Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Interview with Peggy A. Wheeler

Interview for Peggy A. Wheeler







Can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about who you are?


I’m a native Californian, and live with my husband and six rescue dogs in a funky 1970s vintage Geodesic Dome, in a heavily forested mountain boondock town. No crime to speak of, but lots of bears and snow. We are near Donner Lake and Donner Pass, where we often go for a “bite.”

I am published under the names Peggy Wheeler and Peggy Dembicer. My non-fiction articles have appeared in COLORADO SERENITY, MOUNTAIN CONNECTION, and LLEWELLYN’S 2012 MAGICAL ALMANAC. My poetry appears in a number of small press magazines and women’s anthologies.

My B.A. in English Literature is from U.C.L.A.; my M.A. with a Creative Writing emphasis is from California State University at Northridge. While attending U.C.L.A., I was one of only twelve students (and the only undergraduate) chosen to study with Robert Pinsky, former Poet Laureate of the United States. I won first prize awards for two of my poems from an Evergreen Women’s Press nationwide poetry contest. My poetry received honorable mentions from the judges of a Los Angeles Poetry Festival and The Academy of American Poets. My poem Du Fu was nominated for a Rhysling award for Best Science Fiction Poem. I’ve led adult poetry and fiction writing critique groups and workshops in both Colorado and California., I am the former editor of the online literary magazine, STRAITJACKETS. ww.straitjacketsmagazine.com.

I am traditionally published only. My debut novel, THE RAVEN’S DAUGHTER, came out from Dragon Moon Press in Canada in February 2016, and was a finalist in THE GREAT NOVEL contest.  My agent, Melissa Carrigee, just scored a contract for another novel, THE SPLENDID AND EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF BEAUTIMUS POTAMUS: A FABLE FOR GROWNUPS. 



How many books have you written and what is your current book?

I’ve written four books.  One non-fiction.  Three novels.  I’m working on four concurrent novels. Two sequels, and one set during The Beat Generation era narrated by a ghost, another is about a Facebook catfish who also happens to be an alien from another planet. 



How does your writing process work?

I’m a pantser.  I don’t outline.  I don’t plot.  I get an idea, and dive in. I also don’t write on a schedule.  I may get up at 2 a.m. with an idea and writer twenty hours strait.  I may not write a word for two months. 


If someone asked you why they should read your books what would be your answer? What makes them so unique?

My goals is “to have fun writing what people have fun reading.”  My books are fun, they are fast, have quirky characters.  I don’t write high brow literary fiction.  I do write cross-genre, with a supernatural element current running beneath nearly all my stories. 


Do you have a favorite book that you wrote and if so why?

Hard to say.  I think my debut novel is one of my favorites.  THE RAVEN’S DAUGHTER is filled with Native American mysticism, and lore, and I love the protagonist, a foul-mouthed, humorlous, and tres-feisty woman who has poor control over what she says (she just blurts out what she wants to without thinking) who has a hard time accepting her true nature. She is also compassionate, and has a loving heart.   






Any favorite character?

Beautimus Potamus from THE SPLENDID AND EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF BEAUTIMUS POTAMUS.  She’s a middle-aged talking hippo with hot flashes, on a different planet who also happens to be a university professor and a writer.  She’s a believer in “The Goddess” and has a good heart but she’s seriously flawed. He has trust issues, and body image problems, is insecure, tends to jump to the wrong conclusions, and she has “man problems.” Her best friend is am an atheist praying mantis, Samuel S. Goodwings, a physicist, a womanizer, and does not believe in any of Beautimus’ goddess claptrap. The two often fight, but they love one another. I like Beautimus because I wrote a lot of me into her. 


Which one of your characters is most like you?

See above.  Beautimus! 

When did you know you wanted to become a writer?

I wrote my first book when I was six called MY LIFE. It was my memoirs, of course.  I wrote the book by hand, stapled it into a book (so I bound it myself), illustrated every story, and did the cover art. It was the ultimate self-published book. Hahaha I was so proud of that thing.  My teacher gave me a C- because my penmanship was poor, and said I had no ability to write.  I was crushed.

I’ve been writing non-fiction, first as technical writer after I graduated from U.C.L.A., and I was a poet for a good many years. My master thesis was a volume of poetry.  I’ve written a good many published non-fiction articles. I had my own column in a Colorado magazine for some years. I guess the answer is I don’t know when I wanted to become a writer, because I’ve always been a writer…in spite of what my first grade teacher said.  I didn’t start on my first serious novel, though, until 2011 at age 57. Therefore, I’m a relatively new novelist. 


What books inspired you?

No single books come to mind. There are many. Anything by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Pablo Neruda’s poetry, and Rumi, Douglas Adams’ work, The Hobbit trilogy, I’m a fan of Steven King and Amy Tan and Barbara Kingsolver and Margret Atwood, and I loved Chaucer when I was in undergrad school.  Many books inspired me, not just a few. 

Who inspired you?

That’s hard to say. I’ve a few mentors. One is my first agent, and good friend, Denise Dumars. We’ve been friends for over thirty-three years, and she’s always supported me.  Another is a 92-year old man, Ray Strait, who has written something like 32 celebrity bios and at age 92 is working to get his novel, BUGHOUSE BLUES published.  He was Jayne Mansfield’s assistant for ten years. He’s an amazing fellow, and he keeps telling me “Peggy, you’re going to be a Number One best selling author on the New York Time’s List. Mark my words.”  Now if THAT isn’t inspiration, I don’t know what is. 

How do you juggle writing, your family and personal life?

I’m very fortunate in that I’m “old” – my eldest granddaughter just turned 20. So, no kids at home.  My husband is basically retired, but works part time.  I get to spend my time writing.  I do have some normal house chores, and I’ve a writing group, and have other responsibilities, but I have the great privilege of getting to write as much as I want to or need to every day. That’s my job!  It wasn’t always that way. But, when we writers wants to put words on paper, we find a way….lunch hours, on the bus commuting to work, set the alarm super early and write before the kids wake up, stay up after everyone else is asleep, on weekends, whenever. I did that, sure. If you want to do a thing, you make it a priority, and you do it. No excuses. 


Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published? Even if self-published.

Where to start….almost 100 rejections before a publisher accepted it, then for reasons I won’t go into, after ten months, I had to pull the manuscript.  Then finally, the right publisher.  Took nearly five years from the time I finished the book to see it in print. Every time an agent or publisher rejected, if they were kind enough to tell me why, after I’d finished crying into my pillow, I sucked it up, went into the manuscript, and made changes.  I was with two critique groups. After every meeting, even if I felt brutalized, I went in and made changes.  I had beta readers.  After every one of their critiques, even if I disagreed, I went in and made changes.  I must have rewritten that book a dozen times, no kidding.  And, if when I’d finished it in 2012 I’d just self-pubbed it, the book that’s out now would not have been nearly as good as it is. Through the process, I cried often, and there were times I was tempted to throw in the towel.

How many hours a day do you dedicate for writing?

As many as it takes.  I don’t have a routine or schedule, and part of writing is researching, editing, marketing, promoting, rewriting, attending workshops, and leading or attending critique groups. Well, you know.  I spend every day on something related to writing, or actually putting words on paper, but no day of writing (or working on writing), is like the day before, or will be like the day after 


Do you have any unfilled dreams where your stories are concerned?

I have huge dreams as far as my stories and my writing career, but I keep my expectations realistic.  I would like to become a well-respected mid-list writer.  I have no desire to be “famous.”  I do want to be able to make enough steady money with my writing to pay back my husband who has been kind, and supportive every day, and who (even though retired from his corporate job) works outside the house and pays the bills so I can do what I love to do most. He absolutely believes in me, and did when I did could even believe in myself, and I won’t let him down. To be successful enough to pay him back -- that’s my big “dream” right there.      


Can you give us a little sample of your most recent book?

The one published? How about the one I just got a contract for? Here’s part of Chapter 1, of THE SPLENDID AND EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF BEAUTIMUS POTAMUS

Imagine an iridescent jade-green pearl in a star system of the far reaches beyond Arcturus covered in red sands, ancient acacias, and blossoms larger than an elephant’s ear. This planet is double the size of Earth with two suns, two moons, and one vast ocean filled with sea dragons, elder leviathans, and singing orcas. Imagine rivers populated by the wisest and most loquacious fish and water mammals, and lands inhabited by all manner of talking creatures, many now extinct on the blue planet Earth. Imagine…

 

Chapter One

 

            “Applecheeks! Agnes! Please fetch my oracle bag, and be quick about it.”  Beautimus Potamus had overslept. Between hot flashes that produce so much night sweat that twice already her household help had nearly drowned in it, and her persistent hormone-induced insomnia, a good night’s sleep was rare days. It was late in the morning for her daily oracle reading, and she’d yet to even bathe in the river, or eat her breakfast. As she rose from her pillows, her bones and joints snapped and popped, and when she stretched her legs, she groaned. 
The house squirrels scrambled atop the altar and pulled the gold brocade pouch onto the floor. Together, they tugged the draw-string bag over the straw to the hippo still reclining on her sleeping pillows. Agnes scampered to the cooking pot to make the morning tea, leaving Apple to attend to Beautimus.
“Thank you.” The hippo closed her eyes and raised her head in prayer. “Oh Great Goddess Genesis, thank you for blessing us with your presence.”  She opened her eyes, and nodded.
Applecheeks pulled a divining cloth from the bag and spread it on the floor of the abode using her paws to straighten the corners. Only when the silk cloth was neat, and the corners squared, did the squirrel put her paw into the bag to withdraw the first of three glyphs.
“Moonmagick,” Beautimus said. “Goddess energy strong at work today. Please pull the next.”
The squirrel withdrew the second of the stones, placing it to the right of the first.
“Dreamlizard. Ah, yes, my recurring visions. The Goddesses say I must pay attention to them.” Beautimus sighed. “It’s rare these two show up in that order in a reading. Apple, these two stones together are a message that I’m to be on the lookout for omens, signs, chance encounters, anything out of the ordinary. We are all going to have to take care to notice anything different. You and Agnes keep an eye peeled. Will you?” 
Applecheeks nodded.
 Beautimus took a cleansing breath. “Now. The outcome glyph.” 
When the last of the stones was in place, Beautimus froze. Her eyes widened, and she gasped. “Oh no. No. No. Please. Not again!” Her eyes rolled back into her head, and she sunk into her pillows.

***

            Visions. Beautimus had experienced them on and off since adolescence. But they were so infrequent, sometimes a decade would pass without one. Recently, they came at her in bunches, like fruitflies in a mating swarm. One right after another they came to her, and usually after a Glyph reading. For six days in a row, Beautimus’ mother, Sangrina, who’d long before passed into the arms of the Goddess, appeared to her. It was the same each time. Without warning or reason, Beautimus’ eyes rolled back, her lids closed, and she dropped to the ground aware of her impending unconsciousness, but as if in a state of paralysis, unable to do anything about it.  First, a resonate buzzing that seemed to originate from inside her head. Then the visions appeared and played out for her. They were like the classic films she streamed from Earth. Only these movies were projected on the inside of her eyelids, and she was the lead character.
 In them, Beautimus sat under a blooming yarron tree. She watched roan mares dancing with red dragonflies in a grassy meadow near the edge of an emerald cenote. A fog bank, the color of spun pink sugar, rose from the water and rolled onto the meadow. Sangrina stepped out of the fog. “Beautimus, it’s time.”
            “Time for what, Mom? Tell me.”
            “You’ll know soon enough.”
            Without so much as a wink or a nod, Sagrina faded into the aether. The fog cleared along with the horses and dragonflies, and Beautimus came around to consciousness, confused and groggy as a drunken coati. The visions stuck to her like a coquillet midge to a sorghum blossom, but try as she might, Beautimus couldn’t ferret out their meaning, or why they recurred. Then today for the first time in decades --- the reading, and the glyph, the one that never failed to predict a life-changing event.
             Beautimus activated her Crystal Interface and connected with her friend, Lizzy, a mastodon who she’d known since she was a bubbit.
            “Lizzy, during my reading this morning…White Light.”
             “Did it land in the outcome position after Moonmagick and Dreamlizard?”
            “Yes, exactly as it had when the janitor discovered Áine’s body.”
            “No kidding. What do you think is going to happen?”
            “I don’t have a bloody clue, but I’m nervous as a Phidippus spider. The last time I’d received that glyph in that order…who knows what may happen this time. The Anam Glyph, plus the repeated visions of my mother, it’s like….”
             “…Bea, you know the Goddess is speaking to you.”
             “And if only I had paid attention last time … I mean…I may have been able to prevent Áine’s murder.”  
             “You don’t know that. Maybe you could have. Maybe not. Don’t blame yourself. But, do pay attention this time.”
            “I feel so certain I would have been able to save Áine. I live with this every day of my life.”
             Many years before, Beautimus had experienced a series of similar visions, and one morning as the squirrels pulled her three daily Anam Glyphs, White Light surfaced in the outcome position of her layout as it had this morning. Back then, Beautimus found her recurring visions and the glyph reading curious, but dismissed their messages.
A few days afterwards, a janitor arrived at dawn as usual to Dr. Pimbly’s School of Goodly Educated Adults where Beautimus held the position of History Professor of Earthly Things. That morning, when making his rounds, he discovered the dead body of the beloved Wise Woman, the red fox, Lady Áine.
            The Wayflower Quacker printed verbatim what the janitor had told the reporters.
Death of a Wise Woman:  The Custodian’s Story
             That mornin’ was derned flat dark. No moons at all up in that sky. I fumbles arounds a bit until I founds me keys to The Commons so’s I could groom the grounds likes I always does.
As I was a rakin’ beneath a two-flowered acacia I stumbled on something that felt like a lumpy fur-covered sack of tubers. Holy Mother Genesis, what’s that? I asks meself. Then me paws slipped in sumpin’ wet throwing me clean off balance. Holy Mother! There waz her body right there on the ground under that tree. What I’d a-slipped in waz blood.
When the sunlight busted over The Commons wall, I seen her good. I run full speed out of The Commons. ‘Oh me Goddess, she’s dead, she’s dead,’ I hollers. The dead gal waz that pretty red fox, Áine, a Wise Woman, that one next in line fer the High Priestess of Wayflower. Her throat were ripped clean out, poor little thang. Horrible, I tells ya, the most horriblist thang I ever did saw.

            The news of Áine’s murder shocked the whole of Wayflower. The Dean, Sr. Henry, a distinguished grey mole, gave his statement to the reporter from The Quacker: “None of us can imagine what kind of fen-sucked evil gudgeon would kill dear Áine. She was a kind soul, one of our finest graduate students. She had a promising future, and we all knew her as the sweetest natured fox in the entire District. We are stunned by what is by far the worst tragedy in our institution’s history.” ….    
                 ----------------------------------------------------

Please list any websites, blogs, amazon or promotions you are having.



Oh, gosh….lots going on right now with promoting and marketing THE RAVEN’S DAUGHTER.  I have an old blog that I’m reviving, and a website that’s under construction.  You can check out www.Peggyawheeler.com 

I have an Amazon author page.

You can find me on Twitter at @Peggyawheeler.
I’m also on LinkedIn and Google+ and Ello, but I’m hardly ever on those sites.  Facebook networking keeps me busy as it is.  I do have a Facebook group for writers, editors, agents and publishers interested in traditional publishing.  It’s called “Literary Traditionalists.” 
Next month, I’m hosting two book launches for THE RAVEN’S DAUGHTER, and I’m combining those with fundraising for our local small town libraries in two counties. Every book I sell, I donate two dollars to the libraries.  We’ll have cake and champagne!   

Thank you very much for the interview, Brenda. 







Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Interview with Jim Proctor

                                                      Interview





Can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about who you are?

I have been an engineer and laboratory scientist for more than 35 years. My wife and I met in high school. We have four kids, all adults now. 


How many books have you written and what is your current book?

I have written four novels and numerous short stories. I initially published under a pen name. Later, I unpublished those books, rewrote one of them, and republished it under my real name. My latest book is called Search for the Phoenix. It is a science fiction adventure, and is the second book in the Phoenix series. Veronica Phoenix is the first book in the series.







How does your writing process work?

My writing process is pretty simple. I just write. Very little conscious thought goes into the process on the first draft. I have an imaginary theater company living in my head, and once I start them going, they ad-lib and run with it. I just follow them around and write down what they say and do. It is a little freaky, at times. I don't have specific times when I write, and I don't set any word count goals.



If someone asked you why they should read your books what would be your answer? What makes them so unique?

My stories are about people, their relationships, and the worlds in which they live. I am a very emotional person, and I try to make sure my characters have real emotions that readers can connect with.

I try to make my stories as believable as possible. When you write science fiction and fantasy, it is easy to simply make up a bunch of hokum to make the story work. I keep my stories as technically realistic as possible, falling back on my 35 years experience in science and engineering.



Do you have a favorite book that you wrote and if so why?

Wow, that's like asking which one of your children is your favorite. Well, I am personally most fond of The Last Steward, though I will admit it is not my finest work in terms of quality. At the time, I could not afford an editor, so it is a little rough around the edges (which is why that novel is priced at 99 cents). That said, the characters in The Last Steward are very dear to me. I read it almost a year after I published it, and suddenly realized that most of the main characters had significant connections to real people I have known. Some of the characters represent me at various stages of my life. I didn't recognize that when I was writing it. It came as a real surprise to me. I am in the process of revising The Last Steward which will be professionally edited and will replace the current edition.


Any favorite character?

Veronica in Veronica Phoenix is probably my favorite character. The space freighter, Phoenix, is run by an artificial intelligence. It has various personas it uses to interact with humans, and Veronica is one of those persona. In spite of being nothing more than software and calculated responses, her interactions with Carl, the main character, might make you forget she isn't real.


Which one of your characters is most like you?

Peter, the main character in my first novel (no longer in print) is probably most like me. I guess that was bound to happen.


When did you know you wanted to become a writer?

I think I wanted to write since my senior year of high school, but it wasn't until my kids were well on their way to growing up that I finally realized that I needed to write.


What books inspired you?

There have been many. John Steinbeck made me fall in love with reading, and I always wanted to be able to distill life down to the parts that really matter the way he did. J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings was a huge influence and inspiration. The many novels of Isaac Asimov taught me to write science fiction and how to fit my imagination into the structure of a believable universe. The works of Julie E. Czerneda inspired me to let my imagination soar. She is a master of world-building, and her background as a biologist can be seen in the marvelous alien lifeforms she creates. Douglas Adams and Sir Terry Pratchett taught me that it is okay to be silly.

Who inspired you?
Isaac Asimov inspired me to write. I've read all of his novels, and several of his short stories, and he set me on the path to writing science fiction.

How do you juggle writing, your family and personal life?

Most of the time I substitute writing for sleep. I work full-time, and I have family obligations. Most of my writing happens between about 11:00 PM and 3:00 AM.


Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published? Even if self-published.


The first (and biggest) challenge was that I didn't have a clue how I was going to get my first book published. I had this naive idea that I would write a book, mail it off to a publisher, and they would send me a contract and a big check along with a request for another book ASAP. I didn't know how to go about submitting to a publisher.
While working on the final draft of my first novel, I began researching publishing and discovered self-publishing.

 

How many hours a day do you dedicate for writing?

I don't dedicate blocks of time to writing. I write when I can and when I feel like writing. When the time is right, the words flow to the page freely.

Do you have any unfilled dreams where your stories are concerned?

None of my books has made me rich. Other than that, no. I turn my dreams into books.

Can you give us a little sample of your most recent book?

From Search for the Phoenix:
Nolan paused at the door, reluctant to do what he had come for. She was grieving and needed time to heal, but time was not something he could spare right now. He knocked lightly on the door. A moment passed without an answer, and he suddenly realized he’d been holding his breath. Allowing himself to breathe, he knocked again. As he waited, he convinced himself that he shouldn’t be here. There had to be another way, one that wouldn’t open her wounds again. She didn’t deserve this. Turning, he walked quietly but quickly toward the elevator.
He pressed the call button to go down and waited, watching the indicator as the elevator worked its way up from the lobby, stopping occasionally along the way. A chime pinged, and Nolan looked at the opening door. There she was. Megan was a bit taller than he was, with shoulder-length brown hair full of dense curls. Her brown eyes were bright and clear, unlike the bloodshot, tearful mess they were the last time he had seen her. She was wearing her Emergency Medical Technician uniform, and had a bright orange medical bag hung from her shoulder. Her cinnamon skin, what little was showing, was just as beautiful as he remembered.
“Nolan!” she said as she stepped out of the elevator. She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. “What a wonderful surprise to see you here.” The elevator door closed behind her. There was no way he could excuse himself and slip away.




Please list any websites, blogs, amazon or promotions you are having.




          Facebook: www.facebook.com/IndieAuthorJimProctor
          Twitter: twitter.com/AuthorJProctor
          Amazon: www.amazon.com/Jim-Proctor/e/B00IGKJQF6/








Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Interview with Donna Walo Clancy








Can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about who you are?

My name is Donna Walo Clancy.I have been divorced since 1999. I raised three children as a single mom. My kids and I live on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. We have a diva Papillion dog, Zumiez, who I absolutely adore. I write through the winter and work as the head cook and assistant manager of The Wellfleet Drive-In Snack Bar in the good weather. My children are my life and everything I do, I do for them.


How many books have you written and what is your current book?

I have written three books and one short story in a published anthology. My first book was The Baby Factory in 2013. Keep the Faith, Ellen McGuire, a Christmas story of a struggling mom was released in 2014. The Fountain of Frogs was released in 2015 in An Anthology of Modern Fairy Tales #2. My new release just out in February of this year is The Big Mistake Club, in the NA genre.





                          The Big Mistake is on sale for .99 until April 4th.








How does your writing process work?

I am a definite pantser. I do not outline or know how the book will end until I get there. I write as I go. I have a notebook for each idea that I have for a new story. Each notebook contains character names and details I have to remember while writing. No outlines! The first page of each notebook contains the general idea for the story. There is 28 notebooks sitting on my writing desk to date. My ideas come out of dreams, staring at an object, or seeing something happen in real life. I have a very vivid imagination.


If someone asked you why they should read your books what would be your answer? What makes them so unique?

In 2015, I won an award from Author Classified for The Most Realistic Writer of the year. I don’t write to fit in a box. I write my way. Realistic and simplistic. I want people to enjoy reading my books, not have to struggle reading them. I look at life and I write about life, the way it is, not through rose colored glasses. People can relate to my characters because they deal with real life issues.


Do you have a favorite book that you wrote and if so why?

I love my book Keep the Faith, Ellen McGuire. I faced many bleak Christmas’ when my children were growing up. As I wrote Ellen, I cried many times reliving the things that happened to myself and my family over the last 14 years.


Any favorite character?

Ellen McGuire is the kind of woman I tried to be as a single mom. I never met and married a rich man like she did, that was for the story.


Which one of your characters is most like you?

I am Ellen McGuie.

When did you know you wanted to become a writer?

I wrote stories from a very young age. My mother kept a book I had written in 3rd grade. It was called A Day in the Life of a Quarter. When I published my first book, The Baby Factory, she gave me that first book I had written back in 1968. She had saved it all these years because she knew I was going to be a writer. Stories come easy to me. I knew I was born to be a author.



What books inspired you?

I was an avid reader from the day I could hold a book. My biggest inspiration was Carolyn Keene. I loved Nancy Drew and spent all my birthday money and allowance on her books. I wanted to write because of the enjoyment of those books.

Who inspired you?

My biggest inspiration would be my mom. I wrote The Baby Factory and put it in a drawer for 4 years. I never thought I was good enough to write. She kept at me, badgering me until I took the book out of the drawer and published it. It wasn’t edited (now I know this has to be done). My mom had had a heart attack and I wanted her to see the book in print before something happened to her. I handed her the book and she cried. I have never looked back since.



How do you juggle writing, your family and personal life?

I am lucky. My summer job affords me time to write in between food rushes. What personal life?(unless you include Facebook). I do attend concerts with my girls. We have certain bands we follow up and down the East coast when they are perfoming here. Most of the time I write late at night when everyone else is in bed and it is quiet.


Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published? Even if self-published.

I have self-published all of my books except for the story in the anthology. I knew nothing when my first book came out. I didn’t know about editing, formatting, or anything else that goes with publishing a book. I have learned so much in the last 4 years. Someday, I will pull down The Baby Factory and rework it to make it a more polished story. The story is great, just not the editing. Everyone has to learn and start somewhere. Take classes, attend writer’s groups, and learn everything you can about the field of writing.

How many hours a day do you dedicate for writing?
It varies. Most days, I try to write at least 4 hours. Some days more, some days less.


Do you have any unfilled dreams where your stories are concerned?

I would like to have one of my books traditionally published. I would also like to see one of my books, in the future, made into a movie. I think that is what every writer dreams of. That is like the ultimate validation.


Can you give us a little sample of your most recent book? 

The Big Mistake Club




“Miss Cora said we could all go sleep over there if we wanted to. We told her we would be okay staying here,” said Charlie. “Did you lock the door behind us?”
            “The door is locked. The alarm is out because we have no power. I don’t think anyone with half a brain will be out in this storm. Present company excluded,” said Allie, laughing.
            “I think I will go to bed. I can thaw out and warm up under extra blankets. There is no way we’ll have school tomorrow. Early to bed and sleep in late. Yes, I could get used to this,” said Charlie.
            “There will be lots of shoveling to do. We should all go to bed,” suggested Rory.
            Everyone went to their rooms. Allie snuggled up in her purple comforter with George at her head. She listened to the howling of the storm outside. Sleet was pelting off George’s plastic bubble. As fierce as the storm was, it had a calming effect on Allie. She closed her eyes and was soon asleep.
            While everyone slept inside, a figure was outside, searching for the best way in. The storm of revenge, raging in his gut, equaled the fierceness of the storm around him. Under the cover of that external storm, a window at the back of the building was taped and then smashed. No alarm sounded to warn anyone of the intruder.
            Jorge was in. It was time for him to silence his ungrateful stepdaughter once and for all. He had been observing the whereabouts of everyone through the windows for the last couple of weeks and knew exactly where to go to find his target.
            He silently ascended the stairs. The door on the left side was unlocked. The girls never kept it locked because they felt safe in their building.
            How easy can they make this for me?
 Jorge entered the apartment. He walked down the hallway that led to the bedrooms. He stood outside Bernie’s door, listening for any noises to show that she was awake. Hearing nothing, he entered her room.
            A small flashlight, cupped in his hand, lit the room just enough so he could see where the bed was. He walked over and stood next to it.
            I think I need to have that sweet little body one more time.
            In one motion, Jorge jumped on the bed and placed his hand over Bernie’s mouth. She was jolted out of a sound sleep. The first thing she saw was a knife blade. Behind it, the face of her worst fears. She didn’t move.
            “You make a noise and I will slit your throat wide open. Understand?” said Jorge, leaning in close, whispering in her ear.
            Bernie nodded. The tears were already running down the side of her face. The weight of her stepfather straddling her was making it hard to breathe.
            “You have caused me more problems than the other forty-two people combined that I have killed. I am good at what I do, and I have never been caught. But, because of you and your friend, I have a warrant out for my arrest. Now, you will pay for what you have cost me.”


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Tuesday, March 15, 2016

A Thin Line By David Boiani

Interview







Can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about who you are?

Hi, my name is David Boiani, author of “A Thin Line”, father of a wonderful 16 year old young lady who is my life. I am very much a quiet, introverted person so it is ironic and amusing to hear the responses that I get from people that know me and have read my book. They are usually pretty shocked. Some of the content doesn’t fit my demeanor or persona. As of now, I am only a part time author, but I aspire to become a full time author one day.

How many books have you written and what is your
current book?

                                         “A Thin Line” is my first book.   

   



How does your writing process work?

Because I am a part time author, I have a very hectic writing process. I do not put structured time aside to write. Thoughts and ideas come to me and I quickly jot them down. It is like turning on a faucet. Once it starts to flow, it comes in steady streams. But, I also can go weeks without writing anything.

If someone asked you why they should read your books what would be your answer? What makes them so unique?

There are two things that I try to accomplish as a writer: Never bore the reader and force the reader to feel every emotion possible. I try to bring an intensity. I want to affect the reader, not only emotionally but intellectually as well. I strive to make the reader think about my book for days after he or she has finished it.
Do you have a favorite book that you wrote and if so
why?

“A Thin Line” is the only book that I have currently written, but I do have plans to start writing two more books this year. One is a sequel to “A Thin Line” and the other is a collection of short stories.

Any favorite character?

My favorite character from “A Thin Line” is Tamela Barnes. She is a very layered, complex character. I left many clues in the details of her narrative that could lead the reader to uncover the mysterious twist in the plot at the end of the book. Chapter 42, the chapter containing her interrogation by John, is a very important chapter and remains one of my favorites.

Which one of your characters is most like you?

John Corbin is 90% based on me. My thoughts, my beliefs, my fears and struggles. A few of the incidents and flashbacks about him that occur were actually real events that took place in my life.

When did you know you wanted to become a writer?

I have dreamt of writing fiction since I was a young boy. The thought of playing God in a universe that I create, without limits or boundaries, with endless possibilities, is intoxicating to me. Now that I have accomplished that dream, it is every bit as fulfilling as I imagined it would be.


What books inspired you?


“The Fountainhead” by Ayn Rand remains my favorite book. Some try to describe it as a novel with political themes, but I have always taken its message at its most primal meaning: The integrity of our friendships and work ethic should be unwavering and non-negotiable. Reading it is a soul cleansing experience to me.


Who inspired you?


I guess the politically correct answer would be my father, but that wouldn’t be honest or accurate. The fact is, I didn’t have a positive relationship with him until I was a man. At the expense of sounding arrogant, I will be totally honest here: I inspired myself. I am the most driven person that I have ever met. At a young age, I realized, although there will always be someone more intelligent, more talented, more gifted, the one attribute that I can control is how hard I work. EVERYONE can control that.
How do you juggle writing, your family and personal life?

As a part time writer with a full time day job, playing guitar in a band and parenting a wonderful 16 year old daughter, it is very challenging to set aside time for writing in a structured manner. Thoughts and ideas come to me and that evolves into a writing session. Many times they happen in the middle of the night.

Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published? Even if self-published.


I literally just picked up a pen two years ago and decided to write my book.I knew nothing of the business at the time. I have educated myself through the process but I still have so much to learn. I think the publishing of my next bookwill be a much smoother process.

How many hours a day do you dedicate for writing?

None. My writing isn’t structured at all. It comes in spurts. When those waves of creativity hit me it usually turns into a frantic writing session.


Do you have any unfilled dreams where your stories are concerned?

I write in the hope that people will enjoy it. That they will want more after they read that final page. Knowing that I can entertain people, make them feel alive when they read my work, that is the only dream that I have.


Can you give us a little sample of your most recent book?

"You know what drives me nuts, Red? When people say everything happens for a reason. I mean, what does that even signify? God is up there pulling strings? Creating our destinies? Or is it just symbolic? If you wait long enough and twist enough data you can discover a silver lining in anything. Why did this happen? What is the reason? There is no and never will be a silver lining from this. Nothing. Nothing good could ever come of this. Do you know the real reason people say that? To make themselves feel better. To give their lives a feeling of stability, of structure. To make themselves feel like they have some sense of control in an abstract, chaotic world. It is a way for them to accept grievous, unfortunate things that happen while thinking there is a reason, a plan in place, that will benefit them in the end, but you know what Red…… There is no plan. Our destinies are a combination of our decisions, timing and stupid luck. It's chaos Red. That is what this world is made of and sometimes that chaos kills innocent, good people. Chaos. It is just there, floating around waiting to pounce on someone, good or bad, life or death. A thin line separates it all."



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