Marketing SF/Fantasy/Horror Poetry by guest blogger Scott E. Green

Marketing Poetry
by Scott E. Green

I am a science fiction/fantasy/horror writer who works principally as a poet in the three genres of the fantastic. I have been doing this for 35 years. In the course of my career, I have written a reference book on sf/f/h poetry. I have been a past president of the Science Fiction Poetry Association. My fourth poetry collection, Private Worlds: A Revised Atlas is being published by Speaking Volumes.

Lastly, I manage two blogs on paying markets for sf/f/h poetry and flash fiction: GreenGenrePoetry and Manchester Poetry Examiner.

Below are ten points that poets who wish to work in the science fiction/fantasy/horror genres should keep in mind.

1. There is absolutely no difference among prose poetry, flash fiction, paragraph poetry, and micro fiction. I have looked at all four kinds of writing for hours and I cannot see any difference at all.

2. Unless a publication says absolutely and unequivocally in its guideliness that it is not open to poetry, query them.

3. There was a time when general literary journals were not open to poetry immersed in particular genres. Now, many new general literary journals are open to genre poetry. So don't assume a general literary journal is closed to sf/f/h poetry unless its guidelines actually state that fact.

4. Many of the sf/f/h e-zines also produce an annual print issue. You should verify the print issue either publishes new work or functions as an annual 'best of' collection. Many contracts for the sale of work to publications often include to right to reprint in an anthology. If an e-zine is buying the poem and it has an annual print issue, then make find out whether the annual print issue is the intended showcase for reprints or not.

5. Never sell your poem to an anthology that is only going to pay royalties. Somehow, they never make enough sales to generate royalties for contributors.

6. Never sell to a publication that says it will pay if funds are available. Somehow the funds never become available.

7. Despite what editors say, most of them do treat poetry as filler. In this area, it is easier to sell short poems rather than long poems. That is why you see so many poems using Japanese forms like haiku published in sf/f/h periodicals.

8. A magazine need not be a sf/f/h publication that uses poetry to be the only market for sf/f/h poetry. Consider looking into children's periodicals as well as youth Boys Life-type magazines published in other English language markets. For example, the Australian division of international media giant Pearson's publishes several youth magazines that resemble in style and spirit the Boy's Life of several generations ago, and yes, they buy poetry.

9. It's tough to crack into many Canadian markets because they receive funding from the Canadian Council, which means they buy only from Canadian nationals and permanent residents in Canada.

10. Lastly, read the publication's guidelines for submissions, even the very hard-to-read horror e-zines (deep red lettering on black background is really tough on the eyes ). The editors are fanatic that all would-be submitters follow them, unless you have made an agreement with the editors before hand.

Interview with authors behind crime fiction pseudonym RC Bridgestock

Today, Carol and Bob Bridgestock, the authors behind the name RC Bridgestock talk about their book Deadly Focus.

Carol and Bob were both born and lived in West Yorkshire until they relocated to the Isle of Wight in 2003. Between them they have 47 years employment with the police, Carol being a member of the civilian support staff and Bob being a police officer. They never had any inclinations to become authors, but others found their verbal stories thrilling, which led them to put pen to paper.

Bob was born in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire in 1952. He left grammar school at the age of 15, served an apprenticeship as a butcher, then spent two years in dye works before joining the police force in 1974. In 1981, he was awarded the much acclaimed ‘Denis Hoban Trophy’ for outstanding detective work. On retirement, he received a Certificate of Loyal Service from West Yorkshire Police in appreciation and recognition of 30 years of ‘Loyal and Devoted Service to the Community’. As a career detective, he worked in the CID at every rank.

For over half of his service, he was a senior detective, retiring at the rank of Detective Superintendent. As a Senior Investigative Officer (SIO) in charge of homicide cases, he took command of some twenty-six murder investigations, twenty-three major incidents, including shootings and attempted murders, and over fifty suspicious deaths and numerous sexual assaults, some of which were extremely high profile in his last three years alone.

He received numerous commendations from high court judges and chief constables who credit him with personal commitment and professionalism, expertise and diligence, as well as competence with skilful leadership in sensitive, complex high profile cases with the subsequent presentation of compelling evidence. He was a Force Hostage Negotiator and was also commended for his work into the investigation of a protracted, high profile investigation of police corruption in another police force.

Carol was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire in 1961. She left grammar school at the age of 16 and went on to study hairdressing at college. At twenty, she was running her own successful salon as well as teaching at the college. In 1988, Carol commenced working for the police as a member of the support staff in the administration department. As a supervisor, she received a Chief Constable’s commendation for outstanding work for her determination and drive creating a poster competition for an Autumn Fall Crime Initiative involving local schools. Carol is the Chairperson of Wight Fair Writers' Circle which developed from that course.

Please tell us about your current release, Deadly Focus.
Harrowfield is in uproar as Daisy Charlotte Hind vanishes without a trace. It’s up to Senior Investigating Officer Jack Dylan to find her.

Dylan’s worst nightmare is confirmed as a body is discovered and another child goes missing. Is this the work of a serial killer with a deadly focus? Dylan’s nerve is put to the test. He is attacked on the job and finds his health under increasing strain.

Live the story and the tension of the investigation as Dylan struggles to find a balance between his passion for his job and his love for his partner Jen.

We self-published Deadly Focus in July 2009. It will be re-launched by Caffeine Nights Publishers soon as a platform for the second book in the Dylan Series.

What inspired you to write this book?
Carol: I always knew Bob could tell a good story because of the experiences he had had in his life, but my nagging fell on deaf ears until 2008 - when out of the blue, Bob enrolled us in a college course to 'Write Your First Novel.'

One of Bob’s pet hates is to watch a TV series or read a crime novel and the police procedure is wrongly portrayed. Our writing is about the truth of feelings and correct police procedure with some version of reality in the murder.

Bob: We would never write about factual murders as we don’t feel it would be fair to the victims’ families who have already suffered enough. But, there is something about writing something we know.

What exciting story are you working on next?
Consequences, the sequel to Deadly Focus will be published in the Summer 2011 by Caffeine Nights Publishers. Although both books can be read in isolation, the reader can follow Dylan in subsequent investigations in this book and his home life.

A brief blurb about Consequences: Detective Inspector Jack Dylan’s list of things to do is getting out of control. He has two unconnected murders to solve of a small child and a young woman, plus a missing detective to find. Long hours are part of the job, but does he have the time to figure out the pieces to the crime jigsaws, and save his relationship?

Book 3 is at the final re-writing stage before we submit it to the publisher. It follows Dylan and his colleagues who deal with more heinous crimes.

Please tell us a bit about being co-authors:
Carol: There is no magic formula to our writing. Once Bob has a crime scene in his mind, he can write about the enquiry till he captures the murderers, as he did in real life, with all the highs and lows of any investigation he is duty-bound to take charge of. When his first draft of around 70,000 words is complete, he passes it to me.

I add the emotion. I draws out his feelings and write the scenes from his sometimes harrowing descriptions. It’s cathartic for Bob. Bob says its work.

Bob: There is never the case of not knowing how to move the story forward or writers block because the investigations open up automatically just as they did in real life.

Did we say there’s no magic? Maybe we’re wrong, because suddenly we have a fictional story with the real-life feelings of the man in charge, Dylan, and his partner Jen, who are very loosely based on ourselves.

Do you write full time?
Carol: We are both committed to writing full time.

Bob: Writing is an addiction and once the characters are alive in a book, it is exciting to live with them to the end of the crime investigation. We aim to write everyday and if the writing is flowing we go with it. Writing about taking charge of murder enquiries is easy because I have been there and done it as well as worn the T–shirt as they say. How we use that experience in our writing is more daunting, partially because there's no answer that comes easily to mind, no magic, like we said before, no formula. But, requests for another novel spur us on.

We have daily rituals like anyone else. We walk our three dogs, clean the house, do the laundry, drink coffee, eat pizzas, and love chocolate; turn onto Emmerdale Farm and Coronation Street at night to relax and love films with a romantic twist.

Carol: My office is above the dining room where Bob works at the sitting room table on his laptop. The white noise is a necessity for me to write creatively. Bob can write with the radio on. Once focused he’s not easily distracted.

In between the writing, I am the Chair of the Wight Fair Writers’ Circle that meets on a monthly basis. Every six months the Circle runs a writing competition to encourage others, especially children, to write. The sponsorship allows some great prizes and all monies go to local charities.

In our spare time we help raise money for three hospices: The Earl Mountbatten Hospice’ on the Isle of Wight, Overgate Hospice, and Wakefield Hospice in West Yorkshire. They also benefit from our talks and book sales.

Interview with author Ginger Simpson

Today on Reviews and Interviews, Ginger Simpson talks about her newest book, Shortcomings.

Retired from her big girl job, Ginger Simpson hoped to devote more time to writing, but caught up in the every day world of promotions, e-mails and chatting, she’s decided that one book a year might just be her norm. She spends some of her free time with husband, Kelly, and always finds time for Spencer, the love of her life. Her grandson, diagnosed with Autism, has shown her that with determination, all things are possible. Look how long it took Grandma Moses to find fame.

Please tell us about your current release, Shortcomings.
Our shortcomings don't define who we are, unless we let them. Cindy Johnson needs to learn that. Born with one leg shorter than the other, she has no self-esteem because of the cruel comments and cold stares she receives from her classmates. When Cory Neil, the football quarterback asks her to Homecoming, she's quite sure he's asked her on a dare and refuses. It takes more than just her mother's assurances that Cindy's beautiful before she realizes she may have made a mistake in turning him down.

What inspired you to write this book?
My books are all character-driven. I’ve never plotted anything ahead of time. I’m very fortunate that a revolving door in my mind is always spinning as new characters come inside with new ideas. Usually they come with a title and named characters. I’m just the fingers that do the typing and add the SHOWING to their TELLING.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I’m trying very hard to finish Hattie’s Hero, which is another western historical romance. Hattie, unlike most of my characters, is being very quiet and not at all helpful. I may need to learn to plot in order to finish this one. I love the first five chapters she’s shared with me, but I’m at a standstill right now. Perhaps if I move on to something else, she’ll start jabbering.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I’ve always loved to write so I consider I’ve been a writer most of my life. The important moment came for me in May 2003 when my debut novel was published and I became an AUTHOR.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I could never write full-time. As you get older, your joints get stiffer and I have to face reality that movement is imperative to my health. I could sit here for hours on end and be perfectly content on the computer, but I’m forcing myself to do other things…like exercise on my Wii board. Of course, I do housework and laundry, but that doesn’t count. I also make time for my husband because he’s my biggest fan.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I’m not sure I have one. I gave this a lot of thought and nothing came to me. Perhaps the fact that I try and infuse humor into everything I write, no matter how serious. Life without humor is like living without breathing.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a wife and mother and that’s exactly what I am. I grew up playing with dolls, loving the idea of having a baby and caring for it. I don’t feel like I missed out on any of my dreams.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I’ve been around for a long time now so I’m hoping many readers already know me and appreciate my work. For those who don’t, I invite you to visit my website where my work is showcased, and also my blog, Dishin’ It Out. I’m nearing the 50,000 mark and you can help me achieve that milestone. Anyone who visits and comments on this interview will receive a free download of Life is a Bowl of Toilets and I Clean Them, my short humorous.

Thanks Lisa for hosting me today. It’s been fun, and I liked having some different questions to answer.

Thanks for visiting, Ginger! I hope Hattie starts talking to soon. :)

Live chat/interview with Carolyn Rose and Mike Nettleton - 4/3/11

The Writer's Chatroom presents writing partners Carolyn Rose and Mike Nettleton.

WHEN?

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Eastern USA Time.....7-9 PM

Not sure what time that is wherever in the world you are? http://www.worldtimeserver.com

WHERE?

The Writers Chatroom at: http://www.writerschatroom.com/Enter.htm

Scroll down to the Java box. It may take a moment to load. Type in the name you wish to be known by, and click Login. No password needed.

Please note: The chatroom is only open for regularly scheduled chats.

Interview with children's author Stanley Smith

Stanley Smith is here today to talk about his first book, The Adventures of Cotton Top and Earnest.

Stan was born and raised in Southern Oklahoma and has fond memories of growing up in the history-rich and naturally beautiful state. When Stan was a teenager, his family moved to Dallas, Texas, but his heart stayed in the OK state.

He now resides in Ennis, Texas where he is a US Army veteran, respected father and grandfather, retired General Motors mechanic, and avid horseman. He is currently pursuing a degree in Education through Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas. Since starting college for the first time, his love for story-telling has been fired and he has taken to writing novels and short stories.

Please tell us about your current release, The Adventures of Cotton Top and Earnest.
The Smith brothers, Cotton Top and Earnest, are in for the adventure of their lives. Cotton Top, being fourteen, takes his responsibility as a big brother to Earnest seriously. His twelve-year-old brother Earnest is always curious and every once in awhile a little foolhardy. He is smarter than Cotton Top so he doesn’t seem to get himself into as much trouble as Cotton Top does. Dissimilar in personality, yet the two are simply inseparable. From hunting to fishing to going to school to performing pranks, they do everything together.

What inspired you to write this book?
The two things that inspired me the most are (1) I saw what my grandchildren were watching on TV and believed I could do better (too much foul language).(2) After I was injured on the job and could no longer work my brother told me to write the story of the two of us growing up on the Washita River in Oklahoma.

What exciting story are you working on next?
While going to college full time, I am working on the next part of the book. It will be a little more adventerous and have wilder adventures.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Until I completed the first book I was just a story teller. For fun I enjoy, more than anything, horse racing.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
An interesting quirk is most people cannot tell if I am telling the truth or making up a story. Even my professors have questioned some of my stories.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Growing up I wanted to be a farmer, but I was taken from that when I was fifteen.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I think there is a lot of wisdom and good information in my story plus it is easy to read, entertaining and a book all ages can enjoy.

In order to increase sales I tell eveyone that if they read The Adventures of Cotton Top and Earnest there is a good chance they will never get the flu again. *grin*

Folks can read an excerpt on my website.

Review of Lifetime Loser by James Ross

Genre: Fiction
Title: Lifetime Loser
Author: James Ross

J. W. Schroeder, known throughout his life as J Dub, is a golfer. His father taught him some of life’s lessons in tandem with how to excel at hitting a small white ball on a range and then down a fairway. However, not all of life’s lessons can be taught through anything less than direct experience, and not everyone is a gentleman when it comes to the ‘Gentleman’s Game’.

Lifetime Loser is a story about how falling one shot short on making it to the pro circuit changed J Dub’s life’s path. An opportunity to be a partner in and manage an Illinois golf course seemed almost too good to be true. After checking into the details, J Dub decides it’s legit and signs the papers – even though his wife hasn’t seen the property and she’s uncomfortable with his new partner, Lew. J Dub’s passion for golf never wanes, nor does his passion to support his family as best as he can. It’s when he discovers himself in the midst of a thick web of deceit that he pulls on the lessons he’s already learned in order to do the right thing, no matter how difficult.

The author chose to write in omniscient voice, so the reader learns a lot about almost every character who appears on the page. The reader has to play close attention to each line since the head hopping isn’t limited to one character per paragraph. The character backgrounds are entertaining and lend to giving a lot of color to the story. The point of view choice allows for a large cast of characters and a way for the reader to feel a part of the conversations in the pro shop and beyond. The short chapters allow for many scene and point of view shifts and keep the activity moving along.

James Ross graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia. After turning fifty, he searched for a positive outlet to battle the economic ups and downs that most people experience. He went to a keyboard and let the words flow through his fingertips. Lifetime Loser took eight months to write after four years of crafting it in his mind. James is an avid, low-handicap golfer who enjoys the sport and the lessons of the game. He believes golf may very well hold the key to a lot of life's best secrets.

Lifetime Loser can entertain a golf fan, a golf player, as well as someone who knows nothing about the sport since the sport is used as a metaphor for life. This novel is about a man having the patience and perseverance to pursue the right path, no matter how much easier life might be if he could just walk away from it all instead. It is a good read. Reviewer: Lisa Haselton, Allbooks Reviews, www.allbooksreviewint.com.

Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
ISBN: 978-1-4257-8208-5
Pages: 328
Price: $19.99

Interview with YA author Jo Ramsey

Reviews and Interviews is a Goddess Fish VBT stop today for YA author Jo Ramsey as she promotes her newest novel Reality Shift 3: Cutting Cords. Details on how to enter a drawing for a chance to win a copy of this novel are below.

Welcome, Jo! Please tell us about your current release.
Cutting Cords is the third book in my Reality Shift series. Shanna Bailey’s home life, which is already bad because of the way her mother treats her, takes a turn for the worse when her father moves out. Fortunately, Shanna has her best friend Jonah Leighton to help her cope. Shanna has begun to rely on Jonah a lot, but when her friend Tammi asks for help dealing with an entity that claims to be Tammi’s guide, Shanna has to go it alone. Tammi doesn’t trust Jonah and won’t accept his help. The problem is, Shanna isn’t sure she trusts herself enough to help her friend.

What inspired you to write this book?
The entire series was inspired by events in my life, and the friendship between Jonah and Shanna is based on a friendship I had a few years ago. And then I threw in demons and malevolent dead spirits to make it interesting.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I just finished the first draft of a new YA contemporary novel about a boy whose mother abandons the family when she can no longer handle taking care of the boy’s autistic younger sister. I also just finished edits on Reality Shift 4 and submitted the second book in my new series, The Dark Lines. (Book 1 in that series is due out in May.)

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I’ve always considered myself a writer, but I didn’t consider myself an author until I signed my first publishing contract.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I work part-time for my father-in-law in the office of the marine towing company he owns. But I would say I write full-time, because between writing and promoting I put in 30-40 hours a week. My writing work day is not structured enough for me to describe, though.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I have to have everything in sight. Writing notes, research notes, goals, all of it is typed up, printed out, and hung on the wall around my desk. Otherwise I not only can’t remember the information, but sometimes I can’t remember where I’ve put it.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A writer. I started writing when I was five, but I was making up stories long before that. I learned to read when I was about two-and-a-half, and from that point on I knew I wanted to see my stories in books like the ones I read.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I love hearing from readers, so please feel free to drop me a line on my website, follow me on Twitter, or friend me on Facebook. There’s also a Reality Shift group on Facebook that readers are welcome to join. My publisher and I post occasional updates about the series there, and sometimes I have a group-only contest.

Jo Ramsey is a former special education teacher who started writing when she was five years old. Through middle school, high school, and college, she wrote about twenty manuscripts, all longhand in spiral notebooks which now live in the bottom drawer of her filing cabinet. Jo’s favorite genre to write and to read is urban fantasy. Her Reality Shift and Dark Lines series are being published by Jupiter Storm, and she recently signed a contract for a YA contemporary with Featherweight Publishing. Jo lives in Massachusetts with her two daughters, her husband, and two cats, one of whom occasionally tries to help her type.

Remember to check out the full schedule of tour dates for Jo's blog tour and leave a comment for a chance to win an autographed print ARC (advanced review copy) of Cutting Cords.

Live chat/interview with C. Hope Clark - 3/27/11

The Writer's Chatroom presents C. Hope Clark, creator of Funds for Writers, author, and speaker.

WHEN?

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Eastern USA Time.....7-9 PM

Not sure what time that is wherever in the world you are? http://www.worldtimeserver.com

WHERE?

The Writers Chatroom at: http://www.writerschatroom.com/Enter.htm

Scroll down to the Java box. It may take a moment to load. Type in the name you wish to be known by, and click Login. No password needed.

Please note: The chatroom is only open for regularly scheduled chats.

Blog tour stop with Yvonne Perry

I am participating in a 28-day virtual tour for a new book titled Whose Stuff Is This? Finding Freedom from the Thoughts, Feelings, and Energy of Those Around You written by Yvonne Perry. The book offers empowering, proactive techniques to help empathic people manage energy and information overload coming from the collective unconsciousness of Earth. See http://whosestuffisthis.com for details.

Yesterday, Yvonne visited Soulmate Coach Crystal. Today, she is my guest blogger. I hope you enjoy the interview.

Bio: Yvonne Perry is a metaphysical author, teacher, and speaker. A graduate of American Institute of Holistic Theology, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Metaphysics. For forty years, Yvonne was enmeshed with the fundamental dogma of religion and lived according to the interpretation of the Bible that her family, society, and church leaders passed down to her. Before she had a label to put on her empathetic ability, she called herself an intercessor carrying the burdens of others to the throne of grace. While praying for others she empathically took on their suffering until it severely challenged her emotional and physical health. Her latest book tells how she recovered and shares spiritual practices to help energy-sensitive people clear their energy field, raise their vibration, set boundaries, and stay grounded in Spirit.

Yvonne, please tell us about your current release.
Whose Stuff Is This? Finding Freedom from the Thoughts, Feelings, and Energy of Those Around You is a guidebook for empathic people who have been unknowingly carrying energetic burdens that belong to someone else. This book provides . . .

* Tips to distinguish your personal energy from another person’s
* Practices for clearing your energy field and raising your own vibration
* Ways to shield yourself from the detrimental energy of others
* How to have compassion without allowing external energy to wear you out
* A fresh perspective on the psychological aspect of empathy and intuition
* How to use your intuitive ability as a tool for guidance without paying a personal price

With more than two dozen proven and effective ways to clear your energy field of external clutter, this guide employs empowering, proactive techniques to manage your personal energy and that coming to you from other sources. The book also contains a list of resources that includes books, classes and groups, practitioners, quizzes and tests, radio shows, videos, CDs, and DVDs to help empaths take the next step in developing their intuition.

The electronic version of my book is now in Amazon's Kindle Store where it may be downloaded to Kindle Readers, iPads, iPhones, and other digital book readers. The printed book is set to release in mid-February. Learn more at http://whosestuffisthis.blogspot.com/

What inspired you to write this book?
Like most empathic people, I have always wanted to help others avoid suffering. As strange as this may sound, the one way empaths do this is by taking on the problems of others and suffering on their behalf—kind of like a surrogate for affliction. The other person feels better, but the empath feels horrible.

Many compassionate people do not understand how to set energetic boundaries; they unknowingly pick up energy, emotions, feelings, and illness from their environment and the collective unconscious. Over the past ten years, I’ve researched and tried all kinds of things to alleviate empathy fatigue. There are all kinds of energy-related treatments—herbal remedies, visualizations, meditations, prayers, etc.—that can assist an empathic person on a path to emotional maturity (using the gift of empathy wisely without paying a personal price).

Since writing is my forte, I started writing a blog about some of the spiritual practices and protection tips that I use to keep my energy field clear and balance my chakras. A psychotherapist friend of mine, Dr. Caron Goode, suggested I put this information into a guidebook that could be used by energy-sensitive people to set boundaries and manage the overload of energy they absorb. Caron and I feel there is a real need for this material. She provided insight on the psychological aspect of empathy and I wrote about my personal journey through the empath wilderness and how I learned to psychically protect myself as I moved toward wholeness.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I plan to dedicate the next six months to marketing this book before I start my next project. It will be another spiritual self-help book for walk-ins/soul exchanges. You’ve heard of pen names, right? This book will be written under my soul name: LavendarRose.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
In 2003, when I started my company, Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services. I loved writing when I was a child and teenager, but it did not occur to me then that I would one day be an author, much less a freelance writer. The dream of being an author began in 1995 when I started saving emails I was writing to friends. They kept telling me I should write a book, so I did. It wasn’t published until 2004, the year after I began my freelance writing business.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I write full time — either for clients or my own books, blogs, articles, etc. I set my schedule and spend about seven hours a day Monday through Friday on these projects. Since I work from home, I take a lot of breaks to stretch, exercise, swap a load of laundry, walk the dog, interact on Facebook, etc. I also enjoy doing arts and crafts (crocheting, sewing, painting), and may take an entire day off to play with my grandkids. Therefore, I am very selective about the clients I work with in the metaphysical, self-help, alternative health, and spirituality genres.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I never get writer’s block. There is always more writing waiting to be done. If I don’t want to work on a particular project one day, I simply switch to another one.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a wife and a mother while I was still a teenager young enough to enjoy kids and not too old to be able to relate to them and their needs. I made that goal when I married for the first time at age 17 and had a son three weeks before I turned twenty.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Besides being a writer, I am also fulfilling a divine mission to present the message of oneness. http://weare1inspirit.com/ or WhoseStuffIsThis.com are my spiritual Web sites used for this purpose.

Thank you for having me as your guest today and for participating in my blog tour for Whose Stuff Is This?. You can find me online at the following places:
LinkedIn, I’m on Twitter as @WeR1NSpirit and @Writersinthesky, or you can check out my Facebook pages: We Are One in Spirit and Writing and Editing

Come along on the tour with us. Tomorrow’s blog stop will be at Dragon My Feet. See the tour schedule at http://tinyurl.com/EmpathTour.

Guest blogger Su Halfwerk - The Making of Intricate Entanglement

Today we have author Su Halfwerk sharing about writing Intricate Entanglement.

The Making of Intricate Entanglement
by guest blogger Su Halfwerk

Intricate Entanglement is a horror novella with an underlying layer of a psychological thriller. It’s made up of seven stories, or eight, depending on how you look at it after reading the book.

It started off as a bunch of short horror stories I wrote for no specific reason. Usually, I outline my stories roughly, keeping in mind that change will persevere over all planning. This time I had no clue what I would do with these shorties once I finished them. They were too short to stand on their own, and there was an aftermath kind of a feeling to each ending, like each needed a bit more. Each main character spoke his or her story, whispered it in my ears, and like a fevered maniac, I typed until I effaced my fingerprints. Well, not really, but you get the picture. However, these characters left out a very important, yet inaccessible element.

There are no typical days for this gal; I balance my writing with house chores and taking care of my family, just like a juggler, but I’m usually a sound sleeper. It came as no surprise when I couldn’t sleep that night. After struggling with the pillow and pulling the cover off my husband for no good reason, he kicked me out of the bedroom for a good reason. He couldn’t sleep. So I sulked in front of my laptop. You see, when my characters are in a huff, I tease them by outlining the next book. They come rushing then, worried they’ll miss their turn to tell their stories.

Nothing came to me that night. Not by holding a pencil on a notepad or by poising my fingers on the keyboard. I was blank, and it was because of these short stories. They had something in common; I could almost feel it, smell it, but couldn’t name it.
I did some more research on the factor/s they all had in common, and BINGO! I hit the mother lode. Insanity and perverse view of the world were the missing elements! Of course, none of my characters would admit to that. How could they? They told me their stories as they believed them to be.

I stayed up all night, studying each case, matching each character’s behavior to its equivalent in disorders.

I went back to bed and slept like a log.

Next day, I saw my handiwork, twisted individual stories with an interlaced thread of insanity. I did more research by approaching mental hospitals and speaking to psychiatrists, or at the least the ones willing to answer my questions.

When the novella was done, I transformed my words into moving images along with a suitable musical score and weaved the whole thing into a book trailer.

As much as what I listed above sounds like a struggle, I adore every aspect of writing — well, the promotion a bit less, but it gives me the chance to meet and connect with readers and other authors. Intricate Entanglement is no different. Like pregnancy, some deliveries are smooth and others are worse that a root canal without anesthesia.

It was worth it, though. Life is good :-)

You can read an excerpt and find out more about Intricate Entanglement here.

Lisa, thank you so much for allowing me the space and time on your blog, I truly appreciate the opportunity. I hope your readers will enjoy reading this post as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Author Bio:
Su Halfwerk writes in the horror and paranormal romance genres. From a tender age, the written word left a strong impression on her, later on terrifying, blood-chilling books became the object of her interest. Su’s style in horror combines shuddery terror with elements of surprise; some would even call it an enigmatic twist. In the world of paranormal romance, she transforms the desire to scare into a quest to seduce and tantalize.

When not writing, Su is designing book trailers for herself and other authors.
Intricate Entanglement is Su’s latest release from Damnation Books, a mix of a thriller with an overlay of maddening darkness.

You can find Su online in any of these places:
www.su-halfwerk.com
http://www.suhalfwerk.blogspot.com/
www.facebook.com/Su.Halfwerk
http://twitter.com/SuHalfwerk

Live chat/interview with mystery novelist Rosemary Harris - 3/20/11

The Writer's Chatroom presents Anthony and Agatha Award-nominated mystery author Rosemary Harris.

WHEN?

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Eastern USA Time.....7-9 PM

Not sure what time that is wherever in the world you are? http://www.worldtimeserver.com

WHERE?

The Writers Chatroom at: http://www.writerschatroom.com/Enter.htm

Scroll down to the Java box. It may take a moment to load. Type in the name you wish to be known by, and click Login. No password needed.

Please note: The chatroom is only open for regularly scheduled chats.

Review of Love Always Prevails by Marguerite Ashton

Genre: Christian Fiction
Title: Love Always Prevails
Author: Marguerite Ashton

Devin Williams didn’t start dating until she was eighteen. Raised in a Christian home, sex before marriage, among other things, was in the “do not do” category. By her nineteenth birthday, unwed Devin finds herself pregnant and strongly encouraged to marry the baby’s father. Even though it wasn’t the most perfect way to begin a marriage, Devin imagines a house surrounded by a yard and a white picket fence and filled with a loving husband and kids.

Love Always Prevails is a story about a woman who takes her wedding vows, given in front of God and family, as a lifetime contract. Her parents are active and involved in her life over the years and those of her three children, as Devin deals with the ups and downs of her marriage.

The author’s choice of using first person for most of the novel brings the reader into the story immediately. It reads as a memoir, especially due to the Prologue and Epilogue, but also due to the experiences the main character deals with and works through. The chapters are kept short and time passes within the novel at varying lengths from days to months to years in no particular rhythm. Devin is a natural character with flaws, but also one filled with compassion, endless optimism, and determination to live the life where love always prevails.

Marguerite Ashton hails from Colorado and now lives in Wisconsin. She is the author of two previous books: Taylini: A Family Saga and Traci’s Story. She has a passion for writing crime and suspense novels, as well as screenwriting. She is a registered screenwriter with the Writer’s Guild of America.

Love Always Prevails is a strong Christian-based story that shows a person can heal and move past the worst of times and that there is always hope for a better tomorrow if one believes in it enough. It is a good read. Reviewer: Lisa Haselton, Allbooks Reviews, www.allbooksreviewint.com.

Publisher: Hi Skool Books, Inc.
ISBN: 978-1449919450
Pages: 218
Price: $20.00

Interview with writer Sally Franklin Christie

Today I'm chatting with Sally Franklin Christie, about her first book.

Welcome, Sally!

Please tell us a bit about yourself.
I live in Southwestern Montana with my CCI Dog, Havan. My family includes a Darling Husband who makes the money to pay the bills, a daughter, a son and two grandchildren. I am an admitted eavesdropper and am always gathering tid-bits to feed my character files. In 1997, the Coalition of Montanans Concerned with Disabilities honored Sally “for her commitment to the organization and to speaking out for the rights of all Montanans with disabilities and for the power of her pen and her willingness to use it!”

Her favorite phrases include, “Life is a Story – Tell it Big" and “Don’t Touch Anything Sharp.”

Please tell us about your current release, If I Should Die.
Peyton Farley has settled into a new life in southwest Montana. Research and fact checking for a local newspaper is a perfectly safe job, or is it? One morning, Peyton awakens and finds a strange man in lace up work boots, bleeding out on her kitchen floor. As Peyton calls 911 from her bedroom, someone is stealing the body.

Who is the dead man? Why is he bleeding to death in Peyton’s apartment? Can one research assignment evolve into murder, embezzlement, betrayal and silence?

If I Should Die is a suspenseful journey into the lives of many people. The choices and impacts are repulsive and inspiring. Silence will never sound the same.

If I Should Die grew, like a bonsai tree. It began in November 2007. I yanked it out of the pot, trimmed its roots, plopped it back into a smaller pot. Then after it survived this treatment, I watched it sprout, trimmed it back, shaped the limbs and submitted it.

The story is compact and subplots of murder, embezzlement, betrayal and silence are braided together and tied up with a small clip.

What inspired you to write this book?
It began as a self imposed deadline for a challenge called NaNoWriMo and evolved as time passed. So many people remain silent about things because it is easier that way. Is it ever okay to keep something on the down low? What happens when the cat gets out of the bag? I suppose you’ll need to read the book to find out.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I am reworking a paranormal thriller about people who suddenly find themselves invisible, able to observe things, but unable to participate. Do they go mad? Maybe they find others. It is quite possible that there is no point in being invisible. This is a book that plays on the very thin line of sanity and pure despair. The characters act and react to the new challenges and the reader gets to go along for the ride.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Wait, I’m a writer? I have to confess, I also write. I remember writing on wide lined paper with room for an illustration at the top. The pencil was a big thing, thick and dull. What did I do on my summer vacation? In high school, I was put into a tracking system according to what my parents did. So, I had to do some talking to get into a class on research. I wrote, "Bats are Like People." I used to sneak into the library to read. I am a reader, first, a writer, later.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I am an opportunistic writer. I write whenever. During November, I write haphazardly toward a word count/30 day goal. Mentally, I’m always writing. Physically, well, butt glue and a deadline helps. I consider the act of answering these questions as writing. Writing a grocery list can become a very involved task that includes a hint about what the packaging looks like or what an item might be sharing space with inside the store. Life is a Story – Tell it Big.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I sometimes talk through the scene I am working on and my family members express relief that I don’t need to act them out. I could tell you I put on a big hat and walk three times around the east yard before I get out my pen, but, really, I’m quite dull. I do wear a hat during NaNoWriMo that says, “Not Now – I am NaNo-ing.”

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
At first, I just wanted to be older than my brother. Then, because I spent so much time in and out of hospitals, I wanted to be a nurse or a nun. My Barbies always had an illness of some sort. Then "Arsenic and Old Lace" came to my school and my Barbies all had acting jobs and I became a director. In college, I took a biology major, then changed to psych and English Literature and this qualified me, hands down, to ask if you’ll be having fries with your order.

I’ve worked in libraries, cop shops, and with grassroots organizations. Now, I write, work for Damnation Books/Eternal Press, watch this or that grandchild and write some more.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Life is a Story and as long as you’re Telling it Big, go ahead and live it that way, too.


Thank you for sharing a bit about yourself and your book, today, Sally.

Interview with Janet Cromer

Today, I'm welcoming Janet Cromer to share a bit about her memoir on brain injury.

Janet, welcome to Reviews and Interviews. Please tell us a bit about yourself.
I'm a psychiatric RN, licensed psychotherapist, and freelance writer. I have written fifty feature articles for healthcare professionals and the public. When not writing memoir, I write essays and poetry.

Please tell us about your current release.
My memoir Professor Cromer Learns to Read: A Couple’s New Life after Brain Injury chronicles the seven-year journey my husband Alan and I shared, following his severe anoxic brain injury after a cardiac arrest in 1998. Above all, the book is a love story about a marriage that transforms several times to survive the ravages of catastrophic illness. In an instant, Alan went from being a physics professor to being a brain injury survivor fighting to regain his abilities to read, write, walk, talk, think, and remember. Alan did rebuild his essential skills to varying degrees. He went on to compose a new identity, and we gradually reinvented our marriage and a new life with meaning and pleasure.

What inspired you to write this book?
I had three intentions when I wrote the book. First, I wanted to honor the ceaseless determination that Alan poured into being the best person he could be. Second, I wanted to honor our twenty year marriage. Alan died in 2005, seven years after his fatal heart attack. Third, I wanted to write an honest exploration of a caregiver’s jagged and emotional process of reinvention and adaptation.

Brain injury is in the news every day now as the “signature injury” of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of the young families of wounded service members will face many of the issues that we did. Three million civilians also sustain brain injuries every year. I want to raise awareness of what life is like after a severe brain injury, and be an advocate for improved rehabilitation and life-long services for survivors and families.

Do you anticipate writing more about the subject?
Now I’m focusing on blogging about brain injury, family caregiver issues, creativity, and the writing life. Blogging is so much fun because the interaction with readers is so immediate and interesting. I’m also getting back to writing essays to submit to medical humanities journals and newspapers.

Did you ever imagine you’d become a published author?
I always wanted to write a book, but held back for too long. Alan was a prolific writer of physics textbooks and science books for the public. I let myself be intimidated by his scholarship and productivity, when my subjects and style were completely different anyway. Now I advise writers to respect your personal style, process, and passionate subjects instead of comparing yourself to other writers. I chose to publish Professor Cromer Learns to Read independently to get it into print in a timely way and have control over the process. The day the first copy arrived at my door, I flew through the ceiling with joy!

Are there other books now clamoring within you to be written?
I’d like to write a romance novel about a couple who meet later in life, say in their sixties. I’d have fun following their escapades of courtship, the reactions of their families and friends to their engagement, and how they experiment with defining and building a new marriage at that age. This book would be much lighter and capricious than my first.

What has surprised you the most since publishing this book?
I’ve had the opportunity to meet over 1,000 people this year as I spoke at conferences, hospitals, and literary events. So many brain injury survivors or their caregivers have said, “You told my story. I could relate to so much of what you and Alan went through.” Even though every recovery is unique, we all have so much to learn from each other.

Many readers have told me they liked the all the humor in the book. And that everyone wonders how they would handle a sudden, life-altering illness or event. Reading the book gave them a safe way to imagine how they might respond.

I’ve been surprised that everything I heard about book promotion being a full-time job is indeed true!

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I write on the walls. I saved every scrap of paper for seven years in anticipation of writing my memoir. When it was time to organize all those journals, medical records, photographs, and notes I had to devise a visual road map. So, I hung long strips of white paper on my hallway walls and marked a year from 1998-2005 at the top of each strip. Then as I sorted through the materials, I could write notes, key quotes, and lessons learned in retrospect for each year. Friends who stayed overnight found my “wallpaper” a bit disconcerting, but it worked for me!

Writing on the walls must have really entertained your muse, too.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
The Boston Globe had a wonderful feature with the headline “Human Interest Story.” I raced to read that article every week. I was mesmerized by the stories of people facing challenges that they either overcame or were crushed by. I ached to be a reporter for that column when I grew up. There was a connection in my chosen career. As a medical and psychiatric RN I had the privilege of working with people during the most desperate or triumphant times of their lives. Now I want to write human interest stories again.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Even though writing Professor Cromer Learns to Read made me sad or overwhelmed at times, I’m so happy that I kept going. I found it most enlightening to take essay writing classes to find my voice, and to join a fantastic writers group for ongoing critique and learning. We all have a story to tell that others will find fascinating or instructive. Set aside your doubts and keep writing!

Great advice.

Janet, thank you for stopping by today and sharing a bit about your writing life. I wish you all the best with future projects.

Interview with HD Hatcher

I'd like to welcome HD Hatcher to Reviews and Interviews today as as a tour stop for his virtual book tour.

Please tell us a bit about your current release.
A Cold Dark Place is my first novel. The story centers around two main characters, Luke and Andy. Luke is gay and Andy is straight and married to an abusive spouse. For Luke, it is love at first sight and he doesn’t understand how Andy’s wife can treat him so badly. The love Andy and Luke share transcends comprehension. Although it is strong, there are aspects of it that they refuse to act on in fear of losing what they hold dear to their hearts; each other.

What inspired you to write this book?
Being a gay writer, I am always on the lookout for gay stories. Unfortunately, most of the novels that I have read, concentrate on the sex between two men, the drug habits of this one or that one, and the big party that gay people apparently indulge in on a daily basis (which someone forgot to invite me to). There is a very serious and human side to GLBTI community that deserves attention. I wanted to write a story that showcased the emotional and sometimes tragic side of being gay.

What exciting story are you working on next?
Although A Cold Dark Place is a standalone novel, I have been toying with the idea of a sequel. I am not making any promises at this point, but a sequel is a strong possibility. I want to make sure that I will be able to keep the story from being predictable and too commercial before I make any commitments. I want my readers to understand that just because there is a second chapter to the story, this does not mean it will have a happy ending.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Honestly, I don’t know if I consider myself a writer. To do so would suggest that I create for money. This is not the case for me. I write for fun and have no expectations (at this point in time) to make writing my sole source of income. However, I will continue to write because I love creating and sharing my work.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I do not write full-time. I work with a private contractor for the Federal Government. My job is interesting; to say the least. It is mentally demanding, but I love what I do. On the weekdays, I am too busy winding down from a long day at work in order to write. I often find myself writing on the weekends.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I love to interject humor into my work. Humor keeps the story from bogging down and helps give comic relief to a highly charged situation. If you read something in my work that you get a little chuckle out of, it is because I am about to hit you with something that is mentally intense.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
My mother tells me all of the time that when I was little, that I was torn between a millionaire or a bus driver. After 38 years to think about it, I have decided that a millionaire would be my top pick with bus driver coming in a close second.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I had the honor of working with some very talented authors in the writing of an anthology entitled Unloved. Every story deals with either suicide or bullying. All proceeds from Unloved will be donated to suicide prevention and anti-bully education programs.

Bio: HD Hatcher is no newcomer on the literary scene. He is author of In the Heart of the Closet, a piece nominated for both the 2006 Stonewall Book Award and the 2005 Lambda Literary Award. He is an avid supporter of gay and lesbian causes, suicide prevention programs, as well as Animal Rights. Hatcher currently resides in the Grand Strand area of South Carolina, near his hometown of Conway, with his Life Partner of ten years, Jerry.

HD's next tour stop is March 9 with The Phantom Paragrapher.

Thanks for stopping by, HD!

Live chat/interview with fantasy author Heather Kuehl - 3/13/11

The Writer's Chatroom presents fantasy author Heather Kuehl.

WHEN?

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Eastern USA Time.....7-9 PM

Not sure what time that is wherever in the world you are? http://www.worldtimeserver.com

WHERE?

The Writers Chatroom at: http://www.writerschatroom.com/Enter.htm

Scroll down to the Java box. It may take a moment to load. Type in the name you wish to be known by, and click Login. No password needed.

Please note: The chatroom is only open for regularly scheduled chats.

Virtual tour stop for mystery author Yvonne Eve Walus

Reviews and Interviews is participating in a whirlwind, multi-stop, one day extravaganza to celebrate the release of Yvonne Eve Walus' newest mystery Murder @ Play, the prequel to the first book in her Christine Chamberlain murder series, Murder @ Work. Yvonne will be visiting several blogs today and giving away a $10 Amazon gift certificate to a randomly drawn commenter.

Please tell us about your current release.
EVERY MARRIAGE NEEDS A TOUCH OF MYSTERY. OR DOES IT?
In the new free South Africa of 1994, men are still boss, women carry handguns for self-protection, and some mistakes can change your life forever.

When a body is found during their weekend away with friends, Christine Chamberlain must use her brilliant mathematical mind to prove her husband's innocence...

... whether he's innocent or not.

When it comes to your loved ones, is it possible to know too much?

What inspired you to write this book?
Having lived in South Africa for 16 years, I realize it’s not the most popular country in the world. It’s definitely had its fair share of negative publicity - and rightly so, with its apartheid politics and chauvinist attitudes. Nevertheless, it’s a beautiful land with beautiful people, people who are not so different from you or me. South Africans of the apartheid era had been brainwashed into not questioning the wisdom of the government, but deep inside, they weren’t evil. That’s what I wanted to show in Murder @ Play.

That, and to have a great time in a huge mansion with a warm swimming pool, sauna, servants, and a weekend among friends away from everyday worries.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I’ve just finished the edits on another South African murder mystery, this one set in 1982. Within the structure of a classic whodunit, I explore the question of patriotism and what it means to different people. I firmly believe that most heroes and villains are made by circumstances, not by their genetic makeup. When you read the book, I hope you agree.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Not until I held my first full-length novel in my hands. Everything that came before that - anthologies, photo shoots, award ceremonies and money - meant nothing. Sad and silly, but true.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I wish I could earn enough from my book sales to write full-time! Until such time, though, I have a day job. I also have a young family, which means most of my evening and weekend time is spent with them. Writing happens in the dead of night, when everybody else is asleep. It’s a great atmosphere in which to be writing murder mysteries!

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I write in bits and pieces. Chapter 1, then a scene that will eventually be part of Chapter 5, then a fragment that doesn’t fit anywhere but I like it so I’ll change my plot to accommodate it. Fellow writers call me crazy… to my face. I wonder what they call me behind my back!

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Definitely not a writer! I knew that writers had to come up with original ideas, and I was far too unimaginative for that. Which only goes to show, creativity is something that can be developed.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
If you like in murder mysteries, please check out mine, and if you enjoy them, tell the world about it!

(If you don’t enjoy them, tell the world about it anyway - there is no such thing as bad publicity.)

Speaking of bad publicity. My 6-year old:
“Mom, what are your books basically about?”
“Hmm. Some are about people who fall in love and get married.”
“Oh, yuk!”
“Others are about a baddy who kills somebody, and a detective who tries to find out who’d done it and solves the mystery....”
“Wow, that’s cool, Mom.”

Out of the mouths of babes.... Murder trumps romance any day!

Here's the video book trailer for Murder @ Play.

Folks can learn more about me and my writing through my blog, and can find me on Facebook.

Thanks for stopping by, Yvonne!

Readers, comment below and then follow the tour and comment on other posts today to increase your chance of winning the $10 Amazon gift card. The tour stops can be found here.

Interview with novelist, screenwriter, and non-fiction writer Rob Tobin

Today we get to chat with screenwriter Rob Tobin about his novel God Wars: Living with Angels.

Rob is a Canadian novelist, screenwriter, and non-fiction book author living and writing full-time in Huntington Beach, Southern California. He's a former motion picture development exec, graduate of USC's prestigious Master of Professional Writing program, and currently has a $15 million feature film in post production, a $40 million feature in development with the director of "Die Hard" attached to direct, a just-released e-novel, God Wars: Living with Angels, and two non-fiction books on screenwriting already in publication. Finally, Rob's just accepted a feature film screenwriting assignment from a UK production company to write the first installment of a horror trilogy.

Rob, welcome to Reviews and Interviews. Please tell us about your current release.
God Wars: Living with Angels is the first in a planned trilogy, an urban fantasy about a young witch with justice in her hands and a chip on her shoulder who uses her powers to get even with the a-holes of the world but in the process accidentally opens the gates of Hell and has to battle a demon she can't defeat, an angel she can't trust, and three-foot tall aliens with really bad attitudes. It's a heck of a ride, and a fun, action-packed look at the nature of good and evil and the dangers of vengeance.

What inspired you to write this book?
A lifelong desire to be able to mete out instant justice to people who desperately deserve it, and the realization that even if that were possible, even justice has its price.

What exciting story are you working on next?
My latest novel is Jo-Bri and the Two Worlds, a Young Adult urban fantasy about a teen wizard from a sword and sorcery world who gets chased by an evil sorcerer into Modern Day Montana. It's by far the best thing I've ever written, and I'm really quite excited by it. I'm shopping it around to agents now, and considering writing the screenplay for it. It's a combination of Robert Heinlein's seminal novel Stranger in a Strange Land, "Twilight," and "Harry Potter," but with a definite edge. It never takes itself too seriously but it does have a lot to say about who we are as human beings, and it might be considered controversial in the way that Heinlein's master work was.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I started writing short stories at the age of three, so I'm not aware of ever not being a writer, lol. I finally went full-time-professional-paid in 1998 and have been making a good living from it ever since.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I do write full-time, but it's not always the kind of writing I prefer. I take the best paying assignments or gigs to put food on the table and in between those gigs I write screenplays, novels and non-fiction books for myself. A typical day when I'm not doing one of these have-to writing assignments or gigs, involves me getting up early, maybe 5 a.m., going to breakfast with my wife and puppy (our four kids are grown and off on their own) then spending the next 6 to 8 hours at one of my favorite coffee shops writing whatever project I'm working on at that time. To me it isn't work at all, it's pure joy, better than sex,, durgs or food or even sex with drugs and food, lol.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Well, I guess the coffee shop thing is one of them, I mean I can write anywhere, but for some reason sitting in a semi-busy coffee shop writing is bliss for me. If I need a breather I can look up and people watch which is always fun, listen in to nearby conversations, maybe even come up with story ideas based on that.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Audrey Hepburn's boy toy. Failing that, a writer -- always a writer, from the time I can remember remembering.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Well, my book God Wars: Living with Angels, book one of the God Wars trilogy is now out on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and Omnilit.com (give or take a day, sometimes there's a backlog and they don't actually get the book up for a couple of days), $2.99 cover price, great story, I hope all your great readers download it and make me rich enough not to have to take those have-to writing gigs anymore, lol.

Oh, and thank you and your readers for putting up with my foolishness here and I promise that if they buy "God Wars" they'll get even more of it!

Interview with author J. Q. Rose/Janet Glaser

Today I'm welcoming J. Q. Rose to Reviews and Interviews. J. Q.'s first book released yesterday (3/1) and I thought I'd catch her while she's in promotion mode.

Welcome, J. Q.

Please start us off with a bit about yourself.
I am an avid reader of diverse genres and photographer of family, (especially grandkids), friends, nature, and food that I prepare from our garden. I like to try new recipes and share them on my blog The Garden for Eatin.

My husband and I are snowbirds leaving our Northern home every fall and migrating to sunny Florida for the winter. I prefer to be called a sunbird because we are flying toward sunshine. Summer allows us fun family time camping with our grandsons (and our granddaughter when she gets out of diapers). We enjoy campfires and fishing and especially hunting toads, frogs, and salamanders with the boys.

Please tell us about your new release.
Sunshine Boulevard is a mystery/light horror novella. The story is pure escape reading. The main characters are Jim and Gloria Hart. They are snowbirds who annually migrate to Florida for warm sunshine, fun, and golf with friends in snow-free winters.

However, this season, Jim Hart, a volunteer First Responder in his retirement community of Citrus Ridge, is drawn into the investigation of the mysterious deaths of friends and neighbors. Even in the midst of the unfortunate demise of the residents on Sunshine Boulevard, the Harts try to get together with friends. They don't realize that their friends are getting together for their own kinds of affairs with each other. The neighbors are in a dither over the deaths, but perhaps more intrigued by the gossip about the affairs and why the naked lady was found lying in the geranium bed.

What inspired you to write this book?
My husband and I have traveled around the Sunshine State meeting new people and being part of the boomer and senior lifestyle. Florida had to be the setting for the story because this state is known for unusual, quirky crime stories and events. It was so much fun to make up the characters and place them in a retirement community similar to the ones located all around Florida.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I am currently working on several projects—a romance/mystery, a non-fiction story for girls, and another boomer mystery is brewing in my brain, but not on paper…yet.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I asked the editor of the regional newspaper if I could contribute some articles. To my delight, he actually printed my first one and placed my name as the “reporter.” A byline. I still have that article in my files.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I don’t write 8-5 every day like a job. Several hours throughout the day are devoted to blogging, marketing, writing, and researching. I enjoy the freedom semi-retirement gives us. I can spend my day reading, writing, cooking, eating, camping, playing Pegs and Jokers with friends, and volunteering, playing with the grandchildren, and getting together with the family.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I think my only quirk (remember you are asking me) is I can only write at home. I wish I could go to the coffee shop or the library to write, but I can’t. I guess I am too easily distracted. When I need a different location to discover my Muse, I grab my laptop desk and move to the living room or bedroom. The dining room table or the kitchen counter also works for me. When we were full-time RV’ers my entire office was the camper’s kitchen table.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I really admired Carol Burnett so I wanted to be just like her…a real entertainer and comedian. The closest I got to that was to be a hobo in the community theater production of Annie. Loved that!

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Thank you for hosting me today and the opportunity to share my quick, fun read with your readers. To find me and my ebook on the web, please check my author website and my blog as well as my author page at MuseItUp Publishing.

Blog blitz tour stop for Marian L. Thomas

Today is part of a blog blitz for Marian L. Thomas as she releases her second book, My Father's Colors-The Drama-Filled Journey of Naya Monà Continues. Marian is visiting several blogs today. Comment to enter for a signed copy of her newest book. Details below.

Marian was reared in Chicago but lives with her biggest supporter—her husband and their spoiled but playful dog, Winston in Atlanta, Georgia. Her debut title, Color Me Jazzmyne, went on to become an Amazon Best-Seller and was ranked as one of the "Top 100 Books"-1st Qtr 2010 by the Sankofa Literary Society Review.
Marian welcomes the release of her second book, My Father's Colors-The Drama-Filled Journey of Naya Monà Continues to online retailers, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com, Kindle, and Nook.


Marian, please tell us about you as the author behind the pen.
There is really nothing special about me, I am a woman, wife, and author of two books, Color Me Jazzmyne and My Father's Colors. I currently reside in Atlanta by way of Chicago. I love a man who has supported me and loved me back. I inherited the love for melodies tones from my mother, and developed an ear for music from my father. My sister made me cry when she stated how much she was proud of me. My friends have kept me grounded.

How can readers connect with you?
My website is: http://www.marianlthomas.com. There readers can watch book trailers, read reviews, get more information on my books and connect with me on Facebook or LinkedIn.

Please tell us about your newest release.
My Father's Colors-The Drama-Filled Journey of Naya Monà Continues takes you on the journey of four individuals that lead to one incredible destination filled with betrayal, lies, and shocking secrets.

Naya Monà is back on another emotional and drama-filled roller coaster as she finds herself fighting to find her voice, discover her father's past, and search for her daughter. How do you find a daughter you never knew you gave birth to?

Then there's Chris—her husband. How far would one go for love? That is the question that Chris wastes no time answering. He will do whatever it takes to remove his wife’s pain, even if it means being the one to cause her the most.

Let's not forget Misty. Fame and fortune have been the determining factors for Misty ever since her father passed away. How far will she go, this time, to achieve it?

Introducing Carl Thompson. Carl has found the love of his life, only she doesn’t know it. Green eyes and hazel brown hair fill his dreams for the future. Does he have enough love for the both of them?

What was the inspiration that drove you to write this book?
Honestly, after my first book I wasn't sure if I really wanted to write another one. However, when speaking to ones that read Color Me Jazzmyne and listening to them relate how much they enjoyed reading it, gave me the need inspiration to finally sit down and put my pen and thoughts into action again. I thought it would be difficult to get back into the character and life of the story again, but once I was there it was more than an inspiration, it became a true motivation for me.

What's next for you, another book?
I have begun to write the third book and hope to have it released within a year or two. Already I have readers asking me for it. It is such an encouragement when I see that readers allow my books to not only come into their homes but into their hearts.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
That took a long time, but I think the reality of it all hit me when I started reading the reviews on my first book, Color Me Jazzmyne. I was like "Wow, they are calling me an author" that felt good to say out loud.

How do you find the time to write and what else interests you?
I work full-time, so writing for me takes place in the late evenings. Once I wrote a few chapters at the airport while traveling. I enjoy writing, but I also enjoy other things such as interior design. I would love to one day really give serious consideration to going back to school for interior design.

Some authors admit they have a writing quirk. Do you have one you'd like to share?
I do something most authors tell you in these types of interviews to never do. I go back and re-read everything that I have already written before writing another chapter. It takes me longer to finish, but I can't help it, I have to get back into the character in order to tell his or her story correctly.

Growing up, did you always know you wanted to be an author?
I always had a desire to write but more so as a journalist. I majored in journalism in College. However, I did write a version of my first book, Color Me Jazzmyne while in high school, so I guess writing novels was somewhere deep inside me, I just needed to feel it.

Any additional thoughts you would like to share?
I sometimes get asked if I am willing to visit book clubs. I love doing that because it gives me one-on-one time with book lovers. So if you are in a book club, invite me and let's get a discussion going about one of my books.

Please tell readers how they could win a free signed copy of your book.
It's easy. I'll be a guest blogger for some of the most amazing blogs, such as this one. Visit each blog, leave a comment, and your name will be entered into a drawing for one signed copy of my book. The person who has left the most comments (one per blog) will win.

Ready to win? Start with leaving a comment on this blog.