Author Interview – Dermot Davis @dermotdavis1

You’re also a playwright?

Yes, my background is in theatre and aside from some early poetry and short stories, plays were the first real writings I attempted.

How does the experience of writing a play differ from that of writing a novel?

For me, they pose a very different set of challenges. The limitations involved in writing a play are very strict and confining and can be very difficult to adhere to or overcome. In a play, the entire action is taking place in real time and although you can play around with creative lighting, scene changes, blocking and so on, so much is dependent on the dialogue itself. Mostly everything has to be conveyed through believable dialogue between the characters on stage and only one person can speak at a time. The number of characters you can put on a stage at any one time tends to determine what can happen in a scene.

Having said that, it’s also very true that knowing and working within the limitations can be very freeing and can very much improve the work. Dialogue has to be economical and very, very precise, for instance.

And writing the novel?

Writing the novel is almost like going to the other extreme where there are unlimitless possibilities. You can write for a cast of thousands, travel back and forth around the world and through time itself and you have the opportunity of allowing your characters to speak pages and pages about their inner-most thoughts. It’s wonderful.

You enjoy writing having in a medium that has less limitations, then?

Yes and no. They are both just different beasts, really. The dangers of having too few limitations are that, in the novel, for instance, I can write pages about something that really doesn’t serve the characters or the plot but I’m so in love with my writing that I find it hard to curb myself. That happens a lot and a good editor should be able to spot those areas and respectfully run a red pen through them (laughs). A really strict editor is a writer’s godsend, to be honest.

Do you have an organized process or tips for writing well? Do you have a writing schedule?

I don’t write to a schedule usually but I do try to write every day that I’m working on a project. Some days I could write lots and other days very little but I try not to force myself to write if the story isn’t flowing. Usually when I find myself slowing down, on further analysis, I discover within myself that I’ve come to some kind of resistance in the writing and it serves me to stop and take a closer look at what that might be.

How do you do that? What kind of resistances are you concerned about?

Resistances come in many flavors and can be very hard to ascertain. It can require some deep introspection but doing so usually pays dividends so I try to stay as aware and alert to them as I can because if I don’t, ultimately the work can suffer. Sometimes, it’s just a question that I have been working too much at the expense of play or relaxation and the playful part of myself feels restless and maybe a little cheated. A simple remedy would be to take some time off and go to the beach or do something fun. A more serious kind of resistance could indicate that I’ve lost my way in the story or rather that I’ve strayed from the truth in some way. Maybe I’m forcing the characters to follow some plotting that I want to have happen and it’s not being respectful to the characters and may come across in the read as being false.

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Genre - Romance

Rating – PG13

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Website www.dermotdavis.com

Lazar’s Mission by Kevin Sterling @ksterlingwriter

0Excerpt from Chapter Four

It was eleven fifteen, and there was no sign of Melati. She could have been late for a number of reasons, or a complete no-show for that matter, and Jack hoped it was the former. No doubt, fraternizing with the passengers was forbidden, or at least frowned upon. So the question was whether she had been sufficiently lured by Jack’s charm to break the rules. His stomach was in knots from the anticipation of seeing her, and he paced the floor of his suite like a caged animal.

Part of him was over-the-top excited to see her, play with her. But a voice of reason in the depths of his consciousness couldn’t help but speculate whether he was getting himself into trouble again. He just couldn’t see how.

Perhaps Jack was just channeling his Eastern mentor, Tasagi, who had not only been his private jujitsu and karate instructor for several years now, but over time had become a valuable spiritual guide as well. According to Tasagi, Jack was bringing dangerous situations to himself through a process called the Law of Attraction, and it was tied to his internal belief system. That meant Jack consciously believed he had chosen to involve himself with certain people or situations because of their reasonable appearance on the surface, whereas in reality his energy had attracted an underlying issue or conflict, and he didn’t recognize it until it was too late.

The problem was that Tasagi had him questioning everything now, including sweet Balinese girls, and he knew he had finally taken it too far. He knew there was nothing at all wrong with Melati, and he prayed he would soon hear her knock on the door.

In the meantime, he forced himself to stop pacing, and he reclined on the couch with a bottle of water to hydrate himself for what he hoped to be a spirited night.

To get more comfortable, he had changed into a loose-fitting pair of white drawstring linen pants with an aquamarine linen shirt and brown woven leather loafers sans the socks. After all, the ship was traversing the Mediterranean Sea toward the north coast of Africa, so an outfit leaning toward the tropical seemed most fitting.

Also, despite his earlier wine-opening announcement of eleven o’clock, he chose to uncork the bottle of Caymus Special Selection Napa Cab at ten and empty it into a decanter to let it breathe. The wine steward had thoughtfully included a pair of Spiegelau vinovino Cabernet wineglasses, and Jack knew the large, appellation-designed bowls would let the wine open up to its full potential.

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Genre – Action, Mystery, Suspense

Rating – R

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Author Interview – Ben Woodard @benswoodard

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

I’ve always had a fantasy about living in New Zealand. I’ve never been there, but I’m an outdoorsman and the idea of living in a small country with mountains and glaciers in the South and tropical islands in the North definitely appeals to me.

How do you write, with a laptop, pen, paper, in bed, at a desk?

All of the above, and more. When I’m writing a draft, I usually dictate using Dragon Dictate for the Mac. I’m a decent storyteller and this is the quickest way for me to get the words out. However, when editing I use a Mac Mini with a large screen monitor. Don’t tell, but sometimes when editing or writing, I will get in the tub with a couple of dark beers, a pad of paper, and a pencil and stay until my wife threatens to call the fire department to get me out.

Every writer has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is, what does success in writing look like to you?

To me success would be when reluctant readers, and especially boys, read and enjoy my books. I’ve had one boy who, according to his mother, is bored with reading. She got him to read Hunger Games and the Percy Jackson books, but he’s a slow reader and lost interest. But with tears in her eyes, she told me that when he read my book, A Stairway To Danger, he wouldn’t put it down and even hid under the covers reading late into the night. That’s my definition of success.

When you are not writing, how do you like to relax?

I like to read, to hike in the woods, to play with the grandkids, and snuggle with my wife on the couch. Oh, and not necessarily in that order.

How often do you write? And when do you write?

I write, market, and/or edit every day. Since I’m semiretired—I don’t have to go to work every day—I’m fortunate to be able to spend from eight to twelve hours a day on my books. And that doesn’t seem to be enough time.

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Genre - YA/Mystery

Rating – PG – 13

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Website http://BooksByBen.com

Author Interview – Eleni Papanou @elenipapanou

What marketing works for you?

To be honest, I haven’t figured it out yet. As I write visionary fiction, I find the best way to present my work is by getting involved with other writers of the same genre and building something together with them. I’m one of the founding members of the Visionary Fiction Alliance.

Do you find it hard to share your work?

At first, I did as I always felt heavily judged because of my childhood trauma of being bullied. But once I honed in on learning my craft, I developed a confidence I never had before. Now I look forward to sharing my work.

Is your family supportive? Do your friends support you?

My family is highly supportive and very critical in a constructive way. They push me to be my best. I’m lucky to have them. My husband beta reads for me. I also found a great support group with other writers.

Do you plan to publish more books?

As many as I can!  My next release is Beyond Omega’s Sunrise, which will be published in November of this year, and I have three more books scheduled to be released in 2014. I’m focusing on building a robust back catalogue.

What other jobs have you had in your life?

I’ve been a fitness counselor, sung in wedding bands, fronted my own original band and worked as a secretary.

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Genre - Paranormal Mystery

Rating – PG13

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Blog http://elenipapanou.com/

The Sovereign Order of Monte Cristo: Newly Discovered Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Holy Ghost Writer @SultanOfSalem

The Sovereign Order of Monte Cristo is a continuation of The Count of Monte Cristo (Book I), related through the voice of Sherlock Holmes and The Sultan of Monte Cristo (Book II). It includes exhilarating new adventures, characters, and ideas, carrying the reader past book I and II and into book III of an ever-expanding new series based on the classic.

Those who have already had the pleasure of reading The Sultan of Monte Cristo will certainly appreciate the unique way in which the Holy Ghost Writer has expanded the original story without the help of anyone (except perhaps from the ghosts of Dumas and Doyle).

In addition to comprising a 3rd sequel to The Count of Monte Cristo, The Sovereign Order of Monte Cristo serves as a prequel to The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

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Genre – Action, Adventure

Rating – PG-15

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Website http://holyghostwriterbooks.blogspot.ca/

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Quality Reads UK Book Club Disclosure: Author interview / guest post has been submitted by the author and previously used on other sites.

Author Interview - Peter Clenott @PeterClenott

What is your favorite food? Toss-up: pizza, cheeseburgers, sea food platters.

Do you find the time to read? I try to, But between work, promoting the books, and family, I find myself getting tired as bedtime approaches. I am reading the work of a fellow local novelist now.

What’s the reason for your life? Have you figured out your reason for being here yet? I guess that’s all something we have to determine for ourselves. There is no great reason for any of us to be here. It was all a matter of chance, coincidence and astronomical good fortune. I’d like to think that I have something to share with the world to make it a slightly more livable place. So, I would say my reason for being is to communicate to the world through my writing. I hope I have good genes.

If you could have a dinner party and invite anyone dead or alive, who would you ask? Abraham Lincoln, who was not only a giant, but had a wonderful sense of humor and could tell a good story. And Jesus. Whatever you believe, you would certainly learn the truth.

What are your current writing projects now? I have long had on the back burner a novel called COMRADE LOLITA. The story is based on Lolita Lebron and the Puerto Rican nationalists who tried to assassinate Harry Truman and who shot up the House of representatives in the early 50s. It relates well to the terrorist activities of this century and asks the question, why do people commit violent acts in the name of politics? Do they really believe these acts will generate some positive outcome or are they really just childish acts of vindictiveness?

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Genre - Young Adult

Rating – PG

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Website www.peterclenott.net

Author Interview – Jade Kerrion @JadeKerrion

Is there any books you really don’t enjoy?

Horror. I see absolutely no point in spending my time and paying money to not sleep at night. J

What do you hope your obituary will say about you?

That I lived well, did much, and had a great deal of fun along the way.

Location and life experiences can really influence writing, tell us where you grew up and where you now live?

I spent my childhood in Malaysia and my college years in Baltimore, Maryland. I worked for several years in Singapore, but since then have relocated permanently to the U.S. where I have lived in Charlottesville, VA, Dallas, TX, Springdale, AR, and most recently, Fort Lauderdale, FL. If I had to pick my favorite places, it would be Charlottesville or Fort Lauderdale.

How did you develop your writing?

It was organic, at first, mostly from reading and emulating others. Unfortunately, I emulated lots of bad habits. (It’s a well-known fact that famous authors can get away with writing habits that would draw the ire of editors otherwise.) Once I started writing professionally, I paid for an editor who was also a writing coach. She was a tremendous help in my growth as an author.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I get this question a lot, and I don’t really know how to answer it. There’s just a story percolating in my head that has to be told. I don’t always know where the story comes from.

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Genre - Fantasy, Paranormal

Rating – PG-13

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Website http://www.jadekerrion.com