7 Questions with #Author @Vanna_Smythe (The Grower's Gift) #Dystopian #YA

 

How do you work through self-doubts and fear?

My biggest fear is that my writing is not good enough. But, given that I have now received a lot of positive feedback on my books, I generally just relax and write. Whatever is not good enough can always be fixed during the revision stage, after all.

What scares you the most?

I am terrified of snakes, so being in a room or pit full of lose snakes would probably give me a heart attack.

What makes you happiest?

Reading a good book, watching a good movie, enjoying the peace and quiet, preferably at the seaside.

What’s your greatest character strength?

Courage and perseverance.

Why do you write?

I feel most alive when I’m writing. It is also possibly the only task, at which I feel driven to excel.

Have you always enjoyed writing?

Yes, I’ve enjoyed writing since I learned how to, pretty much.

What motivates you to write?

The need to tell a story from start to finish, and my desire to build a career as a writer.

The future is bleak in the year 2102. The planet is in chaos and the weather patterns have completely shifted, turning most of the world into an uninhabited wasteland.

The rich and powerful of North America have pulled back into the six remaining megacities, erasing all trace of a central government and leaving millions displaced by the environmental crisis to fend for themselves in the dying world.

Sixteen-year-old Maya has a gift, a power she thinks can heal the earth and make it habitable again. A gift that she must learn to harness. The school for the gifted in Neo York is the only place where she can learn to control her power and reach her potential.

Yet the school is not what it seems. Ran by the ruthless head of the city of Neo York, the school's only objective is to extract the powers of the gifted and then discard them. Only Ty, heir to the city, can keep Maya from being destroyed there. But Ty has a secret, and his loyalty to his family has never wavered.

Will his growing love for Maya be strong enough to save them both?

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - YA Dystopian

Rating – PG-13

More details about the author

Connect with Vanna Smythe through Facebook & Twitter

Website www.vannasmythe.com

7 Questions with #Author Roland Hughes - #Dystopian #Fiction #AmReading

How do you write – lap top, pen, paper, in bed, at a desk?

If it were not for OpenOffice and its spell checking I could never be a writer.  That said, I seem to go through a lot of scratch paper.  Perhaps it is because I grew up before computers existed.  Notes in a text or other file tend to get lost but when I'm writing something I intend to complete my desk is littered with things written down on paper in my nearly illegible handwriting.

How much sleep do you need to be your best?

Interesting question.  I've seen it asked in many different ways.  People talk about Earnest Hemingway “at his best in the morning.”  Others talk about his drinking.  Few connect the two and say he was at his best hung over.  It is kind of a straight line.  If you drink a lot then you are either just sobering up or hung over in the morning.

Oddly enough I find I'm at my best when physically tired.  I don't mean exhausted after a day's work, but the kind of tired you get the next day or the day after many days of exhausting work.  Where you have slept all you can sleep but don't seem to have enough energy to go outside and do something.  That kind of physical fatigue keeps me parked in the chair at the keyboard.  The writing part of my mind is in complete control pretty much because the rest of it is still checked out.

Every writer has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is, what does success in writing look like to you?

The definition of success changes over the years.  Early on you want to have that run away hit so you can “live the life”.  A bit later your focus starts to move towards writing that one book which will last.  Once you approach the big 5-0 you tend to focus on writing something you really feel needs to be written and hope there will be one other person at some point in the future who discovers it and claims it made their life better.

Occasionally I visit a writing forum or two.  I'm always amused at the fledgling writers striving to make their first work a break out commercial success.  When they ask why I'm amused I tell them they should focus on writing really good books early on then strive for that big commercial success with their last book.  Why?  Because it wags the long tail of their catalog.  Many get offended when they here that, but it weeds out writers from lottery players.  Far too many people putting work out there think they can write a single story then live on easy street.  They don't want to hear that easy street doesn't have a zip code.

How did you develop your writing?

As a child I wrote a lot of letters communicating with family members.  The Post Office was all we had back then.  I guess that resurfaced later in life.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

When it comes to my “geek” book series “The Minimum You Need to Know” inspiration comes from identifying things developers need to know which aren't widely documented or, as in the case of the logic book in that series, are simply no longer taught.  My novels come from various places.  In the case of “John Smith” those characters simply refused to leave me alone until I told their story.

When you are not writing, how do you like to relax?

A glass of Chardonnay by the fire place with some good DVDs.

How often do you write? And when do you write?

I write when I have both the time and the need.  I self publish these days.  I have no deadlines or release commitments.  This gives me the freedom to do it right.

"John Smith: Last Known Survivor of the Microsoft Wars" is one big interview. It is a transcript of a dialogue between "John Smith" (who, as the title of the book implies is the last known survivor of the Microsoft wars) and the interviewer for a prominent news organization.

Buy Now @ Amazon & B&N

Genre – Dystopian Fiction

Rating – PG

More details about the author

Website http://johnsmith-book.com/

7 Questions with #Author S.M. McEachern @smmceachern #YA #SciFi

1. What are you most proud of in your personal life? 

Getting a university degree. I grew up in a large family, we didn’t have a lot of money, and I was always told I wasn’t “university material.”  In my twenties, I overcame self-esteem issues, made a enough money to take one class at Dalhousie University, wrote my first exam and failed it miserably. After three days of crying, I picked myself up, enrolled in a library workshop on how to write academic papers and tried again.  I made an A- in that class.  I went on to obtain an honors degrees in International Development and won awards for some of my academic papers.  Don’t ever let someone else define you.  You’re the author of your own story.

2. Location and life experiences can really influence writing.  How did it influence yours?

My career in International Development as well as being a military wife has allowed me to travel and meet a lot of interesting people. I’ve seen poverty and, on the other end of the spectrum, I’ve been to Buckingham Palace for a tea party. I’ve lived in England on a military base with people from 62 other countries. And here’s what I’ve learned: no matter how much money you have, where you come from, the color of your skin, who you love, or what God you pray to, all people are essentially the same at heart. We eat, we breathe, we sleep, we love, we play, we care. This is the inspiration behind the Sunset Rising series.

3. Have you always enjoyed writing?

Yes! I still remember the very first word I ever wrote—“tree”, but I forgot the r.  Oh, and I wrote it on the living room wall, which is probably why I remember it so well. Lol! I progressed to writing on paper in Kindergarten and my teacher was so impressed with a poem I wrote, she put it up on the class corkboard for all to see. That was a good day. I won a few more literary awards during my school years and my grade eight English teacher encouraged me to write something for publication. In retrospect, I should have tried, but I didn’t have the self-confidence back then.

4. What writing are you most proud of? 

Sunset Rising is my debut novel and it’s doing really well, but I think my writing has improved in the second book of the series, entitled Worlds Collide.  I’ve had really great, positive feedback from beta readers. It’s due out this month (Feb 2014) and I’m excited for everyone to read it.

5. Tell us about your new book? What’s it about and why did you write it?

Worlds Collide is the second book of the Sunset Rising series.  Sunset Rising ended in a bit of a cliffhanger and Worlds Collide picks up exactly where it left off.  I’ve done a lot world-building in this second novel and introduced new characters. Some mysteries from the first book are solved in WC, but new ones are added in preparation for the third book. The first three books will establish a series that could go on for infinity (kinda like Star Trek).

6. When did you first know you could be a writer?

I always knew I wanted to be a writer, so it’s kind of weird that it took me so long to write my first novel. I did a lot of academic writing throughout my studies and career, so I guess that helped satiate my desire to knit words together.  However, when I had my first child, I made the decision to be a stay-at-home mom (and that was a tough thing to do!), so that writing outlet was gone. Now both my kids are in school and I have more time to myself.

7. What inspired you to write your first book?

My teenage daughter and I do buddies reads all the time, mostly young adult contemporary fiction.  Before we started reading together, I hadn’t really read any young adult novels. I fell in love with the genre! And I already had an idea for a novel, based on academic research I had done years ago, so everything just came together and I started writing.

February 2024: Desperate to find refuge from the nuclear storm, a group of civilians discover a secret government bio-dome. Greeted by a hail of bullets and told to turn back, the frantic refugees stand their ground and are eventually permitted entry.  But the price of admission is high.

283 years later...  Sunny O'Donnell is a seventeen-year-old slave who has never seen the sun.  She was born in the Pit, a subterranean extension of the bio-dome. Though life had never been easy, the last couple of months had become a nightmare. Her mom was killed in the annual Cull, and her dad thought it was a good time to give up on life.  Reyes Crowe, her long-time boyfriend, was pressuring her to get married, even though it would mean abandoning her father.

She didn't think things could get any worse until she was forced upstairs to the Dome to be a servant-girl at a bachelor party.  That's when she met Leisel Holt, the president's daughter, and her fiancé, Jack Kenner.

Now Sunny is wanted for treason.  If they catch her, she'll be executed.

She thought Leisel's betrayal was the end.  But it was just the beginning.

"Sunset Rising" is Book One of a series.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - YA Science Fiction, Dystopian

Rating – PG-16

More details about the author

Connect with S.M. McEachern through Facebook & Twitter

Website http://smmceachern.wordpress.com

7 Questions with #Fantasy #Author C.D. Verhoff (Promised Land: A Galatia Novel)

1.  C. D. Verhoff – why do you use initials instead of your given name?

It fits easier on a book cover. Outside of writing, I usually go by Deanna, my middle name.

2.  Tell us a bit about your family, Deanna.

I grew up in a working class Catholic family from Fort Wayne, Indiana. I was the fourth of five sisters (no brothers). My mom was a file clerk and self-taught artist of local renown. My dad worked at a tire plant. He had a tough exterior. All the neighborhood kids were scared of him because he yelled a lot, but he was a good father.

As a child, money was tight, but I never lacked for necessities. I fantasized about having less sisters and more Christmas presents. Now that I’m older, I realize that my siblings are best gifts my parents ever gave me. Even though we live hundreds of miles away from each other, they are my best friends in the world.

Unfortunately, only one of my sisters is open to fantasy and science fiction. It’s definitely not her first choice though. She hasn’t even watched any of the Star Wars movies. Can you imagine? My other sisters are into romance novels. They used to devour Danielle Steel and Nora Roberts paperbacks like candy. I try to be respectful of their reading tastes, but I’m not above bugging them to beta read for me.

Enough about them. Let’s move onto how I met my husband. I’ll start by saying I wasn’t looking for one. Since grade school, I was determined to stay single. When asked why, I’d explain that I had never seen a marriage I’d want to be in. Then I met this one guy. He talked too much, wore his pants too high, raised chickens for a hobby, had zero housekeeping skills, went to Mass every Sunday and my resolve flew out the window (I will testify in court that love isn’t rational). My friends said he wasn’t my type, but we hit it off. It was a whirlwind romance and a year later we were married. My husband has only read one book since I’ve known him...and it wasn’t one of mine. I suppose I wouldn’t want him to bring an inmate home for me to babysit (he’s a prison guard), so we’ll call it even. We have a daughter and a son (in that order).

Moving onto my favorite subject—my babies. Well, they’re adolescents now, but a part of me will always think of them that way. Until I became a mother, I didn’t understand the meaning of unconditional love. It’s fierce, protective, incredibly painful at times and wonderful. Being a mom is my calling. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

3.  How do you work through self-doubts and fear? 

I’m still working through the self-doubts and fear, so I’m not sure how to answer this one. My approach might be overly simplistic. I acknowledge my feelings, but I don’t dwell on them. My internal pep talk goes like this:

Don’t worry about stupid shit. Just keep your eyes on the goal and write the damn book.

4.  What makes you happiest? 

Spending time with loved ones, Christmas, warm chocolate chip cookies, a clean house, alone-time to work on story, French vanilla cappuccino, the sound of summer rain against the roof, the first snow fall, autumn leaves, the crackle of a fire in the hearth, cozying with the kids on the couch to watch a movie, a good book, those rare moments in prayer when I feel God’s presence, walking through an old cemetery, making a book sale, getting a good book review, finding a ten dollar bill left in my coat pocket from last winter, reminiscing about younger days with old friends, enjoying a good meal that I didn’t have to make myself.

5.  Why do you write? 

I’m addicted. When a scene comes together, it gives me a high. When I’m forced to stay away from my computer too long, I get jittery until I get my daily fix of wordage. The compulsion sometimes interferes with my other responsibilities—housework, social life, and even my health. Writing is my blue meth, I guess.

6.  What writing are you most proud of?

Glory Alley and the Star Riders. I wrote the skeleton of the book, from beginning to the end in less than three days. Didn’t eat, didn’t sleep, it was as if the story poured into me from some other realm. I haven’t had the same experience with any of my other books.

http://www.amazon.com/Glory-Alley-Star-Riders-Series-ebook/dp/B009P6U6YU

7.  Who is your favorite author? 

From a purely entertainment standpoint, I’d have to say Dean Koontz. I like the way he portrays ordinary people in heroic ways. With Dean as the guide, when realistic people get thrust into bizarre situations, it’s always a fun trip. He frequently contrasts the worst of the human condition against the best and the latter usually wins out. I like that kind of optimism.

The last survivors of the human race are riding out nuclear winter in an underground bunker when disaster strikes. Forced to the surface centuries ahead of schedule, what they find blows their minds. Who can explain it? Two social misfits work together to unravel the mystery.

After living in a posh underground shelter his entire life, Lars Steelsun is plunged headfirst into a mind-blowing adventure on the surface of the Earth. As Lars and his displaced bunker mates are led across the grasslands by Mayor Wakeland, a man of questionable sanity who claims to talk with God, they discover a primitive world where human beings are no longer welcome. Even more mystifying is the emergence of new senses and abilities from within. 

Learning to use them has become a priority, but his biggest challenge comes from the vivacious Josie Albright. Her lust for glory is going to get them both into trouble. Sparks fly when her gung ho ways clash with his cautious personality. Can they overcome their differences to find love and a homeland for their people?

May not be suitable for younger readers. 

Contains mild profanity, sexual situations (infrequent), and violence. 

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - Epic Fantasy

Rating – R

More details about the author

Connect with C. D. Verhoff on Facebook & Twitter

Blog http://cdverhoff.blogspot.com/