Q&A Thursday with Paul Flewitt

Today's Interview is with Author Paul Flewitt! 

What is the worst thing you’ve written, how did you learn or know it was bad, and what did you learn from it?

Oooh, getting right into the bone of the matter…I like it!

I’ve written some pretty bad poetry in my time. I started out writing poetry as a youngster, so all that stuff would be utter rubbish. More recently, I seem to feel if a piece I’m writing is good or not, and I have a great group of beta readers who help me get things right. I read a lot in my spare time, so pretty much I’m self-taught as far as good or bad and my idea of what is which.

Why did you start writing and when did you decide to go professional?

I’ve been imaginative for about as long as I can remember and my parents taught me to read and write as soon as I was able to speak, so in that respect I guess I’ve always written. My first memory of writing with purpose was a poem I wrote as a youngster called “The Dead School”. I decided to go professional, if that’s what I am, around late 2012/early 2013.

Do you write in more than one genre? Which ones and which do you like the best?

I have only released in the horror genre, but I don’t rule out writing in the fantasy or sci-fi areas. I’m not a guy who ever says never; but I think it’s safe to say I’m never going to do a Jilly Cooper or Barbara Cartland style story. I do think that anything I write will probably be prefixed with the word “dark”.

 I have to admit to enjoying the horror genre. It’s the genre I enjoyed reading best throughout my life, so it’s no surprise that I would enjoy writing in that style. What I also find, though, is a really diverse and supportive community which exists out in the world. Fans of horror tend to be rabid in their following, and they’re such a fun group of people…weird to say, I know…but horror people are some of the funniest people around!

Do you read other author’s books when you’re writing? If so, do you read the same genre or something different?

I don’t not read, or I’d never read a book again. I read whatever I feel like at the time and go through various moods as far as books I read is concerned.

What is the most difficult part of the entire writing process for you? Queries, pitches, editing..etc.

Synopsis and blurb writing; no doubt about it. It’s the devil’s own work.

If you could have the same type of career as any author currently publishing who would it be and why?

That’s a great question… it’d have to be a combination of three different authors if we’re talking real dream sequence stuff. I’d love to have the profundity and the lifestyle of Clive Barker, he seems to have a lot of fun, makes some great movies, writes and paints. He is a complete artist. The other is Stephen King, simply because of his commercial success. Anyone who says they don’t want to make a good living from their writing is a liar. Yes, the art is important to me; but I also have a mortgage to pay and mouths to feed.

Paul Flewitt lives in Sheffield, UK with his partner and their two children. He is a writer of horror and dark fiction with JEA press. 

Paul is the author of "Smoke" a flash fiction which appeared in OzHorrorCon's Book of Tribes anthology, "Paradise Park" from JEA's All That Remains anthology and the stand alone novella "Poor Jeffrey" through CHBB'Vamptasy press. He continues to work on further pieces...

Smart url for Amazon book page; http://smarturl.it/PoorJeffrey

Facebook Author Page; https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Storytrees-Leaves/352745188170046

Amazon Author Page; http://www.amazon.com/Paul-Flewitt/e/B00FG34L7O/

http://www.amazon.com/Poor-Jeffrey-Paul-Flewitt/dp/1495426793/

Q&A Interview with Steve McHugh

Today's Q&A is with Author Steve McHugh!

Enjoy & Comment.

What is the worst thing you’ve written, how did you learn or know it was bad, and what did you learn from it?

The worst thing I’ve ever written was when I was about 13 and I wrote a very short story that if Terry Pratchett had read it, he’d have sued me for plagiarism. It was awful, although the writing of it taught me to find my own style, so it was also very useful.

Why did you start writing and when did you decide to go professional?

I’ve been writing since I was very young, maybe 9 or 10, and then from about 16- 21 I would write bits here and there, but never get anything finished. My daughter was born when I was 25 and that’s when I decided to get serious about it. I sat down and wrote a book called, For Past Sins, that will never ever be published. But after finishing it, I knew a lot more than I had before. I started Crimes Against Magic then and once that was finished decided it was good enough to publish. The day the book went onto Amazon, I knew I was hooked for life.

Do you write in more than one genre? Which ones and which do you like the best?

I have an idea for a Steampunk story and one for a full on epic fantasy, oh and an historical fantasy too, but at the moment I’m writing my Urban Fantasy Hellequin books, and making notes of the others when I get chance. Right now, Urban Fantasy is my favourite. When I get round to writing the other books, I imagine that will change depending on the day.

Do you read other author’s books when you’re writing? If so, do you read the same genre or something different?

As I’m writing, or thinking about writing, quite a lot, I have no choice but to write and read together. I tend to pick up whatever looks good at the time, although since I’ve started writing, my reading has dropped. Unfortunately this has meant my backlog of books is ever growing. One day, I’ll make a dent.

What is the most difficult part of the entire writing process for you? Queries, pitches, editing..etc.

I hate synopsis. Hate them with an earthly passion. They suck. And I told my editor this when I got my contract. Apparently everyone hates them, so it’s nice to know I’m not alone in my feelings.

If you could have the same type of career as any author currently publishing who would it be and why?

Neil Gaiman. His work in comics, TV, movies and books (both children and adult) is quite diverse and I think that’s something I’d like to be able to say I did. Also, he’s wildly successful. That’d be nice too.

Optional:

Author Bio: Steve’s been writing from an early age, his first completed story was done in an English lesson. Unfortunately, after the teacher read it, he had to have a chat with the head of the year about the violent content and bad language. The follow up ‘One boy and his frog’ was less concerning to his teachers and got him an A.

It wasn’t for another decade that he would start work on a full length novel that was publishable, the results of which was Crimes Against Magic.

He was born in a small village called Mexbrough, South Yorkshire, but now lives with his wife and three young daughters in Southampton.

Crimes Against Magic:

Hellequin Chronicles: Book 1

How do you keep the people you care about safe from enemies you can’t remember?

Ten years ago, Nate Garrett awoke on a cold warehouse floor with no memory of his past—a gun, a sword, and a piece of paper with his name on it the only clues to his identity. Since then, he’s discovered he’s a powerful sorcerer and has used his magical abilities to become a successful thief for hire. 

But those who stole his memories aren’t done with him yet: when they cause a job to go bad and threaten a sixteen-year-old girl, Nate swears to protect her. With his enemies closing in and everyone he cares about now a target for their wrath, he must choose between the comfortable life he’s built for himself and his elusive past. 

As the barrier holding his memories captive begins to crumble, Nate moves between modern-day London and fifteenth-century France, forced to confront his forgotten life in the hope of stopping an enemy he can’t remember.

  

Born of Hatred:

Hellequin Chronicles: Book 2

There are some things even a centuries-old sorcerer hesitates to challenge…

When Nathan Garret’s friend seeks his help investigating a bloody serial killer, the pattern of horrific crimes leads to a creature of pure malevolence, born of hatred and dark magic. Even with all his powers, Nate fears he may be overmatched. But when evil targets those he cares about and he is confronted by dire threats both old and new, Nate must reveal a secret from his recently remembered past to remind his enemies why they should fear him once more.

Born of Hatred, set in modern London with historical flashbacks to America’s Old West, continues the dark urban fantasy of Crimes Against Magic, the acclaimed first book in the gritty and action-packed Hellequin Chronicles.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hellequinchronicles

Twitter: https://twitter.com/StevejMchugh

Website: http://stevejmchugh.wordpress.com/

Crimes Against Magic: http://www.amazon.com/Crimes-Against-Hellequin-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00CX5BYCI/ref=tmm_kin_title_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1378489488&sr=8-4

Born of hatred: http://www.amazon.com/Born-Hatred-Hellequin-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00CX5BYD2/ref=tmm_kin_title_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1378489488&sr=8-3

Q&A Thursday with K A Davur

Today's Interview is with author K A Davur.

Enjoy & Comment!

What is the worst thing you’ve written, how did you learn or know it was bad, and what did you learn from it?  Like most writers, I have this old folder of angsty teenaged po-e-treeeeee that makes me cringe, especially when I remember that I actually read most of it aloud at various events.  The raw emotion does have to be respected, to some degree, though.  Maybe. 

Why did you start writing and when did you decide to go professional?

I’ve never not written.  I have diaries from when I was in Kindergarten or earlier filled with stories.  I still remember the first time I was recognized and singled out for my writing, which was in first grade.  They created a beast!  I took nearly a decade off from writing; people go out of their way to tell aspiring artists of any sort all of the reasons that we will never, ever make it.  It gets so discouraging and effectively strangles one’s muse.  While I’d like to strangle my muse at times (her name is Cecelia and she’s a fickle little monster), I think that’s one of the greatest disservices we do our children.  Help them dream; they will discover reality on their own. 

Do you write in more than one genre? Which ones and which do you like the best?  I have written a great deal of non-fiction in the past.  I used to be a doula and a midwife, and was published in some professional journals.  I’m surprised at how much I incorporate the knowledge I gained there in my work now, though I guess it makes sense.  Birth is a naturally dramatic event!  Now, though, I’m writing speculative fiction.  The novel that was just released was a vampire themed comedic thriller for kids.  My next two are for adults. 

Do you read other author’s books when you’re writing? If so, do you read the same genre or something different?  I cannot read my same genre.  Either I start to subconsciously mirror their writing, or I get intimidated.  I’m always reading something, though.  Right now I’m reading “Raising Riley” by Brick Marlin and “The Others” by Thomas Tryon.

What is the most difficult part of the entire writing process for you? Queries, pitches, editing..etc.

The hardest part for me is anything that is technologically based.  I’m a bit of a Luddite!  I write everything in comp books that I buy when they are on super clearance for back to school.  I’ve always said that a notebook is an invitation but a cursor is a demand!  The moment comes, though, that I have to actually type it up and edit it and that’s when the problems begin. I take care of all of my own publicity, which means pinterest, twitter, a website, goodreads, etc., so I’ve had to learn quickly.  I’m not good, yet, but I’m at least proficient. 

If you could have the same type of career as any author currently publishing who would it be and why?  Kevin Smith!  He gets to go to cons and hang out with all the same amazing geeky folks as I, but THEY pay HIM.  They seek HIM out.  That would be awesome!

www.facebook.com/kadavur

@k_a_davur

www.hunterthehorrible.com

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7169418.K_A_DaVur

www.msdavur.blogspot.com

http://www.amazon.com/Hunter-the-Horrible-ebook/dp/B00DLKHD7O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375290882&sr=8-1&keywords=Hunter+the+Horrible

Q&A Interview with Diane Gardner

Today's Q&A Interview is with Author Diane Gardner!

Enjoy & Comment

Why did you start writing and when did you decide to go professional?

Writing was a huge comfort to me when I was a teenager. I was somewhat of an awkward child, taller than most of the kids in my class, heck, taller than most of the kids in my school. Back in those days bullying was just something you took for granted. Everyone got teased, or bullied. That’s not to say it didn’t hurt. Being the introvert that I was, I bottled up my feelings of inferiority, brought them home, and wrote them out in abstract poetic form. For me it was a great release. I’m not sure anyone else could decipher what my poems said, much less what they were about. But I knew, and they helped me through a very trying time of my life.

I continued writing poetry during different stages of my life. I don’t have half of what I wrote anymore. Once I started painting and pursuing a career with my artwork I wrote less and less. It wasn’t until just a couple of years ago that I decided I wanted to write a novel. The first one was a fantasy about a little boy in a world of talking animals. Unfortunately I never did really find a plot for that book so it’s hidden away somewhere in the closet.

I’ve done some professional writing with a newspaper and worked closely with an editor helping her with some projects. When she invited me to the National League of America Pen Women’s meeting I felt the pull to be a professional writer. I think it might have been an inner dream of mine, I love getting lost in other worlds! I was then invited to a critique group and met some local authors. That’s when the I caught the bug. From there is was about attending writer’s workshops, critique groups and big conferences like SCBWI and PNCW that I decided to pursue what I love. My story came from my fulfilling the desire to one day paint a dragon!

Do you write in more than one genre? Which ones and which do you like the best?

I’ve only written for young people, although my most zealous fan is a 90 year old lady. I think a good fantasy story an appeal to all ages if its written well. That’s what I try to do. I have in mind to write a dystopia series when the Realm comes to a conclusion.

Do you read other author’s books when you’re writing? If so, do you read the same genre or something different?

I’ve read a few books while writing. Now that I’m an author and have met so many other authors it’s almost impossible not to be reading four or five books at once plus writing my own. The books I read are almost all fantasy although I’m the only fantasy writer in my critique group. And I have a pull towards books such as Gary Schmidt’s Wednesday Wars, or Matt de la Pena We Were Here. I love the books that make me both cry and laugh.

What is the most difficult part of the entire writing process for you? Queries, pitches, editing..etc.

I have to admit, pitches and queries were. I’m so fortunate to be with a publisher that wants everything I write, for the most part, that I don’t have to worry about those anymore. So for me, the most difficult part of writing is those few days just before publication when I just can’t stand to wait for the world to read my book!

Dianne Gardner is both an author and illustrator living the Pacific Northwest, Olalla Washington. She’s an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and the National League of American Pen Women. She has written Young Adult Fantasy novels as well as articles for national maga­zines and newspapers and she is an award-winning artist.

Publisher’s website: http://www.hydrapublications.com/shop/deception-peak/

Official book blog: http://dragontargeseries.blogspot.com/

Dragon Shield Trailer http://youtu.be/ukSqegM63m4Author’s

website http://gardnersart.com

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/TheIansRealmSaga?ref=ts&fref=ts

Twitter @DianneGardner

Author Central on Amazon

 http://www.amazon.com/Dianne-Lynn-Gardner/e/B0090LIYEO

The Dragon Shield on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Shield-Dianne-Lynn-Gardner/dp/0615760457

Q&A Thursday with C.M. Michaels!

Q&A Interview with CM Michaels! 

Enjoy & Comment! 

What is the worst thing you’ve written, how did you learn or know it was bad, and what did you learn from it?

I made my first serious attempt at writing a for publication novel my sophomore year in college. It was never finished, largely due to the initial feedback I received from a couple close friends and family members. While I’ve certainly learned a great deal about writing engaging prose, putting together well thought out plot arcs, using proper grammar, etc. since then, the biggest lesson I took from this was not to be so easily discouraged, and just how much time and effort I would need to invest in order to achieve my goal of becoming a published author. 

Why did you start writing and when did you decide to go professional?

I’ve always enjoyed writing, mainly due to the outlet it provides for my overactive imagination. The first book I shared with anyone outside of friends and family was a children’s novella written when I was 14 called The Bat Boy, which I still have tucked away in my closet. I was one of five lucky students selected to read our short stories to local grade school children. Of course at the time I felt anything but lucky—I was so nervous reading in front of forty or so people that I could barely keep track of what page I was on.

I decided to pursue a career as a professional writer almost four years ago, while writing the first draft of what would ultimately become Dangerous Waters. The more people I shared sample chapters with, the more encouraged I became that I was crafting a novel with broad appeal, but I knew it would never be as good as it could and needed to be for publication if my writing remained only a hobby. 

Do you write in more than one genre? Which ones and which do you like the best?

I enjoy writing in both the Urban Fantasy and Fantasy genres. I find Urban Fantasy writing to be a little easier. By being rooted in the “real” world, it provides the author and reader with an established foundation to tie the magical / supernatural elements into. If, on the other hand, your world is full of carnivorous jasperia vines, soul stealing mist clouds and all manner of unique creatures, you need to get the reader’s head around these elements in addition to introducing the main plot and your central characters. On the other hand, Fantasy writing provides a blank canvas for the author which is incredibly endearing to me. I hold Laini Taylor (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Days of Blood and Starlight) in high regard as a Fantasy Author and have learned a great deal from her writing. 

Do you read other author’s books when you’re writing? If so, do you read the same genre or something different?

Absolutely! I’ve found that continuing to read while I write helps keep the creative juices flowing and further hone my narrative voice. I read mostly in the same genres I write in. Some of my favorite authors include Kelley Armstrong, Peter V. Brett, Richelle Mead, Rachel Caine, Cassandra Claire, J.R. Ward, Laini Taylor, Tessa Dawn and Yasmine Galenorn.

What is the most difficult part of the entire writing process for you? Queries, pitches, editing..etc.

For me, while querying can be a bit of a bear for sure, the most challenging part is the editing. Changes I make that seem brilliant one day I often second guess the next, and while editing for grammar and word repetition, it’s all too easy to extract the life out of the text.

If you could have the same type of career as any author currently publishing who would it be and why?

That’s a tough one! Can I select two? I’d choose Kelley Armstrong due to her wildly successful Otherworld series, which is still my all time favorite, and Abbi Glines, who has achieved so much, including making it onto the New York Times best seller list, from a similar starting point as my own writing career. She has also never lost the intimate connection she fostered with her readers like so many authors do once they’ve had a taste of success.   

For Emily Waters, a nature loving small-town girl with an overprotective father, heading off to Boston University to study conservation biology is a dream come true—until a chance encounter catapults her into a mythical world she’d do anything to escape.

The latest victim in a rash of abductions near campus, Emily is brutally attacked before being rescued by a powerful new friend, whose family takes her in and prepares her for the unimaginable life she must now embrace. Clues soon emerge that Emily may not be entirely human, and her physical transformation awakens goddess-like powers that her new family cannot begin to explain. Dealing with her human first love, the not-so-platonic relationship with her coven “sister” and her new supe sort-of-boyfriend further complicates matters. Not to mention being secretly hunted by the psychopaths who attacked her. And as the only known offspring of a once all-powerful race, the climactic battle is only the beginning of her journey, one that ends with her leading a war against all humankind.



Chad Mcpherson
Author of Dangerous Waters
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/chad.mcpherson.142
http://www.facebook.com/UFAuthorCMMichaels
Twitter - https://twitter.com/UFAuthor
Blog - http://cmmichaels.blogspot.com/
Freya's Bower - http://www.freyasbower.com/

Q&A With Carol Marvell!

Today's Q&A Interview is with Wild Child Publishing Author Carol Marvell!

Why did you start writing and when did you decide to go professional?

I began writing some twenty-five years ago, only because there weren’t many heroines around, in books or movies, which lead me to create my own – Detective Billie McCoy. I wrote a series of stories, all based around Billie and a few of my other main characters. My writing was strictly a hobby, one I enjoyed immensely. I never had any intention of publishing my stories and actually put them away for a few years. When computers became popular, or should I say affordable, I dug out my notes and began editing them in more detail. My daughter got hold of Slave Trader after I printed it out. She loved it and convinced me to publish it.

  

Do you read other author’s books when you’re writing? If so, do you read the same genre or something different?

I do read, but not as much as I’d like to. It takes me a while to get through a book, only because I find it hard to squeeze it in between my day job, writing, family, my music and other things that seem to pop up. I even work in a school library and still don’t get much time to read. I have to say though, since being published with Wild Child Publishing, I’m enjoying reading what my fellow authors are writing. Some of the genres are quite different to what I’d usually read but I’m finding them fun and entertaining. With the growing number of ebooks available, this new technology makes it much easier to search and find genres to suit. 

What is the most difficult part of the entire writing process for you? Queries, pitches, editing..etc.

I would probably say hitting the delete button during editing is the most difficult task for me – but it is getting easier. It’s probably because I wrote Slave Trader so many years ago, having been over it many times, I knew it as I originally wrote it. So, when my publisher asked me to adjust scenes, take out scenes and rewrite new ones, I definitely found it hard to hit that little DEL button. But, times have changed and so have writing styles since I first put pen to paper. Biting the bullet, I lay trust in my publisher and went with her ideas and guidance.

If you could have the same type of career as any author currently publishing who would it be and why?

J. K. Rowling. She is such a genuine person who doesn't seem affected by fame and fortune. She has given pleasure to so many readers, both young and old. To have fans lined up to buy my book would be such a buzz, and then to see it hit the big screen would top it off.

Bio:   Carol lives on a small property in Queensland, Australia. She works in a local primary school as a School Officer / Librarian / Community Development Officer. Born in Childers, she grew up on a cane farm. Carol has been married for twenty-six years and has three children, two girls and a boy. She has traveled extensively throughout the world, visiting the US, Canada, UK, Europe, China, Japan, Thailand, Bali, New Zealand and of course, Australia. Her other passion is music. She plays bass guitar in a country rock band with her husband and two other guys, and is also a member of a symphony orchestra. With over fifty members, the orchestra is voluntary and visits retirement villages and small towns.

Slave Trader – In the Name of Freedom is Carol’s first novel. The action/adventure story follows Detective Billie McCoy in her fight for freedom after she is caught up in a modern day slavery trade run by a corrupt cop. The sequel, Providence Road – In the Name of Friendship is coming soon from Wild Child Publishing.

Blurb:

For the past three years, young prostitutes and destitute women have been vanishing without trace. Their fates unknown, the only common links to their disappearances are their good looks and prison records.

Never before has a cop been taken.

Detective Billie McCoy, a member of an elite undercover squad, is on assignment when she stumbles onto a slavery racket that goes deeper than she could ever have imagined. Plunged into a web of corruption and evil, not only does she have to contend with the slave traders, but her fellow prisoners – all who hate cops.

Stretching from the streets of Sydney to the rainforests in far north Queensland, it’s a race against time. Filled with determination, disappointment and twists, the story follows Billie’s fight for freedom and her greatest ever challenge. She will need all her cunning and skill to get out alive and see justice done.

Blood will be spilt, hopes will be destroyed – all to uncover a plot so unpredictable that only fate can decide . . . .

Social media & Web links:

Website:  http://carolmarvell.webs.com/

Buy Slave Trader here:  http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=70&products_id=381

http://www.amazon.com/Name-Freedom-Slave-Trader-ebook/dp/B0081C6GIE/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1340189217&sr=1-1&keywords=slave+trader+-+in+the+name+of+freedom

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-the-name-of-freedom-carol-marvell/1110624504?ean=2940014386432

Blog:  http://billiemccoy.blogspot.com.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Carol-Marvell/320383708039219

Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8xsjDsCdos&feature=share

Q&A Thursday with Joseph Christiano

Today's Q&A is with fellow Wild Child Publishing Author Joseph Christiano!

Enjoy & Comment.

What is the worst thing you’ve written, how did you learn or know it was bad, and what did you learn from it?

I wrote a short story when I was 13 years-old.  What more do you need to know?

Why did you start writing and when did you decide to go professional?

I wrote on and off all through my teens.  I didn’t get “serious” about it, though, until maybe five years ago.  I didn’t so much decide to go professional as I was lucky enough to find a publisher who allowed me to go professional.

Do you write in more than one genre? Which ones and which do you like the best?

I like to stay in the horror/suspense genre because that appeals to me as a reader.  I’m a huge fan of genre mash-ups.  Military/horror, or scifi/crime noir, that kind of thing.  It’s the literary equivalent of “Your chocolate is in my peanut butter!”  As long as they taste great together, why not put two different tastes together?

   

Do you read other author’s books when you’re writing? If so, do you read the same genre or something different?

I’m always reading.  For fiction it’s usually horror/suspense but not always.  I’m always up for something well-written.  Unless it’s paranormal romance.  Sorry, but that’s been done to death.  For non-fiction I prefer history and maybe a biography if it’s about someone I find fascinating.   

What is the most difficult part of the entire writing process for you? Queries, pitches, editing..etc

The whole thing is difficult!  If it wasn’t everyone would do it.  I guess my least favorite part is coming up with a killer idea for the story after it’s finished with the editing process and is being readied for publication.  I’ve said, “Oh, man, I should have done that!” a few times.  

If you could have the same type of career as any author currently publishing who would it be and why?

That’s a loaded question.  There are too many variables on which to base my choice.  Do I want financial security?  Fame?  Fans?  The satisfaction of having created something that will (hopefully) outlive me?  All of the above?  Too tough to answer. 

Author’s Bio: I have been a lifelong reader of both fiction and non-fiction.  My favorite genres in fiction are mystery, suspense, horror, and science fiction.  My non-fiction affinity is for history books.  My favorite and most influential authors are Stephen King, Alan Moore, Harlan Ellison, Richard Matheson, Stan Lee, Edgar Allan Poe, Agatha Christie, Neil Gaiman, and Michael Jan Friedman (who used me as a character in one of his Star Trek novels).

My premiere novel, The Last Battleship, was published by the fine (and intelligent) folks at Wild Child Publishing in March 2012.  My second novel, Moon Dust, is scheduled for release December 2012 by Crescent Moon Press.

 

In 1944, the battleship USS Louisiana is torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese submarine. There is a single survivor. Four decades later, an expedition embarks to locate and document the wreck. The Louisiana's sole survivor, Ensign Robert Sayles (retired), along with his daughter, Jill, are honored guests of the expedition.

But things begin to go wrong aboard the research vessel Hailey Rose. Several crewmen are found murdered, and the ship's radio and engines are sabotaged. The pain from wounds Robert Sayles received in his escape from the sinking battleship return to haunt him. With a fierce South Pacific storm bearing down on them, the Hailey Rose's survivors must find a way to repair their vessel and contend with a murderer in their midst. A murderer with direct ties to the night the last battleship was sunk.

Is it Robert? Or is it... something else? And will they survive...The Last Battleship?

Visit Joe online: https://www.facebook.com/#!/JosephJChristiano

Q&A Thursday with Cathy Tully!

Today's Q&A Thursday is with Author Cathy Tully!

Enjoy & Comment!

What is the worst thing you’ve written, how did you learn or know it was bad, and what did you learn from it?

Well, that would have to be my first book, which I could never sell. When I go back and look at it now, eight years later, I actually laugh. But writing is a learning process, and with every book you write, you get better : )

Why did you start writing and when did you decide to go professional?

I started writing children’s non-fiction eight years ago. When I turned that book in, Kidhaven Press decided that since Library sales were so low, they were only going to use in-house authors…..so I turned to romance and have been writing it since : )

Do you write in more than one genre? Which ones and which do you like the best?

Yes, I do! I write, sweet romance, women’s fiction and contemporary romance. I’d have to say women’s fiction is my favorite genre. Maybe it’s because of my age, but I relate to that genre best.

Do you read other author’s books when you’re writing? If so, do you read the same genre or something different?

I’m always reading other author’s books. When I’m in the middle of a new book, or starting a new book. I read mostly the genre’s I want to write, but what I’m reading doesn’t necessarily have to be the genre I’m currently writing in. 

What is the most difficult part of the entire writing process for you? Queries, pitches, editing..etc.

I find the waiting period awful! I’d rather have tooth extracted without sedatives than wait another six months for a response. I’ve gotten better at it, but still, I can’t stand it.

If you could have the same type of career as any author currently publishing who would it be and why?

Lori Wilde or Kristin Higgins.   I love their books, and hope to one day join them on the NYTimes Bestseller list J

Book Blurb: ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

Jack DeVane is on the fast tract to becoming CEO of Cunningham Coffee and nothing will get in his way…until a little dog wanders into his condo and a beautiful dog walker wanders into his heart.

Caitlyn Stiles has one wish--to take over the family business. When she returns from college and this is no longer an option, she travels to Promise, Massachusetts to look after her ailing grandmother where she takes a job as a part-time dog walker.

Can one sweet, little dog teach Jack there’s more to life than work?

Teach Caitlyn to let go of her resentment?

And teach them both that ALL THEY NEED IS LOVE?

Author's Bio: Cathy Tully has spent the last eight years writing Sweet Romance, Contemporary Romance and Women’s Fiction. Prior to romance, she wrote a children’s non-fiction book titled, NEBRASKA for Kidhaven Press in 2004.. Her first Sweet Romance, ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE, is available this June through Astraea Press.

A Member of Romance Writer’s Of America, The Liberty States Fiction Writer’s, and The Society of Children’s Book Writer’s and Illustrators, Cathy is a firm believer in continually honing her craft. Cathy can be found on Facebook and at www.cathytully.com. A born and bred Jersey girl, Cathy lives in central New Jersey with her husband, Joe, and their two daughters.

Q&A with Author E.A. Setser

Today's Q&A Interview is with author E.A. Setser.

Enjoy & Comment!

What is the worst thing you’ve written, how did you learn or know it was bad, and what did you learn from it?

This one could go two ways. The worst book I’ve ever written was Fate, a project I worked on from age 11 to age 13. It was about a group of human adolescents traveling to another world and participating in a war between a voodoo warrior, aided by a medicine man, and a demonic arch-mage with a pet minotaur. It was excessively campy, but I wrote it intending to be serious.

The worst I’ve written for my age was Prophecy Nocturne, the first book I completed a draft of. It was about a modern mystical struggle to keep a shape-shifting demon from merging a new Circle of Hell with Earth and damning everyone, thus greatly skewing the spiritual Balance. I finished it when I was 21 or 22, but when I got halfway through the first re-read edit, I realized it was full of plot holes and just poorly executed. Cool idea horribly done.

I learned a lot about character development, self-criticism, and story planning through those experiences. One of my biggest faults was in not planning a sturdy framework for the meta-story. So, I had to implement changes as new ideas came up, which meant the final product was an inconsistent mess.

Why did you start writing and when did you decide to go professional?

Do you remember why you did the things you did when you were four years old? No, seriously, I learned to write complete sentences and got this insatiable urge to write stories pretty soon after. When I was writing Prophecy Nocturne, I decided I wanted to make a living off of my writing. Fortunately, I started holding myself to higher standards before I went slapping my name on whatever I pulled out of my butt. Haha!

Do you write in more than one genre? Which ones and which do you like the best?

I’ve only got one series going – it’s kind of my Mount Rushmore – but I’ve never been able to pigeonhole even one book in it as just one genre. Fantasy figures prominently, but it’s sort of modern fantasy with elements of sword-and-sorcery and mild sci-fi thrown in. I call it industrial fantasy.

But it also includes elements of suspense, thriller, criminal drama, political drama, conspiracy, war, comedy, romance, etc. Not to say it’d ever be shelved as any of those in a bookstore, but the elements are there and integral to the story as a whole. It’s something of a sandbox epic.

Do you read other author’s books when you’re writing? If so, do you read the same genre or something different?

When I do that, I subconsciously try to emulate styles or even copy scenarios and character elements in my own writing. So I make a point to avoid it now.

What is the most difficult part of the entire writing process for you? Queries, pitches, editing..etc.

Marketing. I’m not a people person, and it shows. Most of what I say comes off as abrasive. A lot of people take my input as insulting, even when I’m biting my tongue and keeping my criticism strictly constructive. It’s not exactly good for public relations, but it does attract a certain kind of audience in itself.

If you could have the same type of career as any author currently publishing who would it be and why?

James Patterson. I’m none too familiar with his work, but I know he’s widely successful and generally respected as a writer. You don’t see that combination often.

Author's Bio: After spending most of his life failing to gain footing in Knoxville, TN, E. A. Setser and his family packed their life into a truck and set their sights on Cincinnati, OH. Being nearsighted, his aim was a little off, and they landed 2 miles short in Covington, KY. But in the spirit of America, they got a rental house with some friends and decided to settle there anyway. Now, he works as a cost estimator, purchaser, machinist, and database administrator for a local sign manufacturing company. He also has an Associate’s degree in Accounting, sort of.

As for writing, E. A. got started at the age of 4, writing short stories for his family. Seven years later, he tried writing a novel for the first time and failed. Another few years later, he tried again, keeping many of the same elements, and scrapped the 540-page end result because it sucked. It wasn’t until he was 28 years old that he finished a novel he was proud enough of to publish under his real name. Elder Blood is the first of seven novels in his The Epimetheus Trial series, and it has nothing to do with vampires, so don’t even ask. Seriously.

 Elder Blood chronicles a military superpower's quest for autonomy by driving its neighbors into obsolescence. This ambitious pursuit is enabled and empowered by The Avatars of Fate, an obscure organization with technological offerings beyond the most advanced civilizations. In the shadows of their ascent, federal officials are left blind to the rebellion building around their feet as splinter groups -- including some unsuspected persons of interest -- converge under a common purpose.

Casual mentions of gods and deities by The Avatars of Fate raise suspicions in an otherwise agnostic world. Equally suspicious is the fact that their emergence coincides with the reappearance of an alternate line of hominids thought to have met with extinction several centuries ago. These Hybrids are imbued with inhuman traits and capabilities, perhaps a driving force behind the vendetta issued against them. Every move is awash in possibility, and every new answer brings a wealth of intrigue in this heady epic.

Visit E.A. online: 

www.facebook.com/ElderBlood

Buy Link
CreateSpace discount code: (T6HSQ2WG for $1 off)

Q&A Thursday with Bob Horbaczewski

Today's Q&A Interview is with Author Bob Horbaczewski!


Enjoy & Comment!!


Why did you start writing and when did you decide to go professional?


I've been writing since I was a very young child. In the sixth grade I made my first attempt at writing a novel. Unfortunately my family moved from Hawaii to Arizona and the distractions of youth took my attention away from it. My passion for writing however always remained. In 2000, following my parents divorce, I dropped out of college to help my mother through that process. That unique situation gave me the opportunity to evaluate what I wanted to do with my life. Together with a group of friends, I wrote and directed my own independent movie, 'Into The Darkness', which can be seen on YouTube. That adventure was my first attempt to make writing a profession. Though it was not successful financially, the experience of seeing my words come to life was enough to cement the need to create within my core.


Do you write in more than one genre? Which ones and which do you like the best?


I have written in different media forms, screenplays, poetry, novels. Currently I enjoy writing Science Fiction and Fantasy, though I also try to write in other genre's as the stories come to my mind. Science Fiction and Fantasy hold a special place in my heart as that is the genre I have always been the greatest fan of. I grew up with Dune, Star Wars, Star Trek, Dungeons and Dragons, and so many other entries. The wonder of what may be or what might have been in these worlds is probably the biggest draw of the genre to me. I think in those worlds of grandeur characters are able to be pushed even further emotionally, broken down in ways that would not be possible in the constraints of a more real world. Paul Atreides facing his destiny as a Messiah, Aragorn accepting his lineage and leading the Dead Men of Dunharrow into battle, or a young moisture farmer finding out he is one of the last of a group of Mystics. 


Do you read other author’s books when you’re writing? If so, do you read the same genre or something different?


In the past I have tried to stay away from reading other author's books while I am writing. I have always had the concern that some aspects of other author's stories will find their way into my own. However, lately I have found that as long as I have the structure of my story laid out, reading other author's books serve only to motivate me to improve my own writing. I do not have a specific genre that I will lean toward while writing, instead I just read in the same manner as if I were not.


What is the most difficult part of the entire writing process for you? Queries, pitches, editing..etc.


The most difficult part of the writing process for myself has always been the editing process. I usually find myself constantly changing things, whether adding or subtracting from what I've written, and never finding an end to that process. It is extremely difficult to find a stopping point when going back through anything that I have written. With my novel, 'The Malef Chronicles' I spent twice as much time editing the story then I did in writing it.


If you could have the same type of career as any author currently publishing who would it be and why?


Scott Sigler is definitely the author whose career I would want. I greatly appreciate the way in which Mr. Sigler has gone about in finding his audience and putting out his own stories. His use of new media to help introduce himself and his work to his audience is amazing and very inspiring to me.


Author's Bio: A child of the 80's, Bob Horbaczewski grew up immersed in both Science Fiction and Fantasy. Inspired at a young age to write, Bob found a passion in story telling and was rarely found without a pen and pad to write with. Lost to the wonders of Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, Dune, Dungeons and Dragons, Marvel, DC, and numerous other stories, Bob became determined to craft his own tales. In every spare moment of his life, Bob found time to write. However, in the summer of 2006 one idea began to consume his creative process. Born years earlier in a wild hailstorm of thought, The Malef Chronicles found a pressure to be brought to a more refined form. Years prior Bob had dreamed of crafting an epic nine part story of galactic wars, betrayals, love, death, and wonder and in 2006 he finally took the steps to begin that very story.


https://www.facebook.com/Themalefchronicles

twitter.com/malefchronicles 

Blurb: In the distant future, Colin Kinison, a brash, young and arrogant pilot is thrust into the middle of an impeding galactic war after his ship is suddenly attacked while investigating an unusual anomaly at the edge of known space. O'Tel, king of the Ter'Ok'Zhu, an ancient race of mystics, recruits Colin to help him stop Xyrus, Dark Lord of the Belgae, from assassinating a once thought lost Princess. A tale of swordplay and space fights, bringing together fantasy and science fiction, The Malef Chronicles offers an epic journey into the fantastic.

Excerpt 


Colin now stood on the edge at the observation deck strapped into his flight suit, a hybrid design that allowed for freer mobility than a full space suit. It still protected its wearer from the harsh vacuum of deep space, though it could not sustain life for an extended period. He looked back at his squadron, fear and admiration covered their faces. His ice blue eyes caught the disapproving glare of Lieutenant Commander Sasha Rogers. The Yin to his Yang, Sasha was just as striking as he was with her flowing red hair and piercing green eyes. Hers was the only look of disgust amongst the squad. Her every thought packed into one angered look. He could feel her thoughts cut into his consciousness having heard them vocalized countless times before. Always showing off. Arrogant. Prideful. Pointless.


Colin simply gave her a nod, wink, and then placed his helmet on. The faceplate was in the shape of a black ebony skull, with bright red eyes. Many men, all leaders of the Reaper Squadron, the most elite squadron in the U.T.A. had worn this helmet, but none with such a blatant disregard for the rules of conduct placed before them. Arthur enlisted Colin in the U.T.A. in an attempt to create some sense of stability in the boy’s life. Always a rebel, it only pushed Colin further in the intensity of his exploits. Colin always pushed his limits, both to test himself and in a vain attempt to draw attention from his father, even if it was negative. That desire allowed him literally to soar past his peers. His bravado, though at times regarded as fool hearty, had become the stuff of legend amongst the younger enlisted. Colin’s daring was both his greatest strength and weakness. In respect to his father, regardless of the result, he would accomplish both of his goals today. 
Colin walked through the shield that was protecting the interior of the ship from the vacuum of space out onto the flight deck. The view was divine, as if something beyond mortal had found a way to express itself tangibly. Even a few days in the brig could not erase the vision set before him. The red sun of the Kodos system was gargantuan and its reflection cast a ghastly red glow around the entire ship, as though a red ocean had flowed up and consumed the ship. The spectacle hypnotized him with its splendor. 


Days prior when Colin first presented his idea of riding one of the Seasicks, cheers from nearly the entire squadron had greeted him. Sasha warned him of the consequences of such a stunt, as logic and a sense of duty ruled her motivations.


 “This is stupid. Overriding its control board could cause it to demagnetize and go flying off into deep space with you on its back. Knowing the Admiral he’d probably just leave you out there to teach you a lesson,” she had said. 


“What lesson, how to die a cold and painful death?  He loves me too much to let that happen, but even if it did, my boots are magnetized. I’ll be fine,” Colin replied. 


ZOOM!  A seasick breezed by Colin, shocking him back to reality. Now the decisive moment had come. To turn back, Colin would face not only embarrassment and shame from his squad, but he would never hear the end of it from Sasha. He could not bear that fate, so out across the deck he walked to the seasick that had so recently buzzed by him. It chirped in response to his presence.


“Hey there little buddy,” Colin quipped at the robot, not that it could understand or respond to his comment, but the simple routine helped calm his nerves. 


Colin removed a magnetic strip from his suit. A crude creation put together in his spare time, this small black strip of silicon and steel was Colin’s ticket to glory. In theory the strip would interfere with the Seasick’s primary functions just enough for him to directly interface and take control of the bot. Sasha had helped him design it, as countless failed attempts to dissuade him from his prior stunts had taught her that it was better to help keep him as safe as possible, than see what damage he would cause if left to his own devices. As with most schemes thought up in the middle of the night, this one sounded worse and worse with each passing moment. Colin reached the seasick. There was no predicting how it would react to him jumping on board, yet alone how its system would react to the interference from the magnetic strip. There was only one-way to find out; Colin leapt. 


The most agile of leaps it was not, but it was beautiful nonetheless. Colin landed square on the back of the Seasick and made a grotesque thud. The air from his lungs rushed out of his mouth, leaving him mere seconds to regain his composure. The Seasick would be alerting for help at any moment. This was his shining moment and suddenly ego overtook him. Colin’s mind trailed off to the future, of the stories that would be told with such brevity. He looked back at his squad and waved in triumph. Not thinking Colin lost his grip and fumbled the magnetic strip, dropping it to the empty depths of space. All of his glory lost in a heartbeat, in a single act of foolish bravado. In desperation, Colin lunged for the strip. His legs barely hung onto the side of the Seasick as the strip floated further and further away, gone forever. The Seasick’s alarm wailed. His failure was now complete. 

Q&A Interview with Jessica Lauryn

Q&A Interview with author Jessica Lauryn

Enjoy & Comment!!

What is the worst thing you’ve written, how did you learn or know it was bad, and what did you learn from it?

The worst thing I’ve written…hehe. For the sake of time, let’s narrow this down to just one piece—the original version of Dangerous Proposal. Originally titled “Loveless Moon,” and later “Moonlight Path,” Dangerous Proposal was the first piece I wrote with the intention of getting published. It was also the one that gave me the most grief.

In the original draft of DP, I opened with Lena making her escape to North Conway, and being lured into the woods by the witch we later come to know as Seraphina Madera. Doesn’t sound so bad, considering this wound up becoming a great flashback later in the story. But I was having a very, very difficult time figuring out what should be the starting point. And I knew something was off when I started reading other romance novels by published authors on a regular basis. (No, I wasn’t doing it before then!) Once I started to read romance regularly, I got a much better feel for the order in which events should be taking place.

Why did you start writing and when did you decide to go professional?

I’ve always been writing in some form or another, ever since I was a kid. As a child, I would use dolls to act out the stories I made up. They “resided” in a fictitious place called “Dolltown,” similar to Genoa City on the Young and the Restless. Only, my characters never had sex. At least not then they didn’t…;)

Fast forward to college. With the opportunity to (finally!) choose some electives, I enrolled in creative writing in drama, and poetry. I didn’t get the chance to take a fiction course and I regret that to this day. But with the little bit of a background I gained from these courses and the knowledge I acquired with practice, I decided to join my peers in a critique group after graduation. With the choice to be writing whatever I wanted, I gravitated toward romance like a magnet and it wasn’t long after that I decided I wanted to get published and wasn’t stopping until I got there.

Do you read other author’s books when you’re writing? If so, do you read the same genre or something different?

I do as much reading as I can when I write, though writing is always my first priority. As far as genre goes, I will read any type of romance, not only the one I’m writing in. This way, I feel I have a chance to soak in the best of all worlds, inspiring me to write the best book I can.  

What is the most difficult part of the entire writing process for you? Queries, pitches, editing..etc.

Prior to being published, queries were the most difficult part for me. It all came down to a single piece of paper—a four paragraph letter that was going to determine the fate of my entire 350 page manuscript. In time, I learned that great writing shines through…even from the bottom of the slush pile!

Nowadays, it’s editing that seems to have my head in a spin. Particularly when I’m going at a piece I wrote years ago, where there is an especially large amount of “telling” at play. It may seem easier to start the entire piece over from scratch, going at it with a new pair of hands and eyes. But easier isn’t always better. Remember that in moments of frustration—we all have them, and they do eventually pass! ;)

Do you write in more than one genre? Which ones and which do you like the best?

As of yet, I’ve written only romantic suspense, but you’ll notice that I have a tendency to let a taste of sub-genre slip between the pages. My stories are not so much about occasional bloodshed as they about the romance, and consequently I sometimes classify them as “contemporary romance” versus “romantic suspense.” I don’t write historical, but I’ve been told my stories have a historical feel as well.

As for me, speaking as both a reader and a writer, I don’t really have a sub-genre preference, so long as the romance between hero and heroine takes center stage, and the hero’s web of seduction heats up the pages for hours to come ;)

Author Bio: At two years old, Jessica became a devoted fan of both listening to and reciting the books her parents would read to her at night. When she was a little older (about four), she sought a greater challenge in her life, and began making up stories of her own, acting them out with her dolls. “When the dolls got “boyfriends,” she says, “I knew I was getting too old for dolls!”

As a romance novelist and a reader alike, Jessica is most intrigued by dark heroes, who have many demons to conquer…but little trouble enticing female companions into their beds! She feels that the best romances are those where the hero is already seducing the heroine from that first point of contact. “Isn’t it the hero’s job to seduce?” she says with a grin.

Jessica loves to see the sparks fly when a stubborn, domineering hero crosses paths with a bold, feisty heroine, and uses the combination frequently in her stories.

When she’s is not writing, Jessica enjoys listening to as much80’s music as possible, watching the same re-runs of Smallville over and over, shopping for exceptionally unique cameos, and taking long walks in nature where she can daydream about anything romantic. Though she resides in Central New Jersey, her heart belongs to the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire.

Find her online: 

Website: www.jessicalauryn.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/romancebyjessicalauryn Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jessica-lauryn/2a/9ba/761  Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JessicaLauryn_ Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5081732.Jessica_Lauryn Google: https://plus.google.com/u/0/117124426880360830802#117124426880360830802/posts


Blurb from Dangerous Ally:

For five lonely years, diamond smuggling kingpin Lucas Ramone has hidden himself from the world. With a father who has baited him all his life, made a game of trying to trip him up at every turn, Lucas will do whatever is necessary to protect what is rightfully his. What he isn’t prepared for is Lilah Benson…

Upon accepting a job in the home of her sister’s maniacal ex-fiancé, reporter Lilah Benson believes she has finally found the perfect way to make her mark on the world. Exposing the criminal endeavors of Lucas Ramone won’t soon be forgotten. But as she comes to know the man who was supposed to be her adversary, Lilah is tempted by a passion far stronger than the desire to see her name in print…


Power and control are tools of survival, critical in a world of thievery and deception. Lilah, an innocent in a land of criminals, may be the one person capable of bringing Lucas to his knees. But Lucas will stop at nothing to keep his empire secure.


He will have it all: His Fortune, His Legacy, and Lilah Benson in his bed…