Monday, November 17, 2008

Bobby Ozuna



Author Pen Name: Bobby Ozuna

Author Interview Questions:

CA: How did you choose your pen name?

BO: By birth, I am the second Robert Ozuna in my family. When I was younger—and apparently when my father was younger—everyone called me (us) Bobby. When I was in grade-school, I went by Bobby. When I grew older I had people start calling me Robert—you know, the whole “I’m a big kid now” stage—and I suppose in an attempt to remain youthful later on (because Bobby’s are so much more fun than Robert’s) I had people start calling me Bobby again when I joined the US Marines. Those new friends didn’t know me anyhow, so it was easy for it to stick. Robert is too official and now I only answer to it when I’m in trouble!!!

CA: What genre(s) do you write? Why do you write the stories that you write?

BO: I write literary fiction and my only novel thus far (PROUD SOULS) and even my short-stories have never been classified or confined to a “genre.” I understand categorizing a person’s work is critical to help the publishing world sort out their clients and help facilitate bookstores and libraries with locating the millions of works on the market, but I personally prefer not to label my work anything more than fiction.

I am very fond of saying, “all fiction stems from some form of truth within the author” and never has that been truer than with my personal works. I think the greatest artists of our time are those who dared to walk the unbeaten path. Robert Frost said it best when he said, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” Writing is as therapeutic for me as it is pure pain. I live with these stories in my head and I am forced to sit and write them to quiet the voices within my mind. I am a fan of the human struggle. The moments that define us as individuals, groups, a race, a species—are the moments we overcome the greatest of individual adversities. Peace and joy and happiness are what we strive for, but in order to obtain those small moments that make life worth living, we have to go through the struggles of life. And how people choose to overcome their pains, hurts and roadblocks has always intrigued me. That and my willingness to take the risks others only talk about...

I have openly walked two paths in my life, the road most civilized people might call “right” and “proper” and the one those same individuals might call the “wrong” one. I do it without shame or regret and in total disregard for the consequences. Instead, I drink water from two wells and live to tell the tale. I think to better understand and relate to an audience, in a world so dark, you have to be willing to take the chances other authors will not. It has become the staple by which I exist. And in the end...I confess my sins through my characters...

CA: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

BO: I can't say there was any definitive moment in my younger years when I knew I wanted to be an author, but I can say I have always had a wild imagination and once my writing ability caught up to my imagination...well...apart from being an actor in Hollywood...writing was the next best thing for me.

I was the kid in class who stared out the window and daydreamed; I would definitely be classified as ADD today but who really cares right? I always viewed the world from a different perspective than everyone else around me. Discovering that truth led to some of my early insecurities knowing I was “different” but later it would become a driving force in the development of my stories and my often choice to opt the road less traveled. The choices I made in life helped develop the other side of Bobby Ozuna, the part of me who is free to speak his mind, daring enough to write about topics most people won't and witty enough to justify the creativity of my fiction. In a nut-shell, you can say I have been writing all of my life...not always on paper...

CA: Who or what was your inspiration for writing?

BO: That's always a tough question for me. I worry every time that question is posed that someone—somewhere—will say, “Hey! That isn't true!” I can't say there was any one person who inspired me to pick up the pen and write. There were several people throughout the course of my early years (<18) who nurtured my creative spirit, such as my older brother Joe; He is a painter. Being 12 years apart we weren’t very close growing up, but it was always a magical moment for me when I was able to sit around and watch him work, with his dirty fingers and the smell of oils and thinners and ready canvas enveloping the room. There were many moments he took me and our youngest brother to art stores and would let us walk around and see the various types of creative possibilities. It was a real eye opening experience for me. He is still a huge supporter of my creative ambitions to this day. So if I had to mention a person who sparked my creative sense, it would be my brother Joe. Later on in life, it was my eleventh grade English teacher—Kenneth Polito—who charged that creative spark by introducing me to the symbolism, passion and poetry within the literary world.

CA: What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

BO: I write daily, or at least do everything I can to write something new everyday. Now that can vary from a blog post, a short-story, or work on my upcoming novel: The Other Side of Glory. Being an independent author I am responsible for ALL aspects of my writing career, varying from promotional work, marketing research and salesmanship. And before that I am a father and a husband and my family does come first. I work part time within the IT field and I help develop websites with my partner, Jeff Sneed of Onsite Computer Repair where I develop graphics for business logos and website and blog banners. I work for a small logistical company in Southlake, Texas and from there it's off to school to pickup my kiddos—Elizabeth and Dominic—and then home where we do homework for about one hour, help my wife Michele with dinner, eat and do whatever is required around the house. Then later in the evening when the kiddos are winding down, I work on my writing career. Most of the work I do happens between moments or late at night when the kids get to bed. It makes for a very busy schedule—one I would not recommend to anyone not serious about their work. People have a bad tendency to call my work a hobby and let me be quick to say, with the intensity and quantity of time it takes to be successful in the literary world...I wouldn't do it if I wasn't intent on writing the rest of my life.

CA: Your book is about to be sent into the reader world, what is one word that describes how you feel?

BO: Let me tell you how I felt when Proud Souls hit the Amazon storefront in November of last year (2007). It's an amazing feeling to see your book in print and after all the struggles I had—not just learning the publishing business—but overcoming the initial setbacks because of the controversy with my original book printer, I was ecstatic! It was the only thing I could talk about for about the first twelve months because I worked so hard to do everything right the first time. Not a day goes by (still) that I don't get online in the morning and check the Amazon storefront to see my book on display.

CA: What was your biggest challenge in writing your book(s)?

BO: Time. I work hard to promote my work because I take my writing career extremely serious. I research for hours on end (sometimes up to 6 hours per day) and I plan on working as an author the rest of my life. There are still many more stories to be told! But considering my responsibilities as a father and husband and still working (part time), it seems there aren't enough hours in a day to accomplish all the minute tasks I require of myself on a daily basis. If I knew a way to squeeze another hour or two of daylight within a day...I'd be outside doing a dance right now...

CA: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

BO: Haha...I think about writing every moment I am not writing! Seriously, it's what I do. Every moment I am awake I am working on some new material and I even work while I am asleep! You wouldn't believe my dreams. But I do spend a lot of quality time with my kiddos. Because they range in age from 13 to 2, I am constantly having to switch modes between the protective and teaching father of my daughter Elizabeth, to baseball coach and reading tutor for Dominic and lastly, wrestling partner to my baby, Damian. Then, there is baseball and softball practice during the Spring and Fall seasons. I love watching movies and listening to music with my family while we sing and dance and act like rock stars.

CA: Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?

BO: Every character I create is a figment of my imagination. But let me add one important disclaimer. I never write about anything I haven't experienced. I could sit by a window and write a story, because I am that creative, but I wouldn't dare try. I don't write about the ocean unless I've tasted it myself. I take my experiences, both good and bad, and use them to my advantage. For everyone who has ever told me no, tried to hold me back or dared to conspire against me, well, they are lucky I don't write science fiction. But if you ever came across a homosexual cowboy with a bad back, a hairy-lipped insecure female boss who wears open toed shoes or perhaps a corporate manager with chronic hemorrhoids, well, let's just say, they should keep their private business to themselves or perhaps find another person to mess with. NOTE: Never mess with a creative mind. You never know how you will be eternally remembered... Thank God for the words, “...any relation to people or places is completely coincidental.”


CA: Do you have any advice for the aspiring writers out there?

BO: Yes….Dare to be different…dare to be yourself…and above all else...be prepared to work hard. Success builds on success. What that means for me is this: If you are not working EVERYDAY towards advancing your knowledge of your respective field (writing, painting, photography, etc.), or working to better your abilities, then you aren't preparing for a successful future. I would say to imagine yourself a farmer. If you expect a crop the next season, then you are going to have to first prepare the soil a season or more in advance. Then, you will have to plant the seeds, tend to the watering and finally, reap the reward. If you miss any of the steps along the way, you are only hindering and delaying the moments of success down the road. For everything I do today, may not benefit me right now, but it will, some day and some time along my journey.

CA: How can a reader contact you or purchase your books?

BO: I am easy to get in touch with! I am always online and I use various social networking sites, such as Facebook, MySpace, the Book Marketing Network, Gather and The Odd Mind community on Ning. The best way to get in touch with me is via my blog: “Drawing Stories...With Words.” I love helping others as much as I enjoy being an author. I collaborate with many types of artists online and I am great at pointing people in the right direction. Being I spend so much time online reading a wide range of blogs, I feel I am a resourceful friend to have.

My book, Proud Souls, is available online via Amazon.com. You can walk into any Barnes & Noble and have them order a copy. You only need the authors name, the book title and/or the ISBN number.


CA: Is there anything you would like to add?

BO: Yes, I want people to know that apart from working to promote my own material, I spend as much time working to find material that will be helpful to my fellow artist. I am an advocate for the arts and I believe in tapping into your creative side, whether that be for a living, for profit or just to find a balance in your life. I offer marketing tips and tricks, character development help, and insight into how I (either) created my characters and storyline for Proud Souls or how I am working to develop my second book, The Other Side of Glory. I love answering questions from readers. I post a segment on my blog called: PS, We Wanna Know, where I answer any questions posed by my fans. If you send them in, I will answer them.

Again, I network a lot and I reside on many social networking sites. Below is a breakdown of where I am and how someone can find me. Feel free to connect with me, I'd love to hear from you!

Bobby's Homepage: www.BobbyOzunaOnline.com
Bobby's Blog: http://inotauthor.blogspot.com
Bobby on Gather: http://inotauthor.gather.com/
Bobby on MySpace http://www.myspace.com/inotauthor
The Book Marketing Network: http://bookmarket.ning.com/profile/BobbyOzuna
Bobby on The Odd Mind: http://theoddmind.ning.com/profile/BobbyOzuna

The book is PROUD SOULS and you can find it here...

Thank you!

CA: Thank you Bobby for hanging out here this week! I don’t think anyone would have a hard time finding you with all of your networking connections : ) Have a great week!


Aasiyah Qamar



Author Pen Name: Aasiyah Qamar

CA: What genre(s) do you write? Why do you write the stories that you write?

AQ: First of all, thanks for this lovely opportunity to be interviewed on your blog.

The genre I write? It’s basically culture-based romantic fiction, with a slant on Indo-Mauritian culture.

I grew up and live in this cultural setup, with one foot in the world of tradition and ancestral ways, and the other foot in the mainstream world of modernity and globalization. My stories are about finding your place as a young person of distinct cultural origin in the gap between these two, apparently irreconcilable, worlds. My books are also about finding love in today’s age.

CA: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

AQ: I don’t think it ever came as a lightbulb moment. I loved reading since I was very young, and I always loved playing with words. I took to language classes like a duck to water and was already writing twice as much as I needed to in primary school. Many a time, my teacher would warn me before I started an essay – “Don’t go writing a novel, you hear?” Lol, he didn’t know how prophetic his words were!

I wrote in a diary every day when I was growing up, and now when I look back, I realize a lot of what I penned resembled a chick-lit or YA kind of rehashing. In secondary school, I loved story-writing essays as I got to let my imagination run wild. In a way, I’ve always written. It’s only lately that I started doing it fully.

CA: Who or what was your inspiration for writing?

AQ: I grew up on a steady diet of soap operas and Indian movies. Indian movies always have a happy ending, so is it a wonder I write romance? I always looked for the HEA everywhere.

If I needed to point towards a person as my inspiration, I would say my father. He always encouraged me with reading and writing. We loved to sit down on quiet weekends and play Scrabble, which helped me hone my vocabulary. We discussed books, news, everything. Both he and my mother never pushed me to become something big like a doctor, lawyer, etc. They always allowed me to find my way and become my own person.

CA: What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

AQ: I used to have a very rigorous schedule when I started. One day a week fully to writing, no distractions, silence, and 4-5 half-day skeds during the working week. But my son was a toddler then and as he grows up, I find it harder to stick to a schedule. The key to being a housewife-mom-writer is to be flexible, and that’s what I try to be. Basically, I write when I can now, trying to fit in a couple hours here and there. Depending also on whether I’m in the writing stage or the editing stage, I spread my time accordingly. If I am actively writing, I try to clear two mornings a week to focus only on writing. Edits are done when I can snatch some time at the PC. Having a plot outline helps me do this. If I was simply waiting on inspiration to strike, well, I’d be chasing the rainbow!

CA: Your book is about to be sent into the reader world, what is one word that describes how you feel?

AQ: Jittery. In an ecstatic but also nervous way. Stage fright feels a lot like it.

CA: What was your biggest challenge in writing your book(s)?

AQ: Trying to balance the writing life with the ‘normal’ life. It is so tempting to just stay in the zone when you’re writing and are on a roll. I sometimes have problems breaking away and not feeling resentful towards my husband and son because they also need me and all I want to do is keep on writing. I know, it sounds harsh of me to say so, but hey, that’s the life of a writer. Torn between the passion for writing and the ‘curse’ of the real life outside.

CA: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

AQ: Enjoy some silence, which is utopia when you have a small kid! I make do though, and I lose myself in Sudoku puzzles or in a good book. I also like to catch up with the people in my house, get to know how their day was, that sort of thing. I find this contact keeps us bonded, and maybe allows me to feel less guilty when I leave them on their own when I’m writing.

CA: How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

AQ: I have written 3 full-length novels, a handful of novellas and a few short stories. I can’t say I have a favourite as each story has something that drew me to it and this makes it special to my heart. Each story has characters that appealed to my feelings, and as such, each one is unique and valued as such.

CA: Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?

AQ: When I first started writing, I found a lot of myself flowing into the heroines. I also found echoes of people I know in the supporting cast. But as time goes by, I find that this happens less and less. They always say your first stories are the most autobiographical, and I think that’s true. At the time being, I can say that yes, everyone stems from my overactive imagination.

CA: Do you have any advice for the aspiring writers out there?

AQ: Never give up. Believe in yourself always. Plunge ahead, never stop at the first hurdle. As much as anyone doesn’t want to hear this – hurdles will be there all the way, everywhere, all the time. Buck up and face them head on. Hone your skills too, learn the craft. Practice by writing, even if what you’re writing will end up under the bed.

CA: How can a reader contact you or purchase your books?

AQ: My website can be found at the following address: http://www.freewebs.com.aasiyahqamar/
My book can be bought from the following site http://www.lecygne.com

CA: Is there anything you would like to add?

AQ: I have enjoyed this very much. Thanks again for the opportunity! I love hearing from readers, so don’t hesitate to contact me.

CA: I am so glad you’ve enjoyed yourself! I hope you have a great week here!


Monday, November 10, 2008

Marcello Milteer


Author Pen Name: Marcello Milteer

CA: How did you choose your pen name?

MM: I don’t necessarily use one. I stuck with using my real name. I think For a writer who writes in only one genre, a pen name would actually be harmful. I don't want to let a pen name make it that much more difficult for readers to find me. But if you meet me in person, feel free to just call me 'Cello'. =O)

CA: What genre(s) do you write? Why do you write the stories that you write?

MM: I write and illustrate Children Books. I try to aim from ages 3-9 because honestly, that was the time in my own life where I was most interested in books. I feel especially attached to this age group, partly because I so keenly remember my own childhood, so it's familiar territory. I also think it's an important developmental stage in that age range of kids. The conflicts and the ways they see the world are extremely interesting. A good message or an engaging image is most likely to have the most impact on kids because they are so impressionable. This gives me a bigger stage to convey my story and to spread a good message to the people who will get the most out of it (children!).

CA: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

MM: I've always wanted to be an author deep down. I remember writing an autobiography at age 7 on my moms computer =). In college I wrote independent movie reviews that had a fairly large audience. But I never really took it seriously until now. Something that has gotten me closer and closer has been choosing things that I'm naturally good at instead of things that seem like what I ought to do or that would be very cool or pay a lot. The thing is, the things you're naturally good at might seem kind of pedestrian to you and so you may resist them. Maybe you really want to be a rock star but are really good at accounting. Do the accounting and play in a weekend band. When you start to do the things you're naturally good at, you get into the flow zone. I came to realize that I was really fighting myself before when I was trying to do other things. Now I feel a lot more comfortable with myself and I felt this book was something I HAD to write and share with people.

CA: Who or what was your inspiration for writing?

MM: I thought about my future, and a better life for myself while making this book. 8 months ago I was a college educated person working at Papa Johns making pizzas. Although there is nothing wrong with that scenario, I knew that there had to be more to my life and I felt I wasn't utilizing my talent as much as I could have. Fast forward now and I still use that thought process to get out of the bed every morning and have my work ethic remain top notch. Since then, my life has improved 1000% and this book is visual proof and a reminder that dreams do come true.

CA: What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

MM: I work an unrelated 9-5 and usually when I get home I take some time to unwind. During the process of this particular book, if I wasn't working, I was at home illustrating and writing on average 3 hours a day. I kept this pace up for 10 weeks. One would conclude that this took a toll on me, but I loved the process of making this book and it's the same as involving yourself in your favorite hobby after work. The only rule I set aside for myself was to never write on a Sunday.

CA: Your book is about to be sent into the reader world, what is one word that describes how you feel?

MM: Blessed.

CA: What was your biggest challenge in writing your book(s)?

MM: I wanted to write a book that I could envision myself enjoying when I was a child. I was one of the most stubborn kids in my class. If a teacher assigned a book and I didn't like it, I wouldn't read it knowing full well I would fail the assignment. I started reading when people stopped telling me to. And yes, I do think my teachers were not giving me stories I could relate to.

I wanted to create a kids story that had a simple uplifting message, but at the same time, illustrate the scenes on a mature level. In other words I want kids to read my book but not feel like they are reading a watered down/junior version of some other book. There is as much thought, effort, and imagination in this book as you would find in any other 'mature' book. Then, at the same time, make sure kids can identify with the story.

CA: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

MM: I am an artist by trade, so if I am not illustrating a book, I am doing other things art-related. I design websites, graphics, vector portraits, etc. which You can find on my Myspace Page (www.myspace.com/celloman). I am also a huge movie fan and I spend a lot of my time listening to music. Both are great sources for creativity.

CA: How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

MM: As of May 2008, the idea of writing and illustrating a book wasn't even conceived. It wasn't until a turn of events sparked the idea in June. This is my first book and I feel it is one of the best things I have produced in my lifetime. If I do decide to create another book it, I have to make sure that the product turns out better than the first, which will be a hard thing to accomplish.

CA: Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?

MM: Imagination. I wanted to write this book the same way a child tends to think. I used the method of 'Freewriting'. Freewrites are where you just sit and write whatever words come into you head for a set period of time with as little thought as possible. Then re-read and see if you like and of the sentences or ideas you've come out with. From there, I created storyboards from those freewrites and then created full color illustrations around the storyboard ideas. The outcome is a totally clear, spontaneous, creative, visual story that isn't cluttered with too many components.

CA: Do you have any advice for the aspiring writers out there?

MM: Realize that you deserve to do this! For years I was crippling myself with the fear that I shouldn't write a book because nobody would read it. Fear of success is the lack of belief in one's ability to sustain personal progress and accomplishments. A doubt that you are not as good as others think you are and that you can be replaced by just about anybody else. It is also the fear that once you have achieved what you had set out to, you still may not be happy or satisfied. Fear that your motivation levels will dip.

Once you release these fears that you had set for yourself you can do anything you set your mind too. The internet give you all the tools you need to self publish a book and it is easier now to reach an audience then it has ever been. Ignore the critics and focus on self motivating yourself, because hard work definetely pays off.

CA: How can a reader contact you or purchase your books?

MM: You can E-mail me at: artstateofmind@gmail.com
or visit me on the web at: http://cello-man.blogspot.com

To purchase my Children's Book, Karate Cat, it is available for sale at Amazon.com. You can find the link here:
http://www.amazon.com/Karate-Cat-Marcello-Milteer/dp/1440415161/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222873010&sr=8-1

CA: Is there anything you would like to add?

MM:Thank you for interviewing me. I had a blast!

CA: You’re very welcome : ) glad you had fun!!!



J.C. Wilder


Author Pen Name: J.C. Wilder

CA: What genre(s) do you write? Why do you write the stories that you write?

JCW: I write in all sorts of genres. Paranormal, erotic romance, futuristic, contemporary…
Basically I write what appeals to me at the moment. J

CA: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

JCW: Seventh grade – or that’s when I wrote my first novel.

CA: Who or what was your inspiration for writing?

JCW: Most definitely my father. He gave me a love of reading and my desire to write came from that. He encouraged me to read anything and everything so I did.

CA: What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

JCW: I don’t have a set schedule even when I’m writing. I either write first thing in the morning or in the evenings – those seem to be the times when my creative juices are flowing. If the writing is coming along then I have a tendency to cancel any outside commitments and hole up in my house like a hermit…or serial killer. J

CA: Your book is about to be sent into the reader world, what is one word that describes how you feel?

JCW: I don’t know that there is one. Excited would probably come the closest.

CA: What was your biggest challenge in writing your book(s)?

JCW: Keeping my backside in the chair. Even though writing is a sit down job, one of the issues I keep running into is back pain. I find the older I get the more I have to keep the body moving and that’s tricky when I’m typing. J


CA: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

JCW: I’m really into gardening so in the summer I spend a lot of hours outside. I also am an avid movie watcher and reader. Right now I’m working on redoing several rooms in my house so there’s always some sort of busy work to do.

CA: How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

JCW: I think I’m in the thirties now, I don’t know for sure. My favorite is usually my last book and in this case it’s Winter’s Daughter. It comes out in paperback in October, 2008.

CA: Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?

JCW: Well, usually someone will say or do something that will inspire me to create a character. When I was writing a series of vampire titles several years ago a friend said to me, ‘is that a crucifix in your pocket or are you happy to see me’ and a character was spawned from that sentence. I never know where my imagination will take me.

CA: Do you have any advice for the aspiring writers out there?

JCW: Sit your butt down and write the book. Almost everyone I meet tells me they’d love to write a book but they just never sit down to do it.

CA: How can a reader contact you or purchase your books?

JCW: My books are available at your local bookseller or online at http://www.amazon.com/ or any other online bookstore.
You can contact me at http://www.jcwilder.com/.

CA: Is there anything you would like to add?

JCW: Thanks for having me, Crystal!

CA: JC, it was a pleasure having you, and glad you took time out of your “hermit” phase to hang out this week lol!

Friday, November 7, 2008

Contest

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Sunday, November 2, 2008

Dylan J. Morgan


Author Pen Name: Dylan J Morgan

CA: Your debut novel has just been released, can you tell everybody a little bit about it?

DM: Sure, it’s a fast-paced horror novel set in a ski resort called Snow Peak located in the Canadian Rockies. A team of archeologists have made a fantastic discovery on a mountainside near town: a First Nation family-of-four superbly preserved and frozen in ice. The team removes the male but what they find inside his icy torso is a horror unlike anything ever seen before. Snow Peak is overrun by a mutant organism and it’s up to Sheriff Richard Wade and Doctor Lauren Kemper to battle not only the species, but the worsening weather in an attempt to rid Snow Peak of its terror. However, by a cruel twist of fate, Lauren’s past comes back to haunt her, throwing her into a life-and-death situation even more shocking than the creatures sliding through town.

CA: What genre(s) do you write? Why do you write the stories that you write?

DM: As you can gather by my answer above, I predominantly write horror, although I would prefer to classify my work as ‘dark’ or ‘speculative’. Horror is narrow, but dark fiction, speculative fiction, covers a wider range. I’m not going to be limited by a genre and will write what I want to write, which in some instances may be viewed as more speculative rather than horror.

I guess I write these stories because that’s the kind of plotlines manipulating my mind. If I had a plotline forming about a romantic western that I felt was strong enough to be told, I suppose I’d write a romantic western story, but so far monsters and frightening elements are the subjects that seem to be plaguing my subconscious the most.

CA: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

DM: I can’t pinpoint an exact time, but I know I was young, not even ten years old. With that said, I’ve only been writing seriously for a few years, but I always remember those early efforts of writing a four page story—which was basically just crap—and then stapling the pages together to form my own book. I’ve always had stories in me that I’ve wanted to put onto paper, and it’s only now I’m starting to realize that dream.

CA: Who or what was your inspiration for writing?

DM: I’ve been inspired a lot by Stephen King’s early works and a lot of Dean Koontz’s books too. Koontz has such a way with his words that holds me from page one until the end—and there’s not many authors out there who can manage that. Once I realized I could competently formulate a plot and write a story, my own imagination has kept me inspired.

CA: What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

DM: I have a full-time job and a full-time family so my writing time is limited. My problem is I need calm to write to the best of my ability, and with a house-load of noise I tend to write at night when things have become quieter. I try to maintain an output of one thousand words a day, but I’m also a firm believer that if all you can produce is a paragraph, then as long as it’s constructive towards the completion of the novel you’ve achieved for aim for the day.

CA: Your book is about to be sent into the reader world, what is one word that describes how you feel?

DM: Excited. Strangely, I don’t feel nervous at all, I’m just excited to see what people think of the story. Good or bad, I’m anxious for feedback because it will help me grow as a writer. So yeah, I’m excited, I can’t wait for the reviews to come in and the messages (if any) to be sent. Of course, I’m hoping for some sales too, but that’s a given.

CA: What was your biggest challenge in writing your book(s)?

DM: I guess my biggest challenge writing this book was developing the story into a novel length work. I’ve had about a dozen short stories published in various venues over the last four years, but there’s a big difference between 2,000 word stories and 75,000 word stories. Since writing Hosts, I’ve faced newer challenges in the form of developing myself and my craft into becoming a better novelist and a better story-teller. I’ve written a second novel and am currently working on my third, and so the challenge is to keep learning and keep improving.

CA: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

DM: I like to spend time with my wonderful family. I have a beautiful girlfriend who’s very supportive and two lovely daughters aged twelve and nine; I enjoy spending quality time with them. I play guitar, enjoy listening to rock music, so sometimes I put the headphones on and jam to my favorite songs. I read and play Playstation to relax.

CA: How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

DM: I’ve completed two novels: Hosts, which is available now in e-book format through Wild Child Publishing, and Flesh which is currently going through revision drafts before I’ll send it out to agents. I’m currently working on my third full-length novel. My favorite is the one I’m working on now. While writing Hosts it was my favorite, while writing Flesh that was my favorite, and the new one is now my favorite of all three. I hope that means I like each one better than the previous because my writing is improving, but I can’t be the judge of that.

CA: Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?

DM: Totally from my imagination. I don’t think I’ve ever created a character and thought he/she reminds me of this/that person. I’ve been told that some writers put a little piece of themselves in their characters, but I’ve never subconsciously or consciously done that either. I never try to inject my own, or anyone else’s, mannerisms into my characters, but I let the characters control me.

CA: Do you have any advice for the aspiring writers out there?

DM: Aspiring writers? Ha, I am one! All I can say, I guess, is never give up and above all else believe in yourself. As an author you need to have a bit of arrogance or else you wouldn’t be bold enough to send your stories out to publishing houses. With that said, don’t for one minute think you’re the bees-knees because writing is a continuous learning curve.

One other thing: you need to have broad shoulders and be able to accept criticism and then learn from it. If a critique, or a review, has a negative comment about your story, work out why it elicited that negative remark and work to improve your writing.

CA: How can a reader contact you or purchase your books?

DM: Readers can contact me by email at freaksauthor1@yahoo.com, and if they need to find out the latest about whatever project I’m working on at the moment they can visit my website at www.dylanjmorgan.com. Alternatively, if they have a myspace account, they can add me as a friend: www.myspace.com/dylanjmorgan. Readers can also purchase my novel by visiting the publisher’s website: www.wildchildpublishing.com.

CA: Is there anything you would like to add?

DM: Yeah, for everyone who purchases my novel Hosts, there’s the opportunity to receive a free .pdf of five of my previously published short stories. Just forward the confirmation email you receive from Wild Child Publishing to my email address listed above, and I’ll send the stories post-haste!!

Thanks for taking the time to interview me, Crystal. It’s been a pleasure.

CA: Thank you Dylan for sharing a little bit of you with me and the readers! Have a wonderful visit!!

David Boop


Author Pen Name: David Boop

CA: How did you choose your pen name?

DB: No pen name. I was born that way. No, my mother’s name is not Betty, nor is my sister’s, my daughter’s, or my wife’s. I did have a great aunt Betty, so who knows? Maybe she’s the inspiration. I could be a billionaire and don’t know it.

CA: What genre(s) do you write? Why do you write the stories that you write?

DB: I write across the board. I have science fiction, fantasy, mystery, horror and children’s stories. However, I seem to get my cross genre stuff published the most; sci-fi noir, ghost westerns and such. She Murdered Me with Science is a science fiction mystery.

CA: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

DB: I’ve been writing my whole life, but hated the process of revision. When I first started, everything was on typewriters, which meant rewriting whole pages when you edited. It turns out that I have ADD and that’s a trigger; repetitive actions. Along comes the word processor and now I can write like a dream.

CA: Who or what was your inspiration for writing?

DB: I don’t sleep. I get most of my ideas from a half-dreamlike state. The idea for the novel came from there. I dreamt of a hairless man running down an alley in the rain, pursued by something. He escapes into a crowd of partiers and thinks he’s escaped when his head explodes. I woke up and wanted to know what killed him, so I invented someone to solve the crime. Other times ideas come from the everyday. I wrote a children’s story after watching fireworks over a lake one 4th of July. My son also inspires me. He’s got a great imagination.

CA: What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

DB: I write whenever I can. I work a 50 hour week, go to school part time and am a single parent. I write during lunch breaks, at night, on weekends, wherever I can.

CA: Your book is about to be sent into the reader world, what is one word that describes how you feel?

DB: My novel came out in August. My shipment was late, so people got it before I do. It was weird thinking other people were holding my book, reading it, before me. I think because of the galley process, I was already over the awe by the time it came out. It’s seeing it on shelves that still gives me a chill.

CA: What was your biggest challenge in writing your book(s)?

DB: The 100th revision! LOL! I get numb during the revision process, even if it is easier. My mind fills in a lot of blanks, and while I think I’ve caught every mistake, I don’t. It’s those deeper details, the ones that paint such a colorful picture that I need to spend the most time on. I think I’ve explained everything, but my first reader always asks me for more. Heh, heh.

CA: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

DB: Spend time with my son, play video games, travel, camp, watch movies/television, art shows, theater and read.

CA: How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

DB: I have one novel out, so it’s my first child. It’ll always be my favorite. I also have three anthologies coming out. The first, Space Pirates, is already out. It’s part of a series I came up with called Full-Throttle Space Tales, a harkening back to the old style of sci-fi story telling where there was still a sense of wonder in the writing. I wanted authors to write the type of stories that inspired them.

CA: Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?

DB: Both. Some characters are amalgams, bits of one person, a smidgen of another. Some are straight out of the truth. I use real historical people in SMMS. I wanted the reader to feel as if this could have really happened, so I name dropped. My favorite was Art Shay, the famous photojournalist who showed us the real Chicago for the first time. I saw an exhibit of his at the Chicago History museum and it blew me away.

CA: Do you have any advice for the aspiring writers out there?

DB: Surround yourself with people who will give you good critical feedback. Learn how to take it. Nothing in your story is so precious that it can’t be edited out. Remember, once you remove the bad stuff, the good stuff can be seen clearer.

CA: How can a reader contact you or purchase your books?

DB: My books can be bought at Amazon, BN.com or directly from the publisher. They can be special ordered through almost any store. I have a myspace: www.myspace.com/shemurderedmewithscience. Add me as a friend, then send me a quick hello, and I’ll send you a discount code to save 20% off the publisher’s price.

CA: Is there anything you would like to add?

DB: I’m touring throughout 2008/2009. If you’d like me to come to your town/convention/ or school, drop me a line. I love this stuff!

Ann Raina



Author Pen Name: Ann Raina

CA: What genre(s) do you write? Why do you write the stories that you write?

AR: Usually, I write Science Fiction with a deep erotic, sometimes BDSM touch such as “Freedom in Chains” which was published with eXtasy books at the beginning of 2008.

I have loved writing for as long as I recall. I wrote fanfiction, I wrote action stories and a lot more. It’s one of my favorite wastes of time.

CA: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

AR: I’ve been a writer for many years, but only last year I dared to send my manuscript to eXtasy to have it checked for publication. Many of my other stories were read by friends and they pushed me to try and become an author.

CA: Who or what was your inspiration for writing?

AR: I have a lot of imagination that needs a vent. I’m lucky to say that I’ve got a girlfriend who shares my points of view and who helps me creating storyline and characters.

CA: What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

AR: I don’t have a schedule. I write when I find the time between being a parent, working, doing housework etc. Some weeks I write page after page while other weeks I don’t find a minute to put down a line.

CA: Your book is about to be sent into the reader world, what is one word that describes how you feel?

AR: Lucky.

CA: What was your biggest challenge in writing your book(s)?

AR: To make ends meet. To never lose focus on the important moments in the story. To keep the story interesting and entertaining. I read it several times to make sure I took down all important details.

CA: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

AR: I’m a mother of two, that keeps me quite busy. And it my spare time I like to ride.

CA: How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

AR: I wrote several books during the last three years, most of them rather long stories. I favor my latest SF novel because it’s funny, it got moments you can laugh about but there are also tragic and dramatic scenes, which will – hopefully – touch the readers’ soul.

CA: Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?

AR: Every character comes from my or my girlfriend’s imagination. I feel much better if I don’t try to characterize some known people in my novels. I tend to refer to actors in their outer appearance (hey, who doesn’t?) but not concerning their characters in or out of the movies.

CA: Do you have any advice for the aspiring writers out there?

AR: Write down a storyline first. You are the only one who knows where you want to go with your story – from action to drama to children’s book. Ask yourself what you want to write and how to keep suspense throughout the story. And don’t be shy to ask bystanders to read it and be honest with you (after all, publishers won’t take your story if they think it could be better…). And one more – don’t be discouraged if you don’t find a publishing house soon. Jack London needed years to find a publishing house and he became very famous… So it’s your chance to be next in line!

CA: How can a reader contact you or purchase your books?

AR: “Freedom in Chains” is available through eXtasy books. My next two novels will be published with the same company. My website is www.annraina.com. You’re welcome to leave a message on my contact sheet. I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

CA: Is there anything you would like to add?

AR: When I was asked by a German publisher why I write, I told him that I just love to tell stories. If I can make one person happy who reads my book it’ll be very satisfying. I hope to brighten people’s days.

CA: Thanks Ann, I hope you have a great week hanging out : )