David Chuka's Blog, page 8
March 3, 2014
I Love My Cat – Now Available to Download to Kindle!
Hello.
The wait is over and I’m happy to let you know that my 10th children’s book is now live!
I Love My Cat is now available to download to your kindle app on your tablet, PC or phone.
One of the things I’m really excited about this book is that I worked with a very talented illustrator – Diana, who I’ll be working with on more projects as .
This fun animal book for kids shows different breeds of cats and fun facts about them. To make this book more interesting and one that your and your loved ones will love reading again and again, the book is formatted in such a way that you get to guess the name of the cat by looking at a cartoon image of the cat accompanied with some fun facts. When you flip the page, you then see a real photo of the cat.
You’ll have to get your copy to see what I’m talking about. Children will enjoy the illustrations in this book and also learn about the different breeds of cats and their unique idiosyncrasies.
It’s only 99 cents for this launch period and I would greatly value a review from you once you’ve read it.
Thanks for all your support and I really do hope you enjoy reading this book with your loved ones.
Click the link below to get a copy
Thank You.
February 20, 2014
Interview with Sci-Fi Author Cynthia Echterling
It’s Author Interview Thursday and if you love Science Fiction, then you’re in for a treat today. I got introduced to our special guest today by Matt Posner (who also happened to grace our AIT sofa in 2013).
Matt recently wrote a book titled ‘How to Write Dialogue,’ which I’ve read and can highly recommend. Out featured guest made a worthy contribution to Matt’s book and I’m so excited she’s taken out some time to grace us with her presence. I admire her creative approach to the writing process and can’t wait to hear what she has to share with us today. So without further ado, please join me in welcoming Cynthia Echterling.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and that first moment when you knew you could write?
I started making up stories before I knew how to write. Then I would draw the characters, cut them out and glue them to popsicle (ice lollie) sticks to make puppets for my own little plays. In school, I used to get in trouble for writing fiction instead of the boring essays they wanted us to write. What did I do on my summer vacation? Survive a nuclear war. Why not? I would also write and illustrate my own comic books. It wasn’t until I was in my thirties, when I took a creative writing course, that I was encouraged to keep at it and pursue publication.
You’ve written several science fiction books. Can you tell us about ‘that moment’ when you fell in love with science fiction and what you love about that genre? 
When I was a kid – the introverted, geeky sort with thick glasses, I read animal and science books. We only had a small library in our town and by the time I was ten, I’d run out of books. So, in a panic, I started thumbing through books on nearby shelves. I found one that had illustrations of what looked to me like furry bowling balls. Close enough to an animal for me, I borrowed it. It was Robert Heinlein’s Red Planet and I was hooked. It didn’t take me long to read all the sf books in the children’s section. When I got brave enough to enter the forbidden territory of the adult section, I found William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. Flies? They’re animals and I liked bugs. That led to reading his book The Inheritors which began a life long interest in Neanderthals and anthropology in general. Science fiction is not just about shooting and killing, and blowing things up with high tech weapons. What good speculative fiction does is make us think beyond the mundane world and opens our minds to infinite possibilities. It makes us ponder those big “what if” questions about life and our place in the universe.
You made a worthy contribution on Matt Posner’s ‘How to Write Dialogue‘ book. What in your opinion makes great dialogue?
Great book. Most importantly, dialogue has to carry the plot forward and reveal something about the characters’ culture, personalities, thoughts, fears, beliefs. These are often bits your narrator wouldn’t know and can be revealing. It should seem natural even if you are skipping over the boring bits. “Hi, how are you, blah, blah, blah.” And it’s a great way to show conflict and let the reader discover it.
What three things should writers avoid when writing dialogue?
Forget everything about proper grammar and sentence structure. People don’t talk like that, unless that’s part of the character’s uniqueness. Don’t make everyone sound the same. People of different ages, classes, cultures, occupations have their own way of speaking. Be careful with those ages, classes and cultures etc., unless you really know what you’re doing or you may come across as stereotyping. Of course you can get away with a lot if you’re writing dialogue for aliens. I suggest doing a lot of eavesdropping in public. Don’t listen so much to what people are saying, but how they say it.
Have you ever struggled to give a character a distinct voice and what did you do to solve this? 
I don’t “give” my characters anything. They just show up in my head. Sometimes it takes time to get to know them, but that is as it should be in the novel – a gradual revelation. Mine get really annoying, waking me up in the middle of the night, telling me their life stories or talking to each other about stuff that has nothing to do with the book. I mean, when aliens are discussing how to convert recipes to Earth ingredients, that’s a bit much.
‘Dr Who’ has been one of the most successful science fiction series on British television. What in your opinion has been the major appeal of this series?
I first saw Dr. Who when Tom Baker was the Doctor, back when they had really cheesy sets, but that didn’t matter. It was original to me – exciting and funny. It has attitude. I think the episode that sticks in my head most was The Empty Child where the children with gas mask faces were looking for their mothers. Then to find that it was a mistake caused by “others” trying to be helpful. Very creepy with a positive twist.
What book or film has the best dialogue that inspires you to be a better writer and why?
Two come to mind. The Princess Bride because it takes fantasy clichés and turns them on their heads in unexpected ways, and Dr. Strangelove. I can watch it now and the satire still bites. Oh, and I love Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett.
Homeland or Breaking Bad?
Oops. I’ve never watched either one. My bad.
What is your favourite science fiction movie and why? 
Just one? Besides the ones I’ve already mentioned, I’d say A Clockwork Orange, the book and the movie. It is both chilling and thought provoking and I love the original slang that Burgess uses. It is very revealing of the culture and the characters. I’m also very fond of the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Again scary as well as thought provoking. My guilty pleasure, dare I admit it, is humorous horror movies like Shawn of the Dead, Zombieland and Tremors. Besides the hilarious gore, I love the buddy banter dialogue.
What three things should a first time visitor to Indiana do?
My favorite part of Indiana is the South-western hill country around Nashville (not Tennessee) and Bloomington. It is beautiful in the fall and is the home of bluegrass music. Unfortunately, I don’t live there. Indianapolis has a good zoo and the Indy 500, if you’re into auto racing. Do not go in the Soldier and Sailors memorial if you’re afraid of heights and tight spaces. Eat lots of pork and corn, especially our gourmet popcorn.
What can we expect from Cynthia Echterling in the next 12 months?
For some dumb reason, I got it in my head that I should write a romance novel. Anyone who knows me thinks that’s hilarious. I’ve never even read a romance novel. You’ve seen those documentaries where the naturalists anesthetize endangered species and haul them off to nature preserves? Well, what if some other power did that to humans? People, houses, everything, lifted up and dumped together on another planet. However, they’re all from different times. So we have Neanderthals, palaeolithic hunter gatherers, pre-Columbian Indians, a WWII bomber crew, Vikings and a Civil War era doctor and his daughter. The latest addition is a platoon of military repair geeks from the near future. It’s called Courting Corporal Coogan. The title character is the near-future medic who, more than anything, wants to be a doctor and she is not going to let a smelly, leather clad hunter named Finds-It-Kills-It who thinks he’s in love with her keep her from reaching her goal no matter how many animal hearts he brings her as presents. It is the most research intensive project I’ve ever worked on with all the languages, cultures and customs. By the way, YouTube is very helpful in that regard. I’ve learned how to start a fire with a bow drill, how to use a spear thrower, and how laundry and surgery was done in the 1860s. It also amazes me how many people videotape having their boils drained and post it on YouTube. Very helpful.
Any advice for writers out there on the verge of quitting either due to slow sales or an absence of fresh ideas? 
I wish I knew the miracle answer to that question. I would suggest finding a writers’ group online or preferably in person that can offer support and constructive criticism. Knowing that you have to have a chapter ready to read by a certain date is very motivating.
Thanks for taking the time to be with us today Cynthia. There’s so much good stuff you’ve shared today that I’ll definitely be coming back to look this interview. I have to agree with you that having a group you can regularly liaise with and share ideas can literally propel one’s publishing efforts to another level. You can discover more about Cynthia and what she’s currently working on by visiting the links below.
Website - http://www.welikehumans.com/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/cdecho
You can also grab one of her books at the link below. Remember to share this interview on your social network.
February 17, 2014
Something Big is Cooking….
Hello
Its the start of another week and I’m really excited about certain occurrences that will be occurring this week.
First of all, my latest book is almost complete and WILL be published before the end of the week. I Love My Cat will be the third book in the Animal Books for Children series. What particularly thrills me and about this book is that it’s the first time I’ll be working with a super talented illustrator called Diana. We’re both looking forward to working on my next book which will be the sequel to Kojo the Sea Dragon Gets Lost. Watch out for a blog post before Friday announcing that the book is now available to obtain at your favourite online retail store.
Author Interview Thursday is back and so far in the month of February we’ve had the pleasure of learning a few things from Stuart Land and Sherrill S Cannon. I’m the hot seat this week is Cynthia Echterling who is a science fiction writer. Cynthia talks about that first moment when she fell in love with sci-fi, what makes great dialogue, developing characters and much more. I’m sure you’ll be inspired and well informed by what she has to say so tune in this Thursday.
I’ll be going to do a reading at a school in West London. This will be my third time visiting Devonshire Preschool and the staff are the best in the world. One of the main advantages of doing these readings at schools is that I get to interact with my core audience and get some ideas that I can apply on my next book. For instance, on my last visit, I read Kojo the Sea Dragon and I discovered the children really loved the interactive parts of the book. So while writing the sequel, I incorporated a quite a few interactive segments in the story that will get children physically involved in the story.
Have a great week and look out for my blog post announcing the 10th children’s book!
February 12, 2014
Interview with Children’s Book Author Sherrill S. Cannon
It’s Author Interview Thursday! Today’s special guest is the recipient of many awards for her children’s books.
I got introduced to today’s featured author by Donalisa Helsley who was on the hot seat back in December 2013. I spent some time on her website and was really fascinated by the numerous pictures on her Signings page showing her reading to children and interacting with her fans. Her warmth, passion and love for what she does oozes out in her blog posts and emails we’ve exchanged prior to this interview. I’m so excited she’s made out time to be with us today. So without further ado, please join me in welcoming Sherrill S. Cannon.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you ended up being a children’s book author?
A former teacher, I am a mother of four and a grandmother of ten, and I am also an Award-Winning Best-Selling Author! I have been writing poetry since before I could write. (My mother wrote down the poetry I wrote as a four-year-old.) I have written five published rhymed children’s stories – with a sixth to be released next month – as well as seven published rhymed musical plays for elementary school children which have been performed in the US as well as internationally in Canada and the UK, Germany, Ireland, Austria, Australia, Cambodia, Poland, Spain, Singapore, Japan, Botswana, United Arab Emirates, Poland and France (so far!) One of the plays was included in the Christmastime JoAnn Ross novella included in the Christmas on Main Street. I love to write. My friends and family ask me if I think in rhyme and meter, and I have to admit that sometimes this is true!
What can a reader expect when they pick up a Sherrill S Cannon book?
All of my books are in rhyme and most of them try to teach something, like good manners and consideration for others, disguised as fun stories. Once a teacher, always a teacher, I suppose. They all also have wonderful, colorful illustrations since all of them have been illustrated by Kalpart. I also try to use characters from previous stories within the illustrations of the new story, as well as including a previous book cover or two.
What in your opinion makes a great children’s book?
To me, a great children’s book needs to teach something positive – whether attitudes or manners, or a way to make a difference in the world – by examples or fun-stories, but not by preaching. I deplore the children’s books that “do anything for a laugh,” especially since it is often at the expense of others.
You’re the recipient of numerous awards for your books. Can you tell us which of them means the most to you and why?
The very first award was the Indie Excellence Finalist Award for Santa’s Birthday Gift, which is my favorite award for my favorite book. It gave me such a sense of accomplishment to know that others appreciated my writing and my story. It continues to be my best selling book!
How do you handle bad reviews?
I think most writers feel as if someone had slighted their ‘child,’ and it’s hard to accept. I really haven’t had many, thank goodness, but I still have a hard time understanding my only one-star rating for Santa’s Birthday Gift, especially since the person was warning people not to buy the book because the story involved Santa in the Nativity scene with Jesus, and admitted that he had seen the cover before he bought the book!
What has been your most successful marketing method for promoting your books?
It’s hard to determine, since you really need a multi-faceted approach to get your book noticed. I think entering and winning contests gave instant credibility, but I also used Google Alerts to find articles about my subject matter (for instance “Please”) and then responded to these with suggestions about my books (The Magic Word). I also like sending my books to recognized bloggers for reviews and giveaways, and I budget a little for Google Ad Words as well.
What were some of your favourite books as a child?
I loved the Walter Farley Black Stallion books, (I was really into horses at the time) and also the Nancy Drew mysteries – and when my children were small, Dr. Seuss was a favorite!! (He still is!)
What mistake(s) have you made while publishing your books that you would advise other authors against?
I have been very fortunate to have been connected with SBPRA from the beginning, and haven’t any regrets. I would advise, however, that the most important thing is to have your book edited before publication. Poor spelling and punctuation can ruin a book’s chance of success, and this is even more important if you are writing for children. They are learning from the books they read!!
What book, TV program or film have you read/seen recently that has inspired you and why?
The films and videos that are of interest to me at this point involve the CureJM Foundation kids and their attempts to find a cure for Juvenile Myositis, an incurable children’s disease. There are lots of films and videos out there, but my favorite is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anIGaQXkhg0 My books are part of a fundraiser at http://sbpra.com/curejm where 50% of the cost of my books go directly to the CureJM Foundation.
Toy Story or Shrek?
Toy Story… (although I have to admit I liked Shrek more than I thought I would)
Post by David Chuka – Children’s Book Author.
You’ve been married for more than 53 years. With Valentines’ just round the corner, I’m interested to know what three things you’d say have helped both of you stay together?
Don’t hesitate to say you’re sorry. (Love Story was wrong. Love isn’t never having to say you’re sorry… Love is being able to say you’re sorry first!)
Don’t go to bed mad.
Families who pray together, stay together.
What do your grandchildren think of their Grandma the writer?
I use my grands for feedback on the stories – and they seem to love them! I usually go to their schools for author visits and readings as well. (The older ones call me Grammy, the younger ones Yagi – stemming from a toddler’s attempt to say “love you”)
What can we expect from Sherrill S Cannon in the 2014?
My newest book, My Fingerpaint Masterpiece, has just been approved for production, and will be released in mid-February. It’s a little different from my others and involves a child who paints a fingerpaint print and loses it in the wind on the way home. Self esteem and judgement are subtly involved.
Where can fans and readers of your books discover more about you and connect with you?
My website/blog is www.sherrillcannon.com I am also on Facebook and LinkedIn, and my author site is http://sbpra.com/sherrillscannon
Any advice for authors out there who are either just starting out or getting frustrated with the publishing industry?
As I mentioned earlier, please be sure to have your work edited before it is published. Once you have a book to offer, you really need to spread the word in as many ways as possible.
Thanks for that letting us into your world and sharing from your well of wisdom and experience. I love your advice on sustaining a long lasting relationship. I have to agree with you regarding the need to ensure that our books are well edited before publishing as a poorly written book that hasn’t gone through the refining pot of a good editor can lead to poor sales, a deluge of bad reviews and a loss of potential fans. You can pick up one of Sherrill’s books by visiting the link below
Sneak Peek into My Latest Children’s Book
Hello
My next book will be titled ‘I Love My Cat’ and it will be the third book in the Animal Books for Children series. The first two books in the series (I Love Baby Animals and I Love My Dog) have achieved best seller status in multiple categories on the Amazon store. I actually had the idea for the first book while washing plates on a Saturday morning. I kept stopping that day to rush to to the living room and make notes. The books have been well received and its been the overwhelming positive feedback I’ve received that has made me write this new book in the series. Below are two reviews these books recently received.
I read this book to my grandson and he enjoyed learning about different dogs and their unique personalities. This book is a great read for young kids. I enjoyed reading it to him and some of the dogs, were very large and helped him understand that not all large dogs are scary. I would recommend it to young children and use as a learning tool about dogs. Janice Goll
A cute book, easy to read and informative. Young readers will enjoy the pictures and learning different things about animals. Alethea Thomas
One major difference with this book is that I’ll be working with a new illustrator who is exceptionally talented. She has a water colour style that is quite different to most of the illustrations I see in other children’s books. I’m very grateful for Diana’s contribution to this project and I look forward to working with her on other books this year.
‘I Love My Cat’ begins with a little girl who wants a cat as a pet for her birthday.
Her parents go through a book with her by yours truly and discover the different breeds of cats. Some of the breeds in the book include Persian, Birman, Sphynx and American Shorthair cats. To the right is the image for the opening page.
I’m looking forward to getting this released before the end of this month. Can’t wait to share it with you!
February 6, 2014
Interview with Multi-Genre Author Stuart Land
Author Interview Thursday is back! Have you missed AIT? I know I sure have. I’m excited to say that we have a fine selection of authors in the month of February who write in different genres and will be sharing from their vast wealth of experience.
I met today’s featured guest through Matt Posner who has been a featured guest on the AIT hot seat. Matt recently wrote a book titled ‘How to Write Dialogue‘ and our special guest was one of the contributors on the book. He is an artist in every sense of the word and has worked in various industries like fashion, modelling, sculpting and film production to mention a few. He’s rubbed shoulders with some famous names in the movie industry and is always willing to learn something new. What I really admire about him is his generosity to share the wisdom he’s acquired over the years with anyone willing to listen. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming Stuart Land.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and that first moment when you knew you could write?
At present I devote most of my time to writing novels and screenplays. I have, for most of my adult life, also been a sculptor. I began as a metal sculptor for many years, then segued into other mediums, like clay, wax, Fibreglass, various resins, and foams. While working in the movie business as a special effects sculptor, I became interested in screenplay writing because I was working on the biggest budget movies of the time, and reading all the scripts. Plus I was fortunate to have the directors, actors, and producers around to irritate with all my questions. (See my bio on my Website.) There wasn’t really a moment when I thought I could write, rather there was that moment when I realized writing wasn’t as easy as it seemed, and even terrible scripts were difficult to write. That’s when the stubborn side of me kicked in. I was determined to overcome this inability to fully express my thoughts and ideas, not to mention, as I found out later, that the thoughts and ideas that needed to be expressed were not mine, but belonged to the characters of the stories I wrote.
You’ve successfully written in different genres. Can you tell us the advantages and disadvantages of this?
The disadvantages are strictly from a marketing aspect. Readers, in general, like to follow an author they understand and know what to expect, as far as style and story go. They want a romance author to write romance, a mystery writer to write mystery, etc. They want to be able to follow the author in the genres they like. Understandable. Unfortunately for me, my tastes lead me down many roads; consequently, I’m interested in stories from many genres. My personal life has been a hodgepodge of adventures and story lines, so this reflects in my writing. I write what interests me at the moment. Many times, however, it’s my characters who call out to me and decide what I’m going to write next. I’m hoping that my readership will grow based on my abilities to tell great stories with compelling characters, regardless of genre. It’s a pleasure for me when someone says they read something of mine that was outside their normal genre or comfort zone, and found it enjoyable.
You made a worthy contribution on Matt Posner’s ‘How to Write Dialogue‘ book. What in your opinion makes great dialogue?
Very kind of you to say so. Thank you. Great dialogue are words the characters say that sound like realistic talking, but actually isn’t. Conversations are born from a give and take, action and reaction, and mostly, great dialogue is grown through conflict. Conflict can seem like it is based on opposites, but really it is based on like desires. Two people want (must have, must possess) the same thing = conflict.
What three things should writers avoid when writing dialogue?
This may sound counter-intuitive, or even silly, but the first main thing would be…putting words into your characters mouths. Ha! What do I mean by that? That’s what writers do, right? No, the good ones don’t. Great dialogue is developed from the personalities of the characters, the situation they’re involved in (whether immediate or past), the environment, physical health…the list is endless. If the writer decides what the characters are going to say based on the author’s desires, the dialogue usually fails, coming across as forced and unnatural.
Second, would be using dialogue for an info dump. That means trying to convey a bunch of information the writer couldn’t fit in somewhere else, or information that would already be understood by the characters.
Third, using clichés. Now people do use a lot of clichés when they talk, but remember: good dialogue has to sound realistic, not be realistic. What happens nowadays is that writers are greatly influenced by TV and movies, and they put words and phrases they heard from those sources into their writing. This is not good. Not because of plagiarism, but because whatever you heard or saw on the TV or in a movie was written at least a year beforehand, and mostly likely several years before. Clichés come and go at a rapid rate. They are recognizable by most people at a subconscious level. And they know you didn’t make it up. To be really clever, make up your own clichés. Now there are times when you can use clichés, and that’s when a particular character happens to use them on a consistent basis. It is part of who they are. However, be careful with this, as that in itself is becoming a meme.
Have you ever struggled to give a character a distinct voice and what did you do to solve this?
Oh, this was agony for me when I first started writing, and that’s one of the many reasons my writing sucked. Once I got out of my own way and let the characters tell their stories in their own words, I never had that problem again. Okay, you ask, but how do you do that? To learn the nuances of writing, you should read lots of books, of all genres, by many authors. It seeps in. It’s not about copying. But to know how people talk, you must become a listener and observer. You must leave yourself at the door when you sit down to write (I’m talking about fiction here). All your character will be you anyway, but the way they talk should never be you. At first, writers probably copy the voices they hear from various people, but the more you write, the more the voices develop from the characters you’re creating. They’re born unto themselves.
Quite a few people agree that Quentin Tarantino writes great dialogue for the characters in his films. What can we learn from him?
Gulp. I have a slightly different opinion of the way Tarantino writes dialogue. First, I love it. He gets away with stuff nobody else could. He made it into an art form. What am I talking about? He writes great monologue within dialogue. On the most part, his characters are so self-absorbed they each have an agenda, which propels their speech. All his famous quotes come from speeches. They are essentially Quentin. No other writer could ever get away with doing this. He also takes conventional (situational) clichés, and twists them, which is what he did in Pulp Fiction. This became his signature, or cachet, probably in both senses of the word.
What book or film has the best dialogue that inspires you to be a better writer and why?
I like a lot of the Latin writers, like Gabriel García Márquezars (One Hundred Years of Solitude); Ye, Jorge Amado (Tereza Batista: Home from the Wars), and Isabel Allende (The House of the Spirits). I also like George R. R. Martin (Game of Thrones), and on another end of the spectrum, Ayn Ran (The Fountainhead) …too many others to name.
Screenwriters in no particular order: Joel and Ethan Coen (Fargo), Woody Allen (Manhattan), Nora Ephron (Sleepless in Seatle), Ingmar Bergman (Fanny and Alexander), François Truffaut (The Story of Adele H), Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights), John Huston (Chinatown) James Cameron (Aliens)…too many others to name.
These folks write living, breathing characters who have their own voices, needs, and desires. But it’s more than just great dialogue, it’s the insights these writers have into the human condition, which is all portrayed through their characters.
Homeland or Breaking Bad?
I must be the only living entity who hasn’t seen even one episode of Breaking Bad. So, with that in mind, I’d have to say, Homeland. It’s powerful storytelling, although for me, I couldn’t completely buy into the premise, so had to suspend a huge amount of disbelief. The writing is exemplary, and the dialogue is terrific. Almost everything that happens is based on character, though the story is based on situation.
Post by David Chuka – Children’s Book Author.
You’ve done several creative writing workshops in Thailand. What should a first time visitor to Thailand do while there?
Besides take my workshop? Haha! Actually, I’m doing a workshop in March on one of the islands in the south. Any time anyone wants to have a glorious vacation, AND advance their writing skills, just go to my website and read what I offer, then drop me a line. Thailand is a lot of things to many people. It’s steeped heavily in culture: massive wars, religion, arts, and politics. For a tourist, I’d say you would have to like Asian cultures to get the most enjoyment from being here. However, you can spend your whole time at the beaches, on stupendous islands, and just lay back and enjoy the weather and food. I live in the mountain area near Burma, in a 700-year-old city. There is everything for me here (except the beach, which I already lived at for five years). Many travellers come here for the nature, food, yoga retreats, cooking classes, elephant treks, and so forth. There’s plenty of nightlife, shopping, and night markets.
What can we expect from Stuart Land in the next 12 months?
Set schedules are difficult for me, but I hope to write book two of the ENDLESS SKY series, called THE THOUSAND GATES OF HEAVEN. Maybe a third book in the ORIGINAL BLOOD series, and definitely a screenplay, and possibly finish my only unfinished novel called, OBSESSION, a spy story, which fell apart when the Soviet Union fell apart. Now it’s a retro story, so could work. I’m hoping a screenplay I sold when I was in China last year will start production this year.
Any advice for writers out there on the verge of quitting either due to slow sales or an absence of fresh ideas?
Well, there’s no excuse for an absence of ideas. They’re everywhere. If you truly can’t come up with anything, come to Thailand and take my workshop. 
Strictly speaking, a writer writes because they have something to say. However, it’s often true that you don’t know what it is you have to say until you start writing. This is one great reason to let your characters tell their story instead of you trying to tell yours.
As for slow and no sales, don’t let that be the benchmark of whether you write or not. You write because you’re compelled to do so. If you can’t make a living out of it, do it as a hobby. You’ll probably get more enjoyment out of it that way. Personally, I can’t write for money, or I’d be a copy writer. Write for hunger, write for thirst, write for love.
Wow! That was such a powerful way to end the interview. It’s easy to see that you love what you do and I know we’ll all be hearing great things about you in the months and years to come. You can connect with Stuart and discover what he’s currently up to by clicking one of the links below. Also remember to check out his Amazon Page and pick up one of his books plus we would love to hear your comments, so let us know what you liked about this interview by leaving a comment/question in the comments section.
Website - www.stuartland.com/
FACEBOOK FAN PAGE - www.facebook.com/stuartland.writer/
LINKEDIN - www.linkedin.com/in/stuartland/
TWITTER - ww.twitter.com/StuartLand_wrtr/
GOODREADS - http://bit.ly/18YBfJA
PINTEREST - www.pinterest.com/stuartland/
GOOGLE+ - www.google.com/+StuartLand
Stuart’s Amazon Page - http://www.amazon.com/Stuart-Land/e/B004ORAEE2
January 27, 2014
David Chuka’s Weekly Update
Hello!
It’s been quite a while since I did a blog post but I’m ready to rock-n-roll and you can expect some very interesting updates from me in the coming weeks and months.
First of all, I’m really excited to say that I have begun work on my next project. I had some issues with my illustrator at the tail end of last year and it resulted in a few books been put on hold. Well, I have just begun a new relationship with a very talented illustrator and she’ll be doing the artwork on my next book that’s going to be titled ‘I Love My Cat.’ It’s going to be the third book in my Animal Book for Kids series. A fun part of writing non-fiction books is discovering some fun facts I was never aware of. For instance, I never knew Siamese cats are cross-eyed and originated from Siam where they were mostly owned by royalty and monks. This will be my first book with my illustrator, Diana and she has a wonderful water colour style that I know many fans of my books will find unique and appealing. I’ll give more info on how this project is coming along in the days and weeks ahead.
Secondly, I booked my tickets to the London Book Fair which takes place from April 8th to the 10th at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London.
If you’re an aspiring author and can make it to London in April, please do all you can to be there. I have to admit that my visit last year took my writing and publishing to another level as I connected with movers and shakers in the industry as well as acquiring useful tips to aid my writing and marketing efforts. Below is the link to my LBF adventure in 2013. Hope to see you there.
Thirdly, Author Interview Thursday will be back in February! I can’t wait to share the interviews I’ve done with you as the featured authors come from varied backgrounds and don’t hold back with their answers. I’ll be doing a special post highlighting our guest authors so do watch this space.
Lastly, I’m happy to say that I’ve been invited to visit two schools and one of them happens to be the school my children attend. I think my daughter is more excited about the visit and keeps asking me what book I’ll read to her class. Visiting schools is something I’ll be doing more of this year as it gives me the opportunity to share my stories with my target audience and also receive vital feedback from them.
It’ll be my pleasure to answer any questions or comments you may have so drop a line in the box below.
January 6, 2014
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
I do hope you had a great holiday season with your loved ones.
2014 has begun and I’m ready to go!
Due to some unforeseen circumstances with my illustrator, I was unable to release a Christmas title. However, Christmas 2014 is not going to take me by surprise and I’ve already got two story ideas which should be ready for publication early November.
I also plan to release 2 more titles in the Kojo the Sea Dragon series. The second book has been written and edited and I’m currently looking for a new illustrator to complete the project. The next book will be titled ‘Kojo the Sea Dragon Meets a Stranger.’ In this story, we return to the Zakari River where all the sea animals are getting ready for the most popular event of the year – the BOOM BOOM party. Kojo is a little bit upset because his Mum has told him he can’t have any more of his favourite snack. Will Kojo follow a stranger who offers him a basketful of these tasty treats. Will the citizens of the Zakari River save their son from a cunning stranger? You’ll have to wait till I release this book to see how it all pans out. The first book in the series is titled Kojo the Sea Dragon Gets Lost and you can get it at the link below. It’s available as an eBook and in paperback.
In the month of December, my best-selling book was ‘I Love Baby Animals.‘
It’s been Number 1 in the Baby Animals category on the Amazon Kindle store for more than 30 days. With 120 plus reviews, you need to pick a copy (if you haven’t already) to see what has made this book a welcome addition to many libraries in the last few weeks.
One popular feature on this blog last year was Author Interview Thursday. I cannot begin to tell you how the advice from fellow authors on AIT impacted my writing and publishing endeavours in 2013. I’m currently reaching out to a few authors and we should be back in full force with our first interview in early February. Watch this space.
There’s a something significant cooking behind the scenes that I can’t wait to share with you… All will be revealed in due course.
Thanks for all your support and do have a great day.
December 24, 2013
Merry Christmas from David Chuka
Merry Christmas!
Wow! I can’t believe Christmas has arrived and we’re almost on the brink of a New Year.
First of all, in the spirit of Christmas, I’d like you to download a free copy of Billy and Monster: The Superhero with Fart Powers.
This is a funny book for kids with a nice lesson weaved in. It’ll be free till Boxing Day so hurry and get your copy today and tell all your family and friends about it. It’ll make a nice addition to anyone who gets a tablet or Kindle for Christmas.
2013 has been a year filled with many ups, a few bumps and the realization that it’s only the springboard for better things to come.
As I look back on the year, there are certain memories that stick out in mind.
Visiting the London Book Fair – for 3 days in April, it was such a pleasure to mingle with fellow authors and people from the publishing industry. I got to personally meet some movers and shakers and their advice and critique has taken my writing to another level. I also had a publisher who was interested in the Billy and Monster books. It’s early days but do watch this space on more on that. If you’re a fellow author who lives in the U.K. or Euro zone, then I’d like to encourage you to make out some time to visit the London Book Fair in April 2014. I’ll be there and I look forward to meeting you. If you live outside the U.K., then by all means find a book fair or Publishing event coming to your town and make it a point of duty to attend. You just never know. One connection is all it takes to catapult your publishing efforts to another level.
Reading at Devonshire Preschool – back in July, I had the opportunity to give my first reading to a group of children.
Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect and I have to admit I had a few butterflies in my tummy 
I have to say the insight I gained from that one activity has impacted the quality of my storytelling. I gained a better understanding of what children like and don’t like. I had a better appreciation of what type of story appeals to different age groups. I also learned how to engage children while reading so it becomes more interactive and fun. I’ve been back to Devonshire since then and I have more visits to schools lined up in the 2014. Who knows? I might be coming to your loved ones’ school one of these days.
Billy and Monster at Number 1 – Way back at Easter, the third book in the Billy and Monster series hit the Number 1 spot and stayed in the Top 10 in the Easter category for a couple of weeks. Seeing Billy and the Monster who Ate All the Easter Eggs at the Number One spot on Easter Sunday was validation that I was in the right lane and my writing was gaining a small legion of fans who appreciated what I was doing. Some of the reviews I received for that book included the below
Experience is the best teacher as Billy and his “purple shadow” learn a sweet lesson in Billy and the Monster Who Ate All the Easter Eggs. Beautifully illustrated, nicely formatted, this quick, easy story will be read over and over again. Julia Busch
My daughter has really been enjoying David Chuka’s Billy and Monster books. This is another fun addition to the “family.” As always, the story has a lovely moral (this time teaching the value of moderation – definitely the biggest word in the book)! It’s based on the very realistic theme of overindulging in chocolate/sweets, which virtually anyone can relate to and which kids find a lot of fun. And, awesome pictures as always. Definitely recommend it. Amazon Customer
Kids will get a kick out of Monster and Billy’s chocolate over-indulgence and the effect it has on them. So nice, too, that the story weaves in a moral lesson about moderation. Elizabeth Dodwell
Meeting the Authors on Author Interview Thursday – As regular visitors of this blog will know, every Thursday is Author Interview Thursday.
I have to admit I’ve looked forward to reaching out to authors, preparing the questions for them, editing the interview for publication every Thursday and sharing them with you. I’ve been humbled by some of the comments left by readers of this blog after each interview. I’ve made some friends with some up and coming authors as well as some established authors who I’ve admired from afar. I have used some of the advice shared on AIT to improve myself as an author and self-publisher. I look forward to meeting more authors in 2014 and bringing you insightful and inspiring interviews.
Reviews from fans and Bloggers – I’m grateful for every review from readers and bloggers who have taken the time to read my books and left a review. Every time I see a positive review on Amazon, GoodReads, Smashwords, Facebook, Twitter etc of one of my books, it really does bring a smile to my face and re-enforces why I do what I do. Below is a link to a review of the Kojo the Sea Dragon Gets Lost by a blogger that really meant a lot to me as she got what I was trying to say in that book.
http://squishablebaby.com/kidlit-review-kojo-the-seadragon-gets-lost/
These are just some of the memories that will stay with me and have defined 2013 for me. I have a few ideas for some stories in 2014 and I look forward to sharing them with you.
I wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!
December 19, 2013
Big Honey Dog Mysteries: Message in a Bauble
What are you looking forward to doing the most this Christmas?
Curling up by a roaring fire with a good book and a mug of hot cocoa, a pup or kitty snoozing at your feet and your kids snuggled by your side? (Or if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere like us, swapping that roaring fire and hot cocoa for a sunny beach and an ice-cold drink! )
Well, if you’re looking for a great read this Christmas, we’ve got the perfect thing for you! A fun, doggie mystery which is now FREE to download from:
Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon.com.au (& other Amazon countries)
Apple iTunes
Barnes & Noble (Nook)
Kobo
Big Honey Dog Mysteries: Message in a Bauble
(Christmas Special Edition)
Christmas intrigue. Daring rescue. Serious slobber.
When Honey the Great Dane finds a hidden note inside a strange Christmas bauble, the festive season takes a sinister turn. Was the note from a trapped child? Join Honey and her canine friends as they set off on a Search & Rescue–from snowy playgrounds to eerie libraries–while they race to solve the mystery of the message in the bauble.
Kids and dog lovers will love this action-packed Christmas mystery filled with suspense and humour – not to mention candy canes, gingerbread cookies and lots of mince pies!
What readers are saying:
“This was an adorable Christmas story! I loved the first Big Honey Dog Mysteries book and couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one! I’m impressed by the amazing character development; even in a short story like this one, the author gives the dogs in the book such big personalities. I look forward to many more titles in this series.”
“There are some genuine laugh out loud moments, as well as a message about the true meaning of Christmas. Just as enjoyable for adults as it is for kids!”
“Recommend this book to teachers and parents, especially now during the holiday season. Great read!”
“Ms. Hanna knows how to hook her readers in, both young and old. The cast of characters are great and I love each dog’s personality. If you love canine stories, you must look into this story!”
“Read it aloud with your kids during holiday break, or savor it yourself with a hot mug of cocoa and a plate of Christmas cookies. It’s just the thing for a chilly winter’s eve and will leave a smile on your face!”
“An entertaining holiday story for kids of ANY age (even adults)! Don’t be deceived by thinking this is a ‘kids only’ book”
“The suspense is perfect and the Christmas context is a plus to this mystery novel. Don’t miss this exquisite book.”
As some of you know, we recently launched the Big Honey Dog Mysteries – a fun, action-packed, mystery adventure series for kids and dogs lovers of all ages. And this short novella is the latest addition to the series. So if you’re looking for a little mystery and adventure this holiday season and some fun & laughs with a cast of adorable canines (and maybe even a feline or two! ) – then don’t miss this heart-warming Christmas “tail”.
Hurry to grab your FREE copy today from Amazon, iTunes, Barnes & Noble (Nook) or Kobo!
We hope you enjoy it – and happy reading! 
Hsin-Yi and Slobbers from Honey the Great Dane
www.bighoneydogmysteries.com
