Indie News with Author J.C. Brown

A few moments with R.L. Seago

3/23/2014

R.L. (Robert) Seago is a Redding, Ca. native and has been employed as a Critical Care Coordinator II for Mercy Medical Center in Redding, CA since 1999.
His early education was received in Mannheim, Germany, where his father, an Army Helicopter Mechanic, was stationed. He and his family returned to the United States in 1973 where he then continued his education at Bass Elementary School, Nova High School and Central Valley High School. His interest in writing began at Nova, where he enrolled in a journalism course thinking it would be an easy A. He was to learn otherwise, and in his sophomore year at Central Valley High he earned the privilege of becoming the first underclassman to ever have his own column in the Falcons Cry newspaper, entitled “For Sophomores Only.” At the age of 18 Robert enlisted in the United States Navy where he received extensive medical training and served proudly as a Hospital Corpsman for almost five years, much of that time being served with the U.S. Marine Corps 1st Marine Air Wing in Okinawa as their “Doc”, in various capacities. He also served his final tour aboard the USS Peleliu LHA-5 out of Long Beach, where he received an honorable discharge from the Navy in 1985 and returned to his hometown of Redding. During his time in the military he traveled extensively, taking in the sights and sounds of different people, their customs and cultures in Japan, Okinawa, South Korea, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Peleliu Island, Pearl Harbor, as well as San Diego, Camp Pendleton, Long Beach and Great Lakes, Ill. These are some of the multitude of experiences he incorporates into his writing. In his off time Robert enjoys spending time with his wife Anna, their two Pembroke Welsh Corgis Bella Rose and Sophie Marie, reading, watching his beloved SF 49er's play, TV sitcoms and movies both at home and in the theatre. Robert recently compiled his first two works, The Chains that Bind and the exciting prequel The Link that Shines into a combined effort titled Locked in Time, upon the advice of a literary agent. It will soon be available on KindleDirect and in paperback. His latest project is titled Voices of the Passed, and he hopes to have this novel finished for publication in the summer of 2014.

Julie: Hello! Thank you for taking the time to chat with me. How long have you been writing and what inspired you to do it seriously ?

R.L. : I have been writing shorts and such since high school, started in journalism class in 9th grade for what I thought was an easy grade..haha. Found out otherwise but also found out I really liked writing. About 4 years ago I started writing about a part of my life I had obviously buried and when I did it got me going again, as well as my wife reading my first novella The Chains That Bind and encouraging me with how good it really was.

Julie: Well, thanks to your wife! Is she who inspired you to continue and actually publish?

R.L. : Absolutely. She is my inspiration, my muse, my sounding board for ideas. After we self published The Chains, one of it's readers told me that while they really enjoyed the book, they were pissed because I left no room for a sequel, something we had never thought of. We began talking that same night, and with some research and legwork on her part and my mind set, The Link That Shines was born.

Julie:How many books do you have published as of right now?

R.L. : Two..both self published and have done fairly well locally and through people I have met online.

Julie: So, if a reader asked you which of your books he or she should pick up, which would you recommend?

R.L. : Well if I had to choose one probably Link, because it lays the ground work for Chains. I have had a number of people tell me that the first chapter of Link really made them angry, and my question to them is simple...did you keep reading?...I have even had two of my co-workers punch me in the arm because of the first chapter..lol

Julie: Of all your characters in LINK,, which is your favorite and why?

R.L. : Wow..I guess my obvious answer would be Grant, because he always stays true to himself regardless of what happens or what life throws at him. He is grateful for the gifts he is given and ensures that each day he remembers how precious they are to him.

Julie: I believe you are a veteran and I expect that your coming release, Voices Of The Passed.. touches on fallen soldiers. Could you tell me a little more about it and how much of it pertains to you and your experiences in the military?

R.L. : Well your instincts are true. I am a Navy vet, 5 years and spent a fair amount of time with the Marine Corps as their corpsman, something I treasure to this day. Voices does have a military base to it of course, and does have to do with two men Caleb Armstrong and Ricky Martinez Caleb is injured and Rick is killed in an IED attack in Afghanistan and when Caleb returns to the states, he begins hearing voices, mainly Ricks. He also hears the voices of some of his ER patients who have passed asking him to help them move on. Meanwhile he is being watched by someone from his past who knows his darkest secrets. I spent a fair amount of time with patients who passed away, and lost a number of friends in conflicts over the years, and it always made me wonder if they had any unfinished business when it happened, so I thought Caleb was the right guy to tell this story.

Julie: How do you rate your experience in the indie publishing world? Have you found it difficult to promote and spread the word or has it been easy for you?

R.L. : Well it is always difficult because of the vast numbers of extremely talented writers out there, but then again competition makes us better. If it was easy then everyone could do it.

Julie: Do you agree that writers have to be salesmen in the Indie world?

R.L. : I agree definitely. We have to sell something that we believe in with all of our heart and souls, and trying to convince other people it is as good as we say is very difficult.

Julie: What type of advice do you have for new indie authors?

R.L. : Write, write and write. If you want 26 inch biceps, spend 8 hours a day in the gym. If you want to be a writer, write. One of my co-workers talked to me this past week about her 15 year old daughter who wants to be a writer and is working on a short story, and asked me for advice..me...I was flattered, and I simply told her to write, read it, and rewrite it until it is golden.

Julie: Sounds like your wife is an awesome support system! I may want to interview her at some point, lol.

R.L. : lol...She is an amazing woman and I am blessed to have her in my life.

Julie: Is there anything you would like to add or something you would like to touch on so I don't miss anything from you?

R.L. : Just that people need to follow their dreams and their hearts. I honestly wish I had sated back on my journey years ago, but hindsight is 20/20. Life will give you all of the material you need to be an amazing writer, you just have to figure out which piece goes where and into which story. All of my writings are based to a degree on life experiences, and I don't think that any imagination can match what life throws at us on a regular basis. Embrace it, because as I have told my wife many times the story will tell it self, I am simply the teller of the tale.

Thank you so much for your time! R.L. I look forward to the release of Voices of the Passed!

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Hanging with fellow zombie author Ian McClellan

3/19/2014

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Ian McClellan was born in a small harbor town in southwest Ireland. In an effort to be cliché his parents moved the family to New York when he was thirteen. Once a promising up-and-comer in the world of competitive eating, his career was cut short by an ACL injury. He now resides in Florida with his dogs and drives a truck for a living, but is hoping his writing career will earn him enough money to tell his boss where to stick it.

Julie: How long have you been writing and have you always focused on zombies or have you written other non zombie horrors in the past? If so what are the titles?

Ian: I liked to write horror and satire, but only started writing about zombies with my first book. I wrote a lot when I was young. I used to make up stories about my siblings that made them look really dumb. My mother always admonished me around them, but gave me a pat on the back in private. I continued writing through high school and wrote for my the high school paper for a little while, but didn't like how heavily they edited me. I got away from it for a little while after I dropped out, but started again a few years back when I was driving over the road. It was kind of therapeutic for me. Being alone with my thoughts for long periods isn't good for me.

Julie: Since were gonna talk zombies here,.. If a Zombie Apocalypse were to occur right now, name three readily available household items surrounding you that you could use as a weapon.

Ian: There's a snub-nosed .38 on the coffee table. That would be the most effective. Also, I have a mini fridge here in my office, so there are plenty of beer bottles. I have some weights in the other room that would be helpful. Might as well do something with them.

Julie: Can you give me a short description of your first zombie novel?

Ian: Zombie/Apocalypse 2012: A Political Horror Story tells the tale of a very average guy in the first week or so of the zombie apocalypse. His wife is a religious nut and conspiracy theorist, so she's getting all of this warped information from these crazy websites and radio shows and pretty much just driving him nuts. Besides his story, there are all of these cutaways to news stories and press conferences that are taking place showing America's press and political elite doing a good job of screwing up any potential chance of salvation that we have. Throughout the book, the main character is constantly running into all sorts of extremists from all walks of life and political affiliations. Eventually, he winds up in Atlanta at the C.D.C. which turns out to be a complete bureaucratic mess. It's a good read for anyone who just doesn't understand how the whole process got to be so screwed up.

Julie: Do you personally believe that a zombie apocalypse is possible?

Ian: Oh, yeah. They're doing some pretty crazy shit these days with pharmaceuticals and pollution. We're messing up the whole thing. Some kind of apocalypse is coming, might as well be zombies. Mad scientists playing with shit they shouldn't.

Julie: Are your zombie different than the typical zombie? And if so, what makes them different?

Ian: They are reborn a little differently. They come back to life and are a little awkward at first, as if they need to adjust to using their bodies. I also touch on a couple of things that I think are just part of the eventual reality of zombies. There is a little bit of a fly epidemic, and a scientist discusses the zombie metabolism.

Julie: Sounds interesting and I don't think I have read that particular content in other zombie stories.

Ian:Thanks. I'm sure it's out there somewhere else, though. There are a hell of a lot of zombie books.

Julie: Are you working on any other books at the moment? If so do you mind giving us a little glimpse?

Ian: Actually, I'm not. I've been ridiculously busy at work, and there has been a lot of preparation and promotion for One Undead Step in the last few weeks. Hopefully, people will start heading back up to Michigan soon and my hours will settle down a little. It's been 60+ a week for a couple of months. Also, I try to get in the occasional article over at Zombie Guide Magazine.

Julie: Tell me a little about the magazine.

Ian: Zombie Guide Magazine is your source for all thing zombie. We cover everything. There are weapon and survival tips, book and movie reviews, interviews, and even a science section. Frank Diepmaat, who started and runs the magazine, gave me a great compliment, calling my Destroying the Brain(stem) article in the science section his favorite piece on the site.

Julie: Where can we find this magazine?

Ian: http://www.zombie-guide.com/

Julie: Let's talk about your most recent novel. How long did it take for you to write One Undead Step and what sort of preparation did you do for the manuscript?

Ian: I'll tell you what kind of preparation I did for One Undead Step. One day I was on Facebook and someone had posted this crazy article from one of those looney sites about the moon landing being faked. The TV was on and there was a story about Sally Ride being laid to rest. For some reason, this idea just exploded in my head- What if the moon landing was faked to avert the zombie apocalypse? I just started writing. I didn't have any characters or plot and I didn't actually know what the correlation between faking the moon landing and averting the zombie apocalypse would be, but the whole thing came together pretty well, or I like to think it did.

Since the story takes place in 1969, there was a lot of research to do. I looked into guns, cars, military vehicles, footwear, neon signs, mafia hierarchy, and probably a few other things that I can't recall right now. I even had to find the Thursday night television listings for July of 1969.

Julie: Sounds like you've done plenty of research for this, it must have taken up of lot of your time. How does your family feel about your work ? Do they provide a great support system?

Ian: I do have a great, but small, support system, but no one there shares my last name.

Julie: If you write a book about your self, what would the title be and how would it end?

Ian: Man, I'm not that exciting. I would make a boring character in a very dull book. I don't know if anyone wants to read about an overworked and underpaid truck driver who comes home every day, feeds and walks his dogs, and then gets on the computer and writes zombie books and zombie articles. The start of my life was pretty interesting. Moving to America from Ireland, growing up surrounded by alcoholism and drug abuse, being kind of a nut when I was younger, stuff like that. Recent years have been a lot slower. I don't even go out to eat much.

Julie: Well Ian, I beg to differ! I have enjoyed this conversation and getting to know a little more about you. Thank you so much for joining me. :)

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Chatting with Joe Evener

3/9/2014

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I live in Delaware, Ohio with my wife of 31 years, Bronwen. We have two children, Joey and Jacob, and two grandchildren, Jacob and Jamison. I have been a track and field coach for 23 years, the last 20 as a head coach. I also spent 20 season as high school/middle school wrestling coach. This is my first year as a 5th grade Language Arts and Social Studies teacher. I earned my BA in education from The Ohio State University in 2009. I earned my MA from Mt. Vernon Nazarene in 2011.

Julie: How long have you been writing and what inspired you to begin?

Joe: I started writing when I was in 4th grade. My teacher, Mrs. Blair, gave the class a writing prompt. I wrote a story called "Super Joe" (I wasn't very creative). I then wrote a short story, a western, when I was in 10th grade. I wrote a screen play, a romantic comedy, about 20 years ago - a company just started to get interested before it went out of business. I started writing this novel in 2005. I was a freshman in college at Ohio State (a 41 year old freshman). And I got inspired by my freshman writing class, in which the textbooks were the 1st three Harry Potter books; and Classical Mythology. Those two classes combined with my love of movies like Lord of the Rings and Gladiator, and tv shows like Buffy, Angel and Highlander inspired me.

Julie:What is the title of your most recent release and how did you come up with the main characters?

Joe: The Heart of Seras: Journey to Seras it is book one of a 5 part fantasy series. It was released in November. I am working on book two, now. The main character, Julie Ayers, is a combination of Buffy Summers, Cordelia Chase, Valerie Bertinelli, things I didn't like about Harry Potter, and 20 years of coaching a high school girls' track and field team. My second main character, Marcus Campbell, is Angel, Duncan MacLeod, Giles, Aragorn, and Maximus (from Gladiator). I loved the idea of having a peaceful teacher who is hiding the fact that he is a demonic warrior from a student that he must convince to go to a different dimension with him, and begin training for battle. I also love the dynamic that Marcus's best fiend when growing up is his major enemy.

Julie: I look forward to reading this book, then! Do you do other things besides write, like editing or proof reading, those sort of services?

Joe: Thank you! After I write my rough draft, I do a major edit, then I rewrite, before doing a last edit and send it to my publisher. I have proof read for friends, but nothing professional. My "day time" job is being a 5th grade Social Studies/Language Arts teacher, and high school track and field coach.

Julie: Do your students know you write? Is so, What do they think about it?

Joe: They do! They love the idea. I have discussed some things with them, and a few have had their parents buy my book so they can read it. I told them I can't sell it to them without parent approval since there are a few bad words and medieval violence. It has helped me in a few lessons when we talk about author intent and such. The reviews have all been positive. I even wrote a short story for them with them as the main characters. I just wanted them to see the process. They got a kick out of that.

Julie: It's awesome that your students are so supportive, now I am sure you're an inspiration!
How do you manage to find the time to write and promote?

Joe:That is the trickiest part. Between making lesson plans, grading papers, doing track line ups, creating newspaper articles from meet results, and being a husband, father, and grandfather, I don't have a lot of time. I steal a few hours a night between 8-10, to do some writing on nights I don't have other things to do, normally 3-4 times a week. But I have found that I need to let life happen first, and then write. I have learned not to panic or get frustrated when I can't. It even helps my writing - like this weekend, I am on vacation in Tennessee, and I thought I would get a lot of free time to write, as it turns out, I have had 1 hour in three days, but the ideas I have flowing in my head are going to help in this story and possibly other ideas I have in mind. Promoting is even more time consuming. Trying to get my name out there is hard work.

Julie: Do you have any advice for indie authors, or something that you'd like to share?

Joe: Oh gosh, I am still learning the ropes, but I know you can't give up. I think it was Victor Kiam who said, "Even if you fall on your face, you are still moving forward." Even if you write a sentence, a paragraph, or just do some research, you are writing and you have to keep going. Another thing I have learned that helps me is to write the whole story first, then edit. I wasted so much time on my first book writing and rewriting each chapter. My second book is going so much better by just writing, and now I can edit the whole thing as it is written.

Those are certainly encouraging words, Joe and I wish you the best of luck! Thanks for chatting!

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Chatting with Tri Amutia

3/2/2014

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Tri first learned English when she was eight and already fell in love with writing since she was seven. She was born in Jakarta in the year of 1980 and spent her childhood there until the age of 12 before moved to Indramayu. After graduated from High School, she continued her education in Bandung and took Tourism Management majority at Bandung Tourism of Institute (Enhaii). Between her college schedules, she kept writing, mostly with her experience spent in Solo and Yogyakarta. And after graduated from Enhaii, she worked at a bookstore and that made her more familiar with books and publishing. After got married and had kids, she returned to Indramayu and started to do online jobs for freelance translating and made her own blog.
The year 2009 was the first time she published her work on the internet before finally getting published. Some of her friends encouraged her to publish her first romance novel and this novel is her first published work. She has some other manuscripts and getting work to publish it.

Julie: How are you today?

Tri: Feeling good. Just woke up. It's 5 am here. lol

Julie:I am sooo sorry! lol Do you need a bit to wake up?

Tri: Nah, I'm fine. I usually wake up in this hour.

Julie: Where exactly are you ?

Tri: Well, actually I'm in Indonesia

Julie : I would like to ask.. how old were you when you began writing seriously and what inspired you to do it?

Tri: I began writing when I was seven, but in my native language. It was because I have a lot of imagination and the best thing to pour it out is with writing. My genre is mostly fantasy and romance. I have a soft spot for both genres.

Julie: How many novels have you written since you began?

Tri: To Love Again is my first novel although I had written a lot of stories. Just got the courage to make it public in 2009 before getting one of it published.

Julie: I love the cover!and you picked the perfect release date! What inspired you to write to love again and how did you come up with your main characters? Are they modeled after yourself or someone you know?

Tri: Thank you. Well, the inspiration is from one of my aunts. She is a divorcee and there was one day when I walked past a flower shop near my home and the idea came up and the plot just flowed. Lily is the heroine, she's a strong woman and Aidan is the prince charming. Lily is the character who I pictured my aunt to be (and all the strong single parents out there) while Aidan is the knight in shining armor.

Julie: Were you excited when you finally finished the story and was able to publish or were you nervous?

Tri : Well, both..lol. I'm excited because being published is what every writer or author dreams about and nervous because I know I can't please everyone. There will be a bunch of people who hate or dislike my work. But, again I wrote all my stories with all my heart and I hope that will touch my readers' heart as well.

Julie:Yes, being an author requires a certain bit of passivity. There will be those who don't favor your work, but many more that do! As long as you are pleased with your work, you have accomplished something big! In saying that, know you have joined several author groups on Facebook, have you found them to be a great help, as I have?

Tri: I can say, yes. I've met a lot of writer/author peers and learn a lot from them, also gained information in self-publishing that I haven't known before. Hopefully, it will affect on my book sales too...lol *kidding*

Julie: Lol, no your not! I hope it helps too, but one of the things that I found that helps is constant promotion! Some of us don't have time for that! I saw that when I eased up on the promos, the sales slowed. Some books take off on their own after a bit, I wish that for your book.
Now, how did you discover that you could self publish?

Tri: Thank you, I hope so too. Well, at first I published To Love Again in printed version, but it is by local publisher. It's hard to sell for my international readers because of the shipping fee and one of them asked if I made an ebook version. That was when I realized I can publish an e book on my own.

Julie: I'll bet that was like a light bulb coming on over your head, lol. Its much easier to control your work and sales as well through indie publishing. So its safe to say that you've had a great experience so far?

Tri: Yup, definitely.

Julie: Is there any advice that you would like to give to others about your experience with Indy publishing?

Tri: Well, my advice is indie publishing is a hard work, but in the end you'll learn a lot in return. I already fell in love with indie publishing and will publish another e book next year, still in romance genre.

Julie: Be sure to notify me, I want to follow your progress if you don't mind. Thank you so much for chatting with me today. Especially so early in the morning for you!

Tri: Thank you for the interview as well. It's very nice to chat with you Lol...like I said, 5 am is already a clockwork for me haha...and have a great weekend!

This interview was conducted through FB chat.

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A Chat with Nicole McGehee

2/22/2014

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Nicole McGehee was born in South Carolina, but spent most of her adult life in the Washington, DC, area. She began her career in politics as a lobbyist and event planner for several medical non-profits. Later, she worked as a speech writer and legislative aide in the U.S. House of Representatives. From there, she went to work in the West Wing of the White House.

After leaving the White House, Nicole started her own publication on business and trade in Latin America and the Caribbean. She owned the journal for seven years, then sold it shortly after signing a two-book contract with publishers Little, Brown and Company (hard cover) and Warner Books (paperback). Her books have been translated into French, Spanish and German, and were also published in the United Kingdom and Canada. In addition, her writing has appeared in the Washington Post, the Denver Post, the Miami Herald, and Honeymoon magazine. Nicole is co-author of The Insiders' Guide to Washington, DC, 3rd edition.

In 1997, her first husband, Michael, died in a car accident. Devastated, Nicole sold their home in Virginia and moved to ski country in Colorado. Five years later, she met her second husband, David. They continue to live in Colorado.

Nicole has an Associate's degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and a BA from Georgetown University in Washington, DC.
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Julie: Hi, Nicole! How are you today?

Nicole: Never felt better or had less, lol.

Julie: So what genre do you write?

Nicole: Romance, but perhaps a little different than genre romance.

Julie: Yea? What makes it different from Genre Romance?

Nicole: Well, I was first published by Little, Brown in hard cover and they marketed it as women's commercial fiction. I'm not sure of the difference. I guess I'd say that genre romance is more a straight plot line with a clear foreknowledge of the happy ending, whereas I think I might address more real-life problems and issues with more twists and turns.

Julie: That's always good and more in line with what I would read. I am not much of a romance reader simply because the endings are so unrealistic.. they never get to what happens in the ever after, lol.

Nicole: Several of my reviews from romance readers have said, "this isn't my usual reading choice, but I loved it."

Julie: I plan to read your books, all it takes is the first paragraph to hook me. When did you first begin writing and what inspired you?

Nicole: I'm like you -- a 1st paragraph gal. I would say that the 1st para of REGRET NOT A MOMENT is typical "romance" beginning cuz my editor made me do it. You'll be hooked by Chapter 2, though. I've always written and, as early as junior high was told I should write for a living. My first book, which was never published, was inspired when I worked at the White House. I thought of a plot for a romantic thriller and now I think I'll rewrite it and try again.

Julie:What's the title of your most recent release, and can you tell me a little about it?

Nicole: NO MORE LONELY NIGHTS, which I released last year only on Kindle. It is based on the lives of my mother and grandmother, and is far more exotic, glamorous and adventurous than anything I could make up. But the ending is pure fiction.

Julie: You must have ESP because you've already answered my next question! Two birds with one stone! I was going to ask if the characters were based on anyone in your life, now we know. lol And that's a terrific title. I always find myself struggling with titles. What do you do for work besides writing? Do you have any other hobbies and if so, how in the world do you find the time to do it all?

Nicole : Nope, I've made my living writing for many years, luckily.

Julie: Awesome! That gives me hope! lol I have been a short order cook/server for 25 years I am tired of it. I haven't been writing long and not doing too bad!

Nicole: Good for you! I was going to say my main outside interest is dreaming up recipes, but you probably don't want to talk about cooking!

Julie: Lol...true. Thank god my husband likes to cook because I sure don't want to do it when I get home! So, how does your family feel about your work?

Nicole: My husband is excited and encouraging.

Julie: That's great! I wish I could get my husband excited about it! He's not much of a reader.. I did talk him into reading my first book and he actually loved it.

Nicole: There are so many people who dislike reading, which stuns me. I have an anxiety attack if I don't have a couple of books waiting TBR.

Julie: I know! I don't understand it, lol. What do you feel is the most rewarding aspect of writing and the least rewarding?

Nicole: The most rewarding is writing down something that's going to burst out of your head...then selling it. Least rewarding is NOT selling it, lol

Julie: I certainly agree with you there! lol. Speaking of, do you find it difficult to promote and market your books and what do you feel is the best route to go when just beginning?

Nicole: It's easier now with social media, but when books first were published by Little, Brown, you really had to work to get media attention. I do NOT do giveaways, and I've found paid on-line ads combined with discounts to be effective. Twitter doesn't sell my books, nor, in my experience, do blog tours. I guess blog tours can generate reviews, but a MUST is professional editing and cover art.

Julie: Do you find these groups on FB to be especially helpful? Is there one that you favor most?

Nicole: They're more helpful at driving traffic to my blog than actually selling books. http://blog.nicolemcgeheefiction.com

Julie:So what does your blog focus on?

Nicole: I write about relationships, family, travel, writing.

Julie: Oh, so I can find all kinds of goodies there!

Nicole: YES! Try LOVE BOOT CAMP: MAKE YOUR MAN ADORE YOU WITH TOUGH LOVE.

Julie: What kind of advice would you give to an aspiring author who is looking to try indie publishing?

Nicole: Make your book read and look indistinguishable from traditionally published, don't give it away. Do .99 cents instead.

Julie: What avenues do you usually use to promote, if you don't mind that I ask?

Nicole: I like Sweet Free Books, Kindle Tools and Tips.

Julie: How do you come up with your leading male characters? Do you base them on real life people as well?

Nicole: In NO MORE LONELY NIGHTS, the husbands had some characteristics of her actual husbands and her Brit love interest really did happen. REGRET NOT A MOMENT pretty much make-believe.

Julie: And would you say that the love scenes are steamy or not too detailed? Sorry, I had to ask and you don't have to answer if you don't want to, lol.

Nicole: Pretty explicit. In fact, got 5-star review from lady who loved story, but found sex scenes a bit too detailed.

Julie: There is never too much detail on those scenes! That just means she may have gotten a little hot and bothered! :P

Nicole: Haha.

Julie: Did you have a hard time finding the right cover for your books?

Nicole: Not really..lotsa good sites.

Julie: Off the top of your head, five of your favorite movies.

Nicole: Gone With the Wind, My Fair Lady, Chicago, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, When Harry Met Sally.

Julie: As much as I hate to end this, thank you so much for joining me today! It has been a pleasure!

Nicole: Thank you!
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This interview was conducted through FB chat. Thanks again to Nicole and I wish you great success! Visit Nicole's Blog here! http://blog.nicolemcgeheefiction.com
Nicole's novels are now available in e-format.

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A Conversation with Rene D. Schultz

2/15/2014

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My name is Rene D. Schultz and I live in a small community just north of Los Angeles, where I raised my two sons. I love to garden, try new recipes, take lots of pictures, and occasionally I enjoy a glass of wine with dear friends. I’ve never jumped out of a plane, climbed Mt. Everest, or seen the Northern Lights of Alaska. But, I have danced in the rain, sent a message in a bottle, and I’ve riden my motorcycle down Pacific Coast Highway on sunny California days! My passion of writing has lead me on the most amazing journey. Now, my focus is on fiction. I thrive on developing strong story lines that showcase today’s contemporary lifestyles. Rags to riches, Robinhood, and surviving the odds, seems to be my one common denominator that showcases my fascinating and diverse characters.

Julie: Hi, Rene! How are you today?

Rene: Great, thank you.

Julie: Rene,I know that you have two books and Done Deal is your latest release. How many books do you have published and do you have any in the works?

Rene: Six years ago I released my first book with a traditional publishing house ... Searching4MrRight.com and it was a success. But unfortunately the publisher went bankrupt and all I could get was my book rights back. It was such a fiasco that I just walked away from the publishing world. I continued to write novels and screenplays but just held on to them.

My son convinced me to self-publish and I did. Bishop Street was released in Sept 2013 and then came Done Deal in December. My new book, I don’t have a title for yet but it’s almost done and a very interesting storyline. It’s about a 29 year old young woman who learns the biggest lesson in her life--'beauty is only skin deep.'

Julie: That must've been really frustrating, to finally publish with a house and have them go under... especially when the book was a success! It seems self-publishing is certainly working for you, and now you’re working on your third self-published! How does it feel to have so much publishing freedom and control over your books?

Rene: It was awful with the publishing house I was with. They picked your cover, they had their own editors, I didn't have a say in anything. They made a lot of money from my book and I didn't get a thing. Publishing house are popping up all over sucking in these naive authors. It’s really a shame. I love being in control. I had my own covers made for Bishop Street and Done Deal... I found my own editing staff and it’s much different than my first experience.

Julie: Bishop Street and Done Deal have great covers, so well done! How did you go about finding your editing staff?

Rene: It was really hard. Everyone online thinks they can edit. But there are so many different styles that you have to commit yourself to what makes you happy. By that I mean there is always controversy about commas, ellipses, and quotation marks. Rules differ. I looked around. I had someone edit Bishop Street who did a very poor job and I learn that very quickly with the first reader who reviewed it. I have someone now I'm happy with.

Julie: So sometimes it takes a few tries to find the right one and congratulations on that. What advice would you give to other indie authors searching to publish traditionally? Is there something certain they should look for or do to out think they are better off staying independent?

Rene: Only the BIG publishing houses. There are lots of smaller ones and they are only out to make or take your royalties. YOU can do exactly what they do with your own books. There are plenty of tools online that will assist you in preparing for publishing. I personally thing traditional publishing will soon disappear along with the remaining book stores. Most are gone now. So what good is a publisher? They are supposed to publicize your books for you, but the smaller ones leave that entirely up to you. I thinks authors have an advantage nowadays. Although, it is hard to get your books out there to the readers and public...

Julie:Yes I find that task quite daunting myself! I see that you have mentioned that you are also a screenwriter, how is that working out for you? Do you gave any plays that we might recognize or have you taken it that far yet?

Rene: I don't write plays... I write for television/movies. I love to write screenplays because it is all dialogue and I love to give my characters a voice. In fact, my books have great reviews and reviewers think there is great depth in my characters. That's because I use a lot of dialogue... I am not a narrator. I let my characters tell the story! As far as screenplays, I have not sent any out as of yet. But they are very interesting stories with great characters.

Julie: Oh, well hell! I may have already seen some of your work then and did not know. Congratulations! That's big news Rene! I'd like to ask, out of the three novels that you have mentioned, which was the most fun for you to write, and which one most touched your heart to write?

Rene: All three have touched my heart. I like to write what I call 'reality fiction.' Stories about people who have gone through real life's experiences. Bishop Street is about four orphans who find each other after leaving the orphanage twenty years earlier. They all touched my heart. I bring them from birth, through the orphanage, and twenty years after living on their own. Where they've been and how they survived.
Done Deal is about a woman who finds out she has cancer and she's angry at the Insurance companies, pharmaceuticals and takes them down as her final act on earth. It's an amazing story about life, and living it to the fullest. Cissy is my hero.
My new one is about a young woman who is brilliant but not beautiful on the outside, but a sweet soul on the inside. Unfortunately, she lives in Beverly Hills and you are judged by your looks. That book has a twist no one will see coming... It's always hard for me to leave my characters when I’m done with the books. They each become a part of me. It’s different than writing fantasy, sci-fi, and thrillers. I write about everyday people... and their struggles.

Julie: I can understand that because I used myself, husband and others I know as models for my characters... though I write a different genre of fiction, I understand completely. I hurt myself plenty with the events that befell my characters...What first inspired you to write?

Rene: I used to be an avid reader when I was raising my two sons. At night I would slip away and go to places in books only my mind could see. When my sons were gone, my marriage fell apart, I felt at loose ends. My son works for David Kelley, 'The Practice' and I told him I had a great story line. My son handed me a legal notepad and a pen and said, 'write a novel.' That was Done Deal. Eight years ago I wrote what is happening right now in our society... A broken healthcare system and a lady who takes it down!

Julie: Seems you had a sense of the future!

Rene: I did... I was in healthcare for 26 years.

Julie: Wow twenty six years. My mother in law is a Director of Nursing and I am going to tell her about your book she'll love it.

Rene: She will love it... and know what I am talking about... orphan drugs that can save lives but the pharms won’t produce them because the Ins. companies won’t pay for them.

Julie: I want to touch base on finding an editor. What should an indie author look for when searching for the right editor for their book?

Rene: I personally want to find my team that I put together that does editing, book covers, and formatting. I look for someone I feel comfortable with. Someone who I can talk to and question without them becoming defensive. but sometimes I think the best ones are the ones who are self-taught. I'm self-taught. The young man who did my book covers is a University student in Art/Design. I love to give people a chance.

Julie: Do you have any advice or something special to say to those reading this interview?

Rene: I think there is great opportunity out there for the new generation of Indie authors. We can finally publish our books online and not sit and wait to see if a publishing house will pick us up. There are a lot of great authors out there and then there are some who take advantage of the arena. Write a good book, find your team of editors, cover makers, and formatters and produce it yourself. Be kind to others, and kindness comes back. Be helpful to other because you never know when you may need the help yourself... and finally, don't let an ego get in your way, it suits no purpose. I write a quote of the day on my Facebook page and it’s a special quote and I give my own spin on it... check it out.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rene-D-Schultz-Author/422599027852832

Julie: Rene, it is always a pleasure to speak with you! Thank you so much for your time!

This interview was conducted through Facebook Chat! Thank you, Rene!

Find Rene's books here!

New Releases

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Chatting with Lorrie Farrelly

2/8/2014

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A Navy brat and graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz, LORRIE FARRELLY is proud to be a Fightin' Banana Slug. Following graduate school at Northwestern University, she began a career in education that included teaching art to 4th graders, drama to 8th graders, and finally, math to high school students.
She's a three-time winner on "Jeopardy!" She has shepherded wide-eyed foreign exchange students along Hollywood Blvd, and has happily curried and shoveled as a ranch hand at Disneyland's Circle D Ranch. And always, she writes.
Lorrie has won a Presidential Commendation for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics. She's been a Renaissance nominee for Teacher of the Year and a finalist for the Orange Rose Award in romantic fiction. A number of her books are Readers’ Favorite 5-Star novels. She's never won the lottery, except where her family is concerned. For her, they're the ultimate prize.

Julie: Hi Lorrie! How are you today?

Lorrie: Very well, thanks! And you?

Julie: I'm doing great! I'd like to start by asking you, how long you have been writing and what inspired you to use indie publishing?

Lorrie: I've been writing as long as I can remember. As a little kid, I wrote little books for my dolls. I wasn't able to really give it my all, though, until about 5 years ago, when I stopped teaching full-time. For some time I worked with editors, but it was a very frustrating experience. One told me she didn't get what the Civil War had to do the West, and another asked if I could make a sociopathic character "nicer." (It's not that I don't appreciate helpful criticism, but that was too much. I made him meaner. LOL) Anyway, as indie publishing was gaining more notice and popularity, I realized I could take my career into my own hands. I've never regretted doing so.

Julie: Yes, there's certainly much more control over your work with indie publishing. You have a total of six books that I know of, are you working on something new that you might be able to share a little but about with us?

Lorrie: Right now I'm working on a couple of things. I'm writing a series of short stories . (One, TO MY JULIA, will have a sneak peek soon on Alison E. Bruce's VALENTINE SHORTS feature, and another, THE BEST CHRISTMAS, can be read at http://alisonebruce.blogspot.ca/2013/12/holiday-short-from-lorrie-farrelly.html). I'm also adapting my novel TIMELAPSE as a screenplay. I'm finding it tougher than writing a novel, but it's really fun!

Julie: I thought of trying to write Jillian as a screenplay but I have no idea on how to begin! Is it difficult to adapt a book to a screenplay?

Lorrie: I think it's more difficult than I expected it to be. Events have to be structured differently, and some things that work well in a novel (for example, what a character is thinking) have to be translated into action and dialogue – or thrown out altogether – in a screenplay. And because of the format, there's a completely different flow to the text. It's definitely a learning curve, but an exciting one.

Julie: Out of all of your novels, which one is your favorite or is there a certain one that you have a deeper emotional investment in? Or should I have said attachment?

Lorrie: I love all my stories, but the one closest to my heart is TERMS OF SURRENDER, the story of a young veteran of the Civil War who heads West after losing everything: his home, his family, his innocence, his purpose. All he has left is his honor and stubbornness, until the day he happens upon another life-and-death struggle: rancher Annie Devlin's war. The novel is about the healing power of love after the pain and chaos of war. The story came to me when I found some old family papers, among them an Oath of Allegiance and a parole pass signed by my Confederate great-grandfather. He was allowed to go home and "remain undisturbed" only if he swore never again to bear arms against the USA, and only if he obeyed all the new laws, including the emancipation of the slaves. I had so many questions: What would such a man feel? Humiliation, bitterness, relief, defeat? What if he had nothing and no one to go home to? And why would a good man decide to fight for a new country that had its foundation in terrible injustice? I wanted to know the answers, so I wrote them myself. (And just in case anyone's wondering, I'm not really a million years old. Late-in-life babies were apparently common in my father's family. My mother thought I was a symptom of menopause, and apparently our family Johnny Reb was a bit of a frisky old fellow, too, which accounts for him being only 3 generations removed from me.)

Julie: Lol. So let me ask... From the time you began writing The first of your novels, until you finished with your latest release, how long did it take?

Lorrie: I published TERMS OF SURRENDER in 2010, although I'd been tinkering with it for a while. Except for above-mentioned short stories, my latest release came out last Spring. It's the third novel in the series, and it's titled TERMS OF TEMPTATION. (I hadn't originally intended to write a trilogy – TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT is the middle book, although they're all stand-alones – but SURRENDER was well-received, and I fell in love with the family. My only issue was thinking up more titles that began with "Terms," but didn't sound like business contracts. The kids helpfully suggested "Terms of Germs" and "Terms of Worms," but so far, I haven't had to resort to using those.

Julie: So you're kicking them out! That's fantastic! LOL on the kids! Now, on another note... Do you find some of the Facebook groups you're involved with helpful?

Lorrie: Oh, absolutely! First of all, the community of Indie authors is amazing, and so generous and supportive. (You are a shining example!) I belong to a number of groups, such as Western Historical Romance Book Club, Women Writing the West, Book Review Depot, eNovel Authors at Work, and several others. I've learned so much from folks in these groups!

Julie: Thank you, Lorrie. I have met great people through them as well, certainly you're included! What type of advice would you offer to an aspiring author is is looking into indie publishing?

Lorrie: I think the most important thing any author can do is read, read, read! (And, of course, read well-written books.) That's how a person gets a feel for the flow and expression of written language. It's critical to present a professional product, because no matter how good a plot, no one has the patience to plow through incoherent writing. It's important not to leap to publish before being certain the book is polished and professionally presentable. (That's one of the forgiving perks of indie publishing, however. Books and covers can be easily revised, even after publication.)

Julie: What is your favorite time and place to write? Do you listen to music while you write or must you have complete silence?

Lorrie: If I needed complete silence, I'd be up a creek. I write at the kitchen table, and I'm very lucky to be a master tuner-outer. (My family says I should have a sign reading, "Huh?" hanging around my neck.) At home we have 3 dogs (one sleeping under my feet right now), 2 cats, my husband and me, 2 adult kids, and a 13-month-old grandbaby. BTW, "Henry Hugglemonster" is blasting away, even as we speak. LOL

Julie: Lol. My husband gets so mad at me when I zone out. I don't hear anything he says. Being an author myself, sometimes I am hard pressed to find a time to write that coincides with my mental readiness to take on the story. Is it difficult for you to find the time?

Lorrie: Too funny! I say, "Uh-huh," but actually have no idea what Hubby or the kids have said to me, either. But anyway, regarding time pressures and mental readiness to write, I know exactly what you mean. That can definitely be a problem for me, too. I'm trying to balance writing with doing the necessary marketing and promotion (which doesn't come very easily to me – a downside of managing one's own career.) It can be hard to switch from one frame of mind to the other.

Julie: It surely is.. my husband says I say yes to everything He told me that I said yes when he asked if I'd like him to stick his foot in my a** because I wasn't listening to him, lol. But on the other side of the coin... when they know we are writing, they should know to leave us alone because of the difficulties we have getting the time and readiness to enter the zone.

Lorrie: LOL! That's so true!

Julie: I know. I feel likes he's trying to sabotage me, lol. He only wants to bother me when I am doing something important. Ahh, the perks of being a writer! Is there any certain subject that you would like to touch on, Lorrie?

Lorrie: One thing I would like people to know is that all of my books have at least a touch, and sometimes much more, of the paranormal. Not vampires or werewolves, but rather such things as ESP, time-travel, angels, ghosts. I was a huge fan of "The Twilight Zone," and those stories made such an impression on me. They were written by such amazing writers: Rod Serling, Richard Matheson, Ray Bradbury, Earl Hamner, Jr., among others. The stories had elements of fantasy and the supernatural, but they were really about the human experience: how we live, how we treat one another, what we believe is important. That had such a strong influence on me.

Julie: Lorrie it has been such a pleasure and I truly thank you for your time... please stay in touch and message anytime!

Lorrie: I really appreciate it, Julie. Have a great evening!

Julie: You too , Lorrie!

WHAT READERS AND REVIEWERS ARE SAYING about Lorrie's novels:
"Filled with sweet emotion, but also heart wrenching hurt, TERMS OF SURRENDER by Lorrie Farrelly is exactly why I am such a fan of historical fiction!"

"TERMS OF SURRENDER is a heart-melting, pulse-racing, beautiful piece of literature."

"TIMELAPSE is a fast-paced story that keeps the pages turning until the very end. This is one of my favorite books of the year!"

"DANGEROUS is a beautiful romance, full of heart wrenching insecurity and doubt, but it is also a gripping thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat!"

"TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT is a powerful story. It incorporates love, danger, and excitement, with a soupcon of the paranormal.”

"Wow. What a great book! TERMS OF TEMPTATION has it all: coherent plot, clear setting, credible dialogue and slang (for 1903, Wyoming), textured primary and secondary characters, humor, pathos, villainy and murderous mayhem (but not too much), authentic adolescents, adorable baby wild animals, and a few profoundly moving scenes involving the family ghost, or guardian angel."

"Using a great descriptive style, Ms. Farrelly has written a wonderful story not only of danger and impending doom, but also a love story liberally sprinkled with humor. THE GUARDIAN'S ANGEL."

Lorrie always enjoys hearing from readers! Find her at:

http://www.amazon.com/Lorrie-Farrelly/e/B008P3LJ0O

https://www.facebook.com/LorrieFarrellyAuthor

https://sites.google.com/site/yourbestreads/

https://twitter.com/@lorriewrites

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4351229.Lorrie_Farrelly

Find Lorrie's Books in the New Releases Section!

New Releases!

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Chatting with Dawn Kopman Whidden

2/1/2014

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Dawn Kopman Whidden is a native New York author who grew up in the close-knit community of Little Neck Douglaston during the baby boomer era. She graduated from Queensboro Community college.
Twenty years ago, she traded in her days of living in the bustling city for a more serene and tranquil life on a small farm in the town of Bell, located in North Central Florida.
She is retired and shares her life and love with her husband of fourteen years and an adopted stray dog she named Casey. She has also been blessed with two beautiful grandchildren.

Julie: Love the pic, Dawn! Are those beautiful flowers in your back yard?

Dawn: Yes, the photo of me is in our back yard.

Julie: Those flowers are beautiful! Okay, are you ready to go?

Dawn: Yup, I’m an open book... ask me anything except my bra size.

Julie: Lol! I won’t ask you that, then. Dawn, I have interviewed you before. Has anything changed since that interview? Do you have any good news for us?

Dawn: I don't remember if my second novel was out yet or not… But I’m about finished with my third in the series. STOLEN. A CHILD IS TORN is the first book, FACELESS is the second.

Julie: So you have been very busy since that last interview! What inspired you to create the series?

Dawn: I fell in love with the characters in A CHILD IS TORN. I couldn't let them just disappear. I wanted to watch them grow.

Julie: That seems to happen to most of us… it's so hard to let go of a creation!

Dawn: Yes, they become family members.

Julie: Who is the main character in Faceless?

Dawn: In A CHILD IS TORN, Hope was the main character and it was written from her perspective. Jean Whitley, one of the detectives in A CHILD is the main character and FACELESS is written from her perspective.

Julie: Where does the story go from there, does Jean Whitley appear in STOLEN?

Dawn: Yes. Jean's partner Marty, who is also Hope's main squeeze is the main character in STOLEN… Jean and Hope are still there as well as a few others.

Julie: This sounds like something I need to read soon!

Dawn: I certainly Hope so. Although they are mysteries the books delve into some very unique and complicated relationships. Just like real life.

Julie: That's the great thing about fiction, you can use facts and real experiences to incorporate in your books. Are any of the characters based or modeled after you?

Dawn: I think that Hope is the most like me, although I am sure Jean and Marty and all the others are pieces of my own personality.

Julie: If you don’t mind, I’d like to ask how sales are doing for you. Are you having any problems with promotions and postings since Facebook has begun to curtail all of our efforts?

Dawn: My sales for A CHILD IS TORN have been steady and good. FACELESS, although it has gotten excellent reviews is coming up slowly but lagging behind. I haven't noticed FACEBOOK curtailing any of my postings . There are so many groups. I have started going to foreign sites though, googling translations of my synopsis and posting in their language.

Julie: That’s a great idea! I wonder if others have thought to do that as well. So, that's working for you?

Dawn: I don't know if it's working (the foreign posts). I do know that my sales have been increasing.

Julie: Do you have any other immediate goals besides the coming release of STOLEN?

Dawn: I have a friend who is taking my books to a family member who is involved in the movie industry. I'm not counting on anything but it would be nice.

Julie: I wish you all the best in that! It would be great to recognize the title! Good Luck to you!

Dawn: Thanks. Trying to market a book is like a good marriage. It takes a lot of work

Julie: Many Indie authors find it hard to promote and get things going. What's the best method for you?

Dawn: I just keep plugging it on my page and in groups. I have gotten to know some wonderful other authors and I promote theirs as often as I can and I have been lucky to have met some that reciprocate. Respecting other authors has been the one thing that has helped. They know when you are sincere.

Julie: That's true. I have met a few good people through a lot of the author groups I’ve found on Facebook. Occasionally you will run into a cut throat though, lol. Have you encountered any like that since you have been writing?

Dawn: I have been really lucky. I think I got one poor review on GOODREADS and that wasn't too bad. It was more about my publisher allowing errors to pass through. That has been my biggest problem. Typos.

Julie: Typos are certainly annoying, especially when you have someone else editing. Are they usually fixed right away after being discovered?

Dawn: Both my novels went through multitudes of revisions. Still, so many got through for the EBOOKS. We worked so much harder for the print copies.

Julie: Speaking of, how are the print copies doing? Are the sales for those larger or smaller than the e- books?

Dawn: FACELESS is doing much better in EBOOK. A CHILD IS TORN is pretty even. The cover of FACELESS leaves a lot to be desired. I never liked it , but I was talked into letting the publisher do it. A CHILD IS TORN has a great cover, but it makes the reader think it is a horror story. So that is a bit of a problem. I have had people tell me someone they knew wouldn't read it because of the cover.

Julie: Well, on the positive side, I would be compelled to read because of the cover. I am a horror fan though.

Dawn: Yes, it does invite those that like Horror and that is a very big genre now.

Julie: That it is! I think that just about any horror fan who picks it up is probably a bit of a mystery fan as well so, I don’t believe they’ll be disappointed. Is there anything you would like to add about the series?

Dawn: My three books will leave you with something to think about. A CHILD IS TORN is about the subject of NATURE VS NURTURE… who are we really and what makes us who we are. FACELESS subject touches on the very serious topic of bullying. STOLEN ,...well you'll just have to wait and see!

Julie: Do you have any parting advice for other authors??

Dawn: YES, Follow your dreams. The greatest thing of all is that if you never give up you may see them come true. Mine certainly have.

Julie: Thank you so much for chatting with me, Dawn! Have a great night!

This interview was conducted through Facebook chat. It is always a pleasure to chat with Dawn and today I have the pleasure of sharing our conversation with you!

Buy A Child Is Torn

Buy Faceless

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A few moments with R.L. Seago

Hanging with fellow zombie author Ian McClellan

Chatting with Joe Evener

Chatting with Tri Amutia

A Chat with Nicole McGehee

A Conversation with Rene D. Schultz

Chatting with Lorrie Farrelly

Chatting with Dawn Kopman Whidden

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