AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Ali Cross author of middle reader books

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

On a sunny afternoon in October, 2002, my hubby and I were driving into the mountains with our sons for a weekend getaway. The drive was long, and the conversation had stalled. Out of the blue, I said, “Ya know, I’ve always wanted to write a book.”

Thing is, I don’t exactly recall wanting to write a book. I’d never even written a short story—or any stories! I’d written lots of poetry, but that’s it. I did meet Anne McCaffrey when I was about eleven, and I told HER I wanted to write books, but that was the only time prior to 2002 that I remember thinking about it.

So my husband and I spent the rest of the drive brainstorming a story for me—and one for him. We stopped at a convenience on our way and picked up pens and notebooks and spent our weekend outlining our novels. We finished them on New Year’s Eve, 2003!

Hubby stopped writing for a while, but I’d caught the bug and wrote my first middle grade novel (Jump Boys: SOS) and then my first young adult novel (Become.)

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

I’m lucky in that I work from home, formatting books for a small publisher, so I can make my own schedule. I typically spend from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. working on my own career—which is a mix of writing and business. I like to write at least an hour a day, but I’m not particular about when in that six-hour span of time I get it done.

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

I really enjoy working at my desk in my office, the sunlight streaming in through my window. I share my office with my teenage boys, so it might get dicey (and a little stinky) when they get home from school, but I like to write with headphones on so I can still get lost in my own world.

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

Probably like a lot of writers, my favorite part is drafting. I love the thrill of discovery, of getting to know my characters and having them live in my head. I don’t mind editing and revision, but my least favorite is probably that moment when you either send your book to agents or self-publish it. Because maybe I should have held onto it just a little longer, worked on it just a little bit more.

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

Book ideas are usually “manufactured” by me through brainstorming and asking lots of “what if” questions. I’ve never written a book that came to me in a dream. J I draft quickly, usually writing a 70,000 book in a couple months. Editing and revision can take longer though, depending on how well I knew the story and characters before I started writing.

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

I use social media—everything from YouTube to Pinterest. I love Wattpad as a means to sell books. I don’t have a regular, consistent marketing routine, though, which I really need. You up for some mentoring, Kathy?

I sure am! Mentoring is one of my favorite things to do. And I actually like marketing. You've seen my marketing book haven't you?  

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

I just released a picture book! The Lullaby Ladybug—it even has an original lullaby in it! Not exactly the kind of story my fans were hoping from me, but it was something of a bucket list thing to get that book done. Otherwise, I’ve got a couple projects in the works including the first in a new Desolation series, and the first in a totally new and different romance series. I like them all, but haven’t really caught the bug on any of them. Until that happens I’ll keep working on all of them.

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

Yes. L I wrote this book, Land Magic, a couple years ago. I thought it was the best book I’d ever written. Betas loved it. I submitted it to a mid-sized publisher whose work I love and they loved it too—it went all the way to committee but was passed over in favor of another book by one of their regular authors. All that sounds great and like I should just resubmit it somewhere else, right?

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Well, I thought I’d take another pass at it before submitting it to other agents, and when I did, I thought it was awful!

Now I’ve tried revising it a couple times and every time I feel further and further away from the story and the writing. People ask me about it all the time, even the agent and editor at the other publisher have followed up with me asking where it is and I … I just don’t know.

So I need to get really clear in my head and take a look at it again. This time free of emotional baggage and “shoulds” and “should nots.” Just me and the story. I need to believe in it again.

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

Oh gosh! I’d tell them that no matter how many books you’ve published, every writer has a point in their process where they think their book is the worst book ever. Every. Single. One. It’s part of being an artist. We are sensitive and emotional beings and it’s perfectly normal for us to doubt ourselves. The trick is to keep on writing even if you think the work is terrible. You don’t risk much, and you have everything to gain.

Okay, Kathy. I’ve been thinking about this a lot, and it’s actually been giving me fits. As I said, I have two projects I like in the works, but I don’t do my best work while divided. I really want to pick one story and just go with it. Dedicate myself to it until it’s completed—at least drafted.

How do you decide between one story and another, and once decided, how do you stay committed without being tempted away by the other project—particularly when things get tough with the story you chose to work on?

Great question, Ali, but you may not like my answer. I do my best work divided. That is, I usually have more than one book going at a time, though I try to make the projects different enough so as not to cause problems with placing the wrong character in the wrong book!

For example, I may work on a mystery and a Christian fiction novel at the same time - they are different enough; though my best tip would be to work on a piece of fiction and a non-fiction book at the same time. I do this every year when my marketing book comes out in January. I usually also have a mystery or Christian fiction book that comes out around the same time. In 2017, I will have my fourth mystery out just after the new marketing book is released.

I find that working on two projects at once actually gets the juices flowing. When I get stuck on one, I can go over to the other and work on it for awhile. When the wall goes up, I switch books. 

You may want to switch between your novel and doing some writing exercises. When you get stuck, point to a random word in a book and begin writing, beginning with that word, or choose a picture from a magazine and write what you see. I have many writing prompts ready when I'm stuck.

***

WEBSITE:

http://www.alicross.com

http://www.facebook.com/authoralicross

http://www.twitter.com/ali_cross

CHARACTER INTERVIEW: Miranda Mayne from Loves Conqueror

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

My name is Miranda Mayne, I am the daughter of the notorious pirate Captain Ditarius the Deadly. Because of my father's reputation I live away from him in London where his trusted first mate, Davy, raises me. He is like a father to me as well. I love him dearly. My mother died on a Caribbean island giving birth to me. Because of this my father pushes me away from him, wanting to keep me away from the sea and the perils of it. Yet, he cannot give up the life of a pirate himself to be with me. He runs from his past transgressions. 

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I practice sword fighting. It's frees the soul. It is also great exercise and I'm getting pretty good at it. I never know when or if I will use that skill but I wish to make sure I am well versed in it. 

What is your favorite color and why? 

I love the color blue, it matches my eyes and reminds me of the sea I so wish to be apart of like my father.

What is it about your antagonist that irks you the most, and why?  

The thing that bothers me the most about Lord Hammil is that he is  a complicated man with many sides. With his title he feels that he should have the best of things which, to my despair, includes me. He wishes to show me around as if I were some trophy. He wants me to become his wife and yet has rules upon rules that I must follow. At times it is overwhelming. I don't love him, though I do care for him. He would make a suitable husband, but I wish for something more. I want someone I can trust, who loves me ardently, who is passionate towards me and life, and can protect me. I feel that Lord Hammil is weak. He's thin and has a weak constitution, yet he can be very deceiving. Lord Hammil's true motives are sickening. I don't trust him.   

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 family has always been important to me. I risk everything to be with my father. To find him and keep him safe. I love Davy, who is like my step father. I am in love with Captain Riveri, who is the perfect man for me. Though he risks much to be with me, I appreciate his sacrifice and would do anything to protect him, even marry a man I have come to hate just to spare his life.

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

I am a confident and strong willed woman, who definitely has her faults. I have a wonderful family, faithful friends, and a desire to prove myself. I'm also caring and would do anything to help someone in need. 

Tell us about the hero of the story. Captain Locand Riveri is a devilishly handsome man. He is also the son of an infamous pirate, but his past is bleaker than mine. Locand had to change his fate so he became a privateer for the Queen. He had to change his name of course, but he built a better life for himself, one with a better reputation. The problem is that he has enemies, people who want to see him fail. Like Lord Hammil and a few of his cohorts. But I give him credit, he rises above all temptation, even me. I love him for that. He knows who he is. There are times I'm still trying to figure that out. I hope our love endures. With every moment we spend together I know that he is my destiny.  

***

Thank you, Miranda!

Learn more about Miranda and her creator:

My website www.reneeahand.com

My blog http://thecryptocapersseries.blogspot.com

I also have a radio show where I interview authors about their books. The info is on my blog.

See the author interview here: http://idea-creations.blogspot.com/2015/06/author-interview-renee-hand-author-of.html.

FRIDAY FLICKS: Gasparilla's Treasure by Scott Clements

Another pirate book trailer. I couldn't resist...

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AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Rebecca Blevins

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

Well, I've loved to read ever since I was a little girl. Stories took me out of everyday life and let me travel and learn about all sorts of people.

When I was a girl, I used to write in a journal. When I was a teen, I sometimes wrote in my journal and occasionally wrote poetry, but never did much actual writing. It wasn't until I began telling my children made-up bedtime stories that I began writing them down, and that started me on my writing journey.

How and where do you write? Do you prefer a lap top or do you prefer writing freehand?

I mostly write on my living room sofa with my laptop on a footstool thing. (That’s very descriptive, isn't it?) Eventually I want to have a desk in the office I’m supposed to share with my husband. That’ll happen eventually in our new house here in Utah.

Writing freehand feels like it should be more romantic, but honestly? I hate it. I love being able to move parts of paragraphs around in nearly an instant, copy/paste, and delete with abandon. My personality and mental organization works so much better with typing. Not to mention that I’m extremely good at losing paper and notebooks.

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

My favorite part about writing is twofold. The first part is where something I write just feels good. Like it fits, and all the words hit the exact spot. It feels good, like a snuggly blanket when it’s cold in the wintertime. And the second part of my favorite thing about writing is when a reader brings my story to life in their own head, and we make a connection through words. I think it was Stephen King who talked about how it takes a writer and a reader to make one whole story together. (Don’t quote me on that—my memory is terrible!) But I love communicating with people through stories.

How do you come up with your characters? Why would readers want to get to know them?

I could make something really cool up, but really, they just sort of come in different ways. Sometimes a “what if” way, but with Captain Schnozzlebeard, well, I was in the shower, making up a song about pirates after reading a children’s pirate picture book. All of a sudden, Captain Gus Schnozzlebeard popped into my head, blustery and big-nosed, and all fancy-like. It was kind of a neat experience.

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

I belong to a few writing communities, so I keep my eyes open for events and review opportunities. I have several signing events coming up as well as a couple of presentations, which I’m excited to do. Basically, I just try to be myself and make friends.

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

Mostly in the afternoon when I can find some quiet time, or at night after my children go to bed. We’re changing our family’s whole routine after this summer, so I’ll probably write more in the early afternoons.

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

I do have a new book out. Captain Schnozzlebeard and the Singing Clam of Minnie Skewel Island is my first traditionally published book, through Trifecta Books. The second in the series is in the works and deals with purple were chickens who give people the rooster pox. (Middle grade books, if you couldn't tell.J ) I also have another project for adults that there will be news about in the next few months.

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

I have a young adult novel that is very involved and is quite different from my middle grade books. It’s very loosely based on The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen. The themes are quite different than in the traditional tale, and have to do with a young mermaid learning that she is valuable just by being herself—even if she has no idea who she is. The first chapter of this book placed second in its category in the 2014 LDStorymakers First Chapter Contest, so I’d really like to get it finished.

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

You might never believe you have enough talent. And you know what? I've talked to people who've “made it,” and the common thread among all of them is that writing and publishing takes work. Hard, hard work. No matter what path you take to publishing, you need to work at it. Even if you have scads of talent. So read writing books, get critique partners, attend any conferences you can. You will always have room to grow and learn, even if you end up being a massive self-publishing hit or get your dream agent and score a huge contract with a major publisher.

Also, remember that no matter where you are in your publishing journey, there will always be people who you feel are ahead of you or coming up behind you. That doesn’t matter. You are where you’re supposed to be on your own path, because no one else can travel your path for you. But here’s the thing—you can’t sit still.  You have to actually move your feet and head down that road.

***

Thank you, Rebecca!

Learn more about Rebecca at the following links:

My website is www.rebeccablevins.net. 

Here's the Amazon link to my book

 Read the character interview here

CHARACTER INTERVIEW: Gus Schnozzlebeard from Captain Schnozzlebeard

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

Well, ma’am, my name is Gus Schnozzlebeard, pirate captain of the Scallywag III.  I live there most of the time. Ya want ta know what I look like? Well, my mama says I’m a handsome feller. Bushy black hair and beard, and I usually wear my blue velvet coat, but it’s indisposed at the moment. And since I lost my hand some years ago, I wear this brass cup hand instead. See how it gleams? It’s great for eatin’ soup and clonkin’ folks on the head who needs a good clonkin’.

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What do you like to do in your spare time?

I like fancy things. Eatin’, singin’, stuff like that. And piratin’, of course. Just watch out for any good singin’ ya hear, as it might be one of them Singin’ Clams. I never woulda thought a shellfish could cause so much trouble.

What is your favorite color and why?

I like blue. Reminds me of my favorite thing, and that’s the sea. I already told ya how my favorite velvet coat is blue, but my parrot, Sprinkles—uh, let’s just say he sprinkled all over it, so that’s why it’s at the laundry place.

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

My favorite food is anythin’ but gobbledygook stew. Actually, anythin’ other than what Squeak cooks. Ya reminded me that I need to go huntin’ for a new cook before we set sail again. I hear German food is real good. I’m thinkin’ I need ta find one of them fellers.

What would you say is your biggest quirk?

Quirk? Is that one of them there newfangled weapons? I’ll stick to my brass cup hand and cutlass, thank ya very much.

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

I don’t know that I can say Ramón Ratbeard himself irks me. It’s more that his rats send creepy crawlin’shivers up and down my back.  And it’s a miracle that he can keep his beard so clean. Ya’d think with rats playin’ in yer beard that it would get dirty right quick.

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 mama means the most to me.  She also scares me just a little, but don’t go tellin’ that to anyone. Not that they’d blame me. She was one of the most fearsome pirates in her day.  I might introduce ya to her sometime.  See this big nose here? *taps nose* I got it from her. She could smell a fight an ocean away, get there, then cannonball the other ships to smithereens before they could say “look at that speck on the horizon.”

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

As much as I threaten Knot (and he deserves what he gets), I trust ‘im more than anyone on board. He’s a pain in the bottom, but remind me sometime ta tell ya how I ended up hirin’ ‘im on.  For all his annoyin’ ways, he’s a right good first mate. Don’t tell ‘im I said that, or his head’ll get so full of air he’ll float away.

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

See here, she knows I’m kinda hard headed. So I probably wouldn't listen to anythin’ she said. Unless she told me of a fancy banquet at some king’s court somewhere and they made me guest of honor. Still, I’d wonder if it was somethin’ old Admiral Bennett cooked up ta try ta catch me.

Ask me any question. I've always wanted to know what a character thinks about writers like myself. I'll answer the question at the end of this interview.

So yer a writer too? Well, I have wondered why writers  love makin’ bad things happen ta innocent pirates like myself. I mean, things woulda been so much easier and less painful if my writer had told me what Clammy was really like in the beginnin’. But if I only get one question, I wanna know what yer favorite fancy food is. And where it comes from. I've  been gettin’ bored lately, so maybe a fancy food commandeerin’ tour is just what I need.

Let's see, my favorite food? I have many favorites, but I'd say my all-time favorite is shrimp. Not just any shrimp, but coconut shrimp. Now, the shrimp part you've probably got - you travel enough around the word to see and catch these, but the coconut part, you'll have to travel to Hawaii or one of the islands for that, and the hunting of it can be pretty extreme, especially if you don't like climbing trees. Thanks for asking!

***

Thank you Gus!

Learn more about Gus and his creator, Rebecca Blevins at the following site:

Her website is www.rebeccablevins.net. 

Rebecca's books will be available at the Women's Expo in Spanish Fork on May 8-9, at the LDStorymakers Conference on May 15-16, and at the Spring Into Books Author Signing event on May 23rd where she will be presenting on developing characters for children's books. If you live in Utah, these are fun events to attend! 

CHARACTER INTERVIEW: Victricia Malicia Calamity Barrett

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

My name is Victricia Malicia Calamity Barrett. It’s sort of a creepy name, I know, but that’s what happens when you’re born a pirate. I’m short-ish for my age and have curly red hair that never behaves. I used to live on board a ship with my whole pirate family, but now I have my own jungle hut on Mermaid’s Reef Island. When I grow up I want to write stories for movies about outer space and invent new flavors of ice cream.

What do you like to do in your spare time?  

READ!!  And when I’m not reading, I teach my parrot new words or build sandcastles.

What is your favorite color and why?  

Red – because it goes with my hair.  Except on Halloween, then I LOVE to wear anything purple.

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

I’ll eat anything without scales or tentacles – have you ever tasted Spaghetti Tentacular?? BLECH!!  But my most favorite food in the world is Uncle Dead-eye’s coconut chocolate chip cookies. They’re sweet and chewy and smooshy all at once.

What would you say is your biggest quirk?  If you ask anyone in my buccaneer family they’ll say my biggest quirk is NOT liking anything pirate-y. (They also think me liking books is weird too.) But I think the weirdest thing about me is that I don’t like pizza. All that gooey cheese is just shudder-worthy.

What is it about your antagonist that irks you the most, and why? 

If you've read about my adventures, you might think Scylla the sea serpent is my antagonist. She IS a big nuisance.  But really what I struggle with most of all is getting my family to accept how different I am. 

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?  

The one thing I can’t live without is stories!  I would give up, well, I DID give up living with my pirate family so I could work in a bookstore and READ whenever I want to.

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

I’m actually a very good swimmer and love the beach. 

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

My second favorite thing in the world is riding roller coasters.  So I really would love to own a water park with cool rides. 

Ask me any question. I've always wanted to know what a character thinks about writers like myself. I'll answer the question at the end of this interview.   

If you could only write one more story in your whole life – what would you write about?

Wow, what a question. Only one more story? Hmmmm. I really don't know. I have two stories right now that I'm working on, and if I had to choose between the two of them I might die of old age trying to figure out which one to pick. 

I think, though, that it would be nice to publish a picture book. I've got multiple manuscripts ready and no artist, which I desperately need to finish these projects that have been sitting around for awhile. 

***

Thank you, Victricia!

To learn more about Victricia visit these sites: 

Book website:  www.victriciamalicia.com

Author website: www.clclickard.com

Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Victricia-Malicia-Book-Loving-Carrie-Clickard/dp/193626112X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427049012&sr=8-1&keywords=victricia+malicia

FRIDAY FLICKS: Victricia Malicia: Book-Loving Buccaneer, by Carrie L. Clickard

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