Interview with Ty Jordan, Author of Red Scott Blue

Hello,

Today’s interview is with Ty Jordan, author of Red Scott Blue.

Please enjoy!

Best,

Vincent Lowry

Interview:

1) What is your author name and in what state do you live?

Howdy! My name is Ty Jordan and I live in the abyss, otherwise known as Florida.

2) What is the title of your newest book and what is the genre?

The title of my book is Red Scott Blue and it’s a fantasy/action/drama combo-deal.

3) What is the book about?

Ah, my favorite part! Red Scott Blue is about a guy that gets pulled into another dimension, which exists in what was intended to be a dystopian YA novel. The demon who created said dimension is out to kill the protagonist, but wants to use that new environment to deteriorate his mental health first. The guy meets a colorful cast of characters along the journey to escape the demon and find a way back home. However, the fantasy of being a hero in this world that seems to revolve around him can be too alluring at times. Even knowing how things could turn out for him if he stays, he contemplates if this short lived fantasy would be better than his miserable reality.

4)How long did it take to write it?

It took three years to finish writing, then another year to get through the publishing process.

5)Did you learn anything from the project?

I learned so much from this project. Writing dialogue and reactions that were believable for those respective characters took a lot of research, which is something I carry on to current projects. Also, self-care is important and takes many forms, but you should at least take breaks and get rest whenever you can. I neglected my health for a while during the time I wrote this book and I’m still paying the price for it now. I’ve made many mistakes, and I’m not done yet, but it never hurts to relax every now and then.

6)Do you have an author website and/or blog? How about a book video?

I have a tumblr blog, @tyjordanshairline. I’m quite the minimalist online. The other place I put behind the scenes work is on instagram @dangerfandango. That’s all.

7)Do you have any success tips to pass on to fellow authors? How about any great editors/cover artists?

Be ready to fail by other people’s standards. Keep in mind that life isn’t a race, and if you’re diligent your work will pay off in time. Be kind to others. Don’t just be cordial because of what you believe others can do for you; be kind and respect others for who they are. You’re not entitled to anyone’s time, and of course, no one is entitled to yours. Plan out your stories in whatever way that helps you personally. Notebooks? Doodles? Songs? Character and event outlines? Do what helps you progress in your work. It doesn’t matter if it’s unconventional or considered wrong by formal writing standards. I personally looked up writing techniques that should be avoided and did a few out of spite. Just do what comes naturally for you.

I did most of the editing myself because there was a very specific way I wanted things to be handled so that the tone would be consistent. The rest was done by my publisher. I also did the main part of the cover art. The finished product was a joint effort from the publisher and myself, and I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. In this regard, I suppose I’m not the best with recommendations. Apologies for that one.

8)What genres do you like to read? Are you open to reading new authors and reviewing their work?

I haven’t read any romance or horror novels yet, but outside of that I’m familiar with many genres. I don’t have a favorite genre per se, but I do favor books that aren’t too heavy on prose. I read a lot of nonfiction for research, so that’s what I’m accustomed to now, but I’m always open to reading more lighthearted things. I would love to review projects from other authors! In fact, I’ve done so two months ago, and I used to review manuscripts for a bit in the past.

I love seeing other writing styles because it’s like getting to know someone in a new and unique way. I’m careful not to criticize a story for it not having what I personally would’ve done. I get a feel for the author’s voice and what ideas they are trying to convey, then I try to help them improve on that. If you’re looking for a helpful review that gets to the point and spares harsh words, one could throw a request directly at my email, tyjordanshairline@gmail.com, or on my blog.

10)What is your favorite book of all time and why?

I don’t use definitive terms when it comes to my favorite things because as I change, my interests may as well. Time isn’t over for me yet, but I do have some odd favorites. The Wizard of Oz is a great book that’s underrated in terms of humor. It’s vibrant and whimsical, especially the original version with W. W. Denslow’s illustrations. If you’ve only seen the movies, do yourself a favor and read the original.

11) Fun Question: Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?

I have an invisible walrus named Rufus. They’re more of a roommate than a pet, but I use that term since it’s easier for people to understand.

12)Fun Question 2: Do you own an electronic reading device? If so, what kind and how do you like it?

I wish I could say I own one and be honest, but alas, it would be a falsehood. I Ty Jordan do solemnly swear that I do not own an electronic device dedicated to reading

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Interview with Patrick D. Carlson, Author of The Winged Lion: Marion’s Match

Hello,

I’m pleased to bring you this interview today with Patrick D. Carlson, author of The Winged Lion: Marion’s Match.

Please enjoy!

Best,

Vincent Lowry

Interview:

1) What is your author name and in what state do you live (or country if not in the US)?
Patrick D. Carlson, Minnesota

2) What is the title of your newest book and what is the genre?
The Winged Lion: Marion’s Matchdystopian fiction

3) What is the book about? 
In the year 2090, the Commonwealth, the tyrannical world government headed by Premier Kerioth, has a stranglehold over all its citizens. General Nathaniel Marion leads the nonconformist resistance forces, with the ultimate goal of toppling the dictatorial regime.
Peter Barclay is a prodigious teenager who is trying to find his place in this society in which he is so different from his peers. His intellect and profound “gifts” make him admirable to some and vilified by most. Peter’s mysterious role in the larger plot to take down the Commonwealth eventually becomes known through the many unexpected turns within the tightly woven plotline.
What will win in the end, freedom or tyranny? You’ll have to find out.

4) Where did you come up with the idea?
I wouldn’t say there was one specific catalyst with regard to the idea for my book. I have always been deeply interested in politics in the U.S., geopolitics, military history and technology, and ideological struggles in history. I am kind of a movie buff of sorts (mostly older movies), so I probably got some bits and pieces from things I’ve seen over the years too.

5) How long did it take you to write it?
I started contemplating writing a book in 2013 and started writing a different storyline. I didn’t like it, so I started over and began writing the first chapter of “The Winged Lion: Marion’s Match” in the fall of 2015. I would say if I were to add up the bits and pieces over the last four and a half years of writing, it would probably be a solid eighteen months to put the storyline together, then about twenty-four months of editing and revising. That was the best I could do given my other dedications in life: my marriage, my three sons now, and having a full-time career as a home care physical therapist in the northern suburbs of Minneapolis.

6) Did you learn anything from the project?
By and large, I enjoyed the writing process. I would say it’s much easier to write five pages or more than to write one page because once I was able to get inundated in the characters’ minds or within the story, then the words flowed much more easily. Being “in the zone” was probably the most vivid part of writing from me. From time to time, especially when I had a longer period of time during which I could continuously write, as I was writing, it felt like I was in a movie of my own creation, so that was pretty cool. The most difficulty certainly came from the editing process. I know the finished product (although, finished is debatable, and I realize this is a problem for most authors–never being completely satisfied with their work) arrived after at least eleven revisions after having gone through the whole story over and over. I certainly became a better writer as I learned how to refine my craft through this difficult editing phase. My wife and dad were probably my greatest editors-in-chief, aside from myself. My publisher, Page Publishing, helped me move forward to present a much better version than what I initially had, so I am grateful for them as well.

7) Do you have an author website and/or blog? How about a book video?
I am still in the process of determining the kind of website I’d like to have created. I do have one on the Page Publishing website.  https://www.pagepublishing.com/books/?book=the-winged-lion. 
No book video or blog yet, although I’m sure I’ll do something like that in the future.

8) Do you have any success tips to pass on to fellow authors? How about any great editors/cover artists? 
I would say that one major form of writer’s block that I had to overcome was getting too consumed by researching. I’m a fairly detail-oriented person, and so I would research geographical locations where the storyline takes place, military technologies, etc. I found that my desire to find more and more information would, at times, take away from the actual story writing itself. So, my advice would be to always continue to write something down to keep the project moving forward. Technical details can always be added later.

9) What genres do you like to read? Are you open to reading new authors and reviewing their work?
I do quite a bit of reading on any given day, but Ironically, almost all of what I read are articles and non-fiction books. I read a lot of U.S. and world history books, military history, Catholic apologetics, and some other theological books as well. I haven’t really read a whole lot within the genre of dystopian fiction. “Starship Troopers” is probably the only one I’ve read.
I would be open to reviewing aspects of new authors’ work as my time allows.

10) What is your favorite book of all time and why? 
My favorite book of all time is Theology and Sanity, by Frank Sheed. It enlightens the reader about what it means to be human, and what our place is in the order of creation. After reading this book, you’ll never look at life the same way.

11) Fun Question: Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?
I don’t have any pets

12) Fun Question 2: Do you own an electronic reading device? If so, what kind and how do you like it?
I prefer a physical book, so I don’t own an electronic reading device.

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Interview with Mary Langford, Editor for Author Meryl Hershey Beck’s Book, Loss, Survive, Thrive: Bereaved Parents Share Their Stories of Healing and Hope

Hello,

I’m pleased to bring you this interview with Mary Langford, editor for Author Meryl Hershey Beck’s book, Loss, Survive, Thrive: Bereaved Parents Share Their Stories of Healing and Hope (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019).

Please enjoy!

Best,

Vincent Lowry

Interview

1) What is your author name and in what state do you live (or country if not in the US)?
My name is Mary Langford. I live in Cincinnati, OH

2) What is the title of your newest book and what is the genre?
I am a writer/ghostwriter/editor. While I’ve not yet authored a book, I’m extremely proud of the developmental editing and editing I did for Author Meryl Hershey Beck’s book, Loss, Survive, Thrive: Bereaved Parents Share Their Stories of Healing and Hope (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019).

3) What is the book about? 
It’s a compilation book about grief containing stories by 27 parents who have lost a child, survived, and gone on to thrive.

4) Where did you come up with the idea?
I didn’t; Meryl did. After she lost her 35-year-old son Jonathan to suicide in 2011, Meryl found books about grief lacking the kind of comfort and hope she was needing. It was during a conversation with her best friend, Robin, a few years later that the idea of Loss, Survive, Thrive was conceived.

5) How long did it take you to write/edit it?
When I first came on board as editor, Meryl asked me to also help develop some of the stories. Including Meryl, only 7 of the book’s contributors were published authors, so it took close to 8 months before Meryl and I were happy with the manuscript she’d be turning in to the publisher.

6) Did you learn anything from the project?
Yes. The death of a child is not only survivable, it’s possible to be happy in life again, and thrive.

7) Do you have an author website and/or blog? How about a book video?
The website for the book is losssurvivethrive.com. My website is TheWriteMary.com.

8) Do you have any success tips to pass on to other authors?
I stay in close touch with my clients throughout the editing process. It’s my goal to ensure that every author with whom I work comes away from our time together a better writer.

9) What genres do you like to read?
My favorite genre is biography, including autobiography. I also enjoy reading nonfiction books about recovery and spiritual matters.

10) What is your favorite book of all time and why? 

Sidney Sheldon’s Master of the Game. Before I got hired by Mr. Sheldon in 2001 as his personal assistant, I had not been an avid novel reader. At the time, I was much more familiar with his work as creator of three of my favorite TV series – The Patty Duke Show, I Dream of Jeannie, and Hart to Hart. I hadn’t understood the true meaning of “page turner” until I took a
copy of Sidney’s book, Master of the Game, home to read. When I dragged myself into work a day and a half later, he wondered what had happened to me. “You kept me up all night!” I shouted. Though the book was well over 500 pages long, I could not put it down. I don’t remember stopping to eat and barely got any sleep. It was then that I realized how compelling
great novels are, especially those written by the Master Storyteller himself. Working for my beloved Sidney Sheldon changed the trajectory of my life.

11) Fun Question: Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?
I don’t have any pets of my own, but I get to be surrogate mom to the most amazing, loving, adorable cat I have ever known – Annie. She lives with me for four months each year while her parents winter in Arizona. Annie is white and black and the most precious little kitty in the
world.

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Interview with Clarissa Kae, Author of Once and Future Wife

Hello,

I’m pleased to bring you another interview today, this time with Clarissa Kae, author of Once and Future Wife.

Please enjoy!

Best,

Vincent Lowry

Interview:

1) What is your author name and in what state do you live (or country if not in the US)?
Clarissa Kae and I live in California

2) What is the title of your newest book and what is the genre?
Once And Future Wife, historical fiction with paranormal elements

3) What is the book about? 
Immortal men like Rhys Glyndwr belong to forgotten fables—along with his reincarnating wife—but instead, they haunt the mind of a modern scientist, Isla Belle Thorne. Like an old blanket, visions of the healer servant and his wife, the daughter of a duke, have comforted Isla Belle, the only constant in her unstable childhood.When her mother is hospitalized for a mental breakdown, Isla Belle fears for her own health and keeps the visions a secret. As Isla Belle starts her new job at a renowned medical organization, she comes face to face with Rhys—the same man from her visions.She’s told an impossible tale of a love that death cannot kill. Surrounded by science but faced with an implausible legend, Isla Belle must decide what to believe and what to leave behind.

4) Where did you come up with the idea?
When most people get married, they hear the words till death do us part but what if death never came for one of the parties? And what if the couple was bound—what would that look like…and down the rabbit hole I went.

5) How long did it take you to write it?
This particular book was a little tricky as I was also working as an editor. It was a lot of starts and stops—not until I closed down my editing/consulting practice did it finally get the attention it deserves. From first idea to polished several years—however, in the 18 months since shutting down my practice, I’ve written two other books and am drafting my fourth.

 
6) Did you learn anything from the project?
Yes, that writing is so much harder than editing.

7) Do you have an author website and/or blog? How about a book video?
I do! www.clarisskae.com and the blog is www.clarissakae.com/blog

8) Do you have any success tips to pass on to fellow authors? How about any great editors/cover artists? 
Everyone needs an editor. And be kind to yourself. No one is a great writer, we’re great re-writers.

9) What genres do you like to read? Are you open to reading new authors and reviewing their work?
Absolutely. Historical fiction, historical paranormal, historical romance 

10) What is your favorite book of all time and why? 
Oh, that’s a tough one. I have so many. Anything by Susanna Kearsley but one book I’ve treasured since childhood was The Giver. That book was so influential to a budding empath. It was long before The Hunger Games, Divergent, Matched…The Giver was simple and powerful to my younger self.

11) Fun Question: Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?
I have a ton! I have four horses (one Percheron, one Morgan, and two Quarter Horses), four dogs (three Australian Shepherds), six cats, and roughly thirty chickens.

12) Fun Question 2: Do you own an electronic reading device? If so, what kind and how do you like it?
I do but I still correlate reading on a device as work from my editing days so I’ve nothing super positive to say about my devices. I’ve been a Mac lover so I suppose my ipad/iphone?

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Interview with Jim Henderson, Author of Early Mantis

Hello, I’m pleased to bring you this interview today with Jim Henderson, author of Early Mantis.

Please enjoy!

Best,

Vincent Lowry

Interview:

1) What is your author name and in what state do you live (or country if not in the US)?

Jim Henderson, Colorado, USA

2) What is the title of your newest book and what is the genre?

Early Mantis

Science Fiction

3) What is the book about? 

In Early Mantis, each crew member’s life, career, and back story is explored, including the robots and the ship itself. See the action, the career progression, the missteps, the relationships, and challenges that shaped all your favorite characters. Hear how a robot, or a starship, experiences their creation and assembly. Listen to the humans and non-humans summarize key points of their lives and careers.

What does the backstory of a robot look like?

What’s the backstory of an artificially intelligent starship?

What happened to make Ximon or Elsbeth the way they are?

What is a robot actually thinking?

4) Where did you come up with the idea?

The book is part of a larger series of books called the Mantis Saga. The saga details the adventures of the KSS Mantis and her crew.

This book derived from a desire to further detail the backstories of all the crew members we see throughout the saga.

The rest of the Mantis Saga can be found here:

https://mantissaga.space/

5) How long did it take you to write it?

About 3 months off-and-on.

6) Did you learn anything from the project?

Yes, the book turned out to be an interesting experiment in writing in first-person from numerous characters. Feeling the change in tone and feel was quite interesting.  I’ll definitely use the technique more.

7) Do you have an author website and/or blog? How about a book video?

Yes, a great deal of information about the Mantis Saga can be found at:
http://www.mantissaga.space      

Additional information can be found on a Mantis Saga Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/JimHendersonMantis

This is a short release video for the book:

More videos about the books of the saga can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCheDOML36vY0qLtOA0rdtlQ

8) Do you have any success tips to pass on to fellow authors? How about any great editors/cover artists? 

Sure, a few:

• If your book has a lot of diagrams, maps, or pictures, consider using someone for formatting.  I spent a lot of time fighting with Kindle Create to try to get pictures to work correctly.
• Go to writing conventions when you can. You can learn a lot just by perusing the tables and more by the sessions and by just talking to others. Then, when you feel ready, you can consider participating in panels and such.
• Use a professional editor of some level. I didn’t do so at first because I felt confident it my writing ability and proofread myself.  I later used an editor and learned a great deal.  I’ve used several different editors and learned from each.
• Consider a professional proofreader, especially if you don’t use an editor. They’ll generally give you more complete feedback than family and friends. I’ve found Rachel Welsh to be wonderful – she provided almost as much insight as an editor
• For editors, I’ve learned a lot from Joie Davidow, Christina Ferko, Christina Butts, and Peter Weston. Peter is also great at formatting.
• Ian Stead is a great spaceship artist and I’ve incorporated his work into multiple covers. 
• I generally design my own covers and find Canva to be a good tool for that.
• Take some time to build your world and your characters. There are a lot of classes or documents out there to assist in that. Among others, you might try Stant Litore’s books on those two subjects.

9) What genres do you like to read? Are you open to reading new authors and reviewing their work?

My favorite is science fiction, but I also read fantasy, history, and technology non-fiction.

Yes, I’d be open to new authors and reviewing their work, though I sometimes find it hard to find the time to read a physical book.

10) What is your favorite book of all time and why? 

That’s a tough question. I guess I might say Riverworld by Farmer. That opening, awaking scene is so interesting, and the world gives rise to innumerable options.

On another day I might have listed

• Pride and Prejudice by Austen (wonderful dialogue)
• Foundation by Asimov (grand design)
• Lord of the Rings by Tolkien (epic adventure)
• The robot short stories by Asimov (interesting insights and logic)

11) Fun Question: Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?

Yes, we have two dogs, who are both getting to be rather ‘old men.’  Fred is some kind of husky mix. He is scared of thunder and fireworks. He is quite lazy and will plop down somewhere and not move regardless of what’s going on.

Buddy is a chocolate lab/Weimaraner mix. He likes to watch TV with us, will often go crazy if there are horses on a show, and will come running to watch dogs on commercials or shows.

12) Fun Question 2: Do you own an electronic reading device? If so, what kind and how do you like it?

I have a Kindle Fire.  I enjoy it as a tablet and for reading.

However, I do most of my reading via Audible on my phone or my home Echo.

Interview with C. Thomas Cox, Author of Memories Never Die

Good afternoon,

Today’s interview is with C. Thomas Cox, author of Memories Never Die.

Please enjoy!

Best,

Vincent Lowry

Interview:

1) What is your author name and in what state do you live (or country if not in the US)?
I write as C. Thomas Cox, and I live in Maryland.

2) What is the title of your newest book and what is the genre?
MEMORIES NEVER DIE is my recently released debut novel. It straddles the fine line between suspense and thriller.

3) What is the book about? 
MEMORIES NEVER DIE is, at its core, a story about redemption. As is the case for most of us, though, redemption is hard to find when one is haunted by the soberingly-bad decisions of his or her past.
For most of his adult life, Jim Richmond, an aging Vietnam War vet, has attempted to forget the memories of his time on the front lines. His PTSD doesn’t help.
He won’t admit how much the flashbacks and related anxiety control his life and fracture his relationships — particularly his marriage. When the Vietnamese farmer he murdered shows up and threatens him, however, he’s forced to confront his past.
As Jim races to protect his family from the farmer’s thirst for vengeance, he must finally deal with the memories that have never stopped haunting him.

4) Where did you come up with the idea?
I came up with the idea for the beginning of MEMORIES NEVER DIE from my time watching my sons play youth baseball. After seeing one too many overzealous parents yell at the umpires, I thought, what if one of those parents took things too far. That idea became the first chapter of the story.
When I started to write the book, I wasn’t sure what would happen after that initial scene. As I wrote, though, I uncovered more and more about the characters and where their journeys would take them.

5) How long did it take you to write it?
I completed the book in about nine months, with the final three months dedicated to fixing the mistakes I made when I wrote the first draft.

6) Did you learn anything from the project?
While writing about a character with PTSD, I felt his struggle with his awful memories…his memories that truly would never die, regardless of what he did.
I also realized that every human being makes bad decisions, but we cannot let such decisions define us. Instead, we must learn from them and, in turn, become better people.

7) Do you have an author website and/or blog? How about a book video?
You can find me and my works at https://ctcox20.wixsite.com/cthomascox/.

8) Do you have any success tips to pass on to fellow authors? How about any great editors/cover artists? 
I created my own cover on Canva and edit my own books, so I don’t have any suggestions from that perspective.
As for success, I’m still working on that part!

9) What genres do you like to read? Are you open to reading new authors and reviewing their work?
I love reading suspense and thrillers, and often I find those with a religious bent particularly interesting.
I’m definitely open to reading and reviewing new authors, particularly if they write in those genres. 

10) What is your favorite book of all time and why? 
The HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins is my favorite book because reading it rekindled my love of reading, and it reignited my desire to write.

11) Fun Question: Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?
My family has a golden retriever named Scout. He’s seven-years-old and slowing down, but he still has much more energy than me!

12) Fun Question 2: Do you own an electronic reading device? If so, what kind and how do you like it?
I read on my iPhone whenever I read eBooks. I’m too cheap to purchase a separate reading device!

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Interview with Karen Pinney, Author of Golden Days & Velvet Nights

Hello,

I’m very pleased today to bring you this interview with Karen Pinney, author of Golden Days & Velvet Nights.

Please enjoy!

Best,

Vincent Lowry

Interview Questions: 1) What is your author name and in what state do you live (or country if not in the US)?          Karen Pinney.  I currently live in Tampa, Florida 2) What is the title of your newest book and what is the genre?        Golden Days and Velvet Nights.  The title came from a tag line my husband used to describe our relationship.  The book is a romance, a real life romance. 3) What is the book about?           The book is a memoir about two people whose lives intertwined at a time when they’d given up ever finding their love of a lifetime. 4) Where did you come up with the idea?          I’ve always wanted to write a book.  When I met my husband I was 64 years old.  When he died, I wanted to share an incredible experience that changed me forever.  5) How long did it take you to write it?          5 years….working full time as a cosmetic specialist at Macy’s.  I worked the night shift and wrote during the day. 6) Did you learn anything from the project?          Writing a book isn’t as easy as it looks.  Letting others ready it, an even bigger challenge.           7) Do you have an author website and/or blog? How about a book video?  My blog “Three Score and Then” is a life message to seniors and adult children from my experiences as the executive director of assisted living communities.   My website is a work in progress, but will be named after my book. 8) Do you have any success tips to pass on to fellow authors? How about any great editors/cover artists?      My greatest success at this time is completing my project. I worried that life would get in the way and prevent me from finishing, and I wrote nearly every day even if only for a short time. I wish I’d had more help editing.  I will be more proactive at finding someone for my next book. The cover is a photo from my husbands library of digitals he’d taken and edited.  9) What genres do you like to read? Are you open to reading new authors and reviewing their work?     Historical Romance has always been a favorite.  I enjoy new authors.  Times have changed and their writing is simple and easily digested.     10) What is your favorite book of all time and why?            My number one reference is   “And the Ladies of the Club”  by  Helen Hooven Santmyer.   Besides being a wonderful story, Ms Santmyer was 87 when it became a best seller.  I can relax; I have plenty of time left. My all time favorite book is “God is an Englishman” by R.F. Delderfield   11) Fun Question: Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?             My miniature schnauzer Raleigh is my significant other.   She turns 14 in July, and age had taken it’s toll.  Each day is precious.  12) Fun Question 2: Do you own an electronic reading device? If so, what kind and how do you like it?  I read most books on my computer or my iPhone. *As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Interview with Samuel Yaw Jian Fong, Author of Unicorn Farmhand

Good morning,

Today’s interview is with Samuel Yaw Jian Fong, author of Unicorn Farmhand.

Please enjoy!

Best,

Vincent Lowry

Interview:

1) What is your author name and in what state do you live (or country if not in the US)?
I still use the same name as I do IRL: “Samuel Yaw Jian Fong”. I come from Negeri Sembilan, located in Malaysia.

2) What is the title of your newest book and what is the genre?
My most recent book is known as “Unicorn Farmhand“. It is a science fiction book, with bits of adventure.

3) What is the book about? 
My book is mainly about a horse who likes to write messages to his owners. After they try to make him a celebrity, they also make him attend a jousting competition; but he also writes messages to his human owners, seeking their help to get rid of his nightmares.  

4) Where did you come up with the idea?
This book was based on a high school assignment about fantasy creatures from a few years ago that I decided to pick up. It was also inspired by the TVB Cantonese dramas from Hong Kong that I used to watch when I was a boy, my love of horses and poking fun of cliches about unicorns, and (to some extent) MLP:FiM.  

5) How long did it take you to write it?
It took me almost a year to finish my novel, roughly 9 months after beginning at around the start of 2019.  

6) Did you learn anything from the project?
Perhaps it is that if you keep on working on something, it might yield results, better than doing nothing.  

7) Do you have an author website and/or blog? How about a book video?
I have two: DeviantArt and the Rabydosverse wiki. In the latter, you can learn more about the setting of my stories.  

8) Do you have any success tips to pass on to fellow authors? How about any great editors/cover artists? 
As Winston Churchill said, “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” It is also better to keep a good reputation to earn more friends.  

9) What genres do you like to read? Are you open to reading new authors and reviewing their work?
I usually like to read science fiction, fantasy, atlases, and encyclopedias. If I have enough time (and money), surely I would like to review others’ works so more people can find them.  

10) What is your favorite book of all time and why? 
My favourite book of all time is the Silmarillion, because of its deep stories and lore. That story also inspired me to create my own worlds and their histories.  

11) Fun Question: Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?
I have a small dog, a Silky Terrier-Shih Tzu mix known as “Prince”. He tends to be mischievous.

12) Fun Question 2: Do you own an electronic reading device? If so, what kind and how do you like it?
I do not have an electronic reading device. I once downloaded a Kindle to my computer, but it does not work in Malaysia.

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Interview with DL White, Author of A Thin Line

Good Morning,

Today’s interview is with DL White, author of A Thin Line.

Please enjoy!

Best,

Vince

Interview:

1) What is your author name and in what state do you live (or country if not in the US)?My author name is DL White. I live in Atlanta, Georgia

2) What is the title of your newest book and what is the genre?My latest novel is Black romance called A Thin Line

3) What is the book about? A Thin Line is an enemies to lovers romance about two former sweethearts who don’t know that they’re still in love. Fortunately, the people in their lives do, and mastermind a task that is designed to push them back together and fall in love again. It couldn’t possibly work. Could it?

4) Where did you come up with the idea?This was originally a fanfiction idea that I had a ton of fun with. Once I released my debut, I needed a back list and this was already written, so I grabbed it up and rewrote it for commercial release. It didn’t do well the first time and after a while, I pulled it down. 2 years later, I’ve republished it the way I wanted to tell the story.

5) How long did it take you to write it?
It took about a year to write it… It’s been around since about 2015, then removed from sale, I took about 6 months to rewrite it and put it back up.

6) Did you learn anything from the project?
Write what you want. Always write what you want. Be true to yourself and your characters.

7) Do you have an author website and/or blog? How about a book video?My website is BooksbyDLWhite.com- there is a blog on that site as well as the Bookcast, which are audio readings of short stories and novellas. I have a youtube channel with story time from each of my books, a couple of chapters to give you a taste. https://www.youtube.com/AuthorDLWhite

8) Do you have any success tips to pass on to fellow authors? How about any great editors/cover artists?
I don’t know about success tips. I think the best thing that has worked for me is finding out who I am, how I am wired and applying that to my writing life. I can’t write like a person that just sits down and shoots out 50K words. I’m a thinker and a planner. It takes me a good year to think about a project long enough to be able to write it. That’s me, all the way around so I need to build that time into writing instead of pressuring myself to write like the wind. It won’t come because I don’t write that way.
I do my own covers but I have used Diane Frost for cover assistance when needed. I don’t know any spectacular editors. I do a lot of self editing and then send it on to a few people who catch most stuff.

9) What genres do you like to read? Are you open to reading new authors and reviewing their work?I read a lot of crime, thriller, mystery, some romance. I love a good chick lit, or something with TEETH. I don’t read authors I don’t know. I just don’t have the time to dedicate to it. I don’t send my books to authors, I use Beta readers. I suggest authors do the same! Connect with readers, they care less about the stuff authors will nit pick over.

10) What is your favorite book of all time and why?
I don’t have one. I know, that’s crazy but I read too much (over 150 books/year) to have a favorite. I just love a good book that hits me right in the chest.

11) Fun Question: Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?No pets! I can just barely water and feed myself. 😀

12) Fun Question 2: Do you own an electronic reading device? If so, what kind and how do you like it?I have a Kindle HD with the charging dock. Absolutely LOVE it. I started with the B&N Nook Color way back in the day but soon moved over to Kindle because it was easier to manage my library. I also buy my mom a lot of books on amazon and they just show up for her.

Interview with Henry Millstein, Author of Speaker for the God

Hello,

Today’s interview is with Henry Millstein, author of Speaker for the God.

Please enjoy!

Best,

-Vincent Lowry

Interview:

1) What is your author name and in what state do you live (or country if not in the US)? My author name is Henry Millstein (but my friends call me Hank), and I live in California. 2) What is the title of your newest book and what is the genre?  Speaker for the God, historical fiction 3) What is the book about? Speaker for the God tells the story of the biblical prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah’s career fell in the last decades of the seventh and the first decades of the sixth century BCE, a time when the kingdom of Judah lay increasingly threatened by the new and aggressive Babylonian empire that finally in 587 BCE overran and sacked the small state. Jeremiah, claiming to speak for the national god Yahweh, sought futilely to warm his people of impending doom; caught up in a firestorm of political intrigue, he earned for himself only rejection and persecution. Speaker for the God expands on the spare details of Jeremiah’s life given in the Hebrew Bible, depicting his struggles with kings, priests, and people, with his god Yahweh, and with a goddess of unattainable beauty who has haunted him since childhood—and who in the end holds the key to his destiny. 4) Where did you come up with the idea? A good many years ago, I was hanging out with my spiritual director (also a writer). I had been writing science fiction and happened to mention that I was itching to write something more directly related to my Christian faith. She suggested a novel about the prophet Elijah, and I countered by saying I’d like to try Jeremiah. What initially attracted me about Jeremiah was the fact that he remained celibate throughout his life in a culture where that was unheard of, and that led me to think about what his personality and sexuality might have been like. (Hence, in contrast to the usual run of “biblical fiction,” there is some explicit sex in the book; it opens with a lesbian love scene.) And that led me to look at his life in the light of contemporary historical research, where I learned, among other things, that Judah in Jeremiah’s time was not yet monotheistic and that goddess-worship was very much a part of people’s religious and emotional lives. So the book ties in with contemporary concerns about religiously based patriarchy, recovering the divine feminine, and so forth, which greatly interest me (and my wife, who is a United Methodist pastor). I believe, however, that Speaker for the God will appeal to readers of historical fiction in general, including those who normally wouldn’t touch “biblical fiction” with a ten-foot pole. 5) How long did it take you to write it?  Way too long! I think I started in 1989. I took several years to complete my first version, largely because I kept getting stuck at every plot turn—and then what I came up with was an unwieldy and unreadable 1600 pages! So I scrapped it and began anew, finishing in the late 90s. I had it read by a developmental editor, who was very encouraging. I tried getting an agent for it and had no luck. So I just let it slide for some time, wrote two other novels (not yet ready to see the light of day), got a Ph.D. in Jewish Studies at UC Berkeley and the Graduate Theological Union, and discovered that self-publishing had become respectable since the dim dark days of my agent queries, so I did some minor retouching, and here it is. 6) Did you learn anything from the project? The first thing I learned was: learn how to plan! I know there are some writers who can go ahead and just start with page 1 and write more or less smoothly to the end, but I’m not one of them. That’s why I kept getting stuck with Speaker (and why it took me over a decade to write). I found a very helpful book in this regard to be Scene and Structure by Jack Bickham. The second thing I learned was: don’t give up! I queried 50 agents about Speaker; perhaps if I had queried 100, someone would have taken it, and it would have come out years ago. And then I left the book sitting in a (figurative) desk drawer, wasting years (for the book, though not, fortunately, for my life). And, I suppose, the third thing I learned was: it’s never too late. 7) Do you have an author website and/or blog? How about a book video? Go to www.hmillstein.com. I started on a blog but have gotten stalled for the time being. A book video? I’d love to do one! 8) Do you have any success tips to pass on to fellow authors? How about any great editors/cover artists? I don’t have much yet in the way of outward success to show for my work—except that I did write and publish a novel, which is certainly something. But what I would say to fellow authors is: determination! St. Teresa of Avila used to say that to succeed in a life of prayer one needed a muy determinada determinación—a “very determined determination.” That’s certainly needed just as much by anyone who wants to build a life of writing. Oh, and I know a great cover artist, Joleene Naylor. She not only does a great job, she’s easy to work with and keeps her rates low. 9) What genres do you like to read? Are you open to reading new authors and reviewing their work? I’m a big fan of science fiction. And I love historical novels, particularly those set in the ancient or early medieval worlds. And I’m a sucker for well-wrought and believable (or even slightly unbelievable) thrillers. As for reading and reviewing the work of new authors, yes; in this business, as in life, you have to give back. I do have to warn, however, that writing is only one of the things I do in my life, so my time is at a premium and I’m likely to be quite selective in what I undertake, particularly since I take this role seriously and wouldn’t want to do a slapdash job. 10) What is your favorite book of all time and why? The Bible is for me an unending source of wonder and challenge. Of books I love for what may be termed purely “literary” reasons, Vergil’s Aeneid is hands down my favorite book of all time.  Not only is it unrivaled in the beauty of its language (I’m thankfully able to read it in Latin), but I resonate deeply with the sense of yearning and hope that pervades the whole book. 11) Fun Question: Do you have any pets? If so, what kind? We have a dog named Jess, a cocker spaniel and golden retriever mix, who ranks just behind our daughter in our affections (and perhaps somewhat ahead of me in my wife’s affections at times, particularly after my feeble efforts at housecleaning). We used to have cats, but they are all deceased. I’m planning on getting another one as soon as I can convince my wife that I will take care of it. 12) Fun Question 2: Do you own an electronic reading device? If so, what kind and how do you like it? I own a Kindle Fire but rarely use it. I do most of my electronic reading on my phone. I love carrying a substantial library around in my pocket and being able to whip it out whenever I please. I look forward to the day when hard-copy books will be obsolete (this is after packing some 80 cartons of books for a move). *As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.