Marie Symeou's Blog

Valentine Blog Hop - February 1st - 14th, 2012

2012-01-28T14:27:00.013Z

I'm part of the VALENTINE BLOG HOP hosted by Book Luvin Babes, featuring 25 authors each giving away some fabulous prizes on their blogs. The winners of these giveaways will then be entered for the GRAND PRIZE!

FIRST GRAND PRIZE is An Amazon Gift Card worth $75.00!

SECOND PRIZE is A beautiful Sterling Silver Black and Silver Round Diamond Heart Pendant

To enter, all you have to do is visit the 25 authors' blogs and enter as many of their giveaways as you wish.

For my contest I will be giving away ONE signed paperback copy of one of my novels, either AGE OF DREAMS or FROZEN IN TIME.

To enter, all you have to do is LEAVE A COMMENT HERE ON THIS POST or LIKE AND LEAVE A COMMENT ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE telling me which book you would like.

I will announce the winner on Valentine's Day, and your name will then be entered for the GRAND PRIZE on Book Luvin Babes.

Music Influences

2012-01-27T16:44:00.004Z

My earliest memory is listening to Elvis Presley records in my parents' living room. Must have been about 3 or 4 years old, so Elvis to me is my first musical inspiration. Like my parents, I too became a big fan and remain one to this day. However, I don't really listen to him much these days, especially since I lost my Dad in September 2010. I just end up crying because Elvis' music reminds me so much of my childhood and happier times. And of course, Elvis will always remind me of my dear Dad.

Versatile Blogger Award

2012-01-26T16:39:00.002Z

Thank you Jayleigh for this! Much appreciated :)

Nightwish Tour Begins

2012-01-24T13:52:00.006Z

My favourite band Nightwish began their world tour last week. Here are two video clips I found on YouTube.

Author Interview - Sean Van Damme

2012-01-23T08:35:00.009Z

Please tell us a little about yourself.

I’m just an average 20 something guy who lives in Richmond VA with my wonderful fiancé and our animals. I work at a TV news station as a video editor and have been writing in some form or another most of my life. I picked up the novel writing bug back in middle school and that ran for a few years then I got obsessed with movies, which lead me into news, and then eventually I went back to novels after I kept hearing about KDP and Pubit. Most of my free time is consumed by video games and TV shows, which really have replaced movies as my preferred form of visual story telling.

What is your book about?

My book (The Long Night) is a dark fantasy novel about a group of heroes that under normal circumstances would hate each other having to come tighter to fight a horrible evil that has descended upon the land cloaking it in darkness and death.

How long did it take you to write?

The first draft took just under two months to write, I was only working part time then so I had oodles of time to dedicate to the book, and with an end goal I just plowed through the text till I was finished. Having a solid outline also helped more then I can say.

What inspired you to write this novel?

The book started as a mod for Dragon Age Origins, but when that fell through and I had an itch to write, I picked up all of the outlines and prewriting world building that I had done and turned it into a book. I had wanted to go back to my old sci-fi story but it is hard to pick up a project seven or eight years after you walked away from it.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

Back in middle school when I was just writing on lose leaf paper and shoving it into the back of my binders, I knew I wanted to be a writer. I had walked away from that dream for a while when I went into news, but returned to it after I got back into reading, a hobby that school and WoW had stolen from me.

What part of writing do you struggle with? Character, plot, description or dialogue?

I struggle with making my characters real people with past experiences that influence the present. I fall too quickly into making them one or two dimensional figures that are not living breathing people. After that I do struggle with description because sometimes I feel I am going overboard, and for me less is more, I don’t need three paragraphs about how the sky looks, so I at times struggle to rein in the purple prose.

What made you decide on self-publishing?

I had been a big supporter of ebooks and self-publishing, and finally decided I needed to put my money where my mouth was and go for it. Also the idea of querying seemed painful and just something that made me not want to write at all. The hard work with other people is what made me stop wanting to direct movies, I’m a very solitary artist.

Did you have a professional editor?

No, I have been using a combination of a program from Serenity called Editor, and my soon to be Father-in-Law who is a retired PhD with years of writing, and reading under his belt. He gives me honest feedback and reams and reams of grammatical corrections. I figure one day when I have a little more capitol to throw around I’ll go for a professional editor, but right now I have enough grammar Nazis in my family.

Do you edit as you write or wait until your book is finished?

On The Long Night I just wrote till I was finished, same with my second WIP for NaNo but now I stop and at the very least spell check what I am writing every few sentences, or when a song ends on my iPod and I have to change it. I let the not editing get so bad with The Long Night that Word took away my red bars because I had to many errors to track any longer.

Are you currently working on any projects?

Yes I am working on a hard-boiled detective series, and I also have a first draft completed techno-thriller sitting on my desk. All I can say about when those will come out is some time this year, I’m moving slower on the edits then I would like, mostly because I can’t pull myself away from the internet and The Old Republic.

Any advice for new authors?

Write every day. I know it is hackneyed but it works. Also set a deadline for yourself and try to meet that for when you will finish the first draft. Working in TV news I found that the deadline helped me because that is something that I am so used to in my working world that it transferred over, and I set one now for every project I start.

Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what type of music?

Yes and it changes based on the book. I have a writing playlist that is mostly Black Hawk Down, and Battlestar Galactica soundtracks. When I was writing my action book that was kind of an 80’s throwback I blasted the power ballads and Top Gun soundtracks.

Best time of day to write?

I write in the Moring and early afternoon, because I don’t go to work until 2pm. I sometimes write at night on weekends but find that I still get my best work done in the morning shortly after I wake up.

Top 3 authors?

Stephen King

Frank Herbert

George RR Martin

Top 3 novels of all time?

Dune (Frank Herbert)

One Hundred Years of Solitude (Gabriel García Márquez)

I, Jedi (Michael A. Stackpole)

Top 3 movies of all time?

The Empire Strikes Back (I don’t do episode numbers for the original trilogy)

Gladiator

The Two Towers

What do you read the most? Fiction or non-fiction?

Fiction by far, I’m surrounded by non-fiction and true crime all day.

Is your book in Print, ebook or both?

Only ebook at the moment, I haven’t gotten around to doing print yet.

Where can your readers contact you? Links, etc.

My Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sean-Van-Damme/199605780094806

Twitter @seanathin23

My Blog which I haven’t undated in a while but will be getting back to http://seanswritingadventure.blogspot.com/

Thank you for the opportunity.

FREE - My semi-autobiographical novel AGE OF DREAMS!

2012-01-20T14:04:00.009Z

FREE! 21 -22 January

My semi-autobiographical novel AGE OF DREAMS, an absorbing story of love, addiction and fame, about a young singer trying to leave her past behind only to find that it soon catches up with her and she must face her inner demons before it is too late...

Yes, it's free for two days only (21-22 Jan) so make sure you get downloading onto your Kindle over the weekend!

And yes, parts of it are based on my life. You'll have to read it and guess which parts!

http://www.amazon.com/Age-of-Dreams-ebook/dp/B005SE2VMS

Music Influences

2012-01-20T13:14:00.014Z

One of my favourite songs from one of my all time favourite bands.

Growing up in the 70s, I loved listening to Beatles songs on the radio. My parents were never fans, but I discovered them myself and have always enjoyed singing along to these timeless classics.

Music back then was just excellent. Let's face it, in the UK we have nothing that can ever match the great music we had back in the 60s and 70s (and perhaps some of the early 80s). We were the tops!

But now, I am so embarrassed at the state of the music scene in my own country, and instead I listen to some amazingly talented foreign bands like Nightwish from Finland/Sweden and Dutch band Epica, plus loads of other bands I'm slowly discovering. And then there's the wonderful Renaissance music-inspired Blackmore's Night (Ritchie Blackmore's band that he has with his American wife Candice Night). If it wasn't for the internet (and especially YouTube) I would never have discovered these great bands.

But for now, it's back to The Beatles

Character Inspirations - Philip

2012-01-18T09:03:00.004Z

My inspiration for Philip, the lead vampire character of my novel, was drawn from these wonderful men.

Eyes

Tuomas Holopainen (of Finnish Metal Band, Nightwish)

Hair

Hans Matheson (actor)

Body

Brad Pitt

Author Interview - Larissa Hinton

2012-01-16T08:12:00.008Z

Please tell us a little about yourself.

Hello, my name is Larissa Hinton. I'm a grad student at Hampton University and hopefully by next year, I'll be a full time secondary English teacher. In the morning, I'll be a teacher but at night I'll become an author. Reference isn't working for you?

Lol, anyway, most of the fiction I write really comes from a life of reading of what I love to read. Some of it, comes from a dark place which I never knew existed until college. Ah, gotta love college. Always discovering new sides of yourself.

If you want to know more about me and my sarcasm, you can just check out my blog and click on FAQ's. Thanks for reading my super short bio! :)

What is your book about?

Well, I have two books that are currently published. One is called Everblossom: A Short Story and Poetry Anthology. Here's the blurb and cover.

An anthology that will quench your thirst for more than the ordinary.

Everblossom is a journey through poems and short stories that may seem ordinary on the surface but dig a little deeper and the world not only shifts . . . It changes.

The author who brought you Iwishacana/Acanawishi, now brings you a dash of everything from dark fantasy to the paranormal to romance. So prepare yourself to delve into the three stages of the flower from bud to blossom then back to seed; you'll go through them all with a whole new perspective on what it all truly means.

The other book I have is a YA fantasy novel called Iwishacana/Acanawishi. Here's the cover and blurb for my lovely book.

Where rules are meant to be broken

Anissa is constantly on the run from the police and can't seem to stay out of trouble.

Secrets are meant to be kept

Until Anissa hides Florence in her bedroom and her mother finds out. There's only one thing left to do: Send her to Juvenile Cop Camp to erase all of her crimes on her record.

And everything is not what it seems

There's only one problem: Anissa is innocent.

Welcome to Iwishacana.

How long did it take you to write?

For Everblossom, it took me about a year total to collect all of the short stories and poetry. If you add editing, it would be about a year and a couple of months.

For Iwishacana/Acanawishi, it took me a lot longer since it's a novel, but altogether it took me (plus editing) is 9 years. It actually has an interesting history of how it came to being. Basically, I started writing this book back in high school from the mother's perspective. Then I continued her story through her child, Anissa, in my second year of college. So I had two separate books that I really couldn't use. I tried to promote it to agents and publishers, but none of them were budging.

I didn't want to give them Iwishacana because it was simply too old and it wasn't as nearly as exciting or as well edited as Acanawishi. However, I couldn't really give them Acanawishi because they wouldn't know the back story about Laura and how Iwishacana came into being. It was a tight spot to be in. So I took a year to put these stories and mesh them together to create the story as it is now: Iwishacana/Acanawishi. Then of course, I edited the heck out of that so that the two stories really could sing in harmony with each other.

However, after reading the reviews of the combo version I found out that people got confused about who was the main character so I had to reedit it again and so you have the final product. Viola!

What inspired you to write this novel?

Funny enough, there wasn't any inspiration at all for Everblossom! I know, such a bad answer for a writer, but I am telling the truth. You see, I was taking a Creative Writing class and for the first time ever, I had to write short stories. Before this point in my life, I never wrote a short story but I found something funny about it: I loved it. I was able to delve into the characters I loved, create new stories that would inspire bigger ideas, and it was a way to play with the inner thoughts that floated my mind. Even at one point, my professor told me that all of my novel ideas were really short stories. Granted, at that time, I did not appreciate him saying that, but some of my ideas were short stories. I just never knew it.

The poems in the anthology however, were inspired by mostly my personal life. And other times, by the urge to write it down. I don't think I could fully explain it properly, but when an idea hits me, it's like lightening and I'm alert and aware that a poem is in me that needs to be written. I've literally tried to go asleep with that feeling, but I couldn't. I had to write it down into poetic form. It doesn't happen so often (like once or twice a month) but when it happens, I have to write that poem down or I can't think straight.

Oh, and one of the poems, In Death You Speak, it was inspired by boredom in class. I was sitting in one of the English Literature classes listening to them drone on and on about something, so I wrote a poem instead of listening. J I know. I'm horrible. A-soon-to-be English teacher not paying attention in an English classroom? Shocker.

Now for Iwishacana/Acanawishi, I really don't remember. It was such a long time ago that I came up with the idea that it's kinda fuzzy. I do know for a fact that Halloween Town, the movie by Disney, definitely had a strong impact on this novel. Now how much, I can't remember. I do remember that movie and being drawn in by it.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

I started writing at the ripe age of 12. At first, I wrote poems because of my lovely English teacher decided that we should write poems and from then on, I fell in love with poetry. The writing bug really bit me a year later when the movie of Nickelodeon movie, Clock Stoppers came out. I thought the movie was going to be horrible, so I decided that I would write a novel that would be better than the movie. Needless to say, my book wasn't as good as the move but I didn't care. I love writing and nothing else mattered. Thus my obsession with writing begun.

What part of writing do you struggle with? Character, plot, description or dialogue?

For the longest time, I suffered with description. I didn't like to waste time describing feelings, setting or anything like that. I like my characters doing something and most of all, talking.

But this all changed once I signed up for Critique Circle, a lot of the critiquers commented on the fact that I don't describe enough. So slowly but surely, I started describing. And now, about six years later, I don't love describing still but it's fun to describe instead of tell the readers what's going and describing the world that I visualize and see so clearly in my head. So I've learned to do it and have fun with it.

What made you decide on self-publishing?

Ah, the question everybody wants to know. Well, before I self-published, I was a staunch traditional publisher junkie. I sent out query letters to publishers and agents every summer. Rigidly. And I dreamed of that one day of getting the dream contact.

When the dream became a reality, I could hardly believed it. There I was, the email of my dreams congratulating me on my obtaining a contract and all I could do is cover my gaping mouth and thinking, "Oh. My. God."

But of course, the contract was faulty so I walked away. That was the hardest thing I had to do but I survived and started querying once again. The more I queried, the more I got frustrated that no one saw my talent. If I was talented to get a contract once, I could get it again. That's what logic says.

And during this time, a lot or people from Critique Circle loved my book and wanted to buy it and were wondering when I was going to be published. And it wasn't just one person, it was multiple people.

Yet no contract came. Instead a professor talked about self-publishing and spouted about how much more money an author could make but I just ignored him until Amanda Hocking's story came to light, then even more recently about JA Konrath's blog.

I read it and I couldn't help but to agree with his arguments. And he made me laugh. So after puzzling over the logic and what I thought was my dream of trad publishing, I decided to self publish.

In short: I decided to self publish because I was tired of waiting for someone to give me the green light. Instead, I decided to believe in my books and my readers to find them. I decided to self publish and not look back. And I'm damn glad I did.

Did you have a professional editor?

At first, I didn't. I published my books without an editor and that was the biggest mistake I made. I thought my books were clean enough because they were critiqued but they were not.

But the hunt for an editor proved to be mad expensive. Some tried to charge me 600 bucks for a book that was only 60 pages! But I did find a reasonable editor, two actually, and I'm so happy to find an editor that really cares about my work and wants to stand by me to make me a better writer.

And I've grown so much thanks to my editor. I have found out my faults and how to correct them. So not only do my readers have the benefit of a better book, but I become a better writer in the process. Win win situation.

Do you edit as you write or wait until your book is finished?

I definitely edit as I go along. I know, it's a big no no in the writer world, since it might lead to a writer too focused on editing and not writing. I have learned to not edit as much as I use to, but just work on typos and grammar mistakes and not to be a perfectionist unless needed. Like if I'm stuck because I didn't expect one scene turned in a completely different direction then I need to go back to the scene and revamp it. That's the only time I use heavy duty editing.

Most of the time, I read the previous scene to put me back into their world and edit a little bit as I go and then continue writing.

Are you currently working on any projects?

Absolutely! I'm currently working on my YA paranormal fantasy novel, Angel Diaries. I'm just finishing the last round of edits and after sending it to an editor and editing after that it's going to be done. I'm also writing Angel Diaries 2.

I'm also working on an anthology for Iwishacana/Acanawishi, that will explore the world of Iwishacana more.

Additionally, I'm working on another anthology Everblossom 2, the sequel to Everblossom: A Short Story and Poetry Anthology.

I have a lot under my sleeves and I'm just getting started.

Any advice for new authors?

I have plenty of advice for new and old writers! They can check out these links on my blog here:

http://teacherwritebookaholicohmy.blogspot.com/2011/11/considering-self-publishing.html

http://teacherwritebookaholicohmy.blogspot.com/2011/10/tips-and-tricks-how-not-to-request-book.html

http://teacherwritebookaholicohmy.blogspot.com/2011/10/truth-about-traditional-publishing.html

http://teacherwritebookaholicohmy.blogspot.com/2011/09/why-is-editing-soooo-expensive.html

http://teacherwritebookaholicohmy.blogspot.com/2011/09/quick-tip-of-day-blurbs.html

http://teacherwritebookaholicohmy.blogspot.com/2011/07/hot-topic-tuesday-best-of-best-or.html

http://teacherwritebookaholicohmy.blogspot.com/2011/07/tips-and-tricks-friday-editing.html

http://teacherwritebookaholicohmy.blogspot.com/2011/05/tips-and-tricks-time.html

http://melissaseclecticbookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/11/guest-post-larissa-hinton-author-of.html

http://teacherwritebookaholicohmy.blogspot.com/2011/07/official-cover-for-iwishacana.html

But overall, I'd say keep writing and keep reading. Do your research. Do not limit yourself with traditional publishing or self publishing. It is possible to do both.

Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what type of music?

Actually, I don't listen to music when I write. The reason I don't listen to music is because it distracts me from writing. My favorite genre is electronic dance. So every time I listen to it (especially Cascada or Rhianna's Please Don't Stop the Music) I want to dance instead of write. So it's more of a hindrance instead of a help.

Best time of day to write?

For me, the best time to write is in the morning. That way it's peacefully quiet. I don't have to worry about people trying to bug me to ask for something or worry about music in my dorm crashing my concentration. Most college students stay asleep. Especially Saturday mornings. Those are my best days for writing.

Top 3 authors?

Depends on the genre. I'll break it down.

Juvenile Fiction

Bruce Coville

Judy Blume

Patricia Wrede

Young Adult

Meg Cabot

Brenna Yovanoff

Andrea Cremer

Cecil Castellucci

Adult

Patricia Cornwell

Kathy Reichs

David Baldacci

I know went a little overboard for young adult, but I think those four authors are wonderful. I love them all.

Top 3 novels of all time?

This is a tough question. I think the three top novels that affected my writing life are:

Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Top 3 movies of all time?

Again, I think this is so objective so I'll write down the three movies that have affected me as a writer.

Everything is Illuminated

August Rush

Legally Blonde

What do you read the most? Fiction or non-fiction?

I read more fiction then non-fiction. However, I have to say as I'm getting older, I have more of an appreciation of non-fiction. I occasionally visit non-fiction for research and for fun reading. I love reading biographies too. Ever since I leapt out of my comforting YA fantasy genre, I have become a fan of all different kinds of books including non-fiction.

Is your book in Print, ebook or both?

Actually, my books are in both print and eBook form.

Here are the links:

Everblossom: A Short Story and Poetry

http://www.amazon.com/Everblossom-Short-Poetry-Anthology-ebook/dp/B005H5GKIY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1313954227&sr=1-1

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/80600

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/everblossom-larissa-hinton/1104907595

https://www.createspace.com/3671006

Iwishacana/Acanawishi

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/80786

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/iwishacana-acanawishi-larissa-hinton/1104907596?ean=2940013099654&itm=1&usri=iwishacana%2facanawishi

http://www.amazon.com/Iwishacana-Acanawishi-ebook/dp/B005H5GJWQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1324057377&sr=1-2

https://www.createspace.com/3745682

Where can your readers contact you? Links, etc.

My readers can contact me through my blog: http://teacherwritebookaholicohmy.blogspot.com/

They can also contact me through my email: pocahantas89@yahoo.com

Thanks so much for interviewing me!

My Athena Is Growing Up Fast

2012-01-14T13:49:00.004Z

My beautiful Athena at 8 months. I just had to share.

Music Influences

2012-01-13T11:19:00.012Z

I'm going to start a new series of Friday posts in which I post 1 or 2 videos of my musical influences - all the bands, singers and musicians that have inspired me over the years.

First up - The Doors. Great music and wonderful lyrics! I was really into them during the 90s after I saw the Doors movie by Oliver Stone. It was during this time that I began to take writing seriously, so Jim Morrison's lyrics have certainly had a major influence on my own poetry and lyrics. It was also a dark time for me - I began to drink heavily and was severely depressed. But music and writing got me through.

KDP Select - My Experience

2012-01-10T09:28:00.005Z

So I tried KDP Select, enrolling just one of my novels, FROZEN IN TIME.

I joined last month and went free for 2 days just to see how it goes. I did this around Xmas Eve and Xmas Day. Perhaps it was the wrong time of the year some of you may be thinking. After all, would there be people looking for free kindle books on Xmas day? Well, yes. I can imagine that those who had just received a Kindle as a present would be wanting to find something to read pretty fast, and if they were like me when I first got my Kindle, then they wouldn't be able to wait to download from all the free books available. Not forgetting how boring Christmas Day can be for most, anyway. Maybe they were longing for something to read to escape from boredom.

Anyway, I had a few hundred downloads but nothing like the thousands other indie writers have reported in having, even though I tried my damn hardest to promote wherever I could (blog, twitter, facebook, goodreads, etc).

And then after the free promotion ended. Slump. Rankings went down and disappeared altogether. Just like my book, sinking into indie book hell, no doubt.

After a few miserable days where I spread my paranoia wings wide and my head became battered with thoughts of 'What's wrong with my book?'' "Why doesn't anyone like my baby?" "It's a great book. I know it is." "I can write. I know I can." "What shall I do?" "I'll never make it as a writer." "Why? Why? Why?"

I drank more than I should. I ate more chocolate than I should. I let anxiety breed on me again. I thought maybe I should just top myself and be done with it. There is only so long one can take being a failure, blah, blah, blah...

Once that was out of my system, a week later I then decided I might as well use up the other 3 days of promotion because by now I'd made up my mind that KDP Select wasn't really for me and I might just not bother to sign up for another 3 months in March. So I went free last weekend. I figured there may be loads of excited new kindle users out there after Xmas who would be downloading as many free books they could possibly get their hands on. Whether they actually read these books is another matter.

The promotion started at midnight (8 am in the UK where I live) on Jan 5th. I got up early to watch my rankings. Throughout the morning I watched, excitement rising, as I climbed and climbed the Free best seller chart. Hey, I thought. It's really happening. It's my turn to become a 'free' best seller. Should I be proud of myself? I worked hard on this book. It took me 2 years to write. And now it was being snatched up for free. Somehow, this partly didn't sit right with me. I suppose my ego got in the way. But if it works as a promotional tool, then so what?

Here are the highest rankings I got as I tried to keep up with them during the 3 day period.

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,970 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)

#8 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Fiction > Fantasy > Historical

Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,009 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)

#3 in Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Fantasy > Historical

#17 in Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Fairy Tales

Now I shall have to wait and see if this free promotion pays off. That is, I'm hoping that like many other indie authors that have gone free and then watched in awe as their books started selling better than ever before, it works out for me too.

The next day after the promo ended I did get a nice surprise that brought a smile to my face. I did in fact have more sales than usual. I was #34 in best selling historical fantasy!

JAN 8th

2.45 pm PAID

UK Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #15,315 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

#34 in Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Fantasy > Historical

#79 in Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Fairy Tales

I just need to get more reviews and do guest blogs and blog tours, etc, because even if people are buying, there are not enough reviews and my books look so sad up there. I'm embarrassed for them. I'm embarrassed for me.

Author Interview - William Woodall

2012-01-09T15:51:00.000Z

Please tell us a little about yourself.

Well, let's see. I like to write young adult fantasy novels for the most part. But I've always believed that a truly great story should be ageless. That is, there should be something in it that even a young child can enjoy, but it should also have themes that an adult can feed on as well, although they may not be the same things. That's what I try to do in my work. I want it to appeal to a universal audience as much as possible. My stories almost always contain a low-key Christian theme, but it's not always obvious unless you know what to look for.

What is your book about?

My book is a three-part series called "The Last Werewolf Hunter", about the adventures of a boy named Zach Trewick who is born into a family of werewolves, but, for his own reasons, decides that he doesn't want that kind of life for himself. His family refuses to take no for an answer, and he's left with no other option but to run away from home. That choice leads him on an adventure which will take everything he's got, as he struggles to decide what he really believes and how much he's willing to sacrifice for the sake of his ideals. Not to mention how much he's willing to sacrifice for the sake of the people who have cost him so much already. Although it's about werewolves, that isn't really the main theme of the story. It's more of a coming-of-age story that focuses on Zach's development as a human being.

How long did it take you to write?

I started seriously working on it in 2008, and then it was finished in 2011, so it took me 3 years to write it, give or take a little.

What inspired you to write this novel?

I've been a high school teacher for several years, and some of the kids I've worked with have had to face pretty awful things. I've always been humbled by the courage many of them have, and you might say I was inspired by every child who ever had to stand alone against impossible odds, and somehow made it anyway.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

I've always known I wanted to write, ever since I was old enough to pick up a crayon. I started telling stories almost as soon as I knew how to talk.

What part of writing do you struggle with? Character, plot, description or dialogue?

I don't know that I would call it a struggle. Some things are more challenging than others, but it's never been anything other than fun. I tend to be a perfectionist who might spend half an hour choosing exactly the right word to convey what I mean, and sometimes that bogs me down too long when I ought to be moving ahead.

What made you decide on self-publishing?

I chose to do "pure" self-publishing, which means I opened a publishing company myself and starting doing everything from typesetting to graphic design to marketing, not just for myself but for other authors. I like the creative freedom it gives me, and the ability to tell a story the way I want to tell it. The kinds of stories I like to write are unusual ones.

Did you have a professional editor?

I did professional editing before I ever became a writer myself, and I still do it for other writers. So no, that's one thing I've never needed. I know what people say, that no one can do their own editing and not look like an amateur. That's good advice for most people, but if you have the skills and and the knowledge to do it yourself, there's no reason why you shouldn't. Poor editing in my books is one thing I've never even once been accused of.

Do you edit as you write or wait until your book is finished?

Both. I cut and paste and edit as I go along, and then when I'm finished I lay the book aside for a few weeks to let it cool off. Then I go back and start reading it myself from page one and changing anything that needs improvement. I do that at least three times for every book I write, and sometimes more. Like I said, I'm a perfectionist. lol

Are you currently working on any projects?

I'm currently working on a new novel which is due to be released in March of 2012. It hasn't been named yet, but it's another young adult fantasy novel about a boy who lives in an abusive home and wishes for something better in life. What he gets isn't at all what he expected.

Any advice for new authors?

Never give up. Writing is an art, and it can take years to polish your skills. You'll also find that once you finish a book your job is only just beginning. You'll have to learn how to do marketing and promotion, and to put yourself out there in the public eye more than you may be used to. It's very rewarding, but there are a lot of bumps in the road. Don't let them discourage you.

Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what type of music?

Sometimes I do, but not often. Usually anything else going on around me is a distraction from trying to focus on the writing itself. But in certain moods I do like to listen to classical music, or something instrumental. It's the lyrics of a song that tend to distract me more than the music does, for some reason. I like Pachelbel's Canon in D (that's my favorite, in fact), or Vivaldi's Four Seasons, or Fur Elise, or something else soothing and quiet that I can play in the background.

Best time of day to write?

It doesn't seem to matter, but I tend to do most of my writing in the morning while my mind is fresh.

Top 3 authors?

J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and George MacDonald.

Top 3 novels of all time?

The Silmarillion, by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Last Battle or possibly Perelandra, by C.S. Lewis, and At the Back of the North Wind, by George MacDonald.

Top 3 movies of all time?

The Neverending Story is probably my all-time favorite. I don't know that I could think of anything else to compare it to. The novel of the same name by Michael Ende is wonderful, too.

What do you read the most? Fiction or non-fiction?

Some of both. Usually fiction for pleasure, but I have a lot of non-fiction reading that I have to do for other things.

Is your book in Print, ebook or both?

Both. The series if for sale in the original three books for the Kindle ("Cry for the Moon", "Behind Blue Eyes", and "More Golden Than Day", in that order), and then there's also a print edition which contains all three volumes in one book. The print edition is available in either hardback or paperback editions, and it's simply called "The Last Werewolf Hunter: The Complete Series".

Where can your readers contact you? Links, etc.

The best place to do that is through my official author's website at www.williamwoodall.org , where you will find reviews, commentary, articles I've written, free short stories and poetry, and all kinds of other things. I always like to hear from fans.

FREE! Limited Time Only

2012-01-05T10:19:00.005Z

My vampire historical novel FROZEN IN TIME is free for 3 days only on Amazon (Kindle) starting from today.

Make sure you grab yourselves a copy. The only thing I ask in return is for you to read it and, if you can, give me a review. Thanks! But of course, you don't have to review it at all. It would be nice though and I would appreciate it.

Author Interview - Christiana Miller

2012-01-02T10:48:00.009Z

Please tell us a little about yourself.

I lead a quirky life, which is probably why my characters tend to be quirky. I've written for television. I've had my DNA shot into space (it's currently residing on the International Space Station). I've also been the voices of all the female warriors on the Mortal Kombat games.

What is your book about?

It's about a young woman who learns that using a little magic can go a long way -- to totally screwing up her life!

Mara is having the worst month of her life. At least, that's what her cards tell her and they've never been wrong. She's evicted from her apartment, loses her job and is banned from Beverly Hills. So when the tarot cards predict her imminent demise, she uses a little magic to make her world right.

Suddenly, an aunt she's never met dies, leaving Mara as her sole heir. But when Mara moves into her inherited home, she discovers Aunt Tillie never moved out. She's still one pissed-off old lady, even post-mortem, and she blames Mara's magical meddling for her death.

When Mara accidentally releases a demon and awakens the spirit of the most powerful witch in history, Tillie's ready to kill her -- literally. It's the only way she can think of to save the girl from herself. The witch and the demon, however, have other plans for Mara's body!

If you're interested in checking out a sample (and it's an actually decent-sized sample, not just a bunch of extraneous front matter) it's available at Amazon at http://amzn.to/tilliedead

How long did it take you to write?

A ridiculously long time! I rewrote it a ton of times. I put it away for a couple of years. I wrote for TV for a bit. Then recently, I brought the manuscript back out and rewrote it again. From the original conception to the finished manuscript, it probably took seven years. Although, that also includes a lot of time off, working on other projects.

What inspired you to write this novel?

It was inspired by a dream/idea I had when my dad was dying from cancer. I was spending his last Christmas with him, trying to figure out what to write. Shortly after he passed away, scenes for this book started popping up in my head.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

When I was a kid, I loved to read and when I was sick, I liked to re-read stories I already knew. So, I would send my dad to the library to bring back books for me -- armed with only the storyline and character descriptions, since I (oddly) couldn't remember the titles. He'd come back from the library, annoyed at having spent hours there looking for these stories when, according to the librarian, they hadn't actually been written yet. It was just my fevered imagination, making up stories. And yet, I still didn't realize I would be a writer -- I just thought I was an imaginative reader. As I was trying to decide what I was going to be when I grew up, I kept bumping into the word "writer" and wondering what that word was doing in my life! What can I say -- I spent a lot of years in denial!

What part of writing do you struggle with? Character, plot, description or dialogue?

Probably the most challenging thing for me is description. I love writing dialogue and character. But I've always hated reading books where the main character takes 87 pages to cross a room, so I've always shied away from massive quantities of description and introspection.

What made you decide on self-publishing?

Honestly, it was two things. One was that I was going to be moderating a self-publishing panel, and I wanted to know how to do it, so I'd know what questions to ask. But the straw that broke the camel's back however, was when I sent a query to an agent whom I had long admired and who repped other authors in my genre. I got a rejection email back from them, explaining how they really enjoyed the pages and my writing, but the project wasn't right for them. The only problem was, I hadn't included any pages with the query. And that pretty much did it for me. I was done with querying at that point. And, at the same time, I was watching a friend of mine making a living at indie publishing, so I knew it was a viable option.

Did you have a professional editor?

Yes and no. It depends on the project.

Do you edit as you write or wait until your book is finished?

I edit as I write, I edit when I'm done. I edit the previous day's work before I start writing, and then I rewrite compulsively. If I wasn't a writer, I'd be an editor. I'm a Virgo and for me, where my Virgoness really comes out to play is in my writing.

Are you currently working on any projects?

Of course! Constantly. People should join my email list or like my Facebook page to stay on top of new releases. :-D

Any advice for new authors?

Don't stop writing. Keep writing. They say it takes 10,000 hours to become proficient at it, so you may as well sit your butt in the chair and get those hours over with. Also, don't let the gatekeepers take your power and dictate to you what your career is or is not going to be. So much of the time, their criteria is something completely other than the quality of your work. Take control of your own career. Define yourself. Don't wait for others to define you.

Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what type of music?

I keep meaning to, but I forget. Usually, I'm listening to the characters in my head so hard, I don't realize the room itself is actually silent. Although, for awhile, (before my daughter went to school), I had to learn how to write when kid's cartoons were on PBS and Nick Jr. It actually got to the point where I had to turn them on when I was writing! But overall, I think I prefer silence.

Best time of day to write?

If I'm in my office, in the afternoon. If I'm at home, late at night. I've always been a night owl. But I used to drive my husband crazy when I wrote from 6:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m., so I've had to modify that a bit.

Top 3 authors?

I have such a hard time limiting them to 3. In terms of who makes me stay up all night finishing their books, it would be Janet Evanovich, Tony Hillerman and Dick Francis. But since Tony and Dick have both passed on now, maybe I should substitute in Carl Hiaason and Elmore Leonard. I've been a huge fan of Sara Gruen's since she wrote Riding Lessons. Oh, gosh. Don't get me started. I love sooooo many different authors.

Top 3 novels of all time?

Yikes. Can't answer for all time, because time hasn't ended yet. But so far, 3 of my favorite novels are: Riders by Jilly Cooper, Maybe This Time by Jennifer Cruisie, Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. I like fun paranormals, fun mysteries and almost anything with horses or elephants. :-D

Top 3 movies of all time?

Yikes. Ditto the disclaimer above. Right now, my favorite movies are the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Gene Wilder was my first film crush). Also Murphy's Romance with Sally Field and James Garner. I saw it years ago and fell in love with James Garner. Hmmm. I think I'm seeing a pattern here. And, for the third one… I think my daughter would disown me if I didn't pick James Cameron's Avatar. Although, no, I haven't fallen in love with Jake.

However, I am currently in the middle of watching an old Cary Grant film that I'm completely loving -- Sylvia Scarlett (and yes, I'm totally in love with Cary Grant. And Harrison Ford). Oh, man. I have to add Raiders of the Lost Ark to this list! I've watched Raiders so much, I've memorized it. (Sorry, James Cameron. Indiana Jones kicks Avatar butt. Just don't tell my daughter! LOL!). Harrison Ford, George Clooney, Cary Grant, James Garner and Gene Wilder are my film crushes.

I've actually had the pleasure of meeting George Clooney in person and he is just as jaw-droppingly attractive and intelligent and funny in person as he appears to be when he's on-camera.

Oh, and how can I not include Ghostbusters? That's one of my top films as well. See what I mean? I just can not limit myself to three of anything!

What do you read the most? Fiction or non-fiction?

I read both, really. Although probably more fiction. When I was a kid, I would clear the library shelves out, bringing home forty or fifty books at a time, (avid reader was an understatement!), until they instituted a ten-book limit. I found out later that they had done that because of me! Can you tell the library figures prominently in my childhood?

Is your book in Print, ebook or both?

It's available in both. But can I put a plug in here? Books live and die on reviews. If you read a book -- any book -- please, please, please post a review on Amazon or B&N or iTunes. Your authors will love you for it.

Where can your readers contact you? Links, etc.

They can email me at christiana_miller(at)aol[dot]com. Isn't it a pain that we have to use all those extraneous characters when we share email addresses nowadays? They can also check out more about me at my website, www.christianamiller.com or like my facebook page at (I know this link looks weird, but I shortened it at bit.ly) http://on.fb.me/christianamiller.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T13:05:00.002Z

Wishing you all a wonderful 2012!

AGE OF DREAMS - Free on Amazon US

2011-12-30T14:43:00.004Z

My novel Age of Dreams is still free on Amazon US.

Check it out here!

And please leave a review on Amazon after your read it.

Thanks so much!

Author Interviews - Ursula Bauer

2011-12-30T14:33:00.008Z

Please tell us a little about yourself.

I write romantic fiction with suspense, paranormal and mystery elements. I love cooking, eating, causing trouble, football, writing, reading and playing games. I’m a serious original geek, and I’ve plyed the trades of a soldier, fortune teller, and Realtor, in addition to being a Registered Nurse and an author. I once climbed a five story building in Manhattan with a friend years ago on a dare, and locked a Drill Sergeant in a porto-potty as a joke in basic training. I make espresso in a moka pot the old fashioned way, get a monthly order of a strong china black tea called Golden Monkey, and recently conducted a test-kitchen experiment in making different Apple Strudels with my grandfather when he came to stay for the holidays. I’m always up for an adventure and rarely am I ever considered the voice of reason.

What is your book about?

A Haunting Affair is a contemporary mystery romance with paranormal elements, set in the Adirondack mountains.Ex-cop Sam Tyler's death bed promise to solve the cold case murder of his friend's wife has him working hand in hand with sexy Emma Bishop, a psychic with a shady past. Neither expects the case to go hot, or passion to reach flash point between them. With a killer drawing a target on them, and vengeful spirits gathering to make the living pay for past sins, love and truth will be put to the ultimate test

How long did it take you to write?

I wrote it over the space of a year, taking a few breaks in between. It was a change, as my first two books took about three months each to write, once I had the outlines in place.

What inspired you to write this novel?

The Adirondacks sparked my imagination. I vacation frequently at Lake Placid and there are a fair number of unusual and unsolved cases ‘up in them thar hills’. We were on a boat tour of the actual lake and the guide told the story of a very wealthy unmarried heiress, the last of her line, who vanished mysteriously and was later discovered at the bottom of the lake, with chains wrapped round her body. The death was ruled a suicide. The police declared she’d rowed herself to far point of the lake where a deep basin exists, donned the chains and jumped in to die. Its fantastic, especially since at the time of her death she had a broken arm (or shoulder, I forget which), and would have had difficulty getting dressed, let alone rowing out to that desolate spot and garbing up in heavy metal. There is great wealth, remote locations, old families and older secrets, all tucked away in the High Peaks region, that it got my mind going. At the same time I’d been reading up on mediums, and between the peculiar power of the mountains, that, and my fascination with the way old crimes often refuse to go away, the story came to life.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

Third grade. We were supposed to write a story about thanksgiving. Mine was about a space faring turkey named Gobble (original, right?). He came down and liberated the other turkeys. I had illustrated it as well, including a picture of a large axe, and frantic turkeys running wild in the margins. I may have decided earlier than that, but it all crystallized with that story. If I’d done something like that now, I probably would have been kicked out of school. Instead, my creativity was encourages. Interesting days, those.

What part of writing do you struggle with? Character, plot, description or dialogue?

Byzantine plotting is my danger zone. I’m an old game geek and used to be the game/dungeon master, and former spy novel addict, so I like a lot of things going into the brew to keep everyone guessing. It works, I get great feedback on keeping pacing tight, and keeping people guessing, however, to get to that point I have to really scale back in the prep work for the book. I was reading Agatha Christie’s biography recently. Early on she’d received instruction from a neighbor and infamous author at the time, and she remarked upon how solid the advice had been, particularly a comment about plot. He’d told her she was cramming too much plot into things (this was prior to her first book, she was an early teen I believe). Too much plot often required too much wording or book to tell the story, and you’d lose the reader if you didn’t have the skill to really pull it off. Plus, why waste all that plot on one book. Brilliant.

What made you decide on self-publishing?

I wasn’t certain how much I could commit to someone else’s time line or schedule on this book. My first two went through Samhain publishing, and there were all manner of deadlines and commitments. My life is fairly busy, and several things were going on that I wanted to make sure had the necessary attention. I knew I wouldn’t be able to promise anything, nor did I feel like I wanted to be on the clock. I was also starting to convert my lifestyle to an island time, or la dolce vita (the sweet life), focus. I wanted to be able to stop, smell roses when I wanted, wander a bit, and relax into a different lifestyle. Self-publishing put me on no one’s timeline but my own, and allowed me the space I felt I needed.

Did you have a professional editor?

Yes, Anne LaFarge. I also had a beta reader, and belong to a crit group of multi-published authors who are brutal.

Do you edit as you write or wait until your book is finished?

I outline, write (a few scenes or chapters), submit to crit, get feedback, revise a bit, but keep pushing forward until the book is done. Then I tighten up, have a beta reader review, and after that, on to editors.

Are you currently working on any projects?

I’m working on the follow up book to A Haunting Affair, set in the same town. Jake Meyer, the sheriff from the first book, (and the most tragic and eligible bachelor in town), is the hero. I’m also working on a short story for release in January. It’s a light paranormal mystery featuring a medium, a ghost hunter, a mansion and a murder. The medium is Emma’s boss from A Haunting Affair, and the story takes place in my adopted home town of Troy, New York.

Any advice for new authors?

Write. Write. Write some more. In between all of that writing, go do weird things, explore the world (on line, outside your door, how ever works best), read, and feed your head. But no matter what, don’t stop writing. Don’t let market, or anyone’s negativity grind you down. Get out there and do your thing.

Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what type of music?

I do a playlist for each book. I’m a huge rock and roll fan and old metal head, but I’m also a reformed musician so I enjoy a wide variety of sound. I mix it up, from metal to techno to 80’s new wave, punk, soul, blues, world beat, polka, it’s all fair game. Sometimes a song or a band will capture the ‘feeling’ of a book, or a character. So I might play that again and again until it’s inside of me, and I use that to inform character action. Once I’ve played a bunch of tunes, though, it’s not unusual for me to hit mid book and finish the rest without music. Once I’m wrapped up in the writing, I can’t pay attention to much else. It all fades away.

Best time of day to write?

Depends on the book. Lately mornings and afternoons work. Last two books were all night books. The short story likes the after the day job slot.

Top 3 authors?

Agatha Christie, Nora Roberts, Terry Pratchett

Top 3 novels of all time?

Just three? Wow, there are so many, and I discover more every day.

Born in Ice (Nora Roberts) – Fun, intense, something about it resonated with me and I can read it again and again. Plus, the hero leaves. Things are not easily resolved. People are jerks. Life gets messy. And yet, there is magic, and there is love. Sort of like life.

The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum) – It introduced me to the amnesia plot line, and the life within a life theme, which I love! Plus, it kept me guessing every step of the way. I read it when I was very young, and first allowed to take books from the adult section of the library.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams) – Never underestimate the value of a good towel.

Top 3 movies of all time?

Star Wars IV – A New Hope, original, where Han shoots first. I saw that in the theater, and something changed in me forever.

Star Wars V – The Empire Strikes Back. Two words: Boba Fett. Man, that was a crazy flick!

The Bird Cage – Terminally funny, witty, crazy, absurd, intense. I can watch this over and over.

What do you read the most? Fiction or non-fiction?

Probably sixty forty in favor of fiction.

Is your book in Print, ebook or both?

A Haunting Affair is currently digital only.

Where can your readers contact you? Links, etc.

www.ursulabauer.com

http://www.facebook.com/people/Ursula-Bauer/1811373345

Blessed Yule to you all!

2011-12-24T15:57:00.000Z

~Magickal Graphics~
I would like to wish you all a Blessed Yule, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Author Interview - Marie Symeou

2011-12-24T14:44:00.002Z

As it's Christmas I thought it would be fun to answer my own interview questions to let you all know a little about me.

Please tell us a little about yourself.

Well, I was born and raised in London, and still live there. Hope to leave soon though, as it really isn't good for my health. I've loved reading all my life, and have always been passionate about music from an early age. I write novels, scripts, lyrics, soon to start a cat memoir, and I sing and write songs.

What is your book about?

FROZEN IN TIME is the story of an Ancient Greek vampire. It's set in the 4th century BC. Before he becomes a vampire, a man called Philip rescues the love of his life Amaranthea from her controlling father and marries her. But things don't turn out like he expected. After he loses her in childbirth he joins Alexander the Great's army (in my story, Alexander is Philip's half-brother). On the night before the battle of Issus. a heartbroken Philip meets a vampire in the guise of his dead wife. She tricks him into becoming a vampire, and he now finds himself trapped on the vampire's Island. He now must find a way to escape, and with the help of an immortal sorceress he must find the link to another world, a parallel world, a kind of faery realm which contains a secret ingredient which will help in destroying the most powerful vampire of all, his maker. Philip also begins searching for his wife.... reborn, but this doesn't turn out like he expected either. The novel is not simply about vampires though as it deals with deeper stuff like love and explores humanity, the afterlife, immortality and reincarnation.

How long did it take you to write?

About two years.

What inspired you to write this novel?

It's an idea I had many years ago, after being inspired by watching Interview With The Vampire. Also, I've always been interested in Ancient Greece and thought how great it would be to invent an ancient Greek vampire.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

When I was young I used to write my own magazines and little books. However, I was always interested in singing so pursued that for a while. But it was always in the back in my mind that I wanted to write novels one day.

What part of writing do you struggle with? Character, plot, description or dialogue?

Description. I never know how much to put in. Personally, for me, when I'm reading a novel (mainly because I don't have the time to read as much as I'd like) I tend to skip long descriptive passages, so I can't help but believe that less is more.

What made you decide on self-publishing?

I'd had enough of rejections with my previous 2 novels so I thought I'd try it differently with this one. Also heard inspiring success stories from other indie authors, and yes, mainly reading about Amanda Hocking's success helped me decide that it was the right way to go at this moment in time. I just thought, why not? There is nothing wrong with self-publishing. Even great poets and writers like Percy Bysshe Shelley and many others are known to have self-published.

Did you have a professional editor?

I did have the first draft of Frozen looked at by a literary consultancy, but I did the final edits myself.

Do you edit as you write or wait until your book is finished?

Sometimes I do both. It depends really.

Are you currently working on any projects?

The sequel to Frozen, a screenplay and a cat memoir.

Any advice for new authors?

Write what you want to read and what you are passionate about.

Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what type of music?

Music is my passion and I can't exist without it. When writing I listen to film soundtracks mostly, like the work of Hans Zimmer. Then there's my favourite band Nightwish, whose music is also inspired by movie soundtracks. Sometimes words distract me though, so I tend to listen to the instrumental versions of their albums. Their latest Imaginaerum is bound to inspire me with the writing of Book 2.

Best time of day to write?

Early morning and late afternoon.

Top 3 authors?

Anne Rice, Emily Bronte, Mary Shelley

Top 3 novels of all time?

Wuthering Heights, Dracula, Frankenstein

Top 3 movies of all time?

Bram Stoker's Dracula

Interview With The Vampire

The Omen (1976)

What do you read the most? Fiction or non-fiction?

I enjoy both, but I tend to read more non-fiction these days. Mainly as research for my novels, but I also have a very inquisitive mind and love learning new things. I go through phases too, and right now I am obsessed with books about animal communication, and of course animal memoirs, mostly cat ones.

Is your book in Print, ebook or both?

Both.

Where can your readers contact you?

New Cover and FREE!

2011-12-24T14:31:00.002Z

Yes, ebook version of Frozen In Time now has a new cover. It's also free for 2 days.

Download now!

AMAZON US http://www.amazon.com/Frozen-In-Time-ebook/dp/B005NW1XHO/ref=zg_bs_158582011_26

AMAZON UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005NW1XHO/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_L7D9ob0KJ1TC8

FREE GHOST STORY!

2011-12-23T13:13:00.000Z

Here's a Christmas gift to my readers and followers.

You can download my short ghost story here SMASHWORDS

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Author Interview - Ruby Goodnight

2011-12-22T15:11:00.014Z

Please tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a 32 year old American, living and loving in the hills of England. I’m married to a lovely woman, and we have a 14 month old son. I work from home, writing content for web sites and ghost-writing for others when I’m not working on my own stories. I use Ruby Goodnight as a pen name, since my real one is much less exciting and not quite as Bond-worthy.

What is your book about?
My story is a spin of the classic Snow White story from our childhood, but in this case, rather than fleeing to a house of dwarves, she finds shelter in a fetish brothel. It’s not for those who don’t like a bit of kink in their reading, since Snow White engages in quite a few different fetishes and learns to love her naughty side in return for her safe keeping.

How long did it take you to write?
Not long at all, really. From brainstorming to final product, just a week or so. It’s a short story to start with, and I always seem to write fast when I write on this topic.

What inspired you to write this novel?
I wanted to find a way to please a lot of my readers in the S&M world with a little bit of a taste of several different scenarios. It’s almost a introduction of what the world can be like in the guide of a kinky fairy tale.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?
When my former employer demanded higher hours when I returned from maternity leave, my wife and I made the decision that he was the priority, and decided to take my writing and go full time. I started out ghost writing erotica for a number of clients, when one finally turned to me and told me I needed to start getting my stories out there under my ‘own name’. The fact that one told me that they were earning 5 times what they paid me also made me seriously consider it.

What part of writing do you struggle with? Character, plot, description or dialogue?
I do struggle a bit with descriptions, as in how far can I push the reader out of their comfort zone, and into a new world to explore. I always debate where to draw the line and keep things a bit on the mild side, and where to push it to the extreme.

What made you decide on self-publishing?
It just seemed to be the easiest option available to me.

Did you have a professional editor?
Nope.

Do you edit as you write or wait until your book is finished?
I always edit as I write. I’ve been told not to, as it can disrupt the flow, and it’s a habit I’m trying to break.

Are you currently working on any projects?
I do have a ghost-writing project that I’m working on, but I’m in the brainstorming stages of another book. It’s another fetish erotica piece.

Any advice for new authors?
I do encourage newbies to ghost-write for others. It’s a way to start building up a regular rate of income that you can live on while your own book is in its early stages.

Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what type of music?
I don’t listen to music, but I do have the television on in the background. Usually either BBC news or Disney Junior.

Best time of day to write?

Late morning – right after my son goes down for his nap, and I still have a bit of a caffine buzz from my morning cup of coffee.

Top 3 authors?
A.N. Roquelaure‎, Charlaine Harris, J. R. R. Tolkien

Top 3 novels of all time?
Story of O, The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty, The Silmarillion

Top 3 movies of all time?
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Rear Window , Eyes Wide Shut

What do you read the most? Fiction or non-fiction?
Non-fiction – I like to read to learn, so whenever I can get my hands on a book covering a topic I don’t know all that much about but am interested in, I scoop it up.

Is your book in Print, ebook or both?
Just ebook.

Where can your readers contact you? Links, etc.
http://rubygoodnight.com is my web site.
I’m also on facebook – http://facebook.com/rubygoodnight, and on Twitter as @RubyGoodnight.

Angel Wings - Song For Dad

2011-12-21T06:45:00.000Z

I wrote this song with my brother for our late dad. We lost him in September last year and so we decided to compose this for him. It's a song about losing someone and coping with the grief, but also hopeful that the loved one is still near and death does not really part us.

Today would have been his 71st birthday.
Miss you Dad. xxx

Author Interview - Stuart Millard

2011-12-20T17:30:00.002Z

Please tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Stuart Millard, I'm 32, British and live by the beach. That last part is only really notable to others who've grown up by the beach, and know they could never live anywhere else. The occupation field on my passport possibly reads 'Writer, Time Traveller, Jack the Ripper'

What is your book about?

Dirt Baby and Other Small Mercies is best pitched as “a strange little book of strange little stories,” covering such ground as suicidal snowmen, spectral traffickers smuggling ghosts for those who crave the social cache of a haunted home, and a pill that blocks the feelings of love. It's a mini-length, mini-priced collection in its own right, but also a perfect entry level piece into my other, longer work; the full-length Frantic Planet series, of similarly toned short fiction and novellas.

How long did it take you to write?

It's an odd one, in that I didn't set out to actively create this book. The stories that eventually became Dirt Baby all fell out of my brain-pan over the course of a year, while I was busy writing other stuff, and were essentially homeless word-hobos until this book came into being and gave them somewhere to set their bindles. Dirt Baby is comprised of random moments of inspiration. The stories that hit, every now and then, and wouldn't leave me alone until I'd sicked them out onto the page.

What inspired you to write this novel?

As is the nature of the anthology, various things. For instance, the clinically depressed snowman was inspired by a long, hard winter where the snow stayed around forever – long past the point of chocolate box magic – until it was dirty and lifeless underfoot. A little of the Dignitas suicide clinic debate must have snuck into my mind, pulling the two together.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

I was 21 or 22, which always felt a little late, but once you hit your thirties and drop the notion that you were destined to be the enfant terrible of your chosen field, I guess it's not so late after all. I think if you knew me, always with a notepad in my pocket, and utterly consumed by writing, you'd assume I was one of those people who kept a journal as a teen and read pretentious literature throughout highschool, but I didn't hit upon which specific direction to point my creative aches until my twenties. But once I found writing, that was it, I was in until the grave.

What part of writing do you struggle with? Character, plot, description or dialogue?

Focus is my main struggle. The next idea's always more interesting than what you're doing right now, and there are infinite next ideas prodding at my ribs while I'm trying to write the current one.

What made you decide on self-publishing?

I'm a control freak. Plus, going Indie allows you to put together these collections of weird little shorts that really have no place existing anywhere else, like a freakshow, or a home for unwanted children with a very specific hidden talent. Shorts in particular are an impossibly hard sell to a traditional publisher, especially stuff that's a little more esoteric, and self-pub gives me the freedom to do exactly what I want, like weaving a bunch of stories together or setting 300 word flash pieces up against 35,000 word novellas, with equal footing.

Did you have a professional editor?

Nope. So far, it's all me.

Do you edit as you write or wait until your book is finished?

I do edit as I'm going along, but once I hit the end, I'll take pass after pass after pass until I'm happy. Distance is a good thing too, if you can find a few weeks to put a little breathing space between drafts and see things with a fresh pair of eyes. For specific context, Frantic Planet: Volume II, all 115,000 words of it, went through eleven full drafts.

Are you currently working on any projects?

Always. Currently, I'm shipping a novel around the traditional way, working on another, entirely separate novel for the Kindle – the start of a new series – and adapting something from Volume II into a screenplay.

Any advice for new authors?

Write. Just write. Actually do it. Too many people get sweet on the idea of being able to refer to themselves as a writer, but aren't willing to put in the hours. Writing is a craft, and it takes a long, long time to hone that into anything remotely worth sharing. If you want the payoff, sit down in front of that blank page, and write, write, write. One of the side-effects of indie publishing's rise is the easy ability to upload any old garbage to the Kindle store, allowing anybody to swan around calling themselves a published author. Don't be that guy (or girl). It shouldn't be your goal to be an author, it should be your goal to be a fantastic one; the best, most original author you can be.

Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what type of music?

I do, and it totally depends on what I'm writing at the time. The seventies-based novel I spent the last couple of years on had era-specific playlists, to get me in the mood. I think about my stories as if they were a movie, and listening to the kind of songs I imagine would be on the soundtrack helps things along sometimes, as far as visualising goes.

Best time of day to write?

I'm a total night writer. 6:pm – 1:30am is when I'm most productive.

Top 3 authors?

Charles Fort, H.P. Lovecraft, Mark Z. Danielewski.

Top 3 novels of all time?

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

Dracula by Bram Stoker

It by Stephen King

Top 3 movies of all time?

Karate Kid, Ghostbusters and The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser.

What do you read the most? Fiction or non-fiction?

I read way, way more non-fiction. I have a self-imposed ban on reading prose fiction if I'm writing my own, and over the past few years, I've been writing my own stuff constantly, so I've not got a lot of fiction reading done. I'm infinitely more of a movie nerd than a book nerd, anyway. My influences are all cinematic.

Is your book in Print, ebook or both?

Frantic Planet: Volume I and II are both in paperback and on the Kindle store, while Dirt Baby is a Kindle exclusive. Although thanks to the heftier royalties on the Kindle version, I tend to act as though the paperbacks don't exist. If our books are our children, once the Kindle editions came along, I was the paperbacks' absent father.

Where can your readers contact you?

I'm a pretty regular blogger, over on http://franticplanet.wordpress.com, and the main site about my other books iswww.franticplanet.com

You can also find me on Twitter @franticplanet

Another Nightwish Masterpiece

2011-12-16T10:53:00.008Z

Nightwish are known for their epic songs, and this one is no exception. Entitled Song of Myself, and inspired by the poem by Walt Whitman, it's taken from their latest album Imaginaerum.

It's one of those songs that you have to be in the mood for to really appreciate it's greatness I think. For me, Nightwish are the greatest band out there at the moment. And I love everything this Finnish band comes up with.

Author Interview - Howard McEwen

2011-12-16T10:42:00.006Z

Please tell us a little about yourself.

I'm a 41 year old white, male living with an equally aged wife and two daughters in the little river city of Bellevue, Kentucky. By day I'm an investment advisor. By night, I write.

What is your book about?

Wrath - the life and assassination of a United States Governor is a fictional account of the life of William Goebel. Goebel remains the only sitting U.S. governor to be assassinated. Many felt Goebel deserved his bullet.

Chiefly, it's about how Goebel overcame several unique drawbacks to become governor. The chief drawback was that five years before his election he shot a fellow Democrat in broad daylight on a city street standing next to the attorney general of the state.

How long did it take you to write?
I wrote it over three years. I'm not very disciplined in my writing. Basically, when work gets slow and others abandoned the office for the golf course or bar or for home I would write.

What inspired you to write this novel?

I was meandering through the local public library when I came across a thin, blue volume called Goebel: the politics of wrath. It was a thirty plus year old biography of Goebel. I'd never heard of him but found a seat and read the book through. It's an amazing political/historical story. I'm a political and history junkie and was surprised I'd never heard of Goebel.

But what really inspired me is that in this biography the author almost skips past Goebel's murder of John Sanford in broad daylight standing next to the chief law enforcement office of the state and five years later is elected governor. That's high drama to me but to a historian, I guess, it's just another fact to be presented.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

I don't think there ever was a decision. When I was in grade school I discovered that while I couldn't run well, do math well or flirt with girls well I could string together a bunch of words better than most. It was something I was good at and something I nurtured in myself.

It's become therapy now.

What part of writing do you struggle with? Character, plot, description or dialogue?

I struggle with how much to write. I'm a sparse writer. I believe a reader is better able to imagine a scene than most writers can write it. However, you do need to give them something to build on. I struggle with what to leave in and what to leave out.

What made you decide on self-publishing?

The first was that I wanted to give a singular vision. If I was lucky enough to make it through the gauntlet of traditional publishing I'd have numerous people tell me what's wrong with the book. On a marketing side they may be right but it's not what I wanted.

Also, going the traditional route didn't make financial sense. I spent years writing a book then years trying to get it printed then a few weeks trying to sell it to the public for an average advance of a few thousand bucks seemed silly.

I have a buddy who is trying to sell a novel the traditional way. After hours of talking with him I realized he won't even consider self-publishing because he wants the pat on the head that comes with an agent and then publisher saying "we like you and your book". Luckily, I don't need that. So his book sits unread gathering electronic dust on his hard drive while mine has been read by many more.

Did you have a professional editor?

No. This is a work of love. Again it goes back to my wanting to have a singular vision for Wrath. However, I can see the merits. How could I not? Max Perkins, anyone?

Do you edit as you write or wait until your book is finished?

I edit as I write. I find that I have to do that to keep the same voice and tone throughout the novel. For example, I'll write a chapter on Saturday and be ready to go for another chapter on Sunday but to make them fit I have to read over and get back into the Saturday chapter before moving on.

After the book is completed I do more editing (re-writing). And more. And more. Then some more. I don't pick up Wrath and flip through it because I know whatever my eye lands on I'll think, that bit could be better.

Are you currently working on any projects?

Wrath was a pretty serious novel where I tried to delve deep into the psyche of some pretty dark people. I then wrote a novella about a self-absorbed father who destroys his family. I'm letting that one sit for a while before I release it.

For a change I'm writing a series of humorous cozy detective-ish stories. They are much lighter with (so far) plenty of humor. I'm getting too old to do the dark stuff anymore.

Any advice for new authors?

Write. Read. Read good stuff and read crap. You learn from both. Avoid the fads and styles that make up 95% of the 'literary' world. Read Hemingway's The End of Something once a year. Read it annually to learn and to give yourself a dose of humility. Don't read it more often because it will give you a dose of discouragement. Anyway, it's the best writing lesson I ever had. Read. Write.

Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what type of music?

I can't listen to good music when I write because the music draws my thoughts away from the page. So, if I listen to anything, it's pop/rock. It's all crap that won't intrude on your thoughts.

Best time of day to write?

I write when I can. I don't have the luxury of being choosy.

Top 3 authors?

Hemingway for the grace

Edgar Rice Burroughs to keep the action moving…no matter what!

P.G. Wodehouse for dialogue, plotting, humor, action, and insight into the human soul.

Top 3 novels of all time?

The Magnificent Ambersons - for its focus
One Hundred Years of Solitude - for its scope

A Farewell to Arms - for its simple, clear writing and sentiment.

Top 3 movies of all time?
Ikiru

The Philadelphia Story

The African Queen

Also, the films of Paddy Cheyefsky get an honorable mention.

What do you read the most? Fiction or non-fiction?

I read fiction growing up but then went through a period of intense study in my professional field. That lasted five years where I didn't read much (if any) fiction. When I came out of it I realized that fiction just couldn't or wouldn't hold my interest. Thankfully, I got back into fiction a few years ago.

Is your book in Print, ebook or both?

Both! But an ebook saves trees and the fossil fuels it'd take to deliver the paper version!

Where can your readers contact you? Links, etc.

www.howardmcewen.com

Author Interview - Ty Hutchinson

2011-12-16T08:12:00.003Z

Please tell us a little about yourself.

I grew up in Hawaii, which was pretty awesome. I spent the last twenty-two years in the advertising business, still in it by the way. It’s a fun way to make a living. I’ve been told I have no filter when I speak. I can agree with that. I love to travel and experience new cultures and the people that live there. I love eating and cooking but eating more. I like video games and music and reading and people watching. I like people who actually do things with their ideas. I like it when people aren’t afraid to put themselves out there and try something and then do it well. I like dogs, not so much cats.

What is your book about?

It’s about a salesman who sets out to become the first telecommunications consultant to the criminal underworld. Well, that’s what the Darby Stansfield thriller series is about. Each book is a different adventure. In STROGANOV, Darby is set on finding love, though he decides to do it in an unconventional way. Before he knows it, he’s caught up in sex trafficking war between the Ukrainian government and the Russian mob. Once again, Darby must untangle the mess without getting himself or anyone he knows killed. That’s the life of someone who consults with organized crime—always in the wrong place, at the wrong time, all of the time. The series has been liken to Tarantino meets The Office.

How long did it take you to write?

Probably five months stretched out over a year.

What inspired you to write this novel?

Well it’s the second book in the series. Not much inspiration was needed except I love the series and would like to keep it going for as long as possible.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

Well, I’ve been a copywriter for over ten years, so writing is nothing new to me. Yeah, it’s different but there are a lot of similarities between copywriting and writing a book. I won’t bore you with them. Unless you’ve done the type of advertising I’ve done, you won’t understand. I decided to write a novel not long ago. I remember the time. It was the summer of 2009. I was on the set of a commercial I was making and having a conversation with the director. We were talking about side projects and other things we did, besides the day job. I had this idea about a consultant to the criminal underworld but didn’t quite know what to do with it. Should I turn it into screenplay? Maybe a book was better. I pitched him the idea and he laughed. He was probably the sixth person I told the idea to that responded favorly. That’s when I decided I was going to do something with it. It made complete sense to turn it into a book because it required less help from others and when I was done, it was done. Unlike writing a screenplay. When you finish the script, it’s still not done. Plus everything comes out of a book. So I started there.

What part of writing do you struggle with? Character, plot, description or dialogue?

Probably description. It doesn’t come natural to me. Sometimes I’ll forget to describe the restaurant or a room. I guess part of it is because I don’t like overly descriptive books. I like just enough to keep the story going. I’m a minimalist.

What made you decide on self-publishing?

Well in advertising, that’s what we do. We make stuff. We make commercials, we make radio spots, we make web films, and we make print ads and brochures. So coming up with an idea, flushing it out and seeing it through the production process is something I’ve always done. Once I realized I had the option to self-published. I immediately went this route and never gave the traditional route any thought.

Did you have a professional editor?

Ah, yes.

Do you edit as you write or wait until your book is finished?

I tend to get the story down first and then edit later. It’s how I’ve always worked. Get the idea flushed out and then work on polishing it.

Are you currently working on any projects?

When I first started writing books, I was overwhelmed. I couldn’t understand why so many authors would start another book before finishing one or how they could have two or three in the works. Well, now I understand. A novel has various stages that require different commitments of time and energy from the author. So what I try to do is have a book at every stage. I have one in the outlining/research stage. I have another in the draft stage. And yet another in the production stage. It’s a way of keeping this very long pipeline full of work. Plus authors are always coming up with new ideas for books that they can’t wait to start, so they do. So yes, I have about three books that I’m working on.

Any advice for new authors?

Finish that first book. Don’t be afraid to have people read it. Now is the time to know if something about it sucks or doesn’t make people interested. It’s only words and you can fix it. Everything is fixable. If they didn’t laugh in one scene. Well, you go back to it and think of a funnier joke or situation. If they didn’t get the twist, go back and fix it. I think too many writers either let fear or their ego prevent them from making their book better before publishing.

Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what type of music?

Sometimes. I listen to all types. Lately it’s what I see others listening to on Spotify.

Best time of day to write?

For me, it’s the mornings.

Top 3 authors?

James Patterson. Peter Mayle. Terry Brooks.

Top 3 novels of all time?

The Sword of Shannara. A Year in Provence. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

Top 3 movies of all time?

Goodfellas. Star Wars. Wizard of Oz.

What do you read the most? Fiction or non-fiction?

I read more fiction now because it’s what I write.

Is your book in Print, ebook or both?

STROGANOV will be out soon. CHOP SUEY, the first book in the series is out now. It’s available in both print and ebook. It's available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes. Now get your wallet out.

Where can your readers contact you? Links, etc.

Visit my blog or my Facebook page.

Author Interview - Elisabeth Grace Foley

2011-12-14T08:10:00.012Z

Please tell us a little about yourself.

Well, I’m 21 years old and the eldest of four children. I live at home with my family in the Northeast U.S. I’m a homeschool graduate who chose not to attend college in favor of self-education, which has been and continues to be a rewarding experience. I’m an avid reader and a lifelong history buff, which pretty much explains why I write historical fiction!

What is your book about?
It’s a collection of seven Western short stories. Rather than entirely following the traditional Western patterns of action and adventure (though of course there is some of that, too!), these stories are more character-driven, centering around people facing conflict, decisions or surprises. “Disturbing the Peace,” is about a sheriff who experiences a revelation about himself and his relationship with the people of his town, and in “Cross My Heart” a boy is torn between betraying his conscience or a fugitive friend. “A Rangeland Renaissance,” on the other hand, is pure comedy, while the title story, “The Ranch Next Door,” is a Western twist on star-crossed romance, as a cattleman’s son falls in love with the daughter of a sheep rancher despite the old feud between their families. I hope they’ll appeal to a broad range of readers as well as established Western fans.

How long did it take you to write?
A year and a half all told, but I didn’t work on it straight through that time—the stories were written in between and during other projects.

What inspired you to write it?
Well, I’d been writing Western stories for a while. When I had enough that I felt were ready to go, I decided to go ahead and publish a collection of them. Inspiration for short stories comes from all over. The title of “The Ranch Next Door” was inspired by that of a “lost” song by noted Western songwriter Bob Nolan (author of standards like “Tumbling Tumbleweeds” and “Cool Water”)—“lost” because it was registered for copyright, but no lyrics or sheet music have survived. With no idea what the original song was about, I fell to imagining what kind of story would go with that title, and had one written before I knew it!

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?
I’ve been writing something or other ever since I learned how. My mother still has my first efforts, books made from sheets of drawing paper stapled together and illustrated by the author. I daydreamed about getting published off and on over the years, but it’s been in the last two or three that I really began to get serious about my writing.

What part of writing do you struggle with? Character, plot, description or dialogue?
Plot can be tricky—that’s probably the element I’d say I’m still in the process of learning as I go along. Description can take a little effort too; I often end up tweaking and polishing it until I feel readers will get the mental picture I want them to have.

What made you decide on self-publishing?

The more I learned about it, the more I liked it as a way of doing business. I liked the aspect of artistic control over my work, and the higher royalties and ability to manage the business end myself made so much sense.

Did you have a professional editor?
No.

Do you edit as you write or wait until your book is finished?
I write my first drafts longhand, and don’t change much as I go along, but I scribble notes about possible changes or alternate takes on certain sentences in the margins for future reference. Then I type it out and edit lightly as I go along. Usually I don’t type a draft until I finish the whole story, but sometimes if I get really stuck it can help to start typing the beginning and work up as far as I’ve got—it gives a little extra impetus. Any major edits come after I’ve read it on paper and had a few other people read it.

Are you currently working on any projects?

Well, I just finished the first draft of a short murder mystery in a Western setting, which I did for a National Novel Writing Month challenge. I have some completed projects that I want to work on getting edited and published after the holidays—one is a series of Western short stories built around a recurring central character; another is a short comedy novel in a historical/Western setting.

Any advice for new authors?
I really think the best way to learn how to write is to read. Read good books, observe what works and what doesn’t. Everyone develops their own style, but there is so much you can learn from other authors. I think reading good books can also give you a sense of when your own writing is ready—it will probably take some practice before you produce something you feel is ready to publish.

Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what type of music?
No, not while I’m writing. I love music, but I like to be able to pay attention and enjoy it, which I can’t do while my mind is on writing—and vice versa.

Best time of day to write?

I prefer to work in the mornings if I can. My brain seems clearer and more focused then. Awkwardly enough, though, I get some of my best ideas late at night!

Top 3 authors?

O. Henry, B.M. Bower and Agatha Christie

Top 3 novels of all time?

Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley

Tiger Eye by B.M. Bower

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Top 3 movies of all time?
The Sound of Music

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

Sense and Sensibility (1995)

What do you read the most? Fiction or non-fiction?

The large majority is fiction. But I do enjoy some historical nonfiction.

Is your book in Print, ebook or both?

Only ebook as of now.

Where can your readers contact you? Links, etc.

My blog is at http://www.thesecondsentence.blogspot.com. I’m also on Twitter (http://twitter.com/ElisabethGFoley) and Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5266694.Elisabeth_Grace_Foley).

FREE on AMAZON!

2011-12-12T08:28:00.006Z

AGE OF DREAMS is now free to download on Amazon Kindle.

Get it in time for Christmas!

And don't forget to check out my novel FROZEN IN TIME, Only $3.45!

(£2.21 Amazon UK)

Author Interview - Mike Nettleton

2011-12-10T09:01:00.006Z

Please tell us a little about yourself.

I’m a 63 year old retired radio personality living in Vancouver, Washington. I primarily write different types of mystery novels, humorous, cozy and this time hard-boiled. I’m pretty ADD with a ton of hobbies including poker, pool, backgammon, travel and, of course reading. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and most of my books are set here. The current book Shotgun Start is an exception. The story takes place in New Mexico where my radio gypsy career took me for a dozen years.

What is your book about?

They call the genre hard-boiled, although I think there’s more to it than that. Shotgun Start involves a former cop turned golf hustler who does PI work on the side. When his ex-wife (who cheated on him) is accused of a grizzly murder he’s manipulated into working on her behalf. This puts him on a collision course with brutal biker gangs, the Mexican Mafia, methamphetamine cookers, internet pornographers, angry bears and several beautiful but treacherous woman. It’s set in and around Albuquerque, New Mexico.

How long did it take you to write?

About nine months the first time. I had it with an agent who pitched it to the major mystery publishers and didn’t get a taker. I tucked it away for four years, then pulled it out about nine months ago and began rewriting. I cut 50,000 words, rethought some of the characters and jacked up the pace.

What inspired you to write this novel?

Oddly, I wrote a scene set at the Santa Fe Opera as a short story. I read it for my group—it was well received and made people laugh, which is always a good sign. I decided I wanted to write a novel to put the scene in. I also wanted to deal with issues we all deal with in terms of letting go of a failed relationship and our shifting definition of what love is.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

I’m not sure I decided it, it just became part of my life early. Since my handwriting was so awful, my parents bought me a manual, portable Smith Corona typewriter as a graduation present. Along with my college workload I began writing poetry, short stories and even took a stab at plays. In the course of my broadcasting career I wrote a lot of advertising, news and promotional copy. I started noodling with novels about 20 years ago.

What part of writing do you struggle with? Character, plot, description or dialogue?

Getting my rear end into the chair for long enough periods of time. I mentioned the A.D.D. right? Actually, since I’m more of an auditory person than visual, creating setting details is probably my weak point. Writing dialogue is easy for me, since I tend to tune in to people’s conversations (read: eavesdropping) and pay attention to word choices, rhythms and accompanying body language.

What made you decide on self-publishing?

I’m with a P.O.D. publisher, which is a close cousin to self-publishing. My wife and sometimes co-author (Carolyn Rose) and I have had multiple agents and she even sold a book to 5-Star, got a nice little advance and they published a hard-cover. They did nothing to publicize it, didn’t get it space on bookstore shelves and decided not to ask for a second book on the contract since the first didn’t sell well. Go on and figure. She’s since put three of her books up as Kindles and Nooks, with a fourth on the way. She sells in the thousands monthly at a low price. By next year at this time, we hope to have about a dozen of our books available as eBooks. The easy answer is: We want readers and the current revolution makes it possible for us to find them and vice-versa.

Did you have a professional editor?

My wife and I edit professionally, so we don’t need to farm it out. However, I’m a better overview and novel craft editor than a close editor, so I’ll probably pay someone to fine-tooth-comb it once I’m finished crafting the story.

Do you edit as you write or wait until your book is finished?

Both. I’ll begin the days’ writing by moving back a page or two and reading up to where I left off. If I spot something wrong or a way to improve a passage, I’ll take care of it on the spot. But my primary goal with the rough draft is to spew the story onto the page. The real craft goes in during subsequent drafts.

Are you currently working on any projects?

The sequel to Shotgun Start. The working title is The Skin Game and it going to deal with the low-lifes who abduct young women, force them into prostitution and move them around the country. I’m also reworking an older YA Fantasy novel I co-wrote with my wife. I’ve also decided to change the title from The Hermit of Humbug Mountain to The Drum Warrior. The rewrites aren’t major, they just involve cleaning up some things and adding some craft based on things I’ve learned since I wrote it.

Any advice for new authors?

Ultimately, you should write for yourself. If something you write evokes an emotional response from you, anything from sadness to thoughtfulness to hilarity, you’re probably on the right track. Don’t be afraid to be playful with words and the way you put them on the page. Embrace the new world of eBooks and online marketing. The old paradigm of landing an agent and getting a big contract with a major publisher is rapidly dissolving. You can reach thousands of readers as a do-it-yourselfer.

Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what type of music?
Music has always been a big part of my life, so there’s very little I do that doesn’t include music. I like almost everything but opera and hip-hop. (Although I can take small doses of each and understand what the devotees see in them.) I’m especially partial to the blues and singer/songwriter types. My protagonist in Shotgun Start is a 40 something former head-banger so I cranked up Van Halen, Whitesnake and Golden Earring while doing the rewrites.

Best time of day to write?

Morning. I spent most of my life as a morning-show radio host so my body clock is permanently messed up. After about 4 in the afternoon, I’m useless. It’s time to veg with a good book or something we’ve DVR’d from previous nights.

Top 3 authors?

Tough one narrowing it to three. Right off the top there’s Pat Conroy, the author of The Great Santini, Beach Music and The Prince of Tides. He’s lyrical and makes me want to quit writing since I’ll never measure up. My early days devoted to science fiction created a lasting admiration for Ray Bradbury. And, as a part-time actor, I’d have to include Ol’ Will. Shakespeare wrote some astounding plays, including The Tempest which I performed in outdoors this summer in Portland.

Top 3 novels of all time?

Hmmmm! And I repeat Hmmmmm! If I must, I guess I’ll go with Beach Music by Pat Conroy,Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem and The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson. This last is a cheat, since it’s really three novels, but they’re all one story so I’ll count it as a novel. I’m a life long bookworm and have read a ton of books. Ask me tomorrow and I’d probably list three other books.

Top 3 movies of all time?

Casablanca, The Hurt Locker and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. The Swedish version not the new one with Daniel Craig. But the same thing holds true as with the novels. Another day, another three movies.

What do you read the most? Fiction or non-fiction?
Fiction. But I’m always looking for a good non-fiction read. I adored The Botany of Desire.

Is your book in Print, ebook or both?
Both.

Where can your readers contact you? Links, etc.

Here’s a link to the Amazon page for Shotgun Start

http://www.amazon.com/Shotgun-Start-Mike-Nettleton/dp/0984652418/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323128260&sr=1-1

I’ve also got a web site http://www.deadlyduomysteries.com

And, of course, the ubiquitous blog site

http://www.deadlyduoduhblog.blogspot.com

Author Interview - James Conway

2011-12-09T09:34:00.002Z

Please tell us a little about yourself.

I was born on the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi Texas. I moved thirteen times before the age of nine. Always being the new kid at school, sometimes more than once in the same year, I retreated into the sanctuary of books at an early age. In time my family settled when we moved to the suburbs of Chicago where my parents had grown up. My life settled down after that for the most part. I attended Ripon College in Wisconsin which is the Alma Mater of Spencer Tracy, Al Jarreau and Harrison Ford. I majored in English and history and left with the burning desire to write something great. After college I took a job driving a forklift for 12 hours a night in order to raise my son during the day while my wife worked. During this time I started The Vagabond King, taught myself Russian and learned a lot about life.

What is your book about?

When his mother dies and he discovers the man he believed was his father is not, sixteen year old Chris is haunted by a mysterious apparition that forces him to question his pampered existence and embark upon a quest to find himself. Hoping she will “make a man of him”, he seeks sanctuary in the home of Magda, a middle aged waitress with a penchant for sex, only to discover she lives with her father, a cigarette smoking, beer swilling immigrant.

Chris hates his shabby new surroundings at the end of the street and the shabby old man at the end of his life who spends his days listening to old blues records and making Chris fetch him fresh cans of beer. But, when the old man tells tales of Communism, torture, escape and the mysterious medallion he wears, Chris learns that, like the old man’s skipping records, history repeats itself and the roles we play have been played many times before.

How long did it take you to write?

I wrote the book, on an off, over the course of about 20 years. It was difficult because I often had to write it in the nooks and crannies of my busy day. Sometimes I thought it was like trying to piece together a book from a crossword puzzle.

What inspired you to write this novel?

I had been toying around with an idea for some sort of coming of age story throughout college. But, it wasn’t until one day in history class that it hit me like a ton of bricks. I was required to write a paper taking either the side of the “Great Man” theory of history (in which there is only one person, Napoleon, for his time in history and if that person didn’t exist history would be completely different) or the “Wave” theory (in which history would have happened the way it did regardless of whether Napoleon rose to power or not, someone else would have simply taken his place). I couldn’t write the paper because I saw both things being true at the same time. Well, if these two things could be true at the same time it meant that other things could be true at the same time. Well, one thing led to another and, like a domino effect, I came to realize that nothing could be held to be good or evil, right or wrong because both things are true at the same time. It made me question everything I had learned to be “true”. So, the questions that Chris has about life are the same questions that I had and I used the book to portray the dualistic nature of reality (young boy in love with an older woman, young boy learning from an old man etc) and, ultimately, the underlying unity of all things.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

I think it was always assumed. But it was when I read The Lord of the Rings as an adolescent that I really got the bug. I wanted to be able to move people like Tolkien's use of language moved me.

What part of writing do you struggle with? Character, plot, description or dialogue?

The narratorial voice was very difficult for me to develop, it took years. Because of the subject matter I felt it needed it to be somewhat lofty and mysterious. So I developed a musical voice which sometimes resembles poetry and sometimes resembles Blues music.

What made you decide on self-publishing?

I had been searching half heartedly for about 5 years for a publisher when I discovered the world of Indie publishing. Victorine Leiske, author of Not What She Seems encouraged me and I have got to say I'm glad she did. I can't believe how vibrant and robust the Indie author scene is.

Did you have a professional editor?

No. I edited it myself for the most part over the course of 25 drafts and then I posted it on Critique Circle and revised it further with the help of the authors on that site.

Do you edit as you write or wait until your book is finished?

Editing and writing are one and the same in my opinion. I was constantly reworking and reshaping sections of the book, moving them around to see exactly where they fit the best.

Are you currently working on any projects?

I am currently working on a project I’m calling The Mythological History of Chicago. It’s a noir mystery narrated by a trickster god and combines my interests in Quantum Physics, Taoist philosophy, history and how the human mind perceives reality.

Any advice for new authors?

Keep at it! And, remember you don't have to show it to anyone until it is perfect so don't be afraid of writing poorly. It's not like playing an instrument, no one can hear you writing poorly in the other room.

Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what type of music?

No. When I write I focus my entire concentration on what I am doing.

Best time of day to write?

The best time to be creative and generate images, metaphores, turns of phrase is the night time. The best time for making sense out of those things and writing them down and editing them is the day time.

Top 3 authors?

Tolkien, Isaak Dinesen & Garcia-Marquez

Top 3 novels of all time?

The Lord of the Rings, Love in the Time of Cholera, One hundred Years of Solitude

Top 3 movies of all time?

Ach! Now you've stumped me. Let's see. Lawrence of Arabia, The Big Lebowski and...I just don't know after that.

What do you read the most? Fiction or non-fiction?

Actually I read a lot of non fiction. In part because I am doing research for my books.

Is your book in Print, ebook or both?

Currently it is only in E version. As sales progress I will also publish a physical book.

Where can your readers contact you?

thevagabondking@myluckymail.com

Review - Nightwish "Imaginaerum"

2011-12-08T14:48:00.058Z

After much anticipation, Imaginaerum, the new album by my favourite band Nightwish, is finally in my possession. It has been a long wait (4 years since the brilliant Dark Passion Play) but it was worth it for this is truly a remarkable album. What pure joy I felt as I slipped the CD into the player before the journey of the imagination began. Each song leads onto the next with great ease, and the usual Nightwish sound remains. But there are so many other great elements all rolling and blending together making it probably their most epic album to date. But then I remember feeling the same when I first heard the Century Child and Once albums. In fact, almost all Nightwish songs leave me in awe and light a fire in my soul.

Here are my thoughts on each track (without ratings, because I don't really agree with ratings. You either like something or you don't.)

1. Taikatalvi

This short intro track starts off with a music box playing gently, leading into a fine lullaby-style vocal by Marco Hietala which is sung in Finnish. A simple but beautiful melody, with a fairytale winter wonderland feel, preparing us for the roller coaster ride ahead.

2. Storytime

This is the first single from the album and when I first heard this a few weeks ago I was simply blown away by its sheer power and energy. It put me in a good mood and I couldn't wait for the album. Love the choir melody and can't stop myself singing along. Very catchy and symphonic, what Nightwish does best.

3. Ghost River

Great guitar intro by Emppu Vuorinen. Nice vocals from both Marco and Anette Olzon, with the hauntingly beautiful voices of the children's choir in the background from the middle onwards. Great orchestral arrangements accompanying the guitars.

4. Slow, Love, Slow

Jazz isn't really my thing so I thought I wouldn't like this one, but to my surprise I like it a lot. Anette's vocal here is great, and proves that she can be a really versatile vocalist. This also shows Tuomas' amazing talent as a composer of various musical styles. I think I'm going to have fun singing along to this one.

5. I Want My Tears Back

I think this is my fave track (though it's very hard to decide at the moment). I love the Celtic parts a lot, and the sweet high vocal from Anette in the verse sounds great, complimenting the heavier parts with Marco. The Celtic instrumental break reminds me of Riverdance and made me start dancing around the living room as soon as I heard it. My 7 month old kitten Athena stared at me as if I'd gone mad. Great playing from both Troy Donockley and Emppu.

6. Scaretale

I love this scary, freaky song! Childhood nightmares abound here and I can hear many influences merging to create lots of creepy fun. It starts with children singing the sinister nursery rhyme "Ring a Ring o' Roses", setting the scene for the scary ride ahead. Then comes in a great heavy riff, followed by Anette with a witchy-sounding voice, which is a nice surprise and very theatrical. She is very good here, probably one of her best vocal performances. I also love the twisted circus feel in the middle with Marco, which reminds me of the The Who's rock musical Tommy (the holiday camp scene with Keith Moon for those that have seen it). There is also a 70s musical vibe going on in the choir and orchestral arrangements. The amazing thing is how it all blends together so well to create yet another epic Nightwish track.

7. Arabesque

Majestic instrumental track with a middle eastern influence. Conjures up movie images of desert sands, camels, harem girls, etc. Nice piece of music.

8. Turn Loose The Mermaids

I love this so much. The beautiful melody caught me at once, and Anette's angelic vocal suits it very well. An atmospheric medieval-style folk song which at first conjures up images of serene forests, fairy tale lakes and meadows, but soon throws in some nice surprises with an Ennio Morricone type instrumental break, spaghetti western style, as if Clint Eastwood just rode onto the scene. But it works. It really does, plus I really like Anette's lower range here.

9. Rest Calm

Such a catchy chorus that stayed in my mind for hours. Once again, I love the children's choir as it conveys the beauty of innocence. Plus it sits well with the heavy pounding Nightwish riffs which fans are familiar with.

10. The Crow, The Owl and The Dove

A nice, catchy rock ballad with a beautiful calming melody. One that I can't stop singing along to already. Nice vocal work from both Anette and Marco.

11. The Last Ride of The Day

Roller coaster rock! This is another one with a catchy chorus that I can't get out of my head. It's so energetic, heavy guitars and drums pounding along with gorgeous symphonic choir voices in background and a guitar solo from Emppu.

12. Song of Myself

This is wonderful. Divided into four parts: “From The Dusty Bookshelf”, “All That Great Heart Lying Still”, “Piano Black” and “Love”, it is, at almost 14 mins long, the longest track on the album. It includes amazing orchestral music and several minutes of a heartfelt poem at the end, recited by people close to Tuomas I believe. After a few listens this one really drew me in deeply, and as a poetry lover, I thought the poem was great.

13. Imaginaerum

Time to roll the credits. This is what will no doubt be used for the end credits of the Imaginaerum movie, which will be released next year. This orchestral score features a medley of songs from the Imaginaerum album.

This album is absolutely brilliant, and once again, like other Nightwish albums that have gone before, gave me shivers as soon as I heard it. It is clearly a majestic masterpiece and will be the soundtrack of my winter and probably most of 2012. I will no doubt play the instrumental CD (which came with the Limited Edition Double Digi-Book version), non-stop as I write my next novel. To me, the reason Nightwish are my favourite band is because all my influences, all my musical tastes, are so easily and brilliantly combined. It's the kind of music I wish I could write, had I been blessed with Tuomas Holopainen's talent.

Thank you Nightwish for another amazing album which will inspire me to no end and make my days a little better.

What Ian Somerhalder Really Wants For His Birthday

2011-12-06T14:30:00.006Z

I really admire Ian Somerhalder of The Vampire Diaries and Lost. And not just because he is a good-looking bloke. Unlike most celebs (who are way too shallow, in my opinion) Ian has proved what a real star he is. He is a wonderful human being. Pretty awesome, in fact.

He is passionate about matters close to my heart - animal welfare and environmental issues. He is working hard to make a difference, to change the world for the better - for everyone. To raise awareness of these issues which, though some may not care to think about, actually affect each and everyone of us.

We have to stop and think about the future, about what our actions (some very selfish) are doing to this beautiful planet of ours. I know some people don't actually want to believe that time is running out for our beautiful Mother Gaia but I'm afraid it is. Our planet is changing at a remarkably fast rate, and really can't take the strain anymore.

It also appalls me that cases of animal abuse seems to have escalated over the last few years. I don't know whether it really has, or it's because there is more out there for us to see via the internet, etc,

How anyone can harm an animal is beyond me. Animals have feelings, emotions and souls. They deserve respect and the chance to live a full and happy life on this planet too. Why must they suffer for the actions of some very stupid, arrogant and selfish humans beings? Why must they constantly be abused? And why doesn't everyone stop and notice these issues?

I know not everyone is the same, but please think about the future. Your future, your children's future, your grandchildren's, etc. And don't forget your pets, if you have any, and all future generations of the other animals living and breathing on this planet.

Ian Somerhalder has done an amazing thing in setting up the Ian Somerhalder Foundation. It began a year ago, on Ian's birthday. Now he wants us all to help him celebrate by spreading the word and by donating to his wonderful cause instead of sending him gifts. This is the gift he really wants. Do it for him, for yourself, for everyone.

And if you can't afford it, at least help spread the word.

http://www.isfoundation.com/campaign/ians-birthday

Author Interview - Shel Delisle

2011-12-06T08:38:00.006Z

Please tell us a little about yourself.
It always feels weird to do this. Here's the list of the most important stuff, but I can't vouch for the order:
I'm a wife and mom to three very sporty boys.
We have a mutt, er...I'll be politically correct...mixed breed dog.
Before pursuing my writing, I worked in marketing for nearly twenty years.
We live in S. Florida, where it is absolutely gorgeous this time of year (let's not talk about August).
I bake fabulous cookies, mostly for other people, and I try to avoid eating them. :)
I love to write and am having an absolute blast with self-publishing!

What is your book about?
DOLPHIN GIRL is about sixteen-year-old Jane, who is artistic and dolphin-obsessed, as she yearns to break free from the rules that govern her life.

How long did it take you to write?
This book took a very long time--off and on for six years--which is a lot longer than any other book I've written.

What inspired you to write this novel?
This one has always been about the main MC. She wouldn't leave me alone.

I actually put this book away for about two years--which helps explain why it took so long--and pulled it back out in the beginning of 2011. I still liked the story and the theme, but felt my writing had improved and I could make it better.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?
I've wanted to be a writer since first grade, but made the decision to pursue it at around forty-ish. Yeah, some people call that being a late bloomer.

What part of writing do you struggle with? Character, plot, description or dialogue?
Character and dialogue feel very natural for me. Description, although I see it in my minds eye, doesn't always make it onto the page in the first draft and so that's something I generally add later. so, plot is the hardest and i spend a lot of time thinking about it before I ever start a project.

What made you decide on self-publishing?
There wasn't any one thing, but rather a whole bunch of stuff piled on top of each other. Lots of tries and near misses with traditional publishing. The changes in book distribution. The fact that so many of the new self-pubbed writers were putting out good books. The fact that I believed my books that had been rejected would have readers who enjoyed them. And more, but if I kept going I'd probably take over your blog or something. :)

Did you have a professional editor?
Yes! The fabulous Rhonda Helms.

Do you edit as you write or wait until your book is finished?
A little as I write and a lot when it's finished.

Are you currently working on any projects?
I have several going, which makes me sound ADHD.
One is in production for publication. One is in revision. Two in concept/outline.

Any advice for new authors?
I'm pretty new myself having just launched in October. If I were to give myself advice it would be this: relax, a little.

Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what type of music?
Sometimes rock or pop, but I usually prefer silence.

Best time of day to write?
Anytime except late night. I veg at that point.

Top 3 authors?
Ugh! Impossible question! I've read almost everything by these three:
Kurt Vonnegut
Meg Cabot
Stephen King

Top 3 novels of all time?
This is too hard. These are the ones I've read over and over and over.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The Stand by Stephen King
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Top 3 movies of all time?
This is a little better
Shawshank Redemption
Forrest Gump
Finding Nemo

What do you read the most? Fiction or non-fiction?
Oh, fiction for sure and mostly YA, too, but I've definitely increased my non-fiction reading with Kindle. I think it's happened because I can read a few pages when I have a minute or two without needing to immerse myself like I do with story.

Is your book in Print, ebook or both?
Now this is easy. Both.

Where can your readers contact you? Links, etc.
At my blog they can read an excerpt of the book and every so often I write a semi-interesting post. :) http://sheldelisle.wordpress.com/
I'm a pretty lousy tweeter, but I'm trying to get more entertaining. Here's my handle: https://twitter.com/#!/sheldelisle
I also work on a kids lit community with two other writer friends, and so i'm hanging out there too: http://whatchareadingnow.com/
My email is sheldelisle (at) aol (dot) com

I'm in plenty of other places--probably too many--but if you connect with me at these, you'll end up finding me elsewhere.

Thank you for the interview Marie! I really appreciate it!

Shel

Author Interview - E.W. Saloka

2011-12-05T09:13:00.012Z

Please tell us a little about yourself.

E.W. Saloka are writers,artists,conceptual-designers, and also husband and wife. (William and Elaine Saloka)

What is your book about?

Our book Volumes of the Silver Leaf is for all ages and is family friendly YA fantasy. It's a coming of age story about 15 yr old Zachary Wellington who travels with his grandfather to a far off kingdom to find answers to a family mystery. His adventures truly begin when they meet a wise wizard who seems to hold many secrets to the silver leaf. Reluctant heroes and engaging heroines bring heart and soul to this fast paced whimsical fantasy.

How long did it take you to write?

One year seems about right.

What inspired you to write this novel?

Our novel is the culmination of twenty years ago, designing in the fantasy collectible industry.It just sort of flowed from there.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

I knew when I read my first Writer's Digest that I would write a novel one day. W. sculpts fantasy collectibles and he wanted to create a a world for his dragons and other creatures.

What part of writing do you struggle with? Character, plot, description or dialogue?

The first book was a smooth process, no hair pulling or head banging, that probably comes later.

What made you decide on self-publishing?

It was a step by step process and together we managed to come out of it unscathed.

Did you have a professional editor?

W. critiques every word we write, especially mine. I can't tell you how many times I would hear identify your speaker Elaine! (sometimes in my sleep)

Do you edit as you write or wait until your book is finished?

I write it all as it unfolds like a movie in my head. I have to do it that way or I lose the story flow. W. likes to plan everything he writes for our characters,

Are you currently working on any projects

We're in the process of writing the second book of the series and later in the year our books for children. W. sculpted a truly enchanting line of faerie children and I'm building a story around them titled Appletwist Garden.

Any advice for new authors?

We're new authors too, but I think "keep writing" fits here..

Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what type of music?

Tangerine Dream, music from the movie Legend, and sometimes Enya.

Best time of day to write?

Early morning seems to work for me. W. likes late evening. I'm a lark, he's an owl and then later we come together to blend our writing styles.

Top 3 authors?

Amy Tan is my favorite. W. likes Frank Herbert and Anne McCaffrey

Top 3 novels of all time?

Joy Luck Club will always top my list and Master of the Game from my Sidney Sheldon days. W. likes Dune and Dragonriders of Pern

Top 3 movies of all time?

Sleepless in Seattle for me and Blade Runner for W. and Legend for both of us.

What do you read the most? Fiction or non-fiction?

I read fiction when I have time, but I also like spiritual books and other non- fiction. W. likes fiction, fantasy and horror top his list. We are at opposite ends of the spectrum with our book interests.

Is your book in print, ebook or both?

Our book is in ebook format only. We'll have it in print a few months into the new year.

Where can your readers contact you?

Our website is .http://ewsaloka.com and our email address iselainesaloka@gmail.com

http://www.amazon.com/Volumes-Silver-Leaf-ebook/dp/B005I5W4PQ

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/volumes-of-the-silver-leaf-ew-saloka/1104990300

Author Interview - George L. Potter

2011-12-04T08:50:00.002Z

Please tell us a little about yourself.

I am a 70 year old retired oil company executive. I was born and raised in rural Louisiana and have degrees in Chemical Engineering and Law from Louisiana State University. I have worked in the oil industry in Texas, Louisiana and the Republic of Yemen. I now live in Asheville, North Carolina.

What is your book about?

It is an action/adventure set mostly in the country of Yemen. Parts of the back story take place in the Cajun country of southwest Louisiana. Basically, Bert Franks, a former Marine and Gulf War veteran, is no stranger to hazardous situations. As a troubleshooter for Vermilion Oil Company, he applies his well-honed survival skills to the cutthroat business of navigating the cultural minefields of Yemen, where Vermilion operates a profitable oilfield concession. His duties include everything from hobnobbing with government officials to negotiating contracts—whatever it takes to smooth Vermilion Oil Company's way. When negotiations for an important contract turn sour, everything seems to falls apart at once. Bert finds himself at the epicenter of a chain of events that results in a shakeup of the Yemen Oil Ministry, the nationalization and seizure of Vermilion's assets, and his ejection from Yemen as persona non grata. Along the way his girlfriend Gretchen disappears, while his brother-in-law Sidney, the guiding hand of Vermilion since its inception, dies back in the States in an apparent suicide. As soon as he can get back to Yemen, Bert begins searching for Gretchen—immediately stepping into a snake pit of political intrigue, government corruption, and international terrorism. But it's all a day's work for Bert, and he refuses to let little things like betrayal and attempts on his life stand in his way.

How long did it take you to write?

I started working on a novel about twenty five years ago, but never got much done. After I retired a few years ago I looked over my earlier efforts and got back to work. I finished a shorter novel, In Search of the Yellow Dog, in about three months last year and even while that title was in edit I started on Death in the Empty Quarter. I finished my first draft in about four months.

What inspired you to write this novel?

I took some of my own experiences and embellished them in light of events currently happening in the Middle East.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

As far back as high school in the 1950s I wanted to write. A friend and I wrote a few science fiction short stories and submitted them to some of the SciFi periodicals. None were ever accepted. I started on novels from time to time over the next forty years, but never followed through. Only after retiring was I able to devote sufficient time and energy to such an undertaking.

What part of writing do you struggle with? Character, plot, description or dialogue?

At different times different aspects will cause me to struggle. I guess I have more difficulty with description. Particularly describing a scene sufficiently to put the reader there. Fortunately, I have a great editor who can give me assistance with this aspect of the novel.

What made you decide on self-publishing?

I submitted In Search of the Yellow Dog to twenty six agencies - only one asked for additional information and after submitting what she requested even she rejected me. I researched self publishing, and decided to go that route. I first published on Lulu, but then found CreateSpace suited me better. With Death in the Empty Quarter I did not even try to go through the “traditional” publishing route.

Did you have a professional editor?

Yes, I used Floyd Largent of Storm Writing and Editing Services. His contributions cannot be overstated. He understood my story and corrected my writing without destroying my voice.

Do you edit as you write or wait until your book is finished?

I pretty much edit as I go – I’ll write a few thousand words then study what I have written. I’ll re-write paragraphs, pages or chapters several times during the course of writing.

Are you currently working on any projects?

I have two works in progress. I’m doing a prequel to In Search of the Yellow Dog. It’s really in the early stages. I’m also working on a novel set in rural Louisiana in the 1930s and 1940s. It combines romance and action/adventure in World War II.

Any advice for new authors?

The only way to get it done is to JUST DO IT, and do it with enthusiasm.

Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what type of music?

No – I really want no distractions.

Best time of day to write?

Any time, but I think some of my best work has come in the middle of the night when I wake up with some ideas. I’ll get out of bed at 3:00 a.m. when an idea strikes and will work for hours.

Top 3 authors?

James Lee Burke (the Dave Robichaux series)

Collin Dexter (Inspector Morse series)

Lewis Grizzard (some of the best humor you can find)

Although that’s my top three, I also read a lot of British cozy mysteries, particularly by Robert Barnard and Dick Francis.

Top 3 novels of all time?

Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

The Foundation Series by Isaac Asimov

1984 by George Orwell

Top 3 movies of all time?

Mutiny on the Bounty (1935 version with Clark Gable)

Twelve O’Clock High with Gregory Peck

The Big Sleep with Humphrey Bogart

What do you read the most? Fiction or non-fiction?

Probably about half and half. Just recently read Ghost Soldiers a non-fiction account of the rescue of POWs held by the Japanese in World War II and am currently about half way through Heat Rises by Richard Castle (I know that Richard Castle is a fictitious character in the abc series Castle.)

Is your book in Print, ebook or both?

It’s available in both. I published a paperback version through CreateSpace which is available on Amazon, and have ebooks available through Amazon’s Kindle and on Smashwords.

Where can your readers contact you?

They can email me directly at bluetiger1941 at gmail dot com.

Neighbour's Cat Comes To Visit

2011-12-03T16:32:00.004Z

This made me smile yesterday. My neighbour's cat popped over to visit my Athena. Can't tell if she's falling for him or wants him to just get lost because the other day we were both out there in the back garden and when she saw him really went for him like she was chasing him away. To my surprise he ran for it, looking a little scared. However, she couldn't really go after him as she would have taken me with her because I still have her on the harness. Truth is, I'm scared to let her out on her own. This isn't a safe neighbourhood for cats. But I know she is eager to get out there and explore.

Author Interview - George Everyman

2011-12-03T09:00:00.002Z

Please tell us a little about yourself.

Not much to tell. Just an ordinary man whose wife had an affair, and I wrote a book about it.

What is your book about?

Ooops, I just answered that above, sorry.

How long did it take you to write?

Thirty seven days, which is (ironically) the same number of days that my e-affair lasted with Lara.

What inspired you to write this novel?

Inspired is really not the right word here. Compelled is more accurate.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

I didn't and don't want to be one.

What part of writing do you struggle with? Character, plot, description or dialogue?

It's interesting but there was no struggle involved. The book just kind of wrote itself.

What made you decide on self-publishing?

What publisher is his/her right mind would want to publish my book?

Did you have a professional editor?

No, but a very kind lady did help me with formatting.

Do you edit as you write or wait until your book is finished?

Both.

Are you currently working on any projects?

No. But my superbrain might be. But I won't know about it until it's finished.

Any advice for new authors?

Just dispense with rules, common sense, logic, and fear. Then plunge ahead.

Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what type of music?

God no.

Best time of day to write?

Early morning.

Top 3 authors?

Jane Roberts, Lao Tzu and an old guy whose name I forget but his one and only book was called "The Way is Wuz".

Top 3 novels of all time?

Can I get back to you on this?

Top 3 movies of all time?

Dr. Zhivago, Oh God, and Love Actually.

What do you read the most? Fiction or non-fiction?

Non

Is your book in Print, ebook or both?

ebook only

Where can your readers contact you?

They can't. And why would they want to?

Just kidding.

georgeeveryman@gmail.com

And my book is free at:

Nook

Smashwords

US Kindle

UK Kindle

My Interview at Immortality and Beyond

2011-11-30T09:58:00.005Z

Please check out my interview at this fantastic blog IMMORTALITY & BEYOND

Athena's First 4 Months In Her New Home

2011-11-28T07:21:00.000Z

Here's a movie I made of my little star Athena.

If you love cats please follow her blog ATHENA, CAT GODDESS

Sample Sunday

2011-11-27T06:45:00.000Z

Here is the first chapter of my novel AGE OF DREAMS now available to download FREE.

Chapter 1

'We have to get the place looking a bit brighter,' Gail said, her eyes wide with excitement when I walked into the office at ten to nine on yet another frosty December morning. Gail and Janice were busy putting up Christmas decorations, and worst of all, they had come in especially early to do it. I nodded as if in agreement and walked off to the kitchen to make everyone's coffee, the first of which I placed on Perkins' desk at nine a.m.

My pock-marked boss peeped up at me from behind his glasses, his small squinty eyes glinting. 'Thanks,' he said.

I flinched. He was awful: thinning ginger hair, acne-infested skin, a very wide thin mouth with no lips, and eyebrows that disappeared into his pasty skin.

I could feel his eyes on my back as I walked out of his office. As usual, my mind was elsewhere as I got on with some filing in silence. I was thinking about the band and my boyfriend Joe, but my main thoughts were on the terrible thing that had happened the day before. I was still in shock. In fact, I had it so bad that I had wanted to take the day off. But Mum wouldn't have it.

What happened was this: John Lennon had been murdered outside his apartment in New York. Somehow it didn't feel right to be putting up Christmas decorations now. But then again, why would my shallow workmates care? However, the idea that anyone could shoot someone famous dead terrified me. I wanted fame so badly, but things like that made me stop and think.

But my prayers for stardom would continue. It looked as if my dream was about to come true and nothing was going to stand in my way. The band had just recorded a demo tape and I hadn't been able to stop listening to it all week.

The tape was my way out of this shitty office job. I'd only been here six weeks but it felt like a lifetime. It was better than what Mum had suggested, though. She'd threatened to take me to work with her at the dress factory if I didn't make the effort to find a job, so that's how I ended up here. School had been a nightmare and so I'd decided to leave early. I figured that moving to a new area was a good enough reason not to go back. It was a crap school anyway. Everyone had just mucked about. I was so glad to be out of that stupid navy-blue uniform that had weighed me down all those useless years. Nobody owned me now; I was free. There was no way I could face the dress factory. It was full of middle-aged women moaning about their miserable husbands and miserable lives. No way - the job in the office was a better option. For now.

So I continued filing all morning, so bloody tedious, and it felt like I was in hell reliving the same nightmare.

Then at lunchtime I popped out to the shops (to buy some crisps for myself and some cigarettes for Janice and Gail). When I got back to the office I found them both talking about next week's dreaded office party.

'What are you wearing, Nicola?' Gail asked, her mouth full of sandwich.

'I'm not sure yet,' I said, sitting down to eat my crisps. I didn't really feel like eating - not in that environment.

'I know what I'm wearing,' she said, before taking another mouthful and then flicking the crumbs off her skirt with her hands.

Janice took a sip of her coffee as she waited for Gail to continue. Dawn, the quiet one, was too busy reading her paper to care. She has the right idea, I thought. I should have bought myself a magazine while I was out. But that would mean that Gail and Janice would want to get their grubby fingers on it.

Gail continued: 'I'm wearing my new sexy red dress that my Gary likes. I wore it last Saturday to his mate's party. He says it makes me look hot.'

Janice took out her last cigarette from her old packet and lit it. Then she scrunched the packet in her hand as she smoked. 'I've just bought this new boilersuit. You know, like Sheena Easton wears.

'Dear God, I thought, nearly choking on my salt & vinegar crisps. What will she look like? Pear-shaped Janice, who claimed she was in her early thirties but looked a good ten years older, was the type that obviously tried too hard - always wore too much make-up and jewellery. Her dyed auburn hair (I could see her grey roots) was still in the style of Farah Fawcett Majors from a few years back.

'What colour is it?' Gail asked, opening her new packet of Rothmans.

Janice exhaled on her cigarette . 'Green.'

'Light or dark?' Gail asked before lighting up.

'It's sort of a medium shade,' Janice replied before another puff and sip of coffee.

Gail flicked her long dark hair away from her face. 'Not limey or olivey green, or anything like that?'

'No.'

I swallowed my coffee. They talked about the office party as if it were the most important date on the calendar of their sad little lives. And what's more they didn't seem to want anything else. It seemed that only fools were happy, as someone had once said.

Being nothing more than the office skivvy was driving me to suicide. I'd hang myself if the band didn't get a record deal. I couldn't face another day exactly the same as the one before, making endless cups of coffee and doing boring, soul-destroying jobs. I hated it. Absolutely loathed it. I could not believe how some people could do it all their lives. Day in, day out, the same miserable monotonous existence. That can't happen to me, I thought feeling the usual tightness in my chest – fear choking up my throat - as I gazed out of the window at the dismal December sky.

Of course, Mum was pleased that I had a job. 'It's a start, Nicola,' she said when I got home that evening, moaning about the kind of day I'd just had.

'It's not really what I want to do,' I said, traipsing into the kitchen, the smell of fish fingers killing the air.

'But it could lead to a good career,' Mum said as she watched over the chip pan. 'You could get a secretarial job in the city later. You've got your whole life ahead of you,'

Why couldn't she see my point of view? Of course I could see hers. She was now a single mum, she needed me to help out as much as I could, but was it really my fault that Dad had left her in the lurch like this?

Deep sigh, I switched on the kettle to make a cup of tea, which I needed so so badly to warm me up. Standing at the bus stop for half an hour on a freezing cold evening had almost frozen me solid. Bloody job. What was the point?

I didn't want to be a secretary.

Ever since I could remember I'd wanted to sing in a pop band. I'd formed a 'pretend' band with my brother Tony a few years back (with tennis rackets for guitars and a hairbrush for a microphone) but that was kid's stuff and I cringed every time I thought about it.

Being three years younger than me, Tony usually drove me nuts. The only thing we had in common was our love of music. I hated the fact that he could do no wrong in Mum's eyes. No matter what I did for my mum - and I did loads - Anthony would always be her golden boy. The sun would always shine out of his butt. He could leave sweet wrappers and empty crisp bags lying around the room and Mum would happily tidy up after him. He didn't have to tidy his room or help out with the washing-up after dinner as Mum or I would do it. When I asked why Tony didn't do it I would get, 'because he's a boy.'

He was very talented though, having learned to play guitar without the need for lessons. I, on the other hand, couldn't play any instruments. I was so bad that at school I was always given the triangle in music lessons. Singing was different. I'd always been drawn to it, but had been too shy at school to do anything about it.

I'd say that Joe had come along at the right moment in my life. Moving to a council estate was scary at first but then I saw the tall, golden-haired hunk who lived two doors down.

We got talking and he invited me to the band's gig the following week - where I spent the entire night lusting after him, watching the way his long fingers moved up and down the fretboard of his black guitar and imagining them all over my body.

I very nearly didn't see him playing at all because of my mother. 'A pub full of drunks and musicians is no place for a child,' she'd told me a hundred times before I left for the gig that evening.

Joe proved himself to be a real gentleman, so Mum had nothing to worry about. But that was the thing about her. She was always worried about something or other. She was the type that made sure she did the right thing, terrified of what people would say if she did otherwise. And where had that got her? Stuck in a council dump with two children and no husband, that's where. Well, I was different. No one was ever going to tell me what to do. If people didn't like how I lived my life, then to hell with them.

Joe asked me out and soon I was singing backing vocals for his band. Not only that, but after seeing my poems, Joe was so impressed that he wanted to use them for song lyrics. To my surprise, the rest of the band loved the idea.

'These are great,' said singer Pete, his deep-set brown eyes lighting up. 'You've got real talent.'

'Thanks,' I said, happiness swirling inside me.

'A bit dark,' Colin said. He flicked his bleached fringe out of his eyes before passing the poems over to Jason. 'But yeah, you've certainly got something. I wish I could write like that but I'm rubbish at words.'

Jason silently read, an air of serious gloom surrounding him, then after what seemed like an eternity finally looked up. 'Yeah, they're good,' he said. 'But a bit depressing. We want to entertain people - not make them wanna slash their wrists.'

'It's not all doom and gloom,' I said in defence. 'I've got lovey-dovey stuff if that's what you want.'

'She's right,' Joe said. 'Some of her other stuff's quite light, but I thought this lot would be more suitable for the band.'

Adam was the last to see the poems. 'I think they're great, Nicola. Don't listen to Grumpy here. He's just jealous.' He gave me a wink as he handed the poems back to me and bent down to pick up his bass.

Jason stood and walked over to his drumkit. 'I didn't say they weren't any good,' he said, sitting on his stool and picking up his drumsticks. 'Just a bit too depressing. I'm entitled to my opinion, ain't I?'

'It's pretty deep stuff for someone so young,' Colin said from behind his new synthesizer.

I stared hard at him. 'What do you mean?'

'Well, most young girls are into love songs, aren't they?'

I flashed my eyes at him.

'Hey, relax, Nik!' He held up his hands - palms facing me to shield himself from the dagger look I was throwing at him. 'I didn't mean to sound like I was putting you down or anything. All I'm saying is that most girls aren't into deep, dark stuff.'

'Well, I'm not most girls,' I said, relaxing into a smile.

'Yeah, I've gathered that.' Colin grinned as he began to fiddle with the knobs on his synth.

Joe was my second boyfriend. A year ago I'd gone out with Martin Harrison. He was in the year above me at school and probably the best-looking boy there (I thought so anyway). He had dark hair, blue eyes and a gorgeous pout. I liked his Mod haircut, which looked ridiculous with his school uniform but fantastic with his khaki parka. I'd fancied him for a whole year; watching him from afar until for some reason he'd started to notice me. We soon got talking and he asked me out.

After that most of the girls hated me and made my life a misery. Even the few I thought were my friends, who obviously weren't. Getting top marks in English fuelled their hate further. Martin and I continued to see each other in the summer holidays until he wanted to have sex. Of course, I had been curious about it. I'd wanted to do it for ages so I could be grown up, part of the human race. I thought that if I had sex I would at last feel like I belonged. An outsider is not what you want to be when you're fifteen.

One summer evening we were at a party and as I'd had a bit too much to drink, Martin managed to get me up to one of the bedrooms. As "My Generation" by The Who was blaring out from downstairs, he tried to unbutton my jeans.

I pushed him away. 'Don't!'

He looked at me as if I was some kind of freak. 'There's something wrong with you!' he said, zipping up his flies. 'You're frigid!'

Frigid.

That word haunted me for the rest of the summer and was the end of Martin and me. I retreated to my for days. Just sat there staring out of the window with the music blaring. Only, I stopped listening to "My Generation". I avoided all the Who's songs, since they were his favourite band. Just stuck to the Jam and Secret Affair.

Devastated, I turned to the problem pages of my Jackie magazine for answers. But mine was a problem no one seemed to have. OK, so maybe I was some kind of freak, but I'd show him, I thought, flinging the magazine across the room. It landed on the old-fashioned patterned carpet. I'd make sure I showed them all. No one calls Nicola James a freak.

I'd dreaded going back to school. On the first day of term I woke up with my stomach in knots. I'd never felt such fear. I was sure that everyone would sneer at me as soon as I walked into class. That slag Donna and her mouthy mates Linda and Anne. I wish I knew why they had it in for me. For some reason they just loved to pick on me. Especially fat Donna. Maybe I was stupid for not fighting back, but I thought that if I ignored her she would be more likely to give up. She was just a "nothing" to me. A "nobody".

They all were. It wasn't worth wasting my energy on any of them. Well, that's what I tried to tell myself, but it wasn't that easy.

Donna had got it into her stupid curly head that I walked funny and kept calling me 'bandy legs'. Then she would let out this disgusting shrilly laugh like a banshee. She was a right nutcase and I don't know why I didn't just turn around and thump her one. I guess that even though I was shaking inside, I just bottled up all the anger.

She must have been jealous of me. I knew I wasn't bad looking but in the last year or so everyone had started to pay me compliments on how pretty I'd grown.

I soon found out that there was nothing wrong with my legs. When I started to wear knee-length pencil skirts (ugly grey or navy ones as part of the disgusting uniform), I got loads of compliments from the boys. So that told me that the bitch was just jealous because all she had to offer were tree-trunk legs. And so did the other two bitches, come to think of it.

That particular day, on my return to school, I felt that I couldn't face them or anyone. They were sure to laugh at me.

What was I to do?

With a deep sense of foreboding I turned into the long gloomy corridor and walked into registration. I was late and everyone was already inside.

Taking a deep breath, my heart palpating, I stepped into the classroom where Mrs Watts had just begun taking the register. Luckily, she hadn't got to my name yet. As I walked to my desk I could feel everyone's stare piercing through my soul. I felt sick.

The amazing thing is they didn't say anything all morning. Maybe the fact that we had Maths helped. Anyway, it wasn't until after lunch that someone did say something and it wasn't what I expected.

A couple of Martin's mates stopped me as I walked down the corridor to the toilets. 'Are you gonna give us a bit of what you gave Martin boy?' They teased.

I tried to get by them but they blocked my way. 'Get out of the way,' I said, trying not to sound frightened, though my heart beat anxiously against my chest.

'Only if you promise to come out with me tonight,' Ugly Mug One said with a glint in his eye, barring my way with his arm.

The corridors were so narrow that it was a wonder someone of Donna's size never got stuck between the walls. Now that would have been a pleasure to see.

'Get out of my way,' I repeated to Ugly Mug One.

'Only if you go out with me.' His eyes glinted further and his tobacco breath made me want to retch, as well as his extreme ugliness.

'Me too,' said Ugly Mug Two. His face was red and looked sore from all that acne.

I'd rather die, I thought. But why did they want to go out with me? Hadn't Martin told them how useless I was?

By now beginning to panic, I had never been so glad to see Mr Green, the history teacher, coming towards us.

'Mark Smith! Graham Richardson! Class. NOW!'

In the toilets I stared at myself in the mirror and just wanted to die. Why was life so miserable? Especially mine.

With my stomach churning, I made my way to the next class which was Typing. Unfortunately, this class included the bitches, who sat behind me and verbally abused me. To show them that they didn't bother me I refused to move to another desk.

Something was different from this morning, though.

Everyone looked at me and sniggered. They whispered 'slag' under their breaths.

Me a slag?

I quickly figured out what had happened. Martin - as most immature boys - hadn't told his mates about his failure to seduce me. Instead, so that he could prove his manhood and keep his reputation as a young stud from waning, he'd told them we'd done it. I didn't know whether to be grateful or not. He may have helped stop me from being ridiculed, but now I had all his mates wanting what they thought I'd given him. Now I was the school slag. I just couldn't win and faced another miserable year. With all the problems at home, that was all I bloody needed.

The night of the office Christmas party had arrived and I wasn't looking forward to it at all. I couldn't have faced it without Joe. We turned up to the sound of Odyssey's "D.I.S.C.O." blaring out of the cassette player. Gail and Janice were dancing while everyone else was standing around, chatting, drinking, and stuffing their faces with food. We deposited a bottle of white wine and a four pack of beer onto one of the desks, aware that everyone's eyes were on us. As soon as Gail saw us she stopped dancing and rushed over, thrusting her bosom in Joe's direction, her Gary tagging along behind her.

She flashed her enormous blue eyes and fluttered ten-coats-of-mascara-thick lashes at my boyfriend. 'You must be Joe,' she said. 'I've heard so much about you.'

Why did people always say that?

Joe smiled his gorgeous smile and said predictably, 'All of it good I hope.' What else could he say to someone like that?

Gail set off a ripple of high-pitched giggles before feasting her eyes on my white frilly shirt, which I'd worn with black baggy trousers and black suede pixie boots. 'This is nice!' she said, feeling the sleeve with her fingers. 'Where did you get it?'

'A friend of mine designed it,' I lied.

Her eyes widened. 'Really?'

I nodded.

'Wow,' she marvelled. 'You lucky thing. You seem to know all the right people and.-' She turned to Joe. 'You've got such a gorgeous boyfriend too!'

I looked at Joe, who was grinning from ear to ear. Then I turned to Gary, who stood behind Gail, not looking too happy about his girlfriend's overtly flirtatious behaviour.

Finally remembering her boyfriend, Gail turned to Gary and put her arm through his. She introduced him to Joe. 'This is my boyfriend, Gary.'

Gary stuck out a chunky short-fingered hand at Joe and they shook hands. Joe said he was pleased to meet him and I said hello. I'd already met the famous Gary when he came to pick up Gail every Friday evening in his white Ford Capri with a 'Gary and Gail' sticker pasted across the windscreen. Gail had told us he worked out, hence the muscles that protruded from his upper arms. I thought he looked quite strange as he had a small head but his neck was as thick as a bull's. He was already losing his hair so he had a sort of skinhead.

I turned around to find Dawn at my side offering me a glass of wine. There was a much older bloke standing beside her. 'This is my husband, Jack,' she said in her lightweight voice, turning to the old bloke. He hardly had any hair and was fat. He was stuffing his face with crisps.

An image of him and Dawn having sex suddenly floated into my head. I imagined that the bedsprings squeaked a lot. Quickly, I flicked that vision out of my mind.

As predicted, Janice looked a right sight in her boilersuit. I'd never seen an arse that enormous. Her husband Frank had a rather large beer-gut and his black trousers on his short cartoon-like legs were dangerously hanging on his backside.

The Gap Band's "Oops Upside Your Head" came on.

'Oh, I love this!' Gail screeched, dragging Gary by the arm to the middle of the office, where the desks had been moved to create space for a dance floor. She waved us over. 'Come on, you two!'

Joe and I looked at each other. No way were we getting on that floor to make fools of ourselves.

The spectacle unfolded before us. Everyone had sat down on the floor and were now leaning forward and back in rowing motion in time to the music. It was hilarious. Perkins sat behind Janice, his legs either side of hers. Gail sat in front, exposing her thighs through the side slits of her dress with Gary right behind her. No doubt Perkins would have preferred to be in his position, rather than be stuck behind Janice.

When the song was over everyone drunkenly struggled to hoist themselves up from the floor. Then I almost threw up.

Janice's husband's trousers had fallen to his knees, pulling down his yellowing Y-fronts and exposing the crack of his bum in my direction.

'Ugh, disgusting!' I said, turning to Joe, who was laughing. I screwed up my face in distaste and punched him playfully in the ribs. 'It's not funny. That's gonna haunt me for the rest of my life.'

Janice must have heard us. She gave us both a look and dragged Frank away. After she got him to pull his ugly flared trousers (circa 1976) up they started shuffling around to "Dance Yourself Dizzy".

A terrible fear gripped me. What if I was destined to be stuck in that office all my life?

'This isn't working,' Joe said, propping his guitar up against the wall. 'I'm not in the mood.'

I felt the same. 'Neither am I.'

We were both sitting on Joe's bed. There were sheets of paper scribbled with lyrics sprawled across it, along with a copy of The Face with David Bowie on the cover.

The air felt tight with sexual tension. Now that Joe had stopped strumming his guitar the house seemed dead quiet. His mum and dad were at work and so was his brother Steve. Joe worked as a painter and decorator with his dad but had been given the day off because they hadn't much work on. He'd asked me round so that we could work on some songs. I'd decided to take the day off work by phoning in sick.

Joe fixed his blue-grey gaze on me and my heart melted. Last night we had been on this bed kissing, and we almost went the whole way but I'd wanted it to stop. It didn't feel right and all I could hear was frigid ringing in my head. I'd worried about it all night and couldn't sleep. Maybe Martin had been right about me and now Joe probably thought the same.

I stood up and started to put my lyrics away. I could feel Joe watching me. My hands started to shake. A sheet fell out of the pile and floated to the floor, landing by Joe's feet. We bent down together to pick it up but Joe had got there first. As he handed it to me our eyes locked. I took the paper from his hand and our fingers touched, sending a spark throughout my body.

I quickly turned and put the lyric sheet away with the rest in the blue folder, then I sat back on the bed and leaned my head against the blue velvet headboard. Jittery with nerves, I picked up The Face and started flicking through it, not really seeing anything.

Again, I could sense Joe watching me. I looked up and caught his eye, then looked down again.

'You really do have the most amazing eyes,' Joe said.

I'd never thought so. To me they were just boring brown like my dad's. I'd always wanted blue eyes. Not icy-blue but deep blue like the ocean. With my dark hair I was sure they would have looked great.

Joe moved forward and sat himself down at my side. 'You're beautiful.' His voice was husky.He took the magazine from my hands, closed it, and put it on the bedside table. Then he leaned forward and slowly and tenderly began to stroke my cheek.

Lust struck up within me.

He stroked my hair and brushed it away from my face. With his gaze now fixed on my mouth he began to lightly brush his fingers over my lips.

It felt good.

He leaned closer and our lips touched. It was explosive and I found myself letting go, really letting go like never before. We rolled around on the bed, removing each other's clothes and stopping to place kisses on each other's bodies. I could hear his breath getting heavier. When we were just in our underwear I felt our bodies touch and that wonderful feeling of heat rising from each other's skin. Hot skin touching. Lips to lips. Lips to skin.

And then we were completely naked.

A couple of nights later I was at Joe's house and we were preparing to go to The Renaissance club which had just opened up in Covent Garden and had become the new haunt for lots of New Romantics.

'I'll never get in,' I said, worried that I would never pass for an eighteen-year-old.

'You will, Nik. Just wear more make-up,' Joe replied, trying to tie one of his mum's scarves around his neck.

I stared at my reflection in the full-length mirror on the wall in the hallway. Thick black kohl lined my eyes like Cleopatra and my lipstick was almost the colour of red wine. 'How much more make-up can I possibly wear, Joe? It's a bit over the top, don't you think?'

Joe stood behind me, admiring his reflection. 'No. You've got the look. Everyone looks like that in those clubs - even blokes. Here, how do I look?'

I turned to look at him in his white ruffled shirt and red scarf tied around his neck. If my dad was here right now he would have called him a 'big poofter' but I thought he looked great - and very sexy. I'd always loved that dandy look of the Eighteenth and early Nineteenth centuries. The look of the mad poets, I liked to call it.

Turning back to look at my reflection, I knew I looked the part. I'd copied the look from all the magazines. The red ruffled blouse looked great with my black baggy trousers and black suede ankle boots. In my hair I wore my mum's white chiffon scarf. All I needed now were a few bangles and the look would be complete.

I turned back to Joe, posing with my hands on my hips. 'How about me?' I asked.

Joe's eyes widened. 'Beautiful.'

'But do I look older?'

'Sure you do.'

'How old?'

Joe stepped back, screwed up his eyes, and frowned as if in deep thought. 'Eighteen.'

We sat in the living room while we waited for the rest of the band to show up. Joe's mum and dad - Sheila and Ted - were watching the telly. I liked them both. They were such a nice, friendly and warm-hearted couple who always made me feel welcome in their home. Ted always made me laugh.

'Are you sure you won't get arrested going out like that, son?' he said, lighting a cigarette.

'No, Dad. Everyone dresses like this nowadays.'

Ted frowned as he dragged on his cigarette. 'Are you sure? I ain't seen anyone like that round here. You better watch it. You might get beaten up.'

'Shut up, Ted,' said Sheila. 'Remember how you used to dress when I first met you?' She turned to me all wide-eyed. 'He was a Teddy Boy, love. All big greasy quiff and pointed shoes. He could put a hole in the wall with them, he could.' She smiled at the memory. 'His dad always threatened to throw him out. Luckily, I married him and we went to live with my parents.'

She looked at her husband. Clearly, they were still very much in love.

Mum had never looked at Dad like that - and he'd been a Teddy Boy too.

I noticed the pictures of 'Ted the Ted' on the walls earlier. One was their wedding photograph, with Ted's hair swept into a giant quiff and Sheila looking all young, innocent and very pretty in a white bridal gown.

I always thought you could tell a lot from a person's home, and the fact that Joe's house had hundreds of photographs told me how much of a loving family the Miles' were. Many of the smaller photographs were grouped together on a display cabinet in one corner of the room as well as arranged on the wall. Most of them were of Joe and his brother as children. One which had immediately caught my eye was of Joe strumming an acoustic guitar and another was of him in school uniform, the kind of picture that mums always seemed to love but children equally hated. There was no doubt that this was a home where family mattered above all else.

Not so in my house. Mum and Dad had recently got divorced and our nice North London semi in Enfield had been sold so Dad could pay off his debts. That's how we'd ended up on the council estate in a poorer part of town.

We saw Dad once or twice a week - when he usually took us to the pictures (if he could afford it) or to a Wimpy bar But it was Tony who looked forward to these outings as I hated them. Dad had never bothered before, so why was he doing so now? It certainly wasn't the time for him to start acting the good father. It was way too late.

The doorbell rang and Joe got up to answer it. Cheery voices entered the house as the rest of the band waltzed into the living room, greeting Sheila, Ted and me.

'Hello, boys,' Sheila said, with her usual welcoming smile.

Ted shook his head. 'D'ya know what you lot look like?'

'What?' said Colin.

'Like you're dressed up for a pantomime.'

'All right, Dad. Leave it,' Joe said, putting his arm around me. 'Come on, let's go.'

We all said bye and stepped out into the freezing cold night.

FREE Ebook!

2011-11-25T06:50:00.019Z

Fancy a free copy of my novel AGE OF DREAMS?

Though I mainly write fantasy and paranormal fiction, the first novel I actually wrote was this kind of semi-autobiographical novel about Nicola, a teenage girl who dreams of escaping her crappy life and becoming a famous singer. After her parents divorce she moves to a new area and meets a young musician called Joe who becomes her boyfriend. She soon joins his New Romantic band (it is 1980) and instant success finds them. But of course, it's not the heavenly life Nicola envisioned for herself. Her life is about get worse. A lot worse.

At the heart of this novel there is the rocky relationship Nicola has with her alcoholic father, which has in fact had a real impact on her life. The novel then goes on to explore the genetic link to alcoholism as Nicola soon finds herself dependent on alcohol as well.

AGE OF DREAMS is a real coming of age tale as it moves through the 80s and Nicola grows from a teenager lacking in confidence to a woman who begins to understand the true meaning of love and life.

There is so much more in this novel of course, and it's quite a dramatic ride (but with a little bit of humour thrown in) but I won't reveal anymore. You'll just have to read the book and find out! And it's free, what more can you ask for?

DOWNLOAD AT SMASHWORDS NOW!

And if you enjoy it, why not buy my historical fantasy novel about an ancient Greek vampire? FROZEN IN TIME is the first novel in the CHOSEN ONES series (book 2 and 3 are currently in first draft form). You can read a sample HERE. This is also available at Smashwords, or you can buy as an ebook from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. It's also available as a paperback from Amazon and CreateSpace. Details in my sidebar.

Thanks and enjoy the reads!

Growing Kitty

2011-11-19T11:54:00.011Z

Athena is growing up so fast and she is one spoilt kitty! She only has to give me that look and I just melt. I can't help it. She is now about six months old and I love her so much, and she knows it! She's my sweet little baby. She's brought me so much happiness, and after the terrible year I've just had, how can I not appreciate this lovely little sweetheart. I'm sure we are soulmates.

She's a rescued kitten, from Wood Green Animal Shelters . I'd been looking for a kitten for a long time, and when I saw her little face online I felt that I had to go and see her at the centre. As soon as I walked in she started jumping and meowing (I like to think it was soulmate recognizing soulmate, but I think she was just hungry and wanted to be let out of her pen). However, as I stroked her little paw I just knew she was the one. I looked at some other adorable little kittens, but there was just something about little Sophie (as she was known then).

She looks like an angel, but sometimes she can be a right little demon, running around and scratching wallpaper. I've tried everything to stop her but she doesn't seem to like any of the scratching posts that I've bought for her. But she is a cat, I must remember that, so I don't tell her off. But most of the time she is so sweet, angelic and loving. I love it when she purrs and taps me on the shoulder when I'm working too hard on the computer. She sometimes like to nibble my ear. As you cans see in this pic.

Sometimes I think my dear dad (who I lost last year) must have sent her. Aren't animals amazing? And fathers too!

Athena has her own blog - CHECK IT OUT!

Angel Wings Lyrics and Sample

2011-11-11T14:29:00.006Z

For Dad

21st December 1940 - 30th September 2010

ANGEL WINGS

As the leaves fall from the trees

My tears fall in sympathy

For what meaning is there for me

Now you are no longer here

Deep inside, I know nothing

will ever part us,

For when I look up at the stars

I know that death does not sever

Love nor memory

It is not the end...

CHORUS

Like an eagle soaring high above

Rise up with your angel wings

Go towards the light

That unites the love

That we all have inside

It is only a veil which divides us

I can still feel your calm embrace

Whenever I feel sad

You are here with me

You are just a thought away

A spark in the dark

And now, in the evening spring light

A white feather drops at my feet

And I know you are guiding me

To where I'm meant to be

I feel you near

I have no fear

11.11.11

2011-11-11T08:01:00.002Z

Storytime

2011-11-09T13:53:00.004Z

Nightwish, the band that have inspired me the most over the last few years are back with a great new single, STORYTIME. Really can't wait for their new album IMAGINAERUM now. Only about a month to go.

Author Interviews

2011-11-01T13:30:00.003Z

Being an indie author myself, I am interested in helping other self-published authors promote themselves and their work. That's why I've decided to have author interviews on this blog.

If you are interested, please either leave a comment here or contact me via email.

I will then email you the questions.

Looking forward to hearing form you all.

And The Winner Is!

2011-10-31T18:15:00.001Z

The winner of the Halloween Ebook giveaway is......

............................. Anita!

Well done!

Please send me an email at mariesym6atgmaildotcom so I can send you your coupon code to download a free copy of FROZEN IN TIME at Smashwords.

Happy Samhain!

2011-10-31T11:34:00.003Z

Two great videos I found on YouTube, both featuring the music of the excellent Loreena McKennitt

Happy Samhain!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-30T10:04:00.003Z

Comments by ZingerBug.com

Hope you all have a great Halloween!

Don't forget to enter my ebook giveaway. Deadline 31st October, 6pm British time.

DETAILS

Proof

2011-10-28T12:00:00.007+01:00

This is the proof copy of Frozen In Time. I have spent the last week going through it carefully and I must tell you how much I've had enough of reading my novel by now. I must have reread it a thousand times by now and each time I seem to miss something. Ah! It's just so tiring and my head and eyes hurt. But I'm sure it'll be worth it. It's just that I'm longing to start the rewrite on the sequel and all this editing and formatting has really drained me. But it has to be done.

There is still a chance to enter your name in the Halloween giveaway of the ebook version of this book. Click HERE for details.

Also, don't forget to check out my kitten Athena's cool new blog!

Athena' Blog

2011-10-26T11:19:00.009+01:00

My little Athena now has her own blog! Check it OUT!