Interviewed by fellow author

31.8.11

I was interviewed by author Joseph Valentinetti recently and he's put the article up on ezinearticles:

Interview With Suzy Turner, Author Of Raven:

'via Blog this'

Choosing your escape by John Nelson

30.8.11

When we pick up a work of fiction and start turning pages, we hope to begin a journey. A good novel will hook us right away and transport us there quickly. We choose a genre like a holiday destination. Some may pick up a romance novel because they wish to escape to a romantic fantasy world and they select the heat index of a novel based on the level of titillation they desire.
My “holiday” destination is often the dystopian genre. I read to escape, be entertained, and mentally stimulated. I want a book to make me pause, think and reflect. What I look for in a good dystopia is that I can see my own society reflected back in the pages. I like cautionary tales that show us the road signs that may lead us (in reality) to a place we may not want to go. George Orwell was a master at crafting a cautionary dystopia tale. We could reflect upon our own society as he took us to an imaginary world. 
My first published novel, Against Nature, was inspired by Orwell, Aldous Huxley, and Sinclair Lewis’s It Can’t Happen Here. But it was also inspired by the world around me in post- 9/11 America. The newspapers were filled with frightening headlines about torture, secret prisons, domestic spying, and suspension of habeas corpus. I also became alarmed by the rise of politicians who espouse a Social Darwinist philosophy and were finding their way to high government positions. I thought we weren’t too far away from descending into a dystopian society and it inspired me to write Against Nature.
Fact can make good fiction! I used headlines of past events and added in a little imaginative fiction to create a modern dystopia. Most dystopia fictions start off in the post-apocalyptic world and give the reader hints about how they got there. In Against Nature I take the reader from the here and now and we head into a dystopian world together.
My catalyst is a global pandemic; a disease without a cure. The disease is neither virus nor bacteria and all known treatment regimens have failed. One radical scientist, Serena Salus contends it’s an extraterrestrial organism introduced to earth in the wound of a now deceased astronaut. The government asserts it’s a genetically engineered microbe created on earth by enemies of freedom. Serena discovers an experimental vaccine, but also learns of the government’s plan to distribute it based on one’s future labor value to the stock exchange. Serena comes in conflict with powerful forces that will stop at nothing to control her vaccine; considered the world’s most valuable commodity.
Serena’s suspenseful journey across pandemic America makes us wonder if such a landscape could exist during a catastrophic pandemic. That’s what I love about the dystopian genre. It transports us to a fantasy world, but we can still see our own society reflected back in the rearview mirror.
John Nelson is the author of the e-book dystopian thriller Against Nature. The novel is available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple iBooks, OmniLit or from the publisher: Wild Child Publishing. You can email him at: againstnature@hotmail.com

December Moon is OUT NOW

29.8.11


It's official! December Moon is NOW AVAILABLE!! I'm so excited!!
It's been a busy few months, getting it finished, edited, proofread, re-edited, etc, etc, etc... and then of course the formatting which takes a little while, but it's now done and dusted and December Moon is available for sale on Amazon and Smashwords.
It's just a snip at $0.99, so why not go and check it out? You won't be disappointed... it's full of action, a little romance and lots of supernatural elements. It was great fun to write and I hope you'll enjoy reading it too!
December Moon by Suzy Turner on Amazon US
December Moon by Suzy Turner on Amazon UK
December Moon by Suzy Turner on Smashwords

*** SEPTEMBER 2 – 5 ONLY ***

28.8.11

*** SEPTEMBER 2 – 5 ONLY ***

The first ever INDIE BOOK BLOWOUT – To celebrate this exciting event, I’ve reduced the price on my book to only 99¢!

Yes, it’s a weekend to remember!

To score dozens of FANTASTIC indie books for only 99¢, visit indiebookblowout.com. While you’re there, register to win a brand new Kindle & up to $ 100 in Gift Cards (entry form on the site).

Q&A with author Gail Jones

26.8.11


A very warm welcome today to YA author and fellow Yorkshire lass (we are actually from the same small town, Rotherham!), Gail Jones...

Name one book that made you think 'wow'? Why did it have such an effect on you? There’s been so many of these and to select one is really difficult. I think I would have to choose ‘The Lord of the Rings’. I never imagined enjoying fantasy fiction like this, especially such a long book! However, the way Tolkien creates Middle Earth, his descriptions which were brief yet so detailed, made Middle Earth seem like a real place. Tolkien is such a skilful writer. I loved the characters too, especially Frodo who was so brave in the book.

Who is your favourite author and why?
Again, how do I choose? Enid Blyton was my childhood favourite, she took me to some wonderful places and I loved her characters, especially Moonface, Silky and the Saucepan Man from the Faraway Tree.
Now I like Anthony Horowitz for the Alex Ryder series as they are fast paced and exciting. They are Young Adult fiction but that’s the genre I write and enjoy reading the most.
My favourite adult author is James Patterson for the Alex Cross books. They are intriguing but also fast paced. Yes, I like excitement in my reads!

Name one of your all-time favourite book covers?
I don’t really have a favourite book cover. The cover draws me to a book but once the pages are open, I forget the cover completely and lose myself in the story.

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why?

I would like to dine with Tolkien and C. S. Lewis. I heard once that they were friends. I don’t know whether that is true, but I’ll love to chat with them. The meaning behind the Narnia series with C. S. Lewis is clear but I’d like to ask Tolkien whether he intentionally put any messages in his books or whether they were pure ‘lose yourself’ fantasy. I think they’d both be fascinating company.

Who, or what, inspires you?
I’m inspired by teenagers and the difficulties they face, also by current events. When I wrote’ Family Secrets’ I chose a subject that I thought about a lot as a teenager, ‘How would I feel if I found out I was adopted? What would I do?’ The sequel ‘Family Fear’ was inspired by news at the time. Lots of old people were being mugged and hurt, mostly by teenagers. I wanted to explore how that would effect the teenage grandchild of a victim.

Where is your favourite place to write?
My favourite place is in my car but not while driving! I like to park up somewhere green where the birds are singing. I wind down the windows, feel the breeze, sit back in my comfy seat and write.

What is your favourite film that was based on a book?

There are two. One is the ‘Lord of the Rings Trilogy’, ’The Return of the King’ is the best and the other is the ‘Narnia’ series, my favourite is ’The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’.

What is your book about?
'Family Secrets’ is about fifteen- year-old Rachel Brooks who moves to Rotherham in South Yorkshire. Within weeks she falls in love; a new friend becomes a vicious enemy and she discovers she was abandoned at birth and adopted. Rachel’s world is shattered as she realises her parents are hiding even more from her. Determined to find the truth about her past she begins her own search against her parents’ wishes. Everyone she meets seems determined to stop her, but she does not give in. But when the barriers do begin to fall, nothing could prepare her for what she finds out.
‘Family Fear’ continues the story of Rachel as she returns to Scarborough for the holidays. She stays with her gran and spends time with her old friends. While there her grandma is mugged. The old lady’s physical wounds are only slight but her confidence is gone. Rachel determines to find the culprit and bring him to justice so that her gran can feel safe again. With a mysterious female stalker and an illusive mugger, Rachel has her hands full, but even then she has no idea that her quest could cost her life.

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



Rachel would be: Amanda Bynes
Luke: Justin Bieber
Emma: Anyone nasty from Mean Girls

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I’m a Christian and work with kids at church. I love to join in with the games, especially the running and skipping ones.

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live.
Mexborough used to be a pit village and my house was one of the terraced pit houses. Now much of the old pit land is being turned into nature walks and included in the Pennine Way.

Winter or summer? Summer – I like to get outside, admire the flowers and hear the birds sing.
Ebook or paperback? Paperback. Although my books are also available in ebook format, I love paper and feel thrilled when I pick up a new book. There’s just something about turning those pages …
Favourite food? It’s a hard choice between KFC and Sunday dinner with beef, plenty of veg and loads of potatoes.
Sporty or couch potato? Couch potato. I do enjoy sporty things but I’m a carer for my mum and get very little sleep. As a result I tend to be devoid of energy and am happiest sitting down with my writing.

Cook or be cooked for? Be cooked for, of course! Although that doesn’t happen very often, but just about everybody’s cooking is better than mine!

My website is www.gailjonesbooks.co.uk
My blog is a little neglected at the moment as I’m working hard on ‘Family Missing’ the final part of the Rachel Brooks Trilogy. My twitter feeds to it and that’s always up to date, there’s also a few extracts from ‘Chronicles of a Carer in Chaos’. That’s an ongoing factual story about being a carer and there’s some funny stuff in there: www.myspace.com/gailjonesbooks

Q&A with author Carrie Duffy

25.8.11

Join me in welcoming the lovely author and (another!) fellow Yorkshire lass, Carrie Duffy.



Name one book that made you think 'wow'? Why did it have such an effect on you?
Career Girls by Louise Bagshawe. It was the first bonkbuster I’d ever read. Until then, I’d mainly read teen fiction and the classics, but this was a revelation – exciting, raunchy and glamorous – and it made me want to write one of my own.

Who is your favourite author and why?
George Orwell. His writing is disarmingly straight-forward, yet incredibly powerful and moving. He expresses his ideas so perfectly in clear, direct language.

Name one of your all-time favourite book covers?
Ooh, I’ve never heard that question before. Um... *pause to go and scour bookshelves* I think that for bonkbusters, the covers have to be like glossy magazine ads – beautiful, aspirational, and you need to believe some of the glamour will rub off on you. Lesley Lokko has some gorgeous, escapist covers – Sundowners, and One Secret Summer.

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why?
George Orwell, obviously. I’m sure Jackie Collins has some amazing stories. Emily Bronte, so we could chat about Yorkshire. JK Rowling would bring a nice bottle of wine. And Oscar Wilde for pure entertainment.

Who, or what, inspires you?
All sorts of things, every day – magazines, films, TV programmes, people, weather, locations...

Where is your favourite place to write?
At home. I’m not really a cafe writer, although I’ll sometimes go when I need a change of scenery or to be away from the distractions of the internet. At home, I switch between the sofa and the dining table, but I dream of one day having an enormous study where the walls are lined with books.

What is your favourite film that was based on a book?
Gone with the Wind! It’s my absolute favourite film, and I’ve read the book twice too. The book is even longer, if you can believe it, and there’s an awful lot that gets cut out in the film.

What is your book about?
Idol is a fun, glamorous and raunchy read, following international pop star Jenna Jonsson, and struggling dancer Sadie Laine. They were childhood rivals, and now their lives are about to collide once again in Las Vegas.








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


Jenna is the archetypal stunning, blonde pop star, so Rosie Huntington-Whiteley completely looks the part.
Sadie is a gorgeous, sexy brunette – Gemma Arterton would be perfect.
For the guys, I’d like Paul Walker as Zac, the smouldering rock star, and Bradley Cooper could play Nick, the charming, chiselled womaniser.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I like to snack on tins of mushy peas.

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live.
I’m not sure about where I live now, but where I grew up (in Selby, North Yorkshire) the design in Selby Abbey’s stained glass window is supposed to have been an inspiration for the US flag, as George Washington’s ancestors were from the area, and their stars and stripes shield features in the window.

Winter or summer? Summer
Ebook or paperback? Paperback... although I’m very hesitantly thinking about buying a Kindle.
Favourite food? Bread. Or Cheese. Or any combination of the two.
Sporty or couch potato? Natural couch potato who forces herself to be sporty.
Cook or be cooked for? Be cooked for. I’m not a good cook.
Link to your website: www.carrieduffy.com

Q&A with author Raine Thomas

24.8.11

Today I have the lovely Raine Thomas with me. Raine is the author of The Daughters of Saraqael Trilogy.

Name one book that made you think 'wow'? Why did it have such an effect on you?
Oh, gosh. There have been so many! I’d like to say it was an inspirational biography or something, but I don’t generally read those. I’ll go with “The Bride” by Julie Garwood. It’s a historical romance that was pointed out to me randomly in a bookstore by a complete stranger. I started reading it and couldn’t leave without buying it. Her style was much fresher than the standard at the time, and her characters were so well depicted. She inspired me to want to write romance.

Who is your favourite author and why?
Nora Roberts. I absolutely love how she develops characters and effortlessly evokes emotion. She writes “guys” better than any romance author I know. I’ve probably read every one of her books, and the plots are never stale or “phoned in.” I am in awe of her abilities.

Name one of your all-time favourite book covers. 

Besides the covers for the Daughters of Saraqael Trilogy you mean? (Ha!). Any of Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments covers. They’re fantastic!

If you could have a dinner party with any author from any time in history, who would you choose and why?
It would have to be Edgar Allan Poe. I’ve always been fascinated by his work. Even my dog is named Poe. Having worked in the field of mental health for a number of years, I think our conversation would be rather fascinating.

Who, or what, inspires you?
I’m largely inspired by music. Some of my inspiration has also come from the people I’ve met. Youth facing and overcoming challenges also serves as a big source of inspiration to me.

Where is your favourite place to write?
During the heat of summer, inside on my couch. When weather permits, I love sitting outside on the porch.

What is your favourite film that was based on a book?
I’d have to say “The Silence of the Lambs.” I might have even liked the movie more than the book.

What are your books about?
The Daughters of Saraqael Trilogy (Becoming, Central and Foretold) follow sisters Amber, Olivia and Skye as they discover that they aren’t entirely human. What they are is half-Estilorian, a race of beings that once existed alongside humans. Because the Estilorians have powers and abilities beyond that of humans, humans grew to resent them and warred against them. Thus, the Estilorians created their own plane of existence, removing themselves from humanity and becoming the objects of human myths and legends (think gods and goddesses, angels, etc.). As the sisters are introduced to this world, they find love, adventure and quite a bit of danger along the way, culminating in a battle foretold long before their births.

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the main characters? 
Oh, that is TOUGH! The sisters are triplets. They all have long brown hair and they’re eighteen, so I could possibly see an actress like Selena Gomez or Ashley Greene playing them. Gabriel, James and Caleb are harder. I think with darker hair and a bit of bulking up muscle-wise, Chace Crawford would make a good Gabriel. For James, the cleft in the chin, the dark blond hair in a choppy cut…Zak Efron would probably be a good fit. I have yet to find the perfect Caleb. If he were a few years younger, Will Young would actually have been great for his role, though.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I’m a big baseball fan. The Atlanta Braves, in particular.

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live.
Orlando is called The City Beautiful, and it really is a lovely city. It’s also home to “The Mouse” and “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.” Not such a bad place to live.

Winter or summer? Winter.
Ebook or paperback? Ebook. Er…paperback. Do I have to choose?
Favourite food? Tacos. Any kind.
Sporty or couch potato? Total potato.
Cook or be cooked for? If I value my health and livelihood, I should be cooked for whenever possible.
Link to your website, blog or both: My website is http://www.rainethomas.com and my blog is http://RaineThomas.com/blog/. I’m also on Twitter (http://twitter/Raine_Thomas) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/rainethomas) and welcome followers and friends!

Q&A with author Lorna Suzuki

23.8.11

A warm welcome to fantasy author Lorna Suzuki who has had her first three books optioned for a major motion picture trilogy! Congratulations, Lorna!!

Name one book that made you think 'wow'? Why did it have such an effect on you?
I’m ashamed to admit I’ve never read J.R.R. Tolkien’s works, but because his LoTR trilogy was made into movies and it continues to be read all around the world, it proved just how ageless and timeless the fantasy genre is. The fact his novels are still so popular after all these years inspired me to make my first attempt at fiction writing in the epic fantasy genre, creating the Imago series for my daughter when she grows up. One day, when time allows it, I hope to read Tolkien’s novels as I’ve had some fans make a comparison of our works.

Who is your favourite author and why?
One of my favourite contemporary authors is the fabulous, multi-talented Kim Falconer of the Quantum Enchantment series. She has so much wisdom and knowledge on so many levels and in so many areas. All this shines through in her works, making her stories very fascinating, intelligent fantasies well worth the read.

What is your all-time favourite book cover?
There are so many, I can’t decide! Surprisingly, some of my faves are book covers were written & published by indie authors or small publishing houses! Check out Angeline Kace’s ‘Descended by Blood’, Hope Collier’s ‘The Willows: Haven’ and Dean Lappi’s ‘Black Numbers’. To me, these covers are as good, if not better, than those put out by the big traditional publishing companies!

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why?
J.K. Rowling! It would be fascinating to chat with her to understand her creative process and to find out what she would change now, if she could.

Who, or what, inspires you?
My daughter is a huge source of inspiration and there are also my fans that keep asking for the next adventure. They keep me writing, but after I finish this 12th novel, I plan to retire my fiction-writing career. (Mind you, I did tell myself I’d only write three novels in the Imago series, until the fans kept demanding more…)

Where is your favourite place to write?
My favourite place to write is on a white sandy, tropical beach, but for now, I like writing in my bright, sunny (whenever the sun comes out) kitchen.

What is your latest book about? 
My latest book is a new YA Fantasy, The Magic Crystal. It is Book One of The Dream Merchant Saga and reviewers have said it’s like Ella Enchanted meets the Princess Bride. This is the description on the book cover:
Be careful what you wish for
takes on a whole new meaning…
When a good wish goes bad, a beautiful princess despised by all, a lowly court jester who was meant to be a great knight and a village idiot with a mysterious past are thrust together by fate. Made to embark on a perilous and unorthodox quest, they set off to break a dreaded curse.
Along the way, a series of trials await them in strange lands far from home. From a powerful Wizard and a shape-shifting Sprite to the flamboyant Elves and an army of mimes, they encounter an array of unforgettable friends and foes as they set off to recover a silver locket to destroy the curse.
In a race against time, pursued by a Sorcerer on the hunt for this same locket, an epic journey becomes a trying, humorous adventure of self-discovery and a test of true loyalty and friendship for this unlikely trio as they fight to survive this quest and ultimately, each other.
It’s sequel, Book Two The Silver Sword will be released on Oct. 22nd, 2011 during the Book Fair hosted by the Surrey International Writers Conference.

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the main characters? 
Strangely enough, the first three novels in my epic adult fantasy have been optioned for a major motion picture trilogy. It’s in the pre-production stage at the moment and the producer had already asked me to submit a list of the principles characters and the actors I envision in the various roles. This is not so much that the producer will be hiring them, but more so the casting director can narrow down the look, age, etc. of the actors for the roles. Plus, she’s trying to keep with my vision of the story and characters.

What is your favourite film that was based on a book?
One of my favourite films is Peter Jackson’s telling of Tolkien’s LoTR trilogy. I loved the movies, but because I never read the books, a friend who is an avid Tolkien fan laughed at me when we discussed the movies/books. Apparently, Jackson took certain artistic license I wasn’t aware of! I didn’t know Arwen had brothers who came to the rescue at Helm’s Deep, nor did I know Jackson merely created the Elf character Haldir, who marched the legion of Elves for this big confrontation!

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I used to teach martial arts in an all male dojo, some of my students included members of the RCMP! So yes, I’m so vertically challenged it’s laughable, but in the dojo, I can hold my own. After over 25 years of training/teaching, I’ve pretty much retired now and my daughter is my only pupil.

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live.
It’s often referred to as Hollywood North as TV series like ‘Supernatural’, ‘Sanctuary’, ‘Stargate’ series to name a few and major motion pictures like the ‘X-Men’, ‘Twilight’ series, ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’, the newest Superman movie and more are filmed in my neck of the woods. This comes in handy, as most of my book/movie trilogy will be filmed here, too!

Winter or summer? Neither! More like Fall & spring!
Ebook or paperback? Though my ebooks outsell my print books, I personally enjoy the feel of a book in my hands.
Favourite food? Fave food is medium-rare steak served with rice pilaf & grilled veggies, but favorite indulges is chocolate truffles.
Sporty or couch potato? I teach martial arts so I’m not a couch potato, but I’m certainly not sporty.
Cook or be cooked for? Depends on who is cooking!

Link to your website, blog or both: http://web.me.com/imagobooks
There is also the Imago Fantasy Series FB Fan Page where movie updates will be posted.

My compulsion to write by Eileen Schuh

23.8.11

As a Canadian author interested in breaking into the European market, I was intrigued to discover that Suzy Turner’s novel RAVEN takes place in Canada yet Suzy was born in the U.K. and lives in Portugal.
As silly as it may seem to those overseas, Canadians seldom think of their country as exotic and interesting. Although our authors and artists often use Canada as their canvas, we usually don’t promote our work beyond the North American market.
However, when creating the location for my novel THE TRAZ, I kept in mind the astounding beauty of my home province of Alberta—the prairies, the Rockies, the autumn colours, the long, long summer days. Chinooks and blizzards and harvested fields. This unique Canadian geography is the stage for my characters as they live out their adventure.
Sharing my country with others, however, is only a small part of why I wrote THE TRAZ. What really drove me, was that bleak, helpless feeling that overcame me each time I heard about the very young ruining their lives. When I finally could no longer sit idly by, I called on both my compulsion to write and my talent with words, to do what I could to help prevent such tragedies.
THE TRAZ highlights that it’s usually not an innate evilness driving teens into risky lifestyles, but rather a lack of information, support, and experience. Alone, afraid, and (many times) angry they make decisions that will leave them scarred for life.
As I was readying THE TRAZ for publication, Canadian law enforcement officials and youth workers issued several public pleas for community help in stemming the increasing incidents of criminal gangs recruiting youngsters into their ranks.
THE TRAZ became my literary response to those pleas for help, a gift to both at-risk-teens and the adults in their lives.
Rather than weaving life lessons into the plot, I wrote a Discussion Guide to encourage readers to take a close look at the decisions, actions, and motives of the characters. By separating the moral issues from the story this way, the plot unfolds quickly and forcefully without didactic interruption, while the appended Guide dampens the allure of the criminal adventure.
I intend THE TRAZ to influence readers of all ages and both genres, long after they finish the book; that will likely happen. THE TRAZ is only the first of many novels in The BackTracker series.
Eileen Schuh Author of THE TRAZ, Schrödinger's Cat

Sample/purchase THE TRAZ:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/THE-TRAZ-BackTracker-Series-ebook http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005199RFE
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/60190
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-traz
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/the-traz/id443187987?mt=11
Web site: http://www.eileenschuh.com
Blog: http://eileenschuh.blogspot.com

Sample/purchase Schrödinger's Cat:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/80124
http://www.amazon.com/Schr%C3%B6dingers-Cat-ebook/dp/B005GLJET6/ref=sr_1_6?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1312927682&sr=1-6

Special Q&A week

22.8.11

I know you haven't heard much from me lately... more interviews and guest posts, but that's because I've been very busy getting my sequel ready for publication next week. Yes, next week!! I'm very excited, as you can imagine!
However, this week I'm still super busy so I thought I'd dedicated the week to some super authors and have a Q&A week. The first is with the lovely author Samantha Towle.... see below!
I'll see you next week when I'll be announcing the launch of December Moon!!

Q&A with author Samantha Towle

22.8.11

A very warm welcome to the author of The Bringer, Samantha Towle....

Name one book that made you think 'wow'? Why did it have such an effect on you?
‘Red Dragon’ by Thomas Harris. Because it’s awesome! I sound like a broken record because I say this in every interview I do, but I love that book because it drew me in from the first line and kept me gripped until the end. It was on my mind for days after I read it. Thomas Harris is a genius writer.

Who is your favourite author and why?
I have two Thomas Harris – for all the reasons I said above, and Charlaine Harris, because she created this fabulous world with her ‘True Blood’ series. She somehow managed to bring an unbelievable world into the real world and make you it work. And also, because she has the wonderful knack of making you fall in love with the bad guy every time!

Name one of your all-time favourite book covers?
Can I say my own?! Well, aside from mine, I do love the cover for Twilight. So simple yet so effective. It’s very eye-catching.

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why?
Thomas Harris, because he’s awesome. Charlaine Harris, so I could quiz her about my favourite ‘True Blood’ characters and what her inspiration for them was. William Shakespeare, so I could ask him if he knew back then how truly great he was and what he thinks about how revered he is in today’s modern world. And lastly, Sophie Kinsella, because I think she’s fabulous and incredibly talented.

Who, or what, inspires you? 
My husband and children inspire me every day. And music. I can’t write a single word without it. The idea for ‘The Bringer’ came from a song ‘Don’t Cry’ by Guns N’ Roses.

Where is your favourite place to write?
At home, sat in my living, laptop on my knee, with a cup of coffee and a pack of biscuits sitting beside me.

What is your favourite film that was based on a book?
I can be a bit critical when films are based on books, but for me the Harry Potter films have been done very well.

What is your book about?


The Bringer is a paranormal romance, filled with twists and turns, tons of love and other emotions all poured in there. It’s not your ‘average’ angel novel, which is what I think readers will like about it.

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



Ooh I love this question! I’d have Lyndsy Fonseca as Lucyna, Alex O'Loughlin as James, and Ian Somerhalder as Arlo.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I’m terrified of clowns! I literally can’t look at them on the TV, let alone have one near me.

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live.

Hull has a great history and is traditionally known as a fishing port. Many great writers, poets, politicians and musicians have all hailed from Hull.

Winter or summer? Summer
Ebook or paperback? I’ll probably get heckled for saying this but – paperback.
Favourite food? Ice cream – especially Ben & Jerry’s Half-Baked.
Sporty or couch potato? Couch potato
Cook or be cooked for? Cook

Link to your blog: http://samanthatowle.blogspot.com/

My love of writing by Gail Jones

20.8.11

As I child, I loved to write but couldn't think of new themes. I wrote several other adventures for Enid Blyton's Faraway Tree series and came up with the 'Adventures of the Moon Path' which allowed me to have my own characters but basically did the same travel to other lands scenario. My only original story was 'The Sad Donkey' about a seaside donkey who was badly treated and just wanted to be free. I don't know where that came from as I really don't like sad stories! My best writing was an assignment I did for English at school. We’d been studying 'The Price of Coal' and had to write something about the elderly generation. I wrote about my gran and her accidents. She had some amazingly funny accidents and it was so easy to write them down. The teacher loved it and thought I'd been really inventive, even though I entitled it 'A True Story'. Whenever there’s an old lady in my books they are always based in some way on my gran.
After finishing school I continued to read but didn’t give writing any more thought until I worked with children at my local church. They came regularly and soon got to know every bible story. Stuck for something to tell them I made up stories about a young squirrel who was always in trouble. The children loved them and always begged for more. A colleague of mine who was a teacher said they were good enough for publication, but I said ‘no’. The seed was planted, however, and sometime later I sent them off. They were rejected. I decided to find out why and set off on my investigation of the publishing world. I took two writing for children courses, one with the London School of Journalism and the other with The Academy of Children’s Writers. On each course there was one assignment for teen fiction. I panicked. I had only ever written for six to eight-year-olds. I thought about my teen years and the constant wondering – ‘what would I do if I found out I was adopted?’ Why I thought that, I don’t know as I’m so like my mum I even confused a childhood photo of her for myself! But adoption became my theme and ‘Family Secrets’ was born. The reviews for my outline and first chapter were fantastic. I sent it off to a couple of publishers and was rejected but was accepted by YouWriteOn.com. They are a British Arts Council sponsored website who encourage new writers (The Legacy by Katherine Webb began on there). 'Family Secrets' came out in December 2008. 'Family Fear' followed in December 2010. 'Family Missing' is the final part of the trilogy and is now being edited (when I get a spare minute!) and should be out in 2012.
When ‘Family Secrets’ came out I was terrified no one would buy it or even like it! I was able to order copies myself from the publisher and I only ordered eight, thinking that only my friends and family would want it! The book was available from any book selling website, including tescos.com and Amazon and I was amazed that following articles in the local paper it started selling. Northern Maps ordered 50 copies for distribution to WHSmith and other local stores. I visited WHSmith and took photos of my books on their shelves! (I've since visited Waterstones and done the same thing). I tried to hold up my mobile as though reading a text so that no one would see what I was doing! I couldn't believe it when people started crossing the road to speak to me and tell me how much they'd enjoyed it and hadn't been able to put it down.
I was a guest author for Rotherham's Children's literature festival last year and met with fifteen young people aged 11 to 13 who had been asked to read my book before meeting me. I gave them comment cards at the end and said they could fill them in anonymously. I just wanted them to tell me honestly what they thought about the book and if there was anything I needed to improve. I admit to being pretty nervous when it came to reading those cards! But as I read my little heart sped up, skipping happily as every comment was positive. Every one of them had enjoyed it, even the boys!
I love reading and enjoy young adult books and well as adult ones. My criteria is that they have to be interesting, fast paced and exciting, I love the 'Blood Ties' series by Sophie MacKenzie, the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz and the Cherub series by Robert Muchamore and 'The Hunger Games' trilogy. They are excellent and so inventive.
Whenever I go shopping I have to visit the book store and invariably come home with one or two, not to mention the ones I buy off Amazon. I have three boxes of books waiting to be read and some that won’t even fit in the boxes! When I finish a book, I love to go and look at my stock and chose my next book. I get so excited and can’t wait to begin reading. I hope my books give readers that same pleasure.
For more information about Gail and her books, visit http://gailjonesbooks.co.uk/index.html

Q&A with author Sam Lang

19.8.11

First, let me say thank you for the opportunity. I do not venture outside much, so this is an occassion for me.
It's an absolute pleasure Sam, thank you for agreeing to be interviewed!

Name one book that made you think 'wow'? Why did it have such an effect on you? 
Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. There are so many good things about this book. I loved the way it explored the human soul.

Who is your favourite author and why? 
Good or bad, I have been a Stephen King junkie for as long as I can remember. Gore and frights were my main sustenance as a teenager.

Name one of your all-time favourite book covers? 
Interesting. Let me think, oh yes. I have managed to hold onto a book from my elementary school days. "Alfred Hitchcock's Monster Museum" is a collection of short stories from the likes of Idris Seabright, Jerome Bixby and Ray Bradbury. The cover is a dark assortment of characters staring out at the reader, partly inviting them in, partly warding them off.

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why?
Could you imagine a debate between Edgar Poe, Stephen King, Umberto Eco and Bram Stoker? I am sure I would be relinquished to opening wine bottles and listening in awe.

Who, or what, inspires you? 
A long stretch of country highway late on a fall night. Strange noises when you are home alone.

Where is your favourite place to write? 
At my desk, sitting in my big black leather chair.

What is your favourite film that was based on a book? 
Would you count a mini-series based on a graphic novel? If so, then The Walking Dead. If you won't count that, then I will go with Coppola's Dracula. It came very close to the book.

What is your book about? 
Reprisal is about the town of the same name and the people that live there. It examines lies and the truth and how it affects everyone involved. The town is haunted, so to speak, by a mysterious shadow that visits every so many years. In this particular story, a prison transport is set to bring a varied collection of murderers directly through the temporarily evacuated downtown. Of course, we would not have much of a story if the bus doesn't break down and everyone escapes. The history and future of Reprisal will be explored in coming stories.








If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the main characters? 
Eddie would have to be a young unknown. All eyes should be on Chief Matt Canton. He would have to be somebody that could be both instantly likeable and also gruff. I think James Garner would already be too old. Maybe a different turn for Steve Martin? Then again, Tom Selleck would have the right amount of edginess.


Tell us a random fact about yourself. 
I prefer to be alone.

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live. 
It is continuously dark and there are frequent lightning storms.

Winter or summer? Winter
Ebook or paperback? paperback
Favourite food? Steak
Sporty or couch potato? Couch
Cook or be cooked for? Cook

Link to your website, blog or both: http://langsreprisal.blogspot.com/ andhttp://www.facebook.com/LangsReprisal

Thanks for such an intriguing and honest interview Sam!

Q&A with blogger Sharon Goodwin

18.8.11

Today I've got a very lovely lady and book blogger Sharon Goodwin... Hi Sharon! Welcome to Q&A with moi!

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?
A book I’ve read recently has had that effect on me ……………. Caligula by Douglas Jackson. I do enjoy historical fiction and for me, this book ticked all my boxes. I was so absorbed in the story I was loathe to put it down. I was taken on a trip to the past and became involved in lives that were real to me. I even confronted my ‘shadow’ side with all the depravity, blood, gore, pride etc. The court intrigue kept me interested as did the assassination attempts on Caligula’s life. I didn’t want the book to end and hesitantly turned those final few pages. A good sign of what the story means to you!

Who is your favourite author and why?
I don’t have a favourite author – each author creates something that allows me escapism. In my childhood days I would have answered Enid Blyton (along with how many thousands of others!) Those adventures I took as a child gave me freedom!

Name one of your all-time favourite book covers?
Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales! You can make up your own stories just by looking at the different cameo’s on the front cover.

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why?
I would invite;
Bryan Sykes (author of The Seven Daughters and Adam’s Curse) to talk about DNA
Paramahansa Yogananda to tie the DNA in with ancient wisdom – and maybe learn a little spiritual wisdom myself!
Next on my list would be biology author Toby J Gibson – he could put his research of molecular biology (including DNA finds) to the group.
Finally, Douglas Adams (author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy). He could give us ideas on how to use all the things we learn round the dinner table – in the future!

Who, or what, inspires you?

Nature! Taking time out each day to walk and see and breathe and feel what is around me. That is true inspiration.

Where is your favourite place to write your blog?
Downstairs on my laptop while looking out the French Doors at the garden (all seasons).

Tell us a little about your favourite book...
My favourite is His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman (more than one book!) ……………… It’s a fantasy trilogy. We journey with two children who visit parallel worlds and have the most amazing adventures. They meet characters such as witches and armoured polar bears. They have their own daemons which are their souls. We also delve into physics, philosophy and theology! It’s such a fascinating world that the author has created.

What is your favourite film that was based on a book?
I am going to be predictable and say the movies based on The Twilight Series by Stephenie Myer!

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


The first book in His Dark Materials has already been made into a movie ‘The Golden Compass’. To be honest, I thought the cast was brilliant. Nicole Kidman was a fantastic Mrs Coulter and Daniel Craig was brilliant as Lord Asriel. Hopefully The Subtle Knife will also be made into a movie …Georgie Henley would make a fab Lyra (the young girl) she played Lucy the youngest daughter in Narnia; Kathleen Robertson for the witch Serafina Pekkala, she played Azkadellia in Syfy’s ‘The Tin Man’; Arthur Bowen to play Will Parry (he was Albus Severus Potter).

Tell us a random fact about yourself
For the past two years I’ve helped run an after school cookery club

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live.

An Air pageant was held at Hengistbury Head in July 1910 with almost all of aviators in the country attending. Many sightseers attended. For most of these sightseers this was the first time they had ever set eyes on one of the new fangled flying machines.
Charles Rolls (co-founder of Rolls Royce) took off in his Wright Flyer and gave a demonstration of the capabilities of the Wright brothers machine, but as he came into land something went terribly wrong. Some commentaries speak of Rolls stalling the machine, others indicate there was a mechanical failure with part of the tail falling off. Either way, the machine fell to the ground from about 100 feet. Charles Rolls was mortally wounded with "Severe Concussion" and died in the wreckage, before medical assistance arrived.

Winter or summer? Winter
Ebook or paperback? Paperback
Sporty or couch potato? Couch potato
Cook or be cooked for? Be cooked for

Link to your blog: http://shazjera.blogspot.com

My inspiration: The theme from Harry's Game

18.8.11

I adore this song by Clannad... I mean seriously ADORE it. I like to listen to it whenever I'm writing as it's just the perfect blend of sounds to inspire me. This style of Celtic music is absolutely beautiful and this is probably my favourite... I could easily listen to it all day! Enjoy.

Sue Owen: World of Warcraft to Wizard of Time

16.8.11

Hey Suzy, thanks for the chance to come talk on your blog. Lately I’ve been asked a bit about my main character, Josh, and how he came to be. I’m getting ready to post Josh’s story on my blog or maybe make it into a short story..haven’t really decided yet. But I thought I would share with you and your readers a bit of how Josh came to be.
First of all, he is based on a real life person. I won’t share the last name but Josh lives in California with his family. I met him while playing an MMO called World of Warcraft. I got addicted and played for a couple of years. Josh was one of the few players that could tolerate me and my slowness. We got to be great on-line friends even though we are about 30 years difference in age. 

For those of you that have never had a good on-line friend you can’t possibly understand what its like to know someone so completely but to never have met them in person. Josh was going through some difficult times moving out on his own, starting up school, getting his first job and I helped him through all that. At the same time he helped me with some personal stuff.
By the end of it all, Josh’s personality began to take shape when I started thinking about writing Wizard of Time. I knew I wanted to include his personality both on and off game and I knew he would be the hero. As it turned out, Josh became his own real-life hero and was able to pull himself out of a deep depression and continue on with a life that is pretty full right now.
I’m very proud of the life he’s made for himself and happy that he’s a part of my life. I gave him Wizard of Time to read letting him know that he was the “Josh” in the story. When he got done reading it he told me he didn’t need to be told he was Josh because he saw himself and the way he was versus the way he is now and he saw all that transition in the book itself. I was a bit worried he’d hate it because he’s right … I took the uncertain, clumsy, hate the world kid he started out as when I first knew him and turned him into the self-assured going places man he is today.
Please check out Wizard of Time and think of the 19 year old kid from California that made a success of his life.
For more information about Sue and her books, visit http://bysueowen.blogspot.com/ 
Sue also has a book blog, http://www.papermustang.com/

Q&A with author Tiffany Lovering

12.8.11

A very warm welcome to author of Tamporlea, Tiffany Lovering...

Name one book that made you think 'wow'? Why did it have such an effect on you?
Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives by Dan Millman. The whole Peaceful Warrior series is amazing and I think that there are a lot of life lessons within the books that anyone could apply to their own life.

Who is your favourite author and why?
Stephenie Meyer, mostly because of her personal story. I think it’s amazing that a dream completely changed her life in a matter of a few months. I also love the way that her books are paranormal but still grounded in reality. The Host is my favorite book of all time because of the way she intertwines reality with sci-fi.

Name one of your all-time favourite book covers?
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. I chose this cover because I didn’t start reading the series until all four books were released. However, I remember when it was just Twilight and I would pick up the book, love the cover art, read the back and place it back on the shelf. (About 100 times in three years) I didn’t think I would like the book at all considering I have no interest in vampires. I wished it was about anything other than vampires because I loved the cover art so much.

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why?
Stephenie Meyer, Karen McQuestion, Jodi Picoult and JK Rowling because I love all of their books and I think it would be an amazing dinner party.

Who, or what, inspires you?
A lot of things inspire me but I would have to say it’s mostly photographs that really get me writing. I started writing Tamporlea because of a photo I had of a small mountain. If I’m in the middle of a book and I am blocked, it’s my daughter, Allison, who gets me back in the swing of things because of her constant check-ins on how many words/pages I’ve written on my latest book.

Where is your favourite place to write?
On my couch in my living room because it is comfortable and I tend to change positions a lot so a chair just isn’t going to work for me. I usually have my back to the TV and my iPod blaring in my ears.

What is your favourite film that was based on a book?
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix because I think the fight between Dumbledore and Voldemort is epic. I also think the movie is very close to the book which is very difficult to accomplish.

What is your book about?
The Tamporlea Trilogy is about a young girl, Jasmine, who discovers that she can be Queen in a kingdom of magical gypsies. Throughout her journey she encounters betrayal, war between the three gypsy kingdoms and a love she can’t ignore.






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


Jasmine would be Hailee Steinfeld, Cali would be Evanna Lynch and Tyran would be Matt Czuchry.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I have been obsessed with the number 27 since I was about 10 years old and try to use the number in some way in all of my books.

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live.
Amsterdam, NY is the home of the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. Also, the old National Guard Armory is now a bed and breakfast called Amsterdam Castle and has been featured on many shows and movie productions.

Winter or summer? Summer
Ebook or paperback? Ebook
Favourite food? Corned Beef
Sporty or couch potato? Couch Potato
Cook or be cooked for? Be cooked for.
Blog: http://tiffanysuelovering.blogspot.com/
Website: tiffanylovering.webs.com

Thanks, Tiffany! You're definitely the first person I've 'met' with an obsession for a number! Intriguing. I shall look out for it when I read Tamporlea!

EXCLUSIVE: Raintown interview

11.8.11

I'm seriously excited to have one of the world's up and coming Country Music bands, Raintown, with me today. If you love the likes of Lady Antebellum and Sugarland, then you've GOT to check them out. They are simply AMAZING...

How and when did Raintown come into existence?
P&C: Raintown really blossomed out of our friendship and our love for Contemporary Country Music. We were both working on our own individual projects, Paul as a solo act and Claire as part of a Country Girl group. We started working on some material for Claire’s band and we formed a really good writing partnership. However, we did not really decide to do the Raintown project until we were sitting in Gran Canaria, where we were working for the summer. It just seemed to click and we thought, if we both want the same thing, why not do it together.

How did you come up with the name?
Our name, Raintown, is really a two -fold thing. It is a tip of the hat to Deacon Blue (and all the great acts to come out of Scotland) but it also represents, an ideal about community, (in particular from the heavy manufacturing industries like Ship Building, Coal Mining etc that were prevalent in Glasgow in the post war years), of hard working, hard living, but kind hearted, people, who used music, in our families case Country Music, to come together and share important moments and/or lift their spirits. We thought that really represented what Country Music is its simplest form; our expression of real human emotions through songs about real life, real people, faith and hope.

I noticed you're from Scotland - are you both from the same city?
Yeah we both are from Glasgow, although we have started many a fight online with people arguing on online forums about where we or were not from. So currently we live in Glasgow, that is a fact, promise!.

Who writes the music and lyrics?
Our debut album, ‘Hope in Troubled Times,’ is only self penned songs. We worked closely with Greg Friel of Frielance Music who co-wrote and produced the album. For us all writing is sometimes a real love affair, where everything flows and other times it is a fight to find the right word or melody to get across the story in just a few minutes. However it is always a labour of love!

Where do you perform?
We have been lucky enough to perform in some great places and festivals throughout the UK and the USA. However, most recently we made a little bit of history by becoming the first ever Scottish act to be invited to perform at the CMA Global Artist Party at the start of CMA Fest 2011. (The biggest Country Music Festival in the world)
We also have our first theatre date in the UK at The Plaza, Stockport on 27th September.

Who, or what, is your inspiration?
We know this sounds kind of corny, but we don’t have to look too hard to find some real inspiration, it can be found in every moment or any conversation. Often for us it is in our own lives or conversations with others about their experiences.
A great example is our new single ‘Picture of Us,’ (which is available FREE, for a limited time, @ http://www.pictureofus.com), which really recognises the struggle that often belies the perfect smiles and photographs we show to the world. It was based on a conversation we (Paul, Claire & Greg) had about how couple’s often have to battle to reclaim the happiness that is portrayed, almost mockingly, by the photographs that take pride of place on their mantelpiece etc.

Favourite song that you've produced?
Ah, probably the hardest question that we get asked, it is really too hard to say,
C: I have a real soft spot for ‘Picture of Us.’ I always loved the idea, that people are always striving to make something better and not giving up and I think some of the imagery in the song is brilliant.
P: I guess ‘Hero’ (which is not on the album, but is the first song me and Claire recorded together. The song was written for my Mum as a birthday present) or ‘I Won’t Dance Alone.’ Both songs have really strong personal meanings for me and so if I had to choose it would be those two. Now I feel like I have betrayed the rest of our children, lol.

You recently performed at the CMA Global Artist Party at CMA Fest 2011 in Nashville. Tell us a little about that.
P: A phenomenal experience. A great 2 weeks, busy with meetings, but still brilliant. The gig itself was awesome. We got to share the stage with other brilliant acts from all around the world and we loved it. It was an amazing experience; that really cemented our belief that we are on the right track.
C: We actually took the stage after Keith Urban had presented Tommy Emmanuel with an award for CMA Best International Act. As Paul said, It was a brilliant experience and one which only whetted our appetite for more. We aim to be on one of the big stage next year! It was a real joy to play with such brilliant musicians and to meet other artist’s from across the globe.

Favourite band moment?
P&C: Taking the stage at CMA Fest 2011 and having people from all around the world singing our songs and making us feel very much part of the Country community. It was also great to get to spend time with some of those people we met at the event while we were in Nashville. Great memories!
Second to that was probably hearing our first single, ‘Just One Kiss’ on the radio in the car as we were driving home one night! Surreal!

Band's ambitions?
Our goal is simply to be the very best country artists that we can become. Our daily goal is to develop, learn and move forward; to keep improving our song writing, performances and creating songs that people enjoy. We want to be competing at the very highest level, and as longs as we keep improving and learning we will be happy!
However we know nothing that we want to achieve can be done in isolation and having a great team and Family around us is imperative to our success. In equal measure it keeps us grounded and focussed on the goals!
If you could perform with absolutely anybody (from any time in history), who would it be and why?
P&C: Hands down, Elvis Presley!
C: Yeah it would be interesting to see who shakes their hips more Elvis or Paul!

If you could perform anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
P&C: LP Field (Nashville, Tennessee) 2012 CMA Fest to 80,000 incredible Country Music Fans!! That would be special

Most embarrassing moment as a band (or individual if it's easier to recall!)
P: I guess embarrassing/funny was we were doing a really intimate gig on the east coast of Scotland. The venue is really small, to the extent that we have people sitting right in front of and to the side. This lady to the side is sitting with her man, but her way is blocked by our speaker. Anyways Claire is upfront singing a solo, when said lady decides to go powder her nose, unfortunately as she crosses the speaker she trips and I, in an attempt to help her and stop her falling inadvertently handle her bum. Everyone sees this, the laughter starts and I am not kidding Claire is singing a cover song called, ‘Cheater Cheater.’ I just put up my hands and said ‘Guilty!’

Who is your favourite musician of all time?
P: This is too hard Suzy, too hard!! Elvis has to be up there, Patsy Cline, Otis Reading, but Freddie Mercury maybe. Nah too hard, I cannot decide.
C: Dolly Parton or Elvis. No wait Patsy Cline. This really is hard!
P: Oh yeah Dolly Parton, see what I mean!

What is your favourite kind of music to listen to?
Country Music, all kinds first and foremost. However, our listening choices are really eclectic, really enjoying Adele at the moment, but equally we have Andrea Bocelli in the car and pure Pop like Lady GaGa.

Your favourite kind of music to perform?




P&C: We love performing our own material for people and also giving them our own interpretations of cover songs that we love. Eg http://youtu.be/quKZCC6faqg (above).

And finally, a question I'm sure is on everyone's minds... are you two a couple? (sorry, it just had to be asked!)
LOL, we guess we probably gave that answer away a while ago, but yes we are a couple.
P: I am a lucky and grateful everyday for that luck!!
C: Yeah so he should be!! LOL No we are both lucky and being together just makes the whole journey all the more special.
P: Just as well you said that, or there would be no dinner for you tonight! LOL xx 

LOL... thanks guys. I'm truly honoured to have you on my humble blog! Good luck.

And to everybody else... what are you waiting for? Click here and see for yourselves just how awesome Raintown really is!
http://www.pictureofus.com

Guest post by Martin King #100blogfest

10.8.11

I've got something a little different for you today. Author Martin King has been busy with his 100blogfest... basically 100 blog posts for 100 different blogs! be sure to follow him on his journey. Here is his latest post...
Today’s story is slightly different. Because I grew up in a small town in Lancashire and because Suzy is from Yorkshire, I thought it would be a good little tale to talk about the town I grew up in. For those that don’t know, there is a long standing rivalry between the two counties that stretches back hundreds of years.
Lancashire is represented by the red rose and had famous cities such as Manchester and Liverpool within its domain whereas Yorkshire’s symbol was the white rose, with well known cities such as Leeds and York.
Now I grew up in a small industrial cotton mill town tight on the border of the two counties. Thankfully I lived on the right side of the border in Lancashire, but I don’t want to start another war, so I will keep the jokes to a minimum.
Back then people had high moral standards, allegedly. It was considered a sin to live together without being married. So much so, if you worked for the cotton industry in Yorkshire and was found out to be living in sin, you would be kicked out of work. And not only that, you would be black listed from working in any other mill within the Yorkshire Ridings.
Their only chance to make a living would be to travel outside of the jurisdiction. It became known as ‘living over the brush.’ A town just across the border where they were free to live their lives as they please – and that place was Barnoldswick – the town I grew up in as a boy many years later.
I hope you liked stepping back in time on our little history lesson, well that is history as I remember being told. Perhaps my memory is not what it used to be.
These blogs are all about fun and sharing. Thank you for reading a ‘#100blogfest’ blog. Please follow this link to find the next blog in the series: http://martinkingauthor.com/blog/7094550076

The expressions they give us by A.E Mayer

9.8.11

Recently, I blogged about a certain face people make when I tell them I’m a writer. If you’re a writer or you are good friends with any writers, you’re probably nodding right now because you know exactly which face I’m talking about. It’s the judgy face, the “yikes” face, the withering one that makes you die a little inside. It’s not easy to market to that face. 
But I don’t want to talk about “the face” people today. I want to talk about the handful whose expressions light up like lamps when they meet me and learn that they now know a writer, the few folks who become positively giddy when they hear that I have a book and am writing more.
Although most folks show an expression like you just farted when you fess up to being a writer, these others are the shining few who go bananas. Sometimes they’re writers themselves, but sometimes they’re just bibliophiles, lit lovers, or people who are open-hearted and are interested in what you have to say.
These are the people who have made having a book on the market not just interesting, but downright magical.
This is a note I recently got from a distant friend who bought the book, but wisely didn’t tell me she had just in case it wasn’t her thing: “I I read Temp and LOVED it, so much so that I slept only a few hours a night for a few nights so that I could finish. Given that I have a baby and am chronically underslept, that's a big compliment.”
To me, a note like that makes the whole writing process, which is at times more agonizing than all-inspiring, worth it. When you’re a writer, you essentially sit alone in a room all day and talk to yourself or the characters you’ve designed. So when you’re finally ready to fling your baby book out into the public, it’s hard to know what to expect. I mean, I like Temp, but that doesn’t mean other people have to. There was no way to gauge what people would think or say.
As I have brought my book to market, some people, even those I considered close, have suddenly become anonymous and chosen not to show their support. But some, even strangers I chat up in the donut shop, get giddy. They like the concept, they like my style, and with bookmarks in hand, they go home and take a chance on a newbie by clicking “purchase.” The book hasn’t been out very long, but the response I have gotten so far makes me not only relieved that I took a chance on doing it in the first place, but geared up to do it all over again.
While the “face” some people make can be withering, toting my book into the open market has done nothing but boost my appreciation for and faith in people. The spark that my readers have given me more than lights my path to the second book, and it takes the sting out of everything else. From where I sit, there’s nothing but gratitude.
Thanks to my new friend and fellow writer Suzy Turner for letting me guest star on her blog! Cheers.
A.E Mayer, Author

Q&A with author Carole Anne Carr

5.8.11

Welcome children's author, Carole Anne Carr...
Name one book that made you think 'wow'? Why did it have such an effect on you?
There are many books that I could list, but as I'm a children's author I think I should name one of the books that led me to write for children. Incidentally, it is the same book that led J.K. Rowling to write the Potter series, The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Gouge. The wonderful detailed description would appeal to any young girl.

Who is your favourite author and why? 
There are so many. I'll say J.J. Tolkien for his book The Hobbit. It has everything a children's book should contain.

What is your all-time favourite book cover?
Probably the cover of The Wind in The Willows.

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why?
Anne Fine, Diana Wynne Jones, Enid Bagnold, Beatrix Potter, Lewis Carroll, Richmal Crompton, B.B., John Masefield, Elizabeth Gouge, J.J. Tolkien, and C.S. Lewis because they all write/wrote amazing, original children's books.

Who, or what, inspires you?
Without realising it at the time, it was probably my stoic Father and my creative, caring Mother.


Where is your favourite place to write?
When I'm completely involved in this process it really doesn't matter where I am, I am oblivious of everything around me. When travelling I'll scribble plots, bits of conversation on any scrap of paper I can find. But most of the time I'm at the computer in my study.

What is your latest book about?
My latest book, published a few days ago is Thin Time. It is set in the Shropshire village of Tong, and based upon Norse mythology. A young girl, chosen by mistake to be Task Bearer and given three gifts, must bring back the New Year seeds before midnight to prevent the world from dying. With her small stepbrother Thomas, a bad tempered dog named Fymm who is many centuries old, and Ratatosk the Messenger squirrel, she sets out on a dangerous quest. Chased by gargoyles, and guided by the young girl from the altar tomb in Tong Church, Alice finds the door into the Tree of Life by using the skipping rhyme password and travels into the Other World at Thin Time. Helped by the singing cockerel from the church tower, and armed with a stone and a gargoyle’s shield she must face the terrible Sisters at the Well of Wyrd, and the fury of Nidhogg the Snake-Dragon. But does she possess the one thing that will protect her - a loving heart? For without that, she will never be able to return to her own time, and the treasure, whatever it may be, will never be hers.

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the main characters?
Preferably an unknown for the girl with lots of personality, and any good classical British actor, actress, for the other parts.

What is your favourite film that was based on a book?
The Box of Delights - John Masefield.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I was lost in a forest in Central Africa.

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live.
It is thought to be one of the most beautiful historic towns in England and is also famous for its Michelin starred restaurants.

Winter or summer?
Summer now that I am much older.
Ebook or paperback? Ebook is useful for editing my own books, quick download of classics free of charge, but I shall always prefer to hold a paperback. I embrace all new technology, but holding a piece of plastic does not provide the same reading experience. However, the producers of Kindle say that their cold mechanical object will do this.
Favourite food? French food closely followed by Italian. Same for wines!
Sporty or couch potato? Sporty even at my age, work out at the gym three times a week.
Cook or be cooked for? Cook. Adore cooking all European food, oh, and Indian too.

Visit Carole's website at http://caroleannecarr.co.uk and her blog at http://caroleannecarr.blogspot.com

What fabulous answers, Carole. Thank you! I love the sound of your children's story... wonderful!
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