Roger Bray's Blog, page 7

Lori Knutson

My guest today is Lori Knutson the author of five novels spread across different genres. The first book, Sacred Simplicities, is a compilation of newspaper articles she wrote for the Grande Prairie Daily Herald Tribune. These stories in this devotional are autobiographical like the ones in the sequel to Sacred Simplicities called More Simplicities. Her young adult novels are ghost-type stories with coming-of-age echoes set on Prince Edward Island. Her latest young adult novel, Where There’s a Will, is the sequel to The Ghost of Northumberland Strait. Denby Jullsen, Hughenden is a fictional work set in 1930s Alberta. It’s full of murder, lust and intrigue, a literary murder mystery.

When did you first decide to write and what got you started?

I think I started writing because I wanted to impress my dad. That was a long time ago. Now I just enjoy creating. (Update: Dad remains unimpressed.)

Do you plot your stories or do you write and see where it takes you?

I used to write and see where the story would take me. Looking back, that was the hard way to do it. Now I lay as much groundwork as I can. I make a detailed outline, I draw floorplans of the buildings in my stories, and I research as much as I can before I write. Harder work at the beginning makes for easier writing down the road, in my experience.

Do you have any inspirations for you writing? Other authors / people / events?

Local history inspires a lot of my writing. I like writing about local murders. Fortunately for me (not the victims!) there have been quite a number around where I live in this otherwise peaceful corner of Alberta, Canada.

What is the best part about writing, and the worst?

Feeling isolated is the worst part of writing, and I don’t even mind being alone! Also, my friends and family don’t think I’m “doing” anything when I’m writing. They’re not being insensitive; they just don’t know what the writing process entails. You can’t really know unless you do it. Fair enough.

The best part of writing is how the process lets me access parts of my mind I didn’t know existed. Suddenly, these new ideas and new characters appear out of nowhere. That part is always fascinating!

Do you prefer writing fiction or non-fiction? Why?

I prefer writing non-fiction (like my blog) because it’s easier for me. I was a weekly newspaper columnist for years, so writing non-fiction comes with less effort. Fiction is hard work, but I love the product.

Which of the books that you have written so far is your favourite?

Denby Jullsen, Hughenden is my favourite so far. It’s based on true events, and it’s fast-paced with colourful characters and true-to-life scenarios. It’s when I wrote Denby that I got to be a good writer. My first book won an award and yet I understand that Denby, my adult novel, is my best writing.

What are you currently working on? How long before release?

I’m writing a novel and I’m half way through the first draft. It’s another novel based on a murder (as Denby Jullsen, Hughenden is) and it takes place in this area of east-central Alberta, Canada. It’s about a man who was framed for a mass murder in 1935. Really.

It’s not a journalistic piece, but I need to tell this man’s story as I imagine it unfolded. This will likely be the last novel I write.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Avoid disappointment. Write because you want to write and not because you want to be a successful writer.

What do you feel are the greatest challenges facing any writer at the present time?

The greatest challenge is the rapidly-changing publishing industry. It’s hard to know how to best get books on the market. When I started trying to get published 25 or more years ago, there was a set way to do it: Write for magazines, write your own book-length manuscript, query agents and/or publishers.

Internet technology has changed the world, and along with it, the publishing industry. The indie and e-book markets are flooded with books of varying quality. Everyone’s a blogger and the independent book market is a crowded one! Becoming traditionally published isn’t a strong guarantee of a book’s or an author’s success.

You recently wrote a blog on social media, for people who didn’t see the post what are your thoughts?

Most recently I wrote about the detrimental effect social media use has on my creativity and my productivity. Here’s an excerpt:

These platforms offer me shiny treats that leave me hungry, and still I eat them up.

So what’s my biggest problem with how I use social media? As a writer and an editor, and as a regular meditator, I resent how social media has fragmented my concentration, another effect that Dr. Newport pointed out to me.

I’m certain that I’d be more productive and more focused without the distraction of social media. How do I know? I know because prior to my increased use of social media I was more productive and more focused. I cherish my mind and my thought processes. I hate to think that I’m allowing them to be harmed for a taste of virtual sweetness.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing? Do you have any hobbies?

I love traveling to Mexico’s west coast with my husband. That’s probably my favourite thing. I also enjoy walking, meditating, birdwatching, and doing a little gardening, too. Until recently, I was a full-time elementary school teacher, and I still do some substitute teaching.

Any fun facts about you that you would like to share?

A few years back, I was invited to meet the band Nazareth on their tour bus. This was awesome! Here’s a link to that blogpost.

I quit teaching in December of 2016 and for the year that followed I studied editing through Simon Fraser University’s online certificate program. I graduated in May, 2018. I have helped a few clients record their family stories. Helping people to get those old stories into print is one of my passions. I’m no genealogist, but I love dragging those reluctant skeletons out of the closet and making them talk!

 

Find out more about Lori and her work one her WEBSITE or on Amazon.

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Jessie Cahalin

I am really happy today to be chatting with Jessie Cahalin. Blogger, friend to authors and now an author herself with her debut novel You Can’t Go It Alone.

 

Could you tell us about yourself?

I’m the proud author of ‘You Can’t Go It Alone’ and creator of Books in my Handbag Blog. Thanks for inviting me to chat with you. My parents were almost Ten Pound Poms, and I have always wanted to visit Australia to imagine how my life could have been. I’m thrilled to be visiting a blog made in Australia.

I hail from Yorkshire in the north of England but now live in Wales. I love to travel the world and collect cultural gems. I search for happy endings, where possible; great coffee, food and music give me inspiration. I adore books, bags, writing and photography.

Having overcome my fear of self-publishing, I am now living the dream of introducing the characters who have been hassling me for decades. My debut novel, ‘You Can’t Go It Alone’, is a heart-warming tale about the challenges women still face in society. The novel has light-hearted moments and presents hope. As C. S. Lewis said, ‘We read to know we are not alone.’

When did you first decide to write and what got you started?

Olive Tree Café

My mother inspired me to write from a very young age. When I was a child she engaged me in writing descriptions of places. We would discuss the sights and sounds when shopping, visiting the park, sitting on the bus etc. This game inspired me to observe people and places and make up stories for my younger brother. My mother was clever at encouraging me to use my daydreaming and nosy nature in a positive manner. Apparently, as a small child I would stare and stare at people for hours. I am still nosy but a little more discrete now. But, I do enjoy listening in to conversations when sitting in my favourite coffee shop.

That’s my MO as well, watching and listening to people.  A bit weird if some inspirational writings didn’t come from it.

Paula Houseman

I am delighted to be chatting today with Paula Houseman. Paula was once a graphic designer. But when the temptation to include ‘the finger’ as part of a logo for a forward-moving women’s company proved too much, she knew it was time to give away design. Instead, she took up writing. She found she was a natural with the double entendres (God knows she’d been in enough trouble as a child for dirty wordplay).

Could you tell us about yourself?

I’m a first-generation Australian. My parents were Jewish and born in Egypt. But because their parents were from Europe, they weren’t granted citizenship and they remained stateless. So, when they immigrated to Australia, belongingness became a priority. It was in the days before Australia had become a multicultural society and it wasn’t easy for them. My mother was a staid walking cliché and struggled to live the Australian way; my father thought he was living it because he could fart the national anthem. And that background laid the foundations for a mother of an identity crisis, and a life that played out like the blueprint for Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s South Park—funny to watch, maybe; not so funny to be a character in it. Still, it’s provided some awesome raw materials for writing.

When did you first decide to write and what got you started?

As a baby boomer, I grew up at a time when the catchphrase ‘Children should be seen and not heard’ still held sway (‘Children’ meant girls). I was feisty and had plenty to say that didn’t align with my parents’ adopted views. And because I also laughed at inappropriate times, I was often in trouble. It got to the point where shutting up was easier. But it was unhealthy—a wild child shouldn’t be tamed. And can’t. So I started to write in a personal journal. That was 27 years ago. And as I slowly retrieved my lost voice and uncovered ideas I didn’t even know I had, I expressed them through essays at university. My unconventional views were respected, and that gave me the courage to expand my audience—first, through an online community for poets and writers, then through my books and blogs.

Do you plot your stories or do you write and see where it takes you?

I don’t plot my stories; I’m a pantser. I let my characters lead me … astray.

Do you have any inspirations for you writing? Other authors / people / events?

Other authors inspire me:

If I’m completely engrossed in a book I’m reading, I’ll ask myself what ideas and writing techniques are engaging me. In particular, I love twists and turns. It’s not a distinctive feature of the humour genre in which I write, but I tend to integrate the unexpected into my stories, although, not consciously. I recently came across an article in Writer’s Digest by author Steven Kohlhagen, who sounds a bit like a fellow pantser. His take perfectly sums up my writing approach. He says, ‘I don’t create surprising twists. I create interesting characters and put them in tough or scary or romantic situations. The characters then deal with those situations in ways that I never suspect. In other words, they write the books. They create the surprising twists. I don’t.’

People and events also inspire me:

Mostly, revisiting memories from my ridiculous past. Writing has helped me defuse the situations that seemed tragic at the time. It’s also resuscitated my natural ability to see the comedy in the tragedy. So, the thing that often got me into trouble as a kid is now my stock-in-trade.

I can fully recognise this as well, my sense of humour has always got me into trouble and I often see the humour in events other people are crying over.

Us readers would love to know more about The Ruth Roth series of books. Will there be a third?

The off-the-wall Ruth Roth series comprises three books: Book 1, Odyssey in a Teacup, is a coming-of-age story that falls into the original incarnation of the chick lit genre (à la Bridget Jones’s Diary). Book 2, originally Apoca[hot]lips, has just been retitled Cupid F*cks Up (because he does). And Book 3, scheduled for release in July 2018, is My T(r)oyboy is a Twat (because he is). Books 2 and 3—stand-alones—are romantic comedies.

My style is a little Monty Pythonesque. And it thrills me no end that my name’s been mentioned in the same breath as satirical novelist Carl Hiaasen, and that Ruth Roth has been likened to Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum!

I am always amazed at how much influence Monty Python has had over the past 40 years. As soon as someone mentions Pythonesque, you immediately know what they are on about. And it always raises a smile with me.

Retitled to

 

What is the best part about writing?

I can lose myself in it, but I also find myself in it.

My parents were lost souls because their primary focus was the pursuit of a social identity. I had trouble fitting in because I was never at home in or cared about any man-made social category: race, ethnicity, religion, class, gender. And hard as that was, I guess it turned out to be a blessing. The innate desire to belong somewhere led me to question my place in the world. I did that through writing. And I started to understand that writing is the perfect fit because it’s where I can be all of me.

The logical progression was an inspired choice of course at university, where I learnt about the archetypes of our essential humanness that are found in ancient myths. The characters in these raw stories personify every aspect of the human psyche—breathe life into and celebrate each one: the fabulous, the horrible and everything in between. It’s helped me to write unashamedly; to let my protagonist express immoral thoughts and feelings. And I think the realness of that is what connects us. It also gets us applauded instead of locked up.

Meh, I would have said the drinking, but that is all true as well!

Angela Petch – Writing Week

I am delighted to be talking again to Angela Petch, author of Tuscan Roots, a Second World War story of romance, partisan activity, hardships of ordinary people caught up in the cruel tangle of battle and the difficulties of a mixed marriage in grey, post-war Britain. Angela lives half the year in a remote valley in the Tuscan Apennines and is running a writer’s retreat in Tuscany from September 11th – 18th 2018

Hi Roger, thanks for having me back. Yes we are inviting writers to take part in a fabulous writing week located in the eastern corner of Tuscany, a tranquil, unspoiled area where you can write to your hearts’ content. To date, there are only three places available on this unmissable course, so your readers need to hurry, if they are interested.

For those people that do not know the area, can you tell us what to expect.

Although off the usual Tuscan tourist trail, we live in a very “Italian” location and there is plenty to see to inspire your writing.

Who is going to be running the event, and in what sort of environment?

Sessions are led by an experienced creative writing tutor and will take place in the owners’ property adjacent to Il Mulino. La Stalla (the stable) has a spacious living room and a shaded pergola outside, with table and chairs. The properties are located along the river Marecchia and there is space to sit alone and write in the afternoons or to congregate to share ideas. The river has pools to dip into on hot days and there are plenty of walks to enjoy in the surrounding area.

The Mill

 

What is the course about and what can people attending hope to get from it?

The course is being run by Novelist and creative writing tutor Sonja Price who will be offering six sessions to cover the following:

How to create credible and interesting characters.
Settings to enhance and propel your story. Conjuring up the familiar and the exotic.
The art of dialogue as taken from playwriting. Making every spoken word serve a purpose.
Plot and story. Creating scenes, maintaining suspense, the story arc, beginnings and endings.
Polishing your language. How to edit and cut. Getting published: writing a synopsis, blurb and pitching your book. Agents, publishers v. self-publishing.
Extras: techniques, ideas – from head to paper, writers’ block, structuring your time, social media for writers.

Will people be able to get to know the local area during the course?

Two main outings are planned: one to the beautiful city of Arezzo and another to visit works of art in nearby villages. On the final evening of the course, a prize will be awarded for the best entry to our 2018 Flash Fiction Competition.

Montebotolino
Arezzo
Doing it tough on the terrace!

 

It all sounds and looks fantastic, what will the cost be?

PRICES

The price of £650 includes accommodation in either il Mulino or il Casalone.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ANYBODY BOOKING FROM NOW ON WILL BE ACCOMMODATED IN IL CASALONE, A VERY TASTEFULLY APPOINTED AGRITURISMO WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE. ALL ROOMS ARE EN SUITE.

Agriturismo Il Casalone

 

Price reductions will be offered for room sharing: £150 for the second participating guest and a further £150 for a guest not participating in the writing course. (Therefore, a non-participating guest sharing a partner’s room pays a total of £350).

All meals, drinks and wine are included in the price, except for two evening meals in local restaurants and snacks during outings.
We expect to visit Arezzo and local hilltop villages as well as our small town of Badia Tedalda. Transport for these excursions is included as well as airport transfer, assuming arrival at Bologna airport*. If arriving at other airports, students will need to make their own travel arrangements to arrive at Il Mulino.
All group tuition is included in the price. For one-to-one sessions, please contact the tutor info@sonja-price.com
A 25% deposit is required upon booking and the balance to be paid four weeks prior to September 11th 2018. Upon booking, please let us know of any dietary requirements or allergies.

*It is hoped that guests will arrive at Bologna airport at the same times. If not, some guests will have to wait for the later arrivals in order to save repeat transfer journeys of two hours fifteen minutes, one way.

Further details of Il Mulino and its tranquil location can be found on https://www.ilmulinorofelle.com

If you need further information, or would like to book your place on our course, contact Angela Petch on angela_maurice@hotmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I t all sounds fantastic and I am envious that I cannot attend but I am sure you and all the visitors will have a brilliant time. Don’t get too drunk on that fabulous red wine, or do, don’t waste the opportunity, that’s good wine!!

Thanks Angela, save a bottle for me.

Will do, thanks again Roger.

 

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Kiltie Jackson

 

Lovely to have Kiltie Jackson along today, with her new book ‘An Artisan Lovestyle’ being released on 28th June. Kiltie grew up in Glasgow in Scotland, a unique city with a very unique way of looking at life. She currently lives in Staffordshire with five cats and one grumpy husband. Her little home is known as Moggy Towers, even though despite having plenty of moggies, there are no towers!

The cats kindly allow her and Mr Mogs to share their house on the condition they keep paying the mortgage!

Could you tell us about yourself?

Hi there Roger, Looking spivvy today, if you don’t mind me saying. I am Kiltie Jackson, I’m Scottish although I now live in England, I am a slave to five cats and I am an indie author.

Thanks Kiltie, it not often I get the chance to wear my dinner jacket, or pants.

Paul Anthony

Today’s guest is Paul Anthony who has written a number of fictional novels, an auto biography, and a collection of poetry in Print and Kindle. He has also written television scripts, screenplays and film scripts as an individual or with the award wining scriptwriter, Nick Gordon whose full length feature film ‘Hunted’ hits the screens in 2017. (Currently in pre-production) Paul is the son of a soldier whose family settled in Carlisle before he joined Cumbria police at the age of 19. As a detective, he served in Cumbria CID, the Regional Crime Squad in Manchester, the Special Branch, (Counter Terrorist Command) and other national agencies in the UK and elsewhere. 

Q. Could you tell us about yourself

A. Thank you for inviting me. I’m a retired police officer from Cumbria in the United Kingdom. Happily married, three children and six grandchildren, I live on the edge of the Lake District about a mile from the Roman Wall (Hadrian’s Wall). It’s a beautiful part of the country.

** It is indeed, close to where I come from, I spent many days doing hikes in the area when I was young.

Q. When did you first decide to write and what got you started?

A. I’d successfully studied for a bachelor’s degree in economics and social sciences when I suddenly found that after 6 years my spare time suddenly had a lot of blanks. My wife suggested I write a book to fill the void so I complied – as all husbands do – and never really looked back. I wrote the Fragile Peace in 1994. It was published in 1996 and was initially optioned for a film with a budget of about 85 million pounds but that, I believe, proved too expensive for potential backers and I don’t expect any further movement on that now. But you never know. That said, pre-kindle, they told me I wouldn’t sell more than 200 copies in hardback. It’s nice to prove people are incorrect when you reach 25,000 copies and then convert your book to Kindle. Still selling and still relevant in 2018. Learning quite a bit from the first screenplay, I’ve since written and co-written various film scripts and screenplays, as well as television scripts. Years ago, I wrote scripts, or partial scripts, for a programme called ‘The Bill’ on British television. I also branched out and sent off quite a few scripts to various production companies specialising in producing police dramas for television. Recently, I converted a screenplay I had co-written into a book entitled ‘Nebulous’. It’s available in print and kindle.

Q. Do you plot your stories, or do you write and see where it takes you?

A. I tend to plot the stories in my head, go over them, and then write notes down under chapter headings. Gradually, I fill the chapter headings out into longer paragraphs and then begin to tie it all together. It might sound complicated, but it works for me and I find it easier to write that way. Towards the end of the work, I go right back to the start and work through it line by line, act by act, word by word.

Q. What is the best part about writing, and the worst?

A. The best part of writing is getting right into the plot when you just know that you are on fire. When this happens I usually sit down and rattle away until I’m exhausted. I’m talking about writing for hours on end, morning, afternoon and night. The story and the characters grab you and become part of you. You’ve just got to get it down before you lose it. The worst part is not writing because you know the plot in your brain is the wrong one.

** I completely agree, sometimes it is hard to shift a bad idea.

Q Do you prefer writing fiction, non-fiction, or poetry?

A. I prefer to write fiction, favour non-fiction to read above all other genres, and occasionally delve into poetry. I’ve written and published ‘Sunset’ which contains 77 poems, and I’ve published a book called ‘Authorship Demystified’ which details various ways in which a writer can get published.

Q. Tell us about one of, or your most recent books.

A. My most recent novel was ‘Septimus’. The work is set in Roman times and details the Roman invasion of the Lake District and an incursion into Scotland. It features a tribal leader from the Ullswater area who tries to forge an alliance with the invaders. The storyline weaves in and out of various lives dealing with some raw emotions ranging from love to murder and everything in between.

Q What are you currently working on? How long before release?

A. I’m a third of the way through the next Boyd thriller which deals with mass murder, corruption, treachery, and betrayal at the highest level. I’m sure it will be published later this year.

Q. What are you reading?

A. A book about poisons together with a book about the history of the Sumerian civilization in Mesopotamia. When reading fiction, my favourite genres are what I write about – espionage, murder/mystery, and thrillers. I’d pick Gerald Seymour, Jack Higgins, and Terrence Strong amongst my favourites. In respect of American indie authors, I’d recommend Wayne Zurl, and RC & JP Carter. In respect of British indie authors, I’d recommend Paul Anthony for crime fiction and a selection of anthologies

Q. What kind of anthologies have you published.

A. My website has an area where charity anthologies are available in print and kindle. The books have been put together by scores of writers from across the globe and we have raised money for various charities as indicated in each book. There’s a good selection and a marvellous opportunity to read the work of authors from various locations.

Q. What are your hobbies?

A. I enjoy ballroom dancing and going to the gym where I prefer weightlifting. I also enjoy swimming and playing acoustic guitar badly. I also enjoy learning different languages and I’m currently learning Spanish. Singing is my real forte but I’m told I sing better alone than to an audience. Hence, apparently, no-one likes me singing! Oh, they don’t know what they’ve missed.

Q. Have you ever been to Australia?

A. No, but I have traced some of my ancestors to Australia and written about them in ‘Scougal’

Q. Any tips for would-be writers?

A. Never give up and don’t presume that everyone will enjoy your books. There is a massive market for books. You just need to find those who do enjoy your work and concentrate on that area. Write them and they will be read, and please…. Don’t give your work away for free….

You can learn more about Paul at his WEBSITE and find his books on

   or 

& connect with him on

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Ilene Kaufmann

I am delight to be chatting today with Ilene Kaufmann, who is someone I haven’t had on before, a poet and a children’s book author.  She was born and raised in rural Lapeer, Michigan and was adopted when she was four years old, along with two of her brothers. She began writing poetry at a very early age. It became a way for her to express her deepest thoughts and feelings. Her love for writing poetry continued throughout her life

Could you tell us about yourself

I’m a 57 year old mother to three daughter’s and grandmother to two granddaughter’s and two step grandsons. Adopted at the age of 4 years, I was raised in a middle class family in rural Michigan, where I spent most of my time outdoors with our many pets. During my adolescent years I became involved with track and softball, of which I excelled in. I also enjoyed horseback riding and nature walks with my Appaloosa quarter horse, April and my dog, Betsy. After college, I moved to middle Tennessee, where I married and raised my three girls. Unfortunately, the marriage lasted only 9 years. The girls and I have been on our own ever since. I am very close to our Christian congregation and spend most of my time with Christian activities, family and writing.

When did you first decide to write and what got you started?

I don’t really think it was a decision. I needed an outlet for the pain I was experiencing, and writing fit the bill. I used to make up stories with happy endings or poems that made even the most devastating things sound beautiful, just to take me away from my reality. But I never shared my writing with anyone…until my children came along.

Do you plot your stories or do you write and see where it takes you?

Probably a little of both. But, because my poems and stories are based on true life experiences, I guess I just embellish where it’s needed for heightened interest.

Do you have any inspirations for you writing? Other authors / people / events?

Without a doubt, my inspiration comes from my children, grandchildren, and those close to me who have touched my heart with their story. I’ve never really been able to write about mundane things. I’m not saying I never have…I mean, I’ve written a poem entitled, “Yard Sale”, so I guess I have my moments. What can I say? I was kinda in a goofy mood that day. Haha.

What is the best part about writing, and the worst?

The best part for me is, being able to tell someone’s story in a way that they can’t themselves. It could be something devastating like a lost or stolen child, like in my poem, “Did you know?”, which is about a dear friends experience in searching 6 years for her 3 year old son who was taken illegally by her ex husband. In that time she had people telling her to move on. But she never gave up and at the age of 9 years, she finally found him! She said, of the poem, “I’ll Cherish this forever, you helped me to put closure to all this. Maybe, someone can find hope and strength in my story.” That’s worth more than any sum of money. It’s priceless.

And the worst…..there isn’t a worst for me.

Tell us about one of, or your most recent book

Seeing I’ve talked about ” Rhyme and Reason” already, I’ll tell you about my children’s book, ” Jaydens New Adventures” As the first book of THE JAYDEN AND RYLEE SERIES, it follows the life of my granddaughter, Jayden as she figures out her place in her ever changing world. With her puppy, Toby by her side, she learns acceptance, forgiveness, appreciation and quite often a whole lot of patience. From first day of school jitters, and the responsibility of caring for a new puppy, to helping around the house and the anticipation of her new baby sister’s birth, Jayden helps children to see that they’re not alone in their uncertainties and feelings. My hopes are that this series will help instil positive traits and manners to better equip our young readers with what they need to succeed and be happy.

What are you currently working on? How long before release?

I’m just finishing up the last story of the 3rd book from the JAYDEN AND RYLEE SERIES. The second book has been finished for awhile. I’ve been waiting to see what interest is shown for the first book,”Jayden’s new Adventures”, to see if it merits all that goes into a second books

production. My plans are to have the second and third installments on store-shelves by mid to late 2019.

You are very active on twitter, how important do you think social media is for an author?

I’m not really sure yet. I don’t think it’s affected my book sales that much. But I will say that all the authors make it feel like a family. You don’t have the cutthroat competition you see in other fields. Everyone is so quick to encourage, advise and help wherever they can. I’ve had many, such as yourself, who have taken the initiative to offer help. Being relatively new to all this, I am so appreciative of any and all help I’ve received.

What are you currently reading?

The Bible…… seriously.

Which authors and novels would you recommend?

Oh, my goodness, there are so many! Ken Stark, SS Bazinett, Ellie Douglas, MJ LaBeff, Joe Pranaitis, Kacey Kells, CP Sheppard, W. Boone Hedgepeth, Millie Thom, Darren Barker ….You! And so many more! I never realized how many amazing authors there were out there!!

Can you tell us a bit about your family pets, you have 5 I understand?

Well, there’s Toby, of course! My 11 year old, sweet and lovable, always up for a cuddle, Pit Bull. Then, there’s Lexi, our 18 month old, catch a frisbee in mid- air, Aussie mix. She’s sweet, but extremely high strung! So you can imagine how crazy she makes Toby at times. Haha. We have two cats, KC and Ally, who aren’t really fond of one another, but they love the dogs. Go figure. Two of ourselves beloved furry family members, passed away after the publishing of the books. 17 year old Tyler, a lab mix, and 14 year old Hershey, a long haired dachshund. We had them since they were pups.

Any fun facts about you that you would like to share?

I’m very goofy, even to the point of embarrassing my children. Haha. And I believe that in any negative, a positive can be found. It may take longer sometimes (maybe years, even), but it is possible. And a day never passes without me thanking God for his many blessings.

You can find Ilene’s books on   and contact her through

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Rhani D’Chae

Rhani D’Chae is a visually disabled writer who was born and raised in Tacoma, WA. Because of her failing eyesight, she no longer reads as much as she used to, but she does enjoy falling into the worlds created by other Indie authors as often as her vision will allow.  I am delighted to be chatting with her today.

Could you tell us about yourself?

I’ve spent the majority of my life in Tacoma, Washington. I have lived other places, but something always brings me back to the Pacific Northwest. I love to read, but now that I’ve lost the majority of my sight to various visual conditions, I don’t read as much as I’d like to. Writing is also much more difficult, so I bump my font up to size Theater Marquee, which does help. I also drink a lot and throw things, which helps when it gets frustrating. The cats have learned to duck, which lowers the casualty count. My housemates aren’t quite as smart, which does result in an occasional minor injury.

When did you decide to write and what got you started?

I started writing when I was quite young. I think I was ten when I wrote my first poem, and about fourteen when I wrote my first story. It was a Star Trek adventure, and it was absolutely awful! Honestly, there would have to be a new word invented to describe just how horrible it was.

Do you pick your stories or do you write and see where it takes you?

I always have a basic idea of what the plot will be when I start a new writing project. But, more often than not, the story takes on a life of its own and goes where it wants. I just try to keep up.

Do you have any inspirations for your writing? Other authors/people/events?

Stephen King has always lurked around the edges of my writing, even though I don’t write horror as of yet. I would also have to say that Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, being an amazing female author, was a huge inspiration for me. Also, George Gilman was the first author whose work told me that it was okay to not be “nice.” That violence and mayhem have a place in fiction, and it’s okay to go there. Had it not been for him, I think Shadow of the Drill would have been much different, and might not have been written at all.

What is the best part about writing and the worst?

For me, the best part is creating something that readers can jump into and explore. I love losing myself in the world between a set of book covers, and I greatly enjoy knowing that I can maybe give that same thrill to someone else.

The worst part about writing, in my opinion, is the freakin’ writer’s block! I can’t begin to count the times I’ve been moving right along, and then run headlong into that unmovable wall. Considering how many times it’s happened to me, I’m surprised I’m not wearing a permanent neck brace.

** I can relate to this.  Worse though is not having writer’s block but having a really bad plot idea, which stays with you and is impossible to shift.  You tend to try and force the plot around the bad idea, wasting a lot of effort. In the meantime the good ideas seem to give up on you!!

Tell us about one of, or your most recent book.

I wrote the novel Shadow of the Drill quite a few years ago, and self-published it as a paperback. A couple of years later, when I was working on the sequel, I went back and read it. It was then that I realized the book was absolute crap. It was crap with potential, but it was still crap. My beta readers were friends who didn’t write, so they were overly impressed with what I handed them. They told me it was awesome, and I went with that. I gave Shadow a complete update, and now it’s something that I’m incredibly proud of. It tells the story of Decker, an unrepentant enforcer known as the Drill, and the violent life that he leads. Shadow tells how Decker, after fifteen years, comes face-to-face with his oldest enemies. These are the people who put him on the path to becoming the Drill, so there is a certain degree of irony in the fact that they might die because he is what they made him. This novel is the first in a series and is intended for an adult audience.

What are you currently working on? How long before release?

I’m currently working on two short stories. One, Zombie Dawn, has a zombie theme, and the other, I’ve Always Loved Women, is about a guy who has an interesting way of dealing with breakups. Both of these stories will be coming out the first of July.

What are you currently reading?

I am currently reading Pure Trash, a short story by Bette A. Stevens. This short story is a prequel to her novel, Dog Bone Soup, which is one of my favorite reads.

Which authors and novels do you recommend?

Beem Weeks is an excellent author, and his novel, Jazz Baby, is phenomenal! I also recommend Acts Beyond Redemption by Suzanne Burke. I belong to a fantastic group of readers and writers called Rave Reviews Book Club, which has connected me with far too many incredible authors and books to list.

Which of your books would you like most to be made into a movie?

I don’t even need to think about that. Shadow of the Drill would make a fantastic movie! It has everything that I would want to see in a film. Lots of action, beautiful women, and two dynamic, incredibly sexy, leading men. It also has a revenge-driven plot line that would keep eyes glued to the screen.

Film casting – which actors would you choose as your main characters?

That’s a very tough question. For the character of Tawnee, I’ve often thought about either Katie Cassidy or Nicki Aycox, but they’re both too old for that part, now. As for Rudy, I have no clue. I’m not familiar with that many Hispanic actors, although I’m sure there are several who could do the job justice. Decker, on the other hand, is an easy pick. Right now, the person I see when I think of him is Joe Manganiello. I would love to find a way to connect with him regarding this. I think this would be a perfect role for an actor. Think about it – it’s the starring role in a potential film franchise, and he’d get to be both very good and incredibly bad, all at the same time. Plus, it would be an action film which is pretty much always a hit. The fact that he would have a few scenes with his shirt off would be just a bennie for those of us who like that sort of thing.

Any funny cat stories you would like to share?

Oh my goodness, where would I start! There was a time when Sharif got his head stuck in one of those plastic bags from Safeway. He took off at top speed, tearing through the house until he’d torn about half of the bag away. But the one handle was still around his neck, along with the top half of the bag, so it looked like he was wearing a little plastic cape. We still tease him about being a kitty superhero. When it comes to stories, there are tons because we’re devoted staff to ten furry little dictators, all rescues. There’s just something about the relationship with the rescued animal that’s unlike anything else. While a couple of the boys did come from shelters, most of them were strays, basically living on the streets. Somehow, we managed to find each other, and the rest is an increasing list of scratches, shredded toilet paper, clawed furniture, and cat puke. Oh, and don’t even get me started on the cat hair! That stuff is everywhere! No matter how clean my clothes are when I put them on, if I’m dumb enough to sit down anywhere in the house, I will stand up looking like a wookiee. The only safe place to sit is the toilet, so I tend to do a lot of reading between the time I get dressed and the time I leave the house. Once my teeth are brushed and my hair is beaten into submission, there’s not much else to do in the bathroom.

Any fun facts about you that you would like to share?

I really enjoy going to movies, especially action and what passes for horror these days. I’m a co-host for two different podcasts, one through Rave Reviews Book Club, where I review books with my two partners in crime, and another on Mixlar with my friend G. E. Shaw, where we talked about social issues and current events. One more little factoid: two of my cats are on Twitter, and they have almost as many followers as I do.

You can find Rhani’s books on   and HERE and find out more about her on her WEBSITE.

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Katharine Johnson

I am happy to be chatting today with Katy Johnson, who has been writing stories since she was nine. Her books are about ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary situations – usually as a result of one bad decision. 

Could you tell us about yourself?

I’m a writer with a passion for books, old houses, flawed characters and cake. I live in Berkshire with my husband, three children and daft spaniel, and also spend quite a lot of time in Lucca, Italy. I’ve been a journalist for three decades but have always loved creative writing as a hobby. A few years ago I enrolled on a fiction writing course and gave writing a novel a proper go and was very lucky to find a publisher for it, Crooked Cat Books. My third novel The Secret is being published this Friday 1st June.

How long have you been writing?

Most of my life – I wrote my first book when I was nine (a collection of stories about a naughty chimp which has yet to find a publisher.)

Tell us about one of, or your most recent book?

The Secret is about another secret harboured by Villa Leonida, the house at the centre of The Silence which was published last year. The Secret is about two girls growing up in Mussolini’s Italy and a secret they share that has devastating consequences. In the present day Irena’s son is determined to find out the truth about the village’s past while he still has time but Martina’s daughter’s desperate to keep it hidden.

What do you love about writing?

I love the magic of words coming together and the freedom of being able to live other lives and be other people – and see how they cope in situations in which I hope I never find myself.

How do you get inspired/ where do you get your ideas?

I think from all over the place. I have a receptive phase at the beginning or just before writing a book when I’m tuned into things I hear on the radio, conversations I hear in coffee shops, things I read etc before diving in and writing. I love my notebooks which I take with me everywhere. And I write the stories I’d like to read. All my books are about ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary situations.

Do you have a specific writing process?

I don’t have a set routine but I do have a dog who needs walking each day which I find useful time for plotting and thinking through scenes. I try and keep fiction and non-fiction time separate but there’s a lot of juggling involved.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

It’s said so often but it’s so true – accept that your first draft is going to be quite poor so just get it down anyway and then fix the problems later. Build up a social media platform but try not to let it take over (easy to say…)

What are you currently working on? How long before release?

I’m waiting to get the edits back on a non-fiction book about women’s suffrage. And I’m writing a novel about a group of housemates who discover a body after a party.

What are you currently reading?

The Date by Louise Jensen – loving it!

Which authors and novels would you recommend as must reads?

So many! I love psychological thrillers so Patricia Highsmith and Barbara Vine have long been favourites. A book that’s stayed with me a long time is The Outcast by Sadie Jones. I’ve never been disappointed by books by Kate Atkinson, Lucie Whitehouse and Rachel Abbott. Recently, I’ve loved Chosen Child by Linda Huber and lots of books by fellow Crooked Cat authors and some wonderful books set in Italy.

Do you have any favourite fictional characters?

Very hard to narrow down – in general I’m most interested in flawed characters. I love Eleanor Oliphant.

Which of your books would you like most to be made into a movie?

What a lovely question! I’ll say The Secret although I’m not sure how easy it would be to make into a film.

Film casting – which actors would you choose as your main characters?

This is very difficult! But having just conducted a very long internet search I’d cast Kaya Scodelario and Ella Purnell as Martina and Irena

If you could choose one person (dead or alive) to have a chat with, who would it be and why?

I’d love to spend an hour with Patricia Highsmith and ask for some tips on plotting and creating compelling characters.

The Secret is available from today (1st June 2018) at   and you can catch up with Katy at or

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Kevin Ansbro

 

K evin Ansbro was born of Irish parents, and has lived in Malaysia and Germany:

He was educated at Hamond’s Grammar School in Swaffham, and at the Norfolk College of Arts and Technology, King’s Lynn.

Kevin also has a background in karate and kickboxing and has travelled extensively – particularly in the Far East.

He is married to Julie, and currently lives in Norwich, England.

When did you first decide to write and what got you started?

I concocted stories from an early age. I remember (at the age of ten) writing a tale about a talking kite. He was stored in a cupboard and each time its door was opened, a smile would light up his papery face. “Is it windy today?” he’d ask, expectantly. Things evolved: I discovered literary technique in my teens and winning a national poetry competition bolstered my self-belief.

Is there an underlying message in Kinnara, what would you like your readers to get from it?

The key underlying message of the book is that rash actions can result in grave consequences. That said, the consequences in this case are wholly disproportionate to any transgressions!

Do you plot your stories or do you write and see where it takes you?

I’m definitely a plotter, but within that framework, I do venture off-piste, expecting the unexpected to happen. This way, wonderfully serendipitous accidents occur that I have no control over. So I’m a bit of both: a plantser in fact!

Do you have any inspirations for you writing? Other authors / people / events

My inspirations as a child: E. B. White, C. S. Lewis, Hans Christian Andersen.  As a pre-teen, I adored Charles Dickens, Gerald Durrell, Tom Sharpe, and James Herriot.

My literary tastes then moved on to Shakespeare, Steinbeck, Hemingway, Graham Greene, and Thomas Hardy. Gabriel García Márquez and Salman Rushdie are my biggest influences.

I find inspiration in nature, real-life events, movies and daydreams. Like most writers, I leap out of bed in the middle of the night to jot an exciting idea down!

What is the best part about writing, and the worst?

After a year of scrawling a cornucopia of plots, subplots, narrative arcs, scenes and dialogue, it’s exhilarating to see my riotous collection of scribbled notes beginning to form cohesive paragraphs on a computer screen. The worst part of writing is the interminable, but all-important, edits.

Are you working on anything now?

Yes. I have spent three years on my latest novel (yep, three whole years – despite being a full-time writer). I write with as much care and splendour as I’m able and only stop when my brain curdles or my tummy growls at me. This novel is a spiteful, teeth-rattling literary thriller, wrapped in a burrito of magical realism. Its working title is The Fish that Climbed a Tree. This alludes to a seemingly impossible, almost Homeric, odyssey within its pages.

You travel a lot. What has been your worst travel experience?

I’m unlucky when it comes to timing. For example, my wife and I arrived in Tokyo two days after the 2011 Japanese tsunami. A cloud of radiation was supposedly heading our way from the damaged Fukushima* nuclear reactors. Luckily, the brave work of engineers and scientists averted an apocalyptic mass exodus.

*I did a lot of research for The Picture involving Fukushima, and can relate to how exciting that could have made life at the time

Another time, just before we were due to fly to Bangkok, we turned on the news to witness mass riots in Bangkok. Before our eyes, the large shopping mall, attached to our hotel was being burned to the ground!

We’re not easily scared off, though. It would take something far worse for us to cancel a holiday!



Hammocks seem to be an issue, any other motor function disaster stories?

It is an unchallengeable truth that a drunken man, on a tropical holiday, cannot pass a hammock without gamely climbing in and tumbling out the other side just as fast!*

I also sleepwalk half-naked out of hotel rooms and head for elevators. My wife has learned to lock me in and stack things in front of the door so any resultant noise will wake her up!

*I can fully relate to that, like the Billy Connolly saying about never trusting a man who, when left alone in a room with a tea cosy, doesn’t try it on as a hat.



What is your guilty pleasure?

I’m always up for a late-night skinny dip with friends. I’m usually the first to whip his clothes off and dive in!

Thanks Kevin for your great answers.  More information about Kevin’s books can be found on his website and from his author’s pages on Amazon UK or Amazon US

 

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