Alex Laybourne's Blog, page 57

Fast Paced Crypid Action – Alex Laybourne Reviews Crypto-Squad by Eric S Brown and Jason Brannon

Crypto-Squad by Jason Brannon

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was a fantastic read from the first to the last page. The action starts with the first word and continues through until the last, with the promise of much more to come.

Unlike many zombie stories, which do not really focus on where the undead came from, or what caused them to rise, Crypto-Squad is all about the cause. A cult have plans to raise the dead in order to resurrect an ancient serpent God.

The undead come thick and fast in this tale, which make it not only an action packed read, but one you could happily go through again and again. The description were fluid and filled with the right amount of horror gore to keep it visceral without reducing it to something lighthearted. The story is well paced and moves forward in time with all the necessary revelations.

If forests and cities will with the undead aren’t enough for you, if tens of thousands of them, aren’t enough for you, what about if we add, a chupacabra, numerous Bigfoot, Firebirds, Mongolian Death Worms, ancient flesh eating locusts, merefolk, and Mothman among many many other wonderfully dsecribed Crytipds taken from pretty much every main stream legend in America… including a guest appearance by a very Devilish creature in the latter stages.

I am so glad that I have part II to this great series already loaded (and half read) on my Kindle. I sincerely hope more will come. If you want to show people that reading is fun, then this is the book to use.

 

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Through the Looking Glass – Alex Laybourne interviews Author & Book Reviewer Beth Muscat

I am once again delighted to be able to welcome a guest onto my blog. Aside from being a writer, she is also a dedicated reviewer.  I relished the chance to base an interview around this side of the industry, and soon had a plethora of questions.

Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to introduce… Beth Muscat

 

Thanks for agreeing to answer my questions Beth.

Thank you, Alex, for giving me this opportunity to let others know about me.

To start with, can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

I’m a mom of an almost ten year old daughter, wife, live in Canada and I’m a fulltime nurse in a psychiatric hospital. I’ve been nursing for almost twenty-five years, but I only started writing back in 2009 after reading a book by L J Smith called Dark Visions. After reading that book, I got the idea for my first novel, Remember The Eyes.

I must preface this by saying that I went to a psychic about twenty-two years ago and she asked me if I knew I could write. I thought she was talking about my penmanship. Little did I know that she was correct, that I could write.

The majority of my guests recently have been writers, but you are actually a reviewer. How did that come about?

After publishing my first works, I wanted reviews. I thought, well, maybe to get reviews, I should give some reviews as well. I would do one once in a while and they were usually for friends. But over the past six or seven months, due to some personal issues, I suffered big time from a major bout of writer’s block. So, since I wasn’t writing, I got heavy into the reviewing, sometimes reviewing several works all in one week. I also work midnights, so it’s a bit easier for me to read there.

I guess you have always been a reader, right?

Actually, not really. Reading wasn’t something that I spent a lot of time doing until I was given the Twilight series to read. I fell in love with that series, and also that genre. That was 2009. As I said before, that was also when I started writing.

Can you remember the first book that you read that made you want to shout ‘I love books ’ at the top of your lungs?

Actually, the first books that I absolutely couldn’t put down (besides the Twilight series) was The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. When I finished one book, I couldn’t wait to read the next one…of course, once it was finished, I had to get the next one and the next one.

I guess you have a pretty lofty TBR pile at the moment, right? How many books would you say you have to read?

Well, other than a few friends books that I still need to read and review, I don’t HAVE to read any of the books on my Kindle. They’re books I got from Amazon, but I wasn’t asked to read and review. I also don’t charge for my reviews (because often the reviews I give are for books I got from the free list). However, if a friends book comes up or someone asks me to review their book, then their books go to the front of the pile.

How many books have your read (a rough figure will do fine)?

In the past year, roughly…I’m going to take a guess and say approximately seventy-five to eighty.

Do you read multiple books at one time?

Yes. I have a Kindle app on my phone and I also have a Kindle. My Kindle isn’t one of the lighted varieties, so I can’t read at night with it. I can with my phone…so, it’s what I use when I want to read in bed. Usually I have at least two (sometimes three) on the go at any given time.

How long does it take you to read and then review a book?

Since I usually have a couple of books on the go, and I work midnights, I can usually get through a book within a few days. Reviewing doesn’t take long. I grab a quick section from the book to add to my review, the cover and then write my review at my blogsite.

Some people I know read one book and listen to another on tape? I am not an audio book fan myself. What about you?

Never tried it myself. I don’t think I have the attention span to listen to an audio book. I think my mind would end up wandering away and I’d miss a lot of it.

E-book or Paper/hardback

E-book definitely! Yes, it’s nice to be able to put a great book on your shelf, but with an ebook, you don’t have to drive to the store to get it, it’s cheaper, and it doesn’t take up a lot of space…and you can always take them with you wherever you go.

Do you have a favorite genre that you like to read?

I was reading a lot of paranormal romance fiction, but I’ve since discovered that I actually do like romances. I also enjoy romantic comedies, some dark fiction, and even some horrors. I’ll read just about anything as long as the writing is good.

Is there anything that is an instant ‘book closer ’ for you? Something that if you read it, you just say, no, this book is not being reviewed – either content or quality wise?

I am by no means the grammar police. I make/have made my fair share of spelling/grammatical errors with my own novels. But if there is no attempt made to edit at all, then it gets very distracting. I read a “would have been” great novel about a zombie who didn’t quite lose his humanity…but it was riddled with spelling mistakes. And, I’m not just talking about a few…I mean, there were spelling mistakes on every single page…and it was a long novel. The novel itself was good, but with all the mistakes, it definitely took away from the book. I reviewed the book, but only because it did have a good premise…it just wasn’t executed that well. It was like they took their finished novel and uploaded it without going through it and using spell check.

There seem to be two types of reviewers; those that give honest reviews be the book good or bad, or those that always look for the positive. What would you say best describes your style?

I’ve read books that weren’t really my style, but I’ve given them a good review because the story was good. But regardless of whether the book is my style or not, I try to give as honest a review as I can. If I didn’t really like the author’s writing style, I try to accentuate the positive about the novel. Just because I didn’t like the author’s writing style doesn’t mean it’s a bad book.

Do you feel any difference between reading and review a book for someone you know, compared to a strange?

Yes, I guess I do. However, I’ve been asked by people I don’t know to review their books, and while I may not know them, if their novel is good, then I give it a good review. If I had a major issue with the book, then I would be more inclined to state the positives, but I might also give them a lower rating. Thankfully that hasn’t happened to me yet. Everyone who has asked me to review their books has produced quality work that I felt privileged to get to read and review.

It is hard to phrase this without making it sound power hungry, so I ’m going to ham it up … How does it feel having the power to crush a writers world by ripping their book to shreds with an honest review?

Oh boy. Well, as someone who has her fair share of one star reviews, I know exactly what it’s like. However, unlike some of the one star reviews that I have gotten, some complaining about lack of editing when their review is riddled with errors, or saying they couldn’t finish a book because of a few minor spelling errors, I try to give reasons why I didn’t like it, like maybe the characters were one dimensional and lacked substance or lack of sexual tension between the characters, and that sort of thing. My reviews are always more than just a few lines…mine are real reviews stating my opinion.

If you were given two pieces of fiction, printed out, no covers, not information, other than one being an indie piece, and one a traditionally published piece. Do you think you could tell the difference, based on your experiences as a reviewer to date?

Honestly, probably not. I’ve read some really fantastic books over the past year…and most of them have been Indie’s…well, at least I think they have been. Unless I’m told specifically they are traditionally published, or I’m not familiar with the author, I sometimes can’t tell the difference.

Do you feel that the ease with which people can self-publish their work has led to sloppy, rushed writing. Writing which could, given the attention that is due, be something good?

Sometimes, but other than a few books that I’ve read, most of them have been put together well, edited well and didn’t feel at all rushed or sloppy. Many have complained that they can tell the difference between an Indie and traditionally published work, but even a traditionally published, edited novel can have errors.

We live in an instant world. Everything happens quicker and quicker, do you think that sometimes we need to slow down, and spend more time getting things right the first time?

Now there’s an idea! That’s a very good thought, but I think some people want to earn money right away, and with the ease of self-publishing, and the fact that people don’t have to write to agents only to be met with rejections, they know that they can put out their works right away and start earning. Of course, if people don’t like it, they’ll let you know. So, sometimes rushing to get that payment from Amazon by putting out something that hasn’t been beta read or edited isn’t a good thing. It can definitely go against you sometimes.

I wonder, would self-published authors be so quick to publish their work if they could not upload new versions of the same piece. What if it was just there. Would we see an increase in the overall quality or writing?

That’s a good question. I know I’ve uploaded several versions, so I’m glad there is the option to re-upload our works. I also think it wouldn’t be in the best interest of our readers if we couldn’t re-do our novels, to give them the best possible product that we can.  I’ve downloaded my own books and realized there were errors, even though I had an editor and beta readers go through it first. Nobody’s perfect.

You have made reference to your own work. Can you tell us a little about your writing?

I do. I’ve written five books under my own name, and one under a pseudonym, Devon Cooper. I wrote something a little different, a romantic comedy, so I decided to go with a pseudonym. Plus, I liked the name!

I wrote a trilogy (Remember The Eyes, Nothing Without You and Infinite), a contemporary romance (Wildflower) and a fantasy (The Bracelet–I’m going to use my Mulligan card and “re-do” this one, so it’s been temporarily taken down off of Amazon), and with my pseudonym, I wrote Bad Day, which is a romantic comedy. It’s also my favorite out of the group that I‘ve written.

Do you think that being a good reviewer is help or a hindrance when it comes to writing?

Definitely it’s been a help. Having read so many books, I think my writing has improved.

Are there any (ok say top three to keep the list manageable) books out there that you could just read again and again?

I loved Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen, Dating A Cougar by Donna MacDonald and Wishbone by Brooklyn Hudson.

You don ’t charge for your reviews, would you every be interested to enter the literary world as a profession; publisher, agent, publicist?

Probably not. I’m more apt to let everyone through instead of weeding out the really great ones.

Thank you for taking the time to answer some of my questions. I could have carried on asking them for hours; once I start I just get carried away. J

Thank you for such thought provoking questions, ones that made me have to think instead of just giving out the same old answers to the same old questions!

          

If you are interested in learning more about Beth, or reading some of her reviews… hell, maybe you even want a review of your own work, you can find her on Facebook, Twitter or on her Blog.

You can also buy her books on Amazon, or through her Author Page

Too Much Grit to Keep Hiding in the Shadows – Alex Laybourne Interviews Author Court Merrigan

My guest today is a fellow author and a man whose acquaintance I made through a friend on Facebook, and I am very pleased to have done so. An interesting man who has a lot of tales to tell, his writing is guaranteed to be setting bookshelves ablaze in the years to come. A dedicated father who knows what is important in life. It is my pleasure to be able to introduce you all to Mr. Court Merrigan.

 

To start the ball rolling, I always like to throw in a nice warm up question. So please, tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m from Wyobraska, a region so geographically obscure that I am appending a map:

After growing up on a farm near Scottsbluff (unofficial “capital” of Wyobraska), I did the college thing, then headed abroad, living in Japan & Thailand for 10 years, with traveling stints all over Asia & the USA & the edge of Europe.

Most children grow up saying… I want to be a fireman, an astronaut, a rock star. Many writers I speak to grew up knowing they wanted to be writers from an early age – thus allowing them to be all of the above, and much more. How old where you when you realized where your future lay?

I wrote my first short story when I was five. It was called “The Ants.” It was about the ant piles outside our farmhouse.

That makes me sound like some sort of child prodigy until you consider that it took 31 years after that to get a book deal.

Can you remember the first piece you ever sold?

If by “sold” you mean “received money, that would be very recently, my story “The Gleaner’s Union” that appeared in Thuglit #1, I think.

Can you tell us a little about it?

It’s a piece of rural noir based on a story my grandpa told me from the time when he homesteaded on a chunk of hardscrabble ground in Wyoming in the 50’s. I hugely embellished the telling and set it during the Great Depression. My grandpa, RIP, also used to tell stories about growing up during that time, and I’ve taken a lot of them to heart.

You have written a lot of short fiction, what is it about this length of piece that you enjoy so much?

I think it was the fact that you can look at a short story and say, hey, I can finish this in a week, or two. You can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Novels require so much longer a commitment and until *very* recently, my novel manuscripts weren’t seeing the light of day. Whereas with a short story, there are enough mags out there that you know if you are persistent enough, it’ll get picked up someplace.

I have a short story coming out in Menacing Hedge in April that was rejected more than 50 times before getting an acceptance.

Are you contemplating writing any novels?

Funny you should ask! I very recently got picked up by an agent, the wonderful Adriann Ranta of WolfLit, and she’s shopping my postapocalyptic Western to publishers all and sundry as we speak. And just yesterday, in fact, I completed the first draft of a country noir / crime novel, which I’ll be sending along to Adriann as soon as it’s polished.

Do you think you could turn any of your short stories into the backdrop of a novel?

You know, I’ve never had much luck with that. You’d think that the background would be there for a larger exploration of some of the happenings in short stories, but for me, at least, a short story tends to be a contained unit, with a series of limited dilemmas that don’t necessarily translate well to a larger venue. Whereas the plots of novels are big to begin with, and so you’ve got more room to maneuver.

Who is your favorite character that you have written?

So speaking of short stories I’d *like* to turn into a novel, the character Axel Dacono / Frank Johnson (he has an alias, you see), who shows up in my stories “Dogs At The Door” and “Our Mutual Friend” in my collection MOONDOG OVER THE MEKONG, is a personal favorite. He’s a survivor, you know, and he doesn’t fuck around in the mucky middle of anything. He’s on full-bore all the time, like the people I most admire.

Axel Dacono deserves more breathing room, but it’s hard to say if he’ll get it.

Moondog Over the Mekong is your only curreny published work, excluding magazines and anthologies. Can you tell us a little about it?

Yep, it’s the only one. More in the works, soon, I hope, maybe after I get a novel out there into the world.

It’s a collection of stories I’ve been working on over the years, set in Thailand, Japan, and the rural Mountain West of the USA. They’re crime stories, for the most part, with a hard literary edge and some splashes of science fiction and fantasy. It it out on Amazon, waiting for you, even as we speak. You can find all of the links you will need at the end of this interview.

On your website you maintain a list of ‘Failures’. This is a rare yet very honest approach, and shows that perseverance is crucial to getting ahead in this business. What made you decide to post this list?

Because I was getting rejected left, right, and center, and feeling … ashamed about it. So following in the example of my friend Roxane Gay and a couple of others, I decided I wasn’t going to hide in the shadows with those rejections, but instead be totally forthcoming about them. Catharsis, right? And you know what, it totally worked. I’d post up a rejection and never think about it again. I couldn’t even tell you what’s on that list anymore. I never look at it. And haven’t felt the need to update it in quite some time, either.

When it comes to writing, do you have a set process you follow?

I’ve got two small children so, no. I’ve also got a full-time day job so, basically, I write when I’m not at work and the kids are unconscious. Which means early morning and late nights and those rare, blissful weekend occasions when their mother has taken them out of the house somewhere.

Would you say that you have any typical (or non-typical) ‘writerly’ idiosyncrasies at all?

Nah, I suspect I’m pretty typical. I like bourbon, I like coffee, I like words.

I do do all my first-draft writing using a program called DarkRoom, that resembles those green monitors of personal computing’s beginnings, where all the type is green and you can’t do anything but write. No spell check, no formatting, nothing. I don’t know if that’s an idiosyncrasy, exactly, though.

Do you plan out your pieces step by step or have a basic outline just there to keep you within sound much wider boundaries?

I’ve never been a good outliner. When writing a novel manuscript, I sometimes plan out a few chapters in advance but basically I just write as the story dictates. And then go back and fix the cracks and the holes later.

If you had to describe your writing in just three words, what would they be?

Ohhh, tough question. Maybe: hard-working grit.

Do you try to write with a message or theme, or simply with the point being entertainment?

No message or theme. What’s more boring than pedantic literature that has some supposed Great Meaning? Might as well be putting a PowerPoint up in cornflower-blue. I write strictly for the story, so, yeah, for the entertainment.

You have two young children right? How do you find writing with children around? I have four myself, and can attest to it being an interesting process. I became quite adept at typing while bottle feeding a baby.

Wow, you’re better at it than me. I never picked up that skill. Would have come in handy, had I known, though. And – four kids? And you still write? You, sir, deserve a medal. And a good bottle of bourbon.

My dad was a workaholic, and I always told myself that if I had kids, I’d put them first. So, when my kids come in the study, I power the computer down and hang out with them – most of the time. I’ll admit there are times I shoo them away, but for the most part, I try to commit to hanging with them while they’re around. The writing I get done, gets done when they’re asleep.

You clearly make sure that your children come first, and that is an admirable quality. Do you ever think about trying your hand at writing something for children?

Ha! I don’t think I have the stuff for that. There are so many wonderful children’s books out there, which my kids devour in great quantities, and I’m looking forward to introducing them to the vast selection of fantastic YA books, when they’re older, and adult books soon enough after that. I’m not sure what contribution I could make, actually.

I am keen to tell my kids they can become or do anything… what makes them happy. How would you react if your children were to come to you and say that want to become a writer/artist, over a job with a steady income and corporate hierarchy?

Of course, in theory I’d tell them to follow their bliss. But I spent a lot of years working unsatisfying jobs because I had a useless university degree (philosophy) and was pretty bad at picking out a career path. If I had it to do over again, I think I’d probably tell my 18-year old self to ditch the Nietzsche and Aquinas and pick up a useful trade. I don’t know, engineering or something.

Anyway, I’m going to encourage my kids to have a useful skill, anything from welding or carpentry to lab chemistry or whatever, which they can use to fend off the pecuniary demons while still pursuing their creative impulses (if they have them, which I suppose they will – this stuff is genetic, ain’t it?). So, while I wouldn’t necessarily encourage them to go corporate (I was miserable during my brief stint in the corporate world), I wouldn’t discourage them from thinking practically, either. The world doesn’t owe them or me a living, and there’s little sense in racking up $100,000 in student loans learning to imitate other poets, so you spend the next decade living in my basement and a further decade paying off that massive loan.

A lot of parents I know would scoff at such ideas and admonish me as being irresponsible. Would you agree that we are slowly losing sight of the important things in life in the name of materialism?

Oh, I don’t know. What is life, that isn’t material? I’m not particularly idealistic about much of anything these days, having burned all that out of me my 20’s; these days I’m a pragmatist. I think you have to find a balance between making your way in the dirty world as it is while maintaining your own inner sense of equilibrium.

About the only thing practical I got out of my study of philosophy is a long-term admiration of the ancient Stoics, and their commitment to equanimity in the face of all things. Unless you were born into the aristocracy of Heian Japan, the world has never been a particularly friendly place for those with a creative bent. Seems to me the sooner you make your peace with that, the smoother things will go.

Ok, that got a little serious there, let’s bring it back to writing.

What writer has inspired you the most until now?

Oh, God, I couldn’t narrow it to one. Living? Dead? There are just so many fantastic writers out there, living and dead, that any attempt to construct a list would only result in me leaving lots of them off.

Would you ever co-author a book? If so with whom would you most like to work with?

I’ve never thought about that. I don’t know if I could do that – to quote Tom Waits, I’m pretty selfish about my privacy. Writing’s a very intimate thing and I don’t know if I could snuggle up to another writer that close, you know?

Having said that, I’d sure think about it if the possibility came along.

I am currently interviewing two writers that walked away from the world of traditional publishing to follow the independent route. Where do you stand on the Indie VS NY Big Six debate? Would you go corporate or are you indie for life?

Well, considering that I just recently signed with an agent who’s trying to get me a traditional book deal (go Adriann, go!), I guess you’d have to say I’ve sided with the Big Six. But that would be a touch disingenuous – in reality, I’ve got a foot in both worlds. I’ll never forget that an indie publisher – Snubnose Press – published my first short story collection, and all the indie mags I’ve been fortunate enough to have my stuff published in. Plus, I’m an editor at Out of the Gutter Online, and also an acquiring Editor at the newly-reopened Gutter Books, and we’re indie as fuck.

I think every writer has to find a path that works for him or her. For some that will be the traditional path, squeezing past the gatekeepers and getting a traditional publishing deal. For others that will mean sticking with the indie presses and possibly going the academia route. And others will self-publish, which I think is as legit as any of the others. There’s no “better” or “worse” way, as far as I’m concerned, just ways that work.

 

 

As Court mentioned, his collection of short stories Moondog Over the Mekong is available on Amazon and can purchased here

You can also find him on Facebook, Twitter or via his website.

In the Books featuring Diaries of the Damned: Jessica by Alex Laybourne

Reblogged from The BiaLog:

If interested, you can purchase the book here.

A video review of the first installment of the Diaries of the Damned

Foreign Language Books and Translations

For the Independent (or self-published) author there is one thing that will continue to elude our grasp, and in some way hold us back from really challenging the Traditional ‘tribe’ for the number one spot.

Foreign languages and book translations.

Big name authors are published in multiple languages, it is part of the natural progression of things. If you can get books out there in multiple languages, you can develop an even larger fan base. It may come as a shock to many, but there are a lot of people out there who read books in languages other than English. I mean that statement with no disrespect. It was a concept that had eluded my own thoughts on many levels until just recently.

How many independent authors out there have taken steps to have their books published in another language?

Surely the process is simple right? To be honest I have no clue, I haven’t investigated it, but it would seem to me that you can upload a book in any language?

If not… why not?

I live in the Netherlands, I am surrounded by non-English speakers, and they read (drum-roll please) Dutch language books. Why should I not bring my sales to the home front and get my books translated (somehow) and publish them for my home market. Build a second brand and see if that can lead somewhere.

The world is small, just because people read in dutch, doesn’t mean the only communicate with Dutch people. More people talking about your books is more potential sales right?

Do you see any future for indie publishing and the world of foreign langauge prints? Is it worth the investment? I guess there are certain questions of the quality of the translation, etc. but if it is a language that you are familiar with, surely it is worth a go… right?

Who Dares Wins – Alex Laybourne Interviews NYT Bestselling Author Bob Mayer

Today I am hosting an author who has reached the summit that all writer’s dream of… the New York Times Bestseller list. He has sold millions of copies of his books around the globe, and embraced the indie publishing culture with aplomb. It is my absolute honor to be able to sit down and chat with nobody less than Mr. Bob Mayer.

With over 50 published titles to your name, you are the very definition of a successful author. Do you remember where the writing bug came from?

From reading a lot.  As a kid, I was a voracious reader.

 

Rumor has it that you have sold over 4 million copies. Does it ever get old, seeing people reading your books?

I’ve very rarely seen anyone reading my books.  I was on the ferry coming off Whidbey Island and looked in my rearview mirror and saw someone reading one of my books in his car, but then realized it was my neighbor who’d I’d given the book to.

 

Putting aside finances and that side of ‘success’ do you still feel the same way about a new book today as you did when you finished writing your first ever novel?

By the time you finish writing a book, editing it, and having it published, you’re actually kind of sick of it.  People ask what my favorite book is and I always say:  the one I’m writing now.

 

Before you were an author, you were a member of the armed forces; a green beret to be precise. Was the military path one you had always planned to take?

No.  I actually pretty much went to West Point as a way to go to college.  I didn’t really know what to expect.

 

What was the most important lesson you learned during your service?

Preparation is key.  Hard work pays off.  Trusting your teammates is critical.

 

You have used the principles instilled during military service in your writing. Do you think you would have made it so far as a writer without it?

No.  I use a lot of my military background in my writing.  Also, the skills I learned in Special Forces have allowed me to switch from traditional publishing to indie publishing and form my own company.

 

Who Dares Wins is somewhat of a catchphrase for you, and I too am a big believer in aiming high and pushing hard for your goals. Would you agree that being brave enough to reach for what you truly want is one of the keys to long term success?

The key to long term success is setting a long term goal and doing whatever it takes to achieve that goal.

 

When was the first time you can recall using the phrase?

It’s the motto of the British Special Air Services—their form of Green Berets.

 

You and your partner in crime business Jennifer Talty have your own publishing company. Cool Gus Publishing. Where did the name come from?

We couldn’t use Who Dares Wins any more because the British government actually owns the trademark.  So we were trying to think of a name for our company and I looked down and Gus was lying under my desk, and he’s pretty cool, so . . .

 

You have grown the company into sometime quite spectacular in a short period of time. What is the secret behind your success?

Honestly, having the rights to my large backlist.  We are now expanding.  Jennifer Probst, who is a NY Times Bestselling romance author will launch a new series with us in November.  We’re very excited about that.

 

How many authors do you have published under the Cool Gus name?

We have 11.  We’re only looking to add a couple of more because we don’t view it as publishing but rather partnering with authors.  So we have to give them individual attention and focus.

 

Kristen Lamb is one of those names correct? She is quite the lady.

Kristin was the first author other than me that we published.  She introduced me to Twitter and got me started on social media.  That was critical as it takes time to build community on-line and I’ve been doing it ever since she got me started.

 

You also do a lot of public speaking, incorporating elements of writing and military life. It must be quite an experience having so many people eagerly listening to your every word.

I take what we did in Special Forces and apply it to other fields.  It works well with small businesses, sports teams, start-ups. Etc.  We developed the best team in the world, the Green Beret A-Team, so the tactics and techniques we used are very valid and time and battle tested.

 

Writer, Public Speaker, Publisher, you wear a lot of different hats. Do you have a favorite?

I prefer writing.  Creating something from nothing.

 

To finish off, it would be hard to run an interview without asking you about the Area 51 Series. You have been writing it since the mid 1990’s. Is this something you intend to keep running for as long as possible, or is there a specific end point that you have planned?

We’ve launched a spin off series titled Area 51 Nightstalkers.  The first book came out last December and the next book comes out on 30 July.  I also plan on launching a serial, Burners, soon. The original Area 51 series actually came to an end with Area 51 The Truth, the 7th book.  The next two, Legend and Nosferatu are prequels.  The Nightstalkers books stand on their own.

 

Thank you once again for taking the time to talk to me. I am honored and truly appreciate being given the opportunity.

Thanks for having me!

 

With so many published titles it would be overwhelming for me to link to each and every one of them, so if you are interested in reading some of Bob’s work, and I highly recommend that you absorb every syllable, you can check out his Amazon Author page.

You can also find Bob via his Website or on Facebook  To find out more about Cool Gus Publishing and the talented authors they partner with, you can visit their website

   

 

A Thrilling Tale of Adventure and Magic -Alex Laybourne Reviews The Sword and the Flame The Forging

The Sword and the Flame The Forging by C.P. Bialois

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was very impressed with this novel. It is the first in series, but never at any time felt like being such.

We were introduced to the characters at a nice pace, brisk and well interspersed with a decent level of initial details. The two female leads, Viola and Janessa are friends from mixed pasts; one a (to become) powerful mage, the other a halfling; a thief.

When a traveling band of merchants and pit fighters arrive to set up camp on the edge of town, we are introduced to Berek, the hero of our tale, a strong man, a human with innate powers nobody understands, least of all himself. His uncle a fellow mage and holy man Gilliam soon enters the tale and along the way on the search for a hidden treasure they pick up merchant and dwarf Galin.

I won’t give away the plot, or what happens, but as the character lines are drawn the initial quest is one of freedom.

With Renard set up as the villain of the tale early on, and his gargoyle ‘pet’ Felch the books main antagonist, the plot begins to move along with the only possible outcome finding place in the final pages of the story. Plot points come together nicely, and the few remaining questions you may have are perfectly set for the second installment. The one thing you will be asking yourself when you finish the book is ‘just who is Mern?’ One thing for sure, he is certainly set to be an interesting character in the next book and beyond.

I am not normally a big Fantasy reader, but this book caught my attention and help me the whole way through. I would not only consider reading more in this genre, but certainly by this author.

View all my reviews

Bad Santa – Alex Laybourne Reviews Insurrection aka Don’t Fuck with the Fat Man

Insurrection aka Don’t Fuck with the Fat Man by G.N. Braun

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second short story from this author and while it is certainly different to Bubba wants YOU, there is still a harshness to the writing, a biting reality that will have you shivering.

The story itself is almost comedic, in so far as it is about Santa hunting down his elves, but the style of the piece and the tone that gets set early on is anything but funny. Unless, like me you are dark and slightly twisted.

We are presented with a Santa that is anything but the plump jolly man we all know and love. He is a dirty old man, I imagined him with stained, yellow teeth (and underwear) with nicotine colored fingers and a somewhat lecherous face.

The elves, who he keeps as slaves have revolted and so Santa arms himself to the teeth and goes hunting.

The story is excellently paced, and holds your attention through to the end – in the style I have no come to expect from this author – which does not disappoint.

View all my reviews

 

 

A Brutal Piece of Fiction – Alex Laybourne reviews Bubba Wants YOU by G.N. Braun

What can I say about this short story other than… WOW.

It is short, a few minutes reading, but what it coveys in such a few number of words is something that will have you paused for thought a good time after.

It is a hard and harsh story that pulls no punches and will have you feeling almost queasy at times.

The main character is a man you hate, you detest him from the opening paragraph, yet even then, at the end, you wince for him.

I guess if you are a person looking for metaphors and hidden meanings in your fiction then Bubba wants you to know that there is always a bigger fish in the pond.

A fantastic story that has me itching to read more by this author.

If you like your fiction to be fast paced and brutal then this is certainly the story for you.

You can read it for FREE at the the following address.  http://www.legumeman.com/free%20junk.html

Turning the Tables – Alex Laybourne Interviews Nick Wale

I first met my guest today a few months ago on Facebook. We were introduced by a mutual friend. At the time I was looking for someone to help me get some interest in my novel which had just been released. I started chatting with Nick, and it soon became apparent that he was a man that had a plan, and was going places. In the time since, we have chatted often, and he never fails to amaze me with his hard work, and great interviews. Maybe that is why I am so happy that I have gotten this interview, for the chance to put him on the spot for a change.

 This was my first ever live interview, and I could not think of a better first person to talk with. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you… Nick Wale

  

  Who is Nick Wale?

Nick Wale is a guy who decided to create a free blog and then turn it into a business. He found some writers, interviewed them, decided the process was fun and made himself a writer for other writers.

 

You look a little sleepy, has it been a long day?

Sorry, Alex. I just woke up!

 

Just woke up? It is seven in the evening. Was it a late night or did you have a nap?

I was working all night interviewing and editing. Sometimes, I find myself doing five, six or even seven interviews in a row. It’s a good thing I’m a night owl.

 

That would explain how we always overlap each other on Facebook.

We usually find ourselves talking at 4am– you’re the early bird and I’m the owl.

 

We make quite the team, 24-hour coverage.

Indeed! Writers need never worry about interviews again.

we’ve got them covered.

 

Would you say that you hold somewhat irregular sleeping hours?

Yeah, I do if you are thinking in terms of England. Since most of my clients are in the US, I accommodate my schedule to best suit them. I’m around when they have finished dinner and are most likely to have the time to work on getting their book promoted.

 

You are far more used to being on this side of the pen. How does it feel to be having the questions fired at you?

Well, a lot of the pressure is off. It’s easier to answer the questions than think of them on the spot. Although, frankly, I think you are doing a great job! How does it feel to be interviewing live? Have you got into the groove?

 I think I am getting there. You’re right that I normally email my questions. I must admit that there is something special about a live interview.

 

A good interview should be fluid. When you are talking to somebody you need to be prepared to take the interview in any number of directions depending on the answers received, so that you don’t get caught flat-footed, do you agree? Are live interviews the way to go?

If it wasn’t for the busy schedule of writers I’d say. it’s the only way to go. It’s an art! You have to keep a writer’s interest– be direct and to the point. Do your research and come well prepared. You can’t cheat time– you can’t repair typos– if you are doing a live interview the heat is on… Pressure? Yes.  Fun? Always.

 

It clearly sounds as though you love what you do.

It’s something every blogger does to some extent – it gets you exposure, hits, it gives you an audience. I just happened to become an interviewer rather than a fiction writer. I love meeting people, connecting, networking; that is the word of the day. You don’t know where it will lead you.

 

The power of networking is something that I can certainly attest to. Do you find it strange that so many people struggle with networking, even in today’s social media age?

No, not at all. The social media age is pretty complex when you think about it. It’s a huge thing and it has to be explored fully to get the most out of it. I think as a writer you need to be at least able to use some elements of social media—at least Facebook or Twitter? But, if you want to take advantage of the biggest market in the world, you need to sit down and learn all the facets of social media and exploit them.

When used effectively, I believe it can take a book from 0 sales to 10,000 overnight if used properly.

 

So you would agree that now is a great time in history to be a writer.

Actually, it’s the most difficult time to be a writer in some ways. It seems like the whole world is writing a book. Right now, to get noticed, you need to really make use of every tool in the PR tool box. Saying that– it is amazing that anyone can write a book and have it on sale within a few days… I think we may well see the return of the novella! Short stories are coming back and being sold weekly!

 

Short fiction does seem to be making a comeback and I, for one, am all for it.

I know! How are your short stories doing?

  They are doing very well, thank you. I just finished the fifth one in my series today.

 

You are a young gun, you just turned 23 last week right? Yet, here you are making a name for yourself as an interviewer. Have you always been more of the wise and mature sort of character?

Yes, I turned 23 last Saturday. I’m Aquarius which is ideal for an interviewer. I am also a pretty old soul which gives me an edge. I can pretty much work with anyone and hold my own. I’ve never been the stereotype of my generation. I’ve always been a few steps ahead and looking in new directions. I get a lot of people who say, “You’re 23?”

So, yes, I’d have to say I’ve always been a little older than my real age.

 

Twenty-three years old and already you have been crowned the King of Interviewers. Who was it that bestowed the title upon you?

(Laughs) Eve Littlepage, who wrote a fascinating book called “Celestial Bodies” decided I was “King of Author Interviews”… I think it’s rather funny actually. I’m just glad people enjoy my work to such an extent!

 

So, you don’t feel any added pressure from the title?

Well there’s always pressure from titles.. But it’s not a widely known title and I can normally laugh it off. I’m just a guy doing good work and enjoying himself.

 

Let’s talk about interviewing a little bit. You need to build up a good rapport with your client, right?

Yes, if possible it’s always best to chat with a writer first and work out his/ her personality. You need to fit in with the way the writer thinks and try to make them as comfortable as possible. You can only really get good rapport if you can get them onside. That means no sharking around– you need to ask good questions that lead to good answers. It doesn’t happen every time, and that’s when you ‘can’ the interview and rebook it.

 

Have you had to ‘can’ an interview before because the timing and ‘banter’ was just not there?

Sure, plenty of times. The first instance was with a writer who was so drunk they just gave endless “eeeeeeeeeeee” answers. I’ve also done interviews where answers I got were just yes or no, and nothing else. You can’t publish an interview with twelve yes or no answers.

 

A drunk author? I bet that won’t be the last time you encounter such a problem

Hey – everyone gets drunk sometimes, feels angry or has a bad day. Normally, you can calm a writer down by asking good questions and taking their mind off their problems. Sometimes, however, it just doesn’t work, and it is easier to break away and arrange a later date.

My advice is don’t drink and interview!

 

Take us through the process. How do you prepare for an interview?

I always chat at length with a writer beforehand and learn about them. I try never to over-prepare. I like the writer to sell his/ her books to me. I always start with the usual questions – just to build the overall quality of the interview – then I just wander off and explore those wonderfully creative minds! There’s so much to see and learn.

 

Is that why so many of your interviews are with writers? The creativity that is there waiting to be explored.

Yes, exactly. Writers are the most fascinating people to me. Each has a distinctive and wonderful style – each tells stories and makes new worlds just through thought. That to me is fascinating – by interviewing them, I can learn how the magic happens. When writers start doing their thing, the magic flows and when you start interviewing a writer that same magic flows onto the page. It’s a wonderful feeling to read back over an interview and think WOW He/she answered those questions in THAT way! How original!

 

You have mentioned to me in the past the editing is the key to a successful live interview. How long does it take for you to edit an interview and bring it live onto your website http://www.nickwale.org?

 Well, I do the first edit to tighten an interview up. Then it goes to my proofreader to correct all possible punctuation and grammar errors. Then I write the blurbs, add appropriate photos and publish. It’s usually a fair few hours between the end of an interview and the finished property. I learnt to take my time and learn the art! You can’t cheat the words!

It helps that LoriAnn is an excellent proofreader!

 

Tell me, what is it like working with your wife-to-be? The two of you are, for want of a better word, business partners after all.

LoriAnn is a perfectionist, and she’s a real grammar demon. I mean, she’s been an English teacher and has all the English qualifications you can ask for. I’m more of a freewheeling soul– so I’m sure I infuriate her at times. She will work for hours editing something and I’ll rewrite the whole piece and present her with a further few hours of work. The thing is, Alex, she’s much smarter than I am and that is why she’s the proofreader and I’m the interviewer!

Working with your wife-to-be is a wonderful experience; we can depend on each other. It’s wonderful and the connection we share astounds me.

 

It sounds like the perfect relationship in both life and business.

You know how it is, Alex! It’s a partnership! You have to share and give, you love one another and argue at times– but it’s always wonderful.

 

Speaking of your business, you have just started charging for interviews and other promotional services. How has the response been to this?

Well, I’ve always charged for interviews because I invest so much time into them. I professionally cater to writers and promote all interviews to a vast audience. It’s a full time job. The response has always been the same. 90% of writers love it and have no complaints because they want results; 5% can’t afford the 20 bucks and we work out a deal; and 5% think I’m a shark. It’s the way of the world. Most writers believe in paying for a service, and for the prices I charge who is really going to complain? What is 20 bucks? When the end result is a professionally written and edited interview, with promotion to a vast audience… it’s nothing!

 

That is true, and you do deliver a consistently great quality of work. Well done on that, by the way.

Thanks, Alex! Well, I know you’ll move into the paid interviews soon! We’ve already discussed it and I think you have the right ideas.

It is something that I am toying with the idea of I will admit. It would help pay the bills.

 

So what are your plans? Where do you see Nickwale.org and Novel Ideas heading?

We have just diversified and created “Nick Wale presents Hot Books”. This is a new service that gives writers a place to advertise their books. It’s a dollar a day and it’s taking off. People read the interviews and click over to Hot Books and buy the novel. It’s a simple process. I’ve been making deals all week to get authors from all genres and walks of life onto our “Hot Books” service. As regards interviews, I have emails everyday requesting my services. Business is booming and I’m excited about the future.

I do have another idea already in my mind. I want to start an online magazine and pay writers for content. I think it will be a great way for writers to make money from their work. I hope to take that even further and create a printed magazine and one day maybe even a publishing house. Writers have to eat and it’s about time someone made it possible for every writer to do so full time. Too many writers are working 9-5 jobs they hate just to pay the bills. In my opinion, writers should be writing.

  I couldn’t agree with you more. I work 9-5 and write in my free time. While I enjoy my job, I feel… caged.

 

 It certainly sounds like you have your head screwed on right and you have some big plans. I like the phrase ‘Aim big or go home’ and you seem to have that mastered.

That’s exactly how it is Alex! “Aim big,” nobody else will aim big for you! I’ve been unemployed, employed, broke, and affluent. All have pros and cons and none beat living your dream. A friend of mine, writer Don Keith, told me once, “You can’t please everybody– so you’ve got to please yourself.” You know what? He was right.

 

You are writing a book on Marketing at the moment.

I am indeed! It centers on the use of social media. I believe all writers can use social media to sell more books than they can imagine. Again, it is all down to networking. You need to meet bloggers, find a market and seek out new avenues. You need to sell yourself and then your books will sell. People buy into you as a writer first and then buy the books. I want people to start using social media in a way nobody has used it before. It’s one huge market and it needs to be tapped.

 

So many people seem to direct their marketing plan to the US based audience that they forget about the other countries out there. Being based in the UK, do you make it a point to advise people not to forget the rest of the world?

I think the US is a huge market but US writers are breaking it, too Many US writers want UK and European sales. I think the home turf should be conquered first. Let’s get the European market, the UK market, the Australian market covered. Let’s sell books instead of wasting time trying to break into a market so vast AND inundated. I believe people DO forget the home markets and that’s a mistake. The UK is a big book market and publishers like Salgad are making headway. So, let’s all look at where the market has room and get those books sold!

 

Being based in the UK do you feel that gives are a more rounded view on global marketing opportunities?

Yes! I do believe I have a more rounded view. I’ve travelled extensively and I know that people read books the world over. If they read books– they buy books, and if they buy books– they’re quite likely to buy yours!

 

Well, that about sums it up Nick. Thanks for taking the time to chat with me tonight.

 No problem, Alex. I am a huge fan of your work and I’d just like to say that you have a great writing style.

 

Thanks, now I am off to conquer that home market!

  

You can find out more about Nick or to read some of his amazing interviews, check out his website www.Nickwale.org. He also offers a wide range of author publicity services at very reasonable prices.

 

If you have a book that you want reviewed or promoted, then check out www.hotbooks.nickwale.org.