Interview with YA sci-fi novelist Melissa Conway

Today's guest is YA sci-fi author Melissa Conway to talk about her newest book Xenofreak Nation.

Bio:

Melissa Conway is the author of four young adult sci-fi ebooks. She is the founder of Indie Review Exchange and the book review site Booksquawk. Her website is here, her YouTube channel here, she blogs at Whimsilly and can be found on Facebook and Twitter.

Welcome, Melissa. Please tell us about your current release.

 Xenofreak Nation is a near-future young adult sci-fi thriller. It's been referred to as a dystopian, but if it is, then it's pretty darn close politically to the world we live in now, which says a lot about our current society!

In the story, bioengineered animals provide organs for human transplantation. Grafts of animal skin have replaced tattoos in popularity, which gives rise to a unique new demographic: Xenofreaks. Bryn Vega is one of two main protagonists. Her father is head of the Pure Human Society and when she’s kidnapped by the Bestia Butcher, the most notorious of the criminal xenosurgeons, she assumes its payback for her father’s anti-xeno activities.

Scott Harding, the second protagonist, starts out as her kidnapper and jailer. His nickname is Cougar because of the claws replacing his fingers—but Scott is not who he seems. He's deep under cover for the Xenofreak Intelligence Agency, and has been given unprecedented immunity to find the Bestia Butcher’s lair and do whatever it takes to bring him to justice. When Bryn is forced to undergo a radical xenoalteration, she discovers a terrible secret: her father is using The Pure Human Society as a front for his own purposes. His willingness to sacrifice his daughter to accomplish them sends her running to Scott for protection, and into the hard-core underground subculture of the very xenofreak society she once despised.

What inspired you to write this book?

One of the things I'm challenged by is the fact that it's hard to come up with a truly unique plot these days. Many of the current books and movies are rehashed. Don't get me wrong, I love a good classic and I enjoy reading books that put a new spin on them, but I strive to produce something that distinguishes itself from the pack. Coming up with such a concept usually starts with a simple, what if? And then it snowballs!

What exciting story are you working on next?

I'm just about to release my latest, a paranormal YA romance called SelfSame, about a girl who lives two lives simultaneously - when she's asleep in the here and now, her spirit goes into the past to occupy the body of a young woman in colonial America. I'm very excited about it, so much so that I already made the book trailer, here.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

In the second grade. I wrote a poem in class that my teacher submitted to a contest in the local newspaper - and I won! Sometimes validation is all we need to give us a push in the right direction.

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 lucky enough to have the opportunity to do what I love full-time. My work day isn't regimented, but I don't need to enforce structure upon myself - on the contrary - I'm one of those driven people who need to schedule in down time! Other than writing, I've discovered I have a passion for creating 3D art. It stemmed from making my book trailer videos, and has blossomed into a hobby that keeps me occupied when my writing muse isn't sitting on my shoulder.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I'm a true 'pantser.' I start a story with only the vaguest notion of where it's going to go. Somehow, characters manifest and plot lines slowly come together. Sometimes it amazes me that I can take a few days off to let the story simmer and then wake up one morning and whatever solution I need is just there. The power of the unconscious mind...

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A writer and an artist. It took awhile, but after college, where I studied Advertising Art, I ended up in a career as an executive-level secretary. I'm now doing what I anticipated I would do when I was a child. It's just as exciting and wonderful as I'd imagined!

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Nothing comes to mind... :o)

Thanks so much for visiting and talking with us today! 

Interview with multi-genre writer Robert Earle

Robert Earle, a multi-genre writer is today's guest. His newest book, The Man Clothed in Linen: The Messiah or Herod’s Son? is historical fiction.

Bio:
Robert Earle was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania and educated at The Hill School, Princeton, and Johns Hopkins. He is the author of The Way Home, a novel; Nights in the Pink Motel, a critically acclaimed memoir of a year in Iraq; and dozens of short stories that have appeared in literary magazines across the U.S. and Canada. Robert Earle also was contributing co-editor of “Identities in North America: Search for Community”. For twenty-five years he was a senior diplomat and national security official,serving in Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Washington, and New York.

He lives and writes in Arlington, Virginia.

Welcome to Reviews and Interviews, Robert. Please tell us about your current release.
The Man Clothed in Linen is historical fiction, a novel that places Jesus at the center of the contending forces of his age: imperial Rome, Rome’s surrogate rulers in Palestine, the Herods, and the Jewish people whose faith and practice was being torn between Temple Judaism in Jerusalem and the Judaism of the hinterlands (embodied first by John the Baptist and then Jesus.)

Herod the Great was the dominant figure of Palestine when Jesus was born, but the novel opens with him failing in health (and possibly impregnating a girl named Mary from Bethlehem who was brought to his bed to warm him). So the question arises: who will succeed him?

Before he dies, Herod takes bloody actions against the Jews to warn them that whoever comes next will face grave difficulties if they rebel against his personal patron, Augustus Caesar. Then he settles on the weaker of his two acknowledged sons, Archelaus, as his heir. Before long, the Romans remove Archelaus while permitting the other legitimate son, Antipas, to retain the title Tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea, but not king.

This is something of an upstairs/downstairs novel because its action is largely perceived by Nicolas of Damascus, Herod’s court historian, who is very close to Antipas’s steward’s wife, Joanna, but also is well-known to Augustus.

Nicolas and Joanna are the ones who save the infant Jesus’ life when Herod orders him found and killed, and the two of them are confronted with the fact, twelve years later, that the boy and his mother and step-father (Joseph) have relocated to Galilee, where Antipas has become Tetrarch.

Living an intimate life in quiet Galilee, where everyone knows everyone, Nicolas and Joanna witness the strange evolution of Antipas’s court and his determination to win back the throne in Jerusalem.

First John the Baptist gets in the way, leading to his shocking beheading. Then Jesus emerges, to whom Joanna attaches herself. This places Nicolas in the position of bridge between Antipas and Jesus on the one hand and Antipas and Pilate on the other.

The story of the New Testament then takes over, incident by incident, miracle by miracle, but is perceived from within the camps of the contending parties. Jesus wants to continue John the Baptist’s work of revitalizing Judaism. Pilate wants Antipas to quiet the disruptions in his land. Antipas wants to see an end to both Pilate and Jesus.

Antipas has come to know the possibility that Jesus is his half-brother by the time Pilate offers him the chance to spare Jesus’ crucifixion. We know Antipas’s decision. We also witness the callous way in which Pilate flaunts his power. He did not need Antipas to take Jesus back to Galilee in order to spare Jesus’ life.

What inspired you to write this book?
I received a somewhat unusual secondary education in Bible studies, ancient history, Latin and Greek. When the “historical Jesus” movement began to flourish (led by writers like Paula Fredriksen and John Dominic Crossen), I was moved to use fiction to get inside the ancient texts and explore them through characters in conflict. A number of these characters had long been compelling enigmas to me: Jesus, John the Baptist, Herod the Great and his sons, the Caesars, and the array of “little people,” like Joanna who are named but not fully developed in the New Testament.

There is only so much that “history” can do with all this; fiction can do more, but one individual, Nicolas of Damascus, was in fact an historian, and he was my narrative key. Nicolas was tutor to the children of Antony and Cleopatra, counselor to Herod the Great, and ultimately a member of Augustus’s court. Can you imagine such a first-hand exposure to history? When I learned what there is to know about Nicolas of Damascus, I saw the whole Mediterranean world come together in a fascinating story.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I am writing a cycle of stories that extends The Brothers Karamazov from its ending (all three brothers are alive) through emigration to the United States and three successor generations of Russian-Americans whose family business comes to be helping Russians first escape czarism and then communism. This is a family saga that covers almost 100 years. As in The Man Clothed in Linen, I make use of certain historical figures: Chekhov, Lenin, Jung, and Solzhenitsyn, for example.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I think I probably saw myself as a writer when I was fifteen. I had been reading Dickens, Hemingway, Salinger, Crane, Twain, Conrad, and the like, and I wanted to do what they seemed to do: create worlds with words that were richer than the world itself.

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. For me that means sitting down with a cup of coffee between seven and eight in the morning and writing until eleven or twelve. I do this every day of the week. I discovered a long time ago that “life” is so full of distractions that I had to get the writing done first. After I write, I work out for a few hours and then come back to do administrative things--sending out stories, corresponding with editors, etc.-- and pursue my reading. When I’m working on fiction that has a strong historical component, I read piles of books relevant to my subject. Otherwise, I read all kinds of things--fiction, history, philosophy, poetry and several newspapers and journals.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I suppose my most interesting quirk, as you put it, is that I follow my pen when I’m drafting. I try to stay tuned-in to what is emerging and let it have its way. I don’t hold back. I over-write, if you will. It’s much easier to cut later on than to add what once was within your grasp but later on has floated away. I must say that I do admire writers who take a different approach. Graham Greene is said to have written 500 words a day, gotten them just right, and then put his pen down. Nabokov perfected sentences on notecards. I’m not that kind of writer; I call what I do “white water” drafting, as in paddling wildly down a river in a kayak trying to move in generally the right direction. I like that term - white water drafting - great description.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
As a little boy the index and middle fingers of my right hand were mangled in a church door, and a local surgeon, Dr. Jenkins, stitched them back together again so that they’re perfectly functional, if a little disfigured. So I wanted to be a surgeon like Dr. Jenkins, who was known as “Jenks.” And if I couldn’t be a surgeon, I would have liked to play major league baseball. I was absolutely passionate about baseball.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
The Man Clothed in Linen is a story about the birth of Western Civilization. The period I write about is the period when the forces that created “us” came together, uniting Roman, Greek, and Judeo-Christian traditions and values. Nicolas of Damascus clearly is my alter ego, the figure with whom I identify most closely. For me, John the Baptist is the most compelling figure--I just love the passages of the book where he is central to the story--and Jesus, befittingly, is the most enigmatic, but I hope I have captured his rare blend of vision, dignity, compassion and fatalism.

Robert, thanks for being here today and sharing a bit about yourself and your writing. You certainly have variety!

Interview with non-fiction writer Rebecca Guevara

Today's interviewee is Rebecca Guevara. She'll be sharing about her journey about writing Blossoms of the Lower Branches, A Hero’s Journey Through Grief, writing in general, and more.

Welcome, Rebecca, please tell us a bit about yourself.
Many people would think my life has been on the quiet side. I’ve spent most of it in Salt Lake City, Utah. I graduated from the University of Utah in sociology, married, had a son (who is now grown and married), and spent my busiest career years owning and running a small graphic arts firm with my husband. My duties were print buying, scheduling, the finances, and copy writing.

Now I write, ghost write, teach, edit, and help writers plan and finish their manuscripts. I enjoy it all. Woven through all of this has been a lot of emotional and intellectual thinking and growth that doesn’t always show up on a bio, but is every bit as important. Oh yes, and a bit of wonderful travel.

Please tell us about your current release,Blossoms of the Lower Branches, A Hero’s Journey Through Grief.
It is an unusual blend of memoir and how-to. I tell my story of recovery from traumatic grief, after my younger brother, my only sibling, took his own life on a beautiful August afternoon many years ago. I explain the path of the historical and literary hero’s journey that was first recorded 4,000 years ago. It is my purpose to show fellow sufferers the timeless road they are on and how others have handled it in many ways to regain a fulfilling life.

It is a road studied by mythologists like Joseph Campbell, written about by writers like C.S. Lewis and William Styron, and lived by legends from King Arthur to Superman.

What inspired you to write this book?
I experienced an insight into how I had lived the hero’s journey without consciously realizing it. The recognition and what it meant immediately made me feel better about what I had experienced, and I knew it could help others to see themselves in a more positive light instead of society’s usual view of a sad griever without ever reaching peace.

What exciting story are you working on next?
Currently, I am ghostwriting a story of a man’s true story of life-changing insights during a Christmas holiday with his grandparents when he was seventeen. But I am also working on shorter pieces that are fun for me.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
During my career I easily considered myself a copy writer of ads and industry communication, but to believe I was a “real” writer didn’t start to happen until after my first book, a novel titled The Trading of Ken, was printed in 2006. Then it was a slow-go. Why is it we so often immediately latch onto the negative names for ourselves, but not the positive? It was a slow metamorphosis, but finally happened.

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?
Now that I’m working with other writers on their manuscripts, it has become more difficult, but when I’m in the middle of a writing project I write what I call full-time. I’m at the computer by 8:00, go until 10:00 or 11:00, return about 1:00 and continue until late afternoon. Sometimes there is an evening session, but somewhere in there life continues, bill must be paid, floors get too sticky to walk on, and the man I’m married to requires and deserves attention. When I’m not deep in a writing project I write less, perhaps only an hour or so, but I really try to make at last that because if I don’t, after a few days I get cranky and forlorn.

I also am on the board of the Neighborhood House, which is a local non-profit, 118 years old, that provides daycare for children and adults on a sliding fee scale. The other two boards I am on are the Salt Lake City Arts Council and the Community Writing Center.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
The first time I thought about being a writer I was about eight, but mostly I didn’t give being grown up much thought. I just believed it was in a distant future and would take care of itself. Not much planning went into the beginning of my adult years.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
For readers of Blossoms of the Lower Branches, A Hero’s Journey Through Grief, I would hope they would take the information and stories that are in it, and use them to piece together their own story of a hero’s journey. We all travel its road, whether through grief, marriage, parenthood, health issues, or any number of life challenges. The hero’s journey is a timeless template of how to approach life.

People can connect with me through my website and my blog.

Thanks, Rebecca.

Interview with novelist Daniel Shields

Today's guest at Reviews and Interviews is debut novelist Daniel D. Shields to talk about Shark & The Wolf: Predators and Prey.

Bio:
Daniel D. Shields was born and raised in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey. He is the youngest of eight children and draws a lot of his inspiration from his family and friends. He graduated from Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey, in 1990 with degrees in both communications and theater. While at Ramapo, his play "Beware the Wind" was the first student production in the history of the college to have a full set production.

In 2006, Shields co-founded LiquidWick Pool Cues. LiquidWick is famous for its "Patented" LiquidWick True Stick 24oz Power Break Pool Cue which utilizes proprietary "phase shifting technology" to help add power to the pool player's break.

Shields taps into his passion for billiards by using the sport as the backdrop of Shark & The Wolf: Predators and Prey. He enjoys travel and adventure and spending time with his Yorkie named Charlie. His fondness for animals, especially Charlie, is a source of inspiration for his work. Shields currently resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Daniel, welcome to Reviews and Interviews. Please tell us about your current release.
Hi Lisa, thank you granting me this interview. Shark & The Wolf: Predators and Prey is an allegorical novel about the exploitation of animals for the mere purpose of human sustenance and entertainment. The book actually brings the billiards term “Pool Shark” to life. Shark, the main character, also happens to have one hell of a killer smile. The story takes place in a world where certain species of animals have evolved both intellectually and physically side by side with humans. In its own small way I like to think it gives a voice to the other species we share this planet with.

The book brings the reader on a wild journey from Africa, to Key West, Fiji, South America, and finally Las Vegas. I’ll be the first to admit that it does contain some graphic violence. And all I can say about that is, the world we live in is a violent place. The sub-title Predators and Prey says it all.

At the end of the day, my hope is that the reader can let themselves be swept up into the exotic world the story takes place in. If they do that, then they will be taken for a ride on the wild side! I’ve included a brief synopsis below.

Book Synopsis
In Las Vegas, Nevada, Shaw, billionaire casino magnate and self proclaimed world's greatest showman, nears completion on the massive Serengeti Resort & Casino. Its amphitheater, the largest man made structure ever built, seats 500,000 spectators and covers an enclosed area of 1.5 miles. The arena floor is being transformed into an authentic slice of African savanna for the show Predators and Prey which will savagely pit animal against animal in the bloodiest gladiatorial spectacle ever created for human entertainment.

In Key West, Florida, Shark, the world's only Great White pool playing shark, gets hustled by the evil animal slave trading hyena, Old Jack, who dupes Shark into believing his girlfriend, a hot fox named Vixen, is in Fiji and needs his help retrieving a treasure. Old Jack's real plan - lure Shark to Fiji, use him to retrieve the submerged treasure, and then capture Shark, and sell him to Shaw, for use as the star and main attraction in the world's most brutal show.

"Come One - Come All To See - The Only Great White Shark In Captivity."

Shark is forced to battle animals and his human captives before trying to rescue his girl and seeking revenge on those that have wronged him. Will he succeed?

Shark will stop at nothing to protect his friends in this exotic world where humans remain the dominate species and animals are forced to be their obedient servants. Sit back and enjoy the wild ride!

What inspired you to write this book?
In 2006, I co-founded a billiards company called LiquidWick Pool Cues. My two favorite animals have always been sharks and wolves. I came up with the idea to bring the billiards term “Pool Shark” to life and since every good action / adventure story needs the main character to have a buddy, it was easy for me to add in Wolf. The book started slow, but then the writing took on a life of its own. It took about two years to complete between edits and rewrites.

What exciting story are you working on next?
That is a tough question. I have about five books inside me that are battling for my attention. The one I think is a top contender is main stream fiction about the horse racing industry. But who knows, I also have some cool concepts for supernatural ghost stories.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
My mother always told me I had a certain way with words. I was a theater major in college and got hooked on playwriting. My first play “Beware The Wind” was produced by the school as a full set production. There is nothing more surreal than sitting in the back of theater listening to actors speak your words and a live audience reacting to them. I was very fortunate to have had that experience. Shark & The Wolf: Predators and Prey is my first full length novel.

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 was writing full time when I wrote Shark & The Wolf: Predators and Prey. I’m now back working full time so it’s kind of hard to find the time to write. I found pre-planning blocks of time to dedicate to writing helps. But, you never know when inspiration will strike!

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I write quickly and spell check later. I have to give a lot of thanks to spell check and my editor William Greenleaf.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I had no clue to what I was going to do until college. My sixth grade teacher told my mother I lived in an imaginary world. Not much of a future in that unless you become a writer.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
If you take the time to read the book, then let me thank you in advance for your support. Readers can contact me directly with any questions at danshieldsauthor@gmail.com

Thanks for stopping by and talking a bit about your writing, Daniel.

Interview with children's author Joanne Lécuyer

Today at Reviews and Interviews is children's author Joanne Lécuyer to talk about her writing and her newest book, Kaptain Vamp.

Bio:
Children’s book author, Joanne Lécuyer, has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Visual Arts from the University of Ottawa and a Diploma in Public Administration from the University of Quebec. She is also a Professional and Personal Coach and Reiki Master. Joanne has worked for the Canadian federal government for over 25 years, with the last 15 years in strategic and organizational communications to help management and employees communicate better. Joanne was born in Timmins, Ontario, Canada but spent most of her life in North Bay, Ontario. She lives in a small rural community near Ottawa, Ontario, Canada with her husband Rick, their dog Kato and their two cats, Black Magic and Minx.

Welcome, Joanne. Please tell us about your current release.
Kaptain Vamp is my second children’s book. The story is about a young vampire named Allistaire, who is also part human, who wants to change the fact that humans are afraid and distrustful of vampires. His family has been living among humans for hundreds of years and they’ve always used their abilities for good. One day, while reading his favourite superhero comic, Allistaire decides that he’s going to do everything he can to help humans. He enlists the aid of his best friend Rich to help him become Kaptain Vamp.

What inspired you to write this book?
Since vampires have been the rage for adults for the last few years, I thought it would be fun to write a story about them for kids. I liked the challenge of taking this theme and making it positive. I didn’t want to give the kids nightmares. Also, I thought a vampire-human superhero would make a good story.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I’m working on a few stories, but I think the next one will be about a fairy. I’ve also got outlines for sequels to my first book The Witch, the Cat and the Egg and Kaptain Vamp for 2012.

I’m also experimenting with other writing mediums. I’ll soon have one or two new comic strips that will be available only on the website. Readers will be able to vote for the one they prefer and I’ll either continue with as a comic or turn the story into a future book.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Before I published my first book The Witch, the Cat and the Egg in 2010, I didn’t really consider myself a writer even though I do a lot of writing in my full-time job. Now with my second book, and others in the works, I’m starting to call myself a writer. Whether I can call myself a good writer is up to my readers.

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 have a full time job with the Canadian federal government, which keeps me pretty busy during the day and week. So, I usually work on my books and the website, during the evenings and weekends. I also get some of my ideas in the early morning, during my bus commute to work.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I’m not sure if it’s a writing quirk, but I like to read the stories to my husband, at various stages of development. He’s a great sounding board. When I have a good draft, I also give it to some test readers – friends and familly. For me it’s important to get feedback. It helps me to know if I’m on the right track and when I need to make some changes.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I don’t remember wanting to do anything specific. However, when I was a child, I’m told that I was always walking around with a pencil and paper in my hands. As a teenager, I really liked to reproduce and draw images from various books and posters, especially fantasy.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
When I started writing stories for children, I decided that I would write the kinds of books that leave my readers feeling good and wanting more; that also leave them with a smile on their faces. The type of book that you can read kids before they go to bed that will help them have good dreams! That’s what Topsy Books is all about. My personal motto is “Dare to imagine and believe in the magic of possibilities!” I hope that new readers will make Topsy Books part of their reading collection.

Readers can connect with me through my website (www.topsybooks.com), Facebook (Topsy Books), and on Twitter (@JoTopsyBooks).

Thanks for being here today, Joanne. I hope the muse keeps inspiring you.