Duane

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Stan Morris

Author Interview Form
Tell us your name and where you’re from.:
 I’m Stan Morris and I live on a farm on the island of
Maui.
What led to your decision to become an author?:
 While I have enjoyed writing as long as I can remember, I
decided to become an author in 2008. I wrote Surviving the Fog and
sent the manuscript to the Library of Congress so it would be
copyrighted. I planned to send the manuscript to Baen Books and to
Tor Books, but I got impatient and published it to the net, instead.
Later, I discovered Manybooks, Feedbooks, and Smashwords. This was
before Amazon created Kindle Digital Publishing.
Tell us about what you’re currently working on, and
what you’ve written in the past.: 		I am working on several projects, but I have not settled on
one. My books include Surviving the Fog, Surviving the Fog-Kathy’s
Recollections, Sarah’s Spaceship Adventure, The Colors of Passion and
Love, Sam’s Winnings, Kate’s Movie Star, Amy’s Hero, and What’s In My
Shorts. I have a short story in the Wyrd Worlds I anthology.
What are some of your strongest points as a writer,
and what if anything are you constantly working to improve upon?:
 I am a good story teller. I’m working to improve the way I
include information in my books about what the characters are sensing,
for example the smells around them.
Are you self published, traditionally published or
both? Why did you choose to go that route?: 		I am self published, because it was quicker and easier. I
have been a tech person for a long time.
What format are your books available in? Which of
these formats do you prefer and why?: 		My books are available at Smashwords.com, so they are
available in almost every format ever developed. I really don’t have
a preference, but I don’t like to read in PDF format.
How do you go about marketing your books?:
 I have purchased ads through Google and through some book
websites, but engaging on social media sites like Goodreads is one of
the best methods of marketing.
Have you ever had to deal with harsh criticism in a
review, and how do you handle it?: 		Yes, some reviewers have said some harsh things. If they are
related to the mechanics of the book, I use those criticisms to
improve the book. If the comment is personal, I ignore it.
What are your favorite genres to both read and
write?: 		I like to write science fiction stories, but I have written a
fantasy with light magic.
What authors have influenced or inspired you?:
 Some of those are Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Pamela
Morisi, Jayne Ann Krentz, Mary Stewart, Lindsey Davis, and Spider
Robinson.
What kinds of things do you enjoy doing when you’re
not writing?: 		I like to garden, listen to music, and watch sports. Lot of
sports.
What software do you use for your writing? Did you
try others before you settled on the one you’re currently using?:
 I’m using Microsoft Word 10. I’ve checked into others, but I
always come back to Word. It’s easier for me.
What is it that you like about the software you’re
currently using that makes it the best solution for you?:
 Both Smashwords and Kindle Digital Publishing use Word. That
makes the conversions easy.
What’s the best advice you could possibly give to
your fellow authors?: 		Always have more than one writing project in progress, so if
you don’t feel like working on one, you can switch to another.
Where can people find out more about you and your
books?: 		My author pages:
http://www.amazon.com/Stan-Morris/e/B004KB2HG0
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/morriss003

Also, for a look at some of my short stories and stuff I’m working
on:
http://www.writerscafe.org/morriss003

 

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Christina McMullen

Author Interview Form
Tell us your name and where you’re from.:
 My name is Christina McMullen and I am a Yankee transplant in
Texas.
What led to your decision to become an author?:
 The realization that I would never be a rock star. Well, that
and a hyperactive imagination. I always liked writing for the same
reason some people don’t: it’s a solitary activity. In a way. I do
have people I can bounce ideas off of, but giving form to the ideas
falls on my shoulders and I have to admit, I like that kind of
power.
Tell us about what you’re currently working on, and
what you’ve written in the past.: 		My current project is a young adult sci-fi about a girl who
finds her daydreams have suddenly come true. As you might have
guessed, this turns out to be not as fantastic as she had imagined.

Previously, I wrote a sci-fi/urban fantasy series called The Eyes of
The Sun. It’s a non-traditional take on the idea that New Orleans is
populated by vampires.
What are some of your strongest points as a writer,
and what if anything are you constantly working to improve upon?:
 I’ve been told that my writing has a good flow and the action
scenes are gripping. I struggle a bit with emotional scenes and I have
a tendency to overuse words. The thesaurus is my best friend.
Are you self published, traditionally published or
both? Why did you choose to go that route?: 		I am impatient. I went straight to self-publishing and plan
to continue this path unless I am ‘discovered’ by a big name
publishing house who wants to throw money at me. I am not averse to
this, but I don’t have plans to send out manuscripts any time
soon.
What format are your books available in? Which of
these formats do you prefer and why?: 		Currently, I only offer e-books through Amazon. I’ve tossed
around the idea of traditional books, but it takes a lot of time.
Also, to make any money at all, I would have to price my books around
$12 whereas my e-books are all under $4. Perhaps if I wrote something
more literary, I would consider it, but my books are genre escapism. I
reach a lot more of my target audience through e-books.
How do you go about marketing your books?:
 Terribly. I’m a bad salesperson, which is half the reason I’m
a writer and not a sales rep. I do take advantage of the promotions
that Amazon offers including both free and discounted books. I offer
the first book and the prequel to my series for free on the first
Sunday of every month.
Aside from that, I dabble in social media, but I have to admit, I find
a lot of it confusing and hard to navigate. This is somewhat
embarrassing to admit, given that I am not that old yet!
Have you ever had to deal with harsh criticism in a
review, and how do you handle it?: 		I have been lucky in that regard. I have had people point out
mistakes, which is understandable. I did get one three star review
that said I got too bogged down in world building and explanations. I
felt it was fair because it was an opinion and I know I am not going
to appeal to everyone.
What I find frustrating, however, is the poor star rating with no
explanation that can happen on Goodreads. Why only two stars,
anonymous reader? Why?
What are your favorite genres to both read and
write?: 		I write what I read, which is sci-fi, urban and contemporary
fantasy, young/new adult of the same genres, and some horror. Clearly,
I’m a bit of a geek, but I love that this is becoming widely accepted
because there are a lot more options out there.
What authors have influenced or inspired you?:
 Octavia Butler is my biggest inspiration, but the list is
huge. In one respect, it was indie authors that really changed the
game for me. When I saw that there were so many talented writers out
there who were making it on their own, I decided to give it a go. It
was the best decision ever.
What kinds of things do you enjoy doing when you’re
not writing?: 		I read a lot. Whether it’s books or articles on the internet,
my down time is spent reading. I also love cooking, which I consider
another form of creative expression. I’m a fan of the arts and have
dabbled with painting, drawing, and sculpture, but there’s a reason I
write books instead of selling art on etsy.
What software do you use for your writing? Did you
try others before you settled on the one you’re currently using?:
 I use Word. My covers are made using Inkscape and Gimp, which
are a free drawing and photo manipulation program respectively.
What is it that you like about the software you’re
currently using that makes it the best solution for you?:
 Since I only publish through Amazon at the moment, I don’t
require any type of special software.
What’s the best advice you could possibly give to
your fellow authors?: 		Write because you want to. Write what you want to read. Don’t
feel as if you are restricted by the narrow scope of a particular
genre or category. And most of all, don’t get discouraged when the
pieces don’t fit together the first time. Everyone struggles at some
point.
Where can people find out more about you and your
books?: 		My Facebook page is http://facebook.com/mcmullenwrites
I also have a blog called Vampires and Robots, which I happen to think
is highly underrated: http://mcmullenwrites.blogspot.com
And of course, my books are available through Amazon.

 

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Book 9, Resurrection is under way!

Usually I wait until after the 1st of the following month to start the next book, but I got a head start on Resurrection.  The cover and other graphics are all done and I just finished writing chapter 1!  It’s nice being ahead of the game. 🙂

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Douglas Schwartz

Author Interview Form
Tell us your name and where you’re from.:
 I’m Douglas Schwartz, and I live in Austin, TX (Howdy!).
What led to your decision to become an author?:
 I have been artistic as long as I can remember. Writing is
another form of artwork. Sometime in middle school, I knew I wanted
to write a book. A few decades later, I did it.
Tell us about what you’re currently working on, and
what you’ve written in the past.: 		My first publication, “Checkered Scissors”, is a novel about
four people, stuck in different worlds wanting to find the Checkered
Scissors in order to make their way home. I am currently working on a
collection of short stories, some which were written while I developed
my writing voice and other, fresh stories. Each story has my absurd,
quirky fiction. Next, I plan on writing the sequel to Checkered
Scissors.
What are some of your strongest points as a writer,
and what if anything are you constantly working to improve upon?:
 Dialog and abstract situations are two of my strongest
points. I strive to make improvements to characterization. I’d love
to write characters as well as JK Rowling, Stephen King, or Terry
Pratchett.
Are you self published, traditionally published or
both? Why did you choose to go that route?: 		I am self-published. Before releasing Checkered Scissors, I
investigated and weighed both options. Both paths seemed difficult,
required hard work, and patience. I think the main reason I chose
self publishing is more control.
What format are your books available in? Which of
these formats do you prefer and why?: 		Checkered Scissors is available in various digital formats
and print-on-demand. I would like to work on the audio version
someday. I consume stories in all formats, which is why I like that
there is a variety of media formats, to appease any reader.
How do you go about marketing your books?:
 This answer is tricky, because I have tried a variety of
marketing methods. Most of my efforts have been very grassroots
efforts. Word of mouth has produced a few sales. I’ve made bookmarks
to hand out and post on community bulletin boards. I’ve donated books
to libraries and book groups. Recently, I started a social experiment
called the “Migratory Book Project” in which I tag my books, hand them
to people who like to read, and ask them to pass it on when they are
done. Gotta start somewhere, right?
Have you ever had to deal with harsh criticism in a
review, and how do you handle it?: 		Most people have enjoyed my stories, because they find them
to be incredibly imaginative and generally a fun read. Most of the
“harsher” reviews are because they don’t understand the absurdity of
my fiction. So, the way I look at this kind of feedback is that not
everyone likes Monty Python or They Might Be Giants. When criticism
comes back regarding how the book is written, I try to understand the
issue and use the criticism constructively.
What are your favorite genres to both read and
write?: 		I write the kinds of stories that I enjoy reading. At the
end of the day, before going to sleep, I like to wind down with a
light, easy read. Most of the time, I like the YA books, because they
aren’t filled with flowery language and big words to trip over. A few
books with big, fancy words, I’ve set aside. As for a particular
genre, I prefer fantasy and sci-fi, but I’ll read most anything as
long as it’s light.
What authors have influenced or inspired you?:
 As I said above, JK Rowling, Stephen King, and Terry
Pratchett can write characters that pop off the page. I love the
fantastical, artistic content of Neil Gaiman’s stories. Douglas Adams
has always been a favorite. His books may not be written well in the
“normal fashion”, but you can’t argue with their popularity.
What kinds of things do you enjoy doing when you’re
not writing?: 		Besides writing, I have a hobby of designing tabletop games
under my hobby company, Pegamoose Games. As much as I enjoy creating
game, I love playing games, too. But, I’ll set everything aside for
spending time with my family.
What software do you use for your writing? Did you
try others before you settled on the one you’re currently using?:
 I started writing with word processors, like MS Word or
Pages. I was introduced to Scrivener a few years ago and love how
well I can organize my stories with it. Plus, publishing with it was
a breeze.
What is it that you like about the software you’re
currently using that makes it the best solution for you?:
 As I said, the organization. I can compartmentalize a
complex story structure, like a novel, by putting the different
elements into their own buckets: plot outlines, character
development, scene descriptions, the chapters, and so on.
What’s the best advice you could possibly give to
your fellow authors?: 		Talking with many other authors, they all sound like Nike
ads… Just do it! That’s good advice. But, I’d have to say, no
matter what you want to do: write a novel, draw a comic, film a
movie… Don’t let others tell you you can’t. You can. And, even if
it never amounts to much, it matters to you. You put something new
and unique into the world, and that is very special. It’s like Neil
Gaiman says, “Make art.”
Where can people find out more about you and your
books?: 		http://www.checkeredscissors.com
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Ghost Worlds, book 8 of the Unseen Things series is now available!

Ghost Worlds Blog PostI am very happy to announce that book 8 of the Unseen Things series is now available! This book is the first in the series to transition from contemporary fantasy to a fantasy / sci-fi hybrid.

Synopsis: Four different Earths in four different dimensions left as nothing but lifeless balls of rock and sand after their moons were destroyed, sending massive chunks of debris slamming into the planets, ripping away their atmospheres and extinguishing every last bit of life. With a near infinite number of dimensions, was it beyond the realm of possibility that these four ghost worlds were nothing more than a coincidence, or was it perhaps a coordinated attack intended to destroy whatever, or whoever inhabited those worlds?

Suspicions and theories abound, but they’ll never find the answers without investigating, and for that they’ll require some new gear, including space suits, metal detectors and ground penetrating radar. If these dead worlds truly were inhabited by the race they called the creators, then they not only need to find that out for sure, but they also need to find out who destroyed them, and why.

Also, in an effort to repair a relationship that had grown distant, Jarrod, Derek, Tina and Sarah invite Patricia to come down to the cabin with them for a little vacation so they can reconnect and get things back to the way they were back in the early days. While they’re there, they head out to explore an as of yet unexplored dimension and find a world that’s beyond even their wildest imaginations, as well as a mineral that could either be the key to producing limitless energy, or the catalyst of their own destruction.

Ghost Worlds is book 8 of the Unseen things series.

You can purchase the book right here through the official site and get it in three different formats (Epub, Kindle and PDF), or you can get it from Amazon or Smashwords. Once Smashwords sends it out for premium distribution, it’ll be available on a variety of other sites as well.

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Book 8 is now complete!

The main story of Ghost Worlds is now complete.  Later today I’ll start the editing process, so hopefully it’ll be published and available four our five days from now.

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Duane L. Martin