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Spotlight Interview with Author Nolah Reed
tag:www.authors.com,2013-06-23:3798404:BlogPost:170609
2013-06-23T19:21:51.000Z
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<p><b>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series, Nolah! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you. <br></br></b></p>
<p>Hi, I'm Nolah Reed, a newcomer to Authors.com. I'd like to introduce myself and my novel, "A Foregone Confusion".</p>
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<p><b>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took you.</b> </p>
<p>Well, like most of you, I started writing when I was…</p>
<p><b>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series, Nolah! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you. <br/></b></p>
<p>Hi, I'm Nolah Reed, a newcomer to Authors.com. I'd like to introduce myself and my novel, "A Foregone Confusion".</p>
<p></p>
<p><b>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took you.</b> </p>
<p>Well, like most of you, I started writing when I was around five, in kindergarten, because the teachers stuck a pencil the size of a horse's leg in my chubby little fist and made me do it. I started writing for the pleasure of story telling when I was closer to forty.</p>
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<p><b>Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book?</b></p>
<p>"A Foregone Confusion" started out as a "fluff" piece, a diversionary exercise, since, until then, I'd concentrated on writing very serious, intense, paranormal/medical fiction, only to realize I was never going to be as spooky as Stephen King or as deliberate and precise as Robin Cook.</p>
<p>After the comparative pressure was off, I let myself create my own little world and soon fell head long in love with my "play piece" and the ridiculous, irreverent characters that made it real.</p>
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<p><b>Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any? <br/></b></p>
<p>All authors cannot help somehow integrating their lives and experiences into the situations and characters they create. I've been most fortunate to have lived a life along side some very memorable individuals. They have been my inspiration as have my many and varied occupations. </p>
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<p><b>Q5. How did you get published?</b></p>
<p>I gave up, for awhile, after many years of going the traditional route, writing polite, well constructed query letters that were invariably returned saying "Interesting, but not for me".</p>
<p>It was only after the electronic E-Book phenomenon began that I decided to self publish "Confusion" via BookBaby, in March of this year.</p>
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<p><b>Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process? <br/></b></p>
<p>The writing has never been a problem for me. Getting it out there was.</p>
<p>A neophyte to file conversion/preparation, after months of painstaking editing to what I considered an immaculate manuscript," Foregone" was submitted, all conditions met, but the final set-up was sent off unseen.</p>
<p>I was horrified to see the finished product. Spelling mistakes? Missing punctuation and letters? Strange symbols where none existed before? I was sick over it, but still hope the content will outweigh the flaws.</p>
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<p><b>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project?</b></p>
<p>That this thing called writing life does not have an end point. It's with you always.</p>
<p>I need to know a whole lot more about computer generated files, which is about as pleasant a concept to me as having a pointed stick planted firmly in my eyeball.</p>
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<p><b>Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it? <br/></b></p>
<p>I laughed so hard, it hurt. I cried. I didn't want it to end. Something like that.</p>
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<p><b>Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them.</b></p>
<p>I was a bartender in St. Thomas USVI for 4 years. I intend on starting a Food Truck business in my hometown in North Carolina. Cooking and writing. Great combination.</p>
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<p><b>Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?</b></p>
<p>Never give up. Go with your gut.</p>
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<p><b>Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please.<br/></b></p>
<p>It so depends on where I am at the moment and what job is paying the bills. Not a morning person, never have been, so coffee is first and no interaction of serious consequence until at least 10 am. I like to have a late morning and late night writing session, since the perspectives are so different, given the time of day.</p>
<p>When I'm home in NC, three unruly dogs, two grown, but not quite gone kids and a creatively crazy husband keep me fairly busy. When I'm on the road, emergency cardiac medicine takes up all of my time.</p>
<p>Looking forward to the day I can pursue this writing passion full time and hang up the stethoscope for good.</p>
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<p><b>Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?</b></p>
<p>Since I travel so much, the scenery, or the setting I write in, is always different. The only constants are the keyboard in front of me, the early morning coffee or the late night cocktail at my elbow.</p>
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<p><b>Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?</b></p>
<p>It used to be, "Go big, or stay home". These days I'm more likely to stay home and go small.</p>
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<p><b>Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, current project, book launching, etc. <br/></b></p>
<p>My website is NolahReed.com, currently under construction by my exceptionally brilliant son, Ross. It's a work in progress like everything else.</p>
<p>I can be contacted at NolahReed {at} gmail.com and welcome hearing impressions, comments, kudos and criticisms.</p>
<p>Presently working on two projects, to be launched in the late summer or early fall: "Becoming the Cat" and "Judgement Daze", both paranormal/medical suspense fiction.</p>
<p>Many thanks to Authors.com for allowing me the opportunity to be part of this growing community of writers.</p>
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<p>Authors.com profile:<a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/NolahReed">http://www.authors.com/profile/NolahReed</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Thanks for your time Nolah! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can. We'd ask fellow members to support you by doing the same.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Members, want to be interviewed too? It's free! Instructions are here:</strong></p>
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<p></p>
Spotlight Interview with Author Tracy Kaufmann
tag:www.authors.com,2012-09-16:3798404:BlogPost:154282
2012-09-16T14:24:42.000Z
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<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Tracy! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong> </p>
<p>A: Hello, I'm Tracy Kauffman a new author and I have written <em>Southern Adventures</em>-a coming of age fiction book. It is about a woman evaluating her life. She recalled things that she loved about her life, the trials she overcame, and the experiences that she appreciated God for giving her. </p>
<p> …</p>
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Tracy! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong> </p>
<p>A: Hello, I'm Tracy Kauffman a new author and I have written <em>Southern Adventures</em>-a coming of age fiction book. It is about a woman evaluating her life. She recalled things that she loved about her life, the trials she overcame, and the experiences that she appreciated God for giving her. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took.</strong></p>
<p>A: I started writing poems when I was in high school and then short stories. My first book, <em>Southern Adventures</em> took about six months to write. I started to write it when my son left home for the military. It helped me forget about his leaving and gave me a way to expess how I felt.</p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561440236?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="177" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561440236?profile=RESIZE_180x180" width="177" class="align-center"/></a></p>
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<p><strong>Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book?</strong></p>
<p>A. It is a fiction book about my life growing up in Alabama. The book came easy to me and I enjoyed writing about the funny things that happened when I was a small child. </p>
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<p><strong>Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if an</strong>y? A. Most of the story is my life. Not only am I a writer, but I am a registered nurse and I believe I have incorporated that into my writing as well. </p>
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<p><strong>Q5. How did you get published? </strong></p>
<p>A. I started querying publishers, agents and Tate Publishing is the one that approached me first. They said they liked my style of writing and I really like that they are a Christian based publisher. </p>
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<p><strong>Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?</strong> </p>
<p>A. The biggest surprise when it comes to publishing is the amount of time and work that goes into the finished product. It doesn't take days, but months to professionally edit, proofread, design and layout the final touches of a polished book. </p>
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<p><strong>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project?</strong></p>
<p>A. I would have started this project anyway, but I wished I knew more about the Publishing Business in general.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it?</strong></p>
<p>A. I wish to hear that they thought it was interesting, funny, inspiring, and encouraging. </p>
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<p><strong>Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them.</strong></p>
<p>A. I am a registered nurse and work at a local nursing home part time. I enjoy Nursing, but it is a very stressful job, but it has its rewards. </p>
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<p><strong>Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?</strong> </p>
<p>A. My advice to new authors is make sure you have time to market yourself. It is never too late to start promoting your book or yourself. </p>
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<p><strong>Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please.</strong></p>
<p>A. My life is crazy, but rewarding. Each day is different. The days I go to work, I get up and check my emails, do an audit of my marketing ads and then get dressed for work. I usually work two or three days a week at the nursing home, which I assess patients, give out medications, and handle any situations that need to be handled. On days that I don't work at the nursing home, I spend an enormous amount of time marketing, planning, writing, reading, and coming up with new ways of promoting myself through social media, articles, ads, and so forth. I would say I spend at least eight hours a day on the computer on my off days from the nursing home. I really do not take a day off, except on Sundays I go to church. Even then, I check my emails and media sites for anything new. </p>
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<p><strong>Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you? </strong></p>
<p>A. Since he is away in the military, I have made my son's room into my office. I have a small desk with my computer, router, printer, my phone, paper and pens. </p>
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<p><strong>Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?</strong></p>
<p>A. Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven.</p>
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<p><strong>Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently?</strong></p>
<p>A. <em>Southern Adventures</em> will be released shortly. I have a children's book that is currently available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and my website. My website is <a href="http://tracykauffman.yolasite.com/">http://tracykauffman.yolasite.com</a>. My blog is<a href="http://tracykauffman.blogspot.com/">http://tracykauffman.blogspot.com</a>. My twitter handle is @Kauffmantracy. My fanpage is: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/TracyKauffmanFictionAuthor">http://www.facebook.com/TracyKauffmanFictionAuthor</a></p>
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<p>Authors.com profile: <a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/TracyKauffman">http://www.authors.com/profile/TracyKauffman</a></p>
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Spotlight Interview with Author David Berger
tag:www.authors.com,2012-09-14:3798404:BlogPost:154275
2012-09-14T23:00:00.000Z
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<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series David! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p><br></br> A: I’m David Berger, originally from Long Island, but now a high school English teacher in Land O’ Lakes, FL, and author of the Greek myth/fantasy novel, <i>Task Force: Gaea—Finding Balance</i> which is a compelling chronicle of how the folly of the gods reshapes history, and only mortals—thousands of…</p>
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series David! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p><br/> A: I’m David Berger, originally from Long Island, but now a high school English teacher in Land O’ Lakes, FL, and author of the Greek myth/fantasy novel, <i>Task Force: Gaea—Finding Balance</i> which is a compelling chronicle of how the folly of the gods reshapes history, and only mortals—thousands of years later—can hope to fix that which an angry goddess destroyed. It’s currently available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.</p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561439278?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561439278?profile=original" width="200" class="align-center"/></a></p>
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<p><strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took. </strong><br/> A: I was one of those geeks in high school who couldn’t get enough of English, and my teachers were outstanding; one of whom, Mr. McGrath, provided me with my initial spark: “On a blue Aegean night, when all the gods and nymphs have said adieu, your muse will find new life.” I wanted to tell stories, even though my skill wasn’t as developed, but the desire was got me started. In 1985, I wrote my original story that sparked my novel, and even though it took as long as it did to publish, it was worth the wait.</p>
<p>Teaching is my passion, but writing is one of my loves. Around ten, I fell in love with comic books, back when I rode my bike to the stationery store and bought off the spinning racks. At the same time, I was inhaling Greek mythology. School started me on this addiction, but then I was enrapt. The most amazing thing happened: I found Wonder Woman. It was synchronicity—comic books, mythology, and Saturday morning cartoons like the Superfriends. Wonder Woman was a superhero born of the gods, and I then knew I wanted to write fantasy stories about heroes like her, or Hercules, Perseus, Theseus, etc. In high school English, we had to write short stories, and I penned “The Olympus Corps.,” the predecessor to <i>Task Force: Gaea</i> by almost 27 years.</p>
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<p><strong>Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book? </strong><br/> A. Working with, and reinventing, mythology made me giddy. Something about creating a world familiar yet not intrigued me and challenged me. I find that I am at my best when I feel pressured, whether it be time or content. One of the gods I’ve grown to love, Apollo, has become a part of me in a way. His development over the years has made me feel like a father rearing his child, an unruly child at times, too. Sometimes my ideas of where I thought he should go didn’t mesh with where the story ended up, so I had to abandon early ideas only to replace them with better ones. That’s my enjoyment, too—playing with words.</p>
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<p><strong>Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any? </strong><br/> A. Aside from one character being a teacher, nothing else really comes from my life. I didn’t want to make the characters versions of me, although I think at some level they are. I didn’t make a conscious effort to stray from personal or professional connections, either; I think that just happened. My life, such as it is, wasn’t something I found as meaningful as inspiration as other sources, like mythology, science fiction, and fantasy.</p>
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<p><strong>Q5. How did you get published?</strong></p>
<p>A. I deliberated on this for a while, but after speaking with a friend of mine who had self-published through an on-demand publisher, I chose that route as well. CreateSpace was easy to work with, gave me incredible control over my output, and didn’t expect me to pay for anything. I chose to purchase a universal ISBN and extended distribution options, but that didn’t cost that much. For as much as I would love to be published by a publishing house, I didn’t think I had the patience to wait for that to happen.</p>
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<p><strong>Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?</strong><br/> A. Not really. Although, it did take me about 25 years to get from idea to published work, so you could call that a hiccup. But, the writing did what it’s supposed to do: evolve over time, allowing me to discover my voice. If there were any surprises, they were more related to how much I enjoyed writing more and more. I had always found pleasure in creating people and worlds, but the writing of this novel showed me what perseverance and zeal can do. Publishing was quite easy, no surprises or hiccups there.</p>
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<p><strong>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project? </strong></p>
<p>A. I wish I’d known how long it would take to create the finished product. I never started out writing a novel, so that made the project that much more arduous. It grew into something very different from the original piece, too, and I hadn’t anticipated how much it would.</p>
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<p><strong>Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it?</strong><br/> A. I would to hear how much they enjoyed the different take on the Greek mythology, how much they liked the modern take on the myths with the major heroes, Aegis, Aether, Aetos, and Zodiak. I know that most stories contain many similar ideas, but I would like to think I’d hear about how original certain aspects of the novel are compared to others.</p>
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<p><strong>Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them.</strong> <br/> A. I mentioned earlier that I am a Wonder Woman fan, but I have two glass cases in my house that house most of an ongoing collection of Wonder Woman paraphernalia and figures. A few posters adorn the walls as well. I’ve been collecting since I was young, almost 35 years now. Most of my friends on Facebook know of my interest, but I don’t know how many have seen the “Shrine” as I call it. Her character has been a tremendous muse to me over the years, especially because of her affiliation with Greek myths.</p>
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<p><strong>Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?</strong><br/> A. Never let anyone discourage you from pursuing your dream to write. If it’s your dream or love, then just do it, no matter what. Form, style, technique come in time, but your ideas should be expressed so that you can mold them into something you’ll be proud of.</p>
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<p><strong>Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please. </strong><br/> A. Since I teach ten months of the year, my typical day includes getting up at 5:30 a.m. (or whenever my cat decides she needs to be fed), at work by 6:30. I finalize what I need for the day until my students arrive at 7:30. Basically, until 2:00 p.m., I’m teaching, but after that, I have some coffee with colleagues, talk about the day, vent a little, and then work until 5:00 or so before I head home. I have dinner with my partner and then into one of my many writing projects (blogs, sequel, short fiction). I spend a little time on Facebook and Twitter before I head to bed around 11:30 p.m. The next day? Lather, rinse, repeat.</p>
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<p><strong>Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?</strong><br/> A. In my home office, my desk juts out from a bookshelf into the middle of the room. With a window behind me, I sit facing a framed poster of my novel’s cover on the wall. To my left is a massive Ikea shelf with hundreds of books, and to my right and behind is the Wonder Woman Shrine. Usually when I write, I’m burning a candle, partly for scent, partly for that mythical lamp of knowledge idea. Corny, but helpful. Oh, and if I’m lucky, there will be a cat in my lap.</p>
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<p><strong>Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?</strong></p>
<p>A. Mediocrity is for the timid; excellence, for those who dare.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently? </strong></p>
<p><br/> A. Well, I have a blog where I post content related to writing in general, ideas that pop into my head, and novel related posts: <a href="http://www.taskforce-gaea.com/">http://www.taskforce-gaea.com</a>. On Facebook, I have a page for similar content:<a href="http://www.facebook.com/taskforcegaea">http://www.facebook.com/taskforcegaea</a>. I’m working on the sequel to <em>Task Force: Gaea—Finding Balance</em> right now: <em>Task Force: Gaea—Memory’s Curse</em> with an anticipated finish date of December 2012.</p>
<p>Also, I am working on a compilation of LGBT short fiction with a few other writers, release date should be late fall. From October 6 – 8, I will be a guest at Books in the Basin Book Festival in Odessa, TX; October 19 – 21, I will be at Necronomicon in St. Pete, FL with an author’s table; November 30 – December 2, I will be at Bent-Con, an LGBT comic convention in California.</p>
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<p>Authors.com profile: <a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/DavidBerger">http://www.authors.com/profile/DavidBerger</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Thanks for your time David! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, Digging it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can. We'd ask fellow members to support you by doing the same.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Members, want to be interviewed too? It's free! Instructions are here: <a href="http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new">http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new</a></strong></p>
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Spotlight Interview with Author Don Franklin
tag:www.authors.com,2012-09-14:3798404:BlogPost:154031
2012-09-14T15:30:00.000Z
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<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>A: Hi! My name is Don Franklin and my book is <em>The Reaper's Walk: Hellstone.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took.</strong></p>
<p>A:Well, people told me for years that I was a good storyteller and I…</p>
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>A: Hi! My name is Don Franklin and my book is <em>The Reaper's Walk: Hellstone.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took.</strong></p>
<p>A:Well, people told me for years that I was a good storyteller and I should write a book.</p>
<p>Then one day in 2006, i was sitting on the porch of my sister's house, looking out at an unused grassy area. It was very well kept, but the apartment complex owners did not allow residents to use it. I thought it was a great waste. I also thought that what if there was a space in a metro city that was cursed and unusable. Right there, the seed for Reaper was planted. The process took 6 years from idea to publishing acceptance.</p>
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<p><strong>Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book?</strong></p>
<p>A. Using my imagination to come up with a story that i think would scare me.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any?</strong></p>
<p>A. Most of my characters are styled or at least named after people I know. Some of the settings were actual places that I've lived or at least visited. I changed the names of course.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q5. How did you get published?</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>A.I think I just got lucky! I submitted to thee places. The first two said no thanks. The Third asked for a partial. Then for a complete manuscript. I was told that the decision was not a no, but it was UNacceptable in its present form. I was to do a restructure then re-submit. I did and it was accepted.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?</strong></p>
<p>A.Lots of them! Writer's block, working a real job to pay the bills and support my family came first. Just everyday problems and situations that everyone faces. So I turned to my writing as an outlet for frustration and a means of relaxing. That worked and eventually it got finished.</p>
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<p><strong>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project?</strong></p>
<p>A.I wish i was better at the mechanics of writing and grammer. I still struggle with things like passive voice. Lucky for me my publisher is also a writer and he saw potential in my story. He was able to look past the fact that I was/am a beginner and focus on the storyline. He said that the mechanics can be fixed and/or taught, but if there is no substance to the story, then the writer with the best technique in the world, still will not succeed.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it?</strong></p>
<p>A. I hope that they are scared! It is after all a horror novel. Also I want them to complain about having to put down the book because something else calls.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them.</strong></p>
<p>A.Ummmm, I like romance novels! Nora Roberts is my favorite.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?</strong></p>
<p>A. write something that you would want to read. Imagine that you are skimming the book in a store. If it is something you would enjoy, then your potential readers would probably like it too.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please.</strong></p>
<p>A.Well if it is summer, then I'm up between 7 and 10 am depending on what time I get the kids to sleep the night before. I go to the computer to try to get something done before they get up.</p>
<p>I answer e mails, tweets and try to structure my upcoming day. Then the children get up and its a mixture of feeding, kissing ouchies, retrieving stolen toys (one from the other), helping to go potty, ect. Being a parent is exhausting at times but it is worth the effort. Then its time to go to the park, shopping, paying bills, running errands and that kind of thing.</p>
<p>Evening is dinner, spending time with kids doing whatever they want to do. Usually its watching cartoons or reading a story. Then i try to wind them down for bed. Bath time,brushing teeth,and they fall asleep on my lap. After that , most evenings I find time to work on my writing for an hour or two. Then to bed, sleep, wake up and repeat.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?</strong></p>
<p>A.I have a small room in my home that we call the office. It is really not much bigger than a mid size walk in closet. But it has a window so it is usuable. My computer is set up there and it seems that even though it is the smallest space in the home, it also seems to be the place that the family congregates! If You were sitting beside me, you would see me struggling to keep my 3 year old daughter from climbing up onto the desk. You would see my 4 year old son running in the room every 10 minutes of so wanting a hug. It's a bit cluttered at times, but it's comfortable.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>A. Clint Eastwood says "a man has got to know his limitations". I agree whole heatedly.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently?</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>A: Yes thanks, my website is <a href="http://donfranklin.wordpress.com/">http://donfranklin.wordpress.com/</a></p>
<p><span>We have the official release date for The Reaper’s Walk: Hellstone as Halloween 2012! </span>Potential readers can read an UN-edited excerpt and view the book trailer on the page. Currently, I am working on book 2 in the Reaper series, titled The Bloodstone and will be posting info on that on my page as well.</p>
<p>Thanks for the interview, and much success to all. </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> Authors.com profile: <a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/donfranklin">http://www.authors.com/profile/donfranklin</a></p>
Spotlight Interview with Author David Broughton
tag:www.authors.com,2012-09-14:3798404:BlogPost:154102
2012-09-14T00:00:00.000Z
SpotlightInterviews
http://www.authors.com/profile/SpotlightInterviews
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series David! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>My name is David Broughton and I’ve just finished a MULTI-ENDING novel called <em>House of the Hidden Blade</em>.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took.</strong></p>
<p>I kind of fell into the writing game, I always…</p>
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series David! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>My name is David Broughton and I’ve just finished a MULTI-ENDING novel called <em>House of the Hidden Blade</em>.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took.</strong></p>
<p>I kind of fell into the writing game, I always aspired to be one when I was at school, partly in thanks to my English teacher Mr. Etty, but the biggest influence was wife Laura who after one late night discussing why St. George was the patron saint of England, encouraged me to write a novel about him, little did I know what Pandora’s box I was opening.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book?</strong></p>
<p>That’s a tough one……so many favorite moments about writing this one, if I had one it would have to be discovering a yet unnamed secret Da Vinci apprentice, but coming close second was actually writing the character Jacob Hamilton, I had such fun with him, and I think it shows in the book.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a width="184" height="184" href="http://api.ning.com/files/oIBuuGBVqJyZrybsfM9SglQE5pqebnVgdZyXvXpncQ4m*dtxvGO2q*NUcAk5rFpxFnYIj05QQOmiR-4RFR0C-MSruHogOpeu/559898028.jpeg?xgip=0%3A0%3A569%3A569%3B%3B&width=184&height=184&crop=1%3A1" target="_self"><img width="184" height="184" src="http://api.ning.com/files/oIBuuGBVqJyZrybsfM9SglQE5pqebnVgdZyXvXpncQ4m*dtxvGO2q*NUcAk5rFpxFnYIj05QQOmiR-4RFR0C-MSruHogOpeu/559898028.jpeg?xgip=0%3A0%3A569%3A569%3B%3B&width=184&height=184&crop=1%3A1" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any? </strong></p>
<p>Ha! Too many to print, some of them shouldn’t be printed…… The biggest one was placing the assassin’s safe haven in Port Menteith, Scotland. My wife has heritage there, so that was a homage to her.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q5. How did you get published?</strong></p>
<p>My wife, God bless her, pushed me until it was finished, then encouraged me to try the agent thing but I guess the novel I write is not exactly mainstream enough, so then went into the self-publishing thing. Looking back I think we priced ourselves out of the market, but you live and learn.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?</strong></p>
<p>Each new day brings surprises-it’s how I write, if I don’t know how the plot is going to evolve how does the reader???</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project?</strong></p>
<p>Hindsight is always 20/20, so I’d have to say my one wish before I started this project would be that people would just read it before commenting on it.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it?</strong></p>
<p>OMG…….That’s a toughie….I’d have to say I hope they say ‘NO FREAKING WAY’.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them.</strong></p>
<p>Well I’m a die rock fan, so the biggest surprise would be I love old forties tunes…</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?</strong></p>
<p>Easy….write from the heart.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please.</strong></p>
<p>I’m not sure that’s wise !!!! Well I’ve just emigrated to America, so it’s kind of getting used to the way of life, especially television, some of it good, some of it not so good. The usual routine involves letting the dogs out, kissing the wife as she goes out the door, then down to researching the next book. I’ve spent a total of 5-6 years total research time on three books, which are intrinsically woven together.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q12:Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?</strong></p>
<p>I’m usually sat at home in front of the computer, listening to some tunes blaring out from the radio, drinking English tea.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?</strong></p>
<p>My favorite quote (my own) is all about how people should look closely at the world around them. <em>“Open your eyes and your mind, and you will see what I see”</em></p>
<p><em> </em></p>
<p><strong>Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently?</strong></p>
<p>I’m currently working on the sequel to the MULTI-ENDING <em>House Of The Hidden Blade</em> called ‘Chariot of Justice’ and is definitely the most explosive novel I’ve ever seen, let alone written. Yeah I know that sounds a bit cocky, but it’s the truth and it will cast light on those who hide in the shadows.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/DavidABroughton">http://www.authors.com/profile/DavidABroughton</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Thanks for your time David! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, Digging it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can. We'd ask fellow members to support you by doing the same.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Members, want to be interviewed too? It's free! Instructions are here: <a href="http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new">http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new</a></strong></p>
<p></p>
Spotlight Interview with Author Tom Berry
tag:www.authors.com,2012-09-13:3798404:BlogPost:154179
2012-09-13T21:00:00.000Z
SpotlightInterviews
http://www.authors.com/profile/SpotlightInterviews
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Tom! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>A: Hi! Thanks for having me! My name is Tom Berry and I write authentic historical fiction novels. I am married with five children ages 8 to 18. I write books I would enjoy reading - those that educate as well as entertain, while keeping chapters short and fast-paced. </p>
<p>My latest book <em>Texas…</em></p>
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Tom! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>A: Hi! Thanks for having me! My name is Tom Berry and I write authentic historical fiction novels. I am married with five children ages 8 to 18. I write books I would enjoy reading - those that educate as well as entertain, while keeping chapters short and fast-paced. </p>
<p>My latest book <em>Texas Freedom: Last Stand at the Alamo</em> is my second published novel and explores the Texas Revolution, cutting through the haze of myths and legends surrounding the famous Battle of the Alamo in 1836. </p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561438827?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561438827?profile=original" width="200" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took.</strong></p>
<p>A: I've been writing seriously for about ten years, though I have dabbled it in as long ago as high school and college. It all came from my love of reading! I wanted to write about an event in our country's history that many people recognize but don't know much about. The fact that all the Texas fighters were killed during the battle draws on the ultimate fight-to-the-death conflict. It also begs the question for the reader - would you have the courage and fortitude to do what they did? The project took two years to complete.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book?</strong></p>
<p>A. I spent six months of careful research preparing for this book before I ever put pen to paper. I then traveled to San Antonio, Texas in March 2011 during the 175th anniversary of the famous battle to interview historians and experts. That weekend, there were over 200 re-enactors from all over the country, and I got to hold the period rifles and take pictures of all the different costumes - it was a wonderful experience and really helped bring the details to a whole new level.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561439010?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561439010?profile=original" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any? </strong></p>
<p>A. To write a book such as this requires a lot of organization. Keeping the characters, places, and timeline straight requires spreadsheets, volumes of books, and hundreds of pages of notes. Fortunately, I'm a very detail-oriented guy so it was fun for me!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q5. How did you get published?</strong></p>
<p>A. I was published by Booklocker.com. They selected my first novel, <em>Lewis and Clark: Murder on the Natchez Trace </em>in 2010 and that sold very well. They did a great job with it and I was very pleased. It was a natural fit when I ready to publish <em>Texas Freedom.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?</strong></p>
<p>A. I took a certain degree of personal knowledge of the Alamo into the project and spent six months learning more that I ever imagined I would uncover, creating back stories on dozens of mid-level and minor characters that really delivered an incredible level of authentication to the project.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project?</strong></p>
<p>A. It was a story that really wrote itself, in one sense. The events of the revolution and the battle couldn't be rushed - it had to weave the story as it was meant to. I just wasn't prepared for the size and scope of the finished project. But it turned out wonderful and I wouldn't change a thing!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it?</strong></p>
<p>A. I want the readers to appreciate the level of detail and authenticity I brought to the project, and I hope they come away having learned something about that period of history they never knew before. Even the more knowledgeable readers will come away having learned something they hadn't before. That's the prize for me!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them.</strong></p>
<p>A. I love to write about different eras, especially those whose characters live among the elements, the great outdoors. While I love a good camping trip, most of my days are spent indoors on computers...very different than what many might think.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?</strong></p>
<p>A. Never give up on your dream! I've wanted to be a writer since I was a kid, but it was not in my stars to make a living out of it. But I made time in my life to keep reading and writing, pushed forward and have published two novels now...and there are many more to come!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please.</strong></p>
<p>A. I have a day job working at a large company, then come home to a busy household with my wife and children. I coach baseball, soccer, and basketball, as well as run the local cub scout chapter for our town. I create websites for local area businesses and non-profit groups and spend as much time as God allows with my family!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing.</strong></p>
<p>A. I write mostly at night at my desk at home when the kids are asleep - it's the only time of day I have to myself! </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?</strong></p>
<p>A. It's a short prayer. "Lord, nothing is going to happen today that You and I together can't handle." To me, it means if I work hard at my tasks, God will give me the strength to handle whatever comes. </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently?</strong></p>
<p>A. I have a history contest sponsored through my author website, <u><a href="http://www.thomas-berry.com/">www.thomas-berry.com</a></u>. You can submit a character's name for selection in my next historical novel. It's totally free and I will pick the winner at random. The character will appear in my next book, along with the name of the person who submitted it. The winner will also receive a free signed copy of my book! The contest was held writing my first book, and the winning character appears in <em>Texas Freedom</em>. You can go online now and help me choose a character's name for my next one! Contest ends December 31, 2012.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Authors.com profile: <a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/ThomasBerry">http://www.authors.com/profile/ThomasBerry</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Thanks for your time Tom! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, Digging it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can. We'd ask fellow members to support you by doing the same.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Members, want to be interviewed too? It's free! Instructions are here: <a href="http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new">http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new</a></strong></p>
Spotlight Interview with Author Amanda L. V. Shalaby
tag:www.authors.com,2012-09-13:3798404:BlogPost:154095
2012-09-13T05:30:00.000Z
SpotlightInterviews
http://www.authors.com/profile/SpotlightInterviews
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Amanda! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong><br></br> A: Thanks for having me! My name is Amanda L. V. Shalaby and my debut novel, Rhianna, will be published this year by Crimson Romance. It is a post-Regency historical romance with a strong mystery and not a few handsome lords in top hats and cravats.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a…</strong></p>
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Amanda! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong><br/> A: Thanks for having me! My name is Amanda L. V. Shalaby and my debut novel, Rhianna, will be published this year by Crimson Romance. It is a post-Regency historical romance with a strong mystery and not a few handsome lords in top hats and cravats.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took.</strong> <br/> A: Writing was always something I enjoyed, but I was very private about it. I wrote full-length novels in my teens and never told even my own parents until years later.</p>
<p><br/> Rhianna was inspired by my grandmother, Catherine M. Fisher. When I was in my late teens, I asked her if there was anything she still wished to do during her lifetime that she had yet to accomplish. Her answer was simple: to write a book! Naturally, this seemed very doable to me, and I told her we should write one together. </p>
<p><br/> As it turned out, my grandmother preferred to live vicariously through me and she never did do any of the writing, but I consulted her on plot ideas and character names. I read to her passages as they came together, and sent her home with others. My mom was also in on much of it, and I look back very fondly on our afternoons together - three generations of women – sharing a love of stories.</p>
<p><br/> This particular novel took some time to put together because prior to my conversation with my grandmother, I had no knowledge of Georgian, Regency or Victorian England. There was quite a lot of research involved. Additionally, my grandmother passed away just as I met my future husband, so there were some years that I was distracted and my writing got pushed aside. Thankfully, after I picked it back up, I would say the actual writing of Rhianna took a little over a year.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book? </strong><br/> A. Certainly, as I mentioned, the time I had discussing it with my grandmother and my mother. It is a very special story for me because of its origins. Also, I really enjoyed researching the setting for this book. Once I started, I really came to have a love for the time period. </p>
<p><br/> I think, too, for any writer, when you know you have a really amazing story to tell, you want so much to get it down on paper. You want that finished product in the hands of others who can enjoy it and love it. And with that goal in mind, the whole process of creating is immensely satisfying.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any? </strong><br/> A. There are two that come to mind. My heroine has red hair, just like my grandmother had. My hero has my husband’s eye lashes – they’re so long and thick, it’s not even fair!</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q5. How did you get published?.</strong><br/> A. Like many new writers, once my novel was finished I submitted queries to agents and publishers for review. I consider myself very fortunate. Once I signed with Crimson Romance to add Rhianna to their historical romance line, needless to say, there was a lot of excitement!</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?</strong><br/> A. After my grandmother passed away, it was difficult to return to writing the book. Happily, I am convinced I have written a better version now, at this stage of my life, than I ever would have been able to in my late teens/early twenties.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project? </strong><br/> A. Anything about post-regency England!</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it? </strong><br/> A. I have a ‘favorites’ shelf for my special books that I’ve read over the years. It’s an eclectic collection. I would hope to hear my readers had a new addition to their ‘favorites’ shelf in Rhianna.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them. </strong><br/> A. I had no interest in reading Pride & Prejudice prior to starting this book! Now, it is one of my favorite books.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?</strong><br/> A. Don’t stop writing.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q11: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?</strong></p>
<p>A. It’s terrible, actually! My husband bought me this beautiful writing desk that is sitting in this beautiful study room– and I don’t use it at all. I sit on the floor in my living room with my dogs and prop my laptop up on the coffee table.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q12: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently? </strong></p>
<p>A. You can find me on Wordpress, Facebook and Twitter:<br/> <a href="http://www.amandalvshalaby.wordpress.com/">http://www.amandalvshalaby.wordpress.com</a><br/> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/amandalvshalaby">www.facebook.com/amandalvshalaby</a><br/> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/amandashalaby">www.twitter.com/amandashalaby</a>. </p>
<p><br/> Rhianna was released on July 16, 2012!</p>
<p></p>
<p>Authors.com profile: <a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/AmandaLVShalaby">http://www.authors.com/profile/AmandaLVShalaby</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Thanks for your time Amanda! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, Digging it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can. We'd ask fellow members to support you by doing the same.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Members, want to be interviewed too? It's free! Instructions are here: <a href="http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new">http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new</a></strong></p>
Spotlight Interview with Author Sadie Forsythe
tag:www.authors.com,2012-09-12:3798404:BlogPost:154267
2012-09-12T18:30:00.000Z
SpotlightInterviews
http://www.authors.com/profile/SpotlightInterviews
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Sadie! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.
</strong></p>
<p>A: Hello everyone. I’m Sadie Forsythe, author of <i>The Weeping Empress</i>. It’s an epic fantasy with a little YA crossover appeal and I’m an American living in the UK (among other things).…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561439103?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561439103?profile=RESIZE_180x180" width="150"></img></a></p>
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Sadie! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.
</strong></p>
<p>A: Hello everyone. I’m Sadie Forsythe, author of <i>The Weeping Empress</i>. It’s an epic fantasy with a little YA crossover appeal and I’m an American living in the UK (among other things).</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561439103?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="150" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561439103?profile=RESIZE_180x180" width="150" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took.</strong>
</p>
<p>A: Oh, I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I’ve been devouring books since I learned to read and have been imagining stories for even longer. It took me a long time to get around to it though. I went straight from high school, to university, to graduate school. I did a lot of writing during that time, but only the academic kind. There was no time to write fiction, but I had to really master the art of writing a clear, concise, grammatically correct sentence, and that has made writing my first novel significantly easier.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book?</strong></p>
<p>
A.
I really loved watching it take shape. Seeing the words form on paper, describing the scenes in my head. It felt like magic.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any? </strong>
</p>
<p>A. I’ve always been fascinated by religion and the power of faith. I wasn’t raised in a religious environment, so it was a bit of a curiosity for me. Some of this comes through in <i>The Weeping Empress</i>. It’s not a religious book by any stretch of the imagination, but the characters are forced to consider the proper place of their church and its authority.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q5. How did you get published?</strong></p>
<p>A. I’m self-published. I have nothing against the traditional publishing industry, but the whole process of query/rejection/query again terrifies me. I’ve written a good book. I think so, but more importantly readers think so. The reviews have been great. But there are so many of us, new authors I mean. I decided to skip that melee, hired the professionals to do their magic, and presented <i>The Weeping Empress</i> to the world.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?
</strong></p>
<p>A.
It started as a hiccup in a lot of ways. I’ve jotted down dozens of story ideas. I keep a little moleskine with me for just that purpose. But there was no indication in advance that <i>The Weeping Empress</i> was the one that would really take off. By the time I started writing in earnest I had the story largely complete in my head, so I missed the opportunity to do the front-end organization that helps so much. If I had it to do again, knowing what I now know, I would have taken a lot more time outlining and writing character profiles to reduce the workload during the latter writing process.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project</strong>?
</p>
<p>A. That I would see the end of it. It took me a long time to write <i>The Weeping Empress</i>, more because I didn’t view it as a project with a deadline in the beginning. I had no qualms with letting it sit unattended for six months. As soon as I realized that it wasn’t a long story anymore, but a book, I ensured I had writing time regularly.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>
Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it?</strong></p>
<p>
A.
“I loved it!” That would be the best. After than maybe, “It really made me think” or “Senka was hot,” depending on what type of reader I was ease dropping on.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them</strong>.
</p>
<p>A. I love toe socks, you know the type that keep all of your toes separate like gloves. I’ve always wanted to try Tabi socks (the ones with just the big toes separate), but have never had the chance.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?
</strong></p>
<p>A. Relax, when the right story comes along it will have a life of its own that will carry it to completion.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please.</strong></p>
<p>
A. A typical day starts after I bustle the kids off to school. At the moment I am back to writing for academics, so I generally spend the day sitting at my desk agonizing over a few hundred five-syllable words and drinking copious amounts of tea. If I’m lucky I get to read a little fiction in the evening. That’s my favorite part of the day.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?</strong></p>
<p>
A. It would depend on what stage of the writing process I was in. If it was early on then you would almost certainly find me in a café with a steaming latte and an old-fashioned pencil. (Yes I still use a pencil, even in this day and age.) If it was later on in the process then I would be curled up on the couch with my laptop on my lap, and if I was in the meticulous editing stage I would be sitting hunched over at my desk.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?</strong></p>
<p>A. I’ve always been fond of Dryden’s, “There is pleasure sure in being mad which none but madmen know.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p>
<strong>Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently?</strong>
</p>
<p>A.
Sure. I’m currently working on the sequel to <i>The Weeping Empress</i>. It doesn’t have a name just yet, but will answer some of the hows and whys that led to the events of <i>The Weeping Empress</i>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sadieforsythe.com/">http://www.sadieforsythe.com</a></p>
<p><a>https://www.facebook.com/SadieForsythe</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/#">https://twitter.com/#</a>!/SadieSForsythe</p>
<p></p>
<p>Thank you for providing this opportunity.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Authors.com profile: <a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/SadieSForsythe" target="_blank">http://www.authors.com/profile/SadieSForsythe</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Thanks for your time Sadie! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, Digging it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can. We'd ask fellow members to support you by doing the same.</strong><br/><br/><strong>Members, want to be interviewed too? It's free! Instructions are here:<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new">http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new</a></strong></p>
<p></p>
Spotlight Interview with Author Rionna Morgan
tag:www.authors.com,2012-07-06:3798404:BlogPost:141164
2012-07-06T20:00:00.000Z
SpotlightInterviews
http://www.authors.com/profile/SpotlightInterviews
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Rionna! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>A: Hello. My name is Rionna Morgan. I write romantic suspense. I have recently signed with Crimson Romance a newer imprint of Adams Media.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took.</strong></p>
<p>A: I have been a…</p>
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Rionna! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>A: Hello. My name is Rionna Morgan. I write romantic suspense. I have recently signed with Crimson Romance a newer imprint of Adams Media.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took.</strong></p>
<p>A: I have been a writer for as long as I can remember. I was forever entering writing contests when I was a kid. I'd be thrilled to earn a token for an ice cream at the local sweet shop. As to what inspired me to write books: I love a good story. I am an English major...I also have a masters in English. I love to write, to read and I love especially the power of a word, the tilt of a nuance. My first book: What the Heart Wants took me a long darn time to write. I wrote the first few chapters and then threw those out. They weren't necessary for the story, only necessary for me to get to know my characters, my story. I have completely re-written the book four times. I just needed to get it right.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561443539?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="200" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561443539?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="200" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book?</strong></p>
<p>A. I most enjoyed letting myself be creative in the truest sense of the word. I have found that if I quite trying to tell my characters what to do, they will show me what to write. It is a very freeing feeling.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any?</strong></p>
<p>A. Yes, great question because writers write what they know. In my youth I was a professional barrel racer. I competed in rodeos all over the West. My book, What the Heart Wants, is about a barrel racer who gets swept off her feet by a serial killer. So while the barrel racer part is similar, the serial killer is not.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q5. How did you get published?</strong></p>
<p>A. The long version is that I started trying to find an agent for this book years ago. I think I probably have 100 rejection letters...I did have a lot of success as far as rejection goes...requests for fulls and meeting with other editors, but no "Oh! I love that story." Recently, I decided I'd get it out again and give it another go. I read through it and updated the technology end of it, all the while realizing it really is a nice, gripping suspenseful romance. I even got chills a few times-and I knew what was coming on the next page. Funny. Anyhow, presently, I am an officer of Montana Romance Writers, and I received an invitation from Crimson Romance, a call for submission. I shared this link with other writers in my state and went back to editing. When I finished my own edits, I started making a list of publishers I wanted to start with. Crimson Romance was at the top of the list. I sent a query and within an hour I had a request for a full manuscript. Goodness! I was excited. But, not nearly as excited as I was when I signed my contract of Friday the 13th...good day as any for a suspense writer I'd say.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?</strong></p>
<p>A. No hiccups...surprises yes! Writing the book is only half the work. Meeting deadlines and fulfilling requests, Facebooking and Twittering, and all the other social media verbs we all do now. The amount of time that takes, that was a surprise. I love it, but I was definitely not ready for it.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project?</strong></p>
<p>A. Hmmm. Good question. Many people say that writing is a lonely business. I always felt like I had to be lonely to be a writer. That is not true. I think understanding human nature and having a group of fellow writers who can also understand that you do indeed listen to the voices in your head and that that is not weird at all! is important. Sometimes the quiet, sacred moments of alone time is extremely necessary to hear our muses, but I also think it's important to share ideas and thoughts with other writers. I know I definitely cherish the group of writers who are on my team! Thank you ladies of Montana Romance Writers, you are so awesome!</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it?</strong></p>
<p>A. I can't wait to turn the page. I really like Kate, she's strong and stubborn, even though she's a bit naive . I think Blake is beautiful and oh my good looking! Ooooh! Thank Luke guy, he's scary.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them.</strong></p>
<p>A. I was born three months early and was supposed to never learn to walk and talk, much less learn to read or write.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?</strong></p>
<p>A. This is what you're meant to do. When you feel at peace when you write your stories, when you feel that all the tumbling puzzles of the universe come together when you sit with your pen and paper, when the other world you live in ceases for just a bit so you can visit the one in your imagination...this is what you're meant for. So don't give up. It is all a journey, the rejections, the criticisms are all part of the path, embrace them as you would a request for a partial manuscript, or for a full one...because those are road signs that you are traveling on this journey. You are making the trip. Not everyone is so lucky.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please.</strong></p>
<p>A. I have four children ranging in ages from 19 years - 18 months. My day is filled with their giggles, their homework, their trips to ballet and tap. My nights are filled with writing. I am a true midnight writer.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?</strong> A. When I am in the planning stages, I have a downstairs room where I like to set out all of my research, my papers, my sticky notes and my markers. It's sort of like a big chess set of who does what when and where. When I am in the thick of it, writing like mad, I take my alpha smart all over the place. I love that little machine. When I edit, I'm at my computer, pencils sticking out of my hair, cups of coffee growing cold, sandwiches forgotten.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?</strong></p>
<p>A. I am a big Robert Herrick fan, "gather ye rosebuds while ye may". I am very keen on that one, but my favorite one that seems to be popping up is from Lewis Carroll. "Alice laughed: "There's no use trying," she said; "one can't believe impossible things." "I daresay you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was younger, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." Alice in Wonderland.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently?</strong></p>
<p>A. I would love to share some of my social network links. Thank you so much. What fun! This has been just lovely. <a href="http://rionnamorgan.blogspot.com/">http://rionnamorgan.blogspot.com/</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/Rion">https://twitter.com/Rion</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Authors.com profile: <a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/RionnaMorgan">http://www.authors.com/profile/RionnaMorgan</a></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>Thanks for your time Rionna! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, Digging it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can. We'd ask fellow members to support you by doing the same.</strong><br/> <br/> <strong>Members, want to be interviewed too? It's free! Instructions are here: <a href="http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new">http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new</a></strong></p>
<p></p>
Spotlight Interview with Author Sean Solomon
tag:www.authors.com,2012-06-16:3798404:BlogPost:141247
2012-06-16T18:00:00.000Z
SpotlightInterviews
http://www.authors.com/profile/SpotlightInterviews
<p><b>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Sean! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.<br></br><br></br></b></p>
<p>A: I love reading Stephen King, Dean Koontz, James Herbert and many more authors from that genre. Last year I decided to fulfil a life-long ambition and write a novel. I’d been ill for a while, so needed to reduce my working hours and in my spare-time get on with tapping away at the keyboard. My debut novel -…</p>
<p><b>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Sean! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.<br/><br/></b></p>
<p>A: I love reading Stephen King, Dean Koontz, James Herbert and many more authors from that genre. Last year I decided to fulfil a life-long ambition and write a novel. I’d been ill for a while, so needed to reduce my working hours and in my spare-time get on with tapping away at the keyboard. My debut novel - OUTBREAK -is now available on Amazon and it’s a dream come true.</p>
<p>Here’s a snippet from the back cover which outlines the story:</p>
<p>The world is plunged into chaos as a deadly virus spreads across the globe, killing millions in its wake. Is the 'outbreak' the long-awaited epidemic that was foretold, or something far more sinister?<br/><br/>As society crumbles, a New World Order is born. Those deemed as infected are mercilessly destroyed in an attempt to halt the spread of the virus – or so the people are led to believe. The reality is beyond comprehension.<br/><br/>Dan Lucas, an ex-royal navy communications expert, and Jon Derrer, a specialist police firearms officer, fight against the rampant madness that spreads across the UK. With help from beyond the grave, will they be able to right the wrongs of a world plunged into insanity, or will they perish in the process?<br/><br/>Outbreak is a fast-moving, paranormal, action thriller that keeps you gripped to the very end.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took.</b> </p>
<p>A: I’ve always liked reading, which I suppose was the impetus for putting pen to paper ... or in my case (like most people these days) fingers to keypad. I was looking around for an original idea before I realised those were about as rate as could be. So I thought, why not take a real life story from history, change the timeline, make the good guys the bad guys and visa versa ... and ‘hey presto’ I’d have a good story to tell.</p>
<p>The origin of the story was the onset of the Second World War and the rise of the Third Reich but as I’ve mentioned Outbreak is set in a modern day context.</p>
<p>I started thinking about the story line around May 2011, started writing in July and was finished by December. The editorial process took longer than I’d anticipated, with the final draft being published in April 2012.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book? <br/></b></p>
<p><b> </b><b>A: </b>Oh, that’s an easy one. I got lost in my own little fantasy world.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any? </b></p>
<p><b> </b><b>A: </b>That’s a really good question. I can’t see any life or personality traits woven into the story but I guess there must be something of me in there.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Q5. How did you get published?</b></p>
<p>A: I read lots of books and took whatever advice I could get. Initially I wanted to self-publish. Then I swung the other way thinking the traditional route would be best, and before I knew it I’d reconsidered and eventually went down the self-publish route.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Ping-Pong comes to mind. I suppose there is no right or wrong path to follow though, the important thing is to do what’s right for you.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In the end that was self-publishing.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?</b></p>
<p>A. No real hiccups with the writing but one major one with the copy-edit process. My first editor let me down quite badly, which I found very upsetting at the time. The good news was that I‘d paid for his services using MasterCard who gave me a full refund when the editor refused to do so. Good old MasterCard...I’m sure there’s a lesson to be learnt here!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project? <br/></b>A. Do a little more research into the companies I engage with before I parted with my limited cash reserves. But I guess there’s always a steep learning curve in any new project.</p>
<p><br/><br/><b>Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it?<br/></b>A. Anything! If they’re discussing it, at least they’re reading it. The good comments are great - the bad I’ll try and take on board as constructive criticism.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them. <br/></b>A. I love growing my own vegetables and really enjoy getting in the greenhouse in the summer months. I love food and growing your own is simply the best!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?<br/></b></p>
<p>A. Just three little words – “go for it!”</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please. <br/></b></p>
<p>A. Pretty boring stuff in the working hours but a man has to earn a crust. When I’m at home, I love reading, writing, getting in the garden and spending time with my wonderful wife.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?<br/></b></p>
<p>A. It’s probably not good for the back (so I wouldn’t recommend it) but I usually have my laptop on my knee whilst sitting on the sofa, TV off, wife at work and surrounded by complete silence.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Q13: What's your motto or favourite quote you like to live by?</b></p>
<p>A: Life is not a stage rehearsal, so don’t fritter it away!</p>
<p><br/><br/><b>Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently? <br/></b></p>
<p>A: Thank you for reading this far is the first thing.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Secondly please check out my website at <a href="http://www.seansolomonbooks.com/">www.seansolomonbooks.com</a> where anyone can see what I’ve written, what I’m writing next, useful links and all that stuff.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>And lastly, why not check out Amazon – and maybe, even purchase my novel – I’d love to know what you all think of it...</p>
<p></p>
<p>Authors.com profile: <a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/SeanSolomon">http://www.authors.com/profile/SeanSolomon</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Thanks for your time Sean! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, Digging it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can. We'd ask fellow members to support you by doing the same.</strong><br/> <br/><strong>Members, want to be interviewed too? It's free! Instructions are here: <a href="http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new">http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new</a></strong></p>
Spotlight Interview with Author Kemy
tag:www.authors.com,2012-06-15:3798404:BlogPost:141152
2012-06-15T16:30:00.000Z
SpotlightInterviews
http://www.authors.com/profile/SpotlightInterviews
<p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></br><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Kemy! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>A: My name is Kemy; I am a Published Erotica Romance Novelist. I have five novels penned under my credit, Betrayal of the Past, Forever Mine, On the Wings of Love, Moonlit Terrace, Teacher’s Pet, and a short story on Amazon Kindle, For Only One Night. I am presently due to…</p>
<p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"/><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Kemy! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>A: My name is Kemy; I am a Published Erotica Romance Novelist. I have five novels penned under my credit, Betrayal of the Past, Forever Mine, On the Wings of Love, Moonlit Terrace, Teacher’s Pet, and a short story on Amazon Kindle, For Only One Night. I am presently due to release my sixth novel, which is titled, Shadows of Obsession.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took.</strong></p>
<p>A: I can add that I was looking through an Essence Magazine, and the magazine was having a contest on a short story. I convinced myself to enter. What started out as a short story, blossomed into a full novel and from that day forward, I never looked back.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong> Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book?</strong></p>
<p>A. Feeling the emotions of the characters, which I know would convey on the pages.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any? </strong><br/> A. Pain, Pleasure, accepting the character’s flaws, and mishaps on the journey to self discovering, however, allowing them to grow.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> <strong>Q5. How did you get published?</strong></p>
<p>A. I submitted by first novel to E-booktime, LLC in 2006, Betrayal of The Past. I got my book back after publication; unfortunately, I was shocked, the grammar, and typos literally screamed at me. If you are trying to break into the word of literacy, please get a reliable Editor, or someone with very sharp eyes to see what you can’t. I am laughing now, because, that seems so long ago, and five novels later, however, it’s stated for words of advice.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong> Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?</strong></p>
<p>A. Yes, writing the romance scenes still makes me blush. Nonetheless, since I am an Erotica Romance Novelist, what I write, has to be eloquently told, in addition, very detailed, and in exquisite taste.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project?</strong></p>
<p>A. Writing Shadows of Obsession took a year of research, and that is not including the revisions, and then the tedious editing process. I have to say, to bring your words into play, is like giving birth, once you bring it into light you breathe a little easier, and pray that someone else would appreciate your labor of love.</p>
<p><br/> <br/> <strong>Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it?</strong></p>
<p>A. Who is this author? I have never heard of her. Have you read Shadows of Obsession yet? Kemy’s novels are very good. I wonder are her books in the libraries? In addition, I hope she come to my city for a book signing. Trust me; I’m not very hard to please.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them.</strong></p>
<p>A. I am terrified of driving. I am from the East Coast, whereas I usually traveled by the subway, trolley, Septa bus, or the Amtrak. Once I relocated to the Mid-West, you have to drive.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong> Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?</strong></p>
<p>A. Walk alone in your own shoes, give straightforward advice to anyone along your journey, and offer a word of encouragement to anyone out there, who is trying to make a name for him or herself.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong> Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please.</strong></p>
<p>A. I am in the Healthcare field, so servicing the needs of several patients is my prime concern. However, when time allows me, you would find me pounding on my keys to pen the next best novel. After that dedication, I usually wind down with an hour of high-intensity aerobics, or an hour session on my treadmill, listening to the sounds of Bruno Mars.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?</strong></p>
<p>A. I do most of most writing, sitting at my desk at home, and since I have access to my desktop computer at work. At lunchtime if my muse whispers in my ear, most likely I will follow it. If perhaps you are sitting beside me, the words that you read, will most likely make you blush, get romantic, or daring.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?</strong></p>
<p>A. ‘Boys Play With Toys and Scholars Play With Dollars’© (Found in the Pages of Moonlit Terrace). That insight labels all my male characters when I am writing about a handsome hero. In addition, ‘If it does not kill you, it will only make you stronger’</p>
<p><br/> <br/> <strong>Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently?</strong></p>
<p>A. I am in the midst of planning several book signings this year. My first one will be in Baltimore, Maryland. Not to forget, I will be hosting an internet Promotional Book Release for Shadows of Obsession, several goodies will be given away, as well as a signed copy of Shadows of Obsession, by yours truly.</p>
<p><a href="http://kemyeroticaromancenovelist.com/" target="_blank">http://kemyeroticaromancenovelist.com</a></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>Authors.com profile: <a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/Kemy">http://www.authors.com/profile/Kemy</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Thanks for your time Kemy! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, Digging it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can. We'd ask fellow members to support you by doing the same.</strong><br/> <br/> <strong>Members, want to be interviewed too? It's free! Instructions are here: <a href="http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new">http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new</a></strong></p>
Spotlight Interview with Author Jamie Hall
tag:www.authors.com,2012-06-14:3798404:BlogPost:141147
2012-06-14T13:00:00.000Z
SpotlightInterviews
http://www.authors.com/profile/SpotlightInterviews
<p class="p1"><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Jamie! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong><br></br>A: My given name is Jamie Ian Hall. It's the perfect, "mom is mad" name. Just say it in a mom screaming from the bottom of the stairs voice and you'll understand my childhood a bit better. </p>
<p class="p1">My book is called 7 Deadly Women. Quite simply put, it's a whimsical tale about women, dating…</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Jamie! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong><br/>A: My given name is Jamie Ian Hall. It's the perfect, "mom is mad" name. Just say it in a mom screaming from the bottom of the stairs voice and you'll understand my childhood a bit better. </p>
<p class="p1">My book is called 7 Deadly Women. Quite simply put, it's a whimsical tale about women, dating and disaster. </p>
<p class="p1"> </p>
<p class="p1"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561443180?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="200" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561443180?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="200" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took. </strong><br/>A: I have written my whole life. I knew I wanted to write a book when I watched Back to the Future and saw the joy that George McFly experienced when getting his first box of books. I remember wanting that kind of euphoric happiness.</p>
<p class="p1">I wrote this book after experiencing many a dating disaster. All those relationships inspired me to put pen to page. The book took me almost exactly a year to write. I finished the first draft at The Strat in Vegas.</p>
<p class="p1"> </p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book? </strong><br/>A. I most enjoyed getting my frustrations with the game of dating out on the page. It was therapeutic. No one can ever just go up to someone and say "I like you". It's all such a ridiculous process. I found writing about it, truly enjoyable.</p>
<p class="p1"> </p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any? </strong><br/>A. I wrote the main character as a womanizing, addictive personality that works in clubs because, people often expect this of me given my profession as a club promoter/brand manager.</p>
<p class="p1"> </p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Q5. How did you get published?</strong></p>
<p class="p1">A. I have a friend at a literary house who has worked on the project with me and iUniverse in hopes of more work in the future.</p>
<p class="p1"> </p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?</strong><br/>A. I find the process of editing, deeply frustrating. It almost seems like, this part of the work will never be done. No matter what, I can always find an error. One editor is enough. Everyone has an opinion in terms of grammar and style. I want to deliver a Rock Bottom when one editor corrects an issue, then the next wants to return to the original form.</p>
<p class="p1"> </p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project? </strong><br/>A. Most authors tell me it's easier to write while drinking and drunk. Had I known, I may have taken up drinking. </p>
<p class="p1"><br/><br/><strong>Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it?</strong><br/>A. I love this Jason character. I hate this Jason character. Ok, I love him again. F*cking Jason, what a douche.</p>
<p class="p1"> </p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them. </strong><br/>A. Most people don't know that I finished the first draft of 7 Deadly Women over a few weeks at The Strat in my second home, Vegas. Everyday after doing some writing, I would take a walk to grab some lunch. Along the way I would engage in conversation with a jeweller that custom cut words on rings. We spoke about the book daily.</p>
<p class="p1">On that final day, when the last period was placed, I took my usual walk. Excited about the finale, the jeweller wanted to help me commemorate the finished product. 7 Deadly Women was too long to cut so he asked me, "what's the main character's favorite word?" </p>
<p class="p1">This is why I wear a ring that says ... F*CK.</p>
<p class="p1"> </p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?</strong><br/>A. Take your time and don't worry about form or style in the beginning. Just write the story. The technical stuff can be fixed later. That's why you have an editor.</p>
<p class="p1"> </p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please. </strong><br/>A. I have no typical days. I work in nightclubs and lounges, have worked on Mayoral campaigns as well as the Obama campaign. I've done TV and hosted at some of my city's largest events. I've moved on a whim, vacationed for months, been rich, poor and jumped out of planes. I do what I feel like doing when I wake up. One thing is for sure my typical day never ends, as I don't really sleep.</p>
<p class="p1"> </p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?</strong><br/>A. I do most of my writing in bed, on my MacBook Pro while drinking 2% milk, and eating chocolate almonds. Second to that, would be in Vegas with the same products of nourishment.</p>
<p class="p1"> </p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?</strong></p>
<p class="p1">A. Conquer fear, conquer life<span class="s1">—it's tattooed on my forearms</span>. One of my biggest fears growing up, was failing. My book could suck. I could be a laughing stock in my city. However, I can't conquer the fear of failing without doing something that puts me out there. Here ... we ... go ...</p>
<p class="p1"><br/><strong>Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently? </strong><br/>A. I guess I'll do the promo thing and plug my website, <a href="http://projectsbyjamie.com/">projectsbyjamie.com</a>. There you will find plenty of wonderful Jamie details. Currently, I am working on peddling my words to the masses.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Authors.com profile: <a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/JamieHall">http://www.authors.com/profile/JamieHall</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Thanks for your time Jamie! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, Digging it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can. We'd ask fellow members to support you by doing the same.</strong><br/> <br/><strong>Members, want to be interviewed too? It's free! Instructions are here: <a href="http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new">http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new</a></strong></p>
Spotlight Interview with Author C.Y. Bourgeois
tag:www.authors.com,2012-06-12:3798404:BlogPost:141242
2012-06-12T21:00:00.000Z
SpotlightInterviews
http://www.authors.com/profile/SpotlightInterviews
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series C.Y.! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>A: Hi, thanks for the opportunity to share a little of myself with other members of Authors.com. I'm C.Y. Bourgeois and I've written a novel entitled "Visions of You", a thriller set in Palmer, Alaska in 1975. VOY is my freshman debut into the world of writing. I grew up near Palmer and continued to live in the…</p>
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series C.Y.! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>A: Hi, thanks for the opportunity to share a little of myself with other members of Authors.com. I'm C.Y. Bourgeois and I've written a novel entitled "Visions of You", a thriller set in Palmer, Alaska in 1975. VOY is my freshman debut into the world of writing. I grew up near Palmer and continued to live in the area until a little over two years ago when my husband and I moved to northern Idaho.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took.</strong></p>
<p>A: I've always been an avid reader and have been told that I'm a good writer...on term papers and short stories, but I never dreamed I'd one day write a novel.</p>
<p>My dad was/is my inspiration and my family is my cheering section. Almost six years ago he died and I began to write as a way of helping to cope with my grief. The more I wrote the more ideas I had and eventually “Visions of You” was born. It took three years of sporadic writing and about 5 months of continuous writing for me to finish VOY. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book?</strong></p>
<p>A. Once I settled down and seriously began to write, I was amazed at the way the story just rolled out of me, like it had a mind of its own and I was just the conduit.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://www.authors.com/photo/author/5400243.C_Y_Bourgeois" target="_blank"><img src="http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1324392266p3/5400243.jpg?width=135" width="135" class="align-center"/></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561443814?profile=original" target="_self"></a> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any?</strong></p>
<p>A. There are many facets of my personal life woven into this book. The places in which the story takes place are all real. All of the characters are based on real people in my life and many of the events actually did happen. Of course, details, names, and dates have been changed to protect the innocent. ;~)</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><strong>Q5. How did you get published?</strong><br/></strong></p>
<p>A. I did some research and found out how hard it is for a new, unpublished author to get an agent, much less a publisher, so I decided to self-publish with AuthorHouse.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?</strong></p>
<p>A. I was pleasantly surprised at how my original story morphed into something completely different. For instance, my original central character, Paul, traded places with a secondary character, Shelby, and she became the main character with the story evolving around her. My hiccups started during the marketing phase and haven’t stopped yet. </p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project?</strong></p>
<p>A. I wish I’d known how hard it would be to market a book, but then again, if I had, maybe I wouldn’t have gone through with it. The writing was time consuming, but fun; editing pretty much sucks, but is doable; publishing is a lot of work; but marketing...marketing is something I know nothing about. I’m learning, but it’s a long, slow, hiccup-filled process. </p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it?</strong></p>
<p>A. If I were a fly on the wall, I would hope to hear, “I really enjoyed reading this book. I can’t wait for the next one!” </p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them.</strong></p>
<p>A. I’m not big on talking about myself. Nobody, not even my family, knew I was writing a novel until it was almost finished and I asked my sister to read the manuscript. I was terrified to let people read it. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?</strong></p>
<p>A. Write-write-write! Keep writing and the story will come pouring out.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please.</strong></p>
<p>A. I get up, work out for an hour, eat breakfast, shower, and either go to work (I work part-time as a phlebotomist at a local hospital) or write. Then, later if I’m home, we play with the dogs, have supper, and watch T.V. for a few hours before going to bed. Pretty boring, but we like it! </p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?</strong></p>
<p>A. I do all of my writing at my desk. If you were sitting beside me, you would see a woman with long, brown hair and brown eyes, in a pink sweatshirt and Big Dog flannel pants (dressed for success) typing away at a laptop with a little strawberry blonde Chihuahua-mix dog curled on her lap. There’s a big tortoiseshell cat lazing atop the papers scattered next to the small aquarium on the corner of the desk by the window. She stops typing periodically to pet the dog or stroke the cat while contemplating how to put her thoughts into words. </p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?</strong></p>
<p>A. When life gets hard, I remember what my mom always says: “This too, shall pass.” It reminds me to take life one day at a time and to enjoy the happiness that’s always around the corner.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p>A. I do have a website (still under construction), <a href="http://www.cybourgeois.com/">cybourgeois.com</a>, where you can read the first chapter of “Visions of You”. I’m currently working on the second Shelby Leight thriller, “Visions of Mortality”, and a short story called “The Concrete Gnome” which is dedicated to my dad and will be published as an e-book in the near future.</p>
<p>Thanks again, for this opportunity, and have a great day! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Authors.com profile: <a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/CarlaYBourgeois">http://www.authors.com/profile/CarlaYBourgeois</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Thanks for your time C.Y.! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, Digging it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can. We'd ask fellow members to support you by doing the same.</strong><br/><br/><strong>Members, want to be interviewed too? It's free! Instructions are here: <a href="http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new">http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new</a></strong></p>
Spotlight Interview with Author Del Huntsman
tag:www.authors.com,2012-06-11:3798404:BlogPost:141063
2012-06-11T22:00:00.000Z
SpotlightInterviews
http://www.authors.com/profile/SpotlightInterviews
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Del! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>A: My name is Del Huntsman and this is my first completed work. The name of my book is Cruel Curse. It is a story set in the Civil War period of American history. It uses the Southwest as a backdrop and the drama unfolds (predominantly) in what was once known as New Mexico Territory. It begins in Georgia when the…</p>
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Del! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>A: My name is Del Huntsman and this is my first completed work. The name of my book is Cruel Curse. It is a story set in the Civil War period of American history. It uses the Southwest as a backdrop and the drama unfolds (predominantly) in what was once known as New Mexico Territory. It begins in Georgia when the war is ending and then moves West as the story develops. It is somewhat graphic in its portrayal of the more callous side of human nature when conflicting emotions, ambitions and cultures collide, but there are redemptive moments throughout. It has been described as more introspective than one would expect for a story that incorporates western themes. I tried to draw the characters as likable, despicable, irascible, laughable and ultimately, believable as is currently in my power to do.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took.</strong><br/>A: I discovered fairly early on that I enjoyed writing down my thoughts; it seemed more of a cathartic exercise than anything else. I came to really enjoy the Western genre although I have a wide range of tastes when it comes to storytelling. Zane Grey’s work served as an inspiration to me. I like the poetic flare he uses to raise the stylistic bar in an otherwise “gritty” genre. It took me about two years to finish Cruel Curse (I couldn’t work on it full time) and almost another year to finish the editing/publishing process (there was a pretty steep learning curve).</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book?</strong><br/>A: Starting with one sentence and then letting the characters take me where they want to go.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any? </strong><br/>A: All of the locations (geographically) are real; the ground that I walked on, landscapes that I surveyed and cultures I had the good fortune to interact with. Every one of these characters—good/bad, sad/happy, funny/tragic—are a slice of me, i.e., the demons that I battle, the hopes that I have, the loves I have lost, the ironies I endure; all extracted from my own life’s experiences and injected into the personalities that animate the story. Sorry if that sounds overly dramatic, but hey, I’m a writer.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q5. How did you get published?</strong><br/>A: I chose to self-publish. I made a few attempts at approaching some of the more established publishers, but the effort didn’t produce any viable offers.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?</strong><br/>A: The writing part was fun, the editing part was daunting and the self-publishing part was incredibly frustrating. Because I did not have an established Trade Publisher willing to back the project and supply all the benefits of that relationship (editors, proof readers, designers, etc.), it was truly an uphill battle. When you self publish it is all you. I had this feeling as if I was on a conveyer belt (literally—no pun intended) moving through a dark room. People would grab the book from my hands every few feet mumbling in some foreign language and then shove it back at me a few feet later telling me the next person would answer any questions. I would struggle to see if any of my concerns were addressed before the next person snatched it away. The belt would stop and go, stop and go, break down occasionally, until finally I rolled off the end into the light of day only to be dropped into the middle of a vacant parking lot clutching my book, with no instructions on what to do next. But, other than that it was a very uplifting experience. Alright, so maybe I’m over dramatizing a little, but there is a lot to absorb as you go through the process. And to tell you the truth, I wasn’t really all that impressed with the publisher I chose (nuff said). Now, however, with what I have learned, my next project should be a lot easier to complete. And I’m also hoping that with one on the shelf (so to speak), I may get a closer look the next time I submit my work to a Trade Publisher.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project? </strong><br/>A: I wish I was better prepared mentally and emotionally for how difficult it is to get a first work published. Especially when you have no compelling background to provide the credibility you need for a fair, unbiased review. A “connection” (or a good word) to get you in the door is always nice. It is incredibly important that you do not get discouraged when you discover that your book/story (and the effort you put into it) means more to you then it does to anyone else.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it? </strong><br/>A: “I wish I could have paid more for this!” (kidding). I would like to hear them discuss the specific details and comment on the parts of the story that really caught their attention. I mean, besides just the sex… No really, it interests me to hear whether the set-ups I introduce and the perceptions I’m trying to orchestrate are effective. It helps me improve as a writer to hear what readers say about a character, or a circumstance the character is dealing with. If there is something in my presentation that is weak, then I’m probably not communicating the idea correctly, which in turn causes the storyline to become abstract. It is a very subjective thing, but there is something to be said for being able to review a reader’s deliberative process (generally speaking), and then use that information to facilitate your own creative process.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them. </strong><br/>A: I’m not wearing pants right now (kidding). I do have a pretty strange sense of humor, as you can see. I think people are pleasantly surprised by it (most of the time).</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?</strong><br/>A: Learn proper punctuation/grammar now if you don’t know a lot about it. I still have a lot to learn (as you can probably see in this interview), but I try to take advantage of every opportunity to expand my knowledge and reinforce my skills. Professional readers, that is, those to whom you will be submitting your work, will stop reading immediately if the grammar is subpar. The creative part is fun, but if you don’t use punctuation to put the emphasis where you want it and construct the sentences properly, you won’t communicate the meaning effectively. In the end the story (ideas) that you are presenting will suffer. The people who can make or break your first effort (or any effort) have stacks and stacks (files and files) of submissions to review and unless you have a proven track record their finger is hovering over the “delete” key. I do not say this to be discouraging, I say it to prepare a new author for the reality of going from an idea to a finished product. And a publisher is looking at it as a potential “product”.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please. </strong><br/>A: Wake up. Take care of the morning chores. Sit in front of the computer typing, “All work and no play makes jack a dull boy,” over and over until my girlfriend starts to get really freaked out. Not really. It’s a pretty typical day by most standards except I’ll try to put in five or six hours trying to get something down on the page that will get me closer to another completed work. Some days are more productive than others but if I get going on a tear I’ll be up to all hours of the night. It’s pretty spontaneous at that point.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?</strong><br/>A: I sit in my recliner by the wood stove with a cup of coffee, puffing cherry tobacco from my pipe, and trying to call forth a creative thought from out of the ether. I’m naked of course. Sorry, there’s that pesky sense of humor again. Anyway, take away the pipe, the cherry tobacco, add some jeans and a sweater, and the rest of it is pretty accurate.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?</strong><br/>A: Words are an expression of the human spirit; but actions are what animate the soul.</p>
<p>D. Huntsman</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently? </strong><br/>A: I have one book project I am currently about three chapters into and another project I’m just now considering. I’ll have updates on my facebook page if anyone would like to visit me there.</p>
<p>I have facebook pages for both Del Huntsman and Cruel Curse, although, I prefer most of my interaction take place on the Cruel Curse page right now. Friends are welcome: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cruel-Curse-Mark-of-the-Bloody-Seven/148639738568444">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cruel-Curse-Mark-of-the-Bloody-Seven/148639738568444</a></p>
<p>Cruel Curse can be found for sale on Amazon: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cruel-Curse-Mark-Bloody-Seven/dp/1452053022">http://www.amazon.com/Cruel-Curse-Mark-Bloody-Seven/dp/1452053022</a> and BarnesandNoble.com: <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cruel-curse-del-huntsman/1106502514?ean=9781452053028&itm=1&usri=cruel+curse">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cruel-curse-del-huntsman/1106502514?ean=9781452053028&itm=1&usri=cruel+curse</a></p>
<p>It is available for Kindle and Nook as well.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Authors.com profile: <a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/DelHuntsman">http://www.authors.com/profile/DelHuntsman</a></p>
<p><strong>Thanks for your time Del! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, Digging it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can. We'd ask fellow members to support you by doing the same.</strong></p>
<p><br/><strong>Members, want to be interviewed too? It's free! Instructions are here: <a href="http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new">http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new</a></strong></p>
Spotlight Interview with Author Tabitha R. Pike
tag:www.authors.com,2012-06-11:3798404:BlogPost:141060
2012-06-11T21:00:00.000Z
SpotlightInterviews
http://www.authors.com/profile/SpotlightInterviews
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Tabitha! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>A: I want to thank you for this wonderful opportunity. My name is Tabitha R. Pike. I write supernatural/Paranormal/ Romance and Fantasy novels for both teens and adults. I am the author of “Dream: The Linking Stones”, “Dragon Tears: The Legacy” along with “The Burning Bush” and “Soulful Ink”. I also work part…</p>
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Tabitha! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>A: I want to thank you for this wonderful opportunity. My name is Tabitha R. Pike. I write supernatural/Paranormal/ Romance and Fantasy novels for both teens and adults. I am the author of “Dream: The Linking Stones”, “Dragon Tears: The Legacy” along with “The Burning Bush” and “Soulful Ink”. I also work part time in education working with Middle and High school students.</p>
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<p><strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took.</strong></p>
<p>A: I have always loved to write, even as a young child. I always wrote for myself, it was a personal ventilation system for me. When I met and fell deeply in love with my husband, he began reading some of my work. He looked at me and said, “You need to be published. So I gave it a try.</p>
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<p><strong>Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book?</strong></p>
<p>A: I enjoyed being able to poetic express myself in “The Burning Bush” and “Soulful Ink”. In “Dream: The Linking Stones” I enjoyed weaving mine and my husband’s heritage into the story. (Cherokee and Scottish). As for “Dragon Tears: The Legacy” I enjoyed writing this book just for my children. It was hard work but fun. “People of the Dark” is my most extraordinary write so far. It is in the editing process write now. I will be sending it off to the publisher as soon as it is cleaned up a bit. I wanted to write a novel based on my thoughts. “You know, If I could be a superhero kind of thing.” Alaya the main character in this book is a 18 year old with a IQ of 230. She is a heroine. I love her character and can relate to her so much. I inspired myself by writing a dream of mine. I just love this book.</p>
<p> <a width="500" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561442778?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" target="_self"><img width="200" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561442778?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="200" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p><strong>Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any?</strong></p>
<p>A. “Dream: The Linking Stones” has many hidden secrets of my life, my beliefs and my spirit written within the pages. I even used some names of friends, family and loved ones in this book.</p>
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<p><strong>Q5. How did you get published?</strong></p>
<p>A. I queried hundreds upon hundreds of agents, and got turned down by nearly all of them. I also queried hundreds upon hundreds of publishers. I published my poetry through Publish America because no one wanted to publish poetry. I self published and self marketed my other books. It is hard work, but they have sold well. I own all the rights to my books this way, and that is the way I like it.</p>
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<p><strong>Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?</strong></p>
<p>A. Not really, just one I can think of. I didn’t because I done a lot of research before I jumped into it.</p>
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<p><strong>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project?</strong></p>
<p>A. I wish I had gotten some people to review my book before I sent it to publication, so I could have published my book with a few great reviews. I always read reviews on a book before I read it.</p>
<p><br/><strong>Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it?</strong></p>
<p>A. I would love to hear them talk about how the story sucked them into the pages and they felt like they were one of the characters in the book. That is always a great thing to hear, it just does something to a writer that makes them want to write more.</p>
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<p><strong>Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them.</strong></p>
<p>A. I am crazy. Well, at least they think I am sometime. I’m convinced my neighbors are the true Illuminati, Aka: People of the Dark, and Aka: child of the Phoenix with supernatural powers. There isn’t much people don’t know about me. I have a personal blog and website, besides my Official website for my fans and readers. It is called “Raise the White Flag: Surrendering Tabitha”. If there is something you don’t know, and would like to know I will do my best to answer it and post it to my blog.</p>
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<p><strong>Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?</strong></p>
<p>A. Never give up on your dreams, get a great editor to proofread your work. Do a lot of research, and get some people to review your work. It helps.</p>
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<p><strong>Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please.</strong></p>
<p>A. Well, I wake up, get my husband off to work, my teenage boys off to school. Drink a lot of coffee, write, email, query, set up or update websites, cook, clean, shower, write, eat, drink a lot of coffee, Work, Work, and Work and spend time with my family. Go to bed and wake up and do it all over again. This is a typical Mon- Friday work day for me. The weekends are a different story. </p>
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<p><strong>Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?</strong></p>
<p>A. If you was sitting beside me you could look out the window and see the sun, a beautiful Japanese weeping willow tree, my large but great German Shepherd Samson, guarding the yard, and my garden. If you look behind you, you can see my bedroom. I have a home office which is located in my bedroom; I leave the door open so I can see my bed and dresser. I don't like being in rooms with closed doors unless I am getting ready to sleep. Don't ask me why, I just don't. That is where I do most of my writing.</p>
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<p><strong>Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?</strong></p>
<p>A. By the fire of life you are refined, but by your faith you are defined. Life is an art, so paint it bright. (This is my own quote. I wrote it myself.) <br/><br/><strong>Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently?</strong></p>
<p><br/>A. <a href="http://www.tabithapike.net/">http://.tabithapike.net</a> “The Official Website and <a href="http://tabithapike.com/">http://tabithapike.com</a> “Raise the White Flag: Surrendering Tabitha” (Personal journal)</p>
<p>I have just finished “People of the Dark” which is I think my best work yet. It is in editing process now, getting reviews and soon on to the publishers. I have started working on “Vision: The Linking Stones” book 2, sequel to “Dream”. I have written 14 chapters so far. Hopefully it will be done by Fall.</p>
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<p>Authors.com profile: <a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/TabithaRPike">http://www.authors.com/profile/TabithaRPike</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Thanks for your time Tabitha! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, Digging it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can. We'd ask fellow members to support you by doing the same.</strong><br/> <br/><strong>Members, want to be interviewed too? It's free! Instructions are here: <a href="http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new">http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new</a></strong></p>
Spotlight Interview with Author Gabrielle Bisset
tag:www.authors.com,2012-06-08:3798404:BlogPost:140940
2012-06-08T02:00:00.000Z
SpotlightInterviews
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<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Gabrielle! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong><br></br><br></br><span>> A: My name is Gabrielle Bisset, and I write erotic romance. My Victorian Erotic Romance Trilogy, which includes Vampire Dreams, Love's Master, and Masquerade, was released last summer, and since then I've released two novel length books, Destiny Redeemed and Blood…</span></p>
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Gabrielle! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong><br/><br/><span>> A: My name is Gabrielle Bisset, and I write erotic romance. My Victorian Erotic Romance Trilogy, which includes Vampire Dreams, Love's Master, and Masquerade, was released last summer, and since then I've released two novel length books, Destiny Redeemed and Blood Avenged. </span><br/><br/><span>> </span><br/><br/><span><strong>> Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took</strong>.</span><br/><br/><br/><span>> A:I've written since I was a young girl, but it's only recently that I felt comfortable enough presenting my writing to the public. My first novel, Stolen Destiny, was inspired by a dream I had. I woke up one morning last July and I had many of the ideas for that story in my head. As it's a paranormal romance, it involved a race of people I created, Aeveren, and many of the facets of those characters were racing around my head when I woke up that morning. </span><br/><br/><span>> I wrote an entire first book about Aeveren before I got to Stolen Destiny, but in all, it took me about four months to write it. In general, novellas take about a month or two and novels take about twice as long. My most recent release, Blood Avenged, took a little longer because it's the beginning of a new series, the Sons of Navarus series, and I needed to make sure I constructed things correctly for the books that will follow.</span><br/><br/><span>> </span><br/><br/><strong>> Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book?</strong><br/><br/><span>> A. I loved creating the characters. The main character in Blood Avenged, Vasilije, is a 400 year old vampire who loves his life. He's pure hedonist! And Sasa, the female lead, is quite the opposite. She's caring and giving, something Vasilije hasn't been in centuries. The mix of their personalities was a lot of fun to create. </span><br/><br/><br/><br/><strong>> Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any? </strong><br/><br/><span>> A. As I have a master's degree in history, that subject always figures into my stories. My first book, Stolen Destiny, has a characters whose past lifetimes took place in 19th century Italy, 18th century England, and 5th century Rome. These are some of my favorite places and time periods, so I guess it's not surprising they ended up with an important role in the book. The follow up book to that, Destiny Redeemed, has characters who lived in ancient Etruscan Italy and 18th century England, and these also come from my love of those places and time periods. Blood Avenged is less historical and more paranormal, but it's set in New Orleans, and I even had the opportunity to research the settings I include in the book last October. What fun that was! </span><br/><br/><span>> </span><br/><br/><strong>> Q5. How did you get published?</strong><br/><br/><span>> A. I don't have a huge story about how I became published with my first novel, Stolen Destiny. I sent my manuscript out to one publisher on a lark. In hindsight, the manuscript wasn't ready in the least. But Siren contacted me a few weeks after receiving my book and said they wanted to publish it. Since then, I've chosen to indie publish, and I couldn't be happier. I prefer the ability to control how my writing is produced and presented to the public. </span><br/><br/><span>> </span><br/><br/><strong>> Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?</strong><br/><span>A. I realize now that my first book and its publisher are a unique fit. I write erotic romance, but at the heart of each of my books is a solid story. It's not all sex. Don't get me wrong. There's sex in my stories, but it's not the driving force of the story. Much of my publisher's books are far more sex driven. That's okay, but it's made me realize that indie publishing is where I want to be. </span><br/><br/><br/><br/><span>> </span><br/><br/><strong>> Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project?</strong><br/><span>A. I wish I would've known that I could publish the book independently. If I had known that, I would have been an indie writer from the start. I've indie-published since, and the experience has been fantastic. Yes, there's a lot of formatting to be done, but I control the process. And the fact is that in today's publishing world, authors are in charge of promotion, no matter who the publisher is. So why wouldn't I be an indie writer?</span><br/><br/><span>></span><br/><br/><strong>Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it?</strong><br/><span>A. I hope I hear readers say that Blood Avenged is engrossing and makes them want more. </span><br/><br/><strong>> Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them.</strong><br/><span>A. I hand write everything I write. Yes, I've written three 300+ page novels and three 100+ page novellas, and I've handwritten each one of them. Call it old fashioned, but I love the feel of the pen and paper. I simply cannot write on a computer. </span><br/><br/><span>> </span><br/><br/><strong>> Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?</strong><br/><span>A. I would tell new authors to explore all avenues. The publishing world is changing at lightning speed, and authors must choose the path that works best for them.</span><br/><br/><span>> </span><br/><br/><strong>> Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please.</strong><br/><span>A. I wake up each day at about 6:30 and do some promo work before I begin home schooling my teenage son at 9 am. I teach him until 1 pm, when the math and science people take over. Then it's time to check emails, work on blog posts, and just work in general before I go to work. I teach a few classes, do some office hours, and then it's back home. I write at nighttime, so by 8 pm, I'm hard at work with pen and notebook in hand. </span><br/><br/><span>> </span><br/><br/><strong>> Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?</strong><br/><span>A. I write sitting on my bed. If someone were to be sitting next to me, they'd see me all hunched over handwriting pages of story, scribbling reminders in the margins, and editing along the way. I know it's a popular idea to say that an author should turn off their inner editor when they write, but I can't do that, and to be honest, I wouldn't want to. For me, that's an integral part of the craft. That I edit continuously is simply what works for me. </span><br/><br/><span>> </span><br/><br/><strong>> Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?</strong><br/><br/><span>> A. I have two I like. The first is, "What would you attempt to do if you knew you would not fail?" The second is, "Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power."</span><br/><br/><span>> ></span><br/><strong>Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently?</strong><br/><br/><span>> A.Readers can visit my blog at </span><a href="http://gbisset.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://gbisset.blogspot.com/</a><span> and my website at </span><a href="http://www.gabriellebisset.com/" target="_blank">http://www.gabriellebisset.com/</a><span> I'm currently working on the second book in the Sons of Navarus series, Blood Betrayed, and it's scheduled for an early summer release. </span><br/><br/><span>> Thanks for a wonderful interview!</span></p>
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<p>Authors.com profile: <a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/GabrielleBisset">http://www.authors.com/profile/GabrielleBisset</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Thanks for your time Gabrielle! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, Digging it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can. We'd ask fellow members to support you by doing the same.</strong><br/> <br/><strong>Members, want to be interviewed too? It's free! Instructions are here: <a href="http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new">http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new</a></strong></p>
<p></p>
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Spotlight Interview with Author Jock Brocas
tag:www.authors.com,2012-06-07:3798404:BlogPost:140938
2012-06-07T19:00:00.000Z
SpotlightInterviews
http://www.authors.com/profile/SpotlightInterviews
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong><br></br>A: My name is Jock Brocas and I am the author of 4 books – currently writing my 5<sup>th</sup> and launched 2 books in 2 consecutive months (never again). My newest books are ‘Book of Six rings’ and ‘Everything Guide to past life experience.’ I am a nonfiction writer as I enjoy teaching and sharing knowledge – even…</p>
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong><br/>A: My name is Jock Brocas and I am the author of 4 books – currently writing my 5<sup>th</sup> and launched 2 books in 2 consecutive months (never again). My newest books are ‘Book of Six rings’ and ‘Everything Guide to past life experience.’ I am a nonfiction writer as I enjoy teaching and sharing knowledge – even though I only have a little.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took. </strong><br/>A: I have always enjoyed the process of writing and find that it can be very therapeutic. It’s rather like being an artist, you have an idea and then you have to craft and create the image you want others to perceive. Of course, for me, the secret is being able to intertwine lessons and teachings within the text. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book? </strong><br/>A. For me, creating the ‘Book of Six Rings’ was about teaching spiritual lessons within the text not really about Martial Arts or Budo. The reality is that one who just reads on the surface – perceives a martial arts book. However, it was never written this way and I can liken it to experiencing the void within meditation. The book was intended to help others live a blessed life in the service of humanity no-mater how small the gesture. Hidden within the text are lessons in love, compassion and forgiveness. These are lessons the great masters of Budo learned when they went above and beyond the combative sides of their chosen art, and are the lessons of every religion upon the planet no matter what you believe. I teach that we all have an intuitive nature that is innate and available to everyone. You may also label at as you wish, and the choice remains whether to use it or not.</p>
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<p><strong>Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any? </strong><br/>A. The many lessons I have learned both hard and soft are shown in the book, and many lessons in the words of others who experienced the events that helped to change their lives for the better. I also realized the martial way was primarily about these lessons aforementioned, which are equally viable to anyone whether they study or not. Lessons are lessons full stop. I utilize my ability as a medium to intertwine these lessons within the book without preaching and being accepting of everything. This is the way to becoming a modern spiritual warrior.</p>
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<p><strong>Q5. How did you get published?</strong></p>
<p>A. I had a small publisher before and then I landed myself excellent agents who represent both styles that I write. I have also been contracted by publishers to write for them. I have helped others who are new to writing books get published or get agents.</p>
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<p><strong>Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?</strong><br/>A. I guess the biggest surprise is that publishing a book is only the beginning, and I became very quickly disheartened when I found out that I would be the one to do the marketing and the promoting of the book. I feel the publishing industry is very fickle and changes are rapid, therefore keeping up with publishing trends can be difficult. The best thing I did was learning to market, design and optimize websites myself and that helped a great deal. I am a bit of a design junkie and enjoy the creative process of designing websites. It’s just the same as writing - a creative process, but the upshot is that it helps you promote your work. </p>
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<p><strong>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project? </strong><br/>A. Marketing, Promotion and how difficult writing a book can be - emotionally and mentally. Also I wish I knew more about the editing process, as editors themselves are funny animals and don’t always see your sentiment or intention. Sometimes they look beyond the craft, and only the result being dollars. I do feel that with the advent of digital publishing, many new author’s are getting a great opportunity to feature their work. On the flip side, so are a lot of deluded authors who put out bad work just for the money. Writing is a vocation, not just a job.</p>
<p><br/><strong>Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it? </strong></p>
<p>A. Simple: Ah I see, I get it, I think – maybe not! I should study more!</p>
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<p><strong>Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them. </strong><br/>A. I am very compassionate, forgiving, accepting and deeply spiritual. This is a quality I have learned through life experience and I believe is in everyone.</p>
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<p><strong>Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?</strong><br/>A. I would say Nin, which is a Japanese word for perseverance and endurance. Never give up! Think about this, if you push for something then you often push it away – allow it to come to you. Imagine if you will that you stand at the base of a beautiful waterfall. You want to capture as much of the water as possible because it seems the more you have - the better you will feel, but you can’t hold it for long. It will dissipate just as everything in life is temporary – even struggles. Therefore stand at the base and allow it to come to you. Immerse yourself in the water and surround yourself with its power. I feel this is a good analogy for new author’s. Sooner or later, your door will open.</p>
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<p><strong>Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please.</strong> <br/>A. I wake, I meditate, and I have a coffee and watch nature pass by. I then write. Later I will go out to a coffee shop and just sit and watch, I may even write at that time. Then I get on with the rest of the tasks of the day. </p>
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<p><strong>Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?</strong><br/>A. Coffee shops is where I write normally or somewhere I can be close to nature. If you were sitting beside me, you would see a normal guy having a coffee and enjoying the company of his wife, while we both tinker on our keyboards - she is also a talented writer.</p>
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<p><strong>Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?</strong></p>
<p>A. Forgiveness is hard but normally only for others, therefore compassion and understanding is the order of the day. Love others equally and be respectful, never judge and control the ego. Mistakes are only missed opportunities and it is up to the individual to learn from each.</p>
<p><br/><br/><strong>Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently? </strong><br/>A. My website about my writing is <a href="http://www.jockbrocas-author.com/">www.jockbrocas-author.com</a> and if anyone would like to read my spiritual blog on life go to <a href="http://www.jockbrocas.com/blog">www.jockbrocas.com/blog</a>. I enjoy answering new authors questions and helping them to be the best they can be.</p>
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<p>Authors.com profile: <a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/JockBrocas">http://www.authors.com/profile/JockBrocas</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Thanks for your time Jock! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, Digging it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can. We'd ask fellow members to support you by doing the same.</strong><br/> <br/><strong>Members, want to be interviewed too? It's free! Instructions are here: <a href="http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new">http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new</a></strong></p>
Spotlight Interview with Author Garry E. Lewis
tag:www.authors.com,2012-06-06:3798404:BlogPost:141056
2012-06-06T12:30:00.000Z
SpotlightInterviews
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<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Garry! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong><br></br> A: Greetings everyone, My name is Garry E. Lewis.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took.</strong> <br></br> A: I always had you might say a vivid imagination growing up, which lead to me becoming a fiction writer. I write…</p>
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Garry! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong><br/> A: Greetings everyone, My name is Garry E. Lewis.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took.</strong> <br/> A: I always had you might say a vivid imagination growing up, which lead to me becoming a fiction writer. I write Fictional Horror as well as Mystery/Suspense books</p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561441201?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="200" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561441201?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="200" class="align-center"/></a></p>
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<p><strong>Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book? </strong><br/> A. Hidden Springs Blood Moon Rising was a thrill to write, I pictured in my mind a small logging town by the name of Hidden Springs, Arkansas. The story starts off with cattle mutilations reported to the Fish and wildlife department by a local cattle farmer. I enjoyed the idea of a small town being terrorized by strange beast.<br/></p>
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<p><strong>Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any?</strong><br/> A. That goes back to my vivid imagination again, coming up with some chilling story's in my mind to put on paper. I always loved Werewolf stories growing up as a child, that I guess is what got the wheels turning in my mind to create some horror stories of my own creation. And then getting them published mostly aiming for the young adult readers, as well as the young at heart.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q5. How did you get published?</strong></p>
<p>A. I self publish through Createspace and Kindle as well.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?</strong><br/> A. Hidden Springs was a true joy to write, It practically wrote it self, as I had the story and characters in my mind already I just had to get them on paper, From there it just flowed very smoothly. <br/></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project?</strong> <br/> A. I really can't say that was an issue regarding this book at all.</p>
<p><br/> <br/> <strong>Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it?</strong><br/> A. That it was a thrilling story, that kept them glued to the pages to see what would happen next. And that the ending took them completely by surprise. I love it when I can throw a twist in at the end of the story catching my readers completely off guard.<br/></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them. </strong><br/> A. I think the one thing that would surprise them is that I'm is that I used to be a minister. They'd probably wonder why I chose to write horror stories. LOL I've just always loved scary movies and stories growing up as well as mystery's, Sherlock Holmes being one of my favorites.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Q<strong>10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?</strong><br/> A. I have more then one actually, follow your dream, as writing is a true joy. Once you get hooked on writing you'll find the ideas for future stories will just keep coming. The more you write the easier it flows at least that's been my experience. There is always a reader out there looking for a new story, new adventure. I write my books with my readers in mind. And I try to put as much realism into my characters as I can. I want them to feel as if they are right there in the middle of it all.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please. </strong><br/> A. Well As I've mentioned before I have a full time night job, so I sleep during the day, write in the evening hours before work or on my days off. I find when I'm well rested the writing flows much easier for me. Keeping in mind to also have family time, as when I'm involved in a new book I find it's easy for time to slip away quickly. Don't forget to take time off to be with family as well. The books in your mind it isn't going anywhere it will be there when you resume your writing. </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?</strong><br/> A. Probably me setting up in bed with my laptop typing away, while my wife lays next to me reading her Nora Roberts. Setting up in bed or at my desk is where I do most of my writing. </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?</strong></p>
<p>A. If you enjoy what you do, you'll do it well.</p>
<p><br/> <br/> <strong>Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently? </strong><br/> A. At present I'll soon be releasing my revised second edition of: The Curse of the Devil's Wolf Strap. It was my second book, editing was pretty rough, so I've cleaned it up quite a bit, same great story but much easier to read now, New title, New Cover, and it will also now be self published on Createspace as well and available in Kindle store with all my other titles. The new title is: "Devil Wolf the Curse Begins" and it is book one of a three book series I've written.</p>
<p>The second book of the series is entitled: Devil's Belt Vengeance Is mine, the third book of the series is entitled: "Devil's Belt the Final Confrontation" I'm also presently working on the second book of My Father Patrick series it's in the Mystery/Suspense category.</p>
<p> Entitled: "Father Patrick in Black Magic Woman".</p>
<p></p>
<p>Authors.com profile: <a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/GarryEdwardLewis">http://www.authors.com/profile/GarryEdwardLewis</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Thanks for your time Garry! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, Digging it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can. We'd ask fellow members to support you by doing the same.</strong><br/> <br/><strong>Members, want to be interviewed too? It's free! Instructions are here: <a href="http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new">http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new</a></strong></p>
Spotlight Interview with Author Latricia Chandler
tag:www.authors.com,2012-06-05:3798404:BlogPost:140740
2012-06-05T03:00:00.000Z
SpotlightInterviews
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<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Latricia! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>A. I am Latricia Chandler; my book is The Mystical Vampire. I live with my husband and two children. I love writing, drawing, and spending time with my family.</p>
<p></p>
<p><img class="align-center" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GZG-58Q6Vlk/Tu4TdpIvA3I/AAAAAAAAAE0/trcHdpAGgmY/s400/THUMBNAIL_IMAGE.jpg?width=200" width="200"></img></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long…</strong></p>
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Latricia! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>A. I am Latricia Chandler; my book is The Mystical Vampire. I live with my husband and two children. I love writing, drawing, and spending time with my family.</p>
<p></p>
<p><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GZG-58Q6Vlk/Tu4TdpIvA3I/AAAAAAAAAE0/trcHdpAGgmY/s400/THUMBNAIL_IMAGE.jpg?width=200" width="200" class="align-center"/></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took. </strong><br/>A: I came to be a writer through a friend, she told me that I had a good imagination but I put it off until my husband found my writing poems. The thing that inspired me to write books was the satisfaction to share my thoughts and imagination with others. It took me six years off and on to write The Mystical Vampire and the about four more years to have the nerve to publish it.</p>
<p></p>
<p> <strong>Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book? </strong><br/>A. The thing I enjoyed the most about this book was the research.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong> Q4: What facts of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any? </strong><br/>A. Well the fact of my life that was woven into this book was personal, the character Leena becomes a Forensic Expert and that was my childhood dream when I was seven.</p>
<p></p>
<p> <strong>Q5. How did you get published?</strong></p>
<p>A. Well, I started off working with Author House and it didn’t work out so, I decided to go off on my own with Create Space. I self- published work through CreateSpace.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?</strong><br/>A. I had some hiccups. I never knew marketing and promoting a book was harder than writing one.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project? </strong><br/>A. I wished I knew more about the writing as a business so I could have been wiser on whom I let publish my work.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong> Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it? </strong><br/>A. I would hope to hear them say the truth about it, I believe that the more honest readers are the easier an author can grow in their work.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong> Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them.</strong></p>
<p>A. I am a very shy person when it comes to talking about how I am.</p>
<p></p>
<p> <strong>Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?</strong><br/>A. Don’t rush your writing, let your creativity flow through you. When it comes to publishing ask questions about the business: some authors would love to help you out on information. And don’t give up, an author told me that if you love what you do you will enjoy doing it. Writing isn’t just about the money, that is just a bonus.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please. </strong><br/>A. Sorry I don’t have one right offhand, my days varies a lot.</p>
<p></p>
<p> <strong> Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?</strong><br/>A. Me in my chair in the living room writing in my notebook.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong> Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?</strong></p>
<p>A. when you start something that you love “Keep on Keeping on” a quote from my godfather.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong> Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently? </strong><br/>A. My website is <a href="http://www.darkpassionsbooks.com/">www.darkpassionsbooks.com</a> and latriciachandler.blogspot.com</p>
<p>My book was launched in January. I am currently working on my second novel Homicidal Desire which I am hoping to launch this summer. </p>
<p> </p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Thanks for your time Latricia! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, Digging it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can. We'd ask fellow members to support you by doing the same.</strong><br/> <br/><strong>Members, want to be interviewed too? It's free! Instructions are here:<a href="http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new">http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new</a></strong></p>
Spotlight Interview with Author Kurt Winans
tag:www.authors.com,2012-06-04:3798404:BlogPost:140969
2012-06-04T06:30:00.000Z
SpotlightInterviews
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<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Kurt! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong><br></br>A: My name is Kurt Winans, and the two books I have written thus far are “Sun & Water Cocktail” and “Left Side of the Road”. They are lighthearted humorous international adventures designed to entice the reader into an adventure of their own.</p>
<p></p>
<p> <strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a…</strong></p>
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Kurt! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong><br/>A: My name is Kurt Winans, and the two books I have written thus far are “Sun & Water Cocktail” and “Left Side of the Road”. They are lighthearted humorous international adventures designed to entice the reader into an adventure of their own.</p>
<p></p>
<p> <strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took.</strong> <br/>A: I had been keeping journals of travel adventures for years and I finally decided to swallow the fear and write some books. With work, and other facets of daily life, each book took several months to complete.</p>
<p></p>
<p> <strong>Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book? </strong><br/>A. It provided an opportunity to escape the daily grind by transporting myself back to places and events with happy memories.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong> Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any? </strong><br/>A. These adventures give the reader a chance to view the evolution of both the writing style and personal growth with regard to relationships. They show the humorous side to life and an ability to fit in with local cultures.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong> Q5. How did you get published? </strong> </p>
<p>A. My wife and I decided to eliminate the middle man, and created our own publishing company.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?</strong><br/>A. Of course! Most things in life rarely go completely according to plan, but adaptation to the present circumstances is all part of the fun.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project? </strong><br/>A. More about the complexity of the marketing machine.</p>
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<p><strong>Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it?</strong><br/>A. This is a relaxing, humorous, and informative read. It has made me want to visit some of the places mentioned in the book.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong> Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them. </strong><br/>A. That my body is solid steel surrounded by beer!</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?</strong><br/>A. When you think the editing process is complete, have someone else go over it again.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please.</strong> <br/>A. The real trick, or adventure, in life is to not have a typical day. I try to always find new things and places to experience while holding onto core beliefs. I enjoy attending sporting events, playing some golf when I have the time, and hiking in the mountains for a humbling perspective on life.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong> Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?</strong><br/>A. Most of my writing is done in my head while on long walks or hikes, before crafting those thoughts into short journal notes. Sitting beside me you might see a distant man, as I tend to always have something spinning about in my head. Then again you might see an attentive friend hanging on your every word while we discuss life over our favorite beverage.</p>
<p></p>
<p> <strong>Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by? </strong> </p>
<p>A. “Life is not a dress rehearsal”.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently? </strong><br/>A. I would like to thank you all for your time and interest. I look forward to communicating with some of you in the future. I invite you to peruse my website at coastersquill.com that discusses both books in more detail. Feedback is always important for all of us, so let me know what you think. I have plans to release a third book in May or June of 2012 with a different approach to the presentation and writing style.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Authors.com profile: <a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/KurtWinans">http://www.authors.com/profile/KurtWinans</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Thanks for your time Kurt! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, Digging it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can. We'd ask fellow members to support you by doing the same.</strong><br/> <br/><strong>Members, want to be interviewed too? It's free! Instructions are here:<a href="http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new">http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new</a></strong></p>
<p></p>
Spotlight Interview with Author Mandy Steinfeldt Crane
tag:www.authors.com,2012-06-03:3798404:BlogPost:141066
2012-06-03T17:30:00.000Z
SpotlightInterviews
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<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Mandy! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>A: Hello. My name is Mandy Steinfeldt Crane. I am from Eldora Iowa. I currently have two books that are published, At a Glance was published in March and On The bedroom Wall in September. The first is a simple love story that orginally was a high school English assignment that went above and beyond a short…</p>
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Mandy! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>A: Hello. My name is Mandy Steinfeldt Crane. I am from Eldora Iowa. I currently have two books that are published, At a Glance was published in March and On The bedroom Wall in September. The first is a simple love story that orginally was a high school English assignment that went above and beyond a short story. On The bedrroom Wall is a more complicated love story that is a three book series in order to tell the whole story. Some parts were taken right from my life.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took.</strong></p>
<p>A: If you would have asked back in high school if I wanted to be a writer I would have answered no lol. That would haven been the least of my choice of professions. It wasn't until I went to college to become a Registered Nurse. At out school, the Nursing program goes on a point system and while I was taking classes to increase my scores I had a little free time on my hands. It was in my English class that the idea of publishing came up. Just like in highschool we again had to write a short story. Well I thought why not just dust the one I used back then. I did and my professor was so impressed with it She encouraged me to think about having it published. When I didnt get into the nursing program a third time I began to think really hard on her suggestion. I let a few friends and dad read my manuscript. And they all said the same thing as my teacher. So I thought I really dont have anything to lose. I rewrote some parts, added new scenes, edited and revised it. Brought it up into todays world and when I was happy with the final copy. I sent it off. At a Glance was finally published in March. After that I fell in love with writing, editing, and illustrating. I love telling stories, creating new characters and taking my readers on a journey. I knew then that being an author was what I wanted to do. I then moved on to On the Bedroom Wall series. which is the one that I am most proud of.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book?</strong></p>
<p>A.Creating new charaters, and taking my readers on a journey because some of what goes on in the book I took right from my own life. My father was also my co-author so working with him was an exciting and wonderful time. We work so great bouncing ideas off one another.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any? </strong></p>
<p>A. I have OCD and through out my life I suffered from an anxiety and panic disorder as well as PTSD. So in a way I guess you can say that the main character could be me.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q5. How did you get published?</strong></p>
<p>A.I went online for publishing houses and found one.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?</strong> </p>
<p>A.Yes, you dont realize just how much money it costs to get published and when your on a fixed income getting a book published might seem like an impossible task. But dont give up. There is always ways of making it happen.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project?</strong></p>
<p>A.How much time and energy and lack of sleep goes into writing.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it?</strong></p>
<p>A.I would hope that I would hear them say that they loved it. That it was worth reading and would recommend it to all their friends. That it made an impact.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them.</strong></p>
<p>A.That I also draw and did all the illustrations in both my books.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?</strong></p>
<p>A. That writing can be a difficult career but rewarding if you have the patience, energy, focus and drive. You have to love what you do or it becomes a chore. and lets not forget money it costs alot to get people to notice your books.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please.</strong></p>
<p>A. My day consists of taking care of my husband who is right now recovering from foot surgery. When he's finished I turn my computer on and pull up my file. I will write for a couple hours. By that time it's dinner time and I take a break, cook, maybe clean, do laundry. in the afternoon I go back online checking messages, my social feeds, then its back to writing for another couple hours. After supper I might watch tv for a while but usually I'm back to my writing. I spend about half my day writing. I might sketch a picture to maybe use later in one of my books. But I'm constantly wiritng or revising or in deep conversations with my co-author.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?</strong> A.I have a desk in my dining room that I sit at. It is my makeshift office. You would see a big desk, my laptop, a book shelf and a turtle tank and headphones. On the wall, a poster of my book and two of my illustrations in frames.</p>
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<p></p>
<p><strong>Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?</strong></p>
<p>A. Never give up on your dreams. Keep reaching for what you want and through hard work anything is possible. Never settle for anything less then your dreams.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently?</strong></p>
<p>A.I am currently working on the second book in my Bedroom Wall series, That book is titled New Beginnings and the story just keeps getting bigger, I have gotten several 5 stars reviews for On the Bedroom Wall and I hope that I can make these next two books just as exciting and mind blowing.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Authors.com profile: <a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/MandySteinfeldtCrane">http://www.authors.com/profile/MandySteinfeldtCrane</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Thanks for your time Mandy! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, Digging it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can. We'd ask fellow members to support you by doing the same.</strong><br/> <br/><strong>Members, want to be interviewed too? It's free! Instructions are here: <a href="http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new">http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new</a></strong></p>
Spotlight Interview with Author Sheila Hendrix
tag:www.authors.com,2012-06-02:3798404:BlogPost:140935
2012-06-02T15:00:00.000Z
SpotlightInterviews
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<p align="center" style="text-align: left;"><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Sheila! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong><br></br> </p>
<p style="text-align: left;"> A. I’d love to. Thanks for having me! I’m a native of Alabama and reside there with my husband of seventeen years. My only children are my eight dogs. I work as a nurse for a psychiatric hospital and also does reviews for two magazines,…</p>
<p align="center" style="text-align: left;"><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Sheila! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong><br/> </p>
<p style="text-align: left;"> A. I’d love to. Thanks for having me! I’m a native of Alabama and reside there with my husband of seventeen years. My only children are my eight dogs. I work as a nurse for a psychiatric hospital and also does reviews for two magazines, although I haven’t done that in awhile because I’ve been busy writing my own Young Adult Series. I still do reviews but I do them on my own now.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"> I’ve always wanted to write but never thought I’d be able to. It’s been a dream of mine since I was a little girl. I practically raised my little brother because our parents both had to work. I had to grow up fast and that was where I got the idea of writing about two brothers whose parents abandoned them when they were little.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"> The Dark Circle book series is the Young Adult paranormal series I’m working on right now. I got the idea for The Betrayal after having a nightmare that stayed with me for days.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"> The Betrayal is the first book in the series and should be coming out by the first of year, 2012. The Smashwords version is out now. The second book in the series is Head Games and then Darkness Falls. I’m not sure how many books will be in the series but there will be several.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"> My hobbies are reading, writing, gardening, traveling, hiking, camping and swimming. I’m currently in school to earn my Associate Degree in Paralegal studies but my dream is to write. I actually had someone ask me the other day if I could make a living writing fiction, would I give up working as a nurse and going to school. I told them absolutely! In a heartbeat! That’s how much I love to write.</p>
<p> </p>
<p align="center"> The Betrayal</p>
<p align="center">Synopsis</p>
<p align="center"> </p>
<p> When Zachariah and Matthew McCannon were young, their parents abandoned them, leaving Zack to take care of his little brother, Matt. Though they lived with their grandmother, she was always sick, so Zack was forced to raise him. This was not an easy task.</p>
<p> Zack had his hands full because of Matt’s unusual powers. He has visions and dreams that come true, and when he gets angry or upset, he can move things with his mind. Because of this, evil seeks him, keeping Zack on his toes as his protector.</p>
<p> As the brothers grew older, they became hunters, pursuing evil supernatural forces. After Matthew has a dream, it sends them on a hunt for cave, not knowing why, but realizing it is necessary. When they arrive, Matt finds the vision was a trap.</p>
<p> A Darkness like no other wants to control Matt and kill Zack. The Darkness is named, Alanya, which means, <i>The Destroyer.</i></p>
<p> Alanya hates the brothers. In the past, every time he tried to apprehend Matt, Zack would thwart him by protecting his brother. Alanya is incensed that a mere human boy can beat him, for demons are not to be defied.</p>
<p> When Alanya asks Zack, “How far will you go to save your brother?” Zack answers, “As far as I have to.”</p>
<p> Now, the brothers are faced with a deadly force they never had to deal with before. This demon is on a deadly mission to destroy everything the brothers hold dear. If the McCannon’s are not careful, neither of them will be able to escape.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong> Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took. </strong></p>
<p>A: I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I love to read and have always dreamed of having my own book in print. I never thought I could write but I had a passion for it just the same. Once I started to write, I found and outlet. I’ve been writing ever since. What inspired me to write The Betrayal was nightmare I had that stayed with me for days. I don’t usually have nightmares but this one was something else. When I finally shook it off, I thought about how good it would be as a book, so I wrote it. Not only that, but I wanted to show what it would be like if you loved somebody so much, you were willing to do anything to make sure that person was protected, even if you had to sacrifice yourself for them. Zack would do anything for his brother and is even willing to die in his place. The world could use more of that kind of love.</p>
<p>It took me 3 years to write The Betrayal.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book? </strong><br/>A. I liked developing the characters, seeing how they would evolve in the story, and giving them a personality of their own.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any? </strong><br/>A. I’m a lot like Zack and Matt. Zack is a hothead, so am I. He his fiercely loyal to his brother as am I. I can mess with him but nobody else better. Our parents both had to work when we were growing up so it was up to me to raise my brother. I was eleven years old when I started taking care of him and he was five.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q5. How did you get published?</strong></p>
<p>A. I’ve self published.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?</strong></p>
<p>A. Nothing except the fact that everytime I thought I had it finished, I found problems and I had to rewrite it. I think I’ve rewritten about 5 times.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project? </strong><br/>A. To get the book professionally copy edited before I put it out there. I didn’t do it and so when the book came out, initially, there were a lot of errors. Now it’s been professionally edited and it’s a whole lot better than the original.</p>
<p><br/><br/><strong>Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it?</strong><br/>A. That they enjoyed it, that they like the relationship between the brothers as well as the cops and the doctor who came to help, that they are going to tell everyone how good a story it was.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them. </strong><br/>A. I’m not a people person. I’m more of a loner and don’t like a lot of people around. I don’t have a bunch of friends but only a few close ones. I’m kind of antisocial for the most part.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?</strong><br/>A. Never give up. If you have a dream to write, write. When people tell you, you can’t or that nobody will read it, write anyway. Don’t let anybody tell you you’re not going to make it because if you have a dream, you are the only one that can make it come true.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please. </strong></p>
<p>A. I go to work. I’m a nurse at a psychiatric hospital. When I get off of work I go to school. Before I go to bed at night, I write, check emails, read and review other peoples books and then go to bed. The next day I started all over again.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?</strong><br/>A. In my bedroom at my lap top. You’d see bookshelves lined with books, research papers all over the place and probably a couple of dogs lying on my bed. I’ll have a Dr. Pepper, a hot cup of tea and a cookie sitting beside me.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> <strong>Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?</strong></p>
<p>A. Live with your eyes wide open.</p>
<p><br/><br/><strong>Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently? </strong><br/>A. I have a blog. The address is <a href="http://sheilahendrix.blogspot.com/">http://sheilahendrix.blogspot.com/</a> My website is <a href="http://www.sheilahendrix.net/">http://www.sheilahendrix.net/</a>. </p>
<p>The Betrayal is out on Smashwords and I’m working on the print version now. When it’s done, it will be available at Amazon. I also am working on getting on Barnes and Nobles Pubit site. I’ve talked to a couple of places about a book signing but nothing’s set in stone yet and I’m working on Head Games, the second book in The Dark Circle book series.</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>Authors.com profile: </strong><a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/SheilaHendrix">http://www.authors.com/profile/SheilaHendrix</a></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>Thanks for your time Sheila! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, Digging it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can. We'd ask fellow members to support you by doing the same.</strong><br/> <br/><strong>Members, want to be interviewed too? It's free! Instructions are here:<a href="http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new">http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new</a></strong></p>
Spotlight Interview with Author Barry Silverstein
tag:www.authors.com,2012-06-01:3798404:BlogPost:140736
2012-06-01T17:00:00.000Z
SpotlightInterviews
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<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Barry! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>A: <span>I’m Barry Silverstein, a professional freelance writer who lives in</span> <span>Asheville</span><span>,</span> <span>North Carolina</span> <span>(a wonderful town with a big creative vibe in the heart of the</span> <span>Blue Ridge Mountains</span><span>). I primarily write business and marketing…</span></p>
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Barry! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>A: <span>I’m Barry Silverstein, a professional freelance writer who lives in</span> <span>Asheville</span><span>,</span> <span>North Carolina</span> <span>(a wonderful town with a big creative vibe in the heart of the</span> <span>Blue Ridge Mountains</span><span>). I primarily write business and marketing articles, blogs and book reviews. I have written a number of business and marketing books as well. Back in 2003, I decided to write fiction as a recreational pastime. Since I enjoy reading thrillers, I thought I’d try my hand at writing one. The result was my first novel, “The Doomsday Virus,” about a hacker who unleashes a computer virus on</span> <span>America</span><span>’s financial system. </span></p>
<p><span>I’ve just self-published my second novel, “Water’s Edge,” which is an environmental thriller about a case of water pollution that turns into what appears to be domestic terrorism. (Of course, things aren’t always what they appear to be!).</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span><a width="150" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561439280?profile=RESIZE_180x180" target="_self"><img width="200" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561439280?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="200" class="align-center"/></a></span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><strong> Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took.</strong></p>
<p>A: I have loved writing since I was a kid and found that I liked moving words around on a page more than moving blocks around on the floor. I held jobs in public relations and advertising that always involved promotional writing. I started my own direct and Internet marketing agency, built it around my copywriting skills, and ran it for twenty years. I wrote non-fiction marketing books during this time. I decided to become a full-time freelance writer about six years ago and have never regretted it. I still write non-fiction for income but I get a kick out of writing fiction too.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book?</strong></p>
<p>A. <span>I really enjoy building believable characters and seeing what they will do next! "Water's Edge" was fun because I wrote it in first person and had to imagine what the main character would say and do. I also liked using a dog as a hero, since I am a dog lover.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><br/> <strong>Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any?</strong></p>
<p>A. “Water’s Edge” is narrated by the protagonist, David Samuels, who is a retired baby boomer. He is a former environmental investigator who relocates to Asheville with his black lab, Blackout. David taught Blackout to sniff chemicals as part of his professional life. Now they get involved in a perplexing case that kind of brings David out of retirement.</p>
<p>To create David and Blackout the dog, I used my own experience as a baby boomer. I own a dog who is in some ways similar to Blackout, and I did indeed relocate to Asheville, so that part came easily to me. However, I knew nothing about water pollution, environmental investigation, or chemical-sniffing dogs, so I had a lot of learning to do. My dog and I were just the starting point for David and Blackout.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q5. How did you get published?</strong></p>
<p>A. My first non-fiction book filled a real need because it was the first book to cover the topic of business-to-business Internet marketing. I wrote a book proposal and a small, specialized publisher bought it. I also sold a second book to this publisher. For my third non-fiction book about branding I again wrote a proposal and a large publisher published it.</p>
<p><span>I sent my first novel to a number of agents and got nothing but rejections. I decided to self-publish it instead. I was very happy with the end product and I liked having creative control over the entire process.</span></p>
<p><span>I decided to self-publish “Water’s Edge” also, but I went a step further and decided to test the concept of publishing it only as an eBook. </span> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?</strong></p>
<p>A. <span>As I was writing “Water’s Edge,” I realized that the characters would sometimes pull me in directions I hadn’t anticipated. That was a surprise, although I experienced the same thing writing my first novel. It's interesting how characters seem to take on a life of their own.</span></p>
<p><span>Publishing was a very different experience doing “Water’s Edge” as an eBook rather than preparing it for print. The requirements for eBooks are not standardized across platforms. Thankfully, I used Smashwords, which led me through the process and made it a lot easier to get it published through a number of channels, although I still had to publish it with Amazon separately.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project?</strong></p>
<p>A. <span>I wish I’d known how challenging it would be to get a piece of fiction noticed, reviewed, and mentioned anywhere if you’re not a recognized name!</span></p>
<p><br/> <strong>Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it?</strong></p>
<p>A. I’d love to hear one reader say to another, “I’m reading ‘Water’s Edge’ and it’s so darn good I can’t put it down at night… and I can’t wait to read the next one in the series!” (I hope to do a series based on Blackout's adventures.)</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them.</strong></p>
<p>A. Most people would be surprised to learn that my wife and I own four dogs and almost continuously foster cats in our basement!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?</strong></p>
<p>A. Never ever give up. Write that book, if that’s your dream, and publish it yourself if that’s what it takes. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please.</strong></p>
<p>A. <span>A typical day for me involves juggling a number of writing projects and writing blog posts for my own blog. I make it a point to walk at least two of my dogs every day. It clears my mind... and the area where I live is just too beautiful not to take advantage of it!</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?</strong></p>
<p>A. I work in a combination office/den. If you were sitting beside me, you'd see me typing away furiously, surrounded by a pack of dogs. You'd be able to look out the window at the trees and mountains.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?</strong></p>
<p>A. I like this quote from Louis L'Amour: "There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning." That keeps me motivated.</p>
<p><br/> <br/> <strong>Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently?</strong></p>
<p>A. I'd encourage folks to visit the blog for "Water's Edge" (<a href="http://www.blackoutthedog.com/">http://www.blackoutthedog.com</a>) and if they're interested in marketing guides, they should take a look at <a href="http://www.123eguides.com/">http://www.123eguides.com</a> as well. These are my latest projects. My website is <a href="http://www.barrysilverstein.com/">http://www.barrysilverstein.com</a> .</p>
<p></p>
<p>Authors.com profile: <a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/BarrySilverstein">http://www.authors.com/profile/BarrySilverstein</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Thanks for your time Barry! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, Digging it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can. We'd ask fellow members to support you by doing the same.</strong><br/> <br/><strong>Members, want to be interviewed too? It's free! Instructions are here: <a href="http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new">http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new</a></strong></p>
Spotlight Interview with Author Kathy Yvette Trivette
tag:www.authors.com,2012-05-29:3798404:BlogPost:141150
2012-05-29T05:00:00.000Z
SpotlightInterviews
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<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Kathy! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong><br></br>A:Thanks for the interview. My name is Kathy Yvette Trivette, and I am a new author. The title of my book is "Freddie Frog's Great Wisdom" which just came out in November of 2011. I wrote it to help children make good choices and to help them when they are faced with a problem.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q2: Please…</strong></p>
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Kathy! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong><br/>A:Thanks for the interview. My name is Kathy Yvette Trivette, and I am a new author. The title of my book is "Freddie Frog's Great Wisdom" which just came out in November of 2011. I wrote it to help children make good choices and to help them when they are faced with a problem.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took.</strong><br/>A:I have written in a dairy and journals as far back as I can remember. I have also written short stories that never were published. I see children every day that are being bullied, called names, and going through problems that life throws at them. I want to make a difference in their lives. I will be happy if my book can help one child. I think God inspired me to write my book. I try to put God and family first in my life. It took about a year total to write my book. I had other obligations that came first.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book?</strong><br/>A. I enjoyed creating the characters in my book the most. I wanted my book to be different. Most of the characters have the same first and last name ending with the same letters and the type of animals they are. For example, Frankie Fox and Howie Hippo are to of the characters in the book.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any? </strong><br/>A. Some of the stories resembles my life growing up in Kentucky. Also, I took some of the events from my own children as they were growing up.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q5. How did you get published?</strong></p>
<p>A. I looked up most of the publishers on the internet. I had PublishAmerica publish my book.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?</strong><br/>A. I didn't get to write as much as I wanted to.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project?</strong><br/>A. I wish I had known how many publishers that are out there.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it?</strong><br/>A. I hope they would say that my book is well written, and that my book could help a child who is going through some tough issues.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them.</strong><br/>A. I work in retail, and in my spare time I make unique pillows for children and adults.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?</strong><br/>A. I would tell them to never give up on their dream.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please.</strong><br/>A. I get up and go to work. When I get home I cook and clean like everyone else. I work on writing or coming up with ideas about my next book. Then I spend time with family and friends. I go to church on Sunday mornings.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?</strong><br/>A. I do my writing at my desk in a separate room. I do my writing in there so I can concentrate. You would see my desk, tons of books, and my computer if you were sitting beside me. You would also see pictures of angels and my family. There would be my notes on my desk for my next book.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?</strong></p>
<p>A. "Never let the opinions of others get you down. It is what you know about yourself that matters most." That quote came from my book. Another one is "I use to complain about having no shoes. Until I met a man who had no feet." This quote did not come from my book.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently?</strong><br/>A. My book is on PublishAmerica.com. You can also find my book listed on Amazon.com and Barnes & Nobel.com. I am planning a book signing and reading soon. I am presently working on my next book about Christmas.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Authors.com profile: <a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/KathyYvetteTrivette">http://www.authors.com/profile/KathyYvetteTrivette</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Thanks for your time Kathy! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, Digging it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can. We'd ask fellow members to support you by doing the same.</strong><br/> <br/><strong>Members, want to be interviewed too? It's free! Instructions are here: <a href="http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new">http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new</a></strong></p>
Spotlight Interview with author Stacie Williams
tag:www.authors.com,2012-05-28:3798404:BlogPost:141053
2012-05-28T04:00:00.000Z
SpotlightInterviews
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<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Stacie! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p><span>A: My name is Stacie Williams and I am the author of <em>The House With 9 Rooms.</em></span><br></br><br></br> <strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took. </strong><br></br> <span>A: I love to read and always have crazy dreams, I wanted to…</span></p>
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Stacie! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p><span>A: My name is Stacie Williams and I am the author of <em>The House With 9 Rooms.</em></span><br/><br/> <strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took. </strong><br/> <span>A: I love to read and always have crazy dreams, I wanted to become a writer so i did. My kids and </span><span>family, especially my dreams. To write my children's book, not long but I have been thinking about </span><span>it for a long time. The actual writing took a couple of weeks.</span><br/><br/><br/><br/> <strong>Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book? </strong><br/> <span>A. That someone would read it and enjoy it.</span><br/><br/><br/> <strong>Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any? </strong><br/> <span>A. Just my dreams, the book is based on actual dreams combined into one.</span><br/><br/><br/> <strong>Q5. How did you get published?</strong><br/> <span>A. i sent it to decenthill publishers and they loved it.</span><br/><br/><br/> <strong>Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?</strong><br/> <span>A. no </span><br/><br/><br/> <strong>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project? </strong><br/> <span>A. How hard it would be when your book didn't sell so well.</span><br/><br/><br/> <strong>Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it? </strong><br/> <span>A. Good things but I would love for them to be honest and mean them.</span><br/><br/><br/> <strong>Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them. </strong><br/> <span>A. Nothing really.</span><br/><br/><br/><br/> <strong>Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?</strong><br/> <span>A. Take your time and research everything, don't rush.</span><br/><br/><br/> <strong>Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please. </strong><br/> <span>A. I wake up, get my son dressed for school. My husband takes my son to school and goes to </span><span>work. I clean and stay home with my daughter and pick my son up from the bus stop. If im lucky i </span><span>get some writing done but not always.</span><br/><br/><br/> <strong>Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?</strong><br/> <span>A. In my livingroom on the computer and sometimes at night on a notepad when my kids are </span><span>sleeping.</span><br/><br/><br/> <strong>Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?</strong><br/> <span>A. Just be yourself.</span><br/><br/><br/> <strong>Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently? </strong><br/> <span>A. I have a collection of short stories i have been working on but need to go back over and change </span><span>some things.</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>Authors.com profile: <a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/staciewilliams">http://www.authors.com/profile/staciewilliams</a></span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><strong>Thanks for your time Stacie! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, Digging it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can. We'd ask fellow members to support you by doing the same.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Members, want to be interviewed too? It's free! Instructions are here:<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new">http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new</a></strong></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
Spotlight Interview with Author Mark Miller
tag:www.authors.com,2012-05-23:3798404:BlogPost:135149
2012-05-23T13:00:00.000Z
SpotlightInterviews
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<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Mark! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>A: Thanks for having me! I currently resides in Florida with my family. My father was a newspaper writer and editor for both the Kansas City Star and Kansan. I received his Bachelor’s Degree in Film from the University of Kansas. I have been influenced by C.S. Lewis, Stephen King and Tolkien and movies such as…</p>
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Mark! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>A: Thanks for having me! I currently resides in Florida with my family. My father was a newspaper writer and editor for both the Kansas City Star and Kansan. I received his Bachelor’s Degree in Film from the University of Kansas. I have been influenced by C.S. Lewis, Stephen King and Tolkien and movies such as The Dark Crystal, and Star Wars. I have co-written four screenplays, two of which were produced as ultra-low budget direct-to-DVD features and a three episode children’s program. I have completed three other novels and a screenplay. Comfort Publishing has published my Empyrical Tales fantasy series; <em>Book I: The Fourth Queen</em> and <em>Book II: The Lost Queen. Book III: The Secret Queen</em> is coming June 2012. Through Trestle Press, I have two digital short story series, one spiritual and one for young readers. I believe being a father of four makes me uniquely qualified to write fantasy stories. My two daughters unknowingly provided the models for the main character sisters.</p>
<p><br/> </p>
<p><strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took.</strong></p>
<p>A: I have wanted to be a writer as long as I can remember, even back in high school. I suppose I have to follow in the footsteps of my namesake, Mark Twain. It took me about three months to write the first draft of <em>The Fourth Queen.</em> Of course, we all know the editing process can take much longer.</p>
<p><br/> </p>
<p><strong>Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book?</strong></p>
<p>A. Even now, my greatest enjoyment comes from the reader’s responses, both adults and children. It is wonderful to see them laugh or gasp at the right moment.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any? </strong></p>
<p>A. My morals and beliefs are strong and show as positive attributes in my heroes. I want my children to have a good example even after I’m gone. Also, many of my daughters’ characteristics are in the main characters.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q5. How did you get published?</strong></p>
<p>A. Queries. I sent out plenty of query letters. Comfort Publishing liked what they read, I guess.</p>
<p><br/><strong>Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?</strong></p>
<p>A. I have learned that print publishing is a long process. I never expected it to be that way. I try to be patient, but what can I say, I get excited.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project?</strong></p>
<p>A. I wish I’d known more about deep POV. I’ve learned a lot since, but I think it is that point-of-view that helps the reader connect with the character and then the story. I think I pulled it off pretty well in <em>The Fourth Queen</em>. I am always learning though.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it?</strong></p>
<p>A. I would like to hear them say how much they love my characters and can’t wait for the next book.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them.</strong></p>
<p>A. My writing is very family-friendly, positive role models and such. I try not to be too secretive about it, but I am a zombie fan. I love zombie books and movies. I don’t think I will be able to fit them into any of my stories, but who knows?</p>
<p><br/> </p>
<p><strong>Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?</strong></p>
<p>A. Keep writing. Even if you’ve been rejected 100 times, keep at it. Everybody has a story to tell.</p>
<p><br/> </p>
<p><strong>Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please.</strong></p>
<p>A. I usually don’t have a typical day. With four kids, working as a substitute teacher and writing, my days are constantly in motion. It’s a good day when I can knock out 2000 words, get groceries, do the dishes and have time for video games with the kids.</p>
<p><br/><strong>Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?</strong></p>
<p>A. Some of my short stories, I write in Word at my desk. It’s a fairly nice Ikea given to me by a friend, scattered with note cards for story ideas and “honey-dos”. I prefer to write my novels longhand. I carry around a spiral notebook and a pen. When I am working on the first draft of a novel, I can be caught writing anywhere.</p>
<p><br/><strong>Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?</strong></p>
<p>A. Be nice.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently?</strong></p>
<p>A. My website is <a href="http://www.millerwords.com/">www.MillerWords.com</a>. I am also on Facebook. I love getting new friends and fans. I try to put out a short story with Trestle Press at least once a month. My next book with Comfort Publishing is <em>The Secret Queen</em> and it is coming June 2012. I have recently completed the first draft of <em>Book IV: The First Queen</em>. Thanks again for the interview!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Authors.com profile: <a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/MarkMiller">http://www.authors.com/profile/MarkMiller</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Thanks for your time Mark! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, Digging it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can. We'd ask fellow members to support you by doing the same.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Members, want to be interviewed too? It's free! Instructions are here: <a href="http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new" rel="nofollow">http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new</a></strong></p>
Spotlight Interview with Author Marie Symeou
tag:www.authors.com,2012-05-16:3798404:BlogPost:135032
2012-05-16T00:00:00.000Z
SpotlightInterviews
http://www.authors.com/profile/SpotlightInterviews
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Marie! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>A: Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I am from England and my name is Marie Symeou. My novel, <em>Frozen In Time</em>, is a historical fantasy; a story about an Ancient Greek vampire who searches eternity for the reincarnated soul of his dead wife while trying to find a way to destroy his evil maker, a…</p>
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Marie! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>A: Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I am from England and my name is Marie Symeou. My novel, <em>Frozen In Time</em>, is a historical fantasy; a story about an Ancient Greek vampire who searches eternity for the reincarnated soul of his dead wife while trying to find a way to destroy his evil maker, a vampiric sea-monster named Scylla. It's about a love that can transcend anything. Even death or banishment to otherworldly realms, or the transformation of the lovers into immortal beings. It's available now on Kindle and Smashwords and will soon be out in paperback.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561445032?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="152" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561445032?profile=RESIZE_180x180" width="152"/></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took.</strong></p>
<p>A: Ever since I was little I loved to write. I used to make up little books and magazines, and at school I really loved English and creative writing. Then as I got older I began writing short stories. I also wrote song lyrics (I'm a singer), but I always had it in me that one day I would like to write a novel. I've always been intrigued by vampires, and as a child I loved watching the Christopher Lee Hammer Classics. When I began writing novels my first attempt was a historical novel set in the 18th century but I soon abandoned that. Then I tried a few contemporary stories. However, it wasn't until I saw Anne Rice's Interview With The Vampire in 1994 that I then realized that what I really wanted to write about was vampires and in the horror or fantasy genre. I began writing about a 12th century vampire, but as his backstory grew (I wanted him to be really ancient, from Ancient Greece), more characters and plot lines quickly developed. He was searching for his twin soul in medieval England, but his life as a vampire really begins in ancient Greece, so I took him there. This became <em>Book 1 - Frozen In Time</em>. So far, I have in mind to write two more books in this series, but you never know. I could end up writing 10 books in the series.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book?</strong></p>
<p>A. The chance to research ancient Greek history and mythology, which has always fascinated me, plus many other areas of interest, such as otherworldly realms, faeries, the life of Alexander the Great (who appears briefly in the novel, but not as a vampire!), reincarnation and the afterlife. Also, writing this book enabled me to escape into another world, which is great. I don't like real life!</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any? </strong></p>
<p>A. Well, I know what it is to feel strongly and to love deeply. I am highly-sensitive and an empath, so it's very easy for me to get inside a character's mind and feel their emotions, to put myself in someone else's shoes and experience what they are going through, even if it is not an experience I myself have experienced. Also, my dad passed away last year as I was nearing completion of Frozen, and so a lot of the pain I felt about losing him is woven into that book. I read a lot of books on the afterlife and mediumship, and that too became part of the ongoing research for the novel (I tend to research as I write these days). I do believe in reincarnation, I believe the soul never dies, and I know my dad is watching me and helping me from the other side and that one day we will meet again. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q5. How did you get published?</strong></p>
<p>A. I tried a few agents, but I knew deep inside no one was going to take me on because the market is so saturated with vampire novels at present. So, I just did what everyone else seems to be doing at the moment and went down the self-publishing route. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?</strong></p>
<p>A. Yes, loads! Sometimes I had the worst writer's block and really felt like giving up. And as for the publishing process, I had so many formatting issues and wondered if the gods were against me getting published. It really got to me. But maybe that's just me. I can be a bit of a drama queen. I am Greek after all. We invented drama!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project?</strong></p>
<p>A. That it wasn't going to be easy and that it was going to take me about two years to write this novel.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it?</strong></p>
<p>A. That it's amazing, the best thing they've read in a long time. That they want to see it made into a film.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them.</strong></p>
<p>A. I'm a bit psychic and I talk to animals... I hate sunlight and the heat (it's true, I'm not saying it to sound like I'm a cool vampire or something). I truly am happiest when there are clouds in the sky and the weather is quite cold. I'm also not as quiet as I look. On first impression people always assume that I'm too quiet and shy, but I am just a deep thinker, living in my head a lot. I like to tread carefully, analalyzing situations and people with care before stepping out of my shell. I am a Cancerian, so perhaps that has something to do with it. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?</strong></p>
<p>A. What everyone says. Believe in yourself and never give up. Plus, write about what you want to read, what you are truly passionate about. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please.</strong></p>
<p>A. Woken up at 5am by my naughty kitten Athena, feed her, drink coffee, have breakfast, turn on laptop, check the internet/emails and then after I've played with her, start writing. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?</strong></p>
<p>A. A small desk in my bedroom, a cd player and iPod by my side, headphones, a statuette of a fairy, some crystals, a small picture of Suzy, my first cat who has since passed, tablelamp, some books on faeries and writing, and a scented candle. On my bed behind me you are most likely to see my kitten Athena sleeping. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?</strong></p>
<p>A. 'The unexamined life is not worth living' - Socrates.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently?</strong></p>
<p>A. I am currently working on the next vampire novel in the Chosen Ones series. I've got a bit of research to do on that one. It's set mostly during Byzantine times and continues the story of Philip, my ancient Greek vampire, plus there are some new intriguing characters that I am excited about and who have already taken the storyline in a new direction. Please visit my website <a href="http://www.mariesymeou.com">http://www.mariesymeou.com</a>.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Authors.com profile: <a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/MarieS">http://www.authors.com/profile/MarieS</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Thanks for your time Marie! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, Digging it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can. We'd ask fellow members to support you by doing the same.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Members, want to be interviewed too? It's free! Instructions are here: <a href="http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new" rel="nofollow">http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new</a></strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
Spotlight Interview with Author Sarah Williams
tag:www.authors.com,2012-05-02:3798404:BlogPost:133800
2012-05-02T15:06:53.000Z
SpotlightInterviews
http://www.authors.com/profile/SpotlightInterviews
<p><strong><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561431433?profile=original" target="_self"></a>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Sarah! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>A: My name is Sarah Williams and I’m the author of Captive. I’m originally from Wiltshire in England but currently live in the Illawarra region of Australia. As well as writing I love to read and also…</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561431433?profile=original" target="_self"></a>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Sarah! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>A: My name is Sarah Williams and I’m the author of Captive. I’m originally from Wiltshire in England but currently live in the Illawarra region of Australia. As well as writing I love to read and also enjoy films, music, gardening, good food and wine and yoga.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561431433?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561431433?profile=original" width="224" height="314"/></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>My book, Captive, is about a young woman called Lux who has been abducted by an old family enemy. She understands her captor is dangerous, yet she doesn’t feel threatened by him and whilst she is naïve to a dark past she knows that she must escape. What Lux doesn’t know is that there are other parties tracking both her and her abductor. Whilst some have only Lux’s best interests at heart there are other, more sinister people that stalk her with vicious intent. Whilst Lux tries to flee her fate it then becomes a race against time to see who will reach her first.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took.</strong></p>
<p>A: I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. As soon as I was able to form sentences I started writing stories. I went from handwriting, to a typewriter, to a word processor. I wrote my first full length novel at the age of eleven and have been writing ever since. When a story begins to take shape in my head then I’m compelled to write it down. The idea for “Captive” quite literally just popped into my head one day and the whole thing developed from there. I would sleep with a notepad next to my bed because ideas would hit me in the middle of the night. Characters developed, a storyline was forged and a tale emerged. I wrote my first draft in under a year and then it went through about six months of editing after that.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book?</strong></p>
<p>A. I love losing myself in a world entirely of my own making. I would sit at the computer for hours on end and have so much fun simply creating this story. I particularly enjoy trying to weave twists into my tale.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any? </strong></p>
<p>A. My book is set in the area of England in which I grew up so my portrayal of the landscape is very personal. My characters were also heavily influenced by friends and family. I like to take traits of the people I know and use them to mould the personalities of my characters.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q5. How did you get published?</strong></p>
<p>A. I chose to self publish through Amazon and Smashwords. In a highly competitive industry where who you know can be just as important as what you know I became impatient with the traditional route of publishing and thought I’d try something different. I’m both excited and nervous to have my work out there for anyone to read.<br/></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?</strong></p>
<p>A. I consider myself a good writer but I’m certainly no business woman so I’m lucky to have the backing of some savvy individuals who are always acting in my best interest. If it weren’t for them then I may have fallen prey to a few “schemes” over the years. I’ve learnt not to be so trusting.<br/></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project?</strong></p>
<p>A. Sometimes when an idea hits me I just want to write. I’ve learnt now that sometimes a bit of planning can be beneficial in the long run. It can save you having to go back over your work to check where you’ve contradicted yourself!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it?</strong></p>
<p>A. I hope that readers have as much fun reading the book as I did writing it. I want them to enjoy the characters and appreciate the pace of the book. I want them to ask questions and discuss whether the twists were unexpected or totally obvious. I want them to want a sequel.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them.</strong></p>
<p>A. I’m irrationally terrified of fish. They scare me so much that I’ve been known to physically climb up friends and family just to get out of the water. I’m not someone you want to go in the ocean with.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?</strong></p>
<p>A. Get yourself a good editor. One of the things that can make a work look unprofessional is poor grammar and spelling mistakes. We’re all human, we all make mistakes but a good editor will help bring out the best in your work.<br/> <strong>Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please.</strong></p>
<p>A. I try to get up early but I don’t always succeed. The first thing I do is check my emails, check my blogs and try and prioritise my tasks for the day. I try to get a balance between a morning spent marketing my current book and an afternoon writing my new book. I rarely get the balance right but I try. I’m fairly sure I spend far too much time looking at a computer screen.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?</strong></p>
<p>A. I have a desk set up in the corner of our lounge area. We have an open plan flat so there isn’t much privacy but I write at home in the day whilst my partner is at work so it’s not really a problem. From my window I can see the ocean, which is beautiful but surprisingly distracting. On a sunny day I have to fight the urge to wander down to the beach.<br/></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?</strong></p>
<p>A. One step at a time. I have to do things one step at a time. It’s too easy to get overwhelmed by the craziness that is life.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently?</strong></p>
<p>A. I’d like to let everyone know that my book is available <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Captive-ebook/dp/B005ITYF2W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1316937963&sr=8-1" target="_blank">through Amazon</a>. I also have <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sarah-Williams/272696322756528" target="_blank">a Facebook page</a> for anyone interested in keeping up with my work.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Authors.com profile: <a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/SarahWilliams">http://www.authors.com/profile/SarahWilliams</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Thanks for your time Sarah! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, Digging it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can. We'd ask fellow members to support you by doing the same.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Members, want to be interviewed too? It's free! Instructions are here: <a href="http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new" rel="nofollow">http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new</a></strong></p>
<p> </p>
Spotlight Interview with Author Lisa Day
tag:www.authors.com,2012-04-16:3798404:BlogPost:133976
2012-04-16T02:30:00.000Z
SpotlightInterviews
http://www.authors.com/profile/SpotlightInterviews
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Lisa! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>A: I am Lisa Day. I hail from the southern part of the USA. and have begun to write under that name for Rebel Ink Press.…</p>
<p><font size="3" style="font-size: 13pt;"><b><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561431385?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561431385?profile=original" width="200"></img></a></b></font></p>
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Lisa! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong></p>
<p>A: I am Lisa Day. I hail from the southern part of the USA. and have begun to write under that name for Rebel Ink Press.</p>
<p><font style="font-size: 13pt;" size="3"><b><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561431385?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561431385?profile=original" width="200"/></a></b></font><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561431385?profile=original" target="_self"></a>Before discovering writing I ran an insurance office. So my days were filled with people and phone calls. Now all is quiet as I hide in my room and hit little letters on a board all day.</p>
<p>My book <em>The Stepbrothers</em> is a softer side of the erotic books that I have written in the past under another pen name.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took.</strong></p>
<p>A:Like many people today I found my caught in the “you are now unemployed” crunch. After coming to terms with it, I pulled out my box of all time favorite paperback books and re-read every one. However, this time I felt emotionally let done. How many times do you hear I could write a better book than that. Well, I said it and I now had the time to try it.</p>
<p>Surprise, no it is not as easy as it sounds. It is definitely more than putting words on paper or on a screen. Hours and hours each and every day was spent learning what I didn't know. Then day and days of trying to learn what I discovered I didn't know...But I was on a mission to learn as much as possible. It took me from May to October to have a publisher say yes. But I lived day and night on the computer..12 to 16 hours a day.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book?</strong></p>
<p>A.I found this book had an attitude. No matter how hard I tried to make it fit the genre I had been writing in--this story refused. It wanted to be gentler kind of story.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q4: What facets of your life,both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any?</strong></p>
<p>A.Hmmm. I had to think on this one. My heroine chooses to find ways to accept the things that happen to her without being bitter or revengeful.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q5. How did you get published?</strong></p>
<p>A.I had to find a new publisher for this genre so I hit the internet and a couple of writer friends made suggestions. The very first publisher I submitted <em>The Stepbrothers</em> to accepted it. Yeah! Phew!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?</strong></p>
<p>A. I usually don't have any issues during the writing stage. And if you pick your publisher wisely you can eliminate a lot of the usual issues some writers have.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project?</strong></p>
<p>A. If the project is writing as a whole. Then the time involved in getting your book out there so people will know it's even there. The marketing!!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hopeto hear them say about it?</strong></p>
<p>A. “Oh, listen to this”...”Do you believe this-what fun”... “Oh, no I didn't see that coming”.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them.</strong></p>
<p>A. My age... and I ain't telling.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?</strong></p>
<p>A. There is no greater advice than the boring but true: write,write, write, then write some more.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please.</strong></p>
<p>A.BORING..Breakfast for hubby and self. Then I head for the 'computer room' and when I need a break I go clean something and when sick of that back to the 'room.' Warned you, boring!</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?</strong></p>
<p>A.I write sitting at a computer desk half cluttered with papers. Some personal like.. bills..grrr and others are notes for my writing. Character lists or how to do lists.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?</strong></p>
<p>A. I really don't have <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1561431604?profile=original" target="_self"></a>one.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently?</strong></p>
<p>A.Here's my web site <a href="http://lisaday.weebly.com/">http://lisaday.weebly.com/</a> and here is my facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Lisa-Day-Author-Page/249701868374938">https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Lisa-Day-Author-Page/249701868374938</a> .Please stop by both and say hi.</p>
<p>Thank you Authors Spotlight for letting me be part of your site.</p>
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<p>Authors.com profile: <a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/LisaDay">http://www.authors.com/profile/LisaDay</a></p>
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<p><strong>Thanks for your time Lisa! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, Digging it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can. We'd ask fellow members to support you by doing the same.</strong></p>
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Spotlight Interview with Author Humberto Sachs
tag:www.authors.com,2012-04-02:3798404:BlogPost:131986
2012-04-02T13:30:00.000Z
SpotlightInterviews
http://www.authors.com/profile/SpotlightInterviews
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Humberto! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong><br></br> A: I am Humberto Sachs, a man of science with a philosophical ambition. <i>The next genesis</i> is my first book of the Scitrek Collection, a science fiction series dwelling on hope for humanity if we dare to evolve. You can find me and my co-writer on Amazon and on TXgroup (…</p>
<p><strong>Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Humberto! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.</strong><br/> A: I am Humberto Sachs, a man of science with a philosophical ambition. <i>The next genesis</i> is my first book of the Scitrek Collection, a science fiction series dwelling on hope for humanity if we dare to evolve. You can find me and my co-writer on Amazon and on TXgroup (<a href="http://www.txgroup.org/">www.txgroup.org</a>)</p>
<p>You may also see some of my articles on CNN (<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/people/hws01">http://ireport.cnn.com/people/hws01</a></p>
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<p><strong> Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took. </strong><br/> A: Ten year ago I had a vision for a better world. Our rapid technological development demands socioeconomic evolution. See the press release video on my page. I failed to communicate the idea when talking to my friends and online contacts about creating a tool that people can use to reacquire their identity and fight excessive governmental intervention in our lives. Visiting my very large family in Brazil, I could see that this problem is not an American syndrome. It is a worldwide dilemma. But they could not understand my solution either. And then my wife suggested that I needed to write a story to dramatize the cause and effect of this philosophy.</p>
<p>Three years ago I began composing the story. Technical and scientific writing is easy compared to composing a good, exciting story. Even though I experienced tragedies and adventures in my life, dramatization requires the introduction of fantasy. Then I realized how close fantasy is to science. I thought of Einstein, and other dreamers.</p>
<p>Now that the book is published, I can continue my work building the TXgroup while still taking time to write the second book.</p>
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<p><strong> Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book? </strong><br/> A. I discovered many things about my “inner self” and identified our real predators as I never verbalized before.</p>
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<p><strong> Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any? </strong><br/> A. Most of my technical and life experiences are small elements inspiring the foundation of the story.</p>
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<p><strong>Q5. How did you get published?</strong></p>
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<li>Self publishing with a marketing strategy is practical and possibly will provide larger returns. But there are too many rip-offs in the self-publishing arena. It took me six months of research before I found someone that gave the right answers.</li>
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<p><strong>Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?</strong><br/> A. Many. I am still dealing with some. </p>
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<p><strong>Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project? </strong><br/> A. That I had written more books. The next book in the Collection will be a lot easier than <i>the next genesis.</i></p>
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<p><strong>Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it?</strong><br/> A. Why are we not doing this?</p>
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<p><strong>Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them. </strong><br/> A. There is nothing. Between the book, my biography, linkedin and FaceBook, I want to believe everything is exposed. You see, I do not believe in secrecy or keeping skeletons in the closet.</p>
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<p><strong>Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?</strong><br/> A. If you do not believe in hard work, research, and education don’t even try it. And if the book does not write most of it by itself, you are dealing with something you do not understand or cannot truly visualize.</p>
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<p><strong>Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us, please. </strong><br/> A. First thing in the morning I make a pot of French press coffee and turn on the computers. As soon as my wife wakes up I give her a hug and kiss her. After dealing with email and other networking work, soon after the sun warms up a little, I go to our backyard and meditate while the joy of the saltwater fills my life.</p>
<p>Every two hours or so, I go for a walk, play with my boat, have a glass of wine or do some yard chores. At 81, physical work is sometimes difficult. In between, my wife and I visit or have friends over. Or we spend time with family. But, even then, my mind is always busy solving some strategic or technical scenario. At night, I might watch TV or a DVD. Not much on TV these days…</p>
<p>Is not uncommon for me to pause the TV, or get out of bed to go and write some notes. </p>
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<p><strong>Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?</strong><br/> A. In front of the computer. You will see me looking at notes, researching books and the Internet. Networking is a great vehicle. Unfortunately, media such as FaceBook that was going to make networking easy is mostly a waste of time for me. But lively discussions with my wife and friends always helps.</p>
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<p><strong>Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?</strong></p>
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<li>It is quoted in “the next genesis” - Benjamin Franklin said:</li>
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<p>"The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either."</p>
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<p><strong>Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently? </strong><br/> A. Go to <a href="http://www.txgroup.org/">www.txgroup.org</a> and vote to abate the hazard of nuclear power generation. The solution is obvious, but without your interaction it will never happen. And for me, that is just the beginning of a new era for civilization: the people, not government will be the power in the land.</p>
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<p><b><br/></b> Authors.com profile: <a href="http://www.authors.com/profile/HumbertoSachs">http://www.authors.com/profile/HumbertoSachs</a></p>
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<p><strong>Thanks for your time Humberto! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, Digging it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can. We'd ask fellow members to support you by doing the same.</strong></p>
<p><b><br/></b></p>
<p><strong>Members, want to be interviewed too? It's free! Instructions are here: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new">http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/be-interviewed-for-the-new</a></strong></p>