FRIDAY FLICKS: LUW Spring Workshops

Writer?

Want a day of learning to become an even better writer?

I will be at the 2016 Spring Workshops tomorrow as part of a Character panel. I will also be selling my books, so stop on by! Here's a link to the Workshops!

Just $30 for the day, unless you're a League Member, then the cost is only $20.

Register here or pay at the door.

In the meantime, you'll want to listen and watch one of my new book trailers!

Salt Lake Community College - Taylorsville Campus 
4600 Redwood Rd, Salt Lake City, UT 84123
1st and 2nd Floor of the Student Center
12:30pm – 6:00pm

Learn even more about the event on Facebook!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW & CONTEST: Lauren Lynch

Lauren has graciously volunteered to give away one copy - an eBook or audiobook of her first book, The Place of Voices. If you'd like to be entered, please respond to this post with your email. That's it! The contest will run for one week and will end on April 13!

Good luck!

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

Like most writers, I've always loved writing. I love any sort of creative expression. My mother tells me I would dictate poems before I knew how to write and although I have no memory of that, the thought of it amuses me. I initially studied fine arts in school, had a 30-year career in graphic design (where I would often write ad and brochure copy in addition to the design work), but would play around with creative writing in my free time for fun. I've always loved to paint, and when I write I'm pretty much just painting images in the reader's mind with words. So in some way or another, the creative aspects of writing have always been a part of me -- I just started taking it more seriously about six years ago.

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

I've never been much of a scheduler. I write whenever I'm inspired. Once I get to the editing stage, I'm more disciplined about it. I'm a morning person and I'll get up early and focus on writing when there are few distractions (as in, the rest of the household is asleep). I mull ideas and scribble note throughout the day, but I'm more of an early morning or late night writer. I guess I find the daylight hours too distracting.

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

Anywhere and everywhere and with anything available when the creative urge strikes. Inspiration can often hit me at inconvenient times, and I've been known to scribble notes on whatever is handy. I do use a laptop and Scrivener for the bulk of my writing efforts, but there is something free-flowing about putting pen to paper that can't be duplicated. I love writing outdoors whenever possible. I also received the best Mother's Day gift ever one year in the form of a writing cabin. It's my own private hobbit hole in the woods and a luxury I truly appreciate.

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

I dearly love writing the first draft - the uninhibited creative flow of ideas. At that point, anything is possible and I find that exciting. My least favorite part would be editing (but I'm not aware of a single writer that does enjoy that process … it's grueling).

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

I initially began writing when I became frustrated over finding appropriate books for my then-middle school aged son to read. I'd always enjoyed writing and decided to play around with creating books that would edify … both entertain and educate. My readers will absorb a lot of history through my series -- and hopefully experience unique and mysterious locations as if they were there. I spend months researching before I begin writing. Once I start dreaming about the region the book takes place in and the details of the scene come to life in my mind, I know I'm ready to start writing. My first book, The Place of Voices (set in the ancient Mayan city now known as Tikal), took about a year to complete and several months of critique groups. My second book, The Veil of Smoke (set in ancient Pompeii), took several months of intense research and only a few months to complete. The third book, The Tower of Refuge, covers a lot of territory … the Via Egnatia in ancient Macedonia, Greece and Turkey and has taken about a year to complete. I also have a short story prequel to the series, A Spark in the Wind.

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

The graphic designer in me enjoys making memes for my books. I'll post them on Facebook and Twitter to create awareness for sales, new releases, etc. I advertise with various book-promotion sites (Ereader News Today is a fav) and hope to use BookBub when the third book in my series comes out. I'm a member of a few writing groups and we cross-promote and do group promotions with giveaways (Kindles and our books to the winner). I send a newsletter to reader subscribers to keep them updated on sales and new releases. I also do giveaways on goodreads and interact with fantasy readers as much as possible.

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

I am in the final draft of book three of the TimeDrifter Series. It will go to my editor this summer and release near the end of 2016.

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

I always have way more ideas spinning in my head than I'll ever have time for. I'm in the process of finishing the third book in a series (fourth if you count the short story "prequel"). The story of my two main characters will pretty much be complete, but there is so much more I could do with the series if I choose to. There are a few side characters that are really begging to have books of their own. I may go that route, but also have a few other ideas I'm mulling that I may dive into first. I may have to poll my readers to decide which to focus on next. For now, I need to edit and release book three in the series. The next time I'm able to sit down and begin a new draft, we'll see where the muse leads me. Could be anywhere!

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

I'm not sure why someone who didn't believe they had talent would want to publish a book, but anyone can if they put their mind to it. If you're truly passionate about writing, skills can be developed along the way. Finish a manuscript (that in itself is quite a confidence-boosting accomplishment) and put it through a critique group. Based on the feedback you receive, you'll know what to do next. If you need additional training, there are many ways to get it: college courses, writer's workshops and conferences. With enough persistence and proper editing and proofreading, it can be done. Just don't be tempted to rush the process. Take the time to create a quality book you'll be proud to put your name on. Through critique groups you'll also find out where your greatest skills lie and find encouragement in the process.

A question for me from Lauren:

In the digital age, with thousands of books being produced daily, is it possible to stand out in any significant way?

Good question. I think so, but I believe really 'standing out' has more to do with the readers who love reading your books already, in favor of those seeing them for the first time. I read somewhere that it takes at least seven views of your book at different times, to get the title inside a potential reader's head. They usually won't buy it until they've seen the cover plenty of times. That means an author has to get it out there where people will see it; he/she has to market like crazy.

Lauren Lynch

www.laurenlynch.com

Book Trailer: http://laurenlynch.com/writing/trailers.html

Twitter: www.twitter.com/LaurenRLynch

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/readlaurenlynch

The Place of Voices: www.amazon.com/dp/B00LCN212O

The Veil of Smoke: www.amazon.com/dp/B00ROB8Y88

CHARACTER INTERVIEW: Cassie Vincent from Extreme Measures

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

Thanks so much for the interview! My name is Cassie Vincent, I’m a real estate agent in Seattle, Washington. I love living in Seattle because I love the outdoors. I guess you could say I’m athletic because I run, bike and hike a lot. In high school I was a gymnast and a cheerleader so I’ve always been active and loved to do physical exercise. I also love my job and always get such a thrill when I help someone find the perfect house. My goal, what I want to achieve, is to continue to grow my business, but to someday, soon I hope, get married and start a family. I absolutely love children and can’t wait to have some of my own.

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What do you like to do in your spare time? Like I said I love doing activities outside so I as often as I can I’m outside doing something active. Most days I go running. The area where I live is very hilly so it’s a great workout. On weekends when I have more time I’ll do some biking and if the weather is good I’ll go hiking. I also love to cook. I took a Thai cooking class and have to say I make some delicious dishes. Next I want to try Indian cooking.

What is your favorite color and why? 

My favorite color is Aqua blue. I’m kind of crazy about it. I have blonde hair and blue eyes and got my dad’s olive skin so I think the color looks good on me. It’s all over my house too. Every room has a touch of it somewhere.

What is your favorite food? Why is it your favorite? Well, like I said I love Thai food but my absolute favorite food is hamburgers and sweet potato fries. I know, I know, everyone around me is vegan and gluten free and green smoothie crazy, etc… and I love to eat healthy most of the time but give me a nice juicy cheeseburger and sweet potato fries and I’ll be your friend for life!

What would you say is your biggest quirk? 

I have so many… my biggest one though is probably that I love to play practical jokes on people. I grew up with five brothers and I had to be creative since they were all bigger than I was. I couldn’t beat them up but I could be smarter than they were. Scaring people is probably my favorite. Watching someone jump when they get scared makes my day!

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

Her name is Margaret Lowell and everything about her irks me. She’s a horrible, manipulative and scary woman. She’s capable of anything. She doesn’t just irk me, she terrifies me.

From the book: “You will eventually understand why I’m doing this, and once you do, you will go along willingly. I just have to keep you here long enough for you to understand my reasons for doing what I’m doing. And until I know you won’t hurt yourself, or me, I will keep medicating you. Just trust me, Emma.”

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 and my friends are the most important things in my life. I would do anything for any of them. My good friend Emma was in a horrible situation and I was ready and willing to risk anything to save her. Luckily another friend named Jess was with me and we had to do some pretty crazy things to find her. I wasn’t sure we’d find her in time. I know they would do it for me though.

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 would like them to know that even though I come across very confidant and brave, I actually feel awkward and shy a lot of the time. Every day I have to make myself go out and face the world. Hopefully one day it will come naturally for me. And luckily until that day, my drive and passion/loyalty for my career and my friends pushes me out of my comfort zone.

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

I would tell them that I don’t like being a hero and don’t really want to have to save the day, or save someone’s life. I’d much prefer to spend the day going to lunch with friends, shopping and going to a movie about someone else being a hero. If I told the author that though, and she actually listened to me, the story wouldn’t turn out well. Not well at all.

Cassie has a question for me:

Do characters ever surprise the author/creator? What do you do when that happens? Do you let the characters have the freedom to do what they want or do you control the story?

Great question! My characters are continually surprising me, and I try to sit back and listen to them. I may have an idea of where I want them to go, and they usually surprise me by going further than I at first anticipated. I've learned that control, in life, as well as in the stories I write, always fare better when I don't force the characters to do what I want them to do but instead, leave a door open for them to walk through if they want. My story is always better for having listened.

Thanks, Cassie!

Additional places to purchase the book: 

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/extreme-measures-michele-ashman-bell/1121914988?ean=9781680471656

Deseret Book: https://deseretbook.com/p/extreme-measures?variant_id=117150-paperback