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Tag Archives: Indie Authors

The Superiority of Supporting Characters – An #Author’s Diatribe by Jake Lanum

10 Thursday Sep 2020

Posted by Morgan in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

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5 Star Books, Action Adventure Books, Author Spotlights, Behind the Story, Book Lovers, Bookstagram, Historical Fiction, Indie Authors, Kindle Unlimited, Science fiction, War Stories

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I’ve never liked the protagonists in stories. Too often, they are just too gosh-darn graceful in adversity, as if they’re in the eye of a hurricane. People tend to reserve their love for “the proverbial Tyrion Lannister(s) and Aragorn(s) rather than the rounded (sometimes ugly) Hound(s)” and Boromir(s) of the world. From where I sit, the measure of a man is not in effortless perfection, but his struggle against adversity. Flaws and tribulation, internal and external, is what makes characters human, fallible, and worth rooting for. My quiet love affair with supporting characters drove the development of my own debut novel, Neither Officers Nor Gentlemen, in a few key ways.

 

  • You’ll Hate the Protagonist.

The main character in Neither Officers Nor Gentlemen is a young man named Wilhelm Geier. Readers spend quite a bit of time in Will’s head, and they’ll quickly learn that he, unlike most protagonists, is terrible. This is not an iteration of revisionist Disney origin stories which cast villains as misunderstood (see: Maleficent). He is a spoiled, drunken, man-child by design. Geier has few redeeming qualities, and is patently unworthy of any love of he receives from other characters (furthermore, unworthy of reader’s admiration). I made a deliberate choice to steer readers affections away from the main character and, based on the feedback I have received so far, it has worked.

 

  • You’ll Love the Antagonist.

Professional editors and reviewers who have read the book have all favored another character, called Roo. If not in reality, she is Will’s perceived antagonist. Roo is a Cimaroon, an escaped slave-turned-insurgent, in the Spanish Main. She is Will’s opposite. He was born into privilege, coddled, and externally motivated. In contrast, her traumatic past is an unexplored certainty. In the face of slavery and living for subsistence, she proves capable and cunning. She is internally motivated, but not at the expense of generosity or warmth.

 

  • But, in my Opinion, the Supporting Cast is Peerless.

 

Personally, I like Roo as well, but you’re supposed to. At the risk of being labelled a hipster, I think that superlative adoration for Roo is almost as cliché as fandom for Katniss or Harry Potter himself. So, I wanted to take a moment to share why my prospective readers should give “Ugly,” and “Drunk Johnny,” a fair shake.

 

“Ugly,” was a green sailor, much like Will, who might’ve been called Jim before life at sea.  Ugly had been a promising farrier’s apprentice at age ten, and had an unimpeachable work ethic, but had gotten kicked in the face by a mule. He was left disfigured, and developed a crippling fear of all large animals. His apprehension thrust him towards privateering, where he hoped the only horses he’d encounter would be seahorses. The former-farrier never fails to stand his post or deliver on his assigned shipboard duties, but landfall eventually brings him face-to-face with his greatest fears. In his moment of weakness, will he continue to deliver, or will he falter?

 

“Drunk Johnny” was an apt description for the seasoned drunk and veteran seaman who sailed with Will and Ugly. He lived in an impressively uninterrupted state of inebriation. He managed to wake and stand post as scheduled, but his aptitude for such was dubious. When we meet Johnny, he escapes punishment for his shoddy work by bribing his ranking officer, a glutton, with salted pork. He was a slightly built man with gaunt features, and a ghastly dental malady that ensured that every time he spat it came out a shade of brown or red, depending on the amount of blood in it. Despite his shortcomings, both in sobriety and virtue, Drunk Johnny is the most capable and functional alcoholic you will ever hear of. On multiple occasions in the book, Johnny proves himself to be a resourceful combatant, and an astounding marksman – redeeming qualities for a privateer. Unfortunately for Johnny, privateers are subject to high rates of attrition. There is no guarantee that the next Quartermaster will be swayed with extra rations of pork – there is no promise that his failings will continue to be overlooked.

 

I have always had a thing for supporting characters in books and movies. As the writer of Neither Officers Nor Gentlemen, I fell in love with Ugly and Drunk Johnny, and I hope that you will too. These are not vacuous placeholders, but they have backstories that leave a bit to the imagination. The balance of detail and omission in these characters, to me, makes them both complex and mysterious. At the same time, I invite you to read the book, and to disagree.

Biography

Jake Lanum has worked in corporate security, investigations, and intelligence since 2011. In this capacity he was interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, and eventually published an academic study in the American Psychological Association’s Journal of Threat Assessment and Management. At 30, Jake endeavored to undertake law school, and to write his first book, “Neither Officers Nor Gentlemen.” While Jake remains in steadfast pursuit of his Juris Doctor, the latter made its debut in Fall of 2020.

Reedsy: https://reedsy.com/discovery/user/jake-lanum

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakelanum/

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Synopsis

After the Spanish discovered the Americas, world powers endeavored to project naval power and occupy the promise-filled void. This gave rise to the golden age of privateering and piracy.

Neither Officers Nor Gentlemen is a fast-burning tale of maritime adventure. A cobbler’s son, Wilhelm “Will” Geier, joins an English privateer, Captain Drake, on a journey at the ends of the earth. In search of gold and glory, Will learns the trade. He hunts for subsistence in wildlands, finds allies in far-flung insurgencies, and struggles against the perils and threats looming in every navigable stream.

5- Star Review

Neither Officers Nor Gentlemen by Jake Lanum is a tale of old. A young man who feels as if everything should be given to him. It’s the year 1572, and Wilhelm Gaier is that seventeen-year-old young man. Will dreams of a lavish lifestyle and therefore purposely ruins every apprenticeship his father sets up for him. Will’s father is a cobbler, and he does work for the right Socialites to get him on a ship as a privateer.

Will struggles to grow up and mature, even with his new life. While raiding a village one night, they come into the company of Cimaroons. This is where we meet “Roo”. She is fluent in her native tongue but knows little English. She is very cunning, and Will admires her prowess skills. They became thick as thieves, inseparable as they steal from the Spaniards. Will devises a plan to help Roo.

My favorite character is Roo. She is different, in every way possible, but that does not stop her. She is herself and everyone loves her. In a world where women did not navigate the seas, let alone do anything other than be a Debutante, she gains the respect of all the men. They listen to her. She fights alongside them. She is not a sex object to them. She is one of them.

I am awarding this book 5 stars. It is well-written and well-edited. It does contain minor profanity, violence, and some nudity. The year in which our story takes place is 1572, so there are subjects like slavery and how people of color were treated, which could make this book inappropriate for young or immature readers. Being a sailor myself, I enjoyed this book and recommend it to mature readers who love a historical piracy novel. Who doesn’t like pirates?

REVIEWED BY

Nikki Libby at Discovery Reedsy
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I would very much like to thank Jake for taking the time to share his story and his insights with BnV.  Its always a delight to meet new authors and share their books!
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~Morgan~

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Demons, Chaos, Shadows and Light -The #Creative Dynamics of #Fantasy #Author #D.M.Cain

04 Thursday Jun 2020

Posted by Morgan in Poetry

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Tags

Author Interviews, Author spotlight, BnV, BooknVolume, Books, Dystopian, Fantasy, Fiction Writers, Indie Authors, Writers Life, Writing, Writing Community, ~Morgan~

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I’d like to introduce D.M. Cain to you.  A marvelously skilled author who has a new series – A Chronicle of Chaos (The Light and Shadow Chronicles)

D.M. Cain is a dystopian and fantasy author working for Next Chapter Publishing. The Light and Shadow Chronicles series features a range of books which can be read in any order. The series installments to date include A Chronicle of Chaos, The Shield of Soren, Genesis of Light and Origin of Shadow.

Cain has released one stand-alone novel: The Phoenix Project, a psychological thriller set in a dystopian future. The Phoenix Project was the winner of the 2016 Kindle Book Review Sci-Fi novel Award.

Cain lives in Leicestershire, UK with her partner and two young children, and spends her time reading, writing, reviewing, and indulging in geek culture (Marvel, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Final Fantasy).

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Bound by fate. Severed by blood.

In a realm ravaged by war, The Brotherhood of Shadow and The Children of Light will stop at nothing to destroy each other.

The warrior known as Chaos fights in the name of honor and glory. Arrogant and headstrong, he considers himself the strongest in the land, until fate puts him at the mercy of the demon Anathema.

The two strike up an intense rivalry, but their obsession to defeat one another only leads them closer together.

When the forces of Light and Darkness collide, where will their loyalties lie?

Praise:

★★★★★ – “Outstanding. Strongly recommended to anyone who likes young adult fantasy.”

★★★★★ – “A unique and different approach to the old themes of angels and demons.”

★★★★★ – “Fantasy world, demons, angels, complex moral dilemmas. I’m sold.”

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HI DM  🙂  What do you love most about writing?

I love the sense of discovery and adventure that comes with writing fantasy. Although I plan my work and have an idea where I want scenes to go, there is still a sense of the plot unfolding before me. Sometimes, after a long and difficult day all I want to do is lose myself in my fantasy world.

I know precisely what you mean!  So tell us, what inspired you to write your book?

When I was around ten years old, my friend and I created a whole imaginary world and made up hundreds of stories that existed in those settings. The books I write now are inspired by those stories. As I got older, it became less a passing interest and more of a calling – I couldn’t allow the stories to remain locked in my head forever.

I , for one, am so glad you didn’t!  For me, the story just seems to happen and I just type it out  Do your characters dictate what or how your write in any way?

In order to write believable and likeable characters, an author needs to really get into their heads, and know them inside and out. By doing so, it almost gives the characters life, and with time they start acting on their own! Sometimes I can be deep into a scene and something can happen that I had never intended. For example, in my current novel, a character grabs a flaming torch off the wall and sets fire to a room (which is very much in his character!) and I had no idea that was going to happen when I sat down to write! Characters have minds of their own and sometimes all I can do is to go along with the flow.

Thats often difficult for a non-writer to understand, but characters really do become alive while you’re writing the story.  And so often, the story takes turns you might not expect.  Are you a painstaking plotter or are you a discovery writer?

I have always been somewhere in the middle. I tend to plan my overarching plot points and get to know my characters really well. But it takes a while to get into the tone of a book and sometimes my original plans have to change because they don’t work anymore. I think, for me, the most important thing is to be adaptable and to be willing to change the plot if the story needs it.

What’s your number one tip for an aspiring author?

Get into the online writing community. There are so many fantastic writing groups on Facebook and Twitter. The writing community is fantastically helpful, inspirational and supportive. I have met editors, illustrators, promoters, publishers and many more through my online presence and it has given me a lot of knowledge about the industry. Plus, I have made lots of amazing friends who are always there to motivate and push me, read my work and give tips, or just have a brainstorming session with.

Are there any characters you’ve created that you would like to meet and why?

Hmm.. tricky. Raven from The Phoenix Project is moody and intense, Chaos from A Chronicle of Chaos is arrogant, Callista is too intimidating. I really like Dana and Soren from A Chronicle of Chaos – they’re both friendly and cool.

I liked Raven as well.  His intensity was what drew me into the story.  Do you get drawn into stories too?  If you could live in a book, which one would it be – why?

Again, a tricky question, as all the books I like are in dystopian, war-filled, cataclysmic or apocalyptic nightmares! I wouldn’t mind living in the world of The Magic Faraway Tree – I loved it so much as a child.

Writing really does become our lives, even if we still have day-jobs.  Its fabulous when someone recognizes all your hard work with a stellar review, but What about bad ones? How do you deal with those?

I used to take the criticism badly and get upset for days. But unfortunately, bad reviews are just part of being a writer. Now, I don’t dwell on them but I make sure to read them carefully. They can be a valuable source of advice – if you know what a reader doesn’t like, you might be able to avoid it in future.

Speaking of the future….What’s exciting you about your next project?

My current project is a new novel in my fantasy series, The Light and Shadow Chronicles. The Sins of Silas is so much fun because it is from the POV of the opposing army and I haven’t written anything from them before. It’s great fun to have the characters inverted – the bad guys are now the good guys and vice versa. Plus, Silas Wilder himself is a mischievous trickster and a hedonistic bad boy, so he’s all kinds of fun!

Before you go, can you tell us something about you that we don’t know yet…like…Do you have a Mantra  or a Quote you try to live by?

‘Every book is written one word at a time’ – I like to remind myself of this. It doesn’t matter how long it takes to write the words. Even the classics were only written one word at a time.

You can D.M Cain here:

Amazon Author Page

D.M Cain’s Website

Publisher’s Author Page

A Chronicle of Chaos Book link  

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I’d like to thank D.M Cain for sharing her valuable time and talent with BnV.  I hope you enjoyed learning more about her amazing work and will take a few minutes to explore her website….its amazing!

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~Morgan~

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Of #Archangels, #Hypnotherapy and #Psychopaths – #Author Leo Kane!

27 Wednesday May 2020

Posted by Morgan in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

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Tags

Author Interviews, Author spotlight, BnV, BooknVolume, Books, Fiction Writers, Indie Authors, Writers Life, Writing, Writing Community, ~Morgan~

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My friend and fellow author Vanda…oops Leo Kane…has stopped by to share a little about herself, her books, characters, and upcoming projects.  Personally, I want to try out the hypnotism!  No really, read on and find out what Im blathering about 🙂

Hey there Friend…tell us a wee bit about yourself 🙂

Born and raised in the Steel City of Sheffield, England; I spent a lot of my life day dreaming and can’t seem to outgrow the habit. Despite this I gave managed to raise a family of three wonderful girls, a tolerant husband and crazy husky who inveigles his way into my books posing as the hero, Furface. I somehow acquired a career in human resource management and the employment law courts and a Master of Science degree along the way.

I am also a qualified clinical hypnotherapist with a fascination for the human condition. When I am not sending people into a trance and curing their phobias I happily plot my books whilst staring out of windows.

Oh and by the way, I see dead people some of whom are kind enough to chat with me.   (This is entirely worthy of another post, you know!)

 

Do your characters dictate what you write?

Jake, the main protagonist of the Heavensgate Series won’t allow me a moment’s peace until I get his story down exactly as he wants it told. I outline the plot and he derails it. I choose his enemy and he attacks a stranger. I pick him a lover and he runs off with another. The man is a nightmare to write about. He just said I write for him not about him. See what I mean?  (I love this character, Leo!!)

Do you have a Favourite and least favourite character?

The character I love to hate in Book 1 Heavensgate, Hope is Mary Barrington wife of a Darth Vader impersonator and the most dangerous foster parent ever. Despite her very obvious defects she’s a ballsy woman and nobody’s fool. Unfortunately she loves Jake rather too much and, even without her disgusting predilections, she would scare the life out of me.

My least favourite is Joy’s mother, the eternal virgin you can meet in Book 2, Heavensgate, Joy. The woman has no redeeming qualities whatsoever; it’s a kindness to call her a soul sucking wretch. She is based on someone very close to me and for that reason I sympathise with and forgive her.

I would love to meet the Archangel Gabriel, Gabi to his friends, who along with the Angel of Redemption plays a starring role in the series. Gabi and I could have a girly day out having our hair and nails done and shopping for clothes. At the end of a busy afternoon we would relax, gossiping over Earl Grey and cake while sneaking high heels off our aching feet and sighing with pleasure.

Got any fun Tips?

I am better at baking tips if you need any. However, if I must offer some advice to any aspiring author I suggest you read widely, write every day and edit with a ruthlessness that makes you cry, but ultimately makes you proud of your art.

What upcoming projects are you excited about? 

Ooh where do I start?

I am thrilled that Book 3, Heavensgate, Faith will be published very soon. Jake’s story takes a shocking turn when he meets Faith and Mercy – I think this is the first time I’ve surprised him with a plot twist he couldn’t wriggle out of. However, he says that my bad behaviour suggests I may have to write at least one more book for the annoying man.

I am very excited to encourage my talented granddaughter, Keira, as she launches her web-based clothing designs. She also sells bespoke art some of which I am honoured to say are my photographs reproduced on canvas. The clothes and the prints are limited editions, so why not pop in for a peek at: (This sounds awesome…Im off to check it out..OH< wait, we have an interview to finish!)

www.keke-kreation.teemill.com  

Tell us about Book 1 in the Heavensgate series

When Jacob was a child a mysterious girl comforted him at the funeral of the family he accidentally killed.

Years later and grieving for his lost wife and son, Jacob is at Heavensgate. He strongly believes that the dead should stay dead, but he sees things other people don’t see.

Even worse Jacob is besieged by his alter ego the taunting, foul- mouthed, sex-crazed, dangerous, Jake, a personality with a twisted sense of fun and no conscience.

Jacob battles for his sanity and soul surrounded by supernatural enemies and allies as he struggles to free the Keeper of the Forbidden Book and ignore the menacing pink Cadillac that drives by his lakeside lodge every night.

Wherever Jacob goes people die. The cops are moving in on him when a terrifying and seductive presence arrives on the frozen lake.

Now Jacob will discover that even hope has a dark side.

http://mybook.to/Heavensgatehope

Where can we find you?

http://hgleokane.wix.com/heavensgate

http://www.facebook.com/Leokaneheavensgate

http://twitter.com@h-gleokane

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Its always a delight to spend time with Vanda….LEO …I mean Leo!…. and Im so happy she stopped by to share a little about her books, her characters and her cool new project with her granddaughter. …..tho I was kinda hoping Jake would stop in too….maybe next time 😉

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~Morgan~

 

 

 

 

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A Scope of #Mystery – #CharacterInterviews with a Twist

20 Wednesday May 2020

Posted by Morgan in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Author Interviews, Character Interviews, Character Spotlights, Drama, Guest Authors, Indie Authors, Must Read Books, Mystery Books, Psychological thrillers, Reading, Romance

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Debbie De Louise is a reference librarian at a public library. She’s the author of seven novels including the four books of her Cobble Cove cozy mystery series. Her latest release, Sea Scope, is a psychological mystery. She lives on Long Island with her husband, daughter, and three cats.  Today Debbie has stopped by with a character from her book Sea Scope to share a few insights into the book and the characters within.

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Debbie: Hi, Julie. Welcome to Cynthia Morgan’s blog. Please tell the readers a little about yourself and your role in my book, Sea Scope.

Julie: My pleasure, Debbie. As you know, I’m not the main character of the book. That honor belongs to my niece Sarah Collins. However, I play a large role in the story. After all, most of the action takes place at my home, Sea Scope, that is also an inn. I’m a portrait artist as well as an innkeeper. That’s where Sarah gets her artistic talent from, although she illustrates children’s books instead of penning portraits.

Debbie: That’s very interesting, but isn’t it also true that you’ve had many lovers but have never married?

Julie: That’s correct. My longest relationship was with Bart Donovan. He fancied I was in love with him. I think he was on the verge of proposing when I broke it off.

Debbie: And why exactly was that? Did it have anything to do with Sheriff Donald Marshall?

Julie: You might say that. Of all the men I’ve known, Donald was the one who came closest to winning my heart. In fact, he still may, as we’ve been reunited. I met him during the investigation into the murder at my inn twenty years ago.

Debbie: How awful! Who was murdered and how?

Julie: I can’t talk too much about it because I know your readers don’t like spoilers, but the victim was a young college student, Michael Gamboski, who was staying at the inn that summer. Glen and Sarah found his body by the nearby lighthouse. His death was termed suicide, but, after my niece returned to Sea Scope, strange things started happening that made us consider his death was murder.

Debbie: Please tell us about these strange happenings.

Julie: We began receiving messages written in crayon from my dead nephew, Sarah’s brother, Glen Brewster. Glen died two years ago in a motorcycle accident in California where he was a practicing psychologist. When Glen lived at the inn as a child, he liked to play a game that involved crayon clues.

Debbie: Boy, this sounds like an interesting story if I must say so myself. What about the rest of the family and those who lived at Sea Scope when Michael died?

Julie: I wish I could say nice things about the others, but I didn’t get along with everyone. Glen’s father, Martin, killed himself a year after they moved away from Sea Scope. I never liked Sarah’s mother, Jennifer, much. She drank a lot when she was at Sea Scope and hasn’t stopped. The people I liked best were Wanda and Wendy Wilson. Wanda was like a daughter to me more than a maid. Her daughter Wendy, was friends with Sarah and Glen. The only problem with Wanda was that she was flirtatious. She had Wendy out of wedlock. Russ Donovan, Bart’s son, also spent time at the inn. I think Sarah was attracted to him, but she married someone else after her family moved to New York from South Carolina.

What disturbs me about Derek is that he refuses medical treatment to help Sarah conceive when she desperately wants a baby.

Debbie: What a cast of characters. Is there anyone else in the book we should know about?

Julie: There is one other character. Her name is Carolyn Grant. She’s a children’s book writer and Sarah’s friend. She accompanies her to Sea Scope because Derek is teaching summer classes and can’t join Sarah.

Debbie: Would you have an excerpt to the book that you would like to share?

Julie: Yes. Here’s one that features me and my cat, Al.

As Al circled her legs emitting short cries that signaled his hunger, Julie checked for mail. There was one letter inside the box. It wasn’t in an envelope and bore no stamp. Someone had dropped it off. She figured it was an advertisement, but when she unfolded the paper, she saw that it was a note written in childish handwriting. Each letter had been marked with a different crayon.

“Do you really think you should reopen the inn? How many more deaths do you want on your head?”

Your nephew, Glen

She gasped. Al sensed her dismay and stopped crying, his body alert to danger; the fur on his back starting to rise.

Glen was dead, buried in the family cemetery nearly two years ago.

Debbie: Thank you so much for the great interview, Julie.

You can connect with Debbie at:

Facebook: 

Twitter

Website/Newsletter sign up 

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Do you have an amazing character from your book you’d love to share with a broader audience?  Perhaps two characters interacting with each other or one interviewing the other.  Drop me a line via my contact info to learn more about authoring a guest post all about them! 🙂

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~Morgan~

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#FriendsFriday- #author #blogger #photographer #poet #networking

28 Friday Feb 2020

Posted by Morgan in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Best Bloggers, BnV, BooknVolume, Cross Promotion, Indie Authors, Inspiration, Marketing, Photographers, poetry, Social networking, ~Morgan~

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It’s a new year and a new decade.  Keeping things fresh is always a challenge for any blogger, myself included.  So I sat down and thought about what I’d like to do with BooknVolume for 2020.  I like to support my kindred creative spirits.  I try to offer opportunities for everyone to grow their audience and I always hope to inspire.

With that in mind I came up with a relatively simple idea. A random act of kindness that is, admittedly, not entirely random.  Each Friday I will offer a new way to help all of us…. or at least those of us who are interested… build our following, network with fellow creative minds, and make new friends.

Today is a fairly simple beginning. Drop your link for your author website or blog in the comments.  Then follow others who do the same .  Pop back now and then…. follow more.  Explore their creativity.  Talk with them about new ideas. Spotlight each other on your sites and build bridges to new possibilities.

Hopefully,  anyway 😊

Your here.   You already know my blog, but to help kick things off, here’s the link to my website:

https://allthingsdarkfey.wixsite.com/feyandmusings

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Best wishes for a year filled with new ideas and new friends!

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~Morgan ~

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#Epic #YoungAdult #Fantasy #BasedOnActualEvents

16 Saturday Nov 2019

Posted by Morgan in Dark Fey

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Award Winning Fantasy, Based on Actual Events, Dark Fantasy, Fantasy Preview, Indie Authors, Inspirational Books, Kindle Fantasy, Reading, YA Fantasy

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#DarkFey Standing in Shadows recently received this delightful #review
“I love the pronunciation lesson! I had a lot of fun trying to say some of these names out loud!
High fantasy isn’t my go-to genre, but a little Fey in one’s life never hurts even if it is dark. This one was the perfect length for me! I’m looking forward to more!
The game rules were great
:
“You cannot intentionally knock your opponent over the head; you cannot kick him, bit him, or tear his feathers out.”
Find Dark Fey Standing in Shadows here

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Dark Fey: Standing in Shadows, book two of the Dark Fey Trilogy, delves deeper into the mystery and suspense of the tale initiated in book one: The Reviled. In book two, readers discover the history behind the main character, Gairynzvl, in greater detail as they learn about the harrowing life he endured among the Reviled of the Uunglarda, as well as the terrors of The Integration; the process of intentional cruelty and neglect designed to twist childfey into Dark Ones. Although Standing in Shadows reaches deeper into the shadows, it never strays entirely out of the Light, relating a tale of both fear and hope as readers share Gairynzvl’s challenges to return into a restored life.

Although certainly darker than book one, Standing in Shadows does not incorporate this level of horror simply for the sake of it. One does not need to open the pages of a book to discover the unthinkable, as the darkness typically embodied in fantasy genre stories by some terrifying being or creature is very much alive in our own reality and this is the underlying motivation for the darkness woven into Dark Fey. Standing in Shadows was inspired in great part by the terrifying, yet true-life events of the Lord’s Resistance Army or LRA, a rebel militant group in Uganda that has for over 20 years abducted children from their homes; forcing them to commit horrifying acts of violence against each other and their own people. These children suffer a very real Integration and, like the childfey of Jyndari, they endure violence, starvation, multiple rapes and beatings at the hands of truly sadistic overlords. This is how the Reviled came to life and became the horrifyingly cruel beings depicted in Dark Fey.

However dark, Standing in Shadows also gives readers the opportunity to explore the vibrant realm of Jyndari more fully. The action slows down and more time is spent among its many detailed characters. There are accounts of distant lands and exotic wildlife; readers join the villagers of Hwyndarin in a night of celebration and exquisitely described traditional music; and the characters even get time to enjoy an exhilarating, heart-pounding sporting event, but through it all, Gairynzvl’s purpose remains and the reasons why he wants to return into the dark realm of The Uunglarda are ultimately exposed.

Winner of 2016 Readers Favorite 5-Star Review & Recommendation

Gairynzvl risked everything to escape his captivity in the darkness. Now, despite the dangers involved and the very great risk of sparking full-scale war with the Reviled, Gairynzvl has an irrepressible need to go back into the darkness to rescue as many of the childfey trapped there as he can find. The success of his plan hinges upon the unique skills and magic of everyone who chooses to join his band of Liberators, and it will require a level of dependence upon each other for which few of them are prepared. Their actions will test all their limits, could easily divide loyalties, and will shake the foundations of everything The Fey of The Light have accepted as truth for thousands of years.

The story of Dark Fey is set in a fantasy realm of Jyndari, a world of beauty, magic, Light and Darkness. It is peopled by Feyfolk, winged beings the size of any human who are born with gifts of telepathy, empathy and sometimes magic. It relates how the Power of Hope, Acceptance and Forgiveness can change the world, if you take Positive Action to create Change through doing what is Right.

The only way to achieve Peace is to become Peace.

The Reviled: http://mybook.to/thereviled
Standing In Shadows: http://mybook.to/standinginshadows
Breaking Into The Light: http://mybook.to/BreakingLight

Discover More About Dark Fey at its Official Website

 

~Morgan~

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For More Information on the LRA visit Unicef: http://www.unicef.org/newsline/02pr06lra.htm

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#SciFi #Author Sean Robins- The Crimson Deathbringer

23 Saturday Mar 2019

Posted by Morgan in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Author Intervies, Books, Fiction Writers, Indie Authors, Inspiration, Reading, Science Fiction Books, SciFi, ~Morgan~

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I’d like to introduce you to fellow author and SciFi writer Sean Robins.  He’s stopped by to share a few quick words about himself and his first book, The Crimson Deathbringer, that is releasing early this May!

Hi Sean…Tell us about yourself:
“Who am I? I am Spiderman.”

Well, not really, but this should tell you all you need to know about me and my writing style.

I’m a huge Marvel (plus Game of Thrones, Star Trek AND Star Wars) fan, which shows since my novel is loaded with pop culture references. If you are a sci-fi fan you will enjoy them tremendously. I even went full Deadpool in my first draft and broke the fourth wall multiple times, until my editor told it was distracting and kept taking her out of the moment. Shame. Those fourth-wall breaks were hilarious. Still, I can guarantee a few laugh-out-loud moments. Case in point: The “good” aliens in my novel are a race of pranksters, whose main goal in life is pulling other people’s legs (They have four legs, hence the slight change in the idiom).

LOL with an imagination that vibrant, I bet your book is amazing. What’s it about?

The Akakies, a peaceful, technologically advanced alien species known as “the galaxy’s pranksters,” are under attack by the Xortaags, a vicious military race bent on conquering the universe. The Xortaags are deadly, but Tarq, the Akakies’ chief strategist and legendary shadow master, has a plan.

Meanwhile on Earth, Jim, a wise-cracking, movie-quoting, OCD-suffering fighter pilot, is about to propose to his girlfriend Liz when his childhood friend Kurt shows up at his house, injured and covered in blood. Kurt is a freedom fighter/super- assassin hunted by a brutal military dictatorship’s security forces.

Soon after, Jim, Liz and Kurt’s lives are set to crash with a galactic war that threatens the very existence of the human race. Can our heroes save humanity from the wrath of an overwhelming enemy?

The Crimson Deathbringer seamlessly blends breathtaking action sequences with mischievous humor. If you are a science fiction/space opera fan, this book, with its memorable characters, formidable antagonist and Game of Thrones style shocking moments, is written especially for you.

How did you get started writing?

I have got purely obsessional OCD. What this means is a thought enters my mind—usually something negative—and doesn’t leave. I end up having to think about it 5000 times a day, and once this starts, my life is ruined for a week, two weeks, a month, or six months. I’d tried a lot of different ways to get rid of this problem: therapy, medication, meditation… Nothing ever worked, until I read an article that said the people who had this problem had an overly active imagination, and it would help if they channeled it into something productive, like writing.

I’d always wanted to be a writer. This is literally a childhood dream, one of those you give up when you grow up. I had the story of The Crimson Deathbringer in my mind for years (even started writing it and stopped a few times). When I read that article, I was going through a tough time in my marriage (fighting with your wife is no fun, even for sane people), and my mind had gone into its life-destroying over-drive, so I told myself, “Well, you’ve tried everything else, let’s give this a shot.”

And then a miracle happened.

My mind put the same energy it used to put into producing BS and making my life miserable into coming up with stories. Ideas would come to me fast and furious, and I had to stop whatever I was doing several times a day to write them down. I’ve been OCD-free since then (I know, I sound like a recovering alcoholic). When TCD (cool, eh?) was finished, it took my out-of-control brain half a day to plan my second novel, which is about a nerdy scientist and a sexy female mercenary who use a time machine to defeat an alien invasion. 

Is there an Author you consider your inspiration?

Yes. My favorite author is Jim Butcher (The Dresden Files), which is probably how I ended up writing in a first-person POV with the same light-hearted, funny tone as he does. The fact that my MC’s name is Jim is purely coincidental though.

Can you sum up your life story in ten words or less? 

I have survived three (!) revolutions and an eight-year-long war. Mr. Survivor here 🙂

We’re so glad you did so you could share your story….and your story…with all of us.  Where can people find you and your book?

The Crimson Deathbringer on Amazon

Author Sean Robins Website

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Thanks so much Sean for sharing your valuable time and talent with BooknVolume.  I wish you all the best success and happiness!

Are you an author interested in sharing your story?  Stop by my recent Author Interviews post to learn more.

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~Morgan~

 

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In The Lime Light – Richard Ankers – The Writings

04 Saturday Aug 2018

Posted by Morgan in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

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Tags

Author Interviews, Authors, Bloggers, BnV, BooknVolume, Books, Indie Authors, Indie Publishing, poetry, Self-Publishing, Writers, Writing, ~Morgan~

cropped-14001752043_e9173487a1_o1

Welcome my Friends 🙂 Happy Saturday and, once again, thank you for stopping by to see just who is In The Lime Light this weekend 🙂 I confess, I am Delighted to share a poet and writer with you who has inspired me since the first time I posted on BnV; a friend who has been around since the beginning and whose writing pushes the boundaries and makes me smile, laugh, gasp, tremble and sigh! You will agree, I am sure, when I tell you that Richard Ankers (whose wonderful blog you can find here: http://richardankers.com ) made a rare appearance in the Interview arena JUST for Booknvolume…well and for all of YOU as well…so my blathering is pointless. Lets Jump Right In shall we? 🙂

IN HIS WORDS: Richard was a Company Director in retail until finally plucking up the courage to show people the writing he had spent years shyly stashing away. Joining HarperCollins’ Authonomy site was the jolt he needed to realise people liked what he wrote. Winning a gold medal there for his book The Snow Lily, was a great boost. Since then, he has spent a long time writing and preparing a trilogy of SciFi/ DarkFantasy books which he hopes to have traditionally published. Richard stopped by for a natter, so lets put the kettle on and get right to it!

Please Introduce us to your Blog. What is it all about? What sorts of posts do you lean towards?
RICHARD: Hello, my name’s Richard. My blog is a place where I post writing and poetry that is on my mind and needs to come out, (there’s far too much in there.) I use my blog as a way of honing my skills for the longer writings that I love. I believe the more you write the better you write and I try to practice what I preach.

What Inspires and stirs your creativity?
RICHARD: Everything inspires me. I can hear a word, or see an image, or even hear something, and it sets off the creative juices. I have written a whole trilogy of books based on one simple image that I saw and was taken by. I never struggle for something to write about because I will never have enough time on this earth to write everything that’s in my mind.

What Message, if any, do you hope to Share through your blog/posts?
RICHARD: I don’t really share any message other than insisting on writing what I want. I would always encourage others to do the same. Don’t pamper to people because the most heartfelt words are those that are most honest, regardless of the length or style they are presented in.
How has your blog helped you as a writer/Indie Author? What things have you learned along the way that you never anticipated?

RICHARD: I wouldn’t say my blog has helped other than not having to worry about wasting what I’ve written. It’s given me a home for all the words.

Tell us about your book(s):
RICHARD: My first book was called The Snow Lily, a story about two abandoned children in Victorian times. I was lucky enough to win a gold medal on the HarperCollins Authonomy site through my efforts. This gave me great confidence (as I have none) and a major boost to my resume. I never had any intention to publish it but one day I might.

I am currently writing a Sci-Fi / Dark Fantasy trilogy. I have made the unusual decision to write all three books in one go and then return to them one by one in order for publishing. I want each book and the trilogy as a whole to be perfect before it goes out there. Believe me when I say, they are unlike any Dark Fantasy book you will have read. The Trilogy was going to be called Decadent Gothic but I have recently altered it to The Eternals Saga, as it’s just a touch more appropriate.
PS. Shhh! They’re almost done.

What Inspired you to write your book?
RICHARD: The whole Eternals Saga was based on a single, spectacular image that I saw. I can’t say what though, as it would give the game away.

From what Point of View do you prefer to write? Is there a reason?
RICHARD: I prefer first person but aren’t particularly bothered. I just find it easier to be in the protagonist’s shoes if I am writing as though it is me. I like to look through my main character’s eyes, so to speak.

How would you describe your “Voice” or Style of writing?
RICHARD: People have said I have a Literary style, but I would leave that to others to decide.
What genre do you prefer to write or are you truly eclectic?

RICHARD: I love every genre. I hate to be pigeonholed. But, dark fantasy and the speculative genres that abut it are my real passion. Basically, things with a fantastical element.

Do you painstakingly plot out your story; are you a discovery writer or a bit of both? Why?
RICHARD: I’m neither. I’m very lucky that the moment I have the idea the whole thing unravels in my head. I have no need to write a word of plot unless I wish to. I know exactly how it will start, finish and everything in-between within moments.

Share an insight or secret about your book(s).
RICHARD: They always have a twist near the end.

What do you feel is your best advice to share with other aspiring authors?
RICHARD: Write what you want how you want. And NEVER, NEVER EVER let anyone tell you that you aren’t good enough. Practise and you will be.

And now, the part most people hate…lets talk About YOU:

richard

If you had to describe yourself to someone who has never met you, what might you say?
RICHARD: I wouldn’t, as I’m too shy in person. I always know what to write but never know what to say. Plus, I’ve never had a very high opinion of myself.

If you could meet one person from the past, who might it be and why?
RICHARD: Nobody in particular.

When you are NOT writing, what is your favourite pastime?
RICHARD: I love to run and do so everyday. I also love nature and all it encompasses.

Describe Your Dream Getaway Destination. Have you ever been there? What makes this place Irresistible to you?
RICHARD: My dream destination is Wengen in Switzerland and I have been there. The place has spectacular scenery, mountains to die for, and once out of the town itself is wonderfully quiet. I also love the British Lake District for similar reasons. I would love to live near mountains and am a very quiet person.

Do you have a Mantra?
RICHARD: Above all else be happy. Life is too short not to be. (Lots of people say that but don’t really mean it. I mean every word of it.)

I am honoured, Richard, that you agreed to share a bit about yourself and your writing with me/us. Thank You Ever So!

You can Follow Richard via Twitter @richardankers

~Morgan~

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The Ghost Killer Series by Margaret Millmore

31 Tuesday Jul 2018

Posted by Morgan in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

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Author Intervies, Author spotlight, BnV, BooknVolume, Historical Fiction, Indie Authors, Speculative Fiction, Supporting Indie Authors, ~Morgan~

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“What Haunts Me (Ghost Killer Book 1) was a mesmerizing introduction to George’s world. I’d strongly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys the dark of paranormal fiction.”

“The Edge of the Cemetery (Ghost Killer Book 2) is the sequel to the supernatural thriller, What Haunts Me, following George Sinclair and his friends, all of whom have the remarkable talent of being able to see and vanquish ghosts and demons. In this book, George faces some tough demons, and has to act quickly in order to stop Gilles, one of the most powerful, murderous ghosts of all time from unleashing all kinds of supernatural danger.”

What Hunts Me (Ghost Killer Book 3) “What a great series! I wish it would keep going and going! But I guess I say that about all the great ones! In this book, Margaret does it again! “Mysterious supernatural forces are in play and the ghost killers find themselves propelled into a fight for their lives.” I just can’t take enough about this series! You need to try it for yourself!”

All three books can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C8R8CXY/

Margaret Millmore lives on a quaint island in the Puget Sound, Washington with her husband and two cantankerous alarm clocks (better known as cats, who are apparently starving to death at 5 a.m. every single darn morning…).

Her first published works were flash fiction, which were featured on Bay Area artist, Kenny Mencher’s blog, The Welcome Home and Untitled – Luke N. Goode.

In 2011 she published her first full length novel, since then she’s published a three book series, another novel and her current series (via Creativia Publishing) What Haunts Me (Ghost Killer Book 1) and The Edge of the Cemetery (Ghost Killer Book 2), which was awarded the August 2016 Book of the Month award by Long and Short Reviews, and What Hunts Me (Ghost Killer Book 3), which incorporates an epic journey taken by her grandfather in 1915. The majority of her books are set in San Francisco where she lived—previous to island life—for over 26 years.

Margaret’s preferred writing genre is supernatural fiction, with the exception of her time-travel novel, The Dragonfly Door.

http://www.margaretmillmore.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Margaret-A-Millmore/228435017205214

Tweets by MMillmore

 

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King of Spades by Ever Eden

31 Tuesday Jul 2018

Posted by Morgan in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Author Intervies, Author spotlight, BnV, BooknVolume, Historical Fiction, Indie Authors, Speculative Fiction, Supporting Indie Authors, ~Morgan~

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The first book in a series of high-action, conspiracy sci-fi thrillers following Agent Cleo Darkrose, a lethal female agent working for a secret organisation who puppeteers the world from the shadows.

MDS train their elite agents at an unclassified installation in the desert. Agent Cleo Darkrose is lethal.

Orders are to neutralise some conspiracy theorist planning a devastating terrorist attack on The Outside. But there’s a catch; this ‘patriot‘ used to be one of theirs and her superior wants his family for safe-keeping.

Between hunting her target and working with a hastily dumped ex-lover, Cleo is running out of time, trying to keep her flawless success record while her shadowy world fragments.

5 Star Amazon Review by YR Lewis

Action immediately graces the first page, drawing you into a story of deceit and misuse of power.
Dangers unravel, and secrets are revealed cautiously leaving you guessing to the end.
The main character has a real strong sense of justice as well as having a balance between femininity and robustness. The writer presents Cleo as a charismatic woman who drives the events from scene to scene with candour and a strength you admire.
The novel is fast-paced, and the character’s fresh point of view allows it to be funny at times. I could not put the book down and I am looking forward to the next part in the series because the story has left me wanting more.
This book is a must read and only the beginning of an amazing adventure I intend to take with the author Ever Eden. I recommend this novel to everyone of all ages. When is the next book out? I can’t wait.

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Formerly a contributor and journalist for digital and print media, Ever Eden reported from activist circles in the period after 9/11. Her hands on experience with the changing of culture and the emergence of a different world inspired and cultivated her already-ingrained passion for writing fiction containing action and core human values as well as sci-fi elements.

Ever Eden grew up in Australia, in an old house the neighbours said was haunted. She wrote her first trilogy at age 13, involving a group of teens responsible for a murder in outback Australia. She then developed her passion for story-telling with short stories, novellas, songs and poetry before she stumbled into the world of Agent Darkrose.

Purchase on:

ITUNES: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/king-of-spades/id1273946073?mt=11

BOOKDEPOSITORY: https://www.bookdepository.com/King-of-Spades/9780648052401

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/King-Spades-Darkrose-Ever-Eden/dp/0648052400

Socials:

facebook.com/Everedenauthor

Instagram.com/EverEdenAuthor

Everedenauthor.com

 

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In the Lime Light – #AuthorSpotlight – Assaph Mehr

29 Sunday Jul 2018

Posted by Morgan in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Author Intervies, Author spotlight, BnV, BooknVolume, Historical Fiction, Indie Authors, Speculative Fiction, Supporting Indie Authors, ~Morgan~

.

Today’s Author Spotlight is on Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia.

Book Blurb
A young man is found dead in his bed, with a look of extreme agony on his face and strange tattoos all over his body. His distraught senator father suspects foul play, and knows who to call on.

Enter Felix the Fox, a professional investigator. In the business of ferreting out dark information for his clients, Felix is neither a traditional detective nor a traditional magician – but something in between. Drawing on his experience of dealing with the shady elements of society and his aborted education in the magical arts, Felix dons his toga and sets out to discover the young man’s killers.
Murder in absentia is set in a fantasy world. The city of Egretia borrows elements from a thousand years of ancient Roman culture, from the founding of Rome to the late empire, mixed with a judicious amount of magic. This is a story of a cynical, hardboiled detective dealing with anything from daily life to the old forces roaming the world.
This is a story of Togas, Daggers and Magic – for lovers of Murder Mysteries, Ancient Rome and Urban Fantasy.

Assaph has receive many awards for his writing, including:
Virtual FantasyCon 2016

  • 1st place – Favourite Dark Fantasy Book
  • 1st place – Favourite Dark Fantasy Author
  • 2nd place – Favourite Urban Fantasy Book
  • 2nd place – Favourite Urban Fantasy Author
  • 3rd place – Favourite Fantasy Series

AND Goodreads

1st place – Indie Books Worth The Read (https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/37072.Self_Pub_or_Indie_Books_Worth_the_Read)

Hi Assaph 🙂 Please Introduce us to your Blog. What is it all about? What sorts of posts do you lean towards? My blog is part of my author platform, and therefore reflects those aspects. I put out original contents (like short stories), articles about writing and marketing, occasional news, and general funny stuff.

I love the subject matter I’m writing about – the blend of ancient Rome and Fantasy – so I include information about them. I also seem to have a reasonable knack for book marketing, so I try to put out articles that could help other authors in today’s shifting publishing landscape.

What Inspires and stirs your creativity? I’ve always loved to read. I had my nose in a book since I was five. Whilst I always dreamt of writing one day, I never thought I’d get to it before retirement. But once started, I enjoy it so much I have no intention of stopping. It’s the outlet I’ve always looked for in creative endeavours. (My only other outlet is in cooking, of which I have half a talent at best).

Conversely, what do you find difficult to write about?

According to my editor, I’m a typical guy in that it’s hard to get me to put the deep emotional stuff on the page…. It is there though. Felix is a hardboiled, crusty detective. He doesn’t necessarily show it, but the novels have a larger emotional arc to them. My strengths seem to be in the world building and the intricate plots, and my editor is whipping helping me in making my writing even better.

What Message, if any, do you hope to Share through your blog/posts? Besides that Felix tells awesome stories? 😊 I don’t have a message I set out to share, but I think I would like to show to others that writing is a matter of perseverance, and good writing is a matter of reading. If it’s something you love, if you can stick to it, you can make it work and get much satisfaction from it.

How has your blog helped you as a writer/Indie Author? What things have you learned along the way that you never anticipated? My blog is part of my platform, as I mentioned. It helps tremendously in building presence and getting noticed.

As for lessons learnt, I’m a self-learner. I’ll research what I need, examine the options, and then build up my skills by doing. It’s an introverted process, rather than relying on others for support. That said, I will say that the indie community is fantastic and extremely supportive. I have made many new dear friends since becoming an author.

 

Tell us about your book(s): My books tell the stories of Felix, a classic noir detective in tone but dealing with paranormal cases – all set in a world based on Ancient Rome. I call them Storied of Togas, Daggers, and Magic. They combine the elements of what I like to read.

What Inspired you to write your book? I’ve had the idea for the mystery behind Murder In Absentia and come of the characters involved kicking around in the back of my head for a decade. But as I said, I wasn’t looking to write anything before retirement.
Then one hot January night over two years ago, my complained that she finished everything she wanted to read. So after everyone went to bed, I sat down, and started to write. And I didn’t stop until I completed the manuscript, about four months later.

From what Point of View do you prefer to write? Is there a reason? I write in first-person POV. I like to read such novels, where you get into the head of the protagonist. It’s very common in noir detectives, and it felt the most natural to write in. Felix is, in a way, a bigger and better version of me.

How would you describe your “Voice” or Style of writing? Uniquely my own, I hope. Felix does have a bit of deadpan humour, and isn’t always the most reliable narrator. But if you like a bit of fry humour, you’ll love his quips.

I put out short stories with Felix, so that potential readers can find out quickly if they like my style. You can find them here: https://egretia.com/short-stories/.

What genre do you prefer to write or are you truly eclectic? The best genre label is “historical fantasy”, though if you’d like something more specific I guess “Historically-themed Urban High-fantasy Noir Detective Mysteries (with just a splash of Horror)” would do.

I like speculative fiction. Always have. I grew of classic Sci-fi and fantasy, read a lot of detectives and thriller, and have always been in love with history and historical fiction, particularly Rome. So blending all of these was just natural. That doesn’t mean I won’t try another setting – but I think I’ll always remain under the “historical fantasy” umbrella.

Do you painstakingly plot out your story; are you a discovery writer or a bit of both? Why? A bit of both. As the stories are mysteries, I know the ending. I know the quintessential essence, what the story is all about. I also know where I start (Felix being hired to resolve said mystery). In between, I like to discover the plot for myself. I like putting Felix in impossible situations, and marvel at his ability to weasel out of them and come to a satisfying conclusion. I just try to keep him in the right direction, as he’s telling me his memoirs.

Do you have a favourite or least favourite character? And Why? I don’t think I have a “least favourite” character. I enjoy writing them all. Even the antagonists. I make sure that they are human too, with wants and needs, and one can’t really hate them.

Besides my protagonist through whose eyes the stories are told, I do enjoy writing the other main characters in his life. Araxus with his shifting grasp of reality, Aemilia who like to poke her nose at his business, and others. They are all like friends.

Share an insight or secret about your book(s). I mentioned that there is an emotional arc across several books, even though each is an independent mystery. I have this planned across four novels at the moment. The point where the current work-in-progress (book two) ends – well, I am expecting a few death threats from the dedicated Felix fans.

What do you feel is your best advice to share with other aspiring authors? The most important thing in writing is a comfy pair of pants. Put them on, then park your ass in a chair and write. There is nothing as basic as sitting down and writing, and without it you won’t get far. So write a little bit, but often. And keep at it until you’re done.

As for writing good books, ah – there the secret is different. To write good books, you must get yourself a comfy pair of pants, park your ass on the couch, and start reading. Read a lot, in your genre and outside of it. Keep reading and observing what you’re reading. And then move to the chair and write some.

Would you like to share an excerpt from the book or a poem or two to give readers an idea what you offer? This is from the last third of the current WIP. Felix has a broken leg, and finds himself at a low-point in the case, in a foul mood and not many options. He goes back to basics, for some cash and fresh air.

I decided I needed some time away from everyone, and that I would not be getting it at home.

My mobility impaired, I could not take on another case. I was in no condition to walk far, but I limped down to the docks between the grain and fish markets, found a good corner, chalked ‘FORTUNES TOLD CURSES IDENTIFIED’ on the wall, sat down on a folding stool, put on airs, and busied myself with a scroll of Assyrican star-gazing that looked impressive with all its strange and foreign symbols.

People being what they are, especially sailors and dock workers, I scraped enough small coins that day to cover a night of drinking. Calculating people’s horoscopes is tedious, but at least cleaner than haruspicy. One sailor wanted me to write a curse against his fellow, whom he swore stole his lucky fascinum when they were asleep. I scribbled a supplication to Hygieia — about as magical as a bucket of piss — to withdraw her protection from the thief’s health. I also sold him a mild laxative in the guise of ‘special medicine’, and told him to slip it in the evening meal whilst at sea to make the guilty party revealed to all. On the off-chance he was wrong about the culprit, the laxative was to go into the main pot, with the supplication into the fire. I taught him a meaningless doggerel to repeat, so I could claim it was his fault for botching it. Thoughts of future winds generated below decks by an overly flatulent crew cheered me up.

It also kept my mind away from Aemilia, and what I needed to do with her.

And now for the part most Authors find difficult…Lets talk about you! If you had to describe yourself to someone who has never met you, what might you say? I… wouldn’t know where to start. There’s the obvious picture and bio. Everything else comes when you get to know them better, built over time.

If you could meet one person from the past, who might it be and why? Just one? But there are so many…. I’d probably pick Sulla and Catilina, two intriguing characters from ancient Rome who – I think – got the short end of the stick when history was written.

When you are NOT writing, what is your favourite pastime? I spend a lot of time with my family, playing with the kids. I read a lot, mostly at nights or when I’m too tired to write. Occasionally I manage to keep up my martial arts practice. I’ve been practicing various martial arts on and off for the past 30 years, and am currently practicing an internal branch of Wing Chun. I actually based some of the magic system in my world on my experience studying the internal arts.

Describe Your Dream Getaway Destination. Have you ever been there? What makes this place Irresistible to you? I love ancient ruins. I’ve recently been on a trip to visit family in Israel (pics on my blog and Instagram), so naturally I took my family to visit a few of my favourite old forts and historical sites. I have been to Rome and Italy many years ago, and would love to go again. So many places I have only seen in pictures, and would love to experience.

I have this tendency, when walking old streets, to see them as they were and not as they are. Just have to remember to watch out for traffic.

What “Charity” or “Cause” do you feel passionately about & Why? Not a specific charity, but I do feel passionate about environmental issues. I see what we are doing to the planet and what we are leaving to our children, and it scares me.

Assaph has had his nose in a book since he was five, and had to yell at the librarian that he can read already so he should get his own card. With a rather diverse taste in reading – from fantasy to philosophy, from ancient times to the far future – his first novel Murder In Absentia is an “historically-themed urban high-fantasy hardboiled murder mystery, with just a dash of horror”.

After years of reading and only dreaming of seeing his name in print, he suddenly started writing in 2015. He owes this to his wife, who complained that there was nothing good left to read. Once the challenge was accepted and Murder In Absentia was born, Assaph just kept on writing – short stories, flash fiction, and now a second full length novel. You can find them all on egretia.com.

When he’s not busy mashing up genres or interviewing other author’s characters on TheProtagonistSpeaks.com, this ex-Israeli-turned-Aussie enjoys his kids, cats, wife and even his day job. He hopes that his thirty years of martial arts make his fight scenes realistic, and that his love of history shines through his work.

 

Please be sure to check out Assaph at one of his many social sites

Media links

Website: http://egretia.com

Blog: http://egretia.com/news

Facebook: http://facebook.com/AssaphMehrAuthor

Twitter: @assaphmehr

Google Plus: http://plus.google.com/+AssaphMehr

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14422472.Assaph_Mehr

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/assaphmehr

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/assaph/

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Assaph-Mehr/e/B015U1F3NC

Murder In Absentia on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1XbfKN1

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Thank You so much Assaph for sharing your insights and writing with us. Many Blessings~

~Morgan~

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In The Lime Light – #AuthorInterview – Debbie Pierce/Caleigh O’Shea

28 Saturday Jul 2018

Posted by Morgan in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

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Author Intervies, Author spotlight, BnV, BooknVolume, Fiction Writers, Indie Authors, Supporting Indie Authors, ~Morgan~

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Today I have the honour of sharing with you fellow blogger Debbie Pierce from Musings by an ND Domer’s Mom blog and author of her first book Unplayable Lie.

Hi Debbie!! Thanks for Sharing your story with BnV today. Please tell us all about yourself!

About my blog

My blog, Musings by an ND Domer’s Mom, started for two reasons: to capture my son’s college experience and to follow recommendations I’d received at a writer’s conference to build a platform for my writing.

To say it’s evolved would be an understatement!

I post once a week (more often when I can). Once a month, I share information gleaned from research into healing gemstones. That’s an extension of one of my hobbies, jewelry making. A few years ago, I challenged myself to step out of my comfort zone and try writing poetry. The result is an eclectic mix of haiku, limericks, free verse, ballads, and more catalogued on my Poet’s Page. The bulk of my posts are “slices of life” revolving around seasonal nature photos, travels, parenting, or humorous incidents (some narrated by my Sheltie). And lately, I’ve been including updates from my writer’s journey.

I strive for a conversational tone, like I’m writing a newsy letter to a dear friend. The thing that surprised me most about blogging was how supportive and encouraging this community is. I was a shy child and still tend toward introversion; it required a BIG leap of faith to put my poetry online for others to read. Imagine my delight when they said they enjoyed it!

I’ve written since I could hold a pencil. When I was a kid, I’d check out immense stacks of library books, then tuck myself away visiting new worlds until I was called to chores. I remember starting (but never finishing) novels over most summers. To me, inspiration is all around! Whether it’s a news story in the paper or an overheard conversation or a snippet of research into something interesting, I find ideas plentiful.

On my blog, I avoid contentious discussions about politics, and I keep things family-friendly. I’ve found it next to impossible to write sex scenes in my novels, too. There’s enough of that sort of thing out there without me. Being true to oneself, I’ve found, is the best policy.

My book

My book, Unplayable Lie, is a fiction/thriller about a journalist who faces danger when he allows himself to become emotionally drawn into a story he’s following.

Here’s the premise:

Texas journalist Josh Griffin lives for scoops, but he’s never faced real danger to get one. Nor has he ever been emotionally drawn into his stories. Then he gets an anonymous tip that teenaged golf superstar Lexi Carlisle has been kidnapped, and Josh embarks on an investigation destined to change his life forever.

Lexi Carlisle is the daughter of Josh’s college sweetheart; watching Amanda agonize over her missing daughter while refuting police insinuations that she had something to do with the crime is more than Josh can handle. And when he unravels the web of lies spun by Lexi’s crazed kidnapper — who has killed once and isn’t afraid to do so again — Josh realizes the story takes second place to the girl’s rescue.

The book is being published by Waldorf Publishing and is scheduled for release on Oct. 15, 2017. For now, it’s available for pre-order online at Amazon and Target. (Shameless marketing plug!!)

https://www.amazon.com/Unplayable-Lie-Josh-Griffin-Mystery/dp/1684192633/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1502750215&sr=1-7&keywords=unplayable+lie

https://www.target.com/p/unplayable-life-paperback-caleigh-o-shea/-/A-52028159#lnk=sametab

The spark for my story came one day as I was golfing with my son. One of the holes lay parallel to a tangled overgrown area, and the idea of a kidnapping took root, refusing to let go.

I gravitate toward third person Point of View. Like Mary Higgins Clark or Mary Jane Clark, I prefer to pick out a set number of characters to tell the story, and I rotate POV among them based on what they’re seeing and experiencing. I tend to write short chapters that end on a cliffhanger, and I love throwing in a variety of twists and turns.

I’ve tried to outline, but I don’t like to because I’m not good at it. I think that’s because as a kid, we had to outline everything. So even though I don’t do a formal outline, I’d be lost without making notes about plot points, scenes, characters, and so forth. I’ve never done NANOWRIMO (the write-a-book-in-30-days challenge) because I’m not a writer who tosses together a rough draft, then edits to tidy things up. Nope, I tend to edit as I go along, making for a slow go initially (but when I get to the end, it pretty much is!)

A secret about my book – I changed the hero’s name three times before I was happy with it! The first name I selected was actually the name of a living athlete, and I knew that wasn’t going to work. It took a while for me to get comfortable with the final choice, but I think this one fits him.

Have I written characters I don’t particularly like? Sure, but I hope I’ve concealed that and treated them kindly!

Best advice for other writers? Butt in chair, hands on keys, and start putting your ideas down. Writing a novel is lots harder than some would have you believe, especially for those of us trained in journalism. Sure, you’re telling a story, but the author is a puppet-master while the journalist is quoting facts, documents, and other sources. While I was writing Unplayable Lie, I often felt like I was living in two worlds, my reality and the novel’s fiction. It got to where someone in real life would ask me a question and I’d mentally weigh my response based on which character I was thinking about at the time!

About me

I write under a pen name, something my mom is still having a hard time with!

For years I was a working journalist, so I got used to seeing my real name in print. And it worked for factual stories. However, this novel is fiction, so it just made sense to write under a “fictitious” name. I gave my pseudonym a great deal of thought and I’m pleased with the decision. It honors my Irish heritage and solves the quandary of being christened with a common name.

I guess I’ve always been a creative person. My hobbies and interests have evolved, just like my writing. As a child, I played piano, picked up clarinet and a bit of sax in school, and now am learning the flute. I love most sports, though golf and tennis hold a special place in my heart. I’ve done needlepoint, embroidery, and crochet. I taught myself to bead one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces, including Rosaries. I zone out with mindless coloring of mandalas and such while talking on the phone, I’m an avid reader, and I write.

Because I’m the sole caregiver for my aging mom, I constantly struggle with time (or, rather, a lack of it!). I’ve found that having interests all over the board keeps me sane and helps me cope with the stress. While hobbies add to my enjoyment of life, sometimes pursuing them makes it hard to find the time I need to write. Having a deadline (one that’s self-imposed or from my publisher) helps immensely.

My day job is designing Web pages. It fulfils a need to express my creativity through color and design, as well as to work for myself. I also make time to take long walks or enjoy a bit of retail therapy. I don’t need crowds of people around me; rather, I gravitate to solitary activities. Because I can always find something to do, I’m rarely bored.

While I’ve been from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the Canadian border to the Gulf of Mexico, I don’t really consider myself well-traveled. My favorite place for a getaway is close to water. I find the rhythm of waves very soothing, and there’s something about a salty climate that makes me sleep better. My ideal destination is Ireland, a place I briefly visited a few years back.

People who don’t know me don’t know how independent I am. I need plenty of time alone to regroup, daydream, and create. I don’t like lots of drama (except on the page or stage), and I avoid people who can’t accept boundaries. I have lots of acquaintances but few in my inner circle. There’s a BIG difference between being lonely and being alone. The former can happen in a crowd; the latter is a necessity for creatives (writing isn’t a spectator sport!)

Please do stop by and visit Debbie through one of her social Links:

Blog (https://domermom.com/)

Twitter (https://twitter.com/CaleighOShea)

Author website (https://www.caleighoshea.com/)

LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-pierce-36943b49/)

I’m also on Goodreads, Pinterest, Google+, and have an author’s page on Amazon.

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Thank You so Much Debbie for sharing so many insights and giving us a peak into your first book.

~Morgan~

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In The Lime Light – #CharacterSpotlight by #Fantasy #Author Tabitha Darling

22 Sunday Jul 2018

Posted by Morgan in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

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Author Intervies, Author spotlight, BnV, BooknVolume, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Indie Authors, Mythical Creatures, Supporting Indie Authors, ~Morgan~

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Today’s character Interview is by Fantasy author Tabitha Darling. Tabitha is the author of multiple works of fiction and nonfiction. (To be released ongoing) She is wife to a robot builder and mom to a toddler. By day, she is a barefoot farrier, horse trainer, and riding instructor. She lives in Texas, with her husband, toddler, three horses, three hens, three geese, and three doves.

In the book Trust (Children of Chiron Series Vol 1) Ieang (Eeng) is a main character caught up in a war between humans and his people the centaur. He struggles to save an infant centaur and in the process needs a human, Brenda to help with the baby. They begin to understand and respect each other over time.

History teaches that centaurs are aggressive, how do you feel about this? It bothers me. We are taught to respect the power the Gods give only to women. I have seen humans be good and mean.

What do you look like? I am a centaur. My body is horse, man and unicorn. My hair is brown, my skin is brown, my eyes are brown.

What do you like to wear? We do not need clothes like humans.

How do you keep your hooves worn down? We walk. If we can not, we use a hard stone to do it.

What is the horn on your head? It is what separates the people from the Gods and the animals. It reminds us of our origin, the unicorn.

What is telepathy like? I learned from my human wife that humans think in sounds. We do not, but we can. What you feel, see, touch, feelings, all is given, in telepathy. Not just sounds, all. It joins the people, into one. It is the gift from unicorn.

What do centaurs eat? We eat as you do, plant, meat. Why?

What do you think of humans? Your people are gifted by the Gods with great power and knowledge.

If someone wanted to learn the language and culture, your beliefs, would that be ok? Yes, I will help teach.

How do you feel about videos and photographs? I will not talk about this.

What do you think of horses? They are more intelligent than humans know. They should be respected.

If a human child wanted a ride, would that bug you? No, I would be happy to play with them.

How do you like to socialize? I enjoy watching my children, to sing with them after a meal. Or spending time with the men on a hunt.

What was your role in your family growing up? My role was to obey the elders, and my father, to respect the Gods and spirits. To listen and learn.

What were you most proud of as a kid? I was glad to become a man. It meant the Gods and spirits thought I was worthy. I try to be.

What did you find terribly embarrassing as a kid? I was humiliated for my dishonor once when I did not give an offering on a hunt. I learned to after the punishment. I had angered the spirits, I was wrong.

What was your first best friend like? We do not have one friend. All the men hunt and work together. That is our way.

What ‘group’ were you in during your high school years? We do not learn in one house, we learn with our fathers who raise us. The shaman may teach us, but usually it is our father. If one father and one child is a group, then that was my group.

What did you want to be when you grew up–and what did you end up becoming? I only hoped to be accepted by the God of life to the temple, to do well by our ancestors, the ones who came before. To not disgrace any of them. I passed my run, I am a man, adult. That is all I am.

What are your hobbies? I enjoy speaking with the God of tools, to ask the spirits to give their power to what I make so that a hunt goes well. If I honor them, the power is there, and the animals are happy to give us meat.

What music do you listen to? Brady, brother to my human wife says that humans enjoy music all the time, that the human Gods allow it. We do not, it speaks to the ancestors, the spirits and Gods. It is sacred.

What annoys you? I am angered if the people begin to disrespect the elders, the shaman, the spirits, ancestors or the Gods.

What makes you laugh? To watch my children.

Are you a dog or a cat person? I do not like to eat dog but I have, it seems to be a friendly spirit to humans. I do not know what cat is.

What season do you enjoy most? I look forward to the dry season when the hunting is good.

What makes you embarrassed as an adult? I have answered this before.

Do you drink alcohol? What is this drink? We have many drinks and some are sacred. We usually drink water.

What do you feel most passionately about? I hope that my people will live, have many children, if the Gods allow. And to continue living in the marriage house with my wife.

What trait do you find most admirable in others? To be an elder, a shaman, to speak with the Gods, ancestors and spirits. It is the best any can become until we join them in their home when we die.

Do you want a job that helps people or a job that makes money? Money, is how humans hunt, to bring food yes? If we live on Earth, I would like to learn in human school to get a job, yes. I always like to help! The people rely on each other to bring meat, to build a house. We do not live alone like humans.

Are you a leader or a follower? I am only a man, a hunter. I was not called to be a leader.

What scares you? To see the last of my people, no more children. That we so angered the Gods.

What are your long term goals? I have answered this before! To see my people live.

What are your short term goals? To hunt well.

What are your bad habits? Bad habits make the spirits angry.

What do you think happens after we die? If we please the Gods we live in their home by their fire and eat with them when the hunt is good.

If you were to come into money what would you do with it? Money is how humans get food, they do not hunt? If we have more than we need, I would give it to others who need more so that they have food.

Who was the love of your life? I love my human wife Brenda, she taught me love.

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Please be sure to discover more about Tabitha and her writing through her social links:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tabitha.darling.3576
Twitter https://twitter.com/Tabithasbooks
And my website! https://www.tabithasbooks.com/
Amazon author link https://www.amazon.com/Tabitha-Darling/e/B074JKX8T2/
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~Morgan~

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In The Lime Light – #AuthorInterview with Jan Gordon

21 Saturday Jul 2018

Posted by Morgan in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Author Intervies, Author spotlight, BnV, BooknVolume, Indie Authors, Inspirational Books, Supporting Indie Authors, ~Morgan~

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Today I am delighted to introduce you to fellow author Jan Gordon, who writes under the name Melanie Mole. Melanie grew up in a tiny village in the wonderful countryside in England. Long walks with her dogs in beautiful scenery and winding country lanes gave her time to think and dream. Most of the time dreaming of a future where her life would be as calm as both the countryside in which she walked, or how she felt when she read her treasured books. Dreaming was something which came easily to Melanie. Very often her school report would mention that she spent more time day dreaming than doing her school work, except in English lessons which she loved.

Her love of words was always there, but sometimes stifled by the opinions of others. But as she grew older Melanie would not let these hold her back her any longer. Over the years Melanie grew in confidence and it was then that she finally felt able to follow her writing dreams. Being part of quite a large family, but always feeling different to everyone else, Melanie found solace in both writing and books. This, coupled with her new found confidence in herself, mainly because of the freedom of middle age, was where her writing really found momentum.

Taking 25 years to complete her first book, around family life and a pressured work environment in palliative care, Melanie began to realise that simplifying her life was the way to go. Living more simply and finding ways in which to enjoy having less became her chosen path. This was where her book Simply Does It was born. Her experiences to find a more simple life in which to have to time write and do more of the things that she loves, are shared in this unusual non-fiction book. Her other book, Man + Woman + Trouble, is a comical look at the mistakes Melanie made during her relationships. It is full of tips on what not to do if you want a great relationship. It is aimed at both men and women.

 

Please Introduce us to your Blog. What is it all about? What sorts of posts do you lean towards?

Hello Cynthia, and thank you for giving me the opportunity to answer your questions.

My blog is about anything to do with books, writing, author interviews, the amazing opportunities that simple living has afforded me, and anything else that peaks my interest.

A lot of my posts are about writing as that is my true love. I try to look at how other writers have written, and how their lifestyle affected that.

I am always looking at ways of showing support to other writers. So many of us flounder at first, so it is nice for us all to support each other. Writer love is what it is all about!

I also did an article about a man who calls himself Captain Beany. He is totally obsessed with baked beans, and even has a museum in his home dedicated to them. I was impressed with the work that he does for charity, and so wanted to feature him on my blog. It got a good reaction which I was pleased about.

You can find my blog here.

What Inspires and stirs your creativity?

The first would be my grandchildren. I have four now and the eldest is 11 this month. I look at the photos of them that I keep near my computer, and I just about burst with happiness. I want to do my best writing for them. It would be nice one day if they read my books and thought that they were a good read. That would be great!

Secondly it would be the simple things in life. I have never been a materialistic sort of person, so the little things have always inspired me. That can be as simple as raindrops on a leaf, an animal, spending time with someone special etc. I feel lucky to be inspired by little things as I tend to notice them more. So I am blessed.

Conversely, what do you find difficult to write about?

I definitely find writing fiction more difficult. I generally write non-fiction, but I got brave this year and wrote my first short story called ‘Blossom Shines at Buttercup Bay‘. It is contained in a Creativia Anthology titled ‘Once Upon a Broken Dream’. I was really pleased that my first attempt at writing fiction was published in this book. My aim is to write a whole series of Buttercup Bay Books. I have the outlines already written, so just need to start writing them now!

What Message, if any, do you hope to Share through your blog/posts?

I want to share so many things through my posts. But the main one is that we are not alone when we find it difficult to write. There are so many writing groups, forums, websites etc. that there is always a place to go where we can learn, get support, or both. The writing community is massive. All we have to do is to find the right fit for us, and then we can interact as much or as little as we want to. The world really is our writing oyster!

How has your blog helped you as a writer/Indie Author? What things have you learned along the way that you never anticipated?

I only started my blog quite recently, so I am learning all the time from it. At first I would plan what posts I would write, but now I do them as the inspiration hits me. The only posts which I do tend to plan are author interviews because readers seem to like those a lot. I like them too because I learn so much from them. Also I write posts about my next book, or when one is due to be released.

One of the things that I never expected to learn from my blog is that not all authors find inspiration in their surroundings. I wrongly assumed that where they write always inspires them. But, I have now found through interacting on my blog, that this is not always true.

I am lucky that I have leaned many writing tips along the way too. I am blessed when other writers share their tips or tell us about their writing day because we can all learn from that.

Tell us about your book(s):

My first book, ‘Simply Does It‘, has just been published. My life has been changed for the better in so many ways by living more simply. This book chronicles the start of my journey towards raising my writing capacity by over 800% in just a year! I wanted to keep the quality of my writing, so I edited again and again. I can honestly say that I have found the magic formula for being able to write much more, even though I was also a full time, live in carer for a relative at the same time. The demands of this mean that I never knew, day or night, when I would be called to help them. Plus I had surgery of my own during this time too. So, if you want to know how I started that journey then ‘Simply Does It‘ could really be the book for you.

My second book, ‘Man + Woman = Trouble‘, came about because I had so many stories to tell about the mountain of relationship mistakes I had made. I also wanted to give tips on how not to behave if you want a great relationship. So this book encompasses these, and more. I tried to keep it lighthearted so that it would be both interesting, and also make readers laugh. It is aimed at both men and women no matter what type of relationship they are in. So I hope that my readers will enjoy it.

What Inspired you to write your book?

I was inspired to write ‘Man + Woman = Trouble’ because of my own experiences. I thought that if I have those sorts of problems, then other must do to. I wanted to look at them in a comical way, whilst also trying to show how not to make the same mistakes that I did.

My inspiration for writing ‘Simply Does It’ was the amazing experiences that I have had by living a more simple life. I can’t stress enough how different my life is now that I live more simply. It has soothed my soul like nothing else, and reduced my stress levels beyond compare with the life that I once led. It has truly been a breathtaking experience.

From what Point of View do you prefer to write? Is there a reason?

Until now I have always written non-fiction books. I have tended to write from my own perspective so far as the subjects that I have written about are either ones which I have experienced first hand, or are very close to my heart. But, even though they are from my own point of view, I try to offer a balanced argument too.

How would you describe your “Voice” or Style of writing?

My style of writing is really just hearing what thoughts come into my head, and then documenting them. I wish that I could say that it was more technically done, or in the style of some great writer, but it isn’t. My writing is generally like someone is having a gentle conversation with the reader. I am writing my thoughts, and they are reading them. I don’t know how else to do it. I think that we all have our own writing styles, and that we shouldn’t fight them. Going with the flow is much better than having a daily battle with your writer self. Life is much calmer that way, and I like that.

What genre do you prefer to write or are you truly eclectic?

Until now I have always written non-fiction. I know that my books will often be about writing, as I think about it so often. But they will also be about the benefits of simple living. The world seems to be running at such a frantic pace now that something has to give. Either we find a better way to live which is less stressful, or we could quite literally spontaneously combust. The choice is our own to make. I just hope that more of us make it sooner than later.

Do you painstakingly plot out your story; are you a discovery writer or a bit of both? Why?

My only piece of fiction is my short story ‘Blossom Sines at Buttercup Bay‘. So I’m not really sure yet. I did have some sort of outline before I started to write it. But it tended to be very fluid during the writing process. So I would probably say that I do both.

Do you have a favourite or least favourite character? And Why?

It would have to be Monty because he is so kind and sincere. But that may change to someone else over time. I guess that I won’t really know until I have written the rest of the books. It is something that I am looking forward to.

Share an insight or secret about your book(s).

Well, I have written most of my books without getting a good night’s sleep. Because of a shoulder injury I have, I still need to have further shoulder surgery. The pain from it means that either I take regular pain killers that don’t work, or I take strong ones which knock me out during the day a lot too. I haven’t been able to sleep in a bed for 18 months now. So I sleep sitting up in a chair every night. To be honest it is exhausting. Most of us can cope with a few night of poor sleep, but at the moment that is my reality every night. I hope that the further surgery that is scheduled for me will work, and I will be sleeping soundly again soon.

What do you feel is your best advice to share with other aspiring authors?

Never, ever, give up! Use whatever keeps you going to do just that. Also, read about J.K Rowling’s story for inspiration. I don’t just mean about how many publishers turned her down. I mean about what she went through in her personal life before she even got to that point. Keep fighting for what you want, always.

Would you like to share an excerpt from the book or a poem or two to give readers an idea what you offer?

Yes, that would be good. The first excerpt is from my book ‘Man + Woman = Trouble‘ –

That Old Chestnut Nagger

The characteristics of a That Old Chestnut Nagger are persistence and having a really good memory, and boy do women have good memories. Especially where we think the subject in hand really matters. Make sure that you remember this because it is a distinct advantage if you do. Of course no logical thought process would have ever gone into this decision. We tend to store up our points to remind us how bad you have been in a sort of brain sack. It’s hidden away in a very dark and dingy place. The sort of place you wouldn’t want to go to after dark. Where monsters loom, and even they have to fight for survival. A place where you should expect the unexpected to happen, and where you should be very afraid, because it is very unpredictable depending on mood and hormone levels.

Men just need to remember that we can store all this information we often refer to as important stuff for a very long time. This is the sort of stuff which we are sure to bring up the next time you either look at us in a funny way, or perhaps when you do something like breathe. Yes I did say breathe. You can sometimes only do one of these before we blow again. We are like a volcano just waiting to erupt. Not all of us of course. But there are enough women like this for anyone to be weary.

Another thing to remember is that we never lose sight of our original point for discussion. It is always there lurking in the background. Don’t forget that it is also a woman’s prerogative to add more points at any time. In fact the list can just grow and grow. Like one of those seemingly tiny pieces of paper that is folded neatly, but which can unravel and grow to an incredible length at any time. So, gentlemen, it may be advisable that you have your own list to argue points from. That’s something that the lady in your life won’t be expecting. Shock tactics are usually a good way of causing a detour around the subject in hand. Especially if you want to buy some extra time or if you are dying to get to the pub/bar or to do something else that’s equally as important. But of course you need to be aware that any dodged points will only come back to bite you later, so sometimes it’s best to just suffer at the time and get it over with. It really depends on when you want more hassle. Is it best to have trouble now, or later? Only you can make that decision. Because one thing you can be sure of is that it will surely come at some point in time.

What you need to do is literally wait until the nagger is taking a breath and dive in with the first point you want to make. Then just keep going strongly, or keep very quiet. How she reacts will guide you towards which of these you need to do. Remember that just because one tactic worked last time doesn’t automatically mean that it will work this time. You may also pay later if you choose the wrong course of action this time. A bit like gambling with terrible odds. She is the banker, and we all know that the banker nearly always wins.

The second excerpt is about when I went to live with nuns, from my book ‘Simply Does It‘ –

When I had first arrived at the convent Sarah had encouraged me to explore both the main building and the grounds at my leisure. I was interested in all of it. I wanted to immerse myself in the whole process during my stay so that I could understand how the simplicity factor of their lives really worked for them. I needed to learn from the nuns so that I could accomplish more when I returned to the outside world. I knew that to do this I needed to visit all of the communal rooms in turn, and to spend time taking in the sights and sounds of each one to make sure that I fully immersed myself in the atmosphere of each area so that I got the full value from my time at the convent.

There were several bedrooms and bathrooms on the first floor. Each floor was around a central quadrant which was framed by very ornate stonework cloisters and lovely arched windows. Walking through these cloisters was like walking back in time. It felt quite surreal. Like I had been momentarily transported into someone else’s life, feeling what they felt, thinking their thoughts, and walking their walk. I liked that the cloisters could be used in all sorts of weather as they were deep enough to shield you from the rain no matter what direction it came from. They were a very simple but clever design.

Now, lets talk About YOU:

If you had to describe yourself to someone who has never met you, what might you say?

Gosh, that’s a difficult one. I would have to say that I am an honest and supportive person, with a passion for writing and books. That I care about people and the environment, and genuinely want to make things better whenever I can. That I am a good listener who tries not to judge too. Physically – rounded, with rosy cheeks, and a good heart!

If you could meet one person from the past, who might it be and why?

What an interesting question! The person that I would most like to meet from the past is actually still alive. But I am hoping that you will indulge me with this one. He was born several generations before me so is still technically from the past I guess. His name is Leslie Phillips and he is a British actor. When I was a child my mother always watched films that he was in. I always wanted to be the same age as him in the films that he made in the 50’s. He played parts where he was always suave and sophisticated, with a very posh accent. I thought that he was a dreamboat. So, really I wanted to meet him because of the parts that he played. I would like to ask him what makes him tick.

When you are NOT writing, what is your favourite pastime?

It has to be reading. I am a book-a-holic. There will never be enough time for me to read all of the books that I want to in one lifetime. Not in ten lifetimes in fact.

Describe Your Dream Getaway Destination. Have you ever been there? What makes this place Irresistible to you?

Any of the Scottish islands would be the place for me. I love peace and open spaces. I also love ragged coastlines and weather which isn’t too hot, so they are the ideal sort of place for me. Since visiting Scotland many times a as child, and reading a book called ‘Island on the Edge: A Life on Soay‘ I have been even more obsessed about wanting to go there. So, watch this space!

Do you have a Mantra?

I certainly do – ‘I can and I will’. I repeat that to myself all the time, sometimes out loud in public places too 🙂 It has definitely helped me to believe that I can and I will at many points during my life. So, I will keep on using it.

What “Charity” or “Cause” do you feel passionately about & Why?

A percentage of the profits from my books go to Autism charities. I chose those because two members of my family have Autism. They are very high functioning and so live almost like their peers. But obviously Autism is close to my heart because of them. I also worked with people who have learning disabilities for nearly 30 years, and so have both a carer and family perspective on it. It is a disability which is often misunderstood. Plus there is a stigma related to the word Autism. People tend to see the disability instead of the ability. Some of the greatest people ever born, like Einstein, were Autistic. We all have disabilities of a kind. I truly believe that now is the time to focus on people’s abilities rather than on what they can’t do.

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to answer your questions Morgan. I really do appreciate it!

And Thank YOU Jan/Melanie for sharing your time and talent with BnV.

.

~Morgan~

 

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#GuestBloggers – How to #Edit #Fiction by Kathryn Wells

06 Sunday May 2018

Posted by Morgan in Guest Bloggers on BnV

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Authors, BnV, BooknVolume, creative writing, Editing Tips, Guest Blogger, Indie Authors, Writers, Writing Tips, ~Morgan~

.

Knowing what to do after you’ve *finally* finished the first draft of your manuscript and have mopped up all the blood, sweat and tears that went into it can be a bit of a mystery if you’re new to the game. You know editing comes into it, and you may have heard about beta readers, but what comes first, and more importantly, how do you go get started?

To help with the cacophony of questions littering your head, I’ve made a general guide to help you get going. This is very much based off my own experience, and is not an exhaustive list:

  1. After you’ve written that last word on your manuscript, put the whole thing away somewhere and leave it for a good amount of time (I personally leave it for about three months, but others leave it for longer) and get on with other things. Start a new project; finish any others lurking around; if you’re thinking about publication, research which avenue might be best for you and what that entails; basically, anything to keep your mind stimulated but doesn’t involve that first draft. This is to make sure that when you do eventually go back to it, you can view it with fresh eyes – meaning that plot holes, weak characters or lack of world building will jump out at you and therefore be easier to fix.
  1. Don’t focus on spelling or wording on this initial edit. Look at the big picture instead. Are there any holes in your plot? Do your characters feel flat or serve no purpose? Does the story start in the right place, or are the first few chapters unnecessary? What scenes work, and what don’t? If you’re finding it hard to tell if certain points of the story are unnecessary, try removing them and see if it affects the overall plot. If the plot still flows, then those scenes (however beautifully written they are/despite how much you personally love them) have to go. Nothing ruins a good book more that scenes that jar the pacing by adding nothing.
  1. Once you’ve fixed the big issues with your manuscript, you can either put it away again, or continue on to the next stage. Again, I personally leave it for a bit because I know I get far too close to my work.
  1. Now it’s time to really focus on your characters and world building. Your characters need to feel like real people – give goals and dreams, flaws and bad habits, and don’t hole them up into stereotypes. If they’re from very different backgrounds/circumstances to you, make sure you do your research – not only to make them realistic, but to avoid being insensitive to readers. (If you’re worried about your representation of people from different walks of life to you, you can always hire a sensitivity reader at a later stage.) When working on world building, think about the social structure of each place, use all five senses to describe things and make sure you don’t fall into the pit of info dumping. Also, in dialogues scenes, look out for ‘white room syndrome’, when no description about where or when the scene takes place is included.
  1. Next, we get in to the more technical aspects of writing. Tense, point of view and grammar. (If you feel your manuscript is shaping up nicely, you can start looking at spelling, over-use of words and continuity, but I would leave that until last.) It doesn’t matter what point of view you use, or what tense, as long as you keep them consistent throughout the manuscript – unless you have a very good reason not to, like an intentional stylistic change to illustrate a certain point. If you struggle with grammar, there are a lot of helpful books and forums, as well as YouTube guides. (I have a book on grammar that’s actually written for kids, but the language and examples are so clear that it’s the one I go to most.)
  1. The stages of editing can get a bit murky here – some writers have to repeat steps until they’re happy and end up with a good number of drafts, others breeze right through and end up with relatively few. However, whether you’ve done a lot of back and forth on your work or not, this part is important. Read your work aloud. I’ll say it again: READ YOUR WORK ALOUD. From start to finish, until you’re sick of the sound of your own voice. This is so you can clearly see problems with sentence structure, missing words, typos, continuity, repetitive description and all that jazz (as readers we’re always pleased to spot others’ mistakes, but are far less pleased as writers if someone kindly points them out in our own work).
  1. Finally, when you are happy with your manuscript and can’t find anything else to work on, it’s time to send your work to beta readers. These can be other writers, friends, family or simply people you know love to read. What is important to note, however, is that it’s far more helpful to send your work to readers who readily consume books in that genre than ones who have never read/rarely read within your genre, as the feedback you receive will be more relevant. When you do receive feedback, look for trends in what people are saying. If eight people say a scene isn’t working, then it’s probably wise to take another look and see if it truly does need revising. If one beta reader hates a character but the others love them/make no comment, then perhaps that’s just their personal taste. Consider all feedback, but remember that it is still your work, so you have the final decision on what to change.

So there you have it. Where you take your work from there is completely up to you. Whether you opt for traditional publishing, self-publishing or somewhere in-between (be absolutely sure you don’t head down the path of vanity publishing – an old but good rule on how to tell a vanity publisher from a real one is that money should always flow to the author, not away) make sure you do your research.

Kathryn is a children’s and YA author, and currently has her fantasy trilogy, Half-Wizard Thordric, published with Creativia Publishing. Her YA speculative fiction novel, The Origin Stone, will be published in March 2019 by Nuff Said Publishing.

An avid reader, she also writes poetry, book reviews and short stories. She loves animals and is a slave to a parrot and budgie, and currently lives on the Isle of Wight with her husband, a curious and eccentric being who never fails to provide her with inspiration. You can find her on twitter @KaptainKat90, or go directly to her website www.kathrynwells.co.uk.

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~Kathryn Wells~

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If you’d like to be a Guest Blogger on Booknvolume

 

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