Here is my interview with Sunshine Somerville

Name  Sunshine Somerville

Age 34

Where are you from
Grand Rapids, MI

A little about your self `ie your education Family life etc
I grew up running around outside, pretending to be characters I wished I could be and creating worlds I wished I could visit.  I guess that never really wore off, hence getting a degree for my hobby (English Lit).

Fiona: Tell us your latest news?
I’m releasing a new short story “The Poet Heroic” for Christmas on 12/25/2015, so right now I’m busy finishing that up.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?
I started The Kota Series based on what my brother and I and our 2 best friends played as kids.  Their mom was worried that we were obsessed and wondered what we were doing all day, so I wrote a 20 page story when I was 9.  The books grew from that.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I self-published my first book my senior year of college.  I’d always been writing, but it wasn’t until I held my first book in my hands that I felt like I had something solid to show as a “writer.”

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?
The first book was very much based on what we played as kids, and the inspiration to make that story a BOOK definitely came from a desire to keep a tangible record of those stories we played.
(Also, oddly, Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” came out around the time I was waffling about taking the plunge into authorship or not, and that song I guess inspired me to take the final leap and do it.)

Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style?
I don’t think so.  I’ve been told that I write Sci-Fi like a 70-year-old man, whatever that means.  (lol)  Considering I grew up reading Sci-Fi that was written by men of my dad’s generation, I guess that makes sense. 

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?
“The Kota” is what we always called what we were playing, so it seemed most natural.  The Kota are the group of long-long, mysterious people that our 4 main characters came from.

Fiona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
I definitely play with the themes of free will vs. fate, and I like to make things complex in that regard.  I want people to ask questions, so I try to leave a lot of wiggle room for people to think things through for themselves.

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic ?
“The Kota,” Book 1, is set on Earth, so it’s certainly the most realistic of the books in my series.  It’s set 500+ years in the future, but the settings might seem familiar, although aged and ruined.  I’ve always thought that people are people, no matter what, so hopefully the characters feel realistic and relatable.

 

 
Fiona: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Like I said, the 4 main characters in my series are based on me, my brother, and our 2 friends.  I put a LOT of our personal quirks into our characters – my alter-ego especially.  There are certainly little incidents from my own life that have made it into a scene or 2.

Fiona: What books have most influenced your life most? a mentor?
Orson Scott Card’s Ender books definitely made me want to be a writer.  I remember reading “Speaker for the Dead” and thinking, “I want to do this,” because I love stories that are complex and have twists that I would never have imagined.
Also, my Aunt Sharon always read books on tape for us for birthdays and Christmas, so there are a lot of books like “A Wrinkle in Time” and “The Chronicles of Narnia” that were HUGE in shaping how my creative mind thinks about story.  Even as an adult, I still think of those books as being monumental.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?
Right now I’m reading “Cloak of Shadows” by CK Dawn.  It’s a modern twist on the Arthurian legends.  It’s amazing so far.

Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
From what I’m reading of CK Dawn, I’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for her books in the future.  Also in the Fantasy realm, I really, really enjoyed CL Schneider’s “The Crown of Stones: Magic-Price.”

Fiona: What are your current projects?
I’m really enjoying writing Kota Shorts that tie in to the main series.  I have an infinite number of options for storylines, so that’s exciting.

Fiona: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.
I was incredibly lucky to fall into an international group of authors called The Awethors (as in a combo of Awesome and Authors).  They have been, hands down, the most supportive group of people I’ve ever encountered when it comes to support about writing.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?
I’m starting to. I’ve been doing this since I was a kid, so it’s always felt like more of an incredibly time-consuming hobby.  But now that Indie Authors are such a big deal, I feel like it’s more real, if that makes sense.

Fiona: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
My latest book was “The Woman of the Void,” and it was actually the first book I wrote where I feel like I did things right the first time around.  So no.  J

Fiona: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
I’ve always been a book nerd.  I think if you’re a creative person who enjoys reading, it’s a natural step to want to write.  Having family and friends be supportive of that joy as a kid I’m positive helped me develop that interest.

Fiona: Can you share a little of your current work with us?
This is the opening to “The Poet Heroic” that’s still a rough draft:

DOMINION NEWSFEED VIDEO

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The room is dark.  A wall of windows allows faint city light to stretch into the room, but the light only reaches far enough to reveal a skyscraper’s vacant office space.

A spotlight turns on to reveal a man in his late twenties sitting in a chair, his head lowered so that his coat’s hood shields his face. He sits comfortably with his hands in his lap.

In a chair across from him sits Kaytrine Elique, known rebel hacker-turned-reporter.  A Euro woman who speaks only an illegal language, she wears a headset device that translates her speech.  She also holds a paper notepad presumably filled with questions.  With a smirk, she turns her mohawk-ed head and looks into the camera.

Her headset translates in her own accented voice as she says, “We know we don’t have much time before this transmission is tracked by the monitors.  And I have no doubt the Dominion is very interested to know the location of my guest tonight.  His name is Vale Ollander.  Or as most of us know him, Beathabane.  Or the Forgotten Son.  Or the Tyrant Twin.  So, without wasting any more time, let’s hear what my guest has to say.” She turns to the man in the chair. “Sir, thank you for agreeing to this interview.”

The man now lifts his hood from his head and pushes it back to reveal his face.

Kaytrine sucks in breath at the sight of him, but she regains her composure immediately.  “I’m sorry, but you look exactly-”

“I know,” Beathabane tells her with a smile. “You’re not the first to have that reaction.” He glances at the camera nervously, then to the side, where he probably has a man positioned for security.

“I’ll get right to it,” Kaytrine tells him as she glances at her notes.  “Everyone knows the work you’ve been doing this past decade since…” She makes a face. “Since you came to the Mainland.  You’ve helped scores of refugees.  Saved hundreds of lives.  But this is the first time you’ve agreed to publically speak out.  Why is that?”

“I thought it was about time to show my pretty face.” Beathabane smiles.  Then he takes a deep breath and sits up in his chair. “Like you say, people know the work I’ve been doing with my team. They’ve heard rumors about me, both from the Dominion and the rebels.  I want my supporters to see my face and know for certain that I am alive.  And I want those who distrust me to know that I’m not my twin.  I want everyone to know that I will never stop working to make this world a better place for all of us. That is all I want.  People have no need to fear me.  I hope that my example will prompt others to join us in this fight for what is right and just.”

Kaytrine taps her notepad. “As the first reporter you’ve been willing to speak to, I have to ask – what about your sister?”

Beathabane flinches in his seat, and his jaw tightens.

Kaytrine glances at the camera. “Everyone is wondering, you know. It’s rumored that your brother brought her into the Dominion not long after you came here.  If that’s true, then she’s learning to fight for the very things you’re fighting against.  As a rebel, I have to wonder if that makes you view her as an enemy. And if not, how can you live with the fact that your sister is in the Dominion’s care? I would think, sir, that you would do everything in your power to rescue her. Or am I wrong?”

Beathabane pauses in thought. Then he looks back at Kaytrine calmly to answer.

Fiona: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Being brief.  (lol)  I’m used to writing complex, epic-length novels.  Writing short stories is a very recent change for me, and “The Woman of the Void” is probably the shortest story I’ve written since that 20-page sum-up I wrote when I was 9.  But I’m finding that I really enjoy it.  It’s just hard to shift gears and be tight and condensed and still get everything into the story.

Fiona: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
That’s a tough one… I’d probably still have to go with Orson Scott Card.  I don’t agree with him politically at all, but I love how he tells stories.  There’s always something in his books that is a twist on what I would expect, and I love that because I’m a reader who usually sees everything coming.

Fiona: Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?
I don’t at all, but I’d love to.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?
I’m artsy as well as…writer-y, so I’ve designed all my own covers so far.  The 4 main books of The Kota Series each have the Kota Mark circle incorporated into the design, and I always had that idea so they’d be tied together.  For the short stories, I’m trying to make each one completely its own thing, so I might hire out for ideas eventually.

Fiona: What was the hardest part of writing your book?
For “The Kota,” Book 1, the hardest part was sorting out all the years’ worth of stories and making them into one coherent story/book.  It’s very episodic in each Part 1, Part 2, etc., which was the best way I felt to give the sweeping timeline some structure.  But I think I got it sorted.

Fiona: Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
It feels like I’ve learned something from each book – I’ve certainly learned along the way how to write better, from book to book.  It’s also probably true that if you write a book that you’re happy with, on some level that’s the most important thing.  Readers these days have come to expect certain things from a book, and it’s really tempting to cater to that audience and just give them quick entertainment that’s full of this or that.  But I’ve learned that I have to first write the story for myself and be happy with it myself.  If I start throwing crap in there just because I know it will help the book sell, that doesn’t feel true to me.

Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?
Find a group of like-minded people you can talk to about writing.  It’s incredibly helpful to have people who can support you because they know exactly what you’re going through.  Friends and family can only understand a small part of what we’re doing, so instead of getting frustrated with them, find writers who can give advice and share tips and talk you through your ideas.

Fiona: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Thank you! It’s been wonderful to hear back from people who read my books.  Keep it coming!  And that goes for any author you’re reading – we all really appreciate words of encouragement, REVIEWS, and interaction on social media.

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?
It was probably “But No More Elephants” because that’s what I made my dad read to me over and over. Actually, I probable had it memorized before I could read.

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?
I have an overactive sense of humor, so I laugh at anything.  Often at myself, because I’m a constant supply of source material in that regard.
I don’t cry that often, but anger for some reason seems to bring on the tears. Or any of those videos with pets reuniting with their veteran owners – I don’t know why, but that gets me every time.

Fiona: Is there one person pass or present you would meet and why?
Past I should probably say Jesus, but I’d really want to meet Winston Churchill.  I tend to get along with witty old men, and I’d love to hear about the behind-the-scenes politics of his time.
Present I’d love to pick the brain of Joss Whedon because he’s kind of a nerd god.

Fiona: What do you want written on your head stone and why?
I don’t know yet.  I’ve had a lot of great days and adventures, but I hope my best ones are still to come.  So hopefully I’ll have something particularly monumental that I’ll want to be my final statement later. J

Fiona: Other than writing do you have any hobbies?
I draw and paint a lot.  My favorite thing to do, honestly, is revamp old furniture.

Fiona: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?
I’m a big movie buff and watch practically everything, but my first love is always sci-fi/fantasy.  My favorite shows right now are “Agents of SHIELD” and “Game of Thrones.”

Fiona: Favorite foods / Colors/ Music
Food – Indian
Color – Cyan
Music – I listen to Pop, Alternative, Folk, Rock, Rap, Blues… Everything except Country

Fiona: If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?
Considering I got a degree for my hobby and planned nothing for my future, I’ve bene lucky to fall into “day jobs” that give me time to be a writer.  But if all that was COMPLETELY void from my life, I might have gone into the medical field.  

Fiona: Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?
Sure do!  It’s www.SunshineSomerville.com

 

LINKS:

Amazon Author Page:
http://www.amazon.com/Sunshine-Somerville/e/B00BM8BP9E/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1444740180&sr=8-1

The Kota, Book 1:
http://www.amazon.com/Kota-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00F2M61P4/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

The Kota Series: Complete Box Set:
http://www.amazon.com/Kota-Complete-Box-Set-ebook/dp/B00V3ZG8RU/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

The Woman of the Void:
http://www.amazon.com/Woman-Void-Kota-Short-ebook/dp/B0102JN3C0/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

The Poet Heroic:
http://www.amazon.com/Poet-Heroic-Kota-Short-ebook/dp/B0170LX1ZM/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

 

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Here is my interview with Heidi Ashworth

Heidi Ashworth

51 years old

I was born in San Jose California and have lived in the San Francisco Bay area for all but 4 years of my life. I have been married to my high school sweetheart for 29 years and we have three children, including a son with multiple disabilities.  The five of us are madly in love with Sugar, our adorable bichon frise and Vanilla, our equally adorable, drama queen of a cockapoo (which, when you listen to yourself say it, makes her pretty stinky in two languages).

 

I am excited about my latest release, a novella in the Timeless Regency Collection via Mirror Press out on December 1^st, called a Midwinter Ball.  It was a very fun story to write and is part of an anthology with only two other authors, Annette Lyon and Michelle Paige Holmes, so the stories are quite a bit longer than in typical anthologies.  I also have a book coming out in June of 2016 as part of the Matchmaker Series with authors: Heather B. Moore, Karey White, Rachael Anderson, Jaima Fixsen, Kelly Oram, Taylor Dean, Michele Paige Holmes, Janette Rallison, Sheralyn Pratt, Regina Sirois, and Julie Wright.  It is going to be a super fun series!  Mine takes place in Ireland and one of the characters is named Fiona.  J

 

I have wanted to write books since I was seven years old which is when I began to (so generously) consider myself “a writer”.  Jo March of Little Women was my hero and I wanted to be just like her (though the first book I remember “reading” was Jemima Puddleduck as a toddler).  I wrote mostly poetry as a youngster and read a lot of fantasy (now called Speculative Fiction) including The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, everything by Nancy Springer, and anything Arthurian, until I was in my early twenties.  Initially I wanted to write fantasy, but once I read my first Regency romance, I was smitten.  It is a fantasy world set within another that is very prescribed and as a writer, I was so drawn to that.

 

I wrote my first finished book as a result of a dream that I had as a young mother which I worked on when my first born took his daily naps.  It was a Regency romance and all of my conversations with my husband for the first six weeks of writing it were in a British accent (me, not him).  It is not publishable in its current form and I have used a number of pieces of it in other stories so it will probably never have a debut.  I wrote my first published book about a year later as an assignment for an adult education class on How to Write a Romance.  I wrote the first chapter, read the first three pages aloud in class and my teacher said, “That is publishable.”  I was pretty excited but it still took a while to find the right publisher.

 

My books, for the most part, start out with characters who come to me with their stories.  They are, to me, absolutely real and have definite personality traits which drive the story.

 

Though I have known from a young age that I was a writer and always hoped I would be a professional novelist, I did not consider it a career until my third book came out.  It was my first self-published book and it sold better than expected.  The income was by no means enough to live on but it was enough for me to justify spending my time writing books.  I enjoy having some of my books traditionally published and some self-published.  I love the control of the latter and have participated in the design of all of my self-published covers.  My most recent full length novel, Miss Armistead Makes Her Choice, is a combination of a stock photo and one I took myself of the coast in Connemara when I was in Ireland last summer.  The cover of the book coming out in June was taken at a photo shoot in England complete with professional photographer, stylist, model, and makeup artist.  It was great fun!

 

The most difficult part about writing a book is not having feedback as I write.  I highly recommend being part of a critique group where you can receive and give feedback to other authors.  For those who truly want to be a successful writer, read a lot of the sort of books you wish to write!  I must have read about 1,000 regency romances before I wrote my first.  Some of my favorite regency romance authors are Carla Kelly, Barbara Metzger, Joan Smith, Marion Devon, and Susan Carroll.  I love their PG rated romances, though some of them have written steamier books, as well.

 

One of the things I enjoy most about being a published writer are the people who read my books and who take the time to tell me about it.  I have fun interacting with these special readers and some of them have become my good friends.  I also love gardening, photographing my babies (children, dogs, roses) transforming my 1970s California bungalow into an English country cottage (if I weren’t writing books, I would be a professional designer—I love to decorate!), traveling, (I spent three weeks in Scotland and England last July and Ireland the year prior) and watching lots and lots of British T.V.

 

You can view photos and read more about me, my books, my travels, my romantic home and life with my disabled son on my blog at www.heidiashworth. blogspot.com or my website at www.heidiashworth. com.  I am also on Pinterest, (Heidi Ashworth Author) Twitter (@AshworthHeidi), Instagram (Heidi.Ashworth) and FB–https://www.facebook.com/authorheidiashworth/.  If you were to visit any of my sites, you will quickly learn that I adore the color pink, (it must be a matter of envy—my identical twin sister always got the pink dress while I got the green, yellow or blue one) and that chocolate is an adequate substitute for gluten.  Also—roses.  I’m totally obsessed.

 

 

Buying link http://www.amazon.com/Midwinter-Ball-Timeless-Regency-Collection-ebook/dp/B014VF8USI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1448917701&sr=8-1&keywords=a+midwinter+ball

 

Amazon Authors page http://www.amazon.com/Heidi-Ashworth/e/B001JSDUX6/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1

 

 

 

Here is my interview with Jon Gliddon

Name  Jon Gliddon

 

Age  63

 

Where are you from?  I was born in Newton Abbot, Devon but schooled in Cornwall. We lived near Gunnislake in the picturesque Tamar Valley for many years and then moved a few miles away to Callington.

 

A little about yourself i.e. your education, family life etc. 

Having lived in East Cornwall in my formative years, my friends and I would play around the abandoned tin and copper mines. When I was 9 years old I found ‘treasure’ on one of the old waste dumps. Specimens of gold which of course turned out to be Fool’s Gold!  But I was hooked on minerals and mining and in 1971 I started at the Camborne School of Mines. After graduating in 1974 I married my Cornish sweetheart, Elaine, and whisked her off to Central Africa.  And yes, 41 years later we’re still married!

 

Fiona: Tell us your latest news? 

I have been retired for two years and fill my time with writing and researching my family tree. I have just started my second novel, The Imperative.

 

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

In 2011 I was working away from home during the week and had a couple of hours to spare each evening. I’d go to the local pub for a meal and take my iPad along. I’m not sure if the beer helped but I’d type a couple of pages at a time!

 

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I had the book read by a professional editor. I liked the book, but was not sure anyone else would! The editor liked it; a lot.

 

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

I’d had the urge to write for several years but work, family and life got in the way. A chance visit to Porthcurno Telegraph Station was the catalyst.

 

Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style?

I like to base my writing on actual locations and events but with a bit an imaginative twist. Sub-plots are also important to me to keep the suspense and avoid predictability.

 

Fiona: How did you come up with the title? 

Well the concept is an attack on Porthcurno Telegraph Station so Break in Communication seemed a succinct title.

 

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

Two things; First, that a small Cornish village was so strategically important to the nation in WWII that it became the most heavily defended communications facility in the country. Second, that in 1940 and 1941 the outcome of the war was far from certain, indeed, there was a very real possibility that Britain would be invaded and consumed within the Third Reich.

 

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic?

It is based up on actual locations, military units and military hardware. The senior German officers are all real. The focus of the book, Porthcurno Telegraph Station is real, as is its strategic role.

 

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

Not really. The action comes from my imagination but triggered I’m sure by books I’ve read and films I’ve seen. And of course Porthcurno Telegraph Station.

 

Fiona: What books have most influenced your life most? a mentor?  

I am very much of the Jack Higgins and Wilber Smith era of epic adventure stories. I love the fast pace, multiple plot lines and the twists and turns.

 

Fiona: What book are you reading now?  

The Virus House by David Irving. In 1939 , Germany led the world in nuclear physics and this book follows the race for the first atomic bomb.

 

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

Dan Brown has to be at the top of the list although I guess he’s been around for a few years now. His grasp of details, mystery and sub-plots is about as good as it gets.

 

Fiona: What are your current projects?  

Apart from starting my second novel, I am co-organising a WW1 memorial event in northern France. My grandfather was in the 6^th Dorsetshire Regiment and was seriously wounded in their last big fight of the war at Locquignol, Nord-Pas-de-Calais. We plan to commemorate this battle 100 years to the day on 4th November 2018.

 

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

I researched how to publish a book and spoke to various people in the business. I got good support from a company called The Choir Press in Gloucester. They were very helpful and gave me the confidence to go carry on and finish Break in Communication.

 

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

It is certainly something I will pursue in my retirement. I enjoy researching and writing very much and I have no shortage of ideas for titles and plot lines.

 

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

Yes. My second book picks up on some of the characters that appeared in the first book and now I would include a few strong hints on what was to follow.

 

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

As a teenager lines of poetry would sometime come in to my head. I remember my father driving me over the Tamar Bridge between Plymouth and Saltash when I was about 16 and there were a number of old grey navy destroyers at anchor in the Hamoaze. That is the first time I can remember descriptive words just popping in to my mind.

 

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

I am writing a follow-on from my first book called The Imperative. It’s based up on the race for the atomic bomb in WWII but with a different perspective.

 

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

Keeping up the level of interest and intrigue between chapters.

 

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

From a purely escapist perspective it has to be Bill Bryson. His wit and sense of humour just plucked from everyday life is a joy.

 

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

Interestingly the ideas for, and the content of, my book is largely based up on the travelling I have done during my career. Certainly a trip to Porthcurno Telegraph Station a few years ago was the primary catalyst for the location.

 

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

I had a professional designer do the cover. There is a real skill in the layout and impact that I don’t have.

 

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

I have to be in the right frame of mind and have complete quiet. Without both I can stare at the screen for ages and nothing happens.

 

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

There is a saying that everyone has a book in them.

 

Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?

When the concept of a story comes to mind write it down. Create a folder on your computer / device and add to it as your story line develops. Layout chapter headings when something new comes to mind and you’ll be surprised how it starts to take shape.

 

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

A big thank you for buying the book and I really hope you get enjoyment from the characters, plot and location. You can contact me on my website www.jongliddonauthor.com if you have any comments. I’d love to hear from you.

 

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?  

The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. I’m not sure how old I was, maybe 8 or 9, but I remember crying when Jody had to shoot his pet deer. A real coming of age classic.

 

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

Laughter for me comes from escapism; ‘Only Fools and Horses’ and ‘I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue’.  Classic easy listening comedy.

 

Fiona: Is there one person past or present you would like to meet and why? 

My maternal grandfather; to ask him about the action he saw in WW1. I am piecing it together from his service record and the Regimental diary. He was in the thick of it so must have seen / done some pretty unpleasant things.

 

Fiona: What do you want written on your head stone and why? 

Loving husband, father and grandfather.

 

Fiona: Other than writing do you have any hobbies?

I’m an avid family tree researcher both for my side of the family and my wife’s.

 

Fiona: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?  

Action and adventure like the Bourne series and the later Bond films.

 

Fiona: Favorite foods / Colors/ Music?

Seasonal food cooked well. My wife is a chef so I am lucky enough to taste all sorts of wonderful things. My taste in music is rooted in the 70s and 80s. I do think Adele is an amazing talent and her music is wonderful.

 

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

I have come to writing later in life after a 40 year career in mining.

 

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

Yes, my website can be found at www.jongliddonauthor.com

 

Amazon Authors Page http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jon-Gliddon/e/B017KNOZTG/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1

Here is my interview with Daniella Whitehorse.

Name  Daniella Whitehorse.

 

Age I am twenty four years old.

 

Where are you from

I currently reside in Surrey, England.

 

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

I have lived in towns and villages in the south of England most of my life. I like the country feel, the peace and the quiet.
I currently live with my partner in a small house, waiting for my children to be born.
I am physically disabled and cannot work in a ‘normal’ environment. Just a few of my medical conditions are, Functional Movement Disorder (where the brain does not fire the neurons correctly, resulting in spasms or temporary paralysis), Brittle Bone Disease and Fibromyalgia.

 

Fiona: Tell us your latest news?

I have just released my first novella in the ‘Mate Series’ in a multi author box set called ‘Santa’s Naughty List’.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I was sixteen when I started writing. It was when I was meant to be revising for my GSCE’s, which by the way I passed all of them.
I do not really know why I started to write but I think it started because I was bored. Also around the time Harry Potter and Twilight were popular and I wanted to see if I could do something similar.
But I only got into steamy romance and Erotic fiction this year.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Only a few months ago when I read a novella I have written, but not published yet, under another name.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

I have always had a think for the paranormal and I saw what others were putting into the set, I decided to choose something different and an Incubus is different. I also decided to do this in the point of view of the Mate as many are in the view of the paranormal and not their Mate.

Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style?

I write as I speak. I have a formal speech pattern and so that is how I write. I try and tone it down in the books but for the most part, I am unsuccessful.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

It is about an Incubus and his Mate so therefore ‘An Incubus’ Mate’.

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

No matter if you give up on love, it will find you. It could be just around the next corner.

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic?

Absolutely none of it. It is all plucked from my mind.

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

None of it is based on anyone I know, events or my own experiences.

Fiona: What books have most influenced your life most? a mentor?

No books have influenced me but someone very close to me once said ‘Live your life as it is your last. Make a splash and not a ripple but above all, do not give up on your dreams.’

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

Nothing. I am editing another under a pen name.

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

Not new exactly, but new to me. They include Jen Winters, Jena Baxter, Cree Storm, Doris O’Connor, Raven McAllen, Jennifer Rose and many more.

Fiona: What are your current projects?

I have two works in progress under pen names. They are not of this genre.
But this series, I have planned for sixteen to be released before I change series.

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

Although I am a Wiccan and a Druidess, I do not believe they have influenced my writing.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

Yes I do as I am medically disabled.

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

None comes to mind. I love it just the way it is.

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

I was doing my GSCE’s and for a piece of coursework we had to write a chapter of a book. That is what got me started alongside reading Twilight and Harry Potter.

 

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

As I have not started the next in this series, I shall decline.

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

The research into the paranormal in question but I love doing the research.

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

There are far too many wonderful authors out there that it is impossible to choose just one. It also depends on the mood of the day.

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

I used to go to Wales for holidays when I was younger over the Easter Break.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

The communal cover of ‘Santa’s Naughty List’ was done by one of the authors in the set.

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

There is no hard part for me in writing. I loved writing every single word.

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

To plan what you are writing to fit the word count.

Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?

Never give up on your dreams. It took me almost ten years to get published and now I am.
You also need to get your name out there, do not hide in the shadows.

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

Read and leave a review, even if you do not like it.

 

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

No I do not.

 

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

Anything. I have an odd sense of humor and for the most part. I find humor in sexual innuendoes.

 

Fiona: Is there one person pass or present you would meet and why?

William Shakespeare. I love all of his work.

 

Fiona: What do you want written on your head stone and why?

Have not thought that far ahead. It is quite a grim prospect.

 

Fiona: Other than writing do you have any hobbies?

I knit, make cards, make clothes and stitch samplers.

 

Fiona: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?

It depends on what I feel like watching.

 

Fiona: Favorite foods / Colors/ Music

Favorite food – fish and chips.

Favorite colour – blue

Favorite music – depends on my mood.

 

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

Earn a living by selling my crafts.

 

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

Not as yet I do not. But I do have Facebook and Twitter.

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Daniella-Whitehorse/1464337153866941
Twitter – https://twitter.com/D_Whitehorse

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Santas-Naughty-List-Paranormal-Christmas-ebook/dp/B014DM8WVE/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1448873653&sr=1-1

Here is my interview with Eva Scott

Name  Eva Scott

Age 40+

Where are you from

Redcliffe, Queensland

 

Fiona: Tell us your latest news?

I wish I could because it’s very exciting but am waiting for the go-ahead from my publisher first.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I began writing as soon as I could form letters with a pen. I had my first work published in my school year book when I was in Prep. It was a poem about the colour brown!

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When my Prep teacher suggested I might be a writer when I grew up. I thought to myself “I can do that” and I’ve never stopped writing since. The only thing that’s changed is the quality of my work (I hope).

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

I was on maternity leave and I thought, if not now then when? So I got stuck into a 50,000 word novel which I submitted for that years Romance Writers of Australia Emerald Award. I came 4^th. I was head hopping and tense dropping all over the place but it gave me the confidence to plough ahead and that particular book was published later that year by an American publishing house.

Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style?

A few people have mentioned that I write like I speak, that my spoken story telling rhythm is the same as my written. Other than that, I like to experiment and mix it up a bit.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

For once the title was an easy find. Red Dust for the landscape of central Australia and Dreaming for the Aboriginal art which forms an important element of the story.

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

Be true to yourself and don’t lose the core of who you are.

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic?

The Yuendumu Aboriginal Art Centre – Warlukurlangu – is a real place with the most amazing artists. I can spend hours scrolling through their catalogue of paintings.

http://warlu.com/

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

Yes. Elizabeth, the heroine, is made to change her education preference to suit her parents. I had a friend whose father made her do just that in exchange for paying her tuition fees. She had to give up arts for IT.

Fiona: What books have most influenced your life most? a mentor?

I remember reading Isabel Allende’s House of Spirits and being fired up to write. She was such a huge influence on me, showing me there was room in the world for all styles of writing.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

Neil Gaiman’s Anansi Boys. I love the way he draws his characters.

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

I’ve been so busy lately I’ve hardly had any time to read at all. But come December I’m going on a cruise and I intend to shop for new talent before I go. Can’t wait to discover someone new and exciting.

Fiona: What are your current projects?

I’m just finishing up a new novel, Red Dust Dancer. It’s all about a country sea change and how you can reinvent yourself, even against the odds.

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

I think my biggest support has come from my critique partner, Tea Cooper, who I found via the Romance Writers of Australia Critique Partner Program. I’d be lost without her and I rather think I’d still be struggling to find a publisher.

http://www.teacooperauthor.com/

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

Absolutely. And I treat is as one. I plan the stages of progression and have career goals mapped out.

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

My writing has improved a lot so there’s that. But also the length. I got a lot of feedback that it wasn’t long enough. Red Dust Dancer is twice as long as a result.

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

I come from a family of storytellers. My grandfather used to weave tales for me off the top of his head. Someone was always spinning a yarn. They still do! I’m the only one who has bothered to write them down and make some dosh out of them. Shh, don’t tell the others….

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

This is an extract from my upcoming novel Red Dust Dancer.

“Well, I’m not auditioning for the new show. You may as well know now.” Eilish, their red-haired Irish beauty, threw back a shot of tequila and motioned the bartender for another.

“Why ever not?” Janelle’s eyebrows threatened to hit the ceiling.

“Let’s see, my knees ache, my hips are so stiff I can barely get out of bed in the morning. Oh, and my neck has seized three times in the past nine months.” Eilish ticked off her ailments on her fingers. “I see my physio more often than I see my boyfriend. I’m done ladies.” She took her new shot from the bartender, giving him a little nod of acknowledgment. “I’m done.” She threw her tequila down the hatch, wincing as it hit the back of her throat.

“What about you?” Janelle turned the attention to Tamsin. No one was going to argue with Eilish. When a dancer’s time came there was nothing anyone could say to make things better.

“Might take some brush-up classes. I wonder if doing the same moves night after night hasn’t dulled my technique, you know?” She took a sip of her cassis and champagne.

“Great idea. I’ll join you. I want this job to last another few years then I’ll head home and open a dance school or something.” Janelle hadn’t noticed the lack of a proper answer.

Karl let out a hoot of laughter. “You? Dealing with all those middle-aged dance mums? I’d pay to see that.”

They all laughed. Janelle’s passionate temper was legendary. She’d be going three rounds with the mums before the week was out. Dance Mom Wrestling would be born.

Tamsin let the chatter and gossip wash over her. A steady throb in her back reminded her she had a massage booked for tomorrow before the show. She had to make an appointment with her podiatrist to tend to her gnarled, bunion-ated feet.  A huge sigh escaped. Suddenly she longed to meet friends for dinner at a civilised time, or wake up early on a Sunday morning and take a walk along the Seine hand in hand with the one she loved. Only she didn’t have a loved one – not that kind of loved one anyway.

She wanted kids, wanted the kind of home she’d grown up in. Even if she’d found the love of her life here in Paris what would she do if she didn’t dance at the Moulin Rouge? Her employment options were limited. The question hung over her, pressing down on the base of her skull.

“I’m gonna go.” Tamsin stood up before she knew what she was doing. She had to get out of there, get some fresh air and think. Dawn wasn’t far away. She could stop at the bakery near her flat and fill her poor rumbling tummy. “See you tomorrow.”

She tumbled out of the bar and took a deep breath. The streets were largely empty in that strange luminous hour before sunrise. She didn’t have far to walk to the far from glamourous Quartier Pigalle. Filled with sex shops and adult shows its innate seediness earned it the nickname Pig Alley during the Second World War. Street cleaners swept the rubbish out of the gutters in the grey light – kebab wrappings and discarded cigarette butts and the stench of rotting rubbish.  She wouldn’t miss it.

Some serious thinking was required and for that she’d need some serious pastries. The local baker had already thrown open his doors. The scent wafting from his shop intoxicating to the senses, and a hungry showgirl’s stomach. She pushed open the door and stepped in. She was going to miss this for sure. French patisseries should be standard fare everywhere in the world. The United Nations should it as a human rights resolution.

Selecting a chocolat du pain and a couple of croissants she resumed the walk to her apartment. A figure huddled in the disused doorway next to hers. Gustave. Of indistinguishable age, Gustave lived on the street and had done so for many years. He was a regular fixture and she worried about him if she didn’t see him for a few days.

“Bonjour!” she said with as much gusto as she could summon. Gustave grunted by way of reply. He was never a morning person.

“Hey! I’ve brought you something.” She held out the bag containing a croissant. There was no way she was giving up her chocolat du pain. Her generosity didn’t stretch that far.  A gnarled, dirty hand shot out from underneath the grimy blanket and snatched the bag out of her fingers.  He’d thank her for it later. She’d miss Gustave, even though he was a rotten conversationalist.  He’d tolerated her bad French in the beginning and for that she would be forever grateful.

Tamsin emptied her mail box in the tiny foyer before climbing the six flights of stairs to her flat. Her knees and back ached. Exhausted, she flung open the door and dumped everything on the table. Food first, then sleep. She took a moment just to inhale the scent of her chocolat du pain before sinking her teeth into its crisp pastry, relishing the moment the chocolate filling burst on her tongue. Heaven. She most certainly would miss this.

As she savoured the pastry her eyes wandered to the pile of mail. A large, official looking envelope with an Australian postmark caught her attention. Brushing the pastry crumbs off her fingers she picked it up and tore it open. The return address on the envelope listed a solicitor, one she’d never heard of before. Unfolding the paper she scanned the document and nearly choked on her breakfast.

Dear Miss Cooper…beneficiary of your late Uncle’s estate… the farmhouse and one hundred and twenty acres of prime grazing land…please call to discuss at your earliest convenience…

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

The third quarter. The beginning is fun. The second quarter is exciting as you move to the central point. The end is, of course, the end and satisfying in itself. But that third quarter can be tough to keep the energy high and the plot tight.

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

I don’t have one favourite author. It changes all the time. I have love affairs with authors. Right now that’s Neil Gaiman. I’ve read two of his books in a row. But next month it might be someone else and I’ll read as much of what they’ve written as I can before moving on. I’m a bit of a tart that way.

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

No. I have a young family so traveling for my writing is a luxury. I use good old Google and Google Earth. And I always find a subject matter expert, someone who has been there and done that so I’m sure the feel and the details are spot on.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

The great team at Harlequin Escape.

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

Waiting for my subject matter expert’s opinion. I had a prestigious Art Professor advise on my work. I was nervous until I got her approval. It was like waiting for exam results.

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

I learned a lot about Aboriginal Art and Central Australia, especially the Tanami Desert.

Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?

Everyone makes the same beginner mistakes. Everyone. Don’t be disheartened. Take whatever advice and feedback you can and keep polishing your work. And read. Read. Read. Read.

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

My books all seem to have a theme of freedom, whether that’s freedom from ideas that have held you back or literal freedom as in The Last Gladiator. Being free to live your live on your terms seems to be an ongoing message in all of my books.

 

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

No. Its lost to the mists of time.

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

Laugh: classic episodes of Graham Norton, cat videos and my husband.

Cry: the nightly news

Fiona: Is there one person pass or present you would meet and why?

Lucille Ball. She made it in a man’s world and she was as funny as hell.

Fiona: What do you want written on your head stone and why ?

Am planning a cremation. No headstone. But maybe some nice memorial t-shirts  and mixed tape of my fav dance tunes to remember me by.

Fiona: Other than writing do you have any hobbies ?

I love to cook for my beloveds. I like to take photos. I’m teaching my son the basics of photography. He has a good eye already and he’s only 4.

Fiona: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?

Reruns of Will & Grace, East Enders, Black List and Fargo are current favourites.

Fiona: Favorite foods / Colors/ Music

Food: Italian

Colour: Red

Music: 90s House music

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

If I wasn’t writing I’d be drinking.

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

www.evascottwriter.com

 

Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00AGLKWZ6

 

Here is my interview with Lorna Collins

Name: Lorna Collins

Age: 69

Where are you from?

I was born in Hollywood, California and grew up in Alhambra, California.

A little about yourself—i.e. your education, family life, etc.:

My husband, Larry K. Collins, and I grew up in the same neighborhood and attended the same grammar and high schools. Our mothers were close friends. We always say if there were arranged marriages, we’d still have married each other. We just don’t know how those ladies managed it.

I was an English Major at Cal State L.A., and Larry went to Cal Poly Pomona.

We have lived in Illinois and Colorado and moved to Osaka, Japan to build the Universal Studios Japan theme park.

In addition, we have traveled all over the world.

We have one daughter who now lives in Texas.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

Larry and I are currently researching the sequel to our book The Memory Keeper, set in San Juan Capistrano. We spent two and a half years on it, and we expect to spend another couple of years on the sequel, Becoming the Jewel.

We’re also working on the next Agapé Jones mystery, Murder With Honor. We just returned from a research trip to Hawaii for this one.

We are also working on the audio formats for several of our books.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I always wrote during the many years I spent in Document Control. Later in my career, I was a technical writer. But business writing is different than writing fiction.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Not until the publication of our first book, 31Months in Japan: The Building of a Theme Park in 2005. Until then, writing had just been a byproduct of my other work responsibilities.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

We lived in Japan for thirty-one months as part of the team which built the Universal Studios Japan theme park. When we returned, I wanted to document the experience, primarily for those who worked with us. To our surprise, the book is popular with those who work with the Japanese, expats who move to Japan, and those who love to read about theme parks.

Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style?

I tend to be a ‘pantser,’ meaning I write by the seat of my pants. I always know the beginning of the book and the end, but in between, I let the characters tell me their story. In fact, I have written the first chapter and then the last. I also write with Larry. He’s a plotter, so we had to figure out how to mesh our styles. Fortunately, we discovered a process to work for us.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title of your latest book?

We had several working titles for our historical novel, set in San Juan Capistrano in the 1800s. We were over halfway through the book before it occurred to me that our protagonist was the keeper of his family’s memories. Thus, it became The Memory Keeper.

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

One theme you will find in all my writing is: no matter how bleak things look, there is always hope. At the end of The Memory Keeper, the mission is in ruin, but our protagonist, Tomas, still believes the future will be bright.

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic?

We were blessed to have the assistance of the official historian of San Juan, the historical society, several docents, and the local Indian storyteller. The history in the book has been meticulously researched and verified. It is a true depiction of life in the 1800s in this area. All the names, except for those noted, are real people who actually lived or visited during the time stated.

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

Some of my books are closer to my personal experience than others. My novella, “Winter’s Song,” in our romance anthology, Seasons of Love, is based on the actual story of how friends got together. I was the playwright who cast them in my Christmas musical.

Kimi McGuire and Jason in the novella, “Finding Love in Paradise,” have more of Larry and me than any of the other stories. The opening of the novella is an actual experience from our life in Japan.

Most of the others are not related to actual experiences, but they have to be believable in order for my readers to relate.

Fiona: What books have most influenced your life most? A mentor?

Although I love to escape into novels, one  book which affected my life was Dr. Wayne Dyer’s Your Erroneous Zones. Another was Judith Viorst’s Necessary Losses.

I learned how to write from my high school English teacher, Mr. George Ward. My boss, Rick Duskey, challenged me to become a better writer.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

I just got my friend Holly Jacobs’s latest, These Three Words.

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

I was just privileged to edit the first novel for Genevieve Frenes, Always Connected. She is a powerful writer.

Fiona: What are your current projects?

We are currently researching Becoming the Jewel, plotting Murder With Honor, and working on the audiobooks for a couple of our books. In addition, I’m doing three freelance edits. (I am a professional editor as well as a writer.)

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

When we returned from Japan, many friends encouraged us to document our experiences. But the book would never have been completed without our critique group, Lagunita Writers. We are still members of the group, and we meet weekly in our home.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

Now that Larry and I are retired from our former jobs, I describe myself as a writer/editor. So, yes, it is now my career. (But it’s a good thing we planned well financially for our retirement so we don’t have to depend on royalties for income!)

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

Since we spent nearly three years writing it, I wouldn’t change a thing. The reviews have been positive, and the response from the community has been encouraging. The book is sold not only in the Mission Store, but also in several other venues around town.

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

As a baby, my grandfather read to me. I developed a love for words and books very early. I always did well in school and received high marks for my writing.

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

Several years ago, we visited the Arizona Memorial in Hawaii on Veterans’ Day. We became fascinated with the idea that Arizona survivors could have their ashes interred on the monument. We knew we had to write a book which included the ceremony. Here’s the beginning of Chapter 1 of Murder With Honor:

Pounding woke me from my nap. I’d started reading the sports page of The Maui News on my tablet, but somewhere in the middle of a story, I must have nodded off.

“I’ll get it, Agapé.”

After nearly fifty years of marriage, I knew my wife would respond. I opened one eye to see her open the door to our neighbor, Jennifer McMillan.

“Oh, Gerry, he’s gone.” She burst into tears, and the beautiful lady I’d loved for most of my life wrapped her arms around the young woman.

We’d first met Jen when she moved into the condo next door five years earlier. Gerry had gone over with a fresh loaf of banana bread as a welcome gift and invited her to dinner.

Over the time we’d known her, we’d learned a lot about our neighbor, including that her only remaining family was her grandfather, George Griffith, who lived in San Diego, California. She was a few years younger than our own kids, so we had taken on a parental role in her life.

The reason for her distress at the moment was obvious. Her grandfather had died.

Jen had been making plans for him to move to the Kalama Heights retirement home here in Kehei, Maui so he’d be closer to her. Until recently, he’d fought the idea. He wanted to remain in his own home. But at ninety-two years old, he’d finally agreed to come. And now he was gone.

Gerry ushered her into the living room and held her until her sobs diminished. My wife spoke soft, soothing words of empathy and encouragement, and the young woman slowly regained her composure.

Thank God Gerry’s good at that sort of thing since crying women make me uncomfortable.

Jen finally looked up. She obviously expected a comment from me.

“I’m sorry to hear about your grandfather.” It sounded lame, even to me.

Jenny nodded.

Gerry stepped away and returned with some fresh guava juice. She handed a glass to our guest and then gave one to me. Her raised eyebrow showed her disappointment in my response.

Jen set her glass down on the coaster next to her. “His neighbor found him this morning. He’d apparently gone sometime during the night. At least he didn’t suffer.” This brought on another round of tears.

I left the room to get some tissues. Finally, something constructive for me to do. I handed her the box.

Jen blew her nose and wiped her eyes. Then she took a deep shuddering breath. “I’ll need to go to San Diego for a while to clean out his house and make arrangements to sell it.”

“What about a funeral?”

Gerry had asked the question on my mind. I figured she’d volunteer us to go to give Jen support. Since our kids lived in California, I knew she’d use the trip as an excuse to visit them.

Jen shook her head. “Gramps was a World War II vet. He was on the USS Arizona on December seventh.”

We’d heard this before, but I’d forgotten.

“He always said he’d like his ashes interred on the monument when his time came. He wanted to be with his friends who hadn’t come home.”

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

Now that I’m doing so much editing, I’m finding it hard to make the time for writing, other than my blog. Larry is immersed in his sci-fi series, The McGregor Chronicles. Since we write our historical novels and mysteries together, I really need his input for the current ones.

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

Since she became a good friend, I love the mysteries of Marilyn Meredith. She writes two series—one book in each every year—and I can’t wait for the next one to come out. She writes believable characters in realistic settings.

Another favorite author is also a good friend, Holly Jacobs, who writes charming romances. I also love reading Jan Karon’s Mitford books because of her sense of place and the characters.

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

We set our mysteries in Hawaii in part so we’d be forced to go there for research. If you write about a place, you’d better know it well—the smells and sights and tastes.

We also visited Idaho Springs and Georgetown, CO a few years ago because the Aspen Grove romances I write with several other friends are set in a town based on these two.

This year we have done quite a bit of speaking, so we need to travel to wherever we have been invited to do our presentations. And we attend conferences wherever they happen to be.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

Some of my books are published by small indie publishers, so they hired the cover artists. The covers for our books originally published by Whiskey Creek Press (now Start Publishing) were all designed by Melissa Summers. I presented her with the basic concept I wanted as well as providing many of the actual images. We worked so well with her, we have hired her to design the covers for several of our other books.

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

For The Memory Keeper, historical accuracy was always important. But the necessity of telling a compelling family story had to be paramount. Knowing how protective San Juan Capistrano is about its legacy, we felt a huge obligation to get it right. Fortunately, we had many local resources and experts, who were willing to help us accomplish our goal.

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

We discovered so many facts previously unknown to us about local events during the 1800s. Many of our readers are as surprised as we were when they find new information in our book. We learned a great deal about the lives of the Juaneño Indians from the local storyteller. She is descended from both the Indians and the Spanish soldiers. She spent several hours educating us on how the native people lived during the period of the book. In the end, she has been supportive and is pleased with the story we shared.

Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?

Write the book you want to read.

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

We always hope you feel as though we have taken you on a journey with real people when you finish our books. And if you learn something along the way, were even happier.

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

My grandfather read me a cloth book of Mother Goose Rhymes until I memorized it. I still have it although the print is worn off. I memorized many of my Little Golden Books to the point where I can’t really tell when I actually began to read them myself. It was certainly before I began school.

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

My husband makes me laugh. I was very serious as a child, and he taught me to laugh and play. I tell him I keep him around because he makes me laugh. He’s been doing it for all the fifty years we’ve been married.

Commercials or stories about young girls and their fathers make me cry. My own father died when I was seven, and it doesn’t take much to stir those feelings of loss.

Fiona: Is there one person, past or present, you would like to meet and why?

Even though I’m not Roman Catholic, I would love to spend a short time with Pope Francis. He seems to embody faith, hope, and humanity.

Fiona: What do you want written on your headstone and why?

Well, there won’t be one since I will be cremated and my ashes will be spread over the ocean. I hope I will be remembered as an admirable wife, mother, friend, editor, and writer. If I am to be memorialized, I hope Larry will be around to come up with something funny.

Fiona: Other than writing, do you have any hobbies?

I love to travel, so I’m usually ready to go somewhere. I like making video trailers for our books and mentoring other writers.

Fiona: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?

My can’t miss show is CBS Sunday Morning. I also love Project Runway and the home remodeling shows.

We are movie fanatics—everything from Disney films to romances to dramas. Among my favorites are 84 Charing Cross Road, The Holiday, and Quartet. But there are LOTS of others as well.

Fiona: Favorite foods / Colors/ Music:

Unfortunately, I enjoy many different kinds of food. I prefer the cool colors from green through violet and purple. I enjoy nearly all kinds of music except acid rock and rap.

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

I always wanted to be a teacher. Looking back, I realize I have done quite a bit of teaching and mentoring. I still do so as a member of our critique group and as an editor.

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

Website: http://www.lornalarry.com

Blog: http://lornacollins-author.blogspot.com/

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lorna.l.collins and

Twitter @LornaCollins

 

Amazon Page http://www.amazon.com/Lorna-Collins/e/B002J86EJ2/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_2

 

Here is my interview with Nicola C. Matthews

Name  Nicola C. Matthews

Age 40

Where are you from originally from Biloxi, MS but was raised and still lives in Laurel, MS

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

I was born in Biloxi, MS in 1975. Raised in southern Mississippi, I still reside in my small hometown with my husband of twenty years, our three children, and our pet Yorkie, Lily-Claire. I love music and my favorite thing to do to de-stress is crank up the tunes and hit the treadmill. I enjoy reading as well as watching movies, shopping, and meeting new people. My favorite genres include mystery thrillers and supernatural/fantasy movies and books. I have a degree in business management, I work full time for a multi-million dollar technology company, and I also own my own publishing house, graphic art firm, and editing service.

 

 

Fiona: Tell us your latest news?

I just had a really fun, sexy paranormal romance to be released last week, The Taming of Andy Savage. This year has been a bit of a wild ride. One of my books was picked up by a hybrid press so I spent the first half of the year getting The Red Fang relaunched, followed by writing and releasing Andy Savage.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I started writing when I was about eight years old. It started with a love affair with Dr. Seuss and just progressed from there. When I was in second grade I remember reading about Paul Bunyan and tall tales. I was fascinated by the notion that people actually got to make up wild stories and share them with others. I immediately began writing down all the crazy things floating around in my head. When I was about nine I tried to write my first book, tried writing another one when I was ten. I would read whenever I had a few spare minutes, devouring as many as fifteen books in a single week.

Then, when I was thirteen, during an extremely difficult time in my life, I wrote my very first full length novel. From there it just escalated. I had written four or five books and dozens of short stories and poems by the time I graduated high school. I spent the last five years I was in high school sending out query letters to publishers, getting rejected more times than I could count. It was my dream to study journalism in college, but things didn’t quite work out that way.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I’ve always considered myself a writer, even when I was in elementary school. When teachers asked me what I wanted to be, I always told them I wanted to be an author. I had ever intentions of studying journalism in college. My ultimate dream was to not just become a published author, but also a field music journalist and write for a music magazine, specifically Metal Edge which has since gone out of print.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

I had a very difficult childhood. I read as a way to escape from a very dismal reality. When I was thirteen, I had a huge crush on someone who did not reciprocate my feelings. I wrote my very first novel as a way to get all those emotions and feelings of rejection out so I could deal with them.

Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style?

I’m sure I do, and I recognize similar writing styles in other authors, but I don’t have a name for it. I just write. I mix up my style depending on what series I’m writing. This new series that is just releasing is a more raw, in-your-face style. It’s meant to be fun, the whole thing reads like you are inside someone’s mind while they narrate what they are witnessing. Lots of writing “rules” are broken, lots of incomplete sentences. You know? Like that 😉

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

I always try to come up with a title that either has some sort of meaning regarding the book itself or the series. Some of my titles are a bit cryptic and people don’t really get the title of the book. For example, The Red Fang got its title based on a nightclub that is only mentioned in the book once or twice.

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

The entire BEFORE THE SUN RISES SERIES is full of hidden meaning, some of them glaringly obvious, others subtle. It’s not just about racial discrimination and extermination, but overcoming your differences to work together for the greater good, realizing you can’t keep holding on to grudges when your entire world is coming to an end. I just used supernatural beings to portray the same things which are happening all around us every day.

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic?

None of what I write is realistic per se. I draw on all kinds of things when I’m writing, everything from personal experiences, people I’ve met or would like to meet, to personal/inside jokes between friends and readers. I think that is part of the fun of being a writer, when we can incorporate these little tidbits into our writing and hope our readers get the references. It’s like sending them on a scavenger hunt.

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

The experiences are not really influenced by things which have happened to me, but a lot of the people in my books are based off of real people, either those that I know, or those that I would like to get to know. I’m really bad about spoofing bands and band members because music is such a huge part of my life. I’ve named characters after real people who were heavy influencers in my life, others I named after real people as a way to pay homage to someone I greatly admire. I can’t tell you how many times Bret Michaels has made cameo appearances in my books.

Fiona: What books have most influenced your life most? a mentor?

There are very few books which I have read more than once, but The Talisman and The Stand (Stephen King) were some of those rare books that I read multiple times in high school. Out of all the authors I have read over the years, I still claim Anne Rice as being my writing mentor. I also was heavily influenced by Laurell K. Hamilton, Charlaine Harris, Michael Crichton, Robin Cook, and VC Andrews to name a few.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

I don’t do a whole lot of reading these days, but when I do stop to read, it is almost always going to be an Anne Rice novel.

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

I grew up on the likes of Anne Rice, and there are very few authors who write with the grace and beauty she possesses and infuses into her prose. I don’t read just for entertainment or escape, but for the love of the written word. I want there to be real meat to a story, to feel the agony and defeat and happiness of the characters. I expect epic adventures which will take me a week to get through. Deep down, I crave the journey, the adventure. I know I would probably fall in love with quite a few authors if I would stop long enough to pick up a book, but these days I have so little time.

Fiona: What are your current projects?

I currently have 2 series that I am working on, the Before the Sun Rises Series and the Sweet Seductions Series. I plan to finish the second book in the Sweet Seductions Series and hopefully will move on to finish the 3^rd book in the BTSR Series by the end of next year.

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

Wow, there have been so many readers and fellow authors who have really helped, but I would have to say that Nicci and Angel have been my two loudest cheerleaders. There were days when I wanted to cry and just give up, wondering why I keep torturing myself, but those two were always right there telling me not to give up. If it weren’t for Nicci and Angel reminding every day that I am a good writer and my stories deserve to be told, I believe I may have thrown in the towel long ago.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

I would love to be able to do this full time, but right now, the market is just too saturated. I love to write and will continue to do so in the hopes that one day it can be my full time career. For now, though, I’m content for it to be my second career.

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

I probably wouldn’t change anything, but I do wish I could have made it longer.

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

I just remember that I loved reading, and was fascinated by the idea that I could write down all the crazy things that popped into my head and other people would want to read them.

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

This is the first few pages of The Taming of Andy Savage, book 1 in the Sweet Seductions Series which just came out last week.

(this has a lot of bad language and sexual situations – if you decide not to post it that is fine)

Nicolette pushed her way through the crowd, the tightly packed bodies writhing in time to the pounding chords ripping from Jacob’s guitar. Everyone around her was screaming, but the sound could not be heard through the driving beat engulfing them all like a living, breathing thing. Andy’s voice rose above the music, deep, perfect, the sound sending many of the women in the room into a lust-filled swoon.

As the last chords of music waned, a young woman screamed out, “I love you, Andy!”

From somewhere within the darkness of the stage, a dark voice answered. “I love you, too,” he said as the overhead lights suddenly flashed rapidly. Everyone in the crowd screamed as Andy stood to the side of the stage with huge grin on his face. He dipped his head forward and then whipped it back, tossing his shoulder-length black hair back out of his face.

Nicolette felt a shuddering tingle race up her spine and then settle between her legs. She had to fight the urge to rush the stage and shove her tongue down his throat and her hands down his pants. He was the epitome of every rock star cliché all rolled into one. He was tall and had so many tattoos on his arms it was hard to tell where one ended and the other began. He had enough piercings to make a Voodoo doll jealous, and he oozed more sex appeal than any man had the right to, alive or undead. His voice was deep, dark, and melodic. She wasn’t sure which she found more attractive, his voice, his beautiful smile, or his quick wit and sense of humor. He was, for lack of a better word, absolutely perfect.

White Coffin had been on the stage for nearly an hour, their set almost complete. Nicolette held onto her position to the left of the stage, wrapping her hands around the barricade. It was the only thing keeping the patrons of THE FANGGASM nightclub from rushing the stage, and from the five vampires who currently occupied it. In just three more songs the band would be through for the night, and Nicolette’s job would just be beginning.

Nicolette Vampskin was the leading field journalist for The Alternative Underground, the single most popular vampire metal magazine and blog in the industry. She had landed the job fresh out of high school. The Underground had been a fledgling magazine at the time. It was the very first publication which not only sought out supernatural musicians, but actively sent out human reporters to interview the bands. Within a year she had become the magazine’s lead reporter, and in the process she also became the biggest fang-whore in the entire country.

As the band prepared for their final encore, she moved toward the back of the stage, flashing her PRESS badge at one of the guards keeping all the groupies at bay. There was absolutely no need to do this; she was at the club every weekend and every security guard and bouncer in the building knew her by name. But, to be honest, she thoroughly enjoyed the nasty looks all the skank-whores gave her. It gave her a perverse sense of pleasure knowing she was about to sit in the company of the best damn metal band the world had ever known, while they were all resigned to hold up “I WANNA FUCK YOU ASH!” signs in hopes the bassist might look their way. She almost felt sorry for them. But then again, she hadn’t exactly made a name for herself by feeling sorry for people.

She rounded the side of the stage just as the band thanked everyone for coming out, the five of them moving so quickly down the stairs they all nearly collided into each other as Andy Savage stopped suddenly on the last step. His blue eyes locked onto her as she planted herself squarely in front of him. Those intense baby blues raked over her, taking in her ripped leggings, short skirt, shredded White Coffin tee, and the rounded mounds the shirt barely concealed.

“Nicolette Vampskin,” she said as she held out her hand.

Andy paused, much longer than was necessary for a vampire, giving his actions a very human feel.

He took her hand and shook it lightly. “I know who you are, Ms. Vampskin. When they told me we were being interviewed for The Underground, I never in my wildest dreams thought they would be sending you.”

She laughed, tossing her head back, exposing the length of her neck for a moment. The various white scars from multiple vampire bites were clearly visible on her pale skin.

Andy moved suddenly, his body quickly closing the few inches separating them. Startled, Nicolette froze as his hand moved to cradle the back of her neck. He gently moved her head to the side as he brushed a few loose auburn tendrils of hair from her neck, his eyes looking over the scars. He let go of her just as quickly as he had grabbed hold of her.

“You do get around, don’t you?” he asked, not really expecting an answer. He turned his head, nodding slightly. The other four members jumped off the steps, walking casually toward one of the back exits.

“I see my reputation precedes me,” she muttered.

“Yes, it does, but I understand the fascination,” he said as he ducked his head closer to hers. “How do you think I ended up this way?” he whispered, tilting his own head to the side. She caught a quick glimpse of the line of tiny, white scars marring the side of his neck, scars that greatly resembled her own vampire track marks.

She smiled in amusement. Obviously she wasn’t the only one who had a vampire fetish. “I assure you, Andy, I am just here on business,” she replied, even though she knew it wasn’t entirely true.

“When are you going to learn to share?” Ash Pardue asked as he turned around, walking backward as he gave Andy a large, fangy grin. He eyed Nicolette openly, causing her to squirm just a bit. She wasn’t sure how they had managed to cram so many hot vampires into one band, but there they all were, looking like a vision straight from a groupie’s wet dream.

“Next time, man,” Andy replied as his eyes moved back to Nicolette. “Promise.”

Ash laughed. “I’m going to hold you to that,” he said as he turned around and followed the rest of the band out the door.

Nicolette watched the other members leave, wondering if she should be concerned, or if she had just missed out on some major fun. About fucking right, pardon the pun, she thought to herself. Maybe Andy wasn’t into sharing.

“Ms. Vampskin-“

“Nicolette, please,” she said, interrupting him as her attention moved from his parting band mates back to him.

He paused, surprised she had interrupted him.

“Nicolette,” he said her name slowly as he started again.  “Thank you for agreeing to come out to do the interview. I’m not sure where we are going to do this, though. This place doesn’t have dressing rooms, and I’m pretty damn sure we can’t go grab a table in the back.”

He jerked his head toward the back of the bar as he said it, his eyes momentarily moving over the crowd still hanging around the stage. A young woman screamed as he made eye contact with her.

“Andy! Oh my God, fuck me, Andy! I love you!”

Andy chuckled, his smile growing larger. He thrust his hands into the pocket of his black jeans, his smile almost sheepish. He looked so damn young, so adorable, and so fucking sexy at the same time. It was hard for Nicolette to remember he was immortal. He acted like every other male in his early twenties, riding the biggest high known to man. He was lusted after and loved by so many, loving the attention, and yet still being mildly embarrassed at the same time. It instantly endeared him to her heart.

 

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

Finding the time, and then finding inspiration. I work a full time job outside of writing, and then there is the marketing and promotion that goes with being an indie writer. Even when I can find time, most days I have to really push myself to write because I’m already exhausted from a 12 hour day spent outside my home office.

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

Hands down Anne Rice. She has a very vivid imagination and her way of expressing and describing everything that is happening with and around her characters is just amazing. I know a lot of authors and readers think she is a bit of an overkill when it comes to descriptive prose but to me, THAT is what writing is all about. It is eloquent and beautiful, the descriptions so intense it makes everything about the journey inside the pages seem more realistic, everything from the scent of the magnolia blossoms on the wind to the highlights in her character’s hair as the sunlight glints off of it. Absolute perfection.

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

Right now I don’t. I have a few book signing events coming up next year that will require some minor travel within my home state, but for the most part I will only attend events that are within a few hours driving distance.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

With the exception of The Red Fang, Bloody Feather Graphix Team has designed the cover for the majority of my work, including Vindictus The Dark Lord, Immortal Sins, and The Taming of Andy Savage.

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

The sex scenes. I know that sounds weird, but once I got past being able to write fight scenes, I agonize over writing the sex scenes.

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

I went into writing The Taming of Andy Savage with the notion that this book was going to be funny and very over-the-top. I wasn’t sure how it would turn out, but I discovered that I could write comedy as well as action/adventure. I’m discovering that I am able to cross over many genres. I had only ever considered myself a romance writer, but I am quickly realizing I can do many different genres and it makes me eager to start writing in other areas and stretch my literary legs.

Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?

Don’t give up. I know that sounds simple and it is something that has been repeated thousands of times, but at the heart of it all, you can’t give up. And you have to stay true to yourself. If you don’t enjoy writing because you are just writing whatever the flavor of the day is to make a few bucks, then you are doing it for all the wrong reasons. You can flip burgers and still be miserable and make more money. If you don’t love what it is you are writing about, then truly, what is the point? Writing is an art form, just like drawing or singing, and it has to be nurtured. Most importantly, it has to come from the heart.

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

Take a chance. There are many really great authors out there, but if you are not willing to take a chance on them, then we will be forced to give up. So take a chance, and when you find an author worth talking about, then TALK about them. To everyone. All the time. And leave a review! Reviews are an author’s bread and butter.

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

Oh heavens no, but I’m sure it was a Dr. Seuss book.

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

Music. Not even my beloved books have a hold over me the way music does. It’s why I am so supportive of indie musicians. It never matters how bad of a day I am having, all it takes is listening to my favorite songs to make me feel normal again.

Fiona: Is there one person pass or present you would meet and why?

There are many, many people whom I would love to meet. Before I became a BVB addict, I would have had exactly one name on that list, and that is Bret Michaels. But now I’d like to not only meet Bret, but the entire BVB band. Bret has always been my mentor growing up, and I see the same fierce determination and love of music in the faces of BVB that I see in myself. None of them know how to quit, to give up, despite the odds, and they have the success to prove just how far hard work and determination can go. On the days I feel like quitting, I remind myself that they didn’t quit and neither will I.

Fiona: What do you want written on your head stone and why ?

Well, I had planned on being cremated but if I did have a memorial plaque or something, I would want my tag line to be on there. I think it sums up reading and being a writer pretty good:  A thousand lives. Infinite possibilities.

Fiona: Other than writing do you have any hobbies ?

Aside from reading, I love to listen to music, I like to go to concerts every chance I get, love to watch TV. As weird as it sounds, I also like doing graphic art work, and periodically I’ll make myself some beaded jewelry.

Fiona: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?

Right now I’m a huge Walking Dead Head. My favorite series right now, aside from TWD, are:

Z Nation

Salem

Teen Wolf

iZombie

The Bastard Executioner

Pretty Little Liars

Black Sails

 

Fiona: Favorite foods / Colors/ Music

My favorite musical genres is rock/metal and my favorite bands right now are Black Veil Brides and Farewell, My Love and Drama Club. My favorite color is red. I just love food in general, which is why I’m now 20 lbs overweight. I tend to like non-American food: Chinese, Mexican, etc.

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

I would have been a music journalist, writing for some big-name music magazine and spending my days at concerts and interviewing musicians.

 

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

http://nicolacmatthews.com/

https://www.facebook.com/nicolacmatthews/

Twitter @ncmatthews

Instagram @nicolacmatthews

Author page on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Nicola-C.-Matthews/e/B00538EZEG

 

  

Here is my interview with Anita Cox

Name Anita Cox

Age This is my last year in my 30s! I can’t believe it.

Where are you from? I hail from a tiny NW Indiana town called Wanatah. Blink, and you might miss it. It’s a small farm town where everyone either knows you, or is related to you.

 

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

Well, my family life sort of fits the motto go big or go home. I married a giant who stands 6’ 8” tall and I have a 250lb English Mastiff. I’m not sure what that says about me, except I’m pretty fearless.

I have two biological children who are just awesome, and two wonderful step-children. We only have one child left at home though, my 14 year old son (and my reason for hair dye.)

I cannot forget Tommy Chong, a cat who cannot get enough affection and looks perpetually stoned (hence the name.)

 

 

Fiona: Tell us your latest news?

Well, I sit on the Board of the Erotic Author’s Guild and I, along with another board member and some of our members are putting together an Anthology for Valentine’s Day. It’s nice to collaborate with so much talent.

I’m also looking forward to the Northern Iowa Book Bash at the end of April, where I’ll be attending as a signing author. There is a lot of talent attending this show and I’m humbled to be included.

In May, I’m representing the Erotic Author’s Guild at Wild and Windy in the City in Chicago.

 

 
Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I have always written, ever since I can remember. I started writing short stories in middle school for fun. I never really took it seriously, I just wrote for the love of the craft. In 2006 my father pushed me to try and publish (I started off writing suspense novels – before I created Anita Cox.) It’s been an obsession ever since.

 

 
Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I have no answer for this. I know, I know, it’s lame. But I’m not big on labels. I guess the first time I sold a book, I became a bonafide writer.

It really wasn’t until a friend introduced me to one of her friends as, “This is the author I was telling you about.” That’s when it hit me… oh yeah, I’m an author.

 

 
Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

When I started my Dirty White Candy series, it was loosely based on a young divorcee I knew. She’d only had sex missionary style and only with one man ever. Her new single life was scaring the hell out of her. Her story was so sad to me…so I changed her story to something more exciting. Not only did she love it, she started to learn from it.

That series is less about love and more about growth sexually. And while I didn’t realize it at the time, I’ve been told the entire series is not just entertaining, but instructional. I even teach a trick on how to cut off the gag reflex.

 

 
Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style?

It has evolved over time. I used to just write by the seat of my pants. Now, I outline.  Well, I make a loose outline.  I make character sheets, some of them are very detailed, some are not. I find this helps reduce time in editing and really speeds up the novel creation.

 

 
Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

With my latest series, the Shifter Chronicles, the titles are almost a micro-synopsis of the novel. The free Prequel, Pursuing Grace is, quite literally, about a Lycan pack searching for Grace, a missing link in their pack. Saving Grace, Book 1, tells the story of Grace’s growth and her rescue from her captor. Resurrection, Book 2, is about resurrecting an entire race of beings. No Quarter, Book 3, is about a real no quarter battle that is an integral part of the story, and very important to the main character.

 

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

All of my work is centered on a fierce female main character. I love the romance genre and the subgenres, but I get so irritated by weak women. I say, no more! Strong women are sexy. Strong women deserve the strong man that stand beside them.

My first born has just turned 19 and I have spent her entire life empowering her. When she reached adulthood, she began reading my novels. It is her opinion that I have a White Knight complex and that I think it’s my job to empower women everywhere.

Maybe that’s true. Maybe it’s not. But I do love strong women.

 

 
Fiona: How much of the book is realistic ?

My Dirty White Candy series is quite realistic. The same cannot be said for the Shifter Chronicles. Unless you can show me a sexy Centaur shifter…then by all means, I’m open to change my mind!

 

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

Oh there’s a bit of me in my books! Don’t judge me…someone had to do the research!

 

 
Fiona: What books have most influenced your life most? a mentor?

I’ve read so many books that have really gripped me. The Celestine Prophecy was such a dry, challenging read but a friend encouraged me to finish. While it might be a work of fiction, it really changed my whole perspective on life. I understand how I affect and effect those around me.

There are a ton of authors I love, David Baldacci, Kelly Armstrong, Sylvia Day, Joe Konrath, Stieg Larsson (RIP) and of course, all of the classics.

 

 
Fiona: What book are you reading now?

I just started The Art of D/s Trilogy by Ella Dominguez

 

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

Not lately. My TBR list is a mile long. I read my first Joanna Wylde book recently and holy hell! Hot, hot, hot! Sarah Fine is new to me but I have loved her Servants of Fate series so far. Jenna Fox’s dark erotica is pretty good.

 

 
Fiona: What are your current projects?

I’m currently writing two novels at once (this is a first for me.) The first is for the Guild Anthology, Indulgence. It’ll be a novella for the anthology and my MC is a CIA spook. I’m also working on a Sci-Fi Dystopian Erotic Romance.

 

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

I’ve had different colleagues in the writing world that have continually supported me. We really do have a wonderful community in the writing world.

 

 
Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

Without a doubt.

 

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

Self-Doubt is suicide. No. Once it’s done, it’s done. Let it be and move to the next book on your list.

 

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

I have always loved books. Always. As I said earlier, I began writing short stories just to entertain myself when I was very young. That desire never left. Except I’m not writing in multiple colors of ink (remember the pens, red, blue, green all-in-one?) Now it’s on a laptop, holding my cat, because he does not give me a choice.

 

 

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

Oh man… only if you promise to understand this is rough draft stuff… Not even a first read through, it’s a work in progress.

The end of the world didn’t come the way I thought it would. It wasn’t a nuclear war, pollution, or alien invasion. Something much more organic destroyed the earth. It didn’t matter really. Humans almost destroyed humanity on our own.

I remember saying goodbye to my family, thinking I’d see them again in ten years. It was a practice of the young women my family for generations.

Perhaps I should start at the beginning. Long before I was born, we were visited by an alien race. They promised to share their wealth of knowledge and medical advances with our planet. They wanted nothing in return, only to further the advancement of our race. That should have been our first clue.

They cured us of everything. One vaccine made us all immune from infection, cancers, and disease. But it came at a price. Slowly…over time fewer and fewer couples were able to conceive. People didn’t seem to notice or mind at first. After all, now that humans were living 150 years, our need to procreate at the usual rate had decreased.

But then…the babies that were born were predominantly male. Twenty males for every female born…and the rate of female births were still declining. With fewer and fewer fertile women on the planet, our safety and freedom were constantly in question. The wealthy and powerful were able to stake a claim to fertile women, holding them as a spouse whether or not she agreed.

At eleven, girls are tested. The fertile were given a tattoo on their arm. Those that weren’t were less valuable, less desired.

My family began sheltering their daughters, sending the fertile off to be trained by the Amazonians. Not the Amazon Women of pop culture, but the fearless warriors feared by the Ancient Greeks. The moment my tattoo was complete, my parents raced home, reassuring me that I’d be okay. Once inside, my mother told me to kiss my father goodbye. My lips barely graced his cheek when she pulled me away, hurrying me to the basement.

Once in her library, she removed a book on the third shelf. I remember the shock I felt when the bookcase moved revealing a hidden doorway. She pushed me through, pressing a button to close the shelf behind us. Out of fear, I cried as she pushed me down the hall, telling me she loved me. It was such a mixed bag, to have your mother tearfully pleading her love for you, all while shoving you quickly down a dark hall you didn’t even know existed in your own home. I couldn’t imagine where I was going. Was I going to live my life out in some kind of dungeon?

We came to a small room. The only thing in the room was a travel bag and what looked like a glass casket on its end, standing upright. My mother opened the lid, and then turned to hug me. I remember her green eyes, filled with tears. That image is still burned in my brain.

“Vala,” she sniffed, “this is a transporter.”

“Mom?” I cried. What did she mean?

“Vala, listen. We don’t have much time. You’re going to step inside and I will close the door. All you’ll see is a white light and when the light dims, you’ll be somewhere else. Somewhere far, far away. My mother did this for me, and her mother for her, and her grandmother before that. A group of strong women will greet you on the other side. They’re going to teach you things…amazing things. You’ll be a fierce warrior. In ten years’ time, you’ll step back through the transporter, and back into my arms. Be safe, Vala. Know that I love you.”

I held on tight, crying into her hair as she hugged me. After all, what eleven year old was prepared to flee her family and go live with strangers? What would happen if the government discovered illegal technology in our basement?

She kissed my forehead before she picked up my bag and slung it over my shoulder. Her gentle hands guided me into the casket. As soon as the door closed, I was blinded by light. When the light dimmed, I was no longer in our basement, but in a stone building. Three very tall women stood there. They just stood there and waited for me to come out.

“Vala?” The one to the left had a long chocolate brown hair, braided loosely to one side. She smiled and said my name once more. “Vala, come on out. It’s okay.”

Gathering whatever bravery I had at such a tender age, I wiped the tears still streaming from my eyes and stepped out of the casket and into training.

For ten years, I learned various forms of close quarter combat skills like stick fighting, Aikido, and other forms of martial arts. At fifteen, the Amazon women taught me how to use knives and guns, though they preferred a more stealthy approach.

“As a single warrior, the element of surprise will always be your strongest tool. Get in, kill quietly, get out.” Katana towered over me, her arms crossed over her chest until she received some sort of acknowledgement from me. Her long dark brown hair rested in a braid over her shoulder. A braid that had wound around my neck more than once. “Everything is a weapon, if you know how to use it.”

I was a quiet student, silently waiting to return to my family. The lasting image of my mother’s tearful goodbye was all I had. So I worked hard to please my Amazon masters. I studied the books they provided, trained more hours than was required, and stuck to myself.

My only downfall was my curious nature. Insomnia as an ally, I often snuck around the village late at night, a true voyeur at heart. I recall coming to the cabin of one of my trainers, Tatiana. The noises I heard from the cabin led me to believe she was training with a male companion. As I crept closer to the cabin and peeked through the window, it was obvious the grunts were not from strain due to training, but sounds of pleasure.

 

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

I get nailed, every single time, by my editors for head hopping. I don’t mean to do it, it just happens. I see this movie playing in my head and write what I see. I always have to go back and fix the head hopping and even then, I miss a bunch my editors have to catch.

I fear, one day, they’ll bludgeon me to death for the head hopping.

 

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

In my humble opinion, the author best at world building and getting us emotionally invested in her characters is, hands down, J.K. Rowling. No, I’m not ashamed to admit that I love Harry Potter. I scooped up every book as they became available.

My other favorite author is David Baldacci. His stories have many layers and I can’t put his books down until I reach the end.

 

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

Book conferences require travel. Other than that, no.

 

 
Fiona: Who designed the covers?

Roxie at Syn Publishing and I collaborated on the Shifter Chronicles series. I’ve requested a reversion of rights on my Dirty White Candy series from Liquid Silver, mostly because I absolutely hate the covers.

 

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

Finding the time. I still have a full-time job and a family so, finding quiet time to write is my biggest challenge.

 

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

I do a lot of research for my books. I’m always learning. I also am a firm believer that sex education should never stop. I read a lot and also watch SexPlanations on YouTube because Doctor Doe is an invaluable resource.

 

 
Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?

The pool is very diluted. It’s a challenge to stand out in a sea of veteran authors and the plethora of those that come and go. Don’t do this unless you truly have the passion to stick it out. This business requires thick skin (and a lot of coffee and/or wine.)

 

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

I love you all for following me through these years. Your emails, comments, and reviews really do mean the world to me.

 

 

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

Leo the Lop

 

 

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

I’m not much one for tears. I’d much rather laugh. With that being said, the Notebook still makes me bawl like a baby. Comedy is my go-to though. There are a lot of physical benefits to laughing. Plus, it feels good.

 

 

Fiona: Is there one person pass or present you would meet and why?

Sir Anthony Hopkins. Because, he’s Sir Anthony Hopkins.

 

 

Fiona: What do you want written on your head stone and why ?

She came. She raised hell. She left.

 

 

Fiona: Other than writing do you have any hobbies ?

I’m an avid fisherman and if I were independently wealthy, I’d fish and write. The end.

 

 

Fiona: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?

I’m absolutely obsessed with The Blacklist. I also never miss an episode of Scorpion. Other than that I don’t watch much television other than the random episode of Bar Rescue or Drunk History.

 

 

Fiona: Favorite foods / Colors/ Music

Food: Steak, medium

Color: Black

Music: Classic Rock

 

 

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

There’s something else?

 

Fiona: Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it? Blog: http://authoranitacox.wordpress.com

 

My other links: Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/U99P9

Website: http://www.authoranitacox.com/

Publisher’s Author Page: http://synpublishing.com/anita-cox.html

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

Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/author/anitacox

Free Prequel for the Shifter Chronicles http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TO0NVH6

Thank you so much for having me today!

Here is the interview with Mary Louise Davie

Name Mary Louise Davie

Age awesome. (OK 50, but its awesome – I’m 100% comfortable in my skin for the first time.)

Where are you from

West Milford, NJ originally Scotch Plains, NJ.

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

I grew up in Scotch Plains NJ the daughter of a musician (Robert “Hutch” Davie) and a model/actress turned fantastic English Teacher so there was plenty of music and encouragement for creative endeavors. And my mother was big on education – obviously. I started school at University of Maryland and finished at NJCU attending for Checmical Engineering and World Languages – an odd combination to be sure but I always loved the sciences and languages/writing.

Scotch Plains was rather rural during my younger years and so I rode horses, built tree houses, and basically enjoyed the outdoors.

 

 

Fiona: Tell us your latest news?

I am thrilled to share my latest book “Target Earth: You Only See What You Want To” I really enjoyed writing this one in a different way – the humor, the action and the way the government handles this,…its awesome!

 

 

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

It’s something I have always done since I was Eight. Except for a few years when I was eleven when I was into poetry and a few years later when I wrote and performed songs.

When I was in my twenties I would write novels and maybe show them to a friend and then put them on a shelf and start the next. I have to admit, sharing them, much better!

 

 

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Actually, long before I became published, I felt like a writer, spending my time in the worlds I created in my head before coming down to Earth and the let down. The process felt true and unavoidable.

 

 
Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

My first book (which was really like my tenth or eleventh to me) was written because I was researching black holes as I didn’t 100% buy what ‘they’ said about them. As I developed my own theory I wanted to run a scenario to see if it worked. That scenario became Sanacion: The Black Hole Mission. And the characters became so real, became my friends so they made me write Sanacion II & III.

 

 
Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style?

I write what I feel, partially outlined, sometimes entire scenes mapped out and sometimes the characters take me a whole different direction that I hadn’t expected. I actually like when that apens as I think its truer. So there isn’t really a true style in there, but with eachbook I write I find myself taking on something new. Introducing a new type of action scene(s) or location style, I try and incorporate something new to allow growth and expand the story.

 

 
Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

The title was actually something different originally. I didn’t want to give too much away, but in the end I had to name it what it screamed out; that’s why the second part of the title is so important – You Only See What You Want To, all through history our reactions as a country, as a world, we have only seen what we want to!

 

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

My message is always similar. While not everyone, there are those who react one way to all things, see everything as a threat and then there are the scientists, apolitical at best, who only see the truth of something, not the fears.

 

 
Fiona: How much of the book is realistic ?

Depends what you mean about realistic. I am a stickler about making the details correct from the roads in DC to the science for the Space Bridge and Moon Base. All that is realistic but it isn’t real as of today – maybe in 2022 or around that time – I hope!

 

 

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

Obviously not, but they are based on what I feel would happen in those circumstances.

 

 
Fiona: What books have most influenced your life most? a mentor?

I taught myself to read with a set of heavy vinyls of Alice In Wonderland that came with a copy of the book. I played it over and over again as I learned to read the lines while I heard the imaginative tale read out loud.  I think that made me want to create the same thing for someone else. Over the years I have read many books as I was a speed reader and ate them like sustenance – but rarely was really touched by any one writer. I loved Antigone by Sophocles, I love the works of T. S Eliot, and I love non-fiction – I eat up science and math.

As far as a mentor – my mother. She was an incredible grammarian but she couldn’t write to save her life. But she helped me with the mechanics.

 

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

Kimberly Stanley Robinson. Have always had her body of work on my mind to check out and many of her books are on my Nook. I just recently inally made some time as I don’t like to read when I am working on a project as a rule & the last couple of years I have been touring non-stop & rarely have the time.

 

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

My favorite writer is hard to choose. I like individual works of many but can’t seem to find one where I love everything, I will say that Arthur C. Clarke either grabs me in every book or takes me on a trip with the first part and I end up taking somewhere else in my mind.

 

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

I have been traveling with Wizard World ComicCons for the last 2 years across the country – Nashville, Austin, LA, Reno, San Diego and much more plus traveling on my own to a few conventions in Maryland and Pennsylvania or Maine. I give presentations either about NASA and the cool stuff they have done and are doing as well as detail their plans for the Moon or Mars or Europa. I love getting people excited about space and sharing a common love with them. While travel is tiring it is also envigorating!

 

 
Fiona: Who designed the covers?

Thomas Rodriquez. He does an incredible job translating what I am thinking and representing what the book is about.

 

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

Actually writing it versus just watching what happens in my head. I loved the life it took on, where it was going and sharing it was a true labor of love.

 

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

I became intrigued with some of the scientific theories I developed and wish I had a lab set up (which I plan to do when I move) so I could improve upon them.

 

 
Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?

Just the same advice I often hear – read tons, and write, write often and write anything – it will get better as you read and re-write and re-write again.

 

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

Just thanks. Thank you for joining me on this journey. I love writing and I love the finished project but even more I love the feedback from everyone and the shared interests. I also love the devotion to some of my characters. This is the coolest – at one con someone came as one of my characters – Lenora from the Sanacion series – too cool!

 

 

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

Well as I said, I learned how to read from Alice in Wonderland but after that I remember the book that I read some of, my mom read me a lot of called “The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew”. Besides being a really good book – when my mother read it I saw it like a play in front of me. It started the whole love of everything, both reading & writing.

 

 

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

A lot now; old movies, Terms of Endearment, and thinking of my mom. (She passed away in 2003.)

 

 

Fiona: Is there one person pass or present you would meet and why?

Einstein. He always thought his biggest mistake was the constant C – I would like to disscuss this with him, maybe push him at the age he stopped theorizing and settles into rock star status.

 

 

Fiona: What do you want written on your head stone and why ?

I’m not really here – look to at the night sky, and you’ll find me.

 

 

Fiona: Other than writing do you have any hobbies ?

Horseback riding, guitar/piano-songwriting, sketching out things I develop for my books…

 

 

Fiona: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?

Quantico, Expanse-for now – we’ll see, I’m waiting for all this Sci Fi they say is coming to TV and Movies!

 

 

 

Fiona: Favorite foods / Colors/ Music

My favorite foods – Oysters, Brie cheese, and Pringles. Oh, & Duck! As far as my favorite color – there is this shade of green. I am partially Blue-Green color blind but there is this one shade of green I see which was also the color of my first 10 speed – I’m partial to it!

 

 

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

Act. I was a model in my twenties but only because I was trying to get into acting. When I finaly got offered a part it was at the same time as I was offered a real job. Also it was a horror film. So far only Jaime Lee Curtis was the only one who had gone on to have a career so I took the real job. I’ll never know if anything would have happened.

 

 

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

http://sanaciontheblackholemission.blogspot.co.uk/ or http://www.marylouisedavie.com

Press Package available at: http://sanacionsite.wordpress.com/

twitter: @MaryLouiseDavie

instagram: marylouisedavie

e-mail: mldmdc@optonline.net or Sanacion@icloud.com

Blog site: http://sanaciontheblackholemission.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Sanacion-sanaci%C3%B3n/251502074922394

Here is my interview with Murphy Edwards

Name: Murphy Edwards

Age: 59

Where are you from: Brookville, a small town in rural Indiana

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

I attended college at Mount Saint Joseph on the Ohio and majored in Journalism and Business Communications. I love rescue dogs, a good cup of coffee and prog rock music. I have played drums in several professional bands, including Sidecar Prophets.

 

 

Fiona: Tell us your latest news?

I have just finished the first crime thriller novel in my new crime series and I’m currently completing a new horror novel for Severed Press Publishing, titled “Carrion”. I have also been contacted by two production companies expressing interest in the movie rights to my “Dead Lake” trilogy.

 

 
Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I started at a very early age, around twelve or thirteen. I’ve always liked reading and I love to tell stories. I think it’s the Irish in me that drives me to weave facts and fiction into a tale. I do it to entertain (myself and my readers). It’s odd, but if I don’t write for a few days I go into a slump and begin to feel bad.

 

 
Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When my submissions began to be accepted for publication by editors I felt like I had made the first great stride towards becoming a writer. I still learn something new nearly every day and with every piece I work on. For me, being an author is an ongoing process.

 

 
Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

 I had the genesis of “Dead Lake” floating around in my head for over ten years. I made general notes, but there were no actual outlines or chapters developed. Gary Lucas, the editor at Severed Press Publishing sent me a very nice e-mail and asked if I would be interested in writing and submitting a novel for a new series he was planning. Gary was developing a series of novels for Severed Press Publishing that centered around the Dead Bait** theme. I was surprised that I actually had an editor asking me for a book (since this rarely happens) and even more surprised that the theme he proposed fit nicely with that story floating around in my head all those years. I sent Gary a proposal with a full novel synopsis for his consideration. “Dead Lake” is the result of that proposal.  **My relationship with Gary Lucas and Severed Press Publishing began when a few years ago I answered a submission call for their anthology “Dead Bait.” Gary liked my story “Noodlers.” I was thrilled to get that opportunity. Gary then invited me to submit a piece for the sequel anthology, “Dead Bait 2”, which resulted in my cross-genre crime / horror story “Heavy Weather.”  DB2 included features by Ramsey Campbell and Tim Curran, so again, I was delighted to be in such good company. Shortly after “Dead Bait 2” was released, I learned Severed Press was planning another anthology. I contacted Gary Lucas with an offer to write a crime / horror piece exclusively for “Dead Bait 3.” I penned “Sinkers” and it made the cut. As you can see, there were actually quite a few steps involved before the first novel actually came to fruition.

 

 
Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style?

 It varies based on the genre and the subject matter. I always try to include factual information in my fiction. Some of my novels start out with a single character or scene, while others begin with a specific plot point that I want to expand into a full-length piece. Like most writers, I have notebooks, journals, bar napkins, envelopes and data files filled with ideas, scenes, locations, characters and plots. I’m a messy writer.

 

 
Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

My titles are all based on the events in the books. “Dead Lake” came from the premise of cemeteries that were never properly moved before a massive lake project was finished. The graves were left under the water as the lake filled up.

 

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

In the Dead Lake trilogy it is probably sixty percent entertainment and forty percent message. The message would be a caution about how we treat our dead and their sacred remains.

 

 
Fiona: How much of the book is realistic?

About thirty percent is based on actual events. The rest is pure fiction.

 

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

A little of both.

 

 
Fiona: What authors have most influenced your life most? a mentor?

Oh my, there are so many. I’ll try and scratch the surface, but I know I’ll forget a bunch. Let’s go with Ken Bruen, Jason Starr, Urban Waite, Joe R. Lansdale, Brian Keene, Victor Gischler, Alan Guthrie, Tim Curran, Dean Koontz, F. Pail Wilson, Jack Ketchum, Elmore and Peter Leonard. On the more local / regional front I’d include Jeffrey Ashby, David Scott Pointer, Brian Rosenberger, David Bain, Paula D. Ashe, Rebecca Besser, Mike Jansen and Chantal Noordeloos, Justin Hunter. And I can’t forget Sean Page, Johnathan Mayberry, Charles Bukowski, Robert B. Parker, Edgar Alan Poe and J. Lee Butts.

 

 
Fiona: What book are you reading now?

“The Forgotten Addiction” by Michael Lion.

 

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

Justin Hunter, Johnathan Mayberry, anybody who tells a strong tale with emotion, intensity and action. If I get about forty to fifty pages into a book and there isn’t something pretty intense going on, I’m done with it. I have the same problem with movies. I practice the ‘ten minute rule’ when I watch a movie. If the action hasn’t started in the first tem minutes I’ll usually bail.

 

 
Fiona: What are your current projects?

I have just finished the first crime thriller novel in my new crime series, with the second novel in draft form.   I’m also currently completing a new horror novel for Severed Press Publishing, titled “Carrion”.

 

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

As far as organizations I would have to say Midwest Writer’s Workshop. They are so professional and supportive to the writing community. As for an individual, I’ll go with James Ward Kirk of James Ward Kirk Fiction. James is a dear friend, not only to me, but to thousands of authors, poets and artists around the globe. I have worked with James on several projects and through him I have been fortunate enough to meet some incredible people in the publishing world.

 

 
Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

Absolutely. I’m doing it for fun first, but  I also take the writing process quite serious. There’s always something new to be learned.

 

 

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

Actually, I don’t think I would. It took me over seven drafts to get it where it is, so I think I probably eliminated most of the gremlins.

 

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

I comes largely from reading. I’ve always enjoyed being able to pick up a book and escape to wherever the story takes me. Hopefully my writing does that for others.

 

 

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

Marketing and publicity are two areas where I am struggle a bit, but I’m trying to catch up.

 

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

I’d say Ken Bruen, hands down. Ken’s style and dialog always pull me in and keep me turning pages. Robert B. Parker, Jason Starr and Elmore Leonard a quite good at that, too.

 

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

Currently, I do not, although I would love to do more book signings and personal appearances.

 

 
Fiona: Who designed the covers?

All of my covers, to date, have been designed by William Cook, a fellow writer and dear friend from New Zealand, or the art department at Severed Press Publishing.

 

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

Turning off my internal editor and just getting the initial draft on the page.

 

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

Every book I’ve written teaches me something. I’ve learned to pay attention to detail, as well as, patience, persistence, research and the importance of dialog. Lastly, I’ve learned how wonderful the support of my readers, editors and fellow writers can be to the success of a project.

 

 
Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?

Never stop reading. Never stop writing. Never stop submitting.

 

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

Thanks to everyone who has read my work, sent me an email, patiently stood in line and asked me to sign their books or contacted me via my web page, email or on social media. Without you I am nothing.

 

 

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

The first memorable book would be “The Catcher In The Rye”.

 

 

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

Laugh: A good joke, slapstick, snappy, sarcastic dialog in a novel or movie. Cry: Physically or verbally abusive people, lack of compassion, the loss of a friend.

 

 

Fiona: Is there one person past or present you would like to meet and why?:

Leonardo Da Vinci, so I could pick his incredible brain.

 

 

Fiona: What do you want written on your head stone and why ?

“He loved life”….because I do !!!

 

 

Fiona: Other than writing do you have any hobbies ?

Reading

 

 

Fiona: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?

Homicide Hunter, Law & Order, Law & Order SVU, Chiller, Smithsonian and National Geographic Channels. Nurse Jackie and Dexter were both great, but sadly, they have been cancelled. I’m also a sucker for splatterpunk and “B” movies.

 

 

Fiona: Favorite foods / Colors/ Music:

Italian, Indian, Chinese and Soul food cuisine are all good. Black is my color. Prog rock, metal and rock are usually tickling my ears.

 

 

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

Playing drums in a recording & touring band.

 

 

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

Web: http://murphyedwards.wordpress.com

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/murphy.edwards.96

Readers can drop me a line at: murphyedwards@etczone.com and be sure to follow me on my Amazon author page. http://www.amazon.com/Murphy-Edwards/e/B004BA46SC/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1

http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Lake-Murphy-Edwards-ebook/dp/B00DL4QTI4/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1

 

http://www.amazon.com/Snapped-Dead-Lake-Book-2-ebook/dp/B00JJR3DAO/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1

 

http://www.amazon.com/Kingfish-Dead-Lake-Book-3-ebook/dp/B00SBUUOR0/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1

 

http://www.amazon.com/Four-Ghosts-Paula-D-Ashe-ebook/dp/B00GM2HDBO/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1