Heidi Ruby Miller's Blog, page 54
March 5, 2012
HEIDI'S PICK SIX: Nina Croft
HEIDI'S PICK SIX
Nina Croft's Lovelies
1. Which of your characters is your favorite?
Rico, from Break Out, book one in my Blood Hunter series. He's the pilot of the space ship El Cazador, and he also happens to be a vampire. He was also the easiest to write as he just took on a life of his own.
2. Tell me about your travels.
Nowadays, they're nonexistent. But there was a time when every spare penny and every spare moment was spent travelling. When I was in my twenties, a good long time ago, we (my husband and I) did voluntary work in Africa for a few years. It left us with a love of travelling and a dislike of 'proper' employment (which has stayed with me ever since) and afterward, we never really settled down. We spent the following decade or so mixing travelling when we could afford it with working when we couldn't. We visited Africa, South-east Asia, India...
3. Coffee, tea, or milk?
4. What else can you do besides write?
5. Who are you reading right now?
6. Pop culture or academia?
7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?
8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?
9. Food you could eat everyday.
Pizza
10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?
They used to make me try and play Hockey when I was at school—I hated it—it put me off sports for life. Having said that I'm not a total slob. I have a horse called Gencianna, so I ride most days. And I have four dogs, so I walk them quite a bit as well. I also recently got a pot-bellied pig, called Piggles. She only has three legs so I have to carry her up and down stairs—and she's not light—I'm definitely building up some muscles.
11. What kind of music speaks to you?
12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?
I'm a total plotter.
13. Celebrity crush.
Not really a celebrity, but right now, I love Jack Bauer out of 24.
14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?
15. Do you still watch cartoons?
Nina Croft grew up in the north of England, and after training as an accountant, she spent four years working as a volunteer in Zambia which left her with a love of the sun and a dislike of 9-5 work. She then spent a number of years mixing travel (whenever possible) with work (whenever necessary) but has now settled down to a life of writing and picking almonds.
She shares the farm with her husband, three dogs, four cats, a horse, two goats and a handful of chickens. It's a perfect place to indulge her two great passions, reading and writing.
She writes lots of different things, but mainly paranormal and science-fiction, usually with a strong element of romance.
Find Nina online at http://www.ninacroft.com .
Buy her books at http://www.amazon.com/Nina-Croft/e/B004V2EML6/ref=sr_tc_ep?qid=1330949733 .
Nina Croft's Lovelies
1. Which of your characters is your favorite?
Rico, from Break Out, book one in my Blood Hunter series. He's the pilot of the space ship El Cazador, and he also happens to be a vampire. He was also the easiest to write as he just took on a life of his own.
2. Tell me about your travels.
Nowadays, they're nonexistent. But there was a time when every spare penny and every spare moment was spent travelling. When I was in my twenties, a good long time ago, we (my husband and I) did voluntary work in Africa for a few years. It left us with a love of travelling and a dislike of 'proper' employment (which has stayed with me ever since) and afterward, we never really settled down. We spent the following decade or so mixing travelling when we could afford it with working when we couldn't. We visited Africa, South-east Asia, India...
3. Coffee, tea, or milk?
4. What else can you do besides write?
5. Who are you reading right now?
6. Pop culture or academia?
7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?
8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?
9. Food you could eat everyday.
Pizza
10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?
They used to make me try and play Hockey when I was at school—I hated it—it put me off sports for life. Having said that I'm not a total slob. I have a horse called Gencianna, so I ride most days. And I have four dogs, so I walk them quite a bit as well. I also recently got a pot-bellied pig, called Piggles. She only has three legs so I have to carry her up and down stairs—and she's not light—I'm definitely building up some muscles.
11. What kind of music speaks to you?
12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?
I'm a total plotter.
13. Celebrity crush.
Not really a celebrity, but right now, I love Jack Bauer out of 24.
14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?
15. Do you still watch cartoons?
Nina Croft grew up in the north of England, and after training as an accountant, she spent four years working as a volunteer in Zambia which left her with a love of the sun and a dislike of 9-5 work. She then spent a number of years mixing travel (whenever possible) with work (whenever necessary) but has now settled down to a life of writing and picking almonds.She shares the farm with her husband, three dogs, four cats, a horse, two goats and a handful of chickens. It's a perfect place to indulge her two great passions, reading and writing.
She writes lots of different things, but mainly paranormal and science-fiction, usually with a strong element of romance.
Find Nina online at http://www.ninacroft.com .
Buy her books at http://www.amazon.com/Nina-Croft/e/B004V2EML6/ref=sr_tc_ep?qid=1330949733 .
March 4, 2012
HEIDI'S PICK SIX: M. Dickson
HEIDI'S PICK SIX
M. Dickson
1. Which of your characters is your favorite?
2. Tell me about your travels.
3. Coffee, tea, or milk?
4. What else can you do besides write?
Well, I can list all the states in alphabetical order - but that's much more of a party trick than a resume point. I'm a stand up comedian full time - which goes hand in hand with a very different sort of writing - but is certainly a skill set all its own.
5. Who are you reading right now?
6. Pop culture or academia?
7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?
8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?
Everywhere. For this particular book - I was writing a non fiction memoir so obviously, I was drawing from my life in a lot of different, obscure ways and I still do that when it's fiction. I try to create characters that people feel like they know and could recognize in their own lives so I see elements of those people every day out in the world.
9. Food you could eat everyday.
10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?
11. What kind of music speaks to you?
I am an unapologetic, die hard country music fan. Though I want to be clear here and say that I'm not referring to the redneck, bubble gum, flash in the pan stuff that's all over the Top 40 list right now. There are still, of course, a few artists on today's mainstream playlists that I can get behind but the majority of the music that I love was made before 2000.
12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?
I think I always have a rough picture in my mind of where a particular story is going to go but I love when it surprises me.
13. Celebrity crush.
Can I say Kermit the Frog? That's who I'm going with.
14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?
Jim Henson. Jokes aside, it's true in every aspect of what I do and what I try to do. He was a creative force in every sense of the word -- and I love his philosophies on art and life and everything in between. I learned my first lessons in comedy from Jim & The Muppets and I continue to turn to them for new lessons all the time.
15. Do you still watch cartoons?
M. Dickson
is a jaded optimist. The glass is still half empty – but the juice is friggin' delicious. A regular contributor to MTV, M has also been seen on Last Comic Standing, CBS Sunday Morning, WE tv's Cinematherapy, All Night With Joey Reynolds, Fox News Live and Us Weekly's Hot Stuff. She can be heard frequently on Sirius Radio. A favorite of RooftopComedy.com, M has been featured prominently on the site including a turn as Comic of The Day. The New York based comedian tours clubs and colleges across the country and has made appearances at The Boston Comedy Festival, The New York Underground Comedy Festival, The North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival and many more. M recently acted opposite John Leguizamo in the feature film Fugly and her first book Dear Dad, It's Over will be published by Wyatt-MacKenzie in May of 2012.
You can link to excerpts of the book: http://www.mydadsanasshole.blogspot.com
WEBSITE - http://www.m-dickson.com
M. Dickson
1. Which of your characters is your favorite?
2. Tell me about your travels.
3. Coffee, tea, or milk?
4. What else can you do besides write?
Well, I can list all the states in alphabetical order - but that's much more of a party trick than a resume point. I'm a stand up comedian full time - which goes hand in hand with a very different sort of writing - but is certainly a skill set all its own.
5. Who are you reading right now?
6. Pop culture or academia?
7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?
8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?
Everywhere. For this particular book - I was writing a non fiction memoir so obviously, I was drawing from my life in a lot of different, obscure ways and I still do that when it's fiction. I try to create characters that people feel like they know and could recognize in their own lives so I see elements of those people every day out in the world.
9. Food you could eat everyday.
10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?
11. What kind of music speaks to you?
I am an unapologetic, die hard country music fan. Though I want to be clear here and say that I'm not referring to the redneck, bubble gum, flash in the pan stuff that's all over the Top 40 list right now. There are still, of course, a few artists on today's mainstream playlists that I can get behind but the majority of the music that I love was made before 2000.
12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?
I think I always have a rough picture in my mind of where a particular story is going to go but I love when it surprises me.
13. Celebrity crush.
Can I say Kermit the Frog? That's who I'm going with.
14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?
Jim Henson. Jokes aside, it's true in every aspect of what I do and what I try to do. He was a creative force in every sense of the word -- and I love his philosophies on art and life and everything in between. I learned my first lessons in comedy from Jim & The Muppets and I continue to turn to them for new lessons all the time.
15. Do you still watch cartoons?
M. Dickson
is a jaded optimist. The glass is still half empty – but the juice is friggin' delicious. A regular contributor to MTV, M has also been seen on Last Comic Standing, CBS Sunday Morning, WE tv's Cinematherapy, All Night With Joey Reynolds, Fox News Live and Us Weekly's Hot Stuff. She can be heard frequently on Sirius Radio. A favorite of RooftopComedy.com, M has been featured prominently on the site including a turn as Comic of The Day. The New York based comedian tours clubs and colleges across the country and has made appearances at The Boston Comedy Festival, The New York Underground Comedy Festival, The North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival and many more. M recently acted opposite John Leguizamo in the feature film Fugly and her first book Dear Dad, It's Over will be published by Wyatt-MacKenzie in May of 2012.You can link to excerpts of the book: http://www.mydadsanasshole.blogspot.com
WEBSITE - http://www.m-dickson.com
March 2, 2012
HEIDI'S PICK SIX: Siggy Buckley
HEIDI'S PICK SIX
Siggy Buckley
1. Which of your characters is your favorite?
Connor - such a gem! Even better than in real life!
2. Tell me about your travels.
Home Swapping is the way to go! You can save thousands of dollars on your vacation by swapping home and car.You may be in for a few surprises, however I wrote a little eBook about it: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005N0N3CO.
3. Coffee, tea, or milk?
4. What else can you do besides write?
5. Who are you reading right now?
6. Pop culture or academia?
7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?
The sex scenes. My husband who edited the book wanted me to get more graphic...}
8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?
In my fellow human beings all around me. Life can be stranger than fiction.
9. Food you could eat everyday.
10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?
11. What kind of music speaks to you?
12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?
13. Celebrity crush.
Pierce Brosnan. After seeing him in Tomorrow Never Dies, I went to a pub and met his doppelganger - for real! I couldn't help myself. But like in the movies, it didn't last very long. Putting that in the novel may have brought about a lawsuit...}
14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?
15. Do you still watch cartoons?
Oops, never have!
Siggy Buckley
, former matchmaker par excellence - or Dating Guru as the Irish media liked to call her - was born in Germany. Having achieved a Masters Degree in English, she got married, had two children and then emigrated to Ireland with her family for the GOOD LIFE.
Involuntary life on an Irish farm produced a crop of misgivings and the break-up of her marriage. Single again, she launched a dating service in Dublin which eventually planted the seeds for her novel.
Now happily married, she lives in sweltering Florida.
She writes for American Chronicles and Opednews. Her other blog deals with her previous life on an organic farm. It's called "I once had a farm in Ireland" and you will find it at www.Inandoutofireland.blogspot.com .
She is a proud new International member of the National League of American Pen Women: www.Americanpenwomen.org .
As she transplants from Europe, she still sees the US with foreign eyes and comments on things that strike her as different and remarkable. A special interest of hers, naturally, is Ireland and green, and organic-related issues, as well as human rights, in particular women's rights issues. Having been a professional pioneer in the matchmaking world, she likes to keep up with what goes on in the dating world online.
Find Siggy online at these links:
WEBSITE - http://www.NextTimeLucky.com
- www.Writersgettogether.blogspot.com
Buy her books at these links:
Next Time Lucky - http://www.amazon.com/NEXT-TIME-LUCKY-Matchmaker-ebook/dp/B003YUCRG8
http://www.createspace.com/3507813
Intrepid Home Swapping - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005N0N3CO
Siggy Buckley
1. Which of your characters is your favorite?
Connor - such a gem! Even better than in real life!
2. Tell me about your travels.
Home Swapping is the way to go! You can save thousands of dollars on your vacation by swapping home and car.You may be in for a few surprises, however I wrote a little eBook about it: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005N0N3CO.
3. Coffee, tea, or milk?
4. What else can you do besides write?
5. Who are you reading right now?
6. Pop culture or academia?
7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?
The sex scenes. My husband who edited the book wanted me to get more graphic...}
8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?
In my fellow human beings all around me. Life can be stranger than fiction.
9. Food you could eat everyday.
10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?
11. What kind of music speaks to you?
12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?
13. Celebrity crush.
Pierce Brosnan. After seeing him in Tomorrow Never Dies, I went to a pub and met his doppelganger - for real! I couldn't help myself. But like in the movies, it didn't last very long. Putting that in the novel may have brought about a lawsuit...}
14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?
15. Do you still watch cartoons?
Oops, never have!
Siggy Buckley
, former matchmaker par excellence - or Dating Guru as the Irish media liked to call her - was born in Germany. Having achieved a Masters Degree in English, she got married, had two children and then emigrated to Ireland with her family for the GOOD LIFE.Involuntary life on an Irish farm produced a crop of misgivings and the break-up of her marriage. Single again, she launched a dating service in Dublin which eventually planted the seeds for her novel.
Now happily married, she lives in sweltering Florida.
She writes for American Chronicles and Opednews. Her other blog deals with her previous life on an organic farm. It's called "I once had a farm in Ireland" and you will find it at www.Inandoutofireland.blogspot.com .
She is a proud new International member of the National League of American Pen Women: www.Americanpenwomen.org .
As she transplants from Europe, she still sees the US with foreign eyes and comments on things that strike her as different and remarkable. A special interest of hers, naturally, is Ireland and green, and organic-related issues, as well as human rights, in particular women's rights issues. Having been a professional pioneer in the matchmaking world, she likes to keep up with what goes on in the dating world online.
Find Siggy online at these links:
WEBSITE - http://www.NextTimeLucky.com
- www.Writersgettogether.blogspot.com
Buy her books at these links:
Next Time Lucky - http://www.amazon.com/NEXT-TIME-LUCKY-Matchmaker-ebook/dp/B003YUCRG8
http://www.createspace.com/3507813
Intrepid Home Swapping - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005N0N3CO
March 1, 2012
HEIDI'S PICK SIX: Timothy B. Sagges
HEIDI'S PICK SIX
Timothy B. Sagges
1. Which of your characters is your favorite?
2. Tell me about your travels.
3. Coffee, tea, or milk?
MILK, IT DOES A BODY GOOD.
4. What else can you do besides write?
5. Who are you reading right now?
6. Pop culture or academia?
POP CULTURE
7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?
IN "BEST SELLER," THE SCENE WHERE RICH AND GWEN ARE TRAVELING HOME AFTER RECEIVING NEWS OF THE DEATH OF GWEN'S DAUGHTER. I HAD TO GO TO A REALLY DARK PLACE TO IMAGINE LOSING A CHILD.
8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?
I USUALLY GAIN INSPIRATION FROM DREAMS.
9. Food you could eat everyday.
MACARONI AND CHEESE
10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?
11. What kind of music speaks to you?
ALL MUSIC SPEAKS TO ME - I AM USUALLY DIRECTING A VIDEO IN MY MIND, WHENEVER I LISTEN TO MUSIC.
12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?
13. Celebrity crush.
14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?
15. Do you still watch cartoons?
Fifty-year-old actor, director and playwright, Tim Sagges has been tormented by a series of recurring night terrors since 1967, long before there was a name for such a curse. It is only recently that he has found the courage to formulate some of these visions into works of literature. In an effort to purge himself of the unrelenting horror of his dreams, he has created Best Seller, the first in a series of nightmares exorcised from his mind and onto the page.
He is currently the owner of Eye Candy Vision in Philadelphia.
Find Tim online at these links:
WEBSITE - Best Seller - http://www.bestseller-book.com
- Best Seller - http://bestsellerblogtour.blogspot.com
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1069144965
- Tribute Books Blog Tours - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186
- http://twitter.com/TimSagges
SUMMARY FOR
Best Seller
Thirty-five year old fiction writer, Richard Rossi would do just about anything to get his manuscript published. However, months of rejection and unanswered prayers have strained his capacity to hope. Alone in New York City, he teeters on the brink of alcoholism, as his hope erodes into desperation.
His prayers are finally answered when a simple misdirected piece of mail spawns a chance encounter with an extraordinary man, Seth Volos, Publisher. And while their unholy alliance thrusts Richard to the top of every Best Seller list in America, the horrifying outcome for the book's legions of fans is anything but a happy ending.
Paperback
Price: $14.99
ISBN: 9781456478193
Pages: 326
Release: February 2011
Buy Best Seller at these links:
- http://www.amazon.com/dp/1456478192?tag=tributebooks-20
- http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=dcSBhG3Rj8w&offerid=239662.9781456478193&type=2&subid=0
BESTSELLER - https://www.createspace.com/3532558
Timothy B. Sagges
1. Which of your characters is your favorite?
2. Tell me about your travels.
3. Coffee, tea, or milk?
MILK, IT DOES A BODY GOOD.
4. What else can you do besides write?
5. Who are you reading right now?
6. Pop culture or academia?
POP CULTURE
7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?
IN "BEST SELLER," THE SCENE WHERE RICH AND GWEN ARE TRAVELING HOME AFTER RECEIVING NEWS OF THE DEATH OF GWEN'S DAUGHTER. I HAD TO GO TO A REALLY DARK PLACE TO IMAGINE LOSING A CHILD.
8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?
I USUALLY GAIN INSPIRATION FROM DREAMS.
9. Food you could eat everyday.
MACARONI AND CHEESE
10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?
11. What kind of music speaks to you?
ALL MUSIC SPEAKS TO ME - I AM USUALLY DIRECTING A VIDEO IN MY MIND, WHENEVER I LISTEN TO MUSIC.
12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?
13. Celebrity crush.
14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?
15. Do you still watch cartoons?
Fifty-year-old actor, director and playwright, Tim Sagges has been tormented by a series of recurring night terrors since 1967, long before there was a name for such a curse. It is only recently that he has found the courage to formulate some of these visions into works of literature. In an effort to purge himself of the unrelenting horror of his dreams, he has created Best Seller, the first in a series of nightmares exorcised from his mind and onto the page.
He is currently the owner of Eye Candy Vision in Philadelphia.
Find Tim online at these links:
WEBSITE - Best Seller - http://www.bestseller-book.com
- Best Seller - http://bestsellerblogtour.blogspot.com
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1069144965
- Tribute Books Blog Tours - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186
- http://twitter.com/TimSagges
SUMMARY FOR
Best Seller
Thirty-five year old fiction writer, Richard Rossi would do just about anything to get his manuscript published. However, months of rejection and unanswered prayers have strained his capacity to hope. Alone in New York City, he teeters on the brink of alcoholism, as his hope erodes into desperation.
His prayers are finally answered when a simple misdirected piece of mail spawns a chance encounter with an extraordinary man, Seth Volos, Publisher. And while their unholy alliance thrusts Richard to the top of every Best Seller list in America, the horrifying outcome for the book's legions of fans is anything but a happy ending.
Paperback
Price: $14.99
ISBN: 9781456478193
Pages: 326
Release: February 2011
Buy Best Seller at these links:
- http://www.amazon.com/dp/1456478192?tag=tributebooks-20
- http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=dcSBhG3Rj8w&offerid=239662.9781456478193&type=2&subid=0
BESTSELLER - https://www.createspace.com/3532558
February 29, 2012
HEIDI'S PICK SIX: Pauline Baird Jones
BROADLY SPEAKING AUTHORS FOR FEBRUARY 2012
I hosted the February Broadly Speaking for Broad Universe this year and had the pleasure to discuss one of my favorite topics, Romance in Speculative Fiction, with three wonderful writers: Brenda Cooper , Alexa Grave , and Pauline Baird Jones . You'll get to meet all of them this week. Today Pauline Baird Jones picked six.
Click here to listen to the podcast or go to:
http://broadlyspeaking.posterous.com/february-2012-romance
HEIDI'S PICK SIX
Pauline Baird Jones
1. Which of your characters is your favorite?
I was at Twisted Gears last weekend and everyone kept asking me which was my favorite book. I told them, "That's like asking me to pick which kid is my favorite." LOL! But if you promise not to tell, I'd have to say Doc from GIRL GONE NOVA is probably my favorite. She really surprised me as she started to emerge from the fog. I liked her, then I didn't like her, then I loved her. The other characters describe her as a bit creepy and she is, but she's also fun and funny and she can kick serious tush.
2. Tell me about your travels.
3. Coffee, tea, or milk?
4. What else can you do besides write?
5. Who are you reading right now?
6. Pop culture or academia?
7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?
8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?
My inspirations often come from desperations. There are days when I pull it out of my tush. And yeah, its kind of painful. And then there are the days where it flows from my playlist (eclectic) or from a photograph or the turn of a head or a dream. I guess the good news is, it still comes, no matter where I find it.
9. Food you could eat everyday.
Chocolate. Actually, I probably do eat it every day. Wash it down with Diet Dr. Pepper. And donuts. I don't eat donuts every day, even though I could, because I'd have to go out and get them and I'm a hermit. (grin)
10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?
11. What kind of music speaks to you?
12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?
I commit random acts of writing and that includes plotting. I literally make it up as I go along. It is in the editing where I take back control. I used to not like it, but now editing is my friend.
13. Celebrity crush.
14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?
Probably Mary Stewart, Alastair Maclean and Georgette Heyer. And chocolate and Diet Dr. Pepper. I learned about pacing, plotting and characters from all three of them. There are more, but I give these three the most credit.
15. Do you still watch cartoons?
Phineas and Ferb and The Road Runner. Hunted down The Jetsons for an upcoming blog post and had to laugh at how forward thinking NOT it was. They set it in the future, but the people were a lot like the people then. A LOT. LOL!
Pauline Baird Jones
reads across genres, so it shouldn't have surprised when her writing went cross genre. Thankfully she does not need to understand cross genre-ing to do it, though she does concede it is a bit whacky for a confirmed hermit to write about crossing space and time.
She began her writing career penning romantic suspense (because fictional murder doesn't get you strip searched) but she had a secret longing to ramp up the spills, chills and daring do.
Pauline planned to continue writing romantic suspense and humorous mystery, committing fictional mayhem on her characters, but a funny thing happened on the way to finishing Out of Time. This time travel to World War II was suspenseful, but it also had lots of action and high adventure. And she liked it. And she got to keep committing fictional mayhem on her characters. Win-win.
She wrote
The Key
, sure it was an action and adventure romance—and it was—but someone pointed out it was also science fiction romance. Wait a minute. Could it be that she'd been mixing fiction into her science since high school? (Oops, sorry science teachers!) Hmm, why not go where she hasn't gone before? So she did.
The Key was the first in her Project Enterprise series, which will conclude with #6, Kicking Ashe .
To find out more about her and her books please stop by: http://www.paulinebjones.com
To buy her books, visit: http://www.amazon.com/Pauline-Baird-Jones/e/B000APFS0M
Also read:
PATHS TO PUBLICATION: Brenda Cooper
SECRET WRITERS: Alexa Grave
I hosted the February Broadly Speaking for Broad Universe this year and had the pleasure to discuss one of my favorite topics, Romance in Speculative Fiction, with three wonderful writers: Brenda Cooper , Alexa Grave , and Pauline Baird Jones . You'll get to meet all of them this week. Today Pauline Baird Jones picked six.
Click here to listen to the podcast or go to:
http://broadlyspeaking.posterous.com/february-2012-romance
HEIDI'S PICK SIX
Pauline Baird Jones
1. Which of your characters is your favorite?
I was at Twisted Gears last weekend and everyone kept asking me which was my favorite book. I told them, "That's like asking me to pick which kid is my favorite." LOL! But if you promise not to tell, I'd have to say Doc from GIRL GONE NOVA is probably my favorite. She really surprised me as she started to emerge from the fog. I liked her, then I didn't like her, then I loved her. The other characters describe her as a bit creepy and she is, but she's also fun and funny and she can kick serious tush.
2. Tell me about your travels.
3. Coffee, tea, or milk?
4. What else can you do besides write?
5. Who are you reading right now?
6. Pop culture or academia?
7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?
8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?
My inspirations often come from desperations. There are days when I pull it out of my tush. And yeah, its kind of painful. And then there are the days where it flows from my playlist (eclectic) or from a photograph or the turn of a head or a dream. I guess the good news is, it still comes, no matter where I find it.
9. Food you could eat everyday.
Chocolate. Actually, I probably do eat it every day. Wash it down with Diet Dr. Pepper. And donuts. I don't eat donuts every day, even though I could, because I'd have to go out and get them and I'm a hermit. (grin)
10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?
11. What kind of music speaks to you?
12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?
I commit random acts of writing and that includes plotting. I literally make it up as I go along. It is in the editing where I take back control. I used to not like it, but now editing is my friend.
13. Celebrity crush.
14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?
Probably Mary Stewart, Alastair Maclean and Georgette Heyer. And chocolate and Diet Dr. Pepper. I learned about pacing, plotting and characters from all three of them. There are more, but I give these three the most credit.
15. Do you still watch cartoons?
Phineas and Ferb and The Road Runner. Hunted down The Jetsons for an upcoming blog post and had to laugh at how forward thinking NOT it was. They set it in the future, but the people were a lot like the people then. A LOT. LOL!
Pauline Baird Jones
reads across genres, so it shouldn't have surprised when her writing went cross genre. Thankfully she does not need to understand cross genre-ing to do it, though she does concede it is a bit whacky for a confirmed hermit to write about crossing space and time. She began her writing career penning romantic suspense (because fictional murder doesn't get you strip searched) but she had a secret longing to ramp up the spills, chills and daring do.
Pauline planned to continue writing romantic suspense and humorous mystery, committing fictional mayhem on her characters, but a funny thing happened on the way to finishing Out of Time. This time travel to World War II was suspenseful, but it also had lots of action and high adventure. And she liked it. And she got to keep committing fictional mayhem on her characters. Win-win.
She wrote
The Key
, sure it was an action and adventure romance—and it was—but someone pointed out it was also science fiction romance. Wait a minute. Could it be that she'd been mixing fiction into her science since high school? (Oops, sorry science teachers!) Hmm, why not go where she hasn't gone before? So she did. The Key was the first in her Project Enterprise series, which will conclude with #6, Kicking Ashe .
To find out more about her and her books please stop by: http://www.paulinebjones.com
To buy her books, visit: http://www.amazon.com/Pauline-Baird-Jones/e/B000APFS0M
Also read:
PATHS TO PUBLICATION: Brenda Cooper
SECRET WRITERS: Alexa Grave
February 28, 2012
SECRET WRITERS: Alexa Grave
BROADLY SPEAKING AUTHORS FOR FEBRUARY 2012
I hosted the February Broadly Speaking for Broad Universe this year and had the pleasure to discuss one of my favorite topics, Romance in Speculative Fiction, with three wonderful writers: Brenda Cooper , Alexa Grave , and Pauline Baird Jones . You'll get to meet all of them this week. Today I have secret writer Alexa Grave.
Click here to listen to the podcast or go to:
http://broadlyspeaking.posterous.com/february-2012-romance
Secret Writers
ALEXA GRAVE
Some writers use pseudonyms to separate their personal and writing lives, and some use them to have different names associated with different genres they write in. I'm not either of those writer types, though. Alexa Grave is who I am when I write, plain and simple.
All the way back in high school--days that are too far in the past for my taste--I was working on my first novel. This novel will never see the light of day, but the pseudonym I created while writing it will always be with me. Alexa Grave was born while writing that novel, and she is here to stay. Of course, the name means more to me than it did back then. It's a contrast of light and dark, which is what I try to infuse in my writing as well. There is a power behind the name that inspires me and calls to my muses when I sit down to write.
When it concerns my writing, I can't imagine being anyone other than Alexa Grave.
BIO
Alexa Grave loves to tell stories--it just so happens her characters occasionally take her on an unexpected ride. Her story "Kindled Morphogenesis" can be found in the anthology Modern Magic: Tales of Fantasy and Horror . Please visit her at her blog Born to Write or her website Alexa Grave's Writing Corner . You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter !
LINKS
WEBSITE - Alexa Grave's Writing Corner: http://alexagrave.com
- Modern Magic: http://www.amazon.com/Modern-Magic-Tales-Fantasy-Horror/dp/0971360847
- Born to Write: http://alexagrave.blogspot.com
- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alexa-Grave/114243088591596
- @AlexaGrave - http://twitter.com/AlexaGrave
Also read:
PATHS TO PUBLICATION: Brenda Cooper
I hosted the February Broadly Speaking for Broad Universe this year and had the pleasure to discuss one of my favorite topics, Romance in Speculative Fiction, with three wonderful writers: Brenda Cooper , Alexa Grave , and Pauline Baird Jones . You'll get to meet all of them this week. Today I have secret writer Alexa Grave.
Click here to listen to the podcast or go to:
http://broadlyspeaking.posterous.com/february-2012-romance
Secret Writers
ALEXA GRAVE
Some writers use pseudonyms to separate their personal and writing lives, and some use them to have different names associated with different genres they write in. I'm not either of those writer types, though. Alexa Grave is who I am when I write, plain and simple.
All the way back in high school--days that are too far in the past for my taste--I was working on my first novel. This novel will never see the light of day, but the pseudonym I created while writing it will always be with me. Alexa Grave was born while writing that novel, and she is here to stay. Of course, the name means more to me than it did back then. It's a contrast of light and dark, which is what I try to infuse in my writing as well. There is a power behind the name that inspires me and calls to my muses when I sit down to write.
When it concerns my writing, I can't imagine being anyone other than Alexa Grave.
BIO
Alexa Grave loves to tell stories--it just so happens her characters occasionally take her on an unexpected ride. Her story "Kindled Morphogenesis" can be found in the anthology Modern Magic: Tales of Fantasy and Horror . Please visit her at her blog Born to Write or her website Alexa Grave's Writing Corner . You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter !
LINKS
WEBSITE - Alexa Grave's Writing Corner: http://alexagrave.com
- Modern Magic: http://www.amazon.com/Modern-Magic-Tales-Fantasy-Horror/dp/0971360847
- Born to Write: http://alexagrave.blogspot.com
- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alexa-Grave/114243088591596
- @AlexaGrave - http://twitter.com/AlexaGrave
Also read:
PATHS TO PUBLICATION: Brenda Cooper
February 27, 2012
PATHS TO PUBLICATION: Brenda Cooper
BROADLY SPEAKING AUTHORS FOR FEBRUARY 2012
I hosted the February Broadly Speaking for Broad Universe this year and had the pleasure to discuss one of my favorite topics, Romance in Speculative Fiction, with three wonderful writers: Brenda Cooper , Alexa Grave , and Pauline Baird Jones . You'll get to meet all of them this week, starting today with Brenda's path to publication.
Click here to listen to the podcast or go to:
http://broadlyspeaking.posterous.com/february-2012-romance
PATHS TO PUBLICATION
Wow. I had an easy path, comparatively. I have been good friends with writer Steven Barnes for decades, and he introduced me to his collaborator, Larry Niven. Larry and Steve and I shared an interest in yoga, and through enough twists and turns for a novel (which I won't subject you to), Larry and I began collaborating as well. We sold a number of short stories, and I began to sell short stories of my own. One day while walking around Lake Sacajawea in Longview, Washington, we came up with an idea for a novel. The idea eventually became Building Harlequin's Moon, which took a few years to finish, and which I'm still proud of today. Larry and I haven't done any other books together since then, but I will always be grateful for the introductions he provided and for the advice. I learned a lot from writing with him.
So I guess I took the "be lucky enough to find a fabulous mentor" path into publishing. I was doing my work – I was writing and studying and learning. If I hadn't been, either the opportunity wouldn't have come my way, or I wouldn't have known enough to take it and make it work. Come to think of it, a lot of the stubbornness that keeps me working can be directly traced back to Steve, and some classes I assisted at while he taught. So maybe I even had "dual mentor luck." But at any rate, I know I am blessed in my friends. While I don't think anyone should expect this path to be visible or available, and while I don't think it can be found (a stranger generally can't walk up to a published author and ask to collaborate – that's a better way to get awkward silences than help), it does happen. Often not this directly. But in the speculative fiction field, the tradition is to help one another, to pass it forward, and to smooth the path for new writers. At this stage in my career, I've had help from more than just Larry and Steve, and been help other people. This is, after all, a community.
My most recent book is rather close to my heart. It's called Mayan December, and its the first fantasy, the first contemporary (partly) novel I've ever written, and the first historical (partly) novel I've ever written. Mayan December is set at the end of the Mayan Calendar on the Yucatan Peninsula, which is one of the most beautiful places in the world. And no, the world doesn't end. Mayan December came out last August from Prime Books, and can be found in physical and electronic forms in all of the usual places. The first few chapters are available for a sample at http://www.mayan-december.com. My next books out will be science fiction duology that Lou Anders is publishing over at Pyr. Let's call it blended story that's a bit of hard SF set on a generation ship and a bit of the Eva Peron story. And also a nice little space revolution. Oh, and…
-Brenda Cooper
February 2012
--
Brenda Cooper lives in the rain-sodden and beautiful Pacific Northwest where she works as a technology executive and writes science fiction and fantasy in the wee hours of the morning. Her most recent published novel, Mayan December , came out from Prime Books last August, and Pyr will be publishing a duology that can loosely be described as "Evita in Space" in 2011 and 2012.
I hosted the February Broadly Speaking for Broad Universe this year and had the pleasure to discuss one of my favorite topics, Romance in Speculative Fiction, with three wonderful writers: Brenda Cooper , Alexa Grave , and Pauline Baird Jones . You'll get to meet all of them this week, starting today with Brenda's path to publication.
Click here to listen to the podcast or go to:
http://broadlyspeaking.posterous.com/february-2012-romance
PATHS TO PUBLICATION
Wow. I had an easy path, comparatively. I have been good friends with writer Steven Barnes for decades, and he introduced me to his collaborator, Larry Niven. Larry and Steve and I shared an interest in yoga, and through enough twists and turns for a novel (which I won't subject you to), Larry and I began collaborating as well. We sold a number of short stories, and I began to sell short stories of my own. One day while walking around Lake Sacajawea in Longview, Washington, we came up with an idea for a novel. The idea eventually became Building Harlequin's Moon, which took a few years to finish, and which I'm still proud of today. Larry and I haven't done any other books together since then, but I will always be grateful for the introductions he provided and for the advice. I learned a lot from writing with him.
So I guess I took the "be lucky enough to find a fabulous mentor" path into publishing. I was doing my work – I was writing and studying and learning. If I hadn't been, either the opportunity wouldn't have come my way, or I wouldn't have known enough to take it and make it work. Come to think of it, a lot of the stubbornness that keeps me working can be directly traced back to Steve, and some classes I assisted at while he taught. So maybe I even had "dual mentor luck." But at any rate, I know I am blessed in my friends. While I don't think anyone should expect this path to be visible or available, and while I don't think it can be found (a stranger generally can't walk up to a published author and ask to collaborate – that's a better way to get awkward silences than help), it does happen. Often not this directly. But in the speculative fiction field, the tradition is to help one another, to pass it forward, and to smooth the path for new writers. At this stage in my career, I've had help from more than just Larry and Steve, and been help other people. This is, after all, a community.
My most recent book is rather close to my heart. It's called Mayan December, and its the first fantasy, the first contemporary (partly) novel I've ever written, and the first historical (partly) novel I've ever written. Mayan December is set at the end of the Mayan Calendar on the Yucatan Peninsula, which is one of the most beautiful places in the world. And no, the world doesn't end. Mayan December came out last August from Prime Books, and can be found in physical and electronic forms in all of the usual places. The first few chapters are available for a sample at http://www.mayan-december.com. My next books out will be science fiction duology that Lou Anders is publishing over at Pyr. Let's call it blended story that's a bit of hard SF set on a generation ship and a bit of the Eva Peron story. And also a nice little space revolution. Oh, and…
-Brenda Cooper
February 2012
--
Brenda Cooper lives in the rain-sodden and beautiful Pacific Northwest where she works as a technology executive and writes science fiction and fantasy in the wee hours of the morning. Her most recent published novel, Mayan December , came out from Prime Books last August, and Pyr will be publishing a duology that can loosely be described as "Evita in Space" in 2011 and 2012.
February 17, 2012
SFFS: Snippet from Greenshift #9
SFFS Snippet
A TALE FROM THE AMBASADORA-VERSE: GREENSHIFT
Greenshift is a novel set in the Ambasadora-verse one month before Ambasadora begins.
DESCRIPTION: David Anlow, a fleet captain forced into early retirement and jaded by an ex-lover, now spends his lonely days shuttling around a group of scientists for hire.
Boston Maribu, Mari to her friends, is one of his passengers, a young botanist who is as beautiful as she is naïve and innocent.
When Mari asks David to teach her about more than just piloting the Bard, nights on their ship heat up and their feelings for each other mature into a relationship neither expects. But a suspicious new client shows up with wicked plans for Mari, and the soldier inside David comes alive, ready to fight for the young woman who stole his heart.
SNIPPET #1
SNIPPET #2
SNIPPET #3
SNIPPET #4
SNIPPET #5
SNIPPET #6
SNIPPET #7
SNIPPET #8
--
"That was a bad move," Sean said. "You're playing a risky game with a guy like David."
"What do you mean?" Mari asked, pretending she wasn't just thinking the same thing.
"You know exactly what I mean. Helping me to bed? This kind of behavior will backfire, especially using me to try and make him jealous. He can't stand me."
"I thought you couldn't stand him," Mari said.
"We have a mutual antipathy for one another."
"You're quite eloquent when you're drunk."
--
Find more snippets from other wonderful authors at Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday .
A TALE FROM THE AMBASADORA-VERSE: GREENSHIFT
Greenshift is a novel set in the Ambasadora-verse one month before Ambasadora begins.
DESCRIPTION: David Anlow, a fleet captain forced into early retirement and jaded by an ex-lover, now spends his lonely days shuttling around a group of scientists for hire.
Boston Maribu, Mari to her friends, is one of his passengers, a young botanist who is as beautiful as she is naïve and innocent.
When Mari asks David to teach her about more than just piloting the Bard, nights on their ship heat up and their feelings for each other mature into a relationship neither expects. But a suspicious new client shows up with wicked plans for Mari, and the soldier inside David comes alive, ready to fight for the young woman who stole his heart.
SNIPPET #1
SNIPPET #2
SNIPPET #3
SNIPPET #4
SNIPPET #5
SNIPPET #6
SNIPPET #7
SNIPPET #8
--
"That was a bad move," Sean said. "You're playing a risky game with a guy like David."
"What do you mean?" Mari asked, pretending she wasn't just thinking the same thing.
"You know exactly what I mean. Helping me to bed? This kind of behavior will backfire, especially using me to try and make him jealous. He can't stand me."
"I thought you couldn't stand him," Mari said.
"We have a mutual antipathy for one another."
"You're quite eloquent when you're drunk."
--
Find more snippets from other wonderful authors at Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday .
February 13, 2012
Book: Greenshift (A Tale from the Ambasadora-verse)
Books
Greenshift is here!
This is a new novel set in the Ambasadora-verse. It's the first of many stand alone stories which don't necessarily follow the main arc of the epic Ambasadora series. Greenshift takes place one month before Ambasadora begins.
DESCRIPTION: David Anlow, a fleet captain forced into early retirement and jaded by an ex-lover, now spends his lonely days shuttling around a group of scientists for hire.
Boston Maribu, Mari to her friends, is one of his passengers, a young botanist who is as beautiful as she is naïve and innocent.
When Mari asks David to teach her about more than just piloting the Bard, nights on their ship heat up and their feelings for each other mature into a relationship neither expects. But a suspicious new client shows up with wicked plans for Mari, and the soldier inside David comes alive, ready to fight for the young woman who stole his heart.
And here are the stops along my Virtual Book Tour (VBT). Some of them will have great giveaways!
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13
"The Making of a Cover: Greenshift Reveal"
Heidi Ruby Miller's Geek Girl Underground on Inveterate Media Junkies (IMJ)
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14
"Eye F*cking and Other Non-Verbal Communication"
Love, Lasers & Light Swords Backward Momentum's 1st Annual Valentine's Bash
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15
Interview
Novel d'Tales
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16
Interview
Shawn Hopkins' Blog on Goodreads
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17
Excerpt
Writers Get Together
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18
"Writing Futuristic Romance"
Author Gary Starta's Writers' Blog
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19
Interview
D. A. Bale
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20
Guest Post
Lee Allen Howard
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21
Recipe for Drunken Chai (Ambasadora mix)
Writers and Recipes
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22
Guest Post
The Writers Lens
Greenshift is here!
This is a new novel set in the Ambasadora-verse. It's the first of many stand alone stories which don't necessarily follow the main arc of the epic Ambasadora series. Greenshift takes place one month before Ambasadora begins.
DESCRIPTION: David Anlow, a fleet captain forced into early retirement and jaded by an ex-lover, now spends his lonely days shuttling around a group of scientists for hire.
Boston Maribu, Mari to her friends, is one of his passengers, a young botanist who is as beautiful as she is naïve and innocent.
When Mari asks David to teach her about more than just piloting the Bard, nights on their ship heat up and their feelings for each other mature into a relationship neither expects. But a suspicious new client shows up with wicked plans for Mari, and the soldier inside David comes alive, ready to fight for the young woman who stole his heart.
And here are the stops along my Virtual Book Tour (VBT). Some of them will have great giveaways!
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13
"The Making of a Cover: Greenshift Reveal"
Heidi Ruby Miller's Geek Girl Underground on Inveterate Media Junkies (IMJ)
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14
"Eye F*cking and Other Non-Verbal Communication"
Love, Lasers & Light Swords Backward Momentum's 1st Annual Valentine's Bash
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15
Interview
Novel d'Tales
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16
Interview
Shawn Hopkins' Blog on Goodreads
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17
Excerpt
Writers Get Together
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18
"Writing Futuristic Romance"
Author Gary Starta's Writers' Blog
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19
Interview
D. A. Bale
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20
Guest Post
Lee Allen Howard
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21
Recipe for Drunken Chai (Ambasadora mix)
Writers and Recipes
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22
Guest Post
The Writers Lens
February 11, 2012
SFFS: Snippet from Greenshift #8
SFFS Snippet
A TALE FROM THE AMBASADORA-VERSE: GREENSHIFT
Greenshift is an upcoming novel set in the Ambasadora-verse one month before Ambasadora begins.
DESCRIPTION: David Anlow, a fleet captain forced into early retirement and jaded by an ex-lover, now spends his lonely days shuttling around a group of scientists for hire.
Boston Maribu, Mari to her friends, is one of his passengers, a young botanist who is as beautiful as she is naïve and innocent. When Mari asks David to teach her about more than just piloting the Bard, nights on their ship heat up and their feelings for each other mature into a relationship neither expects. But a suspicious new client shows up with wicked plans for Mari, and the soldier inside David comes alive, ready to fight for the young woman who stole his heart.
SNIPPET #1
SNIPPET #2
SNIPPET #3
SNIPPET #4
SNIPPET #5
SNIPPET #6
SNIPPET #7
--
She couldn't see anything but the sea and sky reflected in the dark glass, but she could hear muffled music and voices from somewhere inside.
The cacophony of screamed lyrics and erratic beats blasted out at them as soon as Liu ripped open the door.
All Wren could make out at first was a triangle of light piercing into the darkness from the doorway. Then movement caught her attention near the ceiling. A small, thin parallelogram bobbed around as if in a lazy current and shined a strobing beam of blue-green light down onto the bed like a search beacon. Its focus was a rounded lump, secured by leather straps and huddled on one corner of the disheveled sheets.
Liu shouted over the deafening music. "Emotions drive the song, and it'll pick up bits of conversation."
As if to emphasize his point, an eerie strain of "Pick it up, p-p-pick it up," grated along with the fast tempo, repeating until it was nothing more than a manic scream.
Wren's entire body shook from the surreal scene and the sensory overload.
The primal shrieking only excited Liu.
--
Find more snippets from other wonderful authors at Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday .
A TALE FROM THE AMBASADORA-VERSE: GREENSHIFT
Greenshift is an upcoming novel set in the Ambasadora-verse one month before Ambasadora begins.
DESCRIPTION: David Anlow, a fleet captain forced into early retirement and jaded by an ex-lover, now spends his lonely days shuttling around a group of scientists for hire.
Boston Maribu, Mari to her friends, is one of his passengers, a young botanist who is as beautiful as she is naïve and innocent. When Mari asks David to teach her about more than just piloting the Bard, nights on their ship heat up and their feelings for each other mature into a relationship neither expects. But a suspicious new client shows up with wicked plans for Mari, and the soldier inside David comes alive, ready to fight for the young woman who stole his heart.
SNIPPET #1
SNIPPET #2
SNIPPET #3
SNIPPET #4
SNIPPET #5
SNIPPET #6
SNIPPET #7
--
She couldn't see anything but the sea and sky reflected in the dark glass, but she could hear muffled music and voices from somewhere inside.
The cacophony of screamed lyrics and erratic beats blasted out at them as soon as Liu ripped open the door.
All Wren could make out at first was a triangle of light piercing into the darkness from the doorway. Then movement caught her attention near the ceiling. A small, thin parallelogram bobbed around as if in a lazy current and shined a strobing beam of blue-green light down onto the bed like a search beacon. Its focus was a rounded lump, secured by leather straps and huddled on one corner of the disheveled sheets.
Liu shouted over the deafening music. "Emotions drive the song, and it'll pick up bits of conversation."
As if to emphasize his point, an eerie strain of "Pick it up, p-p-pick it up," grated along with the fast tempo, repeating until it was nothing more than a manic scream.
Wren's entire body shook from the surreal scene and the sensory overload.
The primal shrieking only excited Liu.
--
Find more snippets from other wonderful authors at Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday .
Heidi Ruby Miller's Blog
- Heidi Ruby Miller's profile
- 280 followers
Heidi Ruby Miller isn't a Goodreads Author
(yet),
but they
do have a blog,
so here are some recent posts imported from
their feed.
