Stuart Aken's Blog, page 337

NEW SHORT STORY ANTHOLOGY PUBLISHED

Writers of all genres belong to my writing group, Hornsea Writers and we recently decided to compile an anthology. I got the job of editing the text and designing the cover. Today it appears as an eBook on Smashwords at the unbeatable price of $.99 or £0.63 – a snip for all the goodies on display. This selection of short stories represents the diversity of the medium, and of its talented contributors. There's something for everyone: dive into the sack and sample humour, sci-fi, romance and much more. 

Author Interview with Joanne Kerzmann-Troppello

Joanne Kerzmann-Troppella is a freelance writer / marketing consultant, located in Pennsylvania.  She has two books published. Shadowed Remembrances is a mystery novel.  Her inspirational romance novel, Mr. Shipley's Governess, was released with Wild Horse Press on November 9th.  She is contracted to work for several different companies, to write non-fiction, how-to articles each week.  She currently works out of her home office for a local medical organization, which is also located in Pottstown.
Shadowed Remembrances is a story about a young woman who has walked away from the past and her small town and started life over in the city.  On a visit back home, she is confronted with the hurts of her past, the rekindling of an old flame, and a murder.  Torianna Silverman is a crime scene investigator, specializing in fingerprint identification.  She is a NYC detective who is on vacation in a small Pennsylvania town.  She encounters God in a special way and has to come face to face with her fears and find a way to move forward and solve the crime. 
Visit www.signedbytheauthor.com and enter item #1272 to find information on Shadowed Remembrances and order an autographed copy for only $12.00.
Mr. Shipley's Governess released on Nov. 9th, 2010 by www.wildhorsepress.webs.com is an inspirational romance novel.  For Jane Austen enthusiasts, this is the story you just have to read.  Sophie Baird is looking for a way to escape the painful reality of her parents' tragic deaths.  She can no longer live in their home because the memories are too painful.  She decides to leave her position as a teacher at the local elementary school and takes a job as a tutor for Anastasia Shipley, a young girl with an illness who has never attended a day of school in her entire life.  Sophie has walked away from God, angry that He chose not to save her parents.  Unprepared for the emotional connection she makes with Sebastian Shipley, Anastasia's father, Sophie gets swept up in an unexpected romance with him and a renewing of her relationship with God.  Will Sophie find peace from her past at the Shipley mansion?
Why did you become a writer…was it a dream of yours since you were younger or did the desire to write happen later in your life?
Ever since I can remember, I have always wanted to be a writer.  I started writing in my senior year in high school and kept working on my first novel and editing time and again until I finally felt ready to submit the manuscript for publication.  I was working fulltime in various office environments doing public relations and in other management positions until 2008 when I launched out in my home-based freelance writing / marketing business.  Now I have more time to write, which I am overjoyed about, and I completed my second novel and am almost done writing my third.
What was the inspiration for your latest work of fiction?
The inspiration for my writing is first and foremost, my faith in God, and my desire to write compelling stories about the journeys of faith that my characters are moving along. 
Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?
I am observant, a people watcher, and I take my inspiration from the people and places that I see and visit and live in every day.  My experiences do play a part in character and plot creations, but I do get other ideas from my imagination. 
What was the most interesting research you had to do for any of your books? 
For Shadowed Remembrances, I really enjoyed doing research on crime scene investigation and especially researching fingerprint identification.  For Mr. Shipley's Governess, I had fun doing research on the geographical locations of England, France and Italy that my characters visited in the latter part of the book.  I truly believe that research is an important part of any writer's journey to creating a complete manuscript.  If you do not have the correct facts woven throughout your story, you will lose credibility with your readers and in turn you will lose your readers as fans. 
How do you go from an idea for a book to the birth of the story?  Is the process the same for every book you write? 
I usually follow similar procedures in going from an idea to a book.  I have so many ideas for new books, so I keep a list of all those ideas and add to it when I think I have a book-worthy idea.  I try to work on the title first.  It's always a working title because my first idea is not usually the end result for the title.  Once I get that working title, I work on the chapter outline and try to be as detailed as possible, with the realization in the back of my mind, that as the story progresses, the chapter outline will most likely need to be changed to allow my characters the chance to tell their own stories.  I never edit any of the chapters while I am writing because my first draft is obviously not the best I can produce.  If I start to edit after I write each chapter, I know myself; I'll get discouraged and won't want to finish the book.  After the book is complete, I actually enjoy the editing process since I truly want to make my book the best possible product that I can produce. 
Do you have any advice for beginning writers on how to write a book?  Do you have any advice for them regarding promoting that book once published?
For new writers, my most important advice is to keep writing.  If you want to be a writer, you need to write.  Wishing you were a writer on the best seller list is not going to get you there.  You need to combine those hopes and dreams with a strong work ethic and hard work…then anything is possible.  Once your book is signed with a publisher, you need to get a website set up.  There are many good free websites out there, like www.weebly.com you can utilize until you begin to get a good investment on your book and then you might want to switch to a fee-based website like www.godaddy.com.  After you establish your website, you should set up accounts on Facebook (a fan page is suggested, not just your own personal page), Twitter and LinkedIn and any other social media networking sites; however those three are the most currently utilized sites.  Really try to create a strong online presence for your name, not just for your book titles.  Try to network with other local authors to schedule book signings and readings.  Always be active in self-promotion of your work.  You are your most avid fan and you need to utilize that factor.  No one cares about your success more than you; use that fervor to your advantage and never stop marketing yourself. 
My website:  http://joannetroppello.weebly.com

Narrative Magazine's Take on the Future of Reading.

Narrative describes itself as 'A nonprofit organisation dedicated to storytelling in the digital age.' It produces a high quality online magazine that can be read on Kindle, iPhone and iPad as well as on screen, featuring short fiction, poetry, cartoons, graphic stories and much more. I recommend you visit the site to see the quality of the offerings, which are free for subscribers to the newsletter.
The article below is their view of the future of reading.
This is a make-or-break moment for reading. While some folks are understandably anxious about the future of reading in the world, especially among youth, at Narrative we see the digital age as an opportunity to create new audiences for literary excellence.

New studies cited recently in the Washington Post and the New York Times found that today's youth are not reading less, they're just reading differently—on digital devices. Children and teens want to read more, using the new technologies.

This is excellent news for literature and a mandate for Narrative's mission to advance reading in the digital age. As the preeminent online literary magazine, Narrative is in exactly the right place to engage the next generation of readers.

Every day we bring great writing online, to readers across the globe. In 2010 our subscribers skyrocketed to 100,000, nearly the number of hallmark print publications such as The Atlantic. Free and available to all, Narrative is being used in classrooms from Seoul, Korea, to Moscow to Youngstown, Ohio.

Also this year Narrative stories were awarded the prestigious laurels of the print age—the O. Henry and Pushcart Prizes—and were named among the Best American Short Stories. Best yet, our readers found those stories via today's most innovative platforms: the iPhone and iPad, the Kindle, and even customizable applications.

Your support makes all this possible. Because of you, Narrative is an international resource that promotes literacy and enables education. Because of you, Narrative can find the stand-out stories and support writers and artists, teachers and students. Because of you, Narrativeis everywhere our readers are—online, on mobile devices, and on the printed page.

We're giving new life to literature at an important time. But there's so much more we can do. Your tax-deductible contribution will support: Narrative in the Schools, an educational initiative that delivers tailored content to secondary school systems struggling to afford textbooks and seeking to enable new ways of learning.Narrative30Below, which discovers, nurtures, and celebrates our next generation of writers and artists.Our modern library of stories—free and portable to readers around the world, of all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.We know that great stories have a timeless ability to engage and inspire the readers who find them. And those readers are more than twice as likely as nonreaders to vote, to volunteer, and to be active participants in their communities. That is why Narrative is paving the way in bringing the best new stories to the digital world and to readers of all ages. 

WE ARE AWESOME!

Image via CrunchBase
The following is lifted, with permission, from a post on the Linked-In website. I've modified it slightly, but the bulk is as it was originally posted. Thank you David Nicholls
This is addressed to kids who survived the 1930s, '40s, '50s, '60s and '70s, and to their children.
No matter what our kids and the new generation think about us, WE ARE AWESOME!

For those of us born 1925 – 1970: Our Lives Are Living Proof.

First, we survived being born to mothers who may have smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes. Then, after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets, and, when we rode our bikes, we had baseball caps or nothing, on our heads, not helmets. As infants and children, we rode in cars with no baby seats, no boosters, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes. Riding in the back of a pick- up truck on a warm day was always a special treat. We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle. We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle, and no one actually died from this. We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter, and bacon. We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar. And we weren't overweight. Why? Because we were always outside playing...that's why! We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. And, we were OK.
We spent hours building go-carts or bogies (as we called them in the UK) out of scraps and then rode them down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem. We didn't have Play Stations, Nintendos or X-boxes. There were no video games, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVDs, no surround-sound or CDs, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet and no chat rooms. WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them! We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth, and there were no lawsuits from those accidents. We would get spankings with wooden spoons, switches, belts, ping-pong bats, or just a bare hand, and no one would report this as abuse. We ate worms, and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever. We made up games with sticks and tennis balls, and -although we were told it would happen- we didn't put out many eyes. We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them. Teams had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that! The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law! These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers, and inventors ever. The past 50 to 85 years have seen an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all. If YOU are one of those born between 1925-1970, CONGRATULATIONS!
You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good. While you're at it, forward it to your kids, so they'll know how brave and lucky their parents were. Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?

Author Interview with Ruth Wheeler

Ruth Wheeler has always enjoyed anything artistic from writing, drawing, sculpting, music, acting and even the martial arts. From a young age Ruth was praised for her creative writing and her teachers asked her to read her short stories in front of the school; which is not easy when you're not the most outgoing pupil. Choosing a career path in the arts, she went on to do a degree in Fine Art at Solihull college. Graduating in 2002, she has since been paying the bills working as a graphic designer. After years of recreational writing, at the age of thirty, her debut novel was released.

Tell us about All Aliens Like Burgers in a few sentences.
     
All Aliens Like Burgers is a story aimed at teenagers and adults and tells of Tom Bowler - an intelligent, quiet young man who has barely ever ventured out of the small English town where he grew up. So when he applies for a job in a fast food restaurant at a "local" service station during his gap year he is rather surprised to discover that the vacancy is in fact based on Truxxe, a planetoid stationed between local galaxies Triangulum and Andromeda. He's surprised further still to find himself becoming friends with a purple alien and that he has strange feelings for his android supervisor, Miss Lola. Tom soon discovers that Truxxe has many hidden secrets - just what makes it so special? And why is its terrain so rich and varied that it can be used for fuelling such a diverse variety of intergalactic spacecraft? What are the Glorbian space pirate brothers Schlomm and Hannond plotting? And just what is it that they put in those burgers?
How did you come to write this particular book?

I was inspired to write All Aliens on a stop at a motorway service station one summer. They are a world in themselves – so generic and devoid of any distinctive character. They seem to be designed to disorientate the weary traveller and make you ask that question "So where exactly are we?" It got me thinking that, were you a sleeping passenger, would you know whether you were in Exeter or Carlisle? Then I began to think bigger. Perhaps you could be on a different planet altogether. I have always had a passion for science fiction and surrealism – placing familiar objects in unfamiliar surroundings. And this was where the initial ideas for my novel were born.

If you have a favourite character in your novel, why that particular one?

My favourite character has to be Raphyl the purple Truxxian. He is Tom's colleague at the intergalatic burger bar and I like him because he never worries about anything and he takes life as it comes. Nothing fazes him and he is content with his lot. Or so it seems...  

How can people buy your book?

It is available from all the usual outlets - WHSmiths, Waterstones (and can be ordered in or from their online shops if it is not on the shelves) and Amazon. Or signed copies can be obtained direct from the publisher www.hirstpublishing.com. I also do quite a few signings countrywide so if you catch me at one of them I will be happy to sign a copy.

Do you have any signings coming up?

Yes, I will be signing at Gallifrey One Catch 22 Doctor Who convention in Los Angeles 19th - 20th February 2011. You can always check the publisher's website for updates or my Facebook page which is constantly updated.

What qualities make a successful writer?
Perseverance, the ability to take critisism and rejection and still carry on, a good imagination, perseverance and perseverance!

Do you have support, either from family and friends or a writing group?

I have the support of my friends and family and also fellow authors for which I'm eternally grateful. I'm glad that they can put up with me rambling on about my characters and plot until the space cows come home!
If there's a single aspect to writing that really frustrates you, what is it?

The things which frustrate me the most are technology (I have literally cried at losing work that the computer has "eaten") and blank page syndrome. 
Is there any aspect of writing that you really enjoy?

Yes, all of it - the writing is the easy bit as many authors will tell you. It's telling people the book is out there that is the hardest part. I wnjoy discussing potential plots with my husband and he may say one word which inspires me and I'll be, "Right, that's it - I need to get to a computer now as I have 3 chapters formulating in my head." It's great fun. 
Do you think writing is a natural gift or an acquired skill?

Interesting question - with me I feel as though I have creativity wanting to escape and stories wanting to be written. I do think that writing gets better with practice so in that way it is an aqcuired skill. But it also needs fuel to feed it which is why writers need to read a lot to put their work into context and stir their imagination. I think that everyone has the potential to be a story teller. Even if they're not particularly academic. 
What are you writing now?

I am currently writing the sequel to All Aliens Like Burgers which is called Do Aliens Read Scifi. It is due to be launched in February 2011.

Many thanks

Ruth WheelerFacebook group: 

Twitter: @ruthwheeler

How Not to Approach an Author Interview as a Guest.

Along with other blogs, this site has offered authors guest spots for interviews, where they can promote their work for free to a growing readership. It's quickly become clear to me that writers fall into two distinct groups when it comes to approaching such an opportunity. There are those who understand that this is a chance to showcase their work and that it benefits the host very little. And there are those who see it as an easy way to get their name known at the expense of their host's time and expertise.I initially invited all published authors to take advantage of the opportunity on my blog; especially encouraging independent writers, who would otherwise get little exposure. A short while ago, I posted a question about modern manners and it seems that topic could equally apply to some of the authors I have hosted here.Let me make it clear, this post is not inspired by anything that has recently happened, but is the culmination of experiences over the months I've been doing this.There are some writers, and I won't name them, who clearly feel it's fine to leave the bulk of the work involved to the blog owner. Others, those with sense and consideration, go to great lengths to ensure their interviews can be presented with minimum effort by their host.So, here are some tips should you wish to take advantage of offers and invitations to have your work presented on someone else's blog.How NOT to do it:·       Present your answers without reference to the questions asked.·       Make your links either generic or completely unlinked to any site (instead of presenting them as specific hyperlinks to the sites involved).·       Allow your host to cobble together a bio from your blog or website.·       Use a format clearly not matched to that of the blog you're guesting on.·       Ignore any specific requests for images so that the host has to search for and copy images from elsewhere.·       Don't check your spelling and/or grammar so that readers can see just how careless you are as a writer. (This is guaranteed to make people either stop reading your interview or to refuse to take you seriously as a writer, of course).·       Assume the blog host has nothing better to do than to promote your work free of charge and with little reward to him/herself.
So, I've had my moan.Let me now thank those writers, the majority, who made the effort and understood the nature of the opportunity offered and placed a value on my time. If you're invited to guest on someone else's blog or website, please do as much of the work as you can and save the time and effort of the host providing space and publicity for you. 

Interview with Terry Ervin, Author.

A husband of eighteen years and father to two beautiful daughters, Terry Ervin 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:  

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!