#Interview ~ Roderick Low ~ Rewards and Dilemmas

Today, I'm pleased to welcome my friend, author Roderick Low for an interview. He's here to talk about his writing and his romantic suspense book, Rewards and Dilemmas. First, let's read about his book!

“Hugh Ballater is a successful writer who enjoys international literary success, in contrast to his troubled personal life. After divorcing his wife, he leaves England and buys a house on the Kenyan coast where he continues to write. Finally at peace, he produces some of his best novels from his beachside retreat. With the unexpected arrival of a young Indian woman looking for work, his life takes a new turn. However, their encounter is short-lived as he dies unexpectedly. After his death, the reading of his Will sparks a chain of events that has far-reaching consequences for those closest to him. This love story crackles with intrigue and suspense around the dilemmas and rewards facing his housekeeper – the narrator of the story – and his ex-wife and children.”

Amazon buy link

Okay, let's get right down to it. Try to describe your book in one sentence:

“Rewards and Dilemmas” tells the story of a successful writer whose death triggers events through which he reveals himself to those closest to him in life.

When did you begin writing?

I started to write as soon as I could hold a pencil. My mother, Lois Dorothea Low, was a successful writer who spent long hours in our dining room at home tapping out her romantic stories on an old ‘Remington’. I guess writing was in the genes as I produced a story entitled “Mrs. Blotting Paper” – complete with illustrations – when I was about seven years old. I still have it! But I started to write fiction seriously when I was in my fifties.

Did you have support at the beginning and/or during your writing?

The main and unquenchable flow of support has been from my wife – she is a ‘Chantal’ (although spelled differently!). She is my greatest admirer but also my most intuitive critic. Like most writers, I am very sensitive and don’t take kindly to criticism, but her views are predominantly pertinent and relevant and always expressed from a position of love. I am a very fortunate scribbler.

Awww! You guys are so adorable! Nice that you have a lot of support at home. 

Do you keep track or write reviews for books you read?

I am quite new to the Internet in the context of writing. So, until recently, I would read a book, enjoy it or not, and largely keep my opinions to myself. I am now asked to write reviews (and ask others to review my books!) and thoroughly enjoy the process.

I love giving reviews, unfortunately, I don't get to read nearly as much as I'd like to anymore. The life of a writer is busy. It's great that you give reviews. What is it you love most about writing? What is the hardest part for you?

There sometimes comes a point, while I am writing, when the story takes over and I am just a clumsy, typing ‘channel’ through which the ideas, words and consequences flow. In fact I would say that, if this doesn’t happen, the story won’t really ‘get going’ and usually ends up set aside on a USB ‘stick’ which may, or may never, be resurrected. I have at least six unfinished novels – some of as much as 25,000 words – in that situation.

But when the story takes over, it is like magic. The characters decide what is going to happen and, as they know themselves better than I ever could, I let them take over. One novel, now published, had reached over 70,000 words on a Sunday night and I bleated to my wife, ‘I have absolutely no idea where this is going!’ By the Monday evening, all the threads began to come together and the first draft was completed on Tuesday. But it’s the characters who decide when their story is complete.

I'm very similar to you. My writing is also driven by the characters and they sure do come up with some great surprises, don't they? Okay, why did you choose the genre you write in?

Well, I don’t think I write in any particular genre. I write about things I understand and have experienced – love, loss, comedy, mystery, and various concerns I have for the future and about life in general.

“Promises of Love and Good Behaviour” and “Rewards and Dilemmas” are, essentially, love stories. By way of complete contrast, “Going Nowhere” is a funny book drawn from my own perceptions of village life in rural France.

“England 2026. After the Discord”, reflects my deep anxiety for our society which, in spite of all its flaws, is something I hold very dear and which I feel I must defend, while “Three Hundred Hours” describes the physical and mental journey undertaken by the central character. 

They all sound great. I need more reading time, but I'm anxious to read both Rewards and Dilemmas and Three Hundred Hours. Some day, I'll get to everything on my to-be-read pile! Okay, how did you come up with your premise for your books?

I admire Stephen King very much. There is an autobiographical book he wrote about the process of writing. In it, he talks about his own approach and he says he starts with a single question – a ‘what if this were to happen’ scenario. I fully subscribe to this idea and each of my books spins into the answer to a single question. 

In “Rewards and Dilemmas”, the question was, ‘what would happen if a successful and wealthy writer, who didn’t say what he really felt in life, decided to do so after his death?’

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

New authors or new to me? My reading used to be heavily influenced by the classics but in recent years I have been discovering some amazing talents. Of course there are some like Paulo Coelho and Iain Banks who hardly need mentioning. But Sarah Kernochan, Bob Atkinson, Rachel Thompson, I. C. Camilleri, Jeannie Walker, Zoe Saadia, Susan Buchanan, Tannera Kane, Bev Spicer, Susan Fleet and Susan Louineau are recent discoveries, as are David Bishop and your good self!

The new publishing methods are extremely liberating and enable us to ‘get out there’, but this new-found freedom does not seem to result in a ‘dumbing down’ of what’s available. I am very impressed by the current standard of writing, much of which doesn’t get to market by the conventional channels.

How important do you find the communication between you and your readers? Do you reply to their messages or read their reviews?

Very important. Of course it is very flattering when someone reads your work and takes time to comment on it or write a review. But, more than that, the complex relationship between writer, book, and reader is a dynamic that changes the way the book is seen by readers and the writer. I learn about my work from my readers’ comments. I think that’s something that works for every writer. And, yes. I reply to their messages and read their reviews!

I'm the same way. I love hearing from readers. So, have you ever Googled yourself?

Of course! For me, writing is everything. I would write even if no-one read my work. But, when you find yourself on Google, there is a sort of recognition – a permanence. I’m not famous, but I get a kick out of seeing several pages against my name – an emotion shared by many fellow writers I guess!

Are you writing something else at the moment? 

Actually, no. I now have five books on Amazon and I’m spending a lot of time promoting them (and in the context of that, thank you so much for inviting me onto your blog!). But, right now, I’m taking a breather and mulling over several new projects without actually putting words down on paper. 

Yes, the promoting does tend to cut into writing time. Good luck on your promotion efforts and the next project, whenever you start it. Thanks so much for being here!

About the Author:

Roderick Craig Low, the elder son of Scottish parents, was born and brought up in England. On leaving grammar school, he lived in Scotland for about five years before moving south to Yorkshire where he raised a family. It was then that he was able to apply his liking for language to his professional life, trading his role as a computer consultant for that of a technical author providing manuals to support software systems and business processes for many ‘big name’ companies. In 1994, he remarried. His book, ‘Writing User Documentation’, was published by Prentice Hall that same year. Creative writing, however, was the ultimate goal but the pressures of everyday life prevented its realisation. He moved to France in 2003 and, in addition to enjoying the delights of living in rural France, can now devote more time to this activity. His first book ‘Three Hundred Hours’ was published in 2009 and re-published by Andrews UK in 2012, together with four other novels, ‘England 2026 - After the Discord’, ‘Going Nowhere’, ‘Promises of Love and Good Behaviour’ and ‘Rewards & Dilemmas’. He has also written a number of short stories for conventional and on-line publication. 

Want to connect with Roderick? You can find him here:

Facebook link https://www.facebook.com/#!/roderick.low.14 

Goodreads link http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/12109076 

Twitter Link https://twitter.com/LowRoderick 

LinkedIn Link http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=60245615&trk=tab_pro 

Email address: lowroderick@yahoo.fr 

Wondering where to buy his books? 

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=roderick+craig+low 

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/roderick-craig-low?store=book&keyword=roderick+craig+low 

OmniLit: https://www.omnilit.com/product-rewardsanddilemmas-1006016-152.html

Thanks for reading, everyone! I hope you have a fantastic weekend!
~~ Chantel ~~

#Interview ~ Author versus Character ~ Lexa Wright's Dating Sights

Okay, everyone. I know I've been out of the blogging loop for a few days and I do apologize. On a positive note, I've got Rebeccah Giltrow here today who brought along the main character in her book, Alexana (Lexa) Wright,  for another author versus character interview! These are my favorites!  

First, let me tell you about her book, Lexa Wright's Dating Sights.

Alexana (Lexa) Wright is 30 years old, unemployed, single, and lives in her deceased, paternal grandmother’s bungalow, with her shi-tzu, Beryl. She is a self-confessed procrastinator and that isn’t a particularly positive trait to possess, especially when she is trying to write her first novel, which she intends to be a semi-fictional account of her own life. 

Unhappily single, Lexa hopes to eventually meet the man of her dreams by chance, like people do in films. Because of this, she has ignored her best friend Louise’s suggestions to join the online dating site, MatesDates. One day, Lexa turns on her computer to start writing her novel, but procrastination takes over and she spring cleans her e-mail inbox instead. She opens an e-mail from Louise, inviting her to try the dating site. Curious, Lexa joins and starts to fill in her profile. 

After a bad date, Louise visits Lexa and stays the night. Unable to sleep, Louise finishes Lexa’s MatesDates profile, unbeknownst to her friend, and sends out messages to men on her behalf. Lexa chats to one of these men online, Gregory, and arranges to meet him for a date. With her parents, Karen and Tom, dogsitting Beryl, Lexa meets Gregory at a local pub, with Louise and her colleague, Safa, sitting nearby for moral support. Cutting the date short to help his sister out of trouble, Gregory arranges another date with Lexa. The next day, Lexa collects Beryl from her parents’ house and takes her for a walk through the park on the way home. Beryl runs off, pulling her extending lead to its full length and tangles it around a man’s legs. Lexa offers to buy the man a coffee as an apology. The man introduces himself as William and asks her out on a date, and Lexa accepts. 

Lexa, not used to dating one man, has no idea what to do with two, but as everything seems casual, she continues to date both of them. Unable to choose between the two, she carries on seeing them both. She knows she has to choose one of them, but she can't make her mind up between them. 

In order to take her mind off men, Lexa puts her energies into tidying her house and garden shed. While doing this, she discovers her grandmother’s diary, plus photos, letters, and newspaper articles, all pointing to her grandmother’s youth. The more she delves, the more she discovers about her grandmother that the family knew nothing of. She uses this information to write a semi-fictional account of her grandmother’s life. 

Website: http://rebeccahgiltrow.blogspot.co.uk/ 

Amazon buy link US

Amazon buy link UK

Alright ladies, thanks for being here. Let's dive right in! How did you two meet and how long ago was it?

Rebeccah: We’ve known each other for years.

Lexa: Yeah, we’ve known each other since we were children. I can’t remember when we first met, but it seems like we’ve known each other since birth. I’ve got pictures of us both at my 1st birthday party.

Rebeccah: You have?

Lexa: Yep, and my 2nd, and 3rd. In fact, at every one of my birthday parties. With the clowns, and the petting zoo, and Louise’s broken leg after the roller-blading accident of 1990.

Rebeccah: I must be getting old. I don’t remember any of that.

Lexa: Oi, I’m not old.

Rebeccah: You’re the same age as me, and I’m old.

Lexa: Well if you’re the same age as me, and I’m not old, you can’t be old either.

Rebeccah: I feel like it sometimes.

Lexa: Stop moaning, you old biddy.

Rebeccah: Who are you calling an old biddy?

Lexa: I’m sorry Chantel. Back to your question. If my young memory serves me correctly, we met as children and we grew up together.

Rebeccah: I really should pay more attention to my own life.

Lexa: Glad I’ve made such an impact on you!

Rebeccah: *pokes her tongue out at Lexa*

Lexa: Mature.

Rebeccah: Sorry Chantal, next question.

Well, you certainly act like lifelong friends, that's for sure. So, what was your first impression of each other?

Rebeccah: Like I said before, I can’t remember meeting Lexa, so I don’t really have any first impressions. She’s just always been a part of my life.

Lexa: Bossy.

Oops...

Rebeccah: What?

Lexa: My first impression of you was that you were bossy!

Rebeccah: How was I bossy?

Lexa: Every time we played, we had to have rules, and you got in a right strop if we didn’t play by the rules.

Rebeccah: I did not get in a strop.

Lexa: Yes you did. Your voice would get all high-pitched and screechy, and your face would go bright red.

Rebeccah: That did not happen.

Lexa: Yes it did, and it sounds like it’s happening again.

Rebeccah: *takes a deep breath* Rules are a good thing. The keep everything controlled, and you can keep score of who wins when there are rules.

Lexa: You don’t need to win at things all the time.

Rebeccah: *mumbles* I do.

Lexa: She can be a bit bossy and controlling and competitive, but I guess she can’t be that bad, otherwise I wouldn’t have kept her around for so long.

Rebeccah: Oi, I think I’m the one keeping you around.

Lexa: Where would you be without me?

Rebeccah: Let’s find out. Where’s that delete key?

Lexa: Let’s not be too hasty. I love you really.

Rebeccah: Hmm.

Wait a minute! Back away from the delete key! I don't need that kind of violence on my conscious. Let's move along, shall we? Rebeccah, what does Lexa do that annoys you the most?

Rebeccah: Well, as you can see so far, she’s a bit argumentative.

Lexa: No I’m not.

Rebeccah: And she interrupts questions that aren’t even directed towards her.

Lexa: *folds her arms*

Rebeccah: Can I speak?

Lexa: *looks at the ceiling*

Rebeccah: Thank you. I think the thing I find most annoying is that she doesn’t cook.

Lexa: I do.

Rebeccah: Putting your mum’s leftover shepherd’s pie in the microwave is not cooking.

Lexa: Hmm.

Rebeccah: I mean, you are thirty-one years old. You should be able to cook for yourself by now.

Lexa: Well you’re my author. You could write a scene where I cook.

Rebeccah: You know I like to let my characters write their own story, so perhaps you could step away from the microwave and make something from scratch.

Lexa: You’re so lazy.

Rebeccah: Says the woman who would rather walk to her parents’ house for lunch than actually cook her own.

Lexa: I make toast.

Rebeccah: Making toast is not cooking!

I actually don't blame you, Lexa. I'm not real big on cooking, either. So, Lexa, if you could say just one thing to Rebeccah, what would it be?

Lexa: Thank you for finding me a decent man.

Rebeccah: You’re welcome.

Lexa: I won’t say who it is; I like to leave a bit of mystery in my life.

Rebeccah: Ah, good thinking. We don’t want to give the story away, otherwise no-one will want to buy the book!

Lexa: Were you going to blurt out his name?

Rebeccah: *looks away* No, of course not.

Lexa: Yes you were. I think you’ve got a bit of a crush on him anyway.

Rebeccah: Have not.

Lexa: Yes you have. Look, you’re blushing.

Rebeccah: *puts her hands to her cheeks* Well even if I have got a crush on him, it’s not like I can do anything about it. He’s just a character in my book.

Lexa: He may be ‘just a character’ to you, but he’s real to me, so you keep your filthy paws off him.

Rebeccah: Well my ‘filthy paws’ need to get close to him in order to write him. Or do you want me to use telepathy to produce my next book?

Lexa: Ok, I’ll let you use your fingers to touch the computer keys to write about him, but that’s as far as it goes.

Rebeccah: *salutes* Sir, yes sir!

It is much more fun to write a hero when you have a crush on him. Both of you have fun in the sequel! Let's see...what’s the most embarrassing thing that’s happened between you two?

Lexa: For some reason, Rebeccah insists on writing about what goes on *whispers* in the bathroom.

Rebeccah: What?

Lexa: You always need to note down whenever I go to the toilet.

Rebeccah: Everyone goes to the toilet.

Lexa: I know, but you don’t need to tell everyone every time I go.

Rebeccah: But wouldn’t it seem weird if you went through your day to day routines of eating and drinking, and never went to the toilet. The readers would think there was something wrong with you.

Lexa: No they wouldn’t.

Rebeccah: So if you read a book about someone, anyone, and they didn’t go to the toilet, you’d think that was perfectly normal?

Lexa: Well, no, but …

Rebeccah: But nothing. I go to the toilet. You go to the toilet. The whole world goes to the toilet.

Lexa: Ok, ok, can we stop talking about going to the toilet?

Rebeccah: You brought it up.

Lexa: Oh shush.


Rebeccah, what do you feel the worst about doing to Lexa?

Rebeccah: I feel terrible about sending Lexa out on awful dates with idiotic men she met on the internet.

Lexa: And so you should.

Rebeccah: I am sorry, but I can’t have the readers thinking that internet dating is a breeze and that everyone you meet on there is charming and handsome.

Lexa: I guess.

Rebeccah: I like things to be realistic. That’s why I tell everyone about you going to the toilet.

Lexa: *sighs*

Rebeccah: Sorry. And I am sorry about letting those dreadful people into your life. I know it upset you, but life has a funny way of working out for the best.

Lexa: *grins* It sure does.

I think you sorted of hinted about this before, but do you think you two will meet again in the future?

Rebeccah: Oh of course. We’ve known each other for so long, I don’t think I could walk away from her now.

Lexa: Just make sure nothing bad happens to me, like those idiot internet men.

Rebeccah: I can’t promise anything.

Lexa: Please! Just one happy ending, like in films.

Rebeccah: We’ll see …

Looks like that's all the time we have, ladies. Thanks for being here!

About Rebeccah:

Rebeccah is a writer by trade, with skills of varying degrees in knitting, baking, EFL teaching, performing, photography, dog-walking, sleeping, painting, and procrastinating. 

Rebeccah has been a writer since she can remember, but after graduation from University of Essex in 2005 with B.A. (hons) English Language & Literature, and again in 2008 with M.A. Literature: Creative Writing, she decided to take the craft more seriously. She honed her writing skills and became an avid follower of the Oulipo. 

As well as writing, she regularly performs at the New Words, Fresh Voices open mic night at The Seagull Theatre in Lowestoft, where she reads her poetry and short stories. 

Rebeccah is an active member of Lowestoft Library Book Group and Lowestoft Library Writing Group. She has been attending these groups since 2009, and in September 2012 she set up a writing group for teen writers (aged between 11 and 17) at Lowestoft Library. 

When she's not writing, Rebeccah enjoys producing visual art, and occasionally takes photos, paints pictures, and makes collages. Her work has been shown at The Halesworth Gallery, The Ferini Gallery, and Lowestoft Arts Centre.

Want to connect with Rebeccah?

Blog: http://rebeccahgiltrow.blogspot.co.uk/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Rebeccah.Giltrow.Writer

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RebeccahGiltrow

Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccahgiltrow

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/beckamj

AboutMe: http://about.me/rebeccahgiltrow

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/rebeccah_giltrow

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rebeccah-Giltrow/e/B00A9Q3BY2/


Happy reading everyone! Have a good weekend!
~~~Chantel~~~

#AuthorInterview ~ Joshua Silverman ~ Legends of Amun Ra

Happy Friday, everyone! I'm so pleased to have Joshua Silverman on my blog today to talk a little bit about his book and himself. I've tried a new interview format, and Joshua has been kind enough to be my first victim...er - guest. I meant guest!

Before we get started, check out his book cover and product description!

Amazon link

Do you wish you could have the power of a god? Would you use it for good…or for evil? 

When an archeologist discovers the mythic Emerald Tablet buried beneath Egypt’s desert, her son decodes the ancient text leading him to a distant world. 

On that world, a slave girl begins a journey towards a destiny she cannot imagine. But when an ancient foe rises from the ashes, they will be brought together by forces neither understands. 

Leoros, who dreams of being like the heroes in the comic books, must fight to unlock the secrets of the universe to save a people he never knew existed. 

Atlantia, whose bloody visions wake her in the night, senses the darkness coming. 

Together they will face an enemy with the power of dark energy, loose a mentor to the assassin’s blade, and be betrayed by someone they trust. Their fight for the future is just beginning, and before it is over, a final sacrifice must be made. 

When the darkness comes, will they stand and fight or will they join it? 

There is darkness in everyone.

Thanks for being here, Joshua! Let's get right to the interview. Try to describe your book in one sentence, though your blurb already sounds very interesting!

Boy must discover the secrets to the universe to save a planet from the forces of evil. 

If you weren't a writer, what you would be?

A lawyer. They write a lot too.

I actually have a friend who is a lawyer and a fiction writer! So I guess they are compatible. 

Do you listen to music while writing?

I used to. Now, not so much. I’m actually getting more reclusive in my writing habits. Lock me in a room, close the door, turn off anything electronic but my computer (but turn off the internet) and type until my fingers bleed. 

I agree with turning off the internet and music. They are both too distracting for me, too! 

Do you have any advice for unpublished authors? 

Don’t be so anxious to get yourself out there. The world doesn’t need another bad novel. Everyone’s looking for the next great one. Take your time. Learn your craft. Write, rewrite, and edit a thousand times. 

Great advice! 

Why did you choose the genre you write in? 

Simple. I love science fiction and fantasy. I grew up in it. I used to watch Star Trek: The Next Generation with my parents when I was a kid every week. But I also loved history. MY father had a passion for it and would retell ancient battles in such a way that it wasn’t boring. He was a great story teller. So I wanted to find a way to bring the non-fiction, the historical side of me, into alignment with the sci-fi/fantasy geek. So I decided to write historical and mythological based sci-fi/fantasy. 

Did you know the title before you started writing? 

Absolutely not! I went through about five different titles before I settled on The Emerald Tablet (Legends of Amun Ra, #1). I think my first title was called “Battle Potara”. But that didn’t keep me interested for very long. Choosing a title was agonizing but I wanted something that represented the central theme yet be different and unique; something readers would remember. 

Titles can be tricky, for sure. So, what was your favorite scene? 

My favorite scene is any scene where I learn something about my characters that I didn’t already know. I find that is the most exciting thing about writing – the discovery of a new person which you spawned from your mind. However, if I would have to pick a “scene” from book 1, it would have to be the scene where Atlantia, a fourteen year old girl who is a slave, takes Leoros to her room. It was such an act of vulnerability for Atlantia to let him into her private world. Call me crazy but the fights weren’t my favorite of book one, it was how the two young adults relationship grew throughout the book. 

I think that really is the most important thing in a book...the human connection. I don't think you're crazy. I totally understand what you mean. Where do you get your inspiration? 

I remember very clearly the inspiration for the entire seven book series. I was talking to a friend of mine who was interested in Egyptian mythology and she suggested I check out the mythology of Thoth and alchemy. So I did. I picked up a book on alchemy at the bookstore that very day and went home and started reading it. In that book there were three sections (among others). One was on the mythology of the Emerald Tablet, one on the mythology of the Staff of Hermes, and one on the mythology of the Pillar of Hermes. And I don’t know how else to describe it but something clicked in me after I read those sections. I knew there was a story there that was supposed to be told. Within a month I had the entire plot for book one. Within four months I had the basic structure of all seven books. And it’s all based on the mythology of the Egyptian god of magic and wisdom, Thoth. 

That's pretty awesome! It's hard to get even one book written. Neat that you already have your idea for all seven! Which genres do you prefer to read?

Although my favorite genres are sci-fi/fantasy, I try to read from as many different genres as possible. I think that keeps you open and doesn’t pigeon hole me as an author. I also read a lot of non-fiction as well, primarily sticking to historical stuff like Paul Cartledge, Donald Kagen, or David McCullough. You should vary your reading list – it keeps you sharp and open to new ideas. 

How important do you find the communication between you and your readers? Do you reply to their messages or read their reviews? 

Communication is very important. I love going to the sci-fi/fantasy comic conventions around town and meeting the fans and doing book signings. If they leave me a message on Facebook (my preferred method of communication), I’ll always reply. In fact, I encourage it. One of my readers and I had a lengthy Facebook chat about how we would re-do the movie ‘300’. That was a good one. I also respond to all emails I get. I try not to read too many of the reviews. I could spend my whole life analyzing every single word asking myself ‘Well what do they mean by this?’ If they liked the book, I’m happy. If they loved it, I’m happier. If they didn’t, well, you can’t please everyone. That’s part of being an artist anyway – I don’t love every author I read so it’s unrealistic for me to expect that everyone will be gushing over my work. 

Morning person or night owl?

Can I say afternoon? Haha. I hate waking up early and I don’t like staying up too late. I’m an afternoon person. 

Fair answer. :-)

What projects are you currently working on right now? Would you mind sharing them with us? 

Right now I’m finalizing edits with the publisher on Gardens of Ampheia (Legends of Amun Ra, Expanded Universe) which is a novella outside of the main seven book series. Gardens is due out March, 2013. I’m also about mid-way through my own edits on Soul of the World (Legends of Amun Ra, #2), before I hand that over to the publishers for editing. Soul is due out around November, 2013. At the same time, I am also writing book 3 for the main series and the second novella (yes, I’m writing two books at once).

Wow! You are a busy guy! Thanks so much for being here today. Best of luck to you! 

About Joshua

Joshua Silverman was born in Washington DC and currently resides in Orange County, CA. He grew up watching Star Trek, Star Wars, and other science fiction series with his family when he was young. Star Trek: The Next Generation was a ritual show in his house. In his spare time, he collected a respectable collection of comic books and Magic: The Gathering cards. 

When he’s not writing (or working in his day job to be able to write at night), he spends his time thinking about how to avoid traffic, what he’s going to have for dinner, watching cheesy apocalyptic or Kung Fu movies, working out, hiking, or reading.

Want to connect with Joshua? Here's all the places you can stalk him!
Website: www.legendsofamunra.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LegendsofAmunRa;
Twitter: @JoshuaSilverma2
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6479929.Joshua_Silverman

Don't forget to swing over and check out his book on Amazon - http://ow.ly/f6W86

Thanks for joining us and finding out more about Joshua's books. Happy reading, everyone! Have a great weekend! 

eeeChantelfff

#AuthorInterview - Jeffrey H. Baer ~ A Song Apart

I am so excited to have Jeffrey H Baer here today for an interview to talk about his general fiction book, A Song Apart. Before we get to the interview, check out the description of A Song Apart:

Amazon Product Link

Rising pop singer Shannon Kistler never expected to see college student Kevin Derow on a Manhattan street wearing her concert shirt. But she offers gratitude in her own way, leaving her biggest fan in shock. When the two teenagers meet again six days later, Shannon slips Kevin her phone number, and the unlikely romance begins.

Soon they find they have several things in common: lonely childhoods, a passion for music, and making unpopular choices about their own lives. The public cannot take Shannon seriously as a teenaged recording artist, but she risks her sudden success by making some public mistakes after breaking into a soulless music industry with unusual ease. Meanwhile Kevin loses the respect of family, friends and coworkers over the girl he idolizes–and unwittingly blows the lid off a payola scheme devised by Shannon's record label, threatening her career and possibly his own freedom.

A Song Apart revolves around two young people from distinct backgrounds who choose to follow their hearts rather than their peers and find a greater reward at the end of their paths. 

It's great to have you here, Jeffrey!

Thanks. I appreciate it. 

So, why don't you tell us a little bit more in depth about your book?

A Song Apart is about two teenagers–an up-and-coming pop star and her most surprising fan– whose lives collide on a Manhattan street. They’re hopelessly drawn to each other and fall in love, but they still have to cope with society’s unreasonable disapproval of their own life choices. I tried to get it published via the traditional route, but it was rejected 336 times (337 if you count the telephone rejection). After hearing agents decide they couldn’t sell A Song Apart, I hooked up with CreateSpace (Amazon’s print-on-demand service) to offer the book to the people who really wanted to read it–the public. 

A lot of authors are finding Amazon to be a viable option in publishing.

Who is your favorite character in the book and why? 

Kevin Derow, the protagonist. At 19 years old he has the chutzpah to stand up for himself and make no excuses for who he is. I wish I’d done the same thing at his age. 

Good thing we can always live vicariously through our characters! So, have you always wanted to be a writer? 

Something always nagged at me to become a writer since I was so good at it, but I never thought it was practical. I actually hoped to major in accounting in college, but after several years I realized I didn’t know how to crunch numbers the way they should be crunched. I detoured into journalism for a year, but my heart wasn’t in it and my imagination was too hyperactive to be a reporter.

Most writers I talk to have always wanted to write, but I figured out my love for it later on too. I guess it doesn't matter when we figure it out, just that we do! 

Okay, movies or books? Which do you prefer? 

No preference, as long as they both tell a good story. 

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I sing and play guitar, as well as compose old school R&B-style songs with software. When summer rolls around, I visit the karaoke stage on the Coney Island boardwalk to sing for the public. I’m also a sports fan; I root for the Mets, Knicks and the Dallas Cowboys. 

Sounds like music is an important part of your life. I'm not big on sports, though I do follow football. The Cowboys are the team for a lot of my family members, but I root for the Miami Dolphins...too bad we missed the playoffs this year!

What does the future hold for you? Are there any new projects in the works that you want to tell us about? 

I began writing a novel, a parody of Sidney Sheldon’s books, called Desperate People–and let’s face it, that’s all he ever wrote about. It’s set in 1979 New York City during the twilight of the disco era, in which a gorgeous club owner comes between an FBI agent and the head of an organized crime family. Researching it has been tough, especially where the Mafia is concerned, but I’m not giving up on it. Still, I heard another project calling to me, begging for revision–The Strickland File, which I wrote between 1997 and 2003. It’s about a college graduate coping with politics and adversity at his new job–and it’s based on experience. : / 

You certainly have lots to keep you busy. Good luck on both the researching and the revisions!

More about Jeffrey:

I was born January 21, 1969 in Brooklyn, NY. My dad was stationed in Fort Huachuca, AZ after his return from Vietnam, so I was an army brat without knowing it. 

My childhood was like a lot of others–difficult. I was advanced for my age, as everyone discovered when I read the Times Square message boards at age two– out loud, no less. My grandparents told me how surprised the pedestrians were; I was too engaged to notice, or else I'd pass the hat around. 

Unfortunately, the other kids weren't surprised. In fact, they were downright offended and often reminded me as much. The worst of it came in junior high school, when the entire grade hated my guts without knowing why. Looking back on it, I should've thanked those kids for giving me all that attention. 

I realized I could write when our seventh-grade English teacher asked us to write an essay about a famous woman. Since I loved listening to pop music, I wrote my essay about Roberta Flack, but I was out sick the day after handing it in. The next Monday a girl in my class complained “Gee, thanks, Jeff. We all really wanted to hear about Roberta Flack.” Apparently the teacher was so impressed with my essay, he read it to the class–and my classmates had yet another reason to consider me persona non grata. 

My so-called “bad reputation” followed me to high school. Suffice it to say I was never so relieved in my life than graduation day. 

I entered Baruch College in 1987 to study accounting, but after seven years I realized I didn’t know how to crunch numbers the way they should be crunched. I detoured into journalism for a year, but my heart wasn’t in it, so I took time off to sort out my career goals. At the same time I worked as a receivables manager for a Manhattan-based trade magazine. It was the worst job I ever had, as I coped with office politics and the nastiest, most manipulative boss I ever had. But the experience inspired THE STRICKLAND FILE, which I wrote between 1997 and 2003 and am revising at the moment. 

After Mill Hollow I worked at a list management company called Stevens-Knox & Associates for sixteen months. After losing that job I had trouble finding steady work for fourteen years. But in April 2002 I was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, which is high-functioning autism that affects social skills. It answered a lot of questions, particularly why I was socially inept as a child and couldn’t get jobs on my own. Now I work part-time for a security firm thanks to a supported-employment group called JobPath. 

In addition to writing fiction, I compose songs using software. I enjoy old school R&B as well as 70s pop. I also sing and play guitar, bass and drums. 

Want to connect with Jeffrey or find out where to buy his book?
Web site: www.jeffreyhbaer.com

E-mail: JBaer10314@aol.com

Twitter: @JBaer10314

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Song-Apart/179331238781454?created (book page, where I prefer to chat with readers)

CreateSpace link: https://www.createspace.com/3534466

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Song-Apart-Jeffrey-H-Baer/dp/1456492926/ref=tmm_pap_title_0 (readers can toggle between book and Kindle version)

Smashwords link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/59841 (e-book version for all other gadgets)

Barnes & Noble link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/song-apart-jeffrey-h-baer/1103168417?ean=9781456492922

Books-A-Million link: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Song-Apart/Jeffrey-H-Baer/9781456492922?id=5481851121924

Thanks so much for being here today, Jeffrey! Best of luck to you in all your future endeavors! 

And thanks to all my readers for stopping by and reading more about this book. Have a terrific weekend and happy reading!! 
eeeChantelfff

Deeper Meanings ~ Guest Post with Jade Kerrion and her Double Helix series!

Today, Author Jade Kerrion is here telling us about the meaning of her cover art and more about her award-winning Double Helix series.  

Deeper Meanings—Cover art from the Double Helix 

Today, I’d like to talk about the meaning behind the cover art of the award-winning Double Helix series. First, let me give you a bit of background for context. The Genetic Revolution has transformed our world, and humans live alongside clones, in vitros, and mutants. An uneasy peace exists between the politically powerful humans and the genetically superior human derivatives, but that peace shatters when Zara Itani, a human mercenary whose attitude exceeds her beauty, frees Galahad, the perfect, lab-created human being, from his laboratory prison. 

Danyael Sabre, an alpha empath, survived a traumatic childhood and now wants nothing more than to be left alone. Galahad’s escape, however, plunges Danyael’s life into a free fall when Danyael learns that his genetic code was used as Galahad’s physical template. 

What would you do if you came face-to-face with perfection, and it looked just like you? Danyael will spend the rest of his life struggling to find the answer to that question. Zara’s dilemma, though, is quite different. How do you choose between the pinnacle of human perfection and his equally compelling, though flawed, physical template? 

The first three books of the Double Helix series, Perfection Unleashed, Perfect Betrayal, and Perfect Weapon, trace the events around Galahad’s escape and its tumultuous aftermath for Danyael. 

The concept for the cover of Perfection Unleashed came from Michelangelo’s fresco, The Creation of Adam, where God reaches down to activate the spark of life in Adam. The hand in the cover of Perfection Unleashed comes directly from the fresco, but instead of connecting with a human, it touches a sparkling vial of DNA, the innocuous origins of Galahad, the perfect human being. 

I took a chance with the cover of Perfection Unleashed. Its religious origins may result in some readers drawing erroneous conclusions as to its contents. The topic of genetic engineering and its potential ability to alter human beings has religious implications, but the Double Helix series focuses instead on the societal and personal impact on people living through those tumultuous times. 

In Perfect Betrayal, the spotlight shifts to Danyael Sabre. Danyael, an alpha empath, is rare and coveted, and Galahad’s escape provides an impetus for powerful men and women to seize Danyael for their opposing ends. 

Perfect Betrayal is the flashiest cover in the Double Helix series thus far. It is even more abstract than Perfection Unleashed and features curved and concentric rows of dominos arranged in a yin-yang pattern. The yin-yang symbolizes the interdependence of seemingly contrary forces, and the cover emphasizes the duality of the forces at play; light, dark; male, female; fire, ice. Two hands—one male, the other female (representing the two contenders for Danyael’s empathic power)—are poised to push at the dominos from either end. The dominos will fall; the question is, will Danyael? 

Finally, in Perfect Weapon, the cover shifts from the abstract to the concrete. Weapons abound; first and most obviously, the sniper rifle and person behind the scope of the sniper rifle. Too large to miss are the inhuman forms of the genetically altered super soldiers clustered in front of the Capitol. The scope of the sniper rifle, however, is focused on a lone and seemingly harmless cripple, Danyael Sabre. 

Who is the perfect weapon; the remorseless mercenary Zara Itani whose finger tightens on the trigger; the super soldiers that are genetically bred for war, or Danyael Sabre, the alpha empath who can, with a touch, heal or kill? 

I had a great deal of fun designing the covers for the Double Helix series, and am eternally grateful to my cover artist, Jason Alexander, who put up with all my bad artistic advice with good grace, and more than compensated for the fact that I failed art in eighth grade. I hope you enjoyed this quick insight into the meaning behind the cover art, and that you’ll also enjoy reading the novels as much as I enjoyed writing them. 

Author Bio: 

Jade Kerrion unites cutting-edge science and bioethics with fast-paced action in her award-winning Double Helix series. Drawing rave reviews for its originality and vision, and described as “a breakout piece of science fiction,” Perfection Unleashed, and its sequels, Perfect Betrayal and Perfect Weapon, are available in print and e-book through Amazon and other major retailers. 

About the Double Helix series: 

His genetic code sourced from the best that humanity offers, Galahad embodies the pinnacle of perfection. When Zara Itani, a mercenary whose abrasive arrogance exceeds her beauty, frees him from his laboratory prison, she offers him the chance to claim everything that had ever been denied him, beginning with his humanity. 

Perfection cannot be unleashed without repercussions, and Galahad’s freedom shatters Danyael Sabre’s life.

An alpha empath, Danyael is rare and coveted, even among the alpha mutants who dominate the Genetic Revolution. He wields the power to heal or kill with a touch, but craves only privacy and solitude—both impossible dreams for the man who was used as Galahad’s physical template. 

Galahad and Danyael, two men, one face. One man seeks to embrace destiny, and the other to escape it.

The award-winning Double Helix series, consisting of Perfection Unleashed, Perfect Betrayal, and Perfect Weapon, will challenge your notions of perfection and humanity, and lead you in a celebration of courage and compassion. Science fiction, urban fantasy, and action-adventure readers will enjoy this thrilling roller-coaster ride as it twists and turns through a world transformed by the Genetic Revolution. 

Want to buy the books or connect with Jade? Here are all the links! 

Connect with Jade Kerrion: Blog / Facebook / Twitter 

Perfection Unleashed: Amazon / Amazon UK / Smashwords 

Perfect Betrayal: Amazon / Amazon UK / Smashwords 

Perfect Weapon: Amazon / Amazon UK / Smashwords

Thanks for being here, Jade! 

Happy reading, my friends! Have a terrific weekend!

eeeChantelfff

P.S. Don't forget my policy to read the samples before you buy! Everyone's tastes are different.