I met Eric Lahti through a Facebook group called Indie Author Support and Discussion. I was invited to join by another friend of mine that was already a member, and I wasn't too sure what I was doing, or whether I should post anything or not. When I eventually started posting Eric was one of the group that would always comment, be it advice, on more than one occasion :), general chatting, or support of some new venture I had tried. The one that stands out the most to me recently being my first ever try at making a book trailer, which I posted up for opinions. Eric was one of the first to let me know he thought it was great for a first go, and that I should have been really pleased with it. And, let me tell you, coming from Eric, it meant a great deal. Eric grew up in northwest New Mexico, where he spent his time searching for UFO's and buried treasure, which he says he didn't find but I can't help wondering. When he's not writing he's programming, something the tech challenged part of me is jealous about, or he's practicing Kenpo (you will find out exactly what that is a little later on). He is a very talented author, and though I haven't yet had the privilege of reading one of his books (something I will rectify when I replace my dead kindle), I have heard a lot of people comment on how much they enjoy them (which makes me even more annoyed that I can't just yet). He also designs all of his covers, bringing together some amazing imagery that really stands out and catches the eye, and makes his book recognizable and completely his. I also know he has a wicked sense of humour, and on more than one occasion has had the group in uproar with something he's said, or a response to someone else's post, but, you're guaranteed to be smiling along with him. Here is what Eric Lahti has to say... Why did you decide you wanted to become a writer? I was sitting on the couch in the middle of the hottest part of an Albuquerque summer playing the same game for the third or fourth time and just got frustrated with my life. I’d been kicking around the basic plot of Henchmen, but had never written a book before. Against my better judgement I started writing. I guess the bottom line was I wanted to create something rather than just consuming stuff. What was the thing that drove you the most to do so? Curiosity, I guess. I wanted to see if I could do it. I’ve gotten good feedback, so I’ve just kept going since then. How long have you been writing? I started in July of 2013. Why did you pick the genre/s that you have? I like the idea that lurking just behind the normal world is something wonder and terrifying. It’s the blend of eating Asian noodles one night and finding a god the next that makes thing interesting. Who is your favourite character, and why? Of the ones I’ve written, I really like Felix Crow. He’s a scoundrel, a drunk, and prone to violent tendencies when he’s pushed into a corner, but his heart is mostly in the right place. Do you have any particular quirks when writing? Not really. I usually write after my son goes to bed. Kick back on the couch, prop my laptop on my legs and write while watching TV. What does your family think of your work? Most of my work isn’t exactly appropriate for my son. He’s only nine. But he has read one of the stories I put together for the children’s anthology IASD is putting together. My wife has enjoyed some of what I’ve written, but I don’t think she and I exactly share the same tastes in stories. Do you belong to any writing groups? The Indie Author Support & Discussion group on Facebook and the Sci-Fi and Fantasy group on Facebook. How do you deal with writers block? I’m currently working on three things at a time. After about 5k words in one, I switch over to the next. It doesn’t really give me much time to develop writer’s block. What would you say is the most difficult part of writing? It takes a huge amount of dedication and time. You have to scrape some time out of the day to write and still balance family, work, exercise, and all those other things that are part of day-to-day life. What do you enjoy the most about writing? It’s very much a chance to explore. I imagine everyone tells themselves stories about what they see and do. I get the opportunity to write those things down. Where do you find your inspiration? Drive around town sometime and look at the world. Really look at it. Wonder what that person skateboarding down the sidewalk carrying an armload of groceries is doing or what’s behind that building. I love to wander to through alleys and behind stores and see things that no one else bothers to look at. Some of those places wind up in stories, sometimes it’s just the general feel of a place that winds up in a story. Sometimes it’s dreams. One whole story in The Clock Man – The Protectors – came straight from a dream I had. Are your characters based on anyone you know? I try to avoid doing that. It’s too easy to offend someone. One character in Arise had the same name as a guy I worked with. I had to assure him – the guy, not the character – that I wasn’t basing anything on him as a person. The only character that was actively based on someone had a part in the Clock Man. I hope she enjoyed it. What do you do in your spare time to relax? I practice and teach Kenpo. It’s a kind of American, Japanese, Chinese blend martial art. Oddly enough, I also write to relax. What do you like to read? I enjoy sci-fi, urban fantasy, crime fiction, things like that. One of my favourite books (interesting – I had to spell favourite with the British spelling or Word thought it was spelled wrong even though I’m writing this in the US) is Heinlein’s Starship Troopers. For all its fluff and bluster about the military, it’s a surprisingly deep look at the idea of duty and dedication. Who is your favourite author? I’ve really enjoyed Clifford Stoll’s works. He blends Lovecraftian mythos with a modern-day intelligence organization. Where are your books available? Right now I’m exclusively on Amazon. I tried Smashwords, which redistributed everything to B&N, iTunes, and a handful of other places, but I never got much out of it. I pulled everything and stuck it all on Amazon so I could use KDP Select’s extra features. What are you working on right now? I’ve got the third book in the Henchmen series, the first in a slightly futuristic dystopian series, and the first of an ongoing set of shorter (15k-20k word) stories focusing on one of the characters in Henchmen. What is your ultimate goal? Keep enjoying what I do. It would be nice to make enough money to do it for a living, but that’s a ways off. Do you have a favourite film? And if so what is it? I know I’m supposed to come up with some obscure foreign film that was hailed as a philosophical masterpiece, but I’d have to say it’s a toss-up between Predator and John Woo’s The Killer. Predator is basically a modern-day retelling of Beowulf and the ballet of violence in The Killer is just too much fun to pass up. Here is how you can find Eric Lahti Twitter: @ericlahti1 Website: ericlahti.com Blog: ericlahti.wordpress.com FB Author Page: www.facebook.com/ericlahtiauthor Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Eric-Lahti I'd like to take this last moment to thank Eric once again for agreeing to an interview, and answering all the questions I sent him. I hope you will take the time to follow him on any of the links provided above, or, better yet, shoot on over to Amazon and pick up a copy or two of his books. You'll beat me, and I'll be jealous, but you won't be disappointed. So once again, thank you Eric Lahti.
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I met Moctezuma Johnson (here-on known as MJ) on one of my many Twitter forays. I found him quite the character to be honest, and, more often than not, very amusing. He speaks exactly how he finds, being very open and forthright, and is not one to pull any of his punches. Nothing is taboo, he'll pretty much post anything that comes to mind, controversial or not, but he is highly entertaining and a one of a kind person, at least I haven't met anyone else quite like him. MJ writes, what he tells me he and a friend came up with, smutpunk. I have to be honest and say I don't quite understand what it means, but I do know it is a kind of erotica, though maybe a little more hardcore. He has assured me he has kept the interview as clean as he could/would :) so, if you find you're not quite as open minded as you think, then you might not want to read further, but before you make that decision think to yourself "Do I really want to miss out on getting to know one really colourful person?". Me personally, well I just couldn't resist! Here is what Moctezuma Johnson had to say... Why did you decide you wanted to become a writer? I really like coffee and was sick of working at Starbucks. That’s partly true but there’s background. I worked at Starbucks during my final year at university. I had always been writing. I was lucky enough to score a job as a journalist in NYC, so I finally quit Starbucks and my other part-time job (and I swear to you I invented the Chai Latte but that’s a story for another day). How long have you been writing? I was a journalist straight out of college in the late 90s so a long time. I guess about 30 years. I’m still very much a novice. I’d say I’ll be okay in a few decades. Why did you pick the genre/s that you have? I have no idea what genre I belong in, if any at all. That’s why Callie Press and I have been calling it smutpunk. It’s kind of the illegitimate child between splatterpunk and cyberpunk. I’ve written many different kinds of things over the years, so it’s hard to say for sure. I just write and then try to market it, but no category has ever felt exactly right to me. Each category has been like trying to wear someone else’s underwear. Who is your favourite character, and why? I like Haroun from Haroun and the Sea of Stories. He’s so full of wonder. Wonder is good. Do you have any particular quirks when writing? Yes, I usually find I am rubbing myself in an unmentionable part unconsciously with one hand. Well, that’s not really a quirk since I do that most of the time. Just a normal male habit, I guess. I also find that I use words I don’t know and then look them up and find I have used them pretty well. I guess Chomsky is correct, our competence is higher than our performance, and writing is a bizarre performance that lets you tap your full competence. Brilliant, really. What does your family think of your work? Ha ha ha, I don’t think that question is to me. You must mean the author behind me. Rose, answer that please. Rose? How do you deal with writer's block? I just write my way into and out of it. I sit and start writing. Even if I’m only writing how to cook an egg over medium or what I’d like to be writing. Sometimes I’ll write about what I’d like a book to mean and then I’m off. What would you say is the most difficult part of writing? Weening myself off social media, which I find more and more laborious, inconvenient, and useless. Have you ever heard of the 80/20 rule? The conventional wisdom is to use 20% of your time to get 80% of your results but with social media I easily have wasted 80% of my time. Recently I’m using lots of bots, surrogates, and other ways to not really get roped in. It’s very time consuming and usually annoys me. What do you enjoy the most about writing? I enjoy being unshaven and dressed in my underwear. I enjoy that a lot. Even when I was running a bar that was often my attire. Most of all, I’d say I enjoy the coffee. I drink copious amounts of black coffee and espressos. I’ve quit drinking and need to have at least one vice. Where do you find your inspiration? Everywhere. I go for walks. I don’t go for walks like normal people. I go for slow, staring walks. I have the double whammy of being a writer and being Latino so I think nothing of staring people down. I don’t mean to be rude. It’s just my nature. I get a lot of information that way. I also ask people questions. I talk with everybody and her grandmother. Are your characters based on anyone you know? I realize you often write about extraterrestrials with universe-destroying powers, so I hope not. Yes. My wife. What do you do in your spare time to relax? I write. I work out. I make espresso. What do you like to read? I like comics and literature. I basically never read any genre writing although I’m enjoying it more and more since I’m reading other contemporary writers. I like Julio Cortazar and Italo Calvino a lot, especially Calvino as I get older. His plots are the best I’ve ever seen. I’m also a fan of many Latino writers, namely Borges. That said, whatever I’m reading at the moment is the best book ever in my opinion because reading is awesomely powerful. The other reason I like Calvino so much is that you could never make his books into a movie (at least not now with today’s limited technology). Where are your books available? You can get my books on my site moctezumajohnson.com or on Amazon under my name or “smutpunk”. Or you can join my mailing list and nab a freebie: http://bit.ly/FreeBookFromMJ What are you working on right now? I write many books at once. I guess, that’s another reason I don’t get writer’s block too often. I just move to another file. I work online so I can easily pop around. I normally have forty windows open. My computer hates me because I work it to the bone. Today I’m working on an alternative history, a memoir (the more I talk with other people the more I realize my actual life has been pretty thrilling), a how-to book about sex for men (and nosy women), various one wank wonders (yes, that’s the proper term), and smutpunk. What is your ultimate goal? I have absolutely no idea. Probably to be the politician who finally bans guns in the United States. Do you have a favourite film? And if so what is it? The Royal Tenenbaums (The Grand Budapest Hotel is a close second) but Royal is so similar to my father that I can’t resist this movie. Thank you, Sallyann for asking me these wonderful questions. It has been a pleasure chatting away with you. Here is where you can find Moctezuma Johnson Website: http://moctezumajohnson.com Twitter: @smutpunk_author Mailing List: http://bit.ly/FreeBookFromMJ I'd like to finish the my interview firstly by saying it was a pleasure MJ, I had a great deal of fun getting to know you and getting into your mind a little, and I'm sure a lot of my readers and followers will enjoy the insight as well. And, secondly, to all my readers and followers, if you enjoyed this interview with Moctezuma Johnson enough to read to the end then you may want to learn more about him by using one of the links he was kind enough to provide above. I'm sure he wouldn't mind answering any questions you might have, and you might just find that, like me, you enjoy his brash and intense humour intriguing. Once again, thank you MJ, for taking the time to answer my questions and being willing to take part in an interview. I met Nico Laeser when we both embarked on the same charity project. We both wrote a short story for the You're Not Alone anthology, where all the proceeds go to the Macmillan Cancer Foundation. We are also both members of the IASD (Indie Author Support and Discussion) group where I've spoken to him a few times, and this was where I found out just how very much of a talented a man he is. Not only does Nico write but he designs all his book covers as well, and let me tell you something, they are beautiful. Yes, this talented man is also an artist, as well as a whiz at formatting. And if that wasn't enough, he's also willing to lend a helping hand to anyone who needs it. Be it advice, a second opinion, or even offering to work on whatever you need. He really is one of the good guys! If I didn't like him so much I'd be tempted to shoot him for my jealousies! (Don't worry Nico, you're safe ;)). Here is what Nico Laeser had to say... Why did you decide you wanted to become a writer? I’ve always enjoyed reading, and have always dreamed in story format (beginning, middle, end, story arc, characters … etc) Becoming a writer seemed like a logical step, and hopefully I can do those dreamed stories justice. Story-telling is important, it is the way we communicate. As a species, we have passed down knowledge through stories and art—I think the need to tell stories is instinctive and inherent in all of us. In casual conversation, we embellish events from our lives—retelling, refining and emphasizing the parts that best convey the story or the parts that provoke the desired reaction—eventually those stories become anecdotal, partly, or mostly, fictional tales. We all have those stories we break out at parties—it seems a natural progression to take it a step further and to write fiction. Even in fiction, there are fine threads of truth holding the story together. What was the thing that drove you the most to do so? I have a backlog of stories in my mind. They never seem to go or fade, but only improve and expand. Once the stories are written down then I can forget them and make some much needed room in my mind. My mind could be featured on an episode of one of those ‘hoarding’ shows. I’m just performing a little mental spring cleaning. (Of course, this never works—I finish one and two spring up in its place. It’s like cutting off the head of a Hydra) How long have you been writing? I’ve always written, whether it was lyrics, poetry, short stories, novellas … but I made a decision to study the craft and to refine my writing only a few years ago. I began writing a novel around seven or eight years ago (maybe more) and procrastinated, stopped, started again … I decided to push through it—good or bad, I would finish it. I finished that novel, and that was a huge milestone. It was terrible, and needed to be completely rewritten several times, but each new draft taught me something new about the craft, and eventually it became a novel that I am still proud of—it was my greatest writing teacher. (… and it wasn’t the first novel I published) Why did you pick the genre/s that you have? I honestly don’t worry about genre. I read in a wide variety of genres and enjoy most. I write whichever story excites me the most, whether it is Science Fiction, or Literary, or Dark Comedy, is unimportant to the story. I’ve always disliked labels, and although I realize that genre is the best way to find an audience and to market the work, I find it hard to stay in any one box—boxes can suffocate a creative mind. Who is your favourite character, and why? In one of my current projects, several of the supporting characters have been screaming for their own book, and I have agreed to write it. They are comic-book store employees—role-playing, sweat-pants-wearing, mother’s basement-dwelling nerds, and they have asked me to write an Epic Fantasy with them as the band of heroes. Do you have any particular quirks when writing? Caffeine, ear plugs, dark glasses, and hood or hat—Sensory deprivation helps my focus. Do you belong to any writing groups? And if so what do you think are the pros and cons? I am a member of several online writer’s groups, and the benefit is massive—if for nothing more than sharing space with people who understand the highs and lows, the joys and difficulties of writing. No one knows the feeling of typing “The End” until they have done so. I’ve found many great authors through online writer’s groups too. (*Waves to all members of IASD ;-) How do you deal with writers block? If I don’t know what to write, I just write garbage until I figure out what I’m doing. It’s like cleaning out old pipes—turn on the tap and let it run until the water runs clear. What would you say is the most difficult part of writing? The next word What do you enjoy the most about writing? Art, music, and literature are the closest things that we have to real magic. The ability to create something entirely new and from almost nothing—a literary rabbit pulled out of an imaginary hat. It’s a great feeling to know that somethings exist in the world only because you made it. Where do you find your inspiration? My muse is nocturnal—it whispers to me while I’m sleeping. I wake up and jot down ideas, then go back to sleep. Stories often invade meditation too, but I just go with it—it’s like being at the movie theatre. My dreams are often lucid, so I have directorial credit. Are your characters based on anyone you know? Not specifically, although a few have adopted behaviours, quirks, and traits of people I have known. Subconsciously, I think we (writers) all draw from personal experience, and our characters are often based on facets of, or proposed deficits of, our own personality—What would I do in this situation if I had no fear, no remorse, an overactive sense of dread, or if I had the ability to set people on fire with the click of my fingers … etc. What do you do in your spare time to relax? Tell me more about this thing you call “Spare time.” I like to paint, write & play music. You can see my artwork and listen to my musical ramblings on my website: Where are your books available? I can be found in a few different places, but Amazon is my primary distributer. Here are my universal links: http://Author.to/NicoLaeser http://mybook.to/SkinCage http://mybook.to/infinity http://mybook.to/Harmonic1 What are you working on right now? I’ve just finished the first draft of a novel titled, “Enablers Anonymous,” which is a dark comedy about a man with questionable morals, and I’m currently working on *four separate novels. *One is the follow-up to Harmonic: Resonance, titled, “Harmonic: Dissonance,” which will answer the question I get most often about a certain male character from the first book. *I’m also working on a literary novel, “Snap,” which is a tragic drama set in an American high school in the 80s. * … “Vicarious” is a science-fiction/cyber thriller about a mediocre writer with some amazing technological toys. * … “Surrogate” is a science-fiction/dystopian novel about a diseased boy/man in a special suit. What is your ultimate goal? I’d like to leave behind a body of work that is honest and worthwhile—a back catalogue that my children and their children can be proud of. Hopefully they can make a little pocket money from the royalties. To be honest, I don’t expect to make a phenomenal amount of money from writing, but it is something that I have to do to—I’m like a bottle of soda, constantly being shaken around, I need to slowly pour it out or eventually I’ll go flat … or explode. I hope to build a catalogue before gaining any substantial recognition, so that my work remains honest and doesn’t fall victim of the need to please. (It’s as good a reason as any to keep me happy in the shadows) Here is how you can find Nico Laeser Twitter: @nicolaeser Facebook: www.facebook.com/Nico-Laeser Website: NicoLaeser.com I'd like to take this last moment to thank Nico for being willing to be interviewed, and for taking the time out of what I know to be a busy schedule to get back to me. And, though I'd like to lock him in a cage so I would have my own Mr Fixit when it comes to covers and everything else, I hope you will join me in wishing him all the very best for the future in whatever he decides to make of it. It's just as well I know Nico has a sense of humour, and I know he will take my comments in the light hearted manner they are meant, though he may tease me about it later :). I'll leave you here with a little bit of advice from me to you. Pop on over to Amazon and pick up a copy of one of Nico's book, I'd bet my bottom dollar you'd go back for more, and don't forget to check out his seriously outstanding artwork on his website, along with following him on his Twitter and Facebook accounts. Once again Nico Laeser, thank you. I met Tom Benson through a Facebook writing group almost two years ago that is now called Indie Author Support and Discussion. I was new to the group and Tom always held out a hand of welcome and kind words of support, in fact it was Tom who took a look at the first chapter of my book and pointed out a few rules I should follow when editing. I know I wasn't the only one Tom helped back then, and I know he's still doing it now. He's also one of the talented admin of the new Indie Author Support and Discussion website, where you will find an amazing array of new and upcoming authors of every genre you could think of, along with tips on everything from writing to marketing and all that falls between. Tom's writing career started in 2007 and since then has written a multitude of works, from novels, to short stories for anthologies (which I had the pleasure of working with him on one called You Are Not Alone in aid of MacMillan Cancer Care), and even some poetry. For many years Tom served in the British Army, finishing his career there as Staff Sergeant before breaking in to Retail Management, both positions of which Tom believes taught him about human relationships and what matters most in life. Here is what Tom Benson had to say... Why did you decide you wanted to become a writer? During my army career which ended in 1992. Towards the end of my 23 years I had a yearning to write my military memoirs – similar to an autobiography. I followed my military life with a career in retail management, and occasionally relaxed by scribbling scenes on a notepad. I knew the urge to write was still with me. Now, having a stable of titles behind me, I’m finally working on that first idea, but it is fact-based fiction in five parts. What was the thing that drove you the most to do so? I had a head full of ideas, and I’d enjoyed reading most of my life. I believe the vast majority of service personnel become storytellers. The natural progression if you enjoy such a thing is to fulfil your potential and get ideas down in print. How long have you been writing? Since 2007, although then I was trying my hand at poetry, and after a few hundred poems I experimented with short stories before moving on to novels. Why did you pick the genre/s that you have? Whether it is a short story, or a novel, and whether it be thriller or erotica, I imagine myself in the situations, or I have the desire to play judge and jury. Imagination is a bonus, but I believe having life experience is helpful in a writer’s work. Working from a memory creates an integral authenticity. I have no control over the real situations in today’s world, but I can be on hand in my worlds, and bad guys get what’s coming to them. Who is your favourite character, and why? My favourite male character is Phil McKenzie (Hawk) from the Beyond The Law stories, which will have a third one added this year. My favourite female character is Annabel Strong who plays Hawk’s sidekick. Annabel is hot on so many levels and deadly too. Do you have any particular quirks when writing? If I’m writing an action scene I get out of my chair and choreograph the character’s movements. This is usually in cases where there is shooting, fighting, or a scene where the physical description must work fluidly in words. I make brief notes as I realise complications. My aim is to make the scene feel like a movie – not an instruction manual. If I find a character, a piece of dialogue, or a scene which doesn’t work well enough, I cut it out – but I save it to a file full of similar ‘cuts’. What does your family think of your work? Neither my wife, nor my son (who lives on mainland Europe) have ever read any of my work. To the best of my knowledge, neither has my mother, or any of my five siblings. Do you belong to any writing groups? And if so what do you think are the pros and cons? I attended a local writing group a few years ago, and within three seasons realised there was a dependency on mutual back-slapping. They were lovely people, but improvement is about effort and integrity, not being nice. I’ve been a member of a variety of online groups. I presently belong to the best online writing group I’ve come across – the Indie Author Support and Discussion group. What’s so good about it? It’s international, and does what it says on the tin. How do you deal with writers block? I rarely suffer from this mysterious affliction, but when I find myself pausing over the notepad or the keyboard, I change to a different scene, or a different project. What would you say is the most difficult part of writing? Editing with honesty is key. To be a writer of a decent standard I believe we have to be able to wipe out words, sentences, paragraphs, and characters without worry. A passage should not be in a story because the writer likes it. Every word must have a purpose. What do you enjoy the most about writing? I enjoy developing something from a simple idea. Whether it is a novel, or a short story I imagine a situation and write. While I’m writing the notes my ideas are blossoming, so I will occasionally stop and scribble a note on my pad, perhaps a name, location, or weapon. Where do you find your inspiration? I find inspiration in every part of every day. I’ve thought of romantic or erotic scenes while cycling to work. I’ve imagined car chases when I’ve been on holiday and driving in the countryside. I’ve imagined clandestine meetings and murders while in a cafe having coffee. A lot of my inspiration has come from life experiences. Are your characters based on anyone you know? My primary character in Beyond The Law, Phil McKenzie, is loosely based on the author Chris Ryan. He wrote the factual and thrilling novel ‘The One That Got Away’. He was the only member of an SAS team who escaped from behind enemy lines in Iraq in 1991. Phil McKenzie’s sidekick Annabel Strong is based (in appearance only) on a woman who worked in a jewellery store opposite where I worked several years ago. The main character in my five-part novel ‘A Life of Choice’ is based on me. What do you do in your spare time to relax? I read, draw, paint and occasionally cycle or go for a walk in woodland which always inspires me. When conducting any of these activities I daydream, and when possible I make notes. I’m never without notebook and pen. What do you like to read? Adventure, thrillers, military, and espionage are my favourites. I’ve enjoyed some fantasy and paranormal in recent times. I read some erotica which was so bad it inspired me to write my short story anthology and novel in the genre. Who is your favourite author? Wilbur Smith is my favourite, although I enjoy several. Where are your books available? Only on Amazon - presently as eBooks. What are you working on right now? The second part of a five-part novel. The third novel in a series of three. Two different anthologies of short stories. Two short stories for different IASD anthologies. Guiding / mentoring a new novelist with his debut novel. I strive to keep the WIP updated on my blog and website. What is your ultimate goal? To be successful - which doesn’t mean rich. I’d like to earn a steady modest income from my writing. Do you have a favourite film? And if so what is it? ‘Death Wish’ starring Charles Bronson. Here is how you can find Tom Benson Website's: www.tombensonauthor.com www.tom-benson.co.uk www.tombensoncreative.com FaceBook: TomBenson.Writer Twitter: @TomBensonWriter Google: TomBensonWriter Stumble: TomTheWriter And of course at the Indie Author Support and Discussion Website. This was the last thing Tom said at the end of our interview... I’d like to thank you Sallyann for the opportunity to take part in your interview, and for good questions. My response to this has to be, it was an absolute pleasure! I thoroughly enjoyed having a little insight into Tom's mind, a man that has a wonderfully giving nature and the patience of a saint, and believe me, dealing with so many authors to get them all satisfied with what's going on with the new site is never an easy task, Tom would have needed all his patience at some point. Tom started out as an acquaintance, quickly becoming someone that would answer this newbie's questions (trust me some still make me flinch at how naive I was back then) without ever making me feel I was any less than he was. Now I am honoured to call him friend, and can only hope he looks at me the same way. Please take the time to follow, friend, or visit Tom at any one of his links above, and please pop on over to Amazon and pick up one of his works. You won't be disappointed you did, and do please remember to leave a review ;) Once again, thank you Tom Benson for taking the time to interview with me. I met Fletcher Brown when I first opened my own Twitter account. I was nervous of the whole thing, and pretty unsure what I was doing. Fletcher was one of the first people I followed who followed me back, and his light hearted easy manner helped me settle in to the unknown workings of the Twitter universe. I've known him almost two years now and we speak regularly, I guess you could say we know a couple of each other's secrets ;), shh! Don't tell. I admire his work dedication along with his wicked sense of humour that just emerges when you get to know him. Fletcher is an erotic stories writer, which began when he wrote them for fun for friends, and it was one of those friends that encouraged him to go the publishing route. I know I for one am glad that he did because his stories are well written, easily flowing, and above all steamy hot. Here is what Fletcher Brown had to say... Why did you decide you wanted to become a writer? Aside from the fact that writing was my favourite subject in school, I find that it’s the best way for me to convey my thoughts, feelings, and ideas. What was the thing that drove you the most to do so? I used to write erotic short stories to a friend in Sweden and she suggested that I seek publication. How long have you been writing? I’ve been writing all my life but I’ve only been a published author for the past 3 years. Why did you pick the genre/s that you have? The reaction I got out of my friend convinced me to write erotica but I want to branch out to other genres as well. Who is your favourite character, and why? Damien in 2 o’clock Sexperience Vol 2. I like that character because he is devious, smart, and cunning beating the Psychologist at her own game. Do you have any particular quirks when writing? Yes. Sometimes when I have writers block, I pace back and forth in my office trying to decide how to move the story forward. What does your family think of your work? My children think its cool and are very supportive of my writing. Do you belong to any writing groups? And if so what do you think are the pros and cons? No I don’t currently belong to any writing groups. How do you deal with writers block? By pacing back and forth in my office. Sometimes I’ll walk away from it and if I can’t push through it, I’ll start all over. What would you say is the most difficult part of writing? For me the most difficult part of writing is picking up where I left off. I will read what I’ve already written so that I can regain the feeling and flow of the story. What do you enjoy the most about writing? Bringing interesting characters to life and tossing them head-long into outrageous situations! I also enjoy the feedback. The positive because well…who doesn’t love praise? And the negative because constructive criticism will make me a better writer. Where do you find your inspiration? From my experiences, my devious mind, and my love of storytelling. Are your characters based on anyone you know? Yes. Welcome to Stockholm Sexperience Vol 1 is the true short story of my meeting a friend from Sweden in a chat room and our inevitable sexual encounter years later. What do you do in your spare time to relax? I like to work out, read, listen to music, jot down random ideas, or watch a good movie. What do you like to read? Erotica, history, Financial Times Who is your favourite author? James Patterson Where are your books available? My books are available on Amazon. What are you working on right now? Sexperience Vol 3 which will be five unrelated short stories including one from my time contracting for the White House. It will also feature my first collaboration with Welsh Erotica Author Dakota Storm in America’s Best! What is your ultimate goal? Right now I’m working with a media group who’s interesting in turning my short stories into a television series. Do you have a favourite film? And if so what is it? Yes. The Usual Suspects. Great film that keeps you guessing until the very end! Here is how you can find Fletcher Brown Website: www.fbrownebooks.com/ Amazon: www.amazon.com/Fletcher-Brown/e/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/fbrownebooks FaceBook: www.facebook.com/FBrownebooks I'd like to take this last moment to thank Fletcher for his time, and patience, in answering my questions and being a willing participant in my interviewing progress. I hope you'll take the time to follow Fletcher on Twitter, or Facebook, or check out his site, maybe even pop on over to Amazon and pick up one of his hot and steamy reads, but please remember to leave a review, it's the best compliment you could pay an author. Once again, thank you Fletcher Brown. I met Stephen Pellow through Twitter. We started to talk and found out we both hailed from the UK, though many miles apart, and a true friendship was born. Stephen is one of those rare finds of people, he's polite, kind, very much a gentleman, and will always help wherever, and whenever, he can. I really count myself blessed to be classed as one of his friends. Stephen is a creative writer, loves reading comic books, sci-fi, and fantasy, is a WWE Universe member, and a big fan of all things Disney (aren't we all?). In May of 2000 Stephen's web site was awarded the title of "Link of the day" by the User Friendly site. On his site Stephen created a template of a pair of boxer shorts, yes, as in the underwear kind, and asked people to design them however they wanted before emailing them back to him to put on a gallery on his site. What a geinus idea! Not only did he get people to explore their creative sides, he also made it fun to do. Would you like a look? Then pop on over to Stephen's Design-a-pants Gallery. This is what Stephen Pellow had to say... Why did you decide you wanted to become a writer? I don’t think I ever consciously made a decision to become a writer; it’s just been something I’ve always done, from a very young age. I guess I started getting really serious about it when I was doing my A-Levels and I wrote my first sci-fi novella. After that I took a correspondence creative writing course with the aim of getting into print but things didn’t quite work out that way! What was the thing that drove you the most to do so? I can’t sing, dance, play an instrument, draw, paint, sculpt… make origami… so writing is my one creative outlet. All these things that swim around in my head have to go somewhere, so pen and paper it is! How long have you been writing? I’m 38 now, but can’t remember a how old I was when I picked up a pencil! There were a few years where I unfortunately didn’t/couldn’t write but on and off I’d say a total of 20 years. I got back into it a little over 4 years ago. Why did you pick the genre/s that you have? I grew up on a healthy diet of sci-fi movies and TV shows. Star Trek. Doctor Who. Star Wars. So the genres sort of picked me, rather than me choosing them. I read exclusively horror and fantasy. Clive Barker, Stephen King, Terry Pratchett and Robert Rankin. So early on it was sci-fi or fantasy but now it’s more reality based with just tinges of these genres. Who is your favourite character, and why? Favourite character of mine? Answering this wouldn’t mean anything to anyone aside from a few people nobody knows about them… yet. There is one I’ve been working on for a long time and while certain facts around him have changed during the process of creating the story, at his core he’s remained the same character and I’m very proud of inventing him. Do you have any particular quirks when writing? Probably, but not knowingly! Maybe that I prefer to write initially with pen (or pencil) and paper. A large majority of what I’ve written has never made it to a word processor. What does your family think of your work? My mum was my biggest supporter. She really encouraged me to explore writing once I had finished my A-Levels and she paid for the correspondence course I took. My brother and dad care, but don’t show a great deal of interest. To date my dad has not read, or asked about, anything I’ve written. My brother has read one that I know of. Do you belong to any writing groups? And if so what do you think are the pros and cons? I belong to a writing group called Storyslingers based locally in Shaftesbury, Dorset. It’s largely informal, very welcoming and friendly. I started going just over 4 years ago and until that point I hadn’t been writing for quite a long time. I don’t like to think that I had given up on it, but in truth if I hadn’t said yes to a friend and gone along to that first meeting on 1st November 2011 I might still have not got back to it. The best thing is obviously the support, advice and encouragement you receive (and share back). I’ve met people I would never have otherwise met and become good friends with a few as well. The cons are few and I’d think it’s the same with any group of this kind. Sometimes “real life” gets in the way and people can’t make it to meetings. You can go weeks or even months without seeing some members. Or there are times when the group can lose focus and things get disorganised a bit. But there is no denying the positive impact Storyslingers has had on not just my writing, but also my life in general. How do you deal with writers block? I journal. I pick a life event, or even just what happened that week, and write it up. It just gets words out and flowing. Some have become the basis of stories, an element or two has been used elsewhere from time to time. Largely though it ends up rather too private or personal to ever see the light of day! What would you say is the most difficult part of writing? Actually writing. When I do it I like to think I’m pretty good, but it takes A LOT for me to get to the point of actually sitting down and getting it done. No matter how well I can have it formed in my head, actually getting it down on paper can be a big struggle for me. What do you enjoy the most about writing? Those little moments where I dare to imagine I’ve actually just created something new and unique! Or just the realisation that something that’s been rattling around in my head for weeks or months has finally found somewhere else to live. I just love coming up with stories. Where do you find your inspiration? In the bath. I’m always coming up with stuff in the bath. Seriously though, I think it goes back to the movies and TV I grew up with. All that science fiction just expanded my mind and left me receptive to so much. Also my dissatisfaction with other stories, be it from any medium. On screen, books or video games – several ideas have started from how I thought something could have been executed a little differently. With music, some I listen to there may be a lyric that could send me off in a direction I wasn’t expecting or the style may influence the tone of what I want to write. Are your characters based on anyone you know? Ha! Well the actions of someone I know may inform some of my characters but outright based on, no. I do “cast” a lot of my stories with actors, musicians, models etc. to help me write them but nobody directly from real life. What do you do in your spare time to relax? I have a full time job so writing is what I like to do in my spare time! For me it would be defined as a hobby but that doesn’t mean I don’t take it seriously or lack ambition. I, of course, read and watch far too many TV shows and movies. I play video games. I enjoy walking (although not so much in the winter) and spending time in the company of a few special people. I’m also a passionate WWE fan and lover of all things Disney. It all adds up to a lot of procrastination! What do you like to read? These days it seems to be exclusively the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child, interspersed with the odd sci-fi novel for good measure. Not as much fantasy or horror as I used to. There is also the work of the wonderful writers I’ve met, or am in contact with, regardless of the genre! Who is your favourite author? A tough question but I’m going to have to answer with Terry Pratchett for the impact his work has had on me, not necessarily reflected in my writing I hasten to add! Where are your books available? They aren’t yet! Last year I published a flash fiction story to Inkitt as part of their “Shiver” competition which is the first time any fiction I have written has been made public. I’m sure most writers wouldn’t have second guessed sharing like that but it was a pretty big step for me! There are also some past issues of Trucking magazine that feature DVD and CD reviews I’ve written. What are you working on right now? The on again/off again novel broken up with flash fiction and short stories here and there. What is your ultimate goal? I just want to keep writing, and to enjoy doing so. If opportunities become available to take it further then that would be great. The dream would be to develop an original IP that had the potential to become a franchise. I would love to be able to afford the time to wholly focus on writing. I do have ambition, but I’m also a realist! Do you have a favourite film? And if so what is it? The answer can change at a moments notice with me, but I always end up back at Die Hard. When it does change to something else, you can pretty much guarantee it’s from the 80’s or early 90’s. Here is how you can find Stephen Pellow Website: To come Twitter: @Stephen_Pellow Storyslingers Blog: www.storyslingers.wordpress.com I'd like to take a moment to thank Stephen for his time, and his patience, to answer my question, and for being a willing interviewee for my blog. It has been an honour to get to know him during the interview, as well as in real life, and I'm sure you'll join me in wishing him all the very best for his future endeavours, and I also hope you will join me in following such a charming, friendly, and down to earth man on Twitter. I can promise you you won't regret it! So, once again, thank you Stephen Pellow. Amie Irene Winters is a very diversified lady. She's had a multitude of wonderfully intriguing jobs, from Park Ranger to Archaeologist, and is also the author of the Strange Luck series. I met Amie through a little bit of luck, and an e-mail, and I find she is a girl after my own heart. Yes, another dog lover, and a self-admitted chocoholic. Amie married her High School sweetheart and spends a great deal of time outdoors, but she also does something I've never been able to get quite right, she bakes desserts! I have to say I am grateful she agreed to interview with me, and now I'd like to pass a little insight into Aimie on to you. This is what Amie had to say... Why did you decide you wanted to become a writer? Writing books full-time never entered my mind until I completed my bachelors in anthropology and religious studies, masters in environmental leadership, and an eight-day wilderness solo in the Rocky Mountains. After having tried a variety of unique jobs - from park ranger, grant writer, natural history curator, to archaeologist - did I start to experiment with writing fiction as a career. I can’t imagine a more perfect job for me. I love the flexibility and creative freedom. What was the thing that drove you the most to do so? Having the opportunity to explore the mind, memories, and what it means to be a good person through creative fiction. Why did you pick the genre/s that you have? When I starting writing my debut novel, Strange Luck, I didn’t have a particular genre in mind. I just wrote the story that I needed to tell. It wasn’t until much later that I realized I had written a YA Fantasy book. Who is your favourite character, and why? I tend to always root for the villain, so I would say that the entity was my favorite character. Since he is a dark wizard, his powers are limitless, so it was a lot of fun coming up with magical, strange things he could do. Do you have any particular quirks when writing? Chocolate is a must…and a good cup of tea. What does your family think of your work? Everyone has been very supportive of my writing. One of the best compliments I’ve ever received though is that my dad (who is not a fiction reader at all, nor a reader of books in general) actually read the whole thing! Not only that, he kept calling me for weeks after he finished it asking questions about the story and how I got my ideas. How do you deal with writers block? Neil Gaiman put it perfectly when he said, "This is how you do it: You sit at the keyboard and you put one word after another until it's done. It's that easy, and that hard." These are certainly some words to live by and I am constantly fine-tuning my process and figuring out what works best for me. In general, if I have writers block I’ll go for a walk, talk with a friend, or go see a movie. Studies show that distractions can usualy be good for creative thinking. I also carry around a notebook with me at all times if I get any ideas. What would you say is the most difficult part of writing? Connecting loopholes. You can plot, organize, and storyboard a book a thousand times, but there will still be loopholes. That’s why it’s extremely important to let other people read your work, especially a professional editor. When you are so close to something it’s very easy to overlook holes in your story. Are your characters based on anyone you know? Yes! Daisy Darling is based on my own thoughts and experiences, especially the desire to pursue her dream of writing. We share a lot of little quirk like over-analyzing, competitiveness, a crippling addiction to chocolate, oh, and being incredibly stubborn. Fun fact: I was actually born with red hair, too (but then it turned blonde). Daisy’s relationship with Roger started out in a similar way to how my relationship started with my now husband. We actually met in high school and became good friends, but I never thought he liked me until one day he asked me for my phone number. Roger is similar to my husband in a lot of ways in the sense that he is very grounded and calming no matter the situation. There are a lot of other tidbits in Strange Luck that are based on real things like Roger’s dog, Millie, that could bark I love you and some of my unusual antiquing experiences. What do you do in your spare time to relax? I love everything outdoorsy like camping, hiking, and kayaking. When inside, I play keyboards, paint, and bake sinfully sweet desserts. What do you like to read? Pretty much anything having to do with magic, witches, and evil. The Neverending Story and Harry Potter are some of my favorites. Right now, I’m reading a lot of Victorian and Gothic literature. Who is your favourite author? H.P Lovecraft immediately comes to mind. He was not only a genius with creating a complex pantheon of gods, but his style of writing has a way of getting in your head. Lovecraft never really tells or shows you anything to evoke fear; instead, it subtly creeps into the story on its own. Genius! Where do you get your inspiration from? Everything. A song, movie, a painting. I was actually inspired to write Strange Luck while passing a cemetery on the way to work one day. I started thinking about memories, regrets, life, and experiences. Having as many experiences/memories as possible has always been a personal goal of mine (don’t even get me started on my mile-long bucket list). Anyway, my mind wandered to the idea of collecting our most cherished memories and I thought it would be a unique concept for a book. Where are your books available? Amazon Barnes & Noble IndieBound Kobo BAM! What are you working on right now? Book II in the Strange Luck series called The Nightmare Birds. It will be very H.P Lovecraft meets The Night Circus. Muhahaha! It’ll be a little darker than Strange Luck and have more philosophical components. Look for it this autumn 2016. Here is how you can find Amie Irene Winters Website: www.amieirenewinters.com Twitter: @AmieIWinters FaceBook: www.facebook.com/aiwinters Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomamieiwinters Google: AmieIreneWinters I'd like to take this last moment to thank Amie for agreeing to my interview, and hope she had as much fun as I did in her participation. It was a pleasure to get to know her, and see inside her head a little. I hope you'll take the time to connect with Amie wherever you can, and hopefully pick up a copy of her book before book two arrives. Jay Plemons is a very talented man. He has a BS in music with emphasis in publishing and copyright law, an English degree, and a Music degree. As I said, very talented. However, he is also the author of the Last Light Falling series, and freely admits if he isn't drumming, then writing is his next love. I met Jay on Twitter and found him to be very down to earth. He's very polite, and very much the gentleman, and I, for one, just couldn't resist wanting to find out more. I asked Jay if he would be willing to do an interview with me, which he gracefully agreed to do being the gentleman that he is, and now I'm sharing that insight into Jay with you. This is what Jay has to say... Why did you decide you wanted to become a writer? Simply put: reading. Reading is the quintessential ingredient for writing. But I didn't choose to become a writer. It chose me. I wrote short stories and poetry all the time as a young child until I became glued to film during my teen years—that's when I delved into screen-writing. Most of my writing was for me and my little inner world of fantasy, escapism, and just pure entertainment. I never at any time dreamed I would grow up to become a writer. In fact, I was hoping to become a late night talk show host, professional baseball player, or a chef working in a five star restaurant. Who knew? What was the thing that drove you the most to do so? Reading other Author's stories. I thought it was silly to waste a talent I'm not using, even if it wasn't the best. I've experienced so many different careers and skills in my life, I thought it was time to choose one I could enjoy for a lifetime. Why did you pick the genre/s that you have? No particular reason. I love most genres. I intend to reach out to the psychological thriller genre when I'm done with my dystopian series. Just like the experiences in my life, I prefer to be versatile. I get bored easily, but my mind is in a constant state of change and imagination. Who is your favourite character, and why? No doubt, Arena. It was so easy to create and develop her character because I mirrored her traits and personality from my own daughter. But the mundane trials she grows up with and faces in the story are based on my own personal experiences. I just thought it would give the novel better appeal if I vicariously lived them through this 15 year old girl. Do you have any particular quirks when writing? Strange, but it must be very warm. I hate the cold with a passion. I can't concentrate when I'm feeling uncomfortable. During the cold season, I use a small heater under my desk to toast my feet. What does your family think of your work? They love it. My mom read both books, something she isn't accustomed to reading, but gave me great feedback. My wife is an editor so I get the best constructive criticism, even if I don't want it, hehe. Because of my family, I've had to tone down my writing, which turned out to be a great idea. How do you deal with writers block? Ha! Get on Netflix. Not sure that helps though. Writer's block is no more than procrastination. I was asked how I dealt with it before and I'll answer it the same way. I exercise, watch a movie, read a book, play my drums, have sex. Not in any particular order, as some may derail others. ; ) What would you say is the most difficult part of writing? Most would say developing characters, but I quite enjoy that part of a story. I would have to say Dialogue, Dialogue, Dialogue. It can move a story, yet it can slow the prose in profound ways. It's an art no doubt, and I've been trying to craft mine for years. I used to write screen plays, but dialogue in a script is so much different than a novel. Where description moves a story in a novel, it's dialogue that pushes a story in film. Very different, yet both are hard to master. I absolutely detest clichés or tropes. It drives me insane. Are your characters based on anyone you know? Arena's traits are purely based on my daughter, Mikaela, and Gabe's personality is based on my son, Gabriel. The experiences these characters live are based on my very own as a child. I like coming up with characters based on real people that I have either read about or have actually met. Makes it so much easier to build and develop. Many of what is written is part of my past or stories revealed to me through my grandfather. Some things are obviously embellished, but some are very real. I won't tell you which ones. I'll let the readers guess. What do you do in your spare time to relax? Relax, what's that? I'm usually playing with my kids and making really bad horror movies with them. I love being outdoors and active. I'm still a ten year old child living in a 43 year old body, and I don't see myself growing up anytime soon. What do you like to read? Thrillers, Dystopian, and well done fantasy books. I like strange and unusual stories with characters that will stay with me a long time. Also love historical non-fiction. History is a passion of mine. Who is your favourite author? I don't really have just one, but if I had to choose a modern day inspiration, it would definitely be Stephen King. But what jump started my inner imagination would have to be C.S. Lewis and Tolkien without a doubt for their courageous unsolicited effort to go against the pretentious grain of the book publishing world during their time. They both have created timeless characters and stories to which have inspired many to follow in their writing footsteps. Robert Lewis Stevenson and Jack London, two of the greatest authors of our time, for their masterful real-life characters and colorful story telling through prose and poetry. Where are your books available? Everywhere, here are a few: Amazon Barnes & Noble Smashwords Smashwords iBook iBook GooglePlay Book Depository booksamillion abebooks.com Indie Bound Cherry Hill Publishing (Audio Format) kobobooks What are you working on right now? I'm delighted to be almost done with book III, Last Light Falling - The Ten, but no spoilers here I'm afraid. Release date should be available April 2016. I'm pretty busy right now working with an executive producer for the movie franchise. The script for the film is in the pre-stages as we speak. This film series is going to be epic. Here is how you can find Jay Plemons Website: http://www.lastlightfalling.com/ Twitter: @lastlightfallin FacebookFanPage: https://www.facebook.com/lastlightfalling.Plemons/ LibraryThing: http://www.librarything.com/author/plemonsje I'd like to thank Jay for taking the time to interview with me, and for answering my questions with a grace I have come to admire about him. It's been an enlightening experience to learn what I have about Jay, and I hope he enjoyed it as much as I did. Please take the time to connect with Jay and follow his progress and any new ventures he begins. You won't be disappointed. It doesn't seem all that long ago when I first published Angel's Blood. It was the first time I'd ever done anything of the sort, and boy was it scary! I met Ian D. Moore, the author of Salby Damned, pretty much straight off the bat. He too had not long published his first book and we got talking about all the things that worried us, excited us, and scared the pants off us, and it wasn't too long before we became fast friends. We started texting and calling each other, the other often there at the end of the line offering support and sometimes a much needed kick, or even just being an ear to a vent of frustration, but the friendship grew in leaps and bounds. Often we each found new things to help with our marketing, and, seeing as both of us hadn't a clue, shared them back and forth. I know he received many an email off me containing just the words "Check out" accompanied by a link. Good job he had begun to know me by then. It was Ian that found this particular group of people on Facebook, and true to style messaged me to join him. When we first joined there wasn't too many people on board, but once word got out it filled up rather quickly. It was a group founded by Mr Paul Ruddock, and everyone in there shared experiences, links, and on a general whole supplied any and all help and information to each other they could. It was like finding a pot of gold buried amongst so many that were filled with brass. Soon enough the group felt like a family and personal information started being shared. There were times of joy, times of excitement, and, of course, times of sadness, and everyone in this wonderful group shared each and every step. Unfotunately it was my friend Ian that had a time of sadness when someone close to him succumbed to their battle with cancer, but the whole group rallied and offered whatever they could. Seeing how responsive they were to his plight, and having heard word of an anthology being put together by a some of the other members, Ian put out a call for help on a charity venture of his own in aid of Macmillan Cancer Research in the name of his loved one. He was flooded with responses not only with stories but for help with art work for the cover, editing, marketing, and advertising, and the names of those that worked the hardest will never be forgotten, though are just too many to list. But, to be fair, they all know who they are, and not a one of them did what they did for any recognition of their own. See what I mean about a group of outstanding people? I feel lucky to have been involved with such and amazing group of people, and dived in to help, watching in astonishment as You're Not Alone was born, grew, and was completed. Tom Benson was one of the writers to offer his support in any way he could, and was just one of the ones Ian connected with. He put forth his own story, and was happy to be a go to man offering his advice as time passed. Things happened so fast, and you'd better believe there were downs as well as the ups we enjoyed, that all help was gratefully received. It worked out fantastically well, so much so that there will be another and there have been a whole new load of responses that want to be included on the second time around. It was these three men that decided that the support group could go further, pushing boundaries that none of the others had even attempted, and, with the hint of an idea that Paul came up with, they were off and running. They decided to make website for all the authors in the group, somewhere the authors could advertise their work, and somewhere readers could find new Indie authors works to sample. They worked tirelessly, pushing to get the site completed even though they all had so much more going on in their daily lives, and that's as well as continuing to write. I have to say hats off to you three gentlemen! What you've accomplished is a professional site that's easy to use, and has everything a reader could hope to find, as well as being beautiful designed. Me, a tech challenged beginner, bows down to your superiority in the confusing world of websites. So all you readers out there please feel free to visit and check it out for yourself. You can click on the image (courtesy of Eric Lahti and Ruth Coulson) right here, or at the top of the page, and you are certain to find something you like there's so much to choose from. In fact it might just keep you busy for a good while to come. You'll find books listed in genre, each one in a 3D image so you'll get a real feel for how the book you'll order will look like. Information on the authors of anything that catches your fancy, like links to their individual websites, Facebook pages, and Twitter handles. And, lots more "Interseting Stuff" as these men have put it. But, while you are there, just take a moment to look at the site and see what a lovely job was done on it. You won't find anything anywhere else more professionally done that what was done by these three awesome individuals! So be prepared to be wowed, and be prepared to find a whole lot more reading material, and please feel free to leave a comment, even if it's to say how wonderful the site looks ;), I'm sure they'd love to hear it. Well, I wish each and every one of you a Happy New Year, and I hope 2016 brings you all you could ever wish for. Best wishes, Sallyann. I was very fortunate to meet Anu- Riikka (A.R as most people know her, except for me. To me she'll always be my BFFT) over a year ago when I first started out on twitter. She's a feisty lady with a heart of pure gold, and is the hidden face behind the unique Books and Spoons website. Book and Spoons is a combination of my two most favourite things, books and food. You'll find reviews on a multitude of books, each and every one giving you a neat and clean insight into the story and plot, all the while not giving too much away. A.R has a way with words that draws you in and piques your interest, and if she's given it her 5 spoons (Which she gives insted of the boring old stars) you can be sure you're in for a treat. Now, talking about treats leads me into the second part of her site: Food. I have to admit I watch out for all her new dishes, and have more than once grumbled to her that my tummy starts rumbling at what I see, but, you really have to see some of the desserts A.R cooks up. Now those are complete works of art, there's no other word for it. As tasty as they look, they are also just too pretty to eat. I think I'd have to take photos just to look back at them and think "WOW! I ate something that looked like that." A.R is originally from Finland but now resides in Norway. She is multilingual, speaking several different languages, but prefers to read in English or her mother tongue Finnish. Here is what Anu- Riikka from Books and Spoons had to say... Where did you come up with the name for your blog? The blog first operated with a name ‘One More Page’ for a month, until one morning I woke up with the new name in my mind, Books & Spoons - and since then I have been handing out Spoons for my book reviews What made you decide that’s what you wanted to do? To blog? That was a long and difficult process, actually. Not to bore you all to tears, about four years ago I was told that - unexpected consequences after a back surgery had permanently damage some of the nerves going into my legs - The physical, hard, and stressful work I was doing as a chef was doing more damage to my body, and after a year of trying to hang on to it, my doctors pulled me off from my job. I was told there’s nothing that can be done to fix it, it will only get worse as time goes by, and that I should learn to live with it, and with the pain that is associated with it. After a year at home, during which time I spent a lot time reading, and making connections to authors and publishers on the social media, I knew I needed something to occupy my time, and my mind. I played with concepts, ideas, topics for a blog in my head, and in conversations with my friends, for a long time, until the format that Books & Spoons is today, was born. How many books would you say you average reading in a month? A month?! Huh, now, according the Goodreads challenge, as of last Tuesday, I had reviewed 366 books this year. There are several books I have read, that I haven’t written a review of. But I would say, in an average month, most like from 30 to 40 books. I know that’s a lot, but I have lots of hours in a day, that physical activity isn’t possible, and I rather fill that time with reading. Do you have a favourite genre? And if so what and why? I do have a favourite, I love to read romantic suspense, because I love the elements of danger, mystery, a puzzle to be solved, mixed in perfect harmony with romance. I like how the danger makes the emotions more tense as well, giving the genre a different intensity level all together You do a food blog every week on a Friday. Where do you get your ideas from? Little bit all over the place, honestly. Sometimes it is a picture I see on the internet, an article that gives me ideas, or just a great looking produce at the market that I just can’t resist. Or I am craving for something to eat, and make it into a blog post. And, it is always something that will be served at my house, someone asked why I don’t do more shellfish, since I live in Norway, but simply, allergies, so I think it has been on the blog once or twice in the year and a half. Do you have a particular meal that you favour? A meal someone else cooks for me :D Nope, not really, I love Italian cuisine, but I don’t think I favour any meal over another :) Out of all the things you cook, what do you most enjoy making? Basically, I just love playing/cooking in the kitchen, it is my happy place in many ways. My first love was baking, and I still find myself baking when I am having a bad day, if I am stressed out or something like that, it calms my mind. Where did you learn to cook? I have always liked cooking. I also worked in a kitchen, when I was getting my Bachelor’s degree. And was working as a baker after school. I got so inspired, that I decided to go back to school, and got my Baking and Pastry Degree as well as Culinary Technology degree at culinary school in North Carolina You have a very unique mix, what made you decide to connect the two? HAH, yeah, really because I couldn’t decide if I would start a food blog or a book blog, so I went with both. Two of my biggest interests. Good thing I didn’t add quilting into the mix as well :D How long have you been running the blog? Since July 4th 2014, As Books & Spoons since August 2014 For anyone interested in contacting you, what services do you provide? On the food blog I do the Friday blog - affordable family meals, mostly on the healthy side, with a little mix of baking, celebration of life, and few restaurant visits as well. On the book blog I mostly do reviews. I am involved with four virtual book tour companies, that I do tour stops, from reviews to excerpt stops, to just book blasts or sales blitz, etc. Recently I have also opened the possibility for authors to advertise on the book blog page. All the information about that is on the ‘ADVERTISING’ page on the blog. Here is how you can find Anu- Riikka (Books and Spoons) Website: Books and Spoons Twitter: @BooksAndSpoons Facebook: Books And Spoons I'd like to take this last minute to thank A.R (my BFFT) for answering my questions, and for having the patience to take the time out of her days to do so. It's been a pleasure for me, and I hope a little fun for her. Why not join me in following her on Twitter and Facebook, or stop by and follow her blog for lots of reading ideas and some amazing family meal recipes, though be prepared for her Friday Foody, I have warned you about the rumbling tummy ;). |
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I am a wife, mother, and grandmother, and I live in Wales in the U.K. Sallyann Phillips is an IASD member.
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