Showing posts with label western. Show all posts
Showing posts with label western. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

CHARACTER INTERVIEW: Ted and Charlene Petersmire from Desert Rains

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

Ted: Hey Char, ya got a minute? We got this questionnaire thing in the post an’ since we both own the ranch we should mebe answer it together.

Charlene: You know I hate these things, Ted.

Ted: Yep. I know. Answer anyway. They wanna know who we are, where we live and such?

Charlene: Seriously? I’d think they could figure that out on the long comm, but okay. We’re Charlene and Theodore Petersmire, co owners of the Double P Ranch which can be found a bit outside of the town of Ridgeback on the mostly desert planet Galileo. We raise cattle and a highly valued food crop called ogen for export. Teddy looks like someone slapped a hat and a pair of boots on a mountain and set it walking.

Ted: And Charlene is a dark haired bundle of spitfire an’ science. Her beau Rick would say she’s beautiful. I’m pretty sure she has her moments when she ain’t hittin’ me.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Ted: Spare time? I think someone needs to define spare time fer these folks. Ain’t no such thing as spare time on a ranch. Ya always got somethin’ ta see to.

Charlene: True, though we also make time for eating with friends and family and there’s the Festival after the rains where the whole town comes together to dance and celebrate.

What is your favorite color and why?

Ted: Why do these people want to know about colors? This is the weirdest insurance question thing I’ve ever read. I guess I’ll put down blue.

Charlene: Me too. I like blue, like Richard’s eyes.

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

Ted: Now food questions I can relate to though someone will probably tell me slab toast and milk is bad for me, but only cause they ain’t been eatin’ slab toast and milk, and apple fritters, and steak, and beer, and…

Charlene: I suspect they don’t have enough space for you to list all of your favorites.

What would you say is your biggest quirk?

Ted: Oh, this is a good one. Charlene’s biggest quirk is her tendency to take on the world all by herself even when all the rest ‘f us are happy ta help.

Charlene: Yeah, well your biggest quirk is your tendency to go from one woman to the next like a big puppy when you really know you want to find the right one and settle down. So 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.

Ted: This one we can agree on. Mister Donovan won’t take no for an answer. He’s been told the ranch and the seed ain’t fer sale or barter an’ yet he keeps comin’ after both.

Donovan turned towards Richard with a hard little smile. “Exactly my point. It shows a complete lack of ambition. And if they lack the ambition it stands to reason they should be willing to work with someone who will take their product and make sometimes of it on their behalf. The improvements to the ogen seed alone are worth a fortune in the right markets.”

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?

Ted: Well, besides each other? Prolly Rick, Charlene’s paramour an’ my best friend these days. Didn’t rightly figure he’d end up so important ta both ‘f us, but he’s a good man. An’ he’s gonna be a daddy soon enough.

Charlene: Ted! That information hasn’t come out yet. We only just got married.

Ted: Ain’t my fault ya work fast. I’m lookin’ forward ta bein’ an uncle.

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

Charlene: The book in which we? I’m going back to the comment that this is one weird form. Umm…I guess most folks don’t realize that our parents are first generation ranchers. We’ve still got family back on Central, but neither of us feel much need to go visiting. Maybe after the baby is born.

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

Charlene: I can SO make a pie.

Get the Book at Amazon
A Question for Me:

Ted:  So do you have a favorite food, Pretty Lady? Something which drives your creative instincts?

Ted, that would have to be chocolate. Chocolate melts writer's block, and keeps me going when I'm thinking I should be doing the dishes. Thanks for asking!





Wednesday, May 11, 2016

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Jana S. Brown

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

I knew by the time I was about six that the two things in life I wanted was to be a momma and a writer. I loved to write and tell stories and sent my first book into a big press when I was about 14. I got a very nice rejection letter which encouraged me to keep reading and writing and I did. I’ve since published both fiction and a lot of non fiction and am continuing to work on my dream.



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

I have a three year old, so scheduling writing time is sometimes a matter of desperation. I tend to scribble during her ‘TV time’ and I’ve worked things out with my husband so I get at least two hours of writing time three times a week in the evenings. It’s not completely ideal, but it works for now.

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

I have a writing cave with a nice desk, treats and a heater all my own. I use paper for drafting outlines and character development and a laptop for everything else.

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

I love it when everything comes together and the words are really flowing. I love it even more when I go back to read and get lost in my own work. The hardest part is when nothing is flowing and I’m staring at the blank screen.

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

Desert Rains came into full outline one lazy Sunday afternoon. I was doodling and ended up with a beginning to end outline. In future drafts it changed only slightly. I wrote the first draft in about seven weeks. It took another couple months to revise, cover, typeset and publish.

Get the Book at Amazon

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

I love getting reviews and send out a lot of review copies. I’m currently in a total revamp of my website and newsletter, then will be hitting those like gang busters. You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Pinterest where I enjoy chatting about books, family, craft projects (and sometimes failures) and cooking.

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

My current project is called Fallen Stone. It’s going through a final revision before wending its way to publication. It is an Urban Fantasy book about a fallen holy warrior living in Denver.

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

The back burner project is the next Desert book. This will be Ted’s story. He’s such a fun character in Desert Rains and everyone agrees that Teddy needs his own happily ever after.

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

Do it anyway. Writing is only partially talent. The rest is hard work and persistence.

A Question for Me:

What social media platform do you find most useful for marketing books?

Great question! 
Facebook, hands down. 
I have used, and still use
Twitter
LinkedIn
Google+
and others
but facebook gives me the best results when it comes to connecting with readers and gaining new sales.

Thank you, Jana!