Nine Questions with… Jaimie M. Engle

Today I have the pleasure of an interview with Jaimie M. Engle, author of Clifton Chase and the Arrow of Light. For those of you unfamiliar with Jaimie, let’s take a few moments to get to know her. Welcome Jaimie, why don’t you take a few moments to introduce yourself to the captive audience you now have before you…

I have been writing since I was seven, and still have all the stories I wrote in crayon. I knew at an early age I wanted to be a published author, and finally reached this milestone thirty years later. In the meantime, I became a wife and mother of two ridiculously crazy boys, ran a body shop, modeled bikinis, danced at the Aloha Bowl halftime show, and even managed a hip-hop band.

Tell us about your writing process?

I generally begin with an idea, be it a dream, a snippet of dialogue, a setting. From there, I may have the end in mind, or the climax to build toward, but usually that is all I’ve got when I get started. The story speaks to me and I feel more like I’m dictating than anything else. Most of the time, my cliffhangers surprise the hell out of me, so I’m certain the reader won’t see the plot twist coming either. My goal is 1,000 words a day, Monday through Friday, which should produce a finished novel within 3-4 months. After I make it through the first 2 or 3 chapters, I DO NOT go back and read anything in my story until I get to the “the end” and I wait at least a month after that to let the story simmer.

Is there a genre, other than the one you currently write in, that you wish you could break into?

At this time, I’m gonna say no. I love middle grade and YA speculative fiction. It’s what I read, and it’s what I write.

What are the 5 books that have influenced you the most, and why?

• The Bible, because it showed me the influence of the written word.
• Alice in Wonderland, because it showed me anything can happen inside my imagination.
• Harry Potter, because it showed me the importance of character development.
• The Hunger Games, because it showed me the depth and power of voice.
• The poetry of Shel Silverstein, because it taught me pacing, cadence, and word choice.

If you could cast one of your works, who would you choose to play your main characters?

My first novel is titled Clifton Chase and the Arrow of Light. When I was writing it, I thought the young Logan Lerman was a perfect fit. Of course, by the time my book becomes a movie, he’ll be taking his kids or grandkids to see it!

What is the first thing you would do if you woke up one morning to find one of your books on the NY Times Bestsellers List?

Remind myself to breathe, than thank God for his favor, because that would be the only way my books would get on that list. I’m just not that good. J

Do you have any vices that you turn to while you are writing?

Yes. I avoid cleaning my house and cooking dinner in a timely fashion. I don’t drink, quit smoking in February (yeah me!) and I drink coffee on a regular basis, writing or not.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

Besides managing my family and home, I offer a critique service for aspiring authors. I love helping people out, and have been told I’m quite good at it, so I began editing manuscripts about a year ago. I also volunteer at the elementary school’s after school writing program, which I absolutely love! I get to work one-on-one with kids who love to write, teaching them tools I wish I had at their age. Lastly, I teach essay, creative, and SAT prep writing to several homeschooled students, groups, and even college level students. Combined, these jobs give me the opportunity to work at home, makes some extra cash, and still be available for my kids (oh, and have time to work on my own books).

Please share with us the first nine lines of your current work-in-progress.

I’m currently shopping a YA supernatural fantasy novel, so I’ll keep that one hush-hush until I sell it (Lord willing!) But I’m currently 14 chapters into a MG horror story: Stephen King meets Tim Burton. I’ll share the first few lines of that one, since it’s not sitting with agents at this time:

The cab door closes behind me with a hiss, like hydraulics lowering a coffin into the ground. I stare ahead, at the quaint, two-story house bordered by a white picket fence, with flower boxes hanging off the upstairs windows filled with petunias and daffodils and buttercups.

Flowers for my grave, the new house, my coffin.

Slowly, I cross the cobblestone drive to the fence, my meager belongings wedged inside the duffle bag and suitcase I carry. Loose sand crunches between the stones as I grind my teeth. Humid air from the bay slaps me across the face as if to say, “Welcome home, Ashton.”

Home.

Yeah, right.

Thank you Jaimie for sharing that with us! Now let’s take a quick look at Clifton Chase and the Arrow of Light…

Clifton Chase couldn’t possibly know the mysterious arrow he finds in his closet will lead him to the year 1485. Two princes need his help, but why? Carrying the Arrow of Light, a weapon forged from the Tree of Knowledge itself, Clifton is led on a journey to face fire-breathing dragons, kidnapping by merpeople, and a final battle, which will end the War of the Roses and the reign of a tyrant king. Will Clifton discover his purpose on time and save the day? Or has the arrow chosen the wrong boy?

Sounds great doesn’t it? Don’t forget that clicking on the cover will take you straight to Amazon!

Thank you Jaimie for taking the time to answer my questions. If you’d like to keep up to date with what Jaimie is doing, you can find her on her website, Twitter, or Facebook. You can also read the first six chapters, and download free coloring pictures, crossword puzzles, & word searches at her website.

Oh and as a special treat, here’s the book trailer!

 

Nine Questions with… Killion Slade

Today I am very pleased to feature an interview with Killion Slade, author of the new novel Exsanguinate. For those of you unfamiliar with Killion Slade, let’s take a few moments to get everyone acquainted!

Killion Slade is a married writing team who met in the virtual realms of Second Life and virtually enjoy everything. Members of the Horror Writers Association and the Paranormal Romance Guild, they storyboard their characters inside Second Life as their avatars reveal their stories. Tucked away in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Northern Montana, they stay busy chasing kids, corralling horses and cats, and enjoying the harvest from their garden. They spend time working on becoming self-sufficient in the shite ever hits the fan. To learn more about Killion Slade, please visit http://www.killionslade.com, Facebook, or on their Amazon Author Page.

Welcome Killion! Tell us about your writing process?

Together we plan out a full outline on the book and then structure the chapters into screenplay scenes.  Often times the characters will reveal goodies we had not considered, and they’ll take us down an unexpected tangent. We listen when they talk.  When they’re not talking – we ignore them and work with someone else until they are ready to reveal… and that is usually when I’m in the shower or washing dishes!  We like to brainstorm together, talk through the impacts, would that character truly [act or say] in a certain instance.  We always refer back to the book’s bible to keep characteristics, traits, and dossiers straight.

Is there a genre, other than the one you currently write in, that you wish you could break into?

We would love to attempt a sci-fi or high fantasy book sometime.  In our book, Exsanguinate, we get to dabble in many genres.  Horror, romance, sci-fi technology, paranormal, and fantasy.  It is truly a cross genre type of book.

What are the 5 books that have influenced you the most, and why?

For Mr. Slade, it would be The Wheel of Time series from Robert Jordan and the Myth series from Robert Aspirin.  For Mrs. Slade, it would be from the Rachel Morgan series of The Hollows by Kim Harrison, The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley, and the humorist books from Molly Harper.  Then of course, we cannot discount the myriad of horror writers from the well-established to the amazingly talented indies.  We love them all!

If you could cast one of your works, who would you choose to play your main characters?

This is such a fun question!  We actually have a Pinterest board for our characters and enjoy thinking about who could be in our cast.  Our heroine would played by Amy Adams or Emma Watson and our hero would be played by David Boreanaz, Joe Manganiello, or Jason Momoa.

Nice choices! What is the first thing you would do if you woke up one morning to find one of your books on the NY Times Bestsellers List?

Take a screen shot and send it to my mom.  Pour myself a mimosa and start the outline on the next book!

Do you have any vices that you turn to while you are writing?

I used to turn to whiskey to allow the creep factor to seep into my words and crawl out onto the page, but I soon realized that the more I drank, the more I had to edit.  Hence, the reason you were given a bottle of Jack Daniels in your challenge 😉

I wondered where that came from! Though I do believe my character made good use of it J What do you do when you’re not writing?

Preparing for the apocalypse.  Raising a daughter to be a lady, and enjoying the second life we have made for ourselves in Montana.  This usually includes brainstorming for the next story lulling around in our heads.

Please share with us the first nine lines of your current work-in-progress.

From Exsanguinate – World of Blood Series – Book One

The pain gave clue it might be time to pray for death – that would be easier than remaining alive. My eyelids, heavy as cast-iron skillets, made it difficult to see through the haze. Prying them open revealed intense, bright light bouncing off shiny surfaces, forcing me to close them once again. When I found the courage to peek, the penetrating, painful light made it difficult to focus. My hand ventured out to help me understand my surroundings. I discovered warm skin at my fingertips.

“Cheyenne? I’m here, baby. It’s ok-kay. You’re in the hospital. Everything is g-gonna be just fine.”

I followed the welcome sound of my father’s voice, managing to focus enough to see his swollen, tear-streaked face. His lips trembled as he bent forward and kissed my forehead. His stutter and affection hinted he had terrible news or I was dead. Considering the amount of pain I was in, I would have preferred the latter.

Oh! Sounds fantastic! Thank you Killion (both of you) for taking the time to answer my questions! Now lets’ take a deeper look into Exsanguinate…

A Halloween scream night theme park adventure for software gaming developer Cheyenne O’Cuinn reveals a hidden supernatural reality she never dreamed existed. Recovering from a vicious attack and her sisters’ abductions, Cheyenne must rescue her sisters from vampiric kidnappers before they’re used to breed warmongering dhampirs.

Betrayal lurks in every corner. Cheyenne must evade attackers by unconventional means through her online role-play game. She must navigate through virtual, tortuous clues and mailed body parts, which cross over from her virtuality into reality. Can a team of dragons, vampires, and werewolves come together to help her? Who can she trust? Will the help from her virtual lover become compromised when he learns of her new immortal existence and crush the fragile love they share?

Amidst an impending vampire apocalypse, Cheyenne finds herself both in conflict for survival and for her heart. Will her immortal self derail any hope of solving the multiplying puzzles before time runs out to save her sisters, herself and her humanity?

There’s also a trailer for you to watch!!

Nine Questions with… Soleil Berlin

Today on the FlipSide, we have author Soleil Berlin answering the burning questions you all want to know. For those of you unfamiliar with Soleil, let’s take a few moments to get everyone acquainted…

Soleil Berlin was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. She attended and graduated from the University of North Carolina Greensboro with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Since she was a teenager, she has been an avid reader of romance novels. She enjoys writing novels that keep readers interested until the very end.

What is your writing process?

I begin by writing my ideas in a notebook, then I create an outline for the book.

Is there a genre, other than the one you currently write in, that you wish you could break into?

I strictly enjoy writing about interracial romance.

What are the 5 books that have influenced you the most, and why?

Five books that influenced me as an interracial romance author are The Color of Trouble by Dyanne Davis, Shades of Desire by Monica White, The Color of Love by Sandra Kitt, The Taming of Jessi Rose by Beverly Jenkins and Milk in My Coffee by Eric Jerome Dickey. These novels influenced me because it was refreshing to read romance novels featuring interracial romance.

If you could cast one of your works, who would you choose to play your main characters?

I would cast Thandie Newton at the leading lady and Henry Cavill as the leading man.

What is the first thing you would do if you woke up one morning to find one of your books on the NY Times Bestsellers List?

I would call my mom.

Do you have any vices that you turn to while you are writing?

(Editor’s Note: Author chose not to answer this question)

What do you do when you’re not writing?

When I am not writing, I enjoy wine tasting, traveling, visiting friends and spending time with my family.

Please share with us the first nine lines of your current work-in-progress.

(Editor’s Note: Author chose not to answer this question)

Thank you Soleil for taking the time to answer my questions. If you’d like to connect with Soleil, you can find her on her Amazon Author Page, Facebook, Twitter, GoodReads, or her Website.

Now let’s take a sneak peek into Enslaved to Love: Return to Me…

They say forbidden love is the best kind, but it is definitely not the easiest or safest. A chance acquaintance, finds Josephine increasingly attracted to a man that is about to get married. Flashback to the 1800s in England, the time when black people were servants and nothing more, being called slaves had just been made illegal but there was no difference in the treatment. Life as a servant was very hard and cold for Josephine until she met Andrew; the son of her new owner. He made life bearable for her by offering her his kindness. That kindness quickly turned into love and as much as Josephine tried to resist it; her heart was not in agreement with her head. Could their love thrive in a world where black and white should never mix? Would their love withstand the test of time? How will they find their way back to rekindle their love? Return to me…

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | GoodReads

 

Nine Questions with… Shenoa Carroll-Bradd

Today I have the pleasure of presenting an interview with Shenoa Carroll-Bradd, author of a great many things. I’ll let Shenoa tell you all a little bit about herself…

Hello! I’m Shenoa Carroll-Bradd, writer, dreamer, and snark expert extraordinaire. I grew up in Southern California, moved to Texas for a decade, and now I’m back, living near the San Bernardino Mountains. It’s been a fantastic writing year for me, and I’m thrilled to be able to share my little nightmares with you.

Currently out:

“The Minstrel Angel” available for download on Amazon.com

“Rings and Waves” in Locothology 2013: Tales of Fantasy and Science Fiction

Due later this year:

“Spectrum” in Song Stories: Dark Side of the Moon

“Pool Closed” in Fear: Of the Water

“Red Hot Mama” in Tales of the Undead-Hell Whore vol. 3

“Have You Seen Her” in Dying to Live

“Emancipation” in The Urban Eddur

“Secrets of the Seven Symphonies Circus” in Daylight Dims

“Demon’s Drink Free” in The Last Diner

“Rose’s Wilting” in Monster Hunter: Blood Trails

“Welcome” in Spirits of St. Louis: Missouri Ghost Tales

“Beheld” in Ignite

Due in 2014:

“Aldini’s Tether” in Raus! Untoten! vol. 4

Next year, I plan to focus more on longer works, and will try to finish up several of my fantasy novels-in-progress.

To keep up with my progress, please visit my blog at www.sbcbfiction.net, join my fan page at www.facebook.com/sbcbfiction or say “Hi” on twitter @ShenoaSays

Awesome news Shenoa! Tell us about your writing process?

I don’t have much of an official writing process, certainly not a set schedule. I write whenever and wherever inspiration strikes, whether it’s in the car or in the middle of dinner.

When inspiration is being coy, I tend to write the first draft in broad strokes, like I’m telling someone a story. On the second draft, I write the scenes in order of interest to me, so that the clearest sections materialize first and the rest of the story follows. For the third draft, I read through and flesh it out further, making sure the seams are covered and everything flows as it should.

Is there a genre, other than the one you currently write in, that you wish you could break into?

I’m a big Ray Bradbury fan, and would love to get better at writing science fiction. The few sci-fi pieces I’ve written so far have yet to find a home.

What are the 5 books that have influenced you the most, and why?

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott and On Writing by Stephen King both helped with my writing focus and motivation, as well as some of the more nuts-and-bolts mechanics of good writing.

20^th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill – This short story collection really inspired me to try harder and put more faith in my writing. Joe Hill’s stories are exactly what I’d like mine to be someday.

Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce – This is one of the first fantasy books I ever read, and I loved how vibrant and lovable the characters were, and how fierce the female main character was. This was the book that made me want to become an author.

The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle – absolutely beautiful, heartbreaking and magical. I always recommend this book to fantasy lovers, and would be thrilled if I could write with ¼ of Beagle’s verve.

If you could cast one of your works, who would you choose to play your main characters?

For my fantasy novelette “The Minstrel Angel”, I would cast Colin Morgan (or Benedict Cumberbatch) as the titular angel, Iain Glen as Captain Harmon Barrett, and Charles Dance as The Magician.

What is the first thing you would do if you woke up one morning to find one of your books on the NY Times Bestsellers List?

Hah! I would scream, probably tear up a little, then call my mother. And, likely do an embarrassing victory dance in the kitchen.

There is nothing wrong with a victory dance! Do you have any vices that you turn to while you are writing?

What an interesting question! I do prefer to write with a drink at hand, as it loosens me up and quiets my inner critic. Other than that, I have a couple rings I like to wear as I write, because the sparkle as I type is like a silent cheerleading squad.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

When I’m not writing, I’m probably binge-watching shows on Netflix, baking, crocheting, or playing role-playing games with friends.

Please share with us the first nine lines of your current work-in-progress.

This is the opening of last year’s NaNoWriMo project, “The Shadows of Chateau Vrai”, a prequel to this year’s “Parchment Girl”:

Deep underground, a metal man sat at a table hewn from the rough, dark stone of the cavern walls. Long crystals hung from the roof of the cave, casting everything in a milky blue glow. The metal man shone like polished moonlight. He paged through an unbound manuscript, spending no more than a few seconds on each page, his glass eyes flying back and forth over the carefully scribed lines.

Footsteps approached down the earthen hall, and the metal man carefully closed the manuscript. He folded his hands and bowed his head, as if in sleep.  

A slight man stepped through the cave wall, the glamour he had set up in place of an actual door. The stone pattern flickered as he passed, and seemed to solidify again behind him. The man stood only as tall as a child, but had long white hair gathered in a delicate braid, banded in silver, and a beard the same color.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions Shenoa! Now let’s take a look at The Minstrel Angel…

The forces of mankind face certain defeat as a demon army closes in, but when they capture an intriguing, inhuman spy, his dark powers may prove to be just what they need to turn the tide.

Clicking on the cover will take you straight to Amazon!

Nine Questions with… Is Looking for New Blood!

As October draws to a close and the Coffin Hop kicks off as the whirlwind of Horror goodness for 8 days, I will be looking for more authors to participate in my ‘Nine Questions with…’ interview series.

The interviews are posted here every Wednesday on a first back, first posted basis. Hits average from 100 to 250 unique looks for each post with some being a little more popular than others.

If you are interested in participating, feel free to send me an email at JulianneMSnow (at) gmail (dot) com and I will send you the questions!

~ Julianne

Nine Questions with… Aspen deLainey

Today I have the distinct pleasure of welcoming Aspen deLainey, author of Love ‘n Lies to the FlipSide. Welcome Aspen, why don’t you take a moment and introduce yourself to the captive audience that you now have before you.

I live in the Foothills of Alberta with hubby darlin’ and two of my four children, a dog, a lovebird and a glowering of semi-feral cats. You can find me at dawn on some mornings watching wildlife strip my vegetable garden. But I wouldn’t trade country living for all the beans on the stalk.

I think I might have been born with the Muse as my fairy godmother because story ideas pellet me daily; some days hourly. One of my earliest memories is writing a story for my younger brother, in crayon on a picture book, receiving my first critical review moments later, in the form of a spanking. Never deterred, I continued to make up stories, finally letting a few escape my clutches in 2010.

The Evermore Chronicles developed its concept while I worked in the seniors’ medical field. One sweet old lady, a patient’s wife, confided to me she wished she’d been born a fairy so she wouldn’t have to get old and useless. That brought oodles of questions to mind about paranormal beings having medical problems in life? What happens to aging Vampires, Wizards, Trolls and the like? Who would have the experience, the knowledge to treat them? Can you imagine? The questions begged to be looked into. Any of course, immortalized.

Tell us about your writing process?

I seem to get story ideas pelted at me when I’m minding my own business, watching people, listening to music or a TV show.  I think about it off and on for a day or two. If I dream about it then I know I’ve got a good idea, so I write enough of the story down to get my subconscious involved. Once I get a bit some flavour to the story idea, I write down the beginning and the end. My first idea of those – not written in stone. I develop a character, write down bits of info about her/him, get to know them. They need a birthday, approximately. They need a body type, an age, hair color, eye colour. I have to be able to see my characters, hear them, know them well.

So, yes I’m a part time plotter, definitely using quilting in my story, but mostly I write by the seat of my pants. I’ve been known to protest, very late at night, that I have to finish a scene ‘cause I want to know how it ends.

Is there a genre, other than the one you currently write in, that you wish you could break into?

I’d love to write a believable murder thriller. I read and read books in that genre, but I haven’t the cold-blooded mindset to pen my own yet. The stories I try seem a little too friendly so far.

What are the 5 books that have influenced you the most, and why?

Goddess, that’s a hard one. I read and reread Zelaney’s Zen and the Art of Writing weekly, mainly to get my fingers in motion. That whole ‘I’ll dream a bit more about the story, make it better’ procrastination ploy I think lots of writers fall into.

I fell in love with fantasy stories when I found Andre Norton’s Witch World series. Lately Jim Butcher’s Dresden series and Anne Bishop’s Black Jewel series intrigued me enough to try writing a more playful, looser style that I believe/hope makes Leticia, in Love ‘n Lies feel like a neighbour you just don’t know well. Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar series helped me see other creatures having human-like behaviours. And, believe it or not, I like to read Mark Twain for hints on timing.

If you could cast one of your works, who would you choose to play your main characters?

Leticia would be excellent played by Molly Quinn who plays Alexis Castle in the TV show Castle.

I think Taylor Lautner, who played Jacob in Twilight, or Zachary Quinto who plays Spock in the new Star Trek movies would make a decent Justin.

What is the first thing you would do if you woke up one morning to find one of your books on the NY Times Bestsellers List?

Probably I’d immediately go back to bed, sure I’m dreaming. When I woke up the next time, I’d ask my family to confirm that information. Then I’d panic, run around gibbering. I’d make sure hubby darlin’ saw the Best Sellers List. I’d phone my mother and email everyone I know to brag.

Do you have any vices that you turn to while you are writing?

I am a horrible person. I smoke cigarettes. If I’m stuck in a scene I grab a smoke and walk outside. A glass or a bottle of wine helps me over the intense parts. Has to be pretty bad to get me to drink more than a single glass as I don’t write well – my fingers forget where the proper keys are – when I’ve had too much to drink.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

I’m a reader. I always have more than one book on the go. I love surfing the Net. And I live in the country, so I like to take my dog on long walks. In the spring I’ll walk for miles to this pond I know. I watch the swans come in, nest and raise their little ones. Not too close though. Swans are mean about their territory. They are faster than you expect and can hit hard enough to leave big bruises.

If I’m sitting watching TV I like to keep my hands busy, so I crochet, knit, embroider, quilt and sketch.

Please share with us the first nine lines of your current work-in-progress. If you’d rather not share, we can insert the first 9 nines of the book you have just published.

I’m writing Howling Hearts at the moment. It’s another of the Evermore series.

Ah Goddess, don’t fail me now, Rand prayed.

Adrenaline spiked through her body lending her the strength to fight the slide she felt through the steering wheel. She braked. One tire caught traction, swinging her vehicle closer to an edge Rand sensed but no longer saw.

“No!” she shouted. “Don’t you dare!” Her knuckles whitened as she tightened her grip, forcing her strength and will into the battle for control of her steering wheel.

A touch of gravel under a second tire, and Rand goosed the gas, straightened the wheel in what she hoped was road-direction.

Where do you find your inspiration?

Everywhere. I love to listen to people, watch them interact as I make up stories concerning the who, what, and when about them. I often get ideas from phrases in songs or shows and news on TV. The Evermore series actually conceptualized during my stint working with seniors. I wondered what might happen to supernatural beings when they got sick or old. And any time I wonder about things my mind makes up a story to explain the workings for me.

Thank you Aspen for taking the time to answer my questions. If you’d like to keep up-to-date on Aspen’s writing and the Evermore Chronicles of which Love ‘n Lies is a part of, you can follow her on her blog or on Twitter.

Now let’s take a peek into Love ‘n Lies…

Gaining weight is a human problem. At least that’s what Leticia always thought. But when this vivacious vampire wakes from her year-long slumber and discovers that her formerly svelte frame has retained a few extra pounds, it becomes apparent that something has gone amiss.

A girl just can’t wander around the Calgary Stampede in clothes that don’t fit! So she sets about the task of shopping and working out a low-cal diet of humans she can live on. When her friends notice how depressed she is, one of them suggests she adopt a tomcat named Justin to keep her company. Little does she know that she would fall madly in love with her new kitty. The moment she does, the spell cast over Justin is broken and he takes his true form – a long, tall, dark haired man with an insatiable sex drive. Letty is more tempted than she ever thought possible and can’t keep her hands off him anymore than he can keep his off of her.

After taking him back to her childhood home, Evermore, to consult with the head wizard Silvius, she soon discovers the Warlock who cast the spell over Justin isn’t letting him go so easily.

Throw in a nasty twin sister who’ll do anything to get her hands on what Letty has, including Justin’s more than hot body, and you end up with Love… ‘n Lies!

If you would like to pick up a copy, they can be found online at:

Amazon: US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, Brazil, India

CreateSpace

Smashwords

 

Nine Questions with… Aiden Truss

Today I’m pleased to feature an interview with Aiden Truss, author of Gape. Welcome Aiden, why don’t you take a moment to introduce yourself to the captive audience that you now have before you.

I’m a forty one year-old geek who still thinks that he’s twenty-one. Despite never having grown up, I’ve now been married for twenty four years and have two sons who have grown up against all odds to be strangely well adjusted.

I spend my time flitting between high and low culture: I hold an MA in Cultural and

Critical Studies and can often be seen stalking the galleries and museums of London, but I also like watching WWE, listening to heavy metal music, collecting comic books and playing classic video games. This confuses many, who seem to think people should be either high or low-brow in their interests, but I enjoy the confusion.

In terms of appearance, I’ve been told that I look like a bouncer or a builder and have had people laugh at the suggestion that I might have an artistic side.  I’m always glad to confound their expectations.

I grew up in South London but now live in Kent, England. Gape is the second novel that I’ve written but the first that I’ve attempted to have published. I’m also working on a collection of short stories, a novel about growing up as a geek, and I’ve written a few thousand words of the sequel to Gape. I have to admit though, that I’m scared to commit to it fully in case no-one reads the first book!

Tell us about your writing process?

Like many writers, I keep a notebook to jot down ideas, names, chapter headings and book titles. If someone says something interesting in conversation then it goes into the book. If I’m people-watching and notice a particular trait or affectation then it all goes in the book.

When I actually have an idea for a story, then I sit down in front of my laptop and just go for it. I then refer to my notebook if I need a character name or an idea for something. I also use it to keep a track on characters and minor plot details. I don’t plot anything out in advance – I can’t work that way.

I procrastinate and find diversions like everyone else, but force myself to write 2,000 words a day when I’m really going for it. I have no routine as such and might start at 7.30am and finish at lunchtime or I might go all day writing very little and then have a sudden spurt of creativity around midnight and not get to bed ‘til 3am.

I don’t know if this all counts as a process or just describes someone who is very disorganised and lackadaisical…

Is there a genre, other than the one you currently write in, that you wish you could break into?

I love science fiction, but I’m not sure that I’m scientifically clued-in enough to write anything really convincing. I’ve tried short stories, but am not confident enough to go for anything really lengthy. The best writers in the genre all have a weight of intellect behind their work I don’t possess.

If you had asked me about working in a different medium, then that would be easy: I’d love to see Gape as a graphic novel or a comic book series. I’d be more excited about that than if someone was to offer to make a film of it.

What are the 5 books that have influenced you the most, and why?

First would be Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. Other than Dracula, this is probably my most read book. When I was younger I’d read it from cover to cover and then go back to the beginning and start again. I was a Dahl fan in general – he had such a dark view of childhood that was delightful.

Bram Stoker’s Dracula would be the second. It scared me out of my wits when I first read it when I was around 11 years old. I’ve read it over and again and have about nine or ten different versions of the book in various covers and editions. My favourite is Leonard Wolf’s The Annotated Dracula.

Third would be George Orwell’s 1984. I can’t say that it has influenced my writing so much as it opened my eye to the power of language and how it shapes our perception of the world. That much of what scared Orwell has now come to pass is regrettable, but at least we were forewarned.

I was never a big Tolkien fan, but I remember someone lending me Terry Brooks’ The Sword of Shannara. This really turned me on to fantasy novels in a big way. I know that purists see it as a derivative work which draws on all the usual fantasy tropes and archetypes, but it was so exciting to read at the time.

Finally, if I had to choose, I’d cheat and go for a trilogy, Stephen Lawhead’s Pendragon Cycle: Taliesin, Merlin, and Arthur. I’ve read a lot of Arthurian fiction but these books put them all in the shade – including Mallory’s Mort d’Arthur. Taliesin was the first book that I can remember that actually moved me to tears.

If you could cast one of your works, who would you choose to play your main characters?

I was asked this before and I suggested Ben Whishaw as Priest and Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Rose – both actors that I really like. I didn’t think about who might play Astolath, but after a bit of rumination, I quite like the idea of Kane of WWE fame playing the arch demon. I think he’d have the required ‘presence’ to carry it off.

What is the first thing you would do if you woke up one morning to find one of your books on the NY Times Bestsellers List?

Turn around and go back to sleep again. After all, I probably wouldn’t have to work again for a while!

Do you have any vices that you turn to while you are writing?

Only caffeine. I don’t need any more distractions!

What do you do when you’re not writing?

I read a lot and generally have two or three books on the go at the same time. Other than that, I go to quite a few gigs, I collect horror movies and memorabilia and comic books. I’m also a dyed-in –the-wool gamer and have about twenty different consoles and handhelds – much to my wife’s disdain!

Please share with us the first nine lines of your current work-in-progress.

He was awake but just not ready to move.

The thought of movement and of actually facing the full onslaught of the day agitated the tiny butterflies living in his stomach and so he just lay there staring at the insides of his eyelids. He listened to the soft hiss of the machine next to his bed which was feeding air to his breathing mask. Beside him, his wife slept. She stirred slightly as if aware of his discomfort but not waking to fully share it. With a titanic effort he sat up, reached for the off button and pulled the mask from his face.  It was no use trying to avoid the inevitability of the day. The bedside alarm would soon shatter the calm anyway and the house would be full of voices and activity. Better to try to grab a coffee in peace before having to show a brave face his family, let alone to the world beyond his front door.

Where do you find your inspiration?

In the works of other writers.

Now let’s take a quick look at Gape…

When Rose woke up in her favourite shop doorway, she was resigned to yet another day of hunger, struggle and abuse. This was life on the streets after all.

What she wasn’t prepared for was a visit from a demon, an invitation back to his temporally insubstantial sanctuary, and forced to take sides in a battle involving most of the denizens of hell. Oh, and a boat trip down the river Thames.

After a disappointing start to the day, things were about to get a bit more interesting…

If you’re interested in picking up a copy, Gape can be found in both digital and print versions.

Amazon: US, UK, CANADA, GERMANY, ITALY, SPAIN, FRANCE, BRAZIL, JAPAN, INDIA

CreateSpace

Smashwords

Thank you Aiden for taking the time to answer my questions. If you’d like to keep up to date on Gape and Aiden’s writing, you can find him on his website or Facebook Fan Page.

Nine Questions with… Jeffrey X Martin

Today I’m featuring an interview with author Jeffery X Martin. Welcome Jeffery, why do you take a moment and introduce yourself to the captive audience that you now have before you.

My name is Jeffery X Martin. Everyone calls me X. You should, too. I am the creator of the Elders Keep Projekt, a series of intertwining short horror stories, currently available for Kindle and Nook. Expect a full length collection of these stories to be released in time for the holidays. I am also the author of Tarotsphere, a funny book about Tarot cards. I’ve also co-written, with James Branscome and James DeHaven, an American giallo script called Murder Ballads. That movie is currently in pre-production. I write a weekly column about music from the 1980’s for popshifter.com. I also write horror and sci-fi reviews for Tony Schaab at his website, TheGASPFactor.com.

I seem to do a lot of writing.

Tell us about your writing process?

It’s pretty stream-of-consciousness. I don’t make normal outlines as much as I see sticky notes in my head. With the Elders Keep stories and their reoccurring characters, I have to check back with older tales to keep them in line, make sure I’m not revealing plot points too early.

But no matter what I’m writing, there comes a point where my mind switches to a different level. I call it the High White Noise. It’s almost like I hear some static in my brain and it blocks out everything but story. When I hear that High White Noise, I can write for hours, just pounding out pages and nothing distracts me. The kids, the cat, nothing. I just go. I can look back at it the next day and not remember writing it. It just shows up.

Is there a genre, other than the one you currently write in, that you wish you could break into?

I wish I were clever enough to write hard sci-fi. The people who do that amaze me with their world-building skills. I can only write so intricately before I start to confuse myself and others.

What are the 5 books that have influenced you the most, and why?

1) Stephen King’s Night Shift. It turned me on to the short story form. It was so punk. King got in, made his point, got out and EVERYBODY got hurt. All of those stories were quick terrifying shots to the gut. Who wouldn’t want to write that?

2) Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail ’72. I’ve always been fascinated with the Seventies. I was alive then, but I don’t remember them well. I always figured Nixon was a foul human being and this book, even with the realization that parts of it were pure drug-addled fantasy, did nothing to dissuade me from that opinion. Thompson’s writing was brutal and cosmic, sentences barely able to confine brilliant madness from the first capital letter to the final punctuation mark, every word the right one. Thompson embodied crazed drunken uncle storytelling at its finest.

3) Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s Cat’s Cradle. The total flip-side of Thompson, but equally as influential on me. His simple sentences belied the cynical beauty beneath. He always had a point, and it was always made with sad humor and respect for the intelligence of the audience. I got to see him speak at the University of Tennessee when Timequake came out. He was so gentle and self-effacing, yet you could almost see the weight of the world on his brow. He’s my hero, to be certain.

4) Michael McDowell’s The Elementals. One of the only books that ever gave me nightmares. McDowell’s depiction of creatures that rose up out of the sand and threatened to swallow up a dilapidated family house on a Carolina beach burrowed itself into my brain and never left. I read every year for almost a decade until the book itself finally fell apart. It’s not easy to find now, but well worth the hunt.

5) Grant Morrison’s The Invisibles. All right, I know this is a “comic book,” but this story arc transcends any other graphic novel I’ve ever read. On the surface, it’s a story about a team of crime-fighters. Underneath lies the key to absolute awareness. Sex, drugs, rock and roll, conspiracy theories, references to old BBC television shows and all the things behind the sun are contained in this story. It changed my mind and it changed my life.

If you could cast one of your works, who would you choose to play your main characters?

If I could cast the recurring main characters in the Elders Keep stories, I would first choose Josh Holloway (Sawyer from LOST) as Sheriff Graham Strahan. He could handle the warmth and gallows humor of the character, while not glossing over the supernatural elements. Holloway could keep everything human and grounded. I don’t understand why he isn’t a massive star right now. David Henne (from Wizards of Waverly Place) would be a perfect Deputy Moon. Young, a little over-eager and kind of twitchy. Tiffany Shepis would be Shelly the bartender, Graham’s love interest. She’s hot, she’s got a great way of finding the funny in any given situation and she’s hot.

What is the first thing you would do if you woke up one morning to find one of your books on the NY Times Bestsellers List?

Laugh maniacally.

Do you have any vices that you turn to while you are writing?

I’m not ashamed to say vodka is my friend. I quit smoking last October by using a personal vaping device, and I advocate vaping quite vocally. I firmly believe in tobacco harm reduction and you can often find me on Facebook in the Smoky Mountain Vapers group. If you want to quit smoking in a way that isn’t stupid, seek us out.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

I sit on the couch with my awesome wife, Hannah, and watch Italian horror movies. I also read Tarot online, hang out at the swimming pool and tweet inappropriate things at all hours of the morning.

Please share with us the first nine lines of your current work-in-progress.

This is from the fourth Elders Keep story, which deals with a place barely mentioned in the very first one. A lot of things come together in this tale, which is one I know the fans of the series have been waiting for. It may start slow. It certainly doesn’t end that way. Here are the first nine lines of Tales from the Keep Volume 4: Parham’s Field.

“I’m not drunk, goddammit!” Will exclaimed, exasperation creeping into his voice. “You ever go into Parham’s Field at night?”

Graham shook his head and laughed. “Oh, hell no. Never.”

“Why not?” Will asked.

Graham shrugged. “Everybody knows you don’t go into Parham’s Field at night.”

“But why, Graham? Give me an answer.”

Graham searched his brain.

Now let’s take a sneak peek into Tales from the Keep Volume 3: Mouth…

Local businessman Larry Ford has a terrible toothache and an appointment with a local dentist. It’s a simple procedure. But nothing is ever simple in Elders Keep, and nothing hurts like your mouth.

Don’t forget that clicking on the cover will whisk you away to Amazon!

Thank you Jeffery (I just can’t call you X) for taking the time to answer my questions. If you’d like to connect with Jeffery you can find him on his website, Amazon Author Page or Twitter.

Nine Questions with… Steve Vernon

Today I’m asking nine questions to fellow Canadian Steve Vernon. Welcome Steve, why don’t you take a moment to introduce yourself to the captive audience that you now have before you.

Hi folks.

My name is Steve Vernon and I’m a writer and a storyteller.

I’m what some folks call a hybrid author – in that I write both for a traditional publisher as well as a line of my own independently published e-books.

I know. I know. Your Aunt Winifred has released her own e-book. So has her cat. And that ball of magenta yarn in her basket – has its own particular yarn to tell.

I’m not saying that I’m unique.

I started out my writing career writing short stories for the North American small press. Little tiny basement magazines – and some that I think were published in somebody’s sub-sub-sub-basement – for as much as one quarter of a cent per word.

I’m not saying I was making money at it.

In 2004 I pitched a collection of Nova Scotia ghost stories to a regional press up here in Nova Scotia. They liked my pitch and in 2006 they published my first official book Haunted Harbours: Ghost Stories from Old Nova Scotia. It’s a great collection of stories based on regional history and folklore that has gone on to sell about 10,000 copies – which is considered pretty good for a regional Canadian press such as Nimbus Publishing.

Only that wasn’t REALLY my first book.

My first book – a novella entitled Long Horn, Big Shaggy – A Tale of Wild West Terror and Reanimated Buffalo was released by Black Death Books way back in 2004.

Since then I have released SEVEN books through Nimbus Publishing – including four ghost story collections, one children’s picture book, one YA novel and a collection of historical murder tales from Nova Scotia.

In addition I’ve released about two dozen e-books and I am writing just as fast as my fingers can tackle the keyboard.

Wow… You really are a storyteller! Tell us about your writing process?

I get up every morning and check my e-mail. Then I check Twitter and I check Facebook. I have breakfast. I pet the cat. I look out the window and try to predict the weather for today. I check my day-timer and figure out if I have a shift at my day job to worry about or not. I bring my wife coffee. I pet the cat some more.

In between all of that elaborate procrastination I somehow manage to write a line or two.

Is there a genre, other than the one you currently write in, that you wish you could break into?

I ought to be honest with you folks. I really wish I could write Fifty-One and a Half Shades of Grey – an unofficial sequel to the multi-multi-billion copy bestselling series.

Here’s a fun and/or depressing little fact. Did you know that one in five books sold in 2012 was a part of the Fifty Shades Trilogy? I tell you – if I could write something that would sell like that I would have to hire me someone to fold up my folding money for me.

But seriously, I really would love to make more headway in the field of young adult literature. There are just so many kids out there who are putting off reading in favor of texting and computer gaming and You-Tube and all of those other Borg/Dalek/hive-mind diversions that are rampant in today’s society. I would REALLY love to write something that would catch the mind of all of those reluctant readers and turn them around.

What are the 5 books that have influenced you the most, and why?

Wow!

Only five?

For starters – Dracula. My grandmother gave me a paperback copy of that novel way back when I was knee-high to a short knee bone. It was a battered old copy with a photograph of Christopher Lee looking all ominous and moody and gothic. That had to have been the FIRST horror novel I ever read and I loved it.

Salem’s Lot, by Stephen King, was another powerful inspiration. I read that when it first hit the market – alright, so it was after I read a comic book that showed Ben Grimm – The Thing from Marvel’s Fantastic Four – reading a copy of it. I read that novel and I said to myself I have got to grow up and start writing books like that.

Sharpe’s Tiger – by Bernard Cornwell. I read that after reading a recommendation by Stephen King and I still would like to someday sit down and write me a big military adventure series such as the Sharpe series.

Joe Lansdale’s work has inspired me a lot – no book in particular – but I truly admire his comfortable uncensored style of relating a story to the reader that both enlightens and puts a strong tug on your funny bone at the same damn time.

Robert Parker’s Spencer series also rocked my world – at least the first dozen or so books in the series.

I don’t know if that’s five or not. Math was never one of my strong points.

If you could cast one of your works, who would you choose to play your main characters?

Let’s see – I would love to see Donald Sutherland and Gordon Pinsent cast in a movie version of my vampire and hockey novella – Sudden Death Overtime. Gene Hackman would probably fit as well – even though he’s not Canadian. Tommy Lee Jones would be another great pick – if he could learn how to skate.

I’d love to see what Ray Stevenson would make out of my tough guy anti-hero Captain Nothing. I really thought Ray did a great job in Punisher: War Zone – even though the critics and the box office tally would disagree with me.

And I can’t tell you about casting – but if some Canadian studio does not hurry and pick up the movie rights to my young adult novel Sinking Deeper OR my questionable (sometimes heroic) decision to invent a sea monster and start working on it I may break down and scream.

What is the first thing you would do if you woke up one morning to find one of your books on the NY Times Bestsellers List?

I would promptly pay off whatever bribe I had offered.

Do you have any vices that you turn to while you are writing?

Coffee. Cold and black and strong enough to break a spoon off if you are foolish enough to attempt a stir.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

I garden. I have a day job. I pet the cat. I have an addiction to old black and white movies and cheap cheesy horror flicks.

And in between all of that I think about writing.

Please share with us the first nine lines of your current work-in-progress.

Okay – so here are the opening lines of my upcoming YA novel – Big Hairy Deal.

Chapter One – The bear, the Bigfoot and Me

One moment I was standing here in the Cape Breton highlands – and why in the heck did they call them highlands, anyway? I mean, they didn’t look all that high to me. Everything I could see was all rocks and rolling terrain and it seemed more of a humpy-kind of hill country.

“This is Bigfoot country, Adam,” Warren told me. “So you had better keep your eyes open.”

Warren is my stepdad – which is another way of saying that he was a bit of a total dork.

I mean, just take a look at the guy. He’s about as thin as a skinny reed with an Adam’s apple that sticks out from the skinny of his neck and bobbles up and down like he was constantly trying to swallow a live bullfrog inside of his throat.

The man looked absolutely gorky.

“But Adam,” my Mom would always tell me. “He’s your stepdad. You’re just going to have to learn to get along with him.”

Baloney.

As far as I was concerned – all that him being my stepdad meant was that he had accidentally married my Mom six months after my real Dad was killed by that baby carriage.

Which sucked.

Was that more than nine lines?

I told you that arithmetic was NOT my strong point.

Now let’s take a sneak peek into Steve’s Sudden Death Overtime – A Tale of Hockey and Vampires…

Meet Sprague Deacon – one of the toughest old-time hockey players who ever skated upon a rink of hand-poured ice. Sprague was born and raised and he expects to die here on the Northern Labrador coast. What he did not expect was a tour bus full of vampires – none of whom glitter in the least bit – to pull into his town and begin lowering the population level – one corpse at a time. Sprague and his three best friends – an over-the-hill never-say quit bush league hockey team from Northern Labrador go toe-to-tooth with a tour bus full of vampires in an immortal-stakes showdown of street hockey? For the answer – throw Paul Newman’s Slapshot into a blender with Steven Niles 30 Days of Night and hit frappe!

Don’t forget that clicking on the cover will take you directly to Amazon!

I’d like to thank Steve for taking the time to answer my questions. If you’d like to connect with Steve you can find more information about him, including all of his novels on his website.

Nine Questions with… Lorne Oliver

Today I feature an interview with Lorne Oliver, a fellow Canadian and author of Red Island. Welcome Lorne, why don’t you take a moment and introduce yourself to the captive audience that you now have before you.

I always find writing about myself to be the hardest thing to do.  Hi, I’m Lorne.  I’ve lived in almost every region of Canada.  Currently I live in Saskatchewan.  If you ever get the chance to cross our great country this is the part where you hear things in the car like:  are we there yet?  Oh look, another field…and my favorite – am I being punished for something?  Geez, can you ever tell I’m not from here.  I have a great wife and two great kids.  When I’m not writing I’m cooking or watching crime shows on TV and movies…okay I’m probably thinking about writing while doing all of that.

Tell us about your writing process?

My writing process changes subtly, but is basically the same.  I’m one of those guys who always has a notebook at arms-reach so most of my first draft is done old school with pen and paper.  As I type it up I put it through a sort of rewrite.  For the second draft I print what I have and go over it with a pen editing what is there and often writing in completely new scenes.  In RED ISLAND I added some new scenes and polished a lot, but the bulk of it is what was first written.  In RED SERGE, my second novel to be released the end of August, I wrote a brand new chapter and completely changed the ending resulting in killing off a main character.  As for the inevitable outline or not outline question, every story I have ever outlined I have gotten bored with and never finished.  I do, however do a LOT of research for these books.

Is there a genre, other than the one you currently write in, that you wish you could break into?

Two really.  I’ve written a couple of good “romance from a male perspective” books.  One I refer to as a mix of Nick Hornby’s, High Fidelity and Nicholas Sparks, A Walk to Remember.  I keep getting encouragement to polish them up and publish them but they are my first children so I’m a little protective.  The second genre would be something to do with YA.  Probably YA fantasy.

Awesome! What are the 5 books that have influenced you the most, and why?

On Writing by Stephen King – It gave me insights into writing and publishing.

High Fidelity by Nick Hornby – This book showed me that we all have a voice and we can use that to tell our own story.  As long as the story is good people will want to read it.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton – The story is so simple and yet so grand.  There’s a good side and a bad side.  One simple action leads to a bigger eruption and in the end everything comes to a complete circle and everything is tied up neatly.

As for the rest, I can’t pick specific books.  Writer’s like Tess Gerritsen, Kathy Reichs, and Michelle Gagnon inspire my writing… Clive Cussler’s books are a great source of how to write action… there are too many.

Great choices! If you could cast one of your works, who would you choose to play your main characters?

In the past my main characters have always looked like a much better looking version of me.  When I wrote Red Island I pictured certain people in the roles of some of the characters.  For Reid I pictured Jason Wiles who played Bosco on the TV show Third Watch, for Deborah English I thought of Elisha Cuthbert, and the only other character who I thought of a real person for was the bad guy.  It’ll seem strange, but when I wrote his physical description I thought of the singer Michael Bublé.  I think he was on TV at the time I was writing it.

Bosco was one of my favourite characters on Third Watch and Jason Wiles has a great list of career credits! What is the first thing you would do if you woke up one morning to find one of your books on the NY Times Bestsellers List?

Go back to bed because I was probably still dreaming.  I’m not saying my books aren’t good enough to make the list, my Mom loves them, but the competition out there is amazing.

Do you have any vices that you turn to while you are writing?

My wife would say that writing is my vice.  I wake and go to the kitchen with my notebook in my hand.  I take it in the car when we go out because you never know when something will spark an idea.  I get home from work and I sit in my corner with my computer.  And when I’m not writing I am talking about the ideas or characters or my latest blog tour, and on and on.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

There is such a time?  Ha,ha,ha I’m usually cooking or watching some favorite shows on TV.  I love crime shows like Criminal Minds and Law and Order, but I’m a geek at heart so I also love The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones.  I also enjoy the time with my two kids and wife.

Please share with us the first nine lines of your current work-in-progress.

This is from a book titled THE CISTERN, hopefully out in December.  It’s completely different characters from the other two books.

Maeve scrunched her face as her teeth tore at the flesh of the other woman’s arm.  She chewed quickly and swallowed hard.  She tried not to think about what it tasted like.  Her stomach lurched wanting to reject what she was putting in her body.

She closed her eyes and tried to remember what daisies smelled like, what sun on her skin felt like.  She imagined the ocean’s water lapping against her belly.  She could almost feel the breeze coming in with each wave.

Her chest suddenly burned.  She felt the fire shoot up through her throat.  On instinct she turned fast.  The brick wall scratched hard against her forehead.  Pain and heat cracked through her skull.  Her body fell back.  Water splashed up over her naked skin.

Sounds great! Now let’s take a quick look at Red Island… (Clicking on the cover will take you directly to Amazon!)

Was it the nightmare that woke Reid or the phone ringing in the middle of the night that brought on the dream? Sgt. Reid of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police moved his family to Prince Edward Island, “The Gentle Island,” to get away from crime and homicides. He had to get away from the nightmares and concentrate on his family.

It’s a lovely place to live. The sound of the ocean crashing against sandy beaches, sand dunes covered in tufts of dancing green grass…

…And then there is the young woman hanging from a tree. It isn’t a gentle island any more.

It’s Ben’s world. Whether we live or die is all up to him and Reid is going to have to play his game.

Thank you Lorne for taking the time to answer my questions. If you would like to connect with Lorne, you can find him on his website, Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook, and his Amazon Author Page.