Monthly Interview: Louise Herman

Katie: Merry Christmas! Thank you for this interview, how are you?

Louise Herman: Hi Kate, I'm good, thank you. I'm trying to work as hard as possible on the third book in my YA Urban Fantasy series, 'Split Blood' so I can take a few days break shortly to spend some quality time with my family for Christmas.

K.: It’s nice to hear. Can you tell us more about yourself?

L.: I’m a teacher of Computing and a keen fantasy movie fan from the leafy suburbs of North London.

I absolutely adore any film from Guillermo del Toro (especially Pan’s Labyrinth, Devil’s Backbone and Cronos) and am a big 80s fantasy film fan (with my favourite’s including Labyrinth, Big Trouble in Little China and Blade Runner).

I also have a big passion for Anime and am slightly obsessed by the genius director, Hayao Miyazaki for his work on Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and Howl’s Moving Castle.

From an early age, I had always had a passion for writing stories which would take the reader to different fantasy worlds and realms. With a little confidence and the ease of publishing novels on the internet, I have now self-published five fantasy stories to date:

The Orcus Games Trilogy

The Orcus Games: Blood Moon (Book 1)

The Orcus Games: Mistress V (Book 2)

The Orcus Games: New Awakening (Book 3)

The Split Blood Series

Split Blood: The Ancient Codex – Part One (Book 1)

Split Blood: Rise of the Wolf (Book 2)

K.: My first question will be, when did you first start writing?

L.: I have always had a vivid imagination and have written short fantasy stories, for my own pleasure, in my teenage years. However, it was not until my English teacher told me she enjoyed one of my stories that I started to take it more seriously.

I researched competitions and writing challenges but unfortunately, without the aid of the internet, it was a little harder, than it is now, to gain the information I needed, so my college and university work took presidency and I put my writing passion to one side until I had more time (and resources) to concentrate on it fully.

K.: Do you remember the first story you ever read and the impact it had on you?

L.: The first story I can remember reading, that had an impact on me, was 'Alice in Wonderland'. I loved the fantasy aspects of the story and also the escapism that most six-year-olds could relate to.

Wacky characters, a strange world, food, and drinks that alter your appearance and size was a storyline that I could read over and over again as a child and never get bored of.

K.: Why did you write this book and what are your expectations on its behalf?

L.: I wrote my first YA Fantasy novella, 'The Orcus Games: Blood Moon' because I wanted to write a story that switched between two different worlds and could be read from three different points of view.

I did not have any expectations of the book apart from hoping that the readers would be interested enough in the magical storyline to continue onto the second novella in the trilogy, 'The Orcus Games: Mistress V'.

K.: What are you working on next?

L.: I am currently working on the third book in the 'Split Blood' series, which will be published on Amazon and Smashwords by April 2016.

It concentrates on Raven (Faith's Wiccan sister) and her fight to get her family back.

Raven's character also changes due to the trials and tribulations she encounters on her journey and we also meet new magical beings and say goodbye to some favourites.

With lots more magic, lust and revenge, 'Split Blood 3' promises to continue the emotional rollercoaster ride further into the 'Split Blood' world.

In the previous two books, Raven has been a minor character, who has always been there for her older sister, Faith.

Happy to find out her new magically heritage, Raven tried to show her reluctant sister the benefits of their new life as she grew in power but Faith was not interested in the magic classes and her history as Raven was.

Unfortunately, Faith felt suffocated from the endless rules and her curiosity led to her run away, leaving the Coven to deal with the consequences of Faith's illegal decision.

This emotional departure left a scar on Raven, who struggles to cope with life without her sister and things get much worse when her parents are taken to the Underworld for questioning about their part in their daughter's detrimental rule breaking.

Alone, distraught and unable to deal with some members of her Coven turning against her, Raven becomes obsessed with finding her family, by any means necessary - with disastrous results...

K.: What is the greatest joy of writing for you?

L.: The greatest joy of writing for myself is the freedom to create unique magical characters and worlds, along with communicating with readers, fans, and bloggers who have a passion for this genre too.

K.: What motivated you to become an indie author?

L.: I have always been a very 'hands on' person and when I finished the first book, I decided to try and publish it myself before approaching a literary agent because I wanted to experience the full process.

However, although I love being an indie author, there are times when it would be nice to have an agent to deal with the marketing and promotion, so I can focus on my writing and communicating with the readers, fans, and bloggers.

K.: When you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?

L.: I love listening to music (I love Bjork, Daft Punk, Royal Blood), watching films (I like to watch Anime, Manga, Horrors and Fantasy films) and running when I am not writing.

I try to take regular breaks from writing so I can refresh my thoughts and look for new ideas.

K.: Can you describe your desk?

L.: I currently have a rectangular wooden corner desk with my laptop, mini filing system for my school work and lots of notes for potential stories and characters.

I would like to say it's tidy, but I call it an organised mess.

K.: Now that it’s Christmas time,  are you still working or having a holiday from writing?

L.: I have decided to work up until Christmas Eve and then I will take a few days off but will still be responding to emails and queries.

K.: Thank you for the interview. Good luck with the book.

L.: Thank you for the opportunity and Happy Holidays everyone!

About Author:

Louise Herman is a North London Fantasy author obsessed with pear drops sweets and 80s Fantasy films.

In between reading James Herbert novels and drinking too much coffee, she writes Young Adult Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance novels.

Louise Herman has currently written five YA Fantasy books to date (December 2015); The Orcus Games Prequel Trilogy and The Split Blood series, which take the reader on a journey of magic, mystery, obsession and forbidden love with seductively dark consequences.
 
For more information, please go to www.louisehermanauthor.com

My Website | Amazon | Smashwords

Monthly Interview With David G. Allen

Today I am having an interview with David Allen author of an amazing inspirational novel Pool of Echoes. 

Summary (from Goodreads)

Title: Pool of Echoes

Author: David G. Allen

Publication Date: 19 Oct, 2014

Publisher: Self-published 

Goodreads – Amazon – Barnes & Noble

Summary:

In this Inspirational Thriller, Nothing Is Certain But The Truth 

Jordan Mitchfield is heir to a media empire worth billions. He also sees and hears things that aren’t there. 

Then someone close puts him in an insane asylum against his will. 

When it looks like there is no way out but to take his own life, he is stopped. Is it a vision? Is what he’s seeing actually real? Is it even part of this dimension? 

Whatever it is, it opens his cell door and throws him into a dangerous time-travel adventure through his memories. 

As he goes deeper into the Pool of Echoes, he is forced to confront everything he has ever known, reconstruct his own mental health, and play a role in something much larger than himself. 

Fans of Contemporary Science fiction, Action, Espionage, Christian fiction, and Fantasy with a Psychological edge will dive through each exciting moment. 

If you or anyone you know has ever questioned their own self worth, get on board this life-changing thrill-ride. You will never be the same.

Interview:

Katie: Hello, thank you for this interview, how are you?

David Allen: Awesome.

K.: It’s nice to hear. Can you tell us more about yourself?

D.: Sure. I was born in Alaska, and lived there until I was about 21. Then, after some traveling, I moved to Texas. There is a long scar on my right-bottom lip - I don’t know where I got it and noticed it for the first time in kindergarten. My first boss out of high school told me I was so bad at selling that I wasn’t worth the paper printed to train me. I’ve since tried sales 8 different times and after I earned enough to pay the bills every month I stopped. There was no need to prove myself anymore.

K.: My first question will be when did you first start writing?

D.: In kindergarten there was this show on public television called Reading Rainbow. It had that guy - I think he was from Star Trek - LeVar Burton. Anyway, the show collaborated with local affiliates to host writing contests all over the country. My mom heard about it and asked if I had an idea for a story. So the first story I ever wrote was about a mouse that knew the woods really well, and used his skills to evade an owl with a thirst for mouse blood. I didn’t word it like that, but it did well and won a prize. When you’re a kid, you often don’t know if you have talent without some third party validation or passion. For me it was both, but it took until I was 23 to write a novel.

K.: Do you remember the first story you ever read and the impact it had on you?

D: Growing up in church, the first book I heard about was the Bible, and it had a lot of stories. Then my parents took turns reading the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It took a long time, but those were the earliest books I remember going through, other than short picture-form stuff like The Little Cricket.

K.: Why did you write this book and what are your expectations on its behalf?

D: Pool of Echoes started out as a book designed to teach people how to build the kind of life they want without blaming other people. As the project moved forward, it ended up becoming about self esteem, where we draw our worth from. Did it do what I wanted? Maybe, because I’ve learned the two are highly related. Why do we blame other people? It may be because we don’t feel we have the confidence to take full responsibility for our lives. If that phrase cuts, don’t worry - we all do it sometimes.

It was my first book where I was the only author, so I didn’t expect it to become the next Hunger Games or anything. Still, you expect the best for something you care about.

K.: What’s the story behind your latest book?

D: The last person you would expect to have self esteem issues is an intelligent, attractive young man who is the son of a billionaire.

This is the story about that son, who discovers one flaw in who he is, and it unravels every source of self-worth that he has until he realizes it doesn’t come from external sources.

So, he has schizophrenia, a brother who hates him, and so forth. It just gets heavier and heavier until he learns his lesson. A few people help him along the way for many reasons, the biggest of which is that he has a role to play that can impact an upcoming election.

K.: I loved the book a lot but I had some questions, especially about the concept of Pool of Echoes. Could you tell me more how you came up with such an idea?

D.: I’m still trying to figure that out. It’s a combination of several ideas, like most great concepts are. The first is that to change ourselves, we must reinterpret how we experience the world. An easy solution, and the second idea, was to make a time-travel story. Those stories, however, have many predictable situations that have been done before - so I wanted to make a story that’s like time-travel, but introduces new dangers and complications that nobody has ever seen before. Then the third idea is the story of Naaman the Syrian, who in the Bible was cured of leprosy by washing seven times in the Jordan river. That became the symbol of change, and the catalyst for the whole time travel experience.

K.: What is the greatest joy of writing for you?

D: Giving a sense of wonder - that there is a whole world to explore in just a single idea. Every story I love has that.

K.: What motivated you to become an indie author?

D: Necessity. The book industry is acting a whole lot more like Hollywood - promoting a few major bestsellers based on attached household names, and not doing much for anyone else. I self-published before ever hearing about the heavy hitters like Joe Konrath or Amanda Hocking. When the first book was getting done, I lived in Argentina - a long way from English-language publishers. I didn’t have an agent, and wanted enough control over how to promote the book so it would have the most potential. Now I’ve learned a lot more about being indie, and would consider a publishing deal if I could still write and release other stories while under contract, get my rights back at some point, and the relationship led to great placement in bookstores, airports, and those kinds of places.

K.: When you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?

D: Working a lot. I have two jobs right now, which limits how much time I can devote to a lot of things. This will change in a while, though I don’t have an exact date.

K.: What are you working on next?

D: A fantasy based around Native American culture and setting. What if one Native tribe followed just one God? - that’s one question I’ve been asking. The setting is fictionalized so I don’t upset people if I should get anything wrong.

I’m also working on a series centered around a new kind of spy/hero. The first draft of the first book is already done, and now I’m looking for follow-up concepts before continuing with it.

K.: Can you describe your desk?

D: It’s a portable desk with lockable wheels at the bottom. Everything about the desk can be changed. I try not to work at home because it messes with my head, though I’m at home now.  The desk helps because I can change the elevation and positioning, which makes it feel like I’m somewhere else.

K.: Thank you for the interview. Good luck with the book and I hope to read more of your work in the future.

D: Thank you. Feel free to visit authordavid.com - that’s where I let people know about new stuff. And I have a mailing list so you don’t even need to revisit again and again. I’m giving them a short story based in the Pool of Echoes really soon, exploring the past life of Sam Solomon. It’s going to be great fun. Thanks for having me on!

K.: Today we had an interview with David Allen author of Pool of Echoes. If you haven’t read it yet, here’s your chance, grab your copy and start reading it now. If you want to read my review, you can find it here.  

Monthly Interview with Rival Gates

Today I am having an interview with Rival Gates author of an amazing fantasy novel Quest for the Red Sapphire. 

Summary (from Goodreads)

Title:

Author:

Publication Date:

Publisher:

Goodreads – Amazon – Barnes & Noble

Summary: 

The book centers around Linvin Grithinshield, a half-elf general called home from the goblin wars to 
run the lucrative family trading business after his father's disappearance. Only after his mother's murder does he discover his destiny is to be the Master of the Red Sapphire, the most powerful magic any mortal can possess. Together with his wise but mysterious Uncle Anvar and his infuriating cousins Bander and Rander, Linvin must flee the would-be assassins and find the gem before the sinister forces from whom he flees find the stone and take it for a dark purpose.

Interview: 

Katie: Hello, thank you for this interview, how are you?

Rival Gates:  I am fantastic.  Thank you for taking the time to interview me.  You have a wonderful blog.

K.: It’s nice to hear. Can you tell us more about yourself?

R:  I was raised as the youngest child of an editor and an English teacher.  After dinner we liked to sit around the table as a family and talk.  Every person would tell stories about whatever was going on in their lives.  Between my siblings and parents I heard many different ways of telling tales and everyone seemed to want to tell theirs better than the last.  I learned from my father (the editor) that the best writers were the best story tellers.  If you could tell a good story, you could be a good writer.  That’s when I became interested in being an author.

K.: My first question will be, when did you first start writing?

R:  I took part in numerous writing contests in middle school but started writing for myself when I was 13.  Things in my life were not going so well and I needed an escape from it.  Writing provided me that platform.

K.: Do you remember the first story you ever read and the impact it had on you?

R:  I read “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” in my formative years and was captivated.  I must have read that book a half dozen times.  The characters were so real and the ideas were so new to me.  It drew me to fantasy storytelling and made me follow the genre.  After reading the series I started playing around with my own ideas for stories.

K.: Why did you write this book and what are your expectations on its behalf?

R:  I wrote this book because I felt I had created a captivating story to tell.  It had started as a short story.  Then it grew to a novel.   Then it grew to a series.  I want to share this with the world and have as many people as possible enjoy my work.  It is a fun escape from everyday life.

K.: What’s the story behind your latest book?

R:Former General Linvin Grithinshield is summoned home from the Goblin Wars after his father’s disappearance to run the family trading empire. Soon his mother is murdered and he is on the run with a price on his head. As a faceless enemy pursues him he must seek out the mythical Red Sapphire. In the proper hands it could take up the cause of many unable to fight for themselves.  In the wrong hands he fears the worst.  Together with his wise uncle and intolerable cousins, Linvin strikes out to find the all-powerful gem.  In a world with enemies from without and within, he must fight his way through the dragons in the sky and cutthroats all around to fulfill his destiny or die in the attempt.

K.: What is the greatest joy of writing for you?

R:  Writing the stories and seeing what you have created from nothing is very rewarding.  My greatest joy, however, happens when someone reads my work and tells me how they could not put it down.  They yearn for the next book in the series.  To get such a response means I must have done something right.

K.: What motivated you to become an indie author?

R:  I wanted my story to be read.  No matter what you think of your own work, you always wonder what others will feel about it.  That feedback is something I think every artist craves.  If your work can make a positive impact in someone else’s life, it is worth every minute of time you have put in creating it.

K.: When you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?

R: I spend a lot of time with my wife and children.  They bring tremendous joy to my life.  There always seems to be something going on to keep me occupied.

K.: What are you working on next?

R:  The sequel to ”Quest for the Red Sapphire” is called “Sapphire Crucible” and should be out very soon.

K.: Can you describe your desk?

R:  LOL My desk is strewn with papers.  Many of them are storyboards in which I have planned out a conversation or series of events.  I actually find them fun to look over again as I see how I listed the points I wanted to make and then started drawing arrows all over to change the order.  The system works great for me because I can see where I have left things out or placed them incorrectly.  It makes the story flow much better.

K: Anything you would like to tell future writers?

R:  Write about something you are passionate about.  If your excitement isn’t there, your reader’s won’t be either.  If it feels more like work to create something and less like fun, you are probably writing about the wrong thing.

K.: Thank you for the interview. Good luck with the book.

R:  It was my pleasure!  And thank you for having me on your blog.  I wish you the best of success in the future.

K.: Today we had an interview with Rival Gates Author of Quest of the Red Sapphire