I just finished writing book 9 of the series, Resurrection. I’ll start the proofreading tonight, and it all goes we’ll I’ll have it published by next Monday at the latest. This book was sort of an emotional roller coaster, but the last two chapters are quite a lot of fun, so at least it ends on a high note. It also ends exactly where the next book is going to begin.
Now…on to the editing.
| Author Interview Form | |
| Tell us your name and where you’re from.: |
My name is Savannah Parker and Zeke Parker is my brother and co-writer. We are from Stillmore Georgia. |
| What led to your decision to become an author?: |
We would always come up with stories that we would act out as children. We would pretend that we were going on adventures like sailing with pirates or fighting space battles. One day we just decided that we should share our adventures with other people. Since we were both shy and never liked talking a lot to other people we decided that the best way to share our stories was to write them down and let other people read them. |
| Tell us about what you’re currently working on, and what you’ve written in the past.: |
We are currently working on the sequel to our first book, Billy Scarlet. The sequel, whose release date is still up in the air at the moment, is called The Curse of Laquendor. Billy Scarlet came out on September 5th 2013. We have another story, The Secret of Nautilus Island that’s coming out in July. Though we have these books out and coming out we are always working on something simply because we love writing. |
| What are some of your strongest points as a writer, and what if anything are you constantly working to improve upon?: |
I (Savannah) say that my strongest point as a writer is the beginning of a story. When I write the beginning I’m just fired up and I know what I want to say and how I want the story to go. My weakness is that I get ahead of myself as the story goes along. I start to rush the story. I’m trying to get better at slowing things down. I have to remember that not everyone sees what I see in my mind when I’m writing a story. Zeke is great with plot twists and story lines. He can write one line that can set and entire scene and you can feel everything that is happening. He’s always trying to improve himself with deeper detail. He’s great at coming up with details, but he’s always working to get even better with it. |
| Are you self published, traditionally published or both? Why did you choose to go that route?: |
We are traditionally published with Ink Smith Publishing. We went this route because we wanted to see if we could get published traditionally. Don’t get us wrong, we know plenty of people who have done awesome with being self published, but we wanted to take another route. We may self publish some in the future, but right now we are sticking with traditional. |
| What format are your books available in? Which of these formats do you prefer and why?: |
Our books are available in ebook and and hard copies. Personally, we prefer hard copies. Ebooks are good on the go, but there’s nothing like being able to flip the pages of a book to find an adventure. |
| How do you go about marketing your books?: |
Marketing is tricky for us. We have limited resources so most of our marketing is done through social media and blogging. |
| Have you ever had to deal with harsh criticism in a review, and how do you handle it?: |
We have never really had to deal with harsh criticism in a review, but we have taken some from agents and publishers who rejected us. We were told that there was no flow to the story, that we did not seem passionate enough about our work, and some just said they straight up did not like the story. We find that the best way to deal with this kind of criticism is that a lot of it is just based on one person’s opinion. Not everyone will share the same opinion as that person. You just have to keep pushing forward and find your audience. |
| What are your favorite genres to both read and write?: |
Our favorite genres are generally adventure/fantasy or action adventure. I (Savannah) will read just about anything though. Zeke enjoys Star Wars books and authors like John Flanagan. |
| What authors have influenced or inspired you?: |
The authors that have inspired me the most are Tolkien, John Green, C.S. Lewis, P. Bosch. I could go on for a while about authors that inspire me. Zeke has some other authors who inspire him. Among his favorites are John Flanagan, Timothy Zahn, and Kevin J. Anderson to name a few. |
| What kinds of things do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?: |
I love acting. I have been in several college productions one of which I actually played four different characters in. Both of us enjoy film making. We live on a farm, so we are always working with our animals as well. |
| What software do you use for your writing? Did you try others before you settled on the one you’re currently using?: |
We use a software that’s a lot like microsoft word. It’s sort of like the off brand, but we liked it better. We still use Word sometimes, but general we just use what we have. We used to use word pad, but that was too simply a format and things started to get deleted by accident and no writer wants that. |
| What is it that you like about the software you’re currently using that makes it the best solution for you?: |
The software that we are using now formats everything in the way that we want it. It’s not hard to use, it has spelling and grammar check which is a big help when you get in a big hurry and start to mess things up. |
| What’s the best advice you could possibly give to your fellow authors?: |
Be persistent. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t get your work published. If people tell you that just smile and keep doing what you’re doing. The only way to make it is to get yourself out there so people can see what you have to offer. |
| Where can people find out more about you and your books?: |
Here’s a link to where people can check out our work:
http://ink-smith.com/our-authors/savannah-and-zeke-parker There are links |
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| Author Interview Form | |
| Tell us your name and where you’re from.: |
J. Alton Mast from Bethlehem, PA. |
| What led to your decision to become an author?: |
I’ve always been fascinated and obsessed with writing a novel from the time I was young (about 11 years old) and as embarrassed as I am to admit it, I was an avid fan fiction writer. So when I turned 18 I decided that I was done writing stories about worlds other people had invented and I created my own. That, and my chosen major in college was English. |
| Tell us about what you’re currently working on, and what you’ve written in the past.: |
I’ve recently published ‘Daemon Theory’ in April, a science-fiction, horror series with a strong Dystopian theme. It had been my major work in progress until its publication. Since ‘Daemon Theory’ is a series I am currently working on the second, along with a Psychological Horror story called ‘The Bone Garden’ |
| What are some of your strongest points as a writer, and what if anything are you constantly working to improve upon?: |
I have a knack for storytelling, creating people and worlds that people visualize easily. I’ve also been told that my writing makes people think. However, I will admit that I have a nasty habit of switching points of view from chapter to chapter, so that is something I’m striving to fix. |
| Are you self published, traditionally published or both? Why did you choose to go that route?: |
I am traditionally published. I decided to go that route simply because I don’t trust the self-publishing scene. At the risk of sounding arrogant, I didn’t want something I poured my blood, sweat, and tears into for two years to float around in the depths of cyberspace for the rest of forever. Not to mention with all the vanity publishers out there, I just didn’t want to take the risk. So instead I took the heartbreak of seemingly endless rejection letters, but the comfort of knowing that if I ever received a ‘yes’ my book would be in more capable hands then myself. |
| What format are your books available in? Which of these formats do you prefer and why?: |
Paperback and Ebook. I prefer paperback. Call me old fashioned but I like the look and feel of books. On the kindle, nook, or Ipad it just doesn’t feel right. |
| How do you go about marketing your books?: |
Through Facebook campaigns, Twitter, and I’m hoping to make a trailer soon to post on YouTube. Essentially I just use social media. |
| Have you ever had to deal with harsh criticism in a review, and how do you handle it?: |
I go into a drunken stupor and I cry over my associates degree as I question my choices in life. I’m kidding, of course. When I see a negative or unfavorable review, I brush it off of my shoulder. Whoever wrote it is entitled to their opinion and if every little negative criticism brings you down then you shouldn’t be an author, or in any entertainment medium for that matter. No matter where you go and what you do, there’s always going to be someone trying to put you down. I choose not to take it personally and keep moving forward. Unless the negative/harsh criticism makes a valid point about my writing style, I just forget it. But if it does, I take the critique, and use the advice to better my skills. |
| What are your favorite genres to both read and write?: |
I really enjoy Horror. I like being scared and on edge, but I’ve always felt that media as of late hasn’t been able to do that job, so I like to try to scare myself. As weird as it sounds, I like to go into that darker part of my head just to see what I happen to pull out of it. |
| What authors have influenced or inspired you?: |
I wouldn’t say a specific author inspired me. It’s more like works by certain authors inspired me. For example: the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. I wouldn’t call Stephen King an inspiration to me, but one of his series did inspire me to write. |
| What kinds of things do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?: |
Running. It really helps me clear my head and de-stress. That and I’m an artist as a hobby (I’m okay…not really good, but not horrible either). |
| What software do you use for your writing? Did you try others before you settled on the one you’re currently using?: |
I’m lame. I use Microsoft word 2010, mostly because it’s been familiar to me since I was young. |
| What is it that you like about the software you’re currently using that makes it the best solution for you?: |
Like I said before, it’s familiar and it’s simple. Plus I’m an old curmudgeon who’s stuck in her ways. |
| What’s the best advice you could possibly give to your fellow authors?: |
This is going to sound really lame, but the best piece of advice I could give new/young/fellow authors is this: For any reason, do not give up on your work. Don’t quit writing |
| Where can people find out more about you and your books?: |
My publisher’s website, ink-smith.com, or the Daemon Theory Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DaemonTheory. |
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So as I’ve stated many times before, I rarely pre-plan anything in my books other than the most general ideas. All the rest I just type and let the story flow out of me in whatever way it feels like it should, just as though I were standing there watching the scenes in real life while I typed it all out. Even the simplest little notion can turn into something that affects the whole series, like the notion I had today. I’m currently working on chapter 14 of Resurrection and there was a part that came up that had nothing to do really with what I ended up doing, but it led to it, and what I did felt so natural when I did it. It was something I’d sort of hinted at a bit in the past but never really out and out said, nor had I had any plans at all to say it in this or any other book, but in this one particular moment, it felt right to finally say it, and now that one little thing is turning into a major part of the story. Not only that, but it’ll bring someone who heretofore was sort of a secondary character and will elevate her up to main character status along with the others. I’m not going to say what this all involves because that would ruin it, but let’s just say that I’m really excited about what I’m doing with it.
Resurrection has been a difficult book for me to write. It just hasn’t been flowing as well as the others for one main reason…it’s kinda depressing. Now don’t get me wrong, there are some really fun scenes in this book, but there’s also a lot of heavy emotional and relationship stuff that was done out of necessity. You can’t just bring people back from the dead without there being some regrets, resentments and other emotional issues that go along with that. The problem with that sort of thing is that it’s a bummer to have to write it. The fun stuff is a blast and I can blow through those scenes in no time at all, but the heavy stuff…that takes a lot more thought and you really have to become each of the characters so you can really understand their point of view and why they feel the way they do.
Now, that said, aside from the fun stuff and the heavy drama, there are also a lot of firsts in this book.
1. You’ll go to Charles and Richard’s house for the first time.
2. You’ll meet the Ach’len for the first time.
3. The main characters all discover and develop a new remote linking ability that allows them to do some really cool (and fun) stuff.
4. One of the characters reveals a secret that becomes a major part of the story.
5. That part of the story is sort of an offshoot of something they were already doing, but they’re going for a completely different result.
6. You’ll find out a bit about how just how tough the reptilians are.
7. You’ll find out the details of what happened the night Logan committed suicide.
There’s probably more I’m forgetting to mention, but there are some major story advancements in this book. If I keep up with my chapter a day goal, the book will be finished by Friday at the latest, and then it’ll take me three or four days to proofread it and get it ready for publication. I’m hoping to have it out by next Wednesday or so.
Also, since I know what’s coming generally in the next book, the name popped into my head today while I was writing. The next book will be called Encounters, and it’ll be the 10th book in the series, which is way cool! 😀
That’s it for now. Time to get back to writing.
Thank you to those who downloaded Origins this weekend. The promotion has now ended.
Michael J. Schneider
Nebraska; but I now live in Arlington, Texas.
1980’s I took a course from the Institute of Children’s Literature.
They encouraged me to continue writing.
what you’ve written in the past.:
Mob on Mars”. It is about a Las Vegas syndicate that gets fed up with
government intrusion into their Las Vegas operations. After learning
of a physicist who has designed a new type of rocket engine that
achieves speeds close to the speed of light, the syndicate decides to
move their operations to Mars.
In 2001 I wrote “The Secret of Sangre de Cristo” a novel about
teenagers who discover a treasure in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of
Colorado. I had this published by a pay-on-demand publishing company.
Shortly thereafter I wrote “Brendan of Kilrush”, a novel that takes
place during the Viking invasion of Ireland in 812 A.D. The hero,
Brendan is a 16 year old shepherd boy with a club foot. This was also
published pay-on-demand. Since I had no good marketing plan, neither
of these sold. I took a second course from the Institute of
Children’s Literature that concentrated on writing books. My
instructor encouraged me to write a nonfiction book targeting the
youth market. The title of this book is “Swift, Silent and Deadly,
Recon Marines in Vietnam.” I tried to sell this book, first to
publishers, then to literary agents, without success for about 7
years. I finally published it as an ebook at Amazon in 2011. I’ve
sold over 1,000 copies of it since then. I’ve also published a
historical romance, “Rebecca and the Renegade”, a contemporary
romance, “The Mystery of Skunk Hollow, and a memoir, “From Omaha to Da
Nang” as ebooks.
and what if anything are you constantly working to improve upon?:
think I need to work on creating better imagery and giving my
characters more depth.
both? Why did you choose to go that route?:
both self published paperbacks. I also have an ebook version of “The
Secret of Sangre de Cristo”. “Rebecca and the Renegade”, “Swift,
Silent and Deadly, Recon Marines in Vietnam”, “The Mystery of Skunk
Hollow” and “From Omaha to Da Nang” are ebooks in Kindle format. I
recently signed a contract with a traditional publisher to publish
“Brendan of Kilrush”. I chose self-publishing because I couldn’t get
a traditional publisher interesting in publishing.
these formats do you prefer and why?:
publishing-on-demand or as an ebook because my current contract with a
publisher.. “The Secret of Sangre de Cristo” is available in both
paperback and ebook form. The other
review, and how do you handle it?:
write?:
like to write young adult novels the best.
not writing?:
try others before you settled on the one you’re currently using?:
used.
currently using that makes it the best solution for you?:
your fellow authors?:
I say have read I mean if you write to a young audience, write the
kind of book you liked to read as a youth.
books?:
currently available as ebooks at Amazon.com.
By Duane • Guest Author Interviews 0