-->
Today we are interviewing author L. T. Graham about the murder mystery The Blue Journal.
Describe the plot of The Blue Journal in a few sentences.
When one of Randi Conway’s psychotherapy patients is found dead of a gunshot wound, the investigation is turned over to Lieutenant Anthony Walker.
Formerly a New York City cop, Walker now serves on the police force of an affluent community in Fairfield County, Connecticut. He lives among the privileged gentry, where he understands that appearances are often far removed from reality. This certainly proves to be true in the death of Elizabeth Knoebel, when Walker discovers that she had been keeping a private journal entitled “SEXUAL RITES”.
In her diary, Elizabeth was recording the explicit details of her sexual adventures with various men, many of whom were married to the women in her therapy group. Elizabeth was a predator bent on seducing and, in some instances, humiliating these men, obsessed with a perverse mission that Walker believes led to her murder.
As Walker uncovers the secrets of Elizabeth’s memoir, he becomes convinced that her killer is another of Randi Conway’s patients. But which one? Dr. Conway is unwilling to divulge her patients’ confidences, complicating the investigation while increasing the danger the therapist faces, especially as Walker comes closer to the truth and to Randi herself.
Amidst these unfolding revelations, we meet an assortment of Dr. Conway’s patients, glimpsing the dynamics that cause marriages to succeed, to fail and, sometimes, to end in tragedy.
Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
Anyone who loves a good mystery, or who is interested in what makes a marriage succeed or fail, or who wants to explore what drives sexual attitudes and desires.
What inspired you to write a murder mystery involving a detective who is out of his element, having moved from NYC to a suburb in Connecticut?
Some years ago, I witnessed the marriages of several close friends dissolve into unhappiness, unpleasantness and, ultimately, divorce. I wondered what led to the disintegration of those relationships, and why people I knew so well, and thought were so happy, had grown apart. That was my original inspiration for creating and examining the various characters for this book.
The murder victim, Elizabeth, is unique in that she had a specific sexual agenda and carefully documented her sexual adventures. What inspirations contributed to this character?
Every good book has a good villain. Elizabeth is based on a particularly evil woman, and I chose her to be the central figure of the mystery around which the story revolves.
Who was your favorite character to write?
I love them all, the good and the bad. A novelist spends so much time with his characters, you cannot avoid getting close to them. My favorite, however, was Anthony Walker. I like all of his contradictions, flaws , and his basic humanity.
The Blue Journal, in addition to being a mystery, contains elements of suspense and erotica. Did you want these elements in the story since the beginning of the writing process or was incorporating these elements just something that happened as you wrote?
These elements were always a part of the story, since they are inextricably intertwined with the action, the characters, and the things I wanted to examine as I wrote—and the things I want readers to experience and relate to as they read the novel.
Were there any murder mysteries that influenced your style as you developed as a writer?
I cannot possibly point to any one book or author, since the genre is so rich with talent. From Poe to Christie to P. D. James, just too many to name.
Can you share with us what the creative writing process is like for you, from initial idea to finished novel?
Only if you have a year! Seriously, the ideas for my novels percolate for quite a while until I even decide I am willing to spend the time and effort necessary to develop a particular concept. Then I move from summary, to outline, to first draft and then rewrite after rewrite after rewrite. As to process, I prefer to write early in the morning so, if I can put in a good three or four hours, I know I’ll be happy the rest of the day.
How do you feel about the increasing popularity of ebooks?
Anything that gets people to read is a good thing, and the devices certainly make traveling with multiple books a lot easier. Personally, I like the feel of holding a book, but that’s just me.
Can you tell us anything about the next book in the Detective Anthony Walker series?
Well, both Walker and Randi Conway will be back. And this time, the murders at the center of the book will be particularly sinister.
Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
I promise they will not be able to put it down, and that it will keep them thinking about the characters even after they’re done :)
More Information
Buy the book on Amazon
Check out the book on Goodreads
The book's publisher page
Visit the author's website
Today we are interviewing Dylan Lee Peters, author of the Fantasy Adventure novel Everflame.
Describe the plot of Everflame in a few sentences.
The world is old and full of lies,
But also full of truth,
And here between the earth and sky the questions fall to you.
Long ago, when the earth was young, four ancient beings created man to be the bastion of the earth and its creatures, but when the Great Tyrant came and chased the Ancients away, the world was transformed into a place of fear and isolation. Over time, humans lost their connection with a world they had been created to protect, they forgot the ways of their ancient creators, and accepted the Tyrant’s lies as truths from the mouth of a god.
Now, deep in the forests that surround Gray Mountain, two bears find a small child that is abandoned and left for dead. The bears name him Evercloud, raise him as a member of their kingdom, and teach the boy of the Ancients, all underneath the light of the Everflame, the flame that burns atop Gray Mountain as a monument to the integrity and spirit of the bears.
As Evercloud grows, rumors reach the bear kingdom of the Ancients’ return, and now the young man must leave his home to find them, and help save the world he holds dear.
Will Evercloud lose himself in the darkness of the Great Tyrant’s lies, or will he have the courage to judge his own heart, the strength to master the darkness, and the faith to follow his purpose until it burns within his heart like the Everflame?
Who do you think would most appreciate Everflame?
Everflame is a series full of action and adventure that is geared toward anyone with an imagination, from teens to seniors.
What inspired you to write a fantasy-adventure novel?
Fantasy adventure has always been a favorite of mine. As a child, I loved watching Jim Henson's Labyrinth and Dark Crystal. As I got older, reading Tolkien, Rowling, Paolini, and others, became a my pastime. However, the inspiration to become a storyteller came from authors like Orwell, Bradbury, and Ayn Rand. I loved the idea of trying to say something meaningful about the world we lived in through the vehicle of an alternate reality.
You’ve stated that you have added undertones of your personal philosophies into the novel. Can you elaborate more on this?
I always want my writing to mean something, and my goal is always to write something that is more than just a story. Because of this, I add a lot of my own personal philosophy and a lot of my personal opinions on life into the pages of my stories. It would be difficult to run through everything I've touched upon in the Everflame Series, but maybe the most central theme to Everflame is the idea of accountability to one's self. Here is an excerpt from the book that I believe explains it best:
“The Everflame is a symbol, Tomas. It has no power. It’s just a reminder of something we all have, our spirit. And it is to this spirit that we are accountable, not to an all-powerful tyrant, not even to ancient creators, simply to ourselves. By making an oath to the Everflame, I am merely making an oath to all that I am. If I break that oath, it is I who suffer the greatest loss, and nothing can change that. All these men who barter with their Holy for forgiveness should ask themselves, first, for this forgiveness. They would not find it so easy to come by. We all have the ability to judge our own hearts, and we should all have the courage to do so.”
Who was your favorite character to write?
I think I need to answer this question in relation to the entire series. Densa, was by far my favorite character to write. He is in each book of the series, but it is not revealed who he is until the end of the second book. It's difficult to relate why he was my favorite, without giving away spoilers, but I can say this: Densa is personal to me. His development through the Everflame series is a metaphor for my development through life. Many of the lessons he learns are lessons I once learned, and through writing the character of Densa, I learned truths about myself.
How do you feel about the increasing popularity of ebooks?
I think the world of ebooks is wonderful. From an author's perspective, I now have a voice in a world where, previously, only large publishing houses controlled what was available to readers. This does increase the likelihood for a reader to come across material that is not up to industry standards, but this can be viewed negatively and positively. Wouldn't someone like to see a young Michael Jordan develop his basketball skills? Wouldn't someone be interesting in watching a young John Lennon learn to play guitar? The reader now has a view into a world that was never open to them before, and they also have a greater power to affect change in the life of a new author. I choose to see that as a great thing.
What are your goals as a writer for the next ten years?
My goal is just to be able to continue writing for an audience of readers, however large or small it may be. I feel I have a lot of stories to tell, and I know I'm lucky to have readers that enjoy them.
Is there any aspect of writing you don't like?
I’ve found that many other writers feel this way, and I can’t argue. Writing a synopsis of your novel is, by far, the most tedious, difficult, and frustrating aspect of writing. One would think that writing an 80,000 word novel would be the most difficult aspect, but really, taking 80,000 words and trying to shrink it into three paragraphs is daunting and maddening. You spend a lot of time adding texture, nuance and emotion to your writing. When you have to strip all that away, yet still try to make your book sound interesting… I’m definitely not a fan of writing a synopsis.
Have you ever had writer's block? If yes, how'd you deal with it? If you have not had writer's block, why do you think you haven't?
I’ve been lucky, in that I don’t suffer writer’s block very often. Usually my issue is not having enough time to do all the writing I want to do. However, on those occasions when I am stuck, I change location. It usually works for me. In my opinion, the best way to fix writers block is to create change, do something different, see something different, hear something different. Writer’s block comes from focusing on the wrong thing – so force yourself to unfocus.
Do you write with a computer, typewriter, or pen and paper? Why do you use this tool?
I write on a laptop, and I’m not really sure it’s a preference, as much as it’s simple laziness. I don’t want to have to write something out, just to have to type it all over again.
What do you have in mind for your next project?
The project I am currently working on is called The Dean Machine, and I hope to release it before the end of the year. My inspiration for the novel came from a rescue dog I adopted who was named Dean. Here's the blurb:
Dan Delacor was a normal citizen of Yellow City. He put on his yellow shoes, and yellow tie, and took the Tunnel Runner from the suburbs into downtown, every day. He had a job, lived with his loving, yellow-haired girlfriend, and never wondered what waited beyond the great glass wall that surrounded Yellow City.
Sure, he wondered why people at his work annoyed him so much, he wondered why everything in Yellow City had to be yellow, he wondered why he suffered constant anxiety attacks, and he wondered why he couldn’t help himself from strolling through dangerous neighborhoods, or running wildly through the wheat fields that separated downtown from the suburbs. Mostly though, Dan Delacor wondered how he had lost most of his right arm, and he wondered why he couldn’t remember anything before five years ago.
So, when Dan’s mysterious yellow world is interrupted with the seemingly impossible presence of a little, red dog, the man can’t help but wonder why. Unfortunately for Dan, what he finds leaves him running for his life, doubting everything he knows, and wondering what side of the glass wall he is really on.
Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
The entire Everflame Series is available in print and ebook. Four books compete the series. Check out www.dylanleepeters.com to find out about each book.
An excerpt from Everflame, Chapter 5:
“Then
we shall begin,” said Whiteclaw. “Once, there was nothing. Or at least
that is the word that we use to describe what there was. You see,
Evercloud, at one time, our world was made up of things that we have no
words for and no images for, things our minds cannot conceive of. So we
say that once, long ago, there was nothing, and we imagine it as
infinite blackness.
“All we have as a clue to our origin are the
teachings of the elder bears. Though even they do not know of true
origins. The first things they have told us of were the Ancients. The
Ancients were strange creatures. Not at all like the creatures of
today’s world, but at the same time, very much like many of the
creatures we know. There were four of them and they controlled the
elements of our world.
“There was the mermaid, Chera, who controlled
the water. There was Bahknar the dragon, who controlled the element of
fire. Tenturo the griffin, who had the head and wings of an eagle, but
the body of a lion. He controlled the air. Finally, there was Densa.
Densa was a gigantic beast, who most closely resembled a gorilla, and he
controlled the element of earth.
“Each of these Ancients created
many creatures to populate the earth. It is believed that it was Densa
who created the Kingdom of Bears. Man, however, was another story. The
Ancients wished to create a creature that embodied a bit of them all. So
they gathered together and drew upon all of their strength. Densa
created the form and Chera added to it water. Bahknar used fire to give
it warmth and then Tenturo breathed into it air. This was the way in
which they created man. Man was to be the connection between all
creatures. Man was to be the balance. The Ancients also gave unto man
some of the powers of the elements. They gave man slight control of
wind, water, earth and fire, so that man could help the world flourish.
The Ancients had created a utopia and man was their bastion of peace.
The earth saw ages of prosperity for itself and all creatures.
“But
then the Great Tyrant came and destroyed the utopia of the Ancients. It
is said that the Great Tyrant possessed a power that the Ancients did
not. It is said that he could summon the lightning from the sky. The
Ancients were powerless against him. The Great Tyrant hunted the
Ancients, hell-bent on destroying them. Given little choice, the
Ancients fled from the earth, never to return.
“The Great Tyrant took
control of the creatures of the earth, driving them apart. Mankind
became his slave and he forbade them from controlling the elements,
under the penalty of death. The Great Tyrant had cast an ominous cloud
over the earth and ruled it for many ages. After a time, mankind forgot
its powers. It was not long before the entire world had forgotten what
it once was. It was now a world afraid, amid the storm of the Great
Tyrant."
More Information
Visit the author's website
Buy Everflame on Amazon
Today we are interviewing Yossi Porat, author of the spy thriller Screwed Mind.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Yossi Porat, I'm married 41 years to Sara, a computer science PhD, we have 4 children and 9 grandkids, I'm a marketing PhD, I wrote 3 marketing books, 2 novels and 3 poem books.
Describe the plot of your new book in a few sentences.
Andrew and Adam, childhood friends, are partners in an innovative London start-up which is developing a system for controlling people using the transmission of sound waves from a cellular phone straight into their brains. The start-up can activate people for various assignments and then completely forget what they have done. Success will bring the two partners to the heights of international power and wealth.
The plot expands to Damascus, Syria; Tel Aviv, Israel; Barcelona, Spain, Rome, Italy and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with excursions to the state of Gujarat, India, and to Washington, DC. There are excellent descriptions of various places around the world based on in-depth research. A secondary plot involves an attempt by Israeli Intelligence to entrap important members of al-Qaeda from Syria and from Saudi Arabia. The intelligence agents report directly to the Israeli Prime Minister due to the importance of the mission.
The start-up intends carries out the Beta trial, an explosion in Barcelona and London. The President of the United States and the Prime Ministers of both Britain and Israel report what really happened…but this is not the end.
What made you decide to write an espionage thriller?
I felt heat near my neck and head while using my cellular phone and read about it a lot, including about the cellular companies denying any negative radiation affect by using cell phones and I thought it's a great idea for mystery and espionage.
Did your background in the IDF influence your writing?
I was exposed to some ideas while serving in the IDF.
Screwed Mind touches upon the potential of using technology to spy on citizens. When did you become interested in this topic?
All the espionage international agencies use technology to monitor us and spy on us via phones, cellular phones, internet etc so this is a very hot topic…and a very real mone
Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
Any reader who likes mystery, good sex scenes, espionage, plots, grab knowledge about the international espionage agencies and the relationships among them, men and women all over the world.
What is your favorite book and why?
I read a lot and adore people/writers that expose their life in a book, sometime I better like soft novels, sometimes I like the plot running very fast, I really like so many writers.
What genre do you read most frequently?
Mystery, espionage and novels.
How do you feel about the increasing popularity of ebooks?
I adore it, this is the new future for readers all over the world allowing to download cheaply great books and read them anywhere without the need to carry them and to destroy beautiful forests
Is there any aspect of writing you don't like?
No, I adore also poems!
Have you ever had writer's block? If yes, how'd you deal with it? If you have not had writer's block, why do you think you haven't?
Of course I had , sometime I feel that I can't or don't wish to expose more of myself, as in every book and poem there is a lot of the writer, sometime I feel not productive with no eagerness to write, and I need to rest, listen to the music (a lot of jazz and classic music) calm and get energy to go on. I need a lot of power to write and sometime I don't posses it. Make love and than everything is much better.
Do you write with a computer, typewriter, or pen and paper? Why do you use this tool?
I write using my computer, may handwriting is really awful...
What do you have in mind for your next project?
I have a new story building in my mind, regarding a love among two Israelis, she's Muslim Arabic, and he's a jew, they are not in the same age, a plot of love espionage and mystery. My next book is a children book and will be ready within 2 months….
Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
You can't stop reading it, that's the impression I get from most of my readers.
A video of Yossi Porat speaking about Screwed Mind:
More Information
Buy the book on Amazon
Visit the book's website
Today we are interviewing Serena Kearney, author of the sci-fi / young adult romance novel
Pneuma.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I love straws! I love desserts...mmm red velvet! I love animals! My cat, Bongo-Bongo is majorly spoiled! I live in North Carolina, NC GIRL ALL THE WAY! Whoooop! I love to drink tea in the mornings and I love to watch movies and am an avid gamer! LOVE NINTENDO!
How long have you been writing?
I have been dabbling on and off ever since the year 2000, but I didn’t start getting serious until around 2012. I didn’t start to think about really publishing until 2014.
Describe the plot of your new book in a few sentences.
She does everything she can to protect the ones she loves. She finds out who her real family is. And she has to battle with herself to keep everyone else safe... from her.
Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
Teenagers. Or anyone who loves sci-fi and an epic love story all in one!
What inspired you to write a young adult sci-fi romance?
I have always loved any fiction, whether it be sci-fi, paranormal, magic, zombies, anything like that. I believe there is more out there, whether we all want to admit it or deny it. And romance... I am a SUCKER for romance and love stories! I just love falling in love with their relationships and seeing them grow and go through tough times, but still being there for each other. Because it’s like real life, real love. You have to go through those things, and if you are still together in the end, then you can get through anything together.
Who was your favorite character to write?
Re-reading some of the stories, I would have said my main character Estelle Caldwell, but actually, I really like how I did Dennis. He can make you cry and laugh at the same time.
What genre do you read most frequently?
Any type of love story, it HAS to have romance, otherwise I can’t focus. LOL! Any type of romance, whether it be dystopian, paranormal, or contemporary. I am ALL about it!
How do you think you've evolved as a writer since when you first started?
Oh man... I remember my first draft... it was kind of horrible, but once I re-read it and evolved and re-wrote, I am actually satisfied now. I always find out that I still have a lot of growth to expand my writing more, but like I say, “the draft is never complete as long as the author lives.”
Are there any aspects of your writing that you've been practicing?
I feel like I have the basics down, but there is still always errors with grammar and punctuation, mainly when I get into a scene is where I make the most mistakes... but that’s life, right? =)
What was your favorite class in school, and why?
My favorite class was actually Art class. When I was younger, I was into drawing mostly, and in the class, we drew a lot and did crafts and they had all the supplies, so it was a win-win! Plus, my teacher pushed my imagination limits, which I found hard at the time, but am grateful for it now.
How do you feel about the increasing popularity of ebooks?
You know, at first, when they were new, I was against them. I thought, hey, I want a real book, not an ebook, but now... I LOVE ebooks! I can just carry my tablet and choose any book I want and read it anywhere!
A brief excerpt from Pneuma:
Fate.
Please be kind. Will he still remember me? Will our first and last kiss
be one and the same? Please remember me. Please be with me.
More Information
Buy the book on Amazon
Today we are interviewing J.E. Plemons, author of the dystopian YA novel Last Light Falling.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I have been fortunate enough to experience many things in my life, some of which were humbling, others fulfilling, and because of that, I've grown to be patient and content. I'm a father, husband, educator, chef, drummer, actor, carpenter, screen-writer, and author. I'm willing to struggle, fail, sacrifice, and fall before I learn to move on from those experiences. I'm not afraid to die, but willing to live as long as I'm able. Even though I'd like to see my kids grow old, I understand that every day is precious, yet uncertain. I live with the best intentions that everything is going to be okay until it isn't, and when that happens, I'm free to just let go.
Is there an author that had a major influence on you while you were growing up?
C.S. Lewis and Tolkien without a doubt for their courageous unsolicited effort to go against the pretentious grain of the book publishing world during their time. They both have created timeless characters and stories to which have inspired many to follow in there writing footsteps.
How long have you been writing?
Always a great question. Since I was a wee lad. I used to storyboard all the time when I was six years old, but when the Choose Your Own Adventure books became popular, that's when I got serious about writing short stories. They were completely nonsensical, but so much fun to dream about. I'm a daydreamer by heart. Problem is, I don't know when to stop.
Describe the plot of your new book in a few sentences.
For Gabriel and Arena, life has been short of exciting, but when they receive a special letter on their fifteenth birthday, history will forever change. Nations have fallen, economies have collapsed, and half the world's population has been wiped from the earth. The prophecy of the end is near and it's up to Gabriel and Arena to help prepare the world's demise by the wrath of God. Souls will rest in the providence of these ordinary twins put in an extraordinary situation, but when fate chooses them, they will have to accept their destiny changing their lives forever.
Who (age, gender, etc) do you think would most appreciate this book?
15 - 25 year old girls. Although young adult novels are becoming more and more popular with the adult crowd, it's hard to pinpoint the general audience, but yes, teens will love it.
What inspirations contributed to this book?
This story has turned into something bigger than what I had planned. After a brief stint negotiating a deal with a well-respected Marvel comic book artist, I finally decided to shelve the idea of the Last Light Falling comic book and focus solely on the novel, which I began in March of 2012. My original inspiration behind this series came from this comic book concept about two unlikely heroes battling the normal mundane trials of teenage experiences in high school. But the true inspiration falls back to my very own kids, Gabriel and Mikaela—my two unlikely heroes in this novel. The characters created are solely based on my children's personalities, and it's scary how close they really are.
Who was your favorite character to write?
No doubt, Arena. It was so easy to create and develop her character because I mirrored her traits and personality from my own daughter. But the mundane trials she grows up with and faces in the story are based on my own personal experiences. I just thought it would give the novel better appeal if I vicariously lived them through this 15 year old girl.
What is your favorite book and why?
The first time I read Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird I was truly changed. A remarkable read by a remarkable author. It was probably one of the first stories that made me sad to read, but really helped me understand a character's real struggles. I really got so much from that book, but didn't realize it until much later in life.
What genre do you read most frequently?
Young Adult generally, specifically books with believable characters struggling with real problems. I have a bit of a twisted sense of humor and am attracted to books that are unpredictable. Psychological thrillers are my favorite.
How do you think you've evolved as a writer since when you first started?
My stories have become less linear and my characters are much more likable. They have purpose instead of just existing to exist. Every detail in my stories is connected in some way. It's those minor scenes or descriptions that play a small role in revealing something completely different and deeper. And many times it happens by pure accident.
Are there any aspects (e.g. character building, world building) of your writing that you've been practicing?
Dialogue, Dialogue, Dialogue. It can move a story, yet it can slow the prose in profound ways. It's an art no doubt, and I've been trying to craft mine for years. I used to write screen plays, but dialogue in a script is so much different than a novel. Where description moves a story in a novel, it's dialogue that pushes a story in film. Very different, yet both are hard to master. I absolutely detest clichés or tropes. It drives me insane.
What was your favorite class in school, and why?
English class was natural to me, but it was far from my favorite subject. I don't think I ever completed any homework assignments on time in high school. I was born to be a musician. It's in the blood. My entire family are musicians, so Band was everything to me. I'm a classically trained percussionist/drummer. I'd rather have driven a funky beat than participate in an often uninspired class rendition of Hamlet.
How do you feel about the increasing popularity of ebooks?
Not a big fan. I still like paper in my hands, but I'm also a tech whore, so I'm not completely against it. I get the digital age we live in. It's good and bad. The problem with ebooks isn't with the reader, it's with the authors, or the three million who think they are. I'm glad that writers have the opportunity to share their work, unfortunately it works against us all as authors. Marketing and promotion is ever more as essential than it has been in the past. Because of the massive amounts of self-published work that's out there, the filter has become increasingly clogged with…how should I put this - terrible books. Pardon for the lack of articulation here. I would venture to say 75% of the self-published books out there have either been self-edited, or not edited at all. You'd be surprised. So when readers get a hold of those books that haven't been professionally edited, it taints their sense to browse for other self-published books. And there are some great authors out there that are getting over looked. The invasion of the ebook is the only thing keeping the pompous and pretensions publishes from destroying our egos. Ebooks are needed, but like all new and cool technology, it soon plateaus like everything else, and just becomes a piece of the puzzle.
What are your goals as a writer for the next ten years?
I'm not a full time writer so I'm quite content, but I would like to finish my four book series by the winter of 2015 so I can start on the hundreds of ideas I have just waiting to be written. I'm not in the business to be famous or to get rich. Like I said I'm content. I just like to write. I had my time in the entertainment business with music and film, but that period of my life is gone. If it comes back I'll embrace it, but until then, I'm just going to enjoy the ride. Damn, that makes me sound like an old person.
Have your family and friends been supportive of your writing?
Absolutely, especially my wife and kids. My kids are always giving me ideas. In fact there are two scenes in book II Into The Darkness that came from them almost verbatim. They watch a lot of indie flicks. My son desires to be a film director. My nine year old daughter is writing her first zombie screenplay. And of course I had to marry an editor, but this was way before I thought I would be an author. She's the first set of eyes that critiques my work, and boy can she be honest. I wouldn't want it any other way though. As humbling as it can be, it makes my manuscript happy, happy, happy for my editor.
Is there any aspect of writing you don't like?
See question above. No matter what I write, I know my manuscripts are coming back from the editor with 10,000 words stripped. I cringe every time I open up the file. But that's what they get paid to do, and very handsomely I might add.
Have you ever had writer's block? If yes, how'd you deal with it? If you have not had writer's block, why do you think you haven't?
Yes and it's quite frustrating. I was asked how I dealt with it before and I'll answer it the same way. I exercise, watch a movie, read a book, play my drums, have sex. Not in any particular order, as some may derail others. ; )
Do you write with a computer, typewriter, or pen and paper? Why do you use this tool?
Typewriter…what's that? I actually had to learn on one in high school if that tells you how old I am. The next year we got a "word processors". I jot down ideas on paper at the strangest times. I always carry around a pad and pen in my car. If I'm in a store, I pull out the iPhone. But my computer is my best friend when it comes to exploring the meat of the novel. My keyboard is worn from my finger tips and probably doesn't care that I use him as my crumb disposal.
What do you have in mind for your next project?
I'm currently working on Last Light Falling - Kingdoms Of The Ten, Book III. I'm about three quarters done. It's been a long ride with this one, but I'm loving every minute of it. I've vested so much into these characters, I will be sad to leave them when the fourth and final book of the series is over. When I type those two words on the last page, I think I just might cry…hey, real men cry.
Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
You can get all the information you want about the entire series, backstory, and concept on my website: http://www.lastlightfalling.com/ And if you really want to get inside my head, then please if you get a chance, read my book. Much is based on my own personal experiences, but I won't tell you what is real and what is embellished. You really don't want to know. Trust me. ;)
More Information
Buy the book on Amazon
Today we are interviewing Peppi Hilton, author of the ghost/horror novel The Appointment.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
Gender: Female. Place of residence: Large Edwardian country house on the fringes of Yorkshire bordering with Lancashire in the north of England, UK. I am the owner of a property company (offering lots of inspiration for ghost stories and horror stories or crime stories) and I am also an Author. I have a daughter and three grandchildren. I also have a wickedly intelligent cat and she is absolutely adorable. We share our home with a long-suffering partner of many years.
Is there an author that had a major influence on you while you were growing up?
Whilst there are too many to mention, I would say Evelyn Waugh whose book Brideshead Revisited was an inspiration. Also Emily Bronte who wrote Wuthering Heights and whose short life was spent walking on the wild Yorkshire moors. The Bronte family lived in Haworth in Yorkshire in the early 1800’s which is very close to where I live and on reading her poems you can almost sense her soul walking on the moors. The Parsonage in Haworth, where the Bronte family lived, is still open to the public and perhaps one day I may write a ghost story which takes place there!
How long have you been writing?
About thirty years on and off.
Describe the plot of your new book in a few sentences.
An unsuspecting female photographer, working for a local estate agent, keeps her appointment at The Grange, an abandoned mansion hidden deep in a forest across the wild Yorkshire moors, unware of a distant family connection to its long-forgotten gruesome past and latent mesmeric presence. And when an evil spirit, with an unimaginable power, returns from the dead to exact his revenge on all who cross his path, Kelly’s life will never be the same again, nor will her sanity.
Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
All adults, male and female, and teenagers from the age of 14 years providing they like ‘scary’ stories.
What inspirations contributed to this book?
For years I was fascinated by a house which was shrouded by trees. Only the top of its ivy clad Italianate towers could be seen above the trees. Many years later it was offered for sale and all the trees were cut back so that the house could be seen. It immediately inspired me to write a ghost story and that is my latest title: The Appointment.
Who was your favorite character to write?
The evil spirit who returns from the dead.
Why did you decide to set your book in the Yorkshire moors?
Because I have always been drawn to the moors in that part of the world, they are wild and mysterious.
If you were Kelly, would you have kept your appointment at The Grange? Why or why not?
Definitely not, I would have been scared to death.
Did you listen to ghost stories growing up? If so, are there any that you still remember?
I always enjoyed Dickens’ story about SCROOGE. It wasn’t scary but there was an important moral to the story.
As a horror writer, do you have any exciting plans for Halloween? I know Stephen King had trick-or-treating at his house for a few Halloweens.
My daughter has now taken over that role, but I have often been asked to write short scary stories about witches and ghouls and ghosts etc., for their Halloween parties because she remembers all the ones we had when she was growing up.
What is your favorite book and why?
My library is stuffed with favourite books, but most of them are non-fiction. I like biographies of interesting people, many unknown ones, some writers, but never celebs. I love the letters which were written by many authors in the days that letters were the only form of communication and which have been salvaged and saved for the world to read; such as Charlotte Bronte, Patrick Bronte, and Jane Austen, but also William Wordsworth and many more. I have a particular interest in 19century social history.
Are there any aspects (e.g. character building, world building) of your writing that you've been practicing?
No, but I can offer lots of advice to others.
How do you feel about the increasing popularity of ebooks?
Wonderful, but I still love the real thing.
What are your goals as a writer for the next ten years?
To retire from full-time business into full-time writing.
Is there any aspect of writing you don't like?
Padding just to fill in the story, but I try to avoid that.
Have you ever had writer's block? If yes, how'd you deal with it? If you have not had writer's block, why do you think you haven't?
I am just the opposite, I have too many ideas and can’t keep up with them.
Do you write with a computer, typewriter, or pen and paper? Why do you use this tool? Computer and I write the story on to the computer straight from my head. I can’t live without them.
What do you have in mind for your next project?
I am already half-way through my next book called The House in Gallows Lane. This one is a typical ghost story as it takes place in a very haunted house.
Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
The Appointment is a very scary book, but holds the reader in suspense all the way through so that they can’t put it down. It is easy to read and there are lots of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing, so they can never work out the ending which leaves the story on a cliffhanger. It offers more than just the traditional ghost story, and if it is well received, there is a sequel. The book has had good reviews already.
An excerpt from The Appointment:
She
ran down one corridor after another, blindly fleeing in any direction
not knowing where she was going. It was like being trapped in a maze.
The fear was now in control and had numbed all her senses. She passed a
back staircase as she fled through a myriad of darkened passages, until
she finally arrived at another door. Her body slammed against it as she
slowed to an abrupt halt. She turned the handle, but it wouldn’t open …
More Information
Buy the book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/APPOINTMENT-chilling-ghost-story-malevolence-ebook/dp/B00KS9DC5I
Contact the author: peppihilton at gmail dot com
Today we are interviewing Christine Sherborne, author of "Imogene's Message."
Describe the plot of your book in a few sentences.
When extreme religious fundamentalists known as the Phineas Priesthood led by Ezekiel Yates and his three cousins, target Xantara Pembroke because they believe she is a witch, they launch a major conflict between unworldly disciples of good and evil. This 60,000-word, action-packed thriller shows the twists and turns of both sides as they try to destroy or save the souls of earth.
Imogene is the daughter of Xantara, a Guardian of Avebury Circle, an ancient monument near Stonehenge. For over three thousand years, wives of eight village families have performed ceremonies to heal local people, with power handed down from first daughter to first daughter. The Pembroke family encounter extreme prejudice from the Priesthood.
Braedon the village doctor is drawn into a world he didn't know existed to protect his daughter. His wife Xantara keeps her secrets and causes conflict in the marriage.
All that is forgotten when Imogene levitates in Avebury Circle. Will the world believe Imogene’s incredible message?
Who (age, gender, etc) do you think would most appreciate this book?
Adult Male or Female.
What inspirations contributed to this book?
My interest in spirituality, and the paranormal.
Who was your favorite character to write?
Doctor Braeden Pembroke. We see a man who is basically good, gets sidetracked by tragedy, and then realizes what is important.
How long have you been writing?
Ten years.
What is your favorite book?
Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine.
What genre do you read most frequently?
Thrillers.
How do you think you've evolved as a writer since when you first started?
I started writing self-help and inspirational books, then last year I decided to try writing a thriller, and found I loved creating my own story.
Are there any aspects (e.g. character building, world building) of your writing that you've been practicing?
Don McNair, my editor mentored me for nearly a year. I learnt so much from him, and I’m grateful for his patience.
As a writer, one would assume English was your favorite class in school. If that was not the case, what was and why?
Yes, English but also History.
How do you feel about the increasing popularity of ebooks?
I love my Ipad and use it all the time, but still visit my local library.
What are your goals as a writer for the next ten years?
I have finished the second in the Imogene series and will then write the third. I am very much a pantster, so time will tell.
What is the most impactful experience you have had with a fan?
I like to feel from feedback I’ve received that my self-help books and blogs have helped many people.
Have your family and friends been supportive of your writing?
Yes, which I appreciate.
Is there any aspect of writing you don't like (e.g. editing)?
Purely the time it takes to complete a book. My ideas flow faster than my writing!
Have you ever had writer's block? If yes, how'd you deal with it? If you have not had writer's block, why do you think you haven't?
I can only write when inspired which is most of the time. On the odd days I can’t write, I catch up on household chores.
Do you write with a computer, typewriter, or pen and paper? Why do you use this tool?
I use a computer as I touch type and has the advantage of a spell-checker.
What do you have in mind for your next project?
I’ve thought about another series with a supernatural theme involving an Art Gallery.
Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
My book has been professionally edited, which I believe is essential for any writer.
More Information
Buy the book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Imogenes-Message-Paranormal-Don-McNair-ebook/dp/B00K91UC2Q
