Author Spotlight! Contemporary romance author LISA BECKER. #NewRelease @lisawbecker

Back in 2011, I reviewed Click: An Online Love Story by Lisa Becker, a fun, romantic comedy about the modern quest for love. I am so happy to have Lisa back on the blog today talking the latest in the Click series, Right Click.

Welcome back, Lisa. Thank you so much for joining us today. Can you tell us a little about what inspired you to write about cyber-dating and online romance?

My husband and I met online on a popular dating website.  After we married, I was recalling some of the hilarious experiences that I had with both traditional and online dating.  I decided to capture some of them in writing and from there, a novel emerged.   Click is loosely based on my real-life dating experiences, as well as stories friends have shared with me.  In some cases, things are written as they actually occurred.  Other scenarios are exaggerated for entertainment value or comedic affect.  And some scenarios are completely fictionalized. I really did go out on a date with someone I met online who started every story (no joke!) with “My buddies and I were out drinking last night.”   The ultimate goal was to create a fun read for anyone who has ever had a bad date, been in love, been dumped, or is searching for "the one." But, the happy ending is real.  Steve and I have been happily married for more than 10 years and have two amazing daughters - ages 9 and 7. 

Aw, I'm so glad things worked out for you. One of the things I like about your writing is the unique style of telling a story through emails. What are the challenges to writing in an email format? Does the format make character development harder to pull off?

Many years ago, I read a book called e by Matthew Beaumont which tells the story of a fictitious ad agency vying for a big account, with the story all told in emails.  I thought that narrative style would work really well for the story I wanted to tell about the online dating world.  It was a modern way of storytelling that fit the topic and the times.  The hardest part was keeping the timeline and email exchanges organized.  Sometimes, I would have to look back a few pages earlier to make sure I had cc’d or bcc’d the right people on an email and that the subject lines were consistent.  In some cases, there were replies to forwards to replies.  Keeping it all straight was a challenge, but essential to the book’s format. 

How did you become a writer? Was it a life-long dream or something you stumbled into?

I remember writing short stories and poems as a little girl and always told myself I would write a book someday.  So, it’s incredibly gratifying to see a “bucket list” item/dream come true.  People keep asking if there will be a sequel.  I’m thrilled readers are feeling invested in the characters and want to know more.  With each positive review and reader comment, I get more and more motivated to continue writing. 

You have chosen to indie publish your books. How has this process worked for you? What made you decide to go the self-publishing route?

I always tell people, don’t write off (HA! Like the pun?!?) self-publishing.  I explored the traditional publishing route and got feedback from multiple literary agents. One in particular explained the current economic state of the publishing industry to me. Due to the large investment to edit, produce, distribute and market a work by an unknown author, many large publishers won’t take the risk. Self-publishing is a way to get your work out there.

It was a surprisingly simple process.  The hardest part is marketing your work, so I’m especially grateful to blogs like yours for supporting my efforts.  

I'm also reminded of some advice I was once given. I had interviewed Charles Rosen, one of the producers of the original Beverly Hills 90210, for an alumni magazine article while I was in graduate school. And I'll never forget what he told me, "Don't fall in love with your words, because somebody above will probably change them." One of the great benefits of self-publishing is that you can really take control of the process.

What are your writing plans after the Click series is finished? Anything new we can look forward to down the road?

Like most everyone else in Los Angeles, I’ve decided to try my hand at screenwriting.  I’m nearly finished with my first script called Clutch.  It’s a light romantic comedy about a young single handbag designer in Los Angeles who has a series of relationships that she equates to different style handbags, searching for “the one” she wants to hold onto or “clutch.”  Hoping it is coming to a theatre near you soon. 

That's so cool! If it makes it to the big screen, you are welcome to come back here to promote it. :) Before you go, can you tell us how your fans cyber-stalk you?

Find Lisa here: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest  | Web  and feel free to check out this fun series that reviewers and bloggers are calling, “clever,” “hilarious” and “full of fun.”

Click: An Online Love Story - Fast approaching her 30th birthday and finding herself not married, not dating, and without even a prospect or a house full of cats, Renee Greene, the heroine of Click: An Online Love Story, reluctantly joins her best guy pal on a journey to find love online in Los Angeles. The story unfolds entirely through emails between Renee and her best friends (anal-compulsive Mark, the overly-judgmental Ashley and the over-sexed Shelley) as well as the gentlemen suitors she meets online. From the guy who starts every story with "My buddies and I were out drinking one night," to the egotistical “B” celebrity looking for someone to stroke his ego, Renee wades into the shallow end of the dating (cess)pool and endures her share of hilarious and heinous cyber dates. Fraught with BCC's, FWD's and inadvertent Reply to All's, readers will cheer, laugh, cry and cringe following the email exploits of Renee and friends. And ultimately, they will root for Renee to "click" with the right man.

Double Click - Fans of the romantic hit Click: An Online Love Story will enjoy another voyeuristic dive into the lives of Renee, Shelley, Ashley, Mark and Ethan, as Double Click picks up with their lives six months later. Are Renee and Ethan soul mates? Does Mark ever go on a date? Has Shelley run out of sexual conquests in Los Angeles? Will Ashley's judgmental nature sabotage her budding relationship? Through a marriage proposal, wedding, new baby and unexpected love twist, Double Click answers these questions and more. Readers will continue to cheer, laugh, cry and cringe following the email exploits of Renee and friends.

Right Click - Love. Marriage.  Infidelity. Parenthood. Crises of identity. Death. Cupcakes. The themes in Right Click, the third and final installment in the Click series, couldn't be more pressing for this group of friends as they navigate through their 30's. Another six months have passed since we last eavesdropped on the hilarious, poignant and often times inappropriate email adventures of Renee and friends. As the light-hearted, slice of life story continues to unfold, relationships are tested and some need to be set "right" before everyone can find their "happily ever after."

Thank you so much for visiting my blog, Lisa. I wish you nothing but the best with your new book!

Sucker Literary Magazine Blog Hop: The Writing Process #AmWriting

I was asked to participate in the Sucker Magazine Blog Hop by one of my very favorite young adult authors, Mike Mullin. If you haven't read his Ashfall series yet, I highly recommend you checking it out. 

Here is a link to Mike's blog hop post. BLOG HOP

So I was asked as part of this project to answer a few questions on my writing. 

1. What am I working on? 

I am currently working on the third and final book in my Arcadia series, Arcadia's Choice. Writing endings is always the hardest part of the novel process. I can write beginnings all day long. I have several partial manuscripts with the first eight or ten chapters written and then abandoned. But writing the last 20% of a book is agonizing for me. Since Arcadia's Choice is the last book in a series, I'm finding it ten times harder to finish. I think it has to do with wrapping up all the plot lines in a way that not only makes sense, but leaves readers with a feeling of satisfaction. 

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

There are two main ways my Arcadia series is different from other YA paranormal books on the market. First, while categorized as paranormal or science fiction, I've tried to make the story as realistic as possible. This means it is as much a family drama as it is paranormal. I have tried ever step of the way to make Cady and her friends feel like real people with real problems. I have given a scientific explanation for the existence of psychic gifts. it's important to me that these stories seem real. 

The second way the series differs from other paranormal stories is because my main character is a psychic empath. Most psychic stories revolve around telepaths or kinetics or something else sexy and cool. Empathy is a quiet gift. It's not visual at all. (Reason #87 why my books will never be made into movies.) Empaths in literature are rare, and when they are present, they are either minor supporting characters or empathy is just one of the character's many talents. Cady's only psychic gift is empathy, and emotion worker. She feels the emotions of people around her, absorbs the emotional energy and channels that energy out in various ways. 

3. Why do I write what I do?

While I do write some adult literature, I have an affinity for writing about teens. I think this is because the teen years are such a dynamic time for most people. There are a lot of really important things going on in the lives of teens that lend to creating some really great stories. 

I decided to write about psychics because I wanted to write a paranormal that was based in realism. Yes, I know that sounds like an oxymoron, but I don't see it that way. Look, we all know vampires don't exist. Sorry, but they don't. Neither to werewolves, faeries, trolls, etc. Disappointing, I know. But what about psychics? The human mind is a vast, uncharted place. Even scientists don't know the full extent of what we are capable of. Many people around the world claim some measure of psychic abilities. There is even documented evidence to support the existence of these abilities. So I wanted to write a story where these was a scientific/genetic explanation for these abilities, and write them in the most realistic way possible. 

4. How does my writing process work? 

I probably do everything "wrong". I don't outline or plot or make elaborate, color-coded timelines. I get an idea for a character and a situation, and then I obsess about it for a while before giving in and writing the first few chapters. Usually, I don't even know what the plot will be at that first writing. It's more about getting a character out of my head and onto paper before I forget about it. Come to think of it, I think this is why I have such a hard time writing endings. 

I also am not a regular, every day sort of writer. Like a lot of writers, I have a mundane day job that takes a lot of mental energy. I find it hard to stick to an everyday writing schedule. I tend to write mostly on the weekends. 

Okay, so now is the time when I direct you to the next stops on the Blog Hop. I have asked a few amazing authors to take up the reigns behind me.  First, is Tawdra Kandle, who is not only an amazing author, but she is also one of my editors. :)  Tawdra has a new duet of books out. 

Here is a link to Tawdra's blog: http://tawdrakandle.com/

Next on the blog hop is DelSheree Gladden. I asked DelSheree to take part in the blog hop because not only is she a wonderful writer, but she is also incredibly supportive of other authors. This woman must have a plethora of good karma built up! My favorite book by DelSheree is WICKED HUNGER with happens to be free on Kindle right now. 

The link to DelSheree's blog: http://delshereegladden.blogspot.com/

I hope you all take the time to check these authors out. They are fab! 

Anastasia V. Pergakis discusses her writing and causes close to her heart. #Interview & #Giveaway @AVPergakis

Joining us on the blog today is fantasy author and my friend, Anastasia V. Pergakis.  Her novel Cleanse Fire is the first in the Kinir Elite series, a military inspired fantasy series about an Elven Captain who leads his team on a missions while he is haunted by his past.  

Welcome, Anastasia!

Jesi:  First of all, I loved your book!  Cleanse Fire opens with an incredibly emotional scene. What was it like to write that scene? Did you have any reservations about starting the book out setting such a dark tone right in the beginning?


Anastasia:  I honestly don't remember much of the "writing" part for that scene. It just was sort of, 'there'. It wasn't until after it was written and I went back to read it over that I felt shocked and surprised. I knew the scene going in was going to be emotional and graphic, but I didn't expect that. I was a bit scared that I could write a scene so graphic. I almost didn't include it because of the graphicness of the scene, but in the end, I left it there as it really is a great scene and gets the reader into Derac's head right from the start.


Jesi:  Many times when I read fantasy, I have trouble with the names. Either they are ridiculously long, unpronounceable or spelled crazy. I love the names of your characters because they are different enough to set a fantasy tone, yet very readable. How did you come up with your character names?


Anastasia:  Some of them I made up – or felt like I made up – out of thin air. The name was just there and it fit. Kie's, Derac's, Rakan's names were like this. I also get out my baby name book and try to find names that have a particular meaning. But, to make it fantasy, I often change the spelling in a radical way to make it fit with the language and culture I've created for my fantasy creatures. Aeli's name was one such name where I changed the spelling in a funky way to fit with the elfish language. Other times I take two different names and mush them together to form a new name. Tyn's full name is Tyngrad and I came up with it looking at the names "Tyler" and "Grady" at the same time. Surnames though, are always just me throwing some letters together until it sounds right.


Jesi:  I know you have donated some of the profits from Cleanse Fire to charity. Can you tell us a little about the charity you support and why?


Anastasia:  I support two charities now, actually. Wounded Warrior Project (http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org) helps wounded soldiers and their families in the United States heal after returning home with both the physical and mental injuries of war. Help for Heroes (http://www.helpfforheores.org.uk) is an organization that helps wounded soldiers in the United Kingdom.

My Dad served in the US Army for 20 years, so soldiers hold a special and personal place in my heart.

I'm sure some are wondering why I would help an organization in the UK when I live in the US. Well, I could get all political and talk about them being our allies and on the same side, etc. But, truthfully, it's from a long story my Dad once told me that for some reason has wedged itself into my heart. Many times the US and the UK soldiers get together for some "skirmish war games" and my Dad gained a close friend through one of these times (after the guy knocked out his two front teeth!).

A soldier in the UK makes the same sacrifices a soldier in the US does. It's wonderful when they work together toward a common goal and so I support both with all the thanks I can muster.

Jesi:  Such great causes!  Thank you for your generosity. You recently produced your first audio book for Cleanse Fire. How was that process for you? Can you tell us about your narrator and why you chose to work with him?


Anastasia:  It was a whirlwind of fun! Chad Tindale and I met through ACX.com when he auditioned to be the narrator for my book. He read the excerpt I posted with such intensity, I listened to it about five times in a row! He totally blew me away with his talent and energy.

I sent him a copy of the book and he fell in love with it. He went above and beyond than just "reading" it in audio format. He gave each character their own voice and unique accents even! The girls too! He got into reading the lines as if he was on a stage acting – full of emotion. His wife even loved the story so much, he wasn't allowed to record chapters until she was at home to hear it!

It was great fun having such powerful feedback for my book and then having a great new medium to showcase it, is just a bonus for me. The audio book was finished much sooner than I ever anticipated thanks to Chad's love of the book and his dedication to helping me get it out there. I could never thank him enough and I can't wait to work with him again when the next book in the series is finished.

Jesi:  As readers of my book reviews know, I have a habit of casting real people, usually actors, in my mind as the characters when I read.  As you are writing, do you base your characters on real people?  If Hollywood made a movie of Cleanse Fire, who would you like to see playing the leading roles?

Anastasia:  Well, I so love the cast you came up with when you reviewed Cleanse Fire. I even shared it on the Kinir Elite blog because the cast was so fitting!

While writing though, I do have a particular person(s) in mind when writing each character, if only to get personalities shown correctly and such. But when it comes to their looks, no, I don't think of any particular person.

So, to answer the last question, if Cleanse Fire was made into a movie, I'd probably go with the cast you saw while reading it because like I said, they fit so well!

Henry Cavil (Derac)

Keira Knightly (Kie)

Sean Patrick Flanery (Tyn)

Rosamund Pike (Aeli)

Sean Bean (Rakan)

Armie Hammer (Jardel)

Jesi:  The Speak Loudly campaign has been fighting censorship in teen books, specifically in schools.  Of the books under fire, many include issue books which deal with heavy themes or controversial subjects such as eating disorders, abusive relationships, sexuality issues, teen suicide, alcohol or drug abuse, etc.  Do you feel there are topics which should be considered off limits in Young Adult literature? 

Anastasia:  As a recovering alcoholic, no I don't think these topics should be off limits. Teens have always struggled with these things and in my personal opinion it seems to get worse with each generation as the drugs are stronger, culture views on things like sexuality change, and even the way parents raise their children change.

Having these "controversial" books, even those that are fiction, can help struggling teens make it through hard times. I was bullied and ridiculed as a teen and like I said, I was a raging alcoholic and addict during my teen years as well. But books – reading about the same struggles, knowing that I wasn't alone, that someone at least thought about the things I was going through - made all the difference to me. The characters in the books were able to make it through – they dealt with whatever monsters were in the book, and within themselves. They made it! Feeling alone is the worst thing a teen can feel and knowing that I wasn't, even on a subconscious level, kept me going.

Books – not even controversial ones – ANY book, can help a teen cope. It's an escape and sometimes even a life lesson thrown into an epic adventure. I'm an adult now (and sober for almost 7 years) and I still read for the escape and for the adventure. Books should never be banned. EVER!

Jesi:  I appreciate you sharing your story with us.  People who overcome such obsticles in life never fail to amaze me.  What are you writing now that Cleanse Fire has been released? 

Anastasia:  "Blood Trade" is the sequel to "Cleanse Fire". The story picks up a few days after Cleanse Fire ended but it's an entire new adventure for the team. They are asked for help from the Tinally Elite (the faery team) dealing with a ruthless terrorist.

The other project is titled "Burden of Prophecy" and it's the first book of an entirely different series, "A Faery's Tale". As the title suggests, there is a prophecy that must be fulfilled - unite the five faery kingdoms. But, of course, tensions are high because of hatred and ignorance brewed over the last thousand years. It's heavy on the romance themes as the two main characters, Aelic and Rosyani, are a fated pair meant to bring about the fulfillment of the prophecy, but they were born as enemies and now have to make their sudden and rash marriage work somehow AND fulfill the prophecy.


 Jesi:  Thank you so much, Anastasia, for joining us today.  Readers, Anastasia is hosting an awesome giveaway.  See below for details!

GIVEAWAY

Use the rafflecopter widget below to enter to win an E-BOOK COPY OF CLEANSE FIRE. Simply leave a comment on this post, answering the question: "Who is your real life 'super hero' and why? (Can be anyone!)" then enter on the raffle copter! I can't wait to see your answers, and I wish you luck!

Giveaway runs from June 1 to June 7!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY

Grand Prize #1: A paperback copy of “Cleanse Fire” – signed by the author, a color poster of the team – signed by them, a special edition bookmark of Derac – signed by him, and five Kinir Elite bookmarks.

Grand Prize #2: A paperback copy of “Cleanse Fire” – signed by the author, a black and white poster of the team – signed by them, and five Kinir Elite bookmarks.

Head over to the Kinir Elite website (http://kinirelite.com/2013/05/cleanse-fire-tour-2013/) to enter! Follow along on the tour to have more chances to win one of these amazing prize packs. Contest ends on June 12, 2013!

*Open Internationally!*

Book Links:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Audible

Author Spotlight: Toby Neal, author of Blood Orchid

Joining us in the Author Spotlight this week is author and mental health counselor, Toby Neal.  Her new book, Blood Orchid, is about a double homicide and a murderer on the loose in beautiful Hawaii.  

Welcome, Toby!  Congrats on your debut novel - tell us about it!

Toby: I’m from Hawaii and I’ve always wanted to read a really good suspense/romance set here, that showcases the unique setting, culture, multiethnic people and dialects, and yet keeps your attention via riveting story alone. I’ve never found one that really did that—Hawaii novels are often written by outsiders, or are too “niche” to appeal to a mainstream audience. I finally decided to write the kind of book(s) I wanted to read! Blood Orchids is the first of a series of crime/suspense/romance novels starring Leilani Texeira, a flawed but courageous young police officer who’s overcome her past and deals out justice to those who need it.

You have been a mental health therapist for more than 15 years, was it difficult transitioning into fiction writing?

Toby: I truly love my work as a therapist. . . but I was a writer first and always. It’s my curiosity about people, and fascination with their stories—curiosity and true interest—that have made me a good therapist. And it’s a desire to explore human behavior and universal themes that informs my writing. My psychology background has helped greatly with developing the pathologies of my villains, and portraying what drives Lei to solve crimes.

How long did it take you to write it and what was hard/fun about writing your first fiction book?

Toby: Blood Orchids started as a short story. I’d tried to write novels before and always lost interest, but this time I started a story about a policewoman who’d been abused as a child… a woman with scars and flaws, but whose passion drove her to rectify things for others. I put it on my blog. Then I added chapters. And lo and behold, about 60 pages in, I realized I had a character I wanted to see grow and develop, a budding love story, and some great psychopaths to spice it all up. I was going to finish the book, and my blog followers were rooting for every installment! I’ll never forget the excitement I felt, realizing I’d found a character I could write about forever.

You’ll notice I said “found” a character. In Jungian psychology, there’s an explanation of these discoveries as existing in the “collective unconscious” of humanity—a deep sea where universal themes, symbols, heroines and villains appear across every culture. To me Lei is a representation of one of these universal characters—the wounded hero(ine) who fights for justice.

The first book took 18 months to complete a first draft, and since then I’ve built my confidence and “writing muscles” and can write a first draft in 6 months, even with my full-time work schedule. You just have to love the story and the characters, and then it’s easy. I’m on my fourth Lei Crime Novel now!

What inspired you to write the story?

Toby: Blood Orchids was sparked as an idea by a tragedy that happened in my community—two teen girls were drowned. I was a grief counselor in the crisis team that went to the high school to work with the students in the aftermath. At first we were told they were victims of foul play, though later it turned out to have been accidental. For months after, perhaps because it was so traumatic to hear they’d been murdered, I thought about it, and wondered what it would be like to try and solve such a crime in a small Hawaii community.

What is your favorite book that was made into a movie?

Toby: Out of Africa by Isaak Dinessen. The book is meditative and sublime, meant to be mulled over and savored. The movie has much the same feeling. I also loved and cried over Sophie’s Choice, and the French Lieutenant’s Woman. Meryl Streep is just beyond amazing. More recently, Eat Pray Love was enjoyable though I didn’t think Julia Roberts captured the author’s quirky, endearing neuroticism quite well enough, and I loved that book.

If your book(s) were made into a movie or TV, who would you pick for the main characters?

Toby: I love this question because I’d love to see the Lei Crime Novels become either a movie or TV show! I could see Grace Park or Lucy Liu as Lei—though their appearance would have to be altered a bit. Lei is ¼ Hawaiian, ¼ Portuguese, and half Japanese. She has Asian features with freckles, a wide, full mouth that gets her in trouble, and curly hair (from her Hawaiian/Portuguese side) Her appearance is unique and reflects the many cultures of our Islands.

How do you think social media sites like Facebook and Twitter have changed your world as an author?

Toby: I may be one of the few authors who loves social media, I don’t know! But if I wasn’t blogging, I might never have finished Blood Orchids, so for me social media is an integral part of writing. Facebook is about nurturing online friendships with people you may know from the past or be acquainted with in some way “IRL” (in real life) but Twitter is about reaching the world. I love both, and use them differently. 

What are you working on now?

Toby: I’m working on the fourth in my Lei Crime Novel series. Blood Orchids kicks it off, Torch Ginger is second, third is Black Jasmine… and this one is not titled yet. One of the fun things I’m doing with these books is that each one is set on a different of the Hawaiian Islands, so you can get a feel for each island’s unique character and geography by reading them. Lei has the same love interest through the different books, so we get to follow her growth, healing and the progress of her relationship through the different islands and the cases she solves. 

What is your advice for other writers?

Toby: Find a character you really love, you can write about forever, and then the rest is easy. Write every day if you can. Believe in yourself, and tell the stories that are in you to tell. 

Who are the authors that inspire you?

Toby: I don’t have just a few favorites. I’m a voracious reader and read literally everything in the kids’ side of the Kapa`a Library on Kaua`i when I was growing up! I will even read a cereal box if that’s all there is to read, so it’s hard to name just a few. Writers whose influence have colored my writing include Kurt Vonnegut (deep thinking irony), Diana Gabaldon (her lush, epic Voyager series that follows one great love story influenced my development of Lei and her love) Michael Connelly (his spare style of crime novel has influenced me in this genre) Patricia Cornwell, Greg Iles and Lisa Gardner for dark, fearless ventures into the underbelly of human behavior and awesome twisty plots. Anne Rivers Siddons for rich regional writing (which I hope mine can be called someday) and Pat Conroy for great family and friends stories. Oh dang, there are just so many! 

Describe your writing habits – where do you write? 

Toby: I have a cramped little corner of the bedroom with a cluttered desk that I write at. It’s not glamorous and I won’t be featuring it in Better Homes and Gardens anytime soon. It actually doesn’t matter to me, when I’m immersed in a story all I need is to be comfortable and for my hands to be supported. I have carpal tunnel, so I love my poky corner because it has all I need: a big monitor, an ergonomic keyboard, and a comfy chair. 

What is the secret life of Toby Neal?

Toby: Many of the situations my characters face are based on personal experience or those of my clients (though not the guns. I’ve never even handled one!) There really is a darker side to paradise, and there really are people overcoming it. I am one of them.

How can readers check out your book?

Toby: Here are the links to the book:
http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Orchids-Lei-Crime-ebook/dp/B006FBDHG2/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322808926&sr=1-3

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blood-orchids-toby-neal/1107759000?ean=2940013517806

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/112455

Also, my website has a weekly blog.
http://www.tobyneal.net/

Thanks so much for the opportunity, Jess!
Aloha,
Toby

Author Spotlight: Kenneth Weene

Join me in welcoming Arizona author Kenneth Weene, whose books are getting rave reviews on Amazon.com!  

JLR:  Many writers agonize over writing query letters.  Do you have any tips on what people should do or not do in query letters?

KW:  First let me say that I only sent queries to three publishers, and my first novel was accepted by one of those three. What I did was to carefully peruse the write-ups I found about the three. Then I wrote my query letters based on what I saw in each of those publishers. If I were to give one piece of advice it would be to write personalized queries not use a general formatted letter. Also, don’t shotgun publishers (or agents). Rather look for the place where your work will fit. Study the publication list of a publisher; is it consistent with your aesthetic? It is far too easy for writers to forget that you must establish personal relationships with your readers – including the ones at an agency or publishing house. Since you are looking for them, it falls on you to make sure that the fit for that relationship is right.

JLR:  How have you been able to use social media (Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, etc.) in your marketing plan?  Do you have any advice for new authors looking to promote themselves on these sites?

KW:  I will share two secrets I’ve learned and that seem to stand me in good stead.

First, be real. Have opinions and interests. Don’t just post about your books. The key is having a personal relationship with the reader. (Notice a theme developing here?) They want even need to feel that there is a real interaction. Which, by the way, is why I don’t have fan pages for my books. I think they are immediately alienating.

Second, I follow an 80-10-10 rule. If you look at my Facebook page, my Linkedin posts, my tweets, you will see this rule in action. Eighty percent of my posts are about non-writing topics. For example, I care mightily about the environment, politics, history, and general philosophical issues. I also love humor. Ten percent are writing related, but not about Ken Weene. I support my fellow authors published by my publisher, All Things That Matter Press, but I also try to mention other writers and writing related topics. For example, if I go to a play, I post about it. If I see an interesting piece of news about a writer, up it goes. One thing I don’t do much of is posting about books I’ve read. If I started doing that, I might hold myself up as too much a critic and that would alienate. Yes, that last ten percent is about my writing. I try, by the way, to keep those posts interesting both by using catchy ideas and humor and by trying to keep active on the web (and in print). For example, I will certainly be posting about this interview -  a new place, a new set of comments, and still a reminder of what I am about and the titles of my books.

JLR:  Do you have a book trailer?  How has the trailer influenced sales?  (Feel free to post a link to your trailer if you want.)

KW:  I’m a great believer in trailers. One nice thing is that my son is in the video business and does some of mine for me. Do they produce sales? That I don’t know. I can tell you one issue. You Tube doesn’t allow you to post videos with links; so while it is an excellent platform for getting noticed, placing trailers there means the viewer then has to independently go to Amazon or some such place to order your book. I prefer using a different type of service.

Here are two trailers – one for my first novel, Widow’s Walk http://vidego.multicastmedia.com/player.php?p=wbgzb2yk

and the second for Memoirs From the Asylum

http://vidego.multicastmedia.com/player.php?p=nqm74a8k

I haven’t got one for the book which will be coming out soon, Tales From the Dew Drop Inne: Because there’s one in every town, but you can be sure there will be one soon.

JLR:  What three books have most influenced you to become a writer?

KW:  Not so much to become a writer as to how I write – books that have affected my style.

First and foremost, Slaughterhouse Five. I love the way Vonnegut mixes the most intense human experience and emotion with a sense of ironic humor.

The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien taught me something of how the intensity of human emotion must then be tied to the concreteness of human behavior to make a good read.

Paul Harding’s book Tinkers came on the scene when I needed to be reminded that the flow and quality of language is an important part of a book’s quality.

Obviously, I could go on listing books and writers; but I shall abide by the limit of three.

JLR:  How long have you been writing, and when did you decide that you wanted to write for publication?

KW:  I started writing poetry about twenty years ago and I brought out a couple of chapbooks. When I retired (from psychology) and moved to Arizona, I started writing more prose. That was in 2002. Soon after I used one of the nicer vanity presses to bring out an anthology of prose and poetry. The major reason for doing that was to get past the psychological impediment that had kept me from becoming a writer as a first career. I won’t go into the specifics; suffice it to say that I called that anthology Songs For My Father. Feel free to come up with your own analysis.

Once the floodgates had been breached, there has been an endless flow of novels and stories; and I should mention also more poetry.

JLR:  Tell us a bit about your childhood.  Where did you grow up?  What was your family like?  Has your childhood influenced your writing?

KW:  Dysfunctional.

My mother certainly approached schizophrenia. She was a chronic liar within the family, a manipulator, and a perpetrator of Munchausen’s by Proxy. My brother, who is older, still has his sixth grade report card. Of the 360 attendance units (half days), he was absent for more than half; and that was a relatively good year and he was “the healthier” of us. I think in third grader I may have missed more than two thirds of the days.

My father was a rageaholic whose outbursts could not be predicted. The worst thing was that even compliance with his wishes could trigger him. When I was thirteen, he became so abusive one day that I almost attacked him with an axe. Luckily, somebody yelled my name, which brought me back to my senses. The next year I was off at boarding school. I guess I should mention that he was a schoolteacher and that he owned and operated summer camps. How’s that for a bit of irony?

Can you find the influences of that environment in my writing? Absolutely. Certainly in Memoirs From the Asylum it comes through loud and clear. However, my writing is not autobiographical. Most of Memoirs isn’t. Only a tiny part of Widow’s Walk reflects my life. And Tales From the Dew Drop Inne has nothing autobiographical in it.

Of course the basic themes of all three books do come from my own personal searching and questioning. But that is different from autobiography or memoir.

JLR:  Traveling has always been a great inspiration for my writing.  Have you been anywhere which particularly inspired you?  Anywhere you would like to visit?

KW:  Sadly I am too old to do as much traveling as I once did and loved. I have been to most of the fifty states, across Canada, and to many places throughout the world. So far most of my writing has been focused close to home, with a great deal of it set in New England and New York. I did fall back on my travel in Ireland for a bit of Widow’s Walk, but that was certainly not essential. Travel has, however, greatly influenced my writing at another level. It has made me aware of the different views people can take of the world and the different voices with which they speak.

Good writing has richness and nothing gives an author more diversity and richness than experiencing the world. If you have an opportunity to travel, take it!

JLR:  What do you think makes for a great romantic hero?  Is it all about the muscles and the smoldering eyes?

KW:  While I have yet to write a romance, there is certainly romance, sex, attraction, etc. to be found in my novels. While looks are important, true romance can’t rely only on the physical, not even when that physicality includes sex.

As a psychologist (and in my personal life), I have learned that the best romance is a blend of the physical and such important things as communication, sharing of goals and humor, and a willingness to accept the weaknesses and foibles of the other person rather than holding them up to some template we call perfection.

The novel on which I am currently working, which I hope will be published in 2013, focuses very much on romance and love. If you decide you like my writing, I hope you’ll still be reading my books when The Stylite comes out. I really think it not only a fine and beautiful book but also one that will help people to understand and find real love.

JLR:  What are you writing now that Tales From the Dew Drop Inne: Because there’s one in every town is being readied for released?

KW:  I have two books in the pipeline. Times to Try the Soul of Man is a conspiracy/coming of age novel. Based on some disturbing modern history, Times needs to be brought out by a larger house. Therefore I now have an agent who is trying to place it. I’ve already mentioned The Stylite, which will hopefully go to the same house that publishes Times. I have a novella which is also looking for a home; its name is not yet fixed. Currently, besides being on the third rewrite of The Stylite I have been working on a longish short story, a piece of horror fiction. I do love crossing genre lines.

JLR:  Where can readers go to purchase your books?

KW:  The easiest thing is to go to Amazon and look for me, Kenneth Weene. As the new books come out, that same search will get those titles up as well. Here’s the link for me on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_11?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=kenneth+weene&sprefix=Kenneth+Wee

If you want to check out some of my writing, you can also visit http://www.authorkenweene.com

Author Spotlight: Maggie Wilson & GIVEAWAY!!!

Joining us today in the Author Spotlight is British author, Maggie Wilson!!!  She is the author of the medical thrillers,  the DS Hammond Investigations series.  

I'm so pleased that she was able to work my blog into her blog tour.  For info on her other blog stops, please check out her tour page http://tiny.cc/oqqjw.  

Maggie has generously offered to give away one e-book copy of Fallen Angel to one lucky commenter.  All you have to do is answer this question:

If you had a dinner party and could invite anyone alive or dead, who would be sitting around your table?

Don't forget to leave your email address in the comment.  Open internationally.  Winner will be drawn randomly on Sunday evening, November 20th.  You will be notified via email. 

Now, let's meet Maggie!

JLR:  So much about our real life influences out writing. Are there any specific things in your past which influenced Fallen Angel?

Maggie:  My background is as a trained nurse and midwife. My writing so far is based around medical themes and hospital settings. There are many issues and crimes that have occurred within nursing and medicine that I want to explore in my writing. Highlighting areas of clinical practice that can be changed and enhance the patient experience in our hospitals as well as ensuring patient safety.

JLR:  I can see how having that medical background would give you a lot of inspiration for writing.  I get my inspiration from reading.  Have you had the opportunity to meet any famous writers? Were there any who made you star-struck?

Maggie:  Meeting writers at their book signing events started as a hobby and has grown over the years! Waterstones host a variety of events where authors give a talk and book signing as well as signing events. I keep a regular check on their website so I don’t miss out meeting my favourite authors!

I attended Theakstons Old Peculiar Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate, this year and was privileged to meet many of the big name writers that I regularly read, have my picture taken with them, and have their books signed.

A few of the writers that I have met include, Lee Child, Harlan Coben, Val McDermid, Joseph Finder, Linwood Barclay, Peter Robinson, Mark Billingham, Stuart McBride, Sheila Quigley, Stephen Leather, Matt Hilton, John Harvey, Michael Connelly, Mo Hayder, S J Watson, Tess Gerritsen, Jeffrey Deaver, Sophie Hannah, Stephen Booth, Martina Cole, Chris Ryan, David Belbin, Barbara Taylor-Bradford.

Who had me star struck? It has to be Harlan Coben and Lee Child – respect!

JLR:  I'm jealous! Where can readers go to learn more about your work?

Maggie:  I have a website that my publisher runs – keep up to date with my books and signing events

www.maggiewilsonbooks.co.uk

  

JLR:  What are you writing now that Fallen Angel has been released?

Maggie:  My second medical crime thriller, ‘Inside Out’ is due to be published 30/03/2012 – I am working on my third novel at present.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Inside-Out-DS-Hammond-Investigations/dp/1906873593/ref=pd_sim_b_1

JLR:  Are you involved in any other projects aside from your novel writing? 

Maggie:  There are further projects that I am involved in connected with my writing/novels – further details will be available soon on my website www.maggiewilsonbooks.co.uk

JLR:  If you were to host a dinner party and allowed to invite five writers, living or dead, who would you, want around your table?

Maggie:  Around my dinner table I would have to have, Dean Koontz, Erica Spindler, Jeffrey Archer, John Grisham and Enid Blyton. All excellent authors inspiring a great gathering round the table! I hope to have the opportunity to meet with them one day ( with the exception of Enid Blyton that is ! )

JLR:  Now there is an eclectic bunch!  Would make for some good conversation though.  So, Maggie, where can readers go to purchase Fallen Angel?

Maggie:  Fallen Angel is available via amazon.co.uk. amazon.com, Waterstones and all good booksellers both in the high street and online.

Amazon U.K.

  

Amazon U.S. 

Author Spotlight: Denise Grover Swank

I'm so excited to host author Denise Grover Swank on my blog today!  I have gotten to know Denise on Twitter and I can attest she is smart, witty and soooooo nice.  Her new book Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes is available now.  

JLR :  As all aspiring authors know, writing the novel is the easy part—getting published is where the real work comes in.  Tell us about your road to publication.  Is there anything you would have done differently?

DS:  Actually, no. I did everything right, according to publishing standards.  I had critique partners. I joined a writers group. I spent lots and lots of hours writing and editing and editing and editing... you get the picture. ;-) I've queried three projects now, came close to getting an agent with two. The publishing market is rapidly changing and publisher's lists are shrinking.  Some really great books are going to slip through the cracks. Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes is one of them.

JLR:  So much of book promotion today is done through blog tours.  Tell us about your blog touring experience so far.

DS: This is my second blog tour. The first was a lot of fun because my friends were excited about my book release and offered to be part of it. The beauty of Amazon and Barnes & Noble ebooks is you get pretty much real time sales numbers so you can try to gauge what is effective and what isn't. By far the best promotion so far has been positive book reviews from book reviewers. 

JLR:  There is so much advice given by authors about the writing process.  What type of writing routine do you have?  Are you a planner or a figure-it-out-as-you-go type writer?  Any tips you want to share?

DS:  I'm a combination of both. I usually have a general outline/flow chart I try to follow, but I let the characters lead me through the story and they often change things a bit (or a lot.) I think that's the key, to know your characters and trust them. My other books have more thriller elements and I often put my characters in a situation and let them loose. I know where they end up, but I usually have no idea how they get there. It's not uncommon for me to start whining, "How are we going to get out of this?" LOL

JLR:  I’ve always felt that to be a good writer you must first be a good reader.  What types of books do you read and how have they influenced your writing?

DS:  I read EVERYTHING-- except for non-fiction. I read that only when I have to.  I love paranormal romances (Shannon K. Butcher), some magical realism (Sarah Addison Allen) humorous mysteries (Janet Evanovich and Jennifer Crusie) young adult (mostly paranormal) paranormal thrillers (Steven King and Dean Koonz) Even middle grade (Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson.)  I used to just read for the sake of reading, but now I'm paying attention to elements of the story, the sentence structure, etc. I try to learn from everything I read. 

JLR:  There has been a lot of talk this year about traditional print books giving way to e-books.  For example, publishing powerhouse, Dorchester, announced that they were getting out of the mass market paperback market altogether in favor of e-publishing.  What affect for you think this will have on authors and readers going forward? 

DS:  I sincerely believe the shift to electronic will continue to grow but that print books will still exist. But I can see a future where debut and mid-list authors might publish electronically first, establish themselves and build a fan base, then the traditional publishers will be willing to take a risk. 

JLR:  What are three things that your fans would be surprised to find out about you?

DS:  First is that I have no sense of smell. I never remember being able to smell so I've never really thought much of it and don't mention it often. In fact, my kids tend to forget and start to say "smell this... oh yeah." Second is that I have six children and I'm a single mom.  My oldest child is twenty-four and my youngest is four. My oldest three are biological and my youngest three are adopted from China and Vietnam. And third, hmm... this is hard. Maybe the third is that I don't sleep much. I do a lot of my writing at night after my kids go to bed, so I'm often up until 2 or 3 am writing. And up at 7 during the school year.

 JLR:  Are you involved in any other projects aside from your novel writing? 

DS:  I like to garden, mostly flowers. And I love to travel which is hard to do with all of my children, but we still try. But honestly, I spend a lot of time writing or reading.

JLR:  Where can readers go to purchase Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes?

DS:  Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes is available in both print and ebooks at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. And other ebook formats are available at Smashwords.