interview

by

Interview with…Author L S Murphy

 

 


  A few weeks ago we spotlighted L S Murphy’s book Reaper. Today she’s back with us for an interview, so we can find out more…. L.S. Murphy lives in the Greater St. Louis area where she watches Cardinals baseball, reads every book she can find, and weaves tales for teens and adults. When not doing all of the above, she tends to The Bean (aka her daughter), her husband and a menagerie of pets. Reaper is her debut young adult novel.She is a co-rep for the Southern Illinois region of Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and a member of the St. Louis Writer’s Guild. Repped by Julia A. Weber of  J. A. Weber Literaturagentur.

—————————————-

1. What is you favorite way to spend a rainy day? Reading of course.

2. What is something people would be surprised to know about you? That I used to be quite athletic.

3. What is the one book you think everyone should read? YA – Rats Saw God by Rob Thomas

4. How did you celebrate the sale of your first book? Dinner at my favorite restaurant.

5. Night owl or early bird? I used to be a night owl, but necessity converted me into an early bird. I’m usually up by 4am when I’m working on a new project.

6. Your most unusual or random habit? I am obsessed that the light switches go the same direction. I don’t know why, but it drives me batty. I’ll run all over the house to fix them all.

7. What are you working on at the moment – do you have any other books in the works? My romance novella, A Reason to Stay, was released on November 2 of this year. Since I sold Reaper, I signed with literary agent Julia A. Weber for a YA contemporary novel about a seventeen-year-old who decides to spend her summer vacation playing baseball instead of traveling to Europe with her friends. 🙂 I recently finished a first draft of a YA contemporary romance that centers around a high school football season.

8. If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world. which would it be? Vampire Academy. I’d make a badass dhampir.

9. Is there a song you could list as the theme song for your book? I actually have a playlist for Reaper! Starting October 11th until the release date of January 7th, I list one song on my blog every Thursday that relates to the plotline in some vague way.

10. What’s one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors? Don’t let anyone else take away your dream by telling you that you aren’t good enough. It’s your dream. Follow it.

11. Can you see yourself in any of your characters? Quincy’s a little OCD about certain things like I am.

12. What’s the best advice anyone has ever given you? Don’t stop. You’ll get there.

13. Cats or Dog? Both. I have three cats and a very guilty dog.

14. Facebook or Twitter? Twitter all the way. I’m completely addicted.

15. Text or Talk? TEXT! I hate talking on the phone. I sound like a chipmunk.

—————————————-

Want to know more? Check out the links!

Blog: http://lsmurphy.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LSMurphy

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LSMurphyAuthor

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5046440.L_S_Murphy

by

Interview with…author Kelly Walker

Author Biography

Kelly Walker is a full time novelist, wife, and an all the time dreamer. Her first promotion was 8 years ago and it came with the job title of ‘Mom’. Her second promotion came with no raise in pay but a huge jump in responsibility when she became ‘Mom of two’. It’s a rewarding career but the retirement plan sucks. She is a huge advocate of animal rescue and adoption and shares her Virginia home (and couch) with three dogs and two cats.

——————————————

If you could travel in a time machine would you go back to the past or into the future? The past. I’d much rather chose to go back, where at least I kind of know what to expect. The future is so uncertain and so unknown, and it scares me. It scares me for my children, and their children because I don’t know what type of world they are going to live in.

Night owl, or early bird? Night Owl.

Skittles or M&Ms?  M&M’s. I’m quite a chocoholic.

Any other books in the works? What are your goals for future projects?  Oh goodness, lots. Cornerstone is the first in a trilogy, and that only takes into account the main books of the story. Second Stone will be out in February of 2013. Broken Stone will hopefully follow in April of 2013. In addition to the three main books of the story, I’ve got a prequel planned that will tell the story of Emariya’s parents and their love and personal sacrifices. I’d like to do a few novellas as well-In particular I know I need to write the history of The Split. It’s pretty fascinating and adds an entire extra layer of richness to the world. Rink may find himself in a short story, too. And then, I have a few non Souls of the Stones related stories in my head. One will be an adult drama, the other will be a YA paranormal.

If you could jump into the pages of a book, and live in that world.. which would it be? Harry Potter. As long as I didn’t have to be a Muggle.

What is your dream cast for your book? Definitely Taylor Swift for Emariya. I just cannot picture anyone better for the role. For Torian – Probably Ian Somerhalder. Christopher Gorham could work as well though. I actually have a pinterest board that shows my ideal looks for each, as well as some of the world. I don’t know who all these people are though! One thing that really surprised me is that the actor who played Voldemort would be a perfect Oren. http://pinterest.com/dreamersmagic/cornerstone/

What was your favorite book when you were a child? I read as often as I breathed as a child. The first book I really remember reading was The Big Black Horse -http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?index=books&linkCode=qs&keywords=0375840354  It’s a younger child’s version of The Black Stallion. As I grew up, I still loved reading about horses and I eventually read the actual Black Stallion series. By the time I was a teen, I think my favorite book was The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. I loved what it said about breaking expectations.

Is there a song you could list as the theme song for your book or any of your characters? Taylor Swift – Eyes Open – The mood of it, and even many of the lyrics really fit Cornerstone.

What’s one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors? Just do it. Don’t waste time telling yourself that you can’t or shouldn’t or couldn’t. But, get help, get feedback and get advice from people who don’t know you. I run my writing through an online critique group (Critique Circle) and it is absolutely the most valuable thing a writer can do for themselves, their career and their self esteem. Yes, it may hurt when you realize you aren’t where you want to be, but the thrill of seeing yourself improve is worth it. Plus it helps build a great support network, which we need. Writing is a solitary profession, it’s great to have company.

If you could choose only one time period and place to live, when and where would you live and why? Early Scotland. I’ve never been but pictures tell me it is beautiful. I think the people there/then had a lot of pride in their families, their heritage and their way of life. I think that is a good thing. Even though in some ways life then was harder, I think it was also simpler.

What is your favorite Quote? My favorite quote from a book is “Be Safe.” I think those two little words say so much, and I love the way it was delivered.

How did you know you should become an author? I’m still not so sure on the should part, but I don’t think I had any other choice. My main character, Emariya(Riya) lived in my head for three years, determined to get out. She really would not take no for an answer. So I wrote her story, or I’ve started to anyway. There is much more to tell.

Who are your favorite authors of all time? Stephanie Meyers – She created a book that will stick with me forever. Twilight and I are old pals. I re-read it each time my husband was deployed, and it was something that really got me through. Her characters are so memorable, and I really don’t know what it is, but they are. They just kind of stick with you. James Patterson – I’ve been reading his Cross series since I was a teen. I still love it. Elle Casey is a new favorite. She’s awesome and I love her kick-butt heroines. Diana Gabaldon – I love her Outlander series. Her words never cease to amaze me.

Can you see yourself in any of your characters? I think I’m more Jessa than Emariya.

What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year? Breaking Dawn. Is it here yet?

What do you do in your free time? I write in my free time. Being a Mom is my first job.

If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be? Constantly Dreaming, Occasionally Achieving

What’s your favorite season? My favorite is fall. I love the plethora of colors, the refreshingly cooler weather, and pumpkins and apple cinnamon brooms! My husband was stationed in Arizona for four years and after being an east coast girl my entire life, spending four years with two seasons ( Hot and Hotter) and no real change to the landscape, I was thrilled to come home to the east coast and enjoy having seasons again. Each time the season changes I get a little thrill of excitement, but Fall is definitely my favorite of them all.

 ——————————————————————–

Want to know more? Check out the links!

http://kellywalkerwrites.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/KellyWalkerAuthor
https://twitter.com/KWalkerWrites
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6546134.Kelly_Walker

by

Interview with…author Marta Stahlfeld

Today we’re featuring an interview with YA author Marta Stahlfeld – one of our regular team, Tony, met Marta on his travels in the US this summer, at one of her book signings. Tony wanted to feature Marta on the blog and so here’s her interview! 

———————————

 

 

 

The death of the foxes’ ruling oracle, Scythe, bodes ill for the Wraith Mice around Darkwoods and their allies near and far. With the change in leadership, all sides know their uncertain relationship with the foxes will, too soon, erupt into a vicious war. Possessing the ability to melt into the darkness and renowned in warfare, the Wraith Mice rally the squirrel tribes, Ranger Mice, and others to defend their territory—and their very lives.

A young one among them, Princess Zuryzel understands the gravity of the situation and rises fearlessly to the challenges of the ruthless invaders. Possessing the traits of a natural leader and wise beyond her years, Zuryzel knows she must follow the difficult path before her. But can she overcome the challenges in time to defeat the hated foxes?

“The first book in an
exciting new epic fantasy series
for preteens and teens!”

——————————————

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book. Darkwoods and Pasadagavra are exciting fantasy stories that have likeable characters and a thrilling story.

 

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects? I’m currently working on Graystone, the novel that succeeds Pasadagavra.

 

What inspired you to want to become a writer? I just love to write.

 

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published. When I was told that my writing inspired other people to start writing.

 

If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world.. which would it be? Other than mine – The Chronicles of Narnia, especially the Voyage of the Dan Treader!

 

What is your dream cast for your book? Any actors/actresses who are heroes both on screen and off screen – Mark Harmon would have to be on it!

 

What was your favorite book when you were a child/teen? Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

 

What one piece of advice would you give aspiring authors? When you write you may not mean to convey a message, but still examine your writing to see what your story says. In other words, be careful not to portray a theme you don’t believe in. It’s harder than it seems.

 

What is your favourite quote? Extraordinary things only happen to extraordinary people – Reepicheep in Voyage of the Dawn Treader

 

Who are your favourite authors of all time? J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, John Flanagan, J.K. Rowling, Jim Butcher, Brian Jacques.

 

Hidden talent? Irish step dance.

 

What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year? The first Hobbit movie!

 

How do you react to a bad review? I ignore it.

 

If you were a bird, which one would you be? A hummingbird.

 

What do you do in your free time? I write or practice dance.

 

Summer or Winter? In literature, Winter over Summer. But in real life, it has to be Summer.

 

Harry Potter or Twilight? Harry Potter.

 

Favourite quote from a movie? “It’s just like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The one’s that really mattered. Full of Darkness and danger they were, and sometimes you didn’t want to know the end, because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, the Shadow. Even Darkness must past. A new day will come, and when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer.” ~ Sam Gamgee, The Two Towers

——————————————————————–

Want to know more? Check out the links!

Darkwoods, by Marta Stahlfeld
by

Interview with…author Amy Martin

Following our review of her debut novel, In Your Dreams, today we’re welcoming author Amy Martin for an interview…

———————————

Author Biography

Amy Martin wrote and illustrated her first book at the age of ten and gave it to her fourth grade teacher, who hopefully lost it in her house somewhere and didn’t share it with anyone else. Not counting that early experiment in self-publishing, In Your Dreams is Amy Martin’s first Young Adult novel.

A native of St. Charles, MO, Amy currently lives in Lexington, KY with her husband and a ferocious attack tabby named Cleo. When not writing or reading, she can usually be found watching sports, drinking coffee, or indulging her crippling Twitter habit (and, sometimes, doing all three at once). You can follow her on Twitter at @ThatAmyMartin.

——————————————

1. One of the main characters in your book, Kieran, suffers with narcolepsy. What made you want to write about someone with this condition and what kind of research did you do to make him realistic? 

I’ve always been fascinated by sleeping, dreams, and how the brain functions in general, so having a character with narcolepsy who can dream parts of the future seemed like a good way to explore some of the themes I wanted to delve into in In Your Dreams. Kieran turns out to have something more complicated than just simple narcolepsy, but I didn’t want to take too many fictional liberties with what is a very real condition. For research, I read some pretty dense medical articles on the subject, along with reading books and personal testimonials from people with narcolepsy. Once I understood the common symptoms and behaviors, I felt comfortable enough to incorporate those qualities into Kieran’s character. My hope is that I’ve represented people with this disorder accurately and fairly.

 

2. Titusville – where you set In Your Dreams – sounds like text-book small-town living, American-style to a Brit like me – is this the world you grew up in? And what did you like most about the setting that made it fit with your story? 

I actually grew up in suburban St. Louis, MO, but my parents grew up in a small town, and my husband’s family is from a small town. Years ago, I worked as an admissions counselor for a college in Illinois, and I would travel around to high schools speaking to students—I’ve probably visited every small town in northern and central Illinois, and Titusville is a mash-up of those places. What really stood out to me about those towns is how everything revolves around the high school, whether the citizens were high school students, adults, or little kids—the high school is really the center of the social universe in a way that it isn’t in larger towns or cities. The small-town setting fit with the story because Zip is a small-town girl who realizes that there’s life after high school, and she can’t wait to get started on it. And the Laniers, who have always lived in cities, move to Titusville because they think they’ll be safe living in the middle of nowhere, not realizing that in small towns, everyone’s business in everyone else’s business as well.

 

3. There’s a strong ‘jock’ edge to Zip’s character in your book – do you play basketball yourself, or have an interest in the sport you wanted to see developed in a character? 

I always wanted to play basketball, but unfortunately, I’ve been cursed with a horrible lack of coordination. But I’ve been a basketball fan all my life and have a fairly good understanding of the game. Basketball, particularly at the point guard position (Zip’s position), involves being in control—running the offense, being able to see what’s happening on the entire floor rather than just a portion of it, and anticipating what the other team is going to do. I thought those themes of control and trying to anticipate what’s going to happen fit in with some of the larger themes in the book. And I wanted Zip to be a strong, goal-oriented female character, and having her be an athlete gave me a way to infuse that into her.

 

4. If you could have any superpower what would you choose?   Flying, probably. I have a mild fear of heights and flying on airplanes, so I’d love to know I could just take off of and be up high and be safe.

 

5. Skittles or M&Ms?   I love both, but I seem to reach for the Skittles most of the time

 

6. Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.  You should read In Your Dreams because it’s an original, twist-filled ride with a strong heroine and a great love story.

 

7. Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects? 

I conceived In Your Dreams as a three-book series, so I’m currently working on the second and third books (I’m hoping to have the second book out in early 2013). I’d love to do something in the future along the lines (tone and character-wise) of the Veronica Mars TV series, one of my all-time favorites.

 

8. What inspired you to want to become a writer?

I’m an only child, so I’ve always been used to spending time alone, making up stories to amuse myself. Around nine or ten years old, I started reading Judy Blume’s books and was blown away by the fact that there was an adult out there who seemed to understand everything I was going through as a kid. I wanted to one day be able to impact someone with my writing in the way that she impacted me.

 

9. Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.

Having readers tell me that they love the book and they love Zip and Kieran’s relationship is really gratifying. Writing and publishing is like giving birth and then sending your children out alone into the world, so I really worried how people would respond. Knowing that there are readers who “get” Zip and Kieran and love them is so rewarding.

 

10. What was your favorite book when you were a child/teen? 

Probably Judy Blume’s Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret. I read that book when I was just entering puberty myself, so all of Margaret’s concerns about maturing and becoming a woman were my concerns. I felt a little less alone and weird after reading that book.

 

11. What’s one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?   Read a wide variety of works and write often. I probably have several novels’ worth of writing on my computer that will never see the light of day, but I needed that practice in order to learn the craft.

 

12. When you were little, what did you want to be when you “grew up”?

I saw an architect on Sesame Street, and so I wanted to be that for a while, until I discovered I was no good at math. Then I wanted to be the first female to pitch in the Major Leagues, because I was huge baseball fan. Once I grew out of that, I wanted to be a writer.

 

13. If a movie was made about your life, who would you want to play the lead role and why?

I don’t know who would play me as a young woman, but Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls, Parenthood) could probably play me now. I’ve had several students in the past when Gilmore Girls was still on tell me “Oh, my God—you are sooo Lorelai Gilmore.” Maybe Alexis Bledel should play young me since she was Rory Gilmore. Somehow, I doubt I’m ever going to have to worry about this. J

 

14. Cats or Dog?   I’ve never had a dog, so I’ll go with cats. My cat is my constant companion when I write.

 

15. Facebook or Twitter?   Twitter.

 

16. Text or Talk?   Text. When I talk, sometimes I get myself into trouble. 🙂 With text, I have to think about what I’m saying before I hit “send.”

——————————————————————–

Want to know more? Check out the links!

Twitter: @ThatAmyMartin

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6472261.Amy_Martin

by

Interview with…author Kylee Gwartney


About the Author 

Kylee Gwartney is a Tulsa native and recent graduate of the University of Oklahoma. She loves writing teen fiction and is excited to see where this passion will take her. She also loves Italian food, traveling, French, and – of course – Justin Bieber. Her favorite authors are JK Rowling, Cecily von Ziegesar, Sara Shepard, Gabrielle Bernstein, and Rick Riordan.

Kylee’s debut novel, Catching the Fever, is out now!

 ———————————————–

If you could travel in a time machine where would you go? I’d definitely go back to 1700s France – like Marie Antoinette times. I’m really girly so petticoats, powdered wigs, and macaroons in Paris sound like heaven. Paris is one of my favorite cities on earth.

 

It’s your fantasy dinner party…which five people are there? JK Rowling, Jennifer Lawrence, Justin Bieber, Harry Styles, and Prince Harry.

 

If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you? An endless supply of queso, Lush Herbalism face scrub, and Australian Gold sunscreen.

 

What is your favourite quote? “When you stop doing things for fun, you might as well be dead.” – Hemingway

 

When you were little, what did you want to be when you “grew up”? The first thing I ever wanted to be was a ballerina. Then it was a veterinarian, marine biologist, dermatologist, and a magazine editor. I’ve always loved writing, but it took until my sophomore year of college to realize I want to write fiction forever.

 

Can you see yourself in any of your characters? Absolutely! All four of my main characters have pieces of me in them. Claudia is my stubborn, determined-to-succeed side; Brynn is the really girly, loving side; Norah is the shy, unsure side. Paisley, I could relate to a lot at the beginning of high school. I remember thinking I was just so inexperienced because I was a fifteen-year-old who hadn’t been kissed, while everyone else was doing you know what!

 

What movie are you looking forward to this year? Perks of Being a Wallflower, which will be out by the time this is online. I loved Logan Lerman in Percy Jackson, and who wouldn’t love Emma Watson as an American?

 

What was your favorite children’s book? Cat Traps

 

Do you have a nickname? I have a ton! Ky, Kyker, Kyle, Kylers, Kyki, Ky Ky, Mur, Fobe, Fozz, and Fatty. The last four are what my best friends call me, and yes, they’re super weird names!

What’s the best advice anyone has ever given you? “You accept the love you think you deserve.”  It’s subtle but good advice. My friend Derrick always said this to me when I was in a really unhealthy relationship in the past. The guy treated me like crap, but ultimately I was the one who let him do that. There comes a point when no matter how much you love someone, you have to realize your worth and remember what you deserve.

 —————————————

Want to know more? Check out the links!

www.twitter.com/kyleegwartney

 www.facebook.com/CatchingTheFever

The Book: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15761349-catching-the-fever

by

Guest Post…Is Katniss Really Better than Bella?

Following the popularity of her last post with us: A Letter to Stephen King; author Georgina Morales is back again looking at feminism in contemporary literature – particularly the books aimed at young women and girls. She’s asking Is Katniss Really Better than Bella?

———————————-

You see it everywhere; there are pictures in Facebook, reviews in Goodreads, punch lines with pictures in Pinterest. It seems like Twilight is at the butt of every joke. Edward Cullen’s sparkling, lean, loving machine has made every hardcore vampire lover retort in hatred. The pathetically insecure Bella Swan hasn’t fared much better. Her image has come to equate everything the Feminist Movement fights against.

Then came The Hunger Games movie and craziness ensued once again. Though the books were widely popular way before the movie broke out, the simple knowledge that a movie was about to be made drove thousands of new fans to the saga. Soon comparisons arouse and Katniss Everdeen became the antithesis of Bella Swan, therefore, the character that defined Feminism for the present generation.

Now, I have a bone to pick with this. I get why Bella is such a nightmare for many women. She is whinny, insecure, and unable to stand for herself. I’m an unapologetic fan of the Twilight books and even I wanted to choke her sometimes.

But let’s check Katniss’ character through The Hunger Games Saga:

  • She is the sole provider of her family in a post-apocalyptic world where you need to fight for every morsel of food. A point for her.
  • She knows how to handle a weapon and isn’t afraid to do it. Two points for her.
  • She, unknowingly, becomes the symbol of rebellion; yet, she fights hard to show the world she is, in fact, in favor of keeping the status quo. Mmm… Not so sure about this one.
  • She is not interested in having a boyfriend, first because she doesn’t want to have a family in that messed up world, and second because she isn’t sure if she would pick her best friend or the boy who saved her life. Again, not so sure this has anything to do with ‘Girl Power’.
  • Finally, it becomes clear there’s no way to stop the rebellion. Does she embrace it and volunteers to fight for a better world? No. In fact, she lets everyone use her image the way they please while she becomes a puppet in the power struggle that ensues. This is definitively not fortitude of character. As a matter of fact, Katniss spends half of the saga breaking to pieces and most of the third book literally hiding in a closet. I fail to see how this is any better than Bella’s obsession with her boyfriend.

The sort answer is: It isn’t. Feminism is a movement designed to empower women, to bring recognition to the value of women in our society and to fight for the right each one of us have to take control of our lives. Whether we choose to embark on a career in the world of finance or to dedicate ourselves to the education of our children, Feminism is the reason why we even have the option.

The problem is getting married and tending a home was the only career path available to us back in the days, therefore it is seen with shoddy eyes when a modern gal openly acknowledges her desire to do so. We look for specific traits in our females in order to select them as our new standard of ‘Girl Power’ like physical strength and open disdain (or disinterest) for men.

Katniss is both, lethal and uninterested in boys, but is she truly the encarnation of empowerment? I don’t think so.

Let me tell you, it was hard for me to come across a female character in modern literature that met my idea of Feminism, which is very sad and goes to show you why is it that our teen girls hold so hard to the few outstanding female characters they have available, however faulted these might be. But I finally found it: Hermione Granger.

Think for a moment. She is intelligent, determined, strong, and she might not be able to take a life with her magic wand, but she is powerful nonetheless. She is so, not because of how many magic spells she knows, but because she knows what she wants, what is good for her, where her weaknesses are, and she has a great moral compass. All these traits make her, in fact, a much better symbol of Feminism; a role model for our youth they can actually hope to become.

When we decide to bash a fictional character such as Bella Swan because of its interest in having a boyfriend, we are sending the message that worrying about boys is a sign of times past and a weakness. When we sing praises to characters like Katniss Everdeen for her physical strength we tell our teen girls that this one trait is so positive, it actually compensates the clear shortcomings the character shows in other areas.

Do you think I am being ridiculous? Giving way too much importance to fake and clearly fantastic novels? Well, yes! And therein lies our main trouble. We read too much between the lines. Teenage girls will worry about boys, that’s just how it is, very few of them are the actual providers of their household, and even fewer know how to shoot a gun, forget about a bow. Let’s not make the mistake of confusing physical prowess with strength of character. They like Bella? Sure, why not. Then, show them a book where the female character is worthy of being emulated and talk about it. That will take you a lot farther that trashing the latest fad. Communication is the ultimate influence to empower our youth and help them travel the murky waters of adolescence and external influences; it is the final weapon that trumps even books and that’ll make of our kids true Feminists.

———————————————-

More thoughts on this topic? Check out the links below!

Katniss v Bella on The Huffington Post

Katniss v Bella – A Feminist Analysis (You Tube)

Cage Fight – Katniss v Bella

Girls Night In – With Bella, Buffy, Katniss and Hermione

———————————————

About the Author 

Born in Mexico City, Georgina was always divided between the world of the paranormal, the religious, and science, even as a kid. Through her years in medical school, she experienced and heard all kinds of creepy tales. She, now, writes from her home in Norwalk, Ct. where she resides in the company of her husband and two young daughters. The history of the northeast, its old buildings, and its endless forests provide her imagination with a constant influx of ideas, which combined with her rich background make for her unique style. She’s also a staff reviewer for Dark River Press.

————————————–

Want to know more? Check out the links!

www.diaryofawriterinprogress.blogspot.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Perpetual-Night-by-Georgina-Morales/159894374059399

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4646361.Georgina_Morales

http://www.darkriverpress.com/reviews.html

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/perpetual-night-georgina-morales/1100075745?ean=9780615438405&itm=1&usri=georgina+morales

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=georgina+morales&x=0&y=0

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/38400

by

Interview with…Stephanie from HERE! :)

We’re very excited to welcome Stephanie to Aside from Writing today. She is a new member of our blogging team here and you’ll have already seen some of her reviews and posts over recent weeks. Stephanie also blogs for herself at My World. Let’s find out more…

So…can you tell us a little about yourself and your blog?

It’s a small (newbie) blog with all things books.  I’m trying to branch out and include much more than just my own reviews now and it’s really starting to come together, I think.

What prompted you to start writing the blog in the beginning?

Honestly, I got the account  just to enter a giveaway I saw on twitter, I believe.  Then I figured since I had it, I would start writing and started out just writing general life stories, and then got into reviewing the books I read, and so on.

What are your favourite parts of blogging?

I love the writing!  I enjoy sharing my thoughts about the books I read with others and love it when I get feedback!  (That lets me know I’m not talking to myself)  I also love getting in contact with other bloggers and authors.

Any tough bits?

I think the toughest bits of it for me are getting the word out there.  I know I have a decent viewing audience, for me anyway, but still not many followers.

What’s an ideal day for you – and how do you fit your writing, reading, blog into that, along with motherhood and work?!

An “ideal” day for me would be to get a lot of reading/writing/blogging in AND still have plenty of family/housecleaning time. I’m still working on that perfect balance, I still find myself neglecting one area while pouring most of my time into another.  Fortunately, I have been juggling each so not just one thing gets all my time and I’m getting better at the management of my time.

We know that you’re also doing your own writing, tell us more!

I haven’t gotten much on paper, yet, and what I have written, I have already changed in my head.  I’m very new at this and just hope its good enough that people will want to read it.  I have always been a “daydreamer”, one quick look at the comments on all my elementary school report cards will show that.  I always seem to have a story running through my head.

What I’m working on right now is a story of a young, small town girl who, through some disruptions to her “normal” life, makes some discoveries about who she really is and what it could possibly mean to a lot of people.  There will be some romance, of course, and it’s definitely a paranormal story.

What genres/authors do you love to read?  

A few months ago, I would have said YA/Paranormal Romance, with sometimes branching to a thriller. Since I’ve been reading books for review, I have discovered that, while that’s still my favorite, I have really enjoyed genres I never expected to!

As for authors, that changes a lot since I love so many of them, but right now, I can say Lauren Kate, Amanda Hocking, Cassandra Clare, PC Cast, Jenna Black.. and those are just a few that I’ve read a lot of and loved, there’s plenty that I have only read one book from, but still absolutely loved; such as Julie K. Rose and Christopher David Peterson.. I could go on all day about authors and books!

Do you think your reading tastes and experiences influence your writing?

I definitely believe that’s true!  For me, a good book is like a Calgon bath, for those of you old enough to remember those commercials!  I love a book that can transport me to some other realm of reality, or at least get me caught up in its world!  I would definitely put the book I’d like to write into the paranormal romance category.

The Random Questions:

If you could be a character from any book – who would it be and why?   That’s really hard for me, I love so many!  But I’d want to be a paranormal of some sort, not just a slight human girl in love with one.  I would want to be strong and powerful, like maybe Alice Cullen, Dana from the Fairiewalker series, or Zoey from the House of Night series.

The reason is, of course, to not have to rely on everyone around to keep me safe.. I’d like to be the one to keep others safe, and let’s face it, the abilities of some of these heroines are amazing!

Favourite fictional world – where would you live?   One that immediately comes to mind is Rivendell from The Lord of the Rings, it’s beautiful!

Best super-evil baddie?   The first one to come to mind at the moment is Cam, *swoon*!  He may not be necessarily a villain to some, but he’s a bad boy, and wow!

I also think of Peter from My Blood Approves, by Amanda Hocking, again, not the villain, but a definite jerk.. You don’t realize until later in the series exactly why and the last book makes him ah-mazing in my eyes!

 ————————————————-

Want to know more? Check out the links!

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4190077-stephanie

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/#!/Stephsgrn

My Blog:  http://stephsgrn.blogspot.com/

My Food Blog:  http://fromstephskitchen.blogspot.com/

Google+  https://plus.google.com/u/0/110791132875372753313/posts

Pinterest:  http://pinterest.com/stephsgrn/

I will be working on my wordpress blog as well, I started with blogger and am just getting the wordpress underway.

http://stephsgrn.wordpress.com/

I am still working on making it my own, stay tuned!

by

Interview with…Author Tony Talbot

 Blog regular Tony Talbot’s latest book, Eight Mile Island, was released recently and to support its launch, we have a special author interview with Tony today, to help you learn a little bit more about him and his writing! 

Here’s Tony!

—————————————-

1. You have invented an operational time machine, where would you go?

I’d go back into the past…maybe 17th century Vienna, and see a Mozart or Beethoven symphony performed for the first time.

2. If you could invite any five people to dinner who would you choose?

Oscar Wilde, Winston Churchill, John Lennon, Ernest Shackleton and Ada Lovelace. I realise I have four men and one woman in that list!

3. You are stranded on a desert island; what three things would you want to have with you?

The Idiots guide to surviving on a desert island

A satellite phone with 4G Internet

Kelly Brook!

4. What is one book everyone should read?

Ooo…tricky. To Kill a Mockingbird.

5. If you could have any superpower what would you choose?

Flight, every time. Imagine the time I’d save at the airport.

6. What is your favourite flavor of ice cream?

Chocolate.

7. If you could meet one person who has died who would you choose?

There’s an Antarctic explorer I’m fascinated with, Apsley Cherry-Garrard. I’d love to pick his brains about Antarctica.

8. What is your favourite thing to eat for breakfast?

Leftover trifle.

9. Night owl, or early bird?

Neither! Mid morning from 11:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon.

10. Pet Peeves?

Driving while on the phone.

11. Do you have any other books in development at the moment? What are your goals for future projects? 

I started the first chapter of book five about the same time as I was finally wrapping up Eight Mile Island. I’d love to do a trilogy one day, but new ideas always pop into my head and I’m off on to something new.

12. Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.

I had a reviewer for my first book – Over the Mountain –  say it made them cry…since it is a very sad and serious book, mission accomplished.

13. What’s your favourite season/weather?

I love autumn. The colours are just amazing, and there’s more of a sense that a day with good weather is something you should get outside and enjoy.

14. If you could jump inside the pages of a book, and live in that world.. which would it be?

It would have to be the Harry Potter universe. Wouldn’t a tour of Hogwarts or Diagon Alley be something else?

15. What was your favourite book when you were a child?

I loved Bedknob and Broomstick by Mary Norton. I read it and re-read it time and time again, and it’s one of the reasons I love reading and writing. It soaked into me.

16. Can you see yourself in any of your characters?

All of them have parts of me, and all of them have attributes I wish I had…more bravery, more street smarts. I have to say most of them are smarter than I am!

17. Can you write a Haiku about your book?

very creepy location

from which there is no escape

visit eight mile island

18. What is your favourite quote from a movie?

“Now….bring me that horizon.” Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean

—————————————-

You can enter to win your very own copy of Eight Mile Island for Kindle / PDF in our giveaway!

**CLICK HERE**

Welcome to Eight Mile Island. 

Dylan James is used to boarding schools. He’s been thrown out of so many in the past two years, he’s lost count. So when an elite academy in Oregon offers him a place, he doesn’t think he’ll be there more than a week.
 
But Eight Mile Island isn’t like anywhere Dylan has been before. In the dense forests around the school, there are things that look human but aren’t.
 
Things that are hungry, and waiting.
 
But that’s just the start of the mysteries, mysteries that mean Dylan may never escape. Even if he wants to…

————————————–

Want to know more? Check out the links!

Website: http://www.tony-talbot.co.uk

Twitter: @authortony

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonytalbotwriter

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/tony-talbot

by

Guest Post…Ebook Piracy

Author Michael Cargill joins us today, with a guest post on Ebook Piracy and why it’s not shivering his timbers (sorry – bad pirate pun – forgive me, it’s Friday!)

———————————————–

Literature is something of a latecomer to the digital revolution.  In some ways, this is quite surprising, as it predates other forms of entertainment like computer games, film, and TV by several thousand years.  Mind you, the older generations are often the slowest to get to grips with anything new.  After all, when was the last time you heard your granddad talk about getting an Xbox?

Some of the growing pains for ebooks, have been the same ones that other forms of digital media have gone through, and still are going through.  Piracy is one such pain.

The mere mention of the word ‘piracy’ generates quite an angry response from many people, whether they are a writer, or a reader.

To those people, I say you should perhaps step back, and rethink things a bit.  I’m an indie author, and I know for a fact that my work is available to download from torrent/pirate websites.  I know this to be a fact, as it was me who put them there in the first place.

Before I go any further, I’ll just mention a few things, to provide some context.  Firstly, you won’t see me on any bestseller lists anywhere, not unless that list is based on an otherwise empty shelf.  Yes, woe is me, get out the violin and all that.

Secondly, years ago, I used to be something of a profligate pirate myself.  My hard drive was chock full of computer games, applications, films, and TV shows.  I knew lots of other people who did the same thing as well.

Lastly, I have no formal legal education, or training.  This puts me at around about the same level as that bloke in the pub, who insists that it’s perfectly legal to shoot a Welshman with a crossbow, so long as you do it outside the city walls, on a Wednesday afternoon.

Just to be clear, I have no intention of getting involved with the tedious, semantic differences between copyright infringement, and theft.  I’m also mainly talking about the financial impact of piracy, rather than the copyright side of things.

So then: why did I upload my own work to some torrent sites?  Well, “Why not?”, is my response.  At the moment, practically no-one knows about me.  My ability to market myself is largely limited to blogs, Twitter, and pinning posters up on the trees along my road.  Now that my work is available by torrents, I have added one more avenue for readers to find me.  I created threads on the torrent site forums, informing them all of what I did.  I got a few replies from people thanking me, and wishing me luck.  In the few days following on from this, I had an increase in the number of hits to my blog, from people searching for terms like “Michael Cargill author” on Google.  Prior to doing this, that had never happened before.

Of course, the usual retort to this is “You don’t get money from pirates!”, to which I say is a load of poppycock.

As I mentioned earlier, I was once a profligate pirate myself.  Yet, despite the fact that my hard drives were heaving with illegally downloaded material, my shelves were also teeming with legally purchased material as well.

And the same goes for many people who pirate things.  There are numerous studies that show that the people who illegally download the most music, are also some of the biggest purchasers of music.  This won’t be true for all of them, of course, but it is a fact that cannot be ignored.

It’s also important to recognise that just because someone illegally downloads a book, or a film, or a song, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the copyright owner has lost a sale.  For a start, pirates will often download stuff that they have no intention of ever using.  They’ll often do it, just because they can.  I mean, who wouldn’t want to download the latest version of AutoCAD if the opportunity is there…?

A quick search on a torrent site reveals that I can download the entire works of Stephen King, in about fifteen minutes.  That’s everything that he has ever published, about sixty five books in total, right there on the Internet.  Ebooks are small in size, so they take no time at all to pirate.  However, to say that anyone who downloads them all has denied Mr King of sixty five books worth of royalty fees, is wrong.

First of all, very few people will ever go out and purchase that many books at once.  Secondly, that pirate simply isn’t going to read all sixty five of those books either.  He or she may read one of them, and enjoy it.  However, they aren’t that likely to immediately read another Stephen King book.  They are more likely to read something from someone else, whether it’s pirated, or legally bought.

The reading habits of a pirate are exactly the same as those of a ‘normal’ reader.  They will talk about it to their friends, and family.  They will join in with the discussions about it on Goodreads.  They leave reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and their blog.  After illegally sampling an author’s work, they may go on and purchase legitimate copies of their work.  This is something I did when I was a pirate.  It’s what I witnessed other people who pirated media do, as well.  It’s what some of the studies into piracy have shown, as well.

Of course, you don’t have to just take this indie’s word for it.  Bestselling author Neil Garman has taken a similar stance to ebook piracy.  He even made a video on YouTube about it, that is still available to watch, though he is someone who made his name (and fortune) long before ebooks ever existed.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that you can’t actually fight piracy, either.  For every anti-piracy method that is put in place, it is easily defeated.  Companies can spend thousands implementing an anti-piracy scheme, only to see it cracked within hours of its release.

An author could spend a huge amount of time, scouring all corners of the Internet, trying to hunt down those elusive illegal links to their work.  Yet, all that time is wasted.  It took me less than five minutes for me to put my own work up on a torrent site, but it might take days for a furious copyright owner to get something removed from a website.

Many people will say “if everyone pirated books, then authors would starve!”  Now, whilst that might be true, it’s also true that if everyone flushed their toilets at once, the sewer system would collapse.  The fact is, that not everyone will pirate books.  At least part of this is down to the fact that it requires a certain level of technical knowledge to pirate, that many people struggle to get over.  Some Kindle owners simply don’t know how to manually copy ebooks onto their device.

To be honest, I probably have more sympathy for the readers, than I do the authors.  They can be understandably annoyed when they see someone stealing books, and getting them for free, rather than paying for them.

In writing this short article, I’m not expecting to drastically change anyone’s mind.  However, the piracy debate has been raging for a long time now, and it really needs a more level-headed approach.  None of the heavy-handed antics employed so far have put so much as a dent in it.

I think we should embrace it, rather than hate it.

 —————————————–

Interested in knowing more about this subject? Check out the links!

Study: Piracy Does Not Deter the Production of Music, Films, Books – http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/study_piracy_does_not_deter_the_production_of_music_books_films.php

Study Shows That BitTorrent Piracy Doesn’t Affect U.S. Box Office Profits – http://www.geekosystem.com/bittorrent-box-office-study/

Neil Garman video – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qkyt1wXNlI

————————————–

Want to know more about Michael? Check out his links!

Blog – http://michaelcargill.wordpress.com/

Twitter – @MichaelCargill1   Facebook

The Books…

Author Page on Goodreads

 Trailer for Underneath  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUBrxs38Dkc

Smashwords

UK Amazon

by

Interview with…Author Suzanne Lilly

Today we’re welcoming author Suzanne Lilly for an interview…

———————————

First off, let me just say these questions are the most fun I’ve had in an interview yet! Okay, now I’ll dive in and tell you my answers.

 

If you could have any superpower what would you choose?

The power to make people’s dreams come true. So you want to drive a Mercedes? Zap! You’ve got it. World peace? Zap! No problem. If I could make dreams come true, maybe the world would be a happier place.

 

In one sentence only, tell us why we should read your book.

If you found sunglasses that tell the future, wouldn’t you want to try them on?

 

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?

Untellable is coming out in February 2013. It also takes place in Honey Creek, Ohio, where Aspen Dwyer has run away to hide from her father who is a murderer. While she’s in Honey Creek, she meets the man of her dreams, Colton Moraine. He’s kind, strong, thoughtful, and good looking, and he doesn’t know anything about her past, which is just how Aspen likes things. But when her father gets out of prison and shows up looking for her in Honey Creek, all bets are off.

 

Everyone has a guilty pleasure – what TV show do you watch that you’d be embarrassed to admit?

I’m still watching Survivor. Can you believe it? I can’t seem to give it up. If Big Brother ever comes back on for another season, I’ll be watching that, too.

 

The one book I wish I’d written is….

Chocolat. The words are magic, the story is magic, and in the movie, Johnny Depp is, as always, magic.

 

How do you like to spend a rainy day?

Curled up on the couch with fluffy pillows, a soft blanket, a warm fire, and a fantastic book. I’ll need some hot chocolate, too.

 

What is something people would be surprised to know about you?

People always seem surprised to find out I took Tae-Kwon-Do. When I tell them, they just back away, real slow.

 

Where have you been on your travels that you loved? 

I love seeing new places! I loved going on an Alaskan cruise, and this past year I went to Rome. I heart Roma.

 

What are your favourite sweets?

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. I hope they have those in heaven.

 

Any Pet Peeves?

People who say li-beary instead of li-brary. There’s an r after the b, people.

 

Social networking…Facebook or Twitter?

Twitter all the way! My phone cheeps when I get a tweet from my friends.

 

Print or Ebook?

Both! I adore my Kindle, but I like a paperback when I’m at the pool or the beach.

 

Thanks for joining us today for an interview! 

Thanks so much for having me on your blog today! Before I go, here’s a little bit about my newest book, Shades of the Future.

What would you give to see the future? Would you make your dreams come true? Would you change the things you didn’t like?

Mariah Davis loves animals, running, and her hunk of a boyfriend, Kevin Creamer. Everything looks bright for her until the day she finds a pair of sunglasses that allow her to see the future.

When she glimpses a disaster looming, she tries to avoid it but fails. She has a car accident that lands her in a wheelchair, smashing her hopes for a running scholarship to the veterinary program at Ohio State University. She pushes Kevin away, thinking he’ll want to end their relationship now that she can’t walk.

Will she ever learn to trust and love again? She could search for an answer in the sunglasses. But she’s afraid what they reveal might destroy her.

 

I’m on blog tours during the month of July, celebrating with a giveaway of a pair of designer sunglasses to one lucky commenter. I’ll be posting the schedule with dates and blogs on my author website, http://www.suzannelilly.com, and my TeacherWriter blog, http://www.teacherwriter.net. Follow me and comment each day to increase your chances of winning!

——————————————————————–

Want to know more? Check out the links!

Twitter: http://twitter.com/suzannelilly

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Suzanne-Lilly/e/B006HY79IY

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5258804.Suzanne_Lilly

Author website: http://www.suzannelilly.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/AuthorSuzanneLilly

TeacherWriter blog: http://www.teacherwriter.net

Fridays at the Honey Creek Books blog: http://www.honeycreekbooks.com

Suzanne Lilly on Google +: https://plus.google.com/115758832631616324955/about