Heather Kindt's Blog, page 9

The Weaver is Coming this Fall

Love fantasy? Love romance? Love strong female characters learning about their super powers? Then, you’ll love the Weaver trilogy. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41109363-the-weaver

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Interview with Parliament House Press author, P.S. Malcolm

Today I’m so excited to interview P.S. Malcolm all the way from the Land Down Under. Her new book, Lanterns in the Sky was just released through Parliament House Press.

What inspired you to write Lanterns in the Sky ?

Honestly, I just had this really wild idea about the stars being lanterns in the sky and serving a different, unique purpose. From there, the desire to write about a ‘starlight princess’ wove its way in and here we are!

Tell us more about the book. What is special about it?

Lucy’s
life was normal until a star fell from the sky—now she’s uncovering dark
secrets from her past that threaten everything and everyone she knows.

Lanterns
In The Sky is special because I did a lot of fun things with character conflict
in this story. You’ll find it hard to side with just one character as you
uncover each secret because there’s a big grey area with everyone’s morals and
motivations. Likewise, the characters are complicated, and sometimes even
toxic—making for a more challenging and stake driven story. 

I really wanted to write an unpredictable story where everything you think you know can’t be truly trusted.

That sounds really interesting. I love unpredictable! Which character in your book are you most like? Unlike?

Ooooh, tricky! I’m definitely very similar to Aubany from Stuck On Vacation With Ryan Rupert (we share a short temper and dislike for the ocean), but I share some parallels with Lucy from Lanterns In The Sky too (we’re both tea lovers, a little reserved, but we can shine when we need to). I am least like Savannah from Ryan Rupert—she’s fun but she’s a little too optimistic, whereas I am more of a logical thinker who feels deeper and expects the unexpected.

How long have you been writing? Did you always want to be a writer?

I’ve been writing since I could first pick up a pen—I used to draw pictures before I learned how to write and explain the ‘stories’ through the pictures to people.

A natural born storyteller! Tell us about your writing process. What is the journey from idea to published piece?

I usually get a small, fragmented idea and I’m like “Oooh yes, I want to write about this concept.” The idea has to develop in my head before I can really take it somewhere and this can take anywhere from a week to a couple of months. Once I’ve got enough ‘fuel’, so to speak, I can start writing, and if I stay highly motivated, I can usually push through the first draft fairly quickly. This also depends on the complexity of the story though.

Where do you write?

A couple of different places! Mostly at my desk (I like the stability of a desk and it has to be the right size), but I can also write comfortably in a lounge chair in my living room, or a coffee shop (so long as the music isn’t too loud).

How often do you write? Do you have another job besides being a writer?

I
try to write every week—I used to write in the evenings but now that I run a
business full time (more on that in a second), I’ve found that setting aside
one full day a week works a lot better.

I am also a writing coach and business strategist for fiction authors through Paperback Kingdom—so to summarize, I help aspiring authors write (or just polish) their first book and educate them on publishing, author brands, book marketing, etc. so that they can succeed in their own endeavors.

It sounds like you’re busy! Do you plot out your entire story, or have the characters drive it?

A bit of both! My characters tend to take the lead, but I like to summarize my ‘point’ or ‘goal’ of each chapter beforehand so that they don’t steer me off track.

Do you have a writing goal you want to achieve?

I
have a couple! Baby steps first–I’d like to finish writing The Starlight
Chronicles Series as well as The Ryan Rupert Series. I have some other book
ideas floating around that I’d like to get to as well.

In the grand scheme of things, I’m very ambitious. I’d like to have television series for The Starlight Chronicles, I’d like to make the New York Times Bestseller list, and I’d love to be interviewed on Ellen from an ‘authorpreneur’ standpoint.

You are very ambitious! I think as authors we should have big dreams. What helps you most when it comes to writing?

Physically: Tea. If I don’t have tea, I’ll get up and wander.

Creatively: Music—it’s the best trigger to spark inspiration.

As long as the music’s not too loud–I totally get that one. What does writing success look like for you?

I love this question! Writing success to me is to have finished writing every burning book idea I currently have (though I’m sure more will follow me into my later years). It would also mean happy readers who are genuinely impacted by my work in some way. I’d feel very accomplished to have these two achievements under my belt.

Who, or what inspired you to be a writer?

I think my earliest inspiration was J. K. Rowling (which I’m sure doesn’t surprise many people—she’s very influential). Even though I enjoyed many different books growing up and enjoyed the writing process, she really painted a picture of ‘success’ for me and that definitely drove me to pursue writing as a career because she made it seem stable and possible.

Which book have you read that has had the most impact on you? Why?

Oh my goodness. There are tons of books, I can’t pick just one! Let’s narrow it down to two:

Splintered by A. G. Howard. She makes me feel all the things with her writing—every time I read her books, I’m constantly blown away by how imaginative she can be and how attached I get to her characters. Divergent by Veronica Roth. I distinctly remember reading this book and I wasn’t able to see the romance coming until it hit—the way it developed smacked me in the face and it was just so well done. This really intrigued me because I seemed to fall into it all at once. And the last book in this series is one of the only books I’ve ever read that has made me cry—I was a mess for days afterwards

How do you feel about critiques?

I love critiques! I do get an initial feeling of ‘resistance’ (which I think is natural when taking on any criticism) but I am genuinely indebted to my beta readers and editors. I have a lot of trust for them to pick up on things that I’m simply too close to the manuscript to see by myself, and a fresh perspective is always helpful to have.

That’s an amazing attitude for growth! Do you have a favorite review of your book? Can you share why you like it?

I
don’t have any reviews for Lanterns In The Sky (yet) but I can share a review
for Ryan Rupert! I really loved this review because the reader seemed to really
connect with the kind of story I was trying to share:

“I loved this book so much. YA romance readers will love this book because it is not just a typical love story, (I mean, the plot twists) it is engaging plus the characters are relatable.” The full review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2206874902?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

What is the best piece of writing advice that someone has given you?

“What’s the worst thing that could happen next? Do that.”

I love it! Sounds like my husband’s advice, “Have you killed someone lately?” What else do you like to do besides writing?

Drink
tea, pet cats (even stray cats—I will chase
them down), play video games, read books, and go on grocery shopping dates with
my boyfriend. Boring, right?

I’m also very ambitious so a lot of my spare time is spent running and building Paperback Kingdom—I hardly consider it a job because I get so much genuine enjoyment from it and have the most amazing clients!

I’ll have to look into the Paperback Kingdom! How can your fans connect with you?

They
can find me at the following places:

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorPM/

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/PaganMalcolm

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p.s.malcolm/

Website: https://psmalcolm.com/

P.S.Malcolm (Pagan) grew up in Proserpine, Queensland— a small, Australian country town on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. She was a storyteller from a young age and spent years perfecting her craft.

For two years, she juggled waitressing in tourist filled coffee shops while undertaking two degrees in Creative Writing online— one specializing in children’s fiction and publishing. She has always had an interest in writing, but never saw herself working in the industry until she made the choice to self-publish her debut novel, STUCK ON VACATION WITH RYAN RUPERT. Realizing that she loved the process of publishing her book, she pursued an internship at a publishing house and snagged a spot as Pen Name Publishing’s Marketing Assistant Intern.

In between interning and writing, Pagan opened her first business working as a freelance Marketing Strategist for Paperback Kingdom— which helps indie authors with all aspects of their author careers.

Pagan is a cat enthusiast, tea lover, and floral fanatic. She keeps a well-stocked tea collection, and one of her favourite past times is rocking up to a cozy teashop in a worn pair of jeans and writing a few pages of prose. If the ‘florals’ weren’t a dead giveaway, she’s a proud Hufflepuff and is crazy about the colour yellow.

Pagan also enjoys reading— particularly fantasy and paranormal— and is a passionate blogger. She reviews books that she has read on her personal website, and indie books on her business blog. Some of her favourite and most influential authors include Amanda Gernentz Hanson, A.G. Howard, Marissa Meyer and Michele Jaffe.

I hope you enjoyed my interview with Pagan today. If you are an author and would like to be interviewed on my site, please contact me.

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Seeing Your Dream as a Reality

The Weaver is the first book in my Weaver trilogy set to be released this August through Parliament House Press. I began work on The Weaver eleven years ago. I was 33 years old and a mother of two young children. I’d just finished my masters degree and was drawn to create a new world through inspiration. At the time I read the Twilight series and the Hunger Games when my kids were napping or in bed for the night.

My goal was to write a book that I loved so much that the readers were bound to love it, too. The first book in the series is a love story. The series grows into much more and becomes a universe of its own, but it is still built on Laney’s love for William.

Aislynn Honeycutt, another Parliament House Press author, created this drawing based off how I pictured my main characters. It is so special to me because it means a lot to see your characters in a real way, not just what you picture in your head. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to have a movie made of one of your books.

Most writers choose the endings to their stories . . . most writers are not Weavers.
Laney Holden is a freshman at Madison College whose life goes from normal to paranormal in a matter of seconds. When the antagonist in the book she’s writing, shoves her down the stairs at the subway station she learns she is a Weaver. Weavers bridge the narrow gap between fantasy and reality, bringing their words to life.
Laney soon meets William whom she also suspects is a character from her book—one she’s had a mad crush on since her pen hit the paper. But he’s in danger as her antagonist reveals a whole different ending planned for Laney’s book that involves killing William. Laney must use her writing to save the people closest to her by weaving the most difficult words she will ever write.

Sign up to let me know you are excited to read The Weaver on Goodreads. I can’t wait to share the Weaver world with you!

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Interview with Author, Nick Vossen

My interview today is with fellow Dark Visions author, Nick Vossen. His novel, The Eldritch Twins has been described as a delightfully weird, fast-paced adventure. Sounds intriguing to me!

What inspired you to write the Eldritch Twins?

I’ve had this idea in my head for a very long time to write a full-length novel which had a distinct Lovecraftian feel about it. I wanted it to have all the popular “cosmic horror” tropes, but I also felt like that genre has so many tropes that are overdone and too ‘serious’ in my mind that I wanted to do it differently. So I blended it with lighthearted humor, while still hanging onto that familiar feeling of existential dread that comes with it.

Tell us more about the Eldritch Twins. What is special about it?

Oh I kind of already answered this in the previous question now, didn’t I? Well, what’s special about The Eldritch Twins though is that it’s my first ‘full length’ work, a true to heart novel and thus the biggest piece of consecutive writing I’ve done up to now.

Which character in your book are you most like?

I kind of modeled Quincy Swansong a bit after myself. Skeptical, careful and a real over-thinker. But more than anything, a genuine caring person.

That really is special! I remember holding Ruby Slips in my hands for the first time. How long have you been writing? Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve been writing and daydreaming stories for as long as I can remember. But it’s only been a couple of years ago that, thanks to the heartfelt support of a good friend, I’ve really started to develop it and started submitted short fiction to several publishers.

Tell us about your writing process. What’s the journey from draft to published piece?

This actually varies a lot for me. Sometimes when I aim to write a piece of short fiction and I have a certain idea in mind, I could technically have it done in two to three sessions, ready to send to a publisher. Other times, such as with The Eldritch Twins, so much can change between starting the work and finishing it, the first drafts are nearly unrecognizable. The one thing I hold onto however, is that I try to write as much as possible, get the story flowing as it were, and I worry about grammar, syntax, sentence structure etc later. I can change how something is written, but if I have a good idea for the story, I have to get it down asap.

Where do you write?

I have an office with a desktop PC where I do a lot of writing, but I also have a 11” laptop which is ideal to take with me and jot something down on really quick if the inspiration hits.

Do you have a writing goal you want to achieve?

My dream was to write and publish a novel. So you might say I’ve succeeded in that already. I had my doubts when it came to self-publishing because I felt it lacked the recognition a writer must obtain in order to get something published. For now, I simply wish that the book is enjoyed by as many people as possible, and I’d love to hear what people think about it. I’m not in it for the money, but I’d love to have created something that people could talk about with a genuine passion. That’s probably the real dream right there!

How do you feel about critiques?

Sure, bring them on! As long as they are fair and well thought out. Telling me my character sucks isn’t helping me, but telling me my character wasn’t well fleshed out because of “X” and “Y” reasons, now that’s something I can work with and improve upon in the future, and I welcome it!

It is amazing to imagine other people reading what you wrote. I remember getting my first review that wasn’t from a family member or friend and being over the moon. Do you have a favorite review of your book? Can you share why you liked it?

Not many reviews have poured in yet. But one reviewer called the book “A delightfully weird, fast-paced adventure.” I mean what bigger compliment is there to get? It describes the exact feeling I wanted to invoke with the book!

That’s awesome! What helps you most when it comes to writing?

From a creative point, I sometimes like to read dialogue out loud in my office to see if it flows naturally. Also I read a lot of books myself, watch TV-series and films and the like. Not to plagiarize of course, but to get inspiration from it. I think every great piece of work, be it music, film, theater, a book or anything else, has to have drawn inspiration from somewhere.
From a practical point; I write better when I have a clear mind. So being well-fed and well-rested helps

Interview with Parliament House Press Author, Marlena Frank

My interview today is with Marlena Frank, the author of the YA fantasy book Stolen. It is the first book in the Stolen series.

This site contains affiliate links.

Thanks for spending time with me today, Marlena. Your cover is beautiful! What inspired you to write your latest work?

I first started brainstorming scenes back in 2012, a year after I had read Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland for the first time. The book stuck with me, but the style and the world stuck with me more. I wrote a short piece for a photo prompt on Livejournal, and years later I decided to expand on it. That led to Stolen’s first draft being born. It was very rough and not the kind of book I wanted, so I ended up scrapping it and rewriting the whole thing.

That must have been difficult! When you write a book, you feel like it’s your child. Which characters in your book are you most like? Unlike?

Oh my goodness, there’s a little piece of me in all of my characters! Each one has a part of me, even the “bad guys”. I really can’t choose one that’s the most like me.

How long have you been writing? Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

I have been writing stories since I was in elementary school. I tried writing an original action story once (I loved watching action films) about two guys getting into a fistfight in a men’s restroom, very film noir style. It was written out in green gel pen and my Aunt asked how I knew that alcohol burned when you drank it. I had just read a lot of books and watched a lot of movies I guess.
I wrote a bunch of fanfiction when I was younger, and didn’t think I would ever be a good enough writer to write my own original novel. So instead I went and got my Bachelors in Computer Science and currently work in IT as my day job. However as I settled in to the daily work, I got that writing itch again and had to go back to it.

I understand that. I’m a teacher by day, writer by night. Tell us about your writing process. What is the journey from idea to published piece?

A good amount of my ideas come from dreams. I keep a journal by the bed just in case I get a great idea and have to write it down in the middle of the night. If it really sticks with me, then my brain will start building a world around the scene I dreamed about, and then I put it down into my bullet journal for future plans. If not from dreams, they usually come from story prompts. Either pieces that I think are going to be short stories and then end up far longer (like The She-Wolf of Kanta), or from photo prompts that end up being completely different than how they started (like Stolen).

I was never inspired by a dream, but I talk things out with the twenty-one year old who lives in my basement. He has great ideas! I don’t write in my basement, he comes up and hashes out ideas. Where do you do your writing?

Wherever I can setup my laptop! If I can squeeze in a few minutes of free time, I’ll try to get some writing in. Sometimes I’ll sprawl out on the bed or on the couch. Sometimes I’ll go out to the library or to Panera, anyplace that has Wi-Fi since I store everything in the cloud. A good chunk of Stolen was actually written in our local Starbucks – both drafts. I put on headphones, sipped my hot tea, and the words just flowed. It’s great because unlike at home, I don’t get distracted by needing to clean or from needy cats.

Do you have a writing goal you want to achieve?

I would love to be an author full-time. Even though this is my first novel, it’s been difficult balancing my author life as its own job in addition to my day job. I think that’s a pretty common goal for most authors though. It’s much more fun creating worlds and crafting characters.

I am with you there. What helps you most when it comes to writing?

My writing playlists for my books are very helpful with figuring out plots and knowing where the story will go next. When I commute I often put those playlists on repeat to help me figure a scene out – especially the really intense, emotional scenes. Those I have to really feel all sides in order to portray them properly.

Who, or what inspired you to be a writer?

I grew up surrounded by books. My parents were avid readers, and my mom in particular loved horror books. She read just about every Stephen King book there was, and I got really used to seeing the horror book covers scattered around the house. We also watched a lot of B horror movies and monster films. I was a total scaredy cat as a child, but I grew to appreciate it more when I got older. When I was in elementary school, I put on a puppet show with popsicle sticks and everything. I participated in a poetry recitation contest and was chosen to read books aloud to various classes. I remember writing a five-paragraph essay in 5th grade comparing the Dragon and the Unicorn. It was framed and put up in my bedroom because my teacher was so impressed with my writing. Despite all this though, it just never really occurred to me to become a writer. I just enjoyed it as a pastime and never really thought I could do it professionally.

I was inspired in elementary school by being asked to be in the writer’s club, but I didn’t start writing until I was in my thirties. How do you feel about critiques? Eh, or bring them on!

I have no problems with critiques. I think there is no such thing as a perfect story. A complex novel can have so much depth and detail to it that there are bound to be some flaws, but also I enjoy seeing the depth that my readers see in my work. I like to be just a fly on the wall listening to folks consider the different angles of my books. It’s one of the best parts of being an author to me.

Do you have a favorite review of your book? Can you share why you liked it?

I know Stolen has only been out for a couple of weeks, but one of the best reviews I’ve seen for it so far was by Celia on Amazon. She praised that it was led by a PoC protagonist, but also commented on the diversity throughout the book. One of the lines that nearly made me cry when I read it was, “What I loved is that each character is not identified by their race or sexual orientation, but by their strengths and heart.” I worked very hard to portray this in the book, and I felt so indescribably happy to hear that it was not only seen, but appreciated. As an author, that is perhaps one of the highest praises because you know that you’ve made a positive impact.

How often do you write? Tell us more about your IT specialist job.

I write whenever I can find the time. I prefer
to write on weekends because that’s when I usually get long stretches of downtime
to be able to do writing, or I can put aside a few hours to visit a local
coffee shop. Sometimes I’m jotting down ideas in my journal after my work
commute, sometimes I’m knocking out words at 1 AM, it all depends on when the
inspiration hits.

And yes, I do have a job outside of writing! I work as an IT specialist at a local university. I assist research groups in security compliance and assist with solving their various & unique IT problems.

Do you plot out your entire story, or have the characters drive it?

I have milestones I aim for when I’m writing, but usually I let the characters drive the storyline. I just reel them back in when they wander out too far. Sometimes I’ll outline just the first few chapters, fully expecting to go off the rails at some point. Sometimes I’ll hit a very intense scene and need to outline it so that I can get the perspectives straight. But mostly, I definitely let the characters drive, and I buckle in for safety.

Which book have you read has had the most impact on you?

I think I’ve stated this before, but Tolkien’s The Hobbit had a huge impact on me as a child. I read that book and watched the Rankin/Bass Hobbit movie so many times that I sang along to the songs. It was a huge influence on me and I frequently see glimmers of it in my writing.

What’s the best piece of writing advice that someone has given you?

Don’t give up! If writing is something that you find yourself coming back to again and again, then you’ve got the motivation and the creative spark to tell a story. It’s a difficult uphill battle to get a book written, let alone get it published. Even if all the odds are against you, tell your story and share it with the world. It breaks my heart to hear of fascinating books that were written only to waste away in a drawer. If you love your story that much, then others are bound to love it too.

What is a little known fact about you?

When I was younger, before that poetry recital I mentioned earlier, I had to attend speech therapy class. My R’s sounded like “ahs”, and I had a hard time making the sound. Trying to say a word like ‘rural’ properly was incredibly difficult for me. I felt very self-conscious whenever I had to say a word with a strong ‘r’ like ‘rose’. I was already shy, and although the speech therapy helped, knowing that I sounded strange made me even more quiet as a child.

What else do you like to do besides writing?

Outside of writing, I’m an active member of the Atlanta cosplay community. I attend a number of anime and comic conventions in the area, and my cosplay group and I do regular panels, photoshoots, cosplay music videos, and skits. If you’re interested in the kind of cosplay I do (from Undertaker in Black Butler, to Remus Lupin from Harry Potter, to Scarecrow from Batman), we post our work to Instagram at @BlackKnightProductionsCosplay.

Marlena Frank has always been fascinated with monsters, and now gets to write about them. She has been writing spooky and fantastic stories since 2010 and has had her short stories published in a number of anthologies, from Heroic Fantasy Quarterly to The Sirens Call.

Her YA Dark Fantasy novella, The She-Wolf of Kanta, was released in April 2018 from Radiant Crown Publishing, now known as Aurelia Leo. Her debut novel, Stolen, book one of a three-part YA Fantasy series, came out January 2019 from The Parliament House Press, and on release day became an Amazon Bestseller in a YA category. When she isn’t thinking up strange tales, she’s an active member in the Atlanta cosplay community and the Atlanta Horror Writers Association Chapter.
Follow her at http://MarlenaFrankAuthor.com

You can purchase Stolen or The She-Wolf of Kanta through Amazon.

Are you an author? Connect with me if you’d like to be interviewed.

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It’s Giveaway Time!

My interview today is with Martin Niewood, author of the newly released YA fantasy novel The Wilted Flower District. It is the second installment in the Forgotten Violets series. One of my lucky subscribers will receive a free copy of the book, so make sure you sign up for my email list today.

Tell us what The Wilted Flower District is all about.

Martin Niewood: The Wilted Flower District is the story of Violet Noone who at sixteen is thrown into a world of deception and betrayal when her sister, Ophelia, missing and presumed dead for the last four years, suddenly reenters her life. The story takes place in a fantastical world of the Domain also known as the afterlife. Ophelia’s reappearance sends Violet down a rabbit hole causing her to question everything in her life. The book is a fun mystery in an unusual setting that will hopefully force readers to question things about their lives and may provide some unexpected answers.

This is the second book in your Forgotten Violets series. How do the books relate and can they be read as stand alones or do you need to go in order?

Niewood: The books are connected through the Noone family with Forgotten Violets being seen through Meadow Noone’s eyes and the sequel, The Wilted Flower District, experienced through the point of view of her daughter, Violet. With that said because of the gap in time between the first and second book it allows the reader to experience each book as a stand alone with a light connection attaching the two books together. There is no need to read the books in order as the reader will completely understand the events of both novels, regardless of the order in which they are read.

Your books provide a “non-traditional view of the afterlife.” What does that mean, and what can readers expect?

Niewood: I think that when people ponder about the universe and the afterlife they have a cemented image of what happens after you die. One of the great things about The Wilted Flower District is that it causes the reader to question those beliefs and gives you a fantastical world where anything is possible. Let’s face it, the only thing that any of us really know about death and an afterlife is that eventually we all have to face it and face it alone. Of course, not everyone believes in the hereafter but many take comfort in the existence of another dimension, which I call the Domain that allows our spirits to continue to grow after death. In The Wilted Flower District, I tried to create a world in which the protagonist, Violet, is able to face challenges that allow her to confront her shortcomings and develop her strengths. 

What relevance does The Wilted Flower District have to teens today? 

Niewood: I think that the beauty of The Wilted Flower District is that it allows the reader to focus on the important things in life. The Domain is a world filled with negativity and adversity that mirrors our own while simultaneously offering the hope that regardless of what happens in life, you need to keep moving forward. Many of Violet’s challenges are shared by teens today. Although most teens don’t encounter siblings that they believed to be dead or be stand accused of horrific murders, all teens do face situations in which their core beliefs are challenged and they feel misjudged by adults. Like Violet, teens are apt to keep secrets from their parents and experience feelings of exclusion when she unravels her brother’s lies. The teen years can be very confusing but somehow like Violet, we survive the angst and insecurities and emerge, hopefully, as better people.

What inspired you to write The Wilted Flower District in first person?

Niewood: I thought the best way to experience the massive and unusual world of the Domain and specifically the city of Fairhaven where the story takes place was through Violet’s eyes. I believed that the audience would develop a deeper connection with Violet if they could experience the crazy and mysterious events through Violet rather than from an omniscient third person point of view. Since this is a mystery, I wanted to limit what the reader knew to what Violet knew or thought that she knew. 

Although you stayed in first person, why did you change from Meadow’s to Violet’s point of view?

Niewood: After I had written Forgotten Violets, my initial thought was to continue with Meadow’s journey in the Domain. However, when I sat down and started thinking about it Fairhaven had modernized into a very different world and in order for the story to work in this new city, there had to be a large time gap in my story. By then, Meadow would have been too old to serve as the protagonist in a YA novel, so I decided to tell the story through the eyes of her daughter, Violet. For the Forgotten Violet series, this also allowed me to expand my worldview and for future books to delve into the mystery of Meadow’s disappearance.

What do you want the reader to take away from this story?

Niewood: The thing that I want readers, especially teens, to take away from this story is to believe in yourself because we each shape our own reality and control our own destinies. Today’s world is filled with hate and negativity but I believe that Violet can show people that if you remain positive and believe in yourself you can accomplish whatever you can dream. There is no denying that indifference and greed permeate our world but each of us has the power to transform our environment positively with determination and kindness.

MARTIN NIEWOOD lives just outside of Philadelphia where he is a full-time writer. He attended Johnson & Wales University before moving to Los Angeles to work in the talent industry. An avid sports fan, Niewood loves all Philadelphia teams but especially the Eagles. His writing partner is his dog, Mattie. 

Connect with Niewood on  Twitter  and  Instagram  and at  www.martinniewood.com

The Wilted Flower District is available on Amazon and in select brick-and-mortar retailers, but you can also win your own copy right here by signing up for my email list!

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Interview with Parliament House Press Author, Candace Robinson

Candace Robinson’s new adult urban fantasy novel Clouded by Envy is set to be released February 19th. Today, I’m excited to chat with her and learn all about her literary world. ad

What inspired your latest work?

I have this companion book coming out in the fall titled, Veiled by Desire where humans had come to this world, Laith, hundreds of years ago. I sat there thinking, well, how did they get there? So the idea for Clouded by Envy formed with me drawing inspiration from The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dracula, and a bit of whimsical. Oh, and it’s primarily set in 1995! Yay!

Based on your description, I wouldn’t have guessed 1995. It sounds interesting!  Thinking about your writing process, do you plot your whole story, or do you let your characters drive it?

All my books are very character driven. I just love hoping to have people remember the characters more than anything!

Who, or what inspired you to be a writer?

My kid. I feel like she believes in me more than I do myself at times.

It is so important to have your cheerleaders. I can’t get my kids to read my books, but my husband and author friend, Dan Alatorre, keep me inspired. How long have you been writing? Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve been writing books since October 2016. I knew I wanted to write senior year of high school which is a while back now. But for some reason I just kept putting it off and felt as if life kept getting in the way. Finally, one day, I was like, let’s freaking do this, Candace!

That’s awesome. I had two books sit on my computer for 10 years. Tell us about your writing process. What’s the journey from idea to published piece?

I don’t do outlines. It gives me writer’s block and too many things change along the way. So I write basic scenes down and get to writing. When I go through second draft, that’s when I really piece things together or subtract stuff! It’s basically like twisting a Rubik’s Cube for a while!

I haven’t tried to outline, but my husband really wants me to. Maybe it would strengthen my writing, or maybe not. Where do you twist your Rubik’s cube, I mean, write your books?

I have an office connected to my bedroom. It’s pretty much the only place I can write. Noise definitely sets me off track as well!

I also teach 4th grade full time, so I always say to my students, “I know I need quiet to write, so I’m not sure how your talking and writing at the same time.” Grin. Do you have a writing goal you want to achieve from your quiet office?

I really want to one day see my book at Barnes & Noble. I don’t care about hitting any lists or anything like that. It would just be so cool to see my book on one of their shelves!

I think as writers, we see making it to the B&N bookshelf as truly “making it.” Besides being in the bookstore, what does writing success look like for you?

Getting draft one finished is the best feeling in the world and probably my favorite to know I have the bones down!

That’s a huge achievement. I’m pages away from finishing the last book in my Weaver  trilogy and I feel like I’m dragging my feet because it’s also kind of sad to finish something I started over ten years ago. What helps you with writing when your in a standstill like me?

When I’m at a standstill, I bust out the metal Slinky and think, gather my thoughts, gather inspiration, and string those crazy things together!

Maybe I’ll have to try that! Or my son’s Rubik’s cube. What are you working on now?

I’m working on a co-author sci-fi project with Gerardo Delgadillo, some short stories, and a companion for an unpublished book!

What is a book that you have read that has a huge impact on you? Why?

Back in high school, I hadn’t read in a long time. The last time had probably been Goosebumps or Fear Street books by R.L. Stine. But I remember picking up the book 1984 and just falling in love with it and it really made me think about the world!

I think we’re all required to read that one! What is another little known fact about you?

I love to drink the Taco Bell cheese sauce out of the container.

Is that as bad as heating raw cookie dough in the microwave? Yeah, I might have done that in college. What else do you do besides writing?

I read a lot! Books give me the best escape from the world!

Thank you Candace for an amazing interview. Good luck with your book launch on February 19th. I know we’re all excited to read Clouded by Envy. If you would like to be interviewed, please contact me.

Bio: Candace Robinson spends her days consumed by words. When she’s not writing stories, she maintains a book review blog. Her life consists of avoiding migraines, admiring Bonsai trees, and living with her husband and daughter in Texas—where it can be forty degrees one day and eighty the next.

Purchase Clouded by Envy.

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37654382-clouded-by-envy?from_search=true

Purchase Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault.

Connect with Candace:

Website: http://authorcandacerobinson.wordpress.com

Blog: http://literarydust.wordpress.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/literarydust 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/literarydust/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/literarydust

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Interview with Amber R. Duell, Author of Dream Keepers

Parliament House Press has released another book! This time it is Dream Keepers by Amber R. Duell. I’m excited to bring this interview with her today.

What inspired you to write Dream Keeper?

My then-5-year-old wouldn’t go to sleep so I told him I would call the Sandman, haha!

Which character in your book are you most like? Unlike?

If we’re talking Dream Keeper by itself instead of the trilogy as a whole, I’m most like Katie (Nora’s sister) and most unlike Nora’s mom.

Nora



Sandman



Weaver

How long have you been writing? Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

I always liked writing but everyone made it seem like a silly hobby, so I didn’t really take it seriously until I was about 23. Tell us about your writing process. What is the journey from idea to a published piece?

Tell us about your writing process. What is the journey from an idea to a published piece?

The idea usually starts with the main character and the overall idea with 2-3 scenes. I flesh it out a little, then just go for it, leaving my first drafts 20-30k words. With so much editing, I do it in layers.

I’m interested in what you mean by layers . . . where do you usually do your writing?

Usually at home after the kids go to bed.

Do you have a writing goal you want to achieve?

Not sure if
this counts, but I would die if someone ever got a tattoo based on one of my
books.

That never crossed my mind, but it would be crazy. How do you feel about critiques? Eh, or bring them on?

I LOVE them! As scary as they are, as long as it’s constructive, it’s so helpful. Watching a story change for the better is always the best feeling.

You sometimes have to develop thick skin, but they do help! Make sure you pick up your copy of Dream Keepers through Parliament House Press or Amazon and check out Amber’s other books.

Bio: Amber R. Duell was born and raised in a small town in Central New York. While it will always be home, she’s constantly moving with her husband and two sons as a military wife. Before becoming published, she had a wide range of occupations including banking, bartending (though she’s never tried alcohol), and phlebotomy (though she faints with needles). She also volunteered as a re-enactor at the local Revolutionary War fort and worked near shelter cats which led to her previous crazy cat lady status.

She does her best writing in the middle of the night, surviving the daylight hours with massive amounts of caffeine. Her favorite stories are dark with a touch of romance and a villain you either love to hate or hate to love.

 When not reading or writing, she enjoys snowboarding, embroidering, snuggling with her cat, and staying up way too late to research genealogy. She loves to travel and has visited more countries than states. Kissing the Blarney Stone and hand-feeding monkeys in the mountains of France will be hard to beat, but that doesn’t stop her from trying to find the next real-life adventure.

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Interview with Author, Sarah Lampkin

I am thrilled to sit down today with Parliament House Press author Sarah Lampkin. Her new book To Dream is to Die was released on January 8th. Check it out here.

Your new book is beautiful! What inspired you to write To Dream is to Die ?

What truly inspired me to write the Dead Dreamer series would probably be the spirits that haunt my childhood home. You read that right, my home was haunted when I was growing up. They’re still there too! Three Civil War spirits that have been there my entire life. Knowing they were there, I’ve always wanted to put names to the voices and faces. So I used the Dead Dreamer series to do it!

Wow! Ghosts! Very creepy. Which character in your book are you most like?

Brenna. My family and friends all know I’m Brenna. She’s just a blunt version of me. And slightly more dead.

Do you have a favorite review of your book? Can you share why you liked it?

A review by
Book-o-Craze said:

“Brenna is a strong heroine, with lots of sarcasm and attitude, but not in an over-the-top and annoying way. She is very proud and doesn’t like asking for help. In other words? If you’re looking for a heroine that is no damsel in distress, look no further. This is the book for you.”

How long have you been writing? Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve actually been writing for only twelve years. Growing up, I hated reading, or anything related to it. So being a writer was never on my radar. Only in middle school did I finally fall in love with the art of storytelling and from then on, I started to dabble in it. Honestly, I’m still shocked I am a writer. I never thought this is where I would end up, but I just couldn’t stop writing. After my first story, I was addicted.

I think middle school is pretty early on. I started at thirty. Tell us about your writing process. What is the journey from idea to a published piece?

I am what you would call a pantser. I’ll start writing whatever idea has come into my head and just watch the movie play out in my head. Only after I’ve written at least half of a story will I start to plot and actually organize my thoughts. It can be a bit chaotic. It will take me a while to formally organize everything for publication, but ultimately, the journey is worth it.

Totally get the pantser thing. I don’t want to limit my characters. Where do you do your writing?

I’ll mostly do my writing in my own home. You can either find me in my office, on the couch, or at my kitchen table. Sometimes, I’ll just be laying on the floor while writing. It all depends.

Do you have a writing goal you want to achieve?

One of my dreams would be to have a piece published by HarperCollins. My main reason for that is one of my writing idols was published through them, and also because that is my goddaughter’s name: Harper.

What helps you most when it comes to writing?

Research! I absolutely LOVE research! I can be lost in my research books for hours or the bottomless pit of the internet.

That’s motivation. I have to research for my books, but it’s a struggle sometimes. What does writing success look like for you?

I’m honestly not entirely sure. Just getting a piece published is a success for anyone! Personally, I guess it would be when a piece of writing is optioned for media, whether it be for film or television.

That would be amazing! I have a dream that Ruby Slips and Poker Chips will be turned into a rock opera set to Bon Jovi music, but I’m a little crazy sometimes. What are you working on now?

I’m currently editing the sequel and writing the fourth book in the Dead Dreamer series, along with a few other projects.

Who, or what inspired you to be a writer?

Lynne Ewing. Her books were the first I ever read and truly enjoyed. Not only that, but when I was in middle school, I wrote her a fan letter and she wrote me back! Ten years later, and we’re still pen pals! We don’t write as often, but I’ll still becoming very excited when I receive a letter from her. It makes my day!

That’s awesome! How do you feel about critiques? Eh, or bring them on!

Bring them on! I want to see critiques because I want to improve my work. There are days when it really brings me down to see my work torn apart, but I know in the long run, it will be very helpful.

How often do you write? Do you have another job besides being a writer?

I don’t write as often as I’d like. I’m a technical writer for a government contractor by day, so my days are spent hunched over a computer working on technical documents. So, there are days when I get home and don’t have the mental capacity to write anymore. Or the energy to sit up at a computer anymore. I just write whenever I have the energy.

I’m a teacher, so I totally get the lack of energy at the end of the day. Do you plot out your entire story, or have the characters drive it?

Totally character driven. I’ll start to plot here and there, but my characters could always change direction on me. Most of the time I know the end goal, but how I get there always shifts.

Which book that you have read has had the most impact on you? Why?

The Daughters of the Moon series by Lynne Ewing. Those were the books that first introduced me to the joy of reading/writing.

What’s the best piece of writing advice that someone has given you?

Don’t take negative reviews to heart. Not everyone will love your work. There will always be haters.

What is a little known fact about you?

I suffer from chronic back pain and ADHD. Those things combined can make writing extremely difficult for me. I’ll have days where I can’t get comfortable when writing and I just have to give up. And there will be days I just can’t keep focus. It will feel impossible! I’ll go days without writing because my body just rejects it. But I always meet my deadlines! I’m all about the deadlines.

What else do you like to do besides writing?

I am a complete gym rat and gamer. I’ll go to the gym for two hours before work every morning and in the evening,  I’ll try to get a little bit of gaming in to decompress. I can’t game as long as I used to thanks to the aches and pains, but I certainly try!

Sarah Lampkin is a New Adult fiction writer with works that focus on sci-fi, fantasy, and romance. Sarah spends her days working as a technical writer while collecting trophies in video games, and trying to read with her cat constantly climbing on her books. She currently resides in Virginia with her friends and family. And of course, Fox.

Looking forward to more great things from Sarah Lampkin! Leave your comments for her below.

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My Journey – What do you do when you get discouraged?

What writer hasn’t been there? Rejection. Today I’m going to lay it all out there because you know you’re not alone. You work really hard on a query letter, maybe harder than you’ve worked on your book, only to receive an email or letter that says:

“We have reviewed your query and will have to pass at this time. It’s just not right for us, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be a good fit for someone else.”

Oh, really? Can you possibly direct me to that someone else? You know what I mean. I received many letters like this from literary agents and I’m sure if your a writer who’s taken the plunge, you have, too.

But don’t give up! I listen to way too many self-improvement podcasts to tell you otherwise. It’s the writers who keep going, that never lay down their pen or keyboard that make it. I did give up many years ago because I had a good job and my self-confidence was shot. Maybe you’ve been there.

So, what advice do I have that’s real and practical?

Keep writing – My current book and the one I have coming out in the fall were written ten years ago. I’ve learned a lot in that time period about writing and about life. Your writing has to evolve with you. It’s an extension of who you are.Surround yourself with other authors – My first connection with another real-life author was at the school I taught at five years ago. She connected me with another network of authors. Now that I have a publisher for my second book, I’m connecting with other authors under that label. I’ve even interviewed a couple of them on my blog to help promote them.Get help from people who’ve been where you are-In self-publishing my first book, Ruby Slips and Poker Chips, I had an author friend who had self-published many books hold my hand through the process. When I was beating my head against the wall trying to start a blog, another author friend walked me through the steps on Facebook messenger. Right now, marketing is my devil, so I’ve hired someone to help me make it out alive. Expand your horizons-Author introvert types like us only want to sit around for hours getting lost in the story we’re telling. Believe me, I totally get this. But you will never move beyond where you are now unless you push your boundaries and move out of your comfort zone. My husband and I have started a travel blog and even though it wasn’t intentional, it is pushing me. My Travel Life Story was created as a way for us to combine our talents – my writing and his photography. The scariest part is we’ve started a YouTube channel which makes me want to crawl under a rock.



www.mytravelifestory.com

I know it’s tempting to give up and tell yourself it’s not in the cards. How in the world am I supposed to share my story with a total stranger when I can’t even share it with my best friend? You’ve got to fail and you have to be criticized before you can pick yourself up and keep going.

The way I made it through this review: “I got this as a freebie, and I did finish reading it, but I removed the book from my Kindle afterward, as this won’t be anything I would ever read or refer to again. The story was completely unrealistic and the characters were not particularly likeable. The general concept of reimagining the story of the Wizard of Oz in modern-day America was promising, but the execution disappointed. Sorry!”

Was by getting 43 reviews like this: “This was a fun book to read with the references to the Wizard of Oz. That alone made me want to keep reading to see what the next Wizard of Oz reference was going to be and how it would play out in the story! A well-written book with a fun plot. A must-read for sure. You won’t be disappointed!”

When have you wanted to give up? What kept you going? Make sure you subscribe to my page and check out our travel blog.

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