J.R. Barker's Blog: Interviews, rants, blogs and insane bits of fluff from my mind., page 3
June 7, 2012
Smashwords VS Amazon...
I have escaped KDP on amazon and have published on Smashwords.
I'm still on Amazon, but I'm not sure whether Amazon or Smashwords is best, I'm sure I'll soon find out.
Do you have any tips?
Which has given you the best experience?
I would love to hear from both authors and readers on this.
I'm still on Amazon, but I'm not sure whether Amazon or Smashwords is best, I'm sure I'll soon find out.
Do you have any tips?
Which has given you the best experience?
I would love to hear from both authors and readers on this.
May 14, 2012
Interview with an author- Patricia Puddle
Works by this Author-
Molly Gumnut Rescues a Bandicoot, Velvet Ball and the Broken Fairy, Star-Crossed Rascals, Rascals sing at The Opera House (Star-Crossed Rascals #2)
Hi Patricia, tell us about yourself
Hi, Jo, I’m a wife, mum and a nanna and I volunteer for a wildlife rescue. I also write children’s books from our house in a coastal village in Australia.
What inspired you to start writing?
See the rest of this interview at http://www.jrbarker.info/this-weeks-a...
May 6, 2012
A-Z genre Challenge- Comedy
Definition- entertainment that is amusing, the humorous aspects of a situation or work of art
My Definition of the genre
Comedy is a tricky thing, there are many types of comedy: slapstick, dark humour, cheeky and the general comedy that is life.
It is easy to read and very difficult to write.
Whatever the style of comedy it may be, in order for it to be funny it must usually contain an element of truth.
A good comedy book doesn’t necessarily have to have you doubled up with laughter, it can be amusing in a thought provoking fashion, something that has you tittering “ironically”.
Question
What makes you laugh the most?
See the rest of this post at:
http://www.jrbarker.info/the-genres-c...
My Definition of the genre
Comedy is a tricky thing, there are many types of comedy: slapstick, dark humour, cheeky and the general comedy that is life.
It is easy to read and very difficult to write.
Whatever the style of comedy it may be, in order for it to be funny it must usually contain an element of truth.
A good comedy book doesn’t necessarily have to have you doubled up with laughter, it can be amusing in a thought provoking fashion, something that has you tittering “ironically”.
Question
What makes you laugh the most?
See the rest of this post at:
http://www.jrbarker.info/the-genres-c...
May 2, 2012
The A-Z of Genres- the challenge
So here's the deal, I have set myself the glorious task of writing about all the different genres of book.
The reason I decided to do this was to challenge my writing skills and to increase my understanding of all the different types of literature available.
There are so many genres and sub genres out there that overlap that I wanted to find out if I could write about 26 genres. Harder than it sounds I can assure you.
For each one I will write a definition of the word, my definition of the genre, a little excerpt written in the style of the genre and a book that I would recommend (if I can think of one). There will also be a question at the end of each genre, but if you feel like leaving an unrelated comment please feel free.
If you have any additional challenges let me know, I love a challenge.
I will add the links as I go along and repost when I have completed my task.
Here are the 26 genres I have chosen, if you have any alternative suggestions please let me know, I'm not 100% happy with all of my choices.
Action/adventure
Biographies
Comedy
Detective
Erotica
Fantasy
Graphic novels
Horror
Informational (history)
Journalism
Kids
Learning (educational)
Memoirs
Nature
Old (classics)
Poetry
Quirky (steam punk)
Romantic
Science Fiction
Travel
Unexplained (mystery)
Vampire (Gothic tales)
World (spiritual)
X-rated
Young Adult
Zombie
The reason I decided to do this was to challenge my writing skills and to increase my understanding of all the different types of literature available.
There are so many genres and sub genres out there that overlap that I wanted to find out if I could write about 26 genres. Harder than it sounds I can assure you.
For each one I will write a definition of the word, my definition of the genre, a little excerpt written in the style of the genre and a book that I would recommend (if I can think of one). There will also be a question at the end of each genre, but if you feel like leaving an unrelated comment please feel free.
If you have any additional challenges let me know, I love a challenge.
I will add the links as I go along and repost when I have completed my task.
Here are the 26 genres I have chosen, if you have any alternative suggestions please let me know, I'm not 100% happy with all of my choices.
Action/adventure
Biographies
Comedy
Detective
Erotica
Fantasy
Graphic novels
Horror
Informational (history)
Journalism
Kids
Learning (educational)
Memoirs
Nature
Old (classics)
Poetry
Quirky (steam punk)
Romantic
Science Fiction
Travel
Unexplained (mystery)
Vampire (Gothic tales)
World (spiritual)
X-rated
Young Adult
Zombie
April 12, 2012
Interview with an author- A.E.Marling
Author of-Brood of Bones
Tell us a bit about yourself.
As a kid, I would rebel against my parent’s strict bedtime by lying down but then imagining stories for an hour. I had several epics running through my head through my elementary-school years. This habit matured into raging insomnia. Even today, my best story ideas barge into my consciousness when I’d rather be sleeping.
When did you first start writing?
I wrote my first fantasy novella after my freshman year in high school. The characters in that story still resonate with me, and they have been reincarnated a few times as new, mature, and complex characters.
What made you decide to write a book?
Insanity.
Read more at:
http://www.jrbarker.info/this-weeks-a...
Tell us a bit about yourself.
As a kid, I would rebel against my parent’s strict bedtime by lying down but then imagining stories for an hour. I had several epics running through my head through my elementary-school years. This habit matured into raging insomnia. Even today, my best story ideas barge into my consciousness when I’d rather be sleeping.
When did you first start writing?
I wrote my first fantasy novella after my freshman year in high school. The characters in that story still resonate with me, and they have been reincarnated a few times as new, mature, and complex characters.
What made you decide to write a book?
Insanity.
Read more at:
http://www.jrbarker.info/this-weeks-a...
April 5, 2012
Interview with an author- Charles Dowd
An artist, writer and all round nice guy!
Art, Illustration & Design ~Don’t Miss My All Ages Graphic
Author of- Lillith Dark
Tell us a bit about yourself.
Hello and thanks for talking to me. I’m Charlie, and I’m a comic and fantasy artist. I draw stuff.
What kickstarted your passion for drawing?
I’ve just always drawn. I can remember once when I was like 4 or 5, and I drew a picture of a cat for my Grandmother, and she just went on and on about it. Of course, it was probably the worst cat ever drawn, but she seemed to like it.
Then in school people started to notice that I could draw ok, and I got some attention from teachers for it. It’s just always been something that I’ve done. It’s the only thing I’ve ever really excelled at.
When did you start drawing comics?
I think that I drew my first comic in fourth grade. It was called “The Gardener”, and it was about a psycho killer who just happened to also be the gardener. He would kill you with his shears.
This was the 80’s, and back then you could watch horror on regular television every Saturday and Sunday afternoon. It pretty much warped me permanently!
Read More on:
http://www.jrbarker.info/this-weeks-a...
Art, Illustration & Design ~Don’t Miss My All Ages Graphic
Author of- Lillith Dark
Tell us a bit about yourself.
Hello and thanks for talking to me. I’m Charlie, and I’m a comic and fantasy artist. I draw stuff.
What kickstarted your passion for drawing?
I’ve just always drawn. I can remember once when I was like 4 or 5, and I drew a picture of a cat for my Grandmother, and she just went on and on about it. Of course, it was probably the worst cat ever drawn, but she seemed to like it.
Then in school people started to notice that I could draw ok, and I got some attention from teachers for it. It’s just always been something that I’ve done. It’s the only thing I’ve ever really excelled at.
When did you start drawing comics?
I think that I drew my first comic in fourth grade. It was called “The Gardener”, and it was about a psycho killer who just happened to also be the gardener. He would kill you with his shears.
This was the 80’s, and back then you could watch horror on regular television every Saturday and Sunday afternoon. It pretty much warped me permanently!
Read More on:
http://www.jrbarker.info/this-weeks-a...
March 30, 2012
This Weeks Author- Belle DiMonté
Goodreads
Author of-
Res Primae: A Collection of First Poems and Perigee Moon: Poems from a Pagan Summer
What kick started your craving to be creative?
Ah, that was a little seed that was always growing inside me. From my earliest days I was always making stories, drawing, crafting, sewing—and I always loved it. I don’t really remember a time when I decided to become creative, I just always was...I wrote my first story before I knew how to write, actually; it was a picture-book about how the first humans domesticated dogs and turned them into pets.
How do you get into the mindset for being creative?
Read more at:
http://www.jrbarker.info/this-weeks-a...
Author of-
Res Primae: A Collection of First Poems and Perigee Moon: Poems from a Pagan Summer
What kick started your craving to be creative?
Ah, that was a little seed that was always growing inside me. From my earliest days I was always making stories, drawing, crafting, sewing—and I always loved it. I don’t really remember a time when I decided to become creative, I just always was...I wrote my first story before I knew how to write, actually; it was a picture-book about how the first humans domesticated dogs and turned them into pets.
How do you get into the mindset for being creative?
Read more at:
http://www.jrbarker.info/this-weeks-a...
March 22, 2012
Interview with an author- J.R. Wagner
Author of- Exiled (The Never Chronicles) and co-author of The Searcher and the Sentinel.
About the Author
J. R. Wagner was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania during a blizzard. The snow made travel by car impossible, so his father called an ambulance when his mother went into labor. The ambulance became stuck at the bottom of their home’s driveway, prompting the dispatch of a fire truck, which towed the ambulance to the hospital where he was born.
Maybe it was this experience that destined J.R. to love adventure. A ccompetitive cyclist, triathlete, mountain biker and adventure racer, he once received a medal for saving a woman’s life during the kayaking section of an adventure race. And the adventure is hard to miss in his debut novel Exiled (Live Oak Book Group, June 5, 2012), the first book in J.R.’s young adult fantasy series The Never Chronicles. He’s got a day job to keep him “grounded”; J.R. helps run his late father’s Downingtown, Pennsylvania floor-covering business.
Read more at:
http://www.jrbarker.info/this-weeks-a...
About the Author
J. R. Wagner was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania during a blizzard. The snow made travel by car impossible, so his father called an ambulance when his mother went into labor. The ambulance became stuck at the bottom of their home’s driveway, prompting the dispatch of a fire truck, which towed the ambulance to the hospital where he was born.
Maybe it was this experience that destined J.R. to love adventure. A ccompetitive cyclist, triathlete, mountain biker and adventure racer, he once received a medal for saving a woman’s life during the kayaking section of an adventure race. And the adventure is hard to miss in his debut novel Exiled (Live Oak Book Group, June 5, 2012), the first book in J.R.’s young adult fantasy series The Never Chronicles. He’s got a day job to keep him “grounded”; J.R. helps run his late father’s Downingtown, Pennsylvania floor-covering business.
Read more at:
http://www.jrbarker.info/this-weeks-a...
March 15, 2012
Interview with an author- Laura Hart
Laura Hart
Author of: The Toy sorcerer (First book in the Ancient Knowledge Trilogy)
Firstly, congratulations on your recent success with Waterstones and your radio broadcast, which is reviewing The Toy Sorcerer live on the Lesley Dolphin Show – BBC Radio Suffolk at 2 – 2.30pm on 26th March.
Hi Jo, Thank you for inviting me to interview for your blog.
Tell us about The Toy Sorcerer
The Toy Sorcerer is the first of a trilogy entitled, The Ancient Knowledge. There were a number of factors that inspired the story. As a child I dreamed lucidly; I knew I was dreaming, but could not escape. I would simply run from realm to realm trying to find the Dream Gate. For me the Dream Realms were very real, and when I learned how to manipulate them I created some weird and wonderful dreamscapes.
Because I dreamed the way I did, my favourite stories were Alice In Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass. And it was probably these books that set me on the path to devotion to Fantasy and Science Fiction. The Toy Sorcerer is a tribute to its mentor, Lewis Carrol.
I’m also very Pagan in my personal theology, though it crosses over with theories that are more suited to science fiction. All science fact was science fiction first.
See the rest of this interview at:
http://www.jrbarker.info/interview-wi...
Trapped as a mortal in a dimension where human dreams become reality, Alice Towers endures a journey of unmerciful persecution and excruciating self-discovery. Guided by an extraordinary realm creature named Shammerwack, she must find Magog; a boy imprisoned for over three centuries who holds the key to her release.
Unaware that her incarceration heralds the dawn of the Final Prophecy; Armageddon, Alice is pursued by an ancient being that plagues humanity with relentless nightmares, until the world hovers on the brink of insanity and self-annihilation.
Alice’s only earthbound ally, Leona, is also an antediluvian soul who has lived and reincarnated as a human for thousands of years. As one of the Ancient Coven and practitioner of the old knowledge, Leona summons shadows to protect Alice’s slumbering body and Magog’s timeworn effigy. But Leona’s maleficent sister, Lillian, another of the ancients, is equally as determined to capture Alice; the vessel by which the Demon Lord of the Realms intends to escape the confines of his nebulous world.
A bloody battle ensues on Earth as Lillian’s underworld demons and Leona’s defensive forces tear lives apart, whilst an increasingly insane world creeps inexorably closer to the Final Prophecy.
Available as an ebook or print edition from: Amazon (links to paperback) or Smashreads (links to ebook)
Find Laura on:
FaceBook or Twitter
Author of: The Toy sorcerer (First book in the Ancient Knowledge Trilogy)
Firstly, congratulations on your recent success with Waterstones and your radio broadcast, which is reviewing The Toy Sorcerer live on the Lesley Dolphin Show – BBC Radio Suffolk at 2 – 2.30pm on 26th March.
Hi Jo, Thank you for inviting me to interview for your blog.
Tell us about The Toy Sorcerer
The Toy Sorcerer is the first of a trilogy entitled, The Ancient Knowledge. There were a number of factors that inspired the story. As a child I dreamed lucidly; I knew I was dreaming, but could not escape. I would simply run from realm to realm trying to find the Dream Gate. For me the Dream Realms were very real, and when I learned how to manipulate them I created some weird and wonderful dreamscapes.
Because I dreamed the way I did, my favourite stories were Alice In Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass. And it was probably these books that set me on the path to devotion to Fantasy and Science Fiction. The Toy Sorcerer is a tribute to its mentor, Lewis Carrol.
I’m also very Pagan in my personal theology, though it crosses over with theories that are more suited to science fiction. All science fact was science fiction first.
See the rest of this interview at:
http://www.jrbarker.info/interview-wi...
The Toy Sorcerer
Trapped as a mortal in a dimension where human dreams become reality, Alice Towers endures a journey of unmerciful persecution and excruciating self-discovery. Guided by an extraordinary realm creature named Shammerwack, she must find Magog; a boy imprisoned for over three centuries who holds the key to her release.
Unaware that her incarceration heralds the dawn of the Final Prophecy; Armageddon, Alice is pursued by an ancient being that plagues humanity with relentless nightmares, until the world hovers on the brink of insanity and self-annihilation.
Alice’s only earthbound ally, Leona, is also an antediluvian soul who has lived and reincarnated as a human for thousands of years. As one of the Ancient Coven and practitioner of the old knowledge, Leona summons shadows to protect Alice’s slumbering body and Magog’s timeworn effigy. But Leona’s maleficent sister, Lillian, another of the ancients, is equally as determined to capture Alice; the vessel by which the Demon Lord of the Realms intends to escape the confines of his nebulous world.
A bloody battle ensues on Earth as Lillian’s underworld demons and Leona’s defensive forces tear lives apart, whilst an increasingly insane world creeps inexorably closer to the Final Prophecy.
Available as an ebook or print edition from: Amazon (links to paperback) or Smashreads (links to ebook)
Find Laura on:
FaceBook or Twitter
