The Journey – Part 1. by Guest Author J.A Campbell

 It begins, sometimes with an idea, sometimes with a word or a phrase, or a flash of a beautiful smile. It sets out with a letter on a page. Just one, single, solitary letter. Then another letter, and another until there is a word. Then many words, then paragraphs that lead to pages and chapters then finally to a completed story.

But that’s just the beginning of the Journey.

As part of my blog tour to celebrate the release of my first Young Adult novel, Senior Year Bites, I’m going to do a series on my perceptions of the adventure of writing a novel. Obviously there are many different ways to get inspiration and write a novel. It has happened to me in many different ways. This is just one way. Here’s part one.

Our would-be novelist’s name is Kira. She’s out one day and something catches her eye. Maybe it’s a flash of light, maybe it’s the way a woman smiles at her partner. It could be the perfect coffee color of the person sitting next to her that strikes the idea. Maybe it’s even a smell. The idea is noticed in a flash, smiled at, and then set aside. The book she’s reading has most of her attention.

Kira goes home and the idea she had earlier comes back and bugs her. She thinks about it for a while then goes about her evening. She goes to bed and the idea bugs her in her dreams. She wakes up and can’t stop thinking about it. Finally Kira gives in and she jots down a few notes in her little black book of DOOM. She has other projects she’s working on, and doesn’t need another one.

Finally, after days of the story idea bugging her, she gives in and sits in front of the computer. ‘Just one scene’ she tells herself. ‘Then I’ll go back to my main project.’

She pushes a key on the keyboard, puts a letter on the screen, then another until she has a word, and a paragraph, and then the beginnings to a story.

That’s how it starts.

J. A. Campbell
Author of short story series Into the West
Author of Arabian Dreams and Senior Year Bites
My Website
Follow on Facebook
Follow on Twitter

Interview with Author Terri Giuliano Long

Today I have the lovely Terri Giuliano Long stopping by! Please enjoy our interview and check out her work!

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
First and foremost, I’m a wife and mom. My husband, Dave, and I have four adult daughters, two married, and three grandchildren, with on one the way.

Professionally, I lecture at Boston College, where I’ve taught creative and nonfiction writing for 15 years. I’ve also written copy for marketing, advertising and public relations, edited technical articles for trade journals, and edited a small trade magazine. In Leah’s Wake is my first novel. These days, other than teaching, or doing occasional marketing or editing work, I spend my time writing. I’m currently at work on a second novel.

I’m addicted to chocolate and shoes, and I have absolutely no sense of direction.

When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?
I can’t imagine not writing. I’ve been a writer, in one form or another, my whole life. As a child, I entertained myself by making up stories and acting in my own improvisational plays. In high school, most of my hobbies and activities involved writing. One day, brazenly, I walked into the editor’s office at the town paper and asked for a job. For a while, I covered sports and general high school news. Eventually, the editor gave me my own column. I was sixteen. That column was my first paid writing job. I earned about a dollar a week – and I knew then that writing was the only job I’d ever want.

I can’t say I’ve always been driven to write novels. I was happy writing news articles and features. Unlike some writers, I actually enjoy writing marketing copy. My bio says, in an alternate life I might have been an international food writer – and that’s very true too.

In grad school, I focused on short stories. My second year, I took a novel writing course and developed some of the ideas that came together in my first novel, In Leah’s Wake. A year later, I finished the first draft as my master’s thesis, and spent the next five years revising.

How did you choose the genre you write in?
Families fascinate me. While my stories differ—I’m currently working on a psychological thriller with a historical twist—they always tie back to the family, the ways we love, yet often hurt one another, the grief, the sorrow, the revelation, the joy. I think people connect with these stories. I’ve heard from so many readers – family, friends, reviewers, readers I’ve never met. They tell me In Leah’s Wake feels real, the problems complex. They’ve been there – as a parent or a teen. They feel like they know these characters, and they care about them. This connection, for me, is the most important reason for writing.
Do you ever experience writer’s block? Do you work with an outline, or just write?Yes, occasionally. I’m only ever truly blocked—I can’t string words together at all—when I’m anxious, if I’m worried about someone I care about. When I first sit, I sometimes feel blocked, the nasty editors on my shoulders heckling: You think you’re a writer? Seriously? Nine times out of ten, I dig in; the writing may be choppy at first, but eventually I regain fluidity. When the demons get too loud to ignore, I read. Reading, like meditation or yoga, sends me to my happy place. In my experience, years working with professional and emerging writers, a block is almost always caused by self-doubt. The trick is to find a way to settle your mind, calm yourself, get those nasty editors off your shoulders. For me, reading provides an escape. For others, walking, meditating, listening to music can help.
Writing the first draft of In Leah’s Wake, I had no idea where I was going – in writing programs, organic writing is often encouraged. In the revision process, I looked for and developed themes. In Leah’s Wake is character driven, so outlining would have produced in a different book. I think it’s helpful to know who you are and what your goals are. For literary fiction, the goal is to develop and understand character. I hope I’ve done that. The goal of genre fiction is to entertain. I’m not saying you can’t break rules – plot lit fiction or write character-driven genre novels. But there are conventions. If you break the rules, you may lose readers. We as writers need to understand that – break the rules, but prepare for the consequences.
My novel-in-progress, Nowhere to Run, is a psychological thriller, so I’m approaching that differently. I’ve mapped out a partial outline, which I’m using as a marker, and writing organically. While I certainly recognize the benefits of outlining or plotting, I feel that sticking to either too firmly limits the writer. Allowing yourself some freedom opens you to new ideas and possibilities. Of course, It also makes the writing a more difficult and messier process.

Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?

In 2006, the book was under contract with an indie publisher. Shortly before the release, serious problems arose. Soon after (unrelated to me), the company folded. I sent the book to a handful of agents, received lovely, complimentary responses, but no offers. I really believed in this book. I’d received so much encouragement over the years, from agents, editors, readers, writer friends—I’m grateful, truly grateful to all of them—that I had a hard time letting go. For years, I tried to revise. Eventually, I realized I was writing in circles. The book had changed, but it had gotten no better. Reluctantly, I put it away.

Last year, after several false starts, I finally gained traction on a new novel, my psychological thriller, Nowhere to Run. Like In Leah’s Wake, Nowhere is a family story at heart. I anticipate finishing the new novel this fall. I knew I’d need a platform for this new book, and hoped that self-publishing In Leah’s Wake would help me build one.

A lot of people self-publish today; for me, the indie route was a new, and scary, avenue. It’s been bumpy ride – and the best thing I’ve ever done for myself.

If you had to go back and do it all over, is there any aspect of your novel or getting it published that you would change?
I’d market aggressively from the start, before the book came out.

In 2009, 288,355 books were traditionally published, 764,448 indie or self-published. This was before the e-book explosion, so I can only imagine the numbers now. For your book to stand out, you have to make noise. While this is changing, it’s hard for indie publishers to garner reviews. My traditionally published friends were interviewed on radio and TV, and reviewed in large commercial publications like USA Today and People. A radio spot or review in a large circulation paper or magazine generates interest and gets people talking. Few indie publishers land those major spots or reviews. The reality is, we can promote our work or watch it languish. By the time I finally started to promote the book, it had been out for close to six months. This gives the impression that the book is a loser, when I never really gave it a shot.

How do you market your work? What avenues have you found to work best for your genre?
As I’ve hinted in the previous question, I’m a case study in what not to do. Until this March, I had my website and I’d placed two ads; otherwise, I relied entirely on word of mouth. This is embarrassing, because it’s so silly—I was too self-conscious to promote. I placed ads, with links to my website, and my husband, Dave, sent books to a few people. In December, my daughter Natalie, bless her heart, put a link to my site in her email signature. Gradually, friends and family heard I’d published a book. My sister Audrey posted a link on her Facebook page. My cousin Amy did the same. Two amazing women—I am hugely indebted to both! My parents (I hadn’t even told them) spread the word to extended family, friends.

In March, I activated the Twitter account I’d registered in 2009. On Twitter, I met Emlyn Chand, president of Novel Publicity. Impressed with Emlyn’s blog, I contacted her for help with social networking and social media marketing. Emyln is so creative and smart, incredibly knowledgeable in all aspects of social marketing, and her enthusiasm is positively contagious! I also have a wonderful traditional book publicist, Stacey Miller, who’s working the traditional avenues – sending press releases to news papers, pitching radio shows and so on. Putting he pieces in place takes time, so it’s only now that the book is being actively marketed.

Honestly, maybe because I’m an indie author, by far my best PR has come from bloggers. I’m currently on a blog tour with Novel Publicity. Bloggers like you, Jen, who open your blogs, give me space, allow me to talk about my book, share my thoughts – are invaluable. I’m awed and amazed by your generosity. I can’t even begin to tell you how truly grateful I am.

Can you tell us about your book?
In Leah’s Wake tells the story of a family in collapse. Sixteen-year-old Leah, a star soccer player, has led a perfect life. When she meets a sexy older guy, attracted to his independence, she begins to spread her wings. Drinking, ignoring curfew, dabbling in drugs—this feels like freedom to her; her terrified parents, thinking they’re losing their daughter, pull the reigns tighter. Unfortunately, they get it all wrong, pushing when they ought to be pulling, and communication breaks down. Soon, there’s no turning back. Twelve-year-old Justine caught between the parents she loves, and the big sister she adores, finds herself in the fight of her life, trying desperately to pull her family together.

If there was one lesson you wanted someone to take away from In Leah’s Wake, what would it be?

The epigraph, from The Grand Inquisitor, says it best:“everyone is really responsible to all men for all men and for everything.”The Tyler family is far from perfect, but they love one another, deeply. Our flaws make us human and that humanity connects us. While I hope readers enjoy In Leah’s Wake, and read the story for pleasure, it’s important to me to share this sense of connection—and hope.

Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?
Years ago, I wrote a series of feature articles about families living with drug and alcohol-addicted teens. The moms talked candidly about their children. Their heartbreaking stories stayed with me. 

My husband, Dave, and I have four daughters, all now adults. When I began writing In Leah’s Wake, our children were adolescents. Most families struggle in some way during their children’s teenage years. We’re no different – though, thank goodness, we experienced nothing remotely like the problems and challenges the Tylers face. As a parent, I knew how it feels to be scared, concerned for your children’s future. All of this came together and became the driving force behind this story.

That’s where real life ends. Readers have said, and reviewers have noted, that the book feels real and complex. People say they understand this family because they’ve been here – as a parent or a teen. They feel like they know the characters, and they care about them. This is a wonderful compliment, and I’m thrilled – but because the characters seem real, people assume they are real.

Dorothy, the designer and creator of the bracelets Zoe buys for herself and Leah, and Bob Sullivan, owner of Sullivan Farms Ice Cream, are people I actually know – and I’ve tried my best to capture their spirit.No major character is real. Like all fiction writers, I borrow habits and physical characteristics from real people – for the runaway arm, I owe my youngest daughter, KK; and my husband is a physical stand-in for Will. People who know us notice similarities, and this also sometimes results in unfortunate or embarrassing assumptions. I’m lucky – I have a good-natured family who puts up with my thievery, and – I’m grinning – claims not to mind.

What project are you working on now? Will you have a new book coming out soon?
I’m currently working on a contemporary psychological thriller with a historical twist. 

Nowhere to Run takes place in the White Mountains in northern New Hampshire. A year after the brutal murder of her six-year-old daughter, Abby Minot, formerly an award-winning writer, accepts her first assignment—a profile of the philanthropic Chase family, kin of the popular New Hampshire senator and presidential hopeful, Matthias Chase.

In her initial research, Abby glimpses darkness under the Chase family’s shiny veneer. Digging deeper, she uncovers a shocking web of lies and betrayal, dating back to the nineteenth century. Abby soon finds herself trapped—between an editor obsessed with uncovering the truth and the town and family who will stop at nothing to ensure it stays hidden.

I hope to complete the novel this fall. 

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

I’ve been fortunate. Gosh, should I say this? I have yet to be bashed. Taste is largely individual, so I don’t expect everyone to love the book. In Leah’s Wake is fast-paced for literary fiction, but it’s not a plot-driven book and doesn’t move at break-neck speed.

I’ve had wonderful reviews; the most moving was the blogger who said this: “Speaking to women who have read the book I have seen a lot of emotional and personal connection. It gave me a lot to think of both in my marriage and with raising my kids. Did you ever think that the book would make such an impact?”

Every writer hopes to connect with readers. I hoped people would recognize themselves or their friends, and that this might encourage a closer sense of community. I really believe, as Dostoevsky says, that we’re all responsible to one another. But I wasn’t at all sure how readers would feel or react. These words, hearing that my book had an impact, moved me deeply.

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

Believe in yourself. I know wonderful writers whose first, second or third books, really good, strong books, were rejected. To deal with the rejection, boot your computer, day after day, when it seems as if no one cares, the stars misaligned – to self-publish in a world that still privileges the traditionally published – you have to believe in yourself.
Writing is a lonely profession. Most of the time, we’re alone with our work. The loneliness can wear on you, and cause you to question yourself. A few supportive writer friends can help and encourage you.
Hold onto your dreams. You can make them happen. Don’t ever give up!

Where can readers get a copy of your novel? 
In Leah’s Wake is available as an e-book or paperback through all the major online bookstores – Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Powells, and others. If you’d prefer to support your local bookstore or borrow the book from your library, please ask the person in charge to order a copy. Early this summer – I’m excited about this – In Leah’s Wake will be available as an audio book.

Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?

Thank you! Time is precious and you have millions of rich, entertaining, beautiful books to choose from. Thank you for reading mine. I hope you enjoy the book. I’d love to hear from you!

FUN QUESTIONS!

Chocolate or Vanilla?

Chocolate, hands down

The light side or the dark side?

I live on the light side; to entertain me, take me to the dark side

If you were a superhero (or villain!) what would your power be? Would you wear a cape?

Well, I’ve always wanted to fly – maybe a flying police woman. In my book, In Leah’s Wake, the only non-family member with a voice is Jerry Johnson, the policeman. I see him as the connecting force in the novel and for this family. Though flawed, like all of us, he takes his responsibility for others to heart. I very much see police this way – as the connecting force in communities. To me, they’re heroes.

Do you have deep dark secret? How about a shallow grey one?

Hmmm, not that I can admit on the Internet (she says, laughing). Shallow grey – I’m a shoe whore. If you gave me $ 50 and forced me to choose dinner or shoes, I’d go with the shoes.

What sort of coffee would you order? Simple coffee, complicated soy-non-fat-extra-espresso-half-caff-nightmare?

Triple skim milk latte with an extra shot of espresso. I like my hair to stand up. 

Drink of choice?

Champagne or white wine

If you could live off of chocolate would you? What kind?

Heck, yes. Dark chocolate with caramel and nuts.

If you could visit any world ever written about, where would you go?

Someplace magical – Narnia, maybe.

Jen, thank you so much for giving me this time and space to share my work and connect with you and your readers. It’s an honor – and a privilege – to be here!

BIO

Terri Giuliano Long grew up in the company of stories both of her own making and as written by others. Books offer her a zest for life’s highs and comfort in its lows better than anything else can. She’s all-too-happy to share this love with others as a novelist and as a writing instructor at Boston College. She blogs about writing and the writing life at www.tglong.com/blog Or connect on Twitter: @tglong

Website: www.tglong.com
Blog: www.tglong.com/blog
Twitter: @tglong
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tglongwrites

BOOK INFORMATION

IN LEAH’S WAKE
Terri Giuliano Long
Pages: 352
Format: Paperback, Kindle
ISBN: 1456310542
Publisher: CreateSpace
Website: www.tglong.com In Leah’s Wake

BOOK LINKS
E-Book
Amazon Kindle
Barnes & Nobles Nook
Amazon UK
PAPERBACK
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

 

Featured Author Kurt Stradtman

Am I The Person My Mother Warned Me About?

Facebook stalkers? Ladies in red? Carjackings? Am I The Person My Mother Warned Me About? is the personal comedic accounts of a four-year college experience for Kurt Stradtman. Not accounts of late night studying and inductions into honor societies, but drunken nights, creepy Facebook stalkers, and being sexually harassed by prostitutes. You know, all the things your mother warned you about? Kurt Stradtman explains some hysterical events that took place during his four years in college. This first collection of stories is sure to leave you laughing and leading you to ask yourself the same question: Am I the person my mother warned me about?

 

About the Author

Kurt Stradtman, author of Am I the Person My Mother Warned Me About?, is the next up-and-coming author aiming his satire works at college-age students documenting true events that have happened in his life. Being born on 8.8.88[Ruvie1]  at 11:08 p.m. and being 8 lbs. and 8 oz. should be a telltale sign of his life being a little different. From not growing up in a cookie-cutter family to taking a very long semester off college, Kurt accounts his life in a comedic fashion that will keep you flipping the pages wanting more. With a career in photography and advertising, Kurt has always had a passion for writing. Having grown up on the Georgia coast and having lived briefly in Atlanta, Kurt will always call a place by the ocean home. He is currently working on his next memoir, which will account his childhood, travels, and douchebag friendships that has shaped his life and is guaranteed to leave you amused.

You can purchase the book at your local bookstores order desk, Amazon.com, and thousands of other online booksellers.

Visit kurtstradtman.com for more info, and also to buy official Am I? merchandise from the book.

A View to a Kilt- Clan MacPherson

MacPherson
Gaelic Name:	Mac a’ Phearsoin
Motto:	Touch not the cat without a glove
Badge:	White heather
Lands:	Badenoch
Origin of Name:	Gaelic, Mac a’ Phearsoin (Son of the Parson)
Pipe Music:	MacPherson’s march
Clan Chief	The Hon. Sir William MacPherson

From http://www.scotclans.com/scottish_clans/clan_macpherson/history.html

I like the motto of Clan MacPherson. I’m allergic to cats so touching it with a glove would be good advice.

 I confess, I didn’t do a lot of research before I named my hero Angus MacPherson in A View to a Kilt. I picked the name because they are a brand of struts and my dh was talking about getting new ones for my car. Sad, but true.

 When Karen Syed, publisher of said book, of Echelon Press fame, told me to find out the tartan for Clan MacPherson, that’s when I embarked on my research. I’m not big on history, but still you might find some facts about the MacPherson’s interesting.

 I found these at Wikipedia:

• The name Macpherson — or MacPherson or McPherson, according to different spellings — comes from the Gaelic Mac a’ Phearsain and means ‘Son of the Parson’.

• In the 14th century that Macphersons were partly responsible for the defeat of Clan Comyn, the enemies of Robert I of Scotland, at Badenoch.
• The chief of the clan, Ewen MacPherson of Cluny, raised a force of 400 men to aid Charles Edward Stuart.

• There are 17 tartans ascribed to Clan Macpherson. The most common are the red, hunting and dress tartans.

• Model Elle Macpherson is a member of the clan despite being a Macpherson only by adoption, since she was born a Gow, one of the associated families.

Interesting huh?

Blurb for A View to a Kilt: Waking up next to a dead guy can ruin your whole day. When a wise-cracking interior decorator wants to put her past behind her, the dead body of the mayor’s son makes her realize that won’t happen too easily. A conservative former computer geek for the FBI is holding on too tightly to his past. His wife died under suspicious circumstances and he believes the decorator has the information to solve the case. Unfortunately for him, she isn’t speaking until a series of events convinces her she needs protection especially when her biggest secret threatens to destroy both of their lives.

Chris Redding lives in New Jersey with her husband, two kids, one dog and three rabbits. She graduated from Penn State with a degree in journalism. When she isn’t writing she works part time for her local hospital.

Incendiary 2010 A View to a Kilt 2011
Corpse Whisperer on Kindle now!
www.chrisreddingauthor.com
http://chrisredddingauthor.blogspot.com/

Thanks for having me today Jen!

Interview with Author JB Lynn

Today I’m interviewing the most lovely JB Lynn. If you haven’t checked out her book yet you should!

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m a voracious reader, an obsessive writer, a long distance walker (half marathons)  and someone who drinks way too much coffee.   I usually have purple ink stains on my right arm/sleeve and I’ve been told I’m not much fun to watch TV/movies with because I have a terrible habit of yelling out what I think will happen next. (I’m usually right!)

Do you ever experience writer’s block? Do you work with an outline, or just write?

 Yes, yes, and yes. For me, writer’s block is not caused by a lack of ideas. It’s a result of knowing I’ve done something wrong or chosen the wrong path. Figuring out where I’ve gone wrong…whether it’s a line of dialogue, a choice a character makes, or the fact the story has strayed from the best path, is what will eventually get me “unstuck”.  I chart out the major moments in the story (both the physical and emotional storyline) but there comes a point where I ignore what I’ve done and just write.

Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

 The fictional town of Lakeside Acres is based on a town in Pennsylvania I spent a lot of time in as a teenager.  I found it kind of creepy, especially at night. Also, I have a deep, deep love of pistachio muffins, which is why they appear in the story multiple times, lol.

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

 I enjoy  both of Emily’s escapes, because in my mind they’re sort of the bookends of the novel.  My original idea for the book was centered on her fight for survival when she was a teenager, so it holds a special place in my heart. I love the mixture of absolute terror and her steely resolve in that part of the story. I also love when she “escapes” through the window of her bedroom as an adult…because…hmmmm I don’t want to give any spoilers here…because her escape is fueled by a different kind of fear, an admirable fear, imho.

How did you come up with the title?

It’s a great title, isn’t it? I can’t claim credit for it. I called the novel STOLEN for years, but that didn’t go over well. It was my brilliant editor, Charlotte Herscher, who came up with THE FIRST VICTIM.  It was definitely one of those moments when I was left thinking, “Why didn’t I think of that?”

Are there certain characters you would like to go back to, or is there a theme or idea you’d love to work with?

 I think that many writers have a central theme that they explore over and over again. My personal theme seems to be: How Far Would You Go for Someone You Love?  It’s something I wrestle with in every project.  In The First Victim it’s the question Emily has to answer again and again, starting with, should she go back to Lakeside Acres to care for her sister?

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

 Don’t be afraid to put yourself on the page.  For the longest time I wrote what I thought I “should” write…in the style I “should” be writing in. Making choices based on “shoulds” takes away from who you are and what you’re capable of doing. Once I finally got it through my thick head that all my posturing wasn’t working, and took the chance of putting down the real me on the page, things started improving.

What sort of  coffee would you order? Simple coffee, complicated soy-non-fat-extra-espresso-half-caff-nightmare?

Coffee with milk/cream/creamer (but not any of those sweetened/flavored creamers). Coffee NOT Starbucks sludge…I’d drink tea instead if offered that.

Is there anyfood you refuse to eat?

 White bread, pea soup, brussel sprouts, lima beans, gravy.

If you could live off of chocolate would you? What kind?

 Nope. Now if I could live off cheese it would be a different story….

 Author Bio

Although fascinated by things dark and twisted, JB Lynn is also enamored of tales of love conquering all. These dual interests manifest themselves in her stories as dangerous villains, and the heroines and heroes who must defeat them.

She has a great love of her husband, dog, coffee, purple ink, spiral  notebooks, running gear, hot showers and 80’s music. Given enough time, all of these things will eventually show up in her books.

 Buy links

 Amazon

 Barnes & Noble

 Carina Press

Web links

Website: http://jblynn.com

Blog: http://killerchicks.org

Interview with Author Saurav Dutt

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m a trainee lawyer whose first passion has been and always been creativity and specifically related to the written word. I write poetry, novels, short stories and recently turned my mind to biographies of actors being a major film buff. Being such a big fan of movies, a lot of my work incorporates the characterisation and dialogue you might expect in a tight drama or other genres in film.

What do you do when you are not writing? Do you have a day job as well?

I like to sketch and work on my first graphic novel comic as well as listen to music, watch films and constantly try to plot out some creative venture or the other!

When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?

I started writing sporadically when I first got out of high school over 12 years ago but only turned my mind seriously to it in the last few years. Up until then I had written poetry, won a few awards from my school and was awarded the 1998 Manchester Young Poets award as well as several others. I then turned my writing to a wide range of genres and finished my first book, a horror drama called ‘Dark Moon Rising’, in early Spring 2010.

How did you choose the genre you write in?

I like to take a total 90 degree turn away from the last project I did. I started with horror, but have turned my ability to drama, romance, thrillers and offbeat character studies.

Where do you get your ideas?

They can come from any source-whether it’s a really powerful song, lyrics, a film I’ve just seen that sticks in my head or even life experience-a really poor challenging day can force you to conjure up thoughts in your head and before you know it you simply have to express it in some form creatively or you just go a bit insane. Usually it starts from a quote I’ve read, a touching song lyric or even a sequence in a film but I usually find ideas parallel what’s going on in my life.

Do you ever experience writer’s block? Do you work with an outline, or just write?

Like most writers it’s the start, the immediate conception that’s the most exciting, your enthusiasm builds and it’s like a tidal wave that can’t stop. Then about half way through I usually do experience a block because I want to be true to the characters and the story and it can be a crazy dilemma trying to stay true to your original vision or simply feeling like you need to hurry up and finish the damn thing! I’ve found there is always a way to work through a block, you just need to use your life experiences and put the work away for a while and come back to it anew. I start with an outline, usually I concentrate first on my characters and try to get to know them as well as I can and then as I go on I find a bit of ‘free form’ and deviate from my structure and flesh out situations, dialogue and characters and then I find myself just writing. If I fall in love with a particular character, I can write constantly about them and what they say.

Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?

Originally I liked Stephen King, then I found I particularly liked the way writers like Yukio Mishima wrote and reading old plays like Strindberg and Chekhov really turned me towards strong dialogue and characterisation. My biggest creative influence is a director/ actor called John Cassavetes who left an astounding body of creative work and who emphasised characterisation, creative non conformity and the power of expression and his ideals, his films and his way of working left the most indelible impression on me.

Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?

Clearly it’s the hurdle of convincing a literary agent that what you have deserves to be seen and read! Amazingly my biography ‘Stand Alone: The Films of Mickey Rourke’ had a bit of a stand offish history initially concerning agents as they weren’t too sure what to do with a book that wasn’t gutter trash and tabloid gossip considering it was about a famous actor. However I found simple word of mouth and the power of his fan base led to positive reviews, great interest and truly wonderful feedback which made me realise that no matter what obstacles the ‘system’ i.e. agents, red tape, politics may put in front of you-somebody, somewhere out there wants to read what you have done. If you can touch one person and possibly change their life, it’s worth it and despite the countless rejections and abject moments it’s amazing to realise that there are people out there hungry for something new to read and if you’ve got tenacity you can do it. I had to self promote, self advertise and network and thanks to the wonder of the internet and social networking it’s possible to do those things now.

If you had to go back and do it all over, is there any aspect of your novel or getting it published that you would change?

For my book ‘Stand Alone: The Films of Mickey Rourke’ I had an option of making the book more ‘commercial’ and an easier tabloid trash read which no doubt would have got agents lining up to take the book on and probably make a pretty penny-however I realised by sticking to my guns and writing something true to my heart that people really appreciated what I did and love the book more, thus setting it apart from other biographies and that’s really pleasing to hear so I wouldn’t change a thing about this book. For other novels I’ve often strayed from my vision because I try to second guess what the audience wants. My advice is that the truth will eventually be heard, and the only thing I would change is to never sacrifice my voice, vision and narrative because I think it will please some agent sitting somewhere with a wad of manuscripts on their desk. Stay true to your vision and the rest will come.

How do you market your work? What avenues have you found to work best for your genre?

Any self published author now realises the internet is a truly wonderful thing. I started networking on forums (a powerful tool that should not be underestimated), created a video trailer and posted two of them on Youtube, got my book distributed through Amazon (the most powerful way to reach any audience on the net) and also created a website which not only promoted Mickey Rourke’s work but also included the option of purchasing my book. Tagging the book appropriately on websites so as to generate more powerful searches is another excellent way to direct internet traffic on sites like Amazon towards your book. Thanks to Facebook it’s easy to provide links, quotes from good reviews and even coupon offers through sites like Lulu-this keeps my work visible.

Have you written a book you love that you have not been able to get published?

Absolutely. A lot of my novels are fairly unconventional in narrative but powerful in character structure and dialogue, they’re a lot like plays and reward the patient reader. ‘Never Let Go’ is for me a really powerful romantic novel but not bittersweet enough to be enjoyed by a literary agent who perhaps is looking for something else more conventional and sappy-however I felt the book described love amongst persons in middle age very well and painted love and romance in a serious and realistic way. Yet rejections for this book were high even when my friends who had read the book thought it was excellent and touching.

Can you tell us about your upcoming book?

I’m currently working on two books, one is called ‘Shadow Company’ which is a conspiracy based thriller, it is fast paced, frenetic and much like a movie in the vein of the Bourne films and also very much describing what’s going on in the world today. The other is based in New Orleans and about a detective tracking down the kidnapped daughter of his best friend. The one I just finished is called ‘The Far Lonely Cry Of Trains’ and was short listed for the Amazon Breakthrough Award 2011 and is a multi layered drama about four characters all seeking redemption and solace in their broken lives.

Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

A lot of the characterisation and dialogue reflect my real thoughts. For authors they often fall in love with their characters, and for me there may be some that completely reflect aspects of my own personality and thoughts at one time-when I’m writing through their eyes sometimes it’s very autobiographic. I’m working on a book now called ‘New Terminal Hotel’ which is a very dark David Lynch-esque drama featuring some dark subject matter but which reflects a lot of prescient thoughts that people can sometimes feel when things aren’t going their way. In that sense writing is always catharsis especially when you dig deep to write about things you simply can’t express in any other way.

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

For ‘Stand Alone’ my favourite parts of the book to write about where the years and films of Mr Rourke’s career that most people simply don’t know about or have little knowledge of-the 1990’s period where his career declined and fell into a slump. I enjoyed this because I was truly throwing some light on an area little discussed by critics, authors, fans and those interested in his life and career. I knew that my commentary, academic discussion and detail would really reward those that bought this book.

How did you come up with the title?

It’s simple, for me Mickey Rourke stands alone with his talent in an industry of pretty boy actors and talent that flog themselves purely for the dollar-it also epitomises his individualistic streak and desire to fight his own battles his own way and march to nobody else’s drum but his own.

What project are you working on now? Will you have a new book coming out soon?

I’m working on a dark thriller called ‘New Terminal Hotel’ which is very much in the vein of David Lynch and/or Clive Barker/Cronenberg as well as a book on essays about Mickey Rourke’s career which take a more scholarly approach to his work. I finished a biography on Jaws actor Roy Scheider which I am also very proud of and am working on an album of spoken poetry voiced by some well known voices as well as a biography on 21 Jump Street actor Richard Grieco who I’ve always been a fan of. At the same time ‘Shadow Company’ is constantly in motion.

Are there certain characters you would like to go back to, or is there a theme or idea you’d love to work with?

 Absolutely my favourite characters are those who think they have all the answers only to find that the questions keep being changed. These are characters who feel they deserve more than they get and find themselves in a constantly paralytic state mentally and emotionally, they want to express so much but find themselves stifled by life, their defeats and the world around them. I’m fascinated by those kinds of characters and their struggles to fit in, to find love and acceptance and find a constant source of serenity.

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

The toughest probably that ‘nobody wants to read about X, Y and Z’ or to write more commercially, to spell things out and go from A and B and C with minimal fuss. The best compliment, that I discuss things that other authors don’t, that I delve deep into the soul of a piece of work (especially with Stand Alone) and that I take the proverbial road less travelled which some people understand and get because they’ve been there too.

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

In terms of your writing, never ‘sell out’ never soften something or commercialise it or try to second guess the marketplace or the audience because that’s what you think makes money or will sell or get literary agents pounding down your door. Don’t be afraid to be different, true to your heart or be obstinate with your detail, narrative and structure. Life isn’t straightforward and easy to spell out, why should your writing be? It just has to reflect reality and real emotion and as long as it does that, people will be engaged.

Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?

Those that have bought my book ‘Stand Alone’ have given me reviews on Amazon, IMDB and Facebook that have really provided me with happiness and joy. I slaved away hours writing that book thinking only a select niche of fans would bother reading it or understand what I was doing. To suddenly see new reviews pop up praising it and describe it as being the best book on the actor or the only one worth getting on him, that’s worth its price in gold and I thank everybody who has said such nice things about the book.

FUN QUESTIONS!

Chocolate or Vanilla?

Chocolate

The light side or the dark side?

The dark is always more interesting and vital

If you were a superhero (or villain!) what would your power be? Would you wear a cape?

Ability to freeze, rewind and forward time. No cape!

Do you have deep dark secret? How about a shallow grey one?

Deep maybe but certainly not dark. Nothing shallow about any secret I think!

What does your main character think about you? Are you best buds or have you tortured them so much you’d run if you actually ever met?

He’d think I’m a bit too critical and outspoken

What sort of coffee would you order? Simple coffee, complicated soy-non-fat-extra-espresso-half-caff-nightmare?

Sad to say I’m a Green tea, Jasmine kinda guy

Is there any food you refuse to eat?

Rump Steaks

Drink of choice?

Green Tea and mocktails

If you could live off of chocolate would you? What kind?

Darker the better

What pets have graced your life? Which was your least favorite? What do you think the coolest pet to have would be?

None yet, the coolest pet easily a dog

If you could visit any world ever written about, where would you go?

Feudal Japan

Author Bio:

Author Saurav Dutt has been writing for close to fifteen years after winning the 1998 Manchester Young Poet and Young Writer awards. In the horror and science fiction genre, he was winner of the Dark Tales Quarterly horror competition 2010 and the Dark Static annual short story contest 2009. He has written articles on film and music for Total Film, Empire Online, Time Out and Independent Film Magazine. He also won the Cinnamon Press Short Story Award in 2003, Writing Spirit Award in 2002 and was runner up of the Exeter Writers Short Story Competition in 2003 Most recently he published a book on Award winning actor Mickey Rourke which is an exhaustive critical analysis of the actors career and work which also includes interviews and comments from Rourke himself. As well as Lulu.com, the book is available on Amazon

Web links (website, blog etc)

http://stores.lulu.com/masterd48

www.mickey-rourke.com

 

Buy Saurav’s books here!

http://stores.lulu.com/masterd48

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stand-Alone-Films-Mickey-Rourke/dp/1446746410/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1307967868&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Saurav-Dutt/e/B00489HF98/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

June Contest! Win free eBooks!

Contest ended! Thanks for playing! Congrats to the winners!

To Celebrate the debut of my first novel Sweet Light I’m holding a contest! Have fun and good luck!

Contest is open to everyone, everywhere.

End date: June 30th

Winners will be chosen randomly July 1st and posted here.

One entry per person, but if you follow my blog too I’ll stick your name in the hat again!
All you have to do is answer: What are the professions of three men who love Shara?(hint read the blurb!)

Mention if you are following, and be sure to leave either your email, or your twitter id so I can contact you if you win!

Grand Prize Winner will recieve an eBook copy of my debut novel Sweet Light. 4 Runner ups may each choose one of my published shorts; Jump, The Forgotten Echo, or Tales of Ever #1 banished, #2 Fire Girl or #3 Shadow Boy.

If you want to read more on these see my website for full details!

Writing is Like Rock-Climbing By Guest Author Dallas Woodburn

A few weeks ago, I went rock-climbing for the first time. I am a tad scared of heights, so I was nervous as I gazed up at the rock-climbing walls around the gym. I slipped on the harness and learned the basics of belaying. When it was my turn to climb, nerves made my legs shaky. But I hoisted myself up onto the wall, and eventually made it to the top. What elation! I was hooked.

In many ways, rock-climbing reminded me a lot of writing. Here are some things writers could learn from climbers:

1. For me, the first step up onto the wall was the hardest. I had to force myself onward. But once I did, it wasn’t so bad. The same goes for writing. Often getting started is the hardest part. Force yourself to close out your email, open up that Word document, place your fingers on the keyboard, and just start writing.

2. Don’t let the size of your project intimidate you; focus on one step at the time. The first wall I climbed, I didn’t make it all the way to the top. A little more than half-way up, my arm muscles already burning, I made the mistake of looking up at how much farther I had to go. I felt I had gone so far already — yet there was still such a long ways to climb! I defeated myself. Similarly, if I think about the entirety of the novel I am working on, I quickly feel overwhelmed. “Another 200 pages?” I’ll think. “There’s no way I can do it!” Instead, I focus on writing three pages a day. I have an idea of the novel’s broader scope, but I don’t let myself worry about the immensity of the task I’ve undertaken. On a single day, if I write my three pages, I’m good to go. Three pages, three pages, three pages. Little by little, they add up into a book.

3. When rock-climbing, you’re strapped into a harness; the person on the ground is your belayer, whose job is to make sure you don’t fall. Trust is essential. As a writer, it’s crucial to have a trusted group of readers who give you honest feedback on your work. And it’s equally important to have a support system of people you can count on to cheer you on and buoy you up — because everyone slips and falls sometimes. The important thing is to brush yourself off and attack that wall again.

4. Venture beyond your self-imposed limits. With my fear of heights, I never thought I would be someone who liked rock-climbing — but if I had let my fear stop me, I would have missed out on a really fun experience! Pushing yourself is how you grow, both as a person and as a writer. Challenge yourself to write about something that scares you. Write something that makes you uncomfortable. Write something raw and real. Refuse to confine or label yourself.

5. Enjoy the journey. For me, the most rewarding part of climbing was not when I reached the top, but rather the actual act of stretching for new holds, feeling my muscles strain as I pushed myself to climb higher and higher up the wall. Now, I try more than ever to savor the act of writing. Losing myself in a story, spending hours exploring the crevices of my imagination, spilling my thoughts and emotions onto the page, and then being able to share what I’ve written with others — what a gift!

Dallas Woodburn is the author of two award-winning collections of short stories and editor of Dancing With The Pen: a collection of today’s best youth writing, available on Amazon. Her fiction has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and has appeared in numerous literary journals and anthologies, and her nonfiction has been published in Family Circle, The Writer, Writer’s Digest, The Los Angeles Times, and nine Chicken Soup for the Soul books. She is currently pursuing her MFA degree in Fiction at Purdue University, where she is Assistant Fiction Editor of Sycamore Review. Learn more about her nonprofit organization Write On! For Literacy and youth publishing company Write On! Books at www.writeonbooks.org.

Connect with Dallas:

Blog: http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dallaswoodburn

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/writerdallas

Amazon links:

• Purchase Dancing With The Pen: http://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Pen-collection-todays-writing/dp/1450254594/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1299355509&sr=8-2
• Purchase 3 a.m.: a collection of short stories: http://www.amazon.com/3-m-collection-short-stories/dp/0595357865/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244790300&sr=1-1

Three Reasons Why I’m Not Ready to Self-Publish (Yet) by guest author Rusty Fischer

A Guest Post by Rusty Fischer, author of Zombies Don’t Cry

Zombie Rusty!

Recently I read a wonderful book by Deborah Bryan called The Monster’s Daughter. I keep calling it “lyrical” in all my (five-star) reviews because, well, it is; there is poetry on nearly every page and the author created such a carefully-constructed world I loved spending time there – and hated when the story ended. (Luckily, it’s the first in a trilogy, so… it’s not really “over,” over.)

The thing is, The Monster’s Daughter was self-published; beautifully and professionally so. It gave me hope that, someday, I too could self-publish successfully. Key word being: someday.

For now, though, I’m just not ready; and here are three good reasons why:

The First Reason I’m Not Ready to Self-Publish (Yet): Editing!

I just finished my “last” round of edits – I always use quotes around “last” because you know they never really are – for my new YA book coming out soon.

I’ve numbered them for my records and this is “Version # 9.” I thought we were done at oh, say, Version #… 5?

But every version, one of us catches something different. Like this last time, I had one of my characters saying, “But you said we should never split up; that’s what you said!” To. The. Wrong. Character.

The thing is, I’m not sure I would have read and re-read that book NINE different times if left to my own devices; but I’m ultimately glad that I did.

So, yeah, I need that backup; I need that “safety net” of two or three extra pairs of eyes on the book to catch things like that during the long and occasionally challenging – but ultimately necessary – editorial process.

What’s more, I want it. I really like the idea of my publisher having this whole umbrella of services that I really need and want, like… the same kick-butt cover designer (I’ve had really good luck with my cover designers so far!), the same team of copy editors, the same tough as nails Managing Editor, the same nurturing Senior Editor, etc.

I know that in this world of freelance professionals I could easily find a great cover designer, a great book formatter, a great copy editor, even a great developmental editor but… am I willing to go that far?

The Second Reason I’m Not Ready to Self-Publish (Yet): I’m “Just the Writer,” Not “the Boss”

What’s more, am I willing to be the last pair of eyes on every one of those vendors? From the cover designer to the copy editor to the formatter? I guess I just don’t trust myself enough yet to be “the boss” yet.

I’d rather be “just the writer” and spend my time there for now.

Don’t get me wrong; I can see the benefits of self-publishing. One of them is speed. I write fast and I’m always worried that “someone will get out there with this idea faster than me.” I don’t mean I rush (okay, sometimes I rush), but when I get fixated on an idea I’m like a bulldog and won’t let it go until I’m done with a new YA novel. Sometimes it would be nice if things came out faster.

But… but… publishers are good about saying, “Look, let’s not saturate the market do-do brain. Let’s dole these things out, a few months at a time so folks actually look forward to what’s coming next.”

That’s good advice; good advice I probably wouldn’t listen to if I was solely on my own.

June Release!

The Third Reason I’m Not Ready to Self-Publish (Yet): Gratitude

Maybe it’s because I’ve tried for so long to get a publisher before finally finding success this past year, but… I’m really grateful for all my publishers do. From Medallion to Decadent to Noble Young Adult to Echelon Press/Quake, I enjoy the editorial process, the expectation of cover leaks and excerpts and release dates and all the “publisher-y” things that go along with publishing. I’m not typically a “joiner” in my personal life, but in my writing life I’m glad to be part of a team; I need that teamwork to be successful.

So I work hard and try to promote myself and tweet and share on Facebook and post FREE stories on Scribd and Smashwords to build my author “brand” because I really want to pay my publishers back for having faith in me.

I know going with a publisher means I give up a little money, a little control and a little freedom, but I’m okay with that for now. As long as I’ve been writing, professionally for others and personally for myself, I still have loads to learn; about promotion, about editing, about timing, about branding, about storytelling and, yes… about writing – the craft, mechanics and occasional magic of writing.

I don’t feel comfortable learning all that alone; as solitary and private as I am in my writing life, I’m getting more and more social in my author life – and that’s a good thing. I’m “meeting” more authors online; like Jen here.

They teach me things even without knowing it. In fact, I always call Jen my “promotional hero” because just by watching her I’ve learned a lot of the rules of social media, when to post, how often, how to find reviewers for your eBooks, the list goes on.

Editorially, I learn something new with every pass through every manuscript; about dialogue tags, about characterization, about not giving too much away, about not holding too much back, about punctuation, about avoiding fads. Like. This. One. And so much more.

I know I have lots more to learn and I’m not comfortable learning that on my own just yet. Maybe I’m over thinking all this; I do that. Maybe I’m just being a Nervous Ned; I do that, too. But I don’t think so. For me, for now, as long as I’m lucky enough to be published with this elite group of independent, forward-thinking and author-loving publishers, I’m going to bask in that and wring it for every drop of knowledge, experience and wisdom I can possibly gain.

But, again, that’s just me. If you are a successfully self-published author, and I know there are plenty of you out there, I don’t mean to offend, ruffle feathers or take aim. We are all different and learn at different points of our lives. I’m envious of you; I really am. But I’m also proud of what I’ve accomplished, too, and a big part of me knows I couldn’t have done that without a LOT of support; and, ultimately, that’s what publishers offer, I think: support.

Yours in YA,

Rusty Fischer

About the author: Rusty Fischer is the author of Zombies Don’t Cry: A Living Dead Love Story, out now from Medallion Press.

Visit his blog, www.zombiesdontblog.blogspot.com, for news, reviews, cover leaks, writing and publishing advice, book excerpts and more!

Look for his next book, Vamplayers, due out from Medallion next year!

Printers Row Lit Fest

I’m back from Printers Row Lit Fest in Chicago…okay, I’ve been back for a while…but have been recovering. Yes, it was that much fun!

I headed out Friday a little after 10am for the Ottawa airport. After some wrong turns (I wasn’t driving!) I found my way to the counter at the airport about 1130. I flew with Porter- which is darn awesome btw, and I’ll be flying with them whenever possible in the future. That said… when I got to the counter the woman quickly asks “Are you Jennifer Wylie?” I nod. “Your flight has been canceled.” I have a heart attack. “Don’t worry, we have you on another flight.” Heart starts beating again-if still way too quickly. “We’re holding the plane for you, it’s leaving now. Hurry.” Oh. Nice. I now get to run through the airport and security like they do in the movies. I did make the flight, and avoided all the boring waiting. At least in Ottawa airport.

I landed at the little Billy Bishop airport before 1pm and got to sit in their very awesome lounge until almost 4pm. My 2hr flight to Midway in Chicago wasn’t too bad. I managed not to throw up on any flights. (I don’t travel well, especially on the little airplanes) I think I was a little loopy from the Gravol (anti nausea meds) Onward to the fun hotel… the Days Inn in Alsip. At first glance the room was good. (No bugs! and yes I checked) However I then noticed the hall in the bathroom wall, the toilet that ran. The AC leaked and flooded the carpet around the window. And I kept pulling the knob off the tap every time I washed my hands. But anyways, I wasn’t there too much.

It was so great to meet everyone there. Up at 6am to head down to Printers Row and set up. I got to see my book for the very first time! (Yes there were happy bounces) I was rather nervous selling, but still managed to hand out a lot of bookmarks, and sell some books too. The heat rose through the morning to the point people were passing out and I was getting dizzy. Thank goodnesss for the 7/11 up the road which kept me supplied with slushies. The thunder storm around 2pm cooled it down- though trying to keep everything from blowing away was frustrating. It scared a good portion of the crowds away, but we stayed on til 6pm and then packed everything into the center of the tent and went off to dinner. After a late night the bug-free bed was welcome.

Day 2 (sunday) was a mix of cool and warm but not too extreme either way. I managed to get a bit less shy and sell more books. It was so fun signing them for people, and meeting so many great readers and fellow authors. The Echelon crew is amazing. It was so awesome to finally meet all my online friends I’ve chatted with thru email, facebook and twitter over the last year. My neighbors on either side were the wonder Gale Borger (with her most awesome daughter as well) and Robert (Bob) Goldsborough. These two are great sellers. Bob is fantastic with the readers and I was taking notes when he wasn’t looking. Gale has the most amazing display in all of PR I think. I need to learn to do that too! (Mine was sadly boring) I’ll definitely be going back again next year and am on the hunt for more fests and cons to attend this summer!

Robert Goldsborough

Gale Borger

Sean Hayden

Claudia Whitsitt