My Interview with James Vernon

     

When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?
I first started writing back in 2011. My first story was going to be a sci-fi soldier story but I couldn’t get a solid story going, so I scrapped it and started fresh. About half way through the year I began building the world and lore behind my first novel, Bound to the Abyss, and getting the general plot together. About two years later, after dozens of rewrites and plot fixes I finally had a story that I was happy to release. I just had to find the funds for all the extras like a professional editor and cover artist first. That took a little longer.

When writing about something you don’t know very much about where does your information come from?

That’s the nice thing about writing fantasy, especially where I’ve completely created the world and the lore. Anything I’m not too sure about I can make adjustments to and fiddle around with. That way when I write about it, I can make it seem believable and new while at the same time similar enough to something the audience can recognize.

When it comes to something I can’t really mess with because I’m taking it directly from our world, like the best the environment for beans to grow or the average lifespan of a horse, I Google it. Haha.

What advice would you give someone who had “ran out of creativity” while writing?

Two things:

First, start something new! I always have at least two projects going on at the same time. While I wrote my first story, I was also writing a set of short stories set in the same world. It helped me improve as a writer and was a fun way to continue to world-build.
Second, read a whole lot. Not just in the genre you are writing for either. Poll your friends for good books outside of what you usually read. You might find a way to not only reignite your creativity, but also to improve your writing by learning from other with a different writing style then your own.

Is there anything you would like to say to your readers?

THANK YOU.

Seriously thank you. I have had more success then I expected an unknown author like myself to achieve. I’m not breaking the top 100 on Amazon, getting on a best seller’s list, and haven’t won a single award, but still people are finding my book and enjoying it. All that I’ve accomplished has come from people that gave an unknown author a chance.

Oh, and I WILL keep writing. I have big plans for my main characters Ean, Zin, and Azalea that will span multiple books alone, and like I mentioned earlier I always have other things in the works. I’ve spent too much time building this world to just leave it behind after a few books. I’m here for the long haul.

If you could invite three authors and/or poets to dinner who would you invite?
That’s a tough one. I don’t want to repeat myself with the authors I already mentioned above so I’ll go with three new ones in no particular order.
1) George R. R. Martin – Two reasons. One because he is another amazing world builder. The history of Westeros and the political intrigue he creates draws readers in and I love that kind of stuff. The second reason is I want to learn his secret for not getting attached to his own characters. The man is ruthless!
2) Lindsay Buroker – A great indie fantasy author. Her stories flow seamlessly and have the perfect combination of humour, action, and suspense. She also seems to really have down the art of building her brand and getting herself out there. Her books always seem to be at the top of the Amazon charts and I would love to get as much advice from her as possible on top of all that she gives through her website.
3) Terry Brooks – My love of fantasy started with his Magic Kingdom of Landover series and then matured with The Sword of Shannara and the rest of the Shannara books. Certainly one of the many people that have influenced my work and are the reason why I started writing in the first place

What is your all-time favourite book?
I can’t say I have one particular book that is my favourite, but my favourite series is still the Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. I have spent an untold amount of days pouring through those books. Every time a new book was coming out, I would reread the entire series again from the beginning before getting to the next book in the series. There are other series that come close, Shannara, The Night Angel Trilogy, The Emperor’s Edge, Earthsea, Harry Potter, The Kingkiller Chronicles, The Belgariad, and a few dozen more that I reread every now and then. The Wheel of Time though is still at the top of the list.

Which one of your books would you recommend to someone who is looking for a quick easy read?
All of them? I promise I’m not being egotistical!
Bound to the Abyss and Descent into Darkness are one story broken into two parts and I’ve been told by people that don’t usually read fantasy that they moved through them fairly fast. The two short story collections are fun and you don’t have to know anything about the world to follow along with them. My third book, Hunt for Justice, is separate from the Bound to the Abyss series and a little shorter then either of my first two books so it would be easy as well.

When naming your characters to you give thought about the meaning of the name?
Sometimes. Some names are a play on letters for friends and relatives that I’ve pulled character traits from, others have deeper meanings that some might eventually figure out or they might just end up being fun little Easter eggs for myself. Others I’ve just heard and end up liking or come from wanting my characters names to not all start with the same couple of letters. As long as I feel that the name fits the character, I go with it.

Do you use real life facts based on true stories?
Ha, I hope not! Portals from other worlds opening up randomly in ours would cause a lot of problems.

What is your favourite part of a book to write?
Surprisingly I enjoy the chapters where my characters are just being themselves, sitting around and joking with each other. No grave threats or intense battles, just my characters showing a little more about themselves, their motives, and the relationships they form with each other. Those are the scenes I love to explore because I rarely ever have them planned out. I just let the characters be themselves and see what they end up writing for me.

Top 10 Tuesday

Top Ten ALL TIME Favourite Authors (in no particular order)

1. A. A Milne
2. Roald Dahl
3. Enid Blyton
4. Alyson Noel
5. Jessica Brody
6. Amy Plum
7. Jenna Burtenshaw
8. Jodi Picoult
9. Virginia Andrews
10. Ally Carter

Get to Know Me With James Vernon

Where do you live?

I live in a small town an hour or so outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It’s the type of quaint town that still has a main street with little shops and a couple of parades each year. It’s also close enough to more developed areas that I don’t feel like I’m out in the country.

Can you tell me about yourself?
Just a simple guy with a teaching degree and a love for fantasy. I’ve always been a fan of fantasy and sci-fi and love getting lost in worlds. At this point in my life I’m in a comfortable enough position to have a little fun outside of work and try new things. Writing and creating worlds has become a lot of fun, and I would love it if it could become my main profession. If not, I’ll still enjoy the time I spend writing and reaching new people.

Why and when did you begin to write?
Around 5 years ago. I’ve always been a huge reader of fantasy stories and had thought about writing one for a long time. When I was moved around for my job and ended up with over an hour commute each day, I found myself with a lot of time in my car to build worlds and create characters to live in them. Eventually I started putting down what I came up with on paper and went from there.

How long each day/week do you dedicate to writing?
Unfortunately I’m not a very organized writer. Having a full time job and a three-year old running around makes planning a set time to write each day a pointless endeavour. During the week I try to write for a few hours after everyone has gone to bed (which can be difficult as there are quite a few shows on at the moment that are distractions). On the weekend I find whatever time I can. If I had to guesstimate, I would say on average I get a solid nine hours of serious writing time in each week.

If you were shipwrecked on a desert island what book and author would you take?
For book I would have to go with The Name of the Wind. For years I’ve had a dozen other favourite books, but most recently Patrick Rothfuss has made me into a huge fan. The way he tells the story, which if you pay attention is really one characters biography, keeps me hooked for hours at a time.
For author, even though he has passed, I would have to go with Robert Jordan. The world and its history that he created for the Wheel of Time series just blows me away. I would love to pick his brain while stuck on a deserted island and learn how he did it all.

When reading yourself do you prefer to read eBooks, paperbacks or hardbacks?
I have a bit of OCD when it comes to physical copies of books. I would much rather read from a good paperback or hardback, but part of my brain doesn’t want to mess up the binding or the cover. So for convenience and my own sanity, I would have to say I stick to eBooks for the majority of my reading. If I really like a story after I’m done reading, more likely than not I’ll buy a physical copy as well.

Friday's Feature Melissa Hosack

Vampires vs Zombies follows a global pandemic thought to be restricted to the world of fiction as it takes out nearly the entire population within the span of a few days. The survivors are confused and disoriented. Those who die don’t stay dead.

Aurora Mathews —along with Damian Deshea, a man who aggravates her more than the walking dead—somehow manages to survive the first onslaught of violence and destruction only to be taken captive by something possibly more terrifying than zombies —vampires.

Each passing night reveals new horrors to the duo. Most alarming of all is the presence of Kieran, a vampire whose newest goal in his afterlife is to see Aurora dead.

Kieran has a history of violence, and women tend to disappear once he takes an interest in them, and he sees Aurora as his last chance of showing off his skills. To top it off, Damian is hiding secrets nearly as dark as those kept by their captors.

Between looking for other survivors, desperately searching for her family, and fighting off attempts on her life, Aurora must learn to adapt to this new world or perish. This is the battle of human survival that she fears can only end in death.

Buy Links:

Amazon

Whimsical Publications

Excerpt:

“Oh shit,” he said under his breath. “Aurora?”

“Yeah?” My voice trembled as I slowly backed away.

“Run.” With that, he dropped the chair, pushed me in front of him, and did as he instructed me to do. He ran.

I went as fast as I could, but with his six-foot-two frame, it didn’t take him long to catch up to me. We both turned simultaneously down the hallway, sprinting for our lives.

“Is there a window in the women’s bathroom?” he hollered.

“What?” I yelled back breathlessly, having a hard time hearing over the pounding of my heart and the pursuing monsters.

“Fast! Is there a window in the women’s bathroom?”

I scanned my mind, trying to remember the layout of the restrooms, a hard thing to do when being chased by a psychotic monster that wants to eat you alive. “Yes,” I said uncertainly, my answer sounding more like a question.

“You better be damn sure, or we’re both dead,” Damian came back gruffly.

At his somber statement, I really concentrated, picturing the arrangement of the bathroom interior. “Yes! Yes, there’s a window.”

“Good.”

Before I had a chance to take another step, I was thrown to the side. I went barreling into the women’s room, forcing the door open with my body as I went.

Damian was a step behind me. He lurched into the room, his tall frame slamming into mine and knocking me off balance.

As the door swung shut behind him of its own momentum, we both collapsed to the floor in a pile of tangled arms and legs. The air rushed out of my lungs as his full weight was thrown on top of me. One of my knees slid dangerously between his, and I accidentally caught him in the ribs with an elbow. “Damian,” I groaned, pushing against his chest with my free hand. “You’re squishing me.”

With a grunt of discomfort, he rolled to sit next to me, breathing hard. His hands ran through his dark hair, and his fingers trembled with shock and adrenaline. While I struggled to a sitting position, he touched a hand to his jaw and winced in pain.

With his weight no longer on me, I was able to convince my lungs to start working again. I sucked in deep gulps of air, my throat feeling raw.

As we both tried to collect ourselves, the door flew open, and three mutilated faces stared in at us.

I stopped complaining. Scrambling to my feet, I threw myself against the door. It closed for a moment before being smashed into from the other side, forcing me backwards.

It opened enough for one of the men to get his arm into the room. I spun around, pressing my back against the door, trying to dig my feet into the floor to give me extra leverage.

Damian was on his feet in an instant. He hit the door hard, his hands on either side of my head, the front of his body slamming into the front of mine. He was jammed up tightly against me with my nose practically in his chest. His head was lowered toward me, and I could see his jaw clench with effort.

The door slammed shut on the thing’s arm, and it gave an inhuman screech.

I glanced to the side to see the arm dangling limply next to my head. Blood poured down torn skin and dripped to the floor.

I opened my mouth to scream when Damian pulled back and slammed into the door again, knocking the air, and the scream, out of me. There was a sickening wet noise as the arm detached, landing with a thud at my feet. Without the arm blocking the door, it closed.

Damian reached above my head and clicked the lock into place. With a shaky sigh, he leaned his head against the door just above my shoulder, his body still pressed flat to mine. His breath was hot against the side of my neck, and his body covered me completely. I could feel him all the way down to my toes. He was just a little too close for a casual acquaintance, especially for one I didn't like all that much.

I brought my hands up and pushed on his shoulders. “You can get off me now.”

He pulled his head back and looked down at me through his hair, his eyes glinting with amusement. “If I must.” He lingered a second too long for my taste before moving away from me.

My Interview With Gareth Wiles

     

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

I first started writing properly in high school, and I finished my first book I AM DEAD in 2009 after working on it for about five years. I'd written a lot of short stories and plays before then. 

Can you tell us about your upcoming book? And how you come up with the idea?

My latest book, which is a prequel to I AM DEAD, is called THE UNEXPECTED OCCURRENCE OF THADDEUS HOBBLE and is officially out in April. I have also finished my 6th book, which will be out later in the year. I am currently editing all 5 of my current books into one omnibus edition for a hardback release in the near future. I generally use everyday life to come up with ideas, giving seemingly mundane things a sinister twist.

When writing about something you don’t know very much about where does your information come from?

In my latest book I covered quite a bit of history, such as Charles Darwin on The Beagle and Adolf Hitler in his bunker, so I did some research by reading around the subjects.

What is the easiest and the hardest part to write?

The hardest part is making the plot last. I tend to write smaller stories then interweave them together to make a larger book. The easiest is character, as I know a wealth of weird and wonderful people to draw from.

Do you ever experience writers block? If so how do you find best to cure it?

No. If I feel like writing it comes very easily to me. I get 'in the zone' and it flows.

Have you written a book that you love but cannot get published?

I've written a few books that aren't out yet, but I hope to have them out in the near future.

Are there certain characters from any of your books that you would like to back to and create a book based on them maybe set in the past or future?

I've done that with the 6th book I've just finished, which includes several minor characters from my previous books who are being featured centre-stage.

What does your current protagonist think about you would they want to hang out with you the author, their creator?

My main protagonist Peter Smith is a bit of a misanthrope, so I doubt he'd enjoy hanging out with anyone let alone me!

How long does it usually take to write a whole book?

My first book took five years to write, but each one since has taken about a year. My 6th book is shorter and only took about six months. Once I've finished writing I leave the book for a month or two them come back to it fresh and edit.

How you ever created a character for a book that you were working on and then realised that they don’t work in that book and then used them in something else?

I've done this all the time. Characters tend to write themselves, and you can't really force them to do things they don't want to.

Top 10 Tuesday

Top Ten Inspiring Quotes from Books (anything that inspires you, challenges you, makes you think, encourages you, etc.) 

I can only think of five of the top of my head so this week is a top 5

1. The greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places – Charlie and the chocolate factory by Roald Dahl
2. It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live – Harry Potter by J.K Rowling
3. You have been my friend that in itself is a tremendous thing – Charlotte’s Web by E.B White
4. Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, when one only remembers to turn on the light – Harry Potter J.K Rowling
5. Dumb as a doorknob, in fact - Mystic by Alyson Noel

Get to know me with Gareth Wiles

Where do you live?

In sunny North Wales

Can you tell me about yourself?

I'm 29 and work as a gardener as well as writing books and doing copywriting and editing work.

Why and when did you begin to write?

The first story I ever wrote was when I was about 7 or 8 years old. I had an elderly Aunty who encouraged my fantasy and make-believe lifestyle!

How long each day/week do you dedicate to writing?

I can't really pin down a specific time I set aside to work on my writing as I tend to do it when I'm inspired. I can write for hours on end day after day and then not write anything for a month afterwards.

While writing do you prefer a quiet room or do you like background noise such as music or the TV?

I like writing whilst The Beach Boys are playing in the background.

When you’re not writing what can we find you doing?

Gardening and generally pottering about with a myriad of eccentric people and animals.

My Interview With Ember Shane

After being given Of Royal Decent to review and falling in love with it I decided to put Ember Shane in the interview seat or the first interview of April.

     

When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?
I've been writing ever since I can really remember.  But as far as my first published book, I began in the summer of 2012 and published in the fall of 2013.

Can you tell us about your upcoming book?  And how you came up with the idea?
My next book will be the third installation in The Doyle Hawthorne series.  The idea for the series itself was kind of a fluke.  At the time, I'd been working on a time traveling romance novel.  One night at work, someone said to me, "You should write a romance novel about zombies.  That would be awesome."  I just remember thinking, "Ew."  There was probably a look of faint disgust on my face.  But on my way home, the idea began to take seed.  I love a good challenge, and making zombies romantic seemed like an ultimate one.  I sat down, scribbling ideas furiously, and drew out a blueprint for what later became books 1 and 2.

When writing about something you don't know very much about, where does your information come from?
Lots and lots of internet research.  I once researched for three hours for one line of text, only later to remove that line in editing. 

What is the easiest and hardest part to write?
I love writing emotionally-charged scenes.  Fear, grief, rage.  Those scenes tend to fly right out of me.  It's the scenes where I let other voices into my head that are the hardest to write.  Sometimes I'll be plodding along, doing a nice pace for a random scene involving zombie feeding or any sexual tension, and suddenly I can hear my mom's voice.  "These are the things you think about?!"  It can be distracting. 

Do you ever experience writers block?  If so how do you find best to cure it?
Definitely.  Especially if I've went too long without writing.  The best way I've personally found to cure it is to sit and stare at that white screen and type absolutely anything that comes to mind.  If I type long enough, I figure something out.

Is there anything you would like to say to your readers?
I appreciate each and every one of them more than I could ever express.  Writing to entertain has always been my passion.  With every reader that appears, I get to live out my dream again and again.  It's a wonderful feeling. 

Which character of yours speaks the loudest to you?
For each book, I feel the answer varies.  In book 3, the one I'm currently working on, I would have to say Kai.  To be so hard-edged, there's something so fragile about her on the inside. 

If you could work with any author who would it be?
That's a tough question because I love so many!  For traditional authors, I'll say Janet Evanovich.  I love her style of humor.  As for Indie authors, again, very hard to just choose one, but I will say Jennifer R. McDonald.  She is one of my favorite Indies of all time.  Her Veilwalker Trilogy is amazing. 

Do your characters try to make like bunnies and create ever more convolved plots for you or do you have to coax them out of your characters?
Oh no, they are bunnies for sure.  Especially Chuck.  I swear, that boy never does anything I tell him.

Is there a theme you haven't worked on yet that you would like to?
As for fiction, I'd like to revisit the time-traveling novel I'd shelved to write The Doyle Hawthorne Series.  And I've got this idea that's been growing over the last year about an alien race.  But I also have been kicking around the idea of doing a compilation of nursing ghost stories.  I would interview healthcare professionals around the state of Ohio about any unusual experiences they've had with hauntings.  Working third shift, everyone's at least got ONE story.

In My Mailbox March 2015

I was saving money this month so I had plenty next month to buy books at Wales Comic Con and to have my picture done with people while there so I only had 5 books.

1. Cinderella Ate My Daughter - Peggy Orenstein
2. Stardust - Neil Gaiman
3. Haven - D. C. Akers
4. 3 Girls and a Baby - Rachel Schwig
5. The Ghost and the Graveyard - Genevieve Jack

Get to know me with Ember Shane

Where do you live?
I'm currently living in Franklin, OH (Southern OH), though I hope to return home to Tennessee this summer.

Can you tell me about yourself?
I'm a single mom with an associate’s degree in nursing.  I work two jobs, homeschool my 9 year old, and occasionally homemake newborn photography props to sell in my spare time.  When I'm not working or writing, I like to read, knit, and crochet.  What I really stink at is home repairs and cooking.  If I ever had an excess of free time, I'd take some classes to learn the basics.

Why and when did you begin to write?
I can remember being in kindergarten and falling in love with books.  I would take every book I could get my hands on and stow them away in my cheap, plastic tent I used as a hideaway in the corner of my room, and I'd stay in there for hours.  Becoming an author is just something I always knew I wanted to do.  I wanted to weave that kind of magic for other readers too.

How long each day/week do you dedicate to writing?
I don't set any specific writing times, but if I go a couple days without writing anything, it affects me.  I won't be able to concentrate on other things properly, and I'll feel a little ill.  These days, it seems like I've been averaging a chapter every week or two.  I look forward to summer break just as much as my son does because my time spent writing shoots through the roof.

What has been the best compliment and worst criticism given to you as an author?
The best compliment I've ever received was from a former English composition college professor.  I did well in his class, but I always wondered why my paper would inevitably be in the last batch of papers he would return after handing in an assignment.  For me, I would think that if I really liked someone's work, I'd be super excited to get it and read it first.  Which is why I'm among the first ones in line at the bookstore when an anticipated book finally releases.  So, I just assumed that he didn't feel that way about my reading.  At the end of the year, each student had to have a one on one conference with him to discuss their work and the previous semester.  During my conference, he told me that he really loved reading my writing.  In fact, he enjoyed it so much, that he would always save my papers for last to give him something to look forward to.  He has no idea how much that meant to me.
The worst criticism?  That's one harder to answer.  I think it would probably be that I sometimes include too many benign details.  But, I appreciated that feedback.  That's something I watch out more closely for now.

If you were shipwrecked on a desert island what book, author and item would you take? Assuming the parameters are for a fictional book, I would say Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.  And for the item, I'd say a machete, just to be on the practical side.  I'd need something to crack open those coconuts with. 

Book Jar's

Well I was over at my cousin's blog and found this interesting post on choosing what book to read next or to put on your to be read list which she got from an instagram that Jenna Burtenshaw posted.

The post was about using pots and sticky notes or just bits of paper to pick your next read from, having a pot to make a note of books you want to buy sometime soon and a pot to put the slip in saying what you have read.

This sounded like a great idea so I took my cousin's idea and I managed to get my own little jars. I have made a list of all my books and got some pots to put my lists in although I will only use two pots as I tend to buy books on a whim, if I see a book I want I will buy it.

My jars.
To Read, Review Books and Read

Here are my jars, I still have three but the third is not a 'to buy jar' as I buy books whenever I feel like it and sometimes I just buy a book because I see it and other times I buy books because they are the next in the series or because the book is by an author that I like, the third jar is full of books that I have been sent to review.

I have decided that I am just going to stick half of the books I own with the books that are the next in the series to ones I have started in a jar and get my boyfriend to pick which book I read next so that I don't pick a book and then put it back in the pot because I don't want to read it yet.

If you have trouble deciding what to read next maybe you could try this also. If you have a different way to choose what book your going to read next let me know.

Happy Reading

Mystic by Alyson Noel

Title: Mystic
Author: Alyson Noel
Series: The Soul Seekers
Pages: 309
Release Date: 7th May 2013
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Source: Amazon
Format: Paperback

Buy it: Amazon

Add it: Goodreads

Synopsis: Since arriving in the dusty desert town of Enchantment, everything in Daire Santos life has changed...and not always for the better. While she's come to accept and embrace her new powers as a Soul Seeker, Daire struggles with the responsibility she holds navigating between the worlds of the living and the dead--and her mission to defeat the evil Cade Richter.  But Cade's soul is inextricably entwined with that of her boyfriend Dace, putting their love to the ultimate test.  How can she can't defeat Cade if it means destroying Dace too?  And is their love strong enough to survive death—and what lies beyond?

MYSTIC is the third book in The Soul Seekers, a magnificent new series about a girl who can navigate between the worlds of the living and the dead, by #1 New York Times bestselling author Alyson Noël.

My Review: Alyson did it again, just when I was beginning to like someone she kills them off *I'm talking about Phyre here*

A lot of things happen in Mystic, Daire and Dace find out that when Dace went after the dark soul it meant that his and Cade's soul are now linked and to kill one means killing the other so Daire cannot kill her boyfriends evil twin without also killing her boyfriend.

Dace's ex girlfriend Phyre and her crazy preacher father return to Enchantment to stop 'The end of the world'. 

At the start of the book Daire is trapped in the Upper world with Dace's guide Axel who saved her until she manages to escape and Dace is lost in the lower world and the preacher finds him stranded and leaves him their to die until Daire saves him. When Daire finds him Dace believes that they are both dead.

On Daire's search she takes her best friends Lita and Xolich to the enchanted spring's so that she can see if Xolich can sense anything because she has fantastic six sense with her being blind she can sense things a lot better than anyone else and after leaving the enchanted spring's Xolich ends up being able to see.

Cade gives Lita a tourmaline crystal which ends up being given to Paloma who aling with Xolich senses that it is a bad stone but Paloma keeps it so she can do tests on it and she ends up dying because if it.

In the end Lita, Daire and Xolich save the world from ending no matter how much Cade tried he didn't manage to succeed and Cade almost's dies until his brother Dace saves him but the Rabbit Hole club burns down.

My Interview With Sherri Fulmer Moorer

Sherri Fulmer Moorer is in the hot seat today.

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

I started seriously writing for publication in 2001. My first book was an inspirational Christian book titled Battleground Earth – Living by Faith in a Pagan World. It was published in 2004, but frankly I didn’t find much success with writing inspirational work. I think the reason is because when you do faith-based writing, you’re expected to create a “safe haven” for people, and I just can’t do that – I’m in the trenches of ugly reality with you, and my interest is in navigating it. I switched to writing fiction in 2007 and published my next book, a young adult murder mystery titled Blurry, in 2011. Fiction was a good move for me. I enjoy writing it so much more – it’s fun!

Can you tell us about your upcoming book? And how you come up with the idea? 

Right now, I’m working on a science fiction trilogy titled The Earthside Trilogy. I finished the rough draft of Book One, titled Fracture, in October. I’m working on Book Two, tentatively titled Schism, now. It takes place in the near future (about 50-75 years from now) and is about aliens coming to Earth, but not in ways you expect: instead of landing in ships, they take over human minds live symbiotically in their bodies. It’s learned that these aliens came because another race of cyborgs have noticed the technological advancements of humanity, and they want to control us through our computers and machines. It really is a biology versus technology type of battle. The idea for this trilogy came to me when my father-in-law was in  his final stages of dementia – in fact, I started writing Fracture five days after he passed away. He was the third family member I’ve lost to dementia, but this was the closest hit, and the hardest journey I witnessed. There was something about witnessing his final journey that left me feeling less than human, and I still can’t find a way to articulate what I saw, felt, and experienced during those last few months of his life. I guess fiction is an easier way for me to express it than straight reality right now.

When writing about something you don’t know very much about where does your information come from?

I do research. A lot on the Internet, but I also like to talk to people that know about what I’m planning to write about. For example, one of the protagonist in my work in progress is an electrical engineer. I’m not an engineer, but I’ve worked with and talked to many in my “day job,” so I would ask them my questions. Most people do like to talk about themselves and what they do, and they’re glad that you’re interested in learning more about what’s important to them.

What is the easiest and the hardest part to write?

The easiest part is the proofreading and beta reading, which I usually do together. I love that part because you have the story the  best you can have it, and you finally get to send it to others that help you make it shine. The hardest part is writing the rough draft. Even if you know exactly what you want to write, it still takes the most time to get that first draft done. Everything after that is easier because you at least have something to work with.

Do you ever experience writers block? If so how do you find best to cure it?

I do experience it. I’ve discovered that it usually happens when I’m stressed out and trying to do too much. The best cure I’ve found for it is to take a break. I truly believe that writer’s block is your muse’s way of telling you that they have burnout, and you need to give them a break to restore the creative well. I miss writing when I don’t do it, but sometimes that break is absolutely essential for me to open my eyes to the world around me and find the inspiration waiting to be discovered. One thing I never do, though, is panic. It always passes. If you remain calm and just live, you’ll find that the ideas will flow again.

Is there anything you would like to say to your readers?

First of all, thank you for reading my writing! Second, I hope it entertains and inspires them, and that reading my novels gives them the same joy that I experience when I read a good book. Third, I’d like for them to take from my books what’s meaningful to them. Yes, writers do have ideas and themes about what their books “mean,” but I think that good fiction can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. I just want them to be able to relate to the characters and situations in ways that they find significant, whether it’s actually what I had in mind or not. I’m not one that’s offended if you see something different in it, so enjoy and be inspired!

What is your favourite part of a book to write and why?

The end. I love writing the entire book, of course, because it’s exciting to create your own worlds, but it’s satisfying to see it come to completion and see your vision has become a reality – on a computer screen, at least!

Where do most of your ideas come from?

Real life. For some reason, I find that I handle what’s going on “in my head” a lot better when I drop it into a fictional setting. I guess it gives me a different perspective. For example, I wrote Move after making a major work move that people thought I was crazy to accept and should have fought against harder. It gave me the idea of a novel about a young woman that resists change until it destroys her, and then she takes drastic measures to “go back,” only to find out that it isn’t possible. The idea turned so big that I wrote Obsidian, the sequel, a few years later when I had more “realizations” on what it really means to finish what you start and to do things the right way. As I recently told someone, “when you read a book, you’re riding shotgun to the author’s mental issues.”

Are there certain characters you would like to go back to, or is there a theme or idea you would like to work more on?

I’m very happy to be writing science fiction now, and would like to do more in that genre. My goal would be for 50% of my novels to be science fiction and the other 50% be mysteries. I love them both!

If you could work with any author who is no longer with us who would it be?

C.S. Lewis. He was a brilliant person and a great writer. He had a keen mind and yet was humble enough to admit his failures. I would have loved to have been in one of his classes!

Get to know me With Sherri Fulmer Moorer

Where do you live?

I live in Columbia, South Carolina. That’s in the Southeast United States.

Can you tell me about yourself?

By day, I’m a program assistant working in professional licensing for design and environmental professionals. By night, I’m an independent author of science fiction and mystery novels. I live in the woods of South Carolina (in the Southeastern United States) with my husband, Rick, and our two parrots, Zack and Chloe. I admit that I am an opportunist that wanted to jump on the ebook wave and took full advantage of it as soon as I could! I enjoy spending time with my family, new technology, TV shows and movies about superheros (and villains!), and, of course, reading.

Why and when did you begin to write?

I’ve always been a writer, ever since I learned how to read and write. You could say I “officially” started writing in 2001 when I got my own personal computer so I could write and do research at home.

How long each day/week do you dedicate to writing?

I have a full time job (along with writing), so it can be a balancing act. I try to write about 2 hours a day, 4 days a week as an average.

Do you work with an outline or do just write?

I just write. I’ve tried outlines, and I deviated too much from them. Once I get into writing the book, there’s no telling where it will lead, and I want to give my characters (and the plot) the freedom to go where it will.

When reading yourself do you prefer eBooks, paperbacks or hardbacks?

I prefer eBooks. I’m a techno-junkie, but that’s probably because my husband is a computer technician! Sometimes I do enjoy a good paperback too. I swore off hardbacks when I got into eBooks because frankly, they’re heavy and cumbersome to handle. 

In My Mailbox February 2015

So this month I bought 2 books from a shop, some from amazon kindle and  I got 1 as a review book

Book

1. Unchanged - Jessica Brody
2. All Fall Down - Ally Carter

Kindle

1. Finding Flames - Julie Wetzel
2. If I Break - Portia Moore
3. Sacrificed to the Dragon - Jessie Donovan
4. Rebecca Newton and the Sacred Flame - Mario Routi

Review

1. Pieces of Mel - Melina Turner

My Interview With Gina A Watson

I had the pleasure to interview Gina A Watson who is a new to me author.

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

I started writing my first book in 2012, and funnily enough I haven’t actually finished that one. More and more ideas just popping into my head.

Do you ever experience writers block? If so how do you find best to cure it?

Ahh writers block, I’ve never really had a full case of writers block but I have had a lack of inspiration and motivation and I found the way to beat that is to look up pictures that could be related to your story or novel and also listening to music helps a lot too, it allows your mind to relax.

Can you tell us about your upcoming book? And how you come up with the idea?

Although the book is not fully mine, it is an anthology being published by Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly and it is called Mystical Bites. It will be released sometime in March and will be available on Amazon. My story in the anthology is called The Black Rose, I came up with the idea when I saw a promotion about Witches on the TV. After that my mind kept thinking of idea after idea and it became my story.

If you could work with any author who would it be?

Wow this is a hard question, but if I had to pick just one it would have to be Maria V. Snyder. I love all of her books and would absolutely love to work alongside her.

If you could do it over again, is there anything you would change in any of your books?

I know with the first book I started writing I’d love to re-write it and change the tenses for it. Other than that, I like to plan out every detail of the story of novel before I start to write it so if I feel anything needs to be changed I usually change it in the planning stage.

Have you ever removed a character or changed a character in a book before publishing it and then regretted it?

No. I don’t think I have ever removed a character from a story or novel, I tend to get close to my characters so I don’t think I’d have it in my heart to remove one of them.

When writing about something you don’t know very much about where does your information come from?

Lots and lots of research, I also like to read some books either in that genre or some books that are about that subject just so I can get the feel of what I am needing for my work. 

What is the easiest and the hardest part to write?

For me, the easiest part to write would be descriptions, I am one for lots of describing. The hardest part would have to be fighting scenes, they can be tough to write if you don’t know all the information on that type of fighting.

Is there anything you would like to say to your readers?

To my readers, I hope that you like mine and everyone’s stories in Mystical Bites and that I hope you continue to follow me and my stories. 

Where can we stalk you?
Facebook
Website

Happy Book Birthday

Happy Book Birthday to Jessica Brody's Unchanged

Unchanged was released today in the UK, Unchanged is the third and final installment to the Unremembered Trilogy.

Purchase Unchanged by March 1st and get yourself a free poster and blueprint map by go into the link below.

http://www.jessicabrody.com/2015/02/pre-order-unchanged-and-get-an-unremembered-trilogy-poster-with-blueprint-map/

Get to Know Me With Gina A Watson

Where do you live?

I live in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Can you tell me about yourself?

I am 22 years old and I am currently studying a bachelor of writing and creative communication at the University of South Australia.

Did you have any challenges getting your first book published?

I think with any new author there are a lot of challenges but I quickly decided that it would be easier to start off with writing short stories for anthologies. But with any career it is always hard at first but it always comes down to how hard you want to work, that always makes it harder or easier for you.

While writing do you prefer a quiet room or music/tv?

Sometimes my mind likes to change with it, when I am on a roll and everything is coming into my mind quickly I like to be in a quiet room. On the other hand, if I am having an off day I like to listen to music to inspire me.

Why and when did you begin to write?

I started writing just before Christmas time 2012, it all started when an idea for a novel just popped into my head and wouldn’t leave me alone until I started writing it. Ever since then I can’t get enough of it.

How long each day/week do you dedicate to writing?

While I am at Uni, I try to write as much as I can when I get the chance but in the holidays I try to write for a few hours each day. 

My interview with Gina is coming on Friday 27th

My Interview With Melissa Frost

This week Melissa Frost is in the interview seat.

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

I started writing when I was in the second grade. Throughout school, I wrote a multitude of stories. I finished my first, full-length book in high school.

Can you tell us about your upcoming book? And how you came up with the idea?

My most recent release was the third instalment in my Amazon Bestselling series, The Dating Tutor. Book three featured Matt, the rough hockey stud, as he entered his first year of college. I had the idea to write this story because Matt was in the second book of the series and had more to say. He was close friends with the main character, but we didn’t get to see much from him. I felt he deserved a spotlight. As a result, book three was born.

When writing about something you don’t know very much about where does your information come from?

Research, research, and more research. In Matt’s Story, the girl he’s interested in plays soccer. I don’t know much at all about the sport, so I had to do a little bit of research. I also did a little research into hockey drills and regulations for Matty. Though hockey has been a big part of the series, I still had more to learn.

What is the easiest and the hardest part to write?

The easiest part is the actual writing. It’s a joy. The hardest part is writing up query letters, working through edits, and blurbs. I swear, they’re harder than writing the actual story!

Do you ever experience writers block? If so how do you find best to cure it?

I do! For me, the best cure for writers block is to give myself a daily requirement. If I force myself to sit down and write a couple pages each day, things start to flow and I end up past the spot where I found myself stuck.

Is there anything you would like to say to your readers?

Thank you!!! I’ve had such a great response for my young adult stories. My readers are absolutely amazing.

Have you written a book that you cannot seem to get published?

One of the first books I ever wrote was a straight up blood and guts horror story. I had a difficult time shopping that one. It was very grim and dark. It was also one of my first projects, so my writing style wasn’t nearly as tight as it is now. Even so, it is still one of my favorites.

Do your characters try to make like bunnies and create ever more convolved plots for your or do you have to coax the out of your character?

My characters have lives of their own. They take the story and run with it. It usually doesn’t take much coaxing to get a story going.

Out of all your books which is your favourite character and why?

That would be Damien from the above mentioned horror story. He is such a sweet guy. He would do anything to keep the people he cares about safe. And in his world, that isn’t easy.

Is anything in any of your books based on real life experiences or is it purely all imagination?

Everything I write is imagination. I try to avoid real life, because writing for me is an escape. The world can be such an ugly place at times, so when I lose myself in a romantic story, like my short Coming Home from the Night Life Anthology, I want to forget all of that for just a little bit.

Thursday Feature Sherri Fulmer Moorer

Here's the blurb for Obsidian:

She thought it was over. She was wrong.

Detective Claire Barnes thought the case that haunted Tanger Falls, Tennessee, for three and a half years was nearing it's final days as the accused is scheduled to stand trial. It seems like an open and shut case, until a database hack unravels evidence that was once unquestionable. Now Claire finds herself chasing forgotten leads and remembering things from the case that faded from both case files and memory. When a witness name keeps turning up in the modified files, Claire wonders what else the Town of Tanger Falls forgot; and who's trying to tear apart the case that tore their town apart.

Get To Know Me With Melissa Frost

Where do you live?

I live near Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.

Can you tell me about yourself?

Sure! I am the author of The Dating Tutor series. The third book, Matt’s Story, was just released on December 26th.  It follows a rough and tough hockey player as he discovers the true meaning of love. I was also featured in the Night Life Anthology with my paranormal romance, Coming Home.

Why and when did you begin to write?

I started writing when I was in second grade. I wrote my first short story then, and haven’t looked back since!

How long each day/week do you dedicate to writing?

My writing schedule depends on my son’s. If he has preschool, I take my laptop with me and get some writing in then. On days when he naps, I write while he sleeps. Everything depends on him!

Do you have a day job? If so how different from writing is it?

I worked for the federal government for twelve years. A few months ago, I parted ways with that job so I could write and edit full-time. As of now, all of my time is spent editing or writing stories. I love it.

Is there a Particular author or book that influenced you in anyway?

I was an avid reader growing up. There are so many authors that inspired me throughout the years. I was a big fan of the Babysitter’s Club and Sweet Valley High as a kid. Then I got into Anne Rice. Now, I read so many different authors from nearly any genre.

Die For Her by Amy Plum

Title: Die For Her
Author: Amy Plum
Series: Revenants

Pages: 60
Release Date: 2nd April 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Amazon Kindle Store
Format: Kindle Edition

Buy it: Amazon

Add it: Goodreads

Synopsis: Set in the romantic and death-defying world of the international bestselling Die for Me trilogy, this digital original novella follows Jules, a brooding, immortal French artist who has fallen in love with his best friend's girlfriend.

Jules Marchenoir is a revenant—an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save human lives. He's spent the better part of the last century flirting his way through Paris, but when he met Kate Mercier, the heroine from Amy Plum's Die for Me trilogy, he knew his afterlife had changed forever and he had found the love of his life. Until Kate fell for his best friend, Vincent. Now Jules is faced with an impossible decision: choosing between his loyal friend and a love truly worth dying for

My Review: This short novella is about Jules who is Vincent's best friend and fellow Revenant and it is about his feelings for Kate who is his best friends girlfriend.

Jules loves Kate and he can't stop thinking about her. Jules is forced to watch his best friend fall in love with the girl he loves but he doesn't make a move on her even if he does spend a lot of time flirting with Kate who just laughs it off.

The short novella tells the reader about Jules' struggle with his feelings for Kate and his struggle to choose between his best friend and the girl he love.

I hope that this doesn't mean that Jules ends up moving away or making a move on Kate if Vincent is really dead.

Thursday Feature Melissa Frost

Coming Home by Melissa Frost

Andi has never felt like she belonged, she has little memory of her past until the day a mysterious stranger walks into her life. Devon insists he knows her. She doesn’t believe him, no matter how attractive he might be, until he shows her irrefutable evidence. Intrigued, Andi takes him up on his offer to journey home—only to discover there is danger involved with uncovering the past.

Amazon

Until I Die by Amy Plum

Title: Until I Die
Author: Amy Plum
Series: Revenants
Pages: 357
Release Date: 3rd May 2012
Publisher: ATOM
Source: Amazon
Format: Paperback UK

Buy it: Amazon

Add it: Goodreads

Synopsis: Kate may have defeated her boyfriend's nemesis, showing off her sword skills in the process, but Vincent is sure that she will be at risk as long as they stay together. What's more, it's becoming clear that their relationship might prevent him from fulfilling his true purpose: saving the lives of others.

They might have the romance of the century, but will that be enough?

My Review: I loved this book more than the first but I honestly cried at the end R.I.P Vincent.

Kate and Vincent spent the entire book searching for a way so that they can be together without him having to die saving the lives of innocent, good people.

Vincent's way of staying alive to be with Kate is a dangerous way and makes him look really ill and Kate doesn't like it so she searches threw books and her grandfathers antique place and she finds a book that she thinks might help Vincent resist the urge to die. After finding this book Kate's grandfathers place gets burgled.

I cannot say that I can relate to Kate or Vincent but I do feel for them both. Vincent clearly loves Kate as he is willing to get himself killed to protect her. They make the perfect couple and no one can tear them apart long but the Norma kill Vincent and took his body away after killing him.

I cannot wait to get started on the next book I want to know if Kate, Jules, Charlotte and the rest of Vincent's Revenant family and friends can get Vincent back in time otherwise he will be gone forever :'(.

I loved the characters, I loved the plot and I love Kate and Vincent's relationship with Kate, I kind of hope that Charles isn't in the next book as he really acts like an idiot towards Kate, he doesn't consider her a part of their family even though she killed their enemy the head of the Norma.

I hope that Vincent is safe and well or I will probably end up blubbing most of the way through book 3, I also hope that if Vincent is safe and well that they find a way for Kate and Vincent can live happily ever after and that no harm comes to any of Kate's family or to any of the Revenant's well maybe Charles can die so that Kate will be accepted again by Vincent's family.

My Interview With Lee Ryder

I got to interview a new to me author Lee Ryder this year.

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

I started writing when I was very young. However, my first book Broken Earth came out in December of 2013.

Have you ever created a character for a book you were working on and they realised that they didn’t work in that book and they belonged in a completely new book?

With just two books out right now I decided that I needed to expand on Mollie who is a secondary character in my series. So I wrote her story before the events in Broken Earth in a short story entitled Irish Eyes. I connect with Mollie so many ways with her love of family and her spiritual nature. Mollie in Broken Earth is truly a look into my heart.

Can you tell us about your upcoming book? And how did you come up with the idea?
The whole idea from Broken Earth came from a dream I had after hearing the song Judgement Day by Doreen Taylor. It’s a fabulous song written by an Indie Rocker who just like me, does things her own way. The song talks about the end of the world and in the video the woman is looking for her boyfriend. I went to bed that night truly inspired and it blossomed from there into Broken Earth and then Shattered Hearts.

How long does it usually take for you to write just one book?
Broken Earth took less than a month to write and Shattered Hearts took two months coming out in February 2014. Irish Eyes took a bit longer as I was working on several other projects at the time and had taken some time to work on some charity projects that were close to my heart.

Where do your ideas come from?
I get ideas from the people I meet, the stories I hear, music, things on television. It’s a wide range. I actually took a trip to Atlanta last October and took a notebook with me so I could write down ideas from the places I visited and the people I met.

Have you ever removed a character or changed a character in a book before publishing it and then regretted it?
 No, I have a solid character base. However, at the end of Shattered Hearts we leave behind two characters and bring in others along the way. Book three of the Broken Earth series is very different, many things have changed. I think the readers will be pleasantly surprised.

When writing about something you don’t know very much about where does your information come from?
I’ll look things up on the internet and at the library. I’ll also pull on information from family and friends. My friend Kellie McKay is very instrumental in my writing. She and I have sessions online where we just go back and forth. She’s a huge help to me with my writing. She’s a really creative lady and my best friend.

What is the easiest and the hardest part to write?
Honestly world building for me has never been a problem, but creating a character and writing for them is difficult. It’s just like in the real world; you need to get to know someone because the people in my book are literally real in my head. You have to plan out their back story in your head before writing their story from that point on. It can be a very interesting process at times. Everyone has a unique story in this world.

Do you ever experience writers block? If so how do you find best to cure it?

I’ve been blocked and unblocked over this past year for sure. That’s why book three of the series has been held up so much. I find the best thing to get those creative juices flowing again is to write fanfiction. While it’s easy to write because I know the characters in the story it gets my mind back into a zone where I can get back into the flow of my own books.

Is there anything you would like to say to your readers?
I want to say Thank You, from the bottom of my heart. I honestly would not be where I am if you didn’t read my books. I’ve met some amazing people along the way and I’m sure to meet many more. I want to especially thank my family for all your patience with me. I’ve really had the backing of everyone which is incredible. My kids are my biggest fans. They are quite funny, if they read over my shoulder I look at them and say, “You might not want to do that; I’ll kill your favourite character.”
 I also want to tell my fans that I have an open door; I’m an open book per say. If you have a question, please contact me I’d love to talk to you! I’m a very friendly gal so never be afraid to send me a message. Hit me up on Facebook, follow me on Twitter (I’ll follow you back). I have a blog, Instagram, Google +, Pinterest, and Tsu Account. Drop me a line!  If you like my books invite your friends to visit my page! You guys are awesome! 

Where can we stalk you?

Facebook

Blog

Twitter

Google+

Goodreads

Instagram

Pinterest

Thursday Feature Sherri Fulmer Moorer

Here is the blurbs for Move:

Be careful what you wish for ... All Ruby Josen wanted was to get ahead in life. After a decade of lost relationships and missed opportunities, she's ready to move on and desperate to do whatever it takes to get out of her rut. When Ruby meets Bryce, a handsome stranger at the town's spring festival, his offer to turn fate to her favor seems too good to be true. But everything has a price, and Ruby learns that interfering with fate has bigger consequences than she realized. It leaves her to wonder who's really controlling her life and who - or what - Bryce really is.

Get To Know Me With Lee Ryder

Where do you live?

I’m actually an author based out of Massachusetts but my heart is in my hometown of Alden NY.

Can you tell me about yourself?

I’m a mother of 3 children and one angel. I grew up in Alden NY which is a small town near Buffalo. My parents fostered a deep love of reading when I was very young. I could lose myself for hours in a book and travel anywhere I wanted in those pages. Reading for me was an escape and it quickly morphed into writing. I filled dozens of pages with “fanfiction” based on the books I read. I loved to create, draw, and was very active in the school’s music program becoming an accomplished instrumentalist and singer. I continue my avid interest in music to this day. I wrote several small works that were featured in school magazines and publications. I had several wonderful English teachers that were instrumental in my becoming an author. They fostered my love of writing and really inspired me.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I knew I wanted to write stories to share with the world when I began to read.  I thought, if they can do it, so can I.

Why did you begin to write?

Writing was a way to create the worlds I would lose myself in, in books. It was a way to say what I wanted to say in writing instead of trying to get it out verbally which I was never good at.

Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in anyway?

I think the first few authors I began reading, like VC Andrews, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Dean Koontz, and John Saul were my foundation. I’m inspired by Christy Sloat, Raebeth McGee-Buda, Becki Brannen, JK Accinni, S’Cuanam Policar, and so many others who have made their way in the Indie World. These are strong women with great books and they’ve helped me immensely along the way.

How long each day/week do you dedicate to writing?

I write when the mood hits me, and it’s not always just on one book I’ve got so many things flying through my head that I write down the ideas and get them on paper before I lose them. I don’t have a set time to write, I can’t work like that being a Mom. That’s why I like being an Indie author, I write on my own terms.

Look out for my interview with Lee Ryder coming on February 6th