Heidi Ruby Miller

HEIDI'S PICK SIX: Sandra Sookoo

2012-01-31T08:42:00.003-05:00

HEIDI'S PICK SIX

Sandra Sookoo

1. Which of your characters is your favorite?

2. Tell me about your travels.
Hmm, well, I travelled to the tiny Caribbean island of Trinidad to meet my husband. The only place west of the Mississippi I’ve been is St. Louis. And my favorite place of all time to vacation is Walt Disney World.

3. Coffee, tea, or milk?
Tea. Though I love brewing coffee just for the wonderful aroma, I’m a tea girl—iced or hot it doesn’t matter. As for milk, I don’t take it in my tea either, and don’t drink it. It makes me shiver—and not in a good way. Chalk it up to bad memories from growing up when my siblings and I had to drink powdered milk.

4. What else can you do besides write?
I’m a baker. I always joke that if I get stuck or stalled with a particular scene in writing, I pop into the kitchen and bake. There’s something about engaging my brain while cooking that allows it to work out the problems in the writing.

5. Who are you reading right now?
6. Pop culture or academia?

7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?
The toughest scene? That would have to be in Dragons at Dawn, when my hero (or anti-hero in this book) struggles with a decision on whether to kill the heroine’s mother or not after the woman mortally wounded the heroine. In one respect, going through with the act would put him beyond redemption, but on the other hand, not going through with it showed he had some compassion after all. I teetered on that scene for days.

8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?
9. Food you could eat everyday.
10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?
11. What kind of music speaks to you?

12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?
I’m a big fan of the outline. Why? It’s like a roadmap of sorts while I write. Sometimes they’re in-depth, sometimes not. When I actually get in and write the story, the characters will do or say something that changes the course of the outline and that’s okay. I just alter it and move forward. I also find that for me, it keeps me from boxing myself in a corner.

13. Celebrity crush.
14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?

15. Do you still watch cartoons?
Absolutely! I think cartoons are a great creative outlet, and some of them are just mindless entertainment that makes me laugh. Looney Tunes are still my favorite.

Sandra Sookoo is a writer of romantic fiction. Her portfolio includes historical, contemporary, sci-fi and paranormal romances in full-length books as well as shorts and novellas. No matter if the heat level is spicy or sweet, she loves to blend genres and often times will add humor.

When not immersed in creating new worlds and interesting characters, Sandra likes to read, bake and travel. Her favorite place to spend vacation hours is Walt Disney World. It’s where dreams come true and the soul can play. If she’s not writing, she’s keeping things interesting at her Believing is Seeing blog or spending time with her husband, who patiently answers questions she has about men and/or sci-fi-related subjects.

You can write to Sandra at sandrasookoo@yahoo.com, visit her website at www.sandrasookoo.com or look her up on Facebook and Twitter. All links are provided on the front page of her website.

Find Sandra online at these links:

WEBSITE - http://www.sandrasookoo.com

- http://www.facebook.com/sandra.sookoo

- http://twitter.com/sandrasookoo

- Believing is Seeing - http://sandrasookoo.wordpress.com

BLURB for Fractured
What happens when beauty is the beast?

Major Rick Keenan has a near-impossible mission: repair his broken shuttle, rescue a missing crew member and get off an almost-dead planet. Angry that the U.S. is discontinuing the space program, he wants to find a discovery that will revise the government's position. Unfortunately, that discovery might just kill him.

Marin is one of the last of her people. Forced to flee to the planet in her childhood, she's kept herself hidden away in darkness, safe in a castle-like fortress, only coming out when she needs to feed--from human blood. Convinced she'll never fit in, she shuns all contact, yet taking Rick hostage as a food source chips away at her perceptions.

Though their differences threaten to tear them apart, their humanity binds them together. In a world where only the strong and determined survive, does a happily ever after stand a chance?

BOOK TRAILER - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3hiQHxMW2w&feature=youtu.be

You can buy Fractured at these links:

ALL ROMANCE E-BOOKS - http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-fractured-668700-143.html

- http://www.amazon.com/Fractured-ebook/dp/B006V4Y63Q

LIQUID SILVER BOOKS - http://www.king-cart.com/cgi-bin/cart.cgi?store=linda018&product_name=Fractured&return_page=&user-id=&password=&exchange=&exact_match=exact

SFFS: Snippet from GREENSHIFT #6

2012-01-27T11:06:00.000-05:00

SFFS Snippet

A TALE FROM THE AMBASADORA-VERSE: GREENSHIFT

Greenshift is an upcoming novel set in the Ambasadora-verse one month before Ambasadora begins.

DESCRIPTION: David Anlow, a fleet captain forced into early retirement and jaded by an ex-lover, now spends his lonely days shuttling around a group of scientists for hire.

Boston Maribu, Mari to her friends, is one of his passengers, a young botanist who is as beautiful as she is naïve and innocent. When Mari asks David to teach her about more than just piloting the Bard, nights on their ship heat up and their feelings for each other mature into a relationship neither expects. But a suspicious new client shows up with wicked plans for Mari, and the soldier inside David comes alive, ready to fight for the young woman who stole his heart.

SNIPPET #1

SNIPPET #2

SNIPPET #3

SNIPPET #4

SNIPPET #5
--

"I'm not the flirting type," Sean mumbled.

"No kidding."

Even after they kissed that time he hadn't made any advances toward her. And that was too bad because it was a good kiss.

She studied Sean's thin lips as she thought about it. As usual, dark blonde stubble encircled his mouth and edged up his tense jaw and down his chin to his neck. In fact, she had never seen him clean-shaven. David always shaved, kept himself well-groomed in general, even his t-shirt and fatigues were crisp, not like the rumpled worker's pants and faded blue t-shirt Sean wore.

Mari had been making comparisons between the two men since David walked on board a few weeks ago. Sean was the guy she used to want, but now all she thought about was David Anlow.
--

Find more snippets from other wonderful authors at Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday.

HEIDI'S PICK SIX: Mark Radford

2012-01-24T07:04:00.000-05:00

HEIDI'S PICK SIX

Mark Radford

1. Which of your characters is your favorite?
It has to be Midnight from Early Memory – a strong feisty woman with a troubled background who can be expanded into further books, starting with its sequel due for release in April/May.

2. Tell me about your travels.
3. Coffee, tea, or milk?

4. What else can you do besides write?
I can use sign language quite well when in the company of the deaf community but generally I use spoken English as my main communication method – the best of both worlds.

5. Who are you reading right now?
The Timekeepers by Charles Moore – a Sci-Fi adventure.

6. Pop culture or academia?
7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?
8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?

9. Food you could eat everyday.
My biggest vice is Chocolate! – gradually cutting down on it.

10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?
11. What kind of music speaks to you?

12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?
I generally write up an outline of the story’s plot with some scenes that are clear in my mind and the characters to be used to give the book some direction. Sometimes the characters take over and direct the action to me!

13. Celebrity crush.
Jennifer Love Hewitt – a homely kind of woman with a lovely smile!

14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?
15. Do you still watch cartoons?

Mark Radford is a deaf author who has been living on the south coast of England for over 30 years. After many dormant years, his writing dream was revived when in mid-1998 ill health caused him to lose his job on medical grounds. He was diagnosed with Menieres. During the recovery period, he enrolled in two creative writing courses that led to writing qualifications and the publication of his debut novel ‘Early Memory’. A full biography of the author and information on his writing can be found at his Web site www.markradford.co.uk.

Buy Early Memory - http://www.amazon.com/Early-Memory-ebook/dp/B006EK6YVO

Buy Game of Justice - http://www.amazon.com/Game-Of-Justice-ebook/dp/B00642K61G

HEIDI'S PICK SIX: Judah Lee Davis

2012-01-23T10:59:00.001-05:00

HEIDI'S PICK SIX

Judah Lee Davis

1. Which of your characters is your favorite?
My favorite character is Madison because she’s just SO BAD. To help me get familiar with her character, I painted my fingernails black and danced around in stilettos to Beyonce songs for quite some time.

I also enjoy the way that Madison sees everything in such a negative and raunchy light. She can take the most lovely idea and twist it into something perverse. It’s almost a talent. Watching her attempted transformation from bull frog to flower is as funny for the writer as it is for the reader. I never know what she’ll get into next.

2. Tell me about your travels.
I stayed in Quito, Ecuador for two weeks with my best friend who was studying Spanish. We took a cruise to the Galapagos and also visited an Incan Indian village. I also took a solo journey throughout Costa Rica that involved horseback riding and zip-lining through the jungle.

My last major vacation was in and around the area of Nuremburg, Germany. I bicycled throughout the German villages during the beautiful bloom of Spring, and I must say that it was breathtaking. In addition, I’ve been to New York several times to see plays, and I’ve also been skiing in Keystone Colorado. My greatest vacation, though, was when my mother took me across the United States in a Winnebago RV from 1975. It broke down a lot, especially in Kansas.

3. Coffee, tea, or milk?
I enjoy drinking raw milk straight from the local dairy farm. I mix it with Hershey’s chocolate syrup for a delicious treat, straight from the teet.

4. What else can you do besides write?
5. Who are you reading right now?
6. Pop culture or academia?

7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?
The most challenging thing for me was writing the sex scenes. I want them to be filthy enough to represent my character’s carnal nature, but at the same time, they really make me blush. I often look back over my shoulder to make sure no one’s watching.

8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?
I always knew deep down inside, that I had a book in there. Writing a book, for me, was like being pregnant. I lived in misery with the pain of holding something in that I couldn’t get out. I would sit down to write, and to my dismay, nothing would come out but a poem or a journal entry. This was very frustrating, because I knew there was a story in there, but I would just have to wait.

Finally, beginning Oct. 1, 2008, I read the Bible from cover to cover and did a fair amount of research on it. This was my ultimate inspiration.

I was fascinated, mostly by the prophets in the Old Testament. They accused the nation of Judah/Israel of being worse than a whore, because she chased after her lovers. Lovers, in this sense, represented idol worship, child sacrifice, worshipping Baal, etc.

For me, this inspired the idea of a modern day woman, who would be worse than a whore, because she was promiscuous and sought after companionship of the darkest nature. This character would invoke the same disdain and gut wrenching emotion that I felt as I read about a harlot nation who defied God on every level. She would be symbolic on so many levels. She would represent the fall of humanity, the nation of Israel, and ultimately she would represent the sin that every individual keeps hidden in the closet.

She was to be an airing of dirty laundry that would resonate within the hearts of all, and convey the message of humanity’s great need for redemption. Even in the smallest details of Madison’s story, such as the slut signage, you can find this theme.

9. Food you could eat everyday.
10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?
11. What kind of music speaks to you?
12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?

13. Celebrity crush.
The Rock. Every time I watch his movies, I feel as if he is looking directly at me with those handsome dark eyes. Second only to my husband, who is absolutely the world’s FINEST man (did you hear that honey?), the Rock trails in at a distant second.

14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?
15. Do you still watch cartoons?

After graduating in Journalism in 2001, Judah Lee Davis has furthered her career as a corporate writer for the past decade. As a result of her training in media, her non-traditional writing style is simple, easy-to-read, and accessible to all readers.

Her debut novel, She Tells All, is written from the hilarious collage of ideas that could only come from living in a small town. From strong Pentecostal undertones to vulgarity of the crudest nature, Davis contrasts the war between good and evil as she chronicles the struggles of a promiscuous girl looking for love, (or something similar) in a sleepy southern town.

Alexandria Vail, reviewer at ChickLitClub.com says,"This kept me laughing and some points on the verge of tears. It's a book with a life lesson, and a lot of humor with a little vulgarity -- in a good way."

S. Reisner, "Author of the Sorcerers' Twilight said, "There were times I was howling with laughter (as in couldn't stop laughing) - it really was that funny. There were also touching moments."

While Davis is hoping to make waves in the world of fiction with her sassy debut novel, she currently enjoys lavishing her two kittens with an unreasonable amount of affection, spending time with her family, and keeping up with her day job.

Find Judah online at these links:

- http://www.facebook.com/pages/She-Tells-All/203963509690674

- http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4212900.Judah_Lee_Davis

- http://twitter.com/She_tells_all

- http://judahleedavis.wordpress.com

Buy She Tells All at these links:

EBOOK - http://www.amazon.com/She-Tells-All-ebook/dp/B003VYC3A2

PAPERBACK - http://www.amazon.com/She-tells-all-Sometimes-through/dp/1453687122

SFFS: Snippet from GREENSHIFT #5

2012-01-20T19:19:00.000-05:00

SFFS Snippet

A TALE FROM THE AMBASADORA-VERSE: GREENSHIFT

Greenshift is an upcoming novel set in the Ambasadora-verse one month before Ambasadora begins.

DESCRIPTION: David Anlow, a fleet captain forced into early retirement and jaded by an ex-lover, now spends his lonely days shuttling around a group of scientists for hire.

Boston Maribu, Mari to her friends, is one of his passengers, a young botanist who is as beautiful as she is naïve and innocent. When Mari asks David to teach her about more than just piloting the Bard, nights on their ship heat up and their feelings for each other mature into a relationship neither expects. But a suspicious new client shows up with wicked plans for Mari, and the soldier inside David comes alive, ready to fight for the young woman who stole his heart.

SNIPPET #1

SNIPPET #2

SNIPPET #3

SNIPPET #4
--

SNIPPET #5:
"I know you didn't like the last guy," Mari said. "Neither did I." She sucked in a breath when one of the contractors closed in.

"Because he wouldn't flirt with you?" Sean's deep voice remained even, but his focus stayed riveted to David's confrontation with the contractors.

"Who?" Mari asked, trying to loosen the death grip she had on the knife.

"The last pilot." Sean was humoring her.

And she would let him because her stomach was in knots.

"You won't flirt with me either," she said half-heartedly, too distracted by the argument down the boardwalk, "and I still like you."
--

Find more snippets from other wonderful authors at Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday.

HEIDI'S PICK SIX: D. A. Bale

2012-01-20T09:46:00.000-05:00

HEIDI'S PICK SIX

D. A. Bale

1. Which of your characters is your favorite?

2. Tell me about your travels.
Oh, I love traveling! In my previous line of work, I traveled ALOT doing workshops around the country for banking and lending institutions. Many times I either went to a venue early or stayed extra days to do some sight-seeing and take in the local fare. One of the banks I worked for was anchored out on the East Coast, and I loved going into New York City to walk around Central Park, Greenwich Village, etc. I have some absolutely fantastic pictures from those years. However, my absolute favorite place is Alaska - specifically Seward, Alaska. My second trip out there I took my son and mother and had a bunch of excursions planned for them throughout the day while I worked and then we spent our last days down in Seward doing the whale-watching tours of the Kenai Fjords, dog-sled rides, the Sea Life Center, etc. I would live there in a heartbeat!

3. Coffee, tea, or milk?
Does it count if I put milk IN my coffee? :-) Actually I drink all three at various times and situations, but I'd probably have to say coffee. I'm not human in the mornings until I've had at least two cups (milk and sugar please). If someone ever came up with a way to provide its benefits intravenously, then I'd sign up for it. That way I'd be pleasant the moment I stepped out of bed.

4. What else can you do besides write?
5. Who are you reading right now?
6. Pop culture or academia?

7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?
That would have to be a couple of very difficult sex scenes in "Running into the Darkness". When I first approached those scenes, I kinda skittered around them and just alluded to the probability. Then I realized it didn't have the impact it really needed, but that meant I'd have to relive some very difficult circumstances in my own life - but this time from the perpetrator's POV. Getting into a pervert's psyche was very difficult.

8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?
Believe it or not, a good portion of my work comes from real life - either certain things I've personally experienced (though translated into a fictionalized setting and characters) or that I've observed or others have spoken about to me. In many ways, life itself can be stranger and more traumatic than anything imagined. Then other inspirations come through some of my dreams, which can be quite vivid. I keep notebooks in my purse, on my nightstand, in my family room, etc. just for such moments of inspiration.

9. Food you could eat everyday.
10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?

11. What kind of music speaks to you?
ALL kinds! When I write, I enjoy listening to soundtracks from various movies. There are specific composers I'll buy, even if I've never even seen the applicable movie. The music takes my mind much deeper into the scene I may be writing until I don't even hear the music anymore because I'm right in the thick of a back alley, a tense scene, whatever it conjures up in my mind. Case in point, last Sunday I was in my car listening to the soundtrack from Tron Legacy by Daft Punk, and a piece I've listened to several times began. The haunting strains of the cello immediately took me to a scene I'd never thought of before for my sequel, "Piercing the Darkness". The whole thing rose up like a movie scene in my mind's eye and got me so excited to get back to work on it.

12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?
I know, I know - everything I read seems to speak of outlining as the holy grail, but it doesn't work for me because it really ties up my inspiration and makes my writing become more rigid. My characters sometimes have other ideas. I generally have an overarching plan and some notes of what is going to happen in my novels, where I want to start and finish, but for the most part I let my story ebb and flow as the characters allow. In "Running into the Darkness", there is a principle character I intended to keep throughout the entire storyline. However, one day he came before me, laid down his weapon and told me, "Fair lady, it is best for this individual that I lay down my life." Okay, that's really cheesy, but in a way that's what it felt like to me. I fought losing him from the storyline, but in the end it was the only thing that truly seemed plausible. By changing my mind and killing off this character, I've had to also rethink how to manage another scene later on, but I think I've got it worked out now.

13. Celebrity crush.
14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?
15. Do you still watch cartoons?

Since her earliest remembrances, Ms. Bale has used the written word to communicate images and feelings, to entertain and inspire. In her youth, she won numerous writing awards and spent countless hours entertaining family and friends with stories and plays she’d written using her parents old typewriter. Then life happened.

Through a series of personal tragedies, she once again picked up writing as a means of catharsis. This led to the introduction of a very special writers group with whom she continues to this day.

With the Midwest as an excellent origin for reaching either U.S. coast in a matter of hours, Bale has taken advantage of her centralized location. As a one-time government relations liaison, she’d been in demand along both western and eastern corridors, specifically taking in the New York and D.C. scenes.

Politics aside, her favorite haunt is the State of Alaska, with cold weather and snow and the uncommonly common Husky. Her love of weather plays into most of her writing and helps to set various scenes.

Though fantasy and the classics are her favorites for reading pleasure, Bale is comfortable writing in many genres. She believes wholeheartedly that good character development is just as important as spinning a solid storyline. Therefore, even the fast-paced thriller reader deserves to know what makes a character tick. Tragedy and foibles of the human condition are common among her characters to give them a deeper semblance of reality.

Ms. Bale currently has several novels in various genres and stages of completion with one thriller currently available, Running into the Darkness, a finalist in the KWA Scene of the Crime contest. She continues to make her home in the Midwest.

You can contact Ms. bale at this link:

- http://dabalepublishing.blogspot.com

SYNOPSIS for Riding into the Darkness:
Death follows Dr. Samantha Bartlett throughout her life until it claims everyone close to her. There's one powerful man responsible on whom Samantha sets her sights for revenge. The price is her soul. For centuries, sex has been the weapon of men...now it's her turn.

“I never intended to kill the President. As a doctor, I swore an oath to protect life – not take it. But that was before I met him.”

Second year resident, Dr. Samantha Bartlett, is swept from the frigid New York winter to once again confront the sting of death back home – and face those she left behind. But she’s not alone. A strange man she dubs Shades haunts her every step as she seeks answers to the inferno which claimed her grandmother, an eerie reminder of her parents’ deaths. The secrets Samantha uncovers forever changes her image of those she only thought she knew.

Confronted by Shades, Samantha joins a secret underworld known only as the Elite, where a web of power and control is woven deep within governments worldwide. Their sights are set on the power structure of the United States, and Samantha becomes the unlikely key to infiltrating the White House at its most intimate levels.

The quest for blood threatens to destroy Samantha. From the darkness there is no escape.

Available as an eBook on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple, Sony, and Smashwords. Buy Riding into the Darkness at these links:

- http://www.amazon.com/Running-into-the-Darkness-ebook/dp/B0063HIS26

- http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/98766

HEIDI'S PICK SIX: Jackie Miller

2012-01-19T06:46:00.000-05:00

HEIDI'S PICK SIX

Jackie Miller

1. Which of your characters is your favorite?
2. Tell me about your travels.

3. Coffee, tea, or milk?
Mmmmmm . . . coffee for me! I can (and sometimes do) replace entire meals with coffee. To allay any guilt from this bad habit, I try to drink equal amounts of water as well. That counts for something, right? I know caffeine wakes you up, but drinking coffee is so cathartic and relaxing for me.

4. What else can you do besides write?

5. Who are you reading right now?
I'm reading The God King by James A. West and Divergent by Veronica Roth. Fantasy & Dystopian YA :-) I have pretty varied taste. I like to jump around from genre to genre so I don't get burned out on one in particular.

6. Pop culture or academia?
7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?

8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?
I find inspiration in a ton of places. I used to tell my hubby, who also loves to write, that I just wasn't creative enough to come up with story ideas. Once I started letting myself be creative, the ideas became endless. My inspiration for my current novel (which is still in the works) came as I was guzzling a root beer while driving home one day. It created an image in my head, which ended up being a great scene between my two main characters. The whole story took off from there. Before you get too worried, the scene has nothing to do with guzzling or root beer, but the mind makes strange connections for us sometimes!

9. Food you could eat everyday.

10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?
I love going to the gym. Running in particular. Yes, running outside is better and all that, but it just doesn't work with my schedule. I have to go late at night when the kids are in bed, and I'm not going out for a run alone in the dark! Working out generally makes me feel happier than when I'm not doing anything physical. I actually really enjoy it. Although, sometimes I want to run screaming from the building if my iPod runs out of batteries as soon as I turn it on. Music motivates me to get my buns moving, and I feel lost without it!

11. What kind of music speaks to you?

12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?
I do start with an outline in mind. I'll write out some of the main scenes or plot points on notecards and place them in the order of occurrence. I've noticed that sometimes the story twists away from what I have planned out, and that's all part of the fun. I've even had some discarded scenes develop into an idea for an entirely new story :-)

13. Celebrity crush.
Norman Reedus from The Walking Dead! I have gotten so much flak for this one, but it's true. You can't just say he's a redneck (on the show) and call it a day. If you've watched the show up until this point, you might understand. I love his type of character . . . tough shell, gooey middle. Plus, he's just a bonafide hottie, in my book!

14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?
15. Do you still watch cartoons?

Jackie Miller lives in the Dallas, Texas area with her husband and three young kids. She is currently working on her first novel, which is cas of yet untitled. It's a Young Adult zombie-esque novel, and she is overflowing with excitement to be working on it. She has a somewhat unhealthy obsession with zombies, and found herself wondering under what circumstances there could be a 'zombie' book with romance. She can't wait to share her story with the world once it is in perfect working order. When not writing or raising children, she spends her time reading and keeping up with her blog. She also thinks she is terrible at writing Bios, so please forgive her.

Find Jackie online at these links:

- http://mytowerofbooks.blogspot.com

- http://twitter.com/MyTowerofBooks

HEIDI'S PICK SIX: Sheldon Higdon

2012-01-17T13:04:00.000-05:00

HEIDI'S PICK SIX

Sheldon Higdon

1. Which of your characters is your favorite?
2. Tell me about your travels.
3. Coffee, tea, or milk?
4. What else can you do besides write?

5. Who are you reading right now?
I tend to read several books at once but one of them is Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.

6. Pop culture or academia?
Is this a trick question? Because, if so, I plead the fifth. :)

7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?
8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?

9. Food you could eat everyday.
Hot Wings. Although my acid reflux wouldn't appreciate it.

10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?

11. What kind of music speaks to you?
Old school Punk and Metal. (I know. That's two.)

12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?
I'm trying to outline. Twisting my arm to do it more often. With that said I let the story bleed out naturally.

13. Celebrity crush.
14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?

15. Do you still watch cartoons?
Does Battle of the Planets kick ass? Uh, yeah.

Sheldon Higdon is a member of the Horror Writers Association and has had over thirty publications appear in numerous magazines and books ranging from fiction to non-fiction to poetry. He is also an award-winning screenwriter. His work has appeared in Rue Morgue Magazine, Shroud Magazine, The Portland Magazine, Necrotic Tissue Magazine, Horrorwired, Death, Be Not Proud, Northern Haunts, and at www.darkside-digital.com, to name a few.

Find Sheldon online at these links:

WEBSITE - www.sheldonhigdon.com

- http://sheldonhigdon.blogspot.com (The Obituary of Sheldon S. Higdon)

- http://www.facebook.com/sheldonhigdon.com

- http://twitter.com/sheldonhigdon

SFFS: Snippet from GREENSHIFT #4

2012-01-13T15:26:00.001-05:00

SFFS Snippet

TALES FROM THE AMBASADORA-VERSE: GREENSHIFT

Greenshift is an upcoming novel set in the Ambasadora-verse one month before Ambasadora begins.

DESCRIPTION: David Anlow, a fleet captain forced into early retirement and jaded by an ex-lover, now spends his lonely days shuttling around a group of scientists for hire.

Boston Maribu, Mari to her friends, is one of his passengers, a young botanist who is as beautiful as she is naïve and innocent. When Mari asks David to teach her about more than just piloting the Bard, nights on their ship heat up and their feelings for each other mature into a relationship neither expects. But a suspicious new client shows up with wicked plans for Mari, and the soldier inside David comes alive, ready to fight for the young woman who stole his heart.

SNIPPET #1.

SNIPPET #2.

SNIPPET #3.
--

SNIPPET #4:
Many Armadans underestimated contractors—David didn't. They might not have as much bulk, but their martial arts training gave them a powerful punch.

"Ward." Killian shot a warning look at his charge.

"You on babysitting duty, Killian? Thought the Embassy would have promoted you by now. It seems to me you were babysitting another recruit that night my brother kicked your ass."

David looked at Ward when he spoke next. "You're lucky to have this guy. When my brother started wailing on the kid, Killian jumped right in and took a beating alongside him."
--

Find more snippets from other wonderful authors at Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday.

Many Genres One Craft Wins First Place at London Book Festival

2012-01-09T11:44:00.000-05:00

I am pleased to announce that the writing guide I co-edited with Michael A. Arnzen, Many Genres, One Craft, won first place in General Non-Fiction at the 2011 London Book Festival! This is our second award for the book and comes on the heels of last month's honor from The Writer magazine, which named Many Genres #5 in Ten of 2011's Terrific Writing Books!

Congratulations to all the contributors and our publisher Headline Books, Inc. for making this book such a big success.

SFFS: Snippet from GREENSHIFT #3

2012-01-06T21:28:00.000-05:00

SFFS Snippet

TALES FROM THE AMBASADORA-VERSE: GREENSHIFT

Greenshift is an upcoming novel set in the Ambasadora-verse one month before Ambasadora begins.

DESCRIPTION: David Anlow, a fleet captain forced into early retirement and jaded by an ex-lover, now spends his lonely days shuttling around a group of scientists for hire.

Boston Maribu, Mari to her friends, is one of his passengers, a young botanist who is as beautiful as she is naïve and innocent. When Mari asks David to teach her about more than just piloting the Bard, nights on their ship heat up and their feelings for each other mature into a relationship neither expects. But a suspicious new client shows up with wicked plans for Mari, and the soldier inside David comes alive, ready to fight for the young woman who stole his heart.

Click on this link for SNIPPET #1.

Click on this link for SNIPPET #2.

--

SNIPPET #3:
The fleet jab got under David's skin—he'd only taken the early retirement a few months ago and it wasn't exactly sitting well with him.

"I didn't think you'd remember me. Guess you do have a brain somewhere in that soft head of yours."

Must have seen my name on the entry request. That meant this was a personal vendetta and not an Embassy affair, which worked to David's advantage. He could take on a couple of grudge-carrying contractors, but not formal charges of trespassing.

"This isn't your berth," Killian said.

"Temporarily it is."

"Move your ship."

"When we're ready."

The other contractor with Killian put a hand to one of his cenders.

--

Find more snippets from other wonderful authors at Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday.

HEIDI'S PICK SIX: Stacey Rourke

2012-01-03T09:57:00.000-05:00

HEIDI'S PICK SIX

Stacey Rourke

1. Which of your characters is your favorite?
I love Grams. I wanna be her when I grow up.

2. Tell me about your travels.
3. Coffee, tea, or milk?

4. What else can you do besides write?
I can touch my tongue to my nose.

5. Who are you reading right now?

6. Pop culture or academia?
I consider E!, People, & US Weekly to be the news. That's academia right?

7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?
8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?
9. Food you could eat everyday.

10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?
I LOVE to workout! I’m borderline addicted to the endorphin rush.

11. What kind of music speaks to you?

12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?
I outline, but the story still always manages to take me somewhere I didn’t expect!

13. Celebrity crush.
Do I have to narrow it down to one?! I get "character crushes" more than celebrity crushes. Alcide from True Blood (Dear Alan Ball, if you could have him shirtless and growling in every scene that'd be swell.) , Jax from Sons of Anarchy (Dear Kurt Sutter, if you could have him shirtless and growling in every scene that'd be swell.), and of course Cap’n Jack Sparrow.

14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?

15. Do you still watch cartoons?
Bonus Question: Totally! Phineas and Ferb rocks!!!

The Conduit is the debut novel for author Stacey Rourke. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant, drooly dogs. She is currently hard at work on the continuations of The Gryphon series, as well as other literary projects.

Find Stacey online at these links:

WEBSITE - http://www.staceyrourke.com

- http://twitter.com/@Rourkewrites

Buy The Conduit online at:

- http://www.amazon.com/The-CONDUIT-ebook/dp/B0062FO8KA

HEIDI'S PICK SIX: Larry Peterson

2012-01-02T10:57:00.000-05:00

HEIDI'S PICK SIX

Larry Peterson

1. Which of your characters is your favorite?
It's a toss-up between Father Sullivan and Beatrice Amon. Father Sullivan is street-wise and tough yet he has this childlike faith and sees God's prescence even amidst chaos. It is a beautiful thing. As far as Beatrice goes, well, she proves that often times people are not the ogres we might think they are. I'll leave it at that.

2. Tell me about your travels.

3. Coffee, tea, or milk?
COFFEE---it gets the old engine running; milk #2

4. What else can you do besides write?
A lot of folks have called me "Mr. Fix-it". I can do most any kind of home repair or remodeling work. I can fix cars too, if I have to. However, I have not done much of that over the last few years. Blew my back out about 15 years ago and nowadays it does not take much to set me back to square one where I can hardly move. So, I have to be careful. I can also play the harmonica and if I need to clear a room quickly all I have to do is start playing. I also have worked with the St. Vincent De Paul Society for about 20 years and have spent lots of time working with those in need. That is EXTREMELY rewarding.

5. Who are you reading right now?
I'm reading a YA book by Cynthia DeFelice titled, "Under the Same Sky". It's about a 14 year old boy who wants a dirt-bike. His dad, a farmer who employs migrant workers, decides that he should earn the money. He challenges his son and the boy goes to work with the field hands. It is about learning to face your prejudices and be with people who are different. Nice story. Teaches a fine lesson.

6. Pop culture or academia?

7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?
The scene in "The Priest & The Peaches" where Beatrice Amon spontaneously interacts with Father Sullivan. The scene just began to happen and, I swear, it even got to me as I wrote it. I could not believe that I had tears in my eyes. Anyway, I'll leave it at that. Don't want to give the story away.

8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?
9. Food you could eat everyday.
10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?
11. What kind of music speaks to you?

12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?
I think they call someone like me a "pantser" because I do go along for the ride. I do have a potential ending in sight when I start. But it is always like some of those remodeling jobs I have done. There are always changes made as you go along and you never know when you will need to make them. Then BOOM!--you open up a wall and there are plumbing pipes staring at you. They're important but they are in the way. What to do??? So you adapt. Anyway, my outline comes after I'm finished. So does a synopsis. According to all the "poobahs" out there I'm doing it all wrong. Well, my goal is to get to the finish line. For me, getting there is all that counts, even if I fall down ten times, bust myself up and wind up bloodied.

13. Celebrity crush.
14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?

15. Do you still watch cartoons?
(Bonus question, lol). Funny you should ask. I just watched "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" with my 4 year old grandson two days ago. It was GREAT----

Larry Peterson was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. A former Metal Lather/Reinforcing Iron-worker, he left that business after coming down with MS. He, his wife and three kids moved to Florida 30 years ago. Larry began doing freelance newspaper commentary after graduating from Tampa College in 1984.

His first children's picture book, Slippery Willie's Stupid, Ugly Shoes was published in 2011. In 2012, his full length novel, The Priest and the Peaches was released and he is presently working on the sequel.

He also has a blog (http://www.ThePriestandthePeaches.com) where he posts weekly commentary. He lives in Pinellas Park, Florida and his kids and six grandchildren all live within three miles of each other.

Find Larry at these links online:

WEBSITE - http://www.ThePriestandthePeaches.com

- http://www.facebook.com/larrytpbx

- http://www.twitter.com/slipperywillie

Find Tribute Books online at these links:

WEBSITE - http://www.tribute-books.com

- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Archbald-PA/Tribute-Books/171628704176

- http://www.twitter.com/TributeBooks

SYNOPSIS for The Priest and the Peaches
Historical fiction novel set in the Bronx in the mid-1960s

Take a seven day journey with the five, newly orphaned Peach kids, as they begin their struggle to remain a family while planning their dad's funeral.

They find an ally in the local parish priest, Father Tim Sullivan, who tries his best to guide them through the strange, unchartered and turbulent waters of "grown-up world." A story that is sad, funny, and inspiring as it shows how the power of family love and faith can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Buy The Priest and the Peaches online at these links:

PDF - http://www.payloadz.com/go/sip?id=1538819

- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006P0EYI8

- http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/116166?ref=tributebooks

HEIDI'S PICK SIX: TK Toppin

2012-01-02T08:50:00.000-05:00

HEIDI'S PICK SIX

TK Toppin

1. Which of your characters is your favorite?
It would have to be Loeb, a small secondary character from the Lancaster trilogy. He's more or less on the edges and sort of looking in with mild wonderment at all the comings and goings. While he didn't get highlighted in the first book, in the second and third, he gets some air time. I like him because he's unassuming, observant, and he can kick some a** when he's ready.

2. Tell me about your travels.

3. Coffee, tea, or milk?
Coffee - black. Tea - black or iced. Milk - intolerant.

4. What else can you do besides write?
Besides writing, I'm a freelance graphic artist...something I've been doing for so long that I remember when I did everything by hand. Thankfully, desktop publishing programmes came about and I fell in love with computers. It was love at first sight.

5. Who are you reading right now?
Right now, I'm nearly done reading The Girls from Alcyone by Cary Caffrey. It's a refreshingly exciting SF book! Reminds me of a movie (it would make a good movie). While I'd loved to have sat from start to finish and read it all, I had to take many breaks due to work-related issues. But now I'm nearly done. After that, I'm moving onto Battle Dancer by K.M. Tolan. It's the last book in his Dancer space opera series, and I can't wait to start!

6. Pop culture or academia?
7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?

8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?
From everywhere and anything - from people watching to idle moments during the day. Sleeping (just before sleeping) also helps. I'm a constant and persistent daydreamer, to the point my mind wanders even while having a face to face conversation
with someone. I've learned to hide it well, though.

My current WIP (2nd draft) came to me in a tea shop looking for Christmas gifts last year. I looked around, saw posters and charts about different teas and their origins, and thought about how long tea had actually been around. Then I wondered how much longer the tea tradition would last. Instantly, my mind skipped several hundred generations into the future (let's call it an even 2 thousand years) and out popped this entirely new star system that cultivated teas like their ancestors did on Earth. Of course, when I actually wrote about it, tea was only mentioned briefly. I may add in some more tea-related things here and there.

9. Food you could eat everyday.
10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?
11. What kind of music speaks to you?

12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?
Outline, outline, outline! And lists and sub-lists. Unless I write down key notes in chronological order, I'm unable to write properly or concentrate. I once tried to let it just pantser out of me, and what came out was stupid and had no form. I hit delete and went back to my notes. However, when writing dialogue, I sort of let it free-fall out of my head (keeping in mind the general outcome of the scene), kind of like having an actual conversation with someone else.

13. Celebrity crush.
14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?
15. Do you still watch cartoons?

TK has been working as a graphic artist for more years than she can remember. Based in Barbados, where she was born, writing has always appealed to her – whether reading someone else’s literary masterpieces, or doing her own disjointed ramblings.

Early in 2008, TK finally received the right motivation to just jump right in and start writing seriously. You could say she received a very strategic kick in a very specific part of her anatomy! Figuratively speaking, of course.

In 2010, her debut SF/SFR novel The Lancaster Rule was published and released by Champagne Books (and their SF/F dedicated imprint, Burst Books). In 2011, the sequel, The Master Key was released. The Eternal Knot is the last in the Lancaster Trilogy and has been released this January.

TK usually prefers writing SF/R but may be tempted to dabble in a some Fantasy in the near future.

Find TK online at these links:

WEBSITE - http://www.thelancasterrule.blogspot.com

- http://thewritersvineyard.com/

- http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Lancaster-Rule/341194164892

- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Written-by-TK-Toppin/122201824480206

- http://twitter.com/TKToppin

SYNOPSIS of The Eternal Knot

Unable to resist the lure of finding her niece, Josie picks up the crumbs of clues left behind. With her old friend and saviour, pod-hunter Quin Aguilar at her side, she seeks out Fern Betterncourt who is assumed to be sleeping for over a hundred years.

From an unlikely source, Fern’s location is discovered, and together with her husband, Josie seeks out her last link to her past. Will Fern want to be found? And will finding Fern be enough to bury the ghosts that haunt Josie? Can Josie bring herself to destroy her last remaining family in order to save herself?

The Eternal Knot, the final chapter in the Lancaster trilogy: Every question answered, every truth revealed. Will Josie finally rest in peace in the new future she lives in?

Challenge: 2011 Reading Challenge from Goodreads

2011-12-28T10:59:00.001-05:00

Challenges

2011 Reading Challenge

Heidi has

completed her goal of reading 25 books in 2011!

hide

30 of 25 (120%)

view books

This was a good reading year!! I set the goal of 25 books back in January not knowing if I could make it, and I surprised myself with 30.

Why is less than one book a week such a big deal? Because after grad school, I had a difficult time balancing reading and writing...and being overly critical. Every book I picked up would be like an assignment to me, rather than a pleasure. I used to go into critiquer and editor mode immediately upon starting a book, and quite honestly, it never allowed me to see the story for all of the criticisms I had.

But this year was a break-through for me. I let head-hopping slide--for the most part. I skipped over grammatical errors and forgave copy editors. I smiled at what I considered silly language and kept my focus on the plot and characters. I reminded myself that, even if I would have chosen to have a plot point play out in a certain way, the author had his or her reasons for doing it this way. And, I was very patient.

In the end, I was rewarded with some real gems and a renewed love of reading that I haven't felt since I was in my teens. Some of that has to do with the convenience of my Kindle. But, mostly, it's because I learned to relax and allow myself to be absorbed completely into new worlds and live vicariously through some awesome characters.

My reading interests are diverse with a leaning toward speculative fiction--that's how it's always been for me, from the days of those G. I. Joe Choose Your Own Adventure books. (And, yes, I included my own book in this list because I read it no less than a dozen times during revisions. It counts!!)

What have you read this year? Share it in comments!

HEIDI'S PICK SIX: Cary Caffrey

2011-12-22T21:24:00.000-05:00

HEIDI'S PICK SIX

Cary Caffrey

1. Which of your characters is your favourite?
Ooh...! You can't ask that! Isn't that like asking which of your children is your favourite? Each of them are so dear to me. But if I have to pick...

Sigrid is the obvious choice. She's the main character in The Girls from Alcyone, but that's not why I picked her. When I first started writing TGfA, Sigrid was a secondary character, but from the moment I put her on the page I started asking all these crazy questions. I realized I wanted to know all about her and how she became the hero that she clearly was. I instantly tossed everything out (I'd already written about 20k), and started writing Sigrid's origin story. It was only supposed to be a short story; something I could use as the prologue to the existing novel. But even that idea got scrapped. The 'short' story was suddenly 25k, and I realized that this was the book.

So, I'll definitely pick Sigrid Novak as my favourite.

2. Tell me about your travels.
3. Coffee, tea, or milk?

4. What else can you do besides write?
I've always played all kinds of instruments (most, very poorly). These days, you can always hear me clattering away in the basement, usually on my drums. Thank goodness they're electronic and don't disturb the neighbours. Drums are very therapeutic; especially when the writing isn't going so well.

5. Who are you reading right now?
You! I'm reading Ambasadora, and loving it. Your book has been a real treat.

I'm actually quite the cynic. I hate almost everything (gah - it's true), so encountering your book is both a treat and a relief. Most books I read end up leaving me really quite angry and frustrated - I'll shout at the books as if author's in the room with me. My wife is the same way. We're a hilarious duo when it comes to critiquing stuff. When we don't like something, we despise it quite passionately. But when we find something we like, we embrace it whole-heartedly, and we'll sound the horn from the ramparts.

So, I'm happy to say, I'm really enjoying your book, and I'm looking forward to passing it along to my wife. I can't wait to see the HBO mini-series. Who's playing Sara?

6. Pop culture or academia?

7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?
There's a scene in TGfA that involved some pretty serious bullying. (I have to be careful; I don't want to give any spoilers away, here). I had to ask myself many times, "Can I do this to her? Is this too far? Too much? Can I really show this?" I had to talk to my wife about it a lot, along with my sister and a lot of my friends.

It was an odd experience; I felt kind of sick writing it. It was based on something that happened to me when I was young, and played on my own adolescent fears and anxieties. I learned that it's one thing to write a violent action scene, but it's an entirely different matter to show real violence and cruelty on a personal level.

I'm very happy with the results, but I definitely prefer writing the fun stuff. I'm much happier writing scenes where the girls enjoy a good pot of tea.

8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?
9. Food you could eat everyday.
10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?
11. What kind of music speaks to you?

12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?
I used to do very detailed outlines, but I find that too restrictive now. These days, I'll have a very loose outline with some rough ideas of certain way-points I need to hit. I definitely let the characters take me along for the ride. I love it when they do things on their own that completely surprise me.

I write a lot more this way too. But I also end up throwing out tons. My 'deleted scenes' folders are longer than the finished novel - doh. I tend to be very critical in going back over everything. I'm constantly cutting and rewriting, but I find writing this way really helps me discover the critical plot elements. I've always been a harsh task master when it comes to plot and narrative structure. I'm always asking, "does this scene really need to be here? Yes? Really? Okay, prove it!"

13. Celebrity crush.
14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?

15. Do you still watch cartoons?
Totally! The one I'm really into is Claymore. It's a Japanese Anime about a group of women demon hunters that are, themselves, infected with demon blood. It's the demon blood that gives the women their strength to fight evil. But the girls are doomed, for eventually, the demon blood will take over their bodies and their minds, and they in turn will need to be hunted and killed. Gah! It's brilliant.

Cary Caffrey grew up reading vintage science fiction from the 60’s and 70’s, loving the works of Harry Harrison and Joe Haldeman, Ursula K. Le Guin, Andre Norton and, of course, Douglas Adams. He still thinks The Forever War may very well be the best Science Fiction novel ever written. "If Ridley Scott ever gets off his can and makes this movie, we're sure to be in for a real treat (favourite director, meet favourite writer. Favourite writer meet... Well, you get the idea. Wild)."

His novel The Girls from Alcyone is out now.

Find Cary online at these links:
WEBSITE - http://www.carycaffrey.com

- http://www.amazon.com/Cary-Caffrey/e/B006GP52DS

- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cary-Caffrey/114213192009103

- http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5354569.Cary_Caffrey

- http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/carycaffrey

- http://www.twitter.com/CaryCaffrey

HEIDI’S PICK SIX: Alecia Stone

2011-12-22T07:29:00.001-05:00

HEIDI’S PICK SIX

Alecia Stone

1. Which of your characters is your favorite?
Hmm ... This is tricky. While I did enjoy writing all of the characters – some more than others – I would have to say that Alex Dench is my favourite. Girl Power, all the way. Not only is she a kick-ass, feisty chick who stands up for what she believes in, she is also very considerate and sensitive. Despite her tomboy demeanour, Alex is deeply emotional. She is unpredictable and exciting. She was a great character to write.

2. Tell me about your travels.
3. Coffee, tea, or milk?
4. What else can you do besides write?

5. Who are you reading right now?
I’ve just browsed my shelf and picked up Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson, which I’m looking forward to reading. I’ve been reading a lot of fantasy lately, and I’m looking for something different. I haven’t started it yet, as I haven’t had a free moment, but I will delve into it soon. Prior to this book I had read Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion – my first zombie book – but it didn’t go down too well, so I’m looking for something to boost my spirit and I’m hoping Matson’s book is the answer.

6. Pop culture or academia?

7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?
There are a few, some of which are featured in book two of the Talisman Of El trilogy, which I’m currently writing, but I can’t speak of those scenes as that would be giving away certain details about book two when book one hasn’t even been released yet. In Talisman Of El, book one, one of the toughest scenes I had to write was a dream scene where Charlie has to relive the moment his father died. That was an emotional scene. Although Charlie tries to let go of his past, it always has a way of haunting him. He had a great relationship with his dad and the last thing he wants to remember is the day of his death, but he just can’t seem to let go. It felt almost as if he was being tortured. In a way, he’s punishing himself for the guilt he feels for being the one that survived while his father died.

8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?
9. Food you could eat everyday.
10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?
11. What kind of music speaks to you?

12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?
So far, I haven’t outlined my stories. I don’t have a routine per se – or, at least, I haven’t developed one yet. For Talisman Of El, I just wrote what came to mind, and then I went back through it to make sure everything was logical. I think if I planned first and then wrote I wouldn’t ever finish a story. I would procrastinate so much the only thing I would end up with is a single blank page and a few bald patches. For now, my plan is to just write and not doubt myself, that way at least I would have a finished product. Talisman Of El came out of nowhere and took me on a great ride. It was a great experience, and I wouldn’t change it for anything.

13. Celebrity crush.
I could be obvious and say Johnny Depp, but he’s probably every girl’s crush, so I think I’ll go for Max Minghella. He’s an English actor who starred in Agora (2009) opposite Rachel Weisz. I find his brooding persona rather sexy. Love his acting. I can’t wait for the release of his latest film, The Darkest Hour, a sci-fi action thriller. I’m a movie fanatic, by the way.

14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?
Jane Austen was a great influence, as she inspired me to write. Pride and Prejudice is one of my favourite books. My mother was also a big influence. Growing up, she told me many weird tales, a few of which are featured in Talisman Of El. In terms of world building, I would have to say J.M. Barrie and C.S. Lewis were big influences.

15. Do you still watch cartoons?

Alecia Stone has been in love with anything and everything paranormal for many years. She graduated with a BA in Film & TV and has worked in television for a short period of time before branching out into storytelling. When she isn't writing, she enjoys going to the movies, listening to music, and traveling. Talisman Of El is her first novel. She currently lives in England, UK.

Find Alecia online at these links:

WEBSITE - http://www.aleciastone.com

BOOK WEBSITE - http://www.talismanofel.com

- http://amzn.to/tNbFaD

- http://bit.ly/tMa9E5

- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alecia-Stone/270817219633661

- http://www.twitter.com/Alecia_Stone

HEIDI'S PICK SIX: Jennifer Allis Provost

2011-12-21T07:34:00.000-05:00

HEIDI'S PICK SIX

Jennifer Allis Provost

1. Which of your characters is your favorite?
In Heir to the Sun, my favorite character is Caol’nir. He’s young, impetuous, short-tempered, and lazy. He hates his role as a temple guard; in fact, the only reason he remains in the position is because his father is the Prelate. Then Caol’nir meets a priestess from the east, Alluria, and realizes that if he wants to be near her, he must leave his childish behavior behind. When it is made apparent that priestesses are in danger he takes matters into his own hands, and is instrumental in saving Parthalan.

2. Tell me about your travels.
I’ve been up and down the East Coast, as well as to California and Las Vegas. (No, I didn’t win big) I’ve also been to Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, The Czech Republic (back when it was Czechoslovakia), Lichtenstein, and the Virgin Islands. The places I’d most like to return to are Prague and Ireland, the former because it’s such a rich destination, the latter because we weren’t there for very long and there’s so much more to see! But then, the good destinations are like that.

3. Coffee, tea, or milk?
Oh, coffee. Most definitely coffee.

4. What else can you do besides write?
I sporadically make and sell jewelry. I own a violin (it’s purple!) but when I play it sounds like I’m torturing cats. I dabble in painting and graphic arts, yet I can’t manage to repaint my bathroom.

5. Who are you reading right now?
6. Pop culture or academia?
7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?

8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?
Everywhere! My current WIP, tentatively titled Copper Girl, was inspired by a twisted pine tree in my former employer’s parking lot. I wondered if it could be a door to the Otherworld…

9. Food you could eat everyday.
10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?
11. What kind of music speaks to you?

12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?
My characters have a great deal of free will. I start with a basic plot sketch, then I plunge in and start writing. I always end up with many cut scenes, but I feel that just contributes to backstory.

13. Celebrity crush.
14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?
15. Do you still watch cartoons?

Jennifer Allis Provost is a native New Englander who lives in a sprawling colonial along with her beautiful and precocious twins, a dog, two cats, a parrot, and a wonderful husband who never forgets to buy ice cream. As a child, she read anything and everything she could get her hands on, including a set of encyclopedias, but fantasy was always her favorite. She spends her days drinking vast amounts of coffee, arguing with her computer, and avoiding any and all domestic behavior.

Her novel Heir to the Sun is available in paperback.

WEBSITE - http://jenniferallisprovost.com/Home_Page.html

- http://www.facebook.com/jennallis

- http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2975887.Jennifer_Allis_Provost

- http://twitter.com/parthalan

HEIDI'S PICK SIX: Eric B. Thomasma

2011-12-20T13:09:00.000-05:00

HEIDI'S PICK SIX

Eric B. Thomasma

1. Which of your characters is your favorite?
2. Tell me about your travels.

3. Coffee, tea, or milk?
Coffee. Black. Unsweetened. Decaf.

4. What else can you do besides write?
I’m pretty good with computers. I have a half-dozen active computers running in my home, and I set up and maintain the computer network at my church. I do some computer programming, although I haven’t been able to keep up with the ever changing (and costly) development software, so it’s mostly just applications to help me with my own needs. My most recent project was to help me track and prepare tweets in support of other writers on Twitter. There are now over 1100 writers that I give introduction and promotional tweets for, and more are added every day. I can only do a portion of that list every day, so the software helps me track who’s been done and who hasn’t, to make sure everyone gets their turn.

5. Who are you reading right now?
Technically no one. But I just finished Carl Ashmore’s second in the Time Hunters series, The Time Hunters and the Box of Eternity. It’s a great book in a great series. I highly recommend them.

6. Pop culture or academia?

7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?
Describing the action in the zero gravity sport, ZeeGee. It’s not like anything that could seen on TV or movies, or of course, planet side sports, so fairly detailed descriptions were required. But ZeeGee is a fast-paced exciting sport, so I didn’t want to bog down the action with tedious explanations. It took several rewrites to reach what I thought to be a good balance.

8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?
9. Food you could eat everyday.

10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?
Oddly enough, no. I’m not a fan of sports of any kind and if I attend any type of sporting event it’s usually because someone I know is participating, so I’m there to support them, not the game. My oldest son is a sports aficionado and was truly shocked after reading about ZeeGee in my first book. I believe his reaction was something along the lines of: "How could you, someone who doesn’t like sports, create a game that I REALLY want to play?"

11. What kind of music speaks to you?
12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?
13. Celebrity crush.
14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?

15. Do you still watch cartoons?
Selectively. I don’t care for much of what’s shown these days, but there are a few I really enjoy. Jane and the Dragon and Futurama to name a couple. And Christmas specials. I just recently was lamenting the fact that they don’t seem to broadcast Mr. Magoo’s A Christmas Carol anymore. Then within days I came across it on DVD, so I bought it. Now I don’t care so much that it’s not being broadcast.

Eric B. Thomasma was born and raised in West Mitten, USA. He still lives in the area with his wife of 33 years, Therese, and together they raised two sons, Eric Jr. and Nicholas. Eric spent most of his adult life working as an electrician and service technician in the telecommunications industry, with side interests in computers and video production. He has written and self-published three novels, SEAMS16:A New Home, SEAMS16:Arrival, and And So It Begins..., and two children’s stories, Sam and the Dragon and Billy’s Family. You can learn more about Eric and his writing at these links:

WEBSITE - http://ericbt.webs.com

BOOK WEBSITE - http://www.seams16.com

- http://www.amazon.com/Eric-B-Thomasma/e/B003OIRHDS

- http://www.twitter.com/seams16

ASK THE REVIEWER: My Tower of Books

2011-12-19T08:07:00.000-05:00

My Tower of Books

This is the seventh in a series I'm hosting where I talk with reviewers who have reviewed my books. Today I welcome Jackie Miller from My Tower of Books! She was kind enough to take time out of her reading and blogging schedule to answer some fun questions about herself, her blog, and about my novel Ambasadora.

To read My Tower of Book's full review of Ambasadora visit: http://mytowerofbooks.blogspot.com/2011/11/review-ambasadora-by-heidi-ruby-miller.html

ABOUT THE REVIEWER

1. What types of books do you review most often?
My reviews vary pretty widely. Mostly I review Paranormal, Sci-Fi and Fantasy within Young Adult and Adult. I like to mix things up :-)

2. Are there any types of books you won’t review?
I don't do non-fiction. It has its place . . . but it just doesn't interest me. I prefer to escape to another world when I'm reading.

3. Do you review more books you've come to on your own or those from authors/publishers?
I started out reviewing books I owned or borrowed from the library. I've been really lucky lately to have a steady stream of requests from authors and publishers. It's been really great getting to meet all these hard working people living the dream :-)

4. How long does it usually take you to get to a book once it makes it into your TBR pile?
Arg! It can take anywhere from one week to one month. I try to get a good turnaround, but my reading time is pretty limited at the moment. I have three young kids that are all home with me during the day which means I only read at night (or during naptime if everyone is asleep at the same time by some miraculous turn of fate).

5. What is your favorite book ever?
I have a hard time pinning down just ONE book that I love. It has changed over time. If we're going by how many times I've re-read a book, it would have to be Pride & Prejudice. That is some good stuff right there!

ABOUT AMBASADORA

1. Who was your favorite character?
Definitely Sean! I loved his character, and I wanted to take care of him :-) I am always drawn to the quiet, wounded type of guy in books.

2. Who did you picture as the characters?
Hrrm . . . I kind of pictured Sean as John McAvoy. I'm not sure why exactly, but I don't need a huge reason to picture him. He's pretty yummy!

3. What is your favorite setting within the Ambasadora-verse?
I really liked the Underground. I could feel how gritty and illicit it was while reading.

4. Would you rather have a character or a place named after you?
Probably a character. I love putting myself in the shoes of the female characters that I'm reading about.

5. What would you like to see in future books within the Ambasadora-verse?
More V-side! The glimpses of it in the book were really cool.

6. Would you ever want to travel to the V-side?
As much as I liked it in the book . . . No! I'm too chicken. You have to give up control of your physical body while there, and that would probably make me too nervous :-)

To read My Tower of Book's full review of Ambasadora visit: http://mytowerofbooks.blogspot.com/2011/11/review-ambasadora-by-heidi-ruby-miller.html

Want to know more about My Tower of Books? Leave your question in a comment below and check out these links:

- http://mytowerofbooks.blogspot.com

- http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5632732-jackie-miller

- http://twitter.com/MyTowerofBooks

If you would like My Tower of Books to consider a book for review, e-mail jumackie@yahoo.com.

If you would like to review Ambasadora, email Heidi at heidirubymiller@gmail.com.

SFFS: Snippet from GREENSHIFT #2

2011-12-16T20:01:00.000-05:00

SFFS Snippet

TALES FROM THE AMBASADORA-VERSE: GREENSHIFT

Greenshift is an upcoming novel set in the Ambasadora-verse one month before Ambasadora begins.

DESCRIPTION: David Anlow, a fleet captain forced into early retirement and jaded by an ex-lover, now spends his lonely days shuttling around a group of scientists for hire.

Boston Maribu, Mari to her friends, is one of his passengers, a young botanist who is as beautiful as she is naïve and innocent. When Mari asks David to teach her about more than just piloting the Bard, nights on their ship heat up and their feelings for each other mature into a relationship neither expects. But a suspicious new client shows up with wicked plans for Mari, and the soldier inside David comes alive, ready to fight for the young woman who stole his heart.

Click on this link for SNIPPET #1.

--

SNIPPET #2:
Killian and David's brother Ben had had a run-in last year at a bar here at the Hub. What was the name of that overpriced dive? The Atlas or Atlatl or something that started with At. Though David had been there when Ben and Killian went at it, and eventually jumped in by his brother's side, the likelihood of the contractor remembering him was remote.

David could stave off this confrontation a bit longer by heading back to the Bard, make them come knocking at the ship's gangway, but why invite trouble into your home? Though he still hadn't settled into the idea that the pleasure cruiser turned science vessel was home. Maybe in another few weeks.

"Anlow, how's your brother? Did he jump ship, too?" Killian's voice was smooth and confident.

--

Find more snippets from other wonderful authors at Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday.

PATHS TO PUBLICATION: Patti Roberts

2011-12-14T10:50:00.000-05:00

PATHS TO PUBLICATION

Paradox - Progeny Of Innocence

Being a self-pubbed Indie Author, writing, marketing, designing covers etc. is a lot of long hours spent sitting on your PC. But in the end - so worth while and rewarding in so many ways. You certainly learn as you go!

-Patti Roberts
December 2011

On any given day you can usually find me sitting at my desk in front of my laptop pounding away at the keys writing another chapter in the Paradox series. That would be a run of the mill kinda day for me!

A packet of Cruskits and a water bottle, that is now at room temperature, is sitting on the desk beside me. There is also a mass of USB cables, notepads, bills to be paid, bills to be filed a bunch of pens and a printer that is forever running out of ink. Sound familiar?

On most days I have to remind myself to eat and drink. I should be thinner!!!

I am sure my housemates are very thankful that I still manage (usually at some ungodly hour) to bathe, brush my hair and clean my teeth.

I don't know about you. But I am usually mortified when visitors just pop around, only to find me sitting at my desk and still in my PJ's. I don't even want to broach the hair situation! Did I remember to put last nights dishes away???

Now, they say to be a good writer, you must read, read, read. Then read some more...

Thankfully, due to the invention of the electronic reader (I have a Kindle and love it) I get to read more these days. Correction. I have my Kindle read to me! The only thing is, I have so many great books on my Kindle that it is so hard to know where to start. So many choices.

PARADOX - PROGENY OF INNOCENCE SYNOPSIS
Two Worlds. One Ancient... still reeling from the ravages of a War. A World where powerful Beings from Ancient Civilizations rule. A Realm Where Gods, Angels, Myths and Magic still exists.

And One New... Grace is not a little girl anymore! And as a teenager, Grace’s visions become more frequent, urgent, torturing her life further still. The answers she hopes to find in her visions only leave her asking more questions... Who is Juliette?

When the charismatic Damon Draco begins to take an interest in Grace, it doesn’t take long before Grace falls for his alluring charm. A charm she doesn't quite understand.

However, when Riley Rivers turns up in Grace's class one day, she starts to question the feelings she has for Damon.

Then death comes knocking...and when three of Grace’s school friends are found burned to death, and their parents die in a fatal car accident that same weekend, some start to wonder if it really was just a coincidence, or a contrived plan to wipe out an entire family?

And if so, why, and by whom? And more importantly, will evil strike again?

You can bet your soul on it!

--

Read chapter 1 of Progeny Of Innocence here:
http://theangelsarehere.wordpress.com/2011/06/28/progeny-of-innocence-first-excerpt-from-book-2/

See the book trailer here:
http://theangelsarehere.wordpress.com/book-trailer-book-1/

BUY PARADOX - PROGENY OF INNOCENCE

- http://www.amazon.com/Paradox-Progeny-Of-Innocence-ebook/dp/B006H1U8QM/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_3

- https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/107641

Find Patti online at these links:

- http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Paradox-Series/150822348341990

- http://twitter.com/PattiRoberts7

- http://theangelsarehere.wordpress.com

HEIDI'S PICK SIX: Scott Nicholson

2011-12-12T08:03:00.000-05:00

HEIDI'S PICK SIX

Scott Nicholson

1. Which of your characters is your favorite?
2. Tell me about your travels.
3. Coffee, tea, or milk?

4. What else can you do besides write?
I am a serious organic gardener and heirloom seed saver. That fits in my with my philosophy of compassionate self-reliance and ability to live outside the mainstream, and it allows a little more time for reflection.

5. Who are you reading right now?

6. Pop culture or academia?
I am usually 10 years behind the times, although I do have an addiction to funny memes like Pepper Spray Cop and Disaster Girl. I think they are a great way to bring up serious topics without taking yourself too seriously. My favorite is “Conspiracy Keanu” and I just started making my own memes. Who knows, maybe there’s a fun way to promote books that way.

7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?

8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?
Usually my own sense of mystery about the world is enough to get me going, and then I see injustice, exploitation, and unhappiness and I want to tackle it. Writers have a bigger mission than just selling books. Not to be self-aggrandizing, but we’re the shamans, the people who put the idea out there and let people turn it over. Of course, people in all fields do that, but we’re the ones mining the dream realm while others dig for gold or copper.

9. Food you could eat everyday.
10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?

11. What kind of music speaks to you?
I am way uncool because I still like most of the stuff I liked 15 or 20 years ago and find a new band every few years. I like quirky, emotional, lyric-driven stuff like The Cure, Paul Westerberg, Elvis Costello, The Eels, Natalie Merchant, Robyn Hitchcock, and Kate Bush, and I think John Lennon was one of the great shamans of the 20th Century.

12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?
I only outline when somebody makes me, and then I generally ignore it. In the modern era, you don’t convince people to buy your book before it’s written, unless you’re running a Kickstarter campaign. I love the journey of discovery that a writer and a reader makes. Even with the same roadmap, we arrive at different places.

13. Celebrity crush.

14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?
This could take all day, but I’ll start with Dr. Seuss—perhaps the most gifted English writer ever. I used to go through binges so my main progression probably looks like Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, Kurt Vonnegut, Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, Stephen King, Shirley Jackson, Patricia Highsmith, Ray Bradbury, Ira Levin, William Goldman, Richard Brautigan, James Lee Burke, and on through today where I rarely read more than one or two books by the same author because there are so many trays at the buffet table.

15. Do you still watch cartoons?

Thanks, Heidi!

Scott Nicholson is author of Creative Spirit and more than 20 other books, as well as children’s books and screenplays and story collections. His thrillers Liquid Fear and Chronic Fear will be released by Amazon on Dec. 20.

Connect with Scott at these links:

WEBSITE: http://www.hauntedcomputer.com/

- www.amazon.com/Scott-Nicholson/e/B001HCX30O

- http://hauntedcomputer.blogspot.com/

- http://www.facebook.com/authorscottnicholson

- http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/97045.Scott_Nicholson

- http://www.librarything.com/author/nicholsonscott

- http://twitter.com/eScottNicholson

SFFS: Snippet from AMBASADORA #2

2011-12-09T20:40:00.000-05:00

SFFS Snippet

AMBASADORA

This little scene begins one of my favorite parts from my SF Romance novel Ambasadora because we'll see how much Sean cares for Sara, even though he knows she was sent to kill him. Ambasadora is available in print and e-book:

The lights of her intra-tat bounced around in erratic pulses in a frightening way that wasn't alluring like when he first touched her hand. Tonight they were a physical sign of whatever horror she was experiencing.

He brushed her damp hair back with his fingers and whispered words of reassurance, knowing this could be the biggest mistake of his life. She had been sent here to flush out a fragger operative, that much he knew. Right now she and the Embassy thought David was their man—he didn’t know whether to laugh at the absurdity or be insulted. If that's what her Embassy intel was saying, then it might be easier to bring down this government than he thought.

"Sean." She reached out to the empty space beside her.

He put his hand over hers. "I'm here."

--
Find more snippets at Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday.

HEIDI'S PICK SIX: Karen Toz

2011-12-09T09:23:00.001-05:00

HEIDI'S PICK SIX

Karen Toz

1. Which of your characters is your favorite?
That is such a hard question because I really love all of my characters. Of course I love Nate, but I think Nate’s mom is my favorite. She tries so hard to cook and sew be the perfect mother and housewife, stumbling every step of the way. I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a little bit of me in her.

2. Tell me about your travels.
I don’t travel very much anymore, but I was very fortunate to be able to travel a lot when I was younger. In high school, my parents took me to Israel on vacation. That was amazing. In college, I participated in a study abroad program. I lived in London for three months. I travelled all over England, visited Scotland, Ireland, Amsterdam, and Italy. Later I spent a week in Paris. I’ve also been to Jamaica, and many beautiful places in Canada, as well as here in the United States. There is a lot to see in our own backyards – sometimes it is just fun to play tourist in your own city.

3. Coffee, tea, or milk?
Coffee definitely! Back in August when Hurricane Irene was approaching, most people were making sure they had enough water on hand. I was making sure I had enough coffee. I brewed and filled several thermal carafes full. Priorities people!

4. What else can you do besides write?
5. Who are you reading right now?
6. Pop culture or academia?
7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?
8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?
9. Food you could eat everyday?
10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?

11. What kind of music speaks to you?
I’ve really mellowed out ... I used to be an alternative rock DJ back in college. I listened to what was called “industrial” – Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, - - sort of punk meets grunge I guess. What ever you want to call it – it was loud. No more. These days, I seem to gravitate toward calmer music – At the moment, Adele is at the top of my list.

12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?
They definitely take me for a ride. I have a very broad idea of what the story will be about, but for the most part, I let the characters take control. Every now and again I have to gently nudge them in the right direction. But for the most part, they behave. I love when a moment comes along and everything clicks. I think you miss that if you are working off an outline.

13. Celebrity crush?
It’s no secret I have a thing for John Cusack. Ever since “Say Anything...” in the 80s and it’s still going strong. I still expect to see him outside my window one day holding up a boom box that’s playing “In Your Eyes.” Yes - my husband is aware of my obsession.

14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?
15. Do you still watch cartoons?

Karen Toz is giving away an e-copy of NATE ROCKS THE WORLD to one lucky reader!

Just comment on this post and include your email. And if you Tweet the follwing, you'll get an extra entry:
@karentoz @heidirubymiller Meet author Karen Toz on Heidi's Pick Six and enter to win her book! http://heidirubymiller.blogspot.com/2011/12/heidis-pick-six-karen-toz.html - The link will automatically be shortened in the Tweet.

Giveaway closes on December 24, 2011.

Karen Pokras Toz is a writer, wife and mom. Karen grew up in Orange, Connecticut and graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Finance. She also attended the University of Richmond, where she studied law and business, receiving both a JD and an MBA. Karen has spent the last several years working as a tax accountant, writing in numbers. She recently discovered a passion for writing with words. In June 2011, Karen published her first children’s novel Nate Rocks the World. She is currently working on the second book in the Nate Rocks series to be published in 2012.

Karen is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI), Association of Independent Authors (AIA), and the Independent Author Network (IAN). Karen enjoys gardening, cooking, and spending time with her husband and three children.