Author interviews. Meet the authors.

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INTERVIEW WITH MELVIN FOSTER, AUTHOR OF

“SHAKING HANDS WITH LEFKOWITZ.”

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CHAR: Mel, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us. Tell us a little about Melvin Foster.

MEL: I was born in Detroit and attended the University of Michigan. I was in a playwriting class with Lawrence Kasdan -- he was simply Larry back then -- and our professor was Kenneth Thorp Rowe, who had taught Arthur Miller several years before us. I spent 25 years working in advertising, 21 of them spent as a creative director at J. Walter Thompson. During those years I wrote a few novels, working during the early morning hours. I got encouragement from editors, but nothing got published. I left advertising to pursue two creative outlets. First, I wanted to write another novel and second, I wanted to become a voiceover talent. It's been a very interesting journey going from a regular paycheck to the freelance life. Shaking Hands With Lefkowitz, the novel I wrote after leaving advertising, took only three months to complete a first draft. It was a great high to work on it all day long, as opposed to "stealing" an hour each morning.

CHAR: Mel, Excellent, enjoyable, thought provoking! I loved “Shaking Hands with Lefkowitz. Will you share a little about this book with our readers?

MEL: Glad to. The book begins when Alan Borman, a successful attorney, sees a body lying face down in the street with three bullet holes in the back. A detective, Lefkowitz, remarks that the scene isn't quite right -- the man's Lexus still has the keys in it, his wallet is still in his back pocket. Then the EMS arrives and the techs turn the body face up to place it onto a stretcher. Borman turns pale. "Do you know the guy?" Lefkowitz asks. "Yeah, it's me," Borman replies.

From there, we are transported to what we assume is heaven. Or some version of it. Long white corridors. Physical reality that seems to shift with our thoughts.

The novel then deals with Borman's attempt to solve his own murder from the other side.

CHAR: You have used a very unique and original presentation for “Shaking Hands with Lefkowitz”. Your story seems to take a mystery thriller and weave it into a complex, for lack of a better word, fantasy, of a plausibility, where a death investigation quickly becomes a life investigation. What, where, or who was the catalyst? What inspired “Lefkowitz”?

MEL: That's a hard question to answer. I know this: I would not have written Lefkowitz the way I did if I hadn't already written a few other novels first.

Let me explain. The inspiration for Lefkowitz was that opening scene, the body in the street and the arrival of the EMS. I knew I wanted Borman to say, "It's me." And I knew I wanted Lefkowitz to then say, "Really? In that case I'd better take you in for questioning." That was it. Nothing more.

I spent three months trying to do all the conscientious things a writer should do before beginning a novel-length project. I journaled, asking myself plot questions, character questions, etc. I got absolutely nowhere.

Finally, armed with the knowledge that once begun, I had the stamina to finish a novel, I just sat down and started to write.

When Chapter Two began with a description of long white corridors, I was as surprised as the reader might be. My goal each day was to surprise myself.

CHAR: You did an excellent job of maintaining tension with the shifts between realities and with the flashbacks. What were the challenges you faced as a writer in making these transitions between reality and fantasy flow smoothly for the reader?

MEL: There are two primary stories in the novel. In addition to Borman's attempt to solve his murder -- a process which caused him to examine his life --there is the story of Arlene Jaffe, who is a counselor for victims of rape. The two stories both arise from an incident on a school playground when Alan and Arlene were thirteen years old.

Borman's story line is told in first person. I wanted the reader to experience the eccentricities of heaven from a novice's point of view. It helped, I think, make the experience feel more remarkable.

Arlene's story line is told in third person. It takes place in the present. Yet we very much feel the pain she still feels as a rape victim when she was thirteen.

Every time I left one story and went to the other, I tried to make a reference that segued naturally from Alan to Arlene and vice versa.

CHAR: You maintained an equally intriguing balance with your character interaction. They not only tug at the emotions but pass them to the reader. How difficult was it to imbue these emotions into your characters and did you find it difficult giving them an ending, and letting go after working with them?

MEL: It was relatively easy for me to give voice to Borman's emotions. His life was being judged down to the very slightest of incidents -- the panhandler he passed on the streets without giving him any money. Each incident proved to be a thread in an extremely complicated web that connected his life to everyone he ever met -- and to many others that he never laid eyes on. He reacted to this with wonder, with outrage, with love and with humility. I felt, as the writer, that I was sharing these emotions.

It was much harder to give voice to Arlene's emotions. She had been raped by her uncle as a teenager and now counseled rape victims. I have never experienced anything close to that in my life. But I was once robbed at gunpoint in my own home. (I did mention that I grew up in Detroit, didn't I?) So I knew what it felt like to be powerless and violated. My wife and I were placed on our hands and knees with our hands tied behind our back. I had fantasies for months afterward of ripping off the rope, jumping to my feet and beating the living hell out of the gunmen. I tapped into that experience in order to help me identify with Arlene.

I didn't have any trouble letting go at the end. I think that comes from my advertising experience. You work like a maniac putting in 12-hour days to create a commercial. You live it, breathe it, dream it at night for three months. Then it's on the air and you're onto thenext one. I guess I developed a "release" mechanism for my creations that way.

CHAR: You left a very successful career to pursue your writing. Is this something you have always wanted to do?

MEL: I wrote all during that career. Verrry slowly. About one novel every five years. I always wanted to be able to sit down all day long and crank one out. That was a remarkable experience.

CHAR: What books or authors do you feel have had the mosy influence on your writing and your desire to write.

MEL: There are writers whose work I love. Don DeLillo is amazing. Sometimes I come across a sentence he wrote to end a scene and I realize the vast gulf between his talents and mine. I love Pat Conroy. They both inspire me with the power of good writing to create awe. Chaim Potok is another writer who has touched my heart. My writing style is very different from all three of these great writers, but they inspire me to do my best.

CHAR: What advise do you have for aspiring authors.

MEL: Every copywriter in advertising is going to write a book some day. Most of them have already begun it. Most of them will never finish it. The one piece of advice I would give to a beginning author is this: kill your critic. Shoot him or her at least 20 times, cut him up with a chainsaw, tie a cement block to each piece and toss them into the river. (Again, Detroit.)

Typically, a beginning writer gets to about page 20 or 25 when he realizes that everything written to that point sucks. So he starts again. Odds are a thousand to one that he never gets to page 25 again.

It's that pesky critic. Ignore him. Don't -- at all costs -- go back to page

one and start over again. Kill the critic and continue with page 26. And don't worry about guilt. By the time you finish the first draft, your critic will have completely reassembled himself and, boy, will he have a lot to say!

CHAR: Where can interested readers purchase or order

“Shaking Hands with Lefkowitz?”

MEL: Lefkowitz is published by Zumaya. The simplest way to order it is by visiting www.melvinfoster.com. There's a link on my website that takes you directly to BookSurge where you can place the order. For book clubs, the book can be purchased through Zumaya at a discount for ten or more copies.

CHAR: Mel, again, thank you so much for taking the time to talk with us. See an excerpt below then click on Mel's picture to read a full review of this wonderfully written, thought provoking new novel by Melvin Foster.

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INTERVIEW WITH FEATURED AUTHOR

ROBYN JACKSON

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Interviewed by Shyan Marie

Shyan: Your novel "Lakota Moon" is inspired by a true story. Why write a story
based on an inspiration?

Robyn: Most fiction is inspired by reality, in one way or another. I think that the story finds the writer.

I read a very brief synopsis of Cynthia Ann Parker's life in Texas Highways magazine in the late 1980s when I was visiting my mother and stepfather, who was stationed in San Antonio with the Air Force at that time. Cynthia Ann was captured by the Comanche in 1836 when she was nine years old, and she eventually chose to remain with her captors and married into the tribe. Twenty or more years passed until she was found by Texas Rangers and returned to her white family with her little girl, who died soon after. Cynthia Ann died of a broken heart, unable to live with her biological family, who could not understand her or the choices she had made, and unable to return to her Indian husband and sons and the way of life she had chosen. Her story broke my heart, and I knew in that moment when I first read about her that someday I would write a novel inspired by her life. It just fascinated me, but five years passed before I was ready to write what would become "Lakota Moon."

Shyan: Since your novel is inspired by Cynthia Ann Parker, why not use her
story and character instead of creating your own?

Robyn: I wanted the freedom to create my own story and my own characters. And, Cynthia Ann's life is well-known by people who study the history of the American West, so I figured books had already been written about her, fiction as well as non-fiction, and I was right. I decided to write a story that has many similarities to Cynthia Ann's, because truth really is stranger than fiction, but I wanted to write about the Lakota, or Sioux, because I felt a connection to them for some reason I still can't explain. It's all the fault of "Dances With Wolves." That movie changed my life.

Shyan: Can you tell us a little more about "Lakota Moon" in your own words?

Robyn: "Lakota Moon" is an historical saga about two sides of an American family, a love story, and the first of a trilogy set between 1845 and 1882 that focuses primarily on the Sioux Indians and their struggle to survive, as seen through the eyes of Mary Eliza McElroy, a young girl who is captured by warriors while traveling on the Oregon Trail.

Shyan: "Lakota Moon" uses the term fade to black when it comes to the love
scenes. With the publishing world steering away from such novels and
toward steamy sex scenes, why write your own novel away from what
publishers want?

Robyn: I wanted the love scenes to be sensual and romantic, but not too graphic. I'm not opposed to steamy sex scenes, but it just didn't seem right for this book. I guess I believe "less is more." Or maybe I wanted the reader to use their imagination. And I want people of all ages to be able to read "Lakota Moon." I would have devoured this book when I was twelve or thirteen because it's a great love story, but the love scenes aren't too graphic for a reader of that age.

Shyan: Your characters and scenery come to life in your novel. How difficult
did you find it to accomplish such a thing?

Robyn: I worked hard to make the characters act and speak realistically, and to describe the land in such a way that the reader could picture it. It took a lot of research and rewriting to add details. When I write, I can see the scene in my head, like a scene from a movie, so that helps, too. And I traveled to the Northern Plains several times to see where the story took place and to do research at places like Fort Laramie and the Black Hills. I fell in love with South Dakota and came to understand why the Indians felt such reverence for the land, and why they would fight to the death to keep it..

Shyan: What authors do you admire and why?

Robyn: Some of the novels I read in junior high and high school served as the blueprint for the kinds of books I want to write ... sweeping historical sagas with wonderful love stories at the center. I loved Boris Pasternak's "Dr. Zhivago" Leon Uris' "Exodus," Daphne du Maurier's "Rebecca," and F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby." Those novels had a tremendous impact on me as a reader and as a writer. They were all wonderfully written, and full of memorable characters, and I have very happy memories of reading them.
In the last few years, I've found three new novels that are so beautiful I wish I had written them. They are: Ursula Hegi's "Stones From the River," which is about a dwarf woman in Nazi Germany. Trudi Montag is a wonderful character, and her search for love and acceptance resonates with anyone who has ever felt different or unattractive. Micaela Gilchrist's "The Good Journey," which was inspired by the letters and diaries of Mary Bullitt, the headstrong niece of explorer William Clark and the wife of Gen. Henry Atkinson, who was in charge of the western frontier around 1820. James Welch's "The Heartsong of Charging Elk," which is about a young Lakota man who is stranded in France while traveling with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. I was so worried about him, and so involved in the story that I dreamed about him every night. I also love Tony Hillerman's mystery series about Navajo tribal policemen Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. Those are two characters who grow and change with each book.

I love history and I love learning about different cultures. When I read fiction, I want to be transported to an interesting time and place, and I want memorable characters that I come to care about. Otherwise, why bother reading?

Shyan: What was your writing schedule like when it came to working on
"Lakota Moon"? Were there times you wanted to just give up and if so
what helped you get back on track?

Robyn: I'm a night owl, so most of the writing was done after midnight on Saturday night. That's one reason it took so long.

I never wanted to give up, I was having too much fun. Letting go was the hardest part. I'm happiest when I'm writing and creating, and I loved my characters and loved spending time with them. There were nights when I didn't feel like going into my home office and turning on the computer, but I would force myself to leave the TV and go in there. Once I got started, you couldn't pry me away from the keyboard. I didn't go to bed until the sun was up.

Shyan: How long did it take for you to complete "Lakota Moon"?

Robyn: I started writing on Jan. 1, 1994, and it took eight years to complete it, but I also wrote the two sequels during that time. I worked on "Lakota Moon" for two years, took two weeks off, then started "Mitawa" on Jan. 1, 1996. I worked on it for a year and a half and then went back to "Lakota Moon." But "Mitawa" begins eleven years after "Lakota Moon" ends, and I knew that some very important events happened during that time, so I started "War Cry" on Jan 1, 1999, to bridge the gap. So the third book I wrote is actually the second in the series. I always have to do things the hard way! I rewrote all three of them during 2001. I had a lot of illness and death in my family in 2002 and 2003, so I didn't touch the manuscripts for two years, but a few months after my mother died on Feb. 5, 2003, I decided to self-publish "Lakota Moon." I did one last draft in July and August 2003, then shipped it to the printer. The books arrived on Dec. 9, 2003, so all told, it took almost 10 years to the day to get "Lakota Moon" in print.

Shyan: With Native American being your first choice in writing, If given the
chance would you ever consider writing another genre?

Robyn: Absolutely. I want to write everything ... romance novels, contemporary fiction, a mystery series, Christian fiction, nonfiction, maybe even a cookbook or two!

Shyan: How long have you been writing stories and what made you decide to do
so?

Robyn: I wrote my first short stories and novels when I was 12, but they were terrible, and I knew it. I just had to write. I knew from an early age that I was a writer. One of my favorite memories is standing in the doorway of the children's section of the public library in Gulfport, Mississippi, where I grew up, and looking at all those shelves filled with books and thinking, "One day, my books are going to be on these shelves." I was six years old then, so I guess I knew instinctively that writing was my destiny. I never seriously considered doing anything else.

I became a journalist because it paid the bills and allowed me to learn to write for an audience and get published. It was great training.

Shyan: What inspires you to write?

Robyn: Besides just loving to tell stories and invent characters, immortality. I want to leave something behind when I'm gone. I want to be remembered. I want my life to have mattered.

Shyan: You self-published "Lakota Moon". Why did you decide to do so and would
you recommend self-publishing to others?

Robyn: I had an agent a few years ago, and I got some nice rejections from major publishers. They liked the book, they just weren't looking for historical fiction, especially historical fiction that didn't fit neatly into the romance genre. I think romance readers would love "Lakota Moon," but I don't classify it as a romance.

After my mother died of cancer, I started to think about how short life is, and how, if you have a dream, you'd better do all you can while you're able to make it come true. Mom died five months after being diagnosed, and I realized that if the same thing happened to me, I would not have time to go through a lengthy process of trying to find an agent and a publisher and then wait a year or so for them to publish the book. I decided to self-publish because I wanted to get "Lakota Moon" published while I was still alive. I also wanted to have my own business. After 21 years as a newspaper editor, I am burned out and need a change. Books are my passion, so being a book publisher is the next step in my career.

Self-publishing is a business, not a hobby. It takes a lot of time and effort and money to start your own publishing company. It takes about $5,000 to publish a book, but that doesn't include all the extra costs associated with starting a business. There are licenses and permits that you have to get, associations to join, travel expenses if you want to go to book signings and conferences, plus promotional costs to mail review copies. I just found out that I have to pay the state tax commission $300 for the privilege of paying them sales tax each month! Most of the start-up fees come out of your pocket before you ever earn a cent on book sales.

I don't have any regrets about self-publishing. After losing my grandfather, mother and father in a 15-month period, I needed something positive to focus on, and getting my book in print helped me get through this ordeal.
I thought it was worth the financial risk to put "Lakota Moon" out there and see what happens. If nothing else, the book is in print now and I can die happy.

If you're serious about turning your self-publishing venture into a business with long-term goals, do your research, save your money and then go for it, but if you just have one book you'd like to publish, use print-on-demand. It's cheaper and easier.

Shyan: Most readers/fans of your book have already heard there are two other
sequels to this story. Can you give us a sneak peek of the two?

Robyn: "War Cry" picks up where "Lakota Moon" leaves off. You find out what happens to Goes Alone (Mary Eliza's Indian name) and Mysterious Medicine, but her niece and namesake, Liza, also becomes a major character. "War Cry" follows the Lakota through the years when they were fighting the army and trying to keep the whites from taking their lands. It culminates with the battle of the Little Big Horn and their banishment to the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. The third book in the series is set on the new reservation. Liza goes there to teach, hoping to find out what happened to her aunt, and to reconnect with the Indian side of her family. I don't think it's giving too much away to say that there's a strong love story in each book.

Shyan: What other projects can we expect to see from you in the near future?

Robyn: So many people have been asking me when the second book is coming out that I'd better get busy getting it ready for the printer. It's written, I just need to typeset the pages and have the artist create the cover illustration. Oh yeah, and come up with the money. Other than that, I have a couple of romance novels in mind that I'd like to write. And yes, these romances will have steamy sex scenes! I plan to write to fit the genre to make them more marketable to the big publishers. And you can always check my Web site - www.robynjackson.com - for my latest column about writing and publishing. I update it every week. My goal is to help others achieve their creative dreams, so I offer lots of advice and tips on writing.

Shyan: So many writers have difficulty with Writer's Block. What is your advice
on the subject?

Robyn: Always think about your story before you sit down to write. Start working it out in your head - the plot and the dialogue - before you turn on the computer, so that you're not just staring at a blank screen and feeling intimidated.

Read over what you wrote the previous day and revise it to get into your writing rhythm. I always tried to write or revise a chapter each time I sat down at the computer, so the next day or the next week, whenever I got back to it, I would revise that chapter and then start on the next one.

There were times when I wasn't sure what happened in the next chapter, or how I was going to get from one point to another, so I would just take some time off and think about it. Driving is a great time for working out the plot or rehearsing the conversations between the characters. Your mind needs time to wander. That's when the answers come.

Shyan: What other advice would you give to inspiring authors?

Robyn: You have to make the commitment to write. That's the only way it will get done. And you have to be in it for the long haul, without any guarantee that it will ever be published. You have to do a lot of rewriting and keep challenging yourself to make it better. It can take years to write a novel, especially your first one, but it will be time well-spent. .

Shyan: Any final thoughts or comments you would like to add?

Robyn: The Bible says to everything there is a season, and I believe there are seasons in our lives when we are able to do particular things. If you are raising children or working 60 hours a week or going through some sort of emotional turmoil, you might not be able to find the time or the energy to write. Eventually, you will come to a time in your life when you are able to write, so don't give up on it, but don't beat yourself up if there are outside forces keeping you from writing. Stay open to the possibilities and if you're lucky, a story will find you, and one day you will tell it.

Shyan: I would like to thank our Author Robyn Jackson for taking the time out of her busy schedule to answer my questions for this interview.

For more information on Robyn Jackson and her Novel "Lakota Moon" please visit her website at: http://www.robynjackson.com

You can also find Chapter One of "Lakota Moon" at: http://www.robynjackson.com/pages/898659/index.htm

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INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR PEGGY TIBBETTS

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Peggy Tibbetts is the author of "The Road to Weird," "Rumors of War," and "The Word of Mouse." She has worked as an associate producer of educational videos for Upper Midwest Films, contributing editor for Children's Magic Window magazine, and Children's Writing Resource Editor at Inkspot.com. Currently she Managing Editor of the Writing World newsletter and writes a monthly column for children's writers, "Advice from a Caterpillar," at Writing-World.com. She is also the YA book reviewer for Readers Room. She lives with her family in Silt, Colorado. Visit her web site at: http://www.peggytibbetts.net

CHAR: Peggy, I loved reviewing Road to Weird, both Carly and Harpo
are wonderful characters. They each struggle with very realistic, everyday
problems of adolescence and wedge an edge of the seat battle with
the unusual and unknown, each in their own unique way.
Tell us about Carly and Harpo.

PEGGY: Thank you Char! I'm thrilled you loved these characters. Carly and Harpo are opposite personality types, which makes their reactions to their paranormal experiences quite unique.

Carly Baillie is faced with the challenge of adjusting to her new home and new life in Colorado. At the same time she needs to stop letting her obnoxious sister, Jackie push her around. In the beginning, Carly is shy and introverted. She desperately needs to come out of her shell to deal with the changes of moving cross country and finding new friends. While her sensitive nature is what enables her to recognize the strange occurrences in the family's new home, it's also what makes it so difficult to cope when Jackie picks on her. In the end, her desire to uncover the secrets of the ghost brings her out of her shell and able to stand up to her sister's bullying.

Harpo Marx, on the other hand, is a talented, witty extrovert. However a bump on the head from a fall off the balance beam rocks her self-confidence. As a result of her head injury, she is suddenly "blessed" with psychic ability while at the same time forced to sideline her gymnastics goals. Harpo has to go inside herself and do some soul searching to cope with the challenge of understanding the visions she's having, while enduring the ridicule of her classmates and her own self doubt.

CHAR: Carly's Ghost and Harpo Marx is Seeing Things, from haunting
to psychic abilities. Each story is told with credible plausibility and
realism. How much research went into writing Road to Weird?

PEGGY: I've always been interested in the paranormal, such as ghosts and psychic phenomena, and done a great deal of research on the different aspects of the metaphysical. These books came about as a result of that research and my desire to show different children coping with their own experiences with the paranormal in the context of real life.

CHAR: You also wrote Rumors of War.Tell us a little about it, and what
differences you found in writing adult and YA fiction?
What challenges did you face as a writer switching between
the genres, if any?

PEGGY: "Rumors of War" is an adult suspense novel set in Duluth, Minnesota, at the onset of the 1991 Persian Gulf War. When Ilene Singleton's husband is sent to war she discovers series of shocking family secrets that put her and her two daughters in danger. The book has received excellent reviews and quite a lot of interest from film producers.

I'm often asked about the difference between writing for adults and writing for children. There really is no difference, except that children's books tend to be shorter than adult books. But other than that, the goal is always to tell a good story.

Writing for children is more challenging than writing for adults because I'm always mindful that the story not only has to be good but told in a way that's hip to today's kids and real enough to hold their interest in the face of all the other competing media out there -- videos, games, and TV.

CHAR: Rumors of War is self published, but Road to Weird is
published by Zumaya Publishing. Tell us a little about your experience
with each publishing option, the pros and cons.

PEGGY: Self-publishing gives the author more control over the whole process of production, distribution, marketing and promotion than with a traditional publisher. Plus the book stays in print for as long as the author wishes. I have really enjoyed my experience with self publishing and plan to publish more books this way. My experience with Zumaya is too new to judge the pros and cons. However my first book, "Carly's Ghost" was published with Press-Tige Publishing, but the publisher went bankrupt the year after the book was released. So that was a huge "con." The problem for authors regarding small publishing companies is we can be subject to the bad business practices of the individuals in control of the company.

CHAR: You are also managing editor for writingworld.com's newsletter
and do a monthly children's writers column. Busy, busy lady!
How does this very busy schedule fit into and effect your writing?

PEGGY: And I'm also the new YA book reviewer for Readers Room.

As a result I never have enough time to write! Of course that translates into my having to maintain a rather rigid, disciplined schedule. I'm less spontaneous than I ever used to be. I used to be a late night writer. I would get really cranked up and rolling at around 8:00 at night then go till 1 or 2:00 a.m. But I find my overloaded schedule makes me more tired at night and I don't have the stamina to keep going till all hours. I've learned to adapt to an afternoon/evening writing schedule that seems to be working out better and better for me.

CHAR: Have these writing credits helped you to promote your own work?
How important is getting the experience and writing credits to aspiring
writers and where should we start?

PEGGY: Yes, having a constant presence on the Internet through Writing World and now Readers Room has been a big boost for promoting my work. My books are featured at Writing World's Author's Bookshelf, which is excellent exposure. Because of my already busy schedule I don't have a lot of time to devote to promotion so I'm thankful for the support I get from any and all directions. Web sites like Writers and Readers Network are so important for bringing authors together with readers.

These days I think it's more important than ever for aspiring writers to accumulate writing credits in order to attract the attention of editors and get their work read. How writers gain writing credits depends on the individual writer. In my case, I sought jobs in the field of writing. I've worked at various editorial jobs, wrote a newspaper column, wrote educational film scripts, and ran a desktop publishing business. Through job experiences, I've built up my writing resume. However if a writer is also working full-time in another career outside the home, such as nursing, teaching, accounting, advertising, etc., then I think it's important to write stories, articles, or book reviews and submit them to magazines, ezines, web sites, contests, etc., to develop a presence online and in print and start building that writing resume.

CHAR: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer, or I should
say, that you were a writer? What and who have most influenced your
desire to write and your writing?

PEGGY: When I was in first grade our teacher, Miss Knight helped the class compose a "Today" story on the blackboard. Then we had to copy it down on paper. Through that daily exercise I grew to love writing and learned how to tell a story. Through most of my childhood I thought I wanted to be veterinarian. Though how that manifested itself is I wrote animal stories. It wasn't until I was in high school and found out how much I hated Chemistry that I realized I writing was a better choice for me.

As for what influences my writing I'd have to say the news, both history and current events. I'm both a CNN junkie and a history buff. The news and history always get me wondering "what if?". I always want to know more about a particular event, and explore deeper into the story.

The who, when it comes to influencing my writing, is other authors. Too numerous to name and unfair because I always leave out someone. So let me just say that I think it's very important for aspiring writers to develop and cultivate relationships with other authors as friends and mentors as a way of networking and surviving in this tough business.

CHAR: What advise do you have for aspiring writers?

PEGGY: It's no longer enough to be disciplined to write every day and be a good writer. You must learn to promote yourself and your work. You need to develop an online and print presence in order to get your work noticed.

CHAR: Peggy, thank you for taking the time to talk with us.

PEGGY: Thank you Char. I'm grateful for the opportunity to share some of my books and myself with other writers and readers. Writers and Readers Network is a great way to bring authors together with their readers. After all, that's why we write -- for our readers.

Visit Peggy at:
http://www.peggytibbetts.net

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INTERVIEW WITH BRIAN ROUFF
AUTHOR OF "DICE ANGEL"

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Author Brian Rouff is married with two grown daughters and a new grandson. He is a graduate of UCLA, with a degree in communications, and owns and operates his own advising firm, In-House Advertising, and is a partner in Imagine Marketing of Nevada, Inc.

Brian's self published novel, Dice Angel, a charming story with a witty insider's look at Las Vegas, has sold over 12,000 copies. He has graciously agreed to talk with us about his book and some of his marketing strategies.

Char: Brian, Dice Angel is certainly a witty look at Las Vegas and its unique lifestyle, but it is much more. Tell us about Dice Angel.

Brian: Most books and movies about Las Vegas are written by outsiders and take place only on the Strip. I've lived here for 23 years and wanted to capture the Las Vegas that I know, warts and all. I understand that most of us have a love/hate relationship with the city. We love the energy and the entrepreneurial spirit, but we hate the traffic, the pollution, the corruption, the crime, basically all the by-products of a boomtown. I tried to give locals something they could relate to, while making visitors feel like Vegas insiders.

Beyond that, I had some things I wanted to say about gambling and karma and the nature of luck, so I created my main character, Jimmy Delaney (also known as "Jimmy D"), as a regular guy on a downward spiral. Some of it's his own fault and some of it isn't, but the bottom line is he's going to lose something that means the world to him. Ultimately, he has to make choices that go against his basic nature and fly in the face of his personal demons. I hate to make it sound too serious, though, because Jimmy's got a dry, self-deprecating
sense of humor, and he's surrounded by an eccentric cast of characters that keeps things from getting depressing.

Char: Your characters are so real and believable. Amaris, the Dice Angel, is wonderful and I just have to ask a Vegas insiders question, did you talk to Dr. Moody? What research and resources helped to create the realism and spice in this story?

Brian (laughing): I never talked to Dr. Moody, but many of the characters and situations are based, however loosely, on actual people and events. Obviously, this town provides a wealth of material if you just keep your eyes open. The idea for Amaris came from a classified ad in Las Vegas CityLife, one of our alternative weeklies. A woman named Julie claimed to be able to bring people luck at craps. I couldn't stop thinking about it; about how desperate somebody would have to be to hire a person like that. Jimmy Delaney is a composite;
he's partly based on a friend of mine in Henderson who really owns a bar, and partly on a business associate who runs a print shop in Vegas. Both of them have that cocky Irish attitude, although Jimmy's smart-aleck comments are mostly my own. Pete, the homeless ex-stockbroker, also comes from a real life experience. Years ago, I gave a ride to a homeless guy (I'm a notorious soft touch, much to the chagrin of my wife) who gave me a stock tip. I never took his advice, but the stock turned out to be IGT. It was selling for something like $3.00 a share at the time. Since theen, it's gone through the roof. If I'd bought a thousand shares, I could retire by now.

I also took particular care to get the gambling scenes right. Nothing ruins a book or movie for me faster than inaccuracies in craps or blackjack, like when a character touches the dice with both hands. The dealer would warn you once, then you'd be asked to leave the table. When I first moved to town, I gambled quite a bit (until I figured out I couldn't beat them), so much of that comes from my personal experiences.

Char: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? What authors have most influenced your desire to write and your writing?

Brian: Even in school, writing was pretty easy for me. (Math, on the other hand, was impossible. Must be a left-brain, right-brain thing.) In college, I majored in communications and minored in journalism, so that helped me polish my skills. In real life, I've been in the ad biz for more than 20 years; during that time, I've probably written a thousand radio and TV spots, brochures, newsletters, etc. It all helps. Like most people, I always thought
I had a novel or two in me, but never had the time or energy until recently. Now that my kids are grown, things have settled down a bit and I've been able to find the time to write. It's been a very satisfying experience.

My tastes in books are fairly mainstream, not very literary. I enjoy fast-paced writing with realistic dialogue. Elmore Leonard is a master at this, and he always uses local color to its full effecct, whether his story is based in Detroit, Miami, or wherever. Speaking of Miami, I also enjoy Carl Hiaasen for his oddball characters and quirky sensibilities. Tom Robbins has always been another favorite of mine. His style is very distinctive and, of course, his characters are always way out in left field. When I was younger, I devoured all
of the Travis McGee books by John D. McDonald, and I guess some of that rubbed off on me, as well. My wife introduced me to Ann Tyler a number of years ago, and I've become a big fan. I think "Accidental Tourist" is a perfectly written book; the characters are complex and believable and weird, and they're capable of throwing you a curve at any time, just like in real life.

Char: The cover art, binding, paper quality and the writing in Dice Angel
is superior to some, if not most of the mass market books I have recently
read. Did you market Dice Angel to agents and major publishing houses?
What made you decide to self publish? What advice, tips, or hints do you
have for aspiring authors for ensuring this same quality, it they use alternative
publishing?

Brian: I wandered through the traditional publishing jungle for a couple of
years before deciding to take myself out of the game. I came tantalizingly close
to getting published, only to see my chances evaporate at the last minute, for
various reasons. Successful writers like Rowling, Grafton and Albom were
turned down hundreds of times before hitting it big, so I just figured the publishers don't know everything. They claim to be looking for new talent,
but the economic reality is they just keep recycling the same old brand names.

I've also had three different agents, none of whom were worth a darn.
A writer friend once told me that a bad agent is worse than no agent, and I believe him. All of my experiences were frustrating yet educationaal. I believed in the book and decided I'd better do it myself. Luckily, I had made some valuable contacts and hired people in the industry to do a little moonlighting on my behalf. My editor, layout person and graphic artist all come from the world of traditional publishing. I'm glad to hear you say they did a good job, because I wanted the quality to be comparable to anything you'd see in a bookstore.

Anybody who decides to go the self-publishing route should be a stickler for quality. Find an editor who can zero in on characterization, theme, structure, all the important stuff; not just grammar and spelling. Pay a little extra for dynamic cover art. Assemble the best possible team, because it's your name that's on the book.

Char: Dice Angel has sold over 12,000 copies and has some high rankings
on Amazon. Will you share with us how that came about, and some of the strategies you have used to gain these sales and rankings?

Brian: In many ways, writing is the easy part, promotion is the hard part.
As somebody once said, "It's a marathon, not a sprint." I've used two
strategies to help boost sales.

First, I've tried to be highly visible here in Las Vegas. After all, I'm a local
author writing about local things. Where better to establish a strong foothold?
Over the last eighteen months, I've appeared at book festivals and fairs, writer's groups, library gatherings, book clubs, chambers of commerce, Rotary Clubs, college classes, essentially anyone who will have me. If three aspiring
writers want me to come to their house for coffee and Danish, I'm there.

I've also given out hundreds of review copies to newspapers, magazines,
independent book reviewers, TV and radio stations, famous people, etc. You never know when somebody's going to fall in love with your book. John L. Smith, a popular columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, was the first to give me a nice review; I saw an immediate spike in sales. Then, I reprinted it and used it in my press kit, along with blurbs from other reviewers. It definitely adds credibility.

The Web is also a fantastic resource for self-published authors. It really levels the playing field. Used properly, an unknown like myself can be all over the place. Google and other search engines help me find web reviewers, e-zines, book clubs and the like; I e-mail them and ask if they'd like a complimentary review copy. Over a period of time, I've received dozens of favorable reviews,
which usually link directly to Amazon. That way, a person can buy my book immediately after they've read the review.

Speaking of Amazon, I find them to be incredibly savvy marketers. Even though they take a hefty cut, I feel they're worth it. Potential buyers don't necessarily remember my name, but they know Amazon. My section has a book excerpt, editorial and reader reviews, sales rankings and ratings; plus, Amazon usually bundles Dice Angel with a similar, more popular Vegas or gambling book at a reduced price. I know that if people come to my section, there's a good chance they'll buy. Amazon has also done a good job of creating an on-line book lover's community. Many of their amateur reviewers have become celebrities in their own right. About half of them post their e-mail
addresses, so I contact them and try to hustle up reviews and blurbs. Quite a few of them have been receptive. Again, every little bit helps.

Char: I enjoyed Dice Angel. When can I expect a new release from Brian Rouff? What are your future goals and plans for your writing career?

Brian: The downside of all this book promotion is that I have less time to write. Still, I've been stealing the time when I can. The big project this year has been a Dice Angel screenplay. I just finished the fifth and, hopefully, final draft. I've got an agent in Hollywood shopping it around and he's getting some bites.
Keep your fingers crossed and send happy thoughts out West. I'm also polishing up an unpublished manuscript that I had written before Dice Angel. The middle needs some work, but I think I'm on the right track. After that, I have a couple of other ideas I'm eager to get started on, including a Jimmy Delaney sequel.

My ultimate goal would be to make enough money as a writer to give up my day job. Isn't that what we all want, to be able to do what we love?

Interview with Author Andy JW Davie

Shyan Marie: Your first published book ‘Diary of a Curtain Twitcher’ is about a writer and his housekeeper who uncover what they assume is a neighbor's murder plot. Can you tell us a little more about the book in your own words?

ANDY: ‘Diary of a Curtain Twitcher’ is indeed about a writer and his (temporary) housekeeper uncovering a murder plot. But there is a wee bit more to it than that. While they try to foil the murder, they also fall in love, well I had to keep the slush lovers happy. They also have to battle John's fear of leaving the house brought on by the tragic death of his fiancée some years before. So the story touches on his grief. Without wanting to give away the ending, which is in many ways in the very beginning, it's a story about a man who has trapped himself in his fears, escapes them only to be trapped in another way at the end. The moral? Sometimes it's better to mind your own business. There's a lot of irony in the story, but I don't want to give away too much just now .

Shyan Marie: Where did the story plot's idea come from?

ANDY: Hmmm, this is a tricky question. It was a few years ago now, but as I recall it all started one night when a row was going on in the street where I live. I wondered what a writer would do if he overheard someone plotting a murder while he was spying on his neighbors.

Shyan Marie: ‘Diary of a Curtain Twitcher’ is an interesting if not unusual title for a book. Where did the title come from?

ANDY: The title was born when I was being nosy one night and peeping through the curtains to watch a row outside. My wife Kathleen commented on how nosy I was and that I was a curtain twitcher. I got to wondering, what if a writer used the antics of his neighbors as the plotlines for his books? The idea grew from there.

Shyan Marie: Your book's character, John Joiner, share's your own profession as a mystery writer. Why is that and do you share anything else?

ANDY: At the time it was my first novel. I've since learned that one should try to avoid writing about writers, though I don't know why that seems to be the unwritten rule among editors and agents? When I started out the novel, it made sense for him to be a writer telling his story.

Shyan Marie: Alfred Hitchcock's ‘Rear Window’ shares a likeness with ‘Diary of a Curtain Twitcher’ in subject in some similar ways. Did he influence you in anyway with your writing?

ANDY: While I hadn't thought of ‘Rear Window’ until after the novel was started, Mr. Hitchcock certainly influenced my childhood viewing and imagination. I've always enjoyed his movies and mysteries. SO I guess I write what I enjoyreading/watching.

Shyan Marie: While we are on that subject are there any other authors whom you'd admire and why?

ANDY: I admire all authors. It takes a lot to get published, that much deserves admiration, but the work and styles I enjoy include, Stephen King, Harlen Corben, Lee Childs, Dick Francis, and the list goes on. As for why? Well, I like the way they weave their plots and bring the characters to life. I aspire to be as good as they, but not the same.

Shyan Marie: How long did it take for you to complete the book?

ANDY: That's a good question. The first draft took about 8 months as I recall. The subsequent edits, took at least another six months. So all in all it took about 18 months from first germ to publication, though the first publication was in E-book form with a company called Electric Bookworm, which is no more.

Shyan Marie: You also have two e-books out in publication that we should mention; ‘Abigail's Lover’ another mystery novel and ‘Raven's Muse’ a book of poetry, after ‘Diary of a Curtain Twitcher‘ which is also available in e-book. Is it difficult writing in a female point of view for the character Abigail West?

ANDY: Writing from the female perspective was very difficult! Figuring out a woman is (as any man will tell you) pretty well impossible, they change the rules too often, but that's another story. Luckily I was able to ask many of my lady friends how they would react to this and that if they were like this or that or came from a particular background. Thus Abigail was born, kind of a mosaic person .Writing it in narrative helped, where as Deadpix well, that really was like living inside a woman's head...scary I can tell you.

Shyan Marie: Moving on to ‘Raven's Muse.’ What style of poetry can we find in the book, and if you were only given a choice between writing poetry or writing novels which would you choose and why?

ANDY: Ah, now that's actually a very tricky question. I'm not much good at defining my own style as such, but there are some funnies in there, some dark poems and some very deep ones too. They are all, however, quite early works now. As for what I would choose, it would have to be poetry. Bet that surprised a few. Novels are great fun and you can create entire worlds, etc., to escape to, but poetry is a form of expression from the soul, which releases and soothes the very essence of who we are. There may not be any money in it, but money was never what it was all about really anyway besides, I would always write a novel in poetic form. Hey, where there's a will there's a way.

Shyan Marie: So many writers find themselves dealing with problems such as writer's block. Do you share in those problems and if so in what ways do you stay motivated to write?

ANDY: Writers' Block... well life sometimes blocks my writing by giving me distractions and lots of things I have to do. When that happens as it is at the moment (what with all the movie things I'm chasing) I can't get to write much at all and that drives me nuts. As for actual block in the usual sense of the word, if I find myself stuck somewhere, I leave the work in question to one side for a while and start something else, maybe a poem, then go back to the work later. That usually does the trick. But even if it's nonsense I make sure I write something until the right words come back to me. Hope that helps. Basically the key is to never give up. It always works itself out as long as you relax and go with it.

Shyan Marie: Your writing has obviously taken you in a direction of a writer of mystery. Would you ever consider writing another genre if given the chance and why?

ANDY: Yes I would consider writing in other genres. I've written some horror stuff but am wary of that genre these days. If the story was right I would give it a go. Right now I am planning a sort of sci-fi/fantasy story, but want to write it as a script. If and or when it's done, I'll let you know how I got on with it :-) Generally I prefer thrillers, but would be open to anything provided the story is one I want to tell, it's the story that counts, not the genre, in my opinion.

Shyan Marie: Any future projects we should know about?

ANDY: Future projects... the ones I can tell you about are as follows: Beyond chasing the film making side of things with ‘Twitcher‘, ‘Deadpix’ and ‘Abigail's Lover‘, I am planning a few more novels and some screenplays, including a tv series.

The plan with that one is to write a feature screenplay with six episodes of a series to follow on, effectively offering the whole package in one hit at the outset. It's a sci-fi/fantasy type thing I suppose, but I can't say exactly what it's about just yet.

I seem pretty hooked on the screenplay medium right now and am enjoying playing with the various ways of getting a story or scene across. I'm seriously thinking about writing the sequel to ‘Twitcher‘, which was my plan all along way back when... so there is a lot in the pot waiting to happen, it's just a question of getting to them all and figuring out which one to do first.

Shyan Marie: I also understand you're a husband as well as a father. With a writer's busy schedule how do you find time to spend with your family?

ANDY: Finding time to spend with the family is in some ways hard, but since I don't work (beyond a little part time helping out here and there) I spend most of my time at home, writing and doing the usual family stuff. Sometimes though, the writing takes over completely, when it does I can get in trouble with my better half for not giving her and my little girl enough attention. Her way of letting me know I'm being selfish or over-obsessive with the writing, usually gets me being a good boy pretty quick .

Shyan Marie: The question I'm sure every writer is asked the first time around. How does it feel to be a first time published Author?

ANDY: How does it feel? When you get a letter or email saying, 'hey we'd like to publish this' it's like you won the lottery. All of a sudden all the hard work comes to fruition and you realize it's all been worth it. Money doesn't (or hasn't so far) come in to it. Knowing that it's out there and that people can share your stories is an awesome feeling. From then on in it just gets better and better. But don't let anyone fool you into thinking it's easy, it's not. You have to push, hard! And keep pushing until you get what you want. I guess that's much the same with anything in life worth striving for though...

Shyan Marie: Do you have any advice for other writers struggling to get published?

ANDY: Oh, I think I just covered that earlier, but it bears saying more than once. NEVER GIVE UP! Believe in yourself and your work. Always striveto improve the quality of your work, but believe in it and keep pushing until the doors open. As long as you keep going, you will reach your destination. As for rejections, and any writer worth his/her salt will collect many of them, regard them as stepping stones, each one is a step closer to an acceptance letter. That's the way I look at the growing rejection letters file I have.

Shyan Marie: Any final thoughts or comments you would like to add?

ANDY: Final thoughts? Whatever your dream may be, novels, movies, articles in the Times, know that every writer starts with the same thing... a blank page. Fill it with yourself and go for broke. Believe in yourself and others won't be able to help but believe in you too. Nothing is impossible as long as you don't give up. That's about it really.

Shyan Marie: I’d like to thank our author Andy Davie for taking time out of his busy schedule to grant me this interview.

Mr. Davie would like to give credit to Jeff Mullen and Dr Bob Rich for their help in getting ‘Diary of a Curtain Twitcher‘, ‘Abigail’s Lover’ and ‘Raven’s Muse’ published as e-books.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Interview with Author/Poet : BRIAN PEASE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Interview By: Emma Rose Nero

With Author/poet

BRIAN PEASE

October, 2003

ROSE: It is my understanding that you are just beginning your writing career.

Can you tell me why you decided to try your hand at writing?

BRIAN: Basically I have enjoyed writing since high school. I remember always

doing well with different types of writing in all kinds of situations.

Although I have written for a long time, I did not consider myself a

writer until about a year and a half ago.

ROSE: What happened a year and a half ago to make you change

your mind and start to consider yourself as a writer?

BRIAN:I started compiling everything that I had written about a year

and a half ago. I found scraps of paper, old envelopes, and paper

napkins that I had written upon. There were about one hundred and

fifty poems completed and some unfinished, many segments of prose,

and various essays and paragraphs on subjects from politics to philosophy.

When reviewing all that I found, I felt that my poetry evoked a lot of

emotion, and that most of my ramblings made sense. I may be a bit

biased, but I liked a lot of what I wrote, and I decided to learn as much

as possible about writing and to try to further this passion I had for it.

ROSE: To date, you have published a few articles in a newsletter,

and you have had several items published in a paper in Toronto.

In addition, you submitted a caption to a cartoon for a computer

magazine that won first place. Can you tell me what you won, and

how you felt when you won?

BRIAN: Computer World publishes a computer magazine in Canada

and other countries every two weeks. A one-frame cartoon without a

caption was featured in the humour section for each issue. It invited its

readers to compose a caption and send it in. The best one was chosen

and the winner’s name and city were published. The winner also received

a mug. The win was a thrill when I was notified. The fact that my caption

was published along with my name was most valuable to me.

ROSE: Are you planning to continue writing for newspapers and magazines,

and do you see yourself moving to bigger projects like novels?

BRIAN: My interests include doing articles for newspapers, periodicals,

newsletters, and magazines. At this particular time, my sights are set on

short stories. I feel that I could do justice to pieces up to five or six

thousand words, rather than the longer novella or novel.

ROSE: What genre do you like to write, and do you read the same type of material that you write?

BRIAN: I have not settled into one genre of writing at this time. However,

I read mostly Science Fiction and Mystery short stories, and I browse

newspapers quite a bit. I would have to say that I do not write the same

kind of genre that I read. The type of writing I do, the type that gives me

the most satisfaction, is the kind where I can take a simple drop of water

and make it glisten, while hanging tenaciously to the end of an icicle waiting

for the precise moment to let go. I just recently sent a query letter to a card

company with four submissions. I am very optimistic that they will buy all

four, but realistically I am ready to receive some very good advice instead.

I like to do things a little different and that is reflected in some of my poetry.

For example, I wrote a poem contrasting a spider and a butterfly presumably

to express some repressed emotional feelings I was having at the time.

ROSE: Can you share that specific poem with us, or do you feel it is too private?

BRIAN: Yes, I will share it. But, please keep in mind that it is in its original form

and needs polishing.

A Butterfly Found

A larva spins its cocoon

And the spider spins its web

Each a masterpiece

Each designed to sustain life.

The web

A place to dwell?

Its strong structure not to be broken

Its lure of lacey lines houses a deadly center

It’s visibility not to be noticed

What’s a dead fly.

What is a dead fly?

Food for a thousand miniature deadly centers to devour at will

Death is beautiful?

The cocoon,

A tomb?

Silken white threads… a changeling’s haven

Strong, and protective… a life-giving fortress

It’s gray repulsive appearance…lying about its heart.

What’s a butterfly.

What is a butterfly?

Veined loveliness.

A sprinkle of defined color, bringing hope of a thousand replicas.

It makes eyes see the beauty of life

A flower offers its petal

For it to light and

To sip the sweetness within.

I’ve found a butterfly

Life is beautiful.

ROSE: That was very nice Brian. But, you also write, and I believe you

prefer to write, rhyming poetry. Some people say rhyming poetry is

out of style. Can you tell me why you chose that style of poetry instead

of the more modern styles like freeform or Haiku?

BRIAN: I tried freeform and Haiku. A while ago, I found a site where they

would give topics and invited anyone to send in a Haiku verse. I

participated a couple of times, then I went on to something different.

There was no monetary prize, but if your verse won, your verse would

be displayed along with your name mentioned. But, you are correct,

I do prefer to write a rhyming verse. I think it beautifies the poem more

than if it is written in freeform. My initial inspiration came from William Blake,

particularly from the songs of "Innocence and Experience."

ROSE: Brian, will you also share one of your favorite rhyming poems with us?

BRIAN:

Men play at ruling the world

How many men who've come and gone
Thought the world as a song
While others stopped. Listened and gave
And their reward a closer grave

How many times will they try?
To push their will, promise the sky?
Load ideas upon the back
Of duped carriers.A party pack.

They thin the wedge sugar sweet
With logic, care, trust. And meat.
Anything that'll pull or favour
The other end. Only they will savour

Men don't rule, they play a game
To win opponents and shape the same

Who's he that can really care
Which way a nation aught to fare
Only those who listen who give
And promise others the way they live.

ROSE: Does your family support your writing?

BRIAN: My family is too good. It is rather difficult to get really gritty,

constructive criticism from them. The way to polish gold is to take a

course piece of emery cloth and gradually work to finer grit until the

final rubbing with a soft cloth brings a brilliant luster. But, you first need

the rough paper to take off the rough edges. They are great with soft

cloth praise. However, I must say that Suzanne (Sue) is super at being

supportive as a wife in all aspects of my writing. Vanessa, the daughter

in her role as Princess, keeps us both young and current with teenage

vernacular. You all know what eighteen year olds can be like, never a dull

moment.

ROSE: Do you have any goals set for yourself?

BRIAN: My writing goals are not set in stone yet. I have roughly determined

that for about three to five years I will learn, experiment, and flex my writing

muscles with a number of different genres. I expect in that time to sell

some work and to get published as much as I can. After that, I expect

to settle on no more than three different types of writing, and hopefully

earn some sort of income.

ROSE: Are you happy with the way your writing is going now?

Is there anything you want to change about your writing?

BRIAN: I am reasonably happy with how my writing is progressing.

I am most happy with the voice my writing presents. But, I feel my

writing tempo is not as fast as I would like it to be. One other aspect

that I feel needs improving is the edge that my writing has. Sometimes

I think it is too bland. I feel at ease with the rewrite, edit, rewrite cycle.

Yet, sometimes I do not go far enough. I need more discipline cutting

what I like that I know should not be there.

ROSE: Brian, I would like to take this time to thank you for allowing

us to get to know you better. But, before I let you go completely, is there

anything else about yourself that you would like us to know?

BRIAN: I guess that I have had a varied work life as a laborer, counselor for

children who are mentally challenged, a foster parent, jeweler,

diamond appraiser, drapery salesman, and I have dealt Blackjack

in a small casino. I also had the opportunity to take a bomb detection

course in conjunction with checking limousines for explosives for a

NATO meeting that was held in Toronto Canada, and oh yes,

a self appointed writer.

Copyright © 2003 EMMA ROSE NERO. All rights reserved.
Reproduction or use of any portion thereof is a direct violation of U.S.
and International copyright law.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Featured Author/Screenwriter : CRAIG MACLACHLAN
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CHAR: Craig MacLachlan is a twenty-nine-year-old author/screenwriter

living in Couer D' Arlene, Idaho with his wife of eight years,

Christina Kiehnle. They share their life with their dog, Cassie, a

talking parakeet named Cinder, their cat Tux, and Rajah and Sheba,

their horses.

When not writing or reading, Craig says he enjoys all things

outdoors: fishing, hiking, gold panning, lost treasure hunting,

biking, swimming, and boating. "I am just a plain outdoor fanatic!"

Craig has graciously agreed to talk to us about his writing.

Craig, when did you first know you wanted to be a

writer? Who would you say has most influenced your desire

to write and your work?

CRAIG: I’ve always loved reading, since I was a child.

I absolutely adored English lessons in grade school because

I was able to write these neat kid ideas I had into daily

and weekly journals we started in third grade. That ended up

being the year there was a children’s writing competition, I

believe it was national, but it started out in separate states.

I entered, not sure what I wrote (so long ago!), but I

won second place in the region and third in the state.

Unfortunately, only first and second was able to go onto

the national competition, but I was elated that I had done so well!

After that I always jotted down little stories, read more and more,

then in 7^th grade I entered a poem contest for the county and won

first place. The poem was in all the newspapers. I’ve never

written a real poem since, go figure, huh? Ever since then,

I’ve done nothing but write, for most of the time it was short

stories, only the last 3 years have I been attempting novels,

and of course scripts.

Who most influenced my writing? Early on, my friend Rod,

who read just as much as I did. He encouraged me to write because

he liked what I wrote. Another friend who really helped me along

was Jesse. Jesse and I actually wrote a Choose Your Own Adventure

book together for a contest put out by the publisher of that book

series. It was very well done, I thought. Though we didn’t win,

about 2 years later Jesse showed me a current book in the series,

and it’s characters and idea was very similar to what we had written.

Of course, being young, the only copy we had was the one sent to

the contest! Oh well, you live and learn. As far as other writers

influencing me, I would say they would be Margaret Weis and

Tracy Hickman of the Dragonlance Series, and Dean Koontz.

CHAR: Craig, you worked in collaboration with authors

Bumper Smith and Emma Rose Nero on the screenplay

for the story TEQUILA SHEILA, and with author Andy JW

Davie adapting his novel, DIARY OF A CURTAIN TWITCHER

to screenplay format. Last month, working with Andy

and actress Sara Dee you put together a reading of the Twitcher

screenplay. Tell us how that came together and how it felt

hearing your screenplay read. Tell us a little and your experience

working with other writers.

CRAIG: Tequila Sheila was the first script I adapted from a novel.

Honestly, it was quite easy, having a written story to work from

makes life simple! Of course, there had to be changes here and

there. Some things added, some taken away, changed to fit the

"Hollywood" image and so forth. It turned out well. Working with

Bumper and Rose was great.

Working with Andy has been wonderful.

I adapted Twitcher for Andy after completing Tequila Sheila.

The truth is, the reading was all Andy and Sara. I did a

small amount of research on a few people, but that was

about it. Those two worked very hard at getting the reading

up and running. Since I live here in the United States, there

was little I could do to help set the thing up in London.

Andy has been a master at coming up with plans and

ideas to get Twitcher off the ground, and I truly appreciate

everything he has done, and the opportunity to work with him.

Hearing Twitcher read aloud by actors/actresses was totally

amazing. To hear something you wrote being played out in

real life was a treat, and made me shiver as I listened to it.

What a great feeling…of course, next we’ll be hearing and

seeing it on the screen, aye Andy! We have some new ideas

in the planning, we are both working on for Twitcher, so

there will be more news in the future regarding the script.

The biggest thing I would stress when working with other

authors on projects, is complete and total communication.

You can view pictures of the reading and listen to sound

clips on Andy's website at http://www.thejays.nildram.co.uk

CHAR: Craig, you signed with an agency for Tequila Sheila and

I understand this was not a very good experience.

Will you share a little about that and what you learned

we can and should look for, watch out for, when seeking an agent?

Any questions we should ask, contract points we should be aware

and cautious of?

CRAIG: Now there’s a sore subject LOL! Wow, what a deal.

The first agency I get and it turns out to be nothing but trouble.

Bumper and I were the "co-authors" of the script. He had been

talking with The Donna Wauhob Agency for some time, in

particular with said agent Mike Madsen. Mike thought Tequila

would go places and wanted to try and sell it. But, at first,

Donna, didn’t like the language and graphical nature of the story,

so he had to talk her into it. Once he did, they sent us both a

contract, which after taking a long couple of reads of the deal,

sounded like a normal WGA standard contract. We were signed

for about 10 months.

So, first off Mike and I go through the script

meticulously and make changes, some of them were big ones,

which took time to iron out. After that was done, and it got Donna’s

seal of approval, it was off to marketing the script, which is where

trouble signs suddenly began appearing.

Mike sent off photocopies of the script to Universal, Miramax and

Lifetime television. Great right? He sent them in a non-Hollywood format.

Just plain old copies, not 3 hole punched with brass binders and a cover

page. Basically they saw the script and tossed it without even reading a

line. So we had suddenly lost those 3 places for un-professionalism.

I found out that Mike also was working full-time at the postal service,

which is fine, but I wondered how he did all his agent stuff if he

worked there also. Suddenly, he began emailing Bumper, having

him ask me to make copies of the script, bind them correctly, and

send them to him so he could market the script. He also wanted

me to send money for postage and phone cards so he could call

companies!!! I was in total disagreement, because no up front

money fees were ever discussed upon the signing of the contract.

I rebelled. Mike just kept complaining he had no money to do

anything.

Then I find out from Bumper that Mike is trying to sell

his own scripts to Jagged Edge Films to make money. He said

he needed to make money to distribute ours, and he was submitting

to a production company he told us to stay away from. Bumper and

I have been in contact with Jagged Edge for sometime, but they were

over run with scripts at the time. Anyways, Mike said that what he was

doing was illegal, because being an agent for an agency, he was

suppose to go through Donna, which he wasn’t so not to tell her.

Well, I told her, and told her everything that was on my mind.

What was her response? She protected him! Told me she was

actually the only agent at the agency, and that Mike was a hired

on hand. She did not like me stating that us paying for stuff was

wrong, and she complained about how she takes on too many

first time scriptwriters and has no extra money to submit their

material. Told me how the others that are signed have no problem

giving her money to do the work. Said if we wanted it done, to make

a copy of the script for every place we wanted it submitted to,

send it to her, send her postage to have it sent to the companies

and I also had to find out the contact numbers for people at

studios we wanted it submitted to. Uh, excuse me here, you

are the agency, not me. I told her what I thought, I said looks

like I am the agent, all you are doing is making one phone call

and asking permission to send the script. Meanwhile I am

finding all the contacts, printing all the scripts, giving you

postage money and phone money. I had had enough, and

just gave up on them and waited for the agreement to run

out on Sept. 29, 2003. Now that it has, we are free to explore

other areas for the script.

So, in short, before signing anything with any agency…

ask, ask, ask! Then ask some more. Research the

company, check out the Better Business Bureau…even

type in the company name followed by "complaints, or

grievances" in a web browser. You would be surprised at

what shows up! Basically I learned no matter how much a

agent, etc. believes in your work, that doesn’t’ mean they

are on the up and up!

CHAR: "Darn it, Craig, I was reading that!"

LOL, you are cliffhanger king on the Writing Road.

Are you going to finish some of those exercises and

share the ending someday?

CRAIG: LOL, good question Char. What’s funny is

I don’t purposely try to leave my stories

hanging when I do an exercise. It just happens, I

start doing one and it always takes off and this

entire story starts forming in my mind and I can’t

stop! So I have to quit while I’m ahead, which means

there will be more to come, so stand by and

watch that space for the next thrilling installment of

an unfinished exercise J . And I have to admit,

I’m sure I will get in trouble for this, but I actually

don’t have a lot of the exercises I’ve done saved

on the computer. Only recently have I been doing

that…so I guess I had better go through the archives

and try to find my old ones. Will I ever finish them?

Hmm, not sure…saving them in my "ideas" folder helps

me think of new projects, etc. I have added some of

the exercises, or actually incorporated them into

some of my current works.

CHAR: What are some of your immediate goals for your writing?

CRAIG: Currently, my goal is to Finish Melbon and Listener,

along with the 2 or 3 scripts I am doing. Of course, my

biggest short-term goal is to finish a novel, which I have not

done! I have finished many scripts and short stories (Yes,

I know, a miracle J ), but never a novel. I came close with

Melbon at one time until it got wiped from my PC during a

crash. I would also like to continue gaining interest in Twitcher

and Tequila Sheila. Find an agent to work with for Listener, and

NOT start any new projects until I complete the ones I am doing.

I have a problem of always having ideas and always starting them

but never finishing. I am cracking down on myself to stick with

these two novels, and complete them before even penciling out

a word or thought on any of the other hundred ideas in my mind

right now.

CHAR: What are some of your long-range goals?

CRAIG: My long term goals are to become successful at

writing, whether that is with novels, scripts, or both. Be

able to quit my day job and write full time. A project I am

thinking on for the future, is writing a lost treasure book

on parts of Montana. I know plenty, and have lots of

contacts that know quite a few legends of lost mines,

gold, etc. in the area. That is something I would like to

accomplish in the future also.

CHAR: The lost treasure book sounds like a fascinating

project. What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

CRAIG: Read everything you can get your hands on.

Especially in the field you enjoy writing in. And write

all the time. The more you write the better you will

become. Don’t be afraid to have others critique

your work. I used to be, and now wish I had just bit

the bullet and done it from the beginning. It has helped

my writing so much, yes it is hard at first to see someone

else tell you this is not right, that doesn’t make sense, or

that your story is just plain not a good idea, but it’s is how

you learn. You grow hard-skinned and realize that it’s

a learning process. Take the changes and ideas in stride,

with confidence that you will be able to grow and learn from

it as a writer. If you are truly serious about becoming a writer,

get your work out there, get it critiqued, get the rejection

letters in the mail from agents and publishing houses,

re-write, read, keep submitting and suddenly one day

you will be published and all the hard work, sweat and

tears you’ve toiled so long with will pay off!

CHAR: Craig, thank you for taking the time to

share with us.

CRAIG: Thank-you.

Enjoy an excerpt from Craig's YA Fantasy Novel.

CHAPTER 1: A FLYING NUISANCE

Short and skinny, Valeck, easily slipped and dodged his way through the crowded cobblestone streets of Quendar. His yellow hair was cut short, but covered his ears. Green eyes were set in a small angular pleasing face. He wore a green top with white ruffles around the collar, wrists, and along the button seem. His leggings matched the white ruffles around the waist and ankles that stopped just short of soft white shoes. A small red pouch was held tight in his right hand.

Valeck looked up at the pale yellow sky, the sun’s rays tried to beat their way through the barrier, but could not and never would. It was the same every day, no different shades of yellow, no clouds or storms or rain, just plain dullness. He was used it, and couldn’t wait until he left this place.

Valeck stopped and looked over the display of goods on the tables before him. One was layered with sweet smelling breads, pastries, deserts, and another with inter-dimension magic items and non-inter-dimension ones along with weapons, pendants and clothing. His eyes scoured the tables, searching. Bodies kept jarring him one way then another. The noise of chattering and footsteps were overwhelming.

It was here, somewhere. He knew it hadn’t been bought yet, or stolen for that matter. One thing was certain; his task must result in success. ‘The High Council for The Inter-Dimensional Protection Between Life and Death Realities’ had chosen him. Valeck sighed, still not sure how the person he had to find was going to react. He had, at one time, been best friends with the fellow, but that seemed so long ago, over two years since his friend had vanished at the hands of Mashka who was now a prisoner in The Hold. She was becoming stronger, willing her prison to do her own bidding. Mashka’s plan had come close to success before her loss, the results of her close triumph still being repaired and felt.

A rough voice brought his attention to the merchant in front of him, "What’ll it be, kid?" Valeck looked at the scruffy unshaven man. He was overweight, had oily brown hair and a torn, stained tan shirt.

Valeck replied uncertainly, his voice shaking some. "Um…I don’t know yet sir. Still looking," his voice was high pitched and he despised it.

"Sure. Take your time kid," the burly man smiled, looking Valeck up and down. By his clothes, Valeck was certain the merchant assumed he was quite wealthy. Several charmed pieces lay on the table, one in particular, a sword, that once wielded and the proper word stated, would sing a sleeping melody to ones opponent. Of course, he had heard of several that had been, ‘mis-charmed’ by accident, causing the owner to sleep as well. Ready to move on, Valeck noticed a pendant hidden beneath part of a shield from ancient times that had been smuggled over from the other side. Half the pendant’s design was visible, the engravings covering its surface were correct. He smiled.

After a few moments of hesitation, Valeck reached into his pocket, brought out a stick of peppered jerky, and gnawed on it as he study the items on the table. The jerky melted in his mouth, it smelled fresh and tantalizing. He noticed the merchant staring wide eyed at him, licking his large lips, then averting his eyes.

He reached into his pocket, pulled out a second piece, and held it out, "Care for a piece, sir?" Greedily, the man snatched it from Valeck’s hand.

"Thanks, kid."

He hated being referred to as kid. He was fourteen and highly achieved for his age, yet everyone treated him like any other young sprout.

The merchant sniffed the jerky, tore off a chunk showing his crooked black and white teeth, and began chewing heartily.

A flash of blue swept in front of Valeck’s eyes, brushing his hair. The merchant sat stunned, his jerky gone from his hand. He stood, then raced around the side of the table pointing to the sky.

"That bird! It stole my food!" He bellowed, drawing the attention of the noisy crowd in the shop. Seeing him pointing, they stopped and looked up at the blue bird flying high in the sky, carrying the jerky in its claws.

Valeck took advantage while everyone’s attention was on the big burly merchant’s ranting and raving. He quickly grabbed the item from under the silver, sparkling shield. It should not have fit into such a small pouch, but this was no normal bag. It was a Bottomless Carry Anything Pouch he had received from his grandmother as a gift.

Valeck grabbed a loaf of sweetbread and some gooey pastries, dropping them into the pouch. He moved swiftly through the crowd, turned down a narrow alley, and slipped around a corner just as the crowd went back to shopping. He heard a faint holler from the merchant along with a scream of anger from the woman at the food table.

Valeck stopped in front of an old worn oak door. He looked up and smiled at the dark blue bird with white tipped wings as it floated towards him and landed on his right shoulder. The bird lifted a claw, tore off a chunk of jerky with its beak and began eating.

"Good work, Cinder." The bird weeped back at him.

The alley was shadowed by the tall long stretch of buildings on both sides. Several doors with lamps above them dotted the alleyway. But one door had no lamp, not even a knob or handle. He walked to the door, and placed his hand on its cold smooth surface. A tingling sensation ran through his body. The door slowly began to fade, and beyond the door was darkness.

Valeck walked forward, Cinder perched on his shoulder, still gnawing contentedly on his prize, they vanished into the darkness as the door rematerialized behind them.

A blue feather fell softly to the ground as a knob appeared on the door and a lamp above it illuminated the feather on the stone path.

It suddenly withered up and turned to ash.