AUTHOR INTERVIEW: A.J. York

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

I am from England and currently live in Sweden. If I am not pulling a pose in yoga, I am drinking a cup of tea. I really enjoy hanging out in cafes, where I love to watch the world go by.

I started writing stories when my fiance' and I moved to Gothenburg. I was inspired by an old apartment we had been living in. It had a maid's rooms off the kitchen. There was even a back entrance to the building that the staff would have used once upon a time. We were due to move out and I was cleaning a floor to ceiling bookshelf. I managed to get more dust on me than anything else. I kept thinking about the maid who would have once lived there and how she must have had super cleaning powers. Delilah then started to manifest over the coming weeks. I imagined a girl with a power over dust, zipping round making everything sparkle.

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

I always write on my laptop and make hand written notes. I usually sit at the kitchen table with a candle burning and a large mug of tea.

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

I love it when I get in the zone and I write solidly for a few hours. It is a great feeling getting the ideas out onto paper. I do not think there is a least favourite part about writing. Getting to grips with marketing and communication has been difficult, but still enjoyable.

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

Some characters come to me by what it is they can do. For example, Delilah and her ability to eradicate dust. Then I begin to put together a back story of who they are, where they come from and the things that have happened to them. Other characters are made up of bits of people I have met over the years. I think readers will like to get to get know my characters because they are sweet, funny and open to adventure.

Get the book at Amazon

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

I have a minuscule marketing budget, which I used to pay for a website and a few giveaways a year. After that I have become restricted to what is free. I am on Twitter, Facebook and use Goodreads regularly.

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

I try to identify my free time, but more often than not, I get an idea and I just have to sit down and write. I am not an early riser and prefer to write at night or at the earliest, lunchtime.

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

I am working on a final draft of Delilah Dusticle and the Cursed Tempest. It going to be sent to a beta reader soon. I am also working with the illustrator now, which is very exciting.

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

I have an outline for a Christmas story called Tallulah the Christmas fairy. I expect it will be an illustrated short story. I would like to have it ready by Christmas. I also have an outline for Delilah Dusticle’s Mission Impossible, the fourth book in the series.

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

Do not allow the fear of not being good enough hold you back.  That is all.

Get the book at Amazon

A question for you, Kathryn.

Write down at least five different genres that you do not write in onto different pieces of paper. Fold them and put them into a hat. Pull one out and open it. Do you think you could write a story for this genre? Any ideas come to mind? I did this as a challenge and I am now considering writing a murder mystery.

I wrote down five.

Western

Horror

YA

Memoir

Fantasy

I chose YA. I do write middle-reader and actually plan on starting a YA series in a few years. (I've got two mysteries to write before that :) I actually hoped I wouldn't draw western or horror, but I may try a memoir or a fantasy one day. Thanks! It was fun.

***

Thank you, A.J!

Learn more about A.J. at the following sites:

Website: www.ajyork.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/delilahdusticle

Twitter: @delilahdusticle

Get the book at Amazon

FRIDAY FLICKS: Eliza Bluebell, by A.J. York

Get this middle reader at Amazon

CHARACTER INTERVIEW: Piper Mondragon from The Beast of Yonder

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 Piper Mondragon, I'm twelve, and I live in Nigel, just a few blocks from the school. I've got shiny black hair that my mom tells me would be much prettier if I’d take time to comb it. But I do comb it! I just don’t have time to comb it for like an hour like my sister Drea does. I mean, whose got time for that? I’d rather go outside and peg someone with a Nerf ball.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Oh, it’s all about dodge ball with me. I'm the sixth grade champion at our school. The only way to beat me is to cheat (yes, I'm talking to you, Barney Pendleton--I know you cheat). I can do tons of other sports, too, but go against me in dodge ball, and you don’t stand a chance.

What is your favorite color and why?

Hmmm. It just depends. Like, red is nice on strawberries, but not so nice as an eye color, know what I mean? I like blue skies, but not blue faces. Different colors are my favorites for different things. I guess I’m weird like that.

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

That’s kind of like the color thing. I mean, some people really like pizza dipped in ranch dressing, and if it’s dinnertime, me too. But don’t give me ranch to dip my pizza in if it’s for breakfast. Yuck! Drea would probably do it, though. She’s weird like that. Not that I’m picky, but it all just depends.

What would you say is your biggest quirk?

What’s yours? We've got to make this fair. I’m not telling you mine unless you tell me yours first. Okay, fine, I'll go first, but don’t tell anybody. I like to suck on my pencil. I know, it sounds gross, but who even cares? If someone tries to make fun of me for it, I’ll just peg them between the eyes with a rubber eraser or something.

:) Okay, here's mine. I like to straighten rugs. If someone walks on it, and it moves, I walk right behind them and straighten it. I hate messed up rugs. 

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

Antaga-what? Sorry, I don’t know what you mean. Tippet, my brother might know. He’s the reader at our house. Drea might know, just because she’s in high school and probably knows a lot more than me about weird words, and I really don’t want to look it up. But I do have an Aunt Agnes, if that’s what you mean—but she doesn't show up in my book. I don’t even know if she’s really my aunt. She’s like way older than my mom and dad.

Piper, an antagonist is the bad guy (or girl or dragon or whatever) in your story. He/she/it is the one always trying to ruin things for you.

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?

Oh, come on! All these favorites things are giving me a headache. It totally depends! If I’m playing dodge ball, don’t give me Drea—unless it’s to have her on the other team, because she can’t hit a barn if she’s got her nose against it. I bet Pelapore would be good. He told me about a game like dodge ball he’s played before, and he’s pretty good at fighting, but he’s not in my family. Don't tell her I said anything, but I think Drea likes him. And don’t give me my parents if it’s for saving Tippet—don’t get me wrong, I love them a ton, but they don’t believe me about things like bloodberries, and weird fantasy worlds with shadow animals and barbarians. But I guess you don’t know what those things are either. Oh, well. I guess Tippet is the one that needs my help the most, and it seems like I’m ALWAYS having to save his little rear. But I guess that’s what big sisters are for, right? Even Drea saved mine a few times, but not as much as I saved hers and Tippet’s. 

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

Just that I used to live a normal life. I don’t even think I’ll be going home for more than seven years, I think. There's a long story behind that. But now I have some cool abilities, or gifts, as Pelapore calls them, but they said I shouldn't mention those yet, since you haven’t read the book, but believe me, they’re WAY cool.

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

Probably just, can you please make it just a little easier to tell who’s the good guys and who's the bad guys? I mean, sheesh, it could have saved us a lot of trouble if we’d… oops, I guess I should be telling you all that. But every time I think I've got it figured out, I find out I’m wrong. But I better be right about it this time, because… well, just read my book.

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. 

I don’t know. Maybe just, how do you write so much? Doesn't it make your hands tired? Don’t you just want to get up and move once in a while? Because when I have to do a school report, my whole hand, and head and whole body hurt from sitting so long, and my mouth gets all raw from sucking on my pencil (oh, but don’t tell about that part), and I just feel like I've got to get on my feet. I think that’s all. Oh, and if anyone knows anything about where I can find Forbishibe or the metafictionals, I’d appreciate at least a hint. I don’t even know where to start with that. I just know it’s supposed to be kind of important for some reason. But anyway, that’s all. 

I guess I write so much because I like writing even more than chocolate. My hands don't get as tired as they used to; you, know practice... and I can always get up, take a breather, and straighten a rug or two. 

Sorry, I don't know anything about Forbishibe (I even looked it up) so I can't give you a hint on that one. But I can tell you a little about metafictionals. 

Meta-fiction is a way of writing used to get the author's message across that sort of forces the reader to look at a work of fiction (stuff that's made up) in a way that keeps reminding them that it's a work of fiction even while they're reading it. 

There's a lot of old stuff out there that uses meta-fictional techniques. Books like Don Quixote and the Odyssey, but honestly, I had a hard time understanding what metafiction meant it even after reading up on it.

:)

***

Listen to Chas' music here: http://chashathaway.com/music/newagemusic-fly



His books can be found here: http://chashathaway.com/books

Chas' website is http://ChasHathaway.com and his blog is http://ChasHathaway.com. The Beast of Yonder will be his debut novel, and it's the first book in a middle grade series.

Learn more about Chas in one of my past author interviews. 

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Lehua Parker

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

Growing up, my mother always told us stories. We lived in Hawaii near my father’s family, but her family was thousands of miles away. Her stories helped us to connect with people she missed and we seldom saw. Reading was another love she passed on to me. I realized very early on that stories had power and I could create my own.

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

Most of my writing is done on a computer, usually at my desk with the display font set to something ridiculously large so I don’t have to wear my glasses. When I travel, I use a laptop. Writing by hand is too slow for me and I break the cardinal rule of editing as I write, so my handwritten pieces look like badly drawn maps with all the arrows, circles, and crossed out sections. My best creative writing happens very late at night from about 10 pm to 4 am. When I’m pushing a first draft deadline on a book, I go into that mode. Editing or revising is usually done in the early to late afternoon.

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

Even with complicated novels, I seldom outline. I sit down with a general idea of what should happen next, but the characters always take over and surprise me. They are much smarter than I am, and I love discovering the story as they tell it. My least favorite things about being an author are all the bookkeeping and legal aspects like taxes and contracts.

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

I've worked as a theater and television director, so I see the action, characters, setting, and story roll out like a movie in my head. I just transcribe into book form what I see and hear. My characters arrive on the scene fully-formed. While some authors base characters on people they know, mine are all aspects of me. For example, in the Niuhi Shark Saga, a speculative fiction series set in Hawaii for MG/YA readers, the kid who was teased, the busy mom, the wise uncle, the superstar athlete, the girl who wants to be one of the guys but also wants the option to wear a little make-up, the smart-aleck dog who figures out how to get her way, and even the scary man with too many teeth are all roles I imagine myself playing.

Book One

People care about these characters because they demonstrate what life is like in a supportive, loving, and typical Hawaiian family—as opposed to the Hollywood version where the kids are uber smart, the adults dreadfully dull, and the locals all wear coconut bras and warn about tiki curses. My characters are often ordinary people placed in extraordinary situations who make choices for both noble and self-serving reasons.

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

I do a lot of appearances at writers’ conferences and bookstore signings, speak at schools, hold drama workshops for teens, and participate in interviews like this one. To keep in touch with readers between publications I've developed a strong social media platform that includes a blog, several websites, a Facebook author fan page, and Twitter account.

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

Fortunately, I can write full-time. My kids are all teens who are fairly self-sufficient with laundry, feeding, and getting themselves to soccer practice, which frees me to write when the muse strikes. Unfortunately, I can write full-time. This has gotten me into the habit of writing, reading, editing, researching, marketing, and critiquing my work and the work of other authors anytime there’s something boring like housework to be done. I tend to binge with long hours in the afternoons and then again late at night for four or five days, then take a day or two off, rinse, repeat.

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

Book 3 in the Niuhi Shark Saga, One Truth, No Lie is nearing completion and almost ready to turn over to the editorial team at Jolly Fish Press. I anticipate it hitting store shelves in late 2015. Meanwhile, I've several short stories slated for anthologies and a one-act play I’m writing for a spring 2015 high school drama competition. For the past 10 months or so, much of my writing time has been taken up with editing books and short stories for other authors. I also write articles for various blogs including a travel series about my adventures in the Caribbean, Greece, Turkey, and Spain in 2014.

Book Two

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

Like most authors, I have to work a couple of years ahead of publication. I have a lot of ideas, but I've learned to write what you sell, not sell what you write. This means that I work with publishers to develop ideas and sell the work before it’s written. I have many ideas for stories that I’d like to explore, but I’m not ready to invest a lot of time in something that doesn't have a clear path to publication and market.

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

The beauty about publishing today is that it is easier than ever to make your work available to readers. Learn your craft. Join a critique group. Query and submit if you want to go the traditional publishing route—you can’t get a yes if you don’t ask. Listen to reader feedback. If you love to write for writing’s sake, then self-publish your stories and send them out into the world to find their audience. But above all, ask yourself why you are writing. That answer will set you on the publishing path that’s right for you.

Connect with Lehua Parker

Blog & Free Short Stories: http://www.lehuaparker.com/   

All things Niuhi Shark Saga: http://www.niuhisharksaga.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LehuaParker

Twitter: @LehuaParker

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6426317.Lehua_Parker

Pinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/lehuaparker/ 

Email: AuntyLehua@LehuaParker.com

One Boy, No Water               

Amazon : http://www.amazon.com/One-Boy-Water-Lehua-Parker/dp/0984880127/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379789539&sr=8-1&keywords=lehua+parker

Barnes & Noble : http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/one-boy-no-water-lehua-parker/1112184898?ean=9780984880171

One Shark, No Swim

Amazon : http://www.amazon.com/One-Shark-Swim-Lehua-Parker/dp/1939967104/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379752439&sr=8-1&keywords=one+shark+no+swim 

Barnes & Noble : http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/one-shark-no-swim-lehua-parker/1114940697?ean=9781939967107

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Mikey Brooks

MIKEY WILL BE AT THE WRITE HERE IN EPHRAIM CONFERENCE COMING UP THE END OF MARCH! CHECK THIS SITE FOR DETAILS!

Another great interview! Have you noticed there are more of these recently? Good. Just wanted you to get a better handle on who you would be seeing at the upcoming conference. 

Learn about Mikey's collaboration with five other fantasy authors. What a great idea! 

AND you don't want to miss the 10 writing tips at the end of this interview!

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

I grew up on a farm in rural Missouri. Our nearest neighbor was about a mile down a dirt road. It took a half an hour to get to town which consisted of one grocery store, a few diners, a bank, an elementary school and a high school (consisting of grade 6-12). Because we lived so far outside town, I didn't have many friends. I used to go into the woods that surrounded our farm and read books like The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. I longed to go to Oz. It was a world that friends were made so quickly. It wasn't long before I started dreaming up my own stories about adventure and magic. It was then I started writing.

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

I write on a desktop computer in a room away from the noise of the house. My desk sits next to a black wall and I think that, and the silence, helps me focus on nothing but the story. Sometimes I write out notes like an outline on paper, but the majority of the actual writing gets done at the computer.

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

I love the world building. I have always enjoyed coming up with a new place to explore. Because I write middle-grade fantasy a lot of those worlds can be complex. It’s fun though. My least favorite part comes about 3/4 of the way through, right as I am about to hit the end of the book. I hit a wall. Even though I know what is supposed to happen at the end of the book I avoid making it happen. I’m not sure why. But it’s always the rough part of the writing process for me. Once I push past it (and I really do have to push) all is well.

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

Most of my characters are based off of real people. So I use a lot of their own charisma in creating the character. A lot of myself is in them. Writing is a very personal thing to me. A part of me can be seen in every person; whether it’s the hero or the villain, I’m there. I think readers like to read them because they can relate with them. My characters are flawed. They’re not perfect. They struggle with things that everyone deals with. Kids especially connect to them because I write about things I went through when I was teen. And I've gotten enough great feedback from kids that I know I’m at least touching them. J

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

Because I write for middle-grade readers, I have to use a lot of different marketing techniques. Some work better than most. I could spend an hour listing everything I do but I’ll limit it to just a few. School visits are the best way to peak a kid’s interest. If I can go and share a little about me and what I do for 30 to 45 minutes I have sold a few books. I bring with me bookmarks, posters, and other giveaways. I make what I write sound really cool. I also participate in programs that help promote literacy. I figure if I can be there helping the kids, they’ll want to read my books. Next I market to the parents, teachers and librarians. All of my books I offer FREE in eBook to all librarians and teachers. They are the gatekeepers with MG readers so I want them to fall in love with my books and then pass them along to their students and patrons. http://www.insidemikeysworld.com/for-teachers/

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

Because I work as a freelance illustrator and cover designer, I spend most of my work day doing art. Sometimes I finish work early and then I get to write. Thursday are reserved only for writing and working on my own stuff. My wife makes sure to take the girls to grandmas so I have nothing but our squawking birds to tune out. I also will take a few nights a week and write as my wife watches some of her favorite shows. I try to devote enough time to my writing but I have other roles such as husband and daddy that come first. I try not to sacrifice their time with me.

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

I have a new book coming out March 31^st. It is a middle-grade fantasy-adventure titled, The Stone of Valhalla. It’s about a 13 year old boy named Aaron who finds a amulet buried in a n old lady’s basement and it transports him to another world. When he arrives he is immediately put on trial for witchcraft and sentence to be burned at the stake for his crimes with magic. After narrowly escaping he discovers he is chosen to save this harsh world. But he must make the choice of whether to save them or lose his chance of ever going home. You can see more about this book at: http://www.insidemikeysworld.com/the-stone-of-valhalla/

Another fun project is a collaboration with five other authors. It’s a middle-grade urban fantasy titled The Gates of Atlantis. Each author is writing a different book in the series. We share the same world and the same main series arc but each book is a standalone with our own characters. I was privileged to write the concluding book and I get to use all the characters created in the books previous. It’s going to be a killer series. It comes out in June or July this year. You can follow our progress on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/GatesofAtlantis

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

I have many. I am trying to finish up the final book of The Dream Keeper Chronicles.

It is slotted to be released this summer so I am frantically working on that. I also have a book sitting with an agent, The Witches of Roosevelt Elementary. A wide story about two kids that discover their parents are witch hunters. It’s planned to be a series and I hope I get to focus more on it once I catch up with everything else. And of course I have several picture books planned. One of them a collaboration with my wife, ABC Adventures: Cooking with Kids. Art by me, recipes by her. I’ll be posting updates on my website: http://www.insidemikeysworld.com/

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

A fantastic author, Mette Ivie Harrison, recently shared these 10 things a writer needs to know in order to write on her blog. I think they are a great answer to this question.

1. Only you can write this.

2. You were born to write this.

3. People need you to write this.

4. The world is waiting for you to finish this.

5. One day, someone will tell you how much they needed to read this.

6. You can write anything you set your mind to.

7. This has a glimmer of brilliance in it.

8. The crappy words will fall away in revision.

9. My vision of the world matters.

10. I see people in a new way.

I’ll add to this that you need to WANT to write. If you want it badly enough, it will just take honing your gifts, your talents, to do it. Good writers are good readers. Seriously! Read and it will help strengthen your talent for it. You don’t need a formal education to write. I got a BS in Creative Writing and the only thing it gave me was a large bill every month. Read this list of Mette’s and apply it to your life. The world needs your book!

I am also one of the hosts of the Authors’ Think Tank Podcast, a show by writers for writers. I encourage all new authors to listen in. We have daily posts on writing craft on our blog as well. You can also find a link there to join the Facebook group—a tight writers’ group that are there to help you in your writing goals. We are over a thousand writers strong and we keep growing. http://www.foreverwriters.com/

*** 

Author Bio:

Mikey Brooks is a small child masquerading as an adult. On occasion you’ll catch him dancing the funky chicken, singing like a banshee, and pretending to have never grown up. He is the author/illustrator of several books including the best-selling picture book ABC Adventures: Magical Creatures and Bean’s Dragons. He is also the author of the middle-grade fantasy, The Stone of Valhalla, as well as the fantasy-adventure series The Dream Keeper Chronicles. His art can be seen in many forms from picture books to full room murals. He loves to daydream with his three daughters and explore the worlds that only the imagination of children can create. Mikey has a BS degree in English from Utah State University and works full-time as a freelance illustrator, cover designer, and author. As a member of the Emblazoners, he is one of many authors devoted to ‘writing stories on the hearts of children’ (emblazoners.com). He is also one of the hosts of the Authors’ Think Tank Podcast. You can find more about him and his books at: http://www.insidemikeysworld.com/