Lisa M. Collins's Blog, page 14
October 3, 2013
Interview with Nicholas Ahlhelm — Lightweight
Nicholas Ahlhelm has let his love for superheroes as a concept pretty much overwhelm his good sense. A fan of super-powered prose fiction since he discovered Wild Cards at twelve. Since then, he has expanded his reading and viewing to cover superheroes through every means he can find, whether comics, prose fiction, movies, television, or transmedia sources. In the mean time, he regular maintains three fiction-producing website publications: Metahuman Press, Pulp Empire, and The Dead Walk Again. At the same time, he writes the weekly web comic Arc with artist Jay Rainford-Nash, published every Tuesday.
Interview with Author Nicholas Ahlhelm
author of Lightweight
10/03/2013
I was wondering where you get your story ideas?
That is always the toughest question ever for a writer, I think, mostly because ideas come from everywhere. In the case of my current project, Lightweight, it came to me as a teenager that a gravity controlling superhero would be something cool and a bit different. From there, bits and pieces have developed over the years whether from strokes of inspiration, random dreams or just bits of cool dialogue that popped into my head and needed to be saved for the future.
What is the usual process for your fiction writing? Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Neither and both? Man, I am bad at straight answers.
Generally, I work from about a page outline of what I want a novel to be, usually broken down into a few paragraphs and story beats. I develop some detailed character outlines for my major players, then I start writing. As I write, I usually put down a rough idea of what I want to accomplish in the next chapter or two before I start writing that chapter. From there, it becomes a lot easier to get everything out on the page.
Once you have an idea that sparks your imagination do you research your idea or do any world-building exercises, or do you just begin to write and see where the Muse takes you?
I’m a world builder. I think you ask a lot of people in the super powered fiction milieu and they will say the same thing. My superhero novels all take place in the same universe, as do many of my short stories, so the world is built to some level already. With that said, I like to have strong ideas for who and what my characters are as they enter the story. Sometimes a few background details change as I go, but I hope it helps people like Kevin and Millie in Lightweight feel more like real people.
What is your daily writing like?
Chaotic. I have two daughters, age 13 and 4, and I stay home with one of them during the day while I work my “day” job at night. So I have to pick up and write whenever I can find time in that currently hectic schedule. Sometimes I get a hundred words done in a day, sometimes 3000. It all depends on how much work I can fit in my schedule.
Are you a full time writer? If so when did you make the decision and what factors led to the decision. If you are not a full time writer…Is your plan to one day being a full time writer?
I am by no means a full time writer, although I think with some frugalness and a game plan, I have the potential to make a living as one. I have several irons in the fire now and I see revenues increasing on an annual basis.
I have a loose five year plan to hopefully set this up as a full time gig and move away from the dreariness of a 9 to 5. But things like five year plans often change, so we will see by the time 2018 rolls around.
Can you tell us about your experience working with your current publisher? (Any other publishers?) (Or your self-publishing experiences?)
Lightweight will be published through my Metahuman Press line so I know the publisher and he’s a good guy. I have worked for a few others in the past, most notably Pro Se Press and Airship 27. I cannot say enough about how easy both publishers are to work with. I hope I am half as friendly and engaging to the writers of my anthologies as Tommy Hancock and Ron Fortier have been to me.
I continue to publish anthologies through Metahuman Press as well as the occasional standalone novel. My goal with my own endeavors there is to design things I want to read as well as write. Through books like Modern Gods, Presidential Pulp and Aliens Among Us, I think we’ve created some great books with awesome themes.
What is your current release and (without spoilers) tell us about the new book or series.
Lightweight is now seeking funding on Kickstarter. It is my attempt to change how super powered fiction is released. My goal is to fund a monthly ongoing superhero prose project. I would write an approximately 8000 word story every month and release it as a digital ebook through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords. I would then collect the stories into “arcs”, basically full length novels that form a longer narrative out of the interconnected short stories. Funding pays for some great cover art for the series by Brent Sprecher, but will also serve as proof of concept that monthly continuing shorts will be a viable format in the modern market space.
The series itself focuses around Kevin Mathis, a 17 year old that suddenly finds he has powers over gravity. It all starts with dreams of floating, but he quickly realizes his dreams are tapping into something else and it is that something else that will be a major factor in his story. In the mean time, he develops a compulsion to use his powers to become a superhero, first to defend his friends and later to defend his city. His friend Millie is his only confidant and an equal player in the story. She starts out as an aide to our lead, but will grow as a character in her own right.
Can you tell us about some of your other writing and any appearances or signings that you have planned?
I have two other novels set in the same universe, Living Legends: Old Soldiers and Freedom Patton. Old Soldiers is the first of a planned trilogy of tales. I have taken over two dozen public domain superheroes from the Golden Age of comics and transported them into the modern world. In doing so, I have worked to frame them in a new light and hopefully make them shine while telling a compelling tale of these figures lost in time.
Freedom Patton is my modern take on the all-American hero archetype. He is that archetype framed through a Millennial’s mindset. He ends up embroiled in an attempt to form a new country out of a significant portion of southern Iowa, a place I spent many of my younger years.
With convention season pretty much at an end in these parts, I have no appearances or signings planned for this year. Next year remains open however. Folks can pay attention to my website Super Powered Fiction for details.
As an author what inspiration or advice would you give to a writer who is working to make the transition to Author?
The advice I give to anyone that says they want to write for money is to keep writing. You will never get anywhere by just saying “I’m a writer”. You have to put words to paper (or screen). Finding a way to avoid the never-ending ability to avoid writing is always an author’s greatest tool (and one that I on occasion still fail at to this day.)
Who is your favorite author, and can you recommend a book by that author?
I am terrible at picking favorite writers, because every answer always comes with a “but he/she wrote these books I didn’t enjoy as well” in my mind. With that said, the writer I’ve clearly read the most by is Stephen King. King is certainly an influence on my own writing and world building, but I can name as many bad books by him as good.
That being said, Firestarter is my favorite novel by him. I love that even in the late 70s the book covered some seriously superhero-oriented tropes but framed through a thriller narrative focused on a father defending his daughter. The novel moves at a breakneck pace and keeps the reader’s guessing in a constant manhunt. It’s ending also just opens up so much room for great new tales, something it still saddens me that King never did.
If you would like more information about Nicholas Ahlhelm you can find his books on Metahuman Press & Amazon, and updates about his writing on Twitter, Facebook , Goodreads, and on his Super Powered Fiction website. Be sure to check out the Kickstarter for Lightweight.
September 25, 2013
September 23, 2013
Double Moist Cornbread
Reblogged from Tea and Cornbread:
Let me tell you about a new ingredient that I am going to add my pantry staples list…Chia Seeds. Now, no I have not lost my mind and gone on some Hippie bender. Chia seeds are an old, ancient, ingredient that has seen a revival in culinary use in the last few years. I will admit right here that I did not buy the bag that I have in my house.
I adore the newest recipe from Tea and Cornbread!
September 13, 2013
The Inner Journey
You can portray to the world anything on the outside, but it is the inner or true self that cannot be completely hidden—selfishness, disdain, rudeness, lack of couth, hate; all these leak out in some form or another into the outward man.
And so it is the inward man that one must tame. It is the raw state of the inner man that needs to be accounted, and that very state of being must be challenged on the inward journey.
Without a challenge to our preconceived notions or paradigms, we become stagnate and faltering.
Challenge is a good and noble state in one’s self, but it can also be painful and uncomfortable.
The inward journey is a solitary pursuit. Even if you seek help from others at the outset, you can only do so much with the confines of help. Books can show you a starting place. People can suggest a course of action. But the journey can only be completed far from the eyes and ears of others.
It is in our aloneness that we discover our true self.
What will you discover at your center, when all other influences are abandoned?
August 11, 2013
Interview with D. Alan Lewis — The Blood in Snowflake Garden
D. Alan Lewis is a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee who now resides in Nashville with his children. He has been writing technical guides and manuals for various employers for over twenty years but only in recent years has branched out into writing fiction. In 2006, Alan took the reins of a Novelist Writer’s resource in Nashville where he has been working to with aspiring writers.
Interview with Author Alan Lewis
author of The Blood in Snowflake Garden
8/11/2013
I was wondering where you get your story ideas?
My story ideas can come from anywhere. For example, I recently re-watched the HBO series, ‘From the Earth to the Moon’. Afterwards, I ended up writing a time-travel story based around the Apollo 11 mission.
Most times, however, the original idea is never what the book or story ends up being. It may be a part but the characters and plotline take me in different directions. I love a good twist, so as I’m examining a good idea, there is always a need for me to find a way to turn the story on its ear.
‘The Blood in Snowflake Garden’ started off as a mental image of Santa being forced to testify before the House Un-American Committee back in the 1950’s. I found the thought so funny, that I decided to write a store just to have that one scene in it.
What is the usual process for your fiction writing? Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I’ve tried it both ways and it really depends on what I’m writing. For my novels and some heavily detailed short stories, I do write an outline in order to keep myself in line. An outline was a must for a novel as detailed as ‘Snowflake Garden’, where I had to keep up with the order of when the suspects were spoken to, when the clues found, and all the minor details that needed to be mentioned. For ‘The Bishop of Port Victoria’ and ‘The Lightning Bolts of Zeus’, I just sat down and wrote and made things up as I went.
Prior to writing, I’ve usually already thought on the storylines and know where to start and where to finish. It’s usually the journey in between that varies. They say that the characters will take on a life of their own, and it is true. Sometimes, a writer just can’t understand what a character will really do until they are doing it on the page as he types it out.
Once you have an idea that sparks your imagination do you research your idea or do any world-building exercises, or do you just begin to write and see where the Muse takes you?
Again, it depends on the story. If it involves real world events, places or people, then yes plenty of research. For example, I have a short story called ‘Anne Bonny’s Revenge’, coming out in an anthology from Pro Se Press, later this year. I read three books on pirates and specifically, on the pirate, Anne Bonny. Although the story is a fictional version of her ‘final’ adventure, I wanted to make it as historically accurate as possible. I did more research on that one 9,000 word story then I did on all three of my novels combined. But the result is a story that I’m very proud of.
Other works may be set in my own universe, so I just write and build the world as I go. ‘Snowflake Garden’ is set at Santa’s city at the North Pole. A place like that isn’t on the map. Some folks feel that world building is a chore. I see it as a wonderful challenge, a chance for me to jump in and just have fun with it. And seriously… if you can’t have fun as a writer, then why would you wanna write?
What is your daily writing like?
I honestly have no idea how to answer that. Every day is different with its own unique challenges.
Are you a full time writer? If so when did you make the decision and what factors led to the decision? If you are not a full time writer…Is your plan to one day being a full time writer?
I am not technically a full time writer, although it feels like it sometimes. My goal is to reach a point where I can write for a living without the troublesome need for a day job.
Can you tell us about your experience working with your current publisher? (Any other publishers?) (And/Or your self-publishing experiences?)
I’m working mainly with 2 publishers at the moment, Dark Oak Press and Pro Se Press. Each one has their own unique quirks, but both are a joy to work with.
Tommy Handcock at Pro Se Press is incredibly helpful and straight forward.
While working with Allen Gilbreath at Dark Oak is like driving while having a fever dream. You may not have any idea how you made it to the end, but you know that you had a good time on the way.
What is your current release and (without spoilers) tell us about the new book or series.
‘The Blood in Snowflake Garden’ was released in February of this year. It is a fantasy murder mystery set at Santa’s city at the North Pole. But don’t think this is a cheesy, Tim Allen movie kinda story. It is a dark, gritty novel that is chopped full of twists and surprises. A friend described it as a Christmasy version of the movie, ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’.
Can you tell us about some of your other writing and any appearances or signings that you have planned?
I recently had a short story included in Pro Se Press’s ‘Black Pulp’. My story, ‘Black Wolfe’s Debt’ is set in the early 1930’s and centers on an African-American detective named Dexter Wolfe, who has some very unique abilities. I’m especially proud of this story and to be included with so many talented writers.
Other anthologies that have come out this year which include my stories are Dreams of Steam 4-Gizmos, Midnight Creature Feature vol 2.
And I have several short stories coming out later this year, along with the two books, ‘The Lightning Bolts of Zeus’ from Dark Oak Press and ‘The Bishop of Port Victoria’ from Pro Se Press. And I’m editing 3 upcoming anthologies for Dark Oak, ‘Luna’s Children-Full Moon Mayhem’, ‘Luna’s Children-Stranger Wereworlds’, and ‘Capes & Clockwork’. These three anthologies should be out by year’s end.
As for conventions, I’m scheduled for DragonCon in Atlanta GA, Killer Nashville and the Southern Festival of Books – both in Nashville TN, and Memphis Comic and Fantasy Convention in Memphis TN.
As an author what inspiration or advice would you give to a writer who is working to make the transition to Author?
First off, write and don’t stop till you’re finished. One of the biggest problems for new writers is that they write a few chapters and immediately start editing what they’ve done. The problem is that a new writer can easily get sucked into the role of an editor and become discouraged and never finish their book. There is an incredible rush as a writer types out the last words of a manuscript and realizes that you’ve done it… you finished a book. OK, so the finished first draft may need serious cleaning, but you’ve accomplished the first and biggest hurdle.
Who is your favorite author, and can you recommend a book or series by that author?
Favorite author… wow, there are a number. However, my all-time favorite would be the late, Douglas Adams. Although he is best known for the ‘Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’, my favorite book of his is ‘The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul’.
If you would like more information about D. Alan Lewis you can find his books on Amazon, and updates about his writing on Twitter, Facebook , and on his website.
July 25, 2013
Interview with L. Jagi Lamplighter — The Unexpected Enlightenment of Rachel Griffin.
Interview with Author L. Jagi Lamplighterauthor of The Unexpected Enlightenment
of Rachel Griffin.
7/25/2013
I was wondering where you get your story ideas?
Roleplaying games.
Not exclusively, but many of the things I write were roleplaying games before they become novels.
I think the reason I like writing up roleplaying games is two-fold. One, we spend a lot of time and effort on them, so why waste the work?
Two, the fact that there are several people interacting gives a kind of reality to the story that is a little different from what a person might make up on their own. One person might have certain shortcomings of vision—we all have some. In a game, that shortcoming is often compensated for by the insight of the other players.
For instance, right now, I am writing a YA about a girl who falls in love with her boyfriend’s best friend—who also happens to be, she finds out after she falls for him, her sister’s boyfriend. Now you can’t ask for a better love-triangle (quadrangle, really, because her boyfriend is secretly crushing on her sister.)
But no one made it up. It just unfolded. In the game, the sister’s boyfriend was intended to be an enemy, not a love interest. But players often surprise moderators, and so the love triangle was born. And it’s perfect for a YA.
Also, a game is a great way to get a first reaction to an idea, try a magic system to see if it works, develop background characters and places.
Other than roleplaying…I pray and give all credit for the rest of my ideas to the Divine Muse.
What is the usual process for your fiction writing? Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Heh, heh. I hate the word pantser. It was made up by a ‘plotter’, and you can tell. I do know people who write by the seat of their pants. But what they do is different than what, for the lack of a better word, Musers do…those of us who listen to the Muse.
I love outlining. But the moment I write an outline, my creativity stops. It’s like I’ve told the story, and now my mind is done. It won’t return to the novel. I think one reason for this is that one of the things that keeps writing interesting is the infusion of new creativity into what I am doing. So, if I think I already know what to write, I’m doomed.
But my writing is not random either. I have to listen very carefully to the Muse…it is like waiting for something to unfold. My favorite quote on this topic is from author Terry Pratchett, who describes writing as walking through a valley of mist where you can see the peaks but you don’t yet know what you will encounter on the path between them.
Once you have an idea that sparks your imagination do you research your idea or do any world-building exercises, or do you just begin to write and see where the Muse takes you?
A bit of both. Often, if the story does come from a game, a lot of world building was done for the game. Usually, before the end, I need to do research and world-building. But often, I start writing, and then I stop to do more research when I hit a dry spot or run into a wall.
What is your daily writing like?
Somewhere between three and five days a week, I get the kids out—the first one leaves at 6:30, the last one around 9am—and then sit down at the computer. Probably it takes an hour or so to read email, check social media sites, and get myself to concentrate. Then I write. Sometimes, I stop when the eldest comes home at 2:30, sometimes I keep writing until dinnertime.
Often, I don’t get as many days like this a week as I wish. I am trying to make better use of my time and get more time actually writing.
Are you a full time writer? If so when did you make the decision and what factors led to the decision. If you are not a full time writer…Is your plan to one day being a full time writer?
I am a full-time writer, if, by that, you mean do I do something else. I am also a stay-at-home mom. The second often eclipses the first. I hope, in the future, to have more hours to write, but I am very grateful that I get as many as I do.
Can you tell us about your experience working with your current publisher? (Any other publishers?) (And/Or your self-publishing experiences?)
I have two publishers now: Tor and Dark Quest Books. Tor has been really great to work with. I love my editor and everyone I’ve worked with there. Dark Quest is exciting because it is something new. I don’t have much experience with them yet, but, so far they are great to work with.
Dark Quest is a small press house. They let me purchase my own cover art. I wanted to do this because my editor and I at Tor were not happy with the cover on my first two Prospero Books. The art on those first two books is beautiful, but it gives the wrong impression about what kind of story is inside. Enough so that some people who buy the book find its not what they want, and some people who enjoy it once they read it, avoided it for a time due to having gotten the wrong impression from the cover.
So this time, I got to pick the artist myself. I spent about two months contacting artists and discussing prices. Quite a few of the ones I liked did fantasy photography. The fact that my heroine is a 13 year old Asian girl in a graduation gown made their work difficult. An artist friend sent me a sketch that was just wonderful! I ended up going with him, and I am really delighted with the final product. It has been such a fun process to be involved in.
What is your current release and (without spoilers) tell us about the new book or series.
My new release is the first book in a series called The Unexpected Enlightenment of Rachel Griffin. It will be a YA “Harry Potter for girls with angsty romance” or “Harry Potter meets Fringe meets Narnia.”
Thirteen-year-old Rachel Griffin is invited to Roanoke Academy for the Sorcerous Arts a year early because her perfect memory helps her with her school work. It also allows her to remember things that other people cannot see. When someone tries to kill one of her new friends on her first day at school, Rachel begins to suspect a dangerous conspiracy. She soon discovers that in the same way that her World of the Wise hides things from mundane folk, there is another more secret world that has been hidden from her.
This does not, however, stop her from making friends and, more importantly, finding romance!
Part of the charm of this story is the background world. Roanoke Academy is situated in New York State’s Hudson Highlands (where Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle are from.) For the school itself, I used many aspects of St. John’s College in Annapolis, to give the place a slightly different flavor. I also spent a great deal of time rethinking what a magic school might be like, so that while there are many things that will remind readers of Harry Potter and many of its imitators, there is plenty of new ideas to keep the reader entertained.
So far, readers have seemed to really enjoy it…which I find just delightful!
Can you tell us about some of your other writing and any appearances or signings that you have planned?
My other works are the Prospero’s Daughter trilogy from Tor. It is a kind of a modern sequel to Shakespeare’s Tempest. Or, if you like: The Tempest meets Dante’s Inferno. The premise is that Prospero never drowned his books or released his Aerie Spirits. He and his children have protected mankind from the supernatural for 500 years. Now, he’s gone missing, and his daughter Miranda has to gather all her wayward siblings together to mount a rescue.
It is a fun story with humor, mystery, and as much magic as I could fit in. People who read it seem to really like the characters. Some don’t like Miranda at first, because she starts off rather callous and cold, but the story is, in part, about how she grows to gain compassion. Luckily, readers say that they enjoy the secondary characters so much, in particular Miranda’s brother Mephisto and her sidekick Mab—an Aerie Spirit in a body that looks a bit like Humphrey Bogart, that they are carried along in the story until Miranda improves.
As an author what inspiration or advice would you give to a writer who is working to make the transition to Author?
Keep writing. Don’t give up. That’s the most important advice. Be true to yourself and your muse. Bear up under adversity, and don’t settle for second best.
Other than that, I find that beta readers are invaluable. But don’t rely too much on one person’s opinion. I have found that one reader will suggest I cut something that turns out to be the next reader’s favorite part. It is important to get second opinions, because often we overlook things that a fresh pair of eyes will catch. But it is also important to trust your muse over the opinions of others.
Writing is often a balancing act.
For more specific advice, I keep a list of Writer’s Tips for myself…so I won’t forget lessons I’ve learned. I wrote an article about each tip and posted them on my website. Anyone interested can check them out here:
http://www.ljagilamplighter.com/works/nonfiction/writing-tips/
Who is your favorite author, and can you recommend a book or series by that author?
Someone once described the Prospero’s Daughter series as: “Neil Gaiman meets C. S. Lewis, or, for an American equivalent, Roger Zelazny meets Lloyd Alexander.”
I love all those authors and recommend them. I particular recommend C.S. Lewis—both the Narnia books and his Planetary Trilogy, and Roger Zelazny’s Amber series. Lloyd Alexander is the author of the wonderful children’s series, The Chronicles of Prydain. I also love Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings.
If you want something a bit more unusual, I recommend the children’s book, Carbonel, King of Cats by Barbara Sleigh. It’s kind of a Harry Potter precursor. It even refers to the bad guy as ‘You-Know-Who’ at one point. As far as current series, I’m a huge fan of Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden series. I recommend that to anyone.
If you would like more information about L. Jagi Lamplighter you can find her books on her blog, Twitter, Amazon, and on her website.
July 18, 2013
Interview with L R Barrett-Durham — Never Trust a Sorcerer
Interview with Author L R Barrett-Durham
author of Never Trust a Sorcerer.
7/18/2013
I was wondering where you get your story ideas?
Thank you for having me on your Blog, Lisa. Oddly enough, I get most of my story ideas from dreams. I’ve always had an active imagination, and I often wake up in the middle of the night and scribble out a story idea in a notebook by my bed. Our paranormal romance novel, Fear the Beast Within, that I co-authored with E G Glover, was actually I dream I had many times over the years. For my epic fantasy series, the Trust Series; however, mostly my muse comes from playing Dungeons and Dragons growing up. Never Trust a Sorcerer, the first book in the series, actually is based on a campaign I ran for some friends about thirteen years ago.
What is the usual process for your fiction writing? Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I’m the middle of the road on that one, it depends on what I’m writing. With the Trust Series, I have a definitive idea of what I want to accomplish and scribble down milestones that need to happen, but I’d say I’m more of a pantser on it. The Fear Series; however, simply because of the depth of research involved and the fact that I co-write it with someone else, I’m more of a plotter.
Once you have an idea that sparks your imagination do you research your idea or do any world-building exercises, or do you just begin to write and see where the Muse takes you?
I’m actually glad you asked me that. With our new Fear Series book, Fear the Emptiness Within, I actually had to create a whole new world. The book is about the Fae, and part of it actually takes place in Faery, so I had to basically take you there with my writing. But honestly, the research came more from mixing mythology, history, and legends when it came to the characters and sects of Fae. There is a major part of the book that actually takes place on Earth during different eras of history, and that took a lot of work. E G Glover did a fabulous job putting together a timeline for the story while I created Faery.
The muse always takes me in directions that many times I never intended to go, but I long ago learned to listen to it rather than stick to an outline. To me, it takes a lot away from the creativity of the writing process.
What is your daily writing like?
Well, since I have a full time job, run a successful side business called Wildcat Mountain Artistry, and am a mother and wife, my daily writing isn’t always daily. If I’m very busy and distracted, I owe it to my readers to make sure that I give my full attention to what I’m putting in their hands. A lot of times, I’ll lock myself up in my bedroom for a few hours, or run the guys out of the house, and I can knock out five thousand words in no time.
Are you a full time writer? If so when did you make the decision and what factors led to the decision? If you are not a full time writer…Is your plan to one day being a full time writer?
No, I’m not a full time writer, though I seem to put books out as fast as one. I’m the Network Technician for one of the biggest Credit Unions in Alabama and am also a freelance artist. I’d love to write full time, nothing would please me more, but my son’s got to eat. 
Can you tell us about your experience working with your current publisher? (Any other publishers?) (And/Or your self-publishing experiences?)My first seven books were all self-published within a year and a half. I’m very OCD about how I want the books laid out and formatted. I even design my own covers. CreateSpace, a subsidiary of Amazon.com, was the perfect place for me. Only recently have I decided to work with a small press publisher, but that’ll info will be released later. Just suffice it to say, these are some guys I’ve got to know at various events and I like what they’re doing enough to be a part of it.
What is your current release and (without spoilers) tell us about the new book or series.
Well, I’ve mentioned our paranormal romance book, Fear the Emptiness Within, which was released in May. I am now working on an as yet untitled Sci-Fi book about hovercraft racing. You know, NASCAR of the future. Once that’s done, I’ll be jumping back into the world of Remus and putting out another Trust Book. I have two more projects in the works with the small press publishers in two new genres I’ve never written before. That’s the plan and as you can see, that’s five genres in one paragraph, so I’ll be pretty busy.
Can you tell us about some of your other writing and any appearances or signings that you have planned?
At this time I have the following published in the following genres:
The Trust Series – Epic Fantasy
Book One: Never Trust a Sorcerer
Book Two: Always Trust Your Honor
Book Three: Forever Trust Your Aim
My fantasy probably has a little more romance in it than most and you don’t have to have a PhD in Dungeons and Dragons to understand it, but trust me, it has just as many battles, betrayals, intrigue, and magic than any other epic fantasy novel.
The Fear Series – Paranormal Romance – co-authored with E G Glover
Book One: Fear the Beast Within
Book Two: Fear the Thirst Within
Book Three: Fear the Emptiness Within
Book Three point Five: Finding the Beauty Within
With the Fear Series, we’re going through all the monsters. Beast is about a Romanian werewolf curse. Thirst is about vampires, but it has a ton of southern music history in it. I put a lot of myself in Thirst. Emptiness is about the Fae. Then, oddly enough, we have a spin-off Children’s book called Finding the Beauty Within. There’s actually an interesting story behind it. During Fear the Emptiness Within, one of the characters actually gives this book to another character. It is even dedicated that way. To Jane, Always believe in yourself and you can accomplish anything. Geo. It’s illustrated by me and is very much a Faery Tale, pun intended.
As for dates, you can always find them on our website: http://fearandtrust.freewebspace.com but here’s what we have for the rest of 2013:
June 8-9, 2013 Con Kasterborous, Huntsville, AL
June 28-30, 2013 LibertyCon, Chattanooga, TN
Sept 7, 2013 Applegarth Books, Millington, TN 10-6pm
Sept 28, 2013 The Geek Gathering @ O'Malley's, Sheffield, AL
Oct 11-13 Con*Stellation, Huntsville, AL
As an author what inspiration or advice would you give to a writer who is working to make the transition to Author?
I’d say don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it or that it’s hard to do. I often give up my little trade secrets to help aspiring authors get on the right track. It’s a lot of work, don’t get me wrong, but it is so worth it!
Who is your favorite author, and can you recommend a book or series by that author?
Oh, that’s a really hard question. In the genre of epic fantasy, I would have to say R A Salvatore. I’ve known him for years and he is amazing. His Drizzt books are fantastic, they have to be for that series to last as long as it has. In paranormal romance, it would have to be either J R Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood Series or Karen Marie Moning’s Fever Series. Both are excellent. These are the only books I’ve absolutely refused to give up to write.
I will need a list of links where others can find more information about you and your books, like Amazon page, book links, Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, website or blog.
If you would like more information about L R Barrett-Durham you can find her books on Facebook, Amazon, and on her website. (Any books purchased on her website will be autographed and shipped free.)
July 11, 2013
Interview with Kimberly Richardson — Mabon/Pomegranate and The Decembrists
After found as an infant crawling among books in an abandoned library, Kimberly Richardson grew up to become an eccentric woman with a taste for jazz, drinking tea, reading books, speaking rusty French and Japanese, playing her violin and writing stories that cause people to make the strangest faces.
Her first book, Tales From a Goth Librarian, was published through Dark Oak Press and named a Finalist in both the USA Book News Awards for Fiction: Short Story for 2009 and the International Book Awards for Fiction: Short Story in 2010. Ms. Richardson is also the author of The Decembrists (Dark Oak Press) and Mabon/Pomegranate (Dark Oak Press); both were enlisted for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize.
Richardson is also the Editor of the award winning Steampunk anthology Dreams of Steam, the award winning sequel, Dreams of Steam II: Of Brass and Bolts, and Dreams of Steam III: Gadgets and Dreams of Steam IV: Gizmos, all published through Dark Oak Press. Other short stories and poetry by Ms. Richardson have been published through Sam’s Dot Publishing, Pro Se Press, Midnight Screaming, and FootHills Publishing.
Interview with Author Kimberly Richardson
author of Mabon/Pomegranate and
The Decembrists
7/11/2013
I was wondering where you get your story ideas?
My ideas come from two places: my warped imagination and the experiences I have had in my life. I love asking the question “What If?” and my stories are the answers.
What is the usual process for your fiction writing? Are you a plotter or a pantser?
It really all depends on the story. Sometimes, I like to “prepare” my story by writing out basic character descriptions as well as a skeleton of the story; that way, I can keep up with what I am writing. However, I also like to jump right in a story and write away. One of my favorite examples of me jumping in is the story “Silk”, found in my first book, Tales From a Goth Librarian. I wrote that story in about two hours and had no idea I was going to write it. Years later, people still talk about that story.
Once you have an idea that sparks your imagination do you research your idea or do any world-building exercises, or do you just begin to write and see where the Muse takes you?
See answer #2!
What is your daily writing like?
I try to write every day (why I keep a journal near me!) although I sometimes do need a break in order to get my mind right. That’s why, before I jump into my writing, I play World of Warcraft for at least 30 minutes to an hour. After playing that game, my mind is ready to delve into my imagination.
Are you a full time writer? If so when did you make the decision and what factors led to the decision? If you are not a full time writer…Is your plan to one day being a full time writer?
I am not a full time writer, yet I would like to be one someday.
Can you tell us about your experience working with your current publisher? (Any other publishers?) (And/Or your self-publishing experiences?)
I first met Allan Gilbreath at MidsouthCon several years ago. I had a used bookstore table next to the then Kerlak booth. After that weekend, I had submitted my manuscript (Tales From a Goth Librarian) to them and I knew I would not hear back. To my astonishment, Allan wrote back, telling me he was interested in my work. The rest is history. Thanks to Allan, I have been able to spread my black wings and see just what I am capable of writing.
What is your current release and (without spoilers) tell us about the new book or series.
Right now, my current releases are Mabon/Pomegranate and The Decembrists, both available at Dark Oak Press’ website as well as Amazon and B&N. I am currently working on a new novel titled Open A. This novel will probably be my darkest work yet: think Southern Gothic with a touch of the erotic and the psychotic with a violin taking center stage. That’s all I can say about that one, folks!
Can you tell us about some of your other writing and any appearances or signings that you have planned?
My upcoming conventions/ festivals are as follows: MonsterCon in Greenville, SC, Paracon in Pensacola, FL, Contraflow in New Orleans, Decatur Book Festival in Decatur, GA, and Memphis Comic and Fantasy Convention in my home city.
As an author what inspiration or advice would you give to a writer who is working to make the transition to Author?
All I can say is this: JUST WRITE. This is not the time to doubt yourself. Everyone has a story to tell – write, write, write!
Who is your favorite author, and can you recommend a book or series by that author?
My all time favorite author is Ian McEwan, author of such books as The Cement Garden, Atonement, Amsterdam, Enduring Love, Sweet Tooth, Black Dogs, and many others. He is one of the reasons why I am both a bibliophile and an author.
If you would like more information about Kimberly Richardson you can find her books on Amazon, at Dark Oak Press and updates about her writing on Twitter, Facebook, and on her blog: The Nocturnal Aesthetic.
June 28, 2013
Interview with Kat Heckenbach — Seeking Unseen
Interview with Author Kat Heckenbach
author of Seeking Unseen
6/28/2013
I was wondering where you get your story ideas?
That’s actually a hard question for me. I’ve been asked it a few times, and the answer tends to be that things just pop into my head. Sometimes out of nowhere. Sometimes someone around me will say something, or I will say something, that spawns an idea. Or it’s something I see in real life, or in a movie, or read in a book. The one thing I can say in all honesty is I’ve never, ever once had a dream that became a story idea.
What is the usual process for your fiction writing? Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I’m kind of half and half. I tend to plot things out only to a degree, and then sit down and see what emerges with those things in mind. But I’m definitely not an outliner. More like scribbling bits and pieces in a notebook—or whatever I can write on at the time—and piecing them together like a jigsaw puzzle.
Once you have an idea that sparks your imagination do you research your idea or do any world-building exercises, or do you just begin to write and see where the Muse takes you?
Definitely just begin to write. I research only when I have to. Of course I will fact-check along the way, but if the Muse is doing her job I’ll just keep going and worry about fixing stuff later. The fact is, I hate researching. So unless I’ve got a story mostly written as motivation to do the research, I’m likely to just keep putting off writing the story at all to avoid the research.
What is your daily writing like?
Well, first of all it’s not “daily.” I tend to write in spurts. I’ll go days or even weeks without writing, and then if I’m inspired I’ll just write and write and write until it’s all out. No specific time of day either. I am a night owl, but I stay up late reading, not writing. My writing gets squeezed in during the day around homeschooling my kids and whatever else is going on. I wish I were more disciplined about writing every day, but truly if I try to force it I just end up frustrated.
Are you a full time writer? If so when did you make the decision and what factors led to the decision. If you are not a full time writer…Is your plan to one day being a full time writer?
Right now I’m a full-time homeschooling mom. I definitely want to become a full-time writer, though! I know it may be a farther down the road than I’d hoped, but I do believe it will happen…eventually.
Can you tell us about your experience working with your current publisher? (Any other publishers?) (And/Or your self-publishing experiences?)
I’m with a small press, and that of course has pros and cons. I’ll get the negative out of the way first—small presses have small budgets. So marketing has been the hardest part of all this. But as for the other side of things, such as editing and book cover production, things couldn’t have gone smoother with Splashdown Books. I had editors that really got my voice and understood my vision for the stories. They were tough, but everything was done out of love for the books and a desire for them to be their best.
And the artistic synergy for the book covers was incredible. I’m an artist and had definite ideas for the covers, and my publisher let me come up with design concepts. I did the drawings that are on the covers (the locket and keyhole on Finding Angel, the hinges and clasp on Seeking Unseen) but others took over the tech side of actually putting the elements together, and at times I felt like they were reading my mind. Actually, Grace (the owner of Splashdown) mentioned she had always wanted to do a book with a cover that looked like an old leather book—which was exactly what I had in mind for Seeking Unseen. Those kinds of moments happened so many times it was almost scary 
.
What is your current release and (without spoilers) tell us about the new book or series.
My most current release is Seeking Unseen, the sequel to Finding Angel. In this book, Angel is worried about her little foster brother’s safety and ends up visiting her old hometown in order to find out what is going on. In the process she runs into an old friend, who follows her back to Toch Island—where a completely different kind of danger emerges.
Can you tell us about some of your other writing and any appearances or signings that you have planned?
My other writing includes a lot of short stories! I’ve had about a dozen short fiction pieces published in various magazines and anthologies. Most of them fall into the fantasy or horror genres, with a few sci-fi pieces thrown in. Another dozen short stories so far have been featured in the online magazine and print digest of Avenir Eclectia, which is published by Splashdown Books.
I’ve also written a dozen or so short personal experience stories, many of which have sold multiple times in various religious magazines and anthologies. The biggest bragging rights I have in that realm are two stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul and a story that was published in both the American and German versions of the Salvation Army’s national magazine.
As for appearances, I’ll be teaching a workshop at the Florida Inspirational Writers Retreat in September on the topic of writing for a YA audience. And in October, I’ll be on writers panels at the Necronomicon sci-fi/fantasy/horror/gaming convention in Tampa, FL.
As an author what inspiration or advice would you give to a writer who is working to make the transition to Author?
To me the most important thing is learning to sort through the advice. There is so much advice for writers out there, but it does not all apply to everyone! You have to learn to discern between good and bad critique of your writing. Too many writers get caught in a perpetual cycle of revision trying to please everyone, trying to implement every piece of critique they get on their writing. Sometimes, the best thing you can do, though, is ignore advice—but the key is knowing which advice to heed and which to ignore.
Who is your favorite author, and can you recommend a book by that author?
I cry foul on this one! A single favorite author??? No way! That would make my brain explode. I read gobs of YA fiction and some of my favorites are J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter series only), Cornelia Funke (Inkheart series), Maggie Stiefvater (The Raven Boys), Nova Ren Suma (Imaginary Girls), Laini Taylor (Daughter of Smoke and Bone), Rick Yancey (Monstrumologist), and Kersten Hamilton (Tyger Tyger). In the adult fiction realm (which I read considerably less of), I’d have to go with Patrick Rothfuss, Stephen King, and Steven James. And I’ve discovered so many indie authors lately that have blown my mind: Fred Warren, Kerry Nietz, Robynn Tolbert, Diane Graham, Keven Newsome, Robert Mullin, and Rebecca Minor.
If you would like more information about Kat Heckenbach you can find her books on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and updates about her writing on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Goodreads, and on her website.
Book website: http://findingangel.com/
Kat’s author page on Splashdown Books
Kat’s books are available on Amazon and B&N:
Finding Angel: Amazon and on B&N
Seeking Unseen: Amazon and on B&N
June 20, 2013
Interview with Stephen Jared — The Elephants of Shanghai
As an actor Stephen Jared has appeared in feature films, such as He’s Just Not That Into You, and on television in popular shows such as iCarly, 24, and Touched by an Angel (plus commercials for both radio and television). His writings have appeared in various publications. In 2010, his first novel, Jack and the Jungle Lion, received much critical praise, including an Honorable Mention in the 2011 Hollywood Book Festival. Solstice Publishing released his second novel, Ten-A-Week Steale, hailed as a “fantastic work in the tradition of the old pulp/noir masters.” His third novel, The Elephants of Shanghai, continues on from where Jack and the Jungle Lion left off; both books will be included in the same release, available from Solstice Publishing in early 2013. Stephen lives in Pasadena, California.
Interview with Author Stephen Jared
author of The Elephants of Shanghai
6/20/2013
I was wondering where you get your story ideas?
Movies. I’m especially fond of classic Hollywood. My published novels so far have all been set in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. My latest release – The Elephants of Shanghai – is probably influenced mostly by Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, The Rocketeer, and the 1931 Mask of Fu Manchu with Boris Karloff.
What is your usual process for your fiction writing? Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I try not to have a usual process. I’ve been a plotter and a pantser. My crime novel, Ten-A-Week Steale, needed to be unpredictable as there are so many noir-inspired stories set in Los Angeles. And so, it benefitted from the type of approach where I didn’t really know where I was going. The Action Jack adventures needed a more classic feel, so I devised more rigid structures. I recently wrote a psychological thriller screenplay, and I wanted it to have a feeling of urgency, a feeling of great desperation. So, I wrote much of it while weaving through LA traffic, which I spend an enormous amount of time doing anyway. Some writers, no doubt, work best with a routine. For me, I just get better ideas if I mix things up.
Once you have an idea that sparks your imagination do you research your idea or do any world-building exercises, or do you just begin to write and see where the Muse takes you?
I do a lot of research, most of which coincides with the actual writing.
What is your daily writing like?
I’m an early morning person. I come back to it at the end of the day. I will typically leave it alone in the middle of the day, as I get too busy with other things. I pretty much never write at night. I’m usually too beaten down by then. I don’t strive for a certain number of words per day or anything. That makes sense if you have a deadline. I think it’s best not to have a deadline or set parameters for quantity. It’s art. What pride is there to be had in writing five thousand words in a day if none of it is any good? I work hard. I’m very disciplined. But in the end, all that matters is – is it any good?
Are you a full time writer? If so, when did you make the decision and what factors led to the decision? If you are not a full time writer…Is your plan to one day being a full time writer?
I’m not a full time writer. Would I like to be? Sure. The world is changing though, and I suspect it’s going to become more difficult to make a decent living as an artist. The stunning volume of work produced and the flood of new distribution channels for those works has devalued everything. The good news is it’s easier to get products into the marketplace than ever before; the bad news is it’s easier to get products into the marketplace than ever before. That’s the same for music, movies and books. I’ve seen it as an actor – lot of people working just as hard as they did ten years ago, but for less money.
Can you tell us about your experience working with your current publisher?
I’ve been working with Solstice Publishing and they’ve been terrific. I think they genuinely love books. There’s nothing snooty about them. They work hard. They’re accessible. I believe their books have been successful to varying degrees. They’ve had a few optioned for film. I like them a lot. They’re always looking to build, grow, and improve. I’m extremely grateful to them.
What is your current release, and tell us about the new book or series?
My latest – just released! – is The Elephants of Shanghai. It’s the sequel to an adventure story I wrote called Jack and the Jungle Lion. That book earned an Honorable Mention in the 2011 Hollywood Book Festival, and it’s included in this new book for free as a bonus. These are light-hearted romantic adventures set in exotic locations. With each story I aimed to capture the feeling I had as a kid when I’d walk out of a movie theater, and I really missed the characters and the fun we had. For two hours you believed they were your friends, and then the credits rolled and they were gone. You desperately hoped they’d come back so you could go on another adventure together.
Can you tell us about some of your other writing?
Ten-A-Week Steale is set in 1920s Los Angeles. It’s a much darker novel as compared to the adventure stories. I’ve lived in Los Angeles for nearly a quarter of a century. I’ve been fascinated by its history since before I arrived. It’s tough guy stuff – guns and sexy film actresses. But there’s an authenticity to it. It doesn’t read as pure fantasy. As to other writings, I’ve written articles and conducted interviews with some people whose work I admire – people like Lonesome Dove director Simon Wincer, and world famous movie poster artist Drew Struzan. Some of those can be found on my website.
As an author what inspiration or advice would you give to a writer who is working to make the transition to author?
I’ve been writing my whole life. The vast majority of my efforts have resulted in failure. Yet I keep going. It’s just what I do. When I see people toasting each other at Happy Hour or practicing their golf swing, I just think – I’d rather be writing.
Who is your favorite author, and can you recommend a book or series by that author?
I don’t really have a favorite author – maybe William Boyd among contemporary authors. Recommendations? Hmm … Lately, I’ve been reading Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels. They’re outrageous stories written with such cool casual prose. Fleming was a terrific writer.
If you would like more information about Stephen Jared you can find his books on Amazon, and updates about his writing on Twitter, Facebook , and on his website.
