Q&A with author Patti Roberts

30.7.11

Have you ever read a book that made you think 'wow'? If so, what book was it and why did it have such an effect on you?
That is a hard question to answer; but only because I have read a lot of books over the years that had that effect. The first one I recall was Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer. Now, many years later I am reading the Game Of Thrones by George R. R. Martin and I am loving that. I am a sucker now a day for a good fantasy/medieval saga.

Who is your favourite author and why?
Currently, George R. R. Martin because there is so much going on. Such a huge host of characters. It makes your head boggle but I like a book that demands you pay attention.

What is your all-time favourite book cover? Too many to try to choose one. Way to many, people are so creative now with book covers. Some you want to blow up, frame and hang on the wall they are so lovely. Some you want to own just for the cover!

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why?
Anne Rice always comes to mind. And yet I have never read any of her books. I have seen a couple of her movies though. I loved Interview With a Vampire. And I guess I would have to say George R. R. Martin because I love the richness of his writing.

Who, or what, inspires you?
I would have to say the people that take the time on a complete unknown like myself and read my book. Time is valuable and they have invested that precious time in reading my book and that will always inspire me.

Where is your favourite place to write?
I have a writing desk in my room where I do most of my writing. But sometimes when it’s a nice day I grab my little HP laptop and head for the patio.

What is your book about?
It is about two souls being drawn together over the centuries to the present day. It is about love, loss, betrayal, Hope. It is about innocence lost. It is about the past the present and realising that nothing is as it seems.

What is your favourite film that was based on a book?
I really loved Contact with Jodi foster, but I just can’t get into the book. The same goes for PS I Love You. Love movie can’t get into the book. Boris Pasternak wrote Doctor Zhivago. I have never read the book, however, to this day the movie remains on of my all time favourites.

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the main characters?


I won’t say for Grace, Angela and Abaddon because I think it is important for the readers to have their on thoughts for that. But for Kate, Brian, Wade, Theria, Pandora and Siena I have these in my mind.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I believe in reincarnation.

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live.
I live in Cairns. Where one of the oldest rainforests in the world, The Daintree, meets the shores of the Great Barrier Reef.

Winter or summer? Summer – I love the rain and I hate being cold!
Ebook or paperback? Used to be paperback, never hardcover, but now ebook all the way!
Favourite food? Pasta and seafood.
Sporty or couch potato? Couch. But I used to LOVE playing squash.
Cook or be cooked for? Together. Sharing the cooking is as enjoyable as sharing a meal together.

Link to your website, blog or both: Really, I have lots of links, take your pick:
eBook from Smashwords - all formats
US - eBook from Amazon
UK - eBook from Amazon
Barnes & Noble - Nook
Createspace Here (paperback)
Thesaurus Bookstore Melbourne - paperback & eBook.
YouTube Paradox Book Trailer
Paradox Blog
Twitter
Facebook

BOOK TRAILER: December Moon

30.7.11

I'm very excited to launch the book trailer for my upcoming book, December Moon (out in September!!!) I adore the music... (Arcadia by Kevin Macleod). Check it out... do you like it?


Interview with the authors of Meant To Be

29.7.11

Today, I'm interviewing the authors of the fabulous chick lit book, Meant To Be, Sue Warhaftig and Beverly Butler. Welcome ladies!
Sue (left) and Beverley

Have you ever read a book that made you think 'wow'? If so, what book was it and why did it have such an effect on you?
SUE: The first time I read She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb it made me not only go 'wow', but I skipped a couple of meals to complete it. I was riveted from the first page. I loved the narration voice that Wally Lamb gave to his female character. He's is great contemporary fiction writer.
BEVERLY: The Twilight series had that effect on me because my daughter (and ALL her friends) was reading it and I couldn’t understand the phenomenon. I read the first book and then was ravenous to read the rest. The series did such a great job of tapping into the psyche of young women: exploring love, passion and good vs. evil.

Who is your favourite author and why?
Sue: "Geek Love" by Katherine Dunn. I love a twisted dysfunctional family story. Heck, throw in a carnival setting and I"m sold.
BEVERLY: Anna Quindlen is my favorite author. I love how she writes poetically in the fiction genre (Blessings, Black and Blue) and then can pen an editorial or a non-fiction best seller. She is amazing.

What is your all-time favourite book cover?
SUE: One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish - Dr. Seuss.
BEVERLY: The Shipping News by Annie Proulx. I found it very compelling adding a layer of mystery to the book.

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why?
SUE: D.H Lawrence: What a great chick lit writer.
Jennifer Weiner: Smart woman, who keeps reinventing herself. Writing, movies, t.v. she does it all.
Candace Bushnell: Great conversationalist and a hot dresser!
Chelsea Handler: Hysterical, and a brilliant marketing genius. I have a couple of questions for her.
Beverly Butler: A super, fantastic up and coming writer I would add to the mix!
BEVERLY: Steve Martin because he is so dang funny- fabulous comedian and terrific writer. Anne Lamott because she is so direct, and spiritual and funny. Shakespeare because who WOULDN’T want to talk to Shakespeare?!?! And John Irving and Ken Kesey because both are/were so brilliant and handsome.

Who, or what, inspires you?
SUE: My friends and family, every day.
BEVERLY: People doing selfless things. And nature: from the veins in a leaf to the sunset over the mountain in my backyard.

Where is your favourite place to write?
SUE: At my kitchen table, with that first cup of coffee, and my dachshunds in my lap from 7am on...
BEVERLY: Computer in office on a rainy day with homemade soup on the stove.

What is your favourite film that was based on a book?
SUE: Bridget Jone's Diary
BEVERLY: Thomas Hardy’s Far from the Madding Crowd (1967 movie with Julie Christy, Alan Bates, and Peter Finch)

Tell us a little about Meant To Be?
SUE: It's our first collaboration, a great chick lit book that will keep you engaged from the first page to the last. It's a coming of "middle age" story with a cast of characters that have very interesting and unusual lives. How many books do you know have a watermelon queen and a vibrator company president in them? Meant To Be will make you laugh, perhaps cry and definitely entertain you. It's a cheap, fun vacation!
BEVERLY: Meant To Be is about a family in turmoil due to conversations NOT had. It’s also about resilience and the moment when you know you MUST change something in your life.

What inspired you to write it?
SUE: I have several books rattling around in my brain that I need to share. What good is it if I'm the only one that knows them?! Check out Suzy's guest blog post for more inspiration infomation.
BEVERLY: Sue inspired me to think I could write a novel; together we put together some interesting characters, mined from our collective experiences.

I really felt like I connected with the main character, Judith. Is she based on you, or anyone you know?
SUE: She isn't based on me though I'm always struggling with my weight! Beverly and I are very different people therefore when we write, we are able to collaborate and create a complete person like Judith. She is a culmination of many people. We all have a little bit of Judith in us, don't we?
BEVERLY: Judith is a lot like me and I wrote many of my own “issues” into her character.

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the main characters?
SUE: hmmm. I'd leave that to the experts. Bev?


BEVERLY: I think Demi Moore would be a great Judith. Kim Cantrell is definitely Debbie. Robert Downey Jr. is Rod. Kathy Bates is Dolores. Tammi? We would have to have a casting call to find the perfect beautiful, young, blonde vixen!

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
SUE: I was an unregistered, stow away at a University dorm, for a year.
BEVERLY: I was performing en pointe when I was a five year old ballerina. My feet have never been the same!

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live.
SUE: Home to the Guide Dogs for the Blind.
BEVERLY: Marin County, California is where mountain bikes were born.

Winter or summer?
SUE: Summer...though it has been pretty cold here!
BEVERLY: Winter. Cashmere sweaters and mugs of hot tea. Love it!
Ebook or paperback?
SUE: Paperback. Though I'm hoping to bond with a Kindle in the future.
BEVERLY: ebooks. Just read a novel on a plane ride/business trip. Lightweight and easy.
Favourite food?
SUE: Saucy ribs.
BEVERLY: Sushi
Sporty or couch potato?
SUE: Sporty...no doubt!
BEVERLY: Is there something in between?!?!
Cook or be cooked for?
SUE: Thank God my husband likes to cook! Or, I'd live on Yogurt and salads.
BEVERLY: I love to cook but my husband loves to grill; so it’s a toss-up. Whoever gets home first starts dinner.
Thanks for coming ladies, this was a really fun interview!

For more information about Meant To Be, visit www.meant-to-be.net


Author interview with 12 year old Spencer Brokaw

28.7.11

Today I have an extra special guest interview. Spencer Brokaw is the author of The Impenetrable Spy and he is just 12. Yes, you read that right, 12. Isn't that fantastic?!

Have you ever read a book that made you think 'wow'? If so, what book was it and why did it have such an effect on you?
One of my favorite books is The Series of Unfortunate Events #2. It had such an effect on me because it was the first book I read in the series, and I fell in love. It had such an effect on me that I read all of the books in a week and a half at age 10. I read a book each day and was totally addicted. I don’t think I have ever read so much in a period of time. I loved the dark humor and descriptions. I also enjoyed The Beatrice Letters by the same author.

Who is your favourite author and why?
My favorite author is J.K. Rowling. Her story as a writer is so inspiring and I love the Harry Potter series.

What is your all-time favourite book cover?
This has to be the hardest question for me. There are lots of great book covers but I like Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire the best. It was also the first Harry Potter book I read. The reason I started with it was because of the intriguing book cover.

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why?
I would choose Christopher Paolini because he was self-published at such a young age, Rick Riordan for his amazing Percy Jackson series, J.K. Rowling for her inspiring story and Harry Potter books, Suzanne Collins for The Hunger Games, Daniel Handler for A Series of Unfortunate Events, Tom Clancy for his amazing action books, and Jeff Kinney for Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Who, or what, inspires you?
My dad and family members inspire me.

Where is your favourite place to write?
My favorite place to write is at a desk in my room. It has a built in book shelf, and enough space for me to lay down all of my writing notebooks.

What is your book about?
The Impenetrable Spy follows Zack Carter, a 28 year old CIA agent hunting down a terrorist organization dubbed “The Bad Hounds.” He creates a time machine that can send him back in time when his heart rate stops, making him nearly impenetrable. Wang Bo, the ruler of China runs a terrorist organization that finds a statue with the abilities to make your worst fears come alive. Zack must stop Wang at all costs to ensure the United States remains a war free territory. He travels through an asylum, a war torn D.C., a mansion, and New York City.

Why did you decide to write a book at such a young age?
I decided to write The Impenetrable Spy at such a young age because I thought that writing was fun. I liked being able to sit down and create my own world. I would sit for hours, entertained by what I had written. I then began to take my writing more seriously about half-way through the book.

Is it your intention to become a full time author after you've completed school?
It depends on how well my books do. I can’t become a full time author unless people like what I’m writing. If I am making people entertained and my books have good to okay reviews, then I’ll think about it.

What is your favourite film that was based on a book?
This is another hard question, because almost all movies are based on books. I would have to say The Bourne Identity is my favorite movie based on a book.

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the main characters?

I would want Zack Carter to be played by Matt Damon, Davidson to be played by Mark Wahlberg, Jack to be played by Christian Bale, and Sam to be played by Samuel L. Jackson.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I’m only 12 but I love 80’s rock music.

For more information about Spencer, please visit http://spencerbrokaw.wordpress.com/
To but his books on Kindle:

Matt Damon image courtesy of Nicholas Genin
Mark Wahlberg image courtesy of © Glenn Francis, www.PacificProDigital.com
Christian Bale image courtesy of Asim Bharwani
Samuel L Jackson image courtesy of Pinguino K


Q&A with author and editor Ashley Kay

27.7.11

Today I'm extending a warm welcome to Editor and Author Ashley Kay who is here to answer my questions...

Have you ever read a book that made you think 'wow'? If so, what book was it and why did it have such an effect on you?I would have to say "Becoming the Sheriff's Wife" by Trish Mauldin or "In The Land of Winter" by Margaret Bechtel. The reasoning is because in both stories the main characters had had such a traumatic experience in their life and they had to learn to over come it, to work through it. The traumatic experiences they had faced just made you go "wow" and then when they finally learned to work through it, to get through it, it was great. I think I found these two stories to be so touching because they have real life aspects in them. Things that truly do happen, experiences that people have had. The two stories, though had romance in them, were very dramatic in ways and really have an impact on the reader. They also show that you can over come obstacles and get through bad situations.

Who is your favorite author and why?
I have been asked this one before, and I truthfully cannot just choose one author to be my favorite. I have read so many great books by different writers.

What is your all-time favorite book cover?
Hmmm...can I choose my own? Hehe. Okay..I have many. I am a big cover person. A few would be: Unearthly, Tiger's Curse, Tempest Rising, and there are just so many more.

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why?
I think I would actually choose to go with Poe, Hemingway and Shakespeare. I think that would be a very interesting dinner and I would probably crack up laughing, a lot, making them think I was crazy.

Who, or what, inspires you?
Many different things inspire me. I was recently inspired by rain. That's right. It was raining, lightly, and I was at my laptop next to the window. All of a sudden I started writing something, that I had no clue what it was. It's actually pretty good, if I do say so myself. I have also been inspired by sunsets, the beach, the woods, many different things.

Where is your favorite place to write?
My favorite places of all, are Dunkin' Donuts and a park. I am very comfortable at my DD, and then writing in the park can just be so peaceful.

What is your book about?
Which one? I have many I am currently working on, then I have one that is out. It has actually turned into more of a prologue, the beginning, of a bigger story that I didn't know was there really. The title is (just for the prologue) "Nightmares" by A.L Kay, published by Vamptasy Publishing. It's about a girl named Kristi who starts having Nightmares of something attacking her. Will it come true? Will she survive? You have to read to find out. :)

What is your favorite film that was based on a book?
Currently...I would have to say I Am Number Four. I really enjoyed it.

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the main characters?
I would have to pick people, actors, that are unknown. New talent for sure and I would have to be the one to make the final decisions on who plays my characters.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I am a natural blonde, I am six feet tall and I have 3 cats. I want to have many animals on acres of land one day. I love old historic houses (including haunted ones).

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live.
Interesting about where I live? I live in Jacksonville, FL and there are not many interesting things. We have not had a hurricane hit us for a very long time. They seem to go around us. 

Winter or summer? Winter for sure.
Ebook or paperback? Paperback, but prefer hardback.
Favourite food? Italian and Mexican. Dessert? Fried Ice cream or Chocotacos.
Sporty or couch potato? I am more in the middle.
Cook or be cooked for? Definitely to be cooked for. I cannot cook.
Link to your website, blog or both: The following are my Facebook and Author page on Vamptasy Publishing.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=100001611838980
http://www.vamptasypublishing.co.uk/#/ashley/4553073710

Thanks for taking part in the interview, Ashley!  I'm still in shock that you're a natural blonde!!

The grand reveal: December Moon book cover

25.7.11

I'm very excited to reveal the cover for my upcoming release, December Moon, Part II of The Raven Saga (out September 2011). I just love it!! Do you?

Heck Yeah! E-Covers That Sell by Rebecca Forster

24.7.11

A very warm welcome to my guest today. Author of the best selling Witness series, Rebecca Forster, who writes about the importance of good ebook covers.

This probably won’t come as a surprise, but ‘pretty’ sells. So does intriguing, shocking, soothing and sexy. That’s why I spent the last three weeks sweating over cover designs for my backlist - all of which I hope you'll be downloading to your E-reader of choice someday. But today the topic is E-covers.*
Why, you may wonder, did this exercise in cover design create such angst? After all, nobody will run their thumb over the richly embossed type, check the weight of the stock or touch it in a bookstore. This isn’t a ‘real’ cover on a ‘real’ book and that is exactly the point. These covers are more important than a paper cover because they will live on in perpetuity.
In this new publishing reality, authors who have backlists and don’t own the rights to their covers must now become designers; indie authors who have never had the benefit of seeing their work transformed into a visual face a daunting task of identifying the soul of their books. Unlike paper, an E-cover's impact will be farther reaching than any of us can even imagine.
In the old days an author might reproduce their cover image on bookmarks and mugs. In this brave new world, E-covers pop up as thumbnails on Facebook, Linked-In and other social media posts. They are broadcast to readers of blogs and reviewers who promote your work. An E-cover makes a statement on your own website. An E-book cover is brought up full-size and full color on most readers. An E-cover sets the tone for your book in a way that a paper cover never could because you – the author – have designed it and that is the truly exquisite bottom line.**
The first and second drafts of Rebecca's books, Malice and Privileged Secrets

I must confess, initially I was like a young soldier rushing into war without realizing how important the battle was. I lucked out with my thriller covers but my women’s fiction looked amateurish, weak and unmemorable. I studied E-covers of books I admired and those on the top seller lists and understood that a first draft cover was no better than a first draft manuscript – both needed revision. I kicked everything up a notch: visuals, color, and content.
The new covers now reflect the theme of each book or are evocative of the mood of that work. With the romances and women’s fiction in particular I tried to limit the use of full-on portrait photography in order not to inhibit the romantic reader’s imagination. For me, blocking and color worked for the romances. For other authors, flowers and pastels might be the key to success. For my thrillers, I decided to go darker with ominous and/or graphic images. Though there are no hard and fast rules, here are some guidelines that worked for me:

• Clean is better than fussy
• People (especially parts of people) are intriguing***
• Experimenting is good. Odd colors and disparate type faces can work together and create drama
• The covers should reflect the tone of the book
• Slugs should be tight and to the point
• Spend a little money on stock photos (I use ‘small’).
• Plug in image search words that aren’t obvious.
• Use PowerPoint portrait setting for your design. The pixel height and width will be perfect for uploading to Amazon, PubIt! and Smashwords.

So, Heck Yeah! Get on top of the covers. Your E-career will thank you for it.

*Check out all my covers at http://www.rebeccaforster.com
**Even if you had a designer, they worked at your direction. Own that cover!
***See The Reckless Ones – my favorite partial body shot

Thanks for this priceless advice, Rebecca!

Q&A with author Mysti Parker

23.7.11

A very warm welcome to Mysti Parker, author of A Ranger's Tale.
Thank you for having me here, Suzy!

Have you ever read a book that made you think 'wow'? If so, what book was it and why did it have such an effect on you?

There are so, so many…but I’ll have to say Jane Eyre. It’s been one of the few books that I can honestly say spurred my love of romance and romantic suspense. I was enamored with the timeless love between two soul mates set amongst the dark, twisted plot.

Who is your favourite author and why?

I give kudos to Victoria Holt—epic romantic suspense that swept me away to Europe, India, and beyond! But I also love Stephen King, Lillian Jackson Braun, and many of the independent authors I’ve met over the last several months!

What is your all-time favourite book cover?
I could no sooner choose a star from the heavens! Plus, my memory is about an inch long. *ahem* Anyway, in recent times, I love the covers on Jenna Petersen’s novels. Others I’ve took notice of are Jasmine Giacomo’s duology, The Wicked Heroine and Oathen—very appropriate to the story itself. Jody Wallace’s Survival of the Fairest is quite eye-catching too!

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose?
Charlotte Bronte, Lillian Jackson Braun, Victoria Holt (aka Eleanor Hibbert). Let’s not forget Edgar Allen Poe, William Shakespeare, Mark Twain, and all of my writer friends. We’ll need a banquet hall!

Who, or what, inspires you?
My kids, with their vivid imagination. My husband, who still loves me after all these years and gives so much to our family. All the authors I’ve met who put their hearts and souls into the words they write. Every time I read someone else’s work, I’m inspired. Every time I see a glorious sunset, hear my baby niece laugh, eat mouthwatering chocolate, or smell the honeysuckle when I go for a walk. Life itself inspires me, and I’m glad I can transfer some of that to the page.

Where is your favourite place to write?
When I can ever get uninterrupted time, it’s my office downstairs. I shut the door, turn on some music, and just peck away. Otherwise, I’m upstairs in the dining room or on the laptop wherever I can take it.

What is your book about? 
A Ranger’s Tale is the first in a series of stand-alone novels from my fantasy world of Tallenmere. Here’s the scoop:
In the fantasy world of Tallenmere, the high elf Caliphany Aranea has lived a life of luxury in the capital city of Leogard as niece of King Leopold and daughter of a powerful wizard. When her older brother died while fulfilling his dream of becoming a paladin, her father put her on a tight leash. Now at almost a century old, she's destined to follow in her father's footsteps to lead the Mage Academy and marry a scribe she doesn't even like. She longs to leave her gilded cage and takes a fateful stroll on the docks.
Galadin Trudeaux has lived with the stigma of being a half-breed. Born to a human father and elven mother, he witnessed his parents' death at the hands of pirates when he was a boy. Raised by the same murderous seafarers and forced to do their bidding, he finally escaped. Now he's turned his life around, reclaiming the sea merchant business his father left behind. As both ranger and sailor, he knows a thing or two about fighting. It comes in handy when he witnesses two brutes trying to kidnap the beautiful Caliphany.
Since she failed at using magic to defend herself, Caliphany decides she better learn some new skills so she can finally set out on her own. She seeks out Galadin again. Against his better judgment, but persuaded by her hefty sack of coin, he agrees to train her.
From that moment on, Caliphany and Galadin embark on a journey of self discovery. Besides some very real threats in the form of goblins and trolls, she struggles to merge her identity as both wizard and ranger. He struggles to overcome his guilt. Their attraction soon blossoms into love, allowing Galadin to let go of his past, and Caliphany to finally believe in herself.
Her newly-found confidence is shaken, however, when tragedy strikes. Caliphany must learn to depend on those around her, including an old love, to help her survive. Trust is tested on every level when her world is turned upside-down again and again. Dark secrets emerge, but are they a match against the power of forgiveness and a love that stands the test of time?

What is your favourite film that was based on a book?
That would have to be The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Who could watch Orlando Bloom as Legolas and NOT be inspired to write about elves? 
Suzy: I'm totally with you on that one, Mysti!! 

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the main characters? 


I’ve had this one once before. I chose Bradley Cooper for Galadin and Scarlett Johanssen as Caliphany.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
One of my biggest pet peeves is people not putting their shopping carts in the corrals. Oh, and loud chewing. Especially if said chewer is close to my ear.

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live.
Ah, Kentucky, where the summers are hot and the iced tea is so sweet, you can stand a spoon in it. Truly, though, every time I’ve left the state and came back to Kentucky’s rolling hills, horse pastures, sleepy farms, and hospitable people, I know it’s the one place I’ll always call home.

Winter or summer? Winter
Ebook or paperback? Love the feel of paperback, but I love my Kindle too…
Favourite food? Good quality chocolate
Sporty or couch potato? Let’s say computer chair potato
Cook or be cooked for? Depends on my mood, but I tend to bake when I’m feeling down.
Link to your blog: I love visitors to my blog, Unwritten! http://mystiparker.blogspot.com/
You can also follow me on Twitter (@MystiParker) or Facebook!
Fabulous interview, Mysti! Thanks for taking part.

The things kids say...

21.7.11

I read this email today and it's had me giggling into my breakfast cereal so I just had to share it...

JACK (age 3) was watching his Mom breast-feeding his new baby sister... After a while he asked: 'Mom why have you got two? Is one for hot and one for cold milk?'

MELANIE (age 5) asked her Granny how old she was... Granny replied she was so old she didn't remember any more. Melanie said, 'If you don't remember you must look in the back of your panties. Mine say five to six.'

STEVEN (age 3) hugged and kissed his Mom good night 'I love you so much that when you die I'm going to bury you outside my bedroom window.'

BRITTANY (age 4) had an ear ache and wanted a pain killer. She tried in vain to take the lid off the bottle. Seeing her frustration, her Mom explained it was a child-proof cap and she'd have to open it for her. Eyes wide with wonder, the little girl asked: 'How does it know it's me?'

SUSAN (age 4) was drinking juice when she got the hiccups. 'Please don't give me this juice again,' she said, 'it makes my teeth cough....’

DJ (age 4) stepped onto the bathroom scale and asked: 'How much do I cost?'

CLINTON (age 5) was in his bedroom looking worried when his Mom asked what was troubling him, he replied, 'I don't know what'll happen with this bed when I get married. How will my wife fit in it?'

MARC (age 4) was engrossed in a young couple that were hugging and kissing in a restaurant. Without taking his eyes off them, he asked his dad: 'Why is he whispering in her mouth?'

TAMMY (age 4) was with her mother when they met an elderly, rather wrinkled woman her Mom knew. Tammy looked at her for a while and then asked, 'Why doesn't your skin fit your face?'

JAMES (age 4) was listening to a Bible story. His dad read: 'The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city but his wife looked back and was turned to salt.' Concerned, James asked: 'What happened to the flea?'

The Sermon I think this Mom will never forget...

This particular Sunday sermon....'Dear Lord,' the minister began, with arms extended toward heaven and a rapturous look on his upturned face. 'Without you, we are but dust...' He would have continued but at that moment my very obedient daughter who was listening leaned over to me and asked quite audibly in her shrill little four year old girl voice, 'Mom, what is butt dust?'

Guest post by fantasy author Nicholas Olivo

20.7.11

Today, please welcome my guest, author Nicholas Olivo, whose urban fantasy series, Caulborn, is out now.

Suzy asked me to write about what inspired my urban fantasy series, Caulborn
A big piece of the Caulborns’ world is drawn from New England folklore. I’ve lived my whole life here, and there are a ton of urban legends and myths that many people have never heard of. Did you know that Massachusetts has sea serpents? Or that Rhode Island has some of the earliest evidence of actual vampire hunters? Connecticut has some hair-raising stories about the devil, and if you head up to Maine you’ll find ghost stories galore. Vermont has a reclusive pig-man, and New Hampshire claims one of the most famous alien abduction stories.
I got hooked on monster stories like these when I was a kid, but back then I only knew about the Loch Ness monster, Bigfoot, and Bigfoot’s snow loving cousin the Yeti. That’s probably for the best; given my overactive imagination, I’d probably have seen chupacabras around every corner. I wanted to build stories off of these legends. I figured there had to be some sort of secret agency that would either cover up or protect these creatures’ existence, and smooth things over with the normal population when they crossed paths with the paranormal. Thus the Caulborn were created.
Cauls are another thing I’ve always been interested in. It’s believed that children born with cauls will be lucky, beautiful, successful or psychic, depending on what culture you listen to. Some say that a person born with a caul can’t drown or is protected from the evil eye. Others see the caul as a curse, and that anyone born with a caul will rise as a type of vampire after they die. I decided to weave many of these traits into my world. In my series, cauls prevent people from being mentally dominated, compelled or hypnotized, which is a wonderful boon when dealing with malicious paranormals who can compel mortals.
The final piece of inspiration comes from Greek and Roman mythology. I loved reading myths when I was a kid, from the labors of Hercules to the story of the Golden Fleece. I thought I knew all the major gods until I got to college and took a mythology course, whereupon I learned there were approximately twelve billion different gods and goddesses in the Greek and Roman pantheons. What really struck me was that not all the Greek gods had Roman counterparts. Janus is the one who always stood out for me. He’s a god of doors who can see infinitely into the future and the past. I had to do something with him.
I wove those things together and IMPERIUM was the end result. It’s the first of the Caulborn books and focuses on Vincent Corinthos, son of Janus. Vincent’s a half-god and a Caulborn agent. The Dover Demon, another urban legend from Massachusetts, plays a significant part in his backstory. If you’d like to learn more about the Caulborn, swing by my site - www.nicholasolivo.com 
Thanks for having me, Suzy!

A pleasure, Nicholas. I've always wanted to visit New England! I'm even more intrigued now...I've also got Imperium on my Kindle and I shall look forward to reading it!

Contact Nicholas at:
My website - www.nicholasolivo.com
My twitter - @NicholasOlivo
IMPERIUM can be bought from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Imperium-Caulborn-ebook/dp/B0058TTC0M
and also from smashwords - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/70480

Unsure about self-publishing?

17.7.11


Are you thinking about self-publishing, but can't make your mind up? Just DO IT. You've got nothing to lose. The publishing world is changing enormously at the moment and its becoming increasingly easy to get your own books out there.
If I hadn't gone ahead and self-published and, instead, waited for an agent to accept me, I'd probably still be wondering whether my book was good enough. Now I KNOW it is because of the fantastic response I've received from the awesome people who have bought it.
The most important aspect of being an author is to have people read your book. If you're sitting at home waiting for the phone to ring, who is reading your book? Nobody. Why wait? If you're still holding out for an agent or a publisher, they are more likely to pick you up if you've already got a following.
So get your book out there on Amazon (US and UK) and Smashwords. Send out as many review copies as possible, ask book sites to interview you, offer to do guest posts on as many different sites as possible and get your name known.
The best thing a reader said about RAVEN was that her heart ached for the main character, Lilly. I would never have known that my book had that effect on people had I not published it myself, would I?
So what are you waiting for? Go for it!

After writing this, I came across this very interesting post and thought it might back up my point:
http://hbspublications.blogspot.com/2011/07/ebook-authors-self-publishing-is-like.html

Photo courtesy: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=851

Guest post by Sue Warhaftig & Beverly Butler

12.7.11

Sue Warhaftig (left) and Beverly Butler
Thank you Suzy for asking me to be a guest blogger for your website. You have asked me to write about the “inspiration” behind Meant To Be.
Gigantic levels of inspiration come from my friends and family. I am blessed to be surrounded by creative, interesting people, who gain enjoyment and pleasure from developing an idea, piece of art or a story for others to enjoy.
Mom is a painter. All my life she has made art for herself and others. I noticed that she doesn’t talk about creating…she just does it any moment that she can. I’m inspired by the happiness that she experiences from her art.
My sister is an artist. Many hours of the day she’s a lawyer. But, along the way she found a passion in glass bead making and the teaching of this art. After several classes and the addition of jewelry making equipment, her creativity started to flow and she could not be stopped. She is a well-respected teacher and artist, and has recently finished her 2nd book on glass bead making. I’m inspired by the love and appreciation her students have for her. She enriches their lives.
Beverly, my co writer of Meant To Be woke up one day and wrote a play (OK, maybe it was longer than a day). It was a fantastic story and became a fabulous performance! She brought pleasure to the audiences that came to witness her tale. From concept to stage performance, she just executed the project. I’m inspired by her fearless action of doing something because it was there to attempt. .
These types of people, who aren’t afraid of exploring, reaching, growing, and then jumping into a project to do something that speaks to them, inspired me to co-write Meant To Be. I had a story to tell, it swirled around my head until I was empowered to put it down on paper. I want to inspire others that they too can complete a project that they set out to finish.
Like Judith (the main character in our story) coming of middle-age, these examples should teach you what is Meant To Be.
What inspires you?
Sue Warhaftig & Beverly Butler

Its a pleasure to have you both here on the blog, Sue & Beverly!
Readers interested in Meant To Be should read my review. Just click on Book Reviews at the top of the page.

Q&A with author Abbi Glines

10.7.11

A very warm welcome to Breathe author Abbi Glines...



Have you ever read a book that made you think 'wow'? If so, what book was it and why did it have such an effect on you?

Yes, Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. I am a big fan of the “happily ever after” feel good stories. However, I believe everyone should read Before I Fall, especially teenagers. It makes you think “what if this were my last day?” Would you act the way you’re acting. Would you take for granted friendships? Would you hold grudges? It is extremely eye opening. One of the best YA books I have read to date.

Who is your favorite author and why?
This question makes me smile. I have so many favorite authors. However, if given the chance to meet only one of them it would be J.K. Rowling. I’m still awaiting my Hogwarts letter. I stop for owls and I could live at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter located in Universal Studios and be quite happy for the rest of my life.

Who, or what, inspires you?
Music. The lyrics in songs cause my imagination to go into over drive. I can hear one line to a song and have an entire story working itself out in my head because of one tiny idea.

Where is your favorite place to write? 
The beach or sitting out on a pier over Mobile Bay. I am surrounded by bodies of water where
I live. I have yet to write a story where the Gulf of Mexico wasn’t involved.

What is your book about?
Breathe is about a young girl, who hasn’t been handed an easy path in life, finding herself immersed in the private world of America’s favorite teenage rock star. Sadie has a pregnant irresponsible single mom who relies on her to fix all their problems. Jax Stone is the golden boy of the music industry who has escaped for the summer to the coastal southern town of Sea Breeze, Alabama. Jax knows Sadie will never fit into the life he leads but he can’t seem to stay away from her. When his fame splashes their “summer fling” all over the media, Jax leaves in hopes of saving Sadie from the harsh spotlight. Broken hearted Sadie’s life spirals out of control. However, she holds the rock star’s heart in her hands and he soon realizes without Sadie he can’t breathe.

What is your favorite film that was based on a book?
Pride and Prejudice, the one with Keira Knightley. I have MANY favorite books that have been made into movies but I tend to not like the movie after having read the book. The 2005 release of Pride and Prejudice, however, didn’t let me down.

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the main characters?


HA! I love this question. No one has asked me this yet but I so have the answer!
Sadie - Emilie de Ravin (this one was suggested by a reader. I thought it was spot on)
Jax - Chace Crawford
Marcus - Alex Pettyfer
Jessica - Reese Witherspoon (not only does she have the look she has the accent)

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I’m obsessed with thrift stores. Like totally addicted. Don’t get me wrong, I am by no means a hoarder. I actually haul bags off to the Goodwill monthly. I just like searching through stuff to find that one awesome deal. For example: sleeveless Under Armour shirts (my son goes through these like crazy during football season) for $1. Or the time I found a Vera Bradley backpack in great shape for $5. Getting stuff cheap gives me a crazy high.

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live.
We are the home of the Jubilee. A Jubilee is the name used locally for a natural phenomenon that occurs sporadically on the shores of the Mobile Bay. During a jubilee massive amounts of fish literally leap out of the water and onto the shore. There is no warning. It just happens. Although similar events have been reported in other bodies of water, Mobile Bay is the only place where the regular appearance of this phenomenon has been documented. When you get a call in the middle of the night around here you have to be ready to grab your containers and run to catch a load.

I 'met' Abbi through my other blog http://yatrailerpark.blogspot.com, I was so moved by her book trailer that it almost brought tears to my eyes!

Trailer Parks: YA and chick lit

8.7.11


I adore book trailers, especially YA book trailers. There are so many different varieties of them yet sometimes they can be a little hard to find so.... drum roll please (!).......
I've created a blog dedicated to all those wonderful YA book trailers out there. I already have about 15 trailers on-site and they were all sent to me yesterday (the wonders of twitter, eh?!)
So, if you have a YA book trailer you'd like to add, send me an email with the link to the Youtube video and a link to your own website. All I ask in return is for you to follow me on both blogs, twitter and facebook and spread the word about the YA Trailer Park wherever you can.
I will obviously continue to promote it and hopefully gather as many YA book lovers to check it out as often as possible!
I spent many hours yesterday trying to find the perfect template for the blog. I couldn't find exactly what I wanted so I've settled for this, for now. But expect it to change in the future.... to something that'll knock your socks off!! (ok, ok, I'm just getting a bit carried away now!)
http://yatrailerpark.blogspot.com/


Since I wrote the above, I decided we needed the same thing for chick lit (another passion of mine!) so I've gone and spent a few too many hours today coming up with the Chick Lit Trailer Park.
Any chick lit / romance writers that have book trailers they would like featured, please send me the links!
http://chicklittrailerpark.blogspot.com

NB. Since posting, I've re-designed both sites because I wanted them to be more unique... I decided to try and create my own headers and I got a bit carried away but it was fun. I hope you like them both!

Q&A with publisher Sara-Jayne Slack

6.7.11

A very warm welcome to publisher Sara-Jayne Slack...


Have you ever read a book that made you think 'wow'? If so, what book was it and why did it have such an effect on you?
Oh, that's a tough one! There have been a few books that have elicited that response from me. The two which spring to mind are Virginia Woolf's Mrs Dalloway, and Arthur Plotnik's Elements of Editing. I loved the style and flow of Mrs Dalloway, and some of the images the book conjours up have actually made me put the book down for a while to consider them. The Editing book (a non-fiction piece) was written with the perfect mixture of wit and truth that I could barely put it down. He really hits the nail on the head with what he says.

Who is your favourite author and why?
My favourite author is probably Virginia Woolf, although (yet again) I have so many 'favourites', and all for different reasons! I'm also a huge fan of Anne McCaffrey, to the extent that I collect first editions of her books. As much as I favour Woolf's writing style, McCaffrey is the author who has been the most influential in my life.
Who, or what, inspires you?
I tend to find people and actions more inspirational than words or a nice view. My family are hugely important in pushing me to actually get things done, as are my university lecturers, who are so passionate about their subjects that it's positively catching. I also find that inspiration to do well is self-perpetuating. When I can sit back and think that I've done or written something worthwhile, I have a distinct urge to immediately go onto the next task.

Where is your favourite place to write (whether books, blogs, letters, etc)?
Definitely my University library. It's a great environment with little to no distractions, so I find my writing is much more efficient when I'm there.

Tell us a little about your favourite book...
Ahh! You're not making this easy for me, are you? As I mentioned earlier, I have many 'favourites', and all for different reasons, I'm afraid. My favourite books tend to be fast paced, with a focus more on the protagonist moving the plot forward, rather than a more detailed plot which drags a two-dimentional character kicking and screaming.

What is your favourite film that was based on a book?
Now this is a guilty pleasure...but it has to be The Devil Wears Prada. I bought it on DVD a few months ago and watched it 4 times in 3 days. the script is witty and the actors are just amazing (although it helps that Meryl Streep is one of my all-time favourite actresses).

Why did you decide to become publisher?
Instead of a niche, I saw that there was a rather large, gaping hole in the industry for a skills-development based publishing house. Inspireed Quill is also different in that we're not a LTD (LLC) company. Instead, we're a 'Social Enterprise', which means we're a not-for-profit organisation who is determined to reach out into the community and help develop literature based skills. I guess it also helps that I have a passion not only for books, but also the written word in its broadest sense.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I'm named after a well known Dr. Who character (albeit with a different spelling).

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live.
Derby was also home to Florence Nightingale and Joseph Wright.

Thank you for the interview, it was a lot of fun! :)
Anytime, Sara Jayne. It was an absolute pleasure.

Website: http://www.inspired-quill.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/InspiredQuill
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/InspiredQuill

The good ol' days?

3.7.11

Spending the evening flicking through the huge variety of TV channels made me think back to my childhood. Growing up in Portugal in the 80s meant I was extremely limited to what I could watch. Back then, in Portugal, the choice of television shows was, well, pretty lame to say the least.
When I first arrived, aged ten, I think we had a choice of two channels. RTP1 and RTP2. Both were bad. Really bad. At a later stage, they were joined by SIC and TVi but they weren't a great deal better (except on weekend afternoons but their commercial breaks often lasted a good 20 minutes!).

It was so bad that my family and I would actually get excited at about 8pm certain weeknights when the few American shows were aired. The programs? The Twilight Zone (the original 1960s version) and All in the Family (remember Archie Bunker?).
After a year or so we were ecstatic when they were joined by Moonlighting and Family Ties! Needless to say, our video was used endlessly. I'm surprised it didn't wear out altogether. Whenever we were given a video tape, that video tape would be played hundreds if not, thousands of times. The movies? Well, at one point my younger brother and I could recite (literally word for word) Robocop, Police Academy, Beaches (ok...perhaps not my brother but I loved it) and Footloose. For some bizarre reason we also had rather a large selection of awful martial arts flicks like Enter the Dragon. We could do pretty bad impressions of dubbed Japanese actors though!
Fast forward 25 years and we are absolutely spoiled for choice. We have cable TV, which not only offers those dire original four channels, but 50 odd others! There is so much to choose from that we often end up spending most of the evening trying to decide what to watch!
What was it like for you? What did you grow up watching on TV?

Q&A with author Leanne Beattie

3.7.11

A very warm welcome to Cage of Bone author, Leanne Beattie...


Have you ever read a book that made you think 'wow'? If so, what book was it and why did it have such an effect on you?
That would be Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. It is a great example of the interior life of a teen as she goes through a traumatic time. It also showed the effect of stigmatism in high school—what happens when you don’t follow “the rules” and people hate you for it.

Who is your favourite author and why?
It’s hard to pick just one, so I won’t. I love Laurie Halse Anderson and John Green for their ability to capture the essence of teens so well. I also read anything by Alice Hoffman because she creates such beautiful imagery and adds magic to every story. The Ice Queen was amazing.

Who, or what, inspires you?
I am very influenced by music and get a lot of ideas from lyrics. Cage of Bone grew out of a phrase from the Jann Arden song Will You Remember Me? Whenever I need inspiration I go to my local bookstore and roam the aisles for an hour or so. Simply being surrounded by all those words, picking up books and seeing what’s new in the market makes me want to run home and start writing again.

 Where is your favourite place to write?
I need to be completely alone to write so I go to my bedroom and shut the door. I can listen to music while I write but I can’t concentrate if the TV is on.

What is your book about?
Cage of Bone is a young adult novel about a 16 year-old girl, Ronnie Campbell, as she tries to cope with her sister’s suicide. It’s an emotional story because Ronnie is very confused about the death. Her sister was the quintessential “golden girl” in high school: popular, smart and going places, so her suicide leaves Ronnie struggling to find answers. On top of everything, Ronnie’s parents are getting divorced and her father is starting a new family with another woman, so Ronnie feels abandoned and pushed aside. At an age when other kids are dating and going to parties, Ronnie is facing some pretty heavy burdens.
Once I had the basic story idea, I got an image of a girl who seems tough on the outside but is really hurting. Her toughness is all a façade. I think a lot of people can relate to that, that everybody is suffering in some way. Griffin McNay, her love interest, is the ideal boy for Ronnie: cute, creative and understanding. He shows her there is more to life than what she is experiencing right now. Her best friend, Danielle, accepts Ronnie as she is, flaws and all, and has great faith in her.

What is your favourite film that was based on a book?
I love The English Patient, based on the book by Michael Ondaatje. It has such sweeping cinematography and great actors. Ralph Fiennes is one of my favourites.

 If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the main characters? 



I had a cover of Teen Vogue posted above my desk while I was writing Cage of Bone because the model looked exactly how I had envisioned Ronnie. I found out later the model was Taylor Momsen (centre), an actress and singer. I would go with her or Dakota Fanning (left). I think Dakota would be able to pull off Ronnie’s bravado and sarcasm and Matt Dallas (right) from Kyle XY would be a perfect Griffin.


Tell us a random fact about yourself.
If I weren’t a writer I’d be a lawyer, someone who fights for the rights of women around the world. I am very passionate about improving the lives of women in developing countries.

To learn more about Leanne Beattie and her book, Cage of Bone, visit https://leanneardellebeattie.wordpress.com/

Guest Editor Ashley Kay

1.7.11

First I want to thank Suzy for having me as a guest. I have never done a guest blog before, so I am a virgin at this. I am not one for talking about myself really, never have been. So, I will start somewhere simple. My name is Ashley Kay, or A.L. Kay. A.L. Kay is my pen name for any and all stories I write. I am twenty-four years old, a mother of two girls, and a wife for five and a half years. I am also a college student, psychology major. I love my life, though at times I wish things would slow down, as I am sure many of you would like also. I love animals, just thought I would throw that in for you all. Oh, did I mention I am also an awesome unintentional flirt? Thought I would also throw that in there, (my recently new client, Margaret, told me to, hehe).
I began writing at the age of twelve. I wrote my first story, a children’s story. Sadly I had written it on my father’s laptop on an airplane, on our way to Germany. Well, my father’s computer ended up crashing months later, and being twelve years old, I didn’t know to back it up. I had shown it to one person, my English teacher. She told me it was really good, and that I actually might have a knack for writing. I never wrote a story again until I was about nineteen years old. I never finished it. I became ill with permanent writer’s block, hehe. Same thing happened with another story I began. Then, at 23 I started a short story called “Nightmares” that has ended up being published by Vamptasy Publishing. “Nightmares” is about a girl, Kristi, and dreams she begins having. What do they mean? Will they come true? Will she survive? Those are questions even she asks, and more. Though the more questions that are answered, the more new questions arise.
I stared working on the second installment of “Nightmares”, but then I realized something. I recently took the story back, because there seemed to be more to the story than I ever knew. I revised “Nightmares” and it is back up! Though, this is just the beginning of the story. The full length book will be titled “Kamela” when it is finished. For those that have bought, and read “Nightmares”, I am happy that it has gotten great reviews so far and people really seemed to enjoy it. I am hoping they, and others, will like the full story when I am finished with it. “Nightmares is available here http://www.vamptasypublishing.co.uk/#/nightmares/4552851092
Since I was young, my father always edited anything I said and wrote. This rubbed off on me, of course. I began doing that to others; to my friends, and even to strangers. I edited my friend’s papers, and even what they said in an instant message to others. I never was upset about editing my friend’s things, I actually enjoyed it. This added to my passion. I love editing, and working with people. I love getting to know my clients and their stories, aka babies. After working for a publishing company, that I did not care for how they were running their business and treating their authors, I started my own editing business; Ashley’s Freelance Editing http://freelance.mcconnell05.com. I love my clients, new and returning. I never get tired of them needing to ask me questions, or contacting me for whatever reason. My editing company is first in line, after my school and kids. My writing is mostly on the back burner. I only write when I get a chance to, or when I am taking a break from other things.
I want to thank Suzy again for having me. I did not know I could actually write five-hundred words about myself, let alone over that. Thank you all for reading, and being interested in little ole me.

Always a pleasure, Ashley!
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