Guest post: Escaping the Comfort Zone by Velda Brotherton

June 27, 20159 Comments

Today’s guest blog post, on the topic of writing a genre you’re not used to, is brought to you by Velda Brotherton.

Escaping the Comfort Zone

Writing romances in the mid Nineties came about by accident. When a western won first place in a contest, an editor at Penguin informed me westerns with women protagonists weren’t being published. He wanted me to turn it into a romance and send it back. With a lot of coaching from other writers I did just that. As a result my historical romances found a niche and are still being published.

But what happens when we want to try something new? Is it possible to step out of that comfort zone where we’re being published? It may well be if what we like to read is eclectic. Should we do it? Those are questions each one of us can answer for ourselves.

A few years ago I stepped out of that comfort zone and finished a horror novel I’d worked on sort of in secret when I needed a break from romances. A fan of Stephen King and Dean Koontz, it never occurred to me I could be published in that genre. So what really happens when we try to break the mold? First, we have to ask ourselves a lot of questions, which are showing up here. I discovered that I had trouble leaving hot sex scenes out of my horror novel. But it was mine, after all, so if I wanted to include what I’d become fairly good at, why not?

When a small publisher agreed to take a look at it, my first fear was there would be too much sex in a non-romance novel. It turned out they liked it, but sadly they went broke before they could publish it. So back into its plastic storage box went the manuscript. And I wrote another western historical romance.

But then people kept asking me why I didn’t write what I knew, namely stories from the nine years I’d worked for a newspaper as a feature writer. Weekly newspapers require that each employee wear different hats, so I did everything from chase ambulances to hold a huge python in my lap to sit in on city planning meetings. Then there was the time I flew with a barnstormer who just happened to be America’s first real space man. Well, you get the idea. Never did cover a murder, though, but I got to thinking that a mystery series set amidst all the characters I’d met and the odd stories I’d covered, might be of interest to readers.

So began A Twist of Poe mysteries. And guess what? Up reared that hot sex scene or two or three or more. It wasn’t long before my new publisher branded me. Sexy, Dark, and Gritty. It fit every genre I write in. The second book in that series, The Tell-Tale Stone, was published last month, and, oh yes, the horror novel, A Savage Grace, will be out from the same publisher in October in time for Halloween.

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Guest post: Amy’s top ten steps to bagging that all important book deal! by Amy Lynch

May 16, 20152 Comments

Today’s guest blog post is brought to you by Amy Lynch.

Amy’s top ten steps to bagging that all important book deal!

Write about what you know. It’s a cliché, but it is true. I know nothing about space exploration. Ditto the history of Japan. I do, however, know about relationships, babies and weddings. Hence, my stories often revolve around these things. This is comfortable territory for me, and it doesn’t feel forced.
Persistence pays off! Rejection is all part of the author experience, but if you really believe in yourself, and truly want to be published, don’t stop until you get a yes!
Use criticism to improve. This is easier said than done, and something I struggled with and had to learn to master. In order to get published, you may have to improve your manuscript. Hiring an editor may be necessary, as it is hard to see the flaws in your own work. Read a lot, especially in the genre in which you write yourself, as you will subconsciously pick up tips.
Learn how to write a sharp pitch letter, concise book summary and author bio. Research publishers and agents and personalise / tailor each letter. 99% of manuscripts end up in “the slush pile.”
Make sure the first chapter or prologue is demonstrating your best writing skills. For me, the first chapter was not my strongest, so I moved another chapter forward, which made the start more exciting. The reader must be hooked straight away. I am fickle when reading other books – if I don’t like it straight away I will not finish it! Try and introduce a dilemma early on to peak interest.
Write every single day – even if it’s only a half hour before bed. Too busy working? Well, if you really want something, make time for it! Flex that writing muscle as often as you can, and it will come naturally. Stephen King recommends writing 1,000 words a day. This might seem like hard work if, like myself, you are juggling a day job and children, but if you enjoy writing it doesn’t feel like a chore.
Write short stories for magazines. Seeing your name in print will be addictive, add to your repertoire, keep you busy, and boost your confidence.
Think about a successful author in your genre – find out about their path to success and try to follow it. Contact him / her and ask for guidance. Pitch the publisher or agent that represents them, saying that you are similar.
Get a literary agent. This will hugely increase your chances of attracting a major publisher, as some do not accept unsolicited manuscripts! It will also help to have an agent at the negotiating stage!
If you still have no luck, but want to show off what you can do, commission an amazing book cover, self-publish on Amazon, create some hype and get good reviews! This could impress a major publisher and land you a major book deal. While you’re waiting for your big break, keep writing. Once you get a book deal, it will be a good idea to have a back catalogue of other books, so that you can keep them coming!

Thank you, Amy. That was great. My favourite is no.2. If you want to be a writer you will never give up.

Amy Lynch is an Irish author of humorous romantic women’s fiction, but not always with fairy tale endings! She has been working in the charity sector for many years, is married and has two young children. When she is not writing, she can be found juggling school runs, packing lunch boxes, tackling the laundry mountain and walking two large rescue dogs who stare at her until she walks them. Talk about multi-tasking!

Her debut novel ‘Bride Without a Groom’ is a laugh out loud Bridezilla comedy, and
will be published by Avon, Harper Collins in May 2015. Amy has published articles in Women’s Way, TV Choice Magazine, Sunday Times, and The Irish Examiner’ Ahe is represented by literary agent, Frank Fahy. You can find Amy and her book at:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bride-without-Groom-Amy-Lynch-ebook/dp/B00V2VXACG
Amylynchauthor.com
facebook.com/AmyLynchauthor
Twitter @Amylynchauthor

ABOUT THE BOOK

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Author Spotlight no.381 – thriller / suspense novelist David McGowan

October 18, 2014October 31, 20143 Comments

Complementing my interviews, today’s Author Spotlight, the three hundred and eighty-first, is of thriller / suspense novelist and interviewee David McGowan. If you would like to take part in an author spotlight, take a look at author-spotlights.

David McGowan is from Liverpool in the United Kingdom. He gained a degree in English Language & Literature from The University of Liverpool.

He is a prolific reader, with Stephen King and Dean Koontz being two of his favourite authors. He lists Desperation as his favourite King novel, calling it the inspiration behind The Hunter Inside. His favourite Koontz novel is False Memory. His all-time favourite novel is Catch 22 by Joseph Heller.

He began his debut novel during a bout of insomnia, declaring at the head of the manuscript,

“This is my attempt at writing a short story. God knows how far I will get.”

Fast forward a couple of years, and that short story became The Hunter Inside, a 100,000 word psychological suspense thriller that occupied the number 1 spot in the Amazon suspense charts, and has been downloaded onto more than 21,000 Kindles.

David’s current project is a science fiction trilogy called From The Sky. The titles of the individual 80,000 word novels are ‘ARRIVAL’, ‘JOURNEY’ and ‘NEVADA’. It is the story of a small town in northern California called Camberway, what happens to the people who live there when giant UFOs suddenly appear in the skies above, and how the survivors band together to journey towards a final revelation that will shock his fans around the world.

David writes fiction with a twist – page-turners that keep readers up past their bedtime and have the power to chill, inspire, frighten and amaze in equal measure.

In the works is David’s fifth novel. It is a ghostly full-length offering with the working title of Addersley Hall. It is scheduled for release in early 2016.

A self-published author, David handles every aspect of his work, from writing to cover design to publishing and marketing. He is the author of many articles that aim to help other authors and bloggers reach their potential and find their niche.

When asked what he thought was more important – money or fame – he answered,

“Neither. What’s important is following your dreams and being happy. If you do those two things then you don’t need money or fame, and if you are true to yourself and give one hundred percent to everything you do, then you will be able to measure your success in satisfaction and happiness.”

David loves to connect directly with his fans and friends around the world, and responds directly to messages and questions on his Facebook author page and on Twitter.

“Writing is a pretty solitary enterprise at times, but as a self-published author I get to meet my readers and interact with them much more than traditional authors who have all of their publicity handled by their publishers. I’m often surprised by reader’s opinions of some of my characters, but I sometimes secretly love the villains and get annoyed by the good guys too! Hearing what people think of the worlds and characters that are constructed inside the narrow confines of my mind is uplifting for me as an author and as a person, because all I ever truly want to do is reach people with my work, and introduce them to these characters that to me are all too real. I want people who read my stories to remember the people in them long after they have finished and stepped out of the world of fiction.”

David lives alone with his books, his often blank manuscript files and his vices. He has promised himself that someday he will get a cat, as someone once told him that no home is complete without books and cats.

Until that day comes, he is relying on you to step into his world and meet the people he knows so well.

“Perhaps they can be your imaginary friends like they are mine,” he says with a wry smile. “That’s when I’m not killing them, of course.”

And now from the author himself:

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Author Spotlight no.371 – author and talk show radio host Francine Silverman

June 7, 2014May 28, 20142 Comments

Complementing my interviews, today’s Author Spotlight, the three hundred and seventy-first, is of author and talk show radio host Francine Silverman. If you would like to take part in an author spotlight, take a look at author-spotlights.

Francine Silverman is a New York City girl, born and bred. As a child she loved writing letters and “poems” to friends and kept a diary. Ironically, her first published piece was at age 12 or 13 in the New York Post to columnist Dr. Rose Franzblau, complaining about her father’s failings. Fran never had any parental support on her writing and only discovered she had talent when a teacher at Bronx Community College gave her an A on a piece she penned.

Her first published article was in a judo publication. She and her husband belonged to a YMCA gym that had a track above the gym and they would watch the judo class below (their nephew was in the class). She got the idea to write about the beloved judo instructor while jogging around the perimeter. She recalls calling a writer she knew – the father of her daughter’s friend at school – and asking his take on the piece. He said it was full of clichés. It was but she was devastated!!

Fran honed her writing skills as a newspaper reporter. While married and raising a child, she worked at a local weekly newspaper as a sales person. She never liked it and one day interviewed a local doctor. She wrote the article and nervously asked the editor if she would publish it. Voila, she did, and from then on contributed articles. She remembers when she left the weekly, the staff said goodbye without fanfare. They were used to reporters and photographers leaving for greener pastures. She went on to freelance for a daily newspaper, doing feature articles. She was eventually hired by the daily and part of her responsibility was to go out and interview the man on the street about local issues – and take their pictures. Writing for newspapers was a wonderful experience and she recommends it to aspiring writers. Of course, there are less newspapers today but the Internet has many opportunities for writers.

During the time at the weekly and afterwards, she took myriad writing courses. A funny thing happened at one of them. She told the instructor where she would be working and he pooh-poohed the weekly. He must have assumed it was a rag. (Its editor later won a Pulitzer Prize!) A few months later, the instructor contacted her to ask if they would publish an article of his. Wonders never cease!

The second half of Fran’s life began with her ezine, Book Promotion Newsletter, launched in March 2003. She had written two guidebooks, Catskills Alive (Hunter Publishing 2000 and 2003) and Long Island Alive (Hunter Publishing 2003), but didn’t know how to market them or know any authors with whom to seek guidance. The ezine began with 10 authors and grew into the thousands. Recognizing the ingenuity of her subscribers through the questionnaires she sent them and their newsletter contributions, Fran took 325 of their best marketing strategies and put them into a book, Book Marketing from A-Z (Infinity Publishing 2003).

A reviewer at www.bvsreviews.com wrote: “In this book, more than 300 authors give the reader some insight on the who, what, where and when and how of marketing a book…There are a few known entities here, but for the most part, the authors in this book don’t have the recognition of someone like Stephen King, John Grisham… But that doesn’t mean their advice isn’t worthy. On the contrary, these folks get to the core of how to get your book out there, published and recognized.”

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Guest post: Book Signings by Feather Schwarz Foster

February 13, 2014February 13, 20147 Comments

Today’s guest blog post is brought to you by non-fiction historical author and interviewee Feather Schwarz Foster.

Some personal thoughts on Books signings: Yes? No? Hmmm?

There is a lot of discussion out there about whether in-store book signings are of any value to the author – or to the bookstore itself for that matter.

As far as a book store is concerned (particularly in these flux-ish days of e-books and online availability and everybody and his brother writing stuff, good or bad), as long as purchasing sufficient quantities is not a bookkeeping nightmare, they have everything to gain and nothing to lose. Other than the expense of purchasing your books with guaranteed returnability (a biggie!) and perhaps providing a quickly whipped up blurb on their website, and maybe a little on-table poster, there is virtually no expense to them. Some books stores will offer you a cup of coffee. Still, no big deal.

As far as the author goes, this can be a little hairy. If you are a mega celebrity like Stephen King or Madonna, there is no problem. Your publisher takes cares of all expenses and the books stores stand in line clamoring to play host, ditto the customers. If you are like the other 99.99% of the author-world however, there are definitely some expenses.

Forget about your time, as in “time is money”. Unless you still haven’t quit your day job, your time should be considered an investment. If you need to provide your own books for sale, this is usually not much of an issue, since you probably have sufficient quantity in the closet. Your car, on the other hand, can be very cranky. It is one thing to travel ten or fifteen minutes down the road. It is something else to drive fifty miles ONE WAY. There’s gas, wear and tear, insurance, and maybe tolls involved. There is no guarantee that anyone will buy a book.

Most authors do not mind too much if they don’t MAKE money. They do mind, however, if they LOSE money.

Probably the key to the value of book signings is the author’s expectations. One must be realistic. Where is the venue located? Little-Town is not New York. How many people are interested in your subject? How many books do you think you can reasonably sell? How much money can you expect to make per book? Your books cost you money to purchase. The store wants to make a little something. The reader wants a good value.

But what will happen if you do nothing? Nothing. If you do nothing, nothing will happen for sure.

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Author interview with contemporary, YA, and paranormal romance writer Christine Ashworth

February 3, 2013February 3, 2013Leave a comment

Complementing the full interviews on this blog, which will be dropping to weekend mornings from March, another new interview on my interview-only blog has been posted! The (630+) interviews from this blog are there already so there’s plenty to read.

The latest interview on the new blog is with contemporary, YA, and paranormal romance author Christine Ashworth and can be read in full at http://morgensauthorinterviews.wordpress.com/2013/02/03/author-interview-with-contemporary-ya-and-paranormal-romance-writer-christine-ashworth.

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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 information. They do now (January 2013) carry a fee (£10 / €12.50 / $15) for the new interviews on this blog but everything else (see Opportunities on this blog) is free.

If you go for the interview, it’s very simple; I send you a questionnaire (I have them for novelists, short story authors, children’s authors, non-fiction authors, and poets). You complete the questions, and I let you know when it’s going to go live. Before it does so, I add in comments as if we’re chatting, 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.

Alternatively, if you’d like a free Q&A-only interview, I now have http://morgensauthorinterviews.wordpress.com on which I’ve rerun the original interviews posted here then posted new interviews which I then reblog here. These interviews are Q&A only, so I don’t add in my comments but they do get exposure on both sites.

** NEW!! You can now subscribe to this blog on your Kindle / Kindle app!

See http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008E88JN0

or http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008E88JN0 for outside the UK **

You can sign up to receive these blog posts daily or weekly so you don’t miss anything. You can contact me and find me on the internet, view my Books (including my debut novel, which is being serialised on Novel Nights In!) and I also have a blog creation / maintenance service especially for, but not limited to, writers. If you like this blog, you can help me keep it running by donating and choose an optional free eBook.

For writers / readers willing to give feedback and / or writers wanting feedback, take a look at this blog’s Feedback page.

As I post an interview a day (amongst other things) I can’t unfortunately review books but I have a list of those who do. I welcome items for critique for the online writing groups listed below:

Morgen’s Online Non-Fiction Writing Group

Morgen’s Online Novel Writing Group

Morgen’s Online Poetry Writing Group

Morgen’s Online Script Writing Group

Morgen’s Online Short Story Writing Group

We look forward to reading your comments.

Author interview no.580 with Benedictine Oblate monk and non-fiction writer James Bishop

December 13, 2012January 30, 2013Leave a comment

Welcome to the five hundred and eightieth of my blog interviews with novelists, poets, short story authors, biographers, agents, publishers and more. Today’s is with non-fiction author James Bishop. 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, James. Please tell us something about yourself, where you’re based, and how you came to be a writer.

James: Hello Morgen. My name is James Bishop. I grew up in southern California and now live in northern California. I’m a bit of a “nerd” and a great lover of mathematics and computers. I also have synaesthesia, and write about it occasionally.

Morgen: I grew up with an older brother so I had no chance of escape nerdiness or techieness – I’m grateful for the latter. 🙂 You write non-fiction, how do you decide what to write about?

James: I’ve written two non-fiction works, both completely different. The first, A Way in the Wilderness, is a commentary on the Rule of Benedict, and I wrote that on the insistence of a friend. My second non-fiction book, Rocket Man, is my autobiography, and my decision to write that was mostly based on personal catharsis. I needed to get it all out in the open, so to speak.

Morgen: I keep saying to my mum that she should write hers (amongst other things she was a groom for racing driver Stirling Moss’ sister and photographed several of our royals at show-jumping events). You’ve self-published, what lead to you going your own way?

James: I was very fortunate with Wilderness. It was picked up by the first publisher to whom it was offered, and I was delighted. When I finished Rocket Man, the publisher said it was not their genre, so I looked into self-publishing as an option and liked it very much. It just seemed easier at the time.

Morgen: I’ve seven eBooks and it’s really not that scary once you know how, or done one – I have a ‘how to guide’ on https://morgenbailey.wordpress.com/ebooks/how-to-create-an-ebook. Do you read eBooks or is it paper all the way?

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Author Spotlight no.141 – Pam Grimes

December 1, 2012December 8, 2012Leave a comment

Complementing my daily blog interviews, today’s Author Spotlight, the one hundred and forty-first, is of Pam Grimes, author of Confessions of an Edgy Suburban Mom, and the 2012 Shirley You Jest! Book Awards / Shirley HAH non-fiction winner.

“Pam Grimes’ “Confessions of an Edgy Suburban Mom” spins a handful of humorous yarns. The best of them, such as “The Great Toilet Paper War”, sparkle to life when the author pulls back on the jokes and, with a deft, light hand, lets a great story tell itself.” ~ Shirley You Jest! Book Awards

Pam Grimes is an author, humor columnist, and domestic diva who lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, three teenage sons and their slightly bi-polar dog.

Shaped by a childhood resembling a Rat Pack movie (complete with Sinatra soundtrack), Pam was raised on a steady diet of off-beat humor, producing a unique, if not somewhat twisted viewpoint, far from the politically correct.

Her first published work, Confessions of an Edgy Suburban Mom is a collection of hilarious tales of family life set against the backdrop of that bizarre no-man’s land known as suburbia. Confessions is steeped in hilarious observations of parenting and family life and strives to both entertain as well as touch the hearts of its readers.

Conjuring images from the sixties through today, Grimes’ stories refresh our collective memories of youth while drawing sharp comparisons with today’s culture. Confessions of an Edgy Suburban Mom is available on Amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle.

And now from the author herself:

Raised in Portland, Oregon during the turbulent sixties and seventies I was more than a little sheltered, protected in the bosom of suburbia along with the rest of the Scooby Gang. But even suburbia couldn’t shield us from the rapidly changing social and political landscape, times indeed were a changin’, and we would need to change with them in order to adapt. Add to that a painfully shy child sporting a crooked pixie-cut, an unibrow that would even impress Ernest Borgnine, and you’ve got a pretty good idea of what shaped me as a writer. While this history serves as a backdrop for my writing, it’s my own family that I mine for humorous fodder. Raising three sons has been the greatest blessing of my life. Fortunately, my boys inherited their parent’s irreverent, slightly cracked sense of humor, and actually enjoy being the central characters in my writing. Don’t worry; I’ve set aside a healthy fund for their future psychoanalysis… just in case!

People usually ask how one becomes a successful writer; I always tell them that I’ll ask when I meet one. What most people define as “success” is rare among writers. Not many achieve the superstar status of a James Patterson or Nora Roberts. The writers I know don’t do it for fame or fortune; they do it because it’s their passion. Each writer’s path is as unique as his or her “voice” and in the eighties my path led me to the University of Oregon, where I majored in English and minored in snack foods. There I met and married my college sweetheart, a man who still wakes up everyday in shock and awe, wondering how he got mixed up in all of this.

After settling back in Portland, I worked as a personnel recruiter and college placement director. But my true desire was to raise a family, so I traded in my power suit and pumps for maternity pants and a pair of Keds, and spent the next eleven years raising three sons. While spending my thirties elbow-deep in diapers wasn’t without its charms, I was more than ready for a challenge once my youngest went off kindergarten. Raised on a steady diet of Nancy Drew mysteries and Stephen King novels, I was inspired to write at an early age. From the moment I could hold a pencil I was writing short stories for friends and family and once I got my hands on my dad’s old IBM Selectric there was no stopping me. With the boys in school I finally had the opportunity to return to my first love; writing.

After producing my first manuscript, a humorous mystery novel set in New Orleans, I decided to focus on short format stories, and eventually published my first column, The Edgy Suburban Mom in Connecticut County Kids magazine. Finding that my voice spoke to parents, women and mothers in particular, I focused on the pitfalls and general absurdity abundant in parenting and suburban life, from my own slightly off-beat perspective. The Edgy Suburban Mom was eventually published in my hometown, Portland, Oregon, in both Portland Monthly Magazine and Portland Family Magazine.

While writing about my family has been enormously rewarding, I’m excited to dive back into fictional writing and am currently working on my second novel; a thriller set on the Oregon Coast. Never fear, The Edgy Suburban Mom will return with another anthology of short stories, Confessions II will be available at Amazon in 2013.

You can find more about Pam and her writing via…

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The blog interviews will return as normal tomorrow with lad lit novelist Andy Holmes – the five hundred and sixty-ninth 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.

** NEW!! You can now subscribe to this blog on your Kindle / Kindle app!

See http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008E88JN0

or http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008E88JN0 for outside the UK **

You can sign up to receive these blog posts daily or weekly so you don’t miss anything. You can contact me and find me on the internet, view my Books (including my debut novel!) and I also have a blog creation / maintenance service especially for, but not limited to, writers. If you like this blog, you can help me keep it running by donating and choose an optional free eBook.

As I post an interview a day (amongst other things) I can’t unfortunately review books but I have a list of those who do, and 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 posting it online in my new Red Pen Critique Sunday night posts then do email me. I am now also looking for flash fiction (<1000 words) for Flash Fiction Fridays and poetry for Post-weekend Poetry.

Author interview no.550 with science fiction & fantasy writer Sarah Ettritch

November 13, 2012January 30, 20133 Comments

Welcome to the five hundred and fiftieth of my blog interviews with novelists, poets, short story authors, biographers, agents, publishers and more. Today’s is with science fiction & fantasy author Sarah Ettritch. 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, Sarah. Please tell us something about yourself, where you’re based, and how you came to be a writer.

Sarah: I live in Toronto with my partner and our cats. Becoming a writer wasn’t a conscious decision. When I was in my thirties, I wrote a story based on a recurring daydream, and then went on to produce two novels that will never see the light of day. Writing didn’t grab me at that time. I went back to it when I was in my early forties and have continued to write since then.

Morgen: I was about the same; late thirties, and it took me a little while to get going (‘life’ kept getting in the way) but then it grabbed me and hasn’t (thankfully) let go since. What genre do you generally write and have you considered other genres?

Sarah: I usually write science fiction and fantasy. I often (but not always) include romantic elements, and my main characters are often (but not always) lesbian, so some of my work has also been classified as romance and lesbian fiction. When I’m thinking about what to write next, I don’t consider genre, so I’m open to anything (except erotica). But I seem to favour science fiction and fantasy stories and suspect that most of my work will fall under those categories.

Morgen: And your comfort zone presumably. What have you had published to-date? Do you write under a pseudonym?

Sarah: I’m the author of the Rymellan series (science fiction), The Salbine Sisters (fantasy), and Threaded Through Time (fantasy). I don’t write under a pseudonym. I would have chosen something easier to spell!

Morgen: 🙂 The thing about writing names is that they have to be Googleable. If you were John Smith (sorry any John Smiths reading this), put your name in Google and you’d probably be search result no.100,000. As far as I know there are three Morgen Baileys in existence (certainly online) and because I’m so busy I get most of the front page. 🙂 Are your books available as eBooks? How involved were you in that process? Do you read eBooks or is it paper all the way?

Sarah: All of my books are available as eBooks. Since I often publish my own work, I’m usually very involved in the process. When producing a book (print or eBook), the only steps I don’t do myself are the cover design and editing. Of course, I do my own rounds of editing, but then I work with an editor to polish the story.

I read eBooks, but I prefer print for fiction and some non-fiction. I’ve worked out that when I’m reading for recreation, I want a print book. When I’m reading to learn something, I’m okay with an eBook.

Morgen: Every author should have back-up eyes as we’re always too close. One author said on a LinkedIn discussion that he didn’t need anyone else but was, needless to say, shot down in flames. I can’t remember who he was now or I’d have checked out his work. What are you working on at the moment / next?

Sarah: I’m working on the first book in a new contemporary fantasy series. By the time this interview is published, it will probably be available, but I haven’t settled on a title yet.

Morgen: Oh, great. Do let me know and I’ll add in a link. Do you manage to write every day? Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?

Sarah: I don’t write every day, nor do I try to. I haven’t suffered from writer’s block yet. I’ve run into challenging story problems that take time to work out, but I’ve always been able to write when I sit down to write.

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

Sarah: I’m very much a write by the seat of my pants writer, to the point that I often don’t know about key characters and important plot points when I start a new story. When I’m partway through a story, I’ll sometimes write a rough outline of what’s left, so my brain doesn’t explode.

Morgen: <laughs> I should do that with my current NaNoWriMo novel as it feels like it’s flitting all over the place but I’m sure it’ll all come together in the end (she types with fingers crossed). Do you have a method for creating your characters, their names and what do you think makes them believable?

Sarah: I don’t have a method. To me, it’s magic. It really is. My characters are believable because they’re flawed, and they behave and talk like real people.

Morgen: They should be flawed. How dull is the perfect hero? Do you do a lot of editing or do you find that as time goes on your writing is more fully-formed?

Sarah: I do less nitty-gritty editing, in the sense of tightening the language and such. I do the same amount in terms of story structure. Every story is new with a unique set of problems to work out.

Morgen: But doesn’t it feel great when they get worked out. Do you have to do much research?

Sarah: It depends on the story. For example, Threaded Through Time is a time travel story that takes place in the present time and 1910. I researched those areas the book references (politics, status of women around 1910, etc.). I was fortunate to have access to a woman’s 1911 daily journal, which helped me immensely.

Morgen: What point of view do you find most to your liking?

Sarah: I definitely prefer third person, for both reading and writing. All of my stories are written in third person, often with multiple narrators.

Morgen: Most readers (and therefore agents) prefer third, and it’s easier to get into others’ heads that way. Do you write any poetry, non-fiction or short stories?

Sarah: I write short stories. The Rymellan series is actually a collection of stories. Some are short story length; others are novellas.

Morgen: My favourite format. 🙂 Are you involved in anything else writing-related other than actual writing or marketing of your writing?

Sarah: I’m the web maven for Broad Universe (http://www.broaduniverse.org), an organization that celebrates women writers of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. I also sat on its board for two years. In addition, I belong to EPIC—the electronic publishing industry coalition (http://www.epicorg.com).

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

Sarah: I’ve been an avid computer gamer since I was a teenager. When I’m not creating my own worlds, I play in those created by others.

Morgen: Ah ha, hence your writing of them. I used to love the Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson adventure books when I was younger, then turned to Stephen King. I’ve ‘mellowed’ these days (to crime and humour). Are there any writing-related websites and / or books that you find useful?

Sarah: Oh, gosh, tons. I’ll mention a few. For book promotion, check out The Savvy Book Marketer (http://bookmarketingmaven.typepad.com) and The Creative Penn (http://www.thecreativepenn.com). For books, I recommend The Synonym Finder (http://www.amazon.com/ dp/0446370290).

Morgen: Joanna Penn’s Creative Penn site has been recommended before. Joanna was my Easter Sunday interviewee this year. 🙂 Where can we find out about you and your writing?

Sarah: You can find out more about me and my work at http://www.sarahettritch.com.

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

Sarah: Thank you so much for interviewing me. I’ve enjoyed sitting down and “chatting” with you.

Morgen: You’re very welcome. Thank you for joining me. Is there anything you’d like to ask me?

Sarah: Yes. Where do you find the time to do all that you do for writers, and what drives you to do it?

Morgen: <laughs> Finding the time is hard (even since giving up my day job in March) but I enjoy it so it’s worth the early mornings / late nights. Like most independent (and otherwise) authors, I was looking for a way to promote my (Morgen Bailey) brand. I didn’t know it was going to evolve so expansively but I’m so glad it has. Thank you, Sarah.

I then invited Sarah to include a synopsis of her book and this is from Threaded Through Time, a romantic time travel fantasy:

For those who were born before or after their time…”

That described Pam. She’d always felt that she’d been born too late—there was no chivalry in the world anymore.

She’d only wanted to commune with the universe while reading a “moon rhyme” in the antique book she’d purchased from the local New Age shop. She had not expected guests—especially not Jasper and Margaret, summoned one hundred years into the future by the rhyme just as Jasper was proposing to Margaret.

Now the displaced visitors insist that they be returned to 1910, and Pam and her roommate Robin agree—an Internet check confirms that Margaret and Jasper were married by year end, 1910. But the rhyme won’t work until the next moon cycle, and in the intervening month, forbidden love blooms between Pam and Jasper, and Robin and Margaret.

They all know they can’t fight the inevitability of history. At the appointed hour, Pam re-enacts the recital of the rhyme that brought the time-crossed couples together…but it doesn’t work exactly as planned.

***

** NEW!! You can now subscribe to this blog on your Kindle / Kindle app!

See http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008E88JN0

or http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008E88JN0 for outside the UK **

For writers / readers willing to give feedback and / or writers wanting feedback, take a look at this blog’s Feedback page.

As I post an interview a day (amongst other things) I can’t unfortunately review books but I have a list of those who do. I welcome critique for the four new writing groups listed below and / or flash fiction (<1000 words) for Flash Fiction Fridays. For other opportunities see (see Opportunities on this blog).

The full details of the new online writing groups, and their associated Facebook groups, are:

Morgen’s Online Non-Fiction Writing Group

Morgen’s Online Novel Writing Group

Morgen’s Online Poetry Writing Group

Morgen’s Online Script Writing Group

Morgen’s Online Short Story Writing Group

We look forward to reading your comments.

Author interview no.533 with writer paranormal romance & erotica Elizabeth Kolodziej

October 27, 2012January 29, 20137 Comments

Welcome to the five hundred and thirty-third of my blog interviews with novelists, poets, short story authors, biographers, agents, publishers and more. Today’s is with paranormal romance & erotica author Elizabeth (Liz) Kolodziej. A list of interviewees (blogged and scheduled) can be found here. If you like what you read, please do go and investigate further. You can also read my spotlight with Liz here.

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

Liz: I grew up in California, but moved to the east coast when I was a teenager (drastic, I know!). I have always been a story teller, writing ghost stories and the such, however it wasn’t until I was around 21 and finished my first novel that I looked at it and said, “Ok, now what?” hahaha. My dad was my biggest supporter and said, “publish it.” lol.

Morgen: I like your dad already. Do you still write “ghost stories and the such” or have you gone on to another genre?

Liz: I am generally comfortable with paranormal romance (can’t get enough of those sexy vamps), but I also write erotica for Sizzler Publishing and am starting a new series involving Steampunk Zombie YA Romance. Any way you look at it though, I love romance.

Morgen: Ah, like me you’ve mellowed (I’ve gone from Stephen King to crime :)). What have you had published to-date?

Liz: The Last Witch Series contains Vampyre Kisses, Werewolf Descent and Witch Devotions (9/26) all published under my own company Third Broom on the Left Press (TBOTLP). Then there is I Do Believe in Werewolves published by Netbound. Sexiest Time of the Year by Sizzler. From Demons, with Lust published by Sizzler Editions as well. And The ZombiePunk Series’ first book, Gravely Inanimated, should be out in November. Also, that book will contain the characters from the band V is for Villain. You gotta check them out!

Morgen: Wow, you’ve been busy. Are your books available as eBooks? How involved were you in that process? Do you read eBooks or is it paper all the way?

Liz: All of my books are always available as eBooks and just about all are in print as well. When it comes to the books under TBOTLP I do EVERTHING, while complaining about it, especially the formatting, all the way through. Yes I am a complainer! Ask Mike Saxton. I can’t help it. ::pouty face:: Oh and I do read eBooks, you kind of have to sometimes though I’m a paperback girl until the day I DIE!

Morgen: All but a handful of people I’ve interviewed have said the same (apart from the men who don’t call themselves girls!). We like having something to hold in our hands. 🙂 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?

Liz: Oh man, you’re gonna make me play favorites? My characters are going to hateeeee me.

Morgen: I’m sorry, I’m cruel.

Liz: Well, I love writing each one for particular reasons, however the two I have had to most fun with so far is Kasidy (Demon Protection Plan within the Sexiest Time of the Year anthology) and Faith Scott (Last Witch Series). Kasidy is just so snarky and strong while Faith had to learn to be strong and as come up with some great comebacks that they make me laugh out loud.

Morgen: I love it when that happens. My dog’s got used to my strange ways (noises and arm actions usually). Presumably you chose the titles / covers of your books? How important do you think they are?

Liz: I have control when under my own company. I think the name and the cover design are the most important parts of a book. Luckily, I have great friends to bounce name ideas off of and a fabulous graphic designer who brings my ideas to life.

Morgen: Friends are keen to do that, aren’t they. Mine are lining up to buy my paperbacks (if / when they come out). 🙂 What are you working on at the moment / next?

Liz: At the moment I am half way through the ZombiePunk book. I decided to challenge myself and do it in one month. Along with that I am putting together an erotica novella for Sascha. Then there is the bubble mapping for Demonic Charms (working title, fourth book in the Last Witch Series). And a million other things. I’m a little bit of a workaholic.

Morgen: Writing tends to do that to you. 🙂 Do you manage to write every day? Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?

Liz: Currently I have been able to write everyday and I am proud of myself for that and like every author I get writer’s block. I am the biggest baby when this happens! You don’t want to be my best friend when I go through this… ::wink::

Morgen: <laughs> My friends are very understanding. I shut myself away during November when NaNoWriMo comes along. My lodger Evie has already put herself up for dog-walking duties. Do you plot your stories or do you just get an idea and run with it?

Liz: Both actually. I normally do bubble maps and a little outline, however I don’t always (normally) follow them because I’m the type to get ideas as I write.

Morgen: Ah yes, you mentioned the bubble mapping earlier – I love the sound of that. Most authors I’ve spoken to go with the idea and see what happens (as I do – I’ve done no plotting for NaNo yet). Although I have designed the draft cover (because I registered it on the NaNo website). Do you have to do much research?

Liz: I am the (unofficial) Queen of Research IMHO. Hehehe. I research things to death sometimes or to procrastinate the actual writing. It’s great and awful all at the same time. I love it!!

Morgen: It’s one of my least favourite aspects although I love having the internet. With NaNo, because it’s about quantity over quality, I put ‘MORE HERE’ when I need to research or expand on something and go back to it later. I don’t think you can do too much research because you should know what you’re talking about, although restrain when tempted to include so much that it feels like you’re showing off. 🙂 Have you had any rejections? If so, how do you deal with them?

Liz: Oh of course! At first I did not handle them well. It takes time to build that thick skin, however I have gone back to some people and apologized, explaining “first author syndrome” and most people are very kind and forgive easily while other can’t seem to understand the meaning of the word. But those people I act like a duck ::quack:: and let the insults roll off my back.

Morgen: Best way. I like to think it’s just the right thing for the wrong person. What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Liz: The same I give everyone else: don’t fall into “first author syndrome”, which is when you are so quick to print your first novel that you do it all wrong. Listen to those that have been through the process and made the horrible mistakes, along with doing your research of a company, agent, everything! PLEASE!

Morgen: The Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook and http://pred-ed.com are great places to start (I think the US equivalent of TW&AY is the Writer’s Market). Is there a word, phrase or quote you like?

Liz: Ever seen 2 Broke Girls? I love the way the brunette says “I Love It!” and her gestures. I imitate it all the time. Yes, I am a huge nerd and goof ball on most occasions. Unless I’m going through writer’s block…grrr baby.

Morgen: Oh dear. You clearly love what you do apart from those times, though. I don’t think we have that programme over here in the UK but it could just be that I’ve not spotted it (I don’t watch much TV these days). What do you do when you’re not writing? Any hobbies or party tricks? 🙂

Liz: I make my dog dance for treats. Does that count? Hehehe. I love music and going to conventions. I get out of the house with friends when they are able to pull me out of my writing hole. Well, actually I think it is a nest now…

Morgen: I have one of those, overlooking the garden. Are there any writing-related websites and / or books that you find useful?

Liz: Sunny Frazier is the woman you want to go to and speak with about anything writing related. Her posse (which I am a part of) is mystery genre bound HOWEVER! If they let me in I’m sure they will you if you are the type of author that truly wants to learn! This chick does it all, I promise you that. She is the one I have gone to so much advice so many times and can always recall a time when…hehehe. http://www.sunnyfrazier.com.

Morgen: I interviewed Sunny back in August 2011 and she’s been a great supporter of this blog, sending me (perhaps without knowing it on some occasions) some of her authors. 🙂 Where can we find out about you and your writing?

Liz: Best place to find me and my writing is at:

Website: www.vampyrekisses.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ejkolodziej
Twitter: @ejkolodziej
Like me: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vampyre-Kisses/121023447917851
Zombiepunk: http://www.facebook.com/zombiepunkseries
Buy links: Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Witch-Devotions-book-Series-ebook/dp/B009G1COE4
Barnes and Nobles: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/witch-devotions-elizabeth-j-kolodziej/1113011305?ean=2940015642674
Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Witch-Devotions-Book-Last/dp/0983449449

So many ways! And I am always there to help authors that want my advice, contacts, or help.

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

Liz: I love cats.

Morgen: Ah… there’s a great tshirt company that’s been advertising on Facebook – their designs are amazing. Is there anything you’d like to ask me?

Liz: Do YOU love cats?

Morgen: I’ve always been more of a dog person as my father didn’t like cats (and my mother gets my dog to chase them away from the bird table whenever we visit). I had cats when I first left home and although I love my dog I can’t see me having another. Cats are much easier. So I half-love, if that’s possible. Thank you, Liz.

I then invited Liz to include an extract of her writing and this is from Demon Protection Plan in the anthology The Sexiest Time of the Year: Erotic Encounters of the Yule Season:

Officer Tremble finally got the man to walk along with him and pulled him out of the room. I looked back to Officer Kerrigan and found him arguing with the chief. I could tell by the way he was throwing his hands in the air with an expression on his face that looked irritated.

He turned his back on his commanding officer and pulled the door open. He looked at me with dark eyes and hastily walked over to his desk before pulling out his chair and slamming his ass in it.

“Something the matter?” I casually asked while crossing one leg over the other.

He groaned at me before answering. “Looks like your going to need a babysitter. Guess who got stuck with the job?”

My eyes widened at the thought. I swallowed hard. “A babysitter? What are you talking about?”

He heaved out a breath and put both hands behind his head while leaning back. “After Mr. Shultz threatened your life the chief came up with the bright idea of me looking after you until all of this has blown over.”

My lips separated. The thought of having anyone look after me was repulsive. “You’re going to be looking after me?” I all but laughed in his face at the thought of a human protecting a half demon. “What? Your going to take me to a little get away in the woods and we’re going to wait it all out?”

I watched, laughing, as he licked his lips and put his arms on his desk, leaning forward. “Apparently so.” He answered with a sour expression. “Seems, the chief back there thinks you are a key witness in getting this guy put away. He wants to make sure you are kept safe.”

My laughter stopped. I thought over the idea of being out in the woods with this stick in the mud for the next few days or even weeks. “Oh hell no. No way. No way!” I said louder than the first time.

Officer Kerrigan smugly smiled at me. “Yes way.” He replied.

and a synopsis for Witch Devotions…

With Trent gone, Faith, the last witch in the world, feels she cannot go on without him. The pain grows so intense that she shuts out her friends and loved ones to be alone, unsure of what to think about the paranormal world anymore. But when on a trip to see Gordon she realizes what she can do to make the pain go away. A spell.

The spell backfires and Faith has now forgotten the past six months. All the memories of vampires, werewolves, and her magical training have vanished. And the first to find her is Louis.

Webs of lies and deceit have Faith powerless and scared that when Louis gives her the option of becoming a slayer she takes it. With the Goddess Circe interfering, Lilith still missing and Faith unable to remember Trent, no one knows what will happen next!

However, when a stranger enters her life bringing with him secrets to her missing memories, Faith can no longer trust those around her and must figure out for herself who is good and who is evil. The coin is still up in the air and Faith must make a choice of where her devotions lie.

***

** NEW!! You can now subscribe to this blog on your Kindle / Kindle app!

See http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008E88JN0

or http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008E88JN0 for outside the UK **

For writers / readers willing to give feedback and / or writers wanting feedback, take a look at this blog’s Feedback page.

The full details of the new online writing groups, and their associated Facebook groups, are:

Morgen’s Online Non-Fiction Writing Group

Morgen’s Online Novel Writing Group

Morgen’s Online Poetry Writing Group

Morgen’s Online Script Writing Group

Morgen’s Online Short Story Writing Group

We look forward to reading your comments.