Grace Black, Three Lines: All That's Left

Today we are interviewing Grace Black about her poetry book, Three Lines: All That’s Left.
 
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I mingle with words as I navigate this realm, and writing is my way of understanding, discovery. When not writing you can find me in my garden with muddy knees and hands full of earth. Nature is my solace.

Describe your new poetry book, Three Lines: All That's Left.
Three Lines takes loss and love and mingles misadventure of the heart into a woven form of poetic understanding. The digestible sized poems are meant to be read and enjoyed as stand-alone works or coupled to tell a larger story.
 
Who do you think would most appreciate this book? 
Anyone who has ever experienced love, loss, or heartache will hopefully find something relatable in Three Lines.

What inspirations contributed to Three Lines: ?
Poetry is what exists in everyday life; it’s the visceral response to our daily interactions. The inspiration for this collection of poetry was siphoned from my soul.

You employ a minimalist style in your poetry. What drew you to this style?
I favor a quality over quantity and have found less to be more. Life is filled with complications, and I try to simplify the meaning without diminishing the visceral effect. We often read a sentence or fragments in a book that linger with us longer than the whole of the story. This is what I have tried to accomplish with the poems in “Three Lines,” a sense of completeness in each of the brief offerings. My aim is to emote a feeling that is consumable and easily relatable with few words.  

Poet Grace Black

Do the poems in your new book revolve around a central theme?
Yes, the theme is simply love and its ability to give and take pain in equal measure. The opposite of love is not hate; it’s indifference. And I’ve always said, “A forgotten love does not exist.”

Can you tell us a bit about your creative process, from the initial idea to the finished poem?
I dabble in word play and hold the weight of words on my tongue.  I spend a lot of time immersed in nature and allow my mind escape. That’s when the words come, and the poetry begins to take form. I am always jotting down notes and drabble for later tinkering.

Are there any poets who have influenced your writing style?
Many poets and writers have influenced my style. I’m sure pieces of all I’ve read are woven into my fabric as a writer. A few of my favorites are Baudelaire, Bukowski, Don DeLillo, and Anaïs Nin.

What do you have in mind for your next project?
Well, I always have several things going at any given time. I write short-stories, also know as flash fiction (brevity seems to be a theme), and have a few in an upcoming anthology due out in June of this year. Also, I am compiling my next book of poetry, a collection of prose poems, haibun, and haiku all rolled into one.
 
Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
I wrote Three Lines over a two-year span of time and many individuals inspired me along the way. The book is dedicated to all of—you. 

More Information
Buy Three Lines on Amazon
Visit Grace Black's website
Check out Grace Black on Goodreads
Follow Grace Black on Twitter

Quevina Scarver, Author of Between the Lines

Today we are interviewing Quevina Scarver, author of the YA/romance novel Between the Lines.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am 25 and recently graduated from College. I have a degree in writing and soon I will be returning for a degree in Business :). I have been writing since I was about 19 and have explored a few different avenues and ideas. After spending years reading and writing and learning new things, I found that I still have the mindset of a teenager and find it very easy to come up with ideas and dialogue for the YA genre.

Describe the plot of your new YA/romance book, Between the Lines, in a few sentences.
Describing storylines is probably the hardest thing for me. This story is essentially a modern day love story. It is a bit more relatable because it deals with a teenage girl struggling with her feelings for an older guy. She spends time questioning herself and trying to deny and push away her feel her feelings, which I believe a lot of young girls/women have a problem with.

Who do you think would most appreciate Between the Lines?
I think this book will be really appreciated by people who consider themselves the “hopeless romantic” kind of person. I know that I am that person 100% and I wrote this book with that mindset. It will also be appreciated by anyone who enjoys strong characters and can relate to a sort of forbidden love.

YA/Romance author Quevina Scarver

What inspired you to write a YA romance about a teenager who falls in love with an exchange student?
Honestly, I was just getting over reading a book and I thought to myself, why haven’t I written a love story? I’ve read many books where the love interest is the secondary storyline, but not enough where it was first. Of course there are stories out there like that, but I wanted to make one of my own. Once I decided that I wanted to write a love story I started to pull the details together little by little with some research. The fact that is YA is just like in my blood, there was no other way I could write it.

Tell us a bit about the protagonists, Ailbe and Isla.
The story takes place from Isla’s point of view and she is 18 when the story takes place, but it does go back to when she is 16 at times. Isla I see as a strong character because she isn’t afraid to say what is on her mind and while it may get her in trouble, she is ready for the consequences. Just like many of us, she struggles with reality. Sometimes her feelings get the best of her, but she is someone that learns from her mistakes. The ongoing battle she faces is being confused about if Ailbe does indeed feel something for her, or if she should just keep her mouth shut and let their friendship run its course. Also, just like any other 18 year old she is just trying to find her way through life and figure out what the best decision are.

Alibi is the love interest from Ireland. Why Ireland?
Honestly have no idea, it fascinated me at the time. But Ailbe 20, while the story takes place and he is kind of beyond his years. He is very intelligent and extremely passive and patient. Basically he is the guy of your dreams.  Throughout the book you see he has a very different way of dealing with Isla than the rest of family. He seems to understand how to speak to her and is very in tune with her mind and emotions. Of course while displaying this everlasting understanding of Isla, he has never expressed an interest in her aside from seeing her as a little sister.

How do you think you've evolved as a writer since when you first started?
I think I have evolved a lot since I started writing a few years back. I must credit a lot of it to school. As much of pain as it was, I really did learn of new things that I would have never bothered to learn. When I look back at my older writing and I see what I have now, I see a big difference. I have learned how to tell my stories better. Of course I am still evolving and will continue to for many years, I definitely see a difference and I know that each time I write, I learning how to do it better as I go.

Are there any aspects of your writing that you've been practicing?
I would like to work more on my world building because I really like sci-fi, but I don’t think my writing is truly there to be able to create new worlds. It seems my imagine is very limited when it comes to making up my own things. I found this out when I first tried writing. I had a sci-fi romance story, but my problem was I was unable to develop another world in a unique way and this is something I need to work on.

Character building is also something that I try to work on, but I really do it in my stories. There is alway space to improve and I want to improve how i develop my characters and dialogue a little bit better.

How do you feel about the increasing popularity of ebooks?
I think the popularity is very good for Indie writers such as myself. A lot of people seem to believe that because of ebooks that the print book is dying, but it truly isn’t. I have met many that truly enjoy the feel of having a book in their hands. I on the other hand love both. I love the accessibility of the ebooks from anywhere I am, but I also love having a collection of physical books, or being at home and just picking one up and reading.

What are your goals as a writer for the next ten years?
Over the next 10 years I want to really just write as many books as possible. I want to be known. I have a lot of ideas that I think people would love, I just need them to notice me first.

Have you ever had writer's block?
So many times! There are times where I won’t write for months because my mind isn’t there. It is simply annoying and sometimes a downer.

What do you have in mind for your next project?
I have another book that I have written but not edited or anything yet that I plan to release some time this year. It is called “If She Weren’t There” I plan to make it series of possibly 3 books, depending on how my first release goes. “If She Weren’t There” is about a girl, Daniela, being abused by her mother. Her and her mother just moved to a new state and while she isn’t looking for friends, she accidentally finds people who are caring. Once she accepts their friendship it becomes a battle of whether or she should tell the truth or keep it to herself as she always had.

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
They will love it :)
An excerpt from Between the Lines:

I went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. I laughed hysterically at myself. My face was covered in paint and blood from my hands. Why this was funny? It was funny because if I couldn't laugh right now then I was afraid I would cry. I may not have spoken words, but I poured my heart out to my canvas and now my heart was aching from not being closed up in a little box. Through my laughter tears flowed and blood dried up on my hands and I stood there belted over in laughter. 

“Are you okay?” I heard a voice through the door. It was Ailbe. Of course it would be him, Grayson slept with headphones on most of the time.

“Yes.” I said through the door, but it had come out shaky from the crying. I had stopped laughing but I hadn’t stopped crying.  

“Can I come in?”  

“I said I was fine.” I tried to snap, but it came out strained. 

“Then open the door and let me see for myself.” I unlocked the door and he stepped back. 

 “You don’t look fine.

Tears dripped down my face and my clothes were a mess and my hair was all over the place. “Well I am.”  

He looked at my bleeding hand. “You’re bleeding.”  

“I know. Glass is stuck in my hand.” Now that he was looking at me I didn't feel weak, I was able to stop crying and my voice was strong again. 

He stepped forward and reached for my hand and I pulled it away. “Let me look at it.” Hesitantly I gave him my hand. “How did you get glass in your hand?”

“Does it matter? Why did you come over here?” I said drily. 

“Well I heard someone laughing at three in the morning, so I was concerned.” 

I didn't realize it was so late; I had been down in the basement since about eleven when I got home. Grayson and I didn't stay there talking to Andrew until then, but I wanted to drive around a little while and just think in silence. 

“Well I’m fine.” 

He picked a tiny piece of glass out of my hand. “No you’re not. Have you seen yourself? You have blood and paint all over your face. Your hand probably has hundreds of pieces of glass stuck in it. You are not okay.”

“Please don't act like it matters to you.”

 More Information
 Buy the book on Amazon
Visit Quevina Scarver's website
Follow Quevina Scarver on Twitter

Lori B. Rassas, Author of The Perpetual Paycheck

Today we are interviewing Lori B. Rassas, author of the career/business book The Perpetual Paycheck: 5 Secrets to Getting a Job, Keeping a Job, and Earning Income for Life in the Loyalty-free Workplace.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am an employment attorney and coach with the unique experience of having been on both sides of the negotiating table in employment matters, having offered pragmatic advice to both employees and employers. This two-sided background enables me to offer advice that will give individuals an extraordinary edge in the job-search process. I am also an author, professor, trainer, and mediator.

Perhaps more important than my professional expertise, however, is that I am not just writing about the loyalty-free workplace and the benefits it has to offer—but I work within it. I’ve experienced the highest workplace highs you can imagine, and some of the lowest lows. I’ve applied for jobs, and I’ve been rejected from jobs, via mail, phone, email, postcard, and text. In many, many, many cases, I have been completely ignored. I’ve moved through the interview process with prominent employers that, objectively speaking, should never have considered my application. And I’ve been rejected for positions that were a perfect fit.

Because of  this, I have a very good, real-world grasp of the various issues that job seekers in today’s workplace, and I’ve learned how to navigate it successfully. The book is drawn from secrets I’ve learned from my experiences.

One such secret, which I share with my clients (and now with my readers), is that, when looking for a job in today’s workplace, you have to remember that it’s not about you—it’s about your employer. I took my own advice and applied it to The Perpetual Paycheck. The book is not about me, but rather about providing readers with the information they demand.

Describe the purpose of your book in a few sentences.
The Perpetual Paycheck: 5 Secrets to Getting a Job, Keeping a Job, and Earning Income for Life in the Loyalty-free Workplace is an accessible nuts-and-bolts guide for those looking for a new job, those looking to solidify their current position, those looking to move up, and those looking to change careers or industries. The book introduces job seekers to the loyalty-free workplace that exists today, and provides instructions to not just survive a workplace that is commitment-free, but thrive in it.

It may not seem like it, but these are golden years for employees, because the loyalty-free workplace is bursting at the seams with rewards that are waiting to be claimed. You just have to know how to navigate the process.

You write about today’s workplace being loyalty-free. Can you elaborate on this a bit and explain why it’s important for potential employees to be aware of this?
Absolutely. The concept of the loyalty-free workplace is the overriding theme for this book because this reality should inform every employment decision individuals make. The fact is, an employment relationship is a business relationship, and so employees need to start to view it in that way. In the past, we had more leeway in this regard because our jobs tended to be fairly secure, and annual raises and promotional advancement were the norm. Today, for a number of reasons, things have changed. In order to thrive in this environment, we need to adapt.

You say that now is the perfect time to be looking for a job. Why is this?
The workplace environment has changed from a place where co-workers were viewed as second families, and employers and employees entered into lifelong, mutually beneficial relationships, to one with an expectation that everyone needs to look out for him or herself. While this may seem counterintuitive, this is actually a good thing because it lets employees know exactly where they stand—i.e, they are in constant danger of losing the income they need in order to survive. This makes an employee’s decision to seek career opportunities that offer more compensation the only rational and, more importantly, the expected response.

This new environment offers incredibly opportunities for individuals to find a better job and to have no unwanted gaps in your stream of income—in other words, to have a perpetual paycheck. The key is acknowledging and accepting the workplace as it is, and then using every component of it to your advantage.

Who do you think would most benefit from reading this book?
The Perpetual Paycheck provides a contrarian approach to the workplace, so that anyone who has a job, or is looking for a job, will benefit from learning about the environment. One of the reasons I decided to write this book was because I often found that I was providing similar advice to people who were in all phases of their careers—from college graduates, to people who were recently laid off, to career changers looking for their next chapters to begin. The workplace is loyalty-free, so you need to understand what that means, and adapt your approach to respond to it.

You have a lot of experience in employment, having been an employment attorney, coach, and professor with close to two decades of experience. What first got you interested in helping others with their employment goals?
Working in the employment field always seems to be a natural transition for me. My parents ran a family-owned and operated business, which was started in 1930 by my grandfather and his brothers. My dad started to work there in 1964, and just recently retired. My grandfather also worked there until he passed away in 2004, just a few days before his 95th birthday. Most of the employees worked there for two decades or more. Because of this, dinner conversations between my parents, my three sisters and me often included robust discussions about employment matters. 

Looking back, I can definitely see this cultural shift from those dinner conversations as a young child, where employees planned to work for a single employer for their entire careers (based on a sense of mutual loyalty and respect), to the workplace we have today, where the relationship lasts only until either party to the working relationship finds a better option. I’ve had countless conversations with my dad about the fact that things have changed and that he would not have been able to run the successful business he did, had he started in today’s workplace (as opposed to the workplace that existing decades ago).

What was the most interesting thing you uncovered while doing research for The Perpetual Paycheck?
Just how prevalent the loyalty-free workplace is! Throughout my career, and certainly through the process of writing this book, I talked about these workplace strategies with people in all different phases of their careers, and it was truly fascinating to hear about their shared experiences. The experience of an executive earning six figures was the same as that of a recent graduate who was not yet earning enough to move out of their family home, or a middle-manager looking to work in a new industry. To thrive in today’s workplace, employees and job-seekers need to understand and accept the realities of the loyalty-free environment. The Perpetual Paycheck provides guidance to do just that.

How do you think reading your book will impact people?
I think initially this may seem like a real eye-opener for most people. But, as people work their way through it, I am confident they will find themselves nodding their heads in agreement and quickly recognizing that many of the scenarios I discuss in the book are the exact kind of situations that they are facing today. It is prevalent, we are working in it. But once you identify what’s happening, you can take advantage of the many opportunities to earn a steady paycheck today, even in a loyalty-free workplace. The book shows readers how.

What do you think will be the biggest misconception about The Perpetual Paycheck?
I think are two.

One is, since I talk a lot about the importance of putting yourself in a position so that you always take advantage of opportunities that enable you to earn as much money as possible throughout your working life, some believe that I am suggesting that everyone should abandon their passions, work for money (and for money only), and look out for no one but themselves. Nothing could be further from the truth. I consider myself to be an incredibly loyal employee, and I am confident my prior employers would agree with that characterization. I am also incredibly passionate about my work. However, I achieved the most success in securing and maintaining employment only after I embraced the realities of the loyalty-free workplace and adapted my approach to securing and maintaining jobs to those realities. The fact is that there is nothing inherently inconsistent with being a loyal employee and working in a loyalty-free workplace. 

I loved my prior jobs, but when it became clear that there were no more opportunities for advancements (in terms of learning new skills and more compensation), I had to make the decision to leave so that I could continue to advance. That wasn’t always an easy decision to make. But, if you think in terms of one’s career path (which is to grow and more forward whenever possible), it did not make sense for me to remain in place—and, in all fairness, it did not make sense for my employers to promote me, just for the sake of promoting me. I think most people today would agree with that.

Going back to the idea of passion, the book in no way discourages readers from pursuing their passions. In fact, I encourage the opposite. By seeking out opportunities for advancement and/or additional compensation, you will always put yourself in the position to fund your passions (be that traveling, sailing, collecting art, or whatever they happen to be) and develop them to your heart’s content.

What do you have in mind for your next writing project?
I’m glad you asked because I certainly have much more to say about the loyalty-free workplace and all of the benefits it has to offer. Since the secrets presented in this book focus on both how to excel at your current job and how to find your next one, I am already working on another book about how to negotiate the terms of employment once you do get the offer. I am finding many similarities between how individual approach the job search process (using the same processes that worked in the past) and how individuals negotiate their salaries. One of the keys to interviewing for a job in the loyalty-free workplace is understanding that, with regard to the position that needs to be filled, it’s not about your needs, but the needs of the company. That approach also comes in handy once it’s time to negotiate the terms of employment. 

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about The Perpetual Paycheck?
Just that I know that the job search process may seem daunting, and people may be discouraged—but it really doesn’t have to be that way. We have been taught that the most successful formula for finding a job is to set up informational interviews. That approach may have worked before, but it no longer works in today’s workplace. Yet not many people realize that. Instead, most people are still applying the same obsolete formula to their job search, without getting any results. Today’s workplace is loyalty-free. Job seekers must adjust that their strategies to fit that reality in order to achieve success.

It really is a great day to look for a new job. If you use the strategies I discuss in The Perpetual Paycheck, you’ll see exactly what I mean.

More Information
www.lorirassas.com
Buy the book on Amazon

Clara Penner, Author of Fifty-Two Weeks of Adventure and Discovery for Your Soul

Today we are interviewing Clara Penner about her personal development book Fifty-Two Weeks of Adventure and Discovery for Your Soul.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a blogger & author. Connecting with other likeminded souls is my whole purpose of blogging and writing.  To share experiences and help each other experience to best life possible is my mission.  My favorite things are hanging out with my family, meditation, reading, writing & teaching. 

Describe the purpose of your book in a few sentences.
To awaken purpose in life, light the fire in their soul & create an awareness of the importance of being a player in their own life.

Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
Those who are ready to start living life and not just surviving life.  Those who want to feel the passion and fire of life again.  Those ready to find purpose in life so they can feel desire for life.

What inspired you to write a book about pursuing a new joyful endeavor each week of the year?
When my father was dying he was embracing each moment, we were all just living in the moment and it felt free in a time of such intense emotion.  After he passed it became clear to me that I needed to start checking off those things I was waiting to do someday, and make today that day, and that is when I started the fifty two weeks of adventure and discovery for myself. I shocked myself with how amazing this experience was and why I carry it forward in my life still. Hands down an incredible experience.

Why is it important to pursue adventure and discovery?
Adventure and discovery is why we are here on earth, we are here to experience life. Many people just survive life day to day but don’t experience or have a lot of joy in life, we make life very complicated and it’s not. Just have more fun more adventure & discovery.  Everyone loves feeling that passion and purpose in life and often we give up on that but it’s never too late to live life out loud.  That is different for every person, some people adventure and discovery are much different than others, none are better than others, and each is perfectly perfect for that person.


 

Author Clara Penner

There are pages for readers to journal about their experience in your book. Why is journaling important for people seeking to infuse joy into their lives?
Journaling is so healing, and helps you discover things about yourself that you might need to see. Many are uncomfortable journaling because it makes them feel vulnerable or exposed, and that is the discovery process many run from but if you embrace it you will have so much discovery about yourself and that is where the magic happens. As well you are setting an intention to yourself and to the universe that is stronger through writing.
 
Your other book, Gentle Steps on the Journey of a Healing Heart, is a companion book to Fifty-Two Weeks of Adventure and Discovery for Your Soul. Should Gentle Steps on the Journey of a Healing Heart be read first? Or does the order not matter?
They are a perfect complement to each other but the order does not matter.

How do you think reading your book will impact people?
Self-discovery is amazing for healing and living life bigger and better, with these books if the reader takes the time to go through the questions, they discover their life, their passion, their purpose, what’s better than that???

What do you have in mind for your next writing project?
Blogging on my blog emotionalsurfer.com.
 
I love this platform, so this is where I will infuse my passion of writing & sharing.

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
Enjoy life, embrace life, and find purpose and passion for life.  You matter, your life matters, your actions matters, and my hope is that these books can assist you in that process of being the best version of you.

More Information
Check out the rest of the stops on Clara Penner's blog tour
Follow Clara Penner on Twitter
Like Clara Penner on Facebook

Amanda Nicole, Author of From Divorce to Destiny

Today we are interviewing Amanda Nicole, author of From Divorce to Destiny.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a single mother and serial entrepreneur. I work as a freelance consultant providing administrative, reporting and analysis, and graphic design services to my clients. I also work full-time as a Business Analyst, and I am also an Indie Author. My true passion is teaching and writing, so that is what my writing and my books are really intended to do. They are created to teach others the lessons that I’ve learned the hard way. That’s why my books are seemingly all over the place in terms of subject matter and genre. I wear a lot of hats and have done a lot of things in my life, so I can teach on a lot of different subjects.

Describe the purpose of From Divorce to Destiny in a few sentences.
The purpose of this particular book is to dispel the myths that are associated with divorce and the Bible. I’ve seen so many people stay stuck and miserable inside of a failing marriage, feeling like it is their duty as a Christian or as a parent to stick it out. I want people to realize God’s true heart for them, in combination with His commands on marriage and divorce.

Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
Anyone who is miserable in their marriage, or who has gotten divorced and is now being wracked with guilt as a result of it. Truth has such an amazing power to free people, and that is what my prayer is that my readers will experience.

What inspired you to write a book about the Biblical basis for divorce?
My own experience, and the experiences of others. I lived this book, so I know what it’s like to agonize over the decision to get a divorce and to reach out for answers only to find judgement. I had to ask God for myself to get answers. I encourage others to do the same and not to take my book as law, but we are helpers of one another, so I want to help others in any way that I can as they navigate this difficult subject.
 

Author Amanda Nicole.

What do you think are some of the biggest misconceptions regarding what the Bible says about divorce?
I think the biggest misconception is a wrong view of marriage. People don’t really understand what marriage is in God’s eyes. He is the creator of marriage, so He is the only officiator. Divorce becomes an option when you were never really married in God’s eyes. I believe that there are a lot more marriage that fall under that heading than we want to believe.

How do you think reading your book will impact people?
Well it will do one of two things. It will either outrage them if they don’t share my same philosophy, or if they’re not will to admit that their prior perception of marriage and divorce was incorrect, or it will provide freedom and relief that what they knew to be true deep down in their spirit, it actually correct. My prayer is that it will encourage readers to ask God to confirm or deny what is being said and to speak to them. I can never go wrong when encouraging readers to run to God and that I what I do throughout in the book.

What do you have in mind for your next writing project?
I am currently working on two pieces. The first is a follow up to this book about what to do post-divorce. It discusses seeking emotional healing, how to make sure the kids are okay, how to date correctly as a Christian, and how to choose wiser when considering re-marriage. That book is completed and just waiting on me to find the time to get it edited and ready for publication. The second book is the sequel to my young adult book that describes Christian superheroes. The first book describes them and how they hear God concerning their heavenly assignment. The next one will describe their implementation of their assignment, and the impact that it has on the generation as a result. That book is only about 25% complete.

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
Yes. I’d like for readers to know this about all of my books. I think outside of the box and my books are outside of the box. I have read a lot of books on the subjects that I write on, and my books are not similar to those books at all. My philosophy is different, my point of view is different etc. If you are expecting my books to be the same as what you’re used to reading on a particular subject or even a particular genre, then I’m afraid that you will be gravely disappointed. Read my books if you are looking for something different because those are the readers that will be the most satisfied.

Also concerning this particular book, I am not pro-divorce, I am pro hearing God concerning your choice of mate before you get married in the first place. However, if you a hard head like me and you didn’t do that, then I do believe that there are times when divorce is necessary, for that reason.

More Information
http://www.truthtranscribed.com/#!books/cee5

Rob Marley, Author of Warden

Today we are interviewing Rob Marley, author of the historical fantasy novelette Warden (A Blackthorn Chronicles story).

Tell us a bit about yourself.
Well, I've got a few years writing for fun experience, and a fair bit of ghostwriting too. For me writing is recreational: because some stories are too good to just leave floating in your head. Unless rain and bad accents interests you then the fact I'm from England etc. isn't much to talk about, but I will mention I work hard at all the work I produce for people to read, it's a passion, definitely.

Describe your novelette, Warden, in a few sentences.
Isaac, ex soldier, he's a priest now, but when his small town of Riverfield is attacked by elves, he's pushed out of that life and with a young girl named Maria, fights to save innocent people. Maria herself is a young protagonist, new to Riverfield, and new to a life of action, everything is changing for her and she does her best to keep up. The story is driven by a need for these two, and others, to ignore their personal feelings about war and action, and do what is needed to protect the people who don't deserve a fate coming for them.

Who do you think would most appreciate this novelette?
At the risk of being obvious, fantasy and historical fiction readers, but the length of each novelette means that it's probably suited to people that like shorter bursts of reading. People who want to see something with the bits of fantasy they like, and a few breaths of fresh air in there as well. People who want to try out the genre but don't want to face the thickness of George R. R. Martin's work or Bernard Cornwell's novels, Warden is an opportunity. I think Warden presents a character for everyone to love, Maria is young and strong, Isaac is older and more cautious, but both of them have a fire inside them to achieve what is needed. 

What inspired you to write a story about people struggling to survive after an attack from outsiders?
Because it's fun! When you create new characters, putting them through their paces and seeing how you want them to act shapes who they are as characters. Warden very much does that, taking two people who couldn't wish to be farther from the situations they're in and seeing exactly what happens when they're in them. Inspiration really came from daydreams after too many Game of Thrones episodes and history books, I've written pieces where the characters take ages to ground and face any challenge, when I decided to write Warden I wanted to push them from the very first, and give them a rest later on.... maybe.

What can you tell us about the Blackthorn family?
The Blackthorn family.... They rule the Thornlands, where this series takes place, and their hands steer paths that ripple throughout the land. Knowing who exactly they are at this point isn't too important, but knowing that the Blackthorn family is old, powerful and vigilant in the protection of their people is very, very important.

It is possible, in future that the Blackthorn family will play a more personal role in the adventures of our protagonists, but for now they're very much above and behind the fog.

What drew you to the historical fantasy genre?
When I decided to publish my own work, I began thinking about how much I liked creating things in writing, and decided to make a whole world where I made the rules, the Empire, and the Thornlands were born.

Historical fantasy just carries the best bits of my favorite genres, the action and grounding of the historical aspect, but the freedom and possibility that fantasy presents us.

The world itself took hours upon hours of detailing to give it any credibility, there are hundreds of details in the world that I'll never write about, but I love it because I could create it anyway.

In short, the enjoyment of the type of writing, and the fun of creation without limits.

Tell us a bit about our protagonists, Isaac and Maria.
Well, Isaac is in his forties... there's a lot unsaid about him but what I can make clear is he's reluctant to pick up the weapon again. When the story begins yu get to see a scene that shows how hard he is working to make peace with the life he had. In Warden you see a man who makes decisions he hates making, but doesn't hesitate for the good of the people, after all, good men make poor soldiers, and Isaac was not a poor soldier.

Maria on the other hand, is young, and having moved up from the Thornland's capital, Silverkeep, only arrived in Riverfield just before... well you know. She might be petrified, and struggle to cope with a lot of the situations, but it would be a mistake to underestimate her.

You have a lot of experience as a ghost writer. What made you decide to publish a work under your own name?
Mostly the desire to see my work go up under my own name, or a pen name at least. I love writing and ghostwriting gave me the chance to practice and work at my skills, but I began writing because I liked creating things and I wanted to keep some of those creations for myself.

Ghostwriting has done a lot for me, and still does, but at the end of the day I want to look at what I've achieved and see at least some of it under my name, so I can say 'I'm the author of...' rather than 'I'm a ghostwriter'.

What genre of books did you work with as a ghost writer?
A wide variety, which was really the beauty of it. I did/do a lot of work in modern and historical fantasy, though did I did some thriller, and some tragedy. I think I've dabbled in just about every popular genre, and even branched out into article writing at one point.
 
Did your experience as a ghost writer make writing this novelette easier than it would have been otherwise?
It certainly made me a lot more comfortable than I think it would have been, the experience I gained ghostwriting meant I didn't make as many first writer mistakes as I could have done, and it was easy to spot the ones I did make.

Who was your favorite character to write?
Oh, by far Marshal Tulus, it's difficult because I have a definite favorite in book 2, but in Warden, Tulus is just so entertaining to write, and I hope, read.

Are there any aspects of your writing that you've been practicing?
Style, style, style! I often worry about this and that, and getting what I want to say down on a page in a nice flowing manner is something I've been perfecting. Not worrying so much about having a rigid planning structure either, as George R. R. Martin said about Gardeners and Architects, I'm a 'gardener' I don't plan every detail when I start, I find characters I like and a plot that's interesting, I start there and keep going.

How many novelettes do you have planned in the series?
A fair few, definitely. I've just finished the manuscript for book 2, and the way each of the characters are developing is looking really good so far. The beauty of Isaac and Maria's story is there is so much happening in the world, that they can really go anywhere for adventures, and there's certainly plans in the works for them.

Without giving too much away, what can readers expect from the next novelette and when will it be released?
Well, one or two characters are introduced in Warden that aren't explored too much, in book 2 these characters become close to those already in the picture, whilst the interactions between them  are coming off brilliantly, if I may say so myself. I'd say expect changes to the character's lives and development, both good and.... not so good. Also, expect more action, having finished book 2 I realised there is actually quite a lot of action involved, but there's also a lot more time to see just how it is all affecting the people involved, there are new relationships formed, and nurtured.
 
Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your novelette?
Well, Warden is not a loner. Warden is the beginning of several character's story's, and a little bit of showing what these characters can achieve. If you like fantasy, you like action, and you like something that will stop you being bored, whilst supply you with something new, Warden is here.
 
An excerpt from Warden:

"How long ago was that?" Maria asked.

"Oh about four years ago? It's gone quick it has…" Tulus paused for a second. "I protected that town for ten years. They've probably burnt it to the ground by now, they'll see the smoke for miles." There was a tear in his eye, Maria could see it herself even in the dark. Soon though she fell asleep, curled against the huge man for warmth and even, though she'd not admit it, a little comfort.

Suddenly there was a voice. One of the sentries.

"Stop! Identify yourself." Then, quieter. "By the God's, Isaac!"

Maria woke startled. Tulus was on his feet in an instant followed by the rest of the soldiers; townspeople lifted their heads and Sergeant Hart began assuring people all was well.

She strained her eyes, and saw in the crack between the rocks they'd come through, one of the sentries supported a taller figure as they made their way to the people.

As they drew closer Maria gasped: Isaac's face was covered in blood, his expression barely present. He limped so badly one of the sentries had his arm around him, half carrying him. They reached Tulus and wordlessly Isaac dropped something at the Marshal's feet.

A sword. Tulus's sword.

More Information
https://twitter.com/RobMarleywriter
https://www.smashwords.com/novelettes/view/538129