M.D. Neu's Blog, page 18

Interview with Kim Founder of PocketPridePlus

Today Scribblers I’m thrilled to have someone I’ve been fond of for quite some time, and have only recently gotten to know more personally. Kim Crawford (aka Mama Kim). Kim is the founder of PocketPridePlus and a Contributor for the amazing Podcast GayTalk 2.0 run by Tom and his co-Hosts Nick and Chris (learn more about GayTalk 2.0 here). Without further ado let’s get to know the amazing Mama Kim.

Welcome Kim, I always ask my guests to share something not in their bio, which we have at the bottom...

Interview with B. Rourke

It’s another Wednesday and that means it’s time for another author interview. This week I happy to present author B. Rourke. B. Rourke grew up on the prairies of Alberta, Canada and knew she was always meant to tell stories. So let’s get to know this wonderful new romance author.

Welcome B. Rourke, I always ask my guests to share something not in your bio, which we have at the bottom of this interview. So, tell us something us what’s not in the bio, by way of an introduction.

There is so much I co...

The Afterlife with Baz and Tuffy

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. Today we are trying something new. I’m hosting some amazing YouTube content creators on my blog; Tuffy Stanley and SA ‘Baz’ Collins host a show called the Afterlife. It is all about being gay and over the age of thirty. Afterlife is a blast and is always good for a laugh. Watching Baz and Tuffy interact akin to watching a brother and sister share their stories of growing up.

Instead of reading out the interview and answering the questions, they created an exclusive epi...

Conscience by Jonathan Pongratz

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. Have I got a treat for you. This week I was given an Advance Readers Copy (ARC) of Conscience by Jonathan Pongratz.  He is an amazing author so I was thrilled to get the copy and read it. Here are my thoughts on the short story:

This is a wonderful SciFi/Dystopian short story that has excellent character development and a lush world that you want to explore more of. What is creepy about this story is how you can see where, if we are not careful, this world could come t...

Conscience by Jonathan Pongratz

Conscience by Jonathan Pongratz

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is a wonderful SciFi/Dystopian short story that has excellent character development and a lush world that you want to explore more of. What is creepy about this story is how you can see where, if we are not careful, this world could come to be. In fact, I’m sure there are people out there who would argue that we are already there. You can’t help but cheer on and care for the main character. This is an outstanding attribute of the author Jonathan Pongratz, he can suck you in with his incredible characters within the first few paragraphs of his story, which is needed for a short story.

I can see this short story easily adapted to Netflix or Hulu as a series.



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Interview with R.L. (Ro) Merrill

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. This week I have another author interview for you. Today I welcome award-winning author R.L. (Ro) Merrill to sit down and have a chat. Let’s dig in.

Welcome Ro, I’m so glad to have you were on my blog.  Your bio is below for folks to read, so why don’t you tell us what’s not in the bio, by way of an introduction.

My 13yo boy inner child laughs at any and all innuendo, intentional or not, and doesn’t matter if anyone else in the room even noticed. I danced for many years...

Interview with R.L. (Ro) Merrill

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. This week I have another author interview for you. Today I welcome award-winning author R.L. (Ro) Merrill to sit down and have a chat. Let’s dig in.

Welcome Ro, I’m so glad to have you were on my blog.  Your bio is below for folks to read, so why don’t you tell us what’s not in the bio, by way of an introduction.

My 13yo boy inner child laughs at any and all innuendo, intentional or not, and doesn’t matter if anyone else in the room even noticed. I danced for many years...

Interview with Author Mike Lopez

Happy Wednesday everyone. This week I want to say a big hello to fellow Author Mike Lopez. I had the pleasure of meeting Mike through one of the writing groups we belong to Queer Sacramento Authors Collective (QSac) find out more about the group here.

Without further ado let’s get to my interview with Mike Lopez.

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Welcome Mike. I’m so glad you were able to stop by. Now before we get started please tell everyone about yourself (something not in the bio):

I am a Gemini, raised the Hawaiian way, the baby of the family, traveled half the globe, am an INTJ, believes in the Native American way, enjoys being the Historian, breathes X-men comics, and relishes being creative.

I know you write Young Adult Novels (mainly girl power books) and poetry, what got you interested in these types of genres?

The reason I chose young adult novels (mainly girl power books) is from a children’s literature class I took in college in the late 80s. The teacher set up a two-day assignment up. “Think of a series where a boy/teen is the main character/protagonist.” It was an hour class, and we filled up the chalkboard. (Yes, boys and girls, I am dating myself talking about what we had to put up with in the olden days). Day two, it was the girl’s turn. We tried and tried and only came up with four. (My addition was Nancy Drew from the 60s). That was an AHA moment. That was the teacher’s point. “How is this fair? This is for your generation to figure out.” This stuck with me.

For poetry, it was discovering e. e. cummings, the rule breaker, that did it for me. I was fascinated with him. How could he do this? How is he published? Why did he do this? That last question really sent me on my journey. I researched the man. I read most of his poetry. I found my holy grail, the black sheep of poetry. Your art doesn’t have to fit in a box, follow the rules, or make sense. That was bold and daring. I wanted to be like him. I was inspired to try.

Regarding your Zoey Le Mar series, what can you tell us about the books and about the series? What can we expect to see in these books? What makes them special?

I lovingly refer my books as the Girls of the Traveling Pants adventure in the Harry Potter realm. The specialness is that smart, sassy, multicultural girls are the main characters and deal with the unsuspected reality of magic, mayhem, and monsters. They are female heroines upfront and center, role models if you may. Ready or not, they are tried and tested. They have to figure it out, fight, stay alive, and get back home, relying on themselves and each other. It is gritty and edgy. Their plans work and fail. It is trial and error. The consequences are grave and deadly. It is truly about girl power.

Staying with the Zoey La Mar series a moment, what are your plans for the series? How many books do you have planned for the series? When you think about the series, where would you like to see it go; a TV Series, a movie franchise, or something else?

The plan for the Zoey Le Mar series is to eventually do five books. One for each of the girl’s ethnic heritages and the last one to be a great conclusion to all the magic, mayhem, and monsters. I would love to see it go to a cartoon movie series since I would love to have all the magical effects be main stage and not be cut out or cheap. That is hope one. For hope two, I would love for Peter Jackson to do it like he did for Lord of the Rings. No, I haven’t thought about this at all. LOL!

You also write poetry, which I’ve had a chance to read some, where do you find your voice to write such amazing prose?

I had a hard time expressing my feelings out loud. I internalized them, bottled them up. After a lesson in literature class my freshman year of high school, that teacher suggested that I write. In the early 80s, this was huge. I had an outlet. I channeled my pent up emotional upheaval into prose. Poetry became my diary. Later on in college and beyond, I used writing as therapy, getting it out of my system or to remember a great memory. The energy needed to go somewhere productive and constructive. My voice is the passion that I bring to most of my life. I need to be bold and authentic. Also, I keep these quotes from Eleanor Roosevelt around to push and remind me, “Well behaved women rarely make history,” and “Speak your mind even though your voice shakes.” For me, this means to share my gift even if I am not noticed. I stand up. I make the effort. I do this for me; everyone else is bonus.

When, you’re not writing, I understand you are a teacher, how has teaching affected your writing? Do you find that you are able to pull real life experiences from your students and incorporate them in your stories?

For the children’s book series, I have pulled a lot from my students over the years. My characters come for an amalgam of several student’s personalities, quirks, and mannerisms. Then, of course, I also use the great and invaluable out-of-the-mouth-of-babes nuggets that they say. With the first book, I let some of my students read brief chapters and give me feedback. I listened and tried to do as much as they suggested since they are my audience. I put in dedications for my inspirations and freelancing helpers.

What is something you want readers of your works to take away from your stories? Do you have a message you want them to take away?

With the children’s book series, each book has its individual theme about a character’s heritage. Book one brings the magical and monsters of merry old England. Book two contains atrocities done to Native Americans and their unrest. Books three has an old Chinese myth come to life as well as the New World. These books also included lessons on family relationships, friendship, keeping a secret identity, lying, making hard choices, and fighting for the greater good. The quotes on the cover hint to a theme or lesson. It is really typical preteen and teenage angst. LOL!

From the poetry, it is sharing what I have seen and experienced. How I reacted, dealt, pondered, lived with, and healed from my experiences. It is raw, powerful, humorous, beautiful, and sad. It is love and loss. It is yin and yang. It is life in all its glorious malevolence.

Finally, what do you have coming next? What’s up for Mike Lopez and his writing?

I am trying to finish a third book of poetry. Once I complete that, I will either do a gay amateur detective story or have a go at a gay sci-fi story. 

*** 

Well, that was my interview with author and poet Mike Lopez. A big shout of thanks to Mike for taking the time to join us today. If you have questions for Mike please leave them in the comments and he’ll respond. Check out Mike’s books and don’t forget to find him on social media and keep up to date with everything he’s up to. Until next time I hope you stay safe and have a great week.

About Mike Lopez:

Author Michael Lopez grew up as an Air Force brat and later became an elementary school teacher. Now he taps in those experiences in the first of a planned series of books which puts smart and sassy girls as forefront heroes. Michael drew from his many experiences growing up and teaching to come up with his characters and plot ideas. 

Starting him on this journey, Michael recalled an experience from a college children's literature class that sparked this girl power idea. He was later reminded of that when his students requested more contemporary reading material with girls as main characters. 

Also, Michael Lopez pens romance, heartache, life-lessons, and humor in a pair of raw books of gripping poetry. 

Where to contact Mike Lopez:

 Email Mike here: alldarron@hotmail.com

His website is here.

Find him on Facebook here.

Find his books here.

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Virtual Book Reading

Hello Scribblers and a happy Wednesday to you all. This week, well this last weekend, in case you haven’t heard yet, I was part of a virtual book reading with one of the writers’ groups I belong to; the Bay Area Queer Writers Association (BAQWA). There were six of us reading from our various works. We had a blast.

There was a little something for everyone. We had readings from romance, fantasy, vampires, and even an essay about South Africa. The reading, and our readers were quite the mix.  If you missed it check it out by clicking here.

To learn more about BAQWA and our group of authors click here.

For the virtual book reading I read from my debut novel The Calling. If you would like to view the reading (which I would love) check it out below.

Don’t forget I have several books out right now, not just The Calling. You can find all my works here.

That’s it for this week, I’m keeping it nice and short. Next week I’m having another amazing guest author here for chat so keep an eye open for that. Check out the reading and learn more about the amazing authors from BAQWA and their works. Is there something you would like me to read from for my next book reading? The Calling was requested by a fan, so if there is a book of mine you’d like me to read from let me know in the comments below. Until next time, please stay safe, wear a mask, support each other, and practice social distancing.

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Interview with Author Glenn Quigley

Happy Wednesday everyone this week I want to say a big hello to fellow NineStar Press Author Glenn Quigley who hails all the way from Northern Ireland. As many of you may remember I had Glen on a while ago to talk about his amazing novels the Moth and Moon and the sequel The Lion Lies Waiting, both are fantastic reads find the interview here and pick up the books here.

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Welcome back Glenn. It’s been way to long since we’ve had a nice sit down. Now before we get started please tell everyone about yourself (something not in the bio):

After years of thinking about it but never doing it, I was in the middle of finally learning how to swim when the lockdown happened. So as soon as I can, I’m getting back into a pool and hoping I can remember how to float. 

What have you been doing since the last time you were here?

I’ve finally given in and bought myself an easel for my charcoal drawing and you know what? It’s great. I should have bought one years ago. I held off because I thought it would take up too much room but its fine and makes me feel like a proper artist. Next up, a beret.

I’ve written book three in my Moth and Moon series and I’ve started book four, which is going to be a prequel. So I guess that makes it book zero?

Last time you were here, I mentioned that you were not only a writer but also an artist. Tell us about your art?  When did you start drawing? What was your inspiration? Do you only do graphic design?

I’ve been drawing since I was a very young child. I’m a comicbook fan and my school books were filled with doodles of my own superhero characters. (And eyes. Everyone drew eyes, right?)

My mother is an artist and taught me a lot about painting and encouraged me to pursue art (and writing). We took some art classes together in the local library, too, which led to me having work displayed in the National Gallery in Ireland. I tend to bounce around with different mediums. Currently, it’s charcoal, which I hadn’t used since I was a teenager. I really love it, especially for portraits. My graphic design work these days tends to be mainly t-shirt design for The Moody Bear find them here and I’m currently working on a whole new range in a whole new style, so watch this space. 

Do you do contract art? Say if someone wanted to have you draw their characters from one of their books?

I actually did do some bespoke art for a novelist. I ran a Twitter competition where the prize was to have a character drawn. The winner was Kristin Noone and she chose Oliver from her novel A Prophecy for Two. It was a fun experience and I’d definitely do it again. I take commissions so maybe I should think about reaching out to authors.

Okay, tell us about your writing I know you have your two amazing books out right now, so what’s coming up next? Sequels? New stories? What?

The next book is the third in the series that began with The Moth and Moon and it sees someone getting shipwrecked on the island and revealing some shocking news that sends burly fisherman Robin Shipp on a perilous journey alone across the ocean. I can’t reveal any more at the moment, but it’s the biggest book I’ve written so far and I’m excited to get it out there.

All of your books are more or less historical fantasy, have you thought about a different genre? What genre would you love to write, but you haven’t gotten around to writing in it yet? Or does the idea intimidate you too much? 

I’m a huge sci-fi fan so I think that will be my next genre. I actually had an idea the other night for a story that I’ve been fleshing out. It’s quite an intimidating genre to jump into but I think it could be fun. I think the trick it to tell myself that no one else ever has to read it, so that way I can just relax and get into it.

Last question, what is the one thing you would love readers of you books to be left with? What message do you hope readers will walk with?

I hope that people are left with a sense of what the world could be like if we abandon our prejudices. I hope it makes them see the world a little more kindly.

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Thank you Glenn for coming over and chatting with us today. Check out Glenn’s amazing artwork and don’t forget to read his books. Also find Glenn on social media and keep up to date with everything he is up to. Until next time I hope you stay safe and have a great week. 

About Glenn Quigley:

Glenn Quigley is a graphic designer originally from Dublin and now living in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. He creates bear designs for The Moody Bear (click here). He has been interested in writing since he was a child, as essay writing was the one and only thing he was ever any good at in school. When not writing or designing, he enjoys photography and watercolor painting.

Where to contact Glenn Quigley:

Find him on Twitter here.

Reach him on Facebook here.

Check out his website here.

Where to buy Glenn’s books:

Find them on Amazon here.

Get your copy from Ninestar Press here.

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