Interviews – The Spine View

Interview with author Clyde Lawrence

ME: What energizes you to write?

I think of writing kind of like solving a series of puzzles. To come up with an engaging plot that entertains readers is one of the larger puzzles that I approach as I write. However, the small details are puzzles in and of themselves. To be an effective writer, one must craft sentences and paragraphs in ways that are congruent with all of the story elements and one must continually find unique and interesting ways of expressing ideas. Repetitively using the same descriptive words, for instance, becomes boring and monotonous for readers, so one must continually find new and interesting ways to describe the people, places, and things that are written about. When I go back and read the last few paragraphs I’ve written, I almost always find opportunities to make changes that will more predictably engage my readers. Once I know that I’ve finally “gotten it right”, I enjoy a great feeling of satisfaction. That’s what makes writing fun for me and inspires me to forge ahead.

ME:  Are you currently working on a new novel? If so, can you tell me a little bit about it?

I am working on a follow-up story to Fatal Flaws. The main character, Mark, finds himself terrorized by a mysterious individual who seems to know about his most carefully hidden secrets. He must discover the identity of his persecutor, who is framing him for several serious crimes, and find a way to clear his name.

ME:  Do you have a favorite genre/topic that you like to write about?

So far, I’ve focused on the thriller genre. I do enjoy finding ways to incorporate humor into my otherwise-dark stories. As a physician, I also like to incorporate medical subplots, which seem to have great pop-culture appeal, in my novels.

ME:  Where did you get the idea for Fatal Flaws?

I’ve considered the ideas around what I would be compelled to do if I found out that someone was hurting one of my kids. I truly believe that a lot of fathers tell themselves that they would do whatever it would take, including committing a definitive act of violence, to protect their children. This led me to the initial conflict in the book. Starting there, I became intrigued by the idea that, if violent measures were employed to deal with such a problem, the eventual consequences may be difficult to predict and could be life-shattering.

ME: As a practicing physician I am sure you are very busy. How do you find the time to write?

Honestly, it’s tough. I try to write a little every day, but rarely have more than an hour or two to devote to my writing. I have made a habit, over the last 2+ years, to get up at least an hour early every day so that I’ll at least have that time to work. My first grandchild was born last July, and I love to spend time with him, so time to write has become that much more difficult to find.

ME: Where do you feel the most creative?

I have a home office where I do almost all of my writing. However, I often spend a lot of time throughout the day thinking about my stories. Some of my biggest “breakthrough” ideas have come to me while I’m driving or taking a shower.

ME: Do you keep a journal or notebook were you write down ideas

I sometimes feel like I have a great idea when I’m lying in bed waiting to fall asleep or while I’m doing some type of mundane task and I’ll record a few sentences in the “Notes” app on my phone. Other times, I’ll scribble an idea down on a sticky note or scrap of paper and put it on my desk. Sometimes it turns out to be a “pearl” and I keep it. Other times, I look at it once, decide it’s garbage, and toss it.

ME: Do you have any advice for someone that is just starting out?

Only try to write a novel if writing is, for you, a form of expressive art. It is impossible, otherwise, to devote the time and effort into a project that may take many months (or even years) to complete. If there is no true compulsion to create something that can make a worthwhile impression on a reader, find another way to express yourself. Also, you must realize that even the most gifted authors may never be “discovered” by the public, so don’t think that, just because you’ve created something that you feel good about, it’ll ever end up in the hands of others who can appreciate it. Writing is tough, but marketing your writing is exponentially more difficult (and expensive).

ME: Did you always know you were going to be a writer at some point in your life?

I really did always feel like I would get around to writing at least one novel. I wasn’t certain that I’d be good at it, but about half-way through Fatal Flaws, I started to really impress myself and I started to feel like I had the right to call myself a “writer”.

ME: What is the hardest thing for you when writing?

I demand of myself that every character I create is believable and every conflict/resolution is authentic. I feel like authors who create hyperbolic (strongest, smartest, sexiest, most humorous) characters and/or supernatural plot resolutions are, often, being lazy. It’s much more difficult to create plausible, yet interesting and/or exciting, characters and scenarios. I hold myself to a very high standard in this regard and this makes writing very difficult at times.

ME:  Is there any person or author that inspired you to write?

I really like Nelson Demille. He creates great lead characters; however, he falls into the “hyperbole trap” (as I call it) over and over. His characters are superhumanly smart/clever, funny, good-looking, strong/sexy, etc., but he does make them interesting. I’ve tried to show, in Fatal Flaws, that most men are just boys who may or may not ever mature. I hope that my readers see the flaws in the characters as much as they appreciate the strengths. That, in my opinion, is real. To create characters with critical flaws that a reader still identifies with and finds sympathetic is the goal that I think authors should try their hardest to achieve.

About the author:

Clyde Lawrence is a doctor specializing in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He lives with his family in the Pacific Northwest. He has always had a love for learning and writing. After 20 of working as an doctor, he is finally pursuing a life long dream of being an author. His debut novel Fatal Flaws is now available on Amazon.

Interview with Rich Green

ME: What did you find hardest about this book?

We worked on this book over the span of 3+ years. As an illustrator, my skills grew tremendously with each new piece we added to the project. In the end, I illustrated over 60 scenes. It was sometimes hard to keep myself from going back into a previously finished piece to make a small adjustment or change based on some new technical skill I had picked up along the way.

ME: What emotion are you trying to evoke in the reader?

Without question we want to bring a sense of joy and delight to the reader. Many of the classic fairy tales have some darker themes in them, but we wanted to keep the focus on telling positive stories that made each one of the featured children shine.

ME: What is the most memorable thing about creating this book?

For me it would be imagining the looks on the kids’ (and their families’) faces when they saw the final illustrated scenes featuring them as the main characters. Many of them were posing for their photos in their classroom or in a home and had no idea what we were about to do to transport them into these fantasy worlds and situations. Knowing that it would make each one of them feel like a star is my favorite memory about the process.

ME: Can you explain how your writing/creative process effected the final product in a book like this?

Since this book is based on fairy tales, folk tales and nursery rhymes, the process always began with research. First, I reread stories that I have heard my entire life, but I went back looking for other details and storytelling elements that could be worked into the illustrations. I took all kinds of notes, so that once the illustration was completed, I could then work on a draft for its accompanying Chicago Pretender newspaper-style article that would fit with the clever twists we added to tell our versions. It was that combination of figuring out what details to show in the images and what details to include in the written story that made them work so well together.

ME: Did you identify with any one part of this book over others? Why?

Larry Broutman did all of the photography, so I did not meet any of the children featured in the illustrations I was creating until the book launch celebration, with one exception. My niece, MacKenzie, and nephew, Decklyn, are featured in the circus-themed illustration. Their favorite movie at the time was The Greatest Showman, so I transformed them into the trapeze artist and the ringmaster. I loved being able to include them in this project. They were so excited to show it off to their teachers and friends.

ME: What was the most rewarding thing about this project?

There are two things I found the most rewarding about working on this project. The first is how this book celebrates access and inclusion for all children, regardless of gender, race or ability. It not only shows the children featured in the book that anything is possible, it subtly shows readers of the book that all children are capable of great things. The other rewarding aspect for me personally was getting to work with coauthor and photographer Larry Broutman. This is the fourth book in a series of books Larry has published. It has been such an incredible experience getting to work with Larry. Through this process, I have come to consider him a great friend. His kindness, his philanthropy and his friendship have impacted my life in ways he will never know.

ME: If an author/illustrator asked you for advice on a project like this, what would you tell them?

Do it! This project has given back to everyone involved in so many ways. The author proceeds from the book are being donated to The Chicago Lighthouse and Access Living. The children featured have been part of radio, tv, newspaper and magazine articles. The families have been touched by how special this made their children feel. It is spreading a message of access and inclusion for all. It shines a positive light on the city of Chicago and reminds everyone that Chicago’s greatest treasure is its children.

ME: Do you have any plans to do other similar projects?

Larry has plans for all kinds of future book projects, some of which he is already hard at work on. I myself am working on some ideas I have for my own children’s book pitches.

Rich Green is the illustrator and co-author of newly released Chicago Treasure. Rich created the Chicago Treasure Lighthouse sculpture that was displayed during the summer of 2018 on Michigan Avenue as part of Lighthouses on The Mag Mile and now permanently resides at The Chicago Lighthouse. Rich also illustrated the A Girl With A Pink Cape series, A Boy With A Cape, and Niko & Kate. He graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a BA in Computer Graphics and Animation and interned with Disney. Rich is the Chicago-Area Illustrators Network Representative for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and an Executive Board Member of The Artist Guild of Lockport. His artwork can be found in regional galleries.

Interview with author Leah Moyes

ME: What was your inspiration for the main character?

A mixture of all the strong women in my life. My mother, my daughters and my sisters. There is a little bit of Ella in each of them and vice versa.

ME: What was the hardest part of writing this book?

I try to be a positive person and writing about something as dark as the Cold War and the Berlin Wall was difficult at times. Especially when I included some of the victims and their histories, yet even then there was an element of pride that surfaced knowing I was doing my small part to keep their story alive.

ME: How many books in the series?

3 books. The third and final book will be released on Nov 9^th 2019, the 30^th anniversary of the Fall of the Wall.

ME: What emotion are you hoping to evoke in your reader?

Empathy and love. As Americans we tend to assume others live like we do with the freedom to say or do what we want. It’s important for us to recognize not everyone has had that.

ME: What do you think is the most memorable thing about the main character?

Her determination and loyalty. When Ella sets her mind to something, she persists despite the risks, but it was her decision to stay with her father right from the beginning full well knowing he could die soon that makes you fall in love with her.

ME: Why did you choose to write in your particular genre?

I have a background in archaeology and history and love intertwining fictional characters with real life events. Last year I spent a month on an archaeological dig on an island off the coast of Spain and after visiting a monastery, came home with 100 pages written on a new book. Too many stories to tell!

ME: What was the hardest part of writing this book?

The reality of darkness. As I researched the stranglehold the government and the Stasi had on the broken people of East Berlin, it was difficult to imagine living in such distrust and fear.

ME: Are you more concerned with what the reader wants or are you writing something that interests you? Do you have to comprise between to the two or do you find an equilibrium?

I couldn’t write if it didn’t interest me. Although I am amazed at the minds and imagination of fantasy or sci fi authors, I don’t think that way. Historical facts are very important to me. The German words, foods and culture are checked by friends from Germany, and the books truly didn’t come to life until I stood on the street Ella lived or next to the fairy tale fountain and the statues, but I also recognize the need for books to have a balance. Your readers are your life blood, there are certain directions you have to consider in that regard.

ME: Did you identify strongly with the main character of your book? Why?

Several years ago, I awoke from a dream, scrambling to place the location when it came to me that it was the Berlin Wall. From that dream, I knew my main character had to be strong to withstand so many struggles. Ella represents everything I believe a young woman in post war Germany had to be to survive the evil that hovered for decades. Although I am not a stranger to heartache or pain, it is different from hers.

ME: What is the most rewarding thing about writing for you?

Is when people who didn’t know much about the wall and its division before they read my book, then once they finish, they are driven to know more. Any time I can stir interest in something I am passionate about, I consider that quite successful.

ME: Can you summarize your writing process?

I am a night writer! Many times, I am up until 1 or 2 am hashing out one chapter at a time. Writing a series is different than writing a stand alone though, especially one that spans 28 years. You have to outline beginning to end to make sure your story and characters remain consistent.

ME: Do you have any advice for someone just starting out?

Believe in your work, it’s your baby! Think about all the amazing books out there that we wouldn’t have if that writer never pursued their dream!

Leah Moyes is the author of the Berlin Butterfly series, she is from San Tan Valley, Arizona, but experienced many parts of the world in thanks to a career in the airlines, now most of her time, aside from writing is spent as a high school teacher, soccer coach, and mom.

Her favorite subjects to read and write are historical fiction novels or time travel. Favorite Author is Michelle Moran. “I love her writing style and detail in regards to ancient civilizations”.

The best part about being an author is the opportunity to share a world of your own creation with people from so many different backgrounds, history, lifestyles, beliefs, and cultures and still make a remarkable connection.

Leah Moyes’s books can be found on Amazon.

Interview with author John Anthony Miller

Mr. Miller’s latest book Honour The Dead was published 1-Nov-2018

ME: What was the inspiration for Honour the Dead?

Although Honour the Dead is a mystery, when I decided to write it I also wanted to portray the utter devastation that the First World War brought to civilization. I wanted to show how the war impacted survivors for the remainder of their lives, muted, perhaps, as the years passed, but never absent. And I also wanted the contrast of setting an insane asylum against the backdrop of a beautiful location – Lake Como, Italy.

ME: Where any of the characters inspired by real people or events?

No, the characters and events in the book are all fictional. However, for those interested, a wonderful source for personal WWI and WWII stories and letters is the BBC website. I sometimes go there for ideas about people or places.

ME: This is you first murder mystery. Did you find it more or less challenging to write? Why?

I found the murder mystery much more challenging than my prior four books – all historical thrillers set during the Second World War. I researched Agatha Christie’s techniques while writing this to learn how to introduce real clues and red herrings in the different threads of the plots and subplots to keep the reader engaged. In the end, I actually ended up fooling myself, since a different killer was featured in earlier drafts of the book.

ME: Do you find you have developed writing quirks?

Yes, I have an unusual approach to writing. Some authors are very disciplined and create a detailed outline from which they never stray while the book is written and revised. I am very sloppy and haphazard. I write a first draft of 125 – 150 pages, that for me, is a race to capture the plot, leaving notes for myself like DESCRIBE or DIALOGUE. I then do many revisions after, continually improving the characters and settings, with the book totaling 350 – 400 pages when finished. Throughout the revisions, I capture thoughts or ideas for improvements on index cards, which are neatly stacked on my desk.

ME: What are the best resources for researching a historical setting?

I like to use non-fiction books written specifically for the time period. I find that most internet information is very surface level and doesn’t provide the detail that most readers demand.

ME: What is special to you about historical fiction setting?

I love to write historical fiction because it’s like bringing back to life an age that’s long been forgotten. I try to provide enough detail and description so my readers can imagine being in a given location and time along with the characters in the book.

ME: Do you find it hard to make yourself sit down to write every day/week?

No, I normally race to the computer and rarely miss a day. But I do have characters or scenes that I dislike and, when I get to a certain passage that I know I’ll struggle with, I tend to delay it. I read the news online or email friends, wander through Facebook or Twitter. But eventually I get back to work.

ME: Do you design your own book covers? How important do you feel a cover design is?

No, my publisher designs the covers. Sometimes they do more than one, and submit them for my approval, or sometimes they ask if I have anything specific in mind before they start. But all the cover designers I’ve worked with have been very talented people. I do think the cover is extremely important because, in book stores, it’s what first attracts a reader’s attention.

ME: How do you come up with the names for your characters?

When I’m doing the initial research for the book, and I’ve determined in what time period it’ll take place, I search on the internet for the most popular baby names in the country and year that the book takes place. For example, Honour the Dead has six main characters – all British – and it takes place in 1921. So I research the most popular male names, female names and surnames in the U.K at that time. I fill the left-hand side of a notebook with girls names I like, the center with boys names, the right with surnames. Then I match them up.

ME: Do you prefer audiobooks, physical books, or e-books? Why?

I prefer physical books – I just love the feel and smell of the book, the ability to easily leaf through it, the title on the header. I do have an e-reader, but not too much is on it, and I do have a few audio books, but they get far less attention.

John Anthony Miller was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to a father of English ancestry and a second-generation Italian mother. Motivated by a life-long love of travel and history, his novels are normally set in exotic locations during eras of global conflict. Characters must cope and combat, overcoming their own weaknesses as well as the external influences spawned by tumultuous times. He’s the author of the historical thrillers, To Parts Unknown, In Satan’s Shadow, and When Darkness Comes. He lives in southern New Jersey with his family.

Interview with author John A. Heldt

ME: Do you ever have writers block? If so, how do you overcome it?

Heldt: I get writer’s block all the time — and when I do, I go for a walk. I have found that when I go for long walks, particularly in peaceful or scenic places, I am usually able to come up with new ideas or resolve issues very quickly.

ME: What motivates you to write?

Heldt: Without a doubt, it is the desire to tell stories. I’m like a lot of authors that way. When I get a story in my head, I want to write it down and share it as soon as possible.

ME: All your books about time travel. Is there a reason why?

Heldt: I like writing about fish out of water or — more to the point — present-day protagonists who find themselves stuck in the 1900s or even the 1800s. My last eleven books flowed directly from The Mine, a novel about a curious college senior who entered a Montana mine in May 2000 and emerged from that mine, minutes later, in May 1941. I like writing stories about men and women who carry modern knowledge and experience into the past and try to make their way in the world of their grandparents or great-grandparents.

ME: Where did you get the idea for River Rising (Carson Chronicles #1)?

Heldt: When I considered the possibilities for a new time-travel series last year, I quickly decided that I wanted to begin that series in the 1880s. I wanted to send five siblings, all young adults, to the nineteenth century and then follow their lives through the twentieth. When I read about the 1880s, I learned that the Johnstown flood of May 31, 1889, was one of the definitive events of the Gilded Age: a tragic tale that revealed the hubris, arrogance, bravery, and compassion of the time. So I built a book — and a series — around that horrific disaster. The flood and its aftermath created many possibilities.

ME: Of the books you have written, do you have a personal favorite?

Heldt: If I had to pick one, right now, it would be my latest novel. The Memory Tree contains all of the elements I like best about the earlier books. It is also my most complete work, combining history, romance, drama, humor, suspense, and adventure. Other favorites include River Rising, for the same reasons, and Hannah’s Moon, a book based on personal experience. I can also tell you that Class of ’59, a (mostly) young adult book, was the most fun to write and that The Mine is the novel I would probably enjoy most on a rainy day.

ME: Is there any one of your characters that represent you or that you strongly identify with?

Heldt: I identify most with Joel Smith, Cameron Coelho, and Adam Carson, the protagonists of The Mine, Indiana Belle, and River Rising, respectively. Each is a creative problem-solver who appreciates the simpler ways of the past. Natalie Carson of the Carson Chronicles series, Candice Bell of Indiana Belle, and Virginia Gillette Jorgenson of The Mine and The Mirror are my favorite female characters. All three are strong, independent women who blaze trails as journalists in a male-dominated profession. Each has a great sense of humor.

ME: Do you keep a notebook or journal with ideas?

Heldt: Yes. I maintain a Word document on my laptop. I jot down ideas in the file whenever they come to me, even for books I may not write for years.

ME: Is there a place you like to write that makes you feel the most creative?

Heldt: I like to write wherever I can find peace and quiet. I find it impossible to work in places where there are distractions. Sometimes home is the best place. Other times, libraries are.

ME: What do you find most challenging about writing?

Heldt: I have always found it challenging to describe eras I’ve never seen. It’s one thing to draw from your own memory and experiences. It’s another to write about people, places, and events from an earlier time. That’s why I do a considerable amount of research before I write a single word. I have to compensate for gaps in my knowledge.

ME: Is there currently one story idea that is nagging you to be written?

Heldt: Though I am currently working on the third novel in the Carson Chronicles series, I am looking forward to writing the fifth and final book. Like The Journey and Hannah’s Moon, the novel, set at a summer camp in Maine in 1983, will be based on personal experiences.

ME: Do you have any advice for someone just starting out?

Heldt: Yes. Do your homework before you start. Talk to other authors and learn from them. Then, if you decide to take the plunge, go all out. Give your book the consideration it deserves. Read it, reread it, and revise it until you want to run away from your computer. Enlist the help of competent editors, beta readers, and illustrators. Be patient. Set reasonable goals. Take marketing seriously. It’s one thing to write a book. It’s another to sell it in a market where several hundred thousand new titles are released each year. Do what you can to stand out in a crowd.

John A. Heldt is the author of the critically acclaimed Northwest Passage, American Journey, and Carson Chronicles series. The former reference librarian and award-winning sportswriter has loved getting subjects and verbs to agree since writing book reports on baseball heroes in grade school. A graduate of the University of Oregon and the University of Iowa, Heldt is an avid fisherman, sports fan, home brewer, and reader of thrillers and historical fiction.

His latest book The Memory Tree (Carson Chronicles #2) was published April 30th 2018.

JOHN A. HELDT AUTHOR LINKS

Blog: http://johnheldt.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnaheldt

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/John-A.-Heldt/e/B007A23EQS

Interview with M. K. Clark

I love discovering new, or new to me, authors. I get especially excited about indie authors. I am always amazed at some of the great stories these authors write and publish. Therefore, after I read Pursuing Dreams by M. K. Clark, I knew this was the next author I wanted to interview.

ME: What motivates you to write?

Clark: I’m probably going to go against the grain here and say nothing really motivates me to write. I think, right now, it’s more that I’ve started to go down a certain road, and I refuse to quit. I’m going to keep going and I’m going to be successful, because that’s what I decided to do. Apart from that, I just really enjoy writing. It’s why I have a tech writing day job. I just really love to write. Sometimes it’s a lot of work and I have to talk myself into it, but it’s worth it in the long run.

ME: Why did you choose to write a Sci-Fi novel?

Clark: I didn’t intentionally sit down to write a sci-fi novel when I got started with The Young Soldier Series. Back then, I didn’t even consider myself to be a sci-fi person –hindsight being what it is, I totally was– I just had a story I wanted to write and it happened to be sci-fi. I’m much more intentional about my work now.

ME: Do you think it is harder for a female writer of Sci-Fi to get recognized?

Clark: This is a hard question to answer. I think it’s much easier now than, say, ten years ago. It’s like the science and tech industries, the female population is growing and becoming more respected. So I’d like to think that no, it isn’t harder, but on some level, I also accept there is still probably a cultural bias. It’s why I publish under the name MK Clark. It sounds more androgynous than my actual name.

In this same vein, I think there are other challenges to being a female sci-fi author that aren’t as actively discussed as the struggle of being recognized.

I get a surprising amount of comments from other authors and reviewers wondering why I don’t focus more on women in my book. There’s an assumption that, as a woman, I would want to or should want to write about strong female characters to provide the next generation with good role models. I find these comments to be odd. I don’t mind this idea. In some of my other works, the main character is a female character. In this case, that’s just not what this story is. The assumption that this story should have focused on a strong female character, because of my gender, sometimes makes me feel like I am being put in a creative box.

ME: What is the most rewarding thing about writing for you?

Clark: Hearing from people that enjoyed my work. I’m not talking about the “it was good” comment, but the ones where I get to hear what they loved specifically. Like, I wrote a short story and someone told me that the emotion captured in the opening letter was beautiful. I worked hard at making the emotion believable. To hear that I was successful in my goal, that is what makes my day.

ME: Are there any authors that have helped you along the way?

Recently, I’ve gotten a lot of support from the indie community, and that has been great. I’m also part of a close-knit group of writers, there’s about ten of us, and their help has been priceless.

ME: Is there a place you like to write that makes you feel the most creative?

Clark: About two cities ago, I had a writing room that was the best. I had a solar system that hung from the roof, papers and notes tagged on the wall, a huge whiteboard for scribbling things out… It was wonderful. That was where I felt most creative. I’ve not been able to recreate that, sadly.

ME: What are your long-term writing goals?

Clark: I’ve told my husband that my long-term goal is to be able to go from tech writing full-time to part-time so that I can write what I want the rest of the week. I really love my day job, so I don’t want to give it up entirely.

ME: Do you ever experience writer’s block? If so, how do you overcome it?

Clark: Of course! I think everyone does from time to time. I’ve found the best way for me to “get over it” is to work through it, so if I’m ever in a slump, I force myself to write one sentence at a time. Eventually, I’ll one sentence my way out of the block.

ME: Is there anything you can share about your next book?

Clark: The first book of The Young Soldier series introduces the idea that Don betrays the Council, but readers never really get more than a glimpse of why that is. In book two, readers will be able to really grasp what those reasons are. At the same time, book two plays with the concept of identity, reality, and perception. So, in the end, one of the questions that readers will have to answer is whether or not Don’s perception can be trusted.

ME: How many books are you planning on for the Young Solider series?

Clark: I’ve outlined three books in The Young Soldier series. These books complete Don’s character arch and story. I’ve played with the idea of doing one-off novels with some of the other characters that show up throughout the series. There are two that are floating around in my head, but, at the moment, there are three planned books.

ME: What do you think is the most memorable about the main character Don?

Clark: My husband would say it’s that he’s spoiled. Of course, he’s only read part 1 and Don is a bit spoiled in the beginning. I think what makes Don stand out for me as a memorable character is that he is flawed. He’s human, and he makes bad decisions sometimes and has to face the consequences.

ME: Do you identify strongly with the main character?

Clark: Not particularly. I think I probably identify more with one of the minor characters, Roberto. I’m much more practical about things.

ME: Do you have any advice for someone just starting out as an author?

Clark: It’s the age of the internet. There is so much information and so much advice out there that it can be overwhelming trying to figure out what to listen to and what to do. I think the biggest thing is that you have to understand who you are and what your personality is. You have to do what works for you. Also, a little bit of googling goes a long way. What writers in writing groups hate more than anything is when a new writer asks a simple question that a little bit of googling could answer.

ME: Is there any question you feel I should have asked?

Clark: I get a surprising amount of comments from female authors and reviewers that it’s surprising that I don’t focus more on women in my book. I think there’s an assumption that as a woman myself, I would want to or should want to write about strong female characters to provide role models for the next generation. I always find these comments to be a little odd. I don’t mind this idea. In some of my other works, the MC is a female character. That’s just not what this story is. This story is about Don, and he’s always been a guy.

About the Author:

MaryKate Clark is an author and tech writer based out of Austin Texas. She has produced multiple children’s plays for community theatre groups, published an undergraduate thesis, and received an Honor’s B.A. in English and Literature from the University of Texas at Arlington. MaryKate currently lives in Austin Texas with her husband and her two fur-babies and works full-time as a technical writer. She is currently working on the second book in the Young Soldiers Series.

Title: Pursuing Dreams
Author: M. K. Clark
Pub. date: 30-June-2017
Rating: 5 Stars

Friends and Enemies are made in war… But sometimes… it’s hard to make the distinction.

Don O’Hara was lucky. At least, that’s what everyone else said. Born the son of a General, with a guaranteed ticket to Commander’s School, Don had his future laid out for him. Only, he didn’t want that future. All he ever wanted was to be a Space Jumper. Lucky for him, he never lacked guts. Defying his father and sneaking off to Basic was an easy decision; a decision that forever changed the course his life would take, and not entirely the way he expected.

Pursuing Dreams is an action packed, Sci-Fi, Young Adult novel that takes the reader on a wild ride as Don fights for his dream and stumbles upon the truth about his family and the O’Hara Legacy. With his life turned upside down and unable to shake the feeling that he is being watched, Don does the only thing he can: he keeps moving forward not knowing that every step takes him closer to becoming the most hated man alive.

The Young Soldier: Pursuing Dreams: https://www.amazon.com/Pursuing-Dreams-Young-Soldier-Book-ebook/dp/B072516QKC

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35196348-pursuing-dreams

Website: http://mkclarkbooks.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MKClarkbooks/

Twitter: @mkclarkbooks

Interview with Gail Avery Halverson

I get excited when I encounter a new author, especially one whose book(s) have captivated me. These discoveries are one of the benefits of being a reviewer and blogger. After I read The Boundary Stone by Gail Avery Halverson, I knew she was the next author I wanted to interview. Lucky for me, she agreed to take time away from writing her next book to answer a few questions.

ME: What energizes you to write?

Halverson: I am energized to write when I find a great story idea, and have a clear picture of where that story will go – a solid sense of the beginning, the middle and the end. I tend to see the story as a movie, although honestly, sometimes I can only see one scene or several random scenes at a time. If I have patience to let the ideas marinate for a bit, it all starts to come together and the writing flows. Thinking about the world I’m creating while doing nearly anything else except writing sometimes brings about those exciting moments of inspiration when a plot puzzle or a character puzzle piece falls together. I write every day, and if I’m having trouble moving forward, it’s usually because I’m not seeing the story clearly enough. If that happens, I’ll relax into it and go back and edit what I’ve already written. Usually that process clears the weeds and I am energized to move forward again.

ME: Are you currently working on a novel? If so, can you tell me a little bit about it?

Halverson: I am! I’ve just begun the sequel to “The Boundary Stone,” which will be a continuation of the various stories from the first book. There were so many amazing scientific discoveries made in England during the latter half of the 17^th century, along with so many fascinating people who came together to examine their collective knowledge. They were really beginning to connect the dots in medicine, the arts and sciences, architecture and so many other disciplines. The sequel will be an intersection of the fictitious characters from book one, along with several of the actual people and events making history during that time.

ME: Do you have a favorite genre/topic that you like to write about?

Halverson: I am a big fan of historical fiction. I love reading and writing about the very real lives of the people who came before us. The way they lived, who they loved, their humor, their troubles, and their joys – it’s all fascinating to me. “The Boundary Stone,” is set in 17^th century England, but I’m equally intrigued by many other historical time periods. I’m not the biggest fan of stories about people who make terrible choices that really muck up their lives and the lives of people around them. What I really love are stories about good people leading quiet lives who are thrown into circumstances far beyond their control and the way they figure things out – making history in the process.

ME: The subtitle for The Boundary Stone is The Stockbridge Series Book 1. Do you have a plan for a set number of books in the series?

Halverson: There will absolutely be a second in the series, and possibly a third, as I can see this family (for various reasons) immigrating to the Colonies. However, after completing the second book, I may be ready to explore other subjects. We’ll have to see as the second one comes to an end.

ME: Where did you get the idea for The Boundary Stone?

Halverson: I am one of those people who will happily read anything; newspapers, medical journals, the Enquirer, books on nearly any subject and almost anything else that catches my interest. I don’t keep a journal, but every now and again, a story will bubble up in my memory over and over. That’s what happened when I read the story of Eyam, England (known as The Plague Village), and the self-sacrifice of the townspeople who voluntarily quarantined themselves within the village boundaries to keep the plague from spreading further into England. Although nearly 80% of the villagers died, I could not get the bravery of these people out of my mind – and that’s when I knew I had to write a story about it. About the same time that I read the Eyam story, I also read in a medical journal that a philosophical shift in medicine was beginning to take hold in the latter part of the 17^th century. Medicine was beginning to move from the idea of helping people die to trying to figure out how to save their lives. I began to wonder if a (handsome, of course :)) young doctor with this new philosophy had been in the village – would the outcome in Eyam have been different? Would more villagers have lived? That idea formed the basis of my story. Continue reading “Interview with Gail Avery Halverson”

An Interview With John Anthony Miller

During the summer I stumbled onto, a relatively new author, John Anthony Miller who has now written several historical thrillers set during WWII. At the time, I was in the process of rediscovering my love of this genre. Mr. Miller was gracious enough to send me a copy of his second novel In Satan’s Shadow. Needless to say, I was hooked.

After reading his third book When Darkness Comes, I had some questions that I wanted to ask. About that time I was starting this book blog and thought maybe others might be interested also. Mr. Miller was gracious enough to take the time away from his work on his fourth novel to answer a few questions. What follows is the result of those burning questions.

ME: Do you ever have writers block? If so, how do you overcome it?

MILLER: I don’t actually get writer’s block – more often it’s getting stuck on a scene or character where it isn’t turning out the way I want it to. I usually move on to something else, maybe research another aspect of the book or a completely different book, or I go for a walk. The distraction normally makes the solution come.

ME: What motivates you to write?

MILLER: I think the motivation for me is learning about the imaginary world I’m creating, which takes quite a bit of research. I love to learn.

ME: Are you more concerned with what the reader wants or are you writing something that interests you? Do you have to comprise between the two or do you find equilibrium?

MILLER: I think it’s a combination of both. I have to be very interested in the plot or story-line to do all the research it takes to create the story. But readers also have to enjoy what I write. I think readers would be surprised to learn that my agent and publisher also have a say in what I write. Now that my fourth books is about to be released, and the first three have done fairly well, they’re both more willing to give me the freedom to explore different topics.

ME: Are there any authors that have helped along the way?

MILLER: There are two authors who I admire and have helped with my writing. James A Michener taught me that the location of a book is just a much a character as the imaginary people that inhabit it. And Ken Follett taught me that it’s important to keep a story moving, that the story should twist or turn or change direction every five or six pages.

ME: You stated in the past you have lots of ideas. How many of the ideas do you think will make it into future books?

MILLER: I have about fifteen different ideas, many of which will become books. I don’t discard any of them, but if I start on a topic and I lose interest in the research, I usually pick something else and move the abandoned idea lower on the list.

ME: Do you keep a notebook or journal with ideas?

MILLER: I have a list of projects saved on my laptop, and I keep a notebook near my bed; sometimes I’ll scribble ideas in that. I am also addicted to index cards. I take a colored card – purple, or red or green – and put a book title or tentative title on it. And then any idea I get, or a correction I have to make to a work in progress, I write on a white index card and file it with the title card.

ME: Is there a place you like to write that makes you feel the most creative?

MILLER: I have a very strange writing style. I have a laptop in the living room, beside a pile of research books regarding the draft I’m writing. I initially write there, usually with the TV on, for the first draft. The first draft for me is a purge – I write a plot with little description or character development that is usually about 150 pages. Then I do a second revision, still in the living room, and work through the timeline and some others ideas, and end up with 200 pages. Then it’s time to get serious, and I go upstairs to my library where I have an old 1930’s desk and leather chair, and a different laptop, surrounded by books cases. There are no distractions from this point until the book is issued. I do the third revision and, when that’s complete, a few advanced readers go through it. Then I do a fourth revision, sometimes a fifth, continually polishing and enhancing. Then it’s off to my agent.

ME: Is there currently any one story idea that is nagging you to be written?

MILLER: Yes. I want to write a medieval story about a noble knight, a lady betrothed to another, and a witch, all in a castle under siege. I originally started a draft as my second novel, but my agent requested another WWII novel. I still have it on my list, maybe for next year, which would be my sixth book.

ME: Once you have a solid idea, how long does it take you do get to the final product?

MILLER: It usually takes me 6 – 9 months to complete the draft that I send to my agent (which is after 4 or 5 revisions). The draft is then sent to fact-checkers and advanced readers, after which I have to reconcile all the comments – either make changes or explain why changes are not required. That usually takes another 2-3 months. Then the book is sent to the publisher – usually a year after it’s written. The publisher then takes anywhere from 2- 6 months to issue it. There are normally different editing processes during that publishing timeline, as well as cover design.

ME: Does the writing or the editing take the longest? Why?

MILLER: My first revision – just the plotline – takes me 6 to 8 weeks. Each revision after takes a little longer because more detail and description is added. After the publisher has the book, it’s not uncommon for them to take three months for an edit – then return it to me with tracking comments to disposition – but only let me have ten days to address the issues or make corrections – sometimes less.

ME: Do you tend to identify strongly with the main characters of your books? Why?

MILLER: I think all main characters have a piece of me in them – whether I do it subconsciously or not, I’m not sure. But sometimes when I do the final edit – which is called the layout, a review of the actual book to make sure the printer got spacing, quotation marks, etc. correct – I will read the book objectively and see that there’s a little more of me in it than I originally thought.

ME: Do you have any advice for someone just starting out?

MILLER: Yes – I have two suggestions. First, try to write every day once you start a book– even if it’s fifteen or twenty minutes, or just scribbling ideas about a character in a notebook. I think the routine and consistency are important. Second, don’t let family and friends discourage you with negative comments. I’m sure they all mean well, but some people will not take your seriously until you show them a publishing contract.

ME: What literary award would you most like to receive?

MILLER: I would like to receive an achievement award for helping others through my literary success. My goal would be to help children battling diseases by providing financial assistance to them personally or for medical research. To some extent, I do this now, but I wish I could do it on a much larger scale and maybe serve as a role model for others to do the same.

ME: Have you written any short stories? If so, do you think you ever publish them?

MILLER: I have not written any short stories, but I have written many songs (I am also a musician) and poems. I just used a few poems in the draft I’m writing, which will be my fifth book – due for release next summer (my 4^th will be released in January)

Mr. Miller is currently hard at work on his fourth novel due out in late January 2017. He resides in Southern New Jersey with his family. You can find more information on him and purchase his books at Amazon.