Maria Savva's Blog - Posts Tagged "interview"

I recently did an interview with fellow author Simon Royle, for his blog. Read all about my inspiration for my latest novel,Second Chances, the writing and publishing process, and some advice for aspiring authors:

IndieView Interview

I recently did an interview with author, Darcia Helle.

You can read it here: Fusion interview

You can also leave a comment on the blog for your chance to win a pdf copy of my latest collection of short stories, 'Fusion'

Good luck!

I was recently interviewed about my books and writing, by Kipp Poe, here's a link to the blog:
interview

Also, author Darcia Helle has a new feature on her blog called 'Quirky Questions Monday'. This week I am featured there along with author Jason McIntyre

Go here to read our answers :) Quirky Question

Today, I would like to introduce you to the very talented, Paul Mansfield Keefe.

I met Paul a few months ago, on BestsellerBound, a message board where indie authors can chat to readers. (I'm a resident author on the board). We have since become very good online friends.

I recently had the pleasure of reading Paul's debut novelDigger's Bones as a reviewer for Bookpleasures. You can see my review here: Review of Digger's Bones on Bookpleasures.com

I really enjoyed the book and can tell that Paul is an author to look out for in the future. It is rare that a debut novel is so well written, and I must say I was very impressed. Paul has a way of describing an action scene so that you feel as if you are actually there. His thriller, Digger's Bones, is a must read.

As well as agreeing to take part in an interview today, Paul has very kindly offered a special discount voucher to all my blog readers, so you can get your hands on a copy of the book for just $2.99. Don't miss it! More details about this are at the end of the interview.

Here are Paul's replies to a few interview questions I set him:

Is there a particular author, or book, that inspired you to start writing?
My inspiration really came from working on an animated sci-fi movie script. I had decided that I had far more to write than could be encompassed in a movie so I began writing a novel. I started writing my thriller, Digger’s Bones, after reading The Jesus Thief by J. R. Lankford, which was a very enjoyable read. Angie Cooper came to me mostly formed and I knew it was the story I needed to write.

When did you first discover your love of writing?
When I was in high school I wrote a lot of poetry and I truly loved it. However, like many people in life, I moved away from writing for many years. Now that I’ve found it again I wonder how I could have ever stopped, I’m obsessed with filling empty paper with words; even if it is electronic paper.

Your debut novel, Digger’s Bones, is a thriller dealing with subjects including archaeology and the history of religion.  How much research did you have to do and how long did it take you to write the book?
I did tons of research. Every church mentioned, every religious doctrine, every location around the world, had to be extensively researched. The last thing I wanted was for someone to say, “Boy, did you get that wrong!” I collected photos, multimedia CDROMs, read up on archaeology as much as possible, and of course consulted everyone’s favorite, Wikipedia.

It took me about two years to finish the manuscript. A lot of that time was spent working out an intricate plot and ensuring it played well with the characters. Of course, I also work full-time so that made the overall development time a bit longer.

Have you ever visited the holy lands described in the book?  As a reader, I was impressed by how detailed the description of the places was.
I’ve visited some, but not all, of the places in the book. I once lived in Virginia and worked in the Russell Senate Office Building and spent time visiting the different Smithsonian buildings. I spent time up on Bandelier looking over the ground Angie did in the novel, and the same for the Zugspitze in Germany. However, I haven’t been to the Holy Land. So, now you know the reason for the painstaking research. And let me add that I’m now dying to go!

You have been getting some great reviews for Diggers Bones.  One thing I noticed, and I think was also mentioned by another reviewer, is that you have really managed to somehow get into the mind of a female character.  Angie Cooper, the main character is very believable and she seems to think and feel just like a woman.  Was it hard for you as a man to write from a woman’s perspective?
It was important to the story that Angie be an “every woman” and not an embittered, whiskey drinking, overly masculine, female stereotype. Not that they don’t have their place in thrillers, a hard-boiled female detective can be a great character. But Angie is an innocent caught up in a powerful drama that she didn’t create. So, I set out from the start to make her believable as an ordinary person.

I grew up around many strong women, my sisters and my mother, and so I was exposed to non-stereotypical women early in life. Not thinking of women as being the “weaker” sex allowed me to better portray a woman’s perspective and emotions. Still, the first go-round a couple of woman said they didn’t “get” Angie and I had to figure out what was missing from her personality. That turned out to be a nurturing spirit and Madie was added to help round out Angie and that really seemed to do the trick.

I understand that Digger’s Bones is the first in a series, can you tell us a bit more about your plans for the series?
I can tell you that I’ve had three books planned out for some time and I am currently working on the second. I can also tell you that as long as Angie finds ways to get into, and out of, trouble, I’ll be writing about her. The last thing I can say without spoiling much—any reader of my first novel can attest to the fact that it is difficult to talk about without giving something away—is that the settings will be completely different from the first book. Yes, I have my research cut out for me.

Do you have any tips for someone who is considering self-publishing their own book?
Absolutely. First and foremost, do it. Don’t worry about the difficulties involved, they are minimal. Start with Amazon.com and BarnesAndNoble.com and create eBooks for the Kindle and Nook. Next, go to CreateSpace.com and make a print version. CreateSpace is a part of Amazon so you can link your two books together on Amazon and they will also get linked on Barnes and Noble. Finally, take a deep breath and hold on tight.

Who are your favourite authors and what is it about their writing that you like?
Growing up I read a lot of sci-fi and fantasy such as Frank Herbert’s Dune and the Adept series by Piers Anthony, because the settings amazed me. As an adult I read a lot of David Baldacci for his character development and great plots. Lately I’ve been enjoying John Connolly because of his fluid and descriptive writing style. I like the fact that he can pull that off without getting too flowery. You may have noticed that Angie reads a Sue Grafton novel in Digger’s Bones and you would be right in thinking she is another of my favorites. The last I’d like to mention is the late, great Tony Hillerman. I believe I’ve read all of his novels but I keep hoping there is one I missed so I can revisit Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn one last time.

Is there a book you own that you’ve read more than once?
Speaking of Tony Hillerman, I read a couple of his more than once—the first that springs to mind is Skinwalkers, a great novel. I also read Dune more than once as a kid.

What was the last book you read?
Right now I’m reading several at once, a somewhat bad habit of mine. The last novel I finished was by the brilliant Maria Savva, A Time To Tell. I have to say, it was a pleasure to read and even greater pleasure to get to know the author.

Thank you, Paul :)

Are you reading a book at the moment?
I’m reading several as mentioned above. One that would be of interest to lovers of the sci-fi genre is Jaleta Clegg’s Nexus Point; I’m really enjoying it. Even though the characters are young adults the book could easily be read by YA readers as well. It kind of reminds me of a Michael Crichton novel.

What do you think of ebooks?
I love them. Not that I don’t like the feel and smell of the printed page, I really do. Yet I find the convenience of eBooks, especially carrying a library around with me in my Kindle, to be quite compelling. There’s no doubt that they’re here to stay and every author should address them as a means to greater readership.

How important are reviews for you as a writer?
It’s hard to say. I had a couple of bad reviews in the beginning because I, stupidly, posted a mainly unedited version of my book accidentally. Once I righted that, the reviews got better but I can’t say that sales were directly affected. I suppose if they had all been bad it would have had a negative effect, but the reverse hasn’t proven itself out.

How did you go about choosing a cover for your book?
I created the cover art myself because I had several ideas I wanted to try out. I ended up with a skull set in a sort of blended out earthy background to make it sort of pop off the shelf. Yet, I worry that too many see the cover and assume it’s some sort of horror novel. I guess that’s why publishers have marketing departments.

What are you working on now?
Book two in the Angie Cooper Series. The one great piece of positive feedback I’ve heard more than anything else is, “When’s the next book coming out?” Readers really want to know what’s going to happen to Angie next. And I’m not going to let them down.

Where can people buy your book?
It’s available in print at:
CreateSpace
Amazon.com
Barnes and Noble

For the Kindle:
Amazon.com

For the Nook:
Barnes and Noble

As an iBook For iPad, iPhone, and iPod (available in the iBookstore):
iBookstore

For the Sony Reader:
Sony

For all eReaders at Smashwords:
Smashwords

Do you have your own website or blog where people can read more about your work?
Any of these URLs will lead to my blog with more info on the book, including some review clips.
DiggersBones.com
PaulKeefe.com
PaulMansfieldKeefe.com

Is there anything else you would like to add?
Yes, I would like to give a special promotional offer to all readers of the Maria Savva Goodreads blog.
From now until March 31, 2011 get Digger’s Bones as an eBook for only $2.99 at Smashwords using the coupon code: TT55Q.
That’s $4 bucks off, so if you’ve been thinking of checking out the adventures of Angie Cooper, now’s the time!

Thank you, Paul, for answering my questions. I wish you every success with your books.

Quentin R. Bufogle was one of the first authors I met here on Goodreads when I joined in 2008. When we met, I just knew we would be friends, he has a wonderful sense of humour and is one of the most genuine people I've ever met. Even though we've never met in person, we have become good friends.
His novel, Horse Latitudes, is one of my favourite books; the laugh out loud tale about an unemployed aspiring novelist reaching for the American Dream. It's a must read. Quentin is giving away a copy of the book to one lucky winner, more details about that later.

Quentin is a humourist, and I'd recommend his blog here on Goodreads where he shares stories, some true, some fictional, but all extremely funny.

Here are his replies to my interview questions:

Your bio says that you were a cartoonist & illustrator in the ‘80s & a contributor to National Lampoon magazine. Can you tell us more about that?

Wow. I’m honestly a little conflicted about the whole Lampoon thing. I should probably tell you that as a kid growing up in Queens, New York, I never thought about becoming a writer. I loved comic books, and from the age of about 8, my dream was to become a cartoonist. By the time I started attending the High School of Art & Design, National Lampoon was the #1 humor magazine in the country – in the world for that matter. They had an estimated readership of something like 8 or 9 million people a month, and the talent was unbelievable. As art students, we were all huge fans. Anyway, when I began making the rounds with my portfolio in the early ‘80s, I decided I’d give the Lampoon a try. I pretty much felt it was a waste of time, competition was fierce, but I gave it a shot. I still remember driving over to the office on Madison Avenue that day. I was stuck in a snarl of traffic and kept telling myself I should just turn around and go home – getting my work in the Lampoon was a-million-to-one shot. A couple months earlier, I’d been in the studio of Neal Adams, a legendary comic book artist, and broached the subject of submitting to the Lampoon. “The Lampoon!” He said, “Are you kidding? I know guys who’d give their right arm to be in the Lampoon!” I mean that’s how huge a deal it was. Anyway, long story short, they looked over my portfolio, and about four months later, Stacey Glick, the art assistant, called with my first assignment. I’d been getting rejected by these obscure little local rags like The Nutmegger, and here I was in the National Lampoon. There’s a caveat to the story tho. Although the Lampoon still exists as licensing company for movie projects, the magazine eventually folded. A few years ago the company decided to put out a compilation of the magazine on DVD-ROM – which included my work. Only they never bothered to pay me for using my stuff in the new format. The company had purchased limited rights for the use of my work (First American & European) and under copyright law, shouldn’t have been allowed to reproduce the work digitally without payment or consent. When I contacted the company to demand payment, I got the proverbial run around. I eventually sat down with an intellectual rights attorney and was told to forget about it – there simply wasn’t enough money in the case to bother. So much for the copyright law.

Which do you prefer, writing or illustrating?

Writing. I came to realize I was a storyteller, not a graphic artist. I’d been using pictures to tell stories. Words were more effective. It was like I’d been in a long-term relationship and suddenly found the true love of my life. I was done with illustrating.

Is there a particular author, or book, that inspired you to start writing?

I’d have to say Henry Miller. No so much his writing style, but his life. I remember a line from The Time of the Assassins: a Study of Rimbaud, his “study” of French poet Arthur Rimbaud.
Miller wrote that in Rimbaud, he saw himself as in a mirror. I feel the same about Miller. I used to read his books during the subway commute to my job on Wall Street. Stumbling upon his work at that point in my life was like someone tossing me a life preserver. I was in my late twenties, trapped in a job I hated, yearning to be a writer and taking my first wobbly, baby steps in that direction. Reading about Miller, a man in his forties who suffered the same predicament, and ultimately had the courage to break free – run off to Paris and write Tropic of Cancer – made me believe that I could somehow find a way.

When did you first discover your love of writing?

Looking back, I realize I’ve always had an affinity for words. Words affected me. I recognized the poetry in them even as a kid. Always had an ear for them. I didn’t become a serious reader tho til I was in my mid-twenties; then I devoured everything. I’d settle on a particular author, like Scott Fitzgerald, and read their entire body of work; then move on to someone else: Hemingway; Cheever; Bukowski; Hesse; Kerouac; Miller... I also made sure to read at least one biography of each author as well. Man, I was hooked! All I wanted was to be worthy of sitting at the same lunch table with those guys.

Do you have any tips for someone who wants to become a writer?

Yeah... for Christ’s sake, do something else!!! Seriously, if you think you could be happy doing something else – do something else! As tough as it might be to become a doctor, or a lawyer, or a nuclear physicist, there’s at least a path to those professions – not necessarily an easy path, but a path none the less.
Writers are not so fortunate. You spend most of your time wandering lost. There’s no formula, no blueprint, no textbook to read. You have to be foolish enough; arrogant enough, to believe that what you’ve written is worth the undivided attention of another human being – and willing to do it for nothing.
Now, if I’ve dissuaded you from becoming a writer, not to worry. You weren’t
one to begin with.

In your debut novel, Horse Latitudes, the main character Chester Sprockett has an ambition to write the great American novel. How much of your own personality is in Chester, and is the book in any way autobiographical?

Well, let’s just say Horse Latitudes is my most autobiographical novel – and I’ve only written one.

How did you go about choosing the cover for your book?

My publisher did ask for my input in selecting a cover image, but also made it clear that the final decision was theirs. As it turned out, the actual cover illustration for Horse Latitudes is almost identical to the one I suggested – something I was very pleased about. The image of a tiny, bathrobe clad Chester Sprockett, dangling from the bikini of a giant bathing beauty whose face is partially obscured from view, wasn’t only intended to be sexy and provocative; but symbolic of Chester’s thwarted love life, and the insecurity I believe all men feel on some level regarding the female sex.

As well as writing your novel, you’ve also been featured in the Las Vegas
Weekly, can you tell us a bit more about that?

I sent a review copy of my novel to the magazine, and, as I’d expected, got nothing by way of response. Soon after I read an article by Scott Dickensheets, the Weekly’s editor, about the closing of a local bookstore due to the lousy economy. Seeing an angle, I fired off an e-mail to Scott, the gist of which was: Granted the economy sucks, but perhaps publishers, bookstores & reviewers were sowing the seeds of their own demise by refusing to publish, promote, or review new authors. A few weeks later I was checking out the online version of the Weekly, and nearly fell out of my chair: Scott had featured my novel in a piece titled, Five Random Passages from Horse Latitudes, by Local Novelist Quentin R. Bufogle. Since then I’ve contributed several pieces to the magazine – mostly fiction.

How much can you tell us about the book you’re currently working on, which I
believe is titled, The Siren of Neptune’s Beach?

I knew you were gonna ask me that. The Siren of Neptune’s Beach, is something, well... different. I know you’re supposed to be able to summarize a book in 2 sentences, but not a chance. First & foremost it’s funny. It’s a romance, a mystery; a fable. It’s about surfers and beatniks and early ‘60s rock ‘n’ roll; about an old legend involving a moon goddess, and a desolate, long forgotten stretch of beach where time stands still. It’s part The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, part Don Quixote, and part Wuthering Heights. Does that help?

Who are your favorite authors and what is it about their writing that you like?

Charles Bukowski, because of his simplicity & dark sense of humor. Hemingway, because he taught us all that less is more. Henry Miller, because he showed us the light at the end of the tunnel.

Is there a book you own that you’ve read more than once?
The Time of the Assassins, by Henry Miller is one I’ve gone back to time and again.
Also, Hot Water Music, a book of obscenely funny short stories by Charles Bukowski – and for some reason I never seem to tire of reading biographies of Jack Kerouac. (and at this point I should be tired!)

What was the last book you read?

A really wonderful book of short stories which I gave 5 stars: Pieces of a Rainbow, by Maria Savva.

Thank you :)

Are you reading a book at the moment?

I’m sorry to say that I’m not. Between trying to finish the final rewrite of my new novel; blogging, tweeting, and facebooking, I don’t have much time for reading these days. Look forward to getting back to it tho.

What do you think of ebooks?

I think they’re great. Cost less for publishers to produce, and readers to buy. But I don’t think they’ll ever replace the experience of browsing in a bookstore; or that unique bond you feel with an author, holding a print book in your hands.

How important are reviews for you as a writer?

I think any writer who says reviews aren’t important is lying. We want people to like what we write. It’s part of the reason we’re writers – but I think you need to take reviews, both good and bad, with a grain of salt. I always think of that line from the poem If, by Rudyard Kipling: “If you can meet with triumph and disaster, and treat those two imposters just the same.” You should never believe you’re as good as your best review, or as bad as your worst.

What else are you working on now?

Trying to stay focused on The Siren of Neptune’s Beach for the most part.

Where can people buy your book?

You can buy Horse Latitudes in both trade paperback & Kindle editions on Amazon.com:

Horse Latitudes at Amazon.com

You can read the first 25 pages or so for free by clicking on the “Read first chapter FREE” icon on the right side of the page just above the “Frequently Bought Together” listing.

Do you have your own website or blog where people can read more about your
work?

You can check out my blog, fiction, and book reviews at:

Quentin R. Bufogle

Also follow me on Twitter: Twitter

And friend me on Facebook:
Facebook

Thank you, Quinn


If you'd like to win a copy of Horse Latitudes leave a comment here. One lucky winner will be chosen on 17th March 2011. Good luck!

Click the link below to visit The Secret Writer's blog, where you can read my latest interview :)


The Secret Writer

I'm thrilled to be introducing you to an award winning author, and fellow Londoner, Andrew Blackman. His debut novel, On the Holloway Road won the Luke Bitmead prize in 2008. I met Andrew through Goodreads about two years ago, and his novel remains one of my favourite books. I was attracted to the title, as I am from North London and know the Holloway Road well; in fact, I used to work in an office on the Holloway Road.
His novel is about two very different young men who form an unlikely friendship. They set off on an adventure together, full of entertaining twists and turns. The thing that struck me most about the book is that it is extremely well written; it reads as if it was penned by an author with years of fiction writing experience behind him.


On The Holloway Road is one of the books in my library that I want to read again.
If you haven't read it, you can enter a competition by leaving a comment on this blog post. Anyone who comments will be entered into a draw to win a signed copy of this award winning book. A winner will be picked at random on 10th May 2011.

Here are Andrew's answers to my interview questions:


Your debut novel, On the Holloway Road won the Luke Bitmead prize 2008. Can you tell us a bit more about that prize and how you went about entering the contest.

Luke Bitmead was a novelist for Legend Press who died at a tragically young age. His family set up the award in his memory, to give £2,500 and a publishing contract to the author of the best unpublished manuscript they received. I submitted my manuscript and won, and a year later On the Holloway Road was published. It’s an annual contest and is free to enter, so I’d encourage any unpublished writers to give it a try.

Your background is in journalism, and I understand you’ve written for The Wall Street Journal, and many other newspapers across America. How does writing non-fiction compare to writing fiction, and which do you prefer?

I prefer fiction, definitely. Free from the necessity to get the small facts right, I can explore larger truths. Journalism can often provide a very misleading view of the world – something is newsworthy because it’s the exception, not the rule. In my fiction I deal with people who are unexceptional in many ways, and in doing so I aim to explore what it means to be human, at least in this particular time and place. The Wall Street Journal was a great place to work, though. It has very high standards, and in my three years there I learned a lot about writing and editing my work, often under great time pressure. I stopped being so protective of my words and understood that they could be subjected to an almost infinite process of improvement.

When did you first discover your love of writing, and is there a particular author, or book, that inspired you to start writing?

I have always been quite shy, and struggle to express myself clearly in the heat of conversation - by the time I’ve thought of the right thing to say, it’s usually far too late! As a child I discovered that writing allowed me the time and tranquillity to come up with the right words and say what I really meant. In my early teen years I plunged into War and Peace, which took me months to read but introduced me to a whole new world. I loved the fact that as a teenager in suburban London I could live for a few hours each day in the Russia of the Napoleonic Wars. I decided that I wanted to create worlds of my own, to let other people visit them.

I read that you won the Daniel Singer essay prize. Can you tell us a bit more about that?

I won that prize in 2004, for an essay entitled “What is the Soul of Socialism?” I was working for The Wall Street Journal at the time, which is on the opposite end of the ideological spectrum, so I didn’t talk about it with my colleagues – I think I was the only socialist on the payroll, and would probably not have been on it much longer if they’d realised! But it was a wonderful experience, because it was the first time I’d been rewarded for writing something I really believed in. The essay was published in Monthly Review a year later – it’s still available online here – and I delivered a lecture based on the essay at the 2005 Left Forum at CUNY Graduate Center.

I thoroughly enjoyed On The Holloway Road. I found the characters very believable and realistic. Did you base the characters on people you know?

No, I didn’t base them on anyone I know. I’m always watching people, whether it’s friends and family or just people on the Tube, and if I something strikes me for whatever reason, I write it down in my notebook as soon as I get the chance. So I build up my characters from the physical attributes, facial tics, phrases and character traits of probably hundreds of different people, along with plenty of things I just make up.

Jack and Neil, the two main characters in On the Holloway Road, are very different, and yet they form a friendship based on their view of the world.

Which one of the characters can you most relate to, and why?

I relate to both of them, and in some ways they reflect different sides of my own personality. Jack is drifting, lonely, depressed, looking for meaning, while Neil is more energetic and boisterous, but also quite childlike and naïve in his expectations of people. They are both in their own ways looking for something more out of life, a way to live more authentically, and this is something I relate to very strongly.

Jack is an aspiring novelist. Is any part of the novel autobiographical?

Congratulations, you’ve hit on the only part of the book that is autobiographical! The road trip and the events are all fictional, but Jack’s struggles with his long, turgid literary novel are strongly based on my own experiences with a novel I was writing before On the Holloway Road, a novel that has not been and never will be published. I think I was trying too hard, and began writing On the Holloway Road as a way to escape for a while and find the enjoyment of writing again. I wrote fast, spontaneously, and completed the first draft in a month. To my amazement it was better than the novel I’d spent years struggling with, and so I abandoned the old one and felt very free as a result.

Jack Kerouac’s On the Road was obviously a great influence for your novel. What was it about that book that captured your imagination?

When I read the book at different points in my life, I got different things from it. As a teenager, probably like many people, I was intoxicated by the glamour and excitement of a road trip across the vast open spaces of America, the free-wheeling life of parties and hitch-hiking. But when I went back to it more recently, I was struck by the ultimate failure of Sal and Dean’s mission. For all the travelling back and forth across the continent, they keep ending up back where they started, with everything broken – for all the imagery of the straight open road, it’s actually quite a circular novel. I was interested in how a similar trip would play out in the more narrow confines of 21st century Britain.

Who are your favourite authors and what is it about their writing that you like?

I love Milan Kundera,Kazuo Ishiguro, andJorge Luis Borges, because their stories make me think about the world in a new way. Beautiful writing is not enough, for me – I look to books to introduce me to new worlds and to challenge my assumptions. A couple of writers I’ve come across more recently and been very impressed by are Preeta Samarasan and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Is there a book you own that you’ve read more than once?

I’ve read the Tao Te Ching more times than I can count. It’s on my nightstand and I turn to it whenever I am feeling lost or confused.

What was the last book you read?

Edgelandsby Paul Farley and Michael Symmons Roberts.

Are you reading a book at the moment?

Yes, I’m reading .A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters by Julian Barnes. I’m also listening to an audio book of To Kill a Mockingbird.

What do you think of ebooks?

Not much! I have always loved books, and currently don’t see an ebook offering anything that a physical book doesn’t (at least in fiction – in non-fiction or reference I can certainly see that the ability to search by keyword and to include videos or other material would enhance the reading experience). For me, novels are a respite from the world of gadgets and electronic screens. Everyone always tells me how great it is that I can carry hundreds of books with me at once, but I’ve never wanted to do that – one at a time is enough for me!

How important are reviews for you as a writer?

Reviews are vital, as they are one of the main ways that people find out about your book. For On the Holloway Road I didn’t get too many reviews in the national papers – just a short review in the Daily Mail – but all the reviews on sites like Amazon and Goodreads are very much appreciated. It’s also great to hear from readers even if they don’t write a formal review, but just email me or leave a comment on my blog.

How did you go about choosing a cover for your book?

My publisher, Legend Press, handled that side of things. I was happy with what they did – I’d probably have gone for something obvious like a road stretching off into the distance, but they had a graphic designer work on it and came up with something much darker and more abstract, which fits the content of the book perfectly.

What are you working on now?

I’ve just finished work on a second novel, called A Virtual Love, which is about love in the age of Twitter and Facebook, and am starting on a third one now.

Where can people buy your books?

It’s in a lot of bookshops – not as many as when it first came out in 2009, but check there first. They can always order it within 24 hours so it’s usually faster than online ordering. Or you can go online and order a physical copy or ebook from the usual suspects – Amazon UK, Amazon US, the Book Depository, Waterstones, etc. If you want a signed copy, you can buy it direct through my website – I’m currently offering free worldwide shipping (for a limited time, so might not be available if you’re reading this some time in the future!).

Thank you, Andrew, for answering my questions :) Your new novel sounds intriguing. Can't wait until it's released!




Remember, by leaving a comment on this blog post you can enter to win a signed copy of Andrew's book! This is an international competition. Good luck!!

I met Marty Beaudet online on Bestsellerbound.com. When he first joined us on that forum, he was a newly published author, having just finished his debut novel By A Thread. He was frustrated because life as an independent author was not working out as he had hoped. Why were people not buying his book? Why wasn't he a bestselling novelist yet?

Some of us who had been networking and marketing our work for years, and still selling about 1 book a month on average, wondered whether he was just not cut out for this self-published road. Was he expecting too much? Did he really have the passion to carry on writing even when months could go by without a book sale?

Over the few months that I have known him, I have grown very fond of Marty. He does have drive and passion. He knows he has an amazing talent as an author. When I recently read his novelette, Losing Addison, there was no doubt in my mind that this author is something special.

As well as answering my interview questions, Marty has very generously offered to give away a copy of each of his books! All you have to do to enter the giveaway is leave a comment. Random winners will be picked on 15th May 2011.

Here are Marty's answers to my interview questions:


Your debut novel, By A Thread is a political thriller that has been getting some great reviews. It’s been described by many reviewers as a conspiracy novel. I haven’t read it yet, and I don’t usually read political thrillers. What would you say to a reader like me to persuade me to read it?



My decision to write a book stemmed, in part, from my dissatisfaction with many of the books I had read. I like the puzzle-solving aspects of mysteries, suspense, and thrillers, but too often those kinds of books lack any real human component. The characters are often cardboard cutouts that seem to be used over and over again. Romance in such books is frequently trite, a cynical nod to the fact that sex sells. The confines of genre labels seems to assure that mainstream novels never stray far from the "successful" template, but it also makes them boring and predictable, in my opinion.

In writing By A Thread, I was determined to tell a story that was as much about the personal lives of the characters as it was about the intrigue in which they were engaged. What's more, I chose characters who were at times antithetical to the stereotypes readers have come to expect: Mormon missionaries, gay characters, Muslims who are NOT terrorists, self-doubting intelligence agents, Americans who are NOT all good guys, a strong female leader, and so on.

Alas, in order to market the book, even in the self-publishing realm, I am forced to assign a genre label to it. So I have settled for calling it a "political thriller with a heart," in order to convey the idea that the characters' personal relationships are every bit as urgent as the suspected conspiracy that drives them to action.

How much research went into writing ‘By A Thread’, and how long did it take you to write?

A huge-—and probably inordinate—-amount of research went into the book! I wrote it over an eight-year period, with a three-year health-induced hiatus in the midst. I love novels whose details are so explicit and accurate as to both teach me something about the real world in which they purport to take place, and to keep me guessing as to which parts are actually true. I'm fond of saying, "If the reader can tell where truth ends and fiction begins, the writer hasn't done his job." Consequently, my research was so detailed as to describe the actual furnishings of the actual apartments in which the characters live! I used real-life train schedules to determine arrival and departure times. If you were to go to Vienna today, you would be able to visit every venue in the story and see it exactly as I described it. In addition, the hypothetical political crisis in the book is based on real-life disputes about the U.S. Constitution, and the book's intelligence activities are grounded in reality, as well. One appreciative reader, himself an intelligence veteran, told me he knew immediately that I had an intelligence background when he read the book.

Your latest book, a novelette, Losing Addison, was inspired by a dream. Can you tell us a bit more about how that came about?



One morning in March I awoke, struggling with myself and the bedcovers. I had been having a nightmare. As I lay there staring at the ceiling and trying to come fully awake, I drifted in and out of the nightmare again. Each time I did so, more and more details of it became clear to me. My waking mind would ask a question, and my dreaming mind would answer it. It was so explicit as to seem an actual memory to me, as though I hadn't dreamt it, but lived it at some time. Finally, I could contain myself no longer; I flew out of bed, skipped breakfast and the bathroom, and began writing. I wrote only about 1,000 words before I was exhausted. I wanted to know more, but I felt I shouldn't push myself or the story would become a contrivance. Each day after that, for fifteen days, I wrote an additional thousand words and posted it to the new Losing Addison blog I'd begun. I didn't know where the story would go each day until it flowed out of me. I was so in awe of this process that I didn't even go back and read what I'd written until the entire thing was done, for fear that somehow my conscious efforts to fiddle with it would pollute it!

I was hooked on Losing Addison from the start. It was written as an online serial, unedited, but it reads like a fine-tuned psychological thriller. It’s almost as if you were writing something from memory. Are any of the characters or events in Losing Addison based on real life?

My experience with dreams—-as I am sure is common with others—-is that events are rarely linear and details come in and out of focus. For instance, my mother in one moment will suddenly be my sister in the next; or I'll be in San Francisco in one instant, then suddenly in Portland. This dream was no different. What was different was the progressive nature of the relationship among the characters and events. This provided a framework over which I laid details based on my own life experiences. Am I making any sense?

It's like this: suppose I tell you to imagine a time when you argued with a sister and ended up throwing something at her. Then I tell you to write it down. As you do this, your mind will recall details of the setting—location, time, persons present, what they were wearing, what was said, what you threw—-information that I didn't provide you. My writing process was similar. The dream told me what the gist of the event was, but not the details. As I attempted to describe it, pictures would pop into my mind that were a product of actual persons, places, and things in my own life.

Oh, one other thing: when my mother was pregnant with me, I/we were supposed to be twins. My four older siblings had been allowed to suggest names for the twins. They were all fans of the Mickey Mouse Club on television at the time, which featured a couple of twins on the Triple-J ranch, named Spin and Marty. When I came out alone, I'm fortunate that they named me Marty, not Spin! (Though I've considered using that as a pseudonym!)

Which one of the twins from Losing Addison, Addison or Les, can you most relate to, and why?

They are both me! I see in their struggle my own inner conflicts, especially in reconciling my erstwhile Mormon faith with being gay. There's my overly analytical, second-guessing self in Les, and my devil-may-care rebel in Addison.

Is there a particular author, or book, that inspired you to start writing?

Generally speaking, no. As I said earlier, many of the books I have read inspired me by leaving me wanting more, or a different turn of events than the author had provided. As I read these, I often found my mind wandering and rewriting the story with a different outcome. In particular, I found the absence of any gay characters like myself to be disappointing. We all want to jump into the skin of a book's character once in a while. On the other hand, most books labeled "gay fiction" are pulp or borderline pornographic. I'm no prude by any means, but that's not what I'm interested in reading. I want intellectual engagement. Anyone who can do that gets my book-buying dollar.

The one author who influenced me the most at the time that I started writing was Dean Koontz. In particular, From the Corner of His Eye really grabbed me. It was an ordinary story about ordinary people caught up in a crime. But slowly a paranormal element began to expose itself in a completely unexpected turn of events. I thought it was brilliant! It crossed genres. Crime, mystery, thriller, paranormal—-all rolled up into one. I thought, yes, I can do that too!

When did you first discover your love of writing?

Very late, indeed. In high school I took a creative writing course and hated it. The idea that creativity could be yoked to assignments and schedules seemed antithetical to me. I succeeded only when I wrote about my own experiences. But I never made the connection back then that non-fiction could be made into fiction in the hands of a skilled storyteller.

In my thirties I became a political activist in San Francisco and in the Mormon community. This necessitated putting feelings into writing to promote or defend various causes. I found that my passion enabled me to do this effectively and I became a spokesperson for several causes over the next decade. I was eventually hired as a staff writer and editor for several magazines, but had still not written fiction. As an avid reader however, I found my longing to write a novel growing over the years.

Do you have any tips for someone who is considering self-publishing their own book?

Yes. Beware of other writers who offer you tips! Truly, I found an overabundance of advice in the online writers' community when I was introduced to it last year. Much of it was contradictory and lead me in so many directions at once that I considered giving up completely. You might recall that when I joined Bestsellerbound my posts were so full of frustration and complaints that I got people's hackles up! (A shoutout to Joel Kirkpatrick who so graciously took me aside and cleaned up my act!) I was doing everything I'd been told on one hand, only to find that I was annoying people on the other hand.

I'm still not sure of what I'm doing! Do I tweet too little or too much? Am I required to blog about things other than writing? Or do I bore and annoy with off-topic posts? Are mentions of my books considered unwanted advertisements or useful links to something of interest to potential readers? I never know the answers to these things. And when my Twitter mentions and retweets dry up, and blog hits fall to zero for a week, I'm always second-guessing myself, wondering who I've offended and how!

So, no, I'll leave the advice-giving to those who have come before me. I'm flying by the seat of my pants out here!


Who are your favourite authors and what is it about their writing that you like?

Well, I've already described Dean Koontz. But even he has trailed off into commercial schlock at times, likely the result of deadlines and production quotas imposed by traditional publishers. I'm not a die-hard fan of anyone in particular. I come across books I love and books I can't finish. It doesn't seem that the author is any guarantee of the outcome. I read Stieg Larsson's first "The Girl Who…" book, but couldn't finish the overly dense, excruciatingly inner-monologue-bound, second one. Khaled Hosseini, on the other hand, thrilled me with both The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns I read The Kite Runner twice. I've liked books as random as Bel Canto (Ann Patchett) and Ballad of the Whiskey Robber: A True Story of Bank Heists, Ice Hockey, Transylvanian Pelt Smuggling, Moonlighting Detectives, and Broken Hearts (Julian Rubenstein). I absolutely loved Middlesex (Jeffrey Eugenides), and I thoroughly enjoyed Kim Stanley Robinson's "Mars Trilogy," a gift from a friend, and the first fiction I had read in nearly a decade prior.

Since becoming an indie writer, however, I'm now committed to buying only indie titles. There are too many gems out there that I'll never have time to read. I don't need to risk formulaic commercial novels any more. I will still read a mainstream book that is loaned to me however, if it comes with a recommendation from family or friends.

Is there a book you own that you’ve read more than once?

The Kite Runner, Lord of the Rings, Ballad of the Whiskey Robber, The Russians, From the Corner of His Eye, On the Road,Tales of the City, and probably others I can't remember.

What was the last book you read, and are you reading a book at the moment?

I'm currently reading both Jason McIntyre's Thalo Blue and Darcia Helle's The Cutting Edge. While driving I'm also listening to Lifeguard by James Patterson and Andrew Gross, loaned to me by a neighbor. I don't remember the name of the last book I finished! It was something I won on fReado's Bookbuzzr. Prior to that was Josh Bazell's Beat the Reaper.


What do you think of ebooks?

A curse and a blessing! I don't own an ereader and can't afford one. We live on very little, as I have chosen to be a writer and only work part time. As a reader I'm frustrated by the number of books by indie authors (such as those mentioned above) that aren't available in print. My only guaranteed reading time each day is at bedtime. I can't hold my computer to read ebooks in bed! Other reading opportunities are in the bath and on public transit, both places where a print book is more practical than a computer. Similarly, none of my closest friends and neighbors with whom I share reading interests own an ereader or iPad. Consequently, I can't share with them those downloaded indie titles I know they'd love.

On the other hand, as a writer I'm grateful for the opportunity ebooks give me to circulate my writing among a much larger audience than print books alone can offer. My recent novelette, Losing Addison, would never have been published in print by a traditional publisher. The cost of producing it, even as a self-published title, likely means that it will find its greatest audience in its ebook form.

Personally, I will never abandon print books. I love to hold them. And, as a graphic designer, I thoroughly appreciate good cover art. It's about the only art I can afford now! I believe that down the road, print books will experience a resurgence, just as vinyl has in the music world.

How important are reviews for you as a writer?

Would I sound too pathetic if I said "they're everything" to me? It's true, for this reason: Storytelling, like a conversation, requires two parties. I have no interest in a carrying on a monologue. I don't write to hear myself think. I write to share. Even if there were no monetary recompense for writing (and oftentimes there isn't when the books are balanced), my greatest joy is to read or hear and share the excitement of others as they discover the story that has captured my imagination in creating it. And, while I have been fortunate thus far to have had only one bad review (a Mormon who thought By A Thread was "not an LDS book"), I feel that constructive criticism will help me refine my work in the future.

How do you go about choosing a cover for your books?

I have been a part-time graphic designer for twenty-four years, so I do all my own cover work, including photography. Since the City of Vienna is a character in By A Thread, I chose an iconic symbol of that city as a focal point for the cover: the Riesenrad (Ferris wheel) at the Prater amusement park on the Danube. It has the added cachet of being an iconic symbol of the movie "The Third Man," about intrigue in post-war occupied Vienna. What better choice for my political thriller?

The cover of Losing Addison came to me as readily as the story itself did. I created it in about thirty minutes, starting with a photograph I had taken of an acquaintance several years ago. I knew it needed to be dark and mysterious, and tweaked it for that effect. The idea of a face over a face stems from the interaction of twins in the story. Creating covers is one of my favorite parts of the process! I'd love to do it for other authors, as well.


What are you working on now?

Ack! I'm going in so many directions at once now! Last November I sat down to write an entirely different, coming-of-age-in-the-high-desert story. But I had barely begun when I acceded to the requests of several fans who wanted me to write a sequel to By A Thread. The cynical, marketing-oriented part of my brain said, "strike while the iron's hot!" But I got 20,000 words into it and hit a wall. Like By A Thread, The Third Token has complex plot threads that gradually interweave. I found that, while I loved writing my protagonist, the creation of a villain was dragging me down. I don't like to get into evil people's heads! It doesn't come easily to me.

Losing Addison was such a refreshing and unexpected break from The Third Token, that I decided to explore some other ideas that were bubbling to the surface. I wrote three chapters of a new psychological thriller, but balked when I delved further into Jason McIntyre's Thalo Blue, because I found too many similarities between the two, even though I'd written mine before reading his. I then began another project, but am second-guessing myself on it now because it would likely find only a limited audience. I'm wondering if I should go back to my other projects first. As you can see, there is no method to my madness!


Where can people buy your books?

Readers wanting print editions can get the best deal by watching for my oft-tweeted discount codes and going to CreateSpace to use them. Currently, code DKAYY424 offers a $3 discount on By A Thread.
Code NGD939PC offers $2 off of Losing Addison.
Amazon doesn't allow author discounts, but has the advantage of free or combined shipping if you're buying multiple books. Both By A Thread and Losing Addison are available for Kindle at Amazon, as well.
Losing Addison is also available in all digital formats at Smashwords. (Readers of this blog may use code EW27M for a 50-percent discount there through the end of May.) By A Thread is on Smashwords, as well.
European buyers can also purchase my ebooks from XinXii (the price includes a VAT tax).

Do you have your own website or blog where people can read more about your work?

By A Thread has a website that offers reviews, as well as insights into both my background and the novel's, including links to the real-life counterparts to the story's elements and characters. There is also a By A Thread blog where I post related stories, occasional contests, and discount offers. Losing Addison has its own blog, where I post reviews and discounts.

Thank you, Marty.

Remember to win a copy of either By a Thread or Losing Addison, leave a comment below. Good luck!!

I met Michael Scott Miller through BestsellerBound.com... it seems I meet some of the best authors there. Michael's book Ladies and Gentlemen...The Redeemers caught my eye as it has a live band on the cover... you know me.
I can never resist a bit of live music; combine it with a book and I'm in heaven.

A couple of months after Michael's book went on my to-read list, I spotted it in one of the emails I received from Bookpleasures.com (I'm a reviewer for that website.) I instantly requested a copy, knowing that it would be my type of read.

I didn't know what to expect, except that it was a book about a man trying to put a band together. I was very impressed with the book. It's hard to believe it's a debut novel. I can see a bright future for Mr. Miller.

You can read my review of his book here on Goodreads.

As I am on a mission to introduce you all to the best in indie writing, I just had to invite Michael to my blog. He kindly agreed to answer my questions and has offered to give away one paperback copy and three ebooks versions of the book!! All you have to do to enter is 'like' this blog post or leave a comment below! A winner will be picked at random on 20th June 2011. If you have a preference, you should state in your comment whether you're entering for the ebook version or the paperback.

Here are Michael's answers to my interview questions:

Your bio says you work with numbers by day and words by night. That’s an interesting combination. Do you enjoy working with both, or do you have a preference?

At this stage of my life, I am enjoying working with words more. The numbers side comes easily to me and I’ve made a great career in business out of that. However, I’ve found that I love expressing myself creatively through writing and I thoroughly enjoy the challenge of that. Plus, in all my years in the business world, I’ve never had a stranger tell me how much they enjoyed one of my spreadsheets.

Your background in writing appears to be non-fiction. I understand you’ve had work published in the Welcomat (now Philadelphia Weekly) and wrote music reviews for the Wharton Journal. How does writing non-fiction compare with fiction, in your opinion? Do you find it easier to write fiction or non-fiction?

Non-fiction is certainly easier for me since I don’t need to think about the story line or the style of music. I just need to come up with the appropriate words to describe it. I prefer the freedom of fiction though.

I’m assuming that a background in writing music reviews means you have a passion for music as well as words and numbers! (I’m also guessing this as your debut novel has a musical theme). What is your favourite type of music and do you keep up to date with new music?

I have an extensive music collection, mostly rock, but ranging broadly within the genre. My favorite style is pop-punk which is how I would characterize many of my favorite bands including Green Day, The Ramones, The Clash, Social Distortion, and Rancid. I also like more mainstream musicians like Bruce Springsteen and I confess to being a Deadhead. I keep up with new music actively and have been to see both Green Day and the Black Eyed Peas with my kids, which is very cool for me.

What was the last CD you bought?

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, by Kanye West

When you did music reviews for the Wharton Journal, what did the reviewing involve? Did you attend live performances to review them, or was it based on listening to CDs?

It was purely based on CDs. The editor of the paper would supply me with a batch of demo CDs and I would listen to them and get to choose the ones I wanted to review. I discovered one of my all-time favorite CDs that way, Fire of Freedom by Black 47. Another time, I gave a bad review to this glam band whose name now escapes me. Days later, I saw a review in a major publication where this band was professed to become the next big thing. They didn’t, and my review was vindicated.

Your debut novel is a wonderful book. I absolutely loved it. I’m a music fan, and I feel it really captured the essence of a band and the passion behind music. Have you ever worked in the music industry? The book was so realistic, it made me wonder.

Thank you (*blushing*). That’s awfully nice of you to say. I have not worked in the music industry so I am immensely flattered when readers tell me how true the story feels. I did my homework when I was writing the book so I’m glad that paid off.

How much research did you do for Ladies and Gentlemen...The Redeemers, and how long did it take you to write?

I did a fair amount of research both on the music industry and the setting. My former company had offices in San Jose, so I was able to extend business trips to go to San Francisco and UC Berkeley. I spent a couple days there walking around, visiting the BART stations where many of the early scenes in the book take place, and wandering through the UC Berkeley campus, which is beautiful, by the way.

I have a tough time answering how long the book took to write. I started it about ten years ago, but there were long stretches of idle time.

Most of the characters in your book are musicians. Do you play any musical instruments?

I don’t. I dabbled with piano and guitar as a kid but never became proficient. My teenage son plays the trumpet and drums very well and I am enjoying performing vicariously through him.

Did you base any of the characters on people you know?

Abe Jackson was inspired by a blind singer that I saw regularly in Suburban Station in Philadelphia. There is a bit of me sprinkled throughout the other characters, both good qualities and bad.

Which of the characters in your book can you most relate to and why?

Bert Ingram. Like Bert, I am a dreamer and an eternal optimist.

Do you have any tips for someone who is considering self-publishing their own book?

You have to really want it. It is a long journey, not only the writing, but doing all the marketing and promotion afterward. So my advice is to be prepared for long hours, but don’t let that stop you. Writing and publishing has been one of the greatest experiences of my life.

Who are your favourite authors and what is it about their writing that you like?

Douglas Adams – brilliantly clever and utterly hilarious
J. K. Rowling – how could anyone not love the contribution she has made with the seven Harry Potter books.
J.R.R. Tolkien – I read Lord of the Rings as a teenager and it remains my all-time favorite
Robert Ludlum – I haven’t read much from him lately, but his stories are intriguing and captivating -- the definition of page-turners.

Is there a book you own that you’ve read more than once?

I generally don’t read books more than once, but the one notable exception is The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.

What was the last book you read?

I’ve been reading books from other indie authors of late. The last couple were Wish List by John Locke and Rock & Roll Rip-Off by RJ McDonnell.

Are you reading a book at the moment?

I’m reading My Blood Approves by Amanda Hocking to see what all the hype is about. I’ve never read a paranormal romance and am unlikely to read many of them, but I just had to see.

What do you think of ebooks?

I love them. As an author, especially a relatively unknown one, publishing an ebook allowed me to first test the market by publishing the book for free, and later set the price at a very low $0.99. As a reader, they are also wonderful. I mostly read indie authors now and it’s great to be able to pick up books for under $5.

How important are reviews for you as a writer?

Reviews are extremely important. Truly independent reviews (read: not from my mother) validate the quality of my novel and give potential readers the confidence to invest in the book. Reviews are also really important for my psyche. There isn’t anything that lifts me up more than reading a positive review or comment about my book.

How did you go about choosing a cover for your book?

I first put together a cover using clip art and sent it to my wife for feedback. She promptly told me it was awful and guided me to find a photographic image instead. I then searched iStockphoto for scenes from a concert and immediately fell in love with the one on the cover here. It is just perfect – a silhouette of the band with an orange-yellow glow symbolizing the sun rising on the Redeemers.

What are you working on now?

I have a basic outline put together for another character-driven novel, but I’m reluctant to say more out of superstition. I will say that it takes place in Northern England, so Maria, I may be coming to you for help ϑ

Where can people buy your book?

Ahh, my favorite question. Here you go:

Amazon

B&N

It’s also available at many other sites including Smashwords, Kobo,the Sony Reader store, and Apple’s iBooks store.

Where can people go to read more about your work?

At ladiesandgentlementheredeemers, people can read the first chapter and access all the novel’s reviews and comments.

Thanks for the interview, Maria!

You're very welcome Michael. Thanks for being a fabulous guest. I don't know how much help I can be with your new book as it's set in Northern England and I'm in London... But give me a shout if I can be of assistance!



Remember to click the 'like' button or leave a comment below to enter for your chance to win a copy of this great book. It's an international competition. Good luck!

This week I am a featured author on Jason McIntyre's blog, The Farthest Reaches.

Check it out by following this link: Behind The Words/Maria Savva