My Blog

When is a raven like a birthday cake?

On Edgar Allan Poe’s birthday, of course! Poe was born 203 years ago today in Boston, Massachusetts. Not only is he one of my favorite writers and someone I consider an inspiration for my own writing, but he also has a hometown connection. While visiting Nancy Heywood Richmond (“Annie” of the poem “For Annie”) in Lowell, MA, Poe also spent some time in nearby Westford, MA. When I was in seventh grade (many years ago, let’s say sometime in the 80’s and leave it at that), a marker was placed by the house where Poe stayed. There was a small ceremony to dedicate the marker, along with a writing contest for stories and poems written in the style of Edgar Allan Poe. We were required to write a piece for the contest as part of an English class assignment, and, already a budding writer, I was determined to win. I actually turned in my story assignment late because I needed just a little more time to perfect it. It was a great little story with a woman and a cliff by the sea and a shipwreck and lost love, plus a stormy night and dark birds screeching overhead. And I won first place for my age group. It was my first writing award. I remember the prize was a small book about Poe, focusing on his relationship with Annie, a mystery-themed datebook, and maybe some money ($10? I can’t remember now). I’ve tinkered with the story a bit over the years. It has a unique style that’s hard to recapture unless I’m in the right frame of mind.

I have to credit that Edgar Allan Poe contest with providing my first validation as a young writer, even though publication was still a long time coming. His use of language and themes that delve into the darker side of human nature have helped shape me as a writer.

On that note, I’ll leave you with one of my favorite of Poe’s poems, Annabel Lee. Lyrical and haunting.

Annabel Lee, by Edgar Allan Poe

It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of Annabel Lee;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me.

I was a child and she was a child,
In this kingdom by the sea:
But we loved with a love that was more than love –
I and my Annabel Lee;
With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven
Coveted her and me.

And this was the reason that, long ago,
In this kingdom by the sea,
A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling
My beautiful Annabel Lee;
So that her high-born kinsmen came
And bore her away from me,
To shut her up in a sepulchre
In this kingdom by the sea.

The angels, not half so happy in heaven,
Went envying her and me –
Yes! that was the reason (as all men know,
In this kingdom by the sea)
That the wind came out of the cloud one night,
Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee.

But our love it was stronger by far than the love
Of those who were older than we –
Of many far wiser than we –
And neither the angels in heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;

For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling -my darling -my life and my bride,
In the sepulchre there by the sea –
In her tomb by the sounding sea.

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

Would Sydney be part of the 99 percent?

I was recently talking with a friend about book marketing and she made a comment that my book has some timely themes because fighting oppression is an important element of the story. Considering the state of the world these days, it is a timely topic, both here in the U.S. and around the world. Sydney, the heroine of Thief of Hope, is an unlikely leader, although she does have a strong sense of right and wrong and the desire to stand up for what’s right. She despises those with money and power and wants the commoners of the feudal society in which she lives to have a better quality of life and more control over their own lives. Hmm, sound familiar?

Anyone who knows me knows these are ideas that are important to me. I’m not sure I set out to incorporate them into the book, but they crept in there. My heroine is an illiterate pickpocket, occasional prostitute, and she’s also homeless. And she’s battled drug addiction. She’s not exactly a role model. She’s at the bottom of the barrel. Over the course of the book, however, she fights hand over fist to overcome her past and prove she is worthy of the expectations placed on her.

One of the things that drew me to the SF/fantasy genre is the ability to explore social issues in a different context. Lots of authors have done this brilliantly. Two of my favorites who immediately come to mind are Ursula K. LeGuin and Octavia Butler, whose books explore race and sex and other cultural issues. These large ideas, in my opinion, are what make a book “literature.” It doesn’t matter whether it’s set somewhere out in space or in an imaginary world. It makes you think or view your life or the lives of others in a different light. It touches you in some way. I can only hope to someday be able to do that with my writing.

I’m not sure Sydney would be hunkered down with the OWS protesters. It’s not exactly a fair comparison. The world of my book is much bleaker than what most of us experience in the United States and the setting is a feudal society where a select few have money and power and the rest of the population has very little and no rights. But as history has shown, people who are committed to their ideals and willing to fight for them can be a powerful force for change. Even in a made-up world.

Happy 2012!

Out with 2011 and in with 2012! Wishing all of you a very happy new year! 2011 was an eventful year, my first year as a published author. I’ve learned a lot, starting with the editing process prior to publication, and now the ongoing challenge of marketing. I’m pleased the book has had some positive reviews so far and hope to have more reviews coming this year. And I appreciate all the support I’ve received, from Crescent Moon Press and the other CMP authors, from family and friends, and from new fans of the book. I generally don’t make New Year’s resolutions, but some goals for this year include:

  • Finishing up Thief of Destiny
  • More author appearances
  • More blogging activity
  • Getting a schedule down so I can accomplish the first three items while maintaining the rest of my life!

Wishing you happiness and success in the coming year!