Author Interview - Mia Bishop

I'm happy to have Mia Bishop on my blog today for this week's interview!


1. Have you always had a passion for writing?

Always! Even before I could write I was a storyteller. Which usually got me into trouble, but ever since I was little I've told stories either by mouth, or through art, or through words.


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

I love to read paranormal romance and erotica, anything with a scorching heat rating and lots of paranormal creatures and since that is also what I write I suppose my reading does influence my writing. But with that said I also love Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Fantasy which I think are all pretty much represented in my books. I like my stories to be as eclectic as I am. My favorite authors are Sherrilyn Kenyon, Kresley Cole, and Kelley Armstrong to name a few. I also have a deep seeded love for Neil Gaiman.


3. What are your biggest inspirations?

Music and pictures are my biggest inspirations as far as muses go. But who inspires me to keep going would be my kids and my friends. When I my kids striving so hard for something be it school or sports or anything I tell myself "See that, they never stop trying and you shouldn't either."


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

I try to keep locations to places I am familiar with, most of my stories take place where I live in Colorado or in regions nearby, mostly in the Southwestern parts of the United States.


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

Most of the time yes, when my kids aren't blasting video games or tv. Music always depends on the story and the characters. It can range from Dubstep, to pop music like Imagine Dragons and Katy Perry, or Eminem, or Rage Against the Machines. But my favorite music to write to are groups like The Civil Wars, Angus and Julia Stone, Sia, and Iwan Rheon. Oh and Lana Del Ray's version of "Once Upon A Dream". Some days I put that song on repeat and it just plays for hours because it's so mellow I can write until my fingers want to fall off just listening to that song.


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

When I ever find a cure for writer's block I'll let you know. I suffer from it constantly. I think it is because my head gets so full of the "I need to do this, this, and this" and I get overwhelmed, then my poor brain just shuts down completely. Motivation is a different story, even when I'm block I just keep telling myself to never give up, ride out this block, de-stress a bit, maybe watch a movie, go out for a night, and then go back to writing the next day and see what happens.


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?)

Being published (both indie and traditional) has been exciting. Not much has changed about my perspective on life, my perspective has and will remain the same, keep writing no matter what. But it has given me a boost of confidence that I didn't have before, with the traditional publishing it let me know that people (other than my friends and family) do enjoy my stories and that helped me immensely.


8. What are your biggest challenges as an author?

Not getting writer's block and finding time to write while taking care of my kids, house, animals, and all of life's little surprises.


9. Do you have any pets?

Yep I do. I have two dogs, Maximus is a 12 year old Chow Chow-German Shepherd mix, and Dory is a 7 year old rez dog (aka, a mutt). We also have 3 albino fancy rats named Basil, Louie, and Fawkes. And lastly we have a tiger salamander name Bait.


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

I am a huge nerd so if I'm not writing I'm usually playing video games or watching Doctor Who or any number of other shows or animes. I also love to make chainmaile jewelry and accessories, and wire jewelry and decorations. As much as I love being a hermit though it is necessary for me to get back to nature as much as possible too, so my kids and I love to go hiking in the mountains that surround us, we also go mountain biking, and all of us have taken up archery this year as well.


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

No where really. I've never been on a plane, never travelled to exciting places. One of these days I will visit all the place I dream of, but for now I suppose my most exciting/memorable place would have to be the shores of Northern California and Oregon. I love cold beaches. I'm not a huge fan of over crowded beaches but my best memories are of me with my sketch book, a big-warm sweater, bare feet in the sand, and a roaring fire on the beach with the cold surf crashing nearby. That is my happy place.


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

My latest published work is a book called Twisted Revenge, it was published through Ellora's Cave and is book one in a multi-author series. It's something I'm very proud of seeing as how it is my first contracted book, it happened completely out of the blue, and I was picked to start the series off which was a huge honor and admittedly frightening at the same time.

You can find Mia here!
Twisted Revenge is available on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1fFiPkB and on the Ellora's Cave site: http://bit.ly/1nzpLjM

Author Intervew - Brooke Page!

I'm happy to welcome Brooke Page to my blog today to answer some questions for us!

1. Have you always had a passion for writing?

Yes! I used to write all the time when I was younger. I had stack sand stacks of spiral notebooks, and sadly burned them all one day. I caught my then boyfriend (now husband) reading them and he constantly teased me and I got embarressed. Not that anyone would read silly hearts and flower stories about the backstreet boys, but they were the start of my writing journey! In high school I had to choose between a creative writing class and a graphic design class. I chose the graphic design class and ended up majoring in art education, then changed my mind again and continued to get a degree in interior design. But, I got a part time job as a self proclaimed graphic designer. After four years there and two babies later, I decided to stay at home with my kiddos. I also teach afterschool pottery, so I wouldn’t go to crazy in the house. But something was missing, and I couldn’t keep my mind focused. So with a 6 week old in a bouncer by my feet I started to write again. That’s when I created Tyler and Becca’s story, and I don’t think I will ever burn this one :o)

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

I can’t read while I’m writing. I get mixed up with what I am writing and the other authors story. Some of my favorite authors are EL James, Jamie McGuire, Sylvia Day, they are all so amazing.

3. What are your biggest inspirations?

For Conklin’s Trilogy the city I live in is huge. The story is based in Grand Rapids, and it has been so fun describing where I live. My husband is a big inspiration as well.

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

Write what you know is what I go by. I like to write about places I have been, and if I haven’t I do TONS of research. I love describing places and people, right to the point of what they are wearing. As for characters- all of the ones I create remind me of someone I know. It helps make them feel more real.

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

Sometimes. Normally I hear my husband snoring in the background.

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

I don’t get writers block to often, I think it’s because I literally write a paragraph at a time. My family comes first, so writing is put on the back burner a lot. Since I can’t write it down, it’s constantly in my mind just waiting to spill out on paper.

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?)

It’s crazy to have readers actually READ my story and tell me how they can relate or how much they enjoyed it. I never thought anyone would want to read the crazy stuff that goes on in my head!

8. What are your biggest challenges as an author?

Not taking things other people say personally. It’s hard when you can relate to a character and others talk about how much they can’t stand them.

9. Do you have any pets?

2 cats. I’m still trying to figure out why…

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

I love all art, I do pottery and paint. I kind of run, well my friends run so therefore I get dragged to races.

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

Nothing is as memorable as a sunset on Lake Superior in Michigan’s UP.

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

Currently I am working on Conklin’s Trilogy, a story about a girl who just recently got her masters and has dealt with way to much crap. She has trouble speaking up for herself, but really grows and becomes a strong woman. She meets her boss’s boss, Tyler Conklin at the Architecture firm she lands a job at. Their chemistry is crazy, but Tyler wants to keep her a secret from someone in his life. The final installment will be released this coming fall!

You can find Brooke on Facebook and Goodreads!

Soxsational Scraps Cover Artist

This week I am extremely proud to share with you, my cover designer Soxie, from Soxsational Cover Art. She is a freelance cover artist whose work speaks for itself. Not only does she do ebook and paperback covers, but she can also offer you other graphics services. She can make banners for your website and facebook, and also create promo advertisements telling fans when your next book is out. 

One of the reasons I enjoy working with Soxie so much, is that not only is she dedicated to getting every last detail perfect, but she works with the author every step of the way. She will make a mock-up of the cover with no obligation to purchase the images, until both the artist and the author are satisfied. For me this was a pleasant and welcome relief from companies and publishers that only offer the opportunity to change the design once or twice. 

The other fantastic thing about this artist is that her services are affordable. You won't have to spend several hundred of dollars on a cover. Depending on the cost of the images you select, you may be surprised at how well priced she is. I urge you to check out her WEBPAGE and also her FACEBOOK PAGE, where you can find out more information and also contact her. I will leave you with some samples of her work...

 

 

 

 

 

 

These next two are teaser graphics she did for THE BUTCHER, book three in my shapeshifter series THERIAN SECRETS

These last two graphics, Soxie took an existing book cover (designed by the author of the books - Allison Cassatta) and turned it into a book release promo.

Special Guest - Torie N James

I am happy to welcome author Torie N James to my blog today with a special guest post. Come hear all about her pet peeves, see an excerpt from her upcoming release Timeless Desire (Book 2 in her New Camelot series) Don't forget to enter the drawing for a chance to win!



Strange Pet Peeves of a Deranged Writer

1. Open drawers. Guaranteed to drive me from normal to insane in less than two seconds.

2. The “Sweet and Low” sugar packet holder thingy in our kitchen must always be kept full. No joke. I fill it myself every night and again in the morning if only one packet is taken.

3. Have to have a bedroom window open at all times. It doesn’t matter if it’s twenty below outside (never is, I live in SoCal but I can dream!), I need fresh air coming in or things get messy.

4. People who constantly push the “walk” button at a stoplight. Only need to poke it once, your mad abuse by constant pounding of the thing doesn’t mean the light is going to change any sooner. Chillax.

5. The use of redundant statements like ATM Machine or PIN Number.

6. People digging for nose gold out in public. We all do it, no shame. But for the love of boogies everywhere, can ya please keep it private?

7. People who think the new Doctor Who is too “old”. One, he’s a TimeLord…define old? And two, the first Doctor was no spring chicken.

8. People who enter through the “Exit” Doors and exit through the “Entrance”.

9. The “pull to open” tab. It’s NEVER that simple.

10. People who get into the fast lane and then proceed to take it down to 35 mph.


Excerpt from Timeless Desire, Book 2 of New Camelot:

"Mind if I join you?" He leaned against the doorframe, watching her pummel the padded dummy with sharp jabs.

"It's your funeral." She shot back, not making eye contact, her body language stiff and hostile. "Least I can hope, at any rate."

"Nim, I..."

"Sil, play Metallica." She ignored him.

"Yes, Miss Nim."

Master of Puppets began blasting through the room as she gave him a droll look and tossed a roundhouse kick on the dummy's "knee" and another kick to its groin. She knew perfectly well no matter what she said he wasn't going to leave so he shrugged and took off his shirt, tossing it aside and reached for the tape on the neatly organized shelf of supplies. Sitting on the weight bench, he taped his hands up and rose, grabbing a staff off the wall mount and throwing it at her unexpectedly.

Catching it with lightning fast reflexes, she arched a brow his way.

He grabbed another one and approached her slowly.

"What do you think you're doing?" she shouted over the music.

"I'm giving you what you want, Nimue. You want a piece? Come get some, tsylni. Fair fight, first one pinned down wins."

He didn't miss the evil glint of pleasure in her eyes. "If I win, what do I get?"

"My heart."

"That old thing? Keep it." She paused. "If I win, we break our blood link."

"The only way to do that is if one of us dies."

She flashed a fanged grin. "The problem?


Welcome to New Camelot...not everything remains myth.

Thank you so much Lady Jo for having me on your blog today! You rock!

Want to follow along on my shenanigans? Find me at:

Blog and Website: http://torienjames.blogspot.com/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/WriterGurl216

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Writergurl216

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7054839.Torie_N_James

Amazon Author: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00CTBYH0M

Breathless Press Website: http://www.breathlesspress.com/ 

THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED. Joey Ross is the winner of an ebook copy of Timeless Desire. Congratulations Joey! Thanks to all who took the time to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Interview - KR Brown

Welcome KR Brown to the blog today for this weeks interview!


1. Have you always had a passion for writing? 

Yes I have always loved to write; even when I was young I would tell stories to people. Didn’t really matter at the time if they made sense.

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

I believe it has in so many ways, I never dreamed I would write romance/Erotica.

3. What are your biggest inspirations? 

I would have to say Cheyenne McCray and Christina Dodd

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

I am as many other authors call me a seat of my pants writer. I don’t really like to make a huge outline for my characters, they just come to me a and talk. (Sounds kinda crazy right.)

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

Yes I love to listen to music while I write. Normally I listen to goth roc such as Within temptation.

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

Step away from writing for a little while. I know that sounds nuts but it is how I do it. It doesn’t always work however you still get that character that doesn’t seem to want to work out.

7. How has becoming a published author (independent or traditional) changed your perspective on life and is it everything you expected it to be? 

I can say that it is amazing to have people reading my work but it isn’t really what I expected. So much more work then I dreamed. Also the cost for writing is much higher. BUT I wouldn’t change a thing!

8. What are your biggest challenges as an author? 

Getting fans that will stick with you through a series of books, and reviews. Those are the hardest things.

9. Do you have any pets? 

I have a cat named Draco! A huge orange tabby cat, he appears on my webpage

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

Crafts, I love to work with my hands.

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

I haven’t really been anyplace, but I did get to go to Salem, Mass and loved it.

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

My last book was named Twisted Brew it is the 4th book to the Twisted Fate series. It follows a witch named Willow who has lived longer than anyone; she has given up on the love that has come back to her over time. Soon she find love again and fears that in the end he will die like all the rest so she pushes him away. Quinn however won’t let it go and fights for his woman. I am also working on the 5th book to this series about a werewolf having his fate dictated to him.

You can fine KR on Facebook, Amazon and Goodreads!

Author Interview - Janice Lamotte Lavallee

We have the lovely Janice Lamotte Lavallee here today for this week's author interview!


Have you always had a passion for writing?

Since childhood I have been a storyteller. I am passionate about storytelling, and this has carried through into my writing 

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

Whatever we read influences us either subconsciously or consciously, and I am no different. A few of my favorite authors are Hemmingway, Updyke, Bellow, Antonia Fraser and Oliver Bernier. The first book I remember reading that left a lasting impression on me was Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery. This book planted a seed that girls can be independent thinkers, this at a time when girls or woman for that matter did not have much of a voice. 

What are your biggest inspirations? 

 People I know or have met in life that have overcome insurmountable obstacles without fanfare inspire me. Watching them make a difference big and small to better their lives and the lives of those around them is motivational. 

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

No. My characters generally are a composite of someone I know/knew and my imagination. The locations are places I have experienced or dream of experiencing. 

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

I like background noise. It could be music, the radio, or even the television. 

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

If I find I need to take a break from writing there is the endless marketing of the book to attend to so I am never far removed from the story. 

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?) 

Publishing my first novel and receiving unsolicited feedback from strangers has been an unexpected surprise and validation that the story I needed to write has an audience. More than anything I realize although our lives take different paths we are connected on this journey through similarities giving us common bonds. 

What are your biggest challenges as an author? 

Hoping I wrote a book others want to read and can relate to. On the very practical side, getting the book to sell. 

Do you have any pets? 

No.

What hobbies do you have outside of reading and writing? 

A few interests are – cooking - riding my bike – swimming – tennis - dancing and travel.

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

I have been fortunate to travel and have numerous memorable experiences, but one thrill was the first time I saw the Eiffel Tower after years of looking at it in books, and having the opportunity to climb inside The Great Pyramid of Giza.

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

My latest work is a sequel to my present book The Peacock Butterfly a story about two New England families from 1940-1990. The sequel takes place from 1992 to 2010. I am in the process of reading the first draft before it goes to my editor, with the intent to be published in the fall of 2014. I never intended to write a sequel, until readers began to ask and express a curiosity of what happened to the characters. Totally unplanned and unexpected a storyline came to mind, and a sequel was born.

You can find Janice and her book at the following places!

Lulu

Amazon - The Peacock Butterfly

Amazon - Paperback

Barnes and Noble

Facebook

http://thepeacockbutterfly.com/

Author Interview - Jordan Rosenfeld

Please welcome Jordan Rosenfeld for this week's author interview!

1. Have you always had a passion for writing? 

 Unequivocally, yes. I started keeping journals at age 7, not long after the magic day I learned to read in first grade. In third grade I wrote an essay about wanting to be an “authoress” when I grew up.

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

 I think it’s more that I have an aesthetic—dark, lyrical, plot-driven—that informs how I choose what I read and also what I write, if that makes sense. Indirectly my reading does inform my writing though it’s hard to say precisely how. I’ve become the kind of reader now who is really only turned on by books that pay attention to language and imagery as much as plot. I love so many authors, but recently I’d say: Tana French, Gillian Flynn, Donna Tartt, Ann Patchett.

3. What are your biggest inspirations? 

The “underbelly” of people’s lives. Secrets. Things hidden and denied. I’m inspired by what we hide and the shadow side of life. I’m also inspired by selfless acts and courage.

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

I tend to model both on people and places I know or have been; the rest just show up and I can’t always claim credit

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

Rarely. And only the kind without lyrics.

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

I’ve learned after a lot of trial and error, publishing mishaps and successes, to treat my writing as a writing practice—something that must be tended and nourished, because it always, always pays off for me on a personal level. So I treat it like exercise: do a little every day. Switch forms. If my fiction isn’t flowing, blog. I’ve got two books under contract right now (for writers, non-fiction) and a romantic suspense novel coming out so that gives me a lot of room to play around. I also have become better at “loving the journey” and worrying less about the outcome. My motto is: Practice, Polish, Persist.

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?) 

 My first book was published back in 2007 and it didn’t really change my perspective—which was that I always wanted to be a published author—but it did open a lot of doors for me that I have always appreciated. I think most of all it’s just made clear that writing is a craft like many others, and that if you stick with it and make time for it, it does lead to fruition in some form.

8. What are your biggest challenges as an author? 

 Having enough time to write. I have a 5 year old son, and I work from home, but only during his school hours. So my time is very limited.

9. Do you have any pets? 

One cat, Elvert. A “tuxedo”—black and white.

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

It’s funny…honestly, reading and writing ARE my main hobbies. I exercise regularly and occasionally make beaded jewelry, spend time with my husband and son.

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

Probably Italy. Beautiful, steeped in history and art. But I’ve also been to France and that was equally fabulous.

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

My novel of romantic suspense, due out in April under the pen name “JP Rose” is: Night Oracle: An artist with prophetic dreams and a jazz club owner with night terrors fall for each other over exotic cocktails, an orphaned child, and a tragic murder in this moody, sexy novel of romantic suspense.

My website: www.jordanrosenfeld.net. Jordan is author of the novel of suspense Forged in Grace, and the writing guides Make a Scene: Crafting a Powerful Story One Scene at a Time, and Write Free: Attracting the Creative Life with Rebecca Lawton.Jordan’s essays and articles have appeared in such publications as AlterNet.org, Marin Magazine, Publisher’s Weekly, San Francisco Chronicle, The St. Petersburg Times, Whole Life Times, The Writer and Writer’s Digest magazine. Jordan is working on two forthcoming writing books from Writer’s Digest Books: A Writer’s Guide to Persistence: A Toolkit to Build & Bolster a Lasting Writing Practice (Spring: 2015), and, with Martha Alderson, (“The Plot Whisperer”) Deep Scenes: Plot Your Story Scene-by-Scene Through Action, Emotion & Theme (Fall, 2015). Also, under the pen name J.P. Rose, Jordan’s first novel of Romantic Suspense, Night Oracles, releases in Spring, 2014.