Last month, you might remember that I wrote a post debating the merits of getting involved in Amazon's Kindle Select program. I hemmed and hawed about it, but eventually fell victim to a sense of "missing out." So, I pulled my book from B&N and Smashwords (which had, combined, generates <10 sales over the last 3 months) and enrolled it into the Select program. On Saturday, January 28th, I'll be taking advantage of the program's biggest draw; the ability to sell my book for free. I get 5 days out of 90 to do so and I'm testing the waters with a single day this weekend. If you've considered buying my book in th epast, well...now is your chance. No buyer's remorse here. Heck, you don't even have to read it! Just picking up the freebie will help me out immensely. As always, it can be found here on the Amazon US site (it will be free on all Amazon sites, though, so those in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain will have a fair shot as well). Obviously, the hope is that the "sale" of freebies will propel the book into the upper rankings and result in added real sales when it comes off of free. That's the hope. ;) So, spread the word and pick up a freebie. If you like it, the sequel isn't too far away. After my free run, I'll probably gather some numbers and report on my take on the process next week. 
Saturday, January 28, 2012
To Select or To Not Select, That's the Question - Revisited
Last month, you might remember that I wrote a post debating the merits of getting involved in Amazon's Kindle Select program. I hemmed and hawed about it, but eventually fell victim to a sense of "missing out." So, I pulled my book from B&N and Smashwords (which had, combined, generates <10 sales over the last 3 months) and enrolled it into the Select program. On Saturday, January 28th, I'll be taking advantage of the program's biggest draw; the ability to sell my book for free. I get 5 days out of 90 to do so and I'm testing the waters with a single day this weekend. If you've considered buying my book in th epast, well...now is your chance. No buyer's remorse here. Heck, you don't even have to read it! Just picking up the freebie will help me out immensely. As always, it can be found here on the Amazon US site (it will be free on all Amazon sites, though, so those in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain will have a fair shot as well). Obviously, the hope is that the "sale" of freebies will propel the book into the upper rankings and result in added real sales when it comes off of free. That's the hope. ;) So, spread the word and pick up a freebie. If you like it, the sequel isn't too far away. After my free run, I'll probably gather some numbers and report on my take on the process next week. 
Thursday, January 26, 2012
The Same Six Questions - Eileen Granfors
Another round of The Same Six Questions! Today, my guest is Eileen Granfors. Welcome!
Thanks, Andy! I live in Santa Clarita, California. A former army brat born in New Orleans, we lived in Germany after World War II. Our family settled in Imperial Beach, California, where my mother’s love of body surfing turned me into an avid surfer girl. I am a proud UCLA alumna, who taught high school English for many years. When not reading or writing, I can be found walking my dogs or taking them to the dog park, scrapbooking, or traveling to see friends, family, and our darling grandkids. My husband and I hope to retire to our home on Table Rock Lake (Missouri) in the coming year or two.
The Same Six Questions
1. Have you published a book yet?
I have published four books. Two are anthologies (1 poetry, 1 short stories).
My most popular novel is a YA multicultural, Some Rivers End on the Day of the Dead, perfect for learning about the Hispanic Day of the Dead while following the journey of a plucky, kind, ninth grader (Marisol) in the midst of some snarky classmates and a California wild fire.
My newest novel is Stairs of Sand (All of my books are available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions). This is the book I wanted to write from the beginning, but it took me five years to get the two main characters right: a perfectionist mother (Jolene) and a free-spirited, adult daughter (Zoozle), a woman who continues to make bad choices. The title comes from Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, about how outer appearances deceive, how what’s underneath could be as false as "stairs of sand.” Readers have written to me the honesty of this portrayal and the emotional link they felt about the family’s problems. I love hearing from fans.
2. When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
As a child, I had a love for books before I could even read. I would pour over books looking for words I might know. All my life, my love of books has grown. The summer my mother died, I wrote a brief memoir for family members about my mom. I found that helped me with grieving her loss. Once I retired from teaching, I felt an urgency to write more, beginning with poetry and short stories and moving on to the novels. I still write flash fiction as a means to capture a scene and give it muscles.
3. What was your first lengthy piece of fiction (say, >1000 words)?
My first short story, Side by Side, was a memory of childhood in Germany where my father was stationed after World War II. I remembered our German maids and the deep forests and our big house. I focused on my busy parents. My brother and I were left in the care of our German housekeepers more often than not at a time when the Germans had no great love for Americans.
I wrote the story in 2005. I still have it, and now that I have more writing experience, I can see where the story needs editing and focus. I sent it out to a few hundred magazines. I think I’ll have better luck with it when I get time to edit and re-submit. One major literary magazine wrote a note, “Interesting, but not there yet.” I think I can get it there!
4. When was your first indication, "I can do this (write)?"
My UCLA Extension teachers in the Writers’ Program encouraged us to “submit, submit, submit.” I had two short anecdotal pieces accepted for the Cup of Comfort series, edited by Colleen Sell. The first, Bruised But Not Broken, is the story of how my first marriage fell apart. The second was published in the Military Families anthology and focuses on my father’s strict discipline. Once those were published, I could see what editors were looking for and how to achieve a stronger storyline and more vigorous prose. I also learned a lot about how my family reacts to my writing—some fans, some infuriated.
5. If you could meet one of your characters in real life, which would it be?
Wow, this is a very difficult question. I feel as if I know Marisol and her whole cast of characters from Some Rivers End on the Day of the Dead, so I’m ruling out that book. I like Chloris a lot from Stairs of Sand. She is a Somali immigrant to the United States. She works at a hospice. Her spirit of gentle strength encourages everyone she befriends. She has a charismatic humor, a beautiful singing voice, and likes to wear loud colors. I would like to spend more time with Chloris because there are days when I really need her optimism and kindness, her belief that the world can be made a better place by one person acting in a hopeful, supporting way.
6. It's a dark and stormy night...you're alone in the house...there's a knock at the door...you open it, look out, and proceed to scream like a little girl. What's on the doorstep?
On the doorstep of a dark and stormy night, I answer a knock at the door. I scream and scream and scream, each scream higher and shriller. In front of me stands Sydney Carton (from A Tale of Two Cities), holding his head in his hands (he was beheaded at the guillotine). Once I stop screaming, I welcome him in with a towel under his dripping neck, because he is the subject of my next book, a historical novel, and I really need some information from him about his cryptic words of time spent in Paris (“. . . picking up some French law, some French, and some French crumbs.”)
_______________________________
Thanks so much for sharing with us today, Eileen! For more of Eileen and her writing, be sure to check out her book blog, review blog, and Amazon author page.
Thanks, Andy! I live in Santa Clarita, California. A former army brat born in New Orleans, we lived in Germany after World War II. Our family settled in Imperial Beach, California, where my mother’s love of body surfing turned me into an avid surfer girl. I am a proud UCLA alumna, who taught high school English for many years. When not reading or writing, I can be found walking my dogs or taking them to the dog park, scrapbooking, or traveling to see friends, family, and our darling grandkids. My husband and I hope to retire to our home on Table Rock Lake (Missouri) in the coming year or two.
The Same Six Questions
1. Have you published a book yet?
I have published four books. Two are anthologies (1 poetry, 1 short stories).
My most popular novel is a YA multicultural, Some Rivers End on the Day of the Dead, perfect for learning about the Hispanic Day of the Dead while following the journey of a plucky, kind, ninth grader (Marisol) in the midst of some snarky classmates and a California wild fire.
My newest novel is Stairs of Sand (All of my books are available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions). This is the book I wanted to write from the beginning, but it took me five years to get the two main characters right: a perfectionist mother (Jolene) and a free-spirited, adult daughter (Zoozle), a woman who continues to make bad choices. The title comes from Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, about how outer appearances deceive, how what’s underneath could be as false as "stairs of sand.” Readers have written to me the honesty of this portrayal and the emotional link they felt about the family’s problems. I love hearing from fans.
2. When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
As a child, I had a love for books before I could even read. I would pour over books looking for words I might know. All my life, my love of books has grown. The summer my mother died, I wrote a brief memoir for family members about my mom. I found that helped me with grieving her loss. Once I retired from teaching, I felt an urgency to write more, beginning with poetry and short stories and moving on to the novels. I still write flash fiction as a means to capture a scene and give it muscles.
3. What was your first lengthy piece of fiction (say, >1000 words)?
My first short story, Side by Side, was a memory of childhood in Germany where my father was stationed after World War II. I remembered our German maids and the deep forests and our big house. I focused on my busy parents. My brother and I were left in the care of our German housekeepers more often than not at a time when the Germans had no great love for Americans.
I wrote the story in 2005. I still have it, and now that I have more writing experience, I can see where the story needs editing and focus. I sent it out to a few hundred magazines. I think I’ll have better luck with it when I get time to edit and re-submit. One major literary magazine wrote a note, “Interesting, but not there yet.” I think I can get it there!
4. When was your first indication, "I can do this (write)?"
My UCLA Extension teachers in the Writers’ Program encouraged us to “submit, submit, submit.” I had two short anecdotal pieces accepted for the Cup of Comfort series, edited by Colleen Sell. The first, Bruised But Not Broken, is the story of how my first marriage fell apart. The second was published in the Military Families anthology and focuses on my father’s strict discipline. Once those were published, I could see what editors were looking for and how to achieve a stronger storyline and more vigorous prose. I also learned a lot about how my family reacts to my writing—some fans, some infuriated.
5. If you could meet one of your characters in real life, which would it be?
Wow, this is a very difficult question. I feel as if I know Marisol and her whole cast of characters from Some Rivers End on the Day of the Dead, so I’m ruling out that book. I like Chloris a lot from Stairs of Sand. She is a Somali immigrant to the United States. She works at a hospice. Her spirit of gentle strength encourages everyone she befriends. She has a charismatic humor, a beautiful singing voice, and likes to wear loud colors. I would like to spend more time with Chloris because there are days when I really need her optimism and kindness, her belief that the world can be made a better place by one person acting in a hopeful, supporting way.
6. It's a dark and stormy night...you're alone in the house...there's a knock at the door...you open it, look out, and proceed to scream like a little girl. What's on the doorstep?
On the doorstep of a dark and stormy night, I answer a knock at the door. I scream and scream and scream, each scream higher and shriller. In front of me stands Sydney Carton (from A Tale of Two Cities), holding his head in his hands (he was beheaded at the guillotine). Once I stop screaming, I welcome him in with a towel under his dripping neck, because he is the subject of my next book, a historical novel, and I really need some information from him about his cryptic words of time spent in Paris (“. . . picking up some French law, some French, and some French crumbs.”)
_______________________________
Thanks so much for sharing with us today, Eileen! For more of Eileen and her writing, be sure to check out her book blog, review blog, and Amazon author page.
Monday, January 23, 2012
The Same Six Questions - Keith Weaver
Hi there! Time for another round of The Same Six Questions! Welcome aboard, Keith Weaver!
Thank you, Andy. I was born in the small town of Erie, IL. I now live in Bettendorf, IA with my wife of 10 years, Stephanie. We have two wonderful boys; Keaton is six and Hudson is four. Besides reading and writing, I love to watch movies, listen to music and sports. Being a college athlete, I still love to play basketball and train in MMA for fun. On Sundays, you can bet I’m watching a lot of football.
The Same Six Questions
1. Have you published a book yet?
Yes, I self published The Nefarious: Prince of Shadow right after college with no real knowledge of what to do; just wanted to see my name in print. Eight years later, I’ve redone my work and re-edited and now have my first eBook on the market.
2. When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I guess the first time I realized I wanted to be a writer was in college. I’ve always loved books, but took a real interest in writing in college, gave me a good release to pass time. I also took a Mystery Novel class where we read, discussed and wrote our own stories. That might have been my favorite course in college of all things.
3. What was your first lengthy piece of fiction? What was it about? When did you write it? Do you still have it?
My first real full length fiction was my current book, The Nefarious. It started out as a way for me to pass the time in Biology class in college, I am ashamed to say. I would write a couple of pages every class. It’s about a supernatural being that haunts the people of a castle hotel. Its original inspiration comes from the 1995 horror fest Castle Freak with Jeffrey Combs. In an attempt to be original, though, I went with my own ideas.
4. When was your first indication, "I can do this (write)"?
I was always good in school at writing, whether it be book reports, journals or essays. I’ve always had a creative mind and been able to put that to words, drawing no, but writing yes. I see the same thing in my oldest son; he had the best story in Kindergarten last year for Young Writer’s week. Plus, my roommate and Mother got a hold of my notebook and saw my story, and thought it was good and that I should really make something of it.
5. If you could meet one of your characters in real life, which would it be?
I would definitely like to meet Prince Nefarious, before he became evil. For one, I would have to time travel back to the 1600’s, which would be a trip. But also to warn him of the misfortunes that may be coming his way and to get an idea of what made the man so mad.
6. It's a dark and stormy night...you're alone in the house...there's a knock at the door...you open it, look out, and proceed to scream like a little girl. What's on the doorstep?
Doc Brown from Back to the Future! I’ve seen what happens in those movies every time he shows up. I would be worried that he was going to take me to the future to see what I’ve become, or take me back in time and make me relive it all again. I’m looking forward to writing my own future with the people I have in my life.
__________________________________
Thanks so much for sharing with us, Keith! For more of Keith and his writing, be sure to check out his Web site and Twitter page.
Don't forget to swing back on Thursday when my guest will be Eileen Granfors. See you then!
Thank you, Andy. I was born in the small town of Erie, IL. I now live in Bettendorf, IA with my wife of 10 years, Stephanie. We have two wonderful boys; Keaton is six and Hudson is four. Besides reading and writing, I love to watch movies, listen to music and sports. Being a college athlete, I still love to play basketball and train in MMA for fun. On Sundays, you can bet I’m watching a lot of football.
The Same Six Questions
1. Have you published a book yet?Yes, I self published The Nefarious: Prince of Shadow right after college with no real knowledge of what to do; just wanted to see my name in print. Eight years later, I’ve redone my work and re-edited and now have my first eBook on the market.
2. When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I guess the first time I realized I wanted to be a writer was in college. I’ve always loved books, but took a real interest in writing in college, gave me a good release to pass time. I also took a Mystery Novel class where we read, discussed and wrote our own stories. That might have been my favorite course in college of all things.
3. What was your first lengthy piece of fiction? What was it about? When did you write it? Do you still have it?
My first real full length fiction was my current book, The Nefarious. It started out as a way for me to pass the time in Biology class in college, I am ashamed to say. I would write a couple of pages every class. It’s about a supernatural being that haunts the people of a castle hotel. Its original inspiration comes from the 1995 horror fest Castle Freak with Jeffrey Combs. In an attempt to be original, though, I went with my own ideas.
4. When was your first indication, "I can do this (write)"?
I was always good in school at writing, whether it be book reports, journals or essays. I’ve always had a creative mind and been able to put that to words, drawing no, but writing yes. I see the same thing in my oldest son; he had the best story in Kindergarten last year for Young Writer’s week. Plus, my roommate and Mother got a hold of my notebook and saw my story, and thought it was good and that I should really make something of it.
5. If you could meet one of your characters in real life, which would it be?
I would definitely like to meet Prince Nefarious, before he became evil. For one, I would have to time travel back to the 1600’s, which would be a trip. But also to warn him of the misfortunes that may be coming his way and to get an idea of what made the man so mad.
6. It's a dark and stormy night...you're alone in the house...there's a knock at the door...you open it, look out, and proceed to scream like a little girl. What's on the doorstep?
Doc Brown from Back to the Future! I’ve seen what happens in those movies every time he shows up. I would be worried that he was going to take me to the future to see what I’ve become, or take me back in time and make me relive it all again. I’m looking forward to writing my own future with the people I have in my life.
__________________________________
Thanks so much for sharing with us, Keith! For more of Keith and his writing, be sure to check out his Web site and Twitter page.
Don't forget to swing back on Thursday when my guest will be Eileen Granfors. See you then!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
The Same Six Questions - Robert Lamb
Welcome back to The Same Six Questions! Today's guest is Robert Lamb! Welcome, Robert!
Hello, Andy! I teach writing and American literature at the University of South Carolina, in Columbia. I'm a native of this state, but I grew up in Augusta, Georgia, and am a graduate of the University of Georgia. I'm a jazz fan, like good movies, and enjoy sports, especially collegiate basketball. I also enjoy reviewing books and I do it for the New York Journal of Books.
The Same Six Questions
1. Have you published a book yet?
Yes, three novels and a book of stories andpoems. The first novel, Striking Out, a coming-of-age novel, was published in 1991 by The Permanent Press and was nominated for the PEN/Hemingway Award. The second, Atlanta Blues, is about the search for a missing college girl by a newspaper reporter and two cops. Published by Harbor House Books, it was a Southern Critics Circle Selection and was named in a year-end round-up as "one of the best novels of 2004 by a Southern writer." The third novel, A Majority of One, was published in September 2011, by Red Letter Press. The fourth book, due out soon, is also from Red Letter Press. It's title is Six of One, Half Dozen of Another (Stories & Poems).
Synopsis of A Majority of One: When preachers in a rural Georgia town move to ban some classic American novels from the high school curriculum--and post the Ten Commandments in every classroom--only one person stands up to them: English teacher Anne Brady, an “outsider” from Atlanta who champions great literature (and the separation of Church and State). Refusing to “go along to get along,” she soon finds herself in a fight to save her job and reputation. For help, she turns to another outsider, lawyer Eugene Shapiro, who as the county’s only Jewish attorney knows all too well what his client is up against. By the time Anne’s struggle spills into court from a heated school-board meeting, the mood of the county points toward a legal lynching – or worse, as some of the more zealous defenders of the faith have drifted beyond the reach of law or reason. This novel is a powerful reminder that not all religious fanatics live in the Middle East. America has its own home-grown variety. (Available at Amazon for the Kindle and smashwords.com for all other ereaders).
2. When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
At age 10, I saw a movie, "Gentleman's Agreement." Starring Gregory Peck, it was about his work as a magazine writer exposing, in this case, anti-semitism. I was smitten. I grew up to become a newspaperman (The Atlanta Constitution) and then a novelist and short-story writer.
3. What was your first lengthy piece of fiction (say, >1000 words)? What was it about? When did you write it? Do you still have it?
It was my first attempt at a novel. It was about a teacher who gets into trouble because of his/her unorthodox religious views. I began it as a college student, probably in my junior year. I still have the original, written in a notebook, around here somewhere; better still, I finally got that novel written (though changed in material ways). It's the novel titled A Majority of One.
4. When was your first indication, "I can do this (write)"?
I've always been able to write. As far back as grade school, I wrote creatively, and my classmates and teachers encouraged me to do more. But I knew how to write long before I knew how to write a novel. That first attempt at a novel, when I was in college, sputtered out at about 50,000 words – because I didn''t know what I was doing. Novel-writing is a craft. One must learn the craft or trust to blind luck for success. The latter approach, when it works at all, often leads to what's known in writers'circles as the sophomore jinx: the second book bombs because the author didn't know how he did it the first time.
5. If you could meet one of your characters in real life, which would it be?
I've already met some of them. The two cops in Atlanta Blues were based on cops I actually knew and worked with as a reporter. In Striking Out, Johnny Kelly was based on a childhood friend whom I knew well. But Shapiro, in A Majority of One, is a fictitious character I'd like to meet in person.
6. It's a dark and stormy night...you're alone in the house...there's a knock at the door...you open it, look out, and proceed to scream like a little girl. What's on the doorstep?
I can't imagine screaming like a little gir, but I might do it if the people from Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes were there, holding a big, big, check made out to me.
______________________________________
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing with us today, Robert! For more of Robert and his writing, be sure to check out his blog, Red Letter Press, and Twitter.
Monday, my guest will be Keith Weaver! See you then!
Hello, Andy! I teach writing and American literature at the University of South Carolina, in Columbia. I'm a native of this state, but I grew up in Augusta, Georgia, and am a graduate of the University of Georgia. I'm a jazz fan, like good movies, and enjoy sports, especially collegiate basketball. I also enjoy reviewing books and I do it for the New York Journal of Books.
The Same Six Questions
1. Have you published a book yet?
Yes, three novels and a book of stories andpoems. The first novel, Striking Out, a coming-of-age novel, was published in 1991 by The Permanent Press and was nominated for the PEN/Hemingway Award. The second, Atlanta Blues, is about the search for a missing college girl by a newspaper reporter and two cops. Published by Harbor House Books, it was a Southern Critics Circle Selection and was named in a year-end round-up as "one of the best novels of 2004 by a Southern writer." The third novel, A Majority of One, was published in September 2011, by Red Letter Press. The fourth book, due out soon, is also from Red Letter Press. It's title is Six of One, Half Dozen of Another (Stories & Poems).
Synopsis of A Majority of One: When preachers in a rural Georgia town move to ban some classic American novels from the high school curriculum--and post the Ten Commandments in every classroom--only one person stands up to them: English teacher Anne Brady, an “outsider” from Atlanta who champions great literature (and the separation of Church and State). Refusing to “go along to get along,” she soon finds herself in a fight to save her job and reputation. For help, she turns to another outsider, lawyer Eugene Shapiro, who as the county’s only Jewish attorney knows all too well what his client is up against. By the time Anne’s struggle spills into court from a heated school-board meeting, the mood of the county points toward a legal lynching – or worse, as some of the more zealous defenders of the faith have drifted beyond the reach of law or reason. This novel is a powerful reminder that not all religious fanatics live in the Middle East. America has its own home-grown variety. (Available at Amazon for the Kindle and smashwords.com for all other ereaders).2. When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
At age 10, I saw a movie, "Gentleman's Agreement." Starring Gregory Peck, it was about his work as a magazine writer exposing, in this case, anti-semitism. I was smitten. I grew up to become a newspaperman (The Atlanta Constitution) and then a novelist and short-story writer.
3. What was your first lengthy piece of fiction (say, >1000 words)? What was it about? When did you write it? Do you still have it?
It was my first attempt at a novel. It was about a teacher who gets into trouble because of his/her unorthodox religious views. I began it as a college student, probably in my junior year. I still have the original, written in a notebook, around here somewhere; better still, I finally got that novel written (though changed in material ways). It's the novel titled A Majority of One.
4. When was your first indication, "I can do this (write)"?
I've always been able to write. As far back as grade school, I wrote creatively, and my classmates and teachers encouraged me to do more. But I knew how to write long before I knew how to write a novel. That first attempt at a novel, when I was in college, sputtered out at about 50,000 words – because I didn''t know what I was doing. Novel-writing is a craft. One must learn the craft or trust to blind luck for success. The latter approach, when it works at all, often leads to what's known in writers'circles as the sophomore jinx: the second book bombs because the author didn't know how he did it the first time.
5. If you could meet one of your characters in real life, which would it be?
I've already met some of them. The two cops in Atlanta Blues were based on cops I actually knew and worked with as a reporter. In Striking Out, Johnny Kelly was based on a childhood friend whom I knew well. But Shapiro, in A Majority of One, is a fictitious character I'd like to meet in person.
6. It's a dark and stormy night...you're alone in the house...there's a knock at the door...you open it, look out, and proceed to scream like a little girl. What's on the doorstep?
I can't imagine screaming like a little gir, but I might do it if the people from Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes were there, holding a big, big, check made out to me.
______________________________________
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing with us today, Robert! For more of Robert and his writing, be sure to check out his blog, Red Letter Press, and Twitter.
Monday, my guest will be Keith Weaver! See you then!
Monday, January 16, 2012
The Same Six Questions - Samantha Warren
Hello there! Welcome to this Martin Luther King Jr. edition of The Same Six Questions. Today's guest is Samantha Warren. In her own words:
Samantha Warren is a fantasy and science fiction author who spends her days immersed in dragons, space ships, and vampires. With her pet dragon, Anethesis, she ventured to the ends of the universe, but the cost of space travel cut into her sock fetish fund, so she sold her ship and returned home. When she isn’t writing, she’s milking cows or trying to feed them Pop-Tarts. She spends a lot of time in her weed patch (aka: garden), watching any show featuring Gordon Ramsay, or posting random things on her blog
The Same Six Questions
1. Have you published a book yet?
Yes, I have one fantasy novel and four urban fantasy novellas. The novel, Blood of the Dragon, is available on Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords (be sure to check Samantha's Amazon page for all of her books). The novellas are all part of a series about a vampire named Jane who decides to become an assassin. The first novella is available for free on Smashwords, but it is also available at Amazon and B&N. The other three in the series are available in all three places and I will continue to publish more. All of my books are also available on my website. I'll be finishing a sci-fi novel for NaNo 2011, so that should be out early in 2012.
2. When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
Well, here's a secret. I hated English in high school, with a capital H. I loved to read, always have, but I hated the papers and reading books that they forced me to read. Nothing is worse than being forced to slog through a book that you find completely and utterly boring, simply because someone said you had to. But I devoured fantasy and sci-fi books, especially Star Wars books. I loved those, still do. But in college, after trying half a dozen other majors, I was reading through the Forgotten Realms series and found twelve mistakes in eight pages. Drove me nuts. At that point, I was looking for a new major, so I switched to English. And surprisingly, I loved it. I loved the papers, I loved the reading, I loved the classes, I loved it all. But I thought I wanted to be an editor, so I focused on that. A couple more years passed and I realized I didn't particularly like editing other people's work. I didn't have the freedom to fix what I felt really needed to be fixed. So after a couple previously failed NaNos and no other really hardcore creative writing (I didn't even take a creative writing class), I determined that I was start and finish NaNo 2010. And I've been writing fiction happily ever since. So, long story short, I've known for just about a year, and that's how long I've been a writer, as well. Not very exciting compared to most people's "I've known my whole life", but that's the truth of it.
3. What was your first lengthy piece of fiction (say, >1000 words)? What was it about? When did you write it? Do you still have it?
I usually call my first "real" attempt at writing my NaNo (Nanowrimo) 2009 piece, which incidentally became my Jane novella series (the first book of it, anyway). But if I really think back, I have another vampire novel that has maybe five chapters and was inspired by Underworld. I should hunt that down and see if it's salvageable.
4. When was your first indication, "I can do this (write)"?
I've always been told I'm a good writer, and I did well in English, when I put in the effort. But the first time I thought "Maybe this would be a good career" was just before NaNo 2010 when I was plotting. I thought, "This is fun, I enjoy it, I wonder if I could do it full-time." I didn't decide to go it "alone", aka: self-publish, until February or March of this year (I wrote a blog about my decision process, so I won't bore you with it here), and after that is when I truly started to feel like a writer.
5. If you could meet one of your characters in real life, which would it be?
I would probably meet Jane. She's snarky and can kick some major butt. She's also a lot like me, if I were an awesome vampire assassin chick, of course.
6. It's a dark and stormy night...you're alone in the house...there's a knock at the door...you open it, look out, and proceed to scream like a little girl/boy (they kinda scream the same anyway). What's on the doorstep?
A copy of Star Wars: Galaxies *shudders at the thought*
_________________________________
Thanks for stopping by and sharing with us, Samantha! For more of Samantha and her writing, be sure to check out her Web site, www.samantha-warren.com.
See you on Thursday, when my guest will be Robert Lamb!
Samantha Warren is a fantasy and science fiction author who spends her days immersed in dragons, space ships, and vampires. With her pet dragon, Anethesis, she ventured to the ends of the universe, but the cost of space travel cut into her sock fetish fund, so she sold her ship and returned home. When she isn’t writing, she’s milking cows or trying to feed them Pop-Tarts. She spends a lot of time in her weed patch (aka: garden), watching any show featuring Gordon Ramsay, or posting random things on her blog
The Same Six Questions
1. Have you published a book yet?
Yes, I have one fantasy novel and four urban fantasy novellas. The novel, Blood of the Dragon, is available on Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords (be sure to check Samantha's Amazon page for all of her books). The novellas are all part of a series about a vampire named Jane who decides to become an assassin. The first novella is available for free on Smashwords, but it is also available at Amazon and B&N. The other three in the series are available in all three places and I will continue to publish more. All of my books are also available on my website. I'll be finishing a sci-fi novel for NaNo 2011, so that should be out early in 2012.
2. When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
Well, here's a secret. I hated English in high school, with a capital H. I loved to read, always have, but I hated the papers and reading books that they forced me to read. Nothing is worse than being forced to slog through a book that you find completely and utterly boring, simply because someone said you had to. But I devoured fantasy and sci-fi books, especially Star Wars books. I loved those, still do. But in college, after trying half a dozen other majors, I was reading through the Forgotten Realms series and found twelve mistakes in eight pages. Drove me nuts. At that point, I was looking for a new major, so I switched to English. And surprisingly, I loved it. I loved the papers, I loved the reading, I loved the classes, I loved it all. But I thought I wanted to be an editor, so I focused on that. A couple more years passed and I realized I didn't particularly like editing other people's work. I didn't have the freedom to fix what I felt really needed to be fixed. So after a couple previously failed NaNos and no other really hardcore creative writing (I didn't even take a creative writing class), I determined that I was start and finish NaNo 2010. And I've been writing fiction happily ever since. So, long story short, I've known for just about a year, and that's how long I've been a writer, as well. Not very exciting compared to most people's "I've known my whole life", but that's the truth of it.
3. What was your first lengthy piece of fiction (say, >1000 words)? What was it about? When did you write it? Do you still have it?
I usually call my first "real" attempt at writing my NaNo (Nanowrimo) 2009 piece, which incidentally became my Jane novella series (the first book of it, anyway). But if I really think back, I have another vampire novel that has maybe five chapters and was inspired by Underworld. I should hunt that down and see if it's salvageable.
4. When was your first indication, "I can do this (write)"?
I've always been told I'm a good writer, and I did well in English, when I put in the effort. But the first time I thought "Maybe this would be a good career" was just before NaNo 2010 when I was plotting. I thought, "This is fun, I enjoy it, I wonder if I could do it full-time." I didn't decide to go it "alone", aka: self-publish, until February or March of this year (I wrote a blog about my decision process, so I won't bore you with it here), and after that is when I truly started to feel like a writer.
5. If you could meet one of your characters in real life, which would it be?
I would probably meet Jane. She's snarky and can kick some major butt. She's also a lot like me, if I were an awesome vampire assassin chick, of course.
6. It's a dark and stormy night...you're alone in the house...there's a knock at the door...you open it, look out, and proceed to scream like a little girl/boy (they kinda scream the same anyway). What's on the doorstep?
A copy of Star Wars: Galaxies *shudders at the thought*
_________________________________
Thanks for stopping by and sharing with us, Samantha! For more of Samantha and her writing, be sure to check out her Web site, www.samantha-warren.com.
See you on Thursday, when my guest will be Robert Lamb!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
The Same Six Questions - Michael Parker
Hi there and welcome back to The Same Six Questions! My guest today is an author who has been published several times over. Give a warm welcome to Michael Parker!
Hello, Andy. I have been married to Pat for 51 years now. We have four sons and ten grandchildren. We have lived in Spain for fourteen years now, but are planning to return to the UK. I’m a Londoner. My wife is from Portsmouth. We met when my family moved down there. Pat was fourteen, I was fifteen. My hobbies are writing (naturally), snooker (I play every week), football (don’t play: too old), Speedway (500cc. bikes but I’m not a rider!), and keyboard playing. Pat and I are born again Christians and attend a Christian fellowship here in Spain where I played keyboard for the last seven years or so. We live in a lovely villa with superb views across the countryside, but like a lot of pensioners, we think it’s time to downsize and spend the kids’ inheritance.
The Same Six Questions
1. Have you published a book yet?
My first novel, North Slope, was published in 1980 by Macmillan of London. I have since had six more novels published by Robert Hale of London; the same publisher who will be releasing my next book, The Boy From Berlin in December this year.
North Slope is about a small oil company drilling for oil on the North Slope of Alaska. There is a killer loose on the camp who is determined to stop the company finding oil. In the bitter cold of the Arctic slope, Fyffe Oil battles against time and a ruthless murderer in an attempt to find oil before their licence, and their money runs out. All the big oil companies have left because they consider conditions are not right and the oil is too deep. The owner, Andrew Fyffe, knows there is only one man who can replace his chief driller who has been murdered, and that man, McKinnon is a drunk and a dropout. But he’s the finest wildcatter in the game. McKinnon is dragged from a bar in Juneau by a giant of an Indian called Skookum and flown up to the rig where he must battle against the elements and a ruthless, determined killer.
The story is inspired by the fact that Atlantic Richfield discovered oil on the slope in 1968. All the big hitters had left the area and stored their equipment at Prudhoe Bay for the winter. Richfield had six weeks to find oil. They called their well ‘The Last Chance’, and the rest, as they say, is history.
NORTH SLOPE is also available on Amazon in paperback. I have also released A Covert War and will have Roselli's Gold available soon.
2. When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
It was probably in my late teens. I was always happy to write compositions and essays at school. The English language never fazed me, and I always marvelled at how some of my favourite writers could keep me spellbound with the way in which they wove their stories.
3. What was your first lengthy piece of fiction (say, >1000 words)? What was it about? When did you write it? Do you still have it?
My first attempt at a full length novel was when I was in my twenties. It was called The Perforated Edge, and was about an assassination attempt on the West German Chancellor. It was a poor effort. I was stationed in Germany at the time, hence the subject matter. My sister typed the manuscript up for me. Strangely, she came across it when she moved house a couple of years ago and sent it to me. That was forty years after it was written. I read through it and realised that I had a long way to go (at the time). I still have it.
4. When was your first indication, "I can do this (write)"?
As a young adult, I always assumed that only the ‘educated’ people could write books. They all spoke ‘posh’ and had been to university. I left school with no qualifications and lived on a Council estate. It wasn’t until I had been married a year or so that I realised I had the talent, and it didn’t need a university education or an upper class upbringing to write stories. Even though my first attempt fell at the first and subsequent hurdles, I never gave up.
5. If you could meet one of your characters in real life, which would it be?
Hannah Bowers of Hell's Gate. When I created her, I based her on a well-known, attractive, no, gorgeous, ballerina. Trouble is; I don’t think my wife would like me to meet her!
6. It's a dark and stormy night...you're alone in the house...there's a knock at the door...you open it, look out, and proceed to scream like a little girl. What's on the doorstep?
Another bloody rejection!
______________________________
Thanks for sharing with us today, Michael! For more of Michael and his writing, be sure to check out his Web sites (www.michaeljparker.com and www.acclaimedbooks.com).
Be sure to stop back on Monday when my guest will be Samantha Warren.
Hello, Andy. I have been married to Pat for 51 years now. We have four sons and ten grandchildren. We have lived in Spain for fourteen years now, but are planning to return to the UK. I’m a Londoner. My wife is from Portsmouth. We met when my family moved down there. Pat was fourteen, I was fifteen. My hobbies are writing (naturally), snooker (I play every week), football (don’t play: too old), Speedway (500cc. bikes but I’m not a rider!), and keyboard playing. Pat and I are born again Christians and attend a Christian fellowship here in Spain where I played keyboard for the last seven years or so. We live in a lovely villa with superb views across the countryside, but like a lot of pensioners, we think it’s time to downsize and spend the kids’ inheritance.
The Same Six Questions
1. Have you published a book yet?
My first novel, North Slope, was published in 1980 by Macmillan of London. I have since had six more novels published by Robert Hale of London; the same publisher who will be releasing my next book, The Boy From Berlin in December this year.
North Slope is about a small oil company drilling for oil on the North Slope of Alaska. There is a killer loose on the camp who is determined to stop the company finding oil. In the bitter cold of the Arctic slope, Fyffe Oil battles against time and a ruthless murderer in an attempt to find oil before their licence, and their money runs out. All the big oil companies have left because they consider conditions are not right and the oil is too deep. The owner, Andrew Fyffe, knows there is only one man who can replace his chief driller who has been murdered, and that man, McKinnon is a drunk and a dropout. But he’s the finest wildcatter in the game. McKinnon is dragged from a bar in Juneau by a giant of an Indian called Skookum and flown up to the rig where he must battle against the elements and a ruthless, determined killer. The story is inspired by the fact that Atlantic Richfield discovered oil on the slope in 1968. All the big hitters had left the area and stored their equipment at Prudhoe Bay for the winter. Richfield had six weeks to find oil. They called their well ‘The Last Chance’, and the rest, as they say, is history.
NORTH SLOPE is also available on Amazon in paperback. I have also released A Covert War and will have Roselli's Gold available soon.
2. When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
It was probably in my late teens. I was always happy to write compositions and essays at school. The English language never fazed me, and I always marvelled at how some of my favourite writers could keep me spellbound with the way in which they wove their stories.
3. What was your first lengthy piece of fiction (say, >1000 words)? What was it about? When did you write it? Do you still have it?
My first attempt at a full length novel was when I was in my twenties. It was called The Perforated Edge, and was about an assassination attempt on the West German Chancellor. It was a poor effort. I was stationed in Germany at the time, hence the subject matter. My sister typed the manuscript up for me. Strangely, she came across it when she moved house a couple of years ago and sent it to me. That was forty years after it was written. I read through it and realised that I had a long way to go (at the time). I still have it.
4. When was your first indication, "I can do this (write)"?
As a young adult, I always assumed that only the ‘educated’ people could write books. They all spoke ‘posh’ and had been to university. I left school with no qualifications and lived on a Council estate. It wasn’t until I had been married a year or so that I realised I had the talent, and it didn’t need a university education or an upper class upbringing to write stories. Even though my first attempt fell at the first and subsequent hurdles, I never gave up.
5. If you could meet one of your characters in real life, which would it be?
Hannah Bowers of Hell's Gate. When I created her, I based her on a well-known, attractive, no, gorgeous, ballerina. Trouble is; I don’t think my wife would like me to meet her!
6. It's a dark and stormy night...you're alone in the house...there's a knock at the door...you open it, look out, and proceed to scream like a little girl. What's on the doorstep?
Another bloody rejection!
______________________________
Thanks for sharing with us today, Michael! For more of Michael and his writing, be sure to check out his Web sites (www.michaeljparker.com and www.acclaimedbooks.com).
Be sure to stop back on Monday when my guest will be Samantha Warren.
Monday, January 9, 2012
The Same Six Questions - Ruth Barrett
Welcome back to The Same Six Questions! Give a warm welcome to today's guest, Ruth Barrett! In her own words:
Ruth Barrett was born in Pointe Claire, Quebec, and now makes her home in Stratford, Ontario. Between then and now, she studied English Literature at Trent University and the University of Leeds, and classical acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). Ruth pursued an acting career in Toronto where her love of the stage saw her perform in everything from Shakespeare to sketch comedy, eventually settling into voice-over work. Transforming herself into a writer has provided a rewarding new way for her to explore character and spin tales. Ruth has published numerous short stories in various anthologies and periodicals, and she formed her own Spirited Words Book Co. in Summer of 2011. In her spare time (HA!), she enjoys theatre, live music, wine, food and friends.
The Same Six Questions
1. Have you published a book yet?
Base Spirits is my first novel. If you like ghost stories with a dash of history and a theatrical twist, this may be your cuppa tea (at Smashwords and on Kindle; also available in paperback in local Stratford, Ontario bookshops: Callan Books and Fanfare.).
‘Murder has took this chamber with full hands
And will ne’er out as long as the house stands.’
~A Yorkshire Tragedy, Act I, Sc. v
In 1605, Sir Walter Calverley’s murderous rampage leaves a family shattered. The killer suffers a torturous execution… but is it truly the end? A noble Yorkshire house stands forever tarnished by blood and possessed by anguished spirits.
Some crimes are so horrific, they reverberate through the centuries.
As an unhappy modern couple vacation in the guesthouse at Calverley Old Hall, playwright Clara, and her scholar husband, Scott, unwittingly awaken a dark history. Clara is trapped and forced back in time to bear witness to a family’s bloody saga. Overtaken by the malevolent echoes, Scott is pushed over the edge from possessive husband to wholly possessed…
Inspired by a true-life drama in Shakespeare’s day, this is itself a play within a play: a supernatural thriller with a historical core.
Only one player can survive.
2. When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
When I was very young, I used to play out elaborate scenarios with my dolls and stuffed animals as well as my friends. The story-lines could span several days. My mother read to me a lot from day one, and I started writing my own stories down as soon as I learned how to write. Apparently a teacher in Grade 2 got in touch with my mother asking if the story I'd written for class was actually by her-- she thought it was too good for a young child to have written!
3. What was your first lengthy piece of fiction? What was it about? When did you write it? Do you still have it?
The first long piece I remember writing was when I was 12 or so-- I loved the TV show M*A*S*H*, so I wrote my own ongoing original 'script' for it, but it was in more of a fiction format as I knew nothing about how to compose a real TV script. I hand-wrote it on a stack of oversized yellow paper, and I'm sure it was well over 150 pages. I think I still have it in a box in the back of the closet somewhere.
4. When was your first indication, "I can do this (write)"?
I never thought I couldn't write. Maybe that's the key!
5. If you could meet one of your characters in real life, which would it be?
The Base Spirits gang are in turn terrified, depressed, drunk, possessed, insane, trapped, murdered, tortured and humiliated--it's a bit of a tough choice! All things considered, Emma Thornbury is a pretty cool lady. She's warm, intelligent, generous, sexy, funny and an awesome cook. I think she'd be excellent company. I like the main character of Clara too, but she has a lot of baggage.
6. It's a dark and stormy night...you're alone in the house...there's a knock at the door...you open it, look out, and proceed to scream like a little girl. What's on the doorstep?
A federal Conservative candidate going door-to-door. Terrifying!
_________________________________
So nice of you to share with us, Ruth! For more of Ruth and her writing, check out her blog, Twitter page, and Facebook page.
Ruth Barrett was born in Pointe Claire, Quebec, and now makes her home in Stratford, Ontario. Between then and now, she studied English Literature at Trent University and the University of Leeds, and classical acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). Ruth pursued an acting career in Toronto where her love of the stage saw her perform in everything from Shakespeare to sketch comedy, eventually settling into voice-over work. Transforming herself into a writer has provided a rewarding new way for her to explore character and spin tales. Ruth has published numerous short stories in various anthologies and periodicals, and she formed her own Spirited Words Book Co. in Summer of 2011. In her spare time (HA!), she enjoys theatre, live music, wine, food and friends.
The Same Six Questions
1. Have you published a book yet?
Base Spirits is my first novel. If you like ghost stories with a dash of history and a theatrical twist, this may be your cuppa tea (at Smashwords and on Kindle; also available in paperback in local Stratford, Ontario bookshops: Callan Books and Fanfare.).‘Murder has took this chamber with full hands
And will ne’er out as long as the house stands.’
~A Yorkshire Tragedy, Act I, Sc. v
In 1605, Sir Walter Calverley’s murderous rampage leaves a family shattered. The killer suffers a torturous execution… but is it truly the end? A noble Yorkshire house stands forever tarnished by blood and possessed by anguished spirits.
Some crimes are so horrific, they reverberate through the centuries.
As an unhappy modern couple vacation in the guesthouse at Calverley Old Hall, playwright Clara, and her scholar husband, Scott, unwittingly awaken a dark history. Clara is trapped and forced back in time to bear witness to a family’s bloody saga. Overtaken by the malevolent echoes, Scott is pushed over the edge from possessive husband to wholly possessed…
Inspired by a true-life drama in Shakespeare’s day, this is itself a play within a play: a supernatural thriller with a historical core.
Only one player can survive.
2. When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
When I was very young, I used to play out elaborate scenarios with my dolls and stuffed animals as well as my friends. The story-lines could span several days. My mother read to me a lot from day one, and I started writing my own stories down as soon as I learned how to write. Apparently a teacher in Grade 2 got in touch with my mother asking if the story I'd written for class was actually by her-- she thought it was too good for a young child to have written!
3. What was your first lengthy piece of fiction? What was it about? When did you write it? Do you still have it?
The first long piece I remember writing was when I was 12 or so-- I loved the TV show M*A*S*H*, so I wrote my own ongoing original 'script' for it, but it was in more of a fiction format as I knew nothing about how to compose a real TV script. I hand-wrote it on a stack of oversized yellow paper, and I'm sure it was well over 150 pages. I think I still have it in a box in the back of the closet somewhere.
4. When was your first indication, "I can do this (write)"?
I never thought I couldn't write. Maybe that's the key!
5. If you could meet one of your characters in real life, which would it be?
The Base Spirits gang are in turn terrified, depressed, drunk, possessed, insane, trapped, murdered, tortured and humiliated--it's a bit of a tough choice! All things considered, Emma Thornbury is a pretty cool lady. She's warm, intelligent, generous, sexy, funny and an awesome cook. I think she'd be excellent company. I like the main character of Clara too, but she has a lot of baggage.
6. It's a dark and stormy night...you're alone in the house...there's a knock at the door...you open it, look out, and proceed to scream like a little girl. What's on the doorstep?
A federal Conservative candidate going door-to-door. Terrifying!
_________________________________
So nice of you to share with us, Ruth! For more of Ruth and her writing, check out her blog, Twitter page, and Facebook page.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
The Same Six Questions - Borislava Borissova
Welcome to a special weekend edition of The Same Six Questions! I've got a pretty straightforward process for keeping track of interviewees, but I never said it was flawless. ;) Welcome today, Borislava Borissova!
The Same Six Questions
1. Have you published a book yet?
Affairs of The Heart is my second published book (also in paperback). It comprises two novellas, the contemporary love drama "The Last Secrets of The Ancient Island" and the historical love drama "A Love In Time of War”. In the two love-dramas lives all passion I have for history and adventures, time-traveling and thrillers, mysteries and great love.
In "The Last Secrets of The Ancient Island," a series of mishaps in an old town casts suspicion on a number of residents. Provoking changes in an adopted practice of the underground world to put hands on the worthy relics, a young graduate of a university proves the last mysteries of ancient sights in the nearby National Park are yet unexplored by historians and archaeologists. Facing professional adventure he comes along personal secret of his older brother, along whom appears an unknown driver, who has a tragic motivation to take his and another life. We were born alone, we die alone, but life is our chance to live in love. If we don’t lose the chance, if know why love is the most desired legend in our life.
In "A Love In Time of War” first they faced the war… the love followed later. Peace was somewhere in between. One day he could have killed her on the other side of the front, on the next day he fell in love and what would happen in the day after it? All efforts to remain enemies appeared to be in vain. The borderline between their ability to hate or to love appeared a thin one. Differences abound in cultures, religions, languages, traditions and so on but a young Bulgarian girl and a Turkish officer met many more obstacles to overcome. Kidnapping her or escaping together provoking political scandal between the warring countries? His life had become like a Byron’s passionate poem and he entered in it madly and bravely. The war became past, the past became history and through the years only love is still alive in a very beautiful tale to remember.
2. When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
In my childhood I started with verses. I still love poetry, love interesting stories and legends, adventures that take us through the ages and help us to experience countless earthly and celestial places. I hope I am good telling them to others. But when the last sentence is written; the pages are wrapped with beautiful covers in warm colors… I have a strange feeling. There is a sense of sadness because the journey with these heroes and their story is over.
3. What was your first lengthy piece of fiction (say, >1000 words)? What was it about? When did you write it? Do you still have it?
You could not believe me but it is published already, my first book. I wrote it since my young years and in 2010 The Starlight Prince walked along humans on the planet Earth. Of course, the final version of the story is very different from what I had started long time ago.
4. When was your first indication, "I can do this (write)"?
I have never lived with the thought “I can do this.” In my case it is always the sense “I need to write, I want to write.” Unfortunately there are still moments when I ask myself "to write or not to write"; "to start a new book or never start a new book"... But I believe that when one loves to do something - to climb mountains, to play a game of soccer or to write - he or she just does it because of the pleasure and despite the result. Of course, there is a thought about success in everyone.
5. If you could meet one of your characters in real life, which would it be?
Once I saw a Russian play at a theatre. Its playwright claimed there is a tunnel, a gap in the time and it is there that the writers meet their characters. That evening I thought I would like to meet my characters in real life if it was possible. I would love having them among my friends. I am thankful to my imagination because it had created them. They have been my very friendly company during the long and sometimes boring hours of writing.
6. It's a dark and stormy night...you're alone in the house...there's a knock at the door...you open it, look out, and proceed to scream like a little girl/boy (they kinda scream the same anyway). What's on the doorstep?
I smile, it is very similar to a scene from The Starlight Prince:
Being outside on the threshold The Starlight Prince did not hear the scream going from inside nor saw at that moment that a small bell over the grand door of the castle started moving slightly, its pendulum swaying to and fro while simultaneously, a similar but larger bell over the heavy door of the nearby family burial vault began swaying along with it as if measuring time, too.
The starry boy had an ear only for the ominous voice of the storm, the gale and the wind. He stared into the steadily falling snowflakes to pick out who opened the door but nothing was visible. Harassed by the blizzard, he bravely entered into it as the greatest adventure of his young life to seek a help or to face menace from the habitants. Once inside, his scared shadow snaked over the walls.
He found no one.
Why and how he heard the scream was a mystery. There was no sign of life, except the fact that everything was in perfect order.
In that moment, the bell above the vault turned round its axis and darkness crept out around it. Some intangible steps led out.
___________________________________
Thanks so much for sharing with us, Borislava! For more of Borislava and her work, be sure to check out her Web site, Facebook page, Twitter page, and Goodreads profile.
Thanks for stopping by! See you soon!
The Same Six Questions
1. Have you published a book yet?
Affairs of The Heart is my second published book (also in paperback). It comprises two novellas, the contemporary love drama "The Last Secrets of The Ancient Island" and the historical love drama "A Love In Time of War”. In the two love-dramas lives all passion I have for history and adventures, time-traveling and thrillers, mysteries and great love.In "The Last Secrets of The Ancient Island," a series of mishaps in an old town casts suspicion on a number of residents. Provoking changes in an adopted practice of the underground world to put hands on the worthy relics, a young graduate of a university proves the last mysteries of ancient sights in the nearby National Park are yet unexplored by historians and archaeologists. Facing professional adventure he comes along personal secret of his older brother, along whom appears an unknown driver, who has a tragic motivation to take his and another life. We were born alone, we die alone, but life is our chance to live in love. If we don’t lose the chance, if know why love is the most desired legend in our life.
In "A Love In Time of War” first they faced the war… the love followed later. Peace was somewhere in between. One day he could have killed her on the other side of the front, on the next day he fell in love and what would happen in the day after it? All efforts to remain enemies appeared to be in vain. The borderline between their ability to hate or to love appeared a thin one. Differences abound in cultures, religions, languages, traditions and so on but a young Bulgarian girl and a Turkish officer met many more obstacles to overcome. Kidnapping her or escaping together provoking political scandal between the warring countries? His life had become like a Byron’s passionate poem and he entered in it madly and bravely. The war became past, the past became history and through the years only love is still alive in a very beautiful tale to remember.
2. When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
In my childhood I started with verses. I still love poetry, love interesting stories and legends, adventures that take us through the ages and help us to experience countless earthly and celestial places. I hope I am good telling them to others. But when the last sentence is written; the pages are wrapped with beautiful covers in warm colors… I have a strange feeling. There is a sense of sadness because the journey with these heroes and their story is over.
3. What was your first lengthy piece of fiction (say, >1000 words)? What was it about? When did you write it? Do you still have it?
You could not believe me but it is published already, my first book. I wrote it since my young years and in 2010 The Starlight Prince walked along humans on the planet Earth. Of course, the final version of the story is very different from what I had started long time ago.
4. When was your first indication, "I can do this (write)"?
I have never lived with the thought “I can do this.” In my case it is always the sense “I need to write, I want to write.” Unfortunately there are still moments when I ask myself "to write or not to write"; "to start a new book or never start a new book"... But I believe that when one loves to do something - to climb mountains, to play a game of soccer or to write - he or she just does it because of the pleasure and despite the result. Of course, there is a thought about success in everyone.
5. If you could meet one of your characters in real life, which would it be?
Once I saw a Russian play at a theatre. Its playwright claimed there is a tunnel, a gap in the time and it is there that the writers meet their characters. That evening I thought I would like to meet my characters in real life if it was possible. I would love having them among my friends. I am thankful to my imagination because it had created them. They have been my very friendly company during the long and sometimes boring hours of writing.
6. It's a dark and stormy night...you're alone in the house...there's a knock at the door...you open it, look out, and proceed to scream like a little girl/boy (they kinda scream the same anyway). What's on the doorstep?
I smile, it is very similar to a scene from The Starlight Prince:
Being outside on the threshold The Starlight Prince did not hear the scream going from inside nor saw at that moment that a small bell over the grand door of the castle started moving slightly, its pendulum swaying to and fro while simultaneously, a similar but larger bell over the heavy door of the nearby family burial vault began swaying along with it as if measuring time, too.
The starry boy had an ear only for the ominous voice of the storm, the gale and the wind. He stared into the steadily falling snowflakes to pick out who opened the door but nothing was visible. Harassed by the blizzard, he bravely entered into it as the greatest adventure of his young life to seek a help or to face menace from the habitants. Once inside, his scared shadow snaked over the walls.
He found no one.
Why and how he heard the scream was a mystery. There was no sign of life, except the fact that everything was in perfect order.
In that moment, the bell above the vault turned round its axis and darkness crept out around it. Some intangible steps led out.
___________________________________
Thanks so much for sharing with us, Borislava! For more of Borislava and her work, be sure to check out her Web site, Facebook page, Twitter page, and Goodreads profile.
Thanks for stopping by! See you soon!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
The Same Six Questions - Caddy Rowland
Happy New Year! Welcome to 2012 and all that it has to offer! Today's guest on The Same Six Questions is Caddy Rowland. Welcome!
Thanks, Andy! I am a writer from Minnesota who is married to her high school sweetheart. I would love to live somewhere much warmer, but my husband is Minnesotan through and through. I kinda like him, so here we are. We are owned by two parrots, who do talk.
For fun, I love to read, write, paint, hike, walk, enjoy nature (but NOT camping), play Texas Hold 'Em, movies, and just kick back with friends.
When I lost my job in February of 2011 it gave me the opportunity to try to make a go at truly becoming an "indie". I have to tell you, the book formatting was a challenge for me. I don't think with that side of my brain at all.
I have always been a nonconformist and into art. Many times I feel that I have landed on the wrong planet, but I do have a lot of great friends who put up with me, even though I can be quite bizarre. Even a few family members put up with me!
The Same Six Questions
1. Have you published a book yet?
Yes, I published my first novel on August 1, 2011. Gastien Part 1; The Cost of the Dream (Kindle, Nook, and paperback) is a drama/romance that takes place in France during the late nineteenth century. It will be a series of at least four novels. This series is not a “typical” romance and is enjoyed by men as well as women.
Gastien Part 1: The Cost of the Dream is about Gastien's coming of age, his horrible struggles to become an artist after leaving an abusive home, and learning to become the greatest lover in France. That was not hard to do. For the most part, men did not care if women enjoyed sex during that time period. Gastien wanted to make sure they did.
I released the second book in the series, Gastien Part 2: From Dream to Destiny on December 13th 2011 (Kindle, Nook, and paperback).
Gastien Part 2: From Dream to Destiny takes off where Part 1 left off. It has the “big” romance in it. However, be forewarned that Gastien was a true nonconformist. He stayed true to that and this romance reflects that. It is not at all a typical romance, but Gastien finds himself loved in spite of his terms.
Part 3 of the Gastien series will come out in the spring of 2012.
2. When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I had always wanted to write fiction, ever since I was in grade school. I had a stack of books that reached almost to the ceiling before I started kindergarten! Books have always been my best friends.
Through the years, I started and quit several stories. Life just seemed too busy! Then, I got breast cancer about 1 1/2 years ago. I am now fine, they caught it very early...but it really brought home the fact that if something is important to you then don't wait until "later" to do it.
So, in November of 2010 I promised I would write for at least an hour a day, five days a week, no matter what. That opened the whole world of writing for me, one that I always wanted to be a part of, but had never been disciplined enough to join.
3. What was your first lengthy piece of fiction? What was it about? When did you write it? Do you still have it?
It was a book for children, titled One Little Snowflake. I am a painter, so I also did all of the illustrations for it. Although it is not a lengthy book, the time put into it was lengthy because of all of the paintings.
It is about the circle of life, and it is meant for children with terminal illness, although adults with terminal illness would benefit from it, too. Spring is coming, and the little snowflake is melting. He is scared and does not understand why winter has to end. An icicle helps him understand how we pass on the gift of life over and over through dying.
I wrote it about twelve years ago. I just gave up on it, and I don't know why! I am waiting to hear from a publishing company about it right now. Someday, I may self publish it, if it does not get picked up somewhere else.
Right now, though, I have all of the Gastien Series in my head, and a couple other adult fiction novels that I started and stopped, waiting to be finished.
4. When was your first indication, "I can do this (write)"?
In junior high, I wrote a lot of poetry. I always felt I could write, but...you know...fear...self doubt...
I did some past life regressions in August 2010 and that opened up creative doors for me. I was filled with an urgent need to tell this story. When I sat down in November of 2010 and the words just came faster than my hands could type, I knew I was supposed to write.
5. If you could meet one of your characters in real life, which would it be?
Gastien. I would love his talent for painting! I can paint, but that man COULD PAINT! He was one in a million, one of those who could see things in a way others had never thought of yet.
Life was cruel to him in many ways. I would love to let him know how valuable, how wonderful he was. Not just for his looks and painting. He was worthwhile just as a human being. Not many communicated that to him.
Still, he was very good looking. He would be lovely to look at daily. My husband would possibly feel different about having young Gastien around, though.
6. It's a dark and stormy night...you're alone in the house...there's a knock at the door...you open it, look out, and proceed to scream like a little girl. What's on the doorstep?
Dead parrots. Since we have two parrots, I used to have a fear that someone would break in and do something violent to them. About that time, I quit reading horror novels, at least for the most part.
__________________________________
Yikes! Thanks for sharing with us today, Caddy! You can keep up with Caddy on Facebook, Twitter, and her blog.
Remember, new indie authors every Monday and Thursday! See you next week!
Thanks, Andy! I am a writer from Minnesota who is married to her high school sweetheart. I would love to live somewhere much warmer, but my husband is Minnesotan through and through. I kinda like him, so here we are. We are owned by two parrots, who do talk.
For fun, I love to read, write, paint, hike, walk, enjoy nature (but NOT camping), play Texas Hold 'Em, movies, and just kick back with friends.
When I lost my job in February of 2011 it gave me the opportunity to try to make a go at truly becoming an "indie". I have to tell you, the book formatting was a challenge for me. I don't think with that side of my brain at all.
I have always been a nonconformist and into art. Many times I feel that I have landed on the wrong planet, but I do have a lot of great friends who put up with me, even though I can be quite bizarre. Even a few family members put up with me!
The Same Six Questions
1. Have you published a book yet?
Yes, I published my first novel on August 1, 2011. Gastien Part 1; The Cost of the Dream (Kindle, Nook, and paperback) is a drama/romance that takes place in France during the late nineteenth century. It will be a series of at least four novels. This series is not a “typical” romance and is enjoyed by men as well as women.
Gastien Part 1: The Cost of the Dream is about Gastien's coming of age, his horrible struggles to become an artist after leaving an abusive home, and learning to become the greatest lover in France. That was not hard to do. For the most part, men did not care if women enjoyed sex during that time period. Gastien wanted to make sure they did.
I released the second book in the series, Gastien Part 2: From Dream to Destiny on December 13th 2011 (Kindle, Nook, and paperback). Gastien Part 2: From Dream to Destiny takes off where Part 1 left off. It has the “big” romance in it. However, be forewarned that Gastien was a true nonconformist. He stayed true to that and this romance reflects that. It is not at all a typical romance, but Gastien finds himself loved in spite of his terms.
Part 3 of the Gastien series will come out in the spring of 2012.
2. When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I had always wanted to write fiction, ever since I was in grade school. I had a stack of books that reached almost to the ceiling before I started kindergarten! Books have always been my best friends.
Through the years, I started and quit several stories. Life just seemed too busy! Then, I got breast cancer about 1 1/2 years ago. I am now fine, they caught it very early...but it really brought home the fact that if something is important to you then don't wait until "later" to do it.
So, in November of 2010 I promised I would write for at least an hour a day, five days a week, no matter what. That opened the whole world of writing for me, one that I always wanted to be a part of, but had never been disciplined enough to join.
3. What was your first lengthy piece of fiction? What was it about? When did you write it? Do you still have it?
It was a book for children, titled One Little Snowflake. I am a painter, so I also did all of the illustrations for it. Although it is not a lengthy book, the time put into it was lengthy because of all of the paintings.
It is about the circle of life, and it is meant for children with terminal illness, although adults with terminal illness would benefit from it, too. Spring is coming, and the little snowflake is melting. He is scared and does not understand why winter has to end. An icicle helps him understand how we pass on the gift of life over and over through dying.
I wrote it about twelve years ago. I just gave up on it, and I don't know why! I am waiting to hear from a publishing company about it right now. Someday, I may self publish it, if it does not get picked up somewhere else.
Right now, though, I have all of the Gastien Series in my head, and a couple other adult fiction novels that I started and stopped, waiting to be finished.
4. When was your first indication, "I can do this (write)"?
In junior high, I wrote a lot of poetry. I always felt I could write, but...you know...fear...self doubt...
I did some past life regressions in August 2010 and that opened up creative doors for me. I was filled with an urgent need to tell this story. When I sat down in November of 2010 and the words just came faster than my hands could type, I knew I was supposed to write.
5. If you could meet one of your characters in real life, which would it be?
Gastien. I would love his talent for painting! I can paint, but that man COULD PAINT! He was one in a million, one of those who could see things in a way others had never thought of yet.
Life was cruel to him in many ways. I would love to let him know how valuable, how wonderful he was. Not just for his looks and painting. He was worthwhile just as a human being. Not many communicated that to him.
Still, he was very good looking. He would be lovely to look at daily. My husband would possibly feel different about having young Gastien around, though.
6. It's a dark and stormy night...you're alone in the house...there's a knock at the door...you open it, look out, and proceed to scream like a little girl. What's on the doorstep?
Dead parrots. Since we have two parrots, I used to have a fear that someone would break in and do something violent to them. About that time, I quit reading horror novels, at least for the most part.
__________________________________
Yikes! Thanks for sharing with us today, Caddy! You can keep up with Caddy on Facebook, Twitter, and her blog.
Remember, new indie authors every Monday and Thursday! See you next week!
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