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~ My interviews with many authors

authorsinterviews

Monthly Archives: September 2019

Here is my interview with Margaret R Blake

30 Monday Sep 2019

Posted by fionamcvie1964 in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

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?

My name is Margaret R Blake – I use this form as there is another author with the same name) I am on the young side of 67

Fiona: Where are you from?

I am northern hemisphere born, spending almost 10 years in Britain. I now live in Queensland after living for thirty-three years in Tasmania – a place I regard as my southern home.

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

Education for me has been an ongoing thing starting with the regular stuff until high school, graphic design at college, editing and proofreading a few years ago with Open Colleges, and lots of other bits in between. I was married many years ago and have two fine grown-up children. I have lived on my own for an age – and I love it. Never a dull moment.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

I have just launched my latest book, ‘The Healing,’ a novel set in medieval times. It was my first foray into writing for adult. I am now focusing on my ongoing series, Merlin’s School #3, and a second novel for adults.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I began writing about twenty-five years ago after reading a particularly horrendously written novel. It was a personal challenge for me.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I was picked up by a small publisher for my first middle-grade novel, Merlin’s School for Ordinary Children – The Ring of Curses. To me that signalled that I was doing okay.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

My first book was a disaster as I was trying to write like Stephen King. There is only one Stephen King! I then fiddled around with other bits and pieces, took two writing courses and then started developing my own style. My first book came from the ending of the Harry Potter series. I thought … ‘What am I going to do now for my magic fix?’ That’s when I came up with my idea for Merlin’s School -no witches or wizards in that castle … or is there?

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

My titles come to me before the story. The story seems to unfold out of them like a flower opening up its petals … allowing me to see the words I need at the time.

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

Each individual story I write dictates its own style – it has its own voice – so they are all different. Is it challenging? Sometimes, when trying to keep the plot together and running as it should.

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

I like to take a little bit of history to incorporate into my backstories. I find this makes for a good solid base. Little bits of people I know or whom I have met in the past do find their way into my stories, but I think that’s the way it is with all writers. I use a lot of my own experiences also, as this gives a real feel to the characters. I don’t like to be too airy-fairy within my imaginary worlds.

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

I only travel to the library, and these days that’s online, so I don’t go far. At my age I don’t want to.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

I design my own covers because I have a specific idea in mind of what I want. I get my images from online, and of course, I give all the credit to the artists involved. Not all of us are as talented as they are in this department.

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

In all my novels there is a touch of wisdom. It’s usually subtly woven into the story – nobody wants it shoved down their throat. Novels are designed to entertain, but it doesn’t hurt to learn something from them as well … like friendship, co-operation, even learning about ourselves and what we are capable of.

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

Once I followed particular authors, but these days I find it is the storyline that grabs my attention. There are a lot of them out there these days.

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

My first publisher, Kerry B Collison, I guess. He’s a big-time author himself so that counted for something.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

No. It’s a hobby. In the big pond that is Amazon, people like me are only little fish unless a big wig catches you on their hook. But I’m happy, so that’s what counts in the long run.

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

No. It took many months to get the information in ‘The Healing’ together. I had help from Beta readers for the first time ever and I found that this was what I needed with this book. It was very time-consuming to write as it was imperative to get it right.

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

Yes … patience. I found also I gained more focus, which is always a good thing with a craft of any type.

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

Now that’s a tough one.  I have a picture in mind, but actually putting it to a real face is difficult. I’ll have to think on this one.

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

Yes. Do it! And let your words flow. Don’t worry about all the grammatical things. A writer needs to find their voice and this, I found, was the best way to do it. Then just keep at it.

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

Firstly, and always, thank you. And please … let me know what you think. I’m always open to improvement.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

A crime thriller by Sue Grafton, The Book of Forgotten Authors, by Christopher Fowler, and I’ve just finished a murder mystery by Karen Slaughter. I’ll read almost anything except politics, sports-based novels and biographies.

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

Possibly … Black Beauty. I love horses. If not that it was Wind in the Willows – one of my favourite books.

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

I have a very British sense of humour, so I love good comedy. A lot of British sit-coms would do it for me, like the Two Ronnies, or Black Adder. St. Trinians movies are fantastic. America comedy show M*A*S*H is clever, love the Big Bang Theory, and Friends was great in its time also. I try not to take life too seriously. As for crying … I’m pretty soft-hearted. It’s the usually the sweet things that animals do, a tragic love-story, or an uplifting struggle by someone who is deserving.

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

Jimi Hendix. I think he was magical. He was a very spiritually person, as well as being extremely talented. But then he’s the first person who come to mind.

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

Yes, I love needlework in all forms and do quilting as well. I like to create, even if it’s only in a small way. I would walk more if I could get out into an English wood, but sadly they are two far away.

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

I’m a movie buff so therefore I’m always on the look out for one. Sometimes I’ll do a repeat … even a repeat of a repeat but that is because there is so much rubbish on TV these days. Other than that, I choose to watch British shows.

Fiona: Favourite foods, colours, music?

I enjoy food in general. Love to be surrounded by colour. As for music I like something different and find I’m looking for stuff that is from the past, even way back to medieval times. Love the harp.

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

Read or stitch.

Fiona: You only have 24 hours to live how would you spend that time?

With my children.

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

She had a go at most things!

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

My web site is www.margaret-r-blake.com I post my new books, news and general stuff on here.

 

Here is my interview with L.B. Carter

30 Monday Sep 2019

Posted by fionamcvie1964 in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

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 L.B. Carter and I’m about to turn 29 for the third time.

Fiona: Where are you from?

Originally, I’m a Mainiac (I want to make that the official term rather than Mainer), but I have lived all over and currently reside in Boston.

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

I’m a nerd – I love to learn. That’s partly why I enjoy reading. I’ve been in school my whole life. After high school, where I worked summers at the local university, I attended college for geology, then did a masters in natural hazards at another school, a PhD in volcanology at another school, and now I’m working at yet a fourth university. Obviously, I’m all about science and volcanoes, but I also have a love for languages and diverse cultures, especially legends and myths. I have a snuggly orange Mr. Cat and occasionally can be found baking or crocheting.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

I just started a new sardonic supernatural urban fantasy series that is getting a lot of great feedback from readers because of its unique premise. Here’s the tagline: “Don’t sell your soul to the Devil. Just take out a loan instead!” Intrigued? Book one was out summer 2019 and book two releases the week after Halloween. More coming soon. All are free in KU.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I’ve always been a reader and have written books since elementary school. But I first published a book right after completing my PhD – about a year ago. I became passionate about sharing scientific discoveries with the world in a fun and interesting way — through stories. I alsogot involved in the indie book world around that time, and a few author friends convinced me to share my words with the world.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I still struggle with this owning this title! I suppose when that first book released on Amazon, it felt more real. But having someone who doesn’t know me leave a review is really when I feel like I own that title.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

My first published book was inspired by my PhD. I participated in a lot of public events where I explained to kids about my research on climate change, and sometimes their parents would be shocked at what I said. I think knowing about the world everyone inhabits is essential for all to know, so I wrote some truths about climate change into a mysterious/actiony/romantic story that I would want to read — the Climatic Climacteric trilogy (my first series, which is now complete).

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

Silent Siren relates to the main character who is mute and a myth that inspired a sci-fi twist as well as having the double meaning of a siren being an alert to something terrible happening.

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

I tend to write with a lot of mystery, dark twists, and sardonic and punnyhumor. I write in a few genres – so far iYA/NA sci-fi, adult mystery/thriller, supernatural urban fantasy, mythological fantasy, and supernatural suspense. I’m overly verbose – I always wrote my school essays longer than the required word limit. So, my books are always longer than I intent (and thus take longer to write, which is already hard with a day job).

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

I mentioned this above, but the science is based on fact or at least prediction, and I draw on locations I’ve been for my settings often so that I can really describe it thoroughly. The characters probably have quirks from people I know … or me, too. I think it’s impossible to keep knowledge and life from bleeding through and actually play to that; I prefer to write what I know than research something new.

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

I do not. I’ve travelled a lot in my life, so I draw on those experiences, or use my imagination.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

I have a couple cover designers. For my Climatic Climacteric trilogy, I designed the current ones but they’re getting recovered soon by Covers by Christian. And my new series and mystery/thriller standalone were made by Black Fox Design (Claire L. Monaghan) . Some upcoming works are by Covers of Darkness (Logan Keys) and Burning Phoenix Covers (Trish Beninato).

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

I hope my readers learn from my books as well as find a fun escape and a new way to think about things. My motto is “Curiosity calls.” And I think everyone should answer.

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 idols are Patricia Briggs and Helen Harper. Briggs’s Mercy Thompson series is exceedingly well-written, and it now contains eleven books. Each is different from any other, and from other series. I’ve reread the series many times, and enjoy them every time. I also idolize a couple indie authors: ST Bende, CL Monaghan, Ednah Walters, Stacey Marie Brown, and Jackie May, at the moment.

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

Authors Ednah Walters (RIP), ST Bende, and CL Monaghan have been invaluable in encouraging me to actually publish and in providing advice and support. The book community is my family.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

It is a dream to make writing my full-time job, but I do certainly see myself sticking to it for the rest of my life either way.

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

Nope. I love it; it’s my favorite yet.

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

Yes. I learned about taxidermy art! 😛

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

Hmm… I think Karen Gillian could make a great Darcie Rose in Ginger Ferreira’s body.

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

Get lots of input from other writers, don’t give up but also don’t measure your success or style against others – there are readers out there who want your stories! Practice – write all the time and get lots of feedback.

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

I love meeting other book lovers! Do not hesitate to friend/follow/contact me on any platform (LBCarter.com has all links). And I especially love to learn from you and meet your furbabies (I have a Mr. Cat).

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

Shayne Davies #2 by Jackie May and (re)reading Moon Called by Patricia Briggs for the 800th time.

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

Definitely not. When I was very little, my parents read to me. I can still remember my mum reading out Harry Potter to my siblings and I.

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

I love to laugh! Humor is in all my books. I especially love dark humor and puns. Books with tragic endings will make me cry if it’s written well enough to get me invested in the characters.

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

I would love to meet my great grandmother. She was a fierce and stubborn Welsh woman who lived through a lot (including 10 kids and a war or two) and was over 100 when she passed. I bet she has all the stories to share!

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

Besides reading? 😉 I also enjoy crochet/knitting, yoga and working out, and though I haven’t been active recently, I enjoy ice skating and dancing too.

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

I like to watch many different genres. I watch a lot of movies, but am not very good at watching TV. My top movies are The Little Prince, Baby Driver, Wall-E, A Quiet Place, the Princess Bride, Monty Python and the Holy Grail … and my current favorite TV shows are Supernatural, Jessica Jones, In the Dark, the Office, and the Great British Bake-Off. 😉

Fiona: Favorite foods, colors,  music?

I’m variable on foods, though I adore French fries, cheese and cookies, lots of tea and hot chocolate in my life (no coffee). I like red and black. And I listen to all sorts of music, but Michael Jackson and 80sballads are always welcome.

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

I have a day-job, so I’d just keep on doing that, and otherwise read a lot. 😊

Fiona: You only have 24 hours to live how would you spend that time?

I’d host a get-together at a restaurant somewhere new and invite all my friends/family from around the world, gorge myself, laugh and have fun, and do what I can in that time to make the world a better place before I go (such as throw my little savings at charities).

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

“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” -Antoine de Saint-Exupery

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

I have a website with all the latest and complete bookish info, including a sign up for my newsletter with exclusive free stories, and I update the blog on there about once a month with extra goodies (free books) and news.

https://www.lbcarter.com/

Amazon authors page USA https://www.amazon.com/L.B.-Carter/e/B07FKVLQHR

UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/L-B-Carter/e/B07FKVLQHR?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_7&qid=1569839389&sr=1-7

Here is my interview with P.D. Dennison

29 Sunday Sep 2019

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.

P.D. Dennison the P is for Paul

What is your age?

43

Fiona: Where are you from?

Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

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

I’m a poorly educated son of a truck driver and a housewife! LOL I have some University classes and went to cooking school for my red seal as a chef as well. I have one daughter, I’m married. We have 2 dogs Flash and Ruby and a cat named Mr. Mushu Kungfu Master

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

My very first ever published book Legends from the Land of Shaarn, Awakening (book 1 of 5) will be published by Dragon Soul Press Sept. 30th.

Preorders are available now here:

https://books2read.com/lftlos1

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I always seem to have a different answer to this question the more I think about it. I’m pretty certain that I started writing at age 8. That’s when I got my first set of D&D Basic Edition Rules and it came with an adventure module called Keep on the Borderlands. I thought the idea of writing D&D adventures sounded like the best job in the world. I started writing D&D adventure modules for me and the kid across the street who used to play D&D together. I loved doing it. I always loved DMing and telling the story versus playing. Besides D&D I didn’t write much until highschool. I wrote a lot of poetry in high school and I do remember writing a vampire short story based off my adventures playing Vampire the Masquerade.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Highschool. As soon as I began writing and reading poetry, I considered myself a writer and knew then that one day I would be published in some capacity. My best friend told me a story about when we were 17. He said we went out and bought a fantasy novel that had a map in it and I told him that one day I was going to write a fantasy novel. Twenty six years later I did it.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

My love of fantasy novels and fantasy role playing games. I’ve always had an obsession with fantasy worlds, books and games.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

The title for the series is Legends from the Land of Shaarn. That has changed at least three times I can remember. Originally it was The Dragons of Shaarn, then it morphed into The Legendary Dragons of Shaarn. Finally I thought the alliteration in the name would make it more memorable and changed it to LFTLOS. I think its much more memorable plus I get a cool acronym for my books just Like J.R.R. Tolkien with LOTR.

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

I think my style would be best called, ‘classic.’ I write they way the authors I read most wrote and most of them were 19th and early 20th century authors. I use a lot of cliched writing devices and words my editor scolded me over and over and filled my first manuscript with red. I used the word, ‘was,’ more than 1800 times in a 340pg manuscript. I cut that in half after the final edit. Thank goodness she caught that. ‘Was,’ is considered passive and not active language and my editor/publisher doesn’t like the use of passive language.  In my second book, I had used, ‘was,’ more than 1200 times and was able to bring that down to a grand total of 26 instances of the word, ‘was,’ after my last edit so I’m improving.

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

None of the books will be realistic. They are Dark, Epic High fantasy. Realism goes out the window. I try to keep some common action scenes together with some level of realism such as bandaging a wound, but over all the book is intended to be a dark fairy tale.

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

No, I do all my writing at home in front of my desk top PC. No travel for inspiration required. I keep a notebook for my outlines so I guess sometimes I’ll go to the park with a coffee and write in my car while I look at the lake for a while, but other than that the inspiration comes from within.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

Jesh Art Studios

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

There are some underlying themes yes. Diversification, inter racial relations, social evolution towards peace and mental pursuits, but I want people to discover them for themselves so I won’t go into any detail.

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 newer authors I really enjoyed the Broken Empire series by Mark Lawrence. As for my all time favorite author I’m boring, it’s J.R.R. Tolkien. I love the way he tells his tales as if they’re children’s books and love the fairy tale feel of his style of writing. It inspires me.

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

I had a prof in university in an English 100 class that supported me. She even published one of my essays for me so I’d have a published work to my credit at an early age. I’ll always be grateful to her for that.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

I would sure like to make it my career.  I view it as a career now and I spend a great deal of time, effort and money on building my brand and my business. But I’ve only really been working on it as a business since April of 2019.

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

I would use the word, ‘was,’ less. I would have renamed the creatures to make them more original. Like instead of goblins I would have called them the Krull or something like that so they aren’t such a mundane sounding monster.

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

My most recent book is Legends from the Land of Shaarn, Black Rider (book 3 of 5.) I think the main thing I learned was to plot and plan my story and chapters. The first two books I wrote “pantsing,” style with no notes or outline. By the end of book two I was going bananas trying to keep everything straight. An outline gives me a clear writing goal each time I sit down and there’s no long periods of no typing where I’m fleshing out an idea because I’ve completed that phase of the writing process in my outline. It also gives me a sense of how long the book will be and when I’ll be done writing it. So, I learned a lot from my last book actually.

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

Absolutely not! LOL I’d want someone like Jason Mamoa to play the lead. The MC is a Barbarian. The Barbarians in the Land of Shaarn are gifted super humans. They’re larger than most, have vastly more endurance than regular humans and have uncanny fighting skills, able to take on multiple foes unscathed.

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

Keep writing. You’ll likely go through dry spells that’s OK just focus on your writing and keep at it. Keep querying those manuscripts out to agents and publishers. Never give up! This is such a tough market to break through into, especially today with the average joe able to type up a manuscript and upload to Amazon totally free of charge. I think its great that option is out there but it also makes it much harder for the good authors to stand out against a backdrop of poor, unedited writing.

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

I want to tell them to enjoy my books. If they’re fans of classic epic fantasy, they’ll love the Legends from the Land of Shaarn series. Suspend your disbelief and read with the wild eyed wonder of a child.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

I’m reading a very nice, leather bound collector’s edition of the original telling of Grimm’s Fairy Tales. I’m shocked at how twisted and dark some of the stories were in the original versions.

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

Either Charlotte’s web or Super Fudge I can’t remember which but one of those two.

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

Every thing makes me laugh. I have a crude and vulgar twelve-year-old boyish sense of humour so I laugh at all the dumbest things. Lately, many things make me cry. I think it’s a symptom of the mental illness I suffer from but I cry over happy scenes in movies where I never used to. Sad scenes almost always make me cry, I have trouble controlling it sometimes, It’s quite embarrassing.

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

Tolkien. I’d like to sit down with him for a brew and ask him what on earth possessed him to start with a whole language before writing about his elves.

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

Fishing. Hiking, camping, Archery, Snow shoeing, Gaming, Reading, Writing, Collectables.

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

Right now, I’m really enjoying four different shows. Carnival Row, The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance, Krypton and Pennyworth

 Fiona: Favorite foods, colors,  music?

Favorite food: Cheese burgers or Pizza (But on Saskatchewan Pizza not American style pizza.)

FavoriteColor: Blue (how ordinary, right?)

Music: I have a braod range of musical tastes but I think what I gravitate toward most would be the classic rock of the 60s and 70s and second favourite would be 80s new wave.

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

I would likely be sad if I couldn’t write anymore. I still have a lot of hobbies so I’d likely hike and camp more. That’s been lacking for me this summer as I pound away on this keyboard.

Fiona: You only have 24 hours to live how would you spend that time?

I’d want to spend it with one of my best friends and my wife camping in the mountains near a river we could fish for trout in.

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

“Here lies the greatest story teller the world ever knew.” – But I want to live up to that so I have a long way to go.

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

I definitely do! https://www.Landofshaarn.com

Amazon Authors page USA  https://www.amazon.com/P-D-Dennison/e/B07WRLZ8HR?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1569768323&sr=1-1

UK  https://www.amazon.co.uk/P-D-Dennison/e/B07WRLZ8HR/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

 

 

 

Here is my interview with Abby Gordon

29 Sunday Sep 2019

Posted by fionamcvie1964 in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

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?

 Hello! I’m Abby Gordon and, let’s just say I’ll be a speed limit at my next birthday.

Fiona: Where are you from?

I’m an Army Brat. We moved all over the country, mostly southeast up the coast to New York with a couple years in Kansas. Right now, I’m in central Georgia, trying to remind myself that I moved here to escape the freezing winters, (even if I forgot I’d melt in the summer!)

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

I was a single mother to three sons who grew into incredible men. Along the way, I served in the Air Force, finished my bachelor’s, was a federal civilian employee and am currently the human staff member to two cats with very opposite personalities. Pax is in charge and Panda is an adorable goof.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

So much to tell! First Connections, prequel to the Love in the Shadows series, releases on 4 November (my birthday). On 12 November, Thawing the Master’s Heart, Shadows #5, is releasing as part of the Winter Wishes boxed set. I’m still pinching myself about that! And I’m currently focusing on Shadows 3 and 4, along with the second in the Order of the Rose – Justice of the Root – which has an expected release in December.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

My oldest passed his driving test and I took him to Chili’s to celebrate. We’re chattering away and he looked at me – Mom, you’re always telling us to follow our dreams. When are you going to follow your own advice and follow your dreams? I graduate soon, and then my brothers. In three years, we’ll be out on our own in some way. What are you going to do for you? I just stared at him. When we got home, I realized this was the time to start writing, to do something for me.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Oh, when I got the email from The Wild Rose Press for the contract for my first book, I felt on top of the world!

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

A dream. Beck & Call, Keith and Serena’s story, started with a dream. I’d been working with Angela (editor and cover artist extraordinaire!) on something else. The dream wouldn’t let me go so I got up at three, wrote the scene and emailed it to her. God knows what kind of mess it was! But she said to drop the other and work on it.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

For a lot of them, it’s either something one of the characters says or Angela and I figure it out during the editing process.

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

 Well, I write mostly in two different genres, dipping my toes into others. Love in the Shadows is more relaxed, but the hot scenes sometimes require a glass of wine to drop the inhibitions. I think The Order of the Rose is a bit more formal simply because it is mostly in Elizabeth’s or the French court. The Queen was most emphatic about certain things. She’s rather a scene stealer in some ways. I’ve also a contemporary small town series outlined and that has its own rhythm as well. It all comes down to what the characters tell me, how they tell me their stories.

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

Readers have told me I write very realistic dialogue between the male characters. Well, I grew up in the military – lots of alpha males, including my brothers and sons. So I know that banter, how they’ll talk with each other. I also tried to capture moments with my closest friends in how the women are with each other – supportive, teasing, and having each other’s backs. A couple chapters in The Submissive’s Touch were extremely difficult for me. It opens with the attacks of 9/11 – I knew I had to treat that with the respect those lost deserved. Trying to capture the shock and horror, the incomprehension of people around the country and the world was important. All I had to do was close my eyes and see the images again. Then there were a couple scenes in the hospital – when JW is with his mother and Ben and realizes the personal cost of rescuing his friend, and his mother talks him out of a near depression. Our veterans pay a high price in our defence and I wanted to show a bit of that.

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

Oh, I wish I could travel! I lived in New York State for years, so I know that area and check things with maps. I was stationed in England and went to London with friends every chance we could. A three-day trip to Paris, plus some traveling there as a teenager. Everything else comes vicariously – either through research or through friends who share their photos, knowing I’m creating a photo stash for future inspiration. I’ve very understanding friends and family who have only asked that I credit them in future books. Which I will. My dream is to actually be able to get back over to Britain and France – and travel the routes my characters do. I especially want to go to Wales.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

Angela Anderson has amazingly stayed with me through everything. She’s designed every cover, as well as all my edits. Since I went indie a couple years ago, it’s more collaborative. We email back and forth a bit but she is incredible at finding the perfect images. I love them all but my favoriteshave to be The Hidden Rose and Justice of the Root.

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

Each character has gone through something that changed them, something they have to work through. Sometimes they do it on their own, but a lot of times they do it as they fall in love. Love heals – so I guess that would be the constant message.

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?

Oh, so many new authors! And I have to decide – read or write? Writing usually wins, but I have a TBR pile that grows exponentially. I don’t have too many absolute rules but one is – never read in the genre I’m writing in. I know the way my mind works and I don’t want anything from someone else’s work to find its way into mine simply because my brain seized on something and I didn’t realize it. Some writers I’m panting to read in erotica are KL Ramsey, Courtney Rose, Scarlett Holloway, and I grab everything by Nicole Morgan as soon as it releases. For historical, I love Tamara Gill, Terri Brisbin and Laurie Benson – the banter and wit of their characters, and always, the details that time-travel me.

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

Way back when, Amazon had community discussion boards. These were a godsend to me as I was trying to figure things out. On one of the discussion boards I ‘met’ two writers who have been mentors to me – Nicole Morgan and Tymber Dalton. I sent Tymber something once – after making sure she didn’t mind – and she replied, great pace, excellent emotion, most men only have one left hand, not two. Oops. In the non-writing world, it was my day-job mentor, Kathleen Lipps, who when she found out I was submitting to publishers, encouraged me. I cried on her shoulder when I got rejected and she’d listen, then tell me to send it to someone else. Next to my sons, she was the first to know I had the first contract.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

Writing is breathing to me so it’s going to have to be! Seriously, if I could find a way to go without sleeping, eating or any of the other necessary things in life so I could type, I’d do it. Except for the cats, of course. I’m a well-trained staff member and I jump at the meow.

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

Not really. Of the next two to release, First Connection was the springboard for Love in the Shadows, so I might want to stick a few more tidbits in. But since too much can overwhelm a reader, probably a good thing I can’t. Thawing the Master’s Heart was finished and then Epstein was arrested. Let’s just say that was very close to part of the plot line that starts in that story and continues through the series! I might need to adjust things in the future though. One of those fiction -reality blurred lines that startled and unnerved me quite a bit.

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

 It had been a while since I’d been in Elizabeth’s court and realm so it was part refresher, part new territory because York is central to the story.The characters always surprise me with what they do and make me want to be stronger than I think I am or can be. Some things I can’t do – such as Anna’s talents with a bow and blade, but the strengths of them – Anna to survive and get justice, Ally’s determination to find her place in the world, Pippa’s refusal to let her past decide her future – are inspirational.

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

 Ooo, that’s a toughie. Sam Claflin (Finnick in The Hunger Games) was the inspiration for Sean Livingston in the Love in the Shadows series. Iain Glenn’s voice was what I heard in my head for Sir Iain Lincoln, Baron of Jonal, throughout the Carnal Connections. I’d need to check more English/Welsh actors for the Roses stories.

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

Keep a notebook and pen with you at all times. Ideas come when you’re doing something else just to mess with you – this way you can write down a bit to jog your memory when you can sit in front of the computer. Ask questions of other writers, find out how other authors (whatever genre) write – then find your own way. And move – don’t spent every single waking moment at the computer. Get up – walk, swim, do yoga or dance, something to move your body and give your brain a rest. You’ll be more ready to keep going and your body will thank you.

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

Be kind to each other. There seems to be a short supply of that in the world. You never know what someone else is going through. And that’s in both series – characters you’ve already met and may think you know are going through things that make them act the way they do.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

Non-research? Because the side table by my desk is piled high with Elizabethan and French research. I’m reading the Belgariad by David Eddings. I love reading series by established authors because I pick up ways to ‘seed’ my own books and layer things to, hopefully, make things enjoyable to the reader, and for ‘aha’ moments in later books. But, mostly, because I love the way Eddings writes – with a wry sense of humor yet absolute seriousness when needed.

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

I may have been the first binge reader. I read everything by Louisa May Alcott I could get my hands in second grade. My mom said it seemed like every other day I wanted to go to the library to get the next book. Little Women has a permanent place in my top ten list of books.

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

Laughing usually would be when I’m with my sons or my cats – Panda loses a chase the tail to his tail. I lost my gray cat, sweet Sage, in February, and still fight back the tears when I see a photo of him or think of something he loved doing, like stealing my toast corners.

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

If language wasn’t an issue – the ancestors who fought with Wallace and the Bruce. Or the ancestor between them and me who signed the Declaration of Independence. To know how they lived and loved, what they were thinking when they fought or took that step to stand against England.

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

Loom knitting keeps my hands busy in the evening and from munching my way through the pantry. I’m a frustrated gardener at the moment trying to understand Georgia summers. Is yoga a hobby? I’m trying to learn about that. And the cats, of course.

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

Almost anything but horror I’ll at least try. My go-tos are the Lord of the Rings/Hobbit films, and Harry Potter. Little Women – I love the Winona Ryder/Susan Sarandon version and hope the newest one reaches that bar. If there’s a Jane Austen or Shakespeare film on I’ll watch that – love Kenneth Branagh and Colin Firth. Downton Abbey… lots of British shows like that. Any swashbuckling film and the Bogart/Bacall movies.

Fiona: Favorite foods, colors,  music?

Food – my oldest loves to experiment in the kitchen so pretty much anything he cooks. When I arrived in Georgia, he took me to his house and made Beef Wellington. My mouth still waters at the memory. Chocolate and a good wine to sip. Colors – soft pinks, purples and greens. Music – classical to relax and often to write. My sons have very different tastes and I get ideas from them to come up with my treadmill list – everything from Two Steps from Hell to classic rock to Remember the Name.

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

I can’t write? Then I must be dead! If I’m breathing, I’m writing. Oh, if I have to pick, then gardening or yoga, but I really think I’d be dead.

Fiona: You only have 24 hours to live how would you spend that time?

With my sons. Doesn’t matter where as long as I’m with the three of them.

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

She never quit to make her dreams reality.

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

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2474286792627734/

Webpage –https://abbygordonauthor.com/

Newsletter – https://abbygordon.authorfreebies.com/giveaways/win-a-signed-paperback-ebook-or-amazon-giftcard-from-author-abby-gordon

Amazon author page USA – https://www.amazon.com/Abby-Gordon/e/B003I7LBAK?ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vu00_taft_p2_i0

UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/Abby-Gordon/e/B003I7LBAK?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1569767338&sr=1-1

Releases 4 November

Releases 12 November

Releases 12 November

 

Here is my interview with Julie Trettel

27 Friday Sep 2019

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?

Julie Trettel, age 43

Fiona: Where are you from?

Richmond, Virginia

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

I attended James Madison University until my senior year when I was offered a job opportunity. I knew my friends, who had just graduated in my major, had struggled to find employment, or got offers lower than mine, so I quit college to pursue fulltime employment in IT and never looked back. I had a solid career for 24 years working my way up to Systems Administrator before leaving it in January 2019 to pursue writing fulltime.

I am married to my best friend, James, of 21 years. We have 4 fabulous kids that I couldn’t be prouder of: Roman, Hope, Bethany, and Katy. Roman is currently attending Hampton-Sydney College, and we homeschool all 3 girls. Our family life is a little backward from the norm. While I have always worked to support our family, my husband is super-dad. He’s been a stay-at-home dad since our oldest was born. It was very important to us to have a parent at home raising our children and there is absolutely nothing I would do differently.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

While I primarily write Paranormal Romance, every now and then I like to deviate. A brain break, or writing vacation, if you will. Currently that is working on the Stone of Amaria shared world project with Tara Brown, Jen L. Grey, Nicole Zoltack, Nicole Kelley, and Lindsey Loucks. Six kingdoms all in the same world. It will be 24 books in 24 weeks at conclusion.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

In 2014, my husband dared me to write a book in a year. I had a bad habit of reading things and saying “I could have done that better” until he finally dared me to prove it. Challenge accepted. I wrote my first novel, “The Compounders” in just over a year, giving it to my mother for her 70th birthday. That started a quick whirlwind that had it published by Kamel Press November 24, 2015.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I think I’ve always been a writer and accepted that fact. It was the title author that I struggled with. I don’t think I was ready to expose my stories to the world as quickly as it happened. It made me vulnerable and I wanted to hide the fact that it was out there. That lasted through book 1 and book 2 of the Compounders. Not exactly sure when that changed, but by the time I decided to self-publish in June 2017, I owned it 100%!

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

My husband, of course, since he was the instigator behind it all knowing exactly what buttons to push to get me motivated. But the topic itself stemmed from a family discussion one day after watching an episode of the show “Doomsday Preppers”. LOL Needless to say, my first series written was Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

It was what the characters called themselves having lived in a compound. I went with it. It’s really not that creative. LOL I’d like to think I’ve improved on my title skills some and know better now what resonates to market.

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

For the most part, I’m a pantser. I’m not real sure what my writing style is. I write strong, well developed characters and accel at world building. Family is very important to me and so in just about all my books you’ll find strong family bonds. Also, I always write strong female leads. That does not mean I have weakheros though, which sets me apart some in the PNR world I think. As for challenges, I don’t find writing particularly challenging at all. It’s as easy as breathing for me, and on the rare occasion I get stuck or something’s not working, I just get up and walk away to return with fresh eyes later.

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

While I don’t purposefully inject experiences or events from my own life, my kids laugh at me all the time saying I do. So I don’t know. LOL I think to keep things believable, all writers toss in pieces of themselves and that sense of familiarity whether it’s purposeful or not.

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

Do I have to travel? No, but I sure like to and use it as an excuse every chance I get.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

So, each of my series have been designed by a different artist. I’m not 100% sure who designed Compounders, Dissension, and Discontent, but Katherine Bogle of Katzilla Designs took that over started with Sedition and will eventually be recovering the entire Compounders Series (when I finish the final book).

Westin Pack covers were designed by Desiree Deorto who is no longer designing, except Under a Harvest Moon, the series prequel which was done by Logan Keys of Cover of Darkness.

Collier Pack covers were designed by Bridgette O’Hare of Dark Unicorn Designs.

And my ARC Shifters covers were also done by Logan Keys.

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

Each and every one of my books holds a different answer to that.

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 actually do not have a favorite writer and never have. I love to read and my favorite book has always been the one I just finished or am currently reading. LOL

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

My church family! They were super excited about my first book. So many of them rushed out to buy it and much to my horror, they read it too. LOL A few would stop me on Sundays to discuss it, and this was at a time when I wasn’t ready to accept being an author and still feeling very raw and vulnerable, but without even knowing it they helped me through that and motivated me to press on.Even when I announced I was quitting a 24 year career to write fulltime, they lifted me up with prayer and praise. So many authors tell horror stories of the lack of support they’ve received in publishing, especially from those closest to them, but that has not been my experience at all.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

Writing IS my career now. After 43 years I can finally say I know what I want to be when I grow up, and I’m living it everyday.

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

My most current book release is Legends of Sorcery, my first in the Stones of Amaria series. I do feel like I rushed this one a little. It was always meant to be a short story 25k+, but I wish I could have built more around it, then I have to remind myself that it’s only book 1! I know when all 4 books are finished and I have the complete story behind me, that it will be fine.

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

Legends of Sorcery was a bit of a challenge. First, I’m not used to writing books that short, so I really had to focus on what was most important to the story and leave some of the fluff behind. It’s written in 3rd person where the majority of my books are in 1st. And it’s a collaboration project, so there are pieces of it that aren’t entirely from my imagination, a first for me. That requires lots of extra notes and even some basic outlining which as a pantser is new territory for me, but I feel like it’s been a great experience and pushing me into new creative realms.

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

I get asked this all the time and I have no idea! I should probably stop and think of an answer one of these days. LOL

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

Write what you love! I always write with the thought “If I love this story, someone else out there will too.” With all the “write to market” talks, I always roll my eyes. The majority of “write to market” is just common sense. If you’ve read a lot of books and watched a lot of movies, especially in the genre you’re writing, you’ve already got a feel for how a story should pace and flow. If you haven’t, then stop now and do that first! Also, just write. A story can always be fixed or changed as needed once on paper (computer), but until then, it’s just a story in your head with nowhere else to go.

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

My readers are the absolute best! I love them so much. To my readers: I’m always available. Feel free to stop by and say hi anytime. I’m really easy to find on social media and always always always respond personally.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

Right now I’m working through the Frost Legacy Series by Jennifer Ann Reed. Loving it!

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

Nope! I do not remember a time in my life ever that I wasn’t reading. Apparently I started quite young. LOL

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

A lot of things make me laugh. My husband, my kids, a good inside joke, inappropriate innuendos, and so on. I’m not too hard to please. LOL Crying however is a different story. I’m not a big crier, and most often “I’m” the cause of it. Like my latest PNR book, Coming Home. I bawled through writing much of it. I’m at my most vulnerable when writing and it’s a huge sign of the sheer amount of emotion I’m pouring out onto the pages when I cry through words.

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

Nora Roberts. It’s not that I love her books anymore or less than any other author’s, she’s just so iconic and I’ve been reading her for a very long time. I’m honestly not that impressed with people, but I would likely fangirl over her for sure. LOL

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

Once upon a time that would have been writing. LOL I also like to read, cross-stitch, and cook

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

Almost everything! I’m super easy to please. I love romantic comedies to horror. Currently I’ve just finished binging on Vampire Diaries and Legacies, and going back now realizing I didn’t finish the final season of The Originials. But there are very few shows/films that I don’t enjoy….when I find the time to actually watch them!

Fiona: Favorite foods, colors,  music?

Foods: pizza, tacos, most anything Asian, oh, and seafood, especially crab…and shrimp…oh, and let’s not forget BACON! I probably should have eaten before answering this. It could go on for many pages, so I’ll stop there. LOL

Colors: purple and red are my two favorites.

Music: My whole family is very musical. We all play multiple instruments and listen to a great variety. My car is usually tuned into the local top 40 station, because I have teens and like to stay current on what they are listening to. Of course with Spotify, that varies greatly. They are always sending me new playlists to check out. Most recent was “Super Chill Vibes” by Roman’s recommendation.

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

That’s easy, if I couldn’t write any longer or if it just stopped paying the bills, I’d go back to IT.

Fiona: You only have 24 hours to live how would you spend that time?

Surrounding myself with family, love, and laughter. Doesn’t really matter what we would do, sit around the house watching a movie, go on a hike, go out to dinner, really wouldn’t matter to me as long as it was filled with positive memories.

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

I’m pretty boring in this way… my name and dates are plenty.

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

www.julietrettel.com

Amazon Authors page USA https://www.amazon.com/Julie-Trettel/e/B018HS9GXS

UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/Julie-Trettel/e/B018HS9GXS?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1569595039&sr=1-1

Here is my interview with E.M. Shue

27 Friday Sep 2019

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?

            Hello, I’m E.M. Shue and I’m looking at the dark side of 40’s, but excited to see what’s on the other side.

Fiona: Where are you from?

            I was born in Southwest Michigan but raised in Alaska. I’ve lived here most of my life and couldn’t dream of living any where else except maybe Ireland

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

            I don’t want this to sound like my resume so just quickly I’ve worked in the travel industry, the medical industry and even as a volunteer fire fighter. I have three girls ranging in age from 28 to 17. Only one of them still lives at home. My hubby is a real-life ice road trucker and dispatcher for a local up and coming trucking company.

I like exploring this awesome state that I live in and we travel as much as we can. Next year we are travelling to Ireland as a family and then to Australia for a book signing. I’m super excited to have two places marked off my bucket list.

I write action-packed sizzling romance. Currently I write the Securities International Series it’s a hot and steamy romantic suspense series with one main bad guy. It takes place all over the world but primarily in Scotland. All of my heroines are strong females and have jobs such as sniper, spy, computer hacker, artists and even dancers.

I’m a two-time Colorado Romance Writers of America Beverley award winner. This is an award that honors the hook of the book. So, the cover, blurb and first 20 pages have to hook the panel. I won in 2018 for Sniper’s Kiss in the Romantic Suspense category and then again in 2019 for Angel’s Kiss in the Contemporary Romance category.

 Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

            My latest news is the fact I’ll be publishing a brand-new suspense series. This one does have a close tie to Securities International but can be read as standalones. This series combines all the things I love suspense, sexiness, and some comedy. It also includes hot fire fighters and cops.

The other thing exciting is I’m writing two books in the Samantha A. Cole world. My Securities International and Caine & Graco Saga hotties are coming to the Trident Security World. In the new Samantha A. Cole Suspenseful Seduction World.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

            I always loved writing but never thought I would do anything more thanjournal and write business letters for the rest of my life until I woke up from a dream. I just couldn’t get the characters out of my mind and their story needed telling. I started researching and writing down the words, until my hubby had enough of me sitting on it and he pushed me to self-publish Sniper’s Kiss in May of 2017. The rest as they say is history. Eight books later S.I. has a mind of its own and now the Caine & Graco Saga is coming out of it too.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

            Honestly it took me publishing Sniper’s Kiss before I even considered myself a writer. I still don’t consider myself an author most days.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

            Like I said before it was a dream. In the dream I had it was a female highly trained cop and a British agent. Of course, I changed that up a bit. Also, in the dream they were trying to kill the man that hurt his sister her best friend. Finally, there was an explosion in the dream. I changed things up and made her a female police sniper, him a British SAS officer that currently works for a security company and the explosion happened in book three with another couple.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

            My family helped me. There were all kinds of thoughts but when I said Sniper’s Kiss it just stuck.

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

            I’m a pantser, no matter how much I try to plot or plan the story it takes over itself when I sit down to write it. Being a pantser is hard when I have such an integrated storyline. There is so much going on I must keep timelines and I need I’m constantly double-checking facts from other books.

Also, because my stories are current and contemporary, I have to research the areas of the stories I use Google maps street level to help with roadways and car chases. I don’t live in Scotland where the S.I. headquarters are but I’ve found property and use it to work into my stories, plus actual locations.

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

I try to put something of myself in each book or character. Or someone I know. I was a foster kid and brought that experience to Bekah. I have suffered from things in my past life that I use to be able to make some of the scenes more realistic. I try to incorporate my girls in the S.I. heroines too. Such as I wanted Maya to be strong and independent what I want for my girls. My Ana is a lot like my middle daughter Kelsey both artists that struggle every day. For Ana it’s with her nightmares and what she suffered and for my daughter it’s her health and the body God gave her that she has to battle every day with pain and discomfort. My newest heroine Kenzie is a combination of my oldest two daughters, my oldest is a 911 operator just like Kenzie and what she goes through is the struggle our family has with my middle daughter. Finally, my youngest daughter she is artistic musically inclined and a book nerd she is a part of all my girls but mostly she’s going to be my Nikki when I get to her book. But a lot of Vivian is her too.

As for my guys I have several former military men I talk to and all have a bit of my hubby in them. They have a bit of the men that shaped my life from my brothers, fathers (real and step), my foster father, my uncle and my grandfather.

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

            I haven’t travelled to a lot of the locations I’ve written about but I’m going to start now. Like I said before I use the computer for a lot of my research. I’ve talked to people in those areas to learn speech patterns and common words. Next year I’m going to Ireland and we are hoping to be able to do a trip over to Scotland so I can do some further research.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

            My original covers were designed by Anna Crosswell of Cover Couture. Earlier this year I hired the talented Leah Holt of Always Ink Covers. She has done the redo of book 2 and 3 covers and all this year’s releases. She is currently working on the cover for Hope’s Kiss book 7 of the S.I. series and just finished the cover for Accidentally Noah the first in the Caine & Graco Saga.

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

            That all girls are strong. That you can do whatever you set your mind to. Just because we have emotions, ovaries and other female parts doesn’t mean we can’t do something that a guy can do. When I was a volunteer firefighter I was constantly running into those issues. Guys thinking, I couldn’t do it because I was a girl or even my age because I was over 30 when I did that. Well hell I showed them.

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?

           New to me authors that I’m really liking are Miranda Lynn, AJ Renee, JM Walker, Sarah Robinson and Samantha Lind. I have so many favorite writers Aurora Rose Reynolds, KL Donn, CP Smith, Natasha Madison, Samantha A. Cole, Rebecca Zanetti, Harper Sloan and Lani Lynn Vale.

When I read books, I like action adventure, comedy, hot and steamy romance, and characters that catch my attention. I don’t like weak females I’ve DNF (did not finish) a couple books if the heroine is a sissy. I write books that I like. Yes, I’m looking at doing sci-fi romance at some point because I like paranormal romance.

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

            Wow there are a couple but one that read my unedited script and pushed me to get it out there is Wendy Olivia, she’s a close friend of our family and one of my best friends. Also, my two sisters in laws have pushed me to keep publishing and to get my words out there. I joke that one of them is my silent partner and she lets me bounce ideas off her and helps with business decisions.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

            I do now. I’m currently writing full time. With my publishing schedule for next year this is the best time to do it. I’ve got at least 5 up to possible 7 books set to publish next yer.

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

            Wow great question. With my latest book Identity’s Kiss that came out in August I wouldn’t have changed the story it became what it needed to be for the story and the series, but I would have loved to have had it out sooner then I did.

With Accidentally Noah that comes out in October, I can’t think of anything I would have changed with it. I’m excited for everyone to meet Noah and Kenzie. Also, to meet my Caine and Graco hotties.

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

            I learned to trust myself more. I’ve learned with everything that happened before Identity’s Kiss published that my voice is what the readers love about my writing. They love the story and characters too. Because of the nature of this business I’ve learned to be careful what you say at all times. I’ve also learned that there are good people out there who just want to help, not for the glory or because they want something from you, they just want to help.

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

            Oh man I have my ideas but if Sniper’s Kiss was made into a movie, I’d want Gemma Arterton to play the young Maya she eventually grows into Kate Beckinsale. I’ve always seen Daniel Cudmore as my Duncan.

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

            Keep putting the words down. We all start somewhere and not everything that I write down is published but at least keep writing.

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

            Thank you for your support I couldn’t do what I love to do if you didn’t read it. Also please leave reviews that’s a way to tell us writers you like what we do.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

            Right now, I’m reading two books. I’m doing research for my Samantha A. Cole world book by reading all her books currently it’s Absolving his Sins. I’m also reading Natasha Madison’s Pieces of Heaven.

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

Beverley Cleary Beezus and Ramona is one of my earliest that I can remember. I know there was some before that, but I can’t think what they were. I remember my mom reading the Secret Garden to us and one of my favorites is Jane Eyre.

 Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

            My hubby laughs at me because I cry in a lot of movies and books. I’ll even cry at commercials sometimes. Laughing happens in our house on a daily basis with my family. With three dogs, three girls and a truck driver that made sure his girls had his sick sense of humor we are always laughing. We are constantly trying to out kid the kidder. We’re sarcastic and full of crap most of the time.

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

            Elton John is who I always say when I’m asked because he isn’t afraid to be himself.

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

            I read of course like crazy. I like to go fishing with the family. I’m a movie and music nut so I’m constantly finding new artists, new songs and new movies.

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

            I love police procedural shows, action-adventure movies and some dramas. Some of my favorites are Criminal Minds, CSI, Major Crimes, Rizzoli & Isles, all the Avengers and super hero movies, Die Hard movies (Christmas classics I watch every year), Downton Abbey, and Bones.

Fiona: Favorite foods, colors, music?

            I love a lot of foods that’s why I’m over-weight, ha-ha. I love comfort foods for me those are bangers and mash, biscuits and gravy, fried chicken with gravy, grilled cheese sandwiches, and Italian foods.

My favorite color is purple. But I like reds and greens too. I love Fall because of the maroons, golds and greens combining.

I love all genres of music. I was in choir for years until my vocal chords were damaged. I have playlists set up for my books because I listen to music as I write. That’s one of the ways I build my characters is by figuring out what kind of music they’d listen too.

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

            That wouldn’t be a very good future for me. Writing is my outlet for my emotions so it would be bleak if I couldn’t write now that I do it.

 Fiona: You only have 24 hours to live how would you spend that time?

            Loving on my family and spending time with them. I would spend everything I had to get all my girls in one spot again and mend my family to what it was before it became broken.

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

            First, I’m going to be cremated so I probably won’t have a headstone. Ever since I was kid, I’ve said I don’t want to be buried. But if my urn was set by a headstone, I would want it to say something like. She loved fiercely and gave the naysayers the middle finger.

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

            My website is www.authoremshue.com there is a blog attached to it and I try to keep it updated. Also, I’m on lots of social media come hang out with me.

            All Author: https://allauthor.com/profile/emshue/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/emshue_ak

Facebook: www.facebook.com/EMShue

E.M. Surprises – fun, games, excerpts and more…– https://www.facebook.com/groups/1798449467096528/

Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/E.M.-Shue/e/B071KV3DMG

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/e.m.shue/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/e-m-shue

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16798608.E_M_Shue

 Amazon USA  – https://www.amazon.com/E.M.-Shue/e/B071KV3DMG

UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/E-M-Shue/e/B071KV3DMG?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1569575630&sr=1-1

💋Sniper’s Kiss: Https://books2read.com/SnipersKiss

💋Angel’s Kiss: Https://books2read.com/AngelsKiss

💋Tougher Embrace: Https://books2read.com/TougherEmbrace

💋Love’s First Kiss: Https://books2read.com/LovesFirstKiss

💋Secret’s Kiss: Https://books2read.com/SecretsKiss

💋Second Chance’s Kiss: Https://books2read.com/SecondChancesKiss

💋Sniper’s Kiss Goodnight: Https://books2read.com/SnipersKissGoodnight

💋Identity’s Kiss: Htts://books2read.com/IdentitysKiss

💋Securities International Volume One: https://books2read.com/SIVolume1

💜Accidentally Noah – https://books2read.com/NoahCaine

 

Here is my interview with Lucienne Boyce

26 Thursday Sep 2019

Posted by fionamcvie1964 in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

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?

Hallo Fiona and thanks for inviting me onto Author Interviews.

My name is Lucienne Boyce. As for my age, I’ll keep quiet about that as it might make me look as historical as my books.

Fiona: Where are you from?

I live in Bristol, England.

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

I was born in Wolverhampton in the Midlands. I went to university in Sheffield and took a degree in Philosophy. After that I lived in London for a few years, then moved to Bristol. In 2006 I studied for an MA in English Literature with the Open University, specialising in eighteenth centuryliterature. To tell the truth, I didn’t much enjoy my University years but the MA made up for it. I loved studying with the OU.

I now live in Bristol with my husband (and hundreds of books). He’s an Englishteacher, now retired (although he keeps his hand in by writing exam papers), which is a great help with my writing. What that man doesn’t know about semi-colons and Oxford commas isn’t worth knowing.

 Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

The third Dan Foster Mystery, Death Makes No Distinction, was published this month (September).

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

 I was scribbling stories from a very young age. I penned my own versions of Lost in Space, Bambi, and a long, rambling saga about a princess who travelled around having adventures (not the sort who sits in a tower waiting for a handsome prince!).But then I lost the thread of it; there wasn’t a lot of encouragement for writing,at home or at school. The best the teachersat my school could suggest was that I took up a “wordy” career like law or secretarial work. I ended up as a secretary and worked in admin for many years. It was a long time before I found the courage to write again, and many more before I felt I could call myself a writer.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I realised that no matter what the discouragement, I was going to write.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

 My first book was To The Fair Land, which is set in the eighteenthcentury. I’d been fascinated by the literature of the period for a long time; as I mentioned, when I did my MA I chose to specialise in it. But it’s not so much what inspired To The Fair Land as who. That was one of my literary heroines, novelist and diarist Frances Burney (1752–1840).

To The Fair Land grew out of my fascination with the secrecy surrounding the publication of Burney’s first novel, Evelina. Burney’s motives for keeping her authorship secret are not entirely clear. Perhaps she feared hostile criticism, or losing respectability – women weren’t supposed to seek notoriety or show off their intelligence, and women who did publish could find a male-dominated culture very hostile.Whatever her reasons, Burney wrote in secret and published anonymously (although the truth came out eventually).

I began to wonder what would happen if a book was published anonymously with more at stake than a reputation. What if there was real danger for people connected with it?  But what could be so important? I found the clues in Burney’s novels and diaries. Her brother James served in the Resolution on Captain Cook’s second voyage in search of the Great Southern Continent, a landmass which many believed existed in the southern hemisphere.

What could be more exciting than the quest for new lands? At stake are lives, fortunes, even the fate of a nation…so Ben Dearlove, the hero of To The Fair Land, is in peril because of his obsession with an anonymous book about a voyage to the Great Southern Continent. The heroine, Sarah Edgcumbe, is a homeless wanderer who has to conceal the truth about her past – like the heroine of Burney’s novel The Wanderer. She’s also named, incidentally, after Frances’s step-sister Sarah, and like her namesake is a writer.

Added to that, I’ve always been attracted to tales of mythical lands – the island of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Charlotte Perkin Gilman’s Herland, Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World, William Morris’s Wondrous Isles, C S Lewis’s Narnia, El Dorado, Camelot…all the dystopias and utopias that mankind has dreamed of for centuries. So the book grew from those two strands, eventually combining my love of eighteenth-century literature and history, and my fascination with mythical lands.

But it took a long time for it all to come together, and many false starts.

 Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

 I rarely have a title in mind when I start writing. I prefer the title to flow from the story. Oftenit’s my husband who comes up with the best suggestion after he’s read the manuscript.

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

 I write historical fiction and non-fiction (I’ve written about the Bristol suffragettes and I’m currently writing a biography of Millicent Price, a suffrage campaigner whosehusbandwas a conscientious objector during the First World War), and I suppose the most obvious challenge is the research. It’s certainly the one I get asked about most often. For one thing, there’s a lot of it to do! And then there’s the issue of how muchyou should include in your story, and how you put it in. Thatall depends on whether I’m writing fiction or non-fiction, and that in turn depends on what sort of fiction or non-fiction it is.

But I think it’s a sort of non-issue in some ways. I don’t separatetheresearchand the writing. They are both part of the creative process and intertwined one with the other.

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

I think all books express the experiences of the writer to a great extent, and that’s the case even with historical fiction. My stories grow out of the historical figuresI empathise with, ideas that resonate,situations that capture my imagination. We share many experiencesincommon with people of the past too: we fall in love, we have ambitions, hopes and dreams, we have good and bad luck, losses, successes and failures, and so on.

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

I am very influenced by place and a large part of my research does involve visiting different locations. I like to walk the landscapes my characters walk, because even if those landscapes have changed over time, I still get something of a feel of the place and how my characters fitted into it.

I spend time doing research in libraries, museums and art galleries. I also visit sites and buildings of the period. Bristol is very close to Bath, which is full of eighteenth century buildings, for example.

For Dan Foster, who is a Bow Street Runner, I spend a fair bit of time tramping the streets of London, armed with an eighteenth-century map. Which can be a bit confusing if someone sees me with a map and asks me for directions! Not all the stories are set in London though. The Fatal Coin takes place around Cannock Chase in the Midlands, and Bloodie Bones (the first in the series) is set in avillage near Bath, in an area where I’ve done many walks.The next Dan Foster Mystery will be set in Wales.

Consulting archives involves travel too. UnfortunatelyMillicent Price didn’t live anywhere exotic! Sofar I’ve spent time in Leeds, Birmingham, Walsall and Swansea – though there will be a research trip to The Netherlands sometime in the future. Luckily my sister lives there and so I won’t need to worry about finding a translator.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

 The books are published by SilverWood Books of Bristol (https://www.silverwoodbooks.co.uk/), who offer an assisted publishing service for independent authors. That means they project manage the publication process, and also produce the book to a high standard. They have an in-house design team.

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

 One of the things that’s important to me is to consider history from the point of view of the so-called “ordinary” people who are often excluded from the records. In fact, I don’t much like the word “ordinary”. I don’t think anyone’s ordinary whenit comes down to it. We all have stories to tell. But all too often, history has beendominated by certain kinds of narrative – by the perspectives of therich and powerful for example.

Millicent Price and her husband weren’t particularly well known, andit’s precisely for that reason I want to write about them. As for thefiction, I’m more interested in commoners than kings.

But really I hopepeopleenjoy reading the books!

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 just read the first in Abir Mukherjee’s Wyndham and Bannerjee books and I’m keen to read more. (Does he count as a “new author?” – the first was published in 2017!) There are lots of authors who are new to me but whose work has been around a while whose books I’m just discovering – Barry Unsworth, for example.

My favourite (living) writer is Robin Hobb, who writes fantasy – I read a lot of fantasy fiction. I love her books about FitzchivalryFarseer-The Farseer Trilogy and so on. I think she’s an amazing writer, with the ability to immerse you in her stories and the lives of her characters to the extentthat you don’t want to eat or sleep. The nights I’ve lain awake worrying about what’s going to happen next to Fitz…to be able to write a story that sweeps you up like that, now that’s writing!

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

 I have writer friends who’ve encouraged me, and who still do. Debbie Young https://authordebbieyoung.com/ is a positive powerhouse of encouragement to me and other indie authors – and she writes a lovely series of cosy mysteries set in a Cotswold village – the Sophie Sayers Mysteries. And Helen Hollickhttps://www.helenhollick.net/ is another writer who is very generous with her encouragement – and I absolutely love her Arthurian books, the Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy. I find the indie community in general very supportive – I’m a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors https://www.allianceindependentauthors.org/ which offers all sorts of help and support.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

I’m not sure career feels like the right word. It has connotations of worldly advancement and income earning, and I don’t think the way I see writing fits into that straitjacket. But then vocation sounds a bit airy-fairy and conjures up images of me sitting at my desk and praying for divine inspiration, instead of working. Yet at the same time I do think of writing as a spiritual practice, and that creativity and spirituality are interconnected. So maybe I’ll just say: yes, it’s a career, and a vocation, and a profession, and a calling, and work, and play, and – an obsession perhaps?!

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

 I don’t think so. But that doesn’t mean I think it’s perfect.For one thing, there are always so manyways a story can go and in the end you make a choice about how you’re going to tell it this time, in this book. For every book you finish, there are many other manifestations of it in the shadows behind it: the characters you didn’t include, the settings you didn’t use, the themes you didn’t pursue, the turns you didn’t take.But it’s all a work in progress; you take what you’ve learned from one book into the next one, and the next, and the next.

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

In researching the anti-slavery movement in the eighteenthcentury, I found myself reflecting more deeply on how the past still lives on in the present.

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

I don’t know. I have my image of Dan Foster, and readers no doubt have theirs, and anyone casting a film would have theirs too. So I’d be interested to see what the casting director came up with.

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

 The obvious answer is “write”: you only learn by practising your craft. But I also think it’s important to read. Readthe genre you’re interested in, but also read beyond it. And read attentively: think about your reactions to a book and where they come from. What works for you? What doesn’t? That way you’ll become more aware of what will work for you as a writer.

I also think it helps to read books about writing. There are many many books out there, so it’s a question of finding what speaks to you. Some of my favourites are The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, Story by Robert McGee, and Impro for Storytellers by Keith Johnstone. But you’ll soon build up your own library of what’s helpful for you.

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

Thank you for reading! I hope you continue to enjoy the books and following Dan Foster’s adventures.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

I always have two or three books on the go, both fiction, and non-fiction which is usually for research. Current fiction is The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’sWives by Lola Shoneyin. Current non-fiction for the Dan Foster books, Pugilistica: The History of British Boxing Containing Lives of the Most Celebrated Pugilists by HenryDownes Miles – Dan is an amateur pugilist; and for the biographyGirls Growing up in Late Victorian and Edwardian England by Carol Dyhouse.

 Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

 Apart from picture books, the first book I remember that felt like a “real” book was Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. I absolutely loved that book; I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read it. But there may have been other books before that. Teddy Robinson. Milly Molly Mandy. Adventures of The Little Wooden Horse by Ursula Murray Williams – another favourite.

 Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

 Blackadder makes me laugh and certain scenes in The Life of Brian always have me in stitches. I still laugh at episodes of Cheers, and chuckle at The Good Place.P G Wodehouse’s books make me laugh: who can forget the prize giving at Snodsbury Grammar School?

As for what makes me cry, well a lot of things do. Cruelty. Inequality. Wanton destruction of our planet.Whenever a Dr Who says goodbye.

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

 There are many people I’d love to meet! There are so many writers I admire, past and present, I’d be hard pressed to mention them all. Charles Dickens, Hilda Vaughan, Dorothy L Sayers, Rebecca West, John Clare, William Morris…but if I had to choose one person, it would be Mary Wollstonecraft.

 Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

 I try to keep fit. I go running, and do aerobics.

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

 At the moment I’m watching Peaky Blinders. I’ve come to it late, and have only just finished the second series. I loved Game of Thrones. And I love a good cop show, though I dislike the young-woman-tied-up-and-tortured-in-a-dungeon trope which Scandi Noir seems to have degenerated into since the days of The Killing.I enjoy Vera, Shetland, Montalbano, Poirot, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Foyle’s War. And I’m a fan of Midsomer Murders, the pottier the story, the better.

And Dr Who, of course.

As for films, my favourite film is Gladiator. Yes, really. But I love The Princess Bride and The Philadelphia Story and Ealing comedies and virtually anything with Cary Grant (he’s a Bristol boy you know!). And Alien and Aliens.

 Fiona: Favorite foods, colors,  music?

 Favourite food is Italian. I’m vegetarian, and there’s always plenty of choice for non- meat eaters.

Colour – blue.

Music – soul, blues, Steely Dan, Steve Winwood, Terry Evans, the Gershwins, opera (favourite opera is Der Rosenkavalier).

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

 I’d like to be a puppeteer and make puppets like the ones William Simmonds made. https://www.cheltenhammuseum.org.uk/collection/arts-and-crafts-designers-william-and-eve-simmonds/ Alas, I doubt I’d ever have the skill so maybe I would just volunteer to hand out the theatre programmes.

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

Oh dear, I don’t know! Something simple.

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

 Social Media links:-

Twitter: @LucienneWrite

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

Blog:  http://francesca-scriblerus.blogspot.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6437832.Lucienne_Boyce

Amazon Authors page UK  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lucienne-Boyce/e/B00ADI8LOQ/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

USA https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lucienne-Boyce/e/B00ADI8LOQ/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Here is my interview with Dan Melnick

25 Wednesday Sep 2019

Posted by fionamcvie1964 in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

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?

Hey everyone, I’m Dan Melnick and I’m 35.

Fiona: Where are you from?

I’m originally from Pennsylvania right outside of Hershey – where all the chocolate is made – but I’ve called the Midwest home now with my family for quite some time.

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

Growing up in a small town, I was one of those kids who strived for new experiences. That led to me to pursue dual degrees in English and Communication at Loyola University of Chicago. I then did a master’s program in Ethnology in Folklore at the University of Aberdeen after graduation. It was a master’s degree, but it was really an excuse to live in Scotland for a while.

After that, I met my wife and settled in the Midwest where we have three small children that make every day equal parts exciting and exhausting.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

I’m working on the sequel to a book I haven’t even released yet. I’m writing the current manuscript while also getting its predecessor ready for publication and editing an entirely different third manuscript all at the same time. It makes for some busy days, but it’s good to have a number of things in the pipeline.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I’ve been writing novels for about eight years now. I started writing comic books. I’m a huge fan of comic books and I’d spend most of my life thinking I wanted to be a comic book writer when I “grew up” but companies rarely just hire you for that. You have to make enough of your own books for a while, get big enough, and then they might contact you to write something for them.

I knew it was a long shot, but I spent a couple of years trying to make my own comics and ran into one, giant hurdle. It’s really hard to convince someone else to draw something only I was passionate about. Especially when you can’t pay them with anything except for royalties on a project that may never get finished. I don’t blame them either. Who wants to work for free? I would have drawn the comics myself except I’d never been a particularly good artist. But I had an epiphany of sorts. Why was I spending so much time convincing other people to do this work for me when I can write my own stories and essentially “illustrate” them myself? I mean, these were my ideas and my passion so no wonder they weren’t as into it as I was. So one day about eight years ago I decided to just go for it. At that time, the most I’d ever written was like four short stories. That was it. I’d always been an avid reader but had never considered writing an actual novel myself. Once I got started, I never really stopped. So here I am eight years later with as many books under my belt.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

It honestly wasn’t until that long ago. My wife has always been supportive, but I suppose I suffered from imposter syndrome like so many other writers out there. I’d have work around phrases like “I enjoy writing novels” or “I write novels in my spare time” instead of just coming flat out with it. It wasn’t until I had a couple of books that I was really proud of with definitive plans to self-publish at least one of them that flicked the switch in my head. I mean, if you write, you’re a writer. It’s honestly as simple as that. I was conflating a writer with being a published author.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

So like I said before, it was my frustration of getting into the comic book business. My biggest surprise was how much I came to enjoy writing. It’s honestly what I’d rather do. I mean, if someone wants to me write a comic book I’d never turn them down, but I now think like a novelist and not a comic book writer.

And that was hard in the beginning. When I first started, I thought like a script writer and all I knew of novels was as a fan of the stuff I loved. My first manuscript was a bloated, over and underwritten mess of an epic fantasy that was cliché, ambitious, and not that great as you can imagine. It took a few trunk novels and some work and practice learning about structure and craft until I created works I was happy with.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

My first published novel is Fairfax Cleaners. It’s an urban fantasy about a cleaner – someone who cleans up dead bodies – for the fair mob of Chicago. I knew I wanted the title to incorporate Cleaners like a business, but I needed a name. I settled on Fairfax (actually a road in my town) because it sounded good and coincidentally worked with some of the historical aspects of the book as well.

The next book coming out, Altered Egos, is a play on superhero tropes as it stars a supervillain as the protagonist. See? If you don’t let me write comic books, I suppose I’ll just end up writing books about comics.

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

Not really. Fairfax Cleaners is in third person. Altered Egos is in first. Both incorporate lots of colourful characters and monsters. I consider myself a science fiction and fantasy writer, so coming up with fantastical elements isn’t that challenging for me. In fact, I don’t know if I even could write a story completely based in the real world. My challenge comes more with pacing, I suppose, keeping things interesting for the reader and not getting bogged down with all the cool stuff I know and want the reader to know, but just paring back and delivering an enjoyable story with believable stakes.

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

The only thing realistic or based on my experiences in Fairfax Cleaners is working for the mob. Totally kidding. No. It’s the city of Chicago. I spent six years there during undergrad and a little after, so I know the place fairly well. I’d always liked books that included details of the city as landmarks and character to really help sell the idea of place and Chicago was the only city I really felt like I knew so that’s where Fairfax Cleaners takes place.

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

With three small kids at home, the only travel I get to do for research these days is via Google. I do lots of research and save pictures for inspiration and details. My desk has two monitors so it’s not uncommon that while I have the word doc open on one screen, there are a half dozen web pages on the other. Just today, I was writing a scene in the Altered Egos sequel that takes place in Stuttgart, Germany. I can’t just pop over there to check out a street corner, but a quick search in Google Maps got me something. I then switched it to satellite view, zoomed in, and rotated the camera to see what would conceivably across the street from my fictitious café. The internet is a wonderful thing!

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

Fairfax Cleaners was designed by Extended Imagery and I have to say Carl just knocked it out of the park. The only notes I had for him was that I had more of an idea of tone rather than a photo or photorealistic image of the protagonist – this is a pet peeve of mine in the urban fantasy genre – and Carl totally delivered. I’d rather have a bloodied hacksaw, rubber gloves, and severed foot. When Altered Egos is ready for cover treatment, I’m totally going back to Carl and Extended Imagery.

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

Have fun and maybe that fairies aren’t always nice, beautiful and spritely.

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?

New writers I think I have to go with R.F. Kuang. The Poppy War would have been a trilogy in itself in anyone else’s hands, but she condenses the story in an interesting way and just turns things up to 11! The sequel, The Dragon Republic is on my To Be Read list for sure.

I have favourite books, but I’m not sure I have a favourite writer. There are a number of authors who I’ll probably buy whatever they produce no questions asked like anything by Brandon Sanderson or China Meiville ought to be a good time. But for favourite books, I think Shogun by James Clavell, Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, and the Sandman comic series by Neil Gaiman take the cake. Shogun is a tightly written character transformation in about a thousand pages, but still so compelling! Shadow of the Wind is the most beautiful, magical book I’ve ever read where both the prose and the mystery kept me coming back. And Sandman is just epic. I enjoy Gaiman’s comics more than his novels and Sandman in particular just opened up the world of possibility for me as it showed me that all of these things in folklore and magic or whatever that I already cared about can be treated with serious and deliberate care and make for an epic read.

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

If I can’t include my wife as she’s family, then that’s got to be my friend Ross. We worked together for a couple of years before he switched jobs but we still keep in touch. He reads every book I write and has always been a champion for me, often beating me over the head with advice and encouragement if and when I need the self-esteem boost.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

I’d love to. Honestly, I’d do this anyway. I mean I am right now. But I’ll be happy if this becomes a productive side gig. I have a day job at a university that I like and wouldn’t mind keeping even if writing money gets good. That said, if writing takes up too much of my time, I’d be A-OK making the full time change. The best parts of my day are untangling story knots, cracking plot problems, and just writing in general. I love storytelling and anything that lets me do that is good with me.

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

Maybe write it earlier? With anything I write, I try and leave some room at the end of every book I write for sequel potential. That’s because I don’t like finite endings, I guess. The characters’ journeys will continue to some extent. However, a rule I’d created for myself was that I would never write a sequel to a book no one would ever read. Meaning that if one book didn’t sell, why waste the valuable time and energy writing that sequel? I’ve changed my tune on this to some degree as I’m currently writing a sequel to a book that isn’t out yet, but that’s because I’m self-publishing the series. I only let myself work ahead after Ideveloped am action and marketing plan to make that worthwhile. I don’t think I would have been able to do that even a couple of years ago. While I wouldn’t mind having some earlier success, I learn something with every book I write and get better as a writer, so I don’t know if what I’m doing now would be possible without the stuff that came before.

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

Oh yes! I have a book that should be back from my beta readers within the next week or so that’s an Asian inspired epic fantasy. It’s the longest book I’ve ever written and has the most POVs I’ve ever done. Balancing that was difficult, but creating the world was more so. I don’t just mean the world of the book but the wold of the characters. I wanted each POV to feel different from the others. I’m still working on that now, but I wouldn’t be anywhere close if I hadn’t spent time to just work on the craft of writing prose. I took a class on just how to write better, punch up descriptions, create better metaphors, that kind of thing and it’s  helped me in everything I work on now.

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

If Fairfax Cleaners was a movie, I think Gus would definitely be played by Jason Statham. I didn’t write it that way in mind, but Gus is a weathered British balding guy, wears dark suits and fights a lot. I think I originally pictured like a younger Sir Ben Kingsley or something, but if that’s not Jason Statham than I don’t know what is!

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

Just do it. Like a Nike commercial. I see things all the time like “I have a great idea but no motivation” or “is it normal to hate what you write.” These are people who just need the confidence boost. Look, nobody is going around with sword to tap you on the shoulder and say “arise, new writer.” I had to learn some of that for myself. But you’re never going to get there or be anywhere near happy with your progress if you don’t start. I think the greatest piece of writing advice I ever received was from a graduate assistant teaching a short story class when I was in college. She said whatever you’re working on, just finish it. You can always fix it when you’re finished. The hardest part is getting the story told, once that’s done, you’ve done it. She was mostly right. The hardest part is really in the editing, which is why I’m a firm believer in the Michael Creighton quote “Great books aren’t written. They’re rewritten.” But the gist of what she’s saying is sound. I hate editing, but know how necessary it is. Still, there’s no feeling in the world like coming to the end of a finished manuscript for the first time.

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

I’m working on writing faster so you’re going to see a lot more of my stuff in the future.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

I just finished John Connolly’s The Killing Kind this morning. I have David Mitchell’s The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet primed and ready to go but haven’t cracked the cover yet.

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

First “book” book might have been Jurassic Park. I read it in third grade. I have a friend who has a literal doctorate in astrophysics who read it in fourth grade. When we disagree about something we just remember “who’s smarter” and fall back on the fact that I read Jurassic Park before him. It’s our joking way to decide things easily.

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

Pixar movies. Ever since I became a dad I just turned into a big old softy. I love my kids so much and Pixar movies are usually about family. They know how to tug on the old heartstrings.

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

I’m sure there are a whole host of really important people I’m totally blanking on right now, but the first person to pop into my head is Paul Kern. He was a Hungarian soldier in World War I. He survived being shot in the head and a weird side effect was that he didn’t have to sleep anymore for the rest of his life! I’ve always had this fascination and animosity toward sleep. We waste a third of our lives doing it. I’ve always toyed around with characters who never had to sleep. How much more productive would they be at stuff. I used to joke with my astrophysicist friend that if I didn’t have to sleep, I’d become Batman. So yeah, it would be interesting to hang out with Paul Kern for a bit.

 Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

Reading, playing video games, Magic the Gathering, and Dungeons and Dragons. Collecting comic books, whichshouldn’t surprise anyone by this point. I also used to be an avid runner, but it’s hard to get out of the house with little kids these days.

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

Right now I just finished Netflix’s Dark Crystal Age of Resistance. Wow what a good show! My wife and I just got on the Schitt’s Creek train and are enjoying that immensely.I’m also really digging Amazon’s Carnival Row at the moment. It’s like the offspring of two books I’ve written so I’m both delighted and devastated it exists. Quit mining my subconscious!

Fiona: Favorite foods, colors,  music?

Food: Indian. Give me some goat vindaloo and garlic naan anytime. Colors: green and gray. Music: I’m not a big music person. I mean I like music, who doesn’t, but it doesn’t drive my identity so it ends up changing a lot. Right now I’m back into an 80s kick and glam rock.

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

I will always write even if no one is reading it anymore. So if such an occasion of me not writing occurs than the end of the world is finally upon us and the robots have risen up and tired of their human masters. In that case, I guess I’d go with resistance fighter and hope that if I ever got hit, I’d be lucky like Paul Kern.

Fiona: You only have 24 hours to live how would you spend that time?

 With my family. Goofing around with my kids and making them laugh. I’m tearing up just thinking about it. See? What did I tell you? Big softy.

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

With great power comes great responsibility

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

Yep, my blog is https://danmelnickstories.com/ . I’m also on Twitter @dmelnick, and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DanMelnickAuthor/

Places to get the book:

USA https://www.amazon.com/Fairfax-Cleaners-Dan-Melnick/dp/1733909818/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=dan+melnick&qid=1569424371&sr=8-1

UK  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fairfax-Cleaners-Dan-Melnick/dp/1733909818/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?keywords=Fairfax+Cleaners+Paperback+%E2%80%93+April+9%2C+2019&qid=1569425864&s=books&sr=1-1-fkmr0

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/fairfax-cleaners?fbclid=IwAR3CCVXxGgF02VwMXv9TG9CJQQdxASL7Z632jdD0I8lyoFEcBrebSSpc1eE

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fairfax-cleaners-dan-melnick/1131177773;jsessionid=3DA1637BAC1975ECA07B4099624CCB82.prodny_store01-atgap12?ean=2940156041367

https://linkmaker.itunes.apple.com/en-us/details/1459119241?country=us&mediaType=books&term=fairfax+cleaners&type=book&fbclid=IwAR0aGU_cnMvgCSF-QInrFx3l7Vt7B0S-oNZ3Hs30LP_jOktgsoU7vwbcPPw

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/932548?fbclid=IwAR3xjqsEYFPdhgdcfQ6417Ul8olrs1DTiic46T34Kk9Gywqy2-U9BL7rnKI

Good Reads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19056050.Dan_Melnick

 

Here is my interview with Faith Marlow

25 Wednesday Sep 2019

Posted by fionamcvie1964 in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

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?

My name is Faith Marlow and I’m 40 years old.

Fiona: Where are you from?

Knoxville, TN

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

I am a Paranormal/ Dark Fantasy/ Urban Fantasy/ Horror author, basically I love all things creepy. My husband and I have been married for twenty- two years, long term high school sweethearts. I work in the IT field by day, and write at night. Our son is a junior at East Tennessee State University.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

Most recently, my short story Sleepyhead has been accepted into the charity anthology. Clarissa’s Dreams Redux in honor of Cancer patients, survivors and those who we’ve lost. I am also very close to completing the third book in my Being Mrs. Dracula series. This has been a very long project for me, so I’m very excited.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I began writing poetry in the fifth grade but I had dreamed of being an author long before that, around Kindergarten. My favorite book was “The story of Ferdinand” and I loved it so much that I marked out the author’s name and wrote mine over it in my five year old scrawl.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I had dabbled with it and actually wrote a fantasy novel (that will probably never see daylight) and entered several short story contests before writing Being Mrs. Dracula. I think I truly began to see myself as a writer in a serious sense when my short story “Chuckles” was accepted into the Cirque D’Obscure anthology from CHBB (currently out of print).

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

My “starter” book was inspired by characters my husband and I created in a MMORPG game we had played for years. However, I consider my first book to truly be “Being Mrs. Dracula”. I was inspired to write this book because I wanted to read it and I couldn’t find it. I had loved stories of Dracula for years and always thought the brides were interesting but little was ever said about them. When I read Bram Stoker’s Dracula, there was very little information about these characters and it referred to them as “weird sisters”. While researching the idea, I looked at the historical Vlad III, who many considered to have inspired Stoker’s count. Again, much of the history surrounding his wives, especially his first wife, had been lost. Even her name had been forgotten. I decided to bring depth and life to these overlooked characters and to explore the historical figures for inspiration. Valeria and “Being Mrs. Dracula” was born.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

I wanted to emphasize their relationship with Dracula, not just their status. So I decided to call the book “Being Mrs. Dracula” as opposed to Countess to show that intimate relationship was at the forefront of the story and they were the main characters, not Dracula. He is a supporting character in my story.

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

I think the biggest challenge I have faced with “Being Mrs. Dracula” is simply getting the historical side of things as accurate as possible. Since it does contain epistolary writing style with the brides’ journals, dates are dropped, historical events, locations, etc. As my stories travel through history toward present times, I have to make the things they come into contact with are accurate for the time. This can create a research rabbit hole that I don’t have to deal with in my present-day setting novels.

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

Considering the nature of the story, we don’t have very many shared experiences but I do try to place myself in Valeria’s shoes. I think her actions are very reflective of what mine would be. She doesn’t always think things through but her heart’s in the right place- most of the time.

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

I am an armchair traveller. I have been all over the earth on google maps but not in person. It would be a dream come true to visit Romania.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

Rue Volley has designed all my covers with images I have chosen and a basic idea from me. She creates images I never knew I wanted. I’m in love with them.

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

I think I would want someone to take away the message that nothing is final so long as we are breathing and trying. Valeria faces so many situations where she wants to lay down and die, but she knows a better life is out there for her. She craves that better life and defends her loved ones from the world. I think that is the message I want them to convey to the readers. Don’t underestimate yourself. Don’t settle and never give up on finding your happiness. You deserve to be happy and loved.

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 admire many of my fellow CHBB/ Vamptasy authors and read as much of their work as I can to show my support.

Lily Luchesi is a fantastic paranormal/ dark fantasy. She creates amazing worlds and produces so much quality work. I was fortunate to co-write “Soul Syndicate” with her and it was one of the best things I could have done for my career. I learned so much.

Carmilla Voiez is one of my favorite horror/ dark fantasy authors. Her stories are beautifully dark, dangerous, and sexy as hell. I love diving into her books.

Jenn Nixon is my favorite, go scifi author. Not only are her stories exciting they have heart, which appeals to my cuddly side.

If I am looking for steamy reads, I pick up a book by Felicia Fox. Some of her sexy stories also have supernatural elements to them and I really enjoy those.

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

I didn’t have very much outside support until I was published just because nobody knew. Family and friends supported me before and now, but it took getting published and meeting my CHBB family to get that outside support and encouragement. I am very grateful to be a part of that family.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

Most certainly. It is more than a full time job. Each aspect of it is a full time job, writing, editing, marketing, advertisement, research and development, etc. If I had two clones, I would still need a third.

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

I would go with this outline first instead of needing so long to get it straight.

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

I certainly did. I fought the story so hard but it just wasn’t moving. I couldn’t get any momentum. I deconstructed the story one scene per word document, reassembled, and finally started making progress. I wish I had done that years ago.

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

I would love to see Valeria played by Clemence Posey, or maybe Sophie Turner orSaoirse Ronan. I think any of those ladies would be wonderful as Valeria.

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

Keep your courage. Write your story for you. Don’t write what you think other people want you to write. Your heart won’t be in it and the readers will know.

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

Thank you! Time is one thing you can never get back and if someone chooses to spend their precious time reading one of my books, I am truly flattered. A special thank you to those who have been waiting years for “Being Dracula’s Heir” and encouraging me all along. You have kept me going when I wanted to give up and I love you for it.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

I just finished “Broken Mirror and other Morbid Tales” by Carmilla Voiez and my next book with be her new release “Ribbons”.

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

I am easily entertained, so it doesn’t take much to make me laugh. I love that about myself. As far as what makes me cry, aside from the obvious tragic things, I am a sucker animal stories with happy endings. The story of Mr. G the goat and Jellybean the burro most recently! Heart warming things make me cry. Truly tragic and sad things tend to make me more angry than anything because of the injustice of it.

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

Marilyn Monroe because I would like to talk to her as a person, not an icon. That side of her was overlooked.

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

Between my day job and writing, I don’t have a lot of time to invest into a hobby. I do enjoy working out and want to get back into my running. I do crafty things on occasion, like my Krampus tree topper and decorations I made last year for Christmas. I love watching horror movies, too.

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

Creepy reigns supreme. American Horror Story, Black Mirror, and Stranger Things are my top three.

Fiona: Favorite foods, colors,  music?

My favorite food is Breakfast, all of it! I would suppose, judging by my closet, black is my favorite color. I love dark colors. My favorite band, forever and always is 10 Years. At least one of their songs is on my soundtrack for each project I have written. I love them so much that I have a lyric from my favorite song (11am Daydreamer) by them tattooed on my right forearm.

“The daydreamer’s nightmare is to never even try.”

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

I can’t imagine myself being alive and not wanting to write. I tried to quit and it lasted a day and a half. If I cant type, I will dictate or make someone else type it for me. At the very least, I will always be a story teller even if its just spoken out loud and disappears. It’s so much a part of who I am that I’m not sure I can be without it.

Fiona: You only have 24 hours to live how would you spend that time?

With my husband and son. A few texts to a couple of dear friends, and then spend time remembering all the good times.

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

I don’t want a headstone. I want to be cremated and scattered somewhere- anywhere but over water because I’m terrified of it. I don’t want a place where anyone can grieve over me or a plot of land to worry over it. My memory in the hearts of people who loved me and my books are all the memorandum I want. I will live on there

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

Yes! You can find me on Facebook. I’m very active and responsive.

www.facebook.com/authorfaithmarlow

Instagram is my second favorite hangout

https://www.instagram.com/faithmarlow/

And of course my website

www.faithmarlow.com

Amazon Authors page USA https://www.amazon.com/Faith-Marlow/e/B00GOJ8X14?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1569401941&sr=1-1

UK  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Faith-Marlow/e/B00GOJ8X14?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_7&qid=1569401983&sr=8-7

Here is my interview with Lance Garbutt

24 Tuesday Sep 2019

Posted by fionamcvie1964 in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

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?

Lance Garbutt and I ‘am 34 years old

Fiona: Where are you from?

Sydney, Australia

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

I have completed my year 12 HSC, My Family Growing up I ‘am one the youngest of 6 kids, I ‘am a father of 3 lovely girls Indie – Rose, Zhalia and Koah and have a  loving partner by myside always supporting me along my journey with everything I choose to endeavour.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

I have sold 116 copies of my book to date, with recently a UK radio interview with Chat and Spin Radio UK, and a chance to be in ACT government state library I’m currently also working on Podcast opportunities and Author interviews from all over the world to find max exposure of my book and seeking reviews in many sites and locations. I ‘am always looking out for more media attention and opportunities to help change and inspire people’s life.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

Running a 5km race to begin my change of life from 210kg then the second race I endured was Narrabeen all-nighter a 12 hour race in which I was determined to tick off my bucket list that I have accomplished a Ultra Marathon which glad to say I finished the race competing all 12 hours then following race after “The Sun Run” they sent out emails to all runners asking for inspirational stories in lead up to the race I decided to tell them mine after inspired so many on the ultra-marathon, which people loved my story during the race events and the newspapers I was published in Blacktown Sun and Sydney Morning Herald and since I had on my bucket list to “write a book” I decided why not start writing one and inspire more people so day and night working on the book until 3 months later completing it and then challenge was finding a Publisher once found and book ready to go it was 1 year later fixing and adjusting different things in book adding pictures , texts , quotes and more to get it all just right so glad I took that opportunity and everyone’s life I have changed for the better.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I realised my story was worth telling the world about and helping others with hard challenges throughout life, and I considered myself a Author when I sold my first book.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

I would have to say the running community who help me realise my book was worth talking about and pass the message on and inspire the world with my journey as the inspiration help me gain media attention into 2 different newspapers and later on a book and develop my writing abilities, also my journey I’ am on and my bucket list lifestyle with “Write a Book” as one of the bucket list items I wanted to tick off in my lifetime and the thought of helping and inspiring the world to enjoy their lifestyle with family and friends.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

Very challenging to come up with a title that is not already taken but I just joined my journey of life with one song I love listening too “Never Ending Dream” by Cascada.

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

Motivational , Inspirational writing styles to help change and motivate people to make a difference in their lives, yes because it’s a unique book that no one has the same idea in the world and such a huge bucket list and inspiring story and quotes throughout the book. Finding people to be interested in making a change for the better is one of the hardest things but when I find them they are inspired by my accomplishments of life and achievements and want to know more about me.

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

100% realistic all the events and story line is based on myself and my own life’s journey and accomplishments and achievements I have done and bucket list life I have led.

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

Before my book yes I travelled to a few amazing places and done some amazing experiences off my bucket list including trips to England, France and Scotland these exploration opportunities have found a place in my book but they were not a necessary to my writing my inspiration story.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

A person from the website 99designs.com.au that was suggested from my publishing team.

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

Live life and enjoy every opportunity that comes your way and do your best to live a healthier lifestyle and make sure to have regular check up’s with doctors to find how your body is going I do mine every 6 months.

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

No new authors but I enjoy inspirational stories and adventures of life and travel to find and explore new ideas and add them to my personal bucket list to enjoy the most out of life and try my best to give everything a go at least once that I can.

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

Outside family members I would have to say the running community who help me realise my book was worth talking about and pass the message on and inspire the world with my journey as the inspiration help me gain media attention into 2 different newspapers and later on a book and develop my writing abilities, Fellow bucketlisters and my fellow workmates who have strongly supported me in my decision of writing and many who have brought a book as support and to help influence and inspire themselves to enjoy life to the fullest. Last of all would love to thank my inspirational publisher Emily Gower and her team for giving me 110% support with any problems I may have had during the writing process and finding solutions together.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

Yes, I would love to take writing as a career full time if only I had the funding behind me to do so I would make my book go far and create lots of open doors to help as many people from all over the world and do speaking gigs alongside the writing of more books. But writing is just one step towards the business the career is made by what you personally put into it and have time for.

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

The only thing I would have changed would be able to do book tour releases straight away after release date and hit up media rather learning about these opportunities a few years after my book has been released. The last year of so I have discovered a lot of opportunities a book can offer and ways of promoting and if we have time and believe in ourselves the opportunities are always there for us. Never give up if you get knocked back by one media there is millions of others you can try and eventually that media will come back to you when you make the big time.

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

Learnt a lot of things I never thought I could do and achieve in my writing all the processes of self-discovery along the way and what things your mind can get through if you push it that little bit more one of these challenges is overcoming writers block.

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

If giving the chance I would love to play the roll myself and inspire others. Maybe one day I hope to make one my books into a film that the world would enjoy if money came my way why not.

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

Never give up trying and promote and talk to anyone about your book, Media is your biggest friend go out and seek it, it won’t come to you until you make it happen.

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

My book has helped changed lives and inspire from weight loss, depression, bucket list living to family hard times to overcome any challenges life throws to you and pull through them stronger than before

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

My own book I never put down but also on search for travel ideas and inspirational knowledge.

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

I’ am always fascinated by books of travel and exploration and add them to my bucket list and enjoy myself more.

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

I laugh listening to comedy shows and events, I cry through some of life’s challenges but pull through them and become a stronger person and more aware of how to deal with the situations.

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

Anh Do, to ask him as many questions as I possible could think of how to promote and gain his wisdom of knowledge to become a bestselling author world over and become a book and media icon with everyone wanting to talk to you for press opportunities. His Skills as a public speaker and comedian and living the dreams of doing things he loves and ticking off his own personal bucket list while doing his work the perfect life even own television show truly an inspiration couldn’t ask for a better person to be an icon and person to meet in person.

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

My entire bucket list journey is my hobby and continues to grow every day as well as spending quality time with my children and watching them grow and their achievements in life and my interests in selling my book and speaking to as many people who cross my path in life to help inspire as many as I can with my book.

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

Horror, Comedy Action and Drama, as well as Travel type TV Shows of exploration

Fiona: Favourite foods, colour, music?

Favourite Colour – Blue

Music – Dance and Trance, Rock Music

Favourite Food – Spinach Chicken Curry with Coconut Rice

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

I would happily love to be a full time public speaker about my journey and inspire as many people as I could throughout the world

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

I Lived

Lance Garbutt

(June 19th 1985 – End Date)

Author, Public Speaker, Bucketlister

Father to 3 girls – Indie – Rose, Zhalia, Koah (add other if we decide more)

Bucket List – 5000 / 50000 (adjust numbers when time comes this is present completed)

Tick the Rest Enjoy Life!

(Have all my books In a Frame Engraved into the Stone at the bottom)

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

I have a website and blog at:

https://lanceg6.wixsite.com/neverendingjourney

Me overweight

If you would love a copy of my book:

Amazon buying  page USA:

https://www.amazon.com/My-Never-Ending-Journey-Life/dp/0992525896

UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Never-Ending-Journey-Life/dp/0992525896/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=My+Never-Ending+Journey+Of+Life&qid=1569326748&s=books&sr=1-2

Booktopia page:

https://www.booktopia.com.au/my-never-ending-journey-of-life-lance-garbutt/book/9780992525897.html

Contact me:

Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Youtube, Instagram and many others.

Or email to lanceg6@bigpond.com

Send me a message for signed Copies Australia Wide $35 including postage

My Never Ending Journey of Life

Co Author Book released soon stay tune 101 author’s message if interested thanks.

 

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