S.T. Sanchez's Blog, page 29

Author Interview with Dale Lehman author of Howard County Mystery Series

Dale, thanks for being with us today.  Dale Lehman is the author of Howard County Mystery Series.  Tell us a little about yourself. 

I'm a veteran software developer, amateur astronomer, and bonsai artist in perpetual training. My wife of 40 years and I have 5 children, 5 grandchildren, and two feisty cats. We live in the vicinity of Baltimore, Maryland, although I'm originally from Ohio. In addition to the novels in my Howard County Mystery series, my writing has appeared in Sky & Telescope and in a couple of software development journals.

40 years of marriage!  That's impressive.  I just celebrated my 16th.  Congratulations! What got you into writing Dale?

I've been writing since childhood. I think it may be genetic. My father also wrote stories and poetry, although he didn't share much of it until near the end of his life. One of my distant great uncles wrote a fictionalized account of my great great great grandfather's epic migration from south central Ohio to western Ohio in the mid-1800's. In an introduction he wrote to that work, my father commented that the Lehmans have always been storytellers. That said, it's been a long road. My work only started approaching publishability in the late 1990's.

I think sometimes it does run in the family.  My father published his first novel a few years ago.  He wrote a historical fiction novel about famous bank robbers he came across while doing family history.  Sounds like we have a lot in common.  Will you share a short excerpt from one of your novel's?

This is from my forthcoming novel, Ice on the Bay:


Once they were in the car and on the way, Churchill decided it was time for conversation. "What made you decide to become a detective?"
Although it seemed trite to him, Peller played along. He'd been asked the question so often over the years that the answer had become reflexive. "Columbo."
She grinned before noticing he was serious. "Really?"
"Really. In my childhood, I thought he was the cleverest guy on the planet. I liked the trench coat, too, and the fact that he didn't carry a gun. He did everything with his mind."
"You don't wear a trench coat, do you?”
Peller couldn't help but crack a smile. "No. Should I?"
"You'd look good in one. What about the gun? Do you carry one?"
"Of course."
"You have it on you now?"
"I do."
She looked him over as though searching for it. "Ever use it?"
"When necessary. Fortunately it usually isn't."
Talk of guns stole some of her cheer away. Peller thought she looked pensive.
"Ever kill anyone?" Churchill kept her eyes on the traffic.
Ah, he thought, that would do it. "Once."
She started to ask but decided against it.
It was a rough memory: a bad incident on a day connected to Sandra's fate. He didn't care to talk about it, but he felt he owed her some explanation. "A gang of thugs ambushed my team. They only had knives, but they got the jump on us and cut up a few cops pretty bad before we took them down. I killed one of them. Shot him in the heart point-blank. I can still remember the look on his face."
Timidly, she touched his shoulder, just for a moment, then drew her hand back. "Pain? Fear?"
Peller shook his head. "Surprise. I think he'd just learned he wasn't invincible."
Churchill considered that. "How did you feel afterward?"
"Horrible. About a number of things. But Sandra was there to . . ." He cut himself off, realizing it might be awkward for Churchill to hear that part.
She stared at the taillights before them as though hypnotized. "She was your anchor, wasn't she?"
Peller nodded.
"What's your anchor now?"
Sandra. Of course, Sandra. She always will be. That's what he told himself, and in some measure it was true. Yet often, he couldn't deny, he merely drifted from one day to the next without charts or rudder or anchor. He got up, went to work, did his duty, returned home, went to sleep. He had no purpose outside of his work, no higher calling, not even a hobby. His only goal in recent years had been to survive to retirement and move to Denver to be near his son and daughter-in-law and grandchildren.
When he didn't answer, Churchill graciously changed the subject. "Bacon cheeseburger with large fries and a large iced tea. You can pick the brand."
"Yes, ma'am," Peller said. Be it only fast food, it was a welcome distraction.



I have to agree with Pellar, I loved Columbo.  He was a great detective.  Dale since you started writing have you been given any helpful advice?

I once received some very helpful feedback from an editor to whom I'd submitted a short story. They had a form rejection letter, but it included a checklist of common errors they could mark. In my case, they had marked a paragraph titled "fast forward." The detail talked about writing that sounds like a tape recorder on fast forward. Slow down, they said. Take your time, develop the details that immerse readers in the world you're building.

I have had that problem too.  I am thankful for good beta readers that are willing to give me honest feedback. Currently, what are you working on?

My editor-wife and I are working on final edits to Ice on the Bay (Howard County Mystery #3). I've also completed an SF/humor novel titled Space Operatic about a hapless opera company trying to make a living on the fringes of the solar system. I've started work on HCM #4 (no title yet) and a crime/humor novel.

You sound busy.  About two titles at a time is all I can work on. I like to be able to jump back and forth when I am getting bored, but I think I'd get too confused if I threw another work into the midst.  Tell us a little bit about your main characters

My Howard County Mysteries feature a trio of detectives, Detective Lieutenant Rick Peller and his proteges Detective Sergeants Corina Montufar and Eric Dumas. Peller's wife Sandra died four years before the start of the series in a hit-and-run. In True Death, the story of that tragedy is told. He still converses with her, and she sometimes intrudes into other people's dreams and thoughts. In Ice on the Bay one of Peller's colleagues tries to fix him up with a friend. Peller kind of resents it but starts to develop a friendship with the woman anyway. I'm not sure where that's going to go yet. We'll see. In the meantime, Peller doesn't have much in his life outside of work, although he enjoys talking with his son and grandchildren, who live across the country in Denver. In many ways, he's still trying to recover from the loss of his wife.


Corina Montufar came to the United States from Guatemala with her parents when she was a teenager. Her family is of course Catholic, but she drifted away from the Church while attending the police academy, which was a rough experience for her. She's developed a bit of a hard shell, but is now finding her way back to her religion. She has a close-knit family but her mother died some years back from cancer and her father, afflicted by Alzheimer's, is hospitalized in serious condition in Ice on the Bay. As the novels progress, she and Eric Dumas become romantically involved.


Eric Dumas has a difficult past. He grew up in Texas. His father left when he was young, and his mother ran off with his sister, leaving him in the care of an uncle. As a young police officer, he discovered that his cousin was dealing drugs and turned him in, which led his uncle to eject him from the family. He's been a bit of a loner since that time, although he's managed to bury his past and maintains a generally upbeat attitude. His growing relationship with Montufar, however, inadvertently reopens some of those old wounds.


Each of these detectives brings a particular strength to the team. Peller is extraordinarily observant, Montufar has a strong analytical streak, and Dumas tends to be intuitive.


Sounds like a unique and interesting team, and with a character from Texas, what's not to love! Of course as a native Texan I might be a little biased.  How did you decide on what to title each book?

The Fibonacci Murdersis straightforward description, being about a series of murders based on the Fibonacci series, a mathematical sequence in which each number is the sum of the previous two. True Death popped into my head as a good title, before I had a story. I'm not sure where it came from, except it likely had a religious/spiritual prompting. Ice on the Bay takes place during one of the coldest winters in recent memory. It occurred to me as a title when I was driving over the Francis Scott Key bridge during that exact winter and saw ice covering the Patapsco River, the tributary of the Chesapeake Bay that flows out from Baltimore.

Dale, what is the easiest part of the writing process?  What is the hardest?

I find working out plots and subplots is generally the hardest part of writing a novel. I am no good at outlining, so I just try to have a general sense of what's going to happen and then plunge into the writing. Later I have to straighten out all the things that don't work. I'm not sure what the easiest part is. When the words are flowing, it's all pretty easy. When they aren't, it's all frustratingly hard!

Do you have people read your drafts before you publish?  How do you select beta readers?

Since I met her in college, my wife has been my primary reader/editor/critic. Lately I've had a few friends and family read some of my work and give me feedback. It's important to select people who will give you honest feedback. Friends and family aren't always the best at that, but in my case I'm fortunate to be surrounded by people who are willing to be straightforward with me.

I agree it can be hard to find people who are willing to be honest with you. I love getting my manuscript back marked up in red.  I'd much rather find out now then before something goes to print.  Who designed the artwork for your cover?  Or did you design it yourself?

We generally design covers ourselves, using photographs and artwork licensed from DreamsTime.com.

In your novels, which character is your favorite?

I like all my characters, for various reasons. The characters I've found the most fun to write, though, are stars of my crime-humor novel in progress, Bernard and Melody Earls. Bernard fancies himself a high-class sort even though he isn't well off. He's very clever and always carefully researches and plans the theft of the valuable objects they seek to nab, but things never quite work out for him, largely because of Melody. Melody is a beautiful kleptomaniac with a strong airhead streak, but she's such a wonderful person that it's impossible not to fall in love with her. The whole world does. Good thing, too, because she brings to their partnership the luck that Bernard so desperately needs. And although she makes his life a challenge, he wouldn't trade her for anything, and she's absolutely head over heels in love with him. I first introduced Bernard and Melody as a joke in a flash fiction piece for the weekly competition at Indies Unlimited (www.indiesunlimited.com). They then turned up in two other stories, and I liked them so much that I wanted to put them into a novel. And there they are.

Since you wrote in this genre, do you think you will ever write in other genres?

I used to write almost exclusively science fiction. Since I started writing mysteries, I've pretty much only written that, but with Space Operatic I've returned to SF. I do enjoy humor writing, too, and am currently mixing that in with the other genres.
I hope to try my hand at other genres someday.  I love fantasy. So for now as long as the ideas keep coming I will probably stick to it. What advice would you give someone who is considering publishing? Should they consider traditional or self-publishing?

There are advantages to both, but I think anyone just starting out and going the self-publishing route should be cautioned against publishing too quickly. Writing is a skill, and like any other skill it must be developed through long practice. Many self-published authors rush to publication before they have developed sufficiently as writers. I wrote short stories for a couple of decades, followed by four novels, before I started receiving encouragement from the editors and agents to whom I was submitting (which means they saw some merit in my work). Then I had the misfortune to land an agent who was actually a con artist. After that bad experience, I stopped writing for 10 years. Since I restarted, I've written four novels and only now feel that I'm back where I was when I stopped. I rather wish I had held back on publishing The Fibonacci Murders. It's a good story and readers seem to enjoy it, but I can now see a number of problems that weren't obvious to me when I wrote it.

That's great advice.  I would caution everyone to be careful, I too had a bad experience with a con artist.  They are out there and prey upon new authors.  Any last words?

For writers: Keep writing and always seek to write better today than you did yesterday. For readers: I try to live by my own advice. I think you'll see improvements in my work as you progress through my novels. Constructive criticism is always welcome, so please leave reviews or contact me on social media if you'd like to share your comments on my work. Thank you!






















Find out more about Dale Lehman below, and don't forget to check out Howard County Mystery Series.  Happy Reading!!Author Website and Blog
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Interview with Katrina Haney author of Blood Rage

SS:  Today I'd like to welcome author Katrina Haney to the blog!  Thanks for being here with us today.  Why don't you start by telling us a little about yourself .
KH: Well, I'm retired, I'm 72, I'm a widow, and writing this book has fulfilled a lifelong dream. I live in central Florida with a ton of family, including 2 great-grandchildren and a passel of cats. I have had several careers in my life, including family and children counseling, and database programming.



SS:  Well I might be a little biased but I love the genre you picked to start out writing in.  LOL. What got you into writing?
KH: As I mentioned, it's always been a lifelong dream. But what actually got me started was writing fan-fiction for the tv show, "Supernatural." When I started getting good reviews from that, I realized that I really could write a book. But I actually got started as a ghost writer, and when I was about halfway through with this book I fell in love with it and negotiated with my client to keep this one.


SS: Ghost writing seems like a hard profession to be in.  You do all the work and then someone else gets all the credit.  I am glad you were able to keep your story.  Katrina would you be willing to share a short excerpt from your novel with us today?
Humans had the wrong idea about vampires. Of course, humans also thought they weren’t actually real. Most vampires were happy to keep it that way. But there were some out there who didn’t care about what their fellow vampires wanted. They did what they wanted themselves. Unfortunately, that often meant exposing themselves to humans, though that was usually right before they killed them.

Humans thought all vampires were evil killers out to drink their blood. This was patently untrue. Vampires were basically like humans, just a different species of biped. They blended into the human community mostly seamlessly. They worked with humans, were friends with humans, and sometimes intermarried with humans. But they also had their own society. And like humans, most were basically good people, but some were not.

So vampires policed themselves just as humans did. And Jason Westlake was a captain in the VPF, or Vampire Police Force. Hardly an original or clever name, but it got the job done. Jason would get intel from headquarters and then his unit would act on it.

Besides policing their own kind, the VPF also policed other species, the other kinds of things that humans considered monsters. This included species like werewolves, shapeshifters, and especially demons. The werefolk, like the vampires, also policed themselves, but sometimes the VPF was more suited for the take down, or vice versa, perhaps because of proximity. There was a shaky but civil degree of cooperation between the “Monster Forces.”

Jason always had to smile whenever his thoughts ran along the lines of human thinking. He didn’t really think of himself as a monster. He was a good person. Different from humans sure, but not evil, not bad. So what made vampires different from humans? Mainly it was the blood. Vampires need to drink blood to survive. But it didn’t have to be human blood. Mostly, they drank blood from each other. Mated couples were fiercely monogamous regarding the drinking of blood. Some vamps had human companions, whose blood they drank.

But it was against vampire law to drink the blood of a human without consent. And even though they had the ability to erase the contact from the human’s mind, it was not an acceptable thing to do. Vampires were also sensitive to bright sunlight, and either avoided it, if possible, protected themselves with specially made sun cream, or simply overdressed for protection when there was no other choice. But they weren’t “creatures of the night.” Most of them lived and worked during the day.

Vampires also had some abilities that humans didn’t. They were hardier, stronger and faster than humans, and they had psychic abilities that varied from one to another. As a species they could do a bit of mind reading here and there, and of course, there was the blinking. Vampires had the ability to blink themselves to somewhere else.

So what was the downside to being a vampire? That would be the bloodlust. It was against vampire law to drink human blood without permission, but they all craved it. It was a constant struggle to keep from biting humans, some more than others. And that was putting it mildly. Constant struggle hardly described the physical pain and the mental anguish that vampires had to deal with whenever humans were around. Human blood was the strongest, the most nourishing, and the most pleasurable to drink.

So why did they put themselves through all that? That answer was simple too. Vampires had evolved over the centuries, and the vast majority of them didn’t want to be monsters. They wanted to live, work, and play like humans did, with humans. They wanted normality. But like all races, vampires had their bad guys.

This was where Jason’s unit came in. It was their job to track down and eliminate the rogue vampires, the killers, the bad guys. Their success rate so far was the best in the force, country wide. So it wasn’t a surprise to Jason when his unit got hand-picked by the high council of police chiefs to handle this very special assignment.

A human girl had been taken by demons. And it was now Jason’s responsibility to get her back.




SS: This is what I love about books.  Even though there can be so many books in a particular genre, each one seems to have a fresh take or something I haven't thought of.  Katrina when you pick up a book, do you prefer: print books or ebooks?
KH: All my life I collected books. I love having shelves full of books. However, at my age, reading a physical book is hard, and so I now prefer ebooks.


SS:  Ebooks are becoming more and more popular these days.  I sell more ebooks then print books.  I love that there are choices out there for readers.  If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go and why?
KH: I would go to England, because I've done a lot of my family history research, and many of my ancestors came from there as far back as the pilgrim era. But I would also want to go to Sicily, because my other grandparents came from there.


SS:  I love doing family history.  You can find out so much you didn't know about where you come from.  Currently, what are you working on?
KH: The sequel to blood rage for one, and I am also in the process of converting one of my fan-fictions into a generic book that I can publish.


SS:  I am a big fan of series.  One book is never enough for me.  Will you tell us a little bit about your main characters?
KH: My main characters are Jason and Jordan Westlake, who are vampires, and are a part of the Vampire Police Force. A 12 year old girl goes missing and has been kidnapped by demons, and the unit is tasked to rescue her, This brings them to her mother, Lindsey Stevens, and this creates a love triangle.

SS: Katrina, how did you decide on what to title each book?
KH: That was the easiest part. As soon as I came on the idea of the Blood Rage, that had to become the title.


SS: Titles are always the hardest part for me.  I want them to be perfect.  It can be a back and forth battle coming up with just the right words to grab the readers attention and still convey some idea of what the story is about. Share something with us not a lot of people know about you.
KH: When I was in high school I was bullied, and thought I was ugly. A few years ago I came upon my high school yearbook, and was shocked to discover that I was actually very pretty. Too bad I didn't know that then.


SS: That's horrible. I am so sorry you had to go through that. I am so glad today that bullying is getting more attention.  Even Burger King just put out a video on bullying.  Hopefully with more attention being brought to this important issue, less people will have to go through what you did. Is this a stand-alone novel or part of a series?
KH: It's the first in a series.


SS: Katrina, who designed the artwork for your cover?  Or did you design it yourself?
KH: I did that myself.


SS: I have an amazingly talented editor, who designed my first cover.  But I have decided to try my hand at designing the cover to my second book.  It is a very intimidating task for someone who doesn't have a lot of creativity in their system. What brought about the idea for your book?
KH: As I mentioned, this started out as a ghost writing assignment. The client said she wanted a paranormal love triangle. I have no idea how the first chapter came to me, nor did I know most of the time where the story was going. It just developed as I went along.


SS: Do you have any hobbies aside from writing, if any?
KH: I have a lot of hobbies, actually. Besides writing, I create fan-fiction videos, research my family history, and I'm a graphics designer.


SS: Since you wrote in this genre, do you think you will ever write in other genres?
KH: Oh yes. I am also writing a romance novel that takes place at Princeton University.

SS: Any last words?
KH: Yes. First, I want to thank you for having me. Second, I am planning on having the Kindle edition free on Black Friday. The paperback version would make a great gift for your paranormal family and friends. I also invite you to visit my Blood Rage site, where I have pictures of my characters, book trailers, and other information.

Thanks for sharing with us today Katrina.  Happy Reading!!

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Interview with Gary Corbin author of the Lying Injustice Thrillers

Welcome Gary, thanks for joining us today, tell us a little about yourself.

I’m the seventh of nine baby boom children (six sisters, two brothers), all born within eleven years from first to last. After spending the first sixteen years of my life in a small mill town with a funny name (Agawam) in Massachusetts, my family moved to the New Orleans, Louisiana area, and I graduated from a Catholic school, having gone there only one year. I earned a B.A. in political science and economics from LSU, then a Ph.D. from Indiana University. After nine years in Washington, DC, I moved to the Pacific Northwest. I share dog-raising duties for a rambunctious Golden Retriever with my girlfriend and partner, Renee in another small mill town – Camas, Washington – and I love it here.

Wow eight siblings, that must have been fun growing up.  I have five.  I am so thankful for growing up in a big family. What got you into writing?

My family, particularly my parents, inspired me to write at an early age. My parents’ generation and their parents were great storytellers, be it at the dinner table, around a campfire, or just hanging around playing cards, and we learned early to value the ability to tell a good story. My mother in particular praised and encouraged my writing and made me believe in and develop my writing talents.

Isn't it wonderful what a great influence our parents and family can be.  They really help shape us into the adult we become.  Will you share a short excerpt from your novel with us?

Peter Robertson bolted upright in his darkened bedroom, awakened by Santana blasting “Black Magic Woman” on scratchy, poorly-amplified speakers. Why, he wondered in his melatonin-aided stupor, would an aging seventies band break into his ninety-year-old Portland bungalow and wake him at this hour? And why on such awful sound equipment?
Something lit his bedside table with a flickering glare. His stupid cell phone. Dammit. This meant bad news. He rolled across the queen-size mattress, found the phone, and held it to his ear. “Christine?” he said. It kept playing music. Dammit! He pushed the answer button, and the music stopped.
“Well, good morning, Sunshine,” she said, all chipper and happy. She sounded like she’d been up for hours, probably drinking double espressos and scheduling Twitter messages to promote her various clients’ brands. “Have you missed me?”
“Do you know what time it is?” He propped two pillows up against the headboard and sagged into them. Closing his eyes didn’t help. He only imagined every detail of her pretty face in front of him, from the thin, black eyebrows and long lashes to her brilliant smile, bright red lipstick and perfect sun-bronzed skin. He opened them again and stared into the blackness. A faint glow seeped in through the edges of blackout curtains covering the window across the room. Beautiful or not, he did not welcome this call from her, regardless of the hour.
“It’s breakfast time in New York,” she said. “Which means it’s mid-morning for you. About nine-fifteen, right?”
“Try three-fifteen.” Peter rubbed his temples with his free hand. “You got the time change backwards.”
“Oh, silly me,” she said. “I’m sorry.” She didn’t sound the slightest bit sorry. He even thought he heard her laugh. Typical Christine. She loved making his life miserable, in so many ways. Like making sleep next to impossible. She managed that even without three a.m. phone calls.
“Well, now that you’re up, let’s get that dinner planned that we talked about—what was it, a month ago now?”
“Two months.”
“You’re so right. Time does fly when we’re busy, doesn’t it?”
Peter scowled and turned onto his side. Monday morning was earning its awful reputation. “Christine, what do you want?”
“I just told you. I want you to buy me dinner.”
“I’ll mail you a gift certificate to Arby’s tomorrow. Good night.”
“Don’t you dare hang up on me!”
Peter’s finger paused an inch above the end call button. Even with the phone held a foot in front of his face, he heard her throaty warning with perfect, chilling clarity. He sighed and returned the phone to his ear. “I’m still here.”
“Good.” Amazing how her voice could transform from dark and dangerous to soft and sexy without missing a beat. “I thought we could go back to Pazzo’s, for old times’ sake. Remember our first date there? You were so nervous.”
“It wasn’t a date. We had lunch. And it wasn’t our first anything. We’d had lunch together before.” He adjusted the pillows behind him. Suddenly he couldn’t get comfortable.
“Yes, but at Pazzo’s, you paid, like a gentleman, courting the object of his desire.”
“I was not–” He stopped himself. To be honest, he had been courting her—at the time. And he had to admit, he’d enjoyed her company. Maybe he was judging her too quickly. Maybe she really did want to date him after all. “How about someplace new?”
After a beat, she countered, “A place we’ve never been…? Say, perhaps, Florentino’s?”
His blood froze in his veins. He’d known, deep down, as soon as he gave her the opening, she’d remind him of the restaurant where, eight months before, he’d followed Marcia, now his ex-wife, and her lover. That foolish decision triggered events that changed—ruined!—his whole life. The scene of, if not the crime per se, at least where it all had been set in motion. The fancy restaurant where the victim of the crime worked, a man named Alvin Dark—a man whom Peter had never met before that terrible night. The victim whom Peter had later mistaken for his wife’s secret lover. The man he’d confronted, beaten , and—
“S’matter? Cat got your tongue?”
He shook himself out of the foul memory. “No. Not there. Not Florentino’s.” His hoarse voice took him aback, increasing the chill spreading across his naked body despite the summer heat. “I’m never going back there.”
“Fine. I tell you what. Surprise me. I’ll be back in town later this week. Pick me up at my office Thursday at six.”
“Thursday I have plans.”
Her voice grew hard. “Make new plans.”
She hung up without saying goodbye.


Thanks so much!  Sounds intriguing. Have you been given any helpful advice?

Read, read, read, and write, write, write! Challenge yourself with your reading and writing. Read everything in your genre and as much as you can in other genres, even ones you think you hate. Write for the sake of writing; write (and read) in styles and genres out of your comfort zone. If you're a novelist, write plays, or poems, or screenplays sometimes. Try writing your novel as a play or poem or song. Keep refilling the well with as much diversity as you can.

That's great advice. If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go and why?

I’ve been to 49 of the 50 United States, so I guess I need to go to that 50th state, Arkansas! I’d also love to go back to Italy, because the food is incredible, the art and architecture are inspiring, and the people are so warm and engaging.

Arkansas!  I thought you were going to say Hawaii or Alaska.  That's interesting that you have been everywhere but there.  Arkansas has some beautiful state parks.  Currently, what are you working on?

I’m about 1/3 done with my next novel, The Mountain Man’s Badge, the third book in my Mountain Man Mysteries series. In this story, the main character, Lehigh, has gotten drafted to serve as sheriff, leading a law enforcement agency that has been trying to put him in jail repeatedly over the past year. Right out of the gate, he has to investigate a murder — and a lot of people want to see him fail…including some surprising people responsible for the murder.
I’m also working on a full-length stage play called Voodoo Snowball, a comedy about an estranged son coming to terms with the impending loss of his crusty old father to cancer. Yes, I said comedy!

That's great that you are able to write in more than one genre.  That is my goal, to branch out a little, but I haven't yet.  Tell us a little bit about your main characters.

Peter Robertson, 33, is a loyal, principled husband, son, and friend, who has a dark secret: he once beat a man and left him to die, a man that he followed and confronted thinking he was stealing away his wife – but Peter had followed the wrong man. He then served on the jury trying a man for murder – his murder! Peter leads the jury in acquitting the defendant, but keeps his own guilt a secret.
Christine Nielsen, 34, is a smart, observant fellow juror who catches on to his secret – and uses it to her advantage. She’s being stalked by an abusive ex-boyfriend, and realizes the only way to eliminate that threat is to have him killed. And she knows just the guy to do it.

Is this a stand-alone novel or part of a series?
Lying in Vengeance is the sequel to Lying in Judgment, which was originally conceived as a stand-alone novel. But many of my readers kept asking “what happens to them next?” – particularly about Christine, who is a very strong female character. The more they asked, the more I thought about it, and the story for the sequel just kind of came to me.

How did you decide on what to title each book?
Lying in Judgment  came to me only after having completed the book. I wanted to hint at the story without giving anything away, and loved the pun of sorts on “lying in wait” and “sitting in judgment.” I’m big into branding, so I wanted the sequel’s title to tie back to it. Since it’s about deception and revenge, Lying in Vengeance seemed a good fit.

Share something with us not a lot of people know about you.
Here’s a few things:  I have a Ph.D. in political science and a double-major B.A. in political science and economics. I’ve lived in six states, including in the northeast, south, and western U.S. And the first time I got paid for a published article was a short piece in PC Magazine – a “tips and tricks” bit about a Wordperfect 4.2 macro!

What is the easiest part of the writing process?  What is the hardest?
The easiest part for me is character dialog. Because I’m also a playwright, actor, and improviser, character voice comes very easily to me. I can “hear” their voices in my head as I’m writing, and their quirks become quickly evident.
The hardest part? Since I’m writing mysteries and crime fiction without legal or criminology training, keeping all of the clues, forensics, and procedural elements (police, legal) technically correct and consistent. I have to plan all of that out very carefully so I don’t trip myself up.

Research isn't my favorite part of the writing process, but it is essential. Do you have people read your drafts before you publish?  How do you select beta readers?
I participate in a writing critique group, which is invaluable, and I also recruit beta readers for feedback after I’ve integrated my crit group’s work. I ask fellow writers, avid readers, fans, and also search online (Goodreads, etc.) for people willing to give feedback in exchange for a free book. So far, so good.

I rely heavily on my beta readers, they offer invaluable advice. Who designed the artwork for your cover?  Or did you design it yourself?

A fellow author suggested Steven Novak, and I’m thrilled with his work. He’s done all four of my fiction covers, and I’ve recommended him to others. He’s also great to work with.

What is your writing process like?  Do you have a routine?
I write longhand first — always. Sometimes a story begins as a morning freewrite that I'll later flag for development; other times it comes to me as I'm doing something else, and I'll jot down a quick note to return to later. I develop the main premise and principal conflicts first, then develop detailed character outlines — even biographies — so that I know everything about them before I immerse them into scenes. I know what they look like, what car they drive, where they went to school, how many siblings, their fears, their obsessions, their quirks. I sketch the story outline in a "top down" manner, with the major "acts" and plot points first, then develop scene structures and beats. Despite all that, the story can take on a life of its own as I write, usually because the characters begin to take over a bit. New characters emerge unbidden at times — but only in novels, never in plays.
Thanks so much for sharing with us today.  Find out more about Gary and his books below. Happy Reading!!

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--------------------------------------
Gary Corbin
Author, Editor, Playwright
www.garycorbinwriting.com
New release September 13:  Lying in Vengeance , the long-awaited sequel to  Lying in Judgment
Available now Amazon


Look for  Lying in Judgment ,  The Mountain Man’s Dog , and  The Mountain Man's Bride
now in print or ebook format at your favorite retailer!

Interview with photographer Cendrine Marrouat and her book Life’s Little Things: The Quotes

Welcome Cendrine Marrouat! We are trying something new today.  I love helping to spread the word of new authors and Cendrine has Photography books out.  So I thought it would be fun to do something a little different.

Cendrine, tell us a little about yourself
Hello everyone! I’m excited to be here.
My name is Cendrine Marrouat and have lived in Winnipeg, Canada, since 2003. I was born and raised in Toulouse, one of the largest cities in France. There, I also spent six years at university  studying the intricacies of the English language.
I am a photographer, social media trainer, French instructor, and author with 10 books in three different genres under my belt.
What got you into photography?
My passions have a knack for creeping into my life without my realizing it. So, it is always hard to answer this question. Lol
As a writer, I occasionally struggle to find the words to describe the beauty around me. Photography fills the gap perfectly.
But, for the longest time, I lacked self-confidence in my skills as a photographer. I thought my images were just average. It took quite a lot of persuading from others for me to finally see the light.
I think we can be our toughest critics.  Can you share a picture or 2 from your book?



If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go and why?
I would go back to Syria in a heartbeat. I was there in 2009 and fell in love with the desert. Its  emptiness is just a façade. It is teeming with invisible life. The energy is almost palpable.
Currently, what are you working on?
A friend and I recently started taking photos of the murals in Winnipeg. There are about 600 of them scattered around the city. So, it will take a while to record them all and share the results on my blog.
Once the promotion of Life’s Little Things: The Quotes, my latest book, is over, I also want to work on a new photography collection. This one will feature haiku, my favorite poetic form.
Last, but not least, I need to get back to my ongoing project titled “Reminigrams”. It’s a term that I coined while trying to emulate the old-fashioned photography processes called tintypes and daguerreotypes. You can see my images here: http://creativeramblings.com/tag/reminigram/.
How do you decide on the themes for your books?
My books are all based on what life throws at me. I love sharing the lessons I learn and pay close attention to the way people behave, talk, and deal with personal situations.
My work highlights the relationship between human beings and their surroundings, especially the natural world. I love focusing on the little details around me.
What are your biggest challenges when putting a book together?
To be honest, I don’t find putting a book together very challenging. After ten books, I guess I am used to the process. I am just a slow writer who has to rely on bursts of inspiration to pen anything.
However, I find the marketing part a lot more difficult!
I hear you there, marketing takes so much time!  It can be a slow process.  Share something with us not a lot of people know about you.
I was born in the wrong era. My parents should have had me a decade earlier. Lol
Few people know that my tastes in music haven’t changed since my early teens. I have been a huge fan of Genesis’ and Mike Oldfield’s for almost three decades. I discovered their music when I was 12 or 13 and played it all the time for about 10 years
For those who have no idea of what I am talking about, Genesis is the British band that was fronted by Peter Gabriel, then Phil Collins. Oldfield created the soundtrack of The Exorcist, one of the scariest movies in history. Tubular Bells launched his career.
My other favorite bands include Supertramp, Depeche Mode, Abba, and Roxette.
How do you promote your books? Any tips you can share?
I create a strategy for each release. For example, it includes information on my ideal readers and the social media platforms where they like hanging out; some keywords to monitor on Twitter and that will allow me to find the right bloggers and journalists to contact; and an outline of my self-promotional activities.
I learnt very early in my career that talent only accounts for 10% of your success. Without a laser-targeted plan and long-term vision, you will not last long.  
Authors and artists are a dime a dozen, so most of the things you post online will go unnoticed. You have to maximize your chances of exposure.
Crafting a great, personalized pitch to secure interviews and features is a step in the right direction. But it is not enough. Include a press kit with your message. People will be more receptive if you save them time and look prepared.
Also, book trailers are not dead. Tools like Animoto allow you to make nice videos for an affordable price. Here is what I did for my latest book:
Youtube
Start promoting your book early -- between six months and three weeks. Blog about it, share advance reviews on social media, create a dedicated hashtag for Twitter and Instagram, etc. In a nutshell, build excitement around your work.
Most importantly, do not get discouraged if you do not get immediate results. You never know who is watching. Most social media users are actually lurkers, which means that they don’t take part in online conversations. But they still have opinions and buy products.
Plus, people need to see something many times before they make a purchase decision.
What brought about the idea for your book?
For the last two years, I have noticed a sharp increase in aggressive behavions and negativity on social media. Decent conversations with contrarian views are becoming rare, especially on Facebook.I wanted to use my skills and creativity to turn things around. Last year, I asked the visitors of my website to select 25 images that would appear in the book. I then paired each photo with quotes.The twist here is that I wanted to inspire people with my own words, which are based on personal life experiences, instead of relying on the words of famous people. I wanted to make the experience more intimate in a way. Life’s Little Things: The Quotes invites readers to look within themselves to (re)discover what truly matters. Without self-awareness, we cannot make the world a better place.
Any last words?
Thank you for this opportunity to share of myself with your audience. I appreciate the support!


Websites:
Social Media Slant
​Cendrine Marrouat Photography

Link to all books (poetry, social media and photography):
Books and website
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​YouTubet

Interview with Grady P Brown author of Numen the Slayer

Tell us a little about yourself.
I am an author who is diagnosed with high functioning autism. I am a connoisseur of the science fiction, fantasy, and superhero genres. In addition, I am an autism ambassador, hoping to demonstrate the potential benefits one can gain from being autistic.
As a writer, I utilize my autism to visualize the story taking place inside of my head like a movie. Also, I have a very strong memory, allowing me to store information about my characters and stories in my brain as though it were a computer hard-drive.
I am also a passionate pit bull lover and owns a pair of sweet and loving pit bulls named Wally and Fitch.


What got you into writing?
Ever since I was a small child, I always had a story to tell. I started with drawing pictures on yellow tablets. Then I graduated to telling stories in words and first developed the ambition of becoming an author when I was in sixth grade.


Wow 6th grade, that is young to know what you wanted to do with your life.  It took me a little longer. Share a short excerpt from your novel.
"Ten thousand years after the extinction of the elves the realm of Gradaia was divided into nine turbulent kingdoms. In the mountains of Gaena, the wealthiest of these kingdoms, a lone blacksmith was laboring on his greatest masterpiece. The locals called him Vaegar the Mad due to his unorthodox and sometimes outrageous craftsmanship. Due to the location of his forge, there may have been truth in his title.
Vaegar set up his workshop in the heart of a volcano along the edge of a cliff that overlooked a pool of magma. He chanted in an otherworldly language as he worked on his relic for Vaegar the Mad was not just a mere blacksmith. It had been widely known throughout the kingdom that Vaegar was also a Druid or a sorcerer who delved in the most ancient magic.
Always Vaegar sang and chanted from when he melted a black reptilian scale the size of his bulky sternum to when he hammered the organic ore into the shape of a double-edged sword. The heat of the magma and hot metal was so intense that Vaegar was on the verge of overheating countless times. Every breath he took was filled with smoke and sulfur and his arms and back ached from his endless exertion. His ears rang from the clanging of steel on steel until he was nearly deaf. Still, despite these discomforts, Vaegar relentlessly continued to make his sword."


Currently, what are you working on?
I am working on an ongoing fantasy trilogy called the Magnus Dynasty Saga. I just released the first edition of the first volume, Numen the Slayer.


Tell us a little bit about your main characters
Numen the Slayer revolves around a young, exiled baron who lost his family and castle. Now he is on the run from the king who took everything from him. Numen must fight to survive in the untamed wilderness and gradually build a power base to avenge his family. Numen is the ultimate fantasy underdog because he lost everything and has to work from the ground up to become someone powerful. I drew inspiration from mythical characters such as King Arthur and Beowulf as well as historical figures such as Henry Tudor and William the Conqueror.


 That sounds exciting! How did you decide on what to title each book?
I chose Numen because it is one of the Latin words for "God". Also, Numen is called the Slayer because during his time in the wilderness made him a hardened killer of both men and monsters.


Share something with us not a lot of people know about you.
I am good at impersonations. In fact, I can reenact Young Frankenstein and Monty Python and the Holy Grail word for word. Sometime, I should do a video of my impersonation of the Black Knight scene. "T'is but a scratch."


Is this a stand-alone novel or part of a series?
Numen the Slayer is the first volume in a trilogy known as the Magnus Dynasty Saga.


Grady, what is the easiest part of the writing process?  What is the hardest?
The easiest part is coming up with the ideas and inspiration for stories. The hard part is trying to overcome writer's block when it comes up. When I get writer's block, my writing process would be stalled for months on end.


Is there something you learned from writing your first book?
The journey to write a whole book is long, but the rewards are worthwhile and you get an overwhelming sense of accomplishment from it.


I agree.  There aren't the words to describe how fantastic it feels when you are finished and have the actual book in your hand. What are your hobbies aside from writing, if any?
I like watching films, television shows, and anime. I also like to read manga, Star Wars Comics, and going to comic book conventions.


I love the Star Wars movies!  I've never picked up a comic.  Someday I may venture into Sci-Fi. In your novels, which character is your favorite?
So far, Numen Magnus is my favorite of my characters because he is the most complex and morally ambiguous character I ever created.Thanks for sharing.  Don't forget to check out all Grady's pages.  Happy Reading!!

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Interview with Lana Campbell author of Forever and a Night Series

Welcome Lana!  Thanks for taking the time to visit with us today. Tell us a little about yourself.

I’ve had a passion for romance reads since early high school. You could always find a Harlequin romance in my book bag. In 1994 I decided to try my hand at writing, just for fun. I really sucked at it in the beginning, but I joined a local writers group and slowly began to improve. 

In 2014 I decided to get serious about writing. I wanted to publish something. So I wrote Forever and a Night, the first in a vampire romance series. I just published book two Dark Experiments 5/21/17. My third book Deadly Secrets came out 9/30/17. 
Every spare moment I have is devoted to writing or reading. Writing is in my blood and I wake up every day excited for the next chapters.
I live in Avoca, AR with my oldest daughter, Jessica, my husband Robert and a cat named Felix.


What got you into writing?

Back when Twilight was becoming popular my teenage girls at the time were so into the series. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about so I read the books. I enjoyed them, loved the vampire aspect, but I wanted to read vampire stories with older protagonists and more human like vampires. So I set about creating a story with a 42 year old female protagonist and an older vampire hero who lived longer than most humans but was mortal. In my stories vampires can eat and they can have children because they are a sub-species of humans, evolved from humans due to a blood disease.
Will you share a short excerpt from your novel
Dark Experiments:
Nathan’s men rushed inside, Christian at their heels. He flipped up his sunglasses and looked about the inky darkness of a huge garage, plenty luminous for vampire eyes. Another standard door led to the belly of the building in the far right corner. He headed toward it, behind Nathan’s six men. Asa, Dominic and Nathan took up the rear, single file behind him. 
At this point most everyone inside had surely heard the door come down. Christian needed to alert Tiffany and make her ready for whatever transpired once they emerged into the building’s interior.
We’re here. Get ready. Say nothing and stay calm. I’ll be there before you know it.
You’re here? Thank God, Christian. 
Are you alone?
Yeah, I’m still alone and tied down to this damned bed. My heart is about to beat out of my chest. That’s my only tell, but no one except a vampire could here it.
I’ll hear it soon enough and it will be music to my ears.
Be careful.
You too. 
Two of Nathan’s men took the battering ram to the interior door. Once it was relieved of it’s hinges, Christian rushed inside behind four of Nathan’s men. He expected to be met by the very least the brother armed to defend his turf, but instead two young thin vampire girls with hideously gray skin and gaunt features stood in a long hall just out a doorway to his right. The scent of chili wafted from the room, and Christian assumed it to be a kitchen. 
The two girls appeared terrified, frozen in place, eyes wide and flitting from one armed man to another.
“Hands in the air!” one of the humans ordered.
They instantly obeyed.
Christian raised the barrel of his gun toward the ceiling. These poor little things were no threat. “Are you here by choice?” he asked them.
Both shook their heads, still wearing petrified expressions. 
“Take us to the four women they brought here three days ago,” he demanded.
Just then a man walked out the doorway, hands in the air. Christian saw a holstered gun on his hip. The others must have too. Every man took aim on him with their weapons.
“Get down! Face down on the floor. Hands behind your head!” two of the human men yelled. 
He did their bidding without a word. Seconds later he was swarmed by three humans, stripped of his gun and handcuffed. 
Christian glanced at Asa who stared at the two frightened vampire girls with pity. He felt the same emotion himself, but he needed them to lead him to Tiffany and the others.
“Where are the women?” he asked again with less rancor.
The one closest to them finally answered. “D-down this hallway, take a left and you’ll find them in the curtained cubicles.”
Christian wanted to bolt in the direction they’d indicated, but he held back, glanced at Asa then behind him at Nathan, Dominic and Dimitri. They all wore an expression similar to what was on his mind. This was just too damned easy.
“Are you Terry, Charla’s brother?” Christian asked, stepping up to the head of the prone man who craned his head to glare up at him with equal doses of hate and spite.
“How do you know my name?”
“Never mind that. Get up and lead us to the women.” Christian yanked him up and onto his feet so fast, he’d probably dislocated his shoulder. A harsh grunt of pain said he was correct, but he didn’t care. This man was part of this kidnapping and drugging ring. He deserved a bullet between the eyes, but right now he’d serve just fine as a hostage.
The young sickly girls did not deserve such treatment. “Dominic, Dimitri, could you escort these young ladies out of the building? That is if you want to leave. We’ll make sure you get home, back to your lives, families, whatever.”
Both shook their heads adamantly and the two men corralled them around the small posse in the entryway then out of the building.
Christian shoved the barrel of his gun against the man’s spine. “Lead us to them now.”
Terry, craned his head back and gave him a look of disgust. “I’ll lead you right to them, vampire, but it won’t do you any good. By now they’re all on their way out. I’m sorry about that. I really am. I liked that one with the mouth.”
“Tiffany.”
“Yeah. That’d be the one.”
“You’d better qualify that comment and quick if you want to live. Where are they being taken?”
“I couldn’t answer that, but maybe you can. Where do vampires go when they die?”

Sounds intriguing, which do you prefer: print books or ebooks?

I used to prefer to hold a real book, but I've gotten addicted to reading on my phone with my kindle. So I guess ebooks.

Have you been given any helpful advice?

Tons of good advise from other authors on how to write, how to publish, etc. I was a part of a writer's group for many years. I can't say enough about how important it is to connect and network with other writers.

I agree I have found some excellent groups on facebook and goodreads. Lana currently, what are you working on?

I just finished a vampire romance called Alabama Rain. In this story Alabama Rain is a born vampire whose father is a villainous drug dealer. He’s a much more powerful vampire than Alabama. He forces Alabama to steal drugs for him from his rival drug lord which of course places Alabama in danger. Early into the story she has a run in with Nate Davenport when she’s trying to do a drug theft for her father. When Nate discovers she deals drugs, he’s determined to catch her in the act and bring her to justice. He just doesn’t plan on falling in love with her in the process.
Tell us a little bit about your main characters

I’ve published three books so far in my Forever and a Night vampire series. These are not your typical vampire romances. For instance in my first book Forever and a Night my heroine is 42 with three grown girls who become my heroines in subsequent books. In book one devout christian Mia Peebles falls for billionaire vampire Nathan Davenport.



Is this a stand-alone novel or part of a series?

This is a vampire series, yet each novel can stand alone. And each story has a HEA.

Do you have people read your drafts before you publish?  How do you select beta readers?

I haven't before, but I'm planning on it with upcoming novels.

I recommend beta readers, they are essential in my writing process, finding things I have overlooked.  Who designed the artwork for your cover?  Or did you design it yourself?
My publishers designed the artwork for all three of my books. 




What was your biggest challenge when writing? Did you have any writer’s block?  If so, how did you work your way through it?
Getting published. All three of my books were published with a small press publisher. Yes, I do get writers block a lot. But in order to get over it I put the book away for a day or two, read, watch TV, basically do something to get my mind off of the book for awhile, then go back to it when I'm refreshed. 


Since you wrote in this genre, do you think you will ever write in other genres?

I love writing paranormal romance. I may not always write about vampires, but I'll probably always write paranormal. It's in my blood. 

That's so great that you have found your passion! What advice would you give someone who is considering publishing? Should they consider traditional or self-publishing?

I would say go traditional. It's so hard to market your books by yourself when you are self published. But getting one's foot in the door with a big publisher is very hard. Try small presses when you are just starting out. That's what I've done hoping that my name gets out there and eventually I can sell to one of the big five. Also, my first book was published by a vanity press. I wish I’d known no author should have to pay to have their book published. If your work is good enough you will find someone to publish your book and they won’t charge and you’ll make money.Thanks so much for sharing, find Lana and her books below.  Happy Reading!!





Forever and a Night
Dark Experiments
Deadly Secrets

Interview with Myron Edwards author of Mistress of the Rock

Tell us a little about yourself, Myron.
I live on the ‘Island of Love’, Cyprus, with my wife Niki, whose background is Greek Cypriot. We have been here about 12 years. I have two kids with Niki, Alex (27) and Emily (20) and one from a previous marriage, Craig (31). I started work as a travel agent and stayed in the travel business for some thirty years; during that time, I played in a band as a drummer. I was competent, not great, and could keep a rhythm.I have diversified in my working life on more than a couple of occasions. I became a copywriter for JWT, ran my own company from an idea I created called Tubewalking, which was short-distance short-walking maps for commuters and tourists in London. I have also designed and produced web-based and arcade games for the gaming industry.During my time in Cyprus, I was a Creative Director for an ad agency, creating ad campaigns for all media, including TV, Radio, Press and mainline advertising. When the financial crash happened, once again I had to diversify, so not just concentrate on writing but find a job. I found one in the financial industry, where I have worked for the past 5 years. I am still in that industry.

Can you tell us what got you into writing?
My first step into writing was as a free-lancer writing scripts with my former band member, Phil Campbell, who had experience in the film industry, as he was a runner for Hammer Films, amongst other jobs he did. We wrote for the BBC and a very popular duo who were one of Britain’s best loved comedic pairs, accepted our material. We went our separate ways while still remaining friends to this day. But I started writing more satirical pieces for programmes such as ‘Week Endings’ and ‘The News Huddlines’, as well as ‘Not the nine O Clock News, a Kick up the 80’s with Tracey Ullman and The Marti Caine Show. All popular shows of the 80’s. During this time, I was at JWT in another capacity as a Travel Manager but was persuaded to take the copy test, which I passed and was enrolled into JWT as a junior copywriter. I was writing daily at JWT so naturally I started to develop plots for potential novels and screenplays. But it wasn’t until I came to Cyprus that I wrote my first book.

Share a short excerpt from your novel
Chapter One
Cyprus 1991

‘Corporal Richard Cole reporting, Sir.’     ‘You’re late, Cole. Get on board now, the transport leaves in twenty minutes.’     ‘Yes, Sir.’     Cole’s kit was already heavy and the extra burden of running for the plane left him breathless. He thought he was fit at twenty-five, and he should have been, but apparently, he still needed extra exercise. He bolted up the steps and boarded the transport plane, taking the seat next to a young soldier who was far too wrapped up in a magazine to notice him.     Richard removed his cap, revealing a short haircut for the trip, as deserts were not the place for hair that touched shirt collars. In the intense heat, he stroked the back of his head. His hands returned wet and his face dripped droplets of sweat, which fell onto his fatigues. He looked around as he leaned back on the rough seat. He was about the same size as most of the other soldiers but his youthful looks made him look younger than his age purported and that of his companions. His face also appeared well-tanned compared to the pasty expressions of some of his fellow travellers. And like Richard, all were in uniform and kitted up to their eyeballs. Everyone buckled in and waited for take-off.     It was February thirteenth. The Gulf War, Part One, had begun just over a month ago and the air-war was in full swing. The despot Saddam had been as stubborn and ruthless as the day he invaded Kuwait in the summer of 1990. The diplomacy that followed by various countries and the UN was going nowhere, so the order to initiate an airstrike came on January sixteen. The ground war would soon follow. It was where the aircraft was headed.     War had never occurred to Richard when he first signed up. Sure, the Falklands had stirred the patriotism of the British people and made the country proud again but although the Falklands was a bitter and bloody conflict it was a domestic affair between two countries, Argentina and Britain, and if most ‘Brits’ were honest at the time, not many of them knew where the fucking Falklands were anyway. It was, after all, Maggie Thatcher’s Waterloo and it worked for her.     This Gulf War had much wider and sinister connotations. Not only were the ‘Brits’ involved but also most of the free world, with the US fronting the adventure. For whatever reason was given, there was no doubting Saddam was dangerous for the world, with the implications for the Middle East frightening. Under this cloud of uncertainty and fear, the green and pleasant land of England would seem a million miles away, even though they were only just a few hours from the hot scorching desert of Kuwait.     En-route to Kuwait they stopped in Cyprus, landing at the civilian airport in Paphos, as the military fields of Akrotiri and Dhekalia were already full to overflowing with combat aircraft of all types and sizes.     At Paphos, the plane touched down around 4pm, the sun still hot as the troops left the aircraft and thumped down the metal stairs to the awaiting trucks, boarding twenty men at a time. Richard took the last place at the back of his truck. The engine roared with life and with all formalities of customs and immigration dispensed with, it began to rumble along the coastal road out of Paphos. After all, this was war, albeit secretly hosted on Cyprus.     This was Richard’s first visit to the island and from what he could see from the back of the truck it looked like a fine place to visit. From his small vantage point at the back, there seemed to be a good deal of activity going on, with lots of cars and people hurrying about. And amongst them was a collection of Greek Cypriot soldiers kitted out in green camouflage uniforms waiting along the roadside.     In this tourist-like atmosphere it was all too easy to forget that this was a divided land, invaded by the Turks in 1974, after an unsuccessful coup by the Greeks led by then-President and Archbishop Makarios. The island was divided by a thin green line which ran from the North to the South and was policed by the UN. Under such circumstances the fragile peace inevitably seemed vulnerable, yet it held.     The green line was a constant reminder to the Cypriot people in the south that their island was occupied—at least some of it including the wonderful beach resorts of Kyrenia and Famagusta, which were cut off and entrenched with mine fields and guarded by Turks.     These resorts had once been deemed to be among the classiest in the Mediterranean, with hotels and restaurants patronised by tourists from the world over. Only now, these fine accommodations and eateries were home to the rats, snakes and scorpions that occupied them. The analogy of vermin in these occupied resorts was a good description of the occupiers for many Greeks. Still, it remained a sad and sorry state of affairs that those who were about to become involved in a new conflict could not resolve this one first. Perhaps one day they would try.     As the truck started to move out of town, the convoy meandered along the picturesque road towards the base at Episkopi. The sun had begun to dim and the road became windier, as the trucks struggled round and around the bends, slowly at first then accelerating through the gears to gain momentum. The driver purposely crunching the gears from time to time just to make sure none of his occupants had fallen asleep. The inside of the truck was hot, the new temperature something the soldiers were not yet acclimatised to. As the convoy reached a tight bend, one of the guys at the front looked out of the canvas window and shouted to the rest of his companions. ‘That’s Aphrodite’s Rock.’     Richard looked out of the back of the open truck and saw one large rock embedded in the shore and two smaller ones rooted in the sea. The sun reflected on their colour, making them shimmer against the stunning blues of the Mediterranean. The white tufts of surf lapping against the base of the rocks as if licking them.     ‘Petra Tou Romiou the Greeks call it, birthplace of Aphrodite. Goddess of LOVE,’ purposely accentuated to make an impact.     ‘What, those old rocks?’ came Richard’s somewhat bemused retort.     ‘Yep, that was where she was born, they say, came out of the sea, just there.’     ‘Bollocks.’ Richard’s astute friend of the magazine made his contribution.     ‘Precisely, that is what she’s made of, some Greek god’s bollocks, well, dick actually, cut off and thrown into the sea from which came Aphrodite. Aphro, meaning from the foam.’     ‘You’re a scholar then?’ Richard asked his learned friend at the front.     ‘No, just read it in the guide book. Amazing what you can learn from these things.’ He passed the book down to the back of the truck.     Richard opened it to the page on Aphrodite’s Rock, nodding his thanks.     Magazine man raised his head. ‘Must be an omen, seeing that today, what with it being Valentine’s tomorrow, maybe we’ll get a shag.’ The last comment was lost in the laughter that now enveloped the rest of the truck as the convoy wound its way higher up the hill and over the escarpment of Aphrodite’s Rock, which had finally slipped out of sight.



Which do you prefer: print books or e-books when you are reading?
Books in print is my preference. I like to hold a book, I feel closer to the story that way.

I agree, but I do like my kindle fire when I am on vacation, I can carry lots of books in a small amount of space. Have you been given any helpful advice?
Yes, and I have always respected people’s opinions, so yes, I have, but sometimes you must go with your gut feeling and that usually is for me what I do.

Currently, what are you working on?
The third part of the Mistress Trilogy.

Tell us a little bit about your main characters.
Richard Cole is a veteran British Soldier of the first Gulf War, who developed PTSD after he was ordered to be an observer on a mission to Highway 80 in Iraq. He found solace with the fascination of the legend of Aphrodite, who throughout the conflict was his constant sanctuary from war. On returning to Cyprus some years later, he pays a visit to her birthplace and this starts a stream of events which catapults him into a new and terrifying world of the unknown where choices are to be made.Aphrodite, the mystic Goddess of myth and legend was born from the waves at a site called Petra Tou Romiou; she is an ephemeral spirit that at first protects, then taunts, and finally haunts Richard until his very soul is under her spell. Unable to fight her, he eventually succumbs to her seductive powers so that he will become hers. Julie Cole, Richard’s American Boston-born wife, is a focal part of the story as she lends sanity to the story. She is more mature and astute than Richard. Is charismatic, good looking, and sexy, which makes her a difficult adversary for the temptations of the Goddess.

What is the easiest part of the writing process?  What is the hardest?
The easiest part for me is constructing the story, I often think of the end and build backwards. The hardest is finding time to write, especially if you work full time.

I know exactly what you mean.  Finding time to write with three kids and working is a challenge. Do you have people read your drafts before you publish?  How do you select beta readers?
I have an excellent editor, Athina Paris. She has transformed my story from my first draft which I sent to her, offering excellent critique, which I follow. It should also be said that James Hill, my publisher, has been a shining light in this whole project and he too read the draft, before publishing. Together they make a formidable team. For test subjects, I choose friends mainly, some family, but you are not always sure with family that you get a balanced and honest appraisal. I also ask people who are writers or are associated with writing.

I think it's important to find a good team when writing.  Getting valuable feedback is critical. What brought about the idea for your book?
An epiphany moment on my very first visit to the rocks in the early 90’s. I saw something on the walls of the restaurant that day, which at first surprised and then stunned me, at that point I knew I had to write this book, no matter how long it would take. It was only when we moved to Cyprus did I began this journey.

What was your writing process like?
When I was in advertising I used to think in pictures, I found that so much easier to visualise the concept that way, the same is true for writing. I visualise the plot as if it was on the screen and then adapt it for the book. I wrote the screenplay before I ever wrote the book.

Myron, any last words you'd care to impart with us?
I am grateful for the opportunity to bring the story of the Mistress of the Rock to people’s attention. I know people say there are no original ideas, but I can say this hand-on-heart, you will never read or see another story like this in your lifetime, the image of the Goddess is totally unique and real, whether you believe it or not. My ultimate dream is for Mistress of the Rock to be made into a movie, as I believe it could be good for the island of Cyprus, bringing tourists, expanding the culture of the island, and providing a lasting legacy for the Aphrodite legend.
Thanks so much for sharing with us.  Happy Reading!!



https://www.storyrocket.com/mistress-of-the-rockWebsiteAmazon
Youtube

Interview with Chad Descoteaux author of The Inter-Terrestrial

Welcome Chad, tell us a little about yourself  
My name is Chad Descoteaux.  I am an indie sci-fi author from Rhode Island who has written seven sci-fi books.  They are available on the Amazon Kindle, paperback on Amazon and Smashwords.

7 books that quite an accomplishment.  What got you into writing, Chad? 
 Loving to read when I was a kid and wanting to share the ideas that I had.  I would have to say that Bruce Coville's 'My Teacher is an Alien' series was a BIG influence.

I remember reading that book when I was younger.  I am a big sci-fi fan.  Which do you prefer: print books or ebooks?  
Ebooks, but only because my eyes are bad.  I had retina surgery after a bad fall back in 2008 and I have to blow print up before I can read.

That's too bad.  I am glad the technology exists so that you can continue reading.  If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go and why? 
I would go to Hollywood (in an old Studebaker driven by a bear) and try to break into screenwriting.  I have read books on it and I have software that helped me to learn the format.

Maybe someday you'll get to write the screenplay to one of your novels.  Currently, what are you working on? 
 I am working on a sequel to my book WORKING-CLASS SUPERHEROES, which is a superhero novel that satirizes the genre.  The sequel, GOVERNMENT-SANCTIONED SUPERHEROES, explores how superheroes can operate in a world where (like real-life) vigilantism is against the law.

How did you decide on what to title each book?  
I just try to come up with a something that says a lot about the book, but is also catchy.  My wife helped me come up with the title for THE INTER-TERRESTRIAL, which is infinitely better than ALIEN BOY, the original title.

I find it's always nice to get a second or third opinion on a book title.  Is this a stand-alone novel or part of a series?
  All of the books that I have published will eventually be part of a trilogy when I can get around to writing them...except for VEGANARCHY, which is a standalone dystopian novel.
Who designed the artwork for your cover?  
I do most of the covers myself, except for THE INTER-TERRESTRIAL and THE EXOSKELETON CHRONICLES.  With THE INTER-TERRESTRIAL, I hated the cover that I made for it, so I did what most indie authors do and found an online service, where I found the perfect one for that story.  And EXOSKELETON's cover was drawn by a friend of mine.

Yes I have to go outside for mine as well, I just don't have that talent.  What brought about the idea for your book?
 With WORKING-CLASS SUPERHEROES, it was a love of superhero comics and cartoons that made me want to write a story where the superheroes were just poker buddies, instead of this organized team like the Avengers or X-Men.  And then one of them says something that the other superheroes find suspicious, which fuels the mystery plot.  With THE EXOSKELETON CHRONICLES, I thought about a friend of mine who is a pest control worker and imagined him having a bad day at work (being attacked by giant insects).  The part about him being autistic came later when I started researching my own mental health and used some of that in the story.  THE TATTLER came from me realizing how political different news outlets are, instead of just telling people what's happening in the world.  So, I imagined a tabloid newspaper that reports on aliens and Big Foot, but they are the most reputable news source, because all that stuff is true and they're non-political.  Journalists vs. aliens.

What are your hobbies aside from writing, if any? 
 I'm a big movie geek.  I joke that my books are movies that I don't have $300 million to actually make.

Which is your favorite book?
 THE INTER-TERRESTRIAL, because of its strong anti-racism message and characters I am very proud of, including a samurai nun.  This book has a sequel and the third one will focus on said nun.

A samurai nun?  Sounds interesting.  I love unique characters.  Any last words? 
 I believe that even the most "out there" story can be "down to earth" if the main character is relatable.  That allows the reader to go along with this person that they've connected with on their amazing journey.  I experiment with this formula in all my work, trying to bring the most fantastic sci-fi ideas down to earth.  I hope people will check out Turtle Rocket Books (.com) and join me on this adventure.

Thanks for sharing.  Be sure to check out Chad and more of his books at the sites below.  Happy Reading!!


 Website  Facebook  

Interview with Melanie Mole author of Man + Woman = Trouble

 Welcome Melanie!  Thanks for taking the time to be with us today.
Tell us a little about yourself
I would have to say that I am an honest and supportive person, with a passion for writing and books. That I care about people and the environment, and genuinely want to make things better whenever I can. That I am a good listener who tries not to judge too. Physically – rounded, with rosy cheeks, and a good heart!
People like you are hard to come by :) Will you share a short excerpt from on of your novels?
Yes, that would be good. The first excerpt is from my non-fiction book 'Man + Woman = Trouble' -
That Old Chestnut Nagger          The characteristics of a That Old Chestnut Nagger are persistence and having a really good memory, and boy do women have good memories. Especially where we think the subject in hand really matters. Make sure that you remember this because it is a distinct advantage if you do. Of course no logical thought process would have ever gone into this decision. We tend to store up our points to remind us how bad you have been in a sort of brain sack. It’s hidden away in a very dark and dingy place. The sort of place you wouldn’t want to go to after dark. Where monsters loom, and even they have to fight for survival. A place where you should expect the unexpected to happen, and where you should be very afraid, because it is very unpredictable depending on mood and hormone levels.          Men just need to remember that we can store all this information we often refer to as important stuff for a very long time. This is the sort of stuff which we are sure to bring up the next time you either look at us in a funny way, or perhaps when you do something like breathe. Yes I did say breathe. You can sometimes only do one of these before we blow again. We are like a volcano just waiting to erupt. Not all of us of course. But there are enough women like this for anyone to be weary.          Another thing to remember is that we never lose sight of our original point for discussion. It is always there lurking in the background. Don't forget that it is also a woman’s prerogative to add more points at any time. In fact the list can just grow and grow. Like one of those seemingly tiny pieces of paper that is folded neatly, but which can unravel and grow to an incredible length at any time. So, gentlemen, it may be advisable that you have your own list to argue points from. That’s something that the lady in your life won’t be expecting. Shock tactics are usually a good way of causing a detour around the subject in hand. Especially if you want to buy some extra time or if you are dying to get to the pub/bar or to do something else that’s equally as important. But of course you need to be aware that any dodged points will only come back to bite you later, so sometimes it’s best to just suffer at the time and get it over with. It really depends on when you want more hassle. Is it best to have trouble now, or later? Only you can make that decision. Because one thing you can be sure of is that it will surely come at some point in time.      Have you been given any helpful advice?
Yes. Never, ever, give up! Use whatever keeps you going to do just that. Also, read about J.K Rowling's story for inspiration. I don't just mean about how many publishers turned her down. I mean about what she went through in her personal life before she even got to that point. Keep fighting for what you want, always.
I agree, that's important advice to remember.  This business can be hard.  Most authors don't have overnight success. Melanie will you share something with us not a lot of people know about you.
Well, I have written most of my books without getting a good night's sleep. Because of a shoulder injury I have, I still need to have further shoulder surgery. The pain from it means that either I take regular pain killers that don't work, or I take strong ones which knock me out during the day a lot too. I haven't been able to sleep in a bed for 18 months now. So I sleep sitting up in a chair every night. To be honest it is exhausting. Most of us can cope with a few night of poor sleep, but at the moment that is my reality every night. I hope that the further surgery that is scheduled for me will work, and I will be sleeping soundly again soon.That sounds horrible.  I am so sorry.  I hope your surgery goes well and offers you some relief.  Do you promote your books? Any tips you can share with us?
When you start to promote them, which should happen way before your book is published, you want to try everything. But in reality there literally aren't enough hours in the day to do it all. So, you need to stick to what works, and not waste your time on those that don't. You could be writing more books instead.I collect writing and marketing tips as I find them. My list has been invaluable. So I would advise anyone to do the same.Also build up relationships with other writers and bloggers. They become like a family which supports each other. You can be there for each other in good times and bad, and I like that.
Thanks that is good advice, as someone just starting, I have started a list of those who have helped me promote Sunwalker, and plan to reach out to them when my upcoming projects are ready. What brought about the idea for your book, Melanie?
There are different ideas for each book. My first book, 'Simply Does It', has just been published. My life has been changed for the better in so many ways by living more simply. This book chronicles the start of my journey towards raising my writing capacity by over 800% in just a year! I wanted to keep the quality of my writing, so I edited again and again. I can honestly say that I have found the magic formula for being able to write much more, even though I was also a full time, live in carer for a relative at the same time. The demands of this mean that I never knew, day or night, when I would be called to help them. Plus I had surgery of my own during this time too. So, if you want to know how I started that journey then 'Simply Does It' could really be the book for you.My second book, 'Man + Woman = Trouble', came about because I had so many stories to tell about the mountain of relationship mistakes I had made. I also wanted to give tips on how not to behave if you want a great relationship. So this book encompasses these, and more. I tried to keep it lighthearted so that it would be both interesting, and also make readers laugh. It is aimed at both men and women no matter what type of relationship they are in. So I hope that my readers will enjoy it.
What are your hobbies aside from writing, if any?It has to be reading. I am a book-a-holic. There will never be enough time for me to read all of the books that I want to in one lifetime. Not in ten lifetimes in fact.
I love to read too, but how found I have far less time to pick up a book now that I am pursuing writing as a career.  Since you wrote in this genre, do you think you will ever write in other genres?
I usually write non-fiction. I definitely find writing fiction more difficult. I generally write non-fiction, but I got brave this year and wrote my first short story called  'Blossom Shines at Buttercup Bay'. It is contained in a Creativia Anthology titled 'Once Upon a Broken Dream'. I was really pleased that my first attempt at writing fiction was published in this book. My aim is to write a whole series of Buttercup Bay Books. I have the outlines already written, so just need to start writing them now!
Melanie, that's fantastic.  I think its great to try things out of our comfort zone.  Congrats!  Any last words?Yes. Keep going. Never, ever let anyone, or anything, beat you. You are in control of your own writing destiny. So go for it!I love to connect with everyone. You can find me here -
Thanks so much for joining us.  Happy Reading!!




















Website / BlogTwitterFacebookGoodreadsPinterest
Hope to see you there :)You can find my books here -
Man + Woman = Trouble

Simply Does It: Lessons In Simplicity

Author Interview with Ben Jackson and Sam Lawrence

Welcome Ben Jackson and Sam Lawrence!
Tell us a little about yourself
Hi, thanks for interviewing us! My name is Ben Jackson, and my wife’s name is Sam Lawrence. We write a variety of fiction and non-fiction books but are focusing on children’s books. We live in a long-distance relationship, I’m from Australia, and my wife is from Canada. We both travel a lot during the year between our two countries and have four children.

Wow talent seems to abound in your family!  That seems like so much fun, getting to work with your wife doing something you love.  What got you into writing?I have always enjoyed reading, and my wife works as a publisher/formatter, managing our own company Indie Publishing Group! I think it was a natural progression from reading to writing. The children’s books we write are fun and enjoyable and help to encourage children to read and enjoy reading,

The Indie Publishing Group contains a lot of great information for authors.  I would recommend everyone checking it out.  When you read which do you prefer: print books or eBooks?
I love print books. My wife enjoys both, but I find it hard to concentrate on eBooks. I like the smell and feel of a paperback book in my hands and enjoy shopping at book fairs and markets.
I love print books to, but do enjoy the convenience when traveling of being able to read on a tablet. If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go and why?
We are lucky enough to travel a lot! We travel throughout Canada, Australia, and North America on a regular basis. We both want to travel around Asia and Europe more.
Traveling is so much fun.  I look forward to traveling more.  So far it's been Mexico and the US for me.  I hope to have Italy under my belt soon.  Currently, what are you working on?
We just finished our latest children’s book: The Day My Fart Followed Me To The Dentist!I’m terrified of the dentist and wanted to write a book which makes visiting the dentist a little less terrifying.
I know the feeling.  I finally found a dentist I love and so my fear has eased. Tell us a little bit about your main characters.
Our main characters are Timmy and the Little Fart. Timmy is a young boy, and the Little Fart is his imaginary friend, a little fart! They go on adventures together and get up to a lot of mischief.
How do you promote your books? Any tips you can share?
We promote a lot on social media. Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler, etc. but have also focused a lot on blogs and interviews. I think the tip is just to jump in. You don’t need to spend a lot of money, but you do need to put in some serious hours if you’re doing it all yourself.
Yes I agree.  I have also found I have had better luck with the free promotions than the ones I have spent money on.  Is this a stand-alone novel or part of a series?
We have a series based around Timmy and the Little Fart. We have a book about hockey, soccer, Christmas, the dentist and have many more books planned for the series.
Can you tell us what brought about the idea for your book?
We were both sitting around one night and watching television. I started coming up with stupid and crazy ideas for children’s book, and the Little Fart was born.
It's always amazing where great ideas can come from.  Sometimes without even really thinking something great can take shape. What is your writing process like?  Do you have a routine?
I have a pretty terrible writing routine. I like to watch tv and movies, Netflix, etc. and sometimes end up watching hours without accomplishing anything! I like to enjoy what I’m doing. If I locked myself away I would get more done, but if I’m not enjoying it, what’s the point?
I actually do something similar.  I like some background noise, whether its good music or a tv show on in the background.  What advice would you give someone who is considering publishing? Should they consider traditional or self-publishing?

I have never traditionally published anything, so that’s hard to recommend. Self-publishing isn’t easy and requires a lot of research, time, and effort, but it doesn’t need to be impossible or expensive. If something doesn’t work, look at why and then try again. Don’t give up! 
Thanks so much for being on with us today!  Don't forget to check out Timmy and the Little Fart.Happy Reading!!




Ben Jackson Social Media Links Goodreads PageAmazon Author Link TumblerPinterest Ben & Sam Facebook My Little Fart FacebookTwitter 

Ben Jackson Author Bio Ben lives in Tasmania, Australia. While working during the week as a Boiler Maker/Welder, specializing in Aluminum Welding, he also writes of a night as a Freelance Writer and Author.
Ben is in a Long-Distance Relationship with his wife Sam, who lives in Canada, she works as a full-time formatting professional, publisher, and author.
Be sure to check out all his books, there is definitely something there for everyone!
As Indie Authors, we rely on our valuable customers to write a review, if you could spare a minute to leave a review of one of our books, we would greatly appreciate it.
He has numerous books in progress so stay tuned for information on those by following this page, connecting with him on Facebook or Goodreads.
Remember, if you enjoyed one of his books, leave a review!
Book Links The Day My Fart Followed Me To The Dentist Amazon US link
Amazon UK link

The Day My Fart Followed Me To The Dentist Timmy and his best friend the Little Fart are back again in The Day My Fart Followed Me To The Dentist! In this beautifully illustrated children’s book you’ll experience Timmy’s first visit to the dentist, losing a tooth, and a visit from the Tooth Fairy.
No child loves the thought of a visit to the dentist. In The Day My Fart Followed Me To The Dentist, Timmy takes a trip to the dentist with his best, and imaginary, friend the Little Fart. Timmy needs to have a tooth removed and then needs to help to try and explain the Tooth Fairy to the Little Fart.
Whenever the Little Fart is involved, hilarity and mischievousness are sure to follow! The authors decided to publish this book to try and help parents and dentists show that the dentist doesn’t have to be a bad experience. In the end, there is always the reward of receiving a visit by the magical and beautiful Tooth Fairy.
If you enjoy reading funny books with beautiful illustrations and love having your child read along with you, then make sure you grab The Day My Fart Followed Me To The Dentist! Discover and giggle along with Timmy, and the Little Fart on their exciting day at the dentist.