Ester Lopez's Blog: Writing on the Edge of Reality, page 6

Author Vicky Jones

Today I’m speaking with Author, Vicky Jones. Hello, Vicky. What made you decide to become an author?

I’ve always been creative! When I was around 7 years old, I started to write songs which are essentially short stories and from there it just grew. My gran used to have many bookshelves filled with books from all genres and I was drawn to them as I felt each one had an adventure inside. My English teacher at school used to have to tell me NOT to write so many pages for my homework when we did creative writing.

That must have been a first!  How long did it take to get published the first time and how did it happen?

I’m self-published. My debut novel came out November last year, called “Meet Me at 10” and I was so excited when it hit bestseller in its category right away! It took around two years to plan and write it.

That’s awesome! And to hit bestseller on a debut novel is some feat! Would you do anything differently the next time? If so, what would it be?

Me and my co-author, Claire Hackney, have now got the process down to a fine art. We are releasing two more books this year (one is called “Shona” the prequel to “Meet Me at 10” and another book is a non-fiction book called “Project Me, Project You” depicting how I changed my life around after having crippling depression and how I can help others. We now have a great team around us consisting of an assistant, editor, typesetter, proofreader and graphic designer.

It always pays to have a great team behind each book. Even if you do all the writing, it still takes a team effort to put out the final project. What advice would you give an aspiring author?

Learn, learn, learn. Read how you can make your stories hooky. Watch videos, read magazines, join facebook groups of others who are doing well. Don’t listen to the naysayers.

Yes, the naysayers can turn any hopeful author into a hopeless one who gives up. So, Vicky, who or what inspires or influences your writing?

I love the idea of James Patterson’s style. He writes very simply, but this is very difficult to do. I’ve watched him in an interview say that each chapter is like a book in itself with a beginning, middle and an end where he tries to leave the chapter on a cliffhanger. So I try to write very simply, leave out all the fluff and stick to keeping the story moving.

Since you were self-published, how did that go?

I love it, although it can be a LOT of hard work. If you really want to take yourself and your business seriously, I’ve found you need to be really organized and disciplined.

Yes, for me that is the hard part – organized. So, how long have you been writing professionally and do you write full-time or part-time?

I’ve been writing for almost a year now, and I only have one book out so I’m writing part-time, but one day, I’d love to do it full-time.

Oh, yes. Me, too! What do you do for fun, Vicky, when you aren’t writing.

I absolutely love to travel, it’s my passion. And funny enough, whenever I travel, I get more ideas for books! I also love going to the cinema and of course, reading!

Oh, that sounds great. And where do you live, Vicky?

I live in Cheshire, UK, but I was brought up in Essex.

Thank you so much, Vicky, for taking time with me. Vicky can be reached through her website at https://www.hackneyandjones.com/

Kimberley O’Malley

I first met Kimberley O’Malley at the Indie Romance Convention in Lebanon, Tennessee last year and had the privilege of rooming with her at the Romantic Times Book Lovers Convention in Reno, Nevada this year. I had a blast and just had to interview Kimberley for my blog. She is a dedicated writer who spent a lot of time writing while at the convention and still had time for fun.

Kimberley, what made you decide to become a writer?

This was never a conscious decision. I didn’t wake up one day and decide to do so. I started writing in 2002, while we waited to travel to Russia to adopt our daughter. I came home from work every day and wrote to save my sanity. I finished 110k words in three weeks.

That’s amazing! How long did it take to get published the first time and how did it happen?

I published my first novel, “Coming Home,” in 2017. That’s 15 years!! A lot happened in that time, most of it not related to being an author. After querying agents and editors for six months, I chose the Indie Author route.

Well, I’ve got you beat on that with 25 years. I learned a lot in the process about writing, but I was too patient waiting for letters back from editors. One editor wrote me ten years later! By then, my book had totally changed from what I had sent them. But you were a busy new Mom and that’s a good excuse. Would you do anything differently the next time?

Maybe NOT wait 15 years…No, I wouldn’t really change anything. It’s been a fun ride thus far.

What advice would you give an aspiring author?

Write the book! Don’t get discouraged. Ask for advice and help along the way. Spend money on an editor and decent cover. Never give up.

I like that. What (or who) inspires or influences your writing?

I love to meet fellow authors at signings and conferences. They help me stay focused and not get discouraged.

​So what are your latest releases and when/where can we find them?

My newest book, Finding Kat, is the 5th in my Windsor Falls series. I’m planning a release in the next six weeks.

I wish I could write as fast as you! How long have you been writing professionally and do you write full-time or part-time?

I’ve been published since 2017, with four books out so far. I write part time while I work as a psych nurse full time. I’d like to only write full time one day.

Me, too! So what do you do for fun when you aren’t writing?

I’m a soccer Mom! Both of my kids are in high school and play for school and club, so that’s a lot of soccer…

I bet. I helped coach my daughter’s team when she was in school so I know what you mean. Where do you reside, Kimberley?

I am from Pennsylvania but live near Charlotte.

Not far from Tennessee. Do you have any appearances/book signings scheduled this year and where are they?

​

I have several left. There’s Rom Con in Richmond, VA on October 6th, IRC in Lebanon, TN October 10-14, and Authors Invade Columbia in Columbia, SC on November 10th.

You are one busy woman! Do you write under any other name besides your given name? And where can we find you?

So far, I only write under my pen name of Kimberley O’Malley. Not sure I could keep track of another one…You can follow me at www.kimberleyomalley.com

Thanks so much for spending your valuable time with me, Kimberley. I look forward to seeing you at the IRC event in October.www.indieromanceconvention.com    

*This interview was previously published on my website: www.esterlopez.com*

MariaElena Alonso Sierra

I met MariaElena Alonso Sierra for the first time at the Indie Romance Convention last year in Lebanon, TN. I got to see her again at the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in Reno, Nevada this last May.

“What made you decide to become a writer, MariaElena?”

​”I’ve always dreamed of writing and started the process with a very juvenile science fiction short story when I was thirteen. I kept at it at university, where I entered a short novella for a contest (which, obviously, I didn’t win). But, when I was living in France, I decided to take things seriously and began writing my first novel. Since then, I haven’t stopped. Three books ( two novels and a short story collection) done and writing my fourth–a detective story coming out in 2018.

“Awesome. How long did it take to get published and how did it happen?”

“Back when I started to officially get my book “out there,” the industry was completely different from what it is today. Then, I had to get agent representation before I could be considered by publishing houses. After the usual rounds of rejections, three different agencies represented me. But, contracts were for six months, at which time, if they could not get you into a publisher, they didn’t renew. By then, I was moving too many times, and other things were happening in my life, so I stopped searching. Then, in 2013, since the industry had changed so much, affording me many choices, I decided to go the self-publishing route and haven’t looked back.”

“Would you do anything differently the next time? If so, what would it be?”

“Have a bigger backlist of novels so I could concentrate more on the marketing.”

“You know, I’ve heard that advice from other self-published authors. They said to have at least five books when you start publishing. I couldn’t wait to get my first book out there and now, I think I should have waited. What advice would you give aspiring authors?”

“ Perseverance, perseverance, get a great editor, a fantastic proofreader, a wonderful graphic arts cover creator, perseverance, perseverance, keep writing, keep writing. Put a professional product out there with no mistakes. Market your work. Toughen up your skin for reviews and comments. Learn as much as you can about the craft.

“Great advice! What (or who) inspires or influences your writing?”

“Every person I have read since I started reading: Shakespeare, Dante, Dickens, Poe, Mallory, Stewart, Millhausser, Cervantes, Lorca, Dunnett, Seton, and I can go on and on…

“Tell us about your latest releases and where we can find them.”

“My latest release was my short story collection, the “Fish Tank: And Other Short Stories.” I will have my Detective Nick Larson novel, “Hanging Softly in the Night” released in 2018.

“How long have you been writing, MariaElena, and do you write full-time or part-time?”

“I have been writing professionally for over thirty years. Now I write full-time, since I am retired.”

“What do you do for fun when you aren’t writing?”

“Travel and read.”   

“That’s my dream, too. Where do you reside, MariaElena?”

​”I live in North Carolina.”

​”Thank you, MariaElena, for spending time with me. You can find MariaElena Alonso Sierra on her website:

www.mariaelenawrites.com  or her blog on:

www.mariaelenawrites.blogspot.com  or on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/MariaElenaAlonsoSierraWrites  or on Twitter at:

www.twitter.com/MariaElenaWrites and her twitter handle is @MariaElenaWrite

Amazon Author Page:  http://ow.ly/Z4GTN or  https://www.amazon.com/Maria-Alonso-Sierra/e/B00IPEXYLK

And on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7093896.Maria_Elena_Alonso_Sierra

And on  Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/elena8094

*This interview can also be seen on my website: www.esterlopez.com along with images of MariaElena’s books.*

 

 

George Calleja

Here’s an update to George Calleja’s interview:

LATEST NEWS FROM GEORGE CALLEJA (CHRISTIAN AUTHOR) My aim is to make available this book in every corner of the world. If you are interested to help me with this mission, kindly visit our Thunderclap page to donate a Tweet or Facebook status update to help share the Good News through this Christian Book ‘Spiritual Reflection. If you are interested kindly go to the below link, and afterwards click on one of the buttons to support me and share the message further. https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/67995-spiritual-reflections Thanks for your kind support and help which is much appreciated. God Bless you….. George Calleja (Christian Author)

Thanks, George! Happy to help out.

Author Cindy Lynch

Today I’m speaking with Cindy Lynch.  Thank you Cindy. Can you tell us what made you decide to become a writer?

When I was young, I used to journal and write poetry, many times journaling about my family.  I always thought their quirky antics would make for an interesting read.  I’d say I was 14 when I truly decided to become a writer.

Wow, that was young.  How long did it take to get published the first time and how did it happen?

I created my own publishing company called My Three Sons Publishing, LLC.  Having said that, it didn’t take long to get my first book published.  I wrote it in 2014 and published in 2015.

That was a lot sooner than my first book.  Would you do anything differently the next time?

I don’t think I would change a thing about how I’m going about being an author.  I’ve made some wonderful friends along the way that have helped me pursue my dream.

That’s wonderful.  What advice would you give an aspiring author?

Don’t procrastinate.  Just sit down and start typing, writing, journaling, anything to get your ideas down.  The hardest part is just sitting down and starting.

You’re right.  You have to force yourself the first time, but each time gets easier.  Cindy, what or who inspires or influences your writing?

I’m influenced by great writers like Stephen King, Nicholas Sparks, and James Patterson, just to name a few.

That’s a few good ones.  What are your latest releases, Cindy, and where can we find them?

My first book entitled “Bye For Now” is the first book in the “Bye For Now” trilogy.  Book 2 is entitled “Even Willows Weep” and Book 3 that will be released this summer, is called “The Lightning Tree.”  All books can be found on my website www.cindylynch.net, Amazon, Kindle, Barnesandnoble.com as well as a few local book stores.

That’s awesome.  Were you traditionally published or self-published and how did that go?

I am self-published and it went really well.  I used createspace.com to help with print on demand.  An author friend, Stacy Dymalski, has a book out entitled:  “The Memoir Midwife:  Nine Steps to Self-Publishing Your Book.  This was my bible during the publishing process.  It really helped me get organized the first go around.  I highly recommend it.

It sounds intriguing.  How long have you been writing professionally and do you write full-time or part-time?

I’ve been writing since 2014 part-time and I love it.

So what do you do for fun when you aren’t writing?

I swim, bike, run, and drive my kids to all their sporting events.

Where do you reside?

Chesterfield, Missouri

Cindy, do you have any appearances/book signings scheduled this year?

As far as appearances, I’ve spoken at many book clubs, which I enjoy a great deal.  I have one coming up this month.

That sounds interesting.  Do you write under any other names besides your given name?

I played around with many names to write under but it felt funny to me, so I just went with the name my parents gave me.

Me too.  Thank you for spending time with me Cindy.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to get the word out about independent authors.  I greatly appreciate you taking time to share my titles.

Glad to do it Cindy.  You can find Cindy at: www.cindylynch.net or on Twitter @mykidsayswhat, or on Instagram at cindylynch2530.  You can email cindy at:  mythreesonspublishing@gmail.com or at www.goodreads.com/author/show/4816574.Cindy_Lynch

Emmanuel Obi Interview

Today I’m speaking with Emmanuel Obi.  Hello Emmanuel.  What made you decide to become a writer?

Actually, I don’t think I decided to be a writer.  I think it is something that I gravitated to from a young age.  For some people it was music or instruments, others it might have been sports.  For me it was writing and art.

I know what you mean.  How long did it take you to get published the first time and how did it happen?

Well, I’m self-published, so not that long at all.  I tried submitting my short stories to magazines and so on and it drove me crazy.  I hate waiting.  Especially, if the reply is a no. So I looked into online publishing and have not looked back since.

I know about waiting.  I once heard back from a publisher ten years after I had submitted my manuscript.  It had changed so many times over the ten-year period.  Would you do anything differently the next time?

Not really, in terms of self-publishing.  However, I wish I had been more patient with writing and kept doing it and publishing online instead of taking a five year hiatus.

Sometimes you need the time to experience life to be a better writer.  What advice would you give to an aspiring writer?

Make writing a priority.  It can be stressful, there is a ton of stuff you have to do.  But if all you can do is an hour a night, then that hour is better than nothing.

So true.  What or who influences your writing, Emmanuel?

Anything or anyone can inspire me.  People I see on the street, a newspaper article, an episode of Daredevil or Game of Thrones.  It doesn’t matter.  I draw inspiration from everything.

What are your latest releases and when or where can we find them?

You can go to my website, www.noirshortstories.com, there I will have links to all my latest works.  You can subscribe and receive free stories every month or discounts.  I have actually begun two monthly short story series. One is about two police detectives (currently, their police station is under siege by unknown attackers) and the other is a horror series (currently, it is centered around people disappearing because of an app very similar to Uber). However, my latest novel was released in October.  It is the latest collection of short stories about a private investigator, Bruce Howard.  It is available in paperback and e-book.  It is my second favorite thing that I have ever written.

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I like police procedurals. How long have you been writing professionally and do you write full-time or part-time?

Am I a professional?  I don’t know if I would call myself that just yet.  However, I write part-time.  It’s really just a hobby for me.  Something that I love to do and share.

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So what do you do for fun other than writing?

Film making, drawing, painting, basketball, go to the gym.  I try to express myself creatively whenever possible (and yes, you can be creative while playing basketball)

Where do you reside, Emmanuel?

I have lived in Zurich, Switzerland for the last nine years but I was born and raised in Auburn, Alabama (War Eagle).  How did I end up in Europe?  That is a book by itself.

Do you have any appearances or book signings scheduled?

I recently met with a fellow indie writer and our goal is to have an event for indie writers at a bar or cafe.  Kind of a mass book signing where all the authors bring copies of their books and sign them for people that come.

What an awesome idea!  Can I borrow it?  I can think of a new bar that could use the business and a lot of romance authors I know could join me.  You can find Emmanuel at his website:  www.noirshortstories.com, or on Facebook at:  https://www.facebook.com/the.gentleman.returns/  or follow him on Twitter at:  @efaceless or email him at:  faceless.production.ch@gmail.com

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Thank you for this wonderful interview.  Thank you, the reader, for reading it and hopefully you will subscribe and fall in love with my work (or at least fall in like).

Thank you Emmanuel.  I enjoyed it.