Interview: Rae Lindley, author of 'Cimmerian City'

Rae Lindley was born in Torrance , California. Her articles and short stories have appeared in publications that include Suite101; The Acacia; The Post and Deep Tapioca.

She has also written for speculative fiction ezines like Lunar Castles; Nightly Gathering; Dark Moon Rising and Comic Stack.

In 2004, her film-script, "Hotel Sunset" received an honorable mention in the Television/Movie Script category of the 73rd Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition. Two years later, Quack, Quack, a short animated film that Lindley helped create and art direct went on to win the Copper Wing Audience Award at the Phoenix Film Festival.

Her books include a novella, The Eye of Alloria (Lavender Isis Press, 2007) and the novel, Cimmerian City, which is due to be released by Mundania Press in late August 2007.

In a recent interview, Rae Lindley spoke about her writing.

How would you describe the genre in which you do most of your writing?

Speculative fiction, which most would identify as sci-fi/fantasy. Most of my works deal with today’s social issues in a futuristic or otherworldly setting.

I grew up on sci-fi television, movies and books and what always fascinated me about the genre is the way social commentary can be given in such diverse settings. Of course, I loved the cool futuristic cars, cities and technology but the ones that always had an underlying story about humanity, alongside the cool-looking technology, really stuck with me and inspired me in presenting my own story lines in such settings.

Which of these movies and TV programs did you find particularly inspiring?

I was really into the Doctor Who series, Invaders, U.F.O., Star Trek (the original series), Robotech, Battlestar Galactica (the original 70s version), Space: 1999 and a whole lot of others.

Movies that I really enjoyed were Star Wars, the Star Trek movies, Alien and Aliens, War of the Worlds, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Independence Day, Blade Runner and others. I loved reading the novelizations of the movies I watched so I could get a complete idea of the story structure in the narrative as well as the visual form. There are probably others I’m missing but it would turn into a novelization itself if I listed all of them!

I’ve always been an avid film lover. So much, in fact, that starting at the age of 12, I dreamed of becoming a filmmaker.

What happened to this dream?

It’s still there on the back burner. I think I’m taking baby steps and focusing on one aspect of my career at a time. I did come close by creating animated films, so I was in the director’s seat for a while. I quench my thirst for visual storytelling with illustrations from time to time.

Writing is a lot like that and possibly even more imaginative than film because you’re presenting a world with your own characters that live, breathe and interact among one another in your head and eventually in the heads of your readers. The speculative genre allows you to take it a step further in creating completely different worlds, some bad and some good, where your characters can rise above the everyday situation, possibly have wondrous supernatural powers and become heroes or villains!

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

It’s strange, I don’t really remember a defining moment where I went to my parents or anything and told them I wanted to write for a living. It was just something I did that was a part of me. Even at school, I used to write stories while the teacher was talking and pass them on to my classmates who would give me feedback on what they thought.

During my Anne Rice ‘vampire fan stage’, I was really into Gothic horror and I wrote a few stories that are still sitting in my old notebooks from middle school and high school. I remember I scared a few of my classmates with some of those stories!

In the writing that you are doing, who would you say has influenced you the most?

Definitely my mother and father.

My mother in that she continued pursuing her education after raising two children to adulthood and my father in that he continually struggled against hardships to travel and keep us going.

My mother is currently studying law in an effort to give children a voice in the justice system as well as us writers in the family who need a little extra legal guidance. My father works as a contractor, so he goes where the technical jobs need him, traveling from coast to coast, at times. At the same time, he’s also working on a few technical books on space travel, scientific proof of higher life and artificial intelligence -- so both of them are real inspirations to me in how they can juggle so much and still hold on to their passions.

My father has also been a big inspiration because he was a science fiction fan from a very young age.

How have your personal experiences influenced the direction of your writing?

I’d say it's one part experience, two parts emotion and a sprinkle of ‘what if’.

Many of my stories are inspired by current and past news events in the world and some personal experiences that have happened to me that usually transpire through my characters and their actions. If I feel passionately about how people are mistreated, I give them a voice through my characters to speak out and change the situation into a better one.

Who is your target audience?

I usually target my fellow paranormal, science fiction and fantasy fans at the same time aiming for the romance audience.

You’re probably thinking this is a bit strange! But I think reaching beyond genres and touching aspects of each in a story can affect even the most casual reader. Not to mention the fact that most of the great science fiction stories of our time include fantastic love stories as subplots. For example, Isaac Asimov’s The End of Eternity features a love story integral to the plot in a futuristic context.

What’s also interesting is, while most of the classic science fiction works had allusions to relationships, recently a new genre, romantic science fiction, is being exercised in the works of Linnea Sinclair and Susan Grant, among others.

What are your main concerns as a writer?

I would have to say my concerns are whether or not my characters are believable enough in their actions and dialogue.

When I write, it’s not really a conscience procedure. I find it hard to sit down and make a character profile, structure out the plot in an outline and then start writing. I tried that in my early days of writing and by the time I got through planning, the story was already told and the mystery was gone.

Now, I have an idea of what my characters are like as well as the plot when I start the book, but I discover what happens as the story unfolds and the characters act out the situations in my head. So a lot of times things happen that I didn’t even see coming. It’s fun to let the characters do what they want. It’s more like dreaming and recording what the characters are saying and doing.

Script Magazine featured an article by Robert Piluso about wakeful writing which I found to be very identifiable. Piluso said, “... this particular passion (in his case, screenwriting) must be providing some spiritual, emotional, and/or psychological release not ascertainable in our regular life.” So in a way, wakeful writing is like living out a dream state within the pages, which for me is true since I sit back and allow my characters to act out in my writing. I think for many writers we have this urge to tell fantastical stories that make life interesting and quench that creative thirst that’s always running around in our heads.

What are the biggest challenges that you face?

Book promotion by far! Until I had to dive head first into it, I didn’t realize how much it took to spread the word about your work. Not just time and energy, but also in terms of passion. Aside from that, I’d say finding time to create new works alongside running a business.

I work at Lavender Isis Publishing, an e-publishing company... so I straddle both sides of the industry being a publisher as well as a writer. Also, I have my own freelance work where I create promotional items for self-published and small press authors who need that extra boost in getting the word out about their work.

How do you deal with these challenges?

I like to go where the readers are and let them know about my new writing works. So, be it online or people I met out and about who enjoy reading, I try to let them know that I have a book that may interest them and try to give them some cool promotional items that I create myself. It’s been hard sometimes because I have to juggle writing and the business side which can clash into each other and completely tire me out! But I just take a few days off then hop on my train again to keep going.

I usually designate time to balance both. I’m such a night owl and my most creative side comes out in the late night hours. So usually I set aside a day of the weekend or an evening in order to write and rewrite because it’s so peaceful and I can hear my characters more clearly without the hustle and bustle of the daytime noise.

Do you write everyday?

I try to! (Laughs.) Lately, my writing times have been pretty sporadic. I had to take a bit of time off in between finishing my previous book and the other to give my mind a break. So I edited some of my short stories, wrote a poem (a medium I hadn’t written in for a while) and now I’m starting to dive into another novel that is more contemporary. Sometimes it helps to do other activities completely absent of writing to let the brain rest a bit then come back fresh to tell a new story.

When I do write I usually go in streaks of about four to six hours at a time. It usually happens during certain times of the week towards the night hours, especially if I’m really trying to tackle a piece. If I’m between projects, I end up writing about once a week.

My typical sessions usually start after my mind is percolating a bit usually in the evening because I tend to write best at night. I usually read news, or check my writing blogs and message boards throughout the day while thinking of the next part in my current story. I don’t usually write on the computer, unless it’s something I have to get down right at that moment. Typically, I take a large stack of notebook paper strapped to my clipboard and plop down in front of a movie that fits in with the mood of the story I’m telling at the time. The marriage of the visual and the narrative brings out the story in my mind and onto the page. It’s usually hard to start the session. I’m a master procrastinator! But when I get started, I’m completely on a roll. I usually try to finish a chapter per writing session or at least stop at a place where the scene ends and my mind can let go of the story. Otherwise, the characters and plot keep me distracted from other things!

Why is it important to write everyday?

You have to treat it as a serious job where you set aside some time everyday to hone your craft. It takes a lot of discipline to sit down in front of a computer and hammer away at a novel or a short story, but the more you do it the better you get at it.

How many books have you written so far?

I’ve written three novels and a few short stories.

The Eye of Alloria, an illustrated novella published by Lavender Isis Press was released in March in e-book and print format. It centers on a post-apocalyptic Earth where Saron Bravewind, the King of Orland, rules the main Earth city of Orland. Saron mans a flight into space with a faith in finding a higher life to help his daughter who has fallen ill. What he finds will change the fate of mankind. Fans of elves, the mystical and romantic triangles will like this story.

Cimmerian City, on the other hand,is a science fiction thriller set in a future not far from our time. It's a world where corporations rule the world, science is big business and governments as we know them no longer exist. A war breaks out between two races and one of them isn’t human. Raven Blackheart awakens in this world as a product of both races and nurtured by the vice president of the main corporation as a symbol of the union of races. With her help, Vice President Tyler Deamond's corporation can take both beings off Earth, which is quickly becoming a waste planet, to a new terraformed planet. But... as Raven soon learns... nothing is as it seems, especially concerning humans. I think fans of thrillers, the paranormal, and science fiction would enjoy this book. I tried to offer an alternative take using the myths of vampire tradition in a realistic setting dealing with racial and class issues.

The latest book is actually the sequel to Cimmerian City entitled Cimmerian World which I’ve recently finished editing.

How did Cimmerian City come about?

I started Cimmerian City in 1999 during my high school English class where we were studying Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. I still remember that day. I was doodling the idea for the story on a notepaper and from then on the story went through many incarnations, different ideas and mediums until I finally wrote it all out in novel format in 2004.

Although Cimmerian World took about a year to write and a little longer to edit, it took a lot more out of me.

What did you find most difficult when you were writing the novel?

Definitely the obstacles I’ve put my heroine through. Along with the usual external plot points and hurdles to jump through trying to save the planet, my heroine also has to learn to trust those who want to help her. She has an affinity to close herself off because of the people she's lost during her life. That transition into adulthood, the trials she goes through to come of age and stop the antagonist took a toll on me mentally because it was as if I was experiencing the same situation.

Which did you enjoy most?

With both books, I enjoyed building the personal connections between the characters. Seeing them interact in the environment, develop romantic feelings for each other and overcome so much that it's a relief at the end when the payoff finally occurs!

What sets the books apart from the other things you've written?

The tone is the darkest of all my works. I also consider the heroine of the Cimmerian books my alter ego and her story has been with me for a good chunk of my life. So of all of my books, this particular set of stories would be my labor of love.

In what way is it similar?

I like to write about seemingly ordinary characters thrown into extraordinary circumstances with an extensive amount of odds against them and see how they overcome these. Some of my stories deal with the everyday but the characters take various, out of the ordinary, actions to try and change it. Sometimes it turns out well for them, but other times they fall into traps.

What will your next book be about?

I have a few stories that I’m writing at the moment along with Cimmerian Girl, the third book in the Cimmerian Series.

I’m also working on a new illustrated novella, Marauder Star; a suspense novel entitled Before Dawn Breaks; a few short stories about how a married couple (two different sets in different stories) working in the entertainment business deal with corruption, infidelity and murder; and some screenplays I’m adapting into literature.

What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer?

It would have to be the acceptance of my first book to be published, Cimmerian City, which is the book that's closest to me. It still hasn’t entirely hit me yet!

How did you get there?

Persistence, plenty of writing and rewriting and tweaking. Receiving lots of good feedback on the direction of the work and just believing in it enough to keep pushing it out there.

This interview was first published by OhmyNews International.

'Diary of an Asylum Seeker': Anatomy of A Work In Progress

I’ve taken a leaf off George Bernard Shaw’s book and have written a very long introduction to my work in progress, the Diary of an Asylum Seeker.

The introduction is really a ‘back story’ in that it shows part of how the Diary came about; it shows part of how I’ve been working on the Diary and it shows part of the reception the Diary has received so far.

I started working on what is becoming the Diary of an Asylum Seeker in late 2004 or early 2005 after coming into contact with the Assist Service, a medical practice which provides specialized primary health care for asylum seekers in Leicester. There, one of the people I was and still am in dialogue with is Jan Moore, the practice therapist, who suggested that I keep a diary. Which I did. For about a week or two.

I wish I’d kept the diary more religiously. I wish I’d kept it like medicine. I didn’t. I tell myself that the reason for this was because, soon afterwards, I started writing a lot about asylum seekers, about who they are, about the pressures that force them to leave home and country, about the countries they claim asylum in and the reception they receive in those countries. Some these articles have been published in places that include UK Indymedia, Worldpress.org, OhmyNews International, Labour Left Briefing and the British Journal of Occupational Therapy.

In both the fiction and non-fiction writing that I do, each time I focus on a subject, I do a lot of reading around it and I make extensive notes on it. In some cases, the subject dominates or takes over and I start living for it. Writing about the subject becomes the reason why I’m here, it becomes the reason why I’m alive. It becomes difficult to stop thinking about it and I start talking about it incessantly. Aspects of the subject also invade my dreams when I sleep and I start living them intensely that way. Because of this, the diary became a journal and then it became a notebook on asylum seekers and aspects of the immigration and asylum system and then it became a journal and then it became a diary. And then I thought, “Instead of writing newsy stuff about all this, why not a short story or a novel that will focus of a day, a week, a month or a year in the life of an asylum seeker?”

The Diary of an Asylum Seeker was born out of these questions.

While I can’t think of a novel focusing on the life of an asylum seeker or a group of asylum seekers, that’s been written in the form of a diary, I’m aware that there’s a body of work out there which, each in its own way, sheds light on how dehumanizing the asylum process can be. One of these works is the highly original and influential play, The Bogus Woman by Kay Adshead. Another is the novel, Refugee Boy by the indefatigable Benjamin Zephaniah.

The Diary of an Asylum Seeker is a work in progress. I intend to push the narrative as hard as I can and see if I can’t turn it into a novel.

Because it’s a work in progress, it’s not static: a sentence will change, here, and another one will change, there; paragraphs will be added, others will be moved; new entries will be made while other entries will be removed… such is the life of a work in progress.

If I manage to pull it off, I think the Diary will be a double-first in Zimbabwean literature. It’s already the first attempt at a novel in the form of a blog by a Zimbabwean writer. If I pull it off, it’ll be the first such novel by a Zimbabwean writer.

Even though it’s a work in progress, the Diary has been well received.

Its very first version received a commendation in the 2005 Leicester and Leicestershire Library Services Annual Short Story Contest. A year later, a slightly different version was published on both the U.S.-based Glimpse Abroad website and in the Glimpse Foundation’s quarterly magazine. This year, extracts from the Diary were published in the second issue of Tripod Magazine. Another extract, "Living on Promises and Credit" (which was written in 2002 and which I intend to integrate into the Diary) was published in Writing Now: More Stories from Zimbabwe (Weaver Press, 2005).

I’ve also received some very interesting and encouraging comments from some of the world’s finest writers. For example, Maurice Suckling, the versatile computer games scriptwriter and author of the collection of short stories, Photocopies of Heaven (Elastic Press, 2006) said, “Crickey… That’s pretty [fill in appropriate adjective here, since I don’t know how to sum that up in one word].

“When do you think this novel might be finished?”

H. Nigel Thomas, author of the critically acclaimed collection of short stories, Spirits in the Dark (House of Anansi Press, 1993) and Why We Write: Conversations with African Canadian Poets and Novelists (TSAR Publications, 2006) said, “The writing is forceful. It takes skill and experience, I think, to produce excellent fiction using the epistolary mode, and the excerpts you posted attest to this.”

Gordon Hauptfleisch, in his review of Writing Now: More Stories from Zimbabwe, described “Living on Promises and Credit” as “earnest and affecting.”

To go back to Maurice Suckling’s question -- I have every intention of finishing the novel.

Although I haven’t been updating the version of the Diary which appears on the blog, Immigrant Diaries, I’ve been working on it in earnest since about February of this year. In April, the winds rose and it’s been taking a lot of energy to just stay on my feet. When the winds settle down, as they are bound to, the novel should start moving more markedly. Until them, I’ll continue doing what I always do… my best. The material is there in my own life and in the lives of the asylum seekers I’m in contact with. The challenge is to see if I can tell this story in 50,000 words or more and still be able to hold the reader’s attention right through to the end.

This article was first published by Blogcritics.org.

Interview: Rose Paisley, author of 'A Wild Love'

Rose Paisley grew up in a small town in the Amish Country of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. She subsequently moved to Harrisburg where she went to college when she was in her forties, and graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology.

She has worked as a waitress, a truck driver and as an electronics technician building speakers. She currently owns and publishes Romance at Heart Magazine, an online magazine as well as Romance At Heart Publications, a small publishing company that puts out about 12 e-books a year from selected authors.

One of her own stories, A Wild Love: Escape was published by Lavender Isis Press in March 2007.

In a recent interview, she spoke about her writing.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

Actually, I didn’t decide to be a writer. It was decided for me in that I took the dare of two long time friends, Carole and Kate. They dared me to submit something because they said my writing was good enough to be published. I didn't react to the dare at first, then I stumbled onto the Lavender Isis Press and their short story contest. A Wild Love: Escape was long enough, so I thought, "O.K., I will prove those two wrong!"

I have played around with stories, but never consider myself as a serious writer, it was an accident... That is my story, and I am sticking to it with a vengeance.

How would you describe the genre in which you do most of your writing?

Paranormal Fantasy. I love outlandish scenes, settings, characters with grit, shape shifters etc. so I try to create my own versions of them for my own pleasure.

Who is your target audience?

In the past, before I thought of being published, I wrote for myself and a few friends... I guess now a target audience would be those who read paranormal romances.

What motivated you to start writing in this genre?

My love for authors like Christine Feehan, Ronda Thompson, Amanda Ashley, Cathy Spangler, Susan Grant, Susan Squires, and then Sherrilyn Kenyon, when she came along.

I did a fan fiction on an ezboard site dedicated to Christine Feehan. It took me ages to get it done. Then, I was prodded every step of the way by readers on the board. They got lucky I think. I have trouble stringing more than 10,000 words together in a coherent way.

I do not have a link to the piece I wrote... It was done years ago and I think it is long gone from the site. It was called "Of Darkness and Light" and needs a good editor! (Laughs out loud!)

Who would you say has influenced you the most?

Christine Feehan… her stories make me laugh, cry, rage, and root for her characters with abandon. Ronda Thompson… she has a wicked sense of what could be, what has been, and writes vibrantly. Amanda Ashley… she brings the dark side close to home, yet allows us to believe in their future. Cathy Spangler…who has a delightful imagination of the future and shares it willingly. Anne McCaffery… she showed me you can step out of the bounds of the “real” and create it yourself. R. Casteel, Carole Ann Lee, and S. L. Carpenter for also having faith and guiding me.

What would you say are your main concerns as a writer?

(Laughs out loud.) You are taking it for granted I am a writer. If I really was, my concern would be that my books would tempt and tantalize the reader's imagination, and the characters and their problems would truly “live” in their minds as they read about them.

To me, a writer is generally someone who is talented enough to carry off the story and the characters in such a way that the reader can get lost in the action, and can almost "see" the story as it unfolds. I think a writer has to be pretty dedicated to the story and the characters and must have the desire to entertain and carry the readers away on a flight of fantasy, suspense, or in the eroticism of the tale. Most writers enjoy writing, and most love the research, the plot development, and every aspect of their craft.

I am driven, but I don't like the "out of control" feeling I get when I write... There are times when I have to do it... it is like a compulsion at times.

How have your personal experiences influenced the direction of your writing?

Um… nah, I don’t think so. Given my subject matter, I wouldn’t know how my personal experiences could possibly influence my writing. I am neither a shape shifter, a vampire nor a ghost, nor do I have any kind of paranormal talents like they are reputed by legend to possess.

What would you say are the biggest challenges that you face?

Actually being published. I am not sure about the whole process, and think the ladies of Lavender Isis Press are really brave to take on the short I wrote. I will do my best, however, to live up to their faith in me.

Being published is a challenge because I don't know that I can do it again, and at this point it is almost "expected" that another book or short story would be coming. The biggest challenge is being able to string the words together to tell a good story, one that readers (other than my friends) would really want to read.

How are you dealing with these challenges?

I just do my best.

Like I said, I am not truly a writer, at least not one of romance or fiction, reviews on the other hand, oh yeah, I can write a wicked review. This... trying to write another complete story... I will just have to handle one day at a time, and do my best each day.

How many books have you written so far?

One only. A Wild Love: Escape which was published by Lavender Isis Press in March, 2007. It is the story of a man, a shifter named Hajj who has been long isolated on an island. The house he had built for his mate and family has been usurped in his absence by a vile and greedy man and then Hajj finds he may not be as alone as he thinks. It's a discovery which leads him to hope he can escape and find his true mate.

Do you write everyday?

I don’t write everyday. Christine Feehan (a favorite author as well as a friend) says I should, but I can’t. My husband and I run a website that sells consolidator airfares and there is always work to be done there, updates, new postings, etc. I also run the review site Romance at Heart and the publishing house Romance At Heart Publications.

Which aspects of the work that you put into A Wild Love: Escape did you find most difficult?

How to answer that…writing like that does not come easy to me. There are times when my mind blurts stuff out. If I am in a position to write it down, then it is O.K., but I can’t just stop and write. My businesses would suffer, and I can’t allow that to happen. Others depend on me, and it would be irresponsible to let something I do, only because I am driven, to interfere.

Which did you enjoy most?

That... I really don’t know. When it comes to writing, it is not done for enjoyment, it is something I am driven to do, then when the urge goes away, it is just that, gone away and I am left alone again for a while. To say I enjoy it would not be truthful.

How and why is it that you are driven to write? Why do you write?

I can't answer those questions, I am sorry. I am not certain I have the answer. I have told myself again and again to stop the foolishness, but my brain doesn't listen. There is something in me that drives me, and I really can't fully answer the questions as to why I am driven to write, or why I do it... they are truly beyond me.

What does writing do for you?

I know being able to write reviews releases some of the tension I live with in life, from updating websites to making certain they run smoothly, to making sure all the reviews, articles, and whatever else have to be posted to the site is done and without errors. The rest of it? Well, that part of the writing, the "novel/short story creative writing" only adds to my frustration, but as I said, it appears to be a compulsion.

What sets A Wild Love: Escape apart from the other things you have written?

The fact that it is a book, well a short story. I wrote and still write reviews, not books, so that is a big difference.

In what way is it similar?

Dunno. I never tried comparing reviews to the books I read to write about. I would have to think on that a while.

What will your next book be about?

Um, If my editor has her way, it will be a few more shorts in the same vein. A Wild Love: Escape is just one of a bunch of silly shorts I was actually driven to write inspired by art, music, and the above mentioned talented authors. I call them silly because they were done on a whim, during a flight of fancy as it were, and were actually only meant to be examples of contest entries. At Romance at Heart we were running writing contests.

How have they been received by readers?

So-so, but then I wasn't expecting any great gushing of appreciation. I do understand A Wild Love: Escape is doing O.K., and I have been asked if there will be a sequel, and will it be longer... *sigh* I can promise only to try my best.

What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer?

Significant achievement? Having Lavender Isis Press publish my writing.

How did you get there?

As I said, it was a dare, and I was proven wrong. Someone did actually want to publish what I wrote, and I am grateful for their faith in my work.


This article was first published by Blogcritics.org and OhmyNews International.

Interview: Marilyn Meredith, author of 'Judgment Fire'

Marilyn Meredith is the author of the Tempe Crabtree series of mystery novels and the Rocky Bluff P.D. series of police procedurals.

Her books have won awards that include the 2006 American Author Association’s Best Thriller Award as well as the 2006 USA Book News Best Book Award, which went to her psychological thriller, Wishing Makes It So (Hard Shell Word Factory, 2006).

In addition to working as a writer, Marilyn Meredith is a member of Sisters in Crime; Mystery Writers of America; EPIC -- Electronically Published Internet Connection and the Public Safety Writers Association. She has also served as an instructor at the Maui Writers Retreat and other writer’s conferences and was, for ten years, an instructor with the Writer’s Digest School.

In a recent interview, she spoke about her writing.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

I don't know that there was a particular moment… I started writing from the time I could pick up a pencil and put words on paper… Actually I started before that because, before I could write, I drew pictures to tell stories.

My first published books [Trail to Glory (Leisure Books, 1986) and Two Ways West (Northwest Publishing, 1994)] were historical family sagas based on my own family genealogy. The books were fiction because I tried to fill in all the blanks… What happened to this person? Why did they move here or there?

It was like solving mysteries because I had to do a lot of research into the time period and places where my family members lived. When I'd written about both sides and trying to decide what to write next, I realized I was reading a lot of mysteries and supernatural stories. So the next book I wrote was The Astral Gift, a mystery with a bit of the supernatural. From there I moved on to the mysteries I'm writing now.

Who would you say is your target audience?

Anyone who loves mysteries… though my Deputy Tempe Crabtree series has a touch of Native American supernatural elements. I’m also writing the Rocky Bluff P.D. series, which is also mystery but in the police procedural category.

Judgment Fire and the other Deputy Crabtree mysteries can be read by young teens on up. The Rocky Bluff P.D. series, Fringe Benefits is the latest, is darker and geared more [for] adults.

Who would you say influenced you the most?

All of the great mystery writers -- Agatha Christie, Edgar Allen Poe and the new greats like Sue Grafton and Mary Higgins Clark.

How have your personal experiences influenced the direction of your writing?

Our first home was in a housing development where you could buy a house for $100. (This was a long, long time ago. Everyone who lived there had low-paying jobs: sailors (my husband was a Seabee), firemen and policemen. We were friends with and partied with them all. I knew the wives and the kids [and] was privy to the problems they faced.

Later, one of my sons-in-law became a police officer. My daughter didn't like to hear about his work so he'd come to my house after his shift for coffee and say, "Well, mom, do you want to hear what I did last night?" And I listened. Once he took me on a ride-along -- that was an experience.

A few years later, I went on other ride-alongs, once with a female officer who was the only woman on the department and a single mom. From about 2:30 a.m. until 6, she didn't have a single call and she poured out her heart to me.

During this time period, I was writing personality pieces for the local paper and I interviewed our resident deputy -- also a woman in a mostly male department. She told about the problems she had because of this. I wrote the article but feared she might lose her job because of what she told me. I had her read it and she said, "It's all true, print it." She did lose her job. Fortunately, she got a better one right away.

I met and became friends with a young Native American woman who grew up on the reservation near where I live.

I grew up in Los Angeles, but after I was married, lived mostly in small town. The mystic of a small town intrigues me, so most of my books are set in small towns… fictional ones -- I draw upon all I know about the small towns I've lived in. Bear Creek, the setting in my Deputy Crabtree mysteries is remarkably similar to where I'm living now.

What are your main concerns as a writer?

Letting people know about my books is always in the forefront of my mind. Being published by small, independent publishers, I have to work harder at bringing my titles in front of readers.

What would you say are the biggest challenges that you face?

Having enough time to do all the things I want to do. For instance, today one of my granddaughters who is planning a family reunion wanted me to make the invitation -- one with family portraits on the front and the back. While I was working on that, another granddaughter faxed me a letter written by one of the chairmen of the board for the country club she works for and asked me to edit it. Of course, I did.

And I had to stop and do the mundane every day things like wash clothes and cook dinner.

I also finished reading a manuscript for a good friends who wanted some feedback.

Because I do some other writing jobs that pay, I had a couple of phone calls about them.

What I wanted to be doing was getting started on my next book.

How do you deal with these challenges?

One at a time. That sounds simplistic, but that's really how I handle it. I try to prioritize -- but sometimes that's difficult when you've got the people who want something waiting right in your office. Oh yes, and there is my dear husband who would like some attention every now and then.

Do you write everyday?

I do write everyday, but it's not always on fiction. Mornings are my best times for creating and I do other things in the afternoons, like rewriting or promotion chores.

What is your latest book about?

Judgment Fire is about the murder of an abused wife. While investigating, Tempe comes to terms with her unhappy high school days and the reason why she ignored her Native American heritage for so long.

It takes me about six months to write a book and two to three to edit and rewrite.

Which aspects of the work that you put into Judgment Fire did you find most difficult?

I always try to find some Native American spiritualism to weave into the plot.

Because I don't want to offend anyone, I try to fictionalize everything that I use while keeping it as real as possible. I also want Tempe to grow in each book, to learn more about her heritage and herself.

I read every book to the critique group that I've attended for over twenty years and get feedback from them.

Which did you enjoy most?

I always enjoy finding out what Tempe is going to do next. Of course I always think I know, but when I get to the writing, Tempe always surprises me.

What sets Judgment Fire apart from the other things you have written?

Because this is an ongoing series, I think what's new in this one, is the unpleasant memories that come back to Tempe, which explains some of what has gone on in other books.

In what way is it similar?

Tempe and her husband Hutch have a really strong love relationship -- but this is strained in nearly every book when she goes against his wishes and dabbles in Indian spiritualism. Hutch always fears that Tempe may lose her soul.

What will your next book be about?

The next book is done and with the publisher. Tempe helps investigate the murder of an artist and, to do this, must take a trip to Crescent City where she learns about the Tolowa, and to Santa Barbara where she's nearly murdered.

What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer?

I've had many high points along the way. My books have won several awards. But the most significant is when a reader tells me how much they enjoyed one of my novels. Feedback from readers is always great.

How did you get there?

I'm not sure how to answer this except to tell you how I've gotten where I am today and that is through a lot of hard work, making myself write even when I didn't want to, and never giving up.

This article was first published by OhmyNews International.

Interview: Sandy Lender, author of 'Choices Meant for Gods'

Sandy Lender has been on a virtual book tour to promote her debut fantasy novel, Choices Meant for Gods, (ArcheBooks Publishing, 2007). The tour, which started on May 21 and ran until July 21, saw her being featured as, among other things, a guest blogger on sites that included Pump Up Your Online Book Promotion; Spiritual Visitations and The ArcheBooks Publishing Blog.

In a recent interview, Sandy Lender spoke about her writing.

What would you say are the biggest challenges that you face?

Can I choose stability? I think the biggest challenges I face as a writer are: finding time for all the things I want to do with my writing career and not letting the negative voices drag me down.

How do you deal with these challenges?

First, finding time for all the things I want to do with my writing career means staying extremely organized. Because I balance my second career (writing), which doesn't pay anything yet, with my first career (I work in a magazine publishing company), which pays some of the bills, I have to be very cautious with my time. My days are packed with commuting, working, marketing/promoting, writing, preparing and sending press releases, editing, maintaining the current blog tour, etc. If I didn't keep everything organized and prepared ahead of time, I'd probably lose my mind.

Second, keeping the negative voices from eating away at my positive energy is a challenge. There are many people who don't understand the publishing industry, and they say things like, "Oh, wow, your ranking on Amazon is at 200,000 today. What on earth will you do to improve that?" What they don't understand is that the ranking on Amazon is a bogus number that anyone can pay a PR company to inflate for him or her; and it was probably around 40,000 three hours prior. And 200,000 is actually nothing to sneeze at.

Or a family member will tell me I'm overworked and I need to make a decision as to whether I'm going to continue working so hard at marketing my book or just concentrate on my "real" career. I made the decision when I signed the contract with ArcheBooks Publishing. And here's how I deal with this challenge: My writing career is my passion, and even if no one else understands it, I'm in it for the long haul

What are your main concerns as a writer?

My main concerns as a writer center on building an audience. I want to write stories that captivate and inspire and bring more readers into the core group so that the audience of people who love my characters expands with each release.

How would you describe the genre in which you do most of your writing?

Speculative fiction is the catch-all umbrella under which I'd classify my writing because I have a vampire trilogy under way and I've completed a bizarre little paranormal romance novel, but my true passion and the true genre that my Choices Meant for Gods trilogy fits beautifully into is high fantasy. This is where the heart of my fiction writing lies. I've already begun a prequel for the Choices trilogy and what could be two novellas and a volume of short stories centered on the world, characters, and history I created for the trilogy, so I'd have to say high fantasy is where my muse likes to direct me.

Anyone who has ever watched the SciFi channel or enjoyed a gothic novel like Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights is in my audience. For a majority of my work, my target audience is mid to upper teens on up through adults and senior citizens.

Being a Christian, I try to keep my content clean enough that it's not embarrassing or distressing to anyone who reads it -- in language, romantic elements, or violence. The first book of the Choices Meant for Gods trilogy received a PG rating for violence, which surprised me until someone started asking me questions like, well, does anybody die in the book? Oh…

What motivated you to start writing in this genre?

This evil sorcerer named Jamieson Drake visited me back in 1982-83 and showed me the most beautiful, most independent, strongest, kindest, most endearing woman I'd ever seen. Her name is Amanda Chariss, although, at the time, I couldn't get her name quite right. I don't know how many people out there have had experiences with evil sorcerers (or fantasy characters of any kind), but they can be very persuasive in getting you to write down stories…

In the writing that you are doing, who would you say has influenced you the most?

Different forces influence writers at different stages in life and in projects, and my experience is no different. I would say that as I was writing the first of the Choices Meant for Gods books, different songs and sources of inspiration influenced me more than people. When you're a career-minded person married to a computer geek, no one supports the idea that you're writing a book. When you tell someone that you're sending a query letter to a literary agent, they glaze over, not understanding what that means or caring what the outcome may or may not be. So my "influences" on my writing were the deceased Charlotte Bronte, anything Old English or Anglo-Saxon, the incredible lyrics and music of Duran Duran and Arcadia, and the muses like Nigel Taiman that keep me from sleeping.

[Also] I believe the axiom that every work has a touch of autobiography in it. But then I look at Chariss, the main character in Choices Meant for Gods, and think I must be extremely arrogant to think any aspect of her reflects me because she is just so good. For a 20-year-old Geasa'n, she's got an amazing maturity about her. I can't possibly be "in" there anywhere. Yet she's flawed, too, so…maybe I am in there somewhere. But she says some things that are directly out of my personal experiences. So even though I write high fantasy that takes place in a made-up world with dragons and ryfel and edras popping in to threaten the characters, challenges that I've overcome in my life present opportunities for my heroes and heroines to shine.

Here's a big example that hadn't occurred to me until I needed text for some marketing materials (read: after the novel was at the printer). Amanda Chariss and her wizard guardian have been on the run from Jamieson Drake for 16 years when the reader picks up the story. They've been on the move from place to place to place, literally picking up and moving from one homestead to another, making berth in whatever household would take them in, finding new benefactors for Chariss all her life. This completely mirrors my life. My father was in the military when I was born on Homestead Air Force Base and my family and I moved 18 times prior to my move to college. (I'm preparing for a move right now…) So I subconsciously let that personal experience influence one of the main plots of Choices Meant for Gods.

Which aspects of the work that you put into Choices Meant for Gods did you find most difficult?

Keeping track of the names of the cities. I swear…I have a yellow sticky note taped to my phone that reads: "Lenors -- on the continent to the north."

Which did you enjoy most?

Dialogue. I absolutely LOVE it when one character realizes another is teasing him or her. Love it!

What sets the book apart from the other things you have written?

The articles I've been writing for the magazines I've edited and published over the past 15 years have ranged from animal husbandry and agriculture to asphalt mix design and road construction to uber-Catholicism. Believe me when I say writing high fantasy fiction about a polytheistic society about to be thrust into a war for a dragon's social domination of an entire continent sets this book miles apart from other things I've written.

In what ways is it similar?

I just can't think of any.

What will your next book be about?

After the Choices Meant for Gods trilogy and prequel, I've got that crazy paranormal romance novel ready to go. Then I've got the vampire trilogy in progress. And I've got a sci-fi/fantasy novel in my head, too...

Do you write everyday?

I write everyday. Because I work for a magazine company, I spend time writing and editing at that job. Then I write press releases, marketing materials, short stories, and character blogs, as well as my writing and marketing blog at www.todaythedragonwins.blogspot.com, in the evenings in support of Choices Meant for Gods. I also write an online serial novel for a small group of folks. I've completed Book II of the Choices trilogy but I am writing Book III. (I'm also working on the aforementioned vampire trilogy, but that takes a back seat to Choices.)

This article was first published by OhmyNews International.

Interview: Emma Sanders, author of 'One Wrong Move'

Emma Sanders lives in Texas where she works in the district attorney's office.

She writes romantic suspense novels and short stories in her spare time and has published two novels, Holding Fast (Wild Rose Press, 2006) and One Wrong Move (Wild Rose Press, 2007), both of which are available as e-books and as trade paperbacks.

Two of her short stories, "Christmas Bells" (Wild Rose Press, 2006) and "Hope, Love and Treats" (Wild Rose Press, 2006) are also available as e-books.

Currently, she is working on a third novel.

In a recent interview, Emma Sanders spoke about her writing.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

I've always thought about writing but it wasn't until a couple of years ago that I knew I had to write if I wanted to maintain my sanity. There was something missing in my life that I can't quite explain. A restlessness that could only be cured when I was writing.

How would you describe the genre in which you do most of your writing?

I write romantic suspense, which can be and has been described in several different ways by different people.

To me, though, romantic suspense is a blend of romance and the mystery of falling in love … the how, when and where, the inner conflict, etc. It's also the suspense of something bigger out there that seeks to destroy a person or a love. Impending danger that usually isn't there with a contemporary romance novel. Whether it's a serial killer or an unsolved mystery, as long as the suspense keeps us wondering, I believe that's what makes a great romantic suspense.

What motivated you to start writing romantic suspense?

I always thought I'd write contemporary romance novels but I got hooked on romantic suspense when I started devouring Sandra Brown's books.

I love the way she blends words without making me feel like I'm reading something someone actually wrote and the way she balances the romance and suspense. I love the way she describes things without going into full detail and when I'm reading her books, I feel like I'm in the same room with the characters. I love the way she puts me in the character's head and there's no question who's feeling what and I love the way she makes perfect characters out of imperfect people, even the villains.

You've suggested that contemporary romance and romantic suspense are separate genres. What's the difference between the two?

I love the contemporary genre as well as romantic suspense but the way I define it separates it from romantic suspense because, even though it may offer a touch of suspense, imminent danger doesn't await the characters at every turn and there's usually not a mystery to solve.

A contemporary romance is built mostly around the romance. A romantic suspense is half romance, half suspense, where the couple gets together in the end, but the mystery is also concluded.

Also, the contemporary genre, in my opinion, doesn't have a true villain, someone out to destroy the main characters, in a way that romantic suspense does. One of my favorite contemporary authors' books, Susan Elizabeth Philips, are a perfect example of this.

In the writing that you're doing, who'd you say has influenced you the most?

My mother, though she isn't here anymore and died when I was 15, before I truly knew I wanted to write.

She wanted to be a writer but I never knew how much until I started reading her journals after her death. She got sick when she was young and she wrote, off and on, for years up until she died.

We lived in a small town, and in that day and age information was harder to come by. We never talked about our writing dreams, so I'm not sure why she never got around to publishing some of the things she was writing. A lot of people don't ever get around to fulfilling their dreams because of the lives they lead and duties they have or their fears that they just aren't good enough. That's one of the reasons I decided to go for it … because I didn't want to regret not pursuing my dreams.

How have your personal experiences influenced the direction of your writing?

Personal experiences are a huge part of my writing, not necessarily in what happens in my books but in what I've learned in this world. Creating characters, creating plots and subplots, creating emotions. I can always pull a part of my personal experiences into my writing.

I love to listen to people and consider learning about their individuality a huge experience. I've taken aspects of the knowledge I've gained about people and put them into my characters. Most of my legal knowledge has stemmed from my full-time job because I work for the district attorney and have done so now for nine years. Every experience can be a learning experience, if you let it.

What are your main concerns as a writer?

Time … if I'm good enough to sustain a writing career … getting my name out there and promoting myself (which is the hardest part of what I do because I'm very modest).

There's always the fear that you have only one story to tell, and others won't come afterward (though the voices in my head don't stop.) It's difficult, because I actually have a full-time career and do my writing on the side, so it takes a lot of time management, self-discipline and giving up things you might want to do, like enjoying a summer day at the lake.

How I'm dealing with all this is, I look at the future and not the here and now. Writing is my passion. I know I have to set deadlines for myself, appointments for writing, and I have to discipline myself to get it done. When you have a passion for something like this, you'll make the time to do it.

How easy or difficult is it to stick to these appointments?

I have good days, bad days and days when I sit down at my computer and the words won't stop coming. Then, when I'm so tired I can barely keep my eyes open, I'll take a recorder and pen and paper to bed because I have to jot down or record my ideas. I've lost many ideas because I couldn't remember them, so I've learned my lesson. It may only be a line or two that comes into my head that I can go off of later.

Other times, it seems like my words are dry and stale and I couldn't tell you the basic color of the sky. During the good days, I write as much as I can. During those stale times, I still write -- I do a lot of reading, journaling, researching, watching movies, even coloring… anything to get my creativity juices flowing again. I also remember that this too shall pass.

Do you write everyday?

I hate to admit that recently, I haven't written everyday but I make up for this during those times that I do write.

I used to write everyday for a couple of hours but sometimes life gets in the way of writing and I have to readjust my schedule. I try to write some in the morning before work and some in the evening.

What's been happening that's made it difficult for you to write?

As I mentioned before, I go through spells, but I usually resolve them because I won't buckle under the stress and writing is my passion. There are weeks or even months in my job that are more stressful than others, such as trial weeks, grand jury weeks, etc. that make it difficult to write.

Also, I work at a computer most of the day and sometimes the last thing I want to do is come home and sit down again at the computer.

When you do write, how do you approach each of these sessions?

I don't have any type of tradition or ritual to precede my writing. I usually just sit down and begin where I left off, usually by reading what I wrote the day before. If I'm having a hard time, I'll sit in silence with my eyes closed, breathing and thinking about my story, or about nothing.

It's usually not too hard to stop and then continue later if I'm on a roll, and I usually stop writing for the day when a particular scene I'm writing concludes and I don't feel I can do anymore. I'll make notes to myself for the next scene, which helps me to get started at my next session.

How many books have you written so far?

I have two novels published and two short holiday stories, all with The Wild Rose Press.

What is your latest book about?

One Wrong Move focuses on a journalist, Rayma O' Riley, who's just moved from a bad relationship and has met Camden, a chef for a restaurant that is the center for a drug-smuggling ring. Rayma and Camden's worlds collide when she releases a story on this and gets a contract put out on her life.

Which aspects of the work that you put into One Wrong Move did you find most difficult?

Research is always the most difficult but also one of the most enjoyable. I have to do enough research so that I understand the mechanics and then fuse the material into the book. The amount of research I do depends on how well I know my subject and how much I still need to learn. For example, I know a lot about the legalities of Texas because of my experience working with the district attorney's office and can usually get any questions answered through them or the various law enforcement offices. The Internet, the library and individuals are also wonderful places to learn.

Also, when I was writing One Wrong Move, I particularly enjoyed those moments when the words seemed to fly off my thoughts and onto the page … those moments when everything just seemed to flow together the way it should. That was the best experience ever.

What sets the novel apart from the other things you've written?

It's spicier and sexier than either my first novel or the one I'm working on now. It's also not really a "who done it" plot but a "how will they get out of this" plot.

One Wrong Move is similar to Holding Fast in that Rayma O' Riley was a secondary character in Holding Fast and she's also a journalist. And of course it's mysterious and romantic like my others.

What will your next book be about?

I don't like to talk about my works-in-progress but I'm very excited about this one.

This article has also been published by OhmyNews International.

Interview: Angel Martinez, author of 'Aftermath'

Northern Delaware author, Angel Martinez writes erotic romance novels and short stories as well as science fiction and fantasy.

Her debut novella, Aftermath was released as an e-book by Forbidden Publications in March 2007 .
Martinez has worked, among other things, as a nurse, a bank teller, a retail worker, an office manager and a technical writer.

In a recent interview, she spoke about her writing.

What are your main concerns as a writer?

I want to write stories in which my readers lose themselves, to craft characters they long to meet as actual people, to invoke in them a desire to think beyond the everyday. Stories should feed the mind but leave it hungry for more.

What would you say are the biggest challenges that you face?

The business of writing is my biggest struggle. I began in the naive belief that if one wrote well, one would be published. Little by little I’ve come to understand that writing is only half craft these days: the writer, if he/she wishes to become a published author, must be equal parts Emily Dickinson and P. T. Barnum.

Perhaps some writers dispense with the Emily Dickinson half. But self-promotion is key. If a writer can't grab someone's attention, publication will remain a pipe dream. And while P.T. seems best remembered for taking in suckers, his true gift was for creating hype about himself. The elevator pitch, the opening line, and the hook have all crept into the writer's vocabulary these days as if we were hucksters. Self-promotion has never been natural for me; it feels self-serving and strange.

How do you deal with these challenges?

Education... I can’t stress enough the importance of research and peer support. Armed with reference books, websites, advice from other writers and writer support groups, even the most shrinking violet among us can learn to promote.

In the writing that you are doing, who would you say has influenced you the most?

Other women genre writers. Also, in school, I was acutely aware that most SF writers were male (oh, I’m dating myself, I know.) The discovery that Andre Norton was in fact a woman was a bolt of joyous lightning. Ursula LeGuin is my personal favorite for crafting such wonderful stories and for showing me the human side of science fiction.

How have your personal experiences influenced the direction of your writing?

Life experience colors all of our writing, I think. Brief experience with the military, with the medical field, with health issues, aging parents, raising children, falling in love -- all of these things influence what writers write.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

When I was born... I’ve always spun tales. Even before I could write I told long, involved stories. It took me some time to consider professional writing since I had convinced myself there was no money to be made -- as if money could compensate for creative need. After knocking about from one soul-crushing corporate job to another, scribbling when I could, I realized that my compulsion to write had already made me a writer, willing or not.

I think my greatest fear had been that I wouldn't be capable of finishing a work and that, once complete, there would be no more. I found the contrary to be true... Once I began to write, the dam broke and stories flooded my brain.

The effort to become published happened in slow stages after that and initially it involved a lot of research. It's a scary proposition, approaching the publishing industry from the outside. Not only does the writer need to research where to submit but how. The industry has standards and rules of behavior, terminology and built-in prejudices, as all industries do. I bought books, researched online, read articles, poured over submission guidelines, toiled over writing outlines and synopses and cover letters.

Through all this, I still believed, naively, that if a work has merit, it will find a publisher. This is not necessarily the case.

The writer, like the inventor, has to expect to slog through a swamp of rejections, from publishers and agents, the vast majority of which offer no insight as to the reason for the rejection. So the writer must be tenacious and confident enough to continue and be brutally honest enough with himself/herself to recognize where growth and improvement are necessary.

A year after considering submission, I had my first rejection letter. I saved it. As a matter of fact, I've saved them all.

How would you describe the genre in which you do most of your writing?

I have two. Under the name, Sandra Stixrude, I write SF/Fantasy, leaning more towards the SF side of the coin and under the name, Angel Martinez, I write Erotic Romance, the steamier side of romance. The concept of “genres”, though, has always seemed stifling to me, as if one must fit in pre-determined boxes to be considered worthwhile. The fitting and the consideration of worth, has been done, in large part, by the publishers. To some degree, critics and academics involve themselves in the process of worth (who gets which literature prize and so forth) but between the publishers and the large bookstore chains, the public is told what fits where and whether they should enjoy it.

While I appreciate the need for the bookseller to categorize for the customer's convenience, one of the unfortunate consequences of this is the genericizing of genres with certain rules and expectations in mass market products. Fantasy reduced to a cartoon caricature of sword and sorcery quest epics. Romances reduced to the same tired plot lines involving beautiful people. This is why, I think all the genre and sub-genre categorization has stifled us somewhat. A good story is a good story, a remarkable work of literature is just that. Imagine if Virginia Woolf published Orlando today, only to have it relegated to the back aisles next to the Dragonlance series.

Who is your target audience?

Much of my SF work, the novel-length pieces, is written for young adults (though I find adults often drawn into these YA stories as well) while the short stories are for adult audiences.

The erotic fiction is, naturally, for adults, mainly geared towards a female audience though I understand from recent statistics the genre is gathering a larger male readership as well.

What motivated you to start writing in these genres?

As a young person, I read collections of fairy tales, myths and legends while my peers were reading books about the ‘real’ world. While by modern standards many of these stories that I read appear flat, with stock cardboard characters, I recognized a template in them, a need filled by these stories to hold back the dark.

I believe that fairy tales and heroic legends have suffered over the centuries because they have been consigned to print and our rich oral tradition, with the craft and skill of the storyteller, have been lost along the way.

Fantasy/SF fills this need in the modern world. The best examples following the old cultural templates in a way that breathes life into the story, gives us people we can empathize with and cheer for, reminding us that, yes, the world is dark and frightening sometimes and it’s healthy and comforting to recognize this in a format where the conflicts and eventual triumphs can be shared safely.

As for the erotic fiction -- I began writing erotica as an exploration of character and emotion because one of the most compelling issues for me when I read erotica is 'why?' Why did these two people end up in bed or on the table or the forest floor, rather than with someone else? Why does this person have certain needs? Why would someone let themselves be treated that way? Good erotica addresses the why's and explores the (sometimes quite convoluted) workings of the human heart. Before a sex scene makes sense, the writer has to build the character from the ground up, warts and all.

You've said that the craft and skill of the storyteller has been lost but when you add the ascent of the electronic media into the mix, would you say the art of the storyteller has really been lost? Or do we have a new type of storyteller (both with and without corporate sponsorship)?

We do have new types of storytellers. I can't dispute that. Innovators in film and animation have created marvelous new paths for storytelling.

The storyteller as a physical presence, as a vessel for the collective consciousness of the tribe has been lost, though. The oral tradition offered a different kind of experience where the listener was more directly engaged. Storytellers recited Beowulf and the Iliad by heart, using voice and gesture to excite, extol and explain, never quite the same recitation twice. No special effects. No off button. I think the memories and attention spans of modern humans have atrophied severely due to lack of exercise.

How many books have you written so far?

I think the question should be: How many of your books have been published so far? I’ve written a number of books, only one so far is set for publication. Aftermath was released in March 2007 by Forbidden Publications. This is a male/male erotic romance in which a couple tries to pick up the pieces after one of them is raped.

Aftermath is a shorter work than my Sf novels and only took two months to write. It's also my first work of contemporary, Earth-bound fiction. Most of my other works take place off-planet or in some other time.

It’s similar to all my other stories in that it is a human-driven story. While there are erotic passages and elements, it’s a story about emotions and human interaction.

Which aspects of the work that you put into the book did you find most difficult? And which did you enjoy most?

The resolution on this one had me stumped for a bit. Often I find myself writing to an ending, that is, I have a clear ending in mind and I simply need to bring the story along in a believable, satisfying way to reach it.

I enjoyed watching the story unfold. A writer’s favorite characters often develop minds of their own. When it feels like the characters have taken over and are writing the story for you -- it’s a soaring, ecstatic feeling.

Do you write everyday?

Every single day. Some days don’t afford me much time, perhaps an hour at most. On a good day, (when I don’t have to work for a living wage) I’ll put in eight solid hours.

When I write, the sessions involve realistic goals these days -- I want to write a particular scene or finish a chapter and so on. I start by turning on my laptop. This may appear to be a sardonic answer but I'm quite serious. The ritual of crawling under the desk for the power strip, watching the lights blink on, waiting for the thing to get through set up, helps center me. The housework, the yard work, the job, the family, fade in the screen's light.

I often re-read passages before proceeding. Edit. And then continue. It's rare that I do heavy editing early on, though. I need to get the story out, to keep the momentum going, if I expect to finish.

If I had unlimited funds and time and a houseful of servants to see to all the day-to-day things, I might never stop. I don't have those things so I stop when other matters intrude (time to go to work, laundry needs to be done, etc.)

What will your next book be about?

I’m working on two at the moment. One is an anthology of erotic short stories with the working title Lioness on the Knife (a reference to the Greek comedy Lysistrata) and the other is a novel set a bit in the future about an unstable musical composer who alters reality in the throes of composition.

What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer?

Finding my first publisher. Perhaps this doesn’t sound like much of an achievement but in today’s flooded marketplace, a writer without an industry ‘in’ has a much more difficult time than in earlier decades. (Somewhere along the way, I suspect on a talk show, some idiot said, ‘Everyone has a novel in them’. The public seems to have taken this advice to heart and now publishers and agents are flooded with unsolicited manuscripts. One agency who sent me their regrets over being unable to take on any new clients stated they received perhaps a hundred submissions a month ten years ago and now receive over three hundred a day.)

How did you get there?

Persistence. Writing is only half the battle these days and for the driven author, the writing is easy. The only way to be published, though, is to submit, submit and submit some more. I read everything I could get my hands on regarding how to submit and what is expected -- little things like a proper closing can make a difference. I sought out advice, asked questions, and learned to handle rejection in a constructive way.

One of the unexpected things I learned during this process is that most writers don't operate well in a vacuum. The image one has of a writer is a solitary being, sitting alone and tapping away at the keyboard, an island of isolated creativity. But we need each other. This is why pockets of creativity have produced the most amazing results. The Beat Generation writers in New York and San Francisco were communities of writers who encouraged and inspired each other. Even Tolkien had a group of Oxford cronies with whom he would share his work.

For my own writing to grow and evolve, I found writing groups essential -- objective individuals coming together to discuss and argue and sometimes point out what should be obvious.

This article was first published by OhmyNews International.

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Interview: Adelle Laudan, Author of 'Iron Horse Rider'

Adelle Laudan writes romantic suspense and biker fiction as well as books for readers in the age-group between childhood and young adulthood.

Her published works include Juliana (Forbidden Publications, 2006) and Destination Unknown (Forbidden Publications (Feb 2007), which are available as e-books. She is also the author of Iron Horse Rider (Wild Child Publishing, 2007) and Dee Days (MardiGras Publishing, 2007), which are available as both e-books and trade paperbacks.

In a recent interview, she spoke about her writing.

Do you write everyday?

I usually write every day, some days more than others.

As a rule I write when the kids are off to school and in the evenings when everyone is doing their own thing. Research takes quite a bit of time before I even begin the first chapter. If I haven’t experienced a certain aspect of my book, I research in order to bring a certain degree of believability to my writing. I then do a chapter outline. I don’t always follow the outline but it does help keep me moving in the right direction. I never know the ending until my muse shows me it.

How did your latest novel come about?

Iron Horse Rider is biker fiction with elements of romance. It started out as my NaNoWriMo project in 2006 and Wild Child Publishing contracted it before it was finished. I completed the 50,000-word Na No in the month allotted. After that, it took approximately four months to revise and edit before coming out as an e-book in April 2007.

When you were working on the book, what did you find most difficult?

This was my first attempt at writing a novel in one month’s time. Prior to this I’d never written an outline and always let my muse take the driver's seat. Na No taught me how to outline a story and become more focused. It was also very difficult not to get caught up in the research that went into this book because I find anything having to do with native beliefs and customs, fascinating.

What did you enjoy most?

The biggest challenge was setting an almost unrealistic goal and reaching it. Who knew you could write something in such a short period of time? It was a truly rewarding experience.

What sets the book apart from the others you've written?

Iron Horse Rider is the first full-length Biker Fiction book I’ve written. In fact, Wild Child Publishing has even added Biker Fiction as an official genre. As you can well imagine, this pleases me to no end, taking me one step closer to changing the image of bikers, one book at a time.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

Writing has always been a release of sorts for me... As a child I lived with very strict rules and did not enjoy the same freedom other kids my age were privy to. When I brought pen to paper, I could be the person I wanted to be and do the things I only dreamed of doing. At age 10, I started writing short stories that never saw the light of day and made sure to dispose of these stories for fear my parents would not approve.

I left home at 15 and didn’t write anything, other than the odd poem, for many years. It wasn’t until after I had my first child at 22 that I began writing again. I shared my stories with one special friend who always encouraged my writing.

At 35, I had my fourth and last child and shortly after underwent major back surgery. I've since been disabled with chronic pain due to extensive nerve damage and once again writing has become a great release. I wrote the story Juliana at the end of 2005 and my friend insisted, relentlessly, that I submit it for publication. I really didn’t think I had any hope but I needed some way to feel like I was making a contribution to society since I couldn’t be in the workforce. In January 2006, I committed to giving myself one year to see if I had what it took to be a published author.

How would you describe the genre in which you do most of your writing?

That’s a loaded question... This past year, I have dabbled in more than one genre -- romance, contemporary, mainstream, erotica, romantic suspense and young adult fiction.

I also tried writing erotica and my hat is off to those who do so well. It’s not as easy as one might think. Personally, I just don’t feel comfortable writing in this genre, I think, mainly because my girls are in their tender Tween years and I’d hate for them to suffer the repercussions of anyone finding out their mother writes erotica. (Again, I'm not bashing erotica; it’s just not for me).

I discovered in the past year that I am a very emotional writer and seem to have found my niche in romantic suspense, biker fiction and Tween mystery.

Another thing I've learned over the past year is to be true to myself. Forcing myself to write in a genre I’m not entirely comfortable with, such as erotica, can never be a good thing. The end result is something forced and stilted and so unlike the way in which I write best.

You give "biker fiction" and "Tween fiction" as genres. How do you define these? What are they?

Biker fiction is mainstream fiction where the main character rides a motorcycle and lives the lifestyle. In my books, I present bikers in a positive light because I've experienced the lifestyle. Within this genre, as in life, there'll always be a touch of romance.

Tween fiction, on the other hand, is the New Age spin on middle grade fiction. It is fiction which is aimed at readers in that age between being a child and being a young adult where so many things can determine the course lives take. I created TweenTime to keep my Tween fiction separate from my adult work and also as a way of trying to encourage artistic Tween minds to develop their talents and to believe in their dreams.

What else would you say motivated you to start writing in these genres?

My children are the motivation behind my Tween Mystery Series. My writing will hopefully be my legacy to them and their children to enjoy for years to come.

My motivation for biker fiction comes from writing what I know. I’ve loved motorcycles since I was old enough to hop on the back of one and I've lived the lifestyle for most of my adult life.

I use many of my own personal experiences to bring emotion to my writing. I think if I can evoke emotion of any kind in my readers, it's a job well done. In "Feel the Rhythm", for example, which you can download free on my website, Rosa is deaf. This story represents the first time I’ve had a character who is deaf like me. I wrote this story as part of the Romance Divas Valentine Challenge. It was also my first attempt at a full-blown romance and I chose to make the main character deaf because I thought I could add an extra element of believability since it's something I live each day. It just seemed the right thing to do.

Did I succeed?

I’m not sure. I know I enjoyed writing this story.

I believe that I write with such depth of emotion because I'm severely deaf and it isn’t always easy to convey my feelings using the spoken word. The written word holds no barriers for the deaf.

Which writers would you say have influenced you the most?

I've been an avid reader for most of my life, so the list of authors would be extensive. Each one of them has added a dimension to my own writing. I have to say, though, that the author who stands out the most from my younger years is V. C. Andrews... Flowers in the Attic; Petals on the Wind and If There Be Thorns, which was the first series-type book that I enjoyed. After that, when I found an author I liked, I’d read every book on the library shelf from him/her before moving on to the next.

What are your main concerns as a writer?

One of my main concerns as a writer is knowing if people will enjoy what I write. Also, trying to find the elusive balance between my family life and my writing career.

Writing is my passion and I really work hard at not letting it interfere with my family time. It's so easy to become all consumed in writing to the extent everything else is put on the back burner. I have to structure my writing time so it doesn’t take away from the amazing relationships I have with my children. It’s not an easy thing to do but anything is possible when you believe in your dreams.

My biggest challenge so far is being in the spotlight. A big part of writing and being published is the promotional side of things. I've never enjoyed being in the spotlight and usually go out of my way to make sure I’m not. Now, I must face my fears and put myself out there for all to see. It's a constant struggle for me but I'm hoping that over time I'll be more comfortable taking center stage.

How do you deal with these challenges?

I fake it ‘til I feel it. I make sure I do things like this interview, giving it 100%. I attend chats and watch more seasoned authors and how they handle themselves in the public eye. I accepted the position of organizing chats for the Sweeter Romantic Notions Authors. In doing so, I put myself out there on a regular basis, surrounded by others who write on the sweeter, more sensual side of romance and other genres.

Also, on July 13, I'll be doing my very first book signing. I'm excited and more than a little nervous about this. My biggest fear is that my hearing disability will be a source of frustration for me and my readers but I'll be bringing someone with me whose voice I know to help me when need be.

What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer?

In general, how well my first book, Juliana was received. Not only are there numerous heart-warming reviews, the book was also placed in the top ten of the P&E readers’ poll. This had me on cloud nine.

I'm not sure who first nominated me for this award but an award won as a result of reader response is just a little more special than others.

What will your next book be about?

I'm in the middle of edits for my Freya Bower Anniversary winner, Smiling Eyes.

I'm also working on Dee Nights, the second book in the Dee Day Mystery Series. The book is set to come out as an e-book with MardiGras Publishing in October 2007. It will also be released as a trade paperback in November.

This article was first published by OhmyNews International.

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Interview: Skyler Grey, Author of 'The Feel of Lace'

Erotic romance novelist, Skyler Grey lives off Florida’s west coast with her husband and children.

She has published two novellas, The Feel of Lace (Aphrodite’s Apples Press, 2007) and The Black Rose (LoveStruck Books, 2007) as well as a novel, Chamberlain’s Knight (Mystic Moon Press, 2006).

Her work has also been featured in anthologies that include Masquerade Vol. 1 (Aphrodite’s Apples Press, 2006); Christmas Candy Anthology (Whiskey Creek Press, 2006) and Diary of a House, 413 Remembrance Lane which will be released by Phaze Publishing in August 2007.

In a recent interview, Skyler Grey spoke about her concerns as a writer.

Do you write everyday?

Sadly no, I don’t write everyday although I’d love to. When I do dig in, I usually spend anywhere from three to four hours if not longer. It’s not uncommon for my hubby to get up around three or four in the morning and peek around the corner to ask me, “You coming to bed?”

But I do think it's important to write everyday because it's so easy to get busy and put off your writing for another time. Next thing you know, it's been a week or a month since you looked at your work. So if you can write a little each day then... awesome! If you can't, at least set a goal for yourself and try hard to stick to it.

I have a very busy life: six kids, five grandkids, karate classes, taxi, nurse, maid, teacher, babysitter... All the things most women have to deal with and it keeps me running constantly. Sometimes I'm so tired, at the end of the day, I can't even "create". When I do get to sit and write, I make sure I have NO distractions. Phone's off, door is closed and hubby takes over the house. It's usually easy once I start and hard when I try to stop. Ha... I get on a roll and sometimes I'll look over at the clock and it's suddenly three a.m. Yikes! But when I do stop, it's because my characters let me know it's time to stop.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

I actually started writing stories at the age of nine because I had a teacher, when I lived in Arizona, who had the class write a composition piece every Friday and I loved creating my own stories. I was a huge horror fan... Creature Feature; Dark Shadows; Monster from the Swamp Lagoon... One of the stories from that period was about a witch on a hill.

I have also written several poems over the years, prior to my first novel, one in particular, "The Dying Children," was inspired by Choices of the Heart, a movie based on a true story and which stared Melissa Gilbert from Little House on the Prairie. The movie was about a mission group that went to help nurse and feed the innocents that were caught in the crossfire of war. The story touched me so deeply that I sat bawling while I wrote the poem.

Although I’ve always loved to write, I didn’t get serious about writing until I was in my early thirties. At that time I was a single mom and I had lots of little feet running around the house and it was hard to write as well as work a full-time job. When I did get serious, it involved me getting organized... I simply made it a priority to make time for myself and to write. It took me about six years to come up with my first novel and once I'd finished the novel, I bought The Writers Market from an online bookstore and submitted the novel to tons of publishers but it wasn't until I discovered the e-book world that I finally got my first break with LoveStruck Books.

Do you see a time when more writers will opt to publish ebooks as opposed to ‘the book’?

Yes, definitely. It's a great thing, especially for green writers and authors that might have never gotten their foot in the door otherwise. I have met several authors that love writing e-books as opposed to trade paperback. I think the turn around in getting published is much faster in the e-book industry as opposed to the traditional trade paperbacks. Plus, it doesn't take as long to write a short story or novella as it does to write an actual novel.

I don't think that e-books will ever be as popular as trade paperbacks because most people, including myself, love to hold a book in their hands while reading. But I do think that the e-book industry has come a long way. They're growing in leaps and bounds and are even becoming recognized with some of the bigger house publishers.

How would you describe the genre in which you now do most of your writing?

I love to write in several genres, contemporary, suspense, sci-fi, paranormal, westerns and historical... all erotica. I think this is because I have a wide imagination. I love all kinds of movies and books. So my mind just goes in all different directions constantly.

I've just finished a regency for Aphrodite's Apples that I really enjoyed writing. The one prior to that was a contemporary novella that received an awesome review from Kwips & Kritiques. I've also written a vamp story, a paranormal, a western, a suspense/thriller about a serial killer and am now working on a horror.

What motivated you to start writing in these genres?

I chose writing erotica because of the satisfaction I get by being allowed to go into greater detail. Also, I'm a woman who can't resist an alpha male. I adore a man that is all male but can be tamed by the right woman. I personally feel, incomplete when I read a soft romance. Not to say I don’t enjoy them, but I like to feel my hero’s dominance as well as his tender side.

Who is your target audience?

Definitely eighteen and older.

Although I've written two children’s stories, which I hope to have out soon, my main focus is the mature audience.

Given that you mainly write erotica, how do you think the children’s stories will be received? Won’t there be a ‘conflict of interest’?

No, I don't think there should be any conflict as I write under a pen name.

The two children's stories are similar to Dr. Suess in the sense that they rhyme throughout the story. They are a set. They have the same set of characters and are geared toward young children, from the age of three upwards. One is called The Rainbow's End and the other, A Gloomy Day. I have six children (could be the reason why I love erotica...) and I adore kids. I'll probably have a spot in heaven, in the nursery somewhere there, so I've been told.

Who would you say has influenced you the most?

Romance authors, my first being Johanna Lindsey and Rosemary Rogers. I love those ladies. They took my vision of romance to a whole new level at the age of fourteen. But it was Lucia St. Clair Robson and her book, Ride the Wind that took my breath away and clinched my writing desire forever. The writing was flawless and made me feel as if I was standing right in the middle of everything. My heart was carried away with every emotion the characters went through. To come across an author that can write so smoothly and encase your heart so intensely is a rare find.

How have your personal experiences influenced the direction of your writing?

I’ve lived a very colorful life, some of it not very pleasant.

I think the lessons we learn and experience throughout life influence the way we perceive ourselves, for me especially. Because I have experienced many things, I tend to let my emotions create a fantasy life that I pour out into my writing... which, I think, gives the writing the ability to transfer the emotions of my characters into the reader’s heart smoothly and with ease.

What are your main concerns as a writer?

Honestly I’d have to say, editing and finding a good publisher. Happily, I've been fortunate in both departments.

I’ve several publishers and they have all gone the distance for me and I've also been blessed with the opportunity of working alongside some wonderful authors in the publishing industry... Emma Wildes, Adra Steia, Kayleigh Jamison, Cheri Valmont and Stella Price, to name a few. As well as being fellow authors, they've also become good friends and have helped encourage, guide and gently critique anything I ask. Having friends like these wonderful ladies has been the best blessing in my writing career.

What are the biggest challenges that you face? And, how do you deal with them?

In my personal life... raising and teaching my children to be all they can be... to believe in themselves as much as I believe in them. In writing... creating that one story that has such an impact on people, they'll never forget it but will always keep it close, giving them a warm fuzzy feeling every time they think of it.

With my kids… I've always made sure I instilled confidence and pride in them at a very early age. Praising them in all they do, even when they fail. I teach them the importance of love and respect so that when they go out in life, they handle life’s obstacles with confidence and in a way they can be proud of.

In writing, I try to put such emotion into my characters that the reader feels the characters are a part of their lives, experiencing the emotions themselves as if they were one with the characters.

How easy or difficult is this?

It's sometimes very easy but other times it's very hard. I have to be careful. I have to be able to 'explain' the characters' emotions in such a way that my readers are drawn in gently and then consumed. Sometimes I write and have to rewrite because I know in my head what emotions I want to put out there but my readers don't. So if need be, I'll keep working an area until I feel it's perfect.

How long did it take you to write your latest book?

The Feel of Lace took me a bit longer than normal to write. About four months. I put it on the shelf and almost junked it. I’m glad I didn’t though. Aphrodite's Apples scooped it up and it just recieved one of the best reviews I've gotten yet. Four klovers from Kwips & Kritiques.

The novella is contemporary erotica about a woman, Lacy Kimbel, who just can’t seem to make the right choice when it comes to men. So Aaron, her hairdresser, best friend and roommate, decides to take matters into his own hands by contacting a cousin in Florida, challenging him to a bet. One that poor Lacy has no clue will involve her.

Which aspects of the work that you put into the book did you find most difficult?

Honestly, the one thing I seem to struggle with, are the names of my characters. If the name doesn’t fit, I tend to stumble and freeze up, unable to continue until I find a name that suits their personality perfectly. Some authors can breeze through writing and come up with their characters' names toward the middle to ending of their story. Not me. I have to know them on a first name basis right from the get go.

Which book did you enjoy writing the most?

I’d have to say, Chamberlain’s Knight. I got so attached to Rowan and Chamberlain. I hated letting them go because they were both a part of my life for many years. But now I’ve started another romance novel, a western... and I’m finding myself falling in love all over again with my new hero and heroine!

What sets Chamberlain’s Knight apart from the other things you've written?

It’s a novel for one. Plus, I have several characters I introduced in this book. I’m not a big fan of keeping a story about just the hero and heroine. I like a variety of personalities because I think it makes the book interesting and causes it to stand out among the rest. But when you write a short, it can sometimes be difficult because you’re allotted only a certain word count and I tend to become… well… long-winded.

In what way is it similar?

All my stories have a HEA, (happily ever after) endings.

What will your next book be about?

I have a historical circling the snobs of London’s famous society, the Ton, that's been picked up by Aphrodite's Apples for their, Regency Romp II series. I'm also currently working on two books. One is a western novel, who’s hero is a sexy rancher and half breed Sioux Indian that gets tangled up with a snotty, little English aristocrat. The other is a horror that is really not a romance as much as it is scary. This particular book will actually be a novel and a first non-romance for me.

Where and when is the Western set? And what makes the rancher a half-breed?

It’s set in the Black Hills of Dakota.

The Sioux Indians were one of the tribes that were well-known in that area. When a white man or woman had a child with an Indian , the child was referred to as a half-breed. Meaning their blood was mixed. It was a common name used for children or adults that were not fully white back in the day. Do you remember Cher’s song, "Halfbreed"? I used to LOVE that song.

What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer? And how did you get there?

The feeling of confidence that success brought into my life by doing something I’ve always dreamed of but wasn’t sure I could.

I never gave up. No matter what was thrown in my path, I never quit. Not to say that I didn’t think about it. But thanks to some very dear friends who encouraged me when I was feeling my lowest, I hung in there and am I so thankful I did!

This article first appeared on OhmyNews International.

Related Blogs:

• Author of the Week -- Skyler Grey, Inside an author’s mind…., April 23, 2007.


• Skyler Grey is here to seduce us all!, Heart To Heart with Dahlia Rose, March 9, 2007.

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Interview: Jonathan Taylor, literary activist and author

Crystal Clear Creators is a not-for-profit organization which develops, records, showcases and promotes new and established talent for radio.

Founded in 2004 by Robin Webber-Jones and Jonathan Taylor, the organization has gone on to build an impressive list of achievements, assisting in the production of a notable range of new plays, poetry and prose for radio. It has also hosted creative writing workshops for teachers and school-age children, as well as for other people with an interest in writing.

It has recently produced and published Speaking Words: Writings for Reading Aloud, an anthology of short stories, monologues and poetry.

It has also published a mini-series of poetry pamphlets, provisionally titled Presenting Poets. Each of the pamphlets showcased an up-and-coming poet who is a member of Crystal Clear Creators.

In addition to this, there are plans to publish an anthology of children's stories taken mainly from those that the organization has produced for Leicester's Takeover Radio.

Crystal Clear Creators co-founder and co-director, Jonathan Taylor spoke about the project.

Perhaps we could start by talking about Crystal Clear Creators. What is it? What are its objectives? And when was it started?

Crystal Clear Creators is a not-for-profit arts organization based in the East Midlands (a region of England --ed), which was established with a start-up grant from Arts Council England. We've since been funded by organizations such as the National Lottery, Ernest Cook Foundation, Riverside Housing Midlands, Charnwood Arts and so on.

We set up Crystal Clear Creators officially at the beginning of 2004 after the founder members had worked on producing various radio plays.

Our stated aims were (and still are) to develop, produce, and promote new writing, acting and producing talent, particularly for radio. To do this, we work with both established and new writers, voice-overs and engineers.

We record our members' poetry, prose and plays, upload them onto our Web site, and from there promote the work to other organizations and radio stations. We've had members' work broadcast on various radio stations, including Resonance FM, Takeover Radio, Virtually American, BBC Leicester's Web site, Heat FM and we are currently developing work for Rutland Radio, Carillon Radio and the national digital station, One Word.

As well as this, we run creative writing day schools, courses and live readings and events across the East Midlands.

How did the idea behind Speaking Words start? How many people, artists and/organizations were involved?

We've now got nearly 100 members.

The Speaking Words project started in December 2004 when we received a grant from the Awards for All scheme of the National Lottery. The project consisted of putting on four creative writing day schools during 2005 across the region. Two [of the creative writing day schools] at Loughborough University, one at Monks' Dyke Technology College in Louth, and one at BBC Leicester's Open Centre.

We worked with BBC Leicester, Loughborough University, Literature Development Officers across the region, Monks' Dyke Technology College, Loughborough Campus Radio, Takeover Radio and various other organizations to market, publicize and develop these day schools.

All of these events were fully or over-subscribed. Workshop leaders included well-known writers such as Tony Coult, Julie Boden, Deborah Tyler-Bennett, Mitzi Szereto, Mystie Hood, Maria Orthodoxou and others.

From these workshops, participants were invited to submit writing they'd worked on during and afterwards. In August, we collated all of the material we'd received from participants, members and so on, and passed it to the anthology editor, Deborah Tyler-Bennett. She came out with the collection as it now stands. This was then art-worked by Linda Young, printed and then launched in December at our launch event, held in the Martin Hall, Loughborough University.

The launch event was attended by nearly 65 people and included an extended reading by Julie Bowden, followed by a structured open mic session in which lots of writers performed their work.

You mention a number of radio stations. Are they all in the U.K. or are some in other countries?

The radio stations we've had material broadcast on are mainly based in the U.K., though Virtually American, is a U.S. radio drama broadcaster and organization.

What's the feedback been like on the material that's been broadcasted?

We've had excellent feedback on a lot of the stuff that's been broadcasted. We've been asked for more content by all of the stations we've worked with, which is a good sign. And listeners of Heat FM, Resonance FM and Takeover Radio have all fed back to us that they really enjoyed our plays and stories and poetry.

Virtually American has also asked for more material. They loved the radio play, "The Music Master" which is now on their site.

Are there any opportunities for U.S. or overseas-based writers and performers to take part in your projects? Have any done so? If they would like to, how do they go about it?

We don't have any U.S.-based members yet, though we do have members from the U.S., and we've had material from overseas, including France and the continent.

What would you say sets Speaking Words apart from other anthologies that have been and are being published?

What sets Speaking Words apart from other anthologies is its emphasis on writing for reading aloud. The idea of writers performing and reading their work in public has boomed in recent years and this anthology reflects this huge increase in public readings.

The anthology does not, though, just cater for public readings. It also includes more private material, which can be read, whispered or sung to family and friends. What binds the collection together is simply the performative aspect, the stress on sound as well as words on a page.

The anthology encompasses a whole range of writers: from new writers for whom this is their first publication, to much more established and well-known figures. It's great to be able to publish an anthology like this, in which professionals rub shoulders with talented newcomers. The emphasis is on quality, though, throughout the editor picked what she felt to be the best of the material, and the material that made a homogeneous collection.

Who would you say is the books' target audience? Who would the book appeal to?

The book is all about audiences, readers and listeners, that's in the nature of a collection of words to be read aloud. I suppose the primary audience is anyone who's interested in new writing of good quality, as well as people who are interested in looking for material they can read out loud to each other or in public. The anthology is, more than anything else, meant to make entertaining and enjoyable reading.


This article was first published on OhmyNews International.

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Interview: Raven Starr, author of 'The Vampire's Embrace'

Emerging author, Raven Starr has been writing since she was 15 years old.

This year, some of her poems are going to be featured in When Times Moves On (Anchor Books), a new poetry anthology. She is also publishing her first novella, The Vampire’s Embrace (TreePress.net) and a short e-book, Fantasy (Red Rose Publishing).

In a recent interview, she spoke about her writing.

In your teens, one of your plays was staged in New London, Connecticut. What was the play about? And, how did you come to write it?

“The Wrong Choice” is about teens and drugs. It's about the loss that teenagers feel when one of their friends dies from an overdose.

It came about when I was in the 9th grade and a friend of mine died from an overdose. One day he was in school with us, laughing and the next day he was gone. It was my very first experience with death. "The Wrong Choice" was how I coped with losing a friend.

I was pleasantly surprised when my after-school program, The Drop-in Learning Center, also in New London, arranged with a local church to have the play staged there. The first night went very well. We received a standing ovation. I was really proud. The reception which "The Wrong Choice" received inspired to write another play called, “Running Scared But Free.” I still have copies of both plays. Somewhere.

As a writer, who would you say has influenced you the most?

The person who has influenced me the most is my mom. She was in my corner. She was awesome and very supportive. I suffer from a condition called endometriosis. I am in severe pain most of the time. There was a time when I didn’t think I could handle the pain... My mother showed me how to focus on the important things in life.

I read a lot: Stephen King, Anne Rice, Dean Koontz, Charlaine Harris, Michael and Kathleen Gear, Thomas Moore and the great poetic mastermind, Maya Angelou. All of them have influenced me in one way or the other. Their style, their prose...

What are the biggest challenges that you face? And, how do you deal with them?

I feel that the only challenge I face is facing myself. Writing is not easy. It takes time, patience and, yes, talent. Without the first two ingredients sometimes talent falls through the cracks.

I try to remain focused and when I have bad days, when I want to write but the pain is too intense, I make sure I surround myself with creative and supportive people.

I also find it very frustrating when what I want to do is write but nothing comes out clearly. Or when I have a good idea for a story but I'm already working on two other ideas and I just can’t get to everything. My friends keep me grounded. They help me see the bigger picture. They've taught me not to force my writing. They've taught me to relax and let it come to me.

How would you describe the genre in which you do most of your writing?

I am an avid horror movie buff. I now float between paranormal erotica and fantasy. I love writing in both genres. I love writing about things that scare you or creatures that come purely from the imagination. I truly don’t think that fantasy is too different from paranormal. Some people think that vampires, shape shifters and werewolves are a part of fantasy.

My concern as a writer is being ‘real’ and believable. I want the reader to become involved in my work, to be able to see the world I create.

Do you write everyday?

Yes, I try to write everyday. Even if it's 500 words, to me it's 500 more words than I had before. And I'm always writing or jotting down little tidbits.

My first book, The Vampire’s Embrace is going to be published by TreePress.net, a small publishing house based in Atlanta, Georgia. I'm going through the edits now and I don’t have a release date, just yet. The Vampire's Embrace is a novella and it's the first of a trilogy. It's the first in a set of three books that I'm working on. In the novella, we met Kia, the heroine. She is a shape shifter that falls in love with a vampire. And she may also be the key to ending the war, or the beginning of a new reign of death.

I submitted The Vampire’s Embrace to a number of publishers and Tree Press was the one that saw promise in my work. I did consider self-publishing, but I was told that agents and other publishers would not take me or my subsequent work seriously if I self-published so I decided against it.

In addition to The Vampire's Embrace, I also have a short e-book, Fantasy, which is being published by Red Rose Publishing. The e-book focuses on Star Morgan, a young black woman who falls for an 80’s heartthrob. She gets the chance to meet him and that’s when the fun begins.

Which aspects of the work that you put into Vampire's Embrace did you find most difficult?

Honestly, when I first started to write with the intention of being published, I thought: "How hard can it be? I just put my thoughts on paper and I’m done." No, it takes time and effort, combined with a love of learning.

I had the drive but it was the time issue that I found most challenging. Being a single mother of three, I found that I don’t have a lot of time. I had to learn to manage my time better. I had to ask myself if I was willing to sacrifice some things for my craft.

What will your next book be about?

I am working on the sequel to The Vampire's Embrace. The sequel is called Bayou Moon. I am also working on two fantasy books for young adults, The Dragon’s Phoenix and The Calling.

What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer? And how did you get there?

Besides getting a contract with Tree Press, I'd have to say my other significant achievement is the publication of, “The Otherside,” a poem I wrote for my mother.

Before I tried my hand at writing novellas and short stories, poetry was my heart. I posted some of my work to Poetry.com. It was a start. I received three different Editor’s Choice awards and have been published in a few anthologies through Poetry.com.

This article was first published on OhmyNews International.

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Interview: Saje Williams, author of 'Tales from the Magitech Lounge'

Saje Williams writes novels which combine elements of both science fiction and fantasy.

He made his debut as an author, in 2005, with the publication of Loki’s Sin by Wings ePress. This was followed by five more novels: Of Man and Monster (Wings ePress, 2006); Freak City (Wings ePress, 2006); Sword and Shadow (Samhain Publishing, 2007); Lady of Blades (Wings ePress, 2007) and Tales from the Magitech Lounge (Samhain, 2007)

Currently, Williams is working on a sequel to Sword and Shadow.

In a recent interview, he spoke about his writing.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

I was in fourth grade and already a voracious reader... so much that I would rather be reading than doing my schoolwork. To force me to actually do what I was supposed to, my parents took away my books. So I picked up a notebook and a pen and started writing my own stories. I haven’t stopped since. I knew before the end of that year that the only thing I ever wanted to be was an author, and it’s a dream that’s stayed with me ever since. To a lot of people I may have seemed as though I had no ambitions, or that my ambitions were little more than a ‘pipe dream,’ but I never, ever, gave up on them.

How would you describe the genre in which you do most of your writing?

Futuristic Urban Fantasy. Or, alternately, science fantasy. It combines elements of both science fiction and fantasy into a, mostly, seamless whole.

The books are aimed at people that want something a little different from the same ol’ stuff. Fans of fantasy and paranormal tales who are tired of genre clichés and want to read something that isn’t just a clone of what’s popular at the moment.

What motivated you to start writing in this genre?

My novels actually arise from the universe I created in the design of a role playing game I started working on when I was eighteen. We played and meddled in that universe for the better part of fifteen years and one day I sat down and asked myself, “Okay, how did this ‘world’ come into being in the first place?”

The result of me asking that question was my first published novel, Loki’s Sin.

Who would you say has influenced you the most?

Oh, man, that’s a hard one. I take a little from a lot of different authors. One of my early favorites was Robert Heinlein, and then Frank Herbert. Heinlein because of the way he used dialog to establish his characters so clearly, and Herbert because he built worlds on a macro scale. He thought BIG, and created incredibly complex societies that seemed so different from those with which we are familiar.

Beyond that, maybe Julian May, who merged science fiction and mythology in her Saga of Pliocene Exile in a very inspirational way. And the pioneers of urban fantasy, like Tanya Huff, Mercedes Lackey, and Emma Bull. And, more recently, Anne Bishop, who creates heroes who are scarier than the villains they oppose.

And, of course, Spider Robinson. My latest novel, Tales from the Magitech Lounge is intended as a bit of tribute to his Callahan series.

What are your main concerns as a writer?

I want first and foremost to entertain. I don’t write to teach or preach, but it wouldn’t hurt my feelings if I can make people think and feel a little differently than they did before reading one of my novels.

How have your personal experiences influenced the direction of your writing?

I had a very adventurous youth. I traveled the west coast on a shoestring several times, going from the Seattle area all the way to Los Angeles once. All in all, I hitchhiked up and down the west coast seven times, meeting all kinds of people.

I’ve traveled a lot throughout the U.S., though I’d love to travel all over the globe and hope someday to manage it. Because of my experiences, I can write about a lot of different locales with intimacy, which has its advantages.

What would you say are the biggest challenges that you face?

Promoting myself. Honestly.

In the current environment it’s imperative that an author take every opportunity to promote his/her work and make him/her self sound like the greatest thing since sliced bread. I’m a pretty humble guy, ordinarily. I don’t believe in claiming accolades I didn’t earn. So I have to go out and get those accolades, and then I still feel a little uncomfortable trumpeting them. I believe sincere humility is good for the soul, insincere humility is egotism, and we authors are caught trying to play in the freeway lying between the two.

How do you deal with these challenges?

Accept that occasionally I’m forced to do things I find a bit distasteful for the sake of getting my name out there and keeping it out there.

Do you write everyday?

I try to write at least a few hours every day, and usually manage it.

I also keep a myspace page and I occasionally drop by the Samhain or Wings blogs, but I’m far more active on the yahoo groups than I am as a blogger.

What is your latest book about?

Tales from the Magitech Lounge took something like seven months to finish. It is an unusual piece in that it’s a single work broken up into various p.o.v. narratives. Each chapter in the first two acts is written from the [point of view] p.o.v. of a different character. I had to create a different “voice” for each, and create a flow between the narratives. It was an interesting challenge, but I think it worked out the way I’d intended.

I really enjoyed bringing back an old villain and redeeming him.

What sets the book apart from the other things you have written?

It’s more experimental in concept, and it’s written primarily as a first person narrative.

It's similar to the others in that, well, it expands on my universe… or multiverse, rather. People who’ve read my other novels will quickly see the relationship between it and the others, even though it’s quite different in many ways.

What will your next book be about?

As I mentioned before, it’s a sequel to Sword and Shadow, and involves an illegal time travel operation to prevent a world-destroying war between normal humans and meta-humans on a parallel Earth.

What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer?

Believe it or not, my most prized achievement as an author so far is just knowing I actually have fans out there. People who love what I write and hunger for more. To be able to share my stories with people, and have them actually me for them, seems just so astounding. It’s honestly a dream come true.

How did you get there?

Just by writing the weird stuff that lives in my head. Sounds strange, but that’s pretty much all there is to it.

This article was first published on OhmyNews International.

Related Books:

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Related Articles:

• Saje Williams Interview, Fallen Angel Reviews. January 2007.


• Interview Saje Williams, by Kay LeGrand, Wings ePress.


• Interview Saje Williams, by Faith Frances Berlin, Wings ePress.

Interview: Caridad Pineiro, Author of 'Blood Calls'

Lawyer and award-winning author, Caridad Pineiro Scordato was born in Havana, Cuba before moving and settling in the New York Metropolitan area in the 1960s. She attended Villanova University on a Presidential Scholarship and graduated Magna cum laude. She subsequently earned her Juris Doctor from St. John's University and became the first female and Latino partner of Abelman, Frayne & Schwab, an Intellectual Property firm in Midtown Manhattan.

Caridad Pineiro made her debut as an author in 1999 with the publication of Now and Always by Kensington's Latina romance imprint, Encanto. Her fifteenth novel, Blood Calls, was released in May 2007 by Silhouette Nocturne.

In a recent interview, she spoke about her writing.

What are your main concerns as a writer?

I have two concerns as a writer. The first is to entertain my readers by writing a really good book. The second is to make them think about something they might not have considered before.

For example, in Devotion Calls, there is a subplot about a terminally ill mother. The heroine has exhausted all the established medical practices that were available before turning to a Santero (he’s actually a psychic healer, but the heroine doesn’t know that at first). I wanted people to consider that there might be alternative ways of treating illness, but also understand how a daughter might feel when confronted with her mother’s illness.

My personal experiences have definitely influenced my writing. The subplot in Devotion Calls came about as a result of my own issues dealing with my mom’s death from cancer. In earlier books I’ve dealt with issues such as discrimination and women dealing with careers that are in predominantly male fields. All of these come from my life experiences.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

I had always had stories running through my head as a child, but in the fifth grade a teacher assigned a writing project. Everyone in the class had to write a book for inclusion in a class lending library. I went home and started writing and by the end of the year, had 120 typed pages. I knew then that I wanted to be a writer.

Most of my work is in the romance genre, although the romantic element varies from book to book. For example, with my Chicas books, the romantic element is generally secondary to the relationships of the four friends who are the main characters of the books. I say "generally" because in the next book, South Beach Chicas Catch Their Man, the romantic element is a more prominent part of the story [because] this Chicas book is about a mother and daughter who must reconcile their feelings about the men in their lives in order to find true happiness.

I have a very broad target audience because I am a multi-genre writer. My paranormal works draw in both male and female readers and the age range is anywhere from 14 to 80. The romantic suspense and Chicas books tend to pull in more female readers, but again, the age range is large. I think the moral of the story is that a good book appeals to readers of all kinds and ages.

What motivated you to start writing romance novels?

There’s an old adage that you should write what you know. I knew romances because I discovered that what I liked to read was mostly romances. In fact, that first book back in the fifth grade was a romance.

All of my books feature empowered heroines and I think that is a direct result of the kinds of books I like to read and the television that I watch (I am a media junkie). Embracing this empowered heroine has allowed me to write books that appeal to all kinds of readers and also, show that women can be in positions of power.

What are the biggest challenges that you face? And, how do you deal with them?


My biggest challenge is finding enough time to write and also, trying to always push the envelope to offer readers a fresh new story.

The first is difficult since I have a full time job. I juggle motherhood, being a lawyer as well as a writer. That takes efficient time management and not much goofing around (although I have been taking a break to recharge the past two weeks). As for the second, I try to envision stories that are different and characters that are larger than life rather. I start by not making the characters perfect and by having them deal with those imperfections during the course of the story.

For example, in Blood Calls, the hero was once a selfish and unfaithful man. That resulted in his being imprisoned by the Spanish Inquisition and eventually losing his life. When he is given a second chance by becoming a vampire, he vows to be a better man. When the time comes for him to prove he is a better man, he is conflicted between taking what he wants -- the heroine -- and his vow to not be selfish. That leads to a lot of pain of both a physical and mental kind. Readers have embraced the hero, understanding all that he does because he is punishing himself for what he wants but should not have.

Do you write everyday?

I write every day on the train ride to and from work. I also spend about three or four hours on each weekend day. If I have a deadline, I may also write at night after dinner, but I try to avoid this as I need time with my family and time to unwind. During a typical week, I’ll spend approximately 15 to 20 hours writing.

How many books have you published so far?

Blood Calls (May 2007) is my fifteenth book and the sixth book in The Calling series from Silhouette Nocturne. The Calling originally started in Silhouette Intimate Moments in March 2004 with Darkness Calls. The other novels in the series are: Danger Calls (June 2005); Temptation Calls (October 2005); Death Calls (December 2006) and Devotion Calls (January 2007). The series continues with Holiday with a Vampire in December 2007 and three other books in 2008/9.

My romantic suspense titles are More Than a Mission (August 2006, Silhouette Intimate Moments) and Secret Agent Reunion (August 2007, Silhouette Romantic Suspense). [And] finally, my latest Chicas books are: Friday Night Chicas (September 2005, St. Martin’s Griffin ); Sex and the South Beach Chicas (Downtown Press, September 2006) and South Beach Chicas Catch Their Man (September 2007, Downtown Press).

How long did it take you to write Blood Calls?

Blood Calls is out as one of the May ’07 Nocturne books. I wrote the proposal for this book in about three weeks, but then was asked to finish the rest of the book in under a month. It was tough and I had to write every day in every free moment I had, but it was worthwhile as I loved how the story developed.

The hardest part was the research into art fraud and how it occurs and then developing a believable story as to how Ramona became involved in such a fraud. I enjoyed the passion between Ramona and Diego. Their desire for one another had been simmering there for some time, but this book lets it all come out and sometimes in unexpected ways.

What sets the Blood Calls apart from the other things you've written?

Although all of my vamp books are dark and sensual, there’s something about the hero in this book that reaches a new level. I think the reason for it is Diego’s tortured past and how he is running away from all that he wants. That leads him to be less than heroic sometimes and you are always wondering whether he will embrace the goodness within himself and his love for Ramona in order to be the better man he vowed to become.

It is similar [to the other books] in that all the action is occurring in the Manhattan vampire underworld that is a part of The Calling mythology and which allows the reader to revisit with familiar characters, if they’ve read the other books in the series. If they haven’t read the other books, [they shouldn't worry] -- each story stands alone.

What will your next book be about?

My next book is a romantic suspense -- Secret Agent Reunion. The story is about two spies who are reunited after three years apart. They must work together to find out who is trying to destroy the investigative agency for whom they now work. There’s a lot of angst between the two agents due to the history between them. They have to battle all those old wounds in order to not only accomplish their mission, but possibly rekindle the relationship they once shared.

What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer?

I think my most significant achievement as a writer is to keep on writing books that are good enough to get published. I recently sold my 25th book and I think that speaks to my abilities to not only write an entertaining story, but to get the word out there about the books.

I strongly believe that with as many books as are published today, you need to promote yourself to readers and booksellers. The promotion part has been wonderful as I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many nice and interesting people while doing so. That’s the rewarding part of writing -- meeting and talking with the readers.

I’ve [also] discovered that publishing is not for the faint of heart and that you need to keep on writing and growing as a writer in order to keep on selling books.

This article was first published by OhmyNews International.

Related Books:

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Related articles:

• Interview with romance author Caridad Pineiro, We Really Dig Romance Novels, January 2007.


• Caridad Pineiro-Scordato Interview, Vampire Romance Books, February 1, 2007.


• Caridad Pineiro Interview Part 1, Bright Cove Romance Novel TV, February 27,2007.


• Interview with a Vampire (Author), Gabriella Hewitt -- Blog, March 20, 2007.


• Caridad Pineiro Interview, Night Owl Romance, April 2007.


• Caridad Pineiro's World of Vampires, The Dark Phantom, April 18, 2007.


• Caridad Pineiro Chats & Anxiety Increases, Marta Acosta, April 20, 2007.


• Caridad Pineiro Interview, Part 2, Bright Cove Romance Novel TV, May 1, 2007.


• Henri Does Caridad Pineiro, Henri, the Ghostest with the Mostest, May 15, 2007.


• Caridad Pineiro Stops by The Book Pedler!!!, The Book Pedler, May 18, 2007.


• Caridad Pineiro's World of Vampires, Interview by Myra Calvani, The Fountain Pen, May 2007.


• Interview with Caridad Pineiro, Bewitched by Books, May 17, 2007.


• Interview with Caridad Pineiro, Realms of Fantasy.

Interview: Andrew Hook, author of 'Residue'

In addition to being the founder and publisher of Elastic Press, a small independent U.K. press that specialises in anthologies of short stories “at the edges of reality and fantasy,” Andrew Hook is an award-winning author and editor.

He has written over a hundred short stories, some of which have been featured in magazines that include The Third Alternative, Em: writing and music, Multi-Story, Buzzwords, and Front and Centre.

His books include the short story collections, The Virtual Menagerie (Elastic Press, 2002), Beyond Each Blue Horizon (Crowswing Books, 2005) and Residue (Halfcut Publications, 2006) as well as the novels Moon Beaver (ENC Press, 2004) and Full Circle. He has also edited The Alsiso Project (Elastic Press, 2003), an anthology which features 23 stories from 23 different writers all of whom examine, in their own way, the enigma of Alsiso.

In a recent interview, Andrew Hook spoke about his writing.

In the writing that you are doing, who would you say has influenced you the most?

As a child, Enid Blyton, Agatha Christie, Ian Fleming: as a teenager, Franz Kafka, Dostoyevsky, Sartre; as an adult, Tom Robbins, Raymond Carver, Nicholas Royle. As a child, those authors gave me a sense of adventure. The sensation of the world beyond where I lived, and one that might be filled with intrigue and mystery. As a teenager, those authors gave me a sense of self, of examining the internal workings of our motives and imaginations. And as an adult the two are combined and coupled with a love of language and what we can do with it.

I’m not sure why they effected me in this way, other than to say I was open to reading books and therefore of a mind to take on board new ideas.

Other than fiction, I was also influenced by punk and surrealism –- the do-it-yourself approach to dealing with the word and your subconscious.

What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer?

To continue in the face of adversity! It’s so difficult to get a tangible feeling of success in this business.

The first goal is to get one story published, then a few more, then ten, then… well, a novel perhaps… then some critical acclaim… then… then… to be honest, as any writer will tell you, there is always the next book to be written and you’re never any better than your last story. It’s like climbing a ladder that’s sinking into the ground at the same rate that you’re ascending. Sometimes, that feeling of desperation, of needing to feed the muse without gaining sustenance yourself, can be a real bind.

In all, how many short stories, published and unpublished, would you say you have you written?

In total I’ve written 114 short stories, of which 84 have been published or are pending publication, and most of the unpublished stories go way back when I was learning my craft. I’m quite impressed with myself! I’ve had stories in genre publications such as The Third Alternative, Nemonymous, and Midnight Street, and mainstream stories in Aesthetica, Open Wide magazine, and at LauraHird.com. Lots of these magazines are probably difficult to obtain nowadays, even secondhand, so I’d recommend searching out my collections. My website contains the relevant information.

Why and how is it that short story writers are perceived differently from novelists?

Short story writing and novel writing are completely different disciplines, and there is respect in both camps for both. At heart, I’m definitely a short story writer because I tend to think in short outbursts which are suited more to developing stories in that form.

Booksellers tend to look less favourably on short stories and have spent a lot of time convincing the public that they don’t need to buy short story collections either. No doubt commercial considerations lie at the heart of that decision.

As for readers, some people like longer works and others shorter. There’s no mystery to it, it’s just the way that people are.

How easy or difficult is it for a short story writer to make a living solely from writing short stories?

It’s very difficult. But then it’s also difficult for a writer to make a living solely from writing novels. Usually they’re also reviewing, or teaching creative writing, or have some such other income. The markets -- particularly the paying markets -- for short story sales are also dwindling; yet on the other hand the short story writer is in the fortunate position of being able to write for a specific market and sell a story quickly. It’s all swings and roundabouts in the end.

I feel that bookstore chains have made some of these decisions for readers by not encouraging short fiction to be published by the larger publishers. At a time when everyone claims that we’re living in the fast lane, with short attention spans and sound bites, short stories should be more popular than ever. This is somewhat true in the independent press, but less so with the majors. Readers can only buy what they see on the shelves.

How long did it take you to come up with the stories that make up, Residue?

My third collection of short stories, Residue, was published by HalfCut Publications in paperback and illustrated hardback in November 2006. These are mainstream literary short stories, usually concerned with fractured relationships and the nature of self. Some of the stories in the book were written ten years ago, some more recently. My publisher’s website contains a story by story account of my inspiration for each piece, and this can be read here.

As some of the stories are quite old, I had to re-read and re-write them. Occasionally it was difficult to return to the mental space in which they had originally been written in order to bring them up to date and yet keep them fresh.

Which did you enjoy most?

Out of the stories in the book: “Tight”, “The Summer of Hate”, and “Streetwalk”, because I think they’re amongst the best pieces I’ve ever written.

Residue is a collection of mainstream stories, whereas my other published work has tended to be science fiction, fantasy, horror or slipstream. Some of the stories are similar to my slipstream stories in the way that they deal with relationships, only there isn’t any weird stuff happening in the background.

What are your main concerns as a writer?

That I tell the story as it is.

For me, this means that the end result -- the story -- does justice to the original idea. The way that a story can be told can vary considerably from piece to piece, so I don’t restrict myself to genre or style. So long as the original idea is expressed how I believe it wants to be expressed, that’s fine by me.

Some authors -- those with big publishers barking at them -- may have to tell their stories in the way that best reflects marketing concerns, rather than artistic ones. There’s nothing wrong with that of course, we all have to eat, but at the moment, with most of my successes being in the independent press, I don’t have to compromise my writing in such a way.

How have your personal experiences influenced the direction of your writing?

Most of my fiction contains some kind of real life experience, albeit fictionalised. It could be the plot, a character, or even something as tiny as a phrase. Just as the person I am is constructed from the sum of my experiences, so is my fiction.

What would you say are the biggest challenges that you face?

Having the commitment to write a novel.

I’ve actually written five novels in total. The first two (Reason and Consumption) will never see the light of day because I’ve subsequently moved on as a writer and those were written almost twenty years ago, the third is called Moon Beaver and was published in the United States by ENC Press in 2004, and the other two (Full Circle and Bobbing for Reality) are awaiting a suitable publisher. I’m happiest with Bobbing for Reality out of the unpublished work. Hopefully it’ll find a home soon.

I personally find it a challenge in terms of the time-scale involved. With a short story, when it’s ready to be written, I can write the first draft in a matter of hours, and after a brief respite to give it some distance, can edit it over another few hours. Then it’s ready to be sold. A novel is totally different, it can take anywhere between three months to (literally) years to write, with no indication at all that it might be saleable. For me it’s a real challenge to commit myself to such a long-term project that might end in nothing. Yet, when the idea for a novel comes, it’s impossible to resist starting it.

What happens in Bobbing for Reality?

In Bobbing For Reality the main character is a successful photographer with a damaged past. Dissatisfied with the pictures of reality found within his camera lens he becomes obsessed by the people in the peripheries of his photographs. When an elderly couple inexplicably appear in a double exposed image, and then continue to permeate his existence in terrible visions, he is forced to discover the cause of their hauntings.

Adding to the stress is the traumatic relationship with his ex-wife, the inescapable commitment to his young son, and his budding desire towards his son’s childminder.

Patrick is the key character throughout the novel, but is the reality that he sees the truth, or is that to be found beneath the surface of his experiences?

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

I always used to make up stories when I was a kid. Mostly detective stories based on television programmes such as Columbo, Ellery Queen, Agatha Christie adaptations etc. Subsequently this lay dormant until I was 20 and had given up my day job to travel.

I spent a couple of months camping and inter-railing in Europe. My main memories of that time include moving from city to city on an almost daily basis and fantasising about what we were going to eat. To say we were on a shoestring budget would be rather an understatement. I’d always wanted to travel, and I agree with the adage that it broadens your mind. Within a couple of years I was off again, for sixteen months in Australasia. Experiencing a wider world view can be crucial when writing, I believe. It fuels and informs your imagination.

When I came back from travelling my life was a blank slate, and writing returned to it.

This article was first published on OhmyNews International.


Related articles:

• An Interview with Andrew Hook by Duncan Barford, infinity plus, 2005.


• Interview: Andrew Hook of Elastic Press, Emerald City #105.

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