Barbara G. Tarn's Blog, page 117
January 25, 2015
Sunday Surprise
My name is Brenda de Zorig and I���m a journalist for the Konigtown Gazette. I���ve been on the road for years as an actress in an itinerant company, but eventually decided to go back to my hometown to start living of the thing I like the most ��� writing. So while I write my Masterpiece, I took this job at the Gazette and they send me on various assignments��� I thought I might as well starting interviewing random people. Since I intend to write fiction, but truth is always stranger than fiction, I���m eager to hear about people out there ��� on my world or beyond.
So… um, we have two people today and one is… interesting! Shall we start with him? Tell me a little about yourself, young man.
My name is Shan-leo Shermac and I’m twenty-two. I’m the son of a Sire aristocrat, grandson of the last Sire emperor and a telepath. But I don’t like being considered the galaxy’s most wanted bachelor because of my name and ancestors. As for what you’re staring at goggle-eyed, I lost my right arm in a flying car accident when I was seventeen, so I now have this wonderful prosthetic.
Flying car? Prosthetic? Fine, let’s move on. You have an air of nobility about yourself, but… Describe your appearance in ten words or less.
An alien Humanoid with a bionic arm.
I wish I could say I understand what you’re saying… Would you kill for those you love? And would you die for them?
I’m a telepath and an empath, so I find it hard to kill anyone. Even the evilest mind might have a redeeming spot ��� and I can see it, unless it’s another telepath or has artificial mind shields. I have genetically reinforced skin, therefore I’m pretty tough to kill. I admit I’m lucky, neither I nor my loved ones have been in a life-threatening situation ��� at least not lately.
So I guess there’s more to your story… Where do you live?
I live on the Imperial planet, Marc’harid, with the rest of the Sire ��� but I look forward to exploring more.
Are you involved in a relationship? If so, with who and what is it about them that you find appealing?
Not yet. I know the love of my life is not on Marc’harid, and that’s another reason to go looking elsewhere.
What is the biggest challenge you face in the story?
Finding stolen manuscripts and a wicked Manuscripts Collector.
Manuscripts! Now we talk the same language! Do you have a family? Tell me about them.
My father Ker-ris has a mind link with my Uncle Kol-ian, his “wicked brother-in-law”. My icy mother is dead. I’m an only child, so I adopted Dadina who is also an only child. But we now have a very extended family of friends of our parents and their kids!
Please give me an interesting and unusual fact about yourself.
I love calligraphy and my bionic hand is perfect to hold the quill. Sometimes I feel like a luddite with my love for ancient paper, ink and pens, but I think the past holds answers to the future.
What 2 or 3 questions do you wish I’d asked and what are your answers to them?
What will I do with myself? Not sure yet, but I might become a librarian. When? I don’t know. When I’m done exploring the galaxy, I guess. If you want to hear of life-threatening situations, you better check my father’s life story… He’s the sexiest Sire alive, might be worth checking how he got used and mind-controlled by my mother…
Your father is the sexiest Sire alive? Oh, my… I think you’re quite… interesting yourself! All right, let’s hear it from the young lady with you.
Tell me a little about yourself.
I’m Dadina Maela, nineteen-year-old techno-geek who works in the cybernetics department of the Vaurabi Labs. I have only one biological parent, since I was born on a planet where the Y-chromosome lives four days and women make sperm from their bone-marrow.
Oh, boy, that impossible babble again… Describe your appearance in ten words or less.
Sort of clone of my mother, blonde cyborg Maela.
What is your role in the story?
Being the techno-geek, I can’t let luddite Shan-leo travel on his starship on his own, right? Besides, I helped with the mainframe of the starship and even named it Haiduc. It’s Sylvanian for “outlaw”.
Interesting name for a ship… What is your relationship with the protagonist?
I’m Shan-leo’s foster sister. Since we’re both only children of single parents, we adopted each other. Years ago Shan-leo even suggested my mother married his father ��� but it would have been a fake wedding for appearances sake.
Where do you live?
I’ve been living on Marc’harid for twelve years. My mother works for Kol-ian and Ker-ris who were kind enough to give us a new home. I haven’t seen my home planet, Sylvania, since I was five.
Are you involved in a relationship? If so, with who and what is it about them that you find appealing?
I’m afraid my crush on Shan-leo isn’t completely over yet. I keep comparing all my prospective boyfriends to him. But he’s so… I know, I’ll get over him. Eventually.
Please give me an interesting and unusual fact about yourself.
When I was twelve and Shan-leo fifteen, I was so lonely again that I built a robot to keep myself company. I called it Chibi. I still have it, and after Shan-leo lost his arm, I reprogrammed it to sound like him at ten.
I sure hope what you said was clearer for the readers than it is to me… thank you for your time!
Shan-leo and Dadina are co-protagonists of Star Minds Next Generation. The saga continues ��� ten years after the end of the trilogy, here’s what happens to the children.
Aristocratic adventurer on a starship called “outlaw”.
Raised as imperial prince, Shan-leo doesn’t miss his former status. At twenty-two, he gets to define his destiny without being forced on a path traced by his family. Following his love for calligraphy, he discovers a black market of stolen manuscripts, which starts the adventure of a lifetime.
Coming soon in ebook and print!
January 22, 2015
Random Friday
Todya we’re more into the reading randomness. As I mentioned, I want to write out of my comfort zone, so when I found this contest (and since the deadline is so close but it’s a yearly feature I have added it to the bookmarks for future submissions) I tried reading some real SF. Before I start one of those bundles I got last year, I re-read Expedition to Earth, since the dead trees version was already on my shelves and I haven’t re-read it since I bought it approximately 20 years ago.
Now I won’t rate it or anything, I just wanted to comment on the last story, The Sentinel (base for Kubrick’s 2001 Space Odissey that I watched once, hated and swore never to watch again, but that’s just me! ;) I don’t get Kubrick, that’s all). In there Mr.Clarke postulates that we’d have a base of some sort on the moon by 1996. I daresay this belief stuck up to the early 1970s (anyone remembers Space 1999? I saw it both in Italian and French, LOL) but now? It’s still in the realm of science fiction. Sigh. So many high hopes in the first half of last century and then what happened? Man walked on the moon and then we were too busy with our petty squabbles to try again?
And then I went on Amazon to order my DVDs for the year (although one is still in pre-order, but since John Wick did come out but it’s just the dubbed version, I’ll just wait for the DVD – action movies in theaters are too loud for my tastes anyway) and in the search page (I needed to re-buy a DVD that doesn’t work so well anymore – maybe I watched it too much? ;) Might be…) I found this comic… I’d have preferred the paper version (especially since I have an old Kindle Keyboard with B&W screen), but then, that’s what Calibre is for! ;)
The story is set between the movies, and the art… meh. Which didn’t stop me from getting both this one and the Constantine (the movie) one, even if I knew I prefer when I draw them, LOL! So now I have two official comics with Da Muses… I better draw one myself, although I’ll probably stick to silly vignettes, throw them all in the Kindle Comic Creator and publish them when I have enough for a decent-sized ebook! :D
If anyone would like to be interviewed on this blog, or any character would like to be interviewed, contact me ASAP! Have a great weekend!
January 20, 2015
Writer Wednesday
Star Minds Next Generation is coming… probably some time next week! ;) In the meantime I’m writing more stories in the Star Minds universe – in a couple of months there will be Star Minds Next Generation Diaries, the companion to the novel (but in this case, the companion will be longer than the novel. With Star Minds and Star Minds Snippets, the latter was shorter, but then, the first is a trilogy! ;) – both will have a cover by Maurizio Manzieri).
And then much later in the year, Star Minds Interregnum, related stories of what happens to the Star Nations after the fall of the Galactic Empire and before the Humanoid Wars – that I will not relate, except maybe with a short story/writing exercise, since military SF is way out of my comfort zone. But then, I mentioned this year I want to try to write outside of my comfort zone and experiment, didn’t I? So we’ll see.
I will also write more short stories in the hope of submitting them to traditional markets and/or use them to lure newsletter subscribers and/or for Patreon. Mighty Jo is doing a series of posts on where to find her outside of Facebook – I’m not going to any of those sites, especially Twitter and Google+, so don’t invite me and don’t add me to your circle – and will stick to Facebook and Goodreads for the time being. But I think all writers should start considering Patreon seriously. In the words of my friend M.L. Buchman:
Just like Kickstarter, it began like a webcomic and music Platform and it is only just now being discovered by writers–with varying degrees of success. There’s plenty of room over there. And it’s a win-win. The more writers we get there, the more fans will be drawn to it who think, “Hey, each time they release a story, sure I’ll buy them a cup of coffee to celebrate.” So, check it out, maybe it’s a worthwile Platform for you to improve and monetize connections with fans.”
There are also two ways of finding patrons, monthly (like Dean Wesley Smith) or “per creation” (like M.L. Buchman), which is something I’m really considering this year that I’ll be slower with the “publish” button. Whenever I join, I know I’ll support the following creators:
Elephant Wendigo (my cover artist for Male Lovers)
Clarkesworld (because Neil Clarke is the best editor evah!)
Dean Wesley Smith (because he’s my writing guru and when I grow up I wanna be like him)
M.L. Buchman (since he says it so well! ;) Besides, checking his page I discovered there are two ways of doing things on Patreon)
and then we’ll see who else joins! Will keep you posted when I do…
I shall leave you with Hugh Howey’s thoughts on the future of publishing. No, the sky is not falling, but it’s constantly changing – enjoy chasing the clouds and the stars passing by! ;) And don’t forget that passion is key – if you’re in it for the money, you might as well quit now! :D Have a great week!
January 18, 2015
Sunday Surprise
And it’s another guest! From Strange Portals! And her story is actually one of the 5stars – I didn’t mention them all, but I had jotted down to contact the author for an interview and there you have it! Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Adan Ramie!
Where do you live and write from?
I live in a small town in Texas. It���s a quiet, unassuming little city, which is nice, but I���d prefer to live in a less conservative state. I write in the middle of my living room, amidst the shuffle of family life; it isn���t always the best environment for concentration, but it helps me remain in control of the little ones.
Why do you write?
I write because it helps me make sense of the world. When life throws me curveballs, I can use my writing to help me process the emotions that are often too overwhelming to face head-on. I���ve tried NOT writing, and it was terrible.
When did you start writing?
I started writing as soon as I could make words on paper. I started writing short stories in elementary school and novellas around puberty.I wrote my first novel around fifteen; it has since been properly destroyed.
What genre(s) do you write?
I write mostly dark fiction. A lot, but not all, of my stories have LGBT+ themes or characters. Some genres my work fits into are thriller, drama, dystopian, and horror.
What does your writing routine consist of?
Most days I start by chugging down some water while I���m checking e-mails and doing other writing-related tasks. Then I eat breakfast, send the children off to school, and get down to the business of writing and/or editing. I tend to end my day with writing or writing-related things as well.
What do you feel are your strengths as a writer? How have you developed these qualities?
My strengths as a writer? I think my writing has a distinctive voice that carries a punch. I am often able to tell a whole story in a small amount of words. I���ve developed these qualities the way anyone would: practice, execute, fail, practice���
Where do you find your inspiration? Do you put yourself in your stories?
I find inspiration everywhere. Sometimes I go looking for it in writing prompts. Other times, a phrase, scene, or feeling hits me, and the skeleton of a story is born.
I think a lot of authors will tell you that it���s difficult NOT to put yourself in your stories. A part of me, whether large or small, goes into everything I write. I try to stay out of Mary Sue territory, but I can definitely see myself and my life in the stories that I write.
Outliner or improviser? Fast or slow writer?
Forever, I was an improviser, a ���pantser��� without so much as a fully-formed idea, let alone an outline. But I couldn���t get any novels written that way. I have piles of half- or partly-finished manuscripts on my hard drive that are gathering figurative dust because I never played the long game with them. I didn���t think them through, and they ended up falling flat. Now, I plan and it works a whole lot better for me.
If I can get myself to sit down and ignore all the distractions that come with life, I can write pretty fast. I type at an alarmingly quick pace, and my brain is always going faster than I would like it to, so the words tend to come quickly. That being said, some things have taken me way too long to finish because I���m a chronic procrastinator. (But I���m working on that.)
Tell us about your latest book (add link if published)
Right now, I���m in the second round with my book, Maladaptation. It���s out with some beta readers, but I���m hoping I���ll start getting feedback soon and be able to do the last round of big revisions within the next month. I���m shooting to publish it within the next three months.
Indie publishing or traditional publishing – and why?
I like indie publishing. It���s an interesting process to me, and it appeals to me in the very different spheres of my personality. I love control, order, and a detailed process, and indie publishing definitely gives me that. I also live for pumping my creative juices into a project, and it gives me that, too.
That isn���t to say I won���t one day pursue traditional publishing. I have been published traditionally for several short stories. Some of the publications that have published my work are This Dark Matter, Paper Tape Magazine, and Skin to Skin. I���ve also been a part of two anthologies, Beyond the Nightlight and Strange Portals.
Any other projects in the pipeline?
Right now, I have a lot going on. When I���m not working on Maladaptation, I���m submitting short stories for publication, writing flash fiction for my blog, reading and reviewing books, and working on a degree. Who knows? I could have another novel almost ready for publication by the end of the year.
What is your goal as a writer and what are you doing to achieve it?
My goal is to be a full-time author who can pay the bills with her earnings. It���s all I���ve really ever wanted. What I���m doing to achieve it is to keep writing, editing, revising, submitting, and publishing. It takes a lot of work to be a full-time writer, and I���m giving it all I���ve got.
What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever been given?
That���s simple. The best piece of writing advice I ever read was from Stephen King. He said, ���The scariest moment is always just before you start. After that, things can only get better.���
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Where to find Adan
Blog: http://adanramieblog.wordpress.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AdanRamie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AdanRamie
Tumblr: http://adanramie.tumblr.com/
January 15, 2015
Random Friday
And it’s Art Friday! Since last Saturday was Hrithik’s birthday, he got his pencil portrait as usual. First of the year, took me less than two hours… It might be his year – or the year he becomes Muse #1 – although when he reaches 15million fans on Facebook I’ll probably bow out.
And John Wick is coming out next week in Italy (if I manage to find it in original version, since I hate dubbing, otherwise I’ll have to get the DVD on Amazon a couple of weeks later). And there are and none for Hrithik, since his next epic will release in 2016, so… I’ll probably keep both muses for another year – even if I turn half a century in approximately 8 months. What? ;) Only men can have Peter Pan syndrome? ;)
Barb & Da Muses
I also did a drawing of Kay-low at twenty, when he attempts to become a music star. I had fun with the tattoos and it helped me visualize them. So now I need to re-read and insert more description in his story! :D I might use this drawing in a cover – second half of the year. I’m thinking of doing a double feature of two Star Minds Next Generation novellas with similar themes at a lower price…
Busy with the final draft of SMNG before I send it to Mighty Editor, so no time for watching movies… Have a great weekend! :)
January 13, 2015
Writer Wednesday
Okay, where were we? Ah, yes, Kilig the Sword. In case you missed them, there are now two interviews with Kilig out there: last year’s interview at http://libraryoferana.wordpress.com/2014/06/18/character-interview-number-twenty-three-kilig-the-sword/ and the brand new one at https://joleenenaylor.wordpress.com/2015/01/08/interview-with-kilig/
And now I promised to show the full cover of Kilig the Sword – or the whole painting by Cinzia Di Felice:
Ain’t it beautiful, with Saif looming in the background? ;) The POD version is available on Amazon already, paired with the Kindle version. Probably not reached the other retailers yet.
Now, some writerly links! Spreading out – or how WMG publishing works. I’m nowhere close to that stage – neither for number of titles nor for anything else – but one day I might be. And in case you haven’t heard, even Joe Konrath decamps from Kindle Unlimited… must mean something, right?
Now I’ll go back to writing. Revising Star Minds Next Generation to send it to the editor so I can hit that publish button… and go back to writing! ;) I have an awesome cover by Maurizio Manzieri ready to be revealed to the world…
My writing plans for this year are still quite fluid, so… stay tuned! :D
January 11, 2015
Sunday Surprise
He’s the author of the month on the Smashwords Authors group on Goodreads, so if you don’t have enough with my questions, hop off to his thread and ask for more – or read other Q&A for this author! Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome John Paul Wohlscheid!
Where do you live and write from?
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Why do you write?
Because I can���t draw. Honestly, I love to create stories and characters. I have a very active imagination.
When did you start writing?
I always enjoyed creating my own stories. I think it started about 15 years ago. I had just seen The Patriot with Mel Gibson and immediately started writing a story about a group of Union guerillas working behind enemy lines during the American Civil War. Never finished it.
What genre(s) do you write?
Mainly detective, but I���m planning to write some western and sci-fi stories soon.
What does your writing routine consist of?
Sitting at my laptop and waiting. Once inspiration hits, I let ���er rip. If I have a deadline, I work through the plot summary/outline as best I can. I then print it out and reread it several times with a red pen in hand.
What do you feel are your strengths as a writer? How have you developed these qualities?
I���m creative and I have a sense of humor. I���m a big fan of comedy shows from the 40s and 50s: Amos and Andy, Abbott and Costello, Martin and Lewis, Marx Brothers and so on. The creativity came naturally over time.
Where do you find your inspiration? Do you put yourself in your stories?
I���m a huge fan of old films, TV, and radio. I have listened to hundreds of hours of comedy, sci-fi, mystery, and western shows from the 40s and 50s. These shows inspired me to write my detective stories. To be honest, when I picture my main character I picture them with my face. (FYI, I only have male main characters.)
Outliner or improviser? Fast or slow writer?
I usually write anywhere from a paragraph to a page of plot summary. From there I more or less improvise.
I’m a very slow writerand I’m easily distracted. I often start working on a story only to jump to another story when it get boring.
Tell us about your latest book (add link if published)
I originally published my first ebook about a year ago, entitled Don���t Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth. It was a short story about a detective in the 40s named Benny Cahill. Someone suggested I publish a collection of three of more stories with the same character. So I did. Trouble is My Client contains four new Benny Cahill stories, including Where There���s a Will, Now Hear This, Reach For It, and To the Moon. You purchase a copy here: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/497797. It is also available from Barnes and Noble, Kobo, iTunes, and txtr. If you purchase a copy, please leave a review.
Indie publishing or traditional publishing – and why?
I picked indie publishing because I figured that by cutting out the middleman, I would get a better return. Also, I figured I had a better chance of getting published if I followed the indie route.
Any other projects in the pipeline?
I have a couple of projects I���m working on. In a week or so, I���m going to publish Fire in the Night, a preview of an unnamed novel that will be publish later this year. I���m going to publishing a collection of the lives of the saints. I also have several detective and westerns to finish and publish. I have lots of plans. Now, I have to see if I can accomplish them.
What is your goal as a writer and what are you doing to achieve it?
I have two goals. I would like to gain a following of loyal readers, who enjoy the same kind of stories I do. I would also like to pay off my student loans. Getting featured on blogs like this help with both goals. I���m planning to work on several marketing efforts to increase awareness of me and my stories. I���m also planning to release several more books in different genres to increase the ways readers can discover by books.
What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever been given?
Keeping writing. You writing will improve with practice.
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Find John on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.
Friend of Theresa Linden, author of Chasing Liberty
Check out Don’t Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth and Trouble is My Client
Religion blog:��http://realromancatholic.com/
Tech blog:��http://wiredworldreport.blogspot.com/
Mystery story blog: http://maninfedora.tumblr.com/
Thoughts on writing:��http://writerssoapbox.wordpress.com/
