[Interview] Jean Holloway

Jean Holloway lives in Kennesaw, GA.

Her books include Ace of Hearts (PHE Ink, 2009)) which is also available as an audiobook; Black Jack (PHE Ink, 2009); Deuces Wild (PHE Ink, 2010) and Full House (PHE Ink, 2011).

In this interview, Jean Holloway talks about her concerns as a writer:

When did you start writing?

It all began when my sister, Lori, commented, ‘You read so much, I bet you could write book,’ and I answered, ‘I bet I can!’ and began writing Ace of Hearts in long-hand in 1980. I completed the manuscript in 1982.

I was 30 years old and the mother of six.

I never considered the possibility of becoming a published writer, in fact, if someone had told me I would become a published author at the age of 57, I wouldn’t have believed them. Lori pushed me into this career when she bought me a ticket to the National Book Club Conference in Atlanta and instructed me to print copies of my manuscript and give them to anyone who wouldn’t throw them back. That’s where I met my first publisher.

Two years later at a literary event in Houston, I met T.L. James, CEO of PHE Ink. I recognized a kindred spirit and switched publishers.

How would you describe your writing?

I’m a genre bender, writing risqué romantic thrillers with a splash of the paranormal.

My target audience is mainly women over 21. I thought they could empathize with my protagonist, Detective Shevaughn Robinson.

Which authors influenced you most?

All my life I’ve been a fan of Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Tananarive Due and Jean Auel. I admired their ability to transport me into their world and take me on a roller coaster ride. I wanted to have the same effect on my readers.

And how have your own personal experiences influenced your writing?

I thought the influence was minimal until my sister, April pointed out the similarities of my characters (especially Shevaughn’s) experiences to correlating events and attitudes in my own life. What an eye-opener!

What are the biggest challenges that you face?

I think my biggest challenge is getting readers who are unfamiliar with my work to give me a chance. I find there are a lot of readers who only read their favorite authors and won’t gamble on someone new.

How are you dealing with this challenge?

I’ve put excerpts on all my social networks. Usually, once they read a smidgen, either they love me or hate me.

Do you write everyday?

No, not every day. I usually write when my characters tell me to. A session starts when I hear one of them whisper in my mind. Then I go to my computer and write what I hear. It ends when they get quiet. Since they seem to be nocturnal, sometimes I find myself jumping out of bed at three in the morning running down to the computer to get down our thoughts before I forget.

How many books have you written so far?

• Ace of Hearts, PHE Ink – Writing Solutions Firm, July 13, 2009, Second Edition
• Black Jack, PHE Ink – Writing Solutions Firm, May 14, 2009
• Deuces Wild, PHE Ink – Writing Solutions Firm, October 10, 2010. That was my 60th birthday present to me!
• Full House, PHE Ink – Writing Solutions Firm – November 22, 2011

The four novels complete the Deck of Cardz series.

Detective Shevaughn Robinson is the main character in all four novels. You get to follow her life and career from rookie to Captain of the Homicide Division. As Portsborough, NY’s first Black female homicide detective in 1981, you watch as she strives to prove herself in a male-dominated workforce. You also meet her new partner, Jared Benjamin, and Tony O'Brien, an unexpected love interest.

The series introduces you to a series of sexual predators, starting with Eric Becker in Ace of Hearts, a psycho who has the inexperienced Shevaughn in his sights.

What is your latest book about?

In Full House, the final novel of the Deck of Cardz series, Captain Shevaughn Robinson is at the pinnacle of her career and living the challenging life of a single mother of two. It doesn’t help that her adolescent daughter still communicates with the dead and is in a relationship that’s way too serious for her age. Or that Nonna, the only one she can depend on, is beginning to show signs of Alzheimer's.

When she hears allegations that the police are ignoring the growing number of missing black women in Portsborough, Shevaughn pledges to personally investigate their disappearance. It leads her to one of the most unusual crimes in her entire career and gives new meaning to the phrase, "honor thy mother".

How long did it take you to write the novel?

Full House took me a year because it’s the last novel of the Deck of Cardz series and after working on this series since 1980, I really hated to let it go. I procrastinated a bit.

Which aspects of the work did you enjoy most?

I loved seeing how everything came together.

I don’t use outlines or storyboards or anything. I write by the seat of my pants and once I’m through getting it all out, I have to arrange everything chronologically like a time puzzle.

What sets Full House apart from other things you've written?

This time I have an entire dysfunctional family instead of my usual one psychopath.

In what way is it similar to the others?

Shevaughn is one tough cookie from start to finish.

How did you choose a publisher for the book?

When I met T.L. James, we clicked. I chose PHE Ink because it’s a small, independent press which allowed them to give me the personal attention I wanted. It’s more like a literary family. I really don’t see any disadvantages since I’m now Managing Partner.

What will your next book be about?

I’m contemplating collaborating with another author or maybe another series, but haven’t worked out the details as of yet.

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

Ace of Hearts was nominated against the esteemed Walter Mosley’s The Tempest Tales in 2008. Of course, he beat me like a bad child, but what an honor!

Now Ace is an audiobook, but not your usual audiobook; it has music and sound effects like a classic radio show. And last year, I became a member of the GA Peach Authors. I’m proud to be touring with such a group of well-respected authors.

Related Books:

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Related articles:

• Literary Drama and Dinner with a Purpose, by Cyrus Webb, The Examiner, July 27, 2012
• Gail McFarland [Interview_2], Conversations with Writers, April 5, 2010
• Jean Holloway [nterview], A Book Blogger's Diary, July 7, 2008 

[Interview] Eva Gordon

Fantasy and paranormal romance author, Eva Gordon lives in Northern California.

Her books include the kabbalistic fantasy, The Stone of the Tenth Realm as well as the three novels that make up her Wolf Maiden Chronicles series: Werewolf Sanctuary (Vanilla Heart Publishing, 2009); Beast Warrior: Viking Werewolf (Vanilla Heart Publishing, 2009), and White Wolf of Avalon: Werewolf Knight (Vanilla Heart Publishing, 2010).

In this interview, Eva Gordon talks about her writing:

When did you start writing?

I started seriously writing about 7 years ago. I enjoyed telling stories to my high school students and realized my imagination took me to wonderful places.

I wanted to share my stories and getting published became my goal.

I joined a critique group, and began to edit and edit. I then sent out my query letters to both agents and publishers. A small UK Press published my first fantasy novel, but we dissolved our contract because they no longer had printing rights in the US.

How would you describe your writing?

Paranormal romance and fantasy writing. Paranormal/Fantasy Romance. The majority are historical.

My target audience are adults - most likely woman though men enjoy my novels as well.

I love all types of stories but books with a great romance make reading them much more enjoyable. I like happily-ever-after.

Which authors influenced you most?

So many, from Jane Austen to Frank Herbert.

However Michael Crichton and Diane Gabaldon touched a chord. Like me they were trained in the sciences and I like their style of grabbing you into the story.

How have your personal experiences influenced your writing?

My passion for wildlife, especially wolves, ravens and horses inspired me to go in a direction that would include them. I love wolf and werewolf lore and do workshops on both topics.

My degrees in zoology and biology influenced my writings by adding a bit of science here and there.

My women characters are often academic or healers. I have taught AP Biology and Anatomy Physiology so women in my stories are smart and independent. They have the brain and their love interest has the brawn.

What are your main concerns as a writer?

Finding the time to promote, because like most writers I would rather create stories and nothing else.

However, I do set time apart for promotional work and have learned that this is my time to connect with social groups and have fun.

What are the biggest challenges that you face?

The lack of money from the countless hours of work and dedication. This amount of energy in any other work situation would have made me a CEO by now.

Do you write everyday?

At least five to six days a week.

I first check my e-mails and put them in folders for later. Then I sit in my office and begin.

I start by looking at my outline and the story plays out like a movie I am watching. I never know what the characters will do until I watch them in my imaginary movie. I then translate the visual into the written word.

I aim for at least 2,000 words a day.

I also do research since most of my paranormal novels are historical. I end the day when I have reached my scene goal or, if overwhelmed, I end it when 2,000 words have been completed.

How many books have you written so far?

I have four fantasy novels.

The first, The Stone of the Tenth Realm is a kabbalistic fantasy first published by a UK Press. I am now out of contract and am trying to sell and I will let you know later.

The next three are part of my Wolf Maiden Chronicles series:

• Werewolf Sanctuary (Vanilla Heart Publishing, 2009)
• Beast Warrior: Viking Werewolf (Vanilla Heart Publishing, 2009), and
• White Wolf of Avalon: Werewolf Knight (Vanilla Heart Publishing, 2010)

What would you say your latest novel is about?

White Wolf of Avalon: Werewolf Knight takes place during Arthurian Times.

It is Book 3 in the Wolf Maiden saga and revolves around intrigue and circumstances within the lycan secret society in Arthur’s Britain.

In the novel, Bledig, a werewolf raised by humans, only wants to be a knight in King Arthur’s court but is told he must unite a pack against evil lycan lord, Gorlagon. He refuses to follow his destiny until he meets Annora, a woman philosopher and his destined mate.

How long did it take you to write White Wolf of Avalon: Werewolf Knight?

The rough draft usually takes about three/four months but I edit daily.

The novel was published by Vanilla Heart Publishing in March 2010 because a small Indie seemed like a good starting place. Small Indies are more open to new writers. Very helpful to newbie questions.

One disadvantage small publishers present is that there is no distribution at book stores or chains such as Target so one must go to the bookstore to request a signing. Most folks buy books because they see them out in the front of the store and that is the disadvantage of a small publisher.

What sets Werewolf Knight apart from other things you've written?

It’s still a paranormal romance historical/fantasy novel but with problems only found during King Arthur’s times. Unlike the earlier stories my male protagonist does not want to be a lycan.

Since it is part of a series, the secret lycan universe is the same. There is always an alpha lycan looking for his human female mate, a wolf maiden with the mark of the lycan print.

And what will your next book be about?

Lycan Gladiator, which takes place during Roman times.

I am also working on my Stone Trilogy and a Raven Shifter trilogy. And another lycan contemporary in the series is also in the works.

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

Getting published and getting some really great reviews.

Possibly related articles:

• Local author lands six-book deal, shares road to success, By Alysa Stryker, Greek Post, December 13, 2010
• Simon & Schuster buys debut teen paranormal romance, By Graeme Neill, The Bookseller, December 6, 2010
• Featured Author: Eva Gordon [Interview], A Biblio Paradise, December 12, 2008

[Interview_2] Lori Titus

In an earlier interview, Lori Titus talked, among other things, about her collection of short stories, Green Water Lullaby (Sonar4 Publications, 2010) and about the factors that drew her to paranormal/horror literature.

Her latest offering, Lazarus is a novella set in the Old West which combines steam punk, magic, zombies and ghosts.

She had this to say about the novella:

How would you describe the new book?

Lazarus is a story set in the Old West, in a town in California.

A young widow named Luella Pemby comes to town, armed with a device that can detect the presence of zombies. Lazarus is known as a site of “natural reanimation”, where infrequent Risings of the dead occur.

Luella seeks out the local sheriff, Benjamin Drake and the mayor of the town, Jasper Cole. She offers her help, and both men are wary of her at first.

Luella comes to find that not only are the Risings occurring more frequently, but that there is more going on in the town of Lazarus than she thought. There are ghosts, family rivalries between warlocks, and a mystery surrounding the death of a young woman.

How long did it take you to write the book?

This book is fairly short (it’s a novella, actually). The first draft took about six weeks.

I found myself writing every day, usually writing at night or early morning and then doing revisions in the afternoon.

Lazarus will be published on October 31, 2010, and will be available in both print and e-book through Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

How did you chose a publisher for the book?

I actually intended Lazarus to be a short story. I was planning to submit it to Sonar4 Publications as part of an upcoming steam punk anthology. Once I started getting into this story, it became clear that I was going to far exceed the word count.

A friend of mine recommended the Library of the Living Dead. I contacted the publisher, and sent him a synopsis of the plot. He expressed interest, and I sent him the manuscript.

Since this particular publisher specializes in zombie fiction, I felt that they were a good choice to start with. But because this story incorporates unusual elements, I wasn’t sure if it would be something that they would like .

Which were the most difficult aspects of the work you put into the book?

The most difficult part of writing this book was the lack of sleep that came with it! I couldn’t seem to get the words down fast enough. I sat up writing, re-writing, and reading it for several entire nights in a row. When I did fall asleep I had dreams about the story, and soon found myself awake again and back in front of my monitor. I slipped into the odd habit of sleeping in the day and then writing at night.

I really loved this story. I loved the characters and breathing life into them.

Luella was the driving force, and her words flew across the page.

I enjoyed the male voices in the story, Jasper and Benjamin. The town came to life easily, including an engaging cast of supporting characters that popped up all by themselves.

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

Lazarus is a Western, and my stories are usually set in the present.

The combination of elements is very different. There is a hint of steam punk, magic, zombies, and even some ghosts.

This story is similar to my first book, Green Water Lullaby, in the way it combines the paranormal with an element of romance.

Related articles:

• Lori Titus [Interview_1], Conversations with Writers, December 13, 2009
• Can 'The Walking Dead' Revive the Zombie Genre?, By Jared Keller, The Atlantic, August 30, 2010
• Interview with Bob Fingerman, Reading with Tequila, September 9, 2010

[Interview_1] Lori Titus

In this interview, Lori Titus, author of the short story collection, Green Water Lullaby (Sonar 4 Publications, 2010) talks about stories and the effect they have on people:

When did you start writing?

I started writing when I was about ten years old.

I originally started by writing down nightmares I had, which always seemed to go away once they were on paper. At some point, I wasn’t having bad dreams anymore, but decided to start creating stories just for fun.

I used to take my stories and poetry to school, and would turn them in to my teacher for extra credit. Early on, my teachers encouraged me, that this was something I should pursue. So it’s always been a plan of mine [to get published], but figuring out exactly how I was going to do it was more difficult.

How did you eventually manange to do it?

I was surfing the internet one day and happened to notice that there were a lot of short story websites around which accepted work from unknown authors. I sent a couple of stories around, and finally got published on MicroHorror.

Once I got that first story accepted, I got busy writing more stories, and started submitting widely.

How would you describe your writing?

I’d describe it as paranormal/horror with a dramatic bent.

There are always paranormal elements, but the stories are all about people and how they relate (or fail to relate) with each other.

I believe that everyone is fascinated with the unexplained, with things that scare us, and things that we can’t see. My stories take the ordinary world and bend it a little.

I try to spark something in the reader’s mind, that question of “what if…?” So rather than appealing to any one group, I try to appeal to a human sense of curiosity.

Which authors influenced you most?

As a child I read a lot of classic authors, and [Edgar Allan] Poe will always be my favorite.

That said, I find that I am influenced by many authors, both known and up and coming. Some of my favorites include John Sanford, Dean Koontz, Tananrive Due, Stephanie Meyer, and Alice Hoffman.

How have your personal experiences influenced your writing?

I have always been enthralled with people's stories, how they tell them, and which things they emphasize.

Every story you hear from a friend, a co-worker, or relative, has a theme behind it, a certain meaning they want to convey. I’m always interested by what people have to say, how no two people tell the exact same story in the same way. In this way, your life is often reflected in writing. There are defiant themes within the stories that are relevant to my life experiences.

What are your main concerns as a writer?

My main concern is writing a story that is entertaining, that holds the reader’s attention.

I want people to be able to relate to the characters, and I want to surprise them with what comes next.

I try to make the characters as relatable as possible. They may be in extraordinary circumstances, but they all have the capacity to love, hate, and make mistakes the way any ordinary person would.

My biggest challenge, like most writers, is finding the time to write.

I am very disciplined about what I write, but I do not write every day. I have been known to go on a “writing jag” where I will write a chapter a day for a few weeks, and then nothing at all for a month. Being an editor for Flashes in the Dark and Sonar4 helps keep my creative juices going when I am not writing my own stories. It also keeps me encouraged to plunge ahead with my own work.

When you write how does each session start? How do you proceed, generally?

I don’t write every day, but I usually have in mind how much I want to write before I stop. I may want to finish a particular scene or a group of scenes over a period of time.

I have a little office in my apartment, and I spend a lot of time there! Sometimes I write something by hand, but other times I go to the computer and start typing. I usually don’t stop until I have reached the end of whatever scene I’m working on.

How much writing have you done so far?

I have had stories published in three anthologies so far: A Demonminds Halloween 2008 (CreateSpace, 2008), Mausoleum Memoirs (House of Horror, ____) and Toe Tags (Lulu.com, 2009).

I also have another book of short stories which will be out next year. All of these are horror collections.

I also write an online novel for Flashes in the Dark called The Marradith Ryder Series. The first half of the series (or the first book, which is about 84 episodes) is already complete, and I am starting to work on the second half.

Marradith Ryder is a young girl who is not what she seems. She is abducted by a man who claims he was sent to protect her. At first, she doesn’t trust him, but soon finds herself the object of a hunt. Meanwhile, all the secrets her family has kept from her start to unravel.

How would you describe the stories in Green Water Lullaby?

Green Water Lullaby is an anthology of stories about the make-believe town of Chrysalis, South Carolina.

All the stories have a paranormal aspect, but there are equal portions of romance and action. There are stories about brothers at odds with each other, vengeful lovers, and a pregnant housewife awaiting the return of her husband, a soldier stationed overseas. There are ghosts, werewolves, and other things not as easily labeled.

These stories were written over a period of six months, between my work on Marradith Ryder and other projects.

The book will be published through Sonar 4 Publications [and] will be available from Sonar 4 Publications in April, 2010.

Which were the most difficult aspects of the work you put into Green Water Lullaby?

The editing phase is always the most difficult, because I tend to pick my stories apart a lot before I settle on a final version. I think that I’m picky! But in the end, I feel my work has always benefited from it, so I just work at it until I’m comfortable with the product.

I like to change around the point of view, and I read the stories back to myself to see if it sounds like what I have in my imagination. I like that moment when I know I’ve almost got it where I want it.

I enjoyed writing all of these stories, getting into the psyche of characters that were very different from myself and each other.

What sets this collection of short stories apart from other things you've written?

The tone and the level of intimacy the reader will have with the characters in these stories is different. Each of these stories is like a photo with a shadow, lurking somewhere in the corner. Just within sight… but not easily recognized until you observe for a moment.

What will your next book be about?

There are two “next” books, because I am writing them at the same time. One will be about Marradith Ryder and another will be a sort of spin-off. There are also multiple, smaller projects in the works.

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

I am very happy with the success I have seen so far, but I can see things going further.

The Marradith Ryder Series and the response to it has been great. I’ve enjoyed writing all the stories I’ve had over this past year and a half, including the ones that made it into anthologies.

I always like to keep going forward, to the next project. That said, I also think that being an editor for two online ezines has been a big achievement. It’s made me grow as a writer, and I now feel that I am included within a community of artists that I am very proud to work with. But my most significant achievement, I like to think, is somewhere down the road. I always like to think about the exciting things that come next.

Possibly related books:

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Related articles:

• Raven Starr [Interview], Conversations with Writers, August 8, 2007
• Lori Titus [Interview_2], Conversations with Writers, September 12, 2010

[Interview] Skylar Sinclair

Skylar Sinclair is an award-winning graphic designer and erotic romance author.

Her works includes the eBooks, Rearing Heat (Siren-BookStrand, Inc., 2007), Impassioned Sea (Atlantic Bridge/Liquid Silver Books, 2007), Purr For Me (Phaze, 2007) and The Tome of Unnatural Desires (Tease Publishing LLC, 2007).

Her stories have also been featured in anthologies that include Babes in Toyland II (Aspen Mountain Press, 2007), Lust Bites: Volume Two (Total-e-bound, ____) and Coming Together Under Fire (Phaze, 2007).

In this interview, Skylar Sinclair talks about her work.*

How would you describe your writing?

It is almost a dead heat between fantasy and paranormal. With either, they are truly about make-believe to the point, these worlds and realms that are unlike anything one could dream up. These genres create unique places for the readers to loss themselves in, while getting to know wondrous characters and magical happenings.

Who is your target audience?

I would have to say anyone that finds erotica titillating and love alpha-type characters.

I also write a little on the side of dark and like to write endings that one might not expect. I try to pen very different and unique books.

What motivated you to start writing?

I am an avid reader of fantasy and paranormal, so it seemed to come naturally for me to write in that genre too. We live in the real world, and sometimes it is nice to be taken away from the daily grind, journeying to exotic and otherworldly places dreamed up by an author’s marvelous mind.

Who influenced you most?

When it comes to honing and refining my writing that would be Regan Taylor. From the start, she has been there to encourage, inspire and help me raise the bar on my writing style. I owe her much and appreciate what she has done for me daily.

How have your personal experiences influenced your writing?

Fun thing is, I write very little of myself and/or experiences in my books. I pull almost all plots, dialogues and motivation from newly discovered places each time I take up the proverbial pen to write a story.

What are your main concerns as a writer?

I want my stories/books to entertain and captivate the readers when they read my works. [I deal with this by] writing the best I can each and every time.

What are the biggest challenges that you face?

Waiting for a contract after spending a lot of time writing a story. Then you have to wait again for the reviews to come in. Once more to see how the book sells. Do the reader like it?

It all boils down to learning patience -- a lot of patience.

How do you deal with these challenges?

The best way to learn the lesson of patience is to forget about the finished book and start right away on another. Getting immersed into a new projects works wonders.

Do you write everyday?

Yes, I write daily.

I can write as much as 5,000 words a day to as little as 250. It depends on if my muse is talking and how creative I feel that day.

What is your latest book about?

My last story to be published was Christmas Ink, which also was a top placing story in a Christmas writing contest held at Stardust Press. I ended up contracting it with Mardi Gras publishing. It took me about a week to write then another week to edit.

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

I find moving a story along, while keeping it believable and fresh is hard at times. Also, I find editing one of the least things I like about writing, but it has to be done.

Which did you enjoy most?

To be honest when I write those last few words that complete the story. There is nothing like finishing a book you put all your heart and soul into.

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

Each and every book I pen is different and unique unto itself. They all stand on their own merit and premise. Whether they are fantasy, paranormal or contemporary.

In what way is it similar?

They all have alpha-type characters that dominate the pages. And the sexual contents are always hot.

What will your next book be about?

The next book I have coming out is Dream Lord: The Tome of Unnatural Desires. It is a fantasy erotic tale that includes male/male, male/female/male and male/female scenes.

There are three other books in the series, Shadowed Passion and Fallen Angels.

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

That my books sale and have been bestsellers, also.

But none of that would have been possible without the readers who support and buy my books. Without them, I would have no one to write for. Without them I am nothing.

*This conversation with Skylar Sinclair took place in February 2007.

Related books:

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