Sky Child; an intriguing new YA novel by T.M. Brenner - Review & Interview

Sky Child -T. M. Brenner

If you have read my top ten YA reads for 2014 you would know that Sky Child received honorable mention.  As a fan of supporting other authors trying to  ‘make it’ I often troll crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter searching for writers bold enough to have a go at putting the power of publishing in the hands of supporters.  Not an easy thing for a writer to do by any stretch of the imagination.  Your book is your baby and to toss it out there to the fate of others is a terrifying notion -but that’s exactly what T.M. Brenner did with Sky Child. 

The book sounded promising and when the project funded, I received a signed copy.  It took me under a week to get through Sky Child. It can certainly be considered dystopian but dystopian on a level that thrusts the readers back to the stone age.  The story follows Sam through a series of circumstances that thrust Sam (unwillingly) into a leadership role among the hunters of The Crag (the system of caves where all the survivors live -the only people on earth for all they know). It is a very human story dealing with survival, politics (among the cave dwellers), love, loss and self-discovery.  Sam has adopted two ‘brothers’ and raises them as if they were his/her own children -a unique spin on the typically independent dystopian protagonist. Not only the attachment and vulnerability that comes along with it but the ambiguousness of the sex of the main character, Sam.  It is an easy, quick read with a satisfying conclusion. If you haven’t heard of T.M. Brenner, you will.  Sky Child is well worth a read.

Check out my interview with T.M. Brenner about his Kickstarter campaign HERE

Here is my interview with T. M. Brenner

What were the circumstances surrounding the evolution of Sky Child from idea to novel?

I've been keenly interested in writing a YA Dystopian for some time, and I wanted to write something that would stand out and have meaning. Maybe open some eyes. So I chose a setting that I hadn't been used much before, which was inside a cave. I wanted to avoid revealing the gender of the main character, to open people's eyes to the fact that what's important about the story is the human experience regardless of gender, orientation, etc.

How was writing Sky Child different than Luminaries?

Luminaries was very research intensive. I also spent more time writing it. From start to finish, Luminaries took me two years to finish. Sky Child took me about nine months. Luminaries still needs some major revisions, and I didn't have as much help with it. I was very fortunate to have about a dozen beta readers for Sky Child, and the quality of the final book is in large part due to their efforts. I owe them a huge debt of gratitude. For other authors out there, I highly recommend utilizing as many beta readers as you can.

What books/authors would you consider main influencers when it comes to your writing?

Probably my largest influence is the Ender's Game series of books. I do not agree with many of the author's personal viewpoints, but he has admittedly crafted some of the best stories I've ever read. I will have some similar thematic elements in the Sky Child series, but I am doing my best to make sure that my story is vastly different from the Ender's Game books, even though they are roughly in the same genre.

Who was your favorite character to write?

I really enjoyed writing many characters for different reasons. Helm for his wisdom, Flot for his innocence and Jet for his strength. Ebb for her bravery, and Chaff for his evilness.

Who was your least favorite character to write? (Not necessarily because you disliked the character but because you struggled to write for them -to get in their head, if you know what I mean.)

Sam was by far the most challenging to write. It's very, very difficult, at least for me, to constantly be aware of the fact that I can't reveal Sam's gender. I have a very clear picture in my head of what gender Sam actually is, but to make sure that information doesn't consciously or subconsciously leak out is very difficult. The other thing that made writing Sam so challenging was the limited vocabulary that Sam had access to. Since the Crag only had a dictionary as its source of information, and the people living in the Crag had been removed from civilization for many generations, the language had to be stripped down. I hope readers understand that when they read the book, that there's a reason the language is terse. It's deliberate, and necessary.

How often do you write?

Multiple times a day, generally. I spend time in the morning before work (I also have a day job currently), during lunch breaks, sometimes before bed. Sometimes for longer stretches during the weekends. I thankfully love writing, and it's very easy for me to be motivated to keep at it.

How many revisions did Sky Child go through before you were ready to publish?

I had my first draft that I went over on my own with a fine tooth comb. Unfortunately some of the teeth were bent. Then I handed it off to my editor/fiancee, and she had a few qualms with the story, specifically the ending. So I completely re-worked the ending, and I think it is now the best part of the story. I can point to it as the thing I think most readers will find interesting and enjoy. Once I got her suggestions back and implemented them, I sent it off to a dozen beta readers. Their feedback was invaluable as well. I made their suggested changes then sent it back to my fiancee for final cleanup. Sky Child honestly wouldn't be currently sitting at 5-stars on Amazon right now if it wasn't for the efforts of those amazing people.

Why self publish?

Finding an agent is a lot like dating. You have to find one that is not only right for you, but you have to find one where you're right for them. I've only queried a handful of agents, but I haven't found the right one yet. They were all wonderful agents, but for one reason or another, I haven't made that connection yet. I'm hoping to eventually move into traditional publishing, but for the time being, the important thing is getting my name out there. Self-publishing has been wonderful for that, as I can put just about any story I want to tell out there, and have readers enjoy what I've worked hard to craft. I have complete control, which is wonderful, and no set deadlines.

What other genres interest you from a writing perspective?

Murder mysteries, paranormal, steam punk, detective/noir. Pretty much anything clever that really makes me think.

What do you read?

I don't often get to read, sadly. Part of it is that I enjoy writing so much that I spend my free time writing instead of reading. Recently though I've read the Maze Runner books, Hunger Games series, and the first few books in the Kim Harrison/Rachel Morgan series. Traditionally I read a lot of Dean Koontz, Ender's Game books, some Stephen King, Hemingway, and up until a few years ago I read a lot of comic books.

Craziest thing that’s ever happened to you.

A relative won a sizable jackpot in the lottery. Can't say who it was or how much though. Either that, or meeting Bruce Campbell in person. It was pretty surreal.

Any unusual talents?

I play a mean kazoo. I can do about 100 impressions, 50 of which you can actually tell who they're supposed to be, and about 5 that really genuinely sound like who they're imitating. I can also balance 16 quarters on my elbow, and in one swift motion drop them and catch them in mid-air with my hand. Other than that, I pretty much just have usual talents.

Tell me about your family.

I'm really fortunate to have the family that I do. Wonderful, caring and generous people. I owe a lot to them, and their love and support.

Did you go to school to become a writer?

Writing fiction was about as different from what I studied as you can get. I have a degree in Computer Science, believe it or not. I started out as a double-major, art being the second one, but I figured it'd be difficult making a living at it. I'm also sort of glad that I wasn't an English major, because I think I might have burnt out on the writing experience if all I did was focus on writing. The other thing was I didn't really discover how much I loved writing until I'd been out of college for five or six years.

What do you do to pay the bills?

I'm a software developer for a really great company that produces safety software. It matters a lot to me that the software I work on helps protect people and save lives. I'm fortunate that I've been able to work there as long as I have.

Favorite fictional character?

That's a tough one. I'd say Stephen Colbert's fake persona on the Colbert Report, Ender from Ender's game, Darth Vader, or Red from the Shawshank Redemption movie. I know that's an insane mashup of very different characters, but they all resonate with me for different reasons.

Mac or PC?

Definitely PC. I respect Macs for the things they're good at, but I prefer PC.

Are you a fan of The Walking Dead?

I enjoyed the first episode, but didn't end up getting into it. I enjoy zomedies, like Zombieland, Shaun of the Dead and Warm Bodies a bit more than hardcore zombie stories.

Will JJ Abrams salvage the floundering Star Wars franchise or send it into a death spiral?

I think he's got a very good shot at making them memorable. He did a brilliant job with Star Trek, and I guess the biggest thing he'll need to accomplish is to make Star Wars stand out from Star Trek, so that they feel like two different universes. He definitely has a signature style, which I think will work wonderfully with Star Wars. He has one of the most difficult jobs on the planet, as there are so many people that loved the original trilogy and will settle for nothing less than brilliance. If he doesn't succeed, he could alienate a lot of his fans.

John Snow or Jamie Lanister?

Snow. The whole sister thing puts me off my kibble.

With the uprise of self-publishing Where is the role of ‘traditional’ publishing headed? Will literary agents be around in ten years?

I think that you'll see a balance eventually happen. Traditional publishing helps filter out a lot of the difficult-to-market stories, stories that might not have mass appeal, and provides the casual reader with a smaller set of stories to choose from. There's quite a few casual readers out there. For the people that devour books like they were Crispy Cremes, it's wonderful that they can read self-published stories that can be just as good as their traditionally published counterparts, but may not have the mass appeal that the industry views as marketable. So I feel that both traditional and self-publishing will continue existing, and hopefully thriving.

Is self publishing good or bad for the industry? Why?

I think it's changing the industry, for better or worse. I think it's allowed a number of very talented authors to get their books out there, who otherwise wouldn't have a voice. I think that's important; that people can share their stories with the world. Competition is almost always a positive, as it forces us to work harder to achieve our goals.

What, if anything, are you writing at the moment?

I'm hard at work on the sequel to Sky Child, which I'm tentatively titling 'Sky Machine'. It's a bit of a departure from the first one, and I'm interested to see people's reaction to finding out what's really going on in the world that Sam lives in. I'm trying to let readers make assumptions, and then hopefully show them that what they believed may not be right.

Where can we find you online?

I have a blog at www.tmbrenner.com and a list of all the people that have helped out with Sky Child. I call them my 'Sky Children', and I hope to add many more people to the list.

Where can we purchase Sky Child?

Through Amazon as a Kindle eBook HERE

Through Barnes & Noble as a Nook eBook HERE

And as a Paperback through Amazon HERE

My Virtual book tour...the beginning

Well, it's underway.

Hangin' with the teen readers group 

Author interview with Debbie Brown

For as long as she can remember, Debbie Brown has been creating stories in her head. She hated to go anywhere without a pen and paper, just in case. As a graduate of the Institute of Children's literature, while pursuing yet another writing course, she finds herself doing what she loves . . . learning and writing. The course gives her an excuse to just sit down and write. Over the years she has worked as a nurse, a teacher, a martial arts instructor and a CIC officer in the Canadian Forces. Her hobbies have varied from woodworking, to auto-mechanics, with music, painting, karate, holistic medicine, gardening and camping thrown into the mix. Let's not forget reading. Debbie's perfect cure for a long winter's night is curling up in front of a fire with a good book while snowflakes drift slowly past the window. Never having been much of a city girl, she lives with two of her four children, her husband Jean-Pierre and their pets in the Laurentian Mountains of Quebec. She couldn't imagine life without the beauty found in the trees, mountains and lakes that surround her.


Could you tell us a little bit about Amethyst Eyes?

Amethyst Eyes is about 15-year-old Tommy, who after losing his mother in a car accident ends up living with his estranged father. The catch here is that Tommy, in the blink of an eye, finds himself on a space ship orbiting Earth. He had no idea his father was an alien and the ships commander. As soon as Tommy meets his father he realizes where his amethyst eyes come from. He learns the hard way about the legend of Amethyst Eyes and the danger that comes from being born with them. There’s never a dull moment as he struggles to fit in to a world where nothing is the same, and not just the technology, but the whole structure of the society and even family. The characters are quite varied, fun and very much alive.

How did Amethyst Eyes come to be?

Years ago I had submitted a short story as an assignment for the writing course I had been taking. This bit of homework eventually became the starting point for Amethyst Eyes. I couldn’t get the story out of my head and ended up carrying it around for ten years before finally sitting down to write the book. Two years ago a personal tragedy, the loss of my daughter, had me take refuge from the world, and I turned to writing to keep sane. In some ways, I believe I created a world where people really do care, and it was something I needed for my own personal healing.

Tell us about the world you’ve created. Where did some of your ideas come from?

The strange thing about Amethyst Eyes was that I didn’t feel as though I was creating a world or even a story. I was an observer, documenting what was playing out in my mind. I remember thinking “Wow, that’s cool,” at one point or “I can’t write that” at another. It was quite an experience. After one scene I felt as though I had run through the experience with my character, leaving me exhausted. I have always been a sci-fi fan and growing up with Star Trek books I discovered an amazing place that taught so much about human interaction, but in the end, life has been my inspiration.

When I write, I try to be as accurate as possible. (Inaccuracy in the books I read is a big turn-off for me, and with internet there’s no excuse for it.) Granted, when I’m inventing a piece of technology that does not exist, my resources are limited to my imagination, but I do try to find something to base it on or some way to explain it. I have of pages and pages of notes from hours of research for Amethyst Eyes.

Are you working on any writing at the minute?

I have submitted another Sci-Fi, YA novel to Strange Chemistry, so now the wait begins. I also have two more books on the way. The first one is the story of Tommy’s parents, so a Women’s Lit, Sci-fi Adventure book and I have started the sequel to Amethyst Eyes. I am also completing an advanced writing course offered to graduates of the Institute of Children’s Literature.

Any special routines you have to do before you can sit down and write?
The first thing would be to find something to keep my 4 year old busy, then I usually reread the last few pages of what I had written to get into my mindset. Once that is done, I become an observer. I let myself be carried away by the story as it unfolds and document what’s going on. I only wish I could write fast enough to keep up.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what do you do to keep busy when you're not writing?

Aside from my 4-year-old I also have 3 grown children who can take up a lot of time (and worry). I am a CIC Officer (Captain) with the Canadian Forces and work with cadets. I have taught martial arts, namely Kyokushin Karate and Tai Chi for over 20 years, in fact most of my jobs have been teaching related from baseball to gymnastics, elementary and high school as well as training new officers on various bases. I used to be a nurse, and have since turned to holistic healing, so I spend a lot of time reading and researching this topic.

I love woodworking, painting, music, reading, cooking, gardening…you name it.  Through it all there were highs and lows, adding color to the pages of my life. All of these things have come together in my writing, in the sights and sounds, people and situations. I deeply believe that knowledge is never lost or a waste of time, and that somehow, somewhere it will be useful.

What do you enjoy reading?

I enjoy anything and everything with the exception of gore and sex. I love to learn and enjoy reading to increase my knowledge, so I have anything from flight manuals to medical reference books on the go at any given time. However, I also enjoy reading for the sheer pleasure of discovering new characters and worlds. There are books I have read dozen’s of times and although I own 2 e-readers with over 1000 books so far, my library holds even more books, covering 3 of the 4 walls within.

Do you have a favourite place to read?

Curled up by the fire during the winter or in the veranda during the summer, where all you see are trees. I read everywhere though, day and night, even in the car while my husband drives (when I’m driving I have my Kindle read to me through the car radio). I posted a picture on fb from an FTX (field training exercise) where you see my combat uniform and my kindle on my lap…I had brought it with me. This worked out well since I was hiding in a swamp, waiting to be found by cadets learning to use a compasses and coordinates, giving me LOTS of time to read LOL.

Is there anything else you would like to say to your readers?

There is much more going on in the book than just a teenager trying to fit in. It touches on family and the ties that bind. Jayden adds spice and there is an element of danger.
You can read some 50 pages on Google books, much more than what the “look inside” options offer. http://books.google.ca/books?id=nQ5nCvwbQLEC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Where can people find you and your book?

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amethyst-Eyes/169207996492385
Goodreads author page under my name,
Blog: http://amethysteyesauthor.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @amethysteyes01

Feel free to message me, you can be sure I will answer.

As for my book, it can be found in over 100 online bookstores worldwide, from Amazon to Barnes&Noble, Powell’s, Chapters Indigo, Fishpond, and the list goes on…
It is available in both paperback and ebook format.

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As always, find interviews, writing samples, videos, contests and more on my re-vamped website.

www.TheNeverChronicles.com

In bookstores 6-5-2012

Guest Post by Terri Morgan: Writing from the teen's perspective

Writing from the teen's perspective

by Terri Morgan 

In mid-November, a couple of days after I self-published my novel, Playing the Genetic Lottery, I was lucky enough to be interviewed on the radio in Honolulu by Carroll Cox for his talk show. I had sent him the first six chapters of my book, which is a memoir-style novel of a 32-year-old wife and mother who grew up with two schizophrenic parents, to read before we talked on the air. Noting that a good half of the book covers my protagonist's teenage years, Carroll asked me if it was challenging to write from a teen's point of view. I just smiled and said "that was the easy part."

Author interview: C.K. Volnek

C.K. Volnek is the author of tween novels,
 Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island and A Horse Called Trouble.

So you've written and published Ghost dog of Roanoke Island, A Horse called Trouble and The Secret of the Stones will be out soon.  How goes it?

Hi Josh, thanks for having me on your blog today. The writing is going fine. Wish I could say it is brilliant, but I’m in the throws of learning everything I can about Marketing and it is mindboggling! If I could go back in time and give myself one piece of advice, it would be get a web page and build a presence on the web five years before my books came out! Ha.

Seriously, marketing is a beast in itself for an author. As an author nears publication, they have to be aware that they will have to share their writing time with not only marketing and publicity, but also with networking. All three elements are important to your book. And if you leave one piece out, the other two suffer. It’s a major juggling act.

As for my writing, the Secret of the Stones is Book One of my series, The Lost Diaries of Northumberland. So, I’m in the middle of writing Book Two, The Secret of the Wood. It’s a fun story, based on the legend of Merlin and Vivien but based in the present time. Young Alex Ramsey is on a mission to discover the mysterious secrets bound in the Lost Diaries of Northumberland to rescue the greatest wizard that ever lived…Merlin. (Yes, Merlin isn’t really dead. He was saved by a loyal wood nymph and lays in a perpetual sleep until the mysteries can be solved.)

I am also working on a Young Adult novel that is very near and dear to my heart. It’s titled The Three O’Clock Hour and is based on the tragic school bus accident from my home town that took the lives of three students and one parent. It is a difficult book to write, but there are so many miracles surrounding the accident, the story needed to be told.

When did you first start writing? Do you recall your first writing project? 

Oh my, my first writing project. That was many moons ago. Like most authors, I have at least one skeleton book in my closet. That first baby never made it. But it taught me a lot and helped me grow in my writing.

I’ve always wanted to write books. But life got in the way for a number of years. Children, work, a house payment. My writing was limited to short stories and articles during that time. About eight years ago, I decided to get back into my passion of writing books. It’s not always easy to find the time to write, market and network, but it’s a passion I love and enjoy and will continue to strive and grow.

When did you finish your first book?

My first finished book is actually The Secret of the Stones. After spending much time in a great critique group, I shelved it for a while and continued onto Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island and A Horse Called Trouble. That was about seven years ago. It only took about six months to write the book but I took a few years to edit it.

Do you ever experience writer’s block?  If So, how do you get over it?

I can’t say I really get writer’s block. My muse has about fifty more books for me to write so I’m never lacking on a subject. However, I have an internal editor which throws a curve into my writing a lot of times. She is an annoying girl and one I try to sneak around. If she crops up, she can cause me great grief with doubt, worry and overworking my story. She also has a friend named Procrastination that I must fight with once in a while as well. When they tag team me, I don’t get anything done!

Do you work with an outline, or just write?

That’s an interesting question. I used to say I was a panster through and through. But I’ve found that each book requires a different style of writing. The Secret of the Stones was off the cuff the whole way. Now with the second book in the series, I am outlining it to make sure I follow the clues correctly. I have a rough outline and edit that as I research and write. My first draft is going to be riddled with changes and NOONE will ever see that one! lol. It’s a different style of writing for me, but it’s fun.

Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?

I love to read and I can honestly say I try to come away with something from every book I read. When I was little, I loved Black Beauty and was determined to be the next Anna Sewell. I do admire many authors now…Jane Yolen and Janet Lee Carey are two I really enjoy reading.

Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination? For example, you write about a teen who experiences abuse in her past. Is that drawn on experience? 

I think a writer writes a lot from experience. Maybe not directly, but your life comes in very indirectly. I did have a lot in common with my MC, Tara, in A Horse Called Trouble. Tara wasn’t popular or cool. She didn’t have money or a name to be proud of. Neither did I growing up. And it is sad how others can pick on kids like that. Tara was put down, pushed around and made to feel very small. She had virtually no self-esteem and no reason to fight for herself. Though I did not experience life to the depth of my MC, my own emotions and frustrations rose to play in my manuscript. And that’s okay. It creates authenticity. It also creates healing for the writer and reader alike. In Tara’s case, the healing started with an unlikely hero, a horse called Trouble. He gave her a reason to fight, a reason to stand up for herself, a reason to want to heal. She found her own self-worth and this is something we all need to find for ourselves.

What was your favorite chapter in A Horse called Trouble (or part) to write and why?

My favorite chapter in A Horse Called Trouble is the next to the last chapter. I’m a sucker for a happy ending and I was able to tie up the mystery, show a major growth in Tara as well as provide her with an ending sure to make everyone smile.

I believe most kids can identify with Tara in one way or another. She is a character a reader can root for and hope things change. So how else could I end her story but with the antagonist getting what she deserves and Tara receiving the best gift she could ever get. To find out what that gift is, you’ll have to read the story. ;-)

Do you own 1. A horse and 2. A dog?  Names?

I have always had animals. Had many horses growing up though I have none right now. Would love to have one, but the city would frown on keeping one in my garage. Ha.
Dogs…I don’t think I will ever be without fur-kids. At this moment we have three spoiled Papillons. Sally is my lovely little shadow and Isaiah and Emma are tiny runts and do not even weigh 10 pounds between them. None of them consider themselves small though. They are just big dogs in a little body. Papillons are a fun little breed, full of energy and smart as a whip. We had a fourth little boy named Noah who we lost in November. He was the trick wizard and a certified therapy dog. The only problem with my pups is, they can’t control their licker. ;-) They know no strangers, only friends they haven’t met yet.

Tell me about your writing environment. Do they use a pen and paper, laptop? Quiet room, music or what? Dog at their feet? Cat on the desk? Just whatever makes it comfortable to be productive. 

Laptop. Sitting in my big overstuffed chair with two dogs sleeping at my feet and the other sleeping by my side. Everyone else in bed. TV needs to be turned off and Yanni turned on. Also need my diet coke close at hand. Ahhhh….finally. J

Star Wars or Star Trek?

LOL. The first Star Wars that came out in the 80’s. Loved the creative creatures they came up with.

Author Interview: Melissa Turner Lee

Melissa Turner Lee is the author of The Earth Painter, released September first of this year.


Five stars on amazon.com

This is a dynamic book, full of surprises, young romance, and determination. I loved reading along as Holly finds her place in a new school, makes a few friends, and develops a crush on a boy who just happens to be unable to experience true emotion (including love). Holly's character drew me into this book immediately. I could empathize with her emotional struggles, and her determination to make her way in difficult circumstances. I can see that author Melissa T. Lee spend time and effort to develop her characters and her story. I recommend this book to young teen through adult readers. Make sure to check out Melissa Turner Lee's other books, especially "The Difference Between Night and Day".

She has also authored The Difference Between Night and Day, which reviewed similarly well.


Her blog, MelissaTurnerLee is a great source of content from the author.


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If you woke up tomorrow and could be one person for one day, who is it and why?

A Doctor Who Companion. Ummm...traveling through time and space...hello.

Best show on TV?

Doctor Who.

Harry Potter or Lord of The rings? (yes, you must pick one)

LOTR.

Tell me about your writing environment. Do they use a pen and paper, laptop? Quiet room, music or what? Dog at their feet? Cat on the desk? Just whatever makes it comfortable to be productive.

I find a song that has the tone of the characters or the scene and I pace while listening. Then I turn it off and write. I write in quiet and alone.

What do you think of what's happening with the publishing industry right now? Any speculation as to where it is heading?

I think it's good and not good. Anybody can publish--Good. ANYBODY can publish--Not Good. You know what I mean. You buy a few downloads that make you want your $0.99 back and you stop buying them. But if you are willing to work and prove yourself, you can get the attention of agents and editors who thought there was no market for your work.

Do you have any funny stories involving a creative project you've worked on?

I had a huge crush on Mr. Spock as a child and grew up to marry him. Well not exactly but my husband is super logical and has found me laughing in the shower only to learn it was because the people in my head were having a funny conversation. He walked away declaring my shower already crowded.

What makes you laugh?

My kids. My husband. My characters. Life. 

Do you, like your characters, have any supernatural powers we should know about?

Yes, I can make messes disappear when I'm writing by pointing my laptop in the other direction. My husband does not care for this supernatural ability.

Biggest influence on your writing? Could be a book, person, pet turtle, whatever.

I think my prose and style are different from hers, but Stephenie Meyer. She woke up my desire to write and made me feel and believe her story world. The Bible. To me it is a supernatural love story.

You released The Earth Painter on September 1st. How did it go? How was the lead-up? Stressful, fun, insane?

Yes to all of that.

You do a lot of give-aways, do you find that an effective marketing tool?

It's too early to tell. I'm hoping those people read it, like it, post reviews and then people shopping who don't know my page go buy it. (Fingers crossed)

Have you managed to make peace with all the social media marketing required to get your name out there as an author or do you feel overwhelmed by it? How do you find a balance between 'working' that market and being creative (writing). I find it easy to get sucked into everything and completely distracted from writing. How do you cope?

Simple really. I don't. I do more networking than writing. I majored in journalism and marketing so I love both. I can network in a house full of noisy boys (I'm the only girl in my little house.) I cannot write in all that.

What is the scariest thing you've ever done?

Putting my work out there despite the rejections I'd already received.

Favorite movie?

At the moment, Breaking Dawn Part 1.

What do you think of Once Upon a Time? (if you've seen it)

Have not decided yet. I feel like it needs more heart. There is a story there but it's characters people tune in for, not just what happens next. I need to fall in love with the characters and care. That hasn't happened for me yet. 

So, you're working on the sequel to The Earth Painter -when can we expect its release?

Hoping for January, no later than March 2012

What do you enjoy most about writing?

The characters in my head bug me to death until I make them real by writing them down. I have to write to get peace.

What do you enjoy least?

Sitting still.

The Earth Painter is reviewing quite well. Relieved?

Yes, but there's always a part of me that wonders if they are just being nice. I could believe bad reviews a little better. But I'm never happy with my work.

When  did you experience the most momentum in book sales and are you able to attribute that to anything?




Right after giveaways I will have a bump.

Your concept is extremely unique. Can you credit anything for its inspiration (other than your highly creative mind?)

Let's see. I don't want to give too much away. I'm from Chesnee so the high school that is in the story is real...or was. I was a shy girl reading books in drama, so that inspired it. And my husband had a picture of me hanging in his room that he drew for his art class, but...he drew it before we ever met. It disappeared when we got married and we've never seen it since. So that inspired me too.

Both The Difference Between Night and Day and The Earth Painter are available at Amazon for $0.99. A steal!  The Man Painter is releasing soon!

Author interview: Willow Cross

 Willow Cross is the author of Inheritance, Oceans of Red volume one and Birthright.  She resides in Arkansas, The United States. 

So you've written and published Birthright and Inheritance (which, for the record, published before Christopher Paolini's version) and are working on the third, Legacy. How goes it?

Legacy is slow moving. I’m in the process of finishing Oceans of Red volume two. After it is published I plan on throwing myself into Legacy.

When did you first start writing? Do you recall your first writing project?

I don’t recall. The first big one was Birthright.

When did you finish your first book?

January of 09. I will remember that day for as long as I live. I wrote the last paragraph realized the book was finished, typed “And so it began...” Then cried for several minutes. It was amazing!!

Do you ever experience writer’s block (be honest, I see you posting about some online game all the time!)? 

 Absolutely!!! My muse seems to take great pleasure in vacationing. Usually to places I have no interest in going. LOL

Do you work with an outline, or just write?

I just write. I’ve tried working with an outline and it never works. My stories have their own ideas of where they want to go.

Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult (other than The Hobbit)? 

Hmmmm. Well that’s not a tough one, but there’s no short answer. Robert Hienlein: THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS. Madeline L’engle: A WRINKLE IN TIME. Richard Bach: JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL. I still have the copy I was given in 7th grade. And Anne McCaffrey: Dragons series. I’ve read them all repeatedly. Each of these books (among many others) have not only taught me something about life and love, but they opened my mind and imagination to infinite possibilities and destinations. Before learning to create my own worlds, I learned to live in theirs.

Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

Many of the characters in my books are based on people I know. All of the places exist. You can find the actual houses, buildings, etc. on a map. Everything else is imagination.

What was your favorite chapter in Inheritance (or part) to write and why?

I really can’t say I had a favorite part of the book. I enjoyed writing every word of it. ;)

Are there certain characters you would like to go back to, or is there a theme or idea you’d love to work with?

Oh my. Another long answer. LOL I have at least 15 starts of different book ideas in files waiting for me to get to them. (And there may be more than that, I haven’t counted.) I’m enjoying working on both The Dark Gifts series and Oceans of Red series. I’m very attached to those characters. However, there’s another book I’ve been working on here and there that I’d really like to spend more time with. It has nothing to do with either series. And I’ve been thinking lately of doing a straight on Horror story. A particular plot has been floating around in my head for a couple weeks now. (Hasn’t made it to the files yet, but I’m sure it will.)

Tell me about your writing environment. Do they use a pen and paper, laptop? Quiet room, music or what? Dog at their feet? Cat on the desk? Just whatever makes it comfortable to be productive.

Absolute silence. If the dog is making too much noise he’s invited to go outside. LOL I always use my computer to write. Desktop not laptop. (I hate laptops. There’s just not enough room to type comfortably.) And I have to have a lit candle. It doesn’t matter which scent it is, I just need to see it flickering out of the corner of my eye.

Star Wars or Star Trek?

Both!!! But if I have to pick one, then Star Trek!!!!

Are you working on any other creative projects at the moment?

Oodles and gobs. Seriously can’t name them all. LOL (because some don’t have names yet.)

Will you tell me about these ghosts you've seen in your house?

LOL!!! I have told you about the ghosts. Some of the stories are in Haunted. ;) I am ghost free at the moment. (Knock on wood) But with my luck, I don’t expect to stay that way forever.

What do you think of what's happening with the publishing industry right now? Any speculation as to where it is heading?

In all seriousness, I don’t pay much attention to what’s going on in the publishing industry. I think ebooks are the wave of the future. I think print books will always be around. (There’s no way I’m giving up my JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL for an e-copy.) As far as which publishing company is buying out or going under, I don’t keep up with it. My focus is on my readers and my writing. If they’re happy, I’m not going to worry.

Do you have any funny stories involving a creative project you've worked on?

Tons, but I don’t have time to write them all. I will say that it’s amazing what you can miss after doing revisions. One of my beta readers for Birthright found that I’d changed Michael’s hair color 3 times in the first two chapters. And that I had Minerva run into a room and help Liz with something 2 full pages before she was introduced. LOL Gotta love those beta readers!!!! :D

Best show on TV? 

Supernatural!!! (And no I’m not kidding!!! LOL)