#IndieSpotlight of Julian Coleman Author of Stolen Profit.

Name:

 Julian Coleman

The Title of Your Work or Group: 

Stolen Prophet: The Prophet’s Mother – Book 1

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 grew up in a housing project in eastern Richmond, Virginia. 

In what genre do you write? 

I’ve written in comedy and horror, but I prefer paranormal romance. 

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? 

This book is about heartbreaking loss. It’s about a mother’s fear and determination to find her kidnapped son even if it means making a deal with the devil, or an angry god. She rips through a frozen city leaving behind death and madness although that was never her intention. She just wants her baby boy. Does she find him, or is there something more powerful preventing her from claiming her son? 

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’m an impromptu writer who just sits down at the computer. I never have any paper. I may start off with the best intentions and use a script, but then I veer off that path within a few minutes. The character conversations have replayed in the head a thousand times. I’ve seen the scenes over and over again. I don’t need any backup. It’s all in there simmering in my soul like a favorite stew waiting to be digested. The only means of digestion – getting rid of it – is through my fingertips. Only then can I move on. Does it sound like a curse – why yes it is!

Have you ever written anything and thought; " The world has got to see this!" ? 

No, because I’m not important. How can the world care about me like that? The world is very old? We’re only here for a moment. It is best to do something good for one person before we move on than to think we can affect the entire world. When I finally close my eyes, I would like to think that I’ve helped as many people as I could before being laid to rest.

Do you have an editor and Cover Designer or do you do this yourself? 

I rely on the kindness of experts. I know nothing about editing or cover design or publicity. That’s okay. I’ve met and worked with some great people who became friends. It can’t get any better than that!

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. 

Well, Stephen King is one of my favorites, but I sampled writing long before Uncle Stephen came into the picture. However, the one book that affected me the most was the original Ghost Story by Peter Straub. I think that by the time I got to Page 25 I was thoroughly terrified. Just Wow! No other writer has given me chills like that and so quickly. It was magnificent. When I saw the movie adaptation years later I wanted to find the director and shoot him for passing off that slop as worthy of the writer’s vision. What a maroon!

 Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? 

Yes, time. I never have any time to right. It’s been my biggest frustration. I never have time to do anything I “want” to do. The “need” to do things always come first and then it’s time for bed. In the morning, I just hit repeat.

Do you write your characters or do they write themselves through you? 

I follow the script behind my eyes. They’ve already told me their stories – over and over and over again. I just have to get it down so that they can release me.

Do you ever write yourself into the characters? 

I’m all my characters…male/female/even she-pooch. There’s a bit of me in every single one.

Is writing your full time job or are you "Keeping your day job"? So to speak.

I have a very demanding day job. I’m an analyst which leaves little room for creativity so the writing does help. 

If you could go back in time and meet one famous person or legend in history, who would it be? 

Harriet Tubman. How was it that she was so brave in the face of such adversity? How was it that she recognized the path to freedom and went back to help others without hesitation? The other person I admire is Mother Teresa. How was it that she descended into such poverty just to help so many people especially those who were labeled outcasts? I’m an ant compared to these women. 

There are millions of new books released every year. What in your mind makes yours stand out from all those millions in your genre? 

I don’t know. I’m not exceptional, but I strive to be a good read with the right amount of twists and “I didn’t see that coming” moments. I try not to bog the readers down with a lot of detail. I like to throw in throwaway characters to move the plots along…but these characters must do that – be very interesting and move the plot along from a fresh perspective. I’ve seen Stephen King do that most effectively. 

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? 

I’ve lost thousands of dollars trying to market my books. I’ve tried to quit writing too just to save myself the expenses and enjoy my life without the additional financial burden. I’m lucky that my husband is supportive and helps me out otherwise I would’ve bowed out long ago. I’m nowhere near recouping any losses, but I’ve hired an expert to help. Hopefully we will start making a dent in the outflow and get some inflow. In this case, I’m relying on the expertise of an expert. 

Sites to find and follow her work:

Website: http://juliancoleman.net

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Stolen-Prophet-Prophets-Mother-Book-ebook/dp/B01CMHLUPM/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

B&N, Ibook, Kobo and many more:  https://books2read.com/Prophet1

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JulianMColeman1

#Indiespotlight of GH Neale Author of Archipelago

Pen Name:  

G H Neale

Humanoid Name Graeme Neale

 The Title of Your Work or Group:

Work in progress is called Arriba

1st novel is called Archipelago

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.

The Independent Republic of Kent

In what genre do you write?

Philosophical-literary fiction

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?

ARCHIPELAGO is a metaphorical fugue of dissonance that conflates, and confronts, supra-realities with the ineffable nature of language. It contains a thematic exposé of the philosophical problems of language and as such it presents itself through a meta-fictional, post-modern kaleidoscope. It is a whole roller coaster of text and should not be read by those who have difficulties with equilibrioception.

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.

My style is essential best described as, “making simple concepts more complex than they ought to be.” Everything is outlined and I see myself as a ‘constructivist,’ merely filling in the sections.

Have you ever written anything and thought; " The world has got to see this!" ?

Yes, although the world is an inordinately vast place so fulfilling the true objective is problematic

Do you have an editor and Cover Designer or do you do this yourself?

I have an editor, who is superb and attentive. The cover for my first novel was supplied by a fine artist and I am grateful to her.

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.

Flann O’Brien and, on occasion, I try to emulate his style.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Saying, “Enough and finished”

Do you write your characters or do they write themselves through you?

All characters are fully outlined before the main work begins. I find this makes matters much easier and assists with consistency.

Do you ever write yourself into the characters?

I think all authors do, so yes.

Is writing your full time job or are you "Keeping your day job"? So to speak.

Writing is my full time job, writing novels isn’t though.

If you could go back in time and meet one famous person or legend in history, who would it be?

My grandparents and advise them to stop whilst the going was good

There are millions of new books released every year. What in your mind makes yours stand out from all those millions in your genre?

The unusual qualities of it. I see little or no point in trying to engage in the tradition of English Literature. Do we need another Jane Austen? Essentially: “make it new.”

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?

No, I struggle with this aspect.

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

Twitter: @ghneale

A great review here: http://booksist.net/book-reviews/archipelago-ghneale/

Website: www.pmvideos.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Archipelago-problem-Mr-G-Neale/dp/1514353466/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472062028&sr=8-1&keywords=archipelago+gh+neale

#Indiespotlight of Mari Collie Author of Fall and Rise of Macas

Name: 

Mari Collie. That isn’t quite true. That’s my penname. Real name is Marilyn Collier, but anyone can see the correlation. 

Title: 

 Fall and Rise of the Macas

Subtitle: 

 Fall and Rise of the Macas Book 6 Chronicles of the Maca

Where are you from? 

 Are you ready for this? I was born on a farm in Iowa on a mattress (covered with oilcloth) that my parents had made. There was no electricity, but there was a bathroom upstairs. Then we moved and that farm had no inside bathroom. Rather than write an epistle, let’s just say I’ve also lived in Phoenix, in Northwest Washington on the bank of the North Fork of the Snoqualmie River, and now in the quirky little city of Twentynine Palms in the high desert of Southern California. The U.S. Postal system refuses to let there be a hyphen in Twenty-nine as is correct for that makes more characters than they allow.

In what genre do you write? 

 Mostly science fiction, although the first three of the series contained American and world history. The entire series is a family saga. The family just happens to be beings from another planet that produced mixed alien/Earth children with different abilities. My short stories can be anything from science fiction, love stories, even a couple of normal “feel” good stories, mystery, horror, and most have a twisted ending since they sprang from my take on humans and the world.

In your own Words, what is your book about? 

 The Thalian/Justine mutant, Maca of Don, has cleared his planet Thalia of Justines, Krepyons, and the Sisterhood, but a new aggressor has arisen. The Thalians win the battle against the Draygons and return to a peaceful Thalia. That is when the murders begin. The new Kenning Woman almost dies in the search for the Book of Gar. Each continent of Thalia is ruled by a hereditary Maca of the House. One Maca is accused of the murder and then collapses. The Maca of Ishner is so incompetent, her continent is overrun with the resurgent Sisterhood and verging on chaos. More of the Maca of Don’s Earth family arrives and interrupts the investigation. The Maca of Don takes matters into his own hands and hunts down the murderess. The riots begin on Ishner and a new Maca arises. In short, it is one action scene after another. 

What is your writing style?

 I sit down at the keyboard and my fingers type the story that is running through my head. I can see the characters, hear them talk, smell them, and I know the color of the clothes they are wearing. I have to keep myself from writing the exciting chapters first as they are much more fun than the needed ones to keep the story moving.

Have you ever written a story and thought, “The world has got to see this?”
Why else would I publish the novels and stories? I want people to enjoy reading them as much as I have enjoyed reading the works of others.

Do you have an editor or cover designer, or do you do this yourself?

 I’ve hired an editor once. Then she found a nine to five job. I go over and over the novels and stories. Creativia does editing and designs the covers. That is why they charge a fee. The fee they charge is smaller than what I would have to pay a cover artist and they do fabulous covers.

Who is your favorite author? 

 People really don’t understand, but Will and Ariel Durant are my favorite authors. I wanted to be a historian or archaeologist, but my family could not afford to send me to college. I couldn’t even afford to use the two scholarships I did receive. Yes, I still read history and archaeology books.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? 

Yes, the editing. I know what I wanted to write. How could it be wrong? Then there is the research for medical conditions. No problem on the historical research, just understanding the medical and putting that into intelligible form.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? 

 Yes, the marketing.

Do you write your characters or do they write themselves through you? 

 They write themselves.

Do you ever write yourself into one of the characters? 

 Not really. My stories are far more exciting than my life. Like any author I do take characteristics from people I’ve known. Anna, a character in the first three novels has a personality like my mother’s.

Is writing your full time job or are your keeping your day job? 

 I did not write to publish until I retired. I had published a short story when I was in my thirties and realized that was not going to pay for an automobile.

If you could go back in time and meet one famous person or legend in history, who would it be? 

 Martin Luther; the one that nailed the 95 Thesis on the All Saints Church door in Wittenburg.

There are millions of new books released every year. What in your mind makes yours stand out from all those millions in your genre?

 I tell a story that draws you in and keeps you there. Then, when you finish, you want to know what happens next.

In the world on the 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 would benefit from? 

Alas, I am clueless when it comes to marketing. I know if I were in a metropolitan area, I would be able to find bookstores that would let me do a reading. This area, however, doesn’t have “new” bookstores, but two of the used bookstores are carrying my works. Like other Indies, I rely on the social media. Creativia does do some of the marketing so that has been a huge help. 

You’ll find my book sites here:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Twisted-Tales-From-A-Skewed-Mind-124947397618599/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/child7mari

Blog: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/14002977-a-ghostly-town

Website: http://maricollier.com/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Mari-Collier/e/B00BGTT09Q

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Mari%20Collier%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ntx=mode%20matchall