Desert Island Books

March 16, 2013 by sharonsant

A little while ago, fellow Indie author Clare Davidson interviewed me and asked for ten desert island books. I thought I would share five of them again here, just because I can. You never know, I might share the other five with you tomorrow…

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The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

I LOVE this book. I’m always telling people how much I love it. Set in England against World War II, it follows the progress of teenager David, who has just lost his mother to cancer. Shortly afterwards his father meets another woman and a relationship blossoms, one that David finds it hard to accept. What follows seemingly sets up as a tale of familial conflict, but soon takes the reader by complete surprise. Fleeing an argument, David finds himself trapped behind a wall as a plane crashes in his garden and the only escape is a portal to world of every fairy tale he has ever been told by his mother. This book makes me cry. A lot.

Harry Potter by J K Rowling

Sorry, this one is a cheat, as I have to take all seven books. I’m not even going to bother going over the tale of The Chosen One because unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the last twelve years, you’ll already be as obsessed with it as I am.

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

Bill Bryson has such a lively, inquisitive mind and his writing is so funny that even if you’re not remotely interested in what a quark is (but I don’t mind admitting that I am) you’ll still love this book. An engaging, refreshing take on what makes our world tick.

An Utterly Impartial History of Britain by John O’Farrell

Another funny one, because by now I’m so sick of coconuts and watching for ships that I’ll need a good laugh. John O’Farrell’s hilarious account of what made Britain the place it is today is full of lines like this:

410: Goths overrun Western Roman Empire. Romans forced to wear black and listen to Marilyn Manson.

The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart

This is the story of Merlin as a boy, and quite clearly the inspiration for the BBC show. There’s a whole series of these books, following Merlin into his adult life and chronicling his role in Arthur’s birth and the building of Camelot, but this book is my favourite and easy enough to read alone. Merlin starts as a real underdog, an outsider child manipulated by the adults that are supposed to care for him, and you’re desperate to see him come into his power. It doesn’t always go to plan, but that just makes it a more interesting read.

Jaimie Admans, author of Afterlife Academy, talks chocolate, Angry Birds and pink hair.

March 14, 2013 by sharonsant

I’m thrilled to welcome another indie author, the delightful Jaimie Admans, to the blog to face my questions. Jaimie’s first YA novel, Afterlife Academy, is due out 15th March and I can’t wait to read it. So, here she is to face the music…

If you don’t already know, what star sign do you think your main character is?

Ooh, now that’s something I never thought of when writing this book! I think Riley is a Leo. She’s quite fiery, I think she’s quite arrogant in the beginning, and she’s impatient and proud, and she has a great sense of humour!

If you could be friends in real life with any of your characters, who would it be and why?

I really like Anthony. He grew and changed a lot as I was writing him, he ended up being a lot nicer and more fun than I had originally intended, and I ended up really enjoying writing him. He’s a bit of a geek and was meant to be quite boring, but he turned out to be funny and really supportive! He’d be a great friend to have!

Have you ever written a character that you’ve disliked so much you’ve scrapped them from a work?

Not yet! I think dislikeable characters are really fun to write! I don’t write straight-up evil villains as such, but writing unlikeable, nasty characters is great fun! I like it when they’re not outright evil but you have to gradually show their true colours through their actions.

Which of your characters would frighten you if you met them in real life?

Eliza Carbonell, who is the headmistress of AfterlifeAcademy. She’s pretty strict and you don’t want to go against what she says. I think she’s quite reasonable and understanding sometimes, usually in that “I’m not mad, I’m disappointed” way, but things would get pretty scary if you step out of line once too often!

Describe your book in one word.

Death-after-life. The hyphens make it one word, right? Right?

Describe yourself in 5 words.

Chocolate-loving, pink-haired, tattooed, procrastinating writer!

Do you ever consult friends when you’re stuck with a plot?

No. I can’t bring myself to talk about works in progress. It’s the fear of never finishing something and having to admit you’ve failed. It’s only when I have a decent draft, usually the second, that I know can be fixed and edited into some sort of readable shape that I can bring myself to start telling people anything about it!

What’s your personal kryptonite?

Procrastinating. Honestly, it would be amazing the amount of things I could do if I just got on with it! I always say I need more hours in the day, but if I stopped fizzing around aimlessly on the internet, I could get much more done! I have new book ideas to write and books to edit, a TBR pile so large I can’t see the top of it, and a to-do list as long as both my arms, and yet I still manage to find the time to play Scrabble and Angry Birds on my phone when I should be doing something else!

If you could converse, a la Dr Dolittle, with one type of animal, which would it be and why?

I’d love to be able to talk to my own dog, a Chihuahua called Bruiser, I reckon he’d have some good things to say, although he’d probably tell me to get off the internet and get writing! It would be great to be able to talk to dogs. Dogs know all their owners secrets – mine certainly does!

Tea or coffee?

TEA! How could you even ask me that?! Tea is an absolute necessity, and I am absolutely addicted to it. I can’t function in the mornings without a cuppa! I can’t stand coffee – I don’t mind coffee flavoured things like cake or ice cream, but coffee itself is vile! Tea all the way!

Find out more about Jaimie and her books at the following locations:

http://www.jaimieadmans.com
http://twitter.com/be_the_spark
http://facebook.com/jaimieadmansbooks

Lindsay Leggett, author of Flight, is under the spotlight

March 13, 2013 by sharonsant

I’m half way through reading Lindsay’s book, Flight, and so far I love it. The premise is unlike anything I’ve come across before and she has a really crisp writing style that hooks you from the start. Fans of The Hunger Games will love it. So, I couldn’t wait for Lindsay to step up to my regular author interview.

If you don’t already know, what star sign do you think your main character is?

This is so funny, because I always knew Piper had an April birthday, but never looked up her sign. She fits into Taurus. She can be a bit “bull”-headed, but is fiercely loyal. I think it fits her well.

If you could be friends in real life with any of your characters, who would it be and why?

I’d probably get on best with Sandy. He’s a bit of a computer nerd but has a huge heart.

Have you ever written a character that you’ve disliked so much you’ve scrapped them from a work?

Not in that manner. I’ve scrapped characters many times, but usually just because they didn’t add to the plot at the time, or made for too many story-lines. I generally like writing characters I dislike.

Which of your characters would frighten you if you met them in real life?

Probably Piper. She’s a pretty tough cookie, but maybe also Darcy. She’s harsh and unforgiving. I wouldn’t want to get on her bad side even for a second!

Describe your book in one word

Impossible

Describe yourself in 5 words.

Workaholic, Dreamer, Loyal, Quirky, Unapologetic

Do you ever consult friends when you’re stuck with a plot?

Yes. And they almost always give the worst answers! 😉 Sometimes; however, I’ll find a hidden gem I wouldn’t have thought of otherwise.

What’s your personal kryptonite?

Craft supplies and organization items that are cute. I need to have them, even if I don’t have the time to create or anything to organize.

If you could converse, a la Dr Dolittle, with one type of animal, which would it be and why?

Horse, so I could know what my horses think of me. Wait, maybe I don’t want to know.

Tea or coffee?

Coffee. Coffee. Coffee.

Find out more about Lindsay and her writing on Goodreads or her website or find her on Twitter: @akabins

Jason T Graves, author of Blood Roses, asks what dolphins dream about.

March 10, 2013 by sharonsant

By now you all know the drill. I kidnap some lovely author (virtually, of course) and subject them to my fiendish riddles of doom. For everyone not inhabiting my bizarre personal universe, that means that I ask them questions about their books. Today it’s the turn of Jason T Graves, another author taking part in the awesome indie giveaway, to tell us about his writing and Blood Roses.

If you don’t already know, what star sign do you think your main character is?

Madeline and Marissa were born under the sign of Libra. I assume that means they will bring balance to the force.

If you could be friends in real life with any of your characters, who would it be and why?

Wilhelm; he is wise, kind, well-travelled, highly educated, and rich.

Have you ever written a character that you’ve disliked so much you’ve scrapped them from a work?

A few times; Some of the people in Blood Roses are annoying enough to me that they die in the sequel.

Which of your characters would frighten you if you met them in real life?

Corelis and the undead Godek.

Describe your book in one word.

Good.

Describe yourself in 5 words.

Dashingly normal and audaciously humble.

Do you ever consult friends when you’re stuck with a plot?

In addition to my wife, I have circle of writer friends and beta readers who I consult with about issues that I have with my stories. I don’t usually get stuck on a point to that degree, though. If I have problems with a story, I set it aside and work on another story until the problem with the first unblocks and a solution presents itself.

What’s your personal kryptonite?

Doughnuts… they are the Dr. Horrible of pastries, and I cannot leave them be.

If you could converse, a la Dr Dolittle, with one type of animal, which would it be and why?

Cetaceans (dolphins and whales). I would ask them why they keep forgiving us despite our slaughter of them, and what they dream about.

Tea or coffee?

Tea… Chai. Rooibos. White. Green. Herbal.

You can find out more about Jason and his books at the following locations:

Jason’s blog

The glamorous life of a writer

March 9, 2013 by sharonsant

Yesterday I launched the second of my Sky Song books. The plan was to upload the night before release date so that it would be live and ready to go first thing in the morning – that way I could make the most of my day off work for promo and admin. What actually happened is that I waited around for most of the day for it to appear on Amazon, so that when it finally did I was just back from the school run. My friend messaged me with congratulations: ‘I bet you feel amazing releasing a new book.’

I do, I thought, as I pulled a tray of fish fingers from the oven and dolloped them in ketchup. Not exactly launch parties and premieres, is it?

For the moment, I seem to be leading some bizarre double life. After taking this week off work I’ve had a taste of what life would be like as a proper writer with deadlines to meet and decisions to make and edits to do and nothing else. On Tuesday I’ll be back at my desk at the hospital feeling like I’ve been dropped into a parallel dimension. I balance that with eighteen hour days and, since I dropped two days at my pay-the-bills-job to write, managing on a lot less money. If anyone asks me what life is like as a writer, I show them this photo:

Before you suck in your breath and roll your eyes, I’m not complaining or looking for sympathy. I used to think of myself as a secretary who wrote stories. Now I think of myself as a writer who sometimes has to do other stuff to make ends meet. But I’m a writer, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Clare Davidson, author of Trinity, gives us a peek into the world of Kiana

March 7, 2013 by sharonsant

Today Clare Davidson, author of Trinity, another great book up for grabs in the great indie author giveaway, guests on my site with something a little bit different.

Kiana: The Girl Longing for Freedom

Forest image credit: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

Yesterday was a hard day. Sometimes, especially in summer, my apartments can feel so small. I couldn’t concentrate on my lessons which annoyed Ducarius. Before he stormed out, he suggested that I remember everything that’s wonderful about my life and why it is I’m stuck here, in Blackoak Tower. Although he might not have phrased it quite like that.So… why am I here? I’m the incarnation of Miale. The soul of a god is stuck in my body. If… when I die, Gettryne will be plunged into the time of Thanatos. People will go insane and hurt themselves and their loved ones. When Miale is reborn, it will end. I can’t imagine how horrible it must be to wake up one day and realise you’ve done something so terrible it’s ripped your family apart. I know my Guardians have all experienced a time of Thanatos. They don’t talk about it, but most of them carry around the weight of sadness.

I’m here so they can protect me and make sure I live as long as possible. But I am surrounded by wonderful people–even Ducarius! Where do I start?

With Marcas, who else? I’ve known Marcas longer than anyone. When I was a girl he would spend hours playing with me. Hide and seek was our favourite game. You wouldn’t believe how many places there are to hide in only three rooms. One game could last for hours, especially if Erynn joined in as well.

He used to carry me around on his shoulders, while he galloped around like a horse. Once, I managed to catch a glimpse of the forest outside the tower. I reached my hand out and, even though the leaves were so far away, I imagined I could touch them and feel their texture between my fingertips–soft, like velvet. It was only a brief glimpse.

Then there’s Erynn, my handmaid. She arrived at the tower when I was six summers old. We’re friends, but she’s always a little wary around me, like she can’t get over how important I am. Marcas often jokes that Erynn and I could be sisters, we look so similar. Surely my sister would be able to see me for who I am, rather than shy away from the god within me?

Ducarius is my long suffering tutor. I think he spends more time telling me to stop daydreaming and drawing, rather than actually teaching me. That’s not true. I’ve learnt a lot from him: how to read and write; the history of Gettryne; knowledge of the gods and the banners of each of the twelve ruling lords.

He’s shown me drawings and paintings of a world I’ll never see: waterfalls, rivers, lakes, fields, mountains, animals, cities, villages and towns… even the sea. And sometimes, when he’s in a really good mood, he even encourages me to draw the things I dream of.

I shouldn’t complain, but some days I forget that everyone around me only wants what’s best for me. Some days, all I want is to be like everyone else–free.

Find out more about Clare and her books:

Goodreads

Amazon

Facebook

Twitter @ClareMDavidson

Meet Ruth Ellen Parlour, author of Earth Angel and aspiring Bunny Overlord!

March 6, 2013 by sharonsant

The lovely Ruth Ellen Parlour, author of Earth Angel and another of the participants in the great indie giveaway, has agreed to face my questions about her and her writing. Allons-y!

If you could be friends in real life with any of your characters, who would it be and why?

There’s a few of my characters who I could certainly be friends with, if they were real. I’d like to meet my male romantic interests. It seems that when I write about the men, I fall in love again. Dogga is a very popular man because he’s cheeky and would do anything for the ladies. At the moment I’m writing a short story and falling in love with Draego because he’s so sweet.

Have you ever written a character that you’ve disliked so much you’ve scrapped them from a work?

I have to say I’m not very good at scrapping things, I feel like because I’ve spent so much time working on something that I have to use it. I have scrapped characters in early drafts or simply changed something drastic about them to make them work in the story.

Which of your characters would frighten you if you met them in real life?

Gabrielle would frighten me. If I saw her I’d walk on the other side of the street because she’s always up to no good! She’s pretty scary.

Describe your book in one word

Fantastical!

Describe yourself in 5 words.

Bunny loving, geeky, lovely artist.

Do you ever consult friends when you’re stuck with a plot?

My mother is my creative consultant. If she was in a novel she’d be a wise old crone who guides the heroes on their journey. She’s very well read and learned so she’s my first and last go-to person. She also isn’t afraid to tell me what sucks.

What’s your personal kryptonite?

Cake. I can’t say no to cake…

If you could converse, a la Dr Dolittle, with one type of animal, which would it be and why?

Rabbits. I have a pet rabbit called Bandit. I’d love to know what he thinks of us, and I can ask him why he won’t eat his yummie yummie hay. Someday I’d like to be a bunny overlord.

Tea or coffee?

Tea. It’s like my fuel. I would never give tea up. Ever.

About Earth Angel

Eardesha is protected by the twelve Gods and their Earth Angels. Fighting against her destiny as an Earth Angel, Faith is returning to the temple for her lover who she had to leave behind. Gabrielle, a criminal, escapes from prison only to be guided back by the God’s to help Faith stop a war. Threatened by invasion from the Krieger, Eardesha’s military trains convicted criminals into a brutal and disposable army. Gabrielle and Faith discover a power the Gods have kept secret for thousands of years, a secret that would change the future of Eardesha, and use it to stop the war.

About Ruth

Ruth is an independent author of young adult fantasy. She is in training to be a crazy bunny lady, currently owning one chubby lop called Bandit.

Find Ruth hanging out at all these places…

Elisa Nuckle, author of Dominant Race, faces my fiendish author questions…

March 5, 2013 by sharonsant

I’m pleased to welcome Elisa Nuckle to the blog, author of Dominant Race, another title you can win in the big Indie Author giveaway. To shake things up a bit, this time I’ve set some questions of my own to find out more about what makes her tick.

If you don’t already know, what star sign do you think your main character is?

Hmm, Lilia doesn’t have a really specific birthday, but if I had to give her any sign, it would definitely be Aries. She’s just so stubborn, and it gets her into trouble.

If you could be friends in real life with any of your characters, who would it be and why

Owen. He seems like a fun, relaxed guy I could just hang out with, without any drama.

Have you ever written a character that you’ve disliked so much you’ve scrapped them from a work?

Yes, but in this particular story I actually loved the main bad guy so much it made me want to write more about him. Not sure what that says about both the bad guy and myself, haha!

Which of your characters would frighten you if you met them in real life?

In Dominant Race? Probably any of the devolved. They’d kill me pretty quick, so no thank you.

Describe your book in one word.

Trouble.

Describe yourself in 5 words.

Derpy, honest, earnest, and anxious.

Do you ever consult friends when you’re stuck with a plot?

Oh yes! Sometimes they give me the best inspiration. My husband is especially good with this. He helped me make DR what it is, and its sequel even better. I learned a lot with DR, and I hope to only improve from here.

What’s your personal kryptonite?

Procrastination. I have all these plans for my writing (short stories, sequels, new series) that never happen because I just never write. It’s the biggest issue I need to fix if I want to write professionally as a long-term career.

If you could converse, a la Dr Dolittle, with one type of animal, which would it be and why?

I’d say a wolf, if only because I’ve always loved to know what’s really going on within those pack dynamics. That dialogue would’ve been really useful for Dominant Race, since the main character is wolf modified and very wolfish by nature.

Tea or coffee?

Tea, sweet iced tea in particular (I’m from Texas, what can I say).

About Elisa:

Elisa Nuckle is a twenty-something aspiring fantasy and science fiction novelist. It’s always been her dream to chase ideas down and put them into concrete words. Currently, she’s undergoing enlightenment at a community college in Houston, Texas, and plans on getting an English major in the hopefully-not-too-distant future. You can find out more about her by checking out the following sites:

Facebook | Twitter | Blog

Hello insomnia, goodbye sanity…

March 4, 2013 by sharonsant

As the deadline gets closer for the release of The Young Moon and I’m still behind on promo for Sky Song, I’m beginning to wonder if I’m actually normal in the head. I look at my kids like I don’t know who they are, I put food in the oven that emerges four hours later as an unrecognisable husk, I wash dishes in shampoo, I go shopping in odd shoes. In short, I’m lost in a world where real people have been replaced by book characters. But I don’t mind admitting that, despite all this, I’m having the time of my life.

The decision to self-publish was a long time coming, and part of me thought that it would make me feel like a failure for not having a proper deal (although I was lucky enough to land one for Runners shortly afterwards) but the opposite turned out to be true. Instead of feeling like a failure, right now, I feel like captain of my own ship. I call the shots – I decide what I write, what my deadlines are, how I market my wares. At the moment people seem to like what I do and the feedback is good, I’m productive and full of new ideas. I may not always feel this way, and it doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t still love an agent, but, after years of hiding my stories away, it seems like my writing career has finally begun. This year is already mapped out in terms of releases, until September at the very least, and possibly beyond. And even if no one is reading them, I’m having a ball writing them!

The Young Moon is the second book of the Sky Song trilogy, due to be released for Kindle 8th March 2013.

Author of Graveyard Shift, Angela Roquet, talks about her books and life as an indie author

March 4, 2013 by sharonsant

Continuing on the Indie Giveaway theme, I’m pleased to share an interview with the author of the highly imaginative ‘Lana Harvey, Reapers Inc.’ series, Angela Roquet. You can win the first book in the series, Graveyard Shift on the giveaway.

Your books are really unique! How would you classify them?

While my series doesn’t contain vampires and werewolves, it is still considered Urban Fantasy, as the story takes place in modern time and it contains a variety of mythical deities and creatures commonly found in fantasy.

Where do you get your ideas for your books from?

I love studying world religions and mythology, and like most story ideas, mine began with a series of daydream questions. What would a modern afterlife look like? What if all the deities of every faith had to coexist on the other side, the same way we have to coexist on this side? What kind of terrorism might threaten a society like that? And who might I need to keep those rebels at bay? And that is how I met Lana Harvey, a Reaper employed by Grim at Reapers Inc., a thriving business in LimboCity, the capital of the afterlife.

Your covers look great! Did you pay an artist to design them?

I am a graphic designer, so fortunately, I was able to design my own covers. I get asked a lot about cover design from new authors who want to design their own covers, but don’t really know how to go about doing it or don’t think they’re talented enough to handle it. There are some really nice, simple cover designs out there that did not require a professional artist. If you can afford it, a professional cover design is great. But if you’re on a tight budget and want to DIY, my suggestion is to keep it simple. It’s okay to use fonts that are fancy, but make sure they are still easy to read. Go for a bright background color, or one that contrasts nicely with your text and images, and don’t underestimate the power of a simple, symbolic graphic. Get on Amazon or Goodreads and really look at the covers. You’re bound to find some inspiration and some examples that are simple enough to replicate.

How do you handle editing as an indie author?

I had three professionals with English degrees edit my first novel, and I still had a few typos slip through. I still find typos in traditionally published books too. It happens. As an indie author, I do not have a ton of books in a warehouse. They’re printed on demand, so I’m able to make corrections if I find an overlooked error. Which, as a perfectionist, I love! If you don’t have a few professionals at your disposal, there are still a few steps you can take to help ensure a grammatically correct novel. Make a list of the things you have the most trouble with, whether that be then vs. than, or grey vs. gray, and do a search in Word to make sure your usage is proper each time. Also, when you do your final read through, start at the end of your novel and read the pages in reverse order. This will help keep you from getting lost in the story. You’ll read slower and more carefully. If you want more tips on how to self-edit, subscribe to my Youtube channel. I’ll be posting a video in the next few weeks covering some common editing pitfalls.

What do you have coming out next?

“For the Birds” the third novel in my series “Lana Harvey, Reapers Inc.”, will be out in April 2013. I’m running in circles trying to finish it and simultaneously do edits. I would also like to release the fourth book in the series later this year, and possibly a standalone YA, either at the end of the year or early 2014.