Today I will be hosting the always groovy, Jessica Kong. We will be discussing her latest novel, the second installment to the Sea-anan Saga. 'A Lost Kitten'.
Jessica
A. Kong lives in Somerset, New Jersey with her loving husband of twenty
years and teenage triplets. She is an avid reader of fantasy,
futuristic, and paranormals. When she is not reading she enjoys arts
and craft, puzzles, crocheting, and video games. A Lost Kitten is
Jessica’s debut novel. She is currently working on the second
installment to the Sea-anan Saga entitled, “A Kitten’s Tale”.
So without further adoooo.....let's jump in ;)
1.
When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I began to dabble in the
art of writing during High School. I was a fan of the then popular
singing boy group and created short stories about meeting them. My
friends all loved the plots, characters, and dialogue even though I felt
the sentence structure needed help.
2. As an indie author, what has
been the most difficult part about being a writer?
The most difficult
part for me is marketing. I would rather write and edit my book than
market it. But I know without marketing no one would know who I am.
3. Who are the authors who inspire you?
That’s easy. Nora Roberts, Ann Rice, and Christine Feehan.
4. Do you plan/sketch your scenes before you write, or do you wing it?
I write outlines of my story then go back and flesh them out.
5. Do
you start writing your scenes as dialog or plot?
Both. While I’m
writing my outline, if my character has something to say then I jot the
dialog down. If they are only doing something then I write that. I
would go back and flesh it out when the rest of the story comes to me.
6. Please tell us more about the universe in which your book is set?
My book is set in our universe and beyond, in other words, this
dimension we live in. In my book, our dimension is called Guildhall.
In a distant section of Guildhall, mixed breeds of felines have built a
peaceful empire. This empire is under attack, as well as all of
Guildhall by a tyrant bent on ruling Guildhall and all the other
dimensions.
7. Who are your favorite characters in the book?
John
McCall. I love all the members of the Ruling Clan of Sea-ana. The
Ruling Clan is made up of three families that are not related. Each
family goes through hardship, starting with the parents, that each
member becomes loyal and faithful to one another. Their bonds are
strengthened because of all the hardships they endured over the years,
creating one large family and a force to be reckoned with.
8.
Tell us more about the book’s them?
My book’s themes are family
loyalty, love, faith, racial prejudice-yes aliens have that issue
too-finding one’s soulmate, and the consequences of war.
9. How did
you come up with the idea for your book?
I watch a lot of movies and
read a lot of books that give me a lot of crazy dreams. And like all
writers, I keep my notebook on my bedside table for the more interesting
dreams.
10. What's next on your agenda? I am working on
establishing a fan base. I would love to hear from my fans through
their reviews of A Lost Kitten and by visiting my Facebook and Goodreads
pages and leaving me comments. They can also twitter me. I am also
working on the next A Kitten's Tale installment, which I plan to release next
year. Thanks so much for all the great info about yourself and your series! Very compelling stuff! Everyone out there reading please make sure to check out more about Jessica's books and follow her journey in the world of writing below!
Today I'll be chatting with groovy author Brenda Perlin, who has just released her debut novel 'Home Wrecker'....How can we not be intrigued right?!
Brenda Perlin was born in Los Angeles, California in the Sixties. She
studied acting and photography after high school. Later, her true
passion was ignited when she became interested in health and fitness and
became a fitness instructor. At twenty-nine she started writing Home
Wrecker during the time she was getting married. She put her story down
shortly after the wedding and didn’t pick it back up until she was
forty-six and going through a divorce.
She now resides in Orange County, California.
So without further delay...please bust out all the juicy details!
1) What is your book about?
This story is an account of a California girl from childhood through
mid life. The main character, Brooklyn is just trying to find out about
herself. Brought up in the sixties she grew up during a time when women
were housewives and men were the sole providers for their household. As a
child she never felt like she fit in with her peers and that feeling
followed her throughout her life. It wasn’t until High School in the
eighties when she became a punk rocker that she felt she found her place
in the world.
In her twenties she was employed as a waitress in Beverly Hills,
where she tried to become a working actress. Actresses working in
restaurants were a dime a dozen. By thirty, she got married and years
later, joined the ever growing club she refers to as “divorce central.”
Living in a planned community that looked like Disneyland felt nothing
like the happiest place on earth. This divorce caused her a great deal
of turmoil in a life that had been filled with never ending drama.
Throughout her journey, Brooklyn learned a lot about herself and
discovered the meaning of true love. However, that was also when
everything erupted around her. Despite finally meeting her soul mate,
she discovered that she would have to pay for her actions.
2) How did you come up with the idea for your book?
I first started writing my book because I needed to find something
that would make me seem productive My husband was giving me a lot of
pressure to be successful. He said he didn’t care what I did as long as I
worked hard. I was just turning thirty and was engaged to be married. I
thought I would write about what nonsense the wedding business was. I
wanted to highlight how you can get suckered into spending more money
than you should.
After the wedding I put my story away in a drawer. Then 16 years or
so later when I was leaving my husband I decided I had more to say.
There were many circumstances that led me to let it all out in the
open.
3) What makes your book different than others in your genre?
Well for one thing it is a true story. I call it fiction to protect
everyone whether they are innocent or guilty. I have changed names and
circumstances. The main character is very much a product of who I am.
Her life experiences in this story parallels mine. It is a coming of age
story that is filled with extreme heartbreak, life changing events.
4) Who is your favorite writer? Why?
Pat Conroy is my very favorite author. Reading his books are like
reading poetry. I love how he takes words and makes them roll off the
pages. He makes it so the reader doesn’t want to put the book down. He
is honest and sometime harsh. His vulnerability touches me to the bone.
What he has is a pure gift and I respect how gut wrenching and
heartbreaking his stories can be. He takes the reader far away to
another place at times and at other times it can be so close to home
that his pain becomes yours. I love his ability to take you in fully.
5) What strange writing rituals do you have?
Well, I like everything to be in place and I like to be comfortable. I
either need silence or music on low. I have to have my water or soda
next to me and sucking candies.That is very important! My boyfriend
always tries to talk to me while I am in mid sentence...which is a NO
NO! He can be so clueless about how hard I am focusing so I don’t punish
him. Sometimes I get an idea and I have to write it down immediately.
If I don’t get it down fast, it can be gone in a puff of smoke.
6) Is your writing style similar to any well-known writers? If so, which one(s)?
I doubt it but I just write from the heart. I try to be honest, open
and show as much vulnerability as possible. If anyone can come up with
similarities, I would love to know.
7) Who is your Muse?
Well, that is a very private question! Hah!!!
8) What are your hobbies?
Does writing count? I also love yoga and going to the gym. Eating of
course is my favorite past time!!! I am not very crafty but I wish I
was. I also love music!!
9) What are some writing goals for the future?
I hope to keep writing. I am working on book two, Home Wrecker
Redemption which I am enjoying more than book one. I have always wanted
to write a children’s book with my favorite theme, outcasts! For years I
have wanted to write a tabletop book on all the correct sayings like
“fit as a fiddle.” Somehow I always get them wrong! I just love when I
hear vintage sayings from the old days! Anyone interested?
10) If you were stranded on an island which book would you bring with you?
Most likely Home Wrecker so when I start to get fuzzy I can refer
back to it! I also wouldn’t mind having Middlesex with me for some good
laughs and a Pat Conroy book to remind me what really good writing was!
11) What makes a good (pick one, depending on your genre) mystery, horror, romance, sci-fi, memoir, how-to, children book, etc.?
One that allows me to completely escape into the story. I love the
feeling when I can’t wait to get back to my book. That is the best! I
also want to care about the main character even if he or she is the
villain.
12) What was the most difficult thing you have learned being a writer?
For me the hardest thing was not having the support of my friends who
I thought would be there for me the most. I couldn’t help but take it
personal even though I have learned that my expectations were not
realistic. It was difficult to accept because I know if they were to put
their heart and soul into something I would have wanted to be there for
them.
13) What are you reading at the moment?
I just finished John Emil Augustine’s “Love Seen From Heartache”
which I loved. Actually, I am all over the place but Home Wrecker
Redemption is taking up most of my time and thoughts. I can’t wait to
start Lisa Day’s book “The Stepbrothers” which is sitting on my desktop
right now.
International indie author stops continue LOL! Now I am pleased to welcome Yvonne McEvaddy, all the way from Ireland, to discuss her latest novel 'Shadows of The Dead' just in time for Halloween!!
Yvonne McEvaddy lives in Ireland. She is the author of two novels,
Passion Killer and Shadows of the Dead. Yvonne has been
dabbling in the written word since early childhood, having
decided at the age of 5, when she read her first Enid Blyton book, that she wanted to be a writer. Her summer holidays were often
spent writing adventures in the remaining pages of her school
copybooks. When not writing she was daydreaming about her
books being available in her local bookstores, a dream which has
recently come true.
Let's get right into the good stuff Yvonne...I'm itching to hear about your spooky book!
1) What is your book about?
What would you do if you found your dream house and it was rumored to
be haunted? Would you buy it anyway? Would every noise in the still of
the dark night have you paralyzed with fear? Alice and Mark O’Brien don’t believe in ghosts. They fall
in love with Hawthorn Grange on their first viewing. Amused by the
rumors, they buy and move into The Grange. With Mark working the graveyard shift, Alice is alone at
night. Alone with the sounds from an old house, with the words of the
neighbors whispering around her, the stories of the shadows arising from
the graves next door and making their way into the house. Will her imagination succumb to the rumors? Is that a
door creaking open? Who is that standing at the foot of her bed? Is it
just a dream? A nightmare of real or imagined proportions follows Alice
around as she tries to remember that ghosts don’t exist….
…. Or do they?
2) How did you come up with the idea for your book?
Living across from a graveyard and a supposedly haunted house.
However, the house, graveyard and characters in the story are completely
fictional.
3) Who is your favorite writer? Why?
Karin Slaughter. She grips me right from the start of every book and
when I put each one down I can’t wait for the next installment.
4) What are your hobbies?
Reading and watching movies. I also enjoy swimming and yoga.
5) How long did it take you to write your book?
I wrote the first draft in four months in 2008, the subsequent drafts in 2011 and the edits in 2012.
6) What are some writing goals for the future?
I am currently writing my third novel, Thief of Hearts, and have also
started a children’s book. I have a short story in an anthology called
Infusions soon to come out by the Javawriters’ Group.
7) If you were stranded on an island which book would you bring with you?
I would love to go back to the start of Karin Slaughter’s Grant
County Series and read all her books right through that series and the
Will Trent Series. Being stranded on an island would give me the perfect
opportunity to do that.
8) What makes a good horror?
Being sucked into a story, on edge all the time, knowing something
bad is about to happen but still jumping out of your skin when it does,
and then just when you think the worst has happened something
particularly horrific happens.
9) What was the most difficult thing you have learned being a writer?
That writing the story is the easy part. The characters keep
clamoring away inside your head until their story is told. It’s after
the first and second drafts that the real work begins - rewrites, edits,
and, being an indie author, the publishing, publicizing, advertising,
promoting and selling.
Well it has been such a pleasure interviewing you today Yvonne! Best of luck with all your projects! I'm sure you'll be a big hit, especially with Halloween right around the tombstone LOL ;)
I am hosting a very special guest today, all the way from Jamaica! This indie author has some really interesting perspectives and experiences to share, and I am just thrilled she took some time out to stop by! Today we will be talking about her novel 'Ten Life Changing Lessons'.
Learn about the ten most fundamental lessons that will forever change your life. Written with openness and honesty, the book provides a refreshing look into how you can follow your intuitions to make better life choices. One of the key points to look for is understanding the power of visualising which helps you to change your thoughts and eventually your life. This is a book for both men and women that you can share with your friends and family.
Well this book will not take much of your time to read. It can be read on a single commute to work on your Kindle, iPhone or iPad. It will however stay with you for a long time.
The 10 lessons are short, sweet and to the point. They are easily digestible and also lessons we can often forget.
Thanks for joining us today here at Bleu's Reviews. Let's get started, I'm dying to hear about your book!
1) What is your book about?
Learn about the ten most fundamental lessons that will forever change
your life. Written with openness and honesty, the book provides a
refreshing look into how you can follow your intuitions to make better
life choices. One of the key points to look for understands the power of
visualizing which helps you to change your thoughts and eventually your
life. This is a book for both men and women that and can be shared with
your friends and family.
2) How did you come up with the idea for your book?
The idea was born from my own personal struggles. I had written down the
first five lessons in 2011 and I felt compelled to add to it. It was
not until early 2012 that I decided that I would publish it in a book.
3) What makes your book different than others in your genre?
My book is short, sweet and is an easy read. It is small but delivers a
great message. In short, great things can come in small packages.
4) What strange writing rituals do you have?
Sometimes I listen to music and write. Music helps me to get in touch
with my emotions. Another thing I do is that I write better at nights.
There is something about the ‘quiet’ that makes me focus more on my
work
5) Is your writing style similar to any well-known writers? If so, which one(s)?
I have not tried to identify with any known Authors but I do write from a
place of openness and honesty. I like when it sounds conversational.
6) What are your hobbies?
Writing first and foremost, going to the beach on the North Coast, Photography, Cooking and Reading.
7) What are some writing goals for the future?
I am currently working on a personal memoir about growing up in Jamaica.
As most memoirs are personal, in this book I have more freedom to
express myself in a deeply personal way.
8) If you were stranded on an island which book would you bring with you?
Jane Eyre…Read it over twenty times
***Ohh....yes!! That is My favoritist book too! I knew I liked you Winsome ;)
9) What was the most difficult thing you have learned being a writer?
I learnt that the writing is the easy part but when its published I had
to start making time for my family and friends. I am trying to find time
to go back to my book, and blog. However, I learned that what it takes
is commitment.
Thank you so much for hanging out with me and my peeps and sharing a bit more about yourself...like the fact that you're a 'Jane Eyre' junkie like me LOL! It's been fun and I wish you all the best with your writing.
Today, I will be bringing you an interview with my special guest Lisa Day. She is the author of many books, but today we will be discussing her latest, 'The Stepbrothers'.
Alrighty Lisa, let's dive right in! I'm really eager to hear about your novel 'The Stepbrothers'.
1) What is your book about?
It’s about two stepbrothers. George was the oldest of the two.
George was very cruel to Clint. Every opportunity he found he saw that
Clint either got blamed for something he didn’t do, or actually caused
him pain. What George didn’t think about was that some day Clint would
grow up. When Clint did become a man he had a mission. He promised to
seek revenge against George. Clint bided his time.When George announced his pending marriage
Clint finds the prefect chance. Clint decides to kidnap the
bride-to-be. A sweet innocent young woman. He intends to ruin the woman
to hurt George. Clint didn’t count on Samantha being her own woman.
And he certainly didn’t see his best friend falling for her.
...What no one considered was how George would react.
2) How did you come up with the idea for your book?
Having A stepsister myself allowed for tho know how mean step-siblings can be...Just kidding Sis...
My sister and I get along fine.. well we did until you asked the question.
3) What strange writing rituals do you have?
You mean like when I dance around the yard naked and the neighbors call the police, kinda thing? OH you mean when writing eh... nope one a one.
4) Is your writing style similar to any well-known writers? If so, which one(s)?
Can’t really say after they stop laughing they’d probably sue me for
damages for mentioning any similarity between them and me.
5) Who is your Muse?
Well let’s see there’s Mickey, Minnie, Stuart Little or of course my childhood favorite Mighty Mouse. What muse not mouses...ooops silly me!
6) What are your hobbies?
I know this one. I like to create bead jewelry. And lately, I have been designing hats.
7) What are some writing goals for the future?
To bring
world peace through my writings ...ok ok... even I can’t go there...
1. To stop the voices inside my head. 2. To sell books and make lots of
money or at least a few dollars here and there.
8) What was the most difficult thing you have learned being a writer?
That I have no idea what I’m doing. But I am having fun doing it. A nice trade off don’t you think?
9) What are you reading at the moment?
‟How to answer blog questions and not sound like a fool.”.. Maybe I need to re-read?
Disclaimer l:
I believe if you can’t enjoy what
your doing then don’t bother doing it. Then again I can say things like
that because I retired. I really feel for those writers with much more
to offer than I that must work outside the industry to provide a living
for their family or themselves. Any writer works hard, but a
self-published ones hardest of all. Kudos to them.
Disclaimer II:
Warning: my heroes are never the typical kind a guy. Their alpha-males who are domineering, stubborn, and sometime salvageable.
It was really fun chatting with you today Lisa! I'm interested in getting to read some of your fantastic books...there are so many to choose from! You've been busy!
I am completely thrilled to bring you an interview with Susan Francis, author of the new sensation 'Butterfly Porcupine'. This is book 1 of the series 'Aintree Tales'.
Susan's debut novel, Butterfly porcupine, is the first in a series called Tales from Aintree Court and was first published in paperback in February 2011. A second revised edition was published in July 2012 along with an electronic version. Her second novel, 'Two versions of the same song', the second Aintree tale, will be out at the end of 2012 and she is currently writing the third in the series.
The stories are pitched at the level for readers in their mid-to-late teens but may be enjoyed by adults who enjoy reading YA fiction also.
Susan, I am so glad you made time to join us today! I know you are really busy working on book 2 of your series, so thanks for stopping by...let's begin.
1. Where did you get the idea for the novel?
Butterfly Porcupine is the first of a series of Aintree Tales. For the tales, I wanted to write about London-based teenagers from different racial groups but on an equal platform. It was important to represent but also avoid stereotyping. These teenagers live in a somewhat idealistic (anti-dystopian but not quite utopian) gated-community in West London.
For Butterfly Porcupine, I first came up with the idea of the female protagonist, Tasha. I wanted to explore the character of a teenage girl who is shy to the extreme and has trouble communicating with others. Although the story is complete fiction, Tasha’s character is loosely based on me as a teenager. At the time I remember feeling like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders. As an adult looking back I realize I so didn’t!
I had the idea to write about the issue of privacy in relation to popular culture and social media. Social networking has made invasion of privacy more common and opinions are divided as to how acceptable this is. I linked this to Tasha‘s character, as she values her privacy a great deal, and made it a major conflict. The novel may even determine which side of the debate the reader is on, depending on whether it is considered a major conflict or minor one blown out of proportion.
With Butterfly Porcupine I paid homage to some of the love stories, from books and films that have resonated with me over the years. I was inspired by Pride & Prejudice, Taming of the Shrew, Greece (a movie I watched repeatedly as a child), Say Anything (a movie I watched repeatedly as a teenager) and, of course, Twilight (the book).
I also planned that Aintree Tale #1 would have a halo while the soon to be published Aintree Tale #2 in comparison would have red horns and a fork tail.
2. Your title - who came up with it? Did you ever change the title?
I came up with the title. It came from a sentence in an earlier draft of the final chapter. It was first ‘Between a Butterfly and a Porcupine.’ The sentence was later changed by my editor and I changed the title to ‘Butterfly Porcupine.’
The ‘Butterfly’ part signifies the metamorphosis Tasha goes through and also relates to Kai in his pursuit of Tasha (which he compares to chasing a butterfly). The ‘Porcupine’ part relates to Tasha’s prickly and unapproachable character, which causes most people to avoid her, while Kai is drawn to her regardless.
3. Since becoming a writer what is the most exciting thing to happen to you?
I would say the positive feedback I have received. This was my first ever attempt at writing lengthy prose and I wasn’t sure if I could do it well enough or how it would be received. My mother was the first person to read it and she loved it (but she is my mother). A friend read it for me after that and was also very positive. The reviews have been mostly positive so far, also. It’s been great. Of course, I welcome all reviews and I have taken on board the criticisms – the most common being that it is formulaic. This is true, but there is more to it than ‘boy meets girl’ etc., and it’s most exciting when readers get that.
4. Which came first, the title or the novel?
The novel came first.
5. What are you currently reading?
I am currently reading Original Love, by JJ Murray, which is a story about childhood sweethearts who were separated in their late teens and find each other again 20 years later. (I am into reading romance novels by male authors at the moment.)
6. Book signing – do you just sign your name or write a message?
Mostly, just my name.
I am delighted to bring you an interview with a fantastic new indie author Zach Abrams! Today he will tell us a bit about his brand new book 'Ring-Fenced'.
Zach's first book "Ring-Fenced" is an exciting
exploration of the problems caused when the carefully separated lives of
one man collide with unpredictable results.Like his central character, Bemjamin Short, Zach Abrams grew up
within an orthodox Jewish family. He completed his education in
Scotland and went on to a career in business and finance. He is married
with two children. He plays no instruments and has an eclectic taste
in music, although not as obsessive as Benjamin. Unlike Benjamin, he does not maintain mistresses, write pornography
and (sadly) he does not have ownership of such a company. He is not a
sociopath (at least by his own reckoning) and all versions of his life
are aware of and freely communicate with each other.
Welcome Zach!! I'm glad to have you here! Let's start with some info about the book...
1-What is your book about?
My book tells the story of Benjanin Short in his various incarnations. Benjamin is a very complex character and compartmentalises his life to an extreme. His life is split into five different characters, each living under a variation of his name and the people in each of these lives have little or no knowledge of the others. The one common thread weaving each of his lives together is his obsession for music. There is an inevitability the divisions can not be sustained and the story deals with the unforeseen events taking place causing the divisions to become blurred with catastrophic results. Benjamin is an anti-hero. Although each of his characters has some redeeming features, they essentially are all different aspects of Benjamin's self obsession. He is a sociopath constantly using other people to serve his own ends.
2-How did you come up with the idea for your book?
That's the strange part. I didn't have an idea for a book. I was sitting thinking about writing something and I had the idea for the character. He developed in my mind and I thought I'd start trying to write about him. At first I though it would make an essay or a short story. The ideas expanded as I tried to explain about the different aspects of his character and the story seemed to write itself. At no time did I prepare or think through a plot and I didn't know where it was going. Afterwards, when I read it through for the first time it was like reading someone else's novel.
3-Does your main character resemble anyone in your family or circle of friends?
I certainly hope not. True there are aspects of myself and of people I know but Benjamin is not based on any one person. To survive in modern society, I, like most people have to compartmentalise. Benjamin takes this beyond the boundaries of what is normal or reasonable. Each of Benjamin's lives are reasonable normal if taken in isolation - it's only when they are combined under the same character and obsessively ring fenced that they become pathological
4-Who is your favorite writer? Why?
There are many writers I love depending on my mood. One that I particularly enjoy is the British author Michael Dobbs (to confuse matters there is a US author of the same name). I became addicted to his books after reading 'House of Cards' where I adored his depiction of Francis Urquhart. His own political experiences make his novels knowledgeable, insightful and amusing.
5-How long did it take you to write your book?
Once I started writing 'Ring Fenced,' I was consumed by it and wrote obsessively. I completed the first draft within five weeks the needed a rest to draw breath. The first edit took me about four months and it was over another year before I was sufficiently happy with it to allow anyone else, outside family, to read it. I waited a further year or more to embark on another novel and I have recently competed 'Made a Killing.' It was less obsessively written but not by much and I hope to have it published quite soon
6-What strange writing rituals do you have?
I don't know if I'd go as far as calling them rituals but I prefer to write into a word document while having a couple of windows open in the background. I have one open to a dictionary /thesaurus and the other open in Google search. This way I can often research or confirm small details I'm writing about while the thought is in my head. Only recently, I've added a separate word document to the combination so I can make notes on my time line and characters as I go along. I've recently noticed that I'm not too distracted by background noise so I don't have a problem with a television or radio being on while I'm writing. It's maybe helped by my partial deafness but strangely enough I've found afterwards that I have a reasonable awareness of what the programme has been about and it hasn't significantly affected my writing - except maybe a few more typos to correct.
7-What are your hobbies?
Hobbies? Are you serious? Where's the time? Seriously though, I still have a lot of work commitments and try to write whenever I can. This involves the associated requirements to edit and publish and to try to mutually support other writers that I know. Outside of all of this I enjoy reading, music travel and sports. 8 What are you reading at the moment? Currently I'm reading 'The Invention of the Big Bang' by Fred Schafer. It has a very unusual style and is a compelling read with the author telling you someone's retelling of the main characters life story. It took a bit of effort to get into it but it's proving very much worth the effort, absorbing. I love reading Indie books, you find real originality while the mainstream mainly keeps churning out variations of the same thing.
Check out more about Zach Abrams, His Book, and Site 'Author Way'
