Tag: author on author interview

Interview With Author Jessica Leed

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn Interviews1 Comment

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing? 

As far as I can remember I have loved story telling—in all forms. As a child I would spend every Saturday at the library, devouring books like there was no tomorrow! This quickly led to writing short stories wherever that had a surface! I think there is so much beauty in the world with many stories to tell and feel like there are endless possibilities of ways to communicate them. 

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2) What inspired you to write your book? 

I love creating different worlds in my head. There is such a freedom in writing. A lot of inspiration was drawn from real life experiences, lived out by fictional characters, and of course, the fictional town of ‘Aringdale’. 

3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book? 

This book weaves together themes of self-identity and toxic relationships— issues I feel are prevalent in society that many people can relate to. It is my hope that my readers know that who they are is enough, that no battlelife has thrown at them defines them or their worth. We are strong, brave, resilient and capable of anything we set our mind to. 

4) What drew you into this particular genre? 

I have always been a bit of romantic. In saying that I realise that life doesn’t always end in ‘happily ever after’ the way most romance movies and fairy-tale books lead us to believe. Let’s face it, Life is complicated, relationships are complicated. I wanted to create a story that highlights this, but in a way that stirs faith and hope within the reader. 

5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why? 

I think it’s safe to say that there are a few readers that have been frustrated with Sienna’s decision in tolerating a toxic relationship for so long. Instead of asking Sienna why she didn’t leave, I would ask her what she would be most afraid about if she did. 

6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership? 

Facebook has been the most beneficial. I started promotion my book months before its release. I found that Facebook ads have really helped drive people to my website and subscribe to my newsletter which is wonderful. 

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7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there? 

Read, read, read! The more you read, the better you will be able to refine your craft and gain a deeper insight into the genre that most inspires you. Also know that your writing will never be perfect and that there will always be someone who doesn’t like your work. You could be the juiciest, sweetest, ripest peach in the world, but not everyone likes peaches! This is true with writing, too. Understand that your debut book will not be your best, which is actually exciting because it means you will only continue to grow as a writer! 

8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon? 

I have very recently launched my debut novel NINE YEARS and about to embark on the sequel; HERE I STAND. I will be spending a lot of the summer in hibernation, writing! Stay tuned. 🙂 

Nine Years By Jessica Leed Review

About the Author

Jessica is a 30-year-old school teacher, former fitness professional and dancer. She was born and raised in Bendigo, Victoria before moving to Melbourne in 2008. For as long as she can remember she has had a passion for storytelling—in all forms. 

From writing countless short stories as a child to later completing a creative writing course, written by her favourite and best-selling author, Karen Kingsbury, Jessica was adamant to become a published author. NINE YEARS is the first book in the two-part series BENEATH THE CLOUDS.

AMAZON:https://www.amazon.com.au/Nine-Years-novel-Jessica-Leed/dp/0648679721/ref=sr_1_fkmr3_1?keywords=nine+years+jessica+lead&qid=1573102696&sr=8-1-fkmr3

GOOD READS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48556916-nine-years

Website: http://jessleed.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicaleeda…

Instagram: @jessicaleedauthor  

Author Interview with Hans Joseph Fellmann

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn Interviews1 Comment

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

I didn’t really get into writing; writing got into me. It happened for the first time when I was five years old. My folks and I went to visit my grandparents and my grandfather showed me his handgun. I asked him what it was for and he said, “Killing bad guys.” He didn’t explain much more. I knew from cartoons that guns fired bullets. It didn’t occur to my tiny brain that bullets could kill people. On our way home, we passed our local sewage treatment plant. It stunk like rotting bodies in a wet room. I asked my father why that was. He said, “Because there’s a river of shit running through it.” We got home and I went to bed. The next morning, I went to school. I was teased ruthlessly, as usual. I came home in a foul mood. I ate dinner and went to my room. Instead of diddling myself or playing videogames, I decided to draw. I grabbed a pencil and a stack of paper. As I sat there scribbling, I let my mind go. I thought about the handgun and what my gramps had said. I thought about the kids who teased me and the sewage treatment plant. Suddenly, a force shot through me; I was like a metal rod pulling lightening from the clouds. When the sensation ceased, I looked down at the page. I had written and illustrated (albeit terribly) a story about a handgun that came to life, floated over to the sewage treatment plant, shot down the sign warning people of the “river of shit,” so that when all the kids that bullied me at school walked by it, they didn’t see it and thus fell in and drowned. I was immensely proud of my little story. I ran into the kitchen screaming and showed it to my mother. She smiled at first. As she read, her smile dropped. When she finished, she looked up at me. Her expression was one of pure terror. It was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. I’ve been writing ever since. 

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2) What inspired you to write your book?

I wrote my book about a trip I took around the world with my childhood buddies in 2006. I guess you could say the trip is what inspired me to write the book. But the thing that pushed me to write it was a night of unprotected sex some three years later … I’d woken up the next morning and realized I’d forgotten to use a condom. I didn’t know the woman I’d fucked, and I was hungover, and when I’m hungover, I get paranoid. I started thinking I’d contracted HIV. I worked myself into a frenzy and was huffing and panting and screaming the whole drive home. When I arrived, I ran upstairs and took a shower. As I was scrubbing my junk and banging my head against the tiles, I realized that it wasn’t HIV I was afraid of, it was dying before I released all the words inside of me. I was 27 and set to go to grad school. I got out of the shower, called the director of my program, cancelled my enrollment, sat down at the computer, and wrote the first chapter of “Chuck Life’s a Trip.” 

3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

I don’t want them to take away any theme or message in particular. All I ask is that they embark on the trip that is my book with an open mind and an open heart. 

4) What drew you into this particular genre?

My genre, if you could call it that, is “fictionalized memoirs.” I can’t say what drew me into it. But I can say that I like the idea of writing about my past without the encumberment of sticking to the facts. 

5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?

If I could sit down with any character in my book, I would sit down with the main character, whose name is Johann Klaus Felmanstien, and ask him why he chose to represent us with such a stupid fucking name. 

6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

Seeing as how I’ve only used Blogger and Facebook to promote my work, I’d have to say those two. I wish I could say I haven’t used any social media sites to promote my work, and that my readership has grown strictly through reading and word-of-mouth, like in the good old days when people actually read books and then talked about them face-to-face with other people, but those days are dead, buried, and rotting, so yeah, Blogger and Facebook. 

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7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

If you’re doing this for money, fame, sex, or any combination of the three, kindly take your computer, and any other instruments of writing you may own, form a pyramid with them in your backyard, douse it with lighter fluid, strike a match, and toss it at the belly of that bitch so that it may go up in flames along with your dreams … However, if you’re in this for the good fight, and by that I mean putting words on the page so that a decade from now they reach some poor bastard ready to stick a gun to his head, and he reads them and decides to give life one more shot so he can take his kid to the park, then write everyday with honesty and vigor and don’t stop until you croak. 

8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

I’m currently editing my second novel, which is based on my service as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Central Asian republic of Turkmenistan. I have also written a compilation of poems and book of short stories, both of which I will release at a later date … As for my future, I have no idea what it holds. I only know that with writing, I’ve crossed the point of no return, and it scares the shit outta me. 

Chuck Life’s A Trip Review

About the Author

Hans Joseph Fellmann currently lives between Prague, where he teaches to keep the lights on and writes to keep from going nuts, and Livermore in Northern California, where his funky little ass grew up. During the last twenty years, Hans has been tiptoeing the globe and scribbling it all down. To date, he has visited over eighty countries on six continents, and he continues to “blow it up” each summer.

By the skin of his teeth, Hans earned a BA degree from the University of California at San Diego in International Studies, with an emphasis on the Middle East. His articles and short stories have appeared (albeit not magically) in the UCSD Guardian, the San Diego Union-Tribune and The Prague Revue. To improve his craft, and to buy his folks keychains so they could claim their son went to grad school, he attended the Iowa Writers’ Workshop in 2013.

His first novel “Chuck Life’s a Trip,” which is based on a trip he took around the world with his childhood buddies in 2006, is now available on Amazon. He recently completed a second semi-autobiographical novel which he is “polishing.” It is about his pants-on-the-head-crazy experience as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Karakum Desert of Turkmenistan.

In his spare time, Hans likes to study languages, the more obscure the better. He speaks ten, including Czech, Turkmen, Farsi and Spanish, with varying degrees of proficiency. He is also a huge geography and book nerd. When he’s not backpacking where he shouldn’t be or rattling off in some foreign tongue, he’s got his eyes crawling over a map of a long-forgotten Central Asian republic, or his nose buried deep in a book by a fellow B.A.M.F.

https://amzn.to/2Ox8f6b

Interview With Author Jerome Preisler

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn InterviewsLeave a comment

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

When I was about ten or eleven I started writing a kind of science fiction/fantasy/horror novel. I suppose it was a kind of escape; I was not the happiest of kids. I wrote the beginning in longhand, but after a couple of months taught myself to type on an old manual typewriter that was sitting around in my room. The book wound up being exactly 138 pages, single-spaced. I’ve been writing ever since, with long lapses until I hit my late twenties and decided to really make a go at doing it professionally. 

2) What inspired you to write your book?

Well, in the case of Net Force, which was a previously existing—if long dormant—bestselling franchise,  it’s kind of different from a novel I would conceive entirely on my own. I was initially asked to relaunch the series, but the whole process took a while, and there were extended lulls before it all came together. Finally I made a big push to convince everyone involved that the time was right to get it done, cybersecurity and the evolution of cyberspace being very much at the forefront of our collective awareness nowadays. It took a lot of work and patience, but here we are, happily!

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3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

I have three epigraphs. One quote is from President John F. Kennedy: “What unites us is far greater than what divides us.”

I like the word “theme” better than “message,” and if the series does have a theme, JFK put it very succinctly. We’re living in a time of great challenge. Political, moral, ethical, environmental, technological, social … this is a hinge-point in terms of our very survival and evolution as a species.  If humanity’s going to make it, we’re going to need heroes of all nationalities and ethnicities and genders to stand up against the forces that threaten our freedom … and our existence.

That’s where Net Force comes in.

4) What drew you into this particular genre?

I’ve written books of almost every type, and like working in many different genres. I don’t think of Net Force as being one thing or another … to me it’s just a thriller, with elements of mystery, suspense, cyberpunk and other categories. I get to use my whole toolkit, and that’s part of the fun.

5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?

Hands down, it’s Kali Alcazar. But I wouldn’t ask her anything in particular. I’d just want to have a long conversation with lots of good, strong coffee for us to drink. Kali is 28 years or so and going on a thousand; an old, old soul. There are oceans of depth to her. You could know Kali for years and still feel she’s a mystery. But there’s a core certainty about her, a knowingness, that’s rock solid. Once Kali makes a decision, she never questions it, never second guesses herself. That’s very different from how I’ve been most of my life, though I’ve gotten more like her in recent years. Kali’s someone you can depend on in extreme moments. At the same time, she isn’t infallible. She is who she is by choice, and some of those choices have taken her down difficult roads. But she’s true to herself and her values and the things and people she cares about. If she’s on your side, she’ll stand with you through any hardship and danger … but don’t cross her or you’ll regret it!  

6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

To be completely honest, I’m not convinced social media works that well. It still seems to me that one good radio or tv appearance is worth any number of tweets or Facebook posts. But I’m keeping an open mind and staying at it, so let’s say the verdict’s still out.


7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

If you really want to write, be disciplined, and don’t sit around waiting for inspiration. I love baseball and always use the analogy of a batter getting in his daily repetitions, or reps. Hitters need routine, they need steady, regular at-bats. Sit them for a few days, and they slip off their game. My father toiled in a factory most of his life, a garment sweatshop, and what I got from him was my work ethic. He never missed a day of work in his life and I admire that. You do it every day. Doesn’t matter how you feel. You get up and go to work.

8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon? 

I finished the first Net Force enovella—a prequel that spotlights Kali and CIA manhunter Mike Carmody—last August. It’s called Eye of the Drone and will be out in June and it kicks butt. And I’m currently writing my second Net Force novel, which will be released in the autumn of 2020. Last but not least, I have a Civil War narrative history about a colorful character named Will Cushing that’s due out in October 2020. So, thankfully, I’m keeping busy!

Net Force: Dark Web Review
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About the Author

Jerome Preisler is the prolific author of almost forty books of fiction and narrative nonfiction, including all eight novels in the New York Times bestselling TOM CLANCY’S POWER PLAYS series.

His latest book is NET FORCE:DARK WEB (November 2019), the first novel in a relaunch of the New York Times bestselling series co-created by Tom Clancy. Forthcoming in May 2020 is the enovella NET FORCE: EYE OF THE DRONE.

Among Jerome’s recent works of narrative history are CODE NAME CAESAR: The Secret Hunt for U-boat 864 During World War Two, and FIRST TO JUMP: How the Band of Brothers Was Aided by the Brave Paratroopers of Pathfinders Company. His next book of nonfiction, CIVIL WAR COMMANDO: William Cushing’s Daring Raid to Sink the Invincible Ironclad C.S.S. Albemarle,will be published by Regnery Books in October 2020.

Jerome lives in New York City and coastal Maine.

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Interview with Author R. Douglas Clark

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn Blog Tours, Book Events, InterviewsLeave a comment

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

I got into writing through journalism. For several years I wrote for newspapers and magazines as a freelancer. My specialty was music journalism, which is good training for writing fiction. Writing about music is almost impossible to do!

2) What inspired you to write your book?

I was (and am) inspired by the place where I live: the seasons, the people, the history. The material is very rich for writing.

3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

Live life to the fullest, and be tolerant of others. Also, have a sense of humor!

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4) What drew you into this particular genre?

This book is not easily pegged to be a specific genre. For marketing purposes, it is called science fiction, and it does have sections of sci-fi, but there is more contemporary fiction in it than anything else.

5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?

I’d love to talk to Tai-Keiko because she is from another millennium. I would ask her to describe life in her time to ours.

6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

The jury is out on this one. I think that the social media platform called “word of mouth” is the best of all.

7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

Don’t be afraid to take chances.

8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

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I have just finished my next book, “Dangerous Crossing.” It takes place on the border between the US and Mexico, and is concerned with contemporary issues, such as immigration, drug smuggling, human trafficking and sports gambling. It is due out early in 2020.

Print Length: 195 Pages

Genre: Science Fiction

Publisher: Beeline Press (June 19, 2019)

ISBN-10: 1645400646

ISBN-13: 978-1645400646

Welcome to Maravilla  is now available to purchase on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and  IndieBound.

About the Author

R. Douglas Clark was born in Vermont, grew up in Colorado, attended college in Chicago, and received a Master’s degree in music from Brown University. Seeing no future for himself in academia, he spent a year in the Oregon woods, living in a primitive cabin, writing music reviews and cultural commentary for magazines and newspapers. Next stop, Eugene, Oregon where he spent 20 damp years as a bootstrap businessman, father and musician. On a vacation trip, he and his wife, Shelley, fell in love with sunny northern New Mexico and subsequently moved there. After four years running Boys and Girls Clubs in Chimayó and Abiquiú–and another four, running a U-pick raspberry farm–he retired to write fiction full time.  

Find R. Douglas online: https://www.rdouglasclark.com/

— Blog Tour Dates

October 14th @ The Muffin

What goes better in the morning than a muffin? Join us as we celebrate the launch the blog tour for author R. Douglas Clark’s book Welcome to Maravilla. Read an interview with the author and win a copy of the book. 

http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com

October 15th @ Book Santa Fe with Crystal Otto

Crystal Otto shares her thoughts about the sci-fi book Welcome to Maravilla by R. Douglas Clark. 

http://www.booksantafe.info/booksantafeblog

October 16th @ Bring on Lemons with Carmen Otto

Middle Schooler Carmen Otto reviews R. Douglas Clark’s Welcome to Maravilla and explains to her friends why this is a great book for even young readers.

http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

October 17th @ World of My Imagination

Nicole Pyles reviews Welcome to Maravilla by R. Douglas Clark and delights readers at World of My Imagination with an opportunity to learn more about this fast-paced sci-fi novel!

https://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com/

October 17th @ Selling Books

Don’t miss today’s author interview with R. Douglas Clark as Cathy Stucker finds out more about his latest release Welcome to Maravilla.

https://www.sellingbooks.com/

October 21st @ Memoir Writer’s Journey

Today’s guest author at Memoir Writer’s Journey is R. Douglas Clark with an article about _________. Join Kathleen Pooler’s audience as they learn more about Clark and his latest book Welcome to Maravilla.

https://krpooler.com/

October 22nd @ To Write or Not To Write

Sreevarsha reviews Welcome to Maravilla by R. Douglas Clarks and delights readers at To Write or Not To Write with her thoughts about this excellent novel!

http://sreevarshasreejith.blogspot.co.at/

October 23rd @ World of My Imagination

Learn more about R. Douglas Clark and his new book Welcome to Maravilla as he shares a few thoughts in an interesting interview with Nicole Pyles at World of My Imagination.

https://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com/

October 24th @ Look to the Western Sky

Visit Margo’s blog today where you can catch today’s author spotlight and learn more about R. Douglas Clark and his latest book Welcome to Maravilla.

https://margoldill.com/

October 25th @ A StoryBook World

Don’t miss today’s publicity post at A Storybook World as readers at Dierdra’s blog are introduced to “Welcome to Maravilla” by R. Douglas Clark.

http://www.astorybookworld.com/

October 28th @ Breakeven Books

Today’s Book Spotlight at Breakeven Books is Welcome to Maravilla by R. Douglas Clark – don’t miss this great opportunity to add this lovely new novel to your collection!

https://breakevenbooks.com/

October 28th @ Lisa Haselton Reviews and Interviews

Lisa Haselton interviews R. Douglas Clark about his latest novel Welcome to Maravilla . Readers will delight in learning more about this science fiction story with it’s courageous characters!

http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com/

November 2nd @ Author Anthony Avina

Author Anthony Avina interview R. Douglas Clark about his latest novel Welcome to Maravilla

https://authoranthonyavinablog.wordpress.com/

November 12th @ Author Anthony Avina

Author Anthony Avina shares his thoughts after reading Welcome to Maravilla by R. Douglas Clark – don’t miss this review!

https://authoranthonyavinablog.wordpress.com/

November 13th @ Bring on Lemons with Tara Forst

Wisconsin mother and book lover shares her review of R. Douglas Clark’s latest Welcome to Maravilla with readers at Bring on Lemons. 

http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

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Interview with Author Liz Butcher

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn Interviews2 Comments

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

I’ve always loved writing, but it wasn’t until my late twenties that I made it a priority. I started by joining a few online writing groups and connecting with other writers, but then just bit the bullet and started!

2) What inspired you to write your book?

It was an idea that had niggled at me for awhile. There is always so much going on in the world and I wondered what would happen if the Fates (or some other entity) decided to get rid of us. An extinction by the powers that be.

3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

That it’s never too late to make a difference.

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4) What drew you into this particular genre?

With this particular book, it’s a combination of mythology/horror/fantasy. I’ve always had a huge love of ancient history and mythology, so it came naturally to me. To be honest, it’s the same with horror! They’re genres that I just feel at home with.

5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?

I think I would have a long sit down with Zeus – but I can’t reveal what we’d discuss without giving anything away!

6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

Hmm…that’s a tricky question. I’ve utilised Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and they’re all fairly on par.

7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

Dive in feet first and go for it. Write, write, and write some more. Build connections with other writers and invest in an amazing editor.

8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

Hopefully a successful writing career! I’m presently querying a YA horror titled LeRoux Manor, and I’ve almost finished my next novel, an  adult paranormal/crime titled Never, Never. After that I’m starting a paranormal serial titled Luna Zimmer…and much more!

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About the Author

Liz Butcher resides in Australia, with her husband, daughter, and their two cats. She’s a self-confessed nerd with a BA in psychology and an insatiable fascination for learning. When she’s not writing or spending time with her family, Liz enjoys road trips, astronomy, music and knitting.

https://lizbutcherauthor.wixsite.com/lizbutcher

Fates’ Fury Review

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Interview with Author Tess Watson

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn InterviewsLeave a comment

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

I always wanted to write, but had actually only ever written for our family business (home inspection). When we realized so many people purchase homes with no idea how one works I wrote four seasonal newsletters to cover their first year of homeownership.

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2) What inspired you to write your book?

I continued to write other newsletters, such as hiring a contractor and how to paint, and thought househould insect infestation might be another useful topic. However, after my initial investigation, including discovering way more insects than originally thought, I understood there was no way to whittle the information down to 4-6 pages. But, I was fascinated with what I was learning and kept going.

3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

I really hope people firstly understand insects are important and we need to actually ensure we have a diverse range of them in our gardens. Secondly, I hope they realize most infestations are not that difficult to get rid of. Very few infestations require the assistance of a pest-control company and their chemicals.

4) What is one thing or one fact about pest and insect infestation that the average home owner will get wrong when it comes to insects in general and how to proceed with removing them from your home?

Believing the inflammatory disinformation on the internet, perpetrated by people with an economic reason for you to stop by, and consequently wasting time on products that don’t work or getting conned into a contract to spray your house on a regular basis. The book indicates which insects can be dealt with and how, and which require the pros along with tips on hiring one.

5) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

If you know absolutely nothing about composing a novel, start reading books that explain the process. Beyond that, explore your inner voice for what gets you excited, positively or negatively. Ruminate with different characters that come alive within that excitement.

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6) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

I’ve begun the planning stage for a novel. I’ve had two characters in my head for a couple of years and with Little Buggers! finished, I’m thrilled to now have time to devote to letting them come out and play.

Little Buggers Review
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Interview with Author Cody T. Luff

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn InterviewsLeave a comment

1)      Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

My first experiences with storytelling were around the campfire in my childhood. My family spent many nights around campfires sharing stories, retelling old tales, or making up new ones to keep the night at bay. When I was very young, I shined shoes in my grandfather’s barbershop for a time. I admit to being terrible with a rag and brush but I listen to every story that was passed back and forth between the old men that haunted the place as they waited for their trim or shave. I found my way into theater as a young man and eventually into independent film in college. The entire time, whether I was sitting by the fire or behind a camera, I was always writing, always composing my own stories or at least witnessing them as they composed themselves.

2)      What inspired you to write your book?

Most of my work is inspired by a simple moment that ignites my senses. Ration started in the hallway of a hotel, a single small sound caused a ripple in my mind that blossomed into a scene in the book. Most of my work begins with this kind of small spark and then blooms across the bones of a story that grows from the world around me. I have been an educator for nearly two decades, food insecurity and violence are constant issues many of my students face. I wanted this story to reflect struggles that I witness in the real world.

3)      What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

Ration is about love, which seems to be incongruous with horror and dystopia, but the truth is each of these characters is worthy of some form of love, no matter how ugly their own idea of love is. With Ration I wanted to write a kind of book that could explore the imperfections of how we see love and experience it, especially in the darkest moments of our lives.

4)      What drew you into this particular genre?

Writing horror offers a great deal of freedom, and while I am not bound by genre in my writing, I recognize that horror gives me the opportunity to write about dark and beautiful things. I want my writing to stretch across all genres, but I also want to write something that reflects the terrible little personal horrors that we must all face and at the same time, demonstrate how those horrors simply make us human.

5)      If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?

I think I would sit down with Ms. Tuttle and ask her why she didn’t break away from her mother like she so wanted to. I would ask her why she struggles to remember her love until she is quite sure that she can no longer feel love.

6)      What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

Twitter is an interesting mechanism for developing a readership. I have no gift in social media, in fact, I admit to enjoy hiding in my office and quietly writing in the hopes that the world might simply stumble across my work, but unfortunately that’s not the way things are. Twitter has been a remarkable platform to put me in touch with hundreds of other writers. This has been a tremendous boon that does my heart good to find such a supportive community. So, no matter how clumsy I am at it, it remains one of my most useful tools.

7)      What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

The thing I can offer is something that I’m sure most writers have heard before, but it remains profoundly true: you must write the thing that you love, no matter how risky or terrifying that might be. If you love what you write, and you feel what your characters are feeling when you write it, the reader will feel these things also. Writing is about passion, one that you can share with your readers, but one that you must cultivate by yourself. And never forget that there will be people who love your work just as much as you, so even though you must write by yourself, you must never read alone.

8)      What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

I am currently working on a new novel. It’s also a scary story about how each of us sees the world in very different ways. This story will also be about love, centering on a family, a town in the Pacific Northwest, and a terrible loss.

Ration Review

About the Author

Cody’s stories have appeared in Pilgrimage, Cirque, KYSO Flash, Menda City Review, Swamp Biscuits & Tea, and others. He is fiction winner of the 2016 Montana Book Festival Regional Emerging Writers Contest. 

Cody teaches at Portland Community College and works as a story editor. He completed an intensive MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College. Cody grew up listening to stories in his grandfather’s barber shop as he shined shoes, stories told to him at bedsides and on front porches, deep in his father’s favorite woods, and in the cabs of pickup trucks on lonely dirt roads. Cody’s work explores those things both small and wondrous that move the soul, whether they be deeply real or strikingly surreal.

https://codytluff.com/

http://www.mindbuckmedia.com/

Interview with Anthony Avina

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn InterviewsLeave a comment

Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

– I got into writing in high school, but I wasn’t any good at it back then. Recently, I wanted to take more control and agency in my life, as well as write down some cool story ideas I had. In 2017 while at work, I work in a car dealership call center, I decided to just start writing hoping that it would expand into a novel. 

What inspired you to write your book?

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– Both Dagger and Scythe, as well as Era of Undying sort of came about the same way. I had this idea in mind and wanted to run with it. I’m not sure where the inspiration came specifically but I wanted to know what would happen to a character if her blood could move outside of her body, hence Era of Undying. And for Dagger and Scythe I had those two in my head also since high school. They were like a combination of Mr. and Mrs. Smith with Gomes and Morticia Addams. 

What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

  • There’s nothing to profound in my books, but if there was a message I guess that it would be that there is beauty in the grotesque. 

What drew you into this particular genre?

– I love the in depth characters in dark fantasy and grimdark stories. They are so dynamic and three dimensional. Also the landscapes can be just as amazing, and dark. 

If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?

– If I could sit down with anyone in “Dagger and Scythe” that would be the character Nyx. She’s the goddess of death in their world, and is actually a bit lonely. I’d love to talk to her about her family and the pantheon she created. 

What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

– Facebook and Twitter are the most helpful, but I’m also on Goodreads and Instagram.

What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

– Take your time, and work at your own pace. So many writers starting off want to be the next best thing right away, and so did I, but it’s best to slow down, and really plan everything. Also in regards to writing itself, create a daily habit for yourself. That will always be more powerful than waiting on inspiration. 

What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

  • Oh yes, I’m working on a few right now, with more planned in the future. I’m really hoping that I can do this full time one day. 

About the Author

I have always loved stories. They explore weird new ideas, and bring people together. After years of reading fantasy and horror I wanted to combine them together into my own dark fantasy. And given the BA in Classical Civilizations and fascination in Ancient Greek mythology I blended it well into my stories too. Other then reading in my spare time I love to play video games quite often.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45434518-dagger-and-scythe?from_search=true

https://www.emilieknight.com/

https://www.facebook.com/emilieknightwriter/?eid=ARCHdGNchXsS1RRZlI-HuC-lj4Ebk46zFW90bxV4jA0q7ZbjNaH_IosxGyyTUu1Bu9fZsZd-9WCkOTIt

https://twitter.com/Emilie_Knight_

https://www.instagram.com/emilie_knight_/

Interview with Author Christy J. Breedlove

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn Interviews7 Comments

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

My early writing accomplishment were multiple hits within a few years: In my first year of writing back in 1987, I wrote three Sf short stories that were accepted by major slick magazines which qualified me for the Science Fiction Writers of America, and at the same time achieved a Finalist award in the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest. This recognition garnered me a top gun SF agent at the time, Richard Curtis Associates. My first novel went to John Badham (Director) and the Producers, the Cohen Brothers. Only an option, but an extreme honor. The writer who beat me out of contention for a feature movie, was Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park. My book was called Dinothon.

A year after that I published two best-selling non-fiction books and landed on radio, TV, in every library in the U.S. and in hundreds of newspapers.

I have been trying to catch that lightning in a bottle ever since. My YA dystopian novel, The Girl They Sold to the Moon won the grand prize in a publisher’s YA novel writing contest, went to a small auction and got tagged for a film option. So, I’m getting there, I hope!

2) What inspired you to write your book?

It all started with the dream catcher. This iconic item, which is rightfully ingrained in Indian lore, is a dream symbol respected by the culture that created it. It is mystifying, an enigma that that prods the imagination. Legends about the dream catcher are passed down from multiple tribes. There are variations, but the one fact that can be agreed upon is that it is a nightmare entrapment device, designed to sift through evil thoughts and images and only allow pleasant and peaceful dreams to enter into consciousness of the sleeper.

I wondered what would happen to a very ancient dream catcher that was topped off with dreams and nightmares. What if the nightmares became too sick or deathly? What if the web strings could not hold anymore visions? Would the dream catcher melt, burst, vanish, implode? I reasoned that something would have to give if too much evil was allowed to congregate inside of its structure. I found nothing on the Internet that offered a solution to this problem—I might have missed a relevant story, but nothing stood out to me. Stephen King had a story called Dream Catcher, but I found nothing in it that was similar to what I had in mind. So I took it upon myself to answer such a burning question. Like too much death on a battlefield could inundate the immediate location with lost and angry spirits, so could a dream catcher hold no more of its fill of sheer terror without morphing into something else, or opening up a lost and forbidden existence. What would it be like to be caught up in another world inside the webs of a dream catcher, and how would you get out? What would this world look like? How could it be navigated? What was the source of the exit, and what was inside of it that threatened your existence? Screamcatcher: Web World, the first in the series, was my answer. I can only hope that I have done it justice. You can be the judge of that.

3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

The overall message of Screamcatcher is survival. This is accompanied by teamwork, love, persistence, loyalty and dedication. Teenager, although they can be reckless, they are nearly immune to complete failure and so resistant and resourceful that they often solve problems as fast as they encounter them. I always had The Hunger Games in mind because it showed undaunted courage and determination–that working hard and continuing on was the main thrust of the characters. I thought to mash-up Jumanji and The Hunger Games. There is a very slight sub-theme that I thought I would sneak in, whether it was popular or not. I didn’t care. And that was the message that sometimes, the nice does finish first and get the girl. Hardly an Alpha prospect, but one that I wanted to touch on nevertheless.

4) What drew you into this particular genre?

I do like adult thrillers and science fiction, but I’m now leaning toward upper YA in the low fantasy realm–portal fantasies. I’m really addicted to YA dystopian!  Divergent and The Hunger Games had quite an impact on me, among others like Harry Potter series. There is a huge cross-over appeal to writing YA, and my sample is in the upper age range of YA, from about 14-15 to 19 years-old.

5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?

I guess I would ask Jory why she didn’t notice how infatuated Choice was with her, or if she purposely denied it. We find out later that his courageous and unselfish behavior gets the team out of quite a few jams. He’s smart and resourceful. She does notice him, but I wonder why she pushed those feelings aside at first. Since I’m a guy (no big surprise there) I was curious about the female mindset and how she would ultimately react to him. It seems I wrote my own nagging mystery, for which I had no real answer.

6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

Gosh, I couldn’t pick just one, without admitting that I belong to over 25 major social media sites; display sites, writing groups, contest sites, promo companies and all others in Sundry. It’s very, very difficult today to get noticed. We have a glut in the industry like we’ve never seen before. Every author I know is clamoring for attention, some of them spending thousands of dollars on ads. I would imagine my FB followers of nearly 4,700 strong have contributed more than the others. I spend 14 years in a giant writing group and always got clicks from them about my posts and articles. My blog, Guerrilla Warfare for Writers helped out too, since my members were very familiar with all of my books, not just one.

7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

If a budding writing asked me if they should pursue a career in writing, I would tell them to take a couple aspirin, go into a dark room, lay down and wait for the feeling to pass. Don’t stop until you’ve finished a first draft. Then edit like there’s no tomorrow. After publication,seriously watch your spending on ads–they can be grossly ineffective. Use social media and generously interact with fellow writers and readers. Don’t abuse FB and Twitter solely for the purpose of “Buy My Book.” Join writing groups and learn from the pros. Ask politely for reviews–don’t pressure, harass or intimidate. Be creative. Target your genre readers. Offer incentives and freebies. Craft a newsletter and send it out bi-monthly. Don’t take critiques as personal attacks–learn from honest opinions. Don’t despair. Never give up. Revenge query.Get started on your next book.

8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?


The Screamcatcher trilogy is bought, and the next two books are in the dugout awaiting my publisher’s editor, which should be soon. There is a lot to do there, even as far as doing some major revisions and added information in books 2 and 3. Book 2 is called Screamcatcher: Dream Chasers, and book 3 is Screamcatcher: The Shimmering Eye. I’m nearly done with totally revising a weird werewolf book, and I’m stuck halfway through a Middle Grade Fantasy.

AUTHOR SEMI-BIO

I’m a diehard frantic creator of Young Adult fiction, whether it’s paranormal, science fiction, suspense or fantasy. I believe in pure escapism with unceasing action adventure and discovery. If you want a moral message or cultural statement, you’re apt to get a small one. But let me tell you something, reader, I want to make you laugh until you gag, cry until you’re dry and tear out tufts of your hair. Today, young adult literature needs some support and renewed interest.. How soon we’ve forgotten about Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Divergent and Twilight. Oh, the mania! Where has it gone? Are we losing our young readers? We need something really fresh and new. I and several writers are going to pour everything we have into that end. You are the kindly judge–help us get there and we will deliver!

AUTHOR BIO

Christy J. Breedlove (Chris H. Stevenson), originally born in California, moved to Sylvania, Alabama in 2009. Her occupations have included newspaper editor/reporter, astronomer, federal police officer, housecleaner and part time surfer girl. She has been writing off and on for 36 years, having officially published books beginning in 1988. Today she writes in her favorite genre, Young Adult, but has published in multiple genres and categories. She was a finalist in the L. Ron. Hubbard Writers of the Future contest, and took the first place grand prize in a YA novel writing contest for The Girl They Sold to the Moon. She writes the popular blog, Guerrilla Warfare for Writers (special weapons and tactics), hoping to inform and educate writers all over the world about the high points and pitfalls of publishing.

Amazon Page:  https://www.amazon.com/Chris-Harold-Stevenson/e/B001K8UUBK

Christy’s Website:  https://christysyoungadultfabuliers.com/

Blog:  http://guerrillawarfareforwriters.blogspot.com/