#AtoZChallenge Z is for Sarah Zama #freebook

Sarah Zama:


1- Where do you get ideas for your stories?

Oh my goodness, I always dread this question!
Ideas can come from anything, really. Even a conversation I overheard on the bus (public transportation is fantastic for finding ideas!). Then I manipulate it until it becomes mine, by which I mean it expresses themes that are close to my heart and is set in a place I love.
But really, anything can be the first sparkle: a conversation I hear, an article I read, a story I read, a song I listen to, TV commercials. Anything.

2- In what category/genre do you write? Why?

I'm a dieselpunk author. This means that I write speculative stories set in what we call the diesel-era, which goes from the late 1910s to the very early 1950s.
My favourite decade, though, is the 1920s. All my stories are now set in the 1920s.
I say 'now' because I've always written fantasy stories that, for a long time, were classic, more or less epic, fantasy stories set in a world that resembled the European Middle Ages but with magic.
Yet I've always been into history (my favourite subject since when I was in elementary school), and so I soon started to prefer fantasy stories that were set in a more historical environment rather than total invention.
How did I come to write historical fantasy set in the 1920s?
In addition to my love of history, I got into mythology very early on. First, Roman and Greek mythologies, and then different mythologies across the world.
Also, I was imprinted by 1930s black-and-white mystery movies, so to speak. It was entirely my grandma's fault. When I was a kid in the 1970s, it was still very common to see these old movies on tv. My grandma was very much into them. I ended up watching them with her, and soon, I started to love them too. I blame this for my love of the era and for Art Deco!
It was probably all fated to come together in the end.

3- What part of one of your stories was the most fun to write? The most challenging? (And which book/s are those in?)

I love writing crowded scenes with many people taking action simultaneously. It's like choreographing a dance. I love it.
My favourite part that I wrote in a story that was fun but also challenging is in a book that, unfortunately, isn't published yet. It's a fight scene set in a speakeasy where some 10 characters are involved, of which 8 are major characters, and 2 are POV characters.
To me, these kinds of scenes are fun to write because I want to know what everyone is doing and try to keep track of it for the reader. It usually results in interesting timeline manipulation and character introspection. It's like a puzzle where everything has to click into place. I enjoy that.

4- Would you please, in 160 characters (not words) or less, give a #WriteTip ?

Don't fall in love with your first draft. Hopefully, nothing will remain of it in the final work! Have fun writing it and explore freely. The messier, the better!

5- What got you interested in the 1920s time period? How do you do research for this period?

Oops! I think I've already answered the first question.
As for how how research that time: mostly on books and primary sources.
I may do swift research online to get a feeling for what I'm researching - be that the Weimar Kabaret or the Chicago mob. But once I get a feel for it, I start looking for books on the subject.
The web is really good for finding quick pieces of information that show a direction, but f we keep at it, we'll keep coming up with the same information over and over again. This is because search engines will only show us what we're looking for and because nobody gives away detailed information on anything for free.
A book, however, is a different beast. It will give you comprehensive information on a subject, even (and this is very important) about things you never thought of. And because they are structured in a way to give you a global understanding of the subject, not a quick answer to a question.
Once this passage is done, we can go back to the internet and search for very, very specific pieces of information that we have learned about in the books. And sometimes, we're lucky enough to find something.
I'm also lucky enough to study a time when different media already existed. You can't imagine how many silent movies I watched! But also I read novels written in the 1920s, and I love magazines from the era.
It's a slow process, but I think that it builds a stronger awareness of the subject.

6- What do you love and hate most about being a published author?

Sharing my stories is definitely what I love the most. Seeing how readers care for my characters the same way I do.
But I'm a self-published author, which means that everything is on me, including promotion. I don't hate promotion. I think it can be fun. But it's its own job. And keeping track of all the changes in the field (both on the different platforms and the best practices), which sometimes feels like happening daily, is something I'd very gladly leave to someone else.

7- Do you publish traditional, self, hybrid, other? Why?

As I've mentioned, I've self-published so far because that's the most autonomous way to go.
Would I like to try something else? Yes!
I'd like to be published traditionally, of course, but to be honest, I love even more the idea of being a hybrid author. There are projects that are better suited to be self-published and others that are better suited for a more traditional publication. I'd love to be able to choose what route to go for every single project.
Not there yet. But I hope that one day...

8- You mentioned that you don't hate promotion when lots of authors do. How's that?

Because I can choose to take promotion as another story. I can choose to promote my book with integrity without feeling salesy and sleazy. Some people - even some authors - do act salesy and sleazy, but that's snot the only way to go.
When we take promotion as a story, and we tell that story as we do all our others, it becomes a lot more comfortable and even fun!

9- Would you please ask our audience an intriguing question to answer in the comments?

I believe stories I the power of healing. Have you ever read a story that, in some way, healed you?

10- If they have a specific story, they want to promote a question regarding that. Ex. Which book would you suggest readers start with?

I'd suggest Sea Phantom, which is a short story set in 1921 Milan.
All my 1920s stories are set in the same universe, so Sea Phantom, though short, has the magic, the themes and the kind of characters that you'll find in all my stories. And what's best, you can download it free here - https://sarahzama.theoldshelter.com/a-short-story-set-in-the-1920s/
This is also a story very close to my heart because, a the moment, it's the only one set in my own country, Italy. I actually initially thought about setting it in my own town, Verona, but then I thought a more international setting, like Milan, would have served the story better. Still, you never know. One day...


Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
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#AtoZChallenge Y is for Allyson Lindt #giveaway

Established Author Name: Allyson Lindt

1- You are incredibly prolific as an author with five or six new releases per year at least.  How do you do it?

I’ve been trying to think of a good answer to this question since I read it. I feel like a lot of people will be looking for a tip, or a hint, or a “do this, and you can write six or more books a year too.”

I don’t have an answer like that. If you’re familiar with Clifton Strengths, I’m a #1 Adaptability and a #2 Ideation… Basically, any joke you’ve ever heard about getting distracted and chasing idea squirrels? That’s me. I have the ideas. I chase the squirrels. I don’t like to let them go… Until I’ve discovered their story and then it’s time to move on.

(I also figured out what time of day I write best, and I make sure I give myself that time as often as possible. And I have cats, not human children. And I have a work from home day job with a lot of flexibility. And…)

2- In what category/genre do you write? Why? 

I write high heat contemporary and paranormal polyamorous romance (menage/RH). The contemporary romance stories let me tell light, sweet-hot stories, which makes my heart happy. The paranormal romance lets me tell angsty, high action stories, which makes my imagination happy. And they tend to have more than 2 people involved with each other because I love exploring the depth and complexities of more than two people falling in love.

3- What part of one of your stories was the most fun to write? The most challenging? (And which book/s are those in?)

I’m moving up on my 10 year publishing anniversary and I was thinking about this very thing. That’s a tough call, because when I’m in a book, it’s almost always my favorite at the time, except when I hit the parts where I swear it’s never been harder to write…

Funnest was probably Roll Against Trust. It was the first threesome I ever wrote. I wanted to write erotic romance and just spill out what was in my head, and I did. No restrictions. No expectations. Just fun. The opening scene, where the three friends are playing D&D that turns sexy, was so much fun to write.

Most challenging… In my book Valkyrie Reborn, there’s a flashback scene where the main character is dealing with depression, and it gets serious (trying to not be triggering, but it does get dark and descriptive). I reached deep emotionally for that scene. I still have readers tell me that one scene gives them chills.

4- Would you please, in 160 characters or less, give a #WriteTip ?

Finish the book. Nothing else happens if you don’t finish the book. 

5- What interests do you have outside of writing?

Reading (duh ;). Discovering feel-good TV shows and binge-watching again and again. Sewing. I used to make cosplays professionally. And my most recent hobby is resin casting.  

6- What do you love and hate most about being a published author?

I love that I get to keep telling stories, and that people are reading them. Relating to them. Opposite side of that coin, it’s impossible to ignore that there’s an expectation from what I write. I still write mostly what I want, but there’s always a whisper of “there are guidelines you know…” Though I don’t hate that so much as it makes me a little sad. 

7- Do you publish traditional, self, hybrid, other? Why?

I started off traditionally published, but I moved to self-published pretty quickly, and now I’m completely self-published. I didn’t think I would be one of those authors who needed control over the project from start to finish, but I am. I want to be the one to pick my editor, my cover designer, my artwork, my release schedule, my sales schedule, my writing schedule… I want to be the person in charge of that. 

8- What question are you dying to answer? 

Q: What’s the strangest and/or the most unique job you’ve ever had?

A: I sold vacuum cleaners door to door. I went on one sales call, and sold 1 vacuum, and quit while I was ahead.

9- Would you please ask our audience an intriguing question to answer in the comments?

I want to ask the same question I answered—what’s the most unique and/or strange job you’ve ever had?

10- Which of your books would you suggest readers start with?  Or since I know you always have something new coming out, what should readers look out for?  Or both...

If you’re looking for a  great introduction to my contemporary menage, you should check out Seduction Games. It’s fun, it’s geeky, it’s a quick read, and it’s free on retailers.

As for my paranormal… Some author friends and I got together and each of us wrote a book in my Legacy world. New Valkyries are being created, and each of us wrote a book around these new, fierce warriors. My book, Valkyrie Destined, is the first book in the multi-author series, and it’s a great introduction to my fantasy writing, and the world I’ve created.

Allyson has a copy of Seduction Games to give away (open internationally).  Just answer her question about the most unique job you've ever had to go into the draw.

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
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#AtoZChallenge X is for Sherry Ellis' setting in Xi'an #giveaway

Established Author Name: Sherry Ellis

1- What inspired you to use Xi'an, China for a book setting, and what do you love most about that place?

You’ve probably heard the expression, “You can’t dig a hole to China.” In my book, Bubba and Squirt’s Big Dig to China I wanted to challenge this notion and imagine what would happen if you could. Xi’an, China is the home of the Terracotta Warriors, the army the first Emperor of China built to protect his tomb. Imagine being a kid, digging a hole, and ending up where life-like stone warriors are all lined up with their weapons. Wow! Plus, I think the history associated with Xi’an is fascinating.

2- In what category/genre do you write? Why?

I write children’s books. Mostly because I love sharing stories with them. Having kids sit on your lap or gather around while you share a picture book or chapter book is the best. And if it’s a story you wrote, that’s icing on the cake. The Bubba and Squirt books I’ve written have an educational side to them, too, which appeals to the teacher in me. Bottom line is I love working with kids.

3- What part of one of your stories was the most fun to write? The most challenging?

I had a blast coming up with all the crazy things the elephant does in my book, Don’t Feed the Elephant. He makes cotton candy wigs, hurls hamburgers like frisbees, and jumps rope with spaghetti noodles. Can you imagine such a crazy pachyderm? The most difficult was creating the rhymes for my book, Ten Zany Birds. Rhyming properly isn’t easy!

4- Would you please, in 160 characters or less, give a #WriteTip ?

Read your manuscript out loud. This lets you see if you have good rhythm and flow.

5- Great Poetry Reading Day is observed on April 28, 2023. What is a great poem to share with children?

"Life Doesn't Frighten Me" by Maya Angelou. It’s a great poem to help kids be brave if something scary comes along.



6- What do you love and hate most about being a published author?

I love when people who read my books say that they enjoy them. Hate is a strong word, so I’ll say I don’t like that it’s so challenging to sell a significant number of books. It’s a lot of work for little pay (for most of us). I guess the reason we do it is because we love to write stories.

7- Do you publish traditional, self, hybrid, other? Why?

Hybrid. There are benefits to both. Traditional publishing means you have a publisher paying the cost of producing the book and handling some of the marketing. The trade-off is that you don’t get as much in royalties. Self-publishing gives you more control and more cash per book sold. Since it’s harder to market by yourself, I lean more toward traditional publishing whenever possible.

8- What question are you dying to answer?

How long did it take you to write Bubba and Squirt’s Big Dig to China?
Ten years!

9- Would you please ask our audience an intriguing question to answer in the comments?

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?

10- What's coming up for Bubba and Squirt?

Later this year, a new Bubba and Squirt story will be released: Bubba and Squirt’s City of Bones. This one will be set in Paris, France. If you want to start at the beginning of the series, read Bubba and Squirt’s Big Dig to China.

GIVEAWAY

Sherry will give a copy of the anthology, Voyagers, in which a short Bubba and Squirt story is published. It also features many other Dancing Lemur Press authors, and will mail it anywhere.
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Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
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#AtoZChallenge - W is for K.M. Weiland

K.M. Weiland

K.M. Weiland lives in make-believe worlds, talks to imaginary friends, and survives primarily on chocolate truffles and espresso. She is the award-winning and internationally-published author of Outlining Your Novel, Structuring Your Novel, Creating Character Arcs, and Writing Your Story’s Theme. She writes historical and speculative fiction and mentors authors on her award-winning website Helping Writers Become Authors.

1- What made you decide you wanted to be an author?

I have told myself stories for as long as I can remember. At a certain point, when I was about twelve, I decided one of the stories I’d come up with was so great I wanted to write it down to make sure I would never forget it. At that point, I discovered I enjoyed the act of writing as much as I did the act of storytelling.

2- In what category/genre do you write? Why?

I write both historical and fantasy stories—and many mashups in between. My last story was a gaslamp fantasy, about a superhero in 1820 London.

3- What part of one of your stories was the most fun to write? The most challenging? (And which book/s are those in?)

Dialogue is always my favorite. If both characters have the snark going on, that’s always super fun. There was a lot of that in my gaslamp book Wayfarer. The main character sorted of adpted a nine-year-old little girl pickpocket who never let him get away with anything. She was always a blast to write.

For me, antagonists have always been challenging. I get bored if the protagonist isn’t onscreen—so usually I try to avoid antagonist POVs.

4- Would you please, in 160 characters or less, give a #WriteTip ?

When including a plot twist, make sure its development is so entertaining readers will want to read it again, with even MORE enthusiasm, AFTER they know the twist.

5- Do you work on more than one book at a time? Why or why not?

Short answer is no. I will occasionally write and edit two different books simultaneously. I will also sometimes write a fiction book and a non-fiction book at the same time. But I have my hands plenty full with just one novel at a time.

6- What do you love and hate most about being a published author?

I think the best is feeling like what you’re sharing matters to other people—that you’re offering something that is impacting their lives for the better, even if it’s just distracting them from a crummy day.

Hardest part is definitely negative reviews. I don’t read them anymore if I can help it.

7- Do you publish traditional, self, hybrid, other? Why?

I have one traditionally published book, from many moons ago, and all of my international translations have been traditionally published, if you want to count them. But primarily, I am an independent publisher.

8- What question are you dying to answer for our blog (about your writing, life, or even a fun fact)? What's the question and then answer.

Haha. Honestly, that question just makes me want to smile mysteriously. :p

9- Would you please ask our audience an intriguing question to answer in the comments?

How do you think your earliest memory might symbolize the themes of your life so far?

10- For our blog readers who haven't read anything by you, which of your books would you suggest they start with?

If you’re interested in writing advice, I recommend my book Creating Character Arcs. (If you’re going to read them all, then I’d say start with Outlining Your Novel and read the rest in the order they were published, since they lead one into the other. But if you’re only going to read one, Creating Character Arcs is the most comprehensive.)

If you’re interested in fiction, I recommend my most recent book Wayfarer, which is a jolly good romp through the Dickensian underbelly of a slightly fantastical Georgian London.

K.M.Weiland is raffling off a $20 Amazon gift card for one lucky Operation Awesome blog reader.  To enter:

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Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
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#AtoZChallenge - V is for Kari Veenstra #giveaway

Kari Veenstra 

Kari grew up climbing trees and shooting arrows in the remote jungles of Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific. After graduating high school, she stuffed her belongings into one small suitcase and traveled to America for college where she developed her passion for writing. A journalism internship in Washington, D.C. led to a successful copywriting career until Kari switched to writing fiction so she could spend more time with her kids. Her debut novel The Rescuer was published Feb, 2020.

1- What made you decide you wanted to be an author?

I started writing stories as a teenager when I ran out of books of my own to read in the jungles of Papua New Guinea. I decided I wanted to be an author when I realized the stories that I write fill a current gap in the industry--young YA with male protagonists, high stakes action, and zero-to-limited romance.

2- In what category/genre do you write? Why?

I write Young Adult science fiction and fantasy. Much of my writing also has a dystopian bend. I'm drawn to the genre because of the high degree of creativity afforded. I love creating exciting new worlds with a variety of world-specific challenges, then filling them with universal problems and truths.

3- What part of one of your stories was the most fun to write? The most challenging? (And which book/s are those in?)

One of the funnest scenes to write in The Rescuer (YA SF) was an action scene featuring a hair-raising intrusion into a flight academy through a high-tech mechanical obstacle course. Visualizing this scene and describing all the moving pieces took a lot of work, but I really enjoyed exploring this element of the world. One of the most challenging scenes to write (also featured in The Rescuer) was a heart-felt moment where my main character, Prok Zandin, is forced to confront the ghosts of his past and the grief he still carries over the death of his mother for which he feels responsible.

4- Would you please, in 160 characters or less, give a #WriteTip ?

I used to keep my writing close to my chest, afraid to share it with anyone, afraid it was terrible. Only when I got brave enough to show it to others, did I start going places. #WriteTip - Be bold.

5- Do you work on more than one book at a time? Why or why not?

I get ideas for more than one book at a time, but I file them away because I can only draft one story at a time. I like to think that I pour my heart and soul into that given story, making it hard to divide my creativity and concentration between multiple pieces.

6- What do you love and hate most about being a published author?

I love the fact that I AM a published author. It's such a feeling of pride and accomplishment to have created something from start to finish that a publisher acquired and put out for readers. Having readers read and love my work is a joy like no other. The thing I hate the most about being a published author is fans asking when my next book is coming out, haha! I am SO grateful for their support, but the guilt can get overwhelming when my answer is consistently "I'm not sure, but hopefully soon." It's a lot of pressure.

7- Do you publish traditional, self, hybrid, other? Why?

My debut novel was published traditionally by a small press in 2020. Even though that publisher is no longer operating and I own all the rights to my books, I would still love to be published traditionally. One of my dreams is to get an agent and a publishing deal at a stable house. There's nothing wrong with the other options, but this is the path that personally appeals to me. I see it as a bit of a challenge to write something that gets the attention of the "gatekeepers."

8- What question are you dying to answer?

* Question: Who is your favorite character in your novels?

* Answer: Isn't that like asking a parent to pick a favorite child? If I am forced to choose, I would have to say that Mavrick Denly, the arrogant, pretentious bully heavily featured in the Krador Kronicles would be my favorite. I like how he's morally gray, yet still operates under some sort of *code* that only he understands. He's brutal and mean, but somehow still ends up fighting for the right side of things. He has some deep secrets and I can't wait to write more of his story and reveal them to my readers.

9- Would you please ask our audience an intriguing question to answer in the comments?

What book have you read recently (or not-so recently) that really stuck with you by challenging or changing your worldview?

10- For our blog readers who haven't read anything by you, which of your books would you suggest they start with?

I currently have one novel, The Rescuer - Book 1 of the Krador Kronicles. It features a plucky underdog in a dystopian underwater world who risks his one shot at a better future to find and rescue a missing friend. It's not available for sale through traditional methods, but readers who are interested in it can purchase it via Paypal on my website, or message me for a signed author copy. The Rescuer – Story with Kari Veenstra

Kari would love to do a giveaway - A signed copy of her debut novel The Rescuer! Winner's choice of paperback or hardcover.

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Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
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#AtoZChallenge U is for Juliana Brandt

Established Author Name: Juliana Brandt

1- I know you had a long journey to publication.  What kept you going on that journey?

The road to publication was very long for me! I wrote ten books before my first one, The Wolf of Cape Fen, was published. That journey very tiring and stressful, but through it all, I always loved writing. I was always very compelled to write books and to learn more about storytelling as an art. I also made incredible friends and built a solid community. It was very helpful to be surrounded by people who loved the same thing I did! 

2- In what category/genre do you write? Why?

I write Middle Grade fantasy stories! There's something spectacular's whimsical and magical about writing for middle grade readers. They're much more clever than some people give them credit for which means authors are able to write complex stories for them. They also still believe in magic in a way adults don't. This allows writers to create worlds and universe they might not be able to for another age category.

3- What part of one of your stories was the most fun to write? The most challenging? (And which book/s are those in?)

Oh gosh, each of my books were a lot of fun to write. The Wolf of Cape Fen has a lot of fairytale vibes though that I adored including. My third book, Monsters in the Mist, has more serious themes than my other stories. I discuss in that book the ways people love us - from people who love us kindly to people who 'love' us cruelly. Those themes were very important to me to include, but I had to be very careful while including them.

4- Would you please, in 160 characters or less, give a #WriteTip ?

Make mistakes and take risks in your writing. The exploration process is very important to finding the heart of your story. Writing the wrong thing is just as important as writing the right thing! 

5- What interests do you have outside of writing?

Anything outdoors. I find a lot of inspiration in being in the outside world. Most days can find me taking a walk outside. Summers are spent hiking while winters are spent snowshoeing. I also thoroughly enjoy playing the piano.

6- What do you love and hate most about being a published author?

I hate that I never seem to have enough time to write! But I love that I'm able to talk about my writing more freely with people. Before being published, I did a terrible job of talking honestly about my writing--it was so hard for me to talk about it! Now though, I'm able to discuss my stories more comfortably with people.

7- Do you publish traditional, self, hybrid, other? Why?

I'm traditionally published. All routes of publishing are wonderful, and I'm so glad society is much more accepting of the varities of publishing and the places we can find books. It means that a wider array of books are accessible to people. I personally went with traditional publishing, because my day job as a teacher means I don't have the time to dedicate to all of the work that goes in hand with self-published books! I hope to explore this option more in the future though.

8- What question are you dying to answer?

"Why do you enjoy writing books that include magic?" 

I've always gravitated toward writing books that include magic because it allows a very unique avenue to explore the themes of a book. I often find that magic systems are a wonderful way authors can zoom in on a theme in a story, especially on the way a theme will impact the characters of the world they've created.

9- Would you please ask our audience an intriguing question to answer in the comments?

Do you prefer reading standalone books or series? If you have a favorite, please include the recommendation!

10- Which of your books would you recommend readers start with?

Each of my books are standalone. If you're interested in fairytale vibes, start with The Wolf of Cape Fen. If you're on the hunt for spookiness and thrilling adventure, turn to Monsters in the Mist. If you're looking for a magical family story set in the mountains, go grab A Wilder Magic!

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
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#AtoZChallenge T is for Denise Covey of Silver Tree

Denise Covey is a writer from Down Under, who writes under the pen name, Silver Tree, for her paranormal stories and her own name for her contemporary stories.

Denise Covey is offering FREE BOOKS for 5 days: 24 April - 28 April. 

1.     Where do you get ideas for your stories?

Sometimes a random ‘what if?’ rolls around my head demanding an answer, sometimes a newspaper article, television show or a book spikes an idea, sometimes conversations …

2.  In what category/genre do you write? Why?  

I write primarily in two genres but in several forms - novels, novellas, short stories, flash fiction. One is paranormal in the form of vampire stories. Why? Because they force me out of my comfort zone and allow me to ‘what if?’ the hell out of the idea of supernatural creatures inhabiting our world. It can’t just be us, right?

My second genre is women’s fiction, sub-genre, romance, about strong transformational women who grow during the story. I set these stories in Paris because this city encapsulates all that I love for an inspirational setting (my settings are a character in their own right.

 

3. What part of one of your stories was the most fun to write? The most challenging? (And which book/s are those in?) 

Paris Dreams, my contemporary women’s fiction set in Paris was the most fun to write as I visited and lived in Paris several times to study locations and imagined living in a tiny attic in one of those Montmartre high-rises. Written during Covid, it was wonderful to travel vicariously.

Most challenging? My Renaissance vampire series. I don’t like to see my characters suffer, but suffer they must. Sorry guys.

 

4. Would you please, in 160 characters (not words) or less, give a #WriteTip ?

Let your imagination soar. Write what you what to know.

5. Do you work on one project at a time or do you work on multiple projects? Do you write and edit at the same time? 

I have several projects on the go at any point in time. Like my reading – I flit from one book to another. It’s always a relief when one book reaches the beta reader stage, so I can concentrate on one less WIP for awhile. Re-editing, I often re-read and edit the previous day’s chapter before beginning to write on any given day.

 

 6. What do you love and hate most about being a published author?

 The endless promotion. Sadly, as an indie published author, it’s hard to sell books if you’re not always in promo mode. My Amazon ads need updating constantly. When an ad doesn’t work, it’s time to think about new covers/new blurbs. But I LOVE the creative process. When I make mistakes, it's on me, no one else. There's always a fix available.

 

7. Do you publish traditional, self, hybrid, other? Why?

I’m self-published and proud of it. Paris Dreams had traditional publisher interest, but the timeline was so slow and personal appearances were involved. No thanks. These days, it seems even if traditionally published, you do promo work yourself, and that is where the real work lies.

 8. What question are you dying to answer (about your writing, life, or even a fun fact)? What's the question and then answer.

Can you write if you’re unhappy? Ha ha. I can’t, so I keep arguments with my hubby to a minimum.

 

9-     9. Would you please ask our audience an intriguing question to answer in the comments?

 What’s your favorite book of all time and why? If it’s made into a movie, which do you prefer?

10  10. Which of your books would you suggest readers start with?

If readers like contemporary women's fiction stories with a romantic element, start with Paris Dreams. (It is the beginning of a It Happened in Paris series). I’m making it FREE for 5 days starting today so do grab it! The second, based in a cookery school in Paris, is out when edits are complete.

CLICK HERE TO BUY FROM AMAZON US

 If readers like a juicy vampire story, with a dash of Renaissance history, I’d suggest they get their teeth into the first of my Vipunin series. Before I publish Book 3 (Master of the Pack) and the Prequel (Touched by a Vampire) I am organizing new covers, new blurbs which will not be done before this interview. I’m making Book 1 FREE for 5 days starting today so be quick to grab it! 

 

CLICK HERE TO GET BETRAYED FREE AMAZON US

 

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#AtoZChallenge - S is for Victoria Strauss #giveaway

 

Victoria Strauss

 

Victoria Strauss is the author of nine novels for adults and young adults, including the Way of Arata fantasy duology (The Burning Land and The Awakened City) and Passion Blue and Color Song, a pair of historical novels for teens. In addition, she has written a handful of short stories, hundreds of book reviews, and a number of articles on writing and publishing that have appeared in Writer’s Digest, among others. She’s co-founder, with Ann Crispin, of Writer Beware, a publishing industry watchdog group that provides information and warnings about the many scams and schemes that threaten writers. She received the Service to SFWA Award in 2009 for her work with Writer Beware.

1- What made you decide you wanted to be an author?

I enjoyed writing stories when I was young (and illustrating them too, with really embarrassing results), but it never occurred to me to think of writing as more than a hobby. I didn't discover my writing vocation until I was 17, and started writing a novel more or less on impulse (I wanted an excuse to take a gap year between high school and college). I never expected to finish it--but I did, and by the time I was done I knew that writing was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

I sent out a lot of queries (to publishers--this was back when most publishers accepted submissions directly from writers, and agents weren’t as powerful as they are now), and got a lot of rejections. Eventually, my manuscript landed on the desk of an editor who was planning to start a literary agency. She offered to represent me, and after several years and a lot more rejections, sold it to a wonderful publisher.

2- In what category/genre do you write? Why?

Fantasy and history have always been my reading loves, and they're my writing loves as well. I enjoy the world building--which you must do in a historical novel as much as in a fantasy novel, because both genres are set in worlds you can't directly experience, and imagination is necessary to flesh them out and make them real. Research, too: I do as much research for my fantasy novels as I do for my historicals.

I write for both adults and teens. For YA, I love coming-of-age themes: discovering yourself, searching for your place in the world, falling in love for the first time. Those experiences are so urgent and immediate, and writing about them is just as intense. My adult fiction is more elaborate stylistically than my YA fiction; my adult books are also a lot longer, which allows me to build more complicated themes and multi-stranded plots. Other than that, there's really no difference in the way I plan and write my YA and adult books, or in the craft and involvement I bring to them.

3- What part of one of your stories was the most fun to write? The most challenging? (And which book/s are those in?)

Most fun: all the lore I collected about Renaissance painting techniques for my Passion Blue YA duology (Passion Blue and Color Song), including how to make blue pigment out of lapis lazuli and create charcoal for sketching by baking twigs in an oven. Also bringing Renaissance Venice to life in all its splendor, mystery, and squalor.

Most challenging: this is embarrassing, but one of the biggest challenges for me was writing my first sex scene. This was in The Arm of the Stone, Book 1 of my Stone duology, my first book for the adult market after three YAs. I didn't want to cop out with a "fade to black", but I also had no idea how much--or how little--to show. I did figure it out, but it took quite a few drafts! What helped was realizing that it wasn't so much about the physical details as it was about the characters' emotions and personalities. 

4- Would you please, in 160 characters or less, give a #WriteTip ?

Be an educated writer. Learn about the publishing/self-publishing industry before you start trying to get published. Trying to learn as you go is the best way to get trapped by scams or sidelined by bad advice.

5- Do you work on more than one book at a time? Why or why not?

I'm generally working on fiction and non-fiction simultaneously (I write a lot of blog posts for Writer Beware), but I can only work on one book at once. Writing a novel for me is like hacking my way through a jungle: I know where I am and where I'm going, but there's a lot of underbrush and the journey is all-consuming. I also edit as I write, because every scene builds on the one before it, and if there's to be a sequel, I can't usually see it until I'm nearly done with the first book. Which is why, unlike many fantasy writers, I've never written a trilogy.

6- What do you love and hate most about being a published author?

What I love: interacting with readers. Finding my books in libraries or bookstores and knowing they're being read.

What I hate: marketing and self-promotion. That is absolutely the toughest part for me. 

7- Do you publish traditional, self, hybrid, other? Why?

All my books have been traditionally published. I do prefer trad pub for new releases--I'm not an entrepreneurial person, and I value the partnership on editing and marketing, as well as the distribution that trad pub provides. For backlist books, I've re-sold rights to some of them, but increasingly, I think self-pub makes more sense because it gives you more control. I'm planning to self-pub my Stone duology, which has been out of print for a while.

8- What question are you dying to answer?

Q: Are you a planner or a pantser?

A: When I first started writing, I was a pantser—I never did any planning. I’d have a strong idea for the beginning and the ending and some vague notions of the middle, but apart from that it was all a blank canvas. I worked like that for three books, but I wrote myself into so many dead ends that I realized something had to change.

These days I write a detailed synopsis, covering the main story arc, themes, plot points, and characters. This ensures that I can get all the way from start to finish without getting lost in the middle. Then I put the synopsis away and don’t look at it again. Not slavishly referring to a plan gives me room for improvisation, for those “aha” moments that are the most exciting thing about writing (my finished books always differ, sometimes significantly, from my initial plans). But because I do have a plan, I don’t go too far off track, and where I do diverge, it’s productive rather than destructive.

9- Would you please ask our audience an intriguing question to answer in the comments?

What's the one book--not necessarily your favorite or the one you most disliked--that lives rent-free inside your head? (My answer: The Descent by Jeff Long. Horrifying and unforgettable.)

10- For our blog readers who haven't read anything by you, which of your books would you suggest they start with? 

If you like YA,  Passion Blue and its sequel, Color Song, are a good place to start. In Renaissance Italy, behind the high walls of a convent and in the shadowed streets and canals of Venice, an orphan girl struggles against the prejudices and restrictions of the time to follow her genius for painting.

#AtoZChallenge R is for Ronel Janse van Vuuren #Giveaway

Ronel Janse van Vuuren

 

 

Today on the blog we are talking to award-winning Dark Fantasy author Ronel Janse van Vuuren. Ronel writes about kick-ass heroines, the duality of being human and loves to use folklore to underscore her point.

She’s a Rottweiler pack leader, chicken wrangler and horse servant.

All of her books are available for purchase from major online retailers.

Sign up to be notified of new releases, giveaways and pre-release specials – plus get a free eBook – when you join her newsletter. 

https://mailchi.mp/020d96f05055/ronelthemythmakernewslettersignup

1- I love the title of your blog “Ronel the Mythmaker.” How do you define mythmaker?

Thank you, Brandy. For me, “mythmaker” means creating stories infused with folklore and the struggle of being human in the face of the fantastical. (Whether the heroine is human or not. LOL.) That’s what creates a lasting tale.

2- In what category/genre do you write? Why?

Dark Fantasy. I can explore human psychology in the safety of a book by putting people through horrible situations, sit back and watch it play out – without being sent to a place for the criminally insane. It’s loads of fun when done right. Besides, I can deal with my own monsters through writing… You can learn more about this genre here. https://www.ronelthemythmaker.com/the-art-of-writing-dark-fantasy-amwriting/

3- What part of one of your stories was the most fun to write? The most challenging? (And which book/s are those in?)

For the Irascible Immortals series, I had loads of fun researching old gods and goddesses and figuring out what would make them absolutely irascible right now. Personally, “Symphony of Destruction” was my favourite book to write as I just kept thinking what I could do to make things worse – and then, of course, I had to clean it all up in the following books!

The most challenging was researching and writing about acid attacks. It is one of those hot button issues I like to write about, and the main character in “Once and Future Queen” insisted that it be something she deals with (among other things).

4- Would you please, in 160 characters (not words) or less, give a #WriteTip ?

#YourHeroHasToBeWrong

5- Do you have a writing routine?

Not really. Sometimes I do my best work in the morning, at other times at night. I’m neurodivergent, have mental health issues and chronic illness, so it’s all about being kind to myself and not push myself to do something that I’m not capable of at that moment. The only rule is consistency: Write something every day.

6- What do you love and hate most about being a published author?

Before I got published, I was able to write whatever I wanted (hop around projects at a whim). Being published means finishing a series in a timely manner and ignoring those shiny projects waiting to be written. On the one hand, things get finished. On the other, there are petulant projects waiting for attention. Depending on my mood, I love and hate both in equal measure.

7- Do you publish traditional, self, hybrid, other? Why?

I’m an indie author. Which means that I’m self-published. Why? Because I like being in charge of my own destiny. I like being in charge of what I write and when I write it. And, yes, I clearly have control issues, so why let anyone else decide the cover, title or marketing for any of my books? I’ve heard enough horror stories from trad authors to know that giving up those rights can end in disaster.

8- What question are you dying to answer (about your writing, life, or even a fun fact)?
 

Fun Fact:

My magical menagerie includes two horses, twenty chickens, three dogs, a peacock, and whoever else wants to move in. Right now that includes rabbits, guinea fowl, sparlings, and hadedas. I’m open to a couple of pegasi moving in. And no, only the dogs sleep in my bed. LOL. You can see photos of them all on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/miladyronel/?hl=en

9- Would you please ask our audience an intriguing question to answer in the comments?

My podcast is all about folklore. What obscure folklore creature do you like and why?

Podcast: faeriesandfolklore.com

10- Which book would you suggest readers start with?

Readers seem to enjoy “Magic at Midnight” the most – reviews speak volumes. It has pegasi, court intrigue, and a bit of magic. (And J likes it, too. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2990988646)

 

 

Ronel is offering a giveaway for "Once and Future Queen" her newest book. Please use the Rafflecopter below to be entered for a chance to win the eBook!

 

You can find more from Ronel at the links below.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/miladyronel

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miladyronel/?hl=en

Website: ronelthemythmaker.com

Pinterest: https://za.pinterest.com/miladyronel/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17528826.Ronel_Janse_van_Vuuren

Podcast: faeriesandfolklore.com

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ronel-janse-van-vuuren

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks so much Ronel! It was great getting to know more about you and your work! I’m a bit of an arm chair psychologist myself and love the idea of exorcising personal demons through writing. I will definitely be checking out the podcast at faeriesandfolklore.com, and can’t wait to dive into Once and Future Queen. Such a gorgeous cover!

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge 2023
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