Source: dailyinfographics.com
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Thursday, January 31, 2013
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
It's Time To Start Writing Again!
It all starts on Friday, February 1st. I'll be cranking out the final episode in The Southern Lands series and I hope to have the first draft completed by about the end of March. So, watch out for updates on my blog as I continue the process, and wish me luck. I need to blow away the cobwebs and get back down to business.
Speak to you all soon and thanks for bearing with me as I continue my journey.
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Monday, January 28, 2013
A Definition of 'Good' Literature?
Today I am pleased to publish my eighth guest blog post. You too can have a post published on my blog. Just read the guidelines HERE. In the meantime, enjoy...
A Definition of 'Good' Literature?
By: Dani J Caile
When I first started writing there was a tiny
gnawing inside my head – no, not a parasite – as to whether my work was ‘good’
or not. It’s one thing to write but it’s another to know if it’s any ‘good’.
Are all the anti-social hours of solitude and brain-raking worth it? Of course,
there are many who would flatter you and say how fantastic your writing is, but
can you be sure? Is it really up to a publishing standard? Are they just being
nice to you? So, after writing a few books and suffering from a lack of
interested readers, I tried to get to the bottom of just what exactly ‘good’
literature is.
My first task was to find some definition of
‘good’ literature. There is none. The dictionaries only state that literature is writing with some ‘recognized
artistic value’. But who does the recognizing? It all sounds so
subjective...and it is. There are thousands of institutions and organizations
world-wide who award prizes for ‘good’ literature, and the most recognized
among them would be the Man Booker Prize and the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Each have their own committee of judges with their own subjective criteria of
awarding their prestigious prizes, with the Man Booker Prize given to "the best, eligible full length novel in the opinion of the
judges." To say that both systems are fraught to individual and group
subjectivity is an understatement, even without the accusation of outside
influences.
At the first obstacle, I had hit a dead end.
Perhaps there was no way to find out whether I had a Jules Verne or a Samuel
Wesley on my hands. When I thought all was lost, I suddenly remembered one
session at college where we were shown a tool on the internet, one for
concordance, and I instantly started searching. It didn’t take me long to
collect a range of online writing analysis tools which I thought could help me
to create some objective evaluation of literature. Using word frequency
counters, text analyzers, word rating databases, gunning fog index and
Flesch-Kincaid text tests, and last but not least, my favorite of all,
CohMetrix, a cohesion analyzer for structural analysis, I was able to collect a
stack of numbers on a wide range of books which included award winners,
classics, renowned genre writers, and Dan Brown. These numbers were enlightening.
Not only did they show that there were some startling similarities among this
massive collection, they also showed that there was absolutely no way in hell
that you could objectively state just what ‘good’ literature was!
And so, back to the judges...
About Dani J Caile: After years of reading clones and proofreading coffee table books, Dani decided to put pen to paper so to speak, creating his own little fantasy universe, and wrote 3 books in the space of less than a year. In 2013 he finally self-published his free novella 'TDX2', and plans to write more, including another book from his crazy universe and a collection of adapted Shakespearean plays for children. With an abundance of praise for his sardonic, original and unique style of writing, he has already set out on turning his fantasy books into movie scripts
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Saturday, January 26, 2013
Author Interview: Terry Cronin
Today I am pleased to present to you all the forty-eighth in a series of Author Interviews. Recently I sat down with the skintastic Terry Cronin, and our conversation went something like this:
Paul: I like to start my interviews by asking if
you have any writing rituals?
Paul: What
is your most recent book? Tell us a little about it
About Terry Cronin: Terry Cronin is the author of The Skinvestigator series and the creator of the critically acclaimed comic book series Students of the Unusual. Many of his stories have been made into short films and are available on Youtube. He has lived in many states and traveled widely. He currently lives in Florida and enjoys hearing from readers about his work.
Terry's Blog: Not Available
Terry on Twitter: @Skinvestigator
Terry on Facebook: The Skinvestigator
Terry's latest book: The Skinvestigator: Sunburn (Amazon)
Terry:
Absolutely. When I get going I do things like tell myself I won't eat
dinner until I've finished 5 pages or I won't turn on the television until I've
completed 10 pages. Often this leads to me writing more but it keeps me
disciplined as well.
Paul: What types of books do you like to read? Who
are your favorite authors? Why?
Terry:
Adventure is important to me. I like historical fiction, detective/crime
novels, and horror.
Some of my favorite authors are
currently Gary Jennings (Aztec, The Journeyer), John D. MacDonald(Travis McGee
Series), Ken Bruen (The Guards), Jim Butcher (The Dresden Files), George RR
Martin (Game of Thrones), and Joe Abercrombie (The Blade Itself).
Paul: If someone had the power to step into your
creative mind what would they see?
Terry:
Quirky snippets of excitement with a broad sense of humor.
Paul: What is a typical day for you?
Terry: I work 8:30 - 5
and write after the kids and my wife go to bed.
Paul: Do you have a favorite character in each of
your series, aside from the lead? If so, which one and why?
Terry: In the Skinvestigator, the protagonist is Dr.
Harry Poe a dermatologist who finds himself using his knowledge of the skin to
help the Miami police solve murder mysteries. He's my favorite. As far as
supporting characters, I like Detective Frank Martin, who believes in Harry but
knows him well enough to constantly bust his hump, and Erzulie Murphy, the
sexy Haitian-American tattoo artist who is much more than she seems. Readers
seem to like Broder, the slimy personal-injury attorney who inexplicably is Dr.
Poe's best friend.
I'm actually currently writing a
spin-off novel about an adventure featuring Erzulie Murphy called "The
Tattooed Lady"
Paul: In all the years you’ve been publishing your
work, what is the biggest mistake you made that you could share so others can
avoid making it?
Terry:
Well, my biggest mistake is that I didn't start sooner. You need to
believe in yourself and not let insecurity or others stop you from telling your
stories.
Paul: How do you find the time to write?
Terry:
I usually write after the family
goes to sleep from about 10-12.
Paul: What is one thing you hope I do not tell the
readers?
Terry:
One of the many reasons I
didn't become a scientologist.
Paul: If you are self-published, what led to you
going your own way?
Terry:
I started out as self-published because I didn't have the connections to
get a contract with a publisher. No agent. No management. Thankfully a friend a
Barnes & Noble liked my first book enough that she recommended it to the
corporate office and they recommended Atlas Books to me who now publish The Skinvestigator: Tramp Stamp.
Paul: Do
you plot your stories or do you just get an idea and run with it?
Terry:
I like to think of the ending first, the title second, and then develop
the story to bring about the particular climax I envisioned.
Paul: Do you do a lot of editing or do you find
that as time goes on your writing is more fully-formed?
Terry:
I do self-edit my work at least 6-7 times before I let friends edit it
and then I send it to my editor Michael Garret.
Paul: Do you have to do much research for your
stories?
Terry:
Absolutely. Particularly on the 2nd book The Skinvestigator: Rash Guard where I entwined the murder
mystery with the history of syphilis. I also included the history of Saint
Camillus and the development of latex gloves in surgery. That may sound strange
I know but I always want the reader to learn something while we're having fun!
Terry:
The Skinvestigator: Sun Burn is the final book of the Sunshine State Trilogy. I like to say
the first book was a murder mystery/crime novel, the second was a crime
novel/historical novel and the final one is an international thriller. Doctor
Poe has been abducted by Venezuelan thugs from his past. His aim is to save his
friends who are under the control of these vicious corruptocrats. His travels
take him from Miami to the Keys, Haiti, and Cuba. With the help of Detective
Martin, Erzulie Murphy, and the State Department, he is able to engineer a
showdown that may spell the end of The
Skinvesigator.
Paul: What inspired you to write this book?
Terry:
I had this story lurking in my mind. I wanted to do a John D. MacDonald
book with a physician as the protagonist. But when my sister's poor dog,
Dude, died because it had eaten a poisoned rat, the plot clicked and I
began to put the story together earnestly.
Paul: Do you also write any poetry, non-fiction or
short stories?
Terry:
I'm a comic book writer who created a comic horror adventure series
called "Students of the Unusual". I also write for "Indie Comics
Magazine".
Paul: Do you have any pieces of work that will
never see the light of day?
Terry: Yes I have several
screenplays and short stories that probably aren't ready for prime time. I have
others on my shelf that are fantastic though particularly The Religion of Vitamins and The
Legend of the Skunk Ape.
Paul: How much marketing do you do for your
published works or for your ‘brand’?
Terry:
I do a lot of what every indie writer should be doing. Facebook,
Twitter, Goodreads. Book fairs and comic book conventions. Encourage book
reviews. Promote to anybody who will listen, basically!
Paul: What’s your favorite / least favorite aspect
of your writing life? Has anything surprised you?
Terry:
My favorite experience is meeting readers who've enjoyed my novels, of
course. My least favorite is getting critical reviews thankfully the reviews
for the Skinvestigator have been
incredibly positive. My favorite review called the novel
"Skincredible!" The most surprising thing is the level of enthusiasm
I get from female readers. In my comic book experience it was mostly male readers
but with the novels the women truly dominate!
Paul: What do you do when you’re not writing? Do
you have any hobbies or party tricks?
Terry:
I am very involved in the independent filmmaking world and help organize
the annual Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival and the Megacon Indie Film
Expo.
Paul: That was wonderful, Terry. I wish you every success for the future.
Terry's Blog: Not Available
Terry on Twitter: @Skinvestigator
Terry on Facebook: The Skinvestigator
Terry's latest book: The Skinvestigator: Sunburn (Amazon)
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Thursday, January 24, 2013
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
A Writing Sabbatical
I've been on a writing sabbatical since August of last year. Wow! That's a long time for someone who is supposed to be an author. The truth is, as I've written about previously, I just haven't been in the right space. Some people say you should just write something anyway, everyday. Even I have preached this from time to time but, you know, it's actually been good to take a break and let my mind process a million things that have become stuffed into it. And there certainly have been a million things stuffed into it.
The good news is that I'm just about ready to start writing again. I've got a lot of ambitious plans for the year and several books that need writing; including the concluding volumes to The Southern Lands and Melrose series. Then there's the follow-up series to my novella, Ryann. It's partly the worry of completing all these that drove me to my mixed-up mind in the first place. But now everything is re-sorted and I'm almost ready to go. It's going to be a busy writing year and I'm up for the challenge.
Look out for the next update in a few weeks time.
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Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Pace and Shortening Sentences
Today I am pleased to publish my seventh guest blog post. You too can have a post published on my blog. Just read the guidelines HERE. In the meantime, enjoy...
Pace and Shortening Sentences
By: Anthony M. Briggs, Jr.
I've been meaning to finish a follow up to that last post about the classics, but it's not
ready yet. In the meantime, this will be the start of a new series of posts
about ideas on writing style and technique.
I listen to various podcasts and read books on writing and frequently hear a piece of advice that I take a slightly different view on. It relates to the pace of a story, and the advice is this: “if you want to speed up the pace of your story, use shorter sentences; if you want to slow down the pace of your story, use longer sentences.”
I have heard this from many different sources, and the issue I take with it is almost simply semantic. But I believe a distinction can be made between the pace of a story and the tempo of a scene, and that this popular piece of advice actually applies to the tempo, not the pace.
First of all, here’s my underlying definition of pace: the speed the reader is traveling through the overarching story. To me pace deals with how quickly things are happening on the story level. The foundation, or the road over which the reader is traveling, is the clarity of what is happening on the current page and how it relates to the story. And here is where I think pace most clearly differs from tempo.
In any scene the reader has to know why what he or she is reading is important. There has to be an unanswered question being asked or addressed, a conflict being fanned or tension being built. If at any point none of those things are happening, the reader may ask, "Why am I reading this?" If that state lasts longer than one or two sentences, the reader will feel the pace has slowed. The reader will not feel progression through the story, but instead a sort of aimless meander.
During such a lull, shortening sentences will not help. That addresses tempo, which, as explained below, is generally applicable to a scene, not an entire story.
I would define tempo as the feeling of urgency in a scene. A measure of the rate of action in a scene. How fast or slow is an event happening right now? Writing style can affect this, via selection of short sentences, long sentences and run-on sentences.
When I write stories that don't follow a set pattern or plan, I find pace is often disrupted in between scene changes. I know why I want this scene here, I know important events will happen in it, nevertheless, as I read it in a full pass I can feel the disruption. The reader would not know why this is important. Instead of wondering what is about to happen, the reader could wonder, “Why am I reading this?”
To address this, I view the problem here as two-fold: a matter of clear transition between focal points and of foreshadowing. In the story world, when the reader asks “Why am I reading this?”, the answer of, "I will tell you later" is a legitimate answer, as long as not given two times in a row. So either answer the questions raised by the last scene or make it clear that the question will be answered later and there you go – the reader is ready to move on from that scene and is awaiting the arise of the next question. Before asking that question, I sprinkle in some foreshadowing as to why this question is important. Try to show what’s at stake. With a clear transition and foreshadowing of the question, the reader will embrace the new question and be absorbed in the scene, thus maintaining the pace.
If the reader is told twice, “I will tell you later,” the pace is dragging. The repetition of raising questions and answering them creates the illusion of pace. The length of time – or more precisely – the amount of words between reps determines the pace.
So in conclusion, I make the argument here that changing sentence length will not help a writer with a pace problem. Figuring out what questions have been asked but unanswered and what new questions need to be put forth can. Resolve the outstanding questions, raise the stakes on the next question. Shorten the amount of words between those questions and answers and the pace will pick up.
I listen to various podcasts and read books on writing and frequently hear a piece of advice that I take a slightly different view on. It relates to the pace of a story, and the advice is this: “if you want to speed up the pace of your story, use shorter sentences; if you want to slow down the pace of your story, use longer sentences.”
I have heard this from many different sources, and the issue I take with it is almost simply semantic. But I believe a distinction can be made between the pace of a story and the tempo of a scene, and that this popular piece of advice actually applies to the tempo, not the pace.
First of all, here’s my underlying definition of pace: the speed the reader is traveling through the overarching story. To me pace deals with how quickly things are happening on the story level. The foundation, or the road over which the reader is traveling, is the clarity of what is happening on the current page and how it relates to the story. And here is where I think pace most clearly differs from tempo.
In any scene the reader has to know why what he or she is reading is important. There has to be an unanswered question being asked or addressed, a conflict being fanned or tension being built. If at any point none of those things are happening, the reader may ask, "Why am I reading this?" If that state lasts longer than one or two sentences, the reader will feel the pace has slowed. The reader will not feel progression through the story, but instead a sort of aimless meander.
During such a lull, shortening sentences will not help. That addresses tempo, which, as explained below, is generally applicable to a scene, not an entire story.
I would define tempo as the feeling of urgency in a scene. A measure of the rate of action in a scene. How fast or slow is an event happening right now? Writing style can affect this, via selection of short sentences, long sentences and run-on sentences.
When I write stories that don't follow a set pattern or plan, I find pace is often disrupted in between scene changes. I know why I want this scene here, I know important events will happen in it, nevertheless, as I read it in a full pass I can feel the disruption. The reader would not know why this is important. Instead of wondering what is about to happen, the reader could wonder, “Why am I reading this?”
To address this, I view the problem here as two-fold: a matter of clear transition between focal points and of foreshadowing. In the story world, when the reader asks “Why am I reading this?”, the answer of, "I will tell you later" is a legitimate answer, as long as not given two times in a row. So either answer the questions raised by the last scene or make it clear that the question will be answered later and there you go – the reader is ready to move on from that scene and is awaiting the arise of the next question. Before asking that question, I sprinkle in some foreshadowing as to why this question is important. Try to show what’s at stake. With a clear transition and foreshadowing of the question, the reader will embrace the new question and be absorbed in the scene, thus maintaining the pace.
If the reader is told twice, “I will tell you later,” the pace is dragging. The repetition of raising questions and answering them creates the illusion of pace. The length of time – or more precisely – the amount of words between reps determines the pace.
So in conclusion, I make the argument here that changing sentence length will not help a writer with a pace problem. Figuring out what questions have been asked but unanswered and what new questions need to be put forth can. Resolve the outstanding questions, raise the stakes on the next question. Shorten the amount of words between those questions and answers and the pace will pick up.
Anthony M. Briggs, Jr. is an author, attorney and musician who once approached a wild hippo to try to “get in the picture.” The encounter ended with a lot of running. Author of Nick the Lolt (www.talesfromyod.com) and Through Worlds and Hearts.
Website: www.ambjr.com
Twitter: @abriggsjr
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Monday, January 21, 2013
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Author Interview: April Danann
Today I am pleased to present to you all the forty-seventh in a series of Author Interviews. Recently I sat down with the Intuitive April Danann, and our conversation went something like this:
Paul: I like to start my interviews by asking if you have any writing rituals?
April: My
most recent book is called The Pagan Diet; Food, Fast
& Feast. This is a book that came about after my own personal
experiences with weight loss, fasting, detox and incorporating the old Pagan
feast days into a lifestyle. My book is about how to be healthy, live while
deepening a spiritual connection to nature, and using fasting to normalize body
processes such as blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. The more you
detox and cleanse the more efficient your body will function as you heal
inflammation and balance internal processes - I draw on my own years of
experience living this way.
About April Danann: April Danann is a Medical Intuitive, Clinical Nutritionist, and practitioner of Energy Medicine with a focus on Exercise Physiology and has many years of experience. She has received a BSc (Hons) in Food Management & Marketing, MSc in Nutrition and Exercise Science as well as diplomas in Nutrition, Medical Intuition and Food Packaging Technology.
April is in private practice combining her education and experience into assisting clients with diet, lifestyle and conscious living and does occasional talks in Nutrition, Energy Medicine and Medical Intuition. Her interest is in practitioner safety, weight loss, detox, inner child, energy attachments, candida or anti-fungal diets and is a skilled Medical Intuitive.
‘Who I am really, aside from what I have learned, experienced and the places I have been - is a person deeply committed to fully understanding my body, mind and soul on the deepest levels. My books, blogs and life are all about living as close to nature and health as possible.’
April's Blog: April Danann
April on Twitter: @DanannSpl4ces
April on Facebook: unknown
April's latest book: The Pagan Diet (Amazon)
Paul: I like to start my interviews by asking if you have any writing rituals?
April: I
write better and am more efficient with everything on the days I am fasting or
detoxing. When I am fasting I find my mind is far clearer, my energy is
excellent and the ideas, thoughts or words just start to flow. I fast regularly
doing a 10 day cleanse most months as part of my overall lifestyle approach, so
it has been an easy way to keep motivated with my writing.
Paul: What types of books do you like to read? Who
are your favorite authors? Why?
April: I love
to read nearly everything from Sci Fi to historical novels. One of my favorite
authors is Diana Gabaldon with her Outlander series of books which bring in the
historic element, time travel and modern day living. I love anything with time
travel and interesting characters you feel you must get to know.
Paul: If
someone had the power to step into your creative mind what would they see?
April: They
would probably see other worlds! LOL As an Intuitive I used to work hard to
stay focused on this world, but then I realized the benefits of being able to
peek into several times, spaces and places and have embraced that side of me
more and more. They would also see how much I think about food, cooking,
nutrition and all of these interconnected threads leading back to health.
Paul: What is a typical day for you?
April: A
typical day for me involves homeschooling my two children - but first we look
after the animals. We have goats, geese, turkeys and ducks as well as a few
pets such as canaries, turtle, dog, cat and a pond full of fish! Once they are
sorted out first thing in the morning, we get going with some lessons. They are
both involved in sport, dance, theater, sailing, Tai Kwon Do, rock climbing and
so forth - so we do have a fairly busy week during the day. However, I still
find time each day to write - usually once they are set up with their lessons
and of course late at night.
Paul: Do you have a favorite character in each of
your series, aside from the lead? If so, which one and why?
April: My writing would be a bit different from most
other authors - I write about walking the spiritual path taking lessons and
information I myself have learned, and recording the journey. My other writing
has been about my own recovery from cancer a number of years ago - it changed
my entire life, started me off on my road to total commitment to better health
in a medication free lifestyle. I healed myself by using only diet, lifestyle
changes and of course positive visualization. And right now I am working on a
recipe book to accompany The Pagan Diet -
cooking is a passion for me.
Paul: In all the years you’ve been publishing your
work, what is the biggest mistake you made that you could share so others can
avoid making it?
April: I have
been writing for many years but only started putting my books out there about 6
years ago. Perhaps the one mistake I made was to listen to other people who
were negative or fearful about my writing/lifestyle. Against my better judgment
I deleted my first blog after some advice from a friend - I have since learned
to never destroy any of my work, it's all a part of the writing process. I
guess you could say I have learned to only listen to my heart when it comes to
following my dreams!
Paul: How do you find the time to write?
April: I must make the time - I can find myself on a
walk or exercising and have some thoughts flooding through my head and have to
stop while I write them down. That's why I now have a notepad and pen in the
exercise room. I find that an article or piece I am working on builds up, layer
by layer and I keep working with it until I am satisfied I have said what I need
to say. With small children, animals and clients, I tend to grab a bit of time
whenever I can.
Paul: What is one thing you hope I do not tell the readers?
April: I guess there is really no one thing here
that I would not want readers to know - I was a bit stressed about people not
understanding what it means to be an Intuitive and wondering how I might
explain this better. However it is all there in my books, so I am not talking
about anything new. It is more difficult to talk about yourself then it is to
write about your experiences - if that makes sense.
Paul: If you are self-published, what led to you
going your own way?
April: From
my standpoint, I am interested in 'energy' surrounding things. That being said,
I wanted my own imprint on my books, my writing and my personal signature on
all that I do. I have long felt that if my books were to be published by
someone else - they would require input from others. This might dilute the
message contained in these books and of course this is not what I want. From
the beginning it has been self-publishing all the way for me.
Paul: Do you
plot your stories or do you just get an idea and run with it?
April: Because I am relating something that has
either taken place or writing about insights I have regarding the physical
body, the food we eat and lifestyles we lead - these are broader concepts that
I take and whittle down to an issue or discussion that might be of assistance
to someone wanting to re-gain their health, walk a spiritual path, heal some
physical or emotional condition and so forth.
Paul: Do you do a lot of editing or do you find that
as time goes on your writing is more fully-formed?
April: I
edit, edit and edit - also there is a research element to some of my work as
well. So this might mean I am working on a piece about detoxing - I will look
for other experts opinions about this and compare or contrast these ideas in my
own work. I find I might write something then completely reorganize it to get
it to read more clearly or to emphasize the points I need to make. Fortunately,
years of studying, research and teaching/marking college papers has come into
some benefit!
Paul: Do you have to do much research for your books?
April: Yes,
there is always a research element to the pieces I am writing unless they are
strictly from my own experience and I am wanting to emphasize that. For example
I often talk about the human bio-energy field and would draw on my own
experience. But if I am discussing the benefits of goat's milk or endurance
exercise I would be pulling in other thoughts and information as well.
Paul: What is your most recent book? Tell us a little
about it
Paul: What inspired you to write this book?
April: I have
always been a recorder - I have decades of journals having written down dreams
for many years. When I start anything new I find myself compelled to write it
down or record it in some way. It has been the same with my detoxes and
cleanses - I have journals and diaries of each day over many years. After a
while seeing people who were struggling with their weight or their health and
knowing how beneficial detoxing is in each of these inflammatory states, I
decided to compile my notes and writing into a book.
Paul: How much marketing do you do for your published
works or for your ‘brand’?
April: The
only real 'marketing' that might come about is from word of mouth - people seem
to find me and see me as a professional Medical Intuitive first and then buy my
books. Usually all of them! LOL Other than that I do have a flyer and use
Twitter and Pinterest to talk about the work I am doing and what I am
discovering on my own journey.
Paul: What’s your favorite / least favorite aspect of
your writing life? Has anything surprised you?
April: Once
upon a time I used to do this for 'fun' - then when it became 'work' the
dynamics changed and perhaps so did my own focus. I had to think more carefully
about what I was writing, plan out my time more efficiently while still
allowing the intuitive process to guide me. Some days it is hard to find time
to get the writing done and I feel a thought has come and gone. This is perhaps
the difficult part of writing while raising a family and following a
sustainable lifestyle. What has surprised me is how much there is to say!
Paul: What do
you do when you’re not writing? Do you have any hobbies or party tricks?
April: When I am not writing I am doing each of the
things I write about - I have a large medicinal herb garden as well as
vegetables both winter and summer. We raise our own food animals – honey, eggs,
meat and milk. We are also beekeepers and have our own natural design beehives.
I home-school my children and have my clinic next door to the house, although
most of the work I do is over the phone. So, my hobbies - kind of all blend
into a lifestyle. As a party trick my intuitive abilities would have been seen
as unusual!
Paul: Thanks April, that was most fascinating. I wish you every success for the future.
April is in private practice combining her education and experience into assisting clients with diet, lifestyle and conscious living and does occasional talks in Nutrition, Energy Medicine and Medical Intuition. Her interest is in practitioner safety, weight loss, detox, inner child, energy attachments, candida or anti-fungal diets and is a skilled Medical Intuitive.
‘Who I am really, aside from what I have learned, experienced and the places I have been - is a person deeply committed to fully understanding my body, mind and soul on the deepest levels. My books, blogs and life are all about living as close to nature and health as possible.’
April's Blog: April Danann
April on Twitter: @DanannSpl4ces
April on Facebook: unknown
April's latest book: The Pagan Diet (Amazon)
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Friday, January 18, 2013
Author Interview: Charmain Zimmerman Brackett
Today I am pleased to present to you all the forty-sixth in a series of Author Interviews. Recently I sat down with the photography loving Charmain Zimmerman Brackett, and our conversation went something like this:
Paul: I like to start my interviews by asking if
you have any writing rituals?
Paul: What is your
most recent book? Tell us a little about it.
About Charmain Zimmerman Brackett: A graduate of Augusta State University with a bachelor degree in English, Charmain Zimmerman Brackett is an award-winning journalist, who has written for publications such as The Augusta Chronicle, Augusta, Ga. and The Signal, Fort Gordon, Ga. She and her husband, Bret, have been married for 25 years and have three children, Jessica, Jeremy and Allie; one son-in-law, Kris, and a grandpuppy named Lilah.
Charmain's Blog: Charmain Z Brackett
Charmain on Twitter: @CZBrackett
Charmain on Facebook: The Key Of Elyon
Charmain's latest book: The Key Of Elyon (Amazon)
Charmain: When
I’m writing a novel, my approach is to put some words on the page every day
until the book is finished. I don’t go for daily word counts; some days it
might be 2,000, but on others, it may only be 10.
Paul: If someone had the power to step into your
creative mind what would they see?
Charmain: Imagine
a pinball machine at a level where all the lights are flashing and several
balls are in play at one time. Ideas about artist profiles, community theater
productions and bands playing at local haunts for my newspaper work, as well as
specifics on my latest novel, bounce off the bumpers, illuminating the machine
and triggering the sounds as I hit the flippers.
Paul: Do you have a
favorite character in each of your series, aside from the lead? If so, which
one and why?
Charmain: I like the character of Lucy
a lot. Although she’s a kid, she’s feisty, strong and not afraid of anything. She’s
a composite of some of my favorite people, and she embodies characteristics I
wish I’d had at her age.
Paul: How do you find
the time to write?
Charmain: Writing is my life. I’ve been a journalist for 25 years,
most of them as a freelancer. If I don’t write, I don’t get paid. My children
like to eat. I write something every day.
Paul: What is one thing
you hope I do not tell the readers?
Charmain: I have a couple of bad writing habits I have to keep in
check. There are some words I overuse. I print out copies of my manuscripts and
ask my editors to mark them in red ink. Sometimes, those words are needed, but
90 percent of the time, they have to go.
Paul: Do you plot your stories or do you just get
an idea and run with it?
Charmain: With
my two novels, I started with the opening scene and let the story flow from
there. I had some elements I wanted to include in the stories, but I let my
characters lead me. There were some plot elements in The Key of Elyon and in
Elyon’s Cipher I didn’t see coming when I first started.
Charmain: My most recent book is
called Elyon’s Cipher and was released in November 2012. My hero, Stephen,
from The Key of Elyon returns and travels with family to a small town, where
they find a mysterious plague has wiped out many of the residents. Immediately,
they recognize it’s the work of a familiar enemy from another realm, but why does
this enemy want these people dead? Stephen must use Elyon’s Cipher to unlock
clues to the mysteries behind this attack and to defeat his enemy.
Paul: What inspired
you to write this book?
Charmain: There were a couple of
things that inspired me to write novels. My son, Jeremy, loves to read. He’s 19
now, but when he was younger, I found it difficult to keep age-appropriate
books in his hands. He’d blast through any series in a few days. At the time, I
was writing heavily for two newspapers and one magazine so I couldn’t write a
novel. Also, there were many times I’ve watched a movie or read a book and
predicted what would happen. The thought
of “I could do that” came into my mind often. Because of changes and cutbacks
in the newspaper industry in the past few years, I decided to pursue the idea
that “yes, I could write a good and different book for people to enjoy.”
Paul: Do you also
write any poetry, non-fiction or short stories?
Charmain: I’ve never been much for
poetry or short stories, but as a freelance journalist, I write loads of non-fiction.
Paul: Do you have
any pieces of work that will never see the light of day?
Charmain: Not really. I didn’t start
writing novels until I’d been a professional writer for more than 20 years.
After so many years of being published, I write with the intent of seeing that
work in print. My first attempts at novels I’ve shelved, but I believe they
have potential. I plan to rework them at some point.
Paul: How much
marketing do you do for your published works or for your 'brand'?
Charmain: I’ve done a lot of local
marketing with interviews on radio shows and in the newspaper I write for. I
have had several book signings, spoken at Rotary Club meetings and made
appearances at writing events for NaNoWriMo. I carry paperbacks with me at all
times. I have a Facebook author page and a
Twitter account. I’ve also purchased a couple of banner ads on
e-book websites here and there. I am cultivating my own blog and trying to
wriggle into other people’s – like yours. Thanks!
Paul: What do you do when you're not writing? Do
you have any hobbies or party tricks?
Charmain: I
love photography. My children are dancers, and I learned a few professional
tips from the photographers at the newspaper I write for to help me get great
action shots of them during rehearsals and performances. I’ve also performed in
community theater productions. My favorite role was Glinda the Good Witch in a
production of Wizard of Oz. I got to fly.
Paul: Thanks Charmain. I wish you all the best for the future!
Charmain's Blog: Charmain Z Brackett
Charmain on Twitter: @CZBrackett
Charmain on Facebook: The Key Of Elyon
Charmain's latest book: The Key Of Elyon (Amazon)
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Thursday, January 17, 2013
Author Interview: Orlando Sanchez
Today I am pleased to present to you all the forty-fifth in a series of Author Interviews. Recently I sat down with the karate teaching Orlando Sanchez and our conversation went something like this:
Paul: I like to start my
interviews by asking if you have any writing rituals?
Paul: What inspired you to
write this book?
About Orlando Sanchez: Orlando Sanchez has been writing ever since his teens when he was immersed in creating scenarios for playing Dungeon and Dragons with his friends every weekend. An avid reader, his influences are too numerous to list here. Some of the most prominent are: J.R.R. Tolkien, Terry Pratchett, Jim Butcher, Kat Richardson, Terry Brooks, Piers Anthony, Lee Child, George Lucas and Robert Silverberg to name a few in no particular order.
Aside from writing, his passion is the martial arts; he currently holds a 2nd Dan and 3rd Dan in two distinct styles of Karate. If not training, he is studying some aspect of the martial arts or martial arts philosophy. For more information on the dojo please visit www.mkdkarate.com
He currently resides in Queens, NY with his wife and children. He can often be found haunting the local Starbucks where most of his writing is done.
Orlando's Blog: Nascent Novel
Orlando on Twitter: @SenseiOrlando
Orlando on Facebook: Orlando Sanchez
Orlando's latest book: The Spiritual Warriors (Amazon)
Orlando: I usually go to my local Starbucks and write.
The crowd creates a white noise and I thrive in the energy of the place. I also
write with music (usually vocal Trance) in my ears. I find it engages the part
of my brain that can’t believe I’m writing novels and so I get writing done
while that part of my brain is dancing away blissfully unaware of the work
being done.
Paul: What types of books
do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors? Why?
Orlando: I like to read almost every genre. I’m
currently reading Kevin Hearne, Jim Butcher, Lee Child and Barry Eisler. My favorites really run the gamut from
Stephen King to Terry Pratchett to Paolo Coelho.
Paul: If someone had the
power to step into your creative mind what would they see?
Orlando: My books personified vying for attention. At
any given point in time I have about 5 stories running around in my head. I’m
currently working on my next book and have outlines for my next 3 in the wings
and they nag at me constantly. So think a bunch of sexy scantily-clad stories
all looking to seduce me for my time.
Paul: What is a typical day
for you?
Orlando: I’m usually up at 4 am to train for about 2
hours; take the little one to school; entertain my two youngest daughters during
the day; then teach class in the afternoon until early evening (karate
school); and then go and write.
Paul: Do you have a
favorite character in each of your series, aside from the lead? If so, which
one and why?
Orlando: In The Spiritual Warriors it would be Sylk,
because he is the consummate antihero but not really the villain. In my current book it would have to be
Mikaela because she is tough as nails and overcomes when the odds are against
her.
Paul: In all the years
you’ve been publishing your work, what
is the biggest mistake you made that you
could share so others can avoid making it?
Orlando: I only published in August of 2012, but if I
had to share a mistake it would be publishing without a plan to market. I
haven’t made this mistake per se but I was initially just going to publish
without a plan in place.
Paul: How do you find the time to write?
Orlando: I don’t find
time, I steal it. I ask myself if I would rather be at home relaxing or reading
or getting my next chapter done. It consists of tradeoffs, writing always wins
in the end.
Paul: What is one thing you hope I do not tell the readers?
Orlando: HAHA my dirty secrets are my own so you can tell the readers
everything and anything. It’s all good even if it's bad.
Paul: If
you are self-published, what led to you going your own way?
Orlando: I chose the self-publishing route because I
have issues with authority. I had tried the traditional route with an earlier
piece of work and realized I had to go through a ton of rejection letters to
“prove” my mettle as a writer. Then get an agent and then they would determine
if and when I could be published. This did not sit well with me. So I decided
to self-publish because I wanted to get my story out there.
Paul: Do
you plot your stories or do you just get an idea and run with it?
Orlando: I tried plotting and it was a monumental
disaster. Now I just listen. The stories write themselves (refer back to those sexy scantily clad
stories) I just take dictation. So yes get an excellent idea and run to keep up
with it.
Paul: Do
you do a lot of editing or do you find that as time goes on your writing is
more fully-formed?
Orlando: No editing until the first rough is done. I’m
too busy trying to get it down to edit.
Paul: Do
you have to do much research for your stories?
Orlando: For
my first book yes, but I did it prior to the writing so that I could just focus
on the writing once I got started.
Paul: What is your most
recent book? Tell us a little about it
Orlando: My latest book is Blur - and it deals with a
retired agent, John Kane who finds himself thrust back into the world he left,
against his will. He has to hunt and find a killer who implicates him in the murders
before he is “erased” by the very people who forced him back into this world.
Orlando: It nagged me while I was writing The
Spiritual Warriors to the point that I had to get up in the middle of the night
and write the first 3 chapters before it would leave me alone enough to write The Spiritual Warriors.
Paul: Do
you also write any poetry, non-fiction or short stories?
Orlando: Yes I have about 30 Haiku which I am
compiling until I get to 108 which is the right number for a book on haiku. I
also have a series of short stories which introduce characters to another
series I have lurking in the back of my head – The Word Weavers.
Paul: Do
you have any pieces of work that will never see the light of day?
Orlando: To date I have about 5 years’ worth of work
that will never ever ever see the light of day. When I go back and reread it I
cringe. It was necessary however to get me to the point I am now.
Paul: How
much marketing do you do for your published works or for your ‘brand’?
Orlando: I
am currently working on that. I have the usual social media aspect (Facebook,
twitter, LinkedIn). I have hard copies at my school. I also spoke to my local
Barnes and Noble to get them to do an event. In addition I joined SPAnet and go
to book expos. I am always looking for ways to promote my brand and connect
with other authors. I am currently working on designing my author website,
since in another life I was a graphic designer. I have understood that to get
the momentum going on selling I need several books out there at the right price
points so that means writing and more writing.
Paul: What’s
your favorite / least favorite aspect of your writing life? Has anything
surprised you?
Orlando: I thoroughly enjoyed the process. My favorite
part is going back after writing the first rough and rediscovering the story
after it has sat for about a month. The least favorite part is that I can’t
rush the process. I wish I could, but it just takes time to write well and
sometimes part of me gets impatient with that process.
Paul: What
do you do when you’re not writing? Do you have any hobbies or party tricks?
Orlando: I train and teach karate. I play handball
when it’s warm. I am a voracious reader occasionally devouring 2-3 books over a
weekend. I play chess with my son and on occasion play the odd MMORPG. I’m
currently working on The Secret World and it’s been fun.
Paul: Thanks, Orlando. I wish you every success for the future.
Paul: Thanks, Orlando. I wish you every success for the future.
Aside from writing, his passion is the martial arts; he currently holds a 2nd Dan and 3rd Dan in two distinct styles of Karate. If not training, he is studying some aspect of the martial arts or martial arts philosophy. For more information on the dojo please visit www.mkdkarate.com
He currently resides in Queens, NY with his wife and children. He can often be found haunting the local Starbucks where most of his writing is done.
Orlando's Blog: Nascent Novel
Orlando on Twitter: @SenseiOrlando
Orlando on Facebook: Orlando Sanchez
Orlando's latest book: The Spiritual Warriors (Amazon)
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