Author Interview – Sebastiana Randone @sebasti29567440

When did you first know you could be a writer?
About ten years ago, after having written an essay and showing it to friends, I was encouraged to pursue this as an avenue for expression.
What inspires you to write and why?
I have an overactive imagination and having met many interesting people in my life, I feel I have much material of which to invent from.
What genre are you most comfortable writing?
So far it is the paranormal romance genre. Despite this genre largely revolving around vampires (which do not interest me), I am drawn to it by my fascination in ghosts, the occult, mystical forces and beliefs. Not as religious practice, but for artistic procurement, given the rich imagery and theatricality that comes with these spiritual idioms.
What do you consider the most challenging about writing a novel, or about writing in general?
Creating flowing and comprehensible sentences, that are interesting and grammatically correct.
Did writing this book teach you anything and what was it?
There have been numerous lessons. The main insight is that less is better.
To a person who loves detail, it is a difficult pill to swallow. I do now realise however, that if I want to sell enough books to cover costs etc (particularly in the USA) I will have to do away with the lyrical style and words that have more than 2 syllables.
My latest book is set in New York 1989, so the language is much simpler. 
Do you intend to make writing a career?
I will continue to write regardless of financial gain, because I fill a need and motivation to.  Whether I can survive of it remains to be seen. 

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Genre - Historical, Fantasy, Romance

Rating - PG-16

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Author Interview – Robert Davies @ahundredstories

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Not intentionally, as I didn’t start out with one, but overall the theme is one of redemption. The idea is that true love often stays, no matter how clouded it gets with the darkness of the world. It usually takes a shock or a loss to unearth it, and in this case the world itself had to end before the protagonist could start to make sense of it all, but no matter how many loose ends he had left, they simply untied themselves. He didn’t have to go back and fix them all, he just had to remember who he was before he’d created them.
How much of the book is realistic?
I tried to make it realistic enough to be just about believable. I looked at what kind of disaster could cause such havoc worldwide, the effects it would have and how we could attempt to counter them, and how people would be ushered to safety. The idea was to add just enough poetic license and unexplained coincidence to fit the main character’s slightly dream-like view of the world, where he sees magic in everything. Hopefully the reader will never be 100% sure how much is in his perception, or even imagination.
What are your goals as a writer?
Mostly to evolve. Not only do I want to make this my life and my living, I want to be the best I can possibly be at it. It’s been a few years but I feel I’m only just starting down this path, taking my first uncertain steps. I want to start striding purposefully. Maybe swagger a little too.
Are you reading any interesting books at the moment?
I’m actually still reading The Book Thief at the moment. I’m liking it so far, although his use of language seems slightly forced on occasion (pot calling the kettle black there I’m sure). Overall his style makes it a very engaging read though, and given the theme and the setting and the array of characters, I would say it’s one of the more intriguing and interesting novels I’ve read in a while.
What are some of the best tools available today for writers, especially those just starting out?
The explosion in self-publishing has opened a whole plethora of tools for writers. There are now accessible services in editing, publishing, marketing, design and everything else that you would once have needed a traditional publisher to take care of. I’m sure many of us have used the likes of Smashwords, Createspace and/or Lulu at some point – they’re great for starting out. On top of that, there is far more free software for converting your manuscript into ePubs and for structuring your stories, and the web has an abundance of how-to guides. I think new writers would do well to explore them all, and see how many things they have the time and talent to do themselves – even if you’re going the traditional publishing route, anything you can do yourself for free is going to come in handy someday.

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Genre - Apocalyptic fiction

Rating – PG

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Website http://robertdavies.co

Author Interview – Ian Truman @iantruman

What makes you angry?

Many, many, many things. I do get pissed off a lot but I guess it’s often justified. I get angry at political parties and policies (probably more than I should). Most elected officials really don’t give a fuck about us or what we think. They need us to justify their elected position, but they don’t really listen afterwards. I’m a fan of co-op’s and I feel luck that I get to work for a very successful Co-op. Some of the business practices of certain companies anger me beyond reasonable levels, too. I  mean, I’m not short on contradictions myself but there are a handful of things we all could do in our everyday lives, as well as in corporations, that would improve everyone’s quality of life and the economic structures seem to hinder those efforts in every way.

For example, I use to work for this warehouse and basically, we had two containers for garbage and one for recycling. And me and the guys we spent quite a bit of time to make sure everything was separated properly and this one time I happen to be on my break when the garbage truck comes by and he just picks up all three containers. I was like “Why the fuck are we even fucking trying?!?” you know. You can’t let it beat you down, but the game’s rigged if you ask me.

What’s your most embarrassing moment of your life?

Haven’t had one since grade school.

Are you a city slicker or a country lover?

City slicker, but not in a bad way. I’m from the urban working class and I love good food and good coffee but I can definitely work with my hands and that’s something I’m proud of.

I never been on a farm in my life but like most Montrealers (and Canadians) we all like to go up north in a shitty cabin and we get eaten alive by mosquitos so we jump in the cold waters of a lake to escape them. It’s really a lot of fun.

How do you think people perceive writers?

Weird, self-centered, narcissistic, useless, vain maybe, egomaniacal (ok, that’s probably a bit much.)

I don’t know. It’s funny, if you ask anyone what they think about writers in general, I think the answers are mostly negative, but then if they learn you, yourself are a writer, then it’s all: “But pleeeaaase tell my how you do it, where do you get your inspiration from? Ah! Really? How does that work? Wow!, Ok! I have this thing I’ve been working on, not that I’m a writer but could you take a look at it? No?!? Why? -So you are an asshole!”

What’s your next project?

I have two “lead” projects at the moment.

The first one is a bilingual (French-English) movie script about the struggles of the young urban poor set in the graffiti/hip hop world of Montreal.

The second one is a very straightforward noir titled “Grand Trunk and Shearer” which is an intersection in the (former?) working class of Pointe-St-Charles. I’m man, who knows these days with condo towers sprawling up everywhere.

He novel is about a single murder and a family and I can’t tell anything more right now without spoiling it.

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Genre - Literary, Coming of Age

Rating – PG13

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Website http://www.iantruman.com

Author Interview - Jennifer Cornet @J_Cornet

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

-Somewhere warm preferably with a beach. My husband and I have talked about moving to Fort Lauderdale, Florida multiple times because his family is down there but there isn’t much work for my profession down there. I would love to go on an Eat, Pray, Love kick and take a few years and live all over, though.

How do you write – lap top, pen, paper, in bed, at a desk?

-These days I use my laptop. But when I first penned Order of Earth, I wrote most of it by hand. Later I saw the light and realized that was a waste of time and actually hindered the writing process. Now I use a combination of excel and word to construct my work.

I write most of my work during my lunch breaks. Some days I fit in an hour or so of writing between when I get home and when I make dinner. I really have to fit it in whenever I can.

Where do you get support from? Do you have friends in the industry?

-I actually don’t know many people in the industry which has been a difficult part of the process. I would love to say I had an “in” somewhere or someone was guiding me through the process, but really my support comes from my friends and family who simply believe in the project. We are all learning the process together.

How much sleep do you need to be your best?

-I would absolutely love to get 9 hours. Sadly, I average closer to 6, but that’s life.

Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge and thank for their support?

-I have a small group of people who have been amazing. I have to thank my family and husband who have been a tremendous form of support. They have been with me every step of the way. My friends have also been really great. They act as beta-readers, social media promoters, and all around support systems. I’m a lucky girl to have such great people in my life.

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Genre - Urban Fantasy

Rating – PG - 13

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Website http://www.jennifercornet.com/

Quality Reads UK Book Club Disclosure: Author interview / guest post has been submitted by the author and previously used on other sites.

Author Interview – Ben Woodard @benswoodard

What’s the reason for your life? Have you figured out your reason for being here yet?

Fascinating question. And I’m not sure I have an answer, but I have a glimmer of an idea.  About twenty years ago I reached a point in my life where I felt I wasn’t doing anything important. Oh, I was working at a good job, taking care of my family, and not breaking any rules, but that wasn’t enough. So I quit a well-paying job to work for a low salary for Habitat For Humanity, and through that organization, I came to the conclusion that my job on earth was to help others. And the way I could do it was to support those incredible folks who work with the young, the helpless, and the elderly. So I have been using my time, my money, and my skills to support organizations who help the less fortunate.

How do you feel about self-publishing?

Self publishing is a great option for writers, but it’s not to be jumped into without knowing your goals. I chose self publishing for my first books because editors and agents told me that realistic, historical fiction with boy protagonists would be a tough sell. To me, the smartest approach an author can take towards writing today is for him or her to keep all options open. Writers who publish both traditionally and indie are now being called “hybrid” authors and, I think, this is the way to go.

What is your favorite food?

As a Kentuckian, my favorite meal would be fried chicken with milk gravy, biscuits, pan fried potatoes with onions, kale or collards cooked with pork, and soup beans on the side. Yum!

What genre are you most comfortable writing?

At this time in my career, it’s children’s books. This is not the most profitable genre, but I’m hoping I can help kids to learn to love books. I have thought about adult fiction and once tried to write a sex scene—actually only a petting scene. I showed it to my wife and she howled, but wasn’t supposed to be funny. I’ve never tried again, so I guess I’ll never make fortune writing a Fifty Shades Of Grey book.

Do you intend to make writing a career?

I’m seventy years old and should be past having a career, but, yes, I intend to be a writer as long as I can. And I love the thought of having a new career at my age.

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Genre - YA/Mystery

Rating – PG – 13

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Website http://BooksByBen.com

Author Interview – Jade Kerrion @JadeKerrion

What else do you do to make money, other than write? It is rare today for writers to be full time…

Right now, I work for a large educational company in the area of learning and business strategy. I honestly do think that even if I pulled in a massive income from my writing, that I would still likely work full or part time in corporate America. I’m a big fan of a steady paycheck, and to be honest, I don’t know what makes a book go viral, so even if mine did, I wouldn’t know if I could replicate it. J

What other jobs have you had in your life?

I’ve worked in human resources, management consulting, and business strategy.

If you could study any subject at university what would you pick?

I would likely pick the same ones I did at college—Biology and Philosophy.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

You’d get different answers, depending on the seasons. J I’m a huge fan of warm weather, so in the winter, you’d find me staying warm and cozy in Fort Lauderdale, FL. In the summer though, I’d like to head north. I’ve enjoyed Denver, CO, and its surrounding areas. Of course, I’d make frequent visits to southeast Asia for the good food…

Tell us about your family?

I’ve been happily married for eleven years, and I have two sons under the age of seven, with a third on the way. They keep me busy, and more importantly, the house is sloshing with testosterone. Even the pet fish is male…

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Genre - Fantasy, Paranormal

Rating – PG-13

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Website http://www.jadekerrion.com

#YA #Author Peter Clenott Discusses Life & #Writing @PeterClenott

When you are not writing, how do you relax? My son Stephen and I climb small mountains. My kids keep my quite busy. I visit family in Maine, enjoy the local Boston sports teams, and like the occasional movie. Recently I enjoyed LINCOLN and LES MISERABLES. I would travel more, but have to be frugal until I hit the best seller list.

How often do you write? And when do you write? Right now I am busy promoting, so don’t do any writing. When I am writing, I try to maintain a rigid schedule. If a novel is going to be about 400 typed pages, I try to sustain a goal of five pages a day. This means I finish the novel in under two months. So far, I have been able to maintain that regimen. I write when I can. Early morning is best. Afternoon is worst.

Sometimes it’s so hard to keep at it—What keeps you going? Writing is the one thing I feel confident about, the one thing I feel I have an aptitude for. I enjoy doing it and live with the hope that all that work and all of those years will eventually pay off.

What do you feel people will take away from your writing? How will your words make them feel? I have always felt that a good book entertains, but a very good book does more. It teaches. It uplifts. It leaves you wanting more. It’s not a summer at the beach book that passes the time. It is something that stays with you when you go to bed that night and for weeks thereafter. I hope people will learn something in a subtle way as they read my books. In DEVOLUTION, while they are enjoying the exploits of Chiku Flynn, I hope they will learn something about chimpanzees and about the rainforest and the Congo. My novels should stir debate and start conversations going and they should make the reader feel good. I hate unhappy endings.

How do you feel about social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter? Are they a good thing? I’m not crazy about them. I find that the more sites I am involved with, the less time I can commit to writing. I think these sites are over-rated in what they can do to promote your work. For example, on Twitter I feel I’m am tweeting about my novel to other authors and they are tweeting back to me. I am concerned about the trend in education where people are taking on-line classes. Physical human interaction is vital. As long as social media doesn’t supplant physical interaction, fine. If that is the end game, then we are in for trouble.

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Genre - Young Adult

Rating – PG

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Website www.peterclenott.net

Author Interview - Brian Bloom @BrianB_Aust

Are there any new authors that have sparked your interest and why?

An author by the name of Vaclav Smil recently came to my attention as a result of a tweet by Bill Gates, who I follow from time to time. I am thinking of reading some of Smil’s work. He is a polymath, an emeritus professor at Manitoba University amongst other things, and he seems to be focussing on some of the same subjects that I have focussed on in my novels. I would like to compare notes with him when I finally understand what he is saying. It might take me a year or two to get up to speed.

How do you feel about social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter

They give people a platform to be heard, but I wonder who is listening? From one perspective, they perpetuate the questionably valuable practice of communicating superficially, and in sound bites. From another perspective, they allow truth (and nonsense) to be disseminated across the planet at the speed of light, which might turn out to be a great way of keeping the mainstream media honest.

What is your favourite quote, by whom, and why?

The quote below is from the Book Earth, by Frank Townshend, George Allen & Unwin, 1929.

The reason it is my favourite quote is that it reinforces my perception that there is dignity in difference and that we need differences to inform and enrich life. The tendency for people to think that “if you’re not like me then there’s something wrong with you”; or that “if I can’t aspire to be the same as you if I choose then there’s something wrong with the system” is pure foolishness. Gender, race, religion, why does everything have to be the same? Why do some black people aspire to be black white people? Why do some women aspire to be female men? Why do some Muslim extremists believe that they have a duty to Islamise the entire planet? It may be politically incorrect for me to say this, but it seems to me to be just plain foolishness. Personally, I place a high value on individuality and differentiation. I would have difficulty in feeling the same degree of tenderness and love towards my wife of 42 years if she was possessed of the killer instinct that she would need to have in order to succeed in a dog-eat-dog world. Could she succeed? Of course she could! It’s not a function of her ability. If anything, she is more capable than I am. But if both spouses in a marriage have a killer instinct, then what’s the probability of their nuclear family surviving for long enough to impart the same values to their children that Denise’s and my parents passed down to us? Well, maybe the answer is for the woman to be the breadwinner and the man to be the house-husband. But then we might have to produce babies in test tubes – which would sort of spit in the face of Nature, would it not? Should there be a law against any of these foolish aspirations? Of course not! Provided it doesn’t cause tangible harm to others. We certainly can’t allow people to go around blowing themselves up along with innocent bystanders. But what is likely to be the result of unfettered “human rights” is that there will be less than optimal happiness. There is balance in Nature. If you want to buck Nature then be prepared to pay the cost. You want to see the cost of screwing with Nature? Just read and/or watch and/or listen to your daily media. What proportion of the daily news is “good” news? Isn’t it time we faced reality?

“Of the three main currents of life, I observed

Energy, from the West;

Wisdom from the East;

Rhythm, from the South.

And all of these shall run together to inform life.

For energy without wisdom is blind;

Nor can they act effectively together,

Out of rhythm with the earth.”

What makes you happiest?

Hearing my grandchildren laugh with delight or watching a pod of dolphins cavorting in the waves.

What are you most proud of in your personal life?

I have an ability to sublimate my ego when a disagreement is not objectively important.

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Genre - Conspiracy Thriller

Rating – MA (15+)

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Author Interview – Michelle Rabe @michrabe

What’s your favorite meal?

Pizza with a Coke followed by anything chocolate.

What color represents your personality the most?

The color of moonstone, it looks white but when you look deeper it’s prismatic.

What movie do you love to watch?

I love watching a lot of different movies but the ones that I always go back to are; ‘Interview with the Vampire’, ‘Sleepy Hollow’, ‘The Lost Boys’ and the extended ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy.

How do you feel about social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter? Are they a good thing?

I think that they’re vital tools for interacting with readers. I think the important thing that we authors need to remember is to not spend too much time on social media and not enough writing. I knew a writer once who was so focused on building a following that he spent more time on that than writing. Then when he promised the followers a short story he tried to throw it together at the last minute and the result wasn’t very good. If you create quality readers will come. If you promise it and don’t deliver you’ll lose them.

What are you most passionate about? What gets you fired up?

A lot of things get me fired up but what I’m most passionate about is telling the stories that are banging around in my mind.

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Genre - Paranormal Urban Fantasy

Rating – PG-13

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Website http://paperbackvamp.tumblr.com/

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Author Interview – Merry Farmer @merryfarmer20

What other jobs have you had in your life?  I’ve had a lot of typical admin jobs to make money, but I’ve also been a hairdresser, a teacher, and an actress at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire (a long, long time ago).

If you could study any subject at university what would you pick?  Well, I have two bachelor’s degrees in History, one with a co-major in Education, and a master’s degree in Theater right now.  If I had my way, I’d go back and get a master’s degree in History and teach on the side of my writing.  Actually, I think that’s very likely for my future.  I already teach history classes online for my RWA chapter, so….

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?  I’m not convinced I would want to live in one place, actually.  I prefer cooler weather to warm weather, so no tropical climates.  With the exception of India.  One of my best friends is Indian and she’s promised to take me home with her someday.  I feel very drawn to the Hampshire region of the UK and to the maritime provinces of Canada.  Maybe I lived there in past lives?

How do you write – lap top, pen, paper, in bed, at a desk?  I used to write with a pen in spiral-bound notebooks.  As soon as I realized that it takes five times longer to type out handwritten work, I invested a lot of time in learning to type.  Now I type so much faster than I write by hand that it just makes sense to write on a computer.  I split my time between my desktop and my laptop.

Where do you get support from? Do you have friends in the industry?  I have made so many truly wonderful friends in the romance world through the Romance Writers of America.  Some of my go-to supporters and friends are Eliza Knight, Callie Hutton, Ella Quinn, Tracy Brogan, Ashley York, and several others who aren’t published yet.  Too many to name, actually.  Having other writer friends is invaluable, both in terms of friendship and networking.

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Genre - Western Historical Romance

Rating – R

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Website http://merryfarmer.net

Birth of an Assassin by Rik Stone @stone_rik

How much sleep do you need to be your best?

Probably eight hours, but I manage on about five.

Is there anyone you would like to acknowledge and thank for their support?

Yes, my wife Sue, she holds me up when I’m down and keeps me buoyant when I’m unsure. Other than that she does everything to look after me, having said that her cooking leaves something to be desired.

Every writer has their own idea about a successful career in writing, what does success in writing look like to you?

If every person who reads my book enjoys it then I’ve been successful.

Can you tell me about yourself: where you’re from, where you grew up, and what you have done with your life?

I grew up in the slum-lands of 50’s North East England and left school at 15 years of age without any form of qualification. From school I went to work in the local shipyards on the River Tyne. At 19, I went into the merchant navy, drifted, or bobbed, through life until it became pointless, gave it up in favor of working in a quarry in Essex. When I married, I realized my life was plodding along without horizons; it looked bleak. I started studying. After completing O and A levels, I began a degree course and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and computing. The qualification got me a job in the Ford Motor Co. IT dept where I became a project business analyst. I took an early retirement at 50 and that was when I began writing seriously.

How did the idea of the book come to you?

I have relations who lived in ‘The Pale’ (a barren place where the Jewish population was forced to live – think Fiddler on the Roof). They escaped the czarist pogroms in the late 19^th century. Some came to England, others to the US and Canada.

Because of them, I looked into Jewish history in Russia and was shocked to learn of the suffering there. But it gave me an idea for a story. However, 19^th century Russia didn’t fit. I trawled through Russian/Soviet history until I came to the post-war period. The setting was perfect for me, but I had to take away the protagonist’s Jewish religion. First, to fit in with his military ambitions and also to demonstrate that it isn’t only about religious belief – prejudice is prejudice.

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Genre - Thriller, Crime, Suspense

Rating – R

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Website http://rik-stone.simdif.com

Author Interview – Kim Cresswell @kimcresswell

What motivates you to write?

My need to tell stories and entertain readers. I can’t imagine NOT writing.

What writing are you most proud of? (Add a link if you like)

I’m the most proud of my first published novel, REFLECTION, a romantic thriller. In REFLECTION, my heroine, reporter, Whitney Steel is investigating an alleged human cloning project when she meets up with the hero, FBI Agent, Blake Neely who’s searching for his own answers. Everything from this point on focuses on Blake and Whitney discovering whether or not the villain has produced the world’s first cloned human. The book took a tremendous amount of research and was a huge challenge to write. http://www.amazon.com/Reflection-ebook/dp/B00B5HRBZE

How much sleep do you need to be your best?

Because I have chronic pain I need at least six hours of sleep to be at my best. Anything less…well I’m a bit grumpy.

Tell us about your new book? Why did you write it?

Manhattan District Attorney, Lauren Taylor, is about to take on the most important case of her career, prosecuting Gino Valdina, acting mob boss of New York’s most influential crime syndicate.
For three decades, Gino Valdina has led New York’s Valdina crime family. Since his recent indictment for murder, the leadership of the family is in turmoil, appalled by the death of one of their own, Gino’s wife, Madelina. Without the support of the family behind him, Valdina will do anything to save himself.
But Lauren soon discovers, things aren’t always as they seem when she’s tossed into a mystery, a deadly conspiracy that reaches far beyond the criminal underworld and a journey into the past makes her a target…and anyone she’s ever loved.

I wrote LETHAL JOURNEY because of my fascination with the Mafia, my love for law and action -packed thrillers.

Are you a city slicker or a country lover?

I’m a city girl all the way even though I grew up on a farm. I love the convenience of the city.

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Genre – Thriller

Rating – PG-18

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Website http://kimberleycresswell.wordpress.com/

Quality Reads UK Book Club Disclosure: Author interview / guest post has been submitted by the author and previously used on other sites.

Author Interview – Shanna Hatfield @ShannaHatfield #thechristmascowboy

Are you a city slicker or a country lover?

Country girl all the way, as long as you don’t ever plan to take me camping. I must have hot running water every single day. When I was a little girl, our pipes froze one winter. We spent about two months without running water and the only hot water was what Mom heated on the stove. It was awful and I don’t ever, ever want to be without hot running water.

What’s your next project?

I’m working on a book about an arena football player and a very quiet, serious girl who tries her best to ignore him.

How do you feel about self-publishing?

I think it is the greatest thing since sliced-bread. I say that because The Christmas Cowboy is my 20th self- published book. I know self-publishing isn’t for everyone, but for me, it has been the perfect fit. Absolutely perfect. I have an odd assortment of prior experiences that blended really well for self-publishing including writing, copy editing, and graphic design.

How important are friends in your life?

Extremely important. Friends are there when you need a lift and are always willing to share a laugh or celebrate a triumph. To me, friends are more like family.

How many friends does a person need?

That depends entirely on the person. I have a friend who has a goal in life to collect as many friends as possible. I’m the opposite. I don’t need many friends. Those I do have, though, are there for me whenever I need them and know my door and heart is open to them anytime.

"10% of the net proceeds from all my book sales December 1-24 will be donated to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund®"

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Genre – Romance (contemporary western)

Rating – PG

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Website http://shannahatfield.com

Author Interview – AFN Clarke @AFNClarke

What’s your favourite place in the entire world?
To be honest, being out on the ocean alone, on a sailboat, when the sky is blue, the sun’s warm, there’s a nice breeze and the water’s so clear I can see deep into it’s depths.  Anywhere peaceful away from man-made stress with a big sky and surrounded by nature, even if it’s on a boat in the middle of the biggest storm at sea, is heaven to me.
What is your favourite colour?
If I have to choose one, I would have to say, blue. It is the colour of the sky on a bright sunny day and the ocean surrounding coral reefs. It is warm, inviting and uplifting and always gives me a wonderful sense of well-being. Without blue, sunsets would be insipid, the ocean a dark menace and my life would be grey.
What’s your favourite food?
That’s tough, I love all sorts of foods – rich curries, simple pastas, fresh fish and seafood.  But I guess one of my favourite rituals is ending each night sitting quietly with my wife and enjoying a glass of good port, a sliver of Stilton cheese and letting the activities and thoughts of the day fall away.  I’ve also got a sweet tooth, so my latest vice is chocolate covered honeycomb – hmmm – delish!!!
What inspired you to write your first book?
My first book Contact started out as a way of coming to terms with the world after returning from combat physically and emotionally wounded. I was lost, angry, sad, and felt I didn’t fit in with the so-called “normal world” – what’s “normal” after being at war, anyway?  I wanted people to understand what it was like going out expecting to be shot or blown apart every day.  How we came to terms with the stress, loss of life, fear and boredom.  Wanted families of veterans to understand why their loved ones might be distant, different.  But my primary motivation was to ensure that the lives lost and destroyed, both of soldiers and civilians, counted for something – and that politicians might stop and think long and hard before choosing to go to war.
It’s still one of my best selling books all these years later – which is, ironically, rather sad, as I had hoped it would have been redundant by now.  But it seems we humans never learn. Now I prefer writing fiction and taking my readers to different worlds through my stories. Eight books so far, with many more to come.
Do you intend to make writing a career?
Writing IS my career and I can’t imagine doing anything else.  I think it’s a career because it’s more than just something I do to earn money or pass the time – it’s a lifelong passion and activity that I nurture and grow and do everything I can to excel at and learn more about.  I hope each time I write, that passion and growth shows and inspires my readers to read more, and new writers to keep on writing and be even better.

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Genre – Thriller

Rating – PG-13

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Website http://www.afnclarke.com/

Author Interview – Karen S. Bell @KarenSueBell

What contributes to making a writer successful?

Pure luck, connections, and perhaps a pot of money to take out huge ads. I sound jaded and I am. It’s never about the writing anymore. It’s about titillation, gore, brutal murders, zombies.

If you could leave your readers with one bit of wisdom, what would you want it to be?

Try and be the change. Help bring our country to become a more welcoming place. Help this country avoid the decaying of society that was the downfall of ancient Rome. Let’s all help to move forward and stop the backward slide that seems to be taking over.

When you wish to end your career, stop writing, and look back on your life, what thoughts would you like to have?

That my children have all done well for themselves. That I have a few more good years left of good health. That everyday of living is a blessing and a gift to not take for granted.

What inspired you to write your first book?

I grew up in a world where most mothers stayed home and cared for their kids. My mother worked with my father out of necessity. Today, most mothers work out of necessity or greed. We have to have two BMWs and so on. But for whatever reason, mother’s work. And we have lousy maternity leave. No real balance for families. One day, I went into the ladies room and a woman was pumping her breast. Somewhere there is a baby crying right now, I thought. How twisted is that, that this young woman is here and not with her baby? The feminist movement was about equal pay for equal work, not hurting families. But woman are in the workforce now and still not getting equal pay. I felt women needed to start a dialogue about better balance of work and family, about longer maternity leave. No one is talking about that. I hoped I could start that conversation. I wrote that book ten years before any of the others on that topic came out, but I couldn’t find a publisher. But you know what? Women still aren’t pushing for better work/life options. We are still paying outrages costs for daycare. No help for the working mother and no one fighting for it.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

My life, movies, books, tv shows, the news, my kids.

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Genre – Contemporary romance, Magical Realism

Rating – PG-13

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Author Interview – Cerece Rennie Murphy @CereceRMurphy

How do you write – lap top, pen, paper, in bed, at a desk?

I usually start with a story and chapter outline that I write by hand. From there, I will write the chapters on my laptop.  But if I’m having trouble visualizing a scene, I will go back to pen and

How much sleep do you need to be your best?

At least 7-8 hours.  Usually, I get between 5-6 hours.

Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge and thank for their support?

I’d love to thank my family and friends, especially my Mom and my husband, Sekou.  Their belief in me is so humbling.

Tell us about your new book? What’s it about and why did you write it?

Sure.  The Order of the Seers trilogy is about a group of people who can see the future and are enslaved for that ability.  The first book is all about how they escape the organization that is trying to exploit their gift, reclaim their power and start fighting back.  There’s lots of action, adventure and suspense.  There is even a little romance, too.  The second book in the trilogy, titled The Red Order, came out this past summer and picks up right where the first one leaves off.  Without giving anything away, I’ll just say that The Red Order has even more action than the first book and is a bit darker because you get to know your villains a lot better.

If you could have a dinner party and invite anyone dead or alive, who would you ask?

I would probably just invite God.  That should cover everything else I want to know.

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Genre – Science Fiction

Rating – NC-17

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Website http://www.crmurphybooks.com

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Author Interview – J.J. Ward @MI7Ward

Do you plan to publish more books?
I’ve set myself a target. Ten MI7 books by 2018. I’ve already got lots of outlines. The trouble is, I’ve got ideas for other books as well. Then there’s the marketing. And the selling on Ebay to support the marketing. It’s a busy life.
What else do you do to make money, other than write? It is rare today for writers to be full time…
I’m a secondary school teacher in an all-girls school. It keeps me sane.
What other jobs have you had in your life?
I was a taxi driver for a while. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to write a novel. You get to meet a wide variety of people when they’re drunk, and they tell you things they wouldn’t otherwise tell anyone.
If you could study any subject at university what would you pick?
If I had the ability, biology or physics, then I’d set out to cure cancer or create free energy.
If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
I like where I live now. It’s warm in the summer, and in the winter it snows. You get a real sense of the seasons. I think wherever you live in the world, there are drawbacks. I definitely wouldn’t want to live anywhere I couldn’t speak the language. I don’t think I’d be very good at that booming ex-pat thing.

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Genre – Espionage Thriller

Rating – PG

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Author Interview – Christina George @publicistgal

Tell us about MacDermott Ellis (Mac), he’s hot and dangerous and the kind of man many of us could lose ourselves over. Is he real? Yes, well sort of. It’s an odd story about Mac, I wrote this character years ago and then met a man very similar to Mac so I was able to give this character even more depth. But yes, Mac is hot. Mac’s the guy your mother warns you about and still, you don’t care.
Do you find the time to read? Yes, and candidly whether I want to or not. Don’t get me wrong I love books and I love reading, but my job requires a lot of it so I have to make time to read. It’s really an awesome thing though, right? I mean getting paid to read! Who gets that lucky?
When and why did you begin writing? It’s funny actually, I started writing because I found that I had stories to tell. Stories about stories. So my work as a publicist is never without adventures and I really wanted to share them. I wasn’t sure I could I mean I had never intended on being an author, not really. I worked with them, I promoted them, but to become one? I hadn’t planned on that at all. Then I realized, I had something to say, so I did!
What’s your favorite place in the entire world? I love Europe, love it – especially France and Belgium. I hope to see my characters travel there in Book Three!
Where do you get your inspiration from? Mostly from the publishing world and the authors I have worked with but also from authors that other publicity people have worked with, too.

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Genre – Contemporary Romance

Rating – R

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Author Interview – Rob Manary @robmanary

What is your least favorite quality about yourself?

I am incredibly arrogant and self absorbed. I think that is why it was so easy to write the egocentric Brandon Fahr, my protagonist in the Icarus Trilogy. Write what you know, isn’t that right?

But I must say, as clichéd as it may be, writing a character with similar traits as myself, although exaggerated for effect, really gave me some insight into myself. I used the word “myself” twice in that last sentence. Buy “Icarus Rising”, the writing is much better, I promise.

Anyway, I’m still arrogant and self absorbed but I’m a little more self aware now.

What is your favorite color?

Purple. Prince did a lot to boost the popularity of purple, but that was a long time ago and there is a generation that likely doesn’t know who Prince is. I’d like to be the new champion for purple. I’d be completely willing to do an endorsement deal with the Crayola people.

What’s your favorite meal?

Anything I don’t have to cook myself!  And that’s not really too far from the truth.  Actually, I don’t mind cooking but I’m not very imaginative when it comes to what I should throw into the pot or the pan or the oven.

Hey, I’m about to order a pizza.  Want a slice?

What’s your favorite place in the entire world?

Between the thighs of a beautiful woman, the musky sweet smell of her womanhood intoxicating me, filling my head, causing me to harden. The taste of her sweet nectar on my tongue as I lick… that’s a pretty good answer for an erotic romance writer right?

When I wasn’t even yet a teen my Dad and I built a small cabin in the woods. I don’t imagine I was much help, but we built this cabin far from civilization on a piece of property in the bush that was my Grandfather’s property before it was my Dad’s, and likely has been in the family for generations.

There is a well for water, and no electricity, and my Dad and I spent hours playing cards by lamp light with the wood stove for warmth in the winter. That’s my favorite place in the entire world especially if I have my Dad for company and no one else for hundreds of miles.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

I honestly think I’m quite happy exactly where I am.  Unlike Brandon and Rachel from Icarus Rising, I don’t need or, really, want, the lavish luxury lifestyle.  Sure, I want to have enough money to be comfortable and not worry about where my next meal is coming from, but beyond that… I don’t require much.  Electricity for my computer so that I can continue writing, Internet access, a phone to order take-out…

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Genre – Erotic Romance

Rating – R

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Website http://robmanary.com/

Author Interview – Massimo Marino @Massim0Marin0

How much impact does your childhood have on your writing?

My father was a compulsive and avid reader. In a sense he was rarely there with us. Maybe this affected why I was writing since an early age.

What was the greatest thing you learned at school?

It was one thing said by my philosophy teacher: Just because I say it, or you read it in a book, it doesn’t mean it’s true. You have to enquire always, and find the truth inside yourself.

Do you admire your own work?

No, it is not my role. I love my books but I always try to get better at writing, so I’m never satisfied.

What are books for?

A book is a portal to another world, and a portal to one self. Books allow us to ask questions to the innermost part of our personality. Sometimes the answer is not of our liking and we have a chance to grow.

Have you ever found true love?

Yes, I was 18 and she was 15. After the Summer we started dating. I married her; we have a daughter.

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Genre – Science Fiction

Rating – PG-13

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Website http://massimomarinoauthor.com