Category Archives: Author Interviews

Everything Somewhere by David Kummer #giveaway

Posted on by
Reply

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.

My name is David Kummer. I’m a young writer who leans towards horror, mystery, dystopian, and young adult fiction. I live in Madison, Indiana, a small town on the Ohio River, with lots of history and settings around here that influence my books. You can see tons about my hometown in my novel, EVERYTHING, SOMEWHERE.

I always answer whenever readers email me, so reach out or check out my blog at https://davidkummer.com. I’ve got a handful of books for you to choose from, all of them inexpensive. Reviews and shares are super appreciated.

You may have read some great authors before and some fascinating books, but you’ve never had an experience like this. Try something and let me convince you.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Q: What book do you think everyone should read?

As I read more and more books, the one I recommend is always changing. I’ll have one for a few months that I love and want everyone to hear about, and then I find a new one that’s just as amazing. For the last few weeks, I’ve been really high on the book “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens. It’s constantly on the top charts, so likely some of you have already read it, but for everyone who hasn’t, I highly recommend!

I will admit the book is tough at first. There’s lots of long, beautiful descriptions, and the plot is slow at first, but once you get in deep it grabs you by the throat. Those beautiful descriptions that are laborious at first become key to understanding the book and its plot. Reading it made me feel more connected with nature than I ever had before in my life, even though I’ve never visited the place it occurs. The characters are just as captivating, and you really become invested in Kya (the main character) and how her life turns out. One of the best books I’ve read, so definitely check it out!

Q: If you could have been the author of any book ever written, which book would you choose?

For this answer, I could easily have said “Where the Crawdads Sing” again, but instead I’ll go with the book that I became obsessed with two years ago. I’ve written about it extensively on my blog, because I have some really weird/cool stories to go along with the book review, but “The Little Stranger” by Sarah Waters is wildly good! It’s the kind of book I wish I could have written.

While the book is a thriller and a mystery, the beautiful writing takes it from being great to legendary. The plot itself is slow-burning and unnerving, one of the most memorable. There are hints of love and of ghosts, the struggle of grief. It’s all put together perfectly and sticks to your skin even after you’re finished. The last page is, I think, the best closing I’ve ever read, as haunting as the whole book that preceded it. There’s even a movie, if you’re into that sort of thing! So, yeah, this was kinda just another book recommendation. You’ll thank me later.

Q: What is your writing Kryptonite?

My greatest difficulty writing is that I get so caught up in my characters’ heads. This is a good thing in one sense, because it allows me to fully realize their motives and actions. However, it makes description tricky because I have to keep in mind the world outside of my characters, how the setting relates and reacts to them. That’s one of the hardest parts about writing, especially for me, and it takes vigilance to keep in mind the world beyond my characters’ view. With each book I write, I do a better job, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a struggle!

Would you like a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Everything, Somewhere by David Kummer ~ Genre: Contemporary YA Fiction

The power of memories.

Little Rush is a sleepy town on the Ohio River. Bruce Michaels is a renowned Hollywood actor. The two should never cross paths, yet one summer everything changes. The actor, haunted by demons, chasing a ghost. The town, unaware. Until the two collide.

Hudson, Willow, and Mason are high school seniors with very different upbringings, but all on the verge of adulthood. As the sun sets on their final summer, questions abound. Will they ever leave the town? Is there a future here? As their plans waver, time is running out.

The struggle of mental illness.

As he loses his friends and sinks deeper into depression, Hudson forms an unlikely bond with the actor, Bruce Michaels. But the old man is a ticking time bomb. As Hudson relies on him more, the danger to them both grows.

When dark secrets are revealed, Hudson must confront the truth about his idol and himself. Bruce Michaels isn’t who he seems. Hudson is nearly lost. And in the end, they may be more similar than different.

The search for meaning.

Different paths, converging in a web of alcohol, fights, and romance. Worlds collide one summer in Anywhere, USA. The question is who will make it through.

Goodreads * Amazon

I am happy to be one of many tour hosts sharing information about Everything Somewhere by David Kummer.

Matthew R. Davis ~ Author Interview

Posted on by
1

Today, I’d like to welcome Matthew R. Davis, author of If Only Tonight We Could Sleep and Midnight In The Chapel Of Love, as my guest.

Let’s start by finding out a little bit about you…

  • What is your name and do you write under a pen name?

I’m Matthew R. Davis, and I use that name for everything. Like, the middle initial gets bandied about everywhere, not just in my writing, because I’ve come to know myself by that handle.

  • Where do you call home?

Adelaide, South Australia. I grew up in a large country town called Port Pirie, also in SA, where the rest of my family still lives.

  • What is your family like?

Lovely. My father, mother, and younger brother work together in an auto parts store where I sometimes do casual shifts, and they’ve also dabbled in the creative arts. My father wrote some songs when he was younger, published cartoons in outlets such as Punch Magazine, and we recently collaborated on a short story that he wrote and I rewrote; my brother has self-released two albums of singer/songwriter pop for which I conceived and assembled the cover art, with images shot by Red Wallflower Photography.

  • Do you have any hobbies, other than writing? What do you enjoy doing?

I love all forms of art and do as much as I can. I play bass, guitar, keyboards, theremin, and anything else I can get my hands on – I’ve been in many bands over the years. I’m the lead singer, bassist, and main songwriter for Blood Red Renaissance, an idiosyncratic heavy rock band on hiatus for years, and also the bassist/backing vocalist for icecocoon, a progressive metal group. I designed all the posters and album art for BRR and I’ve done some visual work for icecocoon as well as editing their live videos and performance clips. A MAPS film school graduate, I’ve worked on short films as composer, director, editor, producer, lighting guy, grip, and actor – recently I’ve shot a few scenes as an extra for Ribspreader, a forthcoming trash horror feature film by local punk icon Dick Dale. I’ve performed spoken word shows with punk poets Paroxysm Press and the SA Writers Centre. I’ve done photo shoots as a camera assistant for Red Wallflower Photography and we like to explore abandoned derelict buildings together. Basically, I’ll do anything creative that takes my fancy!

  • What is your greatest dream?

For me: as much success, happiness, and creative fulfilment as I can earn. For the world: as much peace, compassion, and acceptance as we can attain.

  • What kind of person do you wish you could be? What is stopping you?

Wow, getting deep here! I wish I could be more active, organised, healthy, and happy with myself. Life is a constant struggle against my own laziness, distraction, thoughtlessness, self-indulgence, and low self-opinion. Well, you did ask.

  • Not to pry too much, but do you remember your first love?

Of course I do. You wouldn’t necessarily call it love from an adult perspective, but I fell hard for a girl called Janelle when I was ten. We were sort of an item in that harmless primary school way for about six months, and then, setting in place a pattern that would sometimes recur later in life, I refused to get over her for far too long.

  • What is the most terrible thing that ever happened to you?

I’ve been fairly lucky thus far. I’ve lost very few people close to me and I walked away unscathed from a drunken car crash. In truth, my worst experiences are having my heart broken and living with the knowledge that I’ve hurt others through my own clumsiness, selfishness, and dishonesty. I don’t think that pain will ever entirely go away.

  • What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing fiction since the age of seven. I don’t recall the impetus for that, but I’ve always loved stories. In terms of influences that kept me going after the initial phase of writing that so many kids do, I’d have to tip my hat to Terrance Dicks, Ray Bradbury, and Stephen King among a great many others.

  • What was your dream growing up? Did you achieve that dream? If so, in what ways was it not what you expected? If you never achieved the dream, why not?

When I was a kid, my dream was to be a heroic soldier of fortune who would live a life of action, save lots of people, and kill lots of bad guys – thankfully, I grew out of that! Otherwise, I’ve really only ever wanted to be an author and a musician, and I’ve done a lot in those fields… but I’m never satisfied with my achievements, and I’m still reaching for the stars.

  • Who is your role model?

If I had to pick one at all, the Doctor from Doctor Who. Their courage, compassion, intelligence, eccentricity, and broad-minded joy at the universe has inspired me as long as I can remember.

  • What is your greatest fear?

I asked myself this once so I could write a novel manuscript about it. Turns out the answer is mediocrity, failure, regret, and hurting others. Also, sharks.

  • Do you prefer ebooks, paperbacks, hardcovers, or audiobooks?

Physical books, hands down. I will read ebooks when the occasion calls for it, but I don’t have much interest in audiobooks.

  • Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so, what was it?

So many times! I’ve reread hundreds of books, though I don’t do that much these days as there are always so many new releases and unread classics to discover.

  • What is your opinion of novellas?

Love them! Sometimes they are the perfect vehicle for a story, especially in horror, and they rarely outstay their welcome. I’ve written a few that have yet to find a home.

  • Have you ever read a book just based on its cover?

Yes, of course! A recent example is Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir. The cover art and author blurbs had my interest firmly piqued before I even took the book off the shelf.

  • What books have made it onto your wish list recently? And why?

My wish list is and will always be enormous! We don’t have enough room for me to list off everything I want to get. In terms of upcoming releases, I’m looking forward to the new books by Stephen King (both of them), Ramsey Campbell, Laird Barron, Philip Fracassi, and Tamsyn Muir.

  • What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format?

You’ve caught me between books! I grabbed a few things from the library today – as if I didn’t have enough at home to read – and I’ll probably start with The Best Horror of the Year Volume Twelve, edited by Ellen Datlow.

Let’s shift somewhat and talk about your latest story

  • What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or fewer words, what would you say?

Midnight in the Chapel of Love, my first novel. “A rural gothic mystery with underpinnings of cosmic horror, an examination of what makes a man tick – a great read!”

  • How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book(s)?

Don Noble created the cover of my novel, and I’m very happy with it. My first collection had internal images that were thought up by me before passing through the mental and literal lens of Red Wallflower Photography to become something new between what I wanted and what she was seeing; the cover was my idea, she shot it, and I put the layout together.

  • Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your book(s)?

I don’t listen to music when writing or editing, but it nevertheless plays a huge role in my work. I often write about music and musicians and they seep into my process in all sorts of ways. For example, the chapters in MITCOL are titled after songs which create a cool playlist for the book.

  • How did you come up with the title for your book(s)?

My collection went nameless a long time before I found a title that resonated with me; once I lit upon If Only Tonight We Could Sleep – after a song by The Cure which is mentioned in the book – that was the job done! I wanted to call the cave system at the heart of my novel the Cathedral until I learned there was already one by that name, so I changed it to the Chapel; for a while I thought The Chapel of Love would make an interestingly different title for such a dark story, but then I expanded it to Midnight in the Chapel of Love and that clicked neatly into place.

  • In your latest novel, who is the lead character and can you tell us a little about him/her?

The main character in Midnight in the Chapel of Love is Jonathan Trotter, who goes by Jonno when he’s a teenager and Jonny as an adult. He’s become a kitchen manager but he’s one of those people who never really feels at home anywhere – even, perhaps, in his romantic relationships. He’s a well-meaning guy but he’s fraught with confusion and insecurity. He left his country town home under a dark cloud after finishing high school and he’s stayed away for fifteen years, insistent upon leaving that part of him behind in the inscrutable shadows – but now his father has died and he must return to Waterwich, where the mysteries and challenges of his past rear their heads to threaten his future…

  • What are some of his/her favorite foods?

Jonny is, as I said, a kitchen manager, and he’s always been a bit of a whiz with food. He doesn’t have a clear favourite, but the vegetarian burgers he makes at work are mentioned at one point and he’s also a fan of pizza and yiros.

  • Will readers like or dislike this character, and why?

I hope that readers will identify with Jonny to some degree. The book is, in many ways, an examination of the male psyche and its tendencies toward grace, and also toxicity. Aside from Jonny, we meet a few different types of man throughout the story and see both their natural strengths and endemic weaknesses. Jonny is flawed, but he’s smart, funny, and caring. Whether these attributes are ultimately enough to save him is for the reader to discover…

  • What first gave you the idea for your latest book?

The first seeds of MITCOL were planted as I drove from Port Pirie to Adelaide one afternoon, listening to Something for Kate’s “The Fireball at the End of Everything”. The basic idea is fairly plain, all things considered – a standard plot in lit-fic and horror both, really – but I layered more ideas and themes onto it until I felt I had something unique that needed to be written.

Let’s talk now about your writing process

  • What is your writing style like? Are you a pantser or a plotter?

I’m almost exclusively a plotter, though I leave a bit of wiggle room to add or alter things on the fly. I like to know where my tale is going to end up so I can feed in relevant themes, recurring images, foreshadowing, etc.

  • Have you come across any specific challenges in writing or publishing? What would you do differently the next time?

The main challenge in writing is to achieve the level of craft I set for myself, to reach a bar that is forever being lifted higher and higher and yet will never attain the lofty heights where my favourite authors reside. The main challenge in publishing is to crack the bigger markets, receive the critical and financial success reached by my influences, and make a real name for myself – the usual! It’s hard to know what I should or would have done differently – maybe a stronger focus on my goals so that I could have been where I am a lot sooner, but to be fair, my work might not have been ready and I might have come to regret publishing things that would embarrass me.

  • Are you a self-published/Indie author or did you publish through a traditional publishing company?

My first book, If Only Tonight We Could Sleep, came out through Things in the Well, a small Australian indie; my first novel, Midnight in the Chapel of Love, is being released by JournalStone, a well-known and respected American independent press. I came close with a major Australian publisher, but I don’t know if my work will ever quite be what the majors are looking for… even if I believe there’s a lot of crossover potential.

  • What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing?

Simple: read a lot, write a lot, and just keep going.

  • What advice would you give someone who wants to start writing?

See above, plus: be well-read enough that you can see where your own work stands in relation to industry standards, and be objective enough to know when you’re good enough to compete with your idols and influences.

  • Where can your readers follow you? Please list links to any applicable websites and/or social media accounts.

My blog is at matthewrdavisfiction.wordpress.com. You can find me on Facebook, too, at www.facebook.com/MxRxDx.

Grace Rose Thomas ~ Author Interview

Posted on by
Reply

Australia based author Grace Rose Thomas is the YA Urban Fantasy author of The A’vean Chronicles. Check out the video to find out how you can win a copy of her first book Awaken.

(Click on the cover images to order your copy)

(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.)

Check out our interview on YouTube:

Follow her on Social Media here:

Author Interview ~ Adrian Spear

Posted on by
Reply

An interview with Adrian Spear, author of The Soul Warrior!

About the Author

When I was younger, in my teens and early twenties, I found it almost impossible not to share my life’s story. There was reason to be proud- I had survived eight years of abuse at the hands of my foster mother and made it out at age sixteen only to be reunited with my biological parents. But what I had not understood until later is that although my past still gripped my consciousness- it did not define me.

My late teens were extremely rough because I was on a quest to find the love and acceptance I had been denied through the most crucial years of my life. Luckily, my biological parents had stepped back into my life like an anchor and enabled me to slowly heal and grow. I experimented with drugs and put myself in dangerous situations but by the time I had turned twenty-one I knew my life’s purpose was one that involved an education. One of my ways of healing was writing- poetry, short stories, and even journaling. I channeled that into a possible degree at a community college where I started out as an English major, but my love of writing would be challenged after facing the realization that I did not know how to write at college level. Then I took a history class that changed my view and future vision of what I aspired to be. The power of history and knowledge captivated me and soon, I was writing some of the best papers in that class. My college journey was longer than most, but I finally graduated in 2019 with a bachelor’s in history with a focus on public history. Now, I work at the amazing living history museum at Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia.

Was it easy, no. I worked in the grocery business since I was seventeen and only quit when I got a job as a student assistant in a library and history center for Caltrans. Hard work and perseverance have followed me throughout my life, and it did when it came to my book, The Soul Warrior. The concept was started in 2012 and it was only a year later that I developed all my characters, with sketches, and started an actual storyline. I started writing it almost a dozen times and restarted it just as many times. But it wasn’t until early 2020 when COVID-19 shut down the world and forced me to stay at home-and I wrote. The last chapter, the last paragraph, the last sentence was so amazing to write because it had almost taken me a decade to get this book finished! I am truly proud of the story I created but also proud of the characters I was able to develop. My main character reflects me and all the things I have survived in my life. She was created to be strong and a fighter which is one heck of a combination.

About the book/characters

My book was inspired by many things including some well-known books, movies and television shows. I was a huge fan of True Blood when it came out on HBO in 2008. But what I loved even more was the Sookie Stackhouse novels they were based on. It was from this wonderful series that made my love of vampires and vampiric lore come alive. Besides being sexualized creatures, they are also seemingly misunderstood beings because of how intricate and complex an actual vampire would be. Imagine living for centuries and experiencing the highs and lows that come with being a vampire. They love but also can’t bear to love because it’s almost torture, especially to love a human. They also must experience the sadness of immortality with all their memories, regrets, and dreams to boot. It was from this idea, from this train of thought that produced the beginnings of The Soul Warrior. I knew I wanted a vampire love story but what I didn’t know was how my vampire characters would evolve.

Believe it or not, my book was originally going to take place in the 1850’s with Lorrain’s soul traveling to the future from the 1700’s. But that changed when I decided to take a stab at redeveloping my vampire characters, Xavier and Queen Dahlia. At first, Xavier was just a regular vampire from the time period and not Native American. Queen Dahlia was also not Native American, and she was one of four original Kings and Queens that I later decided didn’t fit into my new storyline. It wasn’t until I began rewriting (again!) and decided to make some changes. I thought making Xavier a Native American would provide a means of tension between Lorrain and him. Then the thought of making Xavier Queen Dahlia’s son came to be and the rest is history- and their stories are revealed much more in my book.

Spoilers

The Soul Warrior is book one in a series. I have started book two which takes place in the 1750’s in Williamsburg, Virginia. I have added a handful of new characters- two of which I will share with you as a spoiler. The first character I will reveal is a young woman by the name of Paisley. She is a fairy from the Royal Territories where she and her twin sister work at a family shop- where they sell handmade items. She has a green thumb as well, very good in the garden and has a love for all kinds of plants. She will join Lorrain in her purpose and become a love interest for another character.

The other character I developed out of pure joy and was extremely happy with how he turned out. Dominic will be introduced almost halfway through and he is a young gargoyle. His natural instincts are to protect the good and pure, so he becomes an asset to Lorrain and her friends. But he is not very easy to get along with and although he is highly intelligent, he is still very much a teenage boy.

Would you like a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card or a Print Copy of the Soul Warrior? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Author Interview – Jillian Boehme

Posted on by
Reply

An interview with Jillian Boehme, YA Fantasy Author of The Stolen Kingdom!

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.

What can we expect from you in the future?

More YA fantasy books! And possibly, at some point, some YA SF.

Where did you come up with the names in the story?

I love this question! Names are so important to me. My daughter Maggie, when she was around 10, came up with the name “Maralyth” for one of the main characters in my first novel. (This is one of my favorite things to tell people, because Maggie grew up to be an amazing writer—and that first, horrible novel is what inspired her to write!) “Alac” is just a variant of “Alec”; I like the way it looks with the second “a”. The rest of the names in The Stolen Kingdom are either completely made up or are slight tweaks of names that already exist—“Ellian” is a sort of cross between “Lillian” and “Ellen”; “Nelgareth” is made up, but his first name, Ogden, is real; Zeth is sort of “Seth” with a “Z”, which feels stronger; “Nestar” is a variant of “Nester”; “Doreck” is made up; and “Graylearn” is also my own creation.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

Because this book is based on the very first (horrible) novel I ever wrote, I dearly enjoyed delving into the world I’d created so many years ago, giving it more depth and richness—and developing beloved characters into new, stronger versions of themselves.

Convince us why you feel your book is a must read.

If you love a good lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers story, this is for you. Also, if you’re mad about secret magic, spare heirs, and girls who aren’t afraid of trying to steal someone’s throne, you’ll enjoy The Stolen Kingdom!

Have you written any other books that are not published?
Almost a dozen. Writing is not for the faint-hearted!

If your book had a candle, what scent would it be?

Sage, which is Maralyth’s favorite herb, mixed with a woodsy scent.

What did you edit out of this book?

Oh, my goodness. I edited out both a son and a daughter of Lord Nelgareth, as neither one ultimately had an important enough role to play in the story. So many deleted words!

Fun Facts/Behind the Scenes/Did You Know?’-type tidbits about the author, the book or the writing process of the book.

  • The Stolen Kingdom is based on the first very novel I ever wrote, entitled The Seeds of Perin Faye. It’s a completely different story now!
  • When I was struggling to get the plot right, I pulled out several wooden “Little People” (from my childhood), assigned them each a character name, and moved them around the room, trying to figure out who was supposed to do what.
  • One of my favorite things to do is to have a Barbie and Ken version of my main characters. Maralyth and Alac are currently standing on my desk (you may have seen them on Instagram!).
  • My daughter Maggie is a fabulous writer, and we have the same literary agent! She always reads for me, and her input is invaluable. Sometimes I feel like I can’t write without her!
  • One of the characters in The Seeds of Perin Faye was a tall, Gandalf-y character named Soldan. My husband still does impersonations of Soldan’s ridiculously deep bow. (There is no Soldan in The Stolen Kingdom!)
  • Playlists are extremely important to me. When I first started working on The Stolen Kingdom, I listened to the same music I’d used for The Seeds of Perin Faye. Call me nostalgic! Ultimately, though, it just didn’t work for me. I finally created a new, better playlist that threw me right into the world whenever I sat down to write.
  • Chapter endings take longer than almost any other part of drafting. They have to be JUST RIGHT.

Would you like a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Author Interview ~ Carlyle Labuschagne

Posted on by
Reply

Interview with Carlyle Labuschagne, author of A Beast So Beautiful!

What inspired you to write this book?

My publisher wanted a certain type of book from me to fit into the trend , but after three years it was always something I needed to spend a lot of time on , contemplation, musing and trying to write for the wrong reasons didn’t work for me. My stories have to come from a hidden, scary, and philosophical , mind-bending, and most importantly a profound place inside of me.   

We releases a boxset themed forbidden love , and I transformed that book into the idea I wanted it to be, at first it was a short story but once I got my rights back I fell into a big dark place where creativeness went to die. As a newborn Christian I surrendered this book to God and just like that I was in love and the concept, characters and theme came out that Ive been hiding for a long time. But it was the right time – I can only hope.

What can we expect from you in the future?

OH gosh I have so many series I have not finished , but first I will do the follow up of A Beast so Beautiful. Now that book will be super exciting to write.

Do you have any “side stories” about the characters?

The broken diaries is a small spin off from The broken novel and a short story about another characters point of view.

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in A Beast so Beautiful

King Ivor is an ass, drunk woman and child beater. He is bitter and revengeful on his prince Leif blaming him for the death of Rurith Kingdoms Queen.

Prince Leif has been locked up in a tower for six years after discovering his mothers corpse.

He was created by magic as the king could not produce a male heir.

But magic came at a cost and Prince Leif is half human half something else.

Avelyn is the redheaded beauty taken in by the kingdom to marry the prince. For six years she secretly visits the prince in his tower. She is spirited, direct and a problem solver.

How did you come up with the concept and characters for the book?

They live in my head!!

Where did you come up with the names in the story?

They live in my head!

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

Creating characters and worlds and conflict and drama and doomed fates along with tortured lovers.

Tell us about your main characters- what makes them tick?

Ivor – to avenge his wife’s death. Expose his son for the beast he is and steal away his bride as payback.

Prince Leif wants to rule the kingdom with trust loyalty with Avelyn at his side.

Avelyn is driven by seeing Prince Leif take the crown, and because she was tricked into marrying the cruel king seeks out a secret affair with the love of her life. Pushing him towards overthrowing his father.

Who designed your book covers? CHBB publishing – Rebecca Poole

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

Put more humor in it.

Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book?

Yes to look out for details and got to learn more about the English tenses and sentence structures as I am not English myself I learn more with each book.

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?

Charlie hunnam

Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

Without them I would be far from my dreams and leaving my healing words to the masses.

How did you come up with name of this book?

Book titles come easily to me. They just pop in my head. And as the beast has morals and a big heart he is beautiful inside and out.

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

Most of the male leads I pull the ethics and ways and inspiration from my husband – who we have been together since high school and everyday he surprises me with his dedication , his sacrifices and his selflessness.

Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?

Oh no we have a lot of fights, but Ive learned to lose control (probably the only time in my life this happens) and let them come and flow and be.

Convince us why you feel your book is a must read.

It’s a faced pace story, a reverse Beauty and the beast that meets Game of thrones – fight for the crown.

Forbidden love

Royal feuds.

An ancient magic that will bring the kingdom to its knees.

I know in my heart that my passion, dedication and prayers for  this book , took a lot of putting myself out there will show in my writing. Because readers can feel the energy and truth in the author’s writing.

Have you written any other books that are not published?

I have written Into the Night my prequel to Dead of night my dystopian romance . It is about 70 percent done.

If your book had a candle, what scent would it be?

Vanilla

Would you like a chance to win a Queen Crown Pendant or a Metal Feather Bookmark? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Renee S. DeCamillis ~ Author Interview

Posted on by
Reply

Renee S. DeCamillis is the author of the psychological thriller/supernatural horror novella The Bone Cutters, published through Eraserhead Press as part of their 2019 New Bizarro Authors Series.

Check out our interview on YouTube:

Check out renee’s books below!

(Click on the cover images to order your copy)

(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.)

The Bone Cutters – Horror Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Supernatural Horror, Bizarro Fiction, Addiction Horror, a novella from the 2019 New Bizarro Author Series from Eraserhead Press.

Follow her on Social Media here:

Black Winter by Beauregard M. Neville and Cole Neville #giveaway

Posted on by
Reply

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.

Black Winter by Beauregard M. NeVille & Cole NeVille ~ Genre: SciFi Fantasy

In the near future the planet is covered in snow. Nobody knows why. A group of people are living inside a military facility that was designed to be self sustaining and can last forever. So long as the food doesn’t run out. Captain Alec Winter is among the people trying to survive and they will all be tested with the arrival of two strangers and something lurking in the shadows of the storm. Alec will have the fight for his life and everyone that he cares about. He just has to avoid becoming the very thing that threatens everyone’s survival.

Goodreads * Amazon

Beauregard M NeVille

I was born in Rocksprings Wyoming, but grew up in various parts of Utah, from Provo to Brigham City. By the time I was in 4th grade was when I moved to Brigham and stayed there until after high school and I left to pursue my own life. I’ve always had a love for writing and knew it was what I wanted to do. I also love sports, played most of them throughout school and still try and play basketball when I can. I love the outdoors, going hiking and camping and would spend every day on a lake if I could. I love my family. My wife Amanda is a wonderful, hardworking mother that still manages to be in school, work as a teacher and still provides time for our children. I have three amazing boys, Kaden, Ryder and Maverick. Nothing brings me more joy than seeing them grow and getting to have fun with them. I love dogs and my Dog Mya was my inspiration for the dog in Black Winter. I owe everything I have to my parents for teaching me hard work and the value of a family. I’m forever grateful for the blessings in my life and I look forward to what the future will bring to me and my family.

Facebook * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Cole NeVille

I was born in Brigham City, Utah. I have lived in several states but Utah is my home. Reading and writing has always been a big part of my life. I used reading to escape from a lot of things when I was growing up. I also have played sports my whole life. I grew up playing football and basketball, and still play basketball whenever I can. I love everything outdoors whether it is hiking, camping, golfing, or fishing. Being able to get out into the wildlife and smell the fresh air is something my wife Sarah and I love to share together. We both love dogs and love our dog Kumba.

Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Goodreads

Would you like a chance to win a signed copy of Black Winter or a $15 Amazon gift card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Q&A with Beauregard.

Where were you born/grew up? I was born in Rocksprings Wyoming. Was moved to Utah within days so I never lived in my birth town. Grew up in various parts of Utah from Provo to Brigham City. I consider Brigham City my home since I lived there the longest and that’s where I was living when I graduated from High School and my parents live there still.

What are you passionate about these days? Besides my writing and finishing the Black Winter series, I’m passionate about my family. I have 3 boys, ages 9, 7, and 4 with a fourth child on the way. Nothing brings me more joy than spending time with them and seeing them grow. Being a father is the greatest blessing and experience a man can have.

How do you find time to write as a parent? It’s challenging. I rarely do the things I enjoy when I can be home with my wife and kids and spend time with them. I get most of my writing done when they are at school and work or even late at night when they are sleeping.

When did you first consider yourself a writer? When I was in the 8th grade. This is when I really started to write stories down in my notebook at school. By the time I was a senior in high school I knew that writing novels was something I wanted to do.

What inspired you to write this book? Truthfully it was a number of things. My family loves all sorts of story formats, whether it be a movie, book or even a video game. When I first started writing the book for the first time in January of 2009, I had a very basic idea. A soldier and his Siberian Husky in a mountain, snowy setting. The more I wrote the more I would take inspiration from many stories I had previously seen or read, and even a couple video games that I had recently played. For starters, the idea of a government facility deep in a mountain I got from Gears of War. The dog with the soldier I got from the cover of Fallout 3. I really didn’t what the story was then. Just small details from other things that I really liked. It took a couple years from that point before Cole and I knew how the first book would really end. Once we had the complete story for Black Winter, the rest of the story was easy.

How did you come up with the title for Black Winter? The title didn’t come until several years after we first started working on it. Not until after the story was complete. Originally, Alec Winter was actually Alec Ryker. But as the story was ending, I really like the idea of having the title of the book have a double meaning. So that’s when we decided to change Alec’s last name to Winter. You have this never-ending winter along with a soldier who’s name is Winter and they sort of battle each other throughout the series. The true meaning of the name of the book though you will have to discover as you read the series.

If your book was made into a movie, who would you like to play the lead? Originally that was an easy answer. Henry Cavill. I actually had to do a screenplay as an assignment in college that was a lot of fun. Part of the assignment was casting real actors for the roles in the movie. I picked Cavill as Alec Winter because of Cavill’s size and hair color. The only issue was his eye color which was an easy fix with contacts or even CGI. Now that many of the actors that I cast for the characters are all older it would be a little more difficult to pick new ones. I’m looking forward to fans of the book to come up with their own ideas though.

Are any of your characters based off of real people or did they come entirely from your imagination? A little bit of both. There are a few characters in the book that are completely based off of real people in terms of their names, and others in terms of how I perceived them as people. Two of my friends have their full names in the book, because of how unique their names are. The character in the book are criminals though so they are very different than the people they are based on. There are other characters in the book that are a complete likeness, only their names are different. For some of those characters they are people that I despised, so I made them into characters that the readers would despise as well. Alec Winter is completely from imagination, but the way he interacts with his dog and his overall voice and how he talks is based off of me. He talks like me and loves his dog as much as I do.

What are your top 10 favorite books or Authors? My favorite books are the Eragon books by Christopher Paolini. I’ve read the entire series about ten times and it never gets old for me. In fact, some of my inspiration for the relationship between two characters in Black Winter comes from that series. You’ll have to discover what I’m talking about by reading the book. I don’t want to give any spoilers. I also really loved the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. It’s a very long series, but the writing is incredible. I don’t know that I’ll read it again, because of its length, but I’m glad I read it and I would definitely recommend it along with Eragon.

What is your favorite genre to read? Oddly enough, Black Winter is a Science Fiction novel, but I don’t actually read much of that genre. I prefer fantasy as you can see with my two favorite authors and book series.

Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Both. I like it to be quiet, but most of the time I like to listen to music when I write. Different songs help me to feel the mood of a scene I’m trying to write. If it’s really distracting noise though I can’t concentrate. Like if my kids are yelling and fighting, I won’t be able to focus. I could easily sit in front of the tv and write though.

The final thing I’d like to say answers several questions. Writing is very time consuming and requires a lot of dedication. Black Winter took 12 years from start to publication. Mostly the reason why it took so long was due to life getting in the way, writers block or just simply procrastination. The sequels will definitely come out much faster than the first, but mostly they will because we know what the story is. We know exactly where the characters will be at the end of the story and how they will get there. So getting there will be less of a challenge. Plus, now that Black Winter is officially out there for the world to see, the desire to complete the series for everyone that reads it gives me the motivation I need to sit down and put in the time to write the rest of the books.

Q& A with Cole

How did you become an author? My path to becoming an author is a little unique. Growing up I loved reading but I hated writing. As I got older I realised not only was I good at writing, I actually started enjoying it. I started working with Beau on his book by helping him with different ideas throughout Black Winter. Finally after years it had turned into as much mine as it was his and I couldn’t be more grateful to share that with Beau.

Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at once? Both. We wrote Black Winter before writing any of the sequels. But as we got deeper into the story we slowly wrote the beginning and end for all of the books. We found that by figuring out different directions we wanted to go with the sequels helped add things into Black Winter.

What do you do to unwind and relax? I am a big gamer so once everyone has gone to bed I enjoy starting up my PC and gaming. I have always enjoyed video games but right now I love playing Warzone. I also enjoy sitting down on the couch with my wife and watching a tv show.

What are your top 10 favorite books? Top 10 books are a little hard so I will go with my top book series. My favorite book series would have to be Eragon/The Inheritance Cycle. Eragon was the first book that really got me into reading, I also love everything that involves dragons so that helped as well. My second favorite book series is Harry Potter. Harry Potter was a book series that really helped me escape from reality at times when I was a kid and even sometimes still to this day. My third favorite book series is The Ranger’s Apprentice.

I am happy to be one of many tour hosts sharing information about Black Winter by Beauregard M. Neville and Cole Neville.

Toni Verticelli ~ Author Interview

Posted on by
Reply

Today, I am happy to welcome Toni Verticelli, author of Chaos Calls, as a guest.

Let’s start by finding out a little bit about you…

  • What is your name and do you write under a pen name? Toni Verticelli, my maiden name.
  • Where do you call home? Ocala, FL
  • Obviously, we know you are an author, but some writers have other jobs as well. Do you have another occupation? Do you believe you’re any good at it? Do you like what you do? I was a CNA for 14 years up until recently. I absolutely loved it, I found it very rewarding. I had to stop because of problems resulting from being hit by a drunk driver.
  • What is your family like? They are a big bunch of loving weirdos, just like me.
  • If it doesn’t bother you, can you let us know what your childhood home looked like? I moved a lot actually, Navy brat.
  • Do you have any hobbies, other than writing? What do you enjoy doing? I love to sing and have done several benefits for the performing arts, and one for the Alzheimer’s Association. I also really love gardening and painting furniture.
  • What is your greatest dream? Watching my daughter grow up. Living the dream now.
  • Not to pry too much, but do you remember your first love? Yes, married him. Also divorced him.
  • What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing? I had an amazing teacher in the 7th grade who realized I was dyslexic and got me into writing.
  • What was your dream growing up? Did you achieve that dream? If so, in what ways was it not what you expected? If you never achieved the dream, why not? I desperately wanted to be a singer. Became a writer that sings for fundraisers and benefits. Life throws some pretty strange curveballs.
  • Who is your role model? I admire so many people that I couldn’t pick just one.
  • What is your greatest fear? Caving. I have a terrible fear of caving into the things that frighten me. We  really are our own obstacles in life.
  • Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books? Yes, I prefer all of them. 
  • Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it? Oomph, ask the hard question! I’ve read the entire Pern series by Anne McCaffrey several times.
  • What is your opinion of novellas? I don’t have one. There is no such thing as a guilty pleasure, on what makes you happy. If you like novellas, awesome. If you like graphic novels and comic books, awesome. Play, fabulous. Read what makes you happiest.
  • Have you ever read a book just based on its cover? The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley. I was pretty young when I came across it in a library. I had never seen a book where the dragon fighting hero was the princess. I own both The Hero and theCrown and it’s companion, The Blue Sword.
  • What is your favorite film based on a book? The Labyrinth.
  • What is your favorite book genre at the moment? Again, I don’t have one really. I pick up books, I read them and I either read more by that author or I don’t ever go near the book again. 
  • What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format? The Master Harper of Pern by Anne McCaffrey. I’ve lost count how many times. Paperback.

Let’s shift somewhat and talk about your latest story.

  • What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or fewer words, what would you say? Currently I am working on Chaos Calls. 
  • Is the above book part of a series? I’m hoping it will be
  • How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book(s)? I haven’t had a cover done yet.
  • Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your book(s)? Classical. Auditory brain food.
  • How did you come up with the title for your book(s)? A line in the book, actually.
  • Do you have a book trailer? If so, where can we watch it? No, and I haven’t ever made one in the past.
  • In your latest novel, who is the lead character and can you tell us a little about him/her? Katya Malloy, 6th of the name. Her family is a powerful matriarchy.
  • What are your character’s greatest strengths? Perseverance and sarcasm.
  • And what are his/her greatest weaknesses? Gullibility and stubbornness
  • What’s a positive quality that your character is unaware that he or she has? Adaptability. With everything that’s thrown at her, she is able to adapt to the situation better that she realizes.
  • Will readers like or dislike this character, and why? I hope they will love her character. She is easy familiarize with.

Let’s talk now about your writing process.

  • What is your writing style like? Are you a pantster or a plotter? Total Plotter. 
  • Have you come across any specific challenges in writing or publishing? What would you do differently the next time? RESEARCH, and English classes early on.
  • Are you a self-published/Indie author or did you publish through a traditional publishing company? Self-published currently, though looking to publish Chaos Calls traditionally.
  • If you’re a self-published/Indie author what made you go that route instead of the traditional publishing route? I had no intention of publishing my first books, they were more therapy for me. I had just left my ex husband, had a toddler and was starting over. Writing gave me an outlet, 
  • What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing? Get it all out on paper, then organize when you run out. Don’t edit as you go, or you are going to be stuck in a perfection rut.
  • What advice would you give someone who wants to start writing? Do it, even if it’s just for you. Get it all out.
  • Where can your readers follow you?
  • FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/ToniJVF
  • TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vxvgypsyvxv
  • BLOG: https://authortoniverticelli.blogspot.com/
  • WIXSITE: https://vxvgypsyvxv.wixsite.com/toniverticelli
  • SMASHWORDS: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ToniJV
  • GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6452558.Toni_Verticelli
  • Basically just google ‘Author Toni Verticelli’.

Fred Pangbourne ~ Author Interview

Posted on by
Reply

Recently retired, Frederick Pangbourne now resides in Florida. The ex-Marine has been a fan of the horror genre since childhood in both literature and films. He has three horror anthologies of his own now out in publication and is currently working on a fourth. His latest is Nightmares of the Damned. 

Check out our interview on YouTube:

Check out HIS book below!

(Click on the cover image to order your copy)

(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.)

https://amzn.to/34P1GEM

Frederick Pangbourne, author of the ‘Reflection in the Abyss’ horror anthologies, presents his third anthology of the frightful world of the macabre collected in 19 short stories of extreme fear. Nightmares of the Damned will sweep you into a realm of inevitable horror where man does not escape their grisly fate once they step through. Follow a returning crusader home on his final confrontation with evil. Venture across a seemingly harmless sand box which hides an unseen death. Open an abandoned trunk in a basement and discover its monstrous contents. Visit a psychiatric ward where an old photograph holds a hellish secret. These stories and others await those within these pages as the reader enters into the Nightmares of the Damned.

Follow him on Social Media here: