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[Interview; Part 3 of 3] Brian Wainwright, author of 'Within the Fetterlock
2008-02-06 14:54:00
Historical novelist Brian Wainwright is a full-time author.So far he has published two novels, The Adventures of Alianore Audley (Bewrite Books, 2005; Jacobyte Books of Australia, 2002) and Within the Fetterlock (Trivium Publishing, 2004).In this, the last of three interviews, Wainwright speaks about how his books evolved; how he got published and about his plans for the future.How did The Adventures of Alianore Audley come about?I wrote quite a lot of comedy when I was young. It got me into trouble at school where there was a lot to parody and ironise. It took me a long time before I realised there was no reason I couldn't put comedy and historical fiction together.Believe it or not, Alianore was originally going to be a serious novel about Richard III. I did some calculations to see whether Constance of York could have had a (fictional) granddaughter active at the time of the Wars of the Roses. (I didn't want to use a real person for this one.) I found that by taking on a younge...
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[Interview; Part 2 of 3] Brian Wainwright, author of 'Within the Fetterlock
2008-02-04 15:55:00
Novelist Brian Wainwright has a deep-seated interest in the middle ages, especially the 14th and 15th centuries; the House of York and the era of Richard II.He has published two novels, The Adventures of Alianore Audley (Bewrite Books, 2005; Jacobyte Books of Australia, 2002) and Within the Fetterlock (Trivium Publishing, 2004).Currently he is working on several other book-related projects.In this, the second of three interviews, Wainwright speaks about the factors that pushed him towards becoming a writer.When did you decide you wanted to write?Very early in life; even as a young child I enjoyed making up stories and writing them down. However, it took me a long time before I thought of writing as something that could be done for an audience, as opposed to just for me. It was even longer before I plucked up the courage to submit something for publication. For many years the idea of doing so scared me stiff.Who influenced you most?A wide array of writers; if I wrote them all down it...
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[Interview; Part 1 of 3] Brian Wainwright, author of 'Within the Fetterlock
2008-02-01 14:37:00
Novelist Brian Wainwright made his debut as an author with the publication of The Adventures of Alianore Audley (Jacobyte Books of Australia, 2002), a humorous story about an intelligence agent in Yorkist England.Alianore Audley was followed by Within the Fetterlock (Trivium Publishing, 2004), which tells the story of Constance of York, an English princess who lived in the reigns of her cousins, Richard II and Henry IV.In the first of three interviews, Wainwright speaks about his writing.How would you describe your work?Historical fiction. Within that there are two strands, the serious HF and the comedy projects. My two published novels demonstrate these two sides to my writing.My main focus so far has been England and Wales in the 14th and 15th centuries. I think this will always be my main area of interest, if only because I know the period so well and so don’t have to run around doing masses of new research every time I write a paragraph.However, one of my current projects is s...
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Interview: Sean Parker, author of 'Junkyard Dog'
2008-01-10 15:19:00
Sean Parker 's debut novel, Junkyard Dog (BeWriteBooks, 2007) has been described as "an explosive mix of raw power and brutal energy."The novel, which is set in Manchester, is the first of a trilogy of crime fiction thrillers exploring the city's mean streets.In a recent interview, Sean Parker spoke about his writing.When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?My first job was as an engineer working in the nuclear power industry. At that time I used to read a lot of westerns, especially those by such quality authors as Paul Wellman, Will Henry and Louis L'Amour and, as time went on, I decided to write one of my own.After completion, the manuscript went out to the genre publishers. I knew that very soon I would be taking up shelf space next to Louis.The rejection slips began to land on the carpet with some regularity, accompanied by the words: "Unfortunately the manuscript is not suitable for our list, but you may well find another publisher who thinks differently, a list of whom...
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Interview: Alessio Zanelli, author of ‘33 Poesie/33 Poems’
2008-01-03 15:08:00
Alessio Zanelli is a private financial adviser and a poet.He was born in 1963 in Cremona, a small town in Lombardy, northern Italy, where he still lives and works.He began writing poetry in 1985, at first in both English and Italian and then exclusively in English, a language he has been learning on his own.He has published four poetry collections.Loose Sheets (UpFront Publishing, 2002); Small Press Verse & Poeticonjectures (Xlibris, USA, 2003) and Straight Astray (Troubador Publishing, UK, 2005) are in English while 33 Poesie/33 Poems (Starrylink, ITA, 2004) is in both English and Italian.His poems have also appeared in a range of literary magazines and journals that include Potomac Review, Möbius, Skyline Literary Magazine, The Journal and Freexpression.In a recent interview, Alessio Zanelli spoke about his writing.When did you start writing?In 1985. At first I simply wrote lyrics for a couple of local rock bands, then I began writing poems. I abandoned my mother tongue (Ital...
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Interview: Kristen Collier, author of 'Joy the Jellyfish'
2007-12-18 15:59:00
Kristen Collier 's first children's book, Joy the Jellyfish (Dragonfly Publishing, 2007) is a 24-paged picture book that tells the story of an almost invisible and shy jellyfish called Joy who is on a mission to make new friends.The picture book was followed by Dreamchaser (Guardian Angel Publishing, 2007), a novel for young adults which Kristen co-authored with her husband, Kevin.In a recent interview, Kristen Collier spoke about her concerns as a writer.When did you start writing?Five years ago, in September, I was at the library waiting to take a test for a job. I’d heard that if you wrote your goals down you were more likely to achieve them, so I took out the only piece of paper in my purse -- an envelope -- and wrote on the back of it my goals.The next day the story for my novel King of Glory came to mind. And now, five years later, I finally have a publisher, not for my novel, but for a picture book called Joy the Jellyfish.What did you do to achieve this end?I spent a lot ...
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Interview: Karl Stuart Kline, author of 'Brain Stemmed Roses'
2007-12-14 12:43:00
Poet and author, Karl Stuart Kline is a past president of Epilepsy Concern, a coalition of self-help groups; a past president of the Greater Miami Avicultural Society and a lifetime honorary member of the Florida Sheriff’s Association.He made his debut as an author in 2004 with the publication of Poison Pearls, an 88-paged collection of poetry and prose which explores issues that include forced labor, modern-day slavery, human trafficking and prostitution.He followed this up with Going Without Peggy (PublishAmerica, 2005), another collection of poetry and prose about his marriage of 17 years and the bond that existed between him and his first wife, Peggy; her struggle with breast cancer and the effect her death had on him.His latest book, Brain Stemmed Roses (PublishAmerica, 2006) is also a collection of poetry and prose and includes some of his early work from the 60s and 70s as well as poetry about romance and friendship in Eastern Europe and a section dedicated to his wife of s...
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Interview: Sheila Roberts, author of 'On Strike for Christmas'
2007-12-11 18:00:00
Sheila Roberts lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and three children.She has been writing since 1989.Her debut novel, On Strike for Christmas was released from St. Martin’s Press late this year..Currently, she is working on a second novel.In a recent interview, Sheila Roberts spoke about her writing.When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?I don’t know that I ever officially decided.I was writing stories in the third grade. As an adult, I was still writing. I probably realized I wanted to be published when I was in my early twenties.How would you describe your writing?Women’s fiction probably describes it best.I definitely write for women since I write about things that are important to women, like relationships. And chocolate. You can’t forget chocolate.I’ve written all kinds of things over the years under different names, but On Strike for Christmas is my debut in women’s fiction, and I’m very proud of it. I think St. Martin’s Press did a lovely j...
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Interview: Peter Tomlinson, author of The Petronicus Legacy
2007-11-19 10:54:00
Peter Tomlinson is author of The Petronicus Legacy series of books.So far, the series is made up of three novels: The Stones of Petronicus (Bewrite Books, 2004); The Time of Kadrik (Bewrite Books, 2006) and The Voyages of Delticos (Bewrite Books, 2007).He has also published four poetry volumes: Whispers in the Dust (Hengist Enterprises, 1999); Reflections in the Rock (Hengist Enterprises, 2000); Echoes in the Stones (Hengist Enterprises, 2001) and Tunnels of the Mind (Bluechrome, 2004).His two short stories collections, To Tell the Tale (2000) and The Short Straw Society (2002) where both published by Hengist Enterprises.In a recent interview, Peter Tomlinson spoke about his writing.How would you describe your writing?For about ten years I concentrated on writing poetry and have had nearly 300 poems published by about 80 small press magazines in the U.K. and abroad.I continue submitting poetry to numerous magazines in the U.K. and abroad. I prefer poetry that deals with the joys and...
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Interview: Dennis N. Griffin, author of 'Cullotta'
2007-11-16 11:54:00
Crime writer Dennis N. Griffin has written and published six novels and three non-fiction books about Las Vegas police and organized crime history. Four of his six novels, The Morgue (1996); Red Gold (2000); Killer In Pair-A-Dice (2001) and Blood Money (2002) were published by Author House while the remaining two, One-Armed Bandit (2002) and Pension (2004) where released through Publish America. His three non-fiction books, Policing Las Vegas (April 2005); The Battle for Las Vegas: The Law vs. the Mob (2006) and Cullotta: The Life of a Chicago Criminal, Las Vegas Mobster and Government Witness (2007) were all published by Huntington Press. In a recent interview, Dennis Griffin spoke about the work he is doing. When did you start writing? I began writing my first manuscript in 1994, following my retirement from a 20-year career in law enforcement and investigations in New York State . My motivation at that time wasn’t money or fame. It was solely to tell the story of a medical exam...
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Interview: Dyan Garris, author of 'The Book of Daily Channeled Messages'
2007-11-07 13:48:00
Dyan Garris is a clairvoyant, musician and author.She has written and produced six music compilations, among them, A Healing Journey: The Voice of the Angels CD, Reflection and Patterns.Her books include The Book of Daily Channeled Messages , Voice of the Angels Cookbook: Talk to Your Food! Intuitive Cooking and A Healing Journey: Spiritual Journey Cards, which were all published by Journeymakers, Inc. during the course of this year.In a recent interview, Dyan Garris spoke about the work she is doing.When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?Writing has always been an outlet and a way to express the many reflections of what is deep in my soul for as long as I could put pen to paper. I can't remember a time when I didn't write, draw or express on paper.I think I first knew I had a talent for it and a love for it in ninth grade Creative Writing class. When everyone else would cringe at a creative writing assignment, I would be ecstatic. My teacher told me that my imagination seem...
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Interview: Sam Smith, author of 'Vera and Eddy's War
2007-11-05 11:17:00
Sam Smith is one of the most versatile writers currently living and working in Britain today.He has written and published over a dozen novels, among them, The Care Vortex (BeWrite Books 2002), The End of Science Fiction (BeWrite Books, 2004) and We Need Madmen (Skrev Press, 2007).His poetry collections include To Be Like John Clare (University of Salzburg Press, 1997), Pieces (K.T. Publications, 2001) and Rooms and Dialogues (Boho press, 2005).His sole nonfiction book, Vera and Eddy's War (BeWrite Books, 2002), recaptures a British working-class couple's experience of World War II.In addition to this, Smith publishes Original Plus books. He also edits The Journal (once The Journal of Contemporary Anglo-Scandinavian Poetry) as well as BeWrite Books' "The Select Six" poetry column.In a recent interview, Sam Smith spoke about his writing.How would you describe your writing?I tend to switch between genres… thrillers, SF, and mainstream… which is probably best described as non-gen...
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Interview: Shobhan Bantwal, author of 'The Dowry Bride'
2007-11-02 09:50:00
Novelist and playwright, Shobhan Bantwal has a master's degree in public administration from Rider University and works for a government agency in New Jersey.She was born and raised in Belgaum, a small town in Southwestern India and moved to the United States, as a young bride, in an arranged marriage.The Dowry Bride (Kensington Books, 2007) is her first published novel.Bantwal also writes plays in Konkani, her mother tongue and performs them on stage at Indian-American conventions. Her short fiction and other articles have been published in newspapers and magazines that include India Abroad, DesiJournal.com, Sulekha.com and New Woman India.In a recent interview, she spoke about her writing.How would you describe the writing you are doing?The Dowry Bride is my first book. It was published by Kensington Books on August 28. The book is based on India's notorious dowry system and its atrocities but it also tells a tale of hope, triumph and the resilience of the human spirit.I categor...
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Interview: Elena Dorothy Bowman, author of 'Gatekeeper's Realm'
2007-10-31 11:00:00
Elena Dorothy Bowman is an honors graduate of Fitchburg College where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering and Management.She grew up in Dorchester, Massachusetts and spent 25 years working as an aerospace software engineer.She now writes full time and serves as an officer in the Massachusetts Chapter of the National League of American Pen Women.Her books include Sarah’s Landing: Contact (Writer’s Showcase Press, 2002); The House On The Bluff (Write Words, Inc., 2006) and Gatekeeper’s Realm (Write Words, Inc., 2007).In a recent interview, Elena Bowman spoke about her writing.When did you start writing?I have been writing off and on since way back when it only cost a dime to go to the Saturday Matinee, or any other time I could scrape up the price of a ticket. And in most cases when the ending was not to my liking, I felt compelled to go home and rewrite it. I discovered I enjoyed writing stories… putting words down on paper gave me a sense of accomplishm...
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Blog Review: Doris Lessing, Nobel Prize Laureate
2007-10-29 10:04:00
On Oct. 11, the Swedish Academy announced that Doris Lessing (87) had won the Nobel Prize in Literature.Most bloggers reacted to the news by recounting meetings they have had with Lessing and by discussing the influence her writing has had on them as individuals and as writers.They also discussed some of Lessing’s books and the themes she explores in her writing.A few reacted by reviewing what has been said in newspapers about Lessing and her books. An even smaller minority, like T. K. Kenyon, the author of Rabid — used the news to launch a diatribe against the “self-appointed literati and men” who had unfavorably criticized Lessing’s science fiction.There was an almost unanimous agreement that the award was well-deserved and long overdue.Nury Vittachi, author of The Feng Shui Detective responded by revealing how, a few years ago, he had gone to a book signing Doris Lessing was hosting and about how she was holding one of his books when he approached her table.“So it end...
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Interview: Nadia Aidan, author of 'Enthralled'
2007-10-26 10:00:00
Nadia Aidan lives and works on the East Coast in the United States.In addition to writing erotic romances, she enjoys watching, reading and writing about strong, assertive heroines and is an enduring fan of Fight Girls, Xena, Buffy, and La Femme Nikita.Enthralled (iUniverse, 2007) is her first published novel.In a recent interview, Nadia Aidan spoke about her writing.When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?I began writing about a year ago when I was finishing my dissertation, but once I finished my dissertation I didn't look at the novels again. It wasn't until my mom was diagnosed with uterine cancer that I began searching for an outlet for the emotional highs and lows of taking care of her.My mom recently lost her battle to cancer, which gave me the courage to submit my work. My mother was (and continues to be in spirit) my biggest cheerleader and support system. She was a strong, courageous woman who wasn't afraid of anything, and she raised me to be the same. I know she...
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Interview: Kate Hofman, author of 'Greek Fire'
2007-10-24 18:37:00
Kate Hofman was born in The Netherlands. She lived in England for a few years before moving to Canada where she now lives and works.This year alone, she has published seven romance novels, among them, A Greek Love Story (Romance At Heart, 2007), Castle in Spain (The Dark Castle Lords, 2007), Navajo Dreams (Romance At Heart, 2007), Greek Fire (Romance At Heart, 2007) and A Sensual Seduction (Romance At Heart, 2007).Two more novels, A Greater Love (Romance at Heart, November/December 2007) and The Spanish Conquest (AweStruck EBooks, February 2008) are going to be released soon.In a recent interview, she spoke about her writing.When did you start writing?On April 22, 2002. The romance author Nina Bruhns, for whom I do Internet publicity, said that I should write. I was very surprised, but decided to try it, and found that she was right. Writing came easy to me.I’ll also tell you my most daunting moment: when I sat down in front of that blank page on my computer. I remember thinking, ...
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Blog Review: The Mind of a Working Writer
2007-10-22 15:18:00
Emmanuel Sigauke teaches English at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento and is one of the Cosumnes River Journal's editors. He is also founder and editor of Munyori Poetry Journal, which publishes poems by established and emerging writers from all over the world.His own poems and other writings have been published in journals and magazines that include Virtual Writer , Slow Trains Journal, Ibhuku and AfricanWriter.com.His blogs, Wealth of Ideas, Chisiya Echoes: New Zimbabwe Poetry and Namatsiwangu give an insight into the mind of a working writer.Chisiya Echoes is the oldest of the three and is a collection of over 370 poems in English that Sigauke has been writing since February 2006. The second blog, Namatsiwangu, was started in November 2006 and is made up of 10 Shona poems.Wealth of Ideas, which is the focus of this article, is three months old. So far, it has about 20 posts of varying length. The posts focus on Sigauke's observations on African literature and poetry.One of t...
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Interview: Caroline Pitcher, author of 'The Shaman Boy'
2007-10-19 12:59:00
Caroline Pitcher has written over 60 books which range from stories for small children to novels for young adults.She says she started writing because she’s always loved words and stories, especially those about the natural world and its creatures.“One of my favorite books was The Tailor of Gloucester, a re-telling by Beatrix Potter of a legend. As soon as I was able, I wrote poems and stories of my own and illustrated them (dreadfully).”Her mother and her primary and high school teachers encouraged her writing.After high school, she went on to the University of Warwick where she studied English and European Literature. There, her tutors included Professor George Hunter, Germaine Greer, Gaye Clifford, Bernard Bergonzi and Edward Thompson.One of them told her that she wrote very well and should become a professional writer.“That meant a lot to me,” she says, in an interview with the English Subject Centre.After university, Caroline Pitcher worked in places that included a...
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Interview: L. Diane Wolfe, author of 'The Circle of Friends' series
2007-10-17 12:31:00
L. Diane Wolfe grew up in Salem, Oregon and traveled around the United States before eventually settling in North Carolina.In addition to being an author, Diane Wolfe is also a professional photographer and a motivational speaker. She conducts regular workshops and seminars on writing, publishing and book promotion.Her books include The Circle of Friends series of novels for young adults which, so far, is made up of four books: Mike (Author House, 2007); James (AuthorHouse, 2006); Sarah (AuthorHouse, 2005) and Lori (AuthorHouse, 2004).In a recent interview, Diane Wolfe spoke about her writing.How would you describe the writing you are doing?My current series falls under young adult fiction. Previously, all of my writing had been science fiction... but when I discovered I had a growing teen fan base, I shifted the focus to young adults. I had never intended to write anything in this genre, especially since my first love is science fiction, but I was inspired to write realistic st...
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Interview: Steven M. Reilly, author of 'The Fat Lady Never Sings'
2007-10-15 13:31:00
Steven M. Reilly is a practicing attorney, a baseball coach and an author.Since 1976, he has coached Babe Ruth, Senior Babe Ruth and American Legion teams in Connecticut's Lower Naugatuck Valley. He has also spent the last 20 years assisting high school coaches. Schools he has been involved with include Derby High School; Emmett O'Brien Regional Vocational Technical School and Seymour High School.His book, The Fat Lady Never Sings tells the story of the 1992 Derby Red Raiders and has been described as "a marvelous adaptation from an exciting era... which blends emotion, humor and ultimate success."In a recent interview, Steve Reilly spoke about his writing.How have your personal experiences influenced the direction of your writing?My writing so far has been of a true story that I was fortunate to be a part of. I think even if I decided to write fiction, I would likely use my personal experiences at least as a starting point. I believe it would be hard to avoid unless I decided to ...
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Interview: Nicola Beaumont, author of 'The Resurrection of Lady Somerset'
2007-10-12 15:28:00
Nicola Beaumont writes contemporary romance stories as well as regency romance novels.Her books include a novel, The Resurrection of Lady Somerset (Wild Rose Press, 2007), a novella, The Lighthouse (Wild Rose Press, 2007) and an inspirational short story, "Hyacinths in Winter" (Wild Rose Press, 2007).In a recent interview, she spoke about her writing.How would you describe the writing you do most?Lovely escapist fiction. Romances are a great way to lose oneself for a time in another story, knowing full-well that there will be a warm-fuzzy "happily ever after."I write specifically for women between the ages of 18 and 70. However, anyone can enjoy a romance, I believe, and since I write "sweet" romances, there's nothing of what some would call "inappropriate" included.What motivated you to start writing?My love of reading the genre and a desire to create the same types of stories.I seriously decided to try my hand at writing after reading some Harlequin romances. I mistakenly thought...
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Interview: Kate Rigby, author of 'Thalidomide Kid'
2007-10-10 08:01:00
In addition to writing novels, Kate Rigby has also had several short stories published in various publications including several in Skrev's magazine for experimental fiction, Texts' Bones.Her novels include Fall of The Flamingo Circus (Allison & Busby 1990); Seaview Terrace (Skrev 2003); Sucka! (Skrev 2004); Break Point (Skrev 2006) and Thalidomide Kid (Bewrite 2007).In a recent interview, she spoke about her writing.How would you describe the writing that you are doing?[I write] contemporary literary fiction, mainly [for] adults, although as I sometimes have teenaged or child protagonists, I like to think there's crossover appeal too.I've often be told that my writing doesn't easily fit into one genre.Do you write everyday?I try and write as often as possible, but my personal circumstances and health are making it difficult at present to write as much as I used to. I'm hoping this will change in the next few months or so.When I'm working on a novel, say, I try and jot do...
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Interview: Glen H. Stassen, author of 'Peace Action: Past, Present, and Fut
2007-10-08 18:28:00
Peace activist and award-winning author, Glen H. Stassen is the Smedes Professor of Christian Ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena.His books include Kingdom Ethics: Following Jesus in Contemporary Context, which he co-authored with David Gushee (InterVarsity, 2003) and went on to win the Christianity Today Award for Best Book of 2004 in Theology or Ethics.Other awards he has received include the 1983 Peace and Justice Award from The Peace and Justice Commission of the Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville as well as the 1991 Clarence Jordan Peace and Justice Award from the Long Run Baptist Association of Louisville.In a recent interview, Professor Glen Stassen -- who is also the author of Living the Sermon on the Mount (Jossey Bass: July, 2006) and Just Peacemaking: Transforming Initiatives for Justice and Peace (Westminster/John Knox, 1992) -- spoke about his writing.How and when did you decide to become a writer?When I saw that the world needs correction, especially in...
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Interview: David Hough, author of historical romance novels
2007-10-05 10:00:00
David Hough was born in Cornwall and grew up in the Georgian City of Bath. He now lives with his wife in Dorset, on the south coast of England.His novels include Scent of Spring (Robert Hale, 1989) and Ride Upon the Storm (Robert Hale, 1990) which he wrote under the name Tracy Davis and which are also available in large print from Ulverscroft publishers. In addition to these, Hough has published A Tangle of Roots (BeWrite Books, 2004); The Vanson Curse (BeWrite Books, 2006) and King’s Priory (BeWrite Books, 2007).Three more books, The Gamekeeper; The Gallows on Warlock Hill and The Washington Incident are due to be released shortly.In a recent interview, David Hough spoke about his writing.When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?At age forty I had a heart attack and my future prospects in my day job (I was an air traffic controller) became limited. As soon as I was able, I went out to buy an electric typewriter and signed on for a correspondence course in creative writing.Th...
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Interview: Sally H. Taylor, children's author and illustrator
2007-10-01 12:44:00
Sally H. Taylor made her debut as a children's author and illustrator with the publication of The Magic in You (Outskirts Press, 2007), a 40-page book which aims to teach children and adults, alike, that we need to forgive and love ourselves if we are to live healthy, fulfilled lives.In a recent interview, she spoke about her writing.What are your main concerns as a writer?I have developed a lot of ideas for children’s stories over the years. They are still in my head. With the pressures of a full time job and such, it’s hard to find the quiet time to craft a story that comes together well. However, I am working on that one.When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?After a hard road of recovering from an abusive marriage, I found that my writing and my art work was not only an aid to my healing process, but a way of reaching past myself and offering hope to other wounded hearts.An abusive relationship can damage your soul so severely that you begin to second guess everythi...
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Interview: Carol Windley, author of 'Home Schooling'
2007-09-26 10:00:00
Award-winning author Carol Windley has worked as a radio station copy writer, a librarian and as a creative writing instructor at Malaspina University College in Nanaimo, where she now lives. Her fiction has appeared in literary journals, in The Journey Prize Anthology and, on several occasions, in Best Canadian Stories. Her books include the award-winning collection of short stories, Visible Light, the acclaimed novel Breathing Underwater, and Home Schooling, which has been shortlisted in this year's Scotiabank Giller Prize.Carol Windley spoke about her latest collection of short stories and the challenges short story writers face.The short stories in your most recent collection, Home Schooling, are set against the rural landscape of Vancouver Island and the cities of the Pacific Northwest. Why is this so? Is there a particular reason for this?I've always felt incredibly lucky to have grown up on Vancouver Island. The landscape is in one way quite gentle and benign, but it's als...
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Interview: Melissa Wathington, author of 'Double The Blessings'
2007-09-24 11:21:00
Melissa Wathington lives in Tampa, Florida where she works as a writer and runs a children's charity. She has self published a number of books.Writing under the name, Elissa Kyle, she has also published In My Dreams (Lavender Isis Press, 2007); Surrender Your Heart (Lavender Isis Press, 2007) and Love Of A Lifetime (Lavender Isis Press, (Lavender Isis Press, 2007).Her latest story, Double The Blessings (Lavender Isis Press), was published in April of this year.In a recent interview, she spoke about her writing.*What would you say are the biggest challenges that you face?Time management, control of my creativity, and dialogue most definitely!Like most writers, I have a daytime job (two in fact) and they both eat up much of my day. Then I also work for Lavender Isis Publishing, run a children’s organization (Homebound Hugs) and an inspirational writer’s community (PRAIZES! Inspirational Voices). Juggling all of them has been a task, let me tell you! Learning how to say no to extr...
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Interview: Jalena Burke, author of 'Make Him Beg'
2007-09-17 13:07:00
Jalena Burke writes short erotic romance fiction.Her stories are all available as e-books. They include Me, My Next Door Neighbor and Bob (Forbidden Publications, 2006); One Sinful Night (The Wild Rose Press, 2006); S’mores (Phaze, 2006); The Red Apron (Forbidden Publications, 2007); Going Up (Forbidden Publications, 2007) and Make Him Beg (Phaze, 2007).In a recent interview, Jalena Burke spoke about her writing.How would you describe the genre in which you do most of your writing?I write short erotica stories, what I call quickies, similar to the stories you might find in Naughtier Bed Time Stories by Joan Elizabeth Lloyd. They are perfect to read in one sitting. It's a hot genre, but also a challenge and I enjoy short stories.Actually, I didn’t think I’d ever write in this genre, but when I read about how popular it was and signed up for some online groups, I thought I’d give it a try. I initially envisaged writing contemporary romance with little sex involved, but came ...
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Interview: Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author of 'Whale Song'
2007-09-10 14:56:00
Canadian author Cheryl Kaye Tardif was born in Vancouver, Britsh Columbia and has worked as a journalist, a motivational speaker and a consultant in telemarketing, sales and promotion.Her books include Divine Intervention (Trafford Publishing, 2004) and The River (Trafford Publishing, 2005). Her latest novel, Whale Song (Kunati Books, 2007), has been described as a compelling story of love, tragedy and transformation.In a recent interview, Cheryl Kaye Tardif spoke about her writing.When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?I wanted to be a writer at a very young age. I used to “write” under every line of my Dr. Seuss books and would tell my mother that I was writing the story. At 14, I became a published journalist, but fiction was always my passion.How would you describe the writing that you are doing?I write mainly novels with suspense, mystery or horror elements. I don’t stay within a specific genre; often my novels have a mix, including some romance or sci-fi. Althou...
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