Meredith Allard's Blog, page 46

An Interview With Author James Hutchings

What books did you love as a child? Why?

When I was very little I apparently made my mom read me comics instead of books. A little later I loved the Narnia series. I didn't get the religious angle until I reread them as an adult.

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

I don't know if they're my favorites, but these are the most influential: JRR Tolkien and Jack Vance for the elaborate dialogue. Robert E Howard for the general atmosphere. Terry Pratchett for the humour. Lord Dunsany for the use of Fame, Time and so on as characters.

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

I think I've wanted to do something creative since I was a teenager. But I've tried several different things, such as music and filmmaking, before I finally settled on writing. To be honest, if it turned out that I was actually better at, say, painting than writing, I think I'd be happy to change. So in a sense I still haven't decided.

What are the joys of writing for you?

I like the satisfaction of finishing something (as long as I think it's good). For that reason I prefer writing short pieces to long ones. Often when I'm working on a longer piece I take some 'time off' to do something short.

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

I get discouraged a lot. Usually it's when people don't like something I've written as much as I do, or when I run out of ideas halfway through a story. One thing I do is make a point of writing every day, even when I don't feel like it. This helps get through temporary slumps. I think if you wait for inspiration to strike it never will. Often I start with the attitude that "I'm really tired and I can't think of anything. I'll just write a token amount so I can say I did something today," and actually end up having a good idea and getting a lot done.

I usually have several things that I'm working on at the same time. This helps with running out of ideas, because I can leave what I'm working on and do something else instead. The danger with this is that starting something can be more fun than finishing it, and so you run the risk of having lots of half-written pieces that you never finish.

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

I mostly read (and write) fantasy. It tends to be old stories, and more short stories than novels. I've never read any of the Harry Potter or Game of Thrones series for example. I used to read science fiction, and found fantasy a bit pointless. I think my idea was that science fiction was stuff that could happen, whereas fantasy was stuff that couldn't. Nowadays I feel that having ESP or super-advanced alien technology isn't actually that different to having magic.

What was the inspiration for your book?

Because it's a collection of short pieces, most of which aren't related to each other, it has lots of different inspirations. Some ideas just pop into my head, without me knowing where the idea comes from. Other ideas come from experiences in my life. For example a while ago I found three injured birds in the space of a few weeks. I took all of them to the local vet. As I was carrying one of them, I thought that the woman at reception might wonder where I was finding all these injured birds, and that was the inspiration for my story "Lost, Feral or Stray." I've written a lot about cats, based on having been a cat owner.

Of course other fiction is a big inspiration. In some cases it's obvious. I've done poems directly based on stories by HP Lovecraft and other writers for example. In other cases it's more subtle: for example the city of Teleleli or Telelee is partly based on Fritz Leiber's Lankhmar, partly on Terry Pratchett's Ankh-Morpork, and partly on Port Blacksand in the Fighting Fantasy series. The dialogue in Lord of the Rings had a big influence on how my characters talk.

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

Most of my stories are set in a made-up world (and the world isn't intended to be based on medieval Europe or any particular period of history). So I don't need to do research. However I do do a kind of research, in that I write down interesting things from history or fiction that I find, usually on Wikipedia. For example, these are curses from the front of two medieval books, that I intend to use one day:

If anyone take away this book, let them die the death; let them be fried in a pan; let the falling sickness and fever seize them; let them be broken on the wheel, and hanged.

Should anyone by craft of any device whatever abstract this book from its owner may their soul suffer, in retribution for what they have done, and may their name be erased from the book of the living and not recorded among the Blessed.

Tell us about your book.

44 stories. 19 poems. No sparkly vampires.

What advice do you have for other writers?

Nowadays anyone can self-publish. If you can make a Word document, you can have an e-book on Smashwords or Amazon. However that means that if your work is no good, no one's going to stop you. I'd recommend that people get onto Critique Circle and/or Scribophile, put their work up, and listen to what people tell you. Don't 'defend' your work against people's 'attacks.' They aren't attacks; they're helping you. I've found that the people who defend their work have a strong tendency to have the worst writing, I suppose because they're not making the changes they need to make.

My next point doesn't matter if you're going to self-publish, but it is important if you want to be published by a regular publisher or if you want to submit stories to magazines. Most places won't publish work that's already been published. And most places count putting a story on the internet as publishing it. In my opinion that's silly, but that's what they do. Scribophile and Critique Circle are exceptions, because Google doesn't index them and you can't see any stories without logging on. However there are writing group websites out there where, if you put a story on the site, that counts as the story being published. That seems like a really terrible way to set things up, but they're out there.

I'd also say that getting a book out isn't the final step. It's just the start of the work of self-promotion. This is true even if you're not  self-publishing. I'm told that authors are expected to pretty much arrange their own book signings and so on (if you just want to have a book out to show family and friends then this doesn't matter, of course).

There are a lot of sharks out there, who make their money from authors and not from readers. They will make all sorts of promises about how they're going to promote you and help you, but these are lies. Authors do not pay publishers, ever, and if they're asking you to pay then it's a scam. Of course if you're self-publishing you might end up paying someone to design a cover for you, or you might pay for internet advertising, but those are different things. You might also pay a printer to print your books if you want to get physical books rather than e-books – but in this age of the Kindle and print-on-demand I don't know why you'd want to. Preditors and Editors is a good website to look at, and you can get good advice at the forums of Critique Circle.

Finally, I'd suggest learning to touch-type if you can't already. You're going to be doing a lot of typing, and every hour you spend getting faster at typing will save you ten in the long run.

What is your next project?

I'm working on a verse version of A Princess of Mars. This is a science fiction adventure story, now in the public domain, written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, who's more famous for Tarzan. Disney is also doing a movie of it, called John Carter, but that's not why I chose it. I generally work on several things at the same time, so I'm also in the middle of a few short stories and poems. I've been encouraged to write a novel set in the fantasy city of Telelee, which is the setting of a few of the stories in The New Death and others. I have a lot of background for this world, because I blog every day and most of it is setting detail. I also have a half-finished novel called All-American Detectives, which is a combination of a detective story and a story about superheroes, which I'll probably come back to in the future.

About James Hutchings

James Hutchings lives in Melbourne, Australia. He fights crime as Poetic Justice, but his day job is acting. You might know him by his stage name 'Brad Pitt.' He specializes in short fantasy fiction. His work has appeared in Daily Science Fiction, fiction365 and Enchanted Conversation among other markets. His e-book collection The New Death and others is now available from Amazon and Smashwords. He blogs daily.

Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: interviews, James Hutchings

An Interview With Author Lawna Mackie

What books did you love as a child? Why?

I loved the book Secret World of Og. The names still stick in my head. The Pollywog and the critters called Ogs.

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

My favorite authors are Sherrilyn Kenyon and Christine Feehan. Their novels always transported me to another place. Paranormal romance stuck in my heart.

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

I always dreamed of being a writer, but never really decided to embrace the thought until about four years ago.

What are the joys of writing for you?

I love being swept away when I write. I love my characters and the journey they make throughout the novel.

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

Finding the time to write is the largest obstacle for me. I overcome that with the help of my wonderful husband who gives me all the support and space I need. He's always by my side helping me to succeed.

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

I love paranormal/romantic fantasy. I read it and I write it. I also love historical romances. My Christmas novella Quinn's Christmas Wish is a bit of both. It's a paranormal within a Christmas story.

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

Good question. I think there is a genuine innocence about what I write, but I also love fantasy creatures and I'm not scared of scary villains. I've always thought of my life as somewhat of a fairy tale so I think I share that in my writing.

What was the inspiration for your book?

I've brought to life an animal that lives in my heart. It's a memory that has lived with me for many years. I'll have to save that story for another time.

What were the challenges of writing your story?

Quinn's Christmas Wish takes place in 1912, so that was challenging for me…it is an historical with paranormal elements, something I haven't attempted to write before.

Tell us about your book

Quinn's Christmas Wish is a magical paranormal Christmas novella. It's a heartfelt story about compassion, love and the hardships found in a town called Bandit Creek. Here is a review I copied from Amazon. It gives a good description of the story:

"Loved this book! The connection between Samuel and Amanda was immediate. Such a fiery romance between the two. Poor Quinn with all his trials and heartbreak at least is finally able to find a friend in the most unlikely place, Jazira, a fantastical talking wolf. Jazira is able to survive in this world only due to the kindness of Quinn, Samuel and Amanda, but gives back more than what she has received. Lawna made me cry twice with this story, once in despair, and then again in happiness! Looking forward to Ms. Mackie's other two books coming out in December and January, and looking forward to more Bandit Creek Books!"

Here is the Amazon link.

What did you learn about yourself from writing this book?

I learned that I really enjoyed writing a historical paranormal romance, and I enjoyed the youth aspect of this novel.

What advice do you have for other writers?

Don't ever give up! This is a quote from one of my co-workers that holds a lot of meaning: "Congratulations for doing what many only think about!"

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

1. Write because you love it.

2. Write what you love to read.

3. Enjoy writing because editing isn't fun.

What is your next project?

I can't wait to start my next novel. It will be a paranormal romance called Rooted Remains.

What are you reading now?

I haven't started anything new at the moment, but I'm looked forward to it around Christmas time.

Anything else you'd like your readers to know?

Quinn's Christmas Wish and the conception of Bandit Creek Books was done in conjunction with a fantastic group of authors. I encourage everyone to visit Bandit Creek at www.banditcreekbooks.com.

Quinn's Christmas Wish

A Bandit Creek Paranormal

As far as twelve-year old Quinn is concerned Christmas has lost its magic. Since his father's death life has lost its sparkle. His mom is now a widow struggling to put food on the table. Quinn is no help, and the mysterious illness afflicting him only makes things worse. Even Christmas, complete with decorated trees, ribbons and bows has no meaning…then along comes Jazira.

Jazira doesn't know what happened to her former self, the eleven-year old little girl. She drowned, didn't she, along with half the other folk of Bandit Creek in 1911? Somehow, she's grown four furry legs complimented with a large wolf head and body. Scared and alone, she reaches out to Quinn and a strong bond is formed. Jazira learns Quinn, and his mother, are threatened by a wealthy powerful citizen of Bandit Creek. She is determined to protect her new family, no matter what.

Christmas Eve finds Quinn staring up at the adorned tree and muttering a quiet prayer. Will the Spirits of Christmas grant his wish, or will the evil surrounding Bandit Creek prevail once again?

From the Author:

I have always believed in fairy tales and when I got tired of the old ones I made up my own. Each story would have a hero and heroine, but they were anything but typical.

I devoured my first romance novel when I was a teenager. I couldn't read them fast enough. Years later I stumbled across my first paranormal romance…an injustice would be done if I tried to explain my joy when I found this genre of romance. My passion was finally in print.

Now, with the help of my bizarre dreams and crazy imagination, I have started to write and intend to share my stories with you. I hope you'll love them as much as I do.

I am truly blessed. My husband and my animals are my inspiration. We live on a small acreage in Didsbury, Alberta, with our most beloved companions, Dozer, Daisy and Mandarin.

Happy reading everyone. I sure would love to hear from you. www.lawnamackie.ca

Quinn's Christmas Wish – December 1, 2011  available through Amazon and Smashwords.

Impossible to Hold – December 19, 2011 released through Liquid Silver Books http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com

Enchantment  – January 13, 2012 released through Muse It Up Publishing http://museituppublishing.com

Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: Bewitching Book Tours, guest authors, interviews, Lawna Mackie, Quinn's Christmas Wish

An Excerpt from The Opera by Michelle Franklin

Teague made a chary approach, wondering how to broach the subject in a manner that would not give offense. He said his addresses to the commander, explained what he and Mureadh had seen, and before he could finish his speech with a solemn regret and apology for the affront on behalf of the Frewyn Players, the commander interposed with:

"I must have evidence of this travesty," she said, beaming with glee. "This is far too much suspense."

He produced the poster and smiled at the commander's instant eagerness as she took it into her hands and held it open for a meticulous inspection.

"Oh, by the Gods, this is glorious," she exclaimed, remarking the whole of the piece. "I must show this to my mate. I cannot decide what shall anger him most: the violet skin, the overdrawn and yet handsome scowl, the fangs, or the paltry sizes of his sword, kilt, and the article beneath it." She smirked at such an erroneous interpretation and nodded while her eye perused every corner of the page. "This depiction could only be made more marvelous if a rose had been put in his mouth," she said laughingly. She sighed and her expression saddened. "He shall be disappointed about the size of my chest, however."

"I did think that was a little inaccurate," said Teague, stealing a momentary glance at the deep vale between the commander's heavy breasts.

"Little is certainly what I should call those in comparison to what my mate so delights in every evening."

They exchanged a smile, and the commander shifted into the light to remark the vibrancy of the colours and the brushstrokes employed in the piece.

"The palette was well chosen," she mused. "I rather like my flaxen hair and blue eyes."

"The Den Asaan's pink kilt is my particular favourite," Teague said with a half-smile.

"Pink is rather his colour, especially with the red eyes and grey hair to match. He's made me far too becoming and much too small in height and in proportion. I'm rather inclined to think this charade is not even about me, as I am nowhere on this advertisement other than in the title, and even that is ambiguous. My mate is certainly recognizable."

Teague simpered. "I recognized him immediately."

"I assume that this pristine fellow on the glimmering horse is meant to be our good king."

"I believe so, commander. "

"Well, Alasdair looks rather splendid, as he ought. He shall be quite pleased. Any illustration that portrays Alasdair with such excellently sculpted hair and a fine jerkin is all his delight. Maeve is the one who should be offended. She should never have wanted to be a white horse, or this fat and smiling."

Teague chuckled to himself, relieved to see how keen the commander was to oblige such misconception, and as she excused herself and hastened to the kitchen to share the news with Alasdair, he hoped that the offense on the king's side would be as moderate as the commander's. Though he did wish to remain within Diras Castle to see Rautu's reaction to the advertisement, there was a dinner to be had and there were friends to be met with, and as he left the barracks to rejoin Mureadh, he had little doubt of hearing the giant's roaring disapproval from wherever he should be in the capital at the moment of discovery.

About The Opera

By Michelle Franklin

The Frewyn Players at the Royal Theatre in Diras are looking for new material to perform when a famous director from Marridon arrives to impart a Marridon theatrical pastime that is certain to make them famous. An opera will be their new performance, one that glorifies Frewyn's greatest heroes, but what begins as homage ends as mockery, and the play that would make them the greatest exhibition in Frewyn might instead make them the Den Asaan's most merited enemy.

About the Author:

Michelle Franklin is a woman of moderate consequence who writes many books about giants, romance and chocolate.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Tales-from-Frewyn-The-Opera-ebook/dp/B005TL7QMA

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/94632

Twitter: @MrsDenAsaan & @DenAsaan

Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: guest blogs

Finding Your Own Road to Travel

When I first began reading about publishing and marketing, I felt overwhelmed with the sheer abundance of information. Most of it is helpful—some of it extremely helpful—but there were times when I felt like I was disappearing under the weight of searching for some magic answer to all my publishing problems. For one thing, I wasn't sure whose advice to follow. Everyone's path to success has been different, and other authors are sharing tips from their personal experiences. Some authors find success doing blog tours, others from key advertising, others from blogging, still others from creating niche websites or interacting with readers on various forums. But what does that mean for someone like me who's starting from scratch?

Here's the main thing I learned:  just as I had to find my own road as an author, I have to do the same with publishing. If I hear a marketing tip that sounds reasonable (and doable) I'll try it. What do I have to lose? I liken my marketing strategy to that old saying, "I'll try anything once." I read as much as I can find, and I experiment, and then I see what works for me and what doesn't. That's what this is…a grand experiment, and each of us has to find our own recipe for success.

There will never be a one-size-fits-all marketing solution. Everyone is different. We've written different books that appeal to different audiences. We have different personalities and different ways we like to connect with people. The best advice I can offer at this point, if I should be offering advice, being relatively new to all this, is to read whatever you can find from other authors who have been there, done that. Weed out the helpful information from the not-as-helpful since all advice isn't equal. How do you know what's sound advice and what isn't? I still like the tried-and-true method of "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." There's a lot of good, free advice out there. There's also some bad, free advice.  I'm not a fan of marketing advice that says, "Do it my way or your book will die a slow, violent death." What works for one author may or may not work for you. You have to experiment to find out.

Once I learned to look at marketing as a grand experiment, I relaxed and even learned to have fun with it. I didn't need to drive myself to distraction searching for some hidden gem of publishing knowledge. I need to discover and experiment and grow. There's always something new to learn, and there's no time limit. That's one of the great things about publishing now: there's no longer a shelf life on books. We can continue to find new readers for our work as long as we're willing to give it our time and attention. And that's a glorious thing.

Filed under: Indie Publishing Tagged: indie publishing, marketing

Book Lover's Holiday Giveaway Hop

Is it time for a new giveaway already? It seems like the Gratitude Giveaway just ended (and, actually, it did). Thanks to I Am a Reader Not a Writer and Kid Lit Frenzy for hosting the giveaway.

I have 5 more paperback copies of Her Dear & Loving Husband to give away, and I have one $10 Amazon.com or BN.com gift card (your choice) for a lucky winner.

You must be a follower of this blog to enter. Then fill in the form below and that's it. Happy holidays!

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There are other wonderful giveaways too. Click here to hop over to one of the other participating sites and see what else you can win.

Filed under: Giveaways Tagged: Book Lovers, Giveaways, Her Dear & Loving Husband, I am a Reader Not a Writer, Kid Lit Frenzy

Guest Post from Sheenah Freitas

I'm an avid reader — when I have time to read. I've read an eclectic collection of genres from classics to thrillers to literary to children's books. I learn a thing or two about writing from nearly every single book I read and it's difficult for me to sit down and choose a favorite author. But I managed to do the impossible and have included valuable writing lessons I've acquired from their works way before I ever stepped foot a creative writing class.

Ann M. Martin

She was probably my favorite author in my childhood days. I couldn't tell you how many Baby-Sitters Club books I devoured and how savvy I felt that I knew the ins-and-outs of high school while I was still in elementary school. (Little did I know that high school was a far more complicated place than what fiction made it seem.) Though I have never baby sat a child, I'm confident that I could put up with even the worse child. That said, Ann M. Martin taught me how to write a sentence beyond: The dog sat. My second grade teacher, Mrs. Ross, can confirm that. At one point in my elementary years (second or third grade, to be exact) I remember a student teacher who happened to be looking over my shoulder when I wrote a sentence that started with the word "but." She chastised me that proper sentences didn't start with "but" and one should never ever start a sentence with "but." Ever. But because I actually read books, I knew that you could start sentences with the word "but" and even Ann M. Martin did it. Were those sentences less acceptable? I also knew that starting with "but" kept things interesting; I just didn't know how to express that. I let her win the battle that day. But I didn't let her win the war.

Dean Koontz

He's had some hits and misses in his long writing career, but he knows how to write for an audience. I also love his similes and metaphors. They're absolutely stunning and invoke such a sharp image in one's mind. For example, in Frankenstein: Prodigal Son, he wrote, "Salamanders of torchlight crawled the iron-bound beams of the main gate and the surrounding brick walls," as well as, "Like waxy stalagmites, yellow candles rose from golden holders, softly brightening the room." I decided then and there that I wanted to write metaphors and similes that exuded a sharp image as well. I don't feel like I'm quite there yet, but hopefully with more practice, I'll be able to.

J.K. Rowling

What's a list of inspirational authors without J.K. Rowing? It's exciting see her range of writing — I'm not sure if it was intentional or if she simply grew with her characters. Perhaps both. If one were to pick up Sorcerer's Stone and compare it to Deathly Hallows, the tone is vastly darker and the writing is even intended for an older audience by the time one reaches Deathly Hallows. In the trilogy I'm currently working on, I'm hoping to do the same thing: with each book the tone should get darker while staying consistent with the voice I set in the first book. I also think she's a valuable teacher when it comes to character. Everyone is so memorable and unique and chock full of personality in the vast world of Harry Potter. But besides her beautiful prose and well-rounded characters, the most inspirational thing she instilled upon me is that there's a little bit of magic all around. Some of us have to look a little bit harder to see it, but it's there.

THE CHOSEN: BOOK ONE

Kaia's entire life has erupted in flames after an assassin appears and burns her village down.

She's rescued by a god from another planet who requests her help because she's the descendant of their last savior.

Together with Reeze — the only other survivor from her village and her appointed guardian — they set off on a quest to find the treasures of the gods in hopes of preventing a dire prophesy.

Kaia and Reeze quickly meet the Tueors, a group of people many thought extinct, who are searching specifically for Kaia.

Their intention: to protect the truth. As Kaia discovers more about the truth and her family's past, she also learns of the Tueors' bloody secret.

Will Kaia be the savior the gods have been waiting for? Or will she let the prophesy come true?

Buy The Chosen:

Amazon  Barnes and Noble  iTunes/iBooks  Smashwords

Author Bio:

A neek at heart, Sheenah Freitas has a love for the whimsical and magical. She looks to animated Disney movies and Studio Ghibli films for inspiration because of the innovative twists on fairytales, strong story structures and character studies.

When not writing, you might find her in a forest where she's yet to find any enchanted castles.

Website: http://sheenahfreitas.com

Twitter: @SheenahFreitas

Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: Bewitching Book Tours, fiction, guest blogs, Sheenah Freitas, The Chosen

Welcome to the Gratitude Giveaway!

Thanks to I Am a Reader Not a Writer and All-Consuming Books for hosting this great giveaway.

I'm thankful for all my new followers here and on Twitter, and now it's my turn to do something for you. I'm giving away one free e-book copy of Her Dear & Loving Husband every day of this giveaway, so if you have a Kindle, an iPad, a Nook, a Sony, or any other handy-dandy e-reading device, this is the giveaway for you. But there's more…I also have five paperback copies of the novel to give away! If you're not familiar with the story of Her Dear & Loving Husband, check here.

What do you need to do? Fill out the form below and that's it. No extra entries. No fancy tweeting. The only caveat is you must be a follower of this blog to enter. If you're not already a follower, you can sign up via e-mail or Networked Blogs. If you want to enter the paperback giveaway, be sure to fill your mailing address into the form below.

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There are over 300 blogs participating in this Gratitude Giveaway, so click here and hop on over to one of the other great blogs and see what else you can win!

Thanks for reading my blog. I'm glad you're here.

Filed under: Giveaways, Her Dear & Loving Husband Tagged: All-Consuming Books, e-books, Giveaways, Her Dear & Loving Husband, I am a Reader Not a Writer

Getting Organized So You Can Write That Next Book

Sometimes I feel like I'm being pulled in all four directions—one limb each stretched to the north, south, east, and west—and let me tell you, it can be painful. For a while I was so caught up in the business aspect of publishing I lost focus of why I do this in the first place: I love to tell stories, and I love telling those stories through writing. I had to get organized in order to write Her Loving Husband's Curse. At the rate I was going, it would never be finished.

When you're writing your second book after your first book has been released, there's so much more to do. After Her Dear & Loving Husband was sent out in the world, I had to learn about this thing called publicity. I didn't know the first thing about author platforms, social media, or blogging. I had never heard of a virtual book tour. I feel as though I've completed a six-month crash-course Master's program in marketing.

While I was reading everything I could find about book publicity, I neglected what I'm really here to do—write, in this case the remaining books in the Loving Husband Trilogy. I thought I would write Book Two over the summer, but I was so occupied with learning about book publishing that, except for a few scenes here and there, I did very little writing at all. I'm not saying that was wasted time since I had a lot to learn. But I needed to balance my time better so I could be successful as both a writer and a publisher. After a few false starts, I did finally get my act together.

How did I do it?

I put myself on a schedule. Now I spend an hour a day on marketing activities, which leaves the rest of my time to write. I love Deborah Riley-Magnus's suggestion for using a kitchen timer and setting it for thirty minutes or an hour or however much time you have to spend. When the timer goes off, it's time to write.

I love Facebook and Twitter, but they can eat your time away. With Facebook, I've learned to keep it simple. I reply to messages and comments left on my wall. I give myself a few minutes, just a few, to see what my friends are up to and I respond where I can. With Twitter, SocialOomph is a huge help. Where I used to spend thirty minutes or more a day searching for tweets, now I'm able to schedule my tweets every four hours. Whenever I find something tweet-worthy, it takes about three minutes to fill it into my SocialOomph schedule and then I don't worry about it again. Now I spend about 15 minutes or less on Twitter a day and my tweets cover all the time zones.

I've also learned to limit the amount of time I spend reading other blogs. There's so much good information out there, and I can spend an entire day reading post after post, getting lost in a single blog for hours. Again, I'm not saying that's wasted time because I'm all for learning from other writers who have gone before and have some knowledge of this brave new world of publishing. But there has to be a limit to how much time you spend perusing other blogs. You need to save yourself time to do your own writing. I've come to limit my blog reading to about twenty minutes a day, which works out well. Most posts are short and to the point, and I can usually read several of them in that time. If there are other posts I'd like to read and time's up, I bookmark them and get to them another time. Finish reading this, then get to work!

If there are queries I have to send (such as requesting book reviews or interviews), I can do that fairly quickly. I make a list of people I need to e-mail so I don't waste time trying to remember who I wanted to contact or who contacted me. This part takes me fifteen minutes tops, and this isn't something I have to do every day. I also try to save e-mails for Saturdays when I have more time.

When the hour is gone, when the buzzer goes off, it's time to write. No more Excuses. Pull up your story, scroll to your next scene, and let your fingers hop across the keypad as you bring your characters to life. And as simple as these organizational tips sound, they work. Since I started scheduling my time I've completed over 40,000 words of Her Loving Husband's Curse in about a month. Not too shabby.

Filed under: Writing Tagged: getting organized, writing, writing the second novel, writing tips

Hooray for Indie Authors

During my month on tour with Her Dear & Loving Husband, I realized I enjoyed the process of writing the guest blog posts, answering the interview questions, and getting everything organized and together. After the tour ended, I wanted to do for others what the hosts at Bewitching Book Tours did for me—provide a place where indie authors can showcase their work through guest posts and interviews. I've had some practice with interviews. It seems like just yesterday I interviewed John Jakes for The Copperfield Review, though it's about ten years ago now. I'm still amazed by how that best-selling author took time out of his busy day (he was on a cruise at the time, if I remember correctly) to answer some questions from an editor from a new, unknown literary journal. That's a class act if you ask me. If you'd like to read the interview, check here. 

As a writer myself, I'm fascinated by what others have to say about how they write, why they write, how they get past the hurdles. Writing, though exhilarating, can be long, sometimes hard, always solitary work. Now, as I'm well into the second draft of Her Loving Husband's Curse, I look forward to getting back to it every day. I'm at the point where writing the next story in the James and Sarah saga has become fun. But even when the writing is good, it's helpful to learn from others, and I have no qualms about borrowing a good tip when I find one. That's what I hope readers get from the guest posts and interviews: useful writing tips and some inspiration too. From my first two guests, we've already had some handy-dandy ideas. From Michael J Lee we learn about the importance of research as a tool to guide your story, and from Ann-Marie King we see the importance of sticking to it and finding time to write, even if you have a day job (which I do).

As of right now, I'm signed on as a blog tour host for Bewitching Book Tours. Then, in January 2012, I'll also be hosting for Nurture Virtual Book Tourz. I'm looking forward to reading the guest posts and interviews, and I can't wait to see what we learn together.

Filed under: Indie Publishing, News Tagged: Bewitching Book Tours, Book Blogs, guest posts, interviews

An Interview With Author Ann-Marie King

When do you find time to write?

Either late at night or very early in the morning.

What are the joys of writing for you?

I love being able to escape to another world through my imagination. It's awesome!

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

Since I have a day job, I guess my greatest obstacle is finding time to write. I try to write either early in the morning or late at night if I can.

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

I love to read and write paranormal romance. There's something about combining the magic of love with the supernatural. You never know what to expect.

What was the inspiration for your book?

I grew up listening to the most creepiest ghost stories ever told thanks to my wonderful storytelling grandmother.

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

Actually, the internet, newspapers and various publications.

Tell us about your book.

Watching Over Me is about an imaginary ghost town called Beckford where spirits coexist with the living unaware they are dead. Because the town is full of clairvoyants, many of the living cannot tell automatically who is dead and who is alive. That's what makes the story fascinating or creepy. In fact, the main character Jayden falls in love with a cute guy unaware that he's…um…a ghost.

What did you learn about yourself from writing this book?

That I am terrified of ghosts.

What advice do you have for other writers?

Keep reading and keep writing. Keep honing your skills. Never give up on your dream of becoming published.

What is your next project?

Well, Book Two in the trilogy titled Protecting Me is completed. I'm excited about that.

Watching Over Me

Book One of  The Haunted Heart Trilogy

By Ann-Marie King

"In the ghost town of Beckford, what you don't know can haunt you…"

Jayden Morgan has no memory of her haunted past. All she wants is a normal life. But when she goes to stay by her estranged grandmother in the small spirit-town of Beckford, strange things begin to happen:

1. She meets and falls irrevocably in love with Trey, a gorgeous stranger, unaware that he's a ghost;

2. She learns the mystery of the town's haunted high school may have a deadly connection to her missing memory; and

3. Trey tells her he'd been sent to watch over her…but can she really trust him?

Available on Amazon

 About the Author:

 Ann-Marie King is a freelance writer and the author of The Haunted Heart Trilogy (Watching Over Me, Protecting Me, and Guiding Me).

Excerpt:

Sunday, September 13

11:43 a.m.

His restless spirit roamed the old abandoned schoolhouse on 143 North Chancery Lane. Anger swept through the once promising student like a deadly tornado, his ghostly energies directed towards the girl.  Tormented, the bodiless soul swooned through the empty hall flicking the light switches. Raging. Furious. Feeling lost. His fury shuddered every corner of the structure. There would be no calm inside the old schoolhouse or in the town of Beckford until he reached her. Only then would his soul rest in peace.

11:43 a.m.

Jayden Morgan stumbled as she got out of the cab on North Beckly Street. Panic like she'd never known before welled inside her throat. What she felt was indescribable. She had some nerve coming back to the town of Beckford–a place so tiny it barely existed on the map. She knew she made the right decision to flee from her stepdad, however, sadly leaving her mother behind. Something bad happened. She didn't remember what it was, but she had to disappear for a while before it was too late.

"You okay, missy?" the white bearded cab driver croaked, disturbing her thoughts, as he called out to her from the window after she'd closed the passenger side door. His eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Um…yeah, I'm good. Thanks," she lied quietly, slinging her leather backpack over her shoulder. A flicker of apprehension coursed through her veins as she proceeded to the curb. She stopped and stared blankly at the number on the door in front of her. Number 242. Yep, that's the house. But for some reason it looked different than she'd remembered. Then again, she had difficult remembering a lot during the past week.

The old Victorian-built house with the peeling yellow paint and oddly decorated green porch belonged to Mrs. Rae Morgan, her estranged grandmother on her father's side. The only black relative she knew.

Jayden had called her out of the blue last night and told her tearfully, she had no place else to go. They weren't that close, thus she only remembered staying there once a long time ago. Not sure when. Everything was a blur since Jayden's…incident. She'd stayed in Beckford once with her mom, when they were evicted from their home in Buffalo. That was another story. But that's all she remembered. She couldn't recall what year she'd stayed in Beckford.

She had developed selective amnesia. A silent curse.

Jayden looked around her. The quiet street appeared darkened by the overcast, grey sky.

This place looks like a ghost town.

Half of the homes were boarded up and looked abandoned. Debris littered the other side of the street. There were no cars parked on the curbs. She sucked in a deep breath and zipped up her black and pink hoodie to shield her chest from the autumn chill in the air.

What am I doing here? How could I have forgotten how creepy this town was?

"Sure you got the right place?" the cab driver yelled out to her—as if offering her a last call to get back in the cab and drive to some place more—alive.

"Nobody in his right mind asked to be taken to the ghost town of Beckford," he had joked to her earlier on their ride from the St. Catharines' bus depot. "It's a town full of ghosts acting like they're alive and a bunch of quack seers who can't tell the living from the dead—imagine that! Can't believe people still live in that town." He shook his head at the recollection.

"This ol' town had a booming railroad industry back in the day. It was settled by loyalists in the 1800s—now it's all rubble and dust. They're trying to build it back up and construct homes and developments and entice people to buy cheap new homes here 'cause it's close to the border," he had tsked. "Anything for money." He also gave her a little rundown of the town's history to Jayden's surprise. This part of Ontario was a haven for escaped African American slaves also in the 1800s. The famous underground railway had a stop right in St. Catharines, half hour from Beckford. The town had tons of old pulled up tracks and abandoned train stations and buildings. Jayden guessed he was bored and wanted to keep himself awake after a long shift on the job.

"Why can't you just go up to the ghost and tell 'em they're dead and to go away?" Jayden had asked him while they drove through the countryside to town.

"You crazy?" he had called out to her, eyeing her through the rearview mirror as if she lost her head. "You can never tell somebody they're dead if they don't already know it. Remember that! Or that'll be the last thing you do."

 

Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: Ann-Marie King, Bewitching Book Tours, interviews, Watching Over Me, writing