Meredith Allard's Blog, page 44

Some Thoughts on Sketches by Boz

This is my most recent piece for the Dickens special edition of The Copperfield Review. I'll be adding my thoughts about The Pickwick Papers next week.

* * * * *

Even the most die-hard Dickens fans are not so well acquainted with his first published pieces, short works of fiction and rides of imaginary fancy alongside observations of 1830s London life. The individual sketches were compiled into the book Sketches by Boz, first in 1836 and then in subsequent editions. Literary critics have largely dismissed the sketches, and, as Dennis Walder states in his Introduction to Sketches by Boz for the Penguin Classics edition (1995), Dickens himself didn't do much to improve public perception of those early works.

With the retrospect that comes with the passing of time (and greater literary successes), Dickens looked back his early sketches with skeptical eyes. He said (at the ripe old age of thirty-eight) that the sketches were written when "I was a very young man, and sent into the world with all their imperfections (a good many) on their heads. They comprise my first attempts at authorship—with the exception of certain tragedies achieved at the mature age of eight or ten, and represented with great appplause to overflowing nurseries" (Preface to the first Cheap Edition, Sketches by Boz, 1850).

This is where I differ from the stodgy, humorless critics, and even from Boz himself, since I admit (without the slightest hint of sarcasm or embarrassment) that I love the sketches. I'm not saying they stand equal to Great Expectations or A Tale of Two Cities. I'm saying that for what they are, Dickens' earliest published pieces, they're gems—well-written, insightful, bursting with energy, and, most importantly, absolutely hilarious. I've always said I can forgive anyone anything if they can make me laugh. I will forgive Dickens whatever needs forgiving (which can be a lot) because no other writer makes me laugh out loud (I mean milk-spurting-through-the-nose laugh out loud) the way he can. Even in these earliest works his sarcastic observational humor is spot-on. The sketches are exactly what the young Dickens wrote them to be—individual pieces that were either short stories or come-as-you-are journalism. That's all. If we take them at face value then we can appreciate the first glimmers of literary genius in a man who was so very young when he started.

His first sketch, "A Dinner at Poplar Walk," appeared in December 1833 when Dickens was twenty-one years old. Dickens himself told the story of how he had surreptitiously dropped the manuscript off at the publisher, and how, when he found out the piece was going to be published, he was so overwhelmed with emotion he wasn't fit to be seen in the street. Published the first time he submits his work? Well, he was Dickens. And even in that very first piece (later known as "Mr. Minns and His Cousin") we can see the beginning of Dickens' preoccupation with class relationships. The story is a comedy of manners as the Buddins family tries ever so hard to ingratiate themselves into the will of Mr. Minns, their wealthier cousin. Other, more journalistic-type sketches such as "London Recreations," "Vauxhall Gardens by Day," and "The Pawnbroker's Shop" are notes on his thoughts as he rambles through London and notices everything everywhere around him. That was a talent Dickens displayed throughout his career–his ability to see what was right in front of him and reflect it back while everyone else simply scurried past in their rush from here to there and back again. For those of us reading the sketches in the twenty-first century, it's a time traveling experience to see 19th century London, with its odd cast of characters, come to life before our eyes. I'm willing to bet that "Making a Night of It," about young men out to have an alcohol-infused good time, is based on an actual experience of Dickens'. (Did I read that somewhere?) And then, in "A Visit to Newgate," he imagines what it might be like for a prisoner awaiting his execution with all the emotional intensity we've come to expect from the older, more seasoned Dickens.

Don't pay any attention to Dickens' own criticism against the sketches (Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!) since most writers tend to look back on their earliest works as silly. In fact, Dickens did rearrange and revise the sketches for subsequent editions in later years, so he took more care with them than he wanted us to believe. Whatever criticisms about the sketches I've read (they're too haphazard, there are no recurring themes, there's no depth to the descriptions) may even be true, but to focus on the weaknesses is to miss the point of Sketches by Boz. Through the process of writing these pieces, Dickens was able to begin to lay a path through which he could nurture his genius.

Every Dickens fan should be required to read Sketches by Boz since 1. The pieces are a sneak peek into the workings of the mind of a young man on the road to literary greatness, and 2. They stand just fine on their own as short stories and journalistic impressions. And besides, they're damn funny.

* * * * *

Addendum: Since this piece appeared in Copperfield, I've had a few e-mails asking, to paraphrase slightly, "Who the hell is Boz?"

Boz was Dickens' nickname, and some of his earliest works were published under that pseudonym. Dickens said that Boz was "the nickname of a pet child, a younger brother, whom I had dubbed Moses, in honour of Goldsmith's Vicar of Wakefield." Moses, being pronounced "facetiously through the nose" (Dickens' words) became Bozes, which was shortened to Boz. Dickens adopted the name for himself when he began publishing his writing, and most of the sketches were attributed to "Boz."

Filed under: Charles Dickens Tagged: Charles Dickens, Copperfield Review, Sketches by Boz

An Interview With Author Morgan Hannah MacDonald

What books did you love as a child?

I really didn't read much as a child. I've always been a late bloomer.  The first book that I can say I really remember was Stephen King's Carrie. I read that in high school.

Who are your favorite authors?

I have several.  Tess Gerritson, Lisa Gardener, Lisa Jackson, Erica Spindler, Beverly Barton, Karin Slaughter, Patricia Cornwell.  Their stories are suspenseful. They know how to keep a reader interested.

How did they influence your writing?

Thomas Harris' Silence of the Lambs is definitely a favorite. Up until I read that book, back in the late 1980s, I had not read anything that delved into the mind of a serial killer and I found it fascinating. I adopted his style of putting you into the mind of the killer through his memories of childhood for my book Sandman.

Patricia Cornwell's Scarpetta series was a big influence on me. I enjoy how real her characters and stories are.

Karin Slaughter. Her books have grit and suspense. I think I identify mostly with her work.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

I had fantasized about it for years. I am an avid reader, of course. Then I found out I had dated a serial killer and just knew there was a book in there somewhere. But it wasn't until two years later that I actually did something about it.

I was visiting my parents for the weekend and my father asked me what I would do if I ever won the lottery?  I told him I would buy a cabin in the mountains and be a writer.  He went and got his old laptop computer, handed it to me and told me not to wait.  I started the minute I got home.

When do you find time to write?

I'm a full-time writer, but I must admit I still need to find time to write while promoting and taking care of my mother.

What is your favorite genre to read in? Write in? Why?

Romantic Suspense. I love the thrill of sitting on the edge of your seat, with a little romance on the side.

How would you describe your writing style?

I'm a pantster. I write by the seat of my pants. I have no idea where the characters will take me when I begin.

What was the inspiration for your book?

The idea for Sandman was inspired by my own realization that I had dated a serial killer. When I found out I was shocked, of course, but at the time I didn't know just how fortunate I was to have survived. I just thought, Wow, I'm lucky he wasn't crazy when I dated him!  In denial much?  So while I was getting ready for this blog tour, I googled his name to check on the date he was apprehended.  I was right, it was my birthday 1998. There was an extensive article about him and as I read it, I was blown away.  He did have a troubled past. He was discharged from the Marines in the 1980s for mental problems. Eight years prior to our brief relationship he had been arrested for the brutal rape and beating of a prostitute. The case was dropped due to lack of evidence. And his killing spree began three short years after we broke up.

Do you do research for your writing? If so, how do you go about it (Internet, travel, etc.)?

I use the internet and read nonfiction books about serial killers.

Tell us about your book.

Beware the Sandman. He'll put you to sleep. . .forever.

A serial killer on the loose, a woman being stalked, and a homicide detective who must find the connection between the two before she becomes his next victim.

He collects women. He imprisons them, plays with them, tortures them. Until they bore him. Then he removes a souvenir. They call him the Sandman.

Meagan McInnis is being plagued with late night calls, yet when she answers, no one is there. Then one night she makes a grisly discovery in her own backyard.

The caller is silent no more.

Homicide Detective J.J. Thomas realizes Meagan is the key to finding the Sandman. Now not only must he protect her, but he must find the connection between Meagan and the killer before she becomes his next victim.

What did you learn about yourself from writing this book?

That I could write. That I actually had stories in me to tell.

What advice do you have for other writers?

Join Romance Writers of American-RWA. You don't have to write romance.  Join a chapter either online or in your nearest city. They have wonderful online classes to improve your writing, as well as everything you need to know to be an author in this day and age.  They will help you with every step of your writing career.

What do you wish someone had told you about writing that you learned the hard way?

To join RWA. If I had joined them years ago, I would have been published much sooner.

What is your next project?

My next book, Spirits in the Trees, will be released June 2012. This one has a serial killer as well, but I've added ghosts to the mix. It's book one in The Spirits Trilogy.

What are you reading now?

Beverly Barton's Dead by Nightfall.

Anything else you'd like your readers to know?

I just want to thank my readers for their wonderful reviews and letters. My readers are the best!

About the Author:

Morgan Hannah MacDonald writes Romantic Thrillers–not for the faint of heart. She has always been interested in writing and serial killers, but it wasn't until she found she had dated one herself that a true writer was born. She belongs to Romance Writers of America's San Diego Chapter, as well as the Kiss of Death Chapter. She resides in San Diego, California where she is busy working on her next novel.

Email:  morganwrites@yahoo.com

Website:  www.morganhannahmacdonald.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/MorganHannahMacDonald.Author

Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: Bewitching Book Tours, interviews, Morgan Hannah MacDonald, Sandman

Leap Into Books Giveaway

Welcome to the Leap into Books Giveaway! This hop runs from February 29 to March 5, 2012. Thanks to I Am a Reader, Not a Writer and Jinky is Reading for hosting.

I have three e-copies of Her Dear & Loving Husband to give away as well as three paperback copies. If you're not familiar with the story, check here. There's also a $10 gift certificate to either Amazon.com or BN.com (your choice) for one lucky winner.

You must be a follower of this blog to enter. You can gain extra entries with the following:

Following this blog +1

Follow me on Twitter +1

Like The Copperfield Review on Facebook +1

Friend me on Goodreads +1

The extra entry options are available on the right sidebar of this page. Then fill out the form below and you're entered!

[contact-form]

There are over 200 great websites involved in this hop. Check here to see what other wonderful items you can win.

Thanks for stopping by!

Filed under: Giveaways Tagged: Giveaways, Her Dear & Loving Husband, I am a Reader Not a Writer, Jinky is Reading

An Interview With Author Ann Gimpel

What books did you love as a child? Why?

I'm going to use the term child to include my teenage years. I've always been a voracious reader. I discovered C.S. Lewis when I was in about sixth grade. There was something incredibly alluring about an old English manor house with a hidden door in the back of a wardrobe that opened onto a magical land. I polished off the remaining books in the Narnia series and moved on to Tolkien. From there I discovered Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land. I've always liked stories that transport me to places that require imagination. Gone With the Wind was another favorite, as was Daphne de Maurier's Rebecca. Well drawn mysteries, where you really don't know "who done it" till close to the end, have always been favorites as well.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer? Why did you decide to write?

I don't know that it was an active decision. I've rambled through the backcountry for years as a backpacker and a mountaineer. What that translates to is lots of time alone. Stories have always run around in my head during my time in the wilderness. Round about the fall of 2008, I came back from a Labor Day trip and sat down at my keyboard. Three months later, I had a 550 page novel. It wasn't particularly good, but it was a start. And a good learning experience. Somewhere along the way, I discovered I also like writing short stories.

I'm fortunate in that writing has always come easily to me. It feels like a natural extension of how my mind works. I'm also lucky that magazines and webzines started buying my short stories and that a small press picked up my third, fourth and fifth novels.

When do you find time to write?

I'm recently retired. (Think about thirty seconds ago!) Prior to that, I sandwiched writing in evenings and weekends. I'd either get up early, or stay up late. No one was more surprised than me when I'd actually finish 100,000 word novels.

What are the joys of writing for you?

When I'm in writer-mode, it's like I drop into a parallel universe. The story world is so real to me that I'm there in it, living it along with my characters. They let me know what they're going to do next. Often it's far better than the storyline I'd come up with.

What are the obstacles of writing? How do you overcome them?

Writing is an odd pursuit in that it's made up of two distinct phases. The creative one noted in the above question and another that focuses on editing the product I've created. Different parts of my brain are involved in each phase. While I wouldn't call editing an obstacle, I'm always amazed at the, uh, mistakes I find going back through my first drafts. There are always loose plot threads and way too many passive constructions to clean up.

What is your favorite genre to read in? Write in? Why?

I love contemporary fantasy, for both reading and writing. By that I mean books set in our world, but with fantasy elements that just sort of creep in. I want my books to feel real, like the things in them could actually happen to you! It's easier to do that when I set my stories in Seattle or San Francisco, than if I set them in Middle Earth. Charles de Lint is a master in that genre. Moonheart was one of my favorite books of his.

What was the inspiration for your book?

The protagonist in both Psyche's Prophecy and Psyche's Search is a psychologist. Because that's what I've done to earn a living in the real world, Lara was an easy character for me to relate to. I've been drawn to psychology since I was a very young woman. It was my college major because I couldn't imagine doing anything else. I suppose the inspiration for Psyche's Prophecy, which was really my third novel, was to write something salable. I thought if I wrote about something I knew intimately, inside and out, I'd have a better chance of someone else being interested in my story and characters. Aside from that, it was fun to create a character who was a psychologist, but ever so much more, too. Lara has the gift of sight. As the story has unfolded through the last two volumes of the series, her use of her gift has intrigued me.

Do you do research for your writing? If so, how do you go about it (Internet, travel, etc.)?

Oh, yes. I absolutely research everything. Even though I'm writing fiction, I want it to be accurate. The internet is a wonderful tool. It has geography, history, Celtic myth and legends and just about anything else I could ever need. Since the Psyche books are set in Seattle, I didn't need to travel. I was born there. I did, however, make a trek out to Garland Mineral Springs. It took me three tries, since the first two times there was too much snow to make it up and over Jack's Pass. Interestingly, the cover of Psyche's Prophecy is one of my photographs. It was taken just outside the town of Index where the Index Galena Road is washed out. That was my first attempt to reach Garland. I didn't understand I'd have to go all the way round—an extra twenty-one miles—to get there until I saw that washed out road.

What did you learn about yourself from writing this book?

I learned that I have patience and perseverance. That I can visualize a coherent plot and that I can sort through minutiae to figure out what's important and what moves a story forward. Since I've never had any formal training in writing, aside from enough English classes in college to qualify for a minor in the subject, this has been a steep learning curve. Being a writer is nothing like I thought it would be. I spend way more time editing than I do writing. But it's the polish that makes a book. When I'm on my twelfth or fifteenth run through of a novel and the final pdf is in front of me, I know the manuscript so well, I've memorized sections of it. I have never, never said, "This is good enough," until I'm certain I can't do anything else to improve what I've written.

What advice do you have for other writers?

Develop a thick skin. The way I've learned is through a critique process. It's good to have beta readers who tell you the truth, not some sugar-coated fantasy to salve your ego. Sure it hurts when someone shreds your darling, but you can't write without some sort of ongoing feedback from outside yourself. Psyche's Prophecy began as a project for my online writing group. It was totally trashed by two other group members. But you know what? Nearly everything they said was right. I made lots of alterations and voila, I had a salable manuscript. Likewise, I workshopped Psyche's Promise, due out in July 2012. Two group members made lots of suggestions. I'm currently in the process of reworking that manuscript.

I got a short story rejection last week. It was the nicest rejection letter I've ever gotten because it included a critique of my story and a heartfelt plea for me to send them more stories. I wrote back to thank the editor and he wrote back to tell me that most of the authors who write to him after he's rejected their manuscripts—generally with form letters—call him every name in the book.

Writing is a process. I think I will be improving my style and ability for years. Take what others say to heart. It will only make your writing better.

What is your next project?

As noted above, I'm finishing polishing Psyche's Promise. It's due to my publisher on May 1st. In between, I wrote another novel, Fortune's Scion, a YA contemporary fantasy featuring different characters and a different setting. I entered it into Amazon's Breakthrough Novel Award competition. I'm hoping to at least make it to the second of four rounds so I can get a Publisher's Weekly review. Other than that, I'm continuing to write short stories.

What are you reading now?

Rainwild Chronicles by Robin Hobb. Anatomy of an Epidemic by Robert Whittaker. The Hangman's Daughter by Potzsch.

Psyche's Prophecy

Book One of the Transformation Series

By Ann Gimpel

What if your psychotherapist could really see into your soul?  Picture all those secrets lying hidden, perhaps squirming a bit, just out of view.  Would you invite your analyst to take a peek behind that gossamer curtain?  Read your aura?

Classically trained at the Jung Institute in Zurich, Doctor Lara McInnis has a special gift that helps her with her patients.  Born with "the sight" she can read auras, while flirting with a somewhat elusive ability to foretell the future.  Lara becomes alarmed when several of her patients—and a student or two—tell her about the same cataclysmic dream.

Reaching out to the Institute for answers, Lara's paranormal ability sounds a sharp warning and she runs up hard against a dead end.  Her search for assistance leads her to a Sidhe and ancient Celtic rituals blaze their way into her life.  Complicating the picture is a deranged patient who's been hell bent on destroying Lara ever since she tried to help his abused wife, a boyfriend with a long-buried secret and a society that's crumbling to dust as shortages of everything from electricity to food escalate.

Amazon Paperback  Amazon Kindle   BN    Smashwords      

ARe        Books on Board

Psyche's Search

Book Two of the Transformation Series

Born with the sight, Laura McInnis is ambivalent about her paranormal ability. Oh it's useful enough some of the time with her psychotherapy patients. But mostly it's an embarrassment and an inconvenience—especially when her visions drag her to other worlds. Or into Goblin dens. In spite of escalating violence, incipient food shortages and frequent power blackouts, Lara is still far too attached to the comfortable life she shares with her boyfriend, Trevor, a flight attendant who lost his job when aviation fuel got so expensive—and so scarce—his airline went out of business. Forced to seek assistance to hone her unusual abilities in Psyche's Prophecy, Book I of this series, Lara is still quite the neophyte in terms of either summoning or bending her magic to do much of anything.

Reluctantly roped into channeling her unpredictable psychic talents to help a detective who saved her from a psychopathic killer, Lara soon finds herself stranded in the murky underbelly of a world inhabited by demons.  The Sidhe offer hope, but they are so high-handed Lara stubbornly resists their suggestions.  Riots, death on all sides, a mysterious accident and one particular demon targeting her, push Lara to make some hard decisions. When all seems lost, the Dreaming, nestled in the heart of Celtic magic, calls out to her.

Amazon Paperback  Amazon Kindle  BN   Smashwords  ARe

  Books On Board

About the Author:  

Ann Gimpel is a clinical psychologist, with a Jungian bent.  Avocations include mountaineering, skiing, wilderness photography and, of course, writing.  A lifelong aficionado of the unusual, she began writing speculative fiction a few years ago. Since then her short fiction has appeared in a number of webzines and anthologies. Two novels, Psyche's Prophecy, and its sequel, Psyche's Search, have been published by Gypsy Shadow Publishing, a small press. A husband, grown children, grandchildren and three wolf hybrids round out her family.

www.anngimpel.com

http://anngimpel.blogspot.com

http://www.amazon.com/author/anngimpel

http://www.facebook.com/anngimpel.author

@AnnGimpel (Twitter)

 

Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: Ann Gimpel, Bewitching Book Tours, interviews, Psyche's Prophecy, Psyche's Search

An Interview With Author A.D. Williams

What books did you love as a child? Why?

I didn't read much of anything as a child. I have learning disabilities that led to being held back in school because I couldn't read, so by the time I got the hang of it I hated reading. It wasn't until adulthood that I found my passion for the written word. I think it was a blessing in disguise though, because it led to me spending all my time outside having adventures and nurturing my creativity in ways I wouldn't have otherwise.

I do remember being a fan of Shel Silverstein and Dr. Seuss though. The more upside down, backwards, or odd something was the more I liked it.

Who are your favorite authors? How did they influence your writing?

I really don't have a favorite author, or a favorite anything for that matter. I love variety. Most of the work I read is unpublished by unknown or little known authors. Some of the most amazing writers are yet to be discovered. One that comes to mind and stands out as influencing or inspiring at the moment is Hollie Bolster. He is a Canadian writer and friend of mine whose sci-fi stories are worlds apart from what I write but the feel of his poetry is something like my own. It drags me down into dark places where I can then find words to express what I'm trying to get out onto paper but can't quite reach on my own.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer? Why did you decide to write?

I started writing poetry when I was about eleven or twelve as a way to cope with things going on in my life and never thought of it as more than that. Even later, when I started writing my first novel it wasn't something I aspired to do or dreamed would become anything real. I thought it would be cool to leave my name on something someday but didn't think beyond that.

I quit my job a few weeks before publishing Rain's Fairy Tale. It wasn't paying well enough to bother with and so there I was puttering around the house thinking what am I going to do now? I could get another job or go back to school, but what do I want to do? What do I enjoy enough to commit to spending the next 30-40 years doing? I'm nearly thirty, it's about time I figure out what I want to do when I grow up! Writing was all I could come up with. Aside from my family, there's nothing I love more.

What are the joys of writing for you?

I love words. I love painting pictures with them and finding new ways of making people feel things and see things in ways they hadn't before. I wrote a poem in the midst of struggling with something very painful once and posted it for review on a website. I checked my e-mail the next day and found half a dozen letters from people thanking me for giving them a window into something their loved ones were experiencing. They had said they saw it from the outside and wanted to understand but couldn't until then. Others thanked me for giving them hope in knowing they weren't alone. It was incredible.

What are the obstacles of writing? How do you overcome them?

I would have to say my biggest obstacles are sporadic inspiration and lack of time. I have all the time I need from 9-5 when the house is quiet but inspiration never seems to come then. I'm not the kind who can just sit down and write. I wait. Sometimes it'll be months before words or ideas to come. When they do it's a frenzy. Everything rushes at me at once, usually complete which is great but while standing in line at the grocery store with no paper or pen in hand, kids starving to death, and not a moment of me time in sight there's little hope of retaining it.

I do my best with what I have to work with. I'll punch a few lines into my phone and hope they jog my memory later or make up a song or rhyme for the girls to remember for me until we get home and I can scribble down some notes while throwing dinner together.

What is your favorite genre to read in? Write in? Why?

Again, I don't have a favorite. I'll read just about anything but westerns and the kind of books that would feature Fabio on the cover. I pretty much stick with fiction and poetry in reading and writing. I read what I write and write what I read because it's what I like.

What was the inspiration for your book?

It was bits and pieces of things I had heard and seen through the years that came together and intermingled with imagination. Once it took shape, it wouldn't leave me alone until I wrote it.

What were the challenges of writing your story? The joys?

I think the biggest challenge was overcoming the fear failure. I was afraid I would pour my soul into writing this story that had been sculpting itself from nothing within me for so long that it had become part of me and when I finished it, I would be told it was crap. So I would work on it a little, give up, work on it a little, and give up again. There was always some excuse to procrastinate finishing it.

The greatest part was the day it was published. I checked it off my list with such pride. The actual writing of it was the easy part since it was just sitting there in my head waiting but the conquering of that fear was incredible.

Do you do research for your writing? If so, how do you go about it (Internet, travel, etc.)?

I grew up in the areas where my first book was based and knew someone who had survived some similar things so there wasn't much research needed. What I did need to look up was found on Google so I got really lucky there.

I have a future project that is going to need a lot of research though, which is part of the reason why I have been putting it off. It's going to involve traveling and probably staying in some really nasty conditions. I am a strong advocate for writing what you know and what you've lived rather than just about something you have seen somewhere or just imagined. So, for anything that I haven't experienced personally I plan to go and dig in and get some real perspective first.

Tell us about your book.

Rain's Fairy Tale is difficult to describe because the story and its main character are so complex. It takes you through years in the life of Angel aka Rain as she struggles to find a ways to cope with the loss of loved ones, a long distance forbidden relationship, and a gamut of other very difficult things that pop up while living a double life and being torn between two worlds she can't seem to find a way to fit into.

Ultimately, this modern day fairy tale is a tragic teen love story, but is not intended for young adult readers.

What did you learn about yourself from writing this book?

In the writing of this book I had to spend a lot of time looking back at myself as a child and teen to remember how I felt about things, reacted to things, what my perspectives, priorities, and reactions to things were. Neither the story or its characters are based on me but in the creation of her character I pulled some traits from my adolescent self and found I had been more sensitive and naïve than I had realized back then. When you're young, you think you are invincible and know everything and then you grow up, look back, and are amazed at what you survived.

What advice do you have for other writers?

Prepare yourself, be patient, and don't take things personally. When we start out, we have these hopes and dreams of instant success. As writers, we are prone to overactive imaginations that bring about this delusion that the day we finish we are going to send it in to the best publishing house and they are going to magically be drawn to our manuscript, pick it up, and by the third line fall in love with it. From there of course we will launch overnight into stardom and be best sellers within a month.

The reality is it doesn't work that way for even the luckiest of us. It's hard and rejection sucks, but it's no reason to give up.

What is your next project?

I've got outlines and notes for a few more novels and a screenplay in a book somewhere that I need to take a look at again but they'll have to wait for inspiration to hit again. Pretty much anything that doesn't get written right away gets set aside and procrastinated.

At the moment I do have a children's book demanding my attention. It's a cute story about a little girl whose parents are in a twelve step recovery program and what the changes in her family's lives means to her.

I don't think there is enough of this kind of thing out there for kids who are struggling in situations like that, which is strange and sad since there are so many families in recovery. Anyway, it's a fun, quirky story that I think both kids and parents will enjoy, and it's for a good cause because we've decided a portion of the profit will be donated to a recovery program here in Lincoln.

What are you reading now?

I'm reading Sleepwalking in Daylight by Elizabeth Flock. I'm only about 82 pages in but it's pretty good so far.

Anything else you'd like your readers to know?

Yes. I would like to stress again that while Rain's Fairy Tale is about a teen and carries many elements of a teen love story, it was not written for young adults.

Rain's Fairy Tale

By A.D. Williams

About the Book:

All little Angel Morgan ever wanted was to grow up and live the fairy tale life she'd always dreamed of, but when a series of tragic events make life too real, she's forced to face an ugly truth – not all ever afters are happy.

Buy Rain's Fairy Tale on Amazon.

Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: A.D. Williams, interviews, Rain's Fairy Tale

An Interview With Author Marsha A. Moore

What books did you love as a child? Why?

I loved fantasy and fairytale books. My father taught elementary education as a college professor and was in charge of previewing new children's literature books. He brought home armloads of what I liked and indulged my reading passion.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer? Why did you decide to write?

I didn't aim to be a fiction author. My path evolved to this end. While growing up I enjoyed reading, and for that reason I followed an English minor college program, actually just for fun along with a Biology major. Taking lit courses and writing essays for fun–strange, but true! Years later, I worked as a rock music reviewer. During that time, I was inspired by some of those experiences and tinkered with fiction. Initially, I wrote fiction based on the world of rock music. Through a lucky happenstance, a man who worked for a major book publishing house read my first attempts at fiction posted on a music forum. He repeatedly encouraged me to submit my creative writing. Over time, I came to believe him and did. After that, a new world opened up and it's been a wonderful time.

When do you find time to write?

Finding time to write isn't hard for me. If I don't write for a couple of days, I feel grumpy and out of sorts, unbalanced. Writing seems to be a necessary part of my life, so I naturally make time.

What are the joys of writing for you?

I enjoy the freedom of being on an adventure with my characters. It's a world of make believe that comes to life through my words. The escape is unlike any other, totally relaxing.

What is your favorite genre to read in? Write in? Why?

I enjoy reading almost all subgenres of fantasy. My favorite is certainly the one I write, fantasy romance. I also love magical realism, mythic fiction, and mythpunk. Once I finish writing all the epic fantasy romance books I have in mind, I intend to steer my writing in those directions. I think those subgenres would be tricky to write, teetering along the line between reality and fantasy. I'd like to be a more seasoned author before I try my hand at that level of complexity.

How would you describe your writing style? How did you develop it?

My writing style shows my early reading influences, fairytales and classic literature. In college, as an English minor, the years of lit classes instilled a love of older, more formal character voices. I use that style to help me create interesting variety among my own characters.

What was the inspiration for your book?

During the winter of 2008-9, I moved my mother from NW Ohio to Tampa. It didn't take much to convince me to stay through the winter to help her get settled before I moved my own household the following summer. I enjoy folklore and legend, and sought interesting local tales. I was enthralled with the legends of pirates and mermaids surrounding the annual Tampa Gasparilla Festival, a tribute to the pirate captain Jose Gapar. A pirates, mermaids, and mermen naturally became the characters of my Ciel's Legacy series.

Do you do research for your writing? If so, how do you go about it (Internet, travel, etc.)?

I do spend time researching and enjoy that part of the writing process. Often local events or places give inspiration and details. Certainly, the Ciel's Legacy series has a dual setting of my local Tampa coastal area and the region of Tortuga (near Haiti) in the Caribbean. My husband and I have traveled a lot in the Caribbean. One of my favorite local Tampa area beaches—Fort DeSoto—inspired the initial setting for the series. I wrote most of the first book on that beach and still go there often to write through the afternoon.

Some details in the series on topics like pirating, Haitian vodou, and hoodoo magick required research online and study of reference books.  I spent a lot of time learning about the parts and workings of pirate ships. There are several types of sailing vessels and an intricate battle scene in Tortuga Treasure: Ciel's Legacy.

One of my favorite characters in the series, a vodoun mambo named Teega, influences the use of hoodoo magick in the story. She is a master, helping those she considers friends, but can be extremely dark and vindictive if crossed. Pirates in my story fear no one more than Teega. Some of the merfolk train under her to learn basic hoodoo arts. Forming her dark spells required plenty of research, but that was fun for me to weave into the storyline.

What is your next project?

In the past year, I've undertaken a huge writing project of self-publishing a series of five books in an epic fantasy romance, the Enchanted Bookstore Legends. Two are written and professionally edited. The third is my current work-in-progress. I've been busy putting final touches on book one, Seeking a Scribe, which will release mid-March. Here's the blurb:

Lyra McCauley is a writer and loves fantasy novels, but until she opens a selection from bookstore owner Cullen Drake, she has no idea he's a wizard character who lives a double life inside that volume…or the story's magic will compel her from the edge of depression to adventure, danger, and love.

His gift to Lyra, the Book of Dragonspeir, was actually her copy, misplaced years ago. Lost in her pain following divorce and death, she fails to recognize him as her childhood playmate. Friendship builds anew. Attraction sparks. But Lyra doubts whether a wizard is capable of love. She's torn—should she protect her fragile heart or risk new love?

Opening the book's cover, she confronts a quest: save Dragonspeir from destruction by the Black Dragon before he utilizes power of August's red moon to expand his strength and overthrow the opposing Imperial Dragon. Lyra accepts the challenge, fearing Cullen will perish if evil wins. Along with magical animal guides, Cullen helps her through many perils, but ultimately Lyra must use her own power…and time is running out.

What are you reading now?

I'm just finishing The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. I'm enjoying the book a lot and don't want it to end. I love the way she creates the circus setting. It functions almost like another character.

Tortuga Treasure: Ciel's Legacy

By Marsha A. Moore

Genre: Fantasy Romance

About the Book:

When Ciel first looks into Alvaro's eyes she finds love. Bad timing. In the next instant he's fatally stabbed in the back by one of his pirate mates. Her girlfriends warn her it will only bring on a heap of trouble to save him. Unable to resist, she gives him the gift of a new life as one of her kind—a merman.

Will their love encourage him to embrace life as a merman? Can love survive if he wishes to return to human form? Either way, her friends speak true. No matter how much mermagic and dark vodou Ciel and her friends cast, blood-thirsty buccaneers chase them across the Caribbean until Alvaro finally decides.

Warning: This book contains a magical cock-a-too, lecherous scurvy pirate dogs, hoodoo healers, the mark of the evil Black Spot, plenty of dark Haitian vodou, and passionate encounters on tropical beaches.

Purchase link:

http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=293&category_id=69&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

About the Author:

Marsha A. Moore is a writer of fantasy romance. The magic of art and nature spark life into her writing. Her creativity also spills into watercolor painting and drawing. After a move from Toledo to Tampa in 2008, she's happily transforming into a Floridian, in love with the outdoors. Crazy about cycling, she usually passes the 1,000 mile mark yearly. She is learning kayaking and already addicted. She's been a yoga enthusiast for over a decade and that spiritual quest helps her explore the mystical side of fantasy. She never has enough days spent at the beach, usually scribbling away at new stories with toes wiggling in the sand. Every day at the beach is magical!

http://MarshaAMoore.com

http://MarshaAMoore.blogspot.com

http://twitter.com/MarshaAMoore

http://www.facebook.com/marshaamooreauthorpage

http://www.goodreads.com/marshaamoore

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/marsha-a-moore/2b/8/aa9 http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/marsha-a-moore.html

Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: Bewitching Book Tours, interviews, Marsha A. Moore, Tortuga Treasure

The Courage To Let Our Light Shine

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

                        ~Marianne Williamson

I'm watching Super Soul Sunday, which is how I've been spending my Sundays for as long as the show has been on OWN. Today's movie was called The Shadow Effect from Debbie Ford, which is about acknowledging the darkness within ourselves so we can bask in the light. I was particularly struck by the quote about our deepest fear from Marianne Williamson.

I've read A Return to Love, the book from where the quote comes, but today I realized that the quote spoke directly to the part in me that has been struggling the most lately—the part that feels like it needs to dim the light I have been striving for years to ignite. Williamson says, "Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you." I had what Oprah calls an "Aha! moment" as I realized that I've been playing small to make those around me feel better.

A friend at work was so happy for me when a local magazine featured an article about me that she posted a link to the article on our school's message board. As soon as I saw her post, I thought, "Oh no. This isn't going to be good." I learned a long time ago that people aren't always happy when good things happen to someone else. When I was still living in California, an article about my writing and publishing appeared in The Los Angeles Times, and I told a few teachers I worked with about it. I thought it was cool, that's all. I had worked hard to get some notice for The Copperfield Review and now there was an article about it in a major newspaper. The next day I heard from a friend that the talk in the staff room was about me: "Who does she think she is? She thinks she's so special now?" As an intensely private person, I shuddered internally at the knowledge that people were speaking negatively about me, especially over something I meant to be positive. That's when I slipped the dimmer over my light and stopped sharing anything about my writing or publishing successes with anyone except a trusted few.

The story hasn't changed. After my friend posted the link to the article on the school message board, a few teachers went to her with the same "Who does she think she is?" I heard years before. One teacher congratulated me, but otherwise it was silence (crickets) from the rest of the staff. I tried to explain to another teacher that if I've had writing success it's because of my life choices. Most people marry and have children, but I didn't marry and I don't have human children (my children say meow and sit on the keyboard while I'm writing). When I finish my work for school, I have the rest of the day to write; as a result, good things have happened for my writing. But instead of helping the others understand, the talk became how sad it is that I spend all my time writing without having a family of my own.

I began slinking around, my head hung low, avoiding eye contact with anyone. I was embarrassed (again) that anyone had been talking negatively about me. Then a few weeks ago (I'm a little slow sometimes) it finally occurred to me—why am I the one trying to hide? What have I done wrong? Does the fact that I've stayed stubbornly true to my dreams mean I have to feel embarrassed about it for the rest of my life? Seeing Super Soul Sunday simply expounded the "light bulb moment" I already had. Why do I feel the need to explain away my writing successes when I don't expect anyone else to explain away their successes? I've been letting others make me feel small, but that's my fault, not theirs. People can have whatever reactions they want. It's up to me to remember to, as Marianne Williamson says, "make manifest the glory of God that is within us." When I'm writing, I'm manifesting the glory of God that is within me. It's what I'm called to do. No apologies required.

I've decided that I will no longer hide from my successes. I've earned every single one with years of hard work. Whenever I'm tempted to cower from public acknowledgement of that hard work, I'll remember Williamson's words: "And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Amen.

Filed under: Spirituality, Tidbits Tagged: A Return to Love, Marianne Williamson, OWN, Super Soul Sunday

Follower Love Giveaway Winners

Here are the winners of the Follower Love Giveaway:

E-books:

dv8

Anne

Emily

Paperbacks:

Carrie Ardoin

Katrina Page

Kim Reid

$10 Amazon Gift Card:

Denise Z

Thanks to everyone who entered. I'll be back on February 29 for the Leap into Books Giveaway. See you then!

Filed under: Giveaways Tagged: Giveaways, Her Dear & Loving Husband, I am a Reader Not a Writer

Guest Blog from Author Carrie Salo

Hello readers!  And thank you Meredith for letting me guest post today! I am truly honored to be here.

For those of you who are not familiar with me yet, I am the author of the supernatural thriller, The Sounding.  The premise is that of an early Armageddon.  But unlike a lot of Armageddon pop culture out there currently – which feature zombies, vampires or even natural disaster – The Sounding is based in real history and real prophecy.  It gets its plot from Jewish and Catholic theology.  It centers on the final prophecy in the book of Revelation and how events in today's world might bring that prophecy to early fulfillment.

Because The Sounding has so much history and research in its plot, I am asked a lot about which parts of the book are fiction and which parts of the book are not.  And while I could go on and on about what is real and what comes from my imagination, I thought I would tell you about a very scary part of the book that comes from my own experience.

A few chapters in, most readers really enjoy (from the very edge of their seat, I hope) a scene in the novel that takes place in a large library.  Here are some exclusive excerpts (and if you want to read it late at night, when it's quiet and there is just your small reading light on, I won't complain):

            She took off her hood only when she was alone in the elevator headed several floors down into the book stacks.  It rumbled slowly until it creaked to a stop at level 5UL – the fifth underground level – and the doors opened. 

            Just as she hoped, the fifth level was pitch black and completely empty.  With only the light from the open elevator, the rows and rows of books appeared like strange sentinels guarding a vast blackness behind them.  In the dark, it was impossible to tell they ran straight back for half the length of a football field.

            Elise stepped towards the closest row of books and flipped on the light-timer.  An electric hum began and several white lights overhead flickered on.  Always efficient, the college only paid for lighting in the library stacks when someone actually needed it.  Each row in every floor of the stacks had a light-timer.  If a student needed to search for something in a particular row, they turned on the row's timer and received a gracious fifteen minutes of illumination before blinking back into darkness.  They should decrease the wattage in the front lobby and put some down here, Elise thought once again, just as she had before when doing research. 

            The elevator squeaked closed behind her, and she heard it begin to rumble upwards somewhere as the library-silence recaptured the room.  She walked to the left, flipping on each row's timer one by one, watching the library begin to glow with fluorescence.  At the far left corner, she found what she came for – a computer.  The labs were still too crowded, even on Fridays, and she didn't want to use the consoles in the lobby upstairs in full view of the librarians.  Down here was quiet and safe.  Opening a search engine, she queried for the Ashton train schedule… 

            THUD

            A book fell somewhere in the far back of the stacks.

            Elise jumped, every muscle in her body tense.  Instinctually, she hunched her shoulders as if bracing for an attack and turned her head sharply. 

            For several seconds, she kept very still, eyes and ears straining, but there was no further noise and no one that she could see.  Taking a few shallow breaths, she tried to think her heart rate back down.

            Really, there was no way the police could find her here – she hadn't even known she was coming to the library until a half-hour ago.  And she was positive no one came in from the elevator or the stairs – she could see both doors from her seat.  If someone was in the library, they had been there when she walked in.  She just hadn't noticed – a student probably studying in the back.  Except…I turned on the lights when I came in.

            Who would sit in the stacks in the dark?

            …Get out of here.  Real or insane, get out now!

            …The elevator button stared back at her mockingly.  Even if she ran, she would have to wait for the old elevator to rattle down.  The stairs?  In theory, the door should be unlocked–

            FLICKER

            Elise's eyes flew towards the middle of the room.

            FLICKER

            It took her a few seconds to realize what was happening (FLICKER).  The lights were turning out (FLICKER), one by one over the rows in the same order that she turned them on only fifteen minutes ago (FLICKER).  Her time was up.  (FLICKER) Already, the darkness captured six rows and moved towards her like a great black wall.

Believe it or not, this scene is based on a real experience I had.  The library I describe is even a real library.  As an English student at Cornell University, I spent a great deal of time at Olin Library researching my thesis during my senior year (the same year I began writing The Sounding).  Some of the books I needed for my research where very old and quite rare.  The library would only loan them out for very short periods of time.  Rather than take the books back to my room, only to return them the next day, I usually just pulled them off the shelf and worked from the library.  For those of you that don't know Olin Library – it is one of the country's largest. I have heard it said it is larger than the Library of Congress, but that could just be a student rumor.  In any case, it is IMMENSE.  It goes up many floors, and it goes down many more, extending for a good part of the way under central campus.  There are all sorts of interesting study spots down there; interesting nooks and crannies to take a nap in.  You truly could get lost…

And, when you really get way down under, there are no lights.  Since the library is so large, it would be ridiculous to keep the lights on for rows and rows of books that, most likely, don't even have anyone in them.  So, on a hunt for a book, I sometimes would end up far underground, the only student on a deathly quiet floor, facing a dark room full of books.  I would twist the light timers – which only promised 15 minutes of light – and go searching.

But, as I am apt to do, often I would get a bit entrenched in my search.  I might find the book and start reading.  And then I'm really gone, no longer thinking of my surroundings.

Eventually, I would start to notice a pretty consistent (but very quiet) click coming from somewhere behind me.  I would look up, often only to realize it was quite dark around me.  The lights had begun turning off in the order I had turned them on, with the time between clicks matching the short time that it had taken for me to walk row to row.

I usually caught the last light or two, preventing myself from being plunged into underground darkness.  But, every time, it raised the hair on my neck and usually slicked my palms pretty well.  Then would come the long walk back, ducking into the darkness and feeling for the next timer in order to light my way to the elevator.  On one such walk, feeling thoroughly silly and very spooked, I thought, This would be a great scene for a thriller.  I certainly hope it turns out that I was right.

I hope you'll pick-up The Sounding to find out what really waits for Elise in the dark…

About the Book: 

In the Book of Revelation, a man named John has a prophetic dream.  He dreams of the final prophecies that will come to pass – and the seven archangels that guard them.  Each angel waits to sound their trumpet at God's appointed time, preparing humanity to fight and win the final battle.

2,000 years later, Father Chris Mognahan is a member of the Hetairia Melchizedek, a secret society within the Catholic Church that studies Biblical omens. The society asks Chris to investigate an unusually grotesque crime – a murder on a college campus where the killer's hand literally burned off the victim's face.

While the killing seems isolated at first, the society ties the murder to the final Biblical prophecy and a terrifying omen that the order of the prophecies is about to be disrupted. The final battle is coming too soon – long before humanity is prepared to win it.

Suddenly, Chris finds himself fighting against time and hell to keep the prophecies in order and stop an early Armageddon. He is joined by a band of unlikely allies, and together they find themselves in Rome above the Vatican Necropolis – the city of the dead – where the future is revealed to them in ancient texts.

They are not alone, however; an evil as old as time itself hunts them. As they travel across continents on their mission, the demonic force follows relentlessly, waiting in every shadowed corner, and every dark place.

As Armageddon descends, Father Chris finds that his only hope lies in a young woman within the group who has a secret gift – and their belief that God Himself may have sent her to keep the final angelic trumpet from sounding out the early end of the Earth.

Available at Amazon print, Kindle and Barnes and Noble

View the book trailer: http://youtu.be/K4Pp8F3A298

About the Author:

Carrie Salo is a dark storyteller and emerging author of supernatural thrillers.  Classically trained at an Ivy League university, she studied the works of master storytellers seven stories underground in the muffled heart of one of the world's largest libraries.  Carrie looks to wield unrelenting suspense in her own exploration of all things (especially true things) that keep us awake at night.  Her extensive travels have led her to many haunted places, including the private, underground catacombs of the Vatican.  The Sounding is her debut novel.

Visit her at: www.carriesalo.com

http://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarrieSalo

 

 

             

Filed under: Guest Authors

An Interview With Author Chris Karlsen

What books did you love as a child? Why? 

I had giant picture books with most well known fairy tales. The ones I recall the best, although I wouldn't say I "loved" them, but they stood out: Beauty and the Beast-I remember feeling sad for the beast. Winnie the Pooh-I adored all the little animals and their funny names. Riki Tiki Tavi in The Jungle Book, for the same reason as Winnie the Pooh, he was a cute mongoose with a funny name.

Who are your favorite authors? How did they influence your writing?

John Sandford, Mike Connelly, and Joe Wambaugh because I love their cop characters and the dialogue is crisp and humorous and spot on when it comes to a cop's attitude. I use them as a standard for keeping dialogue uncluttered and to the point. For love scenes,  a favorite is Julie Anne Long. Her language is so well crafted throughout her stories, but her love scenes are always beautifully written. She uses the senses to create the atmosphere. I try to emulate that. I also like Julia Quinn for wonderful characterization.  Bernard Cornwell is my favorite historical fiction writer and I like to use his style in action scenes, especially battle scenes.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer? Why did you decide to write?

I knew in my teens that I wanted to write, but by the time I was ready for college I was afraid I'd never make a living at it so I set the dream aside.  After I retired from law enforcement, I decided it was time to try and fulfill that teenage dream.

When do you find time to write? 

I try to get all my errands and routine jobs done in the morning. I write from around noon or so to about 5 with short breaks. I try to write at least six days a week but I shoot for seven.

What are the joys of writing for you?

I love going deep into my characters thoughts and emotions. They become such a part of me and I love working with them, even if it means I have to make them hurt emotionally.

What are the obstacles of writing? How do you overcome them?

There are times when I just seem to hit a brick wall in the story. I have to be very careful in those times. I have a tendency to start dwelling on the fact I hit a wall and the situation spirals down. I force myself through the problem. I will only let myself fret for a couple of days and then I just write anything. I put some event, some situation into the characters lives. That seems to get the juices going again. I can always delete that part if it doesn't work in a later draft.

What is your favorite genre to read in? Write in? Why?

My favorite to read is a toss-up between romance and thrillers. I prefer to write romance. Romance allows me to flesh out my characters more. That's just me and the way I feel.  My favorite thriller authors, like Sandford, Connelly, Stephen Coonts, etc. flesh their characters out well, but for me romance is easier.

How would you describe your writing style? How did you develop it?

I write character driven stories. I read both plot driven and character driven, but I prefer to focus on character when I write. It seemed to occur naturally because my original story ideas centered around two medieval knights. As hero driven novels, it was necessary to create a heroine their equal.

What was the inspiration for your book?

My father was a history professor and I developed a love of history early. I especially enjoy medieval English history. I also have always had a fascination for reincarnation and time travel. The combination of those interests inspired me to write stories incorporating all of them.

What were the challenges of writing your story? The joys?

My heroine, Shakira, in Journey in Time, was a big challenge. I had a good handle on Alex, the hero, as he was a strong support character in my first book, Heroes Live Forever. It took me several drafts to get Shakira where I wanted her. I wanted this strong, intelligent, articulate woman without a lot of emotional baggage but who was still very vulnerable. My joy came from recreating the medieval world and moving Alex and Shakira through it. I got to throw a whole lot of trouble their way, give them humorous moments and some pretty sexy encounters too.

Do you do research for your writing? If so, how do you go about it (Internet, travel, etc.)?

I do quite a lot of research. I start several months in advance and continue as I am writing the story. New information can change a scene or give me the idea for a new scene. I have an extensive personal library on medieval history, from armor, weapons, battles, clothing, architecture and geography. I also go to archived articles in magazines like: Archaeology, Smithsonian, National Geographic, Omni, and Scientific American. I have traveled extensively too and use my experience. I do use the internet but with caution.

Tell us about your book.

Journey in Time is a time travel romance. Shakira is a successful London attorney and Alex is her client. She's not the type to date clients but he eventually charms her into a weekend in the country where he breeds horses. They are out riding when they're caught in a bizarre lightning storm that opens a time portal. They're thrown back to the year 1355. England is preparing for war with France.  Alex has a strong connection to the period and he is believed by everyone to be the Baron Guy Guiscard. The baron was killed at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356. History can't be changed and history doesn't care which man it takes. If he and Shakira can't find a way back to the modern world, he, as the baron, will sail with the army and die in battle.

As you would expect, Shakira is terrified of being left alone in the medieval world. Everything she knows of the time is from history books. She is confronted with political threats and social threats and must wend her way through a maze of problems. During this time, she misinterprets a situation. Her subsequent actions trigger major trouble for her and Alex, both in the medieval world and modern world.

What did you learn about yourself from writing this book?

That as much as I might like to romanticize the medieval world and fill it with chivalrous knights and castles, it's definitely not a place I'd want to go to in person.

What advice do you have for other writers?

Let the first draft marinate for a few weeks before you start the second draft. Put the first draft away and return to it after you've had time to let the story go and you can come back with fresh eyes.

What do you wish someone had told you about writing that you learned the hard way?

Have other people, people you can trust to be honest read it and give you feedback so you learn what is working and more important what didn't work for them.

What is your next project?

I'm starting book three, Knight Blindness, of my Knights in Time series. Journey in Time is book two of the series.

What are you reading now?

The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry and I just ordered How the Marquess Was Won by Julie Anne Long.

Anything else you'd like your readers to know?

I hope they'll stop by my website: www.chriskarlsen.com. I have trailers for the books on the site.  I had a lot of fun putting together the one for Journey in Time. I'd also love to hear from the readers on what their thoughts are regarding the stories.

Journey in Time

By Chris Karlsen

London attorney, Shakira Constantine, finally agrees to spend the day with her handsome client, Alex Lancaster. While riding in the countryside, the couple finds themselves caught in a time warp and transported back to the 14th Century, and an England preparing for war. Everyone believes Alex is the Baron Guy Guiscard…a baron who died in the upcoming battle.

If they can't find a way to return to the 21st Century, Alex will have to sail with the army to certain death. Shakira will be left alone to survive in the alien and terrifying medieval world.

Excerpt:

"Alex, what is going on?" she asked in a frenzied whisper.

"Shh." After they mounted, Alex sidled over, so close their boots touched. "We're riding into a very perilous situation. I'll explain everything when we're alone. Your life, my life," he stressed, "depends on you being quiet until then."

Confused it took Shakira a few seconds before she nodded yes.

"Remember what I told you," he warned and trotted ahead to chat with the knight he called Simon.

Get it for your Kindle

About the Author:

Chris Karlsen is a retired police detective who spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. Her father was a history professor and her mother an avid reader. She grew up with a love of history and books. She has always loved traveling and has traveled extensively throughout Europe, the Near East (especially Turkey and the Greek Islands), the Caribbean, and North Africa. Born and raised in Chicago, Chris has also lived in Paris, Los Angeles, and currently resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and four rescue dogs.

Contact Chris: Books to Go Now, P.O. Box 1283, Poulsbo, WA 98370

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/chriskarlsenwriter

Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: Bewitching Book Tours, Blog Tours, Chris Karlsen, interviews, Journey in Time