Monday, May 26, 2008

Interview with Michael G. Munz * Contest *


*Comment to Win*
Michael is offering a copy of his book to one lucky commenter this week, so make sure to leave a comment and your email address so that we can contact you if you are chosen. You will have 5 days to claim your prize, if we do not hear from you we will have to do a redraw, so make sure to check your email at the end of the week!

Author Pen Name: Michael G. Munz

CA: What genre(s) do you write? Why do you write the stories that you write?

MGM: I've never been terribly comfortable with labels, so I like the broad one of "speculative fiction." While A Shadow in the Flames is closest to cyberpunk/sci-fi, a lot of my short stories are more akin to contemporary fantasy or supernatural fiction. (How would you classify a story about a modern man meeting the god Apollo in a café?)

I write what I write, well, because I find something interesting about the topic. I suppose you could say I write to escape, as most of my stories have some trace of the fantastic, extraordinary, or futuristic. (We're stuck in the real world every day, so why not read/write about things we can't quite experience in reality?) I do try to ground my stories in the truth of human experience, of course, but I like to give the reader a sense of wonder—or at least a sense of something they wouldn't normally encounter on their way to work. I suppose that goes back to my trouble categorizing my work in a clear-cut genre; I write what sounds interesting to me and worry about labeling it later (if at all) rather than sit down and say, "Okay, now I'm going to write some science fiction."

CA: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

MGM: The actual point of conscious decision was during the summer after my freshman year of college. While having a lousy summer otherwise, I was reading a book for the sheer pleasure of reading, and decided that I'd love to be able make a career of creating something that could bring such enjoyment to others. I'd always had the writing bug, but that was when I decided to focus on writing as more than just a hobby.

CA: Who or what was your inspiration for writing?

MGM: Three of my biggest influences would have to be (in reverse alphabetical order for no apparent reason) Dan Simmons, Terry Brooks, and Douglas Adams. Simmons for the masterful way he weaves a plot, Brooks for the sheer enjoyment some of his books have given me, and Adams for showing me that writing itself is a blast. As for influences on WHAT I write, I suppose a great deal of it goes back to reading all the mythology and astronomy books I could get my hands on when I was little, not to mention Tolkien, which was really my first introduction to that sort of a fantasy world. (I've not written much along those lines yet, but it certainly kindled my imagination way back when and started me thinking about other worlds. …Ah, ignore for the fact that Middle Earth is supposed to be a pre-history of our world, of course.)

CA: What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

Currently my fiction-writing schedule requires working around time devoted to another job, so I tend to write on weekends when I can and maybe an hour or so in the evenings during the week. Sometimes I'll steal a little time at lunch, too, or even pull over and jot a few things down if something hits me (metaphorically speaking, knock on wood) while I'm driving. I need to work on spending a little more time writing; lately the desire to get in more than my recommended daily allowance of goofing off is quite high.

CA: Your book is about to be sent into the reader world, what is one word that describes how you feel?

MGM: Is there a single word that encompasses "excited," "proud," "nervous," "happy," "eager," and "slightly hungry?" I don't know that there is, and so I shall invent one: "Snoudtasticapphricous." ...or perhaps "Bahb."

CA: What was your biggest challenge in writing your book(s)?

MGM: Caffeine addiction. I do a lot of my writing in cafés, and I've downed a LOT of mochas. It's also a challenge to get inside the headspace of certain characters. I keep the point of view of a chapter generally constant with a particular character so chapters that are written from the POV of the darker ones tend to move my own headspace in that direction to the point where I have to shake myself out of it after a writing session. (I'm encountering this more in the second book than the first, though there IS one character from A Shadow in the Flames who, though he survives, won't be coming back because I'm frankly just sick of having him wandering around my brain.) Okay, so I guess that's two biggest challenges. Oh, and here's a third: avoiding the vengeful hands of a particular manuscript reader who wanted to throttle me when a chapter ended. (She hated having to wait for me to write the next one to find out what happened next!) That was a fun challenge, and yeah, I'm a sadistic bastard.

CA: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I really like to win large quantities of money, but I seldom actually DO that. (Hey, you asked what I LIKE to do, right?) Obviously I read when I can, though I also like to get outside when the Seattle weather allows, even if it's just for a walk. I couldn't call myself a geek without keeping up with the latest movies, of course, though as I say this I realize I haven't seen as many lately as I used to. I also like to maintain a healthy addiction to computer games now and again. (I've likely spent way too much time playing Civilization 4.)

CA: How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

MGM: I've written nearly two: A Shadow in the Flames is the completed book, and I'm about ninety percent done with the one that follows. Of the two, I'd say the one I'm working on now is my favorite. ASITF introduced the characters, but the one to follow is really letting me sink my teeth into them now that they've been established. Some characters have also changed a bit due to the events of the first book, and it's a fun challenge for me to explore that.

CA: Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?

MGM: I don't think there's any writer who can say their characters are TOTALLY from their imagination, though how much of it is conscious and unconscious would vary. As for me, I've purposely appropriated a few traits or mannerisms from certain people, just to flesh out a character more. I'd say it's impossible for a writer not to put SOME aspect of themselves (however small) into the majority of their characters. A while back I noticed certain things I have in common with various characters—post-creation—that I then used to better write them. (E.g. Diomedes' issues with change reflect my own, though his are certainly taken to more extremes.) There is one character I began writing with the idea that he'd think and react exactly the way I would, though now he's actually grown into his own and diverged from me in some ways. (No, it's not the character named Michael, and no, I won't tell you who it IS.) There's also a character directly based on someone I know, done with that person's blessing.

CA: Do you have any advice for the aspiring writers out there?

MGM: Always carry a large supply of cardboard tubing. (Okay, just kidding. It'd be an interesting gauge of how many people take these answers to heart to see how many people start lugging some tubes around though, wouldn't it? Or maybe it's just me.) Seriously, though, two things: First, find someone whose honesty you trust to read your work. They'll help you make sure that what's on the page matches what's in your head when you're writing it. Second, TAKE NOTES. Even if you think you'll remember that plot development or character arc detail when you come up with it, it's horrible to come back to something you thought of a month ago and find yourself panicking as you try to reconstruct an elusive thought process. Fail to do this, and you'll want to beat yourself over the head with the aforementioned cardboard tubes.

CA: How can a reader contact you or purchase your books?

MGM: Both can be done on my website: www.michaelgmunz.com. A Shadow in the Flames can also be found on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, etc., or you could just ask your local bookstore to order ISBN #978-1-60264-104-4 if they don't have it. (That's especially fun because then you get to play with numbers!)

CA: Is there anything you would like to add?

MGM: The likelihood of anyone ever actually dropping a needle in a haystack, much less wanting to find one, is incredibly small. Additionally, feel free to stop by if you're on MySpace: MySpace.com/michaelgmunz

CA: Michael, thank you again for dropping by this week, and offering a copy of your book to one lucky commenter! Keep up the writing and I’ll be reviewing your book soon!

Interview with Brandon Ford


Author Pen Name: Brandon Ford

CA: What genre(s) do you write? Why do you write the stories that you write?

BF: I write exclusively in the horror/suspense genre. I write fiction in this particular genre because I am a longtime fan of books and films that focus on the emotion of fear. I’ve always loved a good scare.

CA: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

BF: I’ve been writing for a long time. I first began approximately at the age of 8. Throughout my teen years, I did it as more of a hobby. It was just something fun I enjoyed doing in my spare time. I really didn’t decide that being a writer was something I actually wanted to do full time until I was about 18. It was around the time I first graduated high school and I found myself wondering what the hell I was supposed to do with the rest of my life. It was then that I decided to pursue my passion as a career.

CA: Who or what was your inspiration for writing?

BF: When I first began penning my own works of fiction, young adult authors like R.L. Stine were a huge inspiration. I was a big fan of the Fear Street series growing up and those books always offered me the motivation I needed to create stories of my own. Writing today, Jack Ketchum is probably my biggest inspiration. His work is brilliant and his voice is one of a kind. I’m in awe of his incomparable ability to create such disturbing and amazing work. I wouldn’t go so far as to say I’ve tried to emulate his particular style, but his technique is definitely one I think of when trying to create a scene of gratuitous horror.

CA: What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

BF: It varies. I try and work on more than one project at a time so there will definitely be instances where I put a particular story or novel on hold to work on something else. I find this helps a great deal when I hit a brick wall with one piece. I like to try and stay busy as often as I can, so I force myself to write every day. There are days when I write for hours on end and then there are others when I can only generate a sentence of two. The creativity comes as it pleases. You can’t force it. But, when the muse is knocking on my door, I’ll make sure to invite her in and make her comfortable so she’ll stay as long as possible.

CA: Your book is about to be sent into the reader world, what is one word that describes how you feel?

BF: Terrified.

CA: What do you like to do when you're not writing?
BF: A good writer must be an avid reader, so I try and read as many books on the genre as possible to gather inspiration. I’m also a big horror film fanatic, so I spend a lot of time watching and re-watching my favorite films on DVD.

CA: How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

BF: I’ve written 4 novels to date. I would have to say my favorite thus far would probably be my second, Splattered Beauty. Hoping this one will be released sometime toward the end of the year, so keep your fingers crossed.

CA: Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?

BF: Thankfully, I don’t really know many people in real life that resemble some of the characters in my writing. Most of the time, they all come from my imagination, but there will be times when I’ll loosely base a character on someone I know or someone I’ve met in the past. I’ll never base a character 100% on an actual person though.

CA: Do you have any advice for the aspiring writers out there?

BF: Whenever I’m asked this question, I always give the same advice. It is, however, the best advice I can give. And that is to write as much as possible and continue to build your portfolio. The more you write, the better you get at it. And, most of all, if being a published author is something you really want to do, then persevere. Never, ever stop submitting your manuscripts, no matter how many rejection letters you have overflowing in a file cabinet somewhere. Getting your work accepted by an editor is never an easy task. It’s something you have to work for.

CA: How can a reader contact you or purchase your books?

BF: Well, my first novel, Crystal Bay, is available pretty much all over the net. Just pay a visit to your favorite book retailers like Amazon and Barnes and Noble and you’ll have no trouble finding it. As for contacting me personally, readers can find me on MySpace at www.myspace.com/writerbrandonford and on Blogspot at www.writerbrandonford.blogspot.com.

CA: Is there anything you would like to add?

BF: Just like to say thanks very much for your support and most of all, thanks for helping spread the word on Crystal Bay.

CA: Thank you Brandon for taking time out to visit over here on my interview blog this week, I hope that we can get more buyers for Crystal Bay!

Interview with Howard Hopkins


Author Pen Name: Howard Hopkins

CA: What genre(s) do you write? Why do you write the stories that you write?

HH: I write horror, western, pulp and comic books. I write in those genres because I love them, but mostly I write to entertain and take people away from their problems for a few hours. I don't want to bombard anyone with my viewpoints, politics or stuff they can find on the news that is depressing. I want to relieve them of that for at least a little while. I want to offer and escape from everyday life and hardships. I am a story teller and I hope people enjoy the way I tell them enough to forget about something bad in their life, if only for a bit.

CA: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

HH: When my parents told me I had to work for a living! Seriously, it sort of crept up on me. I was always a reader and had started writing a few articles for pulp journals about heroes of the 1930s, purely a hobby thing. Then suddenly the fiction bug hit me and I haven't stopped since (this was back in the mid 80s). I hated writing and English class in school, so go figure! I was good in math. Now I can't add but I can write a novel. Must have had a major brain side tsunami!

CA: Who or what was your inspiration for writing?

HH: Lester Dent, main writer for the Doc Savage series, is my main influence. His way of stringing words together, creating characters in only a line and fertile imagination mesmerized me, and still does. If not for him I would not be writing.

CA: What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

HH: Eclectic. I tend to like writing late at night better, when it's quiet--and I have always been a night owl, but it doesn't always work out that way. I do put in a lot of hours, at least working on some part of the writing business, if not actually writing, everyday. I usually sit right down after I get back from the gym, with only breaks for picking up my niece and other small stuff. till about 6pm, then back at it at around 10pm.

CA: Your book is about to be sent into the reader world, what is one word that describes how you feel?

HH: Cowabunga!

CA: LOL

CA: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

HH: Bodybuilding, reading (books and comic books), playing music and singing (guitar, mandolin, piano, sax), anything to do with superheroes (TV, movies, etc.)

CA: How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

HH: I've written nearly forty novels, plus probably 50 or more short stories and hundreds of articles. I don't really have a favorite, but Night Demons holds a special place in my heart, since it was my first and biggest.

CA: Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?

HH: They are amalgams of both, actually. Of course, as a writer, you tend to observe what people do, how they talk and act, and get themselves into strange situations, so you pick that up. You use memories from your past and create stuff from whole mind-cloth.

CA: How can a reader contact you or purchase your books?

HH: The can check out my webpage at http://www.howardhopkins.com (there's an email link there) or visit me on myspace at http://www.myspace.com/yingko2 and my blog at http://howardhopkins.blogspot.com My page has ordering links to my books but of course they can mosey on over to Amazon or Barnes & Noble online (www.bn.com) and purchased them.

Interview with T. Renee Albracht


Author Pen Name: T. Renee Albracht

CA: What genre(s) do you write? Why do you write the stories that you write?

TRA: I do not like to limit myself to one style. My book, Child Eyes, has been classified as graphic fiction, Christian/Spiritual fiction, social fiction, and fiction literature.
Because it is a story that graphically portrays abuse and rape while at the same time showing how the main characters struggle with their own spiritual lives and relationship with Jesus Christ because of these issues, it is difficult to pigeon‐hole.

The novel I am presently working on is about an Air Force fighter pilot during the Vietnam war
era. It tackles issues such as race relations. I never intended to write another socially conscious
book. I could never join the Air Force because I am partially deaf. This new story started as a way
for me to live out my childhood dream of being a pilot. However, you can’t write about life in
the 60’s and 70’s without getting into sensitive issues such as racial discrimination.

I also write non‐fiction. I have written articles on everything from politics to suicide to religion. I
do not and cannot restrict myself by writing simply one sort of thing. Writing for me is tonic. If I
do not write whatever is on my mind, (whether a fictional story or an opinion piece about an
article I read in the paper) it will haunt me for days and even weeks or months. My mood begins
to sour and life seems useless and hopeless. Then, I write and all is well in the world again.
I often quote Ray Bradbury and F. Scott Fitzgerald to describe myself as a writer:
"Writers aren't people exactly. Or, if they're any good, they're a whole lot of people trying so
hard to be one person." ‐F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Last Tycoon

"Not to write, for many, is to die...I have learned, on my journeys, that if I let a day go by
without writing, I grow uneasy. Two days and I am in tremor. Three and I suspect lunacy. Four
and I might as well be a hog, suffering the flux in a wallow. An hour's writing is tonic. I'm on my
feet, running in circles, and yelling for a clean pair of spats."
‐Ray Bradbury, Zen in the Art of Writing

CA: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

TRA: When I was in the 7th grade, I took a class called speech and drama. As a class, we had to writeand star in our own play. I took a very active role in this and had a wonderful time. That same class, the same year, we had to creatively describe the plot of a book called I Juan De Pareja. My partner and I chose to write a poem. The teacher was so impressed that she sent it to the author, never expecting to hear back. A few months later, the author, Elizabeth Borton De
Trevino, wrote to let us know how impressed and grateful she was.
I had many such experiences in school. I knew I had a gift, but I never thought about pursuing it as a career until I was in my first year of graduate school. My professor had me terrified. He told the class that we were all at the top of our class in undergrad, but some of us would not make it
in this environment. Grad school required a new way of thinking and, thus, writing. He predicted half of the class would fail the first paper. Even though I had won awards for writing in school, I was terrified.
I sat at my computer, trying to write the first paper and not a word would come out. I stared at a picture of my parents and started writing about it. The beginning of Child Eyes was born that day because of that paper.
(side note, I made a B on that paper) I haven’t stopped since then.

CA: Who or what was your inspiration for writing?

TRA: This may surprise many people, but I was inspired by a musician and not another author. I have been a diehard fan of Bon Jovi since I was 10 years old, 22 years ago. I absolutely loved their music. Being a shy, timid, depressive child, their music meant so much to me. It inspired me to keep going. I wanted so bad to be able to touch somebody the way they touched me. I wantedto pull emotion from others the way they pulled emotion out of me. I believed their words.

When they sang lines like, “Stick to your Guns,” I felt like they were singing just for me.
I thought I had to be a songwriter to be able to be like my heroes. However, songwriting is too
much trouble when you rely on others when you don’t play an instrument yourself. It wasn’t
until I first shared my fictional work that I learned I could be like my heroes without being a
songwriter.

So many people tell me how Child Eyes touched them or taught them something new. So manytold me how they could not help but cry. In my own way, I succeeded in becoming like my
heroes.

Now, I take inspiration from my literary heroes, Fyoder Dostoyevsky and John Irving.
Dostoyevsky was a different kind of writer and earned very little respect during his lifetime.
When publishers and agents turn me down because of my new style, I take comfort in the fact
that Dostoyevsky was treated the same way. I think of John Irving, my favorite modern writer,
when I think I may be way out there and may need to reign myself in. Some of his stories will
shock the pants off you, especially Hotel New Hampshire. If he can find success being different, then there’s hope for me yet.

CA: What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?

TRA: I don’t have a schedule. I write whenever the mood strikes. I work full time and my job can be pretty demanding, especially at the beginning of each new semester (I work in a college). When I am working on a novel, I try to set aside one day a week, usually Sundays, to write for a few hours. That way, no matter what else is going on during the week, my story still continues to develop.

CA: Your book is about to be sent into the reader world, what is one word that describes how you feel?

TRA: Terrified. I become so close to my work. My characters become a part of me. It is like putting myself on display—as if I was standing on a pedestal for all to see and to gawk at and to criticize. The book is like my child—I feel like a parent sending her baby off to college.

CA: What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

TRA: I love to read. I love to sit outside, preferably by the ocean or another body of water or pool, and read. I also love movies, Bon Jovi, and playing with my dog.

CA: How many books have you written? Which one is your favorite?

TRA: I have completed one, Child Eyes. I am working on my second one now. The first is near and dear to my heart because it is my first. However, when I’m writing, the characters become such a profound extension of me. It’s as if I really am the people I write about, even though they are fictional. They are me and I am them. When the book is finished, they leave me and become
more like a long lost friend—a great memory. Therefore, I would have to say that the one I am
presently working on is my favorite if only because it is so alive in my at the moment of creation.

CA: Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?

TRA: Child Eyes was based a lot on real people. I have found that most author’s first novels turn out this way. I didn’t set out to write like this, but the nuances of friends and family throughout my life really came to life in the story.

The book I am working on now is not based on anyone I know. However, there is a lot of me in
all of the main characters. I can’t help that and I am sure this will never change. My main
characters are biased by my own belief systems and interests.

CA: How can a reader contact you or purchase your book?

TRA: Readers may email me at albracht@childeyes.com. They can also visit me at
http://myspace.com/reneealbracht.
They may go to my website at http://childeyes.com and click on the link BUY THE BOOK for
ordering options. They may also visit http://www.amazon.com.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Interview with Kazzie Kennedy *10 Books Given Away!*


Author Pen Name; Kazzie Kennedy

CA: What genre (s) do you write?

KK: Drama / Action / Comedy / Romance / Family / Thought provoking

They are a little of all of the above, ha ha.

CA: Why do you write the stories you write?

KK: I didn’t choose. I guess they are loosely based on the events in my life and the lives of those who have passed by me as I have walked the, at times perilous roadways of my life. I have never sat and plotted a story line nor planned characters there names nor there structure. I just one day sat at the computer and started to put words on a page without thought and before I knew it the words on the page made sense. I would stop every fifty or so pages and acquaint myself with what I had written. I never intended to write a story that would span seven books.

CA: When did you start to write?

KK: When I became ill and bedridden and unable to contribute to my state of well being. I was terrified of losing my mind so my theory was, if I just write about anything my brain will stay active and when, yes, it was never a matter of if, I beat this, it was always a matter of when, I beat this disease, ha ha. I will have my mind in tact. As for where the story began or where it originated from, I say the writing pixies come quietly whispering for reasons as unknown as they are unexplainable, I would get to the computer and just write until I was exhausted. I know this sounds crazy, but it’s all truth I speak.

CA: Who or what was your inspiration for writing?

KK: Pain and illness was what drove me to write and as I look back at the end result, I feel for the first time in my life, my life has been validated. I feel I have left a footprint of worth for those I love, and for those yet to find love I offer hope through my books. You could be anyone of the characters in my books you may know characters like the ones in my books. I think this is what makes my work different.

CA: What was your work schedule like when you were writing?

KK: This is hard to explain without sounding like a complete lunatic. So the only way to describe the way this happened was there must have been these stories bubbling away somewhere down deep with in the fabric of who I am and I sit at a keyboard and for no particular rhyme or reason I hit the keys and out comes a raw story, characters that are vaguely familiar, and then I go back and edit the story into shape. I call this experience a visit from my writing pixies.

CA: Your book is about to be sent into reader world, what one word describes how you feel?

KK: Validated.

CA: What was your biggest challenge in writing your books?

KK: Battling the pain from my illness and the more painful dealings of those with the damn officials who prevented me having some semblance of dignity by allowing me the pain relief that in my case worked.

CA: What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

KK: I love visits with my grandchildren, dinners with my husband. I love to listen to music, or watch the ocean at sunset. I love to watch the dogs at play in the park. I really love nothing more than to see the faces of those I love smiling. That is what is real and forever. And the long distance chats between my big sister Connie and me, oh and the phone companies we are making rich, ha ha.

CA: How many books have you written

KK: The titles of all my books are;

1) Time Lies Fate & Family
2) Passion For Justice
3) Madison V Francini
4) Destiny & Divided Loyalties
5) Out Of The Dark
6) No White Flag
7) Full Circle ( one more, no more)

(This is a series. Yet each book has its own beginning, its own story line and ending. Yet if you read the books sequentially the story unfolds and continues. )

The eighth book;
Relic’s OMC
Let Those Who Survive Prosper.

And the work in progress;
Arrogance Of The Unknown Truth.

These two books carry the lives of the main character from the previous books and the trials and tribulations that come with those
lives.




CA: Which is your favorite?

KK: Every time I finish the final edit on which ever might be my latest offering, yes I said edit. (I do my own editing, and have a absolutely amazing final proof reader Noelene) on one of my novels, I say this is my new favourite, ha ha.

CA: Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?

KK: My characters hum lets see, ha ha. Okay lets just say within the realm of the realities of human being’s we all know these characters. We have met them in our day to day lives, not all but many of these very people, you have in your own lives, or at the very least you know someone who has people like these characters in there lives. Or perhaps this is how you would like parts of your life to be. Some are based on real events, some invented based on things I have seen and put away in the files of my memory banks. These characters are in essence a little of you and me and the rich and the poor the weak and the strong. They are based on the you and me we might want to be but never knew how. I guess they are hard to explain really, if I had to I would say that no one character is completely based on the essence of any person living or dead. Perhaps these characters are the best and worst bits of us all rolled into the characters who I believe you will learn to love to hate and those you will love to love and those you will change your opinion of over and over, ha ha.

CA: Do you have any advise for aspiring writers?

KK: YES NEVER GIVE UP **** NEVER ALLOW ANY CRITQUE TO TELL YOU THAT YOUR WORK HAS NO VALUE.

Now, I am not saying your book will go on to become a best seller, nor am I saying every book will hit the New York best sellers list. But what I am saying is, if you accept when you write your book that there is more to finishing your novels or poetry books than just financial gain or public reward, or accolades then your work is already a winner, as the personal pride and the satisfaction that comes with completing such a work is mind and life changing. So never accept anything until you have exhausted every open avenue even if that means self publishing or going with the smaller houses. Never ever give your dreams away.

CA: How can the reader contact you or purchase your books?

KK: My website is being built as we speak and should be operational by months end. With fully secure payment facilities available. Until then you can reach me at

My email address; inmyown_words@hotmail.com ( there is an underscore between the words own and words in the above address)
Or at my space where the website details will be posted. That is myspace.com/kazziekslatestbooks


This is the banner for the second book appears below. All books will be released three months apart. As a one offer promotion for Crystals readers only. Upon request I will give the first ten people the ability to purchase the complete set autographed. The proceeds from those sets I will donate to the charity UNICEF.

Also here in Australia one of my charities is Angel Flight and 95c from each copy of Time Lies Fate & Family sold goes to this service to help outback families arrive safely at life saving medical appointments.

CA: Kazzie! That is an amazing offer that you’re doing for my site only! I do hope we help sell a few more books and make Unicef smile! You’re an amazing woman, still fighting every day and still pounding out these books! I really appreciate you being here with me this week, you interview is very touching and I just love you to pieces!

Interview with Brynn Chapman


Author Pen Name: Brynn Chapman

CA: What genre(s) do you write? Why do you write the stories that you write?

BC: I write historical fantasy under Brynn and young adult under R.R. Smythe
I write what I love. I've formed an odd combination of interests in fantasy, history and often medical or scientific experiments in history.

CA: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

BC: I loved writing as far back as junior high….English was my favorite…but my parents encouraged me to enter a field where I was assured a job….so I first entered medicine.

CA: Who or what was your inspiration for writing?

BC: I think I can say….characters who are able to put others before themselves. The human quality of endurance and also sacrifice for others is what moves me. Whether it is in movies, books or in real life….where I have a constant stream of drama and real life heroes to write about.

CA: What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

BC: Ick. Well, I still work in medicine….and have 3 children…..but I do manage to write 15-20 hours per week. I just have to be regimented. WHERE I write constantly changes depending on the week in my life, who I need to hide from lol…etc

CA: Your book is about to be sent into the reader world, what is one word that describes how you feel?

BC: Relieved. The whole process of editing, production, promotion is quite a bit of work.

CA: What was your biggest challenge in writing your book(s)?

BC: Deciding when their done….when which edit finally reaches that polished stage…to send them out to be considered by publishing houses I think.

CA: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

BC: Well, I have 3 kids, so I am a great cab driver to be sure. I love movies, other peoples books, dancing, some sports…skiing….but truth be told I have little time for them now.

CA: How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
BC: Completed manuscripts……6. To choose a favorite is like trying to choose your favorite child…not possible. You love them all for different reasons, depending on what message you were trying to convey at the time.

CA: Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?

BC: Both….there are many people that move me, and I will remember their characteristics, but its never completely based on one person. There is a tribute at the back of "The Bride of Blackbearda' along these lines.

CA: Do you have any advice for the aspiring writers out there?

BC: Sheesh. Develop a skin as thick as dragon-hide….first. Second- revision is your only friend. Third….don't give up. You must love it to do this…it is a very subjective business.

CA: How can a reader contact you or purchase your books?

BC: The Website for Highland Press…any online venue….amazon, barnes and noble etc. Bookstores can order it for you….and for booksellers…they are distributed through Ingrams and are returnable.

CA: Thank you so much Brynn for an amazing interview! I am going to have to check out your new book, I’m a sucker for pirates (smiles)

Interview with Wendy Tolliver


Author Pen Name: Wendy Tolliver
CA: What genre(s) do you write? Why do you write the stories that you write?
WT: I write young adult novels, the first two are romantic comedies for Simon Pulse.

CA: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
WT: I’ve always been a pretty decent writer. By that, I mean I earned good grades on anything that had to do with writing (too bad it didn’t apply to geography, which I’m terrible at). I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to be when I “grew up,” but one day, about five years ago, I had a fun experience that I felt would make a great chick lit novel, so I sat down and started typing away. This manuscript never sold, but it was a finalist in some RWA-sponsored contests, and I was able to sign with my first literary agent. The Secret Life of a Teenage Siren was my first attempt writing for young adults, and it was published at the very end of 2007.

CA: Who or what was your inspiration for writing?
WT: At first, it was an experience hobnobbing with celebs. Now anything can spark an idea: a movie, an ad in a magazine, a conversation with friends, etc.

CA: What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
WT: Crazy! I’m a pretty fast writer, but I have such a busy life right now, what with promoting The Secret Life of a Teenage Siren, getting Miss Match ready to go to the printer, coming up with new novel proposals for my editor, and raising three little boys. I have some help with the latter part, a Mommy’s Helper who comes in a couple of days a week so I can hole up in my home office and write.

CA: Your book is about to be sent into the reader world, what is one word that describes how you feel?
WT: When it came out, the word that describes how I felt would have to be YEEEEHAAAAW!

CA: What do you like to do when you're not writing?
WT: Read, snowboard/ski, hike, watch movies, play with my boys, sleepCA: How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
WT: I’ve written one that’s already out and one that will come out spring 2009. Asking which one I love best is like asking me which of my sons I love best … I love them both!

CA: Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?
WT: They might have certain characteristics that I glean from real people, but no character of mine is based entirely on a real person.

CA: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
WT: Read as many books as you can!

CA: How can a reader contact you or purchase your books?
WT: My web-site is http://www.wendytoliver.com/ and there’s a contact page there. My books can be purchased anywhere books are sold. If you do happen to read The Secret Life of a Teenage Siren or Miss Match (once it’s out), I’d love to hear what you thought of it!
CA: Thanks for being here Wendy! I have your book to review so it will be really soon and then you’ll know what myself or one of the other reviewers that are working with me thinks (smiles) it is a very cute cover!

Interview with J.K. Coi


Author Pen Name: J.K. Coi

CA: What genre(s) do you write? Why do you write the stories that you write?

JKC: Hi Crystal, thanks for having me here. I write contemporary paranormal romance/urban fantasy. Mainly because it’s what seems to come most naturally for me. I’m not cut out for all of the research that I would need to do for a historical, or the precision plotting that would have to go into a mystery. Not that I don’t do any research or plotting, but it’s different. I research biblical lore and mythology for my beastly demons, and I plot only far enough to get a general idea of what’s going to happen by the end of the book—and then it always changes by the time I get halfway through the book.

CA: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

JKC: I realized I wanted to be a writer after finishing my first book. Crazy since I’d already been writing for months by then. But when I started the book, it was really just for fun. I had no expectations about what I would do after it was done. But that day did eventually come (about 9 months later) and I realized then that I wanted keep writing more. I joined RWA and went to my first chapter meeting, and it’s been a rollercoaster ride ever since.

CA: Who or what was your inspiration for writing?

JKC: I’ve said before that my parents are really responsible for my writing, because they fostered a love of reading in me from very early on and my desire to write flowed from there. But I’ve also been inspired by all of the authors that I have read over the years. It is very awesome and humbling to read stories and realize just how hard the authors have worked, sweated blood and cried tears of frustration, in an effort to bring their books to the world, but in the end they have succeeded in creating such amazing, creative tales. I wanted to feel that sense of accomplishment as well.

CA: What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

JKC: Schedule? Hah. I just write when I can, any moment I can find. I have one full day a week where there’s no one home to interrupt me, and I don’t have to go to the day job. Beyond that, I write in the evenings, and some weekends if I know I’m running behind.

CA: Your book is about to be sent into the reader world, what is one word that describes how you feel?

JKC: Exhilarated. Nervous. Tired.
(Sorry, I’m feeling way more than one thing here.)

CA: What was your biggest challenge in writing your book(s)?

JKC: Finding the time. When I started writing, like I said, it was kind of just for fun. So if I didn’t write for a day, or a week, it was no big deal. But that changed. All of a sudden I had a whole second full time job and I had to try and fit it in EVERY DAY. It took some getting used to, not only for me, but for my family as well.

CA: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

JKC: That doesn’t happen often, but when it does, I love playing around with stained glass. I make windows and sun catchers and Christmas ornaments. I can’t get enough of the play of light through the different colours and patterns. I also like to paint and I love to read.

CA: I love stained glass it is so pretty! I have been on the lookout for a stargazer lilly suncatcher and have yet to find it!

CA: How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

JKC: I’ve completed three books to date. I’m working on the fourth now. So far, I’m pretty fickle. I love the one I’m working on the best. Probably because the voices of those characters are the loudest and their images are the sharpest.

CA: Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?

JKC: I’m going to say they’re from my imagination—just in case anyone I know is reading this, LOL. But really, I think I take bits and pieces of people I’ve met and meld them into my characters. No one character is a representation of any one person I know, but more of a melting pot of lots of different people.

CA: Do you have any advice for the aspiring writers out there?

JKC: Just write. If it’s what you want, then worry about the rest later. But get the book finished.

CA: How can a reader contact you or purchase your books?

JKC: You can find out more about me and my books by visiting my website at: http://www.jkcoi.com/
I also have a myspace page: www.myspace.com/jkcoi and you can find me on Facebook
The books are available from Linden Bay Romance at: http://www.lindenbayromance.com/ and trade paperback copies will be available shortly from Amazon.com
I also blog twice a week with three of my writer friends at http://www.vauxhallvixens.blogspot.com/, so come on over and visit. We’re always having loads of fun.

CA: Is there anything you would like to add?

JKC: Just that I’ve gotten so much joy out of this writing thing since I started, and I hope the readers get just as much out of my books. Thanks so much for having me here. I had a lot of fun!


CA: J.K. it was great having you here! Don’t forget to stop in sometime this week to read your comments!
Hugs, Crystal

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Interview With Eric Enck



Author Pen Name: Eric Enck

CA: What genre(s) do you write? Why do you write the stories that you write?


EE: I write horror and crime fiction because it closely resembles my life. Also, there is a lot to be said for strong characters that beat all odds. The toughest odd to beat is the devil.


CA: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?


EE: My family had a pet dog, and I loved it like a brother. My father forced me to kill it with a shotgun. I've been writing horror ever since.


CA: Who or what was your inspiration for writing?


EE: Everyone really. I think what inspires me most is courageous people. People who will drop everything to go up against some evil diatribe or entity. Also, the underdog. The one getting picked on and thrown in a corner only to come out laughing and bleeding each and every time. As far as literary inspiration, I have a mental mix of King, Barker, Koontz, Welsh, Gaiman, Moore and Dr. Suess.

CA: LOL Dr. Suess?


CA: What is your work schedule like when you're writing?


EE: I write 10,000 words a day. Usually from 7AM untill 3PM ( I skip breakfast and lunch.) Usually it's a novel length manuscript. I've written 11 manuscripts in the past two years. 5 of them are under contract now. I think 2008 will be the year of the short story and in novel length fiction, the return of the werewolf. Werewolves are coming back big time. So lately I've been hammering out short stories and submitting since I'm ahead of the game in manuscripts. I have (3) publishers now. It's very exciting and breeds a whole new meaning to the word alcoholic.


At 3 PM I break, spend the rest of the evening with my kids and wife. Weekends I am usually free, unless I'm doing book signings. Also, I tend to sneak in writing on the weekends.


CA: Your book is about to be sent into the reader world, what is one word that describes how you feel?


EE: Aroused.


CA: Now there’s a first!


CA: What do you like to do when you're not writing?


EE: When I'm not making stories, I'm making babies. Of course that has ended for the next few years. I collect "real" knives and "swords" the harder to get, the better. Anyone that knows me, also knows what a big punk rock, heavy metal fan I am, although I certainly don't look the part. It drives me bonkers seeing a lot of goth people spending all that moeny to look scary. To me, the scary guy or gal is the person in a white t-shirt and jeans with a normal face and a killer mind. The one that sits out in the parking lot and conjures up images of killing your family and then sitting down next to your body looking at your photo album. I'm also learning how to cook, which is a lot like President Bush learning how to tell the truth.


CA: How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?


EE: I've written 11 manuscripts to date. 5 of them are under contract. My published works that you can order now or find in book stores are TELL ME YOUR NAME, THE RECKONING and GHOST OF A CHANCE. My next book is a comic/graphic novel illustrated by Danielle Serra of Dr. Who fame. It's coming out in March.In July, SNUFF will be released.


I co-wrote the novel with dear friend and journalist, Adam Huber. It's a sick, disgusting and brutally disturbing book that will probably get me thrown out of my country, but I wouldn't have it any other way.


CA: Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?


EE: Good question! Wow! I think it's both really. When I'm writing about vampires, obviously it's imagination, however if I want to do something different with vamps (like I did in THE RECKONING) I draw from real people.


A friend of mine dressed up like Dracula to go to a Halloween Party and he went there in a Mustang. I thought it would be cool to have a vampire going to kill in an old muscle car. Also, I'm infatuated with Mercury and it's poisonous properties. So when I wanted to make different characteristics for my vampires, they bleed mercury out of their eyes.


Most of the "imagery" so to speak comes from dreams, or when people really piss me off, I imagine killing them, and I do so in book form.


CA: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?


EE: Even the best make mistakes. Keep writing, honing your craft. Take advice from people like me with a pinch of salt. Try to write the best book you can. Have friends critique it, then kill your friends so they don't steal your book. ( Its happened.) Try to get a good agent, which is much like finding a good attorney. Build your name alongside your books. People tend to think about the author when they're reading.


It's a subliminal psychosis thing. Don't listen to what everyone has to say. Especially people who want to drag you down because they are jelous of your success no matter what modicum of a level it's on. The worst thing about being an author sometimes is other authors. Stay away from pretentious ones who start rattling off how great they are. Writers of genre fiction are for the most part really screwed up. Horror authors especially. You write first for you, then your fans. If you don't like the book you're writing, chances are a lot of people won't either. So write your best book first. Do a lot of signings, they help establish.


Don't get caught up in yourself if you don't have a crowd at your first booksigning. Don't dance a jig if you have 1,000 people there either. Like dating and relationships, you can be up one minute (literally) and crashing to the floor the next noticing your teeth flying out of your mouth like piano keys. It's a serious business. Be prepared to go into rages, crying fits, moments of despair and horror. Moments of joy and revelations. Moments of complete failure. Moments of success no one else is achieving (or so it seems) Moments of sitting up alone late at night with eighteen cups of coffee and a cat at your feet. Moments of total mental breakdown where you see the world not the way anyone else does, and the world doesn't see you at all. Moments of depression.If you know what I'm talking about, you're serious about your career. Writing for a living is a tough life and it's crazy, relentless and I wouldn't have it any other way.And when you start selling a lot of books, do your self a favor and...hide.


CA: How can a reader contact you or purchase your books?


EE: They can contact me through My Space http://www.myspace.com/snuff08 Or through email: horrorwriter76@yahoo.com My books are available on-line and in stores.Eric Enck-

CA: Eric you’re truly a one of a kind. I swear you’re one of the nicest people I’ve ever met, but your books scare the hell outta me!
Here is my review for The Reckoning, Click Here
Here is my review for Snuff, Click HERE

Interview with Adam Huber



Author Pen Name: Adam Huber

CA: What genre(s) do you write? Why do you write the stories that you write?

AH: Non-paranormal horror and crime fiction. Honestly, I write what entertains me and try to push a few boundaries in the process. If you’re not having fun with it, what’s the point, right?

CA: I would say with the book Snuff that you wrote with Eric Enck is definitely pushing some boundaries! It was an amazing horror novel!



CA: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

AH: I’ve been writing professionally for four years or so, but in a different facet. I’ve honed my craft as a staff reporter for a local newspaper down here in Delaware, with a focus almost entirely on non-fiction. I met Eric Enck while working on a profile about him for the newspaper and eventually we became friends. Over some shots of gut-rot tequila at a Cinco de Mayo party, he proposed working together on a novel, and “Snuff” became my first real venture into fiction. It’s been a fucking blast, and I’ve never looked back.



CA: Who or what was your inspiration for writing?

AH: Eric was definitely my inspiration for trying my hand at fiction. He made it sound so easy (we’re talking about a guy who churns out 10,000 words everyday). For me, it’s not nearly that easy, but it’s a fun challenge. I’ve always had a creative side, but I lack any discernible talent in other artistic mediums. Writing allows me to vent and create. It gives me freedom.



CA: What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

AH: Since I still work fulltime for the newspaper, most of the work for “Snuff” and future fictional endeavors takes place at night or on weekends. Unlike a lot of writers I’ve met or spoken to, I don’t have a set schedule; I just write whenever inspiration hits me.



CA: Your book is about to be sent into the reader world, what is one word that describes how you feel?

AH: Stoked (or is that nervous?)



CA: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

AH: Oh, the usual; drink, read, hang out with my cats, gamble, masturbate, etc…

CA: *snickering*

CA: How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

AH: “Snuff” is my first novel. It has, however, inspired me to write some short stories and begin hashing out ideas for future novels, including a new venture with Eric that is still in the conceptual phases.



CA: Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?

AH: It’s a mix of both. Without real people, there would be no basis for imaginary characters. The characters in my work are never based directly on anyone I know, but I do steal mannerisms, habits, ticks, etc. from the people I meet and from friends and family.



CA: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

AH: Well, I’m still really an aspiring writer myself, so I hesitate to impart my extremely limited wisdom on anyone. I will, however, say that working so closely with Eric on my first project has been exceedingly helpful. He’s walked me through the contractual, promotional and business side of things. If you’re trying to get published or have had a manuscript or story accepted and you know someone in the industry that you trust, try to work closely with them. Never be afraid to ask questions or do a little research.

CA: How can a reader contact you or purchase your books?

AH: Eric and I are MySpace whores and can be contacted at www.myspace.com/snuff08 or through e-mail at deadgirls@snuffthebook.com.

“Snuff” will be on sale in July and will be available through Blu Phier publishing, in limit stores and all major online retailers. Feel free to contact us about getting your own copy.

CA: Adam, as you know I loved “Snuff” and I think this interview was great, as you’re an aspiring writer yourself. I really appreciate you taking time away from the ball gag to be here this week. *Read “Snuff” then you’ll understand*
Here is my review on Snuff: Click HERE

Interview with Anjeanette L. Porter



Author Pen Name: Anjeanette L. Porter

CA: What genre(S) do you write? Why do you write the stories that you write?

ALP: Well, you see, up to this point I have only written a Romance/Adventure/Time Travel novel. And the reason I wrote this book is because it was something I have always wanted to do since I had started reading Romance's at the age of 14. I love the romance, and the adventure, of not knowing what is going to happen on the next page, or in the next chapter. I love just sitting down and snuggling up in a warm blanket and interring my own imaginative world. It just gives me peace.

CA: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

ALP: I first realized that I wanted to be a writer when I moved to Bloomington, IN from Texas on Christmas Day 1996, and lost all my friends that I had. And knew deep down that moving here was going to be the worse choice my parents would ever probably make in their life time. I have not liked it since I have lived here. And still wish we could have stayed in Texas. When I started school here I knew from the beginning that it was going to be much much more difficult for me to make new friends, so instead of having a regular teenage life of having many friends I had none and so I started writing a love story. I had started reading Romance's when I was 14 years old and loved all types of them. The idea of writing my own Romance just blossomed after I had to move.

CA: Who or what was your inspiration for writing?

ALP: My mom and her best friend Leona was my actual inspiration for writing my first book along with the fact that I was moved away from all my very good friends that I had known for 6 years. My mom and her friend Leona are the two people who got me hooked on reading Romance novels. My mom told me once that the reason she started letting me read Romance novels at the age of 14 is because my reading grade in school was much lower than it should have been and she did not blame me for not wanting to read the material that the teacher had us students reading . So I was hooked from than on, on reading Romance's of all types. I read Historical Romance, Contemporary Romance,, Modern Romance, Time Travel, and Futuristic, or Paranormal Romance's. They were never boring to me and I always would read them for hours and late into the night way past my bed time. But my grade in my reading class did go up and I thought that was really awesome. My mom's friend Leona is the one who had the books and let me have some of hers to read. It was great. So, since I was about 16 yrs old and after I moved away from all my friends my inspiration to write one of my own Romance novels blossomed and became reality.

CA: What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

ALP: When I write I can pretty much write at any time of day or night, it doesn't really matter. I prefer to do it later on in the evening when all is quiet in the house. But I can write at any time. And I love to write usually in my bedroom sitting up against the wall on my bed with notebook and pen in my hand so I'm ready and comfy while I am writing. Right now though I am not working on anything so I have much free time. I just don't know at this point if I am going to even write another novel.

CA: Your book is about to be sent into the reader world, what is one word that describes how you feel?

ALP: I feel Accomplished.

CA: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

ALP: I enjoy doing many other things besides writing. I am an amateur wildlife photographer. I love animals and have always had a pet of some kind or another. Right now I am unable to take any photos like I have been wanting to do but for the last couple of years I have taken some awesome photos of butterflies, deer, squirrels, and all different types of birds. I think I got at least one shot of about 13 different types of birds last year alone. It was awesome. My favorite time of year is summer so I like swimming, fishing, hiking, and camping. I also enjoy TV once in awhile and movies.

CA: How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

ALP: At this time I have only written the one Romance/Adventure/Time Travel novel. It took me about 10 years off and on to actually complete it and have it published. I am so happy to finally have finished it. Right now since I don't have any plans to write another novel my favorite would be the only one I have written Brandon McKenzie: The Protector. I really feel like I did a great job writing my very first novel and hope that others will buy a copy and enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

CA: Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?

ALP: Almost all my characters in my book are based on my friends that I have made over the years. All of them have been the best of friends that anyone could ask for and my characters come alive to me so much more because of the fact that I have based them on my real true friends.

CA: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

ALP: Yes, never give up on a dream or goal that you have set out to accomplish. Even when all things look un-promising or bleak don't give up. Cause the best feeling I think anyone can have is the feeling of peace and accomplishment for something that you set out to do. It's a really awesome feeling. No matter what keep on trying and you will succeed and if your goal is to write a book and have it published, you will.


CA: How can a reader contact you or purchase your books?

ALP: Everyone is more than welcome to write me email at this address: http://us.f589.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=angiewildphoto26@aol.com or at www.myspace.com/angiermncwrtr26 and they can purchase my book through http://www.publishamerica.com/ , or http://www.amazon.com/ , or http://www.bn.com/, and http://www.borders.com/ . You all can visit my promotional web site for my book at: www.freewebs.com/rmncwrtr27 where you can find out more about me and read a synopsis and Chapter one of my book for free. So go check it out. Thank you Crystal for the interview. I hope you enjoy reading my book once you receive it. Thanks to everyone who takes the time to read this interview and to those who check out my web site. I want to wish everyone best luck for the year 2008.

CA: Thanks Anjeanette for hanging out this week! And once I get to your book, I am sure it will be amazing!

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Interview with Marilu Mann *Contest Scavenger Hunt*




CONTEST: Scavenger Hunt



1. What is the name of my series from Ellora's Cave?
2. What is the name of the club Carly and Tony go to?
3. I mention a Girl Scout camp on my website. What is the name of it?
4. Who is the hero of the proposed third book in Lusting Wild series?
5. Who is the heroine of Changing Hearts Lusting Wild 2?
Contest Winner receives a free download of Changing Times (available 5/7/2008) Contest entries should be sent to: marilu2mann@gmail.com Subject: CONTEST-InterviewBlog


Marilu Mann is such a sweetheart, she has offered a download of her book Changing Times , now that sounds like a hot story...especially coming from Ellora's Cave! So just answer the 5 questions and email her the answers to be entered in the contest! Now on with the interview, stay tuned for a blurb!

Blurb:
New Orleans sizzles when Dr. Carly Chambers finds herself in the hands, or paws, of sexy shifter and antique dealer Tony Pantera. Though the memory of his murdered human lover haunts him, Tony can't deny the sensual scent of this doctor his friends kidnapped. Carly is now in danger because of his enemies.
The Turn Skins are power-hungry shifters who want to expose themselves to the world and take over through fear. Tony and his friends stand in their way. Carly proves to be a tool for Turn Skins when they learn that Tony can't resist the attractive doctor. And Carly is happy to stroke this shifter's fur. Their erotic encounters hurtle them into the path of danger and death.
Can Tony protect his human lover from the Turn Skins who don't care if she's hurt as long as they get their way?

Author Pen Name: Marilu Mann

CA: What genre(s) do you write? Why do you write the stories that you write?

MM: I write erotic paranormals, sexy romantic suspense, and erotica. I've always been an avid reader. Since I can remember, I've wanted to put my own stories down on paper to share with others. I first started seriously seeking publication in 2001.

I think the overwhelming need to let my stories out is the most compelling motivation for me to write. Sometimes I feel like a crazy woman with all these scenarios rattling around in my head. I play the "what if" game so much that my friends are probably glad I'm writing. I shut up when I write. *smiles*

CA: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

MM: Honestly the first time I wrote a story and shared it with my mama. Her reaction to it was such a thrill. I imagine it must be what a dancer or painter or carpenter feels when someone responds to something they've created. It's a rush to know that you've strung words together to tell a story that makes someone smile.


Of course I was nine at the time so part of her smiling might have come from reading about a horse who goes to sleep in some bushes and wakes up with a baby colt beside her. LOL! Still, I never looked back from that point. I have been writing for as long as I can remember. For the last several years the goal of writing has been joined by the desire to see my name in print and my stories making someone gasp in wonder or smile.

CA: Who or what was your inspiration for writing?


MM: I had an English teacher who was one of the most feared in my high school. She was truly one of those (genteel Southern) ladies who made you work that much harder to get her approval. One of the things she said really struck me. She was talking about Shakespeare. Her opinion was that he wasn't a particularly great author, but he made people feel with his words. And I realized I wanted to do that too.

CA: I had one of those English teachers as well, NOONE fell asleep in his class, and I think I actually learned more in his class than my whole high school life! Wild!!

MM: Specific author heroes are so numerous it would be impossible to list them all. In my own genre I look to those writers who create really memorable stories (JR Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Mary Balogh, Christina Dodd, Kim Harrison). Their stories sweep me into their worlds and don't release me until the very last page. I hope that my books will create that same sense of escape for my readers.

CA: What is your work schedule like when you're writing?


MM: I have a day job so it varies. I try to write every day. I carry a small word processing device with me that allows me to write on my lunch break at work. When I do write, I turn off everything including my phone and the internet access for my computer. And my friends know that I can be a bit of a grouch if they interrupt me. If I must leave the internet on, I put a notice up on my instant messenger program clearly warning people to NOT message me. LOL! I'm really quite friendly unless I'm lost in my own world talking to my characters.

CA: Your book is about to be sent into the reader world, what is one word that describes how you feel?

MM: Thrilled!

CA: What was your biggest challenge in writing your book(s)?

MM: I remember at one point I called a friend to complain that my characters were just standing there talking to each other. They weren't DOING anything. I mean they were boring me out of my skull. Each book has had a point where I worry that I can't get them to the end.

When I start a book, I know the basics. How they meet. How they fall in love. How they live happily ever after. What I don't always know is how I'm going to get them to that HEA. It's like a puzzle for me. I have to put all the pieces together and make them fit. I often write scenes out of order because I know I'll get to that particular point. I just have to figure out how.

For this first book, I think my biggest challenge was getting into the head of a man who turns into a panther. I mean… that's not someone you meet every day, right? I had to really understand Tony to make him real.

CA: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

MM: Read. LOL! It's true! I always have a book around—often more than one! And I love to cook. For me cooking is like writing a truly great story. Each ingredient has to be mated with something else to create the flavorful sensation that is compelling enough to want to take another bite.

CA: How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

MM: I have two books and a novella coming out this year. The two books are both part of my series Lusting Wild from Ellora's Cave Publishing, LLC. The novella will be a part of EC's Jewels Of The Nile ongoing series. I've written another shifter book and am writing the fourth one righ tnow. Also in progress, I have a paranormal detective agency with men and women who each have one special power. Then there's my series about seven Faery sisters who must find their own true love or their race is in danger of dying out. I have other series started as well.

As to which is my favorite? That's a difficult choice because frequently it's whatever I am working on at the time. That's the project I will be the most excited about in that moment. I'm very excited about the upcoming release of Changing Times simply because it is my first publication.

CA: Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?

MM: A little of both, really. I will meet someone or read about someone and think they have an interesting characteristic or job. Then I will weave that into a character. For instance, Carly Chambers, the heroine from Changing Times, is a busy ER doctor. She is very career-driven. I know so many women who pour themselves into their jobs and don't leave any room for a personal life. Carly is a gumbo of several of these women.

CA: Do you have any advice for the aspiring writers out there?

MM: Yes, and it is that same old saw you hear from everyone. Keep writing. Do not stop. Do not let anyone's rejection of your passion keep you from doing what you love. Learn from your mistakes and always have another project ready to be worked on. And do join any writer associations that you can. I am a member for Romance Writers of America and the local chapter networks have been invaluable to me.

CA: How can a reader contact you or purchase your books?

MM: I love to hear from my readers! They can email me at http://us.f589.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=marilu2mann@gmail.com Or if they are on MySpace, I'd love to have them add me! That's http://www.myspace.com/MariluMann And a reader can always learn about my upcoming books and read excerpts at http://www.greatmta.com/ . Changing Times is available at http://www.ellorascave.com/ in e-format as of May 7, 2008. The sequel, Changing Hearts, does not have a release date yet.

CA: Is there anything you would like to add?

MM: I hope readers will enjoy the world I've created for them. It's modern New Orleans for the first two books and then we are off to the wilds of Wisconsin for the next two. My stories are waiting for your reactions. Please let me know what you think about them.

CA: Marilu thank you so much for offering a great contest and sharing a little bit of yourself with me and the readers of my blog this week! You’re a new author to me but your blurb is awesome, when I get time to read a book for me…I’ll look you up! Hugs, Crystal

Interview with Michelle Moran *COMMENT TO WIN*



Contest for autographed book, Nefertiti. Just comment to have a chance to win! Visit her website to win a 14k gold Nefertiti Pendant!!

Michelle Moran is so passionate about writing and you will see that when reading her interview, she is offering a hard back edition of her book Nefertiti to a lucky commenter, but if you visit her website you can also have a chance at winning a 14k gold Nefertiti pendant…so read on my lovelies!!

Author Pen Name: Michelle Moran:

CA: Why do you write the stories that you write? What genre(s) do you write?

MM: My travels to archaeological sites around the world have been enormously influential in my writing career. In fact, my inspiration to write on the Egyptian queen Nefertiti happened while I was on an archaeological dig in Israel. During my sophomore year in college, I found myself sitting in Anthropology 101, and when the professor mentioned that she was looking for volunteers who would like to join a dig in Israel, I was one of the first students to sign up. When I got to Israel, however, all of my archaeological dreams were dashed (probably because they centered around Indiana Jones). There were no fedora wearing men, no cities carved into rock, and certainly no Ark of the Covenant waiting to be discovered. I was very disappointed. Not only would a fedora have seemed out of place, but I couldn’t even use the tiny brushes I had packed. Apparently, archaeology is more about digging big ditches with pickaxes rather than dusting off artifacts. And it had never occurred to me until then that in order to get to those artifacts, one had to dig deep into the earth. Volunteering on an archaeological dig was hot, it was sweaty, it was incredibly dirty, and when I look back on the experience through the rose-tinged glasses of time, I think, Wow, was it fantastic! Especially when our team discovered an Egyptian scarab that proved the ancient Israelites had once traded with the Egyptians. Looking at that scarab in the dirt, I began to wonder who had owned it, and what had possessed them to undertake the long journey from their homeland to the fledgling country of Israel.

On my flight back to America I stopped in Berlin, and with a newfound appreciation for Egyptology, I visited the museum where Nefertiti’s limestone bust was being housed. The graceful curve of Nefertiti’s neck, her arched brows, and the faintest hint of a smile were captivating to me. Who was this woman with her self-possessed gaze and stunning features? I wanted to know more about Nefertiti’s story, but when I began the research into her life, it proved incredibly difficult. She’d been a woman who’d inspired powerful emotions when she lived over three thousand years ago, and those who had despised her had attempted to erase her name from history. Yet even in the face of such ancient vengeance, some clues remained.

As a young girl Nefertiti had married a Pharaoh who was determined to erase the gods of Egypt and replace them with a sun-god he called Aten. It seemed that Nefertiti’s family allowed her to marry this impetuous king in the hopes that she would tame his wild ambitions. What happened instead, however, was that Nefertiti joined him in building his own capital of Amarna where they ruled together as god and goddess. But the alluring Nefertiti had a sister who seemed to keep her grounded, and in an image of her found in Amarna, the sister is standing off to one side, her arms down while everyone else is enthusiastically praising the royal couple. From this image, and a wealth of other evidence, I tried to recreate the epic life of an Egyptian queen whose husband was to become known as the Heretic King.

So given how far I’ve come since that day our team first found an Egyptian scarab in the dirt, I would say that my time in Israel has had the biggest impact on my writing. If not for that experience, it may have taken me years to discover that what I wanted to write was historical fiction.

CA: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? Who or what was your inspiration for writing?

MM: My first attempt at getting published was in seventh grade, when I was twelve. I had written a full length book that was certainly pathetic but everyone praised it, and my father even hailed it as the next Great American Novel. My father was very good at ego-boosting. But no one knew how to go about getting published, so I went to my local Barnes and Nobles and asked them how. And instead of laughing, the bookseller took me to the writing section and I purchased the current edition of Writer's Market. From then on, no agent or publishing house was safe. I learned how to write query letters and regaled them all. And some of them sent personal letters back too, probably because I had included my age in the query letter and they either thought a) this kid has potential or b) this is sad and deserves at least a kind note.

Then, in my second year of college, I changed my genre from literary to historical fiction and found my calling. That summer I wrote a novel called Jezebel, and signed with a prominent agent in NY. His foreign rights department sold it successfully to Bertelsmann in Germany, and I had my first publishing credit with the company that owns Random House. But my agent in NY had a difficult time selling the novel, and when it was clear that he had done what he could for Jezebel and that there would be no sale in the US, I saw the writing on the wall. I would have to write another book.

So I began my research, and over the next few years I came to a slow and eye-opening realization. No matter how many times or how nicely I wrote, my agent never answered my emails. Even after I had finished the book on the subject that he’d suggested, he never took my phone calls. Did this mean I didn’t have an agent? Had I been dumped because Jezebel hadn’t sold? Did agents do that without telling their clients? Apparently, he did, and apparently, some do. So I took the high road and wrote a letter thanking him for what he had done for me (he did get my foot in the door), and I asked to be released from our contract. I sent the letter by certified mail and promptly never heard from him again.

But publishing isn’t personal, and neither is rejection, so I began sending query letters out the next month, mentioning that my agent and I had recently parted ways and that I was searching for new representation. It was a matter of weeks before I had a new agent, the wonderful Anna Ghosh at Scovil Chichak Galen, and she took on the task of submitting the novel that my precious agent had suggested I write. But my heart hadn’t been in the book. It was set in the 20th century, and my specialty – what I studied in college and what I’ve since become an amateur historian on – is ancient Egypt and the Middle Ages. We had quite a few near misses with the novel, where editors wanted to purchase the book but were told no by the acquisitions committee, since all sales have to be approved by a committee. After Anna sent the novel to all the major houses, I began to panic that I’d be dropped as a client for a second time, and that is when I started Nefertiti, a project I was extremely passionate about. Anna waited for two years while I wrote, and eventually she sold the book and its stand-alone sequel for six-figures to Crown. After that, her foreign rights agent Danny Baror (who happened to be the same foreign rights agent who sold Jezebel) sold Nefertiti and The Heretic Queen to seventeen countries.

I do believe there is a moral to this story, which is to be persistent and not to be afraid of starting a new project. I have thirteen books that I’ve written, and just because they’re not published doesn’t mean I didn’t learn from them, or that I can’t publish them in the future (although I probably won’t). I think what aspiring writers need to understand is that if something isn’t right for the current market, that doesn’t mean they should simply give up.

CA: What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

MM: I wake up, check email for half an hour, attend to my blog for twenty minutes, spend another half hour surfing other people’s blogs, and then at about 10 am I get down to business. I open a diet coke (my mother says that when I’m fifty and have no teeth I’ll know why), check my outline for the day, and begin to write. Writing sessions are punctuated by visits to my hotmail account more frequently than I’d like to admit. But I don’t stop until I get my five single-spaced, even if that’s at nine o’clock at night.

CA: Your book is about to be sent into the reader world, what is one word that describes how you feel?

MM: Elated!

CA: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

MM: Because I don’t watch a lot of TV, my day-to-day entertainment comes from reading, researching, and talking with people who are as passionate about history as I am (most often my husband). I have a gym in my house, so I work out when I have the time, although I’m not sure I would consider that entertainment. But I read while I work out, which makes the activity slightly more palatable.


CA: How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

MM: Technically, thirteen. How many books have I written that have been published? Only one, so far. But the sequel to Nefertiti, entitled The Heretic Queen, will be coming out August 5 with Random House, and will be followed within the year by Cleopatra’s Daughter, which will bring my published books total to three, a much more respectable number ;] I’m not sure that I can choose a favorite between them, but since I’m currently working on Cleopatra’s Daughter and loving every minute of it, I might be tempted to say book number three.

CA: Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?

MM: As a writer of historical fiction, all of my characters are based on people who really lived.

CA: How can a reader contact you or purchase your books?

MM: Readers can purchase the hardcover of Nefertiti online or at any bookstore in the US or the

UK. On May 28, the paperback of Nefertiti will debut, and the same applies! And if any reader would like to contact me, they certainly may at authormichellemoran@hotmail.com. They can also enter a Nefertiti contest on my website at http://www.michellemoran.com/, and I believe this month’s prize is a 14kt gold Nefertiti pendant!

CA: Michelle, you’re so passionate about your writing and I can not wait to review Nefertiti, I love reading about the Egyptians and this would only be my 4th book I think to have read! Thank you for offering a hard back copy of your book Nefertiti to one lucky poster!

Interview with Jannine Corti Petska

Author Pen Name: Jannine Corti Petska

CA: What genre(s) do you write? Why do you write the stories that you write?

JCP: I write historicals because I love the romantic dreams of living in another time and place. I can travel anywhere and enjoy the flavor of a certain country or town without ever leaving my office. Many of the books I write take place in Medieval Italy. When you think of Italy, you think of romance. Besides, it’s a culture I know well.

I write romantic suspense for the excitement of danger lurking around the corner. It satisfies my adventuresome side, although I’m more cautious than adventuresome by nature. So it’s safe to dream up situations for my characters that I would never place myself in.

CA: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

JCP: I wrote all my life. English and writing were always my favorite subjects. But it wasn’t until my three daughters started school that I tried writing a novel.

CA: Who or what was your inspiration for writing?

JCP: I have three inspirations. The first was my mother. English was her second language, but she read constantly, whether it was stories in magazines or books. She’d tell me I could do whatever I set my mind to. When I mentioned to her that I was writing a book, she thought it was wonderful. Her support meant a lot to me.

Second is my husband. Not once did he ever say I was wasting my time. His encouragement was exceptional. Even through the times I wanted to quit, he was there asking me if I’d be happy doing anything else. He knew I wouldn’t be. He’s gone through the ups and downs with me. We’ll soon be married 36 years. He’s my ultimate hero.

And the third was Kathleen Woodiwiss. Like many other writers, I fell in love with Shanna and The Wolf and the Dove, which is the only book I’ve read more than once. Her stories and characters were magical and inspired me to put my ideas on paper. I wanted to create my own Happily Ever After.

CA: What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

JCP: My schedule is hectic every day. I watch my toddler grandson three days a week. And working at home makes me see what needs to be done around the house. Then I have four dogs, three are extremely feisty Rat Terriers. I usually stop to play with them three times a day or they’ll start climbing the walls, lol.

When I do write, it’s usually when my grandson is napping, or whenever I can fit in some time. I try to write every day, but that doesn’t usually happen. I never realized how full my life was until I tried to carve time out of the day to write.

CA: Your book is about to be sent into the reader world, what is one word that describes how you feel?

JCP: One word? That would have to be fear. I worry if all the corrections were made, what if no one likes the cover, what if no one wants to read my story? And if they read it, will they like it? Or will they think they wasted their money? You know, the usual paranoia that comes with publishing. ; )

CA: What was your biggest challenge in writing your book(s)?

JCP: When I started writing, I had a tough time with vocabulary. Growing up in a house where English wasn’t the first language, I didn’t have a vast knowledge of words. I picked up quite an extensive vocabulary from the romance books I had read. Yet, I struggled constantly. The dictionary, and especially the Thesaurus, was my bible and my best friend.

CA: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

JCP: I garden almost all year. In Southern California, I can do that. But the spring and summer are busier months because I’m growing a variety of vegetables. There’s something peaceful about my hands digging in the dirt and nurturing the plants to life.

Watching Italian soccer is my other pastime. Of course I was thrilled when Italy won the World Cup in 2006. During the soccer season, I follow my favorite teams, which are (in order) A.C. Milan, Roma and Juventus.

CA: How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

JCP: I’ve written over 20 books. Four have been published to date. My favorite is Surrender to Honor, which takes place in 15th century Palermo, Sicily. I love the hero, Antonio, because he doesn’t believe in violence and carries no weapons, yet he’s certainly not a wimp. The heroine, Prima, is a little warrior, fighting to get her home back from the evil Falcone family. She partly blames Antonio’s father for her troubles. After a 15 year absence, Antonio comes home to a dying father and war between three families. This story is about the beginning of the Mafia.

Rebel Heart is another favorite, a 19th century American Western. The hero, Beau Hamilton, lived a hard life. He’s irascible and downright rude at times, but it’s fun to see how the heroine chips away at his veneer and gets to the heart of the man by the end of the story.

CA: Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?

JCP: My characters are not based on anyone in particular. However, I do cut out pictures of hunky men and beautiful women for a visual. Whether or not I’m successful in describing the hero and heroine from those pictures isn’t important. The reader usually conjures up a different image in her mind. But the pictures give me a constant reminder not to accidentally change the characters’ looks halfway into the story.

CA: Do you have any advice for the aspiring writers out there?

JCP: My advice is always: Never Give Up. The publishing business is hard on one’s ego and emotions. You have to grow a tough skin and be able to learn from one rejection to the next. It’s hard not to take the rejections personally. But you can’t dwell on them either or your creativity will suffer. Learn your craft. Take online classes, go to conferences, organize a critique group or find a critique partner. Anything that will immerse you into your writing. And don’t get too attached to your baby (your manuscript). Once you’ve sold, it will be easier on you in the edit process.

CA: How can a reader contact you or purchase your books?

JCP: I can be contacted through my website, http://www.jcortipetska.com/. Or directly by email: info@jcortipetska.com. For those who like writing letters, my surface address is:

P.O. Box 284, San Luis Rey, CA 92068-0824

I have links to purchase Rebel Heart, and my new short story Knight’s Desire, on my website.

CA: Is there anything you would like to add?

JCP: Yes, I’d like to talk a bit about Knight’s Desire. It was the very first short story I have ever written and submitted. I was rather shocked when it sold the first time out. The story takes place in 14th century Piemonte, Italia. I found it interesting to write about an Italian knight because Italy didn’t have the kind of knight system England and other countries had. You can purchase this ebook at
http://www.thedarkcastlelords.com/reviews-knight

It will eventually be sold at Fictionwise and ARe.

CA: Jannine, I wish you the best of luck in writing! I agree, there is just something special about a historical, they are one of my very favorite genre’s I love Amanda Scott’s novels! Thanks for being here this week!