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Interview with author Tara Fox Hall

7/10/2013

1 Comment

 
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Welcome Tara Fox Hall! I'm so excited to have you here.
Before we start the interview I'd like to tell you a little about her. She is an OSHA-certified safety and health inspector at a metal fabrication shop in upstate New York. She received her bachelor’s degree in mathematics with a double minor in chemistry and biology from Binghamton  University. Her writing credits include nonfiction short stories, flash, short and novella-length horror stories, and contemporary and historical paranormal romance. Her horror stories have appeared in Deadman’s Tome, Flashes in the Dark, Ghastly Door, The Halloween Alliance, Black Petals, SNM Horror Magazine, Microhorror, Dark Eclipse, Cemetery Moon, and various anthologies, including the recently published charity works Fear (Vol. 1) and Shifters. She also coauthored the essay “The Allure of the Serial Killer,” published in Serial Killers - Philosophy for Everyone: Being and Killing (Wiley-Blackwell, 2010). She is the author of the paranormal fantasy Lash series and the paranormal romantic drama Promise Me series. Tara divides her free time unequally between writing novels and short stories, chainsawing firewood, caring for stray animals, sewing cat and dog beds for donation to animal shelters, and target practice.

You have quite the long list of credits. Why do you write about vampires, like you have in your  novel  Promise Me?
 I’ve loved vampires since I saw Frank Langella in the first “hot vampire” version of Dracula years ago. That love intensified in my later teens with The Lost Boys, and reading Interview with the Vampire, along with anything vampire I could get my hands on. But I wanted more than the evil monster chasing young virgins; more than the sweet, misunderstood handsome fanged stranger that becomes the perfect mate for the woman who captures his heart after so many lone centuries. I wanted a vampire so well-crafted in detail that I could believe he was real. I wanted something different to happen in the story, other than girl becomes vampire, or vampire becomes dust. I wanted passion, tragedy, romance, suspense, action, and the haunting sweetness of poetry and song floating on a soft night breeze. So I penned my own vampires.

What other types of genres do you write?
Mostly I write supernatural-related fiction stories, such as the paranormal fiction series Promise Me and Lash. But as per above, I also have written erotica, suspense, horror, contemporary fiction, and non-fiction.

Tell me about your latest?
My latest book is Taken for His Own, the fourth installment in my Promise Me Series. It takes up where the third book left off. Sar had done her best to rebuild her life when her fiancé Theo went missing. She’s partnered with her former vampire lover Danial to raise Theo’s daughter Elle (Elle’s natural mother is dead from childbirth complications). She’s also had a child of her own with Danial, Theoron, and is trying to come to terms with her inevitable turning from human to vampire. When she finds out Theo’s alive, she can’t stop herself from journeying west to find him, and confront him about where he’s been for the last year and a half. This is where Taken for His Own begins. After a passionate reunion and a hasty marriage, the two
lovebirds are headed back east. But picking up the pieces is far from easy. While Danial is accepting of Theo’s return, Elle prefers her vampire adoptive father over Theo. More than one enemy is waiting in the wings, making repeat attempts on Sar’s life. Add into the mix Devlin, Sar’s old enemy who’s now turned good guy, and a new paramour for Danial and you’ve got a powder keg primed to explode.

Is there a particular book that changed or affected your life in a big way?
The Hobbit. I like the message; that it’s not who you were or what you can do that influences what you will do, it’s how willing you are to step outside your own boundaries and push for what you think is right.

Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp? 
 That it’s never too late to take control of your destiny…and that you are the only one that really ever can. You may not be able to control what happens to you, but you can always control how you react to events. And that it’s important to always try to do the right thing…but that isn’t always possible.

What challenges have you faced in your writing career?
Getting published. I spent 4 years getting rejection after rejection from every agent under the sun and also some publishers. But the near misses were the worst, to think that I finally had an agent or a publisher and then to have it fall through at the last moment. Those were the crushing blows. The newest thing I worry about are bad reviews.

Do you see yourself in any of your characters?
Bits of me are in all my characters, being my creations. 

Have you ever had a day when you just wanted to quit? 
Of course. Getting my first 2 star review on Amazon made me want to quit. Poor sales in a given quarter makes me want to quit. Having no free time makes me want to quit. But I didn’t survive years of fighting to get my stories out to give up now.

Did you have a moment when you realized you were meant to be a writer?
Yes. I realized I was good at imagining both sides of a conversation between two characters or more. It’s something that comes naturally and I don’t feel affinity with either character especially, so I can imagine to be both with equal believability. That makes really good dialogue, which is an essential part of any story. The other key part of story is a good plot. When I’m reading what I wrote, I ask myself if I’m interested at every paragraph. If I can’t keep my own interest, how can I expect to keep a reader’s interest? And what a writer wants to produce and what a reader wants to read are not always the same things. To gain—and keep—series readers, you have to give them what they want while keeping enough back to entice them to keep reading subsequent books. I try to do that.

After this book, what is next?
There will be more books in this series. Two more will be out this year--Immortal Confessions and Her Secret—with more in 2014 and 2015, until the series is done. The next
installment in the Lash Series, Revenge, will be out this fall, and hopefully my second anthology of short suspense/horror stories will also  publish. There will also be the first Promise Me anthology and a Latham’s  Landing anthology this fall. A new Lash short story,
“
Spiritwalker”, will debut in the Shifters charity anthology from
Hazardous Press, and I also have a short story called “The Lie” in the upcoming
anthology Brief Grislys, both due out in a month or less. I’m also working on a sequel to my transgender short Grow a Pair, and another compilation of BDSM stories for the late summer/fall.

Your website? http://www.tarafoxhall.com
Your blog?http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5286654.Tara_Fox_Hall/blog

Other websites?
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/TerrorFoxHall
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tara-Fox-Hall/151813374904903
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/TaraFH
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/tara-fox-hall
Melange
Books: http://www.melange-books.com/authors/tarafoxhall/index.html
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Tara-Fox-Hall/e/B005YPAA4W/

Where can your book be found?
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Taken-For-His-Promise-ebook/dp/B00CZ4IGC8/
Amazon
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Taken-For-His-Promise-ebook/dp/B00CZ4IGC8/
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/319416
Melange/lulu link for Print, PDF and HTML copies: http://www.melange-books.com/authors/tarafoxhall/takenforhisown.html
All Romance E-books:
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-takenforhisown-1215939-140.html
Barnes and Noble.com: not there yet
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More on the Promise Series (Promise Me Series #1) – Vampire romance
Format: print and e-book
Pages: 233
Date Released: June 2012
Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Promise-Me-ebook/dp/B0086G4GDC
Lulu link: http://www.lulu.com/shop/tara-fox-ha...-20146694.html
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Promise-Me-ebook/dp/B0086G4GDC
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/TaraFH
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/tara-fox-hall
Melange Books: http://www.melange-books.com/authors...all/index.html

Blurb: When young widow Sarelle McGarran finds the vampire Danial Racklan unconscious and hurt in her woods, intuitive concern  quickly becomes passionate love. Together Danial and Sar work to overcome their own past heartbreaks, their vastly different lifestyles, and Danial's relentless enemies. Yet Danial needs more; an Oath of forever. But can Sar give
Danial his greatest desire?

Thank you for stopping by Tara. I enjoyed your company.

1 Comment

 Rebecca Nolan~Interview & book review

12/9/2012

1 Comment

 
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Recently I had the privilege to interview author Rebecca Nolan on her newly released. young adult, paranormal romance, Death Lilly. She'll tell you more about her thrilling book below but first, let me say  Rebecca is a dear friend who I know through Paranormal and Horror Lovers, where we co-moderate.  Besides Death Lilly, she has several short stories published.  I've read them and can honestly say they are amazing.  

Welcome Rebecca. I'd like to say I thoroughly enjoyed reading Death Lilly.  The characters  were well developed and I easily felt like I was in the heroin’s, Lilly Vale, head. Death Lilly is the perfect title since death seems to find her in her dreams and real life. Despite the death of a loved one, she somehow finds normalcy in her life, dealing with teenage issues of drinking and relationships.

For now, I don't want to give too much away. I'll post links to my full review and where to buy and learn more about the book a little later.  Let's move on with interview.

Tell us about yourself, where you from are and what else you do. 
My name is Rebecca Nolan and I live in Queensland, Australia. I am a military wife and have been for nearly 11yrs now. I love to read and I believe that is what sparked my passion for writing. I’d always been able to tell a good story but was never a writer until a few years ago. Now it’s like I have so many stories to share that I have to get them all out at once. Often you’ll find me with several works on the go. Sometimes it’s a blessing but most of the time it can
really slow me down.
  




What is the title of your novel and tell us in three sentences or less what it is about.

Death Lilly is about a girl who is half demon have angel, though her humanity is what makes her seem human. Her life is one endless rollercoaster of love, lies and death.
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What was the hardest part in writing your novel?
Hmm the hardest was learning the rules of writing. I had to brush up on my grammar but sometimes it didn’t work with the dialogue I wished to use. I also had to stay on track with this unlike a smaller works were I can do 2-3 at a time, for this novel I had to be strict with myself
and stay on course.

Tell us about one or two of your characters. What characteristics did you keep in mind while coming up with them?
~Levi has to be one of the characters I really love writing. He was one of the most interesting because you just never know with him. One minute he is sweet and caring, the next he is rude and menacing. He will keep you guessing right up until the very last book I think Lol.
~Lilly was another really interesting character. Sometimes I found her down right irritating to write, her constant flip flopping was a little hard to handle when I knew who she was meant to be with. Such is love though at that age. Your heart, head and libido can be torn in different areas. She wasn’t perfect but she was going through a lot. She was used to being a
loner and then finds herself as one of the most popular girls, it can make a girl do stupid things and be very addictive. Also love at that age isn’t as prefect as we want to think it is. Often our desire to be in love outweighs the behavior we should expect from our partners. Book 2 will see her still growing up. She has learnt much from book 1 ;)

Who or what inspires you to write?
My husband and friends inspire me greatly. Without them I would feel talentless. A sentence, a feeling or an experience, are all poured into my stories. Different characters have different traits from people who have enter my life at one time or another.    

Do you have any advice for other writers?
Don’t be afraid of rejection, submit everywhere and learn from what feedback you receive. If you really want to make a career out of writing then learn with it, adapt and always be kind.

“You never fail until you stop trying.” ― Albert Einstein

What books changed your life and why?
Ken Follet, Pillars of the Earth is one of the earliest books that changed my life. The power and passion behind his writing captivated me when I was just 15yrs old. It was the first book I ever stayed up all night reading. Well if you have seen how big the book is then you know I stayed up more than one night Lol.

If you could time travel, even to a fictional place, where and what era would it be? Why?
I would love to travel to  the otherworld that is featured in the Dark Swan series. Mainly because when I read that series, which happens to be one of my favorites, I feel as though I’m
there, I can picture Dorian’s kingdom, the people, and life being much like it was in the medieval times…it is a place which breeds magic and mystery. One where, if I was there, I could only imagine the stories in which I could create.  

Tell us about your other published stories or novels? Or perhaps, do you have something else in the works that you’d like to share. 
 I have a few different stories published in various Firefly and Wisp anthologies, as well as a story publish in the Paranormal and Horror Lovers’ group anthology (along with the amazingly talented Lisa Goldman). 

Currently, however I am working on a few different projects. Book 2 titled Blood Lilly is
about 1/3 done and I’m getting excited. There is a lot happening in this book though it’ll start off slow. After the ending of Death Lilly I knew there were a few things left hanging, so this book is about dealing with a few of those. I also want to talk to my publisher about releasing a short novella that occurs before Death Lilly but plays a vital role in book 2. It’ll be interesting to see what readers think and if anyone will be able to guess what’s going to happen in book 2 and 3. 

Share with us the sites that we can stalk you on.
Facebook:- https://www.facebook.com/RnolanAuthor
Twitter :- @RNolanauthor
Goodreads:- http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5278657.Rebecca_Nolan
Blog :- http://wordsaccordingtome.blogspot.com.au/
Amazon:- http://www.amazon.com/Rebeccanolan/e/B005R4WWBY/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Now that our readers know a little more about you and Death Lilly, I'd like to invite them to read the book's blurb and my full review by clicking on Amazon or Goodreads.

I just wanted to take the time to say a huge thank-you to Lisa for doing this interview. I have the pleasure of being her friend, co-moderating PnHLovers group and also reading her work. She is amazingly talented and I can’t wait to read everything she publishes!

Thank you Rebecca! Please check out her other short stories published in these anthologies.
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1 Comment

1000 member giveaway for Goodreads

9/10/2012

1 Comment

 
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Paranormal and Horror Lover's has reached 1000 plus members!!!  The group was started roughly six months ago and I can't believe the wonderful response we've gotten from the group. If you are not a member you should check it out. We have games, book of the months, read 2 reviews, book discussions, and much more. I've meet some friendly people and read excellent books that I may not have otherwise known about or read. The site can be found HERE.

In celebration, we are having a giveaway. Before I give you the link for the giveaway I want to introduce the generous authors who dontatd books to make this a spetacular event. And I mean it is spetacular because we have over 70 prizes!!!

Faith Marlow
In the fifth grade, Faith Marlow discovered a fondness and talent for writing and has considered herself a storyteller ever since. The notion of transporting a reader into another place or time, to allow the reader to experience life from the perspective of the character is as intriguing is it is challenging and is at the heart of any project she undertakes. Faith lives in
Tennessee with her high school sweetheart/ husband, Scottie, their son Avery, and Moses the loyal family turtle. As often as their schedules and weather will allow, the Marlow’s take a break from the stress of everyday life and all its technology and escape into the natural beauty of the Appalachian countryside to hike, camp, and take countless photographs. Faith sincerely hopes you will enjoy her first novel, “Being Mrs. Dracula”, which chronicles the lives of Count
Dracula’s three beautiful, yet very different wives.

Goodreads Book Page: http://www.goodreads.com/​book/show/​13558093-being-mrs-dracula
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeingMrs.Dracula

Bella Street
Living so close to Nashville has provoked Bella to take up fiddle lessons. Until her tunes no longer sound like amorous alley cats, she writes romance with a touch of weird.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13317154-apocalypse-
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.331572750268426.76510.330034247088943&#!/pages/Bella-Street/206130552768212

Jay Taylor
Throughout his life Jay Taylor has created stories, worlds and characters for the enjoyment of others. His current project is the Majick Series. Book One, The Rise of Majick, is currently available in print or as an eBook. Book Two, The War of Majick, is due out in early 2013. He is the proud father of three children and married to the woman of his dreams, Kimberly. He currently lives in Southern California.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jay-Taylor/172145792796610
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13083556-the-rise-of-majick

Carrie Salo
Carrie Salo is a dark storyteller and emerging author of supernatural thrillers. Classically trained at an Ivy League university, she studied the works of master storytellers seven stories underground in the muffled heart of one of the world 's largest libraries. Carrie seeks to wield unrelenting suspense in her own exploration of all things (especially true things) that keep us awake at night. She has written under the guidance of two  bestselling and national prize-winning authors. Her extensive travels have taken her to many haunted places, including the private catacombs of the Vatican.

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarrieSalo
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13010310-the-sounding

Susan Cartwright
A registered nurse, Susan was born Oregon and has been living in Australia for 37 years. She writes SF/Fantasy but reads all genres. "I like a story that surprises me. Good people die, bad people win, and nothing is predictable. I like a protagonist to be alive because they are stubborn and not just lucky."

Wolf Dawn is SF/ futuristic readers out there who don't mind a bit of genocide, torture and abuse....No werewolves. No vampires. Gritty, but there is a paranormal aspect for sure. SF/sexy with romance NOT the main story arch. Oh, and nice people die - bad people live!

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5457511.Susan_Cartwright

Micheal Rivers
Supernatural thriller author Micheal Rivers grew up in the inner coastal plains of North Carolina. Thirty years of extensive traveling and investigating provided him with spine-chilling research and stories of the paranormal world. In 2009 he formed the Smokey Mountain Ghost Trackers and is lead investigator. His team has expanded with branches in TN, IL, and IN. His boxer, Dee Dee, occasionally accompanies the team.

Goodreads Author Link http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/894765.Micheal_Rivers

Chris Lange
Chris Lange is a storyteller and a dreamer. She writes about love, love, love, and sometimes she leaves her characters' bedroom door open.

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5014793.Chris_Lange
 https://www.facebook.com/ChrisLangeFanPage

Rod Tyson
Rod Tyson is an aspiring author of young adult fantasy and horror novels as well as a sculptor, computer geek, road warrior, mega-dad, father of a notorious ninja and ex new-age traveller. Living in rural Suffolk, UK with his wife, daughter and a nameless moggy, when he’s not repairing computers or seeking inspiration while hiking out in the countryside he’s writing novels.

He has just released his second novel – The Orphan Stone, a young adult dark fantasy/ horror.

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5403292.Rod_Tyson

Michelle Brooks
A baby girl first known as Brian ... teenage runaway at sixteen ... mother of three fantastic, occasionally frustrating teenagers ... PhD in Human Genetics ... Fairy Godmother ... dancer ... Texan ... author of the Bone Dressing series of Dark Mature YA Paranormal Romance novels ... Michelle is all of these ... and so much more ...

www.facebook.com/BoneDressing
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4811847.Michelle_I_Brooks

 Todd Russell
Todd Russell loves reading and writing scary, atmospheric, thrilling stories. He lives in the small city of Orting, Washington overlooking beautiful, active and deadly, Mount Rainier. His stories are often set in and around the Pacific Northwest. Mental Shrillness, a collection of horror twist ending short stories, was his first book. His debut novel, a psychological thriller, horror story entitled Fresh Flesh was published September 29, 2011. He is working on several other books.

 https://www.facebook.com/booksbytoddrussell
 http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4754469.Todd_Russell

 Chris Allinotte
 In addition to Gathering Darkness, Chris is the creator and editor of the Eight Days of Madness, and Nine Days of Madness anthologies. His stories have been compared to episodes of "the Twilight Zone" and the movie "Creepshow", which is best compliment he's ever heard.

Chris lives in Toronto, and once played Jack the Ripper on TV.

 http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4848847.Chris_Allinotte
https://www.facebook.com/Chris.Allinotte.Author

Jaye Frances
Jaye Frances is the author of four books, and is a featured columnist for the NUSA SUN magazine. Born in the Midwest, she readily admits that her life’s destination has been the result of an open mind and a curiosity about all things irreverent. When not consumed by her writing, Jaye enjoys cooking, traveling to all places tropical and “beachy”, and taking pictures—many of which find their way to her website. She lives on the gulf coast of Florida, sharing her home with one husband, six computers, four cameras, and several hundred pairs of shoes.

For more information, visit Jaye’s website at www.jayefrances.com, her blog at http://blog.jayefrances.com or her
Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/jayefrancesauthor.

B. C. Burgess
B.C. Burgess is the author of DESCENSION & IMPASSION -books 1 & 2 in the MYSTIC series. She's a small town girl with a wild imagination and a stimulating addiction to coffee and literature. Inspired to write by her love of reading, she feels fiction provides a healthy escape from the hardships of life, and hopes her stories touch the hearts of her readers, just as she’s
been touched time and again. Though most of her visions flower in the form of fiction, she dreams of the day her passion for writing, along with determination and hard work, proves to her son that creative dreams can come true.

Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/B.C.BurgessBooks
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5807648.B_C_Burgess

Marissa Farrar
Marissa Farrar is a multi-published fantasy and horror author. She was born in Devon, England, has travelled all over the world, and has lived in both Australia and Spain.

Marissa is the author of four novels, including the dark vampire ‘Serenity’ series. Her fifth novel, Underlife, a dark fantasy set beneath the streets of London, will be published September, 2012.

 If you want to know more about Marissa, then please visit or follow her: 
website: http://www.marissa-farrar.blogspot.com/.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marissa.farrar.authoror
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarissaFarrar

Leanore Elliott
Leanore is the pen name I chose after I realized that I had a real live muse who was weaving these fantastic tales on my computer. It is from Edgar Allen Poe’s, “Quote The Raven.” Where he searches in the dark for the ever elusive Lenore. 

Leanore Elliott is imaginative and writes stories that are unlike any that you’ve ever read. The author name is tribute to her unique voice. After all, if you don’t please your muse, you may end up…in the dark.

http://tinyurl.com/LEANORE-AMAZON

Crystal Ward
My name is Crystal Ward and no that's not a pen name, it's my actually name. I swear. Ask my mom. I'm not married, no offspring, well...unless you want to count my cat, Princess. She's my little honey, but don't let the name fool you; a princess she is not. I have a strong love for Arizona Green Tea, the color orange, and my home in Southeastern Ohio. We have a ginormous family so I'm only going to mention two of my loves, my nephew and niece, Cecil and Zalynne. They're cute as buttons, perhaps cuter and I love them as if they were my own. I've been working for Applebee's since 2002.

 http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Supernova-Saga/180936018622508

Joseph Rubas
Joseph Rubas has written over 140 short stories in the horror/sci-fi/fantasy genres. His works have appeared in a wide array of publications including anthologies, general fiction magazines, and, of course, latter day pulps. His first book, a collection of short stories entitled
"Pocketful of Fear" will be published by Firefly& Wisp in 2012.

 https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Joseph-Rubas-Horror-Writer/201437026565659

___________________________________________
For a chance to win one of their fabulous books, go to Rafflecopter HERE!!!!  Damn I wish I could enter but it goes against the cardinal rule that the organizer can't so I'll just say good luck guys!!!
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Interview with Monica M. Brinkman

8/23/2012

13 Comments

 
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Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Monica M. Brinkman. She is an author extraordinaire and radio host amongst other things. Here you'll read as  she shares insightful views from her book and about life that I feel is inspiring and true. Please help me give a warm welcome to Monica!

Tell us about yourself, where you from are and what else you do.
Originally, from the East Coast, I moved to the California Bay Area for 30 years and now settled in the Midwest, St. Louis MO area. 

My life has been full of excitement and adventure, from acting, singing telegrams, painting in oil and acrylic, poetry writing, management and now taking the plunge, writing novels, articles and short stories.
 
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I also host a weekly internet live talk radio show called, It Matters, which airs every Thursday evening at 9PM EST and write two columns for the Authorsinfo Readers and Writers site.

In addition, I am involved in animal rights, human rights and environmental activism, many times using my articles and short stories to open people’s eyes and minds so they can make informed decisions in life.

Married for 29 years to Richard Brinkman, we opened our hearts and home to five cats and two dogs who have become member of our family.


What is the title of your novel and tell us in three sentences or less what it is about.
The Turn of the Karmic Wheel is the first stand-alone novel of a two part Karmic Wheel series. Okay, short synopsis:

Enter into the small college town of Raleigh, MO, where Universal Law (Karma) has prevailed. Decisions, acts, deeds, life choices of the prominent, rich and the working-class spiritual citizens revealed for all to see. Judgment day has arrived.

Tell us about one or two of your characters.
Angela Frank, psychologist, wife, mother of young twin girls, has suppressed and denied her psychic abilities for years. When they resurface, she finds herself unable to hide from the music, visions and messages growing with intensity. 

Joshua Allen, tall, extremely handsome, vain, vulgar and self-absorbed works within the financial industry, using his resources for profit and personal gain at the cost of his clients’investments. He mocks the poor, the starving, and the needy until he finds himself helpless, friendless, and agonizing over the acts, deeds and choices he has made in life.
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What message are you trying tell your readers in your novel?
My main message is for people to take responsibility for the choices they have made in their own lives. Life is not always as it seems and each act or deed we perform has a domino effect upon not only our lives but the lives of many others.

I also wished to give the readers who have given so much to the world, validation  and assurance that their actions hold great purpose and meaning. For they are the  people who give us hope, belief and faith in mankind.


Do you have any advice for other writers?
First, believe in yourself and be true to your own style of writing. It makes you unique and is really the only way you can be creative. If you try to copy someone else or write of what you feel little passion, it will show. Be true to yourself.

Secondly, and this is by far on the top list of guidance, show gratitude and thanks to those who will assist you in both writing and promotional endeavors. If you reciprocate and give back to those who help you, many long-term relationships and friendship will ensue. Take the time to share others work, services, and ventures as they have shared yours. This important act of professionalism, common courtesy and gratitude will bring you many unexpected opportunities and surprises.

Name some of your favorite books or authors.
With so many, this is a difficult question but here is my top list.

1. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens – the richness of his
words and ability to get such important messages to the readers while
captivating us with his characters and story lines, ceases to amaze
me.

2. The Stand by Stephen King – one of my all time favorites, shows humanity at its worst and at its best. I’ve probably read this novel ten times, gaining more from it each reading.

3. What Is Normal by Ginny Scales-Medeiros – No one will ever feel sorry for their lot in life after reading this fact-based fiction novel. What this woman has endured, and overcome, in her life is truly amazing. Yet she never feels pity for herself, instead brings inspiration, understanding and encouragement to those who face discouraging circumstances in their own lives.

4. Flashing My Shorts, 200 Shorts by Salvatore Buttaci are two examples of entertaining, short stories of life. So diversified are his characters and tales, everyone will go the full gauntlet of emotions as he takes you into the human factor.

5.  I can’t help but mention The Healings by Oana – who else has the creativity and courage to make one of the two main characters a cat or the other nameless? And it works. Quite an accomplishment in my eyes. Then there is Kenneth Weene who weaves psychological novels such as Memoirs From the Asylum or takes us into the empty life of the widowed Mary in Widows Walk. 

Tell us about your other published stories or novels?  Or perhaps, do you have something else in the works that you’d like to share.
Thank you for asking this question. I am presently editing the sequel in my two part Karmic Wheel series called The Wheels Final Turn. It takes us to Sacramento, CA and will bring finality to the characters mission. Politics, animal abuse, greed and bigotry are explored, revealed and scrutinized. The future of mankind will be altered by the characters choices and actions. 
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I also contributed to a book by Stacy Juba, 25 Years in the Rearview Mirror: 52 Authors Look Back. This is a wonderful memoir of experiences and stories as the authors look at what they were doing, writing or experiencing 25 Years Ago. It is in the vein of Chicken Soup for the Soul and I am so proud to be part of this fine group of writers.


Share with us the sites that we can stalk you on?
Radio Show – It Matters 
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/itmatters
             
A Touch of Karma-Website
http://theturnofthekarmicwheel.blogspot.com/
            
A Touch of Karma-Weekly Column
http://tinyurl.com/8sar58j

Join our 25 Years In the Rearview Mirror Group on Yahoo
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/25YearsRearviewMirror/?yguid=403568634
          
MeaningfulWritings-Website
http://www.monicabrinkmanbooks.webs.com/

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Thank you Monica for joining us!

13 Comments

Interview with Pandora Richardson

7/12/2012

2 Comments

 
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Today I've had the pleasure to interview author Pandora Richardson. In May 2012 she released Lost, a preternatural book that she'll tell you about below. Please join me in giving her a warm welcome.

Tell us about yourself, where you from are and what else you do. 
 
I’m originally from NJ and now live in the Washington, DC area. Outside of being a writer, I’m an IT consultant for various government and private sector agencies.

What is the title of your novel and tell us in three sentences or less what it is about. 

My novel Lost, is about Amelia Jones, a 25 year old, werewolf detective who takes on a case that challenges her emotionally and causes her to do things she thought she’d never do. As she struggles with events as they unfold, Amelia tries to make sense of the mess she’s in and at the same time hide her preternatural nature.
 
What was the hardest part in writing your novel?
 
Since Lost is the first novel in my series, I struggled with how much to reveal and when. There are several plots and subplots that will be dealt with gradually in future books, so it was really difficult to decide on what I wanted to say. My major goal was to create a character that readers would enjoy and care to read more about. I accomplished that.

Tell us about one or two of your characters.

Amelia Jones is conflicted character. Having found out she had lycanthropy when she was nine, she and her adoptive parents Derrick and Thomas Jones, have tried to live a normal life and struggle to keep her condition a secret. Her upbringing and experiences have made Amelia an introvert of sorts while at the same time highly invested in proving she can be an independent adult. Her inexperience and reliance on her parents leave her unprepared for the many challenges that she is presented with in Lost. 
 
Amelia’s parents Derrick and Thomas are an interracial gay couple that adopted her when she was an infant. They are the backbone and lifeline for Amelia and are concerned about her development or lack there of as a young woman. Derrick is the practical and sensible parent, Thomas on the other hand is Amelia’s BFF. Their interactions with Amelia in the book and beyond are critical the various plots and give more depth to why she reacts and thinks the way she does.

Who designed your book cover?
 
It took several days, but I designed my book cover and plan to do so in the near future.
 
Who inspired you to write?

Charlaine Harris. I read a post of hers online somewhere and she said something to the effect that if you’re a fan of the paranormal and is well read in the subject, you’re well on the way of being a writer in the genre. Considering that I have read over 200 books in these genres combined with a pinch of naïveté, I decided to give it a shot.

What message are you trying tell your readers in your novel?

I wouldn’t say that I have a definitive message per se, but I do introduce several elements like Amelia’s gay parents and her struggles as a 25 year old virgin that I want readers to be able to look at as perfectly normal. So you can say that I subtly promote my politics in my novels, but I’m not pushy, or at least not in this novel.

 Are you an am, pm or whenever you have time writer?
 
I’m mainly a whenever I have time writer, however if I happen to be up writing past midnight, I find that my writing begins to veer toward the erotic. Go figure.

 Tell us about your other published stories or novels? Or perhaps, do you have something else in the works that you’d like to share.

I currently have two erotic short stories published as part of my Pandora’s Intimate Encounters series. They are titled The New Guy and Remembrance. I’m also hard at work on my second Amelia Jones novel, which is currently untitled. It takes place a year later after the events of Lost and Amelia finds herself in the middle of an ideological war that threatens her family and their way of life.

Share with us the sites that we can stalk you on?

My main site is
http://pandorarichardson.com  I can also be found on Twitter @authorpandora and my Facebook page, authorpandorarichardson
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Thank you Pandora for stopping by.  I enjoyed your company.
2 Comments

Interview with Steve McHugh

7/1/2012

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I'm honored to interview author Steve McHugh on his latest novel Crimes Against Magic, which was released April 27, 2012.  He'll tell you a little about his exciting book below but first I'd like to say I know Steve through Paranormal and Horror Lovers on Goodreads, where we both moderate and share the love of reading and writing.  After interviewing him, I realized we have some common interests but more importantly, I plan to have his book on my Kindle soon.  It's not one to be miss. Please join me in welcoming Steve!

1. Tell us about yourself, where you from are and what else you do. 
I’m originally from a small village in South-Yorkshire, but I live in Southampton, England with my wife and two (soon to be three) daughters. Apart from writing, most of my time is spent with my family, reading or trying to convince my wife that I don’t need to do the gardening.

2. What is the title of your novel and tell us in three sentences or less what it is about.
Crimes Against Magic is an action-packed, fantasy adventure that mixes the present day with flashbacks to fifteenth century France, in a story that sees Nate fighting against an enemy he can’t remember, but one who will stop at nothing to destroy the man he’s hated for millennia.

3.  Tell us about one or two of your characters.
I’ll pick my favourite character who isn’t Nate. Dani is the sixteen year old daughter of his neighbour and someone who looks up to Nate as a sort of refuge from the crap she deals with at home. She plays a pretty big part in the book and her dynamic with Nate was a lot of fun to write.

4. Who designed your book cover?
The incredibly talented Eamon O’Donoghue (see more of his work http://www.eamonart.com/) did the cover for me. He’s an old friend of mine, so I was honoured that he’d agreed to do it. 

 5. How old were you when you knew you wanted to write?
I’ve always had an imagination, even as a kid I was writing about worlds and creating little stories. But I knew with a hundred percent certainty that I wanted to write since I was about fifteen. It wasn’t until I was 25, with the birth of my first daughter, that I decided to get serious about it.

6.  Who inspired you to write?
My two girls and my wife. They inspire me to do pretty much everything. 

7. Do you have any advice for other writers?
Join a writing group. This is without doubt an important step in any writer’s career. To learn not only how to receive, but also give criticism is how you grow as a writer. 

Write for you. This might be obvious to many, but a lot of people write what they
think others will want to see or read. If you’re not writing that book for yourself, then I can almost guarantee that people will tell you didn’t. You should always write something you’d want to read. 

8. If I were to come to your house and open your refrigerator, what would I find? Are any of those items a guilty pleasure used when writing?
My fridge has a lot of the usual things you’d find in anyone’s, I think: Fruit, Veg, yogurts, milk and meat. Oh and probably some beer too. I don’t really do much eating when I’m writing and I try not to drink while I write as it turns out as a gibberish mess. 
 
9. Tell us about your other published stories or novels? Or perhaps, do you have something else in the works that you’d like to share.
I’m working on the second book, Born of Hatred, and apart from that, I’m working on book 3, With Silent Screams. I’m also working on a Steampunk book set in the USA that I’m very excited about. I think it’s a bit different to the usual story, but it’ll have to wait for a while before it’s done.

10. Share with us the sites that we can stalk you on?
You can find me. I accept all non weird treats and gifts.
Blog: http://stevejmchugh.wordpress.com/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/StevejMchugh
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5819903.Steve_McHugh
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hiddenrealmspublishing

You can find Crimes Against Magic 
Amazon.com -
http://www.amazon.com/Crimes-Against-Hellequin-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B007YK01JY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336987416&sr=8-1
Amazon.co.uk –
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crimes-Against-Hellequin-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B007YK01JY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339421687&sr=8-1
 
There’s also a paperback version available on Amazon too.

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Thank you Steve for joining us here today!
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Interview with L.M. Smith

6/2/2012

2 Comments

 
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Today I'd like to give a warm welcome to L.M. Smith, author of The Citizens and Dhampiri, which she will tell you about in a little bit. I'm honored to have you here today so let's go on with the interview!
What is the title of your novel and tell me in a sentence or two what it is about.
My latest novel is “The Citizens”; it is about five strangers that wake up in a ghost town with no memory of where they are or how they got there. They quickly deduce that they’re captives in a highly elaborate scientific experiment but when they all start to develop supernatural powers and turn into fictional monsters they realize that their captors are planning something much bigger than they could have ever imagined.

What was the hardest part in writing your novel?
The hardest part of writing this novel was putting my characters through some of the horrible experiences that they had to endure.  Once I started to develop their personalities I felt an attachment to them that made me want to protect them and see them happy.  I knew, however, that they had to be tortured and maimed at times so that they could grow as individuals and so that the story could progress in a way that would be engaging for readers.  Still, I found myself tugging at my own heart strings from time-to-time as I experienced the emotional and psychological despair that my characters were feeling throughout the story and that was really difficult for me. I actually even felt guilty about it on occasion.

Tell me about one or two of your characters.
·   My all-time favorite character is Jazz. In the beginning of the story she’s just Jasmine Marshall, a reclusive little computer geek from Montana with very little life experience or self-confidence. She’s the one character that, I believe, experiences the most intellectual and emotional growth throughout the course of the story but even by the end of the book she still has a lot to learn.  I can identify with her in many ways because I am also somewhat of a recluse and I have a very big geek flag which I fly proudly!  I think that I exploited some of my own insecurities and imperfections when I was writing Jazz, and then allowed her to develop and grow in ways that I hope I would do if I were to ever find myself in her shoes.  Still, like I said before, she’s by no means perfect even by the end of the novel.
·  Piper is my second favorite character which is probably why I named her after my dog. She also experiences some significant change in the book but her changes are more physical and psychological.  Many of the best books that I have ever read have allowed the characters to learn and grow from their experiences throughout the story and that is a concept that has always been very interesting to me.

How old were you when you knew you wanted to write?      
I’m not sure that I ever realized I wanted to write or even decided to write. Writing, for me, was always more of a compulsion than a choice. Little ideas and fantasies would just pop into my head from extremely early childhood and then I couldn’t stop thinking about them until I either wrote them down or told someone about them.  I had notebooks filled with random, underdeveloped little plots, four-page stories, and even poetry because something inside of me had to put them on paper.  It wasn’t until very recently that I started trying to actually practice the art of writing and learn how to develop my many ideas into full-bodied stories that would be suitable and entertaining enough for publication.

Name some of your favorite books or authors.
·  I first read the novel Watership Down by Richard Adams when I was around eight years old. Although firmly PG-rated, the book was way too advanced for me to understand at that age but my big brother gave it to me when he returned from the Gulf War so it meant a lot to me, it smelled like the cologne that had spilled in his luggage on the way home, and it was about rabbits – so I loved it anyway!  I re-read the book again when I was twelve, and then again at sixteen, and then when I was in college. With each read I learned something new from it and enjoyed the story as if it were the first time which is, in my opinion, the mark of a classic.  
·  Another favorite of mine is The Hollows series by Kim Harrison. I actually just discovered her books a few years ago and I was instantly addicted to their originality and to the incredible depth of detail that she’s created for her fictional take on the world. I admire her a great deal because, in addition to creating extremely well developed and unique characters (and lots of them), she actually invented an entire culture for them to live in which is exceptionally rare and fascinating in fictional literature.

Are you an am, pm or whenever you have the chance writer?     
I consider myself more of a 24-7 writer, to be honest.  I will sit down to a keyboard and tappity-tap away whenever I can find the time but even when I’m not physically writing something, I seem to always be thinking about various plots or ideas in my head.  Every night when I climb into bed the last thoughts that I can remember having before falling asleep are about whatever story I’m working on and I find myself running through dialogue between characters in my head while I’m doing the dishes or folding laundry.  I first started having trouble with insomnia when I was really young and my mom would tell me that it was because I just couldn’t “turn my brain off”.  Now that I’m older I have to admit that she was probably more accurate in that statement than even she might have realized at the time.

If I were to come to your house and open your refrigerator, what would I find? Are any of those items a guilty pleasure used when writing?   
There are a lot of fruits and vegetables in my fridge because I am a member of a food co-op but the one guilty pleasure that you will find in there is my coffee. I prefer cold coffee so I brew two or three pots of hot coffee at a time
and then pour them into a big plastic thermos and keep them in the fridge.  Right next to the coffee is my absolutely essential Italian Sweet Cream coffee creamer. My other guilty pleasure while writing isn’t in the fridge though – it’s on my desk: Spitz brand flavored sunflower seeds still in the shells.  My flavor preferences include chili lime, cracked pepper, and spicy. They’re the perfect snack for me because when I’m in ‘writing mode’ I can sit at a keyboard for hours, completely oblivious to the passing of time and, as a result, I often forget to eat so with the sunflower seeds nearby I have something relatively healthy to munch on while I’m working.

Tell us about your other published stories or novels? Or perhaps, do you have something else in the works that you’d like to share.
·  My first published novel, Dhampiri, is about an Irish catholic woman that immigrated to Kentucky with her husband shortly after the American Civil War. When a family of vampires turns her into their nanny she finds herself in the middle of a different war that has been waging between the vampires and a clan of Valkyries since before the American Revolution.
·   I also recently completed a short story about one of the Valkyries from Dhampiri who decides to leave her clan and attempts to assimilate herself into modern-day human society but, instead, becomes suspect number-one in a murder investigation. This story will be published in an anthology along with works from a variety of other very talented authors in late 2012. The anthology is, as yet, untitled but anyone interested in reading it can find updates about it on my Facebook page (link below).
·  Finally, I am currently working on a full-length novel titled The Prototypes, which will be the second installment in the Jazz Nemesis series. 
I can’t say too much about this book without spoiling The Citizens (the first novel in the series) but I can tell you that I’m having a lot of fun reinventing some monsters that you may recognize from pre-existing lore, as well as creating brand new creatures from scratch.  Some will be friends and others will be enemies to the original cast of characters in this series, and I can also reveal that one primary character will die … but you’ll have to read it to find out which one. The estimated release for The Prototypes will be in early 2013.

Share with us the sites that we can stalk you on?
·  I’m having a book giveaway contest on my Facebook page with a free signed, paperback copy of The Citizens to the winner. The deadline for the contest is June 9th.  For details on how to enter, as well as updates and information on various other promotions and works in progress, please visit me at http://www.Facebook.com/AuthorLMSmith
·  I am a member in a few great supernatural fiction groups on GoodReads and you can find information on how to order my books in several formats here as well: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4614965.L_M_Smith
 ·   All of my published works are also listed on my Amazon.com author page and this is the best place to read what others have had to say about my books:http://www.amazon.com/L.M.Smith/e/B005P8AOQC/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1338481735&sr=81
·  And you can also email me with your questions and comments at:
LMSmith@Dhampiri.com.
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Thank you L.M. for joining me and all my followers here today. I wish you the best with The Citizens, Dhampiri and all your writing endeavors.  
2 Comments

Interview with author Stephen B. Pearl

5/17/2012

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I'm honored to present Stephen B. Pearl, contributory author for anthology
Morbid Seraphic. After interviewing him I felt like I got a taste of his writing abilities from his unique answers and witty humor, which had me laughing and curious for more.   His talents don't stop with Morbid 
Seraphic. He has several books and short stories published, which he'll tell you about below. Welcome Stephen! 
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1. Tell us about yourself, where you are from and what else you do.

Let’s see. I am a homo sapien living on a small, rocky planet orbiting a class G star in the outer spiral arm of a relatively average spiral galaxy. My species are oxygen breathers and
bi-pedal with two forelimbs ending in manipulative digits. We have two genders, although there have been recent social movements to expand this, though in a biological sense
there are only two. I am a male and I am life paired, married, to a female. My species have many societies and beliefs that our population is divided amongst and in my society I was able to choose my own life mate. It has been twenty six orbits of my planet around its sun since I made this choice and so far it seems to be working out.

As a means of meeting the need to contribute to society I have chosen to write fiction. These
are stories that extrapolate artificial realities that none the less may make real statements about the world and the living beings within it. This has the advantage of maneuvering around my fellow Homo sapiens pre-conceptions and possibly making them look at the world in a new light.

I have also been a Lifeguard, one who observes, prevents and intervenes to mitigate emergencies in an aquatic setting.

A Shipping and Receiving clerk, one who is incessantly abused for things completely outside
their control and expected to make material items instantaneously leap off the back of transport units count themselves then arrange neatly for future distribution in a room already over filled do to others incompetence.

A psychic councilor, one who uses abilities on the edge of his species capacity that some choose to disbelieve to assist others in dealing with life situations that generally wouldn’t be a problem if they had any common sense in the first place.

I also swim for fitness, body maintenance, and act as a servant to three of the planets dominant ruling species, Felis catus.

All else is open to further anthropological analyses. ;-)
 
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2. What is your short story in Morbid Seraphic and tell in three sentence or less what it is about.

Better the Devil You Know:  A wizard cop in a world where magic has returned to mythical power levels teams up with a 
Succubus with a difference to staunch the flow of Morph, a deadly, destructive drug, that is costing lives in both the human and demonic realms.

3. How old were you when you knew you wanted to write?

Twenty three planetary orbits. My first novel was basically an ode to the woman who is now my wife. It served its purpose I landed her although the book itself is awful and will never see print. I’ve learned a lot since those days and I no longer do awful books. 

4. When you write do you like it quiet or do you play music? If you like music, what types?

Quiet. I suffer from industrial hearing loss which means I can hear just fine. My hearing is actually quite acute, but I have practically no ability to filter background noise. The loudest
sound around me is what gets through. Bars are a joy and half. At parties I’m normally the chap in a quiet corner talking one on one or sitting alone. Not because I don’t like the dynamic of a group it’s just in a noisy environment I’m as good as def and I can only catch every third word or so with lip reading. Hay, it’s life, what do you expect when you are exposed to three hundred screaming kids in an indoor pool for years.

5. Are you an am, pm or whenever you have time writer?

I’m a day time writer. Sun up to sun down I’m good after sun down I want to relax, watch TV and sleep.

6. Do you have any quirky habits?

Me quirky, what do you mean? Honey, hide the duck suit someone suspects. ;-) I guess you mean regarding writing. Not really. Normally I’ll start the day by doing a spell-check and quick read through on what I did the previous day then I’ll start in on new material. I’ll
often play spider solitaire when I’m feeling stuck just to distract myself so I can come back with fresh eyes. Nothing too quirky.

7. If I were to come in your house and opened your refrigerator, what would I find? Are any of those items a guilty pleasure used when writing?

Goat’s milk and cheese because I’m allergic to cow’s milk. Frozen pizza for my wife. Orange
juice eggs at present a lot of fish, the local store had a good sale. Fairly normal grazing for an average North American. Excluding what my allergies proscribe, and anything in the cabbage family, I’ll eat or am willing to try most things. I love trying ethnic foods. We have an Ethiopian restaurant in my city that I’ve eaten at several times. Interesting dishes though I’m sorry I need cutlery. I just can’t get the hang of eating with my hands and not being
disgusting.


8. If you could time travel, even to a fictional place, when and what era would it be? Why?

Any future with a significantly advanced medical technology and socialized medicine, so I could walk in say fix me and walk out an hour later in perfect perfect health with perfect eyesight, a greatly extended life expectancy and , blushes a little, a full head of hair
bereft of grey. I always assumed that the Doctor in Doctor Who must do something like this with all his companions. At the least he must get them some form or treatment that strengthens their immune system or they would be getting horribly ill with every planet and time they visit.

9. Tell us about your other published stories or novels. Or perhaps, do you have something that you are working on that you would like to share?

I have several novels published and you can read the first chapter of any of them on my website for free. At present I have

Tinker’s Plague: A post-apocalyptic, science fiction, medical and political thriller, ISBN 978-1-933157-30-6 Available in paperback and e-book formats from Draumr Publishing:
http://www.draumrpublishing.com/store/cart.php?target=main
Slaves of Love: e-book: A futuristic detective story of love and madness.
The Hollow Curse: e-book: A centuries spanning tale of love and obsession.
Available from Club Lighthouse Publishing:
www.clublighthousepublishing.com
Nukekubi: A paranormal, detective novel, ISBN 978-0-9867633-6-6 - eISBN. 978-0-9867633-7-3 Available in paperback and e-bookformats from Dark Dragon Publishing: www.darkdragonpublishing.com

Coming March 2013 Worlds Apart: A Paranormal Romance where Marlin, a wizard from an alternative Earth, travels to our world to save his own and meets Alcina, a wiccan priestess struggling to protect her son Tim from a fanatical cult. Marlin helps save Tim, Alcina helps save Marlin’s world and along the way they fall in love.

I am also a contributor to the Pagan Writers Press Samhain and Yule anthologies. With a highly episodic series of stories about recovering from loss and learning to love again as it is
paralleled by the Pagan Sabbaths. 
http://paganwriterspress.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1

Also of course the Morbid Seraphic anthology: https://www.createspace.com/3800561
Or
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/morbid-seraphic-s-k-whiteside/1110455126

Trailer:http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_5_encoding=UTF8&sort=relevancerank&search-alias=books&ie=UTF8&field-author=Stephen%20B.%20Pearl

10. Share with us the sites we can stalk you on.

Website: www.stephenpearl.com
YouTube reading:www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlMDmlb-Los@
Face Book:
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/StephenBPearl
Blog: http://stephenpearl.blogspot.ca/2012/03/our-energy-future-is-crap.html
Polka Dot Banner:
http://www.polkadotbanner.com/index.phpoption=com_comprofiler&task=userProfile&user=528

 
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Interview with author Nathan Squiers- The Literary Dark Prince

5/14/2012

3 Comments

 
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With the release of Morbid Seraphic it is my pleasure to interview the talented Nathan Squiers. April and May have been an exciting time for him as you will read with lots of new releases. Welcome Nathan, Literary Dark Prince!

1. Tell us about yourself, where you are from and what else you do.
I'm originally from Andover, Massachusetts, but, when I was 13, I moved to Upstate New  York (no, not the city). Shortly thereafter, I started writing and soon thought up Xander Stryker and the world of Crimson Shadow. Ever since then I've been concocting vampire-goodness and all sorts of insanity.
2. What is the title of your short story in Morbid Seraphic and tell us briefly what it is about.


My Morbid Seraphic story, "S(a)TAN", features the title character from my novel, Crimson Shadow: Noir, and his dark origins that turned him into a Devil-on-Earth.

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3.  How old were you when you knew you wanted to write?

Originally my writing was an outlet to overcome some inner demons, but as I was writing the first book of the Crimson Shadow series (when I was about 15 or 16) I realized that I'd found a great deal of joy in the literary process. After that, I continued to write and my dreams of being an author began.

4.
When you write do you like it quiet or do you like to play music? If you prefer music, what types?

I definitely prefer music, but I can't concentrate on my work if I'm listening to English lyrics. For this reason, when it comes time to write I have a playlist of Japanese rock & metal (mostly Dir en Grey and Girugamesh and Gackt).

5. Are you an am, pm or any time writer?

I write when the urge hits me. There is never a wrong time to write for The Literary Dark Prince.

6. Do you have any quirky habits?

I actually had to ask my fiancé for intel on this one (I knew I had habits that could be considered quirky, but one rarely sees anything they do out of the ordinary). She has informed me that I am a fidgeter--or one who fidgets, I'm not certain which it is--and that, unless I'm writing, I'm almost always moving in some sort of impatient manner (pacing, tapping my foot, twiddling my fingers, etc…)

7.
If I came to your house and opened your refrigerator, what would I find? Are any of those items a guilty pleasure used when writing?
 

Caffeinated beverages (both coffee and energy drinks), leftovers, varying condiments, and, of course, bacon.

8.
If you could time travel, even to a fictional place, where and what era would it be? Why?

I think I'd want to visit the future and see how things play out for mankind (maybe get a few golden lotto numbers while I'm at it).

9.
Tell us about your other published stories or novels? Or perhaps, do you have something in the works that you would like to tell us about?

I just released book #1 of my vampire series, Crimson Shadow: Noir, with Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing (available both in paperback and Kindle formats) and Noir's prequel, "Wicked Paints", for Kindle. The series follows Xander Stryker--a tormented young man who finds out he's a part of a vampiric community--and his growing legacy.

10. Share with us the sites we can stalk you on.

I can be found on www.nathansquiers.com (a great number of my sites--Facebook, Google+, Twitter, etc…--are linked there). My work can be found on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=nathan+squiers
 

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Thanks you Nathan!
3 Comments

Interview with Jana Boskey

5/10/2012

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With the new release of  Morbid Serapic--the anthology brought to you by Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly publication and edited by S.K. Whiteside--I thought I'd interview some of the authors. I've been lucky enough to have had stories in both Morbid Seraphic and Dark Light with Jana Boskey. She is a fantastic author and I'm anxious to read more of her stories. Welcome Jana!

1. Tell us about yourself, where you are from and what else you do.

Well I’m 21, still student. I’m from a small town in eastern Pennsylvaniacalled Walnutport. I’m the youngest of 4 kids, so obviously I was a bit spoiled growing up. Other than writing I spend my time reading, reading and more reading. Currently I am putting my first novel on hold, just for a little while, to focus on another series that I will be writing with Cesya Cuono, entitled Sisters of Fate.

2. What is the title of your short story in Morbid Seraphic and tell us in three sentences or less what it is about.

The title is For Death. It is about a demigod who risks everything to save her friend, and along the way discovers she isn’t who she thought she was. She is far more than she seems.

3. How old were you when you knew you wanted to write? 

This is a bit of a hard question, I always liked to write, I’ve been writing poems for years, but I never really wanted it as a career. Up until I started high school it was just a hobby, but once I became a freshman I wanted to be a poet, but nothing full time, just on the side. It wasn’t    
until I was 19 that I truly decided it was time to see whether or not I could become an author. So I found out about a short story contest and I set to work on my first short story, all the while working on 3 other novels that never came to fruition. I sent it in and waited on bated     breath until they emailed me back with the verdict, and I was in hysterics when I learned it got chosen. I was 21 when I knew this is what I was meant to do. 

4. When you write do you like it quiet or do you play music? If you prefer the music what types? 

Music! I can’t write unless I have something playing in the background. I listen to rock and alternative most of the time; bands like 30 Seconds to Mars, Anberlin and the Used are the main background for my writing. 

5. Are you an am, pm or whenever you have time writer?

Whenever inspiration strikes, that’s when I write. It could be at 10 in the morning, 3 in the morning, 5 in the afternoon, whenever an idea springs up in my head, I write it down!
 
6. Do you have any quirky habits?

I wouldn’t say they’re quirky, but I do have 5 habits, one of which is very annoying. The first is when I write I can’t write something from start to finish. I always have ideas about certain scenes so I write them down and then add filler. The second is I always smell my food before
I eat it. Always. Third, I have to change my socks at least 3 or 4 times a day. Fourth when I get nervous I start stuttering and yawning uncontrollably. And finally, I always read the last chapter of a book first before I read the rest of it. I KNOW, I KNOW. I just can’t handle waiting, I can’t handle the suspense! Surprises are not my friend!!

7. If I were to come to your house and open your refrigerator, what would I find? Are any of those items a guilty pleasure used when writing? 

I have basically what everyone has, milk, eggs, meat, cheese, vegetables and the like. But my guilty pleasure while writing is Mountain Dew and chocolate milk, oh my gosh. I look like I’m addicted to them half the time with all the bottles you find in my bedroom

8. If you could time travel, even to a fictional place, where and what era would it be? Why?

Ancient Greece! I would love to go back to that time because of all the devotion to gods and goddesses, and mythical beings. Being agnostic, I’m not really sure what to believe, but I
know that I believe this more than one person up there and I would like to believe they are the gods from years ago. Their utter belief in those creatures and gods gives me more pleasure than anything else. I firmly believe that the gods are real, and all those creatures we only have read about were real back then. And if I ever had the chance, I would go back there and experience it for myself.

9. Tell us about your other published stories or novels? Or perhaps, do you have something else in the works that you’d like to share?

I’ve had 4 stories published so far. The first is by Firefly and Wisp and it is called Spirit Caller, which is about a girl who can see, talk to and conjure up Spectres. My second is called the Lost
Changeling, which can be found in Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly’s Dark Light anthology, and it’s about a girl who is taken by the Dark Court of the Fae, and discovers who she really is. The third is For Death, of course. The last is Born With Golden Blood that will be released by Xchyler Publishing in their Dragon anthology, and that is about a warlock being pursued by an evil group called the Agency, bent on killing off his species. Also, I am working
with Cesya Cuono, author of Elemental Reality, on a new series, as I’ve stated above, called Sisters of Fate. We both are extremely excited about these books, which will follow the huge mythology craze that has surfaced with the Percy Jackson, the Last Olympian, Medusa Girls, Goddess Test and Starcrossed novels. Since it is still in very early development I can only say the title of the first book, which will be Woven, and this it is about very popular Greek goddesses.

10. Share with us the sites that we can stalk you on? 

You can find me on Twitter, Facebook & Goodreads!

 https://www.facebook.com/JanaBoskey

 https://twitter.com/#!/mellamoJana

 http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5268229.Jana_Boskey

Thank you Jana!
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