Author Spotlight: Interview with Stifyn Emrys

1. Quickly, give us the title and genre of your book and a 30-word or less tagline:

“Identity Break,” dystopian novel about two teens on the run, hunted by adults who want to control them. They aren’t who they seem - or who they think they are.

2. Who is your intended audience and why should they read your book?

I targeted this book at a wide audience. It should appeal to YA readers, science fiction fans and readers who enjoy paranormal fiction (even though it’s not exactly paranormal or science fiction). I wanted to give the humanity of the characters broad appeal and provide the kind of twist that blindsides you. I want you to say to yourself, “Wow, I didn’t see that coming.” Think “The Sixth Sense” meets “The Twilight Zone.”

3. How did you come up with the title of your book or series?

I wanted something original, so I did some research and found “Identity Break” hadn’t (to my knowledge) been use before. The “break” refers to a break with perceived reality and a break with expectations, which plays into the twist I referred to above.

4. Tell us a little bit about your cover art. Who designed it? Why did you go with that particular image/artwork?

I design all my own cover art. It’s a creative process I enjoy, though it can be a challenge.  In this case, I found the photograph online and messaged the photographer, asking permission for use. Once I received consent, I used Photoshop and an online photo editing tool called Pic Monkey to convert the photo to black and white and enhance it to create the stark, haunted feeling I was seeking. The cover photo depicts a child named Charlotte who’s one of the key characters in the book.

5. Who is your favorite character from your book and why?

My favorites are the two protagonists, Elyse and Jason, both of whom are outcasts for different reasons. Jason is a gifted scholar and athlete who has little patience for the social games of high school. His parents keep him at arm’s length and have put him in therapy so someone else can deal with his “problems.” Elyse is an artist with a more cynical worldview whose father has died a couple of years earlier and has withdrawn to some extent. Both, however, are heroic figures whose courage comes to the fore when they face challenges they never imagined.

6. How about your least favorite character? What makes them less appealing to you?

Definitely Pamela Throckmartin. The reader isn’t supposed to like her, because she’s very manipulative and scheming. But I don’t like one-dimensional villains.  She’s one of the adults trying to control Elyse and Jason. You’ll read a bit about why she has turned out the way she has, and you might even have some sympathy for her. Not much, but maybe a little.

7. If you could change ONE thing about your novel, what would it be? Why?

I’m very pleased with the way it turned out. I can’t think of anything specific I’d change.

8. Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about your book or series:

It’s written in a multiple first-person format. Most chapters are written from Jason’s or Elyse’s point of view, but some are written from Pamela’s and a few are viewed through the eyes of other characters. I was worried this might confuse readers, so I was careful to give each character a distinctive voice. I think it worked well, especially considering it’s my first novel, and those I’ve asked about it say the changes in voice are clear.

9. What other books are similar to your own? What makes them alike?

I’d say it’s more similar to some visual-media stories I’ve seen in terms of style and approach. I referred to “The Sixth Sense” and “The Twilight Zone.” There are also elements of “The Matrix” and “The Hunger Games” movies. In terms of literature, I’ve always been taken with the themes George Orwell brings up in “1984.” There’s an element of turning the world on its head and manipulating people’s minds that is somewhat Orwellian.

10. Do you have any unique talents or hobbies?

I’m a journalist, and I’ve spent nearly three decades working as a writer and editor for daily newspapers. I’ve also spent a good deal of time researching the myths, stories and philosophies that have gone into the development of Western religion. It’s a topic I address in some of my non-fiction works, such as “The Gospel of the Phoenix,” “Requiem for a Phantom God” and “The Way of the Phoenix.“ I consider myself a strong advocate against bullying, and my non-fiction work “Undefeated” spotlighted stories of people who have overcome prejudice and oppression. I also occasionally sing karaoke.

11. How can we contact you or find out more about your books?

Visit my Amazon page at http://www.amazon.com/Stifyn-Emrys/e/B008LHKFM2/. You can also follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/semrys or Twitter @stifynemrys.

12. What can we expect from you in the future?

I have a couple of ideas for novels, one of them being another installment in the “Identity Quest” series (I’ve also written a novella called “Artifice” that explores some of the backstory). I’ll also be doing more non-fiction writing.

13. What can readers who enjoy your book do to help make it successful?

The best thing you can do is recommend it to friends and rate/review it on Amazon or Goodreads. Positive ratings are a huge help, both in terms of visibility and encouragement to any independent author. I don’t have a big publishing house to back me up, so I rely entirely on word of mouth.

14. Do you have any tips for readers or advice for other writers trying to get published?

Just do it. You don’t have to wait for a publisher to accept your work. There are a number of self-publishing options out there, including CreateSpace (which I use). Be meticulous about your work. Go over it carefully yourself, then hand it off to an editor you can trust to be thorough and honest. My wife, who’s also an author, and I edit each other’s work.

15. Is there anything else you’d like to say?

I’d like to thank Jenna for spotlighting my book on her blog.

16. And now, before you go, how about a snippet from your book that is meant to intrigue and tantalize us:

Jason Nix in session with Dr. David Stanton, psychiatrist:

He spoke to me in his lecturing tone. “Everyone has a subconscious, Jason. It’s just a matter of accessing it. I’d like to do a little experiment, if you don’t mind.”

I squinted one eye at him. What was he getting at?

“What kind of experiment? I’m not a lab rat.”

“Oh, nothing that will hurt,” he said. “I’d just like for you to go to sleep here in the office for a few minutes, and we’ll try to discover what’s going on behind that tightly drawn veil of yours. I understand you might be too nervous to sleep, so I’m prepared to help you with a little meditative exercise.”

This time, I was the one who had been taken off guard.

Sleep? In the office? This was the kind of thing you did in a hospital on a couple of weeks’ notice. Not in a doctor’s office on the spur of the moment.

“What kind of bull is this?” I demanded, slapping the good doctor’s precious glass globe against a marble tabletop and watching it shatter.

Amazingly, Stanton didn’t seem to care.

“Come one,” he said in his best attempt at a reassuring tone. “This will be interesting. You’ll learn a lot about yourself, and it might even be fun.”

“Fun for whom?” I asked. “For you, sure. For me, this seems ...” I pulled out my mobile phone. “I’m calling my parents.”

I started to dial the number, but Stanton grabbed the phone out of my hand.

“Nice,” I said, doing my best to stay composed.

“Now, we can’t have any of that. Besides, your parents have approved what I have in mind, so you really don’t have any say in the matter, Jason. Just lie back on the couch and try to relax while we peer inside that incredible little mind of yours.”

The couch. Yeah, Stanton actually had a couch. I had always thought it was another one of his stupid props. No one actually lay down at a therapy session anymore. Did they? And what was this about my parents having the final say? I was of legal age now. Barely, but it counted.

Stanton pushed a button on the intercom on his desk. “I think we’re ready, Ms. Throckmartin. You can come in now.”

My eyes flashed toward the doorway, which opened in a same moment to reveal someone I’d never seen, a woman with a jet-black bowl-shaped head of hair and a dark birthmark just over her right eyebrow. She wore a gray pantsuit and a pair of white gloves that made her look a little like the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland.

To her left was a small man in spectacles - the round-framed glasses I’d seen in pictures of John Lennon - and a white physician’s coat. Under one arm, he carried a tablet computer. He looked like a mole.

I stood and took a step backward.

Directly behind the mole man stood an imposing specimen of humanity even bigger than Haze.

I glared at him. Always challenge the biggest dog first; if you lose, you get it over with quickly. If you win, all the others will fall into line. I don’t know where I’d heard that, but it had always seemed like a damn good way of handling conflicts. If I was intimidated, I wasn’t about to let them know it.

Any of them.

“Allow me to introduce Ms. Throckmartin, Mr. Davey and Mr. Olson. They’ll be assisting us this afternoon.”

My mind flashed back to the football field and my winning touchdown. There was only one door to the room, which wasn’t particularly large, and Mr. Olson - the big dog - stood directly between me and the goal line. He was big, but I surmised that I was faster. A lot faster. I took a step forward and stuck out my hand, imitating Stanton’s plastered-on smile. Reflexively, the mole man took a step forward and extended his own hand. In the moment that he shifted his balance, I grabbed it and pulled him toward me.

His knees buckled and I let go, thrusting both hands firmly against his shoulders and knocking the off-balance mole backward into the surprised big dog. Both went tumbling backward in a heap. I had just a split-second to make it past them, but I knew it would be enough. I ran for the goal line …

And felt my shoulder wrenched back firmly from behind. Arms flailing, I landed flat on my back.

Ms. Throckmartin was staring down at me.

“Don’t worry about them,” she snarled. “Worry about me. Be afraid of me.” Her lips curled up in a menacing, self-satisfied smile.

“Sweet dreams,” she said.

Then everything went black.

*****

Thank you Stifyn for taking part in my Author Spotlight interview! I hope your writing continues to flourish and we hope to see more of you in the future.
*****
If you or an author/illustrator you know is interested in being interviewed, feel free to send me an email at authorjejohnson@gmail.com

 

Author Spotlight: Interview with Hayden Smith

1. Quickly, give us the title and genre of your book and a 30-word or less tagline:
 
In Last Night's Clothes, Fiction, "Part-college coming of age novel, part-expose of the suburban underbelly."

2. Who is your intended audience and why should they read your book?
 
I wrote this book with 18-25 year olds specifically in mind. I feel they should read it because it encompasses all of the struggles of being a young adult; yet still features unimaginably wild antics to keep both realism and fantasy going.

3. How did you come up with the title of your book or series?
 
I used to run a blog called In Last Night's Clothes, where'd I'd share stories from night before and fiction pieces. My book was untitled for a while and after reading my blog, my friend Jenny suggested I name the book after it.
 
It then took on a whole new meaning in the book itself, as the reader discovers.

4. Tell us a little bit about your cover art. Who designed it? Why did you go with that particular image/artwork?

It was designed by Amazon and I choose it because it just felt right. It looks like a party with spooky undertones.

5. Who is your favorite character from your book and why?

The mystery friend that my protagonist Colin shares his stories with is my favorite character! Why? Because this mysyery friend is apart of the book from beginning to end, and yet remains nameless, faceless, and genderless. This transcends the pattern we tend to fall into when we read, where we search out and cling to little details that say nothing about the bigger picture.

6. How about your least favorite character? What makes them less appealing to you?

Kate Prescott Lane is my least favorite character, not because of the things she does, but because of what she doesn't do. She just isn't very self-aware and she doesn't care to change regardless.

7. If you could change ONE thing about your novel, what would it be? Why?

I'd consider changing the format a bit. I was heavily inspired by Flowers for Algernon, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and Requiem for a Dream and I tried to shape my work in the same way (with misspellings, vernacular, etc) but a few of my initial readers didn't get it.

8. Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about your book or series:

There are no page numbers. It is written as a series of letters.

9. What other books are similar to your own? What makes them alike?

As aforementioned, I was heavily inspired by Flowers for Algernon, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and Requiem for a Dream. My book is similar to those in its subject matter and unconventional style.

10. Do you have any unique talents or hobbies?

Do stand-up comedy and burlesque count?

11. How can we contact you or find out more about your books?

You can visit my blog: leprobleme.tumblr.com or my facebook page: facebook.com/haydenws

12. What can we expect from you in the future?

I'm currently working a second novel (Wildflowers), as well as editing a compilation of poems and short stories  (Fever Thoughts) co-written by my friend John Salazar.

13. What can readers who enjoy your book do to help make it successful?

Tell all your friends! I am my own PR, so any bit helps.

14. Do you have any tips for readers or advice for other writers trying to get published?

Don't give up, don't settle for less.

15. Is there anything else you’d like to say?

I'd like to thank all of my teachers,  ever.

16. And now, before you go, how about a snippet from your book that is meant to intrigue and tantalize us:

"September 24, 2009

It is autumn and that has always been my favorite season. The thin, delicate, little trees that line outermost edge of the sidewalks silently spill their still scarlet-colored blossoms and something about that invigorates me. ...I’m the perfect young gentleman on the outside and anything but on the inside."

*****

Thank you Hayden for taking part in my Author Spotlight interview! I hope your writing continues to flourish and we hope to see more of you in the future.
*****
If you or an author/illustrator you know is interested in being interviewed, feel free to send me an email at authorjejohnson@gmail.com

Author Spotlight: Interview with R.M. Putnam

1. Quickly, give us the title and genre of your book and the tagline:

Destiny’s Warriors Pure Evil the third book in the series, is a tale of betrayal and abduction forced by the Lord of Greed. A trek through ancient Persia to rescue loved ones is met with peril at every turn. The heroes encounter slavery, thieving murderous nomads and treacherous terrain as they make their way to Hades then home to the Underworld.

An effort to start anew fails when the Cannibalistic Baalites of Altair make war with murderous vengeful hearts. Magic, myth and mayhem of colossal proportions makes this fantasy-adventure cross genres with pure horror. Will the Baalites take down Hades and the Underworld? Madness takes the mind of man and god as atrocities make blood run cold. Pure Evil is a story like no other, a war like no other as the heroes face horror like no other.

2. How did you come up with the title of your book or series?

For me, the title of a book is the hardest to create. I never even think of a title until I have finished the book. Giving it much thought I realized my tale was about evil at its worse, thereby my title is Pure Evil.

3. Who is your favorite character from your book and why?

My favorite character is Finn MacCumhal (Finn McCool) he is a legendary person from ancient Ireland. I found the folklore about him fascinating but in my story, I make him my own character only brushing on his legend. Inspired by Finn, I create his fictional son, Lugh MacCumhal of which I make him an even bigger legend. Lugh is an impulsive man who likes to live on the edge completely ruled by his emotions.

4. How about your least favorite character? What makes them less appealing to you?

This indeed is a hard question, all my characters even the minor ones are like my children… how can I even think one is less than the other.

5. If you could change ONE thing about your novel, what would it be?  Why?

I killed a character too soon in the series. Shovar the Lord of Death was something I should have given more thought to before I wrote in his death then published it. As I look back, he was one of my most interesting characters and now I have lost the opportunity to use him in so many ways.

6. Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about your book or series:

The beginnings of a story for me pop up in the most unlikely places. I see or hear something and then go into my, “What if” mode. As for writing fantasy that was a complete accident because, my first love was Science Fiction.

I went back to college when I was 39 years old. That first semester, sitting in my history class the instructor assigned the class to write a paper on an American Holiday, its origin and so forth. Well, it was the first week of October and so I thought of Halloween. Off to the library I went to do research and there I became mesmerized in ancient history, mythology and folklore.

My research took a few weeks as my study into history opened up to Pre-Christian times back to Paganism where Halloween originated. As I read the information about Celtic history and folklore, my “What If” mode went into high gear.

The paper I finally turned in went from fact to fiction. My instructor gave me a C- a passing grade for all the work and effort I put into the paper but told me Halloween is NOT an American Holiday. I should have written about Thanksgiving, Independence day or Veteran’s Day etc. I was disappointed with the grade until he told me that he loved my paper and that I should complete the story for publication. That was all the encouragement I needed as I embarked into writing my fantasy novel that grew into ten books in the series over the following seventeen years.

Obsessed with my story building fermenting in my mind I dedicated every free moment to writing. I was never without my notebook. I wrote my first story “Destiny’s Warriors The Beginning” long hand during fifteen minutes breaks at work and during my lunch hour. Often I would wake up in the middle of the night with an idea and quickly took to writing in my notebook.

Fearing failure and embarrassment for pursuing a dream that might never come true, I became a closet writer keeping my literary ambitions a secret from everyone I knew except my sons. It took many years of constant dedication reading and rereading, revision after revision but I made the dream come true. Never did I imagine I would write fantasy but there you have it. You never know when a story is about to be born or where it will take you and that is the wonderment and joy of being a writer.

One last word, my series is for mature readers due to adult subject matter and violence.

7. Do you have any unique talents or hobbies?

I make Medieval robes and sell them off my website. At first, I fashioned my robes from the ones worn by my characters then went to a more basic style, which helped me to be more productive. Here is a picture of an Indie movie of which I made the robes. Very exciting for me I even got a credit in the movie.
 
8. How can we contact you or find out more about your books?

http://www.destinyswarriors.com
Website email address: admin@destinyswarriors.com

9. What can we expect from you in the future?

In 2012, my 4th book in my series will be released, titled “Destiny’s Warriors the Black Shadow of Death”. Every year I will release the next book until I reach the final book "Destiny’s Warriors Evil’s Glory, the 10th book in the series."

10. Do you have any tips for readers or advice for other writers trying to get published?

My message to aspiring writers is that you can succeed if you persevere and not let obstacles or rejection affect you. It might take a while but you can do it. I also recommend that you learn every aspect of preparing your novel for publication. Try to get 3 or 4 proofreaders and most important if you can afford it, an editor. If money is a problem, go to your local college and ask an English teacher if she/he can recommend a student to edit your book for a small fee or even for an extra credit grade. Please be sure to give your editor a special note of thanks in your credits. Kindle, Smashwords and CreateSpace has made it easy and fun to publish your books. All you need is a photograph with CreateSpace templates to create a fantastic cover. Google “how to format your book for Kindle, or Smashwords or CreateSpace and save yourself a ton of money. If you can create a story, you can easily learn how to do the formatting for submission. It really is simple and once you have done it, you will see that nothing can stop you from future projects.

11. Is there anything else you’d like to say?

Visit my website for autographed copies of my Destiny’s Warriors Series, and as always, I include a DW bookmark with every book. Do you have a costumed event coming up? Browse through my collection of Medieval robes, each custom sized to length. Mention Jenna’s name in your email to me and get a 10% discount.

12. And now, before you go, how about a snippet from your book that is meant to intrigue and tantalize us:

* Warning, Pure Evil is for mature readers due to adult subject matter and extreme violence.*

Excerpt for Destiny’s Warriors Pure Evil:

Ben Kedar Hakeem sat in council with his advisors and exalted wizards. The topic was resources that were quickly diminishing. “We must find a way out of Altair! Surely, there are more openings than what we previously used. Samhain cursed the way out to Persia and the God of Hades sealed the way out to the north and into the Land of Hades. After all these years, I find it astounding that none of you, even with magic cannot find a way out! We have depleted the population by over half! We must have meat . . .  fresh meat! I am tired of feeding on the old to spare the young for breeding. The old are nothing more than shoe leather. The next thing you know I’ll have to order my pets for slaughter!”

Ben Kedar looked down at the one-time warrior who sat naked on his knees like a loyal dog beside his master. Stripped of his dignity and birth name, Ben Kedar called him Marid, which means rebellious. Once a warrior of Hades in high standing, now his spirit broken, he was Ben Kedar’s pet, complete with collar and leash, naked and only allowed to walk on all fours for his master. Nights passed sexually entertaining his master with perversions of the extreme. Ben Kedar stroked Marid’s hair, thinking he might just have to sacrifice his prize pet to the butcher for food. He remembered how long the struggle was to train Marid, who resisted more than most with great rebellion. Now, to have him so well trained it seemed a waste to slaughter him.

Looking around Ben Kedar admired the women chained to the alcoves, naked and posed as part of the decor. His mouth watered at the thought of tasting their blood or savoring the delicious taste of their flesh.

Zafir, a high wizard of Hakeem’s court stepped up and bowed his head as he asked, “My Lord, your permission to speak?”

With a wave of his hand, Ben Kedar gestured for the wizard to continue, “There are many ways out of Altair. However, The Great Samhain did more than curse the land bridge into Persia; he clouded all openings with powerful magic. It took many years to find the opening we previously used, which is now sealed. My lord, we can feed on animals . . .  human flesh is not the only way for us to survive.”

Wide-eyed, Ben Kedar stood up in outrage, “You want me to feed on animals like a common peasant! Are you insane, man? I need human blood . . .  human meat from young women and tender sweet infants . . .  how dare you . . .”

The door suddenly burst open as Prince Mukhtar shouted out, “This man can help us!” Mukhtar shoved the man that accompanied him and repeated, “This man can help us. He knows a way out.”

 

*****

Thank you R.M. for taking part in my Author Spotlight interview! I hope your writing continues to flourish and we hope to see more of you in the future.
*****
If you or an author/illustrator you know is interested in being interviewed, feel free to send me an email at jejoescienne@yahoo.com

Author Spotlight: Interview with Chris Barraclough

1. Quickly, give us the title and genre of your book and a 30-word or less tagline:

My book's a fast-paced, action-packed thriller called Crack: A policeman accidentally hits and kills a young girl with his squad car in a notorious British council estate, causing the locals to rise up and rebel.

2. Who is your intended audience and why should they read your book?

It's a very adult book, filled with bad words, bloodshed and beyond - but all portrayed in a gritty, realistic manner. If someone gets slammed in the face with a metal pipe, they don't just get up again with a bloody nose! If you like action and drama but are sick of ultra-tough SAS-trained anti-heroes, then give Crack a shot!

3. How did you come up with the title of your book or series?

There are literal cracks in the book, from the smashed windscreen on the very first page, but the title is a reference to the very fragile relationship between down-and-out Britons and the authority that tries to keep them in order. After the main character (Nathan Pang) accidentally kills a girl, the locals explode with rage - something we've seen happen for real during the Brixton Riots.

4. Who is your favorite character from your book and why?

Definitely Pang, the conflicted cop who inadvertently causes the riots. He's an average guy stuck in this horrific situation, with hundreds of people baying for his blood, and no idea what to do. Add in the fact that he just killed an innocent girl, and his head's a real mess of a place!

5. How about your least favorite character?  What makes them less appealing to you?

A horrid little git called Terrence Fisher, based on far too many real-life characters. He takes advantage of the turmoil to fight, steal, and manipulate the rioters to fulfil his own selfish needs. If you saw footage of the recent UK riots, you'll have seen people using the chaos as an excuse to spread mayhem - that's Terrence, except he's a hundred times worse!

6. If you could change ONE thing about your novel, what would it be?  Why?

I had to slash a number of chapters down to keep it fast-paced, stuff that was irrelevant to the story but great fun all the same. I'd love to release a 'director's cut' version that adds them back in...

7. Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about your book or series:

I almost got hit by a car myself when shooting the cover, on the road outside my flat - this crumbly old Fiat flew around the corner without slowing and almost sent me flying. Of course, I was stood all gormless in the middle of the road, so I can't really complain!

8. What other books are similar to your own?  What makes them alike?

I actually haven't seen much like Crack around - most action thrillers are about grizzled, invulnerable army marines taking down armies of baddies without breaking sweat. Crack takes the battle to the street, with characters who are just like you or I - people caught up in a situation that's out of control, and heading for disaster. Pang certainly isn't like John McClane, he gets roughed up bad as the book goes on!

9. Do you have any unique talents or hobbies?

I love karaoke, but it's certainly not a talent - more of a drunken obsession...

10. How can we contact you or find out more about your books?

My website www.chrisbarraclough.co.uk has details on all of my books, plus links to download. You can download a free sample of Crack from Amazon if you'd like to check it out, and if you'd like to get in touch, you can reach me at info@chrisbarraclough.co.uk

11. What can we expect from you in the future?

I'm halfway through a prequel to Crack, which reveals more about certain events in that book, and has a number of returning characters, plus some very interesting new ones :)

12. What can readers who enjoy your book do to help make it successful?

If you leave an Amazon review I'll love you forever, it's something that practically no one seems to do any more! And feel free to get in touch via Twitter too - I'm Seebaruk

13. Do you have any tips for readers or advice for other writers trying to get published?

Fellow writers, it's a tough, arduous road - it took me almost a decade to get my first book, Bat Boy, published in paperback. Make sure you write for the love of it, and stick with it too - the first time you hold a book that you wrote in your sweaty, greasy mitts, it's the best feeling in the world.

14. Is there anything else you’d like to say?

Life is tough and full of surprises. Make sure you always wear clean underwear.

15. And now, before you go, how about a snippet from your book that is meant to intrigue and tantalize us:

Cool, here's the first page!

The windscreen fractured, his face pricked by fragments which leapt from the surface and sliced into his skin. A scream died somewhere deep in his throat. With eyes squeezed shut, he slammed his foot on the brake. Agony ripped through his muscle, crippling him from thigh to toe. His body jerked forward as the car shuddered and shook, until the belt snapped across his chest and brought him to a breathless halt, just half an inch from the steering column.

Before he knew what had happened, he was crushed back into his seat. The world was silent again.

Pang’s fingers were bleach-white, still wrapped around the top of the wheel. Every breath was agony. His ribs shifted in unnatural ways and his skull was vibrating, like someone had sideswiped him. His eyes remained shut. Aside from a tender hiss, the only sound he heard was approaching footsteps. Several sets, all running - and now voices across to his side. They were warped somehow, almost monstrous.

Devils come to take me away.

He forced his eyes open and stared at the remains of the glass. For now it held firm, but in total ruins. The point of impact was to his left, directly level with his eye-line. Something solid, probably the size of a bowling ball, had struck it at a terrific pace. Pointed cracks spread from the centre, thick and jagged at first, then thinning out like veins.

“What happened?”

His own voice sounded distant, as if someone outside had mumbled his words for him. Through the cobwebbed cracks, Pang made out black and white shapes that danced before his car. More voices. He heard them clear enough now the ringing had subsided...

*****

Thank you Chris for taking part in my Author Spotlight interview! I hope your writing continues to flourish and we hope to see more of you in the future.
*****
If you or an author/illustrator you know is interested in being interviewed, feel free to send me an email at jejoescienne@yahoo.com

Author Spotlight: Interview with Cheryl Landmark

1. Quickly, give us the title and genre of your book and a 30-word or less tagline.


My latest book is a fantasy called “Pool of Souls”, which is set in the fictional world of Regalis.

Joining a rebellion against a renegade queen and her soul-killing talisman, the Pool of Souls, leads Cazlina Narzin and her mare, Miris, into a world fraught with danger and evil.

2. Who is your intended audience and why should they read your book?

This should appeal to those lovers of fantasy who enjoy a fast-paced, action-packed, character-driven story with a strong but vulnerable heroine, a dashing rogue with an irrepressible sense of humour, many other interesting and provocative characters, and plenty of humour, evil and danger.  There is a hint of romance in the book, but it doesn’t overshadow the action or fantasy elements.

3. How did you come up with the title of your book or series?

When I first had the idea for the book, I was searching for a different type of magical talisman than, say, a medallion or a crystal orb or a magical sword.  Somehow, out of the fertile field of my imagination, I thought of a pool of some kind, which drains its victims of their energies and life forces.  Thus, the Pool of Souls was born.

4. Who is your favorite character from your book and why?

Well, naturally, I love my heroine, Cazlina, who is the embodiment of every good quality I wish I possessed myself!  But, aside from her, I think my next favourite character would have to be Miris, Cazlina’s faithful mare, who shares a unique and unbreakable bond with Cazlina and sometimes acts as her conscience.  I just love Miris’ sense of humour!

5. How about your least favorite character?  What makes them less appealing to you?

Well, in terms of who is the most evil character in the book, Captain Lerant, Queen Saranor’s commander in charge of her army, takes that dubious honour.  You would think it would be the queen herself, who, make no mistake about it, is indeed as evil and terrible as they come.  But, Lerant has no conscience and is truly repulsive with his deliberate cruelty.

6. If you could change ONE thing about your novel, what would it be?  Why?

Don’t get me wrong.  I love absolutely everything about my book.  But…I suppose if there is one thing I wish I had spent a bit more time on developing, it would be the background of Jorin Montrill, the dashing rogue I referred to in Question 2.

7. Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about your book or series:

Some readers may think “Oh, no, another Disney talking animal!” story, but I believe they will be pleasantly surprised by the relationship between Cazlina and Miris and their interactions with each other.

8. What other books are similar to your own?  What makes them alike?

I think there are plenty of fantasy books out there that encompass a lot of the elements I have incorporated into my book.  But, I’d like to think that, because it’s my story, it’s totally unique, LOL!

9. Do you have any unique talents or hobbies?

Well, I’m not sure how unique it is, but I do love putting together challenging jigsaw puzzles--shaped puzzles, two-sided puzzles, puzzles which depict a picture totally different from the one on the cover--you name it.  The more challenging, the better!

10. How can we contact you or find out more about your books?

You can check me out on my website at www3.sympatico.ca/cheryl.landmark or on my Author Profile on Goodreads.com.

My books are available in both ebook and paperback versions on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords and CreateSpace.

11. What can we expect from you in the future?

I’m currently working on a dog detective series and another fantasy, both of which I hope to have published in the very near future.

12. What can readers who enjoy your book do to help make it successful?

Readers can help immensely by posting reviews of the book on such sites as Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, etc.  Word of mouth is so important to getting authors, especially indie and self-published ones, noticed in the reading community.  Most of us don’t have a lot of ready cash to shell out for expensive advertising and promotion, so I think having reviews on these various sites goes a long way toward helping to promote our writing.

13. Do you have any tips for readers or advice for other writers trying to get published?

Never give up, first and foremost.  If your passion is writing, stick with it through thick and thin and work at getting it published, whether it’s through the traditional route or self-publishing.  If you choose to send your manuscript to a big publishing house and they send you back a rejection, don’t let it discourage you.  Keep trying, if not with that publisher, with another.  And, if your choice is self-publishing, don’t be intimidated by the process.  It’s really not as challenging or formidable as you might think.

Above all, believe in yourself and your talent.  Don’t let it languish in a dark closet or drawer somewhere.

14. Is there anything else you’d like to say?

Only a very big thank-you, Jenna, for posting this interview and giving me a chance to introduce myself to your readers!

15. And now, before you go, how about a snippet from your book that is meant to intrigue and tantalize us:

The mare sounded apologetic but urgent. I’m sorry to disturb you, Caz, but I think you should know that someone is trying to steal me.

Cazlina Narzin became fully awake but didn’t move. She kept her breathing quiet and steady, as though still in the rhythm of sleep, but every nerve and sinew in her body tingled with alertness. Her hand tightened on the hilt of the dagger tucked into the waistband of her trousers.

She spoke to the mare through the telepathic link that bound them. I’m awake, Miris.  Where is the scoundrel?

She heard the mare snort gently. He’s near my head and about to grab my halter. I really think you should do something, and fast. The mare's tone suddenly changed. Oh, my, Caz, he’s a handsome devil!

Miris! Cazlina thought, reproachfully. Now is not the time to admire the rogue's looks.

Sorry.

Cazlina opened her eyes cautiously. In the pale moonlight, she could dimly make out the shape of a dark figure standing near the mare’s head.

Miris, move closer to me, Cazlina instructed. I want him where I can reach him easily.

The mare tossed her pretty head and sidled away from the dark figure reaching out for her. Cazlina heard a soft curse from the would-be thief and then his low voice trying to coax the mare back to him. Miris pranced skittishly toward where Cazlina lay silently on the ground under the big oak tree, staying just out of reach of the figure and forcing him to follow her.

This is fun, Caz! Miris said. I’ve never had anyone try to steal me before.

Well, don’t enjoy it too much, dear one, Cazlina replied, dryly. Just move a little closer now.

When she judged that the thief was near enough to take him by surprise, she jumped to her feet, drawing the dagger out at the same time.

"Touch that horse and I’ll slice the fingers from your hand," she said, coldly.

Caz, such violence!

Quiet, Miris. Let me handle this my way.

The figure stopped dead when she suddenly rose from the ground in front of him. Then, he straightened to his full height, which was well over six feet. In the light of the moon, his keen eyes scrutinized her closely, and a faint smile tilted the corners of his firm mouth. He wore dark clothing and a shabby cloak.

"I mean you no harm,” he said, holding his hands out to the side.
Cazlina stared accusingly at him, the point of the dagger just under his chin. "You were trying to steal my horse."

He chuckled and shrugged. "She’s such a fine specimen. I couldn’t resist taking a closer look at her."

Miris pricked her dainty ears forward. Well, Caz, he can’t be all bad. At least, he appreciates splendid horseflesh when he sees it.
Never mind, Miris. He’s still a scoundrel and a thief.

The mare snorted delicately. Yes, but what a handsome thief.

 

*****

Thank you Cheryl for taking part in my Author Spotlight interview! I hope your writing continues to flourish and we hope to see more of you in the future.
*****
If you or an author/illustrator you know is interested in being interviewed, feel free to send me an email at jejoescienne@yahoo.com

Author Spotlight: Interview with Larry C. Kerr

1. Quickly, give us the title and genre of your book and a 30-word or less tagline:

By the Light of the Moon. Horror. A morning of baseball turns terrifying. The horror in Blacksville has just begun.

2. How did you come up with the title of your book or series?

I wanted something that gave a clue about the book’s horror character.

3. Who is your favorite character from your book and why?

I would have to say the protagonist, John Reynolds. He’s not really based on me but we have similar backgrounds. However, at least one reader really liked Cindy, who was a werewolf victim.

4. How about your least favorite character? What makes them less appealing to you?

Police Chief Harley Winston, although he did turn out to be an okay guy. I think it was because he was a foil for John Reynolds.

5. If you could change ONE thing about your novel, what would it be? Why?

Perhaps I would make it more imaginative about the werewolf. I wanted the werewolf character to be a traditional sort of werewolf, but it may have been too traditional.

6. Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about your book or series:

It gave me a small taste of what famous authors go through and some opportunities I wouldn’t have otherwise gotten.

7. Do you have any unique talents or hobbies?

I also run competitively. I have run a marathon and participated in the National Senior Games.

8. How can we contact you or find out more about your books?

My web site is www.larrykerrauthor.com. My e-mail address is larryk929@yahoo.com

9. What can we expect from you in the future?

I have another novel scheduled to come out in September of October. It is historical fiction and is the first manuscript I wrote. By the Light of the Moon is the second.

10.  Do you have any tips for readers or advice for other writers trying to get published?

Readers, support your authors and open yourself up to more than one genre.

Writers need to be persistent. They need to persist with writing and perhaps be even more persistent with submissions.

11. Is there anything else you’d like to say?

Thanks for the interview opportunity.

12. And now, before you go, how about a snippet from your book that is meant to intrigue and tantalize us:

He was going full bore, concentrating totally on the ball, when his right foot slipped on something wet. He didn’t go down on that step, but when his left foot struck the ground and slid, he was a goner. Tommie threw out his arms in front of him in an effort to break his fall, but they went out from under him and he slammed into the ground in a spray of red sending him skidding along on his belly. What had he fallen into? Whatever it was, it stunk. Cow shit? No, it didn’t smell like that. He didn’t have a reference for how this smelled. When he stopped sliding, Tommie opened his eyes and saw that he was covered in red.

“What is this?” he asked as he pushed himself up.

He stopped when he saw it.

“No! It can’t be!”

He blinked his eyes, wiped his glasses and looked again. It was still there.

Tommie tried to shout, but his voice failed him at first, then he screamed. He leaped up from the ground as if it were electrified and ran back toward the field, screaming the high-pitched screams of a boy who has not yet reached puberty.

*****

Thank you Larry for taking part in my Author Spotlight interview! I hope your writing continues to flourish and we hope to see more of you in the future.
*****
If you or an author/illustrator you know is interested in being interviewed, feel free to send me an email at jejoescienne@yahoo.com

Author Spotlight: Interview with Todd Thorne

 
1.  Quickly, give us the title and genre of your book and a 30-word or less tagline:

Dark Doses – speculative fiction anthology

Seven dark and gritty tales of what-if from Todd Thorne describe a troubled tomorrow on the small scale, from the eyes of a few people enduring it.

2.  How did you come up with the title of your book or series?

I was playing around with various title ideas one day and I imagined these seven tales lined up as vials containing sinister looking fluids. In walks a doctor with a stainless steel, hideously long, hypodermic. He says—in a perfect imitation of Vincent Price—“Now this won’t hurt a bit.”

Interestingly, I entertained the notion of using this cheery kind of image for the anthology cover, but in the end, I really wanted the cover to showcase one of the stories. 

3.  Who is your favorite character from your book and why?

Timmy, the protagonist in the story “Game Over.” He’s in fifth grade and battling his monsters the best way he knows how to do.

4.  How about your least favorite character?  What makes them less appealing to you?

Colonel Yancy, one of the protagonists in “Perfect Soldier.” I think I did well enough drawing out the empathy for him and the position he’s in, but reading the story some 4 years after it published, I can’t help but feel he’s something of a caricature. Likely I could have remedied that at the cost of a longer tale, which we weren’t seeking at the time.

5.  If you could change ONE thing about your novel, what would it be?  Why?

That’s easy. I would have liked to commission seven works of art, one for each tale in the anthology. And, given the personal level of each story, the art pieces would have been intimate, with some kind of common thematic element to bind them together... say, lighting, perspective, color palette, aspect of menace, Alfred Hitchcock cameos, or some type of connection. Given the multimedia advantages of an e-book, the *right* use of graphics can add a touch of icing on the cake.

Alas, my family actually likes to eat on a regular basis. So just 1 dark art work instead of 7.

6.  Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about your book or series:

Six of the seven stories were published between 2007 and 2011. All were in different e-zines and one, “To Soar Free,” was also published in a print anthology called  Mystic Signals .

Somebody nominated “To Soar Free” for the 2010 British Science Fiction Association award in the short story category. I have an idea who it might be, though I’ve never confirmed my suspicion. Let’s just say: always maintain a good relationship with your editors, even if they don’t buy your story for their particular publication. Unfortunately, “To Soar Free” did not make the short list for the final award. But it was really cool to see it nominated!

I had a short chat with an engineering fellow about the virtual reality game console I came up with for “Game Over.” In the story I branded the console a Sony. This guy seemed quite serious that I talk candidly with Sony R&D because... you never know: they just might be interested in it. I thanked him kindly for the suggestion. 

7.  Do you have any unique talents or hobbies?

In my day job (IT) I hold 5 U.S. patents. So perhaps I should talk to Sony and file an invention disclosure (see the previous question).

Though I’ve never been on radio, I’m told I have a radio voice. Many years ago while working in a grocery store, I used to get ‘special requests’ to give the in-store announcements, even the lame, corny ones. Who knows? Perhaps one day I’ll do a podcast or two. Hopefully not cause them to be lame or corny in the process.

I brew my own beer. Drink my own beer too. As well as other beer. And single malt scotch. Wait, I guess ‘drinking’ doesn’t qualify as a talent. So scratch all that and leave it as: I home brew.

8.  How can we contact you or find out more about your books?

Though it’s not going to win a Webby Award, my main site (http://toddthorne.com) is the place to seek me out. There you’ll find pointers to me via e-mail, Twitter, Facebook and my blog (http://dark-opus.blogspot.com/).

9.  What can we expect from you in the future?

For sure more short stories of the twisted, dark variety. Since the sale of my first flash fiction piece, “The Fisherman,” earlier in 2011 I’ve tended to churn out flash length tales. We’ll see how long that persists.

I absolutely do want to write novels. My first manuscript was not suitable for publishing, though I have ideas about how I might salvage that particular story. In any event, I have high aspirations for the novel I’m currently writing. Plus other ideas for novels keep queuing up in the mid-brain. Ideas are the easy part. Quite often though, they don’t particularly like passing through the translation filter onto the screen.

10.  Do you have any tips for readers or advice for other writers trying to get published?

If you’re a writer hoping to achieve success in the form of acclaim, good tallies, or nice sales figures, I’m a believer in J.A. Konrath’s philosophy regarding e-books. Except I think of Joe’s approach as The Killer Cookie recipe, which means:

1. It has to catch your eye,

2. It has to sound good to eat,

3. It has to look positively delicious,

4. It has to be priced so you don’t even think twice about it,

5. It has to be found where ever you want to buy it, and

6. It has to make your taste buds squeal when you munch it.

Shifting the above to your e-book, it must:

1. Have a striking cover and a title that grabs

2. Have an arresting book description, search tags and keywords

3. Have all aspects of your packaging be clean and crisp

4. Have a low or even impulsive buy price

5. Be readily available across all major store fronts

6. Be well written, engaging, compelling and error-free

Clearly, you can settle for less regarding the 6 attributes and still do reasonably well. Only you can decide, though, what ‘success’ really means to you personally. With that intention in mind, use your web references to learn about, tackle and accomplish the 6 attributes. Finally, don’t be shy about asking for help. Everybody needs it at some point.

11.  Is there anything else you’d like to say?

I’m not sure if I am supposed to spread this around, but Douglas Adams was right about 42.

12.  And now, before you go, how about a snippet from your book that is meant to intrigue and tantalize us:

From “Shadows in the Mirror” in Dark Doses :

The corner Starbucks opened at 6:30. Rachel got in at 6:15 because the kid working the drive–through had a crush on her. He waited on her personally. She rewarded him with some protracted flirting before she placed her usual order.

“How’s your husband?” love–struck kid asked over the roar of milk frothing.

“Fine,” Rachel said. Weeks ago she’d claimed being married just to stop the kid pestering her for an IM address. It wasn’t a total lie, technically.

“Why doesn’t he come in with you? Some kinda coffee allergy or something?”

“He… travels. A lot. He doesn’t like going anywhere when he’s actually here in town.”

“Oh. Guess not. Well, if you’re ever bored… want someone to do lunch with—”

“I know where you work.” She winked at him, keeping his hopes alive.

In return, he granted her his customary, generous discount. It always paid dividends to be the object of someone’s affection.

Still, Rachel held her breath until her debit card transaction cleared. Her meager balance was due to the fact she hadn’t picked up and deposited her recent paycheck—one of several items she’d neglected over the last two weeks of being out ‘sick’ due to the breakup.

Behind her, the front door popped as the lock engaged.

Rachel took her latte over and pushed on the handle. The door banged but did not open.

“Lemme get that,” love–struck kid said.

He bounded over and slid in a key from the jingling mass on his belt. The mechanism wouldn’t budge.

“Weird. Like it’s stuck or something.”

Lights winked out across the shop. They plunged into the predawn gloom.

The kid glanced up. “What the—

Rachel shrieked as several alarms split the air with deafening horn blasts and howling wails. Her cup thudded off her foot.

“Back door,” the kid said, screaming over the din. But it, too, stubbornly resisted the key. “What’s going on? Stupid security system’s gone nuts.”

Rachel pressed her hands hard against her ears. In the back of her mind, Edward’s voice droned his warning.

SHES VERY UPSET WITH YOU. AND YOU KNOW HOW SHE GETS.

This is crazy.” In the kid’s squeaky voice, panic overrode the alarm racket. “Let’s break glass and get the hell outta here. Come on!”

“Do you have a server?” Rachel bellowed at his retreating back.

“Am I a what?” He paused, shook his head.

“Have a server? A store computer.”

“Yeah. What about it?”

“With a broadband connection for wireless and security monitoring?”

“Right. In the storage closet. What—”

“Go shut it down.” When his expression reflected a preference for doing anything but, she yelled, “All of it. Hurry!” He fumbled for another key.

Rachel went and stood by the front door with the other morning shift employee, a lanky girl so terrified she looked about to piss herself. Off in the distance, red–blue strobes danced across building facades, marking the rapid approach of the police response. Just about the time Rachel decided she should raise her hands to avoid getting shot by some trigger–happy cop, the alarms silenced and the overhead lights blinked on.

Half an hour later, fresh latte in hand, she trudged back to her apartment. The store manager had been so grateful, she bestowed free drinks for the next three months, whatever Rachel craved. The kid had been absolutely starry–eyed; his puppy–love crush super–sizing to full idolization. Rachel felt like an arsonist, rewarded for helping extinguish her own blaze.

As she feared, another new message lurked in her Yahoo account. She choked on seeing the sender name.

Jesse@everywhere.net

Even worse, a snapvid accompanied the e–mail. With a hesitant finger, she clicked on the message first.

Rough morning? Too much excitement for you? So sorry. Thought you’d gotten used to such things. Oh, I forgot. You quit. Turned your back. Tucked your tail and retreated to your little fantasy world where none of this shit ever happens.

Surprise!

Take a long snort of that coffee, girl, and open those eyes wide. It’s all real and you have to face it. You have to face ME! Like you promised. Like you really should do.

You can’t run. Can’t hide. I can go anywhere, do anything to make you keep that promise.

Don’t believe me yet? Watch the vid.

* * *

Thank you Todd for taking part in my Author Spotlight interview! I hope your writing continues to flourish and we hope to see more of you in the future.
*****
If you or an author/illustrator you know is interested in being interviewed, feel free to send me an email at jejoescienne@yahoo.com