tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046283472010681162024-03-11T13:13:56.426-07:00The Independent Author Network BlogReviews, interviews, author articles, and guest posts of indie and self-published fiction, non-fiction and memoirs.William R Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05728302101913537046noreply@blogger.comBlogger386125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-404628347201068116.post-16558142435292530672024-03-11T13:13:00.000-07:002024-03-11T13:13:24.685-07:00Krishna Kumar - The IAN Interview<p><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.independentauthornetwork.com/krishna-kumar.html" target="_blank">KrishnaKumar</a></span></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1iNqa0X6l0Zv0PHYI-j04Ab_OUZIiN6foOo8Etp_44XLo3nuhrVfqUedjRlS7Kcboj9hgA63h-yYlXy8oO4dxFfFzyumuG_veIGMPXB99Tveyx74d3Bcoq-uBd0pqT1dhvKcwX9EnujcGOZc_cE19s3Vn8HjNhXx-UIMkZ-Ertztc_kAHEwZq-qfTxY/s350/krishna-kumar-sq_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1iNqa0X6l0Zv0PHYI-j04Ab_OUZIiN6foOo8Etp_44XLo3nuhrVfqUedjRlS7Kcboj9hgA63h-yYlXy8oO4dxFfFzyumuG_veIGMPXB99Tveyx74d3Bcoq-uBd0pqT1dhvKcwX9EnujcGOZc_cE19s3Vn8HjNhXx-UIMkZ-Ertztc_kAHEwZq-qfTxY/w244-h244/krishna-kumar-sq_orig.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Krishna
Kumar studies, evaluates, and analyzes events in Indian history with particular
emphasis on the British Period.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Krishna's
interest in history and analysis started early when his father encouraged him to
learn about various global historical events and their implications.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Krishna,
therefore, learned to analyze and separate the wheat from the chaff before
reaching any conclusions or forming an opinion, given the multiple narratives.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spending
most of his life in a non-related profession, books and picking up information
remained constant companions, and the internet opened a floodgate about the
past and different viewpoints. Three years back, his interest became his
career.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Krishna
grew up in India and lives with his wife and daughter in New Jersey.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
Tell us about your latest book.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Krishna
Kumar: <i>1942: When British Rule In India Was Threatened</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">British
Rule in India started with a governorship of one of the provinces and slowly
extended to the entire country, either directly or via ‘subsidiary agreements’
with multiple kingdoms. The local ruler accepted British Sovereignty in
relationships with other kingdoms, the size of the army, and other matters.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">In
1942, British Rule came under severe threat when Japan conquered Hong Kong,
Malaya (now Malaysia), Singapore, and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Burma (now Myanmar) one by one. As per British
policy, the defense of these areas was the responsibility of the British Indian
Army and the Government of India, and people of Indian origin conducted a lot
of trade and administration.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">When
Japan attacked, Hongkong surrendered on Dec 25<sup>th</sup>, 1941, followed by
Singapore and Malaya in February, and Burma was taken over in April ’42. After
that, India was bombed, and ports on the eastern side of India were closed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">In
Singapore on 17<sup>th</sup> February 1942, the Indian National Army (INA)was
formed from Indian soldiers who were taken prisoners. A year later, when Subhas
Bose took over this army, he declared a Provisional Government of Free India,
and INA became its armed wing. They began the fight to liberate India from
British Rule, reaching deep inside Northeast India and flying an independent
Indian flag on the Indian mainland. After the surrender in 1945, these soldiers
were imprisoned, and some of them were tried for treason to make an example, as
many of them were part of the former British Indian Army and had broken their
oath to the British King by joining INA.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">That
led to a wave of protests and agitations in the country that made it
ungovernable, and the British had to leave before their economic interests were
damaged forever.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">This
book examines the relationship of various events of 1942, their linkages, and
how these eventually led to Indian freedom. It also briefly discusses the
nature of British Rule.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Is <i>1942 </i>published in print, eBook
or both?</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVBmiwruCqucs3oCyVR_i237EjYfBPCO9VvomEQndZ24jpMYr_sNAFgdRJJiB4OQ8CC6vgypYivG_eN9pos0e6sqpRYM51PvEXLYJavgn3NpZ8ftWj0bIa4EAp2ScF4iwB6sfl5qWEo1Q2172WZdN9YLb7Bm4SvihT8eGW-f8BmKxSRM9-voXh79PfG8/s600/1942_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVBmiwruCqucs3oCyVR_i237EjYfBPCO9VvomEQndZ24jpMYr_sNAFgdRJJiB4OQ8CC6vgypYivG_eN9pos0e6sqpRYM51PvEXLYJavgn3NpZ8ftWj0bIa4EAp2ScF4iwB6sfl5qWEo1Q2172WZdN9YLb7Bm4SvihT8eGW-f8BmKxSRM9-voXh79PfG8/w278-h418/1942_orig.jpg" width="278" /></a></b></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Krishna
Kumar: <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Available in paperback and as eBook.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN: Where can we go to buy <i>1942?</i></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Krishna
Kumar: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMHYXNRK">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/CA1THf0g5TKLByDhC1Zaug">Kobo</a>, <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=YffiEAAAQBAJ&rdid=book-YffiEAAAQBAJ&rdot=1">Google</a></span></b>,
and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/1942/id6474064848">Apple.</a></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN: </span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">What
inspired you to write <i>1942?</i></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Krishna Kumar: <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1942 was such a pivotal year that it changed
Southeast Asia's future, and this had to be brought out clearly.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I desired to bring out these events that triggered Indian Independence in
particular, how they are connected, and their impact using multiple sources and
citing them for the reader. Indian history has been selectively presented after
independence, and the truth has been a victim. Many researchers and authors are
now bringing the facts into the open of various periods, and I am trying to do
my bit.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Did you
use an outline, or did you just wing the first draft?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Krishna
Kumar: <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I did an outline as most of the
research was over when I started writing the book, but some changes had to be
made while writing to ensure the sequence was clear and maintained flow.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">How long
did it take to write <i>1942?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></i></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Krishna
Kumar: <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">This book took about six months
and had three major activities: writing, some additional information, and
arranging the flow of information. But I have been researching this period for
three years. For this book, I decided to pause the other book I had been
working on. There were many reasons for doing this book first. Among these are
checking how the audience reacts to my writing style and learning the ropes in
marketing.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">How did
you come up with the title?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Krishna
Kumar: <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I had prepared several titles,
and this one was chosen because it clearly explains the book's content.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">What do
you hope your readers come away with after reading <i>1942?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></i><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Krishna
Kumar: <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I hope the reader finds it
interesting to learn some truths of Indian history that have not been covered
in popular narratives. For example, most do not know that Japan had bombed
three Indian ports in 1942. They know about the Bengal famine of 1943 but do
not know that one of the significant reasons was that the import of rice from
Burma stopped as Burma went to the Japanese, and no alternative supply was
arranged.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Further, the book brings out the interdependence and
relationships in this geographical area.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">How much
of <i>1942</i> is realistic?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Krishna
Kumar: <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">It is 100 percent based on
real-life incidents, and extensive citations are used. My father, my uncle, and
their friends who lived through this period narrated many incidents that
particularly created an interest in this period.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">What
books have influenced your life the most?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Krishna Kumar: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Mahabharata.
This epic covers success and failure, emotions across a wide spectrum, and is a
guide to living life.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN: </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Do you see writing as a career?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Krishna
Kumar: <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">After I retired from business,
this has become my full-time activity.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Do you
recall how your interest in writing originated?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Krishna
Kumar: <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">My parents encouraged me, and
while in school, I started writing articles whose publication became a major inspiration.
My first article was published when I was thirteen. Even though I pursued a
professional career in an unrelated field, I kept studying books and
publications in history and politics.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">IAN:
What was the hardest part of writing <i>1942?</i></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Krishna
Kumar: <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Keeping the focus on the main
part of the events and maintain the flow while citing various sources. The
citations are the most important part of presenting truth; they often have
expressions specific to the period, so the language differs.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Did you
learn anything from writing your book, and what was it?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Krishna
Kumar:<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> Truth can be hidden, but it will
come out eventually. This, by the way, is also part of the Indian National
emblem and is taken from Mundaka Upanishad, which is part of ancient Hindu
wisdom books.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN: Tell us about your next book or a
work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand-alone?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Krishna
Kumar: <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">My next book is fiction—a
collection of short stories inspired by real events in the history of the
Indian Subcontinent. The protagonists in each story have an emotion that
determines their activities and guides their lives.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Besides, for three years, I have been researching
the period of 1920-1950 of the Indian Freedom struggles and hope to have this
book- <i>No Stone Unturned, Indian Freedom</i> <i>Struggle, and</i> <i>Subhas
Bose</i>- out later this year or early next year. This examines the events and
roles played by various persons and influences, Subhas Chandra Bose in
particular.<o:p></o:p></span></p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><p></p>William R Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05728302101913537046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-404628347201068116.post-78410608328518907622024-01-29T15:22:00.000-08:002024-01-29T15:22:24.752-08:00K. Reagan Zell - The IAN Interview<p><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="https://www.independentauthornetwork.com/k-reagan-zell.html">K. Reagan Zell</a></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">I currently live in southern New Jersey with my husband, two lovable St.
Danes, and four energetic cats. As a true New Jersey-ite, I can usually be
found taking walks on one of the state's breathtaking beaches, watching the
amazing sunrises and sunsets while listening to a variety of music. I also
enjoy discovering and exploring many of the amazing New Jersey nature trails or
visiting any one of the remarkable New Jersey historical sites. It is in the
nature that surrounds us and the psychology within us all that intrigues and
inspires me the most to write about what I see, hear, and feel around me.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">IAN: Please tell us
about your latest book.</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYg3pVR-ZkelBEP5ccwZPxxfhnEar4mmtuaJHjkbOZhl8EbiIcK0RnZ8yzWBclYQs5BbmIiX0dbgb5KQZ5AMQdYCDwTt39gZ-G_hW2U3ioUa6TN8kXvft6L2LDf0mX10RnDGDf2po3xK66redWi-umCXH4A0fzlFcyAYj7-4KQqHlvnukgKyiJYO2cxwU/s600/beguiled-persuasion-1_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYg3pVR-ZkelBEP5ccwZPxxfhnEar4mmtuaJHjkbOZhl8EbiIcK0RnZ8yzWBclYQs5BbmIiX0dbgb5KQZ5AMQdYCDwTt39gZ-G_hW2U3ioUa6TN8kXvft6L2LDf0mX10RnDGDf2po3xK66redWi-umCXH4A0fzlFcyAYj7-4KQqHlvnukgKyiJYO2cxwU/s320/beguiled-persuasion-1_orig.jpg" width="213" /></a></b></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">K. Reagan Zell: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">During the Covid quarantine, I began to write a nine book
paranormal romance series, The Beguiled West Series I. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Beguiled Persuasion</span></i>
(Book 1) begins the captivating journey of Cait, an empath who accidently
discovers that her once despised empathic gift has a different purpose in her
life. Nevertheless, her discoveries and ultimate decisions are not without
perilous consequences.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Having broken up with her boyfriend when she discovered that he was
married and then immediately having to deal with the sudden death of her
father, Cait takes a sleeping pill to help her cope. Her one innocent action of
that pill as she tries to find emotional relief sets into motion an incredible
journey of unimaginable paranormal events. Traveling between her present-day
timeline and 15th century Ireland, she encounters psychics, a Shaman, Druids, a
rogue time shifter, and the Galloglaith warriors. As she slowly but surely
makes her way through the astonishing events, she also makes some devastating
discoveries and must decide who is dangerous and who is not.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Beguiled Persuasion</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> is the
first book in the series, followed by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mists of Tiarnas, Valley of Ogham Na,
Nattfisker Ridge, Tears of </i></span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Tårene</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">, Lanterns of
Sennaire, Manens Sunrise, Buran of Qaneame, and Borde's Rim.</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">IAN: Is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Beguiled Persuasion</i></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">published in
print, e-book, or both?</b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">K. Reagan Zell:The books are only E-books.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">IAN: Where can we go
to buy <i>Beguiled Persuasion</i>?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">K. Reagan Zell: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Currently, books 1-5 are available on <b><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1148223">Smashwords.com</a> </b>(formats:
</span><span class="file-format"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">epub, mobi, pdf, lrf, pdb,
and txt)</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">; <b><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beguiled-persuasion-k-reagan-zell/1141498784?ean=2940165858994">Barnes
& Noble</a> </b>and<b> <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/beguiled-persuasion-beguiled-west-series-1-book-1">Kobo</a></b>.
<i>Beguiled
Persuasion</i> is also available on various library channels.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-right: -9.0pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">IAN: Did you use an
outline or do you just wing the first draft?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-right: -9.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">K. Reagan Zell: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Interesting question. I began to write the books as I
listened to music. As different types of music provided a background, the ideas
entered my mind. I could actually imagine and feel the characters, their
actions and reactions, their dialogues, and their emotions all set against
different locales. It was like when an idea pops into your head when you want
to fix something, make a recipe, or decorate. It was like that, but different.
There was no outline or winging it; it was as if I were a viewer watching a
movie, losing myself in the storyline, and feeling the full impact of the tale.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">IAN: How much of the
book is realistic?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-right: -9.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">K. Reagan Zell: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I would say that as far as being realistic, or even tied
to personal experiences, there are some elements in the book in regards to
that. As we grow in life, we always draw upon our own experiences and that of
others. Love, birth, life lived, déjà vue, and death are all universal. Experiences
are what make us human, connecting our values and realities through life.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">IAN: Do you recall
how your interest in writing originated?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">K. Reagan Zell: Many years ago, I had an English teacher in high school who had assigned the classto write a short story. Once again, through music, my mind moved into a scene and I created a fiction story as the images came into my mind. After we had turned in our assignments, the teacher asked me to stay behind to talk. Once everyone had left, he began to question me as to where I got the idea because he felt that I could not have written something as good as that. Although he could not find any story that matched my fictional story (of which he never would - the story was original), he was still cynical. After a long discussion back and forth and explaining my inspiration process, he finally gave me an "A". He realized through our conversation that I liked to write, but he still seemed doubtful that a high school student could write such a good fictional short story. Back in the day, educators did not recognize talent, felt that anything out of the ordinary was false, and did not encourage growth of a student's special talent. I was graduating high school a year early, had good grades and he still had doubts. Unfortunately, because of my experience with him, I never wanted to write fiction again.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-right: -9.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Then years later, came college and working on an advanced
degree, a master’s in psychology. Writing assignments and term papers based
upon science and the strict association writing rules (400+ pages) left me
feeling cold, empty, and not producing anything worthwhile. Although I did
well, my heart was not in it. In my opinion, I was not creating anything meaningful,
just plugging along with the required norm. Once I got my degree, I was done
with writing such cold and emotionless papers and assignments; it was not my
passion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-right: -9.0pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">IAN: I see. Then how did you find your way back to
fiction writing?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-right: -9.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">K. Reagan Zell: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">It was not until decades later with the Covid
pandemic/quarantine that I once again decided to put pen to paper - with my
headset on, listening to music - and wrote what I saw, heard, and felt in my
mind's eye. As I approach another milestone in my life, I will eventually write
full time, listening to my music, and writing what I see, hear, and feel. I have
found my passion and will enjoy it well into retirement down the road.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">IAN: What do you
hope your readers come away with after reading <i>Beguiled Persuasion</i>?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">K. Reagan Zell: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">It is my hope that not only is it a good story line, but
that people associate the emotions and experiences as being universal,
connecting to something that we have personally known, a shared understanding
of life. By being able to relate to the challenges and joys in our lives, it is
those experiences that connect us all as humans.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">IAN: What was the
hardest part of writing <i>Beguiled
Persuasion</i>?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">K. Reagan Zell: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">For me, the hardest part is not the writing of a book,
but rather the disbelief of some of those around us that cannot fathom that any
person they know can even be creative. The reasoning is something very basic;
people have an unconscious tendency to connect a person with <i>what</i>
they do in life rather than what they <i>are</i>. A newscaster who is a
talented painter will always be first referred to as a newscaster; a homemaker
who has a dog training business will always be first referred to as a
homemaker; and a talented high school student will always be first referred to
as a student. It is unfortunate that our positions in life are what label us
first, limiting our primary recognition of the talents we possess and where we
prosper and flourish the most. Again, as with the English teacher, people have
the tendency of viewing talented people through the eyes of skepticism, an unaware
portrayal based upon their own association of the world around them.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">It is a slow process when they discover and finally believe
that a person has a natural and imaginative talent. In the end, the most
important thing for any creative person to remember is that it is not what we </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">do
or earn</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">, but rather, it is our </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">passion and drive to create</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> what
we value the most.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">IAN: Who designs
your book covers?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Multi-talented book
cover designer and award-winning author, Melissa Alvarez (https://bookcovers.us/).
She is one of the most amazing, passionate, and outstanding creative designers
that I have ever met. When designing a cover, it is so important to get the
elements right, to be able to have the designer see what you see, and Melissa
nails it every single time. I am truly blessed to be working with her.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-right: -9.0pt; tab-stops: 468.0pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">IAN: Tell us about
your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand-alone?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-right: -9.0pt;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Beguiled Persuasion</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> is currently available on Smashwords.com and I will be
uploading books 6-8 of the Beguiled West Series I this summer. I am currently
finishing the dramatic conclusion in book 9 (<i>Borde's Rim</i>). The
new series (Beguiled West Series II) that I will be working on is <i>The
Eshunna Trilogy</i>, a futuristic romance genre.</span></p>William R Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05728302101913537046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-404628347201068116.post-11704030140577762192023-12-09T11:05:00.000-08:002023-12-09T11:05:10.039-08:00Donna Silveira-The IAN Interview <p><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="https://www.independentauthornetwork.com/donna-silveira.html" target="_blank">Donna Silveira</a></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrrkaPm-pr3Rpi8BeehiWqMEfLJl1SkMzritsrYwXiqRraJJ-0acP5IHoEt-yhqMpwPcK0X3jKFtQifo2D6UZyZHWEgqLhGLwqFOOaYY638YzrEOvLdHZNbbGQa0EsgWpG7lDI84d6mtwRPIgEJJ4Qz_9deTGSSOJlAc_4w47ZY_3i0HxgfNFKk5CJvI/s526/donna-silveira_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="479" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrrkaPm-pr3Rpi8BeehiWqMEfLJl1SkMzritsrYwXiqRraJJ-0acP5IHoEt-yhqMpwPcK0X3jKFtQifo2D6UZyZHWEgqLhGLwqFOOaYY638YzrEOvLdHZNbbGQa0EsgWpG7lDI84d6mtwRPIgEJJ4Qz_9deTGSSOJlAc_4w47ZY_3i0HxgfNFKk5CJvI/w171-h188/donna-silveira_orig.jpg" width="171" /></a></div>From the
California beaches to the Massachusetts harbors, and now settled on a Texas
cattle ranch, this wandering heart has traveled far and wide to understand
people, culture, and primarily God! Led to Christ through Mary, Donna seeks to
pass on the lessons learned, knowledge, and the love she has for Him. Journey
with her as she takes people on a tour through a spirituality as unique as she
is! A fervent ambassador for Catholicism and a guiding light as a life coach,
Donna hosts an online sanctuary, MyCatholicChat.com, which offers a treasure
trove of spiritual resources. Her drive? To lead souls towards a deeper
relationship with God.<o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: Please tell us about <i>This Is Your
Last Warning</i>.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Donna Silveira: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">This is a book that examines purported Marian
apparitions and mystic visions where the messages discuss future events,
scrutinizing them for their reliability. Using guidelines given by the Church
in discerning valid from invalid apparitions, the book discusses the reasons
some prophecies are invalid. The apparitions and prophecies from mystic visions
which are highly reliable are then taken to form a timeline of the events we
can expect to see if mankind does not turn back to God. The timeline spans from
today, and some of the craziness we see in our world today, through an era of
peace, and ultimately to the antichrist and Christ's return on the last day.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Only the
Church-accepted or highly reliable apparitions or mystic visions were used to
construct the timeline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Further, these
prophecies relate to happenings in our current society and world issues, the
Church itself, and our general state.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is this contextualized approach to the prophecies that allows them to be
understood and clearly draws the picture of what is to come. This was
painstakingly researched and the sources documented.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: Is <i>This Is Your Last Warning</i> published
in print, e-book or both?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3QJO2QLpq3Q8HtlHKU_6Mp2nh315yXXS0sE43osZoazXr1Gf0kd-QU-l_InRVW_Yu1VnxxZLy1e0fmA7yStwEFNPbugr7UdNEu-XdoaoxPKMBfHdCIjQGDmlzBj44MpcoirUWvIuZ2H5nOyYsdg6QtpAatV3niCaA4M5FVjUVYjwT2s52uR2_bkUP38/s639/this-is-your-last-warning-1_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3QJO2QLpq3Q8HtlHKU_6Mp2nh315yXXS0sE43osZoazXr1Gf0kd-QU-l_InRVW_Yu1VnxxZLy1e0fmA7yStwEFNPbugr7UdNEu-XdoaoxPKMBfHdCIjQGDmlzBj44MpcoirUWvIuZ2H5nOyYsdg6QtpAatV3niCaA4M5FVjUVYjwT2s52uR2_bkUP38/s320/this-is-your-last-warning-1_orig.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Donna Silveira: It is an eBook and is available in color-print paperback
format.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: Where can we go to buy <i>This Is Your
Last Warning?</i></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Donna Silveira: The </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/This-Your-Last-Warning-Authoritative-ebook/dp/B0CFGLVY14">Kindle</a></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> and the </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/This-Your-Last-Warning-Authoritative/dp/1733081569">Paperback</a>.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: </span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">What
inspired you to write</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">This
Is Your Last Warning?</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Donna Silveira: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I’ve
always had an interest in Marian apparitions, but I come at them with quite a
bit of skepticism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of them turn out
to be false! So I think in large part, it was a matter of looking at these
prophecies, which I have run across, and these concepts that relate to the end
times, and wondering if there was any validity to these things! So, I began
researching these prophecies, and since I was doing the research anyway, I
decided to formulate a timeline out of the prophecies that could be determined
to be unquestionably true, or at least had a very high probability of being
true. I wound up with so much information, that the book kind of wrote itself!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Did you use an outline or do you
just wing the first draft?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Donna Silveira: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">For
this one, there was sort of a combination of both. I did a ton of research, and
it was on various apparitions, and certain concepts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So things like “the great monarch”, or the
“illumination of conscience” I wanted to tackle first, to see if there was any
validity to either of those concepts. Then things sort of fell into two
categories: Apparitions, and mystics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
the research I was doing, simply by its nature, lent itself fairly well to its
organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An editor who looked at it
suggested that I go in chronological order for each of the sections, since each
section seemed to be sort of haphazardly put together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I started, I was building out the
timeline and providing supportive argument from apparitions as I was building
out the order of what was to come, as stated within these messages. It did make
more sense to put the apparitions and the mystics in chronological order and
build out the timeline in a slightly different order though. Turns out that a
good editor is an invaluable resource!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Do you have a specific writing style?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Donna Silveira: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">My
writing style is unique to me, I think. Basically, I write in just about the same
manner that I speak. Therefore, my writing is replete with sarcasm, (you can
almost envision the eyes rolling), and a dash of humor here and there. Life
tends to be rather absurd at times, which truly makes it entertaining. One
supposed prophecy that I discounted was pretty funny when you examine it
logically. After recounting the story of this prophecy’s source – I just had to
summarize it to show how ridiculous this whole thing was: “We’re left with a
no-name ‘newly ordained priest’ giving a book that was hidden, so no one could
corroborate, to a king who immediately destroys it after reading it.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Someone seriously is going to take that as a valid source?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sorry, I just can’t. Again, too absurd not to
be funny!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: How did you come up with the
title?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Donna Silveira: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">This
wasn’t supposed to sound really fatalistic, although in hindsight I think I
should have come up with something else. Having poured through numerous
messages, and seeing the patterns, I wouldn’t expect any more valid apparitions
anytime soon. There have been a fair number of valid apparitions and warnings
given. I just put all those warnings together. So the ”last warning” is this
compendium of all the previous messages. Oftentimes, when things are scattered,
it’s difficult to see the bigger picture. I simply took all those scattered
messages, put them in one place, and put them in the best order I could
discern. As such, it turned into a timeline, since I’m a little bit visually
oriented and I’ve heard a picture speaks a thousand words. So I like pictures!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: What do you hope your readers
come away with after reading </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">This Is
Your Last Warning?</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Donna Silveira: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">With
this, because I honestly believe that this is the most accurate picture of the
future, I really want readers to come away with an understanding of how God
simply wants us to return to Him. Hopefully they’ll get a sense of the fact
that humankind has gone our own way for long enough, with terrible results. Our
society isn’t peaceful, isn’t based in love and truth, isn’t generous and kind,
and isn’t respectful of life, authority, or much of anything. I think it leaves
us getting more and more wounded with each day, and God simply wants to put a
stop to it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: How much of the </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">This Is Your Last Warning </span></i></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">is
realistic?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Donna Silveira: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Well,
obviously, this comes down to one’s beliefs. What I can say is that with many
of the Marian apparitions, there is substantial evidence. Now granted, there is
no apparition that has given “irrefutable” evidence – although I would say that
the apparition at Las Lajas is one of the most convincing with regard to
evidence. That one didn’t discuss future events and is not included in this
book, but I am also planning on writing another book simply on significant
Marian apparitions. That will include a greater portion of the overall messages
given, not just the messages relating to the future. In the Las Lajas
apparition, an image appeared on a rock, which turned out to be the rock itself
– not paint, not dye, not some natural means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rocks don’t normally rearrange themselves at the molecular level so that
the color striations within the rock form images that look like paintings. So
although not “irrefutable”, because I’m sure someone somewhere will try to
argue why this can’t be from divine origin, it’s enough to convince me. The
Church goes through a fairly hard-core process of looking for ways to deny an
apparition, or to refute a mystic, before the apparition or vision is approved.
They look at everything from psychological disorders to the demonic. In the
book I mention the guidelines the church uses for discernment of these visions,
and I use some of those guidelines in discerning the validity of the messages
in the book. As a result, only the most reliable ones are used to formulate the
timeline.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: How is </span></b><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">This Is
Your Last Warning </span></i></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">different from others in your genre?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Donna Silveira: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Well,
another author who read this book and who has an interest in eschatology, or
the study of the end times, said the following: “I’ve been both a keen observer
and critic of apocalyptic literature, and I must confess, this is among the few
books that have captivated me entirely.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">So I suppose I must have done
something right! With many of the books I used as sources, I noticed that
people would use books as sources that themselves didn’t cite where these
supposed prophecies originated! That was really frustrating to me, so I made
sure to document every source I used.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Do you see writing as a career?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Donna Silveira: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s
kind of funny, but I don’t really consider myself an author. I just impart
information. I once had a Literature teacher in college tell me that I should
become an author, but at the time my thoughts were something along the lines of
“Yeah, right.” Now that I’m older, I just feel like there’s so many things that
I have learned, so much progress I’ve made in certain areas, and not an
insubstantial amount of “hard-knocks” type lessons I’ve had to go through, that
I really need to pass this along. I didn’t have much in the way of mentors, and
most of these things I had to figure out for myself. If I can save someone a
little time in their spiritual growth, steer someone clear of things that are
patently false, or give them a leg-up on gaining a valuable life-lesson, then
my time writing is well-spent. That would make it all worth it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Who is your favorite author and
what is it that really strikes you about their work?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Donna Silveira: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
really like Michael J Sullivan’s work with the Riyria series and all the books
of Elan. It’s fun when you have a series that paints a detailed picture of a whole
world, and cross-references back to the earlier works. I would love to be able
to have that level of talent to create a whole fantasy world! I absolutely love
to immerse myself in good fiction where the characters are like us, both
honorable and flawed, with all the nuances that make each person so
fascinating! Plus, there’s enough humor in his books that make them a pleasure
to read. In my case, they’re a delight to listen to since I tend to do
audiobooks. Tim Gerard Reynolds is the perfect narrator for the series, and you
can truly become lost in the story. This is one author where I find myself
pre-ordering the next book in the series and have read all the others! The
original seven or so books of Harry Potter were a good read too, although I
don’t find myself waiting with as much anticipation for any other follow-ups.
Sometimes it’s good for a series to just end, but maybe that also had something
to do with the movies and other marketing “spinoffs” that the whole series
generated.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: Tell us about your next book or a work
in progress.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Donna Silveira: My next book is soon to be released. It is entitled “A
Mother’s Walk Through Scripture: A Prayerful Journey Through the Gospels”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">It is a view of some high points of the Gospels, based on the “Mysteries
of the Rosary” as Catholics would reference them. These are meditations on
these points in the Gospels, which comprise a fairly comprehensive narrative of
the Gospel story, but looking at it from Mary’s perspective.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>William R Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05728302101913537046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-404628347201068116.post-83016213004692308872023-11-21T18:37:00.000-08:002023-11-21T18:37:31.360-08:00David Whittet the Independent Author Network Interview<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="https://www.independentauthornetwork.com/david-whittet.html">David
Whittet</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicw8-FmcjUIYPqnfXnp5ZvW5HYnzkGmEJFpz3YmLhGVn8SNWv7uy2pBvGeQLcnTUee1GcZWSobUdWazF4UzE0kdxf0QtqD3Zy_qgkjs9jczzCKJrovs0EuV_f2QbtOT0hI94kFS-syeXCgKR1pJjQlWVESQhwBfA7rfMWYYzCIFX6fjlCAczHbpifsRY4/s400/david-whittet-sq_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicw8-FmcjUIYPqnfXnp5ZvW5HYnzkGmEJFpz3YmLhGVn8SNWv7uy2pBvGeQLcnTUee1GcZWSobUdWazF4UzE0kdxf0QtqD3Zy_qgkjs9jczzCKJrovs0EuV_f2QbtOT0hI94kFS-syeXCgKR1pJjQlWVESQhwBfA7rfMWYYzCIFX6fjlCAczHbpifsRY4/w209-h209/david-whittet-sq_orig.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">David Whittet is a family
doctor, a multi-award-winning independent filmmaker, and an author.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Storytelling has been in
David’s DNA for as long as he can remember. As a child, a dramatization
of <i>Oliver Twist</i> had a profound effect on him. In its day,
Dickens’ novel reformed the poor law, which convinced David of the written
word’s potential to change the world.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">He decided then that he
wanted to be a writer. Subsequently, A J Cronin’s novels inspired David to
become a doctor, especially <i>The Citadel</i>, which pre-empted the
National Health Service’s foundation in the UK and beyond. Further proof that
books change lives.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Medicine is a constant source of inspiration for
David’s writing and brings a gritty realism to his work. Like writing, general
practice is about being interested in people’s stories. The colourful cast of
characters David has met throughout his career––colleagues and patients
alike––breathe life into his writing.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">IAN: Please tell us about your latest book.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">David Whittet: <i>Goliath
and the Gang</i> is the second book in my <i>Gang Girl</i> trilogy. The first
novel introduced us to Alicia, the daughter of a notorious gangster. We shared
both the joy and despair of her lifelong struggle to break free from the Gang
and build a new life for herself.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">In <i>Goliath and the Gang</i>,
we meet Aaron, Alicia’s beloved son. Aaron is cruelly separated from his mother
when he’s just five years old. Raised by his aunt after losing his mother,
Aaron’s uncle bullies him mercilessly, and his cousins treat him with disdain. His
dream of making something of his life, of becoming an entrepreneur like his
late father, rapidly disappears in the wake of his miserable childhood.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The sudden appearance of a
mysterious Māori diviner sparks hope in Aaron’s heart. Is she the anonymous
patron who will change everything? And will he win the heart of her haughty
foster daughter?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Twenty years later, Aaron
is the CEO of an industry-leading power company and still fighting the Godzone
Gorillas—the Gang that kidnapped his mother.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">IAN: Is the <i>Gang Girl</i> series available
in print, e-book, or both?</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOyIMG-m-rltDjU272HgRDVjBDjJd4SnwnHzHJJJCd810SomvlaNtF7nnKspE-61sxyZNcnQNzcwytAMc3-xzW4xbLtvoWRiCYce1AroYy2gXn7Gy1u_gLRyDsC7i3pXZC-dobL7E5AVZ3wOjWJf4qqcrnZ6HQ-0bPX13dA1I5S27LAuon4KjAFUSqXc/s586/gang-girl-1_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="400" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOyIMG-m-rltDjU272HgRDVjBDjJd4SnwnHzHJJJCd810SomvlaNtF7nnKspE-61sxyZNcnQNzcwytAMc3-xzW4xbLtvoWRiCYce1AroYy2gXn7Gy1u_gLRyDsC7i3pXZC-dobL7E5AVZ3wOjWJf4qqcrnZ6HQ-0bPX13dA1I5S27LAuon4KjAFUSqXc/w230-h337/gang-girl-1_orig.jpg" width="230" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">David Whittet: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">All my books are
available in print and e-book. <i>Gang Girl</i> is also available as an
audiobook. I plan to make an audiobook of <i>Goliath and the Gang</i>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">IAN: Where
can we go to buy your books?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">David Whittet: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">This is my author
page on </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/David-Whittet/author/B0BHPW9NW6?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true">Amazon</a></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">, where you can buy
copies of all my books.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The
Gang Girl audiobook, beautifully narrated by Romy Hooper and Paul Harrop, is
available from </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Gang-Girl-Audiobook/B09TM5ZZ7C?qid=1699308764&sr=1-1&ref_pageloadid=not_applicable&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=YJFQ9GBPH1X11N0HA5T2&pageLoadId=kiceiS3PJPk237wU&ref_plink=not_">Audible</a></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> and all major
audiobook platforms worldwide.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I
also sell personally signed books through my website </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="https://davidwhittet.com/"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">DavidWhittet.com</span></a></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">IAN: What inspired you to write <i>Gang
Girl</i>?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">David Whittet</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Gang Girl</span></i><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> was born of the twenty-plus years I
spent working as a rural doctor in a remote New Zealand community with a strong
gang presence. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Goliath and the Gang</i>
takes inspiration from my move south to the beautiful Waitaki District, with
its magnificent lakes and hydroelectric power stations. Privatisation of the
power industry remains a contentious issue in New Zealand. It was headline news
when I first drafted the story in the early 2010s, with the government selling
shares in Mighty River Power, as it was called back then. Power and conflict
against the stunning background of the Waitaki Valley proved the perfect canvas
to take Alicia’s story to the next generation.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IAN: How did you come up with the titles?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRwicL1L5vH8GFSAhW1yEaiX3l_ErIKsd_NwVYZKVCQcIgvunjgAbl_Iq6sI2GnMurHMnjz6-LQ4jSMWQq3nB0ufDzNzSYh88kSbtIfi2tpa-QPNcn9xbyq3GvypxyZcsWMxic2anspELlLR6yT6BaopibaiB1DwXWfVyer0S9sTKlulzpibamfPYIPE/s598/goliath-and-the-gang-1_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="400" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRwicL1L5vH8GFSAhW1yEaiX3l_ErIKsd_NwVYZKVCQcIgvunjgAbl_Iq6sI2GnMurHMnjz6-LQ4jSMWQq3nB0ufDzNzSYh88kSbtIfi2tpa-QPNcn9xbyq3GvypxyZcsWMxic2anspELlLR6yT6BaopibaiB1DwXWfVyer0S9sTKlulzpibamfPYIPE/w225-h337/goliath-and-the-gang-1_orig.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>David Whittet<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: Goliath and the Gang</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> begins with a mother reading her
five-year-old son a bedtime story, <i>David and Goliath,</i> from a book of
Bible stories. After finishing the story, Alicia is abducted by the gang and
cruelly separated from her beloved son, Aaron. Left in shock and determined to
avenge his mother’s kidnapping, Aaron decides then and there that he has two
sworn enemies, Goliath and the gang. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
chose matching titles for the series to ensure continuity.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The first book is</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Gang Girl</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, followed by <i>Goliath and the Gang</i>, and the
final book will be <i>Godzone and the Gorillas</i>.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IAN: How much of the boos is realistic?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">David Whittet</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: While <i>Gang Girl</i> and <i>Goliath
and the Gang</i> are works of fiction, Alicia and Aaron’s struggles reflect those
of themany extraordinary men and women I have met in the course of my work as a
family doctor in rural New Zealand. Alicia’s plight, in particular, has
resonated with readers. At the heart of <i>Gang Girl</i>, we have a strong
woman determined to take charge of her own destiny. In these remote
communities, many women battle to escape poverty and build a new life for
themselves. Their courage is my inspiration and the lifeblood of the story.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IAN: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own
life?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">David Whittet</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: While my second novel, <i>The Road
to Madhapur</i>, is also fictitious, it draws on my personal experience of
family medicine in both New Zealand and India. My first-hand knowledge of
medicine in the raw and many real-life events helped shape the story. I have
relived these episodes while writing the book. My time at a remote township in
the Mayurbhanj district of India was during a period of considerable unrest
following the recent murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines by Hindi
militants. The community remained in crisis, with the tension between the Hindu
and Christian communities threatening to ignite at any moment. Graham Staines’
widow, Gladys, stayed on in the Mayurbhanj and continued to provide a home for
leprosy victims. I was privileged to meet Gladys and witness her extraordinary
work caring for the poor and the destitute.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IAN: What books have most influenced your life?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span></b><b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">David Whittet The art of
storytelling has been part of my being for as long as I can remember. As a
nine-year-old, I looked forward to Sunday evenings and the classic serial on
television. A dramatization of <i>Oliver Twist</i> inspired me to become a
writer. Dickens’ novel brought enormous social reform and forced the repeal of
the poor law in Britain and beyond. The written word could change the world,
and I knew then that I had to be an author. Books also influenced my career
choice. A J Cronin, a doctor and a writer, is now largely remembered for the
popular TV series <i>Dr Finlay’s Casebook</i>. But it was his early novel <i>The
Citadel</i> that inspired me to become a doctor. Cronin’s book exposed
inadequacies in the health system and shamed the British government into
launching the National Health Service. A model subsequently replicated
throughout the world. Proof positive that books change lives.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">IAN: What
book are you reading now?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">David Whittet: Of all the
incredible books I’ve read this year, <i>Homecoming</i> by Kate Morton stands
out with its captivating multi-generational story and exquisitely crafted
writing. Kate Morton wrote the book during the Covid-19 lockdown, having
returned to her homeland in Australia, much like the story’s protagonist. This
gripping story has stayed with me long after finishing the book.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">IAN: Do
you see writing as a career?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">David Whittet: With three books
published and three more in progress, am I ready to hang up the stethoscope and
become a full-time writer? Not quite. Medicine is a constant source of
inspiration for my writing. Like writing, general practice is about being
interested in people’s stories. Without the colourful cast of characters that
enter my consulting room each day––who knows? My words might dry up.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">IAN: Do
you have to travel much concerning your books?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">
David Whittet: I am a New Zealander, and my debut novel, <i>Gang Girl</i>, is
set in our beautiful country. However, my second book, <i>The Road to Madhapur</i>,
has a much broader scope, spanning rural New Zealand and the vast plains of
India. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted my plans to revisit
Madhapur to research the book. My current work in progress, <i>Threepence on
the Carpet</i>, also has a vast canvas. The story follows Tommy, a would-be Kiwi
musician, on his overseas experience in London in the swinging nineteen
sixties. Although much will have changed from the novel’s setting, I would love
to return to London for inspiration.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">IAN: Who designed
the covers?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">David Whittet: I am fortunate
to have found the incredibly talented New Zealand designer Holly Dunn. I have
worked with Holly on the covers for each of my novels. She has a gift for
capturing the spirit of a book in her cover designs. Holly’s expertise has
helped me develop an author profile, which is crucial in the present indie
publishing environment. We are already working on the covers and internal
design for my next two books</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">¾</span></span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">before I
have finished the manuscripts!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Like editing, cover design
can make or break a book’s success</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">¾</span></span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">and an
author’s career. I’m so glad I found Holly.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">IAN: What
was the hardest part of writing your books?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">David Whittet</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: I’m not sure if my research for <i>Gang
Girl</i> was the hardest part of writing the book, but it was definitely the
scariest. Determined to make the novel authentic, I fronted </span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">up to a notorious gangster’s house. My heart
beat even louder than the rottweiler that greeted me at the gate. I banged on
the door. No reply. Muffled voices came from inside. Then, a nine-year-old boy
gingerly put his head around the doorframe. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">‘Is your father at home?’ I
asked.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">‘I’ll go and ask him,’ the
boy answered.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">A loud voice boomed from
inside. ‘Is it the cops?’<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">‘No,’ the boy replied.
‘It’s the doctor.’<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">‘The doctor? We didn’t call
the doctor. Are you sure it’s not the cops?’<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">‘Positive. It’s the same
dude that stitched my hand.’ He shot me an evil look. ‘And it bloody hurt.’<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">When the gangster finally
emerged with his full-facial tattoo, he </span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">told me about his daughter’s lifelong
struggle to escape the gang and forge a life of her own. I have endeavoured to
capture that brave woman’s spirit in every page of <i>Gang Girl</i>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">IAN: Do
you have any advice for other writers?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">David Whittet</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: Seize the moment! It’s never too late to
follow your dreams. I was nine years old when I decided that I wanted to be a writer,
but I published my first novel in my sixties. Age is no barrier! Take every
opportunity life affords us, and remember, in years to come, it’s the missed
opportunities we will regret most.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">IAN: Tell
us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand-alone?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">David Whittet<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">: If only there were more than twenty-four
hours in the day! I am currently working on three new books, each competing for
my time. The buzz surrounding the launch of <i>Goliath and the Gang</i> has
inspired me to complete <i>Godzone and the Gorillas</i>, the final book in the <i>Gang
Girl</i> trilogy. I feel a great responsibility to the many readers who have
told me how much they have enjoyed the first two books. Alongside <i>Godzone
and the Gorillas</i>, I am working on my next stand-alone novel, <i>Threepence
on the Carpet</i>. Tommy is a Kiwi musician caught up in the hippie movement
while on his overseas experience in Britain in the 1960s. During the day, he
works for a South African-owned bank. But at night, he writes and performs
anti-apartheid folk songs with his flower power girlfriend. There’s trouble
when his two worlds collide. Writing Threepence on the Carpet has been a
blast—it’s full of real-life occurrences from the sixties, like the Aldermaston
marches, the ban-the-bomb demonstrations, the political scandals, and, of
course, The Beatles. This was truly the decade that changed Britain and sent
shockwaves around the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>William R Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05728302101913537046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-404628347201068116.post-90353519571202062882023-10-21T08:44:00.002-07:002023-10-21T11:32:44.562-07:00Seas of the Zovah by Tim McKay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 class="wsite-content-title" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0.5em 0px 0.2em;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zK_VkkzsQr8VIHvqAlTPQWfcNS2d2BCNxOhyphenhyphennOukYUMqIHY-FxvYbYB4pkBa3cm2Ly6x5ltrZ0ZeLDcLcBZWsQmRTWplYLKaA2Jm44Q-WmAVvVSaVaFKc6lvY9CEZEV2jZF3VNv8Ok39x-_Up1XJzRXVUrpBMg6UBG3XwlNq7_uap5vGy_FQwUsBO9w/s636/seas-of-the-zovah-kindle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zK_VkkzsQr8VIHvqAlTPQWfcNS2d2BCNxOhyphenhyphennOukYUMqIHY-FxvYbYB4pkBa3cm2Ly6x5ltrZ0ZeLDcLcBZWsQmRTWplYLKaA2Jm44Q-WmAVvVSaVaFKc6lvY9CEZEV2jZF3VNv8Ok39x-_Up1XJzRXVUrpBMg6UBG3XwlNq7_uap5vGy_FQwUsBO9w/s320/seas-of-the-zovah-kindle.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><br />Seas of the Zovah - Book Two of the Draemeir Chronicle </h2><p><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Destiny calls from the ashes of Kartumol.</span></p><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">The battle for the fallen fortress is over.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">But the war for every soul in the land of Naevoroth is about to begin.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Darkness hides in every heart, and no one is who they seem. Heroes become villains when the quest to vanquish evil comes at any cost.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">In the sequel to Rise of Dresca, the last soldier of Ceremai disappears.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Those whose lives he forever changed will begin to piece together the mysteries of their world and the powers growing within. Hunted by the corrupt and malevolent alike, they’ll band together against the ultimate threat.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Or die trying for those who come after to find a better way. </span><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLDVKN1K" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="35" data-original-width="201" height="30" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj46qUOfYPLrmmT7XS73jHWf23M8tzVlOoouNgNNzAuUtNNmEh_-Ww0RS1zTKGUoppkqGHMdNPF5j4D_lLZ9QNNEruSSBFnXNFHxDwiOe4kxITKm9hwZXmZqlf44Jbx4gISOmmEWzqstaGUmUM3tUfMDdPw7XE9dAUSptypzD8yt-mJLz0aU6rvJ_mvOtI/w174-h30/amazon_button.png" width="174" /></a></div><br /><div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><b>About the Author:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></b></span><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><a href="https://www.independentauthornetwork.com/tim-mckay.html">Tim McKay</a> </b>is an unrepentant indie author from Ottawa, Canada. He used to be a pastor, still cares about good and<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpQhtcMhAovN-ypI6K5STSiwvZU2cqkoGJ3uByTwzEw1cGYLub4XFiUSY2LlH5snz-7NOApN4DGLCgutIoqdjdti7fdoUV07w3tZfUtKW3V1SOKylpoP8n72dUwlDojxxMcDyVDPEh8inxJA2G2AO3aUlYtMOJ23K0FOVO7KCTyFU8ecWv9YyR9UfkhA/s400/tim-mckay-sq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpQhtcMhAovN-ypI6K5STSiwvZU2cqkoGJ3uByTwzEw1cGYLub4XFiUSY2LlH5snz-7NOApN4DGLCgutIoqdjdti7fdoUV07w3tZfUtKW3V1SOKylpoP8n72dUwlDojxxMcDyVDPEh8inxJA2G2AO3aUlYtMOJ23K0FOVO7KCTyFU8ecWv9YyR9UfkhA/w200-h200/tim-mckay-sq.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> evil, and still strives to create meaningful experiences for others. He has degrees in history, theology, and public policy, along with a diploma in professional writing, but likes nothing more than hiking in the woods, running along the Rideau Canal, and connecting with the people he loves. Oh, and reading a good book.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br /></div>William R Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05728302101913537046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-404628347201068116.post-23369980539853980502023-10-01T20:05:00.000-07:002023-10-01T20:05:04.261-07:00 Glendall C. Jackson III - The IAN Interview<p><b> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.independentauthornetwork.com/glendall-jackson.html" target="_blank">Glendall C. Jackson III</a><br /><br /></span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmM88NopK1qHpJWGZqwQJMde0rlcwQYF2tIKHyY92xK2pRvFeCNfE5PpVd2t4zeV1iQ0dS91AuqV72OgYdNLr89zwSZHeRKl_ibRPzd-4i30EXF7g6EFZDemDd3338Ygtd9nJWJM5MnYvavCiT9OEBMIK-PPZ4J5CjhBva9nQMFJPYYfwR-65247PzWeM/s325/Glendall%20Jackson-sq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: left; display: inline !important; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="325" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmM88NopK1qHpJWGZqwQJMde0rlcwQYF2tIKHyY92xK2pRvFeCNfE5PpVd2t4zeV1iQ0dS91AuqV72OgYdNLr89zwSZHeRKl_ibRPzd-4i30EXF7g6EFZDemDd3338Ygtd9nJWJM5MnYvavCiT9OEBMIK-PPZ4J5CjhBva9nQMFJPYYfwR-65247PzWeM/w209-h209/Glendall%20Jackson-sq.jpg" width="209" /></a></p><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />Glendall C. Jackson III is an award-winning writer who has
long specialized in deeply-reported non-fiction. <i>Naked Came the Detective</i>, a
mystery that explores the hidden world of high-end sex work, is his first
novel. He has previously published two non-fiction books, one of which was a
national best seller, under a different name. <i>Naked Came the Detective</i> has
earned many laudatory reviews and won a first-place prize in the Paris Book
Festival.</span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">IAN: Please tell us about your latest book.</span></b></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Glendall C. Jackson: In many murder mysteries, the call girl
gets killed. This novella turns that tired trope on its head. A skilled and
versatile sex worker learns that one of her clients, a prominent businessman,
was brutally murdered just hours after their last date. With her unique access
to the upper echelon of Washington D.C. society, she embarks on an
investigation that leads to a shocking discovery. The book is intended to
provide a vivid portrait of high-end sex work.</span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">IAN: Is </span></b><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Naked Came the
Detective</span></i></b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></i><b><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">published in print, e-book or both?</span></b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Both.</span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">IAN: Where can we go to buy </span></b><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Naked Came the
Detective</span></i></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">?</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTaj7TGGBOg1fjZvnFJ03MVQ0WSSeRgk1uGDq3ghMF-LRW5gDIMXCp2WBZw-G-pCBO3LghkDxF8ubSYVfuCjwn92-X3A7siHcqI6OsGPgMPjGa3fSA2S8dIS-DpKJEti2uvYyzyx06KguyARd_YXBiZlUbjEq_wSOv_HXhAa2KmFNT_LY1xBn5WkW5Xjw/s640/Naked%20Came%20the%20Detective.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="400" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTaj7TGGBOg1fjZvnFJ03MVQ0WSSeRgk1uGDq3ghMF-LRW5gDIMXCp2WBZw-G-pCBO3LghkDxF8ubSYVfuCjwn92-X3A7siHcqI6OsGPgMPjGa3fSA2S8dIS-DpKJEti2uvYyzyx06KguyARd_YXBiZlUbjEq_wSOv_HXhAa2KmFNT_LY1xBn5WkW5Xjw/w243-h389/Naked%20Came%20the%20Detective.jpg" width="243" /></a></b></div><b>
<!--[endif]--></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><p></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Glendall C. Jackson: <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Naked-Came-Detective-Glendall-Jackson/dp/B0C79N8M8V/"><span style="color: black;">Amazon.com.</span></a></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/naked-came-the-detective-glendall-jackson/1143628698?ean=9798988391630"><span style="color: black;">Barnes & Noble.</span></a></span></b></p><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
What inspired you to write </span></b><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Naked Came the Detective</span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">?</span></i></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Glendall C. Jackson: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is a lot of misinformation about sex work in the media
and I thought using a literary format might get closer to the truth than a
typical nonfiction account. I recalled that a U.S. government analyst had once
written a detective novel set in North Korea because he wanted to portray the
reality of that country without worrying about the typical negative judgements
required in government intelligence reports. I decided the same concept could
be applied to a novel about sex work. Many people do not realize that high-end
sex workers learn a lot about their client</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="background: white; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: "Arial Unicode MS", serif;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">s lives and secrets. That gave me the idea that a sex worker
could investigate a murder using her client list.</span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
Did you use an outline or do you just wing the first draft?</span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Glendall C. Jackson: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I just winged it. I had the general
idea that each chapter should focus on a client or friend of the main
character, with the names (as these were pseudonyms) in alphabetical order. So,
I knew from the beginning there couldn’t be more than 26 chapters. I wrote the
first draft very quickly, in about three weeks. Then I spent three months
fixing and adjusting the plot and adding in descriptions and literary touches.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
How did you come up with the title?</span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Glendall C. Jackson: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My working title at first was simply
Sex Worker Detective. Then I remembered there was a famous literary hoax in the
1960s called Naked Came the Stranger. A group of newspaper reporters joined to
write a bad erotic novel and it became a best seller. It seemed natural to call
my book <i>Naked Came the Detective</i>.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?</span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Glendall C. Jackson: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The mystery is all made up. But I
worked hard to get the depiction of high-end sex work accurate. I interviewed
several sex workers. In particular, a retired sex worker provided a great deal
of insight into her experiences and clients and even provided some helpful
documentation. Some of the scenes in the book come directly from stories told
to me by sex workers. I also had various drafts reviewed by sex workers,
including a prominent writer on sex work, to ensure accuracy. </span></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
Do you see writing as a career?</span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Glendall C. Jackson: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been a writer for many years,
but it’s been strictly non-fiction. I decided to write this book under a
pseudonym so it did not get confused with my non-fiction writing.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
Who designed the cover?</span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Glendall C. Jackson: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I did. I have some experience in
graphic design and photography.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
What was the hardest part of writing </span></b><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Naked Came the
Detective</span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">?</span></i></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Glendall C. Jackson: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The hardest part was coming up with an interesting and
compelling plot. As a nonfiction writer, I am used to writing about things that
have already happened and finding out why. Now I had to invent a storyline — a
part of my brain I had not used much before. I didn</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="background: white; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: "Arial Unicode MS", serif;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">t really know where the story was going until I started
writing it and adding in the puzzle pieces.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
Did you learn anything from writing </span></b><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Naked Came the
Detective</span></i></b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"> </span></i><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">and
what was it?</span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Glendall C. Jackson: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I learned that I enjoyed writing
fiction. I have been thrilled by the very positive response and perhaps I will
continue on this path.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">IAN: Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is
it a sequel or a</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></b><b><span lang="ZH-TW" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">stand-alone?</span></b></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Glendall C. Jackson: Undecided. This book was intended as a
stand-alone but some reviewers have urged that the main character should return
in a sequel.</span></p>William R Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05728302101913537046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-404628347201068116.post-41746794222849576212023-09-20T03:41:00.003-07:002023-09-20T03:41:27.649-07:00Richard R. Becker – The IAN Interview<p><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.independentauthornetwork.com/richard-r-becker.html">Richard
R. Becker</a></span></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSK9OIVOXxmZDD-dTtzLd6IFWyZQle7H5FSGucus4k-MRIU4UQxiYCjt3m-rrQsjzWMlwgots-CAai85jGM0b4kXxn3quYVTqA5T27AnrETx_YMmn4WRfJKvATK1hexoH39YqrsuRjzZ_RNEvWZCQ5nRY4B1CNd3Hu_zZBftBnGkjMuOGO0esK1qE_uTk/s400/richard-r-becker-1_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSK9OIVOXxmZDD-dTtzLd6IFWyZQle7H5FSGucus4k-MRIU4UQxiYCjt3m-rrQsjzWMlwgots-CAai85jGM0b4kXxn3quYVTqA5T27AnrETx_YMmn4WRfJKvATK1hexoH39YqrsuRjzZ_RNEvWZCQ5nRY4B1CNd3Hu_zZBftBnGkjMuOGO0esK1qE_uTk/w201-h201/richard-r-becker-1_orig.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Richard R. Becker is an award-winning, best-selling
American author. His debut collection of literary fiction and psychological
thrillers began as a project to write one story a week for 50 weeks. It broke into
the top 100 literary short story collections on Amazon for three consecutive
months. It also won first place in the ABR Book Excellence Awards, Spring 2022
BookFest Awards, 2023 Book Excellence Awards, and was a finalist in the IAN
Book of the Year Awards.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">His debut novel Third Wheel was released in August
2023 to positive reviews and is on track to become an Amazon best seller. It
was named a finalist in the Global Book Awards.</span><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">IAN: Please tell us about your latest book.</span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Richard R. Becker: <i>Third Wheel</i> is a powerful
coming-of-age thriller about belonging, betrayal, and breaking away. It is the
story of a boy trying to find his identity in the pre-boomtown hours of Las
Vegas, 1982.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Brady Wilks, a 14-year-old transplant from the
Midwest, forges a brotherly bond with an older teenage neighbor and inherits a
friend group that accepts him more than his family at home. But everything
begins to unravel when a small-time drug dealer joins the group and tempts them
into making big money by selling cartel-supplied heroin.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Desolate and gritty, <i>Third Wheel</i> follows Brady
as he navigates life, an improbable romantic interest, and a Mob connection in
the dusty suburban outskirts of this infamous 24-hour desert town. Estranged
from his family at home, Brady takes chances on random and fragile
relationships until the stakes and consequences threaten the lives of those he
cares about.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Third Wheel is a triumphant debut novel, and Brady
Wilks is unforgettable as a transformative protagonist. Five-time award-winning
author Richard R. Becker once again shares his unique insight into the human
condition.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIB-ZrLXpt09ftzjVZfp4tj9tisP2QlYosQJwOO5GEGMaFIRpM8RBeO09krEqh78NjlyvxTjbgbD9oYrhzDpNbXPVk2OTmkUY8Mk_TYNPZgcuH4cpUK2_P1KY2Iozh4JcNmjrIuWLJFgFMp3pgX3oK37jKhncoW0suDdTdXS_QuSw0jYUuzEs6BDDXBvs/s622/third-wheel-1_orig.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="400" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIB-ZrLXpt09ftzjVZfp4tj9tisP2QlYosQJwOO5GEGMaFIRpM8RBeO09krEqh78NjlyvxTjbgbD9oYrhzDpNbXPVk2OTmkUY8Mk_TYNPZgcuH4cpUK2_P1KY2Iozh4JcNmjrIuWLJFgFMp3pgX3oK37jKhncoW0suDdTdXS_QuSw0jYUuzEs6BDDXBvs/w223-h346/third-wheel-1_orig.png" width="223" /></a></div><p></p><p class="Body"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">IAN: Where can we go to buy <i>Third Wheel</i>?</span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFZGXN5S" target="_blank">Amazon</a> </b></span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href=" https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/third-wheel-richard-r-becker/1143852344" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> </b><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/third-wheel/id6456223168" target="_blank">Apple</a> </b><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Third-Wheel-Paperback-9798985381160/2818559556?" target="_blank">Walmart</a> </b></p><p class="Body"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Richard_R_Becker_Third_Wheel?id=yErOEAAAQBAJ" target="_blank">Google Play</a> </b><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://bookshop.org/shop/copywriteink">Bookshop</a> </b><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/third-wheel-9" target="_blank">Kobo</a></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.copywriteink.com/third-wheel-by-richard-r.-becker.html" target="_blank">Everywhere books are sold</a></b></span></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">IAN: What inspired you to write <i>Third Wheel</i>?</span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Richard R. Becker: <i>Third Wheel</i> picked me more
than I chose it. I was working on a short story collection as a follow-up to my
debut collection, 50 States. The plan was to write 50 stories that followed up
or intersected with those in 50 States.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I wrote the short story <i>Third Wheel</i>, I
immediately knew it needed to be my debut novel. I could see the second, third,
and fourth chapters easily. So, I published my second short story collection as
a 10-story Kindle exclusive and committed to writing my novel. Twenty-four
weeks later, I had the draft in hand.</span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN: How much of the book is
realistic?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Richard R. Becker: While <i>Third Wheel</i> is
fiction, I gave Brady some of my childhood to serve as a framework. I’m sure
this was one reason I was drawn into writing his story. We’re different in how
we react to and handle circumstances, but we share many experiences.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This isn’t that unusual. Many writers use little bits
of their lives in their work. I’m no exception. Some of the stories in 50
States are grounded in truth as well.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">IAN: Do you have a specific writing style?</span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Richard R. Becker: My work is as eclectic as my
reading. It fits best within the literary fiction spectrum but almost always
with a genre-bending twist. For example, about half the stories in 50 States
would be considered literary fiction while the balance would be considered
psychological thrillers and speculative fiction, with paranormal undertones.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Third Wheel</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> is a coming-of-age literary fiction, but with a crime thriller
backbone. The stakes are considerably higher than most coming-of-age stories.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">IAN: What do you hope your readers come away with
after reading <i>Third Wheel</i>?</span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Richard R. Becker: I’ve always believed that we take
out of books what we bring in with us. However, I did want Brady to come away
with something. I wanted him to learn that it’s never too late to change
direction.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No matter how hard life feels or how many bad things
happen, it’s never too late until it is catastrophically too late. In the
novel, the question is whether or not he can learn this lesson in time.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">IAN: Do you see writing as a career?</span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Richard R. Becker: Writing literature may be new for
me, but writing as a career isn</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS", serif;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">t new. While I didn</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS", serif;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">t initially set out to be a writer, I</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS", serif;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ve enjoyed a successful career as one. I</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS", serif;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ve been an advertising copywriter, journalist, and creative strategist
for more than three decades. The primary difference is that I</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS", serif;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">m now writing my own stories instead of everybody else</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS", serif;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="PT" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">s.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I still work with a handful of select clients and don</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS", serif;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">t see this changing anytime soon. Maybe I</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS", serif;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ll feel differently by a fifth, a sixth, or a tenth novel.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">IAN: Do you have any advice for other writers?</span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Richard R. Becker: Writing is a job. It</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS", serif;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">s best to treat it as such. I would have never finished 50 States had I
not set Mondays aside to start a short story and then commit to completing it
by the following week. That</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS", serif;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">s how my first project began. It
was a challenge to write 50 stories in 50 weeks. </span><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I followed the same process for Third Wheel, writing
one chapter a week for 24 weeks. By setting a deadline, I could remind myself
that these projects were just as important as any other job deadline I might
have to meet during the week. And then, after I finished the draft, I invested
even more time in making it right — maybe eight months of revisions, reviews,
editors, beta readers, and production.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">IAN: If you had to choose, which writers would you
consider mentors</span></b><b><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">?</span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Richard R. Becker: There are too many to include,
really. Generally, I credit Earnest Hemingway and John Updike for writing
straight, honest prose about people. It doesn</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS", serif;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">t matter what genre you are writing in or how far afield your plot might
be; we tune in to characters we care about, whether or not we like them.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aside from those writers, I must mention Joyce Carol
Oates, Walter Mosley, and David Mamet. I</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS", serif;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ve taken online master classes from all of them, and they helped me take
my work to the next level.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">IAN: Are there any new authors that have caught your
interest?</span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Richard R. Becker: More than a few. I</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS", serif;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">m especially fond of S.A. Cosby, Murakami Haruki, Jandy Nelson, Joe R.
Lansdale, and Pierce Brown. They are all very different writers, yet they enjoy
exploring the human condition as much as I do.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are dozens of other writers I could name. My
list of favorite books has swelled to about 100 different titles by almost as
many authors. I</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS", serif;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">m looking forward to discovering
and adding more. I</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS", serif;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ve even opened up a small online
store to help promote them.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">IAN: Tell us about your next book or a work in
progress. Is it a sequel or a stand-alone?</span></b></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Richard R. Becker: I’m currently writing a
psychological thriller set in Maine. The story stands alone but exists within
the 50 States universe as does most of my work.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">IAN: <b>Do you have anything specific that you want to
say to your readers?</b></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Richard R. Becker: Yes, thank you very much. This
journey has been incredible for me—from commercial to literary writing. I am so
grateful that thousands of people gave my first book a chance, and now it seems
thousands more will do the same for Third Wheel.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The support has been inspiring and even overwhelming
at times. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. </span><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>William R Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05728302101913537046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-404628347201068116.post-79773277020154256002023-08-25T00:44:00.000-07:002023-08-25T00:44:55.652-07:00Tim McKay-The IAN Interview<p><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.independentauthornetwork.com/tim-mckay.html" target="_blank">TimMcKay</a></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dnpKOAsDh-KLxrl_cYKkSS_VX715Am-Pu372jsbc04bG_2Cnqcav5WRNrrhV_hCnuQmY6Hr0HG5jq8Eqr9bUlE5QNvvzeHeY3T3u7bkucG9IECt_-UOMViDsr3Tdx-gicdlBSnrM0RGnVVH0a9AaZQShSO48OhMOaYS3u3gr1q-dsdOiDLgN235ob8E/s400/tim-mckay-sq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dnpKOAsDh-KLxrl_cYKkSS_VX715Am-Pu372jsbc04bG_2Cnqcav5WRNrrhV_hCnuQmY6Hr0HG5jq8Eqr9bUlE5QNvvzeHeY3T3u7bkucG9IECt_-UOMViDsr3Tdx-gicdlBSnrM0RGnVVH0a9AaZQShSO48OhMOaYS3u3gr1q-dsdOiDLgN235ob8E/w244-h244/tim-mckay-sq.jpg" width="244" /></a></span></div><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Hey
there, I’m Tim McKay. I’m an author, editor, and marketer from Ottawa, Canada. I
used to be a pastor. I like to say I still care about good and evil, and I still
strive to create meaningful experiences for myself and others. Now I do it
through writing.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I
have degrees in history, theology, and public policy, along with a diploma in
professional writing, so the journey to become an author has been a long one.
But it’s a hunger I’ve always had, and nothing in my life has felt so right as
when I put my stories to paper.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana;">IAN:
Please tell us about your latest book.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Tim
McKay: <i>Rise of Dresca</i> is the opening chapter in what I hope to be a much longer
series.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">My
goal was to create the sort of book I loved as a teen. The kind you can’t put
down and you finish in one or two sittings, realizing with a start that you
lost track of time and it’s 3am and you need to sleep so you can pass that math
test tomorrow (or, now, today).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><i>Rise
of Dresca</i> is like that. It’s dark, intense, action-packed and fast-paced. The
fantasy world is rich and detailed, so you feel like you’re there, but I tried
to focus more on the experience, letting readers feel the magic for themselves.
The first encounters with “draemeir” magic in the book and the sword duel
scenes suck you right in and feel every blow, every spark, every thrill.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">All
you really need to know beyond that is that this book has lots of monsters and
dragons. Evil is everywhere, and no one is safe. It’s meant for older teens and
young adults, but I also wrote it with busy adults in mind who still love
fantasy but just don’t have the time for 800-page epics.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DvsX9PN2MK8QX0qhl8ixDisSqbmc7Rn1R2iWWzlgaW7_SQvHi2tgqoCqUQfi39vIwYMdI9iK7lqZEGP-jNQNM8geSMBQT96W22a2O8QWaJ9jTu73Wlj_fL6WmqN-DzsQ9Rs1d4uxE3u7KX1jyRTEO8mUbxQFP27l1sOYBMvpQle1ss0inXlY-T91bws/s647/rise-of-dresca-1_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="647" data-original-width="400" height="447" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DvsX9PN2MK8QX0qhl8ixDisSqbmc7Rn1R2iWWzlgaW7_SQvHi2tgqoCqUQfi39vIwYMdI9iK7lqZEGP-jNQNM8geSMBQT96W22a2O8QWaJ9jTu73Wlj_fL6WmqN-DzsQ9Rs1d4uxE3u7KX1jyRTEO8mUbxQFP27l1sOYBMvpQle1ss0inXlY-T91bws/w277-h447/rise-of-dresca-1_orig.jpg" width="277" /></a></span></div><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US">IAN:
Is <i>Rise of Dresca</i></span></b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US">published in print, e-book
or both?</span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Tim
McKay: Both. You can find <i>Rise of Dresca</i> on Amazon in eBook (and Kindle
Unlimited), paperback, and hardcover versions.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana;">IAN:
Where can we go to buy <i>Rise of Dresca?</i></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Tim
McKay. Here are the Amazon (US) links for <i>Rise of Dresca</i> and universal
links to your local Amazon store for those outside the US. Ebook: <a href="file:///C:/Users/wrpot/Pictures/2023%20Jan%20to%20Dec/August/Amazon.com/dp/B0CDBW1FP4">Amazon.com</a> or </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://mybook.to/Riseofdresca" target="_blank"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Mybook</span></a></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> Paperback: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFCPTV4M">Amazon.com</a> or </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://mybook.to/RiseofDrescaPB" target="_blank"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Mybook</span></a></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hardcover: <a href="file:///C:/Users/wrpot/Pictures/2023%20Jan%20to%20Dec/August/Amazon.com">Amazon.com</a>
or </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://mybook.to/RiseofDrescaHC" target="_blank"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Mybook</span></a></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Do
you have a specific writing style?</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tim McKay:<b> </b>Oh, definitely. I try to keep a very fast pace to my
writing. So I vary my sentence lengths but lean heavily on short, punchy
sentences to drive the action.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I also spend much more time describing sensations than traits. You
won’t find walls of text detailing the bark consistency of trees in forests,
but you will find vivid descriptions of how my characters experience magic or
the emotional (and physical) pains and upheavals they go through during the
story. And partnered with the fast pace and sense of flow I try to create,
those rich but action-driven descriptions really pull you into the scenes and
make them feel real. It lets the reader relax their mind a bit and allow the
story to take over.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">And that’s another thing about my style. I aim for vivid but simple.
You won’t have trouble reading the words and seeing the pictures as I describe
them. I think a lot of authors, especially new authors, are so busy trying to
impress readers with convoluted and flowery language that they rob their
stories of imagination. Some readers are looking for something denser like
that, sure, but I write very intentionally for those seeking intensity,
entertainment, and a rich reading experience that hooks you and never lets up.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: How did you come up with the title?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tim McKay: Without giving too many spoilers, Dresca started out as my
name for a dragon encountered early in the book. This dragon, along with the
main character Valdaris Drascar, stays pivotal to the series going forward. But
ultimately the name Dresca refers to Valdaris Drascar, alluding to the
transformation he undergoes in the book and the direction his life will take
over the course of the series. I can’t say more than that, except to hint that
my book is one where you might have to pay attention to chapter titles if you
really want answers ahead of what the story reveals.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own
life?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tim McKay: I have a lot of fun answering this question, starting with
my copyright disclaimer on the first page of the book. Only a few early readers
have noticed it, and all have had a good laugh. Most fiction authors add a
standard disclaimer about any resemblance to events or people in the book being
purely coincidental, but I decided to go a step further. I added this line:<br />
<br />
“If you believe you see yourself reflected in the pages that follow, try to
remember: there’s no way the author likes you enough to incorporate you into
his work.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">My friends and family got a kick out of that too.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">But to give a better answer, I think any honest author would tell you
it’s impossible for the events and people in your life not to seep into your
books in some form or other. I’m very careful when writing not to slip into
caricatures and to avoid depicting real individuals, but even my most
outlandish characters have some basis in real traits or attitudes I’ve
witnessed over the years. So the range of wild personalities you see should
give some idea of the life I’ve lived – it’s been an adventure!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: How is </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US">Rise of Dresca</span></i></b><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> from
others in your genre?</span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tim McKay: I put a lot of thought and effort into making my book
different from what’s become the norm in fantasy. For starters, my book is much
shorter than your average epic (Rise of Dresca hits about 54,000 words), even
though it’s just the first part of a longer series. I wanted my book (and the
chapters inside) to feel bite-sized, something more digestible for those new to
the genre or who love fantasy but just don’t have the time for egregiously long
books. I went for longer than a novella, shorter than a King or Tolkien book.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I also wanted something more accessible, so I broke a few formatting
norms. My book has larger print in a sans serif font, increased line spacing, a
full space between paragraphs, and no indents. It looks and reads much more
like a story you’d read online, and that’s by design. The printing industry
just hasn’t caught up with online accessibility standards, and that was
something I wanted to push back on.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Name someone outside of your family members who you feel
supported you in the creation of your work.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tim McKay: My best friend Greg, going back to when we were thirteen,
has supported me more than anyone. He’s one of those impossibly kind people
without a bad bone in his body, and he’s stuck by me through all the ups and
downs of my life. He’s also an incredible web developer and single-handedly
designed my author website, which has built some awesome traction for my book.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">So, naturally, I gave him the first signed proof of my book, with a
few choice expletives in the note that anyone who knows my story would find
doubly entertaining.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Do you see writing as a career?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tim McKay: Absolutely. I treat writing as both art and investment. I’m
creating something of value, both entertaining and meaningful, and I want to
share that with the world. But it’s also an investment in the opportunity to do
more of what I love. Every book bought or downloaded lets me create more, and
honestly, I’ve never felt so fulfilled in my life.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tim McKay: I’ve wanted to be an author since the day I learned how to
juggle. I was ten.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Our gym teacher brought in a friend who knew how to juggle and taught
us some of the basic motions. None of my classmates took it any further than
that, but over the next few weeks, I taught myself to juggle using marbles or
rubber balls from among my little brother’s toys. I’ve been hooked ever since.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Juggling was always an escape for me. I would think better and my
imagination would go wild. So whenever I was bored as a kid or stuck in “less-than-ideal”
situations, I’d start juggling and fly away into worlds of fantasy. Most of my
childhood was decent, but it took some darker turns if I’m being transparent
here. And even as a kid, I knew those situations weren’t okay.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">So fantasy became my way not just to escape, but to imagine a better
world, refusing to believe that what I saw was “how it has to be.” I think
that’s what makes fantasy fiction so powerful. Even when it delves into darker
themes and conflict with terrible evils, it teaches us to push back and stand
tall, fighting for the world as it could and should be.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your
readers?</span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tim McKay: Brace yourself. My book is one that will have you gripping
your chair from start to finish. The intensity doesn’t let up and you’ll finish
hungry for more. I loved books like that when I was younger (and still do), and
I hope you will too.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana;">IAN:
Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand-alone?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Tim
McKay: I’m about 5 chapters into the sequel for <i>Rise of Dresca</i>. Minus a new
prologue, it picks up right where the first book leaves off, and I’m hoping to
publish sometime in February 2024. So readers won’t have to wait long for
answers.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The
Draemeir Chronicle will be at least 6 books.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>William R Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05728302101913537046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-404628347201068116.post-23751804242693451622023-05-22T10:27:00.002-07:002023-05-22T10:27:28.684-07:00Daniel Castlewrite - The IAN Interview<p><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.independentauthornetwork.com/daniel-castlewrite.html">Daniel Castlewrite</a></span></b></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvG_UTWQLoLdWN_erfg9JKYRxNfOmk1Jb5gVcapKaKvRIPv5CJr21Sp-bMmXpCsP0qa-8tijFMPV8mqg2Qau-yJR-CiItkpDqYQX3HRv3PLNJVmffJk8JU-gBBjsZZHR1S8u0qn_ajVFDIywVx6us2ZgHKh-9aEfquanr1fOuHC36mKxzsc6xQIFFY/s410/daniel-castlewrite_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvG_UTWQLoLdWN_erfg9JKYRxNfOmk1Jb5gVcapKaKvRIPv5CJr21Sp-bMmXpCsP0qa-8tijFMPV8mqg2Qau-yJR-CiItkpDqYQX3HRv3PLNJVmffJk8JU-gBBjsZZHR1S8u0qn_ajVFDIywVx6us2ZgHKh-9aEfquanr1fOuHC36mKxzsc6xQIFFY/w195-h200/daniel-castlewrite_orig.jpg" width="195" /></a></div>I’ve enjoyed science-fiction and fantasy as far back as I can remember. I
watched movies and played video games that became more enthralling as
technology improved. Over time, I became inspired by the infinite
possibilities. Despite this, I never imagined that someday I would be capable
of creating a story that others would enjoy reading. My perspective on life was
largely influenced by my service in the military, becoming a parent, and obtaining
a degree in psychology. Those milestones broadened my outlook, shifted priorities,
and raised complex questions - such as ‘What drives human behavior?’ I also
sought out people with experiences and perspectives different from my own. Not
to prove them wrong, but to expand my own understanding. It is this culmination
of ideas and perspectives, that finally gave me the confidence to write a book.
So, for better or worse, I can proudly say that the worlds and characters in my
works are inspired not only by my own worldviews but also by those of the
people who were kind enough to share their stories with me.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: Please tell us about your latest book.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Daniel Castlewrite: Helix Mysteries: The First Change is inspired by the
interplay between fantasy, mythology, and modern technology. It explores the
idea of what could happen if the creatures that have only existed in myths and
legends suddenly began manifesting in the 21</span><sup style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">st</sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> century. Told from
the perspective of the first human to evolve, the story touches on the fears,
uncertainties, and frustrations of both those evolving and the ones closest to
them. With an impending intergalactic invasion looming, Helix Mysteries also
explores the societal and cultural impacts of a world that will never be the
same. As science attempts to make sense of how everything fits, the truth about
human history and even the origins of life are revealed… and they’re not what
anyone would expect.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: Is <i>Helix Mysteries</i> published in
print, e-book or both?</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4Mw30Ay8w4RhF5nDCp460TK9MC7WJpXHoqlwFlL1rS8pL3tZDwKtO8x5rUBI1DFRUP-462dsfxtm_tBkrnkGi_kLaMCPondha_k7xDAsZhijy6MQ8Kk1DJpZQceIGVXzbMR5l5anUKDJklEr2FRtCtDvjDZy4YMRzU5WZjteH3x6_2O95voWoyx6/s1600/helix_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4Mw30Ay8w4RhF5nDCp460TK9MC7WJpXHoqlwFlL1rS8pL3tZDwKtO8x5rUBI1DFRUP-462dsfxtm_tBkrnkGi_kLaMCPondha_k7xDAsZhijy6MQ8Kk1DJpZQceIGVXzbMR5l5anUKDJklEr2FRtCtDvjDZy4YMRzU5WZjteH3x6_2O95voWoyx6/w250-h400/helix_orig.jpg" width="250" /></a></b></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Daniel Castlewrite: It is currently available in both print and e-book.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: Where can we go to buy <i>Helix
Mysteries</i>?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Daniel Castlewrite: Print and e-book are both available on </span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B8R6LH65?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_HN5ZD5Z2ZKCF10QDD9B7">Amazon</a></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">. A print version can also be purchased from Barnes & Noble.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Did you use an outline or do you just wing the first draft?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Daniel Castlewrite: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I
definitely just wing it! This form of writing is unfortunately far more
intensive when it comes to editing. However, it has spurred some of the most
interesting concepts that I introduce throughout the book.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: How long did it take to write</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Helix Mysteries</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Daniel Castlewrite: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I
began writing the story that eventually became HM: TFC in 2012. However, I did
not commit to turning it into a book until around 2018. So, realistically, it
took roughly four years.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: How did you come up with the
title?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Daniel Castlewrite: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Since
the story focuses on the mysteries locked away in human DNA, which is a
double-helix – I thought Helix Mysteries would be an apt title for the series.
“The First Change” clearly stemmed from the fact that most of the book is
written from the perspective of the first human to evolve.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Are experiences based on someone
you know, or events in your own life?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Daniel Castlewrite: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Absolutely!
Many of the characters make jokes or refer to concepts relating to my service
in the military. I have also included several “easter eggs” for people who know
me, especially for my daughter.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: How is </span></b><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Helix
Mysteries</span></i></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">different from others in your genre?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Daniel Castlewrite: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Admittedly,
I would not be considered an “avid reader.” However, based on feedback and
reviews from fans of both science-fiction and fantasy, Helix Mysteries is
unlike anything they have read. Thankfully, in a good way. One key difference,
based on a reader’s comment, was that “The creation story and the purpose of
humanity are really unique.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Do you see writing as a career?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Daniel Castlewrite: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Definitely!
I love to write and create unique story arcs. If my book(s) could sustain my
life and travel, it would be a dream come true!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: If you had to do it all over again,
would you change anything in</span></b><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Helix
Mysteries</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Daniel Castlewrite: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">No, I
am quite happy with how it turned out.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Did you learn anything from
writing </span></b><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Helix Mysteries</span></i></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
what was it?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Daniel Castlewrite: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yes,
it has given me a newfound appreciation and respect for editors and
professional authors. As much as I love writing the story, establishing a flow
which keeps the reader engaged throughout, is no easy task. I have had to
rearrange numerous chapters, so that the story unfolds throughout the book.
Rather than in spurts that would either leave the reader bored or overwhelmed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Do you have any advice for other
writers?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Daniel Castlewrite: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Surround
yourself with people who disagree with you and listen to their perspectives. Taking
the time to genuinely understand perspectives that contrast your own ideas and
beliefs enables you to create characters and engaging discussions. Plus, you
never know what ideas will emerge.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: Tell us about your next book or a work
in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand-alone?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Daniel Castlewrite: I am currently working on Helix Mysteries: The Second
Suns. It is sequel to HM: The First Change. Tying off and expanding on the
story arcs of several characters the second book sets up the new world with
limitless opportunities for short stories – Helix Mysteries: The New World.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Do you have anything specific
that you want to say to your readers?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Daniel Castlewrite: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Thank
you!</span></p><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b><p></p>William R Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05728302101913537046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-404628347201068116.post-46973451610384663322023-03-05T11:59:00.005-08:002023-03-05T11:59:42.077-08:00Hayley Reese Chow: The IAN Interview<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://www.independentauthornetwork.com/hayley-chow.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Hayley Reese Chow</span></a></b></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfE2WR5fU_IdnlFpgbbgIBtRTHaT-uJrAaH2jLOH0oBrzi24W9uB8fyCuypS0ugx8UZXE7RBQYsvwcoIywVe-YzsLa9CsV7Zmg0i21JtxlouBwLrvhqVWzgDK7QAxNyB51qHb87obVRHjk2UOjkSIzc_eJIeItwcpSo-6F54KlS_DSfRBssr-xEAo8/s500/hayley-chow-1_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="400" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfE2WR5fU_IdnlFpgbbgIBtRTHaT-uJrAaH2jLOH0oBrzi24W9uB8fyCuypS0ugx8UZXE7RBQYsvwcoIywVe-YzsLa9CsV7Zmg0i21JtxlouBwLrvhqVWzgDK7QAxNyB51qHb87obVRHjk2UOjkSIzc_eJIeItwcpSo-6F54KlS_DSfRBssr-xEAo8/w233-h291/hayley-chow-1_orig.jpg" width="233" /></a></div><br />Hayley Reese Chow is the author of <i>Odriel's Heirs</i>, the 2020 winner
of the Florida Author Project, Wishing Shelf Book Award Finalist, and 5th place
finalist in the 2021 Book Blogger Novel of the Year Awards. She is also the
author of <i>Into the Churn</i>, a romantic YA sci-fi coming from Whimsical
Publishing April 4<sup>th</sup>, 2023. When not falling head over heels into
fictional worlds, her hat collection includes mother, wife, engineer, USAF
veteran, reservist, four-time All American fencer, 100-mile ultramarathoner,
triathlete, world traveler, book inhaler, and super nerd. Hayley currently
dodges hurricanes in Florida with two small wild boys, her long-suffering
husband, and her miniature ragehound.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><b>IAN: Please tell us about your latest book.</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Hayley Reese Chow: My latest book is a dual-POV young adult science
fiction adventure coming from Whimsical Publishing on April 4<sup>th</sup>. <i>Into
the Churn</i> tells the story of two young adults entering the Casolla system’s
deadliest, and most lucrative, race in an attempt to save their stormy,
backwater planet. As a string of mysterious accidents haunts the two racers and
the bond between them grows, they’ll have to decide if their dreams are worth
their lives. Walking in the footsteps of <i>Hunger Games</i>, <i>Illuminae</i>,
and <i>Skyward</i>, <i>Into the Churn</i> features underdog heroes, slow burn
romance, and high stakes sci-fi on a ruthless interplanetary stage where
appearances are everything, speed means survival, and the only thing deadlier
than the storms are the other racers.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><b>IAN: Is your <i>Into the Churn</i> published in print, e-book or both?</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Hayley Reese Chow: <i>Into the Churn</i> e-books are available on </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Into-Churn-Hayley-Reese-Chow-ebook/dp/B0BNZGFKTD/ref=sr_1_1?crid=YS5FPU2SUX7M&keywords=into+the+churn&qid=1677623418&s=digital-text&sprefix=into+the+churn%2Cdigital-text%2C121&sr=1-1"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Amazon</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">. Hardcovers are available on </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Into-Churn-Hayley-Reese-Chow-ebook/dp/B0BNZGFKTD/ref=sr_1_1?crid=YS5FPU2SUX7M&keywords=into+the+churn&qid=1677623418&s=digital-text&sprefix=into+the+churn%2Cdigital-text%2C121&sr=1-1"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Amazon</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/into-the-churn-hayley-reese-chow/1142988210"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">B&N</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, and </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://whimsicalpublishing.ca/shop/preorder-into-the-churn/"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Whimsical Publishing</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">. Paperbacks and special jacketed editions are also available on
Whimsical Publishing’s website.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">IAN: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">What inspired you to write </span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Into the Churn</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">?</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnruIFlv_uRSCcYBQLYR61cfiwD9M5Rq51zq6WKRbCFdA8PjE6aDiXRKBSxpNavU7IoEwHYEiqwtQiFOK_GI4L1DaK1PmQc2anj_o8u4VWWEyTOYhzLc7Wx1xeQhiIPlPBHMFvakkgJB9DUjD_IdN_w-2yjW49Ed2RErvJh3tQcF4FU4qFtf8MaySN/s500/415KmfrC99L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="324" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnruIFlv_uRSCcYBQLYR61cfiwD9M5Rq51zq6WKRbCFdA8PjE6aDiXRKBSxpNavU7IoEwHYEiqwtQiFOK_GI4L1DaK1PmQc2anj_o8u4VWWEyTOYhzLc7Wx1xeQhiIPlPBHMFvakkgJB9DUjD_IdN_w-2yjW49Ed2RErvJh3tQcF4FU4qFtf8MaySN/w252-h389/415KmfrC99L.jpg" width="252" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></u><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Hayley Reese Chow: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I spent my college years travelling nationally and
internationally as a scholarship fencer and then my early twenties completing
triathlons, ultramarathons, and adventure races, so I knew I wanted to write a
book that centered on extreme sports and the culture that surrounds them.
However, as a sci-fi junkie perpetually obsessed with Firefly, Star Trek
Battlestar Galactica, and Star Wars, I also wanted to take that story to a new
world full of exploration, gadgets, and new possibilities. Somewhere in that
mix, <i>Into the Churn</i> was born.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">IAN: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Did you use an outline or do you just wing the first
draft?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Hayley Reese Chow: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">With every book, I become more of a plotter. Now my
outlines have grown to 10+ pages before I even start the first chapter. Even
though… that doesn’t always mean I strictly follow them.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: How
long did it take to write </span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Into the Churn</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>?</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Hayley Reese Chow: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Writing <i>Into the Churn</i> took me roughly 3
months to write the first draft, and then roughly another 9 months to revise
and edit.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">IAN: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Do you have a specific writing style?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Hayley Reese Chow: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I love fast-paced action and dialogue, and those two
things can definitely be found in spades in all of my books. In any kind of
story, I might show up for the plot, but I stay for the interaction and growth
between the characters, and it’s something I definitely pride myself on in my
own writing.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>IAN: How
did you come up with the title?</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Hayley Reese Chow: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Okay, titles are tough for me. The working title for
<i>Into the Churn</i> was actually <i>The Belethea Race Royale</i>… which was a
bit of a mouthful. <i>Into the Churn</i> was a lot snappier and in this story
it refers to the deadly storms that the teams of two have to survive in order
to win the race, but it took me a few brainstorming sessions with my critique
partners to come up with it. It’s always tough to come up with something both
unique and descriptive!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>IAN: What
do you hope your readers come away with after reading your book?</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Hayley Reese Chow: </span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Into the Churn</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> has big themes of spreading your wings, learning to
trust and rely on your friends, chasing your dreams, and understanding that you
are more capable of so much more than you ever thought possible. I hope my
readers take all of this away with them, and I hope it gives them inspiration
and strength in their own lives.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>IAN: Are
experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Hayley Reese Chow: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">With each book, I think I put more and more of
myself into these stories. In college, I was a scholarship athlete on the Notre
Dame fencing team. My warm-ups were three sizes too big, the girl’s lockers
were in the boiler room with a curtain of sheets hung around it, we had a
string of student managers that took care of us like we were family, and my
senior year, after three years of heartbreaking near misses, we managed to come
together to win the national championship. All of those ups and downs, all the
blood, sweat, and tears, definitely inspired Belethea’s Race Royale team, and
it was so cool to really bring them to life with the touch of those personal
experiences.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>IAN: How is
your book different from others in your genre?</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Hayley Reese Chow: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">First of all, there isn’t a lot of young adult
science fiction in the world, and that, in itself, is a travesty. <i>Into the
Churn</i> is unique though because not only is it a sci-fi, but it’s also a
sweet dual-POV romance, as well as an underdog sports hero story and even a
pinch of a murder mystery. There’s a lot of elements layered in one epic,
high-stakes adventure, so there’s a little something for everyone.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>IAN: Name
one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Hayley Reese Chow: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Big shout-out to Whimsical Publishing here!
Honestly, I was really nervous about transitioning from self-publishing to a
traditional small press, and entrusting my book-baby to someone else. But
Whimsical Publishing has been so supportive and encouraging from day one. They
took my vision for <i>Into the Churn</i> and made it indescribably
beautiful—bringing it to life with character art, maps, book trailers, and
more. The experience has totally blown me away, and I’m so grateful for all of
their guidance and passion.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Did
you learn anything from writing </span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Into the
Churn</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>and what
was it?</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Hayley Reese Chow: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I was really nervous when I started this book. It
was an ambitious plotline, and I love sci-fi so much, I really wanted to do the
genre justice. It was also my first dual-POV story, and honestly both of those
elements were so much fun. I never realized how much more relationship depth I
could dig into when we get the story from both love interests. And while I tend
to genre hop at the moment, it definitely reminded me of how much I love
sci-fi, and I can’t wait to write another!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>IAN: Do you
have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Hayley Reese Chow: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I just want to say thank you so much for reading and
giving my books a look. As a self-published/small press author, your support
makes a huge difference to me! And please consider leaving a rating or review
if you can—even just a sentence or two helps get indie books out into the world,
and I love hearing your thoughts! I appreciate you all so much!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><b>IAN: Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel
or a stand-alone?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Hayley Reese Chow: I juggle several works in progress at once. I’m
currently working on a young adult paranormal horror and a young adult romance,
both of which I’m hoping to query later this year. But although </span><i style="font-size: 10pt;">Into the
Churn</i><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> is a stand-alone, with preorders going really well so far, the
chances are looking good I might get to write the sequel I’ve been waiting to
start on!</span></span></p>William R Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05728302101913537046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-404628347201068116.post-45615307791441922092023-01-15T19:44:00.003-08:002023-04-13T00:06:41.991-07:00Toni Cabell The IAN Interview<p><b><a href="https://www.independentauthornetwork.com/toni-cabell.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Toni Cabell</span></a></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjg_YVkAD4SZ946OYv6-v8aK0pbv8Afgh1IWOSj3dt6mNTf7iR7jxQRO8MpHnCnLB1riXkV3zl8GTrlQHGv7s0M4RhW-zoHfasB692d53b6UB8djEWV6C6aYmnDGw1jNkd7kYPoyJxEC0PxP-4Qb3Gqy35AUs8CvKLBWFe5GtyxxdVrGoOTlsc9uH/s267/toni-cabell-1_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="267" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjg_YVkAD4SZ946OYv6-v8aK0pbv8Afgh1IWOSj3dt6mNTf7iR7jxQRO8MpHnCnLB1riXkV3zl8GTrlQHGv7s0M4RhW-zoHfasB692d53b6UB8djEWV6C6aYmnDGw1jNkd7kYPoyJxEC0PxP-4Qb3Gqy35AUs8CvKLBWFe5GtyxxdVrGoOTlsc9uH/w200-h200/toni-cabell-1_orig.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Toni Cabell
is a three-time B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree, and her latest novel, THE LIGHTNESS
OF WATER, won a 2022 Global Book Awards Gold Medal. She writes <span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">“skillfully plotted books packed full of
magic, mayhem, and a plethora of dark secrets…”(The Wishing Shelf)</span><span lang="EN-US"> Her fantasy
books feature strong female protagonists, page-turning plots, and relatable
characters that spring off the page.</span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Toni makes
her home in a small village along the shores of Lake Michigan with her handsome
husband and grumpy miniature schnauzer. When she told her fifth-grade teacher
she wanted to be a writer, neither of them expected Toni’s journey to include
stints as a nurse’s aid, personal banker, instructional designer, real estate
broker, systems analyst, and youth director. Toni is thrilled to be an indie
author and does at least half her writing in the middle of the night, which may
explain her wild plot twists and unforgettable characters.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">IAN: Please tell us about your latest book.</span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Toni Cabell:
“Highlighted by a breathtaking romance, THE LIGHTNESS OF WATER is an
exquisitely refined fantasy adventure that will keep you reading well into the
night.” (Indies Today)</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">The
only thing more dangerous than divining for water is falling in love with the
enemy…</span><span lang="EN-US"><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222;">Solace is beautiful, strong-willed, and called the
water witch by her neighbors. She divines for water in the arid hills of her
home—a dangerous pastime across the border, where the king controls access to
all the water.</span> <span style="color: #222222;">Rhees is brooding, bitter,
and hiding a deadly secret. But he’s determined to find a way to help the
thirsty people of his land—even if it means kidnapping the last living water
diviner.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222;">But divining for water is against the law,
punishable by death. Should Solace risk everything—including her heart—in a
daring race to find water, or flee across the hills at her first chance of
escape?</span><br />
<br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;">Beauty and
the Beast</span></i><span style="color: #222222;"> meets <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Hunger Games</i> in this thrilling romantic fantasy. Pick up THE
LIGHTNESS OF WATER and be swept into a world of betrayal, mystery, and
heart-stomping action.</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US">**2022
B.R.A.G. Medallion Award**</span><span lang="EN-US"><br />
**2022 Gold Medal, Best
Fantasy Romance - Global Book Awards**</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvyrdS69u6MvAXFtFM8dB7HLOATe2px-J1c7V7M9usbe_jFq9ScJoadVqStkkaMz4g08K0-2Ix4pCXtow-9BdUPoRPlklXfKBSPhLwNu-csAYmiVOBYsYN_IhDvgLBUuPTuZre1Zdot6k5-SyY1FrnfFnPDKGBQ_R6ml6aOKVHv9iei9oyPtvI6x6/s630/the-lightness-of-water-1_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="400" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvyrdS69u6MvAXFtFM8dB7HLOATe2px-J1c7V7M9usbe_jFq9ScJoadVqStkkaMz4g08K0-2Ix4pCXtow-9BdUPoRPlklXfKBSPhLwNu-csAYmiVOBYsYN_IhDvgLBUuPTuZre1Zdot6k5-SyY1FrnfFnPDKGBQ_R6ml6aOKVHv9iei9oyPtvI6x6/w235-h370/the-lightness-of-water-1_orig.jpg" width="235" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">IAN: Is The <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Lightness of Water</span> published in print, e-book or both?</span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Toni Cabell:
My novel is available in print and e-book.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">IAN: Where can we go to buy The Lightness of
Water?</span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Toni Cabell:
All my books are available on Amazon. Here’s the link for THE LIGHTNESS OF
WATER: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GJGRYZ7">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GJGRYZ7</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span lang="EN-US">IAN: </span></b><b><span lang="EN-US">Did you use an outline, or do you
just wing the first draft?</span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Toni Cabell: I use a very high-level outline that
contains some of the main beats or events of my story, and then I start
writing.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I’m
essentially a “pantser” – I write by the seat of my pants – which means I do a
fair amount of rewriting and rework to ensure I’ve plugged any plot holes that
might have developed when I was writing in the flow of the moment.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I’ve tried
to write out detailed outlines for my books, but I never stick with them. My
characters simply take over the story!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span lang="EN-US">IAN: Do
you have a specific writing style?</span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Toni Cabell:
According to my readers and reviewers, I write well-constructed fantasy stories
populated with engaging, diverse characters. My writing style has been
described as “clear” and “clean” – I tend to use the fewest words possible to
convey my meaning. When I was in college, if the assignment was to write a
10-20 page research paper, you can bet my papers came in at the low end of that
scale! </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">IAN: What
do you hope your readers come away with after reading your book?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US">Toni Cabell: </span><span lang="EN-US">I
think The Wishing Shelf summed it up best in their Five Star Review: “There
were plenty of twists and turns to keep me turning the page, and the characters
(the kind, the strange, and the mysterious) were interesting - even
memorable…If you enjoy character-led novels with a strong element of suspense,
THE LIGHTNESS OF WATER is for you. This is a stimulating and well-constructed
fantasy. There’s not much not to like!”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">IAN: How
much of the book is realistic?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US">Toni Cabell: </span><span lang="EN-US">While
THE LIGHTNESS OF WATER is a fantasy, the issues and conflicts faced by the
characters are real enough: adversity, prejudice, greed, and tyranny. Solace
and Rhees must overcome their mutual distrust—and their growing
attraction—while their enemies are hot on their trail. Ultimately, this is a
suspenseful coming-of-age tale populated with relatable characters.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">IAN: What
book are you reading now?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US">Toni Cabell: </span><span lang="EN-US">The
Golden Enclaves (The Scholomance Series) by Naomi Novik. I’ve been thoroughly
enjoying this dark YA fantasy series.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">IAN: Do
you recall how your interest in writing originated?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US">Toni Cabell: </span><span lang="EN-US">I
started making up stories in my head when I was in elementary school and
decided at an early age I wanted to be a writer. Storytelling has always held a
special fascination for me—I loved listening to the stories of my immigrant
grandparents, told around the kitchen table—and both my parents continued that
tradition. Stories help us make connections, by seeing life through someone
else’s eyes…and if we can do that, we develop empathy.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">IAN: Is
there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US">Toni Cabell: </span><span lang="EN-US">Everything!
And yet I love it and wouldn’t have it any other way. The creative process is
equal parts exhilarating and exhausting. The most difficult part for me is
facing an entirely blank page and beginning a new story.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span lang="EN-US">IAN:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> <b>Who designed the cover?</b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US">Toni Cabell: </span><span lang="EN-US">Peter at
Bespoke Book Covers has designed all my covers. He’s very talented and I think
he’s done a remarkable job!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">IAN: What
was the hardest part of writing The Lightness of Water?</span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US">Toni Cabell: </span><span lang="EN-US">The battle
scenes in THE LIGHTNESS OF WATER were especially challenging. They involved
sword fighting on horseback and on foot, as well as slinging. I researched the
ancient use of slingers in warfare because I wanted to portray Solace and her
slingers as accurately as possible. I’m especially gratified by this reader’s
Amazon review, “The building rebellion and battle are a joy to read and are
realistic.”</span><span class="a-size-base"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">IAN: Do
you have any advice for other writers?</span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US">Toni Cabell: </span><span lang="EN-US">Find a mantra
that will help you through the rough patches, when your words seem to flee and
nothing sits right on the page. I love Anne Lemott’s book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bird by Bird, Instructions on Writing and Life</i>. Whenever I’m stuck,
I recall her father’s advice to her little brother, struggling to write a
school paper on birds. Anne’s father told him, “Bird by bird, buddy. Just take
it bird by bird.” Anne applies that same advice to her writing—and so do
I—you’ve got to take it word by word, sentence by sentence, chapter by chapter.
With persistence (and a great deal of editing, often done in the middle of the
night), you will finish your book!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">IAN: Do
you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US">Toni Cabell: </span><span lang="EN-US">Quite simply:
thank you. I’ll say it again: thank you. While I love to write and take great
pleasure in crafting a new story, writing is a very solitary pursuit. It can be
isolating and even lonely. However, when my readers begin to react to my
stories, when they actually engage by leaving reviews, or following me, or
subscribing to my newsletter—wow, what a lift! I am deeply grateful to every
one of my readers.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">IAN: Tell us about your next book or a work
in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand-alone?</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Toni Cabell:
I have two works in progress at the moment!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">THE WAY OF
WATER, to be published in Fall 2023, picks up Solace and Rhees’s story on the
eve of his coronation. An unexpected visitor arrives with an old claim that the
new king must fulfill—but if Rhees follows through, he will lose Solace
forever.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">LADY
REAPER, the fifth and final book in my Serving Magic Series, will be published
in April 2023. “This series has everything I love…a powerful protagonist, a
strong plot, dry humor… and rich details that transported me right into the story.”
(Reader’s Favorite Review) Mara’s magic is broken, her fay boyfriend can’t give
her the time of day, and the underworld has stopped processing ghosts. With
chaos spreading everywhere, Mara needs a cure fast. Should she seek help from
the king of the elves? You won’t want to miss this award-winning series!</span></p>William R Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05728302101913537046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-404628347201068116.post-43194350823594488242022-01-15T09:09:00.001-08:002022-01-15T09:09:59.945-08:00 American Conspiracy by M. J. Polelle is On Sale<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">American Conspiracy by M. J. Polelle</span></span></p><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Get a $0.99 Kindle copy at Amazon from January 14-20, 2022</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigx9ISOyyLqY_aQkr93hLDWTKD81WbM1xsipo0iXeWdp_bGj01BXi-4snrlBSBT4rIo3MudQUa7i-C5az9-3FlkuNHDzpsMFnK7FPFjRhFXIiayCjmYyyAahjkV_Uj4ODMCSzE9s3ek5yeDzuLwWYokAKxP8NdGoymP_qtkCX5G8zJeAvLgoDs2o9s=s372" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="372" data-original-width="248" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigx9ISOyyLqY_aQkr93hLDWTKD81WbM1xsipo0iXeWdp_bGj01BXi-4snrlBSBT4rIo3MudQUa7i-C5az9-3FlkuNHDzpsMFnK7FPFjRhFXIiayCjmYyyAahjkV_Uj4ODMCSzE9s3ek5yeDzuLwWYokAKxP8NdGoymP_qtkCX5G8zJeAvLgoDs2o9s=w266-h400" width="266" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Political Thriller</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />When a presidential election is thrown into Congress for resolution after the assassination of the presumed president-elect, Detective Jim Murphy of the Chicago PD teams up with Commissario Marco Leone and the new "backdoor-elected" president, Dallas Taylor, to confront a political conspiracy orchestrated by Sebastian Senex, a pharmaceutical tycoon, to take over a United States on the brink of chaos with a military coup.</span></p><p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700; white-space: normal;">“A stellar novel of action, adventure, and intrigue.” —Steve Berry, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">New York Times </em>bestselling author</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Get your copy today.</span></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/American-Conspiracy.../dp/B097GB1WMY" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; font-family: verdana; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="300" height="48" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNUFXTOjdLdFs8XE-tonIAeXOKCWP9wC1D2wtjgw62L3VhFU5HmFMph-mZz4M71Pxudj2tDQf3JCQTD6P9mMHQdMRHGM3kDODp_GGKeBHwJJoE7BptKDJpHno5HLKNzT0Yeyzbmr6wFE7oroyKcA8CyGIwqqtM85GaaDpL74_aYLAEt4uRSXry9fon=w144-h48" width="144" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /><br /><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gpro0wi8 py34i1dx" href="https://www.amazon.com/American-Conspiracy-M-J-Polelle-ebook/dp/B097GB1WMY?fbclid=IwAR1oeSqZGduHME6d17TU0Gd_esaiv-zN09lSKMIS1gF3S4xHRXfk8-4Tzfo" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/American-Conspiracy.../dp/B097GB1WMY</a></span></p></div>William R Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05728302101913537046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-404628347201068116.post-82746719581366231292022-01-09T10:57:00.005-08:002022-01-09T10:57:47.494-08:00Razi Imam -The IAN Interview <p><b><a href="https://www.independentauthornetwork.com/razi-imam.html" target="_blank"> <span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Razi Imam</span></a></b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 10.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhERwiIxg3_EqCVqD4ZRmUBpb6tuJPIw1RJ6iVAvwupy-OqGP01lUa_C4_gMuP8EnXGSqUXGJ9NCI3Kg9wl-nZMb4qASC6F4c6VkuMHp3uszOxy5zUodcawTlWZI_xvaiHdOMgvCuANVaMSUklimeY8Vf0E9NTh_wo4URchbAGBvisUpPdftLwS-FZw=s601" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhERwiIxg3_EqCVqD4ZRmUBpb6tuJPIw1RJ6iVAvwupy-OqGP01lUa_C4_gMuP8EnXGSqUXGJ9NCI3Kg9wl-nZMb4qASC6F4c6VkuMHp3uszOxy5zUodcawTlWZI_xvaiHdOMgvCuANVaMSUklimeY8Vf0E9NTh_wo4URchbAGBvisUpPdftLwS-FZw=s320" width="213" /></a></div>Razi Imam's debut novel MASTERS OF THE BROKEN WATCHES has
won the 2021 IAN Book of the Year Award, 2021 Readers' Favorite Bronze Medal
Award, and the 2020 American Fiction Book Award. In addition, his book is also
listed as a finalist in The Wishing Shelf Book Award.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 10.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">He has an uncanny knack of creating stories that are a
cross-section of global cultures, mysterious science, human ingenuity and
hard-hitting action adventure. His dream has always been to write books that
would inspire readers to get involved in solving some of the greatest
challenges faced by humanity such as hunger, poverty, illiteracy and disease.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 10.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">He is also the CEO of 113 Industries, an Artificial
Intelligence company where his work in understanding human behavior
inspire his stories.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: Please tell us about your latest book.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Razi Imam</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">: </span></b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Master of the Broken Watches</span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">. </span></b><span style="background: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">An action adventure like Indiana Jones, a
science adventure like Jurassic Park and a human feel-good story like Slumdog
Millionaire.</span><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Masters of the Broken Watches is a must-read.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Sebastian Miles and his team of marine
biologists stare at their watches. Time outside their lab has jumped forward by
twenty-two hours. Minutes before this illogical space-time event, they were
analyzing a mysterious glowing nodule extracted from an unknown marine
specimen.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhkOagAtNxOmDgALJUw81MHspN541AUcGaS6Nyt9deOujm7p2tXt51RwEwyYmBXSDLoPcTiZzxT3ml9UfY71X0l5r5bm8_BPqeBYbTyKgmci7-ZaBCLL-A2UoYhHDg15Fj-K8WuilX0kbkssYxQGKhG6Epm1x5xdobOstAAq3sreVVEy7Ew0PPuZLHF=s615" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhkOagAtNxOmDgALJUw81MHspN541AUcGaS6Nyt9deOujm7p2tXt51RwEwyYmBXSDLoPcTiZzxT3ml9UfY71X0l5r5bm8_BPqeBYbTyKgmci7-ZaBCLL-A2UoYhHDg15Fj-K8WuilX0kbkssYxQGKhG6Epm1x5xdobOstAAq3sreVVEy7Ew0PPuZLHF=w260-h400" width="260" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background: white;">News of this marine life reaches powerful
governments, inadvertently triggering a race to hunt, capture and control it.
But these governments and their nationalist leaders have never faced a team of
scientists known as the Paramarines. They have no idea to what lengths
Sebastian and his Paramarines will go in order to protect the species from
capture and exploitation.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">The first of a multi-book series, this
genre-bending novel leaves readers on the edge of their seats. Thrilling like
Blake Crouch and science-driven like Ted Chang, all approached in ways you’ve
never seen before. A captivating adventure, a heartbreaking story of love, and
a true display of human ingenuity and bravery in the face of overwhelming odds.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: Is <i>Master of the Broken Watches</i> published in
print, e-book or both?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Razi Imam</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Both</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: Where can we go to buy <i>Master of the Broken
Watches?</i></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Razi Imam</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3tNDOfF" target="_blank">Amazon</a></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <b>What
do you hope your readers come away with after reading</b> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Master of the Broken Watches?</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Razi Imam</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I hope
my readers would want the book to be true. I wish to inspire them to get
involved in solving some our great challenges humanity faces today through the
art of storytelling.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: How much of the book is realistic?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Razi Imam</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">: </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">All the locations, such coffee shops, buildings,
towns and villages are actual places one can visit. And the scientific research
is real.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: How is </span></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Master of the Broken Watches</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> different
from others in your genre?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Razi Imam</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">: </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">My book is multi-genre, it fits action adventure, science fiction and
socio-political challenges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: What books have most influenced your life most?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Razi Imam</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">: </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Roots, Great Expectations, Oliver Twist.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Razi Imam</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">: </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Kazuo Ishiguro<br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: What book are you reading now?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Razi Imam</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">: </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Klara and the Sun</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your
writing?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Razi Imam</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">: </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Everything. I am not a trained writer. I failed most of my grammar and
English classes. Not sure how and when I developed the desire to write and now
I love it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: What was the hardest part of writing your book?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Razi Imam</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">: </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Balancing the time with my fulltime business. I feel strong sense of
guilt if I ignore either of my passions.<b><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Do you have any advice for other writers?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Razi Imam</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">: </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Relax and write. Do not be in a hurry. Enjoy the process. Let your
mind go to places and experiences. It is a gift you have and don’t question
your ability.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: Tell us about your next book or a work
in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand-alone?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Razi Imam</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The next book I am writing is book two in the series. It is called <i>Masters
of the Vanishing Walls. </i>The<i> </i>story picks up from book one and the
adventurer continues. <o:p></o:p></span></p>William R Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05728302101913537046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-404628347201068116.post-14540706819774416662022-01-01T14:43:00.001-08:002022-01-01T14:43:37.774-08:00Tim Doyle: The IAN Interview<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.independentauthornetwork.com/tim-doyle.html">Tim Doyle</a></span></b></div><p class="MsoListParagraph"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiehkGslIEwVFs0wzbEyTnDN9jNOLqbPEsh_MYENhFdJGO7EKnn2Kbn3A9z_pq6_CBml_t4zxSnyXDrfmgrPll12WOYQLP2A2c2dKUncNhx0Dzf_duF-BxYq7ge6pzoHWUwN-dcliUiDm1demHXM_3vp1uJxO3MHn-lAoQdyufwav8rVOD7hFmQ-Yxg=s400" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiehkGslIEwVFs0wzbEyTnDN9jNOLqbPEsh_MYENhFdJGO7EKnn2Kbn3A9z_pq6_CBml_t4zxSnyXDrfmgrPll12WOYQLP2A2c2dKUncNhx0Dzf_duF-BxYq7ge6pzoHWUwN-dcliUiDm1demHXM_3vp1uJxO3MHn-lAoQdyufwav8rVOD7hFmQ-Yxg=w238-h238" width="238" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Tim
Doyle is an award-winning political illustrator/humorist</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">.</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Tim's acute eye for detail and resolve to present images
truthfully has been developed by working as a commercial photographer/film
maker in a previous career. During this time, Tim received numerous awards both
nationally and internationally. By turning his creativity to political satire,
Tim has been able to distill the broad range of political misfortune into an
accurate portrayal of wrongs within the system. Tim's plans are to keep making
the public aware so that change can happen, if only we are actively involved.
As the late U.S. Representative and activist John Lewis said, "When you
see something that is not right, not fair, not just, say something! Do
something! Get in trouble! Good trouble! Necessary trouble!"</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Tim’s
academic past has included a diploma in photography from the Center for
Creative Studies, Detroit, a BFA in drawing from Wayne State University,
Detroit, and a post-graduate diploma from the London Film School, London,
England.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Tim
resides between London, England and the US.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /><b>IAN:
Please tell us about your latest book.</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Tim
Doyle: </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Welcome to the Swamp: An
Illustrated Journey into the Deplorable World of Donald J. Trump</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> is a
relentless, cringe-worthy, boldly illustrated look at the foibles of the Trump
administration, certain to grasp your sense of reality and throttle it. From
talking trash on the toilet to giving a thumbs-up </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">to
the Capitol insurgents, Trump has astounded his admirers and critics alike.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">This
fly-on-the-wall book of political indiscretions allows the viewer to witness, without
the danger of an inflicted Twitter rampage, the most abhorrent acts of
self-interest by Trump and his cronies. Although it represents a sad state of affairs,
</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Welcome</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> gleefully pokes fun at the
Cheeto-in-Charge and his ensemble of misfits. It is a compelling read that will
make you laugh and cry at the same time.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>IAN: Is Welcome available in Print, eBook of
both?</b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBV05mYLh8_3EcwbW7rpRXOHTbNiFnGXD3GtUNxSVqfmJI0WNzNcQQu73ZxNpg3wIERrMfSBBfph_cf0ZpSb6rWDj7v7H8rqful-JGLOUvPjYgDA6_qQke2dzgMAWJhkHdp_lAfbFOdTtsPDZy5f8HJ8gD_zUqD7QuDtJMOK7kiwqTrwf9IjnVbLTE=s499" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="499" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBV05mYLh8_3EcwbW7rpRXOHTbNiFnGXD3GtUNxSVqfmJI0WNzNcQQu73ZxNpg3wIERrMfSBBfph_cf0ZpSb6rWDj7v7H8rqful-JGLOUvPjYgDA6_qQke2dzgMAWJhkHdp_lAfbFOdTtsPDZy5f8HJ8gD_zUqD7QuDtJMOK7kiwqTrwf9IjnVbLTE=w350-h263" width="350" /></a></b></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><br /></b></span>Tim
Doyle: </span><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Print only.<br /></span><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /><b>IAN: </b></span><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">What inspired you to write </span><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Welcome to the Swamp</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">?</span></i></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Tim Doyle: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Current events and the need to voice my opinion on what I found
offensive in the previous administration.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">IAN: </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">How long did it take to
write </span><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Welcome
to the Swamp</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">?</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Tim Doyle: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I was able to complete the book from initial concept to finished
printing and distribution in just over 9 months.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">IAN: </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">How did you come up with the
title?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Tim
Doyle: The concept of Swampy Don was inspired by a Stephen Colbert interview
with Jon Stewart on June 25, 2020. During the interview, the conversation
turned to Trump’s nicknames for everyone within his realm. Whether friend or
foe, the monikers remained derogatory. Dragging Trump into his own game and
bandying about possible names, Stewart announced, “He’s not draining the swamp!
He is the swamp! He’s Donald Swamp. Ol’ Swampy Don. With eyes fixed to the
camera, Stewart implored the audience to forever refer to Donald Trump by his
new name. Thus, was born the character of “Swampy Don” who is listed as the
author of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Welcome to the Swamp</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">. Once I had the concept of Swampy Don it
was easy to form a title around his view of the swamp and Donald Trump.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /><b>IAN: How much of </b></span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Welcome to the Swamp</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"> is realistic? </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Tim Doyle: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">100%. The book is based on headlines and accompanying articles. Every
headline/article is referenced with a date, name of publication and
author/byline.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">IAN: How is</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Welcome to the Swamp</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"> different from others in your genre?</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Tim Doyle: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I don’t know if there are others that are similar in style. Most
humor/satire is done in a conventional word-based approach. “Welcome” is
primarily illustrations depicting the events of the day with accompanying
headlines.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">IAN: If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Tim Doyle: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Ralph Steadman and Gary Larson<br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /><b>IAN: Do you see
writing as a career? </b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Tim Doyle: </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Yes,
definitely! I have found that creating an impact and possibly influencing
peoples’ thought processes is stimulating and rewarding. </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">As the late U.S.
Representative and activist John Lewis said, "When you see something that
is not right, not fair, not just, say something! Do something! Get in trouble!
Good trouble! Necessary trouble!"<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">IAN: Who
designed the cover?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Tim Doyle: </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">I
designed both the cover (front and back) and the inside layout and illustrations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">IAN: What was
the hardest part of writing</span></b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"> </span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Welcome to the Swamp</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Tim Doyle: </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Trying to
keep up with current events. I had to know when to stop. There was so much
political information to choose from it was difficult to pre-edit prior to
illustrating.</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN:
Tell us about your next book. Is it a sequel or a stand-alone?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Tim
Doyle: </span><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">2021:
A Year in Review:</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <i>The Aftermath</i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> is a sequel to <i>Welcome to the Swamp.</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">2021: A Year in Review:</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <i>The
Aftermath </i><span style="background: white;">is a critical and irreverent
retrospective of the political landscape of 2021. Although humorous in design, <i>The</i> <i>Aftermath</i>
is a no-holds barred approach to stripping the skin off some of the most
egregious offenses of the first year of the Biden administration. Witnessing
Donald Trump's never-ending stranglehold on the Republican Party will have you
gasping in disbelief and chuckling while trying to catch your breath. Whether
you consider yourself Red or Blue, the illustrations and accompanying press articles
will delight, enrage, elicit tears...and, hopefully, laughter as well. Enjoy
the rollercoaster ride that was 2021.</span></span></p>William R Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05728302101913537046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-404628347201068116.post-74178291045884379292021-10-31T10:08:00.006-07:002021-10-31T10:13:05.426-07:00S.G. Blaise – The IAN Interview<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://www.independentauthornetwork.com/sg-blaise.html" target="_blank">S.G.Blaise</a></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOZNI9ezuqFXUhyJ5f2St1K4hDEaARStax1DnBSOaTvNYVoe2cVdUtEU4JYm-ndbEGWiuWHLd-EYQwFt2WhCrsCY4kzWWQqxjZTaYNImNUeBHqR-1gxaOGJPa9SIArvAuEnkvo8lRzhM/s400/S.G.+Blaise.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="400" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOZNI9ezuqFXUhyJ5f2St1K4hDEaARStax1DnBSOaTvNYVoe2cVdUtEU4JYm-ndbEGWiuWHLd-EYQwFt2WhCrsCY4kzWWQqxjZTaYNImNUeBHqR-1gxaOGJPa9SIArvAuEnkvo8lRzhM/w239-h228/S.G.+Blaise.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>S.G. was born in a faraway land of castles,
monarchies and fallen dictatorships. Hollywood movies were forbidden under the
Soviet oppression during her childhood, but her dad smuggled them in anyway,
risking his life so that his children could experience the magic and hope
inherent in those stories. She watched rebellions unfold in real time.
Journeyed across the Atlantic Ocean for love. She ended up in sunny California,
where she is living her dream - writing stories and annoying family members.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><span lang="EN"><b>IAN: Please tell us about your latest
book.</b></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: verdana;">S.G. Blaise: This is a coming-of-age story of Lilla. She is a not-your-average princess and a rebel-in-disguise, fighting for the refugee's freedom. The arrival of the mysterious and ruggedly-handsome Callum brings news of a bigger battle - the Era War between the two ruling archgods- that threatens not only Lilla's home world but everyone else's in the Seven Galaxies.<br /><br />Lilla must learn to control her magic and defeat the dark god before He finds her - the last Lumenian.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZ-3c49j3DZaAq75seDNmgbgSmXreQYvb8zgcg2eajhLy-Tu5Kjw_BivmEZ_47Rx8Oz7iijWGiagGrsP7-t65sFLI9wwpy7wf1DJd-C7vPeNY2ALDxaOHVfm_WFPsmWS5ecDwRSw76fk/s618/the-last-lumenian_orig.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="400" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZ-3c49j3DZaAq75seDNmgbgSmXreQYvb8zgcg2eajhLy-Tu5Kjw_BivmEZ_47Rx8Oz7iijWGiagGrsP7-t65sFLI9wwpy7wf1DJd-C7vPeNY2ALDxaOHVfm_WFPsmWS5ecDwRSw76fk/w275-h424/the-last-lumenian_orig.jpg" width="275" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>IAN: Is The Last Lumenian
published in print, e-book or both?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN">S.G. Blaise: </span><span lang="EN">Both. Ebook,
paperback and audiobook as well.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>IAN: Where can we go to buy your book?</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN"> </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Last-Lumenian-S-G-Blaise-ebook/dp/B08KWLGR7R/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=the+last+lumenian&qid=1604252427&sprefix=the+last+lume&sr=8-3"><span style="color: #1155cc; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Amazon.com</span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN"> </span><a href="https://www.audible.com/author/SG-Blaise/B08GH7TP9N"><span style="color: #1155cc; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Audible.com</span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN"> </span><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-last-lumenian/id1536821092?ign-gact=1"><span style="color: #1155cc; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Apple.com</span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN"> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details?pcampaignid=books_read_action&id=q8b4DwAAQBAJ"><span style="color: #1155cc; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Google.com</span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN"> </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-last-lumenian-sg-blaise/1137449970?ean=2940162819370"><span style="color: #1155cc; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">BarnesandNoble.com</span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN"> </span><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-last-lumenian-2"><span style="color: #1155cc; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kobo.com</span></a></span></p>
<div style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><b>IAN: Did you use an outline or do you just wing the first draft?</b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.3333px;">S.G. Blaise: I did an outline, planning the scenes out ahead of time, but making sure to leave room for improvisation. I found that combining the two worked really well for me.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><b>IAN: Do you have a specific writing style?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.3333px;">S.G. Blaise: I aim to write in a vivid, movie-like style and prefer the first person POV. Sprinkled with humor and of course, with a little bit of romance.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><b>IAN: What do you hope your readers come away with after reading The Last Lumenian?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.3333px;">S.G. Blaise: I hope my readers come away entertained but also a feeling of excitement to embark on a journey with Lilla, following her as she discovers her true purpose and legendary powers. There is a lot more to come!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><b>IAN: How is The Last Lumenian different from others in your genre?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.3333px;">S.G. Blaise: While The Last Lumenian is a fantasy action story, it also weaves together elements of fairytale, magic and mythology with science fiction, creating an original and complex setting for the main hero. The readers experience multiple storylines that allow them to be truly immersed inside the story and get to know Lilla and her world as if they are experiencing it themselves.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><b>IAN: What book are you reading now? </b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.3333px;">S.G. Blaise: I love reading Urban Fantasy books, Science fiction and even certain Historical fictions. I love reading stories that have humor and a little bit of romance in them. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><b>IAN: Do you see writing as a career?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.3333px;">S.G. Blaise: Writing is my passion and storytelling is who I am. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><b>IAN: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book? </b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.3333px;">S.G. Blaise: At this moment, I feel as if I poured my soul into this story. Probably along with a pint of blood from all those papercuts.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><b>IAN: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.3333px;">S.G. Blaise: I think it all started when I had a nightmare at age ten. I had a strong urge to write it down as a form of excising the dream’s terrible hold over me. But as I was writing it down, I was able to take the control back and change the story, morphing it into something that could have been even called entertaining. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><b>IAN: Who designed the cover?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.3333px;">S.G. Blaise: I had the fortune of working with Tim Barber from Dissect Designs. It was a lot of fun creating the cover that showcases the important elements of the story while also being eye-catching. It just won the Best Cover: Fiction category at the 2020 Annual “Best Books” Awards.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><b>IAN: What was the hardest part of writing The Last Lumenian? </b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.3333px;">S.G. Blaise: I think the hardest part was not knowing how long writing the book would take. It turns out it took six years, and one more year to publish it.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><b>IAN: Did you learn anything from writing The Last Lumenian and what was it?</b> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.3333px;">S.G. Blaise: I feel like I’ve learned a lot from writing this book - about commitment, hard work and perseverance. About who I am and who I want to be. About how to enjoy the process and the journey. And most of all, about patience.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><b>IAN: Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand-alone?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.3333px;">S.G. Blaise: True Teryn: The Last Lumenian Book 2 is set to be released on December 10, 2021.</span></p><br /></div>William R Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05728302101913537046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-404628347201068116.post-39411290049456999732021-09-11T10:49:00.006-07:002021-09-11T10:50:03.935-07:00M.J. Polelle - The IAN Interview<p><b><a href="https://www.independentauthornetwork.com/mj-polelle.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">M.J. Polelle</span></span></a></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32328p7oeQUizN6R4vwN2qCXDaffVOPxoCk6q-paEe_oW-48Vqci_Xe3fssnlHQewDOFxSubXVKe4mugp-dgggdV71KQ4oAh2Ai_x7twGnfZ_WLWuxszuR0GMKQx-uPyn94G_q33QviQ/s406/m-j-polelle_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="325" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32328p7oeQUizN6R4vwN2qCXDaffVOPxoCk6q-paEe_oW-48Vqci_Xe3fssnlHQewDOFxSubXVKe4mugp-dgggdV71KQ4oAh2Ai_x7twGnfZ_WLWuxszuR0GMKQx-uPyn94G_q33QviQ/w256-h320/m-j-polelle_orig.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>Born and bred in Chicago M.J. Polelle spent a year in Germany on a
Fulbright Scholarship before graduating from Harvard Law School. He began his
career as a civil litigator. His career took a turn when he became a professor
of law, first at DePaul College of Law and then at John Marshall Law School,
both in Chicago. He taught constitutional law and served as a Special Assistant
State’s Attorney for Cook County. He is now an emeritus professor from the
University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, formerly John Marshall Law
School. He now lives in Sarasota, Florida with Donna, his wife.<o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN: Please tell us about your latest
book.</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">M.J. Polelle: My latest book is <i>American
Conspiracy</i> (Lido Press: 7/23/21). When a presidential election is thrown
into Congress after a candidate’s assassination the finger of blame points to
Detective Jim Murphy of the Chicago PD who in an indelible moment of
distraction was out of position in protecting the candidate. Determined to
salvage his reputation, he throws himself into an investigation of the
mysterious disappearance of Chicago gangbangers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">His investigation uncovers not only a
family secret but a grisly web of gangbanger murders leading to Sebastian
Senex, an aging pharmaceutical tycoon at death’s door. Senex is determined to
cheat dementia and death with secret blood research at Promethean Pharma. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">He
also has secret political project to restore the great America of his youth. A
rejuvenated Senex and General Horatio “Hardass” Harrison plot a coup against a
United States on the brink of social and political chaos. Detective Murphy
teams up with his estranged brother at the Justice Department and Dallas
Taylor, the “backdoor” president elected by Congress, to thwart this act of
treason.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">How far will some go to
hang on to life and power over the next generation?</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdiDGXWYP1ZGitJmstzqUA85c8k5DnZXV3UHXyM93EaJ5cyeX5ZhQfXWxZDl59UU7Y_q9EZ85ojZlrbrF-vgJkrHXwjbI5el8X2VTJhytPD-elmhNzhv3rQi32KXgZWPT8s1M0wpZ4d0/s500/American+Conspiracy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdiDGXWYP1ZGitJmstzqUA85c8k5DnZXV3UHXyM93EaJ5cyeX5ZhQfXWxZDl59UU7Y_q9EZ85ojZlrbrF-vgJkrHXwjbI5el8X2VTJhytPD-elmhNzhv3rQi32KXgZWPT8s1M0wpZ4d0/w266-h400/American+Conspiracy.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN: Is your book published in print,
e-book or both?</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">M.J. Polelle: My novel is published in both.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN: Where can we go to buy your book?</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">M.J. Polelle: <i>American Conspiracy</i> is available for purchase on
Amazon and Ingram Spark. My website, </span><a href="http://www.mjpolelle.com/"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">www.mjpolelle.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> provides
more options for purchase as well as more information about me and my novels.<br />
</span><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br />
IAN: </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">What
inspired you to write </span></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">American
Conspiracy?</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">M.J. Polelle: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My years of teaching constitutional law
where I saw the potent booby traps in our Constitution involving presidential
elections. Some almost came to pass in the 2020 election.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Did
you use an outline or do you just wing the first draft?</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">M.J. Polelle: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I
winged the first draft and let my imagination rip.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: How
long did it take to write</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">American
Conspiracy?</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">M.J.
Polelle: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It
took about a year and a half to write the novel.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: How did you come up with the
title?</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">M.J.
Polelle: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">The
title <i>American Conspiracy</i> did the best job of conveying what the heart
of the novel was about.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: How is your book different from
others in your genre?</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">M.J.
Polelle: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I
don’t believe in “cartoon” main characters in mystery/thrillers who are
one-dimensional and seem like supermen or superwomen. I prefer complex
characters…like people in real life.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you had to choose, which writer
would you consider a mentor?</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">M.J.
Polelle: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Steve
Berry and Dan Brown would be my mentors for the kind of novels I’m writing now.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: What
book are you reading now?</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">M.J.
Polelle: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m
reading <i>The Mark Of The Assassin </i>by Daniel Silva whose style I admire.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Name
someone outside of your family members who you feel supported you in the
creation of your work.</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">M.J.
Polelle: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pat
Agnew, a true Chicagoan and friend, who understands and appreciates literature
and what writers go through and is willing to help in any way he can.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Do
you see writing as a career?</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">M.J.
Polelle: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I see
writing as my “second act” in life after being a lawyer and law professor. It
is fun, energizing, and I do it primarily for the joy of writing when I have
something to say. It’s a career where financial gain is not the primary
objective at this stage of my life.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Do
you have to travel much concerning your books?</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">M.J.
Polelle: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I
wrote my debut novel, <i>The Mithras Conspiracy</i> (Lido Press: 2019) I spent
a delightful week in Rome, Italy doing research on the cult of Mithras since
the novel was set in Italy. <i>American Conspiracy </i>is set primarily in
Chicago, my native city, so I fortunately didn’t need to travel there during
the lockdown period of COVID-19.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">IAN: What was the hardest part of writing </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">American Conspiracy?</i></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">M.J. Polelle: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">Finishing it!</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Do you have any advice for
writers?</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">M.J.
Polelle: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Enjoy
the writing journey and let it lead you to unexpected places.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN: Tell us about your next book or a
work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand-alone?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">M.J.
Polelle: I just finished </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">American Conspiracy</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. I’m allowing the well of
imagination to fill up again and letting it tell me the direction of my next
novel.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i> </i></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></p>William R Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05728302101913537046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-404628347201068116.post-12979711789610591172021-06-05T10:20:00.003-07:002021-06-05T10:20:56.648-07:00Deadly Business by Anita Dickason<p><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A Multi-Billion Dollar Texas Lure!</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Award-Winning Author Anita Dickason ramps up the action in
her latest Texas crime thriller: <b><i>Deadly Business</i></b>. <a name="_Hlk71096482">The reader is thrust into a high-stakes, high-risk game of
financial fraud and</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKNEgQ_qWUcZBsoIceQtLPa88CGebxtmNgWdIkCSvVFxiS7j3WeUuUNjPgSBF5zmEcRpnEIDipBDNV8wOYRW6uJpwl1xZecJJjoZfRYcmXcOU9k1mvTZjgozEx3jhL-q9I5rvqGH04us/s1135/Deadly+Business-+3d+cover+%25231.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="760" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKNEgQ_qWUcZBsoIceQtLPa88CGebxtmNgWdIkCSvVFxiS7j3WeUuUNjPgSBF5zmEcRpnEIDipBDNV8wOYRW6uJpwl1xZecJJjoZfRYcmXcOU9k1mvTZjgozEx3jhL-q9I5rvqGH04us/s320/Deadly+Business-+3d+cover+%25231.png" /></a></div><br /> murder that extends across three states. <span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-contextual-alternates: yes; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">With millions of dollars on the line, nothing will stop a cold-blooded
gang, including the murders of a U.S. Marshal and a Special Ranger. </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-contextual-alternates: yes; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk71096482;"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Preorder contest starts June 4, 2021. Enter to win one of
three prize packages: tote bag, mousepad, coaster, pen & bookmarks, a $40
value. Contest details at: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.anitadickason.com/">www.anitadickason.com/</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A twenty-two-year veteran of the Dallas Police Department,
Anita Dickason served as a patrol officer, undercover narcotics detective,
advanced accident investigator, tactical officer and the first female sniper on
the Dallas SWAT team. Anita writes about what she knows, cops and crime. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Her fictional works are suspense/thrillers, and her plots are drawn
from her extensive law enforcement knowledge and experience.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Publisher: Mystic Circle Books</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Available in Hardback, Paperback, and eBook<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wholesale Distributor: Ingram Content Group<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Anita Dickason is available for interviews.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrsiXwjrTfveEfXKvq1B2vgszckGydPxyAxB5qc8jzlOJ7hVf9xay-NvXpQlt_3G4XH-jo94OwgTH7MYJOtgW_weo_V9sXBCN-mjwGUPI6gOQqPCQbnik4yY_nojdY2af2drji-et1Bdw/s2048/Deadly+Business+Prizes-5-29-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2048" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrsiXwjrTfveEfXKvq1B2vgszckGydPxyAxB5qc8jzlOJ7hVf9xay-NvXpQlt_3G4XH-jo94OwgTH7MYJOtgW_weo_V9sXBCN-mjwGUPI6gOQqPCQbnik4yY_nojdY2af2drji-et1Bdw/w640-h330/Deadly+Business+Prizes-5-29-21.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span><p></p>William R Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05728302101913537046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-404628347201068116.post-74250923964970197012021-05-01T23:20:00.000-07:002021-05-01T23:20:09.324-07:00Denise Bossarte – The IAN Interview<p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Denise Bossarte </b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQIgcJeTS3W5TgBKTH_Zvo0w1qRzkpRGbWSW0idPUg2eZaGMr8effSBM0LTc6SbF-4IYQ_jQr73tJQAfbqZjYg2a0Ncra6pkb1aLNp_HEZSdCdPlmUxtZsuQUFgwSBK48nkcaPqMMI_A/s252/denise-bossarte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="252" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQIgcJeTS3W5TgBKTH_Zvo0w1qRzkpRGbWSW0idPUg2eZaGMr8effSBM0LTc6SbF-4IYQ_jQr73tJQAfbqZjYg2a0Ncra6pkb1aLNp_HEZSdCdPlmUxtZsuQUFgwSBK48nkcaPqMMI_A/w220-h220/denise-bossarte.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>Denise Bossarte is
an award-winning poet, writer, photographer, and artist. Denise is a certified
meditation facilitator and contemplative arts teacher. She is an information
technology (IT) professional working for a large urban school district. Denise
holds a BA in chemistry, an MS in computer science, and a PhD in developmental
neuroscience. And she is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse.<p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: Please tell us about your latest book.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Denise Bossarte: </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Thriving
After Sexual Abuse</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> is an eloquent and empathetic self-development book
laying out a blueprint for survivors to heal themselves. Denise Bossarte writes
with fierce candor as she shares her own traumatic experience with childhood
sexual abuse. Thriving provides tips and suggestions for readers to seek help,
self-reflect, and pursue healing through a range of activities and practices
and offers tangible strategies for readers to reclaim their lives and move
forward to a life of Thriving.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: Is <i>Thriving After Sexual Abuse</i></span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">published in print, e-book or both?</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeLBaXiWUj-U07jVwHSXVFvvCNFc27k1EVOXdMHq8HjgxKCl2P1N5UcioFh7F_ZrA9DYkHWvw0W-CG1PmBKwULAIsrHBfCFS1hdd8PcrBdA6uOxYhpyaMktXyEYVIB_aBkSU5fxkUb18/s622/thriving-after-sexual-abuse-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="416" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeLBaXiWUj-U07jVwHSXVFvvCNFc27k1EVOXdMHq8HjgxKCl2P1N5UcioFh7F_ZrA9DYkHWvw0W-CG1PmBKwULAIsrHBfCFS1hdd8PcrBdA6uOxYhpyaMktXyEYVIB_aBkSU5fxkUb18/w268-h400/thriving-after-sexual-abuse-1.jpg" width="268" /></a></b></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Denise Bossarte: Print and ebook.</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: Where can we go to buy <i>Thriving After Sexual Abuse?</i></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0937GR5MR" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Amazon.com</a> </b></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/thriving-after-sexual-abuse-beverly-engel/1139340577" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">BarnesandNoble.com</a> </b></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/thriving-after-sexual-abuse" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Kobo.com</a> </b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Google Plus – pending review</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><b>Apple iTunes – pending review</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">What inspired you to write</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Thriving After Sexual Abuse?</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Denise Bossarte: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I wanted to share what I had done on
my healing journey as an inspiration and guide for other survivors.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Did you use an outline or do you just wing the first draft?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Denise Bossarte: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I had an outline of that had the
topics for each chapter in the book.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: How long did it take to </span></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Thriving
After Sexual Abuse?</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Denise Bossarte: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">4 years. I started the book in 2017.
I took about 6 months of 2020 off from working on the book so I could try to
get an agent. No luck there so I self-published my book.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: What do you hope your readers come away with after reading</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Thriving After Sexual Abuse?</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Denise Bossarte: </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ideas on
how they can start their healing journey and what things they can try to help
themselves heal. The book is meant to be interactive with questions for the
reader to work on in their journal.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: How
is </span></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Thriving After Sexual Abuse </span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">different from others in your genre?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Denise Bossarte: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">My book is
not simply a memoir of an abusive childhood. Nor is it simply a self-help book.
It is a combination of my story and a blueprint for other survivors of abuse
and assault to find their own healing journey.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Name someone outside of your family
members who you feel supported you in the creation of your work.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">Denise Bossarte: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">My editor
Candace Johnson was incredible! She was over the top supportive of my work and
helped me to bring my dream of my book to life.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Who designed the cover?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Denise Bossarte: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I had the concept for the images on
the book and the title of the book. zeIena at 99designs.com helped me take it
to the next level.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: What was the hardest part of writing </span></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Thriving After Sexual Abuse?</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Denise Bossarte: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Getting past the writer’s block of
being afraid of what people would think of my story and the information I was
going to offer in the book.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your
readers?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Denise Bossarte: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">You were not at fault for what
happened to you. You are an incredibly strong human being to make it through
what you did. You deserve to live a full, thriving life. Give yourself the gift
of a healing journey!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Were there any challenges (research, literary, psychological,
logistical) in bringing your story to life?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Denise Bossarte: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">There were a lot of psychological and
emotional challenges in bringing my story to life. I couldn’t just sit down and
start at the beginning with the introduction to my story. I had to approach the
book slowly, sometimes one paragraph at a time to avoid getting overwhelmed with
memories and strong emotions. I skipped around in the various chapters, doing
ones that I felt the most comfortable writing about first. And in each chapter,
I started with the questions for the readers and then went back and wrote the
parts of my story that were related to the chapter topic. The very last part of
the book I wrote was the Introduction that gives my story of abuse and healing.
It took all the work on the other parts of the book before I was strong enough
emotionally to write down my story.</span></p>William R Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05728302101913537046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-404628347201068116.post-69690854343087973422021-05-01T22:19:00.001-07:002021-05-01T23:23:11.007-07:00Menelaos Gkikas – The IAN Interview <p><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EL" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPuToG57CwmoXd_PWaMAs5gMTdtJ8RDIVzlfydS3Gnugz4sMk42SgNLbcpxwhWHqlmxjXojp253D-y6MXEmsL6oukfkGqrr78Wgp9lWVHX6Fx9_oE6fkjS7lGtCLzgXV3dY7-av2Dq84/s1149/Menelaos+Gkikas.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="1064" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPuToG57CwmoXd_PWaMAs5gMTdtJ8RDIVzlfydS3Gnugz4sMk42SgNLbcpxwhWHqlmxjXojp253D-y6MXEmsL6oukfkGqrr78Wgp9lWVHX6Fx9_oE6fkjS7lGtCLzgXV3dY7-av2Dq84/w219-h237/Menelaos+Gkikas.jpg" width="219" /></a></b></div><b>Menelaos Gkikas</b><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Menelaos studied Industrial Management and
Technology at the University of Piraeus in Greece and got an MBA specializing
in Marketing, at City University of Seattle. He attended Public Relations
Seminars at the Hellenic American Union. He has his own blogs on the internet,
and he has attended seminars on Creative Writing, Screenwriting, Social Media,
Digital Content, Communication and Conflict Management. He has self-published a
romantic drama and a fairytale and he is a digital marketing specialist.
Currently he attends Online AI lessons from The University of Helsinki and IBM
AI Learning.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">IAN: Please tell us about your latest book.</span></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EL" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;">Menelaos Gkikas</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">:<b> </b>My latest book is a fairytale, a fairytale fantasy entitled
<i>When Magic Truly Happens</i>. A book for all ages above 9 years old that is self-published
internationally in the world wide web as an ebook and a pocket book as print on
demand. First of all, below I picture its summary:<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Little Jennifer meets Jack, the elf, who plays
the flute and, through the looking glass, they're magically shifted to a
fantasy realm known as Flux, a world created by music. Together with Snow White
and the Seven Dwarfs, Jennifer makes new friends, while she discovers the
magical mirror plays an important role in her life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I’ve always dreamt of writing fairytales, enjoying
and feeling the breeze around them. When Magic Truly Happens correlates with
one of the greatest stories of Brothers Grimm that is Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs.
It’s a technique entitled salad of fairytales, described by Gianni Rodari in
his book Grammar of Fantasy. Rodari, who has been awarded with a Hans Christian
Andersen medal in 1970 for his lasting contribution as a children’s author,
names as salad of fairytales the technique of entanglement of different stories
who occur onto the resultant of the two.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">IAN: Are your books published in print, e-book
or both?</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIx4353K4-rE70N-UbcxUCjqoYuBMnFbQZTfKX3aiH7xs850MQSpk7erQwJBD67Ti7r7N9xjeIdNoY9HDPyd8vHAi8FIPbRJkSnnaymqN2FjXtHFM5OL9koITItWrk59je9qcfqW-Z_Q/s2048/when_magic_truly_happens.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1283" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIx4353K4-rE70N-UbcxUCjqoYuBMnFbQZTfKX3aiH7xs850MQSpk7erQwJBD67Ti7r7N9xjeIdNoY9HDPyd8vHAi8FIPbRJkSnnaymqN2FjXtHFM5OL9koITItWrk59je9qcfqW-Z_Q/w270-h432/when_magic_truly_happens.png" width="270" /></a></b></div><b><o:p></o:p></b><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EL" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;">Menelaos Gkikas</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">:<b> </b>Both of my books, that is <i>The Words of Emily Logan</i> and<i> When
Magic Truly Happens</i> have been self-published both as ebooks and prints on
demand. Self-publishing globally with the sole power of the internet and
creativity has made this dream come true.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">IAN: Where can we go to buy your books?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EL" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Menelaos Gkikas</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">:<b> </b>Some of the
biggest markets for both of my books have been Amazon, Barnes & Noble,
Kobo, Walmart. Searching the internet for opportunities I discovered the
Independent Authors Network, known as IAN into which I created my own web
presence with an author’s page. So, aggregated, you can navigate some of my
biggest book markets if you just click at my page here: </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EL" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://t.co/CSE11hzoeZ?amp=1" target="_blank"><span class="css-901oao"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">https://</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">bit.ly/39chSSQ</span></a></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">IAN: What inspired you to write the books?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EL" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Menelaos Gkikas</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">:<b> </b>Here I would like
to clarify the before and after of this inspiration and come up with causes
worth spreading. I am a web creator knowing that before I officially started to
attend creative writing lessons, the first one million words are practice. I
came up to the conclusion that anything and I mean the cure to any complex
situation can be explained with storytelling. I believe storytelling can change
lives for good. Nevertheless, the unique subjects and objects of this sentence,
is what made me quest my own dreams through creativity and not somebody else’s.
I still bring into my memory a thought of an epic PC game that is Dreamfall: “Where
have you gone to, dreamer? Whose dreams are you dreaming now?” All of the above
thoughts have been the stepping stone of coming up with official projects. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The
concept of The Words of Emily Logan, when I started writing it in January 2017
was mingled with thoughts and remembrances of the Woody Allen project Café
Society. In the beginning of the film wannabe Hollywood stars decide in the end
of the film that some dreams are just dreams. This was my motivation to make
Joel, my protagonist, act in the screenplay the way he acts and make his dream
of fame and fortune come true, at least as a start. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In
When Magic Truly Happens, I was inspired by the musical universe of Narnia,
described in the first book of the series, The Magician’s Nephew. I was also
inspired by Gianni Rodari as I state above and making my main characters
correlate with the legendary fairytale of Brothers Grimm was more than a simple
motivation and inspiration.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><b>IAN: How
did you come up with the titles?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EL" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH9RdUueT5oaS_vgQtHM4yZP6U85P8NJXFNNOGoPXLbCCs6p4rztBaJW8qGwpPuHHHiBfjeOdrx2Bdl5ubqghhbz5Y74kgVrqli0anRbjitIoCJVx6ahl8S_h3Fn0BOE-7-eKZeFzV7s/s2048/the_words_of_emily_logan.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1283" height="433" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH9RdUueT5oaS_vgQtHM4yZP6U85P8NJXFNNOGoPXLbCCs6p4rztBaJW8qGwpPuHHHiBfjeOdrx2Bdl5ubqghhbz5Y74kgVrqli0anRbjitIoCJVx6ahl8S_h3Fn0BOE-7-eKZeFzV7s/w271-h433/the_words_of_emily_logan.png" width="271" /></a></div><br />Menelaos Gkikas<span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">:<b> </b>I was inspired by
Irish Eurovision winner Johnny Logan in my screenplay, singing the song ‘Hold
me now’! I still remember how it starts: “Don't... Don't close your heart to
how you feel... Dream... And don't be afraid the dream's not real...” Perfect
tuning with my previous thoughts on inspiration… It’s also a motivation on
telling words hence the title The Words of Emily Logan.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In
terms of my fairytale, I just wanted to create a title that bangs! There’s an
extraordinary fairytale about Christmas with bears, accompanied by plenty of
audio-visual and web material, known as When Magic Really Happens. Here, there
is a subtle and tiny distinction between truth and reality. We say for example,
those that make the war on ISIS are right, this is a truth. The reality is that
it needs violence, people are dying. These terms are complementary and do not
substitute one another. That’s why I wanted to create a full of magic and heart
fairytale, taking into consideration its potential.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">IAN: What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your
books?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EL" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Menelaos Gkikas</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">:<b> </b>It’s the discussion
I made with my mother. We were saying that what we have always loved in
Disney’s projects is the keeping up and the maintenance of a delicate line
among all its works. Nowadays, in many forms of art such as writing, music,
movies, theater, there have been themes that are heavy, dark, purifying,
metaphysical and often times revolutionary… Showing to the world the beautiful,
sweet and full of culture and spirit side of the world was my main motive.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><b>IAN: What
books have most influenced your life most?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EL" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Menelaos Gkikas</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">:<b> </b>As a result of my
interests and education I read everything. There have been mainly 3 categories
of books that I read: literature books, books related with my education and
coaching books. So far these have been approximately 50 since I started lessons
in creative writing back in 2015 fall. Hollywood vetted screenplays’ books have
a special place in my heart, I am also keen on pure fairytales and fantasy such
as The Little Prince of Antoine de Saint-Exupery, Hobbit or Philip Pullman’s
books. In most of the cases, the main influence comes from books that somehow
boost my multi-faceted intellectual nature such as Myla Goldberg’s Bee Season.
Apart everything else from Bee Season’s plot, I still remember the words of the
precentor to his son inside his studying library office. As the child had been
bullied and beaten by his classmates, followed by the discussion with his
father where the father expresses the will to share ideas, I still remember his
father’s words: “What we do in here, doubly cancels what the others do out
there”. I truly believe that the world of letters is the true world of
beatitude.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">IAN: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family
members.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EL" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Menelaos Gkikas</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">:<b> </b>For both of my
books I was being consulted by American writer, filmmaker, consultant and
business woman Laurie Lamson whom I first met as a host in free International
Screenwriter’s Association Teleconferences about the art and science of
screenwriting. Nevertheless, here I have to make a few things clear. A
supporter in general and a writing consultant doesn’t take you hand in hand to
navigate you into all the analytical details of the movie industry. This is an
issue of education, searching, networking, creativity, cross-checking of data,
books’ reading and a few inspiring professors. That’s why I am also grateful
for the help of Jacob Krueger and Jessica Hinds at the Jacob Krueger Studio in
NY, a screenwriting school, who have showed me a different way of filtering my
materials. The art that no matter whether something is good, bad, no matter
what we have been exposed to as a material, we should not judge, grab a cup of
coffee and enjoy the ride. Conclusively, we writers are horrible judges of
ourselves. But judgement comes from comparison in the end…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">IAN: Do you see writing as a career?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EL" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Menelaos Gkikas</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">:<b> </b>As a creative
individual, digital marketing specialist and transformational leader, writing
is the rolling DNA in my veins including my titles. Storytelling is the first
and the last attribute that is omnipotent enough to transform everything.
Leaders are being exposed to movies, theaters and scripts in terms of the arts,
so that when they will have to do it for themselves in their own fields (data
storytelling), they will be competent enough to come up with their own
simplification crusade. But it is a crusade after all… Especially in the 21<sup>st</sup>
century where digital information and Artificial Intelligence based on
information have changed the world, science is being defined by art and vice
versa. For the few of us who have the formal qualifications both in arts and
sciences, it would be amazing to know how to delimit and frame technology
through its creative assets or even better, make heavy weight champions in
computers create art where manual work can’t function properly unless it is
supported by technology. For all the above reasons, my reasons, I believe
creative writing is the beginning of everything for lots of things. Right now,
I worry more about the total quality of my whole work and my profile and not
making money out of a tiny aspect of it. A writer, engaged into the world of
letters that cultivates his soul and his creative expression multifaceted,
can’t focus on money from day one. Here it’s important to remember Prometheus,
the Titan who steals the creative fire from the Gods and gives it to humans, so
afterwards he is being found tightened onto a rock with eagles eating his liver
every day after it is being recreated. So, it’s important for me to isolate the
good and the bad elements from the creative story of Prometheus without making
mistakes. Although writing cases, worries or interests seem common to many
people, solutions are strictly personal.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><b>IAN: Do
you recall how your interest in writing originated?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EL" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Menelaos Gkikas</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">:<b> </b>Creative writing
found me - I didn’t find it myself. If I had taken the lessons earlier possibly
worrying about my resume, I would have probably failed. It started as an
extraordinary exploration of previous read books and materials. For the
majority of writers years have to pass before they begin, contrary to the
majority of performing arts. Perhaps I just found my calling! But it certainly
existed behind the wish to make my artistic dreams come true, if compared with
the trying ages of the past.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">IAN: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you
about their work</span></b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EL" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Menelaos Gkikas</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">:<b> </b>Antoine de
Saint-Exupery has written one of the greatest and most allegorical fairytales.
That is The Little Prince. Besides the fact that it has activated an animation
movie and inspired Greek singers play music and sing about the little prince,
it’s a book with plenty of messages about vanity, grown-ups and younger ones,
hypocrisy, the stars of heaven, faith, effort, the fact that the universe
listens, singularity and introducing to little children the issue of death.
Although it is written for children it speaks to the heart of everyone!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">IAN: What was the hardest part of writing your books?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EL" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Menelaos Gkikas</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">:<b> </b>It took me years
and plenty of expertise to realize that a script is not revelatory of someone’s
character. It is an aggregation of attributes that simply resemble with a
person. Man is much more than a sum of a few sentences… Einstein used to say
that everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a
tree it will live his whole life believing it is stupid.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">IAN: </span></b><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Did you learn anything from writing your books and what was it?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EL" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Menelaos Gkikas</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">:<b> </b>I am used to think
of my books including art in general as a metaphor and a self-reflection in
which I get to know how the world works. One practical way to do that, in the
sense of fantastic, is to receive stimuli and create chains of words within
seconds that help me create thoughts, decisions and material. This can also
happen at the audio-visual sphere. Depending on the temperament and the character
of writers, I believe inspiration can come from anywhere. A feather, a book, a
photo, nature, music, landscapes, by believing in the world’s fairytale. That’s
why the daily processing of experience can be huge but daunting as well. It
needs a balance between thinking, daydreaming and doing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">IAN: What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and
logistical) in bringing them to life?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EL" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Menelaos Gkikas</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">:<b> </b>The single
greatest challenge for me was to be myself. All other roles are taken. Out of
this, rise a lot. Rise the research challenges: What about the material, the
theme and the multiple argumentations on the work? Confirmation knocks the
lonely doors of my mindset recursively. Rise the literary challenges: What do I
seek in writing? To portray aspects of my world and my fantasy. Rise the
psychological challenges: What is my personal connection to these stories? My
personal experiences, conflicts as well as traps in all arguments. Rise the
logistical challenges: Is the path I chose logistically effective in terms of
creating perspective? Can it be more effective in the future? Here I simply had
to do my work, focus on creativity and the world wide web and self-improve with
the cross-checking of data.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">IAN: Tell us about your next books or a work in progress. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EL" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Menelaos Gkikas</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">:<b> </b>There have been 2
books so far under consideration, the completed first draft of a screenplay and
the future writing of a novella the concept of which is completed. These are
the cases with which I have envisioned to make the great change. Ask for
consulting in terms of my entire work, quest movie agents if the prerequisites
are met and hunt my cinematic dreams. Nevertheless, the two screenplays plus
the novella are concepts with which I wouldn’t like to rush at all. It will
take time as Hollywood experts and cinema are not wishes that could come true
from one day to the next. All my works are stand-alone projects.<o:p></o:p></span></p>William R Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05728302101913537046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-404628347201068116.post-23802259691789969362021-04-17T15:24:00.001-07:002021-04-17T15:24:50.308-07:00Bridget Smith - The IAN Interview<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://www.independentauthornetwork.com/bridget-smith.html">Bridget Smith</a></b></span></p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="background: white; border-collapse: collapse; width: 0px;"><tbody></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="background: white; border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 0px;"><tbody>
</tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqti1JipMVi4Dv4HL_esSTu2VayorGNRGXtKbA4-yNFeKhChtnYMW0O4LjuXeqX3fGjXprpeoZDtfT0cLJisTtj0fhFpaAf8pRVkr6GFhjeYMRbOY6Hj4qEAPzEz4VxlYpkBg_6z58qg/s533/bridget-smith-1_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqti1JipMVi4Dv4HL_esSTu2VayorGNRGXtKbA4-yNFeKhChtnYMW0O4LjuXeqX3fGjXprpeoZDtfT0cLJisTtj0fhFpaAf8pRVkr6GFhjeYMRbOY6Hj4qEAPzEz4VxlYpkBg_6z58qg/s320/bridget-smith-1_orig.jpg" /></a></div><br />Author. Teach for America alum. Management consultant. Dedicated
dog-mom. Whether she's inspiring students to love world geography through
games, technology, and a sense of humor or helping her clients disaster-proof
their businesses, she brings passion, dedication, and excitement to every
adventure. As an author her writing deals with the intersection of fantasy,
reality, and identity.</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Told she would never walk again after a nerve injury; Bridget began
writing what would become her debut novel to simply process what she was
feeling. However, the story quickly took on a life of its own, and she realized
that the power of Alex and Caidy's world could help other people the same way
it changed her life.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">IAN: Please tell us about your latest book.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Bridget Smith:</span><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-highlight: white;"> A Blade knows all, sees all, and tells
few.</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Warden Alexander Laurent faces returning to a kingdom and a life he left
behind long ago. He didn’t expect to see her so soon, or the look on her
face—the look he’s responsible for. When he stumbles onto a plot that endangers
not only Caidy, but the entire kingdom, Alex takes the burden upon himself to
stop it even if it costs him everything.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Lady Caidelene is busy preparing for the fabled Harvest Festival, the
most important celebration in Rosemoor Dell, when Alex returns suddenly. She
had dreamed of his homecoming, but not like this - it’s like he can barely look
at her. As the Festival draws closer, and Alex pulls further away, Caidy is
left wondering: did he ever really love her?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Summer Twilight</span></i><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-highlight: white;"> </span></i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">is set in the intricate world of the Mezrani Empire, where not
everything is as it seems. Can Alex and Caidy find a way to survive a dangerous
plot to destabilize the throne? Or will they find themselves caught in the
machinations of the Empire itself; their fates inextricably tied with that of
the world?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>IAN: Is </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Summer Twilight</i><b> published in print, e-book or both?</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmtAcQfW8pnP2mT7d7JQmhoWaZhF8Or37h8HzQMEPIvM6vjmsvUpIMS6XZke0XCESvm6Hmh2q_ILMZbcOPtTqpmuFpEGO4pMNI6TNWRj-4VvYNtZzCwBhE_OD3ki6lhdfOL5ZqBfjuNY/s617/summer-twilight-book-1-1_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmtAcQfW8pnP2mT7d7JQmhoWaZhF8Or37h8HzQMEPIvM6vjmsvUpIMS6XZke0XCESvm6Hmh2q_ILMZbcOPtTqpmuFpEGO4pMNI6TNWRj-4VvYNtZzCwBhE_OD3ki6lhdfOL5ZqBfjuNY/w259-h400/summer-twilight-book-1-1_orig.jpg" width="259" /></a></b></div><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b><br /></b><span style="color: #333333;">Bridget Smith:</span></span><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-highlight: white;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Both!</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">IAN: Where can we go to buy <i>Summer Twilight</i>?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://Amazon.com">Amazon.com</a> </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/summer-twilight-bridget-smith/1138469732?ean=9781636765174" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">IAN: Did you use an outline
or do you just wing the first draft?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Bridget Smith:</span><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-highlight: white;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">When I first sat down with Summer Twilight,
it was a single scene: a young man and young woman, riding through a mountain
pass. I wanted to understand how they reached that moment, to explore the world
they lived in, so I sat down and wrote out the scene. That in turn raised more
questions (as good stories ought to), leading me back in time to the events
which led these characters to the mountain pass.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Once I got
serious about turning these disparate scenes into a story, I sat down and
outlined. It was pretty simple; I used a spreadsheet, added in the big
milestones I knew were going to happen, and then filled in the details. I wrote
“Netflix episode” descriptions of each chapter, 1-2 short sentences which
helped remind me what I needed to have happen, but were very light on the
details.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">IAN: How long did it take to
write </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">Summer Twilight</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Bridget S</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">mith:</span><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-highlight: white;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I g</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">ot the idea for Summer Twilight in 2012
during my senior year of highschool, when I had just been diagnosed with a
chronic nerve condition and was facing potentially spending the rest of my life
in a wheelchair. Then, it was a way to cope with and process how I was feeling,
a kind of creative journaling.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Once I got to
college, I got busy and I left Alex and Caidy alone in their world. I focused
on other things, content to return to writing only occasionally, to scratch a
creative itch. I didn’t actually return to Summer Twilight until 2018, when I
was dealing with severe anxiety and needed to rekindle my coping strategies.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">It was during
this bout I realized I really had a story to tell, and that with a little more
structure, it could help other people the way it helped me. When I got serious
and outlined Summer Twilight, I wrote the entire narrative in about three
months, in between grad classes and working a full time job.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">IAN: What do you hope your
readers come away with after reading Summer Twilight?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Bridget Smith:</span><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-highlight: white;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I hope readers have a cathartic experience
with Summer Twilight. We all face different struggles, we all make mistakes,
and we all struggle with Imposter Syndrome. Summer Twilight is the product of
my own fears and insecurities, and I think has real power to help you feel less
alone.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">On a lighter
note, it’s also a fun adventure, if you want to leave the seriousness behind
and just explore a brand new world with pirates, murder, mystery, and delicious
food.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">IAN: How is Summer Twilight different
from others in your genre?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Bridget Smith:</span><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-highlight: white;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">In Summer Twilight, I really tried hard to
combine my favorite parts of the fantasy genre. There is rich worldbuilding, a
diverse cast of characters, and an adventure tinged with magic and mystery.
However, there are two things about Summer Twilight which really set it apart
from many modern fantasy novels: the length and the characters.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">One of the
biggest reasons people don’t read fantasy books are because they’re so long!
You’re committing to multiple 500+ page books with complex, intertwining plots.
Don’t get me wrong--I love those series. But, it also makes it hard to just
flirt with the genre, to get your adventure fix in a fantastical world. So,
Summer Twilight is purposely written on the shorter side (about 350 pages
total), with bite-sized chapters which shouldn’t take you more than 15 minutes
to read, so you can enjoy it in manageable chunks.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Second, I put
a truly ridiculous amount of time and energy into making my characters feel
like normal people who happen to live in a medieval, magical world. Often in
fantasy, characters feel superhuman (or, you know, are!), which is incredible
but also not super relatable. It’s hard to connect on a personal level with an
all-powerful elf queen who can see the future, or a dragonrider warrior. Alex
and Caidy, as well as the other characters in Summer Twilight, are designed to
break that mold; they make mistakes, struggle with insecurities, have triumphs
and successes, and face failure, just like you and me.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">IAN: Name someone outside of
your family members who you feel supported you in the creation of your work.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Bridget Smith:</span><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-highlight: white;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I’m so grateful to my fiance for all the
love and support he gave me throughout this process. We both love the fantasy
genre (Lord of the Rings marathons are an annual occurrence), and we both play
Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) together. His worldbuilding in our D&D
games actually helped inspire me in my own world! I’m so thankful to have
someone in my life who encourages me to be creative, believes in me, and is
always up to help me problem solve when my characters just won’t behave.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">IAN: Do you see writing as a
career?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Bridget Smith: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I see writing as
something I truly and genuinely love. When I was little I wanted to be an
author, but having grown up, I’ve realized that I want to be a lot of things. I
love my job, I love the volunteer work I’m able to do, and I love having a
writing project to turn to at the end of a long day. Because writing is a
passion, it’s something I’ll do as long as I love it--and so far, that shows no
sign of ending.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">IAN: Do you recall how your
interest in writing originated?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Bridget Smith:</span><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-highlight: white;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I’ve loved writing as long as I can
remember. When I was 11, I wrote a 200-page book about unicorns (innovatively
titled “The Story of the Unicorns”) which I confidently told my mother I was
going to publish. To her credit, she believed in me and supported me instead of
laughing me out of the room.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I’ve always
written because it helps me. It’s a way I can be creative and express myself
without worrying about the bounds of what’s possible and realistic, and a way I
can understand how I’m feeling or what I’m dealing with. I consider myself
incredibly lucky to have writing as a coping mechanism, particularly given the
trials of 2020!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">IAN: Do you have any advice
for other writers?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Bridget Smith:</span><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-highlight: white;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Write because you love it. Seriously, the
minute writing starts feeling like a chore, you should put it down and step
away until you’re excited to pick up a pen again (or open the word document.
You get it). Loving what you’re doing will always make your product better, and
it’ll make you more likely to actually finish your book. Plus, if you choose to
publish (which, by the way, you don’t have to do), you’re going to spend a LOT
of time talking about your book. If you love it, that’s much, much easier.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">IAN: Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a
sequel or a stand-alone?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Bridget Smith:</span><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-highlight: white;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">Summer Twilight</span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> is the first in a fantasy series
following Alex and Caidy as they battle the Freelark threat to Rosemoor
Dell….and uncover a far more insidious threat to the throne. The next book in
the series will deal with the consequences of the events of <i>Summer Twilight</i>, and explore complex
themes of freedom, ethics, and morality.</span></p>William R Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05728302101913537046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-404628347201068116.post-13096865460427340172021-01-12T23:43:00.000-08:002021-01-12T23:43:00.674-08:00Farm Boy, City Girl: From Gene to Miss Gina by John "Gene" E. Dawson<p> <em style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">Autobiography, LGBT</span></em></p><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;"><em style="position: relative;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uOmmXgIYPIH3OKSTXMlVwTy2PK_CwdOvmny12yHGHTY9MT4XJwH6RYB5aM8kTqFfB-v08WMw3JQpJTZIu2ppgpBZRH4WwC9Yx8TboFYGWDpy5V97RCbSLjEVwxgxW0EJd_apEuhOc8o/s595/farm-boy-city-girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="417" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uOmmXgIYPIH3OKSTXMlVwTy2PK_CwdOvmny12yHGHTY9MT4XJwH6RYB5aM8kTqFfB-v08WMw3JQpJTZIu2ppgpBZRH4WwC9Yx8TboFYGWDpy5V97RCbSLjEVwxgxW0EJd_apEuhOc8o/w280-h400/farm-boy-city-girl.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><br />Finalist, First Non-Fiction,</em> Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards, 2020</strong><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; position: relative; text-align: justify;">Farm Boy, City Girl: From Gene to Miss Gina</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;"> details John "Gene" E. Dawson's life growing up in Depression-era Iowa in a poor farming Irish-Catholic family and his adult years spent living on the LGBTQ cultural edge in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and St. Louis. The book offers a rare glimpse into the Mid-20th Century history of both rural Iowa and of LGBTQ individuals in Middle America—told by one who was there.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;"><br />Part One, Farm Boy 1931-1949: </strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">Gene recounts his years growing up in the Great Depression, moving with his family from rental farm to rental farm until his parents could afford to purchase their own land and home. Life was difficult and often brutal for anyone during this time, but especially so for a gender-fluid gay child/teenager.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">Part Two, Transition and Tragedy 1950-1959:</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1y4V1nuOkYmBsvCenK7JCieU7evsLt0AMMufVGFbzvSpzM_k8mhQcs7M7h2QCpmmahTwawEzjxQeAOmxMZyUgKaWNZoB-9tMNir0xPcdmduzFYMq_G7c0IbL5_1IENPywBPPF60jyBZk/s2000/Finalist+2020.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1y4V1nuOkYmBsvCenK7JCieU7evsLt0AMMufVGFbzvSpzM_k8mhQcs7M7h2QCpmmahTwawEzjxQeAOmxMZyUgKaWNZoB-9tMNir0xPcdmduzFYMq_G7c0IbL5_1IENPywBPPF60jyBZk/w200-h200/Finalist+2020.png" width="200" /></a></div> Gene initially leaves the farm and begins transitioning into his new life as a gay man in the cities of Cedar Rapids and St. Louis, adopting the "city girl" persona of Gina. But the tragic accidental death of his mother forces him to move back to his family's home in Iowa where he faces gut-wrenching family drama and the loving burden of helping to raise his three younger brothers.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">Part Three, City Girl 1960-:</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;"> Gene returns to Cedar Rapids before finally moving on to live an open, full existence as Miss Gina in St. Louis. Even in the city though, life was quite hard for openly gay men, and Gene recounts multiple harrowing tales involving the brutality of police, gay bar life, and the unsung heroism of Midwestern LGBTQ people—years before the famous Stonewall riot in New York City.</span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><b>Kindle copies on sale now at</b> <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Farm-Boy-City-Girl-Gene-ebook/dp/B088JVPBJ5">Amazon.com</a></b></span></span></h2><div><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIuXjtoLX93JbTVSX_BXkqF0ZUI2AEue4JIdDDQkngAOj2Sh-ql7zY7hNSstkHAmlVAEEeqbX69M_fJXdi12iFn3lDtvgdK8gY445IjaeqVmHXbsSoBtdULyd_sgSmC4CeVGPSi59bIKk/s351/john-gene-e-sq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="351" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIuXjtoLX93JbTVSX_BXkqF0ZUI2AEue4JIdDDQkngAOj2Sh-ql7zY7hNSstkHAmlVAEEeqbX69M_fJXdi12iFn3lDtvgdK8gY445IjaeqVmHXbsSoBtdULyd_sgSmC4CeVGPSi59bIKk/w200-h200/john-gene-e-sq.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><b><a href="https://www.independentauthornetwork.com/john-gene-e-dawson.html" target="_blank">John "Gene" E. Dawson </a></b>also was known as "Miss Gina" in his younger days. He considered himself a farmer at heart and also worked in factories and as a waiter, beautician, and tax preparer.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">In 2019, Gene decided he wanted to get his book published while his health still allowed it. After "Farm Boy, City Girl" was published in April 2020, he enjoyed hearing every comment about it. Sadly, he passed away at age 89 in September 2020.</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div></div>William R Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05728302101913537046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-404628347201068116.post-19257342890818126162020-09-07T10:48:00.004-07:002020-09-07T10:48:45.944-07:00Philip Yorke the IAN Interview<p><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.independentauthornetwork.com/philip-yorke.html" target="_blank"></a></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNkCq0jtuGzg0AYGXgBXyUccY6rP2fKV4L-BfAR17jRF5Ut7d1L2gUaEVi4jfcqao2loVBT9OGU1lZ145uJucZm916BnCfYdV0OBicEUiS5QPcoHfaXHuECtcPr4mrv9-sfw5ku4pr9I/s400/philip-yorke_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="400" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNkCq0jtuGzg0AYGXgBXyUccY6rP2fKV4L-BfAR17jRF5Ut7d1L2gUaEVi4jfcqao2loVBT9OGU1lZ145uJucZm916BnCfYdV0OBicEUiS5QPcoHfaXHuECtcPr4mrv9-sfw5ku4pr9I/w256-h254/philip-yorke_orig.jpg" width="256" /></a></b></div><b>Philip Yorke</b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> writes historical fiction novels and
is currently in the process of publishing a five-book series about the English
Civil Wars, and the life of Parliamentarian cavalry officer, Francis Hacker.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">His first book, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Redemption</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, has received widespread critical acclaim, with one
reviewer hailing it as “a well-told tale as close to real life as you’re ever
likely to get”.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A former investigative journalist in
the UK, Philip has had a life-long interest in history, particularly the events
that defined the seventeenth century and anything, and everything, to do with
the reigns of Rubert the Bruce and Edward the First.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
Please tell us about your latest book.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Philip Yorke: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rebellion</i> is set in the First English Civil War and tells the story
of Francis Hacker, a Captain in the demoralised Parliamentarian army that’s
seeking to clip with the wings of King Charles the First.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
bloody war has already been raging for almost a year and forces opposed to
Charles are close to defeat. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In desperation, John Pym and Oliver Cromwell enlist Hacker to spearhead an
audacious plot to bring down Charles and restore peace to the ravaged land. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Courageous and loyal, Francis is drawn into a deadly deceit that may cost him
everything he holds most dear…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Rebellion</span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> is popular read in the UK, US,
Canada, Japan and Australia.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In August 2020, the Historical Novel
Society’s </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Historical Novels Review</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
praised the book, stating: “The first-person, present-tense account is a quiet,
simple narrative rich with emotion. Little is known about the real-life Hacker,
yet Yorke breathes life into him. Like us all, he has frailties, but dearly
loves his family and God. The secret mission, spy and murder episodes may seem
like separate interludes in the book; in actuality, they are as intricately and
artfully interwoven as a spider’s web and no one is left untouched.”</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4evn4Ucjv7SII_MMm1LI7aELT_IcG6nPyKrbpw64lRuPUsbg_VQPFIWYiciFTBnMn4l9oNfy8d0w6W1TizSHMI-txoDYz5eeji2ZPi24P01r2j1Pz5xwqYqJHY9Ii34-leG3NzjaX0s/s499/51-7FlQjx7L._SX311_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="313" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4evn4Ucjv7SII_MMm1LI7aELT_IcG6nPyKrbpw64lRuPUsbg_VQPFIWYiciFTBnMn4l9oNfy8d0w6W1TizSHMI-txoDYz5eeji2ZPi24P01r2j1Pz5xwqYqJHY9Ii34-leG3NzjaX0s/w251-h400/51-7FlQjx7L._SX311_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">IAN:
Is <i>Rebellion</i> in
print, e-book or both?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Philip Yorke: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rebellion</i> can be bought in paperback and e-book formats.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
Where can we go to buy <i>Rebellion?</i></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Philip Yorke: At these stores. <br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.philipyorke.org/store"><b>P</b><b>hilipYorke.org/store</b></a><b> </b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1698530730#customerReviews"><b>Amazon.com</b></a> <o:p></o:p></span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1698530730">Amazon.co.uk</a> </b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49012355-rebellion" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Goodreads.com</b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: What
inspired you to write </span></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Rebellion</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">?</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Philip
Yorke: </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">A
visit to the UK’s National Civil War Museum; it was here that I met Francis
Hacker for the first time and learned of his contribution to British history.
From the moment I was introduced to his life story, I was hooked.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Did you
use an outline or do you just wing the first draft?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Philip
Yorke: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I get
to know my characters and write from the heart. I do a lot of research, and
create ‘quasi outlines’, but I tend to start writing and seldom refer to them.
By the time I start tapping away on the keyboard, I usually know where a
chapter is heading.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: How long
did it take to write </span></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Rebellion</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">?</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Philip
Yorke: </span><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Rebellion</span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, which is
just over 100,000 words long, took about six months to research and write. It
then took a further four months to get everything formatted, proofed and ready
for publication.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Do you
have a specific writing style?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Philip
Yorke: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I
write in the first-person. And I try to make the story as authentic as I
possibly can. This means I write to a very specific historical timeline, making
sure the main threads of the store have credible links to the actual events of
the time.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: What do
you hope your readers come away with after reading<i> </i></span></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Rebellion</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">?</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Philip
Yorke: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Good
question. I want people to understand the complexities of everyday life that
enveloped everyone who lived during seventeenth century. It was an incredible
time, when faith, the arts and remarkable men and women really started to
define the modern world. People did incredible things because of their beliefs.
They even died willingly because of the causes they served, refusing to take
the easy way out just so they could live longer.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really think there are some lessons today’s generations could learn
from the period.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: How much of </span></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Rebellion</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">is realistic?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Philip
Yorke: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope
all of it is realistic. The feedback I have received from readers, so far,
suggests it is. I am always on the
lookout for feedback, and I seek to learn from it (and apply it to my writing)
whenever it is offered.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: If you
had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Philip
Yorke: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Without
doubt, it would have to be the late and great, Nigel Tranter, a brilliant
exponent of the craft of blending historical fact with a wonderful story. His
books, in my humble opinion, are ‘unputdownable’! He never sought to be a
populist author, preferring instead to be an authentic writer. As a result, his
many works are wonderful to read. If you haven’t heard of him, my encouragement
is check Nigel Tranter out, particularly his trilogy on Robert the Bruce.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: What book
are you reading now?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Philip
Yorke: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have
just bought <i>Burning the Books </i>by
Richard Ovenden. It describes itself as “a history of knowledge under attack”.
It covers many instances of literary and ‘thought’ suppression – including the
period of the Reformation in England, when Henry VIII’s agents burned many
thousands of books produced by monks and Catholics.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Do you
see writing as a career?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Philip
Yorke: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Most
certainly. But I doubt whether I will earn royalties on the scale of JK
Rowling!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Do you
recall how your interest in writing originated?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Philip
Yorke: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I used
to play rugby union, and the team I was a part of appeared regularly in the
local, regional and national press. When I was looking for a job, the lady who
became my mother-in-law suggested I write to my local paper to see if they
would be willing to advise me on how I could become a reporter. The paper’s
editor replied to my letter within three days – offering me the position of
fulltime ‘rugby writer’. I took it and used to report on the games I actually
played in. This was in the late 1980s, and you would never be allowed to do it
today. It was as hard, and as easy, as that!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Do you
have to travel much concerning your books?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Philip
Yorke: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I try
to describe the towns and cities my characters live in and frequent as
accurately as possible. To this aim, I travel reasonably extensively. Being
based in the middle of England – and with the books focused on England – it
means I never really have far to go. And I always make sure there is a good tea
shop close by, for an ‘emergency’ cream tea!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Do you
have any advice for other writers?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Philip
Yorke: </span><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Write for
you, and not your imagined audience.</span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> You need to love your book and be passionate about the characters you
have created. If you don’t, how can you expect others to find your work
interesting?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Make sure you are thoroughly absorbed in your main character/s</span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. Develop
values and a back-story for each of the main people you introduce to the
reader. There needs to be depth and personality, not just a name.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Try and make the mundane interesting</span></i><b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">.</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> At least 80 per cent of a book isn’t that exciting. But if it is well
written, even making a cup of coffee can be made to sound interesting.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Make sure your story contains some surprises.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">If
it’s predictable, your readers will quickly lose interest. Writing a
plot/storyline is critical in this regard.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Don’t stop!</span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> At times, it will be hard working bashing out a few hundred words,
never mind several thousand. But persevere. Write regularly and you’ll be
surprised at how quickly you can accumulate 50,000 words.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand-alone?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Philip Yorke: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Redemption</i> – the sequel to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rebellion</i>
– is the second novel in the Hacker Chronicles series. It will be published on
11 January 2021, and tells the story of Francis as he seeks to come to terms
with the tragic events of 1644.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is a fast-paced tale of ambition, betrayal,
heartbreak, faith and war, all inter-mingled and played out during one of the
most turbulent periods in British history – when brother fought against brother
in a bid to oust a tyrant King from the English throne.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At its heart is Francis’s
determination to gain vengeance against Gustav Holck, a sadistic Royalist
mercenary who kills and tortures his victims for pleasure.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">But Holck is a formidable foe, and the
odds are heavily stacked against Francis as he seeks to bring to justice the
man who has caused his own family such grievous pain.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>William R Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05728302101913537046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-404628347201068116.post-78141116698235647412020-09-07T10:01:00.000-07:002020-09-07T10:01:08.146-07:00Medea Kalantar the IAN Interview<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.independentauthornetwork.com/medea-kalantar.html" target="_blank"></a></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJuO4Bur0EJfAfLkj2YLmONrK1CTzNX2nmf5dxyqrO462X6i2p2W71GmIpp5m6oQgCnuPhCxa3dVJdlq7zJqUMjtCsNGBXGKRyKgZUNc1W6o2OWRo3ct_agiJlZ27j3VXDttVfUEtJkU/s400/Medea+Kalantar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJuO4Bur0EJfAfLkj2YLmONrK1CTzNX2nmf5dxyqrO462X6i2p2W71GmIpp5m6oQgCnuPhCxa3dVJdlq7zJqUMjtCsNGBXGKRyKgZUNc1W6o2OWRo3ct_agiJlZ27j3VXDttVfUEtJkU/w256-h256/Medea+Kalantar.jpg" width="256" /></a></b></div><b>Medea Kalantar</b><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, a multi-award-winning Author, Reiki Master, and Guinness
World Record Holder.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <span style="background: white;">Inspired to write
these books when she became a grandmother,</span> <span style="background: white;">Kalantar's stories are based on her
own family, whose members come from many</span> <span style="background: white;">ethnic backgrounds. This unique mix
is a perfect recipe-- just like the spices in a honey cake, and why she calls
her grandchildren her little Honeycakes.</span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<span style="background: white;">With all
the negativity in the world, Kalantar's series is a much-needed glimmer of hope
and positivity. <i>Honeycake</i> books teach children about diversity,
kindness, mindfulness, trust, and gratitude. This series will educate and
entertain children, for generations to come.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IAN:
Please tell us about your latest book.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Medea Kalantar</span><span class="s1"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">:
In the fifth instalment of the delightful </span></span><span class="s1"><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Honeycake</span></i></span><span class="s1"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
book series, Nala’s mama and papa are celebrating the birth of their newborn
son. But, when baby Luka receives so many presents and all the attention, Nala
becomes angry and green with envy.</span></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This book teaches children the importance of gratitude
and how to focus on what matters most in life.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Showing gratitude is a great way to find balance in the
materialistic culture we live in today.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With the help of her grandmother, Nala learns the
importance of gratitude and how being thankful for all the wonderful things she
has in her life equips her with a powerful tool to make those icky feelings of
jealousy from the “Green-Eyed Monster” disappear.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgRFzXdiCrKlS8PQZ29vtRaoTMhI5VfvEf8AYGp48DyFNSBwgHuwSZxFAr_NaXZOjiEe3lTraNWWH20aaJxDFUwtyfrqVF7oWegu96RcfrzcDxT5RHcQLPDLOY0nbH4taj1iAxdbtH2c/s500/Honeycake+Counting+All+My+Blessings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="475" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgRFzXdiCrKlS8PQZ29vtRaoTMhI5VfvEf8AYGp48DyFNSBwgHuwSZxFAr_NaXZOjiEe3lTraNWWH20aaJxDFUwtyfrqVF7oWegu96RcfrzcDxT5RHcQLPDLOY0nbH4taj1iAxdbtH2c/s320/Honeycake+Counting+All+My+Blessings.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="p1"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IAN:
Is </span></b><b><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Counting All My Blessings</span></i></b><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> published in print,
e-book or both?</span></b></p>
<p class="p1"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Medea Kalantar</span><span class="s1"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">:
</span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes
all my books are published in e-book, paperback and hardcover.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IAN:
Where can we go to buy </span></b><b><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Counting All My Blessings</span></i></b><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Medea Kalantar</span><span class="s1"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">:
At these stores.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Honeycake-Counting-All-My-Blessings-ebook/dp/B08FPK3Q53">Amazon.com</a> </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Honeycake-Counting-All-My-Blessings-ebook/dp/B08FPK3Q53" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amazon.ca</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Honeycake-Counting-All-My-Blessings/dp/1777289734" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amazon.co.uk</a> <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/honeycake-medea-kalantar/1137465285" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">BarnesandNoble.com</a> <a href="https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/honeycake-counting-all-my-blessings" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kobo.com</a> </b><a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Honeycake_Counting_All_My_Blessings?id=n8X2DwAAQBAJ&hl=en" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Play.Google.com</b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
What inspired you to start writing?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Medea Kalantar</span><span class="s1"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">:
</span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">When I
found out I was going to be a Grandma it was a full circle moment for me, so I
started to bake a honey cake in honour of my Grandmother. My Bebi taught me how
to bake a honey cake when I was a little girl. As I was making the cake, I
realized all the different spices the cake had, like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg,
vanilla, coffee, brown sugar, and honey. It made me think of all the different
ethnic mixes my new grand-baby would have and how they would be just like this
honey cake I was baking. The words and stories started to pour out of me.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">The
fact that I have no formal training as a writer didn’t stop me from trying. I always
wanted to write my biography someday, later down the road, because I’ve had so
many hardships in my life that I had to overcome. But I never had any intention
on writing—especially not a children’s book series. But the universe sent me a
sign, and the messages were in me to share, and they simply had to come out. I
wrote five books in four days, I couldn’t stop. Clearly the universe had
something planned.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
How long have you been writing?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Medea Kalantar</span><span class="s1"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">:
</span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’ve
been writing since October of 2019.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
Who designed the covers</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Medea Kalantar</span><span class="s1"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">:
</span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A very
talented illustrated name i Cenizal designed my covers and did all the
illustrations for my entire <i>Honeycake</i> Book Series</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
What are some things that haven't been done in the children's genre that you
hope to introduce through your books?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Medea Kalantar</span><span class="s1"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">:
</span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don’t
feel that there are any books like mine out there. There so many children in
the world that have diverse multicultural families like mine, and there still
aren’t many books that represent them. With all the negativity around diversity
in this day and age, I feel it’s very important to create books with a more
positive message to help caregivers teach children to accept others, help
children to become more balanced, kind, grateful and honest. Books to help
children manage their emotions when things don’t go the way they hoped. I
always say there is no such thing as winning or losing, there is only winning.
You win when you reach the goal you wanted to achieve or you win by learning a very
valuable lesson. It’s all about perspective and how you look at things. Giving
children these tools at an early age will help them grow into happy and
fulfilled adults that aren’t stressed out, but live in harmony with a healthy
mind, body, and spirit.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
What are some of the things you know now that you did not know when you first
started writing?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Medea Kalantar</span><span class="s1"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">: </span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like I’ve previously stated, I never set
out to become a writer, so I had no clue what to do with the stories I’ve
written and how I was going to get them published.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
biggest challenge I had to face was, fear: Fear of failure, and fear of the
financial impact on my family since I was independently publishing my own
books. As I was facing my fears I remembered a quote by the late and great Maya
Angelou; “Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space. Invite one to stay.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So,
I released my fears and choose hope. I’m so glad I did because my books have
been welcomed with open arms and I’ve received such positive feedback from so
many people. The most rewarding experience has been the outpour of messages
I’ve been receiving from people around the world. I’m beyond grateful and so
happy to see that my books are making a positive impact.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IAN:
What do you hope your readers come away with after reading </span></b><b><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Counting
All My Blessings</span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">?</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Medea Kalantar</span><span class="s1"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">: </span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After
reading <i>Honeycake: Counting All My Blessings</i>, I hope my readers come
away with incorporating gratitude in their everyday lives. Most parents have
taught their </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.everydayhealth.com/kids-health/kids-health-articles.aspx"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration-line: none;">kids</span></a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> the importance of </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.everydayhealth.com/saying-thanks/the-health-benefits-of-saying-thanks.aspx"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration-line: none;">saying thank you</span></a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> by
grade school, if not sooner. But how many have truly instructed them in the art
of being grateful? You can be grateful for a wide range of “gifts,” everything
from nature and good food to good luck or a wonderful opportunity for the
people in your life. A sense of gratitude can benefit children (and adults) in
a variety of ways. It can decrease stress and has other important emotional
health benefits. A person who is grateful tends to spend less time comparing
him or herself with others and feeling envious. I also feel that it’s important
to showcase that we need to be grateful when things don’t go our way, or when
we make a mistake. It’s through those challenges we have to overcome, that we
learn our greatest lessons in life. Ultimately gratitude can help adults and
children alike, and the best thing parents can do is be a good role model for
their children. So, the next time something good — or even not so good —
happens, express your appreciation out loud, start a gratitude journal, and start
and end your day with what you are grateful for. Everyone will benefit from it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
What are the other activities apart from writing you like to indulge in your
free time?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Medea Kalantar</span><span class="s1"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">:
</span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My
favourite activity is spending time with my family, especially with my little
grandson Lukenzo who is 18 months old and the inspiration behind my <i>Honeycake</i>
Books. Aside from my Reiki practice and writing, I love to dance, go to live
theatres, read and travel.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IAN:
Do you have any advice for other writers?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Medea Kalantar</span><span class="s1"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">:
</span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">The one
advice I have for new writers is that you have to be passionate about what
you’re writing. If you are, then it will just flow naturally. You won’t be
stuck for words. Be authentic and true to yourself. Don’t try to be like
someone else, be who you are. That’s what we should all be striving for.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IAN:
Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a
stand-alone?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Firstly,
I would like to say thank you for featuring on IAN and conducting this author
interview. I’m so honoured and grateful to be given this platform to discuss
the importance and the valuable lessons my books will give families around the
world.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I
will be taking a break after this book, to focus on a bigger project. I have
partnered up with a production company and my Co-Creator Lanette Ware-Bushfield
CEO of AWWB Production Inc. is helping me take the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Honeycake</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Book Series
and adapting it into a tv series, which is being pitched to major television
and animation studios.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I
do plan to come back with another 5 books in the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Honeycake</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> series, with
our heroine Nala and her little brother Luka when they are a little older with
books that are geared for middle graders instead or preschoolers.</span></p>
<p><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://honeycakebooks.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1500" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYoN_sKQUNAS6AJPYJAlJE1rQnJGL_JEfiOf8uEDUV0pwhKLk6i6vLQoZugQdgr0JlZy0SaNm6l3qhSemRYTpFHi1-c_rBG3AacYkrqSgBizxR-OHysu4K4qISZxg2tWWg6DzbGOosUQ/w625-h210/Honeycake+banner.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><br /><p></p>William R Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05728302101913537046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-404628347201068116.post-36811889608249976242020-09-07T09:07:00.001-07:002020-09-07T09:07:50.604-07:00David Billingsley the IAN Interview<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.independentauthornetwork.com/david-billingsley.html" name="_Hlk46394345" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"></span></b></a><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.independentauthornetwork.com/david-billingsley.html" name="_Hlk46394345" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jjIHjtbvYGPfy5cSBsFAAqhpqcf5okmICe6bpM3IfLpI-qDdjfED-9wpmbuYreTyhVY2rj1UhIJZK8plOdjYdOm8U_KEPreNFzJLB2SMwHlGIPMQPDRCQB64g7b4ypWSLG78mFJOBzE/s400/david-billingsley_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="400" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jjIHjtbvYGPfy5cSBsFAAqhpqcf5okmICe6bpM3IfLpI-qDdjfED-9wpmbuYreTyhVY2rj1UhIJZK8plOdjYdOm8U_KEPreNFzJLB2SMwHlGIPMQPDRCQB64g7b4ypWSLG78mFJOBzE/w256-h253/david-billingsley_orig.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>David
Billingsley</b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> grew up in
Texas and currently resides in Salt Lake City, Utah. He has written three
self-published novels and co-authored a Vietnam-era novel with a Vietnam
veteran. Full of twists and turns, mystery, romance, and suspense, his three
books leave readers guessing until the end. Yet fully dimensional and deep characters,
warts and all, are the focus of his stories. When David’s not writing or
working his day job, he’s out photographing the landscapes and animals of the
West. </span></div>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk46394345;"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
Please tell us about your latest book.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="_Hlk46395901" style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">David
Billingsley: <i>The Connection</i> is actually my first manuscript, which lay
idle for fifteen years. It tells the story of Sandy McAllister, a radio DJ in
the small West Texas town of Dinley. Following the tragic loss of her husband
and son, she's carved out a steady, solitary existence. No more deep
friendships, no more love, no more loss.</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But that
carefully scripted life is suddenly disrupted by the appearance of a mysterious
drifter. His arrival on a warm summer evening coincides with the eruption of
addictive and powerful feelings she cannot control or deny. And she's not the
only one. The women of Dinley are attracted to the stranger too, yet the men
are driven to such rage upon his appearance, they want him driven out of town
or dead.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The bond,
the connection, with this stranger threatens to turn Sandy’s life inside out
and polarize her town.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And it's not
the first time this has happened in Dinley. Part mystery, part romance, part
sci-fi, it is a tale like no other.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixlDaNt4fnOvB1HYoZtiNJsAl55uaFXEIuCWs6e5QclzdmEdMEwRiYVK5ZvH0Kc71octNJ7OAml_nFrqZqHECsakqh_OmQrfkjtEuTpGZMd7l03VzTwoJ5busQN-sm0y0u4iiHjkK7ZPc/s603/the-connection_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixlDaNt4fnOvB1HYoZtiNJsAl55uaFXEIuCWs6e5QclzdmEdMEwRiYVK5ZvH0Kc71octNJ7OAml_nFrqZqHECsakqh_OmQrfkjtEuTpGZMd7l03VzTwoJ5busQN-sm0y0u4iiHjkK7ZPc/w265-h400/the-connection_orig.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
Is <i>The Connection</i> published in print, e-book or both?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">David Billingsley: Both e-book and print.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
Where can we go to buy <i>The Connection?</i></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">David Billingsley: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/David-Billingsley/e/B01IPJCEJC/" style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><b>Amazon.com</b></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"> Author Page
or through the links from </span><a href="https://www.independentauthornetwork.com/david-billingsley.html" style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><b>my page</b></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;"><b> </b>here at
IAN.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN:
</span></b><b style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">What inspired you to write <i>The
Connection?</i></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">David
Billingsley: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
inspiration for <i>The Connection</i> came from a scene I witnessed in the year
2000. I stood in front of the AM radio station and witnessed a drifter walking
down the other side of a two-lane highway in rural West Texas. The potential
“what-if” story just hit me.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Did you use an outline or do you
just wing the first draft?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">David
Billingsley: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.25in;">Both
to some extent. I work from a basic outline, yet each of my stories have
deviated significantly from the original outline. So, when I do take a new
direction in the plot or a character “misbehaves,” I redo the outline. Gives me
the freedom to the let the story unfold while having some plan for it.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: How long did it take to write <i>The
Connection?</i></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">David
Billingsley: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Altogether,
it took almost two decades! (I wrote two other books and co-authored one in
that time frame.) I completed the first manuscript in the early 2000s. I set it
aside to work on another idea and never came back to it. The final result is my
best work, IMO. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: How did you come up with the
title?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">David
Billingsley: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The titles
are all simple two-word titles starting with “The.” What few readers realize is
that there is a question in these titles. Whose Redemption? What Switch? Which
Connection? The answer may not be apparent until the end of the book.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: What
do you hope your readers come away with after reading <i>The Connection?</i></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">David
Billingsley: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
simple pleasure of being immersed in another world for a short-time and feeling
a bit surprised, though satisfied, at the end of the story. I simply want to
write a good book to entertain.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: How is The Connection different
from others in your genre?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">David
Billingsley: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I
struggle to define the genre of my novels. The three books are a mix of
mystery, suspense, and romance, and the last one has a bit of sci-fi mixed in.
My books are clearly different from most others that I have read, and not being
able to distinctly define my genre has probably hurt me from a selling
perspective.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: What books have most influenced
your life?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">David
Billingsley: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One
book, <i>Lady</i> by Thomas Tryon, really inspired my imagination. It was
required reading in my college freshman English literature course (many decades
ago). The book is beautifully written but admittedly slow at first. Once you
find out Lady Harleigh’s secret, I dare you to put the book down before
finishing the final third of it. It made me want to write books full of deeply
interesting characters but with some kind of surprise in waiting. It’s not the
best book I’ve ever read; yet it’s the first to really influence me. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Is there anything you find
particularly challenging in your writing</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">David
Billingsley: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Time
and marketing. My day job still takes up a good chunk of my calendar. Marketing
as a self-published author could be a full-time job (and a very different skill
than writing). That said, the “writing” part is the least challenging and most
satisfying for me.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">IAN: Do you have any advice for other
writers?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">David
Billingsley: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Write
for personal enjoyment and satisfaction. If you are in it for the money, it’s a
HUGE uphill battle. After book one, don’t depend on your friends for book
sales. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">IAN: Tell us about your next book or a
work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand-alone?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">David Billingsley: My next book is untitled. I’m
still in the preliminary outline and research part of the process. It will be
the first in a series (5 to 7 titles) set in post-Civil War New Mexico in the
1860s. The series will feature a U.S. Army officer and his female companion who
solve crimes, similar to the detectives in the modern mystery genre, but
featuring a unique environment and deeper characterization. It is an ambitious
undertaking.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></p>William R Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05728302101913537046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-404628347201068116.post-79195855207320923942020-06-21T16:30:00.000-07:002020-06-21T16:33:45.756-07:00Kenneth Thomas - The IAN Interview <br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.independentauthornetwork.com/kenneth-thomas.html" target="_blank">Kenneth Thomas</a></span></b></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">British author from Windsor, home of Windsor Castle.
Currently live in the Netherlands, working on the third book in my dystopian,
science fiction series, VanWest The Future. The second book, VanWest The
Present, is coming out on the 30th of July, 2020.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: Please tell us about your latest book.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kenneth Thomas</span>: <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Past is the first book in the VanWest series, about an Enforcer who
lives in a dystopian Earth of the year 3000 and works for an authoritarian
ruler called the Universal Council. Tasked with travelling through time to stop
a renegade sect, that seeks to change Earth’s past, he comes to learn about his
dark origins and his unique ability.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Falling in love with the daughter of its leader, Mad
Newton, he returns to the present to face a</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3dbqk0jQ39mF6S8lO2v4vn0yBDisnVShoFcBGt4d8ksWuP9gNEm78oNdPQsTKglDV8nIkw5z7h4_EzPTkZ3DqHDMOFbGl619FJtK7KTJEIjYaopGPDSg1ejArPCbVqIJaaC0I9m6NFw/s1600/vanwest-the-past_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3dbqk0jQ39mF6S8lO2v4vn0yBDisnVShoFcBGt4d8ksWuP9gNEm78oNdPQsTKglDV8nIkw5z7h4_EzPTkZ3DqHDMOFbGl619FJtK7KTJEIjYaopGPDSg1ejArPCbVqIJaaC0I9m6NFw/s400/vanwest-the-past_orig.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
difficult choice, whether or not to
save her. And be part of the New Beginning.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: Is <i>VanWest The Past </i>published in
print, e-book or both?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kenneth Thomas</span>: <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Available in both.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: Where can we go to buy <i>VanWest The
Past</i>? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="NL"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/VanWest-Past-Kenneth-Thomas-ebook/dp/B088WYFK9Q">Amazon.co.uk</a>, </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/VanWest-Past-Kenneth-Thomas-ebook/dp/B088WYFK9Q">Amazon.com</a>, </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53450218-vanwest-the-past"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Goodreads.com</span></span></a></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: What
inspired you to write </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">VanWest The Past</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">?</span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kenneth Thomas</span>: <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The concept
for the first book originated in 2012 when green issues such as climate change
were slowly becoming more talked about (pre-Greta Thunberg). VanWest, set in
the year 3000, is a reflection of a world where we have not protect our home,
planet Earth; and looks at the consequences, the effect on society, such as
forced migration, food shortages, loss of flora and fauna, authoritative
regimes and wealthy individuals (oligarchs) who take advantage.</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Beyond that, I
wanted to write a book with broad appeal; most importantly, one that was
entertaining. Working in the movie industry on blockbuster releases for a
couple of years, including 20th Century Fox and MGM Studios, I yearned to create
something too that thrilled and got everyone excited. Without a movie studio’s
budget, I thought a great way to achieve this was through writing; from a
screenplay, it developed into a book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: How
long did it take to write </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">VanWest The Past</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kenneth
Thomas</span>: <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I wrote the outline of my story in my mid-20s, nearly 8 years ago.
With work commitments and trying to get onto (and stay on) the career ladder, I
left it until recent year, only returning sporadically in-between, mainly to
edit. The first book in the series has a lot of historical fiction, and I
wanted to get the details right, whilst having an engaging, fast-flowing books,
with a focus on conveying the emotions of the characters and settings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: Do
you have a specific writing style?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kenneth
Thomas</span>: <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">In VanWest, the style is fast-flowing, with quite a bit of dialogue
from the characters. I decided to write the first edition in British English (there
are a few different grammar and spelling rules to American English). Being
British, I felt it was more authentic to write in this style, for the first
edition at least.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: How
much of the book is realistic?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kenneth
Thomas</span>: <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I think this 5-star rating from Readers’ Favorite, K.C. Finn, sums it
up best:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Excerpt:
Author Kenneth Thomas presents a stylish and solidly built science fiction work
with plenty for fans of hard sci-fi and dystopia to get their teeth into. There
is also a great deal of drama and emotional involvement throughout the plot,
which makes for a well-rounded read and helps to place the characters
realistically in their fantastical setting. One of the things which I
particularly enjoyed about the tale was a blending of new futuristic science
fiction with classic sci-fi ideas from the past, which were meshed really well
by the 1950s setting. As we visit many familiar places and times in Earth’s
recent past, so realism and surrealism blend to perfection: we are in safe
hands with a capable narrator who holds the story together well.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: How
is your book different from others in your genre?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kenneth
Thomas</span>: <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Great writer’s voice is one feedback I have received, that my
characters are multi-dimensional and that there are multiple leads. This book
is an emotional journey as much as anything else, you feel the chapters and the
settings, a full range including excitement, suspense, fright, intrigue,
happiness. This is not a typical science fiction book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: Who
designed the covers?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kenneth
Thomas</span>: <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Elementi Studio designed my covers from The Past and The Present. I
did an outline sketch and she brought it to life. I dare to say that The Past
is the best cover design of 2020. Note the elements, the eye looking at our
future dystopian Earth, eye numerals for time-travel to return to the past,
hidden secret hint – the eye also relates to a character in the book. Elementi
did an amazing job.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: Did
you learn anything from writing </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">VanWest The Past </span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">and
what was it? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kenneth
Thomas</span>: <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">There is a lot of Historical fiction in first book, the Utopians seek
to change the past, targeting the creation of CERN, ISS launch, there is also
details on British territories and history, as well as technologies, such as
power generators.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: Do
you have any advice for other writers?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kenneth
Thomas</span>: <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I’m still learning… If self-publishing, spend the time researching
items such as your book cover and look at a few providers. The synopsis and
book cover will be amongst the first items your potential reader will look at,
so do not rush this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: What
were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in
bringing it to life? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kenneth Thomas</span>: <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Two
items I spent the most time on, emotion and historic settings. With each
chapter, I try to capture the emotion and where applicable build the suspense.
You can really read and feel VanWest’s journey, and that of other characters in
the book. It seems everyone’s favourite chapters are those set in 1950s Paris,
where VanWest moves from the futuristic setting of the year 3000 to travel back
in time to stop a renegade sect. I spent a lot of time to get the details and
feelings right. I did this also for 1998 Florida.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">IAN: Tell us about your next book or a work
in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand-alone? </span></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kenneth Thomas</span>: <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Present is the second book in the VanWest series. To defeat the
Universal Council, VanWest is made to confront his dark past. Uncovering Mars’s
many secrets and the coming together of Earth’s main opposition groups could
prove pivotal in defeating the Council’s mighty Space Army. However, success is
not what it appears, for there’s a twist that he could not foresee. Out end of
July 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />William R Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05728302101913537046noreply@blogger.com0