Hello and welcome to the 3rd stop in Sensuous Promos Book Blog Tour for Whitley Gray’s, Shooting For The Gold -
Going For The Gold Anthology.
Throughout this blog hop – which runs September 30th through October 26th – there will be 5 stops. At the end of which all commentators (from all the blog stops) will be eligible to win a $10 Amazon eGift Card. The winner will be announced on October 27th in the evening and posted in the comments sections of all the stops. Please remember to leave your email address so we can contact the winner and get you your prize!
Bio: Once upon a misspent youth, Whitley read and wrote stories under the covers at night. At some point, real life intervened, bringing with it responsibilities and a career in the medical field. After years of technical writing, Whitley became enamored of romance and took on the challenge of giving it a try. Inventing characters and putting them through paces in interesting ways turned out to be addictive, and along the way, Whitley discovered that two heroes is twice as nice. A pot of coffee, quiet, and a storyline featuring a couple of guys makes for a perfect day. Stop by www.whitleygray.com and feed your fix for heat between the sheets with erotica and M/M romance. BLURB:
Matt Justice has worked for years toward his goal of winning Olympic gold. Three decades ago, his father won an Olympic shooting competition; he was Matt’s biggest supporter until he said two little words: “I’m gay.” If he can emulate the feat his father accomplished in the past, maybe Matt can mend their fractured relationship.
Physician Levi Wolf and his partner Brett had looked forward to attending the London Olympic Games, until the car accident that left Levi unscathed but killed the love of his life. It’s been three years, and Levi has kept his heart under wraps. He’s attending the Olympics alone—as a physician instead of as a tourist. The last thing he wants to consider is letting go of Brett’s memory.
When Matt has an accident that threatens his ability to compete, Levi uses his skill at acupuncture to treat the blinding headaches. As the competition comes down to the wire, Levi discovers that sometimes the prize is right in front of you.
EXCERPT:
Matt squinted at the map. God, he hoped he’d taken the right direction to find the shuttle to the shooting venue at the Royal Artillery Barracks. For the last month, he’d anticipated seeing the unique decorations for the Olympic use of the buildings. The equipment should’ve arrived, and until he saw with his own eyes that the firearms had made it, he wouldn’t be able to rest. The campus made no sense. Where the devil was the exit to this place? The Olympic Village might as well be a labyrinth. Matt turned the chart to the side. North? Which way was --
Clang.
Pain exploded in his forehead and nose. Matt staggered sideways onto the grass, lost his fight with gravity, and fell. The vision in his right eye blurred, and the inside of his head reverberated with pain. “Fuck.”
“Okay, mate?” The voice came from above, concern wrapped in a Cockney accent.
Matt clapped a hand over his eye, which made the pain worse, and pulled his fingers away smeared with red. Blood? No fucking way. What’d he hit? He turned his head, and hissed as pain thumped his skull. Bad idea. “What hit me?”
“Ye ’it the scaffold.” Feet clanged on metal, clopped on concrete, and muted on the grass. “Yer bleedin’. Shite.”
Through bleary eyes, Matt squinted at the workman who squatted next to him. The man’s wooly eyebrows knit in concern. He fumbled in his pocket and held out a handkerchief. Matt watched himself take the cloth. A wave of nausea twisted his gut, and he flipped on his side and retched, head pounding. Jesus Christ.
“Ye okay?”
Kidding, right? Wiping the back of his hand across his mouth, Matt rolled to his back and opened his eyes. Overcast sky, smell of grass, and ringing in the ears. Just dandy.
More footsteps rustled across the grass, and a blond man came into view. Lips tight, he frowned and knelt beside Matt. “Hey there. Looks like a nasty cut. Can you open your right eye?” Midwestern American accent. A fellow athlete?
“It is open. Isn’t it?”
“No.” The hanky was pulled out of Matt’s hand, and Blond Guy dabbed at the cut. “Better get you to the clinic.”[KW1]
Aw, shit on a biscuit. Clinic? Doctors and X-rays and needles? He’d never live it down. Matt groaned. “It’s not that bad. A little clean up and an ice pack and I’ll be fine.”
Blond Guy’s frown deepened, twin creases forming between his eyebrows. He leaned in. Nice eyes, blue like the steel of a shotgun. “That’s not going to do it. Too deep. Looks like you rang your bell when you connected with the post. You might have a concussion.”
Matt struggled to sit up, and the scenery took a drunken swirl. Nausea burbled in his throat. “I don’t have a concussion.” He clamped his teeth together and took a couple of deep breaths through his nose. Don’t vomit. Sit for a minute, reassure the Good Samaritan, and go check on the guns. “I need to go.”
A warm hand landed on his shoulder. “A quick look. I promise I’ll make it brief —”
“Wait a minute. You’ll take a look?” Probably some former military medic, like Norm.
A brilliant smile broke across Blond Guy’s face and he extended a hand. “Levi Wolf, M.D., at your service. Call me Levi.”
A doctor? Here in the Village? On autopilot, he shook. “Matt Justice.”
“Staff or competitor?” asked Levi.
“Competitor. Shooting.”
“Clinic’s right over there.” Levi nodded toward glass double doors on the opposite side of the courtyard. “Can you walk?”
Target estimated at twenty meters. That he could do. Matt grunted an assent.
“I kin help,” the workman volunteered, glancing from Levi to Matt.
Well, it couldn’t get much more humiliating. Might as well go to the clinic. “Let’s go.”[KW2]
It did get more humiliating. Levi and the workman — who introduced himself as Gideon — each took one of Matt’s arms and wrapped an arm around his waist. The two carried more than walked him across the grass, through the doors, and into a cubicle.
While he waited for Levi to return, Matt contemplated the gray and white stripes of the curtain, one eye at a time. Left eye clear, right eye blurry. Must not have gotten the blood cleaned up well enough. That had to be it. Perfect vision in his right eye was crucial for shooting. What if he couldn’t compete?
I'm very pleased to welcome Ella Jade, author of the contemporary romance, Passion's Pain.
Thanks so much for having me here today. I’m thrilled to be celebrating the release of my latest contemporary romance Passion’s Pain. This book was a long time in the making. The idea has been with me for years, but I always thought it was a little unconventional as far as romances went. One day I sat down and started writing and then I couldn’t stop.
Passion’s Pain is a romance at the core, but it’s also a journey about a woman who has fallen on some hard times and wants to find some peace and stability. She thinks she’s finally found it when she meets an intriguing older stranger, but she soon realizes the man she thought was her savior was only the one who would bring her to her true destiny.
Blurb
One woman…two men. Who will she choose? The father or the son?
Lilli Daniels has been down on her luck for quite some time. She's been homeless, hungry and alone for far too long. When an intriguing, older stranger enters the strip club where she's waitressing her life takes on a new direction.
Successful attorney Jackson Avis maintains complete control of every aspect in his life. When he lays eyes on the beautiful, young Lilli he's captivated and has to have her. He tempts her with a life of privilege and security. He introduces her to a world she never knew existed. Complications arise when Jackson's son and aspiring doctor Cameron expresses an interest in his father's girlfriend.
Lilli fights the attraction, but Cameron wants to give into his heart's desire. He's the complete opposite of his controlling, manipulative father and will stop at nothing to protect the woman he's falling in love with.
Sometimes life leads you down one path only to bring you to your true destiny. Can Lilli come to terms and figure out exactly who her heart belongs to?
Excerpt
Lilli glanced down at the floor for a few seconds before looking up and giving Jack a small smile. Her long black hair fell down the center of her back and curled slightly at the ends. Her eyes were a most alluring color. Jack couldn’t tell for sure in the dim lighting, but they almost appeared violet. He’d never encountered such a unique woman before. He knew right away a girl like her didn’t belong in a shit-hole like this.
“What would you like?” She looked down at the pad she held and waited for his order.
“For you to have a seat.” He got up, pulled the chair out, and then motioned for her to sit.
“What? No, I can’t. I’m working.”
Jack looked around and noted it wasn’t that busy.
“I think you can sit for a few minutes.” He smiled. “Pat said you should give me what I want.”
“I-I don’t do that.” She shook her head. "Some of the other girls here do, but not me."
“I’m only asking you to sit and I rarely ask twice.” He felt a sense of relief knowing she didn't prostitute herself to the customers in this disgusting place. “Please.”
“Just for a few minutes.” She looked around the bar and then quickly took a seat.
“It’s nice to meet you, Lilli,” he said. “Do you have a last name?”
“I do.” She was too busy looking into his eyes that he thought maybe she forgot to finish answering.
Jack smiled and cleared his throat when he realized she was staring at him.
“Oh, it’s Daniels.”
“I see. What do you do besides work here, Lilli Daniels?”
“I work at the bookstore over at the community college,” she said. “I’m hoping to save enough money to take a few classes there in the fall.”
“It’s only January,” Jack said. “Why wait so long?”
“Classes are expensive.” She nervously fidgeted with the cocktail napkin sitting on the table. “So, what do you do?”
“I’m an attorney. I have my own practice in the city.”
“Oh, that sounds interesting. I’d like to study law someday, too.”
“A pretty ambitious goal.” He teased. “How old are you?”
“Twenty-two.”
Well, at least she's legal. But, for a girl working in a strip club trying to save money for school, she seemed awfully naïve. He briefly wondered if it was an act to get men to feel sorry for her. Maybe she knew exactly how to get a bigger tip out of her customers.
“Getting a bit of a late start with school, aren’t you?” Jack asked. “My son is about your age and he's in medical school.”
“My father’s not an attorney.” She ran her fingers through her hair and Jack immediately recognized she was uncomfortable when she mentioned her father. The lawyer in him needed to investigate a little further.
“What does your father do?”
“Are you ready to order?” she said. “I should be getting back to work.”
“Not just yet.” He wondered why she changed the subject so quickly. “I’m curious as to what a girl like you is doing in a place like this.”
“Me, too.” She looked around the dark room. “I fell on some hard times and I’m just trying to get my life back together. It’s honest work.”
“What kind of hard times?” He was trying not to interrogate her, but he wanted to know more about her.
“I can tell you’re a lawyer.” Her full pink lips curved into a smile. Jackson wondered what it would feel like to have her mouth against his. She was probably soft and warm.
“It’s in my nature to ask questions.” He wanted to know more about this beauty.
“Do you always get your answers?”
“I always get everything I want.” He let his eyes wander down her body. She was flawless, but he shouldn't have been entertaining any possibilities at all. But then again, when did he ever let anything stop him from getting what he wanted?
Jack reached into his pocket, pulled out his business card, and handed it to her. He couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. “I have to get back to the office now, but I’ve rather enjoyed your company. If Pat gives you a hard time, please give me a call. I’ll set him straight.” He knew he should leave her alone. He wasn't sure he’d be interested in getting involved with a girl in her situation, but he wasn’t ready to walk away. Not yet.
She glanced down at the card. “I went to high school with a Cameron Avis.”
“Did you date?” That would be far too amusing.
“Oh, God no.” She laughed. “He was a year older than me, popular, and would never give a girl like me a second glance. I was from the wrong side of the tracks.” She rolled her eyes.
“Hmm.” Jack began to get a clearer picture of who Lilli was.
“I was shy and kept to myself,” she said. “He was gorgeous, smart, and came from money. Definitely not my type."
“Really?” Jack grinned as he got up from the table. “It seems to me I’ll have to have a talk with my son about not recognizing a good thing when he sees it.”
“Oh.”
LINKS and More: About Ella…
Ella Jade has been writing for as long as she can remember. As a child, she often had a notebook and pen with her, and now as an adult, the laptop is never far. The plots and dialogue have always played out in her head, but she never knew what to do with them. That all changed when she discovered the eBook industry. She started penning novels at a rapid pace and now she can't be stopped.
Ella resides in New Jersey with her husband and two young boys. When she's not chasing after her kids, she's busy writing, attending PTO meetings, kickboxing, and scrapbooking. She hopes you'll get lost in her words.
I am pleased to present Nikki Noffsinger, a fellow author with XOXO Publishing. Nikki, lives in the Indiana town of Marion fourteen miles from the birth place of James Dean. A 37 year old mother of two who has loved reading and writing stories from a young age. In addition to the dark things that go "bump" in the night, hobbies include: cooking/baking, outdoor activities, thrill rides at amusement and theme parks, going to the movies often, and social networking. Nikki Noffsinger is also an avid supporter of many causes many of them being animal and human rights and education. She has a new book out: CURSED AWAKENINGThe Blurb:
Ivy Morgan has re-invented herself and is looking forward to the future for the first time, in a very long time. Since fleeing for her life from an overzealous religious cult, she is able to be a modern woman that is gaining her independence; so taking up with a sexy stranger named Nyx is the last thing she needs. Or, is it?
Nyx Wahpeton can’t stop thinking about the young woman he’s met. It couldn’t have come at the worse possible time with the clans meeting and his family wrapped up in a centuries old war that’s nothing short of what horror movies are made from. He’s been a protector of his people and those that reside at the Reservation. There’s betrayal and evil at his front door; but, in his heart he knows Ivy is the one for him. She’s surrounded by secrets that he’s vowed to unlock, as well as her heart. However, can he keep her safe from his own secrets?
Exerpt:
Lorna drove down the street to a salon. Ivy was going to get her hair cut. She was excited as they went in and started looking through the hair magazines for a new hairstyle. Ivy had long hair for her whole life and felt as if she should be nervous about cutting it, but it symbolized a life that she had no desire to live. A petite blonde woman came over to where they were sitting and ushered Ivy to her chair.
“You have really gorgeous hair, you know that! Are you sure you want it cut?” the beautician asked as she fingered through Ivy’s waist length hair.
Welcome to Romancing Words. It's always a pleasure to meet new YA authors. It's an exciting genre with some of the best and brightest authors out there.
Let’s begin by asking some ‘getting to know you questions’.
Are you married?
Yes, 27 years and loving it.
Do you have children?
2 sons and a daughter
Where were you born and raised?
In England in a place called Corby, which is more Scottish than Scotland. I was one of the few English people there. Although my best friend and I did prick fingers and exchange blood so I could say I had some scottish blood in me.
Where do you currently live?
Lol, in Scotland
When did you realize that you wanted to write fiction?
When I was about 7 and won a writing competition at school. The prize was chocolate.
Do you write full time or do you have a ‘day job’?
I'm lucky at the moment that I don't 'go out with the home' to work, although I have, and may well do so again. And I have a long suffering and dust bunny accepting husband.
How many titles have you had published? What genres?
This series of YA books are my first as J.Lilley. They are contemporary paranormal.
How long does it take to complete a manuscript, on average?
It really depends on the length of the book and if I have a deadline. Anything from 2 days to 2 months! And how much I procrastinate.
How many hours per day do you devote to writing? Do you have a strict schedule? Are you a disciplined writer with a set routine?
I try to write 4 hours a day, more if I can. But it depends if my hands are cooperating, and I hit the correct keys. I usually do my best writing early in the morning. I can easily be lured away from the lap top with promises of a walk in the forest (research) and chocolate (one of life's necessities). I have to write every day, even if only for an hour or I feel something is missing.
Do you have a space where you create your work?
At home I am lucky enough to have a study overlooking the garden, with a comfy settee and patio doors to use on the two days a year it's warm enough to have them open.
On holiday? On a balcony, sun bed, on the plane, anywhere comfortable.
Do you like music playing when you are writing or is it a distraction?
I have a really silly routine. I listen to the radio for a couple of hours most mornings and then switch it off. Otherwise I'd listen to the music and not concentrate. But if I sit with my husband during the evening, I can work away, oblivious to what is on the TV.
What music do you prefer to listen to?
I love stuff by the oldies…the Woodstock, Simon and Garfunkel, James Taylor, Carol King era. Then Coldplay, The Killers (Human), Plain White T's (I love Hey There Delilah) And chill out music. That's probably what I'd listen to whilst typing if I had music on.
People always want to know – where do your ideas come from? Inquiring minds and all that…
I was asked that just today. Well the idea for Shalea came because a friend was trying to find a book for her 14 year old's birthday and couldn't. I said I'd write one, asked her favorite animal and decided to set it where I knew. From that 12k came six longer books. Thanks Rach!
If you have been reviewed, do you have a favorite quote you’d like to share with us [happy-faced or cringe-worthy]?
I tell you what, when I get reviewed I'll come back and share. I do know Rach, who is my now nearly 15 year old beta reader, loves the books! And so does her mum!
Where would you like to see yourself both personally and professionally in 2012?
Making a name for myself as a good, strong read-worthy YA author.
Can you give us a hint as to what we can look forward to – new projects, new ventures, or new directions?
Well, another YA author Suzanne Fuller and I are writing a YA, a trilogy about supernatural beings, The Daihlredhe—specifically twins parted soon after birth.
And I have a story in mind set on an island in Loch Lomond. Ballingail Island. But it needs to wait its turn.
Do you have a favorite character in any of the books?
I really don't. They are all so special in different ways. Rach for finding out about herself, Leira for sticking up for herself. Sam and Andy for admitting what they want. I could go on and on.
So, how would you describe The Shalean Moon Series?
Shape shifting in the Trossachs, good and evil, which will prevail?
And I guess about growing up and learning how to make choices.
Thanks so much for sharing with us. I look forward to reading this series and discovering new, exciting adventures.
It gives me great pleasure to introduce G.W. (George) Meuse, author of the riveting crime/suspense novel, Heaven Forgive Him Too from XOXO Publishing.
I first met George, after a fashion, when I read his book and decided to review it—and for those of you curious, you can read the review HERE.
Now, let's meet the man with our usual 'getting to know you' questions.
Are you married? Do you have children?
I have been married to Lise for 37 years. We have three children, all grown up and working now. One is a psychologist, another is a teacher in Australia, and the third is a social worker.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born and lived in a small village of South Belleville here in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia until I was five.
Where do you currently live?
At the age of five, my family then moved to the nearby village of Eel Brook where I make my home to this day.
When did you realize that you wanted to write fiction? While in university, I was assigned to write a short story for an English course. My professor, James Quinlan, encouraged me when he said I had a novel in me. From that point on, I always wanted to be a writer, but a full time teaching job and raising a family never allowed me the time to do so.What changed to allow you to write? Now that I am retired, I have the time and began my first novel, Heaven Forgive Him Too, four years ago. How long does it take to complete a manuscript, on average? It took me approximately three years to write this novel.
How many hours per day do you devote to writing? Do you have a strict schedule? Are you a disciplined writer with a set routine? I would try to write for two to three hours per day, usually in the afternoon once my chores around the house were finished. Do you have a space where you create your work? I work at my computer desk in my den.
Do you like music playing when you are writing or is it a distraction? What music do you prefer to listen to? I usually turn on my itunes on the computer and listen to traditional rock and roll music. The memories the 60’s and 70’s songs evoke tend to inspire ideas for my writing.Ah, a man after my own heart when it comes to music choices! People always want to know – where do your ideas come from? Inquiring minds and all that… Two events converged to give me the impetus for this book: the rising violent crime rate in Halifax and the birth of my first grandchild. I came to realize that Canada’s judicial and parole systems may be inadequate to cope with what seems to be an increase in violent crimes and our all-too-frequent repeat offenders. Concern for my grandchild’s future only served to heighten this realization. Also, I am an avid reader as well as having been a grade 12 English teacher for 33 years. The works of people like Charles Dickens and William Golding, with their social commentaries, have always inspired me. I believe that a novel’s goal can be to make readers want to better their world, as did those of these two authors. Golding’s novel, The Lord Of The Flies, has become a must read for high school kids all over the world. I can only dream that one of my books could do the same...maybe the next one. Where would you like to see yourself both personally and professionally in 2012? Personally, I am very content being where I am today. Our grandson is the joy of my life, and our youngest daughter is getting married this summer. It just doesn’t get better than this. Can you give us a hint as to what we can look forward to – new projects, new ventures, or new directions? I have been hatching the idea for another novel, this one with a high school as its setting, something I am more familiar with. Like the other novel, it would also make a social statement. Now: About HEAVEN CAN FORGIVE HIM TOO One thing that struck me was the very powerful sense of place in this book. Why did you choose Halifax, NS? I have frequently been in our capitol city as my three kids attended university there. Also, violent crime, often by repeat offenders, is on a rapid increase there and appears almost daily on the front pages of our provincial newspaper, so I figured the city would be the perfect backdrop for my message. The depiction of the crimes and getting into a criminal’s head must be difficult (or not). Tell us about how you approached crafting those particular scenes. Simply reading news stories about murders in and around Halifax and in other parts of Canada gave me the basis for the crimes I depicted. From that point on, I guess my own bizarre imagination took over. Do you have a favorite character in the book? What is it about him/her that resonates so strongly? Definitely! The serial killer, Graham Sanders, is a tragic hero. I wanted readers to empathize with his cause, if not with his methods. The plot involves not just action sequences but also the state of the criminal justice system. How much research did you do? How did that influence the course of the story? As I said before, the all-too-frequent cases of repeat violent offenders, and their nearly-automatic allowances of bail and parole placing the public at unnecessary risk, gave me the basis for my story. Clippings from newspapers of such crimes are, unfortunately, not hard to find. There are intriguing subplots, one of which strongly flirts with the romance genre. Was this deliberate or just something that rose organically? It was most definitely done on purpose. I felt that the murder plot alone might not capture enough readers, therefore I added the romantic angle between Scott and his wife, Samantha, and the later tryst with Andrea.Thanks so much, George. It was a pleasure getting to know you. You'll want to put HEAVEN FORGIVE HIM TOO on your TBR list.The Blurb:Get into the mind of a serial killer on the run with each new victim for his own bizzare "mission". A captivating tale of multiple murders and love rediscovered. Two Halifax City homicide detectives, are both baffled and frustrated by the lackof method to this murder's machinations until we meet Scott Walden and Tony Barimo. More personal problems begin to crop up ....his wife of nearly twenty years is becoming increasingly indifferent to her husband's attention. Is Samantha having an affair or is their marriage disintegrating like so many other officers on his unit? Then she comes back into his life! An old flame, the sister in law of one of the murdered victims...Buy here: KINDLE US
It is my pleasure to introduce a fellow XOXO author: Debra Jayne East who wrote a love story with a difference ... Radiance: Love After DeathWhen Marena Jacobs drove home on a cold, rainy night to Eden, North Carolina, she never expected to meet the man of her dreams, after she died. Surviving a near fatal car accident, she slowly recovers from a traumatic brain injury and crushed leg. In the months ahead, she remains haunted by what happened in the seconds of time she passed from life to death. Was it real or imagined?
Before the accident, her life had almost come to a tragic end. Contemplating suicide, she found a crooked heart-shaped stone in the grass that saved her. She realized that it carried a message. "Even though your heart is broken, it's still a heart, you can still love."
A stranger was about to prove to her how true that was!
Comment for a chance to win a free e-book of Radiance:Love after Death.
Now, let's meet and get to know more about Debra: Are you married? Children? I am single right now and I have three grown children and three beautiful grandchildren. Last but not least, I have a new dog named Jack that I adore. Where were you born and raised? I was raised in Southern Virginia, close to the Blue Ridge Parkway. I am the oldest of six girls, which tells you I can fish and cut wood because my dad really wanted a boy. I remember getting toy cars for Christmas as well as Barbie dolls! As a teenager, it was difficult to find my niche in life. Even in my twenties, I still had not a clue. I grew up in the seventies with the Beatles, Cosmo and the hippy culture…what a combination! Writing was always there for me in some shape or form. Putting it down on paper gave me comfort. Where do you currently live? Well, I don’t live far from home. In fact, I’m still close to the Blue Ridge Mountains but I’m in another state, which is neighboring North Carolina. It’s beautiful and peaceful here. When did you realize that you wanted to write romance? I can honestly say the fever to write started when I was in second grade. My teacher took me to the library and I read a wonderful book by Frances Hodgkins Burnette called, The Little Princess. I fell in love with it right then! She later wrote The Secret Garden among many others. I started writing that same week. The rest of my life I kept journals, wrote poetry and songs. When I researched my family tree several years ago, I found out my distant cousin, Violet Florence Martin was an established writer and wrote several books with her cousin Edith Sommerville. Writing seems to run in my blood. Do you write full time or do you have a ‘day job’? I am lucky enough to write full time, although my days are filled with many things besides writing. I volunteer, garden and spend time with family. How many titles have you had published? What genres? My first book, Radiance:Love after Death was published by XOXO Publishing in June of last year. The link is: http://www.xoxopublishing.com/shop-online It’s paranormal romance. I also have a fiction story, a poetry book and sequel in the works. What would you say is the most unusual aspect of your story in Radiance:Love after Death? It was based on the true story of me finding a crooked heart-shaped stone a few years ago. I use this to tell the story of a divorced woman in her forties looking for a second chance in life after a near death experience. We all want to be able to love like we did when we fell in love the first time. Our hearts make us more than capable of that. How long does it take to complete a manuscript, on average? It took me a year to complete and revise my first work, which I wrote in longhand. I then taught myself how to use Microsoft Word, because I was not an excellent typist. So, that took me several weeks to do on my own. I’m still learning! How many hours per day do you devote to writing? Do you have a strict schedule?
I do not write every day, nor do I have a rigid schedule. Inspiration comes and goes, so I find myself writing in snippets and somehow piecing them all together. Are you a disciplined writer with a set routine?
Not really. I find research is my favorite part of writing a book. I may spend a week or two traveling or relaxing. You never know where your next idea might come from. Do you have a space where you create your work? I have a corner of my living room for now. In the future, I am designing my own workspace for writing. I work best without any outside distraction. Do you prefer to listen to music when you write? Yes, I do. I listen to ambient relaxation music for the most part. Sometimes, I will listen to seventies music. Do you have a favorite character in your work(s) and why?
Oh yes. That would be Mr. Kent, the man that women love to hate. He’s obnoxious, flirty, unattractive and devious. Every woman has met a Mr. Kent sometime in her life. I enjoyed creating his character because he made me cringe and laugh at the same time. People always want to know – where do your ideas come from? Inquiring minds and all that… My ideas have all been formed from a simple idea. I have a very active imagination! Simplicity is beauty. I try not to be confusing or get the reader lost in complex dialog. If you had to pick one song that describes the heart of your book, what would it be? Watch over You by Alter Bridge. Perfect! If you have been reviewed, do you have a favorite quote you’d like to share with us [happy-faced or cringe-worthy]? “A love story so astounding and beautiful, it takes your breath away. I found myself mystified by the story that was unfolding in front of me. I was on the edge of my seat until the very last page, and am hoping for another book to follow up with this one. I fell in love with the characters, I fell in love with David. Who is David? Read the book and find out! If things were as possible as they seem in Love After Death, we would all have hope to hold onto no matter what life brought our way.
Thank you Debra East for your talent, imagination, and passion that is clearly seen in the pages of this wonderful book”. Here is the entire link: http://norachipleybarteau.blogspot.com/2012/03/rha-presents-radiance-love-after-death.html?spref=fb
Where would you like to see yourself both personally and professionally in 2012? Personally, I would like to be able to travel more and maybe move to another town somewhere. I’m ready for new adventures. Every day of life is a gift and I want to enjoy it. Can you give us a hint as to what we can look forward to – new projects, new ventures, or new directions? You can bet it will be paranormal or science fiction projects. I have lots of ideas and I hope to develop them more than I have been. I am new at promotion and there is so much to learn. Please check out web page for news and contest. Last week I gave a beautiful designed t-shirt and there will be more in the future. http://debrajayneeast.blogspot.com My book is sold on Amazon, Book Strand, All Romance e-books and XOXO Publishing. Thanks for having me as your guest today. It's been my pleasure, Debra. Readers, if you are in the mood for something different I think Radiance: Love After Death will fit the bill nicely. Don't forget! Comment for a chance to win a free e-book of Radiance:Love after Death
Please welcome EDEN BAYLEE, author of FALL INTO WINTER, a collection of four erotic novellas. Let’s begin by asking some ‘getting to know you questions’. Are you married? Do you have children?Married, no children Where were you born and raised?Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Canada Where do you currently live? Toronto, Ontario, Canada When did you realize that you wanted to write fiction? I was in my teens, after I wrote a short erotic story in high school. I've always loved reading erotica, but got confirmation from my teacher that I could write it. Do you write full time or do you have a ‘day job’? I quit my 20 year banker's job in Jan 2010 to write full time. How many titles have you had published? What genres? I have one book published - Fall into Winter - a book of 4 erotic novellas, it's erotica. How long does it take to complete a manuscript, on average? It took me 4 months to write 4 novellas, it took as much time to edit it. How many hours per day do you devote to writing? Do you have a strict schedule? I write 7 days a week right now, usually from 8 am to 1 am. I fit in meals, breaks, and sleep when necessary. Do you have a space where you create your work? On the living room couch. Do you like music playing when you are writing or is it a distraction? What music do you prefer to listen to?I can't write with music, though when I take a break, I will have it playing on my laptop just to break up the silence. I listen to all kinds of music - rock, jazz, blues, good country, classical. Are you a disciplined writer with a set routine? Yes. My routine is do some social media stuff on a daily basis, but when I set time to write - that's all I do. I don't like organized routine, can't fit myself in a box, but I am extremely disciplined—I have to be because writing is my passion - I quit a well-paying and stable job for it. If I can't devote everything I have to it, then I don't deserve to succeed. The publishing world is undergoing enormous change - do you think the novel in book form will become obsolete? I'm no expert in the field, but I doubt it. Have you always had a fascination with writing erotica? Yes, I love writing hot, sensual, and enticing stories. I'm aroused by writing it as I am by reading great erotica. Do you have a particular sub-genre that you enjoy ‘the most’ and why? I like dark thrillers and some horror. Being scared can be a turn on. Do you have a favorite character in your work(s) and why? No, they are all special, even the minor ones, because they are created as 3 dimensional people, and even if they're assholes - they are merely a reflection of the real world. People always want to know – where do your ideas come from? Inquiring minds and all that…Living a conscious life and paying attention- anything can get my imagination going. Anytime I feel a spark of an idea for a story, I write it down, I have a book full of ideas. I also gauge how I feel in new situations - my own emotional turmoil is a good indicator of how things affect me. These events sometimes inspire me because they bring about feelings that could be either good or bad. I am very introspective. If you have been reviewed, do you have a favorite quote you’d like to share with us [happy-faced or cringe-worthy]? No, I don't have a favorite quote. Those who have shared their thoughts on my book have been very kind - it just makes me happy to know someone enjoyed it. One of the nicest compliments though was from another writer who said she read my book twice - that really touched me because I know how difficult it is to find time to both read and write. Where would you like to see yourself both personally and professionally in the last stages of 2011? Professionally - finished with book 2, and 1/2 way through my 3rd book, while continuing to push my current release until I see some good sales from it. Personally, I just want to be healthy and happy. Without these 2 elements, nothing else matters. Can you give us a hint as to what we can look forward to – new projects, new ventures, or new directions? I will complete one more erotica anthology as a follow-up to my first book, then move on to full length novels. Here's a look at Eden's book FALL INTO WINTER In Fall into Winter, a provocative collection of erotic novellas, four women seek pleasure in unique ways and are soon swept up in maelstroms of lust, seduction, and obsession. After Ella Jamieson trades self-control for a stolen moment of unbridled passion with a younger man, he surprisingly pursues her, leaving her wondering if he could become more to her than just a boy toy. After Stella Christy’s fantasy of a ménage à trois with two men comes true, the rules suddenly change; she finds herself excited and terrified in ways she never imagined possible. Leah Jones isolates herself in a cabin to complete her latest book, but is soon distracted from her goal when she reunites with a man from her past. Ten years after Elena Lee enjoys a torrid love affair while vacationing in Austria, she is back in historic Salzburg with doubts about why she left. Knee-deep in steamy affairs, these four women will make choices that eventually lead each of them on an unforgettable sensual journey to ecstasy. Contains graphic language and sexual content. Find out more about Eden Baylee and her current projects: WEBSITETWITTERFACEBOOK
Please welcome Jeff Lee, author of The Ladies Temperance Club’s Farewell Tour. Jeff says he likes humor and he likes to write about middle-aged women. That peeked my interest from the get go. So let’s find out more about Jeff… Are you married? Do you have any children? I’m a widower. My wife and I were married for 19 years; she passed away about a month before 9/11. Kids – yup. Two sons in their mid and early 20’s. Their nicknames are Hoss and Little Joe. Where were you born and raised? I was born in New York, in a small town about 60 miles up the Hudson River from Manhattan, made famous as the hometown of that dysfunctional family that builds custom Harleys and yell at each other a lot. We moved to the San Francisco Bay area when I was about 12, and I’ve been living in southern California since the early 70’s. Where do you currently live? Right now, I live about halfway between L.A, and Santa Barbara, in a town called Simi Valley. When did you realize that you wanted to write fiction? In school, I majored in Radio, TV and Film Production and was always writing small radio plays as student assignments. Started working on my first novel, a satire of Army basic training, in 1973. But I stopped, because after about 160 pages, I was only on the second day of training and figured I was probably still a little too close to the subject. Do you write full time or do you have a ‘day job’? Actually, both. I spent the last 30 some-odd years writing ads and commercials, so you could say I’ve been writing professionally and full-time that long. I still divide my day between my own writing and the odd freelance writing assignment that comes in. How many titles have you had published and in what genres? The Ladies Temperance Club’s Farewell Tour is the first novel I had published, but I have two others ready to go: a sequel built around three of Farewell Tour’s secondary characters (a comedy detective story about cool little dogs, hot diamonds, a wanna-be starlet with a heart of ice and the three heavily tattooed, Harley riding repo men/bounty hunters, who are hired to recover the lost little lap dog); and a Stephen King-like story of a likeable and frail teenage boy who is permanently paralyzed by his brother in an “accident” and eventually wreaks a gruesome revenge that threatens his entire town. How long does it take to complete a manuscript, on average? I’d say usually between 4 and 6 months for the first draft. How many hours per day do you devote to writing? Do you have a strictschedule? I try to spend a minimum of 2 hours at it. That’s if life is feeling cooperative. If not, whatever time I can wrangle. Do you have a space where you create your work? Hmm, not really. I’ve been known to write at my desk at home; or on top of my bed; or at the library; or at Mickey D’s; or Starbucks; or God knows where else. Good thing I have a laptop. Do you like music playing when you are writing or is it a distraction? What music do you prefer to listen to? I can’t listen to music and write; it’s just too much of a distraction. But when I do listen to music, I’ve got some pretty eclectic tastes. Everything from Bach and Beethoven to Boz Scaggs; Django Rhineheardt and Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks to Doo-wop, early Motown and Delta Blues. Toss in a little rockabilly and 70’s funk, and you’re pretty much there. Oh, and I’ve also been known to get a little jiggy with Sinatra and Gregorian chants. And Bonnie Raitt has got to be the best damn slide guitar player who ever lived. Are you a disciplined writer with a set routine? Not hardly. When I’m writing, I try to spend at least 2 hours a day at the keyboard. That’s about all the discipline I can muster. The publishing world is undergoing enormous change - do you think the novel in book form will become obsolete? Nope. There will always be readers who prefer the social experience of browsing through a bookstore, and the tactical feel and smell of handling the printed page. The same thing happened during the nineties, when all those tech mavens were predicting the end of the brick and mortar store because of the internet. As it turned out, online shopping is just another facet of the retail experience, and I think a similar model will shake out for publishing. But please don’t tell Jeff Bezos I said that. I’m trying to get him to buy a copy of my book. Do you find yourself needing to schedule your offline activities more carefully? C’mon, I’ve been a single parent since before the birth of Homeland Security. Trying to have any control over my offline activities would be like trying to drive a herd of felines up the Chisolm Trail. (“Whoopi-yi-tie-yo, get along little kitties…”) Have you always had a fascination with writing a particular genre? Except for ads and commercials, I’ve always written commercial fiction (OK, maybe a couple of ads weren’t exactly factual, but I was just following orders). And within that category, my favorite genres are humor/satire and suspense & horror. What can I say? I love to make people laugh; and, if I can scare the h-e-double hockey sticks out of someone at the same time, I’m a happy camper. Do you have a particular sub-genre that you enjoy ‘the most’ and why? I like writing about middle age women, but I don’t pay attention to conventional models and stereotypes. Of my three protagonists ‘of a certain age’ in The Ladies Temperance Club’s Farewell Tour, one is a heavy-drinking, former airline flight attendant and boyfriend slayer; one is bitterly divorced from her dental hygienist-drilling dentist of an ex-husband and one is freewheeling force of nature who doesn’t give a crap what anyone thinks of her. They bicker and argue among themselves, like friends do. But when push comes to shove, each has the other’s back and will go the distance for them. Do you have a favorite character in your work(s) and why? That would have to be Moe ‘Fish’ Fishbein, the Harley-riding wise-ass, who walked away from a partnership in a powerful L.A. law firm to live at the beach and become the repo man and bounty hunter to the stars. People who know me swear that he comes closest to me of all my characters. But I don’t ride big V-twin bikes, and Fish has many more – and much cooler tattoos. This one made me smile… People always want to know – where do your ideas come from? Inquiring minds and all that… How about The Ladies Temperance Club’s Farewell Tour? I have a bad order of Mushu Pork to thank for that one. I was having dinner with a friend who, at the time, was an executive with a large social club for owners of trailers and RV’s. Over some seriously overcooked Mushu, she started regaling me with tales of some of the wackier goings-on between members at some of their conventions. Splice that together with a couple I had met, where the husband was supporting his mate by selling bogus annuities to his close friends, and I had the idea for the book before the waiter brought us our stale fortune cookies. If you have been reviewed, do you have a favorite quote you’d like to share with us [happy-faced or cringe-worthy]? I actually have two. Dianne Socci-Tetro, of Books and Chat.net wrote, “The characters are so realistic, that I swear Jeff Lee was writing about my girlfriends and me...I think you will be spending a lot of your time apologizing to the people around you for all the laughing out loud you are going to be doing.” And Vicky Clasby, author of Barely a Trace said, “I love, love, LOVE it! This is crazy good, with a plausible plot, great characters, and authentic dialogue. Very entertaining read. How does a guy write so convincingly about middle aged women?” Where would you like to see yourself both personally and professionally in 2011? I’d love it if The Ladies Temperance Club’s Farewell Tour found its audience and was selling well enough so that I could devote myself to marketing my other books and writing new ones. And, picking up a new Porsche Carrera S4 at the factory wouldn’t be too shabby, either. I like a man with priorities… Can you give us a hint as to what we can look forward to – new projects, new ventures, or new directions? Like I mentioned earlier, I’ve got the sequel to Farewell Tour and the book about the paralyzed and revenge-bent teenager. I would also love to pick up and finish a thriller I started writing a couple of decades ago, about a serial killer driving all of Los Angeles crazy. Since I tend to write books that could easily be converted to screenplays, I’d love to do that with The Ladies Temperance Club’s Farewell Tour. My website link: http://jeffleewriter.weebly.com Kindle Link for Farewell Tour: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004TNI8BM Vonda Mae Ables could never hurt a soul. Now she’s on the lam in a huge RV, with her best friends, gallons of Chardonnay and a stiff in the freezer. Vonda has suffered her alcoholic boyfriend's abuse for twenty years. But when she finally stands up for herself, she overdoes it and crushes his skull with a football trophy. Rather than turn herself in, she enlists her friends to help ditch the body. They stash the boyfriend in the freezer of his humongous RV and take off for Arizona, planning a quiet desert burial. Unfortunately, the plan goes more sideways with every mile. Vonda finally finds a likely place to plant the dead SOB, but now he's frozen solid and stuck in the freezer. Exhausted from their day of digging and unsuccessfully trying to extricate him, the women stop at a local cafe. While they're drinking dinner, a gang of Harley-riding repo guys makes off with the RV and a Good Samaritan reports the theft. When the police arrive to investigate Vonda panics, knowing if the cops recover the RV and discover what's in the freezer, she might have to turn that old trophy on herself. Imagine THELMA AND LOUISE meets Lucy & Ethel -- It's about good friends, good wine, manslaughter and the lengths we’ll go for those we care about Now on KINDLE
Please welcome Science Fiction author Bob Gr Holton.
Bob writes in a genre that’s near and dear to my heart - Science Fiction.
Let’s begin by asking some ‘getting to know you questions’.
Are you married?
I am a very happily married man to my angel Charlotte,
she is everything next to my grandkids.
Children?
I have five all together. One Son, Two daughters, a Step
Daughter and a step son. All of whom I love deeply.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born in a little town called Norwood, MA, but lived
in eight states from Rhode Island to
Hawaii.
Where do you currently live?
I live out in the boonies. It’s a two light town with a
few antique stores and a grocery store in Etowah, TN. I live with my wife, Mom, step-daughter, and the family dog Pugston. He is a Pug/Boston Terrier mix.
When did you realize that you wanted to write fiction?
It was when I met a film director by the name of Derek
Milton. We met through his wife while playing Farmtown. Now Derek asked me if I would like to read a couple of his movie scripts, I was honored to do it. But when I started looking at the layout I thought to myself I can do this. So at that point I was hooked and began writing my first Novella.
Do you write full time or do you have a ‘day job’?
I am a 100% disabled veteran who suffers from severe
Bipolar Disorder. So I am a full-time writer. It actually gives my mind an
outlet for all the thoughts that I come up with which is fitting for Science
Fiction. So it is very therapeutic.
How many titles have you had published? What genres?
I have three published and one more under contract to
come out later this year.
Titles: Journey to the Edge (YA Science Fiction), Guardian’s Alliance (YA Science Fiction),
Soleri(A reworked version of Journey to the Edge with another publisher), and soon to be released Deep Screams (Science Fiction/Horror)
How long does it take to complete a manuscript, on average? Actually I have turned out the four books in less than two years. So I can put together a polished manuscript in about 3 -4 months. How many hours per day do you devote to writing? Do you have a strict schedule? I don’t have a concrete schedule… I hate deadlines… I try to work on my craft at least 4 – 6 hours a day. Do you have a space where you create your work?
I guess you could call it that… I have a desk that you can’t see (there will be no pictures…LOL) I am not the most organized person. But It is all in my head. Do you like music playing when you are writing or is it a distraction? What music do you prefer to listen to? Yes I like having music playing just about any time. But it has to be Good Old Rock and Roll. Are you a disciplined writer with a set routine?
No not really. I sit at the computer and let my fingers and mind fly. I usually have at least three or four stories gathering in my head while I have two on the computer. The publishing world is undergoing enormous change - do you think the novel in book form will become obsolete?
No people will always want the feel of a good book on a cold night. I think the two forms can co-exist. Do you find yourself needing to schedule your offline activities more carefully?
I try to make all the out of the house business completed in the morning then I come home for a nap. I get up and will sit at the computer working on my novels until about ten. Have you always had a fascination with writing science fiction?
I have loved science fiction since I was a kid. I would watch Saturday afternoon monster movies and star trek at night. I loved lost in space! Do you have a particular sub-genre that you enjoy ‘the most’ and why?
I guess I always like the “life on others planets” mainly set in the future. Do you have a favorite character in your work(s) and why?
I would have to say “Wesley” in my novella “Soleri”. He is a typical thirteen year old brother who loves working on robots use his telescope, and pick on his sister. He quite intelligent. He is fashioned mainly after my son Wesley. They are both high IQ smart and have a way of figuring things out pretty quick. People always want to know – where do your ideas come from? Inquiring minds and all that…
Well… with my disorder, I really have quite the active imagination. I also have very vivid dreams. Journey to the Edge was the result of a dream of being in a cave with my sisters on another planet. If you have been reviewed, do you have a favorite quote you’d like to share with us [happy-faced or cringe-worthy]? I was reviewed by Midwest Book Review “A fun science fiction adventure, "Guardian's Alliance" is a fine read, well worth considering for science fiction fans.”
Where would you like to see yourself both personally and professionally in 2011?
I will have Deep Screams on the shelves of book stores and hitting the kindle near you… I hope to have won the finals in the Screenplay Festival for my screenplay “Teleported” based on my book Soleri. Can you give us a hint as to what we can look forward to – new projects, new ventures, or new directions? I am will have two new screenplays at least and hopefully another novel but this time will be a horror genre. Links to your website and/or blog www.grholton.comgrholton@comcast.netTwitter: @grholton Facebook: Author Bob Gr HoltonFind Bob's Books at Amazon.com - click on the title: Soleri Guardian’s Alliance
It’s my pleasure to introduce you to an aspiring writer, Matthew Munson, someone who has a cause: educating the hearing world about deaf awareness and dyspraxia. Dyspraxia, in case you are unfamiliar with the term, is a specific disorder in the area of motor skill development. You can learn more about this from the Dyspraxia FoundationUSA and UK. Let’s begin by asking Matthew some ‘getting to know you questions’.Are you married? Do you have children?
No, very much single. I’ve got two godchildren, and they’re enough of a handful for me! I’ve never been overly paternal, if I’m honest, so quite happy being childless and offering child-minding services every now and then! Where were you born and raised?
In the words of one of Terry Pratchett’s characters, “In a small town you’ve probably never heard of.” I was born in Margate Hospital, in the south-eastern corner of England, and then promptly moved five miles away where I’ve stayed ever since. My dad was a journalist and my mum an administrator, so developed my love of words from my dad and my organizational ability (well, most of the time!) from my mum. Where do you currently live?
I still live in the same district that I grew up in; the sunny seaside town of Broadstairs in Kent. It’s very much a tourist town that comes alive in the summer … and goes very, very quiet in the winter! I’ve lived in my current flat for three and a half years now, and I’m thinking of moving somewhere slightly bigger – so I can transfer my “office” to an actual room! I couldn’t move far, though – I’d miss the sea too much. When did you realize that you wanted to write fiction?
When I was ten. I was always a daydreamer with a very vivid imagination. I think it was something to do with being an only child; you had to amuse yourself a lot of the time. I was also creating scenarios at school with my friends, and I remember tuning out during double geography and writing a story. Ever since then, I’ve discovered this absolute love for writing. Do you write full time or do you have a ‘day job’?
I wish I could write full-time, but I just can’t afford it yet. I’ve got a couple of different strands to my day job; I’m a civil servant working for a local authority in the customer services division, which keeps my brain amused. Also, I’m currently learning British Sign Language one evening a week with a long-term view to retrain as a Deaf communications worker or translator. That’s five or six years – and a couple of thousand pounds – away, though! That's a wonderful goal and something you can be very proud of.
How many titles have you had published? What genres?
It’s still early days, so my successes have been small – but each one has been thrilling! I’ve had a piece of flash fiction published in a Phil Hill anthology, “Daily Bites of Flesh 2011” and I’m being included in “Chivalry is Dead” by May December Publications, out in the next couple of months. I have been fortunate to be in the company of some very talented authors in several Word Count Podcasts, run by the exceptional RB Wood. I’ve loved the challenge of writing for a podcast, and the competition is always fierce, so it’s made me up my game! I’ve also been included in a couple of fiction magazines and some non-fiction titles as well [ The Horror Zine ]. I also write a regular column for the Hearing Times national newspaper. How long does it take to complete a manuscript, on average?
Depends on the length of the manuscript! I’ve completed one full manuscript, which took me six months to draft and another two to get to a point where I was happy to send it out to agents. I’m considering another rewrite though, because it’s been about six months and I’ve thought of several ways that I can improve on it and perhaps make it more appealing. A short story can take me anywhere from a week to three weeks to write, depending on the length of the story and the subject. I’m always trying to push my comfort zone, so some short stories are more difficult to plot than others. How many hours per day do you devote to writing? Do you have a strict schedule?
It depends on the day. Tuesdays are always a nightmare, because I work all day and then go straight to my BSL class, so don’t get home much before 10pm. I usually open my latest story then, but never get much done, if I’m honest. I always aim for 1,000 words a day, but don’t always succeed during the week; 500 can often be my limit. Weekends, I try and hit 2,500 per day, even if it means getting up early. For some reason, I find getting up early at weekends a lot easier than during the week – perhaps it’s knowing that I’m focusing on my first love, which is writing! Do you have a space where you create your work?
Yes, but it’s a small space! I’ve got a desk in the corner of my front room and is my general work space for any activity where I need to focus; writing, doing my tax return or research. I’m equally as comfortable sat on the sofa with the laptop on my legs. Do you like music playing when you are writing or is it a distraction? What music do you prefer to listen to?
I absolutely LOVE music – it really helps influence my mood. The type of music I listen to really depends on what I’m writing, as I’m really swayed by music. I’ve got quite a big iPod collection, and spent ages one wet Sunday creating loads and loads of playlists, so I’m ready to go! Are you a disciplined writer with a set routine?
I want to say “Yes, all the time” … but then I’d be lying. I can’t function in the mornings, I must be honest. I just don’t do mornings at all – no way, never do, uh-uh, can’t do them. Hate mornings. Evenings are better. Evenings are the time when I wake up and actually feel like doing some work! After a day “at the office”, it takes me a while to get moving, but I usually force myself to do an hour’s writing before dinner or before I go to bed, and then I usually free-wheel at the weekends – it’s whenever I find time! The publishing world is undergoing enormous change - do you think the novel in book form will become obsolete?
I hope not, I really do. I’d be surprised, although I see its function in society changing. Ebooks are lightweight and durable, so there’s certainly a place for them; we certainly should dismiss them out of hand. However, we shouldn’t also dismiss the book – the batteries don’t need changing and you don’t run the risk of electrocuting yourself in the bath. I think more people will move to ebooks as more authors do –and, as the opportunities increase, then authors will flock to them, I suspect. I don’t own one, I’ll be honest, and I don’t intend to until my favorite authors move solely to them; so I’ve got a while yet, I hope! Do you find yourself needing to schedule your offline activities more carefully?
Oh yes, very much so. I have to be strict with my time, else I’d never get things done! Often, if I’m not up against a deadline, I’ll have Skype, Twitter and Facebook open all at once, just running in the background, and flip back and forth. I actually find myself feeling more inspired that way– I don’t know why! If I’m on deadline, though, as I often am with the podcasts because of the turnaround time and my monthly column, the internet goes OFF until I am done!! Have you always had a fascination with writing fantasy?
Oh yes, very much so – it’s a brilliant genre and really frees your imagination to create … well, anything. You can subvert anything with that genre, and make a lot of social commentary at the same time. Do you have a particular sub-genre that you enjoy ‘the most’and why?
Hmm, not really. I love reading Tolkien and Robert Jordan, but I could never write that type of mega-fantasy – it’s such a breathtaking concept. Terry Pratchett is awesome too, but I would never DARE compare myself to him – he’s just stratospheric. I love his style of writing, his quick wit and his intelligence. Oh, and his bravery in the face of his early onset Alzeimer’s. Do you have a favorite character in your work(s) and why?
Hmm, I don’t know about “favourite”, but the trio of main characters in my full-length manuscript “Fall From Grace” are three that really express different aspects of my own personality at different points in my life. Micky (the lead character) is a very confused character, torn with different directions in his life, and I was very much like that in my early twenties, trying to decide which direction to take my career. Joseph is very scientific and an atheist, both of which I strongly identify with, and Lauren is a very passionate woman, who doesn’t take prisoners … and I am very much like that too! It wasn’t until I was about two-thirds of my way through the first draft that I was writing them to be almost extensions of myself in different ways, and was quite freaky – but it also helped inform my writing style and made me focus on the characterization even more. People always want to know – where do your ideas come from? Inquiring minds and all that…
I wish I knew! It could be anything – a snippet of a song, something I see in a shop window, anything. I’m always on the look-out for something that inspires me. For instance, I had a tour round the Houses of Parliament the other week, and I’m now itching to write a short story about a tour guide. I just need to think of the rest of the story first … If you have been reviewed, do you have a favorite quote you’d like to share with us [happy-faced or cringe-worthy]?
Yes, there’s one quote I’m particular proud of from a review of one of my short stories. The review in entirety can be found here - http://ebookit.wordpress.com/- and the quote I’m proud of says; “Where many authors will make the mistake of too much description in the first few pages of their mysteries, Matthew comes right out with it and in less than a page you are already saying “What the…what happened?!” Where would you like to see yourself both personally and professionally in 2011?
I’ll be in a new job one way or the other in 2011 – my employers are going through a reorganization at the moment – so I’ll be having new challenges with that, and I’m hoping to get more training with my BSL as well. Writing-wise, of course I would love to be more widely-published – surely that does without saying! I’m working to add a fewmore freebies to my website: www.writeordie.co.uk –and am currently submitting work to several short story anthologies, to see what comes out of that. I think 2011 for me is about consolidating my experience and pushing the boundaries of my confidence even more. It’s going to be a good year, I can feel it! Oh, and I’m writing about my experiences more on my blog –I always welcome visitors! http://vikingbay.blogspot.com/Thanks, Matthew, for allowing us to take a peek into your life. We'll look forward to more of your short stories, and particularly some new work on The Word Count PODcast!
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