Gary F. Vanucci's Blog, page 9

Madeline Dyer Interview

I have been remiss in keeping up with my interviews and postings as my wife has had another Seizure (she has been diagnosed with epilepsy since last August) and I have been taking care of her this past week. However, I have received budding interest in authors wanting to be interviewed and the well-versed author, Madeline Dyer, was kind enough to volunteer to be interviewed. The following is the result of the Q&A! Enjoy!





First off, tell us a little bit about youHi! My name's Madeline and I love to write fantasy and science fiction. I live on a farm in Devon, England where I co-run a miniature Shetland Pony stud. Currently, I'm studying for a degree in English Literature so I haven't got as much time to write as I'd like, but I'm still managing to fit some in!



Tell us about your books/What genre do you consider your books?I mainly write fantasy and science fiction novels and short stories for a young adult and adult market, however, I also write nonfiction animal-care books too. All my fictional work is traditionally-published, but I self-publish my nonfiction.



When did you start writing? Now, this is a tricky question because I can't really remember a time when I wasn't writing! When I was in primary school (aged nine or ten) I remember we had to each write a short story, and I loved doing this. We wrote our stories by hand, then had to type them up (which I was very excited about, as we weren't often allowed into the IT suite). When I was typing my story up, I took about three times as long as the other people in my class—my teacher got a little annoyed about this—as I kept finding parts that needed changing, or I wanted to add in new parts. Now, I realise this was the process of me editing it and revising the content, something which our teacher didn't ask us to do.



I suppose it was from this sort of age that I started actually writing (as in writing stories that I tried to finish), though with my dad being a writer, I've been exposed to the world of storytelling and literature ever since I was born.



Why do you write? I write because I love writing. Quite simple really! For me, writing has this amazing power; just by putting a handful of words together you can create incredible characters, powerful emotions and fantastic new worlds where anything can happen. I suppose that writing, for me, is a form of escapism.



What would be your choice for a superpower?I love this question! I think I'd like to be able to write stuff down, just by thinking about it. Just imagine it, I could save so much time! Although, I would also like to be able to teleport to places too... That would be cool.



Who is your favorite author? My favourite (yes, I use the UK spelling!) author at the moment probably has to be Richelle Mead, author of the Vampire Academy series, Dark Swan novels and Bloodlines novels. I love the depth that her books have, how realistic her characters are, and how intricate and beautifully-developed the plots are.



What are you reading now? I've actually just finished reading The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey, (which I absolutely loved and highly recommend), so am in the transitory period from one book to another. Next on my to-read pile of books is L.A Weatherly's Angel Fever.



Who is your favorite character to write? My favourite character to write is Jade from my Spirit Of Fire series. These books are written in the first person narrative from Jade's point of view, so I can really get stuck in her head. She's quite confident, but is flawed and struggles with her identity at times. Having said that she's my favourite character, I also love her twin-brother Jack. He's more aggressive than Jade, and very protective of her and their other sister, but he has some pretty witty dialogue which I love writing!



Do you have a writing process? Yes! I'm a planner. I have to plan what I'm going to write before I write it, yet I can't do too much planning, else I lose inspiration, Typically, I make notes on the plot's arc and the characters (because characters are hugely important for me, as they drive the plot) and then go straight into writing the first draft, attempting to write the scenes in a chronological order. Often, as I'm writing, I discover more about my characters and their lives, which can then be further developed in additional drafts.



My first drafts tend to be pretty messy, so the second and third drafts are for cleaning them up and adding in the 'logical' parts. Then I go onto editing and revising, looking for the continuity errors. At this point, I also start writing a rough synopsis. Then it's the final edits and changes.



Typically, a book of mine has six drafts (this was certainly the case for Spirit Of Fire and Untamed).



What advice would you give to an aspiring author? 

Just to write. And write because you want to write, not because you're told to write. Write because you love writing too, not because you want to make money (though if you sell a book, it is a nice bonus!).



What inspired you to pursue writing?I've just always loved reading and writing. As a child/teenager, I read some incredible books (The Railway Children, Winnie-the-Pooh, Five Children and It, Harry Potter, Vampire Academy, Clan of The Cave Bear, Twilight, The Hunger Games, Divergent, Slated...) and I just wanted to write my own stories!



What are your favorite TV shows/Movies to watch in between writing?I love fantasy and science fiction TV and movies! Recently, I saw The Host (adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's novel of the same name) and loved it, finding it really inspirational. I also regularly watch science fiction and fantasy TV series, such as Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, Doctor Who and Merlin (when it was on!).



What are your current projects?I'm currently working on the second Spirit Of Fire book, Blood Of The Phoenix. At 67,000 words, I'm just over halfway through and am loving it! I've also recently finished the editing process of Untamed, which is now being queried to agents/publishers, and having written the first drafts of the next two books in the Untamed series, I'm also outlining the fourth and final novel. And I have another project that's just beginning to form in my mind too (a YA paranormal thriller) which I'm very excited about.



Nonfiction wise, I'm working on the fifth Mad On Animals book.



And, as always, I've got several short stories on the go.



Do you have anything specific that you want to say to readers?I'm not sure how many people are aware of this, but a lot of my short stories are published online as well as in eBook and paperback format in anthologies. On the fiction page of my website, I have a section for short stories at the bottom of the page where I list all my short stories, and provide links to these stories to the publishers' sites, where you can read them for free!



If you've read any of my work, I'd love to hear from you! I can be contacted directly through the contact page on my website (MadelineDyer.co.uk) or through Twitter: @MadelineDyerUK





Quick Fire:

Cats or dogs? Cats!

Coffee or tea? Tea (so long as it's peppermint!)

Favorite food? Pizza!

Vanilla or chocolate ice-cream? Vanilla—no contest!

What are 3 things you never leave home without? My phone, my iPod and a notebook (or sometimes my laptop, if I'm taking a bigger bag).

Laptop or desktop? Laptop.

Who are 3 famous people you would to hang out with? Richelle Mead, Rick Yancey and L.A Weatherly.

TV or Movies? TV.












Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!




All Artwork and covers of my works by William J. Kenney




Visit my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE




See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!




Also, please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!



photo from http://www.sxc.hu/




All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2013 unless otherwise noted.

Margo Bond Collins Interview

Margo Bond Collins is an author of a paranormal mystery novel entitled Waking Up Dead. She has kindly agreed to be interviewed and the following is the result of our interaction. Enjoy!







First off, tell us a little bit about you...

In my other life, I’m a college professor; I teach English courses online. I live in Texas with my husband and our daughter and a number of thoroughly silly animals. Waking Up Dead is my first published novel; it will be released by Solstice Publishing on October 8.



Tell us about your books/What genre do you consider your books?Waking Up Dead is a paranormal mystery. My second novel, Legally Undead, is an urban fantasy forthcoming in 2014 from World Weaver Press.



In Waking Up Dead, when Dallas resident Callie Taylor died young, she expected to go to Heaven, or maybe Hell. Instead, she met her fate early thanks to a creep with a knife and a mommy complex. Now she's witnessed another murder, and she's not about to let this one go. She's determined to help solve it before an innocent man goes to prison. And to answer the biggest question of all: why the hell did she wake up in Alabama?



When did you start writing? I’ve always wanted to write. For as long as I can remember, I have made up stories. When I’m driving (which I find immensely dull), I amuse myself by making up characters and figuring out ways to make their lives difficult. The first clear memory I have of writing a story is of writing what would now be considered fan fiction—it was a story set in the world of The Wizard of Oz, and I wrote it out on a yellow legal pad.



Why do you write? In some ways, I feel compelled to write. So first and foremost, I write for myself. I write to tell the stories I want to read. And I hope that others want to read them, too!



One of my favorite quotes about writing is from Neil Gaiman; every time I read it, I am reminded of yet another piece of a life of words:



"You write. That's the hard bit that nobody sees. You write on the good days and you write on the lousy days. Like a shark, you have to keep moving forward or you die. Writing may or may not be your salvation; it might or might not be your destiny. But that does not matter. What matters right now are the words, one after another. Find the next word. Write it down. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat." --Neil Gaiman





What would be your choice for a superpower?To slow down time—that way I could have a shot at getting everything done and still be able to sleep!



Who is your favorite author? There are too many to list! I tend to have lists of favorite authors according to genre and to time period. But at the moment, here are a few: I love books by Neil Gaiman, Lois McMaster Bujold, Faith Hunter, Stephen Graham Jones, Ilona Andrews, Carrie Vaughn, Richelle Mead, Rachel Vincent, Holly Black, Janny Wurts, Jennifer Estep, Rachel Caine, Patricia Briggs, Janet Evanovich . . . and those are just the ones who come to mind immediately!



What are you reading now? I always have several books going. Right now I’m reading a collection of academic essays on the television show The Walking Dead, Holly Black’s The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, the forthcoming novel by Melanie Karsak entitled Chasing The Star Garden, and KateMarie Collins’ Son of Corse. I’m also re-reading Lois McMaster Bujold’s Miles Vorkosigan series.



Who is your favorite character to write? Whichever one I’m writing at the moment is always my favorite!



Do you have a writing process? I have an office that I use for all my work: academic writing, fiction writing, editing, and online teaching. My desk is against a window so I can see outside. I’m surrounded by books and papers. I write directly on my laptop, but when I get stuck, I sometimes switch to handwriting; this seems to shift my brain onto a different track and helps me get over writer’s block. I write something every day, whether it’s academic writing, fiction, or my blog.



But the single biggest thing that I do to write? It’s narrating. I have an internal monologue—and sometimes dialogue—going on all the time. I think in words; when I have a mental picture, I practice translating it into words in my mind. I tell myself stories and I work out plot lines and I figure out arguments to make about literature. I think about the words to use to explain writing to my classes and I practice describing my surroundings. I think in my characters’ voices and in my own voice. When I get blocked, I go for a walk and let my characters take over for a while until I have another scene.



What I’ve learned in all my years of teaching writing is that writing is a deeply personal process; everyone has different writing rituals, and those rituals can change over time. I used to have to have a clean space in which to write. Now I just need a place to put my laptop (having a three-year-old child might have influenced that change). I used to have to set rules for myself: writing two hours a day, not going out to the pool in the summer until I had written three pages, and so on. I still use those when I’m stuck or resenting the need to write, but these days, the only rule I have for myself is this: Just write.



What advice would you give to an aspiring author? The very best advice I ever got was just this: keep writing new things. Always have a work in progress. Finish writing a piece, do a quick edit, and submit it somewhere for publication. Then move on to the next project. Don’t wait to hear back—that way lies madness! If it’s rejected (and often it will be; that’s the nature of writing for publication), don’t let it get you down. Just send it out again and go back to your work in progress.



What inspired you to pursue writing?I’ve always written. But about ten years ago, a friend suggested I join in National Novel Writing Month (nanowrimo.org). Until then, I had always written short stories. That year, I finished the first draft of what would eventually become Legally Undead. I’ve been addicted to novel writing ever since!



What are your favorite TV shows/Movies to watch in between writing?In my academic life, I write articles about television and movies, so I often have something running in the background. I tend to incorporate the things I love into my writing life, so I’ve written articles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dollhouse, The Walking Dead, Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries. Pretty much anything with a supernatural slant. I also love crime shows: NCIS, Castle, Longmire.



What are your current projects? I’m currently working on sequels to Waking Up Dead and Legally Undead and I’m writing a paranormal romance novel. I’m also editing collections of academic essays on Farscape, Teen Wolf, The Vampire Diaries, and The Walking Dead.



Quick Fire:Cats or dogs? Cats.

Coffee or tea? Coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon.

Favorite food? Enchiladas.

Vanilla or chocolate ice-cream? Vanilla.

What are 3 things you never leave home without? Smartphone, debit card, and ID. If I have those three things, I can get anything else I might need!

Laptop or desktop? Laptop.

Who are 3 famous people you would to hang out with?

TV or Movies? TV, but only if I can skip commercials.





Margo also wanted to share her links and Information for you if you wanted to contact her!





Email:
MargoBondCollins@gmail.com

Website:
http://www.MargoBondCollins.com

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/MargoBondCollin  @MargoBondCollin

Google+:
https://plus.google.com/116484555448104519902

Goodreads
Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/vampirarchy

Facebook
Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/MargoBondCollins

Facebook
Novel Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Waking-Up-Dead/502076076537575

Tumblr:
http://vampirarchybooks.tumblr.com/

Pinterest:
http://www.pinterest.com/mbondcollins/




Be
sure to add Waking Up Dead to your
Goodreads bookshelves: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18428064-waking-up-dead







Book Trailers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j_TmvpxxBw

http://youtu.be/KUBg83s4BOU 100%























Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!




All Artwork and covers by William J. Kenney




Visit my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE




See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!




Also, please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!




All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.

Video Games or Pen & Paper Games?

I was discussing this topic with a few peers the other day and was wondering if there are as many people getting together with their friends to play pen and paper, face to face RPG's,or are we in a life that is so busy, hectic, and encouraging in its need for immediate gratification, that video games are the only thing we do these days. I know I've touched on this at least once before, but the audience has grown and I believe that I have more insight on why we do what we do.







Do you make time to spend time with your friends face to face or do you strictly speak to them online in a game, via text or in an email? How busy are we these days, I wonder?



I am going to a friends house this evening to play a game and am looking forward to it. I haven't played a face to face P&P game for over a year and did not realize how much I missed it. There is something special about seeing friends in person and sharing food, drink a few laughs that video games cannot compete with. Now, I am not condemning video games because I play them too. Its too easy to play 'em due to the facts that they are so fun and stimulate your senses like nothing else. Am I right?



But there is a dynamic to the P&P RPG's that video games cannot capture: human input. It is the best and most incentivizing reason to play RPG's with other people--human intervention and human reason. It makes the games so much more fun to me.



What are your thoughts?



Oh, and before I close, let me remind you that a friend also makes full color, full scale battle maps for pen & paper RPG's ! Check him out at INFERNALTITANS.COM !












Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!




All Artwork and covers by William J. Kenney




Visit my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE




See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!




Also, please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!




All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.

Snippet of Tower of Torment

I am still in the editing process of my 4th book in the Realm of Ashenclaw series entitled TOWER OF TORMENT and thought that I would offer up a snippet of the upcoming novel in its rawest of forms to whet your appetite.



I am still hoping for a late 2013 release date. The following is the very beginning section of the Prologue. I hope you enjoy!







Rose Thorne by WIlliam Kenney

He
chewed on his breakfast, a well-made roasted duck being the main course, as he
sat comfortably at the rear of the Steel Dragon. He sat alone, watching through
the dusty window at the crowd of passersby.

He was waiting for her. He knew she
was coming. He could feel it.

He
sat at a large table made of the finest oaks of the town’s namesake and rapped
his knuckle on it as if to reassure its quality. He absently sipped a bit of
his honey spiced wine and frowned at its bitter flavor this day. He fondled a slice of
crisp apple that rested on his plate beside a portion of the partially eaten
duck and shoved the plate aside. His stomach was churning with anticipation.

Several
of his men stood behind him at the ready and several more sat at adjacent
tables, eating and expertly blending in with the crowd. Their subterfuge
however, would do them all no good he realized, stifling a smile and knowing
that she would recognize them for what they were as soon as she laid eyes upon them.  She might actually find it amusing.
Nonetheless, he decided that it would be practical to maintain some semblance of
normalcy throughout.

His
confirmation of her loyalty after speaking with both Nimaira and Tiyarnon
softened his anger, he admitted. From what he could tell she had not offered any information
about his den of rogues or anything that might even incriminate him to the
Council.

He
summoned a serving wench with a snap of his fingers.

“Yes,
my lord?” she said with a respectful bow.

“I’d
like a refill,” he stated, holding his mug in the air. She gingerly grasped the
outstretched mug and he snatched her hand at the same time and forced her into
his lap. She landed softly and with a giggle, never spilling a drop.

“Quite
good you are with the pitcher,” he offered as a compliment.

“I’m
good at many thin—“

“I
hope you are going to pay for that, Ganthorpe Randolph,” called a gruff voice from behind them,
interrupting the woman before she could finish her flirtation. This was
followed by a bellowing laugh. He turned to witness the proprietor of the Steel
Dragon, Fabian Oxborn. 

Fabian was a bear of a man with dark skin and hair to
match and a thick shock of a beard that ran halfway down his chest. He wore an
apron that was soiled with all kinds of stains and his odor was born of a mix
of spices, most of them pleasing to the senses.

“Of
course I won’t,” Ganthorpe barked with a forced smile, gently lifting the girl
from his lap and setting her upright before finding his own footing and standing out of respect  “I’d still
love a refill of that wine, though,” he added to the serving girl with a sideways
glance.

“No
need,” interrupted Fabian with a wave of his hand, gesturing for him to be
seated again.

“Then
you sit, too,” Ganthorpe instructed with a gesture in return. The big man
slowly lowered himself onto the chair, which creaked under his weight.

“Still eating
a bit too much into your own profits I see,” suggested Ganthorpe through a
laugh and nodding toward the man’s bulbous belly.

Fabian
rubbed his stomach and smiled, “indeed.”

“I’ve
some news,” said the big man, leaning in. Ganthorpe's icy blue eyes hardened,
losing all signs of his light-hearted appearance from a mere heartbeat ago
and regarded him coldly. He nodded, indicating for Fabian to continue as he looked about,
seeing none but his own guards surrounding them. Fabian leaned in close to him,
as best as his belly would allow and spoke in a whisper.

“There’s
rumors that yer girl is back. The one that’s been missing.”

Ganthorpe
eyed him steadily, his expression never changing. “And where did you hear
this?”

“An
informant I have in the Commons. An old wretch of a man that would trade his
own mother for a bottle of me cheapest rum.”

“And
how can you believe this…'wretch'…as
you call him? Not that I doubt the information is true.”

“Said
he seen her wandering around the Street of Jackals. Appropriate name if ya’ ask
me,” he said as he picked up a piece of chopped apple, sniffed it and tossed it
into his mouth. Ganthorpe said nothing again, staring at the man who chewed the
apple loudly and slumped into his chair.

So Helgoth has not completed his
task yet, he mused, a smile involuntarily creeping across
his face. She’s not gonna’ go down
without a fight. He glanced up at the weighty man seated across the table
and returned his attention to him.

“Well,
thanks for the good word, Fabian.”

With
that, Ganthorpe stood and stared deep within the shadowed recesses of the hall
leading back to the kitchen.

He caught a glimmer of auburn hair just then as it
disappeared within the darkness.

His
heart skipped a beat, began to race suddenly, and he became flush.

 She is
here!

“Are
you all right?”

Ganthorpe
turned and regarded the huge man who stared at him. He blinked at him a few
times before realizing he’d asked him a question.

“Of
course,” he lied, straightening his jerkin and running a hand through his dark
hair. He sat back down in the chair and leaned in close again.

“I
need to make use of your private office.”

Fabian
looked at him queerly and then nodded. “Of course ya’ can use it. Do I—“

“No.
no questions asked. Just give me the key. Or don’t. Either way.” Fabian reached
below the collar of his apron and removed a chain with a key dangling on its
end. He handed it to Ganthorpe who accepted it absently and looked to his
guards. “Stay here. I will return soon enough.”

His
men also looked at him as if they all wanted to question him, but none of them uttered
a word.

He
nodded to them and proceeded up several flights of stairs to Fabian’s private
office, inserted the key, turned the knob and walked in. The space was bathed
in shadow as it only had one window on the opposite side of the room from the door. Fabian
had it built that way as the man was more than a bit distrustful. And
reasonably so, as he operated an illicit gambling setup as well as a delightful
kitchen.

“Hello,
lover boy.”

His heart skipped a beat. A shadowy figure emerged from the
recesses of the darkness and a flash of auburn hair shone briefly in the light
of the window.

“Are
you trying to have me killed?” 

Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!




All Artwork and covers by William J. Kenney




Visit my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE




See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!




Also, please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!



photo from http://www.sxc.hu/




All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.

Coming Back For More?

I was thinking to myself just the other night as I was writing book 5 of my what-will-probably-be a 6 part series: what have I gotten myself into?! I'm sure other fantasy writers have gone through this as well.



Is it a lot of hard work to take on a huge project such as a fantasy series as your first writing effort? Probably. That being said, I am having a ton of fun. It's a lot to keep straight, but overall, the experience is worth it to me. And I am sure that many other authors that are writing a series would agree with me on this one.





I look back on it and kick myself sometimes though, thinking that I could have easily just done a one-shot stand alone story that has a finite ending that left readers satisfied. But, instead, I have one major over-arching story line that encompasses the whole series with each individual book having its own self contained plot that comes to a resolution, as many classic fantasy series' do.



on to another group of thoughts now. I know, I'm all over the place today!



Each of these questions might be answered completely differently by each of you, but I believe they are still relevant. Are you as a reader easily able to follow multiple characters in a series throughout the whole book without getting lost? Would it be beneficial to read about one character for a few chapters at a time or do you like to jump around and meet all of them in short snippets? Do you usually come back for book 2, 3, 4, and so on in a series? I know I do.



So, among all of the other questions, what brings you back for more in a series?



As always, I am looking for feedback from my readers, so feel free to jump in and respond! Have a great week every body and happy reading!














Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!




All Artwork and covers by William J. Kenney




Visit my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE




See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!




Also, please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!



photo from http://www.sxc.hu/




All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.

Joseph Murphy Interview

M. Joseph Murphy kindly offered to do an interview here on Eye on Ashenclaw and is working on two series at once! He considers his books to be YA friendly, fantasy and a few other things, and so, with all of that in mind, let's get to know Joe!



First off, tell us a little bit about you...I write under the name M Joseph Murphy but just call me Joe. I live in Windsor, ON, Canada, right across the river from Detroit Michigan. I’ve taught accounting and business classes at local colleges for the last 8 years. I’m engaged; the wedding is set for November 16th, 2013. I’m an obsessive video game addict but I rarely have time to play. Writing and my other projects keep me too busy. 




Tell us about your books/What genre do you consider your books? 
I’m writing two series simultaneous. One, set on Earth, is a paranormal thriller/urban fantasy. The other, set on another planet, is epic fantasy. Each series is YA-Friendly. Both series are tied together. Characters from one series will show up in the other and vice versa.

I published my first book, Council of Peacocks in July. I’m currently revising the 3 draft of my next novel. It will be out to beta readers in September with a publishing date scheduled for early December.

When did you start writing? I started writing novels in Grade 4, so over 30 years ago. My first was a horror novel about an old, haunted school house. Since then I’ve written several hundred poems, 50 or so short stories and 8 novels. Although it was my first published, Council of Peacocks the first polished enough to be worthy of publishing.

Why do you write? For the same reason I breath. I do it or die. Also I may have a death wish.

What would be your choice for a superpower? Telepathy just like Professor Xavier. If you can control the minds of every other person on the planet, you don’t need any other power. 






Who is your favorite author? 
Tough Question. From a pure craft perspective Alice Munro. She’s a Canadian writer who works mostly in short stories. She has a way of transmitting a great deal of story into very small number of words. I’m envious. From a story telling perspective either Clive Barker of Jim Butcher.

What are you reading now? Nowadays I read mostly independently published work. I belong to several Read for Review groups on Goodreads. I also belong to a writers group called Suckersguild. I beta read and edit for our members. I just finished The Nightlife: Paris by Travis Luedke. It was easily one of the best-written vampire books I’ve ever read. No sparkling but a good deal of sex and violence.

Who is your favorite character to write? The most fun to write is a character from Council of Peacocks named Jessica. She’s a really bitch young girl with insane amounts of telekinetic power. Emotionally, I’m very connected to a character from my next book, Tadgh Dooley. He’s a young man turned into a werecat by a demon. Even though he does some unspeakable things, he is the most human, fully realized character I’ve ever written.

Do you have a writing process? Yes. Vomit on paper for the first draft then revise, revise, revise. For my first draft I set daily page goals (usually 5-10 pages). I don’t stop writing until I hit my quota. I make a conscious decision that the first draft will need massive work so I don’t get hung up on making it perfect.

First drafts are fun. The real artistry comes in the hard work of revision.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author? Stop thinking about being a writer and just write the damn book. There is no secret to it; just hard work. Don’t wait for “muse”. Sit down every day for at least an hour and just write whatever comes to mind. Who cares if the first draft is terrible. Usually, I don’t even know what the book is about or why I’m writing it until I’ve finished the first draft.

Don’t expect a quick road to fame and fortune. That’s very rare. Focus on writing as many high quality books as you can. It’s the only sure-fire road to success.

What inspired you to pursue writing? I had a teacher in high school, Mrs. Elizabeth Christie. She pulled me aside one day and told me she saw something in my writing that she had only seen in a handful of students. She told me she had faith that I could make it as a writer. It gave me the courage to be a writer. It also made me want to become a teacher. I saw the way she helped transform my life simply by believing in me. Now, I get to affect people’s lives every day. I’m the luckiest person on the planet.

What are your favorite TV shows/Movies to watch in between writing? Currently I’m watching Homeland and 24. I like the tension and the confined nature of the story telling. In September I work on the 2nd draft of the direct sequel to Council of Peacocks. It’s called Beyond the Black Sea. I want it to be a little bit Homeland and a little bit X-Men.

What are your current projects? Too many. I’m promoting Council of Peacocks, revising A Fallen Hero Rises, assisting the members of the Suckersguild with promotion of their works, and I beta read or review 3 books per month. I’m also working on a documentary about the Windsor Hum. If you’re not familiar with the phenomenon you could Google it. It was recently showcased on Joe Rogan Questions Everything.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to readers? Thank you. All my reviews have been positive, even those that concerns or criticisms , in general, have thrown high praise at my work. Hearing those kind works is the greatest feeling in the world.

Quick Fire:
Cats or dogs? – For food or companionship? I’m going to go with cats.
Coffee or tea? - Coffee
Favorite food? - Taco Bell. No seriously
Vanilla or chocolate ice-cream? - vanilla
What are 3 things you never leave home without? - cell phone, wallet, pants
Laptop or desktop? – laptop for work, desktop for video games
Who are 3 famous people you would to hang out with? - Joss Whedon and Jane Espenson because they are super cool. Liam Payne from One Direction because hanging with him would make me instantly famous.
TV or Movies? – I love big screens and I cannot lie. Imax 3D. I’m spoiled.

















Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!




Visit my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE




See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!




Also, please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!




All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.

Proud to be a geek! Are you?

I'm baaaaack! I've been remiss in my posting this week and somehting I read got me to thinking. I was on a fellow writer's blog (Mr. Ross Kitson's) and he mentioned something that got my wheels turning and inspired this post. I know...uh-oh! Anyway, he mentioned something about downplaying his geek-dom, or something along those lines, to his wife's friend's husband who he'd just met. I thought to myself: why? And I recall a few things about me and my friends and whatnot growing up. I never hid my love of comics, superheroes, D&D, RPG's, etc, ever. Even when I started dating.



I say this because it is and was kind of taboo. Was more than is, I suppose. You would not find the cheerleader for the football team chasing after the nerd that reads comics and plays video games. At least that's what it was like in the 80's! Now, it seems like it may be more acceptable. I don't know, I've been out of high school and college for...well...let's just say a long time.





This one says it all...

Anyway, as I was watching my friends avoid discussing the subject and generally denying their geek-dom, I embraced mine. I figured if a girl I was dating was ashamed or embarrassed about what I liked and enjoyed, I didn't have much of a future anyway. Or at the very least, that future would be riddled with clandestine meetings with friends for RPG sessions, etc....the heck with 'em! That's not my cup of tea, anyway.



I also have one other thing I am reminded of that is reminiscent of this  that I feel compelled to share. I used to work for a company where I used to drive my work van and I did not have my own vehicle. And I said to a friend that I used to work with, 'what, am I gonna take her out on a date in my work van?' He responded by saying something along the lines of 'if she has a problem with what kind of car you are driving, you shouldn't be dating her in the first place.' I thought that was relevant and somewhat profound.



I guess I'm posting this to encourage more geeks to come out of the closet and stand proud. Be what you are and embrace your inner-geek! I know I've walked the walk my entire life and I tend to wear my emotions on my sleeve anyway. It seems to have worked out for me so far!



As always, I'd love some feedback on your own personal experiences. And thanks for stopping by!
















Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!




All Artwork and covers by William J. Kenney




Visit my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE




See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!




Also, please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!




All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.

Lisa Cresswell Interview

I had the pleasure of interacting with Author Lisa Cresswell recently through social media and she was kind enough to join us here and answer a few questions. Lisa writes middle grade or young adult fantasy and is another  author trying to get her work read. She has recently signed with a publishing house for another book, too! Congratulations! So, check this out and then go buy her books!







First off, tell us a little bit about you

I, like most writers, began scribbling silly notes, stories, and poems at a very young age. I lived in North Carolina until I was 16 years old. The South proved fertile ground to my imagination. It’s the location of several of my stories. Then I was unexpectedly transplanted to Idaho. There, I learned to love the desert and the wide open skies out West. I became very interested in cultures, both ancient and living, and studied to be a Great Basin archaeologist. However, the itch to write never did leave for long. My first books became the middle grade fantasy trilogy, The Storyteller Series. My first traditionally published work, Hush Puppy, is coming soon from Featherweight Press. I currently reside in Idaho with my family and a menagerie of furry critters that includes way too many llamas!



Tell us about your books/What genre do you consider your books?I’ve written and self-published a middle grade fantasy series called The Storyteller Series. I’m currently writing the third and final book in the series. The story centers around a girl with the ability to make things happen just by telling a story. There are stories within stories in this series, which I loved creating. I had a lot of fun imagining The True World and the mythology that shapes that world.



I also have a young adult contemporary novel coming out soon from Featherweight Press called Hush Puppy. It’s about two friends, growing up poor in the South, and wanting to break out of that. It has themes of race and poverty, but I hope that it also has themes of friendship and love. You can read more about any of my books on my website www.lisatcresswell.com



When did you start writing? My earliest efforts were in 5th grade when I wrote and produced several plays at school. However, I only got serious about novel writing about five years ago.





Why do you write? I’m not sure. I’ve just always enjoyed making up stories and poems. I don’t know where it comes from, but I feel like it’s a gift to be nurtured and shared.



Who is your favorite author? I don’t have a single favorite author. I like lots of authors for various reasons. I guess I’ve always been more focused on the story than who wrote it. I have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for Steinbeck because he had my crying by Chapter 3.



What are you reading now? I must confess I’m not actively reading right now because I’m gearing up the release of Hush Puppy and madly trying to finish the last Storyteller book. Most recently I read Crossing by Andrew Xia Fukuda. Very powerful read. Heartbreaking.



Do you have a writing process? My writing process is a mess! With a day job, two kids in school, and one of them in dance lessons, I’m constantly running them somewhere. I take my notebook and write whenever I get a spare moment. There’s no waiting around for the muse to strike me. She never would. And sometimes, I feel like I’m pulling my own teeth out to get some words on the page, but I told myself just to do some every day, even if it’s just a page! I handwrite first, maybe not the best arrangement, but I struggle to compose anything on a screen the first time. And I write super slow. My 2010 NaNoWriMo project took me a year and a half to finish, but I did it by gum!







What advice would you give to an aspiring author? Write a lot, even if you think it’s no good. The more you do it, the better it will become. Take the time to learn some craft, take some courses or read some books about writing, and then put those lessons to work. Grow that thick skin so you can listen to what your readers are telling you without despairing. You can’t make it better if you don’t know what‘s wrong, so you’ve got to be able to listen. But be sure you’re listening to the right people – people who’s judgment you trust, who know what they’re talking about, and who truly want to help. You can ignore the rest. J



What inspired you to pursue writing?Reading published books that I knew I could write just as well myself. If they can do it, I thought, I can too.



What are your favorite TV shows/Movies to watch in between writing?I watch very little television these days. I just can’t spare the time. I do like to watch movies now and then. I enjoy fantasy and scifi movies like Avatar, Star Trek and Star Wars. And I like the occasional chick flick. Not very often though. I probably see more kid movies than anything, just from taking my kids to the movies. ParaNorman was great fun.



What are your current projects?Hush Puppy will be released by Featherweight Press this summer. I hope to have the third book of the Storyteller series published this fall. My aforementioned NaNoWriMo project was just acquired by Month 9 Books, so that will be my main focus for a while. I’ll probably keep mum on that for now, but I can tell you it’s a young adult dystopian project.



Do you have anything specific that you want to say to readers? Just that I really appreciate hearing from you and I hope you’ll keep reading my books. Stop by my blog sometime and let’s chat. www.lisatcresswell.blogspot.com





Quick Fire:


Cats or dogs? cats

Coffee or tea? Both! But coffee if I can only have one.

Favorite food? Chawk-let mmmm!

Vanilla or chocolate ice-cream? Chawk-let J

What are 3 things you never leave home without? iPhone, notebook, purse

Laptop or desktop? I have a netbook, but I often use a desktop too. Not picky.

Who are 3 famous people you would to hang out with? Billie Joe from Green Day, Barack Obama, and Pink, preferably all at once!

TV or Movies? movies


















Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!




Visit my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE




See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!




Also, please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!




All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.




FOR NOW

Covenant of the Faceless Knights Re-Release (kind of)

As a writer, artist, musician, or whatever it is that you do for work, hobby, fun, torture, etc...there comes a time when you find your stride. It is something inexplicable and as mysterious as the cosmos. But, when it happens, suffice to say, you will know it. The reason I am bringing up the topic, is because I believe I have finally hit a stride with my writing. It is just coming much easier to me these days and with fewer drafts/revisions. As my writer friends might empathize, that stride occurs when your voice takes the jumbled mess in your head and spits it out on the page in a cohesive way that makes you say: 'yep, that's what I meant to say!'



And I could not be more excited.



I had been working my 4th manuscript in the series over the last year, entitled Tower of Torment. This was in between medical issues, starting a new career and other nonsense, but I have since finished it up. I have an editing procedure in which I read my written word out loud. (not gonna say how or go into details to bore you) Anyhow, I wrote it, listened to it one time, did my edits, and am happier than a pig in...well, you know what.





William Kenney's artwork, unimpaired by words!

For those of you who do not partake in the often torturous and typically flighty mistress that is independent writing, finding your voice is something to be achieved and somewhat expected...hopefully. Spending less time editing is just a boon! Independent writers more so than any other author, can relate to this arduous task. I liken finding your voice to when a musician identifies a note clearly for the first few times, or an artist sees the image inside his or her head so vividly, that the image comes out with ease, clearer and more vibrantly than ever. All writers hit their stride at some point in their career and I feel that I have recently hit mine.



Let me clarify something. That is not to say my prior work was poor, it simply means that I can say what I meant to say a few years prior with a bit more clarity and ease.



So, I have spent the last few weeks painstakingly re-working Covenant of the Faceless Knights , my first written work, and have made some changes, edits and other things. The content is much the same, but the minimal changes in sentence structure, dialogue and action, I would hope are worth another (or perhaps an initial) look! This is something that I had wanted to do for a long time, but could not find the time or patience. Now I have a publisher that may or may not be interested and decided that this was the right time. I was going to do it anyway, so this was as good a time as any after finishing the 4th manuscript in my Realm of Ashenclaw series.



Also, as a one time courtesy, if you have purchased the book before, and would like the updated version free of charge, please contact me with a DM on Facebook or twitter and I will gift you a copy! Or email me your contact info at the address below.





The almost-chosen blue background!

And for those of you who haven't read it yet--and you know who you are!--I am giving away up to ten free copies in exchange for reviews. All you have to do is comment below using the tag, 'give me my free book!', and then send an email to  info@ashenclaw.com with the same subject line and body text. That's it! It’s that simple! The first ten to place comments below are the winners. First come, first served. PLEASE understand that I would like the review! I have given away work in the past and have yet to receive the promised reviews, (some) so please keep this in mind.











Cover art to Wothlondia Rising

And in celebration of this accomplishment, I am reducing the price of Wothlondia Rising: The Anthology back down to 99 cents indefinitely! Get all of my previously released short stories that build up our favorite heroes together in 1 tome! Plus the never-independently-released tale of our favorite half-ogre barbarian, Orngoth, entitled REFLECTIONS.



Ever wonder what a sets a hero  on his or her path? Wonder no more! Grab your copy today!



Thanks for listening to my rants and pitches as usual, and please feel free to comment on how you may have found your own writing voice or artistic stride, or musical ear, or whatever it might be that you do well!


















Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!




All Artwork and covers by William J. Kenney




Visit my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE




See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!




Also, please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!




All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.




FOR NOW

Marissa Carmel Interview

Another volunteer for author interviews from the twitter-verse, Marissa Carmel is an adult fiction writer of adult paranormal romance. She was kind enough to share some thoughts with me as the following Q&A will attest!


First off, tell us a little bit about you
 I'm a wife and mother who writes New Adult fiction in the spare minutes of her day .

Tell us about your books/What genre do you consider your books? 

My current series, the Vis Vires Trilogy is New Adult Paranormal Romance.

When did you start writing? 

I started to write seriously five years ago, but I dabbled my whole life. Creative writing was my favorite elective in high school and college.

Why do you write?



 I'm compelled; I have so many voices and stories in my head that I want to share with the world.


What would be your choice for a superpower? 

Telekinesis for sure. I want to be able to wave my hand and have my house clean itself.

Who is your favorite author? 

Jonathan Swift. I love satire.

What are you reading now? 

My current WIP, it's in edits.

Who is your favorite character to write? 



Choosing a favorite character is like choosing a favorite child. I couldn't singe just one out. Liv and Justice are always pretty interesting, but Alana and Ryan are giving them a run for their money.


Do you have a writing process?

 Not so much, I build the story in my head first, then I outline, then I sit at the computer and just write. It usually takes off from there.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

 Have a vision, find a great editor and make sure what you write feels right.

What inspired you to pursue writing? 

I just love the art of storytelling. I don't think I pursued it, it pursued me.

What are your favorite TV shows/Movies to watch in between writing?

Oh geez, here we go, in no particular order- Charmed, Supernatural, Revenge, Once Upon a Time, White Collar, Suits, Necessary Roughness, TVD, Sons of Anarchy, Devious Maids (that my new fav), Castle.

What are your current projects? 

I'm currently working on a Contemporary New Adult called Strip Me Bare. It’s about a law student who finds out her estranged love is an infamous stripper at a New York City night club. The foundation of the story is about two people fighting for what they want while struggling to be together. Some major themes are prejudice, drug abuse, sexuality, familial struggles, standing up for what you believe in and of course love. I’m very excited about it.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to readers?

 If you're looking for something different with intense emotion and witty dialogue you might like my stuff. :)


Quick Fire:
Cats or dogs? Dogs
Coffee or tea? COFFEE
Favorite food? Chocolate
Vanilla or chocolate ice-cream? Do I really need to answer that? ;)
What are 3 things you never leave home without? My iPhone, earbuds and sunglasses.
Laptop or desktop? Laptop
TV or Movies? Movies.


You can find Marissa here at her website!  


















Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!




All Artwork and covers by William J. Kenney




Visit my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE




See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!




Also, please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!




All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.