Author Interview - T.E. Ridener

I'm happy to have author T.E. Ridener here today for this weeks interview!


1. Have you always had a passion for writing? 

 Answer: Yes! It started when I was very young. I was always a very avid reader and I think it spawned from that. Even before I learned how to create sentences on paper, I would cut out people from sales magazines and glue them together to make a story. The passion simply grew from there. By the time I was 10 or so, I was writing small stories, maybe around a paragraph or so. I started writing my first big story at 14, and this is quite funny, but I was a HUGE fan of the Scream movies. I wrote my own little horror story that involved all of my classmates. It was quite a hit with them. By the time the notebook made it back to me, it was falling apart. I really enjoyed the fact they liked the story, and it means a lot to me to share my passion with other people.

2. Does what you read influence what you write and what are some of your favourite authors/books? 

Answer: I have always been influenced by the books I read. Growing up, I enjoyed Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen King, Anne Rice, and R.L. Stine. I think my most favourite book would have to be ‘IT’ by Stephen King. I was borderline obsessed with that book and I even enjoyed the movie-but it was also the first time I realized how much can be left out when words are transferred from paper to film. 

 

3. What are your biggest inspirations? 

 Answer: Is it cliché to say my family? They inspire me every day. My niece and nephew say some of the funniest things and they somehow manage to make it into a lot of my stories. My sister-in-law has always been a HUGE help when it comes to the Blood Betrayal Series. She helped me create about 80% of the characters you’ll meet in Blood Betrayal, and she helps me overcome writer’s block with incredible ideas. My brother has a lot of interesting stories, too. He’s a volunteer fire fighter, and on top of that, he’s always willing to help me with any geographical issues I may have. He also helped me figure out the name of Heidi’s kingdom in The Descendants Series. I’d honestly struggle if I didn’t have their input. They are my muses!


4. Do you have a technique in how you choose characters and/or locational settings? 

Answer: To be quite honest, I have so many characters that randomly pop up, I’ve just accepted that they’re going to make an appearance whether I want them to or not. They each have a voice. Some of them are the start to a new story, or they appear when I need a story to progress. I don’t choose my characters; they choose me. As far as locations go, I try to stick with places I’m familiar with if I can. You write what you know, right? Though, I have stuck my neck on the line before and called places I’ve never visited before. When I wrote the Rochester Reaping, I called the small town of Rochester, KY and spoke with a cashier at their only grocery store. She was more than happy to tell me about the daily life there. It was such a fun experience, and I recommend that every author try it at least once. However, in the future, I’d really love if I could just pick up and go to the places I envision in my books (aside from the planets in the Descendants series). I’m a pretty random person when it comes to characters and locations, if I’m honest. My brain is like a box of chocolates. I never know what I’m going to get, haha.


5. Do you listen to music while you are creating your masterpieces? 

 Answer: It’s actually pretty rare for me to listen to music while I’m writing. I get distracted very easily. The only times that I listen to music involve extreme sadness or action. I do have a particular liking for nearly every rendition of “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri. That song has evoked a lot of deep feelings out of me. If I really need inspiration, I’ll listen to a song before I get started, or I’ll pause halfway through the scene to listen to it again. I just can’t write and listen at the same time…it’s sort of weird.

6. What do you do to stay motivated and avoid writer’s block? 

Answers: I –always- write. No matter what. If I have to jump from one series to another to avoid that little devil, I’ll do it. I hate getting stuck, but I have found it helps a great deal just to move on to something else for a little while. Even if I have to avoid my elementals for a month, I know I can come back to them after working with the vampires for a little while. However, if I can’t write on any of my stories, I will continue to write blog posts. I think that’s something every writer will understand. We are writers. We must write. We –have- to write. There’s also the fact that I have loyal readers that are dying to know what happens next. That works out as a great motivator for me.

7. How has becoming a published author (independent or traditional) changed your perspective on life and is it everything you expected it to be? (If you are not published yet – what changes do you foresee?) 

 Answer: As an independently published author, I am very happy with watching my fan base grow. I may not have a mansion with three corvettes and a movie deal in the works, but I have people who love reading my stories as much as I love writing them. That means a great deal to me. I’m not sure what I imagined the first time I decided to become a writer, but the feelings I have now are exactly how a person should feel about doing what they love most. I’m happy. I’m still reaching for the stars and I’ve got people cheering me on. I don’t imagine there are many other feelings in the world that could top that.

8. What are your biggest challenges as an author? 

 Answer: For me, my biggest challenge is always figuring out the ending. I’m pretty spontaneous with my writing. The only things I figure out before diving into a story are: character names, ages, and where they are from. Everything else is fair game once I get started. Some people have called me a free styler, and others call me a ‘pantser’. The other challenge I deal with is making the perfect cover photo. I do all of this on my own, so sometimes that can become frustrating. I feel like the cover needs to speak volumes about your story, and I don’t always have access to the vision in my head. 

 

9. Do you have any pets? 

Answer: Not currently. Our beloved Lucy passed away last month and we’re not quite ready for another puppy.


10. What hobbies do you have outside of reading and writing? 

Answer: Watching tv and movies! I’m a very big movie fanatic. I just recently watched Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters and I thought it was great. I’m also a big fan of The Originals, The Vampire Diaries, American Horror Story, Teen Wolf, and the recently retired Misfits.


11. Where is the most exciting/memorable place you have been in the world? 

Answer: I visited New Orleans when I was 16. It’s the first time I ever saw a man with braided pigtails haha! I’ll never forget the atmosphere of Louisiana. It was magical in its own right. Maybe one day I can go back-though I really, really want to visit Ireland before I kick the bucket.

12. Tell us about your latest work in progress or most recent published work…

Answer: My latest work in progress is Return to Kadenburg, book 2 of the Kadenburg Shifters Series. It’s based around bear and wolf shifters that live in a fictional town in Tennessee. The first book was actually meant to be a modern adaptation of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, but you know…my brain just does what it wants to do. I’m just going along for the ride. However, you’ll totally catch the references in book 1, The Truth about Kadenburg, which will be released on Valentine’s Day. Book 2 is sort of influenced by Red Riding Hood, but I can’t tell you much more than that!



Facebook page: www.facebook.com/TERidener

Twitter: www.twitter.com/TE_Ridener

Amazon: http://amzn.com/e/B0072S9U8Q

Wordpress: www.teridener.wordpress.com



BUY LINKS:



The Blood Betrayal Series



Blood Betrayal (book 1): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008YGUV6U

Mirela and Her vampire (book 1.5): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D4CS6OS

Blood Revelations (book 2): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G4TA5A6



The Descendants Series



The Fire King’s Daughter (book 1): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GF59BAE



The Water King’s Bride (book 2): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GSPLQTU

Author Interview - Tierney James

Please welcome Tierney James to the blog this week!

1. Have you always had a passion for writing?

I wrote my first puppet play when I was ten years old. I had an amazing teacher that encouraged creativity. Since that time I’ve tried different genres and loved them all. The passion part came several years ago when I finally got the courage to show my work to a published author. Her words of praise made me realize that maybe I could be a writer. I’ve never looked back. I’m obsessed with storytelling.

2. Does what you read influence what you write and what are some of your favourite authors/books?

About five years ago I read the James Rollins book The Judas Strain. When I finished I thought, “I want to be able to write like that.” I read everything he’d written to study his style. I loved how he left me hanging, wanting more, excited over the possibilities and then a surprise. After that I started reading other authors who wrote thrillers, mysteries, paranormal and non-fiction about subjects I was interested in. They all have had an impact on me. Some of the authors I always read are Rollins, Thor, Flynn, Child, Roberts, Clancy, Cussler, Berry, Silva and Brooks. I love geo-political thrillers with a touch of romance.


3. What are your biggest inspirations?

Having been able to travel the world greatly inspires what I write. Being a mother and grandmother helps me on day to day bases as does my faith in God. Education has led me down numerous paths of discovery which I’m so thankful. NASA has always inspired my imagination. I was fortunate to have been selected to serve as a Solar System Ambassador for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab several years ago. Strong, independent people who give back also inspire me. The military of this country are some of those remarkable individuals.

4. Do you have a technique in how you choose characters and/or locational settings?

If I’m writing an adult thriller my choice of characters or location usually has something to do with my travels or where I’ve lived. One of my main characters in An Unlikely Hero is part Cherokee from North Carolina. I actually lived on the reservation a for time so I felt like I knew him well. My heroine in the same book is from Grass Valley, California. Again some of her “sticky” situations actually happened to me. 

If I’m writing a children’s book my choice of characters depends on what I’m writing about. In There’s a Superhero in the Library a little boy discovers his teacher has cancer. He struggles with welcoming the replacement that strangely has no hair or eyebrows and dresses like a superhero. This little story was based on my good friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was so devoted to making her students not be afraid of her changed appearance that she became my hero. Today she is cancer free. Another book in progress, Zombie Meatloaf, deals with the importance of nutrition. I like for my children’s books to have important information or a lesson.


5. Do you listen to music while you are creating your masterpieces?

When I write it’s like a movie in my head. Music as background makes the action, romance, creepiness and surprises come alive to me. For every manuscript I start I choose soundtracks from movies or video games to be my background. That way when I’m stuck I play the music and can still see my characters.

6. What do you do to stay motivated and avoid writer’s block?

I keep a notebook for every book I write. There are notes about personalities, rough summaries, characters sketches and chapter notes. If I’m in the middle of taking down a terrorist or standing in the middle of a forest fire and can’t figure out how I’m going to solve the problem I take out the notebook and brainstorm. Sometimes I never use the notes but it always breaks that block that is holding me back.

Staying motivated can be a problem if I let social media manipulate my time. Favourite movies, music, reading and drinking lots of coffee keep me in the right frame of mind. Sometimes I need a break and visit friends. One of the best motivators is attending writing groups and conferences. Inspiration is always close at hand there. I love it.


7. How has becoming a published author (independent or traditional) changed your perspective on life and is it everything you expected it to be? (If you are not published yet – what changes do you foresee?)

Becoming a published author definitely changed my life. It was a dream I never thought would happen. I didn’t realize how amazing I would feel on the inside after being published. The surprise of friends and family at what I’d accomplished pleased me greatly. My circle of friends has changed. I continually meet new fans and authors who become a part of my writing life. I’ve even met authors I greatly admire. It has made me realize that I am capable of many things if I just take the first step. The fear of failure can hold me back. I refuse to do that now.


8. What are your biggest challenges as an author?

My biggest challenge currently is the decision to whether or not give up my part time job at a local college. That little bit of gravy money is nice to have and I probably will never be independently wealthy on my book sales. But as an author I want to spend more time writing and promoting. It’s hard to do everything.


9. Do you have any pets?

I have a couple of dogs. Both of them were adopted and I love them very much. One follows me in the garden and the other sits near me when I write.


10. What hobbies do you have outside of reading and writing?

I love to garden. I’ve been known to buy plants instead of food. Playing the piano, scrapbooking, studying art, Hebrew classes and traveling doesn’t leave anytime for boredom. The Hebrew class was to help me with a new character I’m creating who is a Biblical archaeologist.


11. Where is the most exciting/memorable place you have been in the world?

The most exciting place would have to be floating on the Okavango Delta in Botswana, Africa. The silence could be deafening. I feared a hippo would rise up under our mokoro and flip us over but fortunately we remained safe. The most memorable place would have to be standing on the Great Wall of China. My heart was in my throat the whole time. I was there with a friend who adopted a precious little girl.


12. Tell us about your latest work in progress or most recent published work…

My first published novel was An Unlikely Hero. It’s about a woman caught up in a terrorist plot. She is like most of us, believing that she doesn’t process any special talents that can make a difference. Her complicated relationship with Captain Hunter begins when he saves her life. Because of her actions she evolves into the most unlikely of heroes. This is the first in a series. I’ve just sent the sequel Winds of Deception to my editor. The easiest way to purchase is to order it on Amazon but it can be ordered at your favourite bookstore as well. There’s a Superhero in the Library is my first children’s book. It can be ordered the same way. If you are doing a fundraiser for cancer research it would be best to order it from Mirror Publishing who can beat Amazon’s price. I’m also working on a middle grade fantasy and a romance which takes place in an Ozark mining town.


If you’d like to see some of my books or characters you might try http://www.pinterest.com/ptierneyjames/boards/ I had a lot of fun creating these boards. https://www.facebook.com/TierneyJamesAction Please go to my Facebook page to “like”. I love meeting new people. I’m also on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TierneyJames1

Author Interview - Jas T. Ward

Please welcome Jas T. Ward for this week's interview!


1. Have you always had a passion for writing? 

Always. Started since I was able to write at around the age of 7. It was a much needed escape from a difficult childhood.

2. Does what you read influence what you write and what are some of your favourite authors/books? 

I tend not to read when I'm writing--I don't want someone else's seed planted in my creative soil. But many current author's influence me. Laura Tisdale's current book- Circle of Secrets is my current read and I am really enjoying it. My favorite authors are Amy Tan and Ken Follett. Tan's book the Joy Luck Club was one of most cherished possessions when I had very little. I must have read that book a 100 times. Follett is my style idol. The man has a gift of spinning a story around history into fiction and make it all seem so real.

3. What are your biggest inspirations? 

Everything. My brain is always taking it in and giving me something. It can be something as simple as traffic on a rainy day. I keep a notebook with me constantly. Inspiration doesn't wait for you to be ready for it...its up to you to be prepared.

4. Do you have a technique in how you choose characters and/or locational settings? 

 I like wounded, flawed characters. One where the odds are completely against them and fate has twisted them to the point you have no idea how its going to work out. Location? I love New Orleans. But haven't based a book there yet. Plan to though.

5. Do you listen to music while you are creating your masterpieces? 

I do. Really, really loud. It varies to classical to hard rock. To movie soundtracks. However, when I edit? I need complete and total silence.

6. What do you do to stay motivated and avoid writer’s block? 

I've only had the horrible condition known as writer's block. And boy was it a doozie. It occurred after I lost my soulmate to suicide and it lasted for years. I don't know--maybe destroying it cleaned out the creative pathways for it hasn't tormented me since.

7. How has becoming a published author (independent or traditional) changed your perspective on life and is it everything you expected it to be? (If you are not published yet – what changes do you foresee?) 

Writing a book is hard. What's even harder is the pressure you put on yourself to make it the best it can be. You have people telling you have talent. You have people saying they love what you write. But until YOU can believe it? Their words have almost no power. Now that I have the book that I've been working on for almost a year out there, I am afraid with each review. I've been very lucky--I have a pretty sizable and loyal fanbase and they have worked very hard to get me some attention. That's the key. Be sincere and respectful to them and your talent and it will all work out as its meant to be.

8. What are your biggest challenges as an author? 

Stopping. I would write night, day, all the time. Lose my job, forget to eat. The works. I love writing. And it apparently loves me. It wants me all to itself all the time. :)

9. Do you have any pets? 

I do! An Writer Dog name Pumkin (1/2 boxer and 1/2 doberman rescue puppy--now four years old) and the Author Kitty Orleans (a stray I couldn't resist).

10. What hobbies do you have outside of reading and writing? 

I love camping and the outdoors. I also dabble in art. Pencil and ink is my medium. I also enjoy just going to the dog park and taking long drives with my dog.

11. Where is the most exciting/memorable place you have been in the world? 

India. Loved it. I went there for work and though it was a business trip and I didn't get to fully experience it, I want to go back there so I can.

12. Tell us about your latest work in progress or most recent published work…

My most recent work is Madness. Madness was actually born from role play creative writing. I wrote him out as a split personality in a hero's head. I also killed that split side off. The fans completely revolted. There were even pages set up to save Candyman- the main character Reno Sundown's nickname. So I had to scramble to bring him back to life. And boy did my creative muse aka my 'demon' Twiz come up with a grand scheme.

Madness is the first book in the Shadow-Keepers series and its Reno and his forbidden love- Emma's story. He was cut away from the hero and given a life of his own. A body of his own. But not to see Emma. We find out there are many reasons for this. And that destiny had its own plans for Reno. It's a darkly sweet, retelling of Beauty and the Beast. And most definitely a modern fairy tale for adults.

More information can be found here:

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18781500-madness
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Madness-Shadow-Keepers-Jas-T-Ward-ebook/dp/B00H3I2NP2
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/madness-jas-t-ward/1117552018?ean=2940148981794

And my author page is: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJasTWard

Author Interview - Krista Kelley

Please welcome Author Krista Kelley to the interview seat today!

Have you always had a passion for writing?

I have loved writing since I can remember. I think it came from my love of reading. My grandmother has tons of old notebooks from when I was a kid filled with stories I've written.

Does what you read influence what you write and what are some of your favourite authors/books?

I believe it does. I read mainly paranormal romance books, so that's what I am more comfortable writing. Some of my favorite authors are Sherrilyn Kenyon, Torie N. James, Nora Roberts, and L.J Smith.

What are your biggest inspirations?

My biggest inspiration is a dear friend of mine, Teri. Through her own writing journey and much encouragement, she's shown and taught me that I can follow my dreams and I can touch the stars.

Do you have a technique in how you choose characters and/or locational settings?
Not really. They usually just come to me. Like strangers passing through who have decided to stay a while in my head. Some stay for quite a while, while others move on, looking for the right person to write their story.

Do you listen to music while you are creating your masterpieces?

Most of the time. I choose my music based on the story I'm writing.
What do you do to stay motivated and avoid writer’s block?

I -try- to set aside a certain amount of time a day/week to write. And to stop at a moment that will make me want to come back and write. Like a cliffhanger. If I get writer's block, I try to set that story aside and work on something else. Usually, an idea will come to me for the first story and I'll be right back at it.

How has becoming a published author (independent or traditional) changed your perspective on life and is it everything you expected it to be? (If you are not published yet – what changes do you foresee?)

I hope that not much changes. Other than my confidence in my writing.

What are your biggest challenges as an author?

Myself. Like most authors, I have those inner critics that beat me low sometimes. The ones that tell me that I can't do it and that I'll never be good enough. Some days, they win.

Do you have any pets?

I have two cats (Thor and Styxx)

What hobbies do you have outside of reading and writing?

I enjoy watching movies with my family, playing with my daughter and the occasional video game.

Where is the most exciting/memorable place you have been in the world?

I haven't been to many places in the world. Yet. But my favorite is Okaloosa Island, Florida. The white sandy beaches and crystal blue waters are just beautiful.
Tell us about your latest work in progress or most recent published work…

My latest work in progress is about a witch whose family is cursed and a vampire who must save her from said curse. 

You can find Krista Kelley on Facebook and Twitter!