Author interview no.390 with writer RLB Hartmann

Welcome to the three hundred and ninetieth of my blog interviews with novelists, poets, short story authors, biographers, agents, publishers and more. Today’s is with historical novelist RLB Hartmann. A list of interviewees (blogged and scheduled) can be found here. If you like what you read, please do go and investigate further.

Morgen: Hello, RLB. Please tell us something about yourself, and how you came to be a writer.

RLB: I’ve lived in western North Carolina all of my life except for a few months in Sarasota, FL, where I met my husband in his bookstore. My maternal grandmother and my mother read to me, so I learned as a pre-schooler the value of narrative and dialog. In third grade, I began penning stories of my own and never stopped.

Morgen: How romantic, meeting your husband where you did. Fate, clearly. What genre do you generally write?

RLB: Historical novels hold the most appeal, though my first attempts were a contemporary teen angst and a fanciful heroine-marries-badboy-and-goes-to-live-in-his-mysterious-castle. Both remain packed away, and rightfully so!

Morgen: What have you had published to-date?

RLB:  The first book was a test case, put through Lulu.com. A fictionalized account of a real ex-moonshiner, Floyd and the Traveling Yard Sale turned out satisfactory, so I published I Rode with Cullen Baker, my first historical novel, based on a real-life Texas outlaw.

Morgen: Historical is a really popular genre (and agents have told me they want more of it). History was my worst subject at school so I tend to avoid it although one of the people who bought my Story a Day May 2011 eBook collection said one of the historical pieces was their favourite (as did someone else with a sci-fi piece and I tend to avoid that too, because I don’t read the genre). Have you had any rejections? If so, how do you deal with them?

RLB:  Like most writers who stick with it, I have a folder stuffed with rejections from some of the biggest names in the publishing world, as well as obscure and transitory editors at selected magazines. Once I understood why my novels were being shoved aside, I stopped courting failure, and as soon as I could, I took my career into my own hands.

Morgen: I was the same although my file isn’t stuffed, I just liked the idea of doing everything myself. Have you won or been shortlisted in any competitions?

RLB: Some years ago, my 1-page short, “It Wasn’t My Idea,” resulted in first prize, a giant tiger kite (never flown, but a nice decoration), and “Harvest” won $10 as first in a monthly contest one Halloween. My short story “Going…going…gone” recently won $100 (first place) at www.love-lovepublishing.com. My contemporary novel, Strong Coffee, placed 4th in the second Textnovel.com competition, and in 2001 the script version of I Rode with Cullen Baker won first place in the original Split-Screenplay $1000 competition.

Morgen: Wow, well done. That must make up for your stuffed file. Do you have an agent?

RLB: I’ve had two agents. For a brief time.

Morgen: Ah. Are your books available as eBooks? Do you read eBooks or is it paper all the way?

RLB: For now, for me it’s paper. Ironic, as I’m a tree-hugger whose father loved nothing better than chopping down the biggest poplar tree on his property and using it for firewood.

Morgen: How much of the marketing do you do for your published works or indeed for yourself as a ‘brand’?

RLB: I do it all, learning as I go.

Morgen: It’s definitely a curve, isn’t it. Do you have a favourite of your books or characters? If any of your books were made into films, who would you have as the leading actor/s?

RLB:  Whatever book I’m re-reading in prep for publishing, is my favorite. If I had to choose a favorite character, he would be Ramón Cordero, the central figure in most of my saga, Tierra del Oro. The actor/s would depend on who is the right age now, and what books were being filmed.

Morgen: Did you have any say in the title / covers of your book(s)? How important do you think they are?

RLB: Being my own publisher, I’ve chosen all of my titles. I believe they are extremely important as they’re usually the first and sometimes the only thing a potential reader knows.

Morgen: And some people are put off if they’re poor. What are you working on at the moment / next?

RLB: A Lion Against the Wind, Book 5 of the Cordero Saga (Tierra del Oro) went live this April with subsequent titles to follow at 2-month intervals, finishing in December 2012. I’m also putting together the YouTube video for Book 2, Legend of the Sierra Madre (cover shown).

Morgen: Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?

RLB: Once the saga began, I never had writer’s block, for there was always some scene or sequence in my mind, ready to find its way onto the page the moment I sat down.

Morgen: That’s pretty much how it works for me, I’m very lucky. Do you plot your stories or do you just get an idea and run with it?

RLB:  I used to jot down events that I knew would happen sooner or later, and record bits of dialog that characters spoke, so I wouldn’t lose them before they were needed.

Morgen: You mentioned Ramón Cordero, do you have a method for creating your characters, their names and what do you think makes them believable?

RLB: My characters appear in my mind’s eye and I watch and listen to them. I think they’re believable because they live in a world that was once real–Mexico in the 19th and 20th centuries. I’ve amassed quite a nice reference library of vintage materials. The most exciting find was Gringo Rebel, by Thord-Gray, a man in the rebel army who wrote details of General Obregón’s march down the west coast. It came into my hand at the exact point in my novel that I needed it for authenticity.

Morgen: Do you write any non-fiction, poetry or short stories?

RLB:  Some short stories, short scripts, a very few poems, and occasional irate letters or emails.

Morgen: <laughs> Do you do a lot of editing or do you find that as time goes on your writing is more fully-formed?

RLB: I’m still editing just before I hit the “publish” button at Create Space.

Morgen: I think most writers would keep editing if they could, going back to something later there’s usually something. You just have to draw a line. You said you need authenticity, which is obviously vital, and you sound very knowledgeable about that era, do you have to do much research?

RLB: I did much more research than ever found its way into the stories, but knowing what was going on at the time my characters lived enabled me to weave in the events and details they would have been affected by.

Morgen: It’s always better to know more than goes in the book. Some authors have clearly been showing off when they’ve put in so much unnecessary detail. What point of view do you find most to your liking?

RLB: I Rode with Cullen Baker and Strong Coffee are both first person. The Tierra del Oro novels are all third person, but have multiple points of view, depending on which character is most emotionally involved in the action.

Morgen: Do you have pieces of work that you think will never see light of day?

RLB: The two unnamed efforts I mentioned earlier, as well as an unfinished vampire story and one finished novel that I’m still not satisfied with. And some western short stories with beginnings but no endings.

Morgen: Yet. What advice would you give aspiring writers?

RLB: Characters make the plotlines, and plotlines make the characters. Don’t put out work that reveals your ignorance of the language you’re writing in and of the audience you’re writing for.

Morgen: If you could invite three people from any era to dinner, who would you choose and what would you cook (or hide the takeaway containers)?

RLB:  I would find out what they like to eat, and either cook it myself or call up a caterer. I’d invite Edward James Olmos, Victor Villaseñor, and Margaret Mitchell.

Morgen: Is there a word, phrase or quote you like?

RLB: “Always scroll to the bottom.”

Morgen: What do you do when you’re not writing?

RLB:  I read and buy books. When I ever find the time, I’m planning to return to my painting.

Morgen: Me too. I have loads of art equipment in my loft waiting to be used, although I’m more of a cartoonist (although not a great one) – I’m OK if I have something in front of me to replicate but unlike my writing, I have little imagination when drawing from scratch. Are there any writing-related websites and / or books that you find useful?

RLB: My Book Marketing Guides, Lynnette’s Book Marketing – Blog, www.love-lovepublishing.com, http://www.everywritersresource.com and http://www.everywriter.net.

Morgen: I don’t know those. I’ll check them out. Are you on any forums or networking sites? If so, how valuable do you find them?

RLB: I’m sporadically active at Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Goodreads, and still visit the online site that has given me immense encouragement over the years, Zoetrope.com

Morgen: What do you think the future holds for a writer?

RLB: Depends entirely on the writer.

Morgen: Where can we find out about you and your work?

RLB: www.rlbhartmann.com

Morgen: Is there anything else you’d like to mention?

RLB: I have one other historical novel, The Brackettville Horses, slated to be published by Love-Love Publishing sometime this year.  Book 5, A Lion Against the Wind, launched on time on the 14th April. Any or all of the 5 Tierra del Oro titles may be purchased through the links on my website

Morgen: Thank you, RLB.

RLB: Thank you, Morgen, for allowing me the opportunity to express myself!

Morgen: I love talking writing so it’s always a pleasure.

If you are reading this and you write, in whatever genre, and are thinking “ooh, I’d like to do this” then you can… just email me and I’ll send you the questions. You complete them, I tweak them where appropriate (if necessary to reflect the blog ‘clean and light’ rating) and then they get posted. When that’s done, I email you with the link so you can share it with your corner of the literary world. And if you have a writing-related blog / podcast and would like to interview me… let me know.

You can sign up to receive these blog posts daily or weekly so you don’t miss anything… and follow me on Twitter where each new posting is automatically announced. You can also read / download my eBooks and free eShorts at Smashwords, Sony Reader Store, Barnes & Noble, iTunes Bookstore, Kobo and Amazon, with more to follow. I have a new forum, friend me on Facebook, like me on Facebook, connect with me on LinkedIn, find me on Tumblr, complete my website’s Contact me page or plain and simple, email me.  I also now have a new blog creation service especially for, but not limited to, writers.

Unfortunately, as I post an interview a day (amongst other things) I can’t review books but I have a feature called ‘Short Story Saturdays’ where I review stories of up to 2,500 words. Alternatively if you have a short story or self-contained novel extract / short chapter (ideally up to 1000 words) that you’d like critiqued and don’t mind me reading it / talking about and critiquing it (I send you the transcription afterwards so you can use the comments or ignore them)  on my ‘Bailey’s Writing Tips’ podcast, then do email me. They are weekly episodes, usually released Monday mornings UK time, interweaving the recordings between the red pen sessions with the hints & tips episodes. I am now also looking for flash fiction (<1000 words) for Flash Fiction Fridays and poetry for Post-weekend Poetry.

 

Author interview no.379 with writer Robert Spiller

Welcome to the three hundred and seventy-ninth of my blog interviews with novelists, poets, short story authors, biographers, agents, publishers and more. Today’s is with multi-genre author Robert Spiller. A list of interviewees (blogged and scheduled) can be found here. If you like what you read, please do go and investigate further.

Morgen: Hello, Robert. Please tell us something about yourself, where you’re based, and how you came to be a writer.

Robert: I am a former Mathematics teacher (university, high school, middle school), who recently retired after 35 years to write full time.  I live in beautiful Colorado Springs, Colorado.

When my second marriage evaporated, I went on a three-week bike ride and brought along 5 spiral notebooks.  What I wrote on this emotional excursion turned into my first novel, a science fiction piece entitled The Children of Yei.  The novel won second prize at a Writing Conference but I couldn’t give that epitome of fine literature away.  It wasn’t until I started writing mysteries: The Witch of Agnesi, A Calculated Demise, Irrational Numbers, Radical Equations (to be released in print copy later this month) that I became published.

Morgen: A novel in three weeks, wow. That’s better than NaNoWriMo. In the introduction I called you “multi-genre”, what genres do you write?

Robert: I write an amateur sleuth mystery series with a female Mathematics teacher who solves murders in a small Colorado town.  I have written two sci-fi novels, two historic Young Adult novels, and am currently working on a horror piece that gives me nightmares.

Morgen: Ooh great, then it’ll give us nightmares… or you may not mean it like that. What have you had published to-date?

Robert: The Witch of Agnesi – 2006, A Calculated Demise – 2007, Irrational Numbers – 2008 and Radical Equations – print release Feb 2012

The first three were with Medallion Press, Radical Equations is through Courtney Literary.

Morgen: (they’re brilliant covers) Have you had any rejections? If so, how do you deal with them?

Robert: I just recently threw away over a hundred rejections that I promised myself I would keep until I died.  Obviously, I didn’t keep that promise.  When I was trying to sell the first Bonnie Pinkwater mystery, The Witch of Agnesi, I sent out so many queries and packets that once I received 12 rejections in one day.  As for how I deal with rejections, I really don’t let it get to me (I just assume they don’t understand my genius).

Morgen: Absolutely. It’s just the right thing for the wrong person, and you kept going. I only have 20-something rejections but I’ve made myself that same promise because I think any author who has had a bumpy road can see how far they’ve come… plus they get to stick their tongue out at rejectors (I don’t suppose that’s even a word but hey, if we can’t make them up, who can?) when they are successful. Have you won or been shortlisted in any competitions?

Robert: My first novel, The Children of Yei won second prize in the Paul Gillette Writing Contest at the Pikes Peak Writing Conference.

Morgen: Oh well done. I bet you were thrilled. Do you have an agent? Do you think they’re vital to an author’s success?

Robert: I have had a few agents, but at the moment am unrepresented by a literary agent.  I would love to find someone to help me find a home for my Historic YA mysteries.

Morgen: Let’s hope one’s reading you now. I’ve had three (British) tell me they’re after more historical so it is a genre that’s being sought after. Are your books available as eBooks? Were you involved in that process at all? Do you read eBooks or is it paper all the way?

Robert: All of my books are available as e-books: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords.  In fact the most recent, Radical Equations was published as an e-book in December but will only be available in print later in February 2012.  A good friend gave me a Kindle for a retirement gift and so I’m reading more and more e-books.

Morgen: I’ve had a Kindle since January and I love it, although I’ll still read both formats. How much of the marketing do you do for your published works or indeed for yourself as a ‘brand’?

Robert: I am working with a wonderful promoter, Deb Courtney, who has given me a marketing plan that requires me to do a list of tasks for each reiteration of the plan.  I have done signings, speaking engagements, readings, interviews, taught classes at conferences, visited schools.  I am actively involved with Goodreads (I have two giveaways running), have a blog: http://spillerwrites.blogspot.com, a website: http://rspiller.com, use Twitter, Facebook, and am a member of a whole slew of author sites.

Morgen: You’re certainly doing all the right things by the sound of it – you just have to keep plugging away. Do you have a favourite of your books or characters? If any of your books were made into films, who would you have as the leading actor/s?

Robert: Truth is I have thought of this a bunch.  I always picture one particular actress playing Bonnie – Bette Midler.  Annette Benning also works.  My current favourite book is Radical Equations – but I’ve always liked whatever I’m working on.  My favourite character besides my sleuth Bonnie Pinkwater is Rhiannon Griffith, Bonnie’s Wiccan sidekick. She’s the perfect female foil for Bonnie’s analytic nature: smart, compassionate, generous, and she doesn’t take guff from Bonnie.

Morgen: Bette Midler is great. I like Annette Benning but Bette, in my opinion anyway, has more of a stage presence… she’s cheeky. What are you working on at the moment / next?

Robert: Two books really.  The next Bonnie Pinkwater mystery, Napier’s Bones.  And a horror novel set in the aftermath of World War II.

Morgen: They all sound quite in depth, do you have to do much research?

Robert: Each Bonnie Pinkwater mystery features a historic mathematician, so I research their lives.  Each is used in some fashion to give Bonnie that AHA moment necessary to solving the murders.  The Witch of Agnesi featured Marie Agnesi, A Calculated Demise featured Hypatia of Alexandria, who herself was murdered, Irrational Numbers featured Sonya Kovalevskaya, and Radical Equations features Leonhard Euler.  So along with a satisfying mystery the reader gets to learn about these fascinating people.

Morgen: I have to say I’ve not heard of them (history isn’t my strong point) but I know there are people out there who will know so you do especially have to get your facts right because they’ll be eager enough to tell you. If you could invite three people from any era to dinner, who would you choose and what would you cook (or hide the takeaway containers)?

Robert: 1.  Hypatia of Alexandria (we would have cheese, bread and seasoned olive oil).  She was the daughter of the last librarian of the great library.  She was an advocate of reason and many people believe her murder was orchestrated by a man who later became pope.

2. Ghandi (we would fast)

3. Tecumseh, the great Native American chief.  Back when the North America had more Indians than white folks he almost succeeded in driving us out.  We would dine on pemmican (whatever the heck that is).

Morgen: Um… Google tells me it’s an indigenous sausage. http://www.natureskills.com/wild-foods/recipe-pemmican Is there a word, phrase or quote you like?

Robert: I’ve always been partial to ‘Remember the Snodens of Yesteryear’ from Catch 22.  I also like ‘Don’t Panic.’ from the Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe series.

Morgen: Brain the size of a planet and all they ask me to do is pick up pieces of paper. Actually Douglas Adams said one of my favourite quotes… something like ‘I love deadlines – the sound as they woosh by’. Are you involved in anything else writing-related other than actual writing or marketing of your writing?

Robert: I am currently using my blog (http://spillerwrites.blogspot.com) to develop a class on Setting.  I teach writing classes in Humor, and the Care and Feeding of Critique Groups.

Morgen: I like the sound of those, especially the latter (because I belong to four). What do you think the future holds for a writer?

Robert: I believe more and more writers will go the self-publishing route, as it becomes increasingly easier to put work out yourself.  I’ve heard the argument that this will precipitate a decline in quality, but I have faith that people will read what is exceptional and tell their friends.  Plus there are more and more avenues of review that readers could access (Goodreads, etc) to learn what is good and what is drek.

Morgen: Exactly, that’s what I think; that the reviews will out. Where can we find out about you and your work?

Robert: First of all a reader could check my website: http://rspiller.com.  All my work is available in e-book and print form on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and can be ordered through most bookstores.

Morgen: Brilliant, thank you Robert.

If you are reading this and you write, in whatever genre, and are thinking “ooh, I’d like to do this” then you can… just email me and I’ll send you the questions. You complete them, I tweak them where appropriate (if necessary to reflect the blog ‘clean and light’ rating) and then they get posted. When that’s done, I email you with the link so you can share it with your corner of the literary world. And if you have a writing-related blog / podcast and would like to interview me… let me know.

You can sign up to receive these blog posts daily or weekly so you don’t miss anything… and follow me on Twitter where each new posting is automatically announced. You can also read / download my eBooks and free eShorts at Smashwords, Sony Reader Store, Barnes & Noble, iTunes Bookstore, Kobo and Amazon, with more to follow. I have a new forum and you can follow me on Twitter, friend me on Facebook, like me on Facebook, connect with me on LinkedIn, find me on Tumblr, complete my website’s Contact me page or plain and simple, email me.  I also now have a new blog creation service especially for, but not limited to, writers.

Unfortunately, as I post an interview a day (amongst other things) I can’t review books but I have a feature called ‘Short Story Saturdays’ where I review stories of up to 2,500 words. Alternatively if you have a short story or self-contained novel extract / short chapter (ideally up to 1000 words) that you’d like critiqued and don’t mind me reading it / talking about and critiquing it (I send you the transcription afterwards so you can use the comments or ignore them)  on my ‘Bailey’s Writing Tips’ podcast, then do email me. They are weekly episodes, usually released Monday mornings UK time, interweaving the recordings between the red pen sessions with the hints & tips episodes. I am now also looking for flash fiction (<1000 words) for Flash Fiction Fridays and poetry for Post-weekend Poetry.

 

Author interview no.375 with writer Caron Rider

Welcome to the three hundred and seventy-fifth of my blog interviews with novelists, poets, short story authors, biographers, agents, publishers and more. Today’s is with sci-fi and fantasy paranormal author Caron Rider. A list of interviewees (blogged and scheduled) can be found here. If you like what you read, please do go and investigate further.

Morgen: Hello, Caron. Please tell us something about yourself, where you’re based, and how you came to be a writer.

Caron: I have always been a hard worker. Up until last year I worked 3 jobs. I taught high school history during the day, taught high school students at night, and taught online classes to high school students. Then my dad began having health issues, leading me to quit and move to Missouri to help him out. So I was used to being extremely busy and suddenly I wasn’t doing much of anything except keeping house (remodelled the bathroom, put down a new floor in the kitchen / dining area, and painted all throughout), a little yard work (built a greenhouse and a hen house), raising 2 kids, 2 cats, 4 dogs, 6 guineas, and my father. What can I say? I was bored. So amidst all that, I wrote my first novel.

Morgen: Wow. A bit of a contrast between sitting writing and being so active. What genre do you generally write and have you considered other genres?

Caron: Well, my book has been classed as young adult but really any age can read it. I did write it with the thought that teenagers would read it, so it’s clean. I am most familiar with sci-fi and fantasy so that’s probably what I’ll stick to. Although Silver Knight has been called paranormal as well.

Morgen: All popular genres and really I think anyone can read a family-friendly book, and many do. What have you had published to-date? Do you write under a pseudonym?

Caron: Silver Knight is published under my name, Caron Rider. That’s it for published so far, but the second book in The Silver Series is Silver Demon and it will be out in June 2012.

Morgen: Oh great, not long then. How exciting. Have you had any rejections? If so, how do you deal with them?

Caron: I really didn’t consider sending it to any of the big publishers because I figured I would be rejected.  If they come knocking, I’d naturally consider it, but with the Internet and technology, it’s so easy to just do it yourself, that I just decided to go for it. So I haven’t had any rejections so far. And (fingers crossed) so far everyone that’s given me any feedback, has enjoyed it.

Morgen: Authors have been ‘found’ that way and a lot of authors are going it alone. Having done so yourself, presumably you don’t have an agent, do you think they’re vital to an author’s success?

Caron: I don’t have an agent so I certainly hope they’re not vital to an author’s success.

Morgen: Is your book available as an eBook? How involved were you in that process? Do you read eBooks or is it paper all the way?

Caron: Yes, it’s available as a paperback and an ebook. I created everything with regard to my book (I naturally had input and suggestions). I read both ebooks and paperbacks and hardbacks. I love books in any form they come in.

Morgen: Me too, although it’s time I struggle with. How much of the marketing do you do for your published works or indeed for yourself as a ‘brand’?

Caron: It’s a full time job! I am just amazed at how much “social networking” is necessary to get your name out there. I’m finally getting the hang of it but it’s taken several months.

Morgen: Isn’t it. What are you working on at the moment / next?

Caron: Currently I am putting the finishing touches on Silver Demon, which picks right up where Silver Knight left off.

Morgen: Do you manage to write every day? Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?

Caron: Yes, in some form or fashion, I write every day and occasionally have a block. I just call my brother and bounce some ideas around and that usually clears it all up. Then I’m off and running again.

Morgen: A useful brother. Do you do a lot of editing or do you find that as time goes on your writing is more fully-formed?

Caron: I do a ton of editing. I don’t think my writing will ever be so “fully-formed” that it doesn’t need editing. Some of my most creative moments come during the editing process believe it or not and then I have to re-edit!

Morgen: I think even the top authors aren’t fully-formed. Having input from someone else isn’t just about punctuation and grammar. My editor comes up with some wonderful suggestions. Do you have to do much research?

Caron: Yes, but fortunately I really love history. My story involves different time periods and I like to pull in famous names or incidents and put my own spin on them. One fan called them “twistories”.

Morgen: I love that. Patent / copyright it quickly! Is there a word, phrase or quote you like?

Caron: Fear is the gun for which your mind provides the bullets.

Morgen: What do you do when you’re not writing? Any hobbies or party tricks?

Caron: Well, of course, I love to read! But I also cook, crochet, and garden. Sorry, no party tricks.

Morgen: That’s OK. Raising 2 kids, 2 cats, 4 dogs, 6 guineas, and a father is no mean feat. Where can we find out about you and your work?

Caron: Website (www.caronrider.com), Blog: (www.caronrider.blogspot.com), Facebook, Twitter: Caron_Rider and Amazon.

Morgen: Thank you, Caron. All the best with book two.

In the 1990s Caron Rider began teaching adults to use computer software, hardware, and networking. After several years, her clients became younger and younger until she found herself tutoring high school dropouts to pass the GED. She found working with at-risk teenagers so rewarding that she changed her undergraduate major to Education. Upon graduating from the University of South Alabama with a B.S., she began teaching high school history and continues to teach history classes online. She currently lives in rural Missouri with her two kids, two dogs, two cats, and father.

If you are reading this and you write, in whatever genre, and are thinking “ooh, I’d like to do this” then you can… just email me and I’ll send you the questions. You complete them, I tweak them where appropriate (if necessary to reflect the blog ‘clean and light’ rating) and then they get posted. When that’s done, I email you with the link so you can share it with your corner of the literary world. And if you have a writing-related blog / podcast and would like to interview me… let me know.

You can sign up to receive these blog posts daily or weekly so you don’t miss anything… and follow me on Twitter where each new posting is automatically announced. You can also read / download my eBooks and free eShorts at Smashwords, Sony Reader Store, Barnes & Noble, iTunes Bookstore, Kobo and Amazon, with more to follow. I have a new forum and you can follow me on Twitter, friend me on Facebook, like me on Facebook, connect with me on LinkedIn, find me on Tumblr, complete my website’s Contact me page or plain and simple, email me.  I also now have a new blog creation service especially for, but not limited to, writers.

Unfortunately, as I post an interview a day (amongst other things) I can’t review books but I have a feature called ‘Short Story Saturdays’ where I review stories of up to 2,500 words. Alternatively if you have a short story or self-contained novel extract / short chapter (ideally up to 1000 words) that you’d like critiqued and don’t mind me reading it / talking about and critiquing it (I send you the transcription afterwards so you can use the comments or ignore them)  on my ‘Bailey’s Writing Tips’ podcast, then do email me. They are weekly episodes, usually released Monday mornings UK time, interweaving the recordings between the red pen sessions with the hints & tips episodes. I am now also looking for flash fiction (<1000 words) for Flash Fiction Fridays and poetry for Post-weekend Poetry.

 

Author interview no.374 with writer Kristy K James

Welcome to the three hundred and seventy-fourth of my blog interviews with novelists, poets, short story authors, biographers, agents, publishers and more. Today’s is with historical / romance author Kristy K James. A list of interviewees (blogged and scheduled) can be found here. If you like what you read, please do go and investigate further.

Morgen: Hello, Kristy. Please tell us something about yourself.

Kristy: Hello, Morgen. Hopefully this part won’t put your readers to sleep because I’m just an average person. A mom, a cook, a housekeeper and pet owner based out of Michigan.

Morgen: Not average at all, a multi-tasker. I’ve very ordinary, just run a house, one dog, no family. I did wonder when I started writing what I had to write about but then my imagination took over. How did you come to be a writer?

Kristy: I became interested in the whole storytelling process when I took Creative Writing in 9th grade. Technically I only did it because that’s where the school paper was produced-and my goal was to be one of the reporters. Why? Because I had a crush on the student teacher in my drama class… and I wanted to interview him. I did get to do the interview, but over the course of that year, fell in love with writing – and I just never stopped.

Morgen: A student / student teacher crush, now there’s a story. What genre do you generally write and have you considered other genres?

Kristy: If I had to narrow it down to one genre, it would probably be romance. I’ve also written an historical romance, a Christian romance novel, and historical / literary fiction. I’m currently plotting a YA fantasy series that I hope to get started on within the next year.

Morgen: All very popular. What have you had published to-date?

Kristy: I have four books available on Amazon.com right now.

Morgen: Do you have an agent? Do you think they’re vital to an author’s success?

Kristy: I do not have an agent. Ten years ago they were a key to an author’s success, but with the way the publishing industry is going these days, I’m not sure they’re necessary. That’s not to say that I would never consider having one, but for now… I’m not looking.

Morgen: I’m sure if we were approached we’d be tempted. Are your books available as eBooks? Were you involved in that process at all? Do you read eBooks or is it paper all the way?

Kristy: All of my novels are available as paperbacks and eBooks. And yes, I’ve been involved in every step of that process. Do I read eBooks? Since purchasing a Kindle last year, I do. I still prefer paperbacks, but am slowly accumulating a digital library. I especially like the fact that I can download a heavy, hardcover book from Amazon to my digital, lightweight eReader.

Morgen: Ditto. My house would be far emptier if I switched to Kindle only but I love having the option. How much of the marketing do you do for your published works or indeed for yourself as a ‘brand’?

Kristy: While I’m not a good salesperson, I am learning. Mostly I try to brand myself because I don’t like hard sells, and constantly pushing my novels would fall into that category-at least in my opinion.

Morgen: I’d agree. I’m rubbish at marketing myself but I think the trick (which sounds devious but isn’t) is to get others to market you, which is part of the reason I blog… although really enjoying it has made it what it is, and all the guests of course. Do you have a favourite of your books or characters? If any of your books were made into films, who would you have as the leading actor/s?

Kristy: Enza is far and away my favorite book, with my favorite character being Elliot Owens. I had originally pictured him as a young Sam Waterston because he was such a good father in I’ll Fly Away (a short-lived series in the early 90’s). I’m kind of leaning toward Matt Damon now, after seeing him in We Bought a Zoo.

Morgen: I didn’t see that film but I do like him. He’s very versatile. Did you have any say in the title / covers of your book(s)? How important do you think they are?

Kristy: I worked very closely with the graphic artist who creates my covers. Sometimes I give her an idea of what my vision for a cover is, and sometimes she surprises me. I think covers are extremely important. So much so that I have probably missed out on reading some good stories because a cover turned me off the moment I saw it. Yes, it’s what’s in between that really matters, but if the first impression-the cover-isn’t appealing, I probably won’t even read the blurb.

Morgen: It’s hard these days with so many books on offer. It’s finding somewhere between dull and flashy… simple and classy I suppose, which yours is (and I’m not just saying that). What are you working on at the moment / next?

Kristy: I am currently working on two WIPs. One is the third in my Coach’s Boys series. The other is a romance born of the dream every little girl has – to be whisked away by her knight in shining armor.

Morgen: Do you manage to write every day? Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?

Kristy: I try to write every day. But when you’re editing and getting a book ready for launch, it’s hard to concentrate on anything except that. You want to put out the best, most error-free story you can, and it can take a lot out of you.

I definitely suffer from writer’s block. There are times when scrubbing the bathtub, sweeping down cobwebs, or organizing the garage seems like easier-and more appealing-chores than writing.

Morgen: We’re good at that aren’t we – mine’s defrosting my freezer. Do you plot your stories or do you just get an idea and run with it?

Kristy: I’m a plotter. I need to know where I’m starting, where I want to finish and, most importantly, whether I can make the middle interesting enough to make it worth investing a few months of my life to write it.

Morgen: Can’t have a saggy middle. Do you have a method for creating your characters, their names and what do you think makes them believable?

Kristy: As a matter of fact, I do. I keep a baby names and telephone book handy for naming characters. And, in addition to compiling the usual background information for each of my main characters, I also ‘interview’ them. I felt a little silly doing that at first, but now I get into it so much you’d think I had a multiple personality disorder. One ‘interview’ helped me understand where the main female character was coming from, a good thing since I didn’t like her at all in the beginning. Now that I really know her, and what led her to where she is today, she’s one of my favorites.

Morgen: One of the exercises I set in my Monday night writing workshops is to pick a couple of magazine pictures when complete a character chart. It lists name, nickname, nationality, age, job, hair colour, height, weight, favourite music, favourite food, regular saying, relationship, children, siblings, religion, aspirations and quirks. That can be really fun. Do you write any non-fiction, poetry or short stories?

Kristy: I did write a book about my experience following an auto accident, a short story for a writing contest, and have dabbled in poetry. But I love writing novels so that’s what I spend the vast majority of my time doing.

Morgen: I write short stories in the main as I have snatches of time but have done NaNoWriMo four times (2008-2011) and find if I’m given a deadline (challenge) I can find the time… providing my freezer’s defrosted of course. Do you do a lot of editing or do you find that as time goes on your writing is more fully-formed?

Kristy: Through the years I find that my first drafts are much closer to the final draft than they used to be. But I still do a good bit of editing. I want people to be glad they spent a few hours with my characters, so I make sure the stories are the best I can possibly write. That means plenty of editing.

Morgen: And presumably some more from your writing partner and beta readers. I do know a couple of authors (who shall of course remain nameless) who self-edit then self-publish (as eBooks). One has written a lot so their writing is good but the other is a newbie and although the writing’s pretty good, there are holes. As the saying goes, you only have one chance to make a good impression, and you don’t want to waste it. Do you have to do much research?

Kristy: It depends on the book. I spent many months researching for Enza, and I’m finding the YA series I want to do is requiring a great deal as well. Sometimes you just have to invest the time, if you want to write with any degree of expertise.

Morgen: And your readers will thank you for it. What point of view do you find most to your liking: first person or third person? Have you ever tried second person?

Kristy: I prefer reading-and writing-in the third person, though I have a few favorites written in the first. I’ve never tried anything in second person.

Morgen: Oh it’s great, I love it. Not everyone does but I’m a champion of it and it has its own page on this blog. Do you have pieces of work that you think will never see light of day?

Kristy: Oh of course. I have dozens of notebooks filled with what might be labeled today as fan fiction. When I was first getting started I liked to practice dialog by using characters from my favorite television shows and movies. The only light those ‘stories’ will ever see will come from a match.

Morgen: No! You can’t. You might want to either look back and see how far you’ve come or do something with them because fan fiction is incredibly popular. What’s your favourite / least favourite aspect of your writing life? Has anything surprised you?

Kristy: These days I’d have to say marketing. It’s a necessary step in getting the stories into the hands of readers, but it’s very time consuming and, frankly, I’d rather be writing new stories. Before that it was reading my books for the fourth or fifth time over the course of a few short weeks to make sure they were as perfect as I could make them.

Morgen: This is where an agent, editor, publisher etc would come in handy. We’re writers, we want to be writing. What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Kristy: Read-and then read some more. The best way to write good books is to read good books. I think it’s also helpful to read lousy books so you learn how not to write.

Morgen: And there are plenty of those. If you could invite three people from any era to dinner, who would you choose and what would you cook (or hide the takeaway containers)?

Kristy: Mark Twain, Albert Einstein and Bruce Willis. Since I get the most compliments for my lasagne, that’s what I’d make for them.  And probably my white cake, layered with vanilla pudding, frosted with sweetened whipping cream, and topped with cherries.

Morgen: Can I stretch that to four people? Yum. Is there a word, phrase or quote you like?

Kristy: Mark Twain said it best- “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Morgen: Absolutely. Explore (find creative writing group / classes), dream (want to quit your day job), discover (I did quit two months ago!). Are you involved in anything else writing-related other than actual writing or marketing of your writing?

Kristy: Last year I started ‘beta reading’ for other authors. I like to think of it as a more productive way to get my reading in… and to learn more about my craft at the same time.

Morgen: And a great way to help others. What do you do when you’re not writing?

Kristy: Of course I read, and spend a lot of time with my family. I like to decorate cakes and put together flower arrangement. Lately I’ve been getting together with my aunts and uncles to video tape them talking about what life was like when they were growing up. In November and December I got to work with them on a flash mob dance. It was a lot of fun for me and for them. Especially when they surprised everyone with their performance at the big family Christmas party.

Morgen: And you could write a book about them. Are there any writing-related websites and/or books that you find useful?

Kristy: My favorite website, and the current love of my life (outside of Bruce Willis) is Google. Anything I need to find, I can find there. My favorite book for writing is ‘How to Write Fast While Writing Well,’ by David Fryxell (available from Amazon.com). Good writing means developing good organizational skills, and Mr. Fryxell can help with that.

Morgen: That’s a new one to me but it does sound good. Are you on any forums or networking sites? If so, how valuable do you find them?

Kristy: I find Facebook to be very valuable, and I’m trying to learn to love Twitter. And I will. It’s just a matter of trying to work it into my schedule.

Morgen: Without letting it take over. What do you think the future holds for a writer?

Kristy: I believe there are – and will be – more opportunities for writers than ever before. Places like Amazon and Smashwords make it easy to get your writing out there – but that’s both a good and a bad thing. Serious writers will have to focus on putting out quality work more than ever before if they want to stand out from the crowd.

Morgen: They will. A slow process sometimes but as the saying goes “good things come to those who wait”. Where can we find out about you and your work?

Kristy: Anyone interested can find out about me at http://kristykjames.wordpress.com. I have a link to my blog and books there.

Morgen: Is there anything you’d like to ask me?

Kristy: How do you get to be as organized as you are?

Morgen: <laughs> being a secretary for over 20 years, having too little sleep, although giving up the day job certainly helped! Thank you, Kristy.

Kristy K. James‘ first goal in life was to work in law enforcement, until the night she called the police to check out a scary noise in her yard. Realizing that she might someday have to check out scary noises in other dark yards if she continued on that path, she turned to her other favorite love… writing. Since then, her days have been filled with being a mom and reluctant zookeeper (7 pets), creating stories and looking for trouble in her kitchen.

If you are reading this and you write, in whatever genre, and are thinking “ooh, I’d like to do this” then you can… just email me and I’ll send you the questions. You complete them, I tweak them where appropriate (if necessary to reflect the blog ‘clean and light’ rating) and then they get posted. When that’s done, I email you with the link so you can share it with your corner of the literary world. And if you have a writing-related blog / podcast and would like to interview me… let me know.

You can sign up to receive these blog posts daily or weekly so you don’t miss anything… and follow me on Twitter where each new posting is automatically announced. You can also read / download my eBooks and free eShorts at Smashwords, Sony Reader Store, Barnes & Noble, iTunes Bookstore, Kobo and Amazon, with more to follow. I have a new forum and you can follow me on Twitter, friend me on Facebook, like me on Facebook, connect with me on LinkedIn, find me on Tumblr, complete my website’s Contact me page or plain and simple, email me.  I also now have a new blog creation service especially for, but not limited to, writers.

Unfortunately, as I post an interview a day (amongst other things) I can’t review books but I have a feature called ‘Short Story Saturdays’ where I review stories of up to 2,500 words. Alternatively if you have a short story or self-contained novel extract / short chapter (ideally up to 1000 words) that you’d like critiqued and don’t mind me reading it / talking about and critiquing it (I send you the transcription afterwards so you can use the comments or ignore them)  on my ‘Bailey’s Writing Tips’ podcast, then do email me. They are weekly episodes, usually released Monday mornings UK time, interweaving the recordings between the red pen sessions with the hints & tips episodes. I am now also looking for flash fiction (<1000 words) for Flash Fiction Fridays and poetry for Post-weekend Poetry.

 

Author interview no.369 with fantasy writer Deborah Rae Cota

Welcome to the three hundred and sixty-ninth of my blog interviews with novelists, poets, short story authors, biographers, agents, publishers and more. Today’s is with fantasy author Deborah Rae Cota. A list of interviewees (blogged and scheduled) can be found here. If you like what you read, please do go and investigate further.

Morgen: Hello, Deborah. Please tell us something about yourself, where you’re based, and how you came to be a writer.

Deborah: Hello to you, too! Born, raised and still reside in the sunny East Bay of California; 30 minutes east of San Francisco. I’ve been writing since I was 11; after my 5th grade teacher encouraged me to enter a school writing contest, and I won. Shortly after, she gave me a composition notebook, a BIC blue pen and told me to ‘write a little something every day’…I haven’t stopped and don’t plan to, ever. I still handwrite everything in those same composition notebooks with a BIC blue pen, too.

Morgen: I love that; that you started and haven’t stopped. I’ve been doing Story a Day May again this year and have decided that I don’t want to stop on 1st June so will keep going with a 5PM Fiction slot. What genre do you generally write and have you considered other genres?

Deborah: Generally fantasy. I tried writing something more current, depicting a struggling young man in an unsavoury situation, but little-by-little it became more and more like a male-Cinderella story complete with glass Converse sneakers.

Morgen: What have you had published to-date? Do you write under a pseudonym?

Deborah: The Dante Chronicles, of which I’ve released two of my planned eight books so far, are both published under my own name, ‘Deborah Rae Cota’. Book I is titled THE KINDRED, and Book II is THE BROTHERHOOD.

Morgen: Strong titles. Have you had any rejections? If so, how do you deal with them?

Deborah: Many and I saved them all. I sent 428 letters to agents and publishing houses, and received positive responses. I was told that my writing ‘was sound’, my ideas were ‘interesting and intriguing’, but they just couldn’t afford to take on any more new clients. Not knowing if the market would improve because my crystal ball was on the fritz, I decided to independently publish.

Morgen: 428, wow. That’s 20 times more than me but then I’m rubbish at sending things out. Have you won or been shortlisted in any competitions?

Deborah: Unfortunately no, but I am always ready with my “win” speech!

Morgen: Do you have an agent? Do you think they’re vital to an author’s success?

Deborah: After publishing my books myself, I’m a little up in the air about the need for an agent, especially with the abundance of independent publishing houses. Personally, I am thrilled by the control I have over my body of work. I don’t have an agent, and I question the direction I would be going in if I had one. The one benefit would be the placement of books in bookstores nationwide and less time on marketing; but with bookstores closing everywhere, don’t I benefit more by being available on the internet on my own terms?

Morgen: There are pros and cons of each direction but the one think that is apparent is that whichever route we choose (or is chosen for us, whether we get an agent and/or publisher) we still have to do a heck of a lot of marketing. Are your books available as eBooks? Were you involved in that process at all? Do you read eBooks or is it paper all the way?

Deborah: Yes, they both are. I’m pretty computer savvy, so I handled all the formatting and structuring myself. I read both e-books and paper, and since picking up on the new e-book format, I have actually saved a little money. If I love the book in e-format, I buy a printed copy for my shelf. I don’t think I’ll ever give up on printed books. I love the smell and feel of them too much!

Morgen: I’ve heard other people say that; that if they have a book they love enough they’ll have both formats. I do love my Kindle Touch but having books around me so that definitely make sense. I’ve just mentioned how much marketing authors have to do, how much do you have to do for your books or indeed for yourself as a ‘brand’?

Deborah: The majority is me, but a small percentage comes from close friends and family who are fans and love the book as much as I do. They have made such an incredible effort to talk up my writing in their place of business, and to other friends and family. I have a great nest of really loving and dedicated friends and family.

Morgen: They do say “it’s not what you know but who you know”/ Do you have a favourite of your books or characters? If any of your books were made into films, who would you have as the leading actor/s?

Deborah: My books are all part of a series spanning one year, so it’s hard singling out just one as a favorite. As for characters, I write like I read; which means I cast as I go along. I love all my characters equally, but I have to say I think my villains are my favorites.

Morgen: They probably get to have more fun. So presumably you had the main say in the titles / covers of your books? How important do you think they are?

Deborah: Yes, definitely. I’m also a professional photographer, so I shot the photos for both books, and then built the look of the covers around them. CreateSpace.com offers a great many options to create your covers with and the parchment really suits my story. Since the books are based around holidays, I can change the character of the cover by using different background colors to suit the season. A book’s shelf appeal is crucial. I think it’s what readers are seduced with when choosing one. The cover should somehow smile, and then speak to the reader of what’s inside to draw them in.

Morgen: I love clever titles and if a cover is attractive it definitely helps me pick it up. What are you working on at the moment / next?

Deborah: Book III, “The Traveler” and Book IV, “The Coven”. The two are tied into each other so much that I need to write sections simultaneously to keep the continuity. There is another book, “Wednesday’s Child”, which I work on to break away from the series, and keep my mind and writing fresh.

Morgen: Which leads me nicely on to my next question… you said earlier with your writing that you “haven’t stopped”, do you manage to write every day? Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?

Deborah: There was a short period of time when I was seriously ill two years ago, that I absolutely could not write. Other than that, I’ve kept my promise, and I do write a little something every day, even if it’s just a single line of dialogue. Writer’s block happens, it’s bound to.  You have to learn to recognize it when it happens, accept it, and take a break for your art and sanity’s sake.

Morgen: Do you plot your stories or do you just get an idea and run with it?

Deborah: Definitely plot, but I stay flexible so if something strikes me that would be better and maybe thicken the plot; I go for it on the fly and just enjoy the ride.

Morgen: That’s what I love. We’ve touched on characters briefly, do you have a method for creating yours, their names and what do you think makes them believable?

Deborah: Every one of my characters is drawn from someone I know, so when I write I’m writing from experience because I know them. Names are a funny thing. Sometimes they can be cathartic, if you use them to kill off a character, and other times you can honor the memory of someone you’ve lost, and then the writing takes on a life of its own. There are times when a name will just not come to me and I need to use a baby book to find a suitable name!

Morgen: A valuable tool. Often a name will just come to me but other times I change them part way because they don’t feel right (and go back and change up to then, of course). Do you write any non-fiction, poetry or short stories?

Deborah: I’ve always written short stories. The Dante Chronicles started as short stories that were forged together. I still write shorts now and then.

Morgen: Ah, my favourite format. Do you do a lot of editing or do you find that as time goes on your writing is more fully-formed?

Deborah: The Kindred took a lot of editing; first, because of length and second, because I have a comma problem. I’m a former theatre major; it’s hard for me to give up my dramatic pauses. Now, it’s more consistent and tighter. Refined has never been in my vocabulary when it came to anything about me, but it does now in my writing.

Morgen: Do you have to do much research?

Deborah: Only for specific elements on certain characters. One of my characters graduated from MIT, and I knew there was a ring involved in the graduation ceremony, but I never knew the specifics (type of metal, who gets one, etc.) I found the info online and called the campus historian at MIT for confirmation.

Currently, I am studying tattooing and have spoken extensively with an experienced artist. His knowledge is helping me with my main villain.

Morgen: The joys of the internet, aren’t we lucky being writers now? What point of view do you find most to your liking: first person or third person? Have you ever tried second person?

Deborah: Never tried second person, but for a challenge I think I would like to in the future.

Morgen: Oh do! It’s my favourite and still fairly rare so I’m an advocate of it and have a dedicated page on the blog here. So you’ve used first or third?

Deborah: The Dante Chronicles is written in first person, which isn’t easy. My short stories were always third person / narratives, so the first draft of The Kindred was in narrative form. Then I read Jodi Picoult, “My Sister’s Keeper” in one day, and everything changed for me overnight. I wanted the first person emphasis because day-to-day family life is fast, and moment-to-moment. I felt the situations warranted the speed and intensity.

Morgen: Wow. I bet she’d love to know her book made that much of an impression. Obviously with first person the protagonist can’t know everything but as you say it’s more intense than third. Do you have pieces of work that you think will never see light of day?

Deborah: There was a box full of journals and notebooks full of stories that were lost when my parents moved from my childhood home to another. I still remember some of them, and I would love to expound the ideas… but the original work is gone.

Morgen: What a shame. I have a rubbish memory (which NAWG Link magazine’s editor and author Steve Bowkett once told me off for saying ) so always have to have a notebook with me (in every dog-walking jacket) as I know I’ve lost some real gems because I’ve forgotten them but to have had them written down and lost them… What’s your favourite / least favourite aspect of your writing life? Has anything surprised you?

Deborah: My favorite: Listening to people talk about The Kindred as they experience it for the first time is my absolute favorite. There are a couple of major twists that I play so the reader is experiencing the same feelings as the villain, and the surprise in my readers is amazing. Some challenge me and try to prove me wrong on the facts of the twist, but when they go back and re-read it for themselves, and then realize what was there all along, they are just beside themselves.

My least favorite: Love scenes. Not a big advocate of the “blouse-asunder-and- rippling-muscles” reads, so even the little bit of romance I wrote was laborious. A friend of mine suggested I write the romance from the standpoint of what I would like to experience. Made it easier, and from the response I’ve been getting, it works.

Morgen: I love reader feedback, especially direct emails. Reviews and comments on this blog are such a boost. What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Deborah: Learn three things: never give up, learn to be flexible, and trust yourself. That last point is a doozy! You have to listen to your gut. If you have to petition the opinion of friends and relatives to decide what is best for you, then you shouldn’t be doing it. That goes for anything!

Morgen: I’d definitely agree with that. If you could invite three people from any era to dinner, who would you choose and what would you cook (or hide the takeaway containers)?

Deborah: I’m a good cook, so I would definitely cook; probably Grilled Herb Crusted Chicken, Angel Hair Pasta with Julienned Zucchini and carrots, tossed with olive oil and garlic, and a Pretzel-crusted Margarita Pie for dessert. I would invite Eric Clapton, J.R.R. Tolkein and Harper Lee.

Morgen: If I make that four people can I go? Is there a word, phrase or quote you like?

Deborah: “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” ― Toni Morrison

Morgen: Are you involved in anything else writing-related other than actual writing or marketing of your writing?

Deborah: In my website blog I try to cover more than just the day-to-day workings, and I encourage friends who are also aspiring writers to cross-blog with me. Recently, I wrote a piece for my best friend who was buried under work and couldn’t post to her own blog. Of course, I did tie it into writing in the end, but for the most part it was an inspirational piece to encourage people to get back up if they fall metaphorically.

Morgen: I’ve just started a blogging service (create and / or maintain) because I know how important it is to have an online presence (of course not just authors, I’m currently developing sites for an editor and an animal healer) and have had a couple of authors contact me to help with theirs because they’re too busy. Time does seem to be a factor for all of us (especially when what we really want to do is write!) What do you do when you’re not writing?

Deborah: Love to cook, so I am in the kitchen a lot. Recently bought a new house and I spend a lot of time fixing things up, and decorating. I am a huge San Jose Sharks and Oakland A’s fan, so sports are a big deal in my house. We recently rescued a Chihuahua-mix named Lulu, who apparently was neglected and never played with. I spend a lot of time teaching her to play and basic commands. Never had a problem keeping busy!

Morgen: Oh me too. I told my mum last September that I was quitting my job (and she was supportive as she knew I went to be late, although I didn’t tell her how late) and now that I have she asked me what am I going to do with my time. Are there any writing-related websites and / or books that you find useful?

Deborah: Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com Pixel of Ink – http://www.pixelofink.com. (You have to read good books to write good books. I learn about other writers here, and find a ton to read.)

The Elements of Style – William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White  ISBN-13: 978-0205632640

The Elements of Editing – Arthur Plotnik  ISBN-13: 978-0025977006

(These books are great for when you look at a sentence and say, “Wait…is that proper?” My editor gave them to me…She’s a Grammar Goddess!)

Morgen:  :) Are you on any forums or networking sites? If so, how valuable do you find them?

Deborah: I am on Facebook, Goodreads, LinkedIn, Twitter, Amazon Authors Pages, and I hate to say it, but they are indispensable. The contacts that I have made alone, and in the short time I have been public, are worth probably 180+ hours of pounding pavement and cold calling people. It is, what it is, but it’s now, and if I want my voice to live on…

Morgen: Being online maybe so time consuming but as you say it’s far quicker than getting outside… and warmer. What do you think the future holds for a writer?

Deborah: Writers will go on because there is no computer program that can convey the grace and emotion of language like we do. There will always be a need for writers, but I think our words will reach millions even faster and easier than they do now.

Morgen: And isn’t that great. Where can we find out about you and your work?

Deborah: http://www.dantechronicles.com, Facebook, Twitter (@DeborahRaeCota) and Amazon Author Pages (linked to my books)

Morgen: Is there anything else you’d like to mention?

Deborah: Yes, Morgen…Welcome to the family!

Morgen: Oh, thank you very much. :*) Is there anything you’d like to ask me?

Deborah: Can I send you a set of my books? I just want to say thank you for allowing me this opportunity in the only way I can, being so far away. If you lived closer, I’d invite you over for Arroz con Pollo, but…

Morgen: That’s very kind of you but it’s no trouble, honestly. If in the same country I’d love to come over – I love anything con Pollo (chicken) although I’m still drooling over the Angel Hair Pasta and Pretzel-crusted Margarita Pie. Thank you, Deborah.

I then invited Deborah to include an extract of her writing…

The Dantes are a family of Domesticated Demons who live just outside the gates of Hell, in an area called The Dominion, which they rule. They are the keepers and have vowed to protect humans from the evil that the Rogue (evil) demons cause. The following excerpt from THE KINDRED, is the opening of the monologue which introduces my villain, Corson. He is the cousin to the Royal family; the abandoned nephew of the Emperor of The Dominion.

“It is utterly unfathomable how a civilization that utilizes no more than a quarter of its entire brain mass on a regular basis, could possibly have survived for any great length of time.

Stupid human fools.

So much power within their grasp, and they waste it on deciding whether they should buy the matching purse to go with their shoes, which car makes them appear more attractive, or stressing over what banal television show to watch. Give any human something new and shiny, and they stop using even that last quarter of their brain because they are too busy cooing with glee.

Pathetically foul race.

They are nothing more than cattle.

A commodity.

A superfluous, hazardous by-product of an act of gratification.

Demons are no better. There are a select few that think and act with sheer brilliance, but most fall into one of three categories; the Resolved, the Romantics and the Refuse.

The Resolved are like me, decidedly firm in the belief that the commonality of a demon is evil, and we should be, now and forever, allowed to act as such; permitted to live freely with other life forms, never expected to conform, or redirect our intrinsic need to create havoc and mayhem. In fact, we should be respected and revered simply for the fact that we can, and will, create absolute chaos in the blink of an eye. Our potential should never be taken for granted.

We are entirely different from the Romantics. They run around helping everyone; human, animal and demon alike, and try desperately to deny their breeding, while being considerate and compassionate in an attempt to conform to the human ways. They seek acceptance and assimilation from the surface dwellers after years and years of persecution and condemnation. They have a long journey ahead before that can transpire, but they are resolute in their dedication to the cause. What the Romantics do not realize is how repudiate humans can be to difference. Their history speaks of years and years of revolt against it. Humans have their own demons that, I must admit, are uglier than us.”

Deborah Rae Cota ventured into many arenas seeking a home. After promising a former teacher to write something every day, pen and paper (along with her trusty camera) have always been a part of her daily routine. When Deborah isn’t writing, she’s cooking and creating new recipes for her family, or screaming in the stands of her favorite local sports teams where she lives, breathes & works in the beautiful, scenic Bay Area.

If you are reading this and you write, in whatever genre, and are thinking “ooh, I’d like to do this” then you can… just email me and I’ll send you the questions. You complete them, I tweak them where appropriate (if necessary to reflect the blog ‘clean and light’ rating) and then they get posted. When that’s done, I email you with the link so you can share it with your corner of the literary world. And if you have a writing-related blog / podcast and would like to interview me… let me know.

You can sign up to receive these blog posts daily or weekly so you don’t miss anything… and follow me on Twitter where each new posting is automatically announced. You can also read / download my eBooks and free eShorts at Smashwords, Sony Reader Store, Barnes & Noble, iTunes Bookstore, Kobo and Amazon, with more to follow. I have a new forum and you can follow me on Twitter, friend me on Facebook, like me on Facebook, connect with me on LinkedIn, find me on Tumblr, complete my website’s Contact me page or plain and simple, email me.  I also now have a new blog creation service especially for, but not limited to, writers.

Unfortunately, as I post an interview a day (amongst other things) I can’t review books but I have a feature called ‘Short Story Saturdays’ where I review stories of up to 2,500 words. Alternatively if you have a short story or self-contained novel extract / short chapter (ideally up to 1000 words) that you’d like critiqued and don’t mind me reading it / talking about and critiquing it (I send you the transcription afterwards so you can use the comments or ignore them)  on my ‘Bailey’s Writing Tips’ podcast, then do email me. They are weekly episodes, usually released Monday mornings UK time, interweaving the recordings between the red pen sessions with the hints & tips episodes. I am now also looking for flash fiction (<1000 words) for Flash Fiction Fridays and poetry for Post-weekend Poetry.

 

Author interview no.367 with historical writer and poet Elizabeth Vallone

Welcome to the three hundred and sixty-seventh of my blog interviews with novelists, poets, short story authors, biographers, agents, publishers and more. Today’s is with historical author, poet and Post-weekend poetry contributor Elizabeth Vallone. A list of interviewees (blogged and scheduled) can be found here. If you like what you read, please do go and investigate further.

Morgen: Hello, Elizabeth. Please tell us something about yourself, where you’re based, and how you came to be a writer.

Elizabeth: I’m Elizabeth Vallone and live in the Hudson Valley of New York State about 45 minutes north of New York City.

I came to be a writer in a circuitous way.  I was going for a master’s degree in counselling and development and my professor suggested I become a writer.  He said he loved the voice in my research papers.  I finished my degree but also started taking writing courses.  I had always wanted to be a writer but life took down other paths.

Morgen: Life has a habit of doing that, doesn’t it. I didn’t know what I wanted to do until a couple of years ago by which time writing had definitely had its hooks into me. What genre do you generally write and have you considered other genres?

Elizabeth: I write historical fiction I guess because from childhood I’ve always read biographies of historical figures and later historical fiction.  It’s what I am drawn to.

Morgen: What have you had published to-date? Do you write under a pseudonym?

Elizabeth: I write under my own name, Elizabeth Vallone, though my first work of historical fiction was under E.P. Vallone. Beyond Bagheria was a work of historical fiction set in New Orleans in 1920.  In addition, I’ve been a contributing editor on a couple of anthologies.  One was Imprints on Rockland County History – the Biographies of 12 Women and Curaggia—the Writings of Italian American Women.

Morgen: Historical is incredibly popular. I had three agents tell me at Winchester Writers Conference last year that they want more of it (and crime). Have you had any rejections? If so, how do you deal with them?

Elizabeth: Have had plenty of rejections and I just felt one day my day would come.

Morgen: I feel like that now. Do you have an agent? Do you think they’re vital to an author’s success?

Elizabeth: My editors function as my agents.  They were instrumental in getting the book published and finding venues to promote my book.

Morgen: Are your books available as eBooks? Do you read eBooks or is it paper all the way?

Elizabeth: I’m a paper book person or audiobook person.  My book is not available as an ebook right now.

Morgen: I love audiobooks as they mean I’m able to multi-task. How much of the marketing do you do for your published works or indeed for yourself as a ‘brand’?

Elizabeth: I do much of the marketing, I find venues and I do power point presentations which dance around my story and give a historical perspective.  One presentation is Constance de Hauteville and the Italy that Nobody Knows and the other is Italian Unification—It Didn’t Start When You Think It Did.  My editors also find venues that I might speak at.

Morgen: A couple of years ago (November 2010) I was volunteering at Chorleywood Literature Festival, here in the UK, and watched English TV personality and author Peter Snow do a talk for over an hour on Wellington with no notes, only slides, it was incredible. There’s nothing quite like seeing someone live… I guess a bit like musicians. Do you have a favourite of your books or characters? If any of your books were made into films, who would you have as the leading actor/s?

Elizabeth: Barbarossa’s Princess, my recently published work, was a labor of love so it is my favourite.

I believe Kate Winslet would make a terrific Constance de Hauteville.  She resembles Constance, is the right age and has the theatrical experience to do a great job.  I personally feel she would get an Oscar out of it.

Morgen: Ooh, wouldn’t it be good if someone she knew was reading this? Did you have any say in the title / covers of your books? How important do you think they are?

Elizabeth: The title of the book was a joint effort with the editors.  We came up with Barbarossa’s Princess and numerous suggestions.  Regarding the cover, one of my editors is an art critic and knows an awful lot about art.  He suggested I look at works by Dante Rossetti.  I came to Rosetti’s work “The Beloved” and thought it was made for Barbarossa’s Princess.  When I called and told him my thoughts, he said that was the very one the two editors had in mind so that’s what we went with.  It’s a lovely cover of a beautiful piece of artwork which the Tate Modern gave permission to use.

Morgen: It is beautiful. What are you working on at the moment / next?

Elizabeth: I’m working on a book whose working title is Bavarian Blue.  It’s set in WWI Hoboken, New Jersey.  Few people know that when WWI erupted, President Woodrow Wilson evicted the Germans of Hoboken from their homes and businesses. because of the strategic location of the town just across the river from NYC.  Hoboken was predominantly populated by people of German ancestry.  It changed the complexion of the town, giving the more newly arrived Irish and Italian the jobs and power in town.

Morgen: You sound so busy, do you manage to write every day?

Elizabeth: When I’m on a roll, I write every day.  I’m a morning person and basically roll out of bed and write until noon.  I find I get my best ideas in the morning.

Morgen: I’m definitely a morning person too. Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?

Elizabeth: When I have writer’s block, I work on other things, ideas for stories, poetry.  I keep out the other works for about a month and then go back renewed and ready to work on the original piece.

Morgen: Variety keeps a brain active. Do you plot your stories or do you just get an idea and run with it?

Elizabeth: Every story is different.  With Beyond Bagheria and Barbarossa’s Princess, I had the idea and knew what my ending was going to be.  I start writing and aim for the end.  With my newest work Bavarian Blue, I don’t know how it’s going to end and it’s really 3 stories in one so I’m having a really interesting time trying to figure things out.

Morgen: I’m mid-way through fourth edits to my chick-lit and I’ve often said it’s my least favourite aspect of writing but I’ve not touched it for a year and am really enjoying getting to know my characters again. Do you have a method for creating your characters, their names and what do you think makes them believable?

Elizabeth: I use history as my frame for building the character and the story.  Of course, a lot of imagination is at work filling in dialogues and situations that might have occurred as I go from point A to B to Z in the character’s life.

I try to use names of people I’ve met who have stayed with me.  For instance in Barbarossa’s Princess, Constance servant is called. Almudena.  I had a Spanish teacher whose given name was Almudena and I’ve always liked it.  It sounded right for the servant.  There are a lot of names of minor characters that are names of people who have drifted in and out of my life.

Morgen: Of course they have to be authentic, don’t they. Do you write any non-fiction, poetry or short stories?

Elizabeth: When I need therapy, I write sonnets to release whatever is bothering me.

Morgen: Some of which you’ve kindly shared on this blog’s Post-weekend poetry page. I mentioned editing a moment ago, do you do a lot of editing or do you find that as time goes on your writing is more fully-formed?

Elizabeth: Do I do a lot of editing?  I think that’s all an author does is write, edit, write, edit, edit, write.

Morgen: With a lot of vacuuming, washing up and anything else they can find to do in between. What point of view do you find most to your liking: first person or third person?

Elizabeth: In Barbarossa’s Princess I used both the first person and third person.  It seems to work out well.

Morgen: It’s become very popular to do that and I know quite a few novels which have alternate viewpoint chapters so you get to know both sides of the… um, pardon the pun, story. Do you have pieces of work that you think will never see light of day?

Elizabeth: I had written the biography of a gentlemen called, Hezekiah Easter, who was the first African American legislator in Rockland County, NY.  There seemed to be an interest and then the people who were interested in my doing it seemed to just vanish.

Morgen: That’s a shame. Maybe they’ll be renewed interest given your other books are now out. I said that editing (is often) my least favourite aspect of writing, what’s your favourite / least favourite aspect of your writing life? Has anything surprised you?

Elizabeth: The least favourite thing about ones writing life is that you have to go out and promote the book once it is done.  I wish I could leave that to someone else.  The most favourite aspect of writing is how the ideas come to you and how you weave them into the tapestry that ends up being the final product.

Morgen: It would be nice to have more time to do what we love best, to write, isn’t it? Although equally it’s great getting to chat to the readers directly. What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Elizabeth: Write, write, write and keep on writing.  Let other writers critique your work. If you don’t like what they have to say have a good cry and then step back and see what criticism is real to you and what is not and go with that.

Morgen: and join a writing group. If you could invite three people from any era to dinner, who would you choose and what would you cook (or hide the takeaway containers)?

Elizabeth: I would love to invite Constance de Hauteville and her son Emperor Frederick Hohenstaufen II to dinner as well as Frederick paramour, Bianca Lancia.  Think it would be really interesting to see the interaction between Frederick and his mother since she died so young so they really didn’t really know each other.  I’d invite Bianca Lancia because she was supposed to be the only wife he really loved.

I would have my son-in-law, Chris Ravanello, cook a wonderful venison dinner with wonder vegetable dishes.  He’s just won the NYC Almost Famous Chef competition and he loves to cook.

Morgen: Oh wow. What a useful person to know. Are you involved in anything else writing-related other than actual writing or marketing of your writing?

Elizabeth:  I’m a docent for the Hermitage museum in Ho-ho-kus, New Jersey.  I give tours of a house that dates back to before the Revolutionary War.  Lots of famous Americans stayed at the house including Marquis de Lafayette.

Morgen: Hence your interest in history (one of my worst subjects at school). What do you do when you’re not writing?

Elizabeth:  I love taking long walks, do yoga, see films, attend the theatre when I’m not writing and visiting my family.

Morgen: Are you on any forums or networking sites? If so, how valuable do you find them?

Elizabeth: I’m on Facebook, of course, and Twitter and Linkedin.  Find great networking opportunities there.

Morgen: They’re great, aren’t they. Where can we find out about you and your work?

Elizabeth: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and my blog http://epvallone.wordpress.com.  I should have a webpage up soon, epvallone.com.

Morgen: Is there anything else you’d like to mention?

Elizabeth: Just want to say that your audience would find Barbarossa’s Princess riveting.  There is intrigue, violence, love and ultimate triumph.  Besides that they will learn about medieval beauty treatment, gynaecological and obstetric practices, history.  They will be amazed at the Norman Sicilian Court and the de Hauteville family.

Morgen: Is there anything you’d like to ask me?

Elizabeth: No, but I would like to thank you so much for the opportunity of telling you about Barbarossa’s Princess.

Morgen: You’re so welcome, Elizabeth. Do come back and do something else when you have time.

Elizabeth Vallone possesses a B.A. and M.S. degree from Montclair State University and Long Island University.  She is a teacher and freelance writer. A contributing author to the anthologies Imprints on Rockland County History (1983) and Curragia: Writings of Italian-American Women (1998), Mrs. Vallone published Stone Perpendicular to Stone—A Tribute to the Land of My Ancestors in 1997. In 2005, Beyond Bagheria, a first attempt at historical fiction set in the New Orleans of the 1920s was published.  Mrs. Vallone is currently working on historical fiction set in WWI Hoboken, NJ. She lives in Rockland County with her husband.

If you are reading this and you write, in whatever genre, and are thinking “ooh, I’d like to do this” then you can… just email me and I’ll send you the questions. You complete them, I tweak them where appropriate (if necessary to reflect the blog ‘clean and light’ rating) and then they get posted. When that’s done, I email you with the link so you can share it with your corner of the literary world. And if you have a writing-related blog / podcast and would like to interview me… let me know.

You can sign up to receive these blog posts daily or weekly so you don’t miss anything… and follow me on Twitter where each new posting is automatically announced. You can also read / download my eBooks and free eShorts at Smashwords, Sony Reader Store, Barnes & Noble, iTunes Bookstore, Kobo and Amazon, with more to follow. I have a new forum and you can follow me on Twitter, friend me on Facebook, like me on Facebook, connect with me on LinkedIn, find me on Tumblr, complete my website’s Contact me page or plain and simple, email me.  I also now have a new blog creation service especially for, but not limited to, writers.

Unfortunately, as I post an interview a day (amongst other things) I can’t review books but I have a feature called ‘Short Story Saturdays’ where I review stories of up to 2,500 words. Alternatively if you have a short story or self-contained novel extract / short chapter (ideally up to 1000 words) that you’d like critiqued and don’t mind me reading it / talking about and critiquing it (I send you the transcription afterwards so you can use the comments or ignore them)  on my ‘Bailey’s Writing Tips’ podcast, then do email me. They are weekly episodes, usually released Monday mornings UK time, interweaving the recordings between the red pen sessions with the hints & tips episodes. I am now also looking for flash fiction (<1000 words) for Flash Fiction Fridays and poetry for Post-weekend Poetry.

 

Post-weekend Poetry 019: Two Sonnets by Elizabeth Vallone

Welcome to Post-weekend Poetry and the nineteenth in this series. This week we have two sonnets by historical author, poet and forthcoming interviewee Elizabeth Vallone.

I – August to May 2011
Content in a shadowy grove, we stood
Watching ’neath the bridal canopy
As the Indian beat the hide with wood
A tune as mournful as Penelope.
With broad smiles, good wishes rose on our breath.
Golden sunflowers hovered above them
Their deep black centers –an omen of death–
Anointed him through their hanging stems.
Baby wrapped in a shroud, soon after
Buried under the tree of sycamore
Slaying love, bonds and laughter.
Sleepless torment created a sore
That oozed an age of dark despair
Leaving him numb, cold in the wedding lair.

II – The Greedy Visitor
In a dark sarcophagus, gleaming with shellac
He lay ever fine and fair on a white silk cloud–
Cold, hard, so still.  I can’t help but move back
To my seat where I sit watching the crowd
Anguished, hurting.  They kneel taking my hand.
I feel their touch of love, they feel my pain.
My daughter, mom, hover, make no demands.
I look up glaring, he says his name with love feigned.
I recall treachery, but smile and thank him.
He arrived three months later with tear-stained face.
“Don’t you want Robert’s things?”  He’s still so grim.
Did courage or guilt bring him to my place?
Have I misjudged this man who was his friend?
No, for Robert’s things, much money I must spend.

I asked Elizabeth what prompted this piece and she said…

When someone loses a child the pain that one carries is beyond description.  It is much more painful than losing a sibling, parent or even spouse.  The survivor must grab on to any tool to work through the grief, I’ve taken to writing a sonnet when the pain is overflowing and can’t be contained with yoga, meditation and long walks.  The only other time in my life I found compelled to write poetry was when I was a university student and my love at that time left me and that was many years ago.

That’s really sad. I do find writing therapeutic – my heart goes out to you. Thank you, Elizabeth.

Elizabeth Vallone possesses a B.A. and M.S. degree from Montclair State University and Long Island University.  She is a teacher and freelance writer. A contributing author to the anthologies Imprints on Rockland County History (1983) and Curragia: Writings of Italian-American Women (1998), Mrs. Vallone published Stone Perpendicular to Stone—A Tribute to the Land of My Ancestors in 1997. In 2005, Beyond Bagheria, a first attempt at historical fiction set in the New Orleans of the 1920s was published. Her latest book, published October 2011, is ‘Barbarossa’s Princess‘. Mrs. Vallone is currently working on historical fiction set in WWI Hoboken, NJ. She lives in Rockland County with her husband and returns on Saturday 12th May for our interview.

If you’d like to submit your poem (40 lines max) for consideration for Post-weekend Poetry take a look here.

The blog interviews will return as normal tomorrow with multi-genre author Tim Girard – the three hundred and fifty-sixth of my blog interviews with novelists, poets, short story authors, bloggers, biographers, agents, publishers and more. A list of interviewees (blogged and scheduled) can be found here. If you like what you read, please do go and investigate further. And I enjoy hearing from readers of my blog; do either leave a comment on the relevant interview (the interviewees love to hear from you too!) and / or email me.

You can sign up to receive these blog posts daily or weekly so you don’t miss anything… and follow me on Twitter where each new posting is automatically announced. You can also read / download my eBooks and free eShorts at Smashwords, Sony Reader Store, Barnes & Noble, iTunes Bookstore, Kobo and Amazon, with more to follow. I have a new forum and you can friend me on Facebook, like me on Facebook, connect with me on LinkedIn, find me on Tumblr, complete my website’s Contact me page or plain and simple, email me.  Finally, I also now have a new blog creation service especially for writers: http://icanbuildyourwritingblog.wordpress.com.

Unfortunately, as I post an interview a day (amongst other things) I can’t review books but I have a feature called ‘Short Story Saturdays’ where I review stories of up to 2,500 words. Alternatively if you have a short story or self-contained novel extract / short chapter (ideally up to 1000 words) that you’d like critiqued and don’t mind me reading it / talking about and critiquing it (I send you the transcription afterwards so you can use the comments or ignore them)  on my ‘Bailey’s Writing Tips’ podcast, then do email me. They are weekly episodes, usually released Monday mornings UK time, interweaving the recordings between the red pen sessions with the hints & tips episodes. I am now also looking for flash fiction (<1000 words) for Flash Fiction Fridays.

 

Blog interview no.336 with historical non-fiction author Delin Colon

Welcome to the three hundred and thirty-sixth of my blog interviews with novelists, poets, short story authors, biographers, agents, publishers and more. Today’s is with historical non-fiction author Delin Colón. A list of interviewees (blogged and scheduled) can be found here. If you like what you read, please do go and investigate further.

Morgen: Hello, Delin. Please tell us something about yourself, where you’re based, and how you came to be a writer.

Delin: My name is Delin Colón.  I grew up in a small artists’ colony an hour outside of New York City, and I currently reside on the coast of the Pacific Northwest U.S., in Washington, although I’ve lived in the north and south of both U.S. coasts, as well as in Montreal, Canada.  I began writing poems and short stories at the age of 8 and contributed to literary journals through secondary school and university.  My undergraduate work was in French; my graduate work was in Clinical Psychology.  In addition to working in psychiatric settings, I’ve been a technical writer for Sociological Abstracts, a researcher, owned a construction company, and had an agency matching writers with clients who needed them.

Morgen: My goodness, you were immersed weren’t you and psychology would be great for character building. What genre do you generally write?

Delin: I seem to be drawn to historical non-fiction which, I assume, is due to my love of research. An added bonus of non-fiction is that the characters, details and plot already exist.  Verisimilitude and believability become nearly moot points.

Morgen: I admire anyone who says they love research, it’s one of my least favourite aspects although much easier now we have the internet. What have you had published to-date?

Delin: My book, “Rasputin and The Jews: A Reversal of History” is my most recent accomplishment. It’s the result of 15 years of research, beginning with the memoirs of my great-great uncle who was Rasputin’s secretary. The book details how the anti-Semitic Russian aristocracy, clergy and bureaucracy defamed Rasputin for advocating equal rights for the oppressed Russian Jews, as well as for taking an anti-war stance.

Morgen: 15 years, wow. Have you had any rejections? If so, how do you deal with them?

Delin: Certainly I’ve had rejections.  I don’t take them personally, nor do I consider them a commentary on my work.  Editors must be discerning and prioritize submissions, based on the greatest number of readers to whom they can market the product.  Sometimes other works are more timely or fit into a theme or marketing program.  It’s strictly business. The only way to handle rejection is to move forward – on to the next.

Morgen: Absolutely. Do you have an agent? Do you think they’re vital to an author’s success?

Delin: I do not have an agent.  Whether agents are vital to an author’s success depends greatly on the author (and the publisher’s requirements).  An agent will do the legwork, negotiating and can be a sounding board.  If the author doesn’t have the energy, time or motivation to pitch, market and promote, an agent will make all the difference in the world.

Morgen: And leave us more time to actually write. Are your books available as eBooks? Were you involved in that process at all? Do you read eBooks or is it paper all the way?

Delin: Yes, my book is available both on Kindle and Nook. I did do the formatting myself.  Personally, I do not read ebooks, nor do I own an ebook reader.  I love the smell and feel of holding the actual book in my hand and physically turning the pages myself. In addition, many of the books I read are out of print anyway.  I’m a dinosaur. For me, machinery distances me from the work. I’m the same way about writing. I write with pen and a pad of paper.  I feel closer to the work that way: there is only the pen between me and it. Even before computers, I didn’t compose on a typewriter (an archaic reference, I know, but I think recognizable even to those who haven’t seen one).

Morgen: “I’m a dinosaur.” I love that. I type too much really as I’ve noticed (especially during our Monday night workshops) how much slower my writing is these days. How much of the marketing do you do for your published works or indeed for yourself as a ‘brand’?

Delin: All of it.  It’s an ongoing, daily task to keep finding ways of getting reviews, marketing and promoting one’s book. The process has given me an appreciation for agents and publishers who typically do it, although even with those resources, no one is going to take the time and expend the effort to sell a book the way the author is motivated to.

Morgen: Or know your ‘product’ as well as you. If your book were made into a film, whom would you have as the leading actor/s?

Delin: The focus of my book is Rasputin and his humanitarian acts.  There are two actors who immediately come to mind, though each actually represents a different aspect of Rasputin’s personality. I’d choose either Liam Neeson, for his strong presence and sensitivity, or Robert Downey Jr. for his intensity.

Morgen: Both great actors (I’m especially a fan of RDJ and am SO looking forward to the new Avengers). Did you have any say in the title / covers of your book(s)? How important do you think they are?

Delin: As a self-published author (using print on demand) I was able to choose my own cover. I do think covers are very important and should reflect the tone of the book.  Personally, I prefer simple, uncluttered covers.

Morgen: Me too. I did all mine and April’s Fool is as busy as they get (quite busy on that one) but the others (like Feeding the Father) are quite simple. What are you working on at the moment / next?

Delin: I am currently researching memoirs, biographies and autobiographies for my next book on true stories from the Pale of Settlement, the ghetto between the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea that most Jews were confined to by the Russian government.  A single account may tell what one person experienced, but I hope to draw common themes between individual accounts to show a collective experience.

Morgen: That does sound like extensive research, just as well you love it. Do you manage to write every day? Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?

Delin: I don’t write every day, but I do read, since intensive research precedes any writing that I do.  I have never suffered from writer’s block, but have had to take time to consider and re-think the approach and structure of my work, to best engage the reader and so the book flows in a logical progression.  I think writer’s block is a moot point in non-fiction, since the actual content already exists within the research.

Morgen: You’re probably write, although as you say there does need to be a structure which takes some doing. Do you do a lot of editing or do you find that as time goes on your writing is more fully-formed?

Delin: Yes, I do a lot of editing. I may go through ten or twelve drafts. Having previously written abstracts of academic articles, I’m partial to minimalism, so I always attempt to use the fewest possible words to convey my message. I was pleased when one book reviewer, Kate Brauning, picked up on this and noted that, paraphrasing her, every word and every paragraph counts.

Morgen: It’s great when it feels as if a reviewer has actually read it properly. You mentioned earlier how much research you have to do…

Delin: For me, it’s all about research. I spend much more time researching than writing, but that goes with the historical non-fiction territory.

Morgen: You’ve said that you love research, is that your favourite aspect of your writing life, and what’s your least favourite? Has anything surprised you?

Delin: My favourite part is the research, yes, plus organizing the material, and writing. My least favourite part, as so many others will echo, is the marketing and promotion – not the actual act, but the time and energy it takes away from working on a book.

Morgen: I think everyone will agree with you on that. Any distraction from the writing is bound to be a bugbear. What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Delin: Far be it from me to give anyone advice. Each writer has his or her own path, method, or process. That would be like telling someone how to think or how to dream. So much is intuitive in the writing process, and you have to go with your gut. The only thing I would say is not to worry about the publishing and marketing until the writing is finished and edited.  If one isn’t fully focussed on the process of writing, and is distracted by the business of writing, the work could suffer. Once the work is complete, there is plenty of time to concentrate on business.

Morgen: That’s very true (she says, scuttling off to start the novel editing ). If you could invite three people from any era to dinner, who would you choose and what would you cook (or hide the takeaway containers)?

Delin: At another time, I might choose different people, but today, I would choose Rasputin, Czar Nicholas II and Simon Wiesenthal, the famous Nazi hunter, so we could impress upon the Czar exactly how brutal his anti-Semitic laws and practices were.  I would cook fish and boiled potatoes, Rasputin’s favourite foods.

Morgen: I think it would certainly be an interesting conversation. Is there a word, phrase or quote you like?

Delin: I recently ran across a quote that reflects the work I do: “There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know.” – Harry S. Truman

Morgen: Are you involved in anything else writing-related other than actual writing or marketing of your writing?

Delin: I’m currently editing my husband’s science fiction novel. In addition, I occasionally write reviews of other authors’ work.

Morgen: I’m often asked to do book reviews, maybe I should point them in your direction. What do you do when you’re not writing?

Delin: When I’m not writing, I’m generally reading and researching.  I’m afraid I have a single-track mind and become obsessed with those pastimes, to the exclusion of most else.

Morgen: Oh, no apology needed for me. I’m as single-track as anyone about writing, can you tell? Are there any writing-related websites and / or books that you find useful?

Delin: I enjoy websites such as Goodreads, World Literary Cafe, National Association of Women on the Rise, Kate Brauning, SPB Roundup, Wonderful Read of the Month, She Writes, Predators & Editors.

Morgen: Some new ones to me, thank you for those. Are you on any forums or networking sites? If so, how valuable do you find them?

Delin: I’m on a number of different forums and networking sites, which some of the above sites include, in addition to: LinkedIn (there are many author forums there), WAE Network.

Morgen: LinkedIn is great – I found many of my interviewees by putting a shout-out on there. What do you think the future holds for a writer?

Delin: I believe it’s no different from the past.  People who can blend words in a pleasing way, to create a scenario or convey an idea effectively, will always be needed.  Since there will always be ideas to learn and experiences to share, it is and will be the wordsmith’s job to touch hearts or minds, and inspire dialogue.

Morgen: And have fun in the process. Where can we find out about you and your work?

Delin: “Rasputin and The Jews: A Reversal of History” is sold on Amazon (in both paperback and Kindle versions), and on Barnes & Noble, in both paperback and Nook.

In addition, I have a website about the book at: http://therealrasputin.wordpress.com which includes a summary, excerpts, reviews, some history and more.

Morgen: Thank you so much, Delin.

I then invited Delin to include an extract of her writing and this is the Introduction to “Rasputin and The Jews: A Reversal of History”…

This small tome is intended to vindicate Grigory Efimovitch Rasputin (born approximately 1870; died 1916), spiritual advisor to the last Tsar and Tsarina of Russia. It means to debunk all of the outrageous rumors perpetrated by a bigoted, small-minded, self-absorbed society. If you are looking for a list his debauchery, sins, or crimes, you won’t find them here, for there exists no evidence of those, other than rumors. If you’re seeking the gory description of his brutal murder, you won’t find it here. And if you want to establish a link between Rasputin and the fall of the Romanov Empire, you won’t find any, because there is none.

What you will find is testimony from many who knew him, including his enemies, regarding his humanitarian activities. You will find accounts of his aid to the poor and the ill and his endless efforts to avoid war and its needless cost of lives. You will find substantial evidence of his aid to Russian Jewry and his attempts to obtain equal rights for this group, which was Russia’s most severely oppressed and restricted population.

But, most of all, you will find that what has passed as history for a century was not the truth, which exemplifies how history is written by the powerful not by the oppressed.

If you are reading this and you write, in whatever genre, and are thinking “ooh, I’d like to do this” then you can… just email me and I’ll send you the questions. You complete them, I tweak them where appropriate (if necessary to reflect the blog ‘clean and light’ rating) and then they get posted. When that’s done, I email you with the link so you can share it with your corner of the literary world. And if you have a writing-related blog / podcast and would like to interview me… let me know. You can sign up to receive these blog posts daily or weekly so you don’t miss anything… and follow me on Twitter where each new posting is automatically announced. You can also read / download my eBooks and free eShorts at Smashwords, Sony Reader Store, Barnes & Noble, iTunes Bookstore and Kobo. My eBooks are also now on Amazon, with more to follow. I also have a quirky second-person viewpoint story in charity anthology Telling Tales.

I have a new forum and you can follow me on Twitter, friend me on Facebook, like me on Facebook, connect with me on LinkedIn, find me on Tumblr, complete my website’s ‘Contact me’ page or plain and simple, email me.

Unfortunately, as I post an interview a day (amongst other things) I can’t review books but I have a feature called ‘Short Story Saturdays’ where I review stories of up to 2,500 words. Alternatively if you have a short story or self-contained novel extract / short chapter (ideally up to 1000 words) that you’d like critiqued and don’t mind me reading it / talking about and critiquing it (I send you the transcription afterwards so you can use the comments or ignore them) on my ‘Bailey’s Writing Tips’ podcast, then do email me. They are weekly episodes, usually released Monday mornings UK time, interweaving the recordings between the red pen sessions with the hints & tips episodes. I am now also looking for flash fiction (<1000 words) for Flash Fiction Fridays and poetry for Post-weekend Poetry.

 

Author interview no.335 with writer Valerie Stocking

Welcome to the three hundred and thirty-fifth of my blog interviews with novelists, poets, short story authors, biographers, agents, publishers and more. Today’s is with multi-genre author Valerie Stocking. A list of interviewees (blogged and scheduled) can be found here. If you like what you read, please do go and investigate further.

Morgen: Hello, Valerie. Please tell us something about yourself and how you came to be a writer.

Valerie: I was born in Connecticut in the U.S. a number of years ago!  And wrote my first story when I was 5.  My mother was a writer, and I guess I was imitating her.  I loved storytelling from the beginning!  It was so much fun to relate something I’d made up, and have people be interested in it and what was going to happen next.  I fell in love with the stage when I was 9, and saw my first play, and subsequently wrote my first play when I was 10.  I was told off and on that I should be a writer, and for a number of years while I was working I did write as part of my job duties.  Then I got a job abridging books for audio, and cut over 100 novels.  I didn’t write during that period, but I learned an awful lot! I started writing plays after that job ended, and switched to novels about 6 years ago.

Morgen: So you’re bound to be good at editing. What genre do you generally write and have you considered other genres?

Valerie: Well, it’s funny you should ask, LOL!  My first published novel was a mystery, “A Touch of Murder”.  “The Promised Land” is historical fiction, but it can also be considered a fictional memoir.  Parts of it really happened, and parts didn’t. Next up is another mystery; the sequel to “Touch of Murder”. After that, I’m going to write a ghost story, then either another mystery, or the sequel to “The Promised Land”.  I have several ideas for stand-alone novels, too.  I don’t want to be stuck writing one genre or one series all the time.  That would be boring.

Morgen: For some certainly. I’ve interviewed some authors who read one genre and can’t imagine writing (or wish to write) anything else but I love variety so stick to what I call ‘dark and light’ (crime and humour with everything else in between). Can you remember where you saw your first book on the shelves?

Valerie: Very vividly!  It was at the end of July 2010, in a Borders bookstore.  “Touch of Murder” had just been published, and it was in a rack by the registers.  That is something I will never forget. “The Promised Land” is on the shelves of a local bookstore, the largest in town since Borders folded.  It’s very gratifying.

Morgen: It must be thrilling. I have a story in a charity anthology which may or may not be stocked by Waterstones and that really would be a buzz. How much of the marketing do you do for your published works or indeed for yourself as a ‘brand’?

Valerie: I did very little for “Touch of Murder”, but I am pulling out all the stops for “The Promised Land”.  I’ve been on local TV, and I’ve done 2 readings / signings so far.  The next one will be April 11 at Collected Works Bookstore here in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Also, I am posting on Twitter and Facebook regularly, putting out flyers, and doing free book days on Kindle.  As far as being a “brand,” I’ve heard a lot about that, and all I can think of is, it’s turning me into a box of cereal or a can of soup or something.  Since I write so many different kinds of things, and don’t use a pseudonym, people may initially be confused by my output.  I don’t expect anyone to read everything I write, except for my closest friends, and even then, some can’t or won’t because they don’t like the genre I’m working in at that time.  And that’s okay.  I’m hoping to attract a wider audience that way.

Morgen: There are plenty of readers so they can pick and choose. By writing different genres I’d say you’d be hitting more of them. You mentioned Kindle, so your books are available as eBooks? What was your experience of that process? And do you read eBooks or is it paper all the way?

Valerie: Yes, both of my novels are available as eBooks.  I am a strong believer in digital publishing and digital product, and am an avid reader on my Kindle.  I have gotten to the point where I prefer reading eBooks to regular, paper books.  The process of converting my books to eBooks was a bit exasperating, as it seemed to take a relatively long period of time.  “The Promised Land” didn’t come out on Kindle until a month after the physical version was published.  Maybe that doesn’t seem like a long time to you, but for me, waiting, it was an eternity!

Morgen: Even just a few hours for my first piece to go on Amazon seemed ages but once it’s up, it’s great to see (and especially to sell the first one!). Have you had any rejections? If so, how do you deal with them?

Valerie: Have I had rejections???!!  Is a frog waterproof?? LOL I’ve dealt with rejection as long as I’ve been writing.  It is part and parcel of the business of being a writer.  It used to crush me; I’d be depressed for days and unable to write for a while.  But I always managed to pick myself up and begin anew.  That’s what is most important, I think: to not take rejection to heart (although that’s tough!) and above all, keep writing.  Writing is the best revenge! Now that I self-publish, I don’t have to worry about rejection – except from critics, and readers.  But I’ve learned to take that in stride, too.  It’s kind of exciting, because “The Promised Land” is getting very good reviews now.  So each time that happens, it’s like an acceptance.  Very nice!

Morgen: “Is a frog waterproof?” I love that. I wonder if there are any that aren’t? I had two 1* reviews for ‘Feeding the Father’ on Goodreads recently, one of whom had said it had put her off my writing for life. Rather than be gutted, I actually found it quite amusing that someone would feel so strongly (albeit not the way I would want her to) but I do wonder if she knew it was based on a true story if that would have made a difference. Probably not. How boring would life be though if we all liked the same things… or wrote the same things. What are you working on at the moment / next?

Valerie: Right now I am marketing “The Promised Land” and writing my blogs.  Once the marketing dies down a bit, I am going to return to “Seen of the Crime”, which is the sequel to “A Touch of Murder”.  I have been conducting some paranormal research lately, to prepare for writing my ghost novel, which will be up after that.

Morgen: Ghost stories have always been so popular, haven’t they, and I think hard to do well, although fun to write. Do you manage to write every day? What’s the most you’ve written in a day?

Valerie: No, unfortunately I don’t.  I write in spurts.  When I’m working on a first draft, though, I do write every day.  My average is about 5-7 pages daily.  Usually that takes me an hour or so.  I tend to write quickly.  The most I’ve ever written in a day was about 15 pages.  I did that four days in a row, then I got sick!

Morgen: Oh gosh. The most I’ve done in succession is NaNoWriMo 2011 when I wrote 47,000 words in eight days. I knew it was going to be tough with doing this blog as well (the first time I had) and got ahead on day 1 but then did nothing to it for three weeks so had that week and a day to catch up. Fortunately I had the week off work but I wouldn’t leave it all ’til then again. I had a 21-hour day one of those days and although I felt OK at the time it certainly caught up with me. Do you plot your stories or do you just get an idea and run with it?

Valerie: I tend to have a pretty good sense of the plot before I start.  I write out a synopsis, rather than an outline, but of course I always end up deviating from it!  That’s part of the fun of writing: sometimes you just don’t know what’s going to happen until you’re actually typing it!

Morgen: It is and I adore that. Every other Monday night I run a writing workshop and quite often we’ll just start with a one-word prompt and we all come out with really different things. One of our first was ‘chicken’ and one of the guys wrote about a memorable chicken dinner and I wrote about a group of lads who were egging (pardon the pun) on a new boy to cross a busy dual carriageway as part of an initiation to the group. And we only have 10-15 minutes so to think of something and then write a fair chunk impresses me every time. We’ve not mentioned characters yet, do you have a method for creating yours, their names and what do you think makes them believable?

Valerie: Great question!

Morgen: Thank you.

Valerie: The characters in “A Touch of Murder” are all basically fictitious.  I had great fun making them up.  I do write out character studies usually, but as with the plot, they tend to up and surprise me sometimes.  I don’t always know what’s going to come out of a character, in terms of personality or most especially dialogue, until I’m typing it.  They always surprise me.

For “The Promised Land”, most of the characters are based on actual people that I knew fairly well (some extremely well), so I didn’t have to develop them.  There are a couple of noted exceptions, but interestingly enough, I didn’t write out anything about the characters I made up, either.  They seemed to pop out whole, which isn’t typical for me.  Sometimes a character can give me problems, so I write out a dialogue between the two of us to get things clarified.  That seems to help whenever I get stuck.

Morgen: It certainly sounds like you know yourself well as a writer which I’m sure helps. What is your creative process like? What happens before sitting down to write?

Valerie: I get the germ of an idea.  For instance, I have an idea for a stand-alone novel that started with me musing, “How could someone commit a murder and leave no forensic evidence whatsoever?”  I found out how, and that will be a key component in this story.

For “A Touch of Murder”, I envisioned the young detective in the back seat of a Buick, being driven to a health spa on a rutted road while she was nursing a hangover.  That’s how that one started for me.  For “The Promised Land”, it was more cerebral, since it was based, in part, on a period of my life back in 1966. Different elements popped up for me, and they were very vivid.  “Promised Land” was the easiest thing I’ve ever written.  It just rolled right out!

Morgen: My NaNoWriMo 2011 novel was like that. My ‘therapy’ piece. Do you write on paper or do you prefer a computer?

Valerie: I used to write everything out by hand first, but I’ve become too impatient with that.  So I taught myself to compose at the computer.  I type pretty fast, so I can save a lot of time that way.

Morgen: It certainly can. I’ve been a secretary since I left school (twenty-something years) so I type quickly but because I’ve done more of that than handwriting in the last few years so, although my handwriting is legible, it’s so slow by comparison. Do you have pieces of work that you think will never see light of day?

Valerie:  Back when I was first getting going with writing, when I was in my 30’s, I wrote 3 novels that were never published: one sci fi, one horror, and one a political thriller.  I am tempted to put them out on Kindle, but I would have to reread them first, and probably I would end up doing rewrites.  I would rather, at this point, concentrate on what’s new and up for me right now.

Morgen: Mine only date back to 2008 so I’m hoping they don’t need much work but at least a fair amount of time has passed (and I’ve developed my writing since then) so I can edit them with a sensible brain… I hope. What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Valerie: Go to writers’ conferences, take classes, join a group if you can. And above all, keep writing, no matter what anyone says.  Be open to improving, and learning from others.  I believe self-publishing is the way to go, but only if you have a quality product that has been professionally edited, and that has a professional cover.

Morgen: Is there a word, phrase or quote you like?

Valerie:  Don’t give up.  Remember, the mighty oak was once a nut!

Morgen: And drivers once learners. What do you do when you’re not writing?

Valerie: I take long walks with my dog.  I love to play chess.  I enjoy short road trips. I like old movies – I’m talking from the ’20’s and ’30’s!  I got a degree in Cinema Studies, so I’m pretty passionate about film history.  I am also a voracious reader!  Mostly I read fiction, mysteries and thrillers, but occasionally other types as well.

Morgen: I love the cinema and see at least a film or two a week. Where can we find out about you and your work?

Valerie: The best place is on my website: http://www.valeriestocking.com.  There you will find my plays as well as my books.  Also, I do two blogs a week.  The first, which comes out on Mondays, is a potpourri of topics, from the writing process and publishing “The Promised Land”, to paranormal activities of myself and others, to 1960’s memories, which of course ties in again with “The Promised Land”.  On Thursdays I am writing a serialized mystery called “Color Me Dead”.  You can read it from the beginning on my blog page, which is found on my website.

Morgen: Is there anything you’d like to ask me?

Valerie: How did you come to have this blog?  Obviously you’re a bibliophile. But having a blog devoted exclusively to books is a big step and commitment to make.  How do you manage the blog with the rest of your life?

Morgen: <laughs> writing is my life. I hadn’t a clue how big it would get when I started this blog (31st March 2011) and how much it would take over but I put a few of my own comments on then within a couple of months I’d been invited to do a blog interview, loved it, saw how easy it was and put the word out that I was inviting interviewees. It snowballed from there. It would be easier to just stick to the blog interviews so I’d have more time for other things (like my writing) but I really enjoy every aspect of it and I think it’s good to have variety, and it seems to be working out well. Thank you, Valerie.

I then invited Valerie to include an extract of her writing…

Joy asked, “What’s your mom like?”

“She’s real pretty.  She has blonde hair and she’s tall.  Taller than my dad.  And she’s real nice.” Clay hesitated, then said, “You should meet her sometime.”

Joy didn’t say anything for a minute.  She wet her lips and said, “I’d like to.  But…”

“But?”

“Well, my mom’s pretty prejudiced.” She looked away, bracing herself for Clay’s anger.

He stiffened.  “I see,” he said. “But are you?”

“I hope not,” Joy said fervently.

“You can’t be.  ‘Cause we’re friends,” Clay said.

Joy relaxed.  “That’s true,” she said.

“Why don’t you tell me about your parents?” Clay pressed.

Joy sighed loudly.  “What do you want to know?”

“What’s your mother like?”

There was a long pause.  She didn’t want to lie, but she didn’t dare tell him the truth.  Finally, she said, “She’s okay sometimes.”

“What about the other times?”

Another pause.  What do I say?  Finally, she decided she could tell him a little of the truth.  But her heart was pounding, and there was a tightness in her belly as she said, “Well, sometimes it seems like she just flies off the handle.”

“So she gets mad a lot?”

“Sometimes, yeah.”

“Does she yell at you?”

If you only knew… Joy felt tears spring unbidden into her eyes.  “Sometimes,” she whispered.

Clay put his hand on her shoulder.  She could feel the warmth coming from him.  Involuntarily, she shivered under his touch.

“That must be rough,” he said.

Joy nodded and looked away.

Valerie Stocking was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, and wrote her first short story when she was five. When she was eight, she won a short story contest in Jack and Jill Magazine. She wrote her first play at the age of ten. In 1966, when she was twelve, she and her mother moved to a small town in Florida where they lived for a year. During this time, Valerie experienced difficulties with the public school system, tried a Seventh Day Adventist school briefly, and then dropped out altogether. It was her experiences during this year that inspired The Promised Land. Later, she would finish high school, graduate from college and earn a Master’s degree in Cinema Studies from NYU.

For nearly 30 years, she wrote and edited in various capacities, including copywriting, newspaper articles, and short stories. She wrote nearly 20 full-length and one act plays over a ten year period, which have been performed throughout the U.S. and Canada. She edited books for audio, abridging over 100 novels in a 6-year period. In 2010, she published her first novel, A Touch of Murder, which is the first of what will become the Samantha Kern mystery series. It was nominated for a Global eBook Award in 2011 for Best Mystery.

Valerie lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico with her dog and cat, and is working on her next novel. You can visit her website at www.valeriestocking.com.

If you are reading this and you write, in whatever genre, and are thinking “ooh, I’d like to do this” then you can… just email me and I’ll send you the questions. You complete them, I tweak them where appropriate (if necessary to reflect the blog ‘clean and light’ rating) and then they get posted. When that’s done, I email you with the link so you can share it with your corner of the literary world. And if you have a writing-related blog / podcast and would like to interview me… let me know. You can sign up to receive these blog posts daily or weekly so you don’t miss anything… and follow me on Twitter where each new posting is automatically announced. You can also read / download my eBooks and free eShorts at Smashwords, Sony Reader Store, Barnes & Noble, iTunes Bookstore and Kobo.  My eBooks are also now on Amazon, with more to follow. I also have a quirky second-person viewpoint story in charity anthology Telling Tales.

I have a new forum at http://morgenbailey.freeforums.org, friend me on Facebook, like me on Facebook, link with me on LinkedIn, find me on Tumblr, complete my website’s ‘Contact me‘ page or plain and simple, email me.

Unfortunately, as I post an interview a day (amongst other things) I can’t review books but I have a feature called ‘Short Story Saturdays’ where I review stories of up to 2,500 words. Alternatively if you have a short story or self-contained novel extract / short chapter (ideally up to 1000 words) that you’d like critiqued and don’t mind me reading it / talking about and critiquing it (I send you the transcription afterwards so you can use the comments or ignore them) on my ‘Bailey’s Writing Tips’ podcast, then do email me. They are weekly episodes, usually released Monday mornings UK time, interweaving the recordings between the red pen sessions with the hints & tips episodes. I am now also looking for flash fiction (<1000 words) for Flash Fiction Fridays and poetry for Post-weekend Poetry.

 

Author interview no.331 with writer Richard Denning

Welcome to the three hundred and thirty-first of my blog interviews with novelists, poets, short story authors, biographers, agents, publishers and more. Today’s is with young adult sci-fi, historical fiction and historical fantasy writer Richard Denning. A list of interviewees (blogged and scheduled) can be found here. If you like what you read, please do go and investigate further.

Morgen: Hello, Richard. Please tell us something about yourself, where you’re based, and how you came to be a writer.

Richard: I was born in Ilkeston in Derbyshire and live in Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands of the UK. I work as a General Practitioner (family doctor) with a North Birmingham practice. I am 44 and married with two children.  As the day job is full of the gritty reality of day-to-day life (drugs, abuse, life threatening illness and disability) I find that when it comes to reading, TV, movies and hobbies I shy away from modern day reality. I have always had a strong interest in historical settings as well as horror and fantasy. My preferred reading would be say Bernard Cornwell or Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams and Tolkien. TV watching would include Dr Who, Star Trek, Blackadder, Buffy and historical mysteries like Cadfael. I enjoy board game and roleplaying games like the often maligned but entertaining Dungeons and Dragons. I have even designed and published my own board game and run the UK’s largest hobby game convention. All this goes into the pot when it comes to writing. Some writers write to right injustices, talk about the gritty real world. Not me! For me it’s another form of escapism really. A writer can make up their own reality and populate it as he sees fit.

Morgen: I have a feeling I know what you’re going to say to this but what genre do you generally write?

Richard: I am a young adult sci-fi, historical fiction and historical fantasy writer. Often friends say that I should write about the day job. But I don’t because of the reasons I gave before. If I ever did write about a doctor it is likely that something weird would happen like the practice building be haunted!

Morgen: That sounds like fun. What have you had published to-date?

Richard: I am self / indie published via my own Mercia Books rather than via a self publishing company. I have four books published thus far in three separate series with another book (maybe two) coming this year. The series are The Hourglass Institute Series (a young adult Time Travel Series) – Tomorrow’s Guardian and Yesterday’s Treasures; The Praesidium Series (Historical Fantasy in 17th century). The first book of that series is The Last Seal and is set in the great Fire of London with a fantasy twist; The Northern Crown Series (Historical Fiction in 6th and 7th century Dark Ages Britain). The First book is The Amber Treasure (my best seller at present) and the sequel Child of Loki has just been released.

Morgen: A great mixture of books you have there. Before you self-published did you had any rejections? If so, how do you deal with them?

Richard: Many over the years. You get angry and then philosophical, your doubt your own ability and almost give up. Then, two or three years ago, I had one that was three pages long which analysed all the good things in The Last Seal (with the odd comment about improvements) and finished by almost apologizing that they only took on 1 new author a year and could not publish me. I looked at that letter and thought ‘hang on a mo. If they took the effort to write a three page letter I can’t be that bad.‘ So I decided to self publish.

Morgen: Wow. Even a tick-box reply is a rarity these days. Have you won or been shortlisted in any competitions?

Richard: Occasionally I have got to later stages of some competitions but ‘nothing to write home about’ events but again I have had some encouraging comments back.

Morgen: Do you have an agent? Do you think they’re vital to an author’s success?

Richard: No I don’t. I am makings sales but at a moderate level. There are many advantages to having an agent and publisher and I would encourage writers to always try that route BUT the world is changing and self published authors do something break into the best seller lists and it is certainly possible to get a readership on your own efforts so I don’t think authors should just give up IF they cannot get an agent.

Morgen: I didn’t. Are your books available as eBooks? Were you involved in that process at all? Do you read eBooks or is it paper all the way?

Richard: I have a kindle and an Ipad and do read books that way BUT also adore physical books. It is clear that just the way that music is now mainly downloaded (rather than bought on a CD or vinyl) that a revolution is under way and to deny that transition will occur is to stick one’s head into the sand. AS a writer you MUST adapt. The story is the thing that matters NOT the format. So yes ALL my books are out as e-books and all my future ones will be. I converted them myself. I am getting a steady trickle of sales via this route.

Morgen: Me too. I started with Smashwords because of the daunting 70+-page formatting guide but in the end it wasn’t that bad and now have a template so it’s easy to put new things up (which I plan to do shortly). How much of the marketing do you do for your published works or indeed for yourself as a ‘brand’?

Richard: I write a marketing plan each January (for the last three years at least). I have a variety of approaches. I am active online on Facebook, twitter and Google plus. I try to contribute to some online chats. I have a blog and do guests posts occasionally. I do school visits (15 last year, one of which lead to an awesome 40 sales). I take the books to some book fairs and other events like my own UK games Expo which is mainly about games but gamers read too!

Morgen: They do, and it sounds like you’re doing all the right things. Do you have a favourite of your books or characters? If any of your books were made into films, who would you have as the leading actor/s?

Richard: This is a hard one. I usually say my favourite is the one I am currently writing. So at the moment that is the Saxon series. But probably the one that would make a seriously cool movie would be The Last Seal: Imagine a world of Gunpowder and Sorcery in 1666. Magic and demons, schoolboys, thieves and secret societies against the back drop of the great fire of London. My most favourite character here is either the cavalier Artemis (maybe Alan Rickman as he was as the sheriff in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves rather than as Snape, amazing as he was in that part) or the little thief Freya for which we would need a feisty teenage girl. The only issue here is that my daughter (a keen 15 year old actress in the making if she got her way) would love the part.

Morgen: As you’re self-published, presumably you chose your titles, did you design the covers of your books? How important do you think they are?

Richard: Yep! Because I am the publisher BUT I don’t do it all myself. I have an editor who professionally edits the books and I used Avalon Graphics to do the covers.

Morgen: I have an editor and apart from finding occasional glitches she comes up with wonderful suggestions. And I have two first readers who are vital. No-one should go it alone. What are you working on at the moment / next?

Richard: Child of Loki is my latest book, a sequel to my dark ages historical fiction set in the early years of Anglo Saxon Britain. I am also writing a children’s historical fantasy set in the same period but aimed at primary school age group which blends the historical world with the mythology of the Saxon period.

Morgen: Both popular genres. Do you manage to write every day? Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?

Richard: I do try to. It can be hard with the day job but I try and get a paragraph a day done as a minimum – more would be the aim. If I hit a dead end or block I work around it – maybe jump elsewhere in the book, start a new project, do research, do marketing etc.

Morgen: That’s the key; variety. You can’t get bored then. And 300 words a day equates to 100,000 words a year so very doable. Do you plot your stories or do you just get an idea and run with it?

Richard: I try to have what I call my working document which is an outline of the story and characters BUT no story survives the first draft without changing somewhere along the way. So it’s a hybrid approach. Sooner or later you find that a new idea pops up and you add that in.

Morgen: You do. Do you have a method for creating your characters, their names and what do you think makes them believable?

Richard: I try to write down major characteristics, motives, strengths and weakness so that when I put them in a situation I know how they will react. Names usually flow from the period concerned.

Morgen: Do you write any non-fiction, poetry or short stories?

Richard: I maintain a blog: http://news.richarddenning.co.uk which is about history and also some science fiction and fantasy. I sometimes write reviews on books on Goodreads and also on board game review sites.

Morgen: We mentioned editors, do you do a lot of editing or do you find that as time goes on your writing is more fully-formed?

Richard: I think and hope it gets better but I think all authors need an editor. They work with you to spot errors (and here I am not talking about a missing comma BUT proper continuity editing which makes sure the book makes sense).

Morgen: They do, and it’s much easier by not knowing the meaning behind the story. Do you have to do much research?

Richard: Yes – a lot when writing about historical periods but that is fine as I love history and enjoy going to the places in my books if I can.

Morgen: What point of view do you find most to your liking: first person or third person? Have you ever tried second person?

Richard: No never tried 2nd person. The Amber Treasure is first person. Tomorrow’s Guardian is third person but from one viewpoint only. The Last Seal is Third person from several viewpoints. I think they each have their merits and work in that particular story.

Morgen: It does depend on the piece. I’d recommend every writer having a go at second person. It’s like Marmite: I love it but others hate it. It’s certainly an acquired taste, although I acquired it as soon as I found out about it. Do you have pieces of work that you think will never see light of day?

Richard: Oh, bits and bobs of short stories (I am not keen on short stories to read or write), outlines of novels that may go nowhere – we shall see.

Morgen: They were practice, at least. What’s your favourite / least favourite aspect of your writing life? Has anything surprised you?

Richard: It is wonderful when a story comes together and readers tell you your books are good. My least favourite would be the sheer hard work of getting attention for one’s work.

Morgen: It is. Marketing has been most interviewees’ bugbear but these days it’s essential, even for already established writers. What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Richard: Read a lot both to see what is out there but also to see how good writers construct books. Reading heavily is the basic training of a writer. Then write and write and write, revise lots and keep working at it. Write the book you want to read NOT the one that others might think you should.

Morgen: Absolutely. If you don’t enjoy it then your reader likely won’t. If you could invite three people from any era to dinner, who would you choose and what would you cook (or hide the takeaway containers)?

Richard: Well I am pretty good cook if I do say so myself. At university I would throw dinner parties on Saturday nights for all my mates in halls that did not have food provided at the weekend, but unlike me did not have facilities. Probably my best food is curries – at least that is what I get asked to do a lot. I would love to meet Tolkien as his work is the basis of all fantasy fiction. Wellington is a bit of a military hero – the master of defence and the man who beat the invincible French in the Napoleonic wars. Then maybe Alexander the Great to try and bottle the energy that drove him half-way across the known world.

Morgen: I’ve been asked how I get mine from to do so much on this blog but I say it’s easy; I’m passionate (OK, obsessed) about writing so I just do it. Are you involved in anything else writing-related other than actual writing or marketing of your writing?

Richard: I have links to New Writers UK – a sort of self-help group of writers who assist each other in various ways. I am an occasional reviewer for the Historical Novel Society of self-published books and will be attending their annual conference this year to be part of a table linked to self-publishing.

Morgen: I don’t think I’ve heard of New Writers UK but it sounds great. What do you do when you’re not writing?

Richard: As I said I am a very keen player (and designer) of board games. That zeal also led to me setting up the UK’s biggest hobby game convention – UK Games Expo. Now in its 6th year it attracts 70 traders and 3,000 gamers (and family audience as well) who come to play non-electronic table-top games which are fun and allow for social activities.

Morgen: Sounds great (and a lot of hard work, I’m sure). Are there any writing-related websites and / or books that you find useful?

Richard: It is more of a case that by being active on Google Plus, twitter and Facebook that I pick up links to many sites (rather than just one or two). So the key is to branch out and link to authors and writers, chat to them and then pick up hints and tips.

Morgen: LinkedIn is great for that. Put a question or comment on and there’ll always be someone to help / reply. Are you on any forums or networking sites? If so, how valuable do you find them?

Richard: I hop in and out of http://www.goodreads.com and also http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk. I am also involved with and blog on http://englishhistoryauthors.blogspot.com – a group of historical fiction writers.

Morgen: What do you think the future holds for a writer?

Richard: The new world of ebooks and self-publishing means that the market place is full of thousands of authors. Some are good, some not so good. I hope I am in the former. But market forces will decide what happens to us all. Can we get an audience? There are lots of opportunities but also many challenges.

Morgen: I do think that the writing will speak for itself, and reviews be the judges of that. An author can only have so many friends. If a book has 100 reviews and they’re all 4-5* then it must be good (you would hope anyway!). Where can we find out about you and your work?

Richard: My website http://www.richarddenning.co.uk is the best starting point. You can read bits of my books and find out about the characters etc.

Morgen: A very handsome site. Is there anything else you’d like to mention?

Richard: My work is fast-moving and I hope exciting. It is designed to be entertaining whilst involving accessible interesting characters. A chance to gallop around history and have fun. Give them a go!

Morgen: Is there anything else you’d like to mention?

Richard: I would like to thank you for the opportunity to do this interview.

Morgen: Oh, you’re very welcome. Thank you for agreeing to take part.

I then invited Richard to include an extract of his writing…

Dismayed, Ben surveyed the devastation. The fire must have surged down Fish Street while they slept, and now, as Freya had grimly pointed out, they were too late: it had cut off their means of passage to the south. He looked back at the billowing clouds of smoke, quick to realise why the fire had progressed only halfway across the bridge before dying down: the wind had changed direction and was now blowing strongly west and north, driving the fire away from the bridge and along Thames Street, through the small alleyways and passages, such as those Ben and his friends had come through just a few minutes before. What he also saw was that the fire, in its full terrifying fury, was already surging past them.

“Oh God!” Ben shrieked, as only yards away the flames drew level to where they stood, destroying forever the shanty town of the poor and breaking with avarice into the first of the great trade halls. Ben’s throat tightened with fear and ‒ panicking now ‒ he screamed, “My God, the fire is moving too fast, we’re going to get cut off!”

A determined look sprang into Freya’s face. She seized Ben by the elbow and pulled him back along the waterfront. “Bloody demon’s not won yet. Come on, we have to move fast!”

Richard Denning works as a GP in the West Midlands. He has always been fascinated by historical settings as well as horror and fantasy. Other than writing, his main interests are games of all types. He is the designer of a board game based on the Great Fire of London and the director of UK Games Expo, the UKs biggest hobby game convention. He is married with two children. His author website is www.richarddenning.co.uk.

If you are reading this and you write, in whatever genre, and are thinking “ooh, I’d like to do this” then you can… just email me and I’ll send you the questions. You complete them, I tweak them where appropriate (if necessary to reflect the blog ‘clean and light’ rating) and then they get posted. When that’s done, I email you with the link so you can share it with your corner of the literary world. And if you have a writing-related blog / podcast and would like to interview me… let me know. You can sign up to receive these blog posts daily or weekly so you don’t miss anything… and follow me on Twitter where each new posting is automatically announced. You can also read / download my eBooks and free eShorts at Smashwords, Sony Reader Store, Barnes & Noble, iTunes Bookstore and Kobo. My eBooks are now on Amazon, with more to follow, and I also have a quirky second-person viewpoint story in charity anthology Telling Tales.

I have a new forum at http://morgenbailey.freeforums.org and you can follow me on Twitter, friend me on Facebook, like me on Facebook, connect with me on LinkedIn, find me on Tumblr, complete my website’s ‘Contact me’ page or plain and simple, email me.

Unfortunately, as I post an interview a day (amongst other things) I can’t review books but I have a feature called ‘Short Story Saturdays’ where I review stories of up to 2,500 words. Alternatively if you have a short story or self-contained novel extract / short chapter (ideally up to 1000 words) that you’d like critiqued and don’t mind me reading it / talking about and critiquing it (I send you the transcription afterwards so you can use the comments or ignore them) on my ‘Bailey’s Writing Tips’ podcast, then do email me. They are weekly episodes, usually released Monday mornings UK time, interweaving the recordings between the red pen sessions with the hints & tips episodes. I am now also looking for flash fiction (<1000 words) for Flash Fiction Fridays and poetry for Post-weekend Poetry.