Jennifer K. Lafferty's Blog: Authors' Musings, page 9
October 2, 2012
Interview With Michael Cargill, author of 'Underneath'
Michael Cargill's new book, "Underneath' is a thriller that takes us into the mind of a charming, likable guy named Hugh, who also happens to be a volatile and deranged criminal. No one knows what's going on inside of Hugh, least of all his love interest, Abigail.
So, what does author Michael Cargill have to say about one of his most unique and riveting creations, "Underneath"?
Q: Do you think anyone is truly well-adjusted or that some people are just better at covering up their issues than others?
A: Some people are better at dealing with things like stress, anger, and jealousy, than others are. People can be like cats and dogs: annoy a dog, and it’ll bite you. Annoy a cat, and it’ll hide a dead mouse under your bed, or try to trip you up at the top of the stairs. If you’re lucky, it might just yawn tuna breath in your face, just as you’re dropping off to sleep.
It’s why I have a hamster – it’s in a cage, and I can just poke peanuts in through the bars. No way is it getting any revenge on me.
Q: In addition to his obvious mental illness, Hugh seems to either be searching for something or running away from something. What does he want out of life?
A: Nothing in particular, really. He has no ambitions of his own, and doesn’t really have the capacity to plan for the future. He’s impulsive, and tends to react to what is going on around him.
Q: Do you think people are generally better off in their ignorance of what’s secretly going on in the minds of others?
A: In general, yes. It doesn’t really matter all that much if the person next to me at work is putting a few grains of salt in my tea, if I can’t taste it. If I don’t know he despises every, single cell in my body, then no harm done.
Q: “Underneath” contains a certain amount of wry humor. Was that intended to break up the tension or just to entertain the readers?
A: A bit of both! I always like a book that throws in a bit of humour, so I kind of assume other people do as well. If something amusing pops into my head, I can’t resist finding a way to put it into the story.
Q: In addition to the key roles that police officers Robert and Clare have in the story, is the glimpse that readers get into their minds intended to sharply contrast them with Hugh?
A: A bit, yes. I wanted to make the police officers more human than you usually see portrayed in books, and film. Behind the professional facade, they’re normal people trying to do their job. They crack jokes, get hungry, fart, get annoyed, burp, and have their own political views.
They’re not superhuman, which is a good job really. Imagine how much that would cost in taxes.
Q: What do you hope readers take away from this book?
A: I hope they realise that I’m a great guy, with great thighs and a GSOH.
So, what does author Michael Cargill have to say about one of his most unique and riveting creations, "Underneath"?
Q: Do you think anyone is truly well-adjusted or that some people are just better at covering up their issues than others?
A: Some people are better at dealing with things like stress, anger, and jealousy, than others are. People can be like cats and dogs: annoy a dog, and it’ll bite you. Annoy a cat, and it’ll hide a dead mouse under your bed, or try to trip you up at the top of the stairs. If you’re lucky, it might just yawn tuna breath in your face, just as you’re dropping off to sleep.
It’s why I have a hamster – it’s in a cage, and I can just poke peanuts in through the bars. No way is it getting any revenge on me.
Q: In addition to his obvious mental illness, Hugh seems to either be searching for something or running away from something. What does he want out of life?
A: Nothing in particular, really. He has no ambitions of his own, and doesn’t really have the capacity to plan for the future. He’s impulsive, and tends to react to what is going on around him.
Q: Do you think people are generally better off in their ignorance of what’s secretly going on in the minds of others?
A: In general, yes. It doesn’t really matter all that much if the person next to me at work is putting a few grains of salt in my tea, if I can’t taste it. If I don’t know he despises every, single cell in my body, then no harm done.
Q: “Underneath” contains a certain amount of wry humor. Was that intended to break up the tension or just to entertain the readers?
A: A bit of both! I always like a book that throws in a bit of humour, so I kind of assume other people do as well. If something amusing pops into my head, I can’t resist finding a way to put it into the story.
Q: In addition to the key roles that police officers Robert and Clare have in the story, is the glimpse that readers get into their minds intended to sharply contrast them with Hugh?
A: A bit, yes. I wanted to make the police officers more human than you usually see portrayed in books, and film. Behind the professional facade, they’re normal people trying to do their job. They crack jokes, get hungry, fart, get annoyed, burp, and have their own political views.
They’re not superhuman, which is a good job really. Imagine how much that would cost in taxes.
Q: What do you hope readers take away from this book?
A: I hope they realise that I’m a great guy, with great thighs and a GSOH.
September 30, 2012
Interview With Author Francene Carroll
The prolific Francene Carroll can take us to a world full of romance mixed with power player vampires, like her "Eternal Hunger" series or brighten our day with a clever rom com, such as "Prude & Prejudice". No matter what she writes, one thing's clear, Carroll has an enviable imagination.
Let's hear what Francene Carroll has to say about the wide variety of books she's authored.
Q: Your romantic comedy Prude & Prejudice” deals with mistaken first impressions. Do you think first impressions are usually accurate?
A: I think first impressions are very important, but not necessarily accurate. The funny thing about first impressions is that they often tell us a lot more about ourselves than they do about the person we have just met. Most of us, I believe, are quick to judge others, and sometimes write people off without bothering to look beyond surfaces. First impressions provide great insights into our own prejudices, as Jane Austen showed so well in Pride & Prejudice. I really love it when someone turns out to be completely different to how I thought they would be based on first impressions, and it’s always a great reminder to take them time to get to know people properly before forming an opinion about them. In my novella, the main character Prue misunderstands something she overhears and forms a very negative opinion of Mr Darling. She finds it easy to think badly of him because he insulted her earlier within earshot, and this just confirms her low opinion of the man. It takes a few encounters with him and some more misunderstandings before she realizes her mistake. Mr Darling, on the other hand, can’t work Prue out but he finds her strangely intriguing and he is determined to get to know her better.
Q: Which of your characters do you identify with the most, and in what ways?
A: That’s actually a hard question to answer! There’s a little bit of me in every one of my characters, but they are also completely different to me in other ways. I can’t narrow it down to just one so I’ll have to pick three. Allie from Pleasure Island, Lucia from Eternal Hunger and Prue from Prude & Prejudice are all similar to me in that they feel very strongly about certain causes and they like to stand up for what they believe in. On the other hand I wish I could be a super-organised fitness fanatic like Allie. I can’t even keep a plant alive in a pot, let alone run my own organic farm like Prue, and Lucia is far more courageous than I could ever be. I guess these characters are in some ways projections of my ideal self, but they have their own flaws too which make them individuals.
Q: In “Hunger of the Wolf” Amber’s plans to take a break from her painful divorce by going to an isolated spot in the mountains are ruined when she is drawn into a frightening local mystery. Instead of relaxing she puts herself in a very dangerous position. Did she choose to get involved in the investigation because she needed to feel empowered during this chapter in her life?
A: That’s a very interesting question. Amber thinks she is drawn into the missing-persons investigation against her will. She really just wants to be alone in the mountains, but her encounters with her neighbour Jesse Davidson make this impossible. She always has the option of leaving but she chooses to stay, and subconsciously this could be because she needs to prove she can stand on her own two feet. At the beginning of the novella she is lost and confused, but the events of the book force her to assert her strength and independence.
Q: Is there a genre you haven’t yet explored but would like to?
There are some many genres I’d like to explore!
A: At the moment I’m still finding my feet as a writer and trying out different things and I really don’t know where I’ll end up. I have many different ideas for books, including sci-fi, historical romance, creative non-fiction and l might even try my hand at literary fiction one of these days.
Q: Do you have a main source of inspiration?
A: My main source of inspiration is my belief that writers can change the world!
Q: What are your future writing plans?
A: At the moment I’m working on another thriller novella called Colton Manor, and then I plan to finish a book called What Women Don’t Want which I started a while ago in the genre of women’s fiction. After that I can’t really say what my plans are. I have some ideas for another Eternal Hunger series, but it’s very vague at the moment and I think I’ve had enough of vampires for a while. All I can really say is watch this space, there will be more books from me, but I can’t tell you what they will be about or even what genre they’ll be in. As a writer, I find this very exciting!
Let's hear what Francene Carroll has to say about the wide variety of books she's authored.
Q: Your romantic comedy Prude & Prejudice” deals with mistaken first impressions. Do you think first impressions are usually accurate?
A: I think first impressions are very important, but not necessarily accurate. The funny thing about first impressions is that they often tell us a lot more about ourselves than they do about the person we have just met. Most of us, I believe, are quick to judge others, and sometimes write people off without bothering to look beyond surfaces. First impressions provide great insights into our own prejudices, as Jane Austen showed so well in Pride & Prejudice. I really love it when someone turns out to be completely different to how I thought they would be based on first impressions, and it’s always a great reminder to take them time to get to know people properly before forming an opinion about them. In my novella, the main character Prue misunderstands something she overhears and forms a very negative opinion of Mr Darling. She finds it easy to think badly of him because he insulted her earlier within earshot, and this just confirms her low opinion of the man. It takes a few encounters with him and some more misunderstandings before she realizes her mistake. Mr Darling, on the other hand, can’t work Prue out but he finds her strangely intriguing and he is determined to get to know her better.
Q: Which of your characters do you identify with the most, and in what ways?
A: That’s actually a hard question to answer! There’s a little bit of me in every one of my characters, but they are also completely different to me in other ways. I can’t narrow it down to just one so I’ll have to pick three. Allie from Pleasure Island, Lucia from Eternal Hunger and Prue from Prude & Prejudice are all similar to me in that they feel very strongly about certain causes and they like to stand up for what they believe in. On the other hand I wish I could be a super-organised fitness fanatic like Allie. I can’t even keep a plant alive in a pot, let alone run my own organic farm like Prue, and Lucia is far more courageous than I could ever be. I guess these characters are in some ways projections of my ideal self, but they have their own flaws too which make them individuals.
Q: In “Hunger of the Wolf” Amber’s plans to take a break from her painful divorce by going to an isolated spot in the mountains are ruined when she is drawn into a frightening local mystery. Instead of relaxing she puts herself in a very dangerous position. Did she choose to get involved in the investigation because she needed to feel empowered during this chapter in her life?
A: That’s a very interesting question. Amber thinks she is drawn into the missing-persons investigation against her will. She really just wants to be alone in the mountains, but her encounters with her neighbour Jesse Davidson make this impossible. She always has the option of leaving but she chooses to stay, and subconsciously this could be because she needs to prove she can stand on her own two feet. At the beginning of the novella she is lost and confused, but the events of the book force her to assert her strength and independence.
Q: Is there a genre you haven’t yet explored but would like to?
There are some many genres I’d like to explore!
A: At the moment I’m still finding my feet as a writer and trying out different things and I really don’t know where I’ll end up. I have many different ideas for books, including sci-fi, historical romance, creative non-fiction and l might even try my hand at literary fiction one of these days.
Q: Do you have a main source of inspiration?
A: My main source of inspiration is my belief that writers can change the world!
Q: What are your future writing plans?
A: At the moment I’m working on another thriller novella called Colton Manor, and then I plan to finish a book called What Women Don’t Want which I started a while ago in the genre of women’s fiction. After that I can’t really say what my plans are. I have some ideas for another Eternal Hunger series, but it’s very vague at the moment and I think I’ve had enough of vampires for a while. All I can really say is watch this space, there will be more books from me, but I can’t tell you what they will be about or even what genre they’ll be in. As a writer, I find this very exciting!
September 25, 2012
Interview With Lee Cushing, author of "The Pisachas Retribution"'
Author Lee Cushing writes about the dark side in such books as "The Pisachas Retribution", about characters avenging an abusive crime, and "Mambo" centering on a voodoo priestess combating evil.
Let's hear what Cushing has to say about these books and writing about the occult.
Q: Most of your books explore the occult. How did you become interested in the subject? Who are some of you favorite authors in this genre?
A: I grew up watching the old Universal and Hammer horror films, usually staying up late for the Saturday double bills that were being shown over here in the UK. It would be unfair not to credit Terrence Dicks who adapted a lot of Doctor Who television stories for novelization as well as the first vampire story I ever read as an early influence on my writing, through I did later develop a taste for Guy N Smith and Shaun Hutson. I also spent time collecting books on witchcraft, the black arts and vampires as a hobby and it seemed like a natural progression.
Q: Is there a genre you haven’t yet explored but would like to?
A: Not really, I try to mix in elements from a multitude of genres into each book.
Q: Which of your characters do you most closely identify with and why?
A: That would have to be Forrest King and his habit of making bad puns, I have a tendency towards coming up with similar comments.
Q: Are you the kind of author who writes a little at a time or do you just plow right through?
A: That’s something that depends on the circumstances at the time. My preference is always to get as much do a day as I can, but there are times when that’s not possible and there’s only enough time to get a little done.
Q: The storyline in “Mambo”, about a voodoo priestess who tries to stop the spread of evil, is very intriguing. How did you get the idea?
A: I wanted to do something involving religious intolerance, focusing on the concept of how those who had only had experience with the darker side of the religion would perceive working alongside a practitioner who believed that voodoo should be used as a power of healing.
Q: Is there a type of character you are especially drawn to, as a writer?
A: Not really, I use an application which randomly comes up with basic characteristics and attributes for each character in order to ensure a wide variety of characters.
Let's hear what Cushing has to say about these books and writing about the occult.
Q: Most of your books explore the occult. How did you become interested in the subject? Who are some of you favorite authors in this genre?
A: I grew up watching the old Universal and Hammer horror films, usually staying up late for the Saturday double bills that were being shown over here in the UK. It would be unfair not to credit Terrence Dicks who adapted a lot of Doctor Who television stories for novelization as well as the first vampire story I ever read as an early influence on my writing, through I did later develop a taste for Guy N Smith and Shaun Hutson. I also spent time collecting books on witchcraft, the black arts and vampires as a hobby and it seemed like a natural progression.
Q: Is there a genre you haven’t yet explored but would like to?
A: Not really, I try to mix in elements from a multitude of genres into each book.
Q: Which of your characters do you most closely identify with and why?
A: That would have to be Forrest King and his habit of making bad puns, I have a tendency towards coming up with similar comments.
Q: Are you the kind of author who writes a little at a time or do you just plow right through?
A: That’s something that depends on the circumstances at the time. My preference is always to get as much do a day as I can, but there are times when that’s not possible and there’s only enough time to get a little done.
Q: The storyline in “Mambo”, about a voodoo priestess who tries to stop the spread of evil, is very intriguing. How did you get the idea?
A: I wanted to do something involving religious intolerance, focusing on the concept of how those who had only had experience with the darker side of the religion would perceive working alongside a practitioner who believed that voodoo should be used as a power of healing.
Q: Is there a type of character you are especially drawn to, as a writer?
A: Not really, I use an application which randomly comes up with basic characteristics and attributes for each character in order to ensure a wide variety of characters.
September 24, 2012
Interview With Kristie Jones, author of "The Corpse Goddess"
Meg Highbury's party girl lifestyle is about to come to an end, in more ways than one. One morning she awakens to find a walking corpse in her apartment. If that isn't enough of a shock she and her neighbor Armando later discover that Meg is a Valkyrie, which means she has to serve death duty. Part horror, part comedy part romance "The Corpse Goddess" has something everyone.
So, what does author Kristi Jones have to say about her paranormal creation?
Q: Meg desperately wants to live. Does this experience cause her to appreciate her life on a deeper level.
A: Yes, absolutely. I also think it leads her to a greater appreciation of life on a larger scale. She's forced to think outside of herself, to consider the value of a life and to balance that against her own desire to live.
Q: Are you particularly drawn to paranormal lit as an author?
A: I am, which surprises me a bit. I had a very unconventional upbringing and I think because of that, I have a hard core of skepticism inside me. On the other hand, we aren't born into this world with a guidebook and that fascinates me - the idea that anything is truly possible.
Q: Do you have a primary source of inspiration?
A: My children inspire me daily. They are so fearless, so intelligent and kind. They meet this changing world with courage and energy. They work hard and it's impossible not to follow their example.
Q: Do you prefer to write character driven or plot driven stories?
A: I like to use both. I think as a writer you need to strive for a balance between the two to create a story with depth and fun. Even the darkest story needs to be fun for the reader!
Q: Paranormal chick lit seems to be a growing trend in literature. Do you think this subgenre could have lasting popularity?
A: I don't know if any trends have lasting popularity, but I do think a good story always has the potential to be popular. I think the blending of genres is something that is here to stay for a while, which I love. It opens the door to some truly unique stories, characters and settings.
Q: What are your future writing plans?
A: I have so many projects in the air right now! I'm trying to finish a ghost story I started before The Corpse Goddess was published. And of course, I need to dive into The Corpse Goddess II, which I'm really looking forward to. I also wrote a young adult time travel story that my son is insisting I publish, so I'm polishing it up for submission. I'll write for the rest of my life. It's my bliss!
So, what does author Kristi Jones have to say about her paranormal creation?
Q: Meg desperately wants to live. Does this experience cause her to appreciate her life on a deeper level.
A: Yes, absolutely. I also think it leads her to a greater appreciation of life on a larger scale. She's forced to think outside of herself, to consider the value of a life and to balance that against her own desire to live.
Q: Are you particularly drawn to paranormal lit as an author?
A: I am, which surprises me a bit. I had a very unconventional upbringing and I think because of that, I have a hard core of skepticism inside me. On the other hand, we aren't born into this world with a guidebook and that fascinates me - the idea that anything is truly possible.
Q: Do you have a primary source of inspiration?
A: My children inspire me daily. They are so fearless, so intelligent and kind. They meet this changing world with courage and energy. They work hard and it's impossible not to follow their example.
Q: Do you prefer to write character driven or plot driven stories?
A: I like to use both. I think as a writer you need to strive for a balance between the two to create a story with depth and fun. Even the darkest story needs to be fun for the reader!
Q: Paranormal chick lit seems to be a growing trend in literature. Do you think this subgenre could have lasting popularity?
A: I don't know if any trends have lasting popularity, but I do think a good story always has the potential to be popular. I think the blending of genres is something that is here to stay for a while, which I love. It opens the door to some truly unique stories, characters and settings.
Q: What are your future writing plans?
A: I have so many projects in the air right now! I'm trying to finish a ghost story I started before The Corpse Goddess was published. And of course, I need to dive into The Corpse Goddess II, which I'm really looking forward to. I also wrote a young adult time travel story that my son is insisting I publish, so I'm polishing it up for submission. I'll write for the rest of my life. It's my bliss!
August 23, 2012
Interview with Author Venessa Kimball
"Piercing the Fold ( Volume I )", described as a "smart science fiction" novel is an inspiring tale in which normal college student Jesca Gershon experiences a series of strange nightmares, which soon become part of her reality. As the mystery unfolds Jesca learns that through supernatural powers,she has been entrusted with helping to save the world.
Let's hear what author Venessa Kimball has to say about "Piercing the Fold"
Q: Jesca ultimately becomes something of a superhero. Do you think reading about Jesca will inspire young people at this vulnerable, insecure stage of life to feel empowered?
A: I hope that it does inspire young people to feel empowered and to discover their own confident selves, even when they feel insecure and vulnerable in a sometimes cruel and unforgiving world.
Q: Is science fiction your favorite genre as an author?
A: As an author, yes. I like to mingle categories in the genre though. Science fiction intermingled with other other categories is like an ultimate playground for my mind! "Piercing the Fold" Book 1 intermingles science fiction with categories like suspense, the supernatural, love and romance, and adventure.
Q: Who are some of the authors who have influenced you most?
A: Aldous Huxley, C.S Lewis, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allan Poe. , F. Scott Fitzgerald, Emily Bronte and Charlotte Bronte, and my latest influence, Diana Gabaldon-writer of the Outlander series.
Q: What is your main source of inspiration?
A: Music. It is a must when I am creating! Thank you Mr. Larry Gries( Creative Writing teacher at John Marshall High School '94) for teaching me to utilize this art form for my art form!
Q: What made you want to write teen fiction?
A: I didn't aim for teen fiction when I started writing. I just started with the idea and my mind created the environment, storyline, and all the in between. I wasn't thinking of a certain age group while righting. I think that would have interrupted the flow of the creativity if I let that happen. It seems like "Piercing the Fold" Book 1 is a bit of a cross-over novel that caters to both the older teen and adult audience alike.
Q: Jesca starts out as a typical college student but then learns, over the course of the book, that she has an overwhelming responsibility to be part of humanity’s salvation. Did you intend for the pressure Jesca feels to symbolize the pressures and overwhelming sense of responsibility so many young adults feel when they have to go out on their own for the first time?
A: Yes. It is meant to symbolize the pressures and responsibilities young adult and adults alike experience in our individual lives.
Venessa also mentioned that the next installment "Surfacing the Rim" Book 2 is due to be released in March 2013. "Surfacing the Rim" will unravel more about the purposes of Jesca and other characters as well as unleash more unexpected twists and revelations to the reader. You can stay updated on Book 2 by following Venessa on Twitter and Facebook as well as her website: VenessaKimball.net
Let's hear what author Venessa Kimball has to say about "Piercing the Fold"
Q: Jesca ultimately becomes something of a superhero. Do you think reading about Jesca will inspire young people at this vulnerable, insecure stage of life to feel empowered?
A: I hope that it does inspire young people to feel empowered and to discover their own confident selves, even when they feel insecure and vulnerable in a sometimes cruel and unforgiving world.
Q: Is science fiction your favorite genre as an author?
A: As an author, yes. I like to mingle categories in the genre though. Science fiction intermingled with other other categories is like an ultimate playground for my mind! "Piercing the Fold" Book 1 intermingles science fiction with categories like suspense, the supernatural, love and romance, and adventure.
Q: Who are some of the authors who have influenced you most?
A: Aldous Huxley, C.S Lewis, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allan Poe. , F. Scott Fitzgerald, Emily Bronte and Charlotte Bronte, and my latest influence, Diana Gabaldon-writer of the Outlander series.
Q: What is your main source of inspiration?
A: Music. It is a must when I am creating! Thank you Mr. Larry Gries( Creative Writing teacher at John Marshall High School '94) for teaching me to utilize this art form for my art form!
Q: What made you want to write teen fiction?
A: I didn't aim for teen fiction when I started writing. I just started with the idea and my mind created the environment, storyline, and all the in between. I wasn't thinking of a certain age group while righting. I think that would have interrupted the flow of the creativity if I let that happen. It seems like "Piercing the Fold" Book 1 is a bit of a cross-over novel that caters to both the older teen and adult audience alike.
Q: Jesca starts out as a typical college student but then learns, over the course of the book, that she has an overwhelming responsibility to be part of humanity’s salvation. Did you intend for the pressure Jesca feels to symbolize the pressures and overwhelming sense of responsibility so many young adults feel when they have to go out on their own for the first time?
A: Yes. It is meant to symbolize the pressures and responsibilities young adult and adults alike experience in our individual lives.
Venessa also mentioned that the next installment "Surfacing the Rim" Book 2 is due to be released in March 2013. "Surfacing the Rim" will unravel more about the purposes of Jesca and other characters as well as unleash more unexpected twists and revelations to the reader. You can stay updated on Book 2 by following Venessa on Twitter and Facebook as well as her website: VenessaKimball.net
August 17, 2012
Interview with Author Marita Fowler
Marita Fowler, author of “The Fat Adventure Series” is inspiring “big girls” everywhere with her books “Fat Assassins” and “Fat Bodyguards”. These fun and action-packed books center on two colorful southern gals, Shasta and Ulyssa. In the midst of a disappointing employment search the ladies accidentally take a job as hitwomen for the Mafia, and there doesn’t seem to be any way out.
So what does author Marita Fowler have to say about this wild and humorous adventure series?
Q: Shasta and Ulyssa from your “Fat Adventures Series” are so entertaining, are they at all based on real people, or are they complete figments of your imagination?
A: Ah-hem, they are utterly and completely fictional.
Q: Is there a genre you’d like to explore as a writer but haven’t yet?
A: I would love to write a ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ story. I really enjoyed those books growing up. I would spend hours pouring over them, re-reading them and changing the outcome. It was great having control over the main characters and helping them choose their paths. I think on some level those books taught me about choices and consequences.
Q: What is your biggest source of inspiration as a writer?
A: The Triple F. Family, friends and fans.
Q: Are you the type of writer who feels you’re in charge during the writing process or do you feel like the characters are taking you on a journey?
A: There’s always a power struggle. If I’ve had a lot of caffeine I usually win, but if I’m sluggish they usually get the jump on me. Ulyssa can get really bossy and Shasta just wants to shoot things. I do sleep with one eye open though - just in case.
Q: Who are some of your biggest influences as a writer?
A: My husband is my biggest influence. We’re always discussing ideas, plots, and characters. He’s liberal with praise and honest with criticism. Sometimes I think I’ve written something completely hilarious and he’ll tell me ‘not so much’. He’s usually right.
Q: What do you enjoy most about the writing process?
A: Trying to come up with crazy ways for Shasta and Ulyssa to get into and out of trouble. Sometimes I’ll get this ridiculous situation in my mind that makes me laugh and I’ll start building a scene around it. For the climatic scene in Fat Bodyguards, I’d gotten the girls into such a tough spot that I wasn’t sure how to get them out of it. So, I spent hours sketching out attack plans, escape routes and obstacles before finally deciding on a course of action. That course of action would’ve been perfect for Jason Bourne, but not Shasta and Ulyssa. So, I added some comedic elements that made it more realistic.
Readers can connect with Marita with the following links:
Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/Fat-Assassins-A...
Web: http://www.maritafowler.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/maritafowler
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fat-Ass...
So what does author Marita Fowler have to say about this wild and humorous adventure series?
Q: Shasta and Ulyssa from your “Fat Adventures Series” are so entertaining, are they at all based on real people, or are they complete figments of your imagination?
A: Ah-hem, they are utterly and completely fictional.
Q: Is there a genre you’d like to explore as a writer but haven’t yet?
A: I would love to write a ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ story. I really enjoyed those books growing up. I would spend hours pouring over them, re-reading them and changing the outcome. It was great having control over the main characters and helping them choose their paths. I think on some level those books taught me about choices and consequences.
Q: What is your biggest source of inspiration as a writer?
A: The Triple F. Family, friends and fans.
Q: Are you the type of writer who feels you’re in charge during the writing process or do you feel like the characters are taking you on a journey?
A: There’s always a power struggle. If I’ve had a lot of caffeine I usually win, but if I’m sluggish they usually get the jump on me. Ulyssa can get really bossy and Shasta just wants to shoot things. I do sleep with one eye open though - just in case.
Q: Who are some of your biggest influences as a writer?
A: My husband is my biggest influence. We’re always discussing ideas, plots, and characters. He’s liberal with praise and honest with criticism. Sometimes I think I’ve written something completely hilarious and he’ll tell me ‘not so much’. He’s usually right.
Q: What do you enjoy most about the writing process?
A: Trying to come up with crazy ways for Shasta and Ulyssa to get into and out of trouble. Sometimes I’ll get this ridiculous situation in my mind that makes me laugh and I’ll start building a scene around it. For the climatic scene in Fat Bodyguards, I’d gotten the girls into such a tough spot that I wasn’t sure how to get them out of it. So, I spent hours sketching out attack plans, escape routes and obstacles before finally deciding on a course of action. That course of action would’ve been perfect for Jason Bourne, but not Shasta and Ulyssa. So, I added some comedic elements that made it more realistic.
Readers can connect with Marita with the following links:
Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/Fat-Assassins-A...
Web: http://www.maritafowler.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/maritafowler
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fat-Ass...
August 4, 2012
Interview with author Tara R. Alemany
Self-published authors often struggle with marketing their book. Tara R. Alemany,who works as a consultant for writers and other artists, is using her expertise to advice authors in "The Plan that Launched a Thousand Books".
So, let's find out what Tara has to say about the book.
Q: What would you say to authors who feel that they have to make a substantial financial investment to effectively promote their book?
A: There are always two options when it comes to promoting your book online. One costs time, and the other costs money. If you have the financial resources to pay a professional to get you the publicity desire, that’s a great thing. However, most of us find ourselves with limited budgets that we need a stretch as far as we can in marketing our materials. That means, finding the lowest cost of options that would yield the greatest results. Oftentimes, that results in finding do-it-yourself ways in which to accomplish our goals.
The challenge comes when we find ourselves with both limited time and limited money. That’s when we need to find experts who are willing to shepherd us along the path to marketing our books online so that we don’t have to figure it out all ourselves. The Plan that Launched a Thousand Books does just that. It explains the various strategies for promoting your book and points you in the right direction to get started.
The hidden benefit is this: If you spend money to have someone else do all of your marketing, you’ll need to spend more money the next time you want marketing done. If you take the initial steps to learn how to do some of it yourself, you’ll always be able to do it when you need to. Keep in mind, no one else knows your book as well as you do. So, hiring someone else to manage all of the marketing isn’t really an effective method. You have to be committed to doing some of it yourself.
Additionally, the most important element in marketing a book online is about building relationships. It’s hard to send someone else in as a proxy to do that for you. That’s why, when I work with a client, I do all the one-time set-up stuff so that they have a professional-looking platform, but then I teach them how to use it on their own, so they can build authentic, lasting and potentially life-changing relationships themselves.
Q: Do you think it’s more important for a writer to spend a lot of time on promoting their book or a small amount of well focused quality time?
A: That’s a very good question! It depends on where they are in the publishing cycle. In the few months leading up to a launch, a lot of time is needed to prepare for that launch. That includes the time needed to make connections, secure reviewers, arrange publicity, get a website and social networks ready, etc. You know the old saying “It takes a village to raise a child?” Well, it takes an online community to successfully launch a book.
However, no one likes to be beaten over the head with your message. So, the author needs to gauge the attention and engagement of their community. Leading up to the launch, you may find yourself operating in overdrive. After the launch, the focus and amount of time shifts. Be sure to show public appreciation for your launch partners. Continue to promote the book, participate in relevant discussions, take a virtual publicity tour even. But when the launch date passes, the intensity quiets down a bit, and regular amounts of well-focused quality time are all that’s needed.
During the launch period, the goal typically is to sell as many copies of the book as possible within a designated week, in the hopes of achieving bestseller status and gaining even more visibility. After the sales figures for that week are tallied and the results are in, this is where the long-haul begins.
In traditional publishing, if a book stops selling, it’s yanked from the bookstore shelves. But in today’s publishing environment, your book can be available online as long as you deem there to be an interested audience. This is especially true of eBooks, where there’s no physical inventory cluttering up someone’s warehouse (or guest bedroom). The choice of when to pull it is often yours.
Q: So many authors are busy with a full-time job and other responsibilities. How would you advise authors who are short on time, to get the most out of what little time they have to promote their book?
A: This is where being strategic is important, and that’s a much harder skill to teach than how to write a blog post, what to do with Pinterest, or what goes into a virtual book tour. If you’re busy, you need to spend your time on the activities that will give you (or your book) the most visibility or generate the most sales.
Instead of chasing down one sale, consider who might buy multiple copies of your book. Is it a book discussion group, a company, a church? Let your mind wander and pinpoint who your most likely readers are. Then, be strategic about the connections you make online and in-person so that you network with individuals who meet that demographic.
When you ask most writers who the intended audience is for their book, it comes down to practically “anyone who will read it.” But marketing campaigns don’t work when they’re scatter-shot. It’s hard to track metrics on it and determine the effectiveness of the campaign because you’re sending it out with a hope and a prayer.
Be intentional about your marketing campaigns and clear about who your target audience is for each. While it may be true that your book will appeal to a wide variety of audiences, that doesn’t mean that you can’t market specifically to executive women in their 30s or 40s who are looking to break through the glass ceiling today, and to stay-at-home Dad’s taking care of preschool children tomorrow. But their interests are different, and each marketing campaign has to be designed with their unique traits in mind.
You may also find that there’s one marketing channel you’re already familiar with, and so you’re more comfortable with using it. Perhaps you already have a Facebook profile. You know how to sign in, upload photos, tag people… You’ve got a head-start there. You may decide that learning how to utilize Facebook to the fullest before getting to know LinkedIn makes the most sense to you. The demographics for the sites are different. So, you will have to tailor the marketing campaigns you’re running to account for who is using each site.
Q: Some successful self-published authors say they prefer to self-publish because they have more power and control. Do you think it’s good for an author to have complete control over their book and how it is marketed?
A: There are pros and cons to each scenario. Ultimately, it depends on the individual and what skills and passion they have.
When an author retains complete control over their work, they also retain complete responsibility. If they are not skilled at marketing, publicity and distribution (the primary things they’ve retained control over), they could be setting themselves up for disappointing results.
When an author gives up control, they lose a say in things like pricing, distribution and other key aspects that can have an effect of on the overall success of the book. It could be argued that the publisher has more experience and expertise in those things and, for the most part, that would be true. But many people have achieved success in this world because they did things in unique and new ways, not because they’ve done what’s always been done.
That’s where passion can overcome inexperience. Passion drives people to learn the skills they need and to step outside their comfort zone. If you’re not passionate about your book, let someone else handle it for you. If you don’t, the book will go nowhere. So, gauge your skill and passion levels and decide accordingly.
Q: What is the single most important thing you’d like people to know about “The Plan that Launched a Thousand Books”?
A: This eBook is intended to educate and empower the reader. While there are 22 different marketing channels discussed in the book, you can be systematic in implementing them, doing them at your own pace and based on your own comfort level.
For those who are interested, I am developing a series of follow-on video tutorials that provide hands-on demonstrations of key elements of The Plan that Launched a Thousand Books. For instance, we’ll be releasing a video shortly on how to create blog posts and pages within a Wordpress site, as well as how to upload media and specify keywords for SEO purposes. Each video tutorial series will be geared towards a beginner, assuming they have no knowledge or previous exposure. As such, they make great follow-up materials to the eBook because once a reader decides on a marketing channel to pursue, if they need more support and still aren’t ready to hire out the work, they can purchase whichever tutorial they want and continue making progress building their platform.
The main point of all of this is: You can market your own book, and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
Q: What are your future writing plans?
A: A book I co-authored is being launched in September. It’s called “The Character-Based Leader,” and is being published by a non-profit called the Lead Change Group. Then, a piece I wrote was accepted into a Christian love story anthology called “My Love to You Always,” being published by OakTara. So, my available writing time is limited right now by the impending launches of these titles.
However, I do continue to blog regularly, write a devotional piece once a month for my writer’s critique group (I’m the chaplain of my Word Weavers chapter), and I’m working on a personal memoir called “The Best is Yet to Come.”
So, let's find out what Tara has to say about the book.
Q: What would you say to authors who feel that they have to make a substantial financial investment to effectively promote their book?
A: There are always two options when it comes to promoting your book online. One costs time, and the other costs money. If you have the financial resources to pay a professional to get you the publicity desire, that’s a great thing. However, most of us find ourselves with limited budgets that we need a stretch as far as we can in marketing our materials. That means, finding the lowest cost of options that would yield the greatest results. Oftentimes, that results in finding do-it-yourself ways in which to accomplish our goals.
The challenge comes when we find ourselves with both limited time and limited money. That’s when we need to find experts who are willing to shepherd us along the path to marketing our books online so that we don’t have to figure it out all ourselves. The Plan that Launched a Thousand Books does just that. It explains the various strategies for promoting your book and points you in the right direction to get started.
The hidden benefit is this: If you spend money to have someone else do all of your marketing, you’ll need to spend more money the next time you want marketing done. If you take the initial steps to learn how to do some of it yourself, you’ll always be able to do it when you need to. Keep in mind, no one else knows your book as well as you do. So, hiring someone else to manage all of the marketing isn’t really an effective method. You have to be committed to doing some of it yourself.
Additionally, the most important element in marketing a book online is about building relationships. It’s hard to send someone else in as a proxy to do that for you. That’s why, when I work with a client, I do all the one-time set-up stuff so that they have a professional-looking platform, but then I teach them how to use it on their own, so they can build authentic, lasting and potentially life-changing relationships themselves.
Q: Do you think it’s more important for a writer to spend a lot of time on promoting their book or a small amount of well focused quality time?
A: That’s a very good question! It depends on where they are in the publishing cycle. In the few months leading up to a launch, a lot of time is needed to prepare for that launch. That includes the time needed to make connections, secure reviewers, arrange publicity, get a website and social networks ready, etc. You know the old saying “It takes a village to raise a child?” Well, it takes an online community to successfully launch a book.
However, no one likes to be beaten over the head with your message. So, the author needs to gauge the attention and engagement of their community. Leading up to the launch, you may find yourself operating in overdrive. After the launch, the focus and amount of time shifts. Be sure to show public appreciation for your launch partners. Continue to promote the book, participate in relevant discussions, take a virtual publicity tour even. But when the launch date passes, the intensity quiets down a bit, and regular amounts of well-focused quality time are all that’s needed.
During the launch period, the goal typically is to sell as many copies of the book as possible within a designated week, in the hopes of achieving bestseller status and gaining even more visibility. After the sales figures for that week are tallied and the results are in, this is where the long-haul begins.
In traditional publishing, if a book stops selling, it’s yanked from the bookstore shelves. But in today’s publishing environment, your book can be available online as long as you deem there to be an interested audience. This is especially true of eBooks, where there’s no physical inventory cluttering up someone’s warehouse (or guest bedroom). The choice of when to pull it is often yours.
Q: So many authors are busy with a full-time job and other responsibilities. How would you advise authors who are short on time, to get the most out of what little time they have to promote their book?
A: This is where being strategic is important, and that’s a much harder skill to teach than how to write a blog post, what to do with Pinterest, or what goes into a virtual book tour. If you’re busy, you need to spend your time on the activities that will give you (or your book) the most visibility or generate the most sales.
Instead of chasing down one sale, consider who might buy multiple copies of your book. Is it a book discussion group, a company, a church? Let your mind wander and pinpoint who your most likely readers are. Then, be strategic about the connections you make online and in-person so that you network with individuals who meet that demographic.
When you ask most writers who the intended audience is for their book, it comes down to practically “anyone who will read it.” But marketing campaigns don’t work when they’re scatter-shot. It’s hard to track metrics on it and determine the effectiveness of the campaign because you’re sending it out with a hope and a prayer.
Be intentional about your marketing campaigns and clear about who your target audience is for each. While it may be true that your book will appeal to a wide variety of audiences, that doesn’t mean that you can’t market specifically to executive women in their 30s or 40s who are looking to break through the glass ceiling today, and to stay-at-home Dad’s taking care of preschool children tomorrow. But their interests are different, and each marketing campaign has to be designed with their unique traits in mind.
You may also find that there’s one marketing channel you’re already familiar with, and so you’re more comfortable with using it. Perhaps you already have a Facebook profile. You know how to sign in, upload photos, tag people… You’ve got a head-start there. You may decide that learning how to utilize Facebook to the fullest before getting to know LinkedIn makes the most sense to you. The demographics for the sites are different. So, you will have to tailor the marketing campaigns you’re running to account for who is using each site.
Q: Some successful self-published authors say they prefer to self-publish because they have more power and control. Do you think it’s good for an author to have complete control over their book and how it is marketed?
A: There are pros and cons to each scenario. Ultimately, it depends on the individual and what skills and passion they have.
When an author retains complete control over their work, they also retain complete responsibility. If they are not skilled at marketing, publicity and distribution (the primary things they’ve retained control over), they could be setting themselves up for disappointing results.
When an author gives up control, they lose a say in things like pricing, distribution and other key aspects that can have an effect of on the overall success of the book. It could be argued that the publisher has more experience and expertise in those things and, for the most part, that would be true. But many people have achieved success in this world because they did things in unique and new ways, not because they’ve done what’s always been done.
That’s where passion can overcome inexperience. Passion drives people to learn the skills they need and to step outside their comfort zone. If you’re not passionate about your book, let someone else handle it for you. If you don’t, the book will go nowhere. So, gauge your skill and passion levels and decide accordingly.
Q: What is the single most important thing you’d like people to know about “The Plan that Launched a Thousand Books”?
A: This eBook is intended to educate and empower the reader. While there are 22 different marketing channels discussed in the book, you can be systematic in implementing them, doing them at your own pace and based on your own comfort level.
For those who are interested, I am developing a series of follow-on video tutorials that provide hands-on demonstrations of key elements of The Plan that Launched a Thousand Books. For instance, we’ll be releasing a video shortly on how to create blog posts and pages within a Wordpress site, as well as how to upload media and specify keywords for SEO purposes. Each video tutorial series will be geared towards a beginner, assuming they have no knowledge or previous exposure. As such, they make great follow-up materials to the eBook because once a reader decides on a marketing channel to pursue, if they need more support and still aren’t ready to hire out the work, they can purchase whichever tutorial they want and continue making progress building their platform.
The main point of all of this is: You can market your own book, and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
Q: What are your future writing plans?
A: A book I co-authored is being launched in September. It’s called “The Character-Based Leader,” and is being published by a non-profit called the Lead Change Group. Then, a piece I wrote was accepted into a Christian love story anthology called “My Love to You Always,” being published by OakTara. So, my available writing time is limited right now by the impending launches of these titles.
However, I do continue to blog regularly, write a devotional piece once a month for my writer’s critique group (I’m the chaplain of my Word Weavers chapter), and I’m working on a personal memoir called “The Best is Yet to Come.”
August 3, 2012
Interview with author Walter Spence
In the novel "House of Shadows" it seems as though young Eugene Evans and his sister Barb are two very lucky children. They suddenly have the chance to escape their hard-scrabble childhood, thanks to the kindness of a mysterious benefactress. But they soon learn that if something seems too good to be true it probably is; as they are exposed to a secret society of vampires, and Eugene is eventually called upon to make a life changing decision.
So, what does author Walter Spence have to say about his first installment in "The Breed War Series"? Let's find out.
Q: We first meet Eugene, “Ace”, when he is a young boy. How does he evolve during the course of the novel?
A: I have, in other venues, referred to House of Shadows as ‘The coming-of-age story from Hell’. In modern times, particularly in America, young people experience a considerably-prolonged adolescence. But in earlier periods of human history, growing up was oftentimes quite traumatic and left serious scars, mentally as well as physically. Eugene is pushed to his limits as he is forced to adapt to his changing circumstances. But that’s what makes him special.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish with “House of Shadows”?
A: When I first contemplated writing it, I had just finished a novel titled “The Caballa” which had -- off and on -- taken me over a decade to write. And when I was done, I looked at what I had wrought and said to myself, “It’s okay. But I know I can do better”.
House of Shadows began, like most of my ideas, as an attempt to tell the kind of stories I wished other people were writing. The Caballa was one of the most difficult things I had ever written, and the writing of it had been both prolonged and painful. What I wanted was what I had heard of from others, the joy in a tale’s creation. That is what I wanted to accomplish, to have fun telling the kind of story I would love to read myself.
That having been said, I wanted other things as well. I wanted an elaborate beginning to a growing mythology, that House of Shadows would be only the tip of an enormous iceberg. In the past I have been disappointed by attempts, in multiple forms of media, to tell an elaborate story which has wonderful individual elements (a single novel, a television episode), but which also has a central mystery revealed over time. There are numerous examples of this kind of falling-short, the TV series Lost had any number of them, for example (the mysterious series of numbers which started as the winning lottery numbers for Hurley, and continued to make appearances throughout the lifetime of the show, but which nothing ever came of in the end). I wanted to begin a series with satisfying individual works also supported by a prolonged story arc. Time (and the readers) will determine whether or not I succeed in this.
Q: Do you have a main source of inspiration?
A: The only answer to your question that immediately springs to mind would be my younger brother Jamie, who was murdered during a robbery around twenty years ago. He was, and remains, possibly my greatest inspiration, for any number of reasons.
Q: Who are some of the writers who have influenced you the most?
A: A list of such a length would be beyond the scope of this interview. Rather than belabor specifics, I would say all of the writers who have stretched my mind and forced me to think differently. But if I had to name a writer whose story-telling skills I most wish to emulate, I would have to place Stephen King near the top of such a list, if not at its apex. The essential humanity of his characters, and how they cope with their horrendous circumstances, has always been an inspiration.
Q: If “House of Shadows” was adapted for the big screen who would you want to see in the part of Eugene?
A: An actor who could, in my mind, play Eugene, I have yet to see. He is a powerful presence, both physically and intellectually. No doubt there is some no-name actor out there who could do a commanding job of it.
Q: Is there a genre you haven’t yet attempted as a writer but would like to?
A: I would enjoy writing a good science fiction novel. I even have an idea and a title for one, The Misbegotten. Perhaps one day.
So, what does author Walter Spence have to say about his first installment in "The Breed War Series"? Let's find out.
Q: We first meet Eugene, “Ace”, when he is a young boy. How does he evolve during the course of the novel?
A: I have, in other venues, referred to House of Shadows as ‘The coming-of-age story from Hell’. In modern times, particularly in America, young people experience a considerably-prolonged adolescence. But in earlier periods of human history, growing up was oftentimes quite traumatic and left serious scars, mentally as well as physically. Eugene is pushed to his limits as he is forced to adapt to his changing circumstances. But that’s what makes him special.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish with “House of Shadows”?
A: When I first contemplated writing it, I had just finished a novel titled “The Caballa” which had -- off and on -- taken me over a decade to write. And when I was done, I looked at what I had wrought and said to myself, “It’s okay. But I know I can do better”.
House of Shadows began, like most of my ideas, as an attempt to tell the kind of stories I wished other people were writing. The Caballa was one of the most difficult things I had ever written, and the writing of it had been both prolonged and painful. What I wanted was what I had heard of from others, the joy in a tale’s creation. That is what I wanted to accomplish, to have fun telling the kind of story I would love to read myself.
That having been said, I wanted other things as well. I wanted an elaborate beginning to a growing mythology, that House of Shadows would be only the tip of an enormous iceberg. In the past I have been disappointed by attempts, in multiple forms of media, to tell an elaborate story which has wonderful individual elements (a single novel, a television episode), but which also has a central mystery revealed over time. There are numerous examples of this kind of falling-short, the TV series Lost had any number of them, for example (the mysterious series of numbers which started as the winning lottery numbers for Hurley, and continued to make appearances throughout the lifetime of the show, but which nothing ever came of in the end). I wanted to begin a series with satisfying individual works also supported by a prolonged story arc. Time (and the readers) will determine whether or not I succeed in this.
Q: Do you have a main source of inspiration?
A: The only answer to your question that immediately springs to mind would be my younger brother Jamie, who was murdered during a robbery around twenty years ago. He was, and remains, possibly my greatest inspiration, for any number of reasons.
Q: Who are some of the writers who have influenced you the most?
A: A list of such a length would be beyond the scope of this interview. Rather than belabor specifics, I would say all of the writers who have stretched my mind and forced me to think differently. But if I had to name a writer whose story-telling skills I most wish to emulate, I would have to place Stephen King near the top of such a list, if not at its apex. The essential humanity of his characters, and how they cope with their horrendous circumstances, has always been an inspiration.
Q: If “House of Shadows” was adapted for the big screen who would you want to see in the part of Eugene?
A: An actor who could, in my mind, play Eugene, I have yet to see. He is a powerful presence, both physically and intellectually. No doubt there is some no-name actor out there who could do a commanding job of it.
Q: Is there a genre you haven’t yet attempted as a writer but would like to?
A: I would enjoy writing a good science fiction novel. I even have an idea and a title for one, The Misbegotten. Perhaps one day.
July 12, 2012
Interview with Author Damon Ferrell Marbut
"Awake in the Mad World" tells the story of frustrated young journalist Pete Rattigan and his voyage of self-discovery as he struggles with his hopes and desires in the real world.
Let's hear what author Damon Ferrel Marbut has to say about his novel.
Q: To what extent, if at all, do you identify with your central character, Pete Rattigan?
A: His fear and hesitation regarding how he approaches his life in the beginning of the book—that is something I went through alongside friends in graduate school. We were testing the world around us to try to be its own distraction from the creative work we were doing. Pete is caught in that real and frustrating aimlessness, and is on the cusp of deciding to give up like I saw many of my friends do. I’m not him, but I’ve been him.
Q: Who are some of your biggest influences as a writer?
A: My education in writing came from much discourse on pacing, honesty and clarity in a writer’s works. But influences (and I can see them more clearly as I’ve grown as a person and a writer) include the Beats, Virginia Woolf, James Baldwin, J.D. Salinger, Andrew Holleran, Alice Munro, Toni Morrison, Larry Brown, and a slew of existentialist philosophers.
Q: When you’re reading a book by another author do you have the habit, as so many writers do, of imagining what you would have done differently if you had written the book? If so, what are some of the most common mistakes other authors make that you notice and strive not make in your own books?
A: I don’t do that “what if?” thing, at least not on the grand scale of imagining the book being my own. I do cringe sometimes when a writer was doing so well and then drops the ball in a narrative, whereby the pacing changes, or the control of the storytelling falls apart. What bothers me most is that the editors agreed it was passable for print. It’s kind of disrespectful to the reader, in my opinion. That “good enough” mentality people never admit they’ve employed in the production of a novel. But discerning readers can spot it.
Q: How much did you plan “Awake in the Mad World” before you actually began writing?
A: I didn’t plan any of it. Several years ago, I started writing about these people, finished a third of it and ignored it for three years, picked it up and fell head over heels in love with them again and pushed on for a few months and completed it. Then I sat around doubting myself another couple years before springing to action. Such a cliché, right? A self-doubting author? I definitely had my phase of being ridiculous and irrational.
Q: What is the most important thing that Pete Rattigan learns by the end of the novel?
A: That you can’t experience life fully until you surrender control, settle up with all life’s unknowns and live it completely the best way you can learn to live it.
Q: What are your future writing plans?
A: I’m working on a new novel based in my city of New Orleans. And I’m waiting for a cover designer in Austin to send me ideas for an ebook cover to put to a collection of my poems. So, staying busy these days. I’d love to teach at the college level one day, seminars or workshops. But one day at a time, no? I’m honestly just enjoying the conversation the publication of my novel has sparked, and am happy to meet so many enthusiastic readers and writers engaging together in what I feel is a lifelong art form for me.
Let's hear what author Damon Ferrel Marbut has to say about his novel.
Q: To what extent, if at all, do you identify with your central character, Pete Rattigan?
A: His fear and hesitation regarding how he approaches his life in the beginning of the book—that is something I went through alongside friends in graduate school. We were testing the world around us to try to be its own distraction from the creative work we were doing. Pete is caught in that real and frustrating aimlessness, and is on the cusp of deciding to give up like I saw many of my friends do. I’m not him, but I’ve been him.
Q: Who are some of your biggest influences as a writer?
A: My education in writing came from much discourse on pacing, honesty and clarity in a writer’s works. But influences (and I can see them more clearly as I’ve grown as a person and a writer) include the Beats, Virginia Woolf, James Baldwin, J.D. Salinger, Andrew Holleran, Alice Munro, Toni Morrison, Larry Brown, and a slew of existentialist philosophers.
Q: When you’re reading a book by another author do you have the habit, as so many writers do, of imagining what you would have done differently if you had written the book? If so, what are some of the most common mistakes other authors make that you notice and strive not make in your own books?
A: I don’t do that “what if?” thing, at least not on the grand scale of imagining the book being my own. I do cringe sometimes when a writer was doing so well and then drops the ball in a narrative, whereby the pacing changes, or the control of the storytelling falls apart. What bothers me most is that the editors agreed it was passable for print. It’s kind of disrespectful to the reader, in my opinion. That “good enough” mentality people never admit they’ve employed in the production of a novel. But discerning readers can spot it.
Q: How much did you plan “Awake in the Mad World” before you actually began writing?
A: I didn’t plan any of it. Several years ago, I started writing about these people, finished a third of it and ignored it for three years, picked it up and fell head over heels in love with them again and pushed on for a few months and completed it. Then I sat around doubting myself another couple years before springing to action. Such a cliché, right? A self-doubting author? I definitely had my phase of being ridiculous and irrational.
Q: What is the most important thing that Pete Rattigan learns by the end of the novel?
A: That you can’t experience life fully until you surrender control, settle up with all life’s unknowns and live it completely the best way you can learn to live it.
Q: What are your future writing plans?
A: I’m working on a new novel based in my city of New Orleans. And I’m waiting for a cover designer in Austin to send me ideas for an ebook cover to put to a collection of my poems. So, staying busy these days. I’d love to teach at the college level one day, seminars or workshops. But one day at a time, no? I’m honestly just enjoying the conversation the publication of my novel has sparked, and am happy to meet so many enthusiastic readers and writers engaging together in what I feel is a lifelong art form for me.
July 10, 2012
Interview with author T. Michelle Nelson
"The Life and Death of Lily Drake" by T. Michelle Nelson brings something new and different to the vampire genre, a tough fiesty female lead. The story centers on thirty-five-year old single mom, Lily Drake, who slays an evil vampire while helping a noble vampire to power. The story also contains plenty of romance and humor.
Let's hear T. Michelle Nelson's side of things.
Q: Your central character, Lily Drake, becomes empowered during the course of the story. Is that what she wants all along or does she have more complex needs and desires?
A: She thinks she has other needs, and she certainly has other desires, but toward the end of the book I think you’ll find Lily has in fact become empowered. Finding herself and having that independence was what she needed more than anything.
Q: To what extent, if at all do you identify with Lily Drake?
A: Completely. Lily is made up of parts of me, parts of my best friends and sometimes she is the woman I really hope to be someday. She can be goofy, emotional, and a complete mess, but so can I!
Q: Is there a genre you’d like to explore but haven’t yet?
A: Absolutely! I have a half-finished science fiction novel as well as a work-in-progress post-apocalyptic manuscript. I hope to someday finish both, but Lily has been consuming my time lately.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish with “The Life and Death of Lily Drake”?
A: I’m not sure I really hope to accomplish anything. I wanted to write something that I wanted to read myself. Create a main character that was relatable to me. So many of the novels out today focus on characters that are all young and perfect. I wanted an older heroine, one who had flaws and was real. Lily is a single-mother and 35 years old. Other than that, I just wanted to have fun with it!
Q: Do you write all the time or just when you have a compelling idea for a story?
A: A little of both. If I don’t feel like writing, I don’t.
Q: How much do you plan a story before you actually begin to write?
A: Oh I plan the whole thing in my head. Then when I write, it all changes. The original idea is always thrown out and changed dramatically.
Let's hear T. Michelle Nelson's side of things.
Q: Your central character, Lily Drake, becomes empowered during the course of the story. Is that what she wants all along or does she have more complex needs and desires?
A: She thinks she has other needs, and she certainly has other desires, but toward the end of the book I think you’ll find Lily has in fact become empowered. Finding herself and having that independence was what she needed more than anything.
Q: To what extent, if at all do you identify with Lily Drake?
A: Completely. Lily is made up of parts of me, parts of my best friends and sometimes she is the woman I really hope to be someday. She can be goofy, emotional, and a complete mess, but so can I!
Q: Is there a genre you’d like to explore but haven’t yet?
A: Absolutely! I have a half-finished science fiction novel as well as a work-in-progress post-apocalyptic manuscript. I hope to someday finish both, but Lily has been consuming my time lately.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish with “The Life and Death of Lily Drake”?
A: I’m not sure I really hope to accomplish anything. I wanted to write something that I wanted to read myself. Create a main character that was relatable to me. So many of the novels out today focus on characters that are all young and perfect. I wanted an older heroine, one who had flaws and was real. Lily is a single-mother and 35 years old. Other than that, I just wanted to have fun with it!
Q: Do you write all the time or just when you have a compelling idea for a story?
A: A little of both. If I don’t feel like writing, I don’t.
Q: How much do you plan a story before you actually begin to write?
A: Oh I plan the whole thing in my head. Then when I write, it all changes. The original idea is always thrown out and changed dramatically.
Authors' Musings
Jennifer K. Lafferty, author of Movie Dynasty Princesses, reviews a wide range of books and discusses various aspects of contemporary and classic literature.
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