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~ My interviews with many authors

authorsinterviews

Monthly Archives: October 2017

Here is my interview with Jeff Coulter

28 Saturday Oct 2017

Posted by fionamcvie1964 in Uncategorized

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Hello and welcome to my blog, Author Interviews. My name is Fiona Mcvie.

 

Let’s get you introduced to everyone, shall we? Tell us your name. What is your age?

Jeff Coulter 51 yoa.

Fiona: Where are you from?

Bethel, ohio

Fiona: A little about your self (ie,  your education, family life, etc.).

I currently hold an AS in Computer Science from the University of Cincinnati.  I’m a retired Police officer and have a background in Security Electronics. I’ve been married to my wonderful wife Suzanne for 30 years and have two adult children.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

We are currently scheduled to speak about our book Until Death Do You Part : A Story of Faith, Hope and Love  at Teen Challenge on October 24th. I’m about to release a new book next year entitled Angels Unaware.


Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I was involved in a near fatal crash in 2014. I almost died twice and after my experiences I wanted to write about my testimony. We wanted to share what a cop and his wife go through without God in their lives.


Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

After our first book was self published through Westbow Press. It was a learning experience and honed a lot of skills that proved to be very useful later on.


Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

Again going back to my crash in 2014 and almost dying. I wanted the world to know about my experiences and my relationship with Christ.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

My wife Suzanne actually came up with the title. My original title ides was “The Almost Summer.”


Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style? Is there anything about your style or genre that you find particularly challenging?

I’m dedicated to Christian based themes, whether fiction or non-fiction. I can’t really see myself writing secular material based on my brush with death.


Fiona: How much of the book is realistic and are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

Our book is 100% real life. It’s our autobiography.


Fiona: To craft your works, do you have to travel? Before or during the process?

No, all my stuff is researched in-house and online


Fiona: Who designed the covers?

My wife and I both designed the cover.

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

Yes. Simply that God is the God of second chances. It’s never too late to turn your heart around and be saved.

Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?  Who is your favorite writer, and what is it about their work that really strikes you?

I’m really not a strong reader as ironic as that may seem. I’ve read some of Rodenberry’s and Shatners’s stuff but for me to sit down and just read is quite uncommon.


Fiona: Outside of family members, name one entity that supported your commitment to become a published author.

My Savior and my King. Jesus Christ.


Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

Not a career in the traditional sense but I can see writing for the rest of my days.


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

I think I would have made it longer. I stopped at what I felt was the correct stopping point. I still would have liked to make it longer but I fear that it would have gotten off track if I had.


Fiona: Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book?

I learned a lot about format and style but most of all about the Self-Publishing process.

Fiona: If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?

No not at all. Acting is best left to the pros.

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

Keep at it. Blocks will come and go but plan on at least 1 year for each of your books. Don’t get suckered in to paying out a lot of money. There’s plenty of Self-Publishing opportunities out there. Read the blogs and pointers. Pay attention to the tips about marketing.


Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

Just never give up. Make it a happy place to be when you are writing and you will produce.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

I’m always reading the bible but I am re-reading Prayers that avail much by Germain Copeland.  I suppose much like the Bible I should more accurately say “continually reading.”

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

Not by title or author but it was a sci-fi from the library.

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

Funny movies make me laugh. I cry when someone else is hurting especially my family.

Fiona: Is there one person, past or present, you would love to meet? Why?

I would love to have met Christ when He walked the earth. A bit of that is reflected in my book series “The Yesterday Christ”

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

Fishing. I am addicted to fishing. Before my crash I used to hike and fish like a madman. My family has since bought me a small fishing boat and it has indeed blessed me beyond description.

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

Anything related to Star Trek or Star Wars. I’m a bit of a history buff so I watch the History Channel quite frequently.

Fiona: Favorite foods, colors, music?

I’m a dedicated pizzaholic.  I suppose my favorite color is blue and I enjoy classical music. My favorite music is Christian music.

Fiona: Imagine a future where you no longer write. What would you do?

Fish.

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

It doesn’t matter to me, I’ll be in Heaven

Fiona: Do you have a blog or website readers can visit for updates, events and special offers?

Yes. I usually post updates on our website www.jnsbooks.com

https://www.amazon.com/Jeff-Coulter/e/B01D93KH2U/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

 

Here is my interview with Natasza Waters

28 Saturday Oct 2017

Posted by fionamcvie1964 in Uncategorized

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Hello and welcome to my blog, Author Interviews. My name is Fiona Mcvie.

Good morning, Fiona!

Let’s get you introduced to everyone, shall we? Tell us your name. What is your age?

Thank you for inviting me to visit your blog, Fiona. I’m Natasza Waters and I’m most definitely a Milestone Woman. What’s a Milestone Woman, you ask? It’s a proud group of gals who’ve weathered 50 years or more of life and we’re still going strong.

Fiona: Where are you from?

I currently live in Victoria, British Columbia. That’s in Canada for those who weren’t staying awake in Social Studies class. Victoria is situated on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. (By the way, Scotland is on my bucketlist after I retire. I have a lot of friends in the UK I need to visit.)

Fiona: A little about yourself (ie,  your education, family life, etc.).

We all pass through a few chapters in life. I’m ending my 33 year career as an officer in the Coast Guard in a couple months. If you’re wondering how I ended up as an author, it’s probably because of all the experiences in the CG I had. A little tuck here, a little nip there and my military romance novel took its first deep breath. As for school, I majored in English. I have a very understanding husband. He’s used to a lot of take-out and dust bunnies around the house. The kids are grown and five grandchildren make a lot of noise.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

This month I’ll be finishing off the seventh book – Code Name: War of Stones in my military romance series called “A Warrior’s Challenge” I’ll be moving on to a new series and looking forward to publishing some stand-alone novels as well.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I started writing a long time ago, but life, career and family took over. It wasn’t until 2010 that I returned to publish my first book. I didn’t expect anyone to really read the thing. I wrote my second book, Code Name: Ghost, and the rest is history when I found readers loved the story and wanted more.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Interesting question, and I think the answer is different for everyone. I’ve published 13 books, so I suppose I should graciously accept the title of writer/author. The first time a publisher replied to my query letter wanting to buy the novel was a pivotal moment.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

My first novel is called Too Grand for Words. It’s about a woman in the Coast Guard (go figure) who takes her team to Las Vegas. It’s a hot, spicy fun adventure. I recently had the rights to the book returned to me and I will be republishing under Waterfall Press.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

Some authors have a title from the start. I’m the opposite. I don’t come up with a title for a book until the very end and it’s usually the result of a key scene in the plot. “Too Grand for Words” was the result of the vast distance in social status between the hero and heroine in the book.

Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style? Is there anything about your style or genre that you find particularly challenging?

I write mostly suspense and thrillers. I personally love reading those types of books. A lot of girls read Nancy Drew when they’re young. I grew up on Agatha Christie. As for challenges, each book has one. It’s called keeping the reader hooked and dialed in to the story. For an author, it’s sometimes difficult to see the whole picture because theirfocus is often deep in in the plot. The challenge is to read the novel once it’s finished with new eyes. An author just has to keep striving for creative and new ideas. Or at least, a twist on an old idea and hope readers love the end result.

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic and are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

In all my novels there’s several elements of real life sprinkled here and there. Authors will write what they know. Whether they add in the traits of a friend into a character or a place they’ve been, there’s always a touch of reality in my books.

Fiona: To craft your works, do you have to travel? Before or during the process?

On occasion, but usually a future book takes place in a town I’ve visited vs choosing a town and then visiting. I must admit Googlemaps has been a lifesaver in many cases. Crazy right!! But it’s saved my bacon a few times when I used the internet and found that I was way off the mark in my description for a particular scene and revamped the details after viewing Googlemaps.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

The very talented Dawne Dominique has always been my cover designer. When you’ve got perfect, there’s no reason to change.

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

Always. In my Navy SEAL series each book is dedicated to a particular element of Navy life. PTSD, injury on duty, separation from family, readjustment from combat to civilian life and a lot of spicy between the bedsheets scenes where appropriate. I say where appropriate because although I don’t mind a good erotica novel once in a while, I’m more of a story teller and though I want my readers to have the full experience when the hero and heroine finally melt each other’s socks off, it comes after their relationship has evolved.

Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?  Who is your favorite writer, and what is it about their work that really strikes you?

For a few years I was a professional reviewer for a magazine. I read a lot of books. I’d recommend Tracey Alvarez as a new talented voice. She has a series that takes place in New Zealand and it’s very engaging. I honestly can’t say I have a favorite writer unless I go back to Agatha Christie. For me, she’s still at the top of my list. There’s so much talent out there, I couldn’t possibly name them all.

Fiona: Outside of family members, name one entity that supported your commitment to become a published author.

A complete stranger who I saw once. My bestfriend brought her over for a visit one day. She was the person who reminded me that I loved to write and point blank asked me why I wasn’t doing it. The next day I began writing again. I wouldn’t say she supported me, but she was the kick-start to resurrecting my writing career in 2010.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

(Smiles) I used to call it a hobby, but I suppose when I look at the number of books sold I have to redefine that term to a new career. It’s also going to keep me out of trouble when I’m retired.

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

What’s laid is played. I have a tendency to edit till the cows come home. Nothing is perfect, but at some point you have to back away and say it’s finished. In Code Name: Redemption, there’s nothing I would change after it was published.

Fiona: Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book?

Code Name: Redemption takes place in Victoria. A spine tingling action novel with a Jack the Ripper copycat… I did quite a bit of research into the history of Jack for this novel. A new scary twist on something old. https://youtu.be/DoFU6c9bIcU

Fiona: If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?

Great question. So many people have mentioned they’d love A Warrior’s Challenge to be made into a series of movies, but for the life of me, I have not run across an actor who could play Commander Thane Austen. He’s the key hero in the first two books but always makes an appearance in all the others. I can show you the man who inspired this character, but I’ve never met him. Most of the cover models on my books I know personally and have served in one of the branches of the armed forces.

 

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

Keep writing. Lately, with the walls of the Indie world caving in with changes to Facebook and Amazon, only the heartiest will survive. I’ve often said, when determination and creativity cross swords a book is born.If you love writing, then keep writing.

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

Thank you. You’re the reason I keep churning out the stories. Come find me on Facebook. Talk to me. I love hearing from readers. https://www.facebook.com/natasza.watersAnd when a new book is released, you’ll know when and where.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

I don’t have anything currently open on my e-reader. Every spare moment is spent on my current novel Code Name: War of Stones. Once the MS is finished, I’ll take a little time to read a few books.

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

Wow, that would be some 48 years ago, give or a take a couple years, but I do remember many of the classics that my mother read to me as a child. Fairytales mostly. A little later on I was reading Jonathon Livingston Seagull and Agatha Christie.

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

I have been known to use a few boxes of Kleenex when writing some of the scenes in my books. It has to be a good sign if I’m crying because my readers are going to be sobbing and sending me hate mail. As for laughter, that usually happens when I get together with a few author friends. It’s no secret that the Kleenex gets swapped out for boxes of Depends. LOL

Fiona: Is there one person, past or present, you would love to meet? Why?

Okay, I’m going to say I would have loved to sit down for tea in a quaint English garden with Agatha when she was alive. Why? Who the heck wouldn’t? On the flip side, I was honored to have Anne Perry sitting next to me when I won best contemporary romance last year. Anne Perry is an amazing woman with an incredible career and I could listen to her speak all day long.

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

As I mentioned before, writing was a hobby. Turned out to be a little more than that, but once writing becomes fulltime, I think I’m going to have to find a new hobby.

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

Interestingly enough I cancelled my cable TV when I started writing seven ago. Now, if I get the chance, I’ll binge on Netflix. Mindhunter, Supernatural, Lucifer and Outlander…an eclectic batch for sure.

Fiona: Favorite foods, colors,  music?

I consider coffee a food group. LOL. Favorite color: green. Music, oh heck ya! Have you heard of Florida Georgia Line? Sippin’ on Fire. Whoot. Love it.  https://youtu.be/KllQ8e9Ae0w I might be a little swayed by these guys because the model in the music video is also on the cover of Code Name: Luminous. Hotness personified. 🙂

Fiona: Imagine a future where you no longer write. What would you do?

I suppose that time will come, but then again Desiree Holt is still writing in her 80’s. If I wasn’t writing, I’d be sitting on the balcony of a tropical island watching the surf roll in and slathering on the sun screen. Oh…and a pool boy…must have a pool boy.

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

To be continued….

Fiona: Do you have a blog or website readers can visit for updates, events and special offers?

Absolutely…

Join my newsletter for giveaways and news @ http://nataszawaters.com/subscribe-to-my-newsletter

Follow me on Amazon @ https://www.amazon.com/Natasza-Waters/e/B006HYRTGQ/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1509043451&sr=8-1

Follow me on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/natasza.waters

And if you want some real fun then run a mission with my characters. That’s right, you’re the heroine in the story @

http://nataszawaters.com/warriors-mission

Here is my interview with Rain Trueax

27 Friday Oct 2017

Posted by fionamcvie1964 in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Hello and welcome to my blog, Author Interviews. My name is Fiona Mcvie.

 

Let’s get you introduced to everyone, shall we? Tell us your name. What is your age?

Hi, I’m Rain Trueax and just turned 74.

Fiona: Where are you from?

I was born in Portland, Oregon, spent most of my growing up years living in the Columbia River Gorge on the Washington side of the river. I’ve lived in Portland, moved down the state to the farm where we currently raise cattle and sheep. I’ve also lived in Tucson, Arizona, where we still have a second home in the desert.

Fiona: A little about your self (ie,  your education, family life, etc.).

Growing up on the edge of wilderness, living in the country has been what I know best. My parents sold the farm right before I started college, which meant some years of city living but always wanting to get back to a farm. When I define myself today, it’s as a country woman who writes romances. I live on a cattle and sheep operation in the Oregon Coast Range with my husband of 53 years. We raised two kids here and enjoy the times our four grandchildren come out for a visit. Other than that, it’s sheep, cattle, us, and our fur kids—four cats.

 

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

Writing most recently has been a series of paranormals where the heroines are physically human but born also with the powers of natural born witches. I’m on the fourth and these books take more from me than I had expected as I decide what fits the stories with four sisters and the fifth will be their widowed mother. I like writing about strong matriarchal families and the circle of the Hemstreets has given me that opportunity with challenging heroes to bring challenges into the lives of the heroines—love tends to impact their powers. These books stand-alone but are connected by the family and its need to protect humans from those who misuse power to harm others.

 

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

Writing has been part of my life all of my life beginning with short stories. The first full-length novel I finished was in my early 20s. Round the Bend, a story of the Oregon Trail, began from walks with my younger cousin and telling the story as we’d take turns with the characters. Eventually she wanted me to tell it all. It took me until 2015 to make up my mind to bring the book out as an indie author. Because it had been my baby, much rewritten over many years, I literally hated seeing it maybe reviled by others. On the contrary, it became one of my most popular books. As an author, you love them all or you’d not bring them out. As for how others will see them, you never know.

 

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I’ve always been a writer in my own mind. I am still not an author who can make a living at it. I think what makes someone a writer is that they write—blogs, articles, books, whatever it is, being a writer means you write.

 

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

Round the Bend had a different title when I first wrote it—TaopiTawote. I didn’t end up using it out of fear that the book would not be seen as what it is—a story of healing through love. TaopiTawote means wound medicine and it’s the herb yarrow that inspired it. The idea of a young couple, who had always been friends, then one wanted more, seemed like the kind of book I’d like to read. I think a lot of writers write the books they wish someone else wrote. For all my books, that’s my inspiration—to find that plot and set of characters that excites me and makes me also wonder, as I write, what will they go through? With my writing a mix of pantsing and plotting, the surprise in writing is what excites me.

 

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

Well, I told you about its first title. The title it ended up with, came out of the Oregon Trail, of course, but also how in life, you never know what will be round the bend. For my hero, he particularly had a lot of surprises ahead that went beyond the trail to the threats from the ones he should have been able to trust. The heroine had growing up to do, and recognizing what she thought she wanted wasn’t at her heart’s core. Life is that way—we just never know what awaits and sometimes, that’s good.

 

Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style? Is there anything about your style or genre that you find particularly challenging?

I write what I consider to be novels which are romances. The character development and plot are as important to me as the romance although I don’t let it overpower the love story. The current work in progress, tentatively called, Something Waits, has been particularly challenging for the paranormal aspect. I don’t write paranormals full of gore or constant fear but more stories where the supernatural world impacts the so-called real one. It’s challenging for me to get that right and stick to what I’ve read and heard is real to some people while I have these witch heroines who live very ordinary lives—except for one thing.

 

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic and are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

By now, I’ve written 28 books. None of them are based on my life exactly but many have pieces of my experiences. I don’t consider myself any of the heroines, never have met the heroes in my real life, but I think most authors do base stories on what they have experienced either vicariously… or maybe in a past life ;).

 

Fiona: To craft your works, do you have to travel? Before or during the process?

Since all of my books are based in the American West, I’ve been everywhere a story took place with one exception—and that one I’ve been through it just never spent time. We have a small travel trailer and it is what works best to travel to an area I might want to know more about or get a reminder of what it feels like to be there.

 

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

I create all of my covers. It is my hobby and my passion to get the right cover for each book. Because I do them, the covers sometimes change as I get a better idea. It is one of the perks of putting together a mix of images I purchase and my own photographs for background.

 

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

Always the point of my stories is that relationships are key to life whether that’s the falling in love kind, friendships, or family. I believe in the power of hard work, dedication, paying a price for what is important. I try to keep all of that in the essence of what the characters do, how they are rewarded or the price they pay rather than preaching to a reader who came for an enjoyable read—not a lecture. If though, the inner theme is one that improves life, how can that be anything but a win/win!

 

Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?  Who is your favorite writer, and what is it about their work that really strikes you?

Sadly, when I am writing myself, I don’t read romances by other authors. I have a new book that I am looking forward to reading when I get this Hemstreet Witches series finished. It’s called Spirit in the Rock, The Fierce Battle for Modoc Homelands by Jim Compton. It’s non-fiction (I read a lot of non-fiction) and well researched for one of Oregon and California’s Indian wars. I have spent time in Lava Beds NM, the energy is unreal and this book seems like it will give me more of the story that I’ve been following through a friend and research. It isn’t a book that I will be writing but the energy that I learn from such work often shows up other places. I have written, in my Oregon historical series about two other Indian wars in the Pacific Northwest. All research is a win for me but this one particularly seems special since it was the author’s work of his life and he died just as he finished it with his wife doing the edits to get it out. My daughter heard of the book, knew of my interest in the story, and gave it to me—another win/win.

 

Fiona: Outside of family members, name one entity that supported your commitment to become a published author.

I guess that’d be Amazon when they made it possible for writers like me to bring out their stories their way without having to change them to suit the publishing world’s ideas.

 

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

Very much it can be, but it does take marketing—one way or another. If your books are not seen, they can’t be bought. The indie author does not have a corporation behind them, but they now have a foot in the door. Can’t ask for more than that.

 

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

I wouldn’t change anything in any of them—although whenever I look over them to see if they still feel balanced, I’ve done an edit on them to bring my craft more up to date. I always like my characters, the plots, but I also find ways to say something better as my craft has grown with my writing. I think that will always be true.

 

Fiona: Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book?

The Hemstreet Witches have led to research all along the way. This time my main research was on gnomes. I learned a lot about them—the fun of being a writer.

 

Fiona: If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?

Wow, I’d have to pick one book… hmmmm Okay, if Arizona Sunset,the first of eight Arizona historicals, was made into a film, I’d love to see Josh Brolin play Sam. Yeah, that’d do it for me 😉

 

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

Write and keep writing. Then accept that you have to put time into marketing. Some is fun like your questionnaire as it makes a writer think about what they might not otherwise. A lot of it though is not fun, costs money, and is always questionable how much it helps in the sales. Most of the time, when I see one of my books doing well, or not so much, I have no idea what led to it.

 

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

Just how much I appreciate them; and when they do reviews, they give me an energetic lift that sometimes is so important. Writing can be a lonely business. It also is not always rewarded. The book you thought was going to do well dropped like a ton of bricks into Amazon’s black hole. When a reader does a review or sends an email to say they got what you had hoped was in the book,that shines up the whole day.

 

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

No books right now. I am writing. I avoid romances (and I love romances, have in the past read a lot of them) particularly during that time as I don’t want to be influenced by something even subconsciously that someone else wrote. I read newspapers, blogs, Facebook, but only research for the current work—or one that I have in mind next when not yet there.

 

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

No, but I am sure it was a picture book. From the time I was a little girl, I was in the library for story hour and checking out books. I graduated from the small kid section to the youth section and then into the big people’s shelves. Libraries were a big part of my growing up with thousands of books probably through those years as I was a voracious reader.

 

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

I laugh a lot and at anything, cat antics, something funny that my husband says. The last time I cried was yesterday when an Alan Jackson ad came on for a gospel album of his. I cried at the nostalgia I felt for those old songs, for my memories of singing them and the ones now who have gone on.

 

Fiona: Is there one person, past or present, you would love to meet? Why?

Georgia O’Keeffe. She’s long gone on but her love of the land, her paintings, what a life she led. I can imagine she’d have been amazing to listen to her talk about all of that.

 

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

Photography is probably the main one. Maybe my blog is a hobby 😀

 

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

I like documentaries. We just saw a good one: Look & See: A Portrait of Wendell Berry about the land and how we need to, as a culture, care more about small farmers or we’re in big trouble. On cable, I look forward to Hallmark movies. Lately, I’ve had a thing about tiny homes, the people who want them, and what size does it take to be enough. I also like some of the home remodeling shows or people finding a home on an island or in the wilderness. I am not much for regular TV. We watch Netflix a couple of times a week and sometimes it’s a movie like Guardians of the Galaxy. I like movies that make me feel good when the story is over.

 

Fiona: Favorite foods, colors,  music?

Eggs are my total favorite food. I favor neutral colors in clothing although make myself sometimes buy something colorful. I don’t listen to music much except when writing, soundtracks to get scenes right—can’t have lyrics or it distracts.

 

Fiona: Imagine a future where you no longer write. What would you do?

 I will always write—just maybe not the same things.

 

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

No headstone. I want to be cremated and not sure where the ashes put but definitely not in a jar somewhere 😉

 

Fiona: Do you have a blog or website readers can visit for updates, events and special offers?

My main blog is Rainy Day Thought and I just took on a coauthor there. Besides being a friend of over 50 years, she’s an exciting painter. I thought the mix would be good for the blog. Go there and you can sign up to alternatively get it in email—also to sign up for my newsletter, which only comes out with a new book or special offer.

https:rainydaythought.blogspot.com.

https://romanceswithanedge.blogspot.com

https://raintrueax.blogspot.com/

https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B006UX64X8

https://rainydaytrailers.blogspot.com/

https://twitter.com/RainTrueax

https://videosanddiscussions.blogspot.com

 

 

 

Here is my interview with Sarah Jane Higbee

27 Friday Oct 2017

Posted by fionamcvie1964 in Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

Name: Sarah Jane Higbee

Where are you from:

I was born in Ringwood, on the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire in southern England. I’m now lucky enough to live right on the south coast at Littlehampton just a five-minute drive away from the beach.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news?

I published my first novel, Running Out of Space, Book 1 of the Sunblinded trilogy – a new adult, space opera adventure on 11th October and I’m planning to release the sequel, Dying for Space in December.

 

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I can’t recall a time when I didn’t write. I was always scribbling long, rambling stories as a child and knew there would be a time when I’d write a book. Once I remarried, I started reading and writing again and after Himself introduced me to his library of science fiction and fantasy books, I was so excited the words poured from the tips of my fingers. I couldn’t have stopped if I’d wanted to…

 

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I started getting my short stories and poems accepted for publication in a number of ezines and print magazines, which was quite a long time ago, now.


Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style?

Oh yes. I’m one of those Marmite writers – you either really like my writing style or you don’t. My writing voice is quite distinctive, although I have housetrained it somewhat to ensure my work is more readable. The writing group I belong to has been brilliant at helping me achieve this.

 

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

Elizabeth, my protagonist, is struggling to find her place in a culture where she desperately wants to be a serving officer, while those around can’t get past the fact that she is a fertile young woman. So she tries to escape – and as it is set in space, I thought the title both established the genre and gives a sense of desperation.


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

This book is primarily a story to entertain. But it is also something of an exploration of family dynamics – it is the oldest human social structure of all. No one has come up with anything better, but it is still problematical when parents don’t get sufficient support.


Fiona: How much of the book is realistic and are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

As a teacher I came into contact with children whose family were too overwhelmed to sufficiently care. This gave me the emotional backdrop for Elizabeth, who is very keen to succeed – a rather blinkered over-achiever, who nonetheless is also loyal, persistent and a strong, if rather savage, moral code. She is a blend of various people I’ve met throughout my life – as well as having some aspects of my own character, I think. As for the experiences – given this is a space opera including a shuttle crash, a kidnap attempt and a shoot-out in the family home, I can safely say those all were entirely imagined.


Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest and who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

I have a number of go-to authors whose work I love – but the one I most deeply respect is Jo Walton. I’ve just completed her Tir Tanagiri duology and once again, she has blown me away with the sheer class and completeness of her worldbuilding and the ease with which I am transported into this amazing Arthurian world. Last year I completed her Thessaly trilogy, which was exploring the precepts in Plato’s The Republic, which probably sounds terribly dry, but isn’t. I would recommend people start with her Victorian take on dragons in Tooth and Claw. She is clever and witty with a clean writing style that pulls you into her worlds before you even know it. I think she is one of the greatest speculative fiction writers alive today and should be a lot better known.


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

My Creative Writing class that I joined in some despair which I hit a brick wall with writing my third novel. This was many years ago and Jan Henley, the tutor – aka best-selling author Rosanna Ley – helped me realise that writing is a craft that I needed to master if I wanted to make my books readable. I now have the huge privilege of teaching that class – and have done so for the past nine years.

 

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

The wonderful Janet Sked designed the covers. I saw the spacescape for Running Out of Space on her website and fell in love with it. And she has since designed the covers for the next two books, Dying for Space and Breathing Space which I’m thrilled about.


Fiona: If any of your books was made into a film who would you like to play the lead

In a perfect world, I’d love Maisy Williams who plays Arya Stark in Game of Thrones to play Elizabeth Wright, my protagonist. I think she has just the right mix of toughness and vulnerability to do a magnificent job.


Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?

Continue writing that first draft – don’t keep stopping and returning to the beginning or you’ll never finish it. If you have any alterations or notes, either make them in the margins of a print copy, or use TrackChanges to note down your edits as you write.


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

Thank you for picking it up and giving it a go. I hope you enjoy it.

 

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

I’m currently reading Gnomon by Nick Harkaway. I loved his Gone-Away World and although this is very different, it’s turning out to be a very enjoyable, mind-stretching read.

 

Fiona: Other than writing do you have any hobbies?

As I’ve mentioned, I have a blog where I mostly review books as reading is my major passion, other than writing. It’s great fun as book bloggers are a delightful bunch of folks.

 

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

I love The Big Bang Theory, Strictly Come Dancing and Game of Thrones. Not only is GoT a cracking story, the performances are all extraordinarily good.

 

Fiona: Favorite foods / Colors/ Music

I really enjoy avocado and cannot imagine ever getting sick of it. Favourite colour to wear – lilac/purple, while my home is decorated in yellows and peach – sunshine colours. As for music – I have a wide-ranging taste but Kate Bush is my favourite female artist.

 

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

I’d loved to have learnt to paint and draw – but I simply don’t have time. Too many books to write…

 

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

 

My website – www.sjhigbee.com

My blog – Brainfluff at https://sjhigbee.wordpress.com

Talk to me on Twitter – @sjhigbee

Talk to me on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/sjhigbeeauthor

Running Out of Space on Amazon – http://amzn.eu/gpdW0cv

 

 

 

Here is my interview with Daniel J. Flore III

27 Friday Oct 2017

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Hello and welcome to my blog, Author Interviews. My name is Fiona Mcvie.

 

Let’s get you introduced to everyone, shall we? Tell us your name. What is your age?

Daniel J. Flore III. 39.

Fiona: Where are you from?

Lansdale, PA. U.S.A

 

Fiona: A little about your self (ie,  your education, family life, etc.).

I’m married to my wife Jamie.

 

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

My first book, Lapping Water, a collection of poems, was published this year from GenZ Publishing. In November I’ll be releasing my second book of poems, a holiday collection, Humbled Wise Men, Christmas Haikus, also from GenZ Publishing.

 

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I began writing when I was very young. It fascinated me to be in front of a blank page. It still does.

 

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I was 18.

 

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

I had been really honing my skills at poetry for 14 years. I wrote tons of poems. Finally, I thought I had enough quality work to start compiling a book. That work became Lapping Water.

 

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

Water is everywhere in that book. I liked the duality of what could perhaps be a riverbank with lapping water and/or an animal lapping water.

 

Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style? Is there anything about your style or genre that you find particularly challenging?

I would be classified as “free verse” but I don’t subscribe to that or any kind of genre. Like the poems in Lapping Water, I would call those classical blues poems. But that’s just today. if you asked me to describe them tomorrow, I might say something different.

 

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic and are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

I’ll never tell. Haha.

 

Fiona: To craft your works, do you have to travel? Before or during the process?

I write all the time, no matter what. Whether I’m travelling , at home, in the grocery store, anywhere. So I don’t really have to do anything to write. It’s interesting to me though to see what I write in different circumstances.

 

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

The artwork for my books is done by my publisher, GenZ.

 

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

Yes, please buy my books if you like my poems.

 

Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?  Who is your favorite writer, and what is it about their work that really strikes you?

I don’t know if they’re new but they’re new to me and they’re all incredible, unique poets- K.W. Peery, Matt Borczon, Tom Riordan, Paul Brookes, Mari Deweese, John Yamrus, to name a few. Read their stuff, buy their books, they’re all amazing and they’re all my favorites.

 

 

Fiona: Outside of family members, name one entity that supported your commitment to become a published author.

I was blessed with very talented friends that were and continue to be very supportive of my work.

 

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

It’s all I do.

 

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

Not a thing, and I don’t mean that to be an egotist, but Lapping Water really is the book I intended and it is what it was supposed to be.

 

 

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

Write what you want to write. Don’t imitate or be intimidated. Don’t feel like you can’t write something just because nobody else is writing that kind of thing.  That’s a good thing.

 

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

Thank you.

 

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

“Ozark Howler” by K.W. Peery and “Let me off at the top!” by Ron Burgundy

 

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

No, I don’t actually.

 

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

My bank account takes care of both.

 

Fiona: Is there one person, past or present, you would love to meet? Why?

Bob Dylan because he’s Bob Dylan.

 

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

I like to watch baseball to unwind.

 

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

The Star Wars movies. The Godfathers. Field of Dreams. TV-Seinfeld. The Goldbergs, Fresh off the Boat.

 

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

Here lies Dan. No, I think he’s telling the truth.

 

Fiona: Do you have a blog or website readers can visit for updates, events and special offers?

https://dfloreiii324.wixsite.com/danflore

 

 

Here is my interview with C.L. Wilson

27 Friday Oct 2017

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Hello and welcome to my blog, Author Interviews. My name is Fiona Mcvie.

 

Let’s get you introduced to everyone, shall we? Tell us your name. What is your age?  

I’m C.L. Wilson, and my age is young at heart.

Fiona: Where are you from?

I live along the Gulf coast of Florida

Fiona: A little about your self (ie,  your education, family life, etc.).

Hmm, I have a BA in English, with a concentration in Creative Writing.  I’m married with three children, all in college or post-graduate school now.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

I’m thrilled to have another book out.  THE SEA KING, second in my Weathermages of Mystral series, comes out October 31st.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I first started writing when I was five or six years old.  My first story was an episode of Hogan’s Heroe’s, an old TV sitcom.  I wrote it because I was in love with Hogan 😀

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I’ve always been a writer.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

Hmm…there are lots of books I started and didn’t complete.  I think my first completed book was a contemporary romance, about a blond hockey player who lost his wife in a terrorist bombing only to run into a woman who is her spitting image several years later.  What inspired me? I was reading a lot of contemporary romance at the time, and my college roommate had just introduced me to ice hockey.  It’s never been published.

My first published book was LORD OF THE FADING LANDS, about an immortal, shapeshifting Fey king and the mysteriously magical adopted daughter of a mortal woodcarver who is his truemate.  It was the first book in a now-completed five book epic fantasy & romance series.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

I didn’t.  My title was Tairen Soul, which is what the Fey king is called because he canshapeshift into the form of a tairen, a magical, fire-breathing winged jaguar of the Fading Lands.  (Think dragon, only furry and purry.)   My publisher rejected that title because no one would know what a “tairen” was, and my editor and I brainstormed a new title together.

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic and are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

Which book?  You were asking about my first book.  Are you still asking about my first book?

I’ve written seven books.  There are a few characters I modeled some aspects of their personality (habits, etc) off of people I know, but generally no.  I write epic fantasy with swords, sorcery, big battles, magic, and high stakes.  Most of that comes straight out of my imagination.

Fiona: To craft your works, do you have to travel? Before or during the process?

I write fantasy.  I may look at pictures of gorgeous places to get ideas for my fantasy cities and worlds, but no, I don’t have to travel.

For contemporary novels, I would most likely travel, and would most likely travel before beginning the book to get a feel for the location, take pictures, learn a little local history, etc.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

A professional artist who worked with Dorchester (my first publisher) and now Avon (my current publisher).Her name is Judy York.  She’s done all my US covers, and I love her work.

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

Every book I write has a theme of some kind.

Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?  Who is your favorite writer, and what is it about their work that really strikes you?

Amanda Bouchet, author of Promise of Fire, utterly enthralled me when I was asked to read her second book and provide a cover quote.  I am anxiously awaiting her third book (coming this January).  I’ve also recently been on a binge of earth-girl-loves-alien romances, and discovered Ruby Dixon’s Ice Planet Barbarians series, LaurannDohner’s New Species series (technically genetically modified humans, not aliens), Amanda Milo, and Anna Carven’s Dark Planet Warriors series (which was really good, and more serious sci-fi romance.)

I have a lot of favorite authors.  Christine Feehan, Karen Rose, Ilona Andrews, Kresley Cole, Patricia Briggs, Thea Harrison, Lisa Kleypas, Loretta Chase, Terry Goodkind, Anne McCaffrey.  I love any author who writes characters and stories I can fall in love with.

Fiona: Outside of family members, name one entity that supported your commitment to become a published author.

My BFFs and critique partners, in particular Christine Feehan, who has always been not only a great friend but one of my greatest cheerleaders. (sort of like I am for her)

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

Yes.

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

LOL, I would always change something about every book I write.  I revise and revise until someone claws each book out of my clenched hands.

Fiona: Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book?

Yes.  I learned that I am not a pantser.  I need to have a basic plot, with at least the GMC of the main characters and villains, plus major turning points (and the basic structural details about any story arc that links multiple books) in order to write.  Without that, I spin my wheels and write a bunch of wasted words.

Fiona: If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?

Ha! For the SEA KING, it would be Jason Momoa.  Funny, true story.  I always envisioned Dilys Merimydion (the hero of SEA KING) as a cross between a Samoan warrior and a Roman gladiator.  A year or so after he showed up at the end of THE WINTER KING and got his own book, I saw a picture of Jason Momoa as Aquaman (from the forthcoming Justice League movie) and I screamed, “That’s him! That’s Dilys!” LOL.  It was like the casting people for that movie picked my vision of Dilys right from my brain and put it on the silver screen.

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

Never give up.  Finish the Book.  Revise! Revise! Revise! Get good critique partners who help make your work better.  Don’t read bad reviews unless you have ironhide.  And keep writing.

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

Yes.  Thanks for your patience and your support. It means the world to me.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

I just finished Lauren’s Barbarian, first in the Icehome series by Ruby Dixon (an Ice Planet Barbarian’s spinoff)   I’m currently re-reading Fair Game by Patricia Briggs, because I adore! Adore! Adore! Charles.

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

Good lord, no.  I do know I made my mom read books to me constantly before I could read.  Once I could read, that was the beginning of a life-long binge of reading.

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

Cry: Sad movies. The sight of other people crying.  And sometimes, a really wrenching emotional scene in a well-written book can make me bawl my eyes out.

Laugh: Funny jokes.  Girl time with my BFFs.   Funny movies.

Fiona: Is there one person, past or present, you would love to meet? Why?

I wish I could have met Anne McCaffrey before she died.  I have met her son, Todd, and he’s a lovely person, but Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern were a huge influence on me, and one of the first book series I fell so in love with I kept reading them over and over.

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

Apart from reading?  I enjoy crochet and playing cards and video games with friends and family.   I collect Lladro, unicorns, and Dept. 56 villages  (North Pole and Dickens).

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

Anything Star Trek / Star Wars.Anything paranormal/fantasy/science fiction.  TV wise, I watch a lot of procedurals (Criminal Minds, Blue Bloods, Major Crimes, The Closer when it was still on – still a favorite! Brenda Lee Johnson is the bomb!)  And Lucifer has been cracking me up.

Fiona: Favorite foods, colors,  music?

Foods: Thai and Sushi

Colors: Purple.  Blue and Green are also faves.

Music: I have very eclectic musical tastes.

Fiona: Imagine a future where you no longer write. What would you do?

That will never happen.  As slow as I am to complete a novel, I was writing long before I was published and will continue writing even if I stop publishing.

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

Beloved wife and mother.

Fiona: Do you have a blog or website readers can visit for updates, events and special offers?

www.clwilson.com .

https://www.amazon.com/C.-L.-Wilson/e/B001JS38U6/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Here is my interview with Chris Morton

26 Thursday Oct 2017

Posted by fionamcvie1964 in Uncategorized

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Hello and welcome to my blog, Author Interviews. My name is Fiona Mcvie.

 Hi, Fiona. Thanks for the interview.

 

Let’s get you introduced to everyone, shall we? Tell us your name. What is your age?

 Chris Morton. 41.

 Fiona: Where are you from?

 Brighton, England. But I’ve been living in Hsinchu, Taiwan for the last ten years or so.

 Fiona: A little about your self (ie,  your education, family life, etc.).

 I wake up, run downstairs for a quick breakfast, watch the football news. Then make two bottles of milk. Wake up my twin daughters. Feed them, get them dressed. Stick on the TV while I cook up some lunch for the family. Then take the twins out to the park. Come back for lunch. Then go to a cafe to write or read for an hour before heading to my language school where I teach English.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

Well, my big news is I’ve written a fantastic new sci-fi novel. Too good to self-publish. But I wanted to put something out after having worked so hard, so I sat down and wrote another one, which I finished in a month. It’s quite short but deliberately so. I was trying to write a full novel in as few words as possible. It’s called Paradox and concerns time travel. Early readers have compared it to Philip K. Dick.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

At school, as a kid. We all do that. But I used to continue my stories at home. Then while at university I started on a novel which would eventually become English Slacker, my first published work.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. When I’m working hard on a novel it becomes like a part time job, much more so than a hobby. I guess if and when I enjoy more success, then I’ll be able to honestly see myself as a proper writer.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

 I’ve always been inspired by art but I can’t play music or draw and for my whole life I’ve been good at coming up with stories so I turned to writing. You have to write a lot before anything becomes readable, learn the craft, etc. So it’s hard work.

 Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

So I guess this interview should be for my latest work, the novella called Paradox. It came from my brother. He is quite artistic and I liked the idea of writing a story based on an idea that came from somebody else so naturally I chose him. He surprised me however, by coming up with something quite short. He simply said, “Paradox – a time travel story that works.” So with this in mind, I got to it. It’s an interesting way to write and I’d recommend it. You can separate yourself emotionally from what you are working on. Plus there’s a blending of ideas that come from two different sources.

Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style? Is there anything about your style or genre that you find particularly challenging?

I like to challenge myself so my style changes with each book I write. This is also a form of motivation. I don’t get bored this way or become complacent. I also write using a different method each time. I’ve used notebooks, written in cafes, pubs, written in parks, at home on the laptop, I’ve tried the write-edit-write-edit way; I’ve tried the write until the whole thing is finished and then edit … Again, trying different things and keeping it fresh is something I’d recommend.

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic and are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

With my earlier novels the events are fictional but the emotional tone comes from within. It’s like, even though none of the things concerned have happened to me, I’ve experienced similar trials and tribulations. And this is even true for my sci-fi stories. If you put a bit of heart into what you are writing, your subconscious feelings begin to emerge. Although with Paradox, because it was based on somebody else’s idea, this didn’t happen so much. It’s just fiction.

As for characters, I often start with people I’ve met, but as their role develops, they tend to take on a life of their own.

 

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

Not so much, especially with my later ones. I began to realise after writing for many years that what a reader wants is a good story. They don’t want some sort of lecture. Only the top writers in the world can manage to pull that off well.

Fiona: Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book?

 Well, to write a time travel story that works is actually pretty hard. You can’t go back to interact with your past self because that would be a paradox. Think about it. You can’t in fact be influenced by any future events because that would be a paradox. If you find out about something that is going to happen in the future, then that event will happen because otherwise it would be a paradox. If a part of your past is changed then you won’t remember it. It is impossible to change your own past because by doing so, you create a paradox. You can’t change the future, you can’t change the past. Fate comes into play. This is what my novella is mostly about. And I learnt that almost all time travel stories are theoretically impossible. That is, unless Basil Exposition turns up and suggests you simply don’t worry about it.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

 I’m reading Star Wars: A New Dawn, A Moveable Feast, and The Beekeeper. I’ve just finished The Old Man and the Sea and On Trial. Next I’m going to read The Drive and Trouble is my Business. I try to read one book at a time but always fail.

 Fiona: Imagine a future where you no longer write. What would you do?

 I’d read. When I recently finished the novel and two novellas I was working on, I needed to get out of the habit of writing every day so I replaced it with reading.

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

 R.I.P Chris Morton.

 Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?  Who is your favorite writer, and what is it about their work that really strikes you?

My Dad, Alan Morton, wrote a fantastic book called The Night Shift which he self-published on Amazon and lulu. It reminded me that to get published properly it’s not just a question of writing a great novel, your manuscript has to land in the right place at the right time and be exactly what the publisher/agent is looking for. You have to be lucky, and more often than not you have to know someone in the industry too. There’s another author I know called Jonathan Last who is a top, top writer but so far unpublished.

 Fiona: Do you have a blog or website readers can visit for updates, events and special offers?

 You can check out my blog flashfictionandotherstories@blogspot.com. I usually put up a short story every month. You can find me on goodreads, facebook and I think I have a twitter account, but I never use it. Paradox is free on kindle for a while. You can find it on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Paradox-Chris-Morton-ebook/dp/B07659FKK4/ref=sr_1_1_twi_kin_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1508938360&sr=8-1&keywords=paradox+by+chris+morton

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chris-Morton/e/B007ZRY2YQ/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

www.flashfictionandotherstories.blogspot.com

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5324417.Chris_Morton

https://www.amazon.com/Night-Shift-Alan-Morton/dp/1291773266/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1508938603&sr=8-1&keywords=the+night+shift+by+alan+morton

https://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Chopsticks-Frontline-Jonathan-Last-ebook/dp/B005O8JC98/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1508938652&sr=1-1&keywords=teaching+with+chopsticks+by+jonathan+last

 

Here is my interview with Jay Marie

26 Thursday Oct 2017

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Hello and welcome to my blog, Author Interviews. My name is Fiona Mcvie.

Let’s get you introduced to everyone, shall we? Tell us your name. What is your age?

I’m Jay Marie and I’m 27 years old

 Fiona: Where are you from?

 Clinton Township, Michigan.

 Fiona: A little about your self (ie,  your education, family life, etc.).

I come from a small family from the Metro Detroit area in Michigan, born and raised. I’m currently a full time legal assistant at a busy law firm and a part time law student in Detroit. I have an Associate’s Degree in Legal Assisting and a Bachelor’s in Community Development. I live with my fiancé, who is just as busy as I am, and spend most of my time reading, writing, and studying, but mostly studying right now unfortunately. Law school keeps me VERY busy.

 Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

Not much for latest, but I’m currently working on my fourth book from my Stronger Series, called Strike as well as the fifth and final book, Stand. I’m writing both books back to back so I can publish the conclusion faster rather than making everyone wait another year for the ending.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I think almost every writer starts writing when they’re children, which is also when I started. I’d write short stories, and then as I got older, they’d became longer and more complex, but never finished. I’d write poetry in a private journal, and then in college, I wrote a series of short stories about a black cat, my very first finished work. I’ll publish it someday once I have it refined. I’ve always loved to write because it’s when my creativity has all the control and I can do whatever I want, convey whatever I want, and make people feel things in a way they may have never experienced. It’s another way to communicate something to someone, getting a message out, and I love the idea of people feeling something just by reading my words.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

In 2015 when I finally published my first book, Stolen.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

I had a presentation I had to do for my women’s studies class, which was on human trafficking. During my research, I was disgusted by how prevalent human trafficking was and shocked that so many had never even heard of it. While reading the stories of actual victims, I came across fictional stories where the victims were falling in love with their traffickers and I just felt like this was wrong and portraying a false idea of human trafficking. So, I sought to not only set the record straight, but to also shed light on the billion-dollar industry, spread awareness, and provide a story that would educate, inspire, and also hopefully entertain readers. I also wanted to do something useful with the money I make from the stories so I donate every month to charities that help support victims of human trafficking from the proceeds off the series. So far, I’ve donated over $1000. I hope to get that number passed $10,000 in the next few years.

 Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

Stolen is meant to represent the fact that my main character’s life has been stolen from her.

Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style? Is there anything about your style or genre that you find particularly challenging?

I write in first person from two points of view. I don’t write more than that since I don’t want to confuse people. It’s also hard enough trying to write from two different personalities lol. I hate writing from my male main character’s POV. I find him difficult to relate to, and because he’s such a sadistic asshole I have to really dig deep into the darkest parts of my brain to write him accurately. My female main character comes very naturally since she’s in a position I think many can sympathize with. I’d also say my writing style has been categorized as easy to read and follow, but with dark and sarcastic undertones.

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic and are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

The Stronger Series is based off of true findings from the human trafficking world. From how they acquired people, to how they sell them based off of true stories from other victims that I’ve read. The rest is thankfully fiction.

Fiona: To craft your works, do you have to travel? Before or during the process?

Unfortunately, I don’t get to travel, so I research the shit out of any location I’m going to be writing about. I believe in being as accurate as possible, otherwise you’re just disrespecting the people of that location. If you’re going to write about it, act like you know what you’re writing about. Show the reader that you’ve put the time and effort in your research so they can really experience accurately what you’re trying to write. There’s a scene in my third book where my characters spend the holidays in Alaska. Apparently, my description was so accurate, some of my readers thought I had actually lived in Alaska. That’s how much research I did, so I’m really proud of that. I research just about everything before I write about it.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

This super amazing chick named Amanda Simpson from Pixel Mischief. She does my website and all my cover art. She’s amazeballs.

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

Yes, I want to inspire my readers to be strong, to know that even when every odd is stacked against you, when everything seems lost and you’re on the verge of giving up, don’t, because you can take it, because you’re strong enough to persevere through it. The cover of my first book says “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” and it’s so true. If you can survive your worst nightmare, then you can survive anything. Because the truth is tough times don’t last, tough people do.

Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?  Who is your favorite writer, and what is it about their work that really strikes you?

I’ve got a few favorites: J.R. Ward, Dan Brown, Skye Warren, but my most recent favorite has become Addison Cain. She does incredible work and I love her writing style. Her Alpha’s Claim series is one of absolute favorites.

Fiona: Outside of family members, name one entity that supported your commitment to become a published author.

My fiancé has always been very supportive, though he has never read them. It might be safer if he didn’t considering the content lol but he thinks I’m talented so that’s all I need. For my first birthday with him, he took a series of short stories I was working on and made it into a hardcover book for me. It was the sweetest thing and after 8 ½ years, I still have it!

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

Not so much as a career, but it is like a second job to me. It’s work, but it’s work I enjoy and get to make some money off of it. I’d love to be a full-time author, but I have too many passions and goals to fulfill. Maybe I can retire early on a beach and spend the rest of my days just writing away 😉

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

Eh. I’d try to make my first book a little longer, but other than that, not very much.

Fiona: Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book?

My most recent book is my favorite out of the three. It was easy to write and I felt like I learned how to go with the flow of things.

 Fiona: If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?

Oh, God, I don’t know if I could see this coming alive on the big screen lol.
 

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

Keep writing. Read a lot. Edit, edit, edit. Find out what other writers are doing right and doing wrong. Learn from your mistakes, but also make your own. Pay attention to your audience and listen to your readers. Listen to your gut. If something feels off to you, it will feel off to them. But most importantly have fun with it. If you’re not having fun and making yourself smile while you write then you’re doing something wrong.

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

I want to tell them how much I appreciate their love and support, but their patience with me is what I appreciate the most. I’m an ungodly busy person. Between working full time, going to law school part time in the evenings, writing books, and planning a wedding, I’ve got a lot on my plate, and it’s very difficult to balance. I think I have permanent exhaustion from it lol. So, it takes me a little longer sometimes to get a book written, but I don’t want to release something that I feel isn’t ready for the sake of giving my readers the book they’ve been waiting for. I want to give them the book they deserve and if that means they have to wait a little longer then that’s how it has to be, but I promise it’ll be worth it for them in the end. I work real hard on these books so that they’ll love them!

 Fiona: What book are you reading now?

I’m in between two books right now. Saved by DD Prince and I just started reading the KrinarChronicalsby Anna Zaires. I tend to hop back and forth between books a lot. Both are very good so far.

 Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

Not really, but I remember the first series that I liked to read in elementary school. I think it was called the Chronicles of Bunicula. It was about a vampire rabbit, and a house cat and dog that tried to thwart it’s ventures all the time lol

 Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

I have a dark sense of humor so I laugh at a lot of inappropriate things. Sad movies will usually make me cry, especially when a significant other dies. I really hate that L

 Fiona: Is there one person, past or present, you would love to meet? Why?

I’d love to meet Amal Clooney. She’s an amazing human rights attorney and basically my inspiration for sticking to law school. She also happens to be George Clooney’s wife.

 Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

I love to be active. Anything that requires physical activity usually gets me going, but my first loves are jet skiing, kick boxing, snowboarding, riding my little motorcycle, shooting guns, and when I’m not feeling physical, I really love to read 😉

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

I’m a big Game of Thrones fan, but I also love American Horror Story, The Walking Dead, True Blood, and Supernatural. My favorite films are The Nightmare Before Christmas, Hocus Pocus, and The Dark Knight.

 Fiona: Favorite foods, colors, music?

My favorite foods are probably pasta, sushi, and seafood. I love autumn colors like crazy. And my favorite band is Def Leppard. I like to listen to a lot of 80’s rock, along with today’s rock bands. I listen to a lot of upbeat instrumental music while I write like Lyndsey Sterling and Bond.

 Fiona: Imagine a future where you no longer write. What would you do?

As sad as that would be, I’d be a full time human rights attorney.

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

Jay Marie –The Best Ginger Bad Ass You’ve Ever Seen

(lol I wish)

 Fiona: Do you have a blog or website readers can visit for updates, events and special offers?

No blog, but I have an author page, Facebook page, a website, a private readers group, and a page on Goodreads so you have plenty of options for stalking 😉 Links are below!

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100014770843979

https://www.facebook.com/JMarieSeries/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/142059833103253/?fref=mentions

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15502495.Jay_Marie

http://www.jmarieseries.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Jay-Marie/e/B07698Y4W3/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jay-Marie/e/B07698Y4W3/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1509009127&sr=1-2-ent

 

 

Here is my interview with V.A. Dold

24 Tuesday Oct 2017

Posted by fionamcvie1964 in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Hello and welcome to my blog, Author Interviews. My name is Fiona Mcvie.

 

Let’s get you introduced to everyone, shall we? Tell us your name. What is your age?

V.A. Dold and I’m 55. That’s right, I just claimed my age. LOL.

Fiona: Where are you from?

Minnesota. Ugh, I hate being cold.

Fiona: A little about your self (ie,  your education, family life, etc.).

I have a marketing degree. I’m married with 2 adult son’s and 3 dogs.

 

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

I’m writing Seth’s story and then I hope to write Etienne’s but the boy has to start talking or it won’t happen.

 

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

Writing came out of nowhere. I was running my Publicist service for authors and BAM Cade wouldn’t give me a moment’s peace until I wrote his story.

 

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When Cade was successful.

 

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

I wanted Cade out of my head.

 

 

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

I just used his name LOL.

 

Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style? Is there anything about your style or genre that you find particularly challenging?

I know a story before I write it. I make a list of the major turning points and a roadmap so to speak of how to get from beginning to end. Then as I write it, the characters drive how I get from point A to point B.

 

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic and are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

Maybe 50%.

 

Fiona: To craft your works, do you have to travel? Before or during the process?

Sometimes. I have been vacationing in New Orleans for about 30 years. Thus my vast knowledge of the city. I also spent considerable time in Texas for the K.I.S.S. series.

 

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

I do.

 

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

Open your eyes to what is around you. There is more than you are seeing. Every nation has stories of paranormal creatures and interstellar visitors. There’s a reason for that. Where do you think the ancient God’s such as Ra came from? Don’t just take my word for it, do your own research and delve deep.

Don’t be duped by mainstream news, instead take a look at Fox News. They are much more impartial.

 

Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?  Who is your favorite writer, and what is it about their work that really strikes you?

There are always new authors I check out. Some of them have interesting story lines. My ONE CLICK list has authors like J.R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Donna Michaels, and Lora Leigh. To name few.

 

Fiona: Outside of family members, name one entity that supported your commitment to become a published author.

I have a group of lady friends called the Yaya’s. They have always been unwavering in their support. As a matter of fact, they are each showing up as heroine’s in my books LOL

 

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

Absolutely.

 

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

Nope. I love Dangerous Destiny.

 

Fiona: Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book?

I learned that Witch hunting is still alive and well. Only today they use the internet to target witches. That’s scary.

 

Fiona: If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?

Good Lord. I have no idea LOL. Perhaps the readers of this interview can make suggestions.

 

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

YES. Before you write your first book, attend a convention that offers a beginners writer tract. Also, there is an ebook that teaches showing vs telling.

 

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

Hang on to your butts! Seth is coming out in the next few months with undisclosed information about who the shifters really are.

 

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

I’m actually reading alien romances right now. I plan to start a series about an interstellar mating agency.  I have a lot of world building to do so I’m reading others work to feed my brain.

 

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

LOL no. “See spot run?”

 

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

Confused men make me laugh and devastating lost love makes me cry.

 

Fiona: Is there one person, past or present, you would love to meet? Why?

Not so much a person and places. I would love to visit the lost worlds of Lemuria and Atlantis. Their cultures were fascinating.

 

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

Right now, I’m studying herbal medicine and would like to grow my own herbs and make healing items with them.

 

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

I devour just about everything on the Gaia channel.

 

Fiona: Favorite foods, colors, music?

PIZZA – who doesn’t love that!

Colors – indigo blue, forest green, and deep purple.

Music – classic rock and country.

 

Fiona: Imagine a future where you no longer write. What would you do?

I would be a healer.

 

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

I’ll be back. LOL

 

Fiona: Do you have a blog or website readers can visit for updates, events and special offers?

My website has my blog but my facebook group the Bayou Babes or my author page is where I post the most.

http://www.vadold.com

https://www.facebook.com/groups/LeBeaubayoubabes/

https://www.facebook.com/VADoldauthor/

https://www.amazon.com/V.A.-Dold/e/B00J25KTO6/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_20

Here is my interview with Rafael Hines

24 Tuesday Oct 2017

Posted by fionamcvie1964 in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Hello and welcome to my blog, Author Interviews. My name is Fiona Mcvie.

 

Let’s get you introduced to everyone, shall we? Tell us your name.

Hi Fiona, I’m Rafael Hines

Fiona: Where are you from?

I was born and raised in New York City on Manhattan’s Lower East Side

 

Fiona: A little about your self (ie,  your education, family life, etc.).

I come from a diverse family background: mom is Irish and my dad is Panamanian-Jamaican. Outside of my three children, playing basketball has been the love of my life. I can still shoot lights out, but now that my hops and speed are gone I’m really happy that I found a new passion in writing!😊

 

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

For a novice writer like myself the latest news is pretty incredible. My self-published novel, Bishop’s War is an Amazon International Bestseller and continues to win awards (Book Excellence Award, Independent Publisher Award, Global eBook Award, Book Viral Book of the Year, IAN Book of the Year) and earlier this year I was added to Richtopia’s Top 200 List of Most Influential Authors (I’m number 143!).

 

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

The why is pretty funny. Seven years agoI was traveling for work and grabbed a bestselling thriller at the airport to read on the plane. Reading is always subjective, but I was so disappointed in the book that I said to myself, “I know I can write something better than this.” Even though I had no idea what I wanted to write at first, I sat down and started typing.

 

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Two years after I started writing I was at a dinner party and someone asked me what I do. Before I could answer my friend said, “He’s a writer.” It was the first time I realized that I actually am a writer. Makes me smile every time I think about it.

 

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

As a kid growing up on the Lower East Side my block was the hangout spot for combat veterans returning home from Vietnam, fireman, cops, and gangsters. They were all amazing story tellers and once I started writing many of the voices from my childhood began jumping off the page. Characters started appearing and the story just came to life.

 

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

Once the hero John Bishop arrived the title Bishop’s War was a perfect fit.

 

Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style? Is there anything about your style or genre that you find particularly challenging?

My writing is very dialogue driven. Elmore Leonard is one of my favorite authors and like him I try to let my characters tell the story.

 

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic and are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

I loosely based some of the characters in Bishop’s War on my childhood friends, and a few of the events are based on my own experiences, but overall it’s pure fiction.

 

Fiona: To craft your works, do you have to travel? Before or during the process?

Living and working in a loud city like New York, it’s great to get away from time to time and find a quiet place to write. I also did a lot of on-line research into Special Forces tactics and spent time speaking with combat Veterans to make the military scenes in Bishop’s War as accurate as possible.

 

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

I used Damonza to help design my cover:www.damonza.com

 

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

Yes. People are complicated. Heroes are flawed, and good guys aren’t all good.

 

Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?  Who is your favorite writer, and what is it about their work that really strikes you?

Elmore Leonard is all time favorite and John Sandford is a close second. I also love James Lee Burke, Tom Clancy, Vince Flynn and Stephen Hunter. Recently, I discovered James Carlos Blake and really enjoyed the two books I’ve read by him. For all of these amazing authors, what really strikes me is their ability to masterfully paint pictures with words, their wide range of characters and their ear for dialogue.

 

Fiona: Outside of family members, name one entity that supported your commitment to become a published author.

The U.S. Military. I am an unknown self-published first-time author who never served in the Armed Forces, and receiving the many thousands of emails, posted comments and reviews from Veterans and active duty men and women around the world has been the greatest honor of my life.

 

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

I do. I still work in the energy markets, but one I day I hope to write full-time.

 

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

Great question Fiona. I constantly have to stop myself from going back and changing things in Bishop’s War. One of the perks of being self-published is that it’s easy to edit and upload a new version and I did that for a year after I first posted it on Amazon. Now that I’m working the sequel I resist the urge to go back so I can stay focused on writing instead of editing.

 

Fiona: Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book?

I learned so much! First and foremost, that I love to write, but equally important is that I discovered magic. Although I kind of knew that magic existed in the world, I never truly experienced it until characters appeared out of nowhere and started telling their story through me. Now they tap me on the shoulder every night, get me up out of bed so they can talk while I type down their words.

 

Fiona: If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?

The Rock!

 

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

Write for yourself. Write a lot and read a lot. If your goal is commercial success, write the story that you love first, then invest in yourself. If you’re self-published like I am, make sure you hire a great editor and get a top-notch book cover. There are so many books and blogs out there for indie authors and it’s important to read and learn about the business side of publishing/marketing.

 

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

Thank you! I didn’t expect anyone outside of a small group of friends and family to read Bishop’s War so I’m extremely grateful to the hundreds of thousands who have taken the time read it.

 

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

Djibouti by Elmore Leonard. He’s one of my all-time favorite authors and I think this is the only book of his that I haven’t read. As an Indie Author I actively support my tribe and read at least three or four self-published novels a month. Next on my list are Quenching The Blade by Michael Eves Schaffer, Ever Song by A.C. Salter and Seas Of Snow by Kerensa Jennings.

 

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

I can’t remember the very first book, but the ones that impacted me the most as a kid were definitely the Hobbit series and Elmore Leonard’s short story westerns.

 

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

I tend to laugh at myself a lot (especially when I start taking myself too seriously).

 

Fiona: Is there one person, past or present, you would love to meet? Why?

My great, great grandmother. She was born a slave and so much of my family’s history and legacy has been passed down through her.

 

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

Basketball. I’m not as quick as I once was and can’t crush the rim like I did back in the day, but I still love to play and try to get on the court a few times a week (no matter how much it hurts afterwards!).

 

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

For TV shows, I love Game of Thrones (was disappointed in the short season this year), Ballers,House of Cards and Narcos. For films, I like the old more than the new: Lonesome Dove, Godfather, Connagher, etc.

 

Fiona: Favorite foods, colors, music?

My favorite meals are with a group of friends sharing small plates and great wine. Color, definitely blue. My favorite music is 90’s R&B, but I listen to and enjoy a wide range.

 

Fiona: Imagine a future where you no longer write. What would you do?

That’s a tough one. If I didn’t write anymore I’d definitely spend a lot more time reading.

 

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

I’m having too much living to write my obituary just yet 😊

 

Fiona: Do you have a blog or website readers can visit for updates, events and special offers?

My Website: www.rafaelhines.com

Amazon Link: http://bit.ly/BishopW

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RafaelWrites

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RafaelHines.Author/

 

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