Author Interview: Werner Stejskal

Tags

Children's Book, Indie Author, Interview, Oliver and Jumpy, Werner Stejskal

Here is a chance to check out an author via an interview. You never know, reading an interview could lead you to finding your next favorite author. In this case, Werner is the author of children’s books that I am confident you will find to be very interesting. Be sure to check out his work, and his links at the bottom of the interview.

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

My name is Werner Stejskal. I was born in Vienna, Austria and live with my wife and married two children in Perth, Australia since 28 years. I started off in the Printing Industry, worked later for the UNO in Vienna for many years before making the fundamental decision to move to Australia. After retiring from my online export business I was blessed one sleepless night with the idea for my series ‘Oliver and Jumpy’, giving me a new purpose in life.

What motivates you to write?

I have always been reading a lot and it was a short step to develop an interest in writing. I never considered myself capable to write novels though. It was more just for myself. I loved to create an alternative kind of children’s books to all the current ones being sold. I am more a business man than writer, so my current setup suits me well. I write the stories, find illustrators, translators and editors by myself and also produce my own books using various softwares.

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

There are lots of fairy tales and bedtime stories around and many of them quite violent. This made me decide to write something different. On a flight from Europe to Australia I watched the movie Magic on Belle Island with Morgan Freeman, where Freeman teaches a little girl to have imagination and write her first story. This inspired me as well and the first stories with the two characters Oliver, the elegant tomcat, and Jumpy, his kangaroo lady friend, made their appearance.

I do things very differently to most authors. There is actually no last book, but a whole series of 20 ebooks or 10 POD’s with 62 stories which I finished off before publishing them all at once within a short time. ‘Oliver and Jumpy’ is now four years in the making. English, Chinese, Spanish is ready and German coming up.

What makes it unique from the other books out there?

I found that a lot of picture books have very simple and few illustrations, little text and are for a very small age range. I decided on Walt Disney style drawings because they can be quite complex and the characters have, well, character. Most of my illustrators managed to create that image. The stories all started out with 1000 each, which is far too many for picture books. I had to keep reducing the text, but there is still more to read than in most picture books. There is usually a lesson to be learned, even though it is a very subtle one and quite well hidden in the story. I tried to keep the text with the illustration, rather than use a separate page for the text and have only half the book illustrated. I am self-published and do not worry about page restrictions of various printers. My books can be between 33-50 pages.

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 am working on the German version of my series. After this I may tackle Japanese and Hindi. The final goal is to produce a TV series with ‘Oliver and Jumpy’.

What do you find most useful during your writing process?

My Ipad. I practically live with it. I do everything with it. Write, produce my books and YouTube clips, Social Networking and finding reviewers.

What are you doing for promotion?

Promotions are all encompassing. There is no one thing that works by itself. I spend a lot of time finding reviewers. Now I try to get into local papers, TV stations, podcasts, author interviews. My aggregator helps to get the books into promotions on all ebook platforms. The social media is important.

How often do you write?

I wrote the whole series within two months. Now is time for production and promotion. No more writing until the next series.

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

I would not dare!

Who are five of your favorite authors?

Jefferey Deaver, Nora Roberts, James Michener, Michael Connelly, Maragret Mitchell

What are you currently reading?

Jeffery Deaver – The Twelfth Card

Time for some quick questions:

• Favorite Quote?

 

Never stop learning.

• Favorite Book?

 

Gone with the Wind

• Favorite Book Series?

 

All Nora Robert series

• Favorite Movie?

 

I repeat myself, Gone with the Wind.

• Favorite TV Show?

 

Yes, there was a time I watched TV. Long time ago.

• Coffee or Tea?

 

Very weak coffee.

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

 

Write novels!

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

Why, that’s obvious – Oliver is me and I am Oliver.

Finally, what advice would you give to other writers?

Treat your writing as a business right from the beginning. There are tax benefits! Start building a relevant social media presence to build your own audience. You can feed them the progress of your work and they may be receptive when you finally have a finished product!

Social media links

http://www.facebook.com/werner.stejskal

@Oliver And Jumpy

https://plus.google.com/+WernerStejskal

Instagram: Werner.Stejskal

https://au.linkedin.com/in/oliverandjumpy

Amazon Author’s page with free books:

https://www.amazon.com/Werner-Stejskal/e/B00NFANG58/

Website: www.bedtimestory4you.com

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Book Spotlight: November Fox by E.E. Bertram

Tags

Augmented Reality, Book Release, Book Spotlight, E.E. Bertram, Following Joy, Guest Post, Indie Author, Metaphyiscal, November Fox, Sci-Fi

• Book Name: November Fox – Book 1. Following Joy
• Subtitle: A Metaphysical Visionary Fable
• Genre: SciFi/Fantasy/New Adult/Metaphysical/Visionary Fiction
• Audience: Broad age appeal. YA, New Adult & Adult
• Word Count: 71204
• Unique Bonus: 39 Augmented Reality Images
• Author: E.E. Bertram – Visionary Fiction Author & Music and Media Producer
• Subjects: Metaphysical/Consciousness/Perceptions of Reality/Philosophy/Adventure
• Success: Ran a Successful Kickstarter campaign raising over £11000 to print the larger than A4 Limited First Edition Hardback
• ISBN: 9780995381308
• PRICE $9.99-$19.99 (USD)
• EDITION: Ebook and Paperback
• Author and Book Info Link: http://www.eebertram.com
• Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv7_pceqsg0
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/estherbertram

 

• Blurb:THE STORY: Little does she know, The Architect, from the race of philosophical beings who create our world of form, has been watching over her all her life.Architect’s fascinating letter in a glass bottle washed ashore on Brighton Beach. Pages continue to magically appear as she, too, is compelled to follow November’s quest.Combining elements inspired by the new thought movement, the law of attraction, magic, mysticism, wisdom and wonder, November learns that she can use the power of dreaming, imagination and positive thinking to remake herself and her world. November Fox will be enjoyed by readers who liked wisdomfilled, visionary fiction fables like “The Alchemist,” the escapism ofAs an idiosyncratic fantasy/science fiction crossover, it is suitable for teens and adults alike.“Things aren’t always as they seem, do we wake or do we dream?”
• It comes with 39 illustrations with an Augmented Reality technology feature, enabling readers to further expand their experience.
• “Alice in Wonderland” or the Mind-bending nature of the movie “The Matrix.”
• Realities eclipse as we embark on a metaphysical adventure through time and space. November learns that harnessing the power of her mind and heart is fundamental, if she wishes to unlock the cube and escape the sometimes sinister, sometimes wonderful dimensions into which she is propelled.
• Grieving Erica, a teacher and writer from London, finds The November Fox has never even heard of other dimensions when a teleporting magical cube appears on her doorstep. With a hole in her heart and a cosmic identity yet to be discovered, the orphan rock star accepts an invitation to find the key within herself that will unlock the mysteries of form.
• Think you’ve read it all? This revelatory chronicle will have you thinking otherwise. Into the swirling vortex, you will be drawn – whether you think this is your sort of book or not. You just might find yourself questioning your own perceptions of reality and be left craving more. + 39 Augmented Reality Illustrations.

• LINKS:
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orphanrockstar/
• Amazon: http://bit.ly/NFVT09
• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32608639-november-fox-1following-joy—a-metaphysical-visionary-fable
• Book: www.novemberfox.com

Advance Praise/Reviews

The 1st edition of this book was successfully funded on Kickstarter at the end of 2014, raising over £11000 for the creation of the limited edition (larger than A4) print version. The 2nd edition is due for release, in Ebook format, November 1st 2016. Kickstarter

Link: http://bit.ly/NovemberFox

 

*****

You will be irresistibly drawn into the extraordinary adventures of November Fox, orphaned rock star, as she finds the answers to life’s most confounding and compelling questions. November battles her personal demons through adventures that straddle identities and realities and finds her way through real and fantastical realms to a new awareness. Challenging situations, provocative theories and fantastic characters will tease you on. Expect the unexpected and to be confronted with other ways of thinking, seeing and being as the incredible becomes the credible and then back again, and time, place and characters take on new dimensions and realities. Effortlessly interwoven sub-plots subtly build behind the story, giving the tale depth and intrigue. The Augmented Reality illustrations give this book a unique visual and audio element, adding to the many ways November Fox and her cast of real and bizarre characters will challenge you. There’s no question you will be left craving more. – Lynne B.

 

*****

Wow, thank-you for a wonderful story, it really moved me and I cried at least 3 times. I love the soundtrack album as well! – Simon

Woolven

 

*****

‘She paused for a moment as the mood in the room went quickly from a light-hearted cake break to being as deep and reflective as a moonlit lake at midnight.’ This excerpt from the book describes this idiosyncratic fantasy chronicle perfectly. It’s a journey through the fantastical and is not just escapist but reflects the real world though departing from it. On November’s adventure, the reader gets to re-examine their conceptions of time and space and leave behind ‘real world’ mundanity. In that departure, we are shown that reality has more fantastical elements than first realised. November Fox is a stream of consciousness narrative which renders a flow of myriad impressions… visual, auditory, physical, associative and subliminal. The writer incorporates snatches of incoherent thought and free association of ideas, images, and words to capture the total flow of their characters’ consciousness. A promising narrative with a truly innovative digital experience, one can look forward to the next in the series. – Di Ebert

 

*****

 

From the first page it pulls you in with the phrase that decorates the back cover, “Things aren’t always as they seem, do we wake or do we dream?…” and the reader is introduced to the mysterious Architect who is to become an integral part and narrator of November Fox. As well as providing the reader with a curious plot and interesting characters, author E.E. Bertram has created this book to have an augmented reality: an additional component to the book accessed using an app that you download onto your phone or table. Scanning the pictures that accompany the chapter then activates this. Using this method the reader discovers a beautiful animated video paired with the chapter that is described as ‘taking a critical look at current events’ and follows a mysterious figure on a journey towards ‘inner peace”. November Fox is a refreshing, different book reminiscent of the curiosities of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. It is an interesting read and one that sticks in your head long after you’ve finished reading it. – Sussex Life Magazine

************

November Fox – Book 1. Following Joy

A Metaphysical Visionary Fable

By. E.E. Bertram

 

Introduction

 

Things aren’t always as they seem, do we wake or do we dream? Are we dreaming life or living the dream?

The answer may be we do both.

*****

A letter from me, to you. The dawn is near. How delightful. This being my first ever letter, I must apologise, as it may be on the long side as far as letters are concerned. My Father always said, if you are going to do something, do it properly, or not at all. They call me The Architect. I am much more accustomed to construction and landscaping, which is worlds away from writing language on a page. Although of late, I seem to be doing far more observing than designing.

Never could I have imagined I would become an observer and a letter-writer. Funny thing, life; how it sneaks up on you like that. Your World of Form fascinates me so—curious, busy people, always doing, doing, doing.

I must admit that I tend to be the same myself, although in a different way, as you will come to witness. Perhaps you and I shared some things in common? (It is, of course, no coincidence that you found my message.) I sense that you have spent some tick-tocks, or at least a few moments, wondering who you are? What is this life all about? How did we get here? Where are we going? I myself cannot give you any fixed answers to these questions, yet I can perhaps share with you another perspective on this wondrous ride we call life. My observations of one fascinating young lady—who you will soon know as November Fox—may also shed some light. In writing you this letter, I intend to show you a glimpse behind the curtain. This is a world not seen by anyone in your sphere, until now.

Before we get started, I must say I am rather joyous to meet you here, in this peculiar part of the universe. This invisible space; the distance of approximately 46cm or 18 inches that the black letters of these words travel to your eyes, which then absorb, filter, and process them. Yes, this is indeed a rather fascinating location, out of all the possible places to connect. This unique space is one where we can both float free in a dialogue of sorts, sharing this moment.

Although perhaps reading this, you may think I existed in the past, writing this letter?

Maybe you believe you are here, now, alone, scanning words I left behind for you to find? Is this the case? Let me say that the universe is far more mysterious than you have ever imagined. Are you open to the possibility that it may only be you travelling down linear tick-tock? I do hope so, because the truth is, I float here with you in this moment. Hello, (insert me shaking your hand and smiling,) I am delighted to make your acquaintance in this curious part of the cosmos.

My Father always called me a dreamer He was right about that. Dreamers are also important; I realise that now. As a young Architect, I spent any spare moment I could, stretched out across my magic flying carpet, Charlie, staring into the heavens and wondering how everything came into being. I shall tell you more about Charlie a little bit later. I still wonder why my Father displayed a notably more negative tone than his default persecutory edge when he called me a dreamer. Perhaps dreams and those bestowed with the job to explore them, are not so simple to understand; perhaps even frightening? I am rather sure, as one of the ones with my head in another dimension, that it is not always easy to be a dreamer. You will need to trust me on that, unless you are a dreamer yourself. Are you?

Oscar Wilde, the fine chap he is (or perhaps was, from your perspective), once said, A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world. How true that is, and how punished I have been because of my dreaming. I say this with heartfelt sincerity; life can be a double-edged sword of tranquillity and loneliness, when living in the solitude of shadows. Yet I am not writing to dwell on such dark affairs. Today the precious dawn is soon to arrive, and I just cannot contain my excitement anymore. I can sense change in my bones; although, to be clear, I carry no skeletons as such. My TMD machine (I will also explain him later) is doing his utmost to translate, and “Bones” is the best the poor fellow could come up with. Anyway, the sun is near, my dear friend! So let this letterwriting business commence.

Have you ever had an exceptionally strong sense of something or a gigantic idea? One so immense that you are unsure your small body or mind can contain the complex monstrosity. You feel you may crack open when you allow it to push your edges too far. Well, the moment is here to let you in on my little secret.

Indie Author Spotlight: Marie Lavender

Tags

Blue Vision, Indie Author, Interview, Marie Lavendar, Romance, Sci-Fi

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

 

Hello! My name is Marie Lavender. I am a multi-genre author from the Midwest. I live with my family and three cats, though there will probably be eight when I get married to my fiancé.

I have been writing stories for years, since I was a child. At the age of nine is when I really started to plan on being an author. Stories always played out in my head, and it just made sense to write them all down. So, I pursued the dream, and even majored in Creative Writing in College. About five years after I graduated, I decided to really get into publishing my work. In 2012, I was discovered by Solstice Publishing, and I’ve been with them ever since.

 

What motivates you to write?

 

I can be inspired by anything really – current events, conversations, observations. Mainly, I guess I just let the muse take me wherever it wants. More often than not, characters come to me, demanding for their stories to be told. I follow them down the nutty path of writing.

 

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

 

My latest book, which releases on November 15^th, is called Blue Vision. The novel is about a young woman who comes across a strange man in the middle of a Montana winter. But what happens next is totally unexpected…

 

Here is the blurb:

Brooke Sanders just wants to get away from her life for awhile. A remote cabin in Montana fits the bill. She doesn’t expect to encounter a mysterious stranger with unusual blue eyes, or events that cannot be explained…

Colin Fielding is on a mission – scout a planet and return home to Endhivar. Simple really. What he doesn’t anticipate is that fate has a pretty twisted sense of humor. Suddenly, this human calls to him, every part of him, like the call of a true mate, and he can’t deny the connection as he gets closer to her.

Little do they know, someone is out to do them harm, as well as the world Brooke holds so dear. Can they stop what’s coming before it’s too late? Or will the universe lose a perfect gem?

 

What makes it unique from the other books out there?

 

I think Endhivar is what makes it different. Also Colin, the Code, and, of course, the connection between the two characters.

 

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?

 The project I’m currently editing is called Directions of the Heart. It’s a contemporary romance/romantic drama collection of four stories. The best way to describe the book is that it’s comprised of eight different people on a journey of loss, growth, redemption, healing and romance.

I see that you’ve also self-published in the past. Which do you like better, publishing on your own or using a traditional publisher?

 

I like both. I enjoy the community of authors at the publishing company, knowing we’re all in the same place and we can learn from each other, learn from the publisher too. But I also tend to favor having some control over the various aspects of publishing (book cover art, release date, et cetera). Being an indie author, I get to experience both sides.

 

You consider yourself a multi-genre author. Did you always plan to go in different directions?

 

No, not really. Originally, I only planned to be a romance author. But the muse had different ideas. When I wised up, I realized I had to leave my mind completely open for stories. That’s when the best things come to you, right? The ones you don’t expect. Heck, last year, I even published a children’s fantasy novella. That definitely wasn’t planned! But I wouldn’t undo it either. It was a fun experience.

 

I had a professor once who gave me some really great advice. She told me not to limit myself to one genre, and she was right. Besides, I’m not a great conformist. I never liked boxing myself in with anything. Why should I do that with writing?

 

Your author tagline on your site is ‘exploring worlds one page at a time’. Could you expand a bit on that? What made you decide to pick that for your author brand?

 

It made an eerie kind of sense. Going along with the theme of being a multi-genre author, I took a good look at my 117+ works in progress, and I saw a trend forming. The stories were all over the place, just like I am in my likes and dislikes in life. Fiction is about building a world for the reader to become absorbed in. And my books are about different worlds.

 

Who are five of your favorite authors?

 

Five of my favorites are J.R. Ward, Chloe Neill, P.C. Cast, Kris Tualla and Nora Roberts.

 

How often do you write?

 

Well, it depends on the project, and whether I’m focused on it. If I’m editing, that can slow down progress on other story ideas. Mostly I write random scenes until I’m ready to start plotting and really get down to writing the bulk of the novel. After I’ve done all the research I can, and learned everything about the characters, I start making a timeline of the book and filling in the gaps. Of course, the characters still surprise me now and then. As for how often I write, once I’m heavily focused on a project, I try to work on the book a little every day, even if I’m only writing a paragraph, a whole scene or a chapter. Anything gets you closer to that goal.

 

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

 

I’m not sure I could compare my style to a specific author. But if a fan would like to venture a guess, I’m open to finding out. Personally, I feel more like I’m an unruly blend of different authors when it comes to my writing style.

 

What are you currently reading?

 

I’m reading Lover Enshrined by J.R. Ward. I’ve read it before, but sometimes I find myself reading the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series all over again. It doesn’t help when one of your favorite authors keeps adding to an already lengthy series. At the same time, I wouldn’t want her to stop writing.

 

 Time for some quick questions:

 

• Favorite Quote? “You don’t love someone for their looks, or their clothes, or for their fancy car, but because they sing a song only you can hear.” ― Oscar Wilde

• Favorite Book? Dark Lover by J.R. Ward

• Favorite Book Series? Chicagoland Vampires by Chloe Neill

• Favorite Movie? Kate & Leopold

• Favorite TV Show? Arrow

• Coffee or Tea? Decaf French Vanilla Coffee

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

 

 

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

 

Oh, I might choose Adrienne Bellamont Hill from the Heiresses in Love Series. The final book in the series, Upon Your Love, should be out sometime in 2017. Talk about someone fearless. I’d like to step into her shoes for a day!

 

Finally, what advice would you give to other writers?

 

Oh my God, please be patient! It will save you in so many situations. Just do the best you can, and don’t try to push too hard for everything to go faster. You’ll just run into roadblocks that you’ll wish you didn’t bother with in the first place.

Author Bio and Links

 

Bestselling multi-genre author of UPON YOUR RETURN and 21 other books. March 2016 Empress of the Universe title – winner of the “Broken Heart” themed contest and the “I Love You” themed contest on Poetry Universe. SECOND CHANCE HEART and A LITTLE MAGICK placed in the TOP 10 on the 2015 P&E Readers’ Poll. Nominated in the TRR Readers’ Choice Awards for Winter 2015. Poetry winner of the 2015 PnPAuthors Contest. The Versatile Blogger Award for 2015. Honorable Mention in the 2014 BTS Red Carpet Book Awards. Finalist and Runner-up in the 2014 MARSocial’s Author of the Year Competition. Honorable mention in the January 2014 Reader’s Choice Award. Liebster Blogger Award for 2013 and 2014. Top 10 Authors on AuthorsDB.com. Winner of the Great One Liners Contest on the Directory of Published Authors.

Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and three cats. She has been writing for over twenty years. She has more works in progress than she can count on two hands. Since 2010, Marie has published 22 books in the genres of historical romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, fantasy, mystery/thriller, literary fiction and poetry. Blue Vision will be book 23, where she breaks into the science fiction genre. She has also contributed to several anthologies. Her current series are The Heiresses in Love Series, The Magick Series, The Code of Endhivar Series and The Blood at First Sight Series.

 

http://marielavender.com/ Blogs: http://iloveromanceblog.wordpress.com/ http://marielavenderbooks.blogspot.com/ http://marielavender.blogspot.com/ Graphic design company: http://www.ambrosiainnovations.com/ https://www.facebook.com/marie.lavender.58 https://www.facebook.com/MarieAnnLavender https://twitter.com/marielavender1 https://plus.google.com/u/0/+MarieLavender/posts http://www.linkedin.com/pub/marie-lavender/27/187/10a Amazon author page: Author.to/MarieLavender https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6938764.Marie_Lavender http://authorsdb.com/authors-directory/1578-marie-lavender http://www.pw.org/content/marie_lavender http://manicreaders.com/marielavender/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJu8HjRVYCFOqcIoX6ZxdqQ/videos

 

Guest Post: EPIC by Dane Cobain

Tags

Dane Cobain, Epic, Guest Post, Indie Author, poetry

So I was contacted by poet and author Dane Cobain and, while I did not have the time to take on reading and reviewing one of his books, I was intrigued by his offer to write an exclusive poem based off five words I would provide. Being a bit of a fan of the Icelandic Sagas and Norse Mythology, I gave him this list of words: Saga, Shieldmaiden, Berserker, Valhalla, and Viking. So here is what he came up with, the poem that you won’t find anywhere else:

 

Epic

 

THIS.

IS.

EPIC.

 

Come on,

you act like you’ve never

met Thor before,

like you’re a berserker

without a purpose,

pillaging parishes

and pushing priests

over the sides

of a longship.

 

When I die,

they’ll burn me

in the back of a Volkswagen

Passat,

along with my

belongings;

Valhalla was made

for men like me,

maybe.

 

I once knew a Viking,

his meme was Stig

and he could drink more mead

than a Viking needs;

Stig died

when we were still

at university,

but I still miss him

when I go pillaging.

 

These days,

my shieldmaiden

is a little old lady,

an ageing Asian

who sharpens her tongue

on a whetstone.

 

And my saga

is set

to continue…

 

So there you have it. What did you think? Be sure to check out Dane’s work, which is listed below:

No Rest for the Wicked

(supernatural thriller)

When the Angels attack, there’s NO REST FOR THE WICKED.

Father Montgomery, an elderly priest with a secret past, begins to investigate after his parishioners come under attack, and with the help of Jones, a young businessman with an estranged child, Montgomery begins to track down the origin of the Angels.

When Jones himself is attacked, Father Montgomery knows he has to act fast. He speaks to the Angels and organises a final showdown where he’s asked to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Find out more.

 

Eyes Like Lighthouses When the Boats Come Home

(poetry)

Eyes Like Lighthouses is Dane Cobain’s first book of poetry, distilled from the sweat of a thousand memorised performances in this reality and others. It’s not for the faint-hearted.

“I’ve never seen anyone do a stream of consciousness piece as talented as that. Very impressed.” – Mark Allard-Will, author of Saskatch-A-Man and co-founder of Cuckoo’s Nest Press

Find out more.

 

Former.ly: The Rise and Fall of a Social Network

(literary fiction)

When Dan Roberts starts his new job at Former.ly, he has no idea what he’s getting into. The site deals in death – its users share their innermost thoughts, which are stored privately until they die. Then, their posts are shared with the world, often with unexpected consequences.

But something strange is going on, and the site’s two erratic founders share a dark secret. A secret that people are willing to kill for.

Find out more.

 

Social Paranoia: How Consumers and Brands Can Stay Safe in a Connected World

(non-fiction)

Social Paranoia: How Consumers and Brands Can Stay Safe in a Connected World is the true story of how sometimes the updates that you post come back to haunt you. Filled with real case studies and practical advice, it’s a guidebook for everyone who has an online presence from consumers to massive corporations.

Sometimes, people really are out to get you. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Find out more.

Indie Author Spotlight: Joshua Robertson

Tags

Crimson Edge Press, Dark Fantasy, Indie Author, Joshua Robertson, The Hawkhurst Saga

This month we are featuring Joshua Robertson, author of books and the owner of Crimson Edge Press. You can check out my review of one of his books, Anaerfell, over at Our Write Side. Last month saw him publish a new book, The Hawkhurst Saga, which is linked in the sidebar to the right for this month. Read along to find out more about this excellent author and publisher.

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

My name is Joshua Robertson and I am a dark fantasy author.. I am the father to five wonderful children, who teach me a great deal about myself and life. I also work at a full-time, non-writing job, inclusive of volunteer work for veterans, victims of domestic violence, and children in need of care. I also host a podcast, maintain a YouTube channel, read, bake, hike, play board games and video games, and stalk social media.

 

What motivates you to write?

Family is my primary motivation. I have a definite passion for storytelling, and an appreciation for the art of writing. Someday, I would like to write full-time and tell all the tales bouncing around in my head—but only if it benefits my children.

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

I released The Hawkhurst Saga on May 07, 2016. This book tells the tale of Argus Gunther—a sellsword, gladiator, and bastard—who returns to the dark city of Hawkhurst to fulfill a contract. To his surprise, he discovers he is included in the contract and becomes trapped within the city playing political games with the noble houses. While trying to escape, he must decide whether or not there are worse fates than death.

What makes it unique from the other books out there?

The Hawkhurst Saga holds the complexity of Game of Thrones but in a short story, maintaining the point of view of Argus. I have dabbled in expanding the story to encompass the other characters in the story (and I may after finishing other projects), but such a feat would require a much larger book. As with most of my stories, you will find the ending of the story has as much of a twist as the tale woven within.

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?

Currently, I am completing another short story called Jack Spratt. This is a short, horror tale snakes together several nursery rhymes in the most unusual way. Readers will find the Spratt family holds dark secrets, and Miss Muffet may be the only one capable of uncovering them. But does she want to?

I understand that you primarily write Dark Fantasy novels. What is it about the subgenre that drew you to it, and why should readers choose to read Dark Fantasy novels?

Sometimes there is a confusion between Horror and Dark Fantasy. Horror novels often have the desire to scare readers. Dark Fantasy is meant to be fantastical or paranormal and address the darker side of life, darker emotions, and psychological stressors. Dark Fantasy has a certain level of grit and realism, which truly is not something all readers want in a novel.  I enjoy writing in this subgenre because it allows me to escape the typical trope of good versus evil, and explore the concept of action versus consequence. I like having a genre where I can explore the trauma real people face and its full impact on their well-being, while at the same time, I don’t feel pressured to always have a happily ever after.

You are the creator of a small publishing press, Crimson Edge Publishing. What made you decide to go the route of creating a publishing house? How has your experience with that shaped who you are as a writer and how you approach writing?

I have read many stories of writers who are burned out by the Big Five, frustrated with the publishing industry, or have been hurt in some sense and decide to strike out on their own with a small press. My story does not reflect any of these circumstances. I like writing. I like books. I like watching authors grow into better authors. I genuinely have a passion for the craft and owning a publishing company is a surefire way to be immersed in this lifelong passion.

I have been a teacher in many capacities in my life, and I have always found teachers learn more than students by the nature of the process (e.g. preparing lessons, grading assignments, etc.). They simply spend more time with the material. This logic suggested I would learn more as a publisher than I could as a writer. I could write you a paper on how this as impacted my own writing. From mapping characters to plot, to improving word choice and sentence structure, to recognizing flaws I never Knew I had…I find myself more disciplined in piecing together any story.

You are very involved on social media, in writer’s groups, and other aspects of marketing and networking. What advice would you give to new writers, published or unpublished, in regards to networking and building their author brand? Are there certain areas where you have found greater success where you would recommend they should focus their efforts?

I started building my fan-base a couple years before I published my first book, which I believe was very helpful. Though, I think the greatest thing any author could do is join a writing community and build real relationships. More importantly, be supportive, be kind, and be nonjudgmental in those communities. I know many small press owners who frequently dip into writing communities online, and we watch the interactions among aspiring authors. We live in a digital age where most of our marketing and interactions leave a permanent blueprint on social media. What you may think is a simple post (ranting, raving, or otherwise) could be the beginning or the end of a future contract with a publisher. Most publishers feel confident in their ability to help someone improve their writing; we are less willing to work with someone who is incapable of staying professional online.

How often do you write?

Not as often as I once did. I generally like to write daily for a couple hours, but with other tasks have limited my writing time to once or twice a week.

Who are five of your favorite authors?

1. J.R.R. Tolkien
2. R.A. Salvatore
3. Robert Jordan
4. C.L. Schneider
5. Homer

What are you currently reading?

The Crown of Stones Series by C.L. Schneider

Time for some quick questions:

• Favorite Quote? “Not all who wander are lost.” -J.R.R. Tolkien
• Favorite Book? Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
• Favorite Epic Fantasy Series? The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
• Favorite Movie? Wolfhound (2006) starring Aleksandr Bukharov
• Favorite TV Show? Game of Thrones
• Coffee or Tea? Coffee. I don’t enjoy tea at all.
• Favorite Running Song? The Outsider by A Perfect Circle
• Who would you cast as Rand, Mat, and Perrin for the Wheel of Time television series? If I don’t get any of the parts (??). In all seriousness, I think they should find new actors for all the parts.
• Once place you would like to visit most in Middle-Earth? Dol Guldur always captured my interest, and I imagine it would incite a great adventure. However, if I wanted to play it safe, I would have to say Mirkwood.

 

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

I don’t know that I have written the character I would want to be yet, but if I had to choose one…I would probably say Falmagon from the Thrice Nine Legends Saga, specifically Melkorka and Dyndaer. For anyone who has read these novels, they would likely say, “Why?! Isn’t he the bad guy?” And yes, he is the antagonist, but there is so much to appreciate about Falmagon: his beliefs, his conviction, and his allegiance. Plus, he grants the story purpose. Falmagon represents any person in life who stands at odds with us. We may dislike a person—even hate them—but admittedly, our own beliefs would be but wind without an opposing force to give attention to them. Stories don’t have meaning without conflict; neither does life.

Finally, what advice would you give to other writers?

Many authors worry about how to market their book after being published. The best thing you can do to sell the first book is write the second.

 

Biography

Joshua Robertson was born in Kingman, Kansas on May 23, 1984. A graduate of Norwich High School, Robertson attended Wichita State University where he received his Masters in Social Work with minors in Psychology and Sociology. His bestselling novel, Melkorka, the first in The Kaelandur Series, was released in 2015. Known most for his Thrice Nine Legends Saga, Robertson enjoys and ever-expanding and extremely loyal following of readers. He counts R.A. Salvatore and J.R.R. Tolkien among his literary influences.

www.crimsonedgepress.com
www.facebook.com/AuthorJoshuaRobertson
@robertsonwrites

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKbNu6bLlOMBHXu8gNTB9cg

Book Spotlight: Rarity from the Hollow by Roberty Eggleton

Tags

Indie Author, Lacy Dawn, preview, Rarity from the Hollow, Robert Eggleton

This week we have a special preview of a Science Fiction book. Read on for information about Rarity from the Hollow by Robert Eggleton, including a sample from the book and information about the author.

Blurb for the Book: Lacy Dawn’s father relives the Gulf War, her mother’s teeth are rotting out, and her best friend is murdered by the meanest daddy on Earth. Life in The Hollow isn’t great. But Lacy has one advantage — she’s been befriended by a semi-organic, semi-robot who works with her to cure her parents. He wants something in exchange, though. It’s up to her to save the Universe.

Will Lacy Dawn’s predisposition, education, and magic be enough for her to save the Universe, Earth, and, most importantly, protect her own family?

Rarity from the Hollow is adult literary science fiction filled with tragedy, comedy and satire. It is a children’s story for adults, not for the prudish, faint of heart, or easily offended.

 

About the author:

Robert Eggleton has served as a children’s advocate in an impoverished state for over forty years. He is best known for his investigative reports about children’s programs, most of which were published by the West Virginia Supreme Court where he worked from 1982 through 1997, and which also included publication of models of serving disadvantaged and homeless children in the community instead of in large institutions, research into foster care drift involving children bouncing from one home to the next — never finding a permanent loving family, and statistical reports on the occurrence and correlates of child abuse and delinquency.

Today, he is a recently retired children’s psychotherapist from the mental health center in Charleston, West Virginia, where he specialized in helping victims cope with and overcome physical and sexual abuse, and other mental health concerns. Rarity from the Hollow is his debut novel and its release followed publication of three short Lacy Dawn Adventures in magazines: Wingspan Quarterly, Beyond Centauri, and Atomjack Science Fiction. Author proceeds have been donated to a child abuse prevention program operated by Children’s Home Society of West Virginia. http://www.childhswv.org/ Robert continues to write fiction with new adventures based on a protagonist that is a composite character of children that he met when delivering group therapy services. The overall theme of his stories remains victimization to empowerment.

Author Contacts:

http://www.lacydawnadventures.com

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13603677-rarity-from-the-hollow 

https://www.facebook.com/robert.eggleton2 

https://www.facebook.com/Lacy-Dawn-Adventures-73354432693864/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

 

From chapter 13, Mom I’d Like to Introduce You to My Fiancé:

 

…..…Jenny (the mother) walked up the hill to Roundabend. She called Lacy Dawn’s name every few yards. Her muddy tennis shoes slipped and slid.

I hear her voice. Why won’t she answer me? 

“Sounds like she’s talking to someone,” Jenny said to the Woods.

Nobody responded. The trees weren’t supposed to since Jenny was no longer a child. Her former best friends had made no long-term commitment beyond childhood victimization. They had not agreed to help her deal with domestic violence in adulthood. She hugged the closest tree.

I will always love you guys. 

Jenny quickened her pace, stopped, and listened for human voices. A few yards later, she stopped again.

Now it sounds like she’s behind me instead of in front. 

Jenny looked to the left of the path.

There ain’t no cave Roundabend, but there it is. 

She walked toward the entrance. The voices grew louder and she looked inside. Lacy Dawn sat on a bright orange recliner. Tears streamed down her face.  Jenny ran to her daughter through a cave that didn’t exit and into a blue light that did.

“All right, you mother f**ker!”

“Mom!” Lacy Dawn yelled. “You didn’t say, ‘It’s me’ like you’re supposed to (a traditional announcement mentioned earlier in the story).”

DotCom (the android) sat naked in a lotus position on the floor in front of the recliner.  Jenny covered Lacy Dawn with her body and glared at him.

“Grrrrr,” emanated from Jenny.  It was a sound similar to the one that Brownie (Lacy Dawn’s dog) made the entire time the food stamp woman was at their house.  It was a sound that filled the atmosphere with hate.  No one moved.  The spaceship’s door slid shut.

“Mommmmmy, I can’t breathe. Get up.”

“You make one move you sonofabitch and I’ll tear your heart out,” Jenny repositioned to take her weight off Lacy Dawn.

Stay between them.

“Mommy, he’s my friend. More than my friend, we’re going to get married when I’m old enough — like when I turn fourteen. He’s my boyfriend — what you call it — my fiancé.”

“You been messin’ with my little girl you pervert!” Jenny readied to pounce.

“MOM!  Take a chill pill! He ain’t been messing with me. He’s a good person, or whatever. Anyway, he’s not a pervert. You need to just calm down and get off me.”

Jenny stood up. DotCom stood up. Jenny’s jaw dropped.

He ain’t got no private parts, not even a little bump.   

“DotCom, I’d like to introduce you to my mommy, Mrs. Jenny Hickman. Mommy, I’d like to introduce you to my fiancé, DotCom.”

Jenny sat down on the recliner. Her face was less than a foot from DotCom’s crotch and she stared straight at it. It was smooth, hairless, and odor free.

“Mrs. Hickman, I apologize for any inconvenience that this misunderstanding has caused. It is very nice to meet you after having heard so much. You arrived earlier than expected. I did not have time to properly prepare and receive. Again, I apologize.”

I will need much more training if I’m ever assigned to a more formal setting than a cave, such as to the United Nations.

“Come on, Mommy. Give him a hug or something.”

Jenny’s left eye twitched.

DotCom put on clothing that Lacy Dawn had bought him at Goodwill. It hung a little loose until he modified his body. Lacy Dawn hugged her mother…

…(scene of Dwayne, the father, overheard by those in the spaceship while talking to himself)… “Besides, the transmitter was part of Daddy’s treatment. There’re a lot of other things that he did to help fix Daddy. DotCom is like a doctor. You can see that Daddy has gotten better every day. And no, there ain’t no transmitter in you. DotCom figured you out like a good doctor and the only things wrong are a lack of opportunity and rotten teeth that poison your body. You don’t need no transmitter. He just gave you a few shots of ego boost. I don’t know what medicine that is, but I trust him. You ain’t complained since the shots started — not even with an upset stomach.”

“He’s a doctor?” Jenny asked.

“What’s your problem anyway?” Lacy Dawn asked. “I know.  You’re prejudiced. You told me that people have much more in common than they do that’s different — even if someone is a different color or religion, or from a different state than us. You told me to try to become friends because sometimes that person may need a good friend. Now, here you are acting like a butt hole about my boyfriend. You’re prejudiced because he’s different than us.”

“Honey, he’s not even a person – that’s about as different as a boyfriend can get,” Jenny said.

“So?”

Mommy’s right. Maybe I need a different argument.

            A fast clicking sound, a blur of motion, and a familiar smell assaulted them.

“What’s that?” Jenny asked.

She moved to protect her daughter from whatever threat loomed. Brownie, who had been granted 27 / 7 access to the ship, bounded over the orange recliner, knocked DotCom to the floor, licked DotCom’s face, and rubbed his head on Jenny’s leg. He then jumped onto the recliner and lay down. His tail wagged throughout. Jenny sat down on the recliner beside Brownie and looked at Lacy Dawn.

“But, you were crying when I first came in. That thing was hurting you.” Jenny shook her finger at DotCom to emphasize a different argument against him.

“Mommy, I’m so happy that I couldn’t help but cry. My man just came home from an out-of-state job. I didn’t talk to him for a whole year. Before he left, he told me that he wasn’t even sure if he’d be able to come home. I still don’t know what happened while he was gone. We ain’t had no chance to talk. All I know is that he’s home and I’m sooooo happy.”

“Your man came home from an out-of-state job?” Jenny patted Brownie on his head, some more and some more….

It’s unusual for a man to promise to come back home and ever be seen again. Brownie likes him and that’s a good sign. Maybe she’s right about him helping Dwayne. Something sure did and it wasn’t me. It is a nice living room. They’ve been together for a while and I ain’t seen a mark on her. That’s unusual too. He ain’t got no private parts and that’s another good thing. Hell, if I get in the middle, she’d just run off with him anyway. I‘d better play it smart. I don’t want to lose my baby.

“What about his stupid name?” Jenny asked.

“I’ve got a stupid name, too. All the kids at school call me hick because my last name is Hickman.”

“My name was given to me by my manager a very long time ago. It represents a respected tradition — the persistent marketing of that which is not necessarily the most needed. I spam…,” DotCom said.

They both glared at him.

“Dwayne is sure to be home. I don’t want him to worry. Let’s go,” Jenny said.

“Okay, Mommy.”

“I love you, DotCom,” Lacy Dawn stepped out the ship’s door, which had slid open. Brownie and Jenny were right behind her.

“I love you too,” DotCom said.

Lacy Dawn and Jenny held hands and walked down the path toward home. The trees didn’t smile — at least not so Jenny would notice. On the other hand, no living thing obstructed, intruded, or interfered with the rite.

Jenny sang to the Woods, “My little girl’s going to marry a doctor when she grows up, marry a doctor when she grows up, when she grows up.  My little girl’s going to marry a doctor when she grows up, marry a doctor when she grows up, when she grows up….”

 

Purchase links:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Rarity-Hollow-Robert-Eggleton-ebook/dp/B017REIA44/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rarity-From-Hollow-Robert-Eggleton/dp/1907133062

http://www.doghornpublishing.com/wordpress/books/rarity-from-the-hollow 

Indie Author Spotlight: Allison D. Reid

Tags

Allison D. Reid, Christian Fantasy, Indie Author, Wind Rider Chronicles

It is time for the May author of the month, and this is one I am excited to share with you. If you haven’t done so, you can read my review of Allison’s first book, Journey to Aviad, which is free on Kindle and Nook devices. Also, don’t forget that you can get a digital copy of King of Ages: A King Arthur Anthology for free for a limited time by signing up for my newsletter (plus some other great books and prizes for signing up to other newsletters!)

 

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

My name is Allison D. Reid—home business owner by day, editor and Christian Fantasy author by night. To be honest, nothing makes me draw a blank faster than asking me this question.  One of the hazards of being an introvert, I guess.  I’d rather talk about anything but myself! I’ve been writing poems and stories since I could first put a string of sentences together on paper.  Kind of like breathing, I just have to do it.  My grandmother used to make up stories to tell me, and even though I can’t remember them anymore, their magic helped me learn how to tell my own stories at an early age.  In my youth, I also got the chance to live in Europe, an experience that had a huge impact on me.  My travels, my love of fantasy literature, and my faith have probably been the biggest influences on my writing.  Though at this point in my life I am unable to travel as I once did, the adventures of my characters take me to incredible places.  That’s one of the joys of being a writer; I can go anywhere, anytime—even to places that don’t really exist—all from the comfort of my imagination.  And I can take other armchair adventurers along with me.

What motivates you to write?

The stories stirring in my heart and mind that just need to be told, whether anyone else reads them or not. I’m a very quiet person who isn’t great with spoken words—writing allows me to fully express myself and my faith, and provides a constructive outlet for my overactive imagination!

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

My most recent book is the second in my Wind Rider Chronicles series, Ancient Voices: Into the Depths. It continues the journey of my main characters, Elowyn and Morganne, as they settle into the mountain village of Minhaven.

Book Description:

The Kinship rides victorious into the small village of Minhaven, just in time to celebrate the Winter Festival. Their leader, Glak, brings with him both hope and spoils from battle, but also some distressing news. Though Minhaven’s greatest threat has finally been defeated, a new one is emerging to take its place.  The enemy Glak describes has not been seen in hundreds of years, yet somehow it has been haunting Elowyn’s dreams. Has Braeden’s cruel reach followed her from Tyroc’s troubled borders into this remote wilderness? If so, there is no place left to run, and the Kinship is preparing to fight an enemy more sinister and powerful than they can possibly imagine.  Past becomes present, as prophecies long buried continue to emerge, revealing their truth to the coming generation. The Era of Peace has ended. The Era of Awakening has begun. While Morganne seeks guidance from the crumbling pages of ancient tomes, Elowyn tries to find her place within a community for the first time.  Despite the impending danger, Morganne and Elowyn decide to make their stand with the people of Minhaven. As they plunge into the depths of history, prophecy, the wilderness, love, fear, hope, faith…the girls begin to learn more about who they are, and who Aviad is calling them to be.

What makes it unique from the other books out there?

My fantasy characters are grounded in reality—they aren’t fantasy half-breeds, nor do they have superhuman abilities or skills that defy nature. They are just regular people, bound by the era in which they live, facing the same personal and spiritual struggles that all of us do through the courses of our lives…only they face them through the lens of a different world, and a unique set of circumstances.

My stories are also allegorical, something not all that common in current works of fiction. Though my books can stand on their own as entertaining fantasy stories, they are also infused with the core truths of Christianity.  It is my hope to reach readers in a positive and meaningful way that continues on, long after they’ve turned the last page and moved on to another book.

I understand that you chose to self-publish. What made you decide to go that route and what was your experience like?

After doing some research and talking to both traditionally published and self-published authors, I decided that going indie was the right path for me.

Changes in the publishing industry at the time I was finishing my first book would have made the traditional route extremely difficult considering I had no agent, and no industry connections or claim to fame. I understood that I was writing in a niche genre that wasn’t easily marketable on the broad scale wanted by traditional publishers.

Even if I could get someone take a chance on me for my first book, there was never going to be a guarantee of getting a second one published. And I knew from the start that I would be writing an extensive series. The last thing I wanted was to have to fight for my copyright in order to continue writing.

I also wanted to maintain control over my content. Christian publishers were likely to want to strip out some of the fantasy, and secular ones would want to tone down the Christian message.  The idea of being able to write what I felt called to, without any other restrictions, really appealed to me.

I’ve found that I am enjoying the hands-on nature of the indie route, and I know that I would have trouble bringing in the big sales figures publishers are looking for these days. I’m still figuring things out as I go, but I’m OK with that.  The industry just keeps getting better because indie authors are out there helping each other instead of seeing each other as rivals.  It is inspiring to be a part of that community.

At the end of the day I’m writing from my heart (and hopefully the Spirit too), connecting directly with my readers, and having fun doing it. What more could I really ask for?

Are there portions of Scripture you would say have had a strong influence on your writing, either for you personally as a writer or for the stories themselves that you are weaving? Would you mind sharing some of them and how they have helped to shape your writing?

I don’t know that my writing was influenced by any specific passages of scripture, but it has definitely been influenced by the message of scripture as a whole. Throughout the books there are themes of truth vs. falsehood/deception, sin and guilt, forgiveness, redemption, prayer, righteousness, eternal hope, spiritual warfare, Godly justice, and the struggle to understand God’s will.  Prophecy, scripture, and the power of truth are all important points that are touched on in various ways.  Yet none of this is brandished like a weapon at the reader—these deeper biblical messages surface naturally through the telling of the story.

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

My current work in progress is Into the Shadow Wood, a novella that relates to my Wind Rider Chronicles series.  It follows they journey of Einar, who parts ways with my main characters in Journey to Aviad.  Readers have been hoping he’ll come back, and asking me what happened to him, so this book should settle that lingering question.  While best read after Journey to Aviad, this novella can also stand on its own.  Next year it will be included in a charity anthology to raise money for cancer awareness.

Brief description:

Once a proud member of the Circle, the Sovereign’s prestigious personal guard, Einar has lost everything. The Sovereign has been murdered, the Circle exiled by the realm’s evil Chief Steward, and his closest friends have either been killed in battle or executed. Before he died, Einar’s friend Nevon made an oath…one that Einar disagreed with, but now feels obligated to fulfill. The quest is a dangerous one that takes Einar into the depths of the infamous Shadow Wood. What he finds there turns out to be far more ominous than anything he had expected. If he’s not careful, Nevon’s fate might end up being his own.

I understand you have a bit of an interest in the Medieval time period. What is it about that time period that draws your interest and are there any literary works from that era that you think people should check out?

I’ve been drawn to the medieval era since I was a little girl—I’m not sure that I can really explain why. As a writer, I have found plenty of richness there for the imagination to draw on.  So much beauty remains in the way of music, literature, thought, art, and brilliant, amazing architecture.  Yet by contrast, that time in history was also full of uncertainty, hard work, and suffering.  For all the things that the medieval mind understood well, there was also plenty of mystery and superstition in everyday life.  The medieval adult was able to believe in things like fairies and dragons, curses and miracles, often blending the lines between myth and reality in a way I find fascinating. Perhaps that is one reason why this era lends itself so well to the fantasy genre, which requires a child-like belief that our post-enlightenment perspective doesn’t typically allow us to enjoy.

While there are plenty of great literary works to choose from, my favorite readings from that time are tied to mythology. Tales of people’s supposed encounters with brownies, mermaids, hell hounds and such always seem so real and compelling, that the writer in me can’t help but wonder if such things really once existed…or may still exist, except that we’re too blind to see them.

How often do you write?

I try to write a little every day, though that doesn’t always happen with my busy schedule. The bulk of my writing tends to happen in spurts, when I am feeling really inspired.  It is hard for me to force myself to create, so I tend to wait until it happens naturally on its own.

Who are five of your favorite authors?

I tend to like the older authors. Cliché or not, I can’t help but love C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Lloyd Alexander.  I also love L.M. Montgomery who wrote Anne of Green Gables and Emily of New Moon, and Mary Norton who wrote The Borrowers and Bed-Knob and Broomstick.

What are you currently reading?

Right now I’m reading the King of Ages anthology, after which I will probably read But Kisses Never Hurt Me: A Retelling of Sleeping Beauty by Andrea Lundgren.

 Time for some quick questions:

• Favorite Quote?  “I’m on Aslan’s side even if there isn’t any Aslan to lead it. I’m going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn’t any Narnia.” – Puddleglum, The Silver Chair
•  Favorite Book? The Dawn Treader and The Silver Chair are probably tied.
•  Favorite Movie? The Lord of the Rings (see how I actually snuck three movies in there?) Incredibly done and unforgettable in all respects. Peter Jackson outdid himself. Wish he had been in charge of the Narnia movies, but don’t get me started on that.
•  Favorite TV Show? My favorite show with a plot is Once Upon a Time. But I’m also a big Deadliest Catch fan. Who would have thought watching a bunch of crab fishermen could be so compelling? I confess to crying the year Phil Harris died. I’m sure I’m not the only one.
•  Coffee or Tea? No question, tea—I get really cranky without my daily cup of decaf. My grandmother and I always drank tea together while I was growing up.       She has passed on now, but I suspect she’ll be waiting for me in heaven with a warm cup and a fresh pot.
•  Favorite Book of the Bible? John is my favorite of the gospels, and Romans beyond that.

• Favorite Bible Verse?

 

Romans 8:35-39  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

•  Narnia or Middle-Earth? Not a fair question! How could I possibly choose between two perfect worlds? Can I live in Narnia but keep a summer home in the Shire? Or maybe Rivendell?

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

A lot of who I am is already embedded in both Elowyn and Morganne. Morganne is a reflection of my intellectual side; she has a strong sense of responsibility, and is grounded by what she can understand with her mind, but sometimes has difficulty feeling God’s presence in her heart.  Elowyn is more a reflection of my spiritual side; the part of me that craves intimacy with the Holy Spirit, who can get lost in God’s glory when surrounded by the beauty of His creation, and who has a strong sense of empathy.  Both characters are flecked with some of my best qualities, some of my worst, and with those I aspire to develop through my walk with God.

Finally, what advice would you give to other writers?

Forget trying to imitate other writers or follow canned formulas—you’re not producing a “product,” you’re creating a work of art. Dig down and figure out what you really care about.  Write your heart, your inspiration, and with a voice that is uniquely yours, and over time the rest will naturally fall into place.  Amazon sales shouldn’t be your only measure of success; don’t let them define who you are as a writer.

Indie Author Spotlight: Elin V. Pettersson

Tags

Elin Pettersson, Elves, Fantasy Author, Illustrator, Indie Author, Tales From Haran

Welcome to the first Indie Author Spotlight, which will occur on the first Thursday of every month. As I wrote in my newsletter for March, these authors are my support circle, not my competition. Read on to learn a little more about an indie author, what she writes, and be sure to snag a copy of her book, Tales from Haran – and leave a review for her!

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

Hi! My name is Elin Pettersson, I’m a fantasy artist and a writer. I’ve been self employed as a freelance illustrator since 2011, writing was also included in my business plan, but I didn’t focus on just one story until very recently. (Thus I have accumulated a big pile of unfinished books…)

I grew up in northern Sweden, in a tiny village called Brattfors. I like to say it was in the middle of the forest, it is not exactly true but there were only 3 other houses that were occupied all year long besides the one I lived. And there was a LOT of forest around it….

I moved out of Sweden in 2012 and I’m now living in Romania where I write and make art full time together with my boyfriend who’s an indie game developer.

Map of my fantasy world: http://img11.deviantart.net/ca10/i/2015/004/e/8/haran_utarie_worldmap_by_frostnight-d8cn3sz.jpg

What motivates you to write?

Stories will always spawn in my mind whether I like it or not, so I can just as well write them down. The greatest motivation however, is the joy and excitement of exploring my world through my characters shenanigans and experiences. Of course, hearing from someone else that they like and enjoy my writing can send me into a writing spree all on its own…

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

My most recent book (and first published) is “Tales From Haran”. It is a fantasy flash fiction compilation set in the world of Haran’utarië – a broken world that was once destroyed, but refused to die.

It takes you deep into the minds and lives of the characters I write about, every little story follows an emotion theme such as loneliness, anticipation, desire etc. and how they experience it.

 What makes it unique from the other books out there?

Honestly, I haven’t read much flash fiction myself so I don’t know what is usually put into those kinds of books. When we read books we become invested in those characters and their journey. Sometimes we love them and have a hard time letting go, others we might hate and hope that by the last page whey will have suffered a terrible death…the

“Tales From Haran” offers a wide range of characters and a taste of what to come in future books. Every story stands well on its own and won’t leave you stuck with that one guy/ lady you can’t stand. And by the end you’ll know what lovable character to look out for if you want to read more!

I understand you also do your own art for your world and characters! What motivates you to do your own artwork? What is your favorite piece of artwork that a reader will get to see if they pick up a copy of your book?

Ideas and daydreams will fade, imaginary faces and landscapes can quickly and easily be forgotten. By making art I can give another level of life to all that. I can see my characters face to face, one glimpse of my drawing of a shady forest can help me get more immersed in that environment. I know what my characters see because I can literally see it with my own eyes after sketching it down.

Makes me wonder why not all writers also have a side hobby as artists. 😀

Pretty much all my art is available on various places on the internet and my favourite is not a secret. 😀 I painted the cover for “Tales From Haran” myself, and it contains a drawing I made of an old ruin from that world.

This illustration here is one of my all time favourites:

And here is a speed painting of my favourite character Jillian Issayë:

What genre do you usually write? What sub-genre, if any, would you categorize your writing? Do you ever dabble in any other genres with your writing?

Fantasy, high fantasy, and because I often include ghost/ spirits in my writing I tend to throw it under the paranormal category too.

I don’t think I will venture into another genre anytime soon, there is not enough lifetime in me to do so…

Did you publish traditionally, through a small press, or self-publish? What made you decide to go that route and what was your experience like?

I self-published, paid for an editor to make sure my english wouldn’t be god awful to read… and to format the mess I had created. I also had a lot of help from my boyfriend who developed a book application for my book. It was all a lot of work in a short time after I decided to publish last year.

“Tales From Haran” was published on 31^th December 2015 New Years Eve, (amazon says different because timezones -_-) almost 3 months ago, and it nearly drove us crazy getting it done.

I self published because I wanted to keep my book mine. Possessive reasons you might say, but hey, I have the last word on all suggested changes and no one can tell me what to do with my story. Seriously though, I like to do as much as I can myself, so self-publishing was perfect for me. And this way I also got to publish under my own business name even if “Frostnight Illustrations” might sound as a weird publisher for books. XD

Overall it was a stressful experience that was definitely worth it. I’ve only published one book so far, but this process will probably be repeated for all the ones to come. (I no longer set deadlines though… hate those things….)

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

At the moment I have two work-in-progress stories, the main manuscript is a fantasy novella called “A Hidden Paradise” and the other is a short story called “Dark Grasp”. I started the short story a couple of days ago since the novella has grown into a bigger project than I initially planned.

 “A Hidden Paradise” takes place on an undiscovered island where some elves get stranded after a sudden storm. It is a beautiful place and they appear to be alone, but captain Namayah begins to have odd dreams. He sees misty beings at the edge of his vision, and he gets really nervous when the sword he dropped in the sea comes back to him. They soon realise there might be a very good reason why the island was never marked on their map… they might no longer be on it themselves…

“Dark Grasp” is a nice little tale about Jillian Issayë, an elven assassin with the ability to stir up trouble no matter where he goes, and how he came by his dark “undead” unicorn. (What harm can a mount like that possible do to his already chaotic life…)

How often do you write?

I try to get at least a few words written every day. Some days are more dedicated to writing than others depending if something else needs to be done.

Who are five of your favorite authors?

Graham McNeill, Gav Thorpe, Dan Abnett, J.R.R. Tolkien, Andrzej Sapkowski.

 What are you currently reading?

“Sons of Ellyrion” by Graham McNeill.

 Time for some quick questions:

• • Favorite Quote?
  • “Good times!” – JeFawk
•  Favorite Book?
  • Chronicles of Malus Darkblade (It is an omnibus but still … )
•  Favorite Movie?
  • Van Helsing (2004)
•  Favorite TV Show?
  • The X-Files
•  Coffee or Tea?
  • Coffee
•  Batman or Superman?
  • Batman
•  Team Captain America or Team Iron Man?
  • Team Iron Man
•  Legolas or Aragorn?
  • Legolas

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

I wouldn’t want to be any of them. I enjoy being a simple mortal human. ^^; Even the happiest and “safest” of my characters have or will go through some kind of experience that I would not wish upon anyone. It makes them great and colourful characters, but I would not want to be in their place.

 Finally, what advice would you give to other writers?

If you have trouble writing words down, (writers block or just don’t know where to take the story next), just write whatever comes to your mind even if it is pure nonsense, it might help you get started, or you will at least have something to build on later.

_________

Places where you can learn more about Elin’s work or follow her on Social Media:

(My writing website: haranutarie.com)

(Art website: frostnightillustrations.com)

(Author Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/author.elin.v.pettersson/ )

Indie Authors: Choose What’s Right For You

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Indie Author, Josh Brown, King of Ages, Self-Publishing

Today’s guest post comes from Josh Brown, one of the authors in the King of Ages: A King Arthur Anthology and the man responsible for putting the whole collection together. Come back on the 1st and 3rd Mondays in April and May for more guest posts from King of Ages writers.

Early in my writing career I decided to branch out and try my hand at writing comics. I’ve had some minor successes here and there, including “Shamrock,” a fantasy-adventure comic that is currently serialized bi-monthly in Fantasy Scroll Magazine.

But as soon as I dipped my toes in the comics industry water, I quickly found out that publishing in the world of comics is far different than in the world of fiction, especially when it comes to the topic of self-publishing.

In comics, self-publishing is almost a rite of passage. For most creators (writers, artists, writer-artists, what have you), it’s typically the first step in putting yourself out there. Many comic creators actually win awards for self-published work. Becky Cloonan won an Eisner Award for Best Single Issue for her self-published comic, The Mire. Her success with self-publishing led to scores of work from the big comic publishers, including work on Batman, Avengers, and most recently, a gig on The Punisher. Of course, none of that would have been possible if she wasn’t an incredibly skilled artist and storyteller, which she is.

Over 15 years ago, Robert Kirkman kicked off his writing career with a self-published comic called Battle Pope. This led to a couple other creations of his getting picked up by Image Comics, and eventually The Walking Dead. Fast forward to today, The Walking Dead is one of the highest-rated shows on cable television, to which Robert Kirkman serves as executive producer.

Self-publishing is looked at much differently in the world of fiction (short fiction, novels, etc.), where it is almost taboo. It’s becoming a little more accepted these days, but many see it as circumventing the quality-control checks and balances set in place by the industry. What you might not know if that there are several successful traditionally-published books that started out as self-published.

You’re probably familiar with The Martian, a highly successful film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon. It’s not a big secret, but it’s also not highly publicized, that The Martian by Andy Weir,  started out as a self-published work in 2011. Crown Publishing purchased the rights and re-released it in 2014.  The book started as an online in serial format one chapter at a time for free at his website. At the request of fans who were following his regular updates, he made an Amazon Kindle version and sold it for only 99 cents. The rest is history.

There are other examples, and not all are limited to fiction. Irma Rombauer’s The Joy of Cooking. Rombauer used half of her life savings to pay a local printing company to print three thousand copies. Five years later, Bobbs-Merrill Company acquired the rights. To date, the book has sold over 18 million copies.

I could go on, but I guess what I am saying is you shouldn’t be afraid to self-publish your fiction; however, you need pay close attention on how to do it correctly and professionally. These days, anyone can vomit 60,000+ words into a word processing program and then upload it to Amazon KDP and call themselves and “author.” The key is in what you do prior to releasing your self-published book, and what you do after.

A self-published author has to be more than just a writer. You have be everything a traditional publisher is: content editor, copy editor, proofreader, designer, production, operations, marketing, publicity, and sales. And if you think you can get away with skipping those last three, you’re gravely mistaken. Of course, it all hinges on having a good, well-written book, but marketing, publicity, and sales is where the real magic of publishing happens.

 I think fiction writers can take note of the comics industry’s approach and attitude toward self-publishing, and use it as a means to springboard on to bigger and better things, whether that be to pursue a contract with a traditional publisher or to put out more self-published works.

Aspiring indie authors should also take note that self-published comic writers and creators take great pride in the quality of the finished product. This point goes back to what I said about a self-published author having to be more than just a writer.

Either way, self-publishing should be used as a proving ground and also to build a following. Make yourself a brand. Establish brand loyalty. This goes for fiction and comics writers alike.

Evaluate your motivations and fully understand the implications of your choice. Because if you do decide to self-publish that story, be prepared to spend a lot of time doing stuff like marketing and outreach. You sure you want to be doing that instead of just getting to work writing your next story?

All said and done, just remember it’s okay to experiment. Try different things. It’s one of the best ways to discover what works. And above all, keep writing.

————————————

Josh Brown is the writer and creator of “Shamrock,” a fantasy/adventure comic that appears regularly in Fantasy Scroll Magazine. His comic work has appeared numerous places, including Alterna Tales from Alterna Comics and the award-winning Negative Burn. His poetry and short fiction can be found in Star*Line, Poetry Quarterly, Scifaikuest, SpeckLit, and a variety of anthologies such as Lovecraft After Dark (JWK Fiction), Dystopian Express (Hydra Publications), King of Ages: A King Arthur Anthology (Uffda Press), and many more.

 Most recently, he served as guest editor for issue 20 of Eye to the Telescope, the official online journal of the Science Fiction Poetry Association (SFPA).

https://ninjamindcontrol.wordpress.com/

http://www.amazon.com/Josh-Brown/e/B004S6S6HG/

http://fantasyscrollmag.com/

http://eyetothetelescope.com/

https://tapastic.com/episode/291087

King of Ages Sighting!

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Beaverdale Books, Indie Author, King Arthur, King of Ages, Small Bookstore

For those not in the know, I wrote one of the 13 stories that was published as part of the King of Ages: A King Arthur Anthology. It came out last August and it took me a while to wrap my head around the magnitude of having my story in this collection. About a month ago I finally read my copy of the book and loved it, and you can find my review of the book here. I am proud of my own story in here and honored to have it alongside such a talented set of authors.

This past month I have tried to promote the book because I believe in the book as a whole. It truly is deserving of a place on your bookshelf or your Kindle library. One of the local bookstores in my home state of Iowa, Beaverdale Books, has agreed to carry some copies of the book, so today I ventured out to find them on the shelf and snap a picture or two.

There are three signed copies on the shelf there so make sure to grab yours! For those of you not near the Des Moines area, you can always order a copy for yourself.

You can order it, in paperback or eBook version, on Amazon.

You can also sign up for my newsletter, which will get you a code worth 20% off a paperback version of King of Ages. Plus my newsletter later this month will include an excerpt from my story in this collection, “The Saga of Artur Uthersson”. Don’t miss out on your chance to get this exclusive content and more by signing up for my newsletter.

Honestly, it was a surreal experience to see this book for sale in an actual bookstore here in town. I am blown away by it all and can’t wait until the day comes that I can promote more books that become available.

If you have read King of Ages: A King Arthur Anthology, don’t forget to leave a review on Amazon at the very least. As I mentioned previously, this is one of the ways you can help support authors at the cost of just as much time as it takes to write an honest review. Your review could lead to extra sales, which helps to support those authors.