Mara Valderran's Blog, page 27

Interview with Iain McChesney, Author of the Curse of Malenfer Manor

Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of reviewing this book. Now, I am sitting down with the author, Iain McChesney, to talk about his family's rich history, his process, and what's ahead for him as a writer.

Don't forget to check out the tour wide giveaway below, where you can win your own copy, and where U.S. entrants can win these awesome charm book marks:
And now for the interview!


Mara: You were born and raised in Scotland, and your family has quite a history there with the World Wars. What can you tell us about that history?

Iain McChesney: Most families have a collective experience from any time of war. Ours is not so special in that regard. There are many families who suffered more. Glasgow was bombed and its children evacuated – I got those stories – but it is the photographs I remember most, relatively young men in faded black and white, all done up in uniform. They lined the shelves and hung on the walls where they never grew old. If you are ever in Scotland, you can go to the capital, Edinburgh, where there is a large castle high on a rock above the city. You can’t miss it. In a room in the centre there is a room full of books that lie open on grand tables. Each book has the hand-written name of every Scottish soldier ever killed in war. I said hello to my grandfather who died at Normandy, and to my great grandfather who died in World War I. They weren’t easy to find; the books were so big and so plentiful. I couldn’t remember the name of the ship on which an uncle went down, so he was lost and never found – again – the irony didn’t escape me. Last year I visited the Vietnam Veteran’s memorial in Washington DC – the stone with all the names inscribed onto it. It was a little bit like that castle room. In such places you get a weight, an impression of the immensity of history, and what those losses did to all those families. Things that should never be forgotten.

MV: A family rich with history like that must be full of stories. What stories in particular did you draw from for inspiration when you were writing The Curse of Malenfer Manor?

IM: My family always seemed to be getting killed, so there weren’t a lot of first-hand tales of war around the dinner table. Growing up, I was amazed at what different people tell you about the dead. They are mosaics, these men that never came home, pasted into the mind of a child. I tried to get a bit of that across in the book. All the heroes have flaws and all the villains something redeeming. Life is full of complexities. The war scenes were composites of history books and research of veterans’ experiences.

MV: You went on to study History and Geography at the University of Glasgow. Is your interest in history what drew you to writing fiction?

IM: Despite the best efforts of my grade eight teacher, I’ve always found history fascinating. No, I don’t write fiction because I’m interested in history, but it certainly colours what I write about. Give anyone the choice between a dry academic textbook full of dates and names and a colourful piece of escapism, and you’d be nuts to go with the former. But that’s not what I’m trying to do. I’m not trying to teach anyone anything – though if you find out something you didn’t know, I won’t be disappointed. A great thing about history is that it affords the writer extraordinary settings in which to spin a plot, and this stuff really happened. Fiction is a time machine. It can take you any when.

MV: In 2010, you and your family moved to Bali, Indonesia for a year, which is where you wrote The Curse of Malenfer Manor. What made you decide to make the move, and what made you choose Bali?

IM: Ha! You’ve been checking up on me. Guilty. Yes, I did. The move to Bali was about a lot of things – showing the kids a different sort of life; exposing them to different cultures outside of North America. But I won’t deny I harboured the intention to use the move for writing. I get a lot of questions (I’m sure any author does) about how one writes, or how one finds the time. For me I had to take the plunge. I had to leave a perfectly good job and take the risk that my family would be okay long term. And I’m very glad we did. My accountant is not so sure. Bali? Why Bali? That’s a longer story. A great deal of luck is the short answer. Besides its physical charms (it is a tropical island in the Indonesian archipelago – what’s not to like?) it is a very creative place. “I quit my job to come and write.” “Hey, so did I. Ain’t it great!” These conversations are not common anywhere else I’ve lived. I kept a diary during my year there, “Letter from Bali,” which you can find at http://mcchez.wordpress.com/. Anyone thinking of quitting their job might want to give it a read.

MV: What can you tell us about your writing process? Are you more of a pantser or plotter?

IM: I thought I was a pantser – make it up as I go along. I wrote Malenfer with a pantser’s methodology and I remain, in a sense, one at heart. But let me tell you, there is a lot of road kill as a pantser. The clean up in the editorial stage made writing the book twice the work. I’m guessing I wrote a solid 150,000 words for this novel of which almost half was put in recycling. That was my experience of writing free thought – it worked, but it went everywhere, and everywhere wasn’t good. I have since adapted. I haven’t gone entirely the other way, though. I heard a story that William Golding, he of Lord of the Flies fame, was so detailed in his planning that when he was finally ready to write, he sat down and wrote the book straight through. One sitting. Urban legend? I don’t know. But that is not me. What I am happy with (at time of press) is a ‘goalpost’ process of writing. I have enough of a plot that I know who I want in a chapter and where they have to get to by the end of the next twelve pages – what hints or events need to take place, where they must go. Then I let it fly. I give the characters their freedom so long as they pass through the goalposts at the end. It works for me.

MV: Can you tell us anything about your other two projects, The Calling and Krator?

IM: Krator I promised the kids. It is a genre jump, so my publisher is not as keen. :-p The Calling (or whatever it ends up being called – for the title of Malenfer I put it to a vote on the blog) will be another Gothic mystery. Anyone who enjoys Malenfer will find The Calling to their taste. In Tweet speak: A varied group is invited by a reclusive industrialist to a remote Scottish island in the 1920’s. Bad things happen.

MV: You were published by Wayzgoose Press. How did you discover this publisher and what made you decide to go with them?

IM: Sort of like Bali, I found Wayzgoose by good fortune, and I have been very happy with what they have done for me. You hear the stories. New writer goes door to door around agents and/or publishers and gets plenty of rejections. I was not immune, but remained positive. I was being asked for a full manuscript by a few of them. What happened was that a publisher I had submitted to eventually declined, but asked if they could show it to Wayzgoose. I am very glad they did. Wayzgoose liked the writing and were not put off by the problem of genre fit. (Is it a mystery or historical fiction, or horror, or romance, or or… what is gothic, after all?) I have been very happy with my editor there, she put in a lot of good work and the book is far better for it.

MV: What was the last book you read that absolutely blew you away?

IM: I don’t get “absolutely blown away” easily. But it happens. There have been a lot of good ones, but Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell took me there. I love how it was sewn together from different torn parts – very inventive. And it had a big theme. I’m a sucker for ‘life, the universe, and everything’ books. The movie didn’t do too bad a job.

MV: What authors inspire you?

IM: I have this love/hate thing with other authors. I like reading quality work, but then it risks plunging me into despair. I can’t read Henry James without wanting to burn my own pages. Ditto for Somerset Maugham. <Insert expletive of your choice.> Here is an idea for a story: Struggling gothic writer is taunted by the ghosts of his betters and peers. Inspiration of a sort.

MV: What’s ahead for you as a writer?

IM: Degeneracy and oblivion. Or soccer practice for the kids. I’ll have to check the calendar.

Big thanks to Iain for giving me the chance to interview him! You can follow him on Facebook or Goodreads. Don't forget that you can purchase The Curse of Malenfer Manor on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes for just $0.99!

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Release Day Blitz: Excerpt from Brass Stars by A.G. Carpenter

Brass StarsA.G. Carpenter
Genre:  SF WesternPublisher:  Eggplant Literary Productions, Inc.Date of Publication:  11/18/2013Cover Artist: Paul Alexandrescu
Book Description:
Tashndelu Sand has wandered the known universe on a mission of vengeance.  She’s spent years tracking down the gang who murdered her mother.  And, with the help of Snyder—a psychotic cyber-horse with an agenda of his own—she’s killed all but one: Brannigan.
Now she’s come to Paradise, a lonely town on a desert planet.  Here, Brannigan rules with a new gang.  Here, the graveyard is filled with the corpses of gunslingers who have tried, and failed, to kill him.
Get in, kill Brannigan, and get out.  That’s the plan.  And Tashn is determined to finish what she started.  She’ll not be stopped: not by Brannigan’s army; not by her feelings for Johnny, an Extra sapien like her; not even by the darkness she sees in herself. 
About the Author:  A.G. Carpenter writes fiction of (and for) all sorts. She studied film-making in college, but quickly discovered that pen and paper are a less costly medium. She likes: movies where things explode, rainy days, strong tea with lots of milk and sugar. Her favorite color is black.
She lives in the South-eastern United States with her husband, their lively son and a herd of cats.
Twitter: @Aggy_C
Blog: agcarpenter.blogspot.com
Goodreads: A.G. Carpenter

Excerpt:I stand up, sway for a moment and catch my shoulder hard against the post. “Ungh. Damn.” Jackson is on his feet in a heartbeat, slipping his arms around my waist. “Easy.”My cheeks are hot. At least it’s dark and maybe he won’t notice. “I’m all right.”“You’re certain?”“Just tired.” I try to shrug away from his hands. “It’s been a long day.”“Yes.” A pause. “Tashn…” He leans in and kisses me.Warm as a spring afternoon. Intense as a lightning strike. His arms holding me hard and close. Pushing me back toward the house.It’s nice. Enjoyable, even. And also terrifying. There is no spark like there is with Johnny, no rush of blood in thighs and breasts.This is energy of a different kind. I take a breath, trying to find something to say. “What the hell, Jackson.” I thump his shoulder with my fist. “You think I’m easy?”“No.” His eyes are dark, serious. He pulls me in a second time, slower, but no less intense. My chest aches with it.“Stop.” My hands are knotted in the front of his shirt, caught somewhere between pulling him close and shoving him away. “Let go of me.”He takes a half-step back, leaning against the other side of the doorframe. Only inches separate us, but it hurts like a bruise.I press both hands against my chest, panting for breath. This isn’t lust, and I’ll be damned if I think it’s love. But I know this pain. The grief of separation, no matter how slight. The echo of connection, no matter how permanent the distance.I felt this way when they put Mother under the sand.I felt this way the day I left my father’s village.“Damn you, Jackson.” I can barely whisper around the weight over my heart.He cups my face between his hands. “Come inside, Tashn.”“I can’t.”“John won’t keep you safe like I will.”“Like you will. A gunner with no gun.” I grin, bitter. “I think I’ll take my chances with the one-eyed Extra.”He tips his head as though he will kiss me again, but this time I lean away from him.

Blog Tour: Waking Up Dead by Emma Shortt

Waking up DeadEnd of Days Love Book One
Emma Shortt
Genre: Horror romancePublisher: Entangled SelectDate of Publication: 22 October 2013Cover Artist: TK Designs
Amazon   BN
Book Description:You know your life has hit rock bottom when you’re living off cooked rats and showering once every few months—if you’re lucky. But for Jackson Hart things are about to get a whole lot worse. When her best friend, Tye, disappears hunting for food, kick-ass Jackson’s ‘head south to safety’ plan looks like it’s dead before it’s even begun. But then she meets ex-mechanic Luke Granger, who takes her to his bunker, feeds her with non-rat based food, and offers her protection against the zombie hordes—not that she needs it. She knows how to use a machete and isn’t afraid to.
Jackson was tempted to stay in the city with her rescuer. Food, shampoo and the possibility of finally getting laid, what more could she ask for? But the flesh eaters are getting smarter and the bunker is compromised, so Jackson and Luke have no choice but to make the journey south.
Luke and Jackson team up to find other humans in a road-trip romance for the ages. They travel for thousands of miles with zombies shadowing their every move. They must utilize every resource at their disposal…and then some. On the way, they discover that even if flesh eating zombies are knocking down their door, there’s always time for sex and even love.
About the Author:
As a kid Emma wanted to be an astronaut, or maybe Captain Janeway. Because she didn't really think her career choices through very well she ended up in an everyday geek job, crunching numbers and sighing over syntax. It seemed a long way from the stars, and in an effort to escape Emma decided to get serious about her other passion. Writing.
Several years later and Emma has yet to walk on the moon or sit in the Captain's chair, but she is still writing. She scribbles stories in all sorts of genres, contemporary, paranormal, post-apocalyptic, historical, sci-fi...if she hasn't tried it yet she will before long. The only common theme is the romance. A hopeless romantic, everything Emma writes has a love story in there somewhere.
She lives on the west coast of England with her very Greek husband and teenage kiddos. Apart from all things geek reading is her main hobby and she likes nothing better than getting home from a hard day at work and curling up with a book, though sometimes she gets home and writes one instead.
www.endofdayslove.com
www.facebook.com/AuthorEmmaShortt
www.twitter.com/EmmaShortt

Review: The Curse of Malenfer Manor by Iain McChesney

It's review time! I was lucky enough to receive an Advanced Reading Copy of The Curse of Malenfer Manor by Iain McChesney.You can follow Iain on Facebook or Goodreads, and you can purchase the book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes for just $0.99.



About the Author:

Iain is a writer of gothic mysteries.

He was born and raised in Scotland. He studied History and Geography at the University of Glasgow.

The World Wars left Iain’s family with generations of widows. As a result, Iain has always been interested in the tangible effects of history on family dynamics and in the power of narrative to awaken those long dead.

For the characters in The Curse of Malenfer Manor, he drew on childhood reminiscences and verbal family history—though he hastens to add that his family had barely a penny, far less a manor, and any ghosts dwell only in memory.

He lives in Vancouver, Canada, with his wife and two children.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Iain-Mcchesney/352793594851795
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7192405.Iain_McChesney

About the Book:

Those in line to the Malenfer estate are succumbing to terrible ends –is a supernatural legacy at work, or something entirely more human?

Young Irish mercenary Dermot Ward retreats to Paris at the close of World War I where he drinks to forget his experiences, especially the death of his comrade, Arthur Malenfer. But Arthur has not forgotten Dermot. Dead but not departed, Arthur has unfinished business and needs the help of the living.

Upon his arrival at Malenfer Manor, Dermot finds himself embroiled in a mystery of murder, succession, and ambition. Dermot falls in love with the youngest Malenfer, the beautiful fey Simonne, but in his way are Simonne’s mismatched fiancé, her own connections to the spirit world, Dermot’s guilt over the circumstances of Arthur’s death… and the curse.








 
My Review: 

The Curse of Malenfer Manor by Iain McChesney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you follow my reviews, you already know this, but for those who don't...I'd like to preface this review with one very important fact about me: I'm an impatient reader.

That being said, this book is pretty good. There's a lot of back story to dig through, and with some of the characters I got pretty impatient with it (namely the Crevel's junior and senior when the focus shifted to them). I do absolutely love how the history between Arthur and Dermot is told in bits and pieces, and especially how Arthur's time after the tunnel is presented.

Once Dermot and Arthur get to Malenfer Manor, the story picks up and doesn't let go. It turns into a real nail-biter as you try to sort out whether or not the curse is at work, or a tangible villain is responsible. Mysteries are not my typical genre, but the ghost story and curse drew me into this one. So I can't really compare it to anything out there in the genre, but I can say it was like playing Clue as I tried to solve the mystery, which was a lot of fun. It certainly kept me guessing until the very end.

Iain McChesney balanced the supernatural element very well in this book. Ghosts are fun to play with, but can easily get overplayed. Iain McChesney teases the reader with the Witch and the possibility of other ghosts afoot just enough. I also really appreciated the fresh take on ghosts with the experiences of Arthur. His phantom feelings are really well done and help his character to believably straddle the world of the living and the world of the dead.

Dermot is a wonderful and refreshing reluctant hero. A soldier riddled with guilt over his experiences at war, all he wants to do is help Arthur with this final endeavor from beyond the grave and then probably go back to drinking away the things that truly haunt him. His growth is really great to see.

My impatience aside, this was a fun read. I like that it wasn't predictable in the slightest, the characters were so well-rounded and all had clear and vivid histories in the author's mind, and that it was well-told. Iain McChesney has a very sophisticated voice that throws you back to the feeling of reading the classics, and I wouldn't be surprised if one of his books landed under that heading a hundred years from now.

View all my reviews

One Day Only: Seal of Destiny by Traci Douglass for 99 Cents!

November 13 Seal of Destiny is on sale for .99 at Amazon

Seal Of DestinySeven Seals Series Book One
Traci Douglass
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Urban FantasyPublisher: Crimson Romance
Book Description:
Love conquers all… but can it stop the Apocalypse?
Mira Herald is having the worst life ever.  Not only is she plagued by horrific nightmares starring the Devil himself, she’s now the target of a power-hungry, rogue minion, freshly sprung from Hell and bent on her destruction.  To complicate matters further, she’s acquired a stalker. One who insists he’s a divine warrior sent for her protection because she houses an ancient relic with the power to unleash Armageddon. Last time Mira checked, she wasn’t insane. Still, all this celestial mayhem is enough to drive a girl crazy.
Kagan is a member of the Scion, an elite team of immortal warriors selected by Divinity to aid mankind and save the world. After a century alone, Kagan is summoned for a new mission. He’s eager to begin. Eager until he’s informed his mission consists of protecting a woman with no clue to the power she wields. Plus, his briefing fails to prepare him for his new target’s cosmic-sized attitude problem.  As Divinity’s sworn servant, he’s required to fulfill his duty. His oath, however, does not require him to be enthusiastic about his new assignment or warm-and-fuzzy toward his new compatriot. He plans a wham-bam rescue and a quick return to solitude.
The rogue minion attacks—with the backing of a mysterious organization—and all Hades erupts, putting a fast end to any whirlwind escapes. Accustomed to staunch independence, Mira’s survival now requires full cooperation and an unwavering belief in Kagan. The battle-hardened warrior is also forced to chose: between duty and desire. Amidst the turmoil, Kagan and Mira’s undeniable passion draws them closer to each other and down a path neither expected but both yearn for, more than they ever knew.
Will love save the day? The world’s fate depends on the answer.
Amazon 
About the Author:
Traci is the author of paranormal romance/urban fantasy and contemporary romances featuring a sly, urban edge, including her current Seven Seals series. Her stories feature sizzling alpha-male heroes full of dark humor, quick wits and major attitudes; smart, independent heroines who always give as good as they get; and scrumptiously evil villains who are—more often than not—bent on world destruction. She enjoys weaving ancient curses and mythology, modern science and old religion, and great dialogue together to build red-hot, sizzling chemistry between her main characters.
She is an active member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), Indiana Romance Writers of America (IRWA) and Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal Writers (FF&P) and is pursing a Masters of Fine Arts degree in Writing Popular Fiction through Seton Hill University. Her stories have made the final rounds in several RWA chapter contests, including the 2012 Duel on the Delta, the 2012 Molly Awards, and the 2012 Catherine Awards. An earlier draft of the first book in the Seven Seals Series, Seal of Destiny, won the paranormal category of the 2012 Marlene Awards sponsored by the Washington Romance Writers.
Other current projects include upcoming books in the Seven Seals series, a new contemporary novella series due out in early 2014, and a new futuristic suspense series with hints of the paranormal and plenty of romance.
Website and blog: http://www.tracidouglass.net
FB Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/TraciDouglassAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Traci_Douglass  
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/8112113-traci-douglass
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/tracidouglass

What's Up Wednesday, Plus Book Sales!

What’s Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what’s up. Should you wish to join us, you will find the link widget at the bottom of Jaime’s post. We really hope you will take part!

What I'm Reading:
I finished up The Actuator: Fractured Earth by James Wymore and Aiden James (you can find my review here). I was really impressed. I'm finishing up The Curse of Malenfer Manor by Iain McChesney to review tomorrow on the blog. It's a gothic mystery, which is way outside of my comfort zone as reading material goes. But I do love a good ghost story, and so far this is definitely proving to be one.

What I'm Writing:
I am fifteen chapters into the rewrite of Altar of Reality, and so far, so good. I'm really pleased with how it is turning out. I'm using this rewrite as my NaNoWriMo novel, which is a bit of a pain but worth it. Tracking rewrites vs words already written is a bit tedious at times, but so much of it is fresh and new that it is worth it.  


I'm also working on my short story submission for The Borderlands anthology set in the Actuator universe. It got a bit boring and I hit a rough point, but I think I've figured it out. My main character doesn't have enough snark. In fact, she's kinda devoid of snark, which doesn't work for me. Not every main character has to be Zelene, but I do like them to be a bit fun to work with, and for me that means snark. So I'm going to rework that this week, hopefully in time to get some CPs to look over it and tell me what they think.


What Inspires Me Right Now:
The television show Reign on the CW. Man, is this show awesome. It really makes me want to ditch my dystopian and get back to my fantasy world. Reign isn't overtly fantasy, but it does have hints of the supernatural, which I really appreciate. There's political intrigue, a slow burning love triangle, a "castle ghost" in the form of a girl who wears a sack over her head (probably meaning she is disfigured and in hiding, but she's still a source of interest), and the mysterious Pagans in the woods. I wrote a bit more on how it inspires me and why at the There & Draft Again blog. I can't get enough of this show. It's a nice end of the week treat (it airs Thursday nights, but doesn't show up on Hulu+ until Friday morning).

What Else I'm Up To:
I'm still running behind on pretty much everything. I was extremely ill the entire week of Halloween with a stomach flu, and in my fevered state I missed a lot of stuff I was supposed to do. Our Halloween party was pushed back a week (to this past weekend), but luckily my friends and family were still eager to celebrate Halloween with us a week into November. Their costumes were amazing. I put a few of them up on Facebook. Four people came dressed as characters from the Borderlands game, which I haven't played, but want to now just because they looked so awesome.

I'm 25k into NaNoWriMo, so that's exciting. I'm confident I'll finish on time, but I'm hoping I'll finish the book period. Wattpad is actually holding a contest for NaNoWriMo entrants, and I've tagged Altar of Reality to enter. I also have Heirs of War on sale for 99 cents during the month of November since it's my 30th (egad!) birthday this month. So far, not many bites, but I'm not doing much in the way of promotion. I'm trying not to sink any more money into the book until I actually start getting paid. =) And the best way to promote your writing is to? Say it with me now: WRITE MORE. So that's what I'm doing.

And speaking of sales, be sure to check out my next blog post which tells you all about another 99 cent book for today: Seal of Destiny by Traci Douglass. Until next time!

New Adult Author Spotlight & Giveaway: Ella Col

*Mature Content Advisory* 

Twenty-two year old, Bree Jensen is a survivor who managed to break free from her abuser and start a new life. 

Bree fights to live a normal life. She does not want to be a victim or survivor. Bree just wants to forget.

Falling in love is the last thing on her mind, now that Bree has the chance to start over. 
That is…until she meets her neighbor, Josh. Josh oozes sexual charm. He’s confident, talented, and he adores her. Bree finds everything about Josh hard to resist right down to his decorated body of tattoos, piercings and shag haircut. Don’t forget about those damn green eyes. 
Josh has endured his own personal hell and meeting Bree has triggered emotions he thought were buried deep. 
Can they SAVE each other from their chilling pasts and begin the fairytale both so desperately want?
Ella Col Bio: Ella Col lives in New Jersey with her husband and their two boys. She released her debut, NA novel, SAVE, on July 16, 2013.She is currently working on two novels. The first, BROKEN is a follow up to SAVE. BROKEN tells the story from both Eric and Lena's POV. The story also peeks into their pasts. BROKEN will be released mid to late October 2013. The second, LOCKED is the story of Caydon and Reece. LOCKED will be released spring of 2014.


To enter the giveaway, go to each blog and enter the corresponding code into the Rafflecopter. This is Blog #5 and the code is ELLAMARABlog #1: www.dawnpendleton.com
  Blog #2: www.StephanieLawton.comBlog #3: www.chasingemptypavements.comBlog #4: http://lisaswallow.netBlog #5: http://maravalderran.blogspot.comBlog #6: http://www.lgcastillo.comBlog #7: http://naughtylittlekisses.blogspot.comBlog #8: http://danielelanzarotta.blogspot.com/Blog #9: http://authoryolandaallen.blogspot.com/Blog #10: http://dawnaraver.com/Blog #11: http://tawdrakandle.comBlog #12: http://midtown-underground.comBlog #13: http://tyffanickemp.comBlog #14: www.KristieCook.comBlog #15: www.jlfynn.comBlog #16: www.lisasanchezromanceauthor.comBlog #17: www.adriannejames.comBlog #18: http://jadenwilkes.blogspot.ca/
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Author Interview: Ann Gimpel, Author of Earth's Requiem

Ann Gimpel, author of Earth's Requiem, book one of the Earth Reclaimed series, is stopping by today and has been kind enough to let me interview her. We'll be talking ecological influences, processes, publishing, and everything in between, and then I'll fill you in on the details of her new book. Let's get to know Ann a bit first, shall we?

Ann Gimpel is a clinical psychologist, with a Jungian bent. Avocations include mountaineering, skiing, wilderness photography and, of course, writing. A lifelong aficionado of the unusual, she began writing speculative fiction a few years ago. Since then her short fiction has appeared in a number of webzines and anthologies. Several paranormal romance novellas are available in e-format. Three novels, Psyche’s Prophecy, Psyche’s Search, and Psyche's Promise are small press publications available in e-format and paperback. Look for three more urban fantasy novels coming this summer and fall: To Love a Highland Dragon, Earth’s Requiem and Earth’s Blood.

A husband, grown children, grandchildren and three wolf hybrids round out her family.
            www.anngimpel.com http://anngimpel.blogspot.com http://www.amazon.com/author/anngimpel http://www.facebook.com/anngimpel.author @AnnGimpel (for Twitter)


MV: You say that your books have an ecological twist. What does that mean, and what else can you tell us about the ecological twists you write?
Ann Gimpel: I’m concerned about the damage we’ve done to Earth, and about climate change, and things like genetically modified foods and their impact on our bodies. It isn’t surprising many of my books have a dystopian, post-apocalyptic feel to them. 
I’ve spent a great deal of my life in the backcountry, both in the U.S. and in other countries. Pollution is truly shocking in some third world countries. For example, the river flowing through La Paz, Bolivia, runs red and nothing grows within about a hundred yard radius of its banks, probably because it’s full of raw sewage. I read an article a few days back about the oceans, titled, The Oceans are Broken. It was chilling, and made me sad reading about overfishing, no more seabirds, and the Pacific being turned into a giant garbage dump that’s so bad the sailor was afraid to turn on his motor, for fear the propeller would tangle in debris.
I guess I’d like to believe if each of us did a little bit, like watching our carbon footprint and making a conscious effort to reduce it, we’d make progress toward saving our home.

MV:  What can you tell us about that first 500 page novel you wrote? What are some of the lessons you learned from writing that first book?AG: Oh my. I learned about writing clean POV, and about building solid characters, and about plot lines and pacing and tension. Just about everything, really. Fortunately, a wonderful copy editor took me under her wing. Jessica will always have a warm spot in my heart.
There are many, many elements that go into writing a novel. It’s impossible to master all of them at the same time. I focused on character development first, probably because it was easier for me than weaving plot lines together. Over time, I’ve worked hard to hone my craft, but I’m still learning. It feels good to pick up something I wrote a year ago and be able to see mistakes in it. That tells me my craft has grown.

MV:  As writers learn more about their craft, their process tends to change. How has yours changed since you first picked up a pen?
AG: Funny you should ask. I used to have to go through my manuscripts at least four times before they were ready to submit. I’ve pared that to twice. And I’m much better at reading on the screen. I used to print everything, which was an enormous waste of paper and ink. I’ve learned to keep storyboards to keep my characters straight. I do that on paper, not with one of the computer programs like Scrivener. I’ve also gotten better at seeing how plots weave together, so I think my storylines have become more natural.

MV:  You write paranormal romance and contemporary fantasy. What draws you to these types of stories?
AG: I write the same kinds of stories I like to read. I also read some science fiction and high fantasy. I’ve sold a number of short stories in those genres, but the sad truth is there aren’t that many readers in those two genres. One of the reasons I started writing romance, other than that I enjoy reading about hunky alphas and gutsy heroines, is there are lots of romance readers. It’s easy to understand why. HEAs are a huge draw. Reading is an escape and everyone wants to read about something that gives them hope.

MV:  Are you more of a pantser or plotter?
AG: I’ve tried to plot. It doesn’t work for me because me characters thumb their noses and tell me they have better ideas than mine. They’re generally correct, so I’ve learned to just sort go with the flow.

MV:  The wilderness seems to be your soundtrack. Do you also use music as inspiration to write, or do you prefer the quiet?
AG: I’ve always been one of those people who can’t listen to music and write. I was like that in school doing homework, and I’m still that way. Now I can listen to music and do math. Go figure.

MV:  Your website lists several other books and series. What can you tell us about these other works?
AG: They fall into two general camps: urban fantasy and paranormal romance. The urban fantasy novels are full length, so 80-100K+. The paranormal romance books range from 15K to 71K, with an average around 50K. I do have several series, but my personal bent is to stop a series at three books. Beyond that, the characters don’t feel as fresh to me, and the world sort of runs out of oomph. At least that’s been my experience reading other writers and there’s absolutely no reason to believe I could do a better job than them.

MV:  What can you tell us about the path you took to getting published?
AG: After that first novel that went nowhere (and its sequel!), my copy editor friend suggested I try my hand at short stories. That was in Sept of 2009. By late December, my first short story, a hard science fiction tale about life in the arctic, was accepted by the Aurora Wolf Literary Journal. I started getting stories accepted fairly regularly after that. Encouraged, I began a new novel as part of a Book-in-a-Week challenge my online critique group hosted. I didn’t finish an entire novel, but I did get 50K words written. I built on them, honed my effort, and the book was accepted as part of a three book deal from a small press. Acceptances started rolling in after that. I’ve pretty much stopped writing short stories for now, but I may pick them up again because they offer opportunity for me to write in different genres.

MV:  What advice would you give to other writers who wish to get published?
AG: Write every day. Find a good critique group where they’ll be honest, and develop a thick skin. No one can see the mistakes in their own writing all the time and neophyte writers can hardly see any of them. For two books of mine that released this summer and fall (Fortune’s Scion and Earth’s Requiem), I’d written them quite a while back. Frankly, I was horrified by all the mistakes in the manuscripts and shocked either had been accepted for publication. Of course, all (or most) of the mistakes were fixed prior to publication. Both were always good stories, but my rendition was rough. I like to think it’s improved.

MV: What’s ahead for you as a writer?
AG: Good question. 2013 was nuts. I’m slowing my output considerably to allow myself to have some kind of life away from the keyboard. The plan I instituted last summer was I’d write a book a month, ten months out of the year and take two months off. So far, it’s working. Of course the “off” months aren’t truly “off,” since I have marketing and editing to do, but at least I’m trying to manage my time better. Hubby gets grumpy when I don’t make time for him, and I don’t blame him!
Earth’s RequiemEarth Reclaimed, Book 1By Ann GimpelPublisher: MusaRelease Date: 10/4/13
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Romance
Resilient, kickass, and determined, Aislinn's walled herself off from anything that might make her feel again. Until a wolf picks her for a bond mate and a Celtic god rises out of legend to claim her for his own.
Aislinn Lenear lost her anthropologist father high in the Bolivian Andes. Her mother, crazy with grief that muted her magic, was marched into a radioactive vortex by alien creatures and killed. Three years later, stripped of every illusion that ever comforted her, twenty-two year old Aislinn is one resilient, kickass woman with a take no prisoners attitude. In a world turned upside down, where virtually nothing familiar is left, she’s conscripted to fight the dark gods responsible for her father’s death. Battling the dark on her own terms, Aislinn walls herself off from anything that might make her feel again.

Fionn MacCumhaill, Celtic god of wisdom, protection, and divination has been laying low since the dark gods stormed Earth. He and his fellow Celts decided to wait them out. After all, three years is nothing compared to their long lives. On a clear winter day, Aislinn walks into his life and suddenly all bets are off. Awed by her courage, he stakes his claim to her and to an Earth he's willing to fight for.
Aislinn’s not so easily convinced. Fionn’s one gorgeous man, but she has a world to save. Emotional entanglements will only get in her way. Letting a wolf into her life was hard. Letting love in may well prove impossible.

Feature Fridays: Excerpt from Waking Up Dead by Margo Bond Collins

Blurb
When Dallas resident Callie Taylor died young, she expected to go to Heaven, or maybe Hell. Instead, she met her fate early thanks to a creep with a knife and a mommy complex. Now she's witnessed another murder, and she's not about to let this one go. She's determined to help solve it before an innocent man goes to prison. And to answer the biggest question of all: why the hell did she wake up in Alabama?
Book Trailers:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j_TmvpxxBwhttp://youtu.be/KUBg83s4BOU

Buy Waking Up Dead on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Waking-Up-Dead-ebook/dp/B00FOXWLM8/Add Waking Up Dead to your Goodreads bookshelves: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18428064-waking-up-dead


About the Author
Margo Bond Collins lives in Texas with her husband, their daughter, several spoiled cats, and a ridiculous turtle. She teaches college-level English courses online, though writing fiction is her first love. She enjoys reading urban fantasy and paranormal fiction of any genre and spends most of her free time daydreaming about vampires, ghosts, zombies, werewolves, and other monsters. Waking Up Dead is her first published novel. Her second novel, Legally Undead, is an urban fantasy, forthcoming in 2014 from World Weaver Press.
Connect with MargoAmazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/margobondcollinsEmail: MargoBondCollins@gmail.comWebsite: http://www.MargoBondCollins.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/MargoBondCollin  @MargoBondCollinGoogle+: https://plus.google.com/116484555448104519902Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/vampirarchyFacebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/MargoBondCollinsFacebook Novel Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Waking-Up-Dead/502076076537575Tumblr: http://vampirarchybooks.tumblr.com/Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mbondcollins/

Excerpt: 
“Hey,” I said, hurrying after the woman. “Wait up.”“I know you’re not talking to me,” she said. She stared straight ahead and pushed her cart down the middle of the aisle toward housewares.“I am talking to you. Look. I know this is really weird, but I need your help.”“Well, I’m not talking to you. I don’t know what your problem is, but you can take it somewhere else.”I wanted to reach out and grab her cart, to make her stop and talk to me, but of course I couldn’t. Which gave me an idea.I scurried out in front of her, planting myself in her path.“Move,” she said.“Not until you hear me out. Please?”She moved her cart to the left. I stepped out to intercept her. She moved to the right. So did I. “You got some kind of death wish or something?” she asked.I laughed and shook my head. “If only you knew.”“I’ve got no time for this,” she said. And she slammed into me with her shopping cart.At least, that’s what she planned to do. The shopping cart, however, slid right through me. When it stopped, the basket had sliced cleanly through my midsection. The bottom rack merged with my ankles. From my perspective, it looked like two perfectly solid objects--me and the shopping cart--had melted together. I don’t know what she saw.Whatever it was, it wasn’t good.The woman’s eyes widened, then rolled up into her head as she slumped to the ground in a dead faint.I bent down to try to wake her up, but no matter how hard I concentrated on making contact, I couldn’t even touch her.I hate being a ghost.

Cover Reveal: Branded by Katie Hamstead

We all know that I'm a big fan of Katie Hamstead's work, and now she is adding yet another book to my To-Be-Read list in the same month (ahem, Kiya: Mother of a King, you're next!). Today she is revealing the cover to her upcoming release, Branded, and I am happy to share it with you guys!


Terrorists have invaded Sydney, and Allison King barely escapes her brother’s wedding reception alive. She and her siblings flee, but their parents are killed by firing squad.

 Now Ali’s on the run and terrified. While searching for other survivors, she is captured by the General who leads the invasion. He’s smitten by Ali, and when she refuses to submit to his whims, he brands her for death. In a wild act of defiance, she snatches the branding rod and sears the mark onto his face. Marking not only him but also sealing her fate. Ali manages to escape and flees into the bush once more where she finds a group in hiding. Even with the scars left by the General, Ali learns to love and falls in love with the young man who found her—Damien Rogers.

But the General is hunting her. When he discovers their location, and finds her with another man—Damien—his wrath is kindled and his obsession is inflamed. Ali must put herself on the line or the General could kill her family, those who help her, and most significantly, the man she loves.

Add it to Goodreads here and then start counting down until the release day with me!