Ryan Schneider's Blog, page 20

10 Questions with SciFi Writer Drew Avera (@DrewAvera)

This week's Author Spotlight features science fiction writer Drew Avera. Drew's debut novel is Dead Planet: Exodus. (See above.)

Drew is an active duty Navy veteran who is also a self-published author. Dead Planet Book 1: EXODUS is available now in paperback and on Kindle. Drew lives in Virginia with his wife and two daughters.

1. How did you get into writing?I am by nature a creative person and I was looking for an outlet for that creativity. I had considered writing a book since I was a teenager, but writing always seemed to be a challenge that I would not be able to complete.
Finally, after I turned 30, I decided that I would give it a go. I began writing a fantasy novel and after 12,000 words, I quit. The story was going nowhere fast and I was losing interest in the characters.
I found out about NaNoWriMo around the same time and the rule is that you can only begin writing on November 1 and you need to complete 50,000 words by the end of the 30-day event. This was the challenge that I was looking for, something to keep me accountable.
I began writing the book that became Dead Planet: Exodus on November 1, 2012. I finished the 50,000 words twenty days later, just in time to visit family for Thanksgiving.
An interesting fact is that the entire first draft was written on my iPhone.
2. What do you like best (or least) about writing?I love the creativity of writing. I hate the labor of revision. But, you can’t have one without the other.
3. What is your writing process? IE do you outline? Do you stick to a daily word or page count, write 7 days a week, etc?When I first started that fantasy novel that I put to the side, I did not outline. Also, I would write everything on paper and then type it out on my computer. I think this method attributed to my lack of motivation and the story ultimately going nowhere.
For Dead Planet I typed the first draft on my iPhone and used a very basic outline for each chapter. I did not stick to the outline exclusively so I would have to make changes here and there. I preferred this method of writing and recommend it to anyone else who likes to have a structure to follow, but also likes to be spontaneous.
4. Who are some other writers you read and admire, regardless of whether they are commercially “successful?”I recently discovered the Indie Author movement (if you want to call it that). There is a lot of talent out there that needs to be found by readers. I will admit that I am a slow reader due to my schedule and trying to make time for writing, so I tend to read only a couple of books per month.
Some authors that really stand out to me as far as self-published authors go are Hugh Howey, Richard Stephenson, and Tony Ruggiero. Each of these guys have also provided me with some great advice on writing the story that I want to write. I am inspired by the community of indie authors that I’ve found and that means more to me than any one book on the subject.
5. Should the question mark in the above question be inside or outside the quotes?I would say outside.
6. What’s your stance on the Oxford Comma?I had to do a Google search to even know what that is (when I read another interview you did with an author); once I found out what it was I began incorporating it. I will say when it doubt use the Oxford Comma.
7. What is your book Dead Planet: Exodus about and how did it come to fruition?I needed a story to plot before NaNoWriMo 2012 and this was the best idea I came up with. It is about a future where Mars is inhabited and is controlled by a one-world government called the Syndicate. They control everything from education, health care, the economy, and even the population. Their primary goal is profits and power. The Agency is the company that trains policemen and which is controlled by the Syndicate. The policemen are political assassins and are used to kill anyone with a hit placed on their head. The main character Serus is a policeman and he discovers that a hit is placed on his sister. The story follows his efforts to save her as the world they know comes crashing down around them.
8. What’s your current writing project?The sequel to Dead Planet: Exodus. I’m about 11 chapters in right now.
9. What book(s) are you currently reading?Coven by Tony Ruggiero.
10. Who or what inspires your writing?I like conflict and plot twists so I try to put those elements into the story. I get inspiration from everywhere, music, television, books, etc. I will admit that I was listening to a lot of Chevelle during the revision process.
Finally, is there anything you’d care to add? Please also include where people can read your published stories, buy your book, etc.I just hope that anyone who reads my book enjoys it and will share it with their friends. I can be found on facebook and twitter. www.facebook.com/authordrewavera Twitter: @DrewAvera Also, my book can be found here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C1KP6SS
Thank you for the interview, good luck in your future endeavors.
Thank you, Drew, for sharing your novel with us. I like the premise. Puts me in mind of something Phil Dick might have written.
Be sure to let us know when the Dead Planet: Exodus sequel is ready.
Grab your copy of Dead Planet: Exodus while the $0.99 bargain price lasts!

Ryan's Thank-You FREE Ebook Sale Sat & Sun Only

I am excited to let you all know that to celebrate the release of my new novel Eye Candy, I am having a two-day sale in which Eye Candy and most of my other titles will be completely, totally, 100% FREE! (through Sunday night at midnight!)

I began work on Eye Candy in August 2011. I wrote the first few chapters while completing my research (I love doing research), and then really got rolling on the manuscript. I decided to write this story because of the two main characters (featured on the incredible cover). They called to me, they felt so alive and real, I simply had to write this book.

So browse the books below and see what strikes your fancy. Or download each of them. They're free! And if you would be so kind as to share this with a few friends, I would be truly grateful. Word of mouth is what sells books; it's what allows me to continue doing what I do: creating fun, inspiring, and powerful stories for you to get lost in.

If you really enjoy a book, please take a moment to post a review on Amazon to let everyone know.

Click on each cover to be taken to the corresponding Amazon page.

And if you'd like a complimentary, personalized inscription for any of the ebooks, visit my Authorgraph page.


















And again, sincerely, Thank You!
Finally, renown thriller writer J.A. Konrath is having a sale this weekend as well. Nearly all of his titles are on sale for a mere $0.99. After you've purchased all of my books, visit him here: http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2013/04/konraths-thank-you-99-cent-sale.html

10 Questions with Action Thriller Writer Simon Jenner (@SimonRJenner)

This Author Spotlight features action-thriller writer Simon Jenner, author of Ethan Justice: Origins. Simon is offering a complimentary copy of Ethan Justice: Origins to a lucky few. Read on for more.

Simon Jenner is a man whose goal in life is to discover his goal in life. He lives with his wife, who keeps his dream alive and his stomach tight against his trousers; his son, a dreamer just like his dad; and a dog who "receives fuss" like he’s the one doing the favor.

1. How did you get into writing?
I have always enjoyed writing actually more than reading and started writing books (many books, with the emphasis on starting!) after leaving school. I’d never finished anything until Ethan Justice: Origins – other than a children’s rhyming picture book which was inspired by my son. I think I had to get to an age – in my case 48 – before I could hold my concentration long enough to finish writing one. 

2. What do you like best (or least) about writing?
Self-doubt is the worst thing of all. Some days the words I write are sheer genius, and yet when I read it back the next day, it has inexplicably turned to trash. What is that about? 

3. What is your writing process? IE do you outline? Do you stick to a daily word or page count, write 7 days a week, etc?
I start with an idea and plan out the first couple of chapters and then see where the characters take me. If I try to over plan, I get bogged down and decidedly bored. I try to write 3000 words a day and write 5 days a week. As with most writers, some days I succeed and some days I fail miserably. I do get distracted at times, but mostly I manage to stay on track - until that damn Facebook pings at me! 

4. Who are some other writers you read and admire, regardless of whether they are commercially “successful?”
As a boy I enjoyed Alistair MacLean and later I turned to the more macabre with Stephen King and Dean Koontz, although I haven't been so enamored with their latest works. Steig Larson’s Millenium trilogy was excellent, and it was sad and a great loss to writing that he died at such an early age. In the last year or so, I have been sticking to the works of other indie authors. I like to wave the flag for the great thrillers I have come across so I reach out to the authors and feature them with character and author interviews on my website. 

5. Should the question mark in the above question be inside or outside the quotes?
Outside. 

6. What’s your stance on the Oxford Comma?
It's useful when items in a list are not single words. 

7. What is your book Ethan Justice: Origins about and how did it come to fruition?
Ethan Justice: Origins pits the wits and adrenaline of an underachiever and a beautiful escort against a psychotic soldier in a race to secure a terrifying invention that could kill thousands. It is a fast-paced, action-packed, character-driven thriller, that I hope will make you laugh out loud, cringe, cry and cheer. It came about as I told my wife that I had an idea for a thriller and she said 'write it already or get a job.' 

8. What’s your current writing project?
The second Ethan Justice book, Relentless, is being edited. This time around Ethan and Savannah end up in a dangerous cat-and-mouse game of pursuit and survival when they cross paths with Richard Windal, a cool, confident and highly influential yet psychotic entrepreneur. 

I have also written a few thousand words for my third action thriller about a man who has fallen on hard times in the current financial crisis. He gets recruited as an assassin to pay the bills, but all is not as it seems! 

9. What book(s) are you currently reading?
Disappear by Iain Edward Henn. It's a mystery thriller that’s taken me on an enjoyable journey so far and I'm hoping for a great ending. 

10. Who or what inspires your writing?
I get a lot of inspiration from movies, other books, life, news items, my wife and my son (although most of his ideas are just crazy –what imaginations 12 year olds have – he loves to help though). I enjoy basing some of my less likeable characters on people that have annoyed me. I tend to rename them, disguise them, and then have them bumped off by my antagonist. It's highly therapeutic! 

Finally, is there anything you’d care to add? Please also include where people can read your published stories, buy your book, etc.
I would like to thank everyone who has read Ethan Justice: Origins so far and would love to hear from them as well as any readers who just want to chat about and share recommendations for other thrillers. I’ve recently decided to try out Twitter so if anyone wants to say ‘Hi’ there that would be great (@simonrjenner). I’m also on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/SimonJennerAuthor). If you haven’t read Ethan Justice: Origins yet, it is available on Amazon but I’m giving away a free e-copy to the first 10 people to contact me via my website - http://simonjenner.com/contact/ - please mention this interview! It should be out in paperback very soon too – I’m actually at home today waiting for the proof to be delivered – it’s very exciting!
Thanks, Simon, for sharing your books. Best of luck and come visit with us again when Relentless is ready.
Be sure to follow Simon on Twitter and check out his Facebook page for the latest updates.

10 Questions with Novelist Ryan Schneider (@RyanLSchneider)

This Author Spotlight is a bit different in that it features a book which I wrote. Hooray!
You know that scene in "The Jerk" when Steve Martin runs around shouting "The new phone books are here! The new phone books are here!"
"Stay Away From The Cans" by Rahzzah
It's kinda like that, except that in stead of a phone book, it's my new novel Eye Candy.

For this week I shall therefore be interviewing myself. At last I shall be answering the same 10 questions I force everyone else to answer. Shall we?

1. How did you get into writing?
Writing is something I’ve always done. Every year in school growing up, I seemed to do well when it came to writing projects and assignments of a literary nature. This progressed in high school when I began doing more creative writing. When I got to college I dumped the pre-med thing and switched majors to English Lit. After graduation, I moved to Hollywood and attended UCLA, where I studied screenwriting and independent producing. After a few years, I got into aviation with the objective being to work for an airline. But after a time I realized that was a difficult lifestyle so I decided to finally obey my calling and decided to write in a professional capacity. The advent of self-publishing has been a blessing in this regard.

2. What do you like best (or least) about writing?
What I like best is when you’re in the midst of a story and you see the magic happening before your eyes. For example, you’re working on a scene and you have absolutely NO idea what you’re writing or why you’re writing it, and why the characters in the scene are saying what they’re saying. But you decide to have faith that it will all work out. And, somehow, a few days or weeks or months later, it does.

I also like the initial stages of beginning a new project, when the idea is just a seed, but it’s exciting. Then the research begins. I love research. Being a novelist is the best job in the world because you can spend 50 hours watching nothing but Mythbusters and it’s legitimate research.

If I had to say what I like least, perhaps it’s the inevitable fear, nay terror, that what you’re writing is simply not good but because you’re in love with your work you can’t see it, and no one else has the heart to tell the cute little “writer” that his work isn’t fit to line the bottom of a rabbit cage. We must fight through such fears and not listen to that Inner Critic. No matter what. Don’t listen.

3. What is your writing process? IE do you outline? Do you stick to a daily word or page count, write 7 days a week, etc?
I tend to outline but not because I want to. I do it out of necessity. The story comes at me so fast, I must get it down as fast as possible. I tend to use a highly efficient combination of stream-of-consciousness rambling bashed into some sort of quasi-coherent outline format.

As for word or page counts, not really. It all depends on what stage of the project I’m in. Once I’m in the actual WRITING phase, where that quasi-coherent outline is my map and my faith that what I’m writing will be everything I hope it can be, then I write a lot, typically every day, and typically for many hours; whatever I can get in given the outside responsibilities life tends to throw at us. When I’m in this stage, my laptop goes everywhere I go.

4. Who are some other writers you read and admire, regardless of whether they are commercially “successful?”
My taste is quite varied. I grew up reading a ton of Stephen King. Carrie and Cujo and Christine and The Shining were all the rage, so I was reading that stuff when I was about 12 or so. Watching the movies, too. But I also enjoyed science fiction guys like Asimov and Bradbury, and fantasy too. I read Narnia three times. I read the Dragonlance Chronicles several times. More recently I became a huge Harry Potter fan. I loathed the little bastard when I first heard about him and saw the book on my mom’s shelf at her house. But when I began writing The Go-Kids, I turned to Harry Potter for research and wound up becoming a huge fan. So I’ve read that series three times. I also like Chuck Pahlaniuk, and Chuck Klosterman. Klosterman’s The Visible Man was probably my favorite book that I read in 2011. It’s one of those books I wish I had written. For 2012 I really loved Ready Player One by Ernst Cline.

I’ve also discovered a lot of indie authors whose work I enjoy. Michael Hicks’ In Her Name series is good. I like R.S. Guthrie’s writing a lot. Russell Blake is single-handedly taking over the spy/thriller genre. I like his Jet series. Reaper of Sorrows by James A. West brought me back to fantasy and made me a fan of his work. There are so many… I could go on and on.

5. Should the question mark in the above question be inside or outside the quotes?
Depends on who you ask. Most people say outside. Some people say inside. Which is why I asked the question.

6. What’s your stance on the Oxford Comma?
Whatever makes the writing clear. But it’s a stylistic choice.

7. What is your book EYE CANDY about and how did it come to fruition?
It’s essentially a love story set in a futuristic Los Angeles. A roboticist goes on a blind date with a robopsychologist and hijinks ensue. There’s a lot of cool futuristic stuff, as well as some serious relationship and philosophy stuff. It’s also about what it means to be a human being.

I began writing it in summer of 2011. I wrote the beginning while doing research (I love research), and got about 75,000 words in the bag before I had to take a break because we moved and big changes in life tend to put a dent in one’s creativity. I finally finished the manuscript in February 2013. The writing process was about a year. 
I also want to mention the cover art for the book. It features an original illustration by a wildly, wildly talented artist who goes by the name of Rahzzah. He and I brainstormed a few ideas and settled on one we both liked. He asked me a few questions about the characters and their physical characteristics, and he did the rest. I think it's positively brilliant. You can see more of his work on his Deviant Art Gallery. Check out Moon Girl, too. He did all the artwork. I don't read a lot of graphic novels or comics, but I read Moon Girl on my Kindle Fire and it was absolutely dazzling.


8. What’s your current writing project?
Don’t know yet. I have four different stories calling me at the moment. Three SciFi, one mainstream. I may take a break from the SciFi for a bit. We’ll see which squeaky wheel gets the grease.

9. What book(s) are you currently reading?
I just finished The Laws of the Ring by Urijah Faber. Enjoyed that immensely. Now I’m reading Mastery by Robert Greene. For some reason I seem to be in a non-fiction phase.

10. Who or what inspires your writing?
I get great inspiration from other writers and their books. But the initial idea for a novel can come from just about anywhere. A movie. A song. Just some random stuff going through my head while I’m driving or exercising. I get a lot of ideas while I’m working out, usually while running. Your mind goes into that zone where your body is on auto pilot and your mind is free to roam. I also get a lot of inspiration from my wife Taliya and our relationship. All kinds of things find their way into the writing. Such was certainly the case with Eye Candy. I dedicated the book to her.

Finally, is there anything you’d care to add? Please also include where people can read your published stories, buy your book, etc.
I want to offer a truly, truly heartfelt thank you to everyone who follows this blog and enjoys the Author Spotlights (I dig them, too!), as well as the folks on Twitter. I literally wouldn’t be where I am today without all of you. I hope you read and enjoy Eye Candy as much as I did when I discovered it through the writing of it. The eBook is available at Amazon now and the paperback will be for sale in about a month.

10 Questions with Fitness Guru & Author Greta Boris (@fitnesinsideout)

This Author Spotlight is something a bit different than our typical weekly fare. We are now in the middle of March. In other words, more than three months into the new year. Experts say that 103% percent of Americans make "Losing Weight" their New Year's Resolution.
Actually, I don't know what the percentage is, nor can I be bothered to go dig it up. The point is that a LARGE number of people feel they themselves are too large and want to be leaner, fitter, and healthier.
To that end, this week we are going to chat with fitness expert and author Greta Boris.

Greta Boris is the author of The Wine and Chocolate Workout - Eat, Drink and Lose Weight and the editor of the inbox magazine, Vanity Network. She worked in the fitness industry for close to 20 years as a personal trainer, weight management coach, and the Health and Wellness Director for a YMCA. She now writes to inspire her readers toward a healthier and happier life.


1. How did you get into writing?
My father was an editor for Harcourt Brace Jovanovich when I was growing up, so books and magazines were a constant in my home. Every school paper I ever wrote had to go through the red pencil scrutiny before it was delivered. It was a given that I'd major in English in college. That degree got derailed, but I did end up working for several magazines and was infected by the publishing bug before I started my family.
I became a personal trainer and weight management consultant while my children were small. I taught some group health and wellness classes. My clients were the ones that requested I write a book.
I responded with The Wine and Chocolate Workout - Eat, Drink and Lose Weight. My love for writing and publishing was reborn in the process and I'm now working toward a second career writing, publishing, and speaking.
2. What do you like best (or least) about writing?I enjoy the brainstorming, the planning, the research, and the creative aspects of writing. I absolutely love having a finished product with my name on it, either published online or in print.
Where I tend to bog down is in the revision process. When I'm done with something, I'm ready to move on to the next idea. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. Revision is really one of the most important and time consuming aspects of being a writer.
3. What is your writing process? IE do you outline? Do you stick to a daily word or page count, write 7 days a week, etc?I write every day but since I publish a health and happiness blog at Fitness Inside Out, an inbox magazine, Vanity Network Magazine - Inspiring Women, and I'm working on my first novel, much of my schedule is determined by deadlines.
4. Who are some other writers you read and admire, regardless of whether they are commercially “successful?”I love thrillers, mysteries, gothic novels and things with a little supernatural twist. That covers a lot of territory. I read everything from C.J. Box mysteries, to Douglas Preston and Lee Childs, to the Harry Potter books. My favorite author is always the one I'm currently reading. The author I most want to meet when I get to heaven is C.S. Lewis.
5. Should the question mark in the above question be inside or outside the quotes?Inside, of course!
6. What’s your stance on the Oxford Comma?I'm ambivalent, or maybe schizophrenic, sometimes I use it sometimes I don't.
7. What is your book The Wine and Chocolate Workout - Eat, Drink and Lose Weight about and how did it come to fruition?As mentioned earlier, I was teaching group weight loss classes and my clients began clamoring for a book. This put the idea in my mind. I have spent a lot of time in the fitness industry and saw a hole in the available material on the topic. This is hard to believe, I know, with the complete flood of celebrity and doctor weight loss books out there. It almost seems arrogant to say it.
What I discovered, however, was that there isn't much that is realistic available. Most books about weight loss promote one method and promise that it will work for everyone. This makes the reader the problem if they aren't successful. My approach is completely the opposite. There isn't one method and success is subjective. The most important thing is that you enjoy life, hence the wine and chocolate.
I believe fitness should be a process of discovery about what makes you tick, your personal likes, dislikes, and hang ups. Too often it is preached in a legalistic manner that leaves most people feeling defeated.
8. What’s your current writing project?I embarked on my first attempt at fiction writing since college with NaNoWRiMo this past October. I'm really excited about the project. The story is about a woman who is going through a midlife, career change and has an accident that forever alters her outlook on life. It has some thriller and supernatural elements but is also a very real look at human nature.
9. What book(s) are you currently reading?I'm currently reading two self - help books, Jack Canfield's The Success Principals and Gail Blanke's Between Trapezes. I'm also reading a book by author friend, Katherine Sartori, The Chosen Shell and a fun read by David Liss called The Twelfth Enchantment.
10. Who or what inspires your writing?I write to help. I've got that golden retriever personality. I'm never as happy as when I'm encouraging someone else to be or do something they didn't think that they could. My fitness writing has become more and more about happiness and perspective.
At the magazine, Vanity Network, I write stories about inspiring women. Those interviews are some of my favorite snapshots in time. Today, for instance, I interviewed an amputee triathlete whose story knocked my socks off. I can't wait to write it. I even love copywriting, if I believe in the product.
Finally, is there anything you’d care to add? Please also include where people can read your published stories, buy your book, etc.I would love to connect with anyone who feels they need a dose of encouragement. They can find my book, The Wine and Chocolate Workout on Amazon. I've also recently added a free e-course to my website, How to be Fit | 30 Ways in 30 Days for People Over 30. And Vanity Network Magazine offers inspiration on health, beauty, and career and has some great stories about amazing women. Our plan is to turn the inspiring women stories into a book in 2014.
Thank you, Greta, for sharing this excellent, practical, no-nonsense guide to diet and fitness.
So there you have it: A perfectly acceptable means to get fitter, leaner, healthier, and happier, all while enjoying wine and chocolate.
Check out Greta's book and use it to re-invigorate your workouts and to jump start your fitness regimen in the event that it may have stalled. Swimsuit season is just around the corner, after all. If you get after it now, you can accomplish a lot, and can remake your physique in time for summer.
Greta's book can help you do it.
And then, once you've done it, her philosophy can help you maintain the body you've always wanted and for which you worked so hard.

You can find her at www.fitnessinsideoutoc.com, on Facebook at Fitness Inside Out and follow her on twitter at @fitnesinsideout.
Good luck!

10 Questions with Writer Roslyn Fleischer (@mysticmaniac)

This Author Spotlight features writer Roslyn Fleischer.

Fleischer was born in Lafayette, Louisiana and has a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Southern California. She has enjoyed tenures in film development at Paramount Pictures, Castle Rock Entertainment, Warner Bros., and Fox Family Channel, as well as Creative Artists Agency before she left with Paula Wagner and Tom Cruise to start Cruise/Wagner Productions at Paramount.
Roslyn has worked steadily as a screenwriter, ghostwriter, and novelist. Mystic Mania is her first novel.

1. How did you get into writing?
I wrote satirical weekly columns for my high school and college newspapers. I also attended USC Journalism School. After I graduated I got (several) jobs in the film business. They were pretty crazy. I quit and tried my hand at screenwriting, which went pretty well for a while. As of late, I am venturing into the publishing world…

2. What do you like best (or least) about writing? 
I enjoy the process of writing immensely. If I’ve really done my thinking something through and research homework, it generally goes pretty well for me and I don’t tend to get blocked. What I like least about it is the part that comes afterward…either the selling process, or, in the case of screenwriting, the “is this assignment really ever going to get made into a film” reality.

3. What is your writing process? IE do you outline? Do you stick to a daily word or page count, write 7 days a week, etc? 
My process is on a per-project basis. If it’s a screenwriting assignment, I will do an outline or treatment first if required. If not, I tend to write stream of consciousness after I’ve really thought through the characters, plot and act breaks. If it’s a manuscript, I’ll outline a rewrite assignment. If it’s my manuscript, I don’t tend to outline and I really let the central characters tell the story. I work seven days a week on assignment. For my own pieces I think it through, live my life, and wait for lightning to strike. Then I tend to work five days a week. No page count. Some weeks are better than others, which probably doesn’t make me different from anyone else. 

4. Who are some other writers you read and admire, regardless of whether they are commercially “successful?” 
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak was probably the best book I’ve read in recent years. Pure genius. I also really enjoy Lisa See’s novels. I just finished The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach, an inspired first novel. I tend to read best sellers, as I like to know where the marketplace’s head is at. Gone Girl was great fun. Harper Lee and the Bronte sisters are on my Kindle, as well as some books from several indie authors I’ve met recently on Twitter.

5. Should the question mark in the above question be inside or outside the quotes? 
Outside.

6. What’s your stance on the Oxford Comma? 
I don’t enjoy much of serial anything. I don’t use it.

7. What is your book Mystic Mania about and how did it come to fruition? 
Mystic Mania is somewhat autobiographical. Had to do that once. I had a bizarre paranormal experience ten years ago, or at least I thought I did. The book is about the experience and the comedic adventures that followed the next year trying to sort out that mystery.

8. What’s your current writing project? 
My current project is a book, working title The Dark Lady. It is a wildly comedic thriller involving fantasy and reality. I am going for a current social commentary as well, but we’ll have to see about that part…

9. What book(s) are you currently reading? 
I am reading One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus and Lust, Money and Murder by an indie author I met on Twitter, Mike Wells.

10. Who or what inspires your writing? 
Great films and novels inspire my writing. I just saw "Django Unchained" and "Silver Linings Playbook". Both films were terrific, genius screenplays and acting. Mostly I am inspired by the people in my life. They are wonderful characters and I’m very blessed to be surrounded by such an interesting cast at all times…

Finally, is there anything you’d care to add? Please also include where people can read your published stories, buy your book, etc. 
I’d like to thank all of my new followers on Twitter. It’s been lovely to meet so many new people in the writing community all over the world. Mystic Mania is available on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble.com. I look forward to finishing The Dark Lady and getting it out there soon! In the meantime, my blog on roslynfleischer.com will have to suffice…

I'm certain it will suffice indeed.  Thank you, Roslyn, for sharing your book with us. Autobiographical paranormal adventures are always fun!
Be sure to visit Roslyn's website, follow her on Twitter, and grab a copy of Mystic Mania!

10 Questions with Writer & Gamer Genese Davis (@GeneseDavis)

This Author Spotlight features talented debut novelist Genese Davis, author of The Holder's Dominion.

Davis has a B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Austin, with minors in theatre and Spanish. She also has a Private Pilot's License and is an accomplished equestrienne. Genese (rhymes with Denise) is also very active in the gaming community (as you'll learn from her interview below). She lives in Irvine, California.

View the trailer for The Holder's Dominion:

1.How did you get into writing?

I’ve always enjoyed writing, but it wasn’t until I was finishing up college with a degree in English that I got the strong bug to write a novel. Since then, writing has become my career! The main inspiration came from one idea in particular that is now my debut novel The Holder’s Dominion coming out March 1st. Like Kaylie, (the protagonist in the book) I came to gaming pretty late in life. I wanted to write for gamers and non-gamers alike about the unpredictable and influential ways that video games change us. I wanted to share with others the amazing experience of collaborative video games and the communities that grow up in and around them.
2. What do you like best (or least) about writing?
I love how writing can challenge and inspire us! Though, my least favorite thing is the loneliness. Surviving all those times when I felt helplessly isolated, chained in solitary confinement, working day after day with the determination to finish . . . phew that was tough! All artists “bleed” for their artwork. We are creating by carving and cutting the very essence of ourselves. And by doing so, each page is authentic and from the heart.
3.What is your writing process? IE do you outline? Do you stick to a daily word or page count, write 7 days a week, etc?
Writing is an organic experience, and so I think it’s important to have a writing schedule that’s flexible. When I started writing The Holder’s Dominion, I wrote seven days a week for spans between four and fourteen hours at a time. And then there were the days I needed a break and had to leave the pages alone. This became part of what helped the development of beneficial writing habits—knowing when to schedule long blocks of writing time and when to back off.
If I ever got stuck or lost in the minutia of writing, my creative producer would schedule production one on ones and creative one on ones. These are meetings where the artist and producer can brainstorm, also known as “blue sky sessions,” and where they can schedule out small tangible goals using project management tools like Scrum.
4. Who are some other writers you read and admire, regardless of whether they are commercially “successful?”
From the classics I’d have to say, Oscar Wilde and Emily Bronte. And from more modern writers, I’d have to say Jean M. Auel, Juliet Marillier, and China Mieville are very inspiring.
5. Should the question mark in the above question be inside or outside the quotes?
I’d ask my editor on that one just to double check!
6. What’s your stance on the Oxford Comma?
I’d have to go with whatever the reader wants. ;)
7. What is your book The Holder’s Dominion about and how did it come to fruition?
The Holder’s Dominion is a speculative thriller with a fantasy twist. It’s a story about a young woman who discovers gaming while facing some serious problems online and off. This book is a message of hope and support for anyone going through grief or who has been separated from their family. The inspiration behind writing it came from wanting to create a basis for family and friends of gamers to understand them and their world. I imagine we all have relatives who wonder, “Are video games a waste of time?” “Why does my spouse play video games into the night?” A parent might ask, “Why does my child want to play a video game instead of go outside and play?” The Holder’s Dominion reveals online gaming in an easy-to-follow and riveting setting that marries pre-video game generations to current video game enthusiasts.
8. What’s your current writing project?
An array of exciting projects have opened for me: The live-action teaser trailer for The Holder’s Dominion, screenplays for a webseries, new media for www.TheGamerInYou.com and my second novel.
9. What book(s) are you currently reading?
Having books on my nightstand is a must! Currently, I have China Mieville’s The City and The City.
10. Who or what inspires your writing?
The first thing is the vast opportunity to connect people, and the second is a great idea. If I know I’m writing something that has the possibility to connect readers together I can’t stop. Also, if a great idea hits me, I love seeing how it evolves through the writing process. Both of these inspired me to write The Holder’s Dominion.
I didn’t discover the world of PC and console gaming until my adult life. So, I know how it feels to wonder why our friends, family, and loved ones seem “glued” to their electronics. And that’s part of the reason I’m so passionate to share all that I’ve discovered in the video game industry. It is not simply a set of pixels your children, spouses, or friends are staring at when they play games. It’s actually a whole spectrum of invention, discovery, and ingenuity. Players are discovering artwork, storylines, history, skill sets, challenges, and collaboration of individuals on a planetary scale. As I continued to write The Holder’s Dominion, I realized how the plot has the potential for readers to understand why people, young and old, want to play video games. That was very inspiring and pushed me to write, write, write!
In addition, this book’s overarching concept and details within the story were composed to relate to the experience of a large and well-defined gaming community. The Holder’s Dominion is an epic journey that will bring validation to gamers while intriguing them with speculative technology and a new world to adventure. That was a huge motivator for the novel as well. I’m honored to pay homage to the brilliant, freethinking individuals who work in and enjoy this industry.
Finally, is there anything you’d care to add? Please also include where people can read your published stories, buy your book, etc.
The Holder’s Dominion launches March 1st, 2013! It will be available in paperback or e-book at www.BeaversPondBooks.com, and also through distributors like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the iBookstore. Check out the novel at www.TheHoldersDominion.com.
It’d also be my pleasure to connect with you guys! Find me at www.GeneseDavis.com and we can connect on Facebook and Twitter, too! www.Facebook.com/AuthorGeneseDavis, www.Twitter.com/GeneseDavis. 

I'm also very excited to be hosting for Pixel Vision. Check out this great new video and check out the site below it:

And my YouTube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/AuthorGeneseDavis

I’d love to hear about what everyone is up to. After all, we’re only a message away. ;) Talk soon!
Thank you so much for having me, Ryan, and have a great 2013!
Thank YOU, Genese, for sharing your exciting debut novel. See you online in a campaign!

10 Questions with Emmy Award-winning YA writer Jeffrey Blount (@JEBlount)

This Author Spotlight features Jeffrey Blount, author of the young adult novel HATING HEIDI FOSTER.


Jeffrey is an Emmy award-winning television director and an award recipient for scriptwriting on multiple documentary projects. Born and raised in rural Virginia, he now lives in Washington, DC with his wife, Jeanne Meserve. They have two children, Julia and Jake.
1. How did you get into writing?
Everything started in a high school English class. I had always loved a really good story. From Savage Sam, the first novel I read, to Black Boy, the first non-fiction story to truly touch me. I'd often dreamed about being able to create stories like the ones I read, but I never even considered really doing it. How or why would I have that ability? In that English class, we were given the task of writing a descriptive paragraph. I chose to write about a homeless man and to this day, I don't really know why I made that choice. At any rate, I wrote it and at some point it was my turn to read my work to the class. When I finished, there was silence. My teacher smiled and nodded at me. I recognized that I had rendered my smart and cynical classmates speechless. That alone told me that I might have the ability to move people through the written word. That's how it all began.
2. What do you like best (or least) about writing? 
I like the art of creating the story. I like the opportunity that I have through the story to speak to and about the human experience. The only thing I dislike about writing is that I can't do it full-time.
3. What is your writing process? IE do you outline? Do you stick to a daily word or page count, write 7 days a week, etc? 
After the lightning bolt strikes and the light bulb comes on, leaving me with my next idea, I just carry the story. I think and think and think. In due time, I have a story and then a plot line. I don't do a detailed outline. I do write a synopsis of each chapter, hitting the major points and events all the way to the story's conclusion. Then I begin writing. I don't have a daily word count and I don't write every day. Putting family first and being in the news business doesn't leave time for eight hours of writing a day. At least physically. I do carry the story with me at all times. Whenever I have free time, I allow myself to let the story grow. So throughout the day, the characters are growing and I'm taking notes in my head and on my smartphone. When I sit down to write, I always read the writing from the previous sitting to help me carry the voice and tone forward. Many times I will use music to help me get to where I need to be emotionally. For Hating Heidi Foster, I used the soundtrack from the movie "Road to Perdition."
4. Who are some other writers you read and admire, regardless of whether they are commercially “successful?"John Irving, James Baldwin, Alice Hoffman, Toni Morrison, Pat Conroy, Richard Wright, Zora Neale Hurston, Larry McMurtry, Lori Lansens, Steve Piacente and Christine Nolfi.
5. Should the question mark in the above question be inside or outside the quotes?Outside, but hey, isn’t this why we have editors?
6. What’s your stance on the Oxford Comma?While its use is still debated by writers and teachers, it seems to me that modern American writing excludes it more and more. I no longer use it.
7. What is your book HATING HEIDI FOSTER about and how did it come to fruition?Hating Heidi Foster is about the depth of the human connection and how important it is in our lives. And about how we take it for granted until that connection is tested. This story is about two girls, two best friends – Mae McBride and Heidi Foster. Mae’s father dies while saving Heidi from a house fire. Mae blames Heidi and to a lesser extent, her father. She is disabled by her grief and her hatred. Heidi is beset by guilt and depression. The girls are driven apart by the emotional strain caused by the death of Mae’s dad. What could possibly bring these two girls back together? I was motivated to write the book by a brief moment in time. Seeing my daughter, Julia and her best friend Emily, share a short inside joke, ending in the knowing and special laughter of long-time companions. I recognized how special the relationship had been over the years and set out to create a story that would remind them of the importance of their friendship.
8. What’s your current writing project?I am only beginning to think about the next project. There are ideas percolating, but I’m putting all my energy into Hating Heidi Foster right now.
9. What book(s) are you currently reading?Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo.
10. Who or what inspires your writing?I just love to write. I don’t really need much inspiration. But I guess I would say that life experiences inspire me to create stories around them.
Finally, is there anything you’d care to add? Please also include where people can read your published stories, buy your book, etc.People can check me out at www.jeffreyblount.com to see additional reviews, etc.
Hating Heidi Foster is available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million and at a bookstore near you!
Thank you, Jeffrey. Congratulations on the novel, and keep writing!
Be sure to visit Jeffrey's website (www.JeffreyBlount.com) and grab a copy of his powerful novel.
And follow him on Twitter: @JEBlount

Valentine's Day Special: In the Name of Love Acoustic Album by Taliya Schneider (@TaliyaSchneider)

This week's author spotlight is something different.

In honor of Valentine's Day, this spotlight features internationally-acclaimed singer/songwriter and recording artist, who is also my wife, Taliya Schneider.



Taliya has recently released a brand new album of all-original acoustic music written and performed entirely by her.



A singer and songwriter since the age of 16, Taliya has written and produced three albums. Her music is ethereal and melodic and reflective. Comparisons have been made to the work of Enya, Sarah McLachlan, Nathalie Merchant, Joanie Mitchell, and Joan Baez.

Taliya is also the holder of a Guinness World Record, which she received for recording her original song "Flower Child" in 15 languages.

1. What was the inspiration for the new album IN THE NAME OF LOVE?

My greatest inspiration for creating my acoustic album “In The Name Of Love” has always been YOU, my very sweet hubby, God & Angels. This album has been inspired and created by the sheer power of Eternal Love on all levels and in all dimensions. It is intended to lift one’s spirit, to warm one’s soul and to envelope the listener with a true celestial ambiance.

2. Where did the title originate?

The title for the album IN THE NAME OF LOVE is taken from one of my songs on this album, named IN THE NAME OF LOVE. The title came to me while I was writing this song (or should I say ‘channeling’ this song, since I always feel like lyrics and music come to me from ‘up above’).

IN THE NAME OF LOVE is a powerful mantra, and a powerful statement. I feel like IN THE NAME OF LOVE all great things are possible and all miracles (big and/or small) could happen. It is the spiritual and emotional engine which gives us the strength and reason to live life divinely.

3. What was the length of time you spent writing the new material?

This album is a creation and a celebration of Love. And as such I really took my sweet time in creating it. Some songs, like Little King and I Am The Light were written as early as 2009 and some songs like Angel By Our Side and In The Name if Love were written in 2012. Love is beyond boundaries of time and this album is certainly a reflection of this statement.

4. Where and when was the album recorded?

The IN THE NAME OF LOVE album was recorded at Jimmi Arccadi’s ‘The Hit House’ studio in California in April 2012. 

Taliya and Jimmi in the studio, April 2012
The Hit House
Penn Valley, California
The whole album was recorded acoustically in one day. I wanted it to sound as authentic and raw as possible, just like it would have sounded LIVE in a concert with just my vocals and my guitar.

I must thank our dear friend Harvey Noble for his generous support in making the recording of the album possible, and for introducing me to Jimmi. Thank you, Harvey!!!

5. Where can folks learn more about you, and also buy the album?

They are welcomed to visit my website
And they can also listen to the entire album on ReverbNation, where 50% of all my songs’ sales are donated to ‘World Vision –Building a better world for children’.They can download the entire album or any song/songs of their choice…each purchase of my song/songs will help support ‘World Vision –Building a better world for children’ charity:

http://www.reverbnation.com/taliyaschneider

http://www.reverbnation.com/taliyaschneider/songs

Thank you for featuring my album (dedicated to you and our Schneider baby), my sweet hubby.

I Love You for Eternity!

You're very welcome, my sweet wifey. Your music is a wonderful and inspiring gift to the world. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I do.

I love YOU for Eternity!

To learn more about Taliya and her previous albums, please visit her page on my website.

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10 Questions with Novelist Bard Constantine (@BardConstantine)

This Author Spotlight features New Haven-based writer and novelist Bard Constantine, author of THE TROUBLESHOOTER.

Bard Constantine is a writer of gritty futures and far-flung fantasy.

If he were a pinata, stories would explode from his innards upon impact, much to the consternation of little children everywhere.

When not evading the straightjacket confines of his psychiatric 'buddies', he's usually found somewhere pounding a keyboard while trying to keep a tenuous grip on some obscure thing called reality.

His books are available pretty much everywhere, and he'd love it if you'd read one. Or two, if you like the first.

1.  How did you get into writing?

I think writing was an inevitable destination for me. I’ve loved reading ever since I knew how, and I’ve always been interested in creating stories. When I was younger I was mainly interested in storytelling through art, but that eventually evolved into writing. Art depicts scenes, but words have the ability to relate a complete story. That’s what I fell in love with.

2.  What do you like best (or least) about writing?

I love the journey that I get to go on while working through a story. I only have a general idea of what the final result will be when I begin a project, so all the twists and turns and surprise characters are simply amazing to discover along the way.

As for what I like least… a year ago I probably would have said editing. But over the past months I’ve developed a true appreciation for the editing process. It’s like now I can’t wait to finish a story or novel so that I can start to edit it. I’ve found that’s it’s only through the re-writes and edits that the true form of the novel is revealed. As an independent writer I feel there’s an obligation to edit your work until you lose count of how many times you’ve done it, because it’s all on you. So I guess the only thing I dislike about writing is the battle to make time to do it.
3.  What is your writing process? IE do you outline? Do you stick to a daily word or page count, write 7 days a week, etc?

Writing process?

Lol. I wish I had a writing process. Right now it’s ‘write when you get a chance’. I’m not very disciplined with sticking to a rigid schedule, though I’d undoubtedly get more done if I was. With writing it’s always a tug of war with full time work, family time, me time and writing time. Still, I was pleased with my production last year and hope to improve on that this year. As far as outlines, I don’t work with one very often, and when I do it’s very brief. I like to know how the story begins and how it ends. What happens in between is what I enjoy finding out without much forethought.
4.  Who are some other writers you read and admire, regardless of whether they are commercially “successful?”

Wow, that’s a good question. Robert Jordan was the author who first influenced my decision to write seriously, so he’s definitely on the list. In that fantasy genre I also greatly admire George RR Martin, Gene Wolfe and Patrick Rothfuss. A lot of people think that the classic noir writers heavily influence my Troubleshooter series, but Walter Mosley would be the greater inspiration. There’s really too many to name. On the lesser-known but equally outstanding level, I was recently impressed by Hugh Howey’s Wool series, and the poetic works of Victoria Selene Skye Deme are a kaleidoscope of brilliance.
5.  Should the question mark in the above question be inside or outside the quotes?

Inside, definitely. Leaving the question mark outside is quite rude and would no doubt insult the poor fellow.
6.  What’s your stance on the Oxford Comma?

Let the Lord of Chaos rule.
7.  What is your book The Troubleshooter about and how did it come to fruition?

The Troubleshooter started off as a writing exercise to develop my stream of consciousness writing. I posted chapters, or ‘episodes’ regularly, turning some of my online friends into characters of this strange noir-styled city. When I wrapped up, I knew that I couldn’t just let the project go. So I allowed it to simmer while I worked on another project, and when I finished I returned to The Troubleshooter and shaped it into an actual novel. The idea was to take a hardboiled private detective character with all the grit and flavor of that period, but place him in a "Blade Runner" type of environment, this dystopian melting pot of a city called New Haven. The result is a blend of old and new, noir and sci fi. It’s a wild adventure that introduces the character of Mick Trubble, a man with a mysterious past who happens to be quite handy at getting into trouble and shooting his way out of it.
8.  What’s your current writing project?

At the moment I’m wrapping up a short Troubleshooter tale for an upcoming anthology. After that it’s the next installment in the Troubleshooter series, a novel called The Most Dangerous Dame. I also have two unfinished YA manuscripts that I’d like to see published this year. So I definitely have my work cut out for me.
9.  What book(s) are you currently reading?

I’m nearly finished with the last Wheel of Time novel by Robert Jordan. It’s a big deal for me because I’ve been reading this series since high school. To finally have it finished is an event. After that I’ll be reading the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson, who co-wrote the last three WOT novels.

Yes, Brandon Sanderson continued the tale of Robert Jordan's epic, iconic series after Jordan passed away. It's on my TBR list. I almost don't want to read it, because then the series will be over.
10.  Who or what inspires your writing?

I’m compelled to write in order to exorcise all of these characters and stories that boil in my head. Other than that, I find inspiration everywhere, from other books to movies, people I know and things that I see. There are stories everywhere. I just have to get them out.

Finally, is there anything you’d care to add? Please also include where people can read your published stories, buy your book, etc.

I’d like to take the time to thank the buyers of my work and particularly the online network that I’ve developed –people who take the time to post, share, and review. It means a lot to me to know that readers enjoy what I’ve produced so far, and I truly appreciate their response.
My work can be found at 
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Bard-Constantine/e/B005DPD1ZI/ 
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/bard-constantine 
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/BardConstantine
My website: http://bardconstantine.com

You can follow me at:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BardConstantine

Thank you, Bard. The Troubleshooter looks fantastic. I like the neo-noir "Bladerunner" concept. Let us know when the next installment is ready!

Be sure to check out The Troubleshooter and like and follow Bard on Facebook and Twitter.