Stuart Aken's Blog, page 337

Interview with Terry Irvin, Author.

A husband of eighteen years and father to two beautiful daughters, Terry Irvin is a graduate of St. Francis de Sales High School. He has a BSc degree from Bowling Green State University and a Master's Degree in Education from Urbana University.In early 2000 he decided to follow through on something he promised himself years earlier: Someday I'd write a novel.Since then he's completed two novels (one published and one currently under submission), quite a few short stories (about a half dozen published) and a parcel of articles on writing and related topics (over a dozen published and counting).

Tell us about your current novel.
Flank Hawk is a post apocalyptic epic fantasy novel set in the distant future where magic exists. It's the story of Krish, a farmhand turned mercenary after his home and homeland are overrun by the forces of the Necromancer King.
I think urban fantasy author Erica Hayes described it pretty well: "A curious blend of epic fantasy, modern techno-thriller and non-stop action-adventure, Flank Hawk is a compelling and original tale of a brave young mercenary pitched in deadly magical combat against the undead techno-armies of the Necromancer King. Whether you like swashbuckling wizardry, fierce dragon battles, modern military hardware or sword-slashing zombie mayhem, Flank Hawk has it all."
In the end, Flank Hawk is a story of friendship, loyalty and sacrifice.

How did you come to write this particular book?
The initial thought that sparked the novel's writing occurred while I was driving home from work in my 1990 Ford Ranger. I was thinking about a few of the books I'd recently reread: Roger Zelazny's The Guns of Avalon and Harry Turtledove's World War: In the Balance. One of the main turning points in Guns of Avalon occurs when Prince Corwin discovers a way to get gunpowder to function in the magical city of Amber. In the Balance is about an alien invasion during the height of World War II. The disparity in technology between the invaders and humanity is a major element in the novel's conflict.
Then I began to ponder, what would happen if a dragon encountered a World War II aircraft? Maybe one can see how the line of thought formed. From there I began to devise a world where such an encounter could take place. Then came the peoples and creatures that would inhabit the world, how it came to be, and the long-running, multilayered power struggle that would come to influence events in the plot that I was devising. Finally, came Krish and Lilly, Roos and Road Toad—the main characters in the novel.
If you have a favorite character in your novel, why that particular one?
I don't really have a favorite character in Flank Hawk . What I can say is that I really enjoyed writing the relationship that developed between Lilly and Roos. Beginning with wary distrust of each other, mutual respect formed, leading to a steadfast friendship between the young lycanthrope and aging Crusader. The vehicle for readers to witnesses this is through Krish's eyes as the trio faces both adventure and danger.
How do you know where to begin any given story?
Flank Hawk is my first novel. In addition to it, I've had almost a dozen short stories published. Knowing exactly where to begin a story is a part of the planning process. Usually I get an idea—an interesting thought or situation. From there I devise and organize the story, knowing where it should start, how it should end, and some of the main points along the way to get from the beginning to the end.
When deciding where a story should start, I look at it from a reader's perspective. I try to focus on a point in the story that is interesting, relevant, and allows the reader to hit the first page running—or at least at a decent trot. The beginning scene should orient the reader as to the situation or setting even as the first plot element kicks in.
Certainly the structure and pacing of a novel differs from a short story. But with either, avoiding initial paragraphs (or pages) of backstory and instead starting with a bit of action, an intriguing turn of events, or where a tough decision is at hand, is key. It's what I hope for as a reader, so I strive to provide it to readers who give my stories a try.
Is there any aspect of writing that you really enjoy?
This may sound odd, but I really enjoy editing and revising my work. For me it's a lot harder to get that first draft completed. Maybe it's the English teacher in me, but I find it to be a challenge getting the wording and dialogue just right, cutting irrelevant lines and paragraphs, filling in any plot holes and trimming loose plot threads, and keeping the story's cadence and pace on track.
Do you have support, either from family and friends or a writing group?
I am fortunate. I have great support from family, friends and a crit group. If I ask, my wife will read my works in progress, and occasionally she makes sure the house is quiet when I really need to focus. My daughters understand and find it pretty neat to see my novel on library shelves, in stores and online.
I have a solid group of well-read and supportive readers ranging from co-workers to friends from my college days. Finally, I'm a member of Elysian Fields, a crit group filled with insightful and supportive writers. Both groups are invaluable in helping me to improve my works.
If you could give a new writer advice, what would it be?
Finish that project! Get the first draft hammered out. Review, revise and edit and then go over it again and again to be sure. Then, research and find appropriate markets. Make a list and begin submitting. If it comes back rejected, look the piece over and then send it out again. Repeat until successful. And while that piece is out on submission, write another.
So many writers I've met online or in person never quite get that first manuscript finished. The reasons are numerous and varied (sufficient to fill a half dozen blog posts, minimum). A manuscript will never be perfect, ever. There comes a point of severely diminished returns—time and effort for true improvement of the piece.
Rejection isn't fun. It's part of the process, part of the business. But it's impossible to succeed if a writer doesn't complete a work and actually send it out there to find an editor willing to publish it. Success, even a minor one can snuff out the downer from all those previous rejections.
What are you writing now?
At the moment I am writing Blood Sword , working title for the sequel to Flank Hawk . It took me longer than I anticipated to get started on the project. My goal is to write Blood Sword as a continuation of Krish's adventures, but also as a standalone novel that doesn't require the reader to have read Flank Hawk . I want readers of Flank Hawk to fully enjoy the next novel and not become frustrated or annoyed with references to Krish's experiences and events that occurred in the first novel.
To accomplish this, I spent part of the spring and summer reading and studying several authors who've written a series where each novel in the series stands alone yet compliments and builds upon what has come before.  For those who are curious, the authors I focused on are Steven Brust (the Vlad Taltos series) and Laurell K. Hamilton (early novels in the Anita Blake series).
In any case, I've organized the plot's structure to accommodate new readers as well as those who've read and enjoyed Flank Hawk , and I am busy writing whenever I get the chance. Sales of Flank Hawk have been strong enough that the managing editor at Gryphonwood Press is looking for the completed work. Certainly positive, if you ask me.
Where are your books available?
Flank Hawk is available online (in both print and ebook versions) and through bookstores. Readers interested can visit my website for bookstores and online information (www.ervin-author.com). Visitors to my website can also find links to online versions of many of my published short stories and articles.
Other than that, there are all kinds of other things visitors can find through visiting my website, from an online quiz that tells what character you are in Flank Hawk and my blog, Up Around the Corner, to market information and much more.
I'd like to close by thanking you, Stuart Aken, for the interview and allowing me to share a bit of my story and writing with everyone out there.
Some relevant links: Flank Hawk's main page :  What others are saying:  Writing Bio:   My website:  My Blog (Up Around the Corner): My Book trailer for Flank Hawk: 
Links for online sales:Amazon Print:  Amazon Kindle:  

Why do Some Revere Ancient Myths, yet Sneer at Modern Fantasy?

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Agents and publishers, with a few notable exceptions, frequently reject fantasy as a genre. It is the genre most frequently excluded in the details given by literary agents and publishers. I wonder why this is. Fantasy incorporates a huge variety of novel types. Obviously Lord of the Rings is included in the genre, but so are such classic novels as Animal Farm, Gulliver's Travels, Vanity Fair, Utopia, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and many others. Do publishers and agents simply see the swords and sorcery or dragons of conventional modern fantasy and assume that all deal with the same subjects? There is a long history of admiration by publishers and academics for the works of the Ancient Greeks; and if their works aren't fantasy, then nothing is. But modern fantasy seems to leave them feeling slightly uneasy, for a number of unspecified reasons. It is easy to suspect that some form of literary snobbery is at large here. Perhaps some of those who reject the genre would like to enlighten me and my readers about the reason for this apparent prejudice.

Author Interview with Laura B Gschwandtner

Laura B Gschwandtner is married, the mother of three daughters, a writer, magazine editor, artist, and co-owner with her husband of an integrated media business.Her work has appeared in various journals including Del Sol Review and WritingRaw.com. One of her prose poems has been included in an anthology called Oil and Water and Other Things That Don't Mix, which is a collection being published to support victims of the BP oil spill in the Gulf.She has received awards for three different stories from the Writer's Digest Annual Competition in the mainstream literary category and the Lorian Hemingway short fiction competition, and  was short listed for a Tom Howard Short Story Contest. She also founded TheNovelette.com which offers free themed writing contests with prizes for emerging writers.Her first novel, The Naked Gardener is available at www.amazon.com in Kindle and print versions, and at and BarnesandNoble.com and at amazon.uk.comShe lives in Virginia, raises orchids. She likes plants, hummingbirds, Bald Eagles, really great writing, and art.She is an avid kayaker (touring) and grew up fishing in the Florida Keys.

Tell us about The Naked Gardener in a few sentences.
The Naked Gardener introduces artist Katelyn Cross who gardens naked. Lives in a chicken coop. Takes five gal pals on a canoe trip in the wilds of northern VT. Catches fish with her bare hands. Body paints. And frets over whether marrying Greg Mazur means losing herself within a marriage.
How did you come to write this particular book?
At a certain point in my life, I knew three women who gardened naked. They all had different takes on why, so I began to think about a woman named Katelyn Cross who goes to her garden naked and what that might mean and in what ways it would be liberating for her and important in her life. I chose one of the women I knew as the inspiration for the environment Katelyn creates. The garden symbolizes her world and the rocks in it keep getting in her way. So she has to deal with life's obstacles, even in her garden. Stripping off her clothes is an act of disencumbering, of removing outer layers that restrict the inner person.When Katelyn says: "I never told anyone. Just kept going to my garden naked. Like some spirit hovering over the land," she is referring to the spirit within that needs a voice.
If you have a favourite character in your novel, why that particular one?
Near the end of the book, I introduce an elderly woman who speaks her mind and is undaunted by the troubles and sorrows life has thrown at her. I love her particularly because she loves life so much. But I love all my characters.
Where and when is your novel set and why did you make these specific choices?
It's set in northern Vermont but there are scenes in Mexico and references to Virginia.I chose a setting and references to other places I know well.
How can people buy your book?
In the U.K.
In the U.S.

What qualities make a successful writer?
Tenacity, talent, internal courage
How do you set about writing a piece?
I start. I think. I write. I rewrite. I try to figure out what I am writing about – what the piece is at its core. Writing fiction is like a big puzzler.
Beginning writers make many mistakes; what do you think is the most harmful?
Giving up.
To what extent are grammar and spelling important to a writer?
Grammar very …  but spelling not so much. Scott Fitzgerald was an awful speller. It's theorized he had a spelling disorder.
How much revision of your MS do you do before you send it off?
A lot.
How do you know where to begin any given story?
I rewrite beginnings more than any other part of the book. The beginning should set up the story you're about to tell. "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times." "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."
What sort of displacement activities keep you from actually writing?
Oh, Haagen Dazs mint chip ice cream is an awful distraction.
Do you have support, either from family and friends or a writing group?
Not specifically but it is important to have writer friends as they're the only people who really understand it when you talk about people you've invented as if they are real people. If you go around doing that with non writers, well, you might find yourself in a very different kind of support group.
How long does it normally take you to write a novel?
It varies. I wrote The Naked Gardener in less than a year. But I've been working on something else for about four years now on and off.
Is there any aspect of writing that you really enjoy?
I love figuring out the characters and the plot and how to meld the writing with those elements.
Do you think writing is a natural gift or an acquired skill?
It's some of both but to be a professional at it I think it's more the latter. It's like being a musician. You have to play the scales for years and years. I heard Horowitz in his eighties say that he still played the scales every day. I don't know of any child genius writers.
What single piece of advice would you give to writers still hoping to be published?
Just keep at it. And if you believe in what you're doing, and can't get an agent for whatever reason, don't let the outside world dictate how you feel about yourself as a writer & get yourself into eBooks.
Do you have a website or a blog that readers can visit?
http://thenovelette.com/
Where do you write?
I sit at my desktop in front of the big windows in my home studio and pound away with the four fingers I use to type – badly. That's the one thing I wish I had learned as a young person – touch typing. My typing is horrendous.
Thank you, Stuart. This was fun!

An Interview With Author, Lyn Fuchs.

How would you introduce yourself to readers?
My name is Lyn, but I should be called Lyndiana Jones. I've survived enraged grizzlies, erupting volcanoes, Japanese sword fights and giant squid tentacles. I've been entrapped by FBI agents and held at gunpoint by renegade soldiers. I've sung with Bulgaria's bluesmaster Vasko the Patch and met with Mexico's Zapatista Army commander Marcos. I've been thrown out of forbidden temples in southern India and passed out in sweat lodges off the Alaskan coast. My navel has been inhabited by beetles and my genitals have been cursed by eunuchs. I've shared coffee with presidents, beer with pirates and goat guts with polygamists. I've contracted malaria, typhoid, salmonella and lovesickness around the world.
I've written about all these adventures in my new book, Sacred Ground & Holy Water: travel tales of enlightenment, released today, and I'm excited to share it.
How did you get started as an author?
My writing habit began when heavy snow sealed me for weeks into a log cabin, amidst the thick timber of Canada's craggy mountains. Life was forever changed. With nothing to do but observe minute details and reflect upon them, I spent silent solitary hours grasping for exact words to convey my experience to others, for when that connection would be restored. Meditations transformed into magazine articles. From eye to mind to pen, the journeys of my life were distilled into the stories that now make up my first book, to the very last one written on an isolated Mexican ranch under a fiery sunset and the influence of tequila. My spirit is within the pages too. If you aren't currently holed up at a snowy cabin or a sunny ranch but wish you were, I hope you'll let this work take you there.
What do you do when you´re not writing?
The phrase "philosophical adventure" describes both my writing and my life as an avid world-trekker with a master´s degree in philosophy. You can often find me in the Canadian rainforest or the Mexican desert. Right now, I´m wandering around doing some research for my second book: Fresh Wind & Strange Fire. Otherwise, I'm professor of communication at the University of Papaloapan in the jungle lowlands of Southern Mexico. I don't have a phone, but I do have an iguana. I enjoy hiking, coffee, meditation and getting feedback from readers. 
How would you describe your new book?
Sacred Ground & Holy Water: travel tales of enlightenment is a collection of seventeen stories filled with humor, tragedy, adventure, sexual innuendo and spiritual insight. These journeys originally appeared in Outdoor Canada, Monday Magazine, Canadian Ethnic Studies, The Dalhousie Review, Eclectica Literary Journal and many other publications. One publisher called this work "the guy-friendly Eat, Pray, Love." (Would that be Drink, Pray, Spank?) A New York Times bestselling author wrote, "No one since Hunter S. Thompson has loved the wild and woolly world with as much intensity, insight, passion and gusto as Lyn Fuchs in his new collection of travel writing. From Africa, Central America, India, the Pacific Northwest, and back again, Lyn's rambunctious dispatches from the far corners of our strange globe arrive with the full force of whitewater plunging from mountains, lava burning the very soles from our hiking boots. So delicious are the bountiful meals he eats, so beautiful the foreign lasses he dallies with, nothing is left for the reader but a searing jealousy, an aching desire to be out there ourselves." (No, that wasn't my mom.) I've posted more reviewer descriptions on my blog at lynfuchs.blogspot.com, but ultimately readers will decide the work´s value.
What makes the book a unique experience for those readers?
I think there's a surprising reason why people are so jazzed when reading Sacred Ground & Holy Water. That would be editor AND SINGER Catherine Treadgold. Have you ever read a work in which the engaging stuff was front-loaded for bookstore browsers, while the remaining pages were a bit of a snooze or even a lunch bag letdown? Who hasn´t? Fortunately, Cat´s experience thrilling audiences long after the tickets are sold has given this book a stunning wax and polish. She suggested ordering the stories with readers, not just sales, in mind. So, the text has a musical performance rhythm and flow. Fast-moving easy-access pieces come first. Mind-blowing heart-moving pieces (interspersed with funny/sexy interludes) come next. Then "gonzo razzle-dazzle verbal fireworks" (in the words of one reviewer) wrap up the show. Some readers may wonder "Who let the dogs out?" in response to my humor, but we can all thank Coffeetown Press for letting the Cat out of the standard editor´s bag. Let´s hope there are enough cats on Broadway that she won´t quit her day job. 
Where can readers get a copy of the book?
Sacred Ground & Holy Water is available in Kindle and print editions on Amazon.com. Hardcover and paperback editions are available through Baker and Taylor or the Ingram catalog. Plus, books can be ordered thru coffeetownpress.com and other ebook versions will be sold on Smashwords. 

Author Interview with Lakisha Spletzer

When people first meet me, they always asks the same questions. Who are you? (translation: don't recognize your author name) and, You're a writer? I always smile and give them a quick breakdown on me. After all, it's only fair to let others know about yourself.Yes, I'm a writer, I've always been a writer. I've been writing stories since the tender age of 8. When I hit my teen years I went from short stories and fan fiction to writing poetry. Lots of poetry. After high school I attended college and got two degrees. I left my home state of Virginia and moved to sunny Florida. I didn't decide to become a published writer until after meeting a local writer's workshop group in 2004. It took me six years to finally write not 1 but 2 complete novels and get them published.
Tell us about Werelove Dusk Conspiracy in a few sentences.
Werelove Dusk Conspiracy is a story about a teenager who is neglected by her only living parent, is bullied at school and who yearns for more than what her life has handed her. Throw in kidnapping attempts, an obsessed villainess, a handsome rescuer, a bold, blunt, yet steadfast friend, and you've got the gist of this novel.
How did you come to write this particular book?
Werelove came about because of NaNoWriMo which is an annual online writing contest during November to write a 50,000 word novel. I wanted to write a YA novel and had some ideas rattling around in my head right before NaNoWriMo 2008, and decided, why not. The first 40,496 words of Werelove were written that month. It took me until July 2009 to write the entire first draft.
If you have a favourite character in your novel, why that particular one?
No author likes to pick just one character and it's very hard with this novel because I wrote so many that I like, but, if I did have to choose, I would have to pick Laylah because she's the closet to my heart with Stefan coming in a close second.
Where and when is your novel set and why did you make these specific choices?
I wanted to combine two of my loves, shapeshifters and outer space, into one location. Werelove is set in the future in the 23rd century and on the planet of New Terra which is inhabited by humans and Weres (shapeshifters).
Beginning writers make many mistakes; what do you think is the most harmful?
Thinking that your manuscript is perfect after writing it. I kid you not. I've met writers who bragged that they didn't need to do any revising or that they only did one round of revisions. *shakes head* Sorry, but you've just doomed yourself to a name as a bad author. Actually, that's strong. Rather I should say, especially with those whose "finished" product is riddled with mistakes, you gain a reputation as "oh, you're one of those people, the self-published kind." Trust me, you don't want that label, so please, let someone other than family and friends edit your work who will give you honest opinions.
And just to let you know, Werelove Dusk Conspiracy went through seven rounds of revisions before I published it.
How do you know where to begin any given story?
Mine usually start with vague ideas, maybe a jotted down sentence. I sit and I think about what type of character(s) have given me the idea and then I started building a world around them.
What sort of displacement activities keep you from actually writing?
I'm a single parent so my children are the biggest distraction but also fatigue, disinterest and my day job, all keep me from writing on occasion.
How long does it normally take you to write a novel?
Werelove Dusk Conspiracy took nine months to write and my other novel Jewels, took six months.
Who or what inspires you?
My children, people, nature, you name it, it's fair game when it comes to striking my imagination.
Do you think writing is a natural gift or an acquired skill?
I think it can be either or both. For me it is natural and I acquired skills to polish it. I know some indie authors (self-published) that said they'd never written anything before that first novel and that they did extensive research to be able to do so.
What single piece of advice would you give to writers still hoping to be published?
Keep your options open. The market is changing and right now, ebooks, self-publishing and e-readers are the hot topics. Read up on these subjects. Be knowledgeable. Don't just think you can send your MS off and bam!, you'll be accepted. Only a small percentage ever get that lucky. With the new surge in self-publishing via Kindle, Smashwords.com, PubIt, and other places, you can take your fate into your own hands.
What are you writing now?
I've got three stories going right now. Moonbeams is a fantasy novel, I've got Nightcorn which is a paranormal novel and I've started on the sequel to Werelove, "Midnight Revelations".
Where do you actually write?
A better question would be, where DON'T I write. If I can grab a few seconds, I sit and whip out my notebook and write on whatever story is in that particular notebook.
Links:Author Website: Author Blog: Amazon UK: Jewels Werelove Dusk Conspiracy Amazon UK Kindle:Jewels Werelove Dusk Conspiracy

Are Folk More Ill-Mannered These Days?

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We all come across instances of poor manners; those who live in cities must suffer this most, whilst those in towns encounter more inconsiderate behaviour than those who live in rural areas. I believe it's density of population, sheer numbers, that is responsible for the fall in good manners. The larger the local population, the more difficult it is to feel part of a community and therefore to feel that sense of mutual obligation that makes for a more considerate mode of living.
We live cheek by jowl in cities and towns yet know few of those we pass in the street; possibly even being ignorant of the names of those who live next door or across the road. In villages and rural areas this sort of alienation is rare because all residents know each other and only unknown people are classified and treated as strangers. The fact that individuals are generally known tends to make for better behaviour, and rudeness, ignorance and antisocial habits are less frequent. The incidence of juvenile crime in such areas is lower because the children know that their parents will invariably get to hear about any wrong-doing.
But general good manners have been in decline for decades, more or less regardless of location. I can recall always stepping to the side to allow an older pedestrian to pass me in the street, always holding open a shop door to permit the entrance of those following me, regardless of gender or age, and many other small acts of good manners. And I was brought up first in a city and later in a town. But I note that bad manners appear to have nothing to do with either age or gender; people of all generations and both sexes seem equally incapable of applying the lubrication that allows life to run more smoothly.
I recall travelling on the Tube in London some years ago. A young pregnant woman entered the crowded compartment. Without a thought, I rose and offered her my seat; it was a simple natural action. She sneered at me and said something like, 'I can f**king stand as well as you, you condescending twat.' I put down her behaviour as an isolated case of extreme feminism and continue to offer my seat to the frail, disabled or elderly. A more timid man might have never dared make such an offer again.
Driving, I frequently come across situations where one party is required to give way to another and never fail to be surprised by how few acknowledge the action, simply driving through as though they owned the road.
I cannot be alone in decrying such behaviour. Let me know whether you agree or not and let me know why you feel it is important or trivial, please. Tell me about the sort of rudeness that really makes you angry, disappointed or frustrated. I'm interested in how others feel about this topic. 

Interview with Paul A Rudd, Author.

Paul Rudd works in Hollywood. You may know him as an actor from the hit show Friends or the comedy film Role Models and other megabucks movies. At weekends he spends his time by the lake house, writing poetry and expressing his musical tastes with his acoustic guitar…hold on a minute?
Can you set the record straight?
I must regret those expecting the Hollywood actor can look away now. The real Paul A. Rudd works in London within a legal firm's accounts division. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his 15 month old daughter Alyssa andfiancée Natalie.When not enthralled by the entertaining cbeebies, he enjoys watching LiverpoolFC as much as possible and the rest of his time scribbling furiously into his notepads. One day he hopes to ditch the day job and express his ideas to a wider audience. And on a final note, he can categorically confirm, he has no actingtalent whatsoever!
Tell us about The ARC in a few sentences.
The ARC is my first novel and is a sea creature feature based around a floating city called the Aquatic Research City or ARC, for short. I threw in the mix, a prehistoric Megalodon shark, the Governor of California and a chum slick wide enough to encapsulate a rip roaring yarn filled with blood and guts and excitement. What is there, in that mixing pot, not to be intrigued by?
"Why a Megalodon? It has been done before," I hear you ask.
Yes it has. I toyed with the idea of Huge Evasive Radioactive Biologically Enhanced Rainbow Trout or Herbert for short, but it didn't quite have the same ring or menace to it! "Sir, we've got Herbert on the scanner?"I simply love sharks and always have. Ever since a young age they have fascinated me. I could have chosen the vampire, werewolf, zombie or police genres but the shark genre (if there actually is one) has very few books to choose from, and not many recent ones. You have the greatest of all time, "Jaws" and that could never be matched. My ideas are straight from the hip. A new light shining upon a marble head, as I like to call it! So jump in and take a swim with the big fishes……that comment so needs to be followed up with the Jaws theme tune!
Where and when is your novel set and why did you make these specific choices
The basis of the story is set during the present day, with a few hops back in time, in the early stages. I started to write with one goal in mind as to end with a bang, but the further I got into the story the more I thought I could spread the basis of my ideas across more than one book. So to start in the present day, and perhaps finish a second or third book, within a ten year period in the storyline, seemed appropriate.
How did you come to write this particular book?
I can sum it up in one word, "stress". After some self motivation, I needed to boost my horizons and writing seemed to take away any thoughts that I had of reverting back to a stressed individual. I had always wanted to write a story, but had never tried until 2006. After several false starts I thought of the sort of books and movies that I loved, and they just so happened to be creature features. So I thought why not just give it a try and see what happens. I had nothing to lose, except my mind! At first, completing the manuscript was just for fun, but in the end I loved it, so did a few others that read it. I managed to get an agent and the rest, as they say, is history.
Beginning writers make many mistakes; what do you think is the most harmful?
This is my major gripe. I would say not ensuring your manuscript was the best it could be, before self-publishing. And I hold my hands up, "I am a culprit."I wrote mine in the present tense, as I knew no better. My agent informed me present tense normally related to film scripts etc so it would be better to change it. I'd already edited it myself on numerous occasions, so when it finally went for editing to another party, it was reverted back to past tense, but in some sections of the book it got jumbled. And to this day I have no idea why? I expected all the niggling bits and pieces to be rectified. I've learnt to ensure it is checked fully before it goes out.With a baby daughter at the time, I didn't have time to double check the edit and so I have to hold my hand up to the fact that the grammar and tenses are not the best that they could be, although this is nothing against the person who edited it. Being the author, the ball stops firmly at my feet. It is my responsibility overall.
Your one pet hate?
Is this the section whereby I can let off some steam? I note Stuart nods from across the table, while holding up a copy of my book for protection! In that case it is simple. My pet hate is people that criticise but have never tried it themselves. It's like anything you try. Are you expert when you start out, no, but you learn from your mistakes and carry on regardless?I feel so sorry for all self-published authors struggling to make a name. Ever since I self-published The ARC, I get the same thought when I hear the words, "I read your book but…" It seems to me that despite the fact I knew of no other person who had released or even tried to write a manuscript, it turns out the day I released it, everyone I met since is a ****** expert!Don't get me wrong, everybody is entitled to their own opinion, but read the story and then comment. Don't read a few lines and then rant about the errors.These people have no idea how much time and effort goes in to building a story up or what research you need to undertake. It doesn't happen overnight. For example; to ensure the Megalodon shark, that no longer exists, was as accurate as I could make it, I could not simply Google a video and expect to see one smiling back at me! And then you have the ARC itself. I needed to know would it be feasible to write about a city that floats on the sea. Now come on, do you narrow minded so and so's care to enlighten me with the details? No, I didn't think so. Perhaps my original idea of inflating rubber rings under the city would have been adequate after all!!
(Note from Stuart…….In a rage Paul ripped his copy of The ARC in half and demanded his entourage bring him fresh water produced from the most natural pools of earth's water fountains and a slice of bread touched by the fairest of maidens. After a thirty minute cooling off period, and Paul informing me that the last comment about rubber rings was actually tongue in cheek, we continue the interview.)
Do you have a website or blog that readers can visit?
I am in the process of designing a website that has some great ideas on it. I'm really impressed with what these guys can do. It will express some short stories, other ideas I have, that sort of thing. So should anyone have managed to escape from questions six and seven I hope it will eventually be named www.theauthorpaulrudd.com or something along those lines? In the meantime, I have a blog http://thearcanovelbypaulrudd.blogspot.com/….have a look folks, just keep your feet out of the water.
What are you writing now?
I have my fingers in many pies and ideas that are all just waiting to burst free from the seams. I just want to get them out there and I need the time to do it. So any publishers reading this who may want to take a cheeky punt on an unknown, contact me and I'll be all ears! I just need a chance.
What would you say to anyone who may be interested in your book?
Just give it a go. I've highlighted some errors already that I wished I had ironed out, but the story is, well I shouldn't say really, I want people to judge for themselves. It is hard enough to self promote, but in the end I believe it is the story that matters. If I receive enough praise or I am noticed, the inconsistencies can be amended at a later date. It is a shame, but those who have looked past the minor errors have loved the outcome of the story. Just take a look at the reviews on Amazon. I know two people who left reviews and I am one of them. As for the others, I have no idea who they are. Surely that means something, in this day and age?
How can people buy your book?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ARC-Paul-Rudd/dp/1449099459http://www.amazon.com/ARC-Paul-Rudd/dp/1449099459http://www.authorhouse.co.uk/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000373548Waterstones & Bookfinder are useful and lists lots of different ways to purchase it.
Sum up your story in one sentence?
A rip roaring yarn for the new generation of shark enthusiasts!

Thanks Stuart for giving me this chance to express my views and for allowing me and my entourage to invade your privacy! And to anyone who dares venture forth with the Megalodon, enjoy the read, it's just a bit of fun.

Two Great Places for Readers to Discover Books

Goodreads  is a social networking site that concentrates on books and gives visitors and members the chance to exchange information about their reading experience. Members rate books and can post reviews, or you can simply read the reviews of others. The range of reading material covered is vast; everything from serious classic works to the fluffiest of fantasy, ancient to modern, fact and fiction. It's a great way of finding new reading material and I love going on there from time to time to remind myself of those books I read years ago and have now almost forgotten.
Image via Wikipedia

Reviewers' Roundup does a similar thing on Facebook, carrying up to the minute news of new books, places to go to find reviews and news about books. It's a lively community and certainly worthy of a visit. It's a friendly place and very welcoming.

Catherine Condie, Author, on Whirl of the Wheel

A slightly different take on the interview with Catherine, refreshing in her approach, for which I thank her. Here's how we went about it.
Born in Cambridge,UK, Catherine began her career in PR and corporate communications, progressing as an editor of science journals, and as communications advisor for a European programme. She currently works in internet marketing and is a school literacy governor. Catherine is also a singer/songwriter and guitarist, and plays in a rock band.
Whirl of the Wheel summary
Three children whirl back in time through an enchanted potter's wheel into the reality of evacuation in 1940s Britain . . . Whirl of the Wheel pulls feisty Connie, her brother Charlie-Mouse, and school pest Malcolm into dangers on the homefront and towards a military operations secret that will save their home. The children hit trouble when Malcolm fails to return to the present day.

Poetry of a normal day My tea is steaming so I'll type and it will cool down as my fingers work their way to the end of this, my first blog.
I drink cold tea most days. There's usually something more pressing than getting to drink hot tea. It could be writing a bit of promotional material, or checking a website. Or continuing with my latest project to get noticed as an up-and-coming author, or to put everything in place so I can make my fortune by running my business from home. Oh and yes, I will need to pick the children up from school, attend reading club beforehand and prepare for the latest school governor's meeting. Maybe tomorrow, and only after I've cleaned the bathroom, I'll get back to work on my new book.
I started enjoying creative writing at a reasonably young age. My mother recently handed me a batch of school reports, which along with the numerous 'Catherine tries hard' comments is a hint of something in the line written by Mrs Farrow, the form teacher who brought everything together in my final year at Queen Edith's County Primary School. 'Poetry is her forté,' Mrs Farrow wrote. I have always remembered this. Thank you Mrs Farrow. And from another of my most favourite teachers (we both had frizzy hairstyles) Miss Faben in Class 5 (Year 4) there is, 'Stories interesting and well written.'
I tell you about my primary school days because I remember the pride of having my poetry (mostly rhyming) pinned up on the walls of various classrooms as I weaved through the school years. The encouragement from this time is lasting and I have to say I still try to be poetic in my writing. It is the feeling a pattern of sentences or collection of words evokes that interests me most, and I try hard to present my stories and songs in similar creative fashion.
I started song writing just as soon as I could play the guitar at the age of nine. Thank you Mr Ife, Class 2 (Year 5), always smiling. My mother duly sent in a tape of five songs I had recorded to At this point I will spare you my musical history, of how I could have learned to read music and therefore allowed myself a chance of superstardom, and of my life history where I forwent university for various good reasons at the time. I will also put off a splurge on my happy and successful career, which keeps the writing thread attached. But I will note very briefly the early days of my song writing, as they contain an important link to the context of my first novel thirty years later.
I have a folder of over 100 songs and many more beginnings of songs I have written with my guitar. I like vocal or instrumental harmonies in music. Inspired primarily by the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel and the harmonised groups of the sixties, by the country music playing out on our music centre, musicals on tv, and later by the Cambridge Folk Festival and artists such as This writing pun brings me nicely to Whirl of the Wheel , although it is my book and not a song at all. Why did I write it? What is it about?
I wrote it because I would try for many years to come up with the ultimate mystery story in my head. I'd been an avid Agatha Christie reader and I believe I must have coupled the excitement of these mysteries with the stories of Daphne du Maurier, Victoria Holt etc. and bound with these the experiences of my even younger reading days with Enid Blyton. The seeds had been sown, and my songs with their verses, middle eights, instrumentals, and verse repeats gave me patterns of structure I understood and could transfer in some way to my writing. Of course there have since been many more creative influences that have nurtured the book and which include, I am proud to say, the strong writing skills of my parents.

I finished Whirl of the Wheel early this year. It is a traditional adventure into World War II for children and young adults, with a mystery and a bit of a twist. But more than anything it's a story led by a normal girl who happens to be in a wheelchair . . . Connie is modelled on my best friend Hilary's daughter, Katie.
I have attempted to make Whirl of the Wheel a fun book and Connie and her brother Charlie-Mouse make that happen. But the story brings with it a certain reality of war in a way that may educate. And for me, 'living the experiences' of each of the characters and writing letters from the evacuees, Kit and Bert, were the most enjoyable parts of all.
The book has been a great adventure . . . one of my projects, yes, but the one that has given me the greatest challenges and most focus. It has taken me willingly from factual editor all the way back to my poetry beginnings at primary school and taught me that it's okay to write for pleasure and to be proud of what can be achieved.
My writing challenges are growing along with my children too. I am moving my target age group accordingly. For my next project (after the sparkling bathroom sink) I am getting to grips with a young adult thriller and both will be old enough to enjoy it by the time the book is finished. A whodunnit? Not quite, a bit more Bourne Identity to music I think.
But before I get too detailed, I think I'm going to have to ask you to hold the post here because I have to rush off to reading club. It's 2.30pm, and I've noticed that as I go I need to clear away two full teacups of varying temperature from the dining table behind me.

Beginning writers make many mistakes; what do you think is the most harmful?
My biggest mistake when starting out as a writer was presuming that as an experienced journalist and editor and mother of two under-10s I knew how to write for children. As any marketing professional knows, each target market is approached differently and this is the same for writing. I entered a steep learning curve to develop my writing skills specifically for the 8+ age group.
To what extent are grammar and spelling important to a writer?
I see grammar and spelling as my strong points and am grateful that I am in most respects a perfectionist when it comes to writing and production editing. I think if you wish to be noticed in the slush pile, or to have any credibility in the self-published market, you need to present your work correctly. And so yes, my opinion is that the presentation of a manuscript is equally as important as an eye-catching story, or skilled writing.
How much revision of your MS do you do before you send it off?Once I finally finished my manuscript I decided to self-publish. I am still keen to be represented, as it adds that extra layer of recognition, but first and foremost I thought I would like to gain credibility in the rapidly expanding electronic marketplace.
To what extent do you think genre is useful in the publishing world?
Whirl of the Wheel is written for the older child/young adult. In the UK this might span school years 4 to 8. But I would hope that the tale appeals to adults also. In this respect, sometimes genre is restrictive if books are labelled as age-specific.
How do you know where to begin any given story?
When beginning a book (or a scene) I always have it in my mind to get in on the story late and to leave it early. I think this works perfectly for the age groups I write for.
Do you have support, either from family and friends or a writing group?
I worked with Cornerstones Literary Agency in 2008, attending a residential writing course and the support of regular communication. I have found the association with Cornerstones to be valuable and encouraging. The company maintains an interest in my work, and in my new book. I am also a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Editors and attend seminars and events. On the internet, my story development was accelerated by my presence on Authonomy. I am currently working with Authors on Show to promote myself more effectively. My children, my family and friends have been my greatest helpers in writing this book.
How long does it normally take you to write a novel?
I began writing Whirl of the Wheel in between looking after my young children and working part-time. So it didn't really take priority. Once I decided to change career direction, things happened much more quickly. I would say it took me about three years to write, but that the last six months were the most inspired. I am now half way through my second novel and this has taken me only a couple of months. The learning I have acquired during Whirl of the Wheel has enabled me to develop my story more quickly, and with confidence.
If there's a single aspect to writing that really frustrates you, what is it?
My greatest problem as a children's writer is my tendency to want to keep things as short and concise. The need as an editor to be complete in my meaning in as few words as possible will probably never leave me and I find it infuriating when I carry out a word count as I am sure the book should be longer! Thankfully, I love description, and I hope this complements my style of writing.
Do you think writing is a natural gift or an acquired skill?
I think creativity is a natural gift, which can be translated in many different ways, including writing. But I also think that writing can be learned. Like any subject, it can be studied and work can be crafted to form an effective or pleasing result. But if we are to differentiate, I suppose you could liken a piece of writing to a piece of music. If played by a naturally talented musician, then a piece will impact the listener with a complete range of emotions. With a piece of writing, if there is natural creativity on any number of levels, there may be extra emotional or poetic dimensions also.
What single piece of advice would you give to writers still hoping to be published?
For those wishing to see their work in print, I would say that there has never been a better opportunity than now. With the rise in popularity of electronic reading devices and audiobooks, publishing a book is now a process rather than a dream. There are so many ways you can distribute your book to your readership, and the internet has presented a massive base for marketing electronic and printed matter. Indeed, a senior member of the HarperCollins team noted at its July 2010 seminar that self-publishing is not a barrier to being signed by a major publisher, and it can be of benefit to create an awareness of a writer's talents.
What are you writing now?
I'm currently working to turn Whirl of the Wheel into an audiobook. I am also writing a young-adult thriller set in France, which I hope to finish for early 2011.
How can people buy your book?
Whirl of the Wheel is available for free multi-format download at http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7707
In paperback for £5.98 at Amazon in the UK and in the USA for $9.39UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Whirl-Wheel-Catherine-Condie/dp/1445286483USA: http://www.amazon.com/Whirl-Wheel-Catherine-Condie/dp/1445286483
Do you have a website or a blog that readers can visit?
Whirl of the Wheel blog at http://catherinecondie.wordpress.com/
Given unlimited resources, what would be your ideal writing environment?
I'd love to have my own writing study, but I'm not fussy - I write in our dining room, looking out into our small but pleasant garden. I'd love to write outside, but I'd have to solve the screen glare first!  Thank you Stuart!Best wishesCatherine

To Tell the Truth, or Alter It?

Image via CrunchBase
As fiction writers, we often take factual situations and even people as the basis for our stories. To what extent is it valid and/or morally defensible to pass off an altered factual account as fiction? I was prompted to ask this question when one of my writing friends, Patricia Love, invited me to a LinkedIn discussion forum as follows: Has anyone ever written a piece of fiction based on a public or historical event, or a piece of news that required some investigative reporting? (Some areas of interest are whether writers find it challenging to present a narrative that is reliable, yet subtly subjective.) You might wish to follow the link and join in the discussion; I have.
But, back to my question. Many books have been written as fictionalised versions of a factual situation, or thinly disguised portrayals of real people. My interest is in whether such conversion is right; morally, artistically and socially. We live in a world where it is now possible to present entirely fictional information as fact, whether in written, photographic or film form. In fact, due to advances in the CGI process, it is becoming almost impossible to tell the real from the manufactured in film nowadays. The amalgam of journalism with online mechanisms makes the reporting of items, once considered as 'news', open to all manner of distortion, plagiarism and Chinese whispers (my apologies to Oriental friends). So that we, as the consumers of the news, are no longer able to determine whether what we are being shown, told, informed about, is real or merely the workings of some fevered journalistic brain.
I recognise that we are far too far down the road of technology to go back to the days of newsprint and lead type. Though there is no real evidence that news presented in those 'good old days' was either neutral or factually accurate, of course. But we do need to be aware that the world we now inhabit allows ideas, opinions, propaganda and dogma to be presented as truth, and that this 'truth' is then abused by people in positions of power.
Is there anything we can do, as citizens intent on discovering the reality behind a given news story, to learn what is true and what is false? Short of examining the issue from a number of different and disparate viewpoints, we are unable to sort the chaff from the wheat.
It is for this reason that organisations such as the BBC World Service, still a well-respected purveyor of news over the globe, must continue to be strictly governed to prevent both deliberate and accidental bias or distortion. Doubtlessly, there are other international news organisations that are currently equally trusted. We lose these organs of truth at our peril. For, without them, we dive steeply into the world of those newsrags that sell lies, mistruths, legends and myths (urban or otherwise) as truth entirely from a profit motive. Under such a regime, we will find ourselves incapable of trusting any information gained and will become unable to form informed opinions and make important choices on all manner of subjects.
Which takes me back to the fiction question. Is it right to take real situations and people and turn them into fiction? Or, does this practice encourage the use of fiction in real journalism? This is an invitation to discuss and put forward points of view, so, please, let's have them.