Penelope Crowe's Blog, page 13

Julia Crane and the Wee Folk

It is my pleasure to interview Julia Crane today.  Pull up a chair listen to tales of the the wee folk and indie...Q: I noticed that your books are about elves—can you tell me about your interest in elves and other wee folk? Growing up my Irish grandmother lived with us, and she was always telling Irish tales which started my interest in mythology in general. Q. Do you believe in magic and the world we generally can't see?Yes, I believe there is more than humans are able to see. I wasn't really sure that I believed it until after my grandmother passed away. After that,  I really started hoping there was more to life then the time we are given on earth. Q: How long have you been writing?I wrote a lot as a teen, but didn't pick it back up till a year or so ago. Between having children and going to college, I pushed the dream aside. Q: Are you inspired by anything or anyone?I am inspired on a daily basis. Life itself is inspiring. I often get inspiration from watching others' interactions with people. Also, I tend to get most of my ideas when I am walking outdoors and just letting my mind wander. Q: Is there anything about writing that you don't like, and do you find anything demotivating?The revision process is not fun. Also, seeing all your errors when they come back from the editors. Q: I see one of your books is a collection of short stories from the Indie Eclective. Can you tell me about the Indie Eclective?When I first started the publishing journey I made a connection with three authors: Heather Adkins, Talia Jager and M. Edward McNally.  None of us cared for promoting ourselves and decided we should form a group and help promote each other. There are now nine of us, and they are a fun group to work with. Q: In a perfect situation, what would you like your writing career to look like?I'm very happy with how my career is going at the moment. I was surprised at how quickly Coexist took off and how well it has been received. I'm taking it one book at a time and seeing where it leads. Q: Do you think the tech explosion is affecting our kid's creativity? If so, in a positive or negative way and why?I think you could argue for either side. The main negative would be less time outdoors, however there are many positive aspects as well. My two-year-old is a whiz with an iPad and has apps that teach shapes, numbers, and words. I think the trick is finding the balance, as with most things in life. Q: The covers of your books are beautiful and memorable? Does art affect your work?Thank you! I got lucky and found an amazing artist who is wonderful to work with. My mother was an artist, so art is something I have always been surrounded with. Because of my mother's creative background she was always encouraging us to use our imaginations. Q: Would you sign with a big publishing house in the future?I really don't see that happening. I enjoy being with Valknut Press, and don't plan on changing that. I like having control and not being on a time crunch. Q: If you could do it all again, would you change anything in your writing journey?I would have never stopped writing when I was younger. Many authors have a backlist of books they put out. I have to write everything now and I learn so much with each new novel. Q: Any advice for someone who is just starting out as a writer?The best advice I've read is write the first draft and don't worry about errors. 



www.juliacraneauthor.comhttp://www.amazon.com/Coexist-Keegans-Chronicles-1-ebook/dp/B0055HFZ3A/ref%3dsr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1319049585&sr=8-2http://www.amazon.com/Conflicted-Keegans-Chronicles-2-ebook/dp/B005N8WN5Y/ref%3dpd_sim_kinc1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9S5rXgjlokThanks Julia!!  It has been a pleasure![image error]

Win a Book or a Nook at the Coffin Hop!

Beware, my pretties!!  You don't want to miss the Coffin Hop from Oct. 24, 2011 to Oct. 31, 2011!

 

Visit the scary author sites after you click Poe's grave-------------------------------->



Discover new writer's and artists, and enter to win prizes...the more you visit--the better your chances to win!



Come back and visit As the Crowe Flies during the Coffin Hop, leave a comment with your email address, and receive a coupon for either of my books, leave an email address with a friend and you'll both get a book and be entered in the drawing for a brand new NOOK!



Winners will be chosen by Random.org.



Please feel free to post any creepy urban legends, scary stories, or ghostly sightings.  Would LOVE to hear about them!!

An Artistic Monday with Dan Nokes

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Today I am thrilled to interview Dan Nokes, illustrator extraorinaire.  I got to talk with him over the past week and learned not only is he a great artist, but a really great guy!



Enjoy the interview:



Q.  I know you went to school for graphic arts at the College of Southern Maryland, but were you always into art?A: I have always considered myself a storyteller first and foremost.  I have drawn since I could remember mainly as an outlet for the ideas, stories, creatures, and characters I have had simmering around in my head.Q.  How did you get into the field?  Can you talk a little about your journey?A: I have been a comic creator on an amateur level since middle school.  There was always been a need to get into doing projects for Marvel or DC or any big company that would have me.  I sent in submissions to quite a few companies but it took a good 10 years just to the level of competency where I was receiving actual rejection letters.  Then I went to SPX in the late 90's as an attendee.  I sat in on a symposium being given by Jeff Smith who was doing a 1 on 1 Q and A with Will Eisner.  The man was 83 years old at the time and gave the most concise and thought provoking analysis of sequential art that I have witnessed to date.  From that point, I made it clear that I was going to go make and publish my own comics.Q.  Do you think school helped your craft, or did art come naturally for you?A: Honestly I never finished college, although the one art professor there was one of the few persons who I would say had a positive influence on me.  I grew up in the 80's and 90's.  This I would say is the last great era of when high school and college level art educators did not see sequential art or fantasy illustration as a CAREER PATH or A LEGITIMATE ART FORM.  As a result my drawings were kind of frowned on by most of my teachers.  Now with Hollywood, pop culture, and video gaming industries being as profitable as they are, its gained a level of acceptance in "polite circles".Q.  I have seen some of your work online, can you discuss the project you are working on?A: I'm currently working on two projects: The first is fully my own called ADAM AND EVE: BIZARRE LOVE TRIANGLE IN THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE.  Basically its about a guy named Adam who lives in a Bunker underneath Andrew's Air Force Base 7 years after an undead outbreak.  His only companions are his genetically enhance laboratory dog, the bunker's sentient super computer, and his Zombified ex-girlfriend.  He has avoided complete insanity, by painting this semi denial of a rose colored existence in routine and outlook.  It works fine for him until he checks e-mail (Part of his routine, and for some reason, even in the apocalypse people still get spam mail?!) and discovers a plea from a girl 60 miles away called Eve.  They start an online relationship and as that unfolds his world he made for himself is falling apart.  He decides to leave the bunker and look for his lady love.  He packs up his gear and dog, downloads the computer into a segway and leaves a dear john video for the zombie ex, and leaves the bunker.  The kicker is that as he opens the door to the outside world in search of his new life, he accidentally opens all the door and is followed unknowingly behind by the undead Miss Zombie.My other project is as an illustrator for a children's book by Nick Davis called UNCONDITIONAL: A TEDDY BEAR'S TALE.  This is about a Teddy Bear named Tristan who for years has been the protector of his owner, against the forces of under the bed, in the closet, and the dark places that occupy a boy's bedroom and night time slumber.  The story opens up on Tristan's last night on the job.  His boy is coming to an age where he no longer believes in childhood fantasy or nightmare.  So Tristan is to be retired to the attic.  While it uses fantasy and nursery rhyme and children's story elements.  At its heart it's a story of coming to the end of one's career and facing an end and how one deals with such a thing coming to pass.Q.  Has anyone or anything inspired you?A: Numerous!  Science Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fact, The art and craft of storytelling and those who ply it well.Q.  Do you work in any other field, and if so, what do you do?For the last 10 years I have been a "jack of all trades" at my one man publishing company putting out such books as The Reptile and Mister Amazing (2002), The Paranormals (2003-2008), The Pistoleers (2008-2010) and Adam and Eve: Bizarre Love Triangle in the Zombie Apocalypse.Q.  Who are your personal favorite artists? A: Walt Simonson, John Byrne, Jim Lee, Bill Sienkiewicz, Vincent Van Gough, Dave McKean, Jack Kirby, Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Salvador Dali, John Romita Jr., and others too long to list!Q.  Are you involved in any other art (writing, music etc.) ?  A: Again my art is always closely tied to my love of storytelling.  Writing is just a beloved craft to me as drawing and art.Q.  Times are tough, and our economy forces many schools to tighten their belts.  Usually the first programs to go are the arts, what do you think of this, and how do you think this will affect us in the future?A:  Math, engineering, and sciences are important and the educational system in this country has been a mess to begin with. But the arts, music, and related fields all develop such important attributes such as ABSTRACT AND CREATIVE THINKING, and INDIVIDUAL EXPRESSION that lead to innovation and ingenuity that fueled the economic, inventive, and industrious minds of the past.  Without those programs kids grow up with the what, and how of forging a future, but not the why.Q.  Is there any part of your work as an artist that you find challenging, or that you do not like?A: From a craft perspective, I always find backgrounds, vehicles and everyday objects challenging.  Most of us types don't focus on those type of things where were young and as a result have a greater difficulty trying to master those type of things when formally learning the craft as a career avenue.  Also hands are a big hang-up for me.  They are the most flexible part of the human body.  And therefore literally have hundreds of different positioning and angles.  Ive gotten decent, but even now they still tend to trip me up!  Q.  Can you tell us about any projects you have done in the past?A: Reptile and Mister Amazing was my first project in 2002.  It was a super-hero graphic novel about a geriatric ex super hero teaming up with a Dinosapien janitor to take on an omnipotent game show host.  I then went on to do a 12 issue series called The Paranormals.  It was basically a feeble minded robot, chain smoking vampire, teenage witch, alcoholic werewolf, and angry Scottish dwarf trying to save existence from negation.  I then did a western story from the perspective of American Indians, ex-slaves, and immigrants called The Pistoleers. Q.  Any projects in the works? A: After I wrap up Adam and Eve and Unconditional, I have two projects in the works.  They will be my first real foray into the world of webcomics.Q.  In a perfect world, what would be your five-year plan as an artist?A: Art is (And this is going to sound cheesy.) is all about self discovery.  An artist can learn, grow, and output, a massive body of work in a short period of time, or take years or even decades to get to some sort of point where they have find their "EUREKA" moment.  There really is no five year plan.  I can only offer the advice of that without passion for what you do, its just another day gig.  Q.  Some say that being an artist is lonely work, do you agree?A: It is lonely to be sure.  For someone who is supposed to reflect a mirror of the world at large you spend an infinite amount of time in such a droll small corner of it to apply your trade!  Q.  Do you have any advice for someone who is just starting out or thinking of becoming an artist (illustrator, graphic artist etc.)?A: Besides the passion bit: You are never done learning.  This is a lifelong educational experience.  Even more so now that we are living in an era that for the first time in the history or artistic expression the tools themselves are changing.  The computer is the greatest game changer to art since pigment.  Q.  If you could do it all over again—would you do anything differently?A: Everybody does come to that question at some point.  But I am just starting to have success now.  If maybe I had done things differently.  Maybe I would have been at a point where I would be wealthier and more successful today.  But I see others who are at that point who take that success for granted.  Im sort of glad that I took the untraditional route and learned things for myself.  I know things because I learned them, observed them, and came to conclusions on my own, and not because it was part of some plan, or design or that's what was considered a societal norm.  At the end I am me because of the decisions I made, good or bad.  And as far as I know, me is not entirely too bad??Dan, thank you so much!!!  It has been terrific learning about your journey, and getting and artistic view of the indie world.  Looking forward to seeing more of your work.  :) 

Coffin Hop Nook and Book Giveaway

http://www.penelopecrowe.blogspot.com/

Coffin Hop Blog Tour--win a NOOK in PENELOPE CROWE'S GHOULISHLY GREAT GIVEAWAY!

Welcome, creatures of the night, to the introduction of the Coffin Hop Blog Tour.  Visit any or all of the participating creepy blog sites, and sign up for chances to win great prizes ranging from books to Nooks!  The more blogs you visit, the better your chances of winning.  Click on Poe's grave----------->

and start hopping.  When you get there--scroll down a bit to find all the participants, and start visiting and entering the contests they are offering! 



BUT FIRST!!  Please read about my GHOULISHLY GREAT GIVEAWAY!

Everyone who visits my site between October 24, 2011 and October 31, 2011, and enters Penelope Crowe's Ghoulishly Great Giveaway, and leaves a comment and an email address and will receive a FREE coupon for either my book, 100 Unfortunate Days, or my short story, Absorbed.  Anyone who leaves a comment and email and also signs up a friend who is not a blogger in the blog tour will receive, along with friend, a FREE coupon for my book or story, AND be entered for a chance to win a brand new NOOK Simple Touch Reader, along with your friend, too!  This Nook is touch-screen, WIFI, ultra-light, and can run for 2 months on one charge! Winners will be chosen by Random.org and posted on November 1, 2011 at 10:00am.



*Sign up for my blog under Poe's grave if you like, THEN



*After you sign up under Poe's coffin, please leave me a comment belew with your email so I can send you your free book coupon, and tell me if you prefer the book, 100 Unfortunate Days, http://www.amazon.com/100-Unfortunate-Days-ebook/dp/B005R1F5CU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318773622&sr=8-1,  or the short story, Absorbed, http://www.amazon.com/Absorbed-ebook/dp/B005SUBYYI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1318773679&sr=1-1 .   If you are signing up a friend, please mention BOTH your emails so I know to add you BOTH to the Nook giveaway.



I hope you have a frightfully good time--good luck!!!   :)

Recipe for Love

I don't believe there is a tried-and-true path to true love, I do not believe all loves last, but I do believe we can have more than one true love in our lives.  Although I am not a magician or witch, I wish there were some type of magic we could do to make that special someone love us forever.  And there have been times when I wished a love would just end. 

Here is a Recipe for Love taken from 100 Unfortunate Days, and don't forget...be careful what you wish for...



Recipe for Love.3 ounce of rum (can be spiced, coconut—anything—) that has been left in the moonlight for 3 nights.  If you leave it in the waxing moon, the person will notice you, if you leave it in the waning moon, the person will leave, if you leave it in a full moon the connection will last forever—whether you like it or not.3 leaves of fresh mint3 grains of salt3 grains of sugar3 ounces of club soda or seltzer3 ice cubes3 tiny pieces of a fresh basil leafPut all ingredients in a metal or glass shaker (no plastic because it will steal the energy) and shake very quickly to a slow count of 3 with your eyes closed.  Serve immediately.  Do not serve this drink to more than one person—you would pay for that mistake for the rest of your life.



I think we all believe in some form of magic...



A well-composed book is a magic carpet on which we are wafted to a world that we cannot enter in any other way. Caroline Gordon

Something to Crow About

I am lucky to be hosting illustrator Dan Nokes next week!  Take a look at a sample of his work.  :)

One Happy Author

Today as part of the Indie Writer's Unite Blog Tour, I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing Susan Ricci.  Please read all about her journey, from crayons to novels, right here.



I want to thank author Penelope Crowe (and my virtual cousin) for hosting me this week!

1.   When did you start writing?

I started writing the moment I learned crayons didn't belong to a food group.  Actually, I began my 'career' on an antique typewriter at 10, banging out The Hill Weekly, a gossip rag my neighbors bought for a dime. That's how the National Inquirer came to be.  I was absolutely thrilled a giant publisher like that stole my ideas! (chuckle)

2.  Please tell us a bit about your journey towards publication—any roadblocks or motivations?

I tried marketing a novel I'd written about 12 years ago via traditional channels, and I refused to see the light was too dim regarding that particular project. Attending writer's conferences and researching the how-to's via the Writer's Digest and other avenues, I found it wasn't the premise that killed the book, it was my own POV character.  She didn't have much interest in helping herself, ergo, no one could applaud her journey, because she refused to advance it herself.  I trashed it and concentrated on other journeys that inspired empathy, whether they were via newspaper/magazine articles, essays, or short fiction ditties.  You see, it's those emotional true to life situations that propel me the fastest, although I do love creating characters that bring out my liar's ability via my alter ego.

3. Are you writing a book now, and if so, please tell us a bit about it.

My current project, Dinosaurs and Cherry Stems, began as sort of a diary, but snowballed into a humorous, self-help creation.  I'm hoping my journey may inspire others clinging to negative baggage that they should be making their baggage work FOR them, instead of wallowing.  Anyone can be much happier if they use their histories as valuable stepping-stones to get to the next level, don't you agree?  Right now I'm revising D and CS, then sharing it with a great editor after the holidays. Hopefully, it will be ready for publishing by next summer!

3.  What do you find difficult about the writing process?

Distractions, distractions, distractions, especially when they're least expected--they drive me nutty.  I want to write all day long, but it's usually impossible. Guess we all have those days…

4.   What are your writing goals for the future?

I have 3 novels beckoning me, after Dinosaurs and Cherry Stems.  My favorite, Slick Trespass, is a contemporary saga about physical illness versus the mental kind.  If you think about it, there's not much difference between the two, just a matter of perspective.  I also have 2 stories in rough draft for later, that'll be sure to keep me busy!   5.  If you could plan a perfect writing career for the next five years, what would it include? (Could be anything Susan…book tours, type of books you write, movie deals…anything you want…)

The concept of having a lucrative writing career is a humbling one.  Movie deals, the Red Carpet, my hubby looking so fine in his tux standing next to me, all that rocks, but if I were fortunate enough to make some money from my writing, I'd finance a private group home and staff for my handicapped brother.  I'm his guardian and I'd love to see him completely happy.

6.  What type of books do you like to read?

I read everything; espionage, thrillers, sci-fi, romance.  And I'll probably do more of it once Christmas arrives and Santa stashes a Kindle in my sock!  But I'll re-read Gone With the Wind anytime…Margaret Mitchell, Vince Flynn, Harper Lee, Bertrice Small are favorite authors, just to name a few.  And, of course, there's my Indie authors, all who have some very great works out there.

7.  Please tell us about you!

I'm really pretty average, (having finally achieved adulthood not too long ago), and I'm filled with aspirations that keep me grounded, both emotionally and professionally.  I'm also the type of author that will readily deviate from one project, to begin a piece about something else entirely that snags my interest, at any particular time.  Although this aspect of my personality gets in my way at times, I just can't help it.  And breathing life into a topic I'm passionate about and seeing it published; damn, the high an author feels when this happens, it's just indescribable, no?

8.  Any words of advice for people who are just starting to write?

Absolutely!  Pursue your dreams.  Write as often as humanly possible and read just as much. Research your markets and consider your publishing options.  All part of the process...

9 .I know you have written some articles, can you tell me about them and what they were for?

Gosh, Penelope, I've written many articles for the newspaper, the type that could've been misconstrued by government officials and the like.   My mother once begged me to knock it off, because she feared someone would find my car abandoned on some dark alley one night, but without me in it!  Yeah, I'm opinionated, but I've always been the advocate for the underdog first.  I've also written articles for Good Dog Magazine, Aim Intercultural Magazine, and Parenting Teens, and those, too, were inspired by real life situations. 

Thank you SO much for answering my questions!  It has been a pleasure hearing your story and getting to know you.  Good luck with your books!! 

Great new friend and author

This weekend I met inepepndent author Sandy Wolters and we talked about her new book Justice for Emily, a steamy romance/suspense/thriller with a ghostly paranormal twist.

http://www.amazon.com/Justice-For-Emi...

Just in Time for Halloween

I made a new indie friend this weekend, Sandy Wolters.  After she helped me with several tech-related snafus, we talked about her new book, Justice for Emily, a steamy romance/suspense/thriller with a paranormal twist.



Here's a blurb about the book:



Rachael Merchant, a Phoenix Homicide Detective, is running from the images of her last case that are embedded

deep in her soul.  Before her journey is over, she will find herself embroiled in a twisted murder

investigation that involves the Chief of Police of Brownwood, Texas, as the main suspect.  Officer Patrick Sheehan will do whatever it takes to keep Rachael near him to get Justice For Emily.

Find Justice for Emily here: