Simon Royle's Blog, page 16

IndieView with Sibel Hodge, author of, My Perfect Wedding

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"There are very few writers, if any, of Turkish Cypriot origin who write commercial fiction, so this was a great opportunity to introduce a unique infusion of British and Turkish Cypriot culture. It adds a new twist to contemporary romantic comedies." Sibel Hodge 29 January 2011

The Back Flap

Helen Grey is finally getting everything she wants. She's about to have the perfect dream wedding and begin an exciting new life abroad on the sunny Mediterranean island of Cyprus. But living the dream isn't all it's cracked up to be.

After a mix-up at the airport, Helen finds herself drawn into the midst of an elaborate plot to steal an ancient statue and assassinate a local businessman. And as if that wasn't bad enough, her wedding dress is AWOL, the statue seems to be cursed, and Helen is wanted by the police.

With the big day rapidly approaching, a roller-coaster of mishaps, misunderstandings, and disasters threatens to turn the newlyweds into nearly weds.

Can Helen prevent an assassination, save the statue, and have the perfect wedding? Or will the day to remember turn into one she'd rather forget?

About the Book

What is the book about?

My Perfect Wedding is a romantic comedy that combines murder and mayhem with romance and chicklit. Helen Grey is finally getting married and moving to the sunny Mediterranean to have the perfect wedding and escape the rat-race. She assumes it's going to be nothing but love and romance, but living the dream isn't all it's cracked up to be. It shows the twists and turns in life that can happen unexpectedly.

When did you start writing the book?

September 2010.

How long did it take you to write it?

It took five months in total.

Where did you get the idea from?

As the sequel to Fourteen Days Later, My Perfect Wedding follows the next stage in Helen's life. I always felt that there was so much potential to take the story further. There are very few writers, if any, of Turkish Cypriot origin who write commercial fiction, so this was a great opportunity to introduce a unique infusion of British and Turkish Cypriot culture. It adds a new twist to contemporary romantic comedies.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

The plot! The hard thing for me is plotting in advance. Sometimes I think too much about it, and it hinders my creativity. I write a brief plot outline, but, for me, just starting to write is better than getting hung up on too much plotting in advance. I find my characters and plot unfold more naturally as I go.

What came easily?

I spend most of my time in North Cyprus, so describing the setting came really easily. I also enjoy writing dialogue so it's pretty easy for me to write.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

I love creating characters. All my characters are a mix of people I know, people I've observed, or people my friends and family have told me about. I take different quirks or personalities from so many people and mix them up. The fun part is you can make up anyone you want.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

People like Sophie Kinsella, Marian Keyes, Catherine Alliott, Janet Evanovich, Harlan Coben. I write in the same sort of fun, easy-reading style.

Do you have a target reader?

I write romantic comedies and comedy mysteries, and although my target audience is probably mainly women, many men also read my novels and enjoy escaping with a fun, fast-paced romp.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I work out brief descriptions of my characters in my head before I start, but most of the time their personalities come alive and emerge as I write.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just Chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

As I said above, I try not to get too hung up on it. Usually it will be just a few lines of what I need to happen in a particular chapter.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you've finished?

I wait until I've finished the whole thing.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Yes. I'm not the best editor in the world! It definitely helps to have another pair of eyes for the grammar, syntax, punctuation, etc., but they will also help to point out any discrepancies and give you a fresh perspective for improvement that you might not have thought about.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

No. I'm forced to listen to Bloomberg news! My husband watches it all day to keep up with the financial world. Maybe he's getting tips from Warren Buffett on what to do with my millions when I hit the bestseller list!

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I didn't submit this one to agents because the process takes so long. I did submit my previous two novels before I published them independently. I had some great feedback, and even got close to getting a traditional publishing deal a few times, but it never quite worked out.

What made you decide to go Indie? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

It was a gradual thing. When I first started looking into it, places like Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing wouldn't allow non US authors to sell their books through them. This changed early last year and I haven't looked back since!

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did it you do it yourself?

I did it myself.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I don't have a plan. What works for one author won't work for another, so I'm just using trial and error. The only downside to being an Indie author is having the time to promote and market your work as well as finding the time to write.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

I've had all my manuscripts critiqued professionally before I published them. This is invaluable to a newbie for producing a top quality novel. There are plenty of forums and blogs that give a vast wealth of information to newbies looking to become an Indie. I've learned so much information from them in the last two years, and knowledge is power!

What are you working on now?

I'm working on the second novel in my Amber Fox cozy mystery series.

End of Interview

Sibel's website is here. You can buy her book at Amazon US, Amazon UK, or Smashwords.

IndieView with Indie eBook Reader Caleb Blake

Putting A Human Face on Statistics

As an indie author I am keen to get my work in front of reviewers. I'm also interested in how other authors write, and promote their books. What I am especially interested in, is what readers think. There's a lot of buzz around readers switching to reading in a digital format – stats fly thick and fast; stats are great, but what I want to know is the person behind the stats.

I invited Caleb Blake after seeing him comment on several posts at MobileReads about Indie books to share with us some of his views on indiebooks, ereading and the like.

Indie authors there's a special question in there which essentially allows you to "pitch" your book at Caleb Have Fun!

How did you first hear about eBooks and eReaders?

I became aware of eReaders when Amazon put out their first Kindle. I purchased from Amazon from time to time – mainly books that I couldn't find locally – and I saw an advertisement for the reader. Back then, it was U.S. only so not really a serious option for me in Australia.

The concept of eBooks was first made known to me through work. Various businesses have offered access to technical books via browser on a subscription basis for some years now. Additionally, technical book publishers began offering PDF versions of print books as a purchase option.

What kind of ereader do you use?

I have a Kindle 3 which I purchased late 2010 and I also sometimes use Mobipocket Reader on my mobile phone as a Kindle app was not available for it. That will change with my next phone upgrade.

Where did you first hear about indie books?

I was somewhat aware of independent technical publishing through services like Lulu for some time, but I have to confess to having my head in the sand when it comes to independent fiction writers until late 2010 when I purchased my eReader (shame on me).

What made you decide to try them?

Actually, I think it was inevitable that I'd try out independent authors as it's completely in line with how I've explored other domains. With software I've developed a preference over time for independent and/or community-driven projects, and with music I was very happy to connect with and listen to a wide variety of independent producers.

I guess you could say I was pre-disposed to read independent authors once I became aware of them.

Is it relevant to you that Indie authors tend to promote and communicate with their readers more than trade published authors?

I do find it relevant. In other domains, I've really enjoyed establishing a rapport with content creators so the fact that the author is reaching out personally to his or her audience will immediately get my attention.

I'm going to draw a pretty awful analogy here, but I recently built a new house and in my kitchen I have a large island bench, wide enough so that people can sit at the bench while dinner is being prepared. One night, I had a dinner party, and a guest commented that she liked being able to sit at the bench because it made her feel like she was included, that she was part of cooking process.

Being engaged personally by the author helps me feel less like a consumer of commercial fiction and more like a participant in and contributor to an ongoing art form.

Is "connecting" with the author important to you, or is the only thing that matters, the book?

Once I'm reading a book, all that matters to me is the story. Connection with the author is important to me in other ways I've already mentioned. However, in the end, the words on paper — virtual or otherwise — are going to be key.

It's great to share my thoughts about the book with the author after I've finished though.

Do you read reviews or download samples before you buy?

I tend not to read samples for some reason. I seldom read anything more than blurbs for paper fiction, so haven't really adopted the process of reading samples for eBooks.

I read reviews for books from authors that I'm not familiar with and I pay attention to discussions on a particular book in forums such as MobileRead. However, once I'm familiar with an author and enjoy his/her work, all I really need is the blurb.

There are even some trade published authors from whom I don't even particularly need a blurb to make my decision. I don't think it will be long before I'll be able to say the same thing about a few independent authors.

Do you still buy print books?

Absolutely. I continue to buy print books in the cases where the book is either not in eBook form at all, or is geographically restricted.

Would I prefer to purchase only eBooks? Yes, I would. If the books were available in an electronic non-PDF form, I would prefer to purchase it in that form.

Where do you buy or get the eBooks that you read? (i.e. Smashwords, Amazon etc)

I mainly purchase from Amazon and Smashwords at the moment. Although I do have a very extensive list of eBook sellers in my browser's favourite list, I find that the majority of books that I become interested in are freely available in either Amazon or Smashwords. Of course, these preferences are subject to change without notice.

What type of book would you like to see on your ereader next week? An indie book you haven't read yet, but would like to?

I tend to dwell mainly in the science fiction, fantasy and horror genres, but I also read quite a bit of general fiction as well. My reading list includes at least 50% indie authors that I've purchased over the last month or so.

What are you reading now?

At the moment I'm doing some copy-editing for Glen Krisch's new novel Where Darkness Dwells. I read his first novel The Nightmare Within which was a great read. After a discussion or two, Glen asked if I'd like to read his next novel as it approached publication. I was only too happy to oblige as I would definitely have purchased his next novel anyway.

Do you have a website or blog?

I have set myself up a GoodReads account this year mainly to document what I've read and what I'm reading, so I guess that is relevant: Caleb72

Are you for or against DRM?

I don't really have much regard for DRM as I don't believe it satisfies any of its aims, unless those aims are to deter only the least motivated criminals. I'm a pretty tech-savvy guy and I can say I'm unlikely to be prevented from circumventing such technical barriers if I felt so inclined.

So basically, the only people that end up being frustrated by DRM are the people who never intended to engage in major criminal activity in the first place. To me, it's a shame when the only real inconvenience is felt by customers who have no intention breaking the law.

Are there any disadvantages to reading independent authors?

I think my main issue with books produced by independent authors is the lack of professional editing. By this I don't mean large changes to the plot to make the book more commercially viable which I'm sure can be part of the editing process for major publishing houses. By editing, I mean removing all spelling and grammar errors, fixing voicing problems, proper fact-checking, removal of unintended anachronisms and plot inconsistencies and so on.

Much of this can and should be done by the author, but I feel that the author would benefit from including an independent person or persons in the process. Even having a trusted group of "beta" readers can be helpful in picking up errors before publication.

End of Interview

Thank you Caleb for sharing this information. I hope we'll see a few comments from Indie authors, and some recommendations for you.

IndieView with K.C. May, author of, Venom Of Vipers

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"For instance, I wanted to give Ryder a moral dilemma — one that had no right or wrong answer. To make it harder for him, I put him in a situation where his two choices deeply affected him personally. The story builds around that."

K.C. May 26 January 2011

The Back Flap

A supervirus threatens to wipe out the human population.

The only hope for the future is a cure hidden inside Ryder Stone. Created in a lab and brutalized, betrayed and hated by humans, Ryder yearns for freedom. On the outside, a group of human genetic purists want him dead.

When Katie Marsh, a brilliant young geneticist, discovers his secret, she must fight to protect Ryder, gain his trust…and convince him to save humanity before the purists destroy them both.

About The Book

What is the book about?

The Venom of Vipers is about humanity and what it's really all about. I introduce a new human subspecies, homo sapiens heredis (saphers for short), that's designed to take over as stewards of earth once the last of our species has died from the horrible virus that has swept the globe.

At the time of the story, there are only a couple thousand of them world-wide, housed in genetic research facilities partly to keep them safe from the humans who would do them harm. The problem is that the females can't carry a pregnancy to term, which doesn't bode well for their survival once there are no more human surrogates.

Ryder Stone is an artistic 32-year-old with a 14-year-old daughter who's the farthest along in her pregnancy than any other sapher, and Katie Marsh joins the staff at the research center to discover why and try to use that information to help the other females finish their pregnancies. The clock is ticking– humans are dying out with no cure for the virus in sight, and saphers need to be able to reproduce on their own if they're to carry on when we're gone.

Ryder discovers he can cure humans afflicted with the virus. He's faced with a dilemma: does he make that information public or keep it secret?

When did you start writing the book?

I first got the idea that started the story in the late 1990s, but I didn't start actively writing until the spring of 2009.

How long did it take you to write it?

I wrote 90% of the first draft in 2009, but then I decided to move across country from Arizona to Georgia. The story got put on hold for about six months, but that time gave me some much needed distance to solve some plot issues that had been plaguing me. Plus, I didn't know exactly how to end it, so the first draft never got a proper ending.

Where did you get the idea from?

Science News magazine. If you're not familiar, it's a weekly publication with articles written for the "knowledgeable layperson." One article was about the similarities between human hemoglobin and crocodile (or was it alligator? Now I can't remember). I thought there was a science fiction story in that somewhere, and my mind started churning.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Yes! Pretty much the entire story. I had a ton of research to do because I didn't understand how viruses worked, I needed to work out why and how we would need to create a subspecies that was different enough from us to stir fear or hatred in the hearts of our most zealous citizens, and I didn't know how I was going to end it. I had two basic choices: happy or miserable.

What came easily?

Writing Ryder's character came more easily than any other aspect of the story. I gave him a lot to care about then threatened to destroy it all. Some of the back story came easily, especially where Henry was concerned. I'd even written a short story showing how he and his late wife had first engineered the saphers.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

As far as I know, they are all entirely fictitious except for Henry, who is based loosely on my dad (rest his soul).

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

There are some writers whose writing I adore, such as Robin Hobb and Brandon Sanderson, but their styles are vastly different from my own. As much as I'd like to write more like them (insofar as prose style is concerned), I don't think I'm wired that way. When I look at prose styles and story layout, I have to wonder whether George R.R. Martin's style influenced me. He moves from one character's POV to another, and I quite enjoy that as a reader. I'm not one who wants or needs to stay in a single character's head the entire story, so I rarely write in first person.

Do you have a target reader?

For this story, I thought my main audience would be men over 30, but it turns out that women like it as well. I didn't load the story up with hard-core science — it's more a light sci-fi with thriller tendencies than a hard sci-fi. My target reader is like me: somewhat interested in science without being a hard-core geek, preferring that stories focus on the human element.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

Not really, no. I'm a fairly undisciplined writer. I make a few notes about my main character and let him or her evolve through the problems I throw at him. For instance, I wanted to give Ryder a moral dilemma — one that had no right or wrong answer. To make it harder for him, I put him in a situation where his two choices deeply affected him personally. The story builds around that.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I used to be a heavy outliner, but I've moved away from that and toward a heading/notes and multi-draft approach. There are some scenes I write several different ways then choose later which one works best. Once the first draft of the story is done, I revise two or three times. For my debut novel, The Kinshield Legacy, I found that I needed to start over because I didn't get it right. Trying to fix what I had was too confusing. I ended up writing that book three times from scratch, then revising the third draft a few more times.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you've finished?

I wouldn't say I edit as I go. I often revise as I go, though. If I've decided to do something differently in order to get my characters from point B to point C, I can't move on from there until the journey from point A to B is set properly. If I spot a typo, I'll fix it, but I don't try to tweak the phrasing or choose the best word until the story elements are all in place the way I want them.

Did you hire a professional editor?

No. I'm probably going to write a blog article about that topic sometime soon. Most indie authors (including me) could use the help of a developmental editor as well as a copy editor. A developmental editor helps with story structure, pacing, and so forth (this is not the same as a critique partner). A copy editor helps with the words on the page to make sure they flow well and everything's grammatically correct. I don't know of any experienced developmental editors available on a free-lance basis. Most people I've seen offering their services as an editor are copy editors (and many writers need a good copy editor). For writers with a strong grasp of grammar and spelling who employ the use of various self-editing techniques, a copy editor can be almost superfluous. Instead, I used a proofreader on my final draft to catch the three or four errors I'd missed. That said, I highly value my critique partners and beta readers. They aren't developmental editors, but they are readers who tell me what works for them and what's still rough. I use that information to adjust the story to get the effect I want.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

Not generally, but sometimes I enjoy listening to instrumental music. If there are lyrics, I tend to get distracted and want to sing along. Loreena McKennitt is a favorite.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

The Kinshield Legacy was originally published by a small press, and I had an agent for that. I did query my original agent about The Venom of Vipers, but I didn't get a timely response, so I went ahead with my plans to self-publish it.

What made you decide to go Indie? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

It was an ah-ha moment. After I got the rights back to The Kinshield Legacy, I was deciding whether to shop The Kinshield Legacy around to other publishers or put it out to pasture when it occurred to me that I could format it for the Kindle and re-release it. I've really enjoyed the process and control of self-publishing. With the publishing industry in flux, I decided not to spend years waiting to see if anyone would be interested in The Venom of Vipers. I figured I could start building a readership on my own. If a publisher takes interest in a new book down the road, I can evaluate what my best course of action is then.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did it you do it yourself?

I wish I had the artistic talent and skill to create a nice cover. All of my covers were done by cover artists.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I'm learning as I go. What works for one writer may not work for me, but I've found a few things that have definitely worked and a few that have definitely not worked.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Write a good story and polish it to a brilliant shine. Nobody wants to spend money on a product that fails to meet expectations. If your book is engaging and well-written, readers will find it, spread the word and look for more of your stories.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in the Midwest and in Hawaii. After high school, I went to Boulder, Colorado for my freshman year, then transferred to Tallahassee, Florida to get my B.A. in Russian from Florida State University. After a year in Taiwan learning Mandarin and teaching English, I moved to Phoenix, Arizona and spent 24 years there.

Where do you live now?

I live near Atlanta, Georgia.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I'm kind of a geek who loves reading, dogs and football. While in Arizona, I founded a Rottweiler rescue organization, studied karate, went backpacking, tried sky-diving, did some downhill skiing, got a couple motorcycles, wrote software, and spent time on the shooting range.  I also love rollercoasters!

What are you working on now?

I'm working on the sequel to The Kinshield Legacy. The advice I got back in 2005 when it was first published was not to spend time writing the sequel to a book that doesn't sell. I had about 30,000 words written, and that advice made sense to me, so I put it away. Sure enough, it didn't sell! (Without much marketing, only a few dozen people were willing to pay $29 for a hardcover from an unknown writer.) It wasn't until I re-released it that it started to sell. Now readers are eager for the sequel, and I'm running behind!

End Of Interview

You can buy Venom of Vipers at Amazon, Smashwords,

B&N or ibooks. KC's website is here.

Book Birthday: Save My Soul

Save My Soul

[image error]The Back Cover

All he's asking for is her soul…

After buying the antebellum home she's fantasized about since childhood, Anna Worthington discovers Luc, a dangerously seductive incubus who has been trapped in the house by a fifty-year-old curse. To rid herself of her problem house guest she'll call on a priest, gypsies, ghost hunters, and the coven of witches from lust bunny hell. All she has to do is resist him long enough to break the spell so they can go their separate ways. If she doesn't, she could die. And that would be the best case scenario.

HEAT LEVEL: Some sexually explicit content. 3 out of 5 flames.

Get it here.

Latest attractions…

The end of the month is looming – wow – time flies. 2011 is happening, which is a good thing, a very good thing. If it wasn't then that would be … another dimension. Without further philo wafflings I'll get down to it – what's coming…

More reviewer reviews – and these are hot, hot, hot. We've got the illustrious ficbot and Isabella Morales coming up. Ficbot (if you don't know who ficbot is you do have a marketing problem ) gives us the inside juicy details of being an indie reviewer. She's also got the Indie Hall of Fame thing happening – check it out.

So we've had a ton of author interviews – and we've got a long queue of those; and we've had a few reviewer interviews and we've got more of those BUT now for the first time ever, in the entire history of the world – yes it's true.

We are hosting the first ever Indie Reader interview – yup. Stay tuned and have a great day wherever you are.

IndieView with L.C. Evans, author of, We Interrupt This Date

[image error]"I have definitely borrowed from real world people. I grew up in the South and got to know a good many women with strong views. These women, like Mama in the book, made it their chief occupation to run their children's lives. Some of the other characters are based loosely on people I know, but I'll never tell. I've had a number of readers contact me and tell me that Susan's family is exactly like their family, so I must have struck a chord." – L.C. Evans 24 January 2011

The Back Flap

Since her divorce a year ago, Susan Caraway has gone through the motions of life. Now she is finally coming out of her shell. Just when she decides on a makeover and a new career, her family members decide she's crisis central. First there's her sister DeLorean who has come back from California with a baby, a designer dog, and no prospects for child support or a job. As soon as DeLorean settles in at Susan's home, Susan's son Christian returns from college trailing what Susan's mama refers to as "an androgynous little tart." Then there's Mama herself, a southern lady who wrote the book on bossy. A secret from Mama's past threatens to unravel her own peace. But not before Mama hurts her ankle and has to move into Susan's home with her babies—two Chihuahuas with attitude. Susan would like to start her new job as a ghost tour operator. She would like to renew her relationship with Jack Maxwell, a man from her past. But Jack isn't going to stand in line behind her needy family.

About the Book

What is the book about?

We Interrupt This Date is the story of an insecure woman with an overdeveloped "nurturing gene." Eventually she finds her strength and learns to trust her family members to manage on their own.

When did you start writing the book?

I started writing it five or six years ago.

How long did it take you to write it?

I worked on the book off and on for about three years. I kept changing my mind about how I wanted to develop main character, Susan, though I had a pretty clear idea of where I wanted her to end up.

Where did you get the idea from?

Late-blooming women who escape from emotionally abusive relationships seems to be a common theme in my books–some of them, anyway. I love the city of Charleston, South Carolina, and decided to make that my setting. While I was there researching the area, I went on a ghost tour and that gave me the idea to make ghost touring Susan's new profession.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

The ending was the hardest part to write. I wanted Susan to break free of the emotional chains she'd put around herself, but I had to make the change believable.

What came easily?

The easiest part of the writing were the scenes between Susan and Mama and Susan and her sister, DeLorean.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

I have definitely borrowed from real world people. I grew up in the South and got to know a good many women with strong views. These women, like Mama in the book, made it their chief occupation to run their children's lives. Some of the other characters are based loosely on people I know, but I'll never tell. I've had a number of readers contact me and tell me that Susan's family is exactly like their family, so I must have struck a chord.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I can't really say there's any particular author who's influenced my writing. From an early age, I've read voraciously. It's hard for me to keep track of all the wonderful books and authors, though I take away something from every book I read.

Do you have a target reader?

Not really. I want my books to appeal to everyone, though I understand that men in general aren't fond of reading chick lit or romantic comedy. That's what my husband tells me, though he did read my books. I've gotten fan mail from men who say they never expected to read and enjoy chick lit, but they loved We Interrupt This Date.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

My writing process starts with my characters. Once I work out who they are I start to write down my ideas for the book. When I have enough information and a general idea for beginning, middle, and end, I start writing.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just Chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I don't outline enough and this has caused me some grim moments. There have been times when I've written the characters into a corner or gone off on the wrong tangent and had to scrap whole chapters. It's my new year's resolution to outline extensively on the next book I start.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you've finished?

I start each day's writing session by reading over what I wrote the day before. I find that by giving my mind time to think about what I wrote, I can come up with better dialogue and descriptions. After I go over and improve on what I wrote in the previous session, I start the next scene.

Did you hire a professional editor?

No. I've been fortunate enough to have some talented writers to work with in my critique group and I also have some very astute beta readers who don't let me get away with much.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

Music with lyrics or upbeat music is too distracting. I occasionally listen to music, but it has to be soft and melodic.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

In the beginning I tried for several years to get an agent. I did get some positive comments, but no one took me on.

What made you decide to go Indie? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

Going indie was a gradual process. I got tired of getting feedback from agents and publishers that said I write very well, but they wouldn't know how to market my book. Or mysteries/chick lit/kids' books are dead this year. Or the field is too crowded for my book to stand out. At that rate, I'd have left the planet before my novel ever got published.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did it you do it yourself?

I am a complete dunce when it comes to working with graphics or any kind of visual art. I get my covers professionally done. One thing I've recently learned about covers is that it's important to give the cover designer a good idea of what you have in mind. I recently changed my cover for We Interrupt This Date to better reflect the tone and content of the book. When I got the original cover, I told the designer the book was Southern fiction, and he gave me a picture of a Southern mansion. I thought that's what I wanted. Then I started getting feedback from reviewers and readers and realized the cover was hurting the book. My fault. Now I've learned and I've gotten so many positive comments about the new cover.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I have no particular marketing plan. I'm learning as I go, but I'm starting to get a pretty good idea of what works and what's a waste of time and money. My next book is coming out soon and I'm planning some promotions right from the start, which is something I didn't do with We Interrupt This Date.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

The most important advice I have for newbies is to get their manuscripts evaluated by professionals before publishing. I've seen so many books that were one edit away from being really good and others that were simply terrible. All writers have to work hard to develop the writing craft and they have to have thick skins. Don't ever rush a book into print. Learn to take constructive criticism and use it to improve. When the book is the best it can be, get a professional cover.

About You

I grew up in Southwest Florida and now live near Charlotte, North Carolina.

What are you working on now? My current project, The Witness Wore Blood Bay, is almost ready for publication. I have my cover and the book has just come back from the beta readers. As soon as I finish my revisions, it goes out to a proofreader. This book is the second in my Leigh McRae Mystery series. The first in the series, Talented Horsewoman, was published by Draumr Publishing. I thought about going back to this publisher with the new book, but decided to remain indie.

End of Interview

You can buy We Interrupt This Date here.

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IndieView with J.R. Turner, author of, School's Out 4-Ever

[image error]"I generally free write the first three chapters to see if an idea I have can sustain a full length novel, flesh out characters, and discover if this is something I'm excited enough about to pursue. If all those factors intrigue me, I stop and create an outline of events. In general, I leave character reactions for the first draft. This way, I'm dying to find out how they'll react when they are confronted by the event." – J. R. Turner 20 January 2011

The Back Flap

Skater girl Kaylee Hensler gave up her freedom to save a trapped soul, only to be imprisoned with dozens of dead children. To make matters worse, if she stops smiling, she might not live to see fifteen.

You can take a Barclay girl out of class, but you can't take the class out of a Barclay girl.

The headmistress at Barclay Hall reformatory is gorgeous and the students are just as polished and beautiful. Beneath their proper etiquette lies a desperate fear and a dangerous secret. As one by one the students turn up dead, Kaylee will uncover an evil so ancient, only heaven can help her.

About the Book

What is the book about?

School's Out 4-Ever opens where DFF: Dead Friends Forever left off. Kaylee, our heroine, has just been sentenced to Barclay Hall, a school for wayward girls, for grave robbing. Once there, she learns there have been a series of six murders every six years, only the kids who go missing are considered runaways or if a body is discovered, a victim of their illegal activities. Because the disappearances are spread so far apart and involve criminals, no one pays attention. Until Kaylee shows up and starts finding the ghosts everywhere.

When did you start writing the book?

After I completed the first book I took about a two month hiatus from the series to write other things and prepare for the release of DFF: Dead Friends Forever. Not long after though, the second book began to bug me and I started working on the opening scene. From there, the rest just flowed.

How long did it take you to write it?

Most of my books take between four and six months to write. I recall this book as a bit easier than many because as a sequel, the world it takes place in was already researched and created, and I had a great cast of fully developed characters to work with. At times, I can get caught up in the research of a story, but not so much this time.

Where did you get the idea from?

I've always been a huge fan of horror and personal interest stories. When I was a kid, I saw a movie called "Orphan Train" about a group of orphans who taken on a train ride and at every stop, the kids would go up for adoption to the townsfolk. The dynamic between these kids living with the threat of separation, the idea they could be adopted by abusers, and their struggle to maintain courage in the face of danger greatly influenced the atmosphere in School's Out 4-Ever. There's a bit of "The Little Princess" thrown in there, through Brianna and her struggle to find a new best friend. The Haunting of Hill House gave me a lot of great ideas for the architecture of the school as well. This may sound strange, but Sinbad the sailor, not the comedian, gave me the inspiration for the monster.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

This book contains a lot of references to biblical stories and insinuating the meaning of these passages was a struggle. I'm not sure if I got it across as clearly as I meant to, but the gist of it is there, I'm sure. Handling the hierarchy of the Catholic Church was difficult as well. I'm not Catholic and what may come naturally to someone of that faith, didn't come naturally for me. I did my best, but it's difficult to study the inner workings of such a global organization and how that would pertain to Duluth, MN.

What came easily?

The relationship between the girls, those who are popular and not so popular, were based on relationships I had when I was a girl. The rules and regulations, and the pair who enforced them was also easy for me. When I was fourteen I stayed for a few weeks in a place similar to this, and then again when I was sixteen, so understanding how the power these women held over the girls could be used to manipulate and abuse others was easy for me to show. There are sincere people who work in these fields, but unfortunately, they seem far less prevalent than the indifferent or those who get their kicks making up arbitrary rules simply for the pleasure of punishment.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

Most of the characters are fictitious. Some are a conglomeration of teachers/guards I knew in my childhood, but more are based on actors or actresses I admire. Pastor Jim is based on Ron Howard, the headmistress Claire is loosely based on Greta Garbo, etc. Destiny, one of the students, is actually based on Destiney Moore from Rock of Love 2, starring Brett Michaels.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

Dean Koontz always amazes me with his grasp of language. I love reading his stuff because I come away enriched as a writer. Robin Cook is great because he reminds me how story telling is so very important and keeps me grounded in characters that I enjoy. He reminds me it's not just about the language, but the 'people' in the stories. I think Julie Garwood was a big influence on how we can laugh at our little quirks and can find them endearing as well. This generally shows up in my works as a lovable flaw of some sort. Mark Twain, believe it or not, taught me not to shy away from societal commentary in my books, especially if a character is confronted by a stereotype or has their own misled beliefs challenged. There are so many—Barbara Kingslover encouraged me to release my inner writer's voice and let the story unfold the way it needed to, without cramming in a plot line that didn't belong. She also taught me patience for a bigger pay-off on the emotional front.

Do you have a target reader?

For my Extreme Hauntings series, I'm picturing kids from about 10 and up. There are a lot of subtle elements the younger crowd might not understand, such as an allusion to rape, etc. When I wrote this series, I didn't want to "dumb it down" for the younger reader because I believed once they were of the age appropriate for reading my book, they could grasp the meaning of a word through context, etc. I needed to stay true to the characters and in this type of writing, where there are a lot of activities and phrases not generally heard in regular life, the context is more important than anything.

About Writing:

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I generally write early in the mornings. 5am in the summer is especially nice because the children will usually sleep until around 9am and then fix themselves breakfast. By 1pm, I've had an 8hr day and we can go to the beach or on a picnic. In the winter, my mornings start a little later, just because it's dark outside and hard to wake up fully. Plus, with school in session, I'm very busy in the mornings and can get more work done before the kids get home.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just Chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I use a Creative Outlining technique I put together years ago. The article is on my website if anyone's interested. I generally free write the first three chapters to see if an idea I have can sustain a full length novel, flesh out characters, and discover if this is something I'm excited enough about to pursue. If all those factors intrigue me, I stop and create an outline of events. In general, I leave character reactions for the first draft. This way, I'm dying to find out how they'll react when they are confronted by the event.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you've finished?

I definitely wait to edit until I finish. Many times, I'll delete entire passages, even chapters, if I find a much better path for the plot, so editing as I go could waste valuable time.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I never hired a professional editor before I was published, and then once I was, I got them for free. I did enter a lot of contests with professional judges who gave feedback on each entry though. This was important for me in the beginning, to know where I was strong and where I need strengthening. They helped me a great deal.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

Yes! I love listening to music as I write. I have a great playlist. There are a wide variety of songs on there. From Joe Cocker to Metallica and a load of very "fun" songs as well, like Harry Nilson's "Coconut" song, "Day-O" by Harry Belafonte, Wild Cherry's "Play that Funky Music." Overall, I'd say it's a lot of funky rock-and-roll with heavy beats and fun lyrics.

About Publishing:

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Yes. I've come so close to getting an agent, only to be declined later on. I think about twenty agents have had a full manuscript of mine and had many exchanges before they ultimately decided not to represent me. I've found publishers and editors to be far more receptive than agents. On the other hand, I've been publishing so much (I'll have 12 books in 6 years)I really haven't had much time to focus on finding an agent. I figure I'll keep publishing and working hard and sooner or later, if it's meant to be, it'll come together.

What made you decide to go Indie? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

I originally wrote Stark Knight for Silhouette's Bombshell series. They said it had too much romance, so I tried Harlequin's Intrigue series, and they said it didn't have enough romance. Placing a category-length high-action romance with any of the major houses would be a difficult prospect. So I decided to go indie and because I was included in Crumbs in the Keyboard, a charity anthology on motherhood, I decided to go with Echelon. They had high-quality products and were wonderful to work with. They accepted Stark Knight and I've never looked back.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did it you do it yourself?

I'm lucky to be working with an indie press that has its own art department. Award winning artist Nathalie Moore heads the department and she's done all my covers. She's been an absolute dream.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

All Echelon/Quake/Explorations books have marketing plans. The publishing house facilitates this by distributing materials to help every author reach their target audience. Following the advice and using the opportunities offered is a simple, easy way to get the word out about your books. Plus, the more you work to schedule events and signings, the more Echelon promotes the author as well, often taking out ads and sending out targeted catalogs so by the time the author reaches a venue, they are far more likely to know about the book and author than before.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Don't expect to become famous. Keep your feet grounded and your expectations directed at yourself. Indie houses are an excellent way to break into the industry and many of them are far more supportive. With major houses it can feel like you're merely a number in their stable, but with indie houses, there's a level of communication that often leads to life-long friendships. Be the best you can be and always, always, treat your writing like a business.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Stevens Point, WI. It's a smaller university town in the center of the state. I spent my summers in the pool and sneaking into the back of classrooms in the art department of UWSP so listen in on the projects. I was so young (8 or 9) they were good to me, even offering some materials once in a while so I could give the project a try. In the winters, we skated and went sledding all the time.

Where do you live now?

I recently moved to Wisconsin Rapids, which is southwest from Stevens Point by a few miles. We bought our home in 2008 and we've made this mill town our home. I've lived in major cities like Milwaukee and Houston, TX, but I prefer the more laid back lifestyle of a mid-to small-sized town.

What would you like readers to know about you?

In every book there is a challenge for me. I create them this way so I'm always striving for a better read. If I'm weak on mystery, I'll write a mystery to strengthen that weakness. My hope is that every book offers something new and fresh to the reader.

What are you working on now?

At the moment I'm completing the 3rd book in the Extreme Hauntings series, Detour 2 Death. I'll be working on edits for Redemption—an urban fantasy for adults, and Racing the Moon—a mainstream thriller/horror novel about werewolves in Alaska. These three books are set for release in 2011, with a fourth possible by the end of the year. Still Life in Death is a romantic suspense novel about an aspiring artist, her childhood sweetheart, and the stalker destroying her life.

Award-winning author J.R. Turner lives in Central Wisconsin with her husband and three children. She began writing in high school, and after a decade working as a commercial artist, started her first novel in 1999. Aside from crafts, camping and cooking, she loves holidays. A favorite is Halloween, a combination of spooky supernatural fun and chocolate.

End of Interview

You can buy School's Out 4-Ever here.

And J.R's website is here.

Book Birthday: The Fear by Julio Angel Ortiz

19 January 2011

The Fear by Julio Angel Ortiz

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Three strangers awaken in cabin in the middle of the woods. They have no recollection of who they are or how they got there. Before they can attempt to unravel the mystery of their identities, a darkness in the woods begins to stalk them. But to what end? And how does it tie in to the truth behind their lost memories?

Available on Smashwords all formats.

Book Birthday: My Perfect Wedding by Sibel Hodge

My Perfect Wedding by Sibel Hodge

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Helen Grey is finally getting everything she wants. She's about to have the perfect dream wedding and begin an exciting new life abroad on the sunny Mediterranean island of Cyprus. But living the dream isn't all it's cracked up to be.

After a mix-up at the airport, Helen finds herself drawn into the midst of an elaborate plot to steal an ancient statue and assassinate a local businessman. And as if that wasn't bad enough, her wedding dress is AWOL, the statue seems to be cursed, and Helen is wanted by the police.

With the big day rapidly approaching, a roller-coaster of mishaps, misunderstandings, and disasters threatens to turn the newlyweds into nearlyweds.

Can Helen prevent an assassination, save the statue, and have the perfect wedding? Or will the day to remember turn into one she'd rather forget?

My Perfect Wedding is available in ebook format from:

Amazon for Kindle

Amazon UK for Kindle

Smashwords all formats