Author Interview~Jay Stritch (Author of The Eight Worlds Chronicles)

Author Bio: Jay Stritch is a student of English Literature at Cambridge University and a lover of all modes of storytelling. She has recently published her first novel, 'Seven Minutes' told in the format of memory collections which trace the interweaving, highly eventful lives of a very interesting family. In her free time she enjoys water sports, skiing and has been known to belt out show tunes when she thinks no one's listening.

Previous Books by Jay Stritch:

New YA Book by Jay Stritch:

Nineteen year old Achill has never left his training camp on Mars. With the revelation that his mother was exiled from the strict system after he was born he feels even more pressure to prove his loyalty and status as a fearless warrior who doesn't think before he kills. That is until he, who has never been taught of love or freedom, is sent on a secret mission for which he must travel through the other seven planets and fight for survival. As his journey unfolds he will discover unknown truths, potential love and face the strangeness of the lives and culture of those raised so differently to him.  He may even uncover the timeless mystery of the man of a thousand faces. As tensions rise and the stakes are higher than ever Achill must decide who he is actually fighting for as he tries to understand both conflicts between the planets and also within himself.

Links: Facebook ~ Amazon ~ Goodreads

~Interview~

1. What made you decide to become an author?

I owe so much to books, so many escapes, joys, loves and so much learning. I guess I felt I wanted to give a little back, to be the one taking someone on a journey for once rather than the one sitting back and being led.

2. Could we have you describe your book in your own words?

It is a fantasy adventure story about a group of worlds which are is disarray due to the poor decisions of the original Gods who founded them. From the broken societies on each world come a series of damaged, misinformed and slightly lost characters who embark on a perilous journey across the worlds searching for hope and along the way find out truths about their pasts, secrets about the worlds and unexpected love.

3. Your book has a very interesting title. How did you come up with it?

Well the crux of the story hangs on a myth that circulates these worlds called ‘The Man of a Thousand Faces,’ who was said to be the son of the Gods bound to roam the worlds forever. And the truth behind the myth is a key element of the story.

I’m also fascinated by the many different sides we present to the world, who the world makes us and how we respond to that, all topics which are brought into the story. So in a way the title also encapsulates the idea that no one is just one thing we have the capacity to change, be changed and pretend.

4. Do you base any of the events in your book on your own life experiences?

This is a tricky one and in many ways I disagree with the old saying write what you know. I’m far more inclined to write what I don’t know. It’s far more fun and you get to open up a second life running parallel to your own rather than recounting the events of your own life which you already know. But, yes, of course elements of my own experiences seep in and reality overlaps the fantasy because no matter how elaborate the alternate world you’re writing about people will always be people with their weaknesses, hopes and struggles and that is what is fun to read and write about and it has to be taken from real life.

5. If you could do it over again, would you change things about the book?

There are a lot of characters and I wanted to spend more time with each of them, although they all get their stories and their moments they are also part of a bigger story. So I guess I wanted more time just allowing them to be but the action means they’re too busy most of the time just to have casual conversations.

6. Can you give us a sneak peek of your next book?

O.k, here is a cheeky little extract from the sequel, ‘The Queen from a Thousand Places,’ which is still currently in the editing phase...lets just say Mars is gathering its army:

They tell me I will die here, in this cell. This was Ricon’s only thought most days now. If he didn’t succumb soon they would kill him, he was sure of that. The cell was pitch black, lit by a burning torch only when someone came in to beat him and yell obscenities. He had been isolated in the rocky dungeon for what must be four days now although it was hard to tell in the constant darkness.

He wasn’t responding to training well and he hadn’t answered the Wise Warriors with respect. He had been disgusted at the thought of taking another’s life and didn’t see any difference between the marked and unmarked. All these things made Ricon a failure on Mars and now he was in a cell slightly bigger than his body as were the other marked captives who weren’t responding well to training. There was a loud clattering noise from outside his cell and a scream and Ricon winced at the thought of what could be taking place beyond the rocks. Suddenly his cave was flooded with light and he wrinkled his eyes against the onslaught which now more painful than the darkness.

 “You, warrior of the Virgo mark and supporter of the cause,” said a deep booming voice before him, he still had his eyes squinted as he muttered back, “Ricon will do just fine, thanks.” He received a slash across the face for that and the force of it pinned him back against the stone wall, he gritted his teeth and opened his eyes. One of the leaders, very tall with no hair and a black tally of his kills across his head was looking down at him. Dangling from his left hand was a girl who he set down in front of Ricon. She stood very still, her eyes vacant and staring straight ahead, staring through him. The leader then tossed Ricon a spear which he managed to catch. “You will kill her now.” He said it flatly, an order but not an emotional one, more like a statement. Ricon stared at him, horror struck. “She is not of the mark,” the leader continued, “so she is not one of us, she is useless, dead already to the cause. We don’t need her.” The girl nodded in agreement, encouragement almost and Ricon felt sick. “It is a great and noble thing to die for your planet,” the girl said in a monotone and knelt before him, her head bowed muttering, “For the cause.” Ricon’s grip on the spear was loosening, his hand clammy against the metal making it slippery. “I can’t,” he said flatly, he looked up into the leaders eyes, “she’s one of yours anyway she’s born on Mars,” he said thinking he could talk his way out of this. The leader spoke coldly, “she is unmarked. You are one of ours, you are one of us but you need training, we will look after you if you do as we say,” he gritted his teeth, an attempt at a smile, “But if you don’t we will have to break you before we train you.” He pointed at the still girl expectantly. Ricon raised the spear and for a moment thought he would plunge it straight through leader’s heart, but he knew he’d never get out alive. He threw the spear to the ground instead, “you’ll have to break me then.”

7. What is the hardest part of writing for you?

I guess that because everything stems from the authors imagination the fantasy worlds feel vivid and clear and sometimes you have to go back and make sure that the reader will get that same experience. I have completely neglected to mention the surroundings before because they are just there in my head when I read it back and people have to remind me that the reader won’t see it unless I write it down!

8. Is there a character in your books that you relate to closely?

This is the weird thing about writing, although you may only realize it belatedly, all the characters will tell a truth about the author. The good the bad and the ugly manifest themselves on every page so is it cheating to say all of them?

Probably. So in this book I’d have to say that I relate to Nadine the most, I’m a tryer and a people pleaser and take others words to heart just like Nadine. However she is also unaware of her own strength and influence gradually growing throughout the book into the person she was meant to be. (I've still got my fingers crossed for the latter in my own life.)

9. How do you get through writer’s block?

Leave the house, step out in to the world and listen to people. There is so much variation and interest and twisted histories and ideas bound up in everyone it’s impossible to walk down the street and not be inspired by someone, something or a situation.

  

10. Is there anything you’d like to say to your readers?

Nothing is just black or white and enjoy the book!

Book Blitz~Spirit Warriors: The Scarring by D.E.L. Connor

The Scarring (Spirit Warriors #2)

by D.E.L. Connor

Genre: YA Fantasy

Publisher: Booktrope

Published: July 21, 2014

Length: 244 pages

Blurb:

“One of us would finally end what had been started by the machayiwiw so many years ago. I would have to kill him. It was just that simple. I never thought I would want to kill anybody or anything, but maybe I never had anything worth killing for before.”

-Emmeline Rima Belrose, The Scarring (Spirit Warriors, Book 2)

In the majestic beauty of a Montana summer, Emme and her friends celebrate her near-drowning survival and their defeat of the powerful evil spirit, the machayiwiw. But even as they rejoice, things are amiss. Emme watches helplessly as her family divides, and her friends struggle to hold their relationship together. Worse yet, the love-of-her life, Charlie, announces that he will move back to the reservation, without Emme. Different nightmares take over and Emme realizes she must fight and kill—or watch those she loves be killed. Friends from the reservation reach out to Emme and show her what evil can steal from her. Emme believes that evil can never break her bond with the Spirit Warriors or the love she shares with Charlie. Or can it?

Goodreads

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Although this is the second book in the Spirit Warriors series, it can be read as a stand alone novel.

Excerpt

Ron looked over at me. I stared back at him. "Do you understand what I have told you, child?" Ron asked me.

I nodded. "Charlie is a spirit mover."

Ron nodded. "Among other things."

Ron went on, “Charlie is having more and more speaking times with the warriors. There is a sense of urgency now that Charlie learns how to shift spirit warriors into human bodies. He has been practicing with Ryan and Hawke. He is making some progress, but it is taking a long time. Charlie is weakening with the increasing talking times. He does not know when they will come and he has been injured many times. Our people now make sure he is never alone. We cannot risk his injuring himself, or the machayiwiw finding him undefended. He has much to learn. You have much to learn. You must learn hand-to-hand combat. Hawke is our best warrior, both with a knife and a spear. He can cut the wings off a fly in flight with his knife. He will be training you.” Ron looked at me.

“NO, I don’t think so.” I told Ron. “First, Hawke doesn’t like me and I can’t see him training me.  Second, I’m not sure I could kill someone, even if it was the machayiwiw. In anger, I think I can, but I’m not sure.”

Ron looked at me. “What if that person was trying to kill Charlie, or your friends, or Eros your bird?”

I shook my head. “I just don’t think I can do this.”

Ron lowered his gaze. “If you don’t, you will die, along with Charlie, your friends, your animals, and your family. I will die, as will our people. He will finally destroy the one person who stands against him. The one person who has the power to destroy him. There will never be another you. Our people have waited many, many years for you. Golden Flower has waited many years for you.”

“I don’t want the responsibility!” I yelled at Ron as I stood up. “I might fail!” I jumped up and ran down the side of the creek. I ran as fast as I could and the sharp prairie grass cut my legs. I didn’t feel it. I felt angry and sad at the same time. “Why me? Why not someone else?” I thought to myself. I rounded a bend of the river and I ran right into Hawke. The force of our collision knocked us both to the ground. I lay on the ground with the wind knocked out of me. Hawke stood up and looked down at me.

I stood up and brushed off my shirt. Hawke stared at me. I looked at him and asked, “Why do you hate me?”

Hawke glared at me. “Charlie is my cousin and my best friend. You have brought him nothing but heartache and loss. I suspect you will do something stupid and Charlie will be killed because of you. I really don’t care anything about you and I’m sure as hell not sold on your ‘savior’ complex. I think you are full of shit and if something happens to Charlie, I will hunt you down and kill you myself.”

I was horrified. “I didn’t want this! I just want to be with Charlie. No matter what you think, I love him. I have always loved him and I will never stop loving him.” Hawke stands with his arms crossed. “We’ll see about that.” Hawke brushed past me and walked back up the creek towards Ron and Charlie.

I walked back to the jeep. I climbed in the back with Charlie and it was quiet as Ron drove us back to the cluster of buildings. When we pulled up, Irene came running up to the jeep. “Come on, Emme, we are getting ready to eat.” Irene grabbed my hand and pulled me in the building. Ollie and Jack were with Ryan. Jack motioned us over. Charlie brought me a plate of food. Irene squeezed her small body between Charlie and me.  Charlie looked down at her. “Hey, Squirt, why don’t you sit on the other side of Emme?”

Irene looked at me. “Are you in love with Charlie?”

I glanced at her small face as she slid her arm through my arm. “Yes,” I whispered to her. Irene wrinkled up her face.

“YUCK! Boys are messy and yucky and stinky! Even Charlie.” We all laughed as Charlie grabbed her and rolled her on the ground and tickled her until Irene begged for mercy.

After lunch, Charlie and I walked hand in hand down to the creek. We sat on the bank and stared at the water. I leaned over and put my head on Charlie’s shoulder. Charlie wrapped his arm around me and pulled me close to him. We sat there quietly. I looked across the creek and saw Hawke staring at us. He had his arms folded across his chest. I looked at Charlie. “Can’t we even be alone? Does he have to watch us?”

Charlie nodded. “He is just protecting me.”

“From me?” I say sarcastically. Charlie shook his head. “No, not from you.”

Hawke stared at me. I stood up and stared back at him. He reached in his waistband and pulled out his knife. I stared him down as he prepared to throw his knife in my direction. I was not scared of him. Something deep inside of me assured me that he would not kill me with his knife. I stood perfectly still as he pulled back his arm. In slow motion I saw the knife hurling through the air, handle over blade as Charlie screamed my name. I felt the knife come right by my head and I felt a sharp pain by my ear and the drip of blood on my neck. My face never changed as I stared back at Hawke. My friend, that red hot feeling that meant I could be something stronger than I was, overcame me and I felt myself soaring above the creek.

I heard Charlie calling my name. I looked around as I called out, determining where every living thing was around me. I felt the rattlesnake’s presence before I saw them. I singled them out and waved my hands. Within minutes they were hissing in a circle around Hawke. Hawke was trying to back away, but he was backing into another snake. Charlie was screaming at Hawke to stand still. Charlie was yelling at me. “Emme, NO, stop it! Hurting him would only hurt me. Do you really want to hurt me?” My attention wavered from the snakes and I focused on Charlie. Instantly I was back in my body and looking at Charlie.

Charlie had me by the arm. “Stay here, Em, I’ll be right back.” Charlie waded into the water and ran to Hawke. The snakes were gone. Hawke was sitting in the dirt by the bank with his head in his hands. Hawke was visibly shaking as Charlie helped him up. I stood up and glared at Hawke. They waded back across the bank.

Charlie walked up to me. “Hawke is here to protect me and by protecting me, he is protecting you. Hawke has the skills to help you, to teach you what you need.” Charlie looked over at Hawke. “Emme is not the enemy. Do you finally see what she is? Do you see the gifts she has? She is our people’s last hope. She belongs with us.”

Hawke nodded and walked over to me. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a piece of cloth. He reached up and wiped the blood off of my neck. “I’m sorry,” he told me.

I grabbed his hands and held them between mine. “Me too.” Hawke turned on his heel and walked back the path to the main building.

Charlie looked at me. “What the hell did you just do?”

I looked back at him. “I finally figured out that Golden Flower gifted me with the ability to talk to and control animals.” I smiled questioningly at Charlie.

Charlie didn’t smile back. “What else have you done?” I told Charlie about Ollie and the church and the birds. Charlie paced around me. “This is not good. The machayiwiw will notice a display like the one you did in town. You must not ever do it again in a public place where others can see you. Do you understand me?” I nodded with my head down. Charlie leaned forward and grabbed my face between his warm hands. “I have to admit that it was an awesome thing to do for Ollie, but we have to be more careful.”

I laid my hands over his by my face. I leaned into this chest as he slowly lowered us to the ground. We laid on the ground facing each other. I stared into his eyes lost in his world. Charlie stared back at me and as the beautiful empty world and the warm wind eavesdropped on us, we talked. I told him about Bets, and Mom and Ben, and how hurt Ollie was at the church. I told him about Jack and the preserve and Rose and the baby. We talked laying down and facing each other with our fingers intertwined until the sun started its slow climb to the edge of darkness. The sky was an incredible shade of deep purple with shades of violet blue. Even in the beauty of the sunset, I felt the desperation creep over me. I started to shake. I didn’t want to leave Charlie. I never wanted to leave Charlie. Charlie leaned closer. I could feel his breath on my cheek. He laid his gentle brown hands on my cheeks. I closed my eyes. “Let me take the pain away,” he whispered. We stood up.

Charlie closed his eyes and he chanted in a low voice. I listened to his voice. I closed my eyes and leaned into Charlie. I laid my head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat. I felt the desperation leave me and I was filled with a sense of peace and serenity. My breathing slowed, and my mind was filled with the beautiful times that Charlie and I had shared. We were like one in my mind, our thoughts joined and our spirits connected. It was the most incredible intense feeling. It was what I imagined making love would be like. I felt dizzy and my body felt it was on fire from the inside out. My legs gave way and I dropped to my knees. Charlie grabbed me and slowly lowered me down to the ground. “What did you do?” I asked Charlie. He stared back at me. “I showed you our love. I showed you what is worth fighting and dying for.”

As Charlie stood up, he staggered. I reached out and held his arm. “Are you okay?” Charlie put his hand over mine that rested on his arm. “Just tired. You wear me out.” He grinned broadly as I swatted his arm. “Poor me,” I told him. We held hands as we headed back to the main buildings. 

Ollie and Jack were standing outside of the meeting room talking to Ryan and Hawke. Ryan looked up as we approached. “Hey, Em, can you come back next week? I want to run in the hills with you, and Hawke needs to start working with you on knife and lance throwing.” “Sure thing,” I told him. Hawke looked at Charlie and then at me. Charlie was leaning on the car while he talked to Jack. Charlie’s face was pale. Hawke walked the short distance to me and whispered in my ear. “Every time Charlie carries your pain, he gets weaker. Every time you feel better in Charlie’s presence, he pays the price for it. Is that what you want for him?” I shook my head “No.” I looked at my feet as Hawke said, “Don’t come back here. Walk away. His burden is too big to carry.” I shook my head. “I’m sorry I can’t do that. I just can’t. I love him too much.” Hawke shook his head and walked away.

We all walked to the car. I held Charlie’s hand as long as I could. I climbed in the back seat and Jack and Ollie sat down in the Mustang. As we drove off, I turned around and stared back at Charlie. He stood there watching us drive off.

An Interview with Author D.E.L. Connor

What was your favorite book growing up?

When I was old enough to read it was the Little House on the Prairie series. I must have read and reread each of them a hundred times. I honestly thought I was Laura Ingalls Wilder. Most girls my age were into dolls and while I liked dolls and playing house, my version of playing house always had a log house and a covered wagon. They are still my favorite books to read to children. Can't you just picture yourself on a hot summer day bouncing along in the back of the covered wagon?

Who is your favorite author (living or dead)?

I have more than one. Obviously I love Laura Ingalls Wilder, but I am also a huge fan of Larry McMurray. I grew up admiring strong women writers like Margaret Mitchell and Harper Lee and more recently J.K. Rowling and Stephenie Meyers.

What inspired you to write the Spirit Warriors series?

Actually is has been a long time coming. I wrote the short story that the Spirt Warriors evolved from in college may years ago. The professor asked me to stay after class and he told me how good it was, but unfortunately, it was too dark to be a children's story. I put it away and went on with my career as a nurse. Finally J.K Rowling and Stephenie Meyers came out with new dark tales and the young adult market was born. The time was finally right! I finished Book 1 in two weeks. The struggle to get it published took more time, but here I am with two books in the story completed.

What character do you most identify with in Spirit Warriors: The Scarring?

Probably Lilly, I tend to be kind to a fault, and love my friends and family unconditionally. I think as a child I wished I could have been more like Bets and Emme. They are headstrong, brave and willing to fight for anything or anyone they cared about. I was shy when I was young, although no one believes that today! LOL

Can you tell us about your next project?

Why of course. I am about half way through book 3 in the series The Burning. There will be 6 books total in the series. Book 4 will be The Lamenting, Book 5 The Ensouling and then a Prequel to be named later. In between those books or after them I'm not sure which, I plan to write a new adult romance novel about loss and finding the chance to love again.

The Concealing (Spirit Warriors #1)

by D.E.L. Connor

Release Date: November 24, 2013

Length: 191 pages

Publisher: Booktrope

 

Blurb: Sixteen-year-old Emme Belrose has it all: four best friends, a horse of her own, a hidden tepee hangout, and a blossoming romance with tall and handsome Charlie. These friends also have a secret. They can move their spirits into animal bodies: an osprey, a mustang, a grizzly, a mountain lion and a coyote.   But when Charlie, who has a gift for seeing the future, has a vision of Emme drowning in the icy Yellowstone River, the Spirit Warriors must train their animal bodies to kill an enemy they know is coming… but know nothing about. Suspenseful, romantic, and awash in Native American magic, Spirit Warriors captures the tragic enchantment of the American West—and confirms the power of friendship.

Goodreads

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Della was born in South Dakota and raised in the vastness and beauty of Montana on a farm. When she longed for the big city life, she moved to Texas where she attended college and received a PhD in nursing. When not nursing people back to health you can find Della huddled over her Mac writing the stories that have occupied her mind for so many years, or traveling with her best friends, the NOLA’s, riding bikes across the Golden Gate bridge or exploring botanical gardens. She is the proud mother of a champion triathlete, two aging dogs and 1 grand-cat. Della has admittedly confessed to her coffee addiction and swears that her two hour coffee crawl while on vacation in Seattle –was the best two hours of her life!

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Author Interview~Sarah Daltry (Author of Primordial Dust)

~INTERVIEW~

1. What made you decide to become an author?

I don't feel like it was a decision. It was more like I was always making up stories and it just made sense to write them down. I still have a love/hate relationship with all things "author," because it feels sort of obnoxious to want people to read my work. 

2. Is there a message in your book that you want your readers to grasp?

All of my books tend to deal with the idea of normalcy and accepting yourself for who you are. 

3. How did you come up with your title?

Actually I was in the Smithsonian last summer. I had been working on this for ages but had no titles I liked. I saw a science exhibit on space and primordial dust - and I loved the phrase. It's not about space, but the words just sounded fun coming off my tongue. 

4. Do you base any of the events in your book on your own life experiences?

In this one, no. It's definitely all made up.

5. What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Publishing. I don't know how to market myself. I just want to tell stories and talk to people about books. I'm not interested in playing games. Don't get me wrong - I will TALK to anyone about anything. I'm not standoffish. However, there are lots of little groups and you have to pick and choose and it's really all just stupid. I feel like I'm in high school again. I simply want to write books and talk to other people who like, write, or read books. 

6. Is there anything you’d like to say to your readers?

Thank you! I love when people read my work. It's such an honor and it will never get old. 

7. Any other advice you would give to other writers?

Write for yourself and for the right reasons. I've noticed a lot of authors swap genres, but some do because they love stories of all kinds and others seem to follow trends. I feel like the latter tend to show in their work. If you suddenly won a million dollars and you would stop writing or stop writing what you're writing and write something else, you are doing it for the wrong reasons. My integrity means a lot to me. My books and words and characters mean too much to sell them out for what's "hip."

~AUTHOR BIO~

Sarah Daltry writes about the regular people who populate our lives. She's written works in various genres - romance, erotica, fantasy, horror. Genre isn't as important as telling a story about people and how their lives unfold. Sarah tends to focus on YA/NA characters but she's been known to shake it up. Most of her stories are about relationships - romantic, familial, friendly - because love and empathy are the foundation of life. It doesn't matter if the story is set in contemporary NY, historical Britain, or a fantasy world in the future - human beings are most interesting in the ways they interact with others. This is the principle behind all of Sarah's stories.

Sarah has spent most of her life in school, from her BA and MA in English and writing to teaching both at the high school and college level. She also loves studying art history and really anything because learning is fun. 

When Sarah isn't writing, she tends to waste a lot of time checking the internet for pictures of cats, shooting virtual zombies, and simply staring out the window.

She has written several books, most notably Bitter Fruits, an urban fantasy in the Eden’s Fall series, Backward Compatible: A Geek Love Story, and the six book New Adult Flowering series, including Forget Me Not, Lily of the Valley, Blue Rose, Star of Bethlehem, Orange Blossom, and Ambrosia.

Visit Sarah online at:

Website: http://sarahdaltry.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahDaltryA...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahDaltry
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sarahdaltry/boards/
Tumblr: http://www.tumblr.com/blog/sarahdaltry

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7012679.Sarah_Daltry

Author Interview~Lance Conrad (Author of The Price of Creation)

Hello Lance! Thank you so much for stopping by my blog for an interview!

Hello! Thanks for having me on your blog, I appreciate it.

Lets start with the interview! My first question is:

What made you decide to become an author?

I had been writing as a hobby for years while I went through a lot of jobs. It ended up like a person who has gone through seven or eight divorces, there comes a time when they have to ask "Could it possibly be me?" After ten to fifteen jobs (always quit, never fired), I had to ask myself that question, and the answer was "Yes, it's you, you dolt!"

I would always get bored and wander off to the next thing. I needed something I couldn't get bored with and that was writing. Writing is infinite. There will always be new worlds, magics, and technologies to be created, new characters to be given life.

In the end, saying that I was an author was more of an admission than a choice.

Is there a message in your book that you want your readers to grasp?

Absolutely. Even the bloody titles are an invitation. I would hope that each of my readers would ask themselves, "What is the price of creation?" "When are we justified in securing our own success at the expense or neglect of others?"

Questions like that don't always have simple answers. Questions like that take a story to understand.

Do you base any of the events in your book on your own life experiences?

I wouldn't say any, I'd say all. I dress it up in symbols and broad stories and I shatter myself into lots of characters; but at the end of the day, all of these stories are personal. They are reflections of things I have experienced and want to share with my readers.

Do you have a blog of your own?

thehistoriantales.blogspot.com is my personal blog. I occasionally talk about writing and books, but more often it's my own mad ravings.

If you could do it over again, would you change things about the book?

Oh yes. It's strange, but the other books I've written felt complete, but this one was my first, so I always feel some discontent about it. I think I could go the rest of my life rewriting it and never feel like it was complete.

One example right off the top of my head would be Sadavir's mother, Lauria. In my head, she is a very powerful and vibrant character, but her role in the book is quite minor and most readers I've talked to didn't really relate to her at all. So if I could go back, I'd flesh that character out more.

Is there anything you’d like to say to your readers?

I can't tell you how much power my readers have over my world. I know it shouldn't affect me so much, but whenever someone tells me they liked my book or were inspired by it, it puts a smile on my face for days. I hope that my readers realize how much they matter to me on a personal level.

Any advice you would give to new or aspiring writers?

Build an inner circle for yourself. You can't reach your full potential on your own, people simply aren't built that way. You also can't release your writing to a mob, to be nitpicked and shredded until there is nothing of you left in it.
You must handpick a few people whose opinion you trust and who will be honest with you. They will help you refine your writing, find your voice, and even get you past your writer's block. This is your inner circle, and your choice of who to include will impact your writing deeply.
Choose wisely.

Do you ever plan on writing outside your current genre?

I actually have plans for a couple sci-fi books in the Historian Tales series. I also have sketches for some historical fiction and even a murder mystery. We'll see if I ever get around to writing them, but they've been stuck in my mind a long time.

Is there a character in your books that you relate to closely?

I see myself in almost all of my characters, even the bad guys, but there are a few that hit especially close to home. One of those is the Historian himself. He is controlled by compulsions he doesn't understand to witness stories he never truly feels a part of. I feel a lot of those same fascinations, as well as the detachment.

Are you writing full time, or do you have another job as well?

I don't have another job, though lately I've been spending more time promoting my books and speaking at schools than writing. A writer in today's market must wear many hats.

How do reviews, positive and negative, affect you?

Truly a lot more than they should. I've been lucky so far that almost all of my reviews have been positive, 5-star reviews. I've got a couple 4-stars that I'm ok with. Then there is that 3-star review, and it haunts me. When the day comes that some reader rips into me and gives me a 1-star review, I'll probably curl up in a ball and cry for a day or two. I know it shouldn't be so personal to me, but it is.

How important are character names? How do you choose yours?

I can honestly say that every character name is meaningful to me in some way, though I don't think I could explain why for most of them. One example where I can is my main character in The Price of Creation, Sadavir. It is an East Indian name that means Courage.

Are there any types of scenes you have trouble writing?

Travel scenes. I often skip them altogether and have the party already at the new destination and cover the trip there in a flashback or something. For some reason, writing about the mundane logistics of travel irritates me. I always feel like I put in too much detail and made it boring, or I don't put in enough and made it unrealistic.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Stop wasting time. I knew I wanted to be a writer for almost ten years, but I never believed I could make a living doing it. So instead of chasing my own dream, I spent my time working on other people's dreams and chasing the illusion of security.

That is great advice! It was a lot of fun having you on the blog! Thank you!

For more information about the author and his books here are some links:

Goodreads ~ Author's Blog ~ Amazon

Books by Lance Conrad:

Author Interview~Joanna Mazurkiewicz

Hey guys! Today I have Joanna Mazurkiewicz, the author of The Whispers of The Sprite, here on my blog and she'll be answering some questions. 

Hi Joanna! Thank you so much for being here today.

Please introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Joanna and I am originally from Poland. I have been living in the UK for over seven years now. I work as an employment advisor and in spare time I write books.  I live in Cowbridge, a small town in South Wales near Cardiff with my boyfriend Bruce. I enjoy cycling around Welsh countryside and read classic and paranormal romance novels.

Would you please tell us a bit about your book?

My book is set in the welsh city of Swansea.  It’s about Ania a Russian girl who lives in London but needs to move to Wales to study.  While taking a walk one evening she was attack and since that day her life changes forever. I try to transmit a mixture of contemporary society with myths and folklore.  I don’t want to give too much away but this paranormal romance is filled with unexpected twist and turns and romantic scenes.

How did you become a writer?

I am not a full time writer as of yet but this is what I am aiming for.  I started writing when I was in school I wrote few children books which weren’t very good. Then I had a huge gap in my writing career,  when I went to University all my ideas hit me again and I started writing ‘The Whispers of the Sprite’ I have always wanted to create a fantasy novel. 

What inspired your book?

I was inspired by British folklore and other books, I had the idea in my head for a while but I never had time to finally put it down on the paper. I knew that I wanted to write a romance with supernatural creatures so one day I began writing and I never stopped.

Do you think you are like any of the characters in the book?

I think that I am very much like the main character; however she is braver than me.  I kind of shaped her based on my personal experiences.

Is writing the only thing you do?

I wish it was! No, I work full time as an Employment Advisor (I help long term jobseekers get back into work) but in the future I would love to become a full time writer. Sometimes it’s almost impossible to work full time and write.

What’s the one thing you can’t live without?

My laptop.

What’s your favorite genre? Do you read the same genre you write?

Yes. I love paranormal romance and fantasy novels. Sometimes I read contemporary fiction and classics

Do you believe in faeries or sprites?

Of course I do. In every legend there is a seed of truth!

What can the readers expect from the next book in this series?

The next book will be much darker. I will introduce few new characters and explain the Sprite community in more detail. Ania will try to help Gabriel but everything and everyone will be against her.  Her second year in the University will give her a lot of headaches. She will try to fix her difficult relationship with Natasha and will seek answers about her real parents.

Tell us about your new projects.

I am planning to write another series after this one but for adults rather than teens.  I haven’t got the title yet but I have got some ideas that are flowing around my head. The next series will be gritty, quirky and it might include nymphs, so it will definitely be another paranormal romance. I hope it will appeal to  both women as well as men. 

That's great! Thank you so much for stopping by! It was a pleasure having you here today.

I hope you guys enjoyed this interview as much as I did! Click here to read my review of The Whispers of the Sprite. It's an amazing book so go add it to your To-Read shelf on Goodreads here, and once you read it, come back here tell me your views about it!