Wednesday Writers: Mary Merrell

As an aspiring author, it’s always good to hear stories of other people’s success. They inspire us to not procrastinate, and reassure us that there is a light at the end of that proverbial tunnel.

This week we hear from Mary Merrell, an animal lover who has spun an interesting tale about people who can communicate with animals, called Affinity-Bird in a Gilded Cage.


Name: Mary Merrell
Location and one thing you love about living there: I live in the Central Valley of California, Modesto, which kind of has a bad reputation. I love it here because it gets really warm, and the growing season is so, so long.
Author of: Affinity-Bird in a Gilded Cage
Book available: Amazon
Website: www.maryemerrell.com

Tell us a bit about yourself: I turned fifty this year. Shocking. Sometimes, I can’t believe that time has gone so fast. I live in the Central Valle, been married 23 years and have two grown sons. Right now we have two dogs and four cats. Just picked up a stray kitten, and she’s a little wild.

Tell us about Affinity-Bird in a Gilded Cage: It’s a Young Adult Urban Fantasy about a young man, Talon who has a strange relationship with crows. They follow him around. He uses this talent to find out who is burglarizing his uncle’s neighbourhood, but discovers something more sinister. With new friends, Iris who communicates with snakes, and Chloe who communicates with raccoons, Talon goes on a mission to stop the robberies. Along the way, he learns not all things are as they seem, and meets a group of people like him.

What sparked your passion for books and the art of a good story? Always had stories in my head, since I can remember. I have certain expectation on how stories should go, how my heroes and villians should act and what better way than to write them myself.

Is there a particular book that changed or affected your life in a big way? I can’t pinpoint one book that has changed my life, but my favourite author is Lois McMasters-Bujold. Her books did affect how I write and develop my characters.

What was the seed of inspiration for your latest book? I decided to write a book that didn’t include ghosts or vampires and came up with this short story about Talon. This may sound corny but, when the NaNoWriMo came up that year, I asked God for a sign if I should write this young adult urban fantasy or continue on with Real Estate Paranormal Mystery Series. A few nights later I was awaken by my dogs barking like crazy. I thought one of our cats escaped the cat fence, so I went outside. The biggest raccoon I ever was on our roof. Now, we’ve lived in this house for twenty-three years and never have I seen a raccoon in the neighbourhood. Chloe’s affinity animal is a raccoon. Bam, there’s my sign.

Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp? There really isn’t one main message, maybe using your God given talents to do good. But there is something that I hoping to make people aware of. I can’t say what it is, because it would be a spoiler.

What challenges have you faced in your writing career? Finding the time. I work full-time, and my husband and I started a little business too. And marketing, that is a full-time job too.

What has been your best moment as a writer? Getting that out of the blue email from a happy reader asking when the next book is coming out. Makes my day.

Who is your author idol? Lois McMasters-Bujold is awesome. I can read her series over and over. If you like strong female characters, great characters and science fiction, she’s a must read. She writes fantasy as well.

Do you see yourself in any of your characters? Oh yes. My writer’s group used to call me Rosemary because of the main character in House Haunting, the first book in my Real Estate Paranormal Mystery Series. Funny, but I worked a few years in real estate myself. Hmmm…

Do you feel like your dream has come true or is there much more to do? There is so much more to do. Books waiting for revision and to be written. Marketing, marketing, marketing. I need to get a handle on that.

What is your personal cure for procrastination? You know writers, always distracted by shiny objects, kind of like the crows from Affinity. Just have to keep focused. I think the lack of time keeps me on the straight and narrow, because I am so happy to be writing.

What does your workspace look like? I have one side of a corner desk I share with my husband. We just moved the office, so I have a whole board in front of me I get to put up any kinds of pictures I want. There are books everywhere, post-it notes with little tidbits of important information and reminders. My spiral notebooks with the plots of each book spread around. I try and clean up every so often.

Are there any occupational hazards to being a writer? Insomnia? Sometimes it’s hard to sleep when the characters are so noisy in your head, and you can’t turn them off.

Have you ever had a day when you just wanted to quit? Nope.

What do you do when you’re not writing? I work with my husband in our little planter business, planting succulents in frames we build. Fun. Love gardening and playing soccer.

What are the most important attributes to remaining sane as a writer? Baby steps. I just want it all to happen at once. Take a deep breath and remain calm.

What was the greatest thing you learned at school? School was long time ago. And I couldn’t wait to graduate. Now, I wished I had paid more attention.

Did you have a moment when you realised you were meant to be a writer? Before I really started writing, my husband and I were watching Romancing the Stone. You know, with the writer, and my husband in his infinite wisdom turns to me and say, “Why don’t you write a book.” Like it will suddenly be a best seller. So, I did. And I haven’t stopped.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors? Take some writing classes and join a writing group. Have an open mind to what experienced writers have to say, but be true to yourself. After all it’s your story. Decide your audience and genre and learn the rules for writing in that genre. Read a lot those kinds of books. Once you know the rules, you can break them, knowing you’re doing exactly what you intended.

Wednesday Writers: Karen Wyle

As an aspiring author, it’s always good to hear stories of other people’s success. They inspire us to not procrastinate, and reassure us that there is a light at the end of that proverbial tunnel.

This week we hear from Karen Wyle, attorney by day, writer by night and author of an intriguing science fiction story about twins, called Twin-Bred.

Name: Karen Wyle
Location and one thing you love about living there: Just east of Bloomington, IN. I love the autumn foliage. (I love some other things about it as well, but you said one thing….)
Author of: Twin-Bred
Book available: It's available in paperback and ebook formats, at the following online locations:
Amazon (Kindle): http://amzn.to/u2OtVP
Amazon (paperback): http://amzn.to/JYyGeG
Nook Store: http://bit.ly/Ji0wxT
B&N online (paperback): http://bit.ly/xsyzwL
Smashwords (various ebook formats): http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/94490
Website: www.KarenAWyle.net and www.facebook.com/KarenAWyle and www.facebook.com/TwinBred
 

Tell us a bit about yourself: I'm an appellate attorney, mother of two remarkable daughters, on-and-off photographer, compulsive reader, and (in recent years) a novelist. I grew up on both coasts, but settled in Indiana in 1989 and now consider myself a Hoosier.

Tell us about your book, Twin-Bred: Twin-Bred asks: can interspecies diplomacy begin in the womb?

After seventy years on Tofarn, the human colonists and the native Tofa still know very little about each other. Misunderstanding breed conflict, and the conflicts are escalating. Scientist Mara Cadell’s radical proposal: that host mothers of either species carry fraternal twins, human and Tofa, in the hope that the bond between twins can bridge the gap between species. Mara lost her own twin, Levi, in utero, but she has secretly kept him alive in her mind as companion and collaborator.

Mara succeeds in obtaining governmental backing for her project – but both the human and Tofa establishments have their own agendas. Mara must shepherd the Twin-Bred through dangers she anticipated and others that even the canny Levi could not foresee. Will the Twin-Bred bring peace, war, or something else entirely? . . .

What sparked your passion for books and the art of a good story? I wish I could remember that far back! I know I had plenty of books before I could even read. I used to sit on my bed and flip through one book after another. Once I could read, it became my favorite pastime - and still is.

Is there a particular book that changed or affected your life in a big way? It's hard to pinpoint a single book - but George Eliot's Middlemarch illustrated quite forcefully how one's actions and decisions can have unalterable consequences.

What was the seed of inspiration for Twin-Bred? Here's where Twin-Bred came from: I read an article about amazing interactions between twins in utero, captured on video. The researchers had found synchronized movement, touching, even kissing. Either the article or a comment on the article mentioned the traumatic, often devastating, impact on those whose twin - identical or fraternal -- had died in utero or shortly after birth.
Straining this information through the science fiction filter in my mind, I imagined a scientist seeking to overcome the comprehension gap between two intelligent species by way of the bond between twins. It would be natural for the scientist who conceived this idea to be a twin. It would add emotional depth to the story if she were a twin survivor. And for added strangeness and interest, what if she had somehow kept her lost twin alive as a companion, who could be a character in the story? . . .

Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp? I suppose there is the mixed message that our endeavours may be based on inadequate information and may have unintended consequences - but that it's still worth trying to make a difference.

What challenges have you faced in your writing career? My most formidable challenge was the threshold matter of what, if any, stories I had to tell. I also needed to overcome a chronic and paralyzing case of writer's block. It took many years of living to show me what themes mattered to me and what stories those themes suggested. Practicing appellate law, which requires me to turn out persuasive prose in quantity, seems to have dissolved the writer's block. (Doing most of my writing during NaNoWriMo and related one-month sprints also helps.)

What has been your best moment as a writer? My memory isn't good enough for me to pick a single "best moment" -- but some contenders would be seeing my first novel (Twin-Bred) appear on Amazon, and reading the first favourable reviews.

Who is your author idol? I don't do idolatry, generally, but there are many authors I admire. The one who comes most readily to mind is Mary Doria Russell, who combines brilliant dialogue with deeply moving characterization and themes that speak to me, while writing in several different genres.

Do you see yourself in any of your characters? I have a certain amount in common with Mara Cadell. Like Mara, I'm impatient, though less likely to explode as a result. I am no scientist, but I have an inquiring mind. I'm persistent and stubborn, as Mara is. Finally, neither Mara nor I have a great track record at forming and maintaining social connections, although both of us are getting better at it.

Do you feel like your dream has come true or is there much more to do? Both!
I have, in ways I could not have foreseen, achieved my childhood dream of becoming a novelist. (Self-publishing was possible back then, but in a very different and limited way.) However, I would like to reach a substantially larger audience, with quite a few more books. (Two more are in the pipeline, and others in the vague planning stage.)

What is your personal cure for procrastination? For me, the most effective cure (or preventive) for procrastination is to take part in National Novel Writing Month (aka NaNoWriMo), or its summertime equivalent, Camp Nano. Publicly undertaking to write the rough (and I mean rough) draft of a novel entirely within one month has a way of keeping me on track.

What does your workspace look like? Ridiculously cluttered and visually unappealing. The prettiest bit is the closed wooden window shade that I know to conceal a fairly nice landscape.

Are there any occupational hazards to being a writer? Carpal tunnel syndrome.

Have you ever had a day when you just wanted to quit? Not since I un-quit, after decades of ignoring my desire to write.

What do you do when you’re not writing? I read. I practice appellate law. I take photographs. I hang out with my husband and/or daughters. I administer our household. I walk the dog. I spend too much time on Facebook, Twitter, and various blogs.

What are the most important attributes to remaining sane as a writer? Keep your inner editor locked out of sight when you're writing a first draft (or when adding a substantial chunk during the editing process). Take the long view: success takes time, and, for most of us, the release of multiple books. Enjoy the good parts -- a message from an admiring reader, a good review, holding your book in your hands -- without diminishing them with comparisons to the successes of other authors.

What was the greatest thing you learned at school? That I could enjoy using my brain. (I rediscovered this truth during my freshman year in college, after months of brooding after a romantic disappointment. I went for a study session with a professor's assistant and found myself, instead, in a tete-a-tete with the professor himself, the marvellous Ronald Rebholz, then teaching literature at Stanford University. We spent perhaps an hour delving into W. B. Yeats' "Among Schoolchildren." Thank you, Professor!)

Did you have a moment when you realised you were meant to be a writer? If so, it happened before I turned ten. By that age, I intended to be the youngest published novelist ever. (Later that year, I had to revise my ambitions -- a nine-year-old British girl beat me to it.)

What advice would you give to aspiring authors? Warning: long answer ahead. . . . The following are mostly suggestions that I have found in various books/essays/blog posts about the process of writing fiction, and then verified by experience.

• Read, read, read. Read fiction, biography, history - whatever interests you. Read authors whose voice appeals to you.
• Don't let anyone tell you whether you're meant to be, or whether you are, a writer. Even well-meaning folks may be poor critics, and not everyone who makes pronouncements on your potential will be well-meaning.
• Keep pen and paper, or some other means of taking notes, with you at all times. Don't assume you'll remember your great idea five minutes from now - write it down immediately! Get or jury-rig a lighted note pad for your bedside table. (A clip-on book light attached to a cheap note pad will work.) If you get ideas in the shower, mutter them over and over to yourself until you reach dry land.
• Become compulsive about multiple backups of your idea notes, works in progress, rough drafts, subsequent drafts, etc. Use "the cloud" (Web-based storage), e.g., Dropbox or Evernote. (I use Dropbox. Once it's running on your computer, it will back up a document stored in your Dropbox folder every time you save. But check periodically to make sure it's still running!) Email attachments to yourself (and then check whether your email host is periodically deleting them). Put files on a separate hard drive and on flash drives.
• This one is YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary). That said, as I mentioned above, I and many other authors find it essential to keep the inner editor gagged and stuffed in a closet when we're working on a rough draft. Don't be afraid to leave blanks or bracketed notes as you go. (My second-to-latest rough draft had one that read "[insert appropriate South American country here].")
• A related point: find the process that works for you. Some authors outline in detail. Others find too specific an outline stifling, and work from less organized notes of possible scenes, or with no notes at all. Some have a fixed time of day for writing, and allow nothing to disrupt it; others flit back and forth all day between writing and other tasks. Some use computers; some still write longhand, and a few swear by typewriters.
• Think seriously about self-publishing. There's a wealth of info and support out there for indie authors. Conversely, this is a risky time to sign a contract with an agent or publisher. Because of the uncertain and fast-changing conditions in the publishing industry, many agents and publishers are inserting "rights grabs" and other clauses in their contracts that could cripple an author's career. Some of the worst language may be hidden in unexpected places like "warranty" clauses. If you do sign with an agent or publisher, try to find a way to pay a good literary attorney to go through the contract with a microscope. Don't let the allure of "having an agent" or "being published" lead you to grab at an offer of representation or publication without vetting it thoroughly.

Wednesday Writers: Joe Gaines

As an aspiring author, it’s always good to hear stories of other people’s success. They inspire us to not procrastinate, and reassure us that there is a light at the end of that proverbial tunnel.


This week we hear from Joe Gaines, author of Zachania and father of six, who shares his story of rising above a poor education, leaving school illiterate at age 15, and a difficult life to give his children a better life than what he had and write a novel on the side.  

Name: Joe Gaines
Location and one thing you love about living there: I live in London England, Love the history and Chelsea football club but hate the weather, our summers are terrible!
Author of: Zachania
Website: www.krays.org
www.jhgaines.blogspot.co.uk

Tell us a bit about yourself: I am brand new to self publishing but I have always loved to write. I am what some people call 'a jack of all trades' or a bit of a cheeky cockney if you come from London. I was once a professional boxer and I am now a boxing promoter but would love to work full time as an author. writing novels allows me go and do whatever comes into my mind, it is a shame we only have one life to live as we all want to do so much but unfortunately not many of us can make all our dreams come true but with writing I suppose it gives you a small experience of what some dreams might be; you can be a hero, a bad guy, a spiritual guy or just about anything else that your mind may take you. its a form of escapism for me.

Tell us about your book, Zachania: An epic tale of a family’s battle against an all-powerful and foreign empire, the story will take you from the main characters childhood to becoming a man as an imperial soldier where he discovers his secret ancestry and embarks on a sacred quest to discover his hidden past and kin. As the story unravels you are taken into the forbidden land of Zachania where a vast lost civilisation is waiting for a saviour to lead them to their freedom.

As the book progresses you will discover many new realms, races and secrets as well as feats of heroism, cruelty and love, the style of writing includes many of the frailties and traits that we all possess upon the characters, revealing many of their hidden thoughts and fears as the story unfolds.
Zachania is very much a book that tells a story about a boy who grows into a man as it is about action and storyline. I have tried to put the characters feelings into script where you can feel their trials and tribulations and rejoice at their successes.

What sparked your passion for books and the art of a good story? It is difficult to name one thing that got me hooked. I can remember writing as a child where one of my Christmas presents was a small desk. I would spend hours drawing underwater worlds and writing short stories.

Is there a particular book that changed or affected your life in a big way? To be honest I am not a big reader, I love to write rather than read. I should read more but I am scared it might influence my writing in a negative way. I know it’s a strange outlook but I like my stories to flow or to gather momentum and then crash all the action starts.

What was the seed of inspiration for your latest book? I began writing Zachania for my wife who was then my fiancé. She was working nights as a croupier at a casino so I would write a few pages for her when she came home, at first it was five or six pages but then the story kind of formed a life on its own and I started to write every moment I could.

Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp? It’s a fantasy book but if there is any message then I would say it is about humanity. The feelings that we have and how consequence can turn you upside down and inside out. It’s a style of writing that features in all my literature, I think I place myself into the characters and I can sometimes see what kind of frame of mind I was in when I wrote a certain page or chapter.

What challenges have you faced in your writing career? My main challenge is my grammar and punctuation. I had no education so I find it very difficult at times, I can write a page in ten minutes and then spend thirty minutes editing it. Sometimes I think my style of writing is also open to criticism but it is my style rather than bad punctuation! Especially when writing dialogue. I also believe that as writers we are all different, I am not trying to get a degree in Shakespeare so why should all books be written the same, why should we be restrained or shackled?

What has been your best moment as a writer? I would say seeing my wife’s face when she had enjoyed what I had wrote and when I got my first copy of Zachania through the post.

Who is your author idol? Very difficult to say as I have only read a handful of books, I am more a lover of quotes or dialogue. Kipling’s ‘IF’ left a big impression on me and I love some of the speeches in Shakespeare 'once more to the breach’

Do you see yourself in any of your characters? Yes definitely, in nearly all my characters I see some part of my nature, (even the baddies)

What challenges did you face self-publishing? The formatting for Kindle was at first very difficult for me. When I first had a go at it I gave up for a couple of months until I found some time and then just knuckled down and somehow I got a version which looked OK. I must have two dozen files on my computer from trial and error. I am still finding the odd mistake but at least with kindle you can go back and correct it. Self-publishing can also be so time consuming. If there is one down side it would be that the marketing takes me away from my writing.

Do you feel like your dream has come true or is there much more to do? My dream has always been to escape the life I was born into and to give my children a better life, if writing helps this then my dream would come true.

What does your workspace look like? Bedlam! I have a shared computer in my living room with a TV, Xbox and five children!

Are there any occupational hazards to being a writer? No…compared to what else I have done in my life writing is very safe.

Have you ever had a day when you just wanted to quit? Not quit but I frequently get distracted and get certain days when I couldn’t write a shopping list! Some days I can just write and write on others I struggle to find the words I need.

What do you do when you’re not writing? I have a very colourful life; I am a boxing promoter and an actor, my children also take up most of my time.

What are the most important attributes to remaining sane as a writer? If you love to write then you're doing what makes you happy. Sometimes you can get into character and start walking around the house talking to yourself though as your acting out a scene.

What was the greatest thing you learned at school? How to play cricket and rugby! My education was terrible and I left school illiterate aged fifteen.

Did you have a moment when you realised you were meant to be a writer? I would have to say it is because of my passion and some of the things I have been through in my lifetime which made me put pen to paper. My real name is not Joseph Henry Gaines and someday hopefully I may be able to reveal who I am but at this moment to reveal who I am would be a hindrance, if you Google my real name it reveals a page of results where never would anyone associate me with writing fantasy novels.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors? If you love writing then write and don’t worry about what others say, criticism comes in two guises, constructive and harsh. Use the constructive advice to better yourself and pay no attention to the harsh, most of the time harsh criticism comes from people who themselves have been criticised and it has turned them bitter.
I was criticized lately by another author who wrote a book about ‘chess strategy’, now I am not generalising here but it is not hard to imagine what someone who writes a four hundred page manuscript on what chess looks like. I would imagine this kind of person could find fault in Dickens or Twain.
Personally I could not criticize anyone who is trying, it’s a pet hate of mine where I see some people being horrible to other people who are trying, it is a side to the human nature which I dislike, as I say in one of my poems ‘it takes a big man with heart to sympathise and a small man to criticize’

Wednesday Writers: Steve Theunissen

As an aspiring author, it’s always good to hear stories of other people’s success. They inspire us to not procrastinate, and reassure us that there is a light at the end of that proverbial tunnel.

This week I have another Kiwi author for you - Steve Theunissen, all the way from sunny Tauranga, who tells us about his shift from the fitness industry to teaching and writing his novel Through Angel's Eyes.  

Name: Steve Theunissen
Location and one thing you love about living there: Tauranga - the fantastic weather
Author of: Through Angel's Eyes
Book available: Through my author website - http://sbpra.com/stevetheunissen/
Amazon.com - http://www.amazon.com/Through-Angels-Eyes-Steve-Theunissen/dp/1618973746/ref=cm_cmu_up_thanks_hdr
or directly from me at throughangelseyes@hotmail.com

Tell us a bit about yourself: I’m a 47 year old Intermediate school teacher. My first passion was the fitness industry and at age 19 I owned and operated my own gymnasium in Rotorua. I went on to become the first personal fitness trainer in New Zealand. In the mid-1990’s I combined my passion for fitness with my love of writing as I set about forging a career as a freelance fitness writer. From there I branched out to produce books about his next great passion – U.S. history. I’ve written extensively about the American Indian Wars in general and the Battle of the Little Big Horn in particular. I’ve been teaching at Tauranga Intermediate since 2007.

Tell us about Through Angel's Eyes: Through Angel’s Eyes is the first person account of a 13 year old Black girl as she experiences the pivotal events of the 1963 Birmingham, Alabama civil rights movement.
50 years ago the scourge of racism was stifling the development of millions of children in America. In 1963, a core group of these courageous young people stood up and said, “Enough!” The story of these child marchers imparts vital lessons that the 21st century child desperately needs to learn from - courage, resistance to peer pressure, empathy, non-violence and conviction.Through Angel’s Eyes brings the story of the 1963 Alabama child marches to life through the eyes of Angel Dunbar.

What sparked your passion for books and the art of a good story? It was the realisation that an author has the power to affect the reader’s emotions - to make them feel sadness, anger, hope and exhiliration - by what they put on the page.

Is there a particular book that changed or affected your life in a big way? Yes, when I was 15 my class was assigned To Kill A Mockingbird to read. I put if off, not keen to wade through a book about birds. When I finally got started I couldn’t stop. It hooked me in and kept me until the very last sentence. I knew then that I wanted to be a writer.

What was the seed of inspiration for your latest book? It goes way back to 1977 when, as a 12 year old, I watched the mini-series Roots on TV. I became intrigued with the African American story and wanted to know about their more recent struggles. I began studying the 1960’s civil rights movement and it was then that I came across the story of the 1963 child marchers in Birmingham. I was so inspired by their example that I wanted to get this story out to a wider audience.

Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp? Definitely. In my main character Angel Dunbar we see an example of a young person who faces up to many of the challenges confronting young people today - peer pressure, discrimination and the challenge to retaliate. The main message of the book is summed up by something that Martin Luther King once said: "We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people." So, if readers can come away with a renewed conviction not to turn a blind eye, stay silent or look the other way when they see an injustice, they will have grasped what I intended.

What challenges have you faced in your writing career? Banging my head against a brick wall while trying to break into the traditional publishing market, spending a fortune on sending out manuscripts, receiving a plethora of rejection slips - and keeping going anyway.

What has been your best moment as a writer? Receiving my proof copy of Through Angel’s Eyes.

Who is your author idol? Harper Lee.

Do you see yourself in any of your characters? Yes, I’d like to think that I’m somewhat like Mr Newton, Angel’s school teacher. His greatest quality is empathy and that’s something that all teachers need plenty of.

Do you feel like your dream has come true or is there much more to do? Well for 17 years I’ve lived with Angel and the ambition of getting her story into print. Now that it has happened, my dream is to share her with as many people as possible because I think that she’s got a worthwhile story to tell.

What is your personal cure for procrastination? Self imposed deadlines.

Are there any occupational hazards to being a writer? Fear of rejection.

Have you ever had a day when you just wanted to quit? No, the passion has never dimmed.

What do you do when you’re not writing? I try to share my passion for literacy with kids.

What are the most important attributes to remaining sane as a writer? Self belief, a thick skin and perseverance.

What was the greatest thing you learned at school? That I had a voice that was worthy of hearing

Did you have a moment when you realised you were meant to be a writer? When I was in the Fifth form and read a short story I’d written about the Vietnam War and the kids said I should get it published.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors? Don’t let fear of rejection stop you from sharing your voice with the world.

Wednesday Writers: Chris Gray

As an aspiring author, it’s always good to hear stories of other people’s success. They inspire us to not procrastinate, and reassure us that there is a light at the end of that proverbial tunnel.

This week we hear from Chris Gray, world traveller and author of The Flight of the Griffin, who tells us about the mixed bag of travelling, fatherhood, writing and rain forest preservation work that is his life.

Name: Chris Gray
Location and one thing you love about living there: I currently call the region of Barcelona home, my house is about half an hour outside the city in the middle of the forest with just the wild boar for neighbours. A lot of people that visit think living in the woods is creepy and scary, especially with the boar crashing through the trees at night, but my family and I love it, lots of people have grown up with the need for the constant hum of the city but its no longer the choice for me, nature is the place where I can relax and I love it here. Before coming here, I lived in Asia for many years in big cities like Hong Kong and Manila, I also traveled around a lot and I think a lot of the places and experiences I've had out there come through in my writing.
Author of: The Flight of the Griffin
Book available: It's available as an ebook and also as a paperback. Both are available on Amazon but you can also find the ebooks on Smashwords.com and the paperback version on Lulu.com I've kept the prices quite low so go check it out!
Website: I currently have a blog which is http://flightofthegriffin.blogspot.com and I can also be found on Goodreads.com and twitter(@cgray129)

Tell us a bit about yourself: Hi Sarah, thanks so much for inviting me I'm thrilled to be here. I'm an Englishman but I've been lucky enough to call many places and countries home over the last...few years! Barcelona Spain is now home. I've had a whole bunch of jobs over the years, from church organ builder and carpenter to stockbroker. I currently raise both money and awareness for a company that is attempting to replant the rainforest's, which I find very fulfilling, but I'll happily go to full time writing just as soon as I can!

Tell us about your book, The Flight of the Griffin: My latest book is my second. It's a YA fantasy questing adventure that follows the exploits of four youngsters as they try to complete a last great spell to stop the world from tipping into chaos. They have to do this by finding and uniting three crystal skulls while some pretty nasty characters are after them trying to stop them. Hopefully you will find it a real page turner and hard to put down, that's what the feedback I'm getting so far is and I'm thrilled!

Why did you leave England? I was 19 and a carpenter, working outside changing people's windows and doors. It was February and really cold with snow and sleet; a real British winter. At the end of my contract I decided I needed to go somewhere hot to thaw out, so went into a travel agents and asked for a ticket to a hot and interesting country...they sent me to India. I had never had a curry or anything spicy before I arrived there and had no idea what I was heading into. I spent the first few weeks staying pretty close to the toilets, trying to acclimatise to the food and the heat! I ended up adoring the food and loving the open friendly people. It really was the hot interesting place I had asked the travel agent to send me to!
I stayed seven months and traveled all over, India opened my eyes to many things. I finally ended up in Nepal on the Tibetan Boarder in a Buddhist monastery. No I didn't stay and gain enlightenment, maybe I should have, but after being turned back at the Tibetan border I returned to the UK, looking a lot more like Gandhi than the person in my passport photograph!

What’s the most important thing travelling the world has taught you? That despite us all being different, we're all basically the same. That there are an awful lot of really nice, good people out there, but there are also a few truly nasty people who are best avoided if you can. Most importantly, traveling has taught me to push my horizons and always look beyond that next hill, be it a physical challenge or an emotional one.

What sparked your passion for books and the art of a good story? Since an early age I have loved to read. I grew up surrounded by books of all sorts and it was perfectly natural for me to read one after another after another. We all hear that we have a book or two inside us and I had been meaning to try writing for several years. The thing that finally pushed me over the edge into writing out that first sentence was television. I realised one day that I wasn't actually enjoying an awful lot of the programmes and often couldn't remember what I had just been watching! (Try that yourself sometime. When the commercials come on, think to yourself, 'what is it that I'm watching?' it might scare you.) the final nail was when my wife really got into the reality TV shows, I had to leave the room and start writing!

Is there a particular book that changed or affected your life in a big way? When I got my hands on a scruffy old copy of The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck I discovered a true literary artist. Every word was in the right place, you wouldn't want it written any other way, it was fantastic. We all have our own tastes but the works of John Steinbeck are the very best for me and they gave me an even greater appreciation of the 'art' of writing.

What was the seed of inspiration for your latest book? No real seed. I always start off with a first sentence, something that interests me, and then see where it takes me. I write for my own entertainment and it's a little like playing a video game for me. One that I'm guiding, and if it takes a turn I find uninteresting then I can retrace my steps and take another way, but most of the time I'm swept along merely reporting on m the movements of my characters. That for me is fun, I couldn't write from a structured synopsis. Even the sequel which I'm writing now has been written till now with no real idea where it's going, but it's going really well!

Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp? I haven't written it with the idea of putting over some great wonderful message, however, I think it is about loyalty to ones friends and to the ideals you have in life. One of the things I try to live by is to make every choice in life a conscious decision and not to get swept along in the flow around you.

What challenges have you faced in your writing career? Like many authors I tried the 'traditional' route of trying to get an agent and then a publisher. I finally got an agent and she was trying to get me publisher. I was delighted when told that two very well known publishers were interested in my work and were asking for US rights as well as UK rights, then film rights, it was very exciting...but then it all fell flat on it's face as both apparently pulled out. It left me dazed and confused. I could get no reason for the change of heart from both at the same time, it was a real kick in the teeth. I'm really happy to going the 'indie' route now. Sales are picking up and I have a great following of people leaving me great reviews and asking for the next book as soon as I can write it.

What has been your best moment as a writer? I think finally writing 'The End' at the final page of my first draft. I had actually finished a book! I didn't know anyone else personally who had written a book and I was very chuffed. I had no idea that the next stage was to edit, I hate editing!

What are the advantages of self publishing and e-publishing? I think the advantages are that I can go at my own pace. There is no deadline for the sequel to The Flight of the Griffin, I don't have anyone breathing down my neck so I can still enjoy the writing process. The advantage of e-publishing is huge. For one I can get my work out to readers at a very low price on Amazon and Smashwords. At this stage of my writing career I'm not looking to make money, I want readers, reviews and the chance to shout 'HERE I AM!' on wonderful blogs like this!

Who is your author idol? I've already mentioned John Steinbeck, but am also a great admirer of Manda Scott or M.C.Scott as she seems to call herself now. I loved her big thick novels about Boudicca the warrior queen of the Britons who threw the Romans out of Briton. I've just finished the first in her Rome series and was delighted to find they carry on from the first series. If you haven't tried them, do.

Do you see yourself in any of your characters? I see myself as setting off to sail away with friends in a boat for a lifetime of adventure and thrills. I'm a bit old for that now so I adventure with my kids and through the adventures of my protagonists in my books.

Do you feel like your dream has come true or is there much more to do? Part of my dream has come true in that I now sell books, have people reading my stories that give me great feedback that let's me know I'm doing someone right! I don't think that readers realise how much an author needs to hear if they enjoy a book, it's hugely rewarding to get a great review and inspires greater efforts. If you read a book, be it one of mine or someone else's and you have enjoyed it, leave a short review and a few stars.
The only other thing I need to do is sell enough books consistently to write full time, I would then be deliriously happy (please go buy one of my books:-)

What is your personal cure for procrastination? I never procrastinate...

What does your workspace look like? I write on a laptop so I get to write wherever I can find some peace and quiet. With two kids and two dogs it isn't always easy. I tend to write late at night when everyone has gone to bed. Ideally I would love a study, with a lock on the door, overlooking the woods. But then to be honest I would miss the noise of my family so I would still write there late at night when they slept. I'm very happy being a dad and don't want to miss anything of them. My son, Dylan, is my greatest fan and on reflection probably the greatest moment in my writing career so far is when he told me The Flight of the Griffin is the best book ever written, 'honestly dad!'

Are there any occupational hazards to being a writer? I'm told people get writers block, but I'm probably more prone to writers diarrhea. My ideas tend to tumble out all over the screen. My first draft of any chapter tends to be something only I can read because it comes out so fast! Possibly the only other hazard would be that the need to write drives a writer into seclusion, but I love my family far too much for that to happen, I'll just keep losing sleep and write at night!

Have you ever had a day when you just wanted to quit? Only the day I was told that the two publishers that had been bidding on my book for a month had both backed off and dropped it. But I was writing again a week later.

What do you do when you’re not writing?Well, my day job is raising money for a company that replants the rain forests. It's really interesting and very rewarding, but I'd rather be writing.
I have practiced the martial art of Aikido for the last twenty odd years and now my son has joined me which is fantastic. I'm no Bruce Lee, Aikido is all circles and movement with energy flowing back an forth between like dancers if your doing it right. I also love to walk the woods and mountains of Catalunya with my family and dogs, and of course I love to travel. I'm writing this on a flight between Johannesburg and London!

What are the most important attributes to remaining sane as a writer? I really think being a little insane helps. Sane is boring isn't it? Show me an eccentric and I'll show you someone who has a grip on life, even if it doesn't look like it. Break the mould and be an individual! Wear purple and dance!

What was the greatest thing you learned at school? I was rubbish at school, I couldn't understand why I had to learn all this dumb stuff. Then someone explained to me that although certain things might not make sense while we were learning them, think of everything as press-ups for the brain. Simple, but it struck a cord and I didn't flunk out as bad as I might of!

Did you have a moment when you realised you were meant to be a writer? When I started to get good reviews from people that I didn't know. It's nice when your friends write nice stuff about your book...or my dear old mum, bless her...but when a total stranger writes that this was a simply awesome book it suddenly becomes a whole lot more real and the dream of what if? becomes let's do it!

What advice would you give to aspiring authors? Have fun. Give it a go. It doesn't matter if it's any good because whatever happens you will learn something about yourself. I would also suggest just writing. Start with one line. All cool books start with a cool line, start there and see where it goes. Throw the 'how to' books out of the window and just be you. Oh, and it's very important that you buy my books and read them...there are...errrr...secrets in them ;-)

Wednesday Writers: Tina Makereti

As an aspiring author, it’s always good to hear stories of other people’s success. They inspire us to not procrastinate, and reassure us that there is a light at the end of that proverbial tunnel.

This week I have a special treat for you: A New Zealand author! And from Wellington too! She talks to us about her latest book, Once Upon a Time in Aoteoroa (for international readers, Aoteoroa means New Zealand in Maori), and all things Kiwi.    
 

Name: Tina Makereti
Location and one thing you love about living there: I live on the Kāpiti Coast, and just living so close to the sea and the island is amazing.
Author of: Once Upon a Time in Aotearoa
Book Available: Huia Publishers and bookstores. Also a Kobo ebook, readable on most eReaders and digital devices.
Website: www.tinamakereti.com


Tell us a bit about yourself: I write fiction and creative non-fiction, and sometimes teach writing as well. I’ve had one collection of short stories published, and have nearly completed a novel. I come from a mixed cultural heritage, have an incredible family, and live by the sea.

Tell us about Once Upon a Time in Aotearoa: It’s a short story collection that combines an interest in contemporary lives and Māori mythology. I didn’t really know what it was before it was published, but it seems to tap into both literary and magic-realist/speculative genres. Probably easiest to offer the back cover blurb:
Vulnerable gods and goddesses
Children born with unusual gifts
The protection offered by Mountains
Birds with bad timing
Once Upon a Time in Aotearoa explores a world where mythological characters and stories become part of everyday life. Old and new worlds co-exist, cultures mingle and, if we are lucky, magic happens. Familiar characters appear, but in these versions the gods live in a contemporary world and are motivated by human concerns. In this perplexing world, characters connect with each other and find ancient wisdom that carries them through.

What makes you most proud to be a New Zealander? I love Aotearoa. It is the most incredible place in the world to live, and we punch so far above our weight as artists, writers, scientists, sportspeople. Culturally, we have such a rich and complex heritage. We have a strong history of egalitarianism. All of these things make me immensely proud, to the extent that I get mad when people are negative about our country or our people. Don’t like something? Help to make it better rather than complaining or leaving. Having said that, I feel equally mad when I feel like the wellbeing and wonder of our country is under attack by the people who run it, as it is now.

What challenges have you faced in your writing career? Not as many as I could have! It’s been really good – better than I could’ve hoped for. I do get rejections but I find that they tend to be good for the writing – I always rework stuff that hasn’t been accepted by a publisher and it always gets better. So I guess the biggest challenge is making sure I do write every day. Even though I love it, there is always a little invisible barrier to beginning the day.

What has been your best moment as a writer? There’s been many really good ones, but the purest thrill I remember having was being offered a place to do the MA Creative Writing at Victoria University. I just couldn’t believe it. I think I knew it was going to change everything.

Do you see yourself in any of your characters? All and none? You have to inhabit them and they have to inhabit you, but I don’t see any real correlation. There are moments in many of their lives that have been taken from mine though. I have had an interesting conundrum with a recent character – I kept pushing her away so she wouldn’t be like me, but that didn’t work. Now I’m going to allow her to be closer to me so a more intuitive authentic voice will come out. Authentic isn’t a good word, but it’s the close to what I mean.

Do you feel like your dream has come true or is there much more to do? There is always more to do. So much more!

What is your personal cure for procrastination? http://selfcontrolapp.com/ and fear of deadlines.

Are there any occupational hazards to being a writer? Saying no to lunch and cups of tea with others. Self-hatred when you don’t get anything done. Not being able to think or talk about anything else!

Have you ever had a day when you just wanted to quit? No.

Did you have a moment when you realised you were meant to be a writer? It was like a long slow hum in the background of my life for so long, and it was there from when I was little, even though I mostly blocked it out. I was in my early thirties when I finally admitted: I think this is what I’m meant to be doing.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors? Take courses. Enter competitions. Practice. Read. Learn to love criticism! (I’m not even kidding there, love it, make it your friend, it will help you get where you’re going faster) Listen to the deep small voices inside you. Take risks.

Wednesday Writers: Jamie Winn

As an aspiring author, it’s always good to hear stories of other people’s success. They inspire us to not procrastinate, and reassure us that there is a light at the end of that proverbial tunnel.

This week we hear from author of Out of the Shadow, Jamie Winn, who tells us how she crafted a story using her experience as a psychotherapist, drawing her readers into the deep workings of the mind and the therapeutic process.

   

Name: Jamie Winn

Location and one thing you love about living there: I am so fortunate to have found a home by the ocean in Oceanside, Calfornia. Not only does it have year-round great weather, but I can walk steps to the beach (literally). I don't care what kind of day I'm having, all I have to do is traispe down to the ocean and all my cares and worries are lifted. It truly is a spiritual experience to be by the sea. Author of: Out of the Shadow
Book available: Amazon at amazon.com/dp/B00mPYM59C

Tell us a bit about yourself: I earned a graduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and worked as a psychotherapist for over 25 years. I have one prior novel published in genre and a play produced by the Actor’s Alliance Festival in San Diego. My poetry has been published in a compilation, For the Love of Writing, by the San Diego Writer's Workshop in 2011, and my play, Gotcha!, is being read at the Village Arts Theater in Carlsbad, California, in May 2012.

Tell us about your novel, Out of the Shadow: In telling someone else's story, you might unwittingly become apart of the plot. Out of the Shadow tells the story of two women caught in the same deadly web. Rebecca Rosen survives a rape and her husband's murder only to begin having flashbacks of childhood abuse...possibly at the hand of the rapist. She hires Psychologist, Dr. Sarah Abrams, to help her uncover the truth. Will they discover the perpetrator's identity time to save her life, or will she wind up at the mercy of this demented killer?

What sparked your passion for books and the art of a good story? I have always been a voracious reader. It's a joy to discover a good story and to allow my imagination transport me to another time and place. I remember my mother catching me late at night with a flashlight and a book under the covers. Reading is a lifelong passion.

Is there a particular book that changed or affected your life in a big way? There are so many books that have had a huge impact on me, it's hard to describe them all. My forth grade teacher, Mrs. Moore, would read to the class everyday after lunch. It's in her classroom that I discovered Charlotte's Web and The Princess and the Goblin. As an adolescent I fell in love with Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Buttler in Gone with the Wind and later found Hemingway and D. H. Lawrence. In college I was assigned Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness and discovered on my own the magical realism of Gabriel Garcia Marquez' One Hundred years of Solitude and Mikhail Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita. And the list goes on...

What was the seed of inspiration for Out of the Shadow? As a psychotherapist, I wanted to create a novel that was both entertaining, but also gave the reader insight into the therapeutic process as well as the characters' psychological makeup. One night in the dark my imagination took over. What if a stranger were to waltzed into my bedroom? Would I be able to see them? What could happen? Where would it lead? My answers were the ignition that started the engine of my story.

Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp? Yes, I'm hoping readers will track along with the main characters' struggles and evolution throughout the story and will gain deeper insight into the impact our early lives have over us. The main message is that we need to understand our past in order to be present for ourselves in the now. Not to dwell on the past, but rather to use it in a way that creates a meaningful and productive life.

Out of the Shadow is your second novel – is it different this time round? Definitely. I had my first novel, Kiva Fire (about to be re-released as The Spirit Keepers, 2013), published by an Internet publishing company in 2001. This was before Internet publishing had taken off and, while they did minimum promotion, there really wasn't much activity. Now I'm having the opportunity to publish a novel myself and take all the responsibility for maintenance of my website and other vehicles for self promotion. It's been a whirlwind of activity lately and has taken almost every moment of my time, but I love it. It gives me the chance to develop my own outreach and to really connect with people who are interested in my work. It's been a joy so far.

What challenges have you faced in your writing career? I think the most difficult challenge I've faced is the challenge of not fitting in with what is fashionable at the moment. I don't write to mimic the fad of the moment, I write because I'm moved to tell a story and I want to share it with others. I have had a number of agents and editors say they enjoyed my story or liked my writing, but they weren't sure they could sell it at the time. But now I can publish it myself and I don't have to try to copy the current trend.

What has been your best moment as a writer? I've had a number of great moments. The greatest are when someone reads my work and lets me know how much they enjoyed it. That's happened a lot lately since I posted the first chapter of my new mystery/suspense online. I write because I want to share my story with others and it's pure joy when they appreciate what I have to say.

Who is your author idol? I've listed many of my idols under the question about books that changed my life, but I can add a few recent names: Jodi Pincoult, Khalid Hosseini, Gillian Flynn, Abraham Berghese, to name a few.

Do you see yourself in any of your characters? Being a former psychotherapist, I can't help but see a little of myself in the Pscyhologist, Sarah Abrams. She's a smart and self-reliant woman who's had to deal with her own ghosts in order to become the best therapist she can be. Isn't that true for writers too. To paraphrase what Sarah says in the book, you can only take your characters as far as you have gone yourself.

Do you feel like your dream has come true or is there much more to do? Both. I am making my dream come true by publishing my novels, but I still have work to do, more stories to tell, once these books have found a home online.

What is your personal cure for procrastination? Frankly, I haven't found a real “cure,” but I fluxuate between periods of procrastination and attention to other demands in my life, to periods of intense writing. I know every writer has their own schedule and system, but mine seems to work for me. I think many writers are too consumed with worry they'll procrastinate or encounter writer's block. Rather than waste your energy worrying, it would be better used sitting in front of that computer and letting your imagination do the work.

What does your workspace look like? I have a small corner of a large second bedroom with a desk, file cabinet and a lumbar support chair. Nothing special at all. My belief is that the space isn't what's important, it's being in that space that counts.

Are there any occupational hazards to being a writer? The main occupational hazard, aside from a sore back and stiff fingers from typing all day, is the emotional let-down of dealing with rejection and criticism, sometimes fair, sometimes unfair. We as writer's need to develop a thick skin to cope with placing our work out into the public arena. Not everyone will like our work or rave about our latest effort. We have to expect negative reactions. I think using the criticism to shape and improve our writing is the most constructive way to deal with it.

Have you ever had a day when you just wanted to quit? A day? Only one? Sure there have been plenty of days when I've considered quitting, but it never lasts long. I'm not writing for the fame and fortune. I'm writing because I want and need to express myself and share my stories. This is my calling, not necessarily my conscious choice.

What do you do when you’re not writing? Too much. I run a business and do all the accounting, acquiring, hiring and, on ocassion, firing. And whenever I can, I sneak off to the gym for a quick workout or a walk by the beach. Life is full, but never too full to find time write when I'm so inclined.

What are the most important attributes to remaining sane as a writer? Finding time to write is numero uno. If I don't write, I begin to get an itch. It's a mental itch that nags at me until I scratch it by sitting down and working on a project. That takes persistence and focus and being able to set aside other distractions. It's not always easy to do, but if I want to remain somewhat sane, I have to do it.

What was the greatest thing you learned at school? The most important thing I learned at school is how to craft a story. I don't care whether you're writing fiction, non-fiction, articles or poems, story is at the basis of all good writing. All well-written stories follow a certain structure and must have conflict and tension. We intuitively absorb a mental concept of story from our exposure to it, but the true craft must be studied and analyzed. I also learned about human nature, about what makes us tick, which is essential to character development. In my opinion, a characters' motivation is what drives a story worth reading.

Did you have a moment when you realised you were meant to be a writer? Being an academic for so many years, I enjoyed writing papers, but lost the connection between the written word, imagination and creativity. It's only been in the last few years that I have once again discovered the joy of crafting a story, and known for certain it was what I had to do.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors? Of course the first piece of advice I'm sure they all hear is: Write. Just write. But I also advise any new writer to find fellow writers with whom to share their work. It's difficult, if not impossible, to write in a vacume and know if your work is any good. Look for critique groups, organizations, such as Romance Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, and classes. Feedback from others has moulded me into the writer I am today.

Wednesday Writers: Paulette Mahurin

As an aspiring author, it’s always good to hear stories of other people’s success. They inspire us to not procrastinate, and reassure us that there is a light at the end of that proverbial tunnel.

This week we meet author of The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap, Paulette Mahurin, who explores tragedy, loss, history, and the lessons we learn from it all.

Name: Paulette Mahurin
Location and one thing you love about living there: Ojai, CA is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I look out the windows or my home and see a park-like setting, replete with trees, growth, squirrels, birds, flowers…nature at its best. I live a vacation life.
Author of: The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap
Website: http://thepersecutionofmildreddunlap.wordpress.com/


Tell us a bit about yourself: I’m a nurse practitioner, specializing in women’s health in a clinic in Ojai, CA. Prior to that I worked in the busiest ER in LA County with the highest census of child abuse. You name it, I’ve seen it. I live with my husband, Terry (a retired NASA attorney) and our three dogs, rescued from a kill shelter: Eli (a choc lab), Max (a deformed rottie puppy) and Bella (a numbnutz rottie/sharpie puppy). I like to write, a lot, and therefore I write whenever I can. After moving to Ojai, 15 years ago, I was bitten by a tick, six months later I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease. God answered my prayer for time to write in a not-so-great-way, but the Lyme afforded me the time to sit, and sit, and sit, and six years later my novel was born.

Tell us about your novel: The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap takes place in 1895, in a small Nevada farming town. That was a year ripe with memorable history: the Dreyfus Affair divided France; Booker T. Washington gave his Atlanta address; Richard Olney, Unites States Secretary of State, expanded the Monroe Doctrine in settling a boundary dispute between the United Kingdom and Venezuela; and Oscar Wilde was tried and convicted for gross indecency under Britian’s recently passed law that made sex between males a criminal offense.

When the news of Wilde’s conviction when out over the telegraphs worldwide, it three a small Nevada town into chaos. This is a story of what happened when the lives of its citizens were impacted by the news of Wilde’s imprisonment, a lesbian couple in particular. It’s a chronicle of hatred and prejudice with all its unintended and devastating consequences, and how love and friendship bring strength and healing.

What sparked your passion for books and the art of a good story? My own emotions and interest. A story either grabs me, holds me, and carries me along or it doesn’t. Nothing erudite about it.

Is there a particular book that changed or affected your life in a big way? Vicktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning. If you’ve read it, this needs no explanation. It was his journey in a concentration camp, and after losing his entire family he watched and noted the strength of the  human spirit to survive in the worst of situations. Profound, deep, life changing words on each page, based on his experience which was spine chilling.

What was the seed of inspiration for your book? I took a writing class in Ojai. The Teacher, Deb Norton (a screenplay/stage play wright of The Whole Banana) came in one day with a stack of photos. We had ten minutes to write a mystery. My photo was two spinsterly looking women standing very close together.

Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp? Tolerance for the human condition and to see, beyond stupidity that, after-all, we’re all human.

What challenges have you faced in your writing career? Physical exhaustion and bodily incapacities when getting into some compelling parts. Other than that, I enjoy the process, even the painful feedback because it helped me learn about my insides.

What has been your best moment as a writer? Getting feedback that someone really loved the story. Then having that multiplied and a word of mouth wave was created, which resulted in a reading at The Ojai Art Center, a prestigious Art Center in California.

Who is your author idol? Too many to name. I like Steinbeck a lot.

Do you see yourself in any of your characters? There are parts of me in all of them.

Do you feel like your dream has come true or is there much more to do? It’s a process. There’s no dream involved, rather a life flow, and much gratitude for being able to do something I like/even love at times. I’ve known writing rapture and despair and I’d say that the dream is not to dream but to be awake in the process and float with the unknown, the "what’s next" while sitting in the experience of this live unfolding moment.

What is your personal cure for procrastination? That’s a hard one. Sometimes I wonder if the writing is doing itself. It happens - even sitting down to put in the time happens. I think, am I doing anything I can take credit for? Not really sure. I just do it. I sit. I write. I go off and do other things until I return to sit and write. A writer writes. That’s all. Doesn’t matter if it’s five minutes or five hours. It’s like asking someone about a successful diet; if we’re going to be real about it you tell me what works then see if it really works, outside of sitting my ass down before a computer/typewriter and doing.

What does your workspace look like? It’s a room with a desk, an office. Neat, pleasant, windows that look out at to trees.

Are there any occupational hazards to being a writer? My back hurts when I sit too much and I don’t get up and stretch enough.

Have you ever had a day when you just wanted to quit? Sure and on that day, I did. Then I restarted.

What do you do when you’re not writing? Spend time with my hubby and dogs. Help rescue dogs. Work as an NP, do a considerable amount of pro-bono health consultations for women with cancer and with other medical conditions that need a friend with experience.

What are the most important attributes to remaining sane as a writer? Don’t loose sight that you are human, and one step away from suffering or loss like the rest of the world – staying grounded in the experience is something to be grateful for, but nothing lasts and nothing is forever.

What was the greatest thing you learned at school? How to study. How to spend time researching. How to use time wisely.

Did you have a moment when you realised you were meant to be a writer? No. I don’t know that I’m meant to be a writer. I do know/feel that writing sits comfortably in my skin. I’ve tried acting, painting, and other right brain activities but none felt comfortable; they made me feel self-conscious, but that's not the case with writing.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors? A writer writes. Sit down and do it. And tell the critic in your head to go to silent retreat!

If you are an author and would like to be featured on You May Say I'm a Dreamer, email me at: sarah.hardie[at]hotmail.com and I'll get back to you.

Wednesday Writers: Emily Walker

As an aspiring author, it’s always good to hear stories of other people’s success. They inspire us to not procrastinate, and reassure us that there is a light at the end of that proverbial tunnel.

This week, we talk to Emily Walker about being consumed by the writing bug, living high in the mountains, and the other side of the zombie story.

Name: Emily Walker
Location and one thing you love about living there: I live in the mountains of North Carolina. I love my view! Look at it!

Author of: Zombified
Book available: In September

Website: http://www.selfpublishordie.com and http://www.selfpublishordiereviews.com

Tell us a bit about yourself: Let’s see. I am going to be twenty nine this year, eep! I live on top of a mountain with my boyfriend of nine years and work at the college I graduated from. In less than twenty days I take the GRE so I can go to grad school. I love to write and that is what I spend all of my spare time doing. I also run a blog where I talk to other authors and have fun learning all about their process and what goes through their minds.

Tell us about the book you have coming out in September: Zombified is a little different than other Zombie books because it follows the Zombie instead of the people running from them. You see Cassie deal with the invasion, become infected, and then try to make it after. I am very excited about it, and hope people will like it.

What sparked your passion for books and the art of a good story? I have always loved to read, and I have a very active imagination. I come up with story at the most random times and I just have to write it down. I think what sparked my passion is reading books by Robert Heinlein, and even Nora Roberts. I feel like these people are leaving something behind that will far outlast them, and that is what I want to do.

Is there a particular book that changed or affected your life in a big way? Honestly every book I read effects me. An example of this is I have lost a lot of people in my family in the past two years, and I recently read Michelle Muto’s book Don’t Fear the Reaper for review and loved it. It touched me because I was dealing with death that was fresh, and I think all books have that power to connect with something in your life.

What was the seed of inspiration for Zombified? I love Zombie movies, Zombieland and Sean of the Dead being two of my favourites. I just started to think about their perspective, and what it would be like to change into the Living Dead.

Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp? Really the only message is that Zombies have feelings too, which is ridiculous, but that is kind of what the book is saying in a roundabout way.

What challenges have you faced in your writing career? So far, time management. I have so many ideas going through my head and I just don’t know whether I am coming or going sometimes. I have to sit down and get really focused before I can do anything.

What has been your best moment as a writer? Starting my website has been my best moment so far. I love connecting with other writers and reading their work.

Who is your author idol? I have so many. I think Robert Heinlein inspires me the most, and is my idol. He wrote about things completely outside the box. He had multi-sexual characters and things that were far before his time in his books. His style of writing is something that some people cannot get into. My father had me read all of his books growing up and I have read a couple dozens of times.

Do you see yourself in any of your characters? Sometimes I write what I know into characters without even realizing it. I will go back and read over something Taryn says or Cassie thinks and I am like, that’s me!

Do you feel like your dream has come true or is there much more to do? There is so much more I want to do, and I want to write. My dream hasn’t come true yet, but I am getting there.

What is your personal cure for procrastination? The Pomodora Method. You work for twenty five minutes and then take a five minute break. I get so much done in that twenty five minutes because I am locked in.

What does your workspace look like? It is my bedroom and it is super clean because my boyfriend is a neat freak. Sometimes I go upstairs and write in the window overlooking the mountains, but most of the time I just sit in the bedroom floor or on the bed. A desk would be ideal!

Are there any occupational hazards to being a writer? Lack of sleep can be one. There are some nights where I stay up past the point of sanity because I am so into what I am writing.

Have you ever had a day when you just wanted to quit? Yes, there are some days where I go, what are you doing? I think, no one cares what you think, but then I push it away and keep going.

What do you do when you’re not writing? I work out. I love to work out even if it is the hardest workout ever. I challenge myself daily and it makes me feel good about myself.

What are the most important attributes to remaining sane as a writer? Have a sense of humour, and good friends that will be there when you need to talk through a scene.

What was the greatest thing you learned at school? I would say probably time management, because I have the attention span of a rock.

Did you have a moment when you realised you were meant to be a writer? I think it was when I was writing a book report for The Clockwork Orange and I had written thirty five pages for a ten page assignment.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors? Never give up, don’t be afraid to be controversial, and write every day. Even if it is just a couple of paragraphs, you are working towards your goal.

If you are an author and would like to be featured on You May Say I'm a Dreamer, email me at: sarah.hardie[at]hotmail.com and I'll get back to you.



Wednesday Writers: Brandi Salazar

As an aspiring author, it’s always good to hear stories of other people’s success. They inspire us to not procrastinate, and reassure us that there is a light at the end of that proverbial tunnel.

This week, we hear from Brandi Salazar, author of Spring Cleaning, who gets through the long list of a writers' occupational hazards with a sense of humour and bucketloads of confidence.

Name: Brandi Salazar
Location and one thing you love about living there: I have lived my entire life in Ohio. What I love about my area is that it represents a potpourri of cultures. Spring to fall, there are so many different celebrations happening from Greek to Polish festivals, and more. I have always found that a congregation of people laughing and having fun to be infectious. 
Author of: Spring Cleaning
Book available: When it is released, it will be available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords—and probably a few others, including, hopefully, Kobo.
Website: http://brandisalazar.weebly.com/

Tell us a bit about yourself: I am a wife and a mother of three wonderful children, and the owner of far too many animals. I suffer a terrible addiction to sweet tea and will probably end up in a rehab one day for the growing book hoarding problem, as well. I also enjoy photography, and would love to one day travel the world capturing all kinds of beautiful memories, but my true passion is editing. I am currently attending university to obtain the degrees needed to become a professional book editor (This does not mean I am, in any way, very good at editing my own stories!).

Tell us about Spring Cleaning: Spring Cleaning, which is due out at the end of August 2012, is about an abused woman who is trying to live under the radar while making a fresh start. When she learns her husband has been released from jail, she turns to the embrace of her new-and irresistibly attractive boss-for protection.

What sparked your passion for books and the art of a good story? My passion for writing has always been there, I think, just buried beneath the rigors of life. Once a friend of mine told me she had started up writing again, I felt the stirrings of anticipation. Once I started, I couldn’t stop.
My passion for reading and appreciation of a good story followed on the heels of my writing. Curious to see how everyone else did it, I picked up a book at the library and simply couldn’t put it down. Then one book turned into another, and before I knew it, my bookshelf was straining under the pressure.

Is there a particular book that changed or affected your life in a big way? Early in my own writing, I picked up the first book in the Vampire Huntress series, and was completely swept away by it. The characters were so complicated and deliciously formed, the plots ingenious, and I said, “I want to write like that!” I don’t think I have, or ever will, come close to its perfection, but I strive for it every day.

What was the seed of inspiration for Spring Cleaning? Sometimes, between racking my brain for the next chapter in a book and going insane with the lack of ideas, I simply cast it aside and write something—anything—that comes to mind. Spring Cleaning was a result of one of these moments. I sat down and just spilled out a chapter. Then I wasn’t sure where exactly it would go, so it was cast aside for a couple years until I finally came back with some solid ideas to throw at it.

Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp? Yes. This book is geared toward female readers, but I think the message can also be appreciated by the male persuasion. I think it has a couple of messages really. First, I want women to recognize that abuse can come in all forms and, although it is never their fault if it is, in fact, a reality they live in, it is also a symptom of something greater. Patterns of abuse are exactly that, patterns, and I want them to recognize that. Second, it’s important to recognize your own bad behavior and own it. All too often people are quick to blame others rather than look too closely at themselves.

What challenges have you faced in your writing career? Time is always a challenge. Balancing family, education, and writing can be tricky. There is far more that goes into writing that I ever could have imagined, but I think one of the biggest challenges is finding the strength to put myself out there to being criticised and being able to walk away relatively intact.

What has been your best moment as a writer? Hands down, the best moments are when someone comes to me privately and says how much they enjoyed my work. I am my own worst critic, so when someone outside of my circle (and my head) can say that what I did was great or inspiring, it feels especially amazing and wonderful and all that sappy stuff.

Who is your author idol? Hmm, there are so many, but I think the one that stands out the most is J. R. Ward. To me, she is a picture of exactly what I want to be—a powerful, successful, intelligent and talented woman.

Do you see yourself in any of your characters? Oh yes. I think I have imparted something of myself in all of my characters. Whether they are brainy, kooky, witty, self-absorbed, a little crazed or shy, it all came from the mind that knows it first-hand.

Do you feel like your dream has come true or is there much more to do? I’m close, I think, but not there yet. My goals and aspirations are always evolving, but right now I am focused on my goal of becoming an editor. Once I reach that goal, I am sure I will set a new one—something small, like taking over the world!

What is your personal cure for procrastination? Usually to procrastinate some more. The best solution, which is pretty flimsy if you ask me, is to just thrust myself at whatever I need to stop procrastinating over and hope something good comes of it. Sometimes, however, the drive just isn’t there and a solid day of doing nothing can be the best cure to getting back on track than anything else.

What does your workspace look like? Very neat and organized…if you overlook the stack of reference books, notebook, pen, drinks and snacks piled everywhere.

Are there any occupational hazards to being a writer? -Daydreaming is definitely a problem. Zoning out on a perfectly good conversation because the person said something totally innocent that I suddenly realized I could use in one of my stories, then go off on a mental tangent organizing the whole scene for when I get a moment to sit down and write it out when I should be listening.
-Breaking down every movie I watch into a book narration, each step and facial expression being noted in detail in my mind and filed away for later use.
-When my extensive vocabulary sometimes leaks its way into general conversation and I have to watch as people’s eyes glaze over.
-I mentally edit everything people say to make it better, more exciting.
-Losing sleep because my mind starts spinning out the plotline of my most recent story idea and isn’t satisfied until I have the whole novel cooked up, right down to the conversations.
-Never being alone inside my own head because my characters are pushing and shoving, vying for their chance to be heard.
I think that’s about it…

Have you ever had a day when you just wanted to quit? All the time! Sometimes I get too close to a project and I start to think, who would even want to read this? Heaven forbid if someone doesn’t like it. It just reaffirms my suspicions that it was bad. But then I realize that it’s all relative and I remind myself to take me too seriously. It all passes in time and I am back on the wagon ready and willing to get cracking on the next idea.

What do you do when you’re not writing? Reading. I have a growing stack of books waiting for those moments when I am free from all responsibility, and I take full advantage of it.

What are the most important attributes to remaining sane as a writer? Have a sense of humor—keep it light and fun. Be willing to take risks. Try new things, branch out, don’t pigeonhole yourself. Be patient. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Confidence. You are better than you give yourself credit for. Humility. Don’t get too big for your britches. There is always going to be someone out there who does it better, and that’s okay.

What was the greatest thing you learned at school? That we all possess strengths and weaknesses. Where you are weak, you strive to improve, and where you are strong, you strive to help others improve.

Did you have a moment when you realised you were meant to be a writer? No. I am still not sure I was meant to be a writer. I just know I am enjoying the experience and content just to go along for the ride.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors? Believe in yourself. No matter what, never stop writing. Learn to be accepting of criticism. Sometimes it can be a learning experience, once you get over the initial rage, that is.