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.

Egypt: The Uprising is my debut novel and it launches the Egyptian mythology inspired series, the Battle for Maat.

Set against the backdrop of the Egyptian revolution of January 25th 2011, Egypt the Uprising explores a mythical ‘alternate reality’ where the recent uprisings in the Middle East are not as simple as they seem and have roots older than recorded history itself.

How did the name of the series, the “Battle for Maat” come about?

The Battle for Ma’at is a quest to restore justice and right the wrongs of the world.

Maat, literally “that which is right,” is an ancient Egyptian concept. In fact, it is the most important among all of the ancient Egyptian philosophical ideals: universal order, harmony, justice and righteousness.

This is a befitting name for the series because it captures the essence of the struggle between the forces of the universe presented in it. It is not simply a battle between good and evil. It is a battle for reinstating the scales of justice back in place.

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

I am currently working on book two of the series. This installment tells of the struggle of the freedom fighters as they face the unknown–much as a reflection of the situation on the ground in Egypt and the rest of the Arab world.

The beginning oozes of the uncertainty and the pain we suffer now in Egypt with our ‘transitional’ situation. But then things move further away from the realism and into fantasy.

Tell us something about yourself.

Born to Egyptian-Canadian parents, I have always been proud of the mutliculturism and mix of cultures in my family. I spent my early childhood in Egypt where I was spoon-fed stories of ancient Egyptian myths by my grandmother. My fascination with the mythology of the world grew with time. Later when I moved to Canada with my parents, I would spend hours in the Mississauga Central library gobbling up all sorts of books about myths and cultures bygone.

My passion for writing started at a very early age. I started “writing” picture books when I was about five, and then came the diaries and short stories.I even finished a novel manuscript when I was in high school.

Then, I went back to Egypt to go to university. I studied to be a doctor, and worked briefly as a teacher assistant in Cairo University but my passion for writing has led me astray. I took up medical writing as a career instead. And I am glad I did, because if I had not, I would have never have found the time to work on my novels.

I now live in a quiet suburban Cairo district, not too far from the pyramids, with my husband, my 7-year-old daughter Mariam and my 20 months-old Adam.

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

I chose Egyptian-sounding names for the characters with Egyptian heritage. But there is much more to naming my characters than that. Names are very significant to me; I guess I get this from my ancient Egyptian ancestors who believed in the power of naming the person.

The protagonist’s name, Aya, for instance carries double hidden meanings. “Aya” in Arabic word which loosely translates to a miracle or sign–but in the same time phonetically, Aya is reminiscent of “eye.”

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

Forget “writing what you know,” and instead write about what you are passionate about. You cannot craft a story that moves your readers and transports them to extraordinary places if it does not move you first.

Who is the perfect reader for your book?

Oh I certainly do not think that any work of fiction, or any book for that matter, can be ubiquitously enjoyed by everyone.

People who would love my book love to see strong female protagonists and enjoy reading about the unlikely hero doing the impossible .

My readers are smart, intellectual, people who are fascinated by other cultures and mythologies.
They like to understand the world around them and find order in the disorderly.

They are people with a strong sense of right and wrong. In my books, they find an escape from the real world where righteousness and justice seem to keep taking hit after hit and never recuperate.

Not all of them are idealist dreamers–although most of them are–but they do find solace in a magical world in which science and magic work together for the benefit of the human kind. They seek to be entertained and maybe a little enlightened while at it.

Although the story is classified as young adult fiction, it is also appreciated by adults who enjoy the freshness of coming of age novels and enjoy reading fast-moving character-rich adventures set in faraway places.

Where can readers learn more about you and your book?

The series website http://www.battleformaat.com/
Facebook fan page https://www.facebook.com/egyptuprising?sk=info
I also invite readers to join me on twitter http://twitter.com/#!/FEM4Ever

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

So, I’ve just released two of my epic fantasy books for Young Adults into the Kindle and ebook market. I started work on the series several years ago (released initially as paperbacks) and between then and now have been working on other projects. But the market has been changing recently and so I have decided to concentrate solely on the ebook marketplace. My first book in The Southern Lands series is entitled Xannu – The Prophecy. I am currently writing book three of the series.

The introduction to the series lays out the concept:

Living out a mundane school life is not the norm for 12 year old Terry West. After digging up some rune coins near an old roman road two years ago, he has been living another life. This parallel existence in another world, is very different from his home. There he is Teern Truthbringer, an 18 year old soldier, who is tasked with finding the Xannu – ‘he who will lead the people into deliverance.’

Journeying far and wide to fulfill his destiny, Teern will meet many others. Some who will help him and some who want him dead. Visiting strange lands, battling un-earthly creatures and witnessing powerful magic are all in a day’s work.

But remaining an integral part of his circle of friends back home leads to many dilemmas. How will he balance the two lives he leads, solve two sets of problems, and understand the lessons he receives from both? Only time will tell. But time is something Terry doesn’t have too much of, as everything is unfolding in ways he could never have imagined!

It’s a non-stop cover to cover read!

Tell us something about yourself.

I write under the pen name of Paul Dorset and many people have asked me why? The answer is really quite simple. There are a lot of authors who share my real name and so I wanted to differentiate myself from them. So, why Paul Dorset? That is simple too. I was born in a town named Poole in the county of Dorset, in England, and lived there for the first 18 years of my life. Hence the adopted name Paul Dorset.

I have been writing for many years and some of my early works were published in ‘teen advice’ columns. I have also had many articles published, mostly in the technical field of Computing which is where I’ve been practicing for the past thirty years or so.

I currently live in the Pacific Northwest but have traveled the world extensively for business and also worked many times with teens and youth groups. It is this background combined with my vivid imagination that has enabled me to weave a tapestry of magic into my fantasy novels. They are aimed at youngsters of ten years and up, but the storylines are more than exciting enough to keep adults turning pages as the stories unfold.

What inspired you to write this book?

I wanted to write a novel from a time when I was quite young. Then finally I had some free time after finishing a contract abroad and returned to America. I took the opportunity and just jumped in and wrote the first draft of the first book in the series in just three months. The second book took another eighteen months!

How did you choose the title?

The word Xannu came to me one day and I just sort of liked it. It was a bit Chinese mixed with a bit of mysticism and it stuck. The ‘X’ is pronounced ‘Sh’, so it’s really Shannoo!

Do you have any writing rituals?

Oh yes! I need to be in my space to write successfully. That means sitting at my desk with my headphones on, listening to the special playlist of writing music that I have. My playlist only contains music without lyrics (words distract me when I’m writing) and mostly it is classical interpretations. Now this is weird in itself as I usually don’t listen to classical music at any other time. The classical interpretations are from Vanessa Mae, Bond, and Yo-Yo Ma. I also have some jazz and baroque. All very eclectic! But as long as I’m listening to this music, I can write away quite happily. Oh and I need my flask of hot coffee by my side!

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

I read a lot of different books. Mostly it’s either young adult – as I write mostly for that market, or adult fantasy – because I love fantasy in general. However I do read thrillers, sci-fi , horror and comedy when I get the opportunity. I think it’s important to read a lot of books if you want to write. And to read a lot of books by different authors too. You don’t want to get caught up in one style of writing or else you’ll write just like that too. My current favorites include Robin Hobb, Kate Elliott, George R Martin, Jacqueline Carey, and Orson Scott Card. But it changes around from time to time.

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

I am currently working on two different things. Firstly I have book three of the Southern Lands (Xannu) series under development (I’m hoping for a release later in 2011), and secondly I am just about to launch a series of Middle Grade adventure books set in the town of Gwillville; a town filled with ventriloquist dummies. Something quite comical, fun and very different.

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

That’s a tough one. My best advice would be to simply keep at it. Don’t give up. If it is your passion then do it. Do it to the exclusion of everything else and believe in yourself. Nothing in this world comes easy but if you don’t believe in yourself then don’t be surprised if no one else does!

Where can readers learn more about you and your book?

I publish a blog at http://pauldorset.blogspot.com which I update on a daily basis. The blog covers all sorts of topics, some about writing, some just about my thoughts on life, and some giving information about my upcoming books. There are also links on my blog to Amazon.com and all the ebookstores where you can find my books. I also have an author website http://pauldorset.com which is only concerned with my actual books.

Until August 2010, Amanda Hocking, 26, worked for ten dollars an hour at an assisted-living facility in southern Minnesota, near Iowa. The work was honorable and satisfying although writing novels in her spare time was her first love. Amanda finished her first novel at age 17 and over the next nine years, wrote 11 more. After a string of rejections by literary agents, she turned to self-publishing and made her first mistake by paying Lulu to put her book into print and on their website and nowhere else. Not satisfied when not one book “published” by Lulu sold, she researched the subject further and discovered ebooks.

In less than one year, Amanda has sold 900,000 copies of her nine ebooks, the first of which went on sale in April 2010.

She prices her ebooks at what she believes is fair and that she herself would pay: 99 cents for the first book in each serial and, after hooking the audience, $2.99 for each follow-up ebook in the serial.

Amanda Hocking isn’t “lucky.” She is entertaining and she knows what all successful writers know. She knows her audience. Intimately. She says, “I’ve been active on social networks and blogs for years.”

Her audience is made up of young women of her own age remembering the loneliness and awkwardness of their high school years, young women who easily lose themselves in fantasy and romance, young women with a sense of humor, young women with children whose spouses may be away at work during the day, or away at war, or not around anymore. Hocking puts her audience — all heroines– at the center of every exciting fantasy and romance, and in return, they line her pockets one dollar at a time.

This is not unlike the old days when newspapers attracted readers by running serial fiction. To find out what happens, you had to buy the next day’s paper for a dime or a quarter, not enough to break the household budget but enough to keep the presses rolling.

Amanda Hocking understands story.

“When I first started writing, I wanted to write something that was deep, meaningful and important, like ’1984,’” she said. “But I’m kind of a fluffy person. I want to entertain people without getting too deep.”

Her marketing strategy (other than relaxing with her tribe on social networks)?

“I also send ARCs [advance review copies] out to book bloggers. Book bloggers are a really amazing community, and they’ve been tremendously supportive. They’ve definitely been a major force that got my books on the map.”

“When I first published, I did do a bit of promoting on the Amazon forums, but they’re not really open to that, so I haven’t really interacted there much at all in months. I hang out at Goodreads, Kindleboards, Facebook, Twitter, and I blog. And that’s about it.”

What is her work ethic?

“You need to write a lot, you need to read a lot, and research a lot,” Hocking said.

So far, her books don’t sell so well in print. Her strength is ebooks. It is her medium and comfort zone. When her ebooks began selling widely, she got around, finally, to publishing them in print for broad distribution.

Half way down one of her blogging pages, an ad says ‘buy my ebooks at amazon and bn.com’. An adjacent ad is marked: “NEW” ‘buy my book in print.’

Though she lately began receiving ink from traditional news outlets, it was the reviews by bloggers that changed her destiny.

Her readers flock to her fanciful blog, leaving respectful comments urging her to publish the next saga in the serial and promising to buy everything she writes.

Amanda Hocking’s writing sample leaves her readers wondering what happens next.

She’s not lucky. She works hard and knows story. She knows she is not yet a great writer. With more hard work, she hopes to become a better writer.

She’s always worked hard. She says she now makes more in a month than she had in the last four years combined. Hocking used to work with people with disabilities before quitting last July. “I feel guilty about it because I worked hard at my job,” she says. “I think it’s unfair that they (her former co-workers) make less doing something that’s more important.”

“I worked full-time in group homes for people with disabilities for the past five and a half years, so the majority of my writing was done then. In high school and right out of high school, I worked as a dishwasher, and then I went to work at the group home. I always wrote in my spare time, but I had to pay the bills, so I had to keep my day job. Until August 2010. That’s the first time I made enough money off my writing that I didn’t need to work anymore, so I’ve been writing full-time since then.”

Bonnie Britt edited the newly published The Comfort Garden: Tales from the Trauma Unit by Laurie Barkin

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

My recent book Victor and the Sun Orb, the first part of a trilogy, is a fantasy novel for children and young adults. It is a story of a young sun fairy prince, who is cursed to become mortal on his baptism day, forced to live his land Solandia at the age of thirteen, and to live with humans. His quest to retrieve the sun orb, the source of power to all sun fairies, and find the mysterious, dark, hooded figure is the ultimate way to get his power back and help the sun fairies from being perished forever.

Since my target readers are children ages nine and above, my intention is not only to entertain and tickle their imaginations, but to inculcate values as well. I deeply emphasized the value of family, love, and friendship, and that good triumph over evil always. I want to make sure that young readers learned some lessons after reading the book, or at least remember them.

Tell us something about yourself.

I was born and raised in the Philippines. I finished a bachelor’s degree in English and worked in a youth center, where I gave seminars, retreats, recollections, and organized youth assemblies. My work required a lot of travelling so I decided to stop after five years. I was hired as Executive Staff in an importer/distributor company in Manila afterwards. I migrated to Denmark in 2001 to settle with my Danish husband. I still work full-time and I write on weekends.

What inspired you to write this book?

I’m an avid reader of fantasy books and fairy tales since I was a little girl. When I migrated to Denmark, I was fascinated to see old houses, century old castles and churches, and the 4,000-year-old tombstones in the Black Forest. In one of our visits in the castle park, my husband climbed an old oak tree and he looked so white and bright under the midday son that I thought he needed only a pair of wings to look like a fairy. When I saw the tombstones in the forest, I began to imagine the forest full of fairies and the story just swirled in my mind non-stop. I didn’t find any story or book about sun fairies in my internet researches, so I decided to make them as my main characters. Since sol is the Danish word for sun, I named Sol as the goddess of sun fairies and their world eventually became Solandia.

How did you publish this book?

Danish publishers don’t publish books in English, and books from other countries are translated in Danish. Thinking of my target market, I decided to self-publish my book in USA.

What do you believe is the hardest part in writing?

Editing and promoting the book are the hardest part for me. Even if I have a bachelor’s degree in English, still English is not my native language. Chances are I still commit mistakes. Promoting the book is another, as a self-published author, I need time, effort, money, and a lot of nerve to promote my book, especially that I live in a country where English is not the spoken language.

How do you research your book?

Since my book is a fantasy and sun fairy is a new category of fairies, I didn’t make a lot of researches; it’s my imagination that’s working all the time.

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

I never had a hint I would become a writer one day, although I noticed already before, even when I was a little girl that I love to browse and read all kinds of reading materials. I felt the urge that I love to write when I was in college, but I took it for granted. The right time came when I migrated to Denmark.

Did you learn anything from writing this book? What?

I learned the value of patience and determination. It doesn’t matter how long it will take to write a book, but what’s important is that I do what I like to do, and finish what I’ve started. I count what I sow and not what I reap.

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

The story of Prince Victor will continue in three series. I’m currently writing the sequel titled Victor and the Seven Circles of Darkness. His adventure will continue as he rescues his friend Rower from being banished forever from the Black River. Angels will be added as new characters in the story. It will be darker, entertaining, and mystifying as well. I’m also working on a memoir in between, as this is being asked by a good friend of mine.

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

Writing a book is a long process, time consuming, and sometimes painful. It’s all part of the process, just keep on writing and stay focused. Your book represents you as an author, so make it your best, error free as much as possible. Write what interests you and listen to your fellow authors, their advices are precious. And when your book is out there, let the whole world know that it exist, take your lead to promote it.

What are you doing to promote your latest book?

I maximize the use of the internet. I put up my own web site, press releases, book reviews, Google Adwords, video trailer, social networking, email campaign, book giveaways, author interviews, and join groups and writers organizations.

Where can readers learn more about you and your book?

I invite readers to visit my web site at www.amynielsenbook.com or visit Amazon.com to read all the reviews.

Thank you Cathy and all the staff of Selling Books for the support you’ve given to us authors. I deeply appreciate the time and effort you’ve rendered to this author interview. I am honored to be included in your list.

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

I’ve actually published three books in the last few months. Not on purpose, just the cards happened to deal out that way. Billy: Messenger of Powersis a YA fantasy that is currently on several niche bestseller lists at amazon.com, Run is a suspense-thriller about a man who wakes up one morning to find that everyone wants to kill him, and CELESTIA is a sci-fi epic about a young man trying to save an alien race.

Obviously, I have serious personality issues.

Tell us something about yourself.

I’ve been writing since I was four years old. My father was an English professor at Pepperdine University, and taught poetry and creative writing there, so it was both a genetic and environmental foregone conclusion that I’d end up writing a bit. Or a lot. It helped that I got to meet and spend time with a lot of famous writers. Since my own father wrote horror and critical works on horror, sci-fi, and fantasy, I became friends and acquaintances with some amazingly talented and nice folks: people like Dean Koontz, Orson Scott Card (author of the ENDER series), and Frank Darabont (THE MIST) were either at my house or on the phone or emailing a lot, and I wangled my way into conversations with them. I also grew up with Brandon Mull (FABLEHAVEN) as a good friend, so it seriously didn’t take a lot of guesswork to see how I’d end up turning out: warped and twisted, loving to scare people and also loving to write a good kids’ book now and again.

What inspired you to write this book?

Well, BILLY was inspired – or rather, commanded – by my wife. I had just done a rewrite on a screenplay of mine for a major Hollywood production company, so had been immersed in horror (the genre of the script) for a good long time. My wife told me she wanted me to write something that wouldn’t keep her up at night. She loved – and still loves – Harry Potter, so she informed me that my next project WOULD be a YA fantasy. BILLY was born. And it actually knocked Harry Potter off her most-prized position on the nightstand! Nothing I’d written had ever done that before, so I was VERY happy.

How did you publish this book?

The book is available as an ebook on amazon.com and smashwords.com, as well as barnesandnoble.com and a bunch of other outlets. It’s also coming out next month as a print novel, but when I got the publishing offer I decided to retain the electronic rights to the book. I figured that I’d written a pretty fun yarn, and wanted to see if it would sell off of word-of-mouth. Lucky thing, too, as it’s been doing very well!

What do you believe is the hardest part of writing?

The hardest part of writing is the part where you’ve just finished. I mean, it’s almost like post-partum depression. You’ve been playing God, creating all these fabulous places. And then…it’s just over. There are still a million things to do – you have to market the book, get it published, do interviews (like this fun one!), and so on, but in the few days after I finish a book or a screenplay, it’s just tough to make the transition back to “real” life.

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

I like an incredibly eclectic mix of authors and genres. I’ve always loved Stephen King and Dean Koontz, Orson Scott Card is a good friend and a definite inspiration. I can also be found reading biographies of Churchill and FDR, lots of books about World War II, and just to keep everyone off-balance I just finished the fourth book in the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan and am working on another fabulous YA series called The 13th Reality by another friend of mine named James Dashner.

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

Wow…you’re the first to ask that one. Sneak preview for you! I’m working on a book (working title “The Loon”) about a max-security hospital for the criminally-insane. A freak blizzard cuts them off from the rest of the world, and well…let’s just say that things go downhill from there.

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

Write. Write. Write. And remember who your audience is. If you’re writing for yourself, then whatever you write is just perfect. But if you want other people to read it – or BUY it – you had better remember who you are writing for and take care to treat them with respect. And never, EVER bore them.

Where can readers learn more about you and your book?

Well, as I said, they can find my stuff on amazon.com and smashwords.com.

Billy: Messenger of Powers

Run

Celestia

I also run a fun blog called My Little Thoughts at http://www.whoisbillyjones.com/mylittlethoughts and I have a Facebook page where people can find out about my up-to-the-minute comings and goings.

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

Olympic Gold for Cat and Toby is a young adult fiction book. This is the uplifting story of a girl’s struggle to find herself after tragedy nearly destroys her life.Fourteen-year-old Cat has devoted her life to figure skating and works tirelessly for Olympic Gold. while driving home from a skating competition, she and her Dad are involved in an accident. Cat awkens in the hospitl and learns the worst has happened: Her Father is dead and her leg was amputated below the knee.

A family Dr suggests hippotherapy. Reluctantly Cat consents to therapeutic riding. Inspired by the sight of a horse and rider practicing on a jump course, Cat decides she will learn to compete again.

Tell us something about yourself.

I was raised a military brat and have been in every US state and overseas. I graduated high school from Metlakatla Alaska. A shy girl I spent hours reading books and dreaming of owning a horse.

What inspired you to write this book?

My interest in animal therapy and love of horses.

How did you publish this book?

A first time unknown author I decided to go with a Print on Demand Publisher and I happened across Publishamerica while surfing on the net.

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

I have always loved books and reading but had no intention of ever writing a book. In 2003 I started waking up in around 2 am with a story in my mind. The only way to go back to sleep was to write the story down. This went on for several months. Honey, A Pony’s Story for tween readers was published in 2004.

What do you believe is the hardest part of writing?

Discipline. A writer should write every day. That is very hard to do.

Did you learn anything from writing this book? What?

That getting you book to the reading public can be harder then writing it.

What types of books do you like to read?

Mystery, suspense, political intrigue, horse, scifi

Who are your favorite authors?

John Grisham, Michael Crichton, Isaac Asimov, Nicholas Evans

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

Write about a subject you are passionate about. When choosing a publisher find out if and how they will market your book. POD publishers tend to leave the marketing to the author.

What are you doing to promote your latest book?

I have built two websites for independent authors to advertise their books. Writing my be a solitary pursuit, but marketing is best done by a group,

Where can readers learn more about you and your book?

www.horse-books-pony-stories.com

www.coalition-independent-authors.com

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

“It was a cold winter night. The wind was howling. The moon was full.” The Kackle begins with a weary traveler that stops into a local tavern in a small village. He discovers the town has a legend of an evil beast that lived amongst them.The Kackle , a horrid creature that dwells in a dark castle , plans her kill at night with the help of her faithful scout demon Sir Redwork. This is a tale of terror and betrayal when Sir Redwork falls for the beautiful Fredricka. What happens when you read THE END? The next segment includes samples from my “Hot Chocolate Notebook of Lyrics” starting with “Curse of the Braggert.” My lyrics put a lightheared twist on everyday situations.

Tell us something about yourself.

I was born in Salina, Kansas and replanted in several different places because my father was in the U.S. Air force. We also travelled many places on family vacations. My favorite place is Gulf Shores, Alabama. Many years passed since my visit as a youth before I had a chance to return to the Gulf. I re-lived the moment in time when I had found a poem on a piece of paper in the sand and dreamed how great to be an author. I wanted it then and the hunger for it still excists. I am a summer time beach bum. I love the white sand as I dig my toes in it,the vast ocean, collecting seashells,the smell of the air, the beautiful colors and sound of the seagulls.

What inspired you to write this book?

Passion. I wrote The Kackle two years before I decided to publish. I write by taking a situation or an emotion and put all that energy into a fictional story.I read it to my family at home ,or passed it through e-mail to family out of state. I recieved good reviews and encouragement to publish. I couldn’t give this story up to the scrapbook.

Why did you decide to self-publish?

My kids had school book projects published through a print on demand company so I started checking out all the different ones. I went with Xlibris self publishing company because they offered more “perks” in the package at a price I could afford . I wanted my work in a book with an ISBN and I wanted it now.

How did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I don’t think that I ever just woke up one day and said “I want to be a writer.” It was just natural to make up stories and write them down. I started with diaries and journals, and loved to read or look through books. Pre-computer days, I enjoyed curling up and writing long letters. I won first place in a writing contest in grade school. Give me a pen or pencil and paper and I will write. I like to entertain my family when we travel with stories or lyrics I think up. The Kackle was a popular campfire tale.I saved some of my work to a scrapbook over the years. Everytime I looked back through the scrapbook ,I felt a yearning to do something more. I wanted to write a book and have it published .I never pursued the dream because at that time my interest was also in nursing as a career. I needed to be financially independent .Life as a Registered Nurse was rewarding but the dream of turning my writing into a book just couldn’t be still any more as the years passed by. I was determined to turn my dream into reality. The feeling was like being thirsty for years and finally getting a drink.

What do you believe is the hardest part of writing?

Writing is the easy part. Marketing the book is hard work. Thankfully there are alot of tips I have picked up through articles found through Twitter.

Who are your favorite authors?

Stephen King had me hooked with The Shining. I love his work. I first heard a reading of a John Grisham novel on audio cassette in the car. I didn’t want to get out of the car and go into work. I can’t put his books down.

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

I have a fictional story that also has been on the back burner too long . I’ve been heating it up.

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

Pursue your dream to the fullest. I encourage everyone who has that passion to act on it now. I have never felt so fulfilled as I am today. If you have another career ,give a llitle love to your writing too.

What are you doing to promote your latest book?

I am working hard trying to make myself visible to the public.It’s no time to be shy!

Where can readers learn more about you and your book?

The Kackle is available in paperback and e-book at your local store order desk or online at Xlibris, Barnes and Noble, Borders and Amazon.com. The Xlibras site, under book search, has my web page where you will find an excerpt from The Kackle, my author bio, contact and ordering information. Also by phone at 1-888-795-4274 ext7876.I can be followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bykatylove or my blog site at http://bykatylove.blogspot.com.

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

My latest book is The Circle of Friends, Book V…Heather. Described as “encouragement personified”, this Southern-based, YA series portrays love and friendship overcoming all obstacles. Book V follows Heather, a feisty young woman about to embark on a coaching career at Clemson. Sadly, her father lies dying of cancer, her sister appears incapable of achievement, and a cocky player challenges her patience. Life changes when she encounters a man capable of handling her dominant attitude. However, the last thing Heather needs is a serious relationship with a man equally fixated on work and opposed to marriage…

Tell us something about yourself.

I’m originally from Oregon, but I’ve lived all across the US and now reside in North Carolina. Ten years associating with a motivation training system and experience as a foster parent gave me the in-depth knowledge of relationships, personality traits, and success principles. Known as “Spunk On A Stick,” I’m a member of the National Speakers Association and travel extensively for speaking engagements. I maintain a dozen websites & blogs, manage an online writer’s group, and contribute to several other sites and newsletters. “Overcoming Obstacles With SPUNK! The Keys to Leadership & Goal-Setting”, ties all of my goal-setting and leadership seminar information together and my YA series, The Circle of Friends, features morally grounded, positive stories that appeal to both teens and concerned parents. I’m a professional photographer by trade and possess a passion for roller coasters!

What inspired you to write this book?

I knew I wanted to write something uplifting and positive. My motivation training had taught me so much about relationships, success principles, attitudes… how could I not write something in that same vein? A dream inspired Book I of the series, and once I began forming the outlines, I could see how each character faced a challenge (or two) in his or her life, so I poured a message of hope into each book. The stories overlap and entwine as the characters discover that through friendship, love, and belief, they can accomplish anything!

How do you do research for your books?

I do a lot of research online and through books. During the course of this series, I learned about Olympic Swimming, college and professional football, college basketball. For this particular book, I contacted the head coach at Clemson, and Ms. Cristy McKinney was gracious enough to fill me in on the duties of an assistant basketball coach. And that is what makes research so fun – meeting new people!

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

My next project will be a teen version of “Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK!” Young people in this country are desparate for hope and I want to create a book that addresses their issues and concerns.

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

Do your research before committing your pen to paper! You should write what you love, but if you have high aspirations for your work, be sure there is a market waiting for your book. Pouring your heart into a book with no real market only leads to frustration.

What are you doing to promote your latest book?

I did a four-week virtual tour as well as several physical events, including a fundraiser for a teen organization. Promoting this series is an ongoing process, though. Online I maintain two websites, a blog, and a writer’s club. I’m involved in several social networks and have a group fan page on Facebook. I post articles online, contribute to several newsletters, participate in online conferences, and do online radio. In the real world, I do many speaking engagements, teach seminars, book signings, media interviews, attend book festivals, and promote myself with cards, brochures, postcards, and bookmarks. My website is even on the back of my vehicle! (So if you see a red Tribute, look for The Circle of Friends.)

Where can readers learn more about you and your book?

My series website is www.thecircleoffriends.net and my speaker site is www.spunkonastick.net I also have a blog, Spunk on a Stick’s Tips – www.circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.com. The book trailer can be viewed on YouTube. This latest book is available retail and online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Dancing Lemur Press. It’s also available as an eBook at the publisher’s site, Smashwords, and for the Kindle.

Eighteen months ago, I took up karate. It’s a great workout, but the biggest reason I train is I want to be a formidable senior citizen. If someone tries to nab my purse or deny my senior discount at Denny’s, I’ll be able to answer with a nasty roundhouse kick to the solar plexus. By laying the foundation now, I’ll be a badass when I’m 70.

But the neatest thing about taking up karate when you’re a woman in her mid-40′s is that people don’t automatically expect it. If you’re just a casual acquaintance, you won’t know I’m working toward my black belt. And by the time I’m collecting Social Security, the possibility won’t even cross your mind. Unless you try to grab my purse.

In life most people become more complex as we get to know them. This should also be true for characters in children’s books. At a conference I recently attended, Lyron Bennett, editor for Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, called it “the slow reveal”. It means investing your characters with enough varied qualities that some can be withheld until called for in the plot.

The slow reveal is particularly important when writing a series. If J.K. Rowling had allowed Harry Potter to reach his full power as a wizard in Book 1, would fans have waited nine years and six more books to discover if he finally defeated you-know-who? But equally important is planting the seeds early on for who you want your character to become. From the beginning, readers saw Harry’s potential, and Rowling allowed greatness to surface in Harry when it was least expected. Those qualities expanded along with Harry as the series unfolded.

You don’t want to reveal everything at once in stand-alone books either. Picture books and easy readers, with their smaller word counts and straightforward plots, do best with characters who have one or two surprises up their sleeve. In Peggy Parish’s classic easy reader Amelia Bedelia, the child sees that Amelia is doing a bad job on her first day as a housekeeper because she doesn’t understand the list her employer left her. But even before Amelia begins on the list, she whips up a lemon merengue pie. What the reader doesn’t know is that Amelia makes the most delicious pies anywhere, which eventually saves her job at the end of the book.

Parceling out your protagonist’s strengths and weaknesses keeps the tension taut in a novel. In Gary Paulsen’s timeless Hatchet (ages 11-14), Brian, a city kid, is stranded in the Canadian wilderness after the his bush plane crashes, killing the pilot. Neither Brian nor the reader know if he’s got what it takes to survive on his own. Can he figure out how to start a fire? Yes, quite by accident. Can he fish? Eventually. Kill and cook a bird? How about live through a moose attack or weather a tornado? Brian evolves from reacting to his predicament and stumbling upon solutions to carefully taking control of his situation. But nothing Brian does is out of character. Though he must teach himself to live in the wild, he draws upon bits of information he learned from watching television or at school, and reserves of strength that were in him all along.

Even if you’re writing a single title, make your children’s book characters complex enough to carry on for several books, just in case. Fans loved Brian so much that Paulsen was persuaded to use the character in several other wilderness adventures. Picture book series (such as Mo Willem’s Pigeon books) or easy reader series like Amelia Bedelia generally grow because the protagonist’s quirks are open-ended and funny enough that readers don’t mind exploring them over and over in different circumstances.

The slow reveal works particularly well in mysteries. In this genre, the readers gradually get to know the victim (perhaps an honor student who is discovered to be running an side business selling test answers), and the villain (who may seem like a nice guy at the beginning of the book). Or, how about a first person narrator in any genre who appears normal and likable early on, but becomes less and less reliable as the story unfolds? Read Robert Cormier’s timeless young adult I Am the Cheese for a masterful example of a shifting first person reality. If you prefer a broader perspective, try Avi’s Nothing But the Truth: A Documentary Novel for ages 11-14, which looks at one incident from several viewpoints, gradually separating fact from fiction. So when you first breath life into your characters, don’t stop too soon. Add layers that can be exposed later on. These surprises will keep readers enthralled, whether you’re writing about a boy wizard, a demanding pigeon, or a ninja grandma.

Laura Backes is the publisher of Children’s Book Insider, the Newsletter for Children’s Writers. For more information about how to write children’s books, including free articles, market tips, insider secrets, the lowdown on children’s book publishers and much more, visit the CBI Clubhouse at http://cbiclubhouse.com