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Author David Wiley

~ Author of science fiction and fantasy stories, choosing to write the stories that he would love to read.

Author David Wiley

Tag Archives: Author Interview

Author Interview: M.T. Thomas + Flash Fiction Story

09 Thursday Feb 2017

Posted by David Wiley in Book Release, Books and Reading, Sci-Fi

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Alien Invasion, Author Interview, flash fiction, I'll Rescue You, Indie Author, M.T. Thomas, Sci-Fi

Welcome! Please tell us your name and a little bit about yourself.

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Hello! My name is Michelle Thomas, also known as “M.T. Thomas” and I am the author of the book “I’ll Rescue You” that you can find on Amazon or at Barnes and Noble as a paperback or on Kindle and Nook as an ebook.

I enjoy sunsets and long walks on the beach…just kidding! 😉 My true passions range from all forms of art, to church and family, and to science. I am a Medial Laboratory Scientist by day and an author by night. I have two daughters and a wonderful husband whom I’ve been with for 12 years.

What motivates you to write?

I’ve always wanted to write. I had a couple poems published back in the day and planned out my novel years ago but never had a chance to write it down. I was a double major at the University of North Dakota, majoring in Medical Science as well as Music (I play 4 instruments, 5 if you consider a 4 key Euphonium different than a 3 key Euphonium).

Between 2 majors (one requiring 6 semesters of Microbiology, 4 semesters of Chemistry, 2 semesters of Biology, 2 semesters of Hematology, 2 semesters of Immunology, and a few other “ologies” that you don’t care to hear about), many concerts (I once played for an audience of 12,000 people and I have performed twice on TV), a job at a bio analytical research center as a lab assistant (the lab experience helped me land a job after graduation), and a husband and baby at home who deserve as much attention as I can feasibly give them, there was no time to write anything not homework related (there was also no time to sleep either, I literally lived on coffee and once worked a 36 hour shift)

I always thought, “I’ll write my book right after graduation! I just have to make it till then.” However, right after graduation, I started my new job and we began building our dream house. Again, there was no time. After our house was built and I became comfortably settled in my job, I became pregnant with our second daughter. It would be another 2 years before I felt I had another moment to breathe and actually think about my book. Now, here I am, 5 years post-graduation and I have finally written the story I came up with 10 years ago.

I am motivated by sheer desire to finish what I started so long ago and hopefully continue on after the finish line to write other books.

What is the title of your most recent book? Give us a brief overview on what the book is about.

ill-rescue-you 

   My book is called “I’ll Rescue You”. It’s a science fiction story that takes place 40 years after an attempted alien invasion which also happens to be the present day. I have 3 main characters, one of which is an alien villain whose eyes are opened to the fact that he may be on the wrong side. My readers will follow along as he goes from thinking that he is a hero to realizing that he is, in fact, the bad guy.

Another main character is a half-human girl who must rise above the prejudice she faces every day from humans who hold a deep hate for the aliens. She gets kidnapped by our alien villains and her whole-human half-sister joins a group of humans who set out to rescue her. The sister is my third protagonist. She is utterly ordinary and completely relatable to any reader, and yet she must overcome obstacles to rescue her big sister.

I intend it to be the first book in a trilogy so there are a few questions left unanswered and an ending that leaves room for the next two installments of the story.

What makes it unique from the other books out there?

One thing that comes to mind is the fact that my story takes place post-invasion and the humans won the first war. Usually, alien invasion stories take place during the actual invasion while people are learning for the first time that they are not alone or, if they take place after, the Earth is destroyed and people are struggling to survive.

I wanted my characters to start off in a world that already KNEW aliens existed and that they were a threat. I wanted it to be a somewhat fair fight where the humans of Earth know what they are up against and are rushing to prepare for another war with the aliens.

Another thing that makes “I’ll Rescue You” unique is the many illustrations. It has over 30 sketches throughout its pages to draw the reader into my world.

What is the title of your current work-in-progress or the most recent manuscript you’ve completed apart from your most recent book? Would you mind sharing what it is about?

I suppose I have already shared a bit about it. It’s the sequel to my most recent book. Its title is “The War to Come” and it will answer some questions raised in book one as well as introduce a couple new villains that will make life a lot more difficult for our protagonists.

You seem to keep yourself busy. How do you stay sane?

A lot of prayer. Whether you are religious or not, you would be surprised how much a quick “God help me” actually works in any type of stressful situation. Not to mention, if you have time, prayer is so relaxing, like meditation if you are into that sort of thing.

How often do you write?

While I am on break at work and the hour before my kids and husband wake up in the morning. We live on a hill outside of a city where we have a beautiful view of the city lights at night below us as well as the stars above us. One of my favorite things to do is sit at my picture window with my coffee and lap top, while the whole house is quiet and the sun hasn’t risen yet. This is when my writing truly comes to life.

What famous author would you compare your own writing style with?

None. I am a poet at heart (it is where I got my start, after all) so I try to make my narrative as poetic as possible. I love to use play-on-words and repeat the same word with a different contextual meaning in the same paragraph whenever possible (example: “the eye of the storm caught my eye, its gray iris reflecting my own”). It makes my writing stand out, at least, I feel it does.

Who are five of your favorite authors?

Wow, there are so many! Daniel Handler (also known as Lemony Snicket) is my favorite. His handle on irony is genius. J.K. Rowling is another favorite, call me stereotypical but she is a talented writer. Lucy Maud Montgomery, she wrote Anne of Green Gables, a series filled with a surprising amount of wisdom. If you haven’t read it yet, you should because it’s a good story that may actually make you a better person after reading it. Speaking of reading books that may make you a better person, I also enjoy Joyce Meyer. Her books are the only “self-help” books that I enjoy, mostly because she writes the same way as she speaks, with a sense of humor and clear, yet laughable, analogies. Cassandra Clare is another favorite. Her strength comes in her ability to create such interesting characters with amazing histories and yet they are still relatable.

What are you currently reading?

George Martin’s famous series commonly known as “Game of Thrones” but the actual name of the series is “A Song of Ice and Fire”.

Time for some quick questions:

 

  • Favorite Quote? “Health nuts will feel stupid one day when they are lying in a hospital bed, dying of nothing.” – Author unknown

If you could be one character from your own writing, who would it be and why?

I would be Belle. She is slow to anger and quick to forgive. She has her priorities straight and loves others more than she loves herself.

Finally, what advice would you give to other writers?

Focus as much energy on marketing your book as you do in writing it. Also, be willing to accept criticism and make changes to your book if you are out-voted by your critics on any particular subject. Remember that you want other people to buy your book so you can’t write a story that only YOU like.

***BUY LINKS***

Paperback:
https://www.amazon.com/Ill-Rescue-You-1-Thomas/dp/1539670252/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1485955706&sr=8-2&keywords=i%27ll+rescue+you
ebook:
https://www.amazon.com/Ill-Rescue-You-M-T-Thomas-ebook/dp/B01N3SCE1H/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485955706&sr=8-1&keywords=i%27ll+rescue+you
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ill-rescue-you-mt-thomas/1125581268?ean=2940157266561
Exclusive Flash Fiction Story
I offered her the chance to also write a flash fiction piece based on the idea of someone setting foot on Mars for the first time and something doesn’t go as planned. Here is her piece in response to that:

Do You Trust Me?

    The stars, they’re in a different pattern. I’m 225 million kilometers away, forging a new path for human kind on the planet Mars, making the biggest breakthrough since the moon landing, and yet the stars are all I can think about. I’ve had the constellations memorized since I was a child. Fascinated with outer space, I would dream of being an astronaut someday and my dreams carried me here, to this moment in history. I’m here, and yet, I dearly miss the constellations. It’s funny how you can stare at something you knew so well, such as these very stars, and yet, find them completely unrecognizable at a different angle.

“Stop procrastinating,” I scold myself. My shaking hands fasten my suit over my shaking body. I’m about to be the first person to step onto Mars. The door to the lethal atmosphere surrounding my ship opens. “Here I go.”

The sand was softer and less dense than I had imagined.  As I sink slightly into the loose ground below me, my lips curl into a smile. “This is something to tell everyone at home.”

Lifting my eyes to a moving patch of orange sand before me, my smile disappears. What could possibly be moving below this ground? My heart jumps into my throat at the same time that a figure jumps from the sand. He is somewhat small, with a flat, fishlike head and webbed fingers but it is his eyes that captivate me, his very, very human eyes.

My scream echoes inside my helmet and I try to turn and run away but my feet have sunk into this cursed loose sand. I struggle and I fall; my shoulder scrapes against a sharp corner of my ship’s landing gear, tearing a deadly hole in my suit. Tears are running down my cheek and I can’t figure out whether they are tears of fear because of the alien, or tears of hopelessness because I now know for certain that I’m going to die. I feel the air get sucked from my suit, choking the life from me as it’s replaced with a gaseous air that burns my lungs.

At least I won’t die at the hands of that monster. I think to myself with a bittersweet feeling of defeat. I suppose this is equivalent to saying “well this can’t get any worse”; a figure of speech that seems to be followed by another stroke of bad luck that does, in fact, make matters worse. Likewise, it was as if fate responded  “oh really” and, with a smirk, had decided to betray me one last time.

The monster had disappeared back beneath the sandy surface, diving in like a fish into water, only to reappear beneath me, pushing me upwards into a standing position with its unnatural arms. My lungs hurt too much to scream again so I just stared, helplessly, at this alien through my kaleidoscope of tears.  He stares back and I hear a voice; a voice inside my helmet, not reverberated through it from the outside but one that’s INSIDE my helmet.  His mouth doesn’t move but I hear the words “do you trust me?”

The voice was obviously a hallucination due to lack of oxygen, but what was not a hallucination was the cold, webbed fingers that slipped into the tear of my space suit. Their touch on my bare skin sent shivers down my spine and, suddenly, I was alert. My lungs no longer hurt and my dizziness left me. Adrenaline can truly do wonders! After all, what other explanation was there?

The voice returned. “Do you trust me?” I thought of the people who made this suit for me, I had trusted them and look where it got me.

“Do you trust me?” The words echoed in the space surrounding my head. I thought of all the astrophysicists who had come before me, giants who’s shoulders I had stood on, fellow scientists who told me Martians didn’t exist. I had trusted them and look where it got me.

“Do you trust me?”  I thought of my superiors, the ones who bestowed this great mission onto my shoulders and promised that I would return a hero. I had trusted them and look where it got me.

Yet again, the voice repeated “do you trust me?” I forced myself to breathe in whatever toxic fumes were inside my helmet carrying the disembodied voice to my ears; I breathed out my own response into the unearthly air, hysterical beyond the point of caring whether the voice was real or not. “No! NO! No, I don’t trust you! …How could I?”

The human eyes staring into my own human eyes showed a hurt expression. A shadow of disappointment fell across his face ever so briefly, like a cloud passing over the sun. “Then you are not ready to be here.”

The world around me fell into darkness. The lack of oxygen must have finally caught up with me and caused me to pass out. I’m not surprised, I knew this would happen eventually; adrenaline can only last so long. I faded away, thinking about how my lonely corpse will forever be left in this sandy grave where no loved one of mine will ever be able to reach it.

I was surprised after all; surprised when my groggy eyes opened. I awoke warm in my bed inside my space ship. A sigh of relief escaped my lips, followed by a spasm of laughter. “It was just a dream! It was all just a dream.” I hopped out of bed. Today is the day! Today I become the first person to take a stroll on Mars.

I strode over to where my suit hung, ready to keep me safe from the poisonous air outside.  My breath caught in my throat, for a moment the oxygen rich atmosphere might as well have been replaced with the atmosphere of Mars because my shock prevented me from breathing anyway. My fingers reached out, almost unconsciously, and touched a hole that had been torn into the shoulder of my suit.

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Blog Tour: The Fell by Lyndsey Harper

23 Monday Jan 2017

Posted by David Wiley in Book Release, Books and Reading, Crimson Edge Press, Fantasy

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Author Interview, Book Release, Crimson Edge Press, Dark Fantasy, Lyndsey Harper, Naetan Lance Saga, The Fell

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AUTHOR INTERVIEW QUESTIONS::

 

ABOUT YOU::

 

  1. Please tell us your name and a little bit about yourself: Hi! My name is Lyndsey Harper, and I write dark fantasy. I love stories with magic and grit. I’m a wife, a mom, and I work in a theatre when I’m not writing.
  2. Please provide the link to your blog (and website, Facebook fan page, Twitter, etc.): My Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorlyndseyharper My Twitter: @lyndseyiswrite
  3. How many books have you written? Officially, “The Fell” is my first piece, but I’ve written six other fan fiction novels unofficially.
  4. Has any of your work been published yet? If so, please share the link(s) to purchase it: My debut, “The Fell,” comes out on January 18th! You can purchase at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NCHQ1DR
  5. If you have been published, did you self-publish or use traditional publishing? Why? If you have not been published yet, what are your plans for the future? I am fortunate enough to have a publishing contract through Crimson Edge Press. For quite a while beforehand, I was convinced I would self-publish because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go the traditional route or not. I know me, though – I work better with deadlines made by people other than myself, so I think traditional publishing was meant to be.
  6. How old were you when you started writing? When did you know you wanted to be an author? I have been writing ever since I can remember. It started with a newsletter I wrote each month for my next-door neighbor about my pet rabbit, and then turned into poetry, fan fiction, songs, and eventually original work. I didn’t always want to write, though, despite my natural inclination toward it. My mother saw my future in writing well before I did. When I was younger, writing wasn’t glamorous enough for me. I thought it would be a boring career choice. Can you imagine, writing as a boring occupation? (LOL) It wasn’t really until high school that I embraced writing fully.
  7. What would you say motivates you to keep writing? The first is my daughter. Plenty of times, she’s actually a writing “hindrance,” so to speak. Still, my writing as an adult started full-swing when she was first born, and I keep going to show her that she, too, can achieve her dreams with hard work. Secondly, the characters themselves keep me going. If it’s not a character I’m familiar with that’s bugging me, it’s a new one waiting to be written. There are people in my head, and they won’t be quiet. 😉 The last thing is caffeine – caffeine most definitely motivates me.
  8. Who are some of your favorite authors? What are you currently reading (or what is the last book you read)? C.S. Lewis is a long-time favorite. I adore his work. I love Dan Brown’s writing style and his pacing. Right now, I’ve got quite a few books started. “Unclaimed” by Laurie Wetzel, “Crimson Bayou” by Alizabeth Lynn, and “The Shadow Revolution” by Clay and Susan Griffith.
  9. What is your preferred reading method? (i.e., Kindle, Nook, paperback, hardback, etc.) Why? I prefer paperbacks (a tried and true presentation) or Kindle (my favorite electronic source). Hardbacks aren’t quite as comfortable for me to read.
  10. Do you write in first or third person, past or present tense, and why? Mainly I write in third person, using past tense. Though, for the right story, I would consider using first person, past tense. Third person always spoke more to me than first. Still, I’m careful to minimize the number of POVs because I don’t like a cluttered story.
  11. Do you “always read” or do you take breaks between reading books? Goodness, no. I wish I always read, but for as much as I love reading, I have to force myself to take time to do it. Life is very chaotic, so books weren’t always on the top of my list. However, I am a more productive writer when I am a more productive reader, so I try to make the time. It truly helps to spark my creativity when I read other works.
  12. How many books would you say you read in a year? How many at any one time? I can handle about three books at one time. I prefer to read one at a time, though, but sometimes (like currently), my impatience wins out. Lately, I average about ten per year.
  13. What is the title of your current work in progress of the most recent manuscript you’ve completed? My debut novel is entitled, “The Fell.” It’s the first installment of The Naetan Lance Saga.
  14. What is your novel’s genre? Would you say there is a sub-genre? What makes yours different than other books in the same genre? My book falls into the dark fantasy genre, with a sword and sorcery feel to it. I think what sets “The Fell” apart is how it uses concepts from dystopian and sci-fi works and weaves it into a medieval fantasy setting. And that’s pretty much all I can say without spoiling it. ;
  15. What inspired the current or most recent story you’ve completed? There were a few inspiration sources for “The Fell,” namely “The X-Files” for its grit and mystery, and the conflict of defining truth. I also drew inspiration from “Star Wars,” and ancient Greek tragedies for character interactions, some themes, and backgrounds. I looked a lot to Scandinavian and Nordic geographies and cultural elements while writing, and that is reflected a lot in the story.
  16. What is your target audience’s age, gender, etc.? I would venture to say equally males and females, 18 and up.
  17. Do you want to tell us a little bit about your story? Sure. Here’s the blurb: After the brutal death of his mentor, Leer Boxwell’s only desire is vengeance. However, his belief that the murderer is the mythical Grimbarror has made him the laughing stock of the Vale. When Leer witnesses the beast steal away the princess in an unexpected attack on the royal city, he volunteers to hunt the creature. Battling self-doubt and ridicule, while struggling to control a mysterious power within that he does not fully understand, Leer must decide whether his convictions are worth the sacrifice the Fell demands.
  18. How often do you write? I just committed to a personal 1k A Day goal for writing in 2017, so if I keep on track, the answer should be every day. I’m sure life will happen, and days will be missed, though.
  19. Approximately how many words do you write at each sitting? I typically average anywhere between 500-1,000 per sitting, but I’m aiming for the later, since I made the commitment above. 😉
  20. Do you do your own editing or send it to someone else? A combination. I couldn’t imagine sending something off to the CEP editor without at least giving it a few serious looks for changes.
  21. What is your method of writing? (i.e., Do you write the entire manuscript, then go back and make changes? Do you plan chapters as you go along or write the story then go back and add chapters? Do you re-read as you go along or after you are done with the first draft?) I write the story in order. I can’t skip around and write scenes, then fit them together. My style is very linear in that sense. I’ll re-read what I write and tweak small things, but mainly it’s my habit to write the story in its entirety, then go back and fix it. I treat chapter breaks as different scene breaks in a movie. Sometimes things move around as necessary after the fact, but for the most part, the chapters happen naturally as I’m writing.
  22. Do you have a muse? If so, please elaborate. If not, what inspires you? There are a lot of people in my life that act as mini muses for me. There is something about them that speaks to me – their look, their voice, or their hobbies or habits. When I can, I also people watch; studying the way people conduct themselves in various situations fuels my inspiration.
  23. How long does it take you to write a full manuscript? “The Fell” took two months to complete the first draft. However, it took two years after that to get it ready for publication.
  24. Do you give yourself a word limit for each day or a time limit to finish your novel? If so, please elaborate. Before I was contracted, I wrote whenever the inspiration “struck,” which wasn’t regulated by any means. However, I’m now on a narrower road, so I have self-imposed quotas and deadlines to meet.
  25. How do you come up with your character names and geographic location / business names? Naming comes from a combination of research and browsing. I pick names that speak to me, either for what they remind me of, or for what they mean. About 90% of the time, I used a slightly different method for naming the creatures in my story: I would look at what animal or insect was the closest to what I saw in my mind, and see the number of syllables each name had. Then, I would base the new name off of a characteristic of the “real” animal or insect, using however many syllables I had. If I didn’t apply that method, then the names derived from just a characteristic, or from completely unrelated “nonsensical” words that stuck with me for whatever odd reason. For locations, I based a lot of the geography off Scandinavian and Nordic landscapes, so I played with consonant and vowel arrangements often seen in those areas.
  26. How long (or how detailed) are the notes you take before you start writing? I like to draft an outline, or have a bulleted list of important events or concepts I’m trying to get across in the story. They usually fall somewhere between hardly detailed, and fairly detailed, and they almost always change as I write
  27. Do you have any “must haves” to help you write? (i.e., a full cup of coffee, a view of the ocean, etc.) A full mug of hot coffee. An absolute must. If someone wants to provide me a view of the ocean, though, I would certainly be grateful.
  28. Do you only write during a certain time of day or in a certain location? If so, do you make yourself stop after a certain time? Not really. Writing happens whenever I can fit it in, but almost always at night. I’m not fussy about location, as long as I can have earbuds handy
  29. Does your real life ever get neglected because of your writing? If so, how do you feel about that? Yes, and very guilty. I try not to, though; I try to remember that it’s part of my job, and also part of me. I’m grateful for my husband’s help and patience through it all.

30.What is the quirkiest thing you do or have ever done when writing? I have had my husband stand in and move through physical motions with me, especially for a battle scene. It really helps to make sure the movements are realistic. I also read dialogue aloud a lot, which is a little embarrassing.

  1. If you could be one of your own characters for a day, who would it be and why? I’d like to be Astrid. She has a keen eye and lives a rather unconventional life. It could be quite fun!
  2. If one of your books became a movie, who would you choose for the “perfect cast” of main characters? If we’re basing it off looks, I’d choose Penn Badgley to play Leer (permitting he changed his hair color, of course), Kaya Scoldelario for Astrid, and Colin O’Donoghue for James. But whoever is able to capture the real essence of each character would be perfect. 😉
  3. What is the oddest thing you have ever researched for one of your books? I think that would have to be the type of underwear, if any, medieval people wore. It certainly brought up a lot of … interesting … results.
  4. What is the most difficult thing you have ever researched for one your books and why? The rules for the game of tafl, or as it’s formally known, Hnefatafl. It’s an ancient Viking version of chess, and very little regarding rules and gameplay is documented about it. Still, I used a lot of Nordic inspiration for “The Fell,” and when I came across tafl and the mysterious nature of the game, I knew I had to feature it in my books.

authorpic

Author Bio:

Lyndsey is a brilliant author you’ve likely never heard of, Superwife, and award-winning mother living life in leggings in the expensive and overcrowded state of New Jersey. She is fluent in Spanglish and Sarcasm and enjoys watching Arrow, Supernatural, Psych, and The X-Files repeatedly. You can find her either in the grocery store buying laundry detergent, Tylenol, and cat litter, hovering near her Keurig coffee brewer, or shaking her fist at the heavens in front of her computer. Occasionally, you may spot her on the beach or out shopping (when she actually has money to spare). However, you should avoid approaching her at such times as she is likely enjoying a rare moment of relaxation and can become moody if interrupted. If you decide to engage her during any one of these activities, approach with caution and a sizable cup of Starbucks in hand to avoid any ill effects.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorlyndseyharper Twitter: @lyndseyiswrite

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lyndsey-Harper/e/B01MRWEM9W/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Buy Link:

https://www.amazon.com/Fell-Naetan-Lance-Saga-Book-ebook/dp/B01NCHQ1DR/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

bookcover

Book Blurb:

After the brutal death of his mentor, Leer Boxwell’s only desire is vengeance. However, his belief that the murderer is the mythical Grimbarror has made him the laughing stock of the Vale. When Leer witnesses the beast steal away the princess in an unexpected attack on the royal city, he volunteers to hunt the creature. Battling self-doubt and ridicule, while struggling to control a mysterious power within that he does not fully understand, Leer must decide whether his convictions are worth the sacrifice the Fell demands.

Excerpt:

A hush fell over the inn; the fiddle music screeched to an abrupt halt.

Bilby’s eyes narrowed. “What did you say?” he asked.

“I said,” Leer repeated, “I wish to know everything you know about the Grimbarror.”

Callous laughter exploded through the men and few barmaids present, ripples of mockery piercing Leer’s ears.

“You well-washed loon,” Bilby cackled, slapping his knee through his amusement. “You wish to hear fairy tales, is that it?”

Leer’s jaw flexed as he clamped his molars together. “I seek the truth.”

“Hah!” Bilby screeched. “Would you like a cup of warm milk to go with your bedtime story, Boy?”

Leer squeezed his eyes shut briefly, trying to push away the reverberating voices around him. “Are you, or are you not, the Marcus Bilby that Finnigan Lance spoke of?” he demanded. “The one whose life he saved?”

Another wave of eerie silence fell over the inn. Bilby leaned in, gripping the table with white knuckles. “What name did you say?” he asked.

“Finnigan Lance,” Leer enunciated.

“Curse you for speaking that name,” Bilby snarled, spitting on the ground.

“Cheating scoundrel, he was,” a man bellowed from the rear of the crowd.

“Nothin’ but a drink bloated habbersnitch.” another agreed.

“You’d better have good reason for speaking that name in this place, Boy,” Bilby warned, leaning forward.

“He wasn’t a cheat,” Leer snapped. “You peddled furs with him. You worked with him, and he saved your life from insurgents. And I do believe you owe him a favor.”

A murmur trickled through the crowd, sending Bilby into visible panic as his peers reacted to the revelation.

“And what?” Bilby retorted with a scoff. “Lance has come back from the dead to claim it?”

Leer’s jaw flexed. Finnigan’s death was still fresh in his mind; it had not been long since he found his bloodied, mauled corpse. “Nay. You’ll pay your debt to him through answering my questions.”

Bilby’s eyes narrowed. “And just who are you to lay claim to any favors?”

Leer held his gaze. “His son.”

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Author Interview: Travis M. Riddle

17 Tuesday Jan 2017

Posted by David Wiley in Book Release, Books and Reading, Fantasy, Guest Post

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Author Interview, Book Release, Debut Author, Fantasy, Travis M. Riddle, Wondrous

To celebrate the release of his debut book, Wondrous, I am hosting an interview from Travis M. Riddle. You can check out his book on Amazon at this link: Wondrous by Travis M. Riddle

Welcome! Please tell us your name and a little bit about yourself.

travismriddle

My name’s Travis M. Riddle. I currently live in Austin; I went to college here and now I’m working while I do some writing on the side (though if that became my main job I certainly wouldn’t complain).

What motivates you to write?

Just wanting to tell a story, really. I get excited thinking about weird worlds or characters, coming up with little twists and planning out how to drop some foreshadowing or hints into the story, stuff like that. The act of storytelling is just really cool, and I enjoy doing it.

What is the title of your most recent book? Give us a brief overview on what the book is about.

My debut novel is called Wondrous, and it’s admittedly kind of hard to talk about without spoiling a lot of what the book is about. But to put it simply, it follows a boy named Miles who goes to sleep tucked tightly in his bed in Texas and wakes up in a fantasy kingdom that is in the middle of a civil war. The book is about Miles grappling with this new world and trying to find a way to open up a portal to take him back to Austin, all while contending with the strange monsters and people he meets there. The full synopsis can be found on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32578571-wondrous).

What makes it unique from the other books out there?

wondrouscover

What makes Wondrous unique is its blend of the fantastical and the real. Even though it’s billed as a fantasy novel, around a quarter of it (maybe a little less) takes place in Austin, with scenes from Miles’ life back home interspersed throughout his adventure. It’s also a story with (what I hope to be) a surprising emotional core that goes to unexpected places and tackles issues that aren’t normally seen in a novel like this. But that’s getting into spoiler territory again!

What is the title of your current work-in-progress or the most recent manuscript you’ve completed apart from your most recent book? Would you mind sharing what it is about?

I’ve got two things sort of in the pipeline at the moment. One is a fantasy novel with a storyline that has already gone through a couple iterations despite my only having written two chapters of it, so I’m hesitant to say much about it yet. But the basic idea is this story following three main characters, taking place in one town, where some bad stuff is going down. I want it to have a similar feel and tone as the video game Final Fantasy IX, which is a big influence on its characters, creatures, world, and generally the entire aesthetic.

The other novel is more of a literary fiction piece that is as of yet untitled but I’ve been referring to it as “Mascot” for now because that’s less of a mouthful than “Untitled Book About The Guy Who Wants to Be a Mascot and Other Such Stuff.” It’s about, as you can probably guess, a recent college graduate who’s trying to become a national sports team mascot. There’s a bit more to it than that, but that’s the underlying premise.

What are some of your other non-book influences besides Final Fantasy IX?

I watch a lot of movies and TV–probably an unhealthy amount, if you were to ask any of my friends or look at my blu-ray collection–so I think my writing is probably more influenced by that than by other writers. With Wondrous in particular, I think it has a lot in common with the films created by Studio Ghibli, especially with Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro wherein Miyazaki so perfectly blended the fantastical with the real world and crafted stories that can be appreciated by a younger audience but deliver on deeper themes and emotions for adults. That was really my aim with this book, to create something that can be enjoyed on different levels by anyone, no matter their age.

How often do you write?

Not as often as I’d like, but whenever inspiration strikes I tend to find some time to do it. Unfortunately I do go through spurts where I’m just not feeling it and go without writing for several weeks, but then the opposite happens and I write a chapter a day for a while. It just depends on how busy I am and how I’m feeling, I suppose.

What famous author would you compare your own writing style with?

Wow, I have no idea who I’d compare myself to. Though when I was in early high school and just starting to really write my own novels, I was pretty much a Chuck Palahniuk copycat as far as style goes. I am very glad those drafts are nowhere to be found.

Who are five of your favorite authors?

It’s a pretty eclectic list, but my favorite working authors are probably Max Barry, Stephen King, Daniel Abraham, James S.A. Corey (which is half Abraham but I’m counting it as another person), and Mark Z. Danielewski.

Barry is someone who hasn’t written a book I’ve disliked and I’m always anxious to see what idea he comes up with next; no two books of his are the same. King is someone I’ve actually only gotten into in the past year, but in that year I’ve become obsessed and read nearly 20 of his books. I’ve been going through the Dark Tower series and its related novels and it’s been so fun and awesome. Abraham/Corey just write super solid fantasy and sci-fi with amazing worlds and interesting characters (plus the TV show based on their Expanse series is pretty good too). And Danielewski is always doing something weird and experimental with print, which I’m always excited about; his new series The Familiar is really cool and I suggest you check it out if you get the chance. It’s not very accessible, I admit, but it’s been pretty neat so far and I’m excited to see where this epic tale is going.

What are you currently reading?

As I mentioned before, I’m chugging along through the Dark Tower series and its related books (it’s crazy how Stephen King tied so much of his bibliography into this one story), trying to finish before the movie comes out next year since I know it takes elements from several of the books so I don’t want to be spoiled.

But I’m also looking forward to finally diving into the new Jonathan Safran-Foer book Here I Am, the latest book in the Expanse series (Babylon’s Ashes), and the next Familiar book, entitled Hades, in February.

Time for some quick questions:

  • Favorite Quote? I’m not sure what the policy for foul language is here, but what comes to mind is that Kurt Vonnegut quote about the horse. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you should look the story up.
  • Favorite Book?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you could be one character from your own writing, who would it be and why?

That’s a tough one. Maybe Mortimer from “Wondrous,” because he’s so optimistic and good-hearted and always tracks down the best meals. Food is maybe the best thing there is in the world besides dogs, so I want to eat the best.

Finally, what advice would you give to other writers?

At some point while writing “Wondrous,” I found out that there was a book with a slightly similar premise, and I was pretty devastated. I figured that was the end, time to scrap it and think of a new idea, despite the fact I’d already written half the book. But then I realized…there are so many books and movies and shows and songs and everything else that are similar to each other, just executed in their own different ways.

If you have an idea that you’re really passionate about, a story that you really connect with, don’t stop writing it just because you find out it’s not the first time anyone in the world has had that same general thought as you. You’re still going to write it differently. Your world is different, your characters are unique, and that other author does not have your viewpoint. The story will still be yours, so don’t be afraid to just write it.

Author’s Links:

www.twitter.com/traviswanteat

www.facebook.com/travismriddle

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32578571-wondrous

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Blog Tour: The Glass Thief by John Ryers

04 Wednesday Jan 2017

Posted by David Wiley in Book Release, Books and Reading

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Author Interview, Blog Tour, Excerpt, Indie Author, John Ryers, The Glass Thief

Welcome to the first of a string of January blog tours. I’m trying to stick more with signing up for tours where I either know the author through social media, or know the publishing company. In this case, it is the former. Check out the details of this great book, which just released on January 1st and made my list of ten books I’m excited about in 2017.

the-glass-thief-promo

AUTHOR INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

 ABOUT YOU:

  •  Please tell us your name (or pen name) and a little bit about yourself:

My name is John Ryers and I write predominantly dark fantasy. I have written a few short stories in YA and Sci-Fi genres as well. I live in Ontario, Canada with my wife and twin daughters, and work as a graphic designer to pay the bills.

  • Please provide the link to your social media:E-mail: john.ryers@gmail.comTwitter: @johnryers

Instagram: @johnryers

Facebook: www.facebook/com/jryers

Website: www.johnryers.com

  • How many books have you written?

The Glass Thief is my first novel.

  • Has any of your work been published yet?

I have had a couple short stories published in anthologies. You can find links to those stories on my website at: www.johnryers.com

  • If you have been published, did you self-publish or use traditional publishing?

The Glass Thief will be self-published. I see advantages on both sides of the coin regarding traditional or self-publishing, but opted for self-publishing in order to control my rights, cover art, interior design and marketing strategies. As a self-publisher, I can decide the when and where of how I promote my books and that sense of control is very important to me.

  • How old were you when you started writing? When did you know you wanted to be an author?

I knew I wanted to be a writer from a very young age. I wrote my first story at aged six (complete with amazing (not really) crayon illustrations). It was about my hamster and his inevitable death, and so I’m entirely surprised my favourite genre to write is dark fantasy.

  • What would you say motivates you to keep writing?

I need to tell my stories. I have to get them out of my head and onto a page. There are some I never show to anyone but myself, and some I feel have a message others might gain something from. It’s this creative form of communication that keeps me going and gets me through the days when the words are difficult to get out.

  • Who are some of your favorite authors?

My favourite author is John Green. It’s his style of writing that I felt a connection to and his books helped me find my own narrative voice. For a while I was floundering with a lack of style and voice and it was through reading his novel A Fault In Our Stars that everything seemed to click for me, despite him not writing anything remotely close to dark fantasy.

  • What is your preferred reading method? Why?

I like both equally, but if I had to choose, I’d pick a real book. There’s something about flipping from page to page and feeling the words in your hands that an e-reader just can’t replicate. But at the same time, I can’t keep a thousand books in my house but I can on my Kindle.

  • Do you write in first or third person, past or present tense, and why?

I prefer writing short stories in first-person past and longer works in third-person past. I’ve never really felt a connection to writing in present tense, though I’m not opposed to trying if the story would sound better using it. I also prefer writing a very close third and don’t really care to write in third-person omniscient.

  • Do you “always read” or do you take breaks between reading books?

I don’t always read, especially when I’m deep into writing, but I can’t go too long without picking up a book (or e-reader) because I find reading other people’s stories help recharge my creativity. I’d definitely run out of writing steam if I stopped reading altogether.

  • How many books would you say you read in a year? How many at any one time?

I’m also a very slow reader, sometimes only getting a single scene in before I crash for the night. I’d say 6-7 books a year is about average these days.

I can only ever read one book at a time. When I get into a story I like, I give it my full attention, and since my reading time is limited, I’d prefer to focus a single story from start to finish and really absorb what the author is trying to say. I also find switching between stories with different narrative voices to be quite distracting.

 

ABOUT YOUR CURRENT BOOK:

 

  • What is the title of your current work in progress or the most recent manuscript you’ve completed?

The Glass Thief is my most recent completed manuscript. I came up with the idea in late 2012 and finished final edits in late 2016. There were a lot of lessons learned along the way with this one.

  • What is your novel’s genre? Would you say there is a sub-genre? What makes yours different than other books in the same genre?

My genre is Dark Fantasy, and I’ve been told I could classify it under the sub-genre of Heist/Swashbuckling Fantasy. I think my narrative style makes it a little different than the usual dark fantasy tales. It is set in the middle ages but I use anachronistic language that borders on contemporary, and I also implement technology that didn’t exist during that time period such as magical firearms and a steam-powered suit of armour in one particular scene.

  • What inspired the current or most recent story you’ve completed?

I think I pulled the inspiration for The Glass Thief from my own past, in that, I was a very different person a decade ago than I am today. A lesser person so to speak. The Glass Thief is a story about betrayal and redemption, and I wanted to write a story that showed no matter what your past entailed, you always have the power to set things right, if you truly want to.

  • What is your target audience’s age, gender, etc.?

I’d say my target audience would be adults. There’s some pretty dark moments in The Glass Thief, definitely not suitable for children, but as for how old I’d draw the line? Who knows. There’s so much pain and suffering in the media these days that I don’t think anything in my novel would shock a teen audience.

  • Do you want to tell us a little bit about your story?

The Glass Thief is the story of Del Kanadis, a thief who’s made a name for himself stealing elemental glass throughout his realm, but who owes a heavy debt to the King of Fires. The King of Fires is fighting his own war and requires a certain relic to defeat his enemies. He tasks Del to infiltrate the village where they believe the relic hides, and steal it. So the meat of the story is essentially Del gaining the trust of the villages to find the relic, and then royally screw them over by stealing it.

ABOUT HOW YOU WRITE:

  •  How often do you write?

I write every weekday from 7am to 8 am. My writing time is very limited having 4-year-old twins to take care of at home, and so I get to work an hour early every day to get my writing in.

  • Approximately how many words do you write at each sitting?

It really depends on how I’m feeling. Sometimes I can break 2,000 in that hour. Other times I’m slogging through a paragraph or two before the hour’s up.

  • Do you do your own editing or send it to someone else?

I do as much editing on my own as I can before sending it to my beta readers. I want them to have the cleanest version they can, so they can focus on the story instead of the grammatical errors and typos. Once they’ve read it through and I’ve applied all their feedback, I’ll print it out on paper and go over each page one more time. Then my editor gets it and finds the million things I glossed over during my final pass.

  • What is your method of writing?

I’ll start with a brief sentence or two outlining each scene I plan to write. Once I have this very rough roadmap, I’ll start writing out the scenes for a first draft. I write in order, so I can maintain the pace and flow in my head as I go. After the first draft, I’ll write a revised draft (which is the longest part) and correct all the plot holes, remove redundant or useless scenes and add more scenes where necessary. After that draft, I’ll write a third in which I add in foreshadowing and tie certain later events back to the beginning for a more organic feel. The fourth draft is after my betas get through it and the fifth and final is the polish that goes to my editor.

  • Do you have a muse? If so, please elaborate. If not, what inspires you?

I don’t think I have a muse, unless life itself is a muse. Life inspires me all the time. Every day I see something that sparks a new story, or an addition to one I’m currently writing.

  • How long does it take you to write a full manuscript?

Too long. [laughs even though you can’t hear it]. The Glass Thief took me 4 years to write from concept to clicking Publish. The second book in the trilogy will go a lot faster because I know my character and their world better now, and I have a valid starting point to jump off from. I predict less than 2 years for book two.

  • Do you give yourself a word limit for each day or a time limit to finish your novel? If so, please elaborate.

I don’t give myself any time limits. As writers, we struggle enough with self-doubt and motivation that I feel it’s borderline cruel to impose limits like that on ourselves. I suppose a self-imposed deadline does help some, but for me, a missed deadline is something I don’t want to deal with mentally.

  • How do you come up with your character names and geographic location / business names?

I use simple names, despite writing fantasy. Single or double syllables put together for a pleasing rhythm when it rolls off the tongue. I love writing Fantasy but I also want it as accessible as possible to people who shy away from that genre. I’d love for more people to read Fantasy and so I want to make it easy on them if they decide to try it with my book.

  • How long (or how detailed) are the notes you take before you start writing?

Very light. I don’t write a whole lot of notes before diving in. The story is mapped out enough in my head and my 1-sentence scene outlines that it’s enough of a jumping off point for me to get the first draft out.

  • Do you have any “must haves” to help you write?

I must have silence. I can’t write with music playing or background noises of any sort. I mean, I can, but I’m far more productive in absolute silence.

  • Do you only write during a certain time of day or in a certain location? If so, do you make yourself stop after a certain time?

I’m a graphic designer from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, so I always arrive at work an hour early to write. I have twin 4-year-olds at home that make writing at night a near impossibility. So once my hour at work is up, that’s usually it for the rest of the day.

  • Does your real life ever get neglected because of your writing? If so, how do you feel about that?

My real life really only gets neglected during the final month before a book release. I have an amazing wife who supports me in this and understands that it’s only a month out of many years in which my extra time is consumed. Other than that, I always put family first and writing second.

  • What is the quirkiest thing you do or have ever done when writing?

I’m a writer, when am I NOT quirky?

ABOUT YOUR WORK:

  • If you have written more than one novel, which is your favorite and why?

I have only written one novel to date.

  • If you could be one of your own characters for a day, who would it be and why?

I think I’d like to be Arisee Moonwater, despite her being the opposite sex. She lives in a secluded forest all to herself and gets to hang out with wildlife amongst the trees all day. Sounds relaxing to me.

  • If one of your books became a movie, who would you choose for the “perfect cast” of main characters?

I’d actually like to see how THEY would cast my characters. I’d be very interested is seeing how my world and the people in it are interpreted through someone else’s eyes. I’d find it fascinating and would leave the casting completely up to them.

  • What is the oddest thing you have ever researched for one of your books?

Probably how long certain poisons take to end a life. There’s a lot of herbalism in my stories and some of those herbs aren’t very nice to ingest. I wanted a variety of different types of poisonings to add authenticity to that aspect of the story. I’m sure I’m on several watch lists now.

  • What is the most difficult thing you have ever researched for one your books and why?

I don’t think I’ve find anything I’ve ever researched to be difficult or hard to swallow. Knowledge is power, and the the more you have the better the writer you’ll be.

ABOUT JOHN RYERS

author-pic-john-ryers

John is a graphic designer by day, and graphic designer by night (depending on the client), but most importantly, he’s a writer at heart. His dreams include writing for a living, experiencing virtual reality on a Matrix-esque level, and flying unaided (or possibly via really sweet jetpack).

John writes all genres but prefers Dark Fantasy over most anything else. This is due in part to the fact that he likes it the best, and because it’s awesome.

John prefers blue cheese over cheddar, cats over dogs, and will attempt to answer any question with sarcasm whether appropriate or not.

He completed his first novel The Glass Thief in 2017 and you should buy it. Or don’t. He’s not the boss of you.

the-glass-thief-cover

BACK BLURB

A debt is owed.

Del Kanadis–indentured thief to the King of Fires–desires freedom above all else. When given the opportunity to repay his debt with a single job, he begrudgingly accepts, believing it to be a fool’s errand. His task: infiltrate a secluded village rumoured to hold a relic capable of defeating the Fire King’s enemies.

Living amongst the townsfolk and gaining the trust of those in charge, Del quickly discovers they know more than they’re letting on, and that perhaps the relic truly does exist. Upon discovering their ultimate secret, he realizes winning his own life back could come at the cost of everyone else losing theirs.

GLASS THIEF EXCERPTS:

CHAPTER 1:

A debt was owed.

Four simple words and a simpler concept still, but it was the repayment of said debt that was particularly difficult for one glass thief, Del Kanadis. If it were just a matter of acquiring enough gold to satisfy the debtor, then Del wouldn’t be freezing his ass off in the middle of a moonlit cornfield right now. But as it was, it wasn’t to be settled by coin alone, but rather favours of a delicate nature. A nature that required weeks of meticulous plotting, planning and preparation.

 CHAPTER XXI:

If you could describe Uri’s home with a few words, it’d be sterile, bare and spartan. Almost militant. It reminded Del of the early days, back when he’d steal glass from the barracks and keeps of human kingdoms before the Glass Wars diminished their numbers and put the faen into power.

Nothing was out of place here. His clothes were organized into two sections: patrol Uri and magistrate Uri. Light armour and leather on the left and garish robes and ceremonial trinkets on the right. No Glass Crown.

A mouse would be hard-pressed to find a crumb of food in the kitchen. The floors were scrubbed, the table clean and polished, and the scent of citrus lingered in the air. No Glass Crown.

Upstairs was, as expected, equally tidy. Saria’s bedroom would seem chaotic compared to the order of Uri’s, and all she had was a bed and a book of poems. The sheets were pressed and fitted tight around a bed that’d hold no more than a single person. If Uri had anything going on with Renny, it sure as hell wasn’t going on here. Perhaps they rolled around on the floured floor of her bakery. An image both amusing and disturbing. No Glass Crown.

Del returned to the kitchen and grabbed a glass along with the bottle of wine beside it. He pulled the cork out with his teeth, spit it onto the floor and filled the glass, putting his feet up on the table. A small consolation for a fruitless search, but a deserved one nonetheless. He had after all saved Uri’s life.

 CHAPTER XVII:

“Don’t run,” Arisee whispered.

It was like she could see the list of options scrolling through Del’s mind. Running away being at the top of the list. Screaming or soiling oneself tied for second place and wishing for a pair of loaded glasslocks came in third.

Arisee shifted her feet and crouched into some sort of exotic combat stance suggesting she’d be making a stand, and since Del’s ankle had so conveniently betrayed him on the way here, it seemed he’d be making a stand too. A weaponless, armourless, hopeless stand most likely ending in a gruesome death.

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Author Interview: D.I. Jolly

12 Monday Dec 2016

Posted by David Wiley in Books and Reading, Guest Post, Indie Author Spotlight

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Author Interview, D.I. Jolly, Guest Post, Mostly Human, TinPot Publishing

**Note: The author is currently running a Goodreads giveaway for 5 copies of his book, Mostly Human, through January 7th. Be sure to hop on over and enter for a chance to win: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/213914-mostly-human

Welcome! Please tell us your name and a little bit about yourself.

profile

Born and raised in South African, I wanted to be a writer since I was seven years old after I found a fictional character in a video game who was a writer and I wanted to be him, more than anything else. I didn’t actually start writing things down right away, but I always had a whole different world in my head I would spend a lot of time in. I’ve never been much of a sleeper so I used to say that I’d tell myself bedtime stories until I fell asleep.

What motivates you to write?

It makes sense to me, stories fit the way I think and really I love doing it. Escaping to my own world and exploring by write stories about it.

What is the title of your most recent book? Give us a brief overview on what the book is about.

‘Mostly Human’ is the coming of age story of Alex Harris, as he goes from an adventures ten year old to the lead singer of the world famous band the WaterDogs. But he has a secret that he and his family have painstakingly kept since he was ten years old.

While playing in the woods on his grandparent’s farm, Alex stumbles across the body of a giant wolf. Driven by a naive love for all things dog and believing the animal dead he approaches the beast and quickly realises it wasn’t as dead as he though, nor was it a normal wolf.

What makes it unique from the other books out there?

cover-art

There are a few simple ideas in ‘Mostly Human’ which I’ve never come across in other books of this genre. The main one being though that, wolves are very nurturing creatures who live in close knit families. They mate for life, raise their young and even collect food for the elderly when they are too old to hunt for themselves. Equally humans (mostly) do the same, so the idea that a creature that is part man part wolf being a murderous monster never really sat well with me. So I decided to do something about it.

What is the title of your current work-in-progress or the most recent manuscript you’ve completed apart from your most recent book? Would you mind sharing what it is about?

I’m currently working on a couple of things. One being Mostly Human 2 (working title) which is a sequel following on just a few months after the end of the first book.

The other is Poetry Club Vol. 1, an anthology of short stories and poems with some friends of mine, who I started a writing group with. Once a week we meet in a bar and read out the short story or poem we’ve written based on that weeks theme.

How often do you write?

At least once a week for Poetry Club either Sunday afternoon or Monday night, frantically on the train on my way there.

What famous author would you compare your own writing style with?

I’d really like to think Robert Rankin, just because it was after reading The Armageddon Trilogy that I realised that you really are allowed to write what every your heart and imagination desires.

Who are five of your favorite authors?

Anne Rice

Robert Rankin

Jim Butcher

Oscar Wilde

Jane Jensen

What are you currently reading?

Ready Player-One

Fight Club

Esper Files

Time for some quick questions:

  • Favorite Quote?

 

Groovy – Ash from Evil Dead

  • Favorite Book?

 

Frankenstein right now, but that might change

  • Favorite Book Series?
    Dresden Files – Jim Butcher

 

Vampire Chronical – Anne Rice

Armageddon Trilogy – Robert Rankin

I love them all equally but differently.

  • Favorite Movie?

 

Dark Knight (Probably)

  • Favorite TV Show?

 

90s Batman Cartoon

  • Coffee or Tea?

 

Coffee

  • If you could have one superpower what would it be?

 

The Force

If you could be one character from your own writing, who would it be and why?

My knee jerk reaction is Jones P.I. from A guy a girl and a voodoo monkey hand. But when I think about it he is a fairly under developed character written by a teenager (me at 19), and I believe it shows. So I think really it’s Alex Harris from Mostly Human, his life isn’t close to perfect or easy, but he’s smart and capable, and doesn’t always get things right but has come out the other side of his mistakes smarter and more capable.

Finally, what advice would you give to other writers?

Practise and don’t accept unconstructive criticism. Anyone who says “Oh it’s just ****” or “I didn’t like it.” or “Yeah it’s great.” Without a follow on explanation, isn’t helping. Any comments on your work, good or bad, should come with an explanation so that you can learn what to grow and what to cut away.

And keep at it, the more you do something and get feedback from people, the better you’ll become at it. I know there is the desire to be perfect at something right away, or get it spot on in the first draft but almost all the time, that isn’t how it works, and that’s fine. A painting isn’t a single layer of paint, and a novel isn’t a first draft.

*****

Links:

Good Reads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30847240-mostly-human
Amazon (Book)
https://www.amazon.com/Mostly-Human-D-I-Jolly-ebook/dp/B01FYRHSOY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1478871584&sr=1-1&keywords=mostly+human
Amazon (me)
https://www.amazon.com/D.I.-Jolly/e/B00MCITL5S/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Voodoo.Monkey.Hand/
 
 

Bio:

Born and raised in South African, I wanted to be a writer since I was seven years old after I found a fictional character in a video game who was a writer and I wanted to be him, more than anything else. I didn’t actually start writing things down right away, but I always had a whole different world in my head I would spend a lot of time in. I’ve never been much of a sleeper so I used to say that I’d tell myself bedtime stories until I fell asleep.

As I got older I started to write these stories out but always found I’d lose the plot and couldn’t finish anything, until A Guy, A Girl and A Voodoo Monkey Hand that is, which actually started as a joke e-mail to a friend.

Finishing that story was a revelation in my mind, I finally felt justified to really start concentrating on my writing and started writing short stories, poems and setting about on the next novel, and the one after that. Since then I have always been writing something, and I never want to stop.

One day someone will find me lying dead on my keyboard, probably smiling.

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  • Review of Saga, Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan, art by Fiona Staples authordavidwiley.wordpress.com/2022/05/07/rev… 9 months ago
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