Why did you choose this method of publishing?
My husband finally convinced me that e-books and e-readers were the future and when I researched that I found that self-publishing was working out for many people. I decided to go that route.
4. How are your books delivered? e-book/print/both
Currently, they are only offered as e-books.
5. In which genre do you normally write?
Young Adult. Writing young adult drama has always been my passion. I branch out occasionally, but I haven't published anything other than YA yet.
6. What influenced you to write in this genre?
When I was a teenager, I would look for books that provided an escape or comfort. There weren't a lot at that time. So, I wrote stories about things adults didn't want to know about. There is nothing like the mind of a teenager. I like writing for that mind.
7. Which of your characters is you favorite and why?
I would say that each of my main characters are my favorites. I think each one has a little bit of me in them. I couldn’t choose between them.
8. Do you receive accolades from your fans and how do they contact you?
I receive feedback on my blog, email, Facebook, or Twitter. I love hearing from my fans.
9. Does your family support your writing?
Yes, very much so. My husband and five daughters all support my writing as long as I don't forget dinner :)
10. Do you use a pen name and why?
No. I like to see my name on my books.
11. When and where do the ideas for character/scene development or dialogue come to you?
Sometimes things comes to me as I'm writing them. Other times, they come to me in the strangest places. I often think of an idea in the shower where there isn't any paper of course. Or when trying to go to sleep at night. Or driving. I keep a notebook in the car (don't worry - I pull over first) and one in the bedroom so if I do think of something when I'm not near the laptop, I can jot it down for later.
12. Have you ever thought of giving up on your writing?
No. I don't give up. I do take breaks here and there. Even if I never sold a book, I would still write. I love to write. My family and friends enjoy what I write as well, but mainly I write for me, because it's my passion.
Talia Jager
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/TaliaJager
Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/TaliaJager
Chair to Chair with Lia Fairchild, Author of
In Search of Lucy $2.99 Kindle Edition
Nook fReado
What was your first attempt at writing and how old were you?In the fourth grade I was chosen as the school’s newspaper reporter. The first and only story I wrote was about the guy fixing the phones. I remember having to yell up to him because he was actually up on the telephone pole in the front of the school. Beyond that, I did some other school related writing. In Search of Lucy is my first official published work.
Are you an Indie author or do you have a publisher?I’m going Indie, for now at least.
Why did you choose this method of publishing?I’m so new to all this really. My book has only been out for a month. This seemed like the logical first step. I may or may not continue in this way but I will definitely be educating myself on all the options.
How are your books delivered? e-book/print/both
Currently my book is only in e-book format, but it is available in several places.
Barnes and Noble http://search.barnesandnoble.com/In-Search-of-Lucy/Lia-Fairchild/e/2940012256379/?itm=3&USRI=in+search+of+lucy
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/In-Search-of-Lucy-ebook/dp/B004O6MV0S/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1297987629&sr=1-8
Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/50303
In which genre do you normally write? In Search of Lucy is General Fiction: Drama. The book I’m working on now is a Romantic Comedy.
What influenced you to write in this genre?I just knew I wanted to write a story and it just evolved from an idea I had.
Which of your characters is your favorite and why?My favorite character in In Search of Lucy is Benny. He is loyal, funny, good –looking and confident. He adds a lot of flavor to the story.
Do you receive accolades from your fans and how do they contact you?I just received my first 5 star review on Amazon which is very exciting, and in the next few days my website (www.liafairchild.com) should be up and running. Until then people can find me on Twitter ( https://www.twitter.com/#!/liafairchild)
Does your family support your writing?One hundred percent. My husband especially has been very supportive and just wants me to pursue whatever makes me happy in life.
Do you use a pen name and why?No need for a pen name. I want people to know who I am and what story I am sharing.
When and where do the ideas for character/scene development or dialogue come to you?Usually I get ideas away from the computer. Sometimes I’ll walk my dog or go running and just sort of play out scenes in my head.
Have you ever thought of giving up on your writing?I actually haven’t had time for that. It took me about nine months to write the book and my focus the whole time was to make sure to get to the end no matter what. I’ve read that most people who start a book don’t finish and I didn’t want that to be me.
Chair to Chair with Sean Bridges Author of
ROLL OF THE DIE <<Buy it on Amazon or Smashwords
1. What was your first attempt at writing and how old were you?: Well, my father is a painter and I can't draw anything, so I guess this is how I try to express that 'artistic gene', if such a thing exists. The first time I wrote anything that created a spark was 1997, in Austin Texas. I was 29.
2. Are you an Indie Author or do you have a Publisher?: Indie Author. I've worked with Representation before as a screenwriter, but this is my first novel.
3. Why did you choose this method of Publishing?: It seems to be a great way of getting your work out in the public eye. My impression of Publishers is that nobody does anything until somebody else does. So it's difficult to connect with a Publisher who is willing to take a chance. I figured I would carve my own path and see what happens.
4. How are your books delivered?: Right now, my work is available as an ebook.
5. In which genre do you normally write?: I don't focus on the genre as much as I focus on the story. If the story sparks with me, or just doesn't leave me alone, I tend to pour it out on paper.
6. What influenced you to write in this genre?: I believe in the basic writing credo, write what you know. You write what interests you, a subject you're passionate about. If that passion exists in the work, other people may respond. If you try and write for the trades or what's popular in the moment, it tends to ring hollow and that jumps off the page as well.
In this particular novel, the world of gambling is a subject that I grew up around and have always been fascinated with. So that initial spark grew into this book.
7. Which of your characters is your favorite and why? I don't really play favorites, there are some characters I could have an interesting conversation with, there are others I wouldn't want anywhere near me or my family. I think the key with characters is to make them ring true, not just cardboard cut-outs. I totally believe that if you can create real characters, the audience is willing to go wherever you want to take them.
8. Does your family support your writing?: Yeah, they totally do.
9. Do you use a pen name and why? I don't. It's just me.
10. When and where do the ideas character/scene/dialogue come to you?: All kinds of places, the stories I tend to tackle are ones that just refuse to leave me alone. They simmer until I start to work on them, and if I'm lucky, the story takes on a life of its own. I love when characters do or say things that I wasn't even expecting. It's a thrill and I just go along with the ride. Titles, tend to come to me when I'm in the shower. Can't say why that is.
11. Have you ever thought of giving up on your writing? Sure, all the time. I think, any creative endeavour, sometimes the toughest thing to do is to keep going. Writer, artist, painter, musician, sculptor, film maker, etc. It's always easy to keep moving forward when there's heat or interest around you, it's tough when you're the only one on the road. But I continue to read the sign posts and they keep pointing me in this direction. And for some crazy reason, I keep walking. We'll see where it gets me.
SPB
**********************************************************
I'll also attach some biography information below:
ROLL OF THE DIE is my first novel, although I've been a writer for fourteen years. I have ten completed screenplays, two documentary short-subjects, an animated short and a graphic novel in the works.
I was a 2001 Finalist and 2004 Semi-Finalist for the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Nicholl Fellowship. I've had a project invited to the 2005 Sundance Institute Producers Conference, and have placed in a variety of writing competitions, including the Austin Film Festival, PAGE International, FADE IN Awards, Cynosure Screenwriting and Scriptapalooza.
I recently produced and directed two documentaries.
OUT OF MANY, about the struggles of a Learning Center in Kingston, Jamaica.
20/20 VISION, about the construction of an International Financial Center in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
I'm currently working on my second novel, ON THE BAYOU. An action-thriller in the swamps of Louisiana.
I was a 2001 Finalist and 2004 Semi-Finalist for the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Nicholl Fellowship. I've had a project invited to the 2005 Sundance Institute Producers Conference, and have placed in a variety of writing competitions, including the Austin Film Festival, PAGE International, FADE IN Awards, Cynosure Screenwriting and Scriptapalooza.
I recently produced and directed two documentaries.
OUT OF MANY, about the struggles of a Learning Center in Kingston, Jamaica.
20/20 VISION, about the construction of an International Financial Center in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
I'm currently working on my second novel, ON THE BAYOU. An action-thriller in the swamps of Louisiana.
Last Week's Featured Author's Interview:
Chair to Chair with MaryPat Hyland Author of
3/17
1. What was your first attempt at writing and how old were you?: I wrote a lot of parodies when I was in high school. Also wrote tons of songs fueled by teen angst. (Yawn.) My first attempt at writing a novel was when I graduated from college and started working at a less than dream job.
2. Are you an Indie Author or do you have a Publisher?: Indie author since 2008.
3. Why did you choose this method of Publishing?: It was terribly frustrating trying to get anyone in the business to read my work. Query letters were met with form replies. I believed in my work and felt if readers could just get a chance with it, the novel would succeed eventually. Met a man at a party who'd self-published via Lulu. Hearing his story opened up all sorts of possibilities.
4. How are your books delivered?: All three novels are available in paperback. My latest work—"3/17"—is my first venture into eBooks.
5. In which genre do you normally write?: Fiction, with a sense of humor.
6. What influenced you to write in this genre?: I guess it's because it's what I enjoy reading. Authors who have influenced me include Eudora Welty, Anne Tyler, Maeve Binchy, Flannery O'Connor and John Irving. My great aunt was a wonderful storyteller and she made a deep impression on me, too.
7. Which of your characters is your favorite and why? I had a lot of fun writing Peadar in "3/17." He's a tad innocent, not city-hip like the other three musicians. Peadar's more concerned about what his next meal will be than how he's going to get back to Ireland. When I saw him in the "movie" running through my mind while writing the story, he looked a lot like the character Lutz on "30 Rock."
8. Does your family support your writing?: Absolutely. I'm fortunate to be part of a creative family. Most of us are artists, several are musicians and we all enjoy writing.
9. Do you use a pen name and why? No. I have a goal in the back of my mind—make the name Mary Pat as recognizable as Cher. Do you know how many times I've been called Mary Beth or Mary Anne? Mary Pats of the world unite!
10. When and where do the ideas character/scene/dialogue come to you?: I'm always jotting down overheard bits of conversation heard in public to use later. When I worked downtown, I took the city bus and wondered about the characters sitting around me. It was fun daydreaming about their lives. Often when I meet someone, our conversation becomes an interview in which I pull out fantastic anecdotes of life experiences. Those are always jotted down, too. In fact. my friends gave me a sweatshirt one Christmas that says "Careful, or you'll end up in my novel." Truer words, never spoken.
When I'm writing, sometimes characters just take over the dialogue and I follow. Those are some of the best moments in writing. In my first work, "The Cyber Miracles," Andy Krall the young computer hacker "announced" one day that he was a paraplegic. I thought, OK, this is good. Did a lot of research into the types of paraplegia and how they affect people. This made Andy much more interesting, noting his wit and upbeat attitude despite his disability.
11. Have you ever thought of giving up on your writing? Discouraged at times, but no, I love it too much to give it up. My mind is always writing my next lines.
Web sites:
Book on Amazon:
Book Blog
Chair to Chair with
Julianne MacLean/EV Mitchell authors of
.99 cents Kindle Edition or
You are a traditionally published author of 15 historical romances and have hit the USA Today bestseller list. Why did you choose to self-publish The Color of Heaven?
I came up with the idea for this book six years ago, and wrote half of it while I was between contracts for my historicals. My agent shopped the half-finished manuscript around in 2007 to all the major New York publishers, but we had no offers. We were told things like:
“I wouldn’t know how to position this book.”
“It’s too commercial for our line.”
“I wasn’t fully convinced of the book’s commercial appeal.”
“I did not feel connected to the character of Sophie.”
“I was connected to the character of Sophie, but didn’t connect with Cora.”
One editor loved it and said it brought tears to her eyes, but when she showed it to her senior editor… Well, that editor felt differently.
I had just signed a new deal for two more historical romances, so I had to shelve this project and get back to work on my books that were actually selling.
Skip ahead to 2010. I still believed in the story and was never able to let go of the characters, and I was following the changes in the industry in terms of authors choosing to self-publish their work as E-books. Some authors were seeing great success, and the idea of having complete creative control excited me, so I reworked The Color of Heaven over the summer, and here we are.
The Color of Heaven is told in first person as if it were a true story. How much of your own experiences went into the plot and the creation of Sophie’s character?
A tremendous amount of this book is based on my own life, starting with Sophie being a writer. Our experiences were very much the same, in that I have worked at home while trying to balance the writing with motherhood. Toward the end of the book, she is trying to sell a novel, meeting with rejections, and I’ve been there, done that. It took me six years and five novels and countless rejections before I sold my first book to a publisher.
Another element from my own life is the car accident. I skidded off a road and rolled down an embankment when I was twenty-five years old. I am still amazed that I survived it, because it was a pretty horrendous wreck.
In The Color of Heaven Sophie's daughter is very sick. How much research did you have to do about medical issues?
The emotional side of that difficult period in Sophie’s life again comes from my own experiences. My daughter was very ill with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome when she was two-and-a-half years old, which is a blood disease and very similar in many ways to the treatments that Sophie’s daughter receives. I spent six weeks living in the children’s hospital and going through some very difficult times when we weren’t sure our daughter would survive. There are some moments in the book that are almost exact, and they were difficult to write.
I did have to do a fair amount of research, however, into the science of it all – treatments, medications, etc – and that was a bit painful, to be honest. There were days when I wondered what the heck I was doing, and why I was putting myself through that.
The Color of Heaven includes a scene about a near-death experience. Have you ever experienced such a thing?
No, but I’ve always been fascinated by near-death experiences, and since my car accident, I’ve often wondered “what if?” I did a lot of research on the subject. I read about the science of it, and I also read The Tibetan Book of the Dead, which is quite beautiful in places.
You’ve written historical romances in the past. Why did you take a pen name?
I struggled with that quite a bit, because this book is very different from my romance novels – in structure, voice, and genre conventions - so I wanted to make sure readers would not have unrealistic expectations. The wrong expectations can really spoil a book for some people.
Will you write more mainstream contemporaries?
Yes, I definitely want to write more books like this and I will continue to self-publish in the future. I also want to write more historicals. I just wish there were more hours in the day, and more days in the year.
Thanks for having me!
Chair to Chair with Carol Arnall Author of
Mysterious Happenings at Amazon or Amazon UK or Nook or Smashwords,
Dancing With Spirits on Amazon or Amazon UK or Nook or Smashwords,
Spirits of the Lights on Amazon or Amazon UK or Barnes & Noble,
Choosing Your Psychic Pathway on Amazon or Amazon UK or Barnes & Noble
What was your first attempt at writing and how old were you?
At school when I discovered writing was the only subject I was any good at!
· Are you an Indie author or do you have a publisher?
I publish my own work and have never bothered with a publisher in thirty odd years!
· Why did you choose this method of publishing?
I discovered Lulu and grabbed the opportunity!
· How are your books delivered? e-book/print/both
Both.
· In which genre do you normally write?
Fiction and Non fiction mainly to do with ghostly happenings.
· What influenced you to write in this genre?
I enjoy both
·
· Do you receive accolades from your fans and how do they contact you?
Mainly for the non ficition ghost stories that I publish. People stop me sometimes in the street and tell me stories. I also receive telephone calls, letter and emails. People are interested to know when the next book is coming out and sometimes ask for my autograph which I find highly embarrassing.
· Does your family support your writing?
Not really they’re not that interested.
· Do you use a pen name and why?
No.
· When and where do the ideas for character/scene development or dialogue come to you?
The story just appears one day as if it’s already written down in front of me. It’s very strange. I can even hear the character’s voices. Do you think I have a problem!! Maybe people living in your head is not a good idea!
· Have you ever thought of giving up on your writing?
Never ever, it’s my life’s blood. Not a day goes by when I don;t write something. Even my Jouranl is all about writing. Thinks, maybe I do have a problem?
Chair to Chair with Beth Mathison Author of
A Mobster's Guide to Cranberry Sauce A Mobster's Recipe For Cupcakes and
A Mobster's Toast to St. Patrick's Day
A Mobster's Toast to St. Patrick's Day
What was your first attempt at writing and how old were you?
BAM: When I was young, my sister and I would plunk out stories
on an old typewriter in our basement. She would write one line,
I’d write the next.
Are you an Indie author or do you have a publisher?
BAM: I have a publisher – Untreed Reads
Why did you choose this method of publishing?
BAM: They issued a call for submissions last year, and I
submitted a short story for their Thanksgiving anthology. They do
a great job distributing their titles to a variety of outlets. I know a
lot of authors who are going the indie route, but I’ve found the
whole idea a little daunting. Just call me a chicken!
How are your books delivered? e-book/print/both
BAM: E-book only.
In which genre do you normally write?
BAM: I wrote literary works when I was younger. Then I
branched out into mystery/thrillers. Currently I’m writing more
humor with my Mobster short story series.
What influenced you to write in this genre?
BAM: The Mobster series are based loosely on my own family.
We’re not mobsters, but we do get pretty crazy, especially around
the holidays. I started writing a short story about a chaotic family
Thanksgiving dinner, and these crazy mobster characters started
showing up.
Which of your characters is your favorite and why?
BAM: I like Jeremy. He’s struggling to break away from the “family business” to assert his independence in the world. I admire his creativity and his desire to be his own person.
Do you receive accolades from your fans and how do they contact
you?
BAM: I love it when people say they’ve laughed out loud reading
the stories. I get most of my replies online through social media
sites. I also have an Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/Beth-Mathison/e/B004AXAX6O/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Does your family support your writing?
BAM: They do support my writing, which is a great inspiration.
Do you use a pen name and why?
BAM: No – I’ve had a number of short stories published in literary
venues in the past, using my own name. When I decided to
branch out into different genres, I just decided to keep my own
name.
When and where do the ideas for character/scene development
or dialogue come to you?
BAM: Ideas come to me throughout the day. If I’m not at a
computer, I’ll jot ideas down on sticky notes, and add to my story
later. I try to stay open during “every day life”. You never know
where inspiration will show up. It may come in the form of a street
person sitting slumped on a street bench. A child holding his
mother’s hand might be the inspiration for a story. Certainly,
my own family holiday experiences have influenced my current
work.
Have you ever thought of giving up on your writing?
BAM: Actually, I did give up on my writing for a number of years –after college and when I
started a family. I let the craziness of life creep in, and pushed my creativity aside. I was
successful in business, but really missed the art of writing. I decided to see if I could write a
book. I could, and did! I had such a good time writing, I make it a goal to write every day.
Chair to Chair with Sibel Hodge
Author of
What was your first attempt at writing and how old were you?
I’ve always loved writing. When I was a little kid, I was always scribbling away. I started my first novel when I was about seventeen but didn’t have a clue what I was doing, so I binned it. I started the second one when I was twenty-seven but never got further than the first three chapters. My third one I started when I was thirty-five and went on to become my debut romantic comedy, Fourteen Days Later. Finally!
· Are you an Indie author or do you have a publisher?
I'm an Indie. I queried hundreds of agents and publishers. I got too many rejections to even count! I did come close a couple of times to being traditionally published, but it never quite worked out. It was either “one group of editors liked it but another didn’t”, or “the chicklit market is saturated”, or “we love it but…”
· Why did you choose this method of publishing?
When I first looked into publishing independently, platforms like Amazon Kindle didn’t support international authors. So while I was getting down and fed up with the rejection letters (plus a whole heap of other feelings I probably can’t mention here!), and thinking my writing career was over before it had begun, I wrote another novel and waited. Because I knew, I just knew, that I COULD do this. I could write novels that people wanted to read. If only I could get the chance. So when Amazon opened their doors to non-Us authors last year, I uploaded my first two novels. I haven't looked back since!
The good thing about being an Indie is that you're in total control of your projects.
· How are your books delivered? e-book/print/both
Both.
· In which genre do you normally write?
Romantic comedy and chicklit comedy mystery.
· What influenced you to write in this genre?
Because I like to make people laugh and I'm slightly nuts.
· Which of your characters is you favorite and why?
That's sooo hard! I love all my characters - even the nasty ones. All my main female characters have bits of my personality in them (I'm not telling you which bits, though!). Helen Grey in Fourteen Days Later and My Perfect Wedding is ditzy and sweet and romantic. Whereas Amber Fox in The Fashion Police is a feisty, kick-ass kind of investigator. Don't make me choose!
· Do you receive accolades from your fans and how do they contact you?
Yes, I've had some lovely reviews, fan emails, and interactions with readers. I couldn't believe it when I got my first fan email. It was a big wow! moment.
· Does your family support your writing?
My husband is great. He proof reads my novels for plot holes. I dread it when he says, "Nah, that would never happen. You need to change this!" Because I love screwball comedy, sometimes I have a tendency to go an eency weency bit over the top. He reigns me in.
· Do you use a pen name and why?
Nope. It's all me, myself, and I!
· When and where do the ideas for character/scene development or dialogue come to you?
Everywhere and anywhere. I get ideas just before I fall asleep when I'm trying to switch off but can't. A snippet of conversation. A film. A book. A bizarre thought.
· Have you ever thought of giving up on your writing?
Nope. The voices in my head would just take over, and I might need medication!
Where can readers find you on the internet?
I'm everywhere, they can't get away from me!
Twitter: http://twitter.com/sibelhodge
My website: http://www.sibelhodge.com/
Chair to Chair with Maurice X. Alvarez Author of
The Trouble With Thieves (available on Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Amazon and Amazon UK)
1. What was your first attempt at writing and how old were you?I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. I started out with stories that spanned a single sheet of 3-hole punch paper. I remember fondly that my cousin was my first audience for these, and despite being a decade older than me, she read them patiently and gave me constructive feedback. By the time I was ten, I had written my first 14-page short story based on a dream I’d had. In high school I started my first serial with recurring characters that ran a ghost investigation agency. And it just went on from there.
2. Are you an Indie author or do you have a publisher?
Indie. I’d always had my eye on getting traditionally published, but for decades my only audience was my wife and one or two friends and family members. I have many polite letters from agents and publishers telling me that the work was good but not what they were looking for. But opportunity often follows progress, and the advent of digital books was exactly what I was waiting for.
Indie. I’d always had my eye on getting traditionally published, but for decades my only audience was my wife and one or two friends and family members. I have many polite letters from agents and publishers telling me that the work was good but not what they were looking for. But opportunity often follows progress, and the advent of digital books was exactly what I was waiting for.
3. How are your books delivered? e-book/print/both
So far we have only released e-book versions. The print book is not far behind though. It should appear on Amazon in the next week or so.
So far we have only released e-book versions. The print book is not far behind though. It should appear on Amazon in the next week or so.
4. In which genre(s) do you normally write?
I write what I enjoy reading, and I’m an avid sci-fi / fantasy / paranormal reader. So those are my genres.
I write what I enjoy reading, and I’m an avid sci-fi / fantasy / paranormal reader. So those are my genres.
5. Which of your characters is you favorite and why?
I would have to go with the main protagonist of “The Trouble With Thieves”, Kormèr Lezàl. He was originally conceived as a catalyst character, someone who inadvertently causes change around him but doesn’t really change himself. And then a most wonderful thing happened; he started changing and growing as he was influenced by those he surrounded himself with. And that growth just endeared him to me.
I would have to go with the main protagonist of “The Trouble With Thieves”, Kormèr Lezàl. He was originally conceived as a catalyst character, someone who inadvertently causes change around him but doesn’t really change himself. And then a most wonderful thing happened; he started changing and growing as he was influenced by those he surrounded himself with. And that growth just endeared him to me.
6. Do you receive accolades from your fans and how do they contact you?
I have 1 review so far on Amazon. I am patiently waiting for my other fan to write. J
I have 1 review so far on Amazon. I am patiently waiting for my other fan to write. J
7. Does your family support your writing?
Very much so. When we first released The Trouble With Thieves, my mother called me from Barnes & Noble to tell me that she had asked the help desk to search for it just to see it come up. And my wife has been there with me for over two decades. It was her illustration that started the Trouble With Thieves journey.
Very much so. When we first released The Trouble With Thieves, my mother called me from Barnes & Noble to tell me that she had asked the help desk to search for it just to see it come up. And my wife has been there with me for over two decades. It was her illustration that started the Trouble With Thieves journey.
8. Can you elaborate on that?
We were college schoolmates then. She had made the illustration at home and showed it to me during lunch the next day. It featured a classroom setting with two girls sitting on the floor and a man (who looked very much like I did at the time) wearing a long black coat and round sunglasses. The unique part was that half of the man was not visible due to his standing half-in/half-out of a floating panel. As I was looking at this, one of our friends peered over my shoulder and muttered, “Hmm, what’s the story behind that?” Until then, I’d simply been admiring the drawing for what it was. But once those words left his mouth, the gears were set in motion. By that afternoon, I had names for the three characters and within a week, a basic plot outline. Kormèr Lezàl and his universe were born and have provided quite the canvas in which to play.
We were college schoolmates then. She had made the illustration at home and showed it to me during lunch the next day. It featured a classroom setting with two girls sitting on the floor and a man (who looked very much like I did at the time) wearing a long black coat and round sunglasses. The unique part was that half of the man was not visible due to his standing half-in/half-out of a floating panel. As I was looking at this, one of our friends peered over my shoulder and muttered, “Hmm, what’s the story behind that?” Until then, I’d simply been admiring the drawing for what it was. But once those words left his mouth, the gears were set in motion. By that afternoon, I had names for the three characters and within a week, a basic plot outline. Kormèr Lezàl and his universe were born and have provided quite the canvas in which to play.
9. Do you use a pen name and why?
No. I had considered this early on because I didn’t think my name was catchy enough. But in the end, I decided I wanted to see my name on my book, not something I made up.
No. I had considered this early on because I didn’t think my name was catchy enough. But in the end, I decided I wanted to see my name on my book, not something I made up.
10. When and where do the ideas for character/scene development or dialogue come to you?
Ideas come from different sources, dreams, overheard conversations or just good old fashioned brainstorming with my wife and co-author of The Trouble With Thieves, Ande Li.
Ideas come from different sources, dreams, overheard conversations or just good old fashioned brainstorming with my wife and co-author of The Trouble With Thieves, Ande Li.
11. Have you ever thought of giving up on your writing?
Not at all. Even when I thought my stories would never see the light of day, I still wrote them. It would be like trying to ignore a chatty socialite; the creative voice in my head would drive me crazy without an outlet.
Not at all. Even when I thought my stories would never see the light of day, I still wrote them. It would be like trying to ignore a chatty socialite; the creative voice in my head would drive me crazy without an outlet.
12. Where can readers find you on the internet?I’m on Facebook and on our website which features a page where we are releasing some short stories for free online reading. We’re also thinking of putting up some of the initial chapters of book 2 as we get them ready for publication.
Maurice X. Alvarez
Author of:
The Trouble With Thieves (available on Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Amazon and Amazon UK)
Official Website
Author of:
The Trouble With Thieves (available on Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Amazon and Amazon UK)
Official Website
Chair to Chair with L. R. Giles Author of
Live Again on Amazon/Kindle or Buy it on Nook
What was your first attempt at writing and how old were you?
LRG: I was 8 years old the first time I actually tried my hand at a story. It was for my school’s Young Author competition. I remember the title being “Giant Dinosaur Inside”, it was about a kid who dug to the bottom of the cereal box for the toy advertised on the front, only to discover it wasn’t a toy but a real live dinosaur. I liked it, and the judges did too because I won. I really haven’t looked back since.
Are you an Indie author or do you have a publisher?
LRG : Currently I’m an Indie. I do have an agent (the incomparable Jamie Weiss Chilton of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency), and we have a Young Adult project we’re shopping to major publishers. For the time being, I’m selling other work through the various channels available to Indie Authors these days.
Why did you choose this method of publishing?
LRG: I wish I could say I had a lot of options to choose from and Indie Publishing was just the most attractive. But, for the work I’m currently selling, it was pretty much the only option. It’s notoriously hard to get a publisher to buy books. I’ve endured years of rejection and finally managed to score an agent last summer, but that still left me with an extensive list of work that was, for all intents and purposes, just rotting on my hard drive. In all honesty, some of the earlier stuff was rotten before I typed THE END, and on my hard drive it will stay. The stuff that I like, and that I think deserves a chance, will finally get to be where it belongs…in front of readers. Indie Publishing just offers so many opportunities for writers at every level.
How are your books delivered? e-book/print/both
LRG: My books are available exclusively as ebooks for the time being. A listing of all of my available work can be found on the BOOKS page of my website: http://www.lrgiles.com/?page_id=601
I hope to move into print publishing sometime this year because a lot of readers have been asking me about it for their book clubs and their friends who just don’t have eReaders. Print is definitely an option I’d like to provide in the future.
In which genre do you normally write?
LRG: I suppose if you’re doing a straight count, I normally write horror. However, in recent years I’ve enjoyed thrillers as well as Young Adult books in many different genres. What I’ve written most recently is a YA Mystery/Thriller called WHISPERTOWN about a high school boy in Witness Protection who must solve his friend’s murder without blowing his own cover. That’s the project my agent will be shopping, and we’re hoping to find a home for it soon.
What influenced you to write in this genre?
LRG: As far as what (or who) influenced my love for horror, two words: Stephen King. Like millions of people all over the world I love his books. I was a very advanced reader because I tackled my first King novel (without my Mom knowing) when I was in 3rd grade (it was EYES OF THE DRAGON, by the way). Being one of King’s few fantasy novels, I didn’t really comprehend the whole “King of Horror” thing. I moved on to other books, and it was another three years before I really understood what one of that man’s novels could put you through late at night. I read IT and had trouble sleeping for a week (“Nobody likes a clown at midnight…” ~ SK). Sometime during that period I decided that I wanted to do what King did. Fast forward to now…
Which of your characters is your favorite and why?
LRG: Wow…that’s tough. It’s like picking which of your kids you like the best (or like picking which of your toes you like the best while a burly man humming the Jeopardy! theme song holds a meat clever over your bare foot…hmmm).
Right now, I’d say Keith Lansing from LIVE AGAIN – He’s a good guy who does a bad thing, then tries to make it right….which actually makes things much, much worse. I’ve been down that road before, so I guess I like him because he’s relatable.
Keep in mind, this answer could change next week.
Do you receive accolades from your fans and how do they contact you?
LRG: I hear from readers all the time, which I love. They can reach me through email (lrgileswriter[at]gmail[dot]com), Twitter (@LRGiles), or my Facebook Fan Page (Search on L.R. Giles – Writer).
Typically, I hear from readers through email or the comments section on my website/blog: www.lrgiles.com
Does your family support your writing?
LRG: My family is very supportive. I hear horror stories (no pun intended) about writers who have mean and discouraging family members. I can’t relate to that at all. My family has always been supportive of my writing, often harassing people to buy my work (psst – keep it up guys, it’s working).
Do you use a pen name and why?
LRG: I don’t use a pen name, but I do go with my first and middle initial. The only reason I do that is because I always thought L.R. Giles sounded like a cool “writer name” when I was growing up. No one I know actually calls me that, though. Which made it kind of awkward after I sold my first story and attended a writers conference. You see, the anthology my story was in had a bit of notoriety, so people were anxious to meet the authors. One reader kept saying, “L.R., L.R.”. I didn’t answer because I didn’t know she was talking to me. A friend pointed her out, and I eventually signed her book, but I realized I had a slight problem. Either get used to responding to “L.R.” or get rid of it.
I felt sort of committed to it since it was officially in print, and I’ve conditioned myself to actually answer, so it’s all good now.
When and where do the ideas for character/scene development or dialogue come to you?
LRG: Usually at my desk after some frustrated tears and 3 cups of coffee.
Have you ever thought of giving up on your writing?
LRG: Sure. I tried to quit a couple of times, but I always end up right back in front of the computer. So, I’m either going to make it, or…there is no ‘or’. I WILL make it. I guess you could say I’ve given up on giving up.
L. R. Giles, Author
Copy and paste the interview questions and email them to me with your answers. If you want to add some questions or comments of your own, I'll add those too.
· What was your first attempt at writing and how old were you?
· Are you an Indie author or do you have a publisher?
· Why did you choose this method of publishing?
· How are your books delivered? e-book/print/both
· In which genre do you normally write?
· What influenced you to write in this genre?
· Which of your characters is you favorite and why?
· Do you receive accolades from your fans and how do they contact you?
· Does your family support your writing?
· Do you use a pen name and why?
· When and where do the ideas for character/scene development or dialogue come to you?
· Have you ever thought of giving up on your writing?
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