Julia's Writers Blog: October 2011

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Interview with Author R.G. Porter

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
I always loved to daydream, from the time I was a small child up until now. I used to love
writing poems when I was little and then began on short stories as I got
to high school. There was a few years I did not write, but it came back in
full force back in 2005 and I've been going ever since.

Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Most of my books are just my imagination in overdrive, however, there are
a few instances of scenes that are from things that have happened to me
and I've just expounded on them. There are also some characters in my
books that are from those people I've met, known or still speak to. Others
are from experiences I've had watching people as well.

Do you work with an outline, or just write?
I try to do a rough outline, so I have a general idea of where the story
is supposed to go, but mostly I'm a pantser. I love seeing what my
characters are going to come up with, because they tend to surprise the
heck out of me at every turn.

What are your current projects?
Right now I am working on re-editing and adding to my current backlist. I am hoping to release a new book every
month from this backlist as well as working on new projects as well. I
have books coming out from my Darkness Unleashed series, as well as a
horror novel and new fantasy series in the works. If all goes well I will
be releasing at least one novel a month throughout the next year.

Do you have any advice for other writers?
Read all you can and write. Even if you are not sure what you want to say, just write. It could be crap or
it could be great, but until you start doing it you can never improve.
Also, learn to find the groups that are out there for writers. Be it
critique groups, or support, you will find a wealth of information within
them.

How do you market your work? What avenues have you found to work best for your genre?
Networking like crazy. I use Facebook, Twitter, Google+, writer boards, reader boards, word of mouth, blogs, anything and
everything I can to get my name and books out there. Hopefully, one day, I
will step into print and can hook up with some other authors in the area
and do book signings. The only limit out there is the one we place upon
ourselves.

 Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Thank you, thank you for your time, your thoughts, your opinions and mostly
importantly, thank you for taking the time to read the adventures I write.

Links: Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005R1PD9K
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005R1PD9K
Amazon DE: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B005R1PD9K
Amazon FR: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B005R1PD9K
Barnes & Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shades-of-night-r-g-porter/1101129503?ean=2940013338067&itm=1&usri=shades%2bof%2bnight
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/92765

Friday, October 21, 2011

Interview with Penelope Crowe

Penelope thanks for stopping by. I’d to first say that I love your name! Alright, on with the questions.

Is anything in your book 100 unfortunate days based on real life experiences or purely all imagination? Oh, yes. Many parts of 100 Unfortunate Days are based on things that happened in my life, and sometimes the lives of other people I’ve known. Many times in the book real occurrences merge with dreams or fantasies, but I did not want the reader to know where. Some things are just my opinion taken to an extreme, and some things are just made up.

Do you relate to the narrator of your book?

I relate to the narrator in my darkest hours. I tried to write the entire book from that terrible place we have all glimpsed here or there, but are happy to leave. Maybe some other people have felt some of the dark stirrings and emotions the narrator feels in the book. Sometimes it is good to know you are not the only one out there with crazy thoughts.

What is it that draws you to the psychological aspect of writing?

I love psychology in general. I had taken it in college, and I became fascinated with the mind and how we are all affected by things differently. I love the idea that we as writers have the ability to affect the way people feel, even if only for a short time. Reading something dark can be cathartic, it can be a safe place to have those terrible feelings, and then let them go when the book is over.

Describe yourself in three words.

Distracted, hopeful, competitive

Any words for someone thinking of writing their first novel?

Hmmm. Nike says just do it. But I will make my own version and say shut up and do it. Stop talking yourself out of everything and start with any action. Even if it’s just picking three potential new names for a new book. Action leads to more action, right? Because once you start, you have momentum and it gets easier. Starting is the hardest thing.

What is the last book you read?

Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindgvist.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you?

Somebody that has great hair (my hair is always messy). Who has great hair? I think Helena Bonham Carter could do my crazy side…but her hair is messy too…

Thank you so much for stopping by! You can check out Penelope's work on Amazon and BN.

Amazon

NOOK

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Interview with Camelia Miron Skiba

Tell us your latest news?

CMS: While receiving feedback for my debut novel "Hidden Heart", it's an ongoing latest news, I'm proud to announce that I finalized the cover and began the final edits on my second novel, a war romancetitled "A World Apart". The novel should be out by the end of December this year and I'm really excited!

When did you realize that becoming a published writer is what you wanted to do?

CMS: It was on my bucket list since high school, pretty much at the same time I knew I wanted to write. While I am fulfilled in my career, writing is my passion.

Would you say that being a reader is important to being a writer?

CMS: Absolutely. You have to read in order to create your own world, characters, learn the crafts of creative writing. People that write have talent, but it takes more that having a story line in your head to actually finish a novel. To give you an example my debut novel "Hidden Heart" begins atop Mount Etna in Italy on an August afternoon. I had to read about the climate, the scenery, even about gondolas. I could've made something up, but someone familiar with the area would've called my bluff and then my credibility, as an author would've really suffered. My upcoming novel "A World Apart" is set during the Iraq War. Half the book is set in Romania, the rest in Iraq. We all know what war means—attacks, victims, explosions, terror, dead—but I needed more than that. I spent more time researching that actually writing the novel. So to answer your question, it’s imperative to read in order to write.

Are you a part of a critique group?

CMS: I have a wonderful critique group that formed over 18months ago, with a new member added over the past month. We exchange work as needed, sometimes daily, sometimes a week passes by before we review another chapter. What's unique about us is that we write different genres, from YA to dystopian to romance, yet it works best because we can see in each other's work what writers from the same genre can't only because they have the same style.

How long does it generally take you to write a book?

CMS: It varies. "Hidden Heart" was done in three months (the first draft) with another six months spent editing. "A World Apart" took me over a year of intense research. My next project should be done fasterwithout the need for research.

How has your environment/upbringing colored your writing?

CMS: I'm born and raised in Romania. Before I moved to the U.S. in September of 2003, I lived in Austria, Germany and Hungary. Love took me to Austria, work to Germany and month-long vacations to Hungary. Then I returned to Romania for about five years, before love found me again. This time it brought me here to the States. Looking back, I realize that every single place I’ve been to, its people, its traditions, culture and language, every memory helped me create characters with different backgrounds and lifestyles, adding spices to the story. Aside from the romantic tone in my novels, my heroes are always coming from different countries. I use English as the books’ language not necessarily because it’s my adoptive tongue, but because no matter where we travel in the world, English is the catalytic, love’slanguage, as I like to call it.

What advice would you give to writers just starting out?

CMS: Write from your heart. Find critique partners. Edit. Edit. Edit. When you think you're done, edit more. Put as much effort into finding the right cover as you put into writing the book—it's your sales key. Be patient—stardom doesn’t come overnight.