Category: Author interview

Author interview – Jenn Nixon

Today I’m pleased to welcome Jenn Nixon to the blog. Jenn has a book coming soon from Crescent Moon Press and has published several other novels as well. Here’s the blurb for her latest hot off the press release, Trust Me, Tell Me:

Mason Storm is set to marry Veronica Chance in seven days. When he receives a mysterious text message he immediately packs and leaves without saying a word to anyone. After meeting with his former boss, Mason knows his past has finally caught up with him. In order to clear his name of false charges he returns home to Boston ready to put the issues to bed. Veronica, however, isn’t making it easy. She’s determined to help despite his claims of being the only one to make things right. As the investigation intensifies, Mason is captured and Veronica holds the key to his release. Will she make it there in time to save him and their wedding or will everything fall apart?

And now for our interview.

Q: Where were you born? How many places have you lived? Are you the kind of person who likes to move around a lot, or do you prefer to live in one place?

A: I was born at JFK hospital in Edison, New Jersey. I grew up in Linden, spent some time in Delaware with an ex-boyfriend (I’ll never do that again!) and currently reside in South Plainfield.

I do like to travel, but I like having roots, moving sucks. I’ll probably have to do it again one day and I’m not looking forward to it! I have a tendency to be a homebody, but too much time in the house drives anyone nutty.

Q: What sparked your interest in writing? How long have you been writing?

A: I’ve been writing in one form or another since grammar school. What actually sparked my interest in fiction writing happened when I finished my first Star Wars Fan-Fiction. It was the first project I completed and I was so proud of myself that I continued to write original stories and haven’t looked back.

Q: What’s your favorite genre to write? And to read?

A: My favorite genre to write is suspense/thrillers. I enjoy writing Sci-fi too. My reading habits, however, are quite different. I’ve read everything from Horror to YA to Non-Fiction to Literary. My favorite authors, the ones who I always buy on release day are Suspense, Thriller, or Mystery writers.

Q: Are you a plotter or a pantser?

A: Total pantser. I tried plotting out one story for NaNo a few years ago, never finished it. For me, allowing the characters to grow during the writing is the only way to keep ME interested in them. If I plot out too much of their history or personality I find that I limit what the character eventually evolves into. Perfect example is Lucky’s Charm. I set out to make it a straight Suspense/Thriller. Less than half way into the book Lucky runs into a character I wasn’t even thinking about adding until the end and he turned the book into a Romantic Suspense! But I went with it and it turned out to be the right move.

Q: You have published several books and have one coming from Crescent Moon Press. Tell us about your path toward publication.

A: After publishing a horrible novel in the early 2000’s, I went back to the drawing board and basically did everything I mention in the answer below. Once I had better quality novels to submit, I did so…hundreds of times. I have a spreadsheet of rejections. It’s HUGE! The feedback varied from the normal form rejection to real honest comments about why the story didn’t work for said agent/publisher. Eventually, after many edits and years trying to get the attention of the agents and big publishers, I decided to submit to ebook and smaller independent publishers. It’s a great way to build a platform and grow as a writer.

Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

A: Learn the rules of writing, yes there are rules. Some you can break, others you shouldn’t. Learn how to properly write and submit query letters, a synopsis, and proposals. Join a writers group. Read a lot. Write even more. Learn how to edit your work, then edit it again and again. Above all never give up!

Q: Name a few authors who have inspired you and why.

A: My writer group friends Caridad Pineiro, Irene Peterson, Melinda Leigh, Rayna Vause, Chris Redding, and Mickey Flagg to name only a few have been instrumental in my writing journey. They welcomed me with open arms, answered countless questions, and constantly help me learn and grow while supporting my personal efforts in publishing. There isn’t enough space here to mention everyone who has inspired me because in my mind, every writer I chat with, talk to, or email helps me become a better writer and person over all.

Q: Are you working on any other writing projects?

A: I’m in the middle of working on Book Two in the MIND series. Lucky’s Charm has two follow up novels completed. I also attempted to start writing another project for NaNo this past November, but I’m not sure what I’ll be doing with it. I also have two or three projects that still have legs and soon as I figure out how to continue I plan on finishing them!

Q: Tell us something unique about yourself, a hobby or interest that’s completely unrelated to writing.

A: I’m a tomboy. Have been since I was a kid. I would much rather hang out with the guys and watch or play some football than go shopping with the gals. Sad, but true, a girl who hates shopping. Well, unless it’s for cool stuff like movies or videogames!

Q: Coffee, tea, or hard liquor? (or all three?)

A: Tea all the way. Earl Grey or English Breakfast are my faves. I don’t like coffee or liquor. J

Q: What books are you currently reading or on your to-be-read list?

A: I recently finished The Affair by Lee Child, damn book made me want a cheeseburger in the worst way! My TBR pile is way to big for me to even try mentioning!!

Q: And now for the bonus fluff question: If you could be a character in your one of your favorite novels, which character would you be and why?

A: I think a part of me wants to be all of my characters, but in all honesty, I really don’t want to be any of them because they’ve had rough lives, worse than mine! LOL!! However, if I had to pick one, right now it would be Dina from MIND: The Beginning. She’s half-alien and has really cool powers.

Thank you for having me on your blog today! I had a blast answering these questions!

Thanks for stopping by!

Jenn Nixon resides in New Jersey. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and Liberty State Fiction Writers. Her love for thrillers and suspense often finds its way into her novels whether they are Science Fiction or Romance. When not writing, Jenn spends her free time reading, absorbing pop culture and current events, and social networking online.

Find her online at:

Website: http://www.jennnixon.com

Blog: http://jennafern.blogspot.com/

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

Purchase at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Jenn-Nixon/e/B002BLNBBQ

Twitter: @jennnixon

Author interview – Nancy M. Griffis

I’m happy to share another author interview. Nancy M. Griffis has published two novels, Eternal Investigations, published in 2010, and Mind Games, published in 2006. Nancy and I go way back, and she was the first friend I met who also wrote (um, I think that was fifth, maybe sixth grade). So it’s so exciting that we are now both published authors. Nancy is also a screenwriter and working on that aspect of her career. And she is a prolific writer. If you like paranormal, you’ll want to check out Eternal Investigations. I’m about halfway through it now and it’s a fun and creepy read!

The blurb:

Helen has the ability to speak to spirits, and she heads to Atlanta on an emergency haunting job. Helen’s dead-ghost twin sister, Brenda, tags along.

When a small-time demon takes over Helen’s mind, Jacqueline gets a ghostly visit from Brenda asking for her help. Together they try to overcome the evil spirits and find themselves falling in love. When a new assignment sends them to Nevada, Helen and Jacqueline team up, in more ways than one.

They help investigate a haunted ranch in Wild Creek, Nevada, a town filled with mysterious happenings, including the infamous Ranch. The ranch is steeped in evil, the grounds for many, many gory deaths over the last hundred years. Helen and Jacqueline are caught in the house’s alternate reality, alone, frightened, and trying desperately to harness their powers against evil.

Now on to our interview.

Q: Where were you born? How many places have you lived? Are you the kind of person who likes to move around a lot, or do you prefer to live in one place?

A: I was born in Massachusetts. At last count, I’ve lived 42 places from birth til now. And yes, that’s more times moved than years I’ve been alive. I’ve never lived in one place for long, as you can see, but I wouldn’t mind giving it a shot. You know. For at least five years. That’d be interesting.

Q: Since you’ve been in LA a number of years now, how would you describe the differences between the East Coast and West Coast? (By the way, the DC area has now surpassed you and become #1 for gridlock!)

A: I actually looked that up to make sure you weren’t pulling a fast one! It sure feels like we’re still number one, but apparently we’re not even number two! Aside from the obvious one of weather (of which LA rocks), I would say the main difference is attitude and focus. Each coast definitely has their own attitude and what they’re going after, even when the end result is the same.

Q: What sparked your interest in writing? How long have you been writing?

A: My nana! She had stacks upon stacks upon bookshelves just filled to brimming with Harlequin romances. I was probably reading the naughty bits a lot younger than I should’ve been, but I think I’m pretty well adjusted withal. I’ve been reading ‘real’ books for as long as I can remember. My fave book when I was 12 was Taming of the Shrew and The Wizard Children of Finn by Mary Tannen. You can’t love to write without a love of reading. I wrote my (no doubt very bad) first novel when I was 14 years old, but did shorts for English class before that, too.

Q: How long did it take you to finish the book? How many drafts did you write before you were satisfied?

A: The first draft only took a month. Of course, the first draft turned into 3 drafts before I was satisfied. Unfortunately, it was written for an anthology that fell through and I had 3 novellas tied together through the characters, but not a “real” novel. It took six months of solid, banging-my-head-against-the-desk of editing to get to the current version that I submitted to be published. (Here I have to thank a couple of friends, Juli and Louise, who poked me with sharp sticks to get it done) And then the editors got to it and, three versions later, Eternal Investigations was published. Thank God, because I was ready to shoot myself at that point.

Q: Do you have a favorite genre to write? To read?

A: The answer to that is the same: action/scifi/horror with the occasional spot of romance. And there has to be some decent angst going on somewhere, too.

Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

A: Find a couple of “cheerleaders” who will love everything and a couple of “Really? You sure you want to do that?” friends who poke you with sharp sticks and keep you grounded. You need both. Even more important: Keep at it. I have so many rejections from agents it’s not even funny. Still trying to get one, really. Most important? Love it. Embrace your passion because often that’s your only satisfaction.

Q: You’re also interested in scriptwriting. How does the scriptwriting process differ from writing fiction?

A: Screenwriting is deceptively difficult. I say deceptively because for a limited page format, features no more than 120 pages (140 if you absolutely have to in some kind of period piece) and tv no more than 65 pages, it’s often more difficult than novel writing which has no limit. Every word has to count where in novels, you can take 10 pages to get to a point. Well, as long as you keep the reader’s interest. I will say first drafts come out a lot faster though. The short page count comes in handy for that first vomit draft, which is really nice. ;o)

Q: Name a few authors who have inspired you and why.

A: Marion Zimmer Bradley totally opened my eyes to the world of scifi when I was 13ish. I adored her, even when I hated her writing because it tore my guts out. Shakespeare for the sheer wordsmithing. Wow. How many writers are still relevant/translatable hundreds of years later?

Q: Tell us about your current writing project.

A: LOL! Which one? Okay, for novels I’ve got Fluctuations which is a scifi adventure in final draft mode. Got a good start on the sequel’s first draft, too. As for active, in-progress novels, I’ve got a “real life” novel about life in the public transportation system (of which I’ve been a very reluctant participant the last 6 years) and a fantasy novel involving dragons and a heroine who doesn’t want to be one. My in-progress scripts include a scifi/horror, a time-travel, and a present-day noir. I bet you can tell I don’t have much of a life, right?

Q: Coffee, tea, or hard liquor? (or all three?)

A: I’m actually allergic to coffee, so that’s a no-no, but sure! I’ll take some liquor in my tea. I’m not that much of a purist. ;o)

Q: What books are you currently reading or on your to-be-read list?

A: Currently reading:

Good in a Room by Stephanie Palmer (being the partially social-phobic writer that I am)

To Reads:

The Tempering of Men by Sarah Monette & Elizabeth Bear

All the Nero Wolfe books by Rex Stout

Q: And now for the bonus fluff question: If you could be a character in one of your favorite novels, which character would you be and why?

A: I think Horatio Hornblower. Talk about living the live of high adventure!

Nancy M. Griffis writes novels and screenplays of the scifi/action/adventure/urban fantasy genres, adores tv and movies, and is a fangirl at heart.

You can get your own copy of Eternal Investigations from Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Eternal-Investigations-Nancy-M-Griffis/dp/1610400992/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2) or from Torquere Press (http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=97&products_id=2936).

Author interview – Sherry Soule

Today I’m interviewing Sherry Soule, author of Beautifully Broken (Spellbound #1). Sherry was my editor for Thief of Hope, and I can tell you she knows her stuff!

The blurb:

They say every town has its secrets, but that doesn’t even begin to describe Whispering Pines. The townsfolk are a superstitious lot and the mystical disappearance of a local teen has everyone murmuring about a centuries old witch’s curse. 

Sixteen-year-old Shiloh Ravenwolf is a heritage witch from the Broussard family, a family both destined and cursed. When she takes a summer job at Ravenhurst Manor, she discovers a ghost with an agenda. That’s where she meets the new town hottie, Trent Donovan, and immediately becomes spellbound by his charms. Yet she is determined to discover the connection between them before it’s too late. 

Finally, Shiloh’s met someone who is supercute and totally into her, but Trent may be the next victim on the supernatural hit list. And Shiloh is the only person with the power to save him. Complicated much? 

It sucks to have a destiny, especially since Shiloh would rather spend her summer being a normal girl who worries about clothes and boys, not the supernatural. But she’s never been normal and the stranger things become the more her own magical senses awaken. With cryptic messages from a pesky wraith, she will begin to understand the mysterious significance of the strange mark branded on her wrist, and decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice to protect the other teenagers in town. 

Unfortunately, for Shiloh, not all ghosts want help crossing over. Some want vengeance.

Witches, vengeful ghosts-what’s not to like? And now let’s find out more about Sherry!

Q: Where were you born? How many places have you lived? Are you the kind of person who likes to move around a lot, or do you prefer to live in one place?

A: San Francisco, California. Only one. Stay in one place!

Q: What sparked your interest in writing? How long have you been writing?

A: A love of reading sparked my interest. Loved writing since I was in the 2nd grade.

Q: Your recent release, Beautifully Broken, features a 16-year-old witch who also slays demons. What makes witches and demons so appealing?

A: I love all paranormals. But witches are fun to write.

Q: How long did it take you to finish the book? How many drafts did you write before you were satisfied?

A: Over 2 years. Drafts? LOL More than I can count, but I’d guess about 15 to 20 drafts.

Q: How would you describe your path toward publication?

A: Writing has always been my true passion. This was what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to publish novels. I’ve tried three times in my life to find a literary agent (gatekeepers to the publishing world) without success. I’d like to think I’ve learned a lot since then. I hope I have.

Then 5 months ago, someone I knew announced that they wanted to start a publishing company. So, I was the first to sign with them. Sure, they’re small. But everyone has to start somewhere. Going Indie is a scary endeavor. On occasion things don’t work out. Books don’t sell. The genre dead ends. Bad timing. Worse luck.

But indie authors can find a small amount of success due to the book blogging community, which is so incredibly supportive. And I sincerely thank the bloggers who have embraced and heartily praised my debut novel. You guys rock!

Q: You’ve written both young adult and adult novels. How do you approach writing YA vs. adult?

A: Hmmm, well, YA has a younger voice and Adult is more complex and a bit steamier. 😀

Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

A: I have a blog devoted to unpublished writers: http://www.darkangelwritingtools.com/

It has posts with self-editing tools, agent and publishing secrets, and tons of writing tips.

Q: Tell us about your current writing project.

A: Working on the sequel, “Beautifully Haunted” and editing my adult PR, “Disenchanted”

Q: Coffee, tea, or hard liquor? (or all three?)

A: Drink a cup of coffee every morning. Tea on occasion. And never hard liquor. (dulls the creative senses.)

Q: What books are you currently reading or on your to-be-read list?

A: Currently reading, “Descended by Blood” by author Angeline Kace. So good!

Q: And now for the bonus fluff question: If you could be a character in one of your favorite novels, which character would you be and why?

A: Hard question! I guess I’d be Scarlett O’Hara. She is perhaps the best example of a genuine, realistic pragmatist. She was a fighter. Gotta admire her for that…

Thanks so much for stopping by!

For more information on Sherry Soule and her books, please visit her online:

Website: http://sherrysoule.com

You can also get her book on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Beautifully-Broken-Spellbound-Sherry-Soule/dp/061550812X/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_4

Author interview – James Crawford

Today I have the pleasure to share an interview with James Crawford, a newly published author and a good friend. Jim is a man of many talents, from graphic design to metalworking (he has a fascination with sharp, pointy things). His first novel, Blood Soaked and Contagious, indeed features a main character with a wicked sword he calls the Man Scythe.

The blurb:

I am not going to complain to you about my life.

 We’ve got zombies. They are not the brainless, rotting creatures we’d been led to expect. Unfortunately for us, they’re just as smart as they were before they died, very fast, much stronger than you or me, and possess no internal editor at all. 

Claws. Did I mention claws?

I kill them for a living, but it’s as much a vocation as a freelance career choice. It helps me, helps my neighborhood, and the people I consider to be my family of choice. What’s more? I’m really good at it. 

My life had a nice rhythm, but the military bungled an attempt to wipe out an organized bunch of undead near a major commuting route into DC. The formerly-human survivors relocated. Now they’re less than an hour’s stroll away from where I live. 

We’ve got something they want, and they’re coming to get it. 

Didn’t the Greeks consider pride a deadly sin?

I admit, I’m not a big fan of zombies. I just can’t take the gore, and with zombies, there’s guaranteed to be a lot of that. But I’m enjoying the book. Jim has an easy-to-read style and a great sarcastic tone. His main character is a tough guy—did I mention the cool sword?—who’s clinging to his humanity with his last tendons. It’s a good read. I may have to pass on the movie version, though, or just watch through my fingers.

Now on to our questions to get some insight on this new author.

Q: Where were you born? How many places have you lived? Are you the kind of person who likes to move around a lot, or do you prefer to live in one place?

A: I was born at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, and I’ve lived a whopping 4 places my whole life. Considering my temperament, I’m more content moving around infrequently, if at all.

 Q: What sparked your interest in writing? How long have you been writing?

A: My interest in writing was rekindled by metalworking… I damaged my hammer arm and couldn’t swing a hammer properly, so I decided to write while I healed up.

I started writing in 9th grade, and somehow forgot how much I loved doing it until 2010.

Q: Why zombies? What’s their appeal?

A: Zombies are dark, nasty, mindless things that eat us. They’re also an interesting metaphor for our modern lives. We wander around, groaning, aimless, as we consume the world around us. Writing about them appealed to me for that reason, and because the genre has exploded in the past couple of years. I took it as a challenge to do something a little different with them.

 Q: How long did it take you to finish the book? How many drafts did you write before you were satisfied?

A: I started in January of 2010 and was mostly finished with the first draft by May. The first book didn’t have a second draft as much as it did sectional rewrites and general “tightening”. I was functionally finished by November.

Q: Why did you decide to self-publish? What’s involved in getting ready for publication?

A: Self-publishing is easier than the process of hunting and seducing a Literary Agent. I found that dance to be surprisingly painful, and decided to go it alone.

You need a few things to get started. 1. Friends to edit your work and give you unvarnished opinions. 2. The desire to make changes when you’ve received good advice. 3. A book cover designed by a professional. 4. Courage. 5. A computer with internet connection and a word processing program.

Q: How do you feel about the marketing aspect of publishing?

A: Somewhat lost, but willing to learn on the job.

 Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

A: Go ahead and do it. Be prepared for surprising emotions about your work and how it is received. Have a sense of humor if at all possible. Ask questions of people who’ve done this before and LISTEN to them.

 Q: Name a few authors who have inspired you and why.

A: Jim Butcher. Richard Kadrey. CJ Cherryh. Mario Acevedo. Cindy Young-Turner. (Aw, thanks!)

Q: Are you working on any other writing projects?

A: Yes. I’ve got 2 or 3 other storylines that I’m tossing around, along with the sequel to “Blood Soaked and Contagious”.

 Q: Coffee, tea, or hard liquor? (or all three?)

A: Coffee. Tea. Well, all three, but the liquor in serious moderation.

Q: What books are you currently reading or on your to-be-read list?

A: I’m scooting through James Clavell’s “Gai-jin” at the moment, and am about to start on a couple of web development-related books when Amazon coughs them up onto my doorstep.

Q: And now for the bonus fluff question: If you could be a character in your one of your favorite novels, which character would you be and why?

A: Sandman Slim from Richard Kadrey’s “Sandman Slim”… He’s badass, carries a magical blade, and… HE IS BAD-BAD-ASS!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

You bet, my old friend! Thank you for having me!

Now go get the book! Here’s where to find your very own copy of Blood Soaked and Contagious:

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/manscythe

James Crawford is an artist, graphic designer, amateur bladesmith and subversive suburbanite when no one else is looking. He lives with his wife in the Washington, DC area where he pursues hobbies that pay off in cuts, burns, tendonitis, full sketchbooks, and the occasional freaky idea. Once in a while, those freaky ideas refuse to die and shamble off to create lives of their own. Visit his website at: http://www.jamescrawfordcreative.com/.