What is your most recent book? Tell us a bit about it

Starting in the 1950s but time-traveling through a parallel universe to the 21st century, my “Fifties Chix” series chronicles the adventures of five diverse girls – each having her own talisman and special talent needed to navigate in the new 21st-century world to find a way back home. Friendship, romance, mystery, fantasy and a bit of history mix together in this series for young teen girls.

The series’ first book, Travel to Tomorrow, is the start of the time-travel story about five mismatched high school classmates whose lives change forever after receiving an assignment from their teacher, Miss Boggs, asking them to predict what life will be like 55 years into the future. The morning after they are given the assignment, tomboy Beverly, studious Mary, artistic Ann, moody Maxine and high-spirited Judy find themselves transplanted a half a century into the future. Once they discover what the future holds, they wonder if they even want to go back home.

What inspired you to write this book?

I’ve always loved to tell stories, whether it’s through words or through painting and drawing. I was inspired to write the Fifties Chix series after first drawing the five different characters–one girl obsessed with Hollywood and the movies, one girl who is a tomboy who loves sports, another who is a homemaker who enjoys sewing and cooking, one girl who is concerned about social issues and a girl who is very artistic and loves to paint. I imagined how they would act and what they would think–and even how others would perceive them–if they were to be dropped right in present day straight from the 1950s.

Why did you select the 50s to write about?

The 1950s is considered by many to be a “golden era” in America that will never be seen again. America had come out of World War II and The Great Depression and people were starting to find success and prosperity. It was a time of hope and dreams. In many ways, there was a picture perfect image of the American Dream being lived out. At the same time, there were many issues like women’s rights and racial equality that were coming to a head. I thought it would be interesting to compare and contrast the 50s with present day because we all want to fit in–and the 1950s was so much about conformity; and we also all value individuality and uniqueness–which is such a focus today. I thought it would be fun to see how these characters in the Fifties Chix went on a quest to find their place within themselves, with each other as friends, and in society.

Who is the perfect reader for your book?

My ideal reader for the Fifties Chix series is a middle school girl who craves adventure, is intrigued by history and treasures the relationships in her life. She has an active imagination, wants to do the right thing, but has a rebellious streak at the same time. She doesn’t like to be told what to do because she wants to figure it out for herself. She tries to remember to value people for who they are on the inside, even thought the world is constantly shoving superficial standards at her. She wants to make a positive difference in the world, but she also just wants to day dream and have fun letting her mind meander!

Are you working on your next book? What can you tell us about it?

I’m currently working on the third book in the Fifties Chix series (“Third Time’s a Charm”) and without giving too much away, I’ll just say that three characters time travel to the Civil War era. I am having so much fun researching the 1860s! I never knew I would be getting such an education writing this series. I’m working on two other books (both first of series; my husband’s refrain is, “Can’t you just write a single title??” But I can’t help it, I love to read series, so I love to write series!). The second Fifties Chix book, “Keeping Secrets” is due out at the beginning of 2012.

Tell us something about yourself.

I’ve always loved creative writing. I used to entertain myself by writing stories and drawing pictures. I just came across a school assignment from third grade with vocabulary words. I used each word in a sentence and as a “bonus” illustrated every sentence. I did that constantly–I loved to create scenes (in more ways than one!). I looked to be a creative writing major in college, but got sidetracked with art and theater. Ironically, it was while working in the art gallery that I owned with my husband that I started writing stories based on characters I would sketch. It all came full circle!

My writing continues to take on new meaning for me; while it’s thoroughly enjoyable, it is also the vehicle for what I am passionate about. For example, I am heartened by the growing movement which is a rebellion against the superficial and hyper-sexualized portrayal of girls and women in the media. I am passionate about this cause that “redefines girlhood” and I champion “Good Books x Strong Girls” on my blog and in my books. So while I write fiction (that is fun and uplifting), I write with the intention of creating strong female characters that offer an alternative to the often discouraging and demoralizing portrayal of girls and women.

What obstacles did you encounter in getting this book published? How did you overcome them?

When I first started writing the first Fifties Chix book, I didn’t think too much about how I would publish it; like all of my writing projects, I’m compelled to write them because I love the concepts and characters. The further I got along in writing the story, though, the more I wanted to share it. I realized the quickest way to get it out to most people was to publish it on a blog. My husband set up a website using images of the Fifties Chix characters that I had sketched when first conceiving the concept. People subscribed to the blog posts and I posted sections of the story as I wrote them and included diary entries of the characters, which continues to be an integral part of the story. It was satisfying to immediately start building a community around the Fifties Chix by publishing to the web; the downside was that the posts weren’t professionally edited like my books are now! I try not to think about that aspect too much because it makes me cringe. I guess it wasn’t that bad because the original readers are still fans!

Do you have any writing rituals?

When I’m writing I can’t listen to music at all. Background noise is OK, but if there’s music, I’ll get too easily distracted. I also have to be chewing something. Unfortunately, sometimes my fingernails take the brunt of this, which is why having either gum or sunflower seeds on hand is essential! It’s taken me years to figure out (and not feel guilty) that my best time for writing is in the afternoon. No matter how early I get up in the morning, I just can’t get in a good writing zone until 2 or 3 in the afternoon. I’ve finally given up fighting it and now can have very productive writing sessions (followed usually by a late dinner which is cooked and served by my husband if I’m on a really good jag).

What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?

I’m always thrilled to meet someone who says they are working on writing or publishing a book and I get emails constantly asking for advice, which I am happy to give. The publishing industry is undergoing huge changes right now and I forever remind myself and others that this means there are more opportunities than ever. A writer who is working to get published should be like a tree, rooted and grounded in the love of their writing, strong and always reaching out, but flexible when the big storms (rejection, unforeseen obstacles, etc) come. My mantra is “Keep going!” Though, I guess if we’re talking about being a tree, “Keep growing!” is more accurate! My favorite advice, which you hear from authors time and again, is to write what you want to read. I think this is really important because then you’re being authentic and continually refining your voice and message. When your writing is coming from a place of love, you’re assured of success.

Where can readers learn more about you and your book?

The Fifties Chix website at www.FiftiesChix.com has information about the characters in the series, an active fan club and even fun facts about the 1950s, including slang terms. Because I’m a word nerd, there’s also a wiki with supplemental ideas for learning, games, even cooking and entertaining: www.fiftieschix.wikispaces.com I blog regularly about things close to my heart: “Good Books x Strong Girls,” the writing and publishing process, creativity, and observations about life in general. I also have a very extensive FAQ page (with links to my popular ehow publishing videos) available for a resource for writers who are looking to be published or are just getting started with their book projects at www.AngelaSageLarsen.com. On Twitter: @AngLarsen and @50sChix. On Facebook: facebook.com/FiftiesChix

What is your most recent book? Tell us a bit about it.

Nikita

The President of Iran sits down with a wealthy and powerful Russian appointed by a corrupt United Nations’ Secretary General to oversee attempts by Iran to develop nuclear arms. The topic they discuss is the brokerage by the Russian of 4,000 nuclear warheads, manufactured by the former Soviet Union and a perfect fit for Iran’s Shahab-3 ballistic missiles. These warheads are sitting in Russian warehouses and are being offered for sale by a rogue Russian official.

The same Russian broker orchestrates the actions of the President of the United States in lockstep with the Secretary General of the United Nations to execute a campaign of actions designed to create and maintain chaos in the world of international relations, a campaign to distract the world from the nuclear proliferation, taking place in the Middle East.

The ambitions of the Russian broker and his colleagues are focused on generating tens of billions of dollars in profits and the global consequences are of no interest to them.

The only way to stop the inevitable disaster is to stop the flow of the money.

Anna and Hugh Masterson, the sleuthing couple from the Anna & Hugh Masterson International Mystery Series, find themselves the unintentional gatekeepers in this horrific plot of unbridled nuclear proliferation and both are at risk of losing their lives under violent and very personal circumstances.

It is a saga that could be…but we pray will not!

Tell us something about yourself.

I was born in The Bronx, NY in the early days of WWII and attended Catholic schools through college, all boys from the sixth grade.

On graduating from Cardinal Hayes High School in 1956, I attended Manhattan College where I earned a BBA in accounting. After a tour of duty with the U.S. Army Artillery, I started my career in 1962, as an accountant with Haskins and Sells, one of the international accounting firms that were then referred to as the Big Eight.

By 1979, I had progressed through a career in finance and the use of technology in financial management to the position of Chief Financial Officer of Citibank’s Visa and MasterCard business.

In the first half of the 1980s, I oversaw, as Chief Executive Officer, the growth of a $459 Million regional mortgage company to a $7.5 Billion Federal Mortgage Bank, one of the largest in the country at that time.

In 1985, together with my wife Susan, a computer scientist, I founded a consulting firm specializing in technology-based solutions to processing and security issues in the Financial Services Industry. From 1985 through 2000, the firm serviced the largest financial organizations in the world, including, Barclays Bank, J.P. Morgan & Co., Citicorp, Merrill Lynch & Co., Credit Suisse, Prudential, Standard & Poor’s and ING Barings.

In the year 2000 two events that were to have a major impact occurred:
My wife left the company to pursue (successfully) a complete career reinvention as an actress, model and author and…
I won the bid on a long-term contract (six years) to reengineer the way the United Nations moves money and information globally.

The UN contract and my wife’s new career required us to be in New York City every day for long hours so we rented an apartment on East 46th Street.

During the six years of the contract, a scandal erupted at the UN surrounding the Oil for Food Program. This was a UN administered effort that permitted the embargoed Hussein run Iraq, isolated after the invasion of Kuwait and the first Iraq war, to sell oil to the world. The funds were to be used to buy food and medical supplies to provide the Iraqi people with the necessities of life, thereby reducing the impact on them of the embargo.

October 27, 2005, a committee headed by Paul Volker issued a report of the audit conducted into the corruption in the program. It was almost 700 pages but the real meat for me was in two sentences. “…the Government of Iraq sold $64.2 billion of oil to 248 companies. In turn, 3,614 companies sold $34.5 billion of humanitarian goods to Iraq.”

The difference between the income from oil sales and the outgo to buy humanitarian goods was 29.7 Billion Dollars. I was deeply involved in the movement of money by the UN and I couldn’t stop asking the question, “What happened to that $29,700,000,000?”

Sometime in the late fall of 2005 I was leaving my apartment building for work by way of the rear entrance through a small park on 45th Street. I was stopped by security personnel because a man had jumped out of the twentieth story of one of the buildings that like mine, bordered the park. When I looked out through the door I saw the body splattered in the park (20 stories is a long drop). However, more disturbing was the fact that on his way down a golden silk robe had been torn from his body and was caught in the branches of the forty-foot high trees that were all over the little park. As I walked to the front entrance of the building, I kept thinking to myself “Who the hell puts on a silk robe to jump out a window, I don’t think it was a suicide”.

Over the thirty years that I was in the consulting business, I traveled about 50% of the time and read an untold number of mysteries.

From that day in the fall of 2005, I knew that there was a great mystery in connecting those last two events, 29.7 billion bucks gone missing and a guy dropped out of his twentieth story apartment window.

The contract with the UN ended September 30, 2006 and on November 6, 2006, I decided to reinvent myself as a mystery writer and connect those two events with the workings of my imagination.

I have never looked back.

I was fortunate in that through my wife’s established associations in the media industry I was introduced to an experienced agent who, on reading my mystery had nothing but praise and promise. On meeting with three publishers, I came away with a great many trepidations about signing a contract with guys much bigger than me and with much deeper pockets when I could not pin them down as to what they were going to do to promote my book. Everything I heard and saw led me to believe that they interpreted their responsibility to begin and end with getting my book into about five hundred bookstores across the country and Amazon. They would look to me to provide most of the marketing and promotional horsepower. The line of all three when I questioned this issue was essentially, “Well after all you are an unknown; most of our promotional dollars goes to proven authors.”

I thanked them and decided to seek alternatives. I will add here that I received a great deal of encouragement from my agent. He felt that the publishing industry was on the cusp of its greatest upheaval and that they were about to experience the revolution of disintermediation that music experienced in the preceding ten years. It was late 2009.
~~~
It is now 2011 and here are the results of our (my wife joined me in this independent publishing endeavor) efforts:
We have independently published my first mystery Treachery In Turtle Bay, the sequel Treachery In Turtle Bay II and Look For The Hook (My wife, Susan Jane Bodell’s self help book).

All three are available in Trade Paperback on Amazon, on Barnes & Noble internet site, through Barnes & Noble stores, through hundreds of other bookstores (via Ingram\Lightning Source POD) and to Libraries via Baker & Taylor. In Kindle e-book format in the Amazon Kindle Store, e-Pub e-book format at the Barnes & Noble Internet Store, e-Pub e-book format from Google Editions.

We have sales every day from somewhere in the world. We market globally and our distribution partners provide global delivery.
We speak at libraries, book clubs, bookstores, spas and resorts. Susan also runs a program on Look for the Hook in rehabilitation centers.
On November 6, 2011, exactly five years to the day after writing my first paragraph of my first novel we published Nikita, the third novel of the Anna and Hugh Masterson Series.

What began as an attempt to write a simple mystery soon escalated into what has become the most exciting adventure of my career.

What inspired you to write this book?

The plot and original high-level outline was developed in late 2008 at about the same time as book two was being finalized.

I saw turmoil on the horizon given the US political climate in late 2008 and the rather 20th century eastern European rhetoric being a keystone of a campaign.

I also recognized the unfolding of seriously worrisome developments in the Middle East, developments that would dwarf the Iraq wars not only in the length and cost but also in the exploding effect on global security. Where there is smoke there is fire I thought and the makings of fertile ground for the sleuthing couple Anna & Hugh Masterson. Thus, book three of the Anna & Hugh Masterson International Mystery Series was conceived.

Over the three years the book has been in development it evolved; the intrigue and mystery grew more sinister, the political background took on the elements of satire, the commitment of the Mastersons to each other became more intense and the action follows the James Bond formula.

How did you choose the title?

It started out as ‘Treachery In Turtle Bay III – Nukes, Dollars, Diplomacy and the Sinister One’. Wow! That’s a mouthful.

I took an afternoon about six months before publishing and researched successful authors’ title conventions. One word, two maybe three, but that’s it. I then got the idea that since the series was named after the heroine and hero, the books should reflect the challenge more closely.

Nikita is the lead bad guy in this and the two prior books in the series. He has become Anna and Hugh Masterson’s Professor Moriarty. In this book, he takes his evil over the top.

The name was found!

What obstacles did you encounter in getting this book published?

None! Not because I became so well known or popular, but because we own the publisher.

In reciting my journey to writing and being published, I noted that we (my wife Susan and I) formed a publishing entity (imprint) Sprig Media Group and established relationships with facilitating organizations, Amazon CreateSpace; Kindle; Barnes & Noble Nook, Google e-books, etc. We never sought another publishing channel after we made that decision in 2009.

I did encounter the usual learning curve when seeking a publisher for the first book. Over 100 rejections and 3 ‘interested’.

How did you overcome them?

We learned the business, not the mechanics of making sure the books are available globally, that is now pretty easy with the upheaval in the publishing industry as a result of technology, but the ‘how to drive readers to our books’.

We believe in our books, mine as entertaining and Susan’s as informative and helpful to folk seeking a toolset to think positively in the face of adversity.

Each day we learn new ways to get that belief out to potential readers. Once we learn these new techniques we implement them.

How did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I didn’t until the age of 68 when circumstances gave me both the opportunity and created the need.

How did you get started?

I explained earlier how the idea for the first book developed. I did not think at the time that my days as a technology solutions consultant had come to an end, but I soon found out there just isn’t much demand for grey haired techies.

I realized about a year into the development of book one, if I wanted to continue being on the cutting edge of a business, it better be one in which age didn’t matter.

The evolution from author to publisher created that opportunity…in both phases of authorship/publishing.

The requirement (personal development and financially) to have a business I could stay in until I wanted to end it, not have it ended for me created the need.

I am grateful and happier than I have ever been.

Do you have any writing rituals?

I really never changed my work habits. I am intense and disciplined. This I believe is a backlash of an earlier period where I was …let’s just say neither intense nor disciplined.

Each day begins with a read through and editing for content of what was written the day before. Sometimes this results in completely scrapping what was written the day before.

It works for me, but is not for everyone.

While writing, from idea through publishing I work 8 to 10 hours a day on the project. Using Nikita as an example, I will now work 8 to 10 hours a day for a year on promoting it and our other books.

Sometime at the end of 2012, I shall start on the next book.

How do you come up with the names for your characters?

My books take place on an international landscape and have characters from around the world. If the character is Russian, I research Russian names (first and last) and create one that I like. It’s the same for each character.

The principals of the series Anna & Hugh Masterson are modeled loosely on my wife and I and the names came from family names.

Did you learn anything from writing and publishing this book? What?

I will have to expand on this question to include the series because the learning process is ongoing and I have learned a great deal. What I have learned relates to fiction and fiction that is seeking a commercially viable audience. I will list the top five in order of importance:

Write about what you know. You can research support, but not the basics of the plot.

Listen to, analyze and react constructively to criticism. My agent pointed out that my first book described in detail the contents of every meal where a scene took place. His words I will never forget. “You are a thin guy who eats very plain food, where the hell is this elaborate description of every meal coming from? Get rid of it.” I did and it has never found its way back into my ‘International Crime Thrillers’.

Outline your story, first broadly then in ever more granular detail. In complex mysteries at least, I find this a must. It will save you from scrapping an entire plot…and you will have a visual of the storyline when you finish.

In Nikita, three plot channels on a course to converge. They are made up of 65 scenes taking place in varied parts of the globe from The Cayman Islands, to Iran, to Russia, to Indonesia, to New York. The scenes are each set by an opening heading denoting place and time. (These replace chapter headings). The scenes are time sequential. It was complex to write, but my feedback says it is easy and fast to read and difficult to put down once you start.

From their mouths to God’s ears!

Understand who your target audience is and adjust your style to capture their interest. I particularly like a paragraph I wrote to describe in pre-release promotions of Nikita.

Over the three years the book has been in development it evolved; the intrigue and mystery grew more sinister, the political background took on the elements of satire, the commitment of the Mastersons to each other became more intense and the action follows the James Bond formula.

It evolved because we listened to my critics, good and bad, and my readers and evolved the style to meet what they would like to see. Each of those characteristics of Nikita is a result of analyzing feedback.

Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit and then edit again.

If you were doing it all over again, what would you do differently?

This may sound arrogant or ignorant, but nothing.

I believe very strongly that we are the sum total of our experiences. I could not have written earlier in my life, the ‘stars were not aligned correctly’. It had to happen when it happened and the way it happened.

What types of books do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors? Why?

Mysteries/Espionage
Cozy
Action
Adventure
Sleuth
Authors
Anna Katharine Green
Agatha Christie
PD James
Ellery Queen , (Actually Daniel Nathan and Emanuel Lepofsky)
Anne Perry
Tom Clancy
Why

Diverse styles, pace, plots and scene development. I learn from each, elements of successful writing.

Are you working on your next book? What can you tell us about it?

No. That will not start until the end of 2012. Current events will play a role in three alternative plots I am playing with for the Mastersons. All three are very different from each other.

What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?

Define the objective of the writing; ego, fun, gain or agenda.

Commit enough time to permit the possibility of success.

Give the process three years minimum (full or part time) to make a decision if it is where you want to take your life.

Focus, order and discipline

Who is the perfect reader for your book?

A thinking adult
A global fan base

http://www.thebooknikita.com

By bestselling ghostwriter and book doctor with a top London literary consultancy ‘This book should be used as a text in writing courses’ ‘There are shedloads of books on how to write novels, and a lot of them are longer and considerably less useful’ ‘I wish I’d had this book a long time ago’ ‘The author has a proven track record as a writer of fiction, as opposed to writers of “how to write” books’ Are you writing a novel? Do you want to make sure you finish? Will you get lost and fizzle out? Will you spend more time reading about how to write than actually getting the words down? Most books on novel-writing will make you read hundreds of pages about character arcs, inciting incidents, heroes’ journeys. It’s great to know that – but while you’re reading about it you’re not writing your book. And what these books don’t tell you is how to use this learning and get the job done. Nail Your Novel is a writing buddy – and mentor – in a book. In 10

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What is your most recent book? Tell us a bit about it.

The Elephant Talks to God is a book of short stories where my Elephant takes his queries and comments directly to God. God not only listens (as God does to us all) but enters into conversation with the Elephant, answering his questions. The stories eventually ended because the Elephant began asking questions the author could not answer. This book is not typical of my novels, the first being a Fantasy set in World War Two and published on two continents, the second a Thriller leading to my first translated work.

Tell us about yourself.

I am from Atlantic Canada, where I have lived all my life. My mother was a British War Bride and my father came from United Empire Loyalist stock. The Estey ancestry goes back to medieval Italy and the House of D’Este. I am interested in, and directed by, all this heritage. I have been writing for over thirty years.

What inspired you to write this book?

My mother gave me an elephant figurine as part of a Christmas gift. While struggling for a subject for a short story, I looked around my room and stopped at the elephant. It was to be a one-off story. The Elephant (and God) had other ideas.

How did you choose the title?

I wanted the most straight-forward title of such a weighty character and subject matter.

How did you know you wanted to be a writer? How did you get started?

I had no interest in writing, books, reading or any of the arts until Grade Eleven. Within the space of a week (for no obvious reason – I say that God cuffed me on the back of the head) I started writing “funny” short articles. The first of them which I remember (and it may indeed be the first) was about a classroom pencil sharpener which chewed up my pencil. I would do one or two of these funny articles a month. They started to get published in the regional newspaper, The Daily Gleaner.

Do you have any writing rituals?

My writing rituals slide around and some disappear over the years. The bulk of my manuscripts are done long hand with a BIC black ink pen. I usually write in the morning. I use binders and write on alternate lines on both sides of the page. I do now write thriller/adventure books on the computer, for I find that medium enhances the speed of such stories.

How do you come up with the names for your characters?

When stuck for a character’s name, I go to a Gazetteer. Most of the time the character appears with name intact. I have three novel manuscripts where the central character has no name but just initials.

Did you learn anything from writing and publishing this book? What?

Every dayI write I learn something about writing. The Elephant showed me I can sustain humour.

If you were doing it all over again, what would you do differently?

I know what I should have done differently, but I doubt I would do it. I would have concentrated more on the career aspect, promotion and name recognition. But that might mean I would have written one less novel. Not worth the trade-off.

What types of books do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors? Why?

I prefer reading books where all the elements (character, plot, description, philosophy) blend seamlessly. Writers whom I enjoy who accomplish this are John le Carré, Thomas Mann, Thomas Hardy, Mavis Gallant, Alan Bennett, Robert Hass, Alice Munro, Saul Bellow.

Are you working on your next book? What can you tell us about it?

I am working on a thriller centred around NATO. Internet chicanery is at the core of the intricate plot. One central character is a guard/attack dog named Louie. His name came from a real dog I heard being called to in a dog park. Louie is a Cane Corso.

What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?

*BEST* advice for a writer – write regularly. Work time into a schedule to make it possible to write a number of times a week – same time/same place if possible. Publishing venues are so broad these days that it is best to take a long time and study them all. Then chose an avenue that is comfortable (and understandable).

Who is the perfect reader for your book?

Perfection is over-rated. Enter my books and you won’t be disappointed.

Where can readers learn more about you and your book?

http://DaleEstey.com

Amazon.com

http://books.google.com/books/about/The_Elephant_Talks_to_God.html?id=Cj5sAAAACAAJ

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000411133160

http://twitter.com/#!/DaleEstey

What is your most recent book? Tell us a bit about it.

Santa Fe Sundown… A young man is wrongly accused of murdering a state senator and sent to Yuma prison. After two years he inadvertently is released and tracks the man responsible for sending him there.

Tell us something about yourself.

I was born and raised on the Mississippi gulf coast (My first novel) Oath of Color is about that area from 1926-1956. I have since moved to Texas (1979) I now write Christian western novels. In my previous life I worked in the oil industry as a Corporate Quality control manager, retired early and traveled in an RV fulltime for fifteen years around Texas and the northwest. I have written and self published Winds of Freedom, Winds of the Rio Grande, Santa Fe Sundown.

What inspired you to write this book?

My desire to give something to the public not filled with cussing and porn.

How did you choose the title?

I never choose a title. They just show up while I am writing.

What obstacles did you encounter in getting this book published? How did you overcome them?

Publishers don’t open manuscripts mailed to them and I just recently found self publishing. What a God send! I have a domain website called booksbyguy.com

How did you know you wanted to be a writer? How did you get started?

Twelve years ago I was inspired to write about my home country and its problem with discrimination. I wrot and never got published all that time.

Do you have any writing rituals?

No rituals as such. I write almost every day unless I need to jump over a block!

How do you come up with the names for your characters?

Some are biblical, others just appear.

Did you learn anything from writing and publishing this book? What?

After the original manuscript is finished, the donkey work begins. Editing! editing………I also design and create my own covers.

If you were doing it all over again, what would you do differently?

Learn more about computers and what they can do.

What types of books do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors? Why?

Westerns…. Mostly Louis La Mour. Although i don’t read much since I began writing. I don’t want to copy someone elses style.

Are you working on your next book? What can you tell us about it?

Yes! Winds of Amarillo. Bringing all the character together from the previous three

What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?

Just do it! Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t! I do suggest people who want to write do a lot of research.

Who is the perfect reader for your book?

Those who are interested in reading good , clean western. Something their children can read!

Where can readers learn more about you and your book?

Booksbyguy.com. At Amazon and on Kindle.

What is your most recent book? Tell us a bit about it.

My most recent book is titled Flesh Wounds and is my first full length contemporary romance that is not paranormal in nature. I decided to step away from vampires and write a “falling for the boy next door” themed novel. This story touches many different aspects of real life issues such as depression, single parent homes and even alcoholism. Real problems shared my real people, brought to light in a fictitious setting with lots of romance.

Tell us something about yourself.

I am a small-town Texas girl, the mother of four teenagers. I still live within a few miles of my parents, family and even the very hospital where I was born. I was widowed a few years back and that event is probably the main reason why I decided to take a chance and do what I had always wanted to do…write.

I’m down to earth, often referring to myself as a “Koolaid” kind of girl.

I am nobody special and I don’t hold degrees in literature or anything one may expect of a multi-published author. Perhaps it could even be said that I was just lucky, unless you consider the dues I had to pay in order to get to where I am today. I’d say, I’m barely breaking even.

What inspired you to write this book?

My inspiration for this book was to create a hero or heroine that could be anyone, even the guy or girl next door. My usual genre is vampire romance, but the likelihood of someone finding true love with a vampire or other paranormal entity isn’t realistic, so I wanted to offer a romance that most definitely could be obtained by anyone anywhere.

Alcoholism, depression, drug addiction, and single parenting are facts of life and this story allowed me to bring those issues to the table and perhaps be seen in a different light with strong women and chivalrous men. Every day heroes, if you will.

Far too many people deal with these serious issues daily. And although Julia was at the end of her ordeal with depression when the story begins, it was important to show how easily a relapse could occur and how important a strong support system is.

This won’t be my last contemporary romance, but it may be the one to define the direction I take future stories.

How did you choose the title?

The title, Flesh Wounds, came very easily. The heroine, Julia Benson, bears a scar on her wrist where she had attempted suicide during a bout with depression while away at college. The idea that not all wounds are visible becomes apparent as you get to know her and her story and discover what drove her to such desperate measures.

How do you come up with the names for your characters?

Picking names for characters can be difficult. Taking into consideration the time period, location and genre plays a big part in that endeavor. I usually decide the ethnicity, age and geographical location of each character then research accordingly. For instance, I wouldn’t name a sexy vampire born in the seventeenth century, Brice or Rashawn, nor would I choose Julio for an Scottish Highlander. The names must be relevant to the character and everything surrounding them.

Most times a lot of factors come into play when naming characters, but sometimes, believe it or not, they’ve actually been known to name themselves.

If you were doing it all over again, what would you do differently?

If you’re asking about writing in general, the answer is easy. If I were to do it all over again, I would have taken writing or journalism classes as a young woman and started pursuing my writing career twenty tears earlier. All of that would have to be contingent on whether or not I would still have my kids though. If changing history meant not having them, then I wouldn’t change a single aspect of anything!

Are you working on your next book? What can you tell us about it?

Currently, I’m back to writing a vampire/paranormal romance to be released sometime next year.

I have one full length paranormal novel releasing in November and a contemporary Christmas novella due out in December.

2012 is already promising to be busy, so there’s no telling what I may be up to. Whatever it is though, you can bet I am making the most of it.

What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?

The best advice I can offer anyone is to, first and foremost, develop tougher skin.

I recall a scene in the movie, “A League of Their Own”, where Tom Hanks’ character becomes overwhelmed by the emotional outbursts of the women he coached, and complained, “There’s no crying in baseball!”

Well, there can be lots of crying in the publishing industry. Rejection and criticism hurts like crazy and nothing can rip your heart out more than a bad review or not being able to find a home for your “baby.”

Stick with it and surround yourself with other authors and writers who understand how you feel and what you’re going through firsthand. Family and friends are wonderful, but even so, nobody can get you though a writing crisis like another writer. And finally, take every piece of advice to heart. What may seem insignificant today, may be just what you need to get you though tomorrow.

Where can readers learn more about you and your book?

“Flesh Wounds” can be found on my publisher’s site or on Amazon through the following links:
eXtasy Books:

More links leading to my hideouts may be found on my Blog, “Sealed with a Kiss”: http://robinbadillo.blogspot.com/

Whether you’re writing non-fiction, historical fiction or fiction in any other genre, you will need to do some research. Research plays a huge role in book writing because without an adequate level of knowledge, your book will lack credibility and authenticity. That is why it is important you take the time and the effort to learn about the setting and/or subject matter before you begin writing your book.

There are four different ways you can conduct your research.

1. Books. Read books that pertain to the topic/setting/theme that you will cover in your book. For example: if the setting of your novel is in fifteenth century France, you will need to read nonfiction books that cover every aspect of France in that time. Even if your novel is set in contemporary Los Angeles, there will be certain things that you will need to double check for accuracy. If the book that you plan to write is non-fiction, read what others have written about the same topic or about a topic similar to one that you plan to write about.

Books are the easiest resource to find and since there are so many of them, based on a wide range of topics, you can find the right books without having to spend too much effort looking for them. If you don’t have the funds to purchase a book or two, you can borrow them from your local library. If you’re the type who enjoys reading online, you can purchase and download ebooks.  

2. Internet. If, for some reason, you can’t find what you’re looking for in your local library or in a bookstore, you can find it on the internet. You can locate literally everything on the internet. You just need to take the time to find an outlet that best suits your needs. Once you find a website or database with the information you need, bookmark it because you will need it for future reference.

3. Oral Interviews. An oral interview is where you meet with an individual who has valuable life experience–based on or similar to what you plan to write about–and you interview him or her. This is the best method of research because it enables you to gain valuable information from a firsthand account. It’s also greatly beneficial to the interviewee because it gives him/her credit and a level of exposure once your book is published. If you know someone in your community who has struggled with the very thing that you’re planning to write about, contact him or her.

4. Internet Interviews. If your book is non-fiction, you can include a section that contains a series of stories written by men and women who have struggled extensively with problem A. For example: Dear Bully is a book that is a collection of seventy stories from seventy authors, expressing their experiences in being the victim, the bystander and/or the bully. Your book doesn’t have to be a collection of stories–starting with yours–it can be your story of inspiration to others, but one that can contain a certain number of stories from other people.

Whether you are conducting an interview with another person or drawing your knowledge from written sources, take notes and keep them in a notebook near you. You will need that information whether you are writing from experience or not.

Deanna Proach is a writer and editor at discounts.ca, a website that deals in all kinds of online discounts and which offers discount coupons. She is also the author of two novels, Day of Revenge (Inkwater Press) and To be Maria (not yet published).

‘Genre’ is what defines a writer, or does it? Should a writer be confined to write in one genre? Is it risky for an author to change the genre that he or she writes in?

I, for one, am one author who has changed my genre–from historical fiction to contemporary YA suspense. I know that there are several authors who do not write in one genre. Some write in more than two genres, yet, I have wanted to hear from other authors about what they feel about changing genres. So, I have contacted three authors–Aimee Laine, Michael Murphy and Dannye Williamsen.

Aimee Laine has written several novels in the paranormal romance genre. Her latest novel Little White Lies was released on July 1, 2011.

Michael Murphy is an award winning author. His latest book, Scorpian Bay–a contemporary suspense–was released in April 2011.

Dannye Williamsen is an author and owner of the Breakthrough Bookstore, an online bookstore dedicated to promoting self-published authors and authors of non-fiction books.

Here is what they had to say…

What do you think about writing novels in two or more genres?

Aimee: I think it’s great for people who like to write a variety of stories.

Dannye: As a writer I think you should write in whatever genre your muse leads you.

Michael: I would encourage writers to consider crossing genres.

What if the perfect story comes to you, but it isn’t within the genre that you normally write in?

Aimee: Then I’d have to consider it, however, I truly believe, for me, that it would morph into a romance. I always called myself a people photographer when people asked me what kind of photographer I was. I’m a writer of people, too. I love the dynamics of a relationship and seeing that to fruition. But my stories aren’t just about that. They are mysterious, thrilling, suspenseful, etc. I love mixing and intertwining, but I call them romance because ultimately, it’s still the story of how two people got together.

Michael: I am facing this now. I’ve had seven novels published, six are the types of books I like to read, mystery and suspense with a touch of humor. About a year ago, I was inspired by a combination of factors to write a novel about about people now who attended Woodstock. People who’ve enjoyed my mysteries, will also enjoy Goodbye Emily, because it has humor throughout like my mysteries. In a mystery, the plot moves along with a hero trying to solve the crime. My challenge was to move the plot along without this device I’m so used to.

Would you switch your genre if you felt compelled to?

Aimee: Yes, but see above. I think they’ll morph for me. I do, however, switch age groups. I write for both Adult and YA … which takes a completely different ‘tact’ and feel to it. In fact I write 3rd person for Adult and 1st person for YA. It sets apart the style of writing and the type.

Dannye: If I felt “compelled to,” my answer would be that it depends on what was compelling me. If the pressure was coming from an outside force, I would not. If the pressure was coming from within me, I would certainly make an effort to see if something would come of it.

In terms of readers and book sales, do you think that changing genres is risky?

Aimee: It’s only risky if you want to think of it as such. I believe we make our own successes and if the story you want to tell is one that’s different than what you ‘normally’ do, you’ll just build another following and perhaps inspire your own fan base to read something new.

Dannye:In terms of readers and book sales being affected by an author switching genres, I think it’s highly possible which is why some authors use pen names when they switch genres. That said, I doubt I would write under a different name.There are always readers who understand that writers work with words and stories and that genres are just a convenient means of categorizing books, not pigeon-holing writers. If some readers are so anxious to put me or anyone else in a particular pigeon-hole, that is their problem, not mine.

Michael: I’m confident that I’ve succeeded, so I would encourage writers to consider crossing genres and see what they can accomplish.

Deanna Proach is a freelance writer for website builder. She is also the author of the historical fiction, Day of Revenge and To be Maria, a YA book (currently unpublished).

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Tell us something about yourself.

Mom, Mary Elizabeth McNamara entered school at 4, and taught in a one-school house in her hometown of Rocky Hill. She started writing poetry in her eighties and became known as Mary the poet. I also was a teacher and, like my mother, didn’t pursue my writing until later in life.

What is your most recent book? Tell us a bit about it.

My most recent book published is a novel, Birds of Paradise. When trucker, Joe-Mack, picks up a runaway in Vegas and drops him in Hollywood, he offers to help him. When the call comes, he reaches out to the boy and becomes embroiled in Freddie’s life along with Starlet, the homeless girl who desires stardom. Set in California’s beautiful yet challenging neighborhoods, the characters, like lost Birds of Paradise, take on risks and maintain thin threads of dignity amidst troubling situations with surprising twists along the way.

What inspired you to write this book?

It was a natural evolution from a short story critiqued by Chris Offutt and Steve Almond at two Wesleyan writing conferences. Direct affection for the characters and the story setting in Southern California – that has a huge spot in my heart- after living there for 20 years.

How did you choose the title?

The title started out as The Squat and, after a while, as I sat in my office in New England, I began to remember and experience the pure pleasure of the settings in California and it spurred me on to the images of the luscious Birds of Paradise flowers and the stunning amazing birds of that same name.

What obstacles did you encounter in getting this book published?

The usual fear and loathing beginning writers and seasoned ones experience.

Lack of knowledge of the publishing industry, comparing myself to others, time and “in the zone” constraints.

Believing there was some genius secret power that that authors had and I didn’t possess it.

How do you come up with the names for your characters?

Names of characters are discovered all over the place- I listen constantly. I love quirky. I want to use the name to further understanding of the character in a subconscious way for the readers. Humor and imagination play a big part, thus, Green, Starlet, Onge, etc.

Did you learn anything from writing and publishing this book? What?

The absolute joy of for me to have produced two books that can be held by family and fellow authors and friends and strangers, is wonderful. Although a writer’s journey often is filled with frustration and rejection- so much better are the good days when stories are accepted, when they win prizes and when a novel is completed.

If you were doing it all over again, what would you do differently?

Start younger!

Are you working on your next book? What can you tell us about it?

I’m considering three projects: one fun idea, Hotel Cure, inspired by Jamie Cat Callan’s Bonjour Happiness, a cheery gal’s book; an extension of “Up Baby,” the last story in A World of Love and Envy, and helping my grandson and his teacher produce a book written by him.

What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?

Write because you love it. Get the “writer’s high” that you can only feel when you have done the work. Read everything. Write and practice! And write more. Share your writing with a small group. Work hard in classes. Pay it forward as you progress and follow your mentors’ generosity.

Where can readers learn more about you and your book?

Birds of Paradise can be found on www.riverhavenbooks.com, Amazon books and Kindle and in Indie book shops. I’d love to have you visit my site: www.kathyhandley.com and email anytime you have questions or just want to say hello. I’m in the Boston area attending lots of Grub Street activities. Check them out- www.grubstreet.org