Melanie Tomlin's Blog, page 5

Lucy Vampoosy … Announcing the Winners!

Lucy Vampoosy — Competition Winners

As with my previous competitions, the email addresses for all potential winners, being my angel followers (aka email list subscribers, and there were a lot this time!) were entered into a random list picker, courtesy of Random-ize. lucy winners

After each winner was randomly chosen, they were removed from the list to ensure they couldn’t be randomly selected again. It’s a long and tedious process, but a fair one. For those of you who didn’t win, the ebook version of Lucy Vampoosy: The Little Vampire Dog is on sale for 99c / p / € until December 31, 2016. (Details appear further down, PLUS info a special deal from Amazon.)

Congratulations to the following winners! lucy winners

Terry, 1st prize — Amazon gift card ($30 USD)

Laura, 2nd prize — Signed copy of Lucy Vampoosy: The Little Vampire Dog

Nathalie, 3rd prize — Signed copy of Lucy Vampoosy: The Little Vampire Dog

Anita, 4th prize — Signed copy of Lucy Vampoosy: The Little Vampire Dog

Lanell, 5th prize — Lucy Vampoosy: The Little Vampire Dog ebook

Bruce, 6th prize — Lucy Vampoosy: The Little Vampire Dog ebook

Betty, 7th prize — Lucy Vampoosy: The Little Vampire Dog ebook

Michelle, 8th prize — Lucy Vampoosy: The Little Vampire Dog ebook

Jasmine, 9th prize — Lucy Vampoosy: The Little Vampire Dog ebook

Cristina, 10th prize — Lucy Vampoosy: The Little Vampire Dog ebook

All winners have been notified by email. (Ebook winners please note that the link in the email to download your ebook will expire on December 22.) lucy winners

Didn’t win but would like to purchase the ebook while it’s on special?

You can purchase the book via any of the following retailers:

Don’t run away just yet! There’s an even better deal on Amazon at the moment!

Until November 28, you can ‘receive $10 off any books purchase of $25 or more’ from Amazon. If you’re in the market for a couple of other book, you can essentially the paperbak get Lucy Vampoosy: The Little Vampire Dog for free, as it’s under $10, PLUS as it’s registered in the Matchbook program, you get the ebook version for free!

The promotional code is HOLIDAYBOOK. You can view Amazon’s Terms and Conditions here.

When’s the next competition?

There’s one running right now that’s due to end on December 01, and there’ll be another one in early 2017, to celebrate the upcoming release of Angel’s Body — Book four in the Angel Series.

The post Lucy Vampoosy … Announcing the Winners! appeared first on Melanie Tomlin.

An Interview with Lucy Vampoosy

Lying comfortably on the couch, demanding one treat for every question asked (whether she answers them or not), is Lucy Vampoosy, the dog who has become an overnight sensation with the release of a book based on her life.Lucy Vampoosy Interview

Lucy, lounging on the couch

How did you come to live with the Tomlin family?

Lucy: Woof, woof, woof, woof, woof.

Translation: They adopted me from the Lost Dogs Home in North Melbourne. I clearly remember the day they came. They’d been looking for a companion for their other dog, Snoopy, for a few months, and decided to visit the Lost Dogs Home on the way home from a funeral. When they saw me there, they fell in love with me. They asked if they could bring Snoopy in to see if we got along, but were told someone else was coming to collect me later in the afternoon. They left a contact number just in case things didn’t work out. Two hours later their phone rang and they were asked if they were still interested in adopting me. They brought Snoopy to meet me, and the first thing he tried to do was wee on my head! Of course, they took that as a good sign, and as I didn’t complain, I got to go home with them. (I did get my revenge by weeing on the carpet.) Lucy Vampoosy Interview

Where did you live before you became a pound puppy?

Lucy: Woof, woof! Woof, woof, woof woof.

Translation: Oh, I don’t really remember my first family, but I do remember why I left. I was a rebellious teenager. I wasn’t allowed to do the things I wanted to do, like digging holes, staying up late and going out by myself. I decided I’d run away and have a grand adventure. Travel the world, become a star … you know, the usual stuff. Well, my plans were ruined when I was picked up for pooping in a public place and sent to the pound. Where else was I meant to poop? It’s not like I could use a public toilet, even if I could find one. The world is my toilet … that includes your nature strip. Lucy Vampoosy Interview

I take it you like living with the Tomlin family, given you haven’t run away again.

Lucy: Woof, woof, woof.

Translation: I did try running away once, but I only made it about ten houses away before they lured me back with a dog treat. Those dog treats get me every time. Besides, if I’d been successful, we probably wouldn’t be here discussing this right now. When I saw that Melanie, my furless Mum, had started getting her books published, I knew I had a shot at becoming a star. By the way, don’t forget to give me my treat. I count that as a question. Lucy Vampoosy Interview

How did you convince Melanie to write a book about you?

Lucy: Woof! Woof, woof, woof, woof.

Translation: Please, it didn’t take much effort! She loves me as much as that furless baby she had. I just looked cute, answered to her nickname for me (that’s the Vampoosy part of my name) and let her refer to me as a vampire dog. The rest, as they say, is history. Now I just have to get her to work on the sequel. Lucy Vampoosy Interview

What’s your favourite food?

Lucy: Woof!

Translation: Chicken schnitzel. Lucy Vampoosy Interview

Who is Farty Bum Ralph?

Lucy: Woof, woof, woof!

Translation: Are we here to talk about me or that little upstart who sooks, whines, farts and now wants a book of his own?

Ralph, Lucy and her book

Is he another adopted dog?

Lucy: Woof, woof, woof, woof.

Translation: Yes. He came from the Echuca Animal Rescue Service. We drove a long way to meet him, and I was tired. If I had been in possession of my faculties, I would have turned up my nose and said, “He’s not Tomlin family material.”

That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think?

Lucy: Woof, woof, woof. Woof, woof.

Translation: It’s a dog-eat-dog world, but I can be gracious. Of course, the fact that he snuggles up to me in winter and keeps me warm is a big plus. I’ll put up with almost anything as long as I’m warm, loved and fed.

What happened to Snoopy?

Lucy: Woof, woof, woof.

Translation: I don’t want to talk about it. It just broke my heart. I feel like he abandoned me. I hope he’s enjoying himself in dog heaven while he can. When I get there, I’m going to chew him out for not saying goodbye to me before he went there.

(Note: Our beloved Snoopy was very sick. Letting him go was the hardest decision we’ve ever had to make — a kindness to him, and devastating for us. We still miss him, five years on.)

Snoopy

Why should people buy your book?

Lucy: WOOF!

Translation: Look, I’ll be honest with you. Fifty percent of all sales goes towards buying me dog treats. Unless people want me to go back to my old diet of spiders, bugs and frogs, they need to buy my book. Oh, and the other reason is because I’m a celebrity, and everyone wants to know how the other half lives.

Lucy Vampoosy: The Little Vampire Dog is available via:

or to find the best price on the paperback, go to:

The post An Interview with Lucy Vampoosy appeared first on Melanie Tomlin.

An Interview with Author Carol Anne Douglas

Joining me today is author, Carol Anne Douglas, and she’s talking to me about her Arthurian legend that has a somewhat different twist. Thank you, Carol Anne, for taking the time to chat to me. Please sit down, get comfortable and let’s begin.

About Carol Anne Douglas

Carol Anne Douglas lives in books, except when she is in the woods or by the river. She worked for many years as a magazine editor and now is a full-time writer. She has also taught Women’s Studies at George Washington University. She lives in Washington, DC.

What’s the name of the book you’re here to talk about?

Lancelot: Her Story

Tell us a bit about your book

A young girl sees a man rape and murder her mother. She grabs a stick and puts out his eye. Her father raises her as a boy so she will be safe from men’s attacks. She drills and drills until she becomes a great fighter – Lancelot. She wants to save women, and she does.

Lancelot hears about King Arthur, a just king across the sea, and journeys to work in his service. She vows to serve him, but she fears that Arthur and his men will discover that she is a woman and send her away. Lancelot is shocked that she is greatly attracted to the king’s wife, Guinevere.

Guinevere is a strong woman who would have preferred to be a queen in her own right, not through marriage.

Saxons attack Arthur’s kingdom, and Lancelot finds out that fighting a war is far different from saving women in single combat. The bloody combat devastates her.

Give us an insight into your main character. What makes them unique?

Lancelot’s parents were deeply religious Christians, and she became religious also. She learned at an early age to take life seriously. She believed that life offered nothing to her but the choice to be pious and fight evil. She was lonely.

But she always loved nature. She thinks that moss is lovelier than marble.

When she comes to Camelot, she falls in love with Queen Guinevere. The knowledge that she loves a woman stuns Lancelot. She believes that Guinevere would be disgusted if she knew.

Fighting in a war makes Lancelot miserable. She hates it, but she does it well. Her only comfort is being able to save the lives of other British soldiers.

Lancelot will always be serious, but she does learn to jest. And to be happy when she finds reciprocal love. But she will always feel guilty for wrongs she has done. She wants above all to do the right thing. However, she does also like the praise she gets for being such a skilled warrior. She is proud of her reputation for being good and doesn’t want to lose it.

What do you consider to be your best accomplishment?

Working for 35 years on the editorial staff of the feminist periodical off our backs.

Have you always liked to write?

Yes, I’ve wanted to write books ever since I was old enough to read them. I’ve always enjoyed writing.

What writing advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Read. Read. And read.

If you didn’t like writing books, or weren’t any good at it, what would you like to do for a living?

I’d like to be a forest ranger or other naturalist.

Do you read reviews of your book(s)? Do you respond to them, good or bad? How do you deal with the bad?

I sometimes read them. I don’t respond. I brood about the bad ones.

What is your least favourite part of the writing / publishing process?

Marketing.

What are you working on now?

I’ve completed a second volume about Lancelot, Lancelot and Guinevere.

Also, I’ve been working on a young adult fantasy in which the main character is a high school acting student who has magical powers. She winds up in Shakespeare’s world and finds both delight and danger there.

Can you give us a few tasty morsels from your work-in-progress?

Lancelot has descended into madness and does not recognize Gawaine, her best friend.

  The next morning, Lancelot saw the man who pretended to be Gawaine enter the room again.

  “How are you today, Lance?” he asked.

  “You mock me!” she cried, not moving from her chair. She tried to hold back tears. “You call me Lance as if you were Gawaine, and even try to make your voice sound like his. But your mimicry is flawed. I can tell that the voice is not the same.”

  “Can you?” he asked. This time his voice shook, quite unlike Gawaine’s.

  But perhaps this man was not an enemy, even if he belonged to the enchanted world. His voice sounded kind, if not familiar. She would risk entreating him. “Do you know where Gawaine is? Do you ever see him?”

  The man choked. “Yes, I must say that I do.”

  “I don’t know how many years have gone by since I have been under this spell,” Lancelot said. “Please ask him not to forget me, even if I never see him again.”

  The red-bearded man–at least, he seemed to be red-bearded–sucked in his breath. “Gawaine could never forget Lancelot,” he said, making the words sound like a promise. “Gawaine cares more about Lancelot than about anyone else in the world.”

  “False!” Lancelot cried at this unconvincing double. “Gawaine cares more about his mother than about anyone else. You don’t even know him.”

  The man smiled slightly, not unlike Gawaine, though Gawaine’s smile was wider. “Why, when a man says he cares more about someone than about anyone else in the world, his mother is generally excepted. That’s understood.”

  “You are too much like Gawaine, yet not enough.” She groaned, trying not to look at him and be fooled.

  “Why, what do you think of Gawaine?” the stranger asked.

  “He is the best of friends–as you must know if you’ve been sent to perplex me,” Lancelot said, unable to keep from looking at the seemingly well-known face. The eyes were not merry like Gawaine’s. “But it disgusts me that he has used and hurt so many women.”

  “Gods!” the man exclaimed, just as if he were Gawaine himself.

  “Stop imitating him! I can bear it no longer!” Lancelot exclaimed, turning away.

  “Lance, you know I’m Gawaine. You’d never say such a thing about Gawaine to anyone else.”

  She covered her face with her hands. “I never criticize Gawaine to other people. But I don’t know whether you’re Gawaine. You’re like him, and yet not. And I can’t bear the uncertainty. Please, go away.”

  “If you wish. I pray that the spell cast on you will end.” He turned to leave.

  “Wait.” She looked up. “There are two King Arthurs, one who is a great and generous leader and another who conjures up false grails. There are two Guineveres, one who loves me and one who is married to Arthur and who is above all the queen. And there are two Gawaines, the man he is with me and the man he is with most women. Which is true?”

  His face, generally unwrinkled, furrowed with added years of age. “The true Gawaine is the man he is with you. With many women, he has often been foolish and arrogant.”

  That seemed a good answer, but not enough to convince her. “Am I truly Lancelot?” she asked him.

  The seemingly red-bearded man choked. “Yes, you are Lancelot. Never doubt that.”

  She didn’t think he would lie about that. “Yes, I am Lancelot,” she said. “But how can I be Lancelot if I am locked in a room?”

  “Do you want me to take you out of the room? I will, gladly.”

  Lancelot looked at the door and wondered what was on the other side. “No, I am under a spell. I cannot leave this room.”

  “As you wish,” he said, but he sighed.

How has your environment or upbringing impacted your writing?

I was raised Catholic and went to a private convent school for grade school and high school. I like to say that that experience gave me a feeling for the Medieval World.

I have been involved in the feminist movement for most of my adult life. That helped me find my voice as a writer. I was on the editorial staff of the feminist periodical off our backs for 35 years and wrote more than 200 book reviews and many other essays, and had the opportunity to interview many feminist writers and activists, including women from France, Germany, India, and Costa Rica.

What’s something you’re really good at that few people know about?

Playing hide and seek.

Why did you choose to write in your genre? If you write in more than one, how do you balance them?

I’ve long felt compelled to write about the Arthurian legends, and they are categorized as fantasy, so that is why I chose fantasy. I didn’t expect to write any more fantasy, but I love Shakespeare, and the story of a girl who goes to Shakespeare’s world came into my head, and I needed to write it.

It’s difficult for me to write in the present day without writing about my own life, which I don’t want to do. I think it’s unfair to expose the people I know to the world that way. In fantasy, it’s much easier to make up characters.

I also write essays and plays. I’ve written a feature-length play about actors playing in a version of Hamlet, but it’s not a fantasy.

What would the main character in your book have to say about you?

Lancelot would say:

It astonishes me that she can wear pants though everyone knows she’s a woman. But she’s too clumsy to be a good sword fighter.

She has a strange box that captures images of deer and foxes. I wish I could have one.

I don’t understand why she enjoys reading so much, but Guinevere does also.

Of all the characters you have created, which is your favourite and why?

I especially enjoy writing about characters who jest, such as Gawaine, and Drian, a harper who is a woman disguised as a man.

When you’re writing, do you listen to music or do you need silence?

I prefer silence.

Who are your favourite authors, and why?

There are many. Of course Shakespeare, particularly Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Twelfth Night. Brilliant beyond description. I love Dostoyevsky, George Eliot, Charlotte Bronte, Jane Austen, and Virginia Woolf. Dostoyevsky because he illuminated parts of the human soul or character that other writers hadn’t. Jane Austen because she used her wit so effectively. Her books are a refuge in difficult times. Eliot, Bronte, and Woolf because they so beautifully describe women’s condition. Orlando is my favorite Woolf novel and one of my favorite novels ever because it shows the world from a man’s perspective and then the perspective of a man becoming a woman. Its way of skipping through the centuries fascinates me.

Contemporary writers I particularly enjoy are Edward P. Jones, who has written two brilliant short story collections about African-American life in the District of Columbia (Lost in the City and All Aunt Hagar’s Children) and The Known World, a novel about a black freedman who owns slaves. Jones writes beautifully and has deep compassion for all his characters. I think he’s as fine a writer as Ralph Ellison, whose book The Invisible Man is like Dostoyevsky updated, showing the world from an African-American man’s eyes. Another author who writes beautifully is Marilyn Robinson, especially Housekeeping, in which she shows the disconnect between love and housekeeping and asks the question: What is nurturing?

Kamila Shamsie, a Pakistani writer, has written books full of depth and brilliance. She tackles ambitious subjects. I think her novel Broken Verses, which is about the Pakistani government’s suppression of progressive intellectuals, is one of the best novels I’ve read. She is able to convincingly depict a poet who really sounds like a poet, which I think few prose authors can do. Her novel Burnt Shadows tackles the subject of the U.S. atomic bomb attacks, which few authors do. It is about a Japanese woman who survived the bombing of Nagasaki and comes to India. Then India undergoes partition, the split into two countries. The book is full of penetrating studies of Indian, Pakistani, American, and English characters as well as the Japanese woman.

There are so many other authors whose books take me to worlds I haven’t experienced and illuminated those worlds for me. Toni Morrison (especially Beloved), Linda Hogan, and Chimamanda Adichie are high on that list. Viet Thahn Ngyen’s novel The Sympathizer is a fascinating story of a Vietnamese man who belongs to the Viet Cong but is a spy infiltrating the Saigon government.

I enjoy Ann Patchett’s novels, particularly Bel Canto, and Barbara Kingsolver’s, especially The Poisonwood Bible and The Lacuna. They tackle significant political subjects and do with well-developed characters.

Jeanette Winterson’s novel Oranges Are the Only Fruit and her memoir, Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?, the unvarnished version of the same story of her upbringing by a fundamentalist mother who has her exorcised, are brilliantly written: Her wit in writing about such painful subjects is amazing. Emma Donoghue ‘s Room is book that makes a painful subject bearable because the captured mother so movingly fosters her son’s development.

Among Arthurian writers, of course I like Malory, T.H. White, and Marion Zimmer Bradley. I also very much enjoyed Sharan Newman’s novels about Guinevere, Gillian Bradshaw’s books, and the novels of Faye Sampson, a British writer that are unfortunately hard to find. All are atmospheric with emphasis on character development as well as plot. I don’t like books that glorify blood and gore or that have an extremely masculinist point of view.

I don’t read many other fantasy-sci/fi books. My favorite are Octavia Butler’s Kindred and Ursula LeGuin’s The Dispossessed. Suzy McKee Charnas’s Motherlines is the dystopia I found the most engrossing. I also liked Mary Doria Russell’s The Sparrow for its unusual twist of having the Vatican back exploration of other planets.

I love J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books. I found them totally absorbing. I enjoy their whimsy as well as their story. None of the other middle grade-YA novels I’ve read have that deft touch of whimsy. But I do find Suzanne’s Hunger Games books compelling: She found a way to painlessly teach young people about exploitation.

I’ve also been deeply influenced by writers of feminist theory like Adrienne Rich, Mary Daly, Audre Lorde, and Marilyn Frye. They helped me find my place in the world.

I could go on forever about the books I enjoy. For the past year, I’ve been reading books written by and about women from the Islamic world, such as novelists Elif Shafak (Turkish) and Nadia Hashimi (Afghan-American) so I can understand it better. I recommend Shafak’s Honor Killing and Hafisi’s When the Moon Is Low, which is about Afghan refugees.

What’s the best thing about being an indie author?

Knowing my books won’t be remaindered.

Where can readers go to discover more about you and your books?

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads

Lancelot: Her Story is out now!

Available formats: ebook and paperback

The post An Interview with Author Carol Anne Douglas appeared first on Melanie Tomlin.

Lucy says, “Woof! Don’t forget about my competition!”

Last competition for the year!

My goodness, it’s a good thing Lucy reminded me about this. I’ve had so much on my plate this past month (and none of it food) that I’d completely forgotten.

You might be wondering who Lucy is, and why I’d be holding a competition in her name. Firstly, Lucy is one of my dogs, and secondly, she’s the star of my upcoming children’s picture book, Lucy Vampoosy: The Little Vampire Dog. Yes, I’ve ventured into new territory yet again!

It didn’t take long to write Lucy’s story. After all, picture books aren’t overly wordy. On the other hand, the images used throughout the book took longer to get right, to a degree that Lucy was happy with. I spent more time on those images than I do writing my novels!

Some of the images that appear in Lucy Vampoosy: The Little Vampire Dog

Anyway, back to the competition. Once again this is a competition for angel followers (subscribers). If you’re not an angel follower, but would like to be, click here.

What’s that, Lucy? Now you think you’re an angel dog and not a vampire dog? Lucy is one confused puppy if she thinks she’s the angel and you’re her followers! She can be quite angelic at times, but I don’t think that counts.

The prizes

You could win one of:

1 x $30 (USD) Amazon Gift Card

3 x signed copies of Lucy Vampoosy: The Little Vampire Dog

6 x Lucy Vampoosy: The Little Vampire Dog eBooks

Entries close on 20 November 2016 11:59pm AEST. A random-picker website will be used to conduct the draw, and the winners will be announced on, or before, 04 December 2016 — provided the winners’ eligibility to enter has been verified.

The Terms and Conditions can be found here. Please do take the time to have a read, as some of you may be ineligible to enter. (You are still most welcome to become an angel follower and receive news, freebies and updates though.)

Good luck! competition time

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An Interview with Author Richard T. Ryan

Author Richard T. Ryan is a lifelong Sherlockian whose own novel, based on the adventures of Sherlock Holmes, was released on paperback today! Thank you, Richard, for taking the time to chat to me. Please sit down, get comfortable and let’s begin.

About Richard T. Ryan

A lifelong Sherlockian, Richard T. Ryan is the author of “The Official Sherlock Holmes Trivia Book” as well as a book on Agatha Christie trivia. The paperback version of his first novel, “The Vatican Cameos: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure,” is due out today (Nov. 7) from MX Publishing, London. He is also currently working on his next Holmes adventure.

A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, where he majored in medieval literature, he is a die-hard fan of the Fighting Irish — it doesn’t matter what sport.

He has been happily married for 38 years and is the proud father of two children, Kaitlin and Michael.

What’s the name of your new book?

The Vatican Cameos: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure

Tell us a bit about your book

When the papal apartments are burgled in 1901, Sherlock Holmes is summoned to Rome by Pope Leo XII. After learning from the pontiff that several priceless cameos that could prove compromising to the church, and perhaps determine the future of the newly unified Italy, have been stolen, Holmes is asked to recover them. In a parallel story, Michelangelo, the toast of Rome in 1501, after the unveiling of his Pieta, is commissioned by Pope Alexander VI, the last of the Borgia pontiffs, with creating the cameos that will bedevil Holmes and the papacy four centuries later. For fans of Conan Doyle’s immortal detective, the game is always afoot. However, the great detective has never encountered an adversary quite like the one with whom he crosses swords in “The Vatican Cameos.”

If there was a film or TV adaptation of your book, who would you like to see play your characters?

I have always thought that Jeremy Irons would make a splendid Holmes, and I would love to see Iain Glen as his Watson.

How important are character names to you in your books? Is there a special meaning to any of the names?

Names are extremely important to me, but I must admit that I slyly inserted the names of a few friends as supporting characters.

Give us an insight into your main character. What makes them unique?

The book actually has two main characters – Sherlock Holmes and Michelangelo. Holmes, I think, speaks for himself as does Michelangelo. They are both geniuses in their fields and the thought of joining them in a book intrigued me from the start.

Where do your ideas come from?

Honestly, I wish I could answer that because I would visit that place more often. I just sit down and write and the book takes me where it wants to go.

What do you consider to be your best accomplishment?

Personally, I think my biggest accomplishment is staying married to my wife for more than three decades and raising two terrific children.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Hopefully, I’ll be retired and able to devote a great deal more time to my books.

Have you always liked to write?

I really learned to write while I was a graduate student at the University of Notre Dame, with the help of a man named Robert Cross. Once I realized that writing was just an alternative to my own voice, I embraced it. I’ve been writing — mostly newspaper articles — ever since.

What writing advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Just stick with it! Writing is lonely work, but at the end of the day, you will be glad that you did.

If you didn’t like writing books, or weren’t any good at it, what would you like to do for a living?

I’d like to think that I might have been able to make a living as an actor or an attorney.

What is your least favourite part of the writing / publishing process?

I think it’s painting myself into a corner, which I do frequently and by design. As a result, I am often trying to extricate myself — no easy task.

How long does it usually take you to write the first draft of a book?

This book took approximately eight months to finish.

What are you working on now?

I am currently at work on another Holmes pastiche as well as a Holmes short story.

Can you give us a few tasty morsels from your workinprogress?

I can tell you that there is no shifting between time periods in this one, but it is filled with interesting personages from Victorian England, as well as characters from the Canon. I really don’t like to say anything about a project until it has been completed.

Why should a potential reader buy your book(s)?

As Sir Philp Sydney advised, I try “to teach and delight” However, for teach, think more inform. The book offers a decent mystery as well as several subplots, and I hope an array of interesting characters.

What’s an interesting fact about your book?

I think it moves Holmes into a new environment. As far as we know, the only client Holmes ever worked for on more than one occasion was Pope Leo XII. In my story, Holmes must travel to Italy to assist the pontiff, so it casts him in an unusual setting.

Where did your love of books come from?

I have always been a reader – Tom Swift, the Hardy Boys and then as I got older John Dickson Carr, Agatha Christie, J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. It’s why I majored in English.

Do you have a day job in addition to being a writer? If so, what do you do during the day?

I am a newspaper editor.

Are your characters based on real people, are they imaginary or a combination of both?

They are a blend of both, although many of the characters in “The Vatican Cameos” are based on real figures. However, you have to take certain liberties with them.

When you’re writing, do you listen to music or do you need silence?

I usually write in silence because I still haven’t figured out how to get my computer to play music.

Who are your favourite authors, and why?

Shakespeare, Chaucer, Lee Child, Stephen Hunter and Daniel Silva. I love the classics but great stories, told by anyone, are things to be treasured.

Where can readers go to discover more about you and your books?

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon Author Page | Instagram | Goodreads

The Vatican Cameos: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure is out now!

Available formats: ebook, paperback and audiobook

The post An Interview with Author Richard T. Ryan appeared first on Melanie Tomlin.

An Interview with Author L.S. Johnson

Joining me today, minus her four cats, is weird fiction and fantasy author, L.S. Johnson. Thank you, L.S., for taking the time to chat to me. Please sit down, get comfortable and let’s begin.

About L.S. Johnson

L.S. Johnson’s stories have appeared or are forthcoming in Strange Horizons, Interzone, Long Hidden, and Year’s Best Weird Fiction Vol. 3. Her first collection, Vacui Magia: Stories, is now available. Currently she’s working on a fantasy trilogy set in 18th century Europe.

What book brings you here today?

Vacui Magia: Stories

Tell us a bit about your book

L.S. Johnson delivers a provocative and original short story collection that ingeniously blends myth and nightmare. Whether it concerns the efforts of an infertile witch to construct a golem-baby, or a daughter’s quest to understand a father’s guilt and a mother’s supernatural infidelities, or a woman’s violent association with a group of possibly imaginary but nonetheless dangerous little men, each story in this remarkable collection demonstrates the limitless capacity of intelligent speculative fiction to enthrall, inspire, and amaze.

Have you always liked to write?

A better question is, do I actually like to write? And I’m not sure that I do. I like bits of it, but it’s real work, at least for me. If I don’t write, however, I stop sleeping. A teacher once told me there are people who choose to express themselves in words, and then there are people who think in words. Neither one is more of a Writer than the other, but the latter folks often struggle to not write. I think I fall in that camp: I think in words, I see my thoughts as sentences. Even when I’m imagining a scene I’m imagining it both as a kind of immersive cinematic moment and as sentences and paragraphs. It can be exhausting—so exhausting I’ve quit writing three times now—but I’ve given up fighting it. Nosce te ipsum?

What writing advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Keep your eyes on your desk. It’s very, very easy to get caught up in comparisons, especially in writing where individual career paths are often presented as “advice.” Comparisons only take up time and creative energy; they’re never, ever useful.

How long does it usually take you to write the first draft of a book?

Years? The last one took years.

What are you working on now?

I’ve been working on a trilogy for about, oh, five years now. Foolishly I followed my heart and wrote book 2 before book 1, so I made the process much more difficult than it needed to be.

Can you give us a few tasty morsels from your work-in-progress?

Seissan tied on his stock and flicked his collar down with a practiced hand, smoothing it into place. Though he stood before a mirror, he was not watching his hands but rather studying his face, a melancholy habit of late. He told himself it was the mirror which provoked it—it was a new, smooth glass, one of a set sent by Gemma with the last tithe, the cow persisted in dumping her wares upon them—and it had a sharpness of reflection that was shocking. It seemed to Seissan that he had never seen himself so clearly before; it was a cold reminder that his old face was lost to him forever, the stuff of a few fogged memories of lakes and puddles, polished metal and filthy glass. What had he looked like, before Malcolm came for him? Had his hairless pate been so smooth, had his jowls hung lower? There had been bumps in his cheeks, he would feel them when he shaved, yet now he couldn’t quite place where they had been. Like trying to recall the map of a lost continent.

His eyes, at least, were the same black pools they had always been. A fragile peg that he had hung his reason on more than once. No matter what had been wrought upon his person, he could look into his own eyes after and think, I am still Seissan.

Behind him the mold lay upon the wooden table, lit by the candelabra as if it were some holy object. Pandora’s box, more like. Seissan thought to open it, but instead untied and retied his stock, twitched free an imagined wrinkle in his collar. He had dug out a small recess when he first made the mold, an indentation right on the seam, to make it easier to prise the halves open again. Now the shadowed divot seemed to watch him, though whether to remonstrate or encourage him he could not say.

He checked his wig, took his time drawing on his coat. He was Seissan; he would always be Seissan.

There were moments when the whole of one’s life would pivot, like a ship wrenching itself about: this was one of those moments, he knew. He savored the sickening nausea, the damp sweat that misted his underarms. It was almost like being a man again.

What had his face looked like, before Malcolm came that night and wrenched him from everything he knew?

Describe what your ideal writing space looks like.

An adjustable desk so I can sit/stand as needed; a big window with a pleasant scene; a tea kettle; someplace close to the desk for the cats to sit; some kind of old couch that I can read/edit on.

What’s the strangest thing you have ever had to research for your book?

How long a penis would stay erect after the man’s neck was broken. And now I have to answer at least one more question so I don’t end on that image.

Halloween Promotions

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Halloween Instafreebie Promotion One

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Halloween books, special just for you!

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Want some books you can sink your teeth into? Priced at 99c each, and just in time for Halloween, are a selection of books from over 40 authors. With demons, ghosts, myths, shapeshifters, vampires, witches and wizards, and zombies on the menu, there’s something to suit everyone’s appetite! Click / select the image below to be taken to a list of books to choose from. Can’t choose? Why not buy them all!

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An Interview with Author Leeah Taylor

Joining me today to talk about her first book — hopefully one of many — is author Leeah Taylor. Thank you, Leeah, for taking the time to chat to me. Please sit down, get comfortable and let’s begin.

About Leeah Taylor

Leeah Taylor is an American paranormal romance writer. She’s been writing for nearly 18 years including, short stories, poetry and full length novels. Her love for the paranormal led her to write and publish her first novel, Surface Below: Dark Secrets in July of 2016. Leeah is a stay at home mom of two beautiful children, and a wife of 14 years. When she’s not writing, Leeah enjoys reading, crocheting and drawing.

What’s the name of your new book?

Surface Below: Dark Secrets

Tell us a bit about your book

When their paths cross, William Marks and Becca Lorde couldn’t help but feel like they knew each other. Their meeting, however, would set into motion the unraveling of 20 year old secrets. Secrets to protect them and their siblings until the time was right. To awaken the rightful Heir and Heiress of the Bottom World. Secrets, lies and betrayals leave the family divided. Giving an unexpected enemy, with a thirst for power, the opportunity to end it all.

If there was a film or TV adaptation of your book, who would you like to see play your characters?

I’ve actually given this a bit more thought than is probably normal. I suppose the idea of seeing a story you wrote with characters you created up on a big screen is pretty incredible. Although I haven’t given much thought to who would play the main female character in my book, I have for my main male. If I had the choice I would choose Joseph Morgan (Klaus, The Originals) to play William Marks.

Where do your ideas come from?

It takes the smallest notion to spark an idea in my head. Maybe a scene from a movie or TV show. Or even after reading a book, I may be struck with my own idea for a book. I’m good for one spectacular idea a year. Which means I will see the idea through to the end regardless of whether or not I publish it.

What do you consider to be your best accomplishment?

My greatest accomplishment would have to be publishing my first book. It took a lot of time, energy and sleepless nights to finally bring Surface Below to readers. There really were no words when that first copy sold. It goes to show that hard work and dedication pays off. Even if it takes blood, sweat and tears to attain it.

Have you always liked to write?

I’ve always loved to write. I started writing when I was about 14, at a time when I wanted to feel like I was in control of something. Writing gave me that. Creating stories with characters in a world that you have designed is liberating. To be in control of what happens next. And also knowing what happens next. I couldn’t imagine life without writing. It’s hardwired in me.

What writing advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Never give up and never let anyone tell you that you’re not good enough. Nobody is perfect when they first start out. Nobody. Writing is something learned over time. What you write today will be awful compared to what you write five years from now or even ten years. Trust me, I cringe when I look at older writing of my own.

What is your least favourite part of the writing / publishing process?

Least favorite part of writing? Probably when the story begins taking shape and your characters take on a personality of their own. Once that happens the story is no longer yours. Ha ha. Suddenly you’re writing their story and sometimes that story isn’t what you originally planned on.

Now publishing is a whole other beast. Editing and formatting and cover design. Publishing is all about making decisions and those decisions mean the difference between success and failure.

Is there a certain type of scene that’s harder for you to write than others?

Death scenes are tough for me to write. Usually I’ve become attached to the particular character and find myself mourning him/her once the scene is done.

How long does it usually take you to write the first draft of a book?

It depends on the story and how complex it is. Surface Below took me nearly one and a half years to finish. That was with support from other writers and endless sleepless nights.

What are you working on now?

Currently I have two projects. The first is a story that I am writing for Camp NanoWrimo titled, Night of Moons: The Hyrbid. It will later become the first book in the Night of Moons series, featuring alpha male Damien Frost. The second project is Book two in my Surface Below series, titled Surface Below: Rebirth. I hope to have this story finished and ready to publish in early January of 2017.

Can you give us a few tasty morsels from your work-in-progress?

Opening the door and hoisting her up to the passenger seat, he was overcome with excitement. Things kicked into overdrive. His hands moved over her body, under her sheer top. Something about the feel of a woman and how it had him on edge. But it didn’t arouse him. Not sexually at least. It was the life that he could feel beating against his palms that had him aroused. Nuzzling into her neck, he smelled that sweet aroma and kissed up the side of it to her lips. He crushed his against hers with urgency.

William’s hand grazed her neck and he pulled back to give her one last look before he took all of her. The rhythmic pulse beneath it made the inner Beast rear its ugly head. His eyes flared green with flecks of black. Long, sharp fangs protruded from his gums and they glistened.

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing for about 18 years, starting in 8th grade.

What would the main character in your book have to say about you?

Probably that I have a sense of humor.

Do you have a day job in addition to being a writer? If so, what do you do during the day?

I’m a stay at home mom of two children. Previously though I worked in retail for about 8 years. I can honestly say that I love having the opportunity to stay home with my children while doing something I love now.

Of all the characters you have created, which is your favourite and why?

William, by far, is my favorite. He’s sweet, funny, inspirational. I loved writing him. I never knew what he would do next until it happened. His passion for his family and Becca shine through him and I can’t help but admire him for it.

Are your characters based on real people, are they imaginary or a combination of both?

They start out imaginary, eventually taking on their own personalities. Later on certain characters may begin to remind me of real people. Their traits and quirks. It makes it easier to picture the character when you can associate them with a real person.

When you’re writing, do you listen to music or do you need silence?

I listen to music. It helps in drowning out the noise around me. Also, I will listen to specific songs depending on the type of scene. A love song for a love scene, rock for an action scene and so on. It helps set the stage for the scene and the mood.

Where can readers go to discover more about you and your books?

Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads

Surface Below: Dark Secrets is out now!

Available formats: ebook, paperback and audiobook

The post An Interview with Author Leeah Taylor appeared first on Melanie Tomlin.

AMC Expo and the Rotten Appendix

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That heading sounds a bit like the title for a rather strange Harry Potter book, doesn’t it? The only similarity between the two is that there were a number of Harry Potter cosplayers at AMC Expo, which is a pop culture convention, here in Melbourne (Australia).

Since attending Supanova earlier this year, I’ve become a fan of pop culture conventions. As soon as I knew the dates for AMC Expo — 15-16 October — weren’t going to conflict with anything else going on in my life, I happily submitted my application for a table in the Artists Alley. My son Kyle was excited as well, as he gets to help me and spend my money on lots of cool stuff. (He does pay me back, it just takes time.)

Most people have heard of Murphy’s law, which is along the lines of, ‘Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.’ AMC Expo was no exception.

The Rotten Appendix

Hiding in the wings, waiting to take centre stage, was a rotten appendix. Not my appendix. No, my appendix would be too scared of the ramifications. It knows I’m a grumpy old woman. It knows to fear my wrath. Kyle’s appendix, however, was a different story. Apparently he’d been having an annoying, but not debilitating, pain in his stomach for a few days. He’d also been feeling a little under the weather for months, but we thought it was probably the stress of studying. On the Tuesday before AMC Expo, we headed into my workplace after hours to pick up a new PC that had been delivered there for me. By the time we got there he was complaining that the pain had moved to his side and it really hurt.

Being the good mum I am, I asked him if he wanted to stop at the local medical clinic on the way home. “Yes,” he said. The doctor thought it might be appendicitis but Kyle couldn’t lie down for her to examine him. She sent us to the nearest emergency department — Werribee Mercy — with a letter outlining his condition. He was admitted straight away. The next day he was transferred to St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne, as there was some concern of possible complications that the our local hospital may not have been able to deal with.

Anyway, long story short, he had his appendix out on the Thursday. What should have been a straightforward operation took around four hours, because yes, there were complications.

The Show Must Go On

When it became apparent that he wouldn’t be coming home until after AMC Expo, I decided that I would still attend, sans my primary helper. He felt guilty because he couldn’t help me, and I felt guilty because I wouldn’t be sitting next to his bed for the entire weekend. Between the two of us we were riddled with guilt. But as the saying goes, the show must go on.

My sister kindly volunteered to help me, or visit Kyle. I asked her to do the latter, as AMC Expo was going to be a long day, and she lives roughly a two-hour drive away. I also asked his best friend to visit him as well. With visitors all sorted out, it was time to think about whether or not I wanted to ask anyone else to help out over the weekend.

I ended up contacting my nephew, Andrew, and asked him if he’d be interested in attending on one or both days. I told him the following (excuse the typos, I was in a bit of a rush and my head wasn’t in the right space):

The hours are long – we would need to be there between 8:30-8:45 am for a 9:00 am start, and it doesn’t finish until 6:00 pm. (That means you’d need to be at my place by 7:45 am.) You’ll be free to wander around a bit and look at stuff (maybe even buy a few things) but mostly you’d just be sitting behind a table with me, smiling at people and engaging them in conversation. I’d supply some sandwiches (probably ham and/or cheese), snacks and drinks. Thought I’d b totally upfront and honest about what this entails so you can make an informed decision. It’s not glamorous by any stretch of the imagination!

My sales pitch worked, and my nephew opted to come along on the Saturday.

AMC Expo

So, how did it go? How did I manage on the Sunday? What else happened?

Saturday was a great day for sales. As usual I met some wonderful people, and saw some awesome costumes. Some last minute changes saw the majority of authors ‘penned’ in the one area, which I feel works much better for us. We authors look out for each other, and keep watch on unmanned tables when one of us needs to stretch our legs.

My nephew was a big help. Just having someone else there makes quite the difference. He also acted as my official photographer — heaven help me if I have to take a selfie — and we chatted a little bit about this, that and the other — “How’s you love life?” I asked. “What love life?” he replied.

I texted Kyle a lot over the weekend, and sent him some photos. At one point he messaged me to say, “I hate you so much right now!!” He was only venting because he wished he could be there to see everything for himself, and join in the guilt-ridden fun.

Sunday was a slow sales day. It was probably a good thing, given I was on my own. There was plenty of great conversation though, and lots of people took a card or leaflet, in order to take a look at my website at their own leisure. Just before 1:00 pm, Rachel Drummond, Jacinta Maree and I headed towards Stage 3 to take part in an author panel, talking about our publishing experiences. I thought I would fluff up a lot, but surprisingly I could understand everything that poured out of my mouth. I even had the audience laughing when I talked about how my characters sometimes went on vacation without me! Rachel, Jacinta and I all had different experiences to relate, but there were a few things we agreed on.

1. A good editor is essential

2. A professional looking book cover is a must

3. Continuity of book covers for a series, to enable your series to be easily identified.

I can’t say I wasn’t glad when they announced over the PA system that AMC Expo was officially over. It had been a very long week — some good, some bad. Kyle is now home, and starting to feel more like his old self and I have come down with a cold. Excuse me while I grab a tissue and blow my nose …

The post AMC Expo and the Rotten Appendix appeared first on Melanie Tomlin.

An Interview with Author C.E. Martin

Joining me today, after having to drag him away kicking and screaming from the comfy recliner in his basement, is author C.E. Martin. Thank you, C.E., for taking the time to chat to me. Please sit down, get comfortable and let’s begin.

About C.E. Martin

With real-world experience in law enforcement and a long-time interest in pulp adventure, C.E Martin delivers page-turning excitement, intrigue and plenty of battles with out-of-this-world creatures through his Stone Soldiers supernatural military thriller series. Inspired by classics like The Destroyer and Doc Savage, C.E. began writing in 1986 as a hobby and quickly gained momentum as a freelance writer. Today, he combines classic elements of men’s fiction with a satisfying dose of supernatural good-versus-evil storytelling.

What do you write?

Primarily, I’ve stayed in the Military Supernatural Thriller sub-genre–tales of supernatural warfare told in a pulp or men’s adventure fast-paced style. Emphasis is on good defeating evil and action, action, action: I’m not a big fan of the drama.

My first series, launched in 2012, is Stone Soldiers, about a small special ops unit mostly comprised of soldiers turned to living stone, making them impervious to most physical harm and leveling the playing field, so to speak, in the never-ending war against evil. The team fights giants, witches, demons, demi gods, vampires, etc. etc. This year I’ll be finishing up the first twelve book arc.

In 2015, I discovered the joy and ease of short stories. As a part-time, weekend writer, I can churn out shorts much quicker than my novels. I launched a line of prequels to my Stone Soldiers series, as monthly releases. Shadow Detachment begins in 1950 with the formation of the unit that will eventually be full of men turned to stone.

Most recently though, I’ve decided to try a new sub-genre: the Weird Western. I’ve just launched the first installment in a new series that takes place in 1881. Every 4 weeks, a new 10-15,000 word tale will be released, building on a growing story. Not sure if that will all fit into one compilation at the end, but we’ll see.

Outlaws of Olympus is Greece meets West as Hercules battles the gods and monsters of the old world in the Wild West… as a Catholic Priest. Cursed with immortality by Hera, Hercules has wandered the Earth for centuries, eventually embracing Christianity and hiding himself away in one monastery or mission after another. In this series, Hercules, or Father Ercole as he prefers to be called, is sent to the Utah Territory to investigate reports of a man who cannot die. He meets up with a peculiar cavalryman and helps track down a supernatural gunslinger who turns out to be Ercole’s half-brother, Hermes–the fastest gun in the West.

The first installment sets up the series, which will have priest and cowboy reliving the 12 Labors–a blend of Greek and Native American Mythology. If the series finds a readership, I’ll continue it, but for now it’s set for a fixed 13 weird tales.

Where do your ideas come from?

A variety of places. Mainly, I like to read fringe “news”–cryptids, UFOs, lost civilizations. These were the same tales passed around in print that inspired many a pulp novel, so I like to continue the tradition and work as much of this modern folklore in to my stuff as a I can.

As for my new project, Outlaws of Olympus, I always wondered if there was a way to tell a story where Hercules survived into the modern age and lived in seclusion. Then I saw Kevin Sorbo witnessing his own faith and incredible story online and it hit me: Hercules as a Christian. That’s actually in my own Stone Soldiers series (Book 5: Black Knight Down) but somewhere I started wondering about other centuries he might have lived in, and decided on something from the 1800s.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Outlook not clear, ask again… Seriously, I don’t know. I would hope I’ve found an audience and am finally writing full-time. I definitely have enough ideas for that. As I’m nearing fifty, I’m trying not to think too far down the road right now and am concentrating on the here and now and turning my part-time writing into a full-time endeavor. But that all depends on not just an ample amount of elbow grease, but a healthy dose of luck–luck in finally finding a large enough readership.

Do you read reviews of your book(s)? Do you respond to them, good or bad? How do you deal with the bad?

I absolutely read the reviews. My aim as an author isn’t just to tell a story, but to sell my stories. To do that, I need to know what the reader wants, and reviews are the perfect way to find that out. I don’t think there’s such a thing as a bad review–all feedback is valuable. I do think there are troll reviews, where someone “reviews” a book because they don’t like the author, or something in the book, but I would hope most readers can see past that.

How do I deal with troll reviews? Well… sometimes I laugh and move on. Sometimes I vent on X-box, playing a game and forgetting all about it. Sometimes I take the reviewer’s name, change it and kill them off in a future installment. It depends how trollish their comments are.

Overall though, I aim to please the customer–the reader. What they like and want is very important. I listen to their feedback and do my best to accommodate. My goal is to make readers happy, not anxious or angry (say, by killing off favorite characters).

Is there a certain type of scene that’s harder for you to write than others?

Any scene that leads up to a big fight scene is hard for me to write. I want to get through it and get to the action, but I know the scene is important. It’s like eating a mediocre dinner when you know there’s cake afterward. The anticipation is frustrating.

How long does it usually take you to write the first draft of a book?

Somewhere around 40 hours. Sometimes those hours are in batches of five or six on a weekend morning. Sometimes I go crazy and write until my wrists hurt–I think twelve hours (with minimal food breaks) is my longest run. I think it’d go faster if I had multiple days in a row to write. Doing this on the side means I have to stop and lose my momentum. The next session is part rebuilding that momentum part pressing on.

Describe what your ideal writing space looks like.

I prefer to write in my recliner in my basement TV room. I’ve attached a tablet holding arm to the chair, and use a lapdesk with a wireless keyboard. It’s very comfortable, cool, dark, and quiet. Eventually, I plan to connect the TV to a small PC so I can use it to go online and research quick bits of information as I need them. About the only real improvement or change I’d make to this set up would be to put in a ceiling–our basement is only semi-finished, with emphasis on the semi, rather than the finished.

Why should a potential reader buy your book(s)?

While my first series, Stone Soldiers, is definitely for a niche market, I think Outlaws of Olympus will appeal to a broader market. Readers of these weird westerns won’t just be subjected to superhuman violence and killing, but rather problem solving mixed with some fun re-imagining of classic Greek and Native American mythology. After all, as a Priest, Hercules will be more interested in saving souls than cracking skulls.

Of all the characters you have created, which is your favourite and why?

That’s really a tough call. If you are going to insist, I’ll have to flip a coin between Max, my sentient artificial intelligence from the Stone Soldiers and Shadow Detachment series, and Laura Olson, the vampire MD from Stone Soldiers.

For Laura, she’s just a sassy, able-bodied female hero who gets things done without dressing or acting like a tramp. I based her a little bit on Alex Kingston’s amazing portrayal of River Song from the Doctor Who series. One thing I hate in fiction is waif-like femme fatales who haven’t digested any food in weeks. They’re ridiculous. I want to read about pioneer-like women who are real. I served in the USAF with women, and none of them were like the scrawny models we see in so much of TV and film today. Women can be capable and beautiful without being anorexic fantasies of 13 year old boys.

As for Max, I love the character because not only is he reminiscent of HAL 9000, but he’s a Christian A.I. So often we see AIs that are evil and mean. I thought it would be a kick to make an AI who reviewed all the facts (including the dark magic of the demons that built him–see Infernal Machine for more details there) then concluded that there could be no other logical choice. It’s a simplistic, child-like view of religion, from a machine, and I think it’s going to allow me to write some very interesting stories and situations.

When you’re writing, do you listen to music or do you need silence?

Absolutely I listen to music. I prefer scores from films, and my favorite composer is Michael Giacchino. I have a whole string of favorites logged into playlists on my phone–action lists, mystery lists, exploration lists… they really set the mood when I’m writing a sequence. And they drown out the noise from my kids and dog.

Who are your favourite authors, and why?

Lester Dent, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Piers Anthony, and Warren Murphy. There are many others I’ve enjoyed (Laumer, Zelazny, Asimov) but these four were the ones that most captured my imagination and drew me into their worlds. I also enjoyed the blend of humor and action all four put into their work and the lack of the tragedies so many authors seem fixated on. When I finish reading a book, I want to remember the good, not be dwelling on some horrible event.

What do you find most challenging about writing?

Finding the time to write. That’s the biggest challenge for me. I have children, a home, a dog, a wife and a day job. There’s not much time to write, and during the week, after sitting at a computer all day, I get home and just can’t do it anymore. My writing time has dwindled to weekend mornings and possibly the days. At that rate, it’s hard to get a lot done.

I suppose my lack of time is what aggravates me when I read people whining about writer’s block, or how long something is taking them. Oh, if only I had that time…

Where can readers go to discover more about you and your books?

Blog | Amazon Author Page | Stone Soldiers | Outlaws of Olympus

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