Flash Question Session---> Author Nathan Squiers

Flash Question Session
Author Nathan Squiers




1. What makes your stories different?
Like many-a-Blues musician I've made an unholy deal with the Dark Lord at a crossroads for a golden quill pen. . .

Anyway, all joking set aside, if I had to put my finger on something unique about my work I'd have to say it's the stories themselves--both the material and the overall intended purpose. When I decided to approach a future in paranormal/fantasy writing, I wanted something that was inherently mine. George Lucas has the amazingly complex Star Wars universe, Edgar Allen Poe had foggy-yet-eerily-detailed worlds and his fondness for dead women, and I wanted something that was mine-all-mine. Before anything else, I decided to invent my own world; a world that would make readers wonder if vampires and other such creatures could REALLY exist in our world; lingering on rooftops, lurking in alleyways, and biding their time for the perfect opportunity to strike. A year-and-a-half of research was spent adapting, modifying, and (*ahem*) revamping the legendary beings of lore from all over the world and cultures across time to make a rich world that was set in a foundation of the here-and-now.

However, while the complexity of the world is something that I'm personally proud of, in the end it's the stories that I'm conveying to the readers that, I feel, they'll find a tad more personal than others. I DO love my vampires and werewolves and other gnarly beings, but I don't like writing stories that don't serve as some sort of motivator to readers who may need it. I know from experience that the world can be a painful place, and I do what I can to convey messages of hope that are laced into the pieces. Those who are looking will find them, and those who aren't won't lose out on a fun story.


2. Who influenced you when you were starting out in writing?
I soaked up inspiration from EVERYWHERE! I've always been a reader (enjoying titles like Goosebumps and Animorphs as a kid and rapidly moving on to newer, darker, and more "adult" literature that only furthered my fascination with mythological creatures and adventurous stories). Steven King, Isaac Asimov, Nancy A. Collins, Rob Thurman. . . anything and everything I could get my hands on. It didn't stop with novels, though; the exciting and complex stories from comic books, the stylized and complex imagery from Japanese anime and manga, the cinematic view of all my favorite movies, and, of course, music.

Lots and lots of music.


3. If you if could meet any of your own characters, who would it be and why? 
Oh this question is unfair! I call shenanigans!

 *sigh*
Okay, if I could only meet one of my characters I guess I'd have to go with Xander Stryker from my Crimson Shadow series. I know this sounds like an easy open/shut question (after all, of all the characters I've created I only have Xander tattooed on myself), but, in a lot of ways, every member of Bloodtones from my novel Death Metal would be an exciting meet-and-greet, and Takeshi from my comic Night Tide: Chronicles of a Vampire Vigilante would be enlightening. Despite my fondness for every character I concoct, however, Xander strikes me as somebody that I could really have some decent dialogue with.

That, and the boy needs a friend in the WORST kinda
way lol.


4. What are your current and past projects that you have you done?
In the near-decade I've been working I've written three manuscripts of my Crimson Shadow series as well as a slew of short stories involving Xander or centered in his realm (book #4 is half-written and waiting patiently for me to finish it), as well as Death Metal (a musically-driven paranormal piece that I turned to in a moment of writers block with CS #4 that has since been published). Outside of these I've done some short stories, and scripted three separate comic book concepts (seven 22-page issues of a vampire comic called Night Tide, three issues of a post-Apocalyptic demon-takeover piece, and one lonely issue of a supernatural detective piece).

Currently I'm in the midst of outlining Death Metal's sequel and doing some final edits on book #2 of Crimson Shadow (working title: "Sins of the Father").

When I've got those projects off the list, I need to finish book #4 of CS, then get #5-7 (the themes/plots of which have already been planned out) written and edited, a second series (at least five books) related to Crimson Shadow but centered on a different character (with close ties to Xander), and then some one-shot books: a book set in a future where vampires have taken over and humans are nearly extinct, a werewolf-hunter & werewolf romance piece, a demon-possessed romance, and a semi-comedic "zombie" story (not mentioned - any new short stories or comics book scripts [new or pre-existing]).


5. How personal is your writing?
I'd say it's personal enough. For me, while there's a decent amount of creativity and elaboration, a lot of my work is an extension of my thoughts and experiences. Characters in my pieces are often nervous, scared, or tormented from a number of sources (family, peers, etc. . .) and a lot of that is mirrored in what I write. I think every artist feels a sense of helplessness when they put out a piece for the world to encounter, and when the characters a writer depicts go through their story, it's an author's emotions being exposed not only to everyone they know, but anybody who picks up that book. It's a double-edged sword in a lot of ways: I would never dream of cheating a reader out of a rich and in-depth story to keep myself safe from judgment, but, at the same time, putting myself out in the open for the world to see is a very vulnerable position to be in.

In the end, however, I feel a reader understands and recognizes that effort and sacrifice and will enjoy the piece more for it.


6. What weird thing do you do: quirks, odd habit?
Every other day, exactly 13 minutes prior to sitting down to write, I set the coffee maker to brew a fresh batch and slip into a custom-made three-piece suit made from strips of bacon and don an aluminum-foil hat to keep the squirrel spies that wait for my defenses to drop from their treetop perches from looking into my head. I then climb out onto my roof and lie, facing South-East, to consider my lot in life.

Then, with a cup of coffee or energy drink (anything caffeinated, really) and a sandwich or other such sustenance, I plop down behind my computer, set my music to a Japanese playlist, and get to work.

(Note to readers - please disregard the first paragraph; I don't want to let the squirrels know I'm on to them!)

7. Are you a pantser writer or an outline plotter?
 -After a few too many "Oh, I forgot to add this. . . Oh look: now I have to rewrite seven chapters to make this all work right" moments, I decided to save both time and sanity by having a rough outline to organize my thoughts prior to writing a story longer than 10K words.


8. What do you do to help you write? Do you down the energy drinks? Eat junk food? Consult your cat? Blast the tunes? Do tell.
 -Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

I've got a mean caffeine addiction (and potentially a minor case of narcolepsy) that has me chugging energy drinks and coffee every other hour to avoid passing out at my desk. I am a proud and content fatty (punk-rock Buddha ova' here!) and can't get a good groove going without some good eats within reach. My cat, a loyal and loving little guy named Trent, knows when it's time to get comfy nearby when I start to work in case I need somebody to bounce dialogue off of. Finally, because English lyrics easily distract my writing, I have to switch my tunes over to my foreign playlist (consisting mostly of Japanese bands like Dir en Grey, Gackt, L'Arc en Ciel, Malice Mizer, Alice+Nine, and many others).


9. Early bird or Night Owl?
 -I usually don't operate too well in the morning. I'm pretty much useless in any way, shape, or form until sometime past noon.


10. Where can we stalk you online?
-If stalking like our forefathers once had--daring ascents up rickety trees with a pair of Grandpa's binoculars and a Polaroid camera (do people still use Polaroids? Oye ve I'm old. . .)--is too much to handle I can be easily and safely found at www.nathansquiers.com (where you can find links to a multitude of my pages: Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, Vampirefreaks, and many more). I can also be found on Goodreads at http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7170264-nathan-squiers (though I'm still "young" there, so be patient with me).


0 comments:

Flash Question Session---> Author Kate Cowan

Flash Question Session
Author Kate Cowan



1. What inspired you to write your books?
A lot of things inspired me to write my books. I'd always been a creative kid, drawing and thinking up little stories but never writing them down. Finally, I knew I needed to get those little stories out of my head - and ended up combining them into one big story. The whole thing really worked, all of the little ideas flowing together enough that it kept my attention while I was writing. A lot of inspiration also comes from art, both mine and others. A picture's worth a thousand words, right? That's a lot of words when you think about all of the beautiful art out there. A lot of words that really needed written down.


2. Where do you get your ideas for writing?
Everywhere! Everything that exists has a story, and the most fun stories are the ones you don't know. Then, you get to make them up.


3. If you if could meet any of your own characters, who would it be?
Adriane, without a doubt. She's really kickass, really tough, and quiet. I think she's be really cool to meet, and she was definitely the most fun to write. Which is kind of strange, seeing as she's not the main character and Garden of Eden isn't about her. I mean, I would love to meet Eden, but I'm not sure we would get along perchance she were real. I think Adriane has a lot more going on- and knows a lot more- than you'd think.


4. What would be your advice to aspiring authors?
Don't try too hard to be like someone else when you write. One persons style may not work for another - you have to be yourself. Also, don't give up. If it seems like what your writing isn't making sense, just take a step back and let it sit for a while - but then go back to it!! You'll never get anything written if you never write.


5. How personal is your writing?
Hm. That's hard. I think it's personal - my writing is like my baby. But, does it reflect anything I've ever lived through, then the answer is no. Im almost happy about that! Eden, Will and everyone else in the book go through a lot of hard times.


6. What weird thing do you do?
I do a lot of writing in the back of my car, when someone else is driving. On my laptop, mostly. I don't know what it is about the car, but writing comes easiest in there. Also, I like turkey bacon and peanut butter. It's not writing related but its so good.


7. Are you a pantser writer or an outline plotter?
I'm very much NOT an outline writer. When i was writing Garden of Eden, I didn't know where the hell it was going. They were just words forming a story of their own. Since I finished Garden of Eden though, I've got more of a storyline formed in my head, but I wouldn't call it an outline. It's more of a rough sketch before I actually form something coherent.


8. What do you do to help you write? Do you down the energy drinks? Eat junk food? Run around the house to get the inspiration going? Blast the tunes? Do tell.
Music!!! I find if I can't find the right soundtrack, my writing is dead and lifeless. For Garden of Eden, I listened to almost 100% Evanescence, with a little 30 seconds to mars in there. I don't know why music plays such a big part in my writing, because about 10 minutes in I usually just zone out and don't really hear any of it. But if it's not there, writing usually isn't an option.


9. Your office: Home, Starbucks, dining room table?
Couch. Or living room chair. Or back of a car. Not at a Desk chair, or a kitchen chair - those are not comfortable enough. Also, pajamas are a plus. Or track pants...


10. Where can we stalk you online?

Facebook!! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Garden-of-Eden/358692730813481
Deviantart, http://brennan18.deviantart.com/
http://crushingheartsandblackbutterfly.com

0 comments:

Blog Tag~~~~~ YOU'RE IT!!!!!


Playing Tag! Oh yeah!

So, Christy Sloat tagged me, LOL, I must obey....! I will now tag a few blogs, if you have been tagged please answer the questions and link your post back to me :)

1.What kind of books do you like to read?
YA/Paranormal, Urban Fanstasy, Dystopian, Horror, Epic, Memoirs, Literary Fiction, Some Sci-fi adventure
2. If I came to your home and looked under your bed, what would I find?
My bed is on the floor, no space beneath for a good reason. Otherwise, it becomes the den of many little things, make belief and not....
3. Grab the book nearest you, turn to page 20, find line 5 and write in. What book is it?
"What is your the name?"- No Rest for the Wicked by Kresly Cole
4. Use 3 words to describe yourself...
Driven, Friendly, Loving
5. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream and why?
Double Chocolate Chip cuz you can't ever have enough chocolate :D
6. What would you do if you had $1 million dollars?
Buy a new house and a new car and invest the rest
7. If you could eat lunch with 1 famous person who would it be?
Cassandra Clare, to see what makes her tick....
8. Do you ever get Writer’s block?
Yes, but it is more like writer's haze, I know where to go but my muse digs its nails into the ground and won't budge.
9. What kind of books do you like to write?
I like to write Paranormal fiction, urban fantasy, horror and action adventure, it's challenging. 
10, Pen, pencil or tapping the keyboard~ which one do you prefer? 
Computer keyboard by far!


1.What kind of books do you like to read?
2. If I came to your home and looked under your bed, what would I find?
3. Grab the book nearest you, turn to page 20, find line 5 and write in. What book is it?
4. Use 3 words to describe yourself...
5. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream and why?
6. What would you do if you had $1 million dollars?
7. If you could eat lunch with 1 famous person who would it be?
8. Do you ever get Writer’s block?
9. What kind of books do you like to write?
10. Pen, pencil or tapping the keyboard~ which one do you prefer?

1 comments:

Flash Question Session---> Author Garden Summerland

Flash Question Session
Author Garden Summerland


 1. Introduce yourself and what you it is you do-

Hi! I'm Garden Summerland, and I am a writer - an artist... a creator of imaginary scenes and dialogue!


2.Your office: Home, Starbucks, dining room table, McDonald’s with wifi, couch?

 My bed! I get comfy and write away!


3. What are your current and past projects that you have you done?

I have two short flash fiction anthologies published and I am currently working on a paranormal romance novel. And maybe, just maybe there might be a third flash fiction collection on the horizon!

4. What’s the worst advice you have ever received regarding your writing?

Amazingly, I haven't personally received any bad advice regarding my writing!!


5. If you are self-published, tell us about your experiences, pros and cons.

I am self published and I have had such a terrific experience with it, I would never seek out a traditional publisher. The self publishing/Indie community is like a big family! So very supportive & there for each other. I have truly been amazed & blown away by the awesome people I have gotten to know through my self publishing venture. It is a tremendous amount of work, as far as publicity and marketing, but anything worth having usually involves some hard work!


6. What weird thing do you do, a quirk or something we don’t know about you?

I always have several projects going at once – I will write a few lines in one, then go to another and do the same – switching back and forth between three or four different stories. It is very difficult for me to sit and work on just one. I think it's normal, but I've been told it's “weird”!

7. Are you a pantser writer or an outline plotter?

I'm a panster all the way!!

8. What do you do to help you write? Do you down the energy drinks? Meditate? Brainstorm until smoke comes out your head? Blast the tunes? Do tell.

Strange but true - I have gotten more ideas while putting up dishes out of the dishwasher than from anything else! I also read & watch youtube videos to get my mind in a creative mode – but I don't listen to music as it is terribly distracting while I am writing. I never drink energy drinks, but a Caramel Frappuccino or a Blood Orange vitamin water will always be a welcome assist to creativity!


9. What would be your advice to aspiring authors?

To write everyday. And that quality is far more important than quantity any day of the week!


10. Where can we stalk you online?

Facebook
Twitter
My Blog
My Website



My Review of Flash Fiction Addiction by Garden Summerland



Flash Fiction Addiction 22 Short short stories by Garden Summerland has got to be one the most surprising finds I have read this year. It was filled with short, I mean 'short' stories, full of mystery/thriller/murder and a touch of paranormal flavors. I enjoyed reading the 22 she included in this collection. Garden Summerland does an excellent job pulling the reader in to become one with the characters and feel their emotions ranging from love, hate, lust, and regret. I found myself at the end faster than I would have liked and really ready for more. My only regret is that it was a really quick read. Definitely a heart pounding, gut wrenching, mind bending journey. Well worth the read!
5 STARS out of 5!!!!

0 comments:

Flash Question Session---> Author Kyani Swanigan

Flash Question Session
Author Kyani Swanigan



1. Introduce yourself and what it is you do.

Hi everyone! My name is Kyani Swanigan, and I am the YA author of Everlife. It still feels weird to call myself an author because that wasn’t the plan originally. I wanted to be a stylist for the past few years of my life. But writing has always been a passion, and when writing this book popped up, I felt inclined to get it done. And now that I’ve started this journey, I’m anxious to see where it leads.

2. Your office: Home, Starbucks, dining room table?

I work all over my house lol. Before I got a laptop I worked on my desktop, so that’s where I was stationed. But now that I can be mobile, I move around to different areas of the house. I’ve also come to find that I can get very easily distracted, so I could never focus anywhere with too many people.

 
3. What are your current and past projects that you have done?

I’ve always been sort of an off and on writer. I have tons of manuscripts that I’ve started and never finished. But now that I’m writing this series, book two is what I am currently working on. Also, four members of my amazing publishing family, Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly, and me are working on an awesome project.

4. What’s the best advice you have ever received regarding your writing?

Well my mom always reminds me to tell the story. There has been so many times when I’ll be sitting with her and reading her a section that I’ve written. If she doesn’t feel that I’ve elaborated on something enough, she encourages me to do so. Even though trying to expand on something can serve as a challenge sometimes, it always comes out better.

5. If you are self-published, tell us about your experiences, pros and cons. If not, elaborate your experience so far in the publishing world.

It’s funny that you mention self-publishing because that was the plan originally. But I’m glad that I held back because now I am part of CHBB! The ride so far has been no less than surreal. The release of my book is approaching so quickly I can hardly believe it! But I’ve been having a lot of fun with this experience, and I can’t wait to see what happens with not only Everlife, but the books of my CHBB family as well.

6. Favorite flavor of anything?

The first thing that comes to mind is my favorite smoothie flavor at Jamba Juice since I’ve been craving it, which is a White Gummie.

7. Are you a pantser writer or an outline plotter?

I try to do outlines. Like with the book I’m working on right now, I made one, and honestly it did help to have a set direction that I was going. But I stopped using it because there were so many things that I just wanted to add on the spot. Yes it does give me a bit of writers block, but if I get really stuck than I can always refer to the outline, which is handy.



8. What do you do to help you write? Do you down the energy drinks? Eat junk food? Run around the house to get the inspiration going? Blast the tunes? Do tell.

I’m really visual when it comes to writing a scene or imagining my characters. I find listening to my iPod with my headphones on helps me get in that state of mind or come up with something.

9. What would be your advice to aspiring authors?

Don’t stop writing. I know that it gets tricky, and you really have to push yourself (for some more than others), but it is the greatest feeling to finish a book. You’ll be very proud of yourself.

10. Where can we stalk you online?

I have a fan page on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Kyani-Swanigan-author-of-The-Nyx-Series/264675130231389
And a twitter:
https://twitter.com/#!/Kyani_Swanigan
Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Website

Stalk away J

2 comments:

Flash Question Session---> Author J.C. Noir

Flash Question Session
Author J.C. Noir



1. Your work area: messy or neat? - Neat, and symmetrical.

2. Do you write first in longhand or just tap away at the computer? - At first it was longhand on paper. Any paper I could find when I had an idea and I would attach them together later on. Now, on the computer only.

3. What are your current and past projects that you have you done?
- Solace Through Tragedy, Alice & Chess, and next up, Shattered Oz.

4. The worst advice you have ever received?
- Never really had any bad advice that I can think of.

5. What makes your stories different? - I like mixing genres in strange ways. Horror/Fantasy, Horror/Steampunk, and Horror/Cyberpunk. I also enjoy recreating classic concepts with my own horrific ideas.

6. What are your favorite authors/books? - Dean Koontz (The Bad Place, Demon Seed, Intensity, Cold Fire) John Saul (Second Child, Darkness, The Unwanted, The Homing) Lewis Carrol (Alice, Through the Looking Glass) L. Frank Baum (Oz Series).

7. Ice Cream or Sorbet?
 - Ice Cream with brownies in it.

8. What do you do to help you write: Do you down the energy drinks? Eat junk food? Run around the house to get the inspiration going? Blast the tunes? Do tell.
- Blue Low-Carb Monster Energy. Anything with no sugar or low sugar. Music as well.

9. What was the hardest part you had to write in your book? - Solace Through Tragedy tapped quite a bit into aspects of a past relationship of mine with a girl who suffered heavy trauma as a child. Anything involving aspects of her are tough for me, though writing them out is my therapy.

10. Where can we stalk you online?
- facebook.com/JCNoir
Click HERE to buy his books!

0 comments:

Flash Question Session---> Author Madison Daniel

Flash Question Session
Author Madison Daniel




1. Introduce yourself and what it is you do. 
MD: They call me Madison and I love to dance! Ha! Seriously, I am a word imagineer. I dream it. I write it. I love it.



2. Your office: Home, Starbucks, dining room table, couch?
 MD: Wherever my laptop will go. I tend to write everywhere. If I’m inspired, I write it down, no matter where I am. But the couch gets a lot of that mileage.

3. What are your current and past projects that you have you done? 
MD: Ember: Book One in the Ember Series, releasing Feb. 29th 2012 (courtesy of Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing). Downpour: Book Two in the Ember Series is ready and waiting for future publishing. 13 Breaths, another series I am close to releasing. I have a short called Temptation Waits that is close to seeing the light of day and a few writing surprises. I’m so excited about all the different slivers of expression that I have in the works. (Maybe even an independent comic book series...)

4. What’s the best advice you have ever received regarding your writing?
MD: Shut up and write. Just write, no matter what. Figure all the rest out later.

5. If you are self-published, tell us about your experiences, pros and cons. 
MD: Self-publishing is a double edged sword. The excitement of being your own boss and having the control to do whatever you like is balanced by the grind of self-promotion and swimming with all the “big fish” in the literary sea. The process has been the best experience for me, personally. I have met some of the nicest and humbling people because of the process. Warning: do not proceed with self-publishing if you can’t weather the criticism. It will find you. Everyone who has self-published has had to grow a thicker skin.

6. What weird thing do you do, a quirk or something we don’t know about you?
  MD: I hate to admit this but I am a nail biter. Hands only! I try so hard not too but I can be a nervous bugger sometimes.

7. Are you a pantser writer or an outline plotter?
MD: More of an outliner with a splash of panster. First, I write everything on paper with a pen, old school. Later, it spills onto my computer. My outlines differ from being very detailed to hardly a cohesive thought or sentence. Every so often though, I just open my MacBook Pro and start writing. No retreat...no surrender.

8. What do you do to help you write? Do you down the energy drinks? Eat junk food? Run around the house to get the inspiration going? Blast the tunes? Do tell.
MD: Music...always! There is nothing music can’t cure...including writers block. My dreams are a great catalyst too. Very inspiring at times.


9. What would be your advice to aspiring authors?
MD: Shut up and write! Don’t worry about anything else...just write. Editing, covers, agents...there will be plenty of time to plow through those obstacles later on. Just write down that next thought.


10. Where can we stalk you online?
MD: The usual haunts...
BLOG - http://madisondaniel13.blogspot.com
FACEBOOK - http://www.facebook.com/Madison.Daniel.Author
TWITTER - http://twitter.com/#!/MadisonDaniel13
PUBLISHER - http://www.crushingheartsandblackbutterfly.com/index.html






Photos and cover art used by permission of the author
Questions and Blog Design by Alexia Purdy and Amy Conley

6 comments:

Flash Question Session---> Author J.T. Lewis

Flash Question Session
 Author J.T. Lewis




















1. What are your current and past projects that you have you done?

I am actually working on three series Alexia. The Adventures of Gabriel Celtic, an action/adventure/mystery series featuring (of course) Gabriel Celtic. The first book in the series, ‘Murder! Too Close To Home’, (originally The Ghost Murders) is out as an e-book through Trestle Press, and will be in paperback soon. The second of the series, Gabriel’s Revenge, is written and going through revision. I hope to have it out in a month or two.

Pepper and Longstreet is a new YA mystery series that reminds me of the old Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mysteries…with a paranormal twist! The first volume, ‘The Beginning’, just came out last week, and I’m very excited about this new series. This series started out as a blog serial, and new chapters are still premiered on my blog as they appear (http://jt-lewis.blogspot.com/ ).

Since I had a minute one day, I started writing a Sci-Fi serial based on something that kept bouncing around in my head, called ‘Circles’. There are two chapters of this serial on my blog now, and for now it will remain a blog serial.

2. Where do you get your ideas for writing?

Funny you should ask! While most of my ideas come to me as random thoughts during any normal day, both Pepper and Longstreet and Circles evolved from dreams. Of course, they are very mysterious and rudimentary ideas when they show up like that, and I have to be quick to write them down so they don’t disappear into the either.

When Pepper and Longstreet showed up in my head one morning, it was just the name, but I loved the sound of it and tried to wring the rest of the story out of my unconscious the rest of the morning.

The dream concerning ‘Circles’ was essentially the actual theory that the story is based on, The Circle Theory. If you get a chance to read it, it is fairly complicated, and I spent an hour writing down everything I could remember. The next trick was to figure out how to explain it so that someone could understand it in a story. Freud would have a heyday in my head!

3. If you could meet any of your own characters, who would it be?

Gabriel Celtic is my hero…and I would love to meet him in person. Like a lot of authors, my intent was to base Gabriel on myself, of course with a few more admirable attributes and many more adventures. Gabriel however quickly took on a life of his own, and as he is apt to do in the books, he did it with finesse and strength of character that I can only aspire to.

4. What would be your advice to aspiring authors?

Just do it!

I spent many years thinking about it off and on, but never really committing to it. When I did finally start writing, I didn’t tell anyone! I didn’t want to be someone that said ‘I’m writing a book”, and then never finish it.

Thinking back about it now however, it seems a silly thing to worry about. Not everything one writes is going to be good…at least not at first. But like any craft, one has to practice to master it.

Long story short, my advice is to write whenever you can, as often as you can. And read! Read everything you can get your hands on, especially when it is the type of story that excites you.

Finally, write a fantastic story! Editors can fix errors, Beta readers can suggest changes to make it flow, but no one can right “your” story. My underlying goal is to write an epic story, one that will pass the test of time. I’m not there yet, but I am convinced that if one works at it long and hard, that it CAN be done!

5. How personal is your writing?

Some of my writing is very personal; some of my characters are based on friends, family and acquaintances, and the situations I put them in could many times be described as “what if this happened”. Conversely, some of the acquaintances’ situations are more in the realm of “I wish!”

In the ending of Murder!, what started out as a scene I thought should “be included” turned out to be a highly emotional scene about losing a loved one. I ended up spending the whole day writing it, exploring what my emotions would be if this happened to me. What would I feel, how would it hurt? By the time I had finished it, I was emotionally wrung out, and felt as if I had actually lived through the event myself.

6. What is something we wouldn’t know about you otherwise- strange habits, quirks?

My middle name is ‘Quirky’…nuff said!

7. Are you a pantser writer or an outline plotter?

Mostly, I write by the seat of the pants. Many times I see the beginning of the book in my head, and I have a general outline of where I want it to go with it, and some of the characters I want to bring in, like that. But mostly, the story comes to life as I write.

8. What do you do to help you write? Do you down the energy drinks? Eat junk food? Run around the house to get the inspiration going? Blast the tunes? Do tell.

Generally, I listen to oldies when I write…on the Radio! (What’s a playlist?)

When I write however, I barely ever notice what’s playing, I guess I zone out. When I take a break or get some more coffee (a trait I share with Gabriel), I hear the song playing, maybe even sing along (badly).

9. Your office: Home, Starbucks, dining room table?

Kitchen table, in front of the bow windows so I can look outside when I should be punching keys!

10. Where can we stalk you online?


My Review of Murder! Too Close to Home by J.T. Lewis



Gabriel Celtic, an amazing detective trying to solve a spree of horrendous murders that have taken over his town.  Extremely dedicated to his cause, he and his partner Frank search for clues to apprehend a new serial killer whose madness is closer to home than anyone thinks. 

I enjoyed this murder mystery, it had so many twists and suspects I thought I would start biting my nails wondering what was going to happen next.  The suspense kept my heart in heart attack mode with the violence and horror of it all!!!  Great detective work, determination and some superpowers of his own made Gabriel Celtic an amazing hero.  Very well written, intriguing and kept me turning the page.  J.T. Lewis’ story telling is fluidly smooth and entices you to enter a world that could easily be our own and fills you with the terror of how real it very well could be.  Loved it!

5 out of 5 stars!!!


Questions and Blog Design by Alexia Purdy and Amy Conley
Pictures used with permission by author

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Flash Question Session---> Author Linna Drehmel

Flash Question Session
Author Linna Drehmel



1. Introduce yourself and what it is that you do. Hello there! My name is Linna Drehmel. I write YA Scifi/Fantasy. I love to make it fun and inspiring. I have been married to the same great guy for twenty years and we have 8 wonderful kids.

2. Day or night writer?
Well for now I do the vampire shift. My oldest two children attend an online high school in the day and we only have one computer in our family so they each log on for 5-6 hours every day, so the only time that is left to me is writing at night. Right now it is 2:20am.



H.E.A.R.T. Saga: The Children Front Cover

3. What are your current and past projects that you have you done?
I have three great short stories in the Dark Light anthology (with Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly publishing) I also have my first novel H.E.A.R.T. Saga: The Children being released in march (also with Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly publishing)

4. The worst advice you have ever received?
“Don’t think about it first, just do it.” This is not such good advice because if you don’t take a little time to reflect on your choices you may end up doing something you regret.

Dark Light Anthology cover

5. Which part of your book was the hardest/easiest to write? 
The scenes where I have to hurt my favorite characters. I will be sobbing “I am so sorry I will make it better I promise!”


6. Favorite movie(s)?Lets see…
LOTR, Avatar, Sherlock Holmes 1&2, Iron Man 1&2, Twilight(all), Harry Potter
Picture: The Clematis

7. Where do you get your ideas for writing?
I really don’t know where they come from. They just kind of magically pop in my head. I guess this is why I write scifi fantasy.

The H.E.A.R.T. Map


Photo: The Heart

8. What do you do to help you write? Do you down the energy drinks? Eat junk food? Run around the house to get the inspiration going? Blast the tunes? Do tell.  First off I pray and read some scriptures, then I listen to music. Mostly my music is Josh Groban and Depeche Mode.


9. If you if could meet any of your own characters, who would it be?   My Symon of course. He is in The H.E.A.R.T. Saga and is completely wonderful *SIGH*

 
10. Where can we stalk you online?
I am one of the easiest people to stalk online. Putting in the name Linna Drehmel will find me anywhere. But here are some of my links:

Facebook:



http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/pages/Linna-Drehmel-Author-page/336631289696105

My blog:



Twitter:

https://twitter.com/#!/LinnaDrehmel

Goodreads:


Google +

https://plus.google.com/102150719139157693011#102150719139157693011/posts



Thank you Alexia for having me on your blog.
Let your light so shine
Linna Drehmel
Thanks for letting us probe your mind Linna!!!

Photography:  Kim Curtis
Clematis and Heart Map design: April Colburn
Cover art by Paragrapic Designs for Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing

Questions and blog design by Alexia Purdy and Amy Conley

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