Zoe Adams's Blog, page 13
September 19, 2013
Writing Challenge - Day 4
To all who are reading this,
Day four on the ELEMENTAL challenge. Zoe sits at her laptop in the kitchen, preparing to upload her piece of flash fiction from her mobile phone.
And don't forget, if you have any questions about my works or anything of the sort, please don't hesitate to get in touch! You can always post a comment below!
So... here's the fourth story.
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
ELEMENTAL WRITING CHALLENGEDAY 4. - WATER
The rain lashed down as the young girl hurried on her way home. Her high heels clattered along the pavement, and her handbag swung wildly from the crook of her arm. The leather jacket her friend had loaned her protected her dress from the worst of the weather, but she still felt drenched. She could hear her mother already: "I told you to take a proper jacket! Where was your umbrella? Bet you spent all your money on drinks instead of getting a taxi, like I told you to! What am I going to do with you?" Home wasn't far away now. As she stepped off the curb, her heel caught in the drain, and she pitched forwards. She threw out her hands to protect herself but only succeeded in scraping the skin of her hands. Her tights tore and laddered, mainly at the knees. Many of her belongings fell out of her handbag, including her red lipstick and a stub of an eyeliner pencil. She cried out in pain, tears springing to her eyes. Hissing through her teeth, she tried to rub away the dirt and grit on her hands. Each touch was painful, and she only managed to mar her black and white patterned dress with blood. "You look like you need some help there," a low voice said. She looked up in alarm to see a pale man leaning over her. His hand was outstretched and she could see long nails. As he smiled, she noticed chipped pointed fangs.
"Oh my God, so he's like a vampire, right?" Georgina scowled at her best friend, Rach. She pulled her hood down as the torchlight dropped from her face. The rain continued to batter the tent, matching her mood perfectly. "You ruined my story." "You said fangs, I just thought..." Rach shrugged, un-screwing the lid of her coffee flask. She sipped it nonchalantly, as Georgina continued her disapproving look. Rach stuck her middle finger up. Georgina retaliated by going cross-eyed. The game continued until both their stomachs hurt from laughing and Rach thought she might wet herself. Outside the moon shone bright. The stars twinkled through the gloom. The clouds brought more rain. The ground became waterlogged. The fire had been extinguished long ago. What a dreary first nights camp it had turned out to be.
THE END© Copyright - Zoe Adams (2013)Currently reading: Dark Parties by Sara Grant
Day four on the ELEMENTAL challenge. Zoe sits at her laptop in the kitchen, preparing to upload her piece of flash fiction from her mobile phone.
And don't forget, if you have any questions about my works or anything of the sort, please don't hesitate to get in touch! You can always post a comment below!
So... here's the fourth story.
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
ELEMENTAL WRITING CHALLENGEDAY 4. - WATER
The rain lashed down as the young girl hurried on her way home. Her high heels clattered along the pavement, and her handbag swung wildly from the crook of her arm. The leather jacket her friend had loaned her protected her dress from the worst of the weather, but she still felt drenched. She could hear her mother already: "I told you to take a proper jacket! Where was your umbrella? Bet you spent all your money on drinks instead of getting a taxi, like I told you to! What am I going to do with you?" Home wasn't far away now. As she stepped off the curb, her heel caught in the drain, and she pitched forwards. She threw out her hands to protect herself but only succeeded in scraping the skin of her hands. Her tights tore and laddered, mainly at the knees. Many of her belongings fell out of her handbag, including her red lipstick and a stub of an eyeliner pencil. She cried out in pain, tears springing to her eyes. Hissing through her teeth, she tried to rub away the dirt and grit on her hands. Each touch was painful, and she only managed to mar her black and white patterned dress with blood. "You look like you need some help there," a low voice said. She looked up in alarm to see a pale man leaning over her. His hand was outstretched and she could see long nails. As he smiled, she noticed chipped pointed fangs.
"Oh my God, so he's like a vampire, right?" Georgina scowled at her best friend, Rach. She pulled her hood down as the torchlight dropped from her face. The rain continued to batter the tent, matching her mood perfectly. "You ruined my story." "You said fangs, I just thought..." Rach shrugged, un-screwing the lid of her coffee flask. She sipped it nonchalantly, as Georgina continued her disapproving look. Rach stuck her middle finger up. Georgina retaliated by going cross-eyed. The game continued until both their stomachs hurt from laughing and Rach thought she might wet herself. Outside the moon shone bright. The stars twinkled through the gloom. The clouds brought more rain. The ground became waterlogged. The fire had been extinguished long ago. What a dreary first nights camp it had turned out to be.
THE END© Copyright - Zoe Adams (2013)Currently reading: Dark Parties by Sara Grant
Interview With... Nicki Paton
To all who are reading this,
We are halfway through this month's author spotlights, and today we welcome debut novelist Nicki Paton from Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly to sit in the hot seat.
Let's see what she has to say.
---
Name: Nicki Paton
Age: 27
Location: Unspecified.
Hi Nicki, thanks for joining me! What made you want to be a writer?
I've read at least six books a week since I was a child - on anything I could get my hands on. Quite simply writing was the next logical step for me because it is total escapism - you can experience anything and everything through your characters without any of the risks or repercussions.
What motivates you to write?
My family are always in the back of my mind when I write - whether I intend to or not, I always draw on some mannerism or saying and apply it to a character. It's only when I read it back that I notice, "Ah, that sounds like something Nanny would say." So yes, it is a cliché but my family is the driving force that motivates me and keeps me on track to keep going, even when I want to give up.
Do you have a particular writing process?
I wouldn't call it a process but I find it easier to write in bed on my laptop. At the start I found inspiration always struck me at night, which meant I was sometimes up until 4a.m. and then sleeping till 2p.m. the next day. After two weeks I had to force my mind to shut down at a more reasonable hour and write during daylight hours.
How do you manage the deadly problem that is writers block?
If I sit down and tell myself to write 4,000 words then it won't happen. I wrote Cutting the Pink Ribbon in three weeks because it came so naturally. Trying to force words out will never get you anywhere because you are then writing words for the sake of a count - not because of their quality.
What is a piece of writing advice that you will always remember?
Don't try to get every sentence right first time. Write what you feel - get it all out - and then go back and start to edit.
What is the most influential book you have ever read, and why do you think so?
My mum bought herself Virginia Andrews' Flowers in the Attic when I was 10 and gave it to me afterwards to read. I couldn't get enough of her books after that and still read them repeatedly to this day,
I'd say it made me approach writing in a more mature fashion and spurred me on to write stories that both teenagers and adults could connect with.
Have you ever derived inspiration from your home or from anywhere you have visited?
My home and everyone who enters it inspires me - I have two young cousins who are a constant source of fresh ideas - even the silly fights and niggling arguments they have over toys can have me transferring it into an adult conversation. Inspiration can be taken from any surroundings. That's the great thing about being a writer.
Your most recent publication is Cutting the Pink Ribbon. Have you had any publications prior to this?
I haven't, no. It's still sinking in that I've had my first ever novel published with no professional writing experience or background. How many people can say that?
What is Cutting the Pink Ribbon about? It certainly sounds interesting!
It's based on the events in my life over the last year, which detail my descent into depression and how I used to self-harm as a coping mechanism.
What drove you to write this? It's almost a memoir...
My mum was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer just as I'd opened up to them about my self-harming. Her optimism is what made me sit down and think, "How can I show her how much she inspires me?" Then it just clicked after I'd spoken to my counsellor - I'll write it down! I've never been great at discussing emotions or being openly affectionate so it was the perfect option.
Do you hope that your book will encourage people who suffer from depression and cancer to seek help and advice?
Aside from my mum, that's the only other thing that pushed my to do this. If it helps one other person from feeling alone then I'm happy.
What does the future hold for you as a writer?
I'm starting to formulate ideas for the follow up to Cutting the Pink Ribbon, which I'm hoping to start, and possibly finish, before the end of the year. There's a couple of things I've been working on in the background, but their a world apart from Cutting the Pink Ribbon.
Thanks for such a fantastic interview, Nicki!
Be sure to check out Cutting the Pink Ribbon on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com!
---
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
Currently reading: Dark Parties by Sara Grant
We are halfway through this month's author spotlights, and today we welcome debut novelist Nicki Paton from Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly to sit in the hot seat.
Let's see what she has to say.
---Name: Nicki Paton
Age: 27
Location: Unspecified.
Hi Nicki, thanks for joining me! What made you want to be a writer?
I've read at least six books a week since I was a child - on anything I could get my hands on. Quite simply writing was the next logical step for me because it is total escapism - you can experience anything and everything through your characters without any of the risks or repercussions.
What motivates you to write?
My family are always in the back of my mind when I write - whether I intend to or not, I always draw on some mannerism or saying and apply it to a character. It's only when I read it back that I notice, "Ah, that sounds like something Nanny would say." So yes, it is a cliché but my family is the driving force that motivates me and keeps me on track to keep going, even when I want to give up.
Do you have a particular writing process?
I wouldn't call it a process but I find it easier to write in bed on my laptop. At the start I found inspiration always struck me at night, which meant I was sometimes up until 4a.m. and then sleeping till 2p.m. the next day. After two weeks I had to force my mind to shut down at a more reasonable hour and write during daylight hours.
How do you manage the deadly problem that is writers block?
If I sit down and tell myself to write 4,000 words then it won't happen. I wrote Cutting the Pink Ribbon in three weeks because it came so naturally. Trying to force words out will never get you anywhere because you are then writing words for the sake of a count - not because of their quality.
What is a piece of writing advice that you will always remember?
Don't try to get every sentence right first time. Write what you feel - get it all out - and then go back and start to edit.
What is the most influential book you have ever read, and why do you think so?
My mum bought herself Virginia Andrews' Flowers in the Attic when I was 10 and gave it to me afterwards to read. I couldn't get enough of her books after that and still read them repeatedly to this day,
I'd say it made me approach writing in a more mature fashion and spurred me on to write stories that both teenagers and adults could connect with.
Have you ever derived inspiration from your home or from anywhere you have visited?
My home and everyone who enters it inspires me - I have two young cousins who are a constant source of fresh ideas - even the silly fights and niggling arguments they have over toys can have me transferring it into an adult conversation. Inspiration can be taken from any surroundings. That's the great thing about being a writer.
Your most recent publication is Cutting the Pink Ribbon. Have you had any publications prior to this?
I haven't, no. It's still sinking in that I've had my first ever novel published with no professional writing experience or background. How many people can say that?What is Cutting the Pink Ribbon about? It certainly sounds interesting!
It's based on the events in my life over the last year, which detail my descent into depression and how I used to self-harm as a coping mechanism.
What drove you to write this? It's almost a memoir...
My mum was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer just as I'd opened up to them about my self-harming. Her optimism is what made me sit down and think, "How can I show her how much she inspires me?" Then it just clicked after I'd spoken to my counsellor - I'll write it down! I've never been great at discussing emotions or being openly affectionate so it was the perfect option.
Do you hope that your book will encourage people who suffer from depression and cancer to seek help and advice?
Aside from my mum, that's the only other thing that pushed my to do this. If it helps one other person from feeling alone then I'm happy.
What does the future hold for you as a writer?
I'm starting to formulate ideas for the follow up to Cutting the Pink Ribbon, which I'm hoping to start, and possibly finish, before the end of the year. There's a couple of things I've been working on in the background, but their a world apart from Cutting the Pink Ribbon.
Thanks for such a fantastic interview, Nicki!
Be sure to check out Cutting the Pink Ribbon on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com!
---
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
Currently reading: Dark Parties by Sara Grant
September 18, 2013
Writing Challenge - Day 3
To all who are reading this,
Three days into the ELEMENTAL challenge, and everything is going well! I'm going to share with you the latest story from my brain.
And don't forget, if you have any questions about my works or anything of the sort, please don't hesitate to get in touch! You can always post a comment below!
So... here's the third story.
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
ELEMENTAL WRITING CHALLENGEDAY 3. - AIR
Megan's head swirled. Sitting atop a piece of driftwood, she dug her thick booted feet into the sand. She flexed the, feeling the grains sift between the lace holes and cover her socks. The beach was so peaceful. As the sun began to set, seagulls swooped low, their mournful cries filling the sky. The waves crashed against the shore. Megan felt at peace, even with the wind whipping her hair. She buried her hands deeper into her jacket pockets, wishing she had brought her gloves with her. She bowed her head. The piece of paper crinkled in her palm. She didn't need to take it out and read it through. She knew it by heart... Megan, I'm so sorry for what I've put the family through. None of you deserve it, least of all you. If I could turn back time, if I could find a way, I would never have been so stupid. I've let you down. You're the sensible one, you told me not to go to the party. But deep down, you knew I would. I had to see Jason one last time, before he went to uni. Nobody knows the truth. Nobody but you now. How could Mum and Dad know that I was drugged and attacked and raped by Jason and his so-called friends? It was hard enough coming out to them... By the time this note is in your hands, I'll be long gone. I'll be in some fancy urn on the mantelpiece where you can all see me, remember me. Don't be sad. You're a wonderful, creative person, and you are stronger than you think. Be brave, Meg. Be brave for me. All my love, always, Your brother, Ben xxx Getting to her feet, Megan took her time to walk to the shore. The wind continued to blow, and night was drawing in. Bit by bit, she tore the lined paper into little tiny pieces, shredding the angry truth and horrible words. All except the last paragraph. That she folded and placed inside the heart shaped locket he had given her for Christmas. Inside was a picture of the two of them at last years Leeds festival. They were dirty, drunk and smiling. A good memory. Once his words were safely inside, Megan threw the torn paper into the wind. The air was filled with his words, his thoughts, his emotions, and his life. Many of the shreds blew around her, before scrambling away, whilst some lay sodden on the sea. "Rest in peace, Ben," she said. THE END© Copyright - Zoe Adams (2013) Currently reading: Dark Parties by Sara Grant
Three days into the ELEMENTAL challenge, and everything is going well! I'm going to share with you the latest story from my brain.
And don't forget, if you have any questions about my works or anything of the sort, please don't hesitate to get in touch! You can always post a comment below!
So... here's the third story.
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
ELEMENTAL WRITING CHALLENGEDAY 3. - AIR
Megan's head swirled. Sitting atop a piece of driftwood, she dug her thick booted feet into the sand. She flexed the, feeling the grains sift between the lace holes and cover her socks. The beach was so peaceful. As the sun began to set, seagulls swooped low, their mournful cries filling the sky. The waves crashed against the shore. Megan felt at peace, even with the wind whipping her hair. She buried her hands deeper into her jacket pockets, wishing she had brought her gloves with her. She bowed her head. The piece of paper crinkled in her palm. She didn't need to take it out and read it through. She knew it by heart... Megan, I'm so sorry for what I've put the family through. None of you deserve it, least of all you. If I could turn back time, if I could find a way, I would never have been so stupid. I've let you down. You're the sensible one, you told me not to go to the party. But deep down, you knew I would. I had to see Jason one last time, before he went to uni. Nobody knows the truth. Nobody but you now. How could Mum and Dad know that I was drugged and attacked and raped by Jason and his so-called friends? It was hard enough coming out to them... By the time this note is in your hands, I'll be long gone. I'll be in some fancy urn on the mantelpiece where you can all see me, remember me. Don't be sad. You're a wonderful, creative person, and you are stronger than you think. Be brave, Meg. Be brave for me. All my love, always, Your brother, Ben xxx Getting to her feet, Megan took her time to walk to the shore. The wind continued to blow, and night was drawing in. Bit by bit, she tore the lined paper into little tiny pieces, shredding the angry truth and horrible words. All except the last paragraph. That she folded and placed inside the heart shaped locket he had given her for Christmas. Inside was a picture of the two of them at last years Leeds festival. They were dirty, drunk and smiling. A good memory. Once his words were safely inside, Megan threw the torn paper into the wind. The air was filled with his words, his thoughts, his emotions, and his life. Many of the shreds blew around her, before scrambling away, whilst some lay sodden on the sea. "Rest in peace, Ben," she said. THE END© Copyright - Zoe Adams (2013) Currently reading: Dark Parties by Sara Grant
September 17, 2013
Writing Challenge - Day 2
To all who are reading this,
If you saw yesterday's post you will know that I'm participating in the ELEMENTAL writing challenge - writing flash fiction on a different theme, each day, for 15 days.
If you have any questions about my works or anything of the sort, please don't hesitate to get in touch! You can always post a comment below!
So... here's the second story.
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
ELEMENTAL WRITING CHALLENGEDAY 2. - EARTH
"That bloody thing's been back!" Alan slammed his hands down on either side of the sink. The breakfast dishes rattled in the washing up bowl - the bowls, the spoons and cups. "Mary-Ann, did you hear me?" Mary-Ann shuffled through into the kitchen, one side of her hair still in rollers. She stifled a yawn, her wedding ring catching the weak Autumn sunlight. "Yes, I heard you. Think the whole village did. What is your problem now, dear?" "You look at the garden, you'll see the problem!" Mary-Ann moved to stand beside her husband. Peering through the window, all she could see was next door's cat sprawled on the grass, a battered leaf between its paws. "Alan, leave Mopsy alone. She's a cat, it's in their nature to prowl." "I couldn't care less about that mangy thing. Look again." Alan pointed in the general direction he wanted Mary-Ann to look. She sighed. "It's just a mole hill." "And its just ruining the garden too." "There have been moles in this village for as long as I've lived here, Alan. It's not a big deal." "What if it gets in the veg? I don't want those peas and spuds ruining!" "It won't ruin them. Harold and Sue next door have been home growing for years and the animals have never touched theirs. It's just looking for worms." Mary-Ann touched her husband's shoulder before heading back upstairs. As much as she loved Alan, he was still a city boy at heart. He didn't understand the country life as much as he thought. It had taken him a few months after moving in after the wedding to get used to the early morning starts. So a mole dug through the earth, made some holes, ate some worms. It wasn't a big deal. As she fixed her hair and dressed for work, Mary-Ann could hear him talking to himself. Muttering about the state of the garden - that it would take ages to sort it properly. Taking her handbag and local council files, she headed downstairs. As she reached for her car keys on the end table in the hallway, she caught the last of his mutterings about moles and their hills. "You old fool," she said with a smile. She could guarantee that by the time she got home after work, and the quick stop off to get some milk and a newspaper, there would be earth trails along the hallway and across the kitchen floor. His brand new wellington boots would be covered in mud and there would be another hole in the gardening gloves. And he would be sat, feet up on the sofa, watching sport. Cycling probably. It was like living with a mole some days. THE END© Copyright - Zoe Adams (2013)
Currently reading: Shadow Heir by Richelle Mead.
If you saw yesterday's post you will know that I'm participating in the ELEMENTAL writing challenge - writing flash fiction on a different theme, each day, for 15 days.
If you have any questions about my works or anything of the sort, please don't hesitate to get in touch! You can always post a comment below!
So... here's the second story.
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
ELEMENTAL WRITING CHALLENGEDAY 2. - EARTH
"That bloody thing's been back!" Alan slammed his hands down on either side of the sink. The breakfast dishes rattled in the washing up bowl - the bowls, the spoons and cups. "Mary-Ann, did you hear me?" Mary-Ann shuffled through into the kitchen, one side of her hair still in rollers. She stifled a yawn, her wedding ring catching the weak Autumn sunlight. "Yes, I heard you. Think the whole village did. What is your problem now, dear?" "You look at the garden, you'll see the problem!" Mary-Ann moved to stand beside her husband. Peering through the window, all she could see was next door's cat sprawled on the grass, a battered leaf between its paws. "Alan, leave Mopsy alone. She's a cat, it's in their nature to prowl." "I couldn't care less about that mangy thing. Look again." Alan pointed in the general direction he wanted Mary-Ann to look. She sighed. "It's just a mole hill." "And its just ruining the garden too." "There have been moles in this village for as long as I've lived here, Alan. It's not a big deal." "What if it gets in the veg? I don't want those peas and spuds ruining!" "It won't ruin them. Harold and Sue next door have been home growing for years and the animals have never touched theirs. It's just looking for worms." Mary-Ann touched her husband's shoulder before heading back upstairs. As much as she loved Alan, he was still a city boy at heart. He didn't understand the country life as much as he thought. It had taken him a few months after moving in after the wedding to get used to the early morning starts. So a mole dug through the earth, made some holes, ate some worms. It wasn't a big deal. As she fixed her hair and dressed for work, Mary-Ann could hear him talking to himself. Muttering about the state of the garden - that it would take ages to sort it properly. Taking her handbag and local council files, she headed downstairs. As she reached for her car keys on the end table in the hallway, she caught the last of his mutterings about moles and their hills. "You old fool," she said with a smile. She could guarantee that by the time she got home after work, and the quick stop off to get some milk and a newspaper, there would be earth trails along the hallway and across the kitchen floor. His brand new wellington boots would be covered in mud and there would be another hole in the gardening gloves. And he would be sat, feet up on the sofa, watching sport. Cycling probably. It was like living with a mole some days. THE END© Copyright - Zoe Adams (2013)Currently reading: Shadow Heir by Richelle Mead.
Interview With... Jamie Moore
To all who are reading this,
Today we get a chance to speak to a new character, who was an absolute darling to chat with. I am of course speaking about Jamie Moore, who is present for Khelsey Jackson's new read, Black and Blue.
---
Name: Jamie Moore
Age: 18
Location: None of your business.
(Jamie sits down to do an interview before her ball. She smiles, and I return it gladly. She looks a little nervous, albeit beautiful, readers.)
Hi! Can you introduce yourself for the readers please?
Hello, my name is Jamie Moore, and yes, I am part of the Founding Moore family.
So... Tell us about yourself.
Sure. I just turned eighteen and just returned home from boarding school.
What's a day in your life like?
Before Henry, I would hang out with Emily, my best friend, and shop. Now after Henry, he is all I can think about and all I want to be with.
Describe yourself in five words.
Oh, you are tough. Brave, loyal, smart, loveable, and tough.
How would others describe you? (In five words).
I have been told I am, a hot-head, brave, generous, honest, and popular.
Do you have an anthem for your life? And by that I mean a song!
My friend Emily turned me on to a band called Kickers and I love them.
What film title sums up your life at the present moment and why?
We really don't have new movies, Hollywood for the most part went out of business. But I do love the old movies like The Notebook and Safe Haven.
What book title sums up your love life at the present moment and why?
Hmm... Well I would have to say Romeo and Juliet.
What motivates you?
What motivates most people? Love. Love is what makes me want better things.
What's your aim in life?
To be happy and I will do anything to keep that happiness.
What's your biggest fear?
Losing Henry. I know he could be sent to the tower because of me.
What do you consider your greatest achievement to date?
Not dying.
(Jamie winks and laughs)
Who do you admire the most?
People who aren't afraid to be who they are.
You're having an intense spring clean (in the middle of September). What is easy to throw away? What is hard to part with?
Easy would be clothes, I always have too much. Hardest, the memories that went with them.
What would I find in your refrigerator right now? I'm hungry...
Well Cynthia keeps it really stocked, I would say everything! But I always make sure there is some chocolate in there in any form.
(Jamie stands, brushing stray fluff from her clothes. She smiles and holds her hand out, in a gesture of thanks. I take it and squeeze, goodbye.)
Be sure to check out Black and Blue on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.
You can also find Khelsey here:
https://www.facebook.com/khelseyrjackson
Twitter: @KhelseyrJackson
---
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
Currently reading: Shadow Heir by Richelle Mead
Today we get a chance to speak to a new character, who was an absolute darling to chat with. I am of course speaking about Jamie Moore, who is present for Khelsey Jackson's new read, Black and Blue.
---
Name: Jamie Moore
Age: 18
Location: None of your business.
(Jamie sits down to do an interview before her ball. She smiles, and I return it gladly. She looks a little nervous, albeit beautiful, readers.)
Hi! Can you introduce yourself for the readers please?
Hello, my name is Jamie Moore, and yes, I am part of the Founding Moore family.
So... Tell us about yourself.
Sure. I just turned eighteen and just returned home from boarding school.
What's a day in your life like?
Before Henry, I would hang out with Emily, my best friend, and shop. Now after Henry, he is all I can think about and all I want to be with.
Describe yourself in five words.
Oh, you are tough. Brave, loyal, smart, loveable, and tough.
How would others describe you? (In five words).
I have been told I am, a hot-head, brave, generous, honest, and popular.
Do you have an anthem for your life? And by that I mean a song!
My friend Emily turned me on to a band called Kickers and I love them.
What film title sums up your life at the present moment and why?
We really don't have new movies, Hollywood for the most part went out of business. But I do love the old movies like The Notebook and Safe Haven.
What book title sums up your love life at the present moment and why?
Hmm... Well I would have to say Romeo and Juliet.
What motivates you?
What motivates most people? Love. Love is what makes me want better things.
What's your aim in life?
To be happy and I will do anything to keep that happiness.
What's your biggest fear?
Losing Henry. I know he could be sent to the tower because of me.
What do you consider your greatest achievement to date?
Not dying.
(Jamie winks and laughs)
Who do you admire the most?
People who aren't afraid to be who they are.
You're having an intense spring clean (in the middle of September). What is easy to throw away? What is hard to part with?
Easy would be clothes, I always have too much. Hardest, the memories that went with them.
What would I find in your refrigerator right now? I'm hungry...
Well Cynthia keeps it really stocked, I would say everything! But I always make sure there is some chocolate in there in any form.
(Jamie stands, brushing stray fluff from her clothes. She smiles and holds her hand out, in a gesture of thanks. I take it and squeeze, goodbye.)
Be sure to check out Black and Blue on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.
You can also find Khelsey here:
https://www.facebook.com/khelseyrjackson
Twitter: @KhelseyrJackson
---
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
Currently reading: Shadow Heir by Richelle Mead
September 16, 2013
Writing Challenge - Day 1
To all who are reading this,
Today whilst updating my information on Google+ a friend brought my attention to a writing challenge, guaranteed to get your imagination flowing, and the writing too.
The challenge is to write between flash fiction on a subject, already given. There are different themes for each day and I will be taking part. This is the ELEMENTAL challenge, encompassing 15 themes for 15 days.
I hope you enjoy these short works of fiction! Maybe you will be encouraged to try your hand at these challenges. If you have any questions about my works or anything of the sort, please don't hesitate to get in touch! You can always post a comment below!
So... here's the first story.
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
ELEMENTAL WRITING CHALLENGEDAY 1. - FIRE
Alistair had lived through much disaster over the centuries. He had witnessed his wife and two young children succumb to the horrors of the plague. The friends he once had had signed up to slaughter each other in vicious and unnecessary wars. Yet, it was the figure before him that moved him to the verge of tears. “Alistair…” It was the most futile of whispers, followed by a great splutter that brought him back to Earth. He took her hand and squeezed it tight. “Don’t speak my angel. Conserve your strength.” Strength… she had none to speak of. The process had not worked. She was… Alistair pushed the word from his mind, and focused on her form. The colour had drained from her face; she was as white as the snow she was laid upon. The plain peasant’s shift she wore was tattered and streaked with dirt and blood. In life, she had been beautiful. She had the longest hair he had ever seen, and eyes that searched for his non-existent soul. He had observed her for weeks, verging on months, all from the shadows of the woods. It was the first week of November when he had truly noticed her. She was shivering, fingers blue, as she pulled her drunken sot of a brother from the village tavern. She tried to keep him upright as she muttered about ‘shame’ and ‘parents’. Alistair had revealed himself as the brother landed face first into a snowdrift. Swooping to her rescue, he helped haul the young man to his feet and towards their tiny cabin. As the lout slumped against the door, the beauteous maiden brushed a strand of hair from her face. She stared at the wooden panelling as she spoke. “Thank you sir.” By the time she looked back up, Alistair was concealed once more. To look at the pain he had put her through made him feel sick. He was a monster. An aberration. She was shaking, the bones protruding through her now mottled skin. Her joints were stiff, and the small pointed fangs that had started to grow were abnormal, cracked lengths. A tear slid along his sharp features. He brushed it roughly away with a knuckle. “Alistair…” “Olivia,” he whispered. Her life was slowly fading. The blood stains around her lips had become the most vivid of reds. “End it… please… before I…” she wheezed. Her body convulsed unexpectedly, blood and spittle flying from her lips as a great cough rattled her bones. Her eyes grew wide for one instant, and she grasped wildly with a stiff hand. It slammed atop Alistair’s, to his great surprise. His heart broke. He felt his companions life energy slip away. Several slow agonising minutes passed in which Alistair tore into the flesh at his wrist, and squeezed his blood onto Olivia’s lips. Secretly, he knew it would fail, but he held onto the slim ray of hope that continued to tantalise him. He roared his pain as her corpse failed to rise. He buried his hands in his trouser pockets, tears slowly falling. He fingered the box of matches, his thoughts a mess. Upholding the promise he had made, he finally removed the box. A long match between his shaking fingers, he struck it against the side. A small flame flickered to life. “Olivia, I love you,” he said softly. He dropped the match. The flames ate at the body of his failed companion. Rocking back on his heels, he watched, until only her embers glowed brightly, a symbol of the life and spirit she had once encompassed. Pulling the cloak about him, Alistair turned his back on what remained of Olivia, and set off across the mountains. A vampire’s existence was a lonely one, and it was about time he realised that.THE END
© Copyright - Zoe Adams (2013)
Currently reading: Shadow Heir by Richelle Mead.
Today whilst updating my information on Google+ a friend brought my attention to a writing challenge, guaranteed to get your imagination flowing, and the writing too.
The challenge is to write between flash fiction on a subject, already given. There are different themes for each day and I will be taking part. This is the ELEMENTAL challenge, encompassing 15 themes for 15 days.
I hope you enjoy these short works of fiction! Maybe you will be encouraged to try your hand at these challenges. If you have any questions about my works or anything of the sort, please don't hesitate to get in touch! You can always post a comment below!
So... here's the first story.
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
ELEMENTAL WRITING CHALLENGEDAY 1. - FIRE
Alistair had lived through much disaster over the centuries. He had witnessed his wife and two young children succumb to the horrors of the plague. The friends he once had had signed up to slaughter each other in vicious and unnecessary wars. Yet, it was the figure before him that moved him to the verge of tears. “Alistair…” It was the most futile of whispers, followed by a great splutter that brought him back to Earth. He took her hand and squeezed it tight. “Don’t speak my angel. Conserve your strength.” Strength… she had none to speak of. The process had not worked. She was… Alistair pushed the word from his mind, and focused on her form. The colour had drained from her face; she was as white as the snow she was laid upon. The plain peasant’s shift she wore was tattered and streaked with dirt and blood. In life, she had been beautiful. She had the longest hair he had ever seen, and eyes that searched for his non-existent soul. He had observed her for weeks, verging on months, all from the shadows of the woods. It was the first week of November when he had truly noticed her. She was shivering, fingers blue, as she pulled her drunken sot of a brother from the village tavern. She tried to keep him upright as she muttered about ‘shame’ and ‘parents’. Alistair had revealed himself as the brother landed face first into a snowdrift. Swooping to her rescue, he helped haul the young man to his feet and towards their tiny cabin. As the lout slumped against the door, the beauteous maiden brushed a strand of hair from her face. She stared at the wooden panelling as she spoke. “Thank you sir.” By the time she looked back up, Alistair was concealed once more. To look at the pain he had put her through made him feel sick. He was a monster. An aberration. She was shaking, the bones protruding through her now mottled skin. Her joints were stiff, and the small pointed fangs that had started to grow were abnormal, cracked lengths. A tear slid along his sharp features. He brushed it roughly away with a knuckle. “Alistair…” “Olivia,” he whispered. Her life was slowly fading. The blood stains around her lips had become the most vivid of reds. “End it… please… before I…” she wheezed. Her body convulsed unexpectedly, blood and spittle flying from her lips as a great cough rattled her bones. Her eyes grew wide for one instant, and she grasped wildly with a stiff hand. It slammed atop Alistair’s, to his great surprise. His heart broke. He felt his companions life energy slip away. Several slow agonising minutes passed in which Alistair tore into the flesh at his wrist, and squeezed his blood onto Olivia’s lips. Secretly, he knew it would fail, but he held onto the slim ray of hope that continued to tantalise him. He roared his pain as her corpse failed to rise. He buried his hands in his trouser pockets, tears slowly falling. He fingered the box of matches, his thoughts a mess. Upholding the promise he had made, he finally removed the box. A long match between his shaking fingers, he struck it against the side. A small flame flickered to life. “Olivia, I love you,” he said softly. He dropped the match. The flames ate at the body of his failed companion. Rocking back on his heels, he watched, until only her embers glowed brightly, a symbol of the life and spirit she had once encompassed. Pulling the cloak about him, Alistair turned his back on what remained of Olivia, and set off across the mountains. A vampire’s existence was a lonely one, and it was about time he realised that.THE END© Copyright - Zoe Adams (2013)
Currently reading: Shadow Heir by Richelle Mead.
September 8, 2013
Interview with... Nicolette Grey!
To all who are reading this,
Today on this lazy Sunday we meet a woman who is certainly not - Nicolette Grey of Hot Ink Press.
She's hear today to talk about her latest release. Let's jolly on with the show!
---
Name: Nicolette Grey
Age: Old enough to know better, but young enough to do it anyway!
Location: Maine
Hi Nicolette, thanks for joining me! So what are three interesting facts about yourself that you'd like to share with the readers?
1. I'm extremely handy when it comes to home projects.
2. I mix my drinks with no rhyme or reason (because I swear it keeps me from feeling hung-over).
3. I'm kind of like the girl next door - the "Betty" in Archie comics... the girl nobody would ever dream writes erotica!
What made you want to be a writer?
I've always wanted to write. When I was young, I kept journals and excelled in my English classes. As I aged, I put aside the urge to concentrate on everything life throws at you - marriage, kids, work, house - before it hit me again. But when it did, it came on with a vengeance!
I find that the writing process comes naturally to me; it just took me a while to discard my fear of the first sentence and let the words flow.
What motivates you to write?
The need to tell a story. I can't sleep at night until I've written what's unravelling in my head!
Do you have a particular writing process?
I usually get up early, go for a run, and settle in at my laptop for as many hours as I can. Sometimes it's only one for two; others, it's twelve or fourteen. I lose track of time completely when I immerse myself in words. It's not a job for me to write, it's more like a hobby that I'm completely obsessed by.
How do you manage the deadly problem that is writers block?
I don't! It hasn't happened yet.
What is a piece of writing advice that you will always remember?
I read somewhere that Stephen King said a person needed to write a million words to become a writer. Looking back on my early works, I see that his wisdom was true! I've logged well over a million words now, and I think I've grown tremendously through the process.
What is the most influential book you have ever read, and why do you think so?
Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged. Her style and the strength of her characters inspired me to begin writing. And as for the message she sends? Her books are all about striving for excellence without compromise and that's inspiring and compelling. (Unfortunately, I doubt my literary heroine would approve of my female counterparts to Dagny Taggart... let alone my subject matter, but that's the way the dice fell in my literary career this far, so I'm going with it!)
Have you ever derived any inspiration from your home or from anywhere you have visited?
Absolutely. Each and every one of my stories is set in a place I know intimately. I believe it helps my credibility as an author to use places I'm familiar with as backdrop.
Your most recent publication is Gone. Have you had any other publications prior to this?
Yes. Lost and Found was released by Hot Ink Press on April 1st of 2013, The Goddess of Blackwater Pond (part of the internationally bestselling Naughty Box set) came out in June, and I have several short stories out as well.
What is Gone about? It certainly sounds interesting!
Here's the blurb!
Susannah Ralston's plans are right on track. With three months left until graduation, she's already looking forward to life after college. But her circumstances take an awkward turn after a unexpected night of shared passion with her roommate and best friend. Mortified by the abrupt shift in their relationship, she moves out, only to find Bethany and her boyfriend are missing several days later. With the cops' reluctance to help and their last known whereabouts a hippie commune in Vermont, she dons a bandana and a Peace necklace and heads north - with one very hot graduate by her side.
What she finds, when she joins the alternative lifestyle at Sunflowers Farm, appears to be just what it looks like, a hardworking core of hippies living the life of farmhands in the sticks. But is life as simple as it seems in the Northeast Kingdom? Or is something more sinister lurking behind the façade of peace and love?
Sex, drugs, and rock and roll - it's 1973 and life's groovy. But, as Susannah soon discovers, life an change in an instant.
What drove you to write erotic romance and suspense?
Last November, I read a call for submissions on Duotrope and decided I'd give it a try. Although I'd thought of myself as a mainstream literary writer, I was getting frustrated by my limited publishing history and knew I had to find a way to break into the market. The story was accepted, I wrote another, and my picture and biography appeared on the Hot Ink Press website. Now I write erotica exclusively; it's not only fun to write, it allows me to stay true to my original content... With a lot of added sex!
What do you enjoy doing when you're not writing?
I'm an avid runner and hiker. I enjoy being outdoors and am a physical woman which seems to be a good balance for my time spent on my word processor. Oh! And I'm getting a puppy at the end of the month! That should keep me busy!
What does the future hold for you as a writer?
Success, I hope. I've got three books going right now, two of which are mainstream erotic suspense and the third, a work of erotic fantasy. I plan to have all three finished by the early spring, with the first done by Christmas. Occasionally, I'll intersperse a mainstream story into the mix for a contest or literary submission, but for now, I'm more than content to be recognised as an erotica author and part of the Hot Ink team.
Thanks for such a fantastic interview!
Be sure to check out Gone on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com!
You can also find Nicolette here:
http://www.nicolettegreybooks.com
https://www.facebook.com/nicolette.grey.52
https://twitter.com/NicoletteGrey1
---
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
Currently reading: Shades of Earth by Beth Revis
Today on this lazy Sunday we meet a woman who is certainly not - Nicolette Grey of Hot Ink Press.
She's hear today to talk about her latest release. Let's jolly on with the show!
---
Name: Nicolette Grey
Age: Old enough to know better, but young enough to do it anyway!
Location: Maine
Hi Nicolette, thanks for joining me! So what are three interesting facts about yourself that you'd like to share with the readers?
1. I'm extremely handy when it comes to home projects.
2. I mix my drinks with no rhyme or reason (because I swear it keeps me from feeling hung-over).
3. I'm kind of like the girl next door - the "Betty" in Archie comics... the girl nobody would ever dream writes erotica!
What made you want to be a writer?
I've always wanted to write. When I was young, I kept journals and excelled in my English classes. As I aged, I put aside the urge to concentrate on everything life throws at you - marriage, kids, work, house - before it hit me again. But when it did, it came on with a vengeance!
I find that the writing process comes naturally to me; it just took me a while to discard my fear of the first sentence and let the words flow.
What motivates you to write?
The need to tell a story. I can't sleep at night until I've written what's unravelling in my head!
Do you have a particular writing process?
I usually get up early, go for a run, and settle in at my laptop for as many hours as I can. Sometimes it's only one for two; others, it's twelve or fourteen. I lose track of time completely when I immerse myself in words. It's not a job for me to write, it's more like a hobby that I'm completely obsessed by.
How do you manage the deadly problem that is writers block?
I don't! It hasn't happened yet.
What is a piece of writing advice that you will always remember?
I read somewhere that Stephen King said a person needed to write a million words to become a writer. Looking back on my early works, I see that his wisdom was true! I've logged well over a million words now, and I think I've grown tremendously through the process.
What is the most influential book you have ever read, and why do you think so?
Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged. Her style and the strength of her characters inspired me to begin writing. And as for the message she sends? Her books are all about striving for excellence without compromise and that's inspiring and compelling. (Unfortunately, I doubt my literary heroine would approve of my female counterparts to Dagny Taggart... let alone my subject matter, but that's the way the dice fell in my literary career this far, so I'm going with it!)
Have you ever derived any inspiration from your home or from anywhere you have visited?
Absolutely. Each and every one of my stories is set in a place I know intimately. I believe it helps my credibility as an author to use places I'm familiar with as backdrop.
Your most recent publication is Gone. Have you had any other publications prior to this?
Yes. Lost and Found was released by Hot Ink Press on April 1st of 2013, The Goddess of Blackwater Pond (part of the internationally bestselling Naughty Box set) came out in June, and I have several short stories out as well.
What is Gone about? It certainly sounds interesting!
Here's the blurb!Susannah Ralston's plans are right on track. With three months left until graduation, she's already looking forward to life after college. But her circumstances take an awkward turn after a unexpected night of shared passion with her roommate and best friend. Mortified by the abrupt shift in their relationship, she moves out, only to find Bethany and her boyfriend are missing several days later. With the cops' reluctance to help and their last known whereabouts a hippie commune in Vermont, she dons a bandana and a Peace necklace and heads north - with one very hot graduate by her side.
What she finds, when she joins the alternative lifestyle at Sunflowers Farm, appears to be just what it looks like, a hardworking core of hippies living the life of farmhands in the sticks. But is life as simple as it seems in the Northeast Kingdom? Or is something more sinister lurking behind the façade of peace and love?
Sex, drugs, and rock and roll - it's 1973 and life's groovy. But, as Susannah soon discovers, life an change in an instant.
What drove you to write erotic romance and suspense?
Last November, I read a call for submissions on Duotrope and decided I'd give it a try. Although I'd thought of myself as a mainstream literary writer, I was getting frustrated by my limited publishing history and knew I had to find a way to break into the market. The story was accepted, I wrote another, and my picture and biography appeared on the Hot Ink Press website. Now I write erotica exclusively; it's not only fun to write, it allows me to stay true to my original content... With a lot of added sex!
What do you enjoy doing when you're not writing?
I'm an avid runner and hiker. I enjoy being outdoors and am a physical woman which seems to be a good balance for my time spent on my word processor. Oh! And I'm getting a puppy at the end of the month! That should keep me busy!
What does the future hold for you as a writer?
Success, I hope. I've got three books going right now, two of which are mainstream erotic suspense and the third, a work of erotic fantasy. I plan to have all three finished by the early spring, with the first done by Christmas. Occasionally, I'll intersperse a mainstream story into the mix for a contest or literary submission, but for now, I'm more than content to be recognised as an erotica author and part of the Hot Ink team.
Thanks for such a fantastic interview!
Be sure to check out Gone on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com!
You can also find Nicolette here:
http://www.nicolettegreybooks.com
https://www.facebook.com/nicolette.grey.52
https://twitter.com/NicoletteGrey1
---
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
Currently reading: Shades of Earth by Beth Revis
September 5, 2013
Interview With... Shannen Crane Camp!
To all who are reading this,
This month's blog interviews kick off with YA author, Shannen Crane Camp, who is signed with Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly.
So let's get this party started!
---
Name: Shannen Crane Camp
Age: 25
Location: Utah
Hi Shannen, thanks for joining me! So what are three interesting facts about yourself that you'd like to share with the readers?
1. I was born at midnight between October 7th and October 8th so my mom got to pick which day my birthday was on. So really I think that means I should get two birthdays, right?
2. I have a bad habit of reading and writing multiple books at one time. I've tried to get better about just focusing on one book to write at a time, but I still read way too many books at once!
3. And, I majored in film with an emphasis in production design, so I can do some wicked awesome special effects make-up!
What made you want to be a writer?
I've always been a reader, and when I was really young (like fourth grade) I knew I wanted to write my own books and stories to share with people the way my favourite authors did. It just seemed like an awesome world to be a part of, and I always had stories in my head so I figured, why not?
What motivates you to write?
This is just going to be a horribly constructed sentence... but I just can't not write (yep... double negative!). I get these story ideas all the time and they just bug me and bug me until I write them down. It's kind of an unhealthy addiction.
Do you have a particular writing process?
The more I write, the more my process changes to avoid mistakes I've made with past books. Like with my first book (The Breakup Artist) I didn't plan anything out. I didn't make a plot outline or anything. I had a vague idea of where it was going, and I roughly knew the ending, but that ended up meaning I had to cut a lot of slow unnecessary scenes when I went back to edit because you could tell the story didn't know where it was going. Now I plot everything out beforehand and I write out character descriptions right from the start... I had a bad habit of changing my character's eye colours in the past.
How do you manage the deadly problem that is writers block?
I used to wait until I was 'inspired' to write, but that led to months of not writing anything. Now I just push through and write even if it's the crappiest thing in the world. I can always go back and edit it. But I find that writer's block goes away a lot easier if I'm doing something about it and writing anyway. Then I just hope no one ever reads the stuff I write when I have writer's block... because it's truly horrible.
What is a piece of writing advice that you will always remember?
This might sound like a really basic thing, and it's weird that it's stuck with me because it was my fourth grade teacher who said it, but she told me to describe the scenes and locations in my book as if I were telling someone who couldn't see anything. I know. Basic. But I always remember that and it forces me to be really descriptive in my books. I hate when I read and a book and halfway through they finally say what the character's hair colour is and I'm like, "Oh really? I wasn't picturing that at all!"
What is the most influential book you have ever read, and why do you think so?
Probably The Great Gatsby, and it's just because his writing is so beautiful that it makes me want to be a better writer. It's not even my favourite book necessarily (though I do love it), but I just love the way he describes things and his wording. It's brilliant!
Have you ever derived inspiration from your home or from anywhere you have visited?
All the time! I'm terrible about putting real things in my books. Half of my books are based in California, in the various cities I've lived. I love putting little details in my books that local people will recognise. Not to mention the fact that it's just harder to write about a place you've never been. In my book Pwned my main character lives in Oregon, where I've visited only once when I was really little, and it made it so much harder to write the location. I was worried that I was making things up too much the whole time so I ended up not talking about her home town much.
Your most recent publication is Sugar Coated. Have you had any publications prior to this?
I have! My first book is The Breakup Artist, followed by Finding June, and Pwned.
What is Sugar Coated about? It certainly sounds interesting!
Here's a little book blurb:
An unhealthy addiction to sugar cubes, a deep-seated fear of water, and universal luxury - these are the simple things that make up 18-year-old Brynn's Utopian existence. Why, then, is her perfect life also plagued with unanswered questions?
Like every other resident of the planet Halcyon, Brynn's home provides everything she needs, money is unheard of, and life is perfect. But unlike the rest of Seaside's residents, Brynn has questions. Why can't people leave the city? Why does the ocean fill everyone with terror? Who are the Workers? Not only is Brynn curious where others are compliant, but she suffers from chronic nightmares of an angelic woman torturing her for information she doesn't possess. But these are more than just figments of her imagination; they're memories of things that never happened.
When Brynn meets Jonah, a brilliant, library-dwelling boy who shares her questions and her curiosity, they formulate a plan to find answers. Somewhere, the perfect veneer of Halcyon's instant gratification hides a city that only Brynn knows about - a city she and Jonah are determined to find. But will finding the city give them answers, or simply uncover the horrific truth behind the perfection?
What drove you to write Young Adult Fiction?
I love to read Young Adult Fiction. It's just so fun, and you can do so many different things with the genre. It's a transitional period of time in your life so it makes everything that happens at that age so life changing. Everything seems important and everything is so new. It's fun to write.
What was it about dystopian fiction that led you to try your hand at writing it?
It's the same as the YA genre. I had been reading a lot of dystopian books and just loved them. I'd only written contemporary YA prior to that and I thought it would be fun to completely build my own world that had its own rules. It's very liberating to write a book where anything can happen.
What does the future hold for you as a writer?
Well Sugar Coated will come out September 6th, then I have Chasing June (the sequel to Finding June) coming out in December, and Under Zenith (a new adult speculative fiction book) on February 11th. It's going to be a busy few months but I'm so excited to be getting more stories out there! I love these characters and want to share them with people!
Thanks for such a fantastic interview, Shannen!
Be sure to check out Sugar Coated on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com on September 6th! Paperback versions will be available from Barnes & Noble after September 13th!
You can also find Shannen here:
https://www.facebook.com/shannencbooks
https://twitter.com.ShannenCbooks
http://shannencbooks.blogspot.com
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5045068.Shannen_Crane_Camp
---
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
Currently reading: Shades of Earth by Beth Revis
This month's blog interviews kick off with YA author, Shannen Crane Camp, who is signed with Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly.
So let's get this party started!
---Name: Shannen Crane Camp
Age: 25
Location: Utah
Hi Shannen, thanks for joining me! So what are three interesting facts about yourself that you'd like to share with the readers?
1. I was born at midnight between October 7th and October 8th so my mom got to pick which day my birthday was on. So really I think that means I should get two birthdays, right?
2. I have a bad habit of reading and writing multiple books at one time. I've tried to get better about just focusing on one book to write at a time, but I still read way too many books at once!
3. And, I majored in film with an emphasis in production design, so I can do some wicked awesome special effects make-up!
What made you want to be a writer?
I've always been a reader, and when I was really young (like fourth grade) I knew I wanted to write my own books and stories to share with people the way my favourite authors did. It just seemed like an awesome world to be a part of, and I always had stories in my head so I figured, why not?
What motivates you to write?
This is just going to be a horribly constructed sentence... but I just can't not write (yep... double negative!). I get these story ideas all the time and they just bug me and bug me until I write them down. It's kind of an unhealthy addiction.
Do you have a particular writing process?
The more I write, the more my process changes to avoid mistakes I've made with past books. Like with my first book (The Breakup Artist) I didn't plan anything out. I didn't make a plot outline or anything. I had a vague idea of where it was going, and I roughly knew the ending, but that ended up meaning I had to cut a lot of slow unnecessary scenes when I went back to edit because you could tell the story didn't know where it was going. Now I plot everything out beforehand and I write out character descriptions right from the start... I had a bad habit of changing my character's eye colours in the past.
How do you manage the deadly problem that is writers block?
I used to wait until I was 'inspired' to write, but that led to months of not writing anything. Now I just push through and write even if it's the crappiest thing in the world. I can always go back and edit it. But I find that writer's block goes away a lot easier if I'm doing something about it and writing anyway. Then I just hope no one ever reads the stuff I write when I have writer's block... because it's truly horrible.
What is a piece of writing advice that you will always remember?
This might sound like a really basic thing, and it's weird that it's stuck with me because it was my fourth grade teacher who said it, but she told me to describe the scenes and locations in my book as if I were telling someone who couldn't see anything. I know. Basic. But I always remember that and it forces me to be really descriptive in my books. I hate when I read and a book and halfway through they finally say what the character's hair colour is and I'm like, "Oh really? I wasn't picturing that at all!"
What is the most influential book you have ever read, and why do you think so?
Probably The Great Gatsby, and it's just because his writing is so beautiful that it makes me want to be a better writer. It's not even my favourite book necessarily (though I do love it), but I just love the way he describes things and his wording. It's brilliant!
Have you ever derived inspiration from your home or from anywhere you have visited?
All the time! I'm terrible about putting real things in my books. Half of my books are based in California, in the various cities I've lived. I love putting little details in my books that local people will recognise. Not to mention the fact that it's just harder to write about a place you've never been. In my book Pwned my main character lives in Oregon, where I've visited only once when I was really little, and it made it so much harder to write the location. I was worried that I was making things up too much the whole time so I ended up not talking about her home town much.
Your most recent publication is Sugar Coated. Have you had any publications prior to this?
I have! My first book is The Breakup Artist, followed by Finding June, and Pwned.
What is Sugar Coated about? It certainly sounds interesting!
Here's a little book blurb:An unhealthy addiction to sugar cubes, a deep-seated fear of water, and universal luxury - these are the simple things that make up 18-year-old Brynn's Utopian existence. Why, then, is her perfect life also plagued with unanswered questions?
Like every other resident of the planet Halcyon, Brynn's home provides everything she needs, money is unheard of, and life is perfect. But unlike the rest of Seaside's residents, Brynn has questions. Why can't people leave the city? Why does the ocean fill everyone with terror? Who are the Workers? Not only is Brynn curious where others are compliant, but she suffers from chronic nightmares of an angelic woman torturing her for information she doesn't possess. But these are more than just figments of her imagination; they're memories of things that never happened.
When Brynn meets Jonah, a brilliant, library-dwelling boy who shares her questions and her curiosity, they formulate a plan to find answers. Somewhere, the perfect veneer of Halcyon's instant gratification hides a city that only Brynn knows about - a city she and Jonah are determined to find. But will finding the city give them answers, or simply uncover the horrific truth behind the perfection?
What drove you to write Young Adult Fiction?
I love to read Young Adult Fiction. It's just so fun, and you can do so many different things with the genre. It's a transitional period of time in your life so it makes everything that happens at that age so life changing. Everything seems important and everything is so new. It's fun to write.
What was it about dystopian fiction that led you to try your hand at writing it?
It's the same as the YA genre. I had been reading a lot of dystopian books and just loved them. I'd only written contemporary YA prior to that and I thought it would be fun to completely build my own world that had its own rules. It's very liberating to write a book where anything can happen.
What does the future hold for you as a writer?
Well Sugar Coated will come out September 6th, then I have Chasing June (the sequel to Finding June) coming out in December, and Under Zenith (a new adult speculative fiction book) on February 11th. It's going to be a busy few months but I'm so excited to be getting more stories out there! I love these characters and want to share them with people!
Thanks for such a fantastic interview, Shannen!
Be sure to check out Sugar Coated on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com on September 6th! Paperback versions will be available from Barnes & Noble after September 13th!
You can also find Shannen here:
https://www.facebook.com/shannencbooks
https://twitter.com.ShannenCbooks
http://shannencbooks.blogspot.com
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5045068.Shannen_Crane_Camp
---
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
Currently reading: Shades of Earth by Beth Revis
August 30, 2013
Three Months...
To all who are reading this,
Today is quite a special day for me. No, there are no blog interviews or tours, there are no giveaways or anything of that nature. It's a more personal note.
Best Served Chilled is my debut novella, the first in a series. The series follows a young woman, Hiraku Michiyo and the problems she faces when an otherworldly creature of Japanese folklore enters her life. Horrific and in some places, sexy, it has multiple five star reviews on Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com and Goodreads.
Three months ago, it hit Amazon. And, I still do this day cannot believe it. The idea originally stemmed from an episode of the television show Supernatural (Party On Garth, episode 18 of season seven). I scrawled a note in my journal and thought no more of it until I was at university. I was due to begin drafting three ten minute script extracts (from page to screen), and I'd chosen Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton. I had already written a ten minute opening, and began playing around with character names.
One thing led to another and I had a fully formed character on a spider diagram, and she was Hiraku Michiyo. I mentioned the idea to my friend and Beta reader, Ed, and he told me to go with the idea and see where the words take me. And thus, Best Served Chilled was born.
It had taken mere days to write, maybe two weeks. And then the months of painful redrafting. I had sent it to a friend and author Shaun Allan (who has previously appeared on this blog in an interview). He liked it - told me the sex scenes were great. This wasn't my tutor telling me good things - this was a published author in my local area. He told me I had talent and that he would recommend me for his publishing house.
Sadly that fell through, but I didn't lose my confidence. I enquired to various publishing houses, entered competitions and went back to a publishing house that had previously taken on two of my short stories (Pawprints on a Heart and Darkest Dreams). Unfortunately, due to their regulations, my novella didn't fit, but they wished me well.
I was, by this point, in over my head. I didn't think it would amount to something, and that I would seem my dreams tremble and turn into dust before my eyes, like the vampires I read about almost daily. I was even looking into self-publishing it, until I decided to try Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing, who had taken on two short stories previously ("I Believe in Mary Worth" and Fallen Angel). I ate my breakfast with my mother, took my laptop into the kitchen, set the dishes to soak and formatted my document, attached it to a well worded email, and sent it. Nothing like a cheery Christmas read...
In January of this year, it was approaching the deadline of, "If you haven't heard back..." A day before, I received an email from SJ Davis, the woman herself. To my freaking surprise, she loved it and wanted to publish it as part of the spring/summer line-up.
I was in shock. My parents were thrilled, my sister was amazed, my niece and nephew had no idea what was going on. I had an email, and a week later, I had my contract signed and sent off. I was introduced to the publishing house and made friends - and found some amazing books too. I was soon negotiating a book cover and a merchandise deal and all too soon, my release date was drawing: 31st May.
Imagine my shock when 30th May rolled around, and I had the Kindle copy in my email and so did Amazon. The book had been published - and on my dad's birthday too at silly o'clock at night. On 31st May, I officially launched the book and ranked at 16th in category.
Three months later, I'm not ranking as much, but that doesn't mean I don't try. I'm pushing the book for all I am worth, and whilst I am not as successful as some of our authors, I have a book published, and I'm incredibly proud of this fact.
I could never had got here without some amazing people:
- The tutors at university for telling me I could write and that somewhere in my brain, I had the guts to do it.
- My parents for filling my head with books and writing as a child and as a teenager.
- My brother and sister for putting up with my lunacies.
- My niece and nephew for sitting, drawing and scribbling their own words with me.
- My partner, who has believed in me since day one.
- Ed and Joshua, two Beta readers who I trust to be completely honest with me, and tell me if something is... Well, shit.
- My dear friend Shaun for reading the early draft and giving me the courage to publish, keep writing more and giving me strength.
- And last, but not least, SJ Davis and her amazing publishing company - I couldn't imagine my life without them. Not anymore.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support me in every aspect of my life. I owe you one.
Be sure to check out my Amazon page here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zoe-Adams/e/B00BT1B4AO/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2?qid=1377872023&sr=8-2
I am on Twitter at: @ZeeZeeDreaming
And I am also at Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zoe-Adams-Author/238105912892455
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
Currently reading: Black Dawn by Rachel Caine
Today is quite a special day for me. No, there are no blog interviews or tours, there are no giveaways or anything of that nature. It's a more personal note.
Best Served Chilled is my debut novella, the first in a series. The series follows a young woman, Hiraku Michiyo and the problems she faces when an otherworldly creature of Japanese folklore enters her life. Horrific and in some places, sexy, it has multiple five star reviews on Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com and Goodreads. Three months ago, it hit Amazon. And, I still do this day cannot believe it. The idea originally stemmed from an episode of the television show Supernatural (Party On Garth, episode 18 of season seven). I scrawled a note in my journal and thought no more of it until I was at university. I was due to begin drafting three ten minute script extracts (from page to screen), and I'd chosen Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton. I had already written a ten minute opening, and began playing around with character names.
One thing led to another and I had a fully formed character on a spider diagram, and she was Hiraku Michiyo. I mentioned the idea to my friend and Beta reader, Ed, and he told me to go with the idea and see where the words take me. And thus, Best Served Chilled was born.
It had taken mere days to write, maybe two weeks. And then the months of painful redrafting. I had sent it to a friend and author Shaun Allan (who has previously appeared on this blog in an interview). He liked it - told me the sex scenes were great. This wasn't my tutor telling me good things - this was a published author in my local area. He told me I had talent and that he would recommend me for his publishing house.
Sadly that fell through, but I didn't lose my confidence. I enquired to various publishing houses, entered competitions and went back to a publishing house that had previously taken on two of my short stories (Pawprints on a Heart and Darkest Dreams). Unfortunately, due to their regulations, my novella didn't fit, but they wished me well.
I was, by this point, in over my head. I didn't think it would amount to something, and that I would seem my dreams tremble and turn into dust before my eyes, like the vampires I read about almost daily. I was even looking into self-publishing it, until I decided to try Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing, who had taken on two short stories previously ("I Believe in Mary Worth" and Fallen Angel). I ate my breakfast with my mother, took my laptop into the kitchen, set the dishes to soak and formatted my document, attached it to a well worded email, and sent it. Nothing like a cheery Christmas read...In January of this year, it was approaching the deadline of, "If you haven't heard back..." A day before, I received an email from SJ Davis, the woman herself. To my freaking surprise, she loved it and wanted to publish it as part of the spring/summer line-up.
I was in shock. My parents were thrilled, my sister was amazed, my niece and nephew had no idea what was going on. I had an email, and a week later, I had my contract signed and sent off. I was introduced to the publishing house and made friends - and found some amazing books too. I was soon negotiating a book cover and a merchandise deal and all too soon, my release date was drawing: 31st May.
Imagine my shock when 30th May rolled around, and I had the Kindle copy in my email and so did Amazon. The book had been published - and on my dad's birthday too at silly o'clock at night. On 31st May, I officially launched the book and ranked at 16th in category.Three months later, I'm not ranking as much, but that doesn't mean I don't try. I'm pushing the book for all I am worth, and whilst I am not as successful as some of our authors, I have a book published, and I'm incredibly proud of this fact.
I could never had got here without some amazing people:
- The tutors at university for telling me I could write and that somewhere in my brain, I had the guts to do it.
- My parents for filling my head with books and writing as a child and as a teenager.
- My brother and sister for putting up with my lunacies.
- My niece and nephew for sitting, drawing and scribbling their own words with me.
- My partner, who has believed in me since day one.
- Ed and Joshua, two Beta readers who I trust to be completely honest with me, and tell me if something is... Well, shit.
- My dear friend Shaun for reading the early draft and giving me the courage to publish, keep writing more and giving me strength.
- And last, but not least, SJ Davis and her amazing publishing company - I couldn't imagine my life without them. Not anymore.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support me in every aspect of my life. I owe you one.
Be sure to check out my Amazon page here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zoe-Adams/e/B00BT1B4AO/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2?qid=1377872023&sr=8-2
I am on Twitter at: @ZeeZeeDreaming
And I am also at Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zoe-Adams-Author/238105912892455
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
Currently reading: Black Dawn by Rachel Caine
August 24, 2013
Interview With... Melissa Giorgio
To all who are reading this,
Today is the final day of blog interviews and such until September, and I've already got people waiting to come on! How cool is that, eh?
So today, we meet Melissa Giorgio, fellow Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing author, as she talks about her debut novel, The Sight Seer, which is on sale now!
---
Name: Melissa Giorgio
Age: Prefer not to say.
Location: New York
Hi Melissa, thanks for joining me! So what are three interesting facts about yourself that you'd like to share with the readers?
1. In 2008, I spent a week in Tokyo with one of my closest friends.
2. I read up to 90 books a year.
3. I obsessively collect purple gadgets (my digital camera, game systems, etc).
What made you want to be a writer?
It's hard to pinpoint what, exactly, made me want to be a writer. I've always had a love for stories and storytelling, and I just naturally assumed I would be a writer someday!
What motivates you to write?
My beta reader! She's also my best friend and personal cheerleader, and I'm always excited to share whatever I'm currently working on with her.
Do you have a particular writing process?
Unless I have a headache, I try to write every single day! Even if it's just a few hundred words. As long as I'm contributing something to the story I'm happy.
As for the actual writing process, I try to check my email, Twitter, Facebook, etc. first to avoid having any distractions while writing. If I find myself checking Twitter every few minutes, I will close the browser or disconnect the internet altogether. I put on some music and just write. I try to write at least 1000 words a day, but if I can't, I can't. I shut off the computer and try again later (or the next day). And obviously if I write 1000 words and feel like I can keep going, I do.
How do you manage the deadly problem that is writers block?
I do a vague outline, so I always know where the story is going. I also have scenes that I can't wait to write, and getting to them is my reward. I also like to stop the day's writing in the middle of a scene. I spend the hours between writing sessions coming up with ideas for what happens next, which prevents me from getting stuck.
What is a piece of writing advice that you will always remember?
Writing is hard, but the ones who are published are the ones who never gave up on their dream.
What is the most influential book you have ever read, and why do you think so?
Harry Potter! Like I said earlier, I always knew I wanted to be a writer, but Harry Potter made me want to write something magical for young adults.
Have you ever derived any inspiration from your home or from anywhere you have visited?
When I write about big cities in my fantasy worlds, I noticed I always picture the block where my grandparents' house was. Attached homes, little backyards, narrow streets. It's an image that's always stuck with me.
Your most recent publication is The Sight Seer. Have you had any publications prior to this?
The Sight Seer is my debut novel.
What is The Sight Seer about? It certainly sounds interesting!
Gabi, your average, sarcastic sixteen-year-old, is forced to approach a shoplifter at her crummy part-time job, only to discover he's actually a demon! She chalks it up to a hallucination, but when the demon follows her home (and fights a cute boy wielding a sword in her backyard), she's forced to admit monsters are real. The novel deals with her newfound Sight, and also her awkward, adorable, budding romance with Rafe (the boy with the sword).
What drove you to write Young Adult Fiction, especially what some would deem as fantasy?
Like I said earlier, I was inspired by Harry Potter. After I read those books, I moved on to whatever Young Adult fiction I could find in the library. Years later, it's still all I read. I never even considered writing adult fiction, not when YA is my passion.
Your Amazon.com Author Profile states you have a favourite Japanese band. Who are these J-Popers, and how did you come across them? Do you listen to them while writing?
Their name is Arashi, and they are a huge, huge group in Japan. One of my good friends got me into them back in 2008, and I've been following them ever since. They sing, they dance, they act, but what I love most about them is the fact that they're not afraid to act like the total dorks they are on camera. It makes them seem so much more human, instead of untouchable celebrities. I actually did put on their CDs while writing the first draft for The Sight Seer's sequel. Usually I just put iTunes on shuffle, but for some reason I wanted to listen to an album in its entirely. Usually one album equalled one day's worth of writing.
What does the future hold for you as a writer?
Right now I'm working on The Sight Seer's sequel. I won't be getting anything else done until I finish that. There are always new ideas rolling around inside my head, and hopefully I'll have a chance to write them!
Thanks for such a fantastic interview, Melissa!
Be sure to check out The Sight Seer on Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and The Book Depository.
You can also find Melissa here:
https://www.facebook.com/melissagiorgiofan
http://melissagiorgio.wordpress.com
---
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
Currently reading: The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa
Today is the final day of blog interviews and such until September, and I've already got people waiting to come on! How cool is that, eh?
So today, we meet Melissa Giorgio, fellow Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing author, as she talks about her debut novel, The Sight Seer, which is on sale now!
---
Name: Melissa Giorgio
Age: Prefer not to say.
Location: New York
Hi Melissa, thanks for joining me! So what are three interesting facts about yourself that you'd like to share with the readers?
1. In 2008, I spent a week in Tokyo with one of my closest friends.
2. I read up to 90 books a year.
3. I obsessively collect purple gadgets (my digital camera, game systems, etc).
What made you want to be a writer?
It's hard to pinpoint what, exactly, made me want to be a writer. I've always had a love for stories and storytelling, and I just naturally assumed I would be a writer someday!
What motivates you to write?
My beta reader! She's also my best friend and personal cheerleader, and I'm always excited to share whatever I'm currently working on with her.
Do you have a particular writing process?
Unless I have a headache, I try to write every single day! Even if it's just a few hundred words. As long as I'm contributing something to the story I'm happy.
As for the actual writing process, I try to check my email, Twitter, Facebook, etc. first to avoid having any distractions while writing. If I find myself checking Twitter every few minutes, I will close the browser or disconnect the internet altogether. I put on some music and just write. I try to write at least 1000 words a day, but if I can't, I can't. I shut off the computer and try again later (or the next day). And obviously if I write 1000 words and feel like I can keep going, I do.
How do you manage the deadly problem that is writers block?
I do a vague outline, so I always know where the story is going. I also have scenes that I can't wait to write, and getting to them is my reward. I also like to stop the day's writing in the middle of a scene. I spend the hours between writing sessions coming up with ideas for what happens next, which prevents me from getting stuck.
What is a piece of writing advice that you will always remember?
Writing is hard, but the ones who are published are the ones who never gave up on their dream.
What is the most influential book you have ever read, and why do you think so?
Harry Potter! Like I said earlier, I always knew I wanted to be a writer, but Harry Potter made me want to write something magical for young adults.
Have you ever derived any inspiration from your home or from anywhere you have visited?
When I write about big cities in my fantasy worlds, I noticed I always picture the block where my grandparents' house was. Attached homes, little backyards, narrow streets. It's an image that's always stuck with me.
Your most recent publication is The Sight Seer. Have you had any publications prior to this?
The Sight Seer is my debut novel.
What is The Sight Seer about? It certainly sounds interesting!
Gabi, your average, sarcastic sixteen-year-old, is forced to approach a shoplifter at her crummy part-time job, only to discover he's actually a demon! She chalks it up to a hallucination, but when the demon follows her home (and fights a cute boy wielding a sword in her backyard), she's forced to admit monsters are real. The novel deals with her newfound Sight, and also her awkward, adorable, budding romance with Rafe (the boy with the sword).What drove you to write Young Adult Fiction, especially what some would deem as fantasy?
Like I said earlier, I was inspired by Harry Potter. After I read those books, I moved on to whatever Young Adult fiction I could find in the library. Years later, it's still all I read. I never even considered writing adult fiction, not when YA is my passion.
Your Amazon.com Author Profile states you have a favourite Japanese band. Who are these J-Popers, and how did you come across them? Do you listen to them while writing?
Their name is Arashi, and they are a huge, huge group in Japan. One of my good friends got me into them back in 2008, and I've been following them ever since. They sing, they dance, they act, but what I love most about them is the fact that they're not afraid to act like the total dorks they are on camera. It makes them seem so much more human, instead of untouchable celebrities. I actually did put on their CDs while writing the first draft for The Sight Seer's sequel. Usually I just put iTunes on shuffle, but for some reason I wanted to listen to an album in its entirely. Usually one album equalled one day's worth of writing.
What does the future hold for you as a writer?
Right now I'm working on The Sight Seer's sequel. I won't be getting anything else done until I finish that. There are always new ideas rolling around inside my head, and hopefully I'll have a chance to write them!
Thanks for such a fantastic interview, Melissa!
Be sure to check out The Sight Seer on Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and The Book Depository.
You can also find Melissa here:
https://www.facebook.com/melissagiorgiofan
http://melissagiorgio.wordpress.com
---
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
Currently reading: The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa
