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 Elyse is an artist with a more cynical worldview whose father has died a couple of years earlier and has withdrawn to some extent.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 Delin Colón

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

I currently have a two non-fiction/biography/memoir companion books published about Rasputin. The most recent, Rasputin: The Memoirs of His Secretary by Aron Simanovitch, translated and annotated by me (Delin Colón), is the English translation of the memoirs of my great-great uncle who was secretary and friend to Grigory Rasputin for a decade.

My earlier book, Rasputin and The Jews: A Reversal of History, is the result of my fifteen years of researching sources who could substantiate Simanovitch’s claims of Rasputin’s aid to and advocacy for minorities, especially the oppressed Jews, as well as his account of Rasputin’s progressive and egalitarian ideas for social reform that caused the nobility to detest him.

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

There are numerous groups of people interested in Russian history, Jewish history, and those who have a particular fascination with Rasputin. Both of my books present Rasputin in a different light than ever seen before, as a healer and humanitarian (even if he did like to party) who was actually the victim of a smear campaign by a greedy and power-hungry aristocracy. Why hasn’t this come out before? Think about who writes history: the powerful, the literate, the credentialed. Not the common man who, no doubt, has an opposing view of events and conditions. For example, while there are books about the subject, Russian history doesn’t often detail the ethnic cleansing that took place under the tsars, most often by the military. 

While Rasputin and The Jews: A Reversal of History deals with a more global and academic historical perspective, offering a view of Rasputin in a more socio-political context, Rasputin: The Memoirs of His Secretary is a lively, personal account of daily life with Rasputin as well as the gossip, plots and intrigues of Petersburg society. My footnotes to the memoir provide context and explanation.

3. How did you come up with the titles of your books?

Originally, I wasn’t going to publish my English translation of Simanovitch’s French memoir. My intention was to garner further evidence for Simanovitch’s claims about Rasputin and publish a more researched book, focusing on Rasputin’s political views and aid to Jews. When Simanovitch first published his memoir in Russian (1928), it was titled Rasputin and The Jews. When it was translated from Russian to French, it was called Rasputin by His Secretary Aron Simanovitch.  My guess is that, especially at that time, the French publisher felt having “Jews” in the title might impede sales. So, for the book I authored, I took a variation of Simanovitch’s Russian title and called it Rasputin and The Jews: A Reversal of History. When I decided to publish my translation of Simanovitch’s memoir, I went with a variation of his French title, calling it Rasputin: The Memoirs of His Secretary.

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

For the memoir translation, I was very fortunate to strike up an exchange with graphic designer Siri Nadler (http://cargocollective.com/siricreative) to whom I had complained that I was too busy editing Rasputin: The Memoirs of His Secretary to be concerned with the cover which just seemed like a looming burden. I placed myself completely in her hands and as I worked on the manuscript, Siri sent me a variety of options for the cover, any of which I would have been happy with. I had her choose the one that she liked best, which I thought was stunning, with its mustard, leather-look background, the old Russian scrolling, and the red and black ornate lettering. It was an absolute blessing for me not to have to think about the cover and to be able to concentrate on the manuscript.

5. Who is your favorite person in the memoir and why?

It would seem obvious to say Rasputin is my favorite person and Simanovitch did affectionately depict him as lively, principled, and complex but humorous.  However, I was very drawn to Simanovitch, not only because he was my great-great uncle, but because of his commentaries on the mentality of the aristocracy contrasted with that of the peasantry. Although he often exaggerated his own importance, he had interesting insights into the dynamics of the different social classes. Simanovitch also had no qualms about describing Rasputin’s wild night life which he shared, nor did he hold back on any of the juicy court gossip of the time, some which he apparently believed. Simanovitch was a jeweler by trade (one of the few Jews allowed to live in Petersburg), but also ran several gambling clubs, a profession not kindly looked upon by the upper classes.  I enjoyed the fact that while Simanovitch bragged about some parts of his life, he also freely admitted some of his fears, weaknesses and mistakes.

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

My least favorite person whom Simanovitch described is the Tsar’s uncle and Commander of the Russian Armies, Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolayevich Romanov. He was such an avid anti-Semite that he accused all Jews of being spies during World War One and, in the course of retreating after military defeats, encouraged the torture and slaughter of entire villages of Jews. He was ruthless and bloodthirsty.

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

One interesting fact is that while the aristocracy spread exaggerated or fabricated accounts of Rasputin’s drinking and womanizing, they themselves consumed champagne and vodka by the case, and many in the court, government and upper classes were afflicted, due to promiscuity, with venereal diseases which were so rampant at the time that the newspapers were filled with advertisements for cures. One historian even noted that if Rasputin had been born into nobility, no one would have thought anything of him drinking or philandering.

Another interesting fact is that more than a hundred people a day lined up at Rasputin’s apartment door to request help or favors of some kind. Many Jews who were denied educations (only 3 to 5% of university students could be Jewish) by law obtained notes from the Tsarina due to Rasputin’s intervention, permitting more Jews than allowed by the quota to be educated. He also helped people who had been unjustly imprisoned and people who wanted to live outside The Pale of Settlement that most Jews were confined to. In addition, he helped the poor by demanding that the wealthy who came for favors (promotions, titles, awards, etc.) empty their pockets and give money to the poor who had come for help.

Rasputin also saw to it that his daughters had the best possible schooling in Petersburg. He always went home to Siberia in the spring to help with the harvest on his farm, and his wife came to visit him once a year or so while he stayed in Petersburg. She was very proud of him and the attention that society women paid him. When asked if it didn’t bother her to have so many women fawning all over her husband, she reportedly smiled and said he had plenty of love to go around for everyone.  Rasputin adored her and treated her with great respect.

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

I was very impressed with another memoir, The Accidental Anarchist by Bryna Kranzler who also edited Rasputin: The Memoirs of His Secretary.  Bryna had taken the diaries of her grandfather, a Jew in the Tsar’s army during the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), and edited the three dozen composition books of his Yiddish notes into a memoir as good as any action/adventure/suspense/historical novel, with some dry humor thrown in.  Both memoirs cover the subject of Jewish history in tsarist Russia from the perspective of and in the voice of men who lived it. 

10. Do you have any unique talents or hobbies?

I’m not sure how unique it is, but I enjoy doing collage art – cutting various shapes out of colored construction paper and creating an abstract design by pasting the pieces onto a background. A few of my works are on the Fine Art America site.

I also talk to myself a lot. I don’t think that’s a talent, but it could be a hobby.

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

My website, The Real Rasputin, has articles, excerpts, reviews and background:  http://therealrasputin.wordpress.com/

Rasputin: The Memoirs of His Secretary by Aron Simanovitch, translated and annotated by Delin Colón, edited by Bryna Kranzler, is available in paperback and on Kindle at: http://www.amazon.com/RASPUTIN-Memoirs-Secretary-Aron-Simanovitch/dp/1484925858

Rasputin and The Jews: A Reversal of History by Delin Colón is also available in paperback and on Kindle at: http://www.amazon.com/Rasputin-Jews-Reversal-Delin-Col%C3%B3n/dp/1461027756

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

Rasputin movies seem to be returning to popularity. I’ve been considering writing a screenplay, although it will tell quite a different story than any other movie about him. In the interim, I’ve taken on some jobs editing the work of other writers. Frankly, I don’t know what to expect from myself in the future, but I know it’ll come to me when the timing is right.

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

The obvious response is “Please write a review!” They’re always appreciated. Give the books as a gift, recommend them to friends and reading groups, tweet about them — in general, make as much noise as you can about them. Authors (especially lesser known ones) aren’t exactly the wealthiest sector of the population, so we can use all the help we can get!

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

Whatever you’re working on, go at it doggedly and edit, edit, edit. I don’t write fewer than half a dozen drafts of a piece. After you’ve edited your manuscript, get a professional editor – a developmental editor to lend a critical eye to the structure and logistics of the work.

If you’re going to self-publish, don’t use any of those presses that charge a fee or force you to purchase a certain number of volumes. Print-on-demand can be done for free. The only fees you should have to pay are for extra services purchased, such as formatting or cover design, but one can learn to do those things.

Most importantly, writing the book is the easy part. It’s finite; there’s a beginning and an end to the process. Promoting and marketing the book is an endless and full-time task but there are resources available on LinkedIn author discussions, Goodreads, and many other sites. It’s wise to establish connections with other authors who can be very helpful with any questions or suggestions.

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

From Rasputin: The Memoirs of His Secretary

Chapter 1

 

My Introduction to the Imperial Court

Allow me first to say a few words about myself: For more than 10 years, I occupied a position, in Petersburg, that one could certainly call ‘unique’.  For the first time in Russian history, a simple Jew from the provinces was received by the Royal Court and had some influence over affairs of state.  The upper classes of that time posed no serious obstacle despite their profound anti-Semitism.  They sought my advice and assistance even though I was a Jew; however, most of my activities consisted of trying to aid my oppressed people, and lighten their load.

My success in Petersburg has generally been attributed to my bond of friendship with Rasputin.    It has been said that it was Rasputin who cleared the way for my introduction to the Imperial Court.   This is not exactly true.  My friendship with Rasputin was certainly very precious to me, but the truth is that I had established connections with Petersburg society before Rasputin arrived in that city.  And this is how I did so:

I was an established jeweler in Kiev and knew many influential people.  Living in the provinces, I acquired a lot of experience in dealing with the police and other bureaucrats.  I became adept at the art of manipulating these state officials.  However, life for all Jews in Kiev, meant tolerating all sorts of vexations and humiliations. So, in 1902, I moved to Petersburg, temporarily leaving my family in Kiev to manage my thriving business.  In Petersburg, I often met people for whom I previously had performed important services.  Most had not forgotten my assistance and remained ready to oblige by helping me to get established in the city.  Due to several among them, I was later able to escape certain death, as well as save the lives of my children.

In 1905, at the first worrisome reports of a pogrom in Kiev, I hurried back to join my family.  My stores had been ransacked.  My business managers and many of my relatives had been massacred.  My own life and that of my immediate family were in grave danger.  But General Mavrin, who led the pogrom, and Zichotzki, the police prefect, took us under their protection and, thanks to them, my family and I escaped to Berlin.

As we were leaving Kiev, in front of the synagogue, we saw the corpses of Jews massacred during their holy service.  This horrible spectacle left such an indelible impression that, after arriving in Berlin, it took me some time to recover.  It was then that I firmly resolved to engage in the struggle, using any and all means, to defend the lives and rights of myself, my family and my fellow Jews.  I decided to actively support the causes and interests of my people.  Only now, and for the first time, am I making a public report of what I attempted and accomplished, taking full responsibility for my actions, and ready to accept any attacks or accusations.

*****

Thank you Delin 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 Rick Trivett

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

My book is called Bubble of Time and is the first installment of the Lyonnesse Tales. It is a light-hearted and hopefully humorous fantasy.

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

I like to think the book is suitable for teenagers of all ages. There is no blood and guts, bedroom scenes and the only swearing comes from the top line of the keyboard. I hope there is something in the book for teenagers and adults alike.

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

I wanted to create a land where life was simpler, where magic still existed and money was not all powerful. However, I also wanted it to be discovered by someone from our own reality. Living in the southwest of Britain, the obvious place to set the series was in the mythical county of Lyonnesse, hence Lyonnesse Tales. But why can’t the rest of us see what was once a kingdom? Simple, because it is hidden in a bubble of time.

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

The cover is a collaboration between a local artist, Hazel-Ann Willson and myself. I can’t draw for toffees so I gave her a brief for the original picture, then tweaked it to get end result. I wanted something that would convey being lost, not in space, but in time, thus the fingerpost has whens rather than wheres.

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

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

My favourite character? Hum, I don’t really have a favourite, or to forestall your next question, least favourite. I like all the characters for different reasons, even some that only get a brief mention. Some are charactures of people of people stereotypes I have met, others are merely how I’d like people to be. For instance, the woman that runs the Post Office is based on a school teacher I had when I was seven. A very austere woman who had never married, had long silver hair pulled back tight and pinned into a bun, and always wore a tweed skirt and jacket.

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

One thing? Like an artist, I don’t think an author ever really knows when to lay down the brush. That said, I’d have to say I’m happy with it the way it is. I’ve had some negative feedback saying I’m too wordy at times with some of the descriptions, but I think that is because I like to get across the scene as I see it, to paint the whole picture. But I can see how it can interrupt the flow of the narrative and is something I am more conscious of as I’m writing the second book.

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

Perhaps that it has sat on a shelf unloved for over twenty years? Back then I was trying hard to be a professional writer, getting poems, newspaper and magazines articles published. I even had my own column in a magazine for a while. But life got in the way as it often does. Now I’m able to give more time to writing, not a lot as I’m still working full time, but I write purely for pleasure and with no deadlines.

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

I have been greatly influenced by Terry Pratchett and the late Douglas Adams. Both have a tremendous use of verbal slapstick that can only work in the imagination, something I’ve tried to bring to my writing. And to a lesser extent, perhaps Tom Holt or Robert Rankin.

10. Do you have any unique talents or hobbies?

Like whistling the Warsaw Concerto whilst drinking a glass of water? No not really. I am however, a committed motorcyclist or perhaps should be committed motorcyclist. I own 4 bikes at the moment, all from the late seventies or early eighties and ride as much as possible. My wife and I have just come back from fourteen days riding around France and Switzerland. We covered 2600miles in that fortnight, and that includes a five day and a three day stopover.

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

Well there is the website, though I don’t update it as often as I should: www.lyonnessetales.co.uk
Or I’m on twitter: https://twitter.com/LyonnesseTales
And Facebook: www.facebook.com/rick.trivett.18
The book itself can be bought from http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BNWH4KI in the UK.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BNWH4KI in the US and from https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/291239 anywhere.

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

Book Two: Quest in Time is on the go at the moment. However, I’m not the most disciplined writer anymore, and working full time it is a bit of a slow burn at the moment, but I hope to have the first draft finished by the end of the year.

After that? I want to continue with the Lyonnesse Tales and have several other story outlines for future books, but I also want to write some serious fantasy/sci fi too.

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

TELL OTHERS! Sorry, but getting the word out is the most important thing for any indie author. Other than that, please give feedback, good or bad.

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

Try and get someone you don’t know to read it first. A neutral opinion is very important and family and friends are sometimes reluctant to be critical. Then when it is ready push your work, really push it and don’t be put off by stacks of rejection letters. If it is good then someone will publish it.

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

Just that I hope you enjoy the book. Let me know either way and hopefully it will improve the next!

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

Ok, here is part of the first chapter:

It was Sunday, and since his girlfriend was away visiting her brother for the day, Dave Unwin was partaking of his second favourite pastime, riding his motorcycle around the myriad of country lanes in Devon. It was early spring, and for once the weather was co-operating and he had not been forced to don his waterproof over-suit. It was still rather chilly so, in addition to his leathers  he was wearing a multitude of layers under his leather jacket and quilted ski trousers over his leather jeans.

If Dave was a stereotypical biker, as the media like to portray them, then by rights he should have been mugging little old ladies, robbing petrol stations, participating in illegal road races, or generally causing trouble. However, he was simply riding for the enjoyment of riding, and the thrill of exploring the largest network of roads of any county in the country. Nor was he travelling at high speed, far from it. Most of the unclassified roads were far too twisty, and the road surface too poor to travel safely at speed. And besides the potholes, loose gravel, lines of tar around old patches, fallen leaves, and mud, there were also the hazards prevalent in a rural setting, like organic landmines left behind by herds of cows, and psychotic pheasants with a death wish. No, Dave was content to ride at a sedate pace, and absorb the world around him. Occasionally he would stop by a gateway or pull in to a lay-by and take a drink of coffee from his thermos whilst admiring the view.

He pulled away from another vantage point, and rode at a sedate pace along the minor road. He was simply riding for the exhilaration of riding and the sense of freedom it generated. Sweeping around bends, and slaloming his way around the multitude of potholes and patches that councils everywhere consider vital for all roads in tip-top condition.

It was a beautiful spring day, with hardly a cloud in the sky. The hedges were in their first flush of vibrant green, growing for all they were worth before they would be trimmed back later in the year once the birds had finished nesting. A sign by the side of the road understated the U-bend ahead, but having ridden this way many times before he was ready for it.

What Dave was not ready for was the imposing bulk of a big red tractor pulling a trailer coming the other way along the road as he went around the bend. Immediately he applied the brakes, the net result of which was to lock up the back wheel, causing the bike to skid on the loose gravel and mud on the road. The tractor coming the other way also braked, skewing itself and its trailer across the width of the road, making it impossible to get past it.

In the mean time, Dave released the brakes and steered into his skid to bring the bike back under control. Even from the low speed he had been doing there was no way he was going to be able to stop on such a loose surface before he hit the tractor. By the side of the road was a gap in the hedge. By a democratic majority of one, Dave voted to head for this gap. It seemed to offer an altogether less painful option than sliding into the tractor .

If he had been able to or had the time to stop and explore exactly why there was a gap between the hedges, then he might possibly have found the remains of the broken sign that was in the ditch next to the gap. He might then have scraped off the lichen and the fungus growing on it, and been able to read what was left of indented lettering, which said:

DANGER!
FOOTPATH CLOSED!
KEEP OUT!

It could have referred to the vegetation but it didn’t, for the gap between the hedges quickly converged. The footpath was more than overgrown - it was undergrown as well. Brambles and dog roses criss-crossed the path like organic barbed wire. Nettles and docks fought between themselves for space amongst the knee-high grass in the middle, and the blackthorn hedges didn’t just loom on the edge of proceedings, they met and exchanged gossip in the middle. A panicked dab of the brakes and a sliding rear wheel informed him that the surface was even more slippery than the road had been and braking was not a good idea. There also appeared to be no room to turn around, not even a gateway or stile, which would mean that even if he could stop he would have to push the bike out backwards through the vegetation, so with no other option forthcoming he kept going.

Dave’s knuckles were white inside his gloves as he griped onto the handlebars, whilst nature tried its best to get to grips with him and dump him on the ground. The dog roses and brambles ripped and tore at various parts of his protective leathers, trying to get at the vulnerable bits underneath. Inside his black helmet, his face was as white as a sheet. His green eyes bulging with fear, as he tried his best to stay in the saddle during that nightmare ride. A part of his brain, that was obviously not up to speed with current events, noticed what a wonderful smell the freshly broken vegetation gave off as he rode through it.

It seemed to last forever. Perhaps it was his lot to spend the rest of his life riding down through that footpath choked with weeds, when without warning the foliage gave way in front of him. It parted to reveal another road. Heaving a sigh of relief, Dave managed to bring his bike to a halt. For a moment he just sat astride his bike, panting with relief. Somehow he had managed to get through it more or less in one piece. Which was more than could be said for his jacket and ski trousers. They were ripped and torn in several places, with the odd thorn sticking right through and into him by the feel of it.

After putting the bike on its stand, Dave pulled off his gloves and helmet, letting his shoulder length brown hair cascaded down around his face, which was clean-shaven apart from a moustache, and still pale with fright. Freed from the confines of his helmet, he began to take in his surrounding.
 
The road he had discovered had the traditional trappings of all little used country lanes. However, the grass down through the middle of it appeared to be meticulously manicured and the potholes had a curiously symmetrical shape to them, but otherwise it resembled any other road long forgotten by the authorities. Carefully he placed his gloves and helmet on the ground, and after a brief pause to pull out some of the more painful thorns, Dave reached into the tattered remains of his leather jacket and took out the map he always carried. He had gotten into the habit of carrying it for those odd occasions when, through no fault of his own, he found himself directionally challenged (or hopelessly lost).

Opening it up, he quickly found the road he had been on and the U-bend. The footpath was not marked, nor, as far as he could make out, was the road he had emerged onto. This rather annoyed him. The map was a good quality one printed by the A.S. (The Ammunition Survey Group) and had been quite expensive. It was the kind of map favoured by ramblers and only covered about twenty square miles but showed every farmhouse, barn, and milking parlour, outside loo, rabbit hutch, and dog kennel. Those people who had been unfortunate enough to have stood still for too long when the survey had been conducted were also marked on the map as well, but what it didn’t show was where he was.

*****

Thank you Rick 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

The Otherworld in the Mortal World - Episode Two

Now that Ghalien is finished and the manuscript is in the hands of my editor and beta readers, I've had a little bit of spare time to work on another Otherworld in the Mortal World installment.  The other day my two friends and I drove across the highway from my house and hiked down into the Black Lake Wetlands Preserve, the very place where Meghan encountered the faelah, the Cumorrig, and Cade for the first time.  Yes, the swamp behind her house really does exist, and so does the neighborhood where she and Tully live.  Of course, I did add a few extra details and I might have changed a few things, but if you ever wanted to visit the setting of the Otherworld Trilogy, you can do so on the Nipomo Mesa.

I have been visiting the wetlands since I was in middle school, but I have never been down there after dark.  To be completely honest, I'm not sure if I would like to visit at night, even if I had a group of friends with me . . .

The best part about the Black Lake Wetlands Preserve is that the traffic is practically non-existent.  In fact, I can remember seeing only a couple other people hiking in the area once or twice before.  Another plus is that the trees are very talkative, creaking and rustling in the wind and telling their secrets.  If you are looking for a natural place to recharge, this preserve is the place to go.  Maybe now you can understand why it made it's way into not just the Otherworld Trilogy, but into my Legend of Oescienne books as well.  If you've read The Finding or The Beginning, then you should be familiar with the Mystic Archedenaeh.  Denaeh calls the Belloughs of the Black Swamp her home.

Below I've included some more pictures and the video we created (just a reminder, this was filmed with my camera, so not the best equipment on the planet, and I have a fear of speaking in front of a camera (something I'm trying to get over :P)), but before I let you go to watch this little creation, I want to reiterate that although Meghan and her friends treated the Black Lake Wetlands Preserve as an extension of Meghan's backyard, there are rules that need to be followed if you should choose to visit (for example, fires are prohibited and there have been reports of bear activity in the area).  So, hopefully that doesn't scare anyone off, but I want to make sure everyone is safe should they decide to make their own little trip down into this Otherworldly realm . . .  With that being said, I hope you enjoy the video!

 

It may be daylight, but I've heard this place is crawling with creepy, Otherworldly creatures.  Best to keep a look out for them.

 

Okay, I swear something just moved down in the reeds, and luckily I have Laura to watch my back.

 

 

Unfortunately, Nino doesn't do so well in these sorts of situations . . .

 

 

 A wasps' nest we found on our hike.  Fortunately, they didn't notice us as we passed by.

 

 

 The canyon where Cade and Fergus fought with the mountain lion faelah in the beginning of Ehriad.

 

 

A eucalyptus tree that will soon join the others down in the canyon.

 

 

The point where the trail crosses the swamp.  It's dry now, but during the winter it can get pretty damp, hence the need for the board.

 

 

A few more trails you can take.

 

 

And now, the feature presentation!

 

 

 

 

Author Spotlight: Interview with Hank Smith

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

Addict to Addict Without Parallel/ Relapse Prevention.

Tagline: The beast of addiction is severe and deadly. if you want to understand the realities of drugs and the effects it has on us then please give yourself a break. please read this book.

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

All audiences who have or who know someone who has struggled with addiction. I believe that would be just about all of us.

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

The book derives from the only known cure of addiction. One addict helping another addict without parallel. It is the only proven way to arrest addiction for more than a short period of time. DRUGS DO NOT WORK.

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

It's basic. Just a word cover. I made it that way because it's the design of simplicity.

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

All who inspired me. Every addict that I know of who has died in the fight of the disease of addiction.

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

Death. addiction always wins if not treated with utmost respect. SURRENDER.

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

I would have gotten more serious about doctors prescribing addicts drugs to fight addiction with.
its a sure way to kill them. Not cure them.

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

Up to this point. I hand made all my books and i have given away over 500 books to inmates and recovering addicts for free.maybe someday I will be paid for them.

As I was writing on a subcommittee of an unnamed 12 step fellowship. I realized that more people
become addicted to doctor prescribed meds in treatment than in hospitals due to injury. I
guess thats not very fun but its the truth.

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

I haven't found one quite like mine. it is a spiritual view on addiction and the arresting
assets of the disease of addiction.

10. Do you have any unique talents or hobbies?

I am a musician and i build harleys. and i love to go camping with my kids and my sweetheart.

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

hanksmith.us  

904-236-2259...dont prank call me. I work hard at this.

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

I'm working with local teens about bullying and a series of booklets for free at all public schools
so the kids can just grab one off the wall in any hallway. Although, I'm a little disgusted with the
so called lack of funding that is offered for this project.

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

Give it to someone who it may save them from an untimely death due to the lack of knowledge
that it takes to stay alive from the deadly disease of addiction.

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

Just speak your mind and write it down. And for gods sakes don't believe that someone will come along and make it happen for you. Prepare to do it yourself. then do it.

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

A lot, but we shall remain silent in order for you to say something.

Thanks to the smell of gunpowder in my mouth. if you visit my website and read my book, you will understand that.

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

THE BEGINNING
To prevent relapse, we must first began a
life of recovery. The only correct way to begin a
life of recovery is to detox from all drugs, work
the twelve steps and live a spiritual life. If these
“so called - wonder drugs” worked, then why
are millions of addicts going to the clinics every
day like cattle and taking drugs they would have
never even taken in the first place. It seems very
disturbing to me that the vision of recovery is
being catapulted into a blur of deception by
doctors and clinics. The medical field has this
backwards. It doesn't take a very bright star to
figure out that a junkie needs to loose the
crutch and begin a new way of life without
drugs. To put someone on synthetic heroin, or
any other drug, is murder. This is belittling to
do to someone who already has a deadly
problem with addiction. In order to prevent
relapse, we must be clean and free from all
drugs in order to begin to recover.
Recovery is the opposite from the way a
drug addicts mind thinks. It’s deadly to cover up
anything that may be of use to them in a
recovery setting. The point here is to help
them recover from “all” drugs. Not to get them
started on new ones that would have never
even reached them in the first place. What’s
the difference in giving a drug addict heroin,
crack, meth, alcohol or cocaine then giving them
oxy-cotton, methadone, suboxone or any other
drug that the doctors see fit to make money
from? It’s no different from the local drug
dealer. Only this is done legally, and there is no
prison sentence behind it. We wonder why the
relapse ratio is so high on addicts leaving
treatment and recovery centers. Funny how
jails don't give addicts their “FIX” while their
incarcerated. Nor do they give them any as
their being released. Sounds like addicts have a
better chance of surviving the deadly disease of
addiction being in jail instead of treatment. But
sadly enough, most dependent inmates quickly
return to their doctor to be instantly
reintroduced to the same old program of
substitution recovery.
This is absurd, and must be arrested now
in order to begin a new life of recovery. To
believe that recovery is just remaining clean
from the drugs that we “illegally abused” is
absurd. The recovery process from anything
that is destroying our lives must be driven by a
crystal clear vision of what it is that we’re
trying to achieve. The medical field tells drug
addicts to remain clean from the drugs that they
came there using but immediately gives them a
replacement drug. This is insane. It only
creates a brand new situation in an old pattern
of thinking. We must begin with a new way of
thinking. To replace drugs, with drugs, is deadly.
This does nothing for the addict or their quality
of life.

*****

Thank you Hank 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