Category Archives: Uncategorized
SAMANTHA LAFANTASIE: I FIND INSPIRATION IN DREAMS
Our next guest is USA Today bestselling author Samantha LaFantasie. She is writing fantasy novels. The last one Echoes of Memories was published at the end of July. It’s time for our next portion of Q&A.
– What is your book Echoes of Memories about?
– Echoes of Memories picks up right where Made to Forget left off with Elsa struggling to piece together the mystery surrounding her missing memories and the events that lead up to her forgetting in the first place.
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KP MERRIWEATHER: I SUFFER FROM CHRONIC INSOMNIA
KP Merriweather is a fantasy, sci-fi and paranormal writer. She re-released Dangerous Methods (The Agency Book 2) in March. Let’s take a closer look into our next feature indie writer, who is a very interesting person.
– What is your last book Dangerous Methods (The Agency Book 2) about?
– Dangerous Methods follows the main character, Erik Hart when he gets sent to a reformation center. There he undergoes several perilous trials when forcibly made to remember his history, especially a significant memory that caused his breakdown. At the center, Erik meets others who know him and his past, as well as others who want to get rid of him due to sensitive information he’s harboring.
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JAMIE MALTMAN: I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO WRITE IN A SETTING LIKE ROME
Jamie Maltman’s Arts Reborn series have a chance to become a big hit. The author is very talented and the history fiction world he describes is very interesting. It’s a real pleasure to have in our Q&A Mr. Maltman! Enjoy.
– What is your book Brush With Darkness about?
– The Pazian Republic is similar to Rome in the time of Caesar, where their legions have conquered/integrated much of the known world. Magic has become the stuff of legend and myth.
So when dark magic reappears in the hands of one of a formerly subjugated barbarian people, it presents the greatest threat the Republic has ever faced. Throw into that setting Simon Baroba, a fresh young legionary who is better at drawing than fighting, who is faced with the reality of the dark magic and has to deliver that message to the Senate. To do that he’ll have to unlock his own buried creative Talent, navigating through new friendships and rivalries that teach him more about himself and the world, but could lead to doom for his nation, his friends, or himself.
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DOUGLAS R.: I WAS INSPIRED TO WRITE BECAUSE OF JEALOUSY
Douglas R. is our next young author, who recently published his second novel Horizon. He is from Tanzania and loves to write fiction. Let’s hear more for him and his works:
– What is your last book Horizon about?
– Horizon is about an Indian girl who escapes her mother at the airport, takes a separate plane and arrives in Delhi where she is captured by a secret organization who tell her that the world is ending and she is one of five Zartans-who are basically young individuals like herself who must travel back in time to the age of the dinosaurs to find the Matrix, the only thing that can prevent the apocalypse. They are accompanied by a secret army, blood thirsty dinosaurs and of course, new friends.
– What was the biggest challenge during the write up process?
– I don’t recall any big challenges in the writing process. It was all very enjoyable. It doesn’t feel like work. There’s a profound emotional connection I have during writing and getting to open yourself like that for me is actually being able to overcome life’s own challenges.
– Tell us something more about your main character? Is it close to someone from your real life?
– Not really. The main character in Horizon is Ivey Choi. I stole the name from a writer on wattpad I used to admire. But she never knew me. And oh, she had squinty eyes so I made the character have squinty eyes too.
– How much time you need to finish the story and to publish it?
– It wrote Horizon in six weeks. Then put it aside for months before working on publishing it. Publishing an ebook is five minutes work, the task is getting the book ready: cover designs, editing and all.
– What about your novel My Mom’s a Supermodel?
– It was an attempt for me to write a family comedy. It was a humorous experience and my friends loved it. It however still requires editing so I’ve taken it down.
– Who are you?
– I am a fiction author.
– What are your writing habits?
– A chapter a day works for me. But it’s not like that with every book. I adjust, depending on the kind of story I’m working on. I just want to get to the ending when I start writing a book and I can switch writing habits on the way. So that’s the only thing I’m focused on.
– Are you satisfied by the sales of the book and do you plan another one?
– I am always planning another book. I can’t help it. As for my current sales, I would like to see a happier sales chart that can smile back at me. So I’m working on a marketing plan.
– What are you doing to promote by the best possible way your book?
– Nothing now. Just preparing my marketing campaign that should solve the problem for me. I like to relax and let ideas do the work.
– You are from Tanzania, tell us more about the country?
– There’s a lot you can say about a lot of things. Besides all, I love the people. They’re easy to talk to and get along with. Just peaceful. Most of them at least.
– What do you think is the best advantage of young authors like you when they are writing a book?
– I don’t believe age is a determining factor when it comes to art. Regardless of who you are, skill, talent, will power, devotion, all those values (and others too) are all any artist needs.
The only noticeable thing separating me from some older authors in my case is that I don’t fancy the old typewriter machine and they do.
– Do you remember what your first writing was and what inspired you to do it?
– I was inspired to write because of jealousy. Here’s what happened:
I was in the 7th grade and our class was walking to the exam hall to do our English finals. Our English teacher was with us, giving us our last “good lucks” when she told Salim that he’d do well in creative writing section because she knew he was creative. At that moment something inside of me snapped like a twig and I felt…”Hey teacher! I’m creative too! I know I am!”
So after school I decided to prove to myself that I could write a story, which I did.
My first story was Dragon Rider and it was horrible. I was inspired by the movie Eragon. I didn’t finish it. Then I wrote my first novel, Lina’s Diary. It took me a year to complete. When I did it was like I conquered the world.
Check out Douglas’ book
Horizon
PATTY J. SMITH: I HAD STRUGGLED WITH FORGIVENESS
Patty J. Smith is the first religion books author, who is a guest in the blog. If you read the interview, you may find some issues that everyone of us is questioning, but never dares to ask the God about them. Let’s go into our next talk with Lady Smith.
– What is your book, “Moments with God” about?
– Moments with God is a collection of rosary meditations on a variety of topics and as an added feature, my personal testimony of my journey from sin to redemption. The meditations included are:
A Mended Heart – Rosary Meditations on Forgiveness
Journey To Sunset – Rosary Meditations for Caregivers
Redeemed – Rosary Meditations for Post-Abortive Women
Embrace The Morning – Rosary Meditations to Calm The Storm
And God Still Loves Me – A Journey from the Dark Abyss of Sin to God’s Mercy
– How did you decide to write the book?
– It all started with “A Mended Heart”. I had struggled with forgiveness for many years, and realized my inability to forgive was causing me great pain and holding me back on moving forward in my faith journey. Once I finished that devotional, I was inspired to do three others and include my personal story.
– What was the biggest challenge during the writing process?
– The biggest challenge I faced was quiet time. I was a caregiver for my mom before she passed in February, as well as a caregiver for my dad and uncle. Added to that was regular household responsibilities and my ministries for the church. I found that writing in the wee hours of the morning solved the dilemma.
– How much time do you need to finish the story and publish it?
– It depends on what I’m working on. I wrote one of my devotionals in a week and submitted it for publication. The longest project was “And God Still Loves Me”. My personal testimony took over a year, in fact, I wasn’t planning on having it published, it was my way of coming to terms with my past.
– What about The San Francisco Wedding Planner and Grave Obsessions Series?
– The San Francisco Wedding Planner Series: I call this “tag team” writing. It was a collaborative effort with five authors. In Series I, the first volume was written by all six authors. Our publisher determined the writing order. Once the first author finished a chapter, the second started where the first left off, and so on. In the second volume, each author wrote a short story of about 10,000 words and followed the same pattern as the first volume. Series II, which was just released, tells the back story of each character. Each author picked the character they wanted to focus on.
About Grave Obsessions Series: I am a crime buff and my publisher suggested I do my own series. After careful consideration, I decided it would be a good way to stretch my imagination muscles and agreed. The series follows the life and faith struggles of Detective Dallas Keegan as she tracks down a serial killer that continuously evades capture. Volume I and II are published and I just submitted Volume III this past weekend.
– Who are you?
– I am married and a grandmother of three. I live in Vista, CA with my husband and provide care for my father and uncle who also live with us. I serve as a Regional Coordinator for the Silent No More Awareness Campaign, Co-leads Rachel’s Hope After-Abortion Healing Retreats and sing in my parish choir.
I was born in Wimpole Park, England and lived in England and Morocco as well as several state-side Air Force Bases, but consider my father’s last assignment, Moses Lake, Washington, my hometown. I audited for the Dept. of Labor and Veteran’s Administration Offices of Inspector General, served in the U.S. Army Reserve (Transit Control Unit and Criminal Investigation Division) and recently retired as a background investigator.
– What are your writing habits?
– I consider myself a “seat of the pants” writer. I do not use outlines. I just go where the spirit or my characters lead me. You will find me in the living room on my laptop from ten o’clock in the evening until four o’clock in the morning…the quiet time in my home.
– Are you satisfied by the sales of the book and do you plan another one?
– So far the sales numbers look promising; however, I’m waiting for the quarterly report from my publisher, due out the end of the month. I know my book will be used for some spiritual retreats which should generate more publicity. As far as writing another one, I always have a story floating around in my head as well as devotional ideas.
– How do you promote your book?
– My publisher does a great deal of promotion and I use social media (Facebook, Linkedin, Goodreads, Twitter, Google Plus). Further promotions are done through my speaking engagements and conference attendance.
– You worked in the US Army. What exactly were your occupations and how did they affect your writing?
– I served ten years in the Army Reserves as administrative support for a transit control unit and criminal investigation division. Working closely criminal investigators spurned my interest in the criminal element and helped me understand the investigative process from a detective’s standpoint.
– Tell us more about the Silent No More Awareness Campaign?
– The Silent No More Campaign is a project of Priests for Life and Anglicans for Life, whereby Christians make the public aware of the devastation abortion brings to women and men. The campaign seeks to expose and heal the secrecy and silence surrounding the physical pain of abortion. More information can be obtained at: http://www.silentnomoreawareness.org.
– My favorite question: What is your personal top 3 places in the world that you visited?
1. Casablanca, Morocco: My experience living there gave me an appreciation of diverse cultures.
2. Fiji: Fiji was a tropical paradise with mid-afternoon showers. Unlike other tropical destinations, where I stayed was sparsely populated and peaceful.
3. Washington, D.C.: The monuments were breathtaking and the museums allowed me to gain a deeper knowledge into my country’s history.
You may learn more about Patti at her
BLOG
Twitter
FACEBOOK
Look at Patti’s book:
Moments With God
The San Francisco Wedding Planner Complete Series 1
Grave Obsessions
Embrace The Morning – Rosary Meditations To Calm The Storm
JOHN O’ROURKE: MANY PEOPLE DON”T KNOW HOW DANGEROUS IS A JOB BEING A COP
John O’Rourke is the next interesting guest of our interview section. He is a retired New Jersey trooper, who turned out to be a very good writer. On October 7 his new book Jersey Shore Thrill Killer: Richard Biegenwald (True Crime) will be released. Specially for the blog John presented the cover of the book, which looks great!
– John, What is your new book The Jersey Shore Thrill Killer: Richard Biegenwald (True Crime) about?
– The book is about Richard Biegenwald who was coined the “Jersey Shore Thrill Killer” by the prosecutor in Monmouth NJ because his killings were for the thrill of killing. Biegenwald, was a problem youth who at a very early age was diagnosed as a schizophrenic. He was in and out of mental institutions from age five until he was sixteen. After being released he continued to get in trouble and ended up fleeing to the south where he stole a car and did a short stay in county jail until being released when he turned eighteen.
In December of 1958 he shot and killed his first victim and was sentenced to life in prison; however he was released in the mid-1970’s on parole. Once out of prison he killed a number of people, mostly young teenage women. His attorney believes Biegenwald worked as a hit man and killed upwards of one hundred people.
– How you decide to write the story?
– I have a friend of mine who works for a publishing company in NJ and he suggested I follow up my first two books with a true crime narrative. I did some research into several different crimes which occurred in NJ and stumbled upon Richard Biegenwald. When I researched him I found he was mentioned in just about every book I read on serial killing, but there had never been a book written about him. So I decided he would be the subject of my next book.
– What was the biggest challenge during the write up process?
– The biggest challenge was trying to get information on the crimes Richard Biegenwald had committed. Biegenwald never really spoke about the specifics of his crimes. He was a bright man and kept this information to himself. So, I had to rely upon the investigators accounts as well as the prosecutor and Richard Biegewald’s defense attorney for insight into the crimes and the man himself.
– Tell us something more about your main character?
– Richard Biegenwald is an interesting character. He was very bright-his IQ was well above average-and there was something about the man which attracted young ladies. According to his attorney he appeared to others as non-threatening and this may have been the reason he was successful luring innocent young women into his car.
– Is it close to someone from your real life?
– I’ve dealt with a number of criminals and murderers throughout my career. Non, however were quite like Richard Biegenwald.
– How much time you need to finish the story and to publish it?
– I signed the contract to write the book in June of 2013 and submitted the manuscript in July of this year; so, just over a year to do the research, interviews and write the narrative. This was much easier of an assignment than my first two books.
– What about your other two books: Jersey Troopers: Sacrifice at the Altar of Public Service and New Jersey State Troopers?
– I had not envisioned myself writing any books quite frankly but rather stumbled upon the writing process by wanting to pay tribute to the fallen troopers in the NJ State Police. The publisher (The History Press) liked the idea and signed me to write Jersey Troopers but wouldn’t guarantee the second book unless the first book did well. A month and a half after the book was released they called me up about writing the second book.
These books memorize those NJ Troopers who died while protecting the citizens of New Jersey. I felt their personal stories needed to be told and that’s how these books came about.
– Who are you?
– I am a retired trooper who is now working in the private sector doing private security consulting as well as being the head of security at a high end Golf Club in New Jersey. In between security consulting and leading the security department at the club, I venture into book writing. Right now I’m researching several crimes I may be interested in writing about.
– What are your writing habits?
– While writing “The Jersey Shore Thrill Killer” manuscript I would wake up at 6:30 in the morning and be at my desk by 7am to begin writing. Depending on my day’s schedule I would spend at least two to three hours writing.
– Are you satisfied by the sales of the book and do you plan another one?
– The book hasn’t hit the book stores as of yet, the release date is October 7. My fingers are crossed for interest in the book. Yes I do plan on writing another book and it will be in the True Crime purview.
– What are you doing to promote by the best possible way your book?
– Interesting that you ask that question. For my first two books I did very little as I foolishly expected my publisher to do the majority of the promotion. Don’t get me wrong they did a great job marketing the book, however I didn’t realize how important it was for writers to push and promote their own work. I recently read an article about M. W. Phelps and in the article he spoke about how he had to do the majority of his marketing and the extent he went in promoting his first book and all his books. This opened my eyes so I am now actively seeking venues for presentations and media sources for interviews. Plus I am now on facebook and twitter and pursuing other avenues for getting the word out about the book. I still have some time as the book doesn’t come out until October.
– You worked as a trooper. Which is the most brutal crime that you witnessed and will never forget?
– Unfortunately, I’ve seen so many crime scenes and dead bodies throughout my career they all seem to blur together. The weapon which tends to make the visuals the most painful is that of a shotgun.
– What kind of memories left to you such a tough job?
– Being a trooper was very rewarding and satisfying to me. Since I was a young child I always wanted to be a trooper so getting to become one was a thrill. I always enjoyed wearing the French Blue uniform of a Jersey Trooper. The job did take a toll on me in terms of working odd shifts and having to work on holidays and weekends, while my family was home. The job also hardens you a bit because of all the horrific things you see. It also brings an awareness to you that bad things happen out there on a daily basis. It make you appreciate what you have.
– Why sometimes the citizens and the state don’t respect such a dangerous job as to be a trooper?
– I think many people simply don’t know how difficult and dangerous a job being a cop really is. Also, the law enforcement leadership in NJ doesn’t do a good job reaching out to their constituents. Many people in NJ have no idea what the state police do and the role they play in state law enforcement. Law enforcement leaders should do more to build relationships with their communities.
To find out more about John visit his
Web page
Take a look at his books
New Jersey State Troopers, 1961-2011: Remembering the Fallen (NJ) (The History Press)
Jersey Troopers: Sacrifice at the Altar of Public Service
The Jersey Shore Thrill Killer: Richard Biegenwald (True Crime)
YAJNA RAMNATH: I WANT TO CREATE
Yajna Ramnath is our author #25 in the guest interview section with writers. She already established as quality contemporary and romance novelist. Yajna is from South Africa and describes herself as a “lover of the unknown and the incredibly sexy”.
– Lady Ramnath, what is your last book REVENGE (Tales of Dramir Book 2) about?
– REVENGE is the second book in my Tales of Dramir series. It continues from exactly where the first book — RAGE — left off. The series follows twins Atalia and Akiv Vladimir who are on a quest to find themselves. The supernatural contingent believes they’re the strongest vampires out there, but they have no idea just how strong they really are. Revenge continues with the heartbreak, the love between siblings, betrayal and even twisting plots and schemes from an old and new adversary.
– How you decide to write the story?
– It had always been my dream to write a paranormal/urban fantasy. Something about being able to manipulate characters as strong as the supernatural into doing whatever you want them to do—it allures me to that world. I wanted to tell the story of one of the strongest creatures in the world and the struggle it takes to get there, the prices one has to pay for power and the sacrifices that could change your life.
– What was the biggest challenge during the write up process?
– I paid too much attention to writing what I think others would enjoy instead of writing for myself. Once I managed to set my focus on what I wanted out of the story, the writing process became fairly easy. There after it was about getting the events and myths in place.
– Tell us something more about the main characters in your books? Are they close to someone from your real life?
– The bond between Atalia and Akiv represents the bond I have with my sister. We have a really strong relationship. There are no secrets, there is an easy-going vibe between us and most importantly, just like Atalia and Akiv we had managed to overcome many hurdles together. Atalia’s character is a bit of me, although I would never reveal which parts.
Skylar and Kian from Beneath Her Beautiful symbolise those people who have a little bit of good and bad in them. They represent people who aren’t afraid to be who they are. I guess that would describe many of the people in my life.
The rest of my characters usually represent some part of me or parts of people that I have met in life.
– How much time you need to finish the story and to publish it?
– It depends on the story process. I take each day as it comes. If I can only write just a paragraph then that’s all I do. I don’t force the creativity to appear because then the flow of the book becomes rushed. Usually it takes me a month or two to complete a rough draft, and thereafter it’s a fast process from the beta readers and editing.
– Tell us more about your other three works that were published in 2014 – Beneath Her Beautiful, Love in Seattle (Something Like Forever Book 1) and Worthy of Me?
– Beneath Her Beautiful was the first book I published. It was literally a book that wrote itself. There was no planning or rough notes. Names and descriptions of the characters came to me as I wrote. It was a book that caught me by surprise because I had no intention of ever going into the romance genre. But this book made me realise that I’d actually be pretty good at it.
Love in Seattle is a novel that I wrote one day after reading a Facebook status. The status was from a girl that complained about her ex and it made me think about how that would impact on the person reading it. So I started a morbid tale of how airing personal things about others can impact on lives differently almost dangerously.
Worthy of Me is a personal attempt to talk about the impact of parental separation and what it does to children. At the time I wasn’t ready to really express the depth of emotion that the book needed so it turned into a short story, however Mia and Aiden’s story will be retold in the eyes of brand new characters in my upcoming Tortured Love series.
– Who are you?
– I’m a twenty-two-year-old loner. I spend my time reading, scribbling down ideas for new books or designing book covers. I love messing around with technology. I’m an Aquarius with no fashion sense and a love of the colour red. My perfect day out would be relaxing on the beach or at a park with a good book.
– What are your writing habits?
– I must have soft music playing, usually mellow tracks along the lines of Taylor Swift, The Script, Ed Sheeran and many more. I must also have a cup of coffee and a bowl of chips. I like doing extra research and keeping them handy as I write.
– Are you satisfied by the sales of the book and do you plan another one?
– Every author would tell you that they are happy to even sell one book. Do I wish there were more and my book was a best-seller? Definitely. But I am satisfied so far. Yes I have a list of projects that are in the works. A final book in the Tales of Dramir series and the first book in a new series.
– What are you doing to promote by the best possible way your book?
– I am all social networks, I engage with readers and authors and get word out. I take part in lots of giveaways. I have a very hardworking PA who is constantly posting on various book sites about my books.
– How do you find your own style of writing?
– I find it has a variety of voices in it. My writing style adapts to the kind of characters I want to create. So it depends on whether the character needs to tell a sad story, a happy one or is confused.
– What is your routine in constructing an erotic scene in your books?
– Wow, this is kind of tough. It usually depends on the emotions that lead up to that particular scene and what I would like. If I was emotional would I want an erotic scene to be passion filled and all consuming or would I want it to be slow and sensual. It’s all about what I see in my head. However it plays out in my head is how I write it. It’s all by ear with no planning whatsoever.
– South Africa is one of the most interesting places in Earth. How would you describe this part of the planet?
– I would describe it as free. I live in Durban which is known as the warmest city in the province of Kwazulu Natal. Yes there is crime and the norm that comes with almost every country in the world, but we are free. When you walk the streets of the city you can feel the gift of freedom that people fought for twenty years ago. There’s diversity in cultures, there’s a feeling of togetherness.
You may find more about Yajna at her
FACEBOOK PAGE
TWITTER
Check out the books of Lady Ramnath:
Beneath Her Beautiful
Love in Seattle (Something Like Forever Book 1)
RAGE (Tales of Dramir Book 1)
REVENGE (Tales of Dramir Book 2)
Worthy of Me
American Dream (The Erotic Life of Hannah Rai Book 1)
JACKIE CASTLE: YOUNG READERS ARE LOOKING FOR AN EXPERIENCE
Jackie Castle is our next guest. She is a teacher, who wrote “The white road Chronicles”. Her last book Caprtures was just published so we will take a closer look on it. Something more, Jackie is the perfect person to ask about the kids and their love of reading, because she works with them daily. Enjoy!
– Jackie, what is your last book Captured (A White Road Tale Novela Book 1) about?
– Captured is the first of three novellas in the White Road Tales prequel series…
When Tarek’s family is taken prisoner by the conniving, self-proclaimed King of Racah, they make a pact to lay low and do whatever is necessary to survive until they devise an escape.
Despite Tarek’s efforts to follow his parent’s orders, he has no choice but to save the Princess from making a life-threatening mistake. And despite his best efforts, he can’t help when he loses his heart to the enchanting and lonely Princess. Unfortunately, Tarek is in danger of losing more than just his heart. He might lose everything if their secret is found out.
– How you decide to write the story?
– Captured is my first attempt at writing a novella. I wanted to try my hand at writing a short piece. They don’t take long and are easier to edit and get ready for publication compared to a full length novel. I decided to write this particular story to go along with my novel series, A White Road Chronicles which now has three books published. There should be a total of five or six.
– What was the biggest challenge during the write up process?
– Keeping track of the different story lines, especially once I go into different points of views in the latter books of the novel series. Along with that, editing is a big pain. I get so fussy with this part, it seems to drag on forever before I feel ready to hit the publish button. Then after, I still find mistakes. It’s maddening.
– Tell us something more about your main character? Is it close to someone from your real life?
– I’m not sure where Tarek came from. At first, I wasn’t going to keep him in the series, but then he kept popping up and soon began to take on a strong personality. So he gets to stay. For now.
– How much time you need to finish the story and to publish it?
– Wish I could actually get a book done in a month like some authors boast about, but that’s simply not realistic for me. I like to eat and see the sunshine. And shower, and stuff. So, with that said, I’m doing well to get a novel length books written and done in four months. In between these I like to write short fiction and enter flash fiction stories to keep things fun.
– Your The White Road Chronicles are very popular; please describe the three books of the series that are already published and do you plan some more?
– Think Wizard of Oz meets Narnia and you have the gist of The White Road Chronicles. There is a spiritual element to the series similar to Narnia, if the reader chooses to see it, but the story itself is about Alyra’s journey to freedom and finding out who she really is.
Alyra makes friends during her journey home which includes a warrior, a centaur and a wisdom keeper. Each friend helps her along on her way. The proceeding books deal with her and her friends embarking on their own quest and learning how to use their talents.
I love the world of Alburnium and have grown to adore each character. The stories are fun, yet I think deep enough for people to find a take-away value in them. I’m planning for there to be at least five books, and the novellas.
– Who are you?
– Great question. I’m a wanderer, who is getting through this life, chasing my dreams and doing what I love the most in this world which is writing. I’ve wanted to do this since I was in elementary school and now I am. I couldn’t be happier and I love where my own path is taking me at the moment.
– What are your writing habits?
– I get up early in the morning and after checking email and doing a bit of social network/ goofing off, I settle down to write while my mind is fresh. I’ve just went through a major life change by taking on the care of my elderly mother, so I’ve had to start working around her schedule a bit. But I did it when my children were little. I wrote when they slept and learned to not let circumstance dictate my creativity.
I want to be a writer, which means I have to write. So I do.
– Are you satisfied by the sales of the book and do you plan another one?
– Well, Captured just came out and people are used to the novels, so sales haven’t quite taken off yet. But the series is doing well, though I’m eager to see the books continue to prosper. I understand this isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. I’ve taken the route that requires a lot of work and great patience and I’m good with that. Still, I’m happy to see my sales steadily increasing each month.
– What are you doing to promote by the best possible way your book?
– What I’ve found works best so far for me is to blog … unfortunately, I’m way behind on this because of life circumstances beyond my control. And I’ve found, my sales have sagged a little. Blogging, talking about what’s going on with my books on my social networking sites, sharing bits of dialogue or a favorite line I wrote that day, these things seem to keep up interest in my stories.
I also do paid advertising, but reserve those for when my sales are down a little.
– You are a teacher, what is your opinion on current educational system in USA?
– I wish we’d ease up on teaching to the standardized testing. There’s a lot I’d like to see done a bit differently, but over-all, teachers work hard and those I’ve worked with in the past really do have a heart to help students succeed. What we need most is more good teachers who are gifted in engaging children.
– Why the young kids prefer to play on computers instead of reading books?
– Well, a lot of kids love the computer games, but there are still many who love to read. That’s why I write for a younger age group. They are die-hard fans for the books they love and I think that’s awesome.
Maybe if we could add a joy stick and some noises to books, then those who love the computer games would read more, I don’t know. As Indie writers, we have to opportunity to think outside the box, to try things that publishers aren’t willing to invest money in. I’m thrilled to see how books for youngsters are more interactive. I love finding mid-grade books that offer websites where readers can explore more about the story world and characters. What J. K. Rowling is doing over at Potterworld is simply amazing.
Readers, especially young readers, are looking for an experience. As writer’s we need to continually brainstorm and tryout new ways we can engage readers. I also host a book blog where I introduce newer books for children and even teens. I don’t review books, I look for activity ideas parents and teachers can use to help children become more engaged in the stories they read.
We need to find ways to keep reading fun, to make our stories a fun experience readers will want to explore more and return to often. I’m always open to new ideas if anyone has any. =)
– You are saying that “you are looking for the extraordinary in the ordinary”. What is the last extraordinary thing that you witnessed?
– I find sunsets extraordinary. I find when I plant a garden and actually get produce in return it’s simply amazing. I lost my wallet during my vacation and the person who found it was willing to mail it to my home, and actually did. I was staggered by that, just as I was when my mother was in the hospital and I’d made a joke on facebook asking if pizza places delivered to the ER because I was hungry. Soon after my phone was blown up by people willing to make the drive to bring me something to eat at 9:30 in the evening.
There’s a lot of bad in this world, but real bravery is taking on the challenge to purposefully find the good- and it’s there, I promise. Even if the good is something as simple as a child bringing you a flower because they thought it was pretty and they like you, or someone offering you change when you don’t have enough for the soda machine. We encounter the extraordinary every single day, but often overlook it in our rush to get through this life.
Anyway, that’s what I think. =)
Do you want to know more about Jackie Castle? Check out her
BLOG
The Castle Library
Interested in her books? Well, you may order them below
Capruted
Illuminated: Book One (The White Road Chronicles 1)
Luminosity: Book Two (The White Road Chronicles 2)
Emanate: Book Three (The White Road Chronicles 3)
ROBYN PIERCE: I WORKED 8 YEARS ON MY LANISTTER SERIES
Robyn Pierce is one of the youngest indie authors around. She already wrote 5 books of her Lanistter Chronicles and now we would like to put on your attention the first one. You may enjoy her covers, as well. I said her, because she did them by herself. Ready, set, goooo, it’s time for an interview 🙂
– What is your new book Darkest Embrace about?
– Darkest Embrace is the first of a seven-book series depicting the tales of the royal vampire family. In this book, the main character, Elyssa, is running away from her father’s choice. She gets caught in a freak storm, causing her to seek shelter in the only nearby place: the Lanistter castle. Little does she know, the reason she’s running away is in the castle, waiting for her…
– How you decide to write the story?
– I have been working on this series for around eight years. It started out as a collaboration between myself and another aspiring writer, but he moved on to other ventures, granting me his blessing to continue with the story. It wasn’t until 2010 that I completed the first draft of Darkest Embrace, after discovering National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).
– What was the biggest challenge during the write up process
– Writing every day is the hardest part for me. In order to keep momentum and not lose focus, I have to write every day. But health problems get in the way of it, and it makes the process slow-going.
– Tell us something more about your main character? Is it close to someone from your real life?
– Elyssa Smith doesn’t take after anyone I know in person, but the other two main characters, Zeke and Reid Lanistter, both take after a couple of amazing friends. Every time I re-read or write a new scene with them in it, I can’t help but be reminded of them.
– How much time you need to finish the story and to publish it?
– I like to get my first drafts done within two months so I can set them aside for another month before beginning the editing process. Overall, I like to have a novel finished in six months. It doesn’t always go as planned, though, so I make room for the speed bumps life throws my way.
– Tell us about your other novels?
– Most of my other novels are from the same series as Darkest Embrace. Destructive Embrace starts right where Darkest Embrace left off, but Masquerade begins with an entirely new set of Lanistter characters (though there IS a special guest appearance made by Reid Lanistter).
– Who are you?
– I am a newly-married student who works from home. I enjoy the simple things in life, really. There isn’t much to say about me.
– What are your writing habits?
– Every day, I sit down to write. Some days I get a lot of writing done, and some I can hardly get 200 words out. On those days, I go back and edit stuff I’ve previously written. It’s also imperative to read every day, so if I’m not writing or editing, I’m reading.
Are you satisfied by the sales of the book and do you plan another one?
My sales could be better, but I’m quite satisfied with how well locals know me. I get messages all the time from my friends who take the bus and see others reading my works. It feels good.
– What are you doing to promote by the best possible way your book?
– I actually kind of suck at promotion! I don’t like to ‘spam-share’ my books, so I’m really just trying to work my way into readers’ hearts through interaction on social media. In addition, word of mouth is one of my favorite things.
How much time it takes for you to do such a great covers and what are you searching as final effect?
It takes me anywhere from a few hours to two days to make my covers. I try to convey the underlying feelings and issues my characters are dealing with, but the overall goal is to not give too much away.
– Everybody, who was in Las Vegas, has a story to tell. You are living there, so you have for sure at least one. Please tell us the most interesting one?
– I don’t go out very much because the whole club thing isn’t my ‘scene’ and a lot of my friends are too busy to go out (I know — SUCH a boring Vegas girl!) but the most exciting thing that’s happened to me was when my friend was hospitalized (he is doing much better now) and was reading my book. His nurse came in, instantly recognized it, and they had a long conversation about how he knows the author.
Take a closer look of Darkest Embrace (The Lanistter Chronicles Book 1)
Check out more about Robin
JUSTIN BIENVENUE: PEOPLE ARE REALLY INTO HORROR
Justin Bienvenue is our next guest. My last question to him was how he was able to mix horror and poetry. Yeah, these are his two favorite genres. Are you intrigued how he was able to translate between them? Don’t go to the last question directly, check out previous ones, because you may find some other very cool things.
– What is your book Like A Box Of Chocolates about
– The book is a collection of 40 poems all within a different genre. Poems within genres such as horror, science fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery, among many others. Some poems are serious, some are funny and some are just in between both to really give the reader a great assortment of unique poetry.
– How you decide to write the story?
– I decided to make the book after having friends vote for titles on Facebook. Each week I would post four titles and the one with the most votes became a poem. After a while I thought gee since I have enough I should make a book out of them all, and that’s what I did. Almost all the poems except for a selective few were picked by people.
– What was the biggest challenge during the write up process?
– I would say the biggest challenge was getting the poems just right. After I wrote them I had to decide whether or not they were good to go or needed work before they went into the final for the book. Most of them were touched up editing wise but as for content only a few were re-done to add a bit of flavor and spunk to the mix. Also the formatting process was straining at times, just to get each poem on it’s own page without another poem running into it.
– How much time did you need to finish the story and to publish it?
– After I assembled all the poems together I started working on it in for 5 months. Before the poems were all added to the book, that process took about a month and then the whole publishing aspect took almost a month so altogether it took about 7 months to finish and get published. I will also say that some may think that’s not much but each and every day I worked by doing something with the book and it wasn’t easy.
– What about yours other works?
– My first book is a book of horror poetry called, The Macabre Masterpiece: Poems of Horror and Gore. It was first published back in 2010 by a poor company that shall remain nameless but has since been republished back in 2014. The book contains 50 poems within 5 chapters, all of a certain type and presence of horror.
My second book is a Western Horror entitled, A Bloody Bloody Mess In The Wild Wild West. It is a story about a desolate small town that must battle against a Mexican outlaw who along with his undead Civil War Soldiers tries to take over the town and make it his own. A young man by the name of Emerson Shaw along with the rest of the town folk take on Javier “Bones” Jones and his slick corruption and destruction.
– Who are you?
– I am Justin Bienvenue. A young, writer, author and poet just trying to make a living and write works that I hope people will come to love and enjoy. I am a friendly and easy going person though just like anyone else have my moments and consider writing to be a great passion of mine. I am an optimist and always like to think positive and I try to at times when it calls for it, incorporate that into my writing. Aside from being a friendly down to earth kinda guy and a writer I’m also a big sports fan, particularly football. I like who I am and I believe in myself and my work and overall I just try to be the best person I can be.
– What are your writing habits?
– A lot of procrastinating lol. No, in all seriousness I have a habit or being organized and making a list of what I want to write before I get started. So basically I try to have a listed plan before getting to work. I also have a habit of just writing or typing away as much as I can, as much as I can think of and then after I go over what I wrote. This way I can focus more on the story and not have to worry about correcting myself over and over in having to stop. I wouldn’t say I have any weird quirks or bad habits, I really just try to stick with what works for me and get into not only a good habit but a good rhythm.
– Are you satisfied by the sales of the book and do you plan another one?
– If I’m going to be honest, No. I’m not happy with the sales of my current book but I am also not upset, I’m neutral about it. But I’m not blaming anyone but myself. I know that only I can really get myself out there and promote my work but overall within all my books I would say I’m where I want to be, I have a realistic goal in mind and I reached it and there’s always room for improvement.
I do have plans for a new book but it’s not going to be worked on until 2015. It’s quite hush hush right now but I can tell you, it’s going to be quite an interesting tale that takes place in the 20’s.
– What are you doing to promote by the best possible way your book?
– I would say word of mouth and taking advantage of social media and Goodreads. I like to stick to what I know and what I’m comfortable doing. I don’t try to spam but just try to mention my book every once in a while to peek readers interests. I have a giveaway currently going on which I hope will get a lot of people interested. A little goes a long way and I just hope that what I’m doing will work and if another opportunity comes along I shall try it.
– What was the love story that inspired you to start write poetry?
– It wasn’t love at first site lol. I didn’t take an immediate interest in poetry when I first read it, just sort of thought of it as another way to write, a unique way to which people right but just another dumb thing I’m going to learn in English Class. Ironically it was in English class that I really started to come to like it. Reading greats like Robert Frost and Shakespeare really gave me an appreciation and opened my eyes to the world of poetry. I started writing my own but it wasn’t until I wrote a poem in another class that wasn’t English that I realized I was truly interested and enjoyed poetry.
– What is your experience in creative writing?
– I’ve always been told I have quite a creative mind and imagination since I was a kid. Telling weird stories to people, rambling on and on. In high school I took a class in Creative Writing mu junior year and I gotta say it was definitely one of my favorite classes. The teacher let us write what we wanted, we would use certain sets of writing skills when asked and I really just had fun and learned a lot from the class. Since then I just use what I know and my strange innovative mind to create and write stories I think people will love.
– It’s a strange mix, poetry and horror. How you manage to transform from one to the other?
– Poetry was what I intended on writing first and when thinking of what I wanted my first book of poetry to be about I thought, people are really into horror and Horror sells so I decided to write a book of horror poetry. When it comes to combining them I really had to dig deep down and channel my inner Poe which at times can be seen in the book. For my second book I was watching spaghetti westerns and thought hmm I like westerns and could write one. However given the popularity of zombies I decided to make it a Western with a bit of a twist, sort of a not your grandad or dad’s type of western, though hopefully they will enjoy it too.
I don’t wanna be tied to one genre. I mean yes I am a poet so if I’m going to be tied to one genre then let it be that but that’s where I mix it up. My poetry is unique and about different things and it just so happens that I’ve gone back and forth between poetry and horror. Some days I just really wanna write poetry and other days I really wanna write horror. Also other days I don’t want to write either. I wanna try to write a poetry book, a regular genre book, poetry book, regular genre book and not necessarily horror either, I want to expand into other genres. So not only transform from poetry to horror but poetry to other genres as well.
To find out more about Justin check out his web page
Look out for Mr. Bienvenue’s books
A Bloody Bloody Mess In The Wild Wild West
Like A Box Of Chocolates
The Macabre Masterpiece: Poems of Horror and Gore
Land Of Books 