Paula R.C. Readman's Blog, page 74

Clubhouse Chat: Karla Forbes

Welcome to Clubhouse Chat page. For those of you who are not a member of the clubhouse won’t be aware that the location of the Clubhouse is shrouded in mystery. The only way to visit the clubhouse is via membership or an invite to the clubhouse tearoom. Every few days, I’ll be sharing a conversation I’ve had with a guest over tea and cakes, or maybe a glass of something stronger, about their work in progress, or latest book release. I’ll be talking to all sort of writers and authors at different levels of their writing careers.

[image error]Photo by Anna Kanifatova on Pexels.com

Today, I’m welcome Karla Forbes to Clubhouse Tearoom to chat about her writing.

Thank you for inviting me, Paula.

Now we have our refreshments, please let me start by asking you when you first begun your writing journey what drew you to your chosen genre?

At the age of 11 or 12, I saved up my pocket money to buy paperbacks. I started out with the Saint series and quickly progressed to James Bond thus my love of thrillers was born. Fast forward a few years and I decided to have a go at writing a Sitcom. I dashed off my masterpiece, sent it to the BBC and was rejected before I’d even got around to fantasising who the actors might be. I concluded that for the BBC to accept me, I’d need some writing success behind me so I wrote my first novel. It was a comedy thriller, which, full of naive hope, I submitted to Hodder. It landed on the desk of a Submissions Editor, the lovely Betty Schwartz, who once again rejected it but with a friendly letter telling me that I wrote really well. I still have that letter as a keepsake and Betty and I have been good friends ever since although I never did get my sitcom accepted and it’s still sitting in a drawer somewhere, unread and unloved.

[image error]The Amazing Karla Forbes| http://www.midsussexwebsites.co.uk

What writing elements do you think is your strongest points, and what would you like to do better?

I enjoy all elements of writing but I particularly enjoy dialogue. An agent once told me that narration slows a book down and dialogue speeds it up. Thrillers need to move along at a fast pace so you can’t have your characters standing around enjoying quiet moments as they admire the scenery.

On the downside, I need to get a grip with the problem of swapping points of view. It’s disheartening when you write a passage which you think works really well only to have your editor go through it with a big red pen because you have accidentally swapped the point of view.

Tell us a little about latest writing project.  Is it a new idea, or one you have been mulling over for some time?

Fallout is the first in the series of Nick Sullivan thrillers and is due to be published by Darkstroke on the 6th October. At the book begins, Nick is a man who seems to have everything: the huge salary, the yacht, the sports car and the beautiful wife. By the end of the first chapter however, he has been accused of a murder he didn’t commit and has gone on the run as he attempts to prove his innocence. But why is almost every law enforcement agency in the country searching for him? What information does he have that they desperately need and will they find him before it’s too late? My current book (still pondering a title) is book number nine in the Nick Sullivan series and concerns a case of industrial espionage that turns out to be far more sinister that it first seems.

Do you write a synopsis first or write the first chapter? Do you plan your story or let the characters lead you.

I start off with nothing more than a basic outline and begin writing with very little idea of where it’s going to lead. I actually write better this way because the plot goes off in new, unexpected directions and gives me the freedom to be spontaneous. I still don’t know how my current thriller is going to end and I’m 40% of the way through it.

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When reading your work through do you ever find that your daily mood swings are reflected in your writing?

Definitely. I like to introduce an occasional snippet of humour in my books to break up the tension but when life is going well, the humorous element grows. When I’m feeling down or life is kicking me in the teeth, my writing gets darker and my characters pay the price.

Were any of your characters inspired by real people?

I can’t say that I know too many murderers or terrorists (or at least I hope I don’t) so the answer is probably no, none of my characters have been inspired by real people. However, we all have the capacity for good or evil, altruism or greed and empathy or hard hardheartedness. I take what I observe in people around me and enhance it for the purposes of the plot. 

What did you learn when writing your book? In writing it, how much research did you do?

I lead a pretty mundane life so I have very little first-hand knowledge of murder and terrorism. But that’s what authors have imagination for – that and our best friend Google. My search history includes plutonium, dirty bombs and simple ways to blow up places such as the Channel Tunnel. In Sniper (book three in the Nick Sullivan series) the antagonist tries to blow up Grange mouth which is the biggest oil refinery in Europe. I discovered that, in theory, it could be surprisingly easy. I hope I’m wrong. (Note to MI5. I’m writing a book, okay? I’m not actually a terrorist)

How do you select the names of your characters? Do you know everything about them before you start writing their story?

I find that selecting names is quite tricky. I used to read telephone directories (remember them?) for inspiration but nowadays I find myself scanning any list of names such as the credits at the end of a television programme. I’m so bad at this that when editing my books, I have occasionally discovered that I’ve used the same name twice.  I have only one rule with names and that is to keep them short for any characters who are going to figure throughout the book, hence Nick, a nice uncomplicated name that’s quick and easy to write.

Many writers say that their characters take on a life of their own and this has certainly been the case with mine. It’s almost as though they are calling the shots and writing their own stories. It can seem a bit weird but who am I to argue with them?

What was your hardest scene to write?

Two scenes come to mind for very different reasons. In Sniper (book three in the Nick Sullivan series) one of the main characters miscarried after being attacked. I found this emotionally difficult to write. From a technical point of view, one of the hardest scenes I have written was in Fallout where representatives from all the major law enforcement agencies are coordinating their efforts, over the phone, to catch the terrorists. It was quite a challenge to have constant dialogue coming from several different, disembodied speakers without confusing the reader about what was happening.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

An average time is around 5-6 months to write a first draft but then several more weeks for proof reading and editing. However, I was 20,000 words into my current book when I hit an enormous wall and just stopped half way through a sentence. It remained untouched for over a year until the boredom of lockdown forced me to take another look at my manuscript. After a quick re-read to remind me of the plot, I began writing again and haven’t looked back.

To find out more about Karla Forbes, please check out her Amazon Author’s Page

Thank you for joining me, Karla.

It you want to find out more about Clubhouse Member’s Books, don’t forget to check out the Clubhouse Bookshops too.

Clubhouse Chat: Carolyn Belcher

Welcome to Clubhouse Chat page. For those of you who are not a member of the clubhouse won’t be aware that the location of the Clubhouse is shrouded in mystery. The only way to visit the clubhouse is via membership or an invite to the clubhouse tearoom. Every few days, I’ll be sharing a conversation I’ve had with a guest over tea and cakes, or maybe a glass of something stronger, about their work in progress, or latest book release. I’ll be talking to all sort of writers and authors at different levels of their writing careers.

[image error]Photo by Brett Jordan on Pexels.com

Today I’m welcoming Carolyn Belcher to the Clubhouse Tearoom. We’ll order our refreshments before I start. What would you like to drink?

Thank you, Paula. My favourite beverage is red wine, though if you insist on alcohol free, then coffee, but proper coffee not instant.

You’re okay to drink wine here, Carolyn as our driver will take you home. Now we have our drinks I’ll start by asking you when you first begun your writing journey what drew you to your chosen genre? 

I think I chose my genre because of the books that I enjoy reading the most, although having said that, I love reading a good crime novel. I did try my hand at one, a couple of years ago but I wasn’t happy with it.

[image error]Wonderful Carolyn Belcher

What writing elements do you think is your strongest points, and what would you like to do better?

I think my strongest element is dialogue. I’ve written several pieces for the theatre and had them performed at The Edinbugh Fringe Festival This was in the 80’s and early 90’s. I would like to improve my descriptive ability.

[image error]Carolyn Book Link

 Tell us a little about latest writing project.  Is it a new idea, or one you have been mulling over for some time?

I have two writing projects on the go. The 4th novel in the quartet is in its final draft. The other 3 I’ve already mentioned are part of a quartet which has an umbrella title of The Mirror In The Cathedral. Each novel is linked but also stands alone. The 4th one is called All The Lies We Don’t Hear. The second project is first draft. It’s called Michelin and is a novel for children aged between 9/11. It deals with bullying, racism, and abuse.

How many unfinished projects do you have on your computer?

I have several unfinished projects on my laptop. I’m not sure exactly how many.

[image error]Carolyn Book Link

Do you write a synopsis first or write the first chapter?  Do you plan your story or let the characters lead you?

No I don’t write a synopsis first, nor do I plan. My work is character driven and often they decide.

Choosing only five of your favourite authors. There list them in order 1 being the top of your list, and say how have they influenced your writing?

Anne Tyler, Carol Shields, Carol Shields. Michael Connelly, Kazuo Ishiguru. The first 3 authors have influenced me because I believe in their characters and integrity in what I write is important to me. I also love the wry humour in Anne Tyler’s work.

[image error]Carolyn’s Book Link

Were any of your characters inspired by real people?

Yes, real people have inspired my characters.

 Is there anything about you your readers might be surprised to find out?

I can’t think of anything in particular that might surprise people about me, unless it’s that I was offered a publishing contract the week before my 70th birthday.

What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?

My work schedule is varied as it depends on the day and what I have to do. Quite often, I can write for several hours without a break, and I’m annoyed if the flow has to be interrupted. Sometimes writing on my laptop is mesmeric and I feel sleepy. Then I realise it’s time to take a break and do some gardening, which is my other big love.

How do you select the names of your characters? & do you know everything about them before you start writing their story? 

Sometimes names for characters just appear and I know they’re right. At other times I have a struggle to find the  right name. No, I don’t know everything about them when I begin to write. Quite often they surprise me. I’ve had various arguments with characters because of a direction they want me to go in.

Thank you for talking to us about your writing, Carolyn.

Thank you for having us.

It you want to find out more about Clubhouse Member’s Books don’t forget to check out the Clubhouse Bookshops too.

Clubhouse Chat: A. L. Paradiso

Welcome to Clubhouse Chat page. For those of you who are not a member of the clubhouse won’t be aware that the location of the Clubhouse is shrouded in mystery. The only way to visit the clubhouse is via membership or invite to the clubhouse tearoom. Every few days, I’ll be sharing a conversation I’ve had with a guest over tea and cakes, or maybe a glass of something stronger, about their work in progress, or latest book release. I’ll be talking to all sort of writers and authors at different levels of their writing careers.

[image error]Photo by Dima Valkov on Pexels.com

Today, I welcome A.L. Paradiso to the Clubhouse Tearoom for a chat. Before I start asking my questions, what would you like to drink?

Hot chocolate, please.

Now we have a drinks I shall start by asking you how many unfinished projects do you have on your computer?
    About 8 mainstream, 48 special projects and a queue of 270 (10-90% done, low priority). I also have three books in progress.

 Do you write a synopsis first or write the first chapter? If you only write short stories, do you plan your story, or let the characters lead you?
   I write mostly short stories. I rarely plan them, but depend on prompts or inspiration. Once I figure where my seminal image fits in the story, I flesh out the characters — their backgrounds, desires, what they are willing to do to get there. As I start writing the seminal image, the setup and resolution resolve in my head. Soon after, the characters become alive and I get in their heads and let them write their story. I learned NOT to fight them.

Choosing only five of your favourite authors.  Can you list them in order 1 begin the top of your list and say how have they influenced your writing?
    1- Joe Stracynski, Babylon 5 author; I thank and curse him for getting me into creative writing.  He’s been online for B5 background and insider info since MY SPACE was hot, 2 years before B5 was sold. When he explained his writing process, it made sense to me and I began to think I could do that — not the tome of 122 cohesive chapters of B5, or even the impressive overall arc and mini arcs. I had been thinking of recording 3 main traumas and his tips made me believe I could do that. I have since written two of them, fifty years and twenty-two years after the events. The third took me thirty-five years to even start.
    I try to follow his style and advice.

    2- Ursula LeGuin taught me to let imagination fly free even in restrictive settings. Lathe of Heaven is my favorite movie and made from her book. The book is among my top choices.

    3- Anne McCaffrey and her Dragonriders of PERN series (I’m on book 15 of 26, for my 6th time through the series). I’m not a Fantasy fan, but this award winning ScfFi series won me over on the first page of the first book. I’m still decoding how she gets us so involved with her characters that each reread is like visiting old friends again. Several of her books bring on tears; one brings dread when I start it since I know where it ends and I hate it, and love it.

    4- Tolkein: Again, not a Fantasy fan. I avoided reading LotR (and DroP) for years. When I finally started on the Hobbit, I couldn’t put it down. His writing is so immersive and vivid that when I read the Hobbit for hours, my feet and muscles ached as I traveled with Bilbo. The realism he wrote into each scene and character is amazing. Who knew there are so many names for a pile of dirt?

[image error]The Fascinating A.L Paradiso

When reading your work through do you ever find that your daily mood swings are reflected in your writing?
    Usually not. I clear my head, tell my left brain to SHUT UP, and surrender to my right brain’s connection to the ethers. I plant a thought, or just open up to the energy around us. Shortly I see small, white dots tumbling through space, accreting into ever bigger dots until these thought dots come into focus. About then, I get my seminal image. That’s usually in a white, 5×7″ frame and rocking as it gets closer and I can see it. Sometimes it’s a GIF-like moving image, often it’s a still frame.
    At that point, I don’t yet know where that image fits in the story, but as I try to describe it, I get a sense of what has to come before it and where the story ends. Then the words just FLOW.

Were any of your characters inspired by real people?
    Most are a mix of real people. My muse and main character in my EMANCIPATION (Pygmalion type) novel looks exactly like a relative and has most of her traits.

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What did you learn when writing your book or story? In writing it, how much research did you do?
    That I’m a teacher and storyteller at heart, but writing reaches so many more people than I could ever hope to any other way.  Have 124 stories under a pen name. Those alone have more than 4.83 million views as of 9/6/20.
    Research varies with the topic. I watch science programs to stay current with the latest theories they let us see, and draw on that. I’ve used my Physics, Math, Anatomy and Psych learning in many stories. Yet there are always specifics to look up. For one story I wrote, I needed to know how long x number of people can survive in a sealed room of various sizes. My initial guess was far off. There is a formula and detailed explanation for this and I used them in the story.
    In chapter seven in my TIMEGASMS story, I have my time traveler go visit JFK to guide him through the Cuban Missile crises. To find a plausible date to drop her, I did more than fifty hours research to recreate his October 1962 daily calendar and, with less detail, for the years around that. She will appear in March at a certain, infamous party. Besides ‘visiting’ his and Jackie’s calendars and museums, I found newly released FBI and NSA memos, and diaries of several close friends. There were several items I didn’t need to know! That chapter isn’t published since I still need details about the traveler and her investments across time.

  Is there anything about you your readers might be surprised to find out?
    That I use four pen names according to the topic or sensitivity of the story.
    That have been a volunteer driver safety instructor for AARP for 21 years.
    That I taught business computing at a local college.

 Did you uncover things about yourself while writing your books whether that be a long forgotten memory, a positive experience etc?
    Yes. It was years after a motorcycle ‘crash’ before I realized I had a view of the incident from far behind me. Research helped me understand the realty part of the time dilation I felt and how my mind constructed that third-eye image from all the data it collected.
    When I finally wrote two of the three traumas that drove me to write, I did recall several forgotten memories.

What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?
    Since I’m officially retired, I’m free to write all day — after clearing my varied email and Facebook baggage.

Do you set yourself a daily word count?
    No, except for NANOWRIMO days.  There are days I get zero on paper and days I’ve written more than 8000 words.

How many hours in a day do you write?
    If you include conceptualizing, research and arranging elements before typing anything, and I do, probably ten plus.

How do you select the names of your characters? & do you know everything about them before you start writing their story? 
    Usually, I let my right brain pick them. When I’m writing about couples, I found it easier to keep them straight if their names start with the same letter. They usually come easily to me. If they don’t, I read some baby names sites and find a good fit.
    There was one exception in Emancipation. I had a new guy come in and couldn’t name him. The 1000s of baby names were no help so I left it blank and fleshed out the scene – or planned to. I wrote, “Hi, my name is Valen” Where did that come from? I searched the baby names for it — it wasn’t there. Valen is a Babylon 5 character who is nothing like my character. So I left it and blamed his B5 fan parents.

What was your hardest scene to write?
    That varies. The two traumas I wrote about were gut wrenching all the way, but those are nonfiction. 
    There is a short scene I wrote that still chokes me up. In my WW4 story, I had the captain and his XO in a long term and deeply committed relationship. They’d been through battles together and were both decorated heroes. After a troubled trip which nearly destroyed the ship, they crashed on Enceledus and she was gravely injured. Doctors said she could not recover and would be in huge pain until the end despite her meds. She begged for relief from her broken body, but he couldn’t do it. After many days of intense pain, he agreed to give her mercy — and we both cried.   

Clubhouse Chat: Shawn M Klimek

Welcome to Clubhouse Chat page. For those of you who are not a member of the clubhouse won’t be aware that the location of the Clubhouse is shrouded in mystery. The only way to visit the clubhouse is via membership or an invite to the clubhouse tearoom. Every few days, I’ll be sharing a conversation I’ve had with a guest over tea and cakes, or maybe a glass of something stronger, about their work in progress, or latest book release. I’ll be talking to all sort of writers and authors at different levels of their writing careers.

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Today I’m welcoming Shawn to the Clubhouse Tearoom. Shawn, I’m so pleased to have a chance to chat with you. It looks like we’ve arrived during a quiet moment. First, I think we should put in an order for refreshments. What would you like?

Please could I have dandelion wine, if it is available?

At the clubhouse, everything is available.

Now our drinks have arrived my first question to you is when you first begun your writing journey what drew you to your chosen genre?

I write in several genres, but primarily speculative fiction, often flavored by humor. My parents gave us (my siblings and I) access to Edgar Rice Burroughs while we still in elementary school, and I read the Pellucidar series a few times. I checked Ray Bradbury’s “S is for Space” and “R is for Rocket” out from the school library multiple times, inspired by the titles alone, which must be revealing. Humor has been in my bones since I was a toddler, noted for laughing easily and often. Monty Python, Saturday Night Live, and Neil Simon entered my life as I was learning to write and, along with Douglas Adams, P.G. Wodehouse, particularly influence me still. (Mentioning them causes me to reflect that I’ve drifted from humor for too long).

What writing elements do you think is your strongest points, and what would you like to do better?

My college professor once wrote “clever, clever, clever” on top of one of my screenplays. She meant it as a criticism. Cleverness is both an asset and a crutch. My professor was encouraging me to create stories and characters with more heart. I believe I have gradually and belatedly made progress along these lines but have plenty of room to grow.

[image error]Shawn M Klimek & Noneko

Tell us a little about latest writing project.  Is it a new idea, or one you have been mulling over for some time?

Today I’m resuming work on a fantasy short story that has already missed its deadline (one on a growing stack), but I would rather have a good story not published than a bad story published. It’s a recent idea for a specific submission call. When it’s finished, I believe it will have heart.

How many unfinished projects do you have on your computer?

Projects which I definitely intend to finish? Four or five stories at least.

Do you write a synopsis first or write the first chapter? If you only write short stories, do you plan your story or let the characters lead you?

It depends. For short stories, I usually start with tension and find the ending when the tension is released. I often, but not always, have a climax in mind. Sometimes I visualize the whole story in my head before I start; sometimes I have an epiphany only when I’m waist-deep; and at other times I never quite get there.

Most of my poetry is playful storytelling, reveling unapologetically in the joy of literary devices including alliteration, rhyme and meter besides evocative imagery. Frequently, my poems are stories.

[image error]Shawn with two of his books

When reading your work through do you ever find that your daily mood swings are reflected in your writing?

Yes. I am most productive when I’m feeling hopeful and perky. Conversely, when I behind in my sleep, it becomes a staring contest between me and the screen.

Were any of your characters inspired by real people?

Except for one parody I wrote, no. I did write a story incorporating real people once, however. To stay in touch with my siblings when I first went overseas for the U.S. Army, I began interactive murder mystery with them as characters. As one might in a role-playing game, they chose their own actions at crisis points. This proceeded for about three chapters, when, to evoke a sense of peril, I narrated that my Dad got shot in the leg. Imagining this broke my heart, however, and I found I couldn’t continue the story.

What did you learn when writing your story ? In writing it, how much research did you do?

I research many short stories just to get details right. Sometimes research inspires new stories.

Is there anything about you your readers might be surprised to find out?

I memorized the songs to Rocky Horror Picture show before I ever saw the movie, and when I did, I dressed up like Frankfurter.

Did you uncover things about yourself while writing your books or stories, whether that be a long forgotten memory, a positive experience etc.

During my teens and twenties, I wrote a lot of dark comedy contrasting hopefulness and hopelessness—a theme I only recognized after I had been doing it a while. I believe this choice reflected a subconscious tension between reality and over-ambition. Imposter syndrome. When folks insisted that I would succeed, become a star, etc., I found it equally encouraging and stressful.

What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?

I do most of my writing on weekday mornings when I’ve successfully postponed looking at the internet.

Do you set yourself a daily word count?  

No.

How many hours in a day do you write?

There is no consistent number, but hours at a time, once I get going.

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

I invented a pen name as a teenager, after first deciding that I would write a book someday, but have never used it.

How do you select the names of your characters? & do you know everything about them before you start writing their story? 

I used to waste time struggling with character names, but now I choose them as rapidly as I can and only revise them if they begin to bother me or I think of an improvement. My characters may have any of several functions in my story—information, antagonism, plot advancement, color—but at the beginning, I only know them as rough outlines.

What was your hardest scene to write?

That’s difficult to judge. Many times, including the ongoing story mentioned above, I have slaved over a scene, rewriting and reorganizing paragraphs in order to find the right balance of description, action, dialogue and exposition, compellingly paced.

How long on average does it take you to write a story, or poem? 

One or two days for a short poem or flash fiction, polished to my satisfaction. Increasingly more for longer pieces.

Thank you for joining me in the clubhouse, Shawn.

Thank you for having me, Paula. Is it okay if check out to see who else is about?
Of course, as a member of the clubhouse you can stay as long as you like. Just let one of the drivers know when you’re ready to leave.

Clubhouse Chat: Ray Suchow

Welcome to Clubhouse Chat page. For those of you who are not a member of the clubhouse won’t be aware that the location of the Clubhouse is shrouded in mystery. The only way to visit the clubhouse is via membership or invite to the clubhouse tearoom. Every few days, I’ll be sharing a conversation I’ve had with a guest over tea and cakes, or maybe a glass of something stronger, about their work in progress, or latest book release. I’ll be talking to all sort of writers and authors at different levels of their writing careers.

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Today I’m chatting to Ray. Good Afternoon to you.

Good afternoon, my dear Paula! It’s a pleasure to chat with you today in the fabulous Clubhouse. I must say, you’re pictures don’t do you justice—your smile is even more dazzling in person and you are absolutely radiant! Thank you so much for your kind invitation. Whatever you’d like, it’s on me, and I’ll have a Taylor Fladgate’s 10 Year Old Port to help start things off with.

Right Ray Let’s get started. Firstly, when you first begun your writing journey what drew you to your chosen genre? 

That’s a great question, because most writers don’t choose to be educational writers, which is what I’ve primarily been the past 20 years! So, what could possibly draw someone towards that? Well, when I was 15 and heard the call to become a writer, it was strong science fiction writing that drew me towards my current genre. Specifically, stories that had a consistent pace, effective dialogue, a few surprises, and always taught me something or had a lesson. If all of those worked together, there was a resulting positive cadence—similar to a great piece of music—and the result was a very pleasing and memorable read. I’ve since tried to have a cadence (and a revealing surprise/lesson) in all of my educational pieces, and it seems to have worked!

What writing elements do you think is your strongest points, and what would you like to do better?

I believe one my strongest points is recording my ideas so I can come back to them later and develop them. Since I teach full-time (50-60 hours a week), finding consistent writing time is always a challenge. But, if I know I’ve got the seed planted, I can come back to later and help it grow, which has resulted in many sales over time.
One of the things I definitely do much better (and keep working at) is that I can write for educational audiences without being academic! My first writing group BROKE me of that bad habit, and I am forever grateful to them. “What do you mean people don’t want to read 60 word sentences? They’re fun to write!” But apparently not fun to read. So they’d put me back on the rack. Eventually, and several scars later, I learned that periods are your friends, and shorter sentences make for better flow and more engagement. That I also began to enjoy more sales as this process happened proved their point, so I now consistently write engaging pieces without the need for a dictionary or a breath of fresh air after a single sentence!

Tell us a little about latest writing project.  Is it a new idea, or one you have been mulling over for some time?

Ooh! I love this question! I’ve been working on my second teaching book most of this year, which has been quite a challenge due to everything that’s happened in our world, especially in regards to teaching. What I’ve been mulling about the most is having a different theme for it. My first book was a collection of truly wonderful teaching moments I’ve been blessed to be a part of. In the second book, I want to show another collection of moments, but in the scope of a year in a teacher’s life. So rather than ‘just another collection’, amazing as that would be (wink!), I want to take readers (and beginning teachers) into our world and show them the highs, the lows, and the majesty of the power of relationships in a teacher’s life. I’m half-finished, and theme seems to be working out!

[image error]Forever Smiling Ray

How many unfinished projects do you have on your computer?

Several! With all of those seeds I mentioned, I always have 3-5 upcoming articles ideas I’m developing, and now that I’ve become an author (Yes!) I have 3-5 book ideas in long-term development. So, depending if I have 15 minutes or an hour to write, a project is always being worked on!

Choosing only five of your favourite authors.  Can you list them in order 1 begin the top of your list and say how have they influenced your writing?

I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to break the rules on this and mention just one. Honestly, as we in the Clubhouse all know, there are So Many we could list, and I’m no different. Despite reading and loving works from Dumas to Tolkien and Clarke to Forrester, meeting and talking to my Favourite Author (FA) at a seminal point in my life had made all the difference. I met Diane Carey (one of the best-selling Star Trek authors of all time) just as I was about to become a teacher, and as my own call to write was growing louder. To meet and talk with my FA was a life event right there, but to find out that a) she had been a high school teacher, b) she’d heard the call to write and followed it, and c) she was thankful for my comments about her amazing dialogue, action, and consistent pacing, made THE difference in my writing life. Right there, I KNEW it could be done! Start writing, keep writing, and reach out to those who can help you grow (hello Clubhouse!). Just a few years later, my first article was published, and I was on my way. Thank you, Diane! I am eternally grateful!

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When reading your work through do you ever find that your daily mood swings are reflected in your writing?

This is a great question! You know what, Never! Despite several personal losses and professional challenges in the past year, I am consistently able to keep a focus on that positive cadence I mentioned. When it’s time to write, the outside world is far away and my muses are nearby inside my bubble, and away we go! The one exception is when I wrote about losing my younger brother last year. In that piece, my mood is definitely reflected in my writing, and it’s a stronger piece because of it. Now that I think about it, and especially as I began to work on longer book projects, perhaps tapping into that ‘deeper, darker wellspring’ may be something I can use more often. Thank you, Paula! You may have just given me a new direction for improving my future writings!

 What did you learn when writing your book (story, play or poem)?

Confidence! That! I! Can! Do! It! And does the view from the mountaintop ever look great! I’m a positive person by nature, but we writers know how many voices we hear that try to hold us back. By self-publishing my first book—writing, rewriting, and relentlessly editing to ensure that every word, period, and page number is in the right place and working—I’ve not only achieved a life dream, but also opened up a wonderful new world of writing for myself. I’m not only working on my next book, but also speaking about being a teacher-writer to other teachers. So, onwards to the next mountaintop I go!

Is there anything about you your readers might be surprised to find out?

Lol! Yes, but because some people have reacted quite negatively to this, I’m going to whisper it to you if you don’t mind. My, that is a lovely perfume you’re wearing? Is that Chanel No. 5? It’s wonderful! Ok, here it is. I’m probably one of the only people on the planet who doesn’t like bacon. There, I said it! Now watch the Clubhouse comments flow in!

What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?

Highly variable, but focused! Due to the time demands of my career, each day and weekend is different in terms of what has to be completed for that world. So, I’ve mastered the art of being able to take 15 minute to 1 hour open timeframes and DO something with them! Having a digital device is SO useful for that! I’ve written great introductions and crucial paragraphs when waiting at a doctor’s office or riding in a car. It all adds up!

How long on average does it take you to write a book (story, poem, or play)? 

For my educational articles, I can write an 800 word piece in a few hours. For my first book, I created it in 7 months while working full-time.

Thank you so much for joining in the clubhouse tearoom, Ray. It’s been lovely chatting to you.

A very enjoyable afternoon, Paula. Has the car arrived to pick me up yet?

Not yet, so I have time to tell everyone about your links.

Link to Ray’s Book Author of The Joy of Teaching! 

Ray’s Facebook Page: 

Instagram: raymundo_6502Twitter: ray_suchow

If you want to find out more about Clubhouse Member’s Books, don’t forget to check out the Clubhouse Bookshops too.

Clubhouse Chat: Janine Bernaldez

Welcome to Clubhouse Chat page. For those of you who are not a member of the clubhouse won’t be aware that the location of the Clubhouse is shrouded in mystery. The only way to visit the clubhouse is via membership or invite to the clubhouse tearoom. Every few days, I’ll be sharing a conversation I’ve had with a guest over tea and cakes, or maybe a glass of something stronger, about their work in progress, or latest book release. I’ll be talking to all sort of writers and authors at different levels of their writing careers.

[image error]Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

Hey Paula!  First, Thank you for inviting me to the clubhouse.

It’s lovely to have you here, Janine. Before we start let’s put our order in for refreshments. What would you like to drinks?

My favorite drink is none other than COCA COLA! I like chocolate drinks as well but my first love is always COKE

Clubhouse Chat: David Bowmore

Welcome to Clubhouse Chat page. For those of you who are not a member of the clubhouse won’t be aware that the location of the Clubhouse is shrouded in mystery. The only way to visit the clubhouse is via membership or invite to the clubhouse tearoom. Every few days, I’ll be sharing a conversation I’ve had with a guest over tea and cakes, or maybe a glass of something stronger, about their work in progress, or latest book release. I’ll be talking to all sort of writers and authors at different levels of their writing careers.

[image error]Photo by Isabella Mendes on Pexels.com

Today I’m with David Bowmore in the Clubhouse Tearoom. Welcome, David. What would you like to drink?

Well, could I have a Malt Whisky from Islay, it goes by the name of Bowmore.

Now our drinks have arrived can I ask you, when you first begun your writing journey what drew you to your chosen genre? 

When I started I thought I would be writing sci-if extravaganzas – space battles, fantastic super weapons, and evil warlords like Ming the Merciless. I think part of me is still seven years old and making Star Wars blasters with Lego.

As it happens, I don’t really have a specific genre, although my work has often been called literary. I have written numerous stories embracing most of the standard genres; exciting thrillers, ghost stories, the odd bit of horror, westerns and old style murder mysteries. Even some fantasy and sci-fi. My new book, Tall Tales and Short Fiction (October 2020) is a collection of some of my best work.

What writing elements do you think is your strongest points, and what would you like to do better?

Character creation. They become real to me. I know them like you know someone you work with or see down the pub. I can tell you the basics of how they look and what they might be like on the surface, but then sometimes I’m blown away to find out something deeper, something that shaped the person in their past and made them who they are now. I quickly realised that displaying emotion was the key creating a character that the reader can connect with.

I’ve been told my dialogue is pretty good.

Sometimes, my descriptions are a bit vague and that can take a lot time in second and third drafts to get right.

[image error]David Bowmore: A Man of Mystery

Tell us a little about latest writing project.  Is it a new idea, or one you have been mulling over for some time?

Which project would that be? I seem to have so many on the go at once. I’m trying to get my head around the sequel to The Magic of Deben Market. It still has to have the sense of abnormal in a normal world, have lots of characters who vaguely know each other, and at the same time feel like a continuation of the first book. Plus in must include time travel, ghosts, murder, mystery, magic and Rod Stewart!

Then there’s Mortimer and Georgette (Morty and George to their friends) a pair of adventurers getting up to all manner of high-jinks, while scuppering the plans of master criminals in the 1930s.

I have plans for an embittered,ex-policemanin an austere post war Britain.

And only a couple of nights ago I saw a call for a space opera in no more than 15,000 words. But it’s turning into a murder mystery/conspiracy thing in deep space. It may well be a novel by the time I’ve finished.

Oh, and a best of collection is due for release at the beginning of October- Tall Tales & Short Fiction: A Multi-Genre Collection.

I think that’s everything.

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How many unfinished projects do you have on your computer?

All of the above plus about ten others. I’ve written far more words than I’ve had published. I might lose the forlorum to continue, perhaps the story isn’t coming together, or I don’t know where to go with a character. More than likely I’m tempted away by another project.

Do you write a synopsis first or write the first chapter or short story, or do you plan your story, or let the characters lead you.

I sit and start writing, usually with no idea where it will lead. However, the longer the story, the more planning is needed. So as thestory grows, so do the notes and timeframes and lists and million other pieces of paper that help me keep track of what’s happening.The whole story might turn on a pin head with just a few words from the right character.

Choosing only five of your favourite authors.  Can you list them in order 1 begin the top of your list and say how have they influenced your writing?

P.G Wodehouse – no one else who writes in the English language can put sentences together the way he can. His plots may be silly, but his wordplay and characters are outstanding. There’s not one page where you cannot help but be impressed. Genius.My character, Morty is definitely from his world.

Agatha Christie–Christie said she only had about five plots, but it’s the settings and the characters that make her brilliant. Most of my stories have an element of mystery to them.

Stephen King – the first author that I always wanted to read more of. He inspired me to write, and after I read ‘On Writing’, I did.

Elmore Leonard – no one else does dialogue like this man—it’s perfect—and his rules on writing are some of the soundest out there. I try to dialogue like Leonard.

Alan Moore – yes, I know he’s a comic book writer, but his genius for character creation, world building, incorporation of pop culture, diverse themes, and complex, multi-layered plots, all mirroring our own world is outstanding.I always try to layer my stories.

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Were any of your characters inspired by real people?

The simple answer is some are. But it’s complex; the genesis of a character might be in some words or odd phrasing that I’ve overheard, or it might come from a particular trait or habit. Sometimes, a character might be several real people rolled into one.I hope the reader will recognise a bit of themselves in my characters – the good, the bad and the embarrassing.

What did you learn when writing your book or story? In writing it, how much research did you do?

Research is essential, especially if the story is a period piece. I’ve found lots of things out. For instance, did you know that Harrods sold little brass tins of morphine and cocaine complete with needle for loved ones to send to the troops in the trenches of the First World War? I wrote a story around that.

What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?

I try to write every morning, usually at a dedicated desk,for an hour or two. But I also write just about anywhere thanks to an iPad and cloud storage. The ideas must never be lost. For me, writing is not only tapping away on a keyboard, it’s printing out for editing, reading (my own work, those of my contemporaries and some classics too) and sometimesI put my feet up and think stuff through.

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

David Bowmore is my pen name. I decided to use it because I was embarrassed at first, and wasn’t sure how people I know in the real world would take my writing. A month ago, Ieventually gathered enough courage to tell my family. As it happens, my mother phoned last nightto say how much she liked The Magic of Deben Market. She loved it, with the exception of the swearing, and told me all about her favourite characters.

I don’t think I could write using my own name, so it looks like David Bowmore is here to stay.

Thank you for joining me in the clubhouse tearoom, David.

Thank you for inviting me to have a drink and chat.

If you want to know more about David and his writing check out his website:

Direct link to The Magic of Deben Market All the books David Bowmore is featured in are found here

It you want to find out more about Clubhouse Member’s Books don’t forget to check out the Clubhouse Bookshops too.

Guest’s Book Tour:Cressida E Schofield

Welcome to my guest page. Here, every few days, I’ll be sharing a conversation, over tea and cakes, or maybe a glass of something stronger, if they are not driving, with a friend about their work in progress, or latest book release. I’ll be talking to all sort of writers and authors at different levels of their writing careers.

[image error]Pineapple Pina Colada

Today I’m sitting here chatting with Cressida E Schofield.
Thank you for the invitation, Paula. I hope you’re keeping well.

You’re welcome. I’m fine thank you. Let’s order our drinks first. What would you like?

My favourite beverage is the cheesiest drink of all: a pina colada! I just can’t resist all that cream, coconut and pineapple. 

Right, now we have our drinks I’ll start by asking you, what writing elements do you think is your strongest points, and what would you like to do better?

I’ve been told that humorous and realistic dialogue is a strength. Waffling and including too much character back story is probably a weakness, and I’ve been told to keep an eye on making sure I show and not tell. I’m always keen to learn about and improve my grammar and I must be more proactive when it comes to expanding my vocab. I do believe that writing is like so many other things in that the more you practice, the better you are.

[image error]The Wonderful Cressida E Schofield

Tell us a little about latest writing project.  Is it a new idea, or one you have been mulling over for some time?

My latest project, Storm Cottage, is a contemporary adult fiction book set in my very favourite place, Robin Hood’s Bay on the North Yorkshire coast, and is a romantic tale of running away from a life that is no longer enriching, healing, living completely off the digital grid and finding a place in this world. It’s a bit of a love letter to Robin Hood’s Bay, which is my soul home, but at the same time it’s got a tricky plot so it’s giving me a few headaches. It was a fairly new idea when I started it, which is quite unusual for me as I do have a bit of a project waiting list. I’m about 60K words in, with a projected word count of 100K. It’ll be a big book!

[image error]Cressida’s Book Cover

How many unfinished projects do you have on your computer?

LOL! Let me think… I write series fiction so, if I take into account all the books I’d like to complete in each series – and I’ve jotted some notes down for pretty much every instalment, even if it’s just the title – probably somewhere close to 30. That’s a bit scary, isn’t it? Although, to be fair, one of the series is for middle grade and is based in a school, with one book per term over seven years, so that’s not as scary as it might first seem. I just wish, wish, wish that I could find the time to write as quickly as my brain comes up with ideas!

Do you write a synopsis first or write the first chapter?

I absolutely loathe and detest writing synopses, and blurbs, and one-line pitches, so the synopsis is the very last thing that I write, and even then it is under great duress and borne of necessity. Ghastly things, synopses are. If something isn’t 50K+ words, I’m hopeless. I even struggle with short stories. The only short story I’ve ever had any success with is the one featured in the Whitby Abbey: Pure Inspiration anthology, in which you also have one of your stories. And, of course, that’s how we met: at the book launch event at the Abbey itself. Such great memories!

[image error]Whitby Pure Inspiration: Cressida & Paula

Choosing only five of your favourite authors. Can you list them in order 1 begin the top of your list and say how have they influenced your writing?

1) Philippa Carr (also known as Jean Plaidy and Victoria Holt, of course), who wrote historical fiction and Gothic romances. I loved her feisty heroines and learned a lot about British and world history from her novels, which she cleverly wove into her characters’ lives. Her sense of pace and the way she built intrigue and tension is still excellent. She’s probably had the most influence on my writing purely because I have read, and reread, so many of her books over the years.

2) Jilly Cooper. Because I was horse mad, I read Riders when I was aged 15. Then, throughout most of my 20s and 30s, I loved Jilly Cooper’s books which, although usually the size of bricks with hundreds of characters and with several interwoven plots and subplots, are very easy to read, and that’s a skill regardless of whether the content appeals. I loved the way she described the countryside and cities, the changing seasons and her animal characters as well as the way she twisted famous quotes into laugh out loud puns. I struggle with her books a little now, as they aren’t always appropriate for our ever-changing times, but she was definitely a big influence on my early writing style, particularly when I’m writing animals, who are characters in their own right.

3) Number three isn’t an author but a genre: the humble pony book. I grew up devouring every pony book I could get my hands on, from the Pullein-Thompson sisters to Jill, Jinny, Georgia and Jackie, and then with everything even remotely connected to Black Beauty on top. As a writer of equine fiction, these books taught me so much not only about writing but also about riding and caring for horses. All of the pony books I read as a child were not only entertaining but also educational and informative, and that’s definitely something that the new generation of pony book authors, myself included, has inherited.

4) Joan Wilder. Now, Joan Wilder isn’t an actual real life author but the ‘bodice ripper’ romance novelist character played by Kathleen Turner in the Romancing the Stone and Jewel of the Nile films from the 1980s. I just wanted to be Joan Wilder, who started out meek and helpless but ended up completely badass, all whilst being a bestselling author. I first wanted to be a writer when I was seven, but it was watching Joan Wilder on the silver screen in my teens that cemented that desire, so she definitely deserves a mention.

5) Joss Whedon. Hollywood screenwriter and director (Marvel’s Avengers Assemble) and creator of the icon that is Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Joss Whedon writes incredibly realistic moving yet witty dialogue. One of his most famous quotes is ‘Make it dark, make it grim, make it tough, but then, for the love of God, tell a joke.’ His ability to undercut a deeply serious scene with something very funny is second to none, and makes the watcher or reader swing from one emotion to another. He really is the task  master of dark humour.

And if that isn’t a mixed bookbag, I don’t know what is! 

Is there anything about you your readers might be surprised to find out?

That I’ve had literary representation with a London-based agency since early 2017. All of my currently available books were self-published via Kindle Direct Publishing, so that’s all my readers really know. In the past four years I’ve written four middle grade (9-13 ish) pony adventure books but, as my agent is still trying to find a publisher for them, they’re just sitting on my Mac, waiting patiently… It’s frustrating, but that’s the route I chose to take. It also explains why I keep saying I’ve finished or started another book, but it never materialises online. 

Do you set yourself a daily word count?  

Yes, and fail to meet it regularly. Haha! Ideally, I’d like to write at least two thousand words a day, but more often than not I’ll fall short one day then write double or over the next. I’m usually much more productive during the first and last 25% of my projected word count. It seems that I’m all new project enthusiasm and end of project determination. It’s the middle 50% that gives me gip.

How many hours in a day do you write?

I write for as long as it’s flowing, unless I absolutely have to stop because I need to be somewhere else. I like to have a full, clear day for writing. I don’t do well if I have to stop and start for any reason and I don’t do all that well with half days unless they’re from the afternoon onwards. If I know I have to go out later in the day I’ll find it hard to settle. Today, for example, I’ve dropped the car off at the garage first thing but I don’t know when it’ll be ready to collect. I’ll be restless all day until it’s sorted. However, if I get bogged down in a sticky patch I will walk away from my desk and do something else for half an hour or so – usually a few chores – in the hope that the break will reboot my brain. I can’t sit and stare at the screen – I’ve got too long a to-do list for that, so I try to make use of any available time one way or another.

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

Not really. I have a very distinctive name, so I might as well use it! 

How do you select the names of your characters? & do you know everything about them before you start writing their story? 

I do tend to use family and friends’ names for characters – either first or surname – but also names that I particularly like in books and popular culture. For example, in my ‘pony book for grown ups’, Incapability Brown, I have two young girls called Carlotta, which I first came across in a Philippa Carr book, and Taryn, which I got from a Sweet Valley High book I’d read as a teenager and simply always liked. I *never* use the names of people who I’ve not got along with previously or who have hurt me in some way, not even for my villains. If I name a villain after you, I really do think very highly of you! As for knowing everything about my characters… If they’re a series character, I’ll know them quite well by the second book. I keep a ‘style sheet’ for all their facts and figures, such as their description and any other personal details. I certainly don’t know everything about my new characters. They’re always wayward and insist on doing their own thing!

Thank you for joining me, Cressida.

It’s been lovely. Is the driver still waiting for me?

Yes, of course but don’t rush your drink. He’s happy to wait.

If you would like to find out more about Cressida’s work check out the links above:

Website: https://www.cressidaellenschofield.co.uk/

Amazon author page: http://ow.ly/NcwP30lHWEc

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

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

It you want to find out more about Clubhouse Member’s Books don’t forget to check out the Clubhouse Bookshops too.

Guest’s Book Tour:Miriam Drori

Welcome to my guest page. Here, every few days, I’ll be sharing a conversation, over tea and cakes, or maybe a glass of something stronger, if they are not driving, with a friend about their work in progress, or latest book release. I’ll be talking to all sort of writers and authors at different levels of their writing careers.

[image error]Photo by Aishwarya Rivonker on Pexels.com

Today I’m welcoming Miriam Drori to the Clubhouse Tearoom. Welcome Miriam. Let’s order our drinks first. What would you like?

A banana milkshake. I hope that counts as a beverage. I don’t usually order it nowadays, because the milk doesn’t always agree with me, but I’m sure nothing untoward will happen to me in the clubhouse tearoom.

That’s okay by me as I don’t drink dairy myself, so we can have non dairy milkshake here.

Now our drinks are here, I’ll start by asking you when you first begun your writing journey what drew you to your chosen genre? 
At the beginning, I certainly didn’t think about genre other than the difference between fiction and non-fiction. I began with non-fiction before venturing into fiction. With both, I was drawn by a growing passion to raise awareness of social anxiety. A few years later, I changed direction following an excellent workshop (facilitated by Sally Quilford) on writing romance. So, my first published novel was a romance. After that, I delved into historical fiction and then uplit. Apparently, crime is next.

[image error]The Fascinating Miriam Drori

What writing elements do you think is your strongest points, and what would you like to do better?
I’d like to do everything better! But I think I’m good at dialogue and less good at descriptions. However, I’m improving all the time.

Tell us a little about latest writing project.  Is it a new idea, or one you have been mulling over for some time?
It’s a crime novel. It grew out of a wish to put my two main characters, who had evolved in my first (thankfully discarded) attempt at a novel, into an exciting situation. I never finished it. Then I had a different idea for those characters, which turned into my latest novel: Cultivating a Fuji. At some point, I reread the draft of the crime novel, thinking to turn it into a short story, but I decided I wanted to expand the story rather than condensing it. However, I couldn’t use those characters or that location, because they were in Cultivating a Fuji. So, I changed the country, the names and parts of the characters. I’m still plotting this latest version.

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Do you write a synopsis first or write the first chapter? Or if you write short stories do you plan your story or let the characters lead you?
That depends. The romance workshop encouraged us to write certain scenes first. The last chapter was one of the first I wrote, and that was before I knew anything about the plot. In my latest short story (Gruesome in Golders Green, which is in the Dark London charity anthology), I knew my main characters when I began writing, but didn’t know where the story was going. Fortunately, the characters told me.

Were any of your characters inspired by real people?
Some characters started off like people I know, but then they acquired characteristics of their own, informed by their own unique backgrounds, and veered away from their original likenesses.

What did you learn when writing your book or story? In writing it, how much research did you do?
In Cultivating a Fuji, I learned about places in Japan that I didn’t get to visit on our three-week tour of the country, places in Bournemouth that I didn’t know and the long process of growing a Fuji apple. I researched the dates of waxworks in London’s Madame Tussauds. When I thought I’d finished writing, I learned that a hospital I’d cited (and sited) wasn’t built in the year I was writing about. I researched the dates of popular songs and the weather in one particular summer. When I began writing the novel, I thought I had most of the information in my head, but clearly I didn’t. I also learned that it’s all right for an author to break writing rules as long as the author knows what they’re doing.

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Is there anything about you your readers might be surprised to find out?
I tend to be open about most things, but readers won’t necessarily have read everything I’ve posted. Or maybe they’ve read my posts and don’t believe them. People who have spoken to me are usually surprised to hear that I write, and that would probably work the other way around: readers might be surprised that someone who can write books and talk to an audience can clam up in an ordinary conversation.

Do you set yourself a daily word count?  
Only for the month of November and NaNoWriMo, which, for anyone who doesn’t know, is the month when writers all over the world go wild and try to write a novel in a month. (For anyone who spurns the idea, we do know that it’s only a first draft and often not even that.) Writing 1,667 words every day is hard and I only succeed (when I do) by putting everything else to one side. For the rest of the year, I’m happy with whatever I manage to do.

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?
I did. I searched for a name with no Rs in it, because I find the three in my name hard to pronounce. But I never came up with a name I liked, so I’m stuck with the real one.

How do you select the names of your characters & do you know everything about them before you start writing their story?
I often look at lists from the relevant country and era. Then I choose the ones that feel right. It’s not very scientific, but it’s worked so far. No, I don’t know everything about them. They always surprise me!

Thanks for inviting me, Paula.

Thank you so much for joining me today, Miriam. It’s been lovely.

If you would like to find out more about Miriam’s work check out the links above.

Website (which I’m in the process of renovating): https://miriamdrori.com/
Cultivating a Fuji: mybook.to/cultivatingafuji
Social Anxiety Revealed: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1022795

It you want to find out more about Clubhouse Member’s Books don’t forget to check out the Clubhouse Bookshops too.

Guest’s Book Tour: Chisto Healy

Welcome to my guest page. Here, every few days, I’ll be sharing a conversation, over tea and cakes, or maybe a glass of something, if they are not driving, with a friend about their work in progress, or latest new release. I’ll be talking to all sort of writers and authors at different levels of their writing careers.

[image error]Photo by Moussa Idrissi on Pexels.com

Today I’m welcoming Chisto Healy to the Clubhouse Tearoom. I’m so glad you found us okay. Yes, I’m sure you could do with a drink, so what shall I order for you?

This is great fun, Paula. It was a challenge to deciding which ten questions to pick. And now which drink to choose. It’ll have to be between whiskey, as I don’t drive, or a nice roasted black coffee, usually an African blend, like Kenyan coffee is good.

The choice is all yours, Chisto.

Please allow me to start by asking you when you first begun your writing journey what drew you to your chosen genre?

Well, I watched horror movies when I was a child and the first book I read when I graduated from children’s books in fourth grade, was a Dean Koontz novel, and he was scary back then. So I really always had a love for horror and wanted to create it. That said, I don’t ever want to get stuck in it and I make sure to dabble in everything. I have sci-fi stories and fantasy stories, romance and erotica stories, straight up fiction/drama stories, young adult stories and even some comedy stories.

What writing elements do you think is your strongest points, and what would you like to do better?

I  think I’ve got originality and people have said my stuff is cinematic, so that’s pretty strong I suppose. As far as doing better, I think I can always do everything better. The more I write and work with editors, the more I improve. I don’t think that will ever stop. If I’m still writing when I’m 80, it’ll be the best thing I’ve ever written haha

Tell us a little about latest writing project.  Is it a new idea, or one you have been mulling over for some time?

I have so many things going on simultaneously, truthfully. Some of them, I’m not allowed to talk about…yet. I’ve got a collaborative novel that I am working on for Fox Hollow and that’s a really fun and exciting process as I’m running it and editing it, and working with some amazing authors. I’m editing and sending out one novel and writing another and working with a publisher on a third. I have a ton of short stories I’m writing as always, and a ton already out there I’m waiting to hear on. I’m co-writing an independent film, and doing some things for charity. One cool one is an anti-bullying anthology. That means a lot to me, and I will be promoting it shortly.

How many unfinished projects do you have on your computer?

Not anywhere, near as many as I used to lol. That was the name of the game for me until I started writing full time in March. Now I’ve been going back and finishing them. There’s still a number of them to go but one by one they get finished and sent out. I’d say there’s maybe five or six at the moment, as opposed to the literal hundreds of complete stories.

Do you write a synopsis first or write the first chapter? If you only write short stories,  do you plan your story, or let the characters lead you.

What I usually do for short or long stories, is come up with a concept, then decide the ending. Then I let the story write itself to that end. I use what I refer to as the John Saul system: you give people something scary or dramatic to hook them and then drop back and build characters and relationships and then bring the scares back in and have a big finale.

[image error]The fascinating Chisto Healy

Choosing only five of your favourite authors.  Can you list them in order 1 begin the top of your list and say how have they influenced your writing?

First would be Simon Clark. He influenced my writing by being so unique and putting his own spin on classic tropes that they became fresh again, making me want to do the same. Also, he took the time to talk to me, and encourage me and coach me and befriend me and that has proven invaluable. I wouldn’t have had the confidence to do anything I have done this year without his input. He’s as great of a man as he is an author.

2. Clive Barker because no one does horror like that guy. He’s so mind blowingly original and frightening. He’s what all horror writers aspire to be.

3. Robert R McCammon because his prose and ideas are just beautiful and even when he stepped out of horror it was incredible.

4. I have to give props to Dean Koontz for getting me started. As a kid, he was my hero and my biggest influence. I still really admire his older stuff and would love to sit down and talk to him one day.

5. Sarah J Maas. I’ve always enjoyed fantasy, growing up on lord of the rings and shadow run and dungeons and dragons, but now that I’m writing it was her series, Throne of Glass, that really brought back my love of fantasy and made me want to dive in and write some of my own. It’s a wonderful series that just builds and gets better as it goes and the real strength is in the characters.

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When reading your work through do you ever find that your daily mood swings are reflected in your writing?

No. Quite the opposite honestly. My writing takes me out of the real world and the moment I’m in. I suffer from PTSD and severe anxiety as well as depression and writing is a very healing and cathartic tool for me. The story isn’t about me. It’s about the people in it and I need to focus on what they feel and go through. It’s entirely separate.

Were any of your characters inspired by real people?

I have put a lot of myself and people I know or have known in my characters, but never completely where I can say, this character is this person. It’s all bits, because I want the character to be their own person but just the same, I find using bits from real life and real people makes it more realistic and believable. it gives them depth.

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What did you learn when writing your book or stories? In writing them, how much research did you do?

Which one? Lol…  I learn a lot about myself and my craft each time I take on a project, but honestly, I don’t do a whole lot of research. I’ve only researched on certain projects where I really wanted to do something specific and it was important to get the facts straight. I wrote one novel where I did a lot of research on celtic mythology and on cancer and treatments and diets, things that needed to be right because the subject was so sensitive. Ordinarily though, I fly off the cuff and just write from the heart

 Is there anything about you your readers might be surprised to find out?

Many, many things…but if I tell you it won’t be a surprise, haha.

Did you uncover things about yourself while writing your books or stories, whether that be a long forgotten memory, a positive experience etc.

Not really. I mean, as far as memories and experiences anxiety keeps them all fresh in my mind. I don’t ever forget them, though sometimes when I get really deep into a character’s psyche, I realize oh….that’s why I felt that way that one time, or why I feel this way now. I can make more sense of myself through flushing out my fictional people

What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?

Ordinarily, I write overnight when everyone is sleeping, usually for 4 – 8 hrs a day, seven days a week. Then I nap and get to taking care of the house and the kids. On certain things though, like when I have a novel with a close deadline, I will just go crazy and work constantly. I worked to finish one recently and a family member pointed out that I wrote for almost eleven straight hours until it was finished. Another author, I admire, recently referred to me as the writing Terminator.

I set a minimum but not a maximum. I need to write at least 3000 words a day.

How many hours in a day do you write?

I guess I’ve already answered that one.

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

No, because there’s a lot behind my name. It isn’t my birth name, but my birth name is tied to the person I used to be and my current name is the person I became so I take a lot of pride in it. There’s so much history. To clarify, this is not a trans thing. I have always been he, him, male. It was about being fragile and weak and abused and becoming strong and independent and capable. Every time I see my name on something I feel pride. I would never want to hide behind another name.

How do you select the names of your characters? & do you know everything about them before you start writing their story?

Believe it or not, so much goes into this. I do research names if I want people to be of a certain culture or time period. I try to not use the same names I’ve already used or at least not too often. I spend a great deal of my thinking and planning time on names, probably too much, but I have a lot of weird quirks and hang ups that I can’t break myself of. I’m a weirdo.

What was your hardest scene to write?

This is a great question. I’m thinking hard on this one. I wrote some stuff based on my own experiences and there were real life tragedies I had to relive for that and that was really difficult but also really cleansing and helpful to expel. I’ve written some horror that I scared myself with haha. I wrote one novel that made me a little crazy and I was scratching and having people check me for bugs, and I had to take a break from it for a year. As far as one specific scene…I’m really not sure. I’ll have to get back to you on that one.

How long on average does it take you to write a book or stories?

Not very long haha I just pound stuff out. Of course there’s multiple drafts and a lot of editing, but first drafts happen immediately. I wrote one novel in two days. I’m a maniac. I wrote 100,000 words in July.

Thank you so much for joining me today, Chisto.

Thank you for the invite. Now how do I get out of here.

It’s okay our driver will take you wherever you need to go.

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