Paul and Paula's Place: May 2012

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Jack Eason on Come In, Sit Down, Tell us About...

Links to Books and sites

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_tc_2_0?rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3AJack+Eason&keywords=Jack+Eason&ie=UTF8&qid=1337276353&sr=1-2-ent&field-contributor_id=B003MEA7AY

Amazon.com: Advanced Search - Jack Eason: Books
www.amazon.com
Amazon.com: Advanced Search - Jack Eason: Books

o Also you will find my blog at: http://akhen1khan2.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Hazel Mitchell on Come In, Sit Down, Tell Us About...

I hope they would make you smile and want to read them again!
Links for books and/or sites
http://hazelmitchell.com/

May 17
Hazel Mitchell

http://hazelmitchell.blogspot.com/
Hazel Mitchell children's Illustrator and writer
hazelmitchell.blogspot.com
Share

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Wednesday, May 30th,Ryan Matthew Harker on Come In, Sit Down, Tell us About...

What inspired you to write?

Well, I’ve always loved reading and writing. Grade school through high school I devoured every bit of reading material I could get my hands on, but by 6th grade had actually gravitated towards art; I wanted to break into the comic book industry. But I was a fairly decent little writer though, and tremendously admired the artists and writers who broke free of Marvel to form their own imprints united under the company Image. I figured I could do it all; the art, writing, editing, the whole shebang. Anyways, it took me until early adulthood to get serious about writing.

Honestly it all came about while enduring the mayhem of adolescent arrogance, from a bad habit of getting pulled over after imbibing a bit of ethyl alcohol. This very same arrogance also led me to believe that possession of a little laminate card, or lack thereof, wasn’t necessarily something a person had to take into consideration before sliding into a vehicle’s cockpit and assuming command of the controls. So, after DUI’s and driving under suspensions, I finally wound up spending some time in the local hoosegow. One night, while enjoying the County’s lavish hospitality, I dreamt I was a werewolf being hunted by a group of immortal mercenaries, and at that moment, as I had nothing but time on my hands, the Werewolf Chronicles were born.

I’ve written on, and off ever since, as Life’s allowed though it’s only been the last two years I’ve actively pursued my writing career.

Do you have anyone you show manuscripts to and get advice from or are you a loner doing it all yourself?

For the most part, I’m a lone wolf: howling at the moon and clawing at the gates of the writing community. As I move farther along in the literary world though, I’m learning the value of being a part of that community, and there have been quite a few people in both my professional and personal lives I now trust to give me advice. It’s tough going it alone in all aspects of existence. Not only as Indie Authors and Artists, but as People, we’re in this together. Of late, the external world we all live in has skewed so far out into left field that if we don’t all pool our resources together, love each other, help each other succeed; well... I’m sure most get where I’m going here.

What genre do you normally write in? Also, is there a genre you've always wanted to write in, but don't feel you could pull it off?

Fellow Indie Author Pat Ritter just posted a thread in his Facebook group, Keeping Up With My Writing, where he talked about developing your brand as an Author. I replied that my brand is “The Multiverse”. When people hear my name, when they see ‘Ryan Matthew Harker’ plastered on a book cover, I want them to think of Quantum Mechanics, Alternate Worlds, Time Travel, and all the wonder and the possibility they can find exploring these realms of infinite possibility. To answer your question simply: Science Fiction (or is it fact?) And fantasy (but in a multiverse of unending possibility, who’s to say what is fantasy!).

Do you ever base your characters on people you know?

Absolutely! There are a few characters in the Werewolf Chronicles that I modeled after close friends and even family. My protagonists usually end up taking shape from pieces of my own personality, along with other factors, cobbled together as an integrated whole to produce unique and intriguing personas. I also utilize the people I most admire in life, past and present, personal and impersonal, famous, infamous, and unknown, to create my characters.

What advice would you give to someone who was just starting off in writing?

Write, write, write, edit, edit, edit. I can’t stress these enough. The more you write, the better you become; and the more you edit as you write the less editing you’ll have to do when you’re done writing.

Do your stories tend to have morals, or special messages, included within them?

My stories are fun to write and, I hope, to read. But, besides entertaining, I also want to educate my readers so I tend to inject my scientific and philosophical viewpoints and beliefs into my stories. I tend to have a solid yet ever expanding vision of universal truth that I’d like to see passed on to my readers through m y writing.

This question was posed by a fellow author, and I loved it so much I decided to throw it into the mix ~

Oh no! One of your characters has escaped. Luckily, I have caught them! I will interrogate them with the help of a lie detector. Welcome! Take a seat, make yourself comfortable. You will be returning to your book once this is over. What's your name, where are you from and what is your role in the book?

My name? I’m not even sure any more, it’s been so long since I’ve lived a normal existence. My parents named me David Galileo Jones, but you can call me Davey. I’m from a major metropolitan settlement directly west of the Rocky Mountains. I used to be the epitome of middle class offspring turned pizza eating, womanizing, kleptomaniac, slacker but now I’m an irreparable temporal addict adrift in a paradoxical, multiversal continuity on a mission down the Timestream to save the one woman I’ve ever felt a real connection with: my trusty SEAID (self evolving artificial intelligence device) TRU. She’s a Temporal Reconfiguration Unit capable of taking someone not only up and down the Timestream but also sideways across the multiverse into strange new alternate realities. She’s a one of a kind device. but unfortunately we’ve, been ripped apart by a dastardly Temporal Terrorist by the name of Adoc Raheem. I’ve been cautioned against attempting her rescue, as it may result in the extinction of mankind, but I have no choice: I love her.

Tell us why we would enjoy reading your books?

Objectively- I can’t say with any certainty that you will like my books. I hope you will, and if you value science, philosophy, with a generous helping of adventure and dry wit you probably will like them. Subjectively- you positively will have a fabulous time reading my books as they’re filled with fast paced, adventure driven, excitement that stimulates your cerebrum with universal truth, philosophical opinion, and scientifically backed concepts about where we are, where we’ve been, and where we’re going!

Links for books and/or sites

http://harkermeadow.jimdo.com/

https://www.facebook.com/RyanMatthewHarker

https://www.facebook.com/TheWerewolFChronicles

http://www.amazon.com/The-Quantum-Prophecy-WerewolF-Chronicles/dp/1475265492/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1337825482&sr=8-3

http://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Prophecy-WerewolF-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B0080K8L2Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337825482&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Attack-Giant-Chickens-ebook/dp/B007Z8YIGC/ref=sr_1_2?

James Edwin Branch on Come In, Sit Down, Tell Us About....

For you that are new, please read our intro now printed in Blue - for our returning guest feel free to jump to the text in black:
This blog is a meeting place for authors and others in the arts .... each week as others are directed to our door or just stumble on by, they come and leave information about themselves - telling about their new books or drawings or photos or to tell us about their new blogs. ****PLEASE be sure your comments are appearing on the latest most timely blog insuring your inclusion in the sending off to Google plus land at the end of the week.*****

Here is the link to Gwen’s site: http://indieauthornetwork.weebly.com/ G.D. Steel's blog is free promoting of your arts. As I am wont to say {as does Facebook} our site is free to comment and share and always will be free. This is a great site to join and to become interactive with guest blogging. It gives you a chance to step out of your box and be whatever you wish.

Another blog that I have a close tie is CRYPTO and CO. Please pop over and check out all their pages.

I have been off doing business and my blogging, unfortunately, falls by the wayside. There is so much news to tell and swamping tends to cross eyes and brain fog off... so only a few links on today's news.

If we thought last month was busy, this month got off to a plunge into new adventures of editing, writing, publishing, promoting, and social interaction.

The Rain Cloud's Gift written for Children's Charities by our group The Peacock Writers' is on it's way to the NYC BOOK FAIR at the JACOB JAVIT'S CONVENTION CENTER. No mass books or signing, just books displayed for industry professionals, stars, editors, publicists, publishers, and acquisition teams for the movie industry. Gwenna D'Young has an Angel who was so impressed with the book, and has given us the money and backing to have the book appear in the line up. We are also in the process of releasing a full, pictures included, limited edition.

Our next book in this series will celebrate the fall season and we are recruiting writers {1 each} from India, Japan, and Philippines - America has Halloween and Thanksgiving, Great Britain has Guy Fawkes - we would like stories that reflect fall traditions or holidays for these other cultures as well. The stories would remain the sole property of the author and their use as a donation would only occur for the book collection for Children's Charities. The story is to be written on a level where a child could either read it or have it read to them - our age goal for readers is 0 through 12. Please contact me at https://www.facebook.com/paula.shene if interested in being considered.

Tuesday May 29, James Edwin Branch

James was one of the first authors I recognized when I started on Facebook - I am an on line bookseller of gently read paper and hard cover books. While I have had few western theme books for sale, I had one by this author, and had been asked for others. Alas, I never did find others for sale. Westerns paperbacks usually are in horrific shape because of multiple reads or they are collected. I have found you, James, to be an amusing conversationalist and a good friend - and am happy you are here with us today.

What inspired you to write?
I began as a song writer. I’m a wiz at country music (Well, I used to be) I began writing a lot of ballads and finally just decided to try writing a story. I can’t seem to write short things, and before long it was a book. That was almost 30 years ago and more attempts than successes. I’ve finished writing 24 books yet have a treasure trove of unfinished works.

Do you have anyone you show manuscripts to and get advice from or are you a loner doing it all yourself?
I’m an independent now, I was published by Hearts on Fire, but they went out of business and after 5 books published and a contract, for another 5 I found myself alone in the world. I discovered my friend and editor Ward Morrill shortly thereafter, and he and I work closely together. It is a partnership made in heaven for me. He has mad skills.

What genre do you normally write in? Also, is there a genre you've always wanted to write in, but don't feel you could pull it off?

I’m an action adventure writer, but I can’t stop writing westerns, and I lean that way nearly as much as I do the other. I’ve written a romance novel (I’ve never shown it to anyone, I know junk when I see it. ) I’d love to write a scifi but something that hasn’t been done… If you find that let me know.

Do you ever base your characters on people you know?

Oh sure, I’ve even been asked by several people, to write them in. I had a reader ask me to write her into a western and I sent her chapters of the book as I wrote them. She was really surprised when she was discovered hiding in a large wooden box on a Conestoga wagon. We’re great friends, and she loved the book. I’ve done it with other people, as well.

What advice would you give to someone who was just starting off in writing?
There are so many things I’d tell them. Maybe the most important thing is to try to be a positive, creative force. Don’t start off thinking you’re going to write a book and get rich, do it because you want to create something good. Don’t knock other writers, they have dreams too and no matter how good things get for you don’t smash someone else’s dream. Proofread, proofread, proofread…. Then get someone else to proofread. Need I go on? There are just too many things to say to someone….

Do your stories tend to have morals, or special messages, included within them?

Not always but sometimes. My “Delivery” has a strong anti racial tone to it. I didn’t start off in that direction, it just went there. My “Arrowhead” series deal with Veterans experiencing PTSD. Not much of the story deals with it, but it begins that way. I have others, my heroes always seem a little reluctant to pull the trigger. Not that they won’t but it’s not in their nature to harm someone.

This question was posed by a fellow author, and I loved it so much I decided to throw it into the mix ~

Oh no! One of your characters has escaped. Luckily, I have caught them! I will interrogate them with the help of a lie detector. Welcome! Take a seat, make yourself comfortable. You will be returning to your book once this is over. What's your name, where are you from and what is your role in the book?

My name is Jack Hall. I’m from North Carolina. I only got involved in this thing because a friend of mine needed help. We were partners once in something I can’t really talk about. All I can say is we were really good at what we do.

There’s a bunch of Columbians that are trying to kill my friend and this DEA agent he rescued from a train; when I get there we’re going to try something different. Once we hook up instead of running away we’re going to take them on even if we have to chase them all the way back to Columbia. I’m a character in “The Columbian Connection.”

Tell us why we would enjoy reading your books?

It depends, I’ve told you what I write - now imagine an action story that your teen or child could read that you wouldn’t have to worry about. No language, no explicit sex and the violence written in a manner that wasn’t too graphic. If that’s your cup of tea, I’m your man. A review once said my work is plot driven, I think at the time that was supposed to be a negative, but I see it as a positive. I won’t tell you what my characters might buy if they shopped at Walmart, I leave something for the reader to add and yes, I do it on purpose. At any rate, I’m really appreciative to anyone who will read my work, a writer without a reader is like a guitar without strings… Not much music there.

links to books and/or sites
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=James+Edwin+Branch&x=20&y=17

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s?keyword=James+Edwin+Branch&store=ebook&page=%2Febooks%2Fcategory.asp&prod=univ&pos&box

Also available on Smashwords and in print at Barnes and Noble and many other bookstores

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Ed Drury on Come In, Sit Down, Tell Us About

I first met Ed on Facebook in a group called Writers like Writers. He had asked for a look at one of his books, Learn to Play the Didjeridu and I thought, why not? I am doing research for my series The Alaisdair Chronicles. I read the teaser and I was hooked. The book is informative but interesting. Many times research, while necessary, is dry but not Ed's book - pop over and read the teaser pages - you take it home. Ed, tell us ~

What inspired you to write?

I was a precocious reader at an early age. I remember in the fifth grade giving book reports on Exodus, All is Quiet on the Western Front and Hiroshima. My teacher was skeptical and even quizzed me extensively on those books. Later I started reading Vonnegut and Twain. Those two writers, more than anyone, inspired me to write. Both because of their observational humor.

Do you have anyone you show manuscripts to and get advice from or are you a loner doing it all yourself?

While I'm mostly a loner, that situation is changing. Little by little I've picked up a following of beta readers who are helpful to me. My wife Lisa reads everything I write and picks up a lot of the early mistakes. From there the circle gets wider and wider, but I never stop listening to feedback from readers.

What genre do you normally write in? Also, is there a genre you've always wanted to write in, but don't feel you could pull it off?

I don't really consider myself a genre writer, though I hope to experiment with some of the genres like sci-fi, horror, mystery, etc. But I'm too quirky to want to lock myself in to one category. I've always admired historical fiction writers for their ability to bring historical eras to life. It's daunting, the amount of research that they put in though. The closest I can probably come to that is my current project which is a period piece. It happens to be a period I lived through, so that helps. Still, I have to research a lot of the events of that time. I find it exciting and somewhat frightening how unaware of some events that were going on during a time I should have been much more informed.

Do you ever base your characters on people you know?

Seriously, all the time. I worked in a mental hospital for five years and so there are a lot of characters based on people I met there. Both staff and residents. I have had a very diverse life filled with all kinds of characters. It would be totally dishonest to say that none of them influenced my characters. If nothing else, they influenced me a great deal.

What advice would you give to someone who was just starting off in writing?

Write everyday. It doesn't have to be a lot. Even thirty minutes every morning is helpful. In fact, I would set that as a minimum. Read, even more than you write. If you write daily, it will change the way you read as well. You will start to look at your reading differently. You'll read something and suddenly, you'll see how an author conveys a thought or idea. You'll question the way things are written and develop your own voice based on what you discover. Finally, do stuff. Everyday, do something. Even a walk through a different neighborhood, a visit to an art gallery, a trip to the store....once you start writing, you'll start to notice a lot more detail in your life. The thing is to get out there and experience something every day.

Do your stories tend to have morals, or special messages, included within them?

Interesting question. I think if my readers think there are messages about society, politics, or religion they are better readers that I am a writer. I'm sure my own biases and beliefs leak into my work. But it's not by design. If they are they, they just came from me being me and not any agenda.

This question was posed by a fellow author and I loved it so much I decided to throw it into the mix ~

Oh no! One of your characters has escaped. Luckily, I have caught them! I will interrogate them with the help of a lie detector. Welcome!Take a seat, make yourself comfortable. You will be returning to your book once this is over. What's your name, where are you from and what is your role in the book?

My name is Levi Deangelo. I'm from an island in the Northern Hemisphere of my planet which you may or may not share with me. I am a professor of neurobiology, toxicology and anthropology who has spent his life studying indigenous knowledge systems specially in the area of healing. In the book, Whale Whisperers of Ensorclea, my king has asked me to investigate the mysterious death of his wife. My investigations took me back to a region called the cove and the wonderful people who live there. I am happy to reconnect with an old friend and informant who I first met when doing field work for my doctorate nearly three decades ago. I'm a life long learner, and now shortly in to my sixth decade, I'm learning just how little I know about this world and even less about the other ones.

Tell us why we would enjoy reading your books?

My writing style is to keep things fairly light, especially when dealing with heavy subjects. Like my greatest influences, Twain and Vonnegut, I think the best way to reach people is appealing to their humor. I try to make them fun to read while at the same time present a different point of view. Reading enjoyment is what I strive for so I try to make the experience of reading my book entertaining.

Links for books and/or sites

www.EdDrury.com

http://www.amazon.com/Ed-Drury/e/B005M2HAQ8/

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/eddrury

Ed Drury's Didgeridoo page

www2.rdrop.com

Ed Drury's Didjeridu Page

Share

Michael Taylor on Come In, Sit Down, Tell Us About...

Do you have anyone you show manuscripts to and get advice from or are you a loner doing it all yourself?
When I write a manuscript I give it to young adult readers to check out. They give me feedback, sometimes positive, sometimes negative, but all their feedback is helpful in fine tuning my manuscript. Young adults are who the book is meant for, so who better be the critic than the young adult.

What genre do you normally write in? Also, is there a genre you've always wanted to write in, but don't feel you could pull it off?
I usually stick with young adult sci-fi or fantasy (always sticking close to dystopian society). For me, it’s fun to write; for the readers, it’s what they like to read.
I would love to try my hand at humor, but no matter how funny people say I am, I just don’t know if the rest of the world would agree. I’ve also been told that writing humor is one of the most difficult things to do. Maybe one day I’ll take the leap.

Do you ever base your characters on people you know?
I use first names of people I know but as for basing the character on the individual, no. I prefer to give my characters personalities or traits that are very different from their namesake. In doing that I feel the book reaches out to more people and allows them to identify with a particular character.

What advice would you give to someone who was just starting off in writing?
Don’t stop. If writing is something you love to do, keep doing it. Don’t ever let people tell you that you’ll get nowhere with your writing. Don’t expect immediate fame or money just to roll in. Being an author is a craft that must be honed. And quite possibly, one day, you will find fame and fortune in what you love to do.

Do your stories tend to have morals, or special messages, included within them?
I guess a message for my young adult readers would be, “Never give up.” But to be very honest, I believe the reader will find the message they want. I think it’s best for readers to determine the message because they might find something deeper than I could have ever thought I wrote.

This question was posed by a fellow author, and I loved it so much I decided to throw it into the mix ~
Oh no! One of your characters has escaped. Luckily, I have caught them! I will interrogate them with the help of a lie detector. Welcome! Take a seat, make yourself comfortable. You will be returning to your book once this is over. What's your name, where are you from and what is your role in the book?
My name is Trevor Green, I’m from Midland Point, Maryland, and I just recently found out that my parents had me, and my twin sister genetically altered to fight an invading alien force. I’m a bit of a loner, but I get along with everyone. I pretty much keep the group grounded.

I think that’s why, in the end of Survival of the Fittest – The Last Hope for the Human Race, Dr. Becker and Dr. Tarret separates me from the other six. They know I know more than they want me to know. But I’m smarter than those doctors. I’ve given my sister Aiyana some information. She and the others will come back for me. At least I hope they will. My twin connection with Yana is strong, I don’t think she’ll let me down.

Tell us why we would enjoy reading your books?
My book is enjoyable for anyone who wants to escape reality and become something more than they could ever imagine. Everyone would like to be a hero, and my book gives those readers that chance. And right now, dystopian societies and worlds seem to be the way to go. Readers are smart – they know the world isn’t perfect. They want to believe they could change it.
Links for books and/or sites Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Survival-of-the-Fittest/183526571731979#!/pages/Survival-of-the-Fittest/183526571731979

Blog: http://authormichaeltaylor.blogspot.com/
Website: http://taylormichaelj.com/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Michael-Taylor/e/B0064I1SUS/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/survival-of-the-fittest-michael-taylor/1107086990?ean=9781462060986iUniverse: http://bookstore.iuniverse.com/AdvancedSearch/Default.aspx?SearchTerm=survival%20of%20the%20fittest
Twitter Name: AuthorMTaylor

Chronicles of The K-9 Boys and Girls on Locus Street seriesre