P.C. Zick's Blog, page 43

Author Wednesday – Melissa Mayberry

Welcome to Author Wednesday. Today I welcome back Melissa Mayberry who appeared here in July. She’s back for another interview on her Young Adult Romance, Mellifica: Devastating First Love.

Welcome back, Melissa. A couple of months have passed since we last chatted. I always love to hear about the rituals writers use. What are your writing rituals?

When I first started writing again, I wrote day and night. I wrote on my nights off of work, when I had a break at work, and before I got ready to go to work. That schedule was a learning process for me, and I was truly inspired by my characters and plot development. Now that I’ve finished Book One and Two in this series, I’ve slowed down and write when the inspiration hits. In other words, I spend a lot of time procrastinating! I drive a long way to work, so I do a lot of plotting and daydreaming during that drive.

You need to carry a tape recorder so you can get those thoughts down. What messages or themes do you try to convey to your readers?

One genre that my books can fit into is drama. I develop my characters over time to show their growth and their learning processes. I hope to inspire women to make better choices by seeing what my main character goes through.

Since you’ve finished the first two books in this series, what’s next?

Mellifica: Devastating First Love is a dramatic portrayal of a disastrous relationship that I went through in high school. Not only did my boyfriend cheat on me, he did so with a woman who had a high profile in the community. The book chronicles my struggle to regain confidence and to learn the difference between true love and self-gratifying behavior. Book Two is in editing right now and Book Three is a work in progress.

Since you’re writing a series, do all your books have a common theme or thread?

So far, yes. The theme of the series is dealing with difficult relationships and self-worth issues. I have a few other novels in process that have an array of themes. One is just for fun and another spotlights a difficult relationship between a mother and her son after she divorces. These books allow me to take a step back from Mellifica, but keep my skills sharp.

Why have you chosen to write about the theme of Mellifica?

Mellifica is based on a true story, so the theme really found me. While I love to entertain, helping other people gives me a sense of accomplishment.

Do you have a favorite character that you created?

I have two favorite characters. Arien, I love to hate him. He is based on an ex-boyfriend. In real life, he was charismatic, charming, and intriguing in a dark, yet geeky fashion. Until I wrote this book, I never noticed him as such a rich character. On the opposite side of the coin, there is Sandy. Every woman dreams of a guy like Sandy. He’s warm, affectionate, and extremely loyal. Sandy fights for what he believes in, and goes through trials of his own.

How does setting play a role in your books?

The beach is a place that comforts Mel, but there is a murderous undertow at the end of the jetty that hints of grief and turmoil. In the woods, Arien and Mel find solitude. While alone, the couple doesn’t notice their differences in social class or standing. This is the only place they find happiness.

What kinds of techniques do you like to use in your writing?

I’m not certain you’d call it a technique, but I like to pull on the heart strings and forge a relationship between the reader and my character. Readers have to care about my characters in order to find my story worth the while.

That’s a true gift for your readers. Are you planning to continue writing in the same genre of Young Adult Romance?

Mellifica is Young Adult by default. My character is in her late teens, but the content is intended for the more mature. I plan to continue writing mature, romantic content, but not all of my main characters are going to be sixteen.

What’s the best thing said about your book by a reviewer?

Many readers have said they can’t put Mellifica down. That’s great to hear!

What advice can you give to other writers about receiving a bad review?

If you aren’t ready to read bad reviews, you aren’t ready to publish your novel. Take every review as a learning experience and put on your thick skin.

I agree. It takes a thick skin to be in this business. What do you do during your down time?

Writing and gardening are my two hobbies. With work and kids, it’s great to have an escape from the real world.

I don’t know how you find the time, Melissa. You’re an inspiration. I’m curious to know if  you set your books in the place you live.

Mellifica is set where I grew up in Gloucester County, Virginia. Really, we’ve all heard of this place. There are many social divisions, everyone knows everyone, and no one has any secrets.

Thank you for stopping by Author Wednesday today, Melissa. It’s always a pleasure to have you, and I hope you’ll return when you have Book Two published.

[image error]About Melissa Mayberry: Melissa believes in living a full life. As a wife, mother of four, full time nurse, and grad student, a story presented itself to her in such a way that she had to become a writer as well.

Learning and growing through her work, Mellifica: Devastating First Love is the first of two books chronicling a sordid love affair with a tragic, yet ironic ending.

Author Links

Website and blog: MelissaMayberry.com

Facebook: Melissa Mayberry / Mellifica

Twitter: @MayberryMelissa

Email: Mayberrymelissa@rocketmail.com

PRODUCT LINKS TO BUY BOOKS:

Mellifica on Kindle

Mellifica on Nook

Mellifica on Smashwords

Book Review ala P.C.

Sketch of P.C. Zick by Jae at Lit and Scribbles

By Patricia Zick @PCZick

I’ve been posting Book Review Friday for several months, although in recent weeks, I haven’t been that regular with my postings. I hope that changes as the cooler weather approaches, and I spend more time inside in quieter pursuits such as reading.

I think about reviews, both those I write and those I receive for my own books. Often, reviewers will post a review on a book they didn’t/couldn’t finish and give the book a 1- or 2-star rating. That’s unfair and mean-spirited. I received a 3-star rating the other day, but the reviewer only had good things to say about my book. When I look at the reviews of books I want to read, I usually disregard the 5-star ratings and the lowest ratings. Somewhere in the middle lies the most honest and fair of reviews.

I review books in the genres I most enjoy: historical fiction, women’s literature, environmental fiction and nonfiction, family sagas, paranormal, and sometimes, mysteries and thrillers. I’ve been pleasantly surprised at times by reading outside of my chosen genres.

I won’t review a book if I think it deserves anything below a “3″ rating. I know how important reviews are to Indie Authors, and I don’t want to be the one to write a poor review. If the book is poorly executed, it will take care of itself. I don’t give a rating on my blog, but I try to give a thorough review of the book through my perspective. Reviews are entirely subjective. I do post reviews to Amazon and Goodreads and give it the required rating there.

I believe reviews should tell readers what is good or bad or what may need improvement. A review is not a rehashing of the plot. Reviews need not be long either. If an author is particularly descriptive, I might provide a short excerpt to show readers what they can expect from that writer. In my reviews, I try to give enough information so the reader can make an informed decision about reading the book. I usually make a recommendation, but I provide a reason why I’m making it. For example, I might write, “If you like a nail-biting, cliff-hanging book, you’ll be thrilled with this book.”

It is still a good idea for readers to read the sample of a book provided on Amazon. I often download samples to my Kindle before I make a purchase. And read the description of the book. You’ll be able to garner plenty of information about the book and its author since most of those descriptions, especially Indie books, are written by the author.

I started promoting other fellow writers and their work earlier this year. It’s been one of the best decisions I’ve made as an Indie Author. I’ve met some new friends, and I’ve read some amazing books. There’s a tremendous amount of talent out there, and I’m happy to be able to promote it as best I can.

What’s been your experience with reviews – either giving or receiving? I’m always eager to learn how others approach writing them and dealing with them.

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review Friday – Daughters of Iraq

By Patricia Zick @PCZick

Revital Shiri-Horowitz’s Daughters of Iraq gives a glimpse into a world that I’ve never explored or even considered. Once the veil parted, the visions held on the other side  bathed me in their golden halo of reminiscences.

I know enough about the history of the Middle East, including both Iraq and Israel, to know that its historical story overflows with  themes of war. Daughters of Iraq leaves the wars alone for the most part except for Eddie, who fights a losing battle for Jews living in the Muslim Iraq.

Jews in Iraq almost sounds like an oxymoron, but through Ms. ShiriHorowitz’s telling of the story through generations, I learned that the Jewish culture in Iraq was rich and colorful, and most of the Jews forced to leave did not want to go. The many who fled to Israel remembered their lives in Iraq as magical and rich. Even though safe from persecution, Israel didn’t provide the same culture as they one they left.

Once the family entered Israel, they were separated into different kibbutz’s and instead of living next door to one another or even in the same house, the family unit was fractured and splintered. When Eddie and his grandmother finally leave Iraq to find the rest of the family, they must save for years in order to find an apartment where they can all live. It’s a world away from their lives in Iraq.

Ms. Shiri-Horowitz tells the story through the narration of two generations. The two sisters, who grew up in Iraq with a mother very much the head of the household and very concerned with social standing, tell their story through reminiscing by an aging and alone Farida and through the journal of Violet, who writes her memories down for her children, as she lies dying of cancer. As Noa reads her mother’s journal six years after Violet’s death, and she listens to Aunt Farida tell her story of life in Iraq. Through the delving into a past Noa has never experienced, she finally recognizes life-changing truths about her family.

The descriptions in this book transported me to that time and place in Iraq before the Jews became unwelcome residents. Ms. Shiri-Horowitz gives the reader a true taste of the culture’s smells, tastes, and textures as shown in this passage from Violet’s diary:

In 1940s Iraq, society was organized in a tribal fashion. We lived in a kind of communal house in the desert by the wide Chidekel River. An abundance of palm trees grew on its banks, and we cooled ourselves in its waters during hot summer days. Baghdad, evoked in the songs of Leila Maurad, whose silky voice and forlorn lyrics we loved. Baghdad, where the entire city slept on rooftops during summer. On those hot, enchanted nights, we watched movies in open-air movie theaters. From the rooftops, we looked at the moonlit sky, at the distant, innumerable stars blazing above. On the roof, you could dream about the secret, uncharted worlds.

I recommend this book if you enjoy learning about a different culture, if you enjoy reading descriptive literature, and if you enjoy discovering how a family finally discovers the true meaning of home. You won’t be disappointed with The Daughters of Iraq.

For more on Revital Shiri-Horowitz, visit my interview with her for Author Wednesday.

 

Author Wednesday – Stone Spicer

Welcome to Author Wednesday. Today I interview Stone Spicer, author of Deep Green, a novel of intrigue, romance, and suspense set in Hawaii. I must make a disclosure: While Stone and I have never met in person, we do share a familial relationship. His son is married to my youngest niece, Joanne. He’s also the grandfather to my two great-nephews, one of whom is working on his first novel.

I’m so pleased you stopped by today, Stone. I’ve heard many things wonderful things about you over the years, but I never knew until recently you were a writer. Please tell us about your vision of yourself as a writer?

Because of the perceived success of this first novel and all the wonderful comments made by friends on how easy and enjoyable it is to read, a passion has evolved to take Deep Green’s characters into several future novels (the next, Hidden, is 20 percent completed). A ‘monster’ has been created within me to write, and I am thrilled each day as my characters continually reveal more of themselves as they walk into their own futures in story.

It certainly is a wonderful feeling. What’s the best thing said about one of your books by a reviewer.

“Very well written, good story line, fast moving and loaded with suspense.” Don B., Five-star review on Amazon.com

That’s a great review. How did you choose the title? Has it been the title from the very beginning?

Olivine, the semi-precious gem stone, has always fascinated me. Hawaii’s lava has an abundance of olivine, mostly a size needing tweezers to pick-up. I began wondering what a very large piece would look like and imagined it to be crystal clear and deep green in color. Such a piece became the focal point of my story.

How long do you estimate it took you to take the book from idea to published?

My novel is the product of fifteen years of time but only during the last six of those years did I become serious about its possibility. Up until that point, I had simply been connecting real-life experiences in memoir fashion.

That’s not so unusual for a first novel. I think mine languished for ten years in a file cabinet drawer, but once I let it out, I never stopped writing. What is the best thing someone could say about this book?

The best comment I could hear and have heard was, “I really enjoyed reading it.” Second to that, which I’ve also heard said was, “I can’t wait to read Stone’s next novel.”

It’s so good to hear those words. Who or what is the antagonist in your book?

The antagonists, plural, are a pair of seedy, cocktail-oriented, middle-aged wealthy playboys who are ‘gofers’ for a black market operator working out of Seattle. I thoroughly enjoyed a vicarious relationship with these two as I allowed a darker side of me to play.

It gives us writers a chance to be bad without getting in trouble. Without giving us a spoiler, tell us a little bit about your favorite scene in this book.

To say which scene is my favorite would be to discount all the others: to feel a brand new yacht vibrating beneath your feet; re-living places I brought into each part of the book, actual places etched into memory, places walked a thousand times.

A ‘witness’ entering the story in chapter forty-one, Leilani Davis by name, is the part I had the most fun with. In a story telling session I sat in on several years ago, one introverted older woman found she could not say the word bathroom in public so instead called it the place where you did your necessary. I enjoyed working that into being a part of Ms. Davis. Her dog, Ishi, a very tiny dog doing his ‘necessary’.

That’s cute. I think it’s better than ‘going to powder my nose.’ Where do you write?

I find it difficult to write in seclusion, always wondering what was going on outside beyond the walls. Certain coffee shops have become my writing desk. I can block out exterior noises and feel comfortable being out among people busy doing their thing.

I sometimes find that a good way to overcome writer’s block. I’m always amazed how I can shut it all out and write. Stone, I enjoyed having you stop by today. Maybe one of these days we’ll meet in person.

About Stone Spicer: Stone spent his early years living in various cities across Canada, United States and

eventually Melbourne, Australia. In 1960, a teenager on his own, he moved to Hawaii and adopted it as home. There he gained a university degree, raised his family, and enjoyed a successful thirty-year career

in the printing industry in Honolulu. Life changes eventually brought him to Port Townsend, Washington.

Along with writing, he is an avid hiker and outdoor adventurer. Stone has two sons and six grandchildren.

Links:

Website: www.DeepGreen-Hawaii.com;

Deep Green on Amazon

Deep Green on Barnes & Noble

Cover Reveal – Perfection Challenged by Jade Kerrion

Perfection Challenged, the thrilling conclusion to Jade Kerrion’s multiple award-winning, bestselling DOUBLE HELIX series, will be released on September 17th and will be available in paperback and all electronic formats. Beta readers have declared Perfection Challenged “the best of the four books…the perfect ending to an amazing series.”

If you’ve never picked up the DOUBLE HELIX series, keep on reading for a special offer on Perfection Unleashed, the book that launched the DOUBLE HELIX series.

PERFECTION CHALLENGED

An alpha empath, Danyael Sabre has survived abominations and super soldiers, terrorists and assassins, but he cannot survive his failing body. He wants only to live out his final days in peace, but life and the woman he loves, the assassin Zara Itani, have other plans for him.

Galahad, the perfect human being created by Pioneer Labs, is branded an international threat, and Danyael is appointed his jury, judge, and executioner. Danyael alone believes that Galahad can be the salvation that the world needs, but is the empath blinded by the fact that Galahad shares his genes, and the hope that there is something of him in Galahad?

In a desperate race against time and his own dying body, Danyael struggles to find fragments of good in the perfect human being, and comes to the wrenching realization that his greatest battle will be a battle for the heart of the man who hates him.

PERFECTION UNLEASHED [image error]

Recipient of six literary awards, including first place in Science Fiction, Reader Views Literary Awards.

“Higher octane than Heroes. More heart than X-Men.”

Danyael Sabre spent sixteen years clawing out of the ruins of his childhood and finally has everything he wanted—a career, a home, and a trusted friend. To hold on to them, he keeps his head down and plays by the rules. An alpha empath, he is powerful in a world transformed by the Genetic Revolution, yet his experience has taught him to avoid attention.

When the perfect human being, Galahad, escapes from Pioneer Laboratories, the illusory peace between humans and their derivatives—the in vitros, clones, and mutants—collapses into social upheaval. The abominations, deformed and distorted mirrors of humanity, created unintentionally in Pioneer Lab’s search for perfection, descend upon Washington D.C. The first era of the Genetic Revolution was peaceful. The second is headed for open war.

Although the genetic future of the human race pivots on Galahad, Danyael does not feel compelled to get involved and risk his cover of anonymity, until he finds out that the perfect human being looks just like him.

FOR A LIMITED TIME, E-BOOKS AVAILABLE FOR JUST $0.99 (Discounted from $2.99)

E-books available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Apple / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Smashwords

Paperbacks available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository

To be the first to receive news of Jade Kerrion’s latest book releases, sign up for her New Release Mailing List. If Perfection Challenge makes it to the bookstores before September 17th, you’ll be among the first to know.

Connect with Jade Kerrion: Website / Facebook / Twitter

Author Wednesday – Alicia Love

Welcome to Author Wednesday. Today I welcome Alicia J. Love, author of young adult science fiction. She’s a  self-published author of The Seven Uniters Series, the short story collection The Seven Uniters: The Originals, as well as a paranormal novella. She is currently working on the third installment in The Seven Uniters Series, Redemption, which will be released this fall.

I’m so glad you could stop by for an interview today, Alicia. Do you recall when you first called yourself either a “writer” or “author?”

I have been writing all my life, but the transition between being able to write and becoming an author was astoundingly simple. I began writing my first book, Reincarnation, in the fall of 2012 and finished it in February of this year. And then, all of a sudden, I was an author. It was such an empowering realization, and it was so easy. That is one of the things I love about being an author: it is a title I can take, a career I can choose, all on my own. It is an amazing feeling.

I agree. It really clicked for me when I went the Indie Author route, as you have. What messages or themes do you try to convey to your readers?

My books all seem to center around one theme. The Seven Uniters Series is about a teenage girl who is abused and alone. She is essentially the underdog, until she discovers that she is so much more. My books are about finding your strengths, your weaknesses, and asserting yourself in the world. The story is about Hailey finding herself and finding out that she is so much more than she ever could have imagined.

Those are such important messages to get out to everyone, but most decidedly to teens. Good for you. What are you working on right now?

I have written two books, two short stories, and a novella. My books are the first two in The Seven Uniters Series, Reincarnation and Revolution, following Hailey, a girl who is reincarnated from the legendary Seven Uniters, a group of beings gifted with powers in order to maintain balance in the universe. My short stories are the first two in the collection The Seven Uniters: The Originals and each installment will be a story of each of the original Seven Uniters. I also decided to test my skills in the world of paranormal romance and wrote a 100-page novella called Esther’s Progeny about a Vampire discovering the last of the Seer, and trying to turn her to make her into a hybrid. Of course, it goes wrong, and the story is about them trying to fix what they ended up breaking.

Do you have a favorite character that you created?

Hailey is definitely my favorite character. There is so much of me in her. She was abused, and down on herself, and has so many issues. But, with each turn of the page, she gets a little bit stronger. I know that as a reader you will be rooting for her from day one, and you will grow with her as the series continues.

She sounds like a survivor who can provide inspiration for others. Will you continue writing in this same genre?

The Seven Uniters Series is mainly young adult science fiction, and I will write it until it is finished. But I do want to write in other genres. I have always loved fantasy, witches, and magic, and would love to write a book or three about them. I am always coming up with new ideas for different stories in all different genres. When I have finished with Hailey’s story, we’ll see what I end up writing next. It could be anything!

What’s the best thing said about one of your books by a reviewer?

During a radio interview with Tom Riddell and The Writer’s Lounge, my first book, Reincarnation, was applauded, but my second book, Revolution, was complimented in ways I had never expected. Tom said not only that he would give Revolution thirteen out of five stars, but also said it was written better than a book he was reading by a bestselling author. It was absolutely amazing to hear that from a professional reviewer.

That is certainly high praise. Congratulations. What are you working on at this moment?

I am currently working on the third installment in The Seven Uniters Series, Redemption. Hailey’s adventure continues on another planet. Quite a few things are different in this book than the other two. I have tried to incorporate more elements of fantasy, as well as bringing religion into the picture. You will simply have to read it to know more.

How did you choose the title?

I love how the title of Redemption worked out. Since Reincarnation and Revolution both begin with the letter R, it became a theme. But I couldn’t figure out what to name the third book for the longest time. I had my outline, and I knew the main point of the story, but I couldn’t find a word. Then, I stumbled upon the word Redemption, and a whole new story seemed to flourish within me. The name brought the religious aspect into play, which actually brought the story full circle, completing it.

That’s a great feeling when that happens as an author. Thank you for giving us a little insight into your books and your writing life. I wish you much success in all your future endeavors.

About Alicia Love by Alicia: I was born in the magnificent metallic city of Seattle, WA. I was raised in a nice neighborhood in West Seattle, and went to a few different schools. When I was at the ripe young age of eleven, my mother whisked me off to live in the beautiful state of Hawaii, smack dab in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Although it was exotic, gorgeous, and a wonderful and enriching experience, it turned out to be short-lived. After two years of paying $8 for a gallon of milk, we finally moved back to the rainy Pacific Northwest, otherwise known as home. We moved a little south, though, so I once again made new friends. I moved out at the age of seventeen, and now live across the state, only a hop, skip and a jump from Idaho, and also only a few miles from Canada, with my fiance and our two cats.

Connect with Alicia Love

Reincarnation: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00COPV86E

Revolution: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DRLF7CU/

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Alicia-J.-Love/e/B00CCWFRE8/

Website: http://aliciajlove.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AliciaJLove7

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AliciaJLove7

Book Review Friday – The Luck of the Weissensteiners (Book 1 of The Three Nations Trilogy)

By Patricia Zick @PCZick

I interviewed Christoph Fischer in June on Author Wednesday. Today I review his novel The Luck of the Weissensteiners.

 

History of the twentieth century was one of my major areas of study in college. However, the history I studied presented an ethnocentric view of World War II. Of course, I know about Hitler’s rise to power, and the major steps he took in Europe prior to our entry into the war. I understood the political and social ramifications. I understood the uneasy alliance of Germany, Italy, and Japan. But I only knew of these histories from the perspective of the first, isolationist United States, and then, as the full-speed ahead entry into the war heroes who saved the world from the evil Axis powers.

Reading Christoph Fischer’s The Luck of the Weissensteiners presented another view of that period through the camera lens of people living in Eastern Europe. The book shows people from all the different perspectives before, during, and after the war. It’s an eye-opening read to learn that the United States wasn’t the center of this war. In the lives of these ordinary folks, the United States played an almost peripheral role.

The Luck of the Weissensteiners exposes how the Eastern Europeans reacted with a wide range of attitudes and actions as the war tore apart families and friends and allowed no trust to exist in all the varied relationships. There may have been a world war taking place on the larger stage, but for the characters in Fischer’s novel, it is a civil war being fought, and the lines are blurred and often changing, depending on who’s in charge.

Jews and Gentiles fall in love and marry, which creates a problem when Hitler’s master plan begins to take effect, even in countries where he’s not invaded. . .yet. The propaganda used to smear the very genes of Jews causes one husband to question the moral integrity of his wife. He buys the line of inherently weak genes so much he even takes their son away – a son who is Aryan in looks, leaving behind his Jewish wife and their unborn child. The atmosphere of fear changes people, oftentimes not for the better.

Through it, all one family stands strong.

This book’s retelling of the history of this period in Europe is personalized through the characters that represent a cross section of the lives impacted by the atrocities of war. Jews, Gentiles, Germans, Slovakians, lesbians, and traitors all point to one direction. War never makes much sense when the individual lives of its victims are examined. Neither side wins when people are persecuted for their religion, political beliefs, nationality, or sexual orientations.

It’s a sad commentary on the human condition when a people are forced to hide their identities behind forged passports, and then forced to throw away the forgeries to appease the winning side. When it comes down to it in the aftermath of the war and the liberation of Europe, all individuals are suspect, and mankind is taken down a notch.

Christoph Fischer has written an important book for its historical perspective. He personified the vagaries of war through the fictional characters. At times, it reads like a history book, but before it bogs down into a lesson in civics, he comes back to the individuals experiencing the actual effects of the persecution.

As always, we study and examine the past so we don’t forget it. As long as genocide exists in the world, we must do as Fischer has done in his novel – remind us, and remind us again, that our faith, our color, our language, and our life choices should matter not a wit. In the end, it’s our integrity and how we treat others that matters the most.

Thank you, Christoph, for writing this important book to remind us never to repeat the mistakes of the past.

Author Wednesday – Annamaria Bazzi

Welcome to Author Wednesday. Today I welcome back Annamaria Bazzi, who did a guest post in March . Today, I interview her about her life as an author.

Hello Patricia, thank you so much for having me on your blog again. I do enjoy visiting and chatting with you. Before we start with the interview I’d like to say I’m back promoting White Swans: A Regency Era, which will soon be White Swans: A Regency World. In several weeks I’ll be releasing the fourth short story about Kendíka and Jillian’s life, after which I’ll complete their stories and publish the novel in its entirety. Here’s a brief synopsis of White Swans:

Left an orphan, Kendíka cries herself to sleep and startles awake in a Regency castle. Terror consumes her, and she attempts to escape only to discover the new world is her prison. Having no choice, she attends a ball given by her guardian, Lord Deverow, to introduce her into society. He admonishes her to follow the rules and promises to protect her from the wrath of the strange, hazy set of eyes spying on everything. But when she ignores his warning, Kendíka learns firsthand what it means to be disobedient.

It always seems that most writers take some time before they can mouth the words, “I am a writer/author.” When were you first able to call yourself a “writer” or “author?”

I’ve always been a writer; I believe anyone can write, but to be an author you need to practice the art of writing and the skills of writing. To be an author, you must come to the realization that even the art of writing evolves and changes, and as a good author you not only must have decent grammar, but also be able to put together words that captivate. As you write, you cannot tell; you must show. You need to be in the correct point of view. Characters must feel real, so the reader can relate to them. I’ve been working hard, studying, and taking classes to get to the point where I can say I’m an author. Mind you now, to be an author does not mean you have published a book.

That’s an excellent distinction. What messages or themes do you try to convey to your readers?

So far, each book is different from all others. In White Swans, I’m clearly informing my readers that as individuals we can all accomplish anything we set our minds to. It does take perseverance and never giving up, but we all have the power to change our immediate world and our lives.

That’s an important message to convey. Do you think you keep that common thread in everything you write? 

I’d venture to say I do since I’m always empowering my main character to fight and change her present situation and sometimes the world. In White Swans, Kendíka sets out to change the new world she woke up in, a world that in her mind is backward and underdeveloped. She wants to bring the technology of the twenty-first century in the world her captor, Saphora, has created for the human pets. In her struggle, she befriends her captor, the first human to ever do so. As the friendship develops, Kendíka, with her persuasive and gentle manners, shows Saphora the benefits of modernization.

In Dragons in the Resistance, which I’m hoping to have ready for publication for 2014, a sub plot deals with women’s rights.

Why have you chosen to write about this particular theme?

In my mind, it always takes one person to initiate and bring about change. That one person multiplies by two, then four, and so on. Eventually, many rise to fight the plight and changes in society happen. Because I strongly believe it takes one to initiate any changes, I usually have a main character fighting, alone at first, for what she believes to be a just and  better way of life.

Do you have a favorite character that you created?

I have two characters I’ve created and fallen in love with. When they first popped into my head, they filled my days and nights. Drove me crazy until I sat down and wrote part of their story. The book, which needs to be edited, is roughly 400,000 words. Richard and Asmifsf are from another planet, and live very exciting lives in the League of Universes. The two men are dedicated to their work and to the love of their life. They are altruistic in their relationship, and understand, or at least try their best, to understand the woman they love. They also care about people and their well-being, and go out of their way to help others.

OK, they sound perfect, but they do have their faults. Therefore, to discover their imperfections you all must wait for the first book to be published.

What’s the best thing said about one of your books by a reviewer?

I don’t know if it’s the best, but it’s certainly the one I like very much. The entire review is short and sweet and startled me. It is for White Swans: A Regency Era:

“Like Alice In Wonderland, the lead character finds herself in a new magical setting, but the difference here is, it isn’t a nice tea party with one lump or two. Dark forces are at work that have you wondering as to what their designs are. For an entertaining afternoon read, this is a keeper.”

We all get them eventually, so what advice can you give to other writers about receiving a bad review?

Receiving a bad review is not the end of the world. Use whatever explanation the reviewer gives to improve your writing. Always look at your work with a critical eye, but remember that you cannot please everyone all the time. Understand the reason why you write. Writing brings fulfillment to my life. Therefore, I write because I enjoy it, and I write about things that ignite my imagination. Why are you writing?

If you could invite two other authors over to your house for dinner, who would you choose?

I would love to have dinner and pick at Orson Scott Card’s brain. I love his books, and I find the way he expresses his words captivating. The other author I would love to have at my dinner table unfortunately has passed on. Frank Herbert is the man who brought me into the world of science fiction with his Dune series. What I find fascinating about the man is that he left a legacy of notes for his son to continue writing and expanding upon the world he built with such care.

Annamaria, it has been a pleasure to host you once again on Author Wednesday. I look forward to your return when you promote your new book.

About Annamaria Bazzi: Although born in the United States, Annamaria spent a great deal of her childhood in Sicily, Italy, in a town called Sciacca. Italian was the language spoken at home. Therefore, she had no problems when she found herself growing up in a strange country. Upon returning to the States, she promised herself she would speak without an accent. She attended Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Computers with a minor in Spanish. Annamaria spent twenty years programming systems for large corporations, creating innovative solutions, and addressing customer problems. During those years, she raised four daughters and one husband. Annamaria lives in Richmond, Virginia with her small family, where she now dedicates a good part of her day writing.

You can visit Annamaria at:

Blog: http://annamariabazzi.com

Website: http://www.annamariasbooks.com

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Author.annamariabazzi

Email: annamariascorner@yahoo.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMBazzi

Check in on Kendíka’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/kendika.burkeshire

Inheriting a Family Legacy

By Patricia Zick @PCZick

In the past few weeks, I’ve immersed myself in the writings of my great grandfather. The man, Harmon Camburn, died fifty-two years before my birth. I know he was the father of my paternal grandfather. That’s about the whole of it, except for the journal he wrote for his children chronicling his years as a Union soldier in the Civil War. He joined Michigan’s 2nd Regiment in 1861 in the early days of the war.

I’m putting the journal in electronic form so others can read about his experiences as a soldier and as a prisoner of war with the Confederates in the last year of the war. Besides that, it’s simply an interesting read. My great grandfather was a storyteller. Here’s a particularly descriptive passage:

June 7, 1863 – As the train sped southward, the descending sun gleamed across the broad expanse of gently undulating prairies, clothed in the fresh verdure of early June, tingeing the tops of the hedgerows with gold and glancing its beams from the farmhouse windows in spikes of flame. The breath of early summer was in the air and the corn was limitless. From close at hand, away to where the earth and sky meet, houses, hamlets, and villages could be seen with their orchards and cattle, lending an added charm of domestic life to the natural beauty of the scene. Before darkness shut out the view, a town was passed that was located on a gentle rise in the otherwise level prairies. The name, Richview, aptly describes the scene as we sped past, going we knew not whither.

On my maternal side, my grandfather wrote a brief autobiography in poetic form. He died a decade before my birth. My grandfather, Edwin Stephens, left school in fourth grade. He then began working in the clay mines in Cornwall, England. In 1900, at the age of twenty-one, he sailed by himself to the United States. He worked in the copper mines of Michigan’s upper peninsula before bringing his strong faith to the ministry. He became a Methodist circuit minister, and with my grandmother, raised ten children. My mother was born in the fifth spot. His last position was in the small Michigan town where I was born and raised. As a child, I remember older folks telling me what a way with words Rev. Stephens had. I wish I could have heard him preach from the pulpit in the same church where I was baptized and confirmed.

 Home and Boyhood

By Edwin Stephens

Rude peasant home, such was the humble place

That welcomed him the second child and boy,

But what of that? ‘Twas full of charm to him,

Though built of native clay and thatched with straw.

There on the Cornish hills for years it stood

Battered by raging storms, or wrapt in mists

That held their clammy mantle close for days

And hid the landscape from the roving eye.

 

Among the recollections of my early years

Are cherished scenes, still fresh in memory.

And glad experiences in boyhood’s days

When life was in its springtime:  I can see –

The hawthorne hedges in their creamy white

Surrounding meadows carpeted with green,

And sheep and cattle grazing in the midst

And daisies shyly peeping thru the grass

Afraid of being crushed by heedless feet.

On yonder hilltops, ‘neath the summer sky

The furze and heather grew in rivalry

Each bidding for attention from the bees,

That with its golden blooms, this wiht its pink.

I hear the hum of honeybees and drones –

Some pollen laden, some on nectar bent

And some with sacks all filled and homeward bound

Where empty cells await the precious load.

 

Sometimes I feel like an oddity in my family. Choosing a writing career is viewed by non writers as a little odd. Reading words of men whose genes I carry inspires me to continue my journey in telling stories. Perhaps what I have written will leave another legacy one hundred years from now.

A few weeks ago, I learned my great nephew – the son of my youngest niece – is writing a fantasy/science fiction novel. He starts college this month, and already he’s started a book. I say hip-hip hooray. Maybe I’m not so odd after all.

What about your family legacy? Any writers in the fold?

Writer’s Write, and Then They Write Again

writer writing

By Patricia Zick @PCZick

Here I am with four books published on Kindle and in paperback through Createspace. I started this journey of Indie Author with the publication of Live from the Road in May 2012. It’s been sixteen months, and I’ve learned and suffered and fretted. I’ve also enjoyed being in control of my work. I still don’t have a formula for success, but I keep plodding along.

At the prodding of another fellow author and blogger, I decided it was time to check the figures on my books. All four books are enrolled in Amazon’s KDP Select program, which means every ninety days I’m given five days to offer one of the books for free. I decide what days and can split them up into different free days. The point of giving away the book is to get it into the hands of as many folks as possible, hoping for reviews and residual sales after the free event. The number of reviews on Amazon affects the sales or so the experts say. Also, with KDP Select, readers can “borrow” the book on their Kindle. Authors receive a percent of the KOLL fund for these borrowed books. The amount varies month to month. For instance, in June, five of my books were borrowed, and I received a payment of $11.19, in addition to my royalty for sold books.

I do know sales have dropped since last summer. I’m disappointed in my sales record for Trails in the Sand, my latest release. I’m pleasantly surprised with the success of Live from the Road, a book I published simply to test the Indie Author waters.

Embarking on the Indie route requires an outlay of money for editing services (an absolute must) and cover design (another must unless you’re a trained graphic designer). Fortunately, I have a background in formatting so I did my own work there, but some folks may have to pay for that service as well. I’ve kept my advertising budget low. The biggest expenditure I made was for a book tour ($120, plus a giveaway valued at $50) for Trails in the Sand, and it was a bust as far as sales. I might have picked up a few blog followers as a result, but there was no residual effect for book sales. Next time, I’ll organize the tour myself and find blogs better suited for my platform. I’ve paid $5 and $10 here and there for advertising my free days, and I believe that works well. One time I paid out $80 for advertising after the free days on the advice of one of the biggest Indie Author support groups, and I didn’t see any benefit in networking or sales.

For my one nonfiction book on Kindle, From Seed to Table, I didn’t pay for editing, but I did have proofreaders on the project. I paid for a cover, and I haven’t converted it to paperback, and probably won’t because it contains so many images.

Here’s the breakdown of estimated cost to produce and advertise each book, along with sales, borrowed, and free “sale” figures:

Live from the Road (May 2012 – August 22, 2013)

Cost to Produce – $530

Sold – 430

Borrowed – 53

Free – 26,009

Tortoise Stew – (July 2012 – August 22, 2013)

Cost to Produce – $130 (reprint)

Sold – 28

Borrowed – 1

Free – 677

Trails in the Sand (December 2012 – August 22, 2013)

Cost to Produce – $1,030

Sold – 46

Borrowed – 0

Free – 3,499

From Seed to Table (May 2013 – August 22, 2013)

Cost to Produce – $150

Sold – 43

Borrowed – 7

Free – 10,204

I’m still in the hole for three of the books, but Live from the Road has paid for itself and covered the cost of some of the other books as well. I’m getting reviews for all of the books, except Tortoise Stew (one did come in last week after the free days, so hopefully reviews will increase). In the beginning, I chased down reviewers for Live, but then became disillusioned with giving away books and never seeing a review in return. I’m up to forty-one reviews for that book – they keep coming in steadily even sixteen months after the book’s publication. So far, Trails in the Sand has garnered eighteen reviews. I hope the free days from this month will result in more.

I do know having the books available for sale is better than having them languish in a file cabinet. I’m constantly trying new things, but I don’t have any magical formula for you.

Right now, writing and selling books is my job. It’s a great luxury to have this time, but it’s not supporting anything quite yet.

I remain optimistic as I keep writing. It’s the best advice I can give anyone. When I get a bad or good review, I get back to writing. When I do get discouraged, I write. Usually by the end of the day, the cloud dissipates, and I’m back on the keyboard hacking happily away.

I’m definitely a writer in my heart, body, mind, and soul; therefore, I write.

I’d love to hear about your experiences or answer any questions you might have. It’s a whole new world out there for authors, and I’m content for now to be exploring the Indie Author gig.