Janice Horton's Blog, page 40

Author Interview with Bert Johnston

Bert Johnston is an Author and Presbyterian minister who in his retirement has turned from the writing of sermons and articles on church life to the writing of fiction. He has just launched his second novel Sunrise in the Cloud Forest which explores the themes of ambition, trust and forgiveness.
Bert was one of the lovely people I met as a direct result of my Bagpipes & Bullshot launch on 1st April. He and his wife Betty were a great support on the day. I'm currently reading Bert's new book Sunrise in the Cloud Forest on my Kindle. It's such a great read, so I invited Bert to come over from Spanish Fort, Alabama, to tell us more about his writing.
Bert, can you tell us a little more about your book, Sunrise in the Cloud Forest?Sunrise is primarily the story of Dr Matthew Landry, the founder and senior pastor of Harmony Temple in Mobile, Alabama and of Georgia Landry, his wife and co-pastor. Dr. Matt's great desire is to make the Temple the largest Protestant church along the Gulf Coast, but that goal and his marriage are threatened by the public confession of a woman who claims to be the pastor's lover. While a private investigator labours to prove the pastor's innocence, a wounded Georgia Landry flees to Costa Rica to carve out a new life for herself. But is Matt guilty or innocent? The couple's own sons, who are themselves divided in their religious loyalties, are divided on this question also. The future of a family, as well as the future of a great church, is at stake.
Tell us a little about yourself. How long have you been writing and was there any particular author or book that made you want to be a writer?I have been writing ever since my fourth grade poetry was printed in the Wheeling (West Virginia) Intelligencer. In high school I edited my school's weekly newspaper and aspired to be a journalist. My major life work has been that of a Presbyterian minister, and for many years, I was preoccupied with the writing of weekly sermons and church news letters. In retirement I wrote my memoirs, then my family history, and belatedly turned to fiction at the age of eighty when prodded by my oldest son to join him in National Novel Writing Month. My fiction writing has, so far, been only a five-year chapter in my multi-chapter life.
How much personal experience do you put into your novels and how much is research?A lot of my personal experience as a young minister in rural Virginia found its way into Parson Campbell's Breakthrough, my first novel. Sunrise in the Cloud Forest bears almost no trace of my personal experience, and required many hours of research, both online and off.
To plot or not to plot – as a writer how much of a planner are you?In writing Parson Campbell's Breakthrough, I began with a story line, let the story run away from me, and never looked back through its many turns, twists, and revisions. In writing Sunrise, I worked out a plot, a scene chart, a character time-line, and character profiles. There were, of course, changes and revisions, but only a dozen or so drafts this time, a number that reveals that even with planning I am a slow and picky writer. If I were to write another novel, I would plot and plan again as I did for Sunrise.
Do you have a favourite place to work?Not just a favourite place, but almost my sole place: an easy chair with a computer on my lap, a dictionary at my right hand, and a revolving stash of books surrounding me.
Can you tell us what you are planning next or working on now ?I have made a tentative beginning (a prologue) on The Canterbury Hall Tales, a contemporary take on Chaucer. These will not be travellers' tales, but the stories of a half dozen or more people who like to spin yarns around their retirement centre dining table. I have no end in sight for this project. First, I must learn to write short stories, and then endeavour to translate them into Chaucer-style verse.


You can find out more about Bert on his website: http://www.bertjohnston.com/
You can buy his books in either paperback or Kindle format from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com.
Parson Campbell's Breakthrough (2009) Sunrise in the Cloud Forest (August 2011)

Shaz's Stars...

Shaz's Stars is a regular feature on loveahappyending.com
This week, using sun sign astrology, Shaz Goodwin, the loveahappyending.com resident astrologer, interviews me to see how being a Pisces affects my writing!
Click here to link to loveahappyending.com and read the article

Thank you for all your interesting comments on last week's 'cover story' post.
All comments on this week's astrology post are very welcome here or on the loveahappyending.com blog

A Cover Story...

Lately I've been thinking about the value of good cover design. As an indie author with my second e-book due out at the end of the year, I'm already starting to imagine how the cover might look. One of the joys of being independently published is that I get to design and choose a book cover myself.  The only problem is that it's really hard to come up with something that says 'sassy, sexy but broken, media-stalked celebrity chef goes awol' using a single image whether that is with a slick photograph or snappy illustration! With Bagpipes & Bullshot I designed the cover myself after purchasing a stock image and I think it works really well. I've actually been complimented on this cover several times on Twitter! However, bringing out a second title has brought up a whole new issue and that is how to make it instantly clear to readers that this new book is written by the same author i.e. me.
I checked out the Amazon listings and some authors stand out from the crowd as having branded themselves and their books really well. It seems to me that Fantasy and Thriller genre writers are particularly good at this. Just look at these fabulous covers on George R R Martin's books:


In the Chick Lit genre, I think there's no better example than Talli Roland's book covers. Interestingly, Talli's publisher redesigned the first cover of The Hating Game when they noted sales falling back a little just after publication and then watched sales soar again with this fresh new colourfully illustrated design. Cleverly, they have followed it up with a strikingly similar cover for Talli's new book Watching Willow Watts which is due out in September as an e-book.


My next book 'Reaching for the Stars' is about a disillusioned celebrity chef. The genre is contemporary romantic fiction. Bagpipes & Bullshot is in that category too - but as neither my sexy chef nor my gorgeous bagpipe playing hero would be seen dead wearing pink - what's this author to do? Well, I'll tell you. I'm having the job done by a professional and, having discussed ideas, have now contracted out both books to an experienced cover designer. It's all very exciting. So do come back soon when I promise all will be revealed!
In the meantime, what do you like to see on a book cover? An illustration, a photograph, a headless woman/man, landscapes, seascapes, houses, trees, shoes and handbags, the list of options is endless - and what about colours - what's in and what's out? Please do leave a comment and feel free to follow my blog. In most cases I'm almost always going to follow you back.


My Bookshelves...

This week I'm picking up on the bookshelf feature I started earlier in the year, where I talk about favourite authors and show off my prized collection of first editions and 'keepers' - as I like to call my most loved books. This time I'm talking about the fabulous author of six equally fabulous novels, Kate Fenton, whose humorous and witty tales of country life in the wilds of Yorkshire are written in a pacy distinctive style that I can hardly get enough of, which is a shame, as the lovely Kate hasn't published a book since 'Picking Up in 2002!'
Author Kate Fenton
I met Kate a few years ago at a Romantic Novelist's Association conference. She is great fun, a real joker, and is as witty in real life as she is in her books. To my surprise, she laughed heartily while admitting that her recent lack of input/output on the writing front was down to her suffering from writer's block. She said she was "deeply embarrassed, mortified, terrified, and stupefied by a sense of failure."
On her blog, she says this of her predicament: "No, I haven't written a new novel recently. By which I mean, nothing since 'Picking Up'. I guess I experienced Writer's Block, that scary phenomenon about which one reads with the ghoulish fascination inspired by tales of, say, poltergeists or a fatal addiction to slot machines, while smugly thinking such a dreadful fate could never happen to ME. Except it did. And I'm here to tell you it's no fun."
Kate has further apologised to her many fans, saying: "I'm sorry to say my books are currently more or less out of print. It's all my own fault, natch. In this fast-changing retail world, a book has a shelf life rather shorter – in fact, much shorter – than that of a can of baked beans. And if authors fail to deliver new titles, old ones tend to get put speedily out to grass. Re-issues are promised if and when a new novel is published. Ho-hum."
It apparently took Kate four years to write and finish her first novel 'The Colours of Snow' (which is my personal favourite of her books) and three years later she produced 'Dancing to the Pipers'. It took her two years apiece to write 'Lions and Liquorice', 'Balancing on Air', 'Too Many Godmothers', and finally 'Picking Up'. So, despite the speed with which the plots in Kate's books furiously race along, she has never really been a production line writer has she?

What sort of books are these, you may ask? Well, Kate herself says:  "Oh, I write about, birth, sex and death, really. Doesn't everyone? Also God, dogs, adultery, D-I-Y, suicide, Morris dancing, incest, murder - you know, everyday life in North Yorkshire. With jokes.  But I don't do moody, magnificent brutes, heaving bosoms and surging passions on moon-kissed Caribbean beaches. The odd chilly paddle in Llandudno, maybe."
The good news is that Kate is still trying to write: she says (talking about herself in the third person) on her (sadly neglected) blog: "That's right: it's because she's run out of excuses, jokes and even suicide threats, in trying to explain her ongoing failure to produce Novel Number Seven. Admittedly, she has been trying – in our view, very trying. You should see her, staring at the wall, muttering to herself, decimating the world's forests with the manuscripts she so regularly chucks away with a manic cackle as she grows ever poorer, fatter and more morose."
To me, Kate's previous novels are a testament to the fact she is a great writer. I can read her books over and over and enjoy them all the more. If she (ever) manages to write another novel, I shall be delighted and it won't matter a jot to me how long it took her to do it. It's all about quality not quantity, right? Kate Fenton Novels on my bookshelves


So here's a question for you if you are a writer, what's your opinion on writer's block and have you ever suffered from it? If you are a reader, how long are you prepared to wait for another novel by a favourite author?

Please consider 'following me' so that I can follow your blog in return - and do leave a comment as it would be most appreciated. Thanks!

A Shout Out!

This week I've SO much to shout about!
After an intense week working on my next novel, Reaching For The Stars, I stopped writing to take a break and check my Amazon listing (as you do!) to see that Bagpipes & Bullshot had picked up a NINTH five star review!
I was so excited that I did a little shimmy around my study - so thank you very much to Audrey Hawkins of Bath for taking the time to post a review. I'm delighted you enjoyed reading Bagpipes & Bullshot as much as I enjoyed writing it. Yay!
Then, another lovely lady called Rea Sinfield, posted a photo on Twitter of her taking a tea break while reading Bagpipes & Bullshot on her gorgeous pink skinned Kindle! Rea Sinfeild's KindleSomehow Rea managed to finish Bagpipes & Bullshot's eighty thousand words in just ONE DAY and write a review. Thank you Rea. Double Yay!!
You can read Rea's five star review here at Reabookreview Blog.
Don't forget - if you don't yet have a copy of  Bagpipes & Bullshot   you can download it at the very special price of just 90p or $1.45 from Amazon uk and dot com, Smashwords, or from any other e-reader catalogue.
If you don't have an e-reader and would like to read Bagpipes & Bullshot you can download the free Kindle app from Amazon for your PC, Mac, IPad, IPhone or other mobile device.
Before you go - don't forget to enter last week's Book Giveaway (you can enter until midnight on 31st July 2011) to win a signed paperback copy of Christine Richards book 'Whitewalls'.
Also: a very special and exciting event is going down at loveahappyending.com today (Friday 22nd July).
It's Richard Holmes' Angelic Wisdom Trilogy Book Launch. Please do take a moment to visit loveahappyending.com to enter into the spirit of the event, to take part in any giveaways, and generally show support by leaving a comment to encourage our new and exciting authors as they launch their work upon the world. Writers need readers and readers need writers! Book Launch Event
loveahappyending.comThe Interactive Reader / Writer Website and Blog

Author Interview with Christine Richard

Christine Richard OBE is an incredibly busy woman with over twenty five years of experience of public life in Scotland. She is - or has been - a chair person, a presenter, a speaker, a politician, a magistrate, an executive, a counsellor, a consultant, a patron, a mentor, and an advisor to Government. She was awarded her OBE in 1992.
Christine's leisure interests include her family, literature, art, music, theatre, food, wine, and as member of two racing syndicates based in Perthshire, horse racing. She is also a member of The Scottish Arts Club in Edinburgh.
With such a wealth of business experience and an intimate knowledge of hallowed halls, when I heard Christine had written a novel, I knew I wanted to read it.
Whitewalls is a contemporary novel set in Scotland and I asked Christine to tell us a little more about it.
"Whitewalls is a family saga, set in the present day.  The title comes from the name of the house which is at the heart of the book.  It is a Scottish Baronial house set on the banks of the River Tweed.  The story is about four generations of the Douglas and Bruce families over a Spring and Summer in the 2000s. As well a host of principal characters there are cats, dogs, ponies, racehorses, locations in Edinburgh, Burnmouth, Yorkshire, London, the Haute Savoie regions of France and back again."

How much personal experience do you put into your novels and how much is research? "I think, on the whole, I followed the adage "write about what you know" and I have followed the lives of families like this for a long time.  Indeed I have at times been involved personally although the book itself is a work of fiction.  There are some real people in the book, with their permission, and include James Thomson who owns the Witchery restaurant and Prestonfield House in Edinburgh, and Stephen Winyard, owner of Stobo Castle Health Spa where some of the action takes place."
To plot or not to plot – as a writer how much of a planner are you? "I sketch out each chapter so I have a starting point, though characters and events do take on a life of their own and I allow them to do that.  After all they can always be brought back to the original plan.  Although Schubert said, the hardest thing was not writing the music but dropping the unwanted notes on to the floor.  I know exactly what he meant!"
Do you have a favourite place to work? "I generally work in my very messy study at home.  I call it my creative space but from time to time have a good clear out then piles of paper build up again.  I keep cards, quotes, articles in case they come in useful.  Another wonderful place in which to write is Cliff Cottage, a writer's retreat, where one can go to stay and do nothing but write, eat, drink and sleep for up to a week at a time. Here I get great inspiration from sitting in a glassed-in veranda looking out to sea."
Was there any particular author or book that made you want to be a writer? "I was very impressed with Rosamunde Pilcher, who also understands family dynamics, and I met her at an RNA lunch I helped to organise at the Scottish Parliament, when she was presented with a lifetime achievement award.  In some ways I have copied her style of moving locations and concentrating on different characters or groups of characters before bringing them all together again.  Another writer who impressed me tremendously was Mary Wesley.  I enjoyed the darker side of her books."
Can you tell us what you are working on now with regard to your writing? "Yes, I am currently writing a sequel to Whitewalls, called Autumn at Whitewalls.  This is in response to a number of kind people who have been asking me what happens next. It should be published in time for Christmas. I also write articles and do art reviews for on-line magazine, Lothian Life, and more recently the glossy magazine, Edinburgh Life and Lothians."
Whitewalls Giveaway!!!Christine has kindly offered one lucky reader a complimentary copy of Whitewalls! All you have to do to be in the draw to win is to leave a comment on this blog saying why you'd like to read Whitewalls. The winner will be picked at random using a fair and impartial system. As usual, for those who have trouble leaving a comment, you can email in your entry to janice.horton@btinternet.com. You can enter this giveaway between now and midnight on 31st July 2011 (BST). Good Luck!
Whitewalls is available to buy from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com both in paperback and Kindle format or from most book sites, bookshops and libraries.
Interesting Footnote: Christine was once a contestant in an ITV gourmet TV show, Chef V Britain, challenging TV chef Gino D'Acampo to cook her signature dish, 'Posh Cottage Pie'. Currently she is working on a new proposed web-based TV station aimed specifically at an educated female audience.

High Days & Holidays...

Hi everyone, I'm finally catching up with you all after what has been a very busy week.
In my day job, as a legal secretary, I've been providing holiday cover and working extra hours. In my virtual job, as an associated author and editor at loveahappyending.com, I've done my first Review Chair interview which you can read by clicking the links on my The Review Chair tab opposite.
Last week I was giving away SIX copies of Bagpipes & Bullshot to celebrate the launch of the loveahappyending.com website, which took so many hits in its first few hours that founder and Editor-in-Chief, Linn Halton, actually thought the site might crash!
These are the six winners of an e-copy of Bagpipes & Bullshot whose names have now been forwarded to loveahappyending.com who will send out your Smashwords coupons. Thank you to everyone who entered!
The winners are : Margaret James. Susan Jones. Jessica Thompson. Jeryl Marcus. Dorothy Bush. Dina King.
Also this week, I was delighted and excited to receive THREE separate five star reviews for Bagpipes & Bullshot on Amazon.Com, Amazon.Uk and Goodreads. Thank you to my readers!
Over the next seven days I'm on a writers retreat - but actually staying at home in the cottage - as the kids are away and I have put aside some time to work on my next book.
Next Friday here on the blog, I'll be chatting to Edinburgh author Christine Richard about her life, her writing, and her new e-book.
Happy reading and writing everyone!
Love, Janice x

The Review Chair

Bagpipes & Bullshot is being discussed in the Review Chair with
Kim 'The Bookworm' Nash and Loveahappyending editor Ceri Autelli

Click here to read the feature

To celebrate the launch of the new interactive website loveahappyending.com
I am giving away SIX free copes of Bagpipes & Bullshot

To enter my Bagpipes & Bullshot book giveaway click here


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Happy Reading!




This week's Special Event!

Loveahappyending.com is celebrating its official launch on Wednesday 29th June.
It's all happening on line - which means wherever you are in the world you can pop along to www.loveahappyending.com and wish all our authors and associate readers lots of luck and success with this new exciting interactive venture.
Interactive means everyone can take part - why not enter one or more of our giveaways or consider buying one of our loveahappyending author's books? Why not contact us with a review and take part in our regular The Review Chair feature?
We've romantic fiction and biographies, children's books, saga and crime, poetry and short story collections: there is something for everyone.
During the run up to launch day and until the end of July - I have reduced the price of my e-book Bagpipes and Bullshot on Amazon to 90p - yes, just ninety pence!
Now only 90p on Amazon!

ON LAUNCH DAY
Bagpipes & Bullshot is being reviewed in 'The Review Chair' by Associate Reader Kim 'The Bookworm' Nash and discussed with loveahappyending editor Ceri Autelli.

Also, as a Pisces author, I am being interviewed by Sharon Goodwin on what will be another regular 'astrology based' interview feature on loveahappyending.com - 'Shaz's Stars'.

AND I'm giving away - yes, giving away SIX COPIES of my e-book Bagpipes & Bullshot. For more info on this givaway and how to enter the giveaway: click here.
For all of this - and more - visit www.loveahappyending.com on Wednesday 29th June 2011

Romantic Novelist's Association Blog

This week I'm blogging early because I'm excited about an author interview I've done for the RNA blog - the blog of The Romantic Novelist's Association. It's such an honour, not only to be a member of such a fantastic organisation, but to appear on the blog at the same time I have an article entitled 'How My Book Became A Bestseller' in the summer issue of Romance Matters - the magazine of the Romantic Novelist's Association. Hip-hip-hooray for the wonderful RNA!
This is the link to my RNA Blog Interview.

This is the link to my article in Romance Matters Magazine (pdf)

Happy reading and writing everyone!