E. Rachael Hardcastle's Blog, page 31

Finding Pandora - Insider's Info #1: Casper & His Cabin

Finding Pandora: Book One sees Arriette Monroe meeting Casper, Baby A, Tobias and Reiko for the first time in Casper's Manaia Forest cabin.When I wrote these chapters, I imagined a cabin much like the above. A warm, cosy sanctuary, but one that's secluded, where secrets and identities can remain hidden.Casper's character has always baffled even me, the writer. He's a wise, well-spoken gentleman in his eighties with a caring, teaching nature. Arriette feels a prisoner beneath his wing at first and yet grows to love him as a grandfather by the end of the book. It is Casper's ability to calm others and welcome their trust that I am most proud of.Although the cabin plays a small part in the first novel, I needed it to be significant. This is where Arriette's life as a Supe truly begins; almost as if she is reborn here. It's a two-storey permanent home for Casper and his students, though they are more of a family unit when Arriette meets them.Casper's character needed to match his role in the Recruit, so he's a teacher/ mentor at heart and a family man. He is protective and nurturing, intelligent and in Finding Pandora, plays the 'wise old man'/ 'mentor' archetype perfectly. Against the unknown, mysterious future Arriette faced, I needed a soothing contrast. I believe she finds this in Casper's personality.This is the closest image I could find of how I'd pictured Casper. A long white beard and moustache sit comfortably upon white robes and basic, thin sandals. He's thin and fragile on the outside, but brave and powerful on the inside with a pure soul.The cabin needed to reflect a simple existence, where everything a person needs can be provided by nature. Their furniture is wooden. Their tools are carved and the cabin itself was built by Casper in his earlier years. I wanted Arriette to see how life as a Supe could be - that it isn't always centered around politics, power and leadership like in the city. Those with a clearer understanding of a Supe's purpose on Haeylo can live however they please, with little or no possessions, and be grateful.Casper is one of my favourite characters, not for his ability to shapeshift or for his personality and appearance, but for his developing relationship with Arriette. Within the first installment of the series, 'World' he is able to guide Arriette from terrified and skeptical to excited, eager and capable.It is for this reason that I'd love for you to meet him yourself.Please click here to download your copy of Finding Pandora: Book One for just 99p/99c on Amazon Kindle now.I hope you enjoyed this first post in my 'Insider's Info' mini-series. There will be more to come later in the week!E. Rachael Hardcastle

How To Outline Your Series!

Do you have trouble keeping track of your plots and subplots, your characters, locations and important information? I do, and until three days ago I hadn't bothered to lay out a full, detailled outline for my series, Finding Pandora.As you will probably know, books one and two (World and Heaven) were released earlier this year. I've been working to release book three (Infinity) before the end of August, but I hit a set back. I haven't returned to the series in quite some time, and these re-releases are all due to a re-write I decided to dive head first into. Big mistake, E! Big Mistake.So here's how I resolved the problem in just two days, leaving this evening to start the important stuff!1) I flicked through the paperback books one at a time. I used post it coloured tabs to mark out each chapter, then opened a Word document at the same time.2) For every chapter, I wrote a brief summary of what happens.- Inbold, I wrote the chapter number/ title, the 'date' the chapter is set in (the stories flick back and forth in time in some places) and any other important information.- Inpink, I highlighted the main sub plots so I could pick them out easily to ensure I have resolved each of them before the next book.- InorangeI highlighted information that is worth remembering, but that doesn't affect the subplot. For example, the meaning of a word in the language I've created, or the meaning of a symbol I have used.- All other notes stay inblack.3) I added images of the symbols and runes I have used with captions and made sure these corresponded to the orange text from each chapter. This helps me visualise what I meant when I refer to the story later.As books one and two had already been released, this was just to clear my backlog of (a lack of) notes so I can start fresh with book three. I am not only editing the novel for errors, but I am also changing from 1st person to 3rd and adding in a complete new storyline which runs throughout the full series.Because of this, I need to know what happens in the background for the other subplots so I can ensure I don't contradict everything, forget to resolve anything or get confused.I also decided that my productivity has been far too low. This has resulted in the process dragging until the other day when I realised how badly I needed an outline! So today I made some decisions.1) Use coloured tabs for chapters in the paperbacks so I can flick quickly to the page I need. My Pandora series will beyellow. Other books can have different colours.2) I purchased some post-it notes invariouscolours(squares) so I can make notes in the paperback copies without ruining my pages.3) I purchased a 'page a day' diary from my local supermarket (super cheap but a gorgeous black soft diary with a ribbon) so I can keep a writer's journal. I want to jot down my progress each day, what I've done/ wordcount, targets and goals achieved.4) I purchased somepinkheart post-its so I can highlight something I have done every day that brings me closer to a goal. For example, reaching 600 followers on YouTube! I want to see heart post-its everywhere in that journal so I can feel good about my writing, even when the sales dip or I don't feel inspired.4) I will be appointing a writing pal to check these goals and decide if I deserve a sticker that day. If I get a sticker every day, at the weekend I get a reward or a treat. This can be anything I like, a Starbucks coffee, a day off writing, a glass of wine or whatever. This is to be my motivation.So that's it! That's my outlining process, my latest purchases and my plans for the next few weeks. Wish me luck and cheer me on!E. Rachael Hardcastle

The Author Interviews: #18: Christian Warren FREED

In this series, I'll be interviewing self-published authors about their books and their lives as writers. For my eighteenth interview, I had the privilege of interviewing Christian Warren FREED on 21/06/2016. FREED writes military fantasy and science fiction. His latest release is Where Have All the Elves Gone?Let's get started!What made you want to become a writer?I don’t think I ever had a choice. Since I was a kid I was making goofy comics and crafting stories. My uncle does a lot of history writing- especially with Ken Burns. It’s in my blood.Why did you choose to write in this genre? Have you ever considered trying other genres?I blame Star Wars (yes- I am dating myself, a little) and the original animated version of the Lord of the Rings. Mind blown and imagination racing. The stories come easily to me and the ability to create entire worlds without having to fact check (I mean really, there’s no such thing as a dragon or troll) helps the story unfold quickly. I do dabble in other areas outside of my comfort zone. My latest novel: Where Have All the Elves Gone? takes place in central North Carolina under the premise that elves and dwarves and whatnot exist and are blending in among us. There’s even a giant who wears a Grateful Dead shirt and a dragon who loves watching 80's reruns. I also have a degree in military history, as well as 3 years of combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan. My memoirs from the war are available in numerous places as well.What do you love most about writing and why?I love creating, of making lives unfold as the pages go by. There are times I find some of my characters lives more interesting than mine. This is a gift. One I happen to be fairly good with.What do you dislike about writing and why?Editing. Do you really have to ask? There is nothing worse than getting that draft back from the editor and cringing as I see the red marks and ‘suggestions’. She doesn’t get a Christmas card while I am editing, but afterwards I appreciate her efforts and we make up.If you could trade places with any of your characters, which would you choose and why?Honestly, I probably wouldn’t choose any of them. Most of the worlds I’ve created are rather bleak and daunting. I think, to be honest, I crafted a lot of myself into the main character of Where Have All the Elves Gone?. An army vet turned writer who gets caught up in a government cover up and a world he had only dreamed of. That sounds pretty cool.If you could live in any of the worlds you have created, which would you choose and why?My favorite world is the world of Malweir. (Obviously I created this when the internet was still an infant). To date I’ve written 9 novels in this world. It has a little bit of everything you could ask for in a fantasy world.What's your writing routine or schedule like? Do you struggle to find time to write? How do you stay organised and keep to your deadlines?During the school year I find a lot of hurdles to getting writing done. Mornings are spent marketing or doing research. I crank into gear in the afternoon and try to write between 2000-3000 words daily. Obviously life gets in the way, but I try to make it work. I go into my office, with my dogs, and put my head down to plow ahead.Who or what inspires you? Where do you get your inspiration?Inspiration comes from anywhere. I remember looking at the way the moonlight hit a light pole outside of my house when I was stationed at West Point and thought, I could do something with this. Sometimes it’s a phrase in a song. I have no control over it and like it that way. Some of the ideas pan out while others turn out to be duds. That’s life, right?Do you have a favourite author and if so, why do you enjoy their work?I am a man of very, did I mention VERY, few favorites. Right now my favorite author(s) would be Steven Erickson and Ian C. Esslemont. Together they created the world of the Malazan Empire. Erickson’s Malazan Book of the Fallen (a ten volume blockbuster) had me hooked from book one. That says a lot considering most of those books are well over 1000 pages. Their world is so complex and vast it is impossible to absorb it all at once.What do you find most challenging about being an indie/ self-published author and why?Developing the support network while working on limited funding. There is so much that I want to do, and am starting to, but can’t or couldn’t because of those issues. I am sure many of my fellow authors suffer equally. Don’t give up. If you are a quality writer, people will flock to your work and the road will open up, taking you everywhere you want to go.Thank you to Christian Warren FREED for this interview and all the best with your work. For more information about this authorplease click here.

The Author Interviews: #17: John MILTON

In this series, I'll be interviewing self-published authors about their books and their lives as writers. For my seventeenth interview, I had the privilege of interviewing John MILTON on 21/06/2016. MILTON writes science fiction and fantasy. His latest release is Rise of the Trekken : The Blood War Chronicles, Book 1.Let's get started!What made you want to become a writer?I really got into reading when my mom started me on the Hobbit and the Book of Three. I didn’t want to wait for my parents to read with me, so I started on my own. The more I read, the more ideas started popping into my head for cool story ideas. I thought it would be cool to be able to give someone the same type of enjoyment that I have always gotten out of books.Why did you choose to write in this genre? Have you ever considered trying other genres?I started writing fantasy novels, because they are the books that I most enjoy reading.What do you love most about writing and why?I love seeing something emerge and take shape from what is just an idea. My first book ended up going in a totally different direction that I originally intended and it was really cool to see where the story lead me as I got further along in the writing process. Seeing the actual paper copy of the book was a real high.What do you dislike about writing and why?I dislike the copy editing that is a necessary part of producing a polished work, but fortunately my wife is a journalist and contributed significantly to the editing of the book. I also dislike the marketing, which is an essential part of having a successful novel. With ebooks and the explosion of independent authors like myself, it is a continual challenge to get in front of the reader. You can have a great book, but that is irrelevant if no one opens it.If you could trade places with any of your characters, which would you choose and why?I would trade places with my main character. I was an infantry captain in the army, so I draw heavily on my experiences for many of the scenes, but it would have been much cooler if I had access to magic like he does. Plus, he is an elf. Who doesn’t want to live for five or six hundred years?If you could live in any of the worlds you have created, which would you choose and why?I would love to live in the world that I created for my series, The Blood War Chronicles and be an elf in the Elven Federation. Magic has replicated many of the creature comforts of the modern world that I would hate to give up, like running water and modern medicine. How cool would it be to live in a giant tree the size of a skyscraper? For me at least, the answer is: Pretty Cool!What's your writing routine or schedule like? Do you struggle to find time to write? How do you stay organised and keep to your deadlines?I write at night. It is difficult to find time, since I have a full time job and a wife and two little girls. I don’t really watch TV, although I read for an hour or two every night, so writing has been taking the place of a lot of my reading.Who or what inspires you? Where do you get your inspiration?I am inspired to write every time I open a book by another author and am transported into a really cool story. I think it is so cool to be able to give others that same enjoyment. What really pushed me into trying to write consistently is that I was looking for a way to raise money for the families of classmates of mine that were killed while serving (I am a West Point graduate). My classmates set up a fund to help send their children to college and I thought this might be a good way to help supplement what I already contribute on my own, which is why 20% of everything I make is donated to that cause.Do you have a favourite author and if so, why do you enjoy their work?I love Jim Butcher. The reason I enjoy his work so much is that he not only has really well developed characters with believable flaws, but I also find his world building amazing.What do you find most challenging about being an indie/ self-published author and why?The marketing is definitely a challenge. Trying to get your book in front of readers, many of whom may not make past the top 100 lists is difficult.Thanks to John MILTON for this interview. Good luck with your books! For more information about this authorplease click here.

The Author Interviews: #16: Errin KRYSTAL

In this series, I'll be interviewing self-published authors about their books and their lives as writers. For my sixteenth interview, I had the privilege of interviewing Errin KRYSTAL on 21/06/2016. KRYSTAL writes fantasy/ romance.Let's get started!What made you want to become a writer?As a kid I used to write little stories and I never really stopped. I have always just written. Whenever we had free time in school, I would write stories about talking animals or about characters I had seen in a movie, or read about in a book. (I suppose these days you would call that fan fiction, lol). I just always loved it, my teachers at high school nurtured my writing and were always very encouraging. It was something I always just did purely because I loved it. I never really considered becoming a ‘writer’ for real, it was just a natural progression really.Why did you choose to write in this genre? Have you ever considered trying other genres?I have always been a fan of the fantastical. Dragons, elves, fairies, vampires, magic, anything along the fantasy line I just love. It was never really a question of ‘choosing’ a genre, it was just the natural choice.In the beginning I tried to write along the lines of historical romances. I used to read a lot of them when I was younger, and thought to try my hand at one. I’ll admit, I wasn’t a huge fan of the amount of research I was doing in trying to write a historical romance. Plus, I have a lot more fun creating my own worlds, yes I do still need to do a certain amount of research on things, but not quite as much.What do you love most about writing and why?Character creation. I just love creating new characters and backstories. What they look like, what their personality is. And I love seeing these characters take on a life of their own once they hit the page. They don’t always do as their told either, so that’s always interesting to see where they end up. I love writing their stories.What do you dislike about writing and why?What do I dislike about it? Well, the days when I sit in front of my computer and simply have nothing. I can usually manage to get a little something, even if it’s just a paragraph or two, but it can be very frustrating process at times.If you could trade places with any of your characters, which would you choose and why?Ahh, geez, that’s a tough one since most of my characters have rather complicated backstories… I’d perhaps have to go with Violette from Midnight Redemption. Out of all the characters, her backstory is perhaps least fraught with drama. But she is a mage and has fire magic, so that’s pretty cool thing to have.If you could live in any of the worlds you have created, which would you choose and why?All my stories are set in the same world, but I’d have to say I’d live in the realm of Nildör (where my current WIP is set) after the war of course. Nildör has had its fair share of issues, the banning of magic being a major one, but things will be more settled after the war ends. Why? Because it will have a new monarch and a new beginning, and magic will no longer be forbidden!What's your writing routine or schedule like? Do you struggle to find time to write? How do you stay organised and keep to your deadlines?I like to try and get my writing done before work. I am a chef, so after work at night isn’t the best time to be sitting attempting to write. I do have a fairly strict schedule, although I am still struggling to find that balance between writing, family and the day job. I only went back to work a few months ago, so I’m still trying to find my groove, but I’m getting there. Slowly but surely. If I manage to stick to the schedule, I do get 5 days of solid block of time to work.Who or what inspires you? Where do you get your inspiration?So many things! Books, movies, TV shows, music anything really. I can be prepping at work and the idea for a scene will just pop into my head. Literally anything. I might here a line in a song on the car radio that I like and suddenly I have a whole scenario formed in my head by the time I get home, bases around this one lie that I kind of liked.Do you have a favourite author and if so, why do you enjoy their work?Strangely enough, my favourite author is not actually a fantasy writer. She’s a historical romance author. Kathleen Woodwiss. I absolutely love her romances. Her books just sweep me away and draw me in, and I just fall in love with the characters.I have read her books over and over again, to the point where they are literally falling apart.What do you find most challenging about being an indie/ self-published author and why?With my Patreon serial, Midnight Redemption, I’d say trying to promote it an get it out there is probably the most difficult. I kind of have no idea what I’m doing in that department.Any COMMENTS/ NOTES to the reader:You can read Midnight Redemption for free on Patreon,https://www.patreon.com/ErrinKrystalThanks to Errin KRYSTAL for this interview and all the best with your books. For more information on this author please click here.

The Author Interviews: #15: D. Scott JOHNSON

In this series, I'll be interviewing self-published authors about their books and their lives as writers. For my fifteenth interview, I had the privilege of interviewing D. Scott JOHNSON on 20/06/2016. JOHNSON writes science fiction and thrillers. His latest release is called Dragon's Ark.Let's Get Started!What made you want to become a writer?It’s something I’ve always done. Back in grade school I was the one who got picked to read their essay to the class. In high school I taught myself to type—on a manual “portable” typewriter no less—so I could write stories longer than 500 words without cramping up. In college I ran a role playing game (Star Wars, the original rules) for three years, and then I ran a blog from 1998 through 2014. I took a crack at a novel because I have a few author friends and if they can do it, why not me?Why did you choose to write in this genre? Have you ever considered trying other genres?I write what I like to read: positivist science fiction. I think as a species we’re going places and, in the long term at least, they’ll be better, not worse. Cyberspace underpins my world because I’m a software developer and they always say, “write what you know.”What do you love most about writing and why?As a former game master, I enjoy having main characters who won’t argue endlessly when things don’t break their way. I also appreciate the cooperative nature of the novel making process: my editor shouts at me, I shout back, we work together and figure it out. I know from long experience that this is not how the corporate, non-profit, or federal government workspace functions.What do you dislike about writing and why?It’s really hard to do it right, and there’s a steep learning curve with its own vocabulary and concepts. It took most of a year before I even understood what my editor was talking about, let alone try to fix anything.If you could trade places with any of your characters, which would you choose and why?Probably Mike Sellars, my human/AI hybrid. Unlike any other cyberspace novel I’ve read, he’s an AI that has a human body, but is also still very much a part of the virtual spaces where he evolved. As with most authors, my characters are mostly different aspects of my own personality, and I’d like to think I put most of my best qualities into Mike.Someone asked a similar question when the first book came out, and I replied that Mike is my wonder, and the other main character, Kim, is my rage. You’ll have to check the book out to see what I mean!If you could live in any of the worlds you have created, which would you choose and why?So far I only have the one: twenty years from now, where some things have gone wrong but more things have gone right. I had to hustle to get the first book out because, when I started it in 2012, self-driving cars were an avant-garde idea. Now we nearly have them!What's your writing routine or schedule like? Do you struggle to find time to write? How do you stay organised and keep to your deadlines?I fit it into ever crack and crevice of downtime I can find. My writing routine is mostly defined by the routines of my family: if I get home an hour before everyone else, and the child is in bed by 8 and the wife is in the bath at around the same time, I’ll get two hours a day. If not, or if they change their routine, I have to figure out a different schedule.On the occasions when I’ve been on my own, or had vast stretches of time in which to write, I’ve tended to spend a solid hour on the work, then reward myself with an hour or two of free time. When I was in band back in high school, I learned how to dedicate myself to a task for a big block of time. It’s a hard skill, but once you get the knack of it it’s pretty amazing what you can accomplish doing just one thing for an hour at a time.Who or what inspires you? Where do you get your inspiration?Other authors, concepts from documentaries, the ever expanding discoveries from science.Do you have a favourite author and if so, why do you enjoy their work?Peter Hamilton, S.A. Corey, and Terry Pratchett are the easiest authors to name. Neal Stephenson and John Ringo come in right behind them.To steal a title from one of my favorite bands, for pessimists, they’re pretty optimistic. And that’s the place I come from. I accept that we’re a petty, scheming, back-biting species, but I also quite strongly believe most of us are good, and are getting better. It’s an uncommon attitude nowadays, I think.What do you find most challenging about being an indie/ self-published author and why?Marketing! I have no idea how to do marketing! Everyone else makes it look so easy, but I’m completely clueless.Any COMMENTS/ NOTES to the reader:If you enjoyed the interview, please be sure to pick up a copy of Gemini Gambit, available at all major e-book outlets. The second book in the series, Dragon’s Ark, is scheduled to hit the shelves in September. The third book, The Child of the Fall, is tentatively scheduled for late 2017. Thanks again for your time!Thanks to D Scott JOHNSON for this interview. All the best with your books. For more information about this authorplease click here.

The Author Interviews: #14: Christina E. PILZ

In this series, I'll be interviewing self-published authors about their books and their lives as writers. For my fourteenth interview, I had the privilege of interviewing Christina E. PILZ on 20/06/2016. PILZ writes Victorian-era historical fiction, m/m historical romance and has future plans for Victorian het romance. Her latest release is Oliver & Jack: Out In The World (Book 4); due in September 2016  and Oliver & Jack: On The Isle of Dogs (Book 5).Let's get started!What made you want to become a writer?Well, one time, I turned in a story to my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Harr, for creative writing class, and it was a two-page pot boiler based on the back cover of a Reader’s Digest. It was about a boy and a girl who were flying a kite, only the string broke and the kite went into the woods. The boy and girl followed the kite but encountered a bear. Luckily, they were able to get away and after that knew that it was better not to go into the woods where there were bears.I got an A+ on the durn thing, plus a smiley face in red pencil. It was quite an addicting moment, getting that paper back. I remember thinking, hey, this is something I might be good at!From then on, I steered my life in that direction, and finally, after writing a lot, lot, lot of fan fic, as well as reviews for the TV show Supernatural, I determined to write the story I’ve wanted to write since I was in the second grade, which is the one about Oliver Twist and his best friend Jack Dawkins (The Artful Dodger).Why did you choose to write in this genre? Have you ever considered trying other genres?I chose this genre because I’ve always felt a connection with the olden days. Granted, they weren’t perfect, and dentistry was horrid, but perhaps it was the aesthetic of the clothes that they wore and the things that they valued. Or seemed to value, as anybody who has done any research whatsoever knows that the past was full of dark, cruel people, and had a complete lack of hot water, medicine, or anything else we today take for granted.But there’s something about the simplicity of by-gone eras that to my modern eyes and sensibilities of the common folk seemed to have much to recommend them, so the early 1800’s, from about 1795 to 1851, draws me in like crazy. I want to be there, and dress like they dressed, and wear a bonnet (or a top hat, depending on how the body swap goes), and be able to focus on the “local” and the “now.” To know everybody in the village, and, and, well, it would just be simpler, d’you see? You wouldn’t be inundated with all this technology that gets switched out or upgraded every five minutes! If it was 1832, or whenever, the world would go on being as it always was for a good, long time.What do you love most about writing and why?When I write, I love creating ideas and seeing them come to life on paper (or the computer screen). I love walking around with a scene in my head and then going home and making it happen. I love what when I know I need to put thus-and-such idea in a story, somewhere toward the middle, say, and then, when I go to work it in, it fits, just as though it were meant to be there all along.Sometimes the writing feels like an exercise for my fingers, but other times, most times, it’s like magic.What I like best of all is when a reader will write me and tell me that they loved my story. What I like even better is when readers write to me and tell me how the story moved them, changed them, even.What do you dislike about writing and why?That panicked feeling I get when I haven’t done my daily stint of words! That’s the worst part. If I’ve done the words and gotten them on paper, then anything else that happens that day doesn’t matter as much.Marketing my writing isn’t as much fun as writing my writing. Marketing requires a different mind-set that takes me right out of my head and out into the open — which is completely different than the mind-set I need for writing. But I’m sure all writers struggle with this.If you could trade places with any of your characters, which would you choose and why?Well, I wouldn’t want to change places with any of my characters in book #5, which I’m currently working on. Oliver and Jack go through hell in book #5, so, no, sir, you could not get me to do a body swap with either of them.However, in book #6, the Happily Ever After comes on strong, and since my characters’ lives will be perfectly delightful, I’d trade places with Oliver, on account of I’d be able to look at Jack and see that sweet, devilish smile of his.If you could live in any of the worlds you have created, which would you choose and why?I would go back to any of the locations I’ve mentioned in my books, with the exception of Axminster Workhouse, which, by the time I got done writing it, was a hell hole. So not there.However, I would go to Lyme Regis, or Chertsey, as those were lovely, bucolic places, and even some parts of London seem quite nice, the way I’ve written them, though the idea of being on Saffron Hill (my version of it) makes me start to itch with the threat of bed bugs and other vermin.What's your writing routine or schedule like? Do you struggle to find time to write? How do you stay organised and keep to your deadlines?After trying to mix it up, I’ve determined that I write best in the evening.Some say that you should hop out of bed and right with your best energy of the day! Sadly, my brain is not up and running at that time in the morning, and when I tried it, I would waste a good half hour staring at the screen before any thoughts whatsoever would show up in my head.Plus, if I have to be out the door by 7:30 and it’s 6:00 now, that’s only an hour and a half, and how am I supposed to get any work done? Thus, the time crunch is not relaxing at all and puts the kibosh on my creativity. Hence, I’ll write in the evenings, when I can stay up later if I need to.I like to write every day, around 2,000 words, more if I can get them in. Once a week I get a free day, and don’t feel guilty about not writing. On the weekends, if I sit down early enough and stop puttering around, I can get in 5,000 words on a Saturday and a Sunday, each.Who or what inspires you? Where do you get your inspiration?My most powerful inspiration comes when I have absolutely no access to a pen and a 3 x 5 card, and cannot write it down. This happens in the shower, when I’m driving and can’t pull over, or when I’m falling asleep—all those times that they say interesting things are happening to your brain waves.Perhaps being relaxed is what brings on the inspiration, because I know for a fact that toward the end of a massage I’d recently treated myself to, I suddenly was inundated with tons of little scenes, all flashing by, almost too fast to capture in the old memory banks. So when I got out of there, I found a scrap of paper and horridly wrote down what I could remember. (Makes notes to self about other ways of relaxing.)Other times, the oddest thing will move me to the point of wanting to capture a specific mood or feeling. Like clouds, or a storm, or even a sappy commercial that is obviously trying to tug on your heartstrings to sell you soda or whatever. My favourite commercials are the insurance commercials that come from Thailand, because they do not hold back at all, and are determinedly trying to make you cry.Do you have a favourite author and if so, why do you enjoy their work?Currently, my favourite author is Michael Faber. He wrote a novel called The Crimson Petal and the White, which was set in the late Victorian era.What I loved about the book was the realism he put in there. So much of historical fiction seems to flinch away from the grotty, awful existence that some people lived. Instead, authors make the Victorian era a pretty place, where there is plenty of good water to drink, and nobody has any diseases.In contrast to everybody else, Faber makes the brave choices and points out the filth in the streets, the smells, the slime, and the squalid conditions of the poor, who were all considered to be disposable — all with an unhesitating and observant eye. Plus, the story is just so different than anything else I’ve ever read that was set in that era. He’s inspired me to put the same kind of gritty, unflinching realism in my stories.I also adore Joan D. Vinge, who wrote one of my favourites, Catspaw; Sarah Waters, who writes Victorian-era historical novels, of which Tipping the Velvet was my first exposure to lesbians who dress like men to entertain the crowds at theatres; and Margaret Mitchell who, as I was surprised to find out, wrote Gone With the Wind starting with the last chapter (where Rhett tells Scarlett to take a hike) and then wrote backwards to the first chapter. Can you imagine the mental puzzle that would be? (Or would it? Would it actually be any more different than writing from front to back, especially if you’re the type of writer who has a keen idea of what the ending will be?)What do you find most challenging about being an indie/ self-published author and why?The most challenging thing is to balance writing time with marketing time. Writing must come first, of course, but there are only so many hours in a day, and so sometimes marketing gets the short end of the stick.I’m trying to be good, to reach out and connect on social media, which in addition to helping me learn all the platforms, has had the added benefit of meeting like-minded people!Also, while writing my current series, I’ve discovered that it’s a bit trickier than I had anticipated keeping all the details about the characters in order.Any COMMENTS/ NOTES to the reader:To all my lovely readers, thank you for reading my stories about an orphan and his pick-pocket boyfriend. I love it when you write to ask me questions about a scene or tell me about your reading experience. Writing is hard work, but that kind of feedback makes it all worth it.Thanks to Christina E. PILZ for this interview and all the best with your books! If you want some more information about this author,please click here.

Cover Reveal!

FINDING PANDORA: BOOK THREE (INFINITY) is coming soon, and today I finally reveal the gorgeous new cover for both the paperback and the ebook with Amazon!Drum roll please...The blank space at the bottom of the back cover will be reserved for the bar code.I adore this new cover and can't wait to share Arriette's third adventure with you all. Don't forget to sign up to my mailing list for updates and news about all my novels. Many thanks!E. Rachael Hardcastle

The Author Interviews: #13: Stephen J WOLF

In this series, I'll be interviewing self-published authors about their books and their lives as writers. For my thirteenth interview, I had the privilege of interviewing Stephen J WOLF on 19/06/2016. WOLF writes fantasy and his latest book is 'The Forgotten Tribe (Red Jade Book 4).Let's get started!What made you want to become a writer?In eighth grade, my English teacher gave us a writing assignment to describe three separate things: an object, a person, and a place. I ended up linking them together and wondered if there was more to the story that I could tell. In ninth grade, after a severe concussion that kept me nearly immobile for eight months, I started crafting worlds in my head. I discovered that I love telling a story.Why did you choose to write in this genre? Have you ever considered trying other genres?Magic always fascinated me. Wave your hands, say some odd words, and poof there’s a fireball! When I first started writing as a teen, I needed that kind of magic in my life. I started reading fantasy too and I was drawn in wholeheartedly. I have a background in science and I teach it to seventh graders, so I have considered venturing into science fiction. I just haven't done it yet.What do you love most about writing and why?I love creating a new world and new characters. I can challenge the characters to do things that can't happen today. I also love infusing small aspects of my life into my stories. If I'm having a bad day, it's time for a battle scene. Made a new friend? Ok, time for a new companion for the travelers.What do you dislike about writing and why?Inspiration doesn't work on command, so sometimes I can be driving home from work and have great ideas in my head, but I'm unable to write them down in the moment. I would love to be able to stop time at those moments, write what's in my mind, then continue on with the rest of life.If you could trade places with any of your characters, which would you choose and why?I would have to choose Dariak. He is a mage in Hathreneir and grew up able to learn how to use his skills. The story of the Red Jade series centers around him. He is singularly determined and focused on completing his goal for the greater good of all.If you could live in any of the worlds you have created, which would you choose and why?I would want to live in Kallisor for the beauty of the land, but in Hathreneir for the acceptance of magic use. I could see myself spending a lot of time in Magehaven with other spellcasters, learning new abilities and seeking my way onto the Mage Council. From there, I would teach other mages and try to develop acceptance among those who scorn magic.What's your writing routine or schedule like? Do you struggle to find time to write? How do you stay organised and keep to your deadlines?My best time to write is once I get home from work. As a teacher, I interact with twelve-year-olds all day and it is inspiring and invigorating. Their energy is boundless and exciting. Getting home, my mind is awake and thriving and it's the best time to put my fingers to the keyboard. Sometimes events in life, both good and bad, interrupt the writing cycle. Missing a day here and there is fine. I sometimes may reconvene at the keyboard after dinner or work late into the night to make sure I'm keeping up with the pace.Who or what inspires you? Where do you get your inspiration?Life itself is my inspiration. My friends and family all have traits about them that I try to incorporate somehow. Places I visit, illnesses I've had or seen, tragic events that have occurred all make it into what I write in some form or other. If you're reading a scene that's a little lengthy about an injury, you can be assured I was describing something that happened either to me or to someone close to me. Characters and events are not copies of what I know, but aspects of them are woven together into a new situation.Do you have a favourite author and if so, why do you enjoy their work?I have to defer back to those who first inspired me for this kind of question. Lyndon Hardy, who wrote Master of the Five Magics, showed me a creative adventure where magic wasn't some random force that could do anything. He taught me that magic can have rules and be logical. Melanie Rawn, of Dragon Prince and Dragon Star fame, taught me the importance of detail and intrigue. I tend to write more like Hardy than Rawn, but these two inspired me to tell my story and to follow my heart.What do you find most challenging about being an indie/ self-published author and why?The most challenging part is finding readers. I want to share my story and I want to know what readers think. I have tried following the advice of others and I have tried what has felt right to me, yet I would love for more people to join Dariak’s quest for the Red Jade. I am hoping one day to turn the story into a video game and seek an audience there as well.Any COMMENTS/ NOTES to the reader:Thank you for taking the time to read through my thoughts here. If you're up for a fantasy adventure, I'd love to see you in Kallisor! Have a fantastic day, wherever you are!Thanks to Stephen J WOLF for this interview. All the best with your book! If you want to find out more about this authorplease click here.

The Author Interviews: #12: Assaph MEHR

In this series, I'll be interviewing self-published authors about their books and their lives as writers. For my eleventh interview, I had the privilege of interviewing Assaph MEHR on 19/06/2016. MEHR  writes historical fantasy. His latest book is Murder In Absentia.Let's get started!What made you want to become a writer?I had my nose in a book since I was a child, and seeing my name in print was always on my bucket-list. Until last year, I seemed to find the time to do something about it.I had the idea for a fantasy detective story and for the particular twist ending running around in my head for a while. Then one hot night in January 2015 my wife complained that she had nothing good left to read, so I just sat down and started writing. And I didn’t stop until I finished the novel.Why did you choose to write in this genre? Have you ever considered trying other genres?My “genre” is the “Historically-themed Urban High-Fantasy Hard-boiled Detective (with a splash of Horror)”. Or, Historical Fantasy, in short. I write in this, simply because that’s what I enjoy reading. I grew up on sci-fi and fantasy as well as classic detectives. I’ve always been partial to historical fiction, particularly that set in ancient Rome. So when it came time to write, I wrote what felt the most natural way to tell the story. This happened to be a story of a private detective solving a murder case, and set in a fantasy world inspired by ancient Rome. I worried less about the box it would fit in, and more about the integrity of the story and the world.As for writing in other genres (as if there any still left after the above mash-up), I think I will always stay under the general heading of speculative fiction, and particularly that with an historical bent. I write the stories I want to read.What do you love most about writing and why?I enjoy the research into ancient Roman culture and other aspects of life in the books. Rome was always a favourite period for me, so taking the time to delve into everything from ancient gods and political systems to laundry and cuisine was very satisfying.In term of the actual writing the parts I enjoy the most are the parts where I’m cackling with evil glee even as I’m typing. Sometime there are descriptive scenes or plot twists that just hit me in all the right spots. I find that I’m typing furiously as I write them, thoroughly charged with the energy of the story.What do you dislike about writing and why?There is nothing I really dislike. Writing a novel is a matter of 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration, but the effort and the process is enjoyable. Occasionally I get stuck a bit, but I find that just writing – doesn’t matter what, I let my protagonist hide his plans from me – helps. Editing can be annoying at times, but is essential in making a good story great. Publishing and marketing can seem like a chore, but the interaction with readers greatly over compensates for it.If you could trade places with any of your characters, which would you choose and why?I mainly write stories set in a magical variation of Ancient Rome. As much as I love that period, I wouldn’t want to go and live there. There is a lot to be said about the amenities of the modern world. I mean slavery is a big one, but did you know that in the public toilets (very few had in-house plumbing) they use a communal sponge-on-a-stick to clean themselves up?I’d keep modern medicine and the reasonably safe modern world (and trust me – it IS reasonably safe in comparison), over the magical and enchanting Roman society.If you could live in any of the worlds you have created, which would you choose and why?(Same answer as above)What's your writing routine or schedule like? Do you struggle to find time to write? How do you stay organised and keep to your deadlines?Unfortunately I don’t have a writing routine. This is something I do as a hobby.I wrote the first draft of Murder In Absentia in four months, writing mostly at nights when everyone is asleep. Since then we had a baby… so if I can sleep at night, I do! I do try to make time to write daily though, even if it’s just a little bit. Even a small daily word count quickly accumulates into a full novel.Who or what inspires you? Where do you get your inspiration?Everywhere. No, really, everywhere. I had the original idea for the mystery behind Murder In Absentia for a while. As I was writing it, I kept coming up with ideas for more stories, which I kept in a notebook.Since then I’ve written short stories inspired by funny tweets, music videos, and my own brand of craziness. It doesn’t take a lot to get the spark, the idea for a story. It just takes the time to sit down and write it, and make it into something.Do you have a favourite author and if so, why do you enjoy their work?I have so many! On the Roman historical fiction side, probably Colleen McCullough, Steven Saylor and Lindsey Davis stand out. The last two also cover historical mystery novels, and I will only add the amazing Boris Akunin for his incredible Erast Fandorin series. All of them are notorious for the incredible amount of research they put into their novels, and for crafting good mystery and characters.On the fantasy side too many to mention, from classics like JRR Tolkein and Fritz Leiber, to modern authors like Neil Gaiman and Terry Prachett.I’ll read anything well written, and keep reading what I enjoy.What do you find most challenging about being an indie/ self-published author and why?Finding the time to write. Unfortunately it doesn’t quite pay the bills, so I can only do it in my spare time (such as there is, after family and day job).And having published my first novel, marketing is another drain on my time. Not only is standing out from the crowd challenging, it also eats into my time of writing more works – and more books are more important for the long run.I’ve just week reached 50 reviews on Amazon, which is the magical number where they (supposedly) start promoting books in the “also bought” lines. So hopefully I can ease up on my marketing, and move on to writing more Felix mysteries.Thanks to Assaph MEHR for this interview. All the best with your books! For more information on this author, pleaseclick here.