Amber Polo's Blog, page 18

Why I Write Fantasy - Vonnie Winslow Crist

Welcome Vonnie Winslow Crist, fantasy author artist, and friend of fairies.
Amber: Why do you write fantasy? Vonnie: First of all – it's fun to write. Secondly, writing is a form of communication. I send out a message, and hope beyond hope, that there are people out there who read my stories and poems, and say: "Yes! I've felt that way before." or "Wow! I want to be a part of that world." or maybe even, "Thank you. Your words were just what I needed on a bleak day." In my new collection of fantasy stories, The Greener Forest, I hope readers will not only have fun reading the tales, but maybe look around themselves and spot the places where the world of Faerie might leak into their day-to-day lives. Speaking of fun, here's a link to a   FREE Greener Forest maze I drew. 
Amber: How do you find fairies? Vonnie: Here's a peek at a poem that gives directions on how to findFaerie creatures – it was used to introduce the stories in The Greener Forest:  And here's a link to "Angels," one of the stories in the book.
Amber: What are your favorite fantasy novels?Vonnie: The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and other books by JRR Tolkien; The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis; Anne McCaffrey's The Dragonriders of Pern books; Neverwhere, Stardust, and other books by Neil Gaiman; the Shannara series by Terry Brooks; JK Rowling's Harry Potter books; The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins... I could list many more. I'm drawn to books where the author has worked hard at world-building and writes compelling characters.
Amber: Why do readers love fantasy?Vonnie: The easy answer is: because they're fun to read. But I think there's more to it. Fantasy stories have been with us since our ancestors told tales about magical beings and miraculous events around a cooking fire. Humans come from a tradition of fairy stories, folktales, myths, and legends. I think it's because unlike our "real" world, in fantasy stories: decency triumphs over evil, people get their just desserts, everyone can be afraid sometimes without ridicule, there's a reason for bad things and a solution to every problem, things can be beautiful underneath an ugly exterior, complex issues can be fairly resolved, and at the end of the story, the universe is balanced.
Amber: Would you write fantasy even if no one read it?Vonnie: Of course! It would be a lonelier life, but the need to capture with words the fantastical worlds of my dreams and imaginings wouldn't vanish because no one was listening. For me, writing and drawing fantasy are like breathing.
Vonnie Winslow Crist was born in the Year of the Dragon. Linked to fantastical creatures since then, she's written poetry, fiction, and nonfiction with a mythic or folklore tilt. She's also an award-winning fantasy artist. She enjoys gardening with fairy-friendly plants, feeding wild birds, walking beneath the trees at Wood's Edge, and making a sparkly bit of jewelry every now and again. Her motto: The world is full of mystery and magic. We just need to look, listen, and believe that wondrous things are still possible.
Vonnie's BooksThe Greener Forest (Cold Moon Press)  Sideshow by the Sea, Assassins, and Bells(Echelon Press)  River of Stars and Essential Fables (LiteCircle Books) Leprechaun Cake & Other Tales (VegetarianResource Group)  
To find out more about Vonnie and her books, Visit:  Her Website Whimsical Words Vonnie Winslow Crist's Blog 

Radio Interview & Audio Adventures

Audio AdventuresI love audio almost as much as print. And I like to talk. 
Besides good book promotion, a radio interview is great practice talking about your book. And if it's done by telephone you don't have to dress up and go into a studio. A good interview should feel like listening in on a relaxing (and interesting) conversation. 
Recently Connie Gotsch interviewed me for her radio show Write On Four Corners on KSJE Farmington, New Mexico.  
The interview is on ksje.com the station's website. 

After you get the interview what do you do?Listen to at least one show to know the tone the interviewer uses – fast and peppy or laid back and casual.
Send the book and synopsis if you haven't already done this to get the interview.
Send a few questions the interviewer might ask that might be interesting to listeners. Think talking points or frequently asked questions appropriate for the show.
Write out and memorize a brief synopsis (like a pitch), Be sure to include how your book can be purchased.
Ask how long the interview will be and what the interviewer wants to talk about and if you will be reading an excerpt.
Will it be live or recorded? Live means you keep going even if you make embarrassing mistakes. If it's recorded, ask what to if you say something you want to eliminate or do over.

What I did the day of the interview –Moved my desk to a quiet spot
Plugged in a land line. (Don't take a chance with a cell phone connection.)
Poured a glass of water
Printed out notes in a large font and laid them to avoid paper shuffling. Copied the pages for the book excerpts I'd read aloud (as requested by the interviewer to mix into the interview.)
Removed clanky jewelry
What I forgot to do – check the time difference between New Mexico and Arizona (a state with no DST)
Turned off call waiting
Sat up straight and took a deep breath
 If you are an author writing about the southwest or living in the southwest, or both, Connie's show may be perfect for you. Her show Write On Four Corners takes all genres, self published, traditional, and non traditional publishers. And of course no excessive cussing, gratuitous sex, or hate of any person, religion, ethnic group, sexual orientation, gender, etc. Connie is a great interviewer and makes it easy to give an interesting, relaxed interview If you think your book would be of interest to Connie's listeners, check out her blog and email her.
For more on audio see my interview with Dana Davis  "How Authors Can Use Audio for Promotion & Publishing."
More Audio Adventures Last week I spent time in a sound studio re-recording my relaxation CD. The new full "album" Relaxing the Writer Relaxation contains a 20 minute relaxation with tense and release instructions and another track called "Prelude to Sleep" to help listeners fall asleep. This time I also recorded two 10 minute meditations: Relaxing the Writer Hand Meditation and Relaxing the Musician's Hand that I plan to offer as MP3 downloads.All three will supplement my soon to be published book Relaxing the Writer .
Since this was my second time in the studio, I was more relaxed and the studio owner asked if I'd like to audition for reading textbooks. Maybe is was my excellent pronunciation or my non-Lady Gaga outfit that intrigued him. Who knows, it sounds like fun and I wouldn't have to write my own script. It even made me think of doing podcasts and audiobooks...or not. I may be too good at helping listeners fall asleep.

Relaxing the Writer!

Advance Praise
"… high on my list of recommendations to my readers and clients whose creative juices are running low." ~ Carolyn Howard-Johnson, novelist, poet and author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series for writers.
"Relaxing the Writer is packed full of easy-to-do relaxation tips, not just for writers -- but also for people who work every day with their hands. You'll be recommending this book to your friends and associates!" ~  Kari Thomas, award-winning paranormal romance author.
"Authors, have you watched yourself write? Quit looking like Quasimodo; Relaxing the Writer is an enlightening must-read for writers at all stages of their careers." ~ Rowena Cherry, winner of the 2010 E.P.I.C. Award "Friend of ePublishing"
"Even before putting the abundant new relaxation ideas into practice, I feel healthier every time I read this book. Imagine half a dozen expert sessions with various counselors, all gathered into one guidebook. This is an amazing value!" ~ Laurie Schnebly Campbell, writing teacher (online & live), and author of Believable Characters.

"Bridging the mind-body connection, Amber Polo's Relaxing the Writer treats the whole writer, providing specialized relaxation techniques for increased health and enhanced creativity. A must-have for every writer's how-to bookshelf. ~ Kris Neri, Lefty Award-nominated author of High Crimes on the Magical Plane and co-owner of The Well Red Coyote bookstore.

"This guidebook is chock-full of excellent tips to create the perfect writing storm. By optimizing the writing environment and the writer's inner space, stress and tension are released, opening many creative doors." ~ Maggie Toussaint, award-winning author

Why I Write Fantasy - Helen Henderson

Welcome Helen Henderson,  author whose fantasy that takes readers to visit other times and places and worlds of imagination!


Amber: Why do you write fantasy?

Helen: I've always loved to escape into other worlds, whether I became a fast-gun in the American West, an interplanetary explorer, or a fire-throwing mage. Fantasy allows me to create environments where magic lives and heroes rule. Being able to hang out with dragons or horses with a touch of magic in their souls are other reasons why I write fantasies.

Amber: How does writing non-fiction help you in writing fantasy?

Helen: I believe one of the key elements in a successful fantasy story is the believability of the world, even though winged horses or elves might inhabit it. In creating 300+ articles covering antiques and history, including military history, and two local history books, I've had to research, research, and do more research. Knowledge of the past is often transferrable to the worlds of fantasy. If the reader feels the weight of the sword dragging down the heroine's arm, smells the smoke from an inn's fireplace, or walks through an ancient culture, it brings the world to life for them. No matter what genre I'm writing, one major element carries through them all—I try to make the world I build for the characters real for my readers.

Amber: What are your favorite fantasy novels?

Helen: Although I avidly devoured the works of E. E. Doc Smith when I was younger, Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern and her books chronicling the families of the towers are my favorites.

Amber: Why do you think readers love fantasy?

Helen: Fantasy is a vacation of the mind. With a well-crafted story, the journey wings the reader to foreign worlds and lands. Regardless of whether the destination includes sword fights or magic, dragons or elves, fantasy takes readers beyond the trials and tribulations of their own lives into other times and places where heroes rule and life is simpler. As readers, we often see a bit of ourselves in the characters, and our hopes and dreams reflected in their quests, their achievements...and their romances.

Amber: Would you write fantasy even if no one read it?

Helen: This is a great question to ask an author as it could have different meanings. Many times we are driven to write, even without the expectation of publication. I have written stories to be able to spend time with the characters and in their world. So, the answer would have to be yes.

There is a different way to interpret the question, one not related to publication, but to reader interest. I would write fantasy even if times change and worlds turn and no one read fantasy any more. Although I think our lives would be the lesser for it.

More About Helen Henderson
Although I wrote fiction for myself as long as I can remember, I never pursued it for publication until late in my writing career. My stories take readers to the old West, the stars, or worlds of imagination. I often work to music. Celtic harp and flute take me to other worlds where I create science fiction and fantasy. The musical inspiration for Civil War or historical adventures is the Ashokan Farewell, and movie themes from the genre for westerns.
For excerpts  or to learn more about Helen, stop by her website. Learn more about Windmaster, her new release from Champagne Books. Available at  Champagne Books, Amazon.com, All Romance Books and online bookstores. 

Here's a peek at Windmaster
Despite his insolent attitude, Ellspeth, captain of the Sea Falcon, is attracted to the dark-haired worker she hires to help unload the vessel's cargo. When the supposed dockhand reveals he is Lord Dal, the last member of the Council of Wizards, and her passenger, Ellspeth breaks a cardinal rule—fraternizing with the paying customers. Bringing Dal back from near-death releases her latent powers and threatens her captaincy. For to have magic she must give up the sea.

In accordance with an ancient prophecy, Dal allows Ellspeth to be handfasted to him without her knowledge or consent.  However, the prophecy doesn't state whether she will return his love. A likelihood threatened as the deception is unveiled and they are hunted by fanatical clerics bent on ridding the world of magic and those who wield it.

Trapped within the Oracle's Temple and marked for sacrifice, Ellspeth is forced to choose between survival, saving the future of magic...or love.


For variety, look for her western, Ambush Luck, in Dreamspell Goddess (August 2011), A Place at the Table, a young adult piece in A Yuletide Wish: Poems and Stories for the Extended Holiday Season from Night Wolf Publications, or the science fiction romance with a twist, Recov, in Romance of My Dreams I I . 

Arizona Dreamin' 2011 - A Romance Reader Event!

Welcome Kris Tualla, creator of Arizona Dreamin'  2011  - A Romance Reader Event
Amber: All authors want to connect with readers and potential readers. Many conferences and events are directed at writers or those who want to write. Not that writers don't buy a lot of books (and those that don't definitely should) but readers who gobble books for the sheer joy are like triple chocolate cake every night. Kris Tualla's vision created Arizona Dreamin' -  Arizona's first Romance Reader event!  Amber: So Kris, how did you become the Arizona Dreamin' Queen?Kris: I attended the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention and heard about reader-focused events in other parts of the country. I thought - why not in Phoenix? A city this size can certainly support such an endeavor!
Amber: How did you advertise to attract readers?Kris: The vision was to bring my fans and introduce them to your books, and vice versa. So I asked each of the 24 authors to get 4 of their own fans to come. If they did, we would be full.Amber: Did you break even the first year?Kris: Not even close, sad to say. Half of the authors didn't generate any ticket sales at all! I learned that new authors are hungry and understand that they need to promote. Authors published four or five years ago (or more) have no clue.Even so, those readers who did attend had a blast! I have never seen so many consistent smiles in a very long time. Everyone was talking about who they would bring with them "next year"! Not only that, but they bought $1800 worth of books and raised $315 for charity!Amber: Anything authors who want to attend and be part of AD2012 needed to know?Kris: Yes. First, we are expecting double the attendees. Part of that will be generated by a special incentive offered to the 2011 attendees. Another part will be generated by the authors themselves who will each purchase 4 tickets to resell at a discount, or use in raffles and contest prizes as a thank-you to their fans.Second, I am committed to keeping the event small and intimate. We plan to cap the authors at 24, and keep the "Book Clubs" - the meetings of authors and readers - at 10 per club.Amber: I saw some pretty yummy photos with a cover model (definitely not female). How did you arrange that and did it help the publicity?Kris: Ah, yes. Jimmy Thomas is definitely a thing of beauty - and currently on more than 1400 book covers. He's sweet as can be and was a doll to come, plus he added a very special touch to the event! He's also a smart businessman; he stages, photographs and sells images designed for every genre of romance novel (http://www.romancenovelcovers.com/ ). I had him on my blog last year as an example of businesses that will rise up in support of independently publishing authors.When I asked him to come to Arizona Dreamin' he agreed. While he was here he worked, shooting covers with two different models in two separate sessions. The fun part for us is that he allowed us to watch! Then he posed with readers in exchange for a donation to our charity. Next year we'll have a special backdrop that looks like a book cover for those photos!Amber: What about the details for Arizona Dreamin' 2012?Kris: Saturday, June 2, 2012, Noon - 10:00pm. Tickets (probably around $30) include a delicious and bountiful buffet dinner with the authors. Breaking News!Location - Windmill Inns & Suites of Chandler / 3535 W. Chandler Boulevard / Chandler, AZ 85226. Event room rates are $79 per suite for those who want to make it a girl's overnight or weekend (it's next to the Chandler Mall)!!Subscribe to our blog to receive the latest updateson Arizona Dreamin' 2012 http://arizonadreamin.wordpress.com/ Amber: What is the one (scratch that)… What are the 5 most important things an individual or group would need to pull this off?Kris: Passionate belief in the concept. I took the financial hit in 2011 because I know this event will grow!People working with me who have a passionate belief in the concept. My committee was small but comprised of some truly amazing authors, including Deena Remiel and Tami VanGurp.Energy - which plays out in commitment and follow-through. This isn't a path for the faint of heart!The understanding that no author is an island. I help you and you help me; we are stronger together.Make certain that the things which are in my control are efficient and planned to the last detail. That way when things that are out of my control go awry (and they will) we are still successful!Amber: Thanks Kris for telling us about your event for romance readers. And good luck with next year.Kris Tualla, a dynamic award-winning and internationally published author of historical romances, writes with a fast-paced and succinct style. Her plots are full of twists, passion, and very satisfying outcomes! Kris started in 2006 with nothing but a nugget of a character in mind, and has created a dynasty - The Hansen Series. 
Find out more about Kris and her books on her website!  "In the Historical Romance genre, there have been literally countless kilted warrior stories told. Well, I say it's time for a new breed of heroes!  Come along with me and find out why:   Norway IS the new Scotland!"  

Why I Write Fantasy - Deborah Riley-Magnus

Welcome Deborah Riley-Magnus, who writes of vampires in West Hollywood in her latest book Cold in California!
Amber: Why do you write fantasy?Deborah: I'm the kind of person who drives herself crazy looking for the "what if?" Whether I'm writing fantasy, women's fiction or non-fiction, my goal is always to challenge the standard thinking. If I explore a story idea, it's bound to go way out of control before I can even begin to rein it back into the story it will become. It's just the way I'm built. If I'm writing non-fiction, it's the same thing. My motto is, "Who says it has to be that way just because it always has been? Why can't it be this way?" Lure and accepted mythology beware!
Amber: Tell us about Cold in California. Why vampires? Why California?Deborah: The first thing I probably should say is that I don't like vampires. Everything I'd read or seen in films was kind of a turn off. It's not so much the blood and gore, it's the stripping of humanity that kind of bothered me. Granted, more contemporary authors have made their vampiric characters far more likeable and humane, but still, there was always something about the whole idea that never attracted me. Then I figured it out.            It wasn't the fact that vampires are dead, scary monsters, it was the fact that they had no hope. No redemption. No heaven. Cold in California is a book about redemption. Based on standard mythology I couldn't have redemption for my vampire, Gabriel Strickland, unless I could give him a soul and a second chance. Oh, and it had to have humor, too. Lots and lots of humor.            My urban fantasy takes a standard vampire, makes him double dead (twice-baked) and puts him in a West Hollywood warehouse where he has to live out purgatory with other dead supernaturals – trolls, werewolves, pixies, leprechauns, fairies, you name it. A chosen few from each supernatural race are there, even a few you may have never heard of. Against their natures, all these strange characters are challenged with earning the brownie points to get through the pearly gates. Gabriel, of course has far more difficulties, after all he's handsome, has to now live among humans and dead supernaturals and the other 'living' supernaturals infesting the planet. He has to deal with the fact that everything he believed about final death was a lie, tolerate the unique West Hollywood culture, endure intense new love (of course) and win over pending disaster. Go figure. And all this guy wanted to do was be dead.
Amber: What are your favorite fantasy novels?Deborah: Far too many to list, but I will say this, it must push the boundaries of everything we've imagined about a story. Stories of time travel twisted with supernatural elements and sprinkled with a layer of paranormal. To me anything that isn't the day to day reality is fantasy. Is there a troll living in those trees or under that bridge? Are pixies causing my monitor to blink? Is there a spirit at my shoulder dictating this? Is that woman on the bus a witch? Stories that seem normal but pulse with the fantasy are my favorites!
Amber: Why do you think readers love fantasy?Deborah: I think the typical answer to this question would be because people want to escape reality, but I don't believe that for a moment. I think readers love fantasy because it defines our reality. Fantasy readers really don't believe that a storm is coming; we believe it's being sent to us. We believe that some force is bringing it to battle another force we just don't know about yet. And of course, good will win over evil. We look for these confirmations in the newspaper stories and television news. Fantasy readers KNOW there's more to the world than what we see. We read fantasy because it opens more avenues of thought, it stretches us, it helps us see the average in remarkable characters and worlds and vice versa. Fantasy lovers know we're right about that too, lol.
Amber: Would you write fantasy if no one read it?
Deborah: I think all fantasy writers have. Of course, it far nicer when people do read it and discover the world you've created. Writing isn't a job or a career as much as an obsession. Writers simply can't help themselves. The other side of the coin is how to make a living at it or at the least, how to break even and get readers to look for us. I address that subject in my non-fiction, The Author Success Coach: Strategies for Success in a Turbulent Publishing Landscape, being released in August/September 2011. And oh yes, there are many sprinkles of fairy dust in that book too!  
Deborah Riley-Magnus is an author and an Author Success Coach. She has a twenty-seven year professional background in marketing, advertising and public relations as a writer for print, television and radio. She writes fiction in several genres as well as non-fiction.
Deborah produces several pieces weekly for various websites. She also writes an author industry blog, Writaholic , and teaches online and live workshops as The Author Success Coach. She belongs to several writing and professional organizations. In 2011, she has two novels and one non-fiction, "The Author Success Coach", being released. 
She's lived on both the east and west coast of the United States and has traveled the country widely.
   Deborah's  Website and Blog Links I blog - http://rileymagnus.wordpress.com/
I teach - http://theauthorsuccesscoach.com/
I fiction – http://coldincalifornia.com
I write - http://deborahriley-magnus.com/
I play - http://whispersofthemuse.org/
I tweet – http://twitter.com/rileymagnus
I facebook - http://www.facebook.com/deborah.rileymagnus
I should be sooo tired!
My Wonderful Publisher's Link http://ireadiwrite.com/

Deborah's Contest!Leave a comment
by June 25th
for a chance
to win a copy of 
Cold in California!

Why I Write Fantasy - Zenobia Renquist

Welcome Zenobia Renquist, fantasy author who makes her characters work for their happily-ever-after!

Amber: Why do you write fantasy?
Zenobia: The only limit is my imagination. I can make the world what I want it to be, rather than limiting myself to the rules of reality. I love world-building. Creating a civilization and introducing it to my readers is my idea of fun.

Amber: What are your inspirations? What fuels your imagination?
Zenobia: I'm an avid anime/manga fan. I love the art and stories that come out of Japan. The way the Japanese handle plot and story creation has influenced the way I write in a big way. I'm also a comic book fan from way back. I still watch cartoons and love watching most fantasy movies and TV shows that cross my path.

Amber: What are your favorite fantasy novels?
Zenobia: Harry Potter series by JK Rowling, Brotherhood of Blood series by Bianca D'Arc, most everything from Stephanie Burke, and I'm finally starting the Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey (yes, this one has been a long time in coming).

Amber: Why do you think readers love fantasy?
Zenobia: I imagine fans of fantasy like it because things out of the ordinary happen all the time. People can fly, vampires exist, characters can change the flow of the world by simply making a wish. Anything is possible so the story is only limited by the authors imagination.

Amber: Would you write fantasy even if no one read it?
Zenobia: Most definitely. It gives me the ability to exorcise real life demons and acts as a nice stress relief when I put my characters through literary tortures before letting them get to their happy ending. Most of all I would continue because I like reading my stories. I still can get sucked into my own books and want to know what comes next even though I wrote them and know what comes next.
Whether as D. Reneé Bagby or Zenobia Renquist, Reneé lives in her imagination. When not traveling through her fantasy worlds, she can be found in MD living with her husband and two cats. She is an Air Force brat turned Air Force wife, which means she's accustomed to travel and does it whenever possible (so long as she doesn't have to fly). Her favorite pastime is torturing her characters on their way to happily-ever-after for the enjoyment of her readers.
On the few occasions her muse flees the scene of the crime, Reneé likes to read (comics, manga, and romance), go to the movies, play a few levels of whichever puzzle game has hijacked her interest or experiment with a new chain maille weave.

BOOKS BY ZENOBIA RENQUIST
Cafe Midnight: Chamomile Nights (Changeling Press)
Patrice is the backbone of her company. She's never met a problem she can't conquer, except her stress. She's stretched to the breaking point until she finds Café Midnight. Her waiter serves up a cup of relaxing tea with hot passion on the side. She's found a way to truly relax, but is she willing to let her sexy waiter serve her at home? 
Caveat Emptor 1: Charmed Lover (Changeling Press)It's only a matter of time before someone figures out Ryver and Theron's secret. With the threat of mages bearing down on them, Ryver has to decide if she's willing to give up her vampire lover -- or her freedom.
Buy Link: Coming 10 June Caveat Emptor 2: Trapped Lover (Changeling Press)
Now living in vampire territory, Ryver is learning more and more about Theron. Not all of it is good. The more she sees, the more she's convinced that the man she fell in love with, the man who can make her body sing with a single touch, might not be the man she thought he was. What's worse, there's no way to get away from him if he's as bad as she suspects.
Learn more about Zenobia at her Website
& Renee's Blog 

Zenobia's Contest!Leave a comment for a chance to win an ebook copy of Caveat Emptor 1: Charmed Lover.

Why I Write Fantasy - Ann Wilkes

Welcome Ann Wilkes, space opera author, science fiction reviewer, and blogger!

Amber: Why do you write fantasy? 

Ann: I like to explore human behavior outside of the trappings of our own world, time or civilization. I love the "what ifs". I love to be transported to another reality and I want to transport readers to another reality of my creation. I want to get readers to consider social issues in a new way without even realizing they are. I love reading it, viewing and reviewing it, but mostly I love writing it. Making the wild things I can imagine become real for a while to the reader. 

Amber: What are your favorite science fiction novels? 

Ann: I just posted my top 10 2010 favorites with links to my reviews: 
The Evolutionary Void by Peter F. Hamilton
Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor
www:WATCH by Robert J. Sawyer
Mad Skills by Walter Greatshell
Soulless by Gail Carringer
Mozaart's Blood by Louise Marley
Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde
Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett
Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith
Are You There? And Other Stories by by Jack Skillingstead
In addition, Who Fears Death and The Evolutionary Void will remain all-time favorites, adding to my all-time favorite list below: 

The Practice Effect, the Uplift War trilogy and Glory Season by David BrinRealtime Interrupt, Code of the Lifemaker, Thrice Upon a Time and Multiplex Man by James P. HoganThe Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe series and The Long, Dark Teatime of the Soul by Douglas AdamsFallen Angels by Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle and Michael FlynnA Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'EngleThe original Ender's Game trilogy by Orson Scott CardThe Space Trilogy by CS Lewis
Amber: Why do you think readers love fantasy? 

Ann: Partly to escape, but mostly to dream. To let our imagination go and recall the wonder that was second nature to us when we were children. And to imagine what new possibilities are waiting for humanity just around the corner and explore human nature – What would we do if? Or to explore what humanity  might do if this or that were reality.
 Amber: Would you write fantasy even if no one read it?
Ann: That would be a very sad state of affairs indeed. I think I would, but not as much. I write not just to entertain myself, but to stir thoughts and feeling in others. I want to write prose that the reader simply can't put down and that they are still thinking about for the next few days. 

Most of Ann Wilkes' fiction found in anthologies and magazines leans toward tragic, funny or both. Her first published novel, Awesome Lavratt , is a tongue-in-cheek space opera filled with mind control, passion and adventure. On her blog, Science Fiction and Other ODDysseys , you'll find book and other media reviews, author interviews and commentary on writing and science fiction. She lives in California's wine country with her husband, Patrick. When she's not writing, she's dancing like a Greek at her favorite taverna or listening to the blues. 
  Awesome Lavratt  (Unlimited Publishing/Redwood Writers)     Beautiful Aranna Navna plans to conquer the galaxy one planet at a time. She steals the Awesome Lavratt, a mind control device, from a freighter in Horace Whistlestop's junkyard. She takes Horace, too. With the Lavratt, Aranna manipulates the thoughts and desires of everyone around her—until she gets to the Emperor of Calistania. Then things go from bad to worse for Aranna. The Lavratt, however, has only just begun! Oh, the fun you can have from a small cube with mind control powers. Travel the galaxy with Tyrantz Lavratt. Silly science fiction at its best. All puns intended.

Read Ann's story "Trapped Star" in the Dark Quest Books anthology Beauty Has Her Way (Jan 2011) edited by Jennifer Brozek
And "Immunity Project" in   Defending the Future IV: No Man's Land (May2011) edited by Mike McPhail 
Learn more about Ann Wilkes and her books on her website 
And don't miss her Blog - Read SF author interviews, thoughts on science fiction and writing Science Fiction and Other ODDysseys 
Ann's Contest!
Leave a comment for a change to win a free copy of Awesome Lavratt - Contest ends  June 11th

Why I Write Fantasy - Riley Quinn

Welcome, Riley Quinn, urban fantasy author!

Riley: Thanks, Amber, for inviting me to guest on your blog. Amber: Why do you write fantasy?Riley: I write fantasy, particularly urban fantasy, because it's my favorite genre to read. When I got serious about my writing several years ago, I naturally gravitated toward the paranormal and urban fantasy genre. Funny enough, I have two novellas published, one under Riley Quinn and the other under another pen name, and neither are fantasy. I do have a story coming out in August that features different species of the Fae.
Amber: You say that your characters are "just like us. Except for the super-human strength, enhanced senses, ability to do magic and drinking blood. So not exactly like us but they've got problems too. They just have more interesting ways of handling them." Tell me more. 
Riley: In fantasy novels, the supernatural characters have special powers and super-strength. Normally, these attributes would be seen as positives. But sometimes, these same positive can be the cause of problems too. Because of their "quirks", sometimes their problems require more creative solutions. 
Amber: What are your favorite fantasy novels?Riley: I love series. When I meet characters that I really like, I want to see more of them. Some of my favorite urban fantasy novels are the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs, the Rachel Morgan series by Kim Harrison, the Karma Consultants series by Vivi Andrews, the House of Night series, by PC and Kristin Cast, The Kitty series by Carrie Vaughn, Vicky Lewis Thompson has some great lighter paranormal books that I enjoyed, A Werewolf in Manhattan, Blonde with a Wand and Chick with a Charm. This is a short list of some of my favorites. Several of these authors are automatic buys for me when new books come out. I'm also open to discovering new authors, too, so if any of your readers have suggestions…
Amber: Why do you think readers love fantasy?Riley: I like to read as a means to entering another world. For as long as I can remember, I've always been able to transport into the world of a well-written book. Fantasy allows us to explore new worlds, new species, new experiences that aren't possible in our world. I would venture to guess that other readers love fantasy for the same reason.
Amber: Would you write fantasy if no one read it?Riley: Absolutely! I write first for myself. The stories that I'd like to read, the characters that I'd like to meet, that whisper in my head. If others find enjoyment in my stories, that's a bonus. So, yeah, if no one else read it, but me, I'd still write it.
Riley Quinn is a recent transplant from the central Texas area to Bavaria, Germany. She lives there with her supportive husband and crazy dog. While in Europe, she's taking advantage of travel opportunities and storing up the story ideas inspired by historic towns and scenic countryside. She spends her days writing and in her downtime likes to read, quilt, sew, crochet and watch movies.
Let It Be Me, the the first in her Cupid Matchmakers series, will be released in August from Red Hot Publishing. Riley will be one of the great authors of DigitalDigest , a new blog, offering short fiction and other fun stuff Mondays through Fridays. And each month, an ebook of one of the blog's contributions. Riley will post twice monthly installments of Power Play. The blog goes live July 1 and will be available for uploading to your Kindle .
Blood DiamondDodging an angry warlord and running through the rain forest in Congo Brazzaville was not what Jillian St. James expected when she signed up with Doctors Without Borders. Yet that's exactly what she gets after a mysterious visit from her brother.Mercenary Mack Nichols doesn't have much faith in humanity these days. When a beautiful young doctor denies being part of the theft of a blue diamond from his client, he doesn't put much stock in her story. Read an excerpt.
Let It Be MeEmily is through with musicians. After supporting her last boyfriend only to find him "thanking" one of his groupies, she's thrown herself into her café. The new guitarist she's hired brings in the customers, but he's serenading her senses and weakening her resolve about musicians. Mike plays and sings most nights at The Coffee Bean, but his real reason for being there has nothing to do with music. His attraction to the owner is getting in the way of his true mission. He knows building a relationship on lies can lead to more than broken hearts.
Power Play Cassie's not having a good week. She's tired of dealing with the mixed signals from her boyfriend and she's attacked by a large dog. Then it gets worse. Said boyfriend is keeping secrets and possibly using her for his own ends? And the dog that attacked her? Yeah, that was a werewolf and now she's going to be howling at the next full moon. 

To lean more about Riley and her books check outher Website 
Her Blog : Digital Digest Blog (goes live July 1) 
Riley Quinn's Contest! Leave a comment by May 20thfor a chance to win a .pdf copy of her romantic suspense,  Blood Diamond !

Why I Write Fantasy - Marc Vun Kannon

Welcome Marc Vun Kannon, fantasy author with "characters in motion"!
Amber: Why do you write fantasy? 
Marc: Let me tell you a secret: I don't write fantasy. I write stories, which more often than not have a fantasy setting. Fantasy allows me to make stuff up, to not have to worry about "getting it right". There is no "right" in fantasy, there is story logic, there is consistency, there is coherence, and lots of other words beginning with "C". Like "Characters." Characters are the heart of my stories, which are best described as "characters in motion." Writing a story is showing them in action, discovering the reasons for those actions, revealing the meanings and consequences of those actions. Fantasy is a non-serious way to talk about serious things. 
My only real rule of writing is never to do what's been done before, even if the person who did it before is me. As a result I don't confine myself to any one genre, I'm always pushing to try out new styles. Fantasy is a supercategory, with many different fields for me to try yet. The good thing about writing about people is that they transcend categories. A good character can fall in love while solving mysteries and chasing monsters in a space station. These are the types of stories I like to read, and want to be able to write. I have been exceedingly fortunate in finding Echelon Press as my publisher. They don't tell me 'it can't be done'.
Amber; What are some of your favorte fantasy books?
Marc: The books that I love are of course the books with the strongest characters. Lois McMaster Bujold's Curse of Chalion is the best of this breed, combining a strongly developed set of characters with a unique plot and excellent world-building, areas in which I am weak. Lawrence Watt-Evans writes about ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, trying to remain themselves. Dave Duncan (the Seventh Sword trilogy), Tanya Huff, Patricia McKillip (RiddleMaster of Hed), C. Dale Brittain (the Yurt series), and Nina Kiriki Hoffman (The Thread that Binds the Bones) are among my favorites.
Amber: Why do you think readers love fantasy?
Marc: Not all readers love fantasy for the same reasons, of course. Some read for epic sweep, intricate plots, or panoramic world-building. The word here is scope, and scope means possibilities. Readers want to see those possibilities made 'real'. For some simply reading about them is enough. I try to learn from them as well. To me a bad book is one that has no lessons for me the reader to take away. (Not that authors need to hit their readers over the head with "the meaning of life" diatribes, either. Stories are characters in motion. Diatribes are not motion.)
Amber: Would you write fantasy even if no one read it?
Marc: There is no such thing as an unread book. I am a reader, and I write books that I want to read. That's the only reason to write that I know of. For me the possibilities I want to see made real are usually internal, what does the character do, why, what does he become? I do not know the answers to these questions before the book starts. Sometimes I don't even know what the questions are. Writing is a process of spinning out the character's internal logic ("What'll he do now?") and capturing it on paper. As I write page 1, I come up the questions that carry me forward to page 2, the solutions on page 2 leading the way to page 3, and so on. 
  Marc Vun Kannon has spent his days pumping gas, servicing fire extinguishers, attending school, and writing computer code, while ekeing out whatever time to write that he can. He's itching to reverse those proportions.






Short Stories
Ex Libris  http://tinyurl.com/mvk-el-kindle  http://tinyurl.com/mvk-el-omni http://tinyurl.com/mvk-el-nook , http://tinyurl.com/mvk-el-smash  Steampunk Santa   http://tinyurl.com/4k433rj Kindle, http://tinyurl.com/2enahw5 PDF, http://tinyurl.com/4rb53m8 Nook) Bite Deep   http://tinyurl.com/26pkeqa Kindle, http://tinyurl.com/3az8g9r PDF Chasing His Own Tale   http://tinyurl.com/47wslrp Kindle, http://tinyurl.com/4cn6enu Nook Boys Will Be Boys  http://tinyurl.com/4pvowry Nook Off The Map  http://tinyurl.com/6jxb75x Nook, http://tinyurl.com/4jcqko7 Fictionwise
Novels
Unbinding the Stone  http://tinyurl.com/4u4fy9h Nook, http://tinyurl.com/mvk-amazon A Warrior Made  http://tinyurl.com/4p4vxma Nook, http://tinyurl.com/mvk-amazon
Coming 5/2011: St. Martin's Moon The Moon is haunted, but the werewolves don't know that!
Amazon Author Page
Smashwordsprofile
http://www.echelonpress.com (publisher)Visit Marc at his websiteor his blog