Charmed - I'm Sure

Photo by Taton Moïse on Unsplash

Ms. Ratisha O’Neil didn’t live on planet Earth. She lived far away from it, so far you couldn’t smell her smell or taste the air that she breathed, and maybe that was better. Let’s just say Ratisha was an uncommon girl.

Now, before you begin to judge Ratisha unkindly, you need to know something about her, or perhaps, the place in which she lived that made her the way she was.

Rat not only lived far away but on a planet that was so charming – so perfect – that everyone wanted to visit. One person had finally found his way there fifty years previous, only to find that he was not able to leave it.

Before I continue too far with the story, you need to know that when Rat was born, she looked like every other child born on the planet Charmed. She had darling curly hair, bright eyes, and a smile with dimples on both cheeks. She had smooth skin, tiny feet, and hands, and plenty of love to give.

No, she didn’t even cry, for no baby cried on the planet Charmed. Yes, she did all of the other bodily functions, but she was easy to clean up and didn’t require long nights walking the nursery floor.

But one day, something terrible happened – so terrible I didn’t at first want to tell you what it was. But then I figured, if one day, you decided to travel like the young man who was now old to the planet Charmed, you’d know what to expect.

One day, when the young man was walking the streets searching for a way home to planet Earth – something no one could understand because they were perfectly happy where they were – he stumbled upon Ratisha O’Neil. And so you don’t misunderstand, when I say, stumbled, I literally mean he tripped.

No one had stumbled before on planet Charmed. No one had said a heated word. No one had said anything but kind words since the beginning of time.

But this day, everything changed.

“Ouch!” Rat said.

“My foot!” shouted the man whose name was Glen. Glen was a common name and he hated it for his last name was Smith and his shoe size was a common ten and a half, and for a man that was pretty common.

Rat looked up. At first, all Glen could see was mud. It covered everything. Hair. Face. Shoulders. Legs. Even toes.

“Quick! The hose!”

“What are you doing?” asked Glen, mortified, for he hadn’t seen a dirty, unkept creature for many years. He hadn’t even remembered that dirt could make such a horrible, frightful mess.

The garden hose was a typical green. He lifted it and handed it to the mud-covered thing.

“The water, the water!”

In the back of his mind, Glen remembered where the turn-on valve was located – on the house. He reached for it and turned the knob to the left. In a whoosh, water spurted forth.

“Turn it down!”

Glen turned the knob to the right. “How’s this?” he asked.

“Better. But now it’s going to take me longer to dry,” said the girl, for suddenly Glen could see that it was a girl. She had long hair and was wearing a dress that was quickly turning a bright and sunny yellow. She wore no shoes or socks.

“I’m going to be in so much trouble! Just yesterday Mother caught me picking my nose. She told me I could not return to school if I continued to pick it.”

Glen laughed. He watched as the once dirty girl became cleaner, though it was obvious she had wallowed in the mud for some time; there were patches of dirt that appeared ground-in on her mostly-cleaned dress.

She turned, dripping before him.

“How is it that your mother lets you play in the dirt?” he asked, trying to remain calm. His heart pounded like a great thunderstorm and it was all he could do to act casual. Never, in all of the years he’d been trapped on this planet, had he seen anything to rival the appearance of this girl.

“What is your name?” he asked.

Mud squeezed through her toes as she turned off the water.

“Have you seen my shoes?” she asked.

“No.”

“After I dry, I’ll have to go inside. I’ll have to wash my dress the rest of the way without Mother seeing me.”

“How will you do that?”

“I have no idea, but maybe I can get away with it. I’ve gone in with dirty clothes before. Mother doesn’t like it much, but she is getting used to it. I’m Ratisha O’Neil but you can call me Rat.”

A sudden thought struck Glen. He’d known of rats once. He’d had one as a pet, and then it had escaped and Mother had never bought him another one.

“Who named you?” he couldn’t help asking, for he couldn’t see how such a perfect society as this one would know of such a name.

“My mother is wont to grow radishes.”

“But that’s rad,” he said, “not rat. Do you mean Radisha?”

“No. It’s Ratisha. My father re-named me. He’s an astronaut of sorts...”

If you've read down this far you are probably thinking, that's not the end, is it? No, it's not the end. What do you think? Is it a children's book, or something like a pre-teen story? I know it's science/fantasy, but that's as far as I've gone with the genre.

Favorite Book Covers from Authors We've Published

I haven't said a lot in my posts about the wonderful writers we've published - and we've published a few. 

Today I'd like to talk about four of my favorite book covers from a few of these writers and suggest some reasons why they are my favorites.

Let's start at the left. "The Captor's Shadow" was written by M.C. Topham. This 16-year-old's [you heard me right] book is Urban Fantasy and focuses' on Jace and his friends' adventure with the "Shadow." I like the cover of this book not only because of the striking "Shadow" in blue but the mysterious shadow behind him. We purchase a lot of photos online and then turn them into book covers like this one. 

"Pouncer" comes next. A picture book for those who love cats, this book is our most recently published book. Written by Melanie Kae Edgmand and illustrated by Melba Roberts, this fun book where a cat thinks he is royalty and should be honored as such, is striking to me because of all the white space. The title isn't capitalized. When you look at the book you see the title first, and then your eyes are drawn to the "pillow" and then to the chair and Pouncer. 

The next book, "The Planet of the Gods," is written by A.M. Johnston. The book is epic fantasy and takes the reader on a quest with Allen Hamilton and his journey to the Planet of the Gods. The cover which is illustrated by Paul Johnston is dark and yet the planet is lit up. It shines on the face of a God dressed in purple, and whose striking three eyes match the color of the planet. As in the other two covers mentioned previously, there are not too many colors to compete for the reader's attention. 

The last book, "Temarrian Bound," a fantasy, and written by Jen Tolman Allen, has only three colors to its credit. I love the white circles in the tentacles. This picture was also found and purchased online. The tentacle draws the reader in and makes them ask, "What do the aliens look like?" "Where is Temarrian?"

As I was writing this post I found other book covers that I love for different reasons. Perhaps they'll be another day for these books!

LightShade is coming!

Book 1 in the Aaden Prescott Space Adventure series is coming in September of 2018

by

Kathryn Elizabeth Jones

Beginning of the End

You'll probably hate me, but I don't care. Most people on Earth hate me already, and if you're reading this book, you are one of the few who escaped. Wait, that can't be right.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

It all started with the newscast. I don't usually listen to the news, but there it was that day like fire. My mom was making dinner and I was playing with Legos. If you remember how Legos used to be, you'll be surprised that I heard anything, but that day, that day I'll never forget, we were told the horrifying truth.

Mercury was on its way to Earth. Not to visit, if you get my drift, but to crash land. At first, I laughed it off, but then I remembered it wasn't April Fool's Day. It was August 1. It was hotter outside than the heater running, or fire lighting up a swimming pool.  If I told you I wasn't scared, I'd be lying.

Mom hadn't heard it. But I blinked at the projected flat screen in shock. Sure enough, the words repeated themselves. "Prepare yourselves," the man said. He had fake hair on the top of his head to look real and a frown on his face that was so wide, I knew that if he could be tipped upside down, the smile I'd get would be as big as anyone would give if they’d received what they wanted for Christmas.

Except – this wasn't Christmas. It felt like the stuff I'd learned in Sunday school about the Earth ending and the apocalypse. Except, it wasn't that, or was it?

I dropped the Lego I was holding. It was green. I still remember the color because of what happened afterward. If you don't believe in little green men, you should. And you should believe in UFOs, patches in the grass in the shape of circles, and the movie ET.

But I'm forgetting already.

My Mom looked at me in shock. "What?" she asked, even though I’d told her the truth as calmly as possible. My hands were shaking, but I hid them in my jean pockets so she wouldn't know the complete truth.

Some things are better for a mom not to know.

So, I told her again.

She laughed.

I got mad.

She laughed harder. And then she looked into my eyes. Really looked, you know the way moms do when they think their boy has messed up or told a lie to their brother. I don't have a brother, but I know these things.

She said, "Really, Aaden.”

I'd been told about my 'imagination' since the time I knew what people were saying. And I knew something else – something so terrible, that, up until that night and the newscast, I thought it was the most horrifying thing I would ever hear.

"Aaden… really. What fire are you going to start now?"

I'd been told about the meaning of my name for years. Now that I was ten, I was beyond tired of hearing it. I suppose you want to know what my name means as if you really care, but maybe it will be of some interest to you after you hear what the newscaster told us next. For, after I got Mom to leave the kitchen and come into the living room – which took some effort I can tell you – she stood with her mouth open, as if I'd told her I was going to leave home or something.

But then again, we were all going to have to leave home – and soon – or we'd be scorched.

So, here it is. Two years ago, when I was bored and really had to know the truth for myself, I went to Mom's computer, and put in the spoken password I wasn't supposed to know.

I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was. "Someone like fire,” the computer said.

I looked into my mom's eyes now, and the television was still blaring the news of Mercury. We had only two weeks to find safety.

CHARACTER INTERVIEW: Jezreel Bartinson from Shadowguard

Tell me a little about yourself (where you live, who you are, what you look like, what you hope to achieve, etc.)

I am Jezreel Bartinson, but everyone calls me Jez. I am thirteen and was born in the coastal city of Randak in the Barony of Korand, but I’m being sent to the Carceri Academy for my education in politics and magic. I grew up as a fisherman’s son, but recently, I was taken on as the ward of Baron Dusan.

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What do you like to do in your spare time?

Between my studies in magic and more mundane areas, I don’t have a lot of free time. Baron Dusan, who chose my areas of study, says that illusion is a proper field for the nobility to study, but I have no talent at it. I’d much rather study how to fight demons, but Dusan says it’s too dangerous. Maybe I can find some other way to manage that…

What is your favorite color and why?

Blue. I’m not really sure why. I know it’s the color associated with protection magic, things like binding demons, and earth and water magic, but I’ve never studied that. I’ve also had dreams about a sword of blue crystal. Sometimes, it frightens me, but it also fascinates me.

What is your favorite food? Why is it your favorite?

Fish stew the way my father makes. I haven’t had it much since I went to live with the baron. He has cooks from all over the world, but not one of them can make it quite the way my father does.

What would you say is your biggest quirk?

I think I remember the beginning of the universe. I don’t know how, but I think I was there.

What is it about your antagonist that irks you the most, and why? Share a line in the book where this irk is manifested.

All he cares about is power. I tried to draw me in, and if I’m honest with myself, I was more than a little tempted. He said I could have the power to change the world for the better, but the price was too high. Still, I don’t know if I can resist if he offers again. The first time I confronted him about all the evil he’s done, about how he was selling his soul to the demon lord Marrowit, it went like this.

“But you’ve killed so many people.”

“With Marrowit’s blessing, there’s no limit to what I can do. What are a few lives next to that?”

“I thought you wanted justice.”

“You want justice. I want power. Marrowit is the way to both.”

What or who means the most to you in your life? What, if anything, would you do to keep him/her/it in your life?

My father. He’s the only family I have left. I would do anything for him. I don’t know what I would do if something happened to him.

What one thing would you like readers to know about you that may not be spelled out in the book in which you inhabit?

When Baron Dusan took me as a ward, he changed my life. He exposed me to a world I had never even imagined, but he also took me from my father. Still, even after all that’s happened, a part of me feels like I should be grateful to him, and I feel ashamed of that.

If you could tell your writer (creator) anything about yourself that might turn the direction of the plot, what would it be?

It will be a very long time before I can fully accept what I have become.

***

A question for Kathryn:

If you could live in the world you created, would you?

Yes! I have created some worlds already, and I have plenty of choices. Still, I might be a little wary if I stepped inside Susan's world, or even her daughter, Brianne's. When a mystery is going and someone is found dead, I'd rather not be the first one to find them.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Sam Hawkins

Tell me about yourself. What got you started in writing?

I was raised in Riverton, Utah and am the fourth child in a large family. Growing up I discovered I had dyslexia and was sent to resources classes. I hated words and could barely write or read. In 9th grade, my English teacher gave the assignment to write a short story using dialogue. I did everything possible to get out of the assignment. My wonderful teacher, Rosie Ruff, wouldn’t budge. Instead, she helped me push through. Inch by inch, I discovered I enjoyed the creative process  The scenes came to live in my head. Once I turned in the story, I began writing for myself and never stopped.

How do you schedule your writing time? When do you write?

I don’t have a particular time to write. When I can fit it in, I do. Often times, I’ll skip extracurriculars to ensure I do get writing done.

How and where do you write? Do you prefer a laptop or some other method of getting your words down?

I write on my laptop, when possible. If I don’t have it with me, I use my phone or grab paper and whatever writing utensil I can to make notes for when I get home. At the moment, I'm writing in my bedroom, in a large, red, rocking chair. I play soundtracks and classical music matching the mood of the scene and off I go. Dialogue is usually a great place for me to pick up from when I have taken a break, I can jump right into the moment. I try to begin at soon as possible in the day. My brain enjoys jumping into the story fifteen minutes before bedtime. Many times, I roll with it and stay up until three to get a scene written.

What's your favorite part about writing? Your least favorite part about writing?

I don’t have a favorite part of writing. I enjoy all of it in turn. Development is a blast. Seeing characters come to life and then take off in directions I wasn’t planning for them to go in. Conflict and battle scenes get my adrenalin going, but usually, require me to go a bit slower. I want to make sure I get battles right. I even enjoy the revision process, especially when I see eye to eye with my editor. Collaboration to make my work better or see it in a way I hadn’t consider, gets me excited, most days.

My least favorite part is the anxiety; the anxiety of being judged. The anxiety of letting my dyslexia get the best of me. Worrying that perhaps, my fantastic story idea isn’t as mind-blowing as I believed it to be in my euphoric state of madness of development.

How did you come up with your book idea? How long did it take you to write your book?

I came up with the idea of Deadly Seven from a dream I had back in 2007. The dream gave me the basic concept and my wonderful family helped me develop around it. I managed to write the first draft in eleven months.

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What types of marketing do you do to promote your writing?

At the moment, my marketing tactics have been Facebook, Twitter, and local events: Local Authors & You, Spring into Books and Barnes & Noble’s Author Palooza and word of mouth. 

What are you currently working on? Do you have a new book out?

I am working with an editor to finalize the other two books in the Deadly Trilogy, Deadly Fables, and Deadly Consequences. To keep my creativity going, I am working on Fantasy/ Sci-Fi, working title “Ragnarok”. A twenty-something woman working through mental illness gets swept up in her delusions and is carried away to Asgard, home of the Norse gods, only to discover, she’s not as crazy as she has been forced to believe.

Do you have a project on the backburner? Tell me about it.

I currently have eleven books started or somewhat developed waiting for my attention. I enjoy using myths and conspicuous theories combined with aspects of our day-to-day lives. I mix sci-fi and fantasy together quite a bit.

What would you tell a beginning writer who wants to publish but doesn't believe he/she has enough talent?

I would tell new writers, any time you write or read, you’re learning and getting better at your craft. Write for the sheer love of writing. Fear stems from being judged, if the focus shifts to fear, the love gets lost in the shuffle. Every person has at least one story inside them, just bursting to get out. Write the first draft for yourself and write it with all the love you are capable of. If your work is written in love, you can’t miss.

Facebook link - https://www.facebook.com/sam.hawkins.58152

***

 A Question for Kathryn:

Is there actually a right or wrong way to write and publish?

We each have our own voice and we each have our own direction to follow. We should write what brings us joy, not what is currently selling online at Amazon. We should publish the way we want to publish. I began traditionally and decided that being traditionally published wasn't for me. Now I self-publish and have my own company where I assist other authors in publishing.

FRIDAY FLICKS: Jacob and Sylvia by Troy Black

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AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Michael Davies

Tell me about yourself. What got you started in writing?

I have one of those cliche stories about always writing stories as a child and then continuing it into adulthood. I used to write for my younger brother and he would love the stories I told him. I am fortunate enough to have had family and teachers who also encouraged me and believed in me. My friends at school and college also loved to hear what I was working on. 

How do you schedule your writing time? When do you write?

Mornings are the best time for me. I like to write before anyone else at home wakes up. Sometimes I will also try my hand in the evening but I am such a morning person that I usually fall asleep if I try this. 

How and where do you write? Do you prefer a lap top or some other method of getting your words down? 

I have multiple methods. If ideas come to me while I am driving I will use my phone to record them like a dictaphone. Sometimes I will still use the old pen and paper to write a couple of scenes here and there as well. Usually though I will be sat down at a desk with my PC and work using Scrivener. 

What's your favorite part about writing? Your least favorite part about writing?

My favorite part is seeing a world you have imagined come to life. That world will stay alive as long as the words you have written survive. I think every book contains something of your heart, dreams or aspirations. I like to think it can connect you with something that until then had remained hidden.

My least favorite part of writing is when I have two scenes that I know need to connect and one is in the future but I can’t figure out how it is connected to the one in the past. I tend to write a different chapter in that case until inspiration hits me. For my first novel in The World Of Pangea I re wrote chapter 10 multiple times because of this issue. Every time I drafted it I didn’t like the way it connected with everything else, so I kept trying again. 

How did you come up with your book idea? How long did it take you to write your book?

I think the idea of The World of Pangea has been in my head for quite some time, but creating a world from an idea is quite a task. The story line has been in my head since I was 18, but initially it took place in a Terry Pratchet esque world and I just thought it was far too strange for anyone to ever want to read it. So I took the story line and put it into a different fictional setting but one I felt that readers could relate to much more easily. From starting on The World Of Pangea in this new setting to the time I finished it probably took me about 2-3 years. 

What types of marketing do you do to promote your writing?

I probably need to do more. I have guest blogged, visited libraries, spoken at schools but not as consistently as I should. I’ve also sent the novel off to various places for review. Every little bit helps.

What are you currently working on? Do you have a new book out? 

I am working on the second part of the trilogy. It is not out yet but is approaching the end of the first draft. It develops the female characters a lot more and introduces the reader to some new places, as well as some new heroines and heroes. 

Do you have a project on the back burner? Tell me about it.

I have a file on my computer where I put all my ideas. I don’t like an idea to go to waste. One of the more intriguing ones is a science fiction piece. It’s just a scene I wrote of someone dying, but in the process blowing up a ship that was close to annihilating their entire planet. I am not sure where it will go but I already have in my mind the back history that led the conflict to that point.

What would you tell a beginning writer who wants to publish but doesn't believe he/she has enough talent?

Firstly, you have to believe in yourself. Secondly you have to be committed. Writing every other week won’t get a book finished, you need to write daily even if it’s just 15 minutes each morning. Thirdly, read a lot. The more you read particularly in the genre you want to publish in, the more you will recognize what is good and unique and how your word crafting can improve. Fourth: Believe in what you’ve written. You are writing it for a reason, it’s obviously intriguing to you so believe it will be intriguing to others also. Twilight started out as a dream, now it’s made the author millions. 

***

The link to my novel and video trailers can all be found at www.theworldofpangea.com

TUESDAY TRAILERS: Writing Fantasy

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AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Terron James

Tell me a about yourself. What got you started in writing?

I grew up in Kearns, Utah, and moved to West Jordan a week before starting my 10th grade year at Copper Hills High School. My high school years found me fully immersed in choir, drama, and the tech lab. I also sported a pretty sexy tan my junior and senior years, what with all the lifeguarding I exhausted myself with during the summer. Hey, it's a hard job, soaking up the sun all day! 

Yeah... anyway, I served a 2-year mission for the LDS Church in Pennsylvania. I really learned to love those people, especially in Wayne County (you know, the Poconos). They still hold a special place in my heart. A year and a half after returning, I married my smoochie-poo and set sail on a new life. Five sons and twelve years of college later, I've worked as a bank teller, a call center grubby, a civil engineer, and now my greatest passion, a junior high English teacher. 

It's been a LONG journey, but I've finally found my calling in life. It takes a special kind of person to love junior high kids, and I fit the bill. Speaking of bills... it's a sad fact that school teachers can't really support their families on that one income, so I have also work in the Writing Center at Utah State University in Tooele. USU-Tooele because my family now lives in Tooele, Utah, where our five boys actively seek to tear down the house faster than I can rebuild it with my limited free time.

Although I dabbled in poetry in high school, I didn't truly realize my full writing abilities until 2008. After immersing myself in an endless array of fantasy and sci-fi novels, all in search for "that one story" I had been aching to enjoy, I finally decided to try my hand at it and create the story myself. Four months of brainstorming later, I had a 3-book fantasy series (BEHOLDERS) fully laid out and a tummy-twisted-dread to actually start writing the story. 

I don't know who was more terrified that I'd be a terrible writer, myself or my wife. Admittedly, I had probably watched Chevy Chase's "Funny Farm" too many times growing up. I just knew she was going to throw the manuscript in the fire. Fortunately, after I had created the first chapter of INSIGHT--the first book in BEHOLDERS--we both knew I had discovered a hidden gift for writing. Full steam ahead from then on!

How do you schedule your writing time? When do you write?

That's the big question, isn't it? I crank out some serious writing hours during the summer, when I don't have to plan 180 sets of curriculum for 8 different class periods. I seriously take advantage of those three months off school. Just this past summer, I cranked out 150,00 in 42 days. No wonder I suffer from carpal tunnel. Meh... it's an occupational hazard I'm more than happy to bear.

How and where do you write? Do you prefer a lap top or some other method of getting your words down? 

My writing zone is at a quaint table in my master bedroom. I own over 700 movie and video game soundtracks--a pricey addiction I gave up after leaving my civil engineering job--but the soundtracks help me zone-in. I carefully select from said selection every day, picking the perfect music to carry me through that day's writing. Just me, my little table, an alienware laptop, and a nice pair of noise-cancelling headphones are all I need. Oh, and rootbeer barrels. Lots and lots of rootbeer barrels.

What's your favorite part about writing? Your least favorite part about writing?

My favorite moments are when my "magic fingers" take control. Although I have a semi-structured outline to carry me through the full series of BEHOLDERS, it's fascinating to see my imagination take control of the story. And it happens at the most unsuspecting times. For example, in my first novel INSIGHT, I was writing a scene when a man knocked on a village door, simply to remind them that he was leaving with his caravan soon. Little did I suspect, when the door opened, said man announced that one of the three main protagonists had been kidnapped. An entire chapter emerged because of that little moment, and it was one of the most exciting chapters I've ever written.

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at Amazon

Least favorite thing about writing? The sacrifices my wife and children have to make in order for me to write. It's not fair that I have to cut into their time, but they are endlessly supportive nonetheless.

How did you come up with your book idea? How long did it take you to write your book?

I've already explained a little of the background, but to go a little deeper... One of the biggest frustrations that I have with reading fantasy literature is encountering magic-wielding moments when I find myself musing, "That was stupid. Why didn't he just...?" I've ready too many books with flaws and loopholes in their magic system. Even The Lord of the Rings, my most favorite fantasy series of all time, is weak at its core. How is it that Gandalf can defeat a balrog, one of the greatest terrors of middle earth, but when a little squad of orcs attacks he finds himself crying for help. Bah. So I spent most of my 4 months of brainstorming BEHOLDERS purely focused on my new magic system, True Sight. As a reader, you begin the story right alongside the main character, clueless as to how to use your power. You get to follow along with the character as he both succeeds and fails in his attempts to control it. I joke that if anyone REALLY wants to know how to create a fireball between their hands, my book tells them exactly how to do it.

What types of marketing do you do to promote your writing?

Admittedly, not enough, but I have lame excuse. I'm in a transitional period because my old publisher, Jolly Fish Press, closed their doors a few months ago. A full book design takes time and money, both of which are in short supply at the James house. I don't want to push my book until I have all three books fully designed, ready for sales. In the meantime, JFP continues to profit off of amazon sales. I'll get there though, most definitely before April when the last book in my series is released.

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at Amazon

What are you currently working on? Do you have a new book out? 

Funny that you should ask. I was just talking about this! BEHOLDERS consists of three books: INSIGHT (book 1), TRUE SIGHT (book 2), and HINDSIGHT (book 3). The last book, HINDSIGHT (originally forecasted as two books), is scheduled to be released in April. Only two months away, and by far the best book in the series! I'm very proud of it.

Do you have a project on the back burner? Tell me about it.

Not right now. My family has sacrificed so much over the past 8 years. It's time I pay them back a little.

What would you tell a beginning writer who wants to publish but doesn't believe he/she has enough talent?

The only difference between a published author and an aspiring writer is an empty desk and a stack of blank paper. It will never be convenient to write. If you want to do it, you have to make time.

***

A Question for Me:

At our latest author event together, I noticed that you have a large collection of pottery, etc., to go along with your books. What's that all about?

Pottery? You must mean someone else's cool stuff. I'm not kidding. I have no pottery on my table for book signings. I do have plenty of books, postcards, a clip board for interested readers to write their name and email on, and oh, let's see, posters and easils and maybe even my initials in lights. Sorry, no pottery. What I like to do is to make my table as fun as possible.

Oh, maybe you mean the wrought iron pans? The ones I use as part of my mystery series? They're close to pottery I guess, so let's talk about them. I was at a signing about three years ago, and a gal who ran another booth brought them to me. "Would you trade these cute pans for your mystery book?" I only had one mystery out at the time, and it's called, Scrambled. Because you usually cook eggs in a frying pan, this vendor thought I'd like to display a couple of small pans as part of showing off my book. She was right. I traded.

I also have sun flowers that go with my Conquering Your Goliaths book. And let's see...I think that's it. You obviously needed to come closer to my table and talk to me about them. :)

Thanks for asking.

***

Learn more about Terron:

www.TerronJames.com

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2/160-8826840-6904010?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=terron+james

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Scott Ferrell

     

    Tell me a about yourself. What got you started in writing?

     I think I’ve always been a writer without the actual writing part. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been making up characters and stories in my head. I just never thought I could actually do anything with it so I’m pretty late getting into the writing game. It was when I realized I had all these people and stories begging to get out of my head that I thought I might give it a try. My sanity thanks me for it.

How do you schedule your writing time? When do you write?

The best thing to do is build a schedule around your life, include writing time and stick to it as best as possible. I’ve found it way too hard to just wing it and be as productive as I know I can be. When I think I can sneak away to get some writing done, I often times find myself wasting time on other things…plus it drives my wife bonkers when I just disappear. I have to make sure to keep a balance between the wife and kids, work, and writing.

How and where do you write? Do you prefer a lap top or some other method of getting your words down?

I dabbled in hand writing things when I first started. I still use paper to help plot and keep track of ideas as they come but I’m slowly giving all that up. Mainly because I once lost a notebook almost full of writing. That was heartbreaking. Now, I use apps like Evernote to keep track of notes and ideas if I’m not on the computer. Otherwise, I build spreadsheets with outlines, plots, characters, places, and such.  Word is my writing tool of choice and I use Dropbox to back up my stuff.

What's your favorite part about writing? Your least favorite part about writing?

The best part of writing is the creative process. I love when a little spark of idea blooms into a bonfire. A single spider silk leads to an entire, intricate spider web. There’s nothing like that feeling when you’re working on an idea and something just clicks and you’re like YES! The worst part is that it all too often lacks an immediate payoff. You can slave over a computer for hours and not feel like you’ve accomplished much. You do get these little shots of joy after a particularly productive writing session, but rarely get that “done” feeling until months, sometimes years, later.

How did you come up with your book idea? How long did it take you to write your book?

I live in Pocatello, Idaho which has the nickname “Gate City.” I thought to myself what if there was a town out there actually named Gate City because it had a gateway to another world in it? Of course, a gateway needs a gatekeeper. Fifteen-year-old Gaige Porter was born. The story became too big for one book to hold, so I made it into a trilogy about his adventures back and forth between these two worlds while he tries to figure out exactly where he belongs. It took me about five and a half years to write the trilogy mainly because I was still learning how write a novel. I had tried previously with disastrous results. The first book, The Gatekeeper, took about three and a half years of writing, rewriting, revisions, and edits before it really clicked for me and I was happy with the results. With my new found writing confidence, I wrote the next two in just under two years…mainly due to work constraints.

What types of marketing do you do to promote your writing?

I’ve found the most effective marketing strategy is free stuff. People love free stuff! Once I released my second book, I offered the first e-book for free for limited times. That led to people buying the second. There are several websites out there that will advertise your free or discounted e-books to readers. Some services are free, some you have to pay for. I have also had some success purchasing a small amount of ads on Facebook. The main thing to remember is to set an affordable marketing budget and stick with it. Use that money wisely and keep track of what works for you and what doesn’t.

What are you currently working on? Do you have a new book out?

Get the Book at Amazon

The Gatekeeper Trilogy is finished and out! Currently I’m working on a middle grade novel called Firefly. It’s about a 12 year-old-boy who has to deal with the fallout from his mother’s life as a supervillain. He tries to get out from under that shadow, but everybody treats him differently. Cruelly.  It’s a “sins of the father” (or mother) type of thing. As a middle grade book, it’s not only thought provoking, but also fun…because, you know, he has powers, too!

Do you have a project on the back burner? Tell me about it.

I have so many projects on the backburner that it’s hard to pick the next one to work on when I finish the current. I have a middle grade novel I wrote exquisite corpse style with my daughter that is completed but needs lots of polishing. Other than that, I have lots of projects in various stages. Everything from young adult stories to a fantasy series to a steampunk series. You never know what I’ll turn out next.

What would you tell a beginning writer who wants to publish but doesn't believe he/she has enough talent?

    Talent is subjective. Writing is a lot like learning to play an instrument. There are those who pick it up quickly just like there are those who have a “knack for words.” Then there are those of us, like me, who have to work at it. That’s why it took me so long to write The Gatekeeper. I had to work at it. I had to learn. My advice is to study your favorite authors. What do they do that makes you like their work so much? Their world building? Their characters? Their way with words? Keep writing and I’d be willing to be you'll be producing grade A stuff in no time!

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Learn more about Scott at the following links:

www.munboy.com

https://www.amazon.com/Gatekeeper-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B00SEGES5A/