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Interview with Ms. Michelle Adams, author of Between The Lies

3/13/2019

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  The blurb of Between The Lie from the author's website:

                                       The truth is hiding between the lies...
          What would you do if you woke up and didn't know who you were?
                              Chloe Daniels regains consciousness in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. 
               She doesn't recognize the strangers who call themselves family. She can't even remember her own name.

                                  What if your past remained a mystery?
                                        As she slowly recovers, her parents and sister begin to share details of her life. 
                                               The successful career. The seaside home. The near-fatal car crash.
But Chloe senses they're keeping dark secrets - and her determination to uncover the truth will have devastating consequences.
               
​               What if the people you should be able trust are lying to you?

I'm pleased to have Ms. Michelle Adams here again for another blog interview. Her latest novel, Between The Lies, is a gripping thriller that will keep guessing till the very end. But before you get your hands on this brilliant psychological thriller, get to  know the author's take of her work. 

1.     Could you give a brief summary of Between The Lies?

Between The Lies is the exploration of one woman's history when she wakes up to find herself in a coma with not only no recollection of the crash, but also her family. The people around her say they are there to help, but as she returns home with them it becomes increasingly clear that somebody is hiding something. The question then, is who. 

2.     List three adjectives to describe Between The Lies?

Moody, cold, and claustrophibic 

3.     Are experiences in Between The Lies based on someone you know or events in your own life?

A few years ago I ended up in ITU after a bad reaction to some prescribed medication. For a short while I couldn't remember my own nameor where I lived. Afterwards it took a while for all the pieces to fit back into place. That is where this story was born. 

4.     Was there anything you find particularly challenging in writing Between The Lies?

Well it was my first book written under contract, and that was a bit of a challenge for me, sticking to deadlines, and writing with an editor in mind. 

5.     That’s a striking-nice book cover, who designed it? Was it collaboration afford?

All artwork is courtesy of my publisher. I think they did a great job, and I really hope people like it. 

6.     What was the hardest part of writing Between The Lies?

The editorial stage, because my new baby came home at the same time. It wasn't easy editing on her nap schedule and after she slept, but we got there. I like to think of it as a joint effort. 

7.     Which part of the research on  Between The Lies was the most personally interesting to you?

In the outset I read a lot about the Milgram experiments. It was really interesting to see how people would react, what they might believe, and how far they would be prepared to go to hurt another person if they believed that they were absolved of responsibility.  

8.     What is your writing habit? Do you write in the daytime or night?

I write between 8 am and 2:30 PM while my daughter is at nursery.  

9.     What are your top five favorite books and why? 

I recently read A LITTLE LIFE and it has taken my top spot. I think it was quite simply the most beautiful exploration of what it means to live alongside others, to love without bounds, and explore the deepest places in your own heart. I absolutely loved it, and still think of those characters. To me it seemed that they were so real. I also love CAPTAIN CORRELI'S MANDOLIN, THE HANDMAID'S TALE, A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE series, and GONE GIRL because it was inspirational to me when writing my earliest thrillers. 

10. Silly-Game question: From Between The Lies novel (with your eyes close) could you please leaf through the pages and point at a random place. What is the full sentence? And what is the page number of this random sentence? 

Page 133 - I was awake enough to see Joshua lying lifeless on the forest floor. 

11. What is the one book you would give to anyone and everyone as a gift(besides yours, of course)?

A LITTLE LIFE. I'm not sure everybody would love it, and it has a difficult subject matter. But I think everybody should have the chance to read it. 

12.  What’s your favorite song?

MY GIRL by The Temptations. We spent time in ITU with my daughter and I used to sing it to her and she would always relax when I did. I still sing it to her now, most nights, and she always doses when I do.

13. If you could pick a day to relive over and over again, what day would it be and why?

That's a really hard question. I have many wonderful days in my past. But I'm a firm believer in not looking back to much. I would never choose to go back. I've never been happier than I am now, so why would I want to go back?

14.  Last question, If (or when) Between The Lies does become a movie, who would be your dream casts?

I'd love Bradley Cooper to star and direct. I think he is superbly talented. 

I'll definitely watch Between The Lies  if(or when) it ever gets a film adaptation. Meanwhile, you guys should give this novel a try. It's positively should be on your wishlist. Thanks again to Ms. Michelle Adams for stopping by here again. If you want to check out her first interview on novel pro, just click "here."  Take care and I hope you are having a great day. Happy reading:)
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Interview with Mr. Tim Waggoner, author of Kingsman: The Golden Circle( movie novelization) and numerous novels

2/6/2019

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Bram Stoker Award-winner, Mr. Tim Waggoner, has written over thirty novels along with novellas and three short stories collections. His writing has received Honorable Mentions as well as finalist mention at the Scribe Award and Shirley Jackson Award. When he isn't writing, he is being a full-time tenured creative writing professor at Sinclair College.Mr. Tim Waggoner has also written articles and media tie-ins novels such as XXX: Return of  Xander Cage , Resident Evil: the final chapter, supernatural series, etc. This blog interview will mainly focus on his experience writing Kingsman: The Golden Circle as well as his life as an author. So, get to know a very talented author and check out his numerous publication as soon as possible.

1. First off, what is the scariest book you’ve ever read?

It’s a tie between Salem’s Lot by Stephen King and The Mothman Prophecies by John Keel.
I was in junior high when King’s novel first came out, and a friend recommended it to me. I was a huge horror fan, and I was excited to read the book. But King’s horror was different than any I’d read before. His focus on what his characters were experiencing inside their minds as opposed to what was happening outside them made the horror far more impactful than anything I’d ever experienced. King’s approach taught me that horror is about what people experience, and it’s something I always keep in mind when writing my own fiction.

The Mothman Prophecies is a supposedly true account of paranormal events. I read it more or less around the same time I read Salem’s Lot. While the stories recounted in the book were scary, it was the last line of the book – a quote from Charles Fort – which absolutely terrified me: “If there is a universal mind, must it be sane?” That quote has resonated with me throughout my life and has formed the central theme of most of my horror fiction.

2.  What is the scariest story you have ever written?

I don’t know what story readers might find scariest, but the story that scared me the most did so for a reason you might not expect. In the early nineties, I’d only published a handful of stories in small-press magazines. I was working on a story called “Mr. Punch” that I planned to submit to an anthology called Young Blood, which would feature stories written by authors younger than thirty. Up to this point, the horror I’d written was fairly run of the mill, but I had a different vision for this story. I wanted to write a horror story that used nightmarish, surreal imagery that (I hoped) would have a greater impact on readers than anything I’d done before. When I got two-thirds of the way through the story, I realized it was the best thing I’d written to that point, and I got scared that if I kept going, I’d screw it up. I stopped writing, but after a while, I forced myself to go back and finish it. I sold the story to Young Blood. It was my first professional sale, and Ellen Datlow gave the story an Honorable Mention in that year’s edition of Best Fantasy and Horror. Most importantly, “Mr. Punch” is where I found my voice as a writer, and if I hadn’t overcome my fear, that might never have happened.

3.  Do you recall the first story you ever wrote?

The very first story I remember writing is a cartoon version of King Kong vs Godzilla. I’d seen photos from the film in Famous Monsters magazine, but I hadn’t seen the movie. I took a stenographer’s pad, turned it sideways, and drew what I imagined the movie might be like. In a sense, it was my first (unofficial) tie-in story!

4.  Do you recall the first book you ever read that made you want to become a writer?

I don’t know if any book did that for me, but an article did. When I was in high school, I read an interview with Stephen King in an issue of the B&W comic magazine Dracula Lives. The Shining had just come out, and King wasn’t super-famous yet. It might have been the first interview with a writer I ever read, and before this, it had never really occurred to me that being a writer was something a person could choose. Something I could choose. I later told my mom that I thought I might like to be a writer, and she said, “I think you’d be a good one.” Her simple encouragement meant the world to me, and it still does.

5.  Out of the protagonists you’ve written about so far, which one do you feel you relate to the most?

I know this sounds like a cop-out, but all of my characters are drawn from aspects of myself, so I can relate to all of them. But many of my characters find themselves caught in a world that’s weirder and more dangerous than they imagined, and they struggle to understand it and, if possible, find a place in it. That’s pretty much my experience of life, too, so I’d say that type of Tim Waggoner character is most like me, and therefore, the one I can relate to the most.

6.     Describe what your ideal writing space looks like?

I can write anywhere. All I need is someplace to sit and my laptop or a notebook. I do a lot of my writing in Starbucks cafes. I like having a certain amount of noise and activity going on around me as I write – not too much – but enough so that part of my brain is constantly stimulated while another part produces prose. I’m not sure why this helps me, but it does. Or maybe it’s just the caffeine.

7.      What’s the strangest thing you have ever had to research online for your book?

I can’t remember if I researched this for a book or I just heard about it and got curious, but I learned that some people have a fetish where they like to read about people being boiled alive. I found website dedicated to fiction in which people – usually women – would be boiled alive and were turned on by the process and the knowledge that their flesh would be eaten. The site’s owner also offered to write boiled-alive stories featuring celebrities that readers chose. I’m very much a consenting adult can do whatever they want kind of guy, but the psychology behind this fetish fascinated me. I’ve never found the right opportunity to use this knowledge in a story, but it’s still in the back of my mind, waiting for the right story to come along.

8.      How has Lawrence Block influenced you as a writer? Did you watch the film-adaptation of his novel A Walk among The Tombstones?

I first became familiar with Lawrence Block through his fiction-writing columns in Writers Digest. I then bought his books on writing and devoured those. I learned more about writing fiction from Block than I ever did from a teacher in class. He offers solid, non-nonsense advice about the craft that is never too prescriptive. His approach has also helped me become a better teacher of writing. After a time, I decided I should read Block’s fiction to see if he practiced what he preached, and he definitely did. He became one of my favorite novelists, regardless of genre, after that. I named the zombie PI protagonist in my Nekropolis urban fantasy novels after Block’s detective character Matt Scudder. I haven’t seen the film version of A Walk Among the Tombstones yet, but I’m looking forward to it. Liam Neeson seems like a perfect choice to play Scudder.

9.      Reading from your blog post about your experience writing Kingsman: The Golden Circle (http://writinginthedarktw.blogspot.com/2017/09/kingsman-golden-circle.html), what did you wish you knew when you started writing media tie-in books?  How did your experience help you now and in the future?

I wish I’d understood the glacial pace the approval process takes and the insane lightning-fast pace you have to write once an outline is approved in order to make a deadline. For example, years ago I wrote a tie-in novel featuring Freddie Krueger called A Nightmare on Elm Street: Protégé. My original pitch was that Freddie has accidentally returned to life as a human and another force takes his place in the dream realm. The editor loved it and sent the outline to Newline for approval. The approval process took so long that, in order to make the deadline, the editor told me to start writing. I wrote sixty pages before the studio killed the idea, saying they didn’t want Freddie to return to life because that would raise the specter of Freddie having been a child molester/murderer when he was alive and they didn’t want to deal with that issue. I had to come up with an entirely new plot ASAP, and once it was approved, I had to write very fast in order to hit the deadline. Now I know not to write a single word of an actual tie-in novel until the final outline approval comes through, even if that means the publisher will have to reschedule the book’s release.

10.   Did you do a book tour for Kingsman: The Golden Circle? If so, where was the furthest you traveled for it or any book tour in general?

I’ve never been on a book tour. In general, publishers usually send their best-selling/highest-profile authors on tours. The whole point of book tours isn’t for authors to sell books and meet readers. It’s to get media coverage of their visit. This coverage reaches far more people than authors actually meet on tour, which hopefully translates into more sales. I think social media has taken the place of tours, especially for midlist, small-press, and indie authors. Social media allows authors to engage with readers directly and has the potential to increase sales in a more cost-effective way than a tour.

11.  What marketing strategies do you find most helpful? Any resources you would recommend to other authors?

It’s difficult to say if any marketing strategies have any real impact for individual authors, but we still have to try. I think social media can work well if you can be authentic, provide interesting content, and don’t overwhelm your audience with constant sales messages. Interacting directly with your audience on a regular basis is important. Promoting and celebrating other writers – being part of a literary community – is a vital part of marketing in that it helps build your support network and makes you seem less like a totally self-involved marketer of your own work. A blog can help, too. My blog, Writing in the Dark, provides tips and insights for writers. It’s an outgrowth of my teaching career, but it also works to promote my own writing. I have a newsletter that I send out once a month, and along with the sales messages, I give writing tips and a list of favorite movies or books. A resource I always recommend is Guerilla Marketing for Writers by Levinson, Frishman, Larsen, and Hancock. There’s a ton of great advice in the book.
Blog: http://writinginthedarktw.blogspot.com/
Newsletter: http://timwaggoner.com/contact.htm
Guerilla Marketing for Writers: https://www.amazon.com/Guerrilla-Marketing-Writers-Low-Cost-Guerilla/dp/1600376606/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544033553&sr=8-1&keywords=guerilla+marketing+for+writers

​12. Do you have any fun, interesting fact to tell when or after writing Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, xXx: The Return of Xander Cage, or Supernatural series?

The movie before Resident Evil: The Final Chapter ended on a huge cliffhanger: Alice and her companions were preparing to battle a horde of zombies and mutants in Washington, DC. The Final Chapter begins with that battle already over and Alice is the sole survivor. All of her companions, including the young girl she unofficially adopted in the previous movie, are never mentioned. This is the kind of thing I hate as an audience member, so I decided to write the battle that occurred off-screen, and hope the studio wouldn’t cut it from the finished novel. The battle turned out to be several chapters long, but the studio let me keep it in. In fact, they let me keep everything I added to the script – including my tying the book into previous novelizations in the series. I’m so grateful they gave me that artistic freedom. It’s rare in novelizations.

13.  Silly-Game question: From Kingsman: The Golden Circle novel, could you please leaf through the pages and point at a random place. What is the full sentence? And what is the page number of this random sentence?

Pg. 121:  But before the man could pull his half-eaten feet out of the tank, Charlie’s robot hand – moving faster than any human eye could track – took hold of Angel’s neck and gave it a swift, savage twist.

14.  Which movie would you like to do a novelization to and why?

I love the old Universal horror films of the 1930’s-40’s, and I think it would be amazing to adapt one of them as a novel. Frankenstein vs the Wolfman was the first one of these I saw. I was four at the time, and the idea that these two monsters inhabited the same world, could meet and interact, fascinated me. So I guess I’d pick that film.

15.  Which of your short stories, novella, and novels would you like to see made into a film?

I think the Nekropolis series would make fun films, and my Bram Stoker Award-winning novella The Winter Box is one of the best things I’ve written, and it would make a wonderfully bizarre film. My novel The Teeth of the Sea would make a great creature-feature movie. Although I’d honestly be happy if anything of mine was adapted for film. I’d love to see how a director and actors would interpret one of my stories.

16.   Have you ever considered writing a screenplay?

I’ve toyed with the idea on and off over the years. I wrote a couple plays in college and even directed one, and I enjoyed the experience, but a script isn’t a thing in and of itself: it’s a blueprint for a performance. It’s only one aspect of a larger creative process. Writing fiction is a deeper, more complete experience for me, and I have complete creative control. I think the highly collaborative nature of scriptwriting – one in which the screenwriter is often on the bottom rung of the ladder – would drive me crazy.

17.  Would you considered an aspiring author to write a media-in novel or be a published author first before taking that route?

It’s almost impossible to get started writing tie-in fiction if you haven’t written and published your own original fiction first. You need to have a track record as an author before a publisher will hire you to write a tie-in novel. Publishers need to know that you can write successfully at novel length and that you can write to deadline. They also need to know that you can work well with editors, since tie-in fiction has to hew closely to the established universe and rules of the original IP and editors have to make sure this happens. Publishers also need to know that you’re open to revising and can revise successfully, since the IP rights holder will review a tie-in project and require changes. The only way publishers can be sure if writers have the necessary skills and experience to write a tie-in is if they’ve already proven themselves as published authors.

18.   Can you inform us about your latest story?

Right now I’m working on a tie-in novel set in the Alien universe called Alien: Prototype. It deals with a former space marine who’s training a security force for a corporation that’s a rival of Weyland-Yutani’s, and of course an alien infestation breaks out in the training facility. I hope readers will enjoy it as much as I enjoy writing it.

19.  What is your favorite joke?

Q: How many surrealists does it take to change a light bulb?
A: The fish.

20.  Last question, what is your favorite meal at your favorite restaurant?

Saag paneer and chicken tikka masala (with rice and naan) at my Amar India Restaurant in Dayton, Ohio.

You all should, no question, check out those valuable links that Mr. Tim Waggnoer offered, especially if you want to know more about  his novels/novellas/short stories. My sincere appreciation for him in regard to answering my questions and for his time. His insight was informative and will probably help other writers in their writing journey. Thank you for stopping by to read this latest blog interview. I hope you visit here  again. Take care and happy reading. 
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Authors that passed away in 2018

12/31/2018

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Here are the authors that have left this earth in 2018. May they rest in peace and a great thanks to them for sharing their gift to the world. Now we can always respect each and everyone of them by reading their great work. These authors have made a lot of fans escape into their world and will probably help countless of others in the future to appreciate their unique writing gift. Hail and farewell to these gifted authors, hail and farewell. 
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Interview with Mr. Henrik Tamm, author of the Ninja Timmy series

9/7/2018

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Mr. Henrik Tamm has worked as a conceptual designer in Hollywood for such film as Black Panther, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Edge of Tomorrow, Shrek, The Chronicles of Naria and much more. He's also an illustrator and, at times, an artist. For now I'll mainly focus on his superb talent as a children author in which he wrote about a Ninja named Timmy. This outstanding book series has been translated in eleven languages and so far there has been four books in the series with more to come. So fellow readers, thanks for stopping by to get to know Mr. Henrik Tamm and his current work. 


​1.     How did the idea of Ninja Timmy came to you?
 
While visiting Beijing, some friends and I were eating cake one evening on the roof of a building in the oldest part of the city. A grey cat approached us from across the rooftops, insisting on having a taste. It made me wonder what his life was like, who is friends were, and what he might look like in a ninja suit.
 
2.      Do you ever get writer’s block when writing Ninja Timmy series? What do you do to get back on track?
 
Sure, of course I do. I often just skip the section I’m having difficulty with, and write a scene that’s clearer in my head, or simply more fun. That in itself will often inform the section I left behind.
 
3.      How many drafts did you do for the first Ninja Timmy novel?
 
I wrote the first draft very fast, while hanging out at Lake Como in Italy. After that followed countless revisions and many rounds with my editor. I forget how many.
 
4.      What’s your favorite sentence/dialogue from Ninja Timmy series?
 
I like the Blue Rabbit’s inner monologue. His reasoning for justifying his actions. I think it’s good because it’s truthful - anybody can identify with wanting a real soul. I tend to have the most fun when writing the antagonist point of view.
 
5.      Do you have a goal to write a certain number of words a week or when inspiration strikes?
 
I don’t, really. But if I’m not on a film, I do write every day. Sometimes I write three thousand words, other times fifty. A good day for me is a thousand words. I’d love to say that I have a strict schedule, but I don’t. I tend to write in spurts. A whole chapter in a single evening, then spend several days tinkering with it. I do want to get to a place where I have a regular work-schedule.
 
6.      Is there a possibility that Ninja Timmy series could be in visual media?
 
Yes, and I’d love that. My background is with film, and I think the books would make a wonderful kids television series or even a film. There has been talks with various studios, but nothing has materialized yet. I’ve been approached about computer games as well, and am open to that.
 
7.      What is the biggest surprise that you experienced after becoming a writer?
 
How lonely it can be. In film, I was always surrounded by other creatives, and we were all working together to create something bigger than one person could ever produce. I love being the sole author/creator, but I miss the camaraderie of film.
 
8.      Where is your favorite place to write?
 
Lake Como. Ha. that’s where I wrote the first book, and it was great. A bit of a once off, but it got things going. Now, I write mostly at home in my studio, but also venture out sometimes - cafes or bars. It’s tricky to find a spot that’s private, yet buzzing, if that makes sense. I’ll often wear my earphones and listen to the sound of rain where I write.
 
9.      What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
 
For Timmy, here and there, and not for very long. Honestly, I create most of those stories from scratch. It’s fantasy, and I love making up worlds and the characters who inhabit that world. That’s what I’m good at. Making stuff up. If there is a detail about how a submarine works, or how steam power might make a motorcycle run, I’ll read about that, or watch a video about it. But I have other book projects in the works that are much more research-heavy, involving the inter-war years, and old Scandinavian history. Too much research can bog me down, so it’s a balancing act.
 
10.  As a young person, who did you look up to most in regard to illustrating and writing?
 
As a kid, I was a huge Frank Frazetta fan. Star Wars made a huge impact on me as well. I later worked with Joe Johnston, one of the main illustrators on the first Star Wars films. He was directing at the time, but I remember once he came into my office and corrected my perspective on a drawing. That was pretty special.
 
As I matured, I adored the painting of Anders Zorn, the Swedish artist.
 
For writing, I read tons of fantasy as a kid, everything from Tolkien to the Dragonlance series. And of course Astrid Lindgren! Nowadays, I love the writing of Paul Auster, Neil Gaiman (who doesn’t), and find much joy in Le Carré. His writing is just so elegant.
 
11.  What is your current favorite book?
 
The Golem and the Jinni, by Helene Wecker. I also loved Pax, by Sara Pennypacker.
 
12.  Are you a morning writer or night writer?
 
Night, definitely. Something about the stillness, and knowing everybody responsible is getting a good night’s rest for the workday tomorrow.
 
13.  (fill in the blank question): If I wasn’t afraid I would_ignore this question__
 
Ha. Seriously, fear hasn’t really been a problem for me. Not as far as my work goes, anyway. I decided early on I wanted to be a conceptual illustrator for film, and I did that. To a very high level. Shrek is known across the world, and I had a ton to do with that film. I’m proud of that. Then I decided to start writing, and that’s going pretty well. Oh, I do love racing cars, but don’t have the balls to risk my life the way you’d have to to become really good.
 
14.   What’s your favorite thing to do in the winter?
 
Just walk around in the snow, if there is any. The forest, the city, it doesn’t matter. I used to ski a lot. I live mostly in Los Angeles now, and rain is our winter fare.
 
15.  What do you like best about yourself?
 
My imagination and my determination. It’s a tie.
 
16.  What advice do you wish someone had given you when you were younger?
 
To be smarter with money, I guess. Buy a house, settle down sooner, that kind of thing. But I was never very good at listening. Then again, if I had been, I might not have become an artist or a writer.
 
17.  As conceptual designer in Hollywood, which movie did you have the most difficulty creating its world and how did you overcome that challenge?
 
Each film poses its own unique challenge. I think you have to pay attention to the tone of the story and specific taste of the project’s helm. That said, the first Narnia film was tricky, since not much prior art had been created for C. S. Lewis’ world. I wanted to push it more fantastical, more whimsical, but the director wanted to stay more realistic, so I had to respect that wish.
 
18.  Last question, what is the one thing everyone should eat or drink if one should visit Sweden?
 
Sill! Or herring, as it’s known to the rest of the world. There are many varieties, and is often locally made, cured with local spices. Goes well with snaps, a very strong spirit. Each country has its own specialty snaps.

I'll definitely try out sill (a.k.a herring) wherever I find one especially if I get the chance to visit Sweden. Thanks to Mr. Henrik Tamm for agreeing to do this interview. Everyone should look into his Ninja Timmy series. If you want to get to know more of him then please check out his website as well:www.henriktamm.com/about/. As always, thank to you for visiting my blog. Take care and I hope your day is going well so far. I hope for your return again. 

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Interview with Ms. Katarina Tonks, author of Death is my BFF

5/21/2018

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At  the age of fourteen, Katarina Tonks started writing stories. She would soon discover Wattpad and posted a story that would change her life forever and that story is Death is my BFF. With her hard work on the story and loads of viewership, the Wattpad team has taken notice and now this story will soon become a television series. All I can say about that is WOW and congrats on her success. So, I hope you get to know a bit about how all of this happened and read why you should keep an eye on this latest author. 


1.  Could you give a brief summary about Death is my BFF?           

The legendary Angel of Death has spared Faith Williams’ prophesized soul. However, this merciful act comes at a price. When she turns eighteen, her soul and everything that she is, will belong to him. The problem? Faith’s not going to hell without a fight. Death isn't the only creature that has taken notice in her uniqueness. Demons, monsters, one vengeful demi-god, a notorious playboy, and AP Calculus, are all wrecking havoc on her life. Torn between two worlds, Faith must decide once and for all whom she can trust, and whom she can allow herself to love, before all of hell breaks loose. Even if it means striking another deal with Death.
 
 2.  What is the genesis of Death is my BFF?    
       
I started writing Death is My BFF when I was fourteen, after reading a novel with a boring grim reaper character. It was the first time I had ever seen a “Death” character in a story, and it frustrated me to no end that he was so dry and uninteresting. I also wanted to bring light to a word and a subject that has a negative connotation for all of us. So, I sought out to create my own grim reaper, one who was dynamic, sexy, and wicked funny!
 
3.     What were the challenges (literary, research, etc.) in writing Death is my BFF? 
           
Although most of the concepts in my book stem from my own interpretations of things, this book is rich in classic mythology and legends, so I had to do heavy research into angels, demons, demi-gods, and all of the fun monsters and magic in-between. On top of that, Death is My BFF has an intricate plot with a lot of characters. I have a theme of façades in the story, which means a lot of characters are deceptive, and a lot of what Faith recognizes as her reality ends up being false. So on top of all of the plotting out all of insane happenings going on in the protagonist’s life, I had to pay attention to detail while rewriting the book, such as dropping hints about certain characters while making sure the reader understands the differences between our world and Death’s.  
 
4.     What was your favorite scene to write?     
      
I’m torn between two scenes in the manuscript (the version that isn’t published and isn’t on Wattpad, which best reflects my current writing). There’s the corn maze scene, which is a fan favorite from the originals. It has been totally revamped/rewritten in a way that I was totally worried about initially, but it came out beautifully. You feel like you’ve been strapped into a trippy, horrifying rollercoaster from hell with Faith and there’s no going back now! The carnival scene is another favorite because it starts off as the best night of Faith’s life with a boy she likes, and then turns out to be the worst night of her life. But to me, the author, it’s still the best night because Death and her are just a riot when they’re together.
 
5.     Which fictional character (besides yours) would you like to sit down and chat with? 

 JERICHO BARRONS from the Fever Series by Karen Moning. All caps because he’s the love of my life! He’s brooding, mysterious, monstrous, and yet, loveable. I haven’t seen many characters that amount to his unique complexity and powerful presence on the page.

6.   Which author would you love to invite over and chat with? And Why? 

 Karen Moning because I have to have a long talk with her about how amazing her writing is! I’ve read all of her books. Same with Iiona Andrews, which is a husband and wife author duo. Their Magic Bites series is just incredible.
 
7.   What was your favorite book when you were a kid? Do you have a favorite book now?    
       
 Favorite book when I was a “kid” (teen) was easily Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey. Beth is Fantastic… See what I did there? That story is a one that I always find myself going back to read again. Even as I’m writing this, I’m thinking about reading it again tonight. Currently, my favorite book is Burn for Me by Iiona Andrews! 
 
8.   How were you introduced to Wattpad?           

 I turned to Wattpad when I was very young and dealing with a super overactive imagination. I had all of these stories in my head, but I’d yet to really sit down and write them down. My mother recommended finding a website I could write online, like a blog, and then I found Wattpad, which is an online e-book platform. I’ve been writing my first drafts on this site ever since!
 
9.  Did you do any marketing when you published Death is my BFF on Wattpad?

 I’m constantly marketing my books on my social media. I used to spam the community forums on Wattpad, begging people to read my book. Finally, I got enough of a following that I was able to do my own thing on my social media and just post “shout outs” on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, and Wattpad whenever I want to get my reader’s attention.
 
10.   How many books are there in Death is my BFF series? Are you going to do a spin-off or prequel?    
       
This might be a little confusing because on Wattpad I’ve posted all of my first drafts, but there are two Death series. There’s the Death is My BFF (originals) series that I wrote when I was fourteen to seventeen. That series has five books and is incomplete on Wattpad. When I got older, my vision of the story obviously changed, so I wrote the rewritten Death is My BFF Chronicles, which I’m currently still posting on Wattpad. I’m two books into that. Off of Wattpad, I have the manuscript version, which is another complete rewrite of the story and is the skeleton of the Death is My BFF (rewritten) on Wattpad. The manuscript I’ve written from scratch off of Wattpad is the version that’s been professionally edited for publishing.
 
11.   Congratulation on All in Media producing your story Death is my BFF, how did the producer, Mr. Paul Shapiro, discover your story? 

 The team at Wattpad got it in front of Paul. He was really passionate about my characters and wanted to see these books brought to life!

12.  Congratulation on your Death is my BFF series being made into a television series, would you like to make a cameo? 

 Hell yes!!! I’m ready for my close up!
 
13.   What’s the best advice you have ever received about writing?  
         
  Write because you love it. The hardest thing a writer has to battle with is the idea of writing for themselves and for the love of writing. To write for others, to write for success, or to write because you have to, is when the art becomes mechanical. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had many moments where I’ve forced myself to write and held my eyes open with toothpicks at three in the morning because I had to get something done. (Slight exaggeration with the toothpicks.) But still, even in those cases, I was writing for something that I love to do!
 
14. What do you want readers to remember about the Death is my BFF series?           
           
Remember my concept of light and dark, how it engages and comes together as one harmonious force. That’s how life works. Even in the darkest of times, I’ve found light through love or humor. I want my readers to know that you don’t have to be afraid of the dark and it never stays dark forever.
 
15.   Do you have any hidden or uncommon talents?           
 
This is pretty weird… Since I was a toddler, I’ve been able to wiggle my eyebrows in circles. I have full control of my eyebrows and can even make them arch and look like Spock’s from Star Trek. I’ve yet to meet anyone else who can do the circle trick! Lol!
 
16.    What does your family think of your writing? 
           
They love it! My sister has been reading my books since she was little, my mom recently got into my Death Chronicles, and my dad has helped me a lot with the manuscript! I’m so grateful to have such a great support system!
 
17.    Last question, what type of snack (or food) do you plan to get while watching Death is my BFF on your television screen?
 
Cupcakes!  “Cupcake” is the nickname that Death has for Faith. Needless to say, cupcakes MUST be on the menu at the premiere!

Thanks to Ms. Katarina Tonks for giving me the time of day to answer my questions. I know her fans and soon-to-be fans can't wait to read more of her stories at Wattpad. We all are also going to keep an eye out for more news about the television series. As for my readers, thanks again for visiting here and support us authors in any way possible. Take care everyone and I hope you are having a great day so far.  


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Interview with Mrs. Linsey Davis, author of The World is Awake: A Celebration of everyday blessings

5/14/2018

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What better way to introduce your child or children to our precious planet than  to read The World is Awake. This incredible children's book all started from a simple question asked by a child and now Mrs. Linsey Davis has written a story that would truly touch any kid's heart as well as adults. So, I hope you take this time to get to know the author herself and discover why you should definitely get this wonderful children's book. 

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1.      Could you tell us a bit about yourself? 

For the good part of nearly two decades, I defined myself as a journalist. Ever since having my son, Ayden, which is now 4 years ago, I primarily think of myself as a mom. So much of what motivates me and is part of my daily routine and plans and thoughts revolves around this little guy. It's funny how things can take a turn and priorities shift so drastically. I think children probably have the ability to do that more than most other factors. So most of my free time is dedicated to my son and making sure he has enriching life experiences. I would say my husband and I both think of the things we enjoy and try to pass them along to him. We are both big runners and enjoy sports, the outdoors, travel and movies. We are currently in the process of running a half marathon in each state. 20 down. 30 to go!! We also organize and sponsor a big Christmas charity event each year which we started two years ago to model the idea of giving for our son. That is big for us and largely stems for our belief in service to others and passing on at least a portion of the blessings God has bestowed upon us. Reading is also big. We make sure we read to Ayden every night. There's nothing like enjoying a good book. We hope he picks up that habit as well... which might partially explain me writing a book. 

2.      How did you come up with the idea of The World is Awake?

 I was driving in the car. My son, Ayden was 2 at the time, and out of nowhere he asked, “Who opens the flowers, God?”I was both shocked and thrilled at the same time that he would make such a connection and that he was so curious about God and the world. And it made me believe that toddlers are ready to get those answers and have a very gentle and meaningful introduction to God. Of course we have a lot of Bible books for baby at home which he enjoys hearing about David and Goliath and Daniel in the lions’ den or Jonah and the whale, but he is too young to understand the place of God in those stories. But I think that’s what we’ve accomplished in The World Is Awake is a way for toddlers to appreciate and understand those blessings and marvel and wonder of God that’s all around them just waiting to be explored.

3.      What research did you do when writing The World is Awake? 

Part of what inspired me is that my son is black, and when I was going to bookstores to find books for him, there aren’t a lot of books with characters  that look like him. Then I started doing a  little research, and I found that more than 90 percent of the protagonists in children’s books are white and yet roughly half of the children in this country are not white. Studies show that’s not healthy for kids who look to books for self-affirmation and look to books to find themselves. There is an essay about this which sums it up so well. The idea is that it’s essential that all children’s books have a window and a mirror. A mirror --for  kids to see the reflection of themselves and a window so they can peer out and see a world that is unfamiliar to them. I’m proud that kids will find both in this book. I wouldn't say I wrote the book any differently based on the color of the children. The truth is... the only thing we did differently involves the illustration. Their skin is a different color from most protagonists, but isn't that the lesson after all? Sometimes the outside color is ALL that is different about us as people. 

 4.  What was the most surprising thing you learned when writing The World is Awake?

I would say I learned what it feels like to be a child all over again…to start looking at life through the eyes of a child. This book gave me a chance to demonstrate the renewed vision I personally gained by having a little one of my own. So often as adults I think it’s easy to stop paying attention to the marvels all around us—the sunsets, rainbows or bunny rabbits.  But my son has redirected my attention with his excitement and enthusiasm. He squeals, “Oooo look at the butterflies!” He’s so eager to point out what he sees and looks and chases squirrels or falling snowflakes. And that’s infectious and often things I simply had stopped noticing.  Now I find myself pointing out things I know he'll love with the same vigor and say, "Ooooo..look at that chipmunk!" I would equate writing this book with remembering how good it feels to really look at a sunrise or watch a bee in a flower or roll around in fresh-cut grass. So I would say this book is my expression of all have regained through looking at life through the eyes of a child and all there is to be gained from that. I hope parents will find this as a refreshing reminder that sometimes it’s best to remember what it feels and looks like to see and explore the world with the zeal and excitement of a child. 

 5.      Have you considered writing a sequel to The World is Awake?

I enjoyed this process so much. I love to write and tell stories. I do that for a living every day, but this was uplifting and joyful and something I can share with my son which is rewarding in a whole new way. I imagine this book is the first of many. I am  currently in the early process of planning another book with the publisher. Really excited about the next project! It’s not quite a sequel but the same basic concept.


6.      What is your writing habit in general? Do you write in the daytime or night?

I tend to write at night. I wait until my son is in bed…then I get myself ready for bed and begin to put some thoughts on paper. For whatever reason, I pretty much always start out writing my thoughts out on paper instead of typing them first.  


7.      Is there a possibility that The World is Awake could be in Visual media?

I just heard about a new concept the other day where children’s bedtime stories are projected onto the ceiling. I’m very interested in that! I think that’s a great idea, and something I hope we can be part of.


8.      What has been the best compliment you heard about The World is Awake?

I actually read every comment that I can find posted online about the book. People have advised against doing that, but I like the good, bad and ugly. Being a first-time author, I wasn’t sure how people would feel about the book. So I’ve appreciated hearing all kinds of feedback. We currently have 5 stars on Amazon. Yay! But really I just relish the idea of parents and grandparents telling me how much they enjoy sharing this message with their kids/grandkids. That’s the beauty in all this… being able to create something that others really enjoy.


9.      Do you ever get writer’s block? What do you do to get back on track?

Sure. That happens to the best of them (I think)! I just come back to it. I put my thoughts down when I have them. Some days they are rushing out of my mind faster than my hand can scribble. Other days I just keep revising and scratching out. My mom is a retired English teacher. So sometimes when I am really stuck, I ask for her opinion on direction.

10.  Could you express your experience at The View (link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=oovJNxL7hQo) while promoting The World is Awake?

The ladies of The View (both in front of the camera and behind) couldn’t have been nicer. I really enjoyed the experience and exposure. I was at the end of the show, so we had only about two minutes, but I think that was just enough time to get the basic headline out there about the book and what it’s all about.
 
11.  What do you like to read in your free time?

I love suspense thrillers. Right before a long flight you can definitely find me in the bookstore skimming the best new option out there by James Patterson or Harlan Coben. At this very moment I am about to finish up a book entitled, The Wife Between Us.  
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12.  Could you give an interesting fun fact about your interview with Michael Strahan at Good Morning America (link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzlZGdAnrGA)?

Well I loved hearing Michael read the book to the children, including my son, who were assembled that morning for the book’s debut! Michael is such an easy guy to talk to. It’s like I was just chatting with an old friend about my new book.

 
13.  Who was your favorite author as a teenager? And who is your favorite now?

I loved all books by Beverly Cleary when I was a teenager. Was also a big fan of the Babysitters Club. My favorite now would probably be James Patterson or Wally Lamb.
 
14.  What is your favorite bible scripture?

Jeremiah 29:11

15.  Last question, who (dead or alive) would you like to sit down and chat with?

Jesus 

I genuinely appreciate Mrs. Linsey Davis for answering my interview questions. This book would make an amazing gift for the young ones. I can't wait to see what Mrs. Linsey Davis is going to write up next. I'm especially interested about the projected stories from the ceiling. That would definitely liven up The World is Awake's reading experience.  I wish Mrs. Linsey Davis all the best and If you want to know much more about this great author then please check out her website as well: linseytdavis.com/
Thanks as always for stopping by my blog. I hope each and everyone of you have a blessed day. Take care. 




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Interview with Ms. Karen Dionne, author of The Marsh King's Daughter

4/17/2018

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Come, if you will, and experience a psychological suspense novel set in Michigan's Upper Peninsula wilderness. An excellent novel titled The Marsh King's Daughter. The author, Ms. Karen Dionne, is a member of the International Thriller Writers as board of directors. She is also the co-founder of the online writers community Backspace. She was honored by Michigan Humanities Council for her body of work as a writer and co-founder of Backspace. So far she has written books such as Freezing Point, Boiling Point, The Killing: Uncommon Denominator. Her short fiction so far is titled Calling the Shots. Her latest novel is The Marsh King's Daughter and it will be release to the masses on April 17th 2018. So I hope you take this time and get to know a bit about this great author and her latest masterpiece, The Marsh King's Daughter. 


1. What inspired you to write The Marsh King’s Daughter?
 
I actually woke up in the night with the first sentences of The Marsh King’s Daughter fully formed in my head: "If I told you my mother's name, you'd recognize it right away. My mother was famous, though she never wanted to be. Hers wasn't the kind of fame anyone would wish for--Jaycee Dugard, Amanda Berry, Elizabeth Smart--that kind of thing, though my mother was none of them."
 
I wasn’t dreaming about this character, she was just there, talking to me. In the morning, I wrote up a few paragraphs in which she told me more about herself, and these sentences and paragraphs are now the first page of the novel.
 
I’ve always been fascinated by stories of people who rise above a less-than-perfect childhood to make something of themselves, and I think this is one of the reasons this character spoke to me so strongly. Helena is the daughter of a kidnap victim and the man who took her, who grows up in complete isolation for twelve years in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula wilderness, so in creating a new life for herself as an adult, she certainly has a great deal to overcome.
 
2. Was The Marsh King’s Daughter the original title or were there other titles?
 
The Marsh King’s Daughter is the book’s original title, and I’m very happy to see that it is also going to be the title of the movie. The title comes from the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale of the same name, which I used to structure the book.
 
“The Marsh King’s Daughter” is one of Anderson’s longer fairy tales, in which the main character is the daughter of an Egyptian princess and the evil Marsh King. By day, the girl is beautiful like her mother, but has her father’s wicked, wild temperament, while at night, she takes on her mother’s gentle nature in the guise of a hideous frog.
 
In my novel, Helena is also the product of an innocent and a monster. Genetically, she is half her mother, half her father, and like the Marsh King’s daughter in the fairy tale, she struggles with her dual nature.
 
3. What do you want readers to get out of reading The Marsh King’s Daughter?
 
While The Marsh King’s Daughter is dark psychological suspense, it’s also a father-daughter story, and I’d love readers to reflect on their own parent-child relationships when they finish reading.
 
Helena loves her father unconditionally for her first twelve years, even though he is a very bad man who doesn’t deserve her love. As an adult, when her father escapes from prison and she is forced to use the hunting and tracking skills he taught her as a child against him, she’s still torn. She knows he belongs in prison for the things he’s done; yet in remembering what she considers to have been a happy childhood, she still has feelings for him.
 
So, while the novel can be read as a straight-up thriller, Helena’s relationship with her father is very complicated, allowing lots of room for reflection after the book is done.
 
4. Where is your favorite place to write?
 
I have a beautiful, secluded writing room in an outbuilding on the back of our property where I do most of my writing. That said, some of my most best ideas have come to me while sitting on a log in a forest. There’s something about being in the natural world that is very inspiring!
 
5. What was your favorite book when you were a kid? Do you have a favorite book now?
 
My reading has always been very eclectic. I loved The Boxcar children when I was growing up, though I read anything and everything I could get my hands on, including books from my parents’ bookshelves which were definitely not suitable for a child, such as James Michener’s epic Hawaii.
 
As for what I like to read now, I enjoy any well-written story that takes me to another world. Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad and Paulette Giles’ News Of The World are recent standouts.
 
6. What’s the best advice you have ever received about writing?
 
David Morrell, author of First Blood and creator of the character “Rambo,” once told me: “Make it real.” I think this is the key to writing good fiction. Many readers have said that as they were reading The Marsh King’s Daughter, they thought the book was a memoir, and actually had to go back and check to see if the story was true, or if it was fiction. I take that as the highest compliment!
 
7. What do you think makes a good novel?
 
Good fiction happens when great characters and storytelling evoke in the reader an emotional response. The reader has to feel what the characters are experiencing in order to get swept up in the story. In my opinion, the best novels are the ones that make you care as much about what happens to the characters as if they were family members, or dear friends.
 
8. What would you do if you ever stopped writing?
 
I’d travel the world exploring the various natural environments: the mountains, the deserts, the oceans – the more remote, the better!
 
9. Congrats on your book The Marsh King’s Daughter being made into a feature film, what are your thoughts about Oscar winner Alicia Vikander as the lead character?
 
I’m thrilled that Alicia Vikander is going to star as Helena in The Marsh King’s Daughter movie and think she will be fantastic in that role.  She’s so incredibly talented, as is everyone associated with this project. I can’t wait to see how she brings Helena to life on the screen.
 
10. Would you like to make a cameo in the film?
 
I know a lot of writers have made very brief appearances in their films, but I’m definitely more comfortable behind a camera than in front of one. For me, visiting the set while the movie is filming would be a highlight.
 
11. What scene from the novel are you looking forward to seeing on the big screen?
 
While I definitely have my favorite scenes in the book, I’m trying not to think too much about seeing them on the screen, because I know the movie won’t be a recreation of my novel, but rather will be based on the book. No doubt there will be many scenes that won’t make it into the movie for various reasons, so I’ll just have to wait and see!
 
12. Have you ever considered writing a novella or even writing a screenplay?
 
I was happy to hand off the screen adaptation of my novel to the people who know what they’re doing because I’m a novelist through and through. I love the way the novel’s long form allows room for extensive character development, as well as getting inside the characters’ heads to really dig deep into what they’re thinking and feeling.
 
13. Last question, which novel/novella/short story have you read that you would like to see a film adaptation (besides yours, of course)?
 
I recently read The Hunger, by Alma Katsu, a reimagining of the Donner party tragedy with a supernatural twist, which was FANTASTIC. I’d love to see this tense and gripping story on the big screen!

All the best to Ms. Karen Dionne for The Marsh King's Daughter and the movie adaptation of the novel as well. All of you should definitely give this book a try. I also like to take this moment to thank Ms. Karen Dionne for stopping by to answer my questions. I really hope you all got an insight of her and her novel as well. Take care and I hope you are having a great day so far. Thanks again and stay blessed. 
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Interview with Mr. Nick Ostler, co-author of Defender of the Realm series

1/26/2018

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I'll like to introduce my fellow readers to Mr. Nick Ostler, the co-author of Defender of the Realm series. Mr. Nick Ostler (along with his writing partner Mr. Mark Huckerby) has written numerous episodes of TV shows such as Danger Mouse, Peter Rabbit, Shaun the Sheep and Thunderbirds Are Go!. Both Mr. Ostler and Mr. Huckerby has won an Emmy and has been nominated for BAFTA for their writing. They also write movie scripts. So, I hope you get to know Mr. Nick Ostler and what him and his writing partner has in store for  younger readers and the younger readers at heart. 

1.      Could you explain how you (and Mark Huckerby) came up with Defender of the Realm series?

We were thinking about superheroes and wondering why there weren't really any memorable British ones - in the UK we've produced more than our fair share of detectives and wizards and spies but not very many homegrown superheroes. Just for fun we tried to think of why a superhero would HAVE to be British. What do we have that the United States, say, doesn't. Then once we hit upon the Royal Family we realised how many tropes they shared with the typical superhero legend - the idea of leading a double life, of becoming someone else through a mystical ritual, gaining 'power', and - in an ideal world - selfless duty to others. What if when you become king or queen you also inherit superpowers and become a superhero? It was a big, silly, ambitious concept and over the years we couldn't shake off the idea, which we thought was a good sign.

2.      What challenges did you face while writing Defender of the Realm series?

We'd never written a book before, which in hindsight we probably should have been a little more worried about! But we figured that after nearly 20 years of screenwriting together we should know a thing or two about telling a story and the idea of doing something that wasn't a script was exciting. In practical terms the main challenge was finding the time, because unsurprisingly no-one particularly wanted to pay us to write our first book! So it was written in our spare time over a couple of years. But we always had faith that it was a good idea and worth a punt.

3.      Would you like to see a film/television adaptation of the Defender of the Realm series?

Er… yes, please! We're actually writing the pilot episode right now - which we can't tell you much more about - but watch this space! If it does end up on screen one day we're determined that it should be every bit as big in scope and spectacle as the books - fortunately in the age of Game of Thrones there's nothing you can't do well on TV any more.

4.      What was your experience with your writing partner Mark Huckerby on Defender of the Realm series? How was the experience different from working on a screenplay?

At first we were really worried that our prose styles might not blend too well. Scriptwriting is all about stripping out style and just telling the story as clearly as you can - which we thought might not work so well for books... But we were pleased to discover that years of writing script outlines and treatments together did mean that we had developed a 'house style'. And we like to think that some of the disciplines we've learned writing for TV - character-driven stories, fast-paced plots, big set pieces - stood us in good stead for writing a fantasy action adventure for 8-12 year olds.

5.      Do you ever get writer’s block when writing Defender of the Realm series? What do you do to get back on track?

Not really. We always do a really detailed outline first, so we know what should happen in every chapter from beginning to end. It's then fun to fill that plot with the details, lines and beats that occur as we write. Sometimes we needed to stop and do some more research - we've really plundered the UK's vast history for the Defender series and everything referred to in the books in based in fact. That was one of our favourite parts of the process. It also helps having two of us - if one of us is struggling we can just call the other up and thrash it out.

6.      Did you know how Defender of the Realm series would end or did it come to you while writing the story? 

That's a tricky one to answer - we had a three-book arc in our heads that was roughly based on the real story of Alfred the Great's rise, fall and comeback (which is why our modern young king is called Alfie), but it's impossible to work out everything about a new fantasy universe beyond a book or two in advance (and any author who says otherwise is either a liar or a genius!)… so we've certainly changed things as we've gone along to an extent. But yeah, in big picture terms we knew the big beats of our trilogy - but we are still leaving the door ever so slightly ajar at the end of book 3 should we (or our publishers, or - you know - people who read books) decide there is more story to tell.

7.      Which of the fictional character (besides Alfie and Hayley) in Defender of the Realm would you love to invite over and have a chat with?

I think it would have to be 'LC' - the Lord Chamberlain - because even though he appears to be a little stuffy on the outside, I reckon he's been around for a LONG time and would know some pretty mind-blowing state secrets. And if that failed you could just tell rude jokes to wind him up.

8.      What is your writing habit? Do you write in the daytime or night?

We've always been pretty boring and conventional for writers - I work normal office hours most of the time and not often at the weekend, unless we're juggling a lot and I need to squeeze in some extra hours. I don't buy that you have to write every day or that you have to neglect family and friends all the time to be a 'proper' writer. It's hard enough without making yourself feel guilty for no good reason. I like working early but just can't work at night any more. My mind's fried by 9pm.

9.      What book are you currently reading?

I often have two or three on the go depending what I feel like reading that day (but it takes me ages to get through them as I shamefully don't have as much reading time these days as I'd like) - right now I'm reading The Light Jar by Lisa Thompson, which is her second terrific middle grade mystery, and has me hooked, and 'Kind of Blue' by Ken Clarke MP (my degree was Politics and I'm still a bit of a geek for it). Next up I will probably be catching up with Legacy of Spies by John Le Carre and The Book of Dust by Philip Pullman. My favourite books last year were Podkin One-Ear by Kieran Larwood (brilliant MG fantasy cross between Lord of the Rings and Watership Down) and Munich by Robert Harris.

10.  What’s next for you? What are you working on now?

Apart from the Defender pilot, Mark and I are head writing a new animated TV series called MOOMINVALLEY - based on the much loved Moomin novels by Finnish author/illustrator Tove Jansson - if you don't know them, they are strange,  hilarious, imaginative and beguiling tales of a family of 'Moomintrolls' and the weird and wonderful friends and creatures they live alongside in a mysterious valley where anything can happen. Apart from being beautiful and funny, they have a great deal to say about tolerance, family life, love of nature and how to deal with disasters. There is a fantastic production team turning them into 22 minute episodes which will air from the end of 2018. We think and hope it will be an amazing series. Aside from that we have various feature projects in the works, including an animated family movie we hope will go into production soon.

11.  Which filmmaker do you admire or inspire your work?

Wow - so many. As a child, the first filmmaker who I probably realised had a 'voice' was Terry Gilliam and he remains a huge inspiration. The films Mark and I bonded over years ago were things like Sam Raimi's Evil Dead 2 and James Cameron's Aliens - the sci-fi and horror movies of the 80s/90s were huge for us. And although I like to think my taste has matured over the years (well, a bit!), I still love escapist movies the most - if it has a  monster in it then I'm probably onboard. But right now my head is in BAFTA-voting mode and this year I've been blown away by the writing and directing of Paul King & Simon Farnaby (PADDINGTON 2), Taika Waititi, Eric Pearson, Craig Kyle & Christopher Yost (THOR: RAGNAROK), Kathryn Bigelow & Mark Boal (DETROIT) Martin McDonagh (THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI), Liz Hannah, Steven Spielberg, & Josh Singer (THE POST), Anthony McCarten & Joe Wright (THE DARKEST HOUR), Craig Gillespie and Steven Rogers (I, TONYA), and David Soren & Nicholas Stoller (CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS: THE FIRST EPIC MOVIE). My film of the year was Jordan Peele's GET OUT which had both Mark and I shrieking and laughing in equal measure in the cinema - just brilliant.

12.  When you are writing a screenplay, how much do you think about how your text will be translated into a visual medium?

A lot, but it's hard to think about everything at once - you have to start with story, then structure and theme, before you get into exactly how to tell it visually - but of course in the writing you're constantly playing and replaying how it should look onscreen beat by beat in order to convey the meaning you're going for, and crucially how you transition from scene to scene, while accepting that it's up to the director to interpret what you end up writing.

13.  Which one is more challenging for you: writing a novel or writing a screenplay?

Well we have more experience writing for the screen, so I guess we still feel more confident there, but in many ways a novel feels a lot more fun (I hesitate to describe any sort of writing as 'easy'!)… maybe that's just because it's still a novelty for us, or maybe it's because you have so much more space and time in a book, and you can hear what characters are thinking (which for a screenwriter is AMAZING) and frankly you have a lot more control over a book than you do a screenplay - filming anything is expensive and that means you have many more people looking over your shoulder the whole time, which can be stressful.

14.  Were you ever on set for the making of Howl or Don’t Knock Twice? If so, could you tell me what scene you were present at that is very memorable to you?

Yes. They were both low budget productions shot in the UK and we got on well with the directors so we were lucky enough to get to visit the sets a few times. On HOWL the most memorable would have to be the opening scene in which Joe the young ticket inspector (Ed Speleers) checks the passengers' tickets, because I got to be an extra (channeling my best 'grumpy commuter' - not much of a stretch for me, tbh) and after about an hour of watching the poor crew trying to get a small dog to bark on cue, I recalled that most of filming is sitting around waiting for someone to call 'Action!'. It's a privilege and thrill to see something you wrote being brought to life, but honestly I prefer sitting at my desk writing - I couldn't be a director. On Don't Knock Twice I remember watching a very emotional, intense scene between our incredible lead Katee Sackhoff and a little known young actor called Lucy Boynton and thinking how she was going to be a big star one day (which seems to be happening!)

15.  In your experience, what would you say it takes to be a successful screenwriter?

Hard work, determination, high standards, being 'good in the room' as well as on the page, and above all time.

16.  Last question, does Mark Huckerby have any unique or quirky writing habits? If not, do you have any unique or quirky writing habits? 

This is such a golden opportunity that I am almost dizzy with the possibilities… but rather than making up something HILARIOUS and untrue, I'll go with his APPALLING abuse of apostrophes, the correction of which is reason enough for him to have a writing partner, frankly.

Thanks to Mr. Nick Ostler for sharing this info with us and I hope everything is going smoothly with writing  Defender of the Realm: King's Army as well as your upcoming novels/screenplays. I'm really anticipating to hear more news about the adaptation of the Defender of the Realm series. Also, all the best to Mr. Ostler and Mr. Mark Huckerby with writing the script for Moominvalley . As for those reading this, I hope you give this book series a chance and see why it's a page-turner. For more info on Mr. Ostler and his latest novel/project visit his website: www.ostlerandhuckerby.com/about.php Take care as always and have a happy read. 
 ​
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Interview with Mr. Gregg Olsen, author of The Last Thing She Ever Did

1/20/2018

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I'm happy to introduce you guys a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author, Mr. Gregg Olsen. He has, so far, written eighteen books and novels, a novella, and written a short story. He has been a guest on Dateline NBC, The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Early Show, Anderson Cooper 360, Entertainment Tonight, Inside Edition, Extra, Access Hollywood,  Deadly Women on Investigation Discovery, A &E's Biography,  CBS 48 Hours  and much more. Now, he is here, on novelpro.weebly.com, to present to you his most thrilling novel yet, The Last Thing She Ever Did. After reading this interview, I hope you also read the excerpt to this wonderful novel and see why you need to get a hold of the book now. Here's the excerpt of The Last Thing She Ever Did from goodreads: www.goodreads.com/book/show/35158801-the-last-thing-she-ever-did

​1.      How did you come up with the idea for The Last Thing She Ever Did?

I saw a news story about a young man who accidentally backed over his two-year-old in the family’s driveway.
 
2.      Did you do any research on The Last Thing She Ever Did? If so, how long did you spend researching before starting the novel?
 
No real research on this one. Some require a lot of research. This one came to me in a flash. I set the book in Bend, Oregon, because my family has vacationed here many times in the summer. I love the idea of something sinister taking place in a beautiful location.
 
3.      How did you select the names of your characters in The Last Thing She Ever Did?
 
That’s a hard one. I actually look for names that are appropriate to the ages of the people I am writing about. Sometimes I’ll look on the internet to see what name was popular in a given year – the age of my characters.
 
4.      What is your writing process like for The Last Thing She Ever Did?
 
My process is always the same. I write in weekend sprints. I map out a schedule of weekends that I’ll need to get the book done. I’ll track my word count and push myself to the max to get it done.
 
5.      How many hours a day do you write?
 
On the weekends, ten hours a day. During the week, a little rewriting here and there in the evenings.
 
6.      If you didn’t write, what would you do for work?
 
Maybe work at a restaurant. Or in retail. I like people.
 
7.      If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
 
You can write fiction. Just do it.
 
 
8.      How long were you a part-time writer before you became a full-time writer?
 
For most of my career, I’ve always had a full-time job. That’s why I do my novel writing on the weekends. 
 
9.  You mentioned from your website that you wrote a novella. Could you share with us what the name is and a little detail about it? 

It is called The Bone Box and it’s part of my Waterman Stark series. It’s about a forensic pathologist trying to solve a crime for which her family member was convicted.
 
10.  What is your favorite childhood book? 
 
That’s a tough one. I loved Island of the Blue Dolphins, A Wrinkle in Time, and when I was a teenager anything by Stephen King.

11.  If (or rather when) your novel becomes a film/TV adaptation, would you be willing to write the screenplay for it? 
 
Not really. It isn’t that I haven’t thought about it. I’ll leave that up to the pros.
 
12.  In co-writing your nonfiction books with Rebecca Morris, could you explain your experience working with another person versus working alone?  What were the pro and con in working with a partner on a project?
 
Rebecca is fun to work with and our collaboration has been very successful. There’s a give and take that works for us. I know some others who have teamed up have had a hard time. It’s great to have two people working a case because there are so many details and the work can be lonely and time consuming. Rebecca and I are working on another project, but I’m also writing a new true crime by myself.
 
13.  Silly-Game question: From The Last Thing She Ever Did, could you please leaf through the pages and point at a random place. What is the full sentence? And what is the page number of this random sentence? 
 
Page 99: He’d have to ditch the body somewhere.
 
14.   What has been your experience writing a YA novels like the Vengeance series?
 
Nothing was more fun than writing for the young adult audience. The best readers EVER! I was able tour Hong Kong, go to the Philippines and the UK (twice!) to talk about my books.
 
15.  Last question, which of your novels would you like to see made into a film/TV adaptation? 
 
My heart belongs to Starvation Heights (which is still in development after 20 years) and THE LAST THING SHE EVER DID…a movie if there ever was one!

I want to just give my thanks to Mr. Gregg Olsen for being so awesome to take his time to answer my question. I really hope that his novels gets to be made into a feature film. I know they would be a success especially thrillers like The Last Thing She Ever Did. For the time being I hope you guys get your hand on the novel. I know you won't regret reading this one. Thanks for visiting my blog and taking your time to read about this amazing author. Take care and have a great day. Also, happy read for those who are going to read The Last Thing She Ever Did.  
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Interview with Ms. Pamela Samuels Young, author of Abuse of Discretion

1/13/2018

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I'm happy to welcome my first author interview of the new year, Ms. Pamela Samuels Young, the award-winning author of Abuse of Discretion. Her previous thriller Anybody's Daughter won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding fiction. The excerpt of her latest novel, Abuse of Discretion, can be read by clicking the link: www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com/books/book-aod/index.html   So, take this time and get to know the wonderful writer and her current novel. 

​1.      Tell us a bit about Abuse of Discretion and the inspiration behind it.

I was talking to a law school classmate who was lamenting the fact that he had yet another teenage client facing life-altering consequences as a result of sexting. He’s a criminal defense attorney and he explained to me that children as young as 13 and 14 were being prosecuted for distributing child pornography after taking naked selfies and sending them to a classmates. I was floored when he told me that these children faced the possibility of having to register as sex offenders for the rest of their lives if convicted. I immediately knew this was a topic I wanted to address in a legal thriller and Abuse of Discretion was the result.
 
In the book, Graylin Alexander is a model fourteen year old. The naked picture that police find on his cell phone leads to his arrest and a journey into the criminal justice system that could change his life forever.
 
2.      As a young person, who did you look up to most?

I don’t think it was any one person. I looked up to my parents and teachers. I can also still remember reading The Blues Eyeand I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. They were among the first books I read that had African-American characters. So I’d have to say Maya Angelou as well.
 
3.      What were your hobbies as a kid? What are your hobbies now?

I was an avid reader as a kid and I continue to love books. Nowadays I mostly “read” audio books. It allows me to enjoy a book while I’m driving and working out. That continues to be my number one hobby.
 
4.      Where do you write your books?

I have a pretty cool home office with bright yellows walls, inspirational  words and a huge MAC screen. Outside my home, my favorite spot is at Panera Bread. I burrow into a corner and can write for hours.
 
5.      What is the best advice you have ever received about writing?

If you want to be a writer, then write.
 
6.      What do you do when you get writer’s block?

I turn to research or I read like a writer, meaning that while I’m reading, I examine the writing, the story structure and focus on things I like and dislike about the book.


7.      What would your readers be most surprised to learn about you?

That I love crocheting. I picked it up less than a year ago. It calms me down. So far, the only thing I know how to make is a scarf. LOL!
 
 
8.      Silly-Game question: From Abuse of Discretion (with your eyes close) could you please leaf through the pages and point at a random place. What is the full sentence? And what is the page number of this random sentence?
 
Page 107: Snatching a child is one thing, but kidnapping an adult—a lawyer no less—could present a whole host of problems.
 
9.      What do you hope readers will take away from Abuse of Discretion?

My primary goal in writing Abuse of Discretion was to educate parents and grandparents about the teen sexting epidemic and the very serious consequences our children face. Based on the book’s early reviews, I’ve achieved that goal. What I really want is for parents to sit down and talk to their teens about sexting. Education and frank conversation are key to saving our children from devastating legal consequences.
 
10.  In promoting your book Buying Time at The Mo’Nique Show (www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com/show/index.html), how was your experience at the show overall? Did you talk to Chili from TLC after the show?

The experience was amazing. I was nervous and worried that I would freeze up once the cameras were rolling. But Mo’Nique immediately put me at ease and it all went by in a flash. And nope, I didn’t get a chance to talk to Chili after the show. The audience was mobbing her.
           
11.   Congratulation for your book Anybody’s Daughter NAACP Image Award (Outstanding Literary Work), what did you do to celebrate? Where did you currently put your trophy?

My trophy is in my office, inches away from where I write. I enjoyed a great dinner with one of my best girlfriends.
 
12.   Your novels will make excellent movies on the big screen (and on television); have you contact anyone in the industry to option any of your stories?

I’ve been approached a few times, but nothing has materialized so far. I’m hopeful that once my books are better known, I’ll be able to sell TV and movie rights.
 
13.   You stated in your website that Tyler Perry’s 2010 NAACP Image Awards quote inspired you to self-publish your book; is there any other quote that has inspired you in general that you would like to share?

My favorite quote is “Dreams don’t work unless you do.”  That says it all.
 
14.   If Mr. Tyler Perry was interested in making one of your novels into a movie, which novel would you give him to do first?

Anybody’s Daughter for sure. I really want to shine a light on child sex trafficking. It’s going on all around us but most people don’t realize that.
 
15.   Do you have any pet? If so, which type?

Sorry, no pets.
 
16.  Last question, if you were forced to listening to one song, nonstop, for a whole day in your writing room, which song would you choose? 

 Queen Latifah’s version of California Dreamin’. 

​All the best to Ms. Pamela Samuels Young and all her writing endeavors for this new year. I hope you guys put this novel on your to-read pile this year. I really hope her works get noticed and perhaps adapted on the movie screen or television. Thanks once again for visiting my blog to read this interview. Take care and I hope you have a wonderful, blessed day. 
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