Monday, April 27, 2015

#IndieSpotlight of Katherine E. Hamilton Author of The Unfading Lands

Name: 
 
Katharine E. Hamilton

The Title of Your Work or Group: 
The Unfading Lands 

Where are you from? Does not have to be the name of the place exactly. You can say Hick-ville Florida, for example if you are more comfortable with that. 
A ranch in the heart of brush country in South Texas.

In what genre do you write?
Fiction/Fantasy/Epic

In your own words, what is your book about? If you were not the author and trying to explain this awesome book you just read to a friend, what would you say about it? 
The Unfading Lands is about the good and evil within us all. A Realm is faced with a terrifying threat of darkness, and several kingdoms will need to unite to overcome it. But the enemy takes many shapes and forms. It makes you think on a deeper level about the temptation of darkness, whether it be a physical being or inner struggle.

What is your writing style? Do you follow all guides and rules? Synopsis, outline etc. or do you just sit down at the computer and type to see what happens.
 When I sit down to write, I like to think I have a plan. I map out a small web of key events and characters, but I have quickly found that once you start typing the story and your characters start to take on a shape of their own. I scrapped my ending twice once the story began to develop in its own way. So I, myself, had great intentions of being an organized writer, but was taken on an adventure while writing it and it becomes a tangled web you sort out while you type. It’s a blast to see how things develop. 

Have you ever written anything and thought; " The world has got to see this!" ? 
I actually feel this way about this particular book. I’ve published children’s books in the past, and yes, they have positive messages. But this book takes young adults and adults through deeper issues of self-reflection… but in a cool way. It’s one of those books that can be interpreted in multiple ways. So far, just hearing how people feel about it or what they think will happen next (because this is the first in a series of 3) has been so fun, because they read so much into small things. It makes me steeple my fingers and want to cackle. ;)

Do you have an editor and Cover Designer or do you do this yourself? 
For this work, I DID have an editor and a Cover Designer. My editor was fantastic! I am a stickler when it comes to proper grammar, but even I miss things. And she found EVERYTHING. Haha. But hey, that’s why I asked her to do it. 
My Cover Designer is actually my sister. She is a graphic designer and she actually handles all of my website graphics as well. She read the manuscript in its early stages and I told her to just come up with something. Little did I know, that she would design a cover that fit PERFECTLY with the book as well as the vibe I was going for. She’s sort of nailed every project I’ve requested from her. It’s awesome.

Who is your favorite author? Not just someone that you read allot. I wanna know whose book you read that made you suddenly know that if you didn't do this for the rest of your life then you would never be happy. 
I have several favorite authors… I think to choose just one would be like asking me to choose my favorite candy. Almost impossible. Haha. But the two books I have read that made me realize I wanted to write were:
The Portrait of a Lady, by Henry James
This Present Darkness, by Frank Peretti
Yes, they could not be MORE different. BUT, both books do impact the way I write. I love the structure of Henry James, his eloquent writing style, and his strong female characters. Isabell Archer is extraordinarily written, and a power house. I LOVE that. With Frank Peretti, he brings out the good vs. evil motif in all his books. The spiritual warfare that goes on within the world and within the person. I love that particular idea, and have modeled my own writing after it. He leaves you thinking and reflecting with every single one of his works. 

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
One thing that surprised me while writing this particular book is how hard it is to kill someone. Yes, killing people. ;) When you are attached to a character, it is hard to not only let them go, but also to write HOW you are letting them go. I cried while writing a death scene, because I did not want to see the character leave, but I also knew it would add a little something extra to the book and the series later on. I would like to think it makes the scene more touching too, because I’m grieving the loss just as much as the other characters.

Do you write your characters or do they write themselves through you? 
When I first started writing out the temperaments and characteristics of each of my characters, they were pretty concrete. But again, once you start typing, the story starts taking on a complete mind of its own. And several of my characters turned out to be more in depth or more intriguing than originally planned. Certain characters that I did not intend to have a strong role in this book, ended up being forces to be reckoned with. It’s fun to see how they develop.

 Do you ever write yourself into the characters? 
ALL. THE. TIME. Within this particular book, I relate with Princess Elizabeth. A LOT. Her attitude is pretty similar to mine and her spirit. But I also like to write in a little wit through other characters. That’s the luxury of writing. You may not show that side of yourself in reality, but you can sure pour it into your characters. It’s sometimes quite therapeutic. Haha.

Is writing your full time job or are you "Keeping your day job"? So to speak.
At the moment, I do still have a day job. I am one of those people who needs to stay busy. Constantly. My hope is that one day I can be a full time writer. In fact, that is definitely my goal. I love the industry. I love creating. It’s more my style than being in an office. I’m a little too free-spirited to be in an office all day. ;)

If you could go back in time and meet one famous person or legend in history, who would it be? 
That is a hard question. There is a HUGE list. I think the obvious ones would be: Jesus. Abe Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin would be cool too… you know, the early presidents... Then maybe Marilyn Monroe. Wouldn’t mind meeting Grace Kelly. There’s too many cool people out there.  But I will narrow it down to my literary figure I would love to meet. And that would be Geoffrey Chaucer. The man was a genius. Witty, sarcastic, and not afraid to speak his mind. I think he would be quite a character and keep me laughing. 

There are millions of new books released every year. What in your mind makes yours stand out from all those millions in your genre? 
One thing that stands out to me is the purity of it. A lot of what hits the market nowadays contains language, sex, and unspeakable crimes that just make some readers shift uncomfortably. Not all readers. And not all of those books are bad. It just seems there is a lot of it out there. The Unfading Lands still has drama, romance, battles, mystery, and adventure, but there’s a purity to it. There are no curse words, there are no scandalous sex scenes. There is a clear line drawn between what is good and what is evil without the saturation of indecent content. I want the book to appeal to every reader, young and old. Those who wish for romance, will find it. Those who wish for war and battle scenes, will find it. I write what I want to read. I prefer books that portray a moral standard, and that is what I write. Not to say I don’t enjoy books that are written with different standards every now and then. It is just not how I prefer to write. 

 In the world of Indie, marketing is very difficult, especially if you don't have the funds to pay for it. Have you found a great free way to market your work that you think other Indies will benefit from? 
Two words. SOCIAL MEDIA. 
I cannot tell you how beneficial social media has been! It’s incredible. You can now reach thousands of people with a click of a button.
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. ALL of these platforms can help an author spread their name and work. Utilize these tools. Don’t be intimidated by them. 

Now give me your links so we can get people to your book sites! 



Blog: On website below


Amazon: 

Monday, April 20, 2015

#IndieSpotlight of Rebecca Jaycox Author of The Other Inheritance

Name:
 Rebecca Jaycox

The Title of Your Work or Group:
The Other Inheritance

Where are you from? Does not have to be the name of the place exactly. You can say Hick-ville Florida, for example if you are more comfortable with that. 
I’m from Berryman, Missouri, which is a tiny town located in the Mark Twain National forest. I currently live in NYC.

In what genre do you write? 
YA fantasy, but I’m planning to branch out into UF and steampunk.

In your own words, what is your book about? If you were not the author and trying to explain this awesome book you just read to a friend, what would you say about it? 
The Other Inheritance is about Reggie; a girl struggling to make it through her every day life. Her mother is an alcoholic, and her father went missing when she was young. All she wants is to be normal, but then she starts bringing dead things back to life. Reggie discovers her whole life has been a lie as her father wasn’t from this reality, but from a world known as the Other, and she’s inherited his magical abilities. Her father’s killer is after her, and she has to cross over into the Other to find her father’s best friend who has promised to protect her. Her guide is Asher, a hot guy with a lot of secrets and who may or may not be trustworthy. Magic, mayhem, romance, and betrayal ensue.

What is your writing style? Do you follow all guides and rules? Synopsis, outline etc. or do you just sit down at the computer and type to see what happens?
Hmm, that’s a tough question. I do a bit of both. For The Other Inheritance, I outlined the first half and flew by the seat of my pants for the second half. I’m currently working on the sequel, and I haven’t outlined anything. I’m relying on my brain to keep all my notes in order. I don’t know yet if that’s a good decision. I may have to give up and rely on outlining instead.

Have you ever written anything and thought; " The world has got to see this!"
I’ve written things and thought, “This is good enough for the world to see.” I don’t know if I’ve quite built the confidence yet to say, “The world has got to see this!” But I’m working on it.  

Do you have an editor and Cover Designer or do you do this yourself? 
Rocking Horse Publishing edited my manuscript and designed my cover. My cover is amazing! They did such a wonderful job!

Who is your favorite author. Not just someone that you read allot. I wanna know whose book you read that made you suddenly know that if you didn't do this for the rest of your life then you would never be happy. 
You know, as much as I love to read, that moment came from a film and not from a book. Star Wars made me want to write. I knew when I watched the film that was all I wanted to do. Writers who have helped inspire me along the way: Colleen McCullough, Patricia Briggs, Judy Blume, Neil Gaiman, Ilona Andrews, Maggie Stiefvater, and Frank Herbert to name a few. There are tons more.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Sure, making myself actually sit down and write! Keeping a schedule is terribly difficult, especially when you work full time. Discipline is something I still struggle with daily.

Do you write your characters or do they write themselves through you? 
Both. My favorite character in The Other Inheritance, Brwyn, definitely wrote through me. He was a late addition, and boy did he have a lot to say!

Do you ever write yourself into the characters? 
There is a little bit of me in Reggie, but I was never that cool.

Is writing your full time job or are you "Keeping your day job"? So to speak.
I’m definitely keeping my day job for now. I aspire to be a full time writer.

If you could go back in time and meet one famous person or legend in history, who would it be? 
Catherine de Medici. That was one formidable woman.

There are millions of new books released every year. What in your mind makes yours stand out from all those millions in your genre? 
Wow, you ask the hard questions! For me, Reggie stands out. Yeah, she’s the typical spunky heroine you find in YA fantasy fiction, but she’s unique in the fact that in a lot of ways she’s an adult. She doesn’t angst over a lot. Reggie processes, comes up with a plan, and deals. She applies that same philosophy to pretty much every aspect of her life from dealing with her alcoholic mother to being in love for the first time.

In the world of Indie, marketing is very difficult, especially if you don't have the funds to pay for it. Have you found a great free way to market your work that you think other Indies will benefit from? 
Doing interviews on blogs like yours is very helpful! I’ve found blog tours and online events a great way to get word out about your book as well. I have also found places online to advertise your book at a reasonable cost.


Sites to follow:

Twitter: @RebeccaJaycox 

Amazon Author Page

Purchase from Amazon:

Monday, April 13, 2015

#indiespotlight of L.J. Samuel @CrimeDoc1213 Author of Dear Diary

Name:
 L.J. Samuel

The Title of Your Work or Group:
 Dear Diary 

Where are you from? Does not have to be the name of the place exactly. You can say Hick-ville Florida, for example if you are more comfortable with that.  
Planet Earth, with some stops in Antigua, Toronto, East Lansing, Columbia, and Washington, DC.

In what genre do you write? 
Crime Fiction/Mystery

In your own words, what is your book about? If you were not the author and trying to explain this awesome book you just read to a friend, what would you say about it? 
Dear Diary is a gripping, enthralling tale of murder in the Nation’s Capital which reveals dangerous parallels in the lives of the victim and Dr. Samantha Harris, the beautiful and brainy detective whose life unravels as she fights to solve the homicide and save herself.

What is your writing style? Do you follow all guides and rules? Synopsis, outline etc. or do you just sit down at the computer and type to see what happens? 
I am very tactile so I actually write all my ideas down in a notebook before I get on the computer. I did not use an outline with this first book and allowed things to happen organically. I changed things around and developed a detailed outline for the follow-up book to Dear Diary which will be a part of a series.

Have you ever written anything and thought; " The world has got to see this!" ? 
Dear Diary, of course!

Do you have an editor and Cover Designer or do you do this yourself?
I did all the editing myself.  When I first started, I actually hired an editor but the person was a little unprofessional and took months and months to get back to me so I tackled the job myself.  I will find a more reliable person next time around as it is always better to have someone that is removed from the work to review it with a fresh set of eyes.  As for the cover, yes, I definitely hired someone for the design.  He is a super talented Graphics Artist by the name of Joel Davis. 

Who is your favorite author. Not just someone that you read allot. I wanna know whose book you read that made you suddenly know that if you didn't do this for the rest of your life then you would never be happy.
I love authors whose writing is poetic, take their craft seriously (which evidenced by the research and detail put into their work), and are clever all at the same time.  For this reason, I couldn’t just pick one.  I adore Ken Follett and could read Pillars of the Earth 100 times over.  I really enjoy Rys Bowen, who writes clever little mysteries set in Wales. And my last favorite author is JA Jance who not only is a great writer but features strong, female protagonists which I am partial to. 

 Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
I try to schedule regular time to write everyday but sometimes there is nothing there.  Nothing.  A big void.  That’s when I really question myself.  

Do you write your characters or do they write themselves through you? 
Good question.  It depends on the depth of the character and how much they add to the story.  I think it is more of the former, I write the characters based on experiences, people I know, and what I think is the perfect fit at the moment.

Do you ever write yourself into the characters? 
Absolutely. There are definitely pieces of my personality in my characters.  That’s why they’re so cool!

Is writing your full time job or are you "Keeping your day job"? So to speak.  
I am a Criminologist.  If I could pay my mortgage and have enough left over to buy doggy treats for my pup, I would love to write full-time.

If you could go back in time and meet one famous person or legend in history, who would it be? 
Jesus.  He was the most profound thinker and used stories to teach.  As writers, we want to entertain but I also think it is important to teach some sort of lesson as well.

There are millions of new books released every year. What in your mind makes yours stand out from all those millions in your genre? 
Since I am a Criminologist and I actually work in the crime field, my writing is authentic.  I know of what I write.  It is not something I pulled from a book or researched on the web.  I live it.  This authenticity sets my work apart from others so that the story is not forced.
I also want to use my books to highlight important social and justice issues.  For example, Dear Diary examines spousal abuse.  I want to bring awareness to issues, start a dialogue, and hopefully effect change.

 In the world of Indie, marketing is very difficult, especially if you don't have the funds to pay for it. Have you found a great free way to market your work that you think other Indies will benefit from? 
Let’s see, I am still trying to figure that out.  I use social media (Facebook and Twitter), I started a blog, and try to speak to people about my book whenever I get a chance.  After more than two months into this process, I would say that the writing was the easy part. ;)

I joined a couple of writing groups via Meet-up and that has been super helpful.  Meeting with like-minded people going through a similar process is comforting and depending on where they are in the process or their level of success, this can be a really good way to get fresh ideas on how to market your book.


Now give me your links so we can get people to your book sites! 

Twitter: @CrimeDoc1213


Here is a customer review on Amazon:


5.0 out of 5 stars A story on crime, love, justice and vindication!, December 31, 2014 
By VeggieLoversLikeMe (LAUREL, MD USA) 

This review is from: Dear Diary (Kindle Edition) 

Dr. LJ is an awesome story teller. Her ability to describe places and emotions is refreshing. Her book, Dear Diary, shows how people are interconnected through the 'human experience' and their desire for love and happiness.