Interview with Kris Hollington

 

Name

Kris Hollington

Can you tell us a little about your self IE your education Family life etc?

I’m married and live in London’s East End. I have all the usual educational certificates and a science degree in Psychology.

Can you remember what got you interested in writing?

Reading. So many books gripped and delighted me in so many ways, from the use of language to the behaviour of characters to the ingenious plots. I thought that being a writer must be a fine way to spend a life.

What inspired you to write your first book?

I started out as a freelance crime journalist and worked on a number of wild stories about police corruption, serial killers and sex attackers, mass murderers, drug dealers, art thieves, etc. One day I started working on what I thought was a crime feature story but it quickly grew into a book: Diamond Geezers.

Do you remember the first book you wrote and what it was about?

Diamond Geezers: The Inside Story of the Crime of the Millennium, published in 2004 by Michael O’Mara

Back in 2000, a gang of hapless criminals from South London planned the heist of the millennium by stealing the priceless collection of De Beers diamonds from the Millennium Dome in South London.

Their audacious attempt was foiled by police officers from the Flying Squad at New Scotland Yard, who caught them on the day of the robbery in a plan that was just as daring as the robbers.

It had everything: comedy, tragedy, pride, love, greed and a fabulous setting – and the story of how the diamonds were found and brought to London was worth a book in itself.

What books have most influenced your life?

Fiction: Crime and Punishment, Infinite Jest, The Pale King, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the Master and Margarita, Under the Volcano, The Book of Flights, The Book of Disquiet. And many, many more.

Non-Fiction: Anything by E.B. White, George Orwell, David Foster Wallace, Bill Bryson and Hunter S Thompson. And many, many more.

Are the experiences in your stories based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

Always. Although I plan to write fiction and have written some plays for the BBC, my books are all non-fiction.

What made you co-write with Harry Keeble?

Harry approached Andrew Lownie (andrewlownie.co.uk), my agent, and Andrew put us in touch. Harry told me the story of how his little drugs squad had closed 100 crack houses in one year and I knew then I had write the book (which became Crack House).

How did you find working on his books, easy or hard?

Writing books is fun but hard – in the sense that Harry and I deal with contentious and sensitive topics, including child abuse, so we have to put the people we’re writing about first and consider how every sentence might affect them. The feedback so far is that we’ve got it just right and that is a huge reward in itself. We also receive many emails from people asking for help in relation to some of the issues our books cover. To have inspired someone to do something about a certain situation is, as a writer, humbling and satisfying. Harry and I feel as if we have a very strong connection to most of our readers and this keeps us motivated when discussing and writing the books.

Have you co-written with other authors?

Yes, lots. I’m a ghost-writer and have written memoirs for a world-famous human rights activist, a record breaking sports person, a very senior police officer, a world famous movie star, a Special Forces soldier, an undercover detective and a top surveillance officer.

What are your current projects?

I’m working on a book called the Crime Factory (coming out in April 2012), which is a detective’s account of his incredible career in the Criminal Investigation Department. I’m also about to start a book on the history of crime in London (Criminal London, also coming out in 2012) – how crime has shaped and will continue to shape the city and its inhabitants. Harry’s next book, Hurting Too Much, has just gone off to the printers and will be out in February 2012.

How much of the book is realistic?

Everything – except Harry and I have to change some names and small details to protect crime victims, criminals, informants, witnesses and undercover police officers.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

Pressing ‘send’ for the last time is quite difficult – I always feel like I should read the manuscript one more time, but there comes a time where you have to let the book go.

What was the hardest part of writing your books?

For Harry and I, probably dealing with some of the more deeply emotional stories. On a more practical level, dealing with the various legal aspects of non-fiction writing can be very tricky indeed.

Did you learn anything from writing your books and what was it?

I learn a great deal from all of my co-authors. They have all been through dangerous and traumatic experiences for the benefit of others and that is always very humbling. Also, I’ve learned that publishing a book is a privilege, one that I take very seriously indeed, and so I always give every single story my best shot.

Which do you enjoy writing fiction or non-fiction and why?

I haven’t written fiction yet, so that’s a question for the future.

Is there any book you wish you never wrote?

No. There are books I wish other people hadn’t written, however.

When did you first consider yourself an author?

When I held a physical copy of my first book in my hands. And shortly afterwards when I had to fill out the ‘profession’ section on my car insurance form.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

If you have the urge to write and the urge never lessens, then you are a writer and you should keep writing – no matter what. Read as much as you can and study other authors’ techniques, style and use of language.

If you want to get published, then approach agents and take their advice, they know what they’re talking about. Andrew Lownie’s website – andrewlownie.co.uk – has some great advice for submitting proposals and some very funny real-life examples of how not to approach an agent.

Be clear and concise. To this end, read Politics and the English Language by George Orwell. It applies to both fiction and non-fiction (and it’s short too). Any publisher would be delighted to read a book proposal that follows Mr. Orwell’s sound advice.

Writing takes a lot of self-belief and a great deal of hard work but it is worth it and if you keep at it, you will get there in the end. For example, when Harry and I wrote a book proposal for Baby X, the publisher wasn’t sure about taking it on. Baby X told the story of how Harry came to join Hackney’s Child Protection Unit and the heartbreaking and sometimes dangerous work they undertook, rescuing hundreds of children from all kinds of abuse, covering everything from witchcraft to incest and travelling all over the globe in the hunt for child abusers.

The publisher was worried that it might be too tough a read for them to sell, but Harry and I believed in the book passionately and persuaded them to offer us a modest advance. When Baby X was published it stayed in the non-fiction top-ten for three months and we received countless emails from people touched by issues raised in the book.

If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?

If I hadn’t started writing I would have continued my psychology studies to become a Cognitive Neuropsychologist, which is a posh way of saying ‘finding out what part of the brain does what’.

Is there any thing you would like to tell our readers?

Come and join us on Facebook!

Our campaign page: http://www.facebook.com/groups/275608530935/

Harry’s page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1407916673

Interveiw with Alex Laybourne

Name Alex Laybourne

Age 27

Where are you from Originally the United Kingdom but I now live in the Netherlands.

A little about your self `ie your education Family life ect

Fiona: Tell us your latest news?

I am applying the finishing touches to my second novel It is the second installment of my Horror Trilogy Highway to Hell. On a personal level, my wife and I are expecting our 4th baby due in October. We already have two boys and a girl, and cannot wait to find out what we are having this time.  

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I began writing when I was 14/15. I was on holiday in Spain and everybody stopped in the afternoon for their siesta and I didn’t want to sleep so wrote a story, and it kind of grew from there.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

It was probably about a year ago that I really started thinking of myself in that sort of way.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

Well I was on holiday in Spain and didn’t want to take a midday siesta so grabbed a pen and started writing. It started out as a teenage action book but went through several phases, all progressively worse than the last. I was inspired back then by the TV shows I enjoyed the most. Buffy, X-Files that sort of stuff.

Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style?

Not really, I just sit down whenever I can – quite literally – and write. I always write my novels in order, I cannot jump to and fro, and aside of short stories for my blog, I have to write one piece at a time, from start to finish including editing. I have no idea why. It just seems to be the way my mind works.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

Well the title for my first published novel came to me when I found the cover art image. It just all fell into place and I couldn’t be happier. The title of my upcoming (re-edited and re-released) short story anthology is The Musings of a Hideous Mind. It came to me one day and I just fell in love with it. I plan on publishing several different volumes under this title.

Fiona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Not really. There are probably lots of messages that could be taken from the novel, but none are really intentional but rather natural by-products of the story itself. Such as Redemption or the Duality of Man

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic?

Well 99% of the novel is set within Hell, so I am not sure how much is realistic. If I’m honest I hope none of it is, because I would not like to end up in some of the places I have created.

Fiona: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

I think any writer is not being honest with themselves when they say that their characters are purely fictional. What we do as writers is to take in what we see, to use what we hear and learn throughout our lives and to twist and sculpt it within a healthy spoonful of out imagination. All of my characters are everybody in my life, but none of them at the same time. Some are even mysel, or maybe who I wish I had been.

Fiona: What books have most influenced your life most?

I think 1984 by George Orwell is a book that had a profound effect on my youth, particularly my adolscence. Also the Books of Blood (Volumes 1-3) by Cliver Barker had a great influence on my writing.

Fiona: If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

From a genre perspective it would have to be Stephen King or Clive Barker. H.P. Lovecraft is another writer that I would love to be able to sit down and talk shop with. These are just a few names, because in reality I have many mentors. Every Indie writer is a mentor to me. By sharing tips and stories (of both success and filure) we are helping one another develop and hone our writing skills on the frontline.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

I am currently reading a collection of 4 horror stories called Dark Bites. I am also working my way through Full Dark No Stars by  Stephen King and The Books of Blood (4-6) by Clive Barker

Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

There are a wealth of talented authors out there, and I honestly want to read them all. However, at this point in time Carrie Green is the next writer on my list to read. She is a horror writer and has a coule of short story comilations out on the market right now.

Fiona: What are your current projects?

I am currently working on the second installment of my Highway to Hell Series, and have plans to re-edit and re-release a short story collection that I had rushed into publication a few years ago, and thankfully pulled from circulation before too many people bought it. I am also planning out a new character driven horror novel.

Fiona: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.

I guess the biggest support outside of my family would be the Indie Writing community as a whole. I have many wonderful people and have so many amazing friends as a result of my involvement on Twitter, Facebook and the like

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

I treat writing as a career. I approach it in a professional manner and with a dedication that is probably unrivalled even by that which I give my day job.

Fiona: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

To be honest with you, no. I am delighted with Highway to Hell, and the way it turned out. If you were to put a gun to my head I would maybe say I would add a little more dialogue, but I don’t beleive it would have really added much to the story.

Fiona: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I have always loved reading and writing. My desire to become a writer came from a holiday I took to Spain when I was 14. I was sitting in the apartment with my friend, whose family had kindly taken me away. It was early afternoon and the resort kind of closed for the siesta time. I was bored, and kind of daydreaming, and suddenly decided I would write a book. I still have that original manuscript. It was awful but it holds a special place in my heart.

Fiona: Can you share a little of your current work with us?

I will glady share a little glimpse of my published novel Highway to Hell with you. My current WIP is still going through final edits nd is not yet ready for any eyes other than my beta reader.

The angels looked from one to another, as if conferring. Once again it was Nemamiah who spoke. “You think of it in such simple terms. The world you think of as being the centre of your universe will not be destroyed, nor will the people in it – not all of them, at least. They will simply be overrun. When the barriers to your world begin to break, beings will emerge. First it will be the lower level sentient beings, like those you encountered. They will overrun your world and fill it with terror, getting ready for the cracks to open wider and allow the Kingdom of the Damned to take control. To answer your question, if that is even what it was, then no, this isn’t new. Cracks appear all the time and beings escape, as do souls – those brave enough to fight through their way through the torture racks and pain thresholds. We do our best to keep it to a minimum, although there are always a few who manage to evade us. It is just that this time… this time something big is brewing, and…” Nemamiah looked across at the other two as he spoke. Once again they seemed to smile at him, a wry smile that none of them noticed, not even Nemamiah, who had returned his stare to the group.

”You don’t know what it is, do you?” Graham piped up, seeming to take quite some degree of pleasure in the statement.

“Lucifer was thrown from Heaven after a great war within our family. He questioned our Father’s decision’s. We tried to reason with him, we tried to help him find his faith, but his anger made him powerful, more powerful than many of us realized. So there was a war, civil war. The angels fought amongst themselves, our purity was ruined, and our Utopia was ripped apart like the Garden of Eden had been after the touch of mankind. With our brother Michael leading our army, we banished Lucifer and his followers from Heaven. As punishment his soul was tainted, meaning he couldn’t find a vessel on earth, and so he fell deeper, into the very bowels of the universe itself,” Nemamiah said with the soothing tones of a storyteller. All five of them stood captivated by his words.

‘You mean the like the core of the earth?” Helen asked clumsily.

“No, female, that is not what we mean. We mean the bottom of the universe, the basement of all existence. It is here that he came to rest, and even that was too good for him, the traitor,” Sariel began, but he was cut short

“Sariel, bite your tongue or offer penance,” Nemamiah bellowed. The power of the voice was enough to make the group of mortals jump, and had it been directed at them they were all certain that it would have been too much and turned them into liquefied jelly puddles. Thankfully, however, it was directed at Sariel, who shrank visibly, and took several steps backwards. Even Nakir seemed to shrink away. Then, as if nothing had happened, Nemamiah continued talking.

 “Lucifer fell. By your own way of calculating the passage of time, he fell for millennia, before landing on a desolate piece of rock at the bottom of the universe, the edge of all existence. So fierce was the wrath that God unfurled on him after his defeat. It was there, on a small rock fighting for its survival in the truest possible sense, that Lucifer began to create his realm. Four of his followers survived the descent and impact. Their bodies were broken and disfigured, twisted into hideous beings with a thirst for revenge that consumed them completely. Lucifer saw his chance and so fuelled their rage with crazy promises and desires, the same way Gollum was consumed by the ring. Lucifer spoke to them so as to keep himself whole. His anger was channeled through them, and as time passed they grew stronger. They remained there, balanced on the brink of everything, when more rocks began to pass them by; used up, dead chunks of everything, crushed down into rocks and floating debris islands by the pressures that the end of all existence exerts. There were gathered together and fused to each other, and thus his empire began to grow. The denser it became the more it began to rise. Not ascending, no, the path home was closed to him, but they pulled away from the edge. It was here, as they rose, that Lucifer found the portals, and so too he found their weaknesses.” Nemamiah stopped, pausing to let everything sink in. To give them time for a question and answer session. None of them knew what to say; his voice held them captive, while his anger kept them tamed.

 

Fiona: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Um, besides editing, which I can never find the same rhythm with as I can the actual writing process, I would say that simply finding time to write is the most challenging aspect. With a full time job and three young children at home, all of whome love to get up early (around 5am) which is really the only pure writing time I get in the day, it can be tought to get that momentum built up.

Fiona: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

My favorite author would be Stephen King. From the scope of his works, to the detail that goes into each book. From character backgrounds and interactions to the simple setting of a story. The ending to the Dark Tower series alone, what a stroke of genius.

Fiona: Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?

No, all of my books come completely out of my imagination, and giving the setting of the current series, the internet gives me all the research and information I need. Setting a novel in Hell with Angels and Demons has its advantages. I have to travel 80km a day to get to my day job, so any other travelling just isn’t in the budget.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

My brother in law. He is a grpahic designer and has designed all of my book covers for me. In exchange for the odd piece of translation work.

Fiona: What was the hardest part of writing your book?

The time, and telling myself to stop when I am in the groove. Sometimes I have to pull myself back otherwise I wuld stay up all night long writing, and then be dead at work the next day. It’s never fun to stop writing, but sometimes, it has to be done. Those damned bills still need to be paid, and until the time comes I can do it with my writing, my hands are tied.

Fiona: Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

I learned a lot about what it takes and means to be a writer. I learned about the importance of editing, the importance of having a good and trusted beta reader. Someone who will stand up to you and tell you something sucks. Not to be mean, but to make your work better.

Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?

Write, write every day, not just on a computer, but on paper. Blog, write letters… we all remember those right. 🙂 Write emails, write a diary, even a shopping list if you need it, but just make sure you write something every day. Even if inspiration doesn’t flow, you will keep yourself limber and read for when the inspiration returns.

Fiona: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I would love to be able to thank each and every one who has bought my books and read my blog individually, but sadly that is not possible. So instead a blank Thank you is the best I can offer. I am humbled by every sale I make or every visit my website received.

Fiona: If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done ?

My dream was to join the police force, and still is to this day. I was a member of the Special Constabulary when I lived in England and I had the best time there.

Fiona: Do you have a blog/website? if so what is it?

My website is www.alexlaybourne.com

Interview with Fiona Johnson

Name –

 Well that’s a tricky question to start with! For most people their name is pretty straightforward but I’ve managed to even confuse myself! My real name is Fiona Johnson, my crime/noir name is McDroll and my Romance name is F.G. Johnson. My superhero name is Grenade Woman…but you probably won’t need to know that!

Age –

Old enough to know better.

Where are you from – I’m originally from Kilmarnock a small industrial town with no industry left in Ayrshire, Scotland but I’ve lived in Argyll since 1984 when I moved to the Isle of Islay to find work. I lived there for 9 years and since then I’ve lived in mainland Argyll.

A little about your self `i.e. your education Family life ect

My education started in huge sandstone Victorian Junior Secondary School when I was only 4 years old and it terrified me almost every day that I spent there. The kids were controlled with corporal punishment with the belt being used all day, everyday for minor misdemeanors like dropping your pencil on the wooden floor to not being able to spell February out loud. I hated it but it made me have a strong belief in fairness and equality as I grew up because I saw children being abused by the power of adults on a daily basis.

Secondary school only made those beliefs stronger and that was when I started to stand up to those adults who wanted to abuse their power. I remember refusing corporal punishment in my maths class and staring the teacher down. I won. I also remember being locked in the French class over lunch for much the same reason. Nobody was going to treat me as a victim and I haven’t changed since.

My belief in the right of children to have a voice and to be treated fairly took me, of course, into teaching. I started off at teacher training college straight from school but then detoured into an honours degree in English lit where I discovered my love for Scottish literature.

Since then I’ve studied for a Masters degree in Education just for the fun of it!

I have two children, both of whom I have taught, an interesting experience, and when not reading or writing, I spend my time supporting them in their various musical interests.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news?


As I’m currently on holiday, I’m spending my time catching up with some reviews and I’ve been trying to help promote new writers over at my blog.

Mostly though, I’m trying to get some of my own writing done while I don’t have other distractions.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?


I’ve always wanted to write and have had several disasters over the years. Looking back I now understand why I wasn’t successful before as I didn’t have enough life experiences, an understanding of what makes people tick, a wealth of reading experience or the support of other amazing writers on the internet. All of these elements are now in place and I’m just having the best time writing.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?


I don’t!

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?


I got a great offer from Trestle Press to publish some of my stories and I just took it! You don’t turn that kind of chance down.

Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style?


Reading the comments that people make about my writing then I would say that I tend towards bleak and emotional tales of everyday life, you know, happy stuff like that!

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?


I came up with Kick It because I wanted something catchy that had an edge of violence and the idea that people can make changes, even when they are in the most desperate of situations. I also thought the title leant itself to further volumes, hence KICK IT AGAIN and hopefully in the near future, KICK IT SOME MORE.

Fiona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?


No message, I jut want people to enjoy what I write and maybe find some kind of elemental truth about contemporary living.

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic?


I hope that all of my stories are realistic but that doesn’t mean that they are ‘true’. I maybe catch sight of someone in town, or over hear a conversation and use that to start me off. I then try to take the idea to its logical conclusion based on the idea that noir starts bad and then gets worse.

Fiona: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?


Sometimes I base a story on some little incident from my childhood but I twist it out of shape and add much more angst and violence!

Fiona: What books have most influenced your life most?


My main love in life is Scottish fiction starting form Robert Burns all the way through to Alan Guthrie. There is a common thread that links Scottish writing together that is unique in this small country of ours. People seem to be born with a sense of guilt or if they don’t, they will soon have it drummed into them as a child. There is a certain type of humour tat is very self-deprecating and an ability to see the funny side of the most horrible situations. I love all of this and you can easily find it in the writing of Stuart MacBride, Douglas Lindsay and Russel D. McLean.

Fiona: If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?


I am very lucky to have some wonderful friends who will read the bits and pieces that I write and point me in a better direction. Josh Stallings, author of Beautiful, Naked & Dead is immensely talented and I’m very fortunate to be able to call him my friend. Also Thomas Pluck, the writing machine, will rip my stories apart in the nicest way possible.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?


At the moment I’ve just finished DEAD MONEY by the amazing Ray Banks and I’m currently reading WEE ROCKETS by Gerard Brennan; two great books. I’m also dipping in and out of OFF THE RECORD, an anthology of short stories compiled by Luca Veste where each story is inspired by a classic song. Great stuff!

Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?


Lots! This year I’ve become hooked on:

1. Anthony Neil Smith

2. Josh Stallings

3. Ray Banks

4. Douglas Lindsay

to name but a few…

Fiona: What are your current projects?


I’ve written two short stories, ‘Alone’ and ‘Sweeper’ both, interestingly, with male central characters. I’m trying to extend my writing and develop my characters a bit more. I’ve also got a couple of my ‘Gemma’ stories to finish writing. She’s one of my recurring characters who is a rookie DC working in Glasgow who doesn’t let her male colleagues walk all over her. I’m also working on another story about Jango and Beeny, two small-time criminals, who are incredibly stupid. They are fun to write about.

I’ve got stories in two just published anthologies, OFF THE RECORD by Luca Veste and BRIT GRIT TOO by Paul Brazill.

Fiona: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.


My twitter friends are amazing and demand that I write! I’d be lost without them!

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?


I wish!! If it could pay the bills I’d drop everything and be ‘a writer’ sadly I think I’ll need to keep the day job!

Fiona: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?


No, I don’t believe in looking back. I just want to make every current project the very best that I can at that point in time.

Fiona: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?


I think my interest in noir started with only ever reading Grimm’s Fairy tales when I was just a wee thing. I obviously have always had a liking for the dark side of life! Saying that..I also devoured Dr. Seuss! I’ve always loved the beauty of words so I think that’s where my inspiration came from.

Fiona: Can you share a little of your current work with us?


Yes! This is from ‘SWEEPER’

The coloured Christmas lights cut through the early darkness of the afternoon as

shoppers scurried around the main street in the village moving in and out of the small

shops, stopping now and then to greet their friends as last minute purchases were

made for the festive season.

 

‘Christmas time, mistletoe and wine.’ Sweeper’s loud voice could be heard all down

the street. He’d been singing out of tune Christmas songs all month but the shoppers

knew him well and just smiled up at his cheery round face as they passed him by.

 

‘Gonna be a white, white Christmas,

Gonna get lucky tonight,

In this little town of Bethlehem.’

 

He didn’t always get the words right which also amused the passers by. His Christmas

repertoire was usually a mash up of carols and Christmas no.1 hits from the 70s and

80s with a liberal sprinkling of improvisation.

 

Everybody in the little village knew Sweeper; the nickname came directly from his

job as street cleaner, which he had carried out faithfully for at least 15 years. Not a

cigarette but or bus ticket was safe on the ground if Sweeper was around. His yellow

high-viz jacket and green bobble hat were a familiar sight to all the locals who

enjoyed a laugh and joke as they passed.

 

‘Hey Sweeper! Merry Christmas man and remember to keep off the booze, yer

singing’s bad enough!’ 

 

Sweeper laughed and shook his fist playfully at all the jibes he got and sang even

louder.

 

‘Mary’s baby was born this day,

In a winter wonderland!’

 

He continued sweeping and bagging up all the detritus of the season, shoving the bin

bag in his cart and moving on up the street.

 

Fiona: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?


Yes, I really have to work hard on the plot! I can’t start writing until I know what the end point is, then I can head off quite happily. Sometimes I don’t end up where I think I was going but I need to have thought up a direction to begin with. If I don’t then I just go round and round in circles.

Fiona: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?


I’ve got so many favourite authors! Lewis Grassic Gibbons, Jane Austin, William McIllvanney, Allan Guthrie, Josh Stallings, Anthony Neil Smith, Douglas Lindsay, Stuart McBride, Benjamin Whitmer…I could go on and on.

Fiona: Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?


No, I write about the places I know; Argyll, Islay, Glasgow and Kilmarnock.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?


My published, Trestle Press, has allowed me to come up with the photos for my covers which is great fun!

Fiona: What was the hardest part of writing your book?


I don’t find it hard. My day job is hard. I write for fun and because I love doing something I’m passionate about.

Fiona: Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?


I’ve learned that having book published is only the beginning, finding readers is the hard part!

Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?


Don’t wait until you have retired to write ‘the book’, do it now and go with whatever opportunities come your way!

Fiona: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

If you read any of my stories, give me some feedback. It’s all a big learning process and what the reader says is ultimately the most important aspect to me.

Fiona: If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done ?

I also enjoy singing…however other people have a different opinion.

 

Fiona: Do you have a blog/website? if so what is it?

You can find me at

http://imeanttoreadthat.blogspot.com/

Interview with Ryan Bracha

Name: Ryan Bracha

Age: 33

Where are you from: Doncaster originally but I now live in Barnsley

A little about your self `ie your education Family life etc:

I live in Barnsley with my wife, who I’ve been married to for about nine months, we have a cat. I originally did a degree in Film and Media, and went on to form a not for profit film company with a friend, which allowed me to write and direct my feature film ‘Tales From Nowhere’ and we arranged to have shown it at various local cinemas, it performed quite well. In that time I also directed a music video for a band called Lyca Sleep, which is still viewable on Youtube, and I was paid eight cans of lager for my trouble! It was all just for fun, and I enjoyed the process, but I fell out with my business partner shortly after and I ended up going down the route of getting a ‘nine to five’ job, and continued to want to tell stories. My debut novel, ‘Strangers Are Just Friends You Haven’t Killed Yet’ took four years to write, on and off, but once it was done I had the bug, and have written in every minute of spare time that I have. My second novel, the sequel to the first, called Tomorrow’s Chip Paper, was released in April.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news?

I’m working on my third novel, which is to be called Paul Carter is a Dead Man. It’s totally different to anything I’ve ever done before, and I really think it’s likely to be my best work yet. I’m also working on my ‘The Short Shorts’ project, which is a series of short stories and novellas released on a monthly basis, which will form part of a larger anthology next year.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I began writing just because I love to tell stories. If something bad or just plain stupid happens to you, the chances are you’ll laugh about it one day. I live for those moments that I can tell with a shameful look on my face, but know that it’s going to make me, or the people I’m with laugh. I like to transfer this kind of experience into that of my characters. The chances are that whatever my character does or says in any of my books, has probably been experienced by me or somebody that I know at some point, sometimes exaggerated for the purposes of a good story, of course. But I’ve always been really imaginative, and my strength at school was always English.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I think when I got my first decent review by somebody that I didn’t know. That external authentication by a stranger is key. You can write all the stories you want, but if it’s only your mum that says it’s good you’re still just a literary version of a face that only a mother could love!

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

Boredom, more than anything else. I didn’t have a clue what to write about. I just had this urge to write a story which was told by fifty different voices, nobody to be repeated, just let the story flow, through these fifty different opinions and voices. I got to a couple of characters that I just had so much fun with though, and didn’t want to let them go, wanted to nurture them, and see them grow with the story. So the story evolved into the Strangers Are Just Friends You Haven’t Killed Yet that’s available now.

Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style?

It’s been called experimental, uncompromising, I personally think it’s very honest writing, I think it’s real, and funny. Very Scottish was another comment. I think that may come from the fact that my favourite authors hail from Scotland. I have a very intentionally love-it-or-hate-it style. The people that hate it mean as much to me as those that love it. I live for the response.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

Strangers Are Just Friends You Haven’t Killed Yet was just a strange thing that clicked for me as I was sitting on a bus reading my work. The characters are all strangers, yet throughout the course of the book become at least aware of each other, some become friends, but the nature of what they’re involved in means it’s very much dog eat dog. The title is what gives that particular book the attention it’s currently getting. It seems to stand out more than anything else I’ve done.

The second novel, Tomorrow’s Chip Paper, came from the fact that our media is always on the look out for the next big story. We’re force fed a big story for about a week before Victoria Beckham farts in public, or another hate figure dies and we all feel sad. This is the nature of the book.

Fiona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Just realise how much of yourself that you’re giving to Facebook. There are people on your friend’s list that you’ll pass in the street without so much as a nod of acknowledgment. My novels focus on this all consuming monster that Facebook has become, the quickfire route to celebrity, and the way our media will manipulate us. The messages are subtle though, I’m live and let live. I’ll say my piece and move on.

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic?

The stories, maybe not so much. They’re exaggerated versions of real life. The characters are realistic. I’ve met the characters of my books a dozen times over. I like to think that I put realistic characters in unrealistic situations.

Fiona: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

Going back to an earlier question. A lot of the stuff in my books has happened to me, whether it’s a direct translation or a grossly exaggerated version, is for you to guess..!

Fiona: What books have most influenced your life most?

I’ve absorbed the way I like to see a book written, and probably subconsciously sought to replicate that in my own work. My first real favourite author was Chris Brookmyre. I loved the way he’d tell an action packed story, but there was always this underlying satire about it. Then somebody I knew read the first half of my first novel, and told me that I’d probably enjoy books by a guy called Irvine Welsh, whose name I knew, but had never read. I picked up Bedroom Secrets of the Master Chefs, and now I’m at the first of the queue when a new Irvine Welsh book comes out. If I had to stick a top three books out there, in no particular order, I’d say Requiem for a Dream by Hubert Selby Jr, Bedroom Secrets of the Master Chefs by Irvine Welsh, and probably One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night by Chris Brookmyre. Ask me tomorrow and it would be different.

Fiona: If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

He’ll not believe I said this, but Keith Nixon, author of The Fix, basically guided me into the maniacal path I’m following right now. I didn’t know what the hell I was doing when I first published Strangers Are Just Friends.. I just discovered that I could put my work out there, then I just sat back and watched it do nothing. Sold it to maybe a few family members and friends, but it was just another book in a sea of other books. Keith showed me how to get my work noticed by other authors, helped me to realise that there was this massive community of extremely talented authors, who are all happy to help each other out. Mark Wilson, Gerard Brennan, Paul Brazill, and David Ross, all very good blokes that I’ve come to know and follow through Keith Nixon. I owe him a lot.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

I’ve got two on the go. I’m reading a book called Loisaida by an American woman called Marion Stein, whose work appears to be influenced directly by another of my favourite books, Last Exit to Brooklyn. I’m also a few pages into Life is Local by an up and coming Scottish author by the name of Des McAnulty.

Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

There’s new, and there’s new to me. Personally I’m enjoying the works of Mark Wilson, whose books have recently come into my centre of gravity. His new novella, Head Boy, is gruesome but you just can’t take your eyes off of it for a second.

Fiona: What are your current projects?

I’m about to release volume four of my ‘The Short Shorts’ project, it’s called The Bad Day, and is a bit of a curve ball for people who kind of know what to expect from my work. Going back to that ‘experimental’ tag that I said that somebody had given to me, this is what I want to do. I want to challenge your expectations. I might be new, but that doesn’t mean I can’t hit the ground running. I want people to look forward to seeing what I’m going to do next, and whether they love it or hate it, they still want more.

Fiona: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.

Friends. I honestly did not expect the support I got when I started out. It humbled me to the very core.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

Hopefully yes, but if not then it’s not the end of the world. There’s more money to be made in the kindle market that there is the paperback one, but my pleasure really does lie in knowing that somebody I don’t know has a copy of my book on their bookshelf. Chuck Palahniuk once wrote ‘The aim isn’t to live forever, the aim is to create something which will.” This is the ethos that I’ll always take with me. I can work for money, but writing will be my legacy.

Fiona: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

Nothing. I don’t believe in revisiting, and rewriting my work. I’ll check for plot holes and grammatical errors, but I always think that the new book I’ve written is the best thing ever. I sit there, and write. Whatever comes out is the way it’s going to be.

Fiona: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

At school I wrote a story about nuclear war that got a little bit of attention. At university a film I made was used on the show reel to attract future students. I liked that my stories could do that. I wanted more.

Fiona: Can you share a little of your current work with us?

Just a little! Paul Carter is a Dead Man supposes that a bomb goes off in London in 2011, religious extremists take responsibility, and there’s an uprising. A revolution. The face of the country changes dramatically, but one man doesn’t like the way it’s going. That’s enough.

Fiona: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Would you think bad of me if I said no? Okay. I find it hard to plan a book. A story, or a plot. I find I work best when I just have the time and space to sit in front of my computer and just write. It’s a bit unorthodox but I find I work best when it’s spontaneous.

Fiona: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

Irvine Welsh. By a country mile. His work stands head and shoulders above every other writer I’ve ever read. His stuff is funny, tragic, violent, gut wrenching, uncompromising.. I could go on.

Fiona: Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?

No, any overseas scenes come from my own past experience. And Googlemaps.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

The first was done by a friend of mine, Benjamin Brown. After that though, I found it much better to start figuring out how to do it myself. I started making daft images on some publishing software, then eventually the stuff started looking quite good, in my opinion, so I do it all myself from now on. I’ve tried to remain as self sufficient as I can. I have a vision, and I find it’s just easier to create if I do it myself.

Fiona: What was the hardest part of writing your book?

The first one was getting it finished. Four years is a long time. Now I don’t worry about what’s tough and what’s not. I just write. One of these days I’ll write something utterly rubbish, then I’ll reassess my approach.

Fiona: Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

Not to let bad reviews hurt you. Sometimes they help.

Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?

As above. You can’t please everybody all of the time. Make sure that you’re happy with what you’re writing, it’s what YOU’RE putting into the world, make it a good representation of you.

Fiona: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Thank you.

Fiona: If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done ?

If it were easier than it actually was, I’d love to have gone into film making professionally.

Fiona: Do you have a blog/website? if so what is it?

This should do enough to see what I’m doing and what I’m all about, come say hi. https://www.facebook.com/Ryanbrachaauthor

Interview with Danny Kemp

 

Name Danny Kemp

Age. I am sixty-three and feeling every second of those past years

Where are you from?

I was born in Camberwell South East London on the 29th July, a Leo, and whether or not that influenced my parents choice of name I’ll never know.

A little about your self

I passed the 11+ and went to Shooters Hill Grammar School, where the best thing they ever taught me was how to play Rugby, fight and enjoy sport.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news?

Where to start; Friday, just gone. A photographer from The Kent Messenger came as that newspaper are running another article on me. I was contacted last Wednesday by a commissioning television editor with a mind of serializing my novel, but the contract I have with the film production company may preclude that. The two are now speaking to each other. I recorded another lunchtime American Radio interview last week. This coming Wednesday, 29th August, I’m on HFM radio giving a lunchtime interview in the UK.

I have four remaining signing engagements with Waterstones from the original sixteen.  This Saturday, 1st September, I’m at Waterstones Market Harborough.

Last week, Waterstones compared my writing to Graham Greene.

From August 24th until the 18th September Waterstones, at Nottingham, have a special crime book signing events tour. I’m included amongst Peter Robinson, Louise Welsh, Lee Child, John Connolly and Mark Billingham. My name is the only ‘unknown’ there and I’m the only one with a Saturday date.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I started in 2006 as a result of a Road Traffic “Accident” that left me unable to earn a living driving a London Cab for almost four years. I had nothing else to do.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When my novel, The Desolate Garden, was published.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

Awkward question for me to answer. The one that was not published was probably because I had watched the Godfather too many times. I had a love of Italy and was fascinated my the thought of a woman in charge of a huge conglomerate business empire built from a Mafioso background.

Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style?

Hmm, not sure. I have been told that my style is an old-fashioned English quintessence. Perhaps that’s how the Graham Greene and John Buchan comparisons were drawn.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

My agent and I discussed it.

Fiona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

No, not really. It’s a fictional story and there to be enjoyed.

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic?

Some parts are based on factual events and places but, in the main, is pure innuendo and lies. Or, is it?

Fiona: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

The central character, Lord Harry Paterson is a bit like me and his nemesis Judith Meadows is based loosely on a woman I once knew.

Fiona: What books have most influenced your life most?

I read an enormous amount when I was younger and alI have left a mark.

Fiona: If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

None. I have enjoyed many different writers but there is no-one I would consider as a mentor.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

I haven’t read a newspaper, let alone a book, for years.

Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

No, as I said I haven’t had a chance to look.

Fiona: What are your current projects?

My stories from The View From The Cab are to be published along with, I hope, my poems, but their inclusion is the decision of my publisher. I am writing a short story, probably no more than 20,000 words that I may be able to tempt that TV commissioning editor with, if the film contract will not allow for serialization of The Desolate Garden.

At the back of my mind is my third novel which I started before TDG was published and is about 60,000 words in, but unfortunately, due to all the marketing and promotional work I’m involved with, I haven’t been able to open it since.

Fiona: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.

I am a believer in God.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

I would love to be able to say yes to this, but even if all things come together then I only want to write one more story. I’m sixty-three and not lived a wise life. I would like to spend what time I have left in an enjoyable way, not in a pressurized situation.

Fiona: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

No, but I would never have taken the advice of my agent and his choice of editor. Having said that, everything is okay now but lots of mistake could, and should, have been avoided.

Fiona: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

No idea.

Fiona: Can you share a little of your current work with us?

I’ll be generous; you can have the opening line of this short story that I’m working on.

‘The first time I saw her was forty years ago to this very day, but it is not she who lays in this coffin; she is in my memory, and will never die.’

Fiona: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Yes, this short story opens with a very erotic scene and the word f.u.c.k. is used twice in dialogue. Both the extent of the sex, and the swearing, I found alien to write but it was necessary to open and set the tale.

Fiona: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

I haven’t got a favorite, it changes with whatever mood I’m in. Sitting here answering your questions I can see John Fowles writing The French Lieutenants Woman. Don’t ask me why though, because I could’t explain it.

Fiona: Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?

Yes, with the book signings I must have travelled 2000 miles already.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

For good bad or indifferent, I chose the design.

Fiona: What was the hardest part of writing your book?

The proof-reading and the editing. I’m not grammatically educated well, my skills have improved but I’m still not completely comfortable with apostrophes and general punctuation. If anything my narrative is too long in sentence form and could do with breaking up with more commas or full stops.

Fiona: Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

Never use an editor whose work you don’t know. Never trust advice, find out for yourself. Oh, never put coloured heading as Chapter Headers, but that is another story in itself.

Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?

No, I’m not an advisor. I’m not that clever enough to be one.

Fiona: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

If you like my work then tell others. If you don’t want to own, it in a physical sense, or don’t have a Kindle on which to download it, then ask your Library to stock it for you. They will if you ask.

Fiona: If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?

Stayed driving a London Black Cab and IF I could have devoted the same amount of time to that job, that I have in all the promotion of The Desolate Garden, I would be a much richer man, than I now am!

THE DESOLATE GARDEN is available on forty internet sites and in bookshops such as: Waterstones, Hatchards, Foyles, Blackwells, Barnes&Noble as well as Independents, one of which bears the Royal Crest; Heywood Hill Ltd. In Mayfair London, very near an old MI6 Headquarters building.

Interview with Dixon Bennett Rice

Name: DIXON BENNETT RICE
Age: OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER
Where are you from:  KALISPELL, MONTANA, U.S.A. – in the gorgeous Flathead Valley of the Northern Rockies, a stone’s throw from Glacier National Park, with some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the world.
A little about yourself, i.e., your education, family life, etc.:   I SPENT EIGHT YEARS in US Army Intelligence, where I learned how to interrogate my children.  (This was back when we devoutly followed the Geneva Convention.)  I’ve also been a funeral director, investigator, office manager, payroll manager, shipping clerk, insurance agent, and retail salesman.  I’ve jumped out of perfectly good aircraft.  I’ve gone into jails as a literacy volunteer, and also not so voluntarily.

My father was a Naval officer and I was born on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.  Like most military families, we moved around a lot, and my siblings were born here, there and everywhere.  I graduated from Mercer Island High School (a Seattle suburb) and the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma WA.  At one time I had aspirations of going to law school, but decided to spare the planet one additional attorney.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news?

MY SECOND NOVEL, “MONTANA IS BURNING,” is near completion. I had planned to release it as a Kindle e-book, like my first thriller, “THE ASSASSINS CLUB,” but my critique group has convinced me to try traditional publishing.
Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

  I’VE DABBLED IN SHORT STORIES and poetry as long as I can remember.  It became more serious when I started making up bedtime stories for my children, and they wanted them written down, and sent to publications. Unfortunately, some did get published, and my interest evolved into an addiction.  I’ve been writing adult market novels for the past decade.
Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

MY FIRST SUBMISSION.
Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

 IT WAS A LARK.  I got the idea for a fantasy about a wizard’s apprentice. It was full of clichés and forgettable characters.
Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style?

I LIKE TO THINK I’M having a conversation with both my readers.
Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

 TWO VERY DIFFERENT KILLERS are featured in my first published novel, set in 1970.  One of them, Tyler Goode, “accidentally” becomes a serial killer when he’s forced to take out members of a murderous family of rednecks out of self-preservation.  After a few killings, Ty finds he’s “hooked” and can’t quit his new hobby, so he focuses on ridding the planet of a few of its most despicable residents.  One day, he’s approached by two friends who happen to be deputy sheriffs.  “We know what you’re doing, Ty,” one says.  He figures he’s headed for prison until the other says, “And we want in on it.”  Thus was born “THE ASSASSINS CLUB.”  (Both my fans loved it.)
Fiona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

THINGS AREN’T AS THEY SEEM.
Fiona: How much of the book is realistic?

MOST OF THE SCENES TAKE PLACE in northwest Montana, although a few locales are fictitious, and I hope they feel realistic.
Fiona: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

 I LIKE TO TAKE PEOPLE I’ve bumped into, and ask myself: “What if I completely reversed their best and worst qualities?”  So a saintly benefactor becomes a greedy villain, and a rapist becomes a protector defenseless women – but their other personality characteristics are unchanged.  Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn’t.
Fiona: What books have most influenced your life most?

WRITING DIALOGUE WAS DIFFICULT for me at first.  Reading the crime novels of Robert B. Parker, Elmore Leonard and Richard Price helped me overcome that problem.
Fiona: If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

 DENNIS FOLEY IS A NOVELIST and screenwriter now living in Whitefish, Montana.  He wrote and produced TV shows in the 1980s & 90s such as China Beach, Airwolf, Cagney & Lacey, and MacGyver, and has also written some excellent novels, the most recent being “A REQUIEM FOR CROWS.”  Dennis has devoted many volunteer hours, giving talks on the craft of writing to the Authors of the Flathead, and mentoring beginning writers.
Fiona: What book are you reading now?

 “A GAME OF THRONES” by George R.R. Martin.
Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

PAUL D. MARKS, AUTHOR OF “WHITE HEAT” (which takes place against the backdrop of L.A.’s Rodney King riots) and Kathy Dunnehoff, author of “THE DO-OVER,” are amazing talents, and I expect big things from them both.
Fiona: What are your current projects?  POLISHING “MONTANA IS BURNING,” getting “THE ASSASSINS CLUB” ready for paperback release, and plotting its sequel.
Fiona: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.

  CRITIQUE GROUPS ARE ESSENTIAL for authors, especially beginners, and I can’t imagine the embarrassing errors that would have slipped by without the sharp eyes of my local group.  My two fans appreciated the editing.
Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

STRANGERS WILL ASK YOU, “What do you do?”   If you reply, “I’m an author” – then that’s what you are.  Keep saying it, and you’ll come to believe it.
Fiona: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

 ONE MORE SEX SCENE might have got me “banned in Boston” – the extra publicity would have been nice, and both my fans enjoy stories full of sex, drugs and violence.
Fiona: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

 FROM READING.  But “interest” is a far way from “doing.”  I doubt if a week goes by when I don’t meet somebody who’s thinking of writing a book.  Most of them never get past the interest stage.
Fiona: Can you share a little of your current work with us?

“MONTANA IS BURNING” takes place in the 1970s, like my first thriller.  Paul Longo, a city-raised and city-trained detective, comes to a rural Montana county to wrestle with his demons (he accidentally killed a child during a drug house shootout).   He gets a detective job with the local sheriff’s department, which is wracked by dissention since the Sheriff is running for re-election against the Chief of Detectives. When an abortion clinic is firebombed with fatalities, Paul is the only detective not embroiled in politics, and so the crime in dumped in his lap.  He must deal with local cops who don’t trust his metropolitan ways, federal agents trying to take over the investigation, a violent militia group, fanatic religious nuts who think the firebomber didn’t go far enough, and an ex-lover who’s now a muckraking TV journalist.
Fiona: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?  I’M TOO MUCH A PERFECTIONIST and find it hard to keep on writing, instead wanting to stop and correct all the inconsequential typos and spelling/grammar errors.
Fiona: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

 THAT’S A TOUGH ONE.  I’d say Walter Mosley, author of over 30 books, mostly hard-boiled novels. He’s best known for two series: the Easy Rawlins and Leonid McGill novels.  Although I’m not black, I admire the way Mosley makes the African-American experience an integral part of his stories, much the way Tony Hillerman wove Native American cultures into his Navajo mysteries.   Also, all aspiring authors should own a copy of Mosley’s “THIS YEAR YOU WRITE YOUR NOVEL.”
Fiona: Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?

 A little.  In my first novel, a crucial scene takes place near the remote township of Polebridge.  After finishing the first draft, I drove over 40 miles up a dirt and gravel road to make sure I had a feel for the place.  I’m glad I did.  There’s no electrical service within 25 miles, and so the Polebridge Mercantile depends on a generator to keep the beer cold.
Fiona: Who designed the covers?

I’M REALLY PROUD of the cover created by Suzanne Fyrie Parrott of Unruly Guides.  We talked about the story, setting and characters, and then Suzanne sent me about a half dozen draft concepts.  We picked one we both loved, and fine-tuned it through 4-5 different versions.  You can find details about the formatting and cover creation of “THE ASSASSINS CLUB” in the Unruly Guides portfolio at http://tinyurl.com/cays5j6 and the evolution of the cover on my Wredheaded Writer blog at http://tinyurl.com/d6l9wjd
Fiona: What was the hardest part of writing your book?

 CRACKING THE WHIP ON MINOR CHARACTERS.  One of my two serial killers thinks he’s Jesus Christ.  (He isn’t, but he truly believes he is.)  His most loyal disciple is Sarah, a 20-something girls who’s experienced way too much drugs, sex and disappointment in one short life.  She’s a great character – lots of fun to write – but she kept trying to take over the story.  I had to keep her on a very short leash.

Fiona: Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?  I LOVE MY CRITIQUE GROUP but a couple members had different visions of where the story should go, and kept trying to steer it away from my vision.  I learned that authors needs to understand the heart and soul of their books, and sometimes must defend them against well-intentioned meddling.  But that’s okay, because the result is a stronger novel.
Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?

WRITE UNTIL YOU’RE SICK of writing, and then write through your anger, apathy and confusion.  (2) If you can’t find a critique group, start one of your own.  (3) Help and support other authors, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised how your efforts are repaid.
Fiona: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

  THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU – you keep my butt in the chair, churning out my silly little stories.
Fiona: If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?

I’D HAVE A LOT more time to develop into less of an idiot when I referee soccer matches, and to exercise so I can keep up with the teenagers.
Fiona: Do you have a blog/website?  If so what is it?  WREDHEADED WRITER BLOG can be found at http://wredhead.blogspot.com/ and I’m on Twitter as MTDixonRice.

Interview with Miranda Dickinson

Name: Miranda Dickinson

Age: 39 (eek!)

Where are you from: I’m from The Black Country – born in Kingswinford and now living in Stourbridge.

A little about yourself:

I grew up in Kingswinford, West Midlands as the eldest of two children, went to The Kingswinford School, King Edward IV College Stourbridge and gained a BA Hons degree in Performance Art from Cheltenham & Gloucester College of Higher Education (now the University of Gloucestershire). I signed a three-book deal with Avon (HarperCollins) in January 2009, after my unpublished manuscript was spotted on Authonomy.com and the following year signed for an additional three books. I married my husband Bob last month, although we’ve been together for six years.

 

Fiona: Tell us your latest news?

It’s all very exciting at the moment! My fourth novel, When I Fall in Love is published on 8th November and I have already begun to write my fifth novel, which will be published next year.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I had always written little stories from when I was a child and my dearest wish from the age of five was to see something that I had written on the shelves of my local library in Kingswinford. But I didn’t start writing seriously until 2002, when a friend gave me an old PC. I didn’t set out to write a novel – I just started writing to entertain myself and the story grew and grew.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

As with a lot of writers for a long time I thought I didn’t have the right to call myself a ‘proper writer’ until I had published something. But now I believe that if you write, you are a writer. I have a phrase I use when I lead writing workshops: Write Like You’ve Made It Already – and I think if writers give themselves permission to do this it can save years of worry!

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

I have always loved New York but could never afford to go there. When my friend gave me the old PC I started writing a story set in the city, which meant I could research New York and write about it – the next best thing to being able to go. It never occurred to me that this would one day be published because it was just something I wrote for my own enjoyment, but this is what became my debut novel, Fairytale of New York.

Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style?

I write in the way that feels most natural to me, so I don’t really see it as any particular style, but people who read my books say that I have a very defined writing style. For my romantic comedies I try to make the story and characters as vivid as I can and I write in short scenes (very much like you would see in a film or tv series) to keep the action flowing. When I write my short stories and for my new project I’ve started which is currently known as ‘Project Darkly-Sparkly’, my style is very different – much darker and moodier. It’s good to try out different styles because I think it keeps your writing fresh.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

All my book titles are song titles: this began with Fairytale of New York which wasn’t my original title for the book (I called it ‘Coffee At Kowalski’s’) but was chosen by my publisher. I chose the titles for my second and third novels, Welcome to My World and It Started With a Kiss, and my fourth novel’s title When I Fall in Love was a joint effort between my publisher and me.

Fiona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

All of my novels have messages that I hope resonate with readers: Fairytale of New York is about facing problems from your past and moving on; Welcome to My World looks at overcoming fears and seeking your heart’s desires; It Started With a Kiss was about following your heart and believing that anything is possible; and When I Fall in Love is about love, loss and second chances at life.

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic?

All my books are based on aspects of real life. I couldn’t write stories about people living fabulous lives where everything is great, or having unrealistic careers and lifestyles because that kind of story doesn’t interest me. I like writing about real people, with real lives and real jobs who aspire to something beyond where they are at the beginning of the novel. 

Fiona: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

Sometimes, yes. It Started With a Kiss features a lot of my experiences of singing in a wedding band (with a bit of artistic licence, obviously!) and the band members are loosely based on my own group of friends. Uncle Dudley in the novel is inspired by my lovely father-in-law, who asked to be written into the novel, so that was very fun to do! In my new novel, I based the main character of Elsie on my friend Gemma, but it was mainly her worldview and sense of humour that inspired the character.

Fiona: What books have most influenced your life most?

There are many! For my romantic comedy writing Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice, Elizabeth Gaskell’s Cranford and Dodie Smith’s I Capture the Castle have been real influences. My sense of humour and characters are inspired by Sir Terry Pratchett’s novels (especially The Truth and The Lost Continent) and Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere. My love of the impossible and magical happenings have been inspired by Sarah Addison Allen’s The Snow Queen and Cecelia Ahern’s The Gift. And for personal growth Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life has had the biggest impact on me, together with the Bible.

Fiona: If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

Julie Cohen, who has been a fantastic support to me from the beginning of my writing career. Not only is she a fabulous author but she is also an amazing cheerleader, generous in her support of other writers and totally in love with the art of writing.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

I’m currently reading The Key by Simon Toyne – the second book in a fantastic conspiracy trilogy, and The UnTied Kingdom by Kate Johnson, which is absolutely brilliant.

Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

I’ve just read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, which was the most unusual and inventive book I have read in a long time. I’ve also had the privilege to read books before they are published by new authors Tom Gillespie, Mhairi McFarlane and Abby Clements and they are all well worth looking out for!

Fiona: What are your current projects?

I’m writing my fifth novel, which is great fun because it’s at the first draft stage which I love best when it’s just mine and all new and shiny! I’m also working on some short stories for magazines and a darker novel which is really just an experiment at this stage. I’m putting together an online course for writers and planning some writing days/weekends for next year. So all fun!

Fiona: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.

My friend and fellow author Kim Curran has been a tremendous support to me, both as a great friend and as a cheerleader for my writing. She’s been my beta-reader for the last three novels and I write my first drafts as if I’m writing them especially for her because I value her opinion as a reader and as an author.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

I do now, but because it all happened so suddenly initially it has taken me several years to see writing as a viable career. I still work three days a week but plan to become a full-time writer soon, so it’s a scary but exciting step!

Fiona: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

Actually, no. I felt I was given a lot of creative freedom writing When I Fall in Love, and it represents a significant shift forward in my novels. I’m thrilled with it and honestly wouldn’t change a thing!

Fiona: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I grew up in a family that loves books, so I always had stories around me from my earliest memories. As soon as I could write I would make up little stories and I think that is where the initial spark for writing began in me.

Fiona: Can you share a little of your current work with us?

My fifth novel is about what happens when your best laid plans are scuppered. It happens to all of us at one time or another and I don’t believe that there is only one Plan A for our lives. The novel is set in Plymouth, Devon and San Francisco, USA, so I’m very excited to be planning a trip across the Pond to do some research!

Fiona: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

I’m always looking for new ways to tell stories – whether that is a change in tense, looking at situations from different angles or finding new ways to describe emotions. I set myself a challenge with each chapter to use a word I haven’t used before, to keep my vocabulary fresh. I never want to be a formulaic writer and I strongly believe that there is always room for innovation within the boundaries of a genre. I hope I can always produce something that is a little bit different.

Fiona: Who is your favourite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

As I’ve said above, there are lots of authors who inspire me, but I would have to say Sarah Addison Allen for the way she pushes boundaries of her stories and brings in an other-worldly sense of the remarkable into her love stories. I love that every one of her books is different and that she isn’t bound by the conventions of her genre.

Fiona: Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?

In recent years I have travelled more as I get asked to speak at events across the country and I’m keen to do more of this. For my latest novel, When I Fall in Love, I travelled down to Brighton to research locations for the story, and for Book Five I’ve already researched locations in Plymouth and am planning to visit San Francisco.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

My gorgeous covers are designed by Nickki Dupin from the design studio Nic and Lou. She’s also designed covers for Marian Keyes and Claudia Carroll amongst others.

Fiona: What was the hardest part of writing your book?

The hardest part this time has been to conceal an important part of Elsie’s life – there’s a really good reason why I have done this, because I want my readers to discover it as they read the story rather than seeing it on the blurb on the back. I want Elsie to be characterised by her amazing energy and sense of humour, rather than the key detail – but when she reveals it, it is well worth the wait, I promise!

Fiona: Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

For this book I learned to trust my gut instinct and write honestly about the subject matter with a depth that I don’t think I’ve been brave enough to go to before. I also used a three-act structure when I was planning the novel, which I haven’t used previously, but which really helped give shape and pace to the story.

Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?

Don’t spend time worrying about whether you are good enough or not, just write. Listen to advice from other writers but don’t feel you have to conform to it – just take what resonates with you and find the way that works best for you. And last of all, write because you love it. Don’t write for ‘a market’, just write the kind of story that you would like to read – in my experience if you love it there will be other people who love it too! Don’t try to be ‘the next’ anybody – be the first YOU!

Fiona: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I just want to create fun, vibrant, interesting worlds for readers to wander in, and leave them with a sense of inspiration and hope when they finish the story. Life is amazing: I want my readers to get to the end of my stories feeling that anything is possible.

Fiona: If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?

I really wanted to be an actress when I was younger, so I would love to have acted in films or musicals.

Fiona: Do you have a website/blog if so what is it?

My website is: www.miranda-dickinson.com and my blog (and regular vlogs) can be found at: www.coffeeandroses.blogspot.com

Interview with Cat Rambo

 

Name – Cat Rambo

Age – 48

Where are you from – Bryan, Texas

A little about your self `ie your education Family life ect

 While I was born in Texas, my family left soon after to end up in South Bend, Indiana, where my dad wwas teaching at Notre Dame. That’s where I grew up. My dad’s an academic, so I grew up around the University of Notre Dame and later went there as an undergraduate, followed by graduate study at Johns Hopkins and Indiana University.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news?

I have a book freshly out, a collection of SF short stories called Near + Far, from Hydra House. I’m super pleased with it, and it’s kinda nifty because we’ve done it in the old Ace Double format. You can read the near future stories on one side, then flip the book over and read the far future ones. I’ve also got an SF novella, A Seed on the Wind, coming out this month.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

SInce I could start putting pen to paper. I loved reading as a kid and I wanted to produce the kinds of objects I loved. I made my own books out of folded paper and filled them up with words.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I finished my first book. 🙂

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

The first novel I finished was The Furies, which followed the adventures of an all female superhero group by that name. I finished it while I was in grad school at Hopkins and its insistence on pop culture memes is partially a resistance to Hopkin’s more formalistic approach.

Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style?

I like wordplay, which often emerges in my writing.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

For the new collection, it grew out of my decision to do the book in the old Ace Double format, with one group of stories on one side and a very different group on the other. Because they fell along the lines of near and far future stories as well, the title seemed a natural.

Fiona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Absolutely not.

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic?

All of it, even the cannibalistic mermaids and talking cats.

Fiona: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

I don’ think any writer escapes talking about their life, even when we dress it up with telepaths and clones. Stories talk about what it means to be human and our only experience of that, beyond the fiction we read, is that of our own.

Fiona: What books have most influenced your life most?

Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, which I paid tribute to in “Bus Ride to Mars,” because it’s about storytelling. Samuel R. Delany’s The Fall of the Towers, which taught me what science fiction could be. Joanna Russ’s The Female Man, which taught me what science fiction could do. Rumi’s poetry. In nonfiction, Suzette Haden Elgin’s The Gentle Art of Verbal Self Defense.

Fiona: If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

Connie Willis, who I’ve taken numerous classes with, and who is one of the wisest women I know.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

Right now an absolutely fascinating book about cooking, a new urban fantasy anthology edited by Jenn Brozek, and Graham Joyce’s Some Kind of Fairy Tale.

Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

I’m always looking for new writers. Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus was an excellent recent read and I’ll be looking for more from her for sure.

Fiona: What are your current projects?

I’m currently finishing a revision of a fantasy novel, a novella for a collaborative project, and a couple of short stories, as well as getting ready for World Fantasy Con at the end of the month.

Fiona: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.

I spent much of my high school and college years at the Griffon Bookstore, whose wonderful proprietors, Sarah Bird and Ken Peczkowski, were always there for me.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

Absolutely!

Fiona: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

Near + Far? Not a thing, because I’m so happy with it.

Fiona: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

It grew naturally out of my love of reading.

Fiona: Can you share a little of your current work with us?

Here’s a bit from a story I’ve been working on:

The house crouched in a dell between three hills, shaded and cool despite the dryness. A stone-ringed well beside the tiny structure, rounded like an igloo, so much a part of the landscape that it seemed grown rather than built. A front porch like a secret cavern, adobe walls cupped hands around it. Piled high with what seemed trash and debris at first but revealed itself bundles of dried herbs tied with blue and red string, a looped pile of old agave-fiber rope, a stack of old plates, their edges a writhing vine, as though mold had overtaken the china and blossomed in fractal patterns along the cracks. Dust sifted across abandoned spider webs, their former inhabitants consumed by the snake flicker that eased away from his foot on the step. On the door where a knocker might have been in a more formal establishment, a little doll made of rabbit fur and purple plastic, a Swarovski glitter at its throat. He started to reach out, hesitant. Who knew what germs it might carry?

The door creaked open.

The piss witch certainly had the theater of it all down.

She stood there in silhouette; there was a blaze of light behind her, the sunlight funneled through the bottles on the unshaded western wall.

He didn’t know what to call her, he realized. She rescued him.

“Dr. Lattimer, I presume.”

Fiona: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Getting butt in chair and being productive! I also tend to work on too many projects at once.

Fiona: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

I love Samuel R. Delany. Every sentence is so beautifully constructed, and he explores things like gender and class in a really interesting way. TALES FROM NEVERYON, for example, looks at the economics of a fantasy novel in a way that I’m not sure anyone else does.

Fiona: Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?

I do a good bit of traveling to science fiction conventions. In the next few months, I’ve got Steamcon here in Seattle, World Fantasy Convention in Toronto and then Confusion in Detroit, Michigan.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

A fabulous artist named Sean Counley! here’s a link to his website: http://abscnth-seancounley.blogspot.com/

Fiona: What was the hardest part of writing your book?

I wanted the stories to flow together in a natural but interesting way. I actually used that in my editing class: gave the students the stories and had them each come up with an order and an explanation of why they did it that way.

Fiona: Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

I learned from the reviews, more than the writing, that I write a lot about connections (or lack of them) and relationships.

Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?

The writing is the most important thing. You can’t produce a fabulous story unless you’ve got a lump of words to work with, so get that on the page and then worry about revising and changing later.

Fiona: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I’m deeply appreciative of anyone who gives me some of their time. So thank you for reading.

Fiona: If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done ?

I think I still would have done something pretty geeky, like game design.

Fiona: Do you have a website/blog if so what is it?

I blog and have links to my work as information about the online classes I give, all at http://www.kittywumpus.net

Interview with Rinn Ziegler

 

Name: Rinn Ziegler

Age: 32

Where are you from: I was born in Boston, Massachusetts.

A little about yourself: (ie: Your education, Family life, etc.)

I believe I’ve learned more on my own than I did in all my years of public and private education. Indeed, my continuing education is virtually free.

As for family, I have quite a large one, though I am neither married, nor have any children of my own. At the moment, the only creature that holds dominion over me is an evil cat.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

Rinn: Well, the major news is that my novel, Orenda, is in the trustworthy hands of several readers for feedback before I tackle the final edit. While I wait, I have been hard at work on my next book, a collection of interconnected short stories, Family Myths and Butterflies. In addition to this, I continue to write poetry, and have instated a daily drabble (100 word story) project for the holiday season.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

Rinn: Rumor has it I began writing at the age of 3. Why is still a mystery.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Rinn: I think I began to consider myself a writer when I started taking my writing seriously.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

Rinn: I’m sure there are many an author who came to writing the way in which I did. I’d only written fiction a few times through my life; the bulk of my work had been academic. But I’d read a novel so terrible, so horribly written, I thought, “Even I can do better than this.” So I did.

Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style?

Rinn: I try to experiment with writing styles, so we shall see how successful the venture is when readers get a hold of numerous works for comparison.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

Rinn: I can’t recall how I came about the title for Orenda, to be honest with you. It is vital to the story, but the novel’s important bits seemed to spring from research for other things.

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic?

Rinn: A good portion of the novel has been researched as it takes place in reality. A number of names in Orenda are of Native American mythological origin. Locations and media are also true to the time.

Fiona: What books have influenced your life most?

Rinn: Hmm…the books that have had the most influence in my life would be the ones I read in my formative years. So, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, My Antonia, by Willa Cather, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, our home encyclopedia set, dual dictionaries, and the gift of a full-length Roget’s International Thesaurus when I was eight years old.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

Rinn: As of this interview, I am reading Hard-Boiled Wonderland and The End of the World by Haruki Marakami

Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

Rinn: One very talented new author whose writing I enjoy is Shana Hammaker. Her series of 12 Terrifying Tales for 2012 is shudder-inducing, quirky, humorous, and unique. Everything a reader could want in a writer—a distinct voice.

Fiona: What are your current projects?

Rinn: As I mentioned earlier, my current full-length project is Family Myths and Butterflies. It is a collection of short stories with a thread drawn through it. The characters are consistent through the book, with the point-of-view changing with each character’s block of stories. One of the stories, Butterflies, is already available to  read on my website.

Fiona: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.

Rinn: Fellow writer, and best friend, Anna Murphy, has been an incredible support for me since we met over ten years ago. I can only hope that I support her as much as she does me.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

Rinn: Absolutely. If there is something you invest 10 hours a day, 7 days a week into (in various projects) and you don’t regard it as a career, it is time to rethink your definition of  the word.

Fiona: Can you share a little of your current work with us?

Rinn: Of course. This is the first few paragraphs from chapter 1 of Orenda:

                        Summer vacation was in a fresh grave. The reality of a new school year       had not yet penetrated the sun-saturated minds of teenagers who fruitlessly       fought the violent transformation into students. Passively aiding this useless      student revolution, Dita’s head hovered above the desk, cushioned atop her            forearms. She was aware of her arms as one is when in this indeterminate state             between worlds, like the appendeges are foreign, detached from the body. She             was on the edge of sleep.

                        As she slipped further into that space so intimate, she replayed a scene        familiar to her—creaking of docks, the sound of the waves splashing against the         pilings. Samuel was waiting for her at the end, seated with his feet dangled out        into the air. He was always there. Always waiting. A vague foggy outline. He was             here.

                        She slept.

Fiona: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Rinn: I don’t find anything particularly challenging in my writing, since I wrote it. But from an outside reader’s perspective, I believe that, especially in Orenda, the sense of what is real and what isn’t may be a bit troublesome.

Fiona: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

Rinn: There are far too many writers whose work I admire for various reasons to choose a favorite.

Fiona: What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Rinn: The hardest part of writing Orenda was keeping the language in veils, yet at the same time, being clear enough for the story arc to take place. It came down to using style markers points to delineate whom was speaking, or what level of consciousness the characters were in.

Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?

Rinn:

ñ     Keep writing.

ñ     If you have written something you don’t like, hold it aside; that particular telling of the story might not have been viable, but it might come to you in a different way some time down the line.

ñ     Always carry something with which to take notes.

ñ     Read as much, if not more, than you write.

ñ     Research is your friend.

Fiona: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Rinn: I would encourage my readers, any readers, to not be intimidated by reading challenging material. Try reading a genre you never thought you would enjoy. If you still don’t enjoy it, at least you gave it a shot.

Fiona: If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?

Rinn: Art Historian

Fiona: Do you have a blog/website? if so what is it?

Rinn: I do have a website. The address is http://www.quillshiv.wordpress.com. I always welcome followers, comments, suggestions, etc. I can also be found on my Facebook author page here: https://www.facebook.com/PinionLance.

Thank you for having me, Fiona.

Interview with Em Petrova

Em Petrova

Age 31 forever
Where are you from backwoods Pennsylvania
A little about your self `ie your education Family life ect 

 I have four rambunctious, elementary-aged kids, who are involved in many activities, which means I do a lot of writing out of my car or while sitting at dance practice. When we aren’t hiking in the state park bordering our land with our Labradoodle puppy, Daisy Hasselhoff, we’re wallowing in a pool in the river, what we call the “Sasquatch’s bathtub.”
 
Fiona: Tell us your latest news?

 I’ve recently contracted my 29^th book! One of these is with a brand new publishing house. I can’t reveal more than that at this time, but I’m very excited about it.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

 I started writing at the age of twelve, when I wrote a spin-off of the Sweet Valley High series in a spiral-bound notebook. My girlfriends were gagging for the next installment, and a writer was born. *grin*

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

 A few years ago, I got serious about my goal. I finally realized that to improve my craft, I had to study it as well as practice. At that time, I took up to five workshops a month, drowning myself in everything from blurb writing courses to sentence structure.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

 My first book unfolded very organically. And it was total crap. But the heart of the story was strong enough to get it onto the desks of several agents and editors. In the end, the writing wasn’t strong enough because I wasn’t ready. Once I figured out what I was doing, I rewrote the book, and now it’s TREFOIL—book 2 of the Immortal Series. Book 1 was actually written after but published first.

Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style?

 I like to think of my writing as gritty with a lot of heart.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

 My latest release, Trail of Lust, is book 2 of The Hollis Boys series from Loose Id. Before I begin writing, I have a good idea of my plot and characters, but I can’t write without a working title. It’s a block I have. Trail of Lust is an offshoot of a plot thread in this book. The hero blazes a trail through the countryside to reach this woman, who affects him the same way his deceased wife did.

Fiona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

 The heart often overcomes.

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic?

 Trail of Lust is set in the Old West after the Civil War and absolutely could have taken place.

Fiona: What books have most influenced your life most?

 Little Women, Great Expectations, Rosamunde Pilcher’s Coming Home. Epic tales of heart and filled with description.

Fiona: If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

 I’ve always considered Anne Rice to be my idol.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

 I’m reading a cowboy story by Lorelei James.

Fiona: What are your current projects?

 I’m deep in the middle of a country boy story involving a hunky orthodontist and an unsure heroine.

Fiona: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.

 My BFF Suzanne Rock, a fellow erotic romance author. She’s always there to support me, whether it’s getting through a rough edit or to bounce ideas off.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

 It is my only career.

Fiona: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

 No, I loved everything about this story. The hero is one of my very favorites I’ve ever written.

Fiona: Can you share a little of your current work with us?

From my Work in Progress, Lip Lock

Fighting to avoid staring at the stunning woman, he found his gaze returning to her once… twice. Honey blonde hair that hung in a long coil over one shoulder, her foot bouncing, and a slender chain riding up and down the skin of that luscious ankle…

He snapped the fingers of his gloves, pulled them off, and tossed them into the wastebasket a few feet away. “Yes, Jenna definitely will require braces. The whole process should take about a year. Karen can tell you more about it, answer any questions you may have, and then she’ll tell you about our payment options.” He rushed through his speech, beating down a burning blush.

Why he’d been cursed with this red signal of his high emotion, he’d never know. He worked around gawky kids ten hours a day, five days a week and felt more like a teen than they did at times.

Times like now.

Fiona: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

My middles usually drag. During that time, I have to plot carefully to keep things exciting.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

My publishers send me cover art forms, which are then given to the artists to draw out my vision. So far, I’ve been blessed by the cover gods!

Fiona: What was the hardest part of writing your book?

 Keeping my voice fresh.

Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?

 Study the craft! When you think you’re ready, you’re still not ready. Push on for another six months, a year, whatever it takes for you to have most of the answers.

Fiona: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers? 

 You’re the bomb! I heart you!

Fiona: If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done ?

 Been a drunk.

Fiona: Do you have a blog/website? if so what is it? 

 http://www.empetrova.com