M.A. Comley's Blog, page 11

Blizzard of Savings Promotion 17-19 January 2013!

Grab a bargain read in every genre in this special promotion. 64 ebooks which are on offer for either FREE or $0.99 each.


Click on the link of your prefered genre or why not take the opportunity to expand your reading tastes at this low, low price.

Women's Fiction and Romance:  Romance
Crime, Mysteries and Thrillers: Thrillers
Science Fiction and Fantasy:  Science Fiction and Fantasy
General Fiction and Non-Fiction:  Gen Fiction and Non-fiction

New release! GUARANTEED JUSTICE.

Now that the festivities are out of the way it's time for me to shout from the rooftops that Justice five, GUARANTEED JUSTICE has finally been released as an ebook.



Here's what you can expect for the next thrilling episode in the Lorne Simpkins adventures.

 
Retired DCI Lorne Simpkins thought she knew what she wanted when she started an animal rescue centre with her husband Tony. Although saving and retraining exploited dogs is
fulfilling, Lorne can't help but feel that something vital is missing from her life. Linda Carter is brutally raped and left for dead in an alley. By some miracle, she survives, but now she lives each day terrified by the perpetrator's final threatening words--that her sister, Fiona, will be his next victim.

The sisters decide to adopt a watch dog and contact the rescue centre. During a home check to see if the girls and their flat are suited for a German Shepherd, Lorne witnesses Linda's horrendous injuries. The young woman knows the identity of her rapist--wealthy, playboy Graham Gibson--however, the police haven't made an arrest. The shocking story turns into a life-altering moment for Lorne. She decides to become a Private Investigator, and urges the girls to let her take up their case. Little does she know that more victims will come forward to accuse Gibson of rape.

Lorne is determined to see this vicious criminal behind bars, but is anyone ever guaranteed justice? Amazon US Amazon UK

Win a Kindle Fire!

Grab a holiday bargain read for either FREE or $0.99 27/28/29 December plus win $200 of Amazon vouchers and a Kindle Fire. Visit this facebook page for more details.

http://www.facebook.com/EpicKindleGiveaway


Amazon US   $0.99



Amazon US       FREE



Amazon US    $0.99



Amazon US    $0.99


Amazon US   $0.99





Amazon US  $0.99



Amazon US  $0.99



Amazon US   $0.99




Amazon US   $0.99 






Amazon US   $0.99
Amazon US   $0.99

Click on the link below to enter, enter, enter!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Michael Brookes pays a visit to my blog.

Today I have writer Michael Brookes.



1. When and why did you decide to become an Indie writer?

I've been writing short stories for years, but never committed myself to writing a full novel. When I finally did some people I didn't know told me it was pretty good, so I decided to work on it some more and make it readable to the general public. I've always felt as if I'm bursting with stories, so it's proved an excellent release.

2. What genre do you write in and what genre do you prefer to read?

Most of my writing so far has been in the horror genre, I will be branching out into others - such as science fiction as I've been asked to write an official tie-in novel for Elite: Dangerous. I read all sorts but I guess most fall into the fantasy, horror and sci-fi genres.

3. Where do you sell most books, USA or UK, Amazon or Barnes and Noble?

I've yet to make any real impression in the US market - although I'm working on it! So far the bulk of my sales have been from Amazon in the UK.

4. During your childhood who was your biggest influence?

Good question. As a young child it was Enid Blyton (Famous Five) and Reverend Wilbert Awdry (Thomas the Tank Engine), as I got older it changed to Tolkien and Heinlein. More recently my biggest inspiration has been Clive Barker and Ian M Banks.

5. Are you fortunate enough to write full-time?

Unfortunately not yet - one day I hope.

6. If Hollywood came knocking who would you want to play your main character?

Gabriel Byrne would play Friar Francis, one of my main characters very well.

7. Name 6 people, dead or alive, you’d love to have as guests seated around your dinner-table.

A tricky question, there's so many people to choose from. I think I would have to go for:

1 - Albert Einstein - I'd love to pick his brains.
2 - Ian M Banks - One of my favourite authors.
3 - Queen Victoria - What was it like to rule the world?
4 - Jesus - What was he really about?
5 - Lucifer - To balance things up.
6 - Death - Welcome at any dinner party, just don't eat the salmon mouse :-)

8. What one piece of advice have you found the most important in your writing career.

You never stop learning. As a writer you should always be looking to improve your craft.

9. What are your plans for the coming year.

I have a couple of first drafts that need editing and getting ready for release. I also need to get a first draft together for the new Elite project.

10. And finally, if you were stranded on a desert island what 3 books would you choose to have with you?

Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolien, Paradise Lost by John Milton and Excession by Ian M Banks.

Michael's books can be found here.
The Cult of Me - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cult-Me-Third-Path-ebook/dp/B008O7ZVXW/
An Odd Quartet - http://www.amazon.co.uk/An-Odd-Quartet-ebook/dp/B009QJMMPC/

Michael's Blog 
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cult-Me-Third-Path-ebook/dp/B008O7ZVXW/

Today my guest is Suzanne Tyrpak who has just released an...

Today my guest is Suzanne Tyrpak who has just released another fab book. 




          When and why did you decide to become an Indie writer?About two years ago, my friend,  Blake Crouch, told me the ebook revolution had begun, and he convinced me to self-publish. I’d been pursuing traditional publishing for years, had two agents, and several almost-deals. Until recently, self-publishing was considered death to a writing career, but for me, and many others (like you, Mel), it has been a birth.2.     What genre do you write in and what genre do you prefer to read?I read and write eclectically: historical, contemporary, mysteries, thrillers, literary…but all my favorite books contain some element of suspense, some mystery that draws the reader through the story. The mystery doesn’t have to be a death; it might be psychological, might have to do with a relationship or self-discovery. I’m interested in women’s roles, now and throughout history. I’m interested in relationships, and I studied psychology, so my books deal with women, relationships, sex, power, and violence. Some of my stories are set in ancient times and some are contemporary—when it comes to love and death and sex, not much has changed. 3.     Where do you sell most books, USA or UK, Amazon or Barnes and Noble?I sell most of my books on Amazon and iBooks. Right now, my novels are dedicated to Kindle Select. My short story collections are available everywhere. Generally, I sell the bulk of my books in the USA, but at times my books have done extremely well in the UK. At one point Dating My Vibrator (and other true fiction) was fairly viral in the UK Kindle Store.4.     During your childhood who was your biggest influence?Hmmm…as far as writing goes, Frances Hodgson Burnett was my favorite childhood author. I loved A Little Princess. Nancy Drew was another big love of mine, and I loved stories about witches— The Littlest Witch and The Witch of Blackbird Pond. Growing up in New York, I was fortunate to be exposed to all of the arts, and I had some fantastic teachers. My parents sent me to ballet class (no doubt thinking the classes would help me lose weight), and I studied with Vitale Fokine, whose father choreographed Swan Lake for the famous dancer, Anna Pavlova. (I mention her in my new book, Rosy (Dreams Can Become Nightmares). Ballet played a big role in my childhood, as did theater. My teachers encouraged me to pursue my dreams—sometimes to the despair of my parents.5.     Are you fortunate enough to write full-time?Not full-time…yet. Soon I’ll be dropping to part-time work, so I hope to have more time to write. Historical novels require a lot of time and research, and I plan to finish Priestess, the sequel to Hetaera—suspense in ancient Greece, early next year. Actually, I like having another job besides writing—work exposes me to a variety of people and situations. Otherwise I might become a recluse!6.     If Hollywood came knocking who would you want to play your main character?If Hollywood came knocking, I would be delighted to let a casting director decide! Meanwhile, I’d go back to creating more characters. 7.     Name 6 people, dead or alive, you’d love to have as guests seated around your dinner-table.I love to cook, and I love having dinner parties…and I have to say, I’ve had some great ones with the cast of characters in my life. But, if I could invite ANYONE I’d have to include the emperor, Nero, (whom I write about in Vestal Virgin) just because he’s so insane (but at my party, he would not be allowed to dictate the rules). And I’d love to see how Nero would interact with Mick Jagger. Then, to spice things up, I’d like to invite Marie Antoinette andCleopatra. And, for intellect, Gertrude Stein and Albert Einstein. A nice balance, don’t you think?8.     What one piece of advice have you found the most important in your writing career?This from Terry Brooks: Write, write, write; Read, read, read; Write, write, write.  Repeat.
9.     What are your plans for the coming year?In the first quarter, I’d like to complete a first draft of Priestess. In April, I plan to travel to Turkey, and I’m sure that trip will inspire more stories. I would love to publish two more novels and see my new book, Rosy, take off. I’m at a turning-point, because my current work situation is changing. For years, I’ve been employed by various airlines—driving constantly to the airport and working grueling hours. This March I’m eligible for lifetime flight benefits, so I’ll be leaving the airline industry. I hope to become more involved with the Durango Discovery Museum, which will be fun. Generally: I’m looking forward to less driving, more riding my bicycle, more time to write, more time to appreciate family and friends.
10. And finally, if you were stranded on a desert island what 3 books would you choose to have with you? The Complete works of Shakespeare, to inspire my forever, and the complete poems of Hafiz, to keep me sane. Plus a big blank book that I could fill. (Along with a pen and ink.)



Suzanne's blog: Who's Imagining All This?Facebook, Suzanne Tyrpak, AuthorTwitter @SuzanneTyrpak Featuring: Rosy (Dreams Can Become Nightmares) Amazon USAAmazon UKAmazon France Description:  Small town girl, Sarah, dreams of finding love and fame in New York City, but following her dreams leads to a downward slide into the insanity of the late 1970s: nightclubs, sex, drugs, and violence ὰ la Magic Mike . Desperate to dig herself out of debt, Sarah becomes pole dancer, Rosy Dreams. But the more money she makes, the darker her nightmare becomes as she sinks into a world where no one can be trusted—especially the men who claim to adore her. As Sarah slips deeper into the underworld, she questions not only her dreams, but her sanity. She battles demons—imagined and real—fighting to survive the city’s brutality, fighting for her dreams, and ultimately fighting for her life.Note: Chapter Headings are linked to Amazon MP3 of song

Interview with Andrew Ives

Originally from London, Andrew Ives now lives in South West France with goats and chickens for intellectual company.Having wandered Europe as an IT contractor, he was drawn to the Kindle as a more flexible means of writing the kind of books he wanted to see written, with hyperlinks and soundtracks included, along with the notion of marketing his own work via social media. Andrew has written three full novels - Psinapse (1989), Sirene (2011) and Parallax (2012).
 



When and why did you decide to become a writer?Back in the late eighties when I first obtained a 'powerful' word processor for the Amiga. I had just finished school, there was a long summer holiday ahead of me and using such an application seemed like overkill for writing anything other than a 'proper' book. As I didn't have a printer at the time and there was no internet to speak of, whatever I wrote would reside solely on the 40Mb HD inside the computer anyway. I had an idea in mind for a book which was too involved for any school essay so I thought I'd type that out and see where it took me. That book was Psinapse which I published on the Kindle last year.
Which genre do you write in and which genre do you prefer to read?I didn't really have a genre in mind, other than a vague 'technology gone wrong' basis to what is essentially a character-driven adventure story. I didn't know it at the time of writing Psinapse, but there is a certain Jules Verne crossed with Michael Crichton flavour to my chosen 'genre' if you can call it that. I've written three books, all of which are more or less of that ilk, all set in the near future. My readers seem to find it equally difficult to pigeonhole my fiction, but my books do still tend to get lumped into the "sci-fi" category just because they're a little futuristic.I prefer to read the classics. Obviously, I've read plenty of Verne and H.G. Wells but I dabble in most of the renowned Victorian writers. My ambition is to write at least half as well as they did. I can't see how anyone can set out as a serious writer without a decent knowledge of the classics.
Where do you sell most books, USA or UK, Amazon or Barnes and Noble?Amazon only. My US:UK split is about 50:50, but I sell a sizable minority on Amazon.de too.
During your childhood who was your biggest influence?I would like to say it was one of my teachers, but in all honesty, it never was. The only thing my English teachers taught me was that I didn't like Jabberwocky, The Hobbit, Twelfth Night or James & The Giant Peach very much. My biggest influence was definitely my mum who read to me from a very young age. I always wanted to be able to read as fluently as she did, so I took to books in a big way, outside of school, from very early on. I was also one of those few kids of the 70s that was taught to read using ITA which I think had a peculiar bearing on how I viewed writing.Are you fortunate enough to write full-time?Almost. I do work outside of writing occasionally, but for most of the year I'm able to write with few interruptions.My 'day job' is also linguistic proof-reading so is not entirely dissimilar.

If Hollywood came knocking who would you want to play your main character?That's a tough one. I envisage my books being adapted into a Euro collaboration type of film rather than anything Hollywood. When I wrote Psinapse, I imagined it as a CGI film, something like a cross between Renaissance, Final Fantasy and Sin City whereas the prequel Sirene and sequel and Parallax are very much 'live action' film material.I base all my characters on either someone famous, someone I've met or an amalgam of both. As the main protagonist, Karen is half-English, half-French, going from 23yrs old in Sirene to 39yrs old in Parallax. Ironically, I think Carice van Houten would make the best actress for the part, with perhaps Naomi Watts or Evan Rachel Wood ideal for the Hollywood version at different ages. For Kuss, I would choose Jürgen Prochnow or Christoph Waltz, Laura Barriales would be perfect for Aylhin, Anna Mazzotti for Maddelena, Eddie Izzard for Sedgwick, with Luc Besson to direct.Ok, next question before I get too carried away...Name 6 people, dead or alive, you’d love to have as guests seated around your dinner-table.Jackie Stewart, Sergio Pininfarina, Nikola Tesla (he can bring a few pigeons too), Nicole Kidman, Alfred Hitchcock, Cyril Takayama.
With so much and such a variety of things to talk about, it would need to be a slow dinner, with a long box of After Eights at the end.
What one piece of advice have you found the most important in your writing career? Apart from "don't give up" and "write what you know", I can't really say anything has stuck in my mind as especially useful.I try never to use a thesaurus, any electronic spelling or grammar checkers, and to have a crack at a difficult crossword almost daily.I personally find that reading about three or four times the amount I write - ideally quality publications of a totally different topic - helps keep my standard of writing fairly consistent. Re-reading and editing of my own work in a non-sequential fashion is crucial. I find if I start proofreading from chapter 1 onwards or from the beginning of a chapter, I end up with great beginnings and less-brilliant endings. I try to just dip in somewhere and start proofreading from there on, and that seems to successfully weedle out the weaker paragraphs more thoroughly.
What are your plans for the coming year?
To see my books in print as a single-volume trilogy, ideally with a glowing review from a national newspaper to quote on the cover with five embossed gold stars. I would also like to become an astronaut and win X Factor ;-)
And finally, if you were stranded on a desert island which 3 books would you choose to have with you?Catch Me If You Can by Frank Abagnale - It's much better than the film and the most addictive book I've ever read.Marshall's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Animals - A massive tome which I wish was even thicker.The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne - A great read that would surely come in useful too!
You can buy Andrew's books from him Amazon book page.  Amazon UK or Amazon USA  

Interview with J A Clement.

Today it's a privilege to welcome stunning author J A Clement as my guest.

When and why did you decide to become an Indie writer? I’ve been writing forever and always knew that I would get a book published. I was a bit baffled at how this was going to happen, though, as statistically speaking my chances of being offered a publishing contract were minuscule. Besides, the publishing industry is shrinking so fast; fifteen years ago traditional publishers released far more books every month than they do now, and the whole submission process is so inefficient and time-wasting ! I decided I’d rather spend my time writing, which turned out to have been a good call. I first heard of ebooks when the iPad came out. Researching epublishing suggested there was a lot of potential for growth and a much more efficient way of getting my stories to an audience, so when the Kindle arrived, I decided to throw my story to the lions and let the readers decide. I am SO glad I did! I have utterly loved the whole process and a couple of novellas later, I’ve just combined them into my first paperback and between my editors, my fabulous cover-maker, and my slightly OCD need to have it perfect, I’m really proud of it. That book? I did that. What genre do you write in and what genre do you prefer to read? I read pretty voraciously in several different genres – classics, detective, action, fairytale, humour, sci-fi, poetry... I’m thinking of venturing into steampunk too, when I have a moment. My ‘home’ genre is fantasy, especially long, complicated series with a lot of characters so that’s just what “On Dark Shores” is! Where do you sell most books, USA or UK, Amazon or Barnes and Noble? My ebooks sell mostly in the UK. In the US my sales are small on Kindle but trickling away on B&N. They just started to move suddenly – I have no idea why. I’ll be really interested to see how the paperback does, but it’s early days yet. During your childhood who was your biggest influence? A huge influence generally was the part of Yorkshire where I grew up; it is wild and beautiful, and there’s a corner of it in my soul. As a child, if I didn’t have my nose in a book, I’d be climbing a tree or making a den or trying to dam the stream. We lived in the middle of nowhere and I had the run of a couple of fields and a secretive wooded ghyll with a dark little stream in the bottom, so after school I would just disappear down the fields and potter about amid the great open quiet of the hills. Such freedom; I was very lucky. In more specific terms: my Mum introduced me to and made me value musicality of many kinds, which I find extremely relevant to the use of language. My family made me realize that being conventional is an interesting concept but not one that we feel bound to take any notice of. And literary influences would include my older sister Cath (another fantasy fan whose library books I used to read bits of when she wasn’t looking) and the fact that I had the run of a huge bookcase, so if it looked interesting I’d read it. No-one told me that LoTR was not normally something that an 8-year-old should expect to be reading, though my Mum did have to explain to me that I might be mistaken in declaring that Gandalf had fallen into an abcess. Are you fortunate enough to write full-time? Alas no! I work fulltime and have a four-hour daily commute, so writing happens in my lunch hour and on the train home at the end of the day. When I started, I was writing in the evenings as well but that meant I was spending virtually no time with my partner, which wasn’t going to work long-term. We only have an hour in the evenings, but now rather than firing up the computer, I curl up on the sofa with him instead, and really enjoy it!If Hollywood came knocking who would you want to play your main character? That’s actually quite difficult because Hollywood goes for beautiful or handsome and most of my characters are just normal people. However, an important character is Vansel, a smuggler, and I could see him being played by Eric Bana. He’s not quite as I imagine Vansel, but it’s not far off... Name 6 people, dead or alive, you’d love to have as guests seated around your dinner-table. The obvious dinner party guest is Stephen Fry, who appears to be endlessly knowledgeable and amusing, but also interested in other people.JK Rowling should have an utterly fascinating tale to tell about her progress from rejection slips to multi-millionaire. It’s always difficult to tell from someone’s public persona, but she does seem to be working hard to retain her integrity in a variety of ways. And working with the cream of English acting talent on the films must have been incredible.Sandi Toksvig has such a facility with words and such a sly wit that it’s always a pleasure to listen, especially in combination of Stephen Fry, as they seem to spark off each other. Leonardo da Vinci, amongst other things, discovered the circulatory system 500 years before medicine did, only his notebooks got lost so he didn’t get the credit. Also his future-casting was spectacular, so it would be fascinating to discuss ideas for some sci-fi. Maya Angelou, whose poetry I love. Her words really sing from the heart and the personality that shines out between the lines is wise and witty. Aldus Manutius would LOVE to be in on the whole indie printing argument. He basically invented branding; he was one of the earliest and most successful printers in Venice, then a huge centre of trade between East and West. The printing press had only recently been invented and the idea of printing by machine rather than having monks copy manuscripts by hand caused uproar in the learned world. The literati feared that if just anyone could print a book cheaply (rather than go to the expense of having it hand-copied onto vellum by monks) it would mean the market was flooded with unedited texts of no intrinsic value at all. Deja vu, anyone? Of course, in such august company I’d pretty much be handing out the plates and sniggering at the jokes, but it would be one hell of an evening! What one piece of advice have you found the most important in your writing career? Be Excellent.* “Passable” is worse than no good, and “it’ll do” needs to fall out of your vocabulary. You might be tired, you might be impatient, the deadline might be looming but if you push the “publish” button before your text is the most excellent thing you can produce, you’re cheating your readers and they will know it. You owe them your best effort, nothing less. *(Thought I had made this up myself but watching Bill & Ted the other day, I discovered the full phrase is “Be excellent, dudes!!” Sigh.) What are your plans for the coming year? Short-term: I’m having an impromptu launch party in London at the end of the month! There are a couple of other authors with releases to celebrate, and a bunch of readers, so it should be a good laugh. Anyone’s welcome, so do drop me an email at jaclement.ondarkshores@gmail.comif you want to come along – the more the merrier! Probably Thurs 25th, probably at the Southbank though this still tbc. Mid to long-term, I’ll be working on the next part of “On Dark Shores” as well as two shorter stories set in the same world. One of the ‘shorts’ is a novella currently at 33k words and the other is about 10k words but I haven’t really started working on that yet. I have a short story in “Christmas Lites II”, an anthology due out in December for the charity NCADV, and am looking at re-releasing last year’s story to try and raise awareness of the anthology a bit. I’m also giving a hand to four other writers working on their first novels or stories, so that they don’t have to make all the rookie errors that I did. Mostly I’ll be working on “The Mother of the Shantar” though. It’s currently about 90k in length but my readers have asked for something a bit longer this time so I’m aiming for 100-150k, depending on when it gets to a sensible stopping place. Series make endings quite problematic and partial at best, so we’ll see how that goes. Then I just have to get it through multiple corrections with 2 editors, and it’s onto Book 4!! And finally, if you were stranded on a desert island what 3 books would you choose to have with you? The Complete Sherlock Holmes, so I could go through, collect together all mentions of “the case of the politician, the trained cormorant and the lighthouse” and other such references with which Conan Doyle teases us by never telling the actual story; and then go back and construct some highly elaborate tale behind each. The Unfinished Tales by Tolkien, because I’d finally have time to read his backstory and reconstruct his mythology (yes I am a geek). Errr… A book of paper and a pencil, because with those to hand I would never get bored. I might have to evolve the teeniest writing known to mankind though, so maybe I should work in fountain pen and just wash it off the paper every time I finished the book!! Author pages have links to all books. Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/J.-A.-Clement/e/B004SBB65A/Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/author/j.a.clementSmashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JAClementWebsite/blog : http://jaclement.wordpress.com





 

Interview with Stuart Ayris.

Today it's my pleasure to welcome Stuart Ayris.
 

1. When and why did you decide to become an Indie writer?
I guess I became an Indie Writer on 4th January 2012 when I pressed the PUBLISH button in the KDP Select dashboard – releasing Tollesbury Time Forever into the Kindle world. I have since released it as a paperback through Createspace. As to the ‘why?’ – well that will be due to a sudden realisation that I don’t have to conform to what others desire, I don’t need to bow and scrape and yes sir, no ma’am anybody in order to have the opportunity of having people read my books. What sense is it to write a novel about a whole new way of being and then sit on the cold hard floor by your cold front door every morning awaiting rejection letters and crumb of comfort nonsense from people who won’t even read a begging letter if it’s not in the right font?
2. What genre do you write in and what genre do you prefer to read?
Although I am not a fan of classifying books into genres, I understand the need for them. My novels seem to fit into the Literary/Contemporary Fiction genre. I love reading 19th Century fiction – Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins, Victor Hugo etc and I also adore more radical works such as those written by Jack Kerouac and of course anything by John Steinbeck. In terms of more modern novelists I would have to say John Irving is my favourite.
3. Where do you sell most books, USA or UK, Amazon or Barnes and Noble?
It’s about a 70/30 split in favour of Amazon UK vs Amazon US
4. During your childhood who was your biggest influence?
Attitude wise I guess it was Bob Dylan. In terms of writing I’d say Jack Kerouac and in terms of humour, Monty Python.
5. Are you fortunate enough to write full-time?
Nope. I have been a Psychiatric Nurse for the last fifteen years and I currently manage the Mental Health Service in Maldon, Essex.
6. If Hollywood came knocking who would you want to play your main character?
Me. Or maybe Timothy Spall.
7. Name 6 people, dead or alive, you’d love to have as guests seated around your dinner-table.
William Blake, Charles Baudelaire, Hank Williams, Charles Bukowski, Bob Dylan and Tony Hancock
8. What one piece of advice have you found the most important in your writing career?
If it feels right, then it is right.
9. What are your plans for the coming year?
I am aiming to release the sequel to Tollesbury Time Forever – The Bird That Nobody Sees – as a paperback, finish writing the third in the FRUGALITY Trilogy – I Woke Up This Morning – and to maybe drink a little less.
10. And finally, if you were stranded on a desert island what 3 books would you choose to have with you?
The Complete Works of Charles Dickens, The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac and The Complete Works of William Blake.
Tollesbury Time Forever (FRUGALITY Book 1) - www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006TJDJKEThe Bird That Nobody Sees (FRUGALITY Book 2) - www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008N06XE6A Cleansing of Souls - www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0078MLK6QBighugs, Love and Beer - http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00965EEMU

My blog address is www.tollesburytimeforever.blogspot.com

Wonderful author Lee Carey interview.

This week it's a genuine pleasure to welcome one of the nicest men around author, Lee Carey. Pick up a FREE copy of his book Gabby... All About Me today!

 
Amazon USA 
Amazon UK 
1
When and why did you decide to become an Indie writer?
The idea of Indie publishing really never crossed my mind back in ’99 since it was then called Vanity Publishing. After completing three mystery/crime novels several agents wanted to see full manuscripts, but I soon received more ‘rejection letters’ to go into the ever-growing pile. However, those faceless letters only fueled me to pursue this wonderful craft. After penning my first pet novel about our rescue dog, Gabby, I felt it was special and proudly sent it out to agents. When the rejections rolled in with their normal sorry excuses in form letters, I made my decision to have it printed in paperback. The sales here at the small coastal, tourist town were excellent. Later on I formatted it for Amazon, and the sales and downloads over the past two years have blown my mind. Now NY agents are the last thing on my mind. Indie publishing gives me satisfaction in that all of my novels are now before a huge market of people who want to read something other than what the publishers steer them toward. It’s not about the money…it’s about being read and receiving emails and reviews from loyal readers.
What genre do you write in and what genre do you prefer to read?
 I began my writing career with three Southern mystery/crime novels. I soon tired of the consistent hard language and violent scenes, so I switched to YA/Crossover and Pet novels. I still enjoy reading good mystery/crime novels, and now I only read Indie authors, and am impressed with the talent out there.
Where do you sell most books, USA or UK, Amazon or Barnes and Noble?
 I am currently selling only on Amazon in their KDP Select Program. I like the option to offer my novels ‘free’ at times to get my name out into this huge Indie market. The majority of my sales come from the USA and the UK.
During your childhood who was your biggest influence?
My parents, for many reasons besides writing. The gift of writing was passed down from my wonderful grandmother.
Are you fortunate enough to write full-time?
Yes, I am able to write full time, however, since I live at the beach, it’s difficult to stay inside and write during the summer. Another advantage for Indie writers is there is no publishing company breathing down your neck, pushing for another novel to improve their profits. Writing for me is still fun and not a pressured job.
If Hollywood came knocking who would you want to play your main character?
 I’ve not really thought about who could play Scooter in a movie about ‘Gabby…All About Me’, but if and when I’m faced with that decision, you can bet I’ll have an opinion. I’d worry more about which pooch plays Gabby.
Name 6 people, dead or alive, you’d love to have as guests seated around your dinner-table.
Since I never had the opportunity to meet my wife’s parents (they are deceased), I’d like to have them to dinner and tell them what a wonderful lady they raised. Then I’d invite my late grandmother, along with Wilson Rawls, the author of ‘Where the Red Fern Grows’, and the head honcho from Disney movies, and finally, any young writer who really loves the craft but has become depressed with rejections and doubts and are contemplating giving up.
What one piece of advice have you found the most important in your writing career?

A very talented, published author once told me, “To be successful you must write, edit, read others works, write, edit, write, read, etc.” Truer words were never spoken.
What are your plans for the coming year?
I’m halfway through the first draft of a sequel to “Gabby…All About Me”. I hadn’t planned on doing one and was nearing completion of a family sage; however, I received many emails from readers wanting to know ‘when’ the sequel to Gabby was coming out. So, since I feel my readers’ opinions are priceless, I began one titled “Flash”. It’s proving to be a very enjoyable write.
And finally, if you were stranded on a desert island what 3 books would you choose to have with you?
The Bible. My compilation of short stories about my coming of age years, “If You Dance…You Will Pay the Fiddler”. And the largest book of jokes possible. At least if and when they found me, I’d be smilin’….
Lee’s Bio (if you need it)Lee Carey lives in a coastal town known as Sandbridge Beach in Virginia Beach, VA. He has been writing since '99. His popular pet novel "Gabby...All About Me" is his first published novel. "Pets in Paradise" came out April '11.
Lee has also penned five other novels in various genres: 3 Southern Mystery/Crime and 2 YA/Crossover and 2 compilations of Short Stories.
Lee enjoys surfing, writing, golf, fishing, and hanging out on the beach with his wife, Kay.
His attitude and slogan is: "Paddle hard for every wave...it might be your best ride." And..."Keep smilin'..."
Link to Lee's Amazon Author Page 

Lee's Website: http://www.leecarey-author.comLee's Blog: http://lee-carey.blogspot.com/

Today's guest is Horror/thriller writer Shaun Jeffrey.

If you haven't read Shaun's work yet you don't know what you're missing. 
 


1. When and why did you decide to become an Indie writer?I guess I became a fully-fledged Indie Writer when I got fed up of the burning hoops you have to jump through where traditional publishing is concerned. You can only get burned so many times. That combined with not being paid on time and lack of support from certain publishers put the nail in the proverbial coffin. Going the Indie route I am in total control. In the words of He-Man, ‘I have the power’.
2. What genre do you write in and what genre do you prefer to read?Most of my work is dark in nature (but then growing up in a house in a cemetery, I doubt it was ever going to be anything else), so I tend to steer towards horror and thrillers. But I don’t like to label myself with any particular genre, as most of my books are multi-genre, comprising elements of horror, thriller, mystery, action and suspense. In that way I hope to cater to everyone’s tastes. When I’m reading, I find that I primarily read thriller books at the moment.
3. Where do you sell most books, USA or UK, Amazon or Barnes and Noble?Definitely in the USA through Amazon. God Bless America.
4. During your childhood who was your biggest influence?As a child I guess my main influences were my parents. So they’re to blame.
5. Are you fortunate enough to write full-time?Unfortunately not. I’d soon starve if that was the case. But even if I had the chance to write full-time, I don’t know whether I would. Writing is something I do for fun. If it was my job then it might take the fun out of it.
6. If Hollywood came knocking who would you want to play your main character?Well Hollywood didn’t come knocking, but I was fortunate enough that my novel The Kult has already been filmed by an independent production company. The actors are not international stars but they all did an excellent job and they gave it 100%. The film is still awaiting release, but I’m hoping that it won’t be too much longer before it’s out in one format or another. There’s a trailer on youtube, but I believe there’s been a lot more editing since that was released: http://youtu.be/KS-ZF67cEiI
7. Name 6 people, dead or alive, you’d love to have as guests seated around your dinner-table.Albert Einstein.Jonathan RossLeonardo da Vinci.Audrey Hepburn.Bruce LeeMarilyn Monroe
8. What one piece of advice have you found the most important in your writing career?Nobody has ever given me any advice. Perhaps that’s where I’ve been going wrong. But if I had to heed any advice, it’s something Bruce Lee said in the film, Enter the Dragon: “Don't think. Feel. It is like a finger pointing a way to the moon. Don't concentrate on the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory.” I think that quote can be applied to so many things, and writing is one of them. Writing is all about feeling, or more exactly, evoking a feeling. And if you concentrate on the miniscule, you miss the big picture.
9. What are your plans for the coming year?To stop procrastinating and to write more. I’ll start eventually.
10. And finally, if you were stranded on a desert island what 3 books would you choose to have with you?The SAS Survival Handbook.A good cook book that gave simple recipes that you can make with basic food sources. The Playboy Book.
Website: www.shaunjeffrey.comBlog: http://shaunjeffrey.blogspot.co.uk/Link to Shaun's books on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Shaun-Jeffrey/e/B002CQVFZE/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1