Two Ends of the Pen

An old-fashioned #Romance Saga: LOVES OF LEOPOLD SINGER by L.K. Rigel

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Book blurb:

The one who loves him can't have him. The one who has him can't love him.

Leopold Singer is any woman's perfect match - handsome, brilliant, and rich.

Lady Delia Devilliers wants him for his fortune, but his heart is torn between

Susan Gray and Marta Schonreden.

When Leopold and Marta visit London on their way to Massachusetts, Delia is consumed

by jealousy. She puts Marta in the path of known rake Sir Carey Asher, but it's Susan

who has the power to destroy everyone's happiness.

This multi-generational family saga spans the late Georgian through Regency periods,

1776 to 1832, from Austria to Massachusetts and London to Jamaica

Approximately 475 pages in print.

Buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Loves-Leopold-Singer-ebook/dp/B006YYW51S

Interview with Lance Morcan

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book?

I'm based in New Zealand and I write in collaboration with my Sydney, Australia-based son James. We have two newly released books available as ebooks and trade paperbacks on Amazon. Details follow:

The Ninth Orphan – an international espionage thriller.

Fast-paced, totally fresh and original, filled with deep and complex characters, The Ninth Orphan is a high-octane thriller with an edge. Merging fact with fiction, it fits the current trend toward stories about shadow organizations rumored to exist in the real world. Tackling genetic selection, mind control, secret societies and a chase around the globe, The Ninth Orphan has intimate character portraits usually associated with psychological novels. It also has a poignant, romantic sub-plot which means it will appeal equally to males and females of all ages.

The storyline: An orphan grows up to become an assassin for a highly secretive organization. When he tries to break free and live a normal life, he is hunted by his mentor and father figure, and by a female orphan he spent his childhood with. On the run, the mysterious man's life becomes entwined with his beautiful French-African hostage and a shocking past riddled with the darkest of conspiracies is revealed.

Buy link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Ninth-Orphan-ebook/dp/B0056I4FKC

Fiji: A Novel – an historical adventure-romance set in19th Century Fiji. Partly inspired by James A. Michener's Hawaii, it is a spellbinding novel of adventure, cultural misunderstandings, religious conflict and sexual tension set in one of the most exotic and isolated places on earth.

The storyline: In the mid-1800's, Fiji was a melting pot of cannibals, warring native tribes, sailors, traders, prostitutes, escaped convicts and all manner of foreign undesirables. It's in this hostile environment in our story that an innocent young Englishwoman and a worldly American adventurer find themselves. Despite their differences, there’s an undeniable chemistry between them. When their lives are suddenly endangered by marauding cannibals, they are forced to rely on each other for their very survival.

With the strong themes of love running through what is essentially a fast-moving and sometimes violent adventure story, this novel appeals equally to male and female readers. It has already made an appearance in Amazon’s top 100 list in its Historical Books category.

Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?

Yes we certainly did. We had several publishers and lit agents advise us they believed The Ninth Orphan was a potential bestseller, but because of the financial climate and because we were unpublished authors etc. etc...they wouldn't commit. We finally secured a publishing offer from a UK publishing house, but because they showed no urgency, we decided to self-publish. We formed Sterling Gate Books and published the novel on Amazon.

As for Fiji: A Novel - Several years ago, we secured a US publisher for it, but the publisher ended up in breach of contract and we took back the rights, formed Sterling Gate Books, and the rest is history.

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?

No. I don't believe in such groups. I'm of the school that believes the best way to improve your writing is to write (and read...though I don't have much time for reading unfortunately).

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish to Amazon?

Being unable to secure a contract that stuck and being let down and/or not supported by those publishers who did show interest in our literary work influenced us to self-publish. We decided to go with Amazon because they seemed the most professional and influential in this field.

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?

No. Finances did not permit that luxury at the time. Anyway, I'm a former newspaper editor, and both James and I are fastidious in the proofing of our novels, which have undergone numerous rewrites of our own volition.

What have you learned during your self-publishing journey?

Self-publishing is a viable option to traditional/conventional publishing. High concept storylines and quality writing are still prerequisites for success, no matter who the publisher is. That aside, smart network marketing/social networking of your books certainly helps fast-track them into the bestseller lists.

Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?

Yes on CreateSpace (Amazon's print division) and in certain libraries and bookstores around the world courtesy of Ingrams who, I understand, buy books direct at wholesale rates. And I've sold some direct to libraries here in New Zealand.

What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?

We have a presence on several sites including Twitter, YouTube, Goodreads, Google+, Shelfari, LinkedIn, the film industry site IMDb and, of course, Amazon and CreateSpace. We've deliberately avoided Facebook as we see dangers in our personal lives overlapping (in a very public forum) with our business lives, and prefer the likes of Twitter and Google+ to that forum.

As an ex journo, I generate a lot of publicity for our books. Fortunately, both are quite controversial in their own way and, of course, the media loves controversy.

We plan to establish our own Morcan website in the near future as we realize that's the missing ingredient in our present marketing mix.

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?

Yes! Currently, only James has time for writing (he's working on The Orphan Factory, the prequel to The Ninth Orphan) while all my time is currently devoted to marketing and the biz side of our operation. That's a real pain.

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?

Do your research first. And go the Amazon route. Amazon seems to have it sorted. They give easy-to-follow instructions on formatting, pricing, marketing etc. And bring your book out as an ebook and trade paperback. The extra work required to format a paperback is worth it.

However, first and foremost, ensure you can write (don't just rely on your Mom's opinion) and ensure you have a high concept story people will want to read.

Major challenges you have faced as a writer?

Collaborating with a co-writer is always a challenge – artistically and creatively. As I'm based here in New Zealand and James is several thousand kilometers away in Australia, we have to communicate via Skype and email, and that's an added challenge. However, the negatives of our father-and-son collaboration are outweighed by the positives. Two heads are better than one and we 'savagely' critique each other's work. This does create conflict, but it also lifts standards. It's like having an editor permanently on the writing team.

What’s next for you?

Our first priority is to complete the prequel to The Ninth Orphan and get it on Amazon by March if possible. Then we'll turn our attention to the sequel, the third book in the planned Orphan trilogy, with a view to publishing it before the end of the year.

As James and I are also screenwriters and film producers, we've adapted both our published novels to feature film screenplays and put them into development with our production co., Morcan Motion Pictures.

Bay of Plenty Times article: http://www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz/news/papamoa-author-climbs-amazon-rankings/1228589/

Review: THE GAUNTLET ASSASSIN by L.J. Sellers

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

3.5 of 5 stars

Buy link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Gauntlet-Assassin-ebook/dp/B005H7Q0AA

“The Gauntlet Assassin” is the story of 42-year-old Lara Evans, a former cop turned paramedic, in this futuristic thriller. Lara has won her state’s competition for the chance to compete in The Gauntlet, a futuristic Olympics. The prize for winning is a windfall of money and jobs for the competitor’s home state and in the year 2023, this is the best chance for any state to curb the 20% unemployment rate. Federal financial help is non-existent and states are left to fend for themselves.

The author gives us snippets of Lara’s previous life as a cop, but there is a fair amount of “telling” instead of “showing” and this stopped me from really identifying with Lara’s experiences and how those changed her into the woman we see in the story. I would have loved to know more about her background, but as she moved onto the competition, her determination, grit and never-give-up drive shines through. Along with Lara’s story is a parallel story about Paul Madsen, a seemingly bland computer data whiz who is given a top-clearance federal project. Throw into the mix is a scandal, a murder and a hunky detective and “The Assassin Gauntlet” is a riveting thriller. Both Lara’s harrowing competition events and Paul’s escalating manipulations of a federal employee database intersect throughout the book and come together in an explosive conclusion.

I enjoyed this book, but I found the ending a bit rushed especially between Lara and the homicide detective. The final shocking detail involving a high-ranking officer of The Gauntlet was a little over the top and seemed to be added to justify some moral sense of justice and not particularly necessary to the storyline. All in all, this story is a good thriller about an underdog who refuses to give up and will do whatever it takes to bring home the prize.

Interview with Frank Zubek

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

It’s been over a year since we talked last. What’s been happening?

From July 2010 to Spring, 2011, I had two books on Amazon and sold a total of one hundred copies, averaging ten copies a month. One of which is where a few of the stories here in Gates, were, in a collection called Man in the Background. Now while some reviews were very good- I’ll be quite honest- there were one or two private comments as to my self-editing. So I took the books off the market last spring and re-grouped.

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?

Yes! This time out, with this collection, Guarding Andrew Gates, I hired an editor and it has been properly formatted as well so we’ll see what happens. My editor, Amy, can be contacted here

amy@theeyesforediting.com

Tell me about your background & what led you to fiction writing.

In the 80’s and 90’s I did a bunch of cartooning and while I made did make some money at it, I wanted to try my hand at writing. So over the past few years I wrote a dozen short stories and sold three. Considering the competition out there, I think that’s pretty darn good.

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book?

Guarding Andrew Gates, an e-book, is 95 pages and costs $ 1.99. It’s about common people facing problems. From bad relationships to normal every day challenges to encountering quirky behavior in strangers. Of the fifteen stories, the first thirteen are adult literature.

One of the last stories in the book has a horror element to it and the final story, the longest at 25 pages, has a touch of the paranormal. It deals with a Cleveland cop who lands a case involving two people who have died from the phenomenon, Spontaneous Human Combustion. So there is a mix of genres but the core of most of the stories are about people facing some sort of problem and how they either handle that problem or at minimum, discovering that there is something wrong that needs fixing. Also, the stories are linked on the contents page so readers can jump from one story to another with ease.

What kinds of social media [twitter, facebook, webpage, blog, writing forums] are you involved with trying to garner attention for your book(s)?

The Kindleboards http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php is a good place for both readers and writers to get info about e-books. I am also on Facebook and Twitter (@frankzubek)

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?

Yes. But then, the book will not write itself. So you have to carve out the time from each day and sit down and hammer out a story. The better you are, in theory, at juggling your time as well as getting finished pages done, the more books you can write. The sooner you get a final draft completed the sooner you’ll get others to read it. Aside from some financial return, I think that’s why most writers do this. They have a story to tell and they want to share it.

Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?

Right now I’m letting people know that its on Amazon and for those who have iPhones, iPads and other devices they can always get an APP. You don’t really need an actual Kindle to read my books. But yes, I am exploring a few other formats to expand my reach.

Did you do your own cover?

No. This time I found a picture I liked online and I tracked down the photographer, Roben Marie, and she has a credit line in my book. Her webpage can be found here: http://www.robenmarie.com

What’s next?

The main character in the final story of this collection, Nick Crowell, is going to be featured in the novel called ‘A Strange Life’ that I’m hoping to release this spring.

Nick Crowell is a cop who, after surviving getting shot, encounters people who have weird problems. Strange, Twilight Zone kind of problems. What happens is that he has no idea why this is happening to him and most of the time there is little that he can do for these people. This weighs on him but he still does what he can for them. If sales are good I am thinking of doing a series of e-books with this character.

I also have a fantasy and a space thriller I want to finish this year. They are both pretty unique stories and are unlike anything else out there. They are planned as novellas for Amazon.

Anyone who wants to keep updated on my work can see it all on my blog: www.whatbrickwall.blogspot.com/

If anyone wants to get in touch with me I can be reached here: frank.zubek@yahoo.com

Buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Guarding-Andrew-Gates-ebook/dp/B006UOWHJC

Thanks for the interview!

My pleasure.

The Lure of Assassins: We love...to hate them

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:02:00 +0000

There's something about books that feature assassins that I find intriguing. Some are evil nasty bastards, but there are some that are, well...likeable. How can this be? An assassin by definition is not someone most of us strive to be, but sometimes an author does a superb job of balancing the personality on a sword's edge between good and evil.

An excellent example is Brent Weeks' Night Angel trilogy. I devoured all 3 of those books and absolutely loved them. A quote from a review says it all for this series: "Kylar is a wonderful character - sympathetic and despicable, cowardly and courageous, honorable and unscrupulous..."

Another series that captivated my attention is by Peter V. Brett. I loved "The Warded Man." I have not read the other books in the series, not because I'm not interested, but mostly for the lack of time and so many other books that have pushed into my reading queue.

Dave and I both share a love for writing about assassins. In our "Rule of Otharia" series, we have Nils, an evil telekinetic assassin. Readers have told us that they "love" to hate Nils. He's depraved, thinks nothing of killing innocents, but is absolutely essential to the storyline in both "Quest for Nobility" and "The Crystal Facade." He will make another appearance in the upcoming third and final volume, "The King's Last Word."

Now in our newest series, The Witch Stone Prophecy, we introduce readers to 2 new assassins, Jeda and Mave in "ASSASSIN'S CURSE". Both have been trained by the legendary Assassin's Guild. One is evil personified and the other is not. Readers will decide if we've done a good job of identifying which one is which.

What kind of characters are you drawn to? Do you prefer your hero/heroine to follow a righteous path or can they be more flawed?

THE PROCEDURAL: WRITING it When You're NOT a Doctor, Lawyer or Cop by Rebecca Forster

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Years ago I was a panelist at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books when an obviously perturbed woman stood up in the back of the huge UCLA auditorium and directed a question my way.

“How can you write legal procedurals when you’re not a lawyer?” she demanded.

“I sleep with one,” I responded.

My flippant answer brought the house down, but both the question and the response encompassed the truth about procedurals. Those who read them want the authenticity; those who write them better have a way to deliver.

I have always been a justice junky. Even before I met my husband I was fascinated by crime and read the genre voraciously. After we wed, I was privy to the rigors of law school, the tension of passing the bar, his experiences as an assistant U.S. attorney specializing in terrorism and organized crime, and, finally, his terms as both a criminal and civil court judge. My interest in his work was not the courteous curiosity of a wife but that of a writer passionate about the law as the basis for fictional entertainment. While my husband was my in-house research, his help could only be given in response to my direction. That meant, I had to know what questions to ask and how to use the information I received.

So how does a nonprofessional tackle a thriller based on a specific profession? Here are a few ideas:

Passion and curiosity are essential. Don’t read professional journals; devour them. Then write with the vigor and confidence of an expert. If the passion to understand the professional arena you are writing about isn’t there, your hard-core procedural readers will not take you seriously.

Grasp the profession’s standards: Sure, you can deviate from reality for creative purposes but don’t massacre the system. It is one thing to explain why a trial was fast-tracked, quite another to ask the reader to believe a murder trial will start two days after a character’s arrest.

Expand your knowledge to tangential procedures: In my best selling Witness Series Hannah Sheraton is a sixteen-year-old ward of the main character, attorney Josie Bates. In order to write about Hannah and Josie’s challenges, I had to understand how child protective services and children’s court worked. Other books in the series found me researching safety regulations, coroner’s procedures, will provisions, and fathers’ rights. A procedural works best when all the pieces of the puzzle fit together.

Talk to a human or watch them work: If you’re not a lawyer, judge, cop or doctor (or married to one) find real world help. Courts and hospitals have public relations professionals to correspond with, most police departments have ride-along programs. Seek out college and university professors who can help you with forensics, anatomy or police studies. Go to a law school and ask to audit a class. Sit in a courtroom and watch a trial. Courts are open to the public. There you will get a bird’s eye view of how the system works and real life procedures will inspire fictional situations. Always acknowledge those who help you.

Understand jargon: Every profession has its own jargon. Listen closely, and use it sparingly and appropriately. Always explain the jargon if the meaning will not be immediately evident to the reader, but do so with a deft hand. Your book should not read like a primer.

Understand jurisdictions and designations: A bluff will not fool the procedural reader so understand the parameters of your fictional jurisdiction. There are differences between a federal crime and a state crime, an assistant U.S. attorney and a city attorney, courtroom etiquette and a breach. Utilizing this information will enhance your character and endear you to the procedural reader.

Walk a fine line: The procedural is a balancing act between systemic knowledge and artistic freedom. Too much procedure overshadows the story and slows the plot; too little and you are not competing in the genre.

Above all, remember that the thrill of a procedural stems from pitting your characters against a big, unwieldy, specialized system that is stacked against them. Understand the system and how your characters challenge it, and you will write a heck of a thrilling procedural.

Bonus free book: http://www.amazon.com/HOSTILE-WITNESS-thriller-Witness-ebook/dp/B002Z7G0QO

Spotlight: STAKED by Sandra Edwards

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Book Blurb:

Ava Valentine is a time-traveling bounty hunter from the distant future. She's chased her fugitive back to present-day New York City, where she anticipates an uneventful capture even though she's a little on edge because she's meeting a new contact.

Dexter Stone is a mysterious soldier of fortune who's agreed to take Ava to her bounty--for a fee. What Ava's not expecting is to get mixed up with a man she suspects is a vampire!

After a run-in with an unsavory character from Ava's past, she and Stone are forced into an uneasy alliance. But very soon she'll discover she could be Stone's saving grace--or his downfall.

Buy Links:

US Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052MSYRW

UK Kindle: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0052MSYRW

Review Snippets

"The stage has been set for a great series" --Bitten by Paranormal Romance

"These characters were witty, sexy and altogether great" --Readers Favorite Book Reviews

Author Bio:

Sandra is an award-winning author with eclectic tastes. She writes in a variety of genres such as paranormal (mostly time travel and reincarnation), contemporary, and suspense. Her books often push the envelope and step outside the boundaries of conventional romance. She lives in the U.S. (west coast) with her husband, two kids, four dogs and one very temperamental feline.

http://www.sandrawrites.com

http://www.facebook.com/SandraEdwards.Author

Excerpt for Staked:

She closed the car door with an easy push and surveyed the area. The night’s warm air held the faintest hint of a breeze. She just wasn’t sure if it was enough to fuel the goose bumps that’d begun to pebble her skin. To be on the safe side, she and Stone had better stick together.

Ava glanced over her shoulder at Stone strolling up the sidewalk about two paces behind her. “You think you could come inside with me?” she asked. He threw her suggestive look. She didn’t have the patience for his antics right now. “Look...I can’t say that sexing it up in a neglected john at some rest stop along the highway really turns me on.” She tried to project her impatience onto him with a glare. It must have worked because he rolled his eyes, drew a heavy breath and moved toward her. “Can you just go in there with me? These kinds of places give me the creeps.” It was best to let him think she needed a hero. But the truth was, if they were going to get backed into a corner, better to do it together.

Stone moved in front of her, shaking his head. “No matter how long I live,” he said. “I’ll never understand women.”

“Right back at you,” she said with a bite to her tone.

Stone stopped at the door, cracked it open about a foot and scanned the interior before entering. After a second or two he pushed the door open and beckoned her to follow.

“You’re safe, my lady.” He fanned a grand gesture about the outer area of the ladies’ room. Clearly making fun of her.

Ava didn’t know why, but that wounded her ego. She headed straight for the sink and turned on the cold water. Luckily, it was instantly cold. She cupped her hands, filled them with the chilled water and splashed her face. Then she did it again for good measure. As she suspected, it didn’t do that much good.

She pivoted on her heel and moved toward the nearest stall. Slamming her hand, palm out, against the door, it thrust open. Once inside, she flipped the latch. It helped knowing the bathroom stall served as a kind of barrier between Ava and what tempted her. If she kept telling herself that, maybe she’d believe it by the time she was done.

She dropped her pants to her knees, well-aware of Stone’s presence and what she’d allow him to do without much persuasion on his part. She went about her business, hoping it’d distract her from the sexual attraction coursing through her body where it all seemed to be gathering beneath her belly.

This was so not good. Ava couldn’t afford to give herself to some vampire. Especially not this vampire. The one who could convince her to give up all her secrets with a mere touch.

Finishing up, she stood and pulled her pants back up around her waist.

“Ava...?” There was a certain sense of wariness in Stone’s voice. “You about done?”

“Yeah,” she said, pushing the stall’s door open. “Keep your shorts on.” She went to the sink to wash her hands.

“Listen,” he said softly, moving closer to her. “I don’t want to alarm you, but there’s trouble outside.”

“Trouble?” She turned off the water and shook her hands a couple of times before wiping them on her pants. “What kind of trouble?”

Their eyes met and for a second it looked like he might actually say the word vampire. But he didn’t. He kind of left that part out when he said, “Five or six of them. I don’t know if I can fight them all off, but I’ll stand a better chance in here...where we can’t be surrounded.” He wasn’t paying much attention to her. Instead he was canvassing the room, taking in every inch of it. Finally, when his gaze landed back on her, he gave a half smile. “I’ll do my best to keep you safe and get you out of this alive.”

She admitted the gesture was noble. Too bad the solution wasn’t appealing. Not as appealing as hers. “How much time do we have before they come in for us?” Ava pulled the Sun Stones’ pouch from her pocket.

“Five minutes,” he said, and she knew he was guessing. Hopefully he was close.

“I need you to trust me for now.” she said, opening the pouch. “Please text your friend. Tell him he and Mickey should meet us at the place Mickey and I talked about. We may need backup.” She poured the Sun Stones into her palm. “I know you have questions. I’ll answer them all after I get us out of here.”

Ava laid the stones out in a circle large enough for both of them. Luckily, it wouldn’t take much concentration to get to the TRS, which is where she was required to take him since he wasn’t from her base year and had no knowledge of time travel—as far as she knew. She’d never taken anyone to her beachside paradise in the Time Relay Station. It was her sanctuary; the place she went when she needed some peace and quiet and didn’t have to worry about dangers of any sort.

Once the stones were laid out, she stepped inside the circle and beckoned him to join her, saying, “Wrap your arms around me and close your eyes.”

The moment his arms encased her she reciprocated, closed her eyes and laid her head on his chest. Ava imagined them in an embrace meant for a much more intimate exchange. She pictured them on the seaside deck of the beach house she’d created in the TRS. It was nighttime and a gentle summer’s breeze blew in from the ocean.

Ava heard Stone gasp as the transmission began. It started at her feet, sizzled up her body until it reached the top of her head and then cycled back down again.

Traveling through time feels like an electric shock to all Brokers but Ava, for her it was more like the tingling sensation that happens when your extremities fall asleep. She knew Stone felt none of the pain, but even so, it had to be one hell of an eye opener. And, one he hadn’t been prepared for.

But that was nothing. Wait until he figured out what was really going on.

Writing Noir in 4 Easy Steps by Anonymous-9

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

When Deb asked me to guest blog about writing noir fiction it seemed like a good idea to start off with a definition. Something about crime and mystery and point-of-view. Like I said, it seemed like a good idea, but it failed. Instead of defining noir, a few simple guidelines seemed more helpful. So thank you Deb for the guest blog invitation, and here's my best advice:

Step One

In solitude, organize your writing area. If you don't write on computer, lay out two pens, just in case. A pad of lined paper is helpful.

Step Two

Set fire to the area. Let the room get good and scorched before you douse it. Smoldering embers in a few places are okay—there's nothing like the threat of combustion and smell of smoke to inspire a noirist.

Step Three

Sift through the ashes of your possessions and grab whatever material is still left to write upon. If the computer and pens are destroyed, open a vein and write with your own blood on the sooty wall—blood and grime contribute mightily to noir. Anything you write at this stage will be brilliant because it contains the ~~four~~ five essential elements of the genre: loss, pain, desperation and truth about human nature. Let's not forget a glimpse of mortality.

Step Four

If—unlike lions of the genre such as James M. Cain, Raymond Chandler and Jim Thompson—you are unable to reduce your life to ashes for the sake of art, all is not lost. But you must find a way to reach this state mentally before picking up a writing instrument. Bring devastation and lost hope front-of-mind and feel them so sharply that they drive away everything but truth. Particularly destructive to the noir oeuvre are shreds of level-headedness, dignity and esteem. Reckless abandon is a bonus.

Follow these 4 simple steps and any writer, no matter how new to the genre, is assured of creating memorable noir. Good luck. May your words burn bright.

Buy links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Hard-Other-Short-Stories-ebook/dp/B005MK1PWU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1326492529&sr=1-1

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/83105

YouTube Book Promo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6nQfG9KGbs&context=C359f65cADOEgsToPDskIgDC8qKeQiNOjLPiTreuqD

Anonymous-9 BIO:

In 2010, a committee of the International Thriller Writers nominated Anonymous-9 in the first round of short-story judging for a Thriller Award. She won Spinetingler Magazine’s Best Short Story on the Web 2009, and received another Spinetingler nom for the same award in 2010, as well as two nominations for the Derringer Award sponsored by the Short Mystery Fiction Society. Her e-book collection of noir, horror and satire is titled HARD BITE & OTHER SHORT STORIES, sold on Amazon and Smashwords. In 2011 she was published by New Pulp Press in Crimefactory's FIRST SHIFT anthology. In April, another story will debut in THE BIG CLICK magazine alongside mystery greats Ken Bruen, Tom Piccirilli and Jim Nisbet. A full-length novel based on her award-winning short "Hard Bite" is in final polish. www.anonymous-9.com

Interview with Joseph Armillas

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book?

Plantanimus “Awakening” is part one of the Plantanimus Trilogy. The story begins in the 27^th century on the planet Mars, four hundred years after being settled by humans. The main character is Kelem Rogeston, a young Martian psychic and scientific genius who is the first member of the 6^th Root Race, the next step in the evolution of mankind. Kelem learns to harness his amazing abilities and invents the n’time generator, a device that will carry mankind to the stars. Kelem struggles against The Phalanx, an evil organization from Earth that wants to steal the technology and conquer Mars. He designs an n’time ship and on its maiden voyage accidentally becomes stranded on Plantanimus, an alien planet where the Dreamers, an ancient race of sentient plant life, help him expand his abilities and teach him the true nature of consciousness.

Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?

I considered it at first, but I decided I didn’t want to wait for an established publisher to make an offer. That does not mean that I wouldn’t welcome an offer from an established publishing house. Plantanimus “Awakening” is the first book of a trilogy, so I would be open to a publishing deal that would encompass the first book or all three books. What finally convinced me to self-publish was Xlibris. I went with them because they offered me an incredible discount on their “Executive Package” which came with distribution to all the major sellers such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble etc., plus eBook conversion, book returnability, [this feature guarantees brick and mortar retailers that they won’t get stuck with unsold stock on their shelves] as well as online promotion and marketing.

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?

I recently joined Authors Learning Center. The free one year membership to the organization came with the original package that I purchased from Xlibris. ALC provides independent authors with helpful resources for writing, publishing and marketing your book. The site has all sorts of webinars, articles and writer’s community help forums. However I had already written and partially edited my book and had signed up with Xlibris by the time I joined ALC. But now that I’m preparing to possibly self-publish the next book in the series, “Return to Mars”, I plan to take full advantage of all the resources available at ALC

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?

Xlibris offered two full rounds of editing which I used, however, my life partner Barbara and I had already gone through seven rounds of proof reading prior to submitting the final draft of the book.

What have you learned during your self-publishing journey?

Patience! Self-publishing is usually a faster way to put your book out there as opposed to the traditional route of signing with an established publisher, but it is not an instant thing. The first thing I recommend for first timers like me is to make sure that your book is as good as it can possibly be. Don’t be afraid to re-write or change things. You’d be surprised how many mistakes and inconsistencies you will find in your manuscript if you take the time to put it away for a week or two, before proof-reading the entire thing. Do it as many times and you can stand it, even if you think that you’ve caught all the mistakes in grammar and spelling. Even now that the book has been published, I still found a couple of things that I’ll have to correct during the next printing! Be organized and be prepared. Read/research as much information as you can digest regarding self –publishing companies, marketing etc. Thousands of books are published every month and yours is just one of many competing for that market share of business in whatever genre you write in. If you can afford it, join an organization like Authors Learning Center or IBPA, (Independent Book Publisher’s Association) or any of the many other organizations out there that exist to help and support independent, self-published authors.

Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?

Yes. Barnes and Noble and my own two websites; www.Plantanimusbook.com and www.PlantanimusTrilogy.com. The latter only sells the paperback version of the book.

What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?

Aside from Xlibris’ marketing campaign, I have a blog on AuthorsXpress at: http//authorjosepharmillas.authorsxpress.com, I’m on Facebook, My Space, @JosephArmillas on Twitter, and of course Author’s Learning Center. I also have a very slick 60 second promo video for Plantanimus “Awakening” on YouTube: http://youtu.be/P-im0HswqBA and an interview of me, on LifeForceEnergetics.com , also on YouTube: http://youtu.be/JF-Ru5dgldM. In concert with Xlibris’ marketing I will be hiring an independent publicity expert to help me with additional promotion, personal appearances such as book signings, interviews etc.

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?

Yes. But I’m organized and I spend a tremendous amount of time taking care of business. Like most creative people, (particularly writers!) I’ve been known to be a bit of a procrastinator, but over the years I’ve become very disciplined and learned that one must approach writing and business in equal measure, particularly if you’re self-publishing. I schedule a certain amount of hours of the day for writing and another portion of my day for promotion and marketing. I’ve learned to manage my time well because I also work as a professional actor in film and TV. I’m a member of SAG and AFTRA and I work four to five days a month. I recently appeared on Lil’ Wayne’s latest video of his newest song, “How To Love”, playing a doctor. I also have an interview show that I host on YouTube, called LA Interview. I plan to begin a series of writer’s interviews in the near future. I want to give other self-published writers a chance to get their work known by the public.

What inspires you to write, and in particular what was the genesis of the Plantanimus Trilogy?

I grew up in a very artistic creative family. My mother and father were in show business. My mom, Margarita Lecuona, was a very well-known Cuban songwriter. She wrote Babalu, made famous by Desi Arnaz on the “I Love Lucy Show”. My dad was an Argentinian actor/singer/dancer. Both always encouraged me to experiment with my creative side. I began writing short science fiction stories in grammar school and I never stopped. I also had a successful career as a musician for over thirty years. So I’ve never been short on inspiration. My problem with writing for many years was discipline, which is why it took me so long to finally become a serious writer. The inspiration for Plantanimus came from a dream that I had over three consecutive nights in the summer of 2000. I’ve always been able to “lucid dream”. It’s an ability that came naturally to me, so it was very easy for me to remember the arc of the story and write down the entire three part dream which eventually became the three books of the Trilogy; Plantanimus “Awakening”, “Return to Mars” and “The Gulax War”.

What’s next for you?

I’m heavily involved in the marketing and promotion of Plantanimus “Awakening” at the moment, but when time allows, I continue proof reading Return to Mars, and doing some minor re-writes on The Gulax War. I’m also working on the last few chapters of a fourth book which is connected to, but not part of the Plantanimus trilogy, titled Reunion. That one’s on the back burner but I pick at it whenever the muse comes. Additionally I’ve recently began to lucid dream a follow up to the previous four books, tentatively called “Kelem’s Ascension”. That one is still in its cocoon stage, but I’m writing down everything that comes my way the moment I wake up! All are part of the same universe that comprises the story of Kelem Rogeston.

Spotlight: #Fantasy APOCALYPTO OMNIBUS by LK Rigel

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 12:59:00 +0000

Here's a treat for fantasy fans. Today's spotlight is for the best-selling series by LK Rigel. This volume contains three stories, SPACE JUNQUE, SPIDERWORK and BLEEDER.

Buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Apocalypto-Omnibus-Edition-ebook/dp/B006G5COMK

SPACE JUNQUE:
"Don't get excited." Jake lifted Char's necklace over her head. "I'm not going for your precious parts." He zipped the amulet into a pocket in her flight pants. "Okay, Meadowlark." He secured his harness and punched the ignition. "Let's get the hell off this rock."
- - - - -
An Apocapunk Science Fiction Fantasy
- - - - -
Space Junque Edited by USA Today bestselling author Theresa Weir/Anne Frasier

Nominated for Best Romantic Science Fiction/Fantasy in 2010 and Best Debut Book in 2010 by The Romance Reviews.

The DOGs want to destroy the world. The gods want to make a new one. The trick is to survive both.

On the brink of a world-wide ecological cataclysm set off by the Oil Spill of 2010 and the Great Sea Level Rise of 2070, hydroponics agronomist Char Meadowlark has become a recluse. Her fiance was killed by a terrorist bomb, and her twin sister Sky has gone underground to protect a top secret energy project. Warned about an impending eco-terrorist attack, Char tries to get off planet, but the Defenders of Gaia strike while she's at the airport. Shuttle pilot Jake Ardri might offer her only hope.

When the DOGs' onslaught goes global and the material world threatens to implode, the ancient gods reemerge to take control over humanity. Now Char has to juggle two men, a world on fire, and a goddess with an agenda for a new world order.

- - - - - -
SPIDERWORK:
An Apocapunk Science Fiction Fantasy
- - - - - -
Her fate was to hold the world together. His destiny was to tear it apart.

Durga was named for a warrior with twelve arms - and she could use them all. After the events of Space Junque, she's chosen by the goddess to rule Red City, home base of the chalices who provide natural-born heirs to kings. Khai, the scion of Luxor, falls hard for Durga, and he isn't afraid to show it. Khai offers Durga the love she never expected - but to accept him is to disobey the goddess.

Jake Ardri is positioned to become king of an emerging city-state and desperately wants Char Meadowlark to be his queen, but kings are commanded by the goddess to provide natural-born heirs. Can Char share Jake with a beautiful chalice, trained to take Jake to the heights of sexual ecstasy?
- - - - - -

BLEEDER:
Nominated for Best PNR - Alien/Other World (2011) by The Romance Reviews
An Apocapunk Science Fiction Fantasy
- - - - -
The King of Garrick wants to kill her.
The King of Allel wants to love her.
And shapeshifters stole her baby's soul!

A hundred years after sea-level rise and global nuclear war wiped out most of humanity, Mallory is a chalice, one of the world's rare fertile females. Chalices live under the protection of Red City, which contracts with the kings of the Concord Cities to provide natural-born heirs.

It's a pampered and easy life - until Mal is caught between one king's lust for world domination and the goddess Asherah's desperate plays for another god's attention.

When Mal's undeclared - and forbidden - feelings for King Edmund grow too strong to be denied, she must confront the truth of her past and the most terrifying threat of all -- the inevitability of her destiny.

And here's a bonus: FREE today and tomorrow (Jan. 14 & 15, 2012)

Amazon download link: http://www.amazon.com/Give-Me-Tale-Tethers-ebook/dp/B005KHHZXS

World of Symbols: TAURUS

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Taurus, the Minotaur, and the Labyrinth

Michelle Snyder: The Symbologist

www.whiteknightstudio.com

http://whiteknightstudio.blogspot.com/

Taurus the bull was one of the earliest recorded constellations; Taurus is Latin for bull. The Lascaux culture of 14,500 BC understood and recorded astronomical patterns and calendrics - this knowledge was critical to their survival. From them come some of the oldest symbols on record, as well as prehistoric calendrics depicted in cave art. One well known image is that of the bull in Lascaux Cave. This painting looks almost exactly like modern depictions of Taurus. Patterns of dots located over the shoulder of the Lascaux Bull could represent the star group Pleiades, sometimes called Seven Sisters, located in the constellation Taurus. Like other zodiac symbols, myths and folklore about the Taurus constellation can be found around the globe.

In Greek myths, Taurus represents the Minotaur, kept by King Minos of Crete, whose kingdom was in the Mediterranean. As the story is told, Poseidon, the sea-king-god, was angry with Minos and seduced the king’s wife. From this union was born a Minotaur. This powerful - and some said dangerous - creature was kept in a labyrinth, until Theseus killed it. In later versions the labyrinth was changed to a maze - a place with many possible paths, almost impossible to get out of. It is said the king’s daughter, Ariadne, gave Theseus a spool of thread (called a clue) with which he was able to retrace his steps through the maze and escape, after besting the Minotaur. A labyrinth would not make a good prison, as the geometric design consists of two spirals stemming from a directional cross, with only one opening. One could keep walking in a labyrinth and find the entrance/exit. To decode the symbol of the Minotaur, we must look at the symbolism of the labyrinth - an archetypal image representing the center, the source, the sacred place - a secret. (Some myths state the Minotaur was imprisoned to protect others from the dangerous monster; secrets are sometimes dangerous.)

Placing the characters of this story in context of history and climatology helps decode the symbols of the bull and the labyrinth as stories of ancient sea kings (symbolized by Poseidon), and their knowledge of navigation. A Minotaur is part bull, indicating a connection to Taurus. Pleiades is associated with the Greek word plein, which means to sail. A labyrinth represents ½ year (spirals symbolize three months each), and so it is a symbol of two seasons. To the ancients, the appearance of Taurus and Pleiades in the sky signaled the beginning of storms during the fall and winter; not great sailing weather, and without superior navigational skills sailing would be deadly. The ability to navigate during these two seasons would have been advantageous for both trade and defense, and a skill worth keeping secret. According to Duncan-Enzmann, the ancient mariners knew how to calculate longitude thousands of years ago; this gave them the ability to sail in bad weather, and thus superior power on the sea. And so, deep in the labyrinth, the Minotaur protects the secrets of calculating longitude.

The practice of symbolizing knowledge to protect it and insure its survival through generations is evident in the zodiac stories - the oldest stories in the world. Taurus is one example of a star-story that has its roots in prehistoric records of astronomical observation, navigation, and “trade secrets”.

Article © 2011 Michelle Snyder, author of Symbology: Decoding Classic Images, and eBooks World of Symbols, and World of Symbols: Secrets of the Mermaids. To find these books, and her symbolism blog, visit www.whiteknightstudio.com.

To read an interview with Michelle, click here: http://twoendsofthepen.blogspot.com/2012/01/interview-with-michelle-snyder.html

Review: THE NIGHT SWIMMER by Matt Bondurant

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

3.5 of 5 stars

“The Night Swimmer” is a beautifully written novel that tells the story of Fred and Elly and their undertaking in moving to Ireland when they win a pub. It’s a new adventure for them and they dive into it head-long without much thought. Fred is thrilled with the pub and Elly is free to indulge her own passion—swimming in the ocean. Through a genetic defect, Elly is able to swim in cold water without any adverse affects for quite a long time.

While Fred submerges himself in learning how to run a pub in Baltimore and writing his ever-elusive novel, Elly finds herself taking the ferry to Clear Island on a regular basis to swim. She befriends only a few. Most of the locals do not like strangers, and they ignore her, but some seem to keep track of her swimming in their waters. There are a number of interesting characters on Clear Island, a decades old tragedy that no one will speak of, and an enigmatic goat farmer who seems to have a running feud with the Corrigans, a powerful family who runs most of the island commerce and the ferry service to and from the mainland.

The author does an excellent job of keeping to Elly’s viewpoint. I could feel her anguish when her marriage begins to unravel and her hurt feelings when the locals shun her. I enjoyed reading most of the story. However, I did find some things either not explained at all or that they were so subtle that I found myself wondering what just happened especially surrounding the climatic events on Clear Island. I feel like I missed something important, but just couldn’t put my finger on it. I found this frustrating and for that reason, I’ve not rated this novel as high as I would have liked.

Buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Night-Swimmer-Novel-Matt-Bondurant/dp/1451625294

Copy provided by Goldberg McDuffie, New York

Interview with Kenneth Janssen

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Briefly describe your journey in writing your book.

I write because I feel there is a story that needs to be told. I keep a file of newspaper and magazine articles about topics that interest me and they often become the source material for my novels. To this is added an exhausting amount of research to assure accuracy. I truly believe that my storytelling is unique and interesting enough to grab the reader and not let go until the unique ending. The characters are varied and have all the qualities that the reader would expect, including a range of emotions that includes love, hate, fear and horror. The dialogue is relaxed and believable.

Over the years I have written poems and short stories, several of which have been published by Nights and Weekends, Writing Raw and Long Story Short. A small volume by a Norwegian, Jostein Gaarder called Sophie’s World inspired me to write my first novel. My favorite authors are Stuart Woods, John Sanford, Stephen Frye and Stephen King.

Writing is my destiny.

What genre are your books?

Mostly Thrillers and Suspense.

Do you write in more than one genre?

Yes, one of my novels is Paranormal and one is Inspirational.

If you write in more than one genre, do you use a pen name?

I did for the Inspirational novel, Everyman, Revisited, written by Michael St. James.

Did you query agents and traditional publishers?

I did both. In the process I received some excellent formatting and character advice. I made several improvements because of the kind advice of several agents and publishers. Of course many did not reply or just sent e-mails telling me that the market dictated a shift in the number and genres that they were interested in.

Did you receive an offer of representation or a book contract?

I received offers from several publishers, but I couldn’t agree with their contract terms.

What factors influenced your decision to sign with Untreed Reads?

Jay Hartman sent an e-mail telling me how much he liked the book. Their contract offered the flexibility I was looking for. I checked them out online and was impressed with the growth they were experiencing and what some of their authors had to say about their dealings with Untreed. On that basis, I accept Jay’s offer. I have never regretted my decision. Working with K. D. Sullivan on the details of the contract and subsequent editing and proofing was a joy.

How involved were you during the creative process for your book’s cover design?

I made some suggestions and was very pleased with Dara England’s final design. It is an eye catching cover.

Do you plan to self-publish any other books or will you stay with Untreed Reads?

I am finishing the second Mark Matthews Mystery (Fatal Dose). If things work out, I would be very happy to continue with Untreed Reads. I have two other novels that are completed. The first, Mysterious Forces will probably be an e-book. The second Everyman, Revisited, I hope will find a hardcover or paperback publisher.

What kinds of social media [twitter, facebook, webpage, blog, writing forums] are you involved with trying to garner attention for your book(s)?

At the moment, only Facebook.

How do you feel about the world of digital publishing? Do you think it will replace traditional publishing one day?

There is no doubt that e-books will continue to grow as the cost of Kindle type readers continues to plummet. I see a continuing market for those who need the feel, smell and cozyness of a printed book, but sometime in the future they will be in the minority. Authors will have to deal with both in the interim.

What is the biggest thing you’ve learned during your journey as an author?

I learned a lot about the publishing business, but mostly I learned that writing gave me the opportunity to share with the world my thoughts, beliefs and dreams. When a reader chooses your book, generally it’s because of the cover, book jacket blurb, a book review or description by the seller. They are taking a leap of faith that you will satisfy some need they are harboring. If you deliver on this, you have a fan. If you deliver to enough readers, you’re a bestselling author. What an exciting opportunity.

Do you have any advice for new authors?

Keep reading and keep writing. You must read the latest books in your genre in order to know, not only what is selling, but the style of successful writers. There is room for descriptive and dialogist styles and for a mix of both.

What’s next for you?

I will continue to write daily, although the hunt for publishers for my completed works takes up a lot of my time. I am still looking for an agent so that I can spend the majority of my time on writing.

I’m beginning to formulate the third Mark Matthews Mystery and sequels to both Mysterious Forces and Everyman, Revisited.

Author bio:

Ken’s debut novel centers on the exploits of Mark Matthews, a private investigator turned FBI agent. In Blood Money Mark helps topple an association funneling money to terrorist organizations. Blood Money was published as an e-book in November, 2011.

Fatal Dose, the second Mark Matthews Mystery exposes a drug mafia distributing counterfeit prescription drugs. Mark tangles with Marco Vennuti who is responsible for the death of an FBI agent and his family and finds himself protecting his lover from the threat of the psychopathic killer.

Hampton Manor is a multi-genre work about three generations of the Hampton family and their interactions with five townspeople in the peaceful community of Old Brooking, Connecticut. One of the five hires an assassin to kill Adam Hampton and his father and to burn Hampton Manor to the ground. The resulting sequence of events leaves the town reeling. Hampton Manor is an emotional rollercoaster that doesn’t stop until the last word is read.

Everyman, Revisited, Ken’s latest novel takes narrative license from a fifteenth century allegorical morality play and Philip Roth’s modern day adaptation, both simply called Everyman. In Everyman, Revisited, the protagonist is portrayed by Reverend Aaron Masters, minister of the New Thought Metaphysical Center. The novel is not about “new thought” per se; rather about new ways of thinking. Everyman, Revisited is as provocative as it is inspirational.

Ken has epublished several short stories at Nights and Weekends, Writing Raw and Long Story Short.

Ken lives in Ohio, with his wife Jeannette. Contact: kjans3@yahoo.com

Buy link: http://store.untreedreads.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=68_7_48_63&products_id=229

Kitty Funnies: Homework and Mama

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:15:00 +0000

We interrupt your regularly scheduled posts about writing and books. Found these pics over at I Haz a Cheeseburger site. They made me laugh out loud.

This cat looks like my Isabelle and this is exactly something she would do if given half a chance.

And my favorite for the day: Mama, I need a hug!

OK, now that you've smiled, break is over. You may now get back to overly-scheduled lives.

WRITER vs. AUTHOR by Dean Wesley Smith

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Indie Publishing and the Author

— How an indie AUTHOR thinks:

When a person who is an Author at heart finishes their “master work” known as “their novel,” their attention turns at once to making sure all their work on “their novel” isn’t wasted.

Most of the time, even though “their novel” has been rewritten into a bland paste, they still fear it is not “good enough” and give the book to an “editor” who then makes it into even more white paste. And don’t forget all the copyediting because “their novel” must be perfect. (At this point the Author has so lost track of telling a story it’s sadly funny. “Their novel” is nothing more than pretty writing, made perfect in grammar and spelling. Story and voice and character means nothing. Only pretty writing done in what the Author thinks is a perfect manner.)

So now the Author has two choices. Send it to an agent, as is the myth, or indie publish it. Most Authors go the traditional route because of a thousand reasons, all silly, such as “My book will get more attention.” Or, “I want the publicity team on my book because it’s special.” Often these Authors will run into a new agent who will play into their need for perfection and have them rewrite “their novel” a number of times more, turning it from white paste to pure nothingness.

Or the Author can indie publish, but this brings on other issues such as silly needs for “editors” and “cover designers” to make sure “their book” doesn’t get hurt.

And then the big day when the book is published on Kindle. (Forget all the other places, right??? Only Kindle matters, or so the Author has heard…) Now the Author watches “their book’s” sales numbers every hour, getting discouraged when there are no sales in two hours.

And then the Author starts the promotion on Twitter and Facebook and so on and so on and so on. Promotion is now all the Author thinks about day and night, because after all this is their “master work” and “their novel” so it deserves their respect and time and promotion.

— How an indie WRITER thinks:

Story is done. Cool! Get a few friends to proof it while the Writer gets started writing the next story.

Proofing is done, Writer spends a little time learning how to do a cover and blurbs, gets the story up on all the sites, all the while working on the new project, annoyed that the last project is taking his time away from the next project.

Book is indie published quickly and Writer goes back to work on next project, finishing it and getting it proofed while he starts the next project.

And so on and so on.

Writers, besides announcing a book or publication on a web site, don’t do promotion like Authors do. They can’t, because their focus is on writing the next book and the next story. They don’t have time. Writing time is more valuable than promotion of an old book.

Writers tend to believe that their own writing is the best promotion.

A Better Distinction

So maybe a better way to define Author and Writer these indie publishing days is this:

— A Writer is a person who writes the next story.

— An Author is a person who spends their time promoting their last story.

Yet maybe yet another way of looking at these two diverse camps is this:

— A Writer gets feedback from the simple act of writing and finishing stories.

— An Author must get feedback from external sources such as reviews, sales, promotions, editors, workshops, and so on.

Full post can be find here:http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/?p=6190

#SS Assassin's Curse - FREE today only

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Here's a sample from our new book, "Assassin's Curse, Book 1 in the Witch Stone Prophecy." As an added bonus, the book is FREE today only. What do an assassin's guild, a witches coven and 2 twin girls have in common? Check out our book and find out. Enjoy!

The Prophecy of the Witch Stone

From the line of power twice born

To the power born twice

Shall arise the seekers of the Stone.

Look for the sign of the witch in two joined

For they shall be the saviors

Who shall grasp the power from darkness

And bring it into the light

For when the flower blossoms

Then will be the time

For their powers shall be twined within a single aspect

And stand balanced on the sword’s edge of good and evil.

False guidance shall lead to the path of doom

And will spell destruction of all

That they were brought about to save.

***

Mave saw the boy look his way and inwardly smiled. He knew the boy was scared, and rightly so. It was not chance that brought him here today, but a carefully orchestrated scheme to make sure he tested the boy. He felt Jeda was no more than a third-year upstart who did not deserve the opportunity to test for apprenticeship. Most novices trained for five or six years before petitioning to test. Mave was going to make sure that the boy did not pass. That was as it should be, for it was Mave who had brought Jeda to the guild in the first place. He should be the one to put the boy in his place and teach him humility.

Jeda finally reached up and took a pair of fighting knives off the wall.

Mave shook his head at the boy’s choice. I knew it. The boy may know how to fight, but he knows nothing of winning.

“Begin,” said the dispassionate voice of the master-in-attendance judging the test.

Mave strode forward, closing the distance and eliminating the only advantage knives would give the boy. Without the distance to throw them, they were completely useless against swords.

The boy stood stock-still, visibly trembling as Mave approached. His frozen fear was pathetic and almost embarrassing. Mave would cut him slightly with his first blade and knock him out with the handle of his second, putting a quick end to this charade of a test. Twirling his swords in a deadly dance, Mave felt no sympathy for the boy. Today’s failure would set Jeda back at least a year and give him more time to learn proper respect and modesty, traits Mave felt he was sorely lacking.

The young fool doesn’t know what he’s in for.

As Mave swung the first blade to catch the boy across the cheek, something unexpected happened. Jeda dove forward, under the first blade, and whipped one of his knives at Mave’s exposed side. Mave deflected the throw with his second sword. If he had not been such an excellent swordsman, the throw would have a scored a hit.

Maybe not quite the fool I took him for. Mave spun around swinging the sword in a deadly arc to face the boy as Jeda jumped to his feet. The swing cut the boy high on the arm and he cried out in shock and pain. The cut was deep and bleeding heavily, rendering the arm useless. The boy went down on one knee, but Mave moved cautiously forward. He would not be caught off-guard a second time by the boy’s cleverness. When Mave came within a sword’s reach of him, the boy jumped forward into a diving roll and threw his second, remaining knife. Mave anticipated the move and easily deflected the throw, shaking his head at the boy’s stupidity in throwing away his last means of defense. As he turned to face Jeda, he realized his mistake. He felt a blade slice through his trousers, burning and drawing a bright-crimson line along his leg. Jeda had used the second throw to distract Mave from his true objective: the first blade that Mave had deflected. The boy had used his diving roll to reach that first blade, left forgotten on the floor.

How did he get that knife so quickly and throw it so precisely? Mave wondered, looking down at his bleeding leg.

“Enough. Blood has been drawn by Novice Jeda,” said the master’s voice from the balcony. “He is elevated to the rank of apprentice.”

Mave studied Jeda with a smoldering anger. He was a good fifteen feet away and was wobbling on his feet from loss of blood. It didn’t seem possible that he could have thrown that knife in his condition. Mave knew the boy must have somehow cheated.

This is not over; no one makes a fool of me.

Amazon link: FYI, if you are an Amazon PRIME MEMBER, you can borrow the book for FREE anytime.

http://www.amazon.com/Assassins-Curse-Witch-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B006T3HN2A

It's Here! NEW #fantasy: ASSASSIN'S CURSE

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Dave and I are so excited that our newest fantasy, ASSASSIN'S CURSE, is now available for sale. If you like assassins, intrigue, betrayal, witches and a battle against evil, we hope you'll give our new book a try.

Book blurb:

When elite assassin Jeda received his assignment to kill a witch and deliver her twin daughters to the Countess of Berkshire, he had no idea it would be his last. The witch stuns him with an elemental blast, but not before he's able to throw his knife. When Jeda regains consciousness, the dying witch is performing a compelling spell between him and her twin daughters .

Now bonded to the girls, Jeda's old life is forfeit. His only thought is to take the girls and run as far away as he can. He has no idea that the twins are the ones spoken of in the long-lost prophecy of The Witch Stone. Forces are gathering: the white witches want to teach them; the Countess wants her grandchildren back, and the guild has sent their best assassin to bring Jeda back, dead or alive.

Jeda must use all of his assassin skills to stay one step ahead of them all, but will it be enough to save himself and keep the children of prophecy alive?

Buy Link:
http://www.amazon.com/Assassins-Curse-Witch-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B006T3HN2A

FREE - THE PATH, Dark Future Series

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

If you like post-apocalyptic fiction, you may be interested in our 3-pack of Dark Future novelettes, THE PATH. It is FREE for Thursday, January 5 ONLY.

Buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Path-Dark-Future-Stories-ebook/dp/B0069X0DHM

A collection of 3 post-apocalyptic stories of survival and new found friendships.

PATH TO DESTRUCTION:
Can a ragtag band of soldiers save what's left of the USA?

In a last ditch attempt to turn the tide in a desperate war, General Matthew Smith of the American Freedom Fighters asks Samurai Master Kenzu to make a batch of the famed memory weapons--weapons that infuse its user with the skills and memories of a samurai warrior. But, in the wrong hands, the users can become uncontrollable killing machines who don't care whom they kill - friend or foe.

When General Smith orders Commander Hurley and his unit of augmented soldiers test the weapons, he believes that he's doing the best thing for all of the men under his command. What General Smith believes, however, and what is true is entirely two different things and Smith must live with the consequences of his decision.

THE RIGHT PATH:
Fifteen-year-old Abraham "Ham" Jones, a cripple, and Zia Slate, a fourteen-year-old tomboy with an attitude, find themselves unlikely partners in this post-apocalyptic tale of survival. It is decades later since the world blew itself apart. Life is harsh, gangs rule the streets, the system cops keep the peace anyway they can. Being a kid in this world isn't easy, being a cripple is about the worst sentence handed down. Being a girl with no protection is only slightly better.

Ham and Zia's lives are irrevocably changed when they meet a mysterious old man bearing gifts - a cane for Ham and a knife for Zia. But, nothing is as it seems. Everyone wants something and no good deed goes unpunished. Forced into a desperate encounter, they must fight for their lives when it's discovered they now have possession of two of the legendary memory weapons, the very weapons that ultimately destroyed the world.

ZIA'S PATH:
In this novelette featuring crippled teenager, Abraham "Ham" Jones, and his tomboy partner, Zia Slate, the stakes are even higher. They have agreed to accept the memory weapons from their new guardian, Henry Lloyd, but with the power of the weapons comes the responsibility to follow "the right path." It's suppose to be simple: help one person at a time, but nothing in this harsh world is ever simple. It's a dog-eat-dog world where food is scarce and gangs rule the street.

When Ham decides to go into the worst gang-ridden area of the city to save a little girl, Zia doesn't think it's a good idea. It's too dangerous, but eventually she agrees and the two set off in search of the girl. When Zia goes off to scout ahead, Ham's worst nightmare comes true. Zia is snatched by slavers. Can Ham find out where she has been taken and mount a defense to save her in two days before she is sold as a sex slave?

Interview with Michelle Snyder

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Briefly describe your journey in writing your first or latest book.

I have loved art and images since I could see. Drawing was something I could not help but do passionately since I was two years old. For decades I taught drawing and design. But in 2000 I was diagnosed with a progressive condition that made me rethink my life, and my future with teaching art. The year Dan Brown published The DaVinci Code, I became quite entranced with what Robert Langdon did; I had no idea someone could be a symbologist. That was fascinating; I pursued a postgraduate degree in decoding symbols at the University of Wales. During my research I published a column about symbols in a newspaper. They became part of my first print book, Symbology: Decoding Classic Images.

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish to Amazon?

My mother was an editor. When I was younger she sent me to Little Brown and MacMillan in Boston with edited manuscripts. She had also written one, and spent years sending it out and being rejected. She was never able to publish. In 2005 I began working with a colleague’s material, preparing it for publication. I searched for traditional publishers who accepted unsolicited manuscripts. I didn’t find any – you had to be published already to submit something to be published.... Catch 22? I researched agents, and with the ridiculous money they got paid, low royalties, the loss of rights to, or control of the material, we were discouraged. And even if you made it through all that, there was no guarantee they would market your book. Then I stumbled upon BookSurge (now CreateSpace). We published his, then our own material.

What have you learned during your self-publishing journey?

My biggest learning experience has been how to market my books. I bought books on how to market books. It was, perhaps, a paradigm changing realization that just because you write and publish a good book, does not mean sales; with the ease of publication, the opposite is true. Desktop publishing has made it possible for almost anyone to enter into the Mass Media market place. You can write and upload a book, and get it listed with online distributors without much difficulty, sometimes for free. The market is flooded with “anyone can publish a book” quality books. I think the best, most promising, and most exciting aspect to self publishing is eBook technology. As a consumer, buying eBooks means my already huge research library can grow without taking up more space. And the books are cheaper. Great opportunities lie in this new aspect of Indie publishing.

Did you design your cover art?

My husband Jay and I are partners in graphic design, multi-media production, and publishing. We do the covers together. He is does the layout using my artwork.

What kinds of social media [twitter, FaceBook, webpage, blog, writing forums] are you involved with trying to garner publicity for your book(s)?

My first attempts to market included finding reviewers. CreateSpace has a community forum where there is a good list of them. It was there I found Debra Martin. I contacted her, and she invited me to publish a column on her blog. I was very excited. Then I bought books on marketing. I highly recommend eBook: How to Make, Market, and Sell eBooks, All for Free, by Jason Matthews. His advice is comprehensive, with how-to included. We have a website, WhiteKnightStudio.com, where we post information about the books, and links to where they are sold. Finding a local publication that would feature an excerpt was recommended: I landed another newspaper column in the local paper, which also publishes online. This gives me publicity twice monthly in print, and archives the articles online; I tag the end of each article with my books and website.

I use Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter for professional networking. We also put up a blog: Once Upon a Time, the world of symbols. A great way to get some name recognition is to comment on other people’s blogs that are relevant to your genre or material. You find them by setting up Google alerts to be sent to your email, using search words. For me they were symbolism, mythology, and fairy tales. I have driven a lot of traffic to my blog doing this; people tend to click on your info when you comment. The greatest lesson to be learned is you can only sell what the audience wants. In the long run – Audience is King. Ask yourself, who are you writing for?

Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?

Symbology: Decoding Classic Images is available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble online, and a local bookstore. The two eBooks are available in multiple formats through Smashwords, for Nook at Barnes & Noble, and Kindle at Amazon.

What is the best advice you can offer new authors?

Have long-term vision. I read a newspaper article that said a major difference between print and eBook marketing is that in print-sales, your book, if it makes it to the shelf, is there for maybe six months then removed to make room for new books, whereas eBooks get put up and stay up. This gives you more time to make them known and gather some momentum in sales. And if your first book is not a smash hit, try again. My husband reminds me that if you don’t have a product to sell, you won’t make any money. If you have one, at least you have a chance. If you have more than one, your chances get better. Like the menu at MacDonald’s - need to diversify? Make a new sandwich.

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?

Honestly? Yes, even though my kids are grown. What I want to be doing is not always what needs to be done. Marketing and writing are both full time activities. Can I put off having a life until my books sell? Do I believe they will? Do people even like my stuff? How much can I put off, and for how long? These are tough questions to have nagging at you. The drive to create opportunities for publicity is sometimes all consuming. But without a book, there is nothing to market, and my first love is symbology. That is my passion, so I write when I am inspired. Then I invest a lot of time here, communicating with the online world. Just keeping up with the list of Google alerts takes a lot of time.

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest books?

Our newest eBook, World of Symbols, is about symbology, and includes the meaning, origins, and historic context of symbols like dragons, unicorns, and the Green Man. The eBooklet, World of Symbols: Secrets of the Mermaids, is a short introduction to symbology, focused on mermaids, and the symbols associated with them. Some of this information is a result of my postgrad research, and is published for the first time in my books. Jay and I are now co-authoring a new series The Sally Knight Mysteries, a collection of short stories, the first of which is “The Lost Unicorn.” Summer 2012 is our target date.

Buy links:

Symbology at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Symbology-Michelle-Snyder/dp/1456548441/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1312398072&sr=1-1

World of Symbols Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/World-of-Symbols-ebook/dp/B00669TSDE/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1325452487&sr=1-2

Secrets of the Mermaids Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/World-Symbols-Secrets-Mermaids-ebook/dp/B0066A9V9Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1325452487&sr=1-1

Review: AMONGST MY ENEMIES by William F Brown

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 13:31:00 +0000

4 of 5 stars

Michael Randall definitely did not come through the war unscathed. When his bomber was shot down, only he and his best friend Eddie Hodge survive the crash. They don’t get very far before they are captured and sent to a frigid submarine port of Konigsberg as slave laborers. Beaten and starved on a daily basis, Eddie doesn’t last long in this harsh environment. Michael vows his death will not be in vain and embarks on a harrowing journey when he stows away on a German U-boat. What happens on that submarine will set Michael’s path for the next six years from Sweden to North Carolina and back to Sweden again. He has no idea that he is the linchpin involving Nazi war criminals, stolen loot, corrupt officials in Bolivia, the New York City police and the Israeli Mossad. Everyone wants to get their hands on Michael and learn what he knows about the demise of U-582.

The author does a fantastic job with the details and clearly did his research for this storyline. World War II espionage is not usually a subject I read, but Michael Randall is a compelling character that draws you in and makes you understand his personal hell and what drives him to do what he needs to do to avenge Eddie’s death and finally to heal his wounded spirit. Rounding out the cast is his girlfriend Leslie, a NYC police officer, a former SS officer and a Swedish fisherman.

AMONGST MY ENEMIES is an exciting and intriguing story that will keep you turning the pages. My one criticism is the number of typos and extra words in the book. It could use the eyes of an editor to take care of these. Fans of WWII, political intrigue, and espionage will thoroughly enjoy this book. Recommended.

Buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Amongst-My-Enemies-ebook/dp/B006LAOIWY

Author bio:

William F Brown is the author of 6 mystery and suspense novels, and 4 award-winning screenplays. Amongst My Enemies is my second e-book. It is a fast-paced Cold War adventure filled with international intrigue, espionage, revenge, and an old German U-boat filled with a fortune in gold bars, treasure, and a secret that will tear NATO apart.

The Undertaker, my first e-book, is a snarky, fun, fast-paced domestic thriller with a slug of humor, romance, and stark terror! Someone with a sharp scalpel and an embalming table is planting bodies und other people's names. If Pete Talbott doesn't stop them, he'll be next on the list. Published in February 2011, it has already garnered 16 Five-Star and 13 Four-Star book reviews.

Thursday at Noon is a Joan Kahn Book published by St. Martin's Press in hardback, in paperback by Harlequin's Gold Eagle, and in various foreign editions. It is set in Egypt in 1962 and deals with murder, espionage, an Army coup, and new rockets aimed at the heart of Israel. Reviewed favorably in the "New Yorker" and other major publications, it will be released as an e-book in early 2012. Beaufort Books published my first novel, The Allah Conspiracy in hardback. It deals with international terrorism and an attempt to kill the President, and will also be released as an e-book in 201, as will Winner Lose All, a new international suspense novel set in the closing months of WWII, as one war winds down and all eyes are on the next one. As alliances begin to shift, old enemies become tomorrow's friends, and everyone wants their piece of the revolutionary new German weapons technologies.

In addition to the novels, I've written four award-winning screenplays. They have won First Place in the suspense category of the Final Draft contest, Finalist in Fade In, First Place in the Screenwriter's Utopia -Screenwriter's Showcase Awards, Second Place in the American Screenwriter's Association, Second Place at Breckenridge, and others. One was optioned.

Preview Chapters from all six suspense novels, plus updates on my writing can be found on my web site http://billbrownwritesnovels.wordpress.com as well as my Face Book Author's page http://www.facebook.com/pages/William-F-Brown/154677787936071

A native of Chicago, I live in Columbus Ohio and occasionally escapes the keyboard with landscape painting and golf. My wife and travel widely in Russia, Italy, Germany, the Caribbean, England, Ireland, Scotland, eastern Europe, Egypt, and Israel.

Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

It's been another successful year on Two Ends of the Pen. The blog has had over 75,000 page views. I've interviewed hundreds of authors, highlighted many new releases and hosted guests posts. By the traffic that comes to the blog everyday, I'm thrilled that so many find it full of interesting and informative posts.

I'm looking forward to spending another year with all of you! Wishing everyone a happy and successful 2012. Why not scroll down the right side box and click "follow" the blog so you won't miss any new posts.

Spotlight: SHADES OF GREY by J.C. PHELPS

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Blurb:

New job. New name. New assignment.

When Alexis Stanton, a.k.a. Ms. Grey, is assigned to uncover the true identity of the infamous sniper Penumbra, she's also expected to protect the business mogul next on the assassin's hit list.

The one person who holds the key to the sniper's true identity warns Alex not to dig any deeper. Penumbra has never missed his mark and will take out anyone who gets in the way.

Buy links--$2.99:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Shades-Alexis-Stanton-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B003L0QT1A

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shades-of-grey-jc-phelps/1102017097?ean=2940011066764&itm=1&usri=jc+phelps

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/18350

Bonus book:

The first book in the series, COLOR OF GREY, is currently FREE at all outlets.

Book Blurb:

...exciting, highly paid position for person with specialized training...

Recently unemployed after quitting a boring office job, Alexis Stanton finds a mysterious ad in the help wanted section that might prove to be the answer to her desire for excitement and adventure.

After an intense application process, including actually fighting with her competition, she gets the job of her dreams.

But is it going to kill her?

Download links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Color-Alexis-Stanton-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B003L202M0
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/color-me-grey-jc-phelps/1102449139?ean=2940011063657&format=nook-book
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/18272

Spotlight: OUT OF TIME OMNIBUS by Monique Martin

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Buy Links:

Amazon Exclusive: http://www.amazon.com/Out-Time-Omnibus-Paranormal-ebook/dp/B006G385Y8
Individual books are available on Amazon, BN and iTunes.

Book Blurb:
This omnibus edition contains the first two novels in the Out of Time Series: Out of Time & When the Walls Fell.  

BOOK 1: OUT OF TIME
Professor Simon Cross has spent his life searching for evidence of vampires and avoiding emotional entanglements. When a mysterious accident transports Simon and his new assistant, Elizabeth West, back in time, Simon finally finds both the proof that he's been looking for, and the romance that he hasn't.

In 1920s Manhattan, they find that are more than mobsters vying for power in the city's speakeasies. Will Simon and Elizabeth's developing relationship survive the vampires' teeth? Will they survive to make it back? Or will they be forever out of time?

BOOK 2: WHEN THE WALLS FELL
Professor Simon Cross and his assistant Elizabeth West have returned from their accidental journey into the past and are adjusting to their new life together as a couple. But an unwanted visit from the Council for Temporal Studies could change everything.  

A murder in the past is changing the future, and if the killing isn't stopped, Simon Cross might never be born.  

When they arrive in 1906 San Francisco, Elizabeth and Simon have no idea who wants Victor Graham dead or how it will happen. With the earthquake that leveled most of the city just days away, the race to save Graham thrusts them into a complex mystery of jealousy and revenge where murder might be the least of their worries. 

Out of Time and When the Walls Fell are time travel adventures filled with suspense, mystery, romance and a dash of the paranormal.  

Look for more books in the Out of Time Series coming in 2012!

Author bio:

Monique was born in Houston, Texas, but her family soon moved to Southern California. She grew up on both coasts, living in Connecticut and California. She currently resides in Southern California with her naughty Siamese cat, Monkey.

Monique attended the University of Southern California's Film School where she earned a BFA from the Filmic Writing department. Monique worked in television for several years before joining the family business. She now works full-time as a freelance writer and novelist. Her novels Out of Time and When the Walls Fell are the first two books in the Out of Time series.

Author website:
http://moniquemartin.weebly.com/

World of Symbols: Zodiac

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

The World of Symbols

Michelle Snyder: The Symbologist

www.whiteknightstudio.com

http://whiteknightstudio.blogspot.com/

The Grand Zodiac

The mythologies of the Zodiac are the oldest stories ever told. They were laid into the tapestry of stars before recorded history, and the symbolism of these great tales is found worldwide. Our ancestors watched the magnificent skies, they knew the power of natural cycles and understood the need to predict them. The Grand Stories were told to children, passing on this knowledge, and the constellations were the pictures that accompanied them. The ever-present stars provided a fixed reference for timing natural cycles as well as for cultural history, rituals, and knowledge. This “language of the stars” carries records of astronomical observation and its application to survival. The stories were immortalized by oral tradition and symbols.

There is great wisdom in studying the heavenly cycles. The Bible pronounces "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years…that night unto night showeth knowledge,” (Genesis 1:14-17). Leading thinkers in Greek philosophy, science, and religion accepted that planetary alignments affected events on earth, including those of the individual. According to Duncan-Enzmann, this thinking has its beginning about 12,500 BC.

During the ice age babies born at winter solstice had more attention, as outside activities were limited. The world was frozen – there was no pollen, worms, or viruses to make the baby sick. Nurtured well, these babies were healthy, and functioned better during their lives than those born when parents were busy with critical activities, and natural predators were more abundant. Differences in the long term health and functional quality of people were noticed. As a result, babies were planned for winter solstice birth – a time marked by certain patterns in the sky. Here we have the beginning of astrology; the awareness of the position of the stars when a child is born, and their “affect” on that person’s life.

This practice evolved with time; since ancient times people have believed that, by divine power, stars shape the destiny of human affairs. We see confirmation of this in an ancient symbol for deity, the Cuneiform sign for god: a star. Astrologer-astronomers advised nobility when the heavens were in favorable position for everything from marriage to war. This is a logical development from knowing the astronomical, and therefore, climatological patterns which affected the path and outcome of human activity.

Astrology is the oldest of occult sciences, the origin of science itself. Astronomy, calculation of time, mathematics, botany - all derive from astrology. Words like conjunction, opposition, forecast, lunatic, aspect, and influence are astrological terms common our language, along with phrases like “thank our lucky stars” and “star-crossed lovers.” The zodiac, like folklore, fairy tales, and mythology, carries lore from Once Upon a Time, long, long before recorded history, when we gazed at the heavens, divided time by the movement of the sun, moon, and stars, and learned to predict the cycles of Mother Nature. These stories have survived the erosion of passing time, the destruction of records, and the layers added by new generations. They are examples of how symbolism carries folklore forward over time. That these stories are found all over the world speaks to their endurance and relevance to human life.

Article and artwork © 2011 Michelle Snyder, author of Symbology: Decoding Classic Images, available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble online, and at The Book Rack Bookstore in Arlington. Find more information about symbolism, and post your questions or comments on her blog: www.whiteknightstudio.blogspot.com.

Interview with Earl Staggs

noreply@blogger.com (Debra L Martin) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Briefly describe your journey in writing your book.

When my wife and I left the snow and ice of Maryland behind and moved south, I retired from the insurance business and decided to do something I’d wanted to do all my life – become a mystery writer. My first step was to join a writing class at the local community college. The instructor said that by the end of the class, we each would have written a short story. It seemed like a good way to start so I came up with a short story. I was so proud of it, I submitted it to several magazines. When they all rejected it, I was crushed, but continued writing. Eventually, some of my stories were published.

A couple years later, I decided to pull out that first story and take a look at it. Good grief! I saw why it was rejected. I’d learned a lot about writing by then, and decided to rewrite the story. This time, it was accepted by not one, but two magazines – one a webzine and one a print magazine. It was published by both, and the response was so positive and encouraging, I decided to take the protagonist and his special talent into a full length novel.

That’s when I learned how little I knew about writing a book. I read every how-to-write book I could get my hands on, read a stack of mystery novels, and found a wonderful group of critique partners to expose my shortcomings. It took three years of hard work, but I finished it. When MEMORY OF A MURDER was eventually published, it picked up thirteen Five Star reviews and has done quite well.

What genre are your books? Do you write in more than one genre?

I consider myself a mystery writer, but I wander around within the genre. Sometimes I write hardboiled, sometimes light and humorous, and sometimes in between. I’ve always enjoyed a mixture when I read and discovered the same applies to when I write. Occasionally, I’ll step out of the mystery genre entirely and write something purely humorous. An example is a story called “The Day I Almost Became a Great Writer.” There’s no crime or mystery in it, but many people have said it’s the funniest thing I’ve ever written. It’s available for a free read for anyone interested on my site at: http://earlwstaggs.wordpress.com

If you write in more than one genre, do you use a pen name?

I know writers who use pen names and that’s fine for them if they want to. I’ve never seen a need or had the urge to, and I’m sure I never will. I entered this world with one name and plan to leave it the same way.

Did you query agents and traditional publishers? Did you receive an offer of representation or a book contract?

I’ve gone that route in the past. Getting signed by a traditional publisher used to be difficult. With all the changes in publishing in the last few years, it’s become nearly impossible. I signed with one agent, but nothing ever came of it. This was during the time when major publishers were cutting back on new authors and dropping many they had on board. For now, I’m happy with independent presses and the way they operate and expect to stay with them.

What factors influenced your decision to sign with Untreed Reads?

I was impressed with Jay Hartman and the way he presented what Untreed Reads does. I think Untreed Reads is the ground floor of the future publishing industry and was thrilled to be accepted by them.

How involved are you during the creative process for your book’s cover design?

I think all authors are like me and want to have something to say about their covers. We have a firm picture in our minds of what our story is about and care deeply whether or not the cover conveys what we feel it should. When Untreed Reads published “Where Billy Died,” Jay asked for my thoughts and opinions on the cover. I responded and crossed my fingers. I was amazed when I received the artist’s rendition and did a Happy Dance. The cover was terrific. That’s the kind of cooperation and consideration we never experienced in traditional publishing

Do you plan to self-publish any other books or will you stay with Untreed Reads?

That decision will vary with each situation for many reasons, but I hope to remain associated with Untreed Reads in any way I can.

What kinds of social media [twitter, facebook, webpage, blog, writing forums] are you involved with trying to garner attention for your book(s)?

So far, I haven’t done much on Facebook and Twitter and know I should. For now, I’m active on my own website, a couple of blog cooperatives, guest blog appearances wherever I can, and a few writing forums. I’ve also presented workshops for two online conferences and love to do live presentations to writer’s and reader’s groups. There’s still a lot to learn about using the social media available, and I’m working on that.

How do you feel about the world of digital publishing? Do you think it will replace traditional publishing one day?

I don’t think digital publishing will ever completely replace traditional. There will always be people who want the feel and smell of a printed book. Digital is certainly forcing traditional to restructure itself, however, and no one knows for sure what will happen. The next few years will be interesting, and it’s going to be a bumpy road for a while. The best we can do is wait it out and hope they eventually reach a coexistence which will be to the benefit of authors and readers.

What is the biggest thing you’ve learned during your journey as an author?

When we first start writing, without realizing, we’re influenced by other writers we admire and our work is an attempt to write as they do. Over time, word by word and line by line, our own style and voice appears. It can take a long time, but not until then can we call ourselves writers. Until we reach that point, we’re only copying others and falling short of the unique and individual writer we need to become.

Do you have any advice for new authors?

Yes, I do and this is it: Always make sure the next thing you write is better than the last thing you wrote. Being good is not good enough. There are too many good writers ahead of you. To rise above the crowd, you have to continuously work to get better.

What’s next for you?

More books. I have a Mystery/Thriller almost ready to shop for a publisher and I’ve started a sequel to MEMORY OF A MURDER. I also have ideas for half a dozen more books. So much to be written, so little time. If you know of a way to add another eight hours to a day, please pass it along.

Buy links: http://store.untreedreads.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&zenid=gup73ase2ee6dm2mqhimsnjq53&keyword=earl+staggs