Interview with fantasy author V. S. Holmes

Novelist V. S. Holmes is here today chatting about the new epic fantasy, Blood and Mercy.

Bio:

V. S. Holmes is an international bestselling author. They created the REFORGED series and the NEL BENTLY BOOKS. Smoke and Rain, the first book in their fantasy quartet, won New Apple Literary's Excellence in Independent Publishing Award in 2015. In addition, they have published short fiction in several anthologies.

When not writing, they work as a contract archaeologist throughout the northeastern U.S. They live in a Tiny House with their spouse, a fellow archaeologist, their not-so-tiny dog, and own too many books for such a small abode. As a disabled and queer human, they work as an advocate and educator for representation in SFF worlds.

Welcome, V. S. Please tell us about your current release.

Blood and Mercy is the final book in my Reforged series and follows Rih, a Deaf soldier-turned-rebel-general and Keplan, a broody, queer, teenage god. While Rih juggles life in a foriegn country and marriage to a man she condemned, Keplan struggles with addiction, visions, and murder.

You can check out the description below!

​Saving the world may have doomed them all

Keplan reels in the wake of grief and guilt at the blood on his hands. Outside the city walls, however, winter grows fiercer and droughts longer. Alea reforged the fractured world twenty years before--so why is it withering before his eyes? Then, just as he masters being a monarch, a prophet arrives spouting scripture about a One True God. Keplan’s own mother killed the last gods, yet this one matches his description perfectly--and its wrath is about to fall upon Athrolan.

Isolated within the same cold, marble walls as Athrolan’s murderous king, Rih struggles to plot her rebellion leagues away from everything she has ever known. With an unexpected ally, she may have finally found a way to the Mirikin Hetmir--until tragedy strikes. With religious fanatics at their walls, blight in their fields, and a king floundering from addiction, Athrolan spirals out of control.

​Now Rih must choose between a mad king’s life and her own revolution.

What inspired you to write this book?

Fantasy is filled with farmboys who become heroes and princesses, and I chose to subvert those tropes. This is the finale of a series that focuses on broken heroes and terrible choices, a theme I wanted to keep in this installment. I also explored the political machinations behind war and whether the end justifies horrifying means. I began this book years ago, but while finalizing it for publication I realized there were familiar notes of rebellion, climate change (though this one has divine roots), and corrupt governments, both openly so and secretive.

With Rih I wanted to show a stubborn and dedicated woman, surrounded by as many--if not more--enemies than friends as she navigates a world she cannot hear. With Keplan, I delved into concepts of sexuality and gender with a mind that hears too much.

Link to an excerpt from Blood and Mercy:  https://vsholmes.com/news/weve-got-a-release-date

What exciting story are you working on next?

I’m a multi-project author, so I’ve got a few in the works! I’m drafting Heretics, the fourth book in my lesbian archaeologists in space series, the Nel Bently Books, which take place in the shared Starsedge scienc fiction universe.

I’m also outlining my next fantasy, Dagger’s Dance, the first in an all-new series set in the Blood of Titans world.

Lastly, I’m sandboxing a third unrelated project which I’m not at liberty to share just yet, but it promises to be dark, complicated, and utterly delightful!

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I’ve always written, but I first began taking it seriously in a professional manner in university (partially as an escape as well as in retaliation against my narrow-minded creative writing professor) and dove into the querying world in 2013.

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, though I also have a seasonal day-job as a contract archaeologist. This means I travel a lot during the summer and fall, writing early in the morning and after we finish off our hotel parking lot drinks in the evening. Most of my winter months are spent writing as the ground is too frozen for consistent digging. My schedule is unpredictable, but I find incredible inspiration in the people and places I encounter!

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Brooding and psychological characters who we’re never certain are actually good. Also, I cannot write scenes in chronological order, despite heavily outlining!

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

An astronaut/ astrophysicist like Ellie Arroway or evolutionary biologist/paleontologist. Also, a dragon.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

If you’re interested in checking out my work for free, you can snag a copy of Disciples, a Nel Bently short prequel or The Tempest, a fantasy survival story and glimpse at the Blood of Titan’s world from an entirely new perspective!

The Tempest: Frigid waters, monstrous leviathans, and seven other heirs lie between her and the crown. https://vsholmes.com/tempest.html

Disciples: Can Lin save their lives when she’s forbidden to get involved?

https://vsholmes.com/disciples.html

Links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Bookbub | Universal Preorder (only $.99, price goes up to $5.99 after release weekend!)

Thanks for joining me today.

Interview with crime thriller author Dwayne Clayden

Crime thriller author Dwayne Clayden joins me today to chat about his new novel, Speargrass-Opioid.

Welcome, Dwayne, please tell us a little bit about yourself.

I was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In my 42-year career in emergency services, I served as a police officer, paramedic, tactical paramedic, firefighter, emergency medical services (EMS) chief, educator, and academic chair.

Now I combine my experience as a police officer and paramedic and write realistic crime thrillers.

My first novel, Crisis Point, was a finalist for the 2015 Crime Writers of Canada, Arthur Ellis Awards.

I love to speak at conferences and to writing groups on writing realistic police, medical, and paramedic procedures.

I am the co-author of four paramedic textbooks and have spoken internationally at EMS conferences for the past three decades.

Please tell us about your current release.

Speargrass-Opioid is set in Great Falls, Montana, and on the fictional Indian Reservation, Speargrass.

Rodeo champion Franklyn Eaglechild finds his life upended when his bull-riding injuries force him into a new line of work as the Tribal Sheriff in Speargrass, Montana. His damaged health leaves him with a pill-popping problem and a dim future of lost dreams. While coping with his personal defeats, Franklyn quickly discovers not everyone in Speargrass is thrilled to have a new Sheriff in town looking into their business—especially not the drug dealers.

Franklyn makes enemies in high places when he refuses to play by the Tribal Chief’s rules. Friends are scarce. Lucky for Franklyn, he has at least one friend he can rely on—his adopted brother and DEA Special Agent Riley Briggs in Great Falls.

As an opioid crisis spirals out of control in and around Great Falls and Speargrass, Franklyn and Riley realize they need to join forces if there is any hope of putting an end to the destruction.

What inspired you to write this book?

There were three reasons I wanted to write this novel. First, I was directly involved in the carnage the opioid crisis has created.

Second, based on my experience working on a First Nation, I saw first-hand addictions, death, and destroyed families.

Third, I am a big fan of Craig Johnson and his Longmire novel series, and the TV show. I saw the opportunity to create my own characters and world. In Speargrass, Franklyn and Riley are protagonists 1a and 1b. They share equal time in the novel, in their own sphere, but come together to solve a critical problem.

Excerpt from Speargrass-Opioid:

Franklyn Eaglechild slumped on the examination table, legs over the edge, and stared at the row of X-rays.

“Remind me, how many previous fractures?” the doctor asked.

“About fifty.”

“All from rodeo?”

“No, some from hockey.”

The doctor sighed. “The body wasn’t meant to take this abuse. I’m amazed you’re still walking.”

“About that … the pain pills aren’t doing a lot. I need something stronger.”

The doctor turned and sighed. “Look, Franklyn, Oxycontin is all I can prescribe. I shouldn’t be doing that anymore.”

“What’s the option?”

“You gotta stop rodeo. Your next argument with a two-thousand-pound bull could be your last. Any subsequent fractures might not heal. Besides, you can hardly move. How would you dodge a bull?”

“Don’t ride bulls anymore.” Franklyn smirked. “Just steer wrestling.”

“Oh great, so you jump off a speeding horse to wrestle five hundred pounds of steer to the ground.” The doctor shook his head. “What could possibly go wrong with that?”

“Come on, doc, it’s all I know.”

“Why do you sell yourself short? A month ago, you said you were applying for a job. What happened with that?”

“It’s back on the rez.”

The doctor leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. “What’s wrong with that?”

Franklyn shrugged. “I haven’t been on the rez for twenty-five years.”

“But it’s home. You got folks there?”

“Nobody close. My parents died a long time ago. Grandparents, too. Don’t know if I’d recognize anyone.”

The doctor pushed off the wall and stepped over to Franklyn. “As I told you a month ago, rodeo is in your past. If you jump off another horse, you could be crippled for life.”

“No options?”

The doctor rolled his eyes. “What about the job?”

“Speargrass Tribe advertised for an arena manager.” Franklyn grinned. “But they offered me the job of sheriff.

“Are you kidding me?”

“Nope.”

“You got any experience?”

“Some,” Franklyn said. “I worked the Montana Highway Patrol. Primarily winter months after rodeo season.”

“That’s better than continuing rodeo and being crippled.”

“I didn’t think I’d get the job.” Franklyn held out his shaking right hand. “Will I be able to hold a gun?”

“You’ll be able to hold it, but I can’t guarantee you’ll be able to pull the trigger too many times. And you might not be accurate.”

“About the pain?”

“I’ll give you a two-month prescription for Oxy. But you must stop rodeo and take care of your body. Maybe try yoga.”

“Are you insane?”

“Hey, pro athletes swear by it. Give it a try.” The doctor grinned. “Lots of women go to yoga.”

Franklyn’s head jerked up. “Lots of women?”

“Lots.”

What exciting story are you working on next?

Crisis Point, Outlaw^MC, and Wolfman is Back are the first three novels in the Brad Coulter Crime Thrillers series.

The fourth novel in the series, 13 Days of Terror, is now back from my editor, and I am making the final changes before sending it for proof-reading. It will be released in November 2020. I am working on the fifth novel in that series, Goddess of Justice, which will be released in early 2021.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I have always loved reading. My earliest memories are of my mother reading the Hardy Boys to me. Then I read every one. In high school, I wrote Mad Magazine type spoofs and Saturday Night Live skits. In 2010 I started my first novel, Crisis Point. I realized I was a writer when I held the full printed proof in my hands for the first time.

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 a full-time writer. My days start with coffee, the news, then to my writing cave. Around nine, I check emails and social media, and then by ten, I edit for the rest of the morning. After a lunch break, I then work on new chapters in the next novel. My most productive time for writing new material is from after lunch to midnight. Sometimes, after Valerie goes to sleep, I will write into the wee hours of the morning.

On a new novel, my goal is to write between 3-5,000 words a day for the first draft.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I use a lot of Post It Notes. My cave is covered with small notes, and large poster-sized notes with research, photos, and reminders. I still edit with paper (full of Post It Notes) and pen (a Bic four-color pen).

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

High School Physical Education Teacher/Football Coach/Police Officer

I did two out of three—a cop and football coach.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

13 Days of Terror—4th in the Brad Coulter Crime Thriller series—Launching in November.

My next novel is in final edit.

Monday morning. A man drops dead in the parking lot of a car dealership in downtown Calgary. No one knows where the shot came from. No one knows why the victim was targeted. The shooter? Invisible.

An hour later, another body hits the ground. Random victim, random location.

A sniper is terrorizing Calgary.

Detective Brad Coulter has just returned to work after a long leave of absence. He is thrown directly into the fire and tasked with stopping what is rapidly becoming one of the city’s deadliest killers. The shooter leaves no evidence behind but taunts Brad with notes addressed directly to him. As the death count rises, city-wide panic ensues.

It is a race against time. But how can Brad hunt a ghost?

Links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Thanks for joining me today!

Interview with western novelist Bob Brill

Writer Bob Brill joins me today to chat about his new western, Lancer; Hero of the West – The Broken Bow Affair.

Bio:

Bob Brill is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster, and writer who is well known in broadcast circles and radio news. A former national correspondent with the UPI Radio Network and currently a news anchor/reporter with the only All News Radio Station in Los Angeles, he has written a dozen books. Aside from other novels and non-fiction books, Bob has just completed the sixth novel in the Lancer; Hero of the West series. There will be ten. He writes one a year.

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

The Broken Bow Affair is the sixth in the series and takes place in Broken Bow, NE. Lancer is hired by the local cattleman’s association to find who is rustling the local herds. He meets up with his usual legendary characters along the way. There are usually a couple of them aside from the men he knows and hangs out with in Tombstone, AZ, such as the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday. 

What inspired you to write this book?

Several of the Lancer series deal with International Affairs (New Orleans and Los Angeles in particular as well as Santa Fe). This one deals with a real problem the West faced; rustling and the growing power of corporations (aka associations). I wanted to delve into America’s growing corporate structure as well as bring in some historical figures.

Excerpt from The Broken Bow Affair:

   Lancer stepped in quickly.

  “Look fellas I got breakfast coming and I’d really like to eat it without getting heartburn, if you catch my drift,” the gunslinger registered. “Now if we can put the family squabble aside for a few minutes, I do have a question maybe the three of you can help me with.”

  The brothers agreed without a word to settle this later. Lancer needed help and they were obliged to give it. 

  “I’m going up to Nebraska tomorrow, cattlemen up there in Broken Bow, got some troubles and need my help.”

  Virgil’s ears perked up right away.

  “Range War? Didn’t think you’d get involved in something like that. Nasty business.”

  Lancer waived him off.

  “Nah, rustlers,” he assured the older Earp. “Seems something about they got it going on up there and can’t seem to catch who’s behind it.”

  “Cattleman’s Association hiring you?”

  Lancer nodded. Wyatt didn’t look up from his coffee and said it straight forward.

  “There’s your answer,” he replied. “Never knew an association of cattleman to be anywhere near the honest truth. Probably doing the rustling themselves and looking for someone to blame it on. You look out for yourself up there. We are really talking nasty business.”

  Lancer had thought about it but since he didn’t have much to go on yet, he wasn’t making any assumptions. He took in all that Wyatt was saying however.

  “I’d rather face Johnny Ringo than a cattleman in a suit and tie, any day,” Wyatt pointed out.

  Just then a booming voice came from the doorway.

  “Well, I’m right here law dog.” 

  Johnny Ringo stood tall enough despite not being a man of great stature. When he spoke, whether softly or with a keen sense of power, people listened. Wyatt, surprised, did not even look up.

  “Can’t you figure enough to come in out of the rain, Ringo,” Wyatt suggested. “Oh, I forgot you did.”

  The comment was enough to rile Ringo and move his hand toward his gun. It didn’t take much because Ringo was always looking for a fight, itching to pull his .44. 

  “I wouldn’t do that,” came the voice of Doc Holliday behind Ringo. “Johnny Ringo why don’t you just sit down and have some breakfast? I’ll even pay for it.”

  Ringo stood frozen. He’d love to tangle with Holliday and maybe would one day, but not today. As his hand moved slowly away from his holster Ringo settled down a bit.

  “You keep your money Holliday,” he answered. “I can buy my own breakfast, anytime, any day.”

  Virgil couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

  “Yup, I guess the price of cattle just went up, didn’t it Ringo, I mean some folks got their pockets full of foldin’ money, not just jinglin’ change, ain’t that right?”

  “You got somethin’ to say Earp, you say it!”

  Virgil got up from the table and walked directly over to Ringo. The two men went face to face and stared, neither with a smile to be had.

  “I got something to say, Cowboy,” Virgil held his ground. “Where’s your partner, Curly Bill this morning? Oh, he’s probably eatin’ Tortilla’s and enchiladas somewhere near the Mexican border, I figure.”

  As Ringo’s hand moved closer to his side again, Doc put his hand onto Ringo’s hand and held tightly. Ringo, despite his lack of even temperedness, understood he was not going to win anything here. He stared directly into the eyes of the elder Earp, turned and stormed out. Doc let him move on.

  “Now nobody sit with their back to door, ya hear?” Virgil warned.

  “Not necessary,” Doc responded. “You see, Johnny Ringo, while a desperate scoundrel, carries too much pride in himself to back down and then shoot you in the back. He’ll be back, but his breakfast will be eaten elsewhere this morning.”

What exciting story are you working on next?

As far as books go, I start writing the next Lancer in November or December but I have not decided where yet. I'm thinking San Francisco but that's not set in stone. Right now I’m getting ready to shoot a documentary on an event from 50 years ago. February is the 50^th anniversary of the Sylmar earthquake and I was a senior at Sylmar High School at the time. It’s a big project and won’t give me time to write. Although I am working on another book which I’ve been working on for ten years but I only pick it up when I have little else to do, and that’s rare. 

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I’ve always written since childhood but I really began the craft seriously and professionally in 2008 when I started putting together “Fan Letters to a Stripper; A Patti Waggin Tale.” I own the rights to a long dead stripper who married a major league baseball player. It’s a coffee table biography. When I was 7 I started writing jokes for friends and family and I guess that contributed to my quirky sense of humor. 

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, my day job is as a news anchor and reporter with the only all news radio station in Los Angeles. Otherwise, I also write screenplays and pilots as well as books, a couple of blogs including the very popular “www.baseballinthe1960s.com. It’s a weekly column about baseball from 1960-69. I also produce a trivia show on my YouTube Channel several days a week and once in a while I sleep. I find the time to write in between other stuff and when I decide I need to work on one project I write for hours at a time until I want to stop. The next day or even later in the day I go back to it. It usually takes me 3-4 weeks at most to write a first draft of anything. 

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I buy and sell baseball cards, something which I became well known for. At one time I was considered an icon in the industry when I wrote “The Brill Report,” which was a twice weekly “FAX newsletter in those days. It is a passion of mine (baseball cards not newsletters).

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

The Lone Ranger

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

When I am on the treadmill at the gym I still watch half hour episodes of the Lone Ranger on my phone to make it through the exercise. I really hope people enjoy Lancer and my weekly baseball column as well as the short films I’ve produced and hopefully one day I will actually sell a screenplay and see my work on the big (or the little) screen and not just the Internet. Dreams never end and I really do just enjoy working and creating. 

Links:

Book site | Author site | Facebook | Amazon

Thanks for being here today, Bob!

Interview with paranormal romance author J.E. McDonald

Novelist J.E. McDonald is helping me wrap up the week by chatting about her paranormal romance, Ghost of a Gamble, book one of the Wickwood Chronicles.

Bio:

J.E. McDonald is a writer of paranormal romance, romantic suspense, sci-fi romance, and contemporary romance. Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Canada, she lives with her husband and three rambunctious daughters who keep her on her toes. An avid reader and Minecraft junkie, when she’s not plotting her next story, she’s avoiding dust bunnies while plotting her next story.

Welcome, J.E. Please tell us about your current release.

Ghost of a Gamble is a romance pitting a ghost hunter with a skeptic. Set in Wickwood, a city where strange things happen, the two main characters are thrown together by bad luck. Bree loses her job at the beginning of the book, and with an eviction notice in her back pocket she needs to find a job fast. That’s when she runs into Zack, a paranormal investigator searching for an assistant. Because Bree speaks without a filter, and Zack is the strong silent type, personalities clash while the chemistry sparks, all amid an investigation of one of the most haunted houses Zack has ever encounter. While Bree struggles with the need to expose the paranormal investigation company for a scam because ghosts aren’t real, Zack battles internally on whether or not to trust Bree enough to reveal his secret.

It's kind of like the first few seasons of Supernatural (before they got super dark) with a splash of Bridget Jones’s Diary.

What inspired you to write this book?

I love to read and write romance, and one of my all-time favorite things is the clash of opposing personalities. With this book, Bree is the skeptic while Zack knows ghosts are, indeed, real. Bree is bubbly and speaks without thinking, while Zack is introverted and doesn’t like to speak unless he needs to. I love to see the sparks fly.

Excerpt from Ghost of a Gamble:

The meet cute:

She sipped her coffee and winced when it burned her tongue.

Rubbing the sting away on the back of her teeth, she strolled the five steps to the advertisement board. From beneath the half-wall, she saw someone on the other side in combat boots and black jeans. Bree scanned the ads. Most were college students searching for roommates. Others were for concerts coming up in the Wickwood area.

The hard knot in Bree’s chest mutated into a hot burn. She really needed a job.

Thunk. Thunk. A stapler hit the other side of the board. She straightened. Thunk. Thunk. Slowly, she edged to the side and peeked around the board to check out what Mr. Combat Boots had posted. Probably looking for a roommate.

She noticed his hair first. Brown with a hint of red, it swept across his forehead to stop below his chin. A dusting of stubble showed through his tawny skin, but nothing you could call a beard. And his clothes matched his boots. All black. He’s cute. Her heart did a double thump. Really cute.

Straightening, she stepped around the board to get a better look at his flyer. His golden eyes tracked her, then quickly looked away. He stepped back to admire his handiwork, and she stood beside him, shoulder to shoulder. Her body hummed. Acting casual, Bree took a cautious sip of her coffee and read the flier.

HELP WANTED IMMEDIATELY

PART-TIME FIELD ASSISTANT

RESILIENT PERSONALITY PREFERRED

AVAILABLE NIGHTS

*NEEDS TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND*

She pursed her lips. “What do you do? Make pornos or something?” She wouldn’t want to star in a porno—not that she didn’t have the skills—but taking a leap into adult entertainment wasn’t a life goal. She wasn’t a prude and could probably be an assistant.

“What?” He turned so abruptly, he hit her elbow. She managed to hold onto her coffee, but some splashed out of the lid and landed on his jacket with a splat.

“Oh, my God.” Bree set her cup on the ledge of the advertisement board and dug around in her tote for a tissue. “Are you hurt? Are you burnt?”

Eyes wide, he shook his head.

“I’m so sorry.” Bree kept digging in her bag. There must be a napkin or something in here. “Not that it was my fault, mind you, since you hit my hand. But I am sorry I poured coffee on you.” She found a used, crumpled up tissue, stared at it for a full two seconds, shrugged, and wiped at the front of his jacket. “At least I didn’t get your boots wet.”

As she turned to reaffirm her coffee was secure on the ledge, she hit the cup with her tote. The cup tipped, tipped…she reached…and it fell to the ground with a dull thud. The lid flew off and coffee splattered her sneakers and his boots.

“Oh my God, I can’t believe I did it again.” Easy come, easy go. That’s how it was with free pity coffees. She went to a knee and swiped at the moisture on his boots. The embarrassment ringing in her ears made it hard for her to hear.

“Please stop,” he said, the words finally making it through.

She peered up to see his wonderfully beautiful face twisted in distress. Glaring at the tissue, she grimaced, and shoved it in her tote before hopping to her feet.

“Sorry,” she muttered. Had she ruined her chances?

Most likely.

She glanced at the flyer. She really needed a job, but if he was wanting a fluffer, that was probably a deal breaker.

Probably.

What exciting story are you working on next?

The next book in the Wickwood Chronicles is called Ghost of an Enchantment. The main character is a witch we meet briefly near the end of Ghost of a Gamble. Her story revolves around her ailing grandmother, a necklace she receives as a gift, her best friend accidentally opening a portal to another dimension, and of course a romance with someone who is, in many ways, her opposite.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I’ve always loved to write. Creative writing and English were my favorite subjects and I preferred exams with essays more than multiple choice. But I didn’t consciously make the decision to seek publication until my early thirties.

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’m a full-time mom, my kids ranging in age from two to nine, and I write whenever I can. With my husband working out of province weeks at a time, and my kids at home 24/7 due to the pandemic, sometimes it’s hard to find a spare minute. I’d once read an interview where a writer put up on her wall “You will never have more time than you do right now” and that really resonated with me. If I can’t find time now, today, then I’ll never find time. I’m constantly searching for unique ways to make that time, and right now that means waking up at 5am to write before my kids get up for the day.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I need music while I write. When I write an angry scene I blast loud, gritty music in my headphones. When I’m writing a love scene, it’s soft and gentle. I create a new playlist for each new project, which means I’m often listening to the same songs over and over again while drafting and editing.

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

Influenced by the pop culture I saw on the TV all the time, I wanted to be a famous singer or famous actress. In high school, my dreams became more practical as reality set in, but my creative side always had a prominent role in my goals.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

When I started writing Ghost of a Gamble, I was a skeptic. I thought the idea of a paranormal investigator was neat, but didn’t see the value in it. Throughout my research, I kept coming across story after story of paranormal experiences, and even heard first-hand accountings. By the time I finished writing Ghost of a Gamble, my mind was opened to so many more possibilities than I had ever imagined—an eye-opening experience I thoroughly enjoyed.

Links:

Website and Newsletter Sign Up | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Buy Pages:

Amazon | Amazon Paperback | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iBooks | GoodReads | City Owl

Thanks for being here today!

Interview with YA fantasy author Jenna Greene

YA fantasy author Jenna Greene joins me today to chat about Reborn.

Bio:

Jenna Greene is a YA fantasy author from Alberta, Canada. She lives with her husband, Scott, and daughter, Olivia. Aside from writing, Jenna enjoys dance, dragonboat paddling, and napping.

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

My current release is titled Reborn. It was released a year ago and won the Moonbeam Children’s Book award for 2019.

What inspired you to write this book?

A lot of things coordinate together to inspire a book. I remember a meme, a complaint about my freckles, and a writer’s conference conspired together to create the initial idea for the story. Late, I realized my mother’s illness, and subsequent passing, inspired a great deal of the emotion of the book.

Excerpt from Reborn:

Sold into servitude, Lexil must deal with brutal punishments, back-breaking labor, and the loss of every freedom. When a young child she has befriended faces a horrible fate, Lexil must intervene to protect her, no matter what the risk.

With the help of a boy named Finn, the trio flee into the Wastelands. There, they must evade those who hunt them while trying to survive a barren landscape. Lexil must face challenges she's never imagined existed, all while learning what it means to truly be reborn.

What exciting story are you working on next?

I am editing the sequel to Reborn. Naturally, the consequences of the first book come into play. More characters are introduced, and the main character’s journey is continued.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

The first time a teacher said I had talent and my parents should buy me a journal. (Second grade). I probably didn’t have any special talent at age six, but the power of a teacher or role model is that they can make you believe what is possible about yourself.

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 a teacher, so sometimes I struggle to find time to write, especially around report cards! Summer vacation and other school breaks offer good opportunities, though, and it also helps that I am an efficient writer who works in 45-60 minute bursts.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I like to wear a tiara when I write. Not only does it keep my hair out of my face, but it alerts other members of my household not to disturb me. Plus, I look pretty.

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

A fairy princess. (Still working on that).

Links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon

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Interview with middle grade author Jerry Harwood

Author Jerry Harwood is here to chat with me about his new middle grade (MG) book, Jam Sessions: Sometimes in Middle School, the Best You Can Do Is Survive.

Bio:

Jerry Harwood was born in Ooltewah, TN. His mother was an elementary school teacher and he spent his afternoons reading books in her classroom or the nearby library. He currently is a writer, which makes sense based on the fact you are reading this here. He has experimented with other occupations: camp director, program director at a counseling center, college professor and middle school teacher. Jerry has backpacked Europe, taught in a Ukrainian University, worked in Rwanda after the genocide, is a first responder, sort-of remodeled a VW Thing, and has a love for Cherry Coke Zero that is only surpassed by his love for his wife, six children, and grandson.

Feel free to share your thoughts on the book with Jerry at JerryHarwoodBooks@gmail.com or visit his website.

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

Jam Sessions follows a middle school student whose mom moves him in the middle of the year. Middle school is always challenging, but especially when you are an outsider trying to find your place. Using humor, I attempt to also portray student anxiety, bullying, and the difficulty of finding your place.

I suppose no one says it better than the back cover…. So here is that:

Meet Phillip. His mom relocates him to a new school in the middle of the school year.

Things do not go well. Phillip lands himself a trip to the dean of student’s office when he tries to forge his mother’s signature. Maybe if he spelled her name correctly it would have gone better.

Phillip also finds himself having more and more anxiety. And the song some bullies are singing is certainly not helping:

Phillip Willip, Puddin and Pie.

Got a bad grade and made him cry.

There is one class Phillip has that is going well. It is with Mr. Filter, who starts each day with a writing prompt. These “jam sessions” allow students to be creative and enjoy writing. Phillip writes about being a basketball on a soccer field. Another day he writes about receiving two dragon eggs in the mail, one for himself and one for a particularly cute girl.

But will Phillip ever be able to make his real life go as well as his Jam Sessions?

What inspired you to write this book?

My previous career was as a clinic director / CADC II counselor. I semi-retired into teaching so I could start writing. This book blends those two worlds: counseling issues such as anxiety and bullying as well as middle school life.

Excerpt from Jam Sessions:

Here is Phillip’s first day:

Phillip walked into the room at 1:15. It was really late to start a school day and this looked nothing like his school.

“My skirt is ruined!” a girl exclaimed with a tear rolling down her cheek. Her eyes moved from the lump of blue icing on her bottom to the chair she was sitting in to a group of boys in the back. “It was those three!” she hissed, pointing. “Robert, Javante, and that Chuck.”

Chuck, Robert, and Javante all huddled together in a back corner. They seemed undisturbed that the girl just shouted their names. Phillip watched one of them give his best, “Who? Us?” look. The other two shrugged and smiled.

Phillip started taking very short breaths. He was standing in the door and needed to move.

Phillip’s eyes fell on a table with cupcakes. He locked on one with pink icing and walked to it without looking around. A parent cleared her throat and Phillip reluctantly looked up.

“Only take one cupcake, young man. Just one.”

“Yes ma’am,” Phillip said, though he thought his voice was barely audible. Not knowing where to go he stood awkwardly beside the table.

The mother moved away to the girl with the icing on her. “I’m sure no one did it on purpose, sweetie,” the mom said. She did not seem convinced of her own words and gave the three boys a second look. However, she did not pursue the boys or the case of the spilt icing any further.

Phillip watched as the mom turned away. He began eating his cupcake slowly. He needed to hold it more than he wanted to eat it. It gave his hands something to do. The boys in the back started pulling cupcakes out of a plastic carton.

A nearby girl looked at the three and said, “Chuck, you were just suppose to take one cupcake.”

“I only took ONE PACK. Not my fault it had six cupcakes in it!” came Chuck’s response.

Phillip moved his attention to the rest of the room. Everyone was collected in groups of three or four, talking. He had never felt so alone. The teacher was at her desk behind a computer screen and a name plate that said, “Mrs. Murray.” Phillip was pretty sure she never saw him come in.

Phillip moved to the back of the room against a wall. It wasn’t a seat, but at least he wasn’t front and center anymore.

“It was a sacrifice TOTALLY worth it,” the one Phillip thought was Chuck said, patting another boy who held an icing-less cupcake on the back.

What exciting story are you working on next?

I just finished a draft for a dystopian young adult. A trans male time travels to a future America where a major world event has enhanced women’s superpower but left men as near-children. Our main character is a gunslinger. A Texas Ranger, in fact. It is the first of a three part series.

My other work in progress is a Middle Grade book titled Freckles, The Dark Wizard. It is a comedic romp through middle school life. More Diary of a Wimpy Kid than Harry Potter.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

In 1992, a teacher I had in high school asked me why I was not enrolled in his creative writing course. I subsequently enrolled and fell in love with the art of writing. Like many, it became something I would “do later.” Now, in my late forties with my six kids teens or out of the house, I have decided to make time to follow the passion. Exactly when did I consider myself a writer? I think when that sixteen year old kid got a story published in his school writing publication and won the creative writing award for his graduating class at Baylor School.

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 in the summer. During the school year I teach 7am-3pm. One night a week I teach a college class on psychology. One night a week I attend drill / training as a volunteer fireman. Writing works in around family and those commitments. I do my best to write 1000 words per week during school and work on edits. In the summer, I aim for 2,000 to 2,500 words per day, six days per week.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I like to write out my manuscript by hand. I was classically trained, so some of my scribble is in Latin shorthand!

I prefer to write outside if at all possible when writing first drafts. I have a space heater on my porch!

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

I attended a summer camp as a middle schooler. I loved my counselors and the fun I had there. I wanted to work at the camp when I was older. I worked there all through college. When I finished my masters, I became the camp director. I ran the camp for six years before leaving to do counseling. It still to this day was the best job I ever had.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

A few interesting notes personal facts:

- My oldest two are adopted from Ukraine independently. They were 8 and 11 when adopted.

- I was a dues paying girl scout.

- I worked in Rwanda after the 1990 genocide. It was a life shaping venture.

- I am a volunteer fireman / emergency service worker.

- I believe the power of story is immense and one of the few things that can really shape us individually and corporately.

- I love miniature candy bars but my wife thinks they should be banned.

Links:

Website | Amazon - Book | Amazon Author | Blog | Facebook Author | EBook (non-Kindle) | IndieBound | Audible

Thanks for joining me today!