Interview with Christie A.C. Gucker

Today, we meet Christie A.C. Gucker, author of The Cliff.

Can a childhood pact affect the lives of three adults?

Love and betrayal surrounds the lives of lifelong friends Lanie Rhodes, Grant Bennett, and Dane Voight. Years ago, they made a pact to remain together as friends forever. The boys also made another secret pact that same day—to never vie for Lanie’s love.

Grant and Lanie have secretly been pining for one another since they were children.

Now grown up, they finally admit their feelings for each other and what ensues is a twisted tale of deception as Dane does everything he can to stop them.
 
The story weaves around this uneven love triangle. What will happen to the pact? Will friendships be destroyed? Will lovers emerge?

How did you get into writing?

Every night when I would go to sleep this one story kept recurring. Each night it would get a little farther into the story. Eventually I started to write it all down and thus was born The Cliff. Once I wrote The Cliff other stories started to knock so I just started to write them all.

What's the earliest story you can remember writing?

Oh, I’ve been writing little stories since I was a child. I ever wrote a play in fourth grade, a musical! LOL

When did you decide to make the move to "published"?

Well, I had started writing on fanfiction and was getting such a good response. My husband told me I should just give it a try so I did. I was searching for something to leave behind for my daughters and grandchildren – a piece of me. This seemed to fit the bill for everything.

How did you find the experience of seeking a publisher?

I asked other authors and did research on the Internet.

What did it feel like when the acceptance notice came?

I think it was pretty surreal at first. You always have to worry about something you put out in the world for people to recognize. I was worried that a publisher might read my story and think it was terrible. So to get that type of acknowledgement was an amazing feeling. I think I’m still on cloud 9!

What inspired you to write the current release?

Honestly, and don’t laugh, but the love story between Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart. There are also a lot of life real life experiences throughout the pages of the book.

What books have most influenced your life most?

The Twilight Saga was a huge one. I couldn’t put them down. I would absorb them in a day. And ANYTHING by Stephen King. He’s just an amazing storyteller. I’m an avid reader so there are just so many out there.

What book are you reading now?

I am working my way through Insurgent right now. Love the series. I am also reading Revealing Hamilton by Sarah Carr and Phantom by Laura Deluca.

What are your current projects?

I will begin the editing process for my next novel The Purple Heart, which comes out February 22, 2013. I am just finishing up on a short story that will be releasing soon Snapshot to Destiny. Both will release thought Pagan Writers Press. I am currently a new novel called Pacifically You and am working with marine biologist, shark expert and TV host Luke Tipple on this one. I am hoping for an August release once I send it out for submission.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

To never be afraid of taking a chance or a risk.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Don’t give up! Keep trying. You’ll get there.

How important is the support and friendship of other writers?

It is SO important. They understand everything that you go through and are amazing for bouncing ideas off of. I have to say I love the other authors I have met through this amazing experience.

How does your family feel about your writing career?

They have stood by me 100% of the time and are very proud of me. Too bad my two daughters can’t read my book – it’s for mature audiences and they are both way too young!

Tell us a little something about yourself that we don't know.

I like to take risks and am going to shark dive for research!

~*~
Christie A.C. Gucker lives in NJ with her husband, two daughters and a menagerie of pets. Being a mother is one of the greatest joys of her life. She has worked in the advertising industry for over 20 years as a degreed artist, but also works in the fine arts, especially sculpting out of stone or snapping photographs. Christie is also a singer and musician, and can be found singing on a few CDs.

After the death of her father, Christie searched for something to fill her desire to make a mark in this world. Her love of the arts and creativity allowed her to search for a new medium, which she found with a pen instead of a brush. Being an avid reader her whole life, and with her family cheering her on, she decided to take her shot, and began writing.

Fascinated by the supernatural and sharks, Christie studies both avidly. You’ll be sure to find something spooky lurking somewhere in her stories. Her greatest joy is sitting on a beach with her family while surf fishing, flying kites or building sandcastles with her girls.

Author Links

Website / Facebook / Twitter 

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Interview with Dakota Franklin

Today I welcome Dakota Franklin, an author with CoolMain Press.

Welcome, Dakota! 

What's the earliest story you can remember writing?

Before I started school, my Dad told me to tell him a story and he’d help me turn it into a game on his computer. The story I made up was about a pilot protecting the president from dive bombers. My parents gave me my own Mac and by the time I was eight or so I wrote stories all the time.

When did you decide to make the move to "published"?

It’s a sore point. I run the large engineering consultancy founded by my grandfather. Writing is how I express myself, a private thing, I thought. I didn’t really need publication to validate something so personal. But my guru, André Jute, takes a hard line on a writer submitting herself to publication as a test of quality. He threatened to drop me. I couldn’t bear to go back to the worthless wankers I hired as creative writing instructors before him, so I agreed. There was an offer on the table from a publisher in New York but I didn’t like their attitude, so I went to CoolMain Press, where André is editorial advisor and Gemma Coole, the publisher, basically lets me write whatever I want.

How did you find the experience of seeking a publisher?

I understand that many writers have difficulty. I can understand why, having seen the bullying attitude of the New York editor I was supposed to work with. I’m glad now I insisted on going with André to Gemma. It looks like I won’t lose out financially for my “obstreperous stubbornness” either, as the jeremiahs forecast, because there is already an offer to adapt my series RUTHLESS TO WIN for television and then for film.

What inspired you to write the current release?

All the volumes in my series RUTHLESS TO WIN are complete, selfstanding, long novels with individual, different lead characters. The lead characters in all the other books are secondary characters in any one of the novels. Because it is a character based series, regardless of the appearance of being all-action novels, the moment I have a character that will carry a big novel, most of the really hard work is done, because from the character flows her problems, and from problems follow action towards solutions, which someone resists, and that’s a story. So, when I saw this hillbilly “lady racer” in one of the lower NASCAR series bring up her breakfast before a race, and then tap the flick knife in her pocket for reassurance when she noticed I saw, I had a character. When the previous book was finished, I looked over my characters waiting to have books written about them, and this NASCAR racer struck me forcibly.

By now I was so inculcated with André’s fabulous method of letting everything flow from the characters, I just put Flicka Revere on page 1 at a crisis in her life, and NASCAR FIRST, just launching, just about wrote itself. You’ll see when you read it.

I have a part of another book also just out, on which I collaborated with André Jute and another CoolMain bestseller, Andrew McCoy, on the story of a character someone else created. HENTY’S FIST•1 GAUNTLET RUN, which is free to read on Wattpad, was a lark to write, and is a lark to read.

What are you reading now?

I have almost zero time for reading. My work is all over Europe and I live in Switzerland. I hit the road at 5a.m. every morning and return home about 7p.m. After that I give all my attention to my family (one husband, one daughter) until bedtime. So I write in the car, when the three associates who travel with me don’t require my attention. I’m the fastest driver among us, and we’re always in a hurry, so most of the time I have the wheel. Generally I dictate to the stenographer who travels with me, or to programs on our computers which transcribe what I say to text. Add in reading time for my professional literature, and that lot doesn’t leave much time for reading anything except editing my own texts. My bedside books for the fifteen minutes I read before sleeping are currently HENTY’S FIST•1 GAUNTLET RUN, to get the good bits I missed while I wrote my sections and didn’t have time to read everyone else’s, and the complete poems of Emily Dickenson.

What are your current projects?

There are nine complete novels in the RUTHLESS TO WIN series, complete in the sense of having been given over to the publishers and editors. There is a tenth novel, currently stalled because I can’t proceed until André works out how to break it up into several novels; there’s that much involving material. Yesterday I took the day off to celebrate the film offer. Today I feel refreshed and have, after weeks of shillyshallying, decided to write the story of Henry, who is in the process of becoming an English duke; he’s a racer too, of course, because my series is set again auto racing. That will be called THE LAST GENTLEMAN RACER. But Henry’s is a love story, and a story about a cruel man who beats women, and a story about the law of libel. Oh, and lots of racing, because Henry is moving up a class as a racer too. Because my books are so character-based, I write only one at a time. When I have an idea for a new character, I write a very short draft opening chapter, or some notes, and then leave it at that. That’s why the opening chapters of all my books are so dramatic, and so short, because they’re time out from a previous book!

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

I’ve been writing the series for 16 years. I’ve learned how to pick the best advisors and then not to argue with them except on matters of principle. I’ve learned that what a writer does best is write. It’s a very satisfying process. I really don’t know how I would manage if I had to handle all the many elements that other writers have to take care of, if I didn’t have so many committed, ultra-competent helpers.

Tell us a some little tidbit about yourself that we don't know.

On weekends I wear my 15 year-old daughter’s castoff clothes. I’m the trendiest mum for 300 klicks in any direction!

Great! Thanks for stopping by.

Thank you for inviting me, Anne.

~*~

DakotaFranklin is a high performance vehicle engineer. Her series RUTHLESS TO WIN has been on best seller lists internationally since first launching at Christmas 2011. There are currently four books out, and the series is under offer for television and feature film. The first of the series, LE MANS, was voted the Winner, Best Action/Adventure in the Best of the Independent eBook Awards. The latest in the series, just launching, is NASCAR FIRST. Dakota is also the co-author of HENTY’S FIST•1 GAUNTLET RUN, which you can read free of charge on Wattpad. That’s Dakota’s photo on the cover of LE MANS. Dakota welcomes reader contacts.

Interview with Jennifer Wilck

Today I welcome my Twitter friend, author Jennifer Wilck.

Hi, Jennifer! Let's start with how you got started with writing.

I’ve always been interested in words and writing. In elementary school, I used to LOVE vocabulary tests (yes, as you can guess, that made me REALLY popular with the other kids in my class). Although I’ve never been the most creative person – I have set ideas about what things should and should not be – I’ve always loved reading and writing. And when I saw how authors I read created stories, I wanted to try my hand at it. In the beginning, I used to tell stories to myself in order to fall asleep at night. Some of those stories would stick with me and replay in my head, over and over again. So then I started writing them down. Most of what I wrote didn’t actually lend itself to an entire story; it was more like a scene. But eventually, I was able to flesh out the scenes and make them longer and longer.

When and why did you decide to seek publication?

I’d had an idea playing in my head for a while and no matter how much I tried to move away from it, I couldn’t. So one evening, about seven or eight years ago, when there was no TV on and I was bored, I decided to sit down and write what was stuck in my head. I got so caught up in what I was writing that I just kept at it. I’d add to it every day, whenever I had time, which was usually at night. I have two kids, so writing during the day was not possible. When I finally finished the story, I didn’t want to just put it aside and forget about it, so I decided to submit it.

What was finding a publisher like?

The experience of finding a publisher was discouraging for a very long time. There were lots of rejections, most of which never listed a reason. But during the time that I was querying publishers, I joined RWA and met a lot of great people. I entered contests and attended conferences and spoke to agents and editors, who gave me great advice. I revised and rewrote and resubmitted and eventually found a publisher.

How did you react when the acceptance notice came?

It was pretty funny actually. When my husband proposed to me, for some reason, I had a really hard time looking at the ring. Of course, I said yes, but he thought I was nuts because I couldn’t look at the ring for the longest time (you’d think he would have taken that as a clue that I ACTUALLY am nuts, but he didn’t and now he’s stuck with me). The same thing happened when my publisher, Whiskey Creek Press, said yes. They sent me a lovely email letter and after I read it, I turned off my email and just sat there. I’d turn it on, glance at the letter, and then turn it off again. I did this several times before I could actually let myself believe that they really wanted to publish my book.

What's your advice for other writers?

My advice for other writers is number one, keep writing. The more you write, the better you get. Number two, talk to people. Show them your work. Get their feedback. Don’t necessarily take every piece of advice you get, but the more people you talk to, the better you will be able to determine what needs to be improved and what doesn’t. Number three, remember writing is a business. Be professional. Don’t burn bridges. Act in the way you’d like others to treat you. And number four, enjoy yourself. Have fun. If what you’re working on isn’t coming together, put it down and try something else.

Very sound advice. Thanks, Jennifer!

Jennifer's Bio:

When I was a little girl and couldn’t fall asleep, my mother would tell me to make up a story. Pretty soon, my head was filled with these stories and the characters that populated them. Each character had a specific personality, a list of likes and dislikes, and sometimes, even a specific accent or dialect. Even as an adult, I think about the characters and stories at night before I fall asleep, or in the car on my way to or from one of my daughters’ numerous activities (hey, anything that will drown out their music is a good thing).

One day, I started writing them down (it was either that or checking into the local mental hospital—the computer was way less scary) and five years later, I’ve gotten two book contracts from Whiskey Creek Press. A Heart of Little Faith came out in June; Skin Deep is coming out in November.

In the real world, I’m the mother of two amazing daughters and wife of one of the smartest men I know. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, reading, traveling and watching TV. In between chauffeuring my daughters to after-school activities that require an Excel spreadsheet to be kept straight, I serve on our Temple Board, train the dog we adopted from a local shelter, and cook dinners that fit the needs of four very different appetites. I also write freelance articles for magazines, newspapers, and edit newsletters.

When all of that gets overwhelming, I retreat to my computer, where I write stories that let me escape from reality. In my made-up world, the heroines are always smart, sassy and independent. The heroes are handsome and strong with just a touch of vulnerability. If I don’t like a character, I can delete him or her; if something doesn’t work, I can rewrite it. It’s very satisfying to be in control of at least one part of my life. My inspiration comes from watching the people around me and fantasizing about how I’d do things differently.

I can be reached at www.jenniferwilck.com or Facebook, and I tweet at @JWilck. My blog is Fried Oreos, and I contribute to Heroines With Hearts. My books can be purchased through WhiskeyCreek Press, or via Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Interview with Carla Caruso

Today, I welcome Carla Caruso, author of the new novel, Mommy Blogger.

Stella lands a fab job as a mommy blogger. The catch is she’s never had children. Plunged into a world of insanity every mother faces, she must learn to cope as her lies build upon one another. A sexy ex comes into the picture, forcing her to choose between him or the job and a handsome ‘keeper’ of a coworker. It can’t last forever.

Welcome, Carla!

What’s the earliest story you can remember writing?

I recall penning a kids’ series called The Mustard Gang as a youngster, inspired by Enid Blyton’s Adventurous Four (as opposed to the Famous Five). I had a character like her own Snubby, with a snub nose, too, and the crew of kids would get up to all sorts of (good-natured) mischief. I just Googled the name, the Mustard Gang, though, and it appears it’s since been used to refer to everything from a music band to a gang of criminals. And I thought I was being (semi) original!

What inspired you to write Mommy Blogger?

Mommy Blogger was inspired by my once applying to write for a parenting website, pretending I was a mom – when, in truth, I’m not! My clueless story ideas, needless to say, didn’t make the cut. The novel is also inspired by that strange time in your thirties, as women, when friends start falling into one of two camps – the yummy mommies and the party-loving singletons. Working out where you fit in the mix can be the dilemma.

What books have most influenced your life most?

Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta was a big one. It’s about a young Italian-Australian girl, trying to find her way as a teen, living within two cultures. I could totally relate being Italian-Australian myself! Also, Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic Series – I just fell in love with her books and, henceforth, felt okay to pursue my dream of writing humorous, girly reads!

What are your current projects?

Aside from Mommy Blogger, I’ve also just released an eBook with Penguin’s new Destiny Romance imprint dubbed Cityglitter. It’s about a gorgeous fairy living a glam life in the big city who does the one thing she promised herself she’d never do: fall in love with a human! I’ve also got a few other story ideas swirling around in my brain that I have to get cracking on.

Tell us a little something about yourself that we don’t know.

I’m terrified of big dogs! I blame getting chased by a Great Dane as a school kid and seeing my mum getting bitten by someone else’s dog during a walk, when I was young, for my fear. I’m a huge cat lover, though!

*
Carla Caruso has worked as a newspaper and magazine journalist, government PR and fashion stylist. Mommy Blogger was inspired by applying to write for a parenting website at the start of her freelancing career, pretending she was a mom – when she really wasn’t. Her clueless article ideas, needless to stay, didn’t make the cut – though, the experience at least gave her the premise for a fiction plot! Carla is a member of Romance Writers of Australia.
Website / Publisher / Amazon

~*~

Excerpt:
 
Cleo continues, “Most of our team work freelance from home or part-time in the office. You met Angelique in admin before. There’s also Bethany in accounts, who makes girly accessories for the site under her own label, and Topaz, who helps with packaging and postage. Oh, and Noah, of course, our webmaster—”
 
A deep male voice, behind me, cuts in. “My ears are burning.”
 
I swing around and my heart gets a jumpstart. The guy in question is not your garden-variety, weedy IT type. More like a young John Corbett, with mid-length, wavy, brown hair, sea-green eyes and a tall, well-built figure, clad in a fitted, charcoal tee and faded jeans.
 
Noah extends a hand toward me. I feel the warmth of his hand enclosing mine, before I remember mine’s Oompa Loompa colored. He smells of manliness and soap. Mommy blogging suddenly got a whole lot more interesting.
 
“Hey,” he drawls.
 
“Hi, I’m...Stella.” Yup, just forgot my name.
 
Noah’s gaze lingers on mine. “Your our new girl then?”
 
“Apparently.”
 
He nods slowly, as though sizing me up. “You’ll fit right in.”
 
“Oh, thanks,” I manage, but my mind screams: What’s that mean? That he could see me donning maternity jeans or possibly that I look like a MILF? Or worse, a GILF? (A Grandmother I’d Like To...)
 
“Look forward to seeing you at the next meeting,” Noah says, dropping my hand. Darn.
 
“Meeting?” I ask mildly as Noah strides away.
 
There were meetings? I had imagined being a faceless blogger, squirreling away in tracky-dacks in my home office, laughing to myself, while re-runs of Sex and the City played in the background.

***
Find Mommy Blogger at:
Eternal Press: http://www.eternalpress.biz/book.php?isbn=9781615727223
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Mommy-Blogger-ebook/dp/B008SYQV62 and more!

Interview with Michel Prince

Today, I'm pleased to welcome my friend and colleague, author Michel Prince, who is celebrating the release of her new book, The Guardian's Heart:

Case Thomas is always in control whether its on the basketball court, the lab where he works, or in his love life. He thinks he has everything all figured out. All that changes when his parents pass away during his last year of college and Case is thrown into fatherhood when he becomes temporary guardian to two adorable twin toddlers. Weeks later, exhausted and running out of time, Case must decide if he's ready to become a father to these children, or give them up and move on with what's left of his life. Then he meets Gabbie Vaulst.

Gabbie is amazing with the kids, owns her own business, and has all the right curves in all the right places. She can tell Case is attracted to her, but does he really love her or is he just settling for a surrogate Mom who can wrangle his new kids? Knowing that she's falling in love with him, she chooses to push him away until his world straightens out. Can Case prove to Gabbie, and himself, that his feelings are real? Or is this sudden family too much for both of them to handle?

The odds, as well as members of their past who've come out of the woodwork, are against them, but when kids are involved, all bets are off.

Welcome, Michel!

What's the earliest story you can remember writing?

Best Friends slash enemies. It was in fifth grade and I won 2nd in a town wide writing contest. A literary classic if I must say so myself.

When did you decide to make the move to "published"?

Really early on. Once I decided to write a book and I saw how all consuming it was I knew that I had to at least get something out of it if I was going to spend day and night on the project ignoring my family and friends.

How did you find the experience of seeking a publisher?

Daunting. It’s not for the weak of heart. Especially if you submit to multiple publishers at once you could end up getting a ton of rejections, nicely worded with no notes on what they might find wrong with your work so you could improve.

What did it feel like when the acceptance notice came?

My whole body went numb. I called around. Told everyone because I couldn’t believe it had finally happened.

What inspired you to write the current release?

It was an anthology collection that was going to be published about sexy dads. I went way over the word limit but I just had to be true to my characters and come to a conclusion.

What book are you reading now?

I always have a few books going. I’m listening to Defending Jacob on audiable. Reading Touch of the Gods by D X Luc on my Kindle and reading First Grave on the Left by Deyondra Jones.

What are your current projects?

Right now I’m trying to get my Chrysalis series edited enough to get the final books to my publisher. I also have a few contemporaries going. Really I usually have 9-12 books going at once.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

I had to do research into chemical formulas as well as state laws on adoption and guardianship.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Research don’t assume. I tend to tie sports into almost every book. Something about the characters and their psyche when it comes to their sport and position. So when other authors put in a sports reference that’s wrong I get really upset. I don’t go around making wild assumptions I contact medical personnel or historians on the Swedish land. Whatever it is unless you’re writing on a foreign planet that’s all your making, make it accurate.

How important is the support and friendship of other writers?

Extremely. Other people can’t understand how repeatedly asking “how’s sales” when you only get reports every 4 months can be extremely frustrating, because Amazon numbers or ARe rankings are so random. And no one person can know everything about marketing, pub houses, and all the social media. You need them to lean on when your Muse flips you off and locks themselves in the closet. For the most part we’ve all been there at one time or another.

How does your family feel about your writing career?

It’s a mixed bag. They do seem proud of me. I was surprised how well my father took it when I told him that I’m also writing erotica under another name. We actually joked about yes sex is in the world. And my son even though he’s too young to read my books tells every friend, teacher, or parent he encounters about my books. He knows my release dates as good as I do.

Tell us something random about yourself that we don't know.

I was the cheerleading captain in high school for 2 years. Rah Rah Ree yep that’s me.

Thanks for coming, Michel!

Michel Prince is published with Rebel Ink Press and Secret Cravings Publishing, and writes multiple genres under different brands. To learn more about Michel and her books, you can find her on Facebook.

Interview with Author JL Oiler

J.L. Oiler was one of the first people I met in publishing, way back when I first started in ebooks, and we share a publisher or two. I'm happy to have her come visit today to talk about her new release, Indulgence, volume 1 of the new series Glimpses of Midnight.

How did Glimpses of Midnight happen?

I received an email from the Staff at Rebel Ink Press explaining they’d come up with an idea for a cooperative paranormal series between myself and Suzzana C. Ryan. They provided this sort of vague mini blurb and left it our capable hands from there. Everything from the characters, subgenre's, locations, and heat levels were left up to the two of us.

What was it like to work with Suzzana C. Ryan?

Amazing! It was as if we clicked instantly, feeding of each other’s strengths and striding overtop and weaknesses. Suzzana is great to work with and I would not want to tackle this project with anyone else.

Was it difficult to interconnect the stories, yet produce stories that could stand alone?

Not really as much as you might expect. The two of us work so well together that when the characters seemed automatically fit into our given situations. We simply had to read the other persons work in progress and our minds began building on side elements and events to include into our own pieces.

How did you create this world?

Lots of Brainstorming and caffeine

Will we be seeing more from this series?

Certainly, both me and Suzzana are currently working on the next installments of the series which we are hoping to release in December!

So, give us a summary of your book, volume 1.

Carina is the only daughter of the dark lord of South Hedonism, Cyrus Bellefleur. Belonging to a city of Indulgence and decadence has its privileges but the half vampire half succubus is having a difficult time finding someone, or better yet more than just one someone, who can help her reach that ultimate orgasm. When a pair of human males are caught just outside the city walls the subject of the dark city desire nothing more than their immediate death. Carina however sees something special in the pair of well-endowed males.

Evan and Eric are the ultimate urban adventures. Therefore, when they hear rumors of a city hidden beneath their own beloved New York they cannot help themselves, they have to try to find it. Now as prisoners among creature they would never in their wildest dreams believed existed the pair of brothers find their fate lay in the hands of the cities sexy princess.

They discover survival depends on provide Carina with the ultimate in sexual satisfaction before her father discovers humans within the walls of his city in exchange the feisty woman might lead them back topside. There is however a catch, what if they really don’t want to go or she doesn’t want to let them?

Congrats on the new book, JL!

Check out the book at ARe or at the series' website.

Interview with Author Gary Vanucci

Today, we welcome my Twitter friend and author of the Realm of Ashenclaw fantasy series, Gary Vanucci.

Hi, Gary!

How did you get into writing? 

I heard voices in my head wanting me to tell the world about them of course? How else does one choose to write!? Just kidding…I think. In all seriousness, I felt like I had a very cool story to tell, one that I would want to read as a fan of fantasy, and so I decided to toss my hat into the ring. So far, so good.

What's the earliest story you can remember writing? 

I told a story in the 5^th or 6^th grade about a rock star who made a deal with the devil to be rich and famous. Needless to say, things did not work out so well. I wish I still had it. It was called ‘The Electrocutioner’. That’s the first real story I wrote.

When did you decide to make the move to "published"? 

Right away. I decided to go the indie route first without even trying to find representation. EBooks have made it very easy to get your work out there. Of course, now everyone is doing it, so it takes time for readers to sift through all of the other stuff to find you. It is what it is. I feel that I am offering fans of fantasy a truly epic storyline with several twists and turns and plenty of high-powered battles, along with some real emotional growth in the characters. It may not seem that way at first, but if you read all three of my books, you will begin to notice it.

How did you find the experience of seeking a publisher? 

I did not…yet. I want to develop my own fan-base, get a following and hone my skill before pursuing an agent. Reason being, who is to say that one person’s work is better than another’s or going to ‘make it’ and whatnot. It is a real stroke of luck to become a J.K. Rowling. Even she was very close to quitting. Can you imagine a life without Harry Potter?

What books have most influenced your life most? 

I enjoy Sci-Fi, Horror, and Superheroes and of course, Fantasy. When I read, I do so to escape reality, even if it is only for a few hours at a time. But really, that is what I use it for. Some people watch TV or whatever, I try to read to escape reality. I have found some extremely cool friends in the Forgotten Realms and Melnibone and several other places.

What book are you reading now? 

I am reading Ross Kitson’s Darkness Rising Book 1, Jeremy Laszlo’s The Choosing and listening to George Martin’s A Storm of Swords on audio book! Yep, three at a time.

What are your current projects? 

I am currently writing book 4 of my Realm of Ashenclaw series, continuing the epic sage of my heroes as they continue to preserve the lives of the innocent folks in Wothlondia. I have a new short story coming out also with the guys from Skulldust Circle. We have collectively written an anthology, (all from our own worlds, not a collective world thing) and mine is the Legend of Ashenclaw (A colossal Red Dragon Queen whom the realm is named after)

How important is the support and friendship of other writers? 

Very important! I have gotten a ton of support from other indie authors out there who have been tremendously supportive! I mean truly helpful. I actually have received more support from people I don’t even know personally on social media than I get from actual friends sometimes…which I suppose may be odd. But, for whatever reason, it seems to work. I would like to take this opportunity as a matter of fact, to thank those supportive people on twitter and Facebook, and everyone who has purchased a book from me and/or written a review! Thanks to you all! I wanted to specifically mention the Independent Author Network and the World Literary Café specifically as amazing support in the Independent author field.

How does your family feel about your writing career?

My family is supportive for the most part. I wish some of them would get a bit more involved in the reading and the beta-reading, but for the most part, they try to help out where they can. They’ve all got their own things going on, too, so I understand that. I don’t expect much from them other than that. As long as they continue to give words of encouragement, that’s all that I can ask, right?

~*~

Gary Vanucci was born in Pennsylvania in 1968. He enjoys writing, reading, music, art, anything at all that promotes creativity and activities that push the mind beyond conventional thinking. He has spent time as an amateur singer/songwriter and has spent multiple decades creating role-playing scenarios and playing games amongst various genres. Years of reading graphic novels, comic books, fantasy/science fiction novels and the like has led him to discover his true passion—writing! His education includes a Bachelor’s of Science in the field of Information Technology and an Associates of Arts in the field of Graphic Design.

Find him at:
Twitter / Facebook / Website / Blog / Amazon

The Next Big Thing

In which I sort of interview myself on my current work in progress.

I was tagged for this interview by a forum friend, Ruth Madison. I’m normally reluctant about doing memes, but when Ruth so kindly asked me, I decided to give it a go. I’m always excited to see what questions other people come up with.

However, there was a major issue – I have five current works in progress at the moment! Nevertheless, I picked the one I am writing most on this week, and plunged in. You might have noticed I am a bit tight lipped when it comes to my WIPs, especially these days, but it seems like a good time to let a few cats out of some bags.

So, on with the interview on September’s WIP:

What is the working title of your book?

Right now, I’m calling it Memento Mori, but I’m also toying with the title Last Look, since the other is rather used up.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I had been working on a novel set in the 1950s, but I’ve always been drawn towards the Victorian era. I love historical photographs, especially (and forgive the grimness) Victorian postmortem portraits. These are portraits taken of loved ones after death, and were relatively common, especially for children. With the cost and inconvenience of photography, many families never got a live shot of the departed before it was too late, so they would have one done after death. Today, this might seem rather shocking, but I think it's quite touching. And some of the photos are beautifully done. One night, looking at such pictures, the whole story came to me in a flash, via the entire person of the main character, William Tidy, all surrounding this practice of photographing the dead.

What genre does your book fall under?

I don’t really know. It has some romantic elements, but it isn’t a romance. I’d have to say “litfic”, whatever that really is, or general fiction. Possibly historical fiction, though it’s more about the people than the history. I will have that all ironed out before I have to market it. I hope.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

I always cast my WIP as a movie in my head, but this main character is uniquely himself. Sometimes, when I make the little puppets dance in my mind so I can write it down, he is Johnny Depp, but other times, he is someone else, like Daniel Radcliffe or someone. He's himself, really. The lady in the book is certainly Rachel Weisz, who I think is one of the loveliest women in the world.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

A man more comfortable with the dead discovers that life happens whether you want it or not.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

Not certain, really. I am not exactly drooling for an agent, but I’m not sure this book would be best served by a small epub, and I lack experience with non-romance publishers. I’d love to see it published with a bigger publisher, naturally enough, but I doubt that would happen before I got tired of waiting, and certainly not without an agent. I have considered self-publishing something, but I remain undecided. Who knows? Maybe it will sit in a drawer forever. I guess we shall see what we shall see.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Still working on it. It started out as a novella, but I think now it might become a novel. I’m hoping to have it done by the end of September, if I can fend off the laziness.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I really can’t say. I don’t think in terms of comparisons, especially with litfic. I’m writing it in a very consciously Victorian style and feel, so the language reminds me of some books, whereas the story doesn’t.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

My pure love of Victoriana, and the gruesome beauty of these photos. And motherhood, though I might be giving too much away there. Mostly, I'm writing it just for myself, since it's a story I'd like to read and the character has endeared himself to me.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

If lots of corpses doesn’t interest people, I don’t know what will. There might be a hot air balloon involved at some point, and a portion takes place in a wax museum, does that help?

Also, my hero never once says, “I see dead people.”

Thanks, Ruth, for giving me a nudge!

Now, “Tag! You’re it!”

Krista D. Ball

Jessica Coulter Smith

Michel Prince

Ashlynn Monroe

Melissa Keir 

Author Interview with LaVerne Thompson

Today, we meet author LaVerne Thompson, who's currently promoting her book, Sea Bride, from Decadent Publishing! 

For two hundred some years Xavior, a child of the waves, has searched the seven depths for his bride only to find her on land. How could a landwalker be his Queen, the one destined to stop the wars among the sea tribes? But one touch and he knew he’d defy Poseidon himself to make her his. 

Cori Daniels hated the water; she’d been on board the luxury ocean liner for two days and hadn’t left her cabin. But when she finally ventured on deck, she met a man who looked like a sea god and tempted her like no other. 

Could he tempt her to follow him into the depths of the sea?

Hi, LaVerne! How did you get into writing?

I’ve been writing since I was a kid. I’d have these stories in my head about my day, a butterfly lol anything. Later after I learned to read if there was something about the story I didn’t like why then I’d just change the story in my head.

What's the earliest story you can remember writing?

The one I remember in the most detail was one I wrote when I was about 12. It was about this woman whose car got a flat tire and it was of course a dark and stormy night. She got out of the car to try to change the tire. Of course this was the age before cell phones. Anyway she opened up the trunk, found the spare tie and a tire iron and stood there staring at them. She had no clue what to do. Then suddenly a bright light appeared behind her. She turned around but of course at first she couldn’t see anything. Then lightning flashed and she saw a tall man get out of a car walking toward her. She grabbed the tire iron. But when he was standing in front of her she saw he was wearing a uniform of some sort. Turns out the car was a taxi and he was a taxi driver. Lol. In my senior year of highschool I was the only girl who took an auto mechanics class. Lol I learned to change a tire. Just in case.

When did you decide to make the move to "published"?

About ten years ago. I wrote a full-length novel about 100,000 words.

How did you find the experience of seeking a publisher?

Enlightening. I learned that I had no clue what I was doing. So I began to educate myself.

What did it feel like when the acceptance notice came?

Like floating on air.

What inspired you to write Sea Bride?

I’ve had this idea of a non-traditional mermaid/merman story on the back burner for awhile now. Where what we know or think we know about those who live under the sea was not quite accurate.

What books have most influenced your writing?

I need more pages but I’ll name just a few not in any particular order. Dragons of Pern and Sunrunner Series, fed my love of dragons, Wheel of Time series, for the complexity of a story, Honor’s Splendour, for what an alpha warrior should be, Strange Brew, for a love story between two different people, Dune for the intrigue and the beauty in storytelling, Pride and Prejudice, love can be soft, A Place To Call Home, for heart, Lord of the Rings, for adventure.

What are you reading now?

The Duke Is Mine by Eloisa James

What are your current projects?

I’m getting ready to self-publish a fantasy series, Dragon’s Heart- Story of the Brethren should be out Sept. 1, I might have something out in Manga form next year, I’m almost finished one dark urban fantasy, I’m also working on another romantic suspense under my pen name Ursula Sinclair. And I’m a partner in a video production company, Epic 3 Productions, with two very talented friends. I also write a storyline for RP World Group, a free read storytelling site.

Did you learn anything from writing Sea Bride, and what was it?

Just confirmed for me that I love creating new worlds and blending genres.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Keep writing. Then write some more. Join a critique group. Try a few. Expect your first work to be rejected at least once. Then afterward keep writing. Submit it some place else.

How important is the support and friendship of other writers?

It is invaluable. I have a small circle of writer friends that have helped me along the way and new ones that continue to encourage and support me. We encourage and support each other. We all share the good the bad and the ugly in the business and our lives.

How does your family feel about your writing career?

Depends on who needs what at the time.

Tell us something about yourself that we don't know.

I have rose tattoo my husband dared me to get.

Thanks for joining us, LaVerne! I'm always pleased to learn more about fellow-authors, especially fellow Decadent folks!

About the Author:
LaVerne Thompson is an award winning, best-selling, multi-published author, an avid reader and a writer of contemporary, fantasy, and sci/fi sensual romances. She also writes romantic suspense under the pen name Ursula Sinclair. She is currently working on several projects. She has a freshman in college and a senior in high school, so technically she has more time to write. Visit her website at http://lavernethompson.comto read excerpts of her books. She's recently discovered the world of interactive storytelling and can also be found online at http://rpworldgroup.org as herself.

You can find her at:
Website / Facebook / Twitter

Interview with Author Vera Jane Cook

How did you get into writing?

I started keeping a diary when I was very young. I couldn’t imagine going a day without writing in it. I also became an avid reader at an early age. I particularly loved Victorian novels and poetry. I think that’s what gave me a real love of the English language.

What's the earliest story you can remember writing?

I wrote a story about a bear in the first grade. I remember that my teacher loved it. She told me I should be a writer but I had no connection to that at the time. For most of my young life, I wanted to be an actress

When did you decide to make the move to "published"?

When someone read my first book and cried and just loved it, I decided I might just have something to say. I spent years sending my work to publishers and agents. It finally clicked.

How did you find the experience of seeking a publisher?

It was just awful. That’s why my first published novel, Dancing Backward in Paradise, was self published through iuniverse.

What did it feel like when the acceptance notice came?

I was stunned, then I was most grateful.

What inspired you to write the current release?

I love the supernatural. Many of my favorite books are written by Anne Rice. I love being able to be absurd and to create characters from another time. I love these larger than life, these philosophical characters that are at once frightening and endearing.

What books have most influenced your life most?

There are so many but to name but a few that came from my early love of writing I would have to say: Cheri and the last of Cheri, The Picture of Dorian Grey, The Brother’s Karamazov, War and Peace, Gone With the Wind, Sons and Lovers, The Red and the Black, Wuthering Heights, etc., oh etc., etc..

What book are you reading now?

All He Ever Wanted by Anita Shreeve

What are your current projects?

I’m writing another southern novel and it’s the most sexual book I think I’ve written. I’m trying to show how love is a part of that, love and need, and finally, obligation.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

I learned how much I love writing, and how interested, even fascinated, I am in spirituality. My characters fight between good and evil and they come to see that you can’t really separate them the good from the bad, that life is all opposites, that in good there is evil and vice versa. In this world we can only make a choice. I love to study religion. Annabel Horton is very religious. She believes in God though she has not seen God anywhere but in the eyes of the devil.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Don’t ever give up. Be absolutely focused on what you need to get your novel done. Don’t compromise.

How important is the support and friendship of other writers?

You need other writers. They can be tremendously helpful and supportive. You need to know you’re not alone, that others are having it just as hard as you, have achieved as much as you. You can get honest feedback, shared information and sometimes, you can even help another author through blogs, advice, agents, etc.

How does your family feel about your writing career?

I couldn’t ask for more support.

Interview with Stephanie Queen

How did you get into writing?

I was very cordially invited to write a story by the Nuns in second grade. They were persuasive in their insistence. Bless those Nuns.

What inspired you to write PLAYING THE GAME?

I’m a jockette from way back, so it seemed the logical, if self-indulgent, thing to do to write a romance with a sports hero.

What are your current projects?

I’m working on THE HOT SHOTS, which is book 2 of the Scotland Yard Exchange Program series of romantic comedy mysteries. These stories are about ex-hot shots from the Yard who end up in Boston solving crime and falling madly in love. Did you realize there may be a culture clash between dashing Brits and Boston street cops? Could be something left over from that revolutionary war deal…

Did you learn anything from writing your current release PLAYING THE GAME and what was it?

I learned about the power of advertising. To whit, the image of the Marlboro Man still lives even after attempts to kill him off by government regulation and common sense. (Note: The hero’s peculiar vice is that he occasionally smokes Marlboros due to his childhood dream of being The Marlboro Man)

Do you have any advice for other writers?

When you run into the Writer’s Block, jump over it so you don’t hurt your shins. Also, remember that zero words are worse than the worst possible words you could think of writing. In fact, you should probably TRY to write the WORST possible story you can to prove it. That’s my favorite writing exercise.

How important is the support and friendship of other writers?

Writer friends are like my crack addiction, except they’re not illegal and there’s no drugs involved unless you count chocolate. I drive two hours each way every month just to have lunch with some of my favorite writer friends. And the food isn’t that good. Since the advent of on-line workshops, visiting with writer friends is the ONLY reason I attend writing conferences. (There’s no one from the IRS reading this, is there?)

Tell us a little something about yourself that we don't know.

I only wear my Queen Crown out on special occasions. And sometimes to the grocery store if my chauffeur Myren insists.

What would happen if the “priest” of basketball, the man most admired by all dedicated superstar athletes, Barry Dennis, met his match?

And his match was a woman?

Playing the Game: about more than a ball.

For more about Stephanie Queen and her books, visit her website at www.StephanieQueen.com, follow her on Twitter @Stephanie Queen or catch up with her on her Stephanie Queen Facebook page.

Interview with Patrica Yager Delagrange

How did you get into writing?

My daughter came home from school one day and said her friend asked her why her mommy didn’t have a job. I’d been an at-home mom since 1994 when my son was born and her question made me realize that, hey, now that both my kids were older, I really did have time to devote to something else. So, I went to the Apple store, bought a MacBook, and decided to write a book

When did you decide to make the move to "published"?

After I had my novel professionally edited and critiqued by a published author who had once been an agent, it was ready. I queried agents and publishers and found Musa along the way. They accepted me into their group and my book was published on January 6 of this year.

How did you find the experience of seeking a publisher?

Looking for a publisher or an agent is exhausting. There are a ton of resources and books listing hundreds of people and publishers and every week I would send out query letters. I received a ton of rejection letters but after awhile you become rather inured to the whole process, since it’s such a subjective business. What one person loves another person thinks is junk. But you press on and never quit and eventually, something will happen.

What did it feel like when the acceptance notice came?

I was elated and jazzed and so incredibly thankful that I would be able to have my book read by someone other than me and my dogs!

What inspired you to write the current release?

Most people are aware of all the Amber Alerts in California, missing children’s parents on the television, constant news releases concerning murders of children. These occurrences made me wonder how I would feel if I lost my child at birth. I dug really deep to get in touch with the emotional side of this and as far as I can tell from the reviews, I think I pulled it off.

What books have most influenced your life most?

I adore Richard Paul Evans, Nicholas Sparks, Jodi Picoult, and Debbie Macomber. They are all completely different from each other in the way they write; but every single one of those authors makes me feel something when I’m reading their work. That’s what I hope to do when people read my books.

What book are you reading now?

I discovered Barbara Freethy after I got a Nook for Christmas and now I can’t stop buying her books. She writes what I term “women’s fiction” and I love her.

What are your current projects?

I am currently editing Brenda’s Wish, a novel about a single mom living in San Francisco with her 17-year-old son. Her ex-husband, who is a cop, is murdered and both she and her son are suspects. It’s a tangled yet emotionally satisfying story that has a happy ending.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

What I learned from writing Moon Over Alcatraz is that, given the right circumstances, I can see how a couple could drift away from each other after their child dies, instead of coming together to share their grief. Losing a child is such an emotional maelstrom that I don’t think anyone can predict what they would do if it happened to them.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Don’t ever give up on your dream of being published, whether traditionally or self-published. You can do it if you believe in yourself and write the best book you can.

How important is the support and friendship of other writers?

I love belonging to online writers’ groups because it’s a non-competitive, open, sharing, wonderfully supportive group of individuals who help you while you’re writing, whether you get published or not. Only writers seem to be able to “relate” to what it takes to write a book and try to get it published because I sure had NO idea what it was like before I started this process.

Tell us a little something about yourself that we don't know.

Learning to ride my 1,425-pound Friesian horse, Maximus, is much more of a challenge than riding a book.

website: www.patriciayagerdelagrange.com
Musa URL: www.musapublishing.com
Facebook: Patricia Yager Delagrange Author
Twitter: @PattiYager

Buy links:
Musa link
Amazon link
Barnes & Noble link