Sadie S. Forsythe - The Weeping Empress

We are very pleased to have Sadie S. Forsythe with us today. She is promoting her book The Weeping Empress.

Where do you currently live?

Manchester, England, though I grew up in and out of the South-Eastern United States.

Tell us a little bit about your life.

By my life I assume you mean my upbringing and such. I had a somewhat unconventional childhood. We moved around a lot, so I was lucky enough to see a lot of American culture. There is a surprising amount of regional variation. I have often drawn on this wealth of experience in my writing. It also means that I am quite used to being the outsider of a group. As a result I tend to think little of the cultural distance between others and myself. This has come in useful as an adult. After university I spent seven years working in child abuse investigations. This is a job that would have been extremely difficult if I wasn’t able to clearly distinguish between practices that are simply foreign to myself and those that are patently abusive. The years I spent working with the families involved with the welfare system definitely affects my writing. It provides a well of hopeless, despair I would never have been able to reproduce without it. Though this is not to suggest that I saw no successes or heart-warming moments too.

When did you first start writing?

This is actually hard for me to answer. I’ve always been a reader, and I tell myself stories almost constantly. But it wasn’t until relatively recently that I started consistently writing them down. The problem is that I’ve felt like a writer for a lot longer than I have actually been writing.

What was your very first story about?

The first story I actually wrote down was when I was in my early teens. It was during one of the family’s frequent moves. I was stuck in the back seat for days as we drove from Tennessee to Washington State, and I hand wrote about 90 pages. I vaguely remember it to have been about a concubine who became a warrior. I guess I had already developed my penchant for strong female leads.

Have you written anything that you were too afraid to let anyone read?

I’m afraid to let people read everything I write. I am chronically insecure about it, but I just force myself to take a deep breath and move forward.

Did you experience anything you’ve written yourself?

Since I write fantasy that would be a little difficult. However, I think some of my personal worldviews slip into my stories from time to time.

Who are several of your greatest literary inspirations?

There are far too many to list, but I’ll try. I have to start with Anne McCaffrey simply because she was the first author to really grab me by the lapel and refuse to let go. It has probably been twenty years since I read my first Pern book, and I can still recite The Watchwher song. I admire Isaac Asimov for the way he could write stories almost fifty years apart with the same narrative voice. Frank Herbert’s ability to create an atmosphere that just absorbs the reader is definitely inspiration worthy. Lastly, all of the Bronte sisters deserve an honorable mention simply for being who and what they were, when they were.

What education have you received, and how has that affected your writing?

A fair amount is the short answer to this. I started college at seventeen, got a Bsc in Anthropology with minors in Comparative Religion and Archaeology. I wanted to be Indiana Jones, though any Archaeologist worth his salt will tell you Jones is a tomb raider, not an Archaeologist. I then moved across the pond to the UK and completed an MA in International Criminology. After a number of years as a professional I returned to university for an Msc in Social Change. I’m not done yet. One day I will be Dr. Forsythe. I may be 90 by then, but I am nothing if not persistent. My education absolutely comes through in my writing. It affects my choice of language, the way I, and by extension my characters, approach a problem, and complexity of issues I address.

How much research time customarily goes into your projects?

I don’t do a lot of up front research for a story, or at least not for the stories I have written so far. However, I tend to do a lot of spot research to verify things as I go.

Who is your favorite literary character?

I don’t know that I have a favorite literary character, but I have a favorite character type. It’s the extremely strong male who hides his strength behind the façade of a bumbling idiot. Though not one of my favorites, Clark Kent/Superman would be an example everyone could recognize.

Who is your favorite character of your own creation?

This is hard to answer. It’s kind of like being asked to choose between your best friends. It is probably Senka from The Weeping Empress, but it’s hard to consider Senka on his own because he and Muhjah are so intertwined. I love the way he is so comfortable in his own skin. He’s damaged and he knows it, but it doesn’t hold him back. He depends of Muhjah to provide him with what he lacks and that is enough.

If you were ever to write an autobiography, what would its title be?
Barefoot in the City - I generally consider myself an earthy, natural kind of gal, but reality seems to be determined keeps me among the metros. I sneak out to slip my naked toes in the grass, have been known to dance in the rain and under the full moon.

Tell us about your featured book.

The Weeping Empress is my first novel. I’m really excited about it. It’s an epic fantasy about a modern woman who becomes the subject of scrutiny when she is named fulfiller of an arcane prophecy in a previously unknown land. Scared and uncertain of her immediate future she joins forces with two local troublemakers. Together they try to change their fates.

While it should appeal to adult lovers of fantasy and fiction, it will be especially appealing to those who appreciate Japanese manga or anime. Such readers will feel right at home in the atmosphere of Dashkalil.

Why did you write that?

The initial seed came from an off-hand comment about the often encountered plotline in which some pure, good-hearted young girl is magically whisked to a far away land to save the world (usually with her untainted love). I commented that these girls never seem to mind. They leave home, family, and friends behind without a second thought, adjusting easily to their new surroundings. I wondered aloud how a real woman, one with something to loose, would deal with the situation. “I might just go mad.” I said. And so a story was born. I had to walk a delicate line to avoid creating just one more of the very plotlines I was wishing to parody, but I think I accomplished it.

Is there anything special you would like your potential readers to know?

In my spare time I study Japanese, and the Japanese have a charming habit of asking, “Please take care of me” when they meet new people. I am humbled by the reception The Weeping Empress has thus far received, and would ask that the readers continue to treat it (and me) with such kindness.

What’s a negative trait about other people that you most notice, or that bothers you the most?

I dislike it when people feel the need to one-up all the time. If you won $10, he won $12. If you ran 5 miles, she ran 6 – that kind of thing.

Do you ever notice it in yourself?

I don’t think I do this. I am conscious that sometimes in an attempt to relate to people I try to share similar stories to theirs, and if I do this too much it could come across as one-upmanship. But as I am aware of it, I generally manage to keep myself within acceptable limits.

Do you own any kind of art collection?

I don’t, thought I do own a number of signed Audrey Kawasaki prints. I would happily collect her art if only I could afford it.

What is the hardest thing about growing up?

Loosing the excuse to do ridiculous things. The young can dress up in costume, or stay up all night, or sing at the top of their voice at the bus stop without being thought loony. Such behavior is overlooked with an amused, though admittedly condescending “oh, they’re just young.”

Was it worth it?

Absolutely, I don’t know about others, but when I was young I didn’t have the confidence to do such things. I was shy and awkward. As an adult I may have to moderate my behavior, but I am much more comfortable with who and what I am.

What is something you absolutely must have in your kitchen?

Good coffee. I don’t care if I have to make it in a pan and drink it out of a bowl as long as it is good, smooth coffee.

What is pain to you?

A sign that something in wrong – I don’t like pain or anything, but I also don’t consider it a wholly bad thing.

What is your dream house?

My father was a builder, who spent most of his free time remodeling whatever house we lived in. I was extremely lucky to live in some practical pieces of art. He had a very Frank Lloyd Wright like style. My dream home would be one built by him, on a couple of acres, near running water and a small forest…with fast internet.

Where would you want this house located in our wide world?

Middle Tennessee - I want to travel and see the world, but when it is time to settle down I want to be close to family.

You’ve been forced under various circumstances to choose a personal motto. What is it?

There is pleasure sure in being mad which none but madmen know. John Dryden said it first, but I think it is fabulous.

Have you ever received a present you really hated? If so, what was it?

Years ago there was a large teddy-bear shaped candle that was being passed around the family as a Christmas present. Whoever got it the first time, and I don’t even know who it was, hated it and so did everyone else. It became a joke, so getting the bear for the year became a laugh.

What’s the first thing you would do if you could become invisible?

Freak out, I rather like my corporeal form.

Do you ever have recurring dreams? What is your most common one about?

I used to. They were really frightening, often about questions of what constitutes true evil. I was too young to be facing such questions though, so they just scared me.

What is the kindest thing that anyone has ever done for you?

I don’t know what the kindest thing might have been, but the most recent thing to give my heart a little flutter was an airmailed box of pastry. I wasn’t able to make it home for the holidays this year. Every Christmas my Aunty makes fabulous Viennese Almond Pinks. They are one of my all time favorite things. She wrapped, boxed and paid the exorbitant price to express a small box of pinks to me as a surprise. I wanted to cry I was so happy.

Our special thanks to Sadie for taking the time to answer our questions. Her book can be found in eBook and paperback format. Start with the link below.

Marta Szemik - Two Halves

Marta Szemik is with us today to tell us about her book Two Halves.

Where do you currently live?
Small town of Cambridge, Ontario, Canada.

Tell us a little bit about your life.
Most of my day is simple, but busy. My schedule revolves around the kids, their activities, school, homework, writing, cooking. And, I’m grateful my hubby does most of the cleaning. One consistency, every morning is a cup of coffee and 10-15 minutes to myself before the kids wake up. This means no making lunches or finishing chores. Just 10-15 minutes of quiet to gather my thoughts.

When did you first start writing?
I learned how to write in grade 1, but I don’t think that’s what you meant :) My writing career began very suddenly in March 2009. After being inspired, I woke up in the morning, sat down at the computer and decided I would write a novel. From the first word, I knew I would finish. I was certain I would finish. There was nothing else I’d ever wanted more that day than to finish the novel and that drive kept me going until today. The difference is that I not only want to write, I need to write.

What was your very first story about?
Honestly, I don’t remember. But I’ve been a story teller for a long time. I think this has a lot to do with growing up in a country where there weren’t too many toys so kids had to satisfy themselves with playing with sticks, grass, rocks and mud, as well as telling stories.

Have you written anything that you were too afraid to let anyone read?
Yes, I’ve written a bit in a different genre and only showed it to hubby. He likes it. Perhaps it will be the next step?

Did you experience anything you’ve written yourself?
A lot of the stuff I write about is what I’d like to experience. Like zipping through the rainforest in the Amazon, swimming in a turquoise pond no one else has ever swam in, or what I call vortexing. In my novel some can travel great distances through a vortex in a matter of minutes (but the novel has nothing to do with science fiction).

Who are several of your greatest literary inspirations?
J.R.R. Tolkien. The world created in The Lord of the Rings has me gasping each time I read it. As a reader you feel like you’re right there with the characters. That’s what I strive to do as well.

What kind of education have you received, and how has that affected your writing?
I have an Honours BA in Economics (Financial Analysis). On top of that, securities courses, financial management diploma, real estate licence, appraisal courses and a Pilates Instructor certification. I think I’ve been looking to find what I love for a while and I wished I’d figured I’m better at using the right side of my brain (creative) than the left (logic). That’s not to say I’m not logical or bad at those other jobs!

How much research time customarily goes into your projects?
It depends on the work, its setting and general concept. If it’s pure fiction, the great thing is that you can make your own worlds. I am working on another novel (or four) that will require me to travel to one of the hotels in NY. Anything that’s real in the novels needs to be researched thoroughly.

Who is your favorite literary character?
Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit.

Who is your favorite character of your own creation?
At this time it’s a shapeshifter named Xander. I liked him so much, I let him hijack my novella. He completely took over and I had to write what he wanted me to. To the point, when I felt some scenes were too ‘risqué’, he wouldn’t let me delete them. I left the scenes in, because it was him. Anything different would have been a lie.

If you were ever to write an autobiography, what would its title be?
Dreams Do Come True.

Tell us about your featured book.
Two Halves is my debut novel. It’s about half-breed vampires (the only two in the world) accepting their destiny to save the human, vampire and warlock species from a demonic takeover and ultimately extinction. Gosh, that sounds darker than it is. The story evolves as the main character Sarah, learns about her vampiric side, one she has denied since birth, suppressing her instincts with serums. It’s a coming of age story but instead of transitioning to adulthood, she transitions from the human world to a half-breed world, which are not as different as she thought they were.

Why did you write that?
I was inspired by Stephenie Meyer. After seeing Twilight, I researched the author, read her biography and felt connected. The next morning I sat down to write a novel. From the first word I knew I would finish. I didn’t know how long it would take me, but I knew I would finish.

Is there anything special you would like your potential readers to know?
I hope my characters stay with you for as long as they have stayed with me.

Where is the one place you’ve traveled where you’ve felt most like you fit in?
Disney in Florida. It was the one place that brought out the kid in me. Loved it and felt very comfortable there. But to steal Dorothy’s line, there’s no place like home.

What activity or hobby, besides writing, do you find most enjoyable?
Skiing, absolutely skiing.

What was your favorite childhood toy?
Didn’t have many, so instead of a toy, I’d have to say my hamster. I loved my hamster over all the toys.

What is your most valued personal possession in life? Who gave it to you?
My wedding band. And of course, my husband gave it to me.

If you lost the ability to see every color but one, which one would it be?
Black, because if I remember correctly from science, black contains all the colours so I’d hope to be able to separate them within the black and see after all. (This is the nerd in me talking)

How do you treat people you’re not fond of?
Kill them with politeness and sarcasm. I love sarcasm and I’m way too good at it.

What is hiding in your closet as we speak?
You don’t want to know, because I don’t even know. But I’m sure it rhymes with ‘tess’. I hate closets. I need them closed at night, and it’s not because of monsters. It’s just something I’d always had to do.

What do you see as your greatest achievement?
My kids. Nothing will ever be better. Second to my kids, my published books.

What, to you, is absolutely wrong?
Not saying ‘excuse me’ after burping and when someone doesn’t give up their seat for the elderly.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
When you’re having bad day, think, “even this shall pass.”

If you had to explain the concept of “love” to someone who’s never heard of it before, how would you?
An eighty year old couple strolling through a park, holding hands.

What about “hate?”
Too dark to describe that one, but it has something to do with not respecting someone else’s life.

You’ve decided to buy an exotic pet, what do you go for?
Monkey, because of Pippi Longstocking. I loved her witty monkey.

What do you classify as an “Adventure?”
Trying something I’d never done before.

If you could learn one new thing instantly, what would it be?
Sign language.

Finish this sentence. “I sometimes find it hard to…”
Open up to others in fear I will not be accepted. This is when I am thankful for the internet and social media. It’s easier to express myself in writing than in person.

Our very special thanks to Marta for being so generous with her time. Her book can be found below, where your cursor should be...clicking.

Keira Michelle Telford - SILVER: Acheron (A River of Pain)

Keira Michelle Telford is with us today to promote her book SILVER: Acheron (A River of Pain.)

Where do you currently live?
British Columbia, Canada.

Tell us a little bit about your life.
I’m a British ex-pat, born and raised in Worcester, UK. As a child, my favorite toy was an old badger trap. Since I have no siblings, while I was growing up the only thing standing between me and boredom was my imagination – and it got a LOT of exercise. I had so many invisible ‘characters’ in my repertoire, I was never alone.

When did you first start writing?
I’m pretty sure I was born with a Parker fountain pen stuck up my bum. I’ve been writing since before I can remember, but in those early days it was a lot of poetry about birds and nature and how cute bunnies were.

What was your very first story about?
It was so long ago, but the earliest one I remember clearly was a micro-fiction story about a girl who was standing on a mountaintop and saw a UFO. It was called ‘Oval’, and it was probably quite terrible.

Have you written anything that you were too afraid to let anyone read?
Not unless you count the really ancient material from the years when I was still developing as a writer. Much of it is horrifyingly bad, and I’d die of shame if anyone ever saw it. In particular, I used to write a lot of X Files fanfic, much of it involving Mulder and Scully professing their undying love for one another. I guess that’s pretty embarrassing.

Did you experience anything you’ve written yourself?
There’s a grain of truth in everything. When you’re a kid and you’re in English class and you’re being taught how to write creatively, you’re told to ‘write what you know’. The best way to find the raw emotion in anything is to draw it out from someplace real. Here and there I scatter random truths in my books, expanded upon and fleshed out, some details tweaked slightly. One such random truth appears in Entropy (due out this May), in which a little five-year-old girl keeps a dead bird in a plastic box and checks on it every day, watching it decompose until finally there’s nothing left but bone and feathers.

I am that five-year-old girl.

Who are several of your greatest literary inspirations?
Dante Alighieri (The Divine Comedy – where the title of my book, Acheron, comes from), Edgar Allan Poe (who made me believe in undying love), Fyodor Dostoevsky (especially his book Crime & Punishment, the themes of which inspired my second book in the Silver Series, The Lost & Damned). And there are many others: Oscar Wilde, Sadegh Hedayat, Samuel Beckett. I don’t read very much contemporary fiction.

What kind of education have you received, and how has that affected your writing?
I’ve got a background in biology, and canine behavioural sciences – both of which helped me to create the Chimera in my books. They’re genetic freaks, and knowing a little bit about biology helped a tonne when I was trying to figure out their morphology. And I utilized my education in animal behaviour to give them a realistic set of vocalizations and behaviours. In actual fact, the behaviour of the Chimera is entirely based upon guinea pigs.

How much research time customarily goes into your projects?
It’s an ongoing thing. I watch a lot of documentaries on biology, evolution, quantum mechanics and other science topics. I’m constantly making notes on things I think might become relevant as the Silver Series develops. Anything that catches my interest, I’ll go and buy a few books on the subject and learn more. Before I write a new scientific element into a book, I’ll research it to make sure I fully understand it before I put pen to paper.

Whether it’s how to make C-4 explosives, or how to cook crystal meth, I’ll spend anywhere from an hour to several days exploring the science behind something before it gets a place in one of my chapters.

Who is your favorite literary character?
Sherlock Holmes. Intellect is sexy.

Who is your favorite character of your own creation?
Ella ‘Silver’ Cross, from the Silver Series of books. Ella has become almost like my alter-ego. Sometimes I feel like I know more about her than I do about myself. She’s incredibly strong, and I admire that in her.

If you were ever to write an autobiography, what would its title be?
Living Left of Main.

Tell us about your featured book.
SILVER: Acheron (A River of Pain) is the first book in the Silver Series. Set more than 300yrs in the future, the series takes place in a post-apocalyptic, dystopian world where humans are a species on the brink of extinction. No longer at the top of the food chain, humans are preyed upon by the Chimera – genetic mutants that outnumber humankind 25:1.

Silver is a Hunter – and she’s the best in the city. She’ll risk her life in the pursuit of a human resurgence on Earth... but there’s a problem. When we meet her in Acheron, she’s been dishonorably charged from the Hunter Division, and banished for crimes she didn’t commit.

Left for dead in a segregated area of the city called the Fringe District, she’s surrounded by murderers, thieves and rapists. Starving, and desperate for money, she reluctantly accepts the Police Division’s invitation to enroll in a covert Bounty Hunter program.

And so the adventure begins...

Why did you write that?
The idea for the Silver Series had been circulating in my head for over a decade. The Lost & Damned was actually written first, as a script, and the series expanded from there. Acheron was conceived because Ella Cross’ banishment is an incredibly significant event in her life, and it seemed like the perfect place to introduce readers to her character.

Is there anything special you would like your potential readers to know?
The Silver Series is a love story. It’s a tale of the passionate, enduring love between Ella Cross and the man she’s been in love with since she was fifteen years old – Alexander King. A love that would be much simpler, were it not for Ella’s childhood friend, the charming womanizer, Luka Kinsella.

What’s a negative trait about other people that you most notice, or that bothers you the most?
Narrow-mindedness.

Do you ever notice it in yourself?
I’ve got many flaws... but that’s not one of them

Do you own any kind of art collection?
I have a massive collection of art. My house is filled with it. My father was an artist, so I have many of his original paintings. I have a collection of old etchings, many of which were part of his collection before I inherited them. I have some contemporary art, too. My contemporary collections includes a few works by Angelina Wrona, a Canadian artist. And in my office I have all of the art for my books, made into canvas prints. For that art, I have to thank the enormously talented artist Kitt Lapeña. His skill blows my mind.

What is something you absolutely must have in your kitchen?
Crunchy Nut Cornflakes. I would die without them.

What is pain to you?
A broken heart.

You’ve been forced under various circumstances to choose a personal motto. What is it?
Don’t dream it, be it. (Stolen from the Rocky Horror Picture Show).

Do you ever have recurring dreams? What is your most common one about?
I sometimes have sex dreams involving Brent Spiner (aka, Data from Star Trek TNG). How much of a nerd does that make me?

What’s the first thing you would do if you could become invisible?
Sometimes I think I am invisible.

Our thanks to Keira for taking the time to answer our questions. Please, seek out her work below.

Jennifer Rainey - These Hellish Happenings

 Today, we have Jennifer Rainey with us. She is promoting her book These Hellish Happenings.

Where do you currently live?
Southern Ohio.

Tell us a little bit about your life.
I have an English degree and a minor in Spanish, and I work at a well-known department store (college is expensive; make that degree count!). I’m also in a folk band where I sing and play the piano. I’m a cat person, I occasionally go ghost hunting, and my favorite movie is A Hard Day’s Night.

When did you first start writing?
I’ve been writing in one way or another since I was about twelve and I started writing fan-fiction. Yes! Go ahead! Laugh! But it was actually a really nice way to learn the ropes of storytelling and get feedback on my writing very early on. I’ve been writing original fiction predominantly since I was about sixteen.

What was your very first story about?
The first piece of original fiction I remember writing was essentially Robin Hood in Hell! It never had a title, I’m afraid.

Have you written anything that you were too afraid to let anyone read?
I would be horrified if anyone found the aforementioned Robin Hood in Hell story, haha! Also, like I said, I used to write a lot of fanfiction. I’d cry myself to sleep if some of that made it into the light of day.

Did you experience anything you’ve written yourself?
Little bits and pieces of things I experience make it into my writing all the time! Like I said, I work in a department store and one of the short stories in my upcoming collection was seriously inspired by my experiences, both good and bad. My writer eyes are always open no matter where I go. I’m always paying attention because I never know when I’m going to run into the next situation or little detail that I could fit into my writing.

Who are several of your greatest literary inspirations?
Aldous Huxley, Neil Gaiman, F. Scott Fitzgerald and recently Ray Bradbury immediately come to mind.

What kind of education have you received, and how has that affected your writing?
I have my BA in English from The Ohio State University (and no, I don’t care about football!). When I was studying at university, I tried to take away a writing lesson or two from many of the writers I studied. I was never simply looking at a piece from the standpoint of literary analysis; I was also looking at it as a writer.

How much research time customarily goes into your projects?
That depends on the project, I’d say. For These Hellish Happenings, I did a lot of research on Hell mythology, and then ignored it. Haha! For that book, I was really focusing on reinventing Hell, but it helped to have done the research.

Who is your favorite literary character?
Sherlock Holmes. I’ve been on Team Sherlock since I was about 11.

Who is your favorite character of your own creation?
I’ve always been fond of Alex Ridner, my demon character in These Hellish Happenings. He’s this outwardly snarky and arrogant go-getter who secretly wants nothing more than to abandon his position in Hell and be human. He’s always fun to write, but recently I’ve been falling in love with Erasmus Bramble, the protagonist of my next novel, Green-Eyed. He’s a very anachronistic character and something of a mad scientist, and I adore writing him.

If you were ever to write an autobiography, what would its title be?
“Jennifer Rainey Who?”

Tell us about your featured book.
These Hellish Happenings is about the poor sap who has to work at the Registration Office of Hell. The book follows Jack, my protagonist, as he lives, loves and works in Hades. The book is darkly comical, and it’s definitely good for someone who is looking for a read that’s a little quirky.

Why did you write that?
I wrote it for so many reasons. For one, I love Hell and Hell mythology. For another, I love writing comedy. The idea of the book really appealed to me. I loved humanizing this place that’s supposed to be very scary and epic. The Hell in the book is very similar to our own world, but with these little hellish touches. It was so much fun to write!

What is your favorite season of the year, and what makes it so?
Autumn. The food is great, the fashion is great, the weather is great and it’s got Halloween going for it. It’s perfect!

When you think of the word “Writer” what comes to mind?
A lonely individual hunched over a typewriter in a cramped apartment. That is the very first thing I think of. Is that horrible?

If you could pick one thing about yourself that would be passed onto your (imaginary/actual) child, what would it be?
I have a fantastic bullcrap detector. I don’t buy into things that are “trendy” or “the flavor of the month.” I can see what’s really important in a situation. I’m not planning on having any kids, but if I did have one, this is what I’d want him or her to get from me.

How about one thing about yourself that you absolutely wouldn’t want passed on?
I am a massive worry-wart! I would not not wish my compulsive worrying upon anyone!

If you had to live in another time period, which one would you choose?
The 1920s. I’ve been positively in love with that decade since I was a teenager and I discovered F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Of course now we know what comes at the end of the 1920s, so if I retained that knowledge when I went back in time, I doubt I could be terribly carefree!

Name one movie that always has a huge effect on you. Why do you think that is?
A Hard Day’s Night. I first watched it when I was 11, and I felt at the time that it was the first movie I had ever watched that was “adult,” purely because I didn’t understand half of the script! I felt classy watching that movie when I was a kid, and I as I grew up, it really affected my sense of humor and my sense of what is aesthetically pleasing. I still love black and white movies and early 60s style, and it’s still my favorite movie. I’m a huge Beatles fan, though.

What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to try, but never have?
Poutine. I can’t tell if I think it’d be awesome or bizarre or both.

What is your favorite thing to do when you have a day to yourself?
I enjoy just writing! When I know I’m going to have a solid block of time to myself with no interruptions, I just want to write. It can be very difficult finding time to write.

First thing you’d do if you were handed a million dollars?
I’d ask, “What’s the catch?”

What was/is your favorite thing about your childhood home?
Its location. It is only 20 minutes from downtown, but also only 20 minutes from parks and nature trails. So, when I was growing up, I really got to experience the best of both worlds. I could go see a concert one night and head out to do some hiking the next day.


Our thanks to Jennifer for being with us. Please find her work below and don't be shy with your clicking finger.

Karina Kantas - Huntress

Karina Kantas is with us today to tell us about her book Huntress.

Where do you currently live?
Corfu Greece

Tell us a little bit about your life.
I'm from the midlands UK. I moved to Greece after meeting my (now) husband while on holiday here. We have two girls, one is 8 and the other is 2 and a half.

When did you first start writing?
I've been writing stories since high school. Probably since 15-16

What was your very first story about?
I think my first ever story was about a fairground ride the Waltzer that spun so fast it flew off the ride and into the future. The two riders then had a great adventure.

Have you written anything that you were too afraid to let anyone read?
Some erotica. I don't let anyone read it.

Did you experience anything you’ve written yourself?
Write about what you know, there's less research that way. And you can get a lot of closure by writing about the past. Yes, my experiences are always mixed in with my writing.

What kind of education have you received, and how has that affected your writing?
I passed my GCSE then went onto college and did a diploma in sales and admin. So my education hasn't had an impact to my writing.

How much research time customarily goes into your projects?
It all depends on what genre I'm working on. and what is happening with the plot. For example Stone Cold which is a supernatural thriller, is based in Scotland, so I researched where this was to take place, culture and food it also has archaeology involved so I have to research that as well as the supernatural element. Thanks to the internet it doesn't take too long.

Who is your favorite character of your own creation?
Ice. She's one of the Kittnz from Lawless Justice my vigilante urban thriller. She's tough and smart but she struggles to lead a double life.

If you were ever to write an autobiography, what would its title be?
Life As She Knows It.

Tell us about your featured book.
Huntress is my latest urban thriller published by MMP. It's about a female journalist who goes undercover in an outlaw motorcycle club, hoping to get revenge for what the club did to her family.

Why did you write that?
My fans begged me for a sequel to In Times of Violence but I didn't want to continue with Jade and Marcus's story. This was a closed chapter. They had left the bikers lifestyle behind and although they attempted to stop their daughter Sofi from living the lifestyle, it was in her blood.

Is there anything special you would like your potential readers to know?
I write about life. What is was like and what it is like now. I don't bend the truth and I don't sugar coat it either. My novels are fast paced exciting reads. I hope you enjoy them.

If you could pick one thing about yourself that would be passed onto your child, what would it be?
Artistic talent, which my eight year old is already displaying. She has a great voice, (like her mum) and her art is very abstract.

Name one movie that always has a huge effect on you. Why do you think that is?
There are two. The Outsiders and The Lost Boys. Both are about rebel teenagers trying to find themselves, and both have delicious eye candy. Just the brotherhood and friendship and how the movie makes you feel for these bad boys. The characters are unforgettable.

What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to try, but never have?
Jumping out a an airplane but it would never happen. I'd never be able to get my foot out the door.

What is your favorite thing to do when you have a day to yourself?
Sleep. I'm a night person so I could sleep all day if I had the chance. And that's when I come up with my best ideas.

When were you most scared in your life, and why?
I'm petrified of earthquakes. Anytime the house shakes I end up in tears.

What is the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen?
My two children as I held them in my arms for the first time.

You’ve been given the opportunity to give a televised speech which will be broadcast on all networks, what do you speak about?
The corruption in Greece. I will speak on behalf of the Greek people and the ex pats that live here. Now's the time to be heard.

What was/is your favorite thing about your childhood home?
I miss the UK summer fetes and festivals. I used to love summer in England.

First thing you’d do if you were handed a million dollars?
I would book a world cruise as it's a big place and I haven't had a chance to see any of it yet. And then buy a place in the Lake District UK where I could go and work on my novels without interruptions.


A very big thanks to Karina for being with us. Please click your way over to her novel below.

Aris Whittier - Across Eternity

Today, we are pleased to feature Aris Whittier and her novel Across Eternity.

What is your name?
Aris Whittier

Where do you currently live?
In Beautiful Northern California

Tell us a little bit about your life.
Here’s the short condensed version, I’m married and have two amazing children. I love coffee and adore animals. I am addicted to Thai food. I love to shoot guns. I do yoga every morning. And I love to write.

When did you first start writing?
I actually began writing my first novel in college. It wasn’t for a course—I just happened to be inspired at that time. I never had aspirations of becoming a writer it just happened.

What was your very first story about?
The first story I ever wrote was my first novel, Fatal Embrace. When I was a kid I didn’t write that much, I was too busy running around and playing outside. I grew up in the country and rarely was indoors. There were just too many trees to climb, too many forts to build, and too many blackberries to pick!

Did you experience anything you’ve written yourself?
Yes, I’ve experienced a few things I’ve written about. It’s been said write what you know. Fatal Embrace’s setting is centered around a horse ranch. I grew up riding horses.

What kind of education have you received, and how has that affected your writing?
I have an AA and BA and to be honest I don’t think it’s affected my writing all that much. Yes, in college I had to write essays but I don’t think its help my creativity and my passion for writing.

Who is your favorite character of your own creation?
Right now I’m in love with Logan Richards from Across Eternity. However, my favorite character is usually the one (hero) I’m creating at the time.

If you were ever to write an autobiography, what would its title be?
“She Puts the Fun in Dysfunction”.

Tell us about your featured book.
Across Eternity is a beautiful love story that tells of love that transcends time. It will pull at your heart. It is set in the small coastal city of Dana Point, in Southern California.

Why did you write that?
Across Eternity was inspired by a dream.I dreamt the entire book one night and sprung out of bed at about 3 in the morning scrambling into my office and immediately began writing—I didn’t want to forget it! Across Eternity is an amazing love story and I hope it makes the reader think and question certain aspect about life, love, and ourselves. And most importantly what do you believe in and is your Logan out there somewhere?

Is there anything special you would like your potential readers to know?
Across Eternity makes the reader think and question certain aspect about life, love, and ourselves. And most importantly what do you believe in?

If you were forced to give something you adore up for the rest of your life, what would it be? Coffee, because I can't live without my pets!

Do you own any kind of art collection?
Yes, my daughters. Ever since she was five she has been passionate about her art. She is a very good artist! I’m always having it framed so I can hang it through the house. I love it!

What is the hardest thing about growing up?
Responsibilities! I long for the days when I’d skip around the neighborhood completely oblivious to the harsh realities of adulthood. But then again it’s not all that bad—I live a really good life.

What is the biggest lie you’ve ever heard?
Santa Clause…I’m still mad about that one.

What is something you absolutely must have in your kitchen?
A coffee maker. Preferably my Keurig, but if it brews coffee it’ll work.

What is pain to you?
Watching those commercials where the animals are neglected and abused. All I have to do is hear the first notes of the music and I start to cry.

What is your dream house?
A French Château

Where would you want this house located in our wide world?
Somewhere warm and in the country. I love to garden and to be outdoors so I need my space and good weather.

Have you ever received a present you really hated? If so, what was it?
It was Christmas of 09 and I was given a used puzzle that was missing three pieces.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten? Would you have it again?
I have been a vegetarian for over 25 five years so I don’t eat too many weird things. However, my mom has told me a story of when I was 2 and I ate a bowl of cat food that was sitting on our porch. So I’d have to say cat kibble is the weirdest thing I’ve ever eaten…perhaps that’s why I’m a vegetarian…LOL! And no I wouldn’t eat it again!

What’s the first thing you would do if you could become invisible?
Sit in the White House and see what really goes on in there. Then I’d promptly find my way to Alex O'loughlin’s house and…let’s just leave it at that…

What is the kindest thing that anyone has ever done for you?
After finishing my last book, Secrets, my girlfriend surprised me with a massage at a spa. She set the appointment up and told me I HAD to go in the next hour or she’d be out her money. She knew I had been sitting at the computer for way too long.


Our special thanks to Aris for taking the time to be with us today. Check out her work below and find her on her blog: awhittier.blogspot.com

Caddy Rowland - Gastien Part 1: The Cost of the Dream

 It is our great pleasure to have Caddy Rowland with us today to promote her book Gastien Part 1: The Cost of the Dream.

Where do you currently live?
Minnesota, USA

Tell us a little bit about your life.
I am married to my high school sweetheart and we are childless by choice. However, we are owned by two parrots. They have the reasoning ability of 3-5 year old humans, and one of them could live 75 years. People ask us why we would want animals that smart and live that long when we did not want children. I tell them our parrots won’t need money for college, total our car, do drugs, or marry someone we can’t stand!

When did you first start writing?
I started writing poetry in grade school.

What was your very first story about?
I have had hundreds of stories in my head, but the first one I put down on paper was a children’s story called “One Little Snowflake”. It is about the circle of life and is meant for seriously/terminally ill children. I also did the illustrations. I did not work very hard to find a publisher. Now that Kindle Fire is out it makes sense to have color illustrations, so I may publish it someday. If so, it will be under a different name since it is a completely different genre.

Have you written anything that you were too afraid to let anyone read?
Nope. I don’t believe in censorship, so whatever I write I would be comfortable sharing. If I did write erotica I would probably use a different name, though, because I would not want possible weirdos looking up my phone number. But I would be comfortable showing my work to anyone, no matter what I wrote. It is art.

Who are several of your greatest literary inspirations?
I really like “streety”, gutty style Stephen King has. You know it is him immediately. I love William Burroughs because he was so avant garde. I used some of his cut-up technique in past poetry. John Steinbeck. I like graphic, gutty, real writers; not “pretty” writers. That is why I moved my books out of “romance”. Gastien has a love story in it but it is NOT a romance. 

At the time I published it I was green and did not realize that romance had a strict formula. The old happy ever after. No wonder romance books generally bore me! Life is never that perfect and all people have some ugliness to them or have ugly things happen to them.

What kind of education have you received, and how has that affected your writing?
I only had a little college. I was an honor student in high school and had taken a lot of classes having to do with fine arts. Painting, sculpting, drawing, theatre, creative writing, etc.

I have read a lot. I think that has affected my writing much more than any classes did.

How much research time customarily goes into your projects?
At least as much research as writing because the Gastien series are all historical novels.

Who is your favorite literary character?
That is a good question. There are too many to name and, oddly, all of them are male. Perhaps Heathcliff.

Who is your favorite character of your own creation?
Without a doubt, Gastien.

If you were ever to write an autobiography, what would its title be?
I think I would want the name I had picked out for my poetry book that I never published, back many years ago. People bought record albums and 45’s when I was a child. “Flipside: Are you still laughing?”

Most people find me entertaining and positive in person and don’t realize my dark side.

Tell us about your featured book.
Gastien Part 1: The Cost of the Dream is about the coming of age of Gastien Beauchamp and his struggle to survive the streets in nineteenth century Paris. He was the oldest of 11 children, and his father was a father who physically and emotionally abused him. He has two dreams. The first is to be a painter in Paris. The second is to become the greatest lovemaker in France.

He has always been driven to paint, which causes dissention with his father. As far as the lovemaking, he hears his father repeatedly misuse his mother and vows to make women want him instead of fear him. Plus, he is 18 when he leaves…all 18 year old boys dream of being great lovers. Especially virgins like Gastien.

He has no money and no formal art training. Paris spits out artists into the gutters every day. His struggle to survive and the various horrors that await him will test his commitment and sanity.

He is driven, talented and stunning in the looks dept. His looks open lots of door for him. A few would have been better off staying shut (I stole that from a review of the book.)

That particular time in history was when the bohemian artists of Paris were really coming into their own. Impressionism was happening, which would lead to cubism, abstract art, etc. I don’t think there have been many times in history more wild and decadent. The novels are for adults with adult themes. They fall under historical fiction and family saga genres.

Why did you write that?
I had gone to some past life regression sessions and found Gastien while under hypnotism. Without debating if I was indeed Gastien or if it only opened up creative doors, let’s say I could not rest until I wrote this story. Or, rather, Gastien wrote it and I was the conduit.

Part 1 and Part 2 were written at the same time. With over 1,000 pages, the decision was made to divide it into two books. There was a logical end in it for Part one, so I put Part 2 aside and worked on the first book. Gastien Part 1: The Cost of the Dream was released in August 2011 and Gastien Part 2: From Dream to Destiny came out in December of 2011. The Gastien series will include at least four books, possibly five. Look for Tristan Michel: Bloodline of Passion (Book 3 of the Gastien Series) to come out in late spring of 2012.

Is there anything special you would like your potential readers to know?
That I appreciate every single reader. It thrills me every time a reader contacts me. I have sold books all around the world and that amazes me. If a reader wants to email me about my books they can do so at caddyauthor@yahoo.com.

What is your favorite season of the year, and what makes it so?
Summer. It is hot and humid. I live in Minnesota, so I appreciate it when hot, humid weather arrives. If I had my way I would live somewhere that had a low of 80. However, I married a Minnesota man and he loves it here, so we stay. He is worth it.

When you think of the word “Writer” what comes to mind?
A writer is much different than an author. A writer could be writing advertisements, screenplays, or news articles. I see many things in that word. An author writes books and markets them.

If you could pick one thing about yourself that would be passed onto your
(imaginary/actual) child, what would it be?
My passion. That passion gives me focus, drive, and the ability to believe in the success of something in spite of the odds. I don’t worry about what others may think of me, I just focus on it.

How about one thing about yourself that you absolutely wouldn’t want passed on?
I am not a good manager of money.

If you had to live in another time period, which one would you choose?
That is easy! Nineteenth century France, in Paris as a bohemian artist. A male. That time period sucked for females.

Name one movie that always has a huge effect on you. Why do you think that is?
Murder in the First. It is Kevin Bacon’s tour de force. I have always had a fear of going to jail for some odd reason, ever since I was little. Jail, boarding school, military…I was glad I was female because at the time girls did not go into the military. I think it is because I am a nonconformist and do not like authority much.

What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to try, but never have?
Downhill skiing and ski jumping. I don’t have the coordination anymore, so I won’t try downhill now. I am a coward when it comes to possibly injuring myself severely, so I never would have done the ski jumping even though I have always wanted to.

What is your favorite thing to do when you have a day to yourself?
That depends. Am I alone? If so, painting. I am an artist, it is who I am- just like Gastien. However, unlike him I do NOT like doing portraits. I do like life form (mostly human body, just not portraits) and abstract the best.

If my husband is with me, I like to go into the woods for a long hike or walk.

When were you most scared in your life, and why?
Almost two years ago I found out that I had breast cancer. Obviously, until you know what stage it is and until you know if they got it all, you are looking death in the face. Death is not the scary part, the possible suffering is. I was lucky, it was Stage 0. They got it all and my doctor says to plan on eventually dying from something other than breast cancer.

What is the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen?
Sorry to sound hokey, but my husband’s smile. It made me fall in love with him. Second to that is our grandson Gideon’s toothless grin. (We are “adopted” grandparents of the baby next store, as his grandparents live out of state and I babysit him at least once a week.)

First thing you’d do if you were handed a million dollars?
I would say “Thank you”! Then we would pay off our house and call a money manager.

You’ve been given the opportunity to give a televised speech which will be
broadcast on all networks, what do you speak about?
Population control. People jump on all kinds of band wagons. Save the rainforest. Save the air. Save the water. What they don’t seem to understand is that all of these things would not be endangered if we did not reproduce like imbeciles. I get so tired to hearing “Well, they have several children, but they can afford it.” Really? Well, guess what? Our planet cannot. Every person born uses air, water, lumber for a home, the earth, food, creates waste…we need to understand that we should only reproduce ourselves. That is even too many, but it is asking too much to expect people not to want children at all. Just use your intelligence about it.

What was/is your favorite thing about your childhood home?
A tree in the front yard where I had a swing. I also laid or sat under it and read quite often.

What inspires you?
Nature. I love plants, flowers, animals, trees…just the cycle of life. I don’t believe in organized religion. When I want feel close to the Creative Force, I go to the woods.

What do you most want out of your life? Your ultimate ambition, as it were.
Nonmaterial: I have always said that we come here for 3 things: experience, education and enlightenment. I want to continue to grow in all 3 areas.

Material: I want Gastien Part 1 and Part 2 made into a movie or mini-series. First it has to become a best seller. I was asked when I started it if I wanted to write great literature or just a book. I decided what I wanted was to write a damn good read. I have done so. 

People say they are haunted by Gastien for weeks after they finish each book and that they could not put it down. They say the books make them feel more emotion than any other they can recall. They can’t put the books down once they start. They talk about Gastien as if he is someone real that they know personally. To me, that is the start of success. Now I just need more people reading it. More people telling others. The story is just waiting to explode onto a screen. And it will. I only hope I am still alive when it does!

Thanks to Caddy for sitting through our questions. Find her work below on Kindle, on Nook, or in paperback. Also, find Caddy on twitter: @CaddyorPims

P.A. Woodburn - Cries in the Dark

P.A. Woodburn is with us today to talk about her book Cries in the Dark.

What is your name?
My writer name is P.A. Woodburn, but I go by Ann. 

How old are you?
If I get much older I’ll be dead. 

Where do you currently live?
I live on Bainbridge Island in the Pacific Northwest. 

Tell us a little bit about your life.
I was born in Northern Ireland. I have lived in England, Scotland, Libya and Egypt. I now live in the US where I have lived in Hawaii, Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. I have had numerous jobs some of which were: gathering potatoes, working in a bake shop, waitress, nurse, laboratory technician, teacher, fundraiser for various organizations, real estate sales person, civil service, financial worker for State of Washington and care giver.

When did you first start writing?
It was a ghost story in Hawaii. It was terrible.

Have you written anything that you were too afraid to let anyone read?
Embarrassed maybe, not afraid.

Who are several of your greatest literary inspirations?
There are so many, and I read new writers all of the time.

What kind of education have you received, and how has that affected your writing?
I have a bachelors in microbiology and completed half my training as a nurse. I research things carefully.

How much research time customarily goes into your projects?
That depends on the project and how much prior knowledge I have. I sometimes continue with research even after the book has been written.

Who is your favorite literary character?
Again there are so many. I read so much that it would be impossible to select one character.

Tell us about your featured book.
Cries in the Dark is a novel about a premed student who discovers that she can communicate telepathically with animals. Alex, the heroine gets a job in a chimpanzee laboratory. On her first day at work her friend is killed by a chimpanzee. This starts several ‘accidental’ deaths all involving people with laboratory connections. Also several chimpanzees disappear from the lab. Alex’s boyfriend disappears and she is left to help the chimpanzees and solve the crimes or be killed herself.

Why did you write that?
I like to write mystery/thrillers that educate and intrigue as well as entertain.

Is there anything special you would like your potential readers to know?
If I use violence in my books. It is not just gratuitous violence. It is violence that can or would happen under those circumstances.

What activity or hobby, besides writing, do you find most enjoyable?
Reading, swimming, traveling, art but I also spend a lot of time looking at homes and how to decorate them.

What is your most valued personal possession in life? Who gave it to you?
I don’t attach much value to personal possessions. They are all temporary. However, I can’t bear to be without a computer.

If you lost the ability to see every color but one, which one would it be?
That would be a nightmare. I am very attracted to colors. I don’t have a favorite color, but tend to chose bright colors.


We'd like to thank P.A. Woodburn. Her work can be found below.

Marie Symeou - Frozen in Time

We are pleased to have Marie Symeou with us, promoting her book Frozen in Time.

Where do you currently live?

I currently live in North London, England. Well, I've always lived here, but hope to one day escape to the country. 

Tell us a little bit about your life.

I was born in London. I am a writer and singer, an avid reader, a lover of history and nature. I love animals (especially cats).and am passionate about music. I'm also in a band with with my brother called Violet Eternity.

When did you first start writing?

I've always loved writing. At school I enjoyed Creative Writing classes and English was my favorite subject. When I was in my teens I began writing poetry and song lyrics.I began writing short stories and novels around 15 years ago.

What was your very first story about?

Probably some fairy tale story when I was a little girl. Can't remember really.

Have you written anything that you were too afraid to let anyone read?

Some of my earlier attempts at short stories and novels, and lots of angsty poems I wrote when I was younger. 

Did you experience anything you’ve written yourself?

A few things. In my novel Age of Dreams I've been through some of the experiences my protagonist Nicola James has been through. Though I'd rather not say what, mainly because of spoilers.

Who are several of your greatest literary inspirations?

Mary Shelley, Anne Rice, Charles Dickens, The Brontes, The Romantic Poets, Philippa Gregory. Sylvia Plath.

What kind of education have you received, and how has that affected your writing?

I have a degree in Humanities with Literature and yes, I think it's helped quite a lot with my writing. Not just in the writing and creating part, but I've gained so much knowledge of many other subjects which interest me, such as art history, philosophy, poetry, etc. 

How much research time customarily goes into your projects?

Quite a lot. I write Historical Fantasy, so I want to get my historical facts right. But I do tend to get so caught up in researching that my novels take longer to write as a result.

Who is your favorite literary character?

I've never really thought of it before, but I'll go for Dracula, Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights, Louis and Lestat in Interview With The Vampire, and the creature in Frankenstein. Funny how they're all men. I can't think of a woman character. Oh, I'll choose Scarlett O Hara for being so headstrong and not caring about what others think of her.

Who is your favorite character of your own creation?

Philip, my ancient Greek vampire in Frozen In Time and Rhiannon the cat (also from that novel). Also Eleanor, a new vampire, who appears in my next novel.

If you were ever to write an autobiography, what would its title be?

Life, Love and Cats.

Tell us about your featured book.

Frozen In Time is the first book in the Blood of the Gods Series about Philip, an ancient Greek vampire. I am currently writing Book 2, and there are parts of  Book 3 already written. The series will take the reader through different time periods as we follow the adventures of Philip while he searches for the reincarnated soul of the wife he lost in childbirth before he was made vampire, whilst battling to save the world from his evil maker. Along the way he meets other souls, both mortal and immortal, and from both this world and otherworlds, who will need his help. I plan to use different points of view in the next two books, rather than just concentrate on Philip, though.

Why did you write that?

Because I had to write it, It's a novel that I've been building up in my head for years and it needed to be told. Also, I like vampires and I like ancient Greece, mythology and history so it's a great way of creating something out of those subjects.One of the best things about being a writer is the ability to create your own worlds and people it with characters of your own creations. 

Is there anything special you would like your potential readers to know?

I hope they enjoy my novel and look forward to the next one.

Where is the one place you’ve traveled where you’ve felt most like you fit in?

Sweden. I love the natural landscape. It's so stunning and calming to the soul. 

What activity or hobby, besides writing, do you find most enjoyable?

As I've said before, I'm a singer and I just love singing. It's another form of expression for me, a way to release the demons and to free my soul for a bit. I also love reading. I'm always reading. I can't help it. 

How do you treat people you’re not fond of?

Distance myself from them if I can.

What do you see as your greatest achievement?

Getting my degree and publishing my novels.

What, to you, is absolutely wrong?

Too many things in this world are wrong. Though the one that gets me down the most is animal cruelty. There are so many sick people out there who seem to get a kick out of doing the most appalling things to animals, and what's worse is that they post videos of what they do online. It's horrible. I don't know why such barbaric behaviour is allowed. Surely they deserve to be caught and punished severely?

If you had to explain the concept of “love” to someone who had never heard of it before, how would you?

Love is a soul to soul connection. You can't really explain it.

What about “hate?”

A wasted emotion, or perhaps memories of a past life.

Finish this sentence. “I sometimes find it hard to..."

...relax.