Here is my interview with Lynn Crandall

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?

First of all, thank you Fiona for having me on your blog. I appreciate your support. My name is Lynn Crandall. I’m not going to share my age. You can guess, but I won’t tell you.

Fiona: Where are you from?

I was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan in the United States. I have moved a few times and presently live in Indianapolis, IN.

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

Here’s my bio:

 Lynn Crandall, who also writes as Kelynn Storm, lives in the Midwest and writes in the company of her cats. She has been a reader and a writer all her life. After cutting her writing teeth as a feature writer for commercial and trade magazines, a reporter for newspapers and radio, and an executive editor for a communications company, an award-winning author, she tuned her voracious appetite for stories to writing contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense. In her books, she enjoys taking readers on emotional journeys with relatable characters who refuse to back down, and face challenges and tribulations with heart and soul. She believes every love has a story, and hers is with one handsome husband and a large, beautiful circle of family, including her cats, Willow and Winter.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

Today, which is October 22, my contribution to the Common Elements Romance Project, Touch of Breeze, is releasing. This is a paranormal romance that joins around 70 authors’ books that are unique stories featuring five common elements: a key, a lightning storm, a person named Max, a haunted or presumed to be haunted place, and a stack of books. Here’s the blurb from my novella:

A rare white were-jaguar, she’s on a mission to save her twin brother from certain death. She didn’t plan on teaming up with a Jag Guardian who would just as soon break her heart.

Mortician London Satos works with the dead by choice. Using her were-jag ability to witness their final moments, she helps them pass over in peace. Those special moments contrast greatly with the life she leads haunted by an ancient Japanese spirit with revenge on his mind. On top of that, her twin brother is missing. Just when she thinks she has enough on her hands, Breeze Dawson stumbles into her path. Compelled by a guilty conscious, she thinks she must help him survive the evil spirit, but it doesn’t stop there. She is forced to team up with him to rescue her brother from an evil madman intent on using him to fulfil a diabolical prophesy.

Recently suspended from his job as a Jag Guardian, were-jaguar Breeze finds himself looking for anything to distract him from his troubled life. So when the beautifully captivating mortician needs help fighting battles on several fronts, he finds himself embroiled in a murderous plot that not only threatens his Guardian team but the supernatural community in general. Together, Breeze and London race to locate the mad man’s stronghold where he’s holding London’s brother, all the while fighting mutual attraction that will only complicate everything.

I also have a contemporary romance releasing November 12 titled Then There Was You. It is a runaway bride story of second chances for the two main characters to find their happy ever after.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I have always had an affinity for words. I started collecting pieces of paper with sayings and quotes and just words I liked when I was really young. I wrote my first play at age 12. It was performed for my church. LOL. I worked as a reporter and freelance writer for a number of years and have had a long list of articles published. My first romance novel was published in 1998 by Kensington. Since then, I’ve continued to write fiction almost exclusively. I love the way writing can inspire, move, and entertain.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I guess officially when I had my first article published in a newspaper. I kept repeating in my head the title the paper gave me, ‘Newspaper Contributor.’

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

I read On Becoming a Novelist by John Gardner and felt like I just arrived home. So I decided to try my hand at romance writing because I enjoyedthe developing relationships.

 Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

Titles mean a lot to me. Sometimes deciding a title is the starting point of the writing process. With Touch of Breeze I started with names and the main male character I named Breeze. Since it is a romance it made sense to me to sort of make a play on words using his name.

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

I tend to use a lot of words and descriptions. I think that’s because I want to go deep into emotions and give readers specifics and details that can put them in the scene to experience. The challenge for me is to refrain from telling the story vs. showing. I think my experience with reporting and writing for magazines has influenced me in that regard and I’ll just catch myself telling. I think every genre has its features, but I enjoy expanding my abilities. My next plan is to write a sci-fi romance.

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

Well, that’s an interesting question because Touch of Breeze is a paranormal. But from my perspective, anything is possible in real life. Humans have only touched the surface of what there is to know about ourselves and our world. Beyond that,  when I write shifter stories I try to make them very human in experiencing what we all do in life, but with the added element of being different, which we all sometimes can relate to feeling. I rely on expert sources, but turning reality into fiction is part of the art.

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

I do to a degree sometimes. I always do first-hand interviews with individuals who have experience with elements of my story, so I go to them. The story may require me to take a tour of a funeral home, for instance, as in Touch of Breeze, which features a mortician as the heroine. This type of research happens before I begin actual writing as well as during.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

Wicked Smart Designs. I love the designer and the cover she designed! She has designed a number of my covers.

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

Oh, I always have underlying messages or themes in my stories. In Touch of Breeze it is love related – Love overcomes all. But in almost all of my books the primary theme is the characters finding their true selves, which involves facing hard truths and growing through challenges.

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 have recently fallen in love with books by Suzan Tisdale. My favorite writers include Kelley Armstrong, Kat Richardson, and Juliette Harper. I enjoy their talent, expertise, and creativity.

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

I would have to say the entity most pivotal to my career would be my local chapter of Romance Writers of America. Lots of support there.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

I definitely consider writing my career. I’m excited that I have been able to forge a career in writing and sustain it over the years. It’s also my passion. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a business. I feel it’s important to recognize that in order to be successful.

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

I’m very happy with Touch of Breeze. I am always striving to improve my writing skill, and with this book I aimed to make it one that moves quickly and would keep readers turning the pages to find out what happens next. I feel I did that by ending chapters on important moments in motion.

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

Hah, I learned about the field of mortuary science. It was fascinating, and I got to talk with a man who truly had a heart for his work. That inspired me to treat the topic with respect.

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

I always make collages when I begin a book with images that relate to the story. For Touch of Breeze I included a pic of Alex O’Loughlin as Breeze, and Lucy Liu as London.

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

Be persistent and follow your passion. Your passion will always inspire you to overcome any obstacles.

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

I hope you enjoy the characters London Satos and Breeze Dawson for their passions and flaws. I am always wishing readers find satisfactory entertainment from my books, but also are in some way encouraged and inspired. I’m eager to hear from readers.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

Once Upon a Nevermore by Juliette Harper.

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

LOL, probably a Golden Book. I’ve been reading since I was very young. I’ll probably never forget The Poky Little Puppy. One of my most memorable reads was The Blue Dolphin. The first paranormal romance I read was Bitten by Kelley Armstrong. I got immediately hooked to read every book in her Women of the Otherworld series.

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

I love a good emotional drama on television or in a movie or a book for prompting me to feel touched enough to cry. I laugh a lot with my husband.

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

Why? I would love to meet Jane Austin. I would probably be dumbfounded but it would be heaven. I admire her drive and what had to be a strong sense of self.

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

I mainly just write, hike, bike, spend time with my family, spend time with my cats, and write some more.

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

Presently I’m enjoying Evil – not sure where it’s going. I have many old favorite movies, including all the Harry Potter movies, and yes, I liked the Twilight movies and the books, and my husband and I are enjoying once again West Wing. It is amazing writing.

Fiona: Favorite foods, colors,  music?

I love to eat. Name one food and I probably like it.  I especially like sushi! My favorite color is blue. I am in love with many different genre of music and have many playlists to write by.  One of my favorite on my playlist for the next contemporary I’m writing for the three-book Love in Dunes Bay series planned for publication by Glenfinnan Publishing is titled Keep On Rising by Gold Brother.

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

I have a number of projects I want to complete before I reach that point. But I imagine my life without writing would focus on being with my family, exploring nature more than my husband and I do presently, and maybe jewellery making. I love stones and other natural objects that I can imagine making into jewellery.

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

Telling my family and friends I love them.

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

“She Lived.” It hasn’t always been easy, but I feel I am making conscious choices and expressing my values, which to me is truly living not just letting life happen or going through the motions.

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

Readers can find me on Facebook athttps://www.facebook.com/LynnCrandallAuthor/ , can join my readers group at https://bit.ly/2p5jv0K, find my Kelynn Storm Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/KelynnStorm/?modal=admin_todo_tour ,  my Amazon author pages at https://www.amazon.com/Lynn-Crandall/e/B00AX9OA40and Kelynn Storm at https://amzn.to/2PaNUFv , and visit my website at https://www.lynn-crandall.com/ , where sign up is found for my newsletter.

 

 

 

Here is my interview with Anthony Randall

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, my name is Anthony Randall, I am 58

Fiona: Where are you from?

I was born and raised in Watford, Hertfordshire (UK), but I now reside in Dorchester, Dorset,.

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

I went to Queens school in Bushey, Herts, and hated it, couldn’t wait for it to end, so I left six months early, before my gcse exams, and went to work in what is probably the best job I have ever had, in a pet and garden supply shop in Garston.

Two subjects that I really couldn’t stand at school were English and music, the irony being that I soon after leaving became a song writer!

I grew up on a council estate called The Meriden, a notorious rough place close to the M1 motorway, but also just a short walk away from acres of woodlands and rural idylls that I used to lose myself in at every opportunity. I love escapism, the great outdoors and my own company.

I had a brother and a sister, sadly my sister passed away a few years ago, ravaged by multiple sclerosis. My parents split when I was seventeen, so we ended up living with Mum on another housing estate in Watford, then in 1988 I moved to the USA and stayed (unofficially) for two years, came home again and lived in Harefield, Middlesex, then Denham on a farm, before going back to my childhood estate The Meriden for three more years, until I met my wife Emma. We married in ’97 in Barbados, then moved to Hemel Hempstead, Herts, before we upped sticks and emigrated to Southern France, two years later we returned to Watford, then moved down to where we are now, with our Daughter Isabella, we’ve been here for fourteen years.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

Well, book wise, I’m coming to the end of a very protracted process, the finish of a novel that I have been working on for some years, and this is only volume 1, there’s second volume to do. Loosely based on my time in America it’s called Tucson Tales and is elaborated fact/fiction that I’ve crafted to be enlightening, comical, shocking perhaps, and in places, erotic. I intend to publish it later this year when I’ve finally decided on a cover.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I got into song writing when I was seventeen after meeting my best friend and long time guitarist/ song writing partner Shane, over a bottle of cider in Garston park, our musical collaborations go on to this day. But my book writing was kicked off by my step-father and co-author Doug Goddard he said he was s impressed by my letter writing skills and would I like to help him with a project. Doug is dyslexic and can barely spell two words correctly in a sentence, no wonder he thought my letter writing skills were impressive.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

After the first positive comments on our debut novel, I’m still enthralled that people should find our work worthy of a 5 star rating, I still have my author ‘L’ plates on.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

Totally Doug, I hadn’t even read an entire novel until I was in my thirties, I just wasn’t interested. Then my mate Bill lent me Robert A Heinlein’s ‘Time enough for love’ and I was hooked. Doug’s story for the English Sombrero came about in 2002, just before I left for France. He wanted me to read it through and correct his spelling, a gargantuan task in its self, first I had to decipher his scrawl on A4 lined paper, chuck out eighty percent of the content and re-write the whole thing, adding all the colour, the humour, the description and most of the dialog.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

All Doug again, he has a very prolific imagination, has dozens of stories buzzing around in his bonce, he’s just inadequate at conveying them, a complete technophobe, and grammatically incompetent. The title comes from a line within the novel and is quite central to the protagonist’s native character.

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

I think I’m really lazy, I don’t write any plot lines, or make graphs, have a white board, leave post it notes, or any of the stuff that other writers tend to do. I have to be in the right frame of mind to write. I’m quite spontaneous, idea’s materialise when I’m busy doing something else, especially, oddly enough, while I’m taking a shower, and I tend to work on small area’s at a time, going over it until I’m satisfied, then it’s all in the re-write, and the re-write.

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

As novels go, it isn’t too fantastical, totally achievable, just a massive undertaking. The main character, Don Simmons, weighs in at 26 stone (364 lbs) and is larger than life in many ways, he’s a millionaire car salesman addicted to alcohol, nicotine and fast food, who has a £250000 bet that he can run a half marathon in less than an hour-and-a-half. He has a year to lose weight, train and compete in the race. Realising that his lifestyle is not only killing him but would hinder any chance of achieving this goal, he takes a year out and moves to Spain in order to change his life.

The characters we have invented are drawn from a conglomerates of people we do actually know, including ourselves, and the places and events also have some baring on our own life experiences, yes, write what you know, I think is the maxim here.

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

Not as yet, the travelling has already been done.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

Two different people designed The English Sombrero book one, a photographer called Jeremy Trew and a designer by the name of Kim Crawford. Book two The Little White Ball, was designed by an artist who resides in Spain called John Revell.

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

The book, I’m told, is very inspirational, for athletes and for people facing challenging life styles alike. The total ethos of the Don Simmons saga (destined to be four books) is tackling adversity, championing the underdog, and following enlightenment. I hope that these sentiments come across in the novels, along with a jolly good laugh.

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?

A couple of writers that grabbed me by the undercarriage last year and raised the bar for me as a standard to achieve for an independent author are Clair North with her stunning ‘The first fifteen lives of Harry August’. And Nick Jones with his brilliant ‘The Unexpected Gift of Joseph Bridgeman’. Both are time travel books that blew me away with their remarkable compellability, writing prowess and sheer gripping intenseness. Oh and Jim Murray’s ‘The Galapagan’ also blew me away.

But my favourite author of all time is still Fantasy writer Julian May.

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

Charlotte Stock, The English Sombrero’s editor and proof reader, she was tireless in her efforts and an educator for me.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

I don’t see why not, I’m still learning my craft (do we ever stop!) as a writer, and also as a publisher, there are many hats to wear, and the right formula to hit on, but if I have the correct material and target my audience accurately, the pennies should trickle in.

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

I’m forever changing the content, that’s one of the reasons it is taking so long to produce, I’ll be happy with it one day.

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

Of course, one cannot help it, especially with all the help and advice put forward by the many author groups that I’m a part of, particularly IASD and Mom’s favourite reads. There’s a wealth of knowledge to be gleaned from the members of these groups.

But if you mean did I lean any facts, well then yes again, I always research the contents my books, to make them as realistic and plausible as possible. I can’t risk putting a reader off with some idiotic information or detail.

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

Doug always wanted Ray Winston, but I’m not sure if comedy suits him. Tom Hardy would be my choice, given a fat suit.

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

Don’t be afraid to bin your work and re-write, also, someone else’s opinion is gold dust.

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

Close your eyes before blowing sawdust from out of a corner.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

I’m reading SAS Rogue Hero’s by Ben Macintyre, it’s a military history of how the SAS were formed in 1941, and their hitherto classified missions deep behind enemy lines in the second world war, firstly in the dessert  and then in Europe. It’s immaculately written and wholly informative. I’m also reading music journalist/writer/ TV presenter/producer Leslie-Anne Jones’ auto biography ‘Tumbling dice’; it’s an emporium of fascinating information.

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

It was most probably a Janet and John book at junior school

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

I live for comedy; I’m naturally drawn towards funny people, nearly always to my detriment. I find so many comics and comedians funny, old and new. Laurel and Hardy, Monty Python, the two Ronnie’s, Fools and horses, Porridge, Eric Morecambe, Tommy Cooper, Lee Evans, Micky Flanagan and most of all Billy Connelly.

What makes me cry is cruelty to animals; I get quite disgusted with the human race at times and ashamed to be included as one of them. Whoever can get enjoyment out of torturing another living soul is beyond comprehension.

Reconciliation, that always makes me well up.

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

Sir David Attenborough, definitely, to get the lowdown on the mass extinction we’re facing. He’s infinitely endearing and captivatingly knowledgeable.

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

I’m still song writing and recording, when I get the chance. I also like gardening, my wife has a florist shop and I’ve been growing some plants for her business. Reading, obviously, and film and TV. I’d like to travel more, but life keeps getting the way.

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

Love realism, even if it’s within a fantasy, it has to be authentic, gritty, well written tales with no holds barred, and I’m a real binge watcher of late, Netflix is a Godsend. Shows I’ve adored recently are Game of thrones (naturally), Deadwood, Breaking bad, Better call Saul, Ozarks, The Punisher, Killing Eve, Babylon Berlin, Californication, Skins, Sex education, and the Walking dead. But the classics of all time have to be Lord of the rings, The Shawshank redemption, The Green Mile, Wings of desire, True Romance, Pulp fiction, Inglorious bastards, The blues Brothers, The Princess Bride, The Commitments Saving private Ryan, Close encounters, Leon, The 5th Element, Hacksaw ridge, Fury and Zulu (well any war film actually, I love em!)

Fiona: Favorite foods, colors,  music?

Food would have to be Italian; I could live that solely for the rest of my days. Colours, I’m partial to blue, and music, I can tolerate most music for a while, but I prefer Pop, rock, reggae, jazz, good melodies and a great lyric. Some of my favourite bands have been Blondie, Thin Lizzy, Everything but the girl, Hue &Cry, The style council, Prefab sprout, Maxi Priest and Mezzoforte.

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

Dictate.

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

Hire a penthouse suite at the Corinthia Hotel in London, take my brother and my best mates, buy a pound of cocaine, hire a dozen hookers and have room service on tap for the rest of my life. All on the credit card of course.

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

The cost of the funeral, in pounds Sterling.

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

No website or Blog I’m afraid, just a Facebook page and an Amazon author central page. Too lazy.

Amazon author central:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00IWBA3DS

Book links:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00IHH209W

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00KC5DBWM

Here is my interview with Gregory C. Randall

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 Gregory Randall. Greg to everyone, except my wife when she’s vexed. I use the middle initial C. because there areother Gregory Randall’s out there. We all think we are unique until we google ourselves, then it’s just embarrassing. Especially for the guy in the Colorado State prison system with my name.

I’m just shy of my seventieth birthday, but feel like I’m going on forty-five. It’s an age when you have the skills to perform, but the body continually reminds you to order more ibuprofen.

Fiona: Where are you from?

I was born in a small town in northern Michigan (for your UK readers, a state in the Midwest of the United States). Traverse City, even today, hasn’t really changed all that much. It’s grown during the last seventy years, but still didn’t have a Starbucks coffee shop when I was there last May. I grew up in the suburbs of the Southside of Chicago where my father worked downtown in the Loop and later built a small manufacturing company. After I completed my Batchelor of Science degree at Michigan State University, I moved, with my bride of two weeks, to California. We have been here ever since.

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

My father was a gypsy, or so its seemed. I went to five or six different grade schools. He was trying to find that perfect job that would eventually take care of his growing family. Eventually we landed on the Southside of Chicago. High school was fun, I did well.I then went on to study industrial design at Kent State University and landscape architecture and urban planning at Michigan State.

After college, I worked in a number of professional design firms in San Francisco. Living in San Francisco in the 1970s and 80s, was wonderful. That was before the city began to fall apart (and believe me it has). In 1993, I opened my own urban design firm, Randall Planning & Design. We planned new cities, communities, apartment complexes, commercial, and office facilities. It was a blast. Right now, in 2019, we have essentially closed that company and I have retired to write fulltime.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

Fiona, lots of exciting works to add to my twelve published books. I have new four books coming out this year. Chicago Fix was published the first of the year, Limerick For Death (the sixth Sharon O’Mara thriller) will be released this summer. Both of these are self-published under our Windsor Hill Publishing imprint. Saigon Red, will be published on March fifth, this thriller is the second in the series for Thomas & Mercer Publishing.And,if I can get my act together, a World War II thriller will be edited and published toward the end of 2019. Look for at least two more new titles next year.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I’ve written professional project description, environmental impact reports, and other technical journals for most of my professional architectural career. However, in 1991, one early morning as I commuted into San Francisco, I watched a bum panhandling in the BART transit station.People were turned off by his aggressiveness. Then he stole a bag from a woman and ran off. I sat down, wrote out the incident, imagined a scenario of what might have been in the bag, and began the first book in the Sharon O’Mara series, Land Swap For Death. It took me eighteen years to finally publish it (there had to have been a hundredrewrites).

In the mid-nineties, I began work on a non-fiction book about urban planning and post-World War II housing. That book was called America’s Original GI Town, Park Forest, Illinois. It borrowed extensively from British town planning. Johns Hopkins University Press published it in 2000. I brought out a new edition in 2010.

But it was the “Great Recession” that really gave me the time to focus on my writing. When your industry implodes and there’s no work, well there is truth to the adage, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.” I applied myself and wrote seven novels in five years.

 Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

The day I held the hardback of GI Town. It inspired me to up my game and continue writing fiction.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

As I noted earlier, an incident on a train platform. That has led fifteen novels (eleven have been published). The others will follow.

 Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

Usually out of thin air. I thought Land Swap For Death was cool. Not a lot of marketing analysis on for this one – that’s changed with most of the others – titles do sell books. Sometimes in the course of the writing the novel, a phrase will appear that just works, I never know. But for some books the title has changed at least five or six times.

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

I like relatively short and specific sentence structures, and that is hard to do. Early on, it was pointed out—by helpful people of course—that my sentences were too long and had too many commas. I was annoyed, really? But they were right. I rewrite with this in mind. I’ve learned (and still learning), that the reworking of the manuscript is necessary. Brutal use of the delete button is required. There’s lots of guidelines out there, cut 10%, pull out the adverbs, etc. What matters is the flow and the measure of the sentence, the paragraph, and the chapter. Sometimes long is good, sometimes one word is best.

Overall, my style tends to be familiar, not thick and academic. Similar to how a storyteller would describe the action and the characters. I like the right word for the right situation (often changing them until both the flow and intent works). I often tell the story through dialog and conversations between the characters and minimize the narrative and descriptive side.

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

Often, it is said, the first book a writer writes is his autobiography. Not a true autobiography but a story drawn from their life. My young adult and coming of age novel, The Cherry Pickers, is exactly that. Autobiographical by location and setting, I changed the family dynamics to essentially tease out the characters, their stories, and their challenges. It’s won a couple of awards. I quite proud of that effort.

My other books, almost all of them, come out of my own personal experience. I understand the planning profession and used it in two books, GI Town and Land Swap For Death. I’ve been to the locations in the stories, Mexico, London, Venice, Paris, San Francisco, and Chicago to name a few.

I do rely on travel guides, maps, histories, other author’s work, Google and other search engines. Youtube videos put you right on the streets of the locations, they are handy. Some of my characters are based on real people I know, have run into, or have seen on television or found in other books. Who they are is my secret.

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

In most cases I write about where I have been. I have an extensive collection of photos and videos I’ve taken. These are extremely helpful. For the Alex Polonia thriller, Venice Black, I walked every scene of the story, shot video, described the site conditions, and tweaked the final manuscript to fit the exact conditions. The first review published in Amazon self-righteously said that I’d never been to Venice, they went on and on about how wrong I was. I guess I destroyed their illusion of the city and they wanted to get even or something. On the other hand, many of the scenes, using online research, information, and photos, formy O’Mara thriller, Diamonds For Death, take place in Cuba. One review complimented me on my attention to detail and wished they could have travelled, as I did, through the countryside. I’m not a big fan of Cuba, and will probably never go there.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

With the exception of Venice Black and the newest Alex Polonia thriller, Saigon Red (out March 5, 2019), I have done all the artwork for all the covers.

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

The silliness and often cruelty of people. How history can directly affect things in our modern societies even fifty years later. I’ve used backstories of WWII, Vietnam, the Bosnian War, the gangland days of Chicago in the 1930s (the Detective Tony Alfano thrillers). Even in today’s world, these events still have impacts, and probably will for the next hundred years.

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 like the obvious writers of the day, Michael Connelly, Don Winslow, and Martin Cruz Smith. But there are some new writer’s I enjoy: James L’Etoile, Robert Dugoni, Tim Tigner, Les Egerton, Michelle Cox, Alan Furst, the list could go on and on. Recently, I’ve been writing some science fiction and fallen for John Scalzi and Jason Anspach and Nick Cole.

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

One of America’s current bestselling authors, Robert Dugoni. Years ago, I took a few writing classes (they were more about story structure) from Bob. Since then I have considered him a mentor. He’s been kind enough to read my manuscripts (why, I don’t know), offer suggestions, and been an inspiration. I like his style, his characters, and when he was signed by Thomas & Mercer, it was my goal to someday be in the same publishing house – and now I am.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

I see writing as an obsession.If you love it, you can’t walk away. I’ve had a very successful professional career outside of writing that now allows me the freedom to write what I like and about subjects that interest me. Do I “make a living” doing this? No, but maybe someday. But then again 95% of serious writers don’t either. But if you don’t go to the dance you can’t find the right partner. There are hundreds of examples of writers turned down by publishers and then, suddenly, became an “overnight success.” Mark Sullivan is a good example. Unlike me, who came late to the dance, Mark wrote for years, teamed with other writers, probably made a few bucks, then hit hard times. His historical novel (and true story) Beneath a Scarlet Sky, was turned down many times until it was picked up by Amazon’s Lake Union Publishing. It was the right book at the right time. It’s sold millions, has over 25,000 reviews, and I would guess has regenerated Mark’s belief in his story telling abilities. Some will call it lightning, I call it perseverance.

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

Saigon Red, out March 5, takes place in Ho Chi Minh City, the old Saigon. I wish I could have spent time there, breathing in the atmosphere, seeing the city, tasting the food. I relied on research and friends who had recently visited the city. Nonetheless, like my Venice Blackcritic, this is one place I would have liked to have experienced. I do not think anything would have changed in the story or the structure, but maybe the texture would have been a little richer.

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

DNA, how interconnected we really are as a species, the treatment of the bastard children of American servicemen left in Vietnam after the war, the guilt that some vets still suffer fifty years later, the massive extent of the modernization of this war-torn country, the fact that 75% of the Vietnamese people have been born since the end of the war, and that they bear almost no ill will against Americans. Where to stop?

This is why my books almost always have an historical component or back story. I write to learn.

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

My character Alexandra Polonia, with her Cleveland cop backstory, and her new life as a security agent working for a private international defence and security firm creates some challenges. She is forty-two, blond, athletic, yet carries an Eastern European (Polish) heritage. Maybe Jennifer Garner (without that Affleck guy), or Jennifer Aniston, or any other actress named Jennifer.Maybe Scarlet Johansson. There’s Sharon Stone, she would be great – playing the mother role. Mary McCormack would kill the roll, but she’s just a little too old.

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

Never ever: stop writing, thinking about writing, reading about writing, reading other writers, or think of quitting.

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

Please go out and buy all MY books (currently you can do that for less than $20 USD), and spend your summer reading the million plus words I’ve written—and I picked only the best words. And thanks. But to my readers, please understand thatwriting is an art, it must be nurtured, studied, and most especially practiced. Pick up a cello, run the bow over the strings, and tell yourself you are Yo-Yo Ma—then, through practice, spend the next twenty years proving it to yourself.

And to my readers, these are my stories. I write what interests me, and I hope that they interest you. Sometimes what I write will make you uncomfortable and challenge you and your beliefs. Sometimes they will support your dreams and aspirations, sometimes you will not finish my story. But thank you for at least giving me a try.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

Doing research for a couple of new novels, so they are non-fictions works about the south of France during WWII. A couple are memoirs of the occupation of France by the Nazis. Just received Max Hastings Vietnam, An Epic Tragedy, will be digging into that. Matt Farrell’s What Have You Done, Kristin Hannah’s The Great Alone, and Bleak Harbor by Bryan Gruley. I’m a book junkie, what can I say.

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

The first “big” novel I read was Leon Uris’s Battle Cry. I still admire and love all of Uris’s books. If I could write like that . . .

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

Ironic stories well written that play with the imagination. A friend of mine, Philip Donlay writes these incredible thriller fantasies using natural elements, hurricanes, weather, meteors, etc. as the bad guys and his characters get caught up in the disasters that ensue. Phil was a private jet pilot so his books have aircraft as the primary tool. Imagine flying through the mountains of Austria in a Boeing 727 at 400 miles per hour in the dark in the rain, chasing the bad guys in a car who have kidnapped your wife. That’s what make me laugh.

The last chapters of my novel, The Cherry Pickers, still make me cry.

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

Ann Rand, she would be an interesting person to talk to for a few hours.

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

Gardening, photography, now it’s book design and travel. At one timeI built boats (real ones not models), once played a respectable game of golf, and oil painting.

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

Man in the High Castle, Marvellous Mrs. Maisel, The Rookie, NCIS, Blue Bloods, shows with good story lines. The Thin Man films, most Humphry Bogart movies, good noir films, etc. My favourite is movie is the 1996, Independence Day – go figure.

Fiona: Favorite foods, colors,  music?

Italian pastas, red, all types of music – quite eclectic.

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

Take up trout fishing in Montana.

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

Not nice. I’ll wait and see what’s left on “to be completed” list.

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

He Gave It His Best

(My father’s reads: ‘Bah Humbug,’ really it does.)

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

www.writing4death.blogspot.com

www.gregorycrandall.info

Amazon Authors Page USA https://www.amazon.com/Gregory-C.-Randall/e/B001K91MF2/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/l/B001K91MF2?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1548698676&redirectedFromKindleDbs=true&ref_=sr_tc_2_0&rfkd=1&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&sr=1-2-ent

 

Gregory C. Randall

Authors Biography

Gregory C. Randall, Michigan born and Chicago raised has made the San Francisco Bay Area his home with his wife for the last 48 years. A graduate of Michigan State with a degree in landscape architecture, Mr. Randall has 48 years of community design and urban planning experience. He has his own design firm, Randall Planning & Design, Inc., and has designed hundreds of residential, commercial and retail properties throughout the western United States.

Mr. Randall is represented by the Kimberley Cameron & Associates, Inc. and is published with Thomas & Mercer Publishing and Windsor Hill Publishing.

However, his early childhood on the south side of Chicago was the inspiration for his first book, a non-fiction work titled America’s Original GI Town, Park Forest, Illinois. This is the account of the creation of the first town designed for the GI’s returning home after WWII. It was first published by Johns Hopkins University Press in 2000 and updated in a new edition in 2010. He is considering a new update to this book to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the village’s founding.

Mr. Randall has enjoyed writing for almost thirty years, but it has become a more serious vocation during the last twenty years. Greg is the author of the five book series, The Sharon O’Mara Chronicles. He also has just published the third book (Chicago Fix) in the Detective Tony Alfano noir thriller series set in 1933 Chicago. The first book Chicago Swing won a silver medal in the 2016 Global Ebook Awards. His young adult novel, The Cherry Pickers has won acclimation and awards from the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and Northern California Book Publishers Association (BAIPA).

In the spring of 2018, Thomas & Mercer Publishing released the first book in a new series, Venice Black. The main character is a women detective, Alexandra Polonia, from the city of Cleveland, Ohio. The second book in the series, Saigon Red, is to be released in March 2019.

Two World War II thrillers are to be published during the next two years with Windsor Hill Publishing. These are tentatively titled This Face of Evil and Pawns in an Ancient Game.

Mr. Randall is represented by the Kimberley Cameron & Associates, Inc. and is published with Thomas & Mercer Publishing and Windsor Hill Publishing.

Mr. Randall and his wife have their own independent publishing company, Windsor Hill Publishing. He is a book cover designer and artist and is well versed in the ebook conversion process. All of his books are available through the usual sources, but most specifically Amazon Book

Thank you Fiona, I enjoyed this immensely.

Here is my interview with Neil Randall

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?

Neil: Neil Randall, 43.

Fiona: Where are you from?

Neil: I’m from the north Norfolk coast.

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

Neil: I read law at university but quickly realised that wasn’t for me. And decided that I wanted to write the kinds of books I’d always loved reading

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

Neil: It’s been very quiet at the moment. I’ve been working on a few different projects, two new novels and a lot of shorter fiction, which has been really pleasing because not only have I been particularly excited with the quality of the stories, it’s been a long time since I’ve written any short stories. I thought I didn’t have any left in me!

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

Neil: I was always into writing stuff when I was younger, but I went to the kind of school where if you displayed any aptitude, talent or interest in anything it was roundly and summarily crushed underfoot. Pure discouragement. And it wasn’t really until my late teens, early twenties that I started to read really widely, which inspired me to maybe, perhaps try writing something myself.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Neil: I don’t. Even though I get up everyday and write for a few hours, even though I’ve got a hell of a lot of material together (some of which I’m really proud of) since I first put pen to paper, I still feel a million miles away from considering myself a writer. Even though I’ve had some modest small press success, been shortlisted for a few awards, I don’t consider myself to be a published author, even. I don’t mean that in a weird, abstruse, silly way. I just think it’s a constant, ongoing, evolving thing, not a job title or bag or category. I just want to keep doing what I’m doing and see what happens.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

Neil: Like most writers, I had quite a few abortive efforts before I wrote what would probably be called my first book, officially. But personally, I would say The Butterfly and the Wheel (an historical epic set around the Russian Revolution) was my first book. It took me three years to write (the first draft was 250,000 words long). It was inspired by a trip I took to Russia when I was about 19 or 20, a trip which sparked a lifelong interest in Russian literature, history. When the book was finally published by a small boutique press (who have since gone out of business, unfortunatley) I had to make huge cuts to the text (due to printing costs they could only publish books of 130,000 words). My ambition is to go back to it one day, put it all back together (with the 200 pages I had to cut in the end) and publish it properly!

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

Neil: Trial and error. For a long time it was called The Communization of Delusion. Then The Fraud. Not quite sure how I came up with The Butterfly and the Wheel. Maybe that famous Times headline when Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were facing long jail terms for possession of marijuana in the 60’s – who’d break a butterfly on a wheel. But, funnily enough, there’s a film called The Butterfly and the Wheel (or something very close) and Gerard Butler, the star, his character is called Neil Randall (same spelling). Very random!

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

I write contemporary fiction now. Not sure how to classify style or genre. Literary, maybe, but I now try and tell every story I write as plainly and simply as I can. I revise like a bastard and hopefully that kind of distillation process makes me very readable.

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

Neil: In general terms, I draw on my own experiences a hell of a lot. In Klingsor’s First Summer (the first short story I ever had published), I documented a summer when I had a brutal job as part of a gang of agricultural workers picking potatoes. I was only about 16 at the time, and it really was a boy trying to do man’s work. And this horrible bloke, a real nasty piece of work, bully, picked on me relentlessly. Or in another short story Hands, another summer job waiting on tables this time. One lunchtime, I walked over to serve a family of four and the mother had severely deformed hands, and I couldn’t stop from looking a bit taken aback, and the family (rightly) took offence. And it started off the chain of surreal events. Anyway, what I think I’m trying to say is that in everything I write I always draw from my own experiences, be it strange jobs, people, events et cetera.

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

Neil: Not really, not intentionally, consciously. Life, whether aboard a vessel or dry-docked tends to throw at you a wealth of interesting things to write about, whether you’re walking to get a paper or strolling along the banks of the Seine. I think Raymond Carver said something along the lines of trying to make a teaspoon interesting in his writing. And he’s right. No offence to teaspoons (who I have a lot of admiration for, both in shininess and functionality) but even the most mundane, everyday things, events can make for the greatest stories known to man.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

Neil: Not sure. The small presses I’ve worked with have sorted all the artwork.

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

Neil: Happiness is Possible. But you or I will never get close to it.

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?

Neil: I recently discovered a Chilean writer called Roberto Bolano – who’s amazing. I love the more unconventional storytellers who produce such intoxicatingly simply prose that their stories almost swallow you whole. Murakami, Paul Auster. I’m currently reading a book by James Baldwin and his sentences are so rich and full, evocative but in a way sparse, you don’t feel like you’re being bombarded with images/information but taken by the hand and walked around (Brooklyn in this case).

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

Neil: Not sure what you mean. I think I’m driven on, and will continue to be driven on by a desire to write a story that compares to the stories that my literary heroes have written, that one day a young directionless man like I was back in my early twenties might walk into a second-hand bookshop and pick up a one of my novels and be inspired to start writing his own stuff.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

Neil: In so far as I’m going to keep writing no matter what.

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

Neil: Only who published it.

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

Neil: The sea has neither meaning or pity.

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

Neil: I wouldn’t mind having a crack at it myself. Think I’m probably either a bit of a frustrated rock star or method actor.

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

Neil: Preserve, even when it’s not going so well. And always try and finish everything you start, because, in my experience, there is a moveable, elusive kind of eureka moment when things fall into place, and it might be at the very moment you’re thinking of aborting the story – thrash it out until either you or it is dead.

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

Neil: Bear with me. The best is yet/about to come.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

Neil: As I said: Another Country by James Baldwin

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

Neil: I think it was Rogue Male by Geoffrey Household (although I’m sure lots of kids, learning books etc before that) but that sticks in my mind. It was very exciting.

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

Neil: I try and avoid any extreme outward shows of emotion. Save that for the typewriter.

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

Neil: Probably Adam Green.

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

Neil: I run a lot.

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

Neil: Not much of a TV person. I prefer music and books.

Fiona: Favorite foods, colors,  music?

Neil: I like spicy food. Blue (of course). Adam Green. Anything with an acoustic guitar and some melancholy words.

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

Neil: Steal my Dad’s cue and make a living out of playing pool

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

Neil: Making prank phone calls

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

Neil: I aim to be around for a long time yet. By the time I’m thinking of checking out, death probably won’t exist anymore.

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

Yes: www.narandall.blogspot.com – I regularly update with new sample material, spoken word stuff and news about upcoming releases. And you can check me out on twitter @NARandall1

Amazon Authors page UK   https://www.amazon.co.uk/Neil-Randall/e/B00JYXI862/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

USA  https://www.amazon.com/Neil-Randall/e/B00JYXI862/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1534943456&sr=1-2-ent

Here is my interview with Randall Krzak

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

 

KODAK Digital Still Camera

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

Randall Krzak, 62 years old/young, depending on how you look at it.

 

Fiona: Where are you from?

 Originally from Michigan, but have lived in a number of countries.

 

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

I have a bachelor degree from the University of Maryland. I also have two master degrees from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. I’m married to Sylvia, who is from Scotland, and also a writer. We have one son, Craig, and five cats: Oliver, Hope, Charlie, Lola, and Flora.

 

Fiona: Tell us your latest news. Busy working on Dangerous Alliance, the sequel to my debut novel, The Kurdish Connection.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

During my working career I spent countless hours doing technical/expository writing. I began writing my first novel in 2011/12 but put it aside after about 200 pages. It remained in electronic storage until 2015, when I dusted it off, basically rewrote the majority of what I had already completed. By April 2016, I had the manuscript ready to submit to publishers.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I would say 2015 when I really began to work on my novel.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

 A longtime friend and work colleague suggested I write a novel when I retired. So I gave it a try.

 

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

I looked for something not too long and conveyed a bit about the story.

Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style? Is there anything about your style or genre that you find particularly challenging? I try to have a balance of narrative and dialogue, usually leaning more toward having my characters tell the story rather than the narrator. Learning to write interesting dialogue was one of my toughest challenges.

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

Perhaps half the book is based on historical events, organizations, locations, and personal experiences. The rest was decided by the characters.

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

Although I had no idea I would ever try to write a novel, the main setting for The Kurdish Connection is in Turkey, where Sylvia and I lived for a number of years.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

The cover used for The Kurdish Connection was handled by my publisher, Moonshine Cove Publishing, LLC.

 

Fiona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?Not a specific one, but readers have pointed out they enjoy learning about the different cultures used in my work.

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

I’m reading several new authors:AJ Wallace, who is working on a mystery and crime series called Sideways Eight (two novels published thus far). Descriptive passages, realistic action, outstanding characters are all traits of AJ’s work. Another is Preston Holtry, who has a four books published under The Morgan Westphal Mystery series. Like AJ, Preston uses vivid scenes, colorful characters, and plenty of action to convey his stories. I go back and forth on who my favorite writer is. The group includes Tom Clancy, Clive Cussler, Brad Thor and a few others. They’ve all had a positive impact on how I write.

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

The long-time friend and colleague who suggested I write a novel in the first place.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career? At present, I’m treating it as a hobby, but one I must rein in or it will take over everything else. I already have synopses created for additional novels.

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

I don’t think so. I had plenty of guidance as I was writing and I’ve using the advice to continually improve my writing.

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

 Writing the book is the easy part. Editing, finding a publisher, and marketing take even more time, but all worth the effort. While self-publishing is always an option, I wanted to try the traditional method first.

 

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

This is a tough one. If they were much younger–Sean Connery or Harrison Ford.

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

Never give up. Create you first draft, get feedback from others, and edit. Continue obtaining feedback and editing until you think you’re done. Then edit again as you will have missed something.

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

Get ready for a wild journey through different cultures, with characters you can love or hate, and plenty of twists and turns.

 

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

I can’t provide the name right now, as the book hasn’t been released. It’s by Preston Holtry, and it’s part of a historical fiction series he’s working on. I’ll be providing a blurb for his publisher’s use when it’s released.

 

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

No—I’ve read hundreds over the years. Some I’ve read more than once, especially those written by Tom Clancy, Clive Cussler, and Brad Thor.

 

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

Any of my favorite authors. I’d like to learn more about how they’ve succeeded with their writing careers.

 

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

 Candle making, pyrography, traveling/sightseeing

 

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

 I like action/adventure thrillers and documentaries

 

Fiona: Favorite foods, colors, music?

I like trying food from different cultures. My favorite so far is Turkish cuisine. Blue is one of my favorite colors. As far as music, I prefer songs which tell a story (and I can actually understand the words).

 

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

 Go back to my other hobbies or find new ones.

 

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

LOL. Never thought that far ahead.

 

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

 Yes. My website is www.randallkrzak.com.

Along the top of the page is a number of categories, including Randall’s Ramblings, which is my weekly blog. New updates are posted to my blog every Sunday.

My Amazon Authors page (I need to get this updated!)

https://www.amazon.com/Randall-Krzak/e/B01MUNB5AI/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

The Kurdish Connection, is available through this link on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Kurdish-Connection-Randall-Krzak-ebook/dp/B01N2AN1KO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1505653877&sr=8-1&keywords=randall+krzak

 

Here is my interview with Jocelyn Pedersen

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

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

Hi, Fiona! Thanks for having me on your blog. My name is Jocelyn Pedersen. I’m 59 years old.

Fiona: Where are you from?

I’m originally from Canada, but my family moved back and forth between the US and Canada while I was young and then moved to Singapore when I was 12-14 years of age.  Afterward, we moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where I finished high school (I had finished 3rd form in Singapore and was lucky enough to move before having to take my A and O level exams!). After high school, I attended the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma and I kind of forgot to leave, so I’ve been in Norman for 40 years now.

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

I have a BA in Spanish from the University of Oklahoma. I worked for a while after earning my bachelor’s degree as a Senior Software Consultant and then got married and started a family. I have three children, my oldest son is an engineer who lives in Missouri, my daughter is an artist in Oregon, and my youngest son is in his senior year at the University of Texas. After my marriage ended, I returned to school and earned my Master of Professional Writing degree. My master’s project was to write a novel, which was later published under the name, “An Eye for an Eye.” It’s a thriller. I

While I was in grad school, my children and I lived and worked our sheep farm–which is particularly unusual in Oklahoma which is known for cattle and horses, primarily. It took me a while to earn my master’s degree what with raising three kids and tending a sheep farm all while holding down a job, but it gave me time to get to know people at OU which served me well because I started teaching the semester after I graduated. My first teaching post was in the Journalism department, teaching Writing for Mass Media. I moved to Human Relations and taught writing there, then on to the Business College where I have taught Business Communication for about seven years now.

 Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

An interesting tidbit about me is that I am a competitive Olympic-style weightlifter at age 59.  I took up weightlifting by accident just under a year ago and have won five gold medals and I will be attending a national weightlifting competition this coming November.  I’m simultaneously excited and nervous, but I plan to go and do my best–hopefully I will be on the podium when it’s all over.  Cross your fingers for me! Meanwhile, I’m working with a strength coach who is wearing me out, but I can definitely tell I’m getting stronger.  Stronger equals the ability to put more weight up in competition. I can already lift well over half my body weight, and although I didn’t go this year, I qualified for the Pan American Games. I hope to go next year because they will be held in Rio de Janeiro. I have my sights set on the Masters World Games in 2021.  For your readers who might not know, a master athlete is anyone who is 35 years of age or older.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I began writing when I was a small child. I wrote letters to my aunties and other pen pals.  I’ve always had a love of languages and decided to go for a second bachelor’s degree in English. When I talked to the folks in the English department, the advisor told me I might as well get a master’s degree for the same number of credits and since I had a goal to write freelance, I should go talk to the folks in the School of Journalism–Professional Writing, to be exact.  So I did, and while I was working on my master’s degree, for fun, I took an undergraduate course in Feature Writing.  I sold three stories before the end of the semester and now write freelance for several regional venues. My stories have been picked up by the Associated Press, I’ve won several awards for them.  In addition, in partial fulfilment of my master’s degree, I wrote a thriller called “An Eye for an Eye” which also won an award after it was published.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I guess I’ve considered myself a writer since I was in my 20s when I worked as a technical writer on a government contract.  I got on that train and I haven’t reached the end of the line yet!

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

As noted above, I wrote it in partial fulfilment of my master’s degree.  The funny part is that I love mysteries and thrillers, but thinking that the romance market was easier to break into, I first attempted writing a romance.  It was HORRIBLE!

In fact, my major professor looked at me over her glasses one day and said, “Jocelyn, what do you read?”

“Mysteries.  Thrillers. Slasher novels!” I said.

“I can tell,” she said.

“That bad?”

“Let’s just say that you writing a romance is like…well, it’s like you’re trying to dig your way out of the Bastille with a spoon.”

After I dusted myself off from laughing so hard that I hit the floor, I tossed the romance in the trash and started “An Eye for an Eye.”  They say to write what you know, and I know mysteries and thrillers.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

I wanted a title about revenge and since the killer is a religious nutter who misinterprets and twists Bible verses, I decided a Biblical title would fit the bill well.

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

I don’t take things in life too seriously. I believe laughter is soap for the soul and therefore, I can’t write without adding a little humour.   The hardest part is figuring out all the plot points and burying those clues.  I asked a member of my master’s committee to read the book and see if I had buried clues deep enough. On one page, there was a single-word comment:  “Duh.”  That was, perhaps, the most meaningful piece of critique I received in the margin of my draft.  Yeah, I revised that chapter!

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

Oh my!  I get this question in various forms somewhat frequently. If you know me, you will immediately recognise characters who are named for some of my friends, Izzy, the protagonist is a blend of a friend’s personality and mine, her partner Moreno is Latino, so I get to throw in a little Spanish here and there, and her sidekick, Apple, is wacky as all get out.  Apple is a real animal lover–she totes her pet rabbit Norman (I live in Norman, Oklahoma) everywhere with her and I used to raise rabbits.  Many of the funny things Apple says are things that I have said or would have no trouble saying.  I popped off with a joke recently and a new friend who was cracking up said, “OMG! Who are you?”  I’m pretty funny in real life. Words just come out my mouth. I don’t think about it before I say anyting–it just comes out–and it’s hilarious.

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

Not really.  I’m well travelled and have lots of memories. And of course, there’s the Internet!

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

My publisher, The Wild Rose Press, helped me find an artist named Angela Anderson. I think she did a great job! She asked me what I had in mind and I told her I had envisioned a big eye (I saw a mosaic eye in a New York City subway tunnel that inspired me), and I told Angela that I wanted fire. She came up with the cover art and I loved it immediately.

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

Yes. Lying and meanness doesn’t pay because the truth will always be found out in the end and the rooster will come back to crow.

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?

Recently I’ve been gobbling up new-to-me authors Linda Castillo and Chelsea Cain. Linda Castillo’s novels are intriguing because her protagonist grew up Amish, left the order, became a cop, and went back to her Amish roots to be the police chief in a small community.  Blending two cultures seamlessly while integrating a little German here and there all while telling a terrific tale is inspiring.

Chelsea Cain writes good thrillers. She can be very dark though, and when I was writing my novel, I had to decide whether to go into the dark cave like she does (a few of her torture scenes can make folks cringe) or stay this side of it. I chose not to go into the dark cave, although I have had a couple of people tell me my first crime scene is a bit too detailed for them. Guess I made them visualise what the scene was like. I’m sorry if I upset a few people, but I’m also guessing the writing did its job.

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

Meredith Blevins. She’s a mystery writer and friend. She and her husband Win are lovely friends and they gave my book a good read and made some suggestions before I send the final version off for publication.  Meredith sat back and let me ignore my book for a while after I wrote it and when I asked her if she would read the manuscript, she said, “Yes! I’ve been dying for you to ask!”

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

Yes, it already is.  I die a little if I don’t write every day.

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

Nope.  Writing that first novel was like giving birth.  I’ll improve on the next one!

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

Yes.  I’ve grown as a writer. Writing is a craft; a skill. You get better at it in only one way:  by writing.  I’ve written a LOT since my last book, and I hope my next book is even better than the first.

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

Sandra Bullock or Angie Harmon.

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

Write.  Every day.  Have someone who is a better writer than you are give you critique.  Don’t ask a family member because they’ll just say, “nice story, dear.”Ask someone who isn’t afraid to tell it how it is.  Only with critique can we become better writers.

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

Read lots of different authors and try new ones!  Your favourite authors were once new authors who claimed a following.  If you like a book you read that was written by a new author, please post a review about the book. It’s truly the best way to help the author gain notoriety. Thanks!

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

“The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared” by Jonas Jonasson. It’s a fun ride!

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

It was probably “The Adventures of Paddy the Beaver” by Thornton W. Burgess. I have always loved animals and I read lots of Burgess’ animal tales as a child.

 Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

Off-the-wall humour makes me laugh out loud! Painful memories and good deeds performed by the sweetest people in God’s humanity make me cry.

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

Harper Lee. I would have loved to have met her and picked her brain on Atticus Finch’s front porch. My favourite book is “To Kill a Mockingbird” and I would have adored talking to Ms. Lee about how she wove her story line, rooting for the underdog.

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

Yes, I make cards. I come up with my own designs sometimes. I find it relaxing to make cards and it feeds my creative side.

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

Mysteries! Thrillers!  Forensics!

Fiona: Favorite foods, colors,  music?

I like all kinds of foods–perhaps because I grew up in a Canadian-Danish family and travelled the world.  That said, I cannot choke down cilantro or pickles.  Other than that, if it moves, grows, or isn’t nailed down, it’s fair game!

Colours:  My favourite color is a dusty pink, with a pale turquoise taking a close second.

Music:  I sing lead in a Sweet Adelines International chorus, so it’s clear that I like Barbershop.  I also like Anglican church music–Ralph Vaughn Williams, and Randall Thompson, for example. I like The Lumineers, Imagine Dragons, and Pink when it comes to rock.  I guess it’s safe to say I like music with rich harmonies, a message, or a super great beat.

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

I’d be dead, so I can’t really say!

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

Doing something fun and making absolutely sure that the people I love hear it from me one last time.

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

She loved life.

Side note:  It will probably be chiselled in Times New Roman, 12 pt. font.

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

Website:  https://jocelynpedersenauthor.wordpress.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=jocelyn%20pedersen%20author&epa=SEARCH_BOX

Instagram:  jocelynpedersenauthor

Bio

Jocelyn Pedersen is an award-winning, AP-published, professional journalist with hundreds of published clips in various newspapers and magazines. A lover of the mystery and thriller, she eats popcorn while watching documentaries about serial killers and huddles under blankets on the couch while watching Criminal Minds with her friends and family.

Jocelyn is a gold medal-winning power-lifter breaking records every month. She works with Bob White of Team Metro in Norman, Oklahoma.

She enjoys her kids, the beach, teaching writing at the University of Oklahoma, and being a former sheep farmer, considers herself a sheepie slipper aficionado. She has more animals than brains and wouldn’t have it any other way.

Check her out at www.jocelynpedersenauthor.com or on social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, GoodReads.

Blurb

Rookie detective Izzy O’Donnell is on the trail of a serial killer who’s murdering victims and leaving behind body parts wrapped in Bible verses. Izzy tracks him down with the help of her two partners—a very enigmatic Moreno and a rather grumpy Cal—her injured dad’s former partner.

Meanwhile, her wacky sidekick, Apple MacIntosh, totes a pet rabbit around in a baby sling, insisting he’s telepathic and can smell death on Izzy’s clothes. Unnerved by unexplained dreams, Izzy forges forth to solve the case. A homeless man, a philandering televangelist, and a mentally challenged gardener are among the suspects who distract Izzy from seeing the killer, who has been getting to know her all along.

 

Here is my interview with Sean Kerr

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 Sean Kerr and I turn 50 in October! Ewww…but it’s just a number lol!

Fiona: Where are you from?

I am from Swansea originally, but I moved to Cardiff 30 years ago to be with my husband.

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

I used to have an Interior Design Business but had tio let it go a couple of years ago when I became seriously ill. Because of my health, I work from home, and I love it! I make jewellery and have an online Etsy shop, KERRCARDS, and I am a content writer for an American firm writing articles for online magazines and blogs. And, I am an author.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

I am just venturing into the world of Audio books for the first time, and I am so excited about it. My first release will be ‘The Man Inside Me’ which should be live by the end of September. I then hope to move on to my first ever book series, Dead Camp.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I have written stories since I was a child. I am a mad Doctor Who fan (Tom Baker is my Doctor) and I used to make up my own stories. Then I saw Alien for the first time and it changed my life. I became a horror and sci-fi addict. I also love old British sci-fi such as Quatermass, and I am a huge conspiracy nut, so all of this combines into one mad brain full of plot bunnies.

My first book was published five years ago. It took me two years to write that first Dead Campo book, but when it was published, I realised that writing was something I needed to make a priority, despite dabbling for most of my life. I now have more than 10 books out there, and a lot more to come!

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I guess that has to be when Extasy books published my first novel, Dead Camp. That was validation for me. That was when I could say for certain I was a writer. It was the most thrilling experience of my life, and I haven’t looked back since.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

When I was 8, I read Dracula for the first time. I have read that book so many times over the years. Then I read a book called The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, and it changed everything for me. It’s a huge historical tour de force concerning Vlad Tepesh/Dracula, and it changed the way I viewed my writing forever. It opened up this whole world of history, and I have been fascinated with it ever since.

Dead Camp came about from my desire to create my own Vampire mythology. I wanted to explain why some vampires could walk by day, some couldn’t. Why were some gorgeous, and others ugly? You know how it goes. I had the idea that I somehow wanted to unify the mythology under a different style.

I then saw a World War 2 film called Deliverance. Suddenly, I found myself wondering what would happen if Vampires were in the mix. So the idea of Vampires and Nazis stemmed from there. Once I started the research, I realised that I could completely subvert History, and this vast conspiracy story came together.

My first book series, Dead Camp spans centuries. From the beginning of time, to the Crucifixion, Victorian London and World War 2. It’s a huge, complex interweaving story where every character is connected. The planning for it was immense. But its amazing where a film and a bonkers brain can lead you!

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

Much of the first two books take place in a concentration camp, and the two main characters are dead. Also, one of the main characters is outrageously camp…he’s a ghost…so Dead Camp came around as a play on words. It was one of the very first things that came to me and stuck throughout all the years of writing the series.

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

I use a lot of history in my books, and they tend to be complex and twisty! I love to take known concepts, classics, and established events and twist them to my own evil needs. So, there is always a huge amount of research to do before I start to write. And because I’m known as a very descriptive writer, I really like to research the areas where my books take place. I try to transport my readers to each location, so detail and authenticity is really important to me.

While the research is daunting and a little intimidating, I love it. The challenging part is to ensure that every plot point and character arc ties together perfectly, and in unexpected ways. I tend to write complex stories, so I have to plan everything from the outset. But the most challenging aspect for me is the start itself.

When I write a book, I need to find my way into the story from the outset. The tone, flavour, colour of the book and the character of the book needs to make itself present as soon as I start to write. I have to find a way into the manuscript that is slightly off kilter and odd lol! I like to start a book where my readers think ‘WTF?’ I have had many false starts. I have been known to scrap entire chapters and start again. But for me, I have to have that voice and character of the manuscript right for me when I start, or I just don’t seem to be able to get into the book.

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

Oh heck no. While the historical events are real, and most of the locations, the vast majority of my characters remain complete fiction. Perhaps some of the angst my characters go through represents some of my life. I guess authors tend to draw on past experiences and emotions when they write, and I am no exception.

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

Oh, I wish. I would love to go to some of the places I have written about. I have been to Rome and Vatican City, and that was a stunning experience which found itself in the pages of my Dead Camp books.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

My Dead Camp covers were designed by my publisher, Extasy Books. All my self-published works have been designed and created by me.

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

Tolerance. Love. Respect. Understanding. Acceptance. While there may not be anything original in these concepts, they still ring vitally true.

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?

Elizabeth Kostova who wrote The Historian is an absolute inspiration to me because she changed the way I write. She showed me that history can be as much of a character in a book as the Vampire or Monster. Bram Stoker still remains my hero. The way he wrote Dracula was revolutionary, and it is something I try very hard to emulate in my own works.

Ian Cadena is a writer of Urban Fantasy as well as some very naughty MM books, and I love his use of words and his outright cheekiness in his books. He is a very talented Author.

Viva Gold writes tremendous love stories, and her use of the English Language just captivates me. Her books are very naughty, but always with a strong message and powerful, emotional storylines.

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

My best friend Krys Randall. He is the one person responsible for me completing Dead Camp. He is a big fan of those books, and without him encouraging me and pushing me, I would have given up before the books were published. I have a lot to be grateful to him for. He gave me the courage and the confidence to try.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

It is my career, and one I am profoundly grateful to have. It is an honour and a privilege to be an author. Every time someone buys one of my books, it is a huge privilege. With so much material out there, they choose to read one of mine, and that is a very humbling and extraordinary experience.

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

No. I think that would take away the integrity and the spontaneity of my books. Yes, they are flawed, but if I went back and changed them, they would not be the books I intended. Once the book is published, its out there, and you just have to let it fly on its own accord and hope it will find a loving audience.

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

Not to travel on a train. If you read ‘Alive’, you will see why!

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

If Dead Camo was made into a film, then Zac Efron as Eli, Hugh Jackman as Gideon, and James McAvoy as Malachi. When I was writing those books, they always remained my constant inspiration for the characters.

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

Never give up. Keep trying. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it. But also, treat others as you wish to be treated. We are all human together, so lets always be kind and considerate to each other.

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

I would like to thank my readers for all their amazing support, their kindness, and their friendship. My life changed 18 months ago, and it was my readers who got me through the most difficult time in my life. I would not be an author without my readers. They make me an author, and I thank them with all my heart.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

The Nexus 2 Samhain by Ian Cadena.

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

Target books, their Doctor Who series when I was about six.

 Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

Farting jokes. Makes me laugh every single time. I’m shallow, what can I say?

ET makes me howl like a baby.

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

I would love to meet Bram Stoker. I would love to talk to him about his research and experiences when writing Dracula. Just to delve into the mind of that genius would be a dream come true!

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

I’m a trained artist, so I love to paint and draw. I love films, and I have a HUGE sci-fi collection. Cinema is also a big love of mine. I also make hand made cards and Jewellery.

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

All the Alien Films. Doctor Who. Star Trek….actually, the list is vast but you get the idea lol!

Fiona: Favorite foods, colors,  music?

Steak!! Chocolate!! Blue! Black! Anything by Judy Garland, Barbara Streisand, and as many Musicals as I can cram into my collection.

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

I would be painting. That is one of my great loves, though I haven’t done so for a long time because the writing takes up every moment of my spare time.

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

Now that would be x rated! Needless to say, my husband and I would not leave the bedroom!

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

He wrote good books!

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

https://www.deadcamp.com/

Amazon Authors page USA https://www.amazon.com/Sean-Kerr/e/B01A5CEPV2?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_3&qid=1567115780&sr=1-3

UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sean-Kerr/e/B01A5CEPV2?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_6&qid=1567115829&sr=1-6

If you are in the UK Sean Kerr will be at The ShiMMer MM UK Author Event on the

22 .2 20 in Birmingham for more info go to the FB Page shimmer Attendees Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1147076735399309/

You can get your tickets here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shimmer-2020-mm-uk-author-event-tickets-61060808522?fbclid=IwAR1rKOd13L8QpkMgtrPxKMUOS48Li9G6Zf_9Or_mRrr-Prq8zn7bDAUHt7Y

 

Here is my interview with David Chylde

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 James David Conely. I write under the pen name David Chylde. I’m 51

Fiona: Where are you from?

David: I’m from Waycross, Georgia.

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

David: My childhood was a south Georgia small town dream.  I was raised by my mother and grandmother in house a few blocks from the high school. I rode bike, discovered rock music, bottle collected from rivers, and comic book collected. I even picked blackberries for my grandmother’s cobbler. It was probably the best time of my life.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

David: I just started the second draft of my second novel Bonding Weekend, which picks up where Whiskey, Blood, and Magic left off. This book, the one I’m promoting, came out on Kellan Publishing this January.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

David:  Writing picked me! I tried to create comic books, but I can’t draw. Finally, in the sixth grade Mrs. Smith made up do creative writing papers. It was the only thing I excelled at in her class.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

David: At 24, I wrote a novel called Black Heart—that’s when I was really doing something.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

David: My current series was inspired by the Atlanta club scene and rewriting of my supernatural ideas. I finally about ten years ago came up with “the rock singer and three strippers who hunted” idea.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

David: Jake Reece pours whiskey into a ritual chalice during his Awakening into magic.

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

David: I would call it progressive urban fantasy—literary, noir, highly visual. There is a lot of humor in my books. My biggest challenge is keeping imagery from getting too wordy and high-flown. Pacing can also be a challenge.

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

David: A great of the books’ subject matter came out of the Atlanta club scene—strip bars, restaurants, Midtown, Grant Park, Buckhead. For ten years, I waited tables on Peachtree Street and experienced the whole scene.

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

David: No traveling was necessary for this first book, although I need to spend a few days in Atlanta. I imagine I’ll wind up in California.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

David: I had artwork made by an artist friend. The cover symbolizes some kind of magical chaotic birth to me—a cosmic beginning.

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

David: The plot basically stems from Jake’s crazy lifestyle and addiction. Dark forces are drawn to debauchery.

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?

David: I’m reading a Kat Cotton novel. I found it on Uncaged Reviews. I guess she’s new. Dannika Darkness has a good thing going with her series. My favorite writer is probably Caitlin R. Keirnan. She’s a great atmospheric horror/fantasy writer—the perfect combination of dark poetic imagery with hip characters.

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

David: An Atlanta talent agent named Randall Edwards has been very supportive. He also wanted me to get into acting, but I wanted to focus on this.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

David: Oh definitely. Whiskey, Blood, and Magic is just the beginning of Jake’s wild adventures—magic/metal/mayhem!

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

David: There is some minor rewriting I might do, but nothing serious.

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

David: I learned all about the characters and my world of magic as I wrote. It was a journey. My approach to editing and style changed as I wrote it, too. I was a different writer when the book was done.

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

David:  Well, Jake Reece is a 26 years old rock singer, so I think it’s a little late for that. I could play a peripheral character. Remember in Stephen King’s Rose Red, he shows up at the mansion as a pizza delivery boy. I like that!

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

David: Write tenaciously and ignore negative input.

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

David:  When you read this book, it will be like taking a dark tour of Atlanta. Jake walks by the Fox Theater. The bar Medusa’s is across from Piedmont Park. The strip bar Pandora’s Box is on Spring Street. You’ll really feel like you’re there.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

David: I’m reading an old horror novel called The House on Haunted Hill.

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

David: Thinner by Stephen King

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

David: Absurd situations and bizarre subplots in books, eccentric characters, and plain old human failure—people who are too weird for anything to go right.

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

David: I’d like to meet Robert McCammon. He was an eighties horror writer who wrote great—really literary—adventures with highly visual, strange characters. I’m very influenced by him.

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

David: Reading, weight training, watching documentaries

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

David: I just watched this druggy movie called White Girl on Netflix. That was the best independent film I’ve seen in a while. Television? These days I watch RAW the wrestling show. I like Syfy channel shows like Faceoff and the eighties show Night Stalker with Darren Mcgavin.

Fiona: Favorite foods, colors,  music?

David:  I listen to heavy metal, classic rock, and electronica. Sometimes jazz/fusion. I love pasta and Chinese food. Colors? Black and purple—anything used to create shadowy gothic imagery or lurid sensation imagery for movies—bright bloody lettering.

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

David: Start an acting career or learn stage makeup.

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

David: Probably go downtown and party myself to death. Make a few last calls.

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

David:  Music was everything—that, sex and magic!

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

David:  Https://www.davidchylde.com/

In this book, rock singer Jake Reece falls prey to a demon when he accepts a “flesh ride” spell that allows him to feel the carnal pleasure of others through spectral flight. Psychics in the world of magic sense his bondage, and he finds himself hunted by a clan led by succubus Ariel Celique, who needs his magic to defeat the demon in a game orchestrated by spurned angels. Jake approaches stripper\bounty hunter Marci Stone and goes through his Awakening into magic, bringing his power out of dormancy. With Marci and her two stripper sidekicks in magic, he battles the clan. A solo investigation then leads him to a gothic mansion in North Georgia where the succubus throws decadent dance raves and plies her sex drug “Bacchus,” which is running riot in the Atlanta club scene. There Jake Reece discovers she wants to keep him eternally as a sex slave. He manages to escape with Marci’s help and then plays a big show with his band Lost Angel.  Record contracts are being offered amongst wild partying, but first the gang must rally together to return to the mansion and trounce their nemesis.

 

Here is my interview with Charles Cassady Jr.

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 Charles Cassady Jr. (although I rather like dreaming up far-out pseudonyms I may likely never use). I am currently 55 but I like to say I have the income of a teenager.

Fiona: Where are you from?

I was born and spent the vast majority of my life in an unfashionable, faded manufacturing town called Cleveland, Ohio. Now better known as the city close to where LeBron James came from.

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

Well, when one grows up in a place like Cleveland, one tends to think of other places. And I found early on that books were marvelous ways of getting to those other places – even imaginary ones. I read voraciously on all sorts of exotic and wide-ranging material – I think I might have been ten or eleven when I found William Peter Blatty’s “The Exorcist” at my grandparents’ home and read it through. More to the point, though, was that my family indulged me trips to libraries all over the county. When I wasn’t borrowing books, I was inspecting the used-book sales they held on a monthly basis. For an adolescent such as myself, the idea of going into a marketplace with just small change and walking out with a shopping bagful of amazing books was very empowering. I bought tremendous quantities of books – mostly nonfiction. With my book-buying power far exceeding my shelf space, I soon starting applying arbitrary rules about what books I allowed myself to hoarde. They HAD to have an index. The author could not have written any other previous books that I had not read… Finally, I tried to restrict myself to buying only books I found autographed…So, even before internet-sales sites, I found tons of books that are autographed. My house is filled with them now. I suppose in the end I would either become a bookseller or an author. In the last ten years I’ve managed to produce six works of nonfiction.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

In early 2019 my first photo-oriented book comes out “Mardi Gras in Kodachrome,” created in partnership with Mary Lynn Randall. It’s an album of 60-year-old color photographs taken by Mary’s late grandmother at the New Orleans Mardi Gras carnival over a ten-year period in the mid-20th-century and never before published. Mary had offered me use of the photos in relation to some other regional history titles I had been doing, but I felt they were strong enough to support a step-back-in-time book all by themselves. It only took two queries sent out for us to find a publisher, Arcadia, who enthusiastically agreed about the value of the photographs.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I had decided to study journalism at university. Which was a big mistake; I think I might have done better in library science, as the acquisition, preservation and passing along of arcane knowledge is what really fascinates me. Three-quarters of my way through college I finally read one of those hoarded 25-cent library book-sale books of mine from way back, a standard popular how-to guide on the practice of freelance writing. It taught me all I needed to know, right there. No classes, no homework, no tuition, no getting lectures from laid-off reporters or editors who eagerly fled the profession. So I can date my life as a writing professional to my third year in university. But no thanks to university, unfortunately.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I was embarked on a university semester-abroad program in London, England, still making a go of the journalism degree, combined with what I learned from that 25-cent ex-library guidebook (okay, I confess I had to get the updated edition to stay current, so it was more like 12 dollars). I sent out a barrage of letters and stamped return envelopes and International Reply Coupons – this was well before e-mail – to an array of potential magazine and newspaper publishers, so that once I situated myself in London I would have some connections and could market myself as an exotic foreign correspondent. In short order I sold an article (with photos) on the London Stock Exchange to a business magazine for more than $300. Still the best sale I’ve ever had. Pure beginner’s luck.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

It’s complicated. I came away from England, actually, with my first book contract in 1985, but it was as a minor contributor to an ongoing series of international film guides (this detoured me into being a film-critic type for many years). I’d only be published in France – but translated into Dutch! It was still enough to get me credit as a legitimate entertainment writer, so in the USA I formed similar relationships with other film-guide publishers, though I was always just a contributing writer (or editor). I wound up anthologized in perhaps more than two dozen books, some high profile, others quite obscure. My first solo book came somewhat out of the blue. Schiffer Publishing, in Pennsylvania, was running online classified ads soliciting regional writers to compile local ghost stories for their book series. I was now into my second decade of freelance writing, and I possessed file cabinets of such X-Files type material (it always made an easy sale around Halloween). I approached Schiffer with my credentials, and they signed me to write “Cleveland Ghosts,” which came out in 2008.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

It had to be called “Cleveland Ghosts”; that was pre-determined by the publisher to be internet-search-engine friendly. I have always had to defer to my publishers on those matters. There was one Schiffer book of the paranormal for which I wanted to use the word “Abcedarium” in the title. I am told top management was horrified, and not in a good way.

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

Schiffer has been very kind (except for book titles!) in letting me have my own attitude in most things. In writing about out-there and paranormal topics I tried to live up to (or down to) the standards of journalistic ethics and present the facts sensibly, even with a somewhat sardonic sense of humor. Of course, the challenge for me is not going to print with bad information and urban-legend fairy-stories passed off as true (unless I specifically describe it as such). After I wrote up the most famous haunted house in Cleveland for my opening chapter, I later met the future author William Krejci, who would later do his own book on the place – the results of some 20 years of study by Bill. But he complimented me that my version was the best account that had so far appeared in print; I only made four major errors!

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

In the paranormal field (even the true-crime and historical field, that I entered subsequently), it seems a la mode to insert oneself, telling Gilderoy Lockhart stories about personally battling demonic entities or tracking serial killers. But I am a boring Cleveland person to whom very little exciting happened, so it is mainly research and cross-checking varieties of sources and putting all that into something hopefully interesting to read. I have been lucky to talk to some adventuresome people. For my “Great Lakes Folklore” I had a nice, long phone interview with a scuba diver, wreck explorer and Clive Cussler associate, who provided invaluable information on some strange antique submarines lost in the Great Lakes. He said he wanted to make sure I wasn’t a “kook” before I quoted him (but I never heard from him afterwards, so perhaps I did turn out to be a kook after all).

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

I have wanted to, but as a lowly freelance writer-author with a wobbly series of odd jobs keeping me going, I just had no travel budget. One book-in-progress that never seems to get done, about UFO phenomena, would call for some proper travel, at least within the state of Ohio. But that’s been pushed to the margins.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

My publishers have had final say on that. Sometimes they’ve surprised me and used a photograph or even an illustration of mine (I can resort to myself as an artist when I have to; nobody works cheaper!). For “Great Lakes Folklore” I had a marvelous lighthouse image contributed by Paul Wunderle, a digital-photography wizard I knew through mutual friends. It is my most beautiful cover by far. I submitted a slide of my own as a potential cover image, and I was not at all disappointed that my effort lost out to Paul’s. Funny story about the cover of my first true-crime book, “Crescent City Crimes: Old New Orleans, 1718-1918”; while living in a rotten Cleveland neighborhood I bought my first gun, a 32-caliber antique target pistol that some unknown owner, probably up to no good, had filed down into a sinister snub-nosed thing that fit easily in a pocket. Due to all the wire-brushing, it caught the light and photographed very well. And because the barrel was practically nonexistent, I could photograph the gun head-on with no blurriness. The revolver had a tendency to fall to bits, would probably disintegrate if I tried to shoot it. Nonetheless, my family was terrified that I owned a gun and figured I’d go insane and do something very harmful. I assured them it was only a photo prop, no worries…And so when Schiffer published “Crescent City Crimes” I practically begged them to put my picture of the gun on the cover. It’s only on the back cover, and not very prominent – but it is there. After 20 years, my family can relax.

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

N/A, as I do not write novels; I just don’t possess that talent (or confidence that I have the talent, which is probably half the battle). But what carries all my prose books (I guess even the movie-review compilations, in their louche way) is the sheer thrill of storytelling – whether dubious neighborhood ghost legends, stirring sea tales or New Orleans outlaws passed off as folk-heroes and patriots.

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?

Growing up I was transfixed by the fiction of Ray Bradbury. A neighbor girl who owed me a Christmas present almost apologetically gave me a paperback of “The Martian Chronicles.” I was hooked; I still have it. Mark Twain, though, is sublime, everything one might aspire to be in a writer (and equally a pleasure in nonfiction). And in my “Paranormal Mississippi River” I have a piece about the psychic powers that seems to run in Twain’s very talented family; it was a topic he took quite seriously.

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

Well, my publishers, obviously – Schiffer, and now Arcadia/The History Press. But that’s a very good question because a lot of authors just press ahead and write their manuscripts, in outline or entirely, without assurance of a contract or a publisher, ever. And for some of them, it’s worked out happily in the end. But for myself I just cannot go out on that limb bravely and lonely by myself; if I am going to pour so much time and effort into it I have to know some office is indeed waiting for my manuscript. Maybe that speaks ill of my character, I don’t know.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

I suppose it is what I will be known for in the end (unless I do something really illegal). Though the sad fact is, writing has comprised less and less of my income over time. It did carry me along for a dozen years, even if I lived like a pauper at the time.

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

I keep thinking the introduction in “Mardi Gras in Kodachrome” could have been stronger. But again, this is a book chiefly of images rather than words, so new territory for me.

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

Unlike my past books, when I was weaving together entire nonfiction narratives, the task for “Mardi Gras in Kodachrome” largely amounted to writing photo captions and arranging pictures sequentially. But there is a real art to that for a project of this nature, if one seeks to maintain a sort of flow of information and artwork. I believe we pulled it off. Arcadia seems to think so!

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

Oh, remember I started out as a movie critic. I do not have much faith in cinema for translating the written word, though there have been some noble attempts, even in nonfiction. I like to think that if the unthinkable happens and a property of mine actually goes before cameras, I would have the strength to dictate that the title be changed, so moviegoers realize that a movie and the book are two different creations. But commercially, for me to do that would be suicide (but I’ve made bad business decisions before…like my journalism degree).

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

First, read the annually updated library book that got me started (“Writers Market” is the title; I know there was a similar book in the UK for a long time). But have a fallback skill in the career field; you’ll probably need it…Also, one piece of advice I received early on is worthy of comment; some gentleman with a gleam in his eye said that women find writers intrinsically attractive, that it is practically an aphrodisiac. And you’ll get that message from a lot of memoirs and pop-culture. Well, allow me to say that such has not really been my experience. Rather the opposite. Maybe it’s a Cleveland thing.

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

I think my books find fresh angles and insights on subjects that are compellingly readable to begin with; no point in my writing them otherwise. But I do not do cleansings, banishings or exorcisms. I know some of the people who do, however.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

I read several books at once – especially now that I get paid to do book reviews on the side. But the long-ago library booksale hoarding of my youth that I just now finally got around to is notable. “Folkways” is a 1906 volume, once very well known – now not so much – that seemed to represent the life’s work of scholar/lecturer William Graham Sumner. He tries to do nothing less than sum up all human behavior and tradition in quick, sharp strokes. Much of it, I have to say, comes across as disturbing, if not morbid and ghastly (chapters on cannibalism, abortion and slavery in quick succession). I like to think that the grim picture he paints is somewhat tainted by the bias of his times; unverified traveler’s tales, imperialism or racism. But too much, I fear, is more factual than not. Hopefully I can get verification from an anthropologist. And Sumner wrote that he originally planned to focus more on worldwide superstition – that he calls “goblinism” – but mostly left that part out. A ghost-story-monger such as myself really would wish he had done an equally massive job compiling goblinism after all.

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

Sadly no. It was probably a bit beyond my comprehension abilities at the time.

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

My royalty checks.

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

I suppose the noblest answer would be the unsung photographer Ruth Ketcham, who died well before her granddaughter Mary Randall gave me a box of her vibrant color slides that will see print now as “Mardi Gras in Kodachrome.” I would have been able to assure Ruth that the work she undertook all those decades ago, so long unseen, was not forgotten and will now be out on the racks and in libraries, available for the enjoyment of countless readers…But I would also have asked her to have taken better notes when she took the photos; I had to painstakingly reconstruct a lot of the caption circumstances under a magnifying glass. I also wish I knew what brand of camera and lens she used. Nobody in the family remembers.

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

I have had the privilege of generating an income out of things that other people consider hobbies, such as a watching films, reading books, hearing ghost stories, and so forth, so the line is fuzzy between livelihood and entertainment. I suppose my own photography and video-editing counts as my hobbies, mainly because I have thus far failed to gain any career advantage out of them. And I collect autographed editions, let us not forget that.

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

For sheer entertainment value, I enjoy the cult-movie showcase “Mystery Science Theater 3000” – although I have on occasion been lucky to be paid to review its DVD-release compilations. Otherwise, since my larger film-critic gigs have largely dried up, almost nothing lures me into the cinema any longer.

Fiona: Favorite foods, colors, music?

Out of ethics – and poverty – I have embraced a vegetarian/vegan diet. Give me an all-you-can-eat salad bar and I am content enough. As a photographer I cannot play favorites with colors – Kodachrome made them all glow. I find third-wave ska music immensely appealing, as well as film/TV soundtracks, gothic-industrial dance, and 80s alternative-underground pop. Part of that is rooted in nostalgia for my lost youth; the rest just proved very effective for keeping me awake and up late making deadlines.

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

I used to think photography was a suitable creative fallback, but in practice I determined it was even more competitive and high pressure than writing. I held a position as a sports videographer for seven years; it was great, and I often wish I could go back to it. Of course, part of the appeal was that I was installed all by myself in a tall camera tower in a wooded area overlooking a horse-race track all evening long. I was unsupervised, and in the downtime when the animals weren’t running I could do anything I wanted. So there in that racetrack tower is where I wrote three of my books!

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

I suppose I would go to the nearest hospital emergency room!

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

“At Least I Got Out Of Cleveland” (this presupposes that I am able to arranged being interred out of state)

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

Not at the present time. I keep feeling the time I might take to establish an online presence would sap away energy and opportunity to write more books! Perhaps I’ll get past that block someday.

My Amazon Author Page:

https://www.amazon.com/Charles-Cassady/e/B001QV5QFQ/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2?qid=1546472060&sr=1-2

Link to my books published by Schiffer.

https://www.schifferbooks.com/search/results.html?keyword=charles+cassady+jr.&search-option=author&categories_id=&manufacturers_id=&pfrom=&pto=&dfrom=&dto=&x=22&y=8

 

Here is my interview with J. E. Irvin

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 Janet E. Irvin. I publish literary and non-fiction work under that name. My mystery/thrillers are published as J. E. Irvin. My path to publication has been very non-traditional. I arrived later than most people and reserve the right to keep my age a secret!

 Fiona: Where are you from?

I was born in Youngstown, Ohio, the oldest of seven children, and grew up in an industrial town called Struthers in the northeast area of the state. I reside in Springboro, a suburban area in southwest Ohio. From this you can tell that I am a life-long Buckeye!

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

I received my undergraduate degree in Spanish and English from Ohio University, hold a Master’s in Education from the University of Dayton and a Master’s in Spanish from the University of Cincinnati. I taught high school and university classes for forty-two years before retiring to concentrate on my writing. My husband and I have been married for fifty-one years and have two daughters. Our oldest lives in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, with her husband and our granddaughter. Our youngest, her husband and their two children reside in Columbus, Ohio. As an avid outdoor enthusiast, I adore hiking and canoeing, especially in the Northwoods of the United States and Canada. The more remote the location, the happier I am.

 Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

My newest manuscript – a women’s literary fiction work titled A Principle of Light- is complete and in the querying process. I have a third mystery/thriller in progress (with hopes of a late fall publishing target) and a paranormal fantasy based on Celtic legends in the early draft stages. I have also recently returned to writing poetry. One of my pieces appears in the spring issue (#17) of Mock Turtle Zine. A non-fiction essay was accepted by the literary journal FLIGHTS and will be published in their 2018 fall edition.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

As so many writers, I started young with plans to write seriously after undergraduate school. However, life throws us curves. Our second child was born profoundly retarded. With no explanation for the disabilities and no recourse, I embarked on a journey for which I had no preparation. After four years of therapy and doctor visits, we had to place him in a care facility. The trauma literally stole my writing voice. After Scott’s death in 1992 from complications of surgery, I returned to the only thing that helped the pain – writing. I took a part-time job as a stringer for the local newspaper, wrote short stories, and began to submit to publications.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

The first time I wrote a sentence on those lined sheets of grade-school paper, I felt the magic in recording an idea. However, the first time I saw one of my stories on a page, followed by my by-line, I knew what I was meant to be.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

I have an entire power-point presentation on this topic! Several years ago, a local teacher left her child in the car and forgot the baby was there. The storyended tragically and was carried in the local papers. In an attempt to understand the event, I wrote a short story and sent it off to an editor, who replied back immediately with a lengthy rejection in which he said two things: the story wasn’t believable and that it had happened in his family! Nursing the rejection with wine and chocolate, I asked myself a what-if question: what if the mother returned to the car and the baby was gone? This idea grew into my first published novel – The Dark End of the Rainbow.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

In the opening chapters of the novel, two of the main characters – Xandra and Leah – witness rainbows as the tragic circumstances unfold. The symbolism recurs throughout the book. It seemed a natural fit.

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

I am a lover of words, of how they look and sound and feel when we say them. And there are so many wonderful words we seldom use. So, I tend to use them and then must revise and sometimes cut them because my style is not the cut and paste of the Internet or twitter. I’d like to think that my writing has an elegance to it, but I’m not certain that style is popular today. I try to be aware of that as I craft my pieces. However, this style of writing is suited to poetry, so perhaps that is why I am writing more of it now!

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

Well, both of my mysteries are set in a fictional town that resembles the towns where I live or have lived. A discerning reader will find plenty of references to familiar places. The premise of each story is also based on real-life episodes, but all the characters and situations are fictional. I use detail to make the plots real, but I never use anyone specifically. For example, the character of Joe in The Dark End is based on a beloved uncle who was a detective. I gave my Joe his name as a way to honor the memory, but my Joe isn’t at all like my uncle.

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

I have travelled locally for some of my short stories, but for the two novels, I haven’t need to go far afield. My new manuscript takes place in Turkey, a country I have long wanted to visit. Because of the danger involved in traveling there, I have relied on my Turkish friends to advise, edit, and correct the political, geographic and linguistic parts of the novel. The book is written in honor of one of my longest and closest friends, a Turk, who died recently from ALS.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

Actually, I did! The editor at the small press that published my novels worked with my design.

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

All my novels concern themselves with keeping secrets, the consequences of keeping those secrets, and the healing power of love. If there is a message, I believe that is the one I would most like readers to take with 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?

I read three novels a week, so I am familiar with a great many writers. One who has captured my attention is Randall Silvis. He has an amazing ability to make his characters  multi-layered and appealing. I also absolutely love Sarah J. Maas’s fantasy romance series Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses. Barbara Nickless is a new author who has a series about a railroad detective named Sydney Rose Parnell, a veteran who served as a mortuary technician in the Iraq war. When I can’t wait for the next book, I know I’m hooked!

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

I credit the Ohio Writing Workshop at Miami University and the Antioch Writers Workshop with restoring my voice and my belief in my ability to write. Midwest Writers Workshop awarded me the first fellowship I ever received as I worked on my first novel  I ever wrote, The Magic (still unpublished)-. Each of these entities said to me, “You are a writer.” Their encouragement and support gave me courage to continue. I also credit the original members of the Key Lime Writers group – Rosalie, Jo, Mary Lou – who refused to let me give up.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

I would love to see writing as my career, but I realize I am fighting a difficult battle. The sheer number of people writing, the availability of self-publishing sites, the search for younger talent to make an agent’s career, my own place on the chronology scale, all make it very difficult. But I will not stop.

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

Because I won an award that included publication with a small press, I did not have the advantage of multiple editors. They are so important to the final product. I wish I had had that extra set of eyes looking things over. The first run ended up with a small but important error I swear I corrected on my final proofs but which ended up not being changed until the second printing. That would never happen with more steps in the process.

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

So very much! I studied Turkish. I read OrhanPamuk and Kemal Ataturk and several modern Turkish poets. I plotted routes through the countryside and found a history so fascinating, I can’t wait to learn more.

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

David Harbour would make a good Joe. Millie Bobby should be Xandra. Carla Gugino would be a possible choice for Leah. I would have to hold a casting call for J.J.

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

I’ve written columns on my web site that address this, mostly culled from my own experience. The first thing is you have to write and you have to submit. The second thing is perseverance. Don’t give up, ever. Third, find your ‘tribe,’ the people who will continue to support you as you struggle to attain your goals. I also believe it’s important to be a good literary citizen, to give back to the writing community by being supportive yourself. A good motto to write by — “A rising tide lifts all boats.”

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

If you like what you read, please leave a good review somewhere. The best way books find an audience is word-of-mouth, so spread the word. One of my readers told me she loved my book and thought sure it would be a bestseller if everyone knew about it. But she didn’t post that anywhere…so no one will know how she felt. BTW, if you didn’t like it, message me and tell me why so I can make the next one better.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

I just this morning finished “The Extraordinary Life of Joe Hill” by Robert Dugoniand am reading Baldacci’s “No Man’s Land” and “All the Castles Burned” by Michael Nye.

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

No. But I remember the first book I read over and over again: “The Mystery of Camp Laughing Water.” Loved that story…got me hooked on mysteries.

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

Literate and witty comedy, corny jokes, a baby’s laughter, my grandchildren’s brutal honesty and my own clumsiness at times – all these things make me laugh. What makes me cry? Weddings, beauty in all forms, the knowledge that time sweeps us all in its passage and we lose the things we love…

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

Mark Twain, for many reasons but mostly because he married comedy and tragedy so skilfully. Charles Barkley, because he’s such a character!

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

I am a gardener – vegetables and wildflowers.I walk and work out as often as possible. And I love to bake!

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

Again, I enjoy literate, witty, well-written, absorbing, thoughtful shows, something it’s difficult to find on network television. Lately, I’ve enjoyed the limited series “Howard’s End.” I am catching up on “Grace and Frankie” and watching “Westworld.” Love “The Big Bang Theory,” although it may be reaching the end of its run. Can’t wait for the return of “Outlander” and “Game of Thrones.”

Fiona: Favorite foods, colors, music?

Pasta in all forms, cheeseburgers with everything on them, a good filet mignon. My favoritecolors are winter: red, white, black, blue. My taste in music is more eclectic, from symphonic to blues to folk. We attended a festival over the weekend that featured a group called Over The Rhine. Beautiful lyrics and harmony. But I am a good old rock ‘n roll fan as well – Eagles, Stones, Bob Seger.

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

I would be a photographer or a park ranger. Or I would return to the classroom. I love the magic that happens when one teaches.

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

 With my family paddling a river, followed by a cookout and a hike to see a waterfall.

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

Interesting question, and difficult…Loving Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Writer…Her words were as beautiful as her soul.

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

I do. My web site is https://janetirvin.wordpress.com/  . I also have a facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/darkendoftherainbow . I can be found on Goodreads and Amazon Authors as well.

https://www.amazon.com/J.E.-Irvin/e/B018FG7CL0/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1527686770&sr=1-2-ent