Jul 9, 2024 | Editors' Blog, Crime, Interviews, Mystery, Sci-fi
Today, we’re talking with James Lance about his book,
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
I once woke up in a hospital in Spain. I had no idea how I got there.
Why do you write?
To entertain, to help give someone that necessary escape we all need at times. If I can inform and educate on top of that, that's even better.
Where did you get the inspiration for your current book?
All around me; everything I've read, heard people say, seen with my eyes. Many great authors, including Huxley and Pullman, helped along the way.
What do you enjoy the most about your genre?
It allows you to fully utilise your imagination as long as you follow the rules.
How would you describe your writing process?
Partly hyper-organised and strict, partly chaotic and mad. My sleep pattern agrees!
What do you think authors have to gain from participating in social media?
You can reach new fans and establish a following. You'll find people that like your style and the way you write.
What advice would you have for other writers?
Trite but true: never give up. This is a long game, and you improve every day. Keep going, keep writing. Find an author who inspires you, someone with experience. In my case: Anthony Horowitz, who once told me to be ‘persistent to the point of annoyance'.
How do you select your books’ titles and covers?
Both the title and cover have to quickly summarise the mood and feel that readers can expect—the story they're getting involved with before turning a single page. We've all seen a book title and cover before, and instinctively, thought: ‘I think this was made for me'.
What's your next step?
I haven't taken a holiday in over six years. It's time to recharge! After that, it's on to the second book.
What book do you wish you'd written?
The Great Gatsby.
How do you react to seeing a new review for your book?
I think: ‘Someone actually read me?'
FIND JAMES'S BOOK ON AMAZON
Jul 9, 2024 | Editors' Blog, Fantasy, Humour, Interviews
Today, we’re talking with Eviatar Avni about his book,
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
I am a pretty good cook.
Why do you write?
I was thinking about a variety of reasons (like making people laugh, expressing myself and my views, the feeling when someone tells you how much they enjoyed the book, etc.), but the main reason is far more basic: I genuinely enjoy it.
Where did you get the inspiration for your current book?
As a reader, I can't say I have a favorable genre, but I do love those rare books that make you laugh out loud, and I also enjoy the occasional fantasy. In my list of favorite books, you would find examples of both, such as LOTR, The Princess Bride, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and, of course, Winnie the Pooh.
I thought I'd try to write something that combines my love for humor and fantasy. Into the mix, I also threw my views about the world, current social issues, human absurdities, etc., and the result was this book.
What do you enjoy the most about your genre?
Well, to begin with, I can't say fantasy is my genre. However, having said that, what I enjoyed the most about it, in this case, was the freedom to go wild with my imagination. I felt there were no restraints on creating characters or weaving the plot. Another thing I enjoyed very much was inserting modern-day issues (such as women's rights, equality, new-age ideas, etc.) into a fantasy world.
How would you describe your writing process?
I'll start with something the late writer Amos Oz once said about writers. A writer, he said, is a person who wakes up in the morning, makes himself a cup of coffee, and starts imagining that he is other people.
Unfortunately, I can't do just that because I need to go to work after preparing the coffee. However, one thing I did take from that sentence is that writing is imagining, and therefore, it can happen at almost any time. It doesn't have to happen only when I clear time to sit and write. Just don't do it while driving; it might get you in trouble.
What do you think authors have to gain from participating in social media?
I guess mostly exposure, although, to be honest, I am no good when it comes to social media. So perhaps, I am not the one to give any advice on it.
What advice would you have for other writers?
To new writers I would say: Be patient. Writing is an ultra-marathon, not a sprint. Don't rush to try and publish a text before you feel that it is the best version you could write.
How do you select your books’ titles and covers?
I don't have a good tip in that respect. In my case, the names always came on their own and presented themselves while I was writing the book. It might have been at an early stage or towards the end of the process, but they always showed up. Maybe the secret is to be aware of the need to find a name and be tuned to it while writing. Then, things might pop up – a phrase you used, something a character said, etc.
What's your next step?
Writing a sequel to ‘Never Trust a Dragon'.
What book do you wish you'd written?
Catch 22
FIND EVIATAR ‘S BOOK ON AMAZON
Jul 9, 2024 | Editors' Blog, Crime, Interviews, Thriller
Today, we’re talking with Chris Fortunato about his book, Deadly Guests
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
I coach high school junior varsity girls soccer.
Why do you write?
I don't know why.
Where did you get the inspiration for your current book?
It is a story collection, so there are many inspirations, all from conflicts in my life.
What do you enjoy the most about your genre?
With the best stories, you always care about what is going to happen to the protagonist.
How would you describe your writing process?
Slow and laborious.
What advice would you have for other writers?
Nobody cares. Only you. Throw the TV out the window.
How do you select your books’ titles and covers?
The title should have some relationship to what the story is about. At least for me.
What's your next step?
Wake up at 3 a.m. and write.
What book do you wish you'd written?
The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearn, by Brian Moore.
How do you react to seeing a new review for your book?
If it is a good review, pleased.
FIND CHRIS' BOOK ON AMAZON
Jul 4, 2024 | Editors' Blog, Interviews, Mystery, Sci-fi
Today, we’re talking with Nathan Gregory about his book,
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
I make things up. That's what we writers do, make things up.
Why do you write?
After the crash of the 2000s I became depressed. As an outlet, self-therapy, I started writing. I never wrote for any audience but myself, and never had any intention of publishing. But a good friend persuaded me to put that first story, ‘Chromosome Quest,' on Amazon, and to my shock and surprise, it sold. It keeps selling, a steady trickle, but sales nonetheless, and spawned two sequels and a prequel. This new book is a sequel to the prequel. But old CQ outsells all the other books combined, to my constant amazement.
Where did you get the inspiration for your current book?
The current book flows naturally from the ones before it in the series. The series, the entire story arc, is deeply rooted in various mythologies around UFOs, extraterrestrial life, and ancient aliens. The story arc represents my original ideas about how Aliens might exist on Earth. I borrow equally from Erich Von Daniken and E.E. “Doc” Smith. I used so much of Smith's fictional world in ‘Chromosome Conspiracy' that I asked the author's estate, in the person of his grandson, for permission, which he kindly granted.
What do you enjoy the most about your genre?
As an engineer, one might assume my interest lies with the technological innovations and fantastical worlds depicted in sci-fi. There is truth in that, but I equally enjoy exploring the ways in which these speculative futures reflect and critique our present-day societal structures and norms. Science fiction serves as a lens through which complex issues such as power, identity, and morality can be explored in imaginative and thought-provoking ways.
How would you describe your writing process?
Three cups (at least) of strong coffee, NIFOC, and total silence. I usually start sometime between 3 AM and 4 AM, and stop when the coming day refuses to accept “go away.”
What advice would you have for other writers?
Illegitimi non carborundum. Scribe ut tibi ipsi placere primum. (Don't let the bastards grind you down. Write to please yourself first.)
How do you select your books’ titles and covers?
I consult the stars, deciphering their cryptic dance, for in their celestial choreography lies the truth of my decisions. If that doesn't work, I often find I must kill a chicken for the blood and entrails to use in an obscure little ritual that was handed down from my distant Scots-Irish ancestors.
What's your next step?
I think I may step back from fiction for a while. I have two non-fiction works I'd like to complete. But before I get to work on those, I want to take a road trip. A long road trip.
What book do you wish you'd written?
I won't say I exactly wish I had written it, but a book which I love, which I can deeply relate to due to having grown up in the “Bible Belt,” and which I feel is vastly underrated, is Heinlein's “JOB: A Comedy of Justice”
How do you react to seeing a new review for your book?
trepidation. fear. And sometimes, a sigh of blessed relief.
FIND NATHAN'S BOOK ON AMAZON
Jul 4, 2024 | Editors' Blog, Interviews, Romance
Today, we’re talking with Jamie Anderson about her book,
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
When I was young I wanted to be an actor and got a scholarship for the University of Regina Theatre program.
Why do you write?
I write to tell the stories that live inside my head like many authors do, but I also write to help me process things that are happening in my life now or have happened in the past.
Where did you get the inspiration for your current book?
So far, for both books I've written, I've gotten inspiration from my own life.
What do you enjoy the most about your genre?
I love the happy endings in the Romance genre. I love that things, more or less, get worked out and everyone gets what they want. It's comforting to know what you're going to get. That doesn't always happen in real life.
How would you describe your writing process?
While I wish I was more of a pantser, I'm definitely a plotter. I like to have structure going in but sometimes as I write I surprise myself, which is fun.
What do you think authors have to gain from participating in social media?
Social media gives authors the opportunity to build their brand. There's an opportunity to sell books but, more than that, there's an opportunity to provide value in the form of book reviews, peaks behind the scenes, writing tips and sharing things from other authors. By providing that value, an author entertains and builds trust with their audience which allows them to build a relationship with the writing and reading community.
What advice would you have for other writers?
Don't give up. If writing is something you love to do, keep at it. Keep writing. Keep learning. Keep working towards your dream. However, if you need to take a break, that's okay too!
How do you select your books’ titles and covers?
My titles just come to me, I don't really have a process. As for book covers, they're designed by an artist hired by my publisher. I do get some say in them, but I trust my publisher to guide the process.
What's your next step?
I'm currently working on my third book, but I can't say much about it yet. Mostly right now I'm working towards launching Love, Julie on April 30th and celebrating that!
What book do you wish you'd written?
Right now I'm reading The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo and I'm LOVING it. Her writing is so amazing, it's like every word was given precise consideration and chosen perfectly. I only wish I could write like that.
How do you react to seeing a new review for your book?
I love it when a reader tags me on social and has something nice to say about my books. I realize that writing is subjective and not everyone will like what they read, but it warms my heart to know that someone took the time to write something kind if they happened to enjoy something I wrote.
FIND JAMIE'S BOOK ON AMAZON
Jul 3, 2024 | Editors' Blog, Historical, Interviews
Today, we’re talking with Ayşe Osmanoğlu about her book,
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
I have five children! As every mother knows, that makes me great at juggling, balancing and multi-tasking!!
Why do you write?
I write because I want to give a voice to my ancestors and tell their story, share their memories, and describe the lost splendour of Imperial Istanbul.
Where did you get the inspiration for your current book?
The inspiration for my book, “A Farewell to Imperial Istanbul,” came from the love and respect I have for my grandparents and the pride I feel for my family's history. When I was young, my grandparents told me many stories about their life in Istanbul before their exile and of the terrible hardships they endured after they were forced to leave their homeland. This forged a desire in me to give voice to their experiences, to capture the essence of a bygone era, and to explore themes of family, duty, and resilience as a tribute to their memories and a celebration of the beauty of Imperial Istanbul.
What do you enjoy the most about your genre?
What I love most about writing historical fiction is the opportunity to escape into another world and to invite my readers to join me on the journey back in time. It's a genre that allows me to tell forgotten stories, bring historical figures to life, and connect readers with the enduring themes of our shared history.
How would you describe your writing process?
My writing process has definitely evolved. For my first book, ‘The Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus' I was definitely a pantser and did very little planning. However, with ‘A Farewell To Imperial Istanbul', I adopted a much more structured approach which I think resulted in a more polished manuscript. I outlined, plotted, and planned extensively. When I eventually sat at my desk and began to write, a cold Diet Coke and a few snacks within easy reach, the right words flowed more easily so I will definitely be outlining, plotting and planning for my next book. Once I start writing, I like to re-visit and edit the scene I worked on the day before, then I move on to the next scene. I typically spend focussed blocks of time, usually about three hours, crafting one new scene at a time, in between sips of Diet Coke and nibbles of hummus and pitta!
What do you think authors have to gain from participating in social media?
I think the best thing about social media is that it is an excellent way for authors to connect directly with their readers. I am so lucky to have forged some very special relationships with some of mine, and I am so grateful for the wonderfully supportive community that surrounds my books.
What advice would you have for other writers?
My advice for other writers is simple: don't put off writing your story. Begin today, even if it's just a few words. There's never a perfect time to start, so why not now? And write about something you love, something you are passionate about – write for yourself…
How do you select your books’ titles and covers?
For my first book, the title came to me during the early stages of research, so that was easy! However, with my newest book, ‘A Farewell To Imperial Istanbul', I struggled quite a bit and only settled on the title after finishing the manuscript. It took time, but I love it and think it is perfect! As for the covers, I had specific ideas in mind that talented (and very patient!) designers brought to life after some collaboration.
What's your next step?
I have already started the research for my next book!
What book do you wish you'd written?
Oh gosh! That is a hard question! Can I pick two classics? If so I would choose ‘Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen and ‘War and Peace' by Leo Tolstoy. I would love to be able to write about love with the wit and charm of Jane Austen, while I admire the way Tolstoy's characters are so vividly drawn and how he weaves together their personal stories with the grand sweep of history.
How do you react to seeing a new review for your book?
When I spot a new review for my book, my heart definitely quickens! While a negative review does hurt, I always try to focus on the positive ones and appreciate the insights readers share. It's all part of the journey of being an author, and I'm grateful for every reader's perspective.
FIND AYŞE'S BOOK ON AMAZON
