Author Interview: Rosemary Fryth

Please welcome to Feed My Need, the fabulous author, Rosemary Fryth!

Check out her website here!

When and why did you begin writing?

I’ve been writing ever since I was a young child. I think my first non-scholastic ‘literary’ effort was a book of poems in an old primary school notepad. In the years afterwards I wrote reams and reams of short stories and some pretty dreadful poetry. Eventually my poetry improved, and I was able to select a few poems for an anthology (‘Elemental’) that was printed in the late 1990s by a small Canberra-based publishing house ‘Ginninderra Press’, and that I later republished on Kindle. I don’t know why I started writing, other than feeling the need to create and be creative.

If I wasn’t writing stories, I’d be writing poems, or drawing, or painting or doing something else crafty. As a person I’m very pragmatic, practical and logical, so much so that I have a deep and abiding love of science - yet there is an innate creative side to my personality that needs release, and writing has always been a medium for that release. I was born in late January - so Aquarius but on the cusp of Capricorn, and as much as I don’t believe in astrology, for some reason the Capricorn/Aquarius profile seem to fit me to a tee.


What was the hardest part of writing your book? What is the easiest?

My heroic, epic fantasy trilogy was written over two years, usually on weekends or after finishing work for the day. I don’t recollect the writing of ‘Riothamus’ as being particularly difficult, however there is a lot of hard slog connected with editing and proofreading - it’s necessary, but I find that even when editing, I get immediately drawn back into the story and it becomes less of a chore.

‘Dark Confluence’ is my latest book (dark fantasy genre) and compared to the big trilogy, is quite a short read. What I found difficult about writing this book was getting back into the swing of regular writing after an almost ten-year absence from the craft. At first I was pretty rusty, however practice makes perfect (or almost perfect) and my writing flows a lot easier now. I do find myself encountering ‘writer’s block’ on occasion, especially when I’m in the middle of a story, and although I know how the story ends, sometimes the middle section is unknown to me.

When that happens I tend to walk away for a day or two and let the plot ferment in my mind, so when I get back into writing the plot becomes clearer, and oftentimes my characters become most insistent about where they want the story to go. I also find that I get my best and creative ideas when I’m in the shower. I guess you just turn off in there, and your subconscious is free to roam where it will.

I find that dialogue is the easiest thing to write - when my characters speak, the words flow like music for me.


What music do you listen to while you write?

I listened to a lot of Enya, Era and Loreena McKennitt when I was writing the ‘Riothamus’ trilogy. I must have played the song ‘Dante’s Prayer’ dozens of times whilst writing - there is something in that music that really put me in the mood for writing ‘Riothamus’. Otherwise I tend to listen to non-vocal music as lyrics can become quite distracting when writing.


What inspires you?

Most often the inspiration comes from other books, sometimes it might be something that I’ve seen on television, or a word or a phrase. I was inspired to write my dark fantasy novel for several reasons - first off I wanted to write an Australian-based urban fantasy because as far as I am aware, no one else has ever done so.

Secondly, I wanted to write a dark fantasy that I as an older woman wanted to read - so an older heroine; and the paranormal creatures are the Fae of Celtic mythology, not vampires or werewolves. Thirdly I wanted to explore certain themes - about the lust for power at any cost, and of self-sacrifice. ‘Dark Confluence’ has also a hidden commentary on Australian politics and society.

I drew inspiration for the ‘Riothamus’ trilogy from my many years of medieval reenactment here in Brisbane, and also from a trip to the UK where I spent many a happy hour exploring ruinous castles and keeps. Knowing what it feels like to wield a sword, wear a mail shirt, take part in battles, cook medieval food, sew your own costumes and go to feasts and banquets etc, become invaluable tools in being able to create a believable medieval world for your characters and plot to inhabit.


Do you have any hidden talents?

I used to play bodhran (an Irish drum) at a regular folk music session; and our group recorded a CD. Currently I’m doing pottery and ceramics classes and I seem to have a burgeoning talent for sculpture. I also used to be an illustrator for the local State Government.


What are your current projects?

I’m currently working on ‘Dark Destination’ which is a follow-on book to ‘Dark Confluence’. After that I have in my ‘still-to-be-written’ queue, ‘Dark Destiny’ which is the third novel in ‘The Darkening’ trilogy. After that I need to do more work on a stand-alone book set in the ‘Riothamus’ world.

The title is called ‘Rapier’s Legacy’ and is set twenty years after the trilogy ended with ‘Warriormage’. Also this year I hope to have at least one of my books out on CreateSpace, and all of my books available on Smashwords - so yes, I am very busy and have my writing planned right through 2012, and into 2013 as well.


What book are you reading now?

Every so often I re-read the books that I enjoyed as a child/teen. My favourite authors were Enid Blyton, Alan Garner and Susan Cooper - at the moment I am re-reading ‘The Weirdstone of Brisingamen’ by Alan Garner.


Quick: Vampires or Shapeshifter? Why?

To be honest, neither, although the Shapeshifter does tend to appeal as I’ve incorporated a shapeshifting character in ‘Dark Confluence’ - his name is Fionn, and is my heroine’s love interest. My personal preference tends towards faerie creatures from Celtic, Norse and Anglo-Saxon mythology - creatures that I’ve grabbed in my ‘Darkening’ trilogy, and transplanted Downunder to Australia.


Do you have any advice for other writers?

To keep writing and most importantly, to grow a thick skin - not everyone who reads your books will like them, and those who don’t, will delight in pointing out flaws. However when a person does enjoy your writing, and tells you so, you are walking on air for days afterwards. Also remember that you are very brave for putting yourself and your words out there for the world to read, so keep in mind that you must take the bad with the good.

Oh, and one last piece of advice? Writing and publishing is not a sprint - look upon what you are doing as a marathon - some people get early success, other people achieve success after many years; no one is the same, no one will have an identical experience, just keep writing and believing in yourself and you’ll get there.


Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

First off a big thank-you, firstly for taking an interest in a new and independent author, and secondly for taking a punt on my stories - I do appreciate it! All of what I’ve written and published has been to please myself (rather than to please an editor or the market or to cash in on a trend), so it thrills me to know that other people have enjoyed reading my stories as well.

Book Spotlight: Hacienda Moon by KaSonndra Leigh

Love, obsession, and betrayal, the most powerful

human emotions, are spun together in this gothic

novel. Tandie Harrison is a police medium who has just

suffered a divorce after losing both her psychic visions

and her daughter in a car accident. When she leaves

New York City to start a new life near her hometown,

she moves into the alluring plantation house, Chelby

Rose, and falls for its enigmatic caretaker, Eric

Fontalvo. Their burgeoning affair ignites a century

old curse, ensnaring them in a web of danger, deceit,

and intrigue. Soon Tandie learns that in placid Bolivia,

the worlds of the living and the dead are dangerously

connected.

Hacienda Moon is a seductive tale of one woman’s

journey to confront the demons of her past and find the

courage to face her future. It is a mesmerizing novel

that explores the deepest depths of human nature, and

the characters will hold and haunt you long after you

have read the final chapter.

Cedardale Court by Nathan Lee Christensen

Cedardale Court is full of daring fools, haunting old flames, and brimming with panicked villainy; which only makes the final week of Canner Connelly’s ten year attempt to avoid death feel that much more ridiculous. After a well-intentioned move to the Oregon countryside, the safety and peace of mind he’s longed for, for him and his daughter, Chloe, finally appears within reach. But, upon waking the next morning, their promising start at Uncle Henry’s falls rather short as the sun comes up and the ever inept residents around them start their days. One domestic dispute, a little reckless driving, and a broken fire hydrant later, what normally might have been an enjoyable Sunday morning quickly turns into a slightly darker affair as a human hand -well, half of one, really- turns up in the bushes. Things only get messier and more frightfully uncertain as the ghosts from the past begin to resurface and, one by one, the secrets that have been so carefully kept, for so very long, unravel for everyone.

In the face of the monstrously absurd, this little neighborhood might be the key that opens the door to Canner and Chloe’s new life, or it might be exactly as it appears; the gateway to the undoing of them all.

My Thoughts

When I first read this book, I was swept away with the refreshing talent. The ease at which he weaves a story is amazing. 

However, as the story continued on I started noticing some bad habits that crept in the way in the way of a great story.

The thing is, there are rules in fiction writing. I don't mind when authors break these rules, especially the tell versus show rule. This rule basically says that instead of telling us about the character, you show us the character.

For example instead of the writer saying John is sad, the author is suppose to describe how John looks, feels, and acts when he is sad. There is a key difference there. 

Now, like I said before, I don't mind when an author breaks the rules. Some authors actually make their living breaking the rules. However, when an author breaks the rule on every page, at every moment they can. It just starts to annoy me. Especially when it starts to interfere with every good part of the book. 

So let's break this down further.

Dreams and Reality: A Guest Post by Suzanne Lilly

Dreams and Reality: Which is Which?

Guest post by Suzanne Lilly

Hold fast to dreams for if dreams die

life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.

- Langston Hughes

In this poem, Langston Hughes is writing about the dreams that drive our lives. People who achieve great things dream up the goal and then strive toward it. People who are stars in their fields dreamed of their achievement, then worked hard to get there.

But what about the other way around? Can seeing what we think is reality in a dream affect the choices we make each day? Philosophers and theologists have debated this for centuries. I believe it can, and that’s at the heart of my story, Shades of the Future.

Have you ever dreamed of something so vivid that when you woke, your heart was pounding, or you were frightened, or you felt uneasy?

There was a story on the news in California several years ago about a woman who had a car accident on a lonely road at night. Another woman, a complete stranger, was visiting a relative’s home. She woke in the middle of the night after having a dream, convinced she needed to get up, get on the road, and go home immediately. She and her husband packed up and left right away.

As they drove down a rural California road, they saw a woman in the dark, lying on the shoulder of Highway 50. They called the highway patrol, and when the CHP came out and searched the area, they found a car at the bottom of a ravine. A mother and her toddler son were still strapped in the car after an accident. They boy was saved, but unfortunately, the mother was already dead. In this true story, a dream saved a little boy’s life.

This was a warning dream. Have you ever had a dream where you saw yourself being successful or attaining something you’ve always wanted?

I’ve often heard it said that dreams become reality. We can act on our dreams. We can do things to reach for the things we dream about. Perhaps in this way we can make our dreams become reality. Keep in mind Oprah Winfrey’s words,

The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but significance - and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning.

If we take the little steps to make our dreams come true, eventually we’ll get there.

As William Shakespeare wrote:

We are such stuff

As dreams are made on.

What do you think? Do your dreams affect your waking life?



About Suzanne Lilly

Suzanne Lilly is a writer at night and a teacher by day, which is why she’s known online as the TeacherWriter. Her articles and stories have appeared in numerous places online and in print. She writes light romance, young adult, and middle grade novels. When not busy with words, she enjoys swimming, hiking, reading, fine arts, and cooking. She lives in California with her family and furry friends and has yet to feel an earthquake. You can follow her on Twitter as @suzannelilly, visit her TeacherWriter blog, at her Suzanne Lilly Author website, or friend her on Goodreads, and on Facebook.

Her debut novel, Shades of the Future, published by Turquoise Morning Press, is available July 2012. What would you do if you could see your future? What you think is “the gift” may actually be a curse.

Author Interview: Marita Fowler

Please welcome to Feed My Need, the author of Fat Assassins and Fat Bodyguards, Marita Fowler!

Check out her fabulous website here!

When and why did you begin writing?

Like many authors, I’ve had a love affair with books from a young age. I wrote short stories during my school years, but never concentrated my energy into a novel. I spent my early career years fine tuning my technical writing skills, while constantly thinking about books and characters. 

This is actually the third book I started before finding characters and a storyline that flowed easily from my fingertips. I wasn’t ready for those other ideas yet, so I shelved them until my brain is ready to cooperate. Once I wrote the first piece of dialogue between Shasta and Ulyssa, I was hooked. 

What was the hardest part of writing your book? What is the easiest?

I start with the title (which is the easiest) and then figure out the ending. If I can’t come up with a satisfying ending, I shelve the title. The middle is the toughest part of the book to write because you have figure out all the twists-n-turns. It takes a balance because you want the book to be intriguing, but not too lengthy.


What music do you listen to while you write?

It depends on what kind of scene I’m writing. (I’ve even listened to some Bluegrass because I was writing a scene and needed a little extra country kick). I just started keeping YouTube playlists for each of my books. The playlists have the songs I hear or imagine during key scenes in the book. I prefer silence when editing because it requires total concentration.

       

What inspires you?

My husband is my biggest inspiration, but I find inspiration everywhere. People, songs, conversations, books, art...you name it.


Do you have any hidden talents?

I can throw a mean plasma grenade (Halo). My Warthog driving skills aren’t the best though.


What are your current projects?

I’m working on the third book in the series - Fat Spies. I’m also working on my first YA paranormal novel.


What book are you reading now?

I just finished Demon Kissed by H.M. Ward and I’m starting the second book, Cursed.


Quick: Vampires or Shapeshifter? Why?

Neither. I’m more interested in mind-reading characters (think Christine Feehan) and Angels/Demons (Susan Ee, H.M. Ward, E. VanLowe).


Do you have any advice for other writers?

Be considerate to other authors and your readers. There are so many talented authors who will take the time to help you, but you’ve got to share the love (as the folks at the Women’s Literary Cafe like to say). It’s tough to find true ‘readers’ or fans while you’re an unknown. Take care of your grassroots readers and never forget that they were with you from the beginning.


Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

You’ll get bad reviews. It happens. Some people won’t like your book and they’ll let you know it with their scathing reviews. Learn to accept this early on and you’ll save yourself some heartache.

Southern style sweet-potatoes Shasta and Ulyssa have stuck together through thick and thin since their escape from third grade fat camp. But on one dark day, they both find themselves unemployed. Shasta quits after being tased for an impromptu tirade over the Wal-Mart intercom and Ulyssa is shocked speechless when the boss’s wife falsely accuses her of being the other woman and demands her termination.

A hazardous job hunt sees them turn down egg harvesting, drug dealing and phone sex before they settle for an exterminator job. 

Confusing mafia lingo leaves the girls thinking they’re being interviewed to cope with a rodent infestation. Confident that they can handle the job, they oversell their skills and demand half payment up front to seal the deal. Skeptical at first, the mob boss decides to hire this unlikely pair when he mistakes their attitude for professional stoicism. 


The girls are shocked when presented with a target profile and an envelope full of cash. They want out, but it’s too late. The mob doesn’t allow do-overs. And certainly not when they’re whacking one of their own.

Shasta and Ulyssa leave a wake of destruction as they experiment with different assassination methods. But the clock is ticking and when the body count is still zero after multiple attempts, the boss decides to bring in additional assassins to finish the job and tie up loose ends. 

And the girls just happen to be one of those loose ends.

White Cat by Holly Black

Cassel comes from a family of curse workers—people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they’re all criminals. Many become mobsters and con artists. But not Cassel. He hasn’t got magic, so he’s an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail—he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.

            

Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts to crumble when he finds himself sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He’s noticing other disturbing things too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him. As Cassel begins to suspect he’s part of a huge con game, he must unravel his past and his memories. To find out the truth, Cassel will have to outcon the conmen.

My Thoughts

I have to say I love the concept but I wasn't too impressed by the book. The main character I didn't fall in love with, the plot is boring (until the end since I read the back reviews saying the ending was unpredicable), and some of it was unrealistic and not really explained well.

I know, it's a mouthful and I know I usually wait for the end to tell you all this, but I couldn't help it. The book was just such a disappointment to me. 

Once again, I fell in love with an awesome cover and awesome concept where the author failed to deliver. *sigh*

But I'll break it down even further, and maybe you guys will give it a chance.

Angel Diaries Volume One: Almost Published

You know that time in your life where everything is going so well that you question it?

I mean, sure there is a couple of blind spots in my life which would improve (which is a whole other discussion) but otherwise, I'm happy. I have a teaching job at Portsmouth Public Schools. I will soon have an apartment that I will fall in love with and move into which I may seriously think of turning the second bedroom into a library.

Hey what can I say? I'm a bibliophile and proud of it.

And, I will be publishing Angel Diaries probably this week. This book is a five year journey that suddenly makes a u-turn here. If you would have asked me five years ago if I would self-publish my book, I would laughed in your face.

Now, it's the most exciting thing ever. The book cover is ready. The blurb is fantastic (after struggling with that thing for MONTHS!). And the manuscript is publishing ready.

And boy am I nervous! I never thought I would be publishing it at this time. At first, I thought that I wouldn't be able to afford it since I don't have the money and I'm not making any money either (broke college student and all). But thanks to my editor who gave me a great price, Ricki, it was all possible!

Now that the time has come, so to speak, I just don't know what's going to happen. Don't get me wrong. I want this book to be published. I want people to read it and enjoy it, but I don't know the reaction I will get.

I guess I feel insecure about this book since it's so different, it's so odd, and it's my first stab into the darkness that is PNR. I know some authors don't delve right into horror or the dark side of paranormal, but I would like to think I did.


Writing it was something that threw me in for a loop. I wrote it, or at least came with the concept, while I was still in high school. My last year. Probably one of the harshest years in my life in high school. College was worse. College is where I felt real pain but high school is where I first encountered it.

Anyway, I knew at that time I was tired of writing about rainbows and happily ever afters. I knew I wanted to write about the struggle I was in. I knew I wanted to write about the darkness that surrounds us all.

I knew I wanted to write something completely different.

And Angel Diaries just blew me away.

I know I should be rejoicing and happy that I've finally made it to the publishing step, but somehow, I'm a bit sad. I guess this is what my parents felt when I went to college, then grew more independent as the years moved along.

I guess I'm a bit nervous and sad since this book is my baby. I've seen it at its worse and at its best. And this by far is its best. I know that when people review it, it will be based on the characters and the plot and not on grammar mistakes and misplaced words.

Angel Diaries Volume One will stand on its own.

I guess I'm just being worried for nothing. I know I got the green light from proofreaders, critiquers, and other friends and family who fell in love with it like I did.

I guess I'm nervous about fans and about their response. I know the fans love Jia. But what about Lindsey? She's not my typical teen hero. She's not quite normal nor quite on this side of weird either.

She's something I wasn't prepared for. For years I wrote about the female protagonist who has that weird factor, that particular part of them that makes them special. Unique. Jia has that charactertistic yet Lindsey doesn't.

I just don't know how this will turn out. I wish I had a crystal ball like Jia sometimes, other times I'm glad I can't see the future.

I guess after this whole journey of self discovery, delving into darkness and coming out looking the same but at the same time never ever writing the same, I guess this is the moment where if this whole thing has been worth it.

This is the time to let my book shine.

 

 

He was forbidden. Uncontrollable. Never to be seen, mentioned, or otherwise talked about. Until the nightmares began. Searing the screams, carnage and death into her skull. Forever.

Before this, Lindsey had a normal life. Somewhat. She had a boyfriend who was acting strange, an ex-boyfriend who has been too flirtatious and a best friend who turned psychic.

Once upon a time, the hardest decision Lindsey had to make was who she would take to the upcoming Winter Dance: her boyfriend, Philip, or her ex, Luke. Now,
she's not even human. She's an Angel.

Excerpt: Never Too Far by Thomas Christopher

 Here's a free excerpt from Never Too Far by Thomas Christopher! Check it out and thank me later!

 

Blurb:

A harrowing story of love and survival. In a future of scarce resources, where the possession of gas and diesel is punishable by death, a teenage boy and a pregnant girl must find a way to save their impoverished family. They risk their lives on a terrifying journey to sell stolen fuel on the black market.

Excerpt:

Chapter 1

Joe slung the rifle strap over his shoulder and pointed, but his older brother Frank didn’t say anything.

“Don’t you see it?” Joe said. “Right there. Across the river.”

Frank stepped back suddenly.

“We need to get out of here,” he said. “Someone might still be there.” He looked across the river again. “What’s it doing out here?”

“It looks abandoned,” Joe said.

“That doesn’t mean anything.”

“We got to check it out.”

Joe moved forward but Frank grabbed his arm.

“No we don’t,” Frank said. “Besides, you can’t go walking up to it like any old piece of junk. It isn’t something you leave lying around, either. They’re coming back for it, for sure.”

“All the more reason why we should go see it.”

“That’s not what I’m saying. I’m saying we shouldn’t mess with it.”

“Well, I’m going,” Joe said.

At the river’s edge, Frank snatched the rifle from Joe.

“I’m leading the way,” Frank said.

Joe was about to grab the rifle back when Frank jammed the last shell into the open breech. He used his maimed hand, the one missing three fingers, and locked the bolt in place. Joe figured there was no sense in arguing now. It would only make Frank more upset.

After they waded across the shallow river, they crouched low and crept up the rocky embankment to the old road. Frank raised his head to take a look, and then Joe poked his head up too.

“I don’t think this is a good idea,” Frank said. “It’s definitely an Arbyter.”

Joe couldn’t take his eyes off it. He had never seen a real Arbyter before. What he knew about them came from Frank when he was in the city of Chikowa over a year ago. He said he saw Arbyters patrolling the streets all the time. The way Frank described them made Joe think of a beast on wheels, one with two dark windows in front like menacing eyes and a big machine gun on top like a horn.

“I’ll go,” Joe said.

“No, you won’t,” Frank said. “I’m going. Stay behind me.” 

For a moment Frank seemed afraid to go near the vehicle, which was flipped on its side. He stood with his legs spread and the rifle pointed at it as if he thought it might spring to life at any second. He shuffled forward. His wet shoes scraped on the dirt road. When he got close enough to touch the armored underbelly, he stopped. He nudged his foot against the scratched and dented metal. Then he stepped back, ready to fire, ready for it to finally awaken and show its true self. When it didn’t move, he took his maimed hand off the rifle and motioned toward Joe.

“Come on,” he whispered. “Stay behind me.”

Joe shot to his feet and hurried to Frank who was rounding one of the Arbyter’s huge front tires. Joe couldn’t resist brushing his fingers along the tire’s thick tread or touching the fang-like spokes in the grill on his way past. But the very second he turned the corner and saw the top of the Arbyter, he pulled up short. It was much stockier than what he imagined. It looked like the head of a giant iron bull. The dark eyes staring out from the squat cab were cracked and pitted from bullet fire, and the machine gun’s long thick barrel was wedged tight in the ground.

Frank hung the rifle over his shoulder, climbed on the machine gun, and heaved himself up on the Arbyter’s side. Once he got to his feet, he jabbed the rifle tip through an open window, or perhaps it was an open door. Joe didn’t know because he couldn’t see that high.

“Come up and look inside,” Frank said. “I’ll keep an eye out.”

Joe didn’t hesitate. He scampered onto the machine gun and crawled up near Frank’s feet. Painted on the Arbyter’s door was the symbol of the Guardian Party, the ruling government in Chikowa. The symbol was a seven-pointed red star with a white ring in the middle and a red circle inside like a bull’s eye.

“See if there’re any dead soldiers in there,” Frank said.

Joe got on his stomach and ducked his head inside the open window. He braced himself for a gory sight, but he didn’t see any of the dead soldiers Frank was afraid of. Instead, he saw some kind of reddish-black substance splashed all around. He reckoned it was probably blood. He looked over the instrument panel, gazed at the cracks in the tinted windshield, and then craned his neck to look behind the seats. Nothing was there as far as he could tell.

On his way out he gripped the steering wheel and even jiggled it once before he abruptly let go.

After he sat up, he said, “No bodies, but there’s blood.”

“They must’ve evacuated already.”

“What do you think happened? Do you think it was attacked?”

“If it was, we wouldn’t be standing here.” Frank looked around like he was expecting someone to be there. “Let’s get down.”

Frank shouldered the rifle and shimmied down onto the machine gun. Joe was about to follow him when he thought of something.

“Hey,” he said. “I bet it still has fuel.” 

He scooted to the back end of the Arbyter to look for the fuel plate. As soon as he found it, he pried it open, unscrewed the cap, and stuck his nose into the open cylinder. He took a big whiff. The smell of the fumes made his eyes water. It still had fuel. He couldn’t believe it. He stared at Frank standing on the ground below.

“Get down from there,” Frank said.

“How much do you think it’s worth?”

“How should I know? I don’t even know how much is in there.”

Joe was going to find out. He looked into the woods and spotted a big fallen limb. He leapt off the Arbyter, forgetting how high up he was, and stumbled hard to his knees. But the drop barely fazed him. He ran to the fallen limb, planted his foot on its barrel, and snapped off a long thin branch.

“What are you doing?” Frank said. “Are you crazy?”

Back at the Arbyter, Joe clambered up to the fuel tank. He dipped the stick into the opening and fed it down the pipe as far as it would go. The smell rushed up into his nose again. He pulled the stick out to find it half-soaked with diesel.

“There’s like half a tank.”

“Let me see that,” Frank said.

Joe handed the stick down to Frank.

“You know how much this is worth?” Frank said.

“I already asked you that.”

“It was at ten thousand shekels when I was in Chikowa.”

“So you were lying.”

“So what? That might not even be right.”

“You think that’s close, though?”

“It’s got to be. This is like gold.”

“Why don’t we sell it, then?”

“Don’t be nuts. We get caught with this, we’ll be executed. It’s illegal to have. You know that. Forget about it.” Frank threw the stick into the woods. “Put that cap back on and get down from there.”

“I’m serious,” Joe said.

“Get it out of your head because it’s not happening.”

“I could do it.”

“What did I just say? No way.”

“But you went.”

“And look what happened to me.” He shoved his maimed hand up at Joe. “You aren’t going. I’m not going. Nobody’s going. Got it?”

Once they crossed the river, they walked through the wooded bluffs and down into the valley where Joe’s family farm stood. Even though it didn’t look much different from any other farm Joe had seen, he knew it was a ramshackle wreck. The stark buildings were aged and weathered. The splitting wood was streaked gray and black. Off to the side of the barn was a rickety fence that held the little livestock they had left—a wooly goat, two spotted hogs, some chickens, and the horses, Lester and Sam. Beyond that was a field of limp corn and a garden of scraggly vegetables. The house leaned to one side as if it was constantly trying to hang on against a fierce wind. Broken windows were covered in plastic or scraps of wood. It was a wonder anyone lived there.

Thomas Christopher was born and raised in Iowa, where he graduated from the University of Northern Iowa. After living in Seattle, New Jersey and Montana, he received his MFA at Western Michigan University. He has published short stories and articles in The Louisville Review, The MacGuffin, Redivider, Small Spiral Notebook, Cooweescoowee, and Teaching English in the Two-Year College. He was also awarded an Irving S. Gilmore Emerging Artist Grant and was a finalist for the Matthew Clark Prize in Fiction. Currently, he lives in Wisconsin with his wife Jessica and their son Holton.

 Check out author website!

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Author Interview and Book Giveaway: Maria Savva

Please welcome to Feed My Need, the fabulous author, Maria Savva.



Maria Savva was born in London on 19th March 1970. She studied for a Law Degree at Middlesex University and went on to gain a professional solicitor qualification at The College of Law in London. She qualified as a solicitor in 1996. Maria continues to practice as a solicitor in London whilst writing her novels and stories in her spare time.

Please tell us a little about yourself.

I've published 4 novels and 3 short story collections, in various genres. I live in London. I'm also a lawyer, but not practising at the moment.

When and why did you begin writing?

Creative writing was always a subject I enjoyed at school. When I found myself out of work in 1997, I decided to start writing a novel, more as a challenge really as I didn't know whether I would be able to write a whole novel . . . it seemed daunting at the time. I'd written short stories, poems, songs, but a novel seemed like an epic task. However, once I started writing it and the story began to develop, I found it came quite naturally and the first draft was finished in six months. I was then bitten by the writing bug and now cannot stop . . .

What was the hardest part of writing your books? What is the easiest?

The hardest part is the editing. Grammar is a different language altogether and takes time to learn. I think all writers (if they are being honest) will admit that getting to grips with grammar is very difficult. We all make mistakes in our books, but the task is to try to limit our errors. It takes hours and hours of painstaking work to edit a book. In fact, for me, it takes longer to edit my novels than it does to write them. I am a word nerd and perfectionist, which is not a good combination. It can cause tantrums when I am editing...

The easiest part is writing the first draft. I absolutely love it. It's so much fun. It's the storytelling part of writing that I'm in love with. 

What music do you listen to while you write? 

I don't listen to music when I'm writing. I would find it too distracting. Music is very important in my life, but when I listen to it, I have to sing along or dance, or both... I cannot just listen. I can't write, dance and sing at the same time.


What inspires you?

Life, people, nature, news, events... the world around me.


Do you have any hidden talents?

They must be very well hidden because I can't find them...


What are your current projects?

I have just finished editing my novel Haunted, due to be published towards the end of the year. With this book, I have decided to give the very hard final editing task to a professional editor. Susan Helene Gottfried is also an author, but she is now also offering editing services. She is a member of BestsellerBound.com a writers' forum where I'm a resident author. When she saw me complaining about the amount of work that goes into editing, she offered to help out. I wasn't sure at first because paying for editing seemed like something I could not afford, but after nearly killing myself editing my 2nd edition of Coincidences, I decided it would be money well spent to save myself many hours of torture...  Susan will hopefully get started on the editing of Haunted in early August. Haunted is a crime fiction/psychological thriller with a suggestion or hint of the paranormal. It is a very dark book.

I also have some unpublished short stories that I would like to release this year.


What made you decide on self-publishing?

I didn't decide on self-publishing, it found me, and we are now very good friends. In fact I would say we are in a happy relationship, and I would never leave self-publishing for a traditional publisher.


Do you use a professional editor?

For the 1st edition of my first book, Coincidences, I published through a small press, so they edited it... they didn't do a very good job, but that's a whole other story... For A Time to Tell and Second Chances I used Cornerstones Literary Advisory Service for editing. A Time to Tell was also edited by the in-house editor at the small press that originally published it, but I was involved throughout the editing process.

For Second Chances I had help from another indie author. By the time I wrote The Dream, I felt that I no longer needed a professional editor as I had developed my editing skills. Over the years, as you write, you learn more about grammar and editing. One thing that taught me a lot about editing was when I took on the project of helping to edit The Safety Factor Trilogy by Jerry Travis.

I would advise all new writers to have a go at editing another author's work. You learn so much from doing that. I edited the 2nd Edition of Coincidences on my own, but I always have proof readers. I think it's very important, no matter how advanced a writer is, to have a few proof readers. It's not easy to notice editing errors in our own work. It's easier to spot typos and grammatical errors in other people's books.


Do you edit as you write or wait until your book is finished?

I try to do as much of it as I can as I go along. But with the first draft, for me it is a matter of getting the story down. I am still a writer who writes using a pen and paper rather than a computer keyboard. For me, most of the editing comes when I type up the story from my illegible scrawl.

What book are you reading now?

I am reading the final proof of Lost Shadows which is the soon to be published book by Julie Elizabeth Powell. It's very entertaining. Julie, like me, is one of those authors who always tries to write something different with each book they write. She writes in lots of different genres.

Quick: Vampires or Shapeshifter? Why?

Shapeshifters, of course, as there is one in my novel The Dream...

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Edit, edit, edit. But most of all, in the words of the great George Michael and Wham! you should 'Enjoy What You Do'. After all, writing should be fun.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

To my readers, I would like to say a big THANK YOU. It means so much to me that you would choose my books to read when there are so many out there. I'd also like to ask a little favour. If you've enjoyed my books but are yet to write a little review on Amazon or Goodreads or other such sites, please take a minute and jot down a couple of lines in a review to say why you liked it. Reviews help people to decide if they want to read a book or not, and the nice ones really do make authors smile... And they can change our day from a bad one to a good one... they are like magic :)

Book Giveaway

 

Secrets, lies and coincidences abound in this story of a young girl looking for her father. Alice, now twenty-one years old, is determined to find her father who left home when she was just a baby, despite a warning from her mother that she should not look for him. Her mother's secretiveness over the subject is because of the guilt she feels about keeping the truth from Alice. It will take all of Alice's courage to persevere in her search. There are doubts and uncertainties at every turn. Coincidences is a story about following your dreams and staying on the path no matter how difficult the circumstances may become. 

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Author Interview: Sherri Rabinowitz

Please welcome to Feed My Need, the fabulous author, Amy Metz!

When and why did you begin writing?

I began when I was a small child. I was given a sentence to write a myth with that was suppose to be a few lines. I wrote 10 pages. I received an A and I was hooked.

When I was in college I began writing poetry and short stories. People seemed to love them, I always wrote after that. I wrote fanzines for both Star Trek and Xena. Slowly I spread out to many forms of writing. I discovered my great love for it and here I am.


What was the hardest part of writing your book? What is the easiest?

The hardest part was creating the agency and story around the time travel. It took me a lot of re-writes to create the agency. It came to me at work, when I conceived the idea I was a travel agent.

The easy part was the love stories. Ask anyone I know,  I am a mush.


What music do you listen to while you write?

I usually listen to show tunes.


What inspires you? 

Oh, a lot of things. I love to watch movies and plays. I love to read. I get inspired by beautiful paintings and the ocean. I am often inspired by dreams, several of my stories came from a dream including Fantasy Time Inc. I get it where ever I can get it.


Do you have any hidden talents? 

I can sing pretty well, I use to be in the choir at school and I did a few musicals.


What are your current projects?

Um…several, I am writing a children’s book, a historical drama, a young persons adventure, a memoir, a play and two screenplays.


What book are you reading now?

I am reading The Universe in a Single Atom by the Dali Lama and The Hero With a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell. I just finished The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown and Storm Surge 2 by Melissa Good.


Quick: Vampires or Shape shifter? Why?

Shapeshifter.  Never a fan of vampires except George Hamilton in Love At First Bite.


Do you have any advice for other writers?
 
Write. It sounds trite but all I can say is write your head off, write all the time anything you can. Send it out to fiction sites for free, get feedback. it’s the only way to learn. I think if you don’t learn your not really living.


Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I love you. All the people, even the people who are critical of me, I just love that they are reading. Since reading seems to be such a dying art. And that your reading my books is such a great honor. Thank you, I am nothing but grateful.

 

 Into the Future

In the future we as a people will be going through many strange and conflicting changes. We will be traveling and living in space and under water. We will have an even better network of communications and transportations but we will still need to have a vacation and to relax from this antiseptic new environment. People will need an escape and most people dream of the future and the past, because no one romanticizes about their own time.

Want to learn more about this author and her books? Check out her website here and her blog here!

3 College Courses For Writers: A Guest Post by Barbara Jolie

Hey Writers! 3 College Classes that are More Useful than You Realize


As writers, when we consider college courses we took that really developed our love for writing and our ability to manipulate words, we likely spout off things like English 101, writing classes, Rhetoric, Literature classes, Shakespeare. Sure, these are wonderful classes and they absolutely helped to develop our love for the written word and our ability to convey ideas. But, they are not the only classes and subjects that aid our writing.

Writing, be it blog writing, novel writing, or journalism, involves all aspects of life and academia. As writers we wish to convey a world, scene, or character in a believable and honest way. You have to have some sort of understanding of the world in its entirety if you are going to be able to create a world of your own in your writing. Obviously, this is not to say that writers know all the answers—no. But, we are far better-rounded than that list of English, Literature, and Writing classes leads you to believe. Consider these three college subjects to improve your writing and find more depth.


History 101

Regardless of your major in college, you likely had to complete at least one history class as part of a core curriculum requirement. History is in many ways very similar to English and Literature classes. There is a lot of reading involved and students are made to analyze situations and "characters". History classes can actually play a very positive role in our writing. Fiction writers create new worlds and place their characters in unfamiliar settings. Setting plays a vital role in the success of our stories. A general knowledge of history can be extremely useful when developing settings and situations. History classes can be a great way to add context to a piece of fiction. A historical backdrop for a piece can be a wonderful way to get the writing process moving and can add more depth to a scene.


Chemistry or Physics

Now, I know what you're thinking—how could Chem 101 (which I was terrible at) possibly help with my writing? But, science classes can actually be a wonderful lesson in writing style. Scientific writing, as we all know, is extremely different from what we are used to as fiction addicts and literature bums. But, that concise and systematic style of writing can be a great lesson in minimalism. While we don't want to write fiction that sounds like a chemistry textbook, learning to write directly and concisely can be very important. Take pointers from the type of writing and reading that takes place in the science realm. They speak like experts, getting immediately to the point and creating material that is all about the facts.


Psychology 101

Characterization is one of the most important aspects of our writing. If you're like me, you obsess over your characters. Who are they? Are they believable? Are they likeable? Do we want them to be likeable? Our characters can really take a life of their own. However, it can be extremely difficult to create characters that are truly human and lifelike. Even for characters that are outside of the realm of reality, we strive to create a human element within them. We want our characters to take a life of their own. Our college Psych 101 class can play a really important role in creating characters that are believable and dynamic. Understanding how the human mind and psyche work might be extremely helpful. Learning about how people think can help put things into perspective when we are trying to create dialogue for our fictional characters.



Barbara Jolie is a full time freelance writer and blogger in the Houston area. She enjoys writing about education and the advantages of online classes for all students. If you have any questions email Barbara at barbara.jolie876@gmail.com.

Character Interview: Alice

 

As part of the Silent Tour, welcome the character from Silent Song by Ron C. Nieto, Alice!

People thought of you as the princess of school. What do you think of yourself?

Well, I obviously don’t think as myself as the kind of princess Keith mentions at first in the book. But if you take that particular word out, I’d say they got the right idea. I mean, I know the golden crowd is not exactly royalty, but it’s the next best thing, isn’t it? *Smiles a bit* Or at least that’s what I used to think. These days, I’m learning something different...

But I still believe I’m quite princess-y, if I say so myself.

 

What was your first impression of Keith?

Which first impression? The one when he was a scrawny kid with eyes too huge back in elementary? The one when he was a scrawny boy with a terrible fashion sense when we started high school? The one when he was a scrawny, horribly weird guy with extremely talented fingers later on...? There are a lot of different sides to Keith, and each time I’ve discovered a new one, I’ve seen an entirely different person. The latest one, though, that first impression was “beautiful”.

If you knew then what you know now, what would you do differently?
I’d not let him play. I wouldn’t break his guitar, because we all know how that’d turn out, but I’d probably lock it up until he promised never to come close to my theater play.

If I knew exactly the same things, I would knock sooner on that door too.

What makes you happiest?
Keith. As in, everything related to being with him. We don’t need to be doing special stuff, just knowing that we’re together is enough. I’m also happy while drinking mocha coffee. And yes, that was a hint hint, wink wink comment, thanks for catching it *reaches out expectantly for her coffee*.

What scares you?

G... Wait, I’m not sure I should be saying that. Plus, I’m not even comfortable saying it aloud yet; it’s all too weird and crazy. So let’s just say that I’m scared to death of weird things happening, of people I love behaving unlike themselves. And I’m deeply suspicious of music I can’t recognize.

If you could have one wish come true, what would it be?

I want to be happy. I want to be in love, always. I want to be able to do what I want in life, to achieve my goals. I want a lot of things... but everything comes down to being happy in the end. 

  

 The princess of the school, Alice, is keeping a secret that could strip her of her high school fame. She is obsessed with the school’s outcast, Keith, but not just him – his music.

Since the inspiration for the song hit, Keith can’t get it out of his mind. The song must be played; it demands to be played. He knows the music is changing him, but he is unable to stop it.

Music has the ability to move you, enlighten you, and take you to places you have never dreamed of. And this particular piece? It has a life of its own and makes you forget who you really are.

As Keith and Alice learn of one another to the notes of that one perfect tune, they can overlook their roles and discover who they could be together. But they also discover someone else is listening and intends on keeping Keith to herself, possibly for an eternity.

Want to learn more? Check it out here! 
Check out the author here and here!

Sales Report::

It's the most wonderful part of the month: Sales report! I think this is an interesting report of all, watch this:

Now here are the sales for Everblossom so far:

October: 1
November: 4
December: 3
January: 3

February: 3
March: 2
April: 2
May: 1

June: 3

Here's the breakdown:

Amazon US:1

Amazon UK: 1

Amazon DE, ES, IT, FR: 0

Smashwords: 1

Barnes and Noble: 0

Print Sales (Createspace):0




Well, there you have it. Surprise bump in sales but hopefully this is only foreshadowing the beginning since (crossing fingers, toes and limbs), I'll have Angel Diaries Volume One out later on this month. I'm just waiting on the editing (which won't take that long), then soon after the formatting and I'll be set!


I think you guys will enjoy it! And don't worry, I'll let you know the official release date along with your free copy. So stay tuned ladies and gentleman! Things are going to get interesting.

Author Interview: Katie Jennings

Please welcome to Feed My Need, the fabulous author, Katie Jennings!

Author Bio

Katie Jennings is a mid-twenty-something year old girl with an imagination for days and a supportive husband who thinks she’s a colossal nerd. She writes because she loves it, and because breathing life into characters is the greatest escape she’s ever found. Most of her time is spent puttering around online, editing her latest book, or feeding people food to her cat. She lives just north of Los Angeles, and enjoys reading fantasy and romance novels, watching Once Upon a Time, playing around on Photoshop, and finding new music to fall in love with. She believes in, above all else, happy endings.

Check out her website here!

Author Interview

When and why did you begin writing?

For me, writing has and always will be an escape. When I first discovered my love for it, I was thirteen and going through the usual high school dramatics along with dealing with my parents’ divorce, and I suppose losing myself in a story was the best way I found to distract myself.

I’ve always been an avid reader, and I loved experiencing life through another person’s eyes, even if just for a moment. With writing, it was all of that and so much more. I could literally become the character, and put myself in their shoes and talk for them, walk for them, live for them. It was addicting, and I’ve been doing it ever since.


What was the hardest part of writing your book? What is the easiest?

When I wrote The Dryad Quartet, I was writing only for myself, so that part was easy! It was just a hobby; a fun and challenging experiment to see if I could actually write a whole book series. I didn’t even tell anyone I was doing it until I was well into the second book, and even then I only told my husband! Before I took on the Quartet, I had only ever written fan fiction and short stories, never anything of this magnitude.

And so I suppose the hardest part came after the books were done, and I was faced with the concept of self-publishing the series. I was so scared to put this story and these characters that I love so much out on a limb, and see if anyone else would enjoy them as much as I do. I was worried that other people’s criticisms would alter my own perception of my books, and make me regret ever having written them. But fortunately I got over that and jumped off the cliff, so to speak, and hit the ground running. And I haven’t stopped since!
 


What music do you listen to while you write?

Usually I end up making a playlist for each main character, collecting songs that remind me of them that I can listen to in order to get in the right mindset before tackling that character in a scene. I especially love it when a song comes on the radio and I hear some lyric that strikes a chord with me, and I immediately think of one of my characters and inspiration for a new scene or plot twist strikes!

As far as specifics, my playlists are usually crowded with Fleetwood Mac, Tears for Fears, Adele, Elton John, Dave Matthews Band, Florence and the Machine (LOVE her), The Fray, and Chris Cornell.


What inspires you?

People inspire me. Personality types. Flaws and quirks and motivations. My Linda Goodman’s Sun Signs book is at my side at all times, at the ready for speedy reference on how a character should react to a situation. I love exploring different mindsets…from the shy, bashful girl prone to doubting herself to the strong, ambitious business tycoon willing to cut anyone’s throat to get ahead. Bad guys are the best, too. I particularly like making a character that should be considered a protagonist/hero into somewhat of a bad guy, playing off of the “Byronic Hero” traits. Because everyone has flaws and weaknesses, and it’s not fun to read about someone who is perfect because they don’t exist!


Do you have any hidden talents?

I taught myself how to use Adobe Photoshop when I was in high school, and my husband, who was professionally taught Photoshop in college, gets super frustrated when he sees me using strange short cuts to create an effect because my way is both faster and easier. For whatever reason all of these years I’ve been able to create some really neat stuff (my book covers are all me) despite not using professional techniques in Photoshop!



What are your current projects?

First off, books three and four of the Dryad Quartet are going to be released on June 15th, so I’ve been busy putting that together. Also I recently finished writing the first draft of a new novel called When Empires Fall. It is a story about a prominent New York City luxury hotel and the family that built it, and the scandals and murder and greed that ensues as the newest generation takes on the family business.

It’s darker, deadlier, and sexier than the Quartet, which I hope readers will enjoy ;) Next up once I finish with that book, I plan on writing a paranormal romance/horror about a ghost hunter and a medium. I’m obsessed with the television show Ghost Adventures, so as a result this book has been on my mind for a long time, lying in wait for me to find the time to get it all on paper!


What book are you reading now?

Right now I am reading Resounding Echo by Michelle Louring. It’s a dark fantasy book about a girl with an unknown past who spent many years in a religious sanctuary, only to discover she is the target of a demonic cult that seeks to capture her. I’m not quite halfway done with it yet, but it’s getting very intense and intriguing!


Quick: Vampires or Shapeshifter? Why?

Honestly, after Twilight, True Blood, Vampire Diaries, and everything else, I’m a little burnt out on the whole vampire thing. So I’ll take Shapeshifter. Especially because I used to be obsessed with Animorphs as a kid!


Do you have any advice for other writers?

Learn as much about marketing and promoting before publishing your book. If I could do everything over again, I would have set up my website/Facebook/Twitter/blog before the book was released in order to establish a base. Because making connections is the most important thing you can do aside from writing the book itself. World Literary Cafe is an excellent resource, so visit their page.

Also, I always stress that having the perfect book cover is crucial to selling books. I hate seeing really good books go to waste because the cover art is bad. So spend some money (at least $50-$100) and have a cover designer whip something up for you versus doing it yourself on Paint. It will be the difference between a bestseller on Amazon and a flop.


Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I just hope that they fall in love with the Dryads as much as I have. Though, it’s very possible that no one will ever love those characters as much as me ;) They are my heart and soul, written down for anyone who wants to to take a peek and experience what has been, for me at least, the greatest escape of my life.

She was born with a gift she didn’t understand. A gift so strange, so remarkable that she had kept it secret for as long as she could remember, despising that it made her different when all she wanted was to be normal, to belong. As an orphan, belonging to someone, anyone, would have been an incredible blessing, one she would have given up all that she had just to get a taste of.
But the truth was that she didn’t belong in the orphanage in Virginia, or even in the United States. In fact, she didn’t belong with human beings at all. Because she wasn’t one of them, not really. She was something much more extraordinary.

She could shift the direction of the wind, create billowing clouds out of nothing, and charm birds into dancing on her open palm. She belonged to an elite group of beings, responsible for preserving the balance of nature and the safety of Earth from an underworld that deserved to be feared, and needed to be controlled.

And after years of being lost, she had at last been found, and now the truth of how she had ended up so far from home was becoming horribly clear to her.

But there’s someone who doesn’t want her to return; someone who knows Capri was the only witness to an act of heinous treason and violent murder. And when she begins to search her memories for details of the night she was taken from her home, details that will implicate a killer, she finds herself the unwary target of an otherworldly dark force intent on silencing her by any means possible.

Her name was Blythe, and she was Fire.

She fought for what she believed in, and wouldn’t hesitate to unleash the fire in her blood on anyone who threatened those she loved.

But when an alarming truth is revealed regarding the one man she’s both hated and longed for her entire life, she finds herself in an awkward position of both acceptance and denial. But whichever way she looked at it, she was reminded that there was an evil out there gunning for her and her family, and she would stop at nothing to destroy him, even if it meant sacrificing everything she had and everything she was.

Fortunately for her, she had help. But even with the companionship of a skilled and lethal bounty hunter, Blythe couldn’t escape more of the truth, no matter how hard it was to swallow.
Because the evil she’s fighting has a story to tell, and she’d be a damn fool not to listen.