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!

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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 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.

Interview with Nancy Strom, Author of Scooter and Friends Take a Vacation

Hello!

Today’s interview is with Nancy Strom, author of Scooter and Friends Take a Vacation!

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 Nancy Strom and I live near Seattle, Wa – although I’m about to embark on a 6 month to a year journey in a motorhome with my husband and dog.  We’re going to try and see every state in the lower 48.

 

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

• Scooter and Friends Take a Vacation is a children’s picture book, which is written in rhyme and beautifully illustrated

 

3. What is the book about?

• The book is a story where four animal friends – a red fox pup, a hedgehog, a beaver, and a raccoon – go on their first vacation and find a bit more adventure and excitement than they originally anticipated. The story is a fun romp for the entire family, and contains some valuable life lessons.  It celebrates diversity, through the inclusion of a variety of animals, both female and male.  It shows children the importance of working together, and how teamwork is reworded.  It shows the value of listening, taking advice, and to not be afraid to try something new.

.

4. Where did you come up with the idea?

• I have loved Kenneth Graham’s Wind in the Willows since I first read it as a young adult. I have read this book to my grandnieces and nephews over the years, and taken them on many mini-adventures, as well.  Also, over the years, I have written a lot of new lyrics to existing melodies for events like birthday and anniversary parties.  So once I retired I thought it would be fun to connect three things I have enjoyed for so long –  reading to children, taking them on adventures, and rhyming lyrics – by writing a children’s book that would be an animal adventure story written in rhyme.

 

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

• Once I sat down and got started writing it went rather quickly. And then once I found the publisher with whom I wanted to work, I realized the work wasn’t finished but rather just beginning.  From writing the book, and then going through the publishing process, it took a little over a year. (obviously, as a 2200 word children’s book, my timing was much shorter than what many will experience 😊)

 

6. Did you learn anything from the project?

• The entire publishing process was one huge learning experience: I found out about the evolution of the publishing industry, from 75 years ago when traditional publishing houses had a virtual monopoly on what got into print, to today- where 80% of fiction and non-fiction published is by one type of self-publishing or another.  I’ve learned what the publishing process itself entails: everything from  getting an appraisal to the editorial, illustration, and formatting processes.

And finally I’ve learned so very much about marketing my story – I’m taking a marketing class that I started in May of 2019, and I still have 2 sessions remaining!

 

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

• My website is nancystrom.com    On the website is my Video Book Trailer, and a few blogs. There one can also find a celebrity endorsement, a Rotary president’s testimonial, beta reader reviews, etc. of Scooter and Friends Take a Vacation. 

 

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

 

1. ALLi – the Alliance of Independent Authors – is a goldmine, in particular for the novice to the self-publishing world.  I found my publisher – Ocean Reeve Publishing – through ALLi.  On the ALLi  website there is a particularly valuable index where ALLi rates any publisher or individual associated with the independent publishing industry.  One can find full-service publishers, as well as individual editors, appraisers, proof-readers, publicists, illustrators, formatters, marketing specialists, agents, etc. etc.  I can’t say enough about how valuable this ALLi “find” was for me!
2. Get an Appraisal done of your manuscript. The Appraisal I received was a systematic and objective study of the marketability of my book, as well as an assessment of the revisions, rewrites, updates, and changes that would be needed to ensure that my book would be of the highest quality.
3. My illustrator, Carolyn Van Hosen, is a wonderful artist, who took a lot of time to find out what my vision was for my characters. She did my cover art, as well as my 16 full-color illustrations, and my animal portraits that appear on page 3 of my book.  Once Carolyn had the characters as I envisioned them and I signed off on the final versions,  I got the idea to have portraits done so that as we proceeded through the illustrations she could refer back to them as a guide.  And I decided to put them on page 3 so the reader and those to whom they were reading could see the animals “front and center” and know what each looked like –  like “meet the stars of our show”.
4. The appraiser and the editors with Ocean Reeve Publishing are great. And an author can cherry pick what assistance he or she wants.  No contract to sign with Ocean, you pay only for the service(s) you need/want.

 

(Number 9 below is a continuation of the interview questions.)

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

Just for pleasure (as opposed to book club books) I love international intrigue – Tom Clancy, Vince Flynn, Brad Thor, David Baldaccci.  And historical fiction by W.E.B. Griffin.  He has several series, including two great ones on the OSS – one series takes place in the European theater and the other in South America.  I have enjoyed each of Griffin’s series – he has about 10 different ones.

I also love stories with animals – The Art of Racing in the Rain is a big favorite of mine.

I would be very open to reading new authors and would definitely be willing to give reviewing their work a try.

 

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

• Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, because it is full of wit, wisdom, fun, and love. And when it comes to the movie version, there is none better than the A&E version with Colin Firth –  he will forever be Mr. Darcy to me.

 

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

• I have a black lab named Molly. She is an absolute hoot, and a sweetheart, and we love her!   My favorite cat of all time was named Newt.  He was the son of a stray who adopted us (we live on a farm, which is a great place for cats and dogs), and Newt actually thought he was a dog.  He played fetch; he went on walks with me; he came whenever I called him.

 

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. It’s great for traveling, but I still love to hold a book in my hands when I’m at home.

 

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 

Interview with Natalie P. Jenkins, Author of After the Storm

Hello,

We have another interview today, this time with Natalie P. Jenkins, author of After the Storm.

Please enjoy!

Best,

Vincent Lowry

 

Interview:

1) What is your author name?

My author name is Natalie P. Jenkins and I live in the state of Kentucky.

2) What is your book title and genre?

The title of my newest book is After The Storm, and it’s an autobiographical novel. In simpler terms it’s my life story in a novel!

3) What is the book about?

As I mentioned above, this is my life story and a love story. It starts at the point where my fiancé was killed in a car accident and ends with me meeting my current boyfriend.

4) Where did you come up with the idea?

I decided that I needed to write my story pretty soon after Jason died. However, I waited until I was in my right mind before wrote my first book. I always knew that I wanted to share my love story with the world when I met someone else.

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

It took me about 9 months to finish it completely.

6) What did you learn from the project?

I learned a lot throughout this process, most of which was patience. It’s better to take your time and give the story justice instead of rushing through to be published quicker.

7) Do you have an author website?

I do have an author website! It’s www.nataliepjenkins.com. There will be some videos about my book coming soon! So keep an eye out for them.

8) What advice could you give to authors?

The best advice I could give to anyone is build an audience. I made the mistake of not doing that with my first book and it definitely impacted my sales.

9) Would you review books by new authors?

yes, I do like to read works from other authors. I’m always open to a good book! My favorite genre is true crime, but I’ll read the occasional romance novel every now and then.

10) What is your favorite book?

My favorite book of all time is the Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

11) Do you have pets?

Yes, I have a pet. I have black cat named Buddy. He’s been the best comfort to me and I don’t know how I made it this far in life without him.

12) Do you have a e-reader?

I have a kindle that I use for reading! I prefer it over reading on my phone. Though, when it comes to reading, I prefer paperback most of the time.

*As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Interview with M.A. McComas, Author of Start of the Storm: Trials of Transcendence Volume I

Good morning, today’s interview is with M.A. McComas, author of Start of the Storm – Trials of Transcendence – Volume I.

Please see below and 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 M.A. McComas and I am from Pennsylvania.

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

           The title of my debut novel is Start of the Storm: Trials of Transcendence Volume I and it is an Epic Fantasy.

3) What is the book about?

The continent of Transcendence is fractured and segregated. It’s races–long ago chased from their own world by humans–keep to themselves and live in isolation from each other. But for the first time in æons the future is beginning to brighten and hope for the continent’s unification blossoms.

In Mystwood, Lethelas, prince of the elves, questions the veracity of his people’s historical records and shakes off the xenophobia of his father. Down in Qaagire, Corguul, the youngest son of an orc chieftain, dreams not of slaughter and endless warfare, but instead of traveling the world and meeting the menagerie of peoples who inhabit it. And King Bræman of the dwarves sits his throne in Resonate Hall, aching to develop trade partnerships that will allow his people to showcase their labors across the land.

The unexpected, storm-blown arrival of High Commander Terrin Korsing and his fleet of humans, however, may jeopardize these hopes of unity.

But Eræn, the Ranger, charged with the care of the continent of Transcendence and all its peoples, has been working toward peace for too long to let it slip from his grasp now. He may be the only one with a chance to bring them all together despite their determination to erase each other from the land. And with a larger, darker storm looming to the south, intent on sweeping them all from the face of Transcendence, coming together is their only hope.

4) Where did you come up with the idea?

For generations the fantasy genre has been populated by a landscape of unique, carefully built worlds–worlds full of mythic and magical races. And in these worlds, humans are often presented as the newcomers, the younger race in a land they did not inherit. Authors sometimes allude to a time æons past when humans first made their way to these lands, but readers are left pondering what that time looked like. What events brought the humans here? How did the races already inhabiting the land respond? What heroes and legends rose up out of the æther as a result? I wanted to finally tell that story.

I have three brothers: one older and two who are eight and ten years younger. I played a lot of games with my younger brothers growing up and quite often these were games I had made up for us. One year when they were both teens, in late February, I was looking for a game we could play together while the weather was bad. Both of my brothers enjoyed World of Warcraft, but I was looking for something we could sit around a table and play together. One of my brothers played Dungeons & Dragons with a group of his friends, but that required a little too much paper and pencil than I wanted. To me, the ideal table game would combine the best elements of both.

So I decided to design just such a game. And in the course of designing it I sketched a quick and poorly drawn map and and the land of Transcendence was born.

It was not the Transcendence you will find in my book, however, but rather it was Transcendence 1,000 years in the future. Like is the case in many fantasy worlds as I mentioned above (see Tolkien, Paolini, Sullivan, etc.), the one I was shaping was a world in which humans were the late-comers to a land filled with magic and mythical races. The map I drew showed a fully developed city of Stormhaven, the progressive, melting-pot city of Erætor, and a sylvan city of the elves within the bounds of Mystwood, their ancestral forest. And these cities were all interconnected with roads demonstrating the fact that the races engaged in free movement and free trade. It was pretty standard for a fantasy RPG game and a perfect world in which to develop a character for oneself and set off for exploration and adventure.

As I began to write out some backstory, however, I started to think through some of this world’s history. The ideas that came to me were rich with detail and seemed to have the foundations of a narrative that was truly epic in scope. Perhaps this was a story I would write someday, I told myself… The problem was, the ideas would not stop coming and it became harder and harder to focus on creating the game. I tried for about a week, but finally I had to admit to myself that my long-ago promise “to write a book someday” had come calling.

So, I put away all the supplies I was using for the game, pulled out a blank piece of paper, laid it over top of my poorly drawn map, and traced its features minus the cities and roads. Here now was a section of barren coast land ready for the arrival of Transcendence’s first humans. And from that new, empty map, what is now chapter 1 of Start of the Storm was written.

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

It took me ten months of nearly full time writing to write the original manuscript. Then I actually put it away for three years only bringing it out to be beta read on occasion and to compile some notes. Then, with a lot of encouragement from my now-fiancee Emily, I finally pulled it back out and spent a year editing and revising and self-publishing it.

6) Did you learn anything from the project?

I learned an immense amount from the project. While writing it, I devoured articles on writing and poured through my Chicago Manual of Style working to hone my control and use of the English language.

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

I have a blog that can be found at mamccomas.blogspot.com. There you can find more information about my writing including behind the scenes looks. Also, every Monday I write a blog post spotlighting one of my characters and exploring their backstory.

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

My best success tip is to create an outline. Have at least a general idea of where you’re going with your story, an end goal. Fix that final scene in your mind and work toward it one page at a time.

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

I enjoy reading Fantasy (obviously), Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, and the Classics. And I would be happy to review others books.

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

    My favorite book of all time is Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. I read it over twenty times as a kid because I loved the adventure. I loved the idea of being able to develop something from        nothing and survive. My book definitely is a product of some of Defoe’s influence in the way the humans respond to being shipwrecked in a strange new world.

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

     I do not currently have any pets, but my fiancee as taken to feeding a pregnant neighborhood cat on my back deck. We named her Corrine after the Corona Virus because that’s when she         started coming around.

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

I do not own an electronic reading device, but my fiancee has a Kindle and likes it for certain situations. But I am a bibliophile. I love the look, feel, and smell of real books and I own well over a thousand of them. I recently purchased my first home and I wouldn’t even consider a house that didn’t have a room in it that I could turn into a library.

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Interview with Billy Baldwin, Author of The Boy, the Mermaid, and the Storm

Hello,

Today’s interview is with Billy Baldwin, author of The Boy, the Mermaid, and the Storm.

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)?

Billy Baldwin,  USA

 

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

The Boy, The Mermaid, And The Storm.  Genre:  Modern-day Fairytale

 

3) What is the book about?

A Boy sets sail as he does each dawn, but this day is like no other: a storm has come. Battling the wind and waves he is overcome.  From the deep a mermaid carries the boy to the Island Of The Eye.  The mermaid explains it’s the boy’s time to face the storm and her time to guide him through it. The only way home is for the boy to make it through the stormy darkness. Together, the boy and the mermaid sail into four overwhelming challenges, each one testing all the boy’s strengths and beliefs.

“No storm is stronger than you”, The mermaid tells the boy.  Wedged between wind and wave the boy feels powerless, but faces the wall of water, nonetheless. Attacked by a Sea Dragon the boy battles physical and mental exhaustion. Tricked by the storm the boy must trust his will & spirit to survive. Finally, the storm declares its absolute power and tells the boy his futile attempts to survive are in vain. About to give up, the boy comes to understand the power and strength of the Mermaid’s words and defiantly tells the storm: “You may claim my last breath, but you will not claim me.”

The Boy, The Mermaid, and the Storm is a modern-day fairytale about the battles we face through life’s storms.  I created this book to help adults and children alike discover the courage and inner strength we all possess to persevere through even the mightiest of battles.

 

4) Where did you come up with the idea?

Helping my brother battle a storm In the form of an illness.  His ‘mermaid’ was his girlfriend, who helped him through every step of the way.

 

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

I originally created an outline for the story fifteen years ago and decided to go forward with the book late in 2019.  Writing and illustrating the book took about 3 months.

 

6) Did you learn anything from the project?

I discovered the beauty, and the challenges, of black and white illustration. The clarity and simplicity of greyscale illustrations facilitate powerful communication.  However each and every line within black and white illustrations carry much greater weight and significance than if you are working in full color.

 

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

my website is:  billybaldwinstories.com  you can see one of my books, Wipeout The Wave, on video here:  https://www.goodreads.com/videos/156464-wipeout-the-wave

 

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

I specialize in writing children’s books.  I encourage young writers to follow their passion and not to be timid in their creative process, overly worrying about industry standards.  It took me years to find an illustrator that I could work with to bring my sketches to life.  When working on a book we are in communication several times each day, going back and forth re. the development of characters and images.  I believe it is essential for authors and the person who is illustrating the book to be able to communicate freely and openly.

 

 

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

I enjoy all kinds of Children’s books, andI especially love Dr. Seus and Roald Dahl.  As much as I do enjoy all sorts of books I would have trouble as a reviewer as I have severe dyslexia – therefore reading and writing are quite a challenge for me.  Overcoming my Dyslexia in order to read and write has been challenging, however, my passion to express my creative vision has compelled me to find unconventional reading and writing methods.  Given this challenge, I would likely not be a good candidate for writing reviews.

 

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

Tolkien, Dr. Suess and Roald Dahl are some of my fav. authors.  If I had to pick one book that represents all that I love about children’s literature I would choose The Invention Of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

 

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

I don’t have any pets though there is a chipmunk who lives under my backdoor steps and he seems to have adopted me!  I leave nuts out for him and if I forget for a time I see him peering into my house through my glass door with a look of impatience on his face.

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

I truly enjoy the physicality of books and have never enjoyed reading on a device. I have a large collection of books, vintage and new, and take great pleasure exploring the actual pages. Even the smell of an old book can add to its charm.

 

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Interview with Courtney Moore, Author of Moonlight Walkers – Forbidden Lands

Hello,

Today’s interview is with Courtney Moore, author of Moonlight Walkers – Forbidden Lands.

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)?

Courtney Moore, Texas.

 

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

MOONLIGHT WALKERS: FORBIDDEN LANDS, Middle Grade Fiction/Fantasy.

 

3) What is the book about? 

Short summary: It’s about a young, unique wolf name Sakura, her hidden ancestral history, and the dragons that will do anything to control it. 

 

Full summary (blurb): Young Sakura has always wondered why her family kept a tight leash on her and her younger brother, never allowing them to leave the pack boundaries. Deep inside, she knows that she’s meant for more than the comforting shelter of her secluded forest.

Her belief is put to the test when a group of ruthless, powerful dragons invade her home and kidnap her pack. The dragon’s king desperately wants to find the Wolves Amulet, a sacred item of the wolves that he believes will grant him freedom from his enchanted prison. After escaping the claws of capture, Sakura, her brother, and a childhood friend set out on a treacherous search for their family, abandoning the familiar boundaries of their home for the first time.

When Sakura learns of her ancestral background – being a descendant from a supernatural wolf and the only one capable of unlocking the power within the amulet, the stakes become greater. With her true identity now revealed, she becomes the wolf king’s greatest asset and the dragon king’s main target, forcing Sakura to decide on the fate of her life and the world as she knows it.

 

4) Where did you come up with the idea?

This all started back in High School, over fifteen years ago. I love reading fantasy books that take the reader to far off worlds. So, I decided to create my own. 

 

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

The rough draft was written over fifteen years ago, but most of the story was compiled recently and took me about a year and a half to finish (between adding more plot, character development, and editor reviewing).

 

6) Did you learn anything from the project?

Yes a lot! Especially from my editors. I learned to keep an eye out for the small things that can be overlooked, sometimes making a big difference in the story.

 

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

Author website: Courtneymooreauthor.com

Twitter: @Cmooreauthor

 

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

Tips for future writers that want to be authors: Never give up. Don’t take no from an agent or publisher. Keep reviewing and editing your manuscript, eventually you will shine to the right person and/or publisher. Everyone has different tastes for what they are looking for (and that is why it’s a good idea to research the agent and/or publisher to make sure they are the right fit for your manuscript’s audience). Also, it’s a good idea to invest in an editor. They will find things that you never thought to look for. They are a huge eye opener and great knowledge source. A great editor I recommend is Raven Eckman. 

 

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

My favorite genres are fantasy and adventure. I would love to review other authors work and give my feedback.

 

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

Hmm, a very hard question! I have so many books, especially from when I was younger, that I adore! One that was my first novel series is the WARRIORS series by Erin Hunter. This series was also an inspiration to me in creating my own world, but with my favorite animal – wolves! 

 

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

Yes, my husband and I love animals. We currently have two Quaker parrots and two lizards.

 

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

I unfortunately don’t own a reading device.

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Interview with Marie Lavender, Author of Chasing Ginger (The Misfits Series)

Hello,

Today’s interview is with Marie Lavender, author of Chasing Ginger.

Please enjoy!

Thanks,

-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 Marie Lavender. I live in Indiana, actually.

 

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

 

Chasing Ginger is my latest book release. This novel is a steamy romantic comedy – adult contemporary/chick lit/BBW romance/billionaire romance.

 

3)      What is the book about? 

 

The book is about Ginger’s journey, which includes meeting a new man she likes, and deciding what she wants for her life – dreams and all. But it starts with her getting involved in a drug trial. What happens next is just chaos, and it triggers the rest of the story.

 

4)      Where did you come up with the idea?

 

Well, I was inspired by a conversation I had with a reader on social media. I’d posted some random meme about wishing the side effects of medications were cooler instead of unfortunate. In this case, the desired side effect was ‘extreme sexiness’. I just took it from there and added a plus-sized main character.

 

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

 

A year to a year and a half, but only because I was struggling with random bouts of depression from a loss in the family.

 

6)      Did you learn anything from the project?

 

(Laughs.) Yeah, for future reference, I probably shouldn’t approach a rom com project in that kind of mental state.

 

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

 

Of course!

Official Website: http://marielavender.com/

Blogs: http://iloveromanceblog.wordpress.com/  – I Love Romance Blog
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/ – Writing in the Modern Age

http://marielavenderbooks.blogspot.com/ – Marie Lavender’s Books and Other Things

This is the book trailer for Chasing Ginger:  https://bit.ly/2vyy1Bc

 

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

 

I would say ‘patience and perseverance’. Both of these traits will get you through a lot of hurdles and headaches. The writer’s journey is never easy, but knowing you can achieve a goal despite the odds will help considerably.

Some great cover artists I’ve had are Kayden McLeod, Dawné Dominique, Select-O-Graphix, Deborah Melanie, SwoonWorthy Book Covers, Spellbinding Designs, Avdal Designs, and LDM Graphics.

The editors/proofreaders I liked include Shawna Williams, Kathi Sprayberry, Cynthia Ley, Kathy Collier, Anthony Kohler, Fred Crook, Tracy Guzzardo, Melissa Manes, Jennifer B. Gaubert, and Belinda Y. Hughes.

 

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

 

I’ll read anything, I guess, but I prefer any subgenre of romance. I don’t like nonfiction all that much (unless it’s motivational or I’m reading it for research purposes). It’s difficult for me to get into hard science fiction, and erotic horror is just too weird for me (I don’t mind the two genres separated). My top likes would be paranormal romance, historical romance, and contemporary romance.

I was doing reviews for a while on my romance blog, but my TBR list got too big and I had to shut down requests until I can get caught up. So, right now, it would be a hard NO. It’s not because I want to, though (I am a major bibliophile), yet it’s just necessary so I’ll be able to fulfill the promises I made to review those other books. This is my latest book review.

 

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

 

I still have a weakness for J.R. Ward’s Dark Lover. Wrath is a total book boyfriend to me.

 

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

 

Yep! I have two cats, one calico and the other is almost all black with a few white spots. Emma and Katerina are my babies.

 

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

 

Sort of. I have a Samsung tablet which I use to read my Kindle books and the ebooks I’ve gotten through contests and newsletter sign-ups. I do like it. My problem, however, is that I’m still a bit old school, and I prefer to read a paperback or hardcover. Not to mention that being an epileptic as well as a migraine sufferer, it will always be easier for me to focus on reading an actual page rather than an electronic screen.

Interview with Dirk D. Griffin, Author of War and Pieces (Poems)

Hello,

Today’s interview is with Dirk D. Griffin, author of War and Pieces.

Please see below.

Thanks!

-Vince

 

Interview

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

I use my legal name on my work: Dirk D Griffin. I live in New Albany, Indiana which is, in many ways, a suburb of Louisville, Kentucky (just across the Ohio River).

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

My newest work is a collection of poems titled “War & Pieces.”

3) What is the book about?

I’ll quote from the back jacket as it very succinctly gives the overall impression:
“Travel through lives touched by the every day sacred and profane. Be transported into the pain, hope, loss, gain and transcendence as you go.”

Poetry is mostly about journeys, and my collection is very much laid out like one. 

4) Where did you come up with the idea?

I rather spontaneously write poetry, but I tend to be in a certain frame of mind when I do. I often will have a spark and from there it is a matter of shaping that thought until I have a complete idea. The collection was a series of poems that, with the help of my editor, Marian Allen – of Per Bastet Publishers, helped me shape the book into a coherent whole. As I was searching my creative mind, I stumbled on the title, which also helped in selecting sections and order of placement. It was very much a jigsaw puzzle without a picture of the what it should look like when done. As the picture took shape, it became easier and easier to determine what the final form should be.

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

Well, the poems are a selection of what I consider my best work over the last decade of writing. I am, at best a slow writer, and poetry is especially difficult to nail down. While a majority of the work I pulled from was whole, it definitely benefited from the editorial process. So, from poem selection to final book was probably about 6-8 months of slow formation and editing.

6) Did you learn anything from the project?

I believe so. I am now tackling long form work in a novel, and while I’ve also done short stories (which are available in several different volumes of Southern Indiana Writers [SIW] collections). Those short stories may be collected into a single volume sometime in the future.

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

Per Bastet helped me set up a writer’s page on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dirk-D-Griffin/e/B081VV66H1/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1 and a blog may show up there this year, though I’m not sure what form it will take.

8) Do you have any success tips to pass on to fellow authors? How about any great editors/cover artists? T. Lee Harris did the cover for War & Pieces as well as many of the SIW collections and the work is top notch. I also found Ms. Allen a truly great editor and easy to work with. Both Allen and Harris are authors who have an encouraging attitude and a fantastic eye for text.  

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

Well, I like history and biography, and am quite partial to SF and Fantasy. I cut my reading teeth on Edgar Rice Burroughs, Ray Bradbury, Issac Asimov, and James Blish (in the form of Star Trek collections). As of late, I’ve been trying to get to some classics like Les Miserable, Jude the Obscure, Don Quixote, and such. But I’ve also been reading some obscure things like The Little Book of Stoicism, How to be a Hermit, The Seventeen Solutions, and The Search for Cosmic Justice. I’m sort of all over the place and am always up for a new reading experience.

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

It is a lot like asking my favorite restaurant; it often depends on mood. It usually comes down to a few books: Dandelion Wine by Bradbury, Watership Down by Adams, or American Gods by Gaiman.

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

Currently, I am sans pet, but do love them dearly. I have reached a point where losing them is so painful, that I can no longer take the loss. My housemates though have two dogs that are, by extension, in my care as well. A beautiful, sweet, Husky named Isis, and Mr. Quin, a feisty, little Shih Tzu who is quite a wacky little guy.

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

I currently have a Kindle Paperwhite and really love it. I have always read about three books at a time – I’m ADD and I’m a slow reader. I am encouraged by the completed percentage tally. My Kindle makes it very easy to keep my shifting between books. I haven’t tried anything else other than reading on my laptop or computer using the Kindle app, so I can’t make comparisons.

 

*As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.