Synopsis for Devil’s Brae Imagine a warm autumn afternoon in a remote village in the Scottish Highlands. Cassandra Potter, fleeing from the memories of two traumatic deaths, goes walking alone on Devil’s Brae. The wild country is empty, stretching for miles in every direction, it is then she sees him. A dark brooding figure, standing and watching as Cassandra climbs the brae. Apart from a lingering uneasy feeling she ignores the watcher, until the next time and it is then she realises her mistake. Someone wishes her gone from the village – at all costs. Cassandra’s life is plunged into danger. Who is threatening her existence and her sanity? Who is the mysterious stranger? An inhabitant of the village of Inverdarroch? Or a person from her clouded past? Above all, why is this happening to her? Author Q&A What attracted you to writing in the first place? Loving literature as I do, I’d always wanted to write – whether it was novels, plays or poetry. As a child I used to write stories for my sisters and then as I grew older, my short stories became much longer until they resembled novellas. But it wasn’t until the early 2000s that I started writing my first full-length novel What genre are you most comfortable writing? There’s more than one and I like to switch from one to another making sure I don’t become stale with my writing. I love crime writing; murder mystery suspense, but I don’t do real hard core violence – I prefer to let the reader’s imagination take over after I’ve laid down some hints. I love writing adventure and action mixed in with romantic suspense. Finally I’ve recently begun writing pure romance and I’m enjoying writing in an entirely different vein. How has your upbringing influenced your writing? I’ve lived an amazing life – and God willing I’ve got a lot of living still to do! Since the age of five I’ve been fortunate in visiting many countries and six of my tender years I spent living in Malaya and Singapore. I think living abroad and mixing with different cultures and class has enriched my life and hopefully my writing. Where do you get your inspiration and ideas from? From all sorts of places. It could be a simple snippet from an overheard conversation, talking with friends, reading an article in a magazine or something from the television. I have an antenna that turns towards interesting themes and I log on – especially if the subject is unusual! Do you have any writing rituals or listen to “mood music” when you write? Where is your favorite place to write? I try and write in the morning for a few hours, then break and do something else. If I have time and the inspiration I’ll pick up and carry on. The next day I go over the previous day’s work and edit it. I rarely listen to music – I need quiet and I write in our ‘snug’. What’s your favorite place in the entire world? Being with my husband and family. Fame or fortune, which would you prefer? Can I have both please?!! If you couldn’t be an author, what would your ideal career be? Either a surgeon or an actor/singer Chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry? Chocolate! Every time. Even when I diet I save room for a tiny piece as a reward! If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you? Unlimited supply of water and food. My reading glasses and books. My mate. Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book. My editor is pretty excited about this book – she says I improve with each one! This is the first of a new ‘Dark Minds’ series and I enjoyed writing it - I’d love you to share the experience with me. So what’s next for you as an author? Any last words? I’ve finished writing a new romance this one is set around Christmas so aptly named, 'On Christmas Hill'. I love it and it made my husband cry when he first read it! On the thriller side of things, fans are demanding another Diana Rivers Mystery…so I’ve already started a new novel and this is set in Portugal. AUTHOR INTERVIEW Now let’s talk a little about, ‘Devil’s Brae’. When asked about the inspiration for, ‘Devil’s Brae, I immediately think of my fans and followers. ‘Devil’s Brae is the first in a new psychological thriller series – the Dark Mind series. My first series, the Diana Rivers series, currently has five books with a sixth planned. The books are: The Assassins’ Village, Children of the Plantation, The Surgeon’s Blade, and Camera Action…Murder! and Childhunt– My followers keep asking when the next book is coming out and I’m doing my best to keep up! So either last in 2013 or early 2014 there will be a sixth added to the collection! Mystery suspense thrillers are fun to write, perhaps because there are so many little threads which need to be absolutely correct. I enjoy thinking up little clues to keep the reader guessing and a few red herring to throw them off the track. As well as pitting my wits in writing the story I have to remember that my audience is often very skilled in working through the mystery, so there has to be lots to keep everyone interested right through to the final page. I’m so lucky in that I love what I’m doing and feel privileged because I have some amazing followers. I sincerely hope I never forget that it is my readers who have helped get me where I am today. Thank you. AUTHOR BIO Faith Mortimer is a wife & mother, dividing her time between Hampshire, UK & Cyprus. Since childhood, she dreamt of writing novels which readers would love,& spent many hours writing short stories which she read to her sisters. Later her dreams were put on hold while she focused upon her family & careers as a nurse & later overseeing a string of travel & sport related companies. Born in Manchester & educated in Singapore, Malaya & Hampshire, England. A Registered nurse & in later years changed careers to oversee a number of travel & sport related companies.
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Don't Let Life Get You Down We all have days where nothing is going right, or moments in our life that drag us down. The important thing is how we deal with the stresses and upheavals that living in the modern world places upon us. So if you have that sinking feeling, just remember that today’s bad news could be tomorrow’s opportunity. Repeating positive motivational quotes and mantras help me get through the the rough times. Here are some of mine... Life is full of should haves. You can’t change the past, but the power to do anything is here, now. Make the most of all your opportunities today. You never know which one will pay off. It'll be OK in the end. If it's not OK, then it's not the end. Laughter is a great stress management tool. Devote time to laugh throughout your day. Success is just a state of mind. If you believe you can do something then you can ... but maybe not always the way you first thought. Your potential is from infinity to beyond. Don’t try to fail by failing to try. Live for today, dream of tomorrow, learn from yesterday. You are unique, so use your unique talent to your advantage. Everything you touch is a success. The meditations above, plus many more, are included in my new book Healing Meditations for Surviving Grief and Loss It’s an inevitable part of life that at some point we will all experience loss and grief. Loss doesn’t just mean the death of a loved one. It can also include any kind of major change, death of a cherished dream, divorce or the end of a relationship, loss of freedom, job loss, loss of income, rejection, chronic illness or disease, infertility, miscarriage, death of a pet, as well as many other tragedies. Every change in our lives is really a death of some kind (something has ended), and can create a state of grief and loss. There’s no right or wrong way to grieve, and the road to recovery is unique to each person. Healing Meditations for Surviving Grief and Loss explores how we can honour our loss and grief and move forward through hope, recovery, and healing. The meditations are designed to create positive and healthy changes in our lives, aid us on our journey to recovery, comfort us, inspire us, and give us hope of a brighter future. They can help to rebuild our self-confidence and help us learn to love ourselves and our lives again. The Aim of this Book is to Help: • Identify how you can express your feelings of anger, guilt, sadness, fear, pain, and anxiety • Motivate you to can carry on living after suffering from loss • Help you reflect on your loss in positive and healthy ways • Dedicate time to the grief process and its expression • Explore positive ways of coping with your loss • Let you know that you’re not alone Healing Meditations for Grief and Loss is available from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, and Smashwords. So don't let life get you down. The power to pick yourself up and deal with life is controlled by your own positive thoughts. I'd love to hear some of your mantras! Peace and Love Sibel xx As a Reader or a Writer, does Genre sometimes confuse you? Good day! Over the years I’ve found the subject of genre to be rather puzzling, especially as nowadays the line between genre often appears to ‘bleed’ between two, three or even four different genre. Genre is a French term and although it can be used as a "kind" or "sort" of virtually anything, the most common usage is of course for categorizing stories by television, film, theatre and prose and applies to both fiction and nonfiction books. But because genre is nothing more than a loose, fuzzy logic way of categorizing these things I often find it difficult to place a certain book or film in one category and if you’re honest I’m sure there are many people who feel the same way. A book genre is a particular class or type of book. Books can be divided into a broad assortment of genres, and people often use genre as a criterion when selecting a book to read and because of this, if you’re an author, ensuring your book is correctly listed is most important. The two broadest genres are fiction and nonfiction. Fiction books involve events and stories which although perhaps based on truth, have not happened. Nonfiction covers topics which have a basis in fact, ranging from history books to home baking. Within each basic division, there are a number of categories, and in some cases as I’ve already said, a book may span several genres and this is where it can become even fuzzier. Some commonly-used categories of book genre in fiction include: romance, young adult mystery, thriller, suspense, horror, literary fiction, fantasy, and science fiction. Children’s fiction can also be divided into a different category, such as into picture books, young adult novels, and so forth. Nonfiction can include things like art, history, politics, gardening, science, travel, sociology, biography, nature, and reference among many others. Nonfiction books like fiction books can also span multiple genres. For example I’ve just read a book written about a game park in Kenya (nature and research), which also covers travel within Africa. The book could be considered a nature book but it is also a travel book, since it involves a discussion of travel in a foreign country. Divisions can be found within each subcategory, as well: art, for example, includes art reference books, books about art history, books which showcase particular types of art, and so forth. Getting fuzzier?.. For many people, book genre is a very important factor in their decision to purchase a book. I write and I love reading mystery murder novels. But I’m not a huge fan of vampire or horror books which scares me witless! However, people sometimes find when they push outside the book genre they are familiar with they discover topics and authors which they grow to love. Within book genre there are ‘conventions’, which are the many elements fans expect to find in a novel of that genre. For example, in my murder/crime novels my fans will expect a body to turn up pretty early in my books...and sometimes expect multiple bodies to appear! These conventions are important when it comes to writing a successful novel. If I stumble across a group of readers who love and regularly buy Agatha Christie-type murder mystery books, then it makes good commercial sense to write something that is original and yet still follows the same basic pattern as all the others. Why would I waste the opportunity of tapping into this market by writing something completely different? Genre fiction is also known as popular, commercial or category fiction and is nowadays sold as mass-market books. It also (usually) places a greater emphasis on plot and less emphasis on characterisation, ‘fine’ writing or the theme exploration itself which is more literary fiction. Then there’s mainstream fiction; another avenue to explore…as this is when a genre novel reaches beyond its usual audience and is bought and enjoyed by readers who don’t normally read that type of fiction. Because mainstream fiction is genre fiction which breaks the rules…genre fiction follows a well-known pattern. Let’s take a crime novel then...and use examples of genre fiction V mainstream fiction Conventions say in genre fiction a body should show up in the first few chapters, and preferably in the first few pages – in mainstream my murder isn't committed until halfway through. Conventions dictate that the guilty should be brought to justice by the detective or sleuth in the closing pages – in mainstream my murderer gets away with it and an innocent man is arrested in his place. Conventions dictate that the bulk of the plot should be devoted to the detection of the crime – I spend a large chunk of my novel describing the detective's troubled sex and home life. The question is have I written a detective novel at all? Well yes and no...
The solution therefore, is to market my novel to a more general audience, one which won't care about all the traditional conventions of detective fiction having been broken; they welcome a break with tradition. Or it could be classed and marketed not as a detective crime novel at all, but a novel about a man’s troubled sex life and the murder could be on the side almost! This makes it mainstream fiction – but if the quality of the writing and the profundity of ideas explored put my novel into the prize-winning league, it would probably be considered as literary fiction. And so mainstream fiction is... It is genre or literary fiction which happens to sell well. It is genre fiction which breaks the conventions. I’ve made a short list of some of the principal fiction genre…there are plenty more! Childrens Chiklit Commercial Fiction Contemporary Crime Erotica Family Saga Fantasy Dark Fantasy Gay & Lesbian General Fiction Graphic Novels Historical Fiction Horror Humour Literary Fiction Military & Espionage Multicultural Mystery Offbeat or Quirky Picture Books Religious and Inspirational Romance Science Fiction Short Story Collections Thrillers and Suspense Western Women's Fiction Young Adult Within each principal genre there are many sub-genres which are constantly changing as readers likes and dislikes change. So I might write in my murder mysteries…Detective Fiction, Police Procedurals, Private Eye Novels, British plot, Women sleuths, Hard-boiled. And what if my novel spans several genres?!! For instance: murder and romance? I have to decide which to focus on…what is the main theme and thrust of the plot? Is it murder or romance? It is important to recognise my specific genre as all novels within that genre will have similar characteristics which my fans will recognise and expect...I must keep these fans happy! My crime fans will expect the murder to take the main plot, not the romance. Indeed I could lose fans if I did this. I have to decide whether I want to write the conventional way with genre fiction or as mainstream fiction as I certainly don’t want to fall between the two…I might lose my audience if it’s not conventional enough for fans of that genre and if it’s too much conventional genre it might not appeal or attract a mainstream or literary audience… I could end up with no audience at all! Another fuzzy dilemma! Out of interest, those people who buy one fiction book a year, about 49% buy a book in the mystery, thriller and crime categories. The next most popular is science fiction (25%), and romance at 21%. I hope I’ve clarified one or two things as I’m sure many people get confused over genre, especially new writers. There are some interesting sites on Google that go much more in depth regarding genre. One site is wiseGeek, which runs a series of questions and answers and I did use one or two ideas from that site as examples. There’s plenty more if you’re really interested. Thanks for reading this post and as ever a huge thanks to my own fans of my mainstream murder - mystery - psychological - adventure - drama fiction books! Your continuing support is tremendous and this last week has been phenomenal! Thanks and happy reading, whether you're a fiction fan, non-fiction, eBook or paperback lover! Faithx
Well, first I think that's a very personal thing and that every author will have their own take on this. There's no right or wrong way. As W. Somerset Maugham said: 'There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no-one knows what they are.' Basically, I prefer the Stephen King approach as set out in his 'On Writing'. You know, the book he wrote after he was hit by a truck when he was out walking to clear his mind after a writing session. The truck that nearly killed him. You get the idea that he felt he had to put it all in that book, just in case. I take his approach to be something along the lines of: If you're not surprising yourself when you're writing your book, how can you hope to surprise your readers when they're reading it? So, I try to be excited at what's coming out as I write and let the novel plan itself. With this approach, you don't start with a detailed, worked-out plot or anything more than a part-glimpsed plan, you really do let the characters tell you what should happen next. Generally, I don't believe in heroes. I wouldn't want to trust one. I get more from ordinary, flawed, people in situations that take them out of their normal lives. Then things get interesting as you see how they struggle with what seems for them the impossible. And I want to resolve things in the end in their favour. My way, if you like, of righting some of the wrongs, albeit in a small way. There are two of Stephen King's aphorisms that I take seriously. The first: 'The road to hell is paved with adverbs.' So, where at all possible I don't use them. The second: 'Any word you have to hunt for in a thesaurus is the wrong word. There are no exceptions to this rule.' I never use a dictionary or a thesaurus. Finally, I'd emphasise the importance of the 'polishing' stage in the writing process. Once the words have formed themselves out of the characters' wishes, once the story has been told, the real work begins. Writing and rewriting, working and reworking the text to give it as much shine and polish as you can muster. And there's then always the hope in discovering another of the goals suggested by Stephen King – that seldom achieved 'gem' where you contribute a striking and novel turn of language that lights up the whole show.
Author Michael Lorde was born and raised in upstate New York, has lived in the open country of Tennessee, near the beach in Virginia, in the mountains of West Virginia, and currently lives in Snowy Michigan. Michael has written books since the age of ten. Traveling, and the outdoors are both passions of this author who has been to 39 states, and to many U.S. National Parks. After making a decision to publish Blind Veil, Michael has three additional books which are scheduled for release in 2012, including the sequel to this debut Psychological Thriller. "I love the absurdities... the oddities in a book, no matter the genre. I don't read books to find 'normal' or 'usual' or 'boring'. I want to be taken somewhere I can't otherwise go. That's why I read... for those twists and turns and things that make me say 'augh'. If an author can do that, they’ve got me." "My children and pets, Landscaping, the outdoors, painting and woodworking are some of what inspires me. Every day is a gift and I think it's important to think in the joy of the moment as often as you can. I don't want to be sitting in a porch chair at eighty, remembering a whole lot of regrets, so I work at appreciating my time while I'm here. I'm the type of person who needs to stay busy. Whether it's writing words on a page, or making a fountain head for a pond, I like to create things." Today, Michael discusses Blind Veil. What is the main premise of this book? Blind Veil is a Psychological Thriller that will ‘mount the reader on the dashboard for the ride’. There is nothing backseat about diving into the mind of the main character, who is a New York City cop. Highly respected Officer Simms' purchase of a new boat, carries him into a nightmare from nearly the moment it leaves the harbor on his first trip out. Once out on the water, everything in his life changes in an instant. After being drugged with an unknown substance by a so called ‘doctor’, he slowly begins to hallucinate; but are these visions real? When the medical community finds no evidence of chemicals in his bloodstream, and no signs of any other health condition, Simms must look for his own answers. He remembers the seemingly crazy deathbed rants of his uncle and begins to question his own sanity. Does mental illness run in the family, or does this ‘truth’ the doctor threatened to show him, actually exist. This is a conspiracy story and police procedural all wrapped into a tight little suspense thriller with science fiction elements to boot. You've never read a book like this. I classify it as a psychological thriller because you are living in the characters mind for much of this book, but it's hard to classify the plot into a single genre. I've had readers tell me, "I'm so surprised. I almost didn't buy it because it's not the genre I normally read, but I loved it". I've also heard, "This is really different than what shows on the Amazon teaser pages. If you could show the other pages, people would know what's inside," And they're right, if you read the reviews, you'll hear that same thing because the set up, is not the plot. If you like exciting stories give it a go. It's 99 cents today, so what have you got to lose? In any case, I hope you read the reviews and decide for yourself. I'd love to have you along for the ride, and there's plenty of room up front. I drive a truck. Who’s your favorite character in it?
Definitely Simms. He thinks quite a bit like me. I’m pretty brutal in my characters situations, so I empathize with him, which of course makes me like him even more. But... then again, Byron Chelvski is a really great choice too. I like him because he’s quirky as all get out, and I do enjoy quirky characters, no matter what actions they might take. Where and when do you prefer to do your writing? I write at home sometimes, but mostly at my office. Its easier to do the actual 'writing' at the office, so I’m not distracted by my dogs, who think they're my kids. But with editing it's different. I can do that at home, since there's not the same level of creativity involved. Also, it’s not my favorite thing to do, so I like distraction from it sometimes. As far as the writing itself, I write wherever I am, and with whatever means possible. I’ve been known to sit in my parked car waiting for my daughter while I peck away at my laptop, or write half a chapter in tiny illegible letters using a pencil that keeps ripping the paper napkin ( try deciphering that one when you get back home). It just doesn't matter what you use to write with. When the words are screaming to come out, you will find a way to pen them down. I'm pretty sure that even the shyest author in the world would think nothing of asking to borrow a pen from anyone, anywhere. When reading, do you prefer eBook or paperback? While eBooks are great, I will always prefer paperbacks… the feel, the smell, the crisp clean pages. There is nothing like holding a new book in my hand. When I open a paper book, it feels like I’ve just stepped through time and reading it keeps me there. EBooks captivate my attention too and I love reading in any format, but eBook reading just doesn’t affect me the same as a good old fashioned book (do you think there’s a correlation between this, and that fact that as a kid I was read paperback books daily?) What's your favorite gadget? I took my daughter to see the statue of liberty a couple of years ago and spent ten bucks on a pen. It writes really nice. What projects are you currently working on? I’m currently working on the sequel to Blind Veil which is due out around Christmas. I have a fantasy YA, which is in edits and a children’s book called Canon Balls for Girls, that's due for release in June. This children's book is an anti-bullying book and I’m pretty excited to have it coming out. I have four kids of my own; two sons and two daughters, and I know what goes on in the schools as early as elementary. Anyone over thirty doesn’t understand how much the digital age has changed the game of bullying. Even my grown children did not have the level of digital harassment that goes on in today's world of no privacy and no escape from wi-fi and texting. Winning a fist fight at school is not going to stop the kid anymore, and it shouldn't be happening anyway. With the number of increasing teen suicides and because of it, this project is really important to me. If I can change just one kid's mindset, I’ll feel really good about it. Cannon Balls for girls is written for an elementary school level reader. Who designed this cover? A graphic designer and beta reader for Blind Veil. She stepped outside of her normal workload and agreed to design the cover for me. She is truly gifted. Thanks Christine Smith! If you were deserted on an island, who are 3 famous people you would want with you? Budha, Jesus, and the Pope. Being a pretty spiritual person, I have A LOT of questions, and yes, a warped sense of humor as well. So do you like to cook? I love to cook, and love to pass the hot mitts to anyone else who does as well. Having been a single parent to four kids, I can easily sit back and let someone else handle the stove, but yes, I enjoy cooking alone, or beside someone, and can cook just about anything. Do you have pets? My daughter and I have two dogs you could almost fit in your pocket. One is a Shih tzu Named Chi-chi who wholeheartedly believes she is human. If she is not the reincarnate of a person into an animal, then no such thing exists. Never in my life have I seen a dog with more attitude. She struts around the house like a teenager at the peak of hormonal imbalance, demands 'people food' at each meal (which she rarely gets), complains with a voice that almost sounds human, and barks out orders like a drill sergeant in boot camp. She fully believes she is the alpha male of the entire household, no matter how much I laugh at her and tell her she isn't. She drives me absolutely nuts... and still I love her to pieces. Though it took me over a year to warm up to her 'attitude' when we got her years ago ( she was my eldest daughters dog), for some reason she picked me as ‘her person’, and listens to few others. We are now inseparable. She’s a trip, but a real sweetheart and she keeps me on my toes. Our second dog is a miniature dachshund named Angel. She’s still a baby at almost two years old and has eyes that would melt the heart of a crocodile. She doesn’t have to ‘insist’, in order to get anything she wants from my ten year old daughter. She's a softhearted dog and precious until someone is around her people, and then she’s fierce (yeah, right). Our dogs have barking contests with one another to prove who is the most loyal and best protector when someone comes to the door. They have actually gotten into arguments from time to time, and then the barking beasts turn from the door to face one another, and the challenge is on. They will continue barking at each other for a long deafening minute. In the two years that we’ve had Angel, the two dogs have actually had a nipping brawl twice, when the loser of the barking contest gets too upset to hold it in and lashes out at the other. Thankfully they have not hurt one another, or I would have to make serious changes, but it’s ridiculous. Needless to say, our mailman does not knock on our door anymore and our friends call before pulling into the drive, to alert us that they will soon be at the door. And through it all, our puppies keep us laughing! We are dog lovers all the way. What’s your bucket vacation? If we could bring the dogs- a six month cruise to include stopping points in Australia, Japan, Thailand, and we'd dock the ship in India so I could stay in Goa for a month. They can pick us up the way back. That trip would be perfect. If you were to attend a St. Patrick’s Day Party, which one thing would you never leave behind and why? Luck–O the Irish. Everyone needs a little luck from time to time. Where can your readers stalk you? Amazon Barnes and Noble Website Smashwords Twitter @BlindVeil Blog Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/michaellordeauthor Kenneth Hoss was born at Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas in 1957. Kenneth served a combined total of fourteen years on active duty from 1974 to 1987 in both the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy. He has lived in several States, including South Carolina and California. What is the main premise of Storm Rising? It’s the story of a female NYPD Detective, how she deals with the obstacles life throws in her path. How long did it take you to write it? From start to finish, just over a year. Who’s your favorite character in it? Well, I am biased, so I have to say it’s Kelli. When reading, do you prefer eBook or paperback? I switch it up. I have a Kindle, but I still love the feel of a real book in my hands. What projects are you currently working on? I’m currently working on the second book in the Kelli Storm series, Storm Warning. What is something that surprised you about being an author? Tough question. I guess I’d have to say it’s the sudden “fame”. Now when I go into my local pub, I have people I don’t know coming up to me and asking if I’m the "Author” everyone is talking about. What one word describes how you feel when you write? That’s easy, excellent! Who designed this cover? That would be George Arnold, the husband of fellow author Carolyn Arnold. I have to say, when I saw the cover, I fell in love with it. Can you tell us about an early childhood memory? Well, that depends on how early. I can recall things from when I was three and four. I can remember riding on the train with my Mother, going to meet my Dad in San Antonio where he had gone to find work. I was maybe four at the time. I remember because my first sister hadn’t been born yet. Do you ever write in your PJ’s? What are PJ’s??? What are your pet peeves? People who drive too slow. (Like going 25 in a 35). What’s your favorite beverage? I have two actually. One is Guinness and the other is Pepsi. So do you like to cook? Absolutely. I’m somewhat of a closet gourmet. My favorites are Italian and French. What’s your favorite ice cream? Butter Pecan. Do you normally eat for breakfast, of do you skip it and get straight to work? One or two cups of coffee and then off to work. What is something you never leave home without (apart from keys, money and phone)? My trusty USB thumb drive. Do you sleep in or get up early? Always early. Since my days in the military, I’m doing good to sleep past 7 a.m. on the weekends. Which do you use most for writing on, laptop or desktop? Laptop. Do you have pets? Do you have a picture of them you can share? No pets. What's your favorite gadget? Gadget is such a broad term. I would have to say my “Smart Phone” would have to be my favorite gadget. Where and when do you prefer to do your writing? At home and usually in the evening, though on weekends it’s pretty much any time. What are your thoughts on receiving book reviews - the good and the bad? The good, it validates your work as an author. The bad, well, I don’t really see any bad side to it other than not getting any at all. If you were deserted on an island, who are 3 famous people you would want with you? Well, John Grisham would be my top pick, though I wouldn’t wish anyone being stranded on a desert island. Next I would pick Stephen King, to tell us scary stories around the fire at night. Lastly, Jane Seymour because I met her once when I lived in California and was working on a television movie, and she is a really interesting person. (Good looking too.) What’s your bucket vacation? I would love to sail from Hawaii to Fiji, and then on to Sydney. What's your favorite quote? “Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.” E.L. Doctorow List 3 books you’ve just recently read and would recommend? I hate to admit it, but the most recent book I read was about 3 months ago. If your book was made into a TV series or Movie, what actors would you like to see playing your characters? If you were to attend a St. Patrick’s Day Party, which one thing would you never leave behind and why?
A mug of green beer. It’s a sin to leave beer behind. Where can your readers stalk you? Readers can stalk me at the following links: My blog: http://kenhoss.blogspot.com Twitter: kennhoss@twitter eBook: Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Storm-Rising-Kelli-Novel-ebook/dp/B0053GAWYU/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_1 Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/storm-rising-a-kelli-storm-novel-kenneth-hoss/1103391061 Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Storm-Rising-Kelli-Novel/dp/1467985430/ref=tmm_pap_title_0 Wendy Cartmell is a former teacher, PR manager and editor of a large corporate newspaper, who has always written, either for her work, or stories for her children. She turned her hand to crime writing in 2010 resulting in a new crime series featuring Sgt Major Crane of the Special Investigations Branch, drawing on her husband's 22 years service in the British Army. The first book in the series Steps to Heaven and the second 40 Days 40 Nights are both out now. The third, as yet untitled is, as they say, a work in progress. Wendy is now publishing her books for children, the Professor Letters series and Wilhemina the Witch. What is the main premise of this book? Soldiers are killing their family and then committing suicide. Sgt Major Crane needs to know why. How long did it take you to write it? About a month to plot it out and outline each chapter, three months to write and then a further three months to edit and copy edit. Who's you favourite character in it?
Oh without a doubt Sgt Major Crane. What projects are you currently working on? The third book in the Sgt Major Crane series What is something that surprised you about being an author? How much I enjoy the writing process. Who designed this cover? My husband Eddie who is much more creative with photographs and colour than I am. Do you ever write in your PJ’s? Definitely! I tend to write in the mornings when I get up, so I don’t bother to get dressed, I just get writing. What’s your favorite beverage? I’m English so it’s got to be tea. What is something you never leave home without (apart from keys, money and phone)? Pen and paper. My husband and I regularly plan novels, sort out plot problems and decide on how a certain situation would be handled in the army. We mostly do this sitting in the sunshine having a coffee. Well, I do live on the Costa del Sol in Spain! If your book was made into a TV series or Movie, what actors would you like to see playing your characters? I would love Ray Winston to play Sgt Major Crane. Lawrence Fox to play Sgt Billy Williams If you were to attend a St. Patrick’s Day Party, which one thing would you never leave behind and why? A Rainbow – because they are just so beautiful. Where can your readers stalk you? In and around the mean streets of Aldershot in the UK. http://www.amazon.com/Nights-Major-Crane-Novels-ebook/dp/B006O5Q77A/ http://www.amazon.com/Steps-to-Heaven-ebook/dp/B005U9T20A http://www.wendycartmell.webs.com Dixon Bennett Rice is a novelist living in Kalispell, Montana, deep in the majesty of the Rocky Mountains. Besides eight years in Army Intelligence, he’s been a funeral director, investigator, office manager, payroll manager, shipping clerk, insurance agent, and retail salesman. He’s jumped out of perfectly good aircraft. He’s gone into jail as a literacy volunteer, and also not so voluntarily. Dixon’s been writing part-time for a number of years, and full-time since 2010. His father was a Naval officer and Dixon was born on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. He has siblings who were born in Baltimore MD, Columbus OH, Norfolk VA and Fairfax VA. Like most military families, they moved around a lot. Dixon went to high school in Mercer Island, a Seattle suburb, and got a BA in Political Science at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma WA. At one time he had aspirations of going to law school, but decided to spare the planet one additional attorney. He has always been a storyteller, and entertained his children by spinning bedtime tales. They encouraged him to write them down, and some were published in various local and regional magazines. Dixon also started writing reviews of children’s literature, and edited a literary magazine for the Authors of the Flathead in Kalispell. He’s past president of the Authors of the Flathead, and has served as chairman of the Annual Flathead River Writers Conference. He eventually switched from children’s lit to writing thrillers, which caused him to totally lose control of his writing addiction. His Wredheaded Writer blog is at http://wredhead.blogspot.com/ and features writing tips, inspirational and humorous quotations for writers, and short writing samples, plus his views on the writing life. Dixon and his wife Mitzi, who teaches business subjects in high school, have raised four children, who are currently scattered from Seattle to Fargo to Kosovo. They are wonderful kids, but not writers. Dixon isn’t actively looking to trade his children for a more literary variety, but will consider all offers. He’s been active in Toastmasters, soccer refereeing and coaching, Rotary’s international charities, world hunger charities, the American Cancer Society, and recently donated his 100th unit of blood for the local Red Cross. Dixon has won statewide speech competitions in both humorous and dramatic speaking. What is the main premise of this book? I wondered, “What if a young, likable guy ‘accidentally’ became a serial killer?” I set up a situation in THE ASSASSINS CLUB where Tyler Goode gets targeted by a redneck bully and his squad of younger, equally brutal brother in the Flathead Valley of Montana. (And don’t forget Dad.) Each time Ty kills in order to survive, he feels he’s performed a community service – and he gets one helluva rush. Before long, it’s become a habit he can’t shake. How long did it take you to write it? The main plot came to me, pretty much fully realized, during a 15-hour car drive after dropping off my son at college. Then it took two years to weave in some interesting subplots, flesh out the characters, and please my critique group. What projects are you currently working on?
I have written another Montana thriller, and puttered away with it for a decade, trying to solve plot problems caused by modern police technology. I really enjoyed writing THE ASSASSINS CLUB in the 1970s, and realized that moving my work-in-progress back to that same era would make the plot problems vanish. So I’m on my final rewrite of MONTANA IS BURNING and hope to have it published this summer. What is something that surprised you about being an author? I am continually surprised by the unexpected actions of my characters. On my 15-hour car trip, Ty was already very real to me, but the minor characters around him were pretty vague. The book concept really caught fire when two deputy sheriffs approached the protagonis and said, “We know you’re killing people, Ty.” He thought, “Uh-oh, here come the handcuffs.” Instead, one of the deputies said, “We want to get in on it.” The addition of two law enforcement officers to Ty’s pastime creates interesting problems. In further books in this series, the ‘club’ will continue to expand, with continual new complications. Who designed this cover? I was fortunate to discover Suzanne Fyhrie Parrott and her business Unruly Guides. Suzanne and I talked about my story, and I gave her some general concepts. She did a marvelous job of turning my fuzzy ideas into a brilliant reality. She also formatted my novel. You can find Unruly Guides on FB at https://www.facebook.com/UnrulyGuides and Suzanne’s website is http://www.UnrulyGuides.com/ What are your pet peeves? One of the things I love about the writing community is how helpful people are, even to clueless newbies. However, there is always a small number of folks in any endeavor who take joy in dragging other people down. Some friends of mine have received awful reviews from people who never even bothered to read the reviewed book. So do you like to cook? I never would have survived college if I hadn’t learned how to make spaghetti sauce and barbecue chicken. My wife and I have a deal – if one of us cooks, the other one cleans up. I try to cook whenever possible. Do you sleep in or get up early? We all have an internal critic in the back of our head, whispering that “this is worst crap that’s ever been written – let’s go for a jog instead.” I’ve learned that if I get up at 5 am and head down to a local coffee shop, I can get hours of work done before my critic wakes up. And if I’m on a good writing roll, I can just ignore his negative remarks. If you were to attend a St. Patrick’s Day Party, which one thing would you never leave behind and why? I’m about three-fourths Irish, and every Irishman knows that his most precious asset is the “Luck O’the Irish.” It’s amazing the Emerald Isle survived the Potato Famine, centuries of British mistreatment, and our own fondness for fermented and distilled beverages of every kind. There must be a reservoir of good luck to account for our very existence. Where can your readers stalk you? My daily blog on the writing life, Wredheaded Writer, can be found at http://wredhead.blogspot.com/ I plan a second blog aimed at fervent readers such as myself, but haven’t yet gotten it off the ground. The Kindle link for my e-book is http://tinyurl.com/7fav44l and you can find me on Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/87hkkozor search for plain old Dixon Rice. Derek Graystone was born in Rivers, Manitoba, Canada. After a brief stay there and in Trenton, Ontario, Canada, Derek has spent the majority of his life in London, Ontario, Canada. He graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a Bachelors Degree in English Literature in 1984. Derek has had a varied career including jewellery store manager, warehouse manager for an ice cream distributor, manager of a gas station, and the finance and systems manager for a children's charity. In 2002, Derek quit his day job and started his own office automation and Internet presence company and a relaxation massage business with his wife. Derek is also a Reiki Master as well as having a successful online Wiccan business. Derek's first book, The Schliemann Legacy, is a spy thriller involving Nazis, terrorists and the hunt for the treasures of Troy. Derek followed up with Two Graves, a crime novel about a serial killer who is killing look-alikes of the people who bullied and terrorized him in his youth. Derek is planning to release the next in the Kesle PD series called Too Many Graves which will appear in 2012. Currently, Derek is working on the first novel in the Witches of Aquarius series; Windcrusher will be released in 2012. Derek lives with his wife Yvette in their home in London Ontario when they aren't visiting their island getaway in Exuma, Bahamas. Derek is also the father of four girls and one boy and has five granddaughters (and another grandchild on the way, due in August). What is the main premise of this book? I, like so many others, was bullied when I was a kid. But I’m not one to write an intellectual treatise on the cause and effect of bullying on children and adults. I’m not out to change the world. I just want to get even. If you were ever bullied, imagine if you finally had enough and decided to get even. That is what my killer does in Two Graves. Using computer aged photos of his high school tormentors, my killer sets out to get even with look-alikes, using the killings to reveal their past crimes. And he has had years to dream up some imaginative, and rather gruesome, methods for getting even. Where did the title come from?
The title is from the Chinese proverb; “When you set out on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” This is a lesson that many of the characters in my novel have to learn. When reading, do you prefer eBook or paperback? I always thought I would be a paperback man – after all, I still do all my editing on paper, not the computer. I only bought my Kindle to make sure that my Indie published books converted well. And then I downloaded a novel to try it out and I have been hooked since. I love seeing my paperbacks sitting on a shelf but you can’t beat the convenience, clear image and ease of reading from the Kindle. What projects are you currently working on? Put it down to my own eclectic tastes, I can’t stick with a single genre. Currently, I am working on the first book in an urban fantasy series about witches, Spartan warriors, and old Gods called Witches of Aquarius. At the same time, because I get distracted easily, I am plotting out the sequel to Two Graves called Too Many Graves. What does it mean if you spend a large part of your day trying to decide if that really would be a good place to dispose of a body? What one word describes how you feel when you write? Seriously? You’re asking this writer to describe something with just one word? From someone who hasn’t met a short story that he couldn’t stretch into a novel, you want something in one word? OK, let’s go with… Me. More than at any other time, I feel like the “me” I want to be when I am writing. Who designed this cover? The cover was my design and, luckily, I happened across a beautiful naked body lying in the leaves. The knife was just an added bonus. Where and when do you prefer to do your writing? In the sunshine, on the deck of the house in Exuma that I intend to buy when I become an obscenely successful author. In fact, during the Shamrocks and Sirens event, that is exactly where I am, working on my next novel but, unfortunately, just for a week this time. Luckily, it is a very private deck (see below). Do you ever write in your PJ’s? I would if I ever wore them. What’s your favorite beverage? Pepsi. But unlike Lt. Mann in Two Graves, I quit drinking it when I hit an average of 8 to 12 cans a day. I’ve been clean for almost 6 years. So do you like to cook? I suppose I am more of an eattie than a foodie but give me a BBQ and I can make anything. What is something you never leave home without (apart from keys, money and phone)? My good luck necklace that I have worn since I was in my 20s. It is a golden bunch of bananas that remind me of my dream of spending my days writing my novels on a tropical island. Do you sleep in or get up early? As the father of five and a registered insomniac, I can honestly say the last time I slept in was after my emergency appendectomy. And even then the damn nurses kept waking me up to see if I needed anything to help me sleep. What is your favorite quote? Living well is the best revenge. If you were to attend a St. Patrick’s Day Party, which one thing would you never leave behind and why? A Shillelagh because you never know when you might need a good blunt object. Where can your readers stalk you? Facebook http://www.facebook.com/dagraystone Twitter: http://twitter.com/dagraystone Web Site: http://www.dagraystone.com GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5089051.D_A_Graystone Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/D.A.-Graystone/e/B005A3XTEG/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1330960625&sr=8-1 Part Easten Band Cherokee, Deborah spent her summers growing up in the Great Smoky Mountains of western North Carolina which is the setting for her suspense thriller novels and many of her short stories. Book two of her Steven Hawk/Inola Walela thriller series, SNARE is The Hillerman Sky Award Finalist, nominated as Best Mystery that captures the landscape of the Southwest. Classical music themed STACCATO is Book One of Deborah's series. Both books are published by Second Wind Publishing. The "STACCATO Book Trailer" is Now Showing on YouTube. As well as a suspense thriller novelist, Deborah is also a three-time nominee for the Pushcart Prize. Her award-winning short stories appear in numerous print publications as well as literary and mystery anthologies. What is the main premise of this book? SNARE is The Hillerman Sky Award Finalist about the journey of a female Native American pop music sensation about to embark on her first personal appearance. An altercation occurs during her concert and peril ensues. Here’s a brief synopsis: One rock star sensation. Two men from her past want her dead. Three others will risk everything to keep her safe. All are in peril. Who will be caught in a trap? SNARE: Revenge with a beat. Who’s your favorite character in it? Although I love my main character, Deputy Steven Hawk, and rock star Katina Salvo was a blast to write, my favorite character is Katina’s Aunt Sylvie. I’m part Eastern Band Cherokee and the Native American elements in all of my works are very important to me. I spent a lot of time on the Taos Pueblo Indian reservation in New Mexico and the people of the pueblo continue to captivate me. What projects are you currently working on? Book three of my Steven Hawk/Inola Walela thriller series is finished. Fingers are crossed that this novel will be released by year’s end. I’ve started a new multi-cultural thriller series that takes place entirely in Taos, NM. I’m also nearing mid-point on a Young Adult mystery that I’m very excited about. Do you sleep in or get up early? My background is in the theatre, so I prefer to stay up very late. Which do you use most for writing on, laptop or desktop? I only use a laptop. I type quite fast so have worn out a lot of keyboards. My latest is an Acer which I have hooked up to a 22” monitor and full size keyboard. I love the set up! Where and when do you prefer to do your writing? My desk is actually a dining room table. This allows me a lot of space to spread out my research materials and tabletop speakers so I can enjoy great music while I write. I’m also a professional content editor so I work on clients’ manuscripts early in the morning, and catch up on the necessary correspondences and a bit of social networking. I write in the afternoon—ideally after a refreshing nap. I’ve found that my words are best composed while I’m nearly comatose. What are your thoughts on receiving book reviews - the good and the bad? I’ve been very fortunate that SNARE has received stellar reviews. I’m so grateful for the reviewers who support independently published authors—without them helping to spread the word about our books we would have a very limited readership. What's your favorite quote? “A blank page or canvas. His favorite. So many possibilities.” From the stage play Sunday in the Park with George by Stephen Sondheim. List 3 books you’ve just recently read and would recommend? Iron House by John Hart—his Last Child remains one of my favorite books of all time. You’re Next by Gregg Hurwitz. Fallen by Karin Slaughter. If your book was made into a TV series or Movie, what actors would you like to see playing your characters? Erin Daniels would be the perfect Katina Salvo—she’s not Native American but she has the “look” I imagined when creating this character. Angie Harmon as Aunt Sylvie—Angie is part Native American and I love her speaking voice. I’ve always envisioned Henry Simmons (NYPD Blue) as my lead character in the series, Deputy Steven Hawk. If you were to attend a St. Patrick’s Day Party, which one thing would you never leave behind and why?
A green derby – What’s not to love about a green hat? Where can your readers stalk you? The first chapters of SNARE and STACCATO, as well as a few previously published short stories, are available at: My website: http://www.deborahjledford.com/ Facebook Personal Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000454722747 Deborah’s Book Page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/STACCATO/246707792355 Twitter: @djledford |
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