INTERVIEW WITH TED GARVINBIO: Ted Garvin, a middle-aged, disabled writer of mixed Native American/European descent, lives in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, with his wife and menagerie. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor's degree, but that and $2.00 (adjusted for inflation) will buy you a coffee. His favorite authors, in no particular order, are Patrick O'Brian, J.R.R. Tolkien, Roger Zelazny, and Homer.
Welcome to Scarlet Leaf Review!
Q: Tell us a little about yourself and your background. I am a jack of all trades, but master of none. I have done (almost) every job under the sun—remodeling in its various aspects, debt collection, customer service, tech support, and parenting a special needs child. I have a psychiatric disability, which probably is actually of help in my writing, as obsessive/compulsive behaviors are useful in the arts and may be part of the artistic temperament. I live in the benighted state of Oklahoma. I vote Democratic in elections, but Oklahoma is a “red” state—always Republicans get elected to Congress, etc. Q: Do you think that your school years have had an impact in your writing career? If so, what were you like at school? That's where I learned to write, although I have perfected/improved upon my craft in the ensuing years. Unfortunately, I talk like I write. Q: Were you good at English or like Einstein you excel now in a field that was a nightmare for you as a student? Better at English than Engineering. Q: What are your future ambitions for your writing career? I'd like to be published, make lots of money, and be famous. In my dreams, perhaps. Actually, I'd prefer critical success to commercial. It's always after your death that you're famous, after all. I really want what everyone else wants, to be read and appreciated. Q: Which poets have inspired you and how? What was their impact on your work or your literary perspective? The anonymous author of Beowulf, the Pearl Poet (who wrote Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, among others), and the author of the Cloud of Unknowing. As you can see, I'm big on medieval literature. Q: So, would you mind telling us what you have written so far? Doggerland—a novelette Q: Where can we buy or see them? https://www.amazon.com/Doggerland-novelette-Ted-Garvin-ebook/dp/B01AMOZ9DQ Q: What are you working on at the minute? What’s it about? I'm working on a sequel to Doggerland, tentatively titled the Futility of Vengeance (I'm trying for sexier titles). Q: What genre are your books and what draws you to this genre? Young Adult Historical Fiction (aimed at the older teen—perhaps even the post-teen). My favorite authors are YA authors, like Rosemary Sutcliff and Robert Heinlein's juvenals. Q: What was the name of your last book? Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special? What’s it about? See above. Deccan (the main character of Doggerland), is your typical late Stone Age teen, who wants everything every other teen has ever wanted, but he has a few special concerns—given that he grew up without a father. He wants to know the circumstances surrounding his death? The novel is about what happens when he finds out and then the down-stream consequences (life goes on, you know?). Q: Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your most recent book? I've never really thought about it. Someone unknown, probably. Q: How much research do you do for your books? I am fairly well-read. I check out books on my time period from the library and use them as background, but the gist of the novel really comes out of thin air. Fiction is about making things up and too much data put in the book makes it seem a textbook and not a novel. Q: Have you written any other novels/novellas in collaboration with other writers? Why did you do decide to collaborate and did that affect your sales? No. Q: When did you decide to become a writer and why? What was the principal reason for taking up a pen (metaphorical speaking) and write that first sentence? When I was sixteen, but never really pursued it because of parental influence. I took courses on writing in college and have always practiced developing my writing skills. It wasn't until I was in my mid-fifties that I decided I wasn't getting any younger. Q: Do you write full-time or part-time? Do you have a special time to write or do you write every day, 5 days a week or as and when? Depends on what you mean by full time. I don't spend eight hours a day at it, but it's always percolating in my subconscious because I write every day, even Sunday's and holidays. It's an addiction. I spend about an hour or two in the mornings, and then at spare moments, but I have a life. Currently, that involves mowing my yard, tending the garden, and otherwise keeping house. Q: Where do your ideas come from? Or is it just the spur of the moment, a special feeling you experience or a specific conjuncture that offers you inspiration? Out of thin air. I make it up. Q: How do you think you’ve evolved creatively? There is a fine line between creativity and madness—one I cross regularly. Q: Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you? I have a hybrid approach. I like to think a few chapters ahead, but I'm pretty much a pantser, then I edit the hell out of it. Q: In your opinion, what is the hardest thing about writing? Thinking stuff up. Q: Now, what about the easiest thing about writing? Editing. Q: Do you ever get writer’s Block and if so do you have any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer’s block? Writer's block, in my view, is a phobia. As we say in this part of the world, you have to get back up on the horse that threw you. There are times when no words will come. I suppose “writer's fatigue” might be a good term, a better term, perhaps, for writer's block. A problem I have is the “this is shit” voice of the critic. The only way to deal with him/her/it is to ignore it. Be kind to yourself. I also don't worry about what kind of weird things come out onto the page. I can always edit it out, after all. Q: Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors? For your own reading, do you prefer eBooks or traditional paper/hard back books? I read all the time. One author I am hysterical about is Nicola Griffith, who wrote (most recently) a historical fiction work called Hild, about St Hilda of Whitby. Our source for this historical personage is the Venerable Bede, who didn't have much to say about her, leaving quite a bit of room for speculation. Another author I like is Steven Pressfield, most famous for Gates of Fire, which is about the Battle of Thermopylae. I find I get more reading done if it's on my Kindle, because I can read a little at a time, thus filling in those little empty spaces in the day. Q: What book/s are you reading at present? On Becoming a Novelist by John Gardner, Last of the Amazons by Steven Pressfield, the Poetics by Aristotle, and Gotham Writers Workshop: Writing Fiction. Q: Do you proofread/edit all your own books or do you get someone to do that for you? Yes. I'm too poor to hire someone, but I'm somewhat anal retentive, so it's a little easier for me than it might be for some “normal” person. Q: Do you let the book stew – leave it for a month and then come back to it to edit? I know I should. Q: Who edited your last book and how did you select him/her? Me. See the paragraph above about money. Q: Tell us about the covers of your books. How did it/they come about? The cover for the last one, I took a picture I had taken and incorporated it into Amazon's cover designer. Q: Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process? Yes. Q: What would you say are the main advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing against being published or the other way around? With self-publishing, you have to do it all. With doing it the traditional way, you have some professional help. Q: How do you market your books, if you do the marketing yourself? Word of mouth and Amazon's keyword search feature. Q: Would you or do you use a PR agency? Can't afford it. Q: Do you have any advice for other authors on how to market their books? There is a lot of competition out there. My best advice, such as it is, is to write the best damn book you can and let the book sell itself, but you still need to get the word out. Q: What part of your writing time do you devote to marketing your book? Not very much, alas. Q: What do you do to get book reviews? I'm not sure they are all that important. I tried everything I knew to get reviews—give away copies, etc. Q: How successful has your quest for reviews been so far? I have two reviews which just showed up out of the blue. Q: Do you have a strategy for finding reviewers? No. Q: What are your thoughts on good/bad reviews? Paying for reviews is a bad idea. I try not to cry too much over a bad review, but I really don't worry about them. Q: Any amusing story about marketing books that happened to you? No. Q: What are your views on social media for marketing? Which social network worked best for you? Any tips on what to do and what not to do? I'm on Facebook and Twitter, but I don't do much marketing. Q: Did you do a press release, Goodreads book launch or anything else to promote your work and did it work? No. I'm really shy about blowing my own horn. Q: Did you get interviewed by local press/radio for your book launch? No, but I haven't solicited it. . Q: Is there any marketing technique you used that had an immediate impact on your sales figures? Not that I know of. Q: Did you make any marketing mistakes or is there anything you would avoid in future? Talking about my book overmuch to friends and family, other than to mention that it's out there. Q: Why do you think that other well written books just don’t sell? There is a lot of competition. I blame the education system in this country for it, assuming that they don't. Q: What do you think of “trailers” for books? Whiggish innovation. Q: Do you have a trailer or do you intend to create one for your own book/s? No. Q: Do you think that giving books away free works and why? No. Although we live online in a “culture of free”, I think people associate the price with the value of what they're getting. If they're getting it for free, they don't appreciate it. Q: How do you relax? I write. This is effectively a hobby for me, which takes a lot of pressure off. Q: What is your favorite motivational phrase? What is your favorite positive saying? “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”This shall pass. Q: What is your favorite book and why? I don't really have a favorite book, but I like the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian. Q: What is your favorite quote? “Badgers? We don't need no stinking badgers!” (movie VHS with Weird Al Yankovich, in case you missed the literary reference) Q: Where can you see yourself in 5 years-time? Hopefully with more published books under my belt. More money would be OK too, but your expenses rise to meet your income, but my income is pretty marginal—tight, not comfortable, but my needs are simple. In a way, the more money you get, the more you want. Q: What advice would you give to your younger self? Don't sweat the small stuff. Q: Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why? Socrates, but I don't speak classical Greek, so we'd have a short conversation. Q: If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it have been and why? I don't envy others. Q: What advice would you give to aspiring writers? Keep at it and damn the critics. Q: Where do you see publishing going in the future? My crystal ball has gotten a little fuzzy, but I'd say that the changes that happened in '07 (or so) when Amazon came out with the Kindle will only accelerate. It's a gold rush. I will say that the people who made the money in the California gold rush of '89 were NOT the miners, but the people who sold stuff to them, like Levi-Strauss. Q: Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included? No, this was pretty comprehensive. Q: How can readers discover more about you and you work? Website: http://tedgarvin.com (until it goes down because I can't see that it is anything other than a time sink) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ted.garvin.3 Twitter: https://twitter.com/for_all_love Amazon Author Page: https://amazon.com/author/tedgarvin Smashwords: Book Links: https://www.amazon.com/Doggerland-novelette-Ted-Garvin-ebook/dp/B01AMOZ9DQ Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14807753.Ted_Garvin?from_search=true Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to take part in this interview.
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Hey there, Some friends dared me to write flash fiction using the prompt: "'Ugh!' she groaned." Well, here's the result: enjoy! "Ugh," she groaned and threw a plate in his general direction. Ella wasn’t a good shot, even though she practiced quite often. It wasn’t like she hadn’t broken enough plates throwing them to him. One of these days, she hoped she wouldn’t miss. “Come on, baby! You have to understand!” Colin pleaded with his puppy eyes and an imploring gesture. He’d always do that. He’d let her waiting there like that and taking off to be with one of his friends. Her sister was right: she had to lose him and find something better or she’d be left with no more dishes in the cupboard. Last week she’d finished that beautiful set with those little flowers painted on the rim of the plates. Huh! Enough was enough. Colin could hang! “You know what?” Ella put her fists on her hips and confronted him. “I’ve had enough! Go play with the boys, Colin, and forget you’ve known me, jerk!” She saw him cringing when her voice reached the highest note. Eh, so what? She was sick of him and his lame excuses. She’d fallen for them too much in the past. That was the day when she’d reclaim her future and her love life back. It wasn’t like she’d get any younger. Past her prime, that was what her grandma said. She had to consider the larger picture here. And the larger picture was her life which right now was there, stuck in that old-news relationship. “You can’t be serious, baby, come on! You don’t really want me to leave. You love me!” he smiled at her with that lopsided smile that would make her shiver. Well, not anymore, she realized. She didn’t feel anything for Colin anymore. After a year of missed dates and lonely evenings spent in her apartment waiting for Prince Charming to come on his white horse, she had nothing left for him. Yep, Prince Charming was tarnished. Maybe she needed a regular guy… Nah.. She needed the sparks and the excitement… But not with Colin. With him she had the colic and the migraines and the tears… Buckets of tears. Like the last Christmas. When she spent the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day alone because he couldn’t make it. He’d went ice fishing… Calm, very calm, as nothing mattered anymore, Ella replied to him: “Yes, I’m serious, Colin. I want you to leave now and I don’t want you to come back. Ever again. If you do, I’ll accuse you of stalking.” Colin’s eyes grew wide as understanding downed. Ella noticed that he was in deep shock. She calmly went to the front door and opened it: “Adios, muchacho!” He stared at her incredulously still stuck on his spot. Her right brow went up and she pointed towards the hall to make him move. “You know that you’ll regret this, baby. I’ll wait for your call,” Colin said resignedly and went out. “Don’t glue yourself to the phone, Colin,” Ella replied after him. “I won’t call. When I close this door behind you, I’ll forget that you exist in this world.” “Your loss,” he shrugged. “Maybe. But definitely yours, baby!” After that parting shot, Ella locked the door and for good measure, also latched the chain. She didn’t fear he’d come back but she needed a final gesture, symbolic, something like a burial for their relationship. Then she started picking up the shivers scattered all over her living-room carpet. Oh, God, how many times she’d done that! Stupid, stupid cow! She could feel something in her throat and she feared that if she tried to clear it she would start crying. They’d been together for over three years now. Three years that went down the drain now. She didn’t regret that she’d shown him the door but she regretted that she’d wasted three years of her life with that jackass. And the clock was ticking. Almost thirty-seven, childless, husbandless… Ugh. Ella threw the shivers in the garbage bin and hesitated for a moment. Then she anxiously ran towards the phone and started dialing Joan’s number. “Hi, Jo, it’s me! What are you doing tonight?” “Hi,” Jo said hesitantly and then a long pause ensued. Ella didn’t blame Jo. She couldn’t be so unfair. Her call was like a thunderbolt. It had been years since she called Jo to ask about her evening. “I … don’t know…,” the reply came. “No plans?” Ella asked. Another pause. Jo was a bit slow, Ella remembered now. So, she patiently waited. “Why are you asking?” finally Jo asked. “Well, I was thinking we could go out… to a bar or something…” Yep, another pause. She felt a sharp pain in her arm. Not too funny to hold the phone for so long. “And Colin?” Jo asked hesitantly. Ella understood that too. Jo wasn’t one of Colin’s fans. Actually, no one among Ella’s family or friends rooted for Colin. The piece of… Okay, not now! She had to assure Jo that Colin wouldn’t bother them. “No worries, Colin got his ticket,” she said. “What ticket?” a stunned Jo asked. “I mean that I broke up with him. I want to go on a hunt!” Ella shouted joyfully. Pause, of course, what else. Come on, Jo, live it up, girl! “What… do you want to… hunt?” Jo needed to go out more often. That was clear. Crystal clear. “A man, Jo, what the hell else? I want to hunt a man. A regular man to have children with…” Ella effectively yelled her reply. She spoke so fast that she had to stop and breathe. Now, Jo decided to chime in: “Now, you want to make children now?” “No, you … you… Jo!” Ella spluttered. “Not now, like in right now. But I want to find a man with whom I could have children, let’s say sometime next year!” “I see… I see…. And what can I do?” “I don’t know!” Ella shouted and thought: stupid, stupid, stupid. “Come with me at a single bar, I think!” Pause, of course. That pain in the arm got sharper and Ella mentally sent an arrow in Jo’s direction. She saw Jo pierced through the heart. No, through the brain. Her heart was all right, the brain was the damn problem! “All right, Ella. When?” “Next century, you dummy!” she thought but replied: “Tonight! I’ll come and get you at eight, okay?” “I suppose…” “Damn, she’s slow!” “Okay, eight it is. See you, girl. Bye!” Ella hurried to disconnect the call. She was exhausted. Throwing plates was not easy work! Throwing your boyfriend – all right, ex-boyfriend, out, not easy either, and to talk to Jo – well, that would try a saint! Hey there! Is everything fine in your world? At least, I hope so! I really admire people who have enough self-confidence and don't care about what others might think or how they might label them. Yesterday, on the train, I had the chance to see such a person. A guy, over six feet tall, sporting the muscles that usually you see on the cover of a hot romance novel, was riding the subway with his little fluffy Shih Tzu. The pair was out of ordinary, I can assure you. The little dog seemed to get lost somewhere there. The guy appeared to take great care of his little companion. The small dog was freshly bathed and brushed and the big guy had used a beautifully designed clip to bind the little guy's forelock. At a certain moment, he noticed that it was not just right and he decided to do it again. Of course, the dog didn't like the fuss but the giant patiently explained to it that it was necessary and that it must look good. Everyone was laughing. Why? Anyway, the giant didn't care. I like a very self-confident man who doesn't think that a small dog would put a spot on his masculinity. Not like one of the guys living here around. He hardly reaches my shoulder (and I am on the small size - as height of course, because otherwise... o la la!). He has two dogs. Big ones. It is a show to see him walking them. Or I should better say it is a show to see how the dogs drag him around? It gets really funny when one of the dogs zigs and the other zags. I have to give him one, though. He sticks with it. Well, I suppose each of us has their own problems with self-confidence. That's why I admire people who don't give a damn and feel good in their own skin. What do you think? Hey there,
See my review published in London Grip Poetry Review: http://londongrip.co.uk/2016/08/london-grip-poetry-review-dunn/ INTERVIEW WITH ALEXA WHITEWOLF Author name: Alexa Whitewolf Author bio: I was born in Romania (yep, Dracula's country!) in 1992. As a curious kid, I devoured every book I could on Greek, Roman, Ancient Egyptian mythology. I studied university in political science and languages. I speak five of them: French, English, Romanian, Italian, Spanish (feel free to correspond to me in whichever language!). My current hobbies outside of writing are Starbucks, training dogs, running and reading.  Book title: Avalon Dreams Book blurb: It was impossible they had met before – of that she was certain. Yet his hold on her was undisputable, an irrational pull to the utmost recesses of her soul. Vivienne du Lac has everything she could wish for – a normal, peaceful life, a good job, cushy nest egg, and a semi-social nightlife. The only problem? She’s clueless to being the reincarnation of the Lady of the Lake, mythical sorceress from King Arthur's time, and Merlin's apprentice. Sébastien Dubois is the guy you wouldn’t take home to mom and dad. He’s the one you jump off on a motorcycle with, to ride into the sunset. He’s also Vivienne’s guardian, and only hope at survival when a magical past tumbles into her orderly reality. Caught between darkness and light, a battle she has no intention to fight – let alone the knowledge to win – Vivienne quickly finds out not even closest allies can be trusted. Can she look within and access powers from long past, become the enchantress Merlin meant her to be… Or will she lose it all over love, to save Sébastien’s soul? This is a battle between good and evil you don’t want to miss. AUTHOR CHARACTER INTERVIEW 1. Tell me a bit about your character. Who are they, how old are they? What do they look like? Vivienne du Lac is 23 years old. She has long, raven black hair that goes past her waist, a toned body, and emerald eyes. She has lived her entire life not remembering she is, in fact, the reincarnation of the Lady of the Lake. 2. Do they have any strange or unique physical traits? 3. Does the character have any quirks? It’s debatable if you can call it a quirk J but Vivienne gets deja-vus, and very often. A sight, smell, or phrase can trigger them, and she falls into a sleep/trance/vision for the duration, usually a few minutes. 4. Where do they live? What’s it like there? Vivienne lives in Avignon, France, the city of Popes. Avignon is a beautify city, located in the southeastern Provence region of France, on the Rhone River. It has retained some of its medieval roots. Cobblestone paths and ruins of monasteries fit in well with tourist cafes and romantic restaurants. You can still find there the Palace of the Popes (Palais des Papes) and the ruins of the Saint-Bénezet bridge, or the Pont d’Avignon. Rich in history, this city was perfect for the setting of the book.  5. What is their role in the story? Are they the protagonist/antagonist, a supporting character? Vivienne is the protagonist of the story, the centre around which everything revolves. Her romance, history, struggles with darkness and light, and friendships are at the core of the plot. 6. What do they do for a living? Vivienne is a historical researcher. She takes contracts from different people – teachers, authors, etc. – who need research done, and travels and does it for them. Though she does not have to work – her parents ensured she has inheritance aside – she loved being able to do something. 7. What do they do for fun? Vivienne loves spending time with Alistair, her Caucasian Shepherd dog. Whenever she’s not working, her idea of fun is long walks in the city, with him by her side. 8. What is their greatest weakness, their greatest strength? Vivienne’s greatest weakness is Sébastien. She will do anything for him, even though at times it is detrimental to her. Her love for him is his ultimate salvation. Her greatest strength is her ability to pull through and adapt through any situation, without losing her cool. Be it warlocks attacking, Sébastien being hurt, or memories assailing memories, she ultimately survives and becomes stronger. 9. What is the best that ever happened to them? The worst? Sébastien is the best thing that happened to Vivienne, despite their struggles. The worst thing was becoming Lady of the Lake – because of the events that led to it, and the pain she endured. 10. What do they want from life? What are their goals? At the beginning of the novel, Vivienne does not want a lot from life – she already has it all. By the end, once she is aware of her history and memories, she wants to protect the world from evil, in her role as guardian of good. Of course, a much-needed vacation with Sébastien is also in the works! 11. And to wrap things up, does this character of a “theme” song (or several)? Roar – by Katy Perry – because Vivienne embodies the lion, strong and protective at once AUTHOR'S INTERVIEW Welcome to Roxana’s blog! Q: Tell us a little about yourself and your background. I was born in Romania (yep, Dracula's country!) in 1992. As a curious kid, I devoured every book I could on Greek, Roman, Ancient Egyptian mythology. I studied university in political science and languages. I speak five of them: French, English, Romanian, Italian, Spanish (feel free to correspond to me in whichever language!). My current hobbies outside of writing are Starbucks, training dogs, running and reading. Q: Do you think that your school years have had an impact in your writing career? If so, what were you like at school? Definitely! When I moved to Canada at 11, the school system was very different, and I had a lot of free time on my hands. As a result, I devoured everything in the school library – and my city library! Reading all those books so young and falling in love with the characters, has contributed to my own love for writing. I wanted to be able to give young readers what I had: a story you could get sucked into, an escape from reality, and likable though imperfect characters. As for what I was like in school… a terror! No, I’m kidding, I was a model student, for better or worse. My parents never had anything to complain, though I did! High school was not quite what I expected, maybe on account of being too mature for my own age, and I breezed through it, eager for the end. Q: Were you good at English or like Einstein you excel now in a field that was a nightmare for you as a student? English and History were my favorite subjects! I drove my history teachers up the wall with my questions, and much too long presentations. As for English, my issue was always sticking to a word count. They’d ask for a 500 word essay, and I’d write 1000 words. A 4 line poem, turned into 12. And a short story, became the beginning of my novel. Q: What are your future ambitions for your writing career? I would love to get my book for sale in Chapters/Indigo. Also, I would like to have my name on Chapters’ wall of Canadian authors, I feel it would be an important milestone. More closer to now, I’m working on a few other books, and I would like to get those up and ready by next summer. Q: So, would you mind telling us what you have written so far? I’ve written quite a few short stories while in high school, one notably for my final exam in French called My Ghost Love – Mon amour fantome. My first book was The Sage’s Legacy – book 1. I wrote book 2 but never published it, soon to come though! And now, Avalon Dreams is my pride and joy – the first in a trilogy. Q: Where can we buy or see them? Until Sept 1, Avalon Dreams can be purchased at ½ price through Smashwords using coupon code PP83P https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/656960 It is also available via Amazon https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01JTLWT2W or https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JTLWT2W Q: What are you working on at the minute? What’s it about? I’m currently editing The Sage’s Legacy – Book 1. It’s a young adult novel, about a young girl, Delia, who has to fight the supernatural in order to save the world. Book 2 of the trilogy is also in the editing process, soon to be released. I’m also currently writing Avalon Wishes – the second book in the Avalon trilogy. It’s the prequel to Vivienne and Sebastien’s story, where their entire history (as well as Merlin’s, Alistair’s, Arthur’s) are covered. Q: What genre are your books and what draws you to this genre? Mainly fantasy with a healthy dose of romance. I’ve always loved fantasy, the supernatural, I find a fantastic world makes it easier to escape reality. If I read a book about the modern world, it doesn’t always grab my imagination – though some do. With magic/fae/warlocks/etc, it’s a given conclusion. As for the romance, I love sizzling chemistry between well-developed characters, and I’ve tried to give some of the same with mine. Q: How much research do you do for your books? A few weeks, usually. For Avalon Dreams, I spent weeks getting immersed in Camelot folklore, reading on Merlin’s background, Nimue’s, as well as watching movies with Avignon. I usually try to have a good idea of my setting and characters before I dig into writing. Q: Do you write full-time or part-time? Do you have a special time to write or do you write every day, 5 days a week or as and when? I write part-time; unfortunately I have to maintain a regularly boring 9-5 job. I usually write in the evening, sometimes staying up until the wee hours of the morning, unable to detach from the story. It’s a very bad habit, but not one I’m looking to get out of J I would say when I’m into a story, I write 7 days a week. I try to take time off it, but that usually happens after I have a rough draft of the story. Then I take time off, and go back after a week or two to re-read and finish. I also write while at work (though I’m really not supposed to – but what can you do.. when the need strikes!) Q: How do you think you’ve evolved creatively? When I look back at the stories that I used to write, I’m always amazed they came from me! I do find I evolved a lot with my writing style. Not just grammar-wise, but with descriptions, the settings, the relationships. They all have more substance now than when I was writing at 14. Q: Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you? I hate plans, personally. I always write for a bit with the idea, to see where it takes me. At some point, I’ll take a break and think things through, and come up with an outline namely in terms of how many chapters I want, and how long they should be. Then I divide the story over the chapters, so I have a rough idea of where it’s going. Mind you, by the time this is all written, I’ve already completed the first rough of the story. Q: In your opinion, what is the hardest thing about writing? Disengaging from the story. For myself, I find when I write and it’s a really good story, the characters are with me 24/7. When I’m at work, at home, walking my dogs. When I’m in the mood to write, anything and everything inspires me, and it’s hard to disengage until the story is written. Q: Now, what about the easiest thing about writing? Getting past writer’s block! All I need to do is find a new song playlist, and I’m back in business J Q: Do you ever get writer’s Block and if so do you have any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer’s block? It’s happened a few times. When I write, I usually create a playlist of songs to match the mood of the actions. If it’s romantic, I’ll have some romance songs; for action, I’ll have some rap; for nostalgic, I’ll have some sad songs. Etc. When I get writer’s block, and the music doesn’t do it, I usually take a few hours away from writing. I’d normally recommend taking 24hrs, but I simply can’t – I’m stubborn when it comes to finishing something. So I walk/run with the dogs, then come back and switch my playlist. And I’ll listen to some songs, all the while thinking of my characters, and eventually something gives. A lot of times, I go through 30+ songs by the time this happens… but it happens! Q: Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors? For your own reading, do you prefer eBooks or traditional paper/hard back books? I read a LOT. Some of my favorite authors are Christian Jacq – his Ancient Egypt series; J.K.Rowling – Harry Potter; Kristen Ashley – Rock Chick series; James Patterson – everything. I’m not a big fan of eBooks, I usually got for paper/hard books. Nothing quite compares with the smell of old/new paper when you open the book. Q: Do you proofread/edit all your own books or do you get someone to do that for you? It’s a mix. For Avalon Dreams, I had a friend of mine, who’s incredibly good at editing, have a look. He pointed out some plot holes and things that would do with changing. Then I took the reins and did the editing – two months’ work! Q: Do you let the book stew – leave it for a month and then come back to it to edit? Yes, definitely. I find it gives a new, fresh perspective on the story and characters. And things you liked before, you might like or not like quite as much. Q: Tell us about the covers of your books. How did it/they come about? Rocking Book Covers can be credited for that. I ran into Adrijus Guscia’s covers on a website, and fell in love. When I contacted him for questions, he was quick to answer, and I appreciated the professionalism. The cover I’d seen originally, I couldn’t get out of my mind. So the minute I could, I purchased it. Adrijus further helped me with some suggestions on tweaking, created a full wrap-around cover, and I was blown away at the full result! Q: Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process? Yes, definitely. The way I see it, covers are what attract the reader. The back blurbs clinch the deal. Q: What would you say are the main advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing against being published or the other way around? Doing everything myself. The editing, marketing, formatting… It’s hard, I won’t deny it, but the euphoric feeling when you’re all done and it’s launched, can’t be bested by anything! Q: How do you market your books, if you do the marketing yourself? Social media, Goodreads ads and Facebook ads. I’m still learning, that part is a work in progress. Q: Did you make any marketing mistakes or is there anything you would avoid in future? I’m very wary with putting money down for “we can promote you” scams. I feel a lot of those, are things the author can do themselves. Yes, it’s a lot harder, but in the end, you get to keep your hard-earned money. For myself, I’ve held back on major promotions (such as through ENT) until I get a few reviews for my book. I feel like with no reviews, any promo I pay for, won’t have the impact I would like it to. Q: Why do you think that other well written books just don’t sell? Could be a lot of reasons, but I think what turns off readers a lot are: bad covers, bad blurbs, bad grammar. Q: What do you think of “trailers” for books? I’m not a fan. I feel trailers are for movies, and I don’t see Youtube as being a good place to market a book. I’ve been reading since I was super young, and not once did I check a trailer for a book. I’ve asked a few friends, and they say the same. It might work for some authors, but I personally am not a fan. Q: Do you think that giving books away free works and why? I think it does, to some extent. It can garner reviews, and raise talk of your book. Word of mouth is important to us indie authors, and free books does tend to get a lot of downloads, from what research I’ve done online. Q: How do you relax? I read, walk with my dogs, listen to music. I love being away from big cities, in rural areas, and breathing in fresh air. Q: How can readers discover more about you and you work? Website: www.alexawhitewolf.com Blog: www.alexawhitewolf.wordpress.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/alexawhitewolf Twitter: www.twitter.com/alexa_whitewolf Lnkedin: Pinterest: Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Alexa-Whitewolf/e/B01JZH0HK6 Smashwords author: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/alexaw92 Smashwords book: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/656960 Book Links: (* American, UK, etc.) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JTLWT2W https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01JTLWT2W https://www.createspace.com/6481791 http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/isbn9781370416967 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/660987.Alexa_Whitewolf Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to take part in this interview.  Mini Author Bio: Annie doesn’t like long walks on the beach, getting dolled up, or HEA endings with a boringly perfect hero. She’d much rather be rock climbing, shooting guns, or ending on cliffhangers with a deliciously imperfect hero. And hugs. She likes hugs. HART BROKEN EXCERPT  An Excerpt from Hart Broken (The Hart Series, Book One): Cale grinned crookedly as she swung a leg over and straddled his hips. “Hello, beautiful.” “Hello, handsome,” Mickey purred seductively and let her eyes roam leisurely across his entire upper body. Her hands followed suit soon after, examining every inch of solid muscle on this gorgeous man until… She noticed something of particular interest and paused with a tiny frown. “Cale?” “Yeah?” Mickey glanced up to see that his eyes were closed. She traced a finger delicately over the scar that ran along the entire length of Cale’s left clavicle. “What’s this from?” “Broke my collarbone. They had to put a metal plate and seven screws in there.” He chuckled slightly before adding, “And a few loose wires, I think.” Don’t ask… “What happened?” Instantly, she felt Cale stiffen as he muttered tersely, “I fell.” Oh. Must have happened in the same accident… Mickey drew her finger down the center of his chest and slowly down the length of his washboard abs. Don’t… She paused to draw a line across his navel and whispered, “Can you feel this?” “Yeah.” Continuing along his tiger line, Mickey heard Cale draw in a sharp breath as she approached the invisible partition. It was halfway between his navel and the waistband of his pants. It was where she could see his taut muscles suddenly vanish. Don’t do it… She traced her finger from hipbone to hipbone, right along the unseen line. “How about this?” He swallowed hard. “Yeah…” Hesitantly, Mickey trailed her finger even lower, crossing over to the other side of that fence, feeling the lax muscles yield under her timid touch. She’d seen enough to know that Cale couldn’t move his legs voluntarily. But can he feel them? She dragged a horizontal line across his skin, breathing, “And this?” Cale immediately seized her wrist and in a blur, Mickey found herself flipped onto her back, staring into the sparkling emerald abyss only inches away. The weight of his chest pressed her into the mattress. “We have better things to do,” he murmured huskily, a provocative smile tugging at his lips, “than talk.” ♥♥♥ This girl… With a soft gasp, she grabbed a fistful of my hair as I tilted my head and burrowed kisses into her neck. I couldn’t believe it. How she responded to my touch. Eagerly. Impatiently. As if she wanted nothing else. It blew my mind. How her tight little body arched up to meet mine. Instinctively. Desperately. As if she couldn’t possibly get close enough. It blew my fucking mind. How her ankles locked together at the base of my spine. Securely. Possessively. As if she would never let me go. “Mickey,” I breathed urgently, attempting to pry one of her perfectly toned limbs from around my waist. She made a disapproving sound and brushed my efforts away. Chuckling slightly, I gave her thigh a gentle pat. “I need some room to work here.” As she reluctantly loosened her hold, I slipped a hand between her legs and nearly unraveled on the fucking spot. “Jesus Christ, Mickey,” I growled hoarsely, the words barely managing to scrape past my throat. She was so damn wet that I muttered another curse aloud before pulling back to look down at her. Shit. Obsidian eyes stared back at me. Glowing with unmistakable desire. Burning with nothing but lust. Holy shit. “I want you…” I was in trouble. “I want you so bad…” Okay, I wasn’t really in trouble. “Cale…” Because when she whispered my name in that low, sexy purr… Something inside of me broke. Hell, it didn’t even break. It crumbled. Into dust. As she trembled beneath me, fingernails clawing painfully into my back, I groaned and captured her mouth with mine. I was fucking doomed. You can find Annie at: Website: https://www.anniearcane.com/book/hart-broken Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/anniearcane Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/anniearcane Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/annietheauthor Purchase Links for Hart Broken. Amazon: http://viewBook.at/HartBroken Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/ebook/hart-broken Direct: https://www.anniearcane.com/book/hart-broken Ladies and Gentlemen, Tonight, I'd like to make two important announcements (at least, important for me!). First of all, as I am a woman and an author, I feel like I'm entitled to whims and changes of mind. Who doesn't know that a woman can be as changeable as the weather and authors can be capricious and moody? So, I've changed my mind and I will not release my new novel "Becka's Awakening" at the end of August. I feel like I have to offer something nice to myself for my birthday and... ta da, here's my present: the release of this novel, which will be at the end of September (I won't reveal the day - the end of September will do.) I do hope that the second announcement will bring you joy: starting with today (actually within the next thirty minutes), besides the interviews that I promised to feature on my blog, I will start featuring various authors and even reviewers. The first one - you'll love this author: funny, imaginative, romantic - writes with a lot of feeling and has a real understanding of the human condition. I won't say more. You'll have to see for yourself! I won't spoil your surprise. Until then, this is everything for now. I do hope no one is disappointed. Huh! A girl can dream, can't she? **** REVIEW ***I was assigned this title in a book group and was asked to give an honest review. In general, I am not a fun of this kind of novels, however the futuristic world created by Pamela Shloesser Canepa, as well as her characters, seem intriguing. She set up the action of the novel in a rapidly changing world due to progress, however, that doesn’t mean that the change was positive. The world depicted is dark and somewhat dangerous. The main character, Norrie gets in a bad situation due to her own actions, however, she handles herself very well and her evolution as a character makes for a good story. The pace of the story is steady. The plot develops nicely and that made me find the story enticing and I had to read it up to the end. The subject of android vs human in the world is very controversial and the author managed to deal very well with this matter, even arising awareness to prejudice and making the reader see the other perspective on this matter. I liked Pamela Schloesser Canepa’s novel even if here and there I got a bit lost but I would like to read more of her stories. This novel offers a good visual description, rounded characters and generally a good story. Link: https://www.amazon.com/Seeing-Through-Sampsons-Eyes-anothers-ebook/dp/B01GNNCHHQ/ref=cm_rdp_product#nav-subnav  Hey there, I have had a quite contemplative state of mind today mostly wondering where the human kind is going. The odds don’t seem too good, at least in my mind. Along the history, there have been great civilizations to rise and then to fall once they reached the peak of their development: the Sumerians for instance, Phoenicians, even the ancient Greeks. You start asking yourself questions when you see real sportsmanship, as the one proven by Jack Sock in his match with Lleyton Hewitt, labelled as stupidity. (see: https://www.facebook.com/sbnation/videos/10153187777826536/) . It’s like the only things that can be applauded today are cheating, besting someone through illegal means, making your money through nefarious ways and so on. I, for one, don’t care for such things. I salute Mr. Sock. He’s one of the few that still bear the flag of sportsmanship. I think he thought he’d live better with himself by doing the right thing even if he’d lose the match, than having to live with the thought he didn’t say something to help correcting an erroneous decision. However, the fact that Mr. Sock was labeled stupid wasn’t the only thing that set me off. I read about a cat called for duty jury. Even though the owners tried to prove with papers that it was a cat and not a person, the court didn’t accept any excuse and asked for the cat to come to court. I wonder what the judge would think seeing a jury formed by eleven people and a cat. By the way, no one bothered to label those people stupid for decreeing that the cat was good enough for jury. What does that say about the American juridical system? Or what does that say about people, in general? Progress has its advantages and disadvantages. Smartphones became our daily and nightly companions, taking over relationships, either in the family or love relationships. I saw a young couple taking their baby for a walk in the park this evening. Both parents were on the phone all the time, checking messages or God knows what, and the baby was trying desperately to make them pay attention to him. Not a chance for the little one. If you get on a bus, everyone takes out their phones and start writing texts or checking Facebook or whatever. Five months ago, we gave up our cell phones. By that time, every conversation in the house was conducted through text messaging. Since then, there have been daily conversations, more interaction and it seems that a little more understanding. Just a thought. Well, just a little food for thought: in what kind of world do you want to live? Any ideas, anyone? Hey there again, It seems I’ve been in too much of a rush to announce that the weather became bearable. Halas that was not the case! It’s getting hotter and hotter and humidity drives me crazy. When I came to Canada, I thought it would be cooler in summer but I’m afraid it is hotter than in Europe. Disappointing from my point of view. It’s like living in a perpetual sauna and I must confess I don’t like saunas. In other words, it’s been a tough period for me. I prefer to feel the chill in the air not the heat waves. Besides everything, it’s been a very surprising week and the most surprising thing is that I’m in the situation to admit that I have no sense of humor. Either that or the television people have started to classify the movies and series in a way that eludes my basic understanding. I think I’ve told you before (and if not, you find out now) that whenever I’m stressed or tired, I relax watching comedies. Well, I finished The Big Bang Theory, which I watched on Crave, a program I subscribed to because one can watch movies without the pestering commercials. On regular programs, a film that should last an hour and a half turns into a four-hour film because of commercials and I don’t have the necessary patience to stay put for four hours only to see the same commercials over and over again. So Crave sounded good. Anyway, when I finished The Big Bang Theory, correctly classified under comedies, I turned my attention to the series listed above it, The Big C. I thought that the title sounded intriguing enough and as it was listed as a comedy, it was exactly what the doctor had prescribed to me. Well, it’s a very good series, if you want to cry buckets, and I don’t exaggerate. How the TV people thought that a series about a woman with four stage melanoma, with almost everyone around her dying (probably, that’s the comedy factor: everyone dies but her), could be classified under comedy, I don’t know, but either the sense of humor registered a huge shift in the contemporary society and I’ve been left behind (everything is possible, as there are lots of things and behaviors around that I don’t understand anymore and I don’t bother to ponder upon) or those people lost their minds and find humor in tragedy, death and broken hearts. Don’t misunderstand me: as far as drama goes (at least in my outdated mind) this is one of the greatest series I’ve ever seen! It seems that I’ve been hooked and even though it is not the comedy I hoped for, I can’t let it go. I have to watch it, no matter what. The continuous fight to take control of a life that got out of hand and the microcosms of parallel misfortunes, tribulations and crashed hopes are compelling. It’s like a book that terrifies you but you cannot very well leave it alone. You have to immerse yourself in that parallel misery like you’ve been caught in the spider web and you cannot break free anymore. This has been on my mind for the last few days and I had to let it out. That doesn’t mean I will write a long post – no time, I’m afraid. I have a magazine issue to work on and it will not get ready by itself. That’s a work that provokes ambivalent feelings in me. On one hand, I can’t wait to put it up there and show the world: look, what these marvelous people brought you, enjoy! On the other, I fear the 4:30 a.m. in the morning of 15th, when I have to wake up and check the site and see what other blunder took place, because no matter what I write, the website has a life of itself and categories appear differently than what I put there and, worse, people’s works don’t appear at all. Well, it’s a work of love and hate. Let’s see which one wins this time. See you around! And don’t forget, new interviews to come up. I hope you enjoyed the previous two. There were two different authors, two different generations and two different points of view. If you haven’t read them, do so! They deserve it, believe me! INTERVIEW WITH DONAL MAHONEY BIO: Donal Mahoney, a native of Chicago, lives in St. Louis, Missouri. He has worked as an editor for The Chicago Sun-Times, Loyola University Press and Washington University in St. Louis. His fiction and poetry have appeared in various publications, including The Wisconsin Review, The Kansas Quarterly, The South Carolina Review, The Christian Science Monitor, Commonweal, Guwahatian Magazine (India), The Galway Review (Ireland), Public Republic (Bulgaria), The Osprey Review (Wales), The Istanbul Literary Review (Turkey) and other magazines. Some of his work can be found at http://eyeonlifemag.com/the-poetry-locksmith/donal-mahoney-poet.html#sthash.OSYzpgmQ.dpbs (Photo: Carol Bales)  Welcome to my blog, Mr. Maloney! I am extremely delighted to have you as a guest. Q: Tell us a little about yourself and your background. I was born to Irish immigrant parents in Chicago many years ago. My mother had been raised with eight other siblings on an English landlord’s farm in a house with no heat, only a fireplace. Her family planted and harvested cabbage, rutabaga and potatoes for the Englishman. She left because of poverty and no future, My father, reared on a dairy farm in Ireland, was expelled from the country by his English captors for running guns for the Irish Republican Army shortly after the Rebellion of 1916. He had been imprisoned for a couple of years. He was a teenager when caught and in his twenties when put on a boat for America. My father came here as a grave-digger, boxer and singer in Irish nightclubs till he caught on with the Edison Company in Chicago and learned his trade, He did not live long enough to see his grandson, my son, win a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University in England. He would not have been happy having a grandson of his studying in detested England. My mother may have had a fourth grade education and my father a sixth grade education but he was able to help me with algebra in high school. A sober Irishman, he saved enough money to send me to college when there were no loans. He was not happy to see me major in English, not go to law school, and then go on for a master’s in English. In a house like that I grew up not too fond of the English. And now many decades later I cannot say that I am any fonder of them although I thank them for their contribution to literature in the English language. Q: Do you think that your school years have had an impact in your writing career? If so, what were you like at school? I was a nitwit in grammar school, always involved in mischief, not much good in math but I could spell and write. I had nuns, God bless them, who took the sons of immigrants and educated them in spite of themselves. They never penalized my academic grades because of the commotion I caused in the classroom. I remember my father telling me once that I was lucky that he and my mother came to America speaking English, albeit with a thick brogue. The other kids in my classes often came from other European countries and spoke Polish, Lithuanian, German and other languages at home so for them English was almost a second language. For me, English was the only language I knew, fraught as it was with hyperbole and often still is Q: Were you good at English or like Einstein you excel now in a field that was a nightmare for you as a student? I was always good in English but had to study in math and science, neither of which did I care for. But if I studied, I did fairly well. Q: What are your future ambitions for your writing career? I can’t say that I have any future ambitions as a writer, only to write up until the day that I die. I quit writing for 35 years or so because of jobs as a print editor that took most of my energy. My five kids always got hungry. And I wanted them to go to school as I had gone to school. They did and now have families of their own. In the Sixties, when the jobs were easy, I had about 100 poems or so published in what were called “little magazines” as well as university magazines and at least one commercial magazine. Then I got my first job as the editor of a small national magazine. I was the staff, no one else. So I quit writing my own stuff and got the magazine out every month. I returned to writing in 2008 following retirement when my wife bought me a computer as a gift and showed me where cardboard boxes of poems and drafts of poems had been gathering dust in the basement. In addition to poems, I began writing fiction and nonfiction as well. At last count, I have had the good fortune to appear, counting reprints, more than 6,000 times in print and online with poems, stories and essays. But all I do now is write all day. Q: Which poets have inspired you and how? What was their impact on your work or your literary perspective? When I was young, T.S. Eliot and Wallace Stevens impressed me greatly. As an adult it was the Irish poet Seamus Heaney, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature, who grabbed my attention because his diction mirrored the diction of the Irish immigrants with whom I was raised. Q: So, would you mind telling us what you have written so far? Although I have the quantity and some say the quality to have produced books of poems and maybe a book of short stories, I have not tried to put a book together because I like writing but not editing and compiling a book would remind me too much of work that I did for so many years. I also lack the patience to try to sell the book to a publisher and the idea of going to a vanity press does not appeal to me personally. Q: What are you working on at the minute? What’s it about? I write up to nine hours a day in perhaps three hour shifts on poems, stories and essays. I might have as many as four poems in work at once and send each out only when I give up on making them any better. If I’m working on a story or essay I try to stick with it because that seems to occupy some other part of my brain. I “hear” poems. Prose I have to write. Q: When did you decide to become a poet? What was the decisive factor or you just took a pen and starting writing poems? I never decided to become a poet. My father spoke a musical English and that affected me, I’m certain. Perhaps the first “verse” I ever wrote was in third grade simply because I liked the sound of it. Q: What makes you write? What’s the force behind taking your pen (or your keyboard) and put verses down? I have no idea what makes me write except that it is one of three obsessions I have had in life. The other two might have gotten me arrested, if caught, or made me sick had I not managed to quit both of them. Q: Do you write full-time or part-time? Do you have a special time to write or do you write every day, 5 days a week or as and when? Because I am retired I write 7 days a week usually in three three-hour shifts a day unless doctor appointments or something else tears me away from the computer. Q: Where do your ideas come from? Or is it just the spur of the moment, a special feeling you experience or a specific conjuncture that offers you inspiration? I have no idea where my ideas come from except to say that a phrase that sounds good will pop into my mind. For example, the other day I remembered how when I was small my father, when he was upset, would go around the house chanting “the bog above Bob Gordon’s bog,” which I always assumed was something from his childhood in Ireland. I never found out what it meant but I finally tried to get it out of my mind by using it in a poem that I had no idea at the start what it might be about. It turned out to be a ditty. I write ditties to get rid of phrases that won’t go away but sometimes good poems start the same way. I never know where a poem is going until it is written. This link will take you to the ditty that resulted: http://www.thepoetcommunity.com/8539/above-bob-gordons-bog-a-poem-by-donal-mahoney Q: How do you think you’ve evolved creatively? I have no idea except that I always loved words, the sound of them bumping into each other, as the immigrant Irish spoke them in Chicago. They were the only discipline that I was attracted to because until graduate school I really did not have to work too hard and that was fine with me because I loved basketball and general mischief and commotion. Q: In your opinion, what is the hardest thing about writing? Not knowing when a poem is “done,” But even when a poem is done, it really isn’t because as some famous poet once said, “A poem is never done. It is simply abandoned.” For me the main problem is running on. Not quitting when I should. Not editing myself the way I edited others to make a living. Although I quit drinking on 11-23-61, verbally I am always drunk. Q: Now, what about the easiest thing about writing? The computer that replaced the typewriter that I was weaned on. The delete key beats an eraser. Q: Do you ever get writer’s Block and if so do you have any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer’s block? I have never had Writer’s Block. I suffer from dysentery of the mind. Q: Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors? For your own reading, do you prefer eBooks or traditional paper/hard back books? I read many books in grammar school, high school, college and graduate school. In grammar school, I would go to the library and bring home bags of books. I then read for pleasure. Majoring in English made me read because I had to. I now read periodicals in print and sites online. No books in a long time. But the book that changed my life in 1958 was J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye.” It probably cost me a law degree because I was headed to law school till I read that book. Q: What book/s are you reading at present? No books but a ton of magazines. Q: Do you proofread/edit all your own books or do you get someone to do that for you? I have dry macular degeneration, which is why I type in bold so as to catch as many typos as I can. My wife proofs everything for me now. Her comments on my poems are also helpful because she is a journalist and reporter by trade and approaches poetry from a different angle. Q: Do you let the book stew – leave it for a month and then come back to it to edit? If I can manage to do so, I leave a poem draft marinate overnight after revising it probably 10 or 12 times during the original writing. The older I get the less I like to let anything hang around. I like to say enough. And that is not a wise thing to do. Prose is different because I write prose. I hear poems and type them out if that makes any sense. Q: Who edited your last book and how did you select him/her? The only “editor” I have is my wife who comments on poems, stories and essays while proofing them. Q: Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process? Absolutely but often for the wrong reasons. Q: What would you say are the main advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing against being published or the other way around? I would only self-publish if I wanted to leave hard copies of my stuff for my kids. But that would involve a lot of work that does not interest me. Q: How do you market your books, if you do the marketing yourself? I have never thought about my writing as a way to make money so many but not all of the following questions are not for me to answer although I understand their importance. Q: Would you or do you use a PR agency? If I were a commercial writer, I certainly would. Q: Why do you think that other well written books just don’t sell? I fear books, magazines, newspapers and most print material are in a terminal state and will reside only in libraries. Q: How do you relax? I seldom relax and when I do I’m likely asleep Q: What is your favorite book and why? The Bible Q: What is your favorite quote? “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” ----Jesus Christ Q: Where can you see yourself in 5 years-time? Still alive, I hope, and writing Q: What advice would you give to your younger self? Don’t be so full of yourself. Q: Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included? I think one of the most important aspects of my life that I have failed to discuss is attending Roman Catholic schools for 19 consecutive years without ever thinking about being a priest. I then did not practice Catholicism for 40 years, only to return to the Church eight years ago. One either has faith or does not. I have always believed even when I was not practicing my faith. Believing for me is like breathing and writing, They come naturally and I thank God for them. Q: How can readers discover more about you and you work? Website: http://eyeonlifemag.com/the-poetry-locksmith/donal-mahoney-poet.html#sthash.OSYzpgmQ.dpbs= and http://booksonblog12.blogspot.com Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to take part in this interview. Hi, there! I’ve been a little restless lately, and I’ve been looking for something that was in my control and change. At last count, there are some things. I can try to change my outlook of the world. Tough one, eh? How can you change it when you see the same thing over and over again? Now, this is a good question and if anyone can answer it to me, I’d be grateful. Then I thought about changing the look of the house by playing with furniture and nick-knacks and other things like that. Well, I rolled up my sleeves, looked around, and with a sigh, I instantly gave up, I must tell you. It’s too much work involved and too little patience on my side. So that one was a “no go”. I took the entire day yesterday to think about it, and I didn’t make much way. There was always something there: laziness, affordability, lack of interest, you pick. Today, though, I’ve finally found something to change. I like to bake and, if you’ve ever read my bio on Amazon, for instance, then you already knew that. If not, you’ve just found out. Interesting, huh? Well, maybe for some of you. I doubt the others will find it of notable interest. Anyway, as I like to bake and I have had to bake some bread – I discovered an hour ago that there was no crumble of bread in the house and lunch is almost here, I’ve decided to change the bread recipe. I’ve baked the same type of bread for the last few years and something new was due. So, I’ve changed it. I can’t tell you how that turned out, as the bread is still in the oven, but that little thing, the experiment with ingredients, made me feel that I’ve accomplished something. The tribulations of a writer’s life are many – at least when you’re aspiring to become a writer, which means to have sales, people following you and showing interest in your work. It’s not easy-peasy to have your work out there. Well, you can publish it, that’s no big deal. The question is: how do you make people notice you or your work? I’ve heard a lot of theories and I must admit, I’ve put every single one in practice. After all, I do want to be able to say: hey, look here, I’m a writer! Nonetheless, nothing panned out or at least for the moment. I’m probably not a good seller. I might be good at writing but that doesn’t mean people would take my word for it. I still have to make people believe it. Well, one of these days I might stumble on the right way. Until then, I’ll just scribe away. You might wonder how come I’ve started writing today. I’ll tell you the secret: the heat is gone. There’s a bit of wind, a little chill in the air: perfect weather for me. I know that some of my fellow Canadians hate me for being happy for this change in the weather (if not 99% of them), but right now, I don’t care. It’s a beautiful day and I feel in my element again. The heat is not for me, at least if it isn’t accompanied by a sandy beach and a wavy sea and the sea breeze. I’m quite particular in this matter. During the last few days I couldn’t even think properly and that reflected in my writing: none to speak about. Now, I can enjoy my yard. Of course, I don’t enjoy Rex’s constant hunt for squirrels. Don’t worry, squirrels are safe. They’re there in the tree, chattering at Rex and driving him mad. Consequently, he drives me mad and I suppose everyone living in the proximity. Fortunately, my neighbors – the five-people family with a penchant for bad swearing and ill-treating of their own children, are not here. They left for a birthday party yesterday afternoon and haven’t returned. Don’t ask why! I’m not a psychic and I can’t know why. However, it’s been heavenly peaceful this morning. No yelling, no swearing, no Elvis redemption (that from the other neighbor – I think he went somewhere as well because no peep came from his side)! Well, I don’t complain, quite the opposite. It’s been a while since I could sit in my yard and just write without interruptions. Let’s just hope that it will last. Well, not much to say as I haven’t left the house since yesterday evening. But I will keep you posted, no worries! Have fun, it's summer! This is one of my favorite places in the world: Santorini, Greece! I do miss it!  Dear Readers, I will start with a series of interviews to introduce the authors that have had a great impact on the success of the literary magazine Scarlet Leaf Review by putting it on the map of the literary world. I am pleased that these gifted authors have accepted my request for an interview. Let's welcome the first author today: ADAM LEVON BROWN! INTERVIEW WITH ADAM LEVON BROWN  BIO: Adam Levon Brown is a poet, student, and activist residing in Eugene, Oregon. He enjoys the outdoors, playing with cats, and meeting new people. He has been published in a few dozen places including Burningword Literary Journal and Yellow Chair Review. He can be contacted via his website at www.AdamLevonBrown.org, where he offers free resources for poets. Welcome, Adam Levon Brown!
Q: Tell us a little about yourself and your background. I grew up in Eugene, Oregon in the United States. I dabbled in writing and wrote short stories when I was 7 years old. I have a great family who is always supportive of my endeavors. I have 2 cats that I adore to death. Q: Do you think that your school years have had an impact in your writing career? If so, what were you like at school? I didn’t like school until I got to college, where I was free to explore subjects that interested me. I studied mostly science until recently. Q: Were you good at English or like Einstein you excel now in a field that was a nightmare for you as a student? I think I’ve always had a knack for writing and reading. My reading comprehension was at a college level from age 12, or so I was told. I loved reading and did so a lot when I was younger. I only started writing close to 2 years now, and I can’t get enough of it. Q: What are your future ambitions for your writing career? I want to spread my words to as many people as possible. I also want to win some kind of award eventually. Q: Which poets have inspired you and how? What was their impact on your work or your literary perspective? Honestly, I haven’t read much poetry; but my favorites are Poe, Plath, and Ginsberg. Their darkness is really relatable to me, and their work has shaped the different words and images that I try to convey in my work. Q: So, would you mind telling us what you have written so far? I have two full collections of poetry out with Creative Talents Unleashed; “Musings of a Madman” and “Cadence of Cupid”. I also just released my first chapbook under my imprint, “Madness Muse Press” The title of the chapbook is, “These Streets Don’t Cry For Us” and is currently ranked #14 in Bestselling Death/Grief/Loss Poetry. Q: Where can we buy or see them? These Streets Don’t Cry For Us Links: https://www.amazon.com/These-Streets-Dont-Cry-Us/dp/0997859911 Musings of a Madman Links: https://www.amazon.com/Musings-Madman-Adam-Levon-Brown/dp/0996147667 Q: What are you working on at the minute? What’s it about? I’m working on my next poetry chapbook which I’m planning to release in Mid-December around Christmas. It’s tentative title is, “Emotional Explosives” and is full of raw, hard-hitting free/experimental verse. Q: What genre are your books and what draws you to this genre? If I had to classify my work in a genre, it would have to be, “Dark”. I have a lot of personal demons and I’ve spent a lot of time alone. I’ve always been drawn to darker works because I can feel them more than lighter pieces. Q: When did you decide to become a poet? What was the decisive factor or you just took a pen and starting writing poems? I really got into poetry a year and a half ago. I started doing writing prompts from Creative Talents Unleashed and just fell in love because I was able to express myself. I really didn’t decide to keep it going until I published my first book, “Musings of a Madman.” The moment that book was released, I decided, I’m going all the way with this poetry thing. Q: What makes you write? What’s the force behind taking your pen (or your keyboard) and put verses down? The need to express complex emotions which may be lost if not analyzed and expressed. Q: Do you write full-time or part-time? Do you have a special time to write or do you write every day, 5 days a week or as and when? I’m a student and I write part-time. I don’t have a particular time I write, though most of it happens between 12 am-3 am. Q: Where do your ideas come from? Or is it just the spur of the moment, a special feeling you experience or a specific conjuncture that offers you inspiration? Spur of the moment, I love to twist and play with language. It’s fun for me. Q: Do you ever get writer’s Block and if so do you have any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer’s block? If you want to get rid of writer’s block, READ. Get ideas swirling around in your head by reading or conversing about deep subjects like philosophy. Q: Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors? For your own reading, do you prefer eBooks or traditional paper/hard back books? I prefer paperback. I like a lot of Gothic fiction. My favorite authors are J.K Rowling, Laurell K. Hamilton, and Anne Rice. Q: What book are you reading at present? Right now, I’m reading through, “The Essential Ginsberg.” Q: Do you proofread/edit all your own books or do you get someone to do that for you? I do all of my editing. Q: Do you let the book stew – leave it for a month and then come back to it to edit? Yes. Q: Who edited your last book and how did you select him/her? I edited it. Q: How can readers discover more about you and you work? Website: www.AdamLevonBrown.org Facebook: www.Facebook.com/AuthorAdamLevonBrown Twitter: @AdamLevonBrown Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/adamlevonbrown Book Links: https://www.amazon.com/These-Streets-Dont-Cry-Us/dp/0997859911 Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to take part in this interview. Recording: Dearly Departed https://soundcloud.com/poet-adam-brown/dearly-departed |
ROXANA NASTASEBorn sometime in the past century, living in the 21st century. 
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